Author's Notes at the bottom. Oh yes - and an important question for my reviewers, too.
Everything You Are
They made their way, half-running, down the staircases to breakfast. They dodged and turned corners and were separated once or twice by the moving of the staircases.
Lily found that she was greatly faster then James and could zig and zag through the staircases with great ease.
The third time they were separated, Lily wasn't quite so proud of herself.
"Uh - hello Severus," she said, looking behind her to see the long sweep of stairs that led to the ground.
"Hello Lillian. Tell me - what brings you here to the staircases, screaming and running like a banshee?"
Lily blushed and stammered for words. "I, I was just trying to get down to breakfast on time..."
"Breakfast ended about twenty minutes ago, Lillian. You were late because?"
She looked over her shoulder to see James watching their conversation from a staircase a couple of feet away. It seemed more like miles. "I - um - overslept."
"Ah? Were you...wrapped up in a dream?" He now took a glance at James and gave a half-smile.
Lily quickly wondered if she was that transparent. "Um - no. I was up late studying...and discussing books with James."
"Oh - so you've been having fun with Potter?"
"Oh yes - quite much fun, indeed." She bit her lip to keep from blushing but thought that she might be failing miserably.
"Hmm, well that's all well and good then. Will you be stopping by the library to study with me?" he smiled and leaned toward her. "I have some particularly nasty Charms homework and I know you've been having trouble with your Potions Christmas project."
"Uh - well..."
Suddenly the sounds of the staircases moving interrupted them. James walked the short distance over to Lily and Severus. He looked like he was about to say something nasty to Severus but Lily cleared her throat and began, "We're late to breakfast, James. We better go down to the House Elves rooms if we want any food at all."
With that she grabbed James's arm and literally dragged him away from Severus. She looked over her shoulder to see Severus traveling down one of the staircases that, she assumed, led to the Slytherin dungeons.
When they were a good way away from the staircases he looked at her with worried eyes. "You know how I feel about Snape, Lil."
She sighed and let her arm tighten around his own. "Yes - I know..."
***
"A ball?" Peter seemed to taste the words with his lips. "Why would Hogwarts have a, uh, a dance."
"I don't know," Lily said, "maybe they think its time we relaxed." She motioned toward the heavy book she was flipping through and rolled her eyes.
"Yeah - but a dance?!" Remus said, his usual soft-voice growing steadily louder than normal.
"I mean - where are we supposed to get partners?"
Lily laughed. "Why - I imagine you boys should look in the 4th year girl's dormitory." She paused before adding, "Unless you have different tastes and then, if that's the case, just look amongst yourselves."
"Lily," James began, seriously, "you know that's not funny."
She plastered a hand over her mouth, still laughing. She was blushing now, too. After several seconds, she composed herself. "Actually - it is."
"Isn't," Sirius said, rolling his eyes in frustration and pushing his own book off the table.
"I know - I'm sorry. I should probably get back to the dorms - I have enough of this assignment done that I can finish it up later. You boys, on the other hand, better get to work," all the while she was gathering he things up and putting them into her bag. "Have fun, okay?"
"Okay," the four said in monotone. Again she had to hide her laughter.
Throwing her bag over her shoulder she made her way, pleasantly, out of the library and down the first floor hallway. Moving up the spiral staircase, she ran directly into Severus Snape.
"Lillian," he said and smiled, "so good to see you."
"You too," she added. She and Severus had been studying and tutoring each other all year long, in secret.
"On your way to your dorm?" he asked.
"Oh - yes. The boys are still in the library, finishing up their astrology charts." She walked a little up the staircase and was, secretly, pleased to hear Snape turn around and follow her.
He put one warm hand on her shoulder and she turned toward him, biting her lip. "Lillian..."
She was surprised to find herself nervous. She certainly didn't find Snape physically attractive but she had, once or twice, noted his extreme intelligence in the fine art of Potions. "Yes..."
"I'm sure you know about the ball coming up..."
"Of course."
"Yes, of course - uh, I was wondering..."
"Yes?"
"Ifyouwouldliketogowithmetotheball."
