Chapter 4 – An Unlikely Friendship
The next few days passed by rather quickly, in Lily's opinion. James had returned once again to his goofy carefree self.
He was no longer tense about whatever incident occurred last Monday, but Lily couldn't help to notice that Remus was nowhere
in sight. This of course meant she was paired up with Frank instead in Charms class, which only made the work load twice as
tedious and hardly beneficial.
Thursday night arrived and Lily made her way to the library. She was not really sure what to expect. When she got there,
to her surprise, James was already sitting at the corner table leafing through his book.
"We're a little early today aren't we?" Lily said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"Yeah…well I had some work to do…but that's besides the point." James reached into his book bag and pulled out his
notebook. "Let's just get this over with, Ok. I have a lot to do tonight." Lily nodded. "Now I'm having a bit of trouble with our
History of Magic homework."
"Oh you mean the essay we're writing on the Ministry of Magic elections of 1682. It's quite simple really you just…"
"Hold on," interrupted James. "I can't find my rubric. I think I left it in my bedroom. You stay here, I'll be right back."
"Oh…okay," replied Lily awkwardly. "Don't be too long…" But before she could say another word James dashed out of
the library.
Lily sighed. Two minutes into the lesson and James was already looking for an excuse to leave. Maybe she wasn't cut out
to be a tutor, after all. She looked over to the side of the table where James left his books and papers. There was a small light
blue piece of paper that stuck out from a messy pile of class notes. Lily picked it up and began to read.
**What is Love?
Love is a wonderful gift.
It's a present so precious words can barely begin to describe it.
Love is a feeling, the deepest and sweetest of all.
It is incredibly strong and amazingly gentle at the very same time.
It is a blessing that we should count every day.
It is nourishment for the soul.
It is devotion, contently letting each person know how supportive it's certainty can be.
Love is a heart filled with affection for the most important person in your life.
Love is looking at the special someone who makes your world go round and absolutely loving what you see.
'Wow,' thought Lily. 'That's so beautiful.'
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" James had returned to the library. He was glaring down at Lily, his face flushed with
anger.
"I…just…I…found," Lily stuttered, her voice getting caught in her throat.
"You don't just go through people's personal belonging like that! What were you thinking?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't know y…you wrote poetry."
"I never said I WROTE IT!" James snatched the piece of paper out of Lily's hand. "Where did you find this?"
"Oh…over there." Lily pointed to the pile of notes James left on the table. "And if you didn't write it who did?"
"That's none of YOUR BUISNESS!" James yelled furiously.
"I'm sorry…I just wanted…I really like it!" Lily managed to spit out.
"I don't recall asking for your opinion." James took a seat at the table across from Lily, his face still read with fury. "Well
what are you waiting for? Tutor me, I'm not getting any younger you know."
"Okay Fine!" Lily replied harshly. She was starting to get annoyed with James' rude tone of voice. She was here to help
him, after all; it's not her fault that he leaves his things around. That poem was just begging to be read! "So have you outlined your
history essay yet?"
"Outlined? No."
"Have you made flash cards to organize your ideas?"
"What cards?"
"How about a thought web?
James stared blankly at Lily
"Did you at least write your thesis sentence?" Lily asked desperately. James shook his head. "Dammit, James! How am I
supposed to help you when you give me nothing to work with! I can't read your mind or your thought process. I don't have
ESP!"
"Thought process?" James looked confused. "You mean to tell me you made all that stuff: flash cards, an outline, a web,
and a thesis sentence all to prepare for one little stupid essay? Ha!"
Lily felt herself growing more and more annoyed with James by the second. "So you haven't even started to think about
how you want to write your essay. Is that what you are trying to tell me?"
"Yeah…pretty much!"
"Oh come on now! It's not that difficult, James!"
"It's not difficult for you…you're a brain!"
"I AM NOT!" Now it was Lily's turn to flush with anger.
"Um…yeah you are, Lily. Normal people don't create an entire system just to organize their thoughts for a minor, 20
point, history essay."
"OH, so I'm not a normal person now? That's what this is all about! James Potter is too good for a tutor. Let alone for a
FREAK LIKE ME!" Lily stood up. Her heart was pumping fast. How dare he? How dare he call her abnormal to her face? He
had some nerve, that boy! "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ME, YOU EGOTISTICAL JERK!"
"Lily, calm down!" James whispered he looked like he was trying hard not to draw to much attention to their table.
"YOU don't even know me," Lily continued ignoring James. "You don't know how hard my life is…HOW DARE YOU
JUDGE ME!"
James didn't say anything. He just stared at Lily with what looked like a mixture of curiosity and pity.
"Everyday I need to work and study," continued Lily. "I have to be the top of my year. My parents won't have it any
other way!"
"Your parents? Why? Are you from a wizarding family?"
"No, they're Muggles…both of them. My grandmother was a witch but she died before I was born. You can imagine my
mum's surprise when I got accepted to Hogwarts…when they discovered I had the gene!"
"The gene?"
Lily, who was now feeling a bit calmer than before sat back down at the table. "Yeah you know, there's a gene in our
DNA that decides whether we humans are magical or not. It's inherited from your parents…a very recent discovery…located
somewhere on chromosome 13, I believe."
"I never knew that."
"Neither did I until I discovered that I had it. My parents were absolutely thrilled! Petunia, on the other hand, couldn't be
more disgusted."
"Who's Petunia?"
