Disclaimer: To the demise of myself and advantage of Ms. Rowling, Harry
Potter (and all characters not as important) do not belong to me.
"James?" As soon as he heard the voice he could recognize it. He turned and saw Lily weaving her way through the crowds of people heading to breakfast, her red-gold hair flying in curls behind her. He stopped so she could catch up with him, and admired once again at how wonderful she was. "Good Morning, Lily." he said as she stood panting in front of him. She laid a hand on his arm, and an electric shock traveled through his body "We need to talk, James," she said, looking seriously up at him. God, but those eyes are beautiful. His expression must have betrayed what he was thinking then, because she screwed up her face and asked, "Are you alright?". He mentally shook himself and answered with a small grin "Maybe just a little tired".
"Oh. Up late helping Peter again?"
It was something in the way she said it, that made him stop and peer at her. He wished he could tell her, about the Marauders, but they all were sworn to secrecy. And besides, he didn't know how she would react to Remus' being a werewolf, and he didn't want to hurt his friend. "Yea, another project. You know Peter". Her cheeks flushed and she looked away, and immediately knew that somehow he had hurt her instead. "James, you know you can trust me," she said, her voice disappointed.
"What do you mean?"
"You know perfectly well what I mean."
"No, I don't…"
"I saw you! Last night, I saw you!" she cried.
He looked at her, surprised. She knew. She knew already. Now what?
"Look, we can't talk about this here. Miss breakfast with me, and let's go back to the common room." Reluctantly, she nodded.
"James!" called Sirius from the entrance to the hall "You coming?" Remus was peering over his shoulder, and Peter was already eating.
"I'll catch up with you later."
"Alright, your loss."
******************
As the common room door closed behind them, James whirled angrily on her. "How did you see us? You weren't spying?"
"No, I wasn't…" she said wearily. Maybe confronting James hadn't been such a good idea. She had her secrets too. "Look," she sighed "I was at Hagrid's. That's when I saw. Lucky Hagrid didn't recognize you, or you could have gotten in big trouble!"
He looked suddenly pale, and his beautiful dark eyes looked at her, full of remorse and fear. "I'm sorry Lily. I shouldn't have suspected you." Then: "I TOLD them they were being too loud."
"Can I have an explanation now?" she asked.
"Well, since first year, Sirius and Peter and I decided that we were going to become animagi. Thus, all my studying. And, in fifth year we succeeded, and have been sneaking around the grounds since then."
"But why did you decide? And what about Remus? He didn't change." James looked hesitant. He stood there for a few seconds, running his hand through his hair and fiddling with his glasses. It was a sign that he was nervous, she'd noticed. He always looked adorable when he did that, too.
"You said I could trust you?"
"Cross my heart and hope to die" smiled Lily.
"And promise you'll listen with an open mind? And not make judgements?"
"Of course."
"Well, Remus he's…he's a werewolf"
Lily sat silent for a few seconds. She had guessed that before, seeing as how he always disappeared around the full moon, and had always come back looking horrible. That is, until fifth year. Because…
"You guys changed into animagi to keep him company," Lily stated.
James nodded "Since we couldn't be with him as humans, we're with him as animals."
Lily smiled. "I think that's sweet."
"So you're not freaked out about it?"
"No. Remus is a perfectly nice guy. Not like the rest of you lot," she teased, "And don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."
James looked thoroughly relieved "Thanks, Lily".
"So, who's who? I saw a bear, a rat, and a deer."
"Not a bear, a dog, just a really big one. That's Sirius. And the rat is Peter…"
"That figures" smirked Lily
"…and I," he said with a particularly smug grin "am a stag."
Lily laughed, peals of it echoing off the common room walls.
"What?" asked James, who had gone from looking smug to flustered.
"Nothing," gasped Lily, "it's just I know you *way* too well. A stag, most noble and fleetest of all the creatures? Definitely James Potter," she finished, giggling. Suddenly, Lily felt a hand caress her cheek, sending shivers down her spine. Her eyes met James', which were burning with a bright internal fire. Suddenly, he no longer resembled the friend that she had known for so long. "James?" she asked, trying to keep her voice from quavering too much, and failing horribly.
