As usual classes began bright and early the next morning. Lily awoke and laid in bed for a few moments letting the warm sunshine reflect off the window and onto her face. Then she got up and dressed (Wendy and Becky were sound asleep…Thank God!) and went downstairs for breakfast. The Great Hall was already full of students who were chatting excitedly over their schedules. Professor Mcgonagall handed Lily hers as soon as she took a seat. Lily stared at her schedule. There we the usual courses like care for magical creatures, charms level 6, herbology, history of magic, double period potions (which Lily was not looking forward to), and transfiguration. There were also a couple of electives that Lily chose to take, such as her personal favorite Advanced Arithmacy. The Great hall got nosier as more and more students filed in. Not to Lily's surprise James and Sirius were back to their usual bright, mischievous selves. After everyone had ate their fills the Gryffindor sixth years headed to the west-wing for charms class.
Lily took a seat next to Remus Lupin who was busily leafing through his book.
James and Sirius were sitting a table away cracking jokes and laughing loudly. Bridget sat across from James and acting flirty, as usual. James looked like he was trying very hard to ignore her. Sirius on the other hand was busy staring at Bridget's large breasts.
"Class may I have your attention please?" Little Professor Flitwick shouted from
the front of the room. The Gryffindors quieted down imeaditly. "Today we will be learning how to cast the silencing charm. " Excited whispers broke out among the students. "Now I trust that you all read your assigned chapters in A Book of Spells
Level 6?" Most of the class nodded uncertainly. "Good!" responded Flitwick cheerfully. "Then we will take it from here. Pair up please."
Lily looked at Remus. "Um…do you want to…since you're already sitting
here…"
"Sure I'll be your partner Lily." He smiled reassuringly with a kind twinkle in his brown eyes. Lily couldn't help but to smile back.
"Now", piped up the tiny professor. "Who can tell me what the silencing charm is used for? Lillian?"
" The silencing charm is used to temporarily mute your opponent, professor."
"That is absolutely correct! Five points for Gryffindor. The silencing charm is used to literally steal the voice from those whom you use it upon. The effects are temporary, but if cast by a powerful wizard it may last for up to twelve hours. I highly doubt, however, that the silencing charms you cast today in class will last more then a couple of minuets. So that brings me to today's class assignment. Once you have paired up you will be casting silencing charms on your partners. Mr. Longbottom would you be my example please? Frank walked up to the front of the class looking very nervous.
"Now the first thing you are going to do is point your wand at your partner's throat and say…now repeat after me…Silenecus Domineus"
"Silenecus Domineus," the class repeated in unison. At that moment a spark of orange light hit Frank's throat. He jumped back in fright, but when he opened his mouth to scream no noise came out. The Gryffindor's applauded.
"Speechless are we Mr. Longbottom?" said Professor Flitwick teasingly. "Well don't worry, you'll have your voice back in about five minuets. And as for the rest of you, get to work! Let's go now! Chop! Chop!" Several pairs of students attempted to cast the charm on each other, but the majority of them were unsuccessful. "Now don't be discouraged class. It's ok if the charm takes a few tries to work. This is a very advanced spell you know," said the professor encouragingly.
Remus turned to Lily and smiled. "You go first."
"Um…ok…" Lily raised her wand before she could chant any words there was an unearthly loud bang. "WHAT the…?" The entire classroom filled with smoke. The students coughed, choked, and gasped for air (well those who still had a voice did at least). When all the smoke cleared Professor Flitwick was standing in the middle of the classroom covered in white dust. Everyone imeadetly turned their head towards the table where James and Sirius sat.
"Sorry it was an accident," said James with his usual fake look of innocence. Sirius look like he was trying with all his might not to roll over laughing.
"Mr. Potter," said Flitwick wiping dust out of his eyes. "I'm very disappointed in you. I'm afraid I have no choice but to got to Professor Mcgonagall about this."
"Sure, whatever," responded James. It's not like professors have never complained to Mcgonagall about him before.
"Accident…humph! Accident my ass!" Lily whispered under her breath. Remus on the other hand was giggling uncontrollably.
