Only One Life to Love You
By: Zippity-Doo-Da
A/N: Well, it's been a long time since I updated, no? Here's the long-awaited 6th chapter. I've been too busy lately, studying for finals and auditions, plus I was In our spring play and had to practice every night for 2 hours… So stressed. But… now that school is almost over, I have lots more time to write. I'd also like to thank: Revia, Tate Moso And BastsCleopatra; for being my most loyal reviewers. I love you guys. =) And, due to request to hear James' POV, here it is.
Notice!!!! I'm in need of a trustworthy beta-reader! If you're interested, just say so in a review and make sure to leave your e-mail to I can contact you.
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I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them!
~Unknown
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Chapter 6- Underwear Gnomes
James sat quietly in the common room, staring into the fire. Behind him, the old grandfather clock struck midnight but he didn't even notice, he was too lost in his thoughts. His cluttered mind was overtaken by thoughts of a beautiful redhead, a girl he couldn't figure out, a girl who was supposed to hate him.
What the hell is up with that girl? he wondered, confused. First she hates me, then she likes me, then she hates me again. I wish she'd make up her mind. James sighed heavily and leaned over, cramming his palms into his eyes sockets in frustration. He couldn't figure out why he felt this way, she was just a stupid redhead with and infuriating temper, those stupid green eyes, that porcelain skin… James shook his head furiously.
He shouldn't be thinking these thoughts, she was a psycho for god-sakes! You could never tell when that girl was going to blow up at you or kiss you or… James gazed back at the fire, longing for someone he didn't want to be longing for. I'm just a kid! I'm too young for this..
After another heavy sigh, James stood up shakily and crossed to the portrait hole. He stopped for a moment and looked at the clock that he hadn't noticed before. Damn… he thought before retrieving his invisibility cloak from his dorm and heading out anyway.
James wandered, without really caring where he was wandering to. He found himself standing at the door to the astronomy tower. He opened it and walked up the stairs, staring at the sky once he reached the top.
The night was beautiful and balmy, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. James identified Octans, the Octant, Aquarius, the water-bearer, Grus, the crane, Pegasus, the winged horse, Lacerta, the lizard, Piscis Austrinus, the southern fish, and Cepheus, the King of Ethiopia.
James enjoyed the story of the Cepheus, he thought is was exciting and somewhat romantic, in a strange sort of way.
As myth had it, on his way back from his victory against the Gorgons, Perseus, Medusa's killer, came across a woman chained to a rock, waiting to be sacrificed to a sea monster, called Cetus. This woman was Andromeda, the Princess. Her mother, Cassiopeia, boasted that she and her daughter were more beautiful than the Nereids, which were the daughters of Poseidon, the god of the sea. Angered by the insult to his daughters, Poseidon sent floods to the lands ruled by Cassiopeia and her husband, King Cepheus. Cepheus consulted an oracle who told him that the only way to quell Poseidon's anger was to sacrifice his daughter. Luckily, Perseus came on the scene just in the nick of time and killed the sea monster and saved the princess.
He didn't know why, but he was fascinated by mythology of all kinds. He loved the adventure, the heroes, the beautiful women ((a/n: *wink wink*))… James really was a hopeless romantic at heart. Growing up, he was ignored by pretty much everyone. His parents were Aurors and were often away on business, he had learned to get along by himself but ever since he had gotten older, James had an overwhelming need to be loved.
James scratched his head in thought, maybe that was why he was having such an infatuation with Lily. It was Lily for god's sake! She wasn't exactly the most lovable person in the world.
James stood there gazing at the stars for a while longer before heading back the common room. As he neared the portrait hole, he heard a great crash from inside Gryffindor Tower. He sprinted into the common room to find none other than Lily sprawled on the hearth with her bags.
James was bewildered, what was she doing back? He hurried to her side. "Lily?" He shook her shoulder. "Lily?"
Lily groaned and opened her eyes. "James?"
"What the hell are you trying to do woman?! Kill yourself!?"
She scowled at him "Don't scold me James Potter! I'm coming back to school, what does it look like I'm doing?"
"It looks like you're trying to break you skull open!"
"Would you leave me alone!" She said grumpily.
James sighed in exasperation. "You're impossible, woman."
"Don't call me woman, I do have a name you know."
"Fine! You're impossible, Lily! Happy?"
Lily gave him a sarcastic grin. "Very."
He shook his head. "You really are impossible."
"I know."
He shot her a slightly amused sideways glance. She saw him and smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
"So, they figure out what's wrong with you?"