"Lily," he said, his voice husky, strange and foreign to her ears, but not unpleasant. If he repeated her name for an eternity, just like that, she knew she'd be happy. A strange, fuzzy feeling filled her head. "You are so beautiful, when you laugh like that," he murmured, "don't ever lose that." Lily tried to respond, but choked on the lump rising in her throat. Then slowly, ever so slowly, James' mouth descended upon hers, until she could feel his hot breath on her face. Time itself stopped. Warm, rough lips caressed hers, and she felt herself responding. They moved together, her hands entangling in his hair, his hands caressing the small of her back. Fireworks exploded in her head. She began to open her mouth for him…
"So that's why you two skipped breakfast! To come up here and snog!" the cheerful voice of Sirius Black interrupted. James and Lily leapt apart, and she was sure her face was as bright red as James'.
"Breakfast just finished," said Remus with an apologetic shrug and a rueful smile. "we figured we'd better come get you or you'd be late to class. We didn't know you were…uh…"
"Making out?" supplied Sirius "Where's a camera when you need it?"
"Oh, go on, Sirius," growled James, "we'll catch up"
"Why? So you can…" But Sirius' sentence was never finished, as Remus had already shoved him out into the hall.
Lily looked shyly up at James, feeling particularly awkward. "We'd better get to class"
James smiled "Yea, McGonagall will have a fit" Then, he took her hand and together they walked out of the Common room into the hallway, stealing glances at each other and smiling, acknowledging that their friendship had grown into something more. Never in her life had Lily been happier.
"Just one thing. Why were you at Hagrids?" asked James.
Lily looked at him "Can you keep a secret too?"
He smiled "Cross my heart and hoped to die."
She giggled "I'm helping him learn more advanced magic."
"Really?"
"Yes, but you can't tell. He could get into a lot of trouble. He's not supposed to do magic, you know. They broke his wand and everything."
"Then how…"
"I gave him my old pink umbrella, and we put the pieces together inside of it. Works quite well, actually."
******************
Disgusting. That's what it was. The way they kept looking at each other and holding hands, walking down the hallway. Why does she even like him? His ego is so big he could suffocate people with it. He thinks he's so perfect, because he's head boy and captain of the Quidditch team. She should me mine. She is mine. Or soon will be.
Snape edged his way up behind the couple. "Great trick last night, Potter," he hissed, "mind divulging to me just *how* you managed it?"
Potter looked back at him, disgust written all over his face "What are you talking about, Snake?"
"Ha! You know perfectly well what I'm talking about," he sneered, "don't play dumb with me. I wonder, are you registered? I'm sure Dumbledore would be interested to know."
His look of contempt, he was delighted to see, had vanished. "You wouldn't!"
"Oh, but I would. I don't want you thinking I would do any favors for the likes of you. However, we may be able to negotiate, if you catch my meaning."
"Negotiate?" The look of disgust was back. However, Snape ignored him and turned to Lily, running a hand through her hair. She jerked away immediately. "You look quite beautiful today, Lily."
Potter, for once, caught on immediately. Just like him to be perceptive when hormones were involved. "No!"
Lily glanced at him, then at me. "What are the terms?" she asked.
"Lily, no, you can't!" cried James.
"Hush, James. I promised to keep your secret." She looked at me. "Go on."
"The terms are quite simple, my dear. Lose him, and date me."
She was silent for a few moments, James seething away beside her. "You can't Lily! I don't care if we're caught! Lily…"
"May I have time to think?"
"Snake!" cried a voice behind him. Great. That Black prat. "How've you been? Washed your hair recently?" Then: "How about I give you a hand?"
Before he could react, he was drenched in a bucket of water that had been magically dumped over his head
"That's for sticking your huge nose in other people's buissness."
Snape seethed. "Yes, you may have time to think, Lily. However, it might do you good to stick with those of your own kind. You *know* what I mean." And with that, he stormed off to change before he went to class.
*****************
"No magic in the hallways!" cried Filch, and with that he strode off dragging Sirius by the ear.
"What did Snape mean by that?" asked James.
Lily just shook her head mutely, the blood draining from her face. How could he? How *could* he? On the verge of tears, Lily ran from James without giving an answer, and slid into a stall in the girls bathroom. Everything had been so perfect. Why did Snape have to ruin it? Why did he ruin her only chance at happiness?
A/N: What was Snape talking about? You'll just have to wait until the next chapter (*laughs evilly*). Thanks for all the great reviews you guys! They really mean a lot, seeing as how this is my first fic. And, to Scarlett**Eyes, I'll read your fic as soon as I get the time. I promise! (Do you know, school and homework are a pain in the a**?) Also, recently it has come to my attention that Lily's last name is not Williams, but Evans. However, due to just plain laziness, I'm not changing it. Sorry ^-^;!