"How did you manage to pull that off James"
"Simple," James responded. "Instead of saying Silenecus Domineus you say Silenecus Domino-cus." It's an explosion charm.
"You know," smiled Sirius admiringly. "Sometimes I think you're too clever for your own good, James."
James smiled arrogantly. "What can I say?"
So he's immature and arrogant. Sometimes Lily wonders how she ever fell for a guy like James Potter.
By the end of the class period most of the students had mastered the silencing charm, and Frank got his voice back-though it took a bit longer then Professor Flitwick had predicted. The bell rang and all the Gryffindors packed up and left for their next class, herbology with the Hufflepuffs. Professor Mcgonagall now stood in the center of the room talking to Professor Flitwick. "Mr. Potter," she called out to James before he could make it to the door. "May I have a word with you please…Oh and you too Miss Evans."
"ME?" Lily thought to herself. "Why me? I didn't do anything?" The rest of the remaining students soon exited the room leaving James and Lily alone with the two professors.
"Professor Mcgonagall I didn't…"
"I know Miss Evans." Mcgonagall stopped her in mid-sentence. "You will find out the reason for your presence her in a moment." She turned to James. "As for you! Professor Flitwick told me about your little incident in class today. Care to explain yourself?"
"Professor It was an accident…I swear."
"So I heard." Mcgonagall looked unconvinced. "I have known you for six years now Mr. Potter, and to tell you the truth I highly doubt that today incident was an accident. And even if it was I am afraid we have no choice but to take drastic action now."
James sat down and tapped his foot impatiently waiting for Professor Mcgonagall to give him his punishment.
"I'm sorry to say that detention just won't do this time, James. Professor Flitwick and I are very concerned about your performance in class. Why he told that you came very close to failing your final exam last year. Now I know that the school year has just started, but your performance in class is already showing a serous lack of improvement…Mr. Potter will you look at me please and stop tapping your foot! You're a sixth year now…this is not a joke! You have very little time left her at Hogwarts." Mcgonagall stopped screaming a looked at James with what Lily though looked almost like pity.
"That's why," she continued. "I suggest it's time we get you a tutor."
"A WHAT!"
"A tutor Mr. Potter, Professor Flitwick and I agree that one-on-one lessons from a peer is just what you need to get back on track. That where you come in Miss Evans. Lillian you are the top student in Gryffindor, and in this class, as well as several others. I think that you would be the perfect person for this job. What do you say?"
"Well…see professor…I have never tutored before. I guess I could…I mean…"
"Great!" responded Mcgonagall happily.
"Wait a minuet," interrupted James. "I think there's been a mistake here professor. See, I don't need no stinking tutor!"
"I'm sorry but this is not an option for you Mr. Potter," said Professor Mcgonagall harshly. "I didn't want to resort to this but if you do not agree to allow Lily to tutor you at least two nights a week, then I will be forced to remove you from the Gryffindor Quidditch team."
"YOU WOULDN'T" James looked furious.
"I Would! Of coarse I don't want to. Our house needs a seeker with your talent, but if your performance in school does not improve then I'm afraid I'll have no choice. So with that in mind I'm sure you'll work hard and show us that you are capable of improving…right Mr. Potter?"
"Yes Ma'am!"
"Very Well. Then you will start tomorrow night…is 8:00 good for you Miss Evans?"
"Yes, I suppose so."
"Excellent! James will meet you in the library at 8:00pm sharp! Now both of you hurry up and get to herbology. I don't want you to miss out on too much of your lesson."
James stormed out of the room faster then Lily could say "herbology". His voice (Man this bites…*@!&) could be heard echoing through the corridors.
Lily found it very difficult to concentrate in herbology. Her head was swarming with thoughts about her new "responsibility". Not that she didn't think that she was incapable of being a good tutor, but the fact that she would be all alone in the library with James Potter! James Potter…the boy she has hopelessly obsessed with for the past five years in the library with her…alone.
"Miss Evans!"
"Huh…what?" Lily was brought back to reality by the harsh sound of Professor Sprouts voice. "Miss Evans are you going to answer the question or not?"
