Flirtatious
Chapter 4
James swiveled in his chair, his face a pale white.
"Here? as in-" he started, but stopped as he saw Natalia strutting up to the counter with her friend Bertha Jorkins. James glanced at me then back at Natalia. Then without warning, he dove under the table. He began to pull at my leg.
"Lily? Where did they go?" he whispered, trying to peak through the lower branches of the Christmas tree.
"There. Over in the booth next to the window," I muttered back. James glanced at me, his eyes marked with worry.
"You have to get me out of here without her seeing," he pleaded.
I sighed, then began to nod my head. Anything for that boy. Suddenly, I stopped myself. Anything for that boy? Did those words actually just run through my head? Since when did Lily Evans fall head over heels for some guy... some guy who's dating another girl? Yeah, okay. I'd been a little more than just head over heels for James Potter, but no. James was just a boy. Just a boy who had been my only infatuation for four years, but just a boy, none-the-less. I stared down at James, his black shaggy hair falling into his gorgeous blue eyes, and then I reflected upon everything that had happened within the last few hours.
First, James had taken me to Hogsmeade. Second, James held my hand. Third, James bought me a butterbeer. Fourth, James told me he liked me. Fifth, James basically told me he was going to break up with Natalia. Sixth, Natalia walked in. And seventh, James hid under the table. And seventh, James hid under the table? Was I the only one who saw something wrong with step seven?
I jumped as I felt something shaking my leg. "Something wrong?" asked James curiously, hunched awkwardly and staring up at me innocently.
I sat in silence. I stared at James, then at Natalia, then back at James. "Yes," I said. "Yes, something is wrong."
It was simple. James still liked Natalia and was only telling me he liked me to play with my head. James was.. he was... playing me. I stood up and strode over to Natalia and Bertha, leaving James sitting alone under the table. I nodded a polite, "Hello," to Bertha then explained to Natalia that James was hiding behind the Christmas tree in the back of the parlor because he had just bought me a butterbeer. I then smiled smugly back at the lower branches of the Christmas tree and sat down in an open table close to the door.
I watched contently as Natalia stood up with what looked like blood beating in her ears and stomped with the force of a troll over to the Christmas Tree. I smiled as James stood up, cowering at Natalia's beastly figure. Natalia threw her hands on her hips, then began to whisper harshly at James. I could see James trying to give her his classic half smile and adorable, puppy-dog eyes, but unfortunately for him, Natalia still looked as though she was a mad hornet. Natalia then grabbed James's arm and dragged him over to the door. Initially, she passed me, but then turned around abruptly.
She stared me over, then narrowed her eyes. "Yes, you better come, too." She grabbed my wrist tightly as I glanced over at James who was staring profusely at the floor. I looked up at Natalia and gulped. I never dreamed a ditzy little Hufflepuff could be so terribly horrifying.
After we made it skillfully through the door (three teenagers made it a bit of a squeeze), Natalia threw me down into the snow and turned to James. "Explain," she hissed.
James glanced down at me, helplessly frozen, then icily looked back at Natalia. I couldn't tell if the icy glare was the result of my doings or Natalia's, but either way, James looked extremely unhappy.
"Explain what?" he grunted.
Natalia rolled her eyes, then nodded her head at me.
James looked at her, then spoke directly to me. "What do you want me to say? Dumbledore assigned us to work together for this ball. We were completing our assignment then came down here for a warm drink." His voice was colder than the ice block I was sitting on.
Okay, so James was mad at me. ...Wait one second. I'm not actually attempting to blame this on myself, am I? James was the one who just told me he had feelings for me and was going to break up with Natalia, yet now he's kissing her ass and being nothing but an ass to me.
I stood up and glared at James. I felt tears building in my eyes but I couldn't let James have the satisfaction of seeing me cry. I muttered a few nasty words as I strode past him and I ignored Natalia's yells from behind me. I walked straight to Honeydukes, smoke practically billowing from my ears. I wanted to get back to my dormitory at that very instant. After a few minute trudge, I arrived at the store and felt my stomach turn as I remembered James holding my hand and the chubby, old shopkeeper smiling, "Why don't you take your lovely lady here out for a butterbeer?" I pulled on the door handle, a little harder than I should have... but it didn't move. I pulled again. No. It couldn't be closed. I glanced at my watch and then at the hours in the window. I was 15 minutes past closing. How was I going to get back to the castle? At that moment, I cried. I put my back against the shop window, slid down the wall, sat on the freezing ground, and cried. I cried about the shop being closed, I cried about my previous troubles with my friends, I cried about James, and I cried some more about James. How could he be such an awful person? Honestly, did he go to some special primary school that taught basics in becoming the world's largest ass? I asked myself thousands of questions, trying to make excuses for James's behaviors. But the question I kept asking myself the most was, "Why couldn't he pick me?"
