Disclaimer: A present for JK Rowling
The Rivalry of James and Lily
Year 2 - Chapter 5
Teddy Bears and White Linens
It was now mid February, and Lily and James had been tutoring each other every other week. Today they were working on transfiguration. James was already fuming because Lily had just turned the old transfiguration book into a live bear cub, instead of a teddy bear.
"Lily, you're going to kill yourself one of these days if you aren't careful what you transfigure," he said, changing the cub back into a transfiguration book.
"Ah, you sound like you care," she said teasingly. "Plus, you're way to much of a worry wart. It's not like the cub could actually hurt me. It was just a baby, and it was rather cute."
"Yea, but if you would've exaggerated that a little more, it could've turned into this," he demonstrated, and a full-grown mother bear was in the room with them, roaring. But with a swish of his wand she was a book again.
"Ohh! Let me try that!" said an enthusiastic Lily, and before he could stop her, the huge bear had materialized in front of them again.
"Lily! Watch out!" James yelled as the bear started to charge for her, but too late. It had already raised its gigantic paw and hit her hard. She was now lying unconscious on the floor.
The bear turned toward him, and he quickly mumbled the first thing that came to his head. Suddenly, the bear was floating.
Woops. He swished his wand again and transfigured the bear back into a book. It dropped with a clunk in the corner of the room.
Well, he thought, I guess Lily has been helping me out in charms. I've finally mastered how to make things fly.
James looked around, and then he saw Lily on the floor.
"Evans?" he asked, shaking her slightly. She didn't move. Oh man, this looked bad. What did he do? Why did he have to show her that stupid transfiguration? He carefully picked her up, struggling slightly even though she wasn't very heavy, and carried her up to the hospital wing.
When he knocked on the door, and Madam Pomfrey opened the door, she looked at him, shocked. James hurriedly explained the story while he laid her down on one of the white linen beds. The nurse turned pale as he finished the story and ushered him out of the door.
While he was walking back to the Gryffindor common room, he couldn't understand why he felt so guilty and worried. Lily had been his worst enemy for the past year and a half, and he'd never felt guilty when he'd sent her to the hospital wing before. But this time was different. He hadn't actual meant for her to get hurt. He just wanted to show her how dangerous transfiguration could be.
"I guess I showed her," he mumbled.
"Oi, Potter, what's bugging you?" he heard Lucius Malfoy yell from behind him. James turned to see him accompanied by Snape, both of them sneering.
Great. Why do the stupid Slytherins always have to turn up at the worst of times? he thought.
"So what is it Potter? Did Lily annoy you during your tutoring session again?" whined Snape.
"No, actually, we just had a pretty bad accident and now she's in the hospital wing, so please leave me alone?" snapped James.
"Haha, so you're worried about the stupid mudblood," asked a very pleased looking Snape.
But he didn't stay around long enough for James to reply. Snape had grabbed a shocked and worried looking Lucius, and they were out of sight before James could say or do anything back to them. You better run, James thought.
James turned around, disgruntled, and walked up to the Gryffindor common room.
Meanwhile, Lucius and Snape were having a very interesting discussion.
"So, do you think Potter here maybe actually has feelings for Evans now? He really did look worried," said Snape.
"Oh I hope not," moaned Lucius. "That would ruin all my chances of going out with her."
"You never had any chances with her anyway. Besides, maybe she's a better way to get to Potter. After all, the Dark Lord would be very pleased if we helped him bring down Potter for him. Maybe she would be the best person to torture, instead of Sirius, to drive Potter mad so he ends up turning himself in? You know, Dumbledore put that stupid charm over his house and his friend's houses so that James can't be touched while he's there. But that doesn't mean Lily can't be. Lets go talk to Karkaroff," stated Snape.
Lucius looked stunned. Torture Lily? But he followed Snape anyway to the Professor's office.
***A Week Later***
Lily was still in the hospital wing. The bear had actually given her a concussion, and she had broken her arm when she fell. Kate, Alex, Sirius, and Remus had all come to visit her. And to her disgust, Lucius Malfoy had also visited her and brought her a box of chocolate frogs. Today, however Lily was feeling a lot better, and was pestering Madam Pomfrey to let her leave.
"Oh come on, I'm feeling so much better. I've been here a week! I need to catch up on my work," she begged the stern looking nurse.
"You need one more day. Tomorrow you may leave. Besides, you have a visitor."
"Really, who is- why are you here, Potter? Come to laugh at me?" she grumbled.
"No, just thought I'd bring something. I thought it was funny," he said while tossing her a teddy bear. Then he added smiling, "This way, if you do that transfiguration again, you know exactly how its supposed to turn out."
"HAHAHA, very funny Potter," she said sarcastically. "You know, it's not a crime to be nice to me, at least when I'm hurt."
"Whatever, Evans. Get better. I'll see you around." And with that, he left the infirmary.
Lily furrowed her brow. Did he just tell me to get better? Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought.
***Spring Break****
It had been a couple months since Lily had had her transfiguration accident with the bear, but she still wouldn't attempt to transfigure anything into something that could harm her. That basically meant that she was afraid to transfigure anything.
"Oh come on, Lily, just turn this quill into a lizard," moaned James.
"No way! It will probably turn into a giant alligator, and then it will bite my head off. Wait, maybe I should transfigure it, and then it can bite yours off," she said.
"Yeah, right. You couldn't transfigure that into a lizard, let alone an alligator, if you tried."
"Oh yeah, Potter, watch this!" And with that, she turned the quill into a blue-belly lizard.
"See I told you I could do it," she said, haughtily. "Wait, what am I saying? I DID IT! OH MY GOD, JAMES, I DID IT!" she yelled, and she threw her arms around his neck.
"Eww, Lily, get off me," he barked at her.
"Huh? What? Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to," she said happily, only half-hearing him. She obviously didn't realize that she had just hugged her worst enemy.
By the end of the year, both Lily and James were much better at transfiguration and charms, respectively. They actually passed their exams with ease. James got the highest scores on all of the exams, except charms, where Lily came out on top. And Lily had the next best score after James on every other exam; even transfiguration. Professor McGonagall was quite pleased.
A/N: R/R puhhlease!