"My older sister. She's a Muggle, too. She hates my guts, and everything I stand for. At first I thought she was just
jealous, you know because all the attention I was getting from mum and dad. But then I later discovered that she had no desire to
be a witch. I…I…It's getting late, James. Maybe we should end tonight's session."
"No…please." James placed his hand on top of Lily's. "I want to know more about your family." Lily looked at James his
eyes were filled with warm curiosity.
"I thought you had a lot of things to do tonight."
"It can wait."
Lily took a deep breath. "Petunia," she continued, "Was just embarrassed that I had the magic gene, period. She is always
concerned about what people think of her and her family. She thinks that if any of her normal Muggle friends find out about my
magical abilities, they'll think she comes from a family of freaks. When the truth is the only freak around here is me! I'm the
weirdo, the abnormal one! Why can't we just have a relationship like others sisters? Sisters are supposed to share secrets, and
talk about boys, and go shopping together. But not us! All Petunia and I ever do is fight." Lily felt a tear roll down her cheek. She
sniffled softly and James handed her a tissue from his robe pocket. "Thank you (sob)." Lily blew her nose. "I'm so…sick of
people telling me I'm abnormal."
"That's understandable, Lily, but you shouldn't let your sister's bitter attitude destroy your life. I mean, don't you even
have any fun?"
"Don't you see, I don't have time to have fun, James! My parents are on top of me like hawks. They count on me to
uphold the family honor! I have to be the best! I want them to be proud of me. My parents are all I've got."
"What about friends?" Lily was silent. She pulled her hand away from James (even though she longed for his touch). "You
do have friends…right?"
"I…had a friend…a few years ago. Her name was Carla, but she moved to France at the beginning of out third year. She
attends Beauxbatons now. I write to her sometimes."
"So you're still in touch with her. That's good. Isn't there anyone else?"
"No. I'm a loner. It's…better that way." Lily stood up. "I think I've said enough. Let's call it quits okay?"
"And you never feel lonely?" James continues ignoring Lily's request to end their session.
"GOD DAMMIT, JAMES! SINCE WHEN ARE YOU SO INTRESTED IN MY LIFE?"
"Since now."
"Since now? After you denied my existence for the past five years?" Lily could not believe she was gutsy enough to talk
like this to Mr. Popular. It was as though words were just pouring out of her mouth, and she had no control of it whatsoever.
James didn't respond to her comment. He just looked very shocked and even a little bit hurt.
"I'm sorry. I guess I am being rather nosy."
"Does it matter? By this time tomorrow the whole school will know about my personal problems."
"I am NOT out to ridicule you, Lily! Why do you think I'm such a dick?"
"I never said you were a dick."
"No…I'm an egotistical jerk, like that's so much better. You know, maybe if you ever bothered to try and get to know
me better you would find things in me, too…that you don't understand yet."
Lily once again took a seat at the table. James had a point. Even after so many years of close observation Lily had a very
limited knowledge about James's past, his family, and his problems. Sure…there were a few things she knew about him but she
didn't really know him. Not on a personal level, at least. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to call you a jerk. I sometimes lose control of
myself when I'm angry."
"And I'm sorry I called you abnormal. Sometimes I don't realize how offensive my choice of wording can be."
"Maybe we need to get to know one another better."
"Yes we do." James smiled warmly. "Friends?"
"Friends." Lily shook his hand.
"Good. Now let's get on with our session shall we?"
"Alright. Today we are going to learn how to create a thesis outline…" The rest of their session that day went very well
and Lily left the library that day feeling happier than she had in a long time.
Author's Note: Hi everyone! I hope you enjoyed my fourth chapter. It's probably one of my shortest, so far ^_ ^ ; I know the
"just friends thing" can get dull sometimes, but you can't just go from distrust – to a hook-up with no barrier in between, unless
your writing a PWP fic. Don't worry though, I will have Lily and James's "friendship" grow to new levels in time. So keep
reading. I will be posting up my new chapters as often as a possible can.
**The poem I used in this chapter was written by D.Pagels. It is taken from a collection titled To The Person Who I Consider To Be My Soulmate. SPS Studios Inc: Boulder, CO. Copyrighted in the year 2000.
I would like to send out my thanks to those of you who have been kind of enough to review my fic recently. A personal thanks goes out to both AmiAmiNsusu and Mizz Amyrah. I really appreciate your input ladies. I will probably be putting up my next chapter some time this weekend or early next week, so be sure to check back soon.
As for Sierra Sitruc, thank you so much for the second review. (I feel so loved ^_^). Curiosity Killed The Cat is a great story! Please update real soon, I can't wait to see more!
And then there's Katie Bell, Fred, Fred's friend, and Alicia. Um…I have to be honest when I say that your review really confuses me. I don't quite understand what you are trying to say, nonetheless I still appreciate the effort you put into it.
Now I know this is kind of random, but I am thinking of using a love potion in one of my future scenes. I would like to know what ingredients you think should be included.
Here are a few ideas that my boyfriend (ronweasley1029) and I have came up with. Feel free to add your own ideas to my list,
either as a review or an e-mail to me. My e-mail address is Hermione0327@hotmail.com. Thank you.
~Marissa~
Suggested Love Potion Ingredients
Valentine's Day Chocolate
A bra
Boxers with heart designs
A teddy bear
Roses (red)
A love letter or poem
A dildo (okay, so maybe this chapter will be rated R)
A young woman's kiss
Champagne
A gold ring
Feather of a white dove
Sugar
Hair of a unicorn
Lipstick
Whipped cream
Okay, that's all I can remember right now…so tell me, what are some of your ideas?