After some hours I stood up. Every shop was now closed, the snow was cascading down continually, and swift gusts of wind tore away at my skin. I trudged slowly, beginning the eight-mile hike back through the far end of the forbidden forest to the castle in the dead of night.
As I made my way to the beginning of the forbidden forest, I couldn't help but feel slightly flustered before stepping in. I'd never actually set foot in the forest, smartly avoiding the heinous monsters I'd been warned about every year by Dumbledore at the Welcoming Feast. But tonight I was going to have to face my fears. Surely, if I stayed out in the cold at Hogsmeade I'd freeze to death anyway, so what was the difference if I was attacked by an 8-legged crazed something or just frozen into a statue?
As each minute trudged by my heart began to race. The night was getting darker and the trail seemed to be telling me to turn around with every step I took into the forest. The path was nearly undistinguishable between overgrown vines and uprooted trees. Suddenly, my heart stopped. Something was moving in the trees. The shaking was growing louder, closer...
BEEP! BEEP!
My entire body jumped about a foot. I swiveled around. What the?
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
My heart stopped. It was just my watch. Just my watch? I looked at the time. It was 12 o'clock! I had been out on the trail for nearly 2 hours. Surely I should have made it to Hogwarts by now? I stared into the snow-covered trees, praying that I would stumble out into the light of the castle before being attacked by a hungry werewolf. I continued walking, my entire body an ice cube. My jaw was beginning to hurt because it had been chattering for so long and my head was extremely heavy because of all of the icicles sticking to my hair. After another few minutes, I glanced around. I was lost... Lost in the dead of night during a snowstorm with no chance of help and something somewhere close by rattling in the bushes. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes again as the cold began to eat away at my insides. I sat down against a tree, huddled closely to the trunk for protection, and pulled my Hogwarts cloak tightly around my body. What more could I do? I could be eaten now or frozen to death later.
I sat there for what seemed like hours, waiting for my predator to come attack me, do something, take me out of the freezing misery! At that point, I wanted to be eaten, anything to stop the cold from gnawing at my skin any longer. My entire body was covered by a sheet of snow. I tried to brush it off, but my hands were frozen to my sides. My eyes began to burn, the wind freezing them and leaving them dry. I closed them, and pain began to slightly subside. But with closing my eyes, I began to notice something. My breath was unusually short and uneven and my heartbeat was practically so slow it was unrecognizable. I needed to keep my body moving! I tried to open my eyes, but now I was too cold. I felt my head begin to weave in and out of consciousness. My chest was so tight, I could hardly breathe. This was it, the end... I flashed back on all my fond memories of my friends, wishing grievously that I could say bye to Arya and Keta. I thought of my sister, who although wasn't exactly fond of me, was still someone who I considered I loved. Then I thought of my parents, my gracious and wonderful parents, who had been tentative in the first place to send me to this school. I had been so sure, so positive that Hogwarts was the place for me. But would I still be alive if I went to public school like I had originally planned? Should I have listened to their initial intuition? And just when I began to think of James, I heard hooves and something that sounded like parchment blowing in the wind.
I forced my eyes open, but could only see white. The snow was so thick that I could not see more than a foot in front of me. The hooves were growing quieter and further. And that was the moment of truth. Would I rather be eaten or frozen? I weighed the two in my mind. Freezing was taking way too long. I opened my mouth to yell, "I'm over here!" but all that came out was a large moan. Oh well. That would do that trick. I heard the hooves galloping steadily toward me. I closed my eyes, not caring to see my attacker and waited for the first initial blow to my body, the tear of my skin. I felt my head begin to spin and my eyes close without my consent. Something grabbed at my body, sinking its teeth into my cloak and dragging me into the forest pathway. And then I lost consciousness.
*******
What in God's name was all that noise? Voices. Two people, a boy and a lady were talking near me, but I could not understand a word of what they were saying. My head ached with pain, my toes were still numb, and my eyes felt puffy and sore. Where was I? I tried to move my body, to alert my mind and make myself come to. The voices were slowly becoming more clear.
"You've been here for three days straight now. Why don't you go get some breakfast?" a mature feminine voice said.
A young male voice responded, sounding tired and concerned. "I'm fine. I'm fine. I can't leave her." And then his hand stroked mine.