"What?" she stepped toward him slightly. "Say that again."
He took a deep breath. "Would you like to go to the ball with me?"
She took in a deep breath.
"Now you know you don't have to..."
"I want to," she whispered, trying to not-smile.
"And I'm sure you don't want to..."
"I want to," she said, again, a little louder.
He seemed to be stunned. "What?!"
She took another step toward him; eyes alight with a certain kind of fire. The two were startlingly close, all of a sudden. "I want to go with you."
"Really?!"
"Yeah!"
"I - uh - I," he stammered, trying to cough up words.
She could only smile and nod. "That's okay - looking, I'll see you later." With that, she turned and ran the rest of her way up the staircases.
Later that night in the Common Room, James approached her.
"Lil?"
She looked up at him, surprised. "Yes? What do you need, James?"
"I was just wondering..."
"Yes?"
"Wouldyougototheballwithme?"
She stopped, totally paralyzed. "What?!"
"Would you go to the ball with me?"
She paused and turned white. "Oh - I can't."
Then HE turned red. "Um - why not?"
"I'm going with someone else already." She looked down at her hands.
"Oh - who?" He paused, unsure of himself; "You don't have to tell me."
"Oh no - it's okay. I'm going with Severus Snape."
It was like taking a bullet to the heart. "Who?!?!"
"Um, Severus Snape?"
"Lily - you can't!"
She suddenly felt quite angry. "Why the hell not?"
"Because he's a bloody git - and you know it!"
Her face turned red and she looked down at her lap, ashamed.
James composed himself. "When did he ask you?"
"Earlier," she whispered.
"And you didn't think we'd kill you?"
She squeaked. "What?! Kill me? You wouldn't kill me for going to a ball with Severus Snape!"
"Oh would we? Watch - Sirius!"
Sirius looked up from the spot where he was beating Peter at Chess. "Yeah?"
"What would we do if Lily ever went out with Snape?"
"Kill her, of course."
James raised his eyebrows and looked at Lily, matter-of-factly.
"You would not!"
"Okay - maybe not. But we WILL kill him."
"No!"
"Well you can't go with him!"
She rose from her chair and stared him in the face. "What are you suggesting, James? That I break my date with Snape and make him find a whole new partner because YOU want me to."
"Yes!"
"What - are you jealous or something?" she asked, still outraged.
He paused and his face turned red. "Maybe. Look - go with him if you want, Lily, but things between us won't ever be the same if you do." He turned on his heels and left her in deep thought.
The next day on the grounds Lily went to find Snape. He was standing with a group of Slytherin boys who, when she called his name, turned around and gave her a once-over. Noting her scarlet and gold tie, scarf, and crest - they left, disgusted.
"Severus," she said, taking a deep breath. "We need to talk."
"About what?" he asked, turning away from the lake to fully face her.
She sighed and looked at the ground. "I can't go to the ball with you."
"What?! Why not?!"
"I can't go to the ball with you - and it's best we don't see each other, a lot, either."
"But - "
She held her hand up to his face, almost crying. "Don't ask questions. Just listen to me."
He did as told.
"It's for the best - now please, don't argue with me. I've got to go."
And she marched away, biting her lip all the while.
That night James and Lily were silent.
***
"I don't want you near him, Lily. Okay?"
"Okay."
"I think the man is scum, scum - you hear me?"
"Of course I do James."
Arm in arm they reached the large painting of a bowl of fruit. James gave the password as if he didn't even have to think about it.
The portrait swung open and the two of them stepped into the world of the House Elves.
To Be Continued
Author's Notes
Chapter Title From: Dizzy, "You're cynical and beautiful/you always make a scene/you're monochrome delirious/you're nothing that you seem/I'm drowning in your vanity/you're laugh is a disease/you're dirty and you're sweet/you know you're everything to me/everything you are/falls from the sky like a star/everything you are/whatever ever you are"
And now a question - I'm about to bring everyone home for Christmas and I know that there are supposed to be 5 fifth year boys. I only have James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. There should be one more - perhaps Frank Longbottom?