"James?" As soon as he heard the voice he could recognize it. He turned and saw Lily weaving her way through the crowds of people heading to breakfast, her red-gold hair flying in curls behind her. He stopped so she could catch up with him, and admired once again at how wonderful she was. "Good Morning, Lily." he said as she stood panting in front of him. She laid a hand on his arm, and an electric shock traveled through his body "We need to talk, James," she said, looking seriously up at him. God, but those eyes are beautiful. His expression must have betrayed what he was thinking then, because she screwed up her face and asked, "Are you alright?". He mentally shook himself and answered with a small grin "Maybe just a little tired".
"Oh. Up late helping Peter again?"
It was something in the way she said it, that made him stop and peer at her. He wished he could tell her, about the Marauders, but they all were sworn to secrecy. And besides, he didn't know how she would react to Remus' being a werewolf, and he didn't want to hurt his friend. "Yea, another project. You know Peter". Her cheeks flushed and she looked away, and immediately knew that somehow he had hurt her instead. "James, you know you can trust me," she said, her voice disappointed.
"What do you mean?"
"You know perfectly well what I mean."
"No, I don't…"
"I saw you! Last night, I saw you!" she cried.
He looked at her, surprised. She knew. She knew already. Now what?
"Look, we can't talk about this here. Miss breakfast with me, and let's go back to the common room." Reluctantly, she nodded.
"James!" called Sirius from the entrance to the hall "You coming?" Remus was peering over his shoulder, and Peter was already eating.
"I'll catch up with you later."
"Alright, your loss."
******************
As the common room door closed behind them, James whirled angrily on her. "How did you see us? You weren't spying?"
"No, I wasn't…" she said wearily. Maybe confronting James hadn't been such a good idea. She had her secrets too. "Look," she sighed "I was at Hagrid's. That's when I saw. Lucky Hagrid didn't recognize you, or you could have gotten in big trouble!"
He looked suddenly pale, and his beautiful dark eyes looked at her, full of remorse and fear. "I'm sorry Lily. I shouldn't have suspected you." Then: "I TOLD them they were being too loud."
"Can I have an explanation now?" she asked.
"Well, since first year, Sirius and Peter and I decided that we were going to become animagi. Thus, all my studying. And, in fifth year we succeeded, and have been sneaking around the grounds since then."
"But why did you decide? And what about Remus? He didn't change." James looked hesitant. He stood there for a few seconds, running his hand through his hair and fiddling with his glasses. It was a sign that he was nervous, she'd noticed. He always looked adorable when he did that, too.
"You said I could trust you?"
"Cross my heart and hope to die" smiled Lily.
"And promise you'll listen with an open mind? And not make judgements?"
"Of course."
"Well, Remus he's…he's a werewolf"
Lily sat silent for a few seconds. She had guessed that before, seeing as how he always disappeared around the full moon, and had always come back looking horrible. That is, until fifth year. Because…
"You guys changed into animagi to keep him company," Lily stated.
James nodded "Since we couldn't be with him as humans, we're with him as animals."
Lily smiled. "I think that's sweet."
"So you're not freaked out about it?"
"No. Remus is a perfectly nice guy. Not like the rest of you lot," she teased, "And don't worry. Your secret is safe with me."
James looked thoroughly relieved "Thanks, Lily".
"So, who's who? I saw a bear, a rat, and a deer."
"Not a bear, a dog, just a really big one. That's Sirius. And the rat is Peter…"
"That figures" smirked Lily
"…and I," he said with a particularly smug grin "am a stag."
Lily laughed, peals of it echoing off the common room walls.
"What?" asked James, who had gone from looking smug to flustered.
"Nothing," gasped Lily, "it's just I know you *way* too well. A stag, most noble and fleetest of all the creatures? Definitely James Potter," she finished, giggling. Suddenly, Lily felt a hand caress her cheek, sending shivers down her spine. Her eyes met James', which were burning with a bright internal fire. Suddenly, he no longer resembled the friend that she had known for so long. "James?" she asked, trying to keep her voice from quavering too much, and failing horribly.