"Very well, Mr Potter," the feminine voice replied before shuffling away.
Mr Potter? Slowly, very slowly, I forced my eyes open, blinking a few times to adjust to the light pouring in from the large window. I was lying in a white linen bed and quickly recognized the hospital wing. I slowly looked over at the boy holding my hand. Sure enough, it was James Potter. He was staring down at my hand and his, a single tear trickling down his cheek. What on earth was he doing?
"James?" I whispered hoarsely.
James jumped about a foot. If I hadn't been in so much pain, I would have laughed at his shocked face.
"Lily? Lily? You're awake?" he gasped.
"No, idiot. I'm just talking in my sleep," I groaned, trying to roll my swollen eyes.
James laughed. "You've still got your sarcasm I see."
I looked at James oddly. Really. What was he doing here? Wait a minute. What was I doing here? How did I get out of the snow? What happened to my attacker? When did I get to the castle?
I was about to ask James when Madam Sangrina, the school nurse, noticed I was awake.
"Oh Lily! Finally! We've all been so worried. James, dearie, run off to your dormitory for an hour or so while I fix Lily up a bit now that she's regained consciousness."
James looked sadly at Madam Sangrina, then squeezed my hand. "I'll be back," he smiled.
My eyes followed his retreating back. Okay. Who kidnapped James and cloned this boy who was just holding my hand?
"I've never seen someone so worried about anyone as James has been about you," smiled Madam Sangrina. "Hasn't left your bedside, that boy."
I stared blankly up at her as she put a stethoscope into my shirt and began to measure my heartbeat.
"I can only thank the Lord that he found you that night. Lost in the Forbidden Forest all by yourself in the middle of a snow storm..." she trailed off.
"Wh- What? James found me?" I stuttered.
"Why yes of course, dearie. I don't think I'll ever forget the look of panic in his eyes as he ran in here, your limp body slumped awkwardly over his shoulder," she sighed. "We all thought you were dead, of course, but you've now proved us wrong," she added smiling.
I crinkled my forehead in confusion. James found me? But how? When? I sat in silence as Madam Sangrina continued with her check-up.
"Well, everything seems to be in order as of right now. I'm going to have to keep you another day until your frostbite marks have cleared. Make yourself comfortable and I'll alert Keta and Arya that you are now awake. They, too, have been very worried," said Madam Sangrina before walking to her office.
I laid my head against my pillow, shocked and confused by what Madam Sangrina had just told me. James had... had saved my life? But he had been so mad? I thought long and hard until my head began to throb so intensely that I nearly yelled out in pain. I reached over and grabbed my water glass. Just as I was taking a sip, the doors opened and in walked Keta and Arya.
"Lily!" they yelled in unison. I smiled at my two ecstatic friends, their faces marked with joy and concern.
"How are you feeling?" asked Keta.
"I'm fine," I smiled back. "I should be up and well by tomorrow."
"You had us so worried," said Arya seriously. "Never, ever do that again to us."
I laughed. "I'll do my best." I sat up on my bed and gave them each a hug.
"You hungry? Anything we can get or do for you?" asked Keta.
I shook my head then stopped. "You guys could answer me this. What on earth is up with James?"
Keta and Arya each started giggling madly and babbling like a fish.
"Well you see-."
"We've had a bit of a chat with James-."
"He's had more of a chat with us-."
"He was so scared, Lily-."
"My God, yes. Then again... so were we-."
"But Lily, that boy..."
"Awww. I wish I were you."
I stared at my friends with my eyebrows raised and was very thankful when they were interrupted by the door opening again. Ironically, James Potter was my next visitor.
"We'll just leave you two to chat," smiled Arya, an omniscient expression on her face, as she grabbed Keta's arm and led her out the door.
"Get well, Lily!" Keta called, just before closing the door behind her.
I shook my head at my friends and their crazy antics, then looked up at James.
"I brought you some breakfast," he said, placing a plate on my nightstand and sitting down next to my bed.
"Thanks," I muttered, picking up a piece of toast and nibbling on the corner.
I stared at James, who was staring intently back at me, wondering what on earth I should ask him first. A few minutes ticked by...
"James?" I finally began, unable to restrain my curiosity any longer. "Why are you here?"
James looked at me thoughtfully, then down at his hands. He sat in silence for a moment, looking as though he could not find the words for what he wanted to say. Hoarsely, he started, "Because that night at Hogsmeade I made the worst mistake of my life." Then he slowly looked up at me.
I looked at him blankly. And that meant?