As always - reviews are welcome and appreciated. Chapter 5 out soon.
Everything You Are
They made their way, half-running, down the staircases to breakfast. They dodged and turned corners and were separated once or twice by the moving of the staircases.
Lily found that she was greatly faster then James and could zig and zag through the staircases with great ease.
The third time they were separated, Lily wasn't quite so proud of herself.
"Uh - hello Severus," she said, looking behind her to see the long sweep of stairs that led to the ground.
"Hello Lillian. Tell me - what brings you here to the staircases, screaming and running like a banshee?"
Lily blushed and stammered for words. "I, I was just trying to get down to breakfast on time..."
"Breakfast ended about twenty minutes ago, Lillian. You were late because?"
She looked over her shoulder to see James watching their conversation from a staircase a couple of feet away. It seemed more like miles. "I - um - overslept."
"Ah? Were you...wrapped up in a dream?" He now took a glance at James and gave a half-smile.
Lily quickly wondered if she was that transparent. "Um - no. I was up late studying...and discussing books with James."
"Oh - so you've been having fun with Potter?"
"Oh yes - quite much fun, indeed." She bit her lip to keep from blushing but thought that she might be failing miserably.
"Hmm, well that's all well and good then. Will you be stopping by the library to study with me?" he smiled and leaned toward her. "I have some particularly nasty Charms homework and I know you've been having trouble with your Potions Christmas project."
"Uh - well..."
Suddenly the sounds of the staircases moving interrupted them. James walked the short distance over to Lily and Severus. He looked like he was about to say something nasty to Severus but Lily cleared her throat and began, "We're late to breakfast, James. We better go down to the House Elves rooms if we want any food at all."
With that she grabbed James's arm and literally dragged him away from Severus. She looked over her shoulder to see Severus traveling down one of the staircases that, she assumed, led to the Slytherin dungeons.
When they were a good way away from the staircases he looked at her with worried eyes. "You know how I feel about Snape, Lil."
She sighed and let her arm tighten around his own. "Yes - I know..."
***
"A ball?" Peter seemed to taste the words with his lips. "Why would Hogwarts have a, uh, a dance."
"I don't know," Lily said, "maybe they think its time we relaxed." She motioned toward the heavy book she was flipping through and rolled her eyes.
"Yeah - but a dance?!" Remus said, his usual soft-voice growing steadily louder than normal.
"I mean - where are we supposed to get partners?"
Lily laughed. "Why - I imagine you boys should look in the 4th year girl's dormitory." She paused before adding, "Unless you have different tastes and then, if that's the case, just look amongst yourselves."
"Lily," James began, seriously, "you know that's not funny."
She plastered a hand over her mouth, still laughing. She was blushing now, too. After several seconds, she composed herself. "Actually - it is."
"Isn't," Sirius said, rolling his eyes in frustration and pushing his own book off the table.
"I know - I'm sorry. I should probably get back to the dorms - I have enough of this assignment done that I can finish it up later. You boys, on the other hand, better get to work," all the while she was gathering he things up and putting them into her bag. "Have fun, okay?"
"Okay," the four said in monotone. Again she had to hide her laughter.
Throwing her bag over her shoulder she made her way, pleasantly, out of the library and down the first floor hallway. Moving up the spiral staircase, she ran directly into Severus Snape.
"Lillian," he said and smiled, "so good to see you."
"You too," she added. She and Severus had been studying and tutoring each other all year long, in secret.
"On your way to your dorm?" he asked.
"Oh - yes. The boys are still in the library, finishing up their astrology charts." She walked a little up the staircase and was, secretly, pleased to hear Snape turn around and follow her.
He put one warm hand on her shoulder and she turned toward him, biting her lip. "Lillian..."
She was surprised to find herself nervous. She certainly didn't find Snape physically attractive but she had, once or twice, noted his extreme intelligence in the fine art of Potions. "Yes..."
"I'm sure you know about the ball coming up..."
"Of course."
"Yes, of course - uh, I was wondering..."
"Yes?"
"Ifyouwouldliketogowithmetotheball."
"What?" she stepped toward him slightly. "Say that again."