"Lily," he said, his voice husky, strange and foreign to her ears, but not unpleasant. If he repeated her name for an eternity, just like that, she knew she'd be happy. A strange, fuzzy feeling filled her head. "You are so beautiful, when you laugh like that," he murmured, "don't ever lose that." Lily tried to respond, but choked on the lump rising in her throat. Then slowly, ever so slowly, James' mouth descended upon hers, until she could feel his hot breath on her face. Time itself stopped. Warm, rough lips caressed hers, and she felt herself responding. They moved together, her hands entangling in his hair, his hands caressing the small of her back. Fireworks exploded in her head. She began to open her mouth for him…
"So that's why you two skipped breakfast! To come up here and snog!" the cheerful voice of Sirius Black interrupted. James and Lily leapt apart, and she was sure her face was as bright red as James'.
"Breakfast just finished," said Remus with an apologetic shrug and a rueful smile. "we figured we'd better come get you or you'd be late to class. We didn't know you were…uh…"
"Making out?" supplied Sirius "Where's a camera when you need it?"
"Oh, go on, Sirius," growled James, "we'll catch up"
"Why? So you can…" But Sirius' sentence was never finished, as Remus had already shoved him out into the hall.
Lily looked shyly up at James, feeling particularly awkward. "We'd better get to class"
James smiled "Yea, McGonagall will have a fit" Then, he took her hand and together they walked out of the Common room into the hallway, stealing glances at each other and smiling, acknowledging that their friendship had grown into something more. Never in her life had Lily been happier.
"Just one thing. Why were you at Hagrids?" asked James.
Lily looked at him "Can you keep a secret too?"
He smiled "Cross my heart and hoped to die."
She giggled "I'm helping him learn more advanced magic."
"Really?"
"Yes, but you can't tell. He could get into a lot of trouble. He's not supposed to do magic, you know. They broke his wand and everything."
"Then how…"
"I gave him my old pink umbrella, and we put the pieces together inside of it. Works quite well, actually."
******************
Disgusting. That's what it was. The way they kept looking at each other and holding hands, walking down the hallway. Why does she even like him? His ego is so big he could suffocate people with it. He thinks he's so perfect, because he's head boy and captain of the Quidditch team. She should me mine. She is mine. Or soon will be.
Snape edged his way up behind the couple. "Great trick last night, Potter," he hissed, "mind divulging to me just *how* you managed it?"
Potter looked back at him, disgust written all over his face "What are you talking about, Snake?"
"Ha! You know perfectly well what I'm talking about," he sneered, "don't play dumb with me. I wonder, are you registered? I'm sure Dumbledore would be interested to know."
His look of contempt, he was delighted to see, had vanished. "You wouldn't!"
"Oh, but I would. I don't want you thinking I would do any favors for the likes of you. However, we may be able to negotiate, if you catch my meaning."
"Negotiate?" The look of disgust was back. However, Snape ignored him and turned to Lily, running a hand through her hair. She jerked away immediately. "You look quite beautiful today, Lily."
Potter, for once, caught on immediately. Just like him to be perceptive when hormones were involved. "No!"
Lily glanced at him, then at me. "What are the terms?" she asked.
"Lily, no, you can't!" cried James.
"Hush, James. I promised to keep your secret." She looked at me. "Go on."
"The terms are quite simple, my dear. Lose him, and date me."
She was silent for a few moments, James seething away beside her. "You can't Lily! I don't care if we're caught! Lily…"
"May I have time to think?"
"Snake!" cried a voice behind him. Great. That Black prat. "How've you been? Washed your hair recently?" Then: "How about I give you a hand?"
Before he could react, he was drenched in a bucket of water that had been magically dumped over his head
"That's for sticking your huge nose in other people's buissness."
Snape seethed. "Yes, you may have time to think, Lily. However, it might do you good to stick with those of your own kind. You *know* what I mean." And with that, he stormed off to change before he went to class.
*****************
"No magic in the hallways!" cried Filch, and with that he strode off dragging Sirius by the ear.
"What did Snape mean by that?" asked James.
Lily just shook her head mutely, the blood draining from her face. How could he? How *could* he? On the verge of tears, Lily ran from James without giving an answer, and slid into a stall in the girls bathroom. Everything had been so perfect. Why did Snape have to ruin it? Why did he ruin her only chance at happiness?
A/N: What was Snape talking about? You'll just have to wait until the next chapter (*laughs evilly*). Thanks for all the great reviews you guys! They really mean a lot, seeing as how this is my first fic. And, to Scarlett**Eyes, I'll read your fic as soon as I get the time. I promise! (Do you know, school and homework are a pain in the a**?) Also, recently it has come to my attention that Lily's last name is not Williams, but Evans. However, due to just plain laziness, I'm not changing it. Sorry ^-^;!