He took a deep breath, then continued. "Lily, the moment you walked away I realized I was losing the one person I care about most in my life. I don't think," he started, then took another deep breath, "I had ever been happier than when I was at the Three Broomsticks with you."
"James-" I started.
"No. Lily, let me finish," he said. "When Natalia walked in, I panicked. I wanted more than anything to be with you yet at the same instant I didn't want to hurt Natalia. I couldn't break up with her with you standing right there... I've been in that position and it hurts a lot." He looked tentatively at me. "Not that what I did to you didn't hurt you a lot either."
I nodded my head, wincing slightly as I thought of his icy voice when I was lying in the snow.
"But honestly Lily, when we were walking through the Honeydukes passageway, I realized how long I've valued our friendship... your goodness and honesty. And I realized that I really didn't just like you as a friend, and really never had. I just never really admitted my feelings for you to myself because I never actually thought I had a chance with you."
"A chance with me?" I asked shocked.
James nodded. "And when I discovered you weren't in the common room when I returned back my dormitory and realized you didn't know the other secret passages from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade, I don't think I'd ever been more scared in my entire life... that is until I found you in the snow. Oh God, Lily. Seeing you there, motionless, frozen, practically blue," he shivered slightly. "I don't think I've ever felt more... more helpless. And to think... It was all my fault."
I looked sternly at him. "James, look at me. I'm fine. Nothing was your fault." I smiled and placed my hand on his, and he smiled sadly back, his eyes scanning my ragged body.
"Lily. I am so so sorry," he whispered.
I stared at James for a moment, unsure of what to say. Was he actually telling me the truth? Something in my gut, such a strong feeling I had never had before, told me his confession was coming from the depths of his heart.
"James," I said, trying to look upset and annoyed.
He looked at me desolately, his eyes marked with so much worry.
"You do know that I've liked you since my second year and if you're just spitting lines at me I'm marching straight back into that forest and I'm going to try... and succeed to kill myself."
James looked at me, a smile as big as a crescent moon plastered on his face. I couldn't help but smile back. He stroked my hand, then stood up from his chair and kissed my forehead.
"Don't worry, Lil'. I'm not lying," he said.
"James?" I asked, as he pulled away. "How did you find me in the forest?"
"How did you know?" he asked curiously.
"Madam Sangrina," I replied quickly.
James nodded, then looked at me mysteriously, narrowing his eyes in a playful way. He opened his mouth a few times... "Oh whatever," he muttered. "Some things are more important than silly promises with your best friends." He looked directly at me, then pulled out the same grubby piece of parchment he had had in front of the humped witch on our initial trip to Hogsmeade.
"This," he said, "is the greatest, most prized production of the Marauder Manufacturers."
I looked at him, my eyebrow raised. "A piece of crumpled paper?"
James rolled his eyes. "Lily, Lily. Looks can be deceiving." He glanced around to make sure we were alone then muttered, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good!"
I stared in awe as I saw every student, teacher, animal, classroom, hallway and secret passageway in the castle marked intricately on this disguised piece of trash.
"Wow, James," I gasped. Then I looked at him sharply. "I can't believe you kept this a secret from me. After all the help I gave you with the Animagus Potion."
James glanced cautiously down at me. "Sorry, sorry-"
But he was interrupted by me laughing. "Since when have you ever been so serious? And don't pull any 'I'm not Sirius!' jokes with me please," I added smartly.
James shook his head. "You're lucky you're injured right now, Lily, or you'd be facing a serious butt-kicking," he smiled.
I stared at him, a smile playing on my lips and my eyes marked with mock seriousness. "Is that a threat, Mr. Potter?"
James laughed. "And what if it is?"
"Is that a challenge, Mr. Potter?" I asked, playfully.
James rolled his eyes. "I am not going to duel you," he said, shaking his head.
"My oh my. Is James Potter afraid to face me in a duel? Just wait until I tell the rest of the school," I giggled.
"Oh my God..." he laughed. "Okay Lily. When you're well, I'll take you."
"Great," I beamed. "I'll be ready."
"Stupid-smart fifthie," he muttered, shooting me his gorgeous half-smile.
I smiled and rolled my eyes, then threw my fist out to punch him playfully in the arm. However he caught it in midair. And to my surprise, he bent over and kissed my lightly, square on the lips. I looked up at him, his eyes sparking and face still inches from mine.
"I better go. I promised Sirius I would come up for lunch," he said. "I'll be back though." He kissed me again on the lips then smiled as he backed out of the wing.
I smiled at him until he left, and for a long time after, too.