He took a deep breath. "Would you like to go to the ball with me?"
She took in a deep breath.
"Now you know you don't have to..."
"I want to," she whispered, trying to not-smile.
"And I'm sure you don't want to..."
"I want to," she said, again, a little louder.
He seemed to be stunned. "What?!"
She took another step toward him; eyes alight with a certain kind of fire. The two were startlingly close, all of a sudden. "I want to go with you."
"Really?!"
"Yeah!"
"I - uh - I," he stammered, trying to cough up words.
She could only smile and nod. "That's okay - looking, I'll see you later." With that, she turned and ran the rest of her way up the staircases.
Later that night in the Common Room, James approached her.
"Lil?"
She looked up at him, surprised. "Yes? What do you need, James?"
"I was just wondering..."
"Yes?"
"Wouldyougototheballwithme?"
She stopped, totally paralyzed. "What?!"
"Would you go to the ball with me?"
She paused and turned white. "Oh - I can't."
Then HE turned red. "Um - why not?"
"I'm going with someone else already." She looked down at her hands.
"Oh - who?" He paused, unsure of himself; "You don't have to tell me."
"Oh no - it's okay. I'm going with Severus Snape."
It was like taking a bullet to the heart. "Who?!?!"
"Um, Severus Snape?"
"Lily - you can't!"
She suddenly felt quite angry. "Why the hell not?"
"Because he's a bloody git - and you know it!"
Her face turned red and she looked down at her lap, ashamed.
James composed himself. "When did he ask you?"
"Earlier," she whispered.
"And you didn't think we'd kill you?"
She squeaked. "What?! Kill me? You wouldn't kill me for going to a ball with Severus Snape!"
"Oh would we? Watch - Sirius!"
Sirius looked up from the spot where he was beating Peter at Chess. "Yeah?"
"What would we do if Lily ever went out with Snape?"
"Kill her, of course."
James raised his eyebrows and looked at Lily, matter-of-factly.
"You would not!"
"Okay - maybe not. But we WILL kill him."
"No!"
"Well you can't go with him!"
She rose from her chair and stared him in the face. "What are you suggesting, James? That I break my date with Snape and make him find a whole new partner because YOU want me to."
"Yes!"
"What - are you jealous or something?" she asked, still outraged.
He paused and his face turned red. "Maybe. Look - go with him if you want, Lily, but things between us won't ever be the same if you do." He turned on his heels and left her in deep thought.
The next day on the grounds Lily went to find Snape. He was standing with a group of Slytherin boys who, when she called his name, turned around and gave her a once-over. Noting her scarlet and gold tie, scarf, and crest - they left, disgusted.
"Severus," she said, taking a deep breath. "We need to talk."
"About what?" he asked, turning away from the lake to fully face her.
She sighed and looked at the ground. "I can't go to the ball with you."
"What?! Why not?!"
"I can't go to the ball with you - and it's best we don't see each other, a lot, either."
"But - "
She held her hand up to his face, almost crying. "Don't ask questions. Just listen to me."
He did as told.
"It's for the best - now please, don't argue with me. I've got to go."
And she marched away, biting her lip all the while.
That night James and Lily were silent.
***
"I don't want you near him, Lily. Okay?"
"Okay."
"I think the man is scum, scum - you hear me?"
"Of course I do James."
Arm in arm they reached the large painting of a bowl of fruit. James gave the password as if he didn't even have to think about it.
The portrait swung open and the two of them stepped into the world of the House Elves.
To Be Continued
Author's Notes
Chapter Title From: Dizzy, "You're cynical and beautiful/you always make a scene/you're monochrome delirious/you're nothing that you seem/I'm drowning in your vanity/you're laugh is a disease/you're dirty and you're sweet/you know you're everything to me/everything you are/falls from the sky like a star/everything you are/whatever ever you are"
And now a question - I'm about to bring everyone home for Christmas and I know that there are supposed to be 5 fifth year boys. I only have James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. There should be one more - perhaps Frank Longbottom?
As always - reviews are welcome and appreciated. Chapter 5 out soon.