"The Question?" Lily felt her flush growing flush with embarrassment as all eyes in the room were set on her. She had let a teacher catch her spacing out during class. What an embarrassing way to start the year.
Professor Sprout sighed. "I asked you what the difference between a carnivori and a venus fly trap was."
"Oh…um the carnivori has teeth…" several students giggled at Lily's reply
"I'm sorry but that incorrect." Professor Sprout sounded disappointed. "Both the carnivori and the venus fly trap have teeth."
"Nice answer Einstein!" shouted Sirius.
"I recommend you pay closer attention next time Miss Evans," continued "Professor Sprout ignoring Sirius's comment. "Now can anybody tell me the real difference? Yes, Mr. Lupin?"
"The venus fly traps secrets poison to stun their victims before swallowing them,
while the carnivori prefers to strangle their victims first-not to unlike Devil's snare."
"That's absolutely correct Mr. Lupin. Ten points for Gryffindor!" Remus beamed.
By now Lily was sure her face was bright red. She got an answer wrong and embarrassed herself in front of her whole house as well as the Hufflepuffs. "What has gotten into me?" she thought to herself. And the situation didn't become any better when she heard Sirius remark "I can't believe THAT'S your tutor!" to James (who didn't change his sulky expression no matter what crude jokes Sirius cracked).
Lily was glad to see the day draw to a close. She had a lot of trouble sleeping that night. She knew she had to stop letting her feeling for James get the best of her. He was her tutee and nothing more. Anyway it's not like there's any good that could come out of her little school-girl crush; only embarrassment and pain. Lily eventually fell asleep by re-reciting the plants in Magical Plants and Herbology Level 6, for the 15th time.
The next day went by a little to fast for Lily's liking. She had done her best to avoid eye contact with James during the coarse of the day (and had done a good job, too) but before she knew it, it was 7:45 p.m. Lily could avoid James no longer…it was time fir their first session. She headed to the library and took a seat at the table furthest to the right. The library was a special place at Hogwarts, to Lily. She spent a lot of her free time there reading and doing homework. But tonight, for some reason the library seemed colder and emptier than usual. Lily looked at her watch 8:00…James should be her any minuet now…8:05…he's late how typical of him…8:15 still no show…this is getting ridiculous! 8:20…Lily felt herself growing angrier by the second. 8:25 finally James had arrived. He darted to the library and threw his book bag onto the table where Lily sat. He was covered in sweat, and panting for air.
"You're late." Lily growled
"Sorry…there was quidditch practice tonight…I got a bit distracted. But I'm here now. That's all that matters right?" He took a seat at the table.
"It's Lauren right?"
"Lillian."
"Whatever. So what are you going to do for me tonight?" James raised an eyebrow
Lily felt her heart begin to pump faster. "D…Did you bring your homework? Perhaps I could help you on that."
"Yeah I think I did let me look." James began to rummage through his stuff. Suddenly he stopped and started to survey the library, alertly. "What was that?"
"What was what?"
"That noise I heard a tapping."
"I didn't hear anything." Lily was starting to get annoyed again. "Maybe it was your imagination."
"No, I'm sure it was real. It sound like a…Killer!"
"A Killer?"
"No…Killer is my owl. He's tapping on the window, and look he has a note attached to his leg. I'm going to let him in." James opened the window and a small brown owl cam fluttering in.
"That's Killer?"
"Yeah." James smiled. "Do you like the name? I came up with it myself."
"It suits him…well," replied Lily with a trace of sarcasm in her voice. James began to unravel his note. It read:
IT'S A FULL MOON!
-Sirius-
"Oh Shit! I have to go!"
"Go? But you just got here?"
"Look I'm really sorry Lulu but this is an emergency! Here's my homework. Just finish up problems #1-50 on page 220 for arithmacy and summarize chapter 6 for Transfiguration…I'm sure you have read it."
"But…."
"Oh yeah…you can also get me started on that big potions essay for me. That would be a big help Lilia. Now I have to run."