As the day progressed, James visited me numerous times, bringing me lunch, dinner and snacks from the kitchen. He stayed by my bedside late into the night, telling jokes, reenacting stories, and simply sitting silently with me, dissolving any sense of lonliness. I think he probably would have stayed with me the entire night, except Madam Sangrina came in practically screeching at 1 AM, telling James I needed rest.
Early next morning I awoke and Madam Sangrina performed another check-up. After about an hour or so, she released me, finally allowing me to begin my trek up to the Gryffindor common room, hoping to run into James. I glanced at my watch, shocked that it was only 6:00 AM. I rolled my eyes. James up at 6:00? That's humorous. I instead rerouted my path to the Prefect bathroom, knowing my three-day showerless body was probably not exactly aromatic. After a 10-minute shower, I slowly walked up to the common room, knowing most of the Gryffindors would still be asleep.
"Hello Miss Evans," called a familiar old voice.
I turned around, "Hello, Professor Dumbledore," I replied.
"It's nice to see you up and well again. You had everyone very worried," he said.
I smiled meekly, unsure of exactly what to say. "Er.. Thank you, Professor."
Dumbledore smiled, looking down at me over his half-moon spectacles. "And we must thank Mr Potter for his life-saving intuitions in the forest." His eyes were twinkling brightly.
I nodded my head, slightly flushing.
"Well, off you go, Miss Evans. I think the teachers are expecting to see you in class today," he smiled, turning around and walking in the opposite direction.
I stood frozen, watching him until he turned a corner. Okay. That was odd. I gave my head a tiny shake, then continued my journey, pensively reviewing what Dumbledore had just said. Did he know that James was going to save me in the forest? Was it all a set-up? My thoughts, however, were interrupted with my arrival at the portrait of the Fat Lady who was snoozing quietly on the wall.
"Psst," I said, poking her stomach.
"Blue snails!" she yelled with a start. Then she came to her senses focusing her eyes. "Why Miss Evans! You're well again! It's great to have you back. Password?"
"Thank you," I replied, before giving her the password.
Slowly I walked into the common room, happy to be back in the light of the warm fire and surrounded by the squishy red armchairs. "Awwwww," I sighed.
I heard a rustling from across the room. Who would be awake so early? I walked over to investigate, and sure enough, James was curled up, rather awkwardly, in one of the smaller armchairs. I smiled down at his innocent body, feeling my heart skip as I realized he did pick me. I stood there for a few minutes, in utter shock. This boy... this boy I'd liked for so long finally liked me in return. I punched myself hard to make sure I was awake. Ouch! Yep. That hurt. At that moment, James began to wake up. As he saw me standing over him, he smiled.
"I was going to go visit you in the hospital this morning," he said, half-yawning. "I've missed you so much. What time is it?"
"Just going on 6:30," I replied.
"Are you joking?" He stood up, grabbed my hand and marched me over to a roomier couch. "Lie down," he ordered. I followed his command, and immediately he jumped in behind me, his body warmly pressed up against mine and his arm wrapped comfortably around my waist. "Now, we're not moving until 7:30," he muttered. "That gives us 15-or-so minutes for breakfast and 15 minutes to get to class. I want to spend as much time with you as possible, okay?"
"Okay," I replied, thinking silently to myself that if this were up to me, I would never go to class and just stay in this position forever.
After a few moments, James brushed back my hair then kissed me lightly on the neck. "I think I've fallen in love with you, Lily Evans," he whispered sleepily into my ear.
"I think I've fallen in love with you, too," I responded back with such purity and honesty that I felt nothing short of terrified. Being fifteen and naive, I knew I didn't know the meaning of love, but I had never had such strong feelings for anyone but James. I shivered slightly, and James pulled me closer, our bodies practically meshed into one, yet I had never felt more comfortable or more... right in my entire life.
A/N: Well, that's the end of the chapter! I'm considering just ending the story here, as we all very well know what ends up happening between those two love birds. I'd like some feedback on whether you want me to continue or not... I don't know what would happen between James and Lily.... I guess I could make them go to the dance. Lol, then again I had no idea where this chapter was going to end up either. Actually, I had no idea it would start the way it did for that matter. I think I redid the beginning about three times... innitially starting with James breaking up with Natalia right there in the Three Broomsticks. I hope you enjoyed how the chapter turned out... It definitely ended up very long! Over 28 kilobytes, and on average I usually write between 18 and 22. I think it's like 12 pages or some crazy thing. Well, I better get going now...my computer is about to die as I'm writing on an airplane. All my love and hope you enjoyed! - Kate