Uninvited Affection


Chapter 2: "Was it love, or was it the thought of being in love?"-Pink Floyd




***




"Sirius?"



"Remus?"



"He's drinking."



"How conclusive of you Remmy." Remus whacked the back of his head.



"What's wrong with him?"



"It has to do with Lily."



"Duh." Again Sirius was whacked on the back of the head.



"He hates Lily, doesn't he?"



"I don't think so."



"What does that mean?"



"Remmy, my dear, James is in love."



"That's preposterous."



"It's true."



"But with…Lily? The bane of his existence?"



"Yes."



"This is bad."



"Very bad."



"Don't you think we should stop him before he becomes a drunken fool?"



"Why should we…I've never seen Jamie drunk, it could be amusing." And before Remus could whack him again he raced over to the bar.




***




"Hit me again bartender."



"Sorry chap, but I think you've had enough."



"I said hit me again bartender." James demanded staring at the empty glass miserably.



"And I said no."



"I second that." James turned around to face Sirius who looked upset.



"What is it Sirius?"



"You need to go home Jamie."



"I can make it home by myself mother."



"Sorry James, but this dolt has a point. You're drunk." Remus replied.



"Remus, I am not drrrrunk." James' speech was slightly slurred and before he could object further his friends dragged him away, and proceeded back to Potter Manor.




***




It had been two weeks since the drinking incident, and the boys had hardly mentioned it. James had perked up after the party, yet Sirius and Remus were still wary of bringing up the party or Lily, for that matter. It was a cloudy and cool Sunday morning and the three boys were headed out to Diagon Alley to do some purchasing, but they had run into a slight problem.



"James, we have no way of getting to Diagon Alley." Sirius said.



"Thank you for stating the obvious, Sirius." James replied glumly. The Potters' owned cars, but none of the boys actually knew how to drive. James' father had promised to teach him when he was old enough, and that would be another year. Mrs. Potter was hosting a tea for some friends and couldn't drive them.



"We could always Floo." Remus suggested.



"In this? This white shirt is brand spanking new! And you would like me to ruin it by going in a fireplace? I think not Remmy-poo." Sirius exclaimed.



"Oh the horror." Remus deadpanned.



"James!" The boys turned around to face Mrs. Potter who had come out the door onto the driveway where they were all standing.



"Yes mum?"



"Well I was talking to Tommy and he mentioned that Lily and Chardonnay were heading out to Diagon today. And I told him about your predicament. He said that Lily would drive you three out, and that she would be here at around 10:30." Mrs. Potter replied.



"Thanks mum." James said although he wasn't happy about it to say the least. Remus and Sirius exchanged looks.



"No problem honey, now it's almost 10:30 she should be here soon. I have to finish directing Pierre. Ciao boys." And Evie Potter disappeared back into the house. Five minutes later Lily's silver coupe pulled up. Lily driving and Chardonnay in the back seat.



"Oh this will be interesting." Sirius whispered devilishly and walked to the car.




***





"Listen Jimmy, this car wasn't really built for five so you three better suck it up and squeeze together." The two girls had stepped out of the car and now Lily was addressing James.



"That shouldn't be a problem. Chard will sit in my lap." Sirius wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.



"In your dreams."



"You? Of course you're in them." Before Sirius could be slapped by Chardonnay. Remus shoved him into the backseat.



"We'll adjust Lily, no problem." Remus replied, and stepped into the backseat, as Chardonnay followed. Lily was still standing arms crossed. Her dark sunglasses covered her eyes but James knew she was glaring at him.



"What are you waiting for?" She asked annoyed.



"Ladies first." James opened the driver's seat door, and Lily stepped in. Then he climbed into the passenger seat, dreading the 30-minute drive into the heart of London.




***




"Lileee!!! Can I please turn the radio on?" Sirius whined for the 100th time since they left.



"Sirius, rule number one in the 'How to deal with Princess Lily Handbook' is never touch anything in her car. The car is sacred." James replied.



"Can it James." Lily replied. "Turn the radio on Sirius, it'll be better than you whining the whole time."



"Yay!" Sirius yelped, and he reached his hand into the front and fiddled with the radio. But, to any station he put it on, Lily gave a curt 'No', and he eventually gave up.



"You're no fun Lily. Jamie was right." Sirius pouted and leaned back in the seat.



"Sirius get off me." Chard hissed.



"Make me."



"You're a heavy oaf there's no way I could."



"Am not."



"Are too, and you're wrinkling my shirt." Chard tried in vain to push him off her shoulder.



"Ha! I win." She slapped him.



"Guess not." He resumed pouting.



"It's only been 10 minutes, can you two calm down." James said from the front.



"Fine." They muttered simultaneously.