"No…Wait a second!" but before Lily could say another thing he was gone. "Great what do I do now?" She looked at the pile of homework James gave her. "This isn't right," she thought to herself. "I'm not supposed to do his homework for him…that's not the point of a tutor." She sighed and placed his papers on the table. "I shouldn't do his work…that would teach him a lesson…but on the other hand if he gets kicked off the quidditch team Gryffindor is doomed! So then I should do his work for him…I mean he wouldn't just blow me off like that unless it was an actual emergency…but on the other hand this is James Potter we're talking about here, and he's not exactly the most responsible guy I know…then again…." Lily continued to argue with herself for the next couple of minuets until she decided that Gryffindor could not afford any more embarrassment, especially in the quidditch field, so she did James homework for the good of their house.
The next morning James was at breakfast, and judging by the circles under his eyes he didn't get much sleep. When he saw Lily he smiled and motioned for her to come sit by him.
"Did you do my homework?"
"Yeah…but"
"Great! Where is it?" James eyes moved to the nap sack that Lily carried on her left shoulder.
"Now hold on for just one freaking minuet James Potter!" Lily felt herself grow hot with anger. "I did your homework for you this time, but don't expect that to happen again. I am your tutor and it's my job to help you. You are not benefiting from the experience if I do your work for you. Remember you're the one who needs to show academic improvement, not me. And if you think I just going to sit around and let you take advantage of me like that…"
"Lily." James interrupted
Lily continued to rant, ignoring James's comment. "The only reason I did this for you was because I hate to see you get kicked off the team."
"Lily."
(still ignoring James) "Gryffindor cannot afford to lose the quidditch cup this year and I highly doubt we could do it without…"
"Lily Please!"
"What!"
"I'm sorry"
Lily opened her mouth in shock. The last thing she expected to hear from James.
was an apology
"You…you are?"
"Yes, I didn't mean to ditch you like that last night but I had no other choice.
I had a really important task to do. I swear by my life it's the truth…you believe me don't you?"
Lily looked at James. He was not smiling or chuckling. In fact he looked quite
serous, more so than Lily had ever seen him look before. "Yeah… I guess."
"Thank you." The smile returned to James's face. Lily pulled his homework out of her nap sack and handed it to him. "I really appreciate that you came through for me last night, Lily. Your name is Lily…right?" Lily nodded. "See I knew I would get it correct sooner or later." James chuckled. "Names aren't my thing if you haven't guessed that already."
Lily smiled. "So then I guess I'll see you Thursday night then. You are free right?"
"I'll be there. Same time, same place?"
Lily nodded again and picked up her things. She did a good job getting her point across. James seemed truly sorry about last night's situation (and after so much close observation Lily always could tell when he was lying). The only question she was left with was where was James off to in such a hurry on a Monday night?
Authors Note: Hi everyone! I hope you liked reading chapter 3. I know my first two chapter are bit boring, being that they consist of mostly foreshadowing and descriptions of characters. But as you can see my plot is starting to thicken. There's lots of new and exciting surprises that await you so continue to check back for updates ^_^
I would like to thank those who have sent me reviews. Your kind words are my motivation. I aim to please, and I am so glad you like my fanfic so far. Thank you Sierra Sitruc you were my first review, and I can't tell you how much that means to me. Thank you Quinn I will continue to post up new chapters as quickly as I can.
And Thistlemeg, I especially appreciate your effort. You gave me a review even though your homework wasn't finished and you were lacking in sleep.
To ronweasley1029, my wonderful boyfriend, thanks for the kind words sweetie! Ron (his real name is Ben) has been such a big help to me. He gives me ideas, and feedback, and even checks my text for errors after I finish typing up a chapter. Being that I am computer retarded, I would not have known how to post my fic up on the net if it wasn't for Ben. He's the greatest guy in the whole wide world and I love him with all my heart!
And as for my stalker: Lily and James for Life ( )- I am flattered that you like my fic so much!. Thank you for putting all that effort into your reviews. But next time please keep in mind that one review is more than enough, while 30 reviews that say the same thing on the other hand is a bit overwhelming. And I just wanted to let you know that I WILL CONTINUE! That is a promise!