It was already October, and the Halloween feast was quickly approaching. Peter Pettigrew, a much quieter friend of James was walking with Lily to the library. Over the space of the previous month or so, Lily and James had become quite close. Lily still remembered the evening in the library when James asked her to go on the Hogsmede trip with him. She had felt bad for leaving Felicity, but she had known she would have found someone else to hang out with while they were there. It had been Lily's first real kiss, and ever since then James and Lily were practically inseparable.
"What is it you're looking for Lily?" Peter's quiet voice jolted Lily back to reality.
"Oh, it's an extra assignment young Professor McGonagall suggested we complete to get a better understanding of transforming into animals." Lily said. With those words, even for Peter, he got very quiet and his hands seemed to start shaking slightly. Luckily for him, Lily hadn't noticed his sudden nervousness as they entered the cold library.
"Oh god, it's freezing in here" she said shivering. They went back to one of the isles that Lily thought might be helpful and both started looking around. Lily was glad Peter was there. He wasn't as adventurous as Sirius or James, but he was very helpful and soft spoken. She heard that in his first year, he had been called stupid before James had taken him under his wing. However, Lily had seen that Peter was very studious and hard working. Unlike James, Sirius and Remus, he wasn't naturally bright. However, with his dedication he was almost at their level.
"I think I found something," Peter said. He handed Lily the book and continued searching, in case that book wasn't what she was looking for.
"Oh thanks Peter." She said greatfully and leaned against the window that was facing the isle they were in.
A few moments later, as Lily was reading and Peter was searching the isle, James appeared. He smiled at Peter in greeting, who nodded back and continued reading an interesting chapter on Acromantulas. James walked over to Lily, who's nose was stuck in the book Peter had handed her. She was reading quickly and silently, with a look of intense determination on her face. James stepped beside her, leaning against the window. Lily looked up at him, and then realized who it was.
"James!" she said quietly, so the librarian wouldn't chop her head off. Lily set the book down on the window sill and wrapped her arms around neck, and gave him a soft peck on the cheek. "I thought you had a quidditch practice?" she asked, slightly confused.
"Wood decided to end it early." James replied, his muscular arms wrapped around her waist under her robes. Lily put the back of her hand up to his red cheeks.
"Oh James you're freezing cold!" she said with concern. Peter had glanced over at them, but got uncomfortable and went back to reading. Neither Lily nor James, however, had noticed at all. James put on a half grin automatically. She's so cute when she's worried, he thought to himself. He pulled her in closer to him and she rested her head on his chest. He was much taller then she was, and the top of her head just barely came up to his chin.
"Oh please," a sinister voice hissed along the end of the isle. Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy were standing at the end of the isle, glaring at the three Gryffindors. "Get a room Potter, if you can afford it." Peter had closed his book and was standing with his arms folded across his chest, glaring at the two Slytherins. Malfoy was eyeing Lily in a way that made her very uncomfortable. Her arms slipped down James' chest as she wrapped her long robes around her. James kept an arm around her waist, but stood straight, facing Malfoy and Snape.
"Get lost Malfoy," James said with the same glare on his face Peter had. Snape was sizing up Peter, and glaring at him in return. They were having their own sort of staring competition. Malfoy, however, was still looking Lily up and down. James noticed this, and stepped in front of her completely.
"And just who's going to make me? You James?" he inquired with a superior look on his face, his voice soft and hissing, like a snake. "I think you and your little mudblood friend should find a more private place to meet next time you feel the need to grope." Malfoy said. When the word "mudblood" slipped off his tongue, Peter made a lunge for Malfoy. Lily poked her head out from behind James to see that Peter had punched Malfoy's already crooked nose.
"OW! You son of a—" Malfoy said holding his nose, doubled over in pain. Snape whipped out his wand and started uttering something, but James just as quickly grabbed his. Pointed squarely for his for head, Snape slowly put down his wand. Malfoy, who was now standing straight, with blood running down his nose and onto his pale lips, was glaring at the whole scene.
"Just back off," James whispered furiously. Snape took a slow step backwards, and shoved his wand back into his pocket. Peter also had his wand out in his hand, at the ready. He was smirking at Malfoy, pleased with what damage he had caused.
"See you later mudblood," Malfoy hissed at Lily, who was still standing at the window sill with the look of pure fear and worry on her face. Malfoy turned on his heal and left the library swiftly, holding his bloody nose with a tissue. Snape glared at them for a second longer, before doing the same. When they were gone, Lily nearly collapsed behind them. She actually lost her footing and made a sudden noise behind James and Peter, attracting their attention.
James rushed to Lily's side and hugged her tightly. "I promise, if he ever calls you that, ever again, I'll kill 'em both." James said. A hot tear trickled down Lily's cheek as she buried her face into James' chest. James kissed the top of her head and stroked her long silky hair. Stop crying, Lily scolded herself. Peter walked over to them and looked down at his feet, waiting for them to finish politely.
"Pete, that was one nice swing," James smiled at him. Peter nodded and gave him a half smile.
"Stupid git deserved it." He said, patting Lily on the back gently. Lily looked up at Peter and smiled, wiping another tear off her cheek.
"Thanks Peter," Lily said greatfully.
"No problem Lil'," Peter said smiling, and went back to looking for books to help her with her assignment.
Eeep! It sucks I know, but whatever, I feel the need to keep writing!