Another five minutes had passed and the backseat was unusually quiet. James looked back. Remus was sleeping against one side. Chardonnay was sleeping on the other, and Sirius was laying on her shoulder.



"Guess we're the only one's awake in the car." He said to himself.



"I guess so." Lily replied quietly. James looked up at her. It was the second time she had talked since they had all piled into the car. Her red hair was tied into a neat ponytail. Her black tank top contrasted by her white pants.



"What's up with the pants?" He asked.



"What do you mean?" She replied eyes focused on the road.



"What I mean, Princess, is that YOU hardly ever wear them. It's always skirts and dresses."



"They said it was going to rain later in the day, and it is chilly."



"So that explains the bare arms."



"What is with the fashion analysis all of a sudden?"



"Sorry, Princess, who could question you? The fashion queen herself."



"Please James, I'm not in the mood to argue." James was thrown off by her sudden change in tone, and was unable to respond. And yet again, you've been left speechless by Lily Evans James' inner voice buzzed. He remained silent for the rest of the ride.




***




Lily swerved the car into a parking spot near the Leaky Cauldron. She was definitely not in a good mood. When her father had told her about picking up the boys she was less than happy. She adored her father, but was surprised at how naïve he was about her and James' relationship. She sighed. James looked at her, one dark eyebrow cocked. He always seemed to know when she was thinking about something, and never let anything go unasked. It was extremely unnerving.



"Penny for your thoughts Princess?"



"They're worth more than a penny."



"How could I forget?"



"We should wake them up."



"Of course Princess."



They both climbed out of the car and woke their friends up. James opened the car door roughly and Remus nearly spilled head first onto the sidewalk.



"JAMES! You prick." He said cursing under his breath. Lily on the other hand took a more subtle approach calmly waking Chard up. Unfortunately Chardonnay didn't share Lily's calmness.



"Sirius you great prat, get the bloody hell away from me!" Her shrill voice echoed.



"But it's so comfy." He murmured half awake.



"Sirius I think you should run." James said staring at Chardonnay blazing eyes.



"One step ahead of ya Prongs." Sirius said sprinting into the tavern. Remus and Chardonnay followed. James waited as Lily locked the car.



"What are you waiting for?" Lily asked.



"Uh, Princess, when and where should we meet you? You are our ride back you know."



"Meet us at the robe place at around three-ish." And with that Lily went into the Leaky Cauldron.



"Wait! Lily! Which robe place?" James yelled but she had disappeared. Good Job Potter he muttered to himself and went inside as well.




***




"James, this is the eight robe place we've been to." Remus sighed as they stepped out of Roxy's Robes.



"I know James, Roxy's Robes? Lily in grunge clothes, come on!" Sirius added.



"Hey! !t was worth a try." James said resignedly. Checking his watch he looked at the time it was already 3:15.



"That's the store!" James yelled. In the shop window we're models wearing the latest designer fashions in robes. He read the sign, Giovanni's. Figures Lily and Chard would go to a designer store.



"Giovanni's, that place is pretty upscale, Prongs." Sirius said.



Remus smacked the back of his head. "You dolt. Do you realize what you just said?"



Sirius stood in the street pondering a while. A peddler's cart almost crashed into him.



"Oh yeah!" He said finally and rushed to join the boys.




***




"Lily I haven't found a robe here that I like. I mean Giovanni usually has the best robes in London but I don't like any of them, and that would look amazing on you with your Snow White complexion." Chardonnay whined as Lily tried to convince her to try a gorgeous navy blue robe on.



"Chardonnay Elizabeth Parker, robes are essential for high society ladies. Anyway this will look amazing on you." Lily replied shoving her inside the dressing room.



Suddenly she felt someone whispering in her ear, "Ready to go Princess?"



"As a matter of fact Jimmy, I'm not. Chard went in to try something on."



"Where are all your purchases?"



"We dropped them off at the car."



"And you're not buying anything?" James asked surprised.



"I couldn't find anything to my taste."



"What about this Lily?" Sirius asked with a goofy grin as he held up a black silk negligee.



"Sorry Sirius but I've got enough to last right now."



"Care to model for me?" Sirius questioned.



"I'd rather not."



"But I think it would look great on you." Sirius persisted, but was promptly shut up when Chardonnay came out.



"You look…wow." Was the first thing he said after he resumed breathing normally.



"That looks amazing Chard." James complimented.



"Very a la mode." Remus added.



"It's perfect. Simply perfect." Lily stated.



Chardonnay grinned shyly, "Well I guess four people can't be wrong." And she glided into the dressing room.



"Sirius." James whispered grinning.



"Yes?" Sirius responded robotically.



"I think you can close your mouth now."




***