Lily looked down at her feet. "Yeah…"
"And?"
"Some strange malady that I've never even heard of before. Apparently, my medicine combined with all the stress triggered it." She sighed, silently wishing that she could be normal. Life would be so much more normal.
"Hmmm.." James didn't know what to say, he wasn't used to talking about medical problems and medicines. "They put you on a new medicine?"
All of a sudden, Lily stood up and violently seized her luggage. "That's none of your business James Potter!" she shouted and stalked up the stairs to the girl's dorms.
James sat on the floor, watching her retreating back, confused. What had he said? What had set her off like that? James got up and dusted off his robes then walked up to his dorm, shaking his head.
As he crawled into bed, he vowed to himself that he would figure out the enigma that was Lily Evans. He closed his eyes to sleep, but sleep was a long time in coming.
******
The next morning, James was awoken by Sirius and Remus arguing loudly over something. He peered, groggy-eyed, out of the curtains. James' two friends stood in the middle of the room, both at battle stances.
"What are you talking about?! Of course The Beatles are better than Styx!" Remus shouted.
"No they aren't!" Sirius shouted back.
James, peeved about being woken up, get out of bed and yelled at the two of them. "What the hell! When you're going to wake someone up yelling, at least make sure it's something important!" If James were a cartoon character, there would have been steam pouring from his ears.
The two Marauders stopped and stared at him, looking sheepish.
Sirius grinned. "Sorry bout that old chap, got a tad carried away."
"Yeah, won't happen again."
James grumbled back at them incoherently and shuffled off to get ready for class.
Sirius, Remus and Peter all exchanged looks.
******
Lily, with large bags under her eyes, trudged down to breakfast the next morning with Ria, Nichelle and Ayeka. She hadn't slept much after her little row with James. What had made her act that way? She sighed.
Ria disturbed her quiet thoughts. "So, how'd you convince the parental units to let you come back without medicine?"
Lily looked up at her and grinned, "I didn't. I stole some Floo powder from the common room before I left. I waited until my family was asleep then I snuck out and hopped a metro to London, I used the fireplace in the Leaky Cauldron to get back here. Did you know that the common room fireplace is connected to the Floo Network?"
Ria grinned appreciatively. "Good one, Lils. Couldn'tve done it better m'self." Ria clapped her on the back and laughed.
"I don't know how you did it, Lily. I would never have been brave enough to run off like that." Ayeka said quietly. The comment wasn't at all surprising considering Ayeka was a very shy little Oriental girl, a race that wasn't known in particular for their rebelliousness.
"it was easy, I just thought about being around my sister for the next couple of days and there was all the motivation I needed. I don't need her putting me on guilt trips." Lily turned sulky at this comment and her mind turned to what her sister had said to her.
"Lily?" Lily heard Ria's voice break through her thoughts.
"Huh? Oh, sorry I spaced out."
Ria gave her a strange look. "Are you alright? You seem… distracted. " Lily could see the look of concern on her face.
"I'm alright, don't worry."
Ria looked skeptical, but dropped it anyway.
"Oy! Lily!" Lily whirled around at the sound of someone calling her name. She saw Sirius waving at her frantically from the Gryffindor table with James looking extremely embarrassed next to him.
"What is it, Black? There something you need?" She asked icily.
Some of Sirius' exuberance seemed to disappear, he looked confused. Sirius had obviously thought that she had changed. Lily felt immediately guilty for being so rude. She gave him a small smile and dragged the rest of her entourage to the opposite end of their house's table.
Ria was grinning at her as they sat down. "Now there's the Lily I know. Glad to have you back."
Lily gave her a harassed look. "I'm I really always a bitch like that?"
Ria laughed. "Nah, only to them… and Little-Ms-Daddy's-Money Lurlene. But she's not a problem anymore now is she?"
Lily smiled slightly. "Nope, thank God."
"You took care of that one. Nichelle commented.
"No, she took care of herself. I bet she thinks it's my fault though."
"I'd bet on it." Ayeka put in.
"So would I." Ria seconded.
"Well, not as if I'll ever associate with her again so… why dwell on it? Let's eat!" Lily immediately dove into the bacon and eggs that were on the table, trying to ignore her friends… for once.
******
Sirius was insulted. "Well, I really thought she'd changed. She was so… nice after you kissed her. Guess her time in the muggle world reversed her perspective."
Remus shrugged, his nose buried in his Defense Against the Dark Arts book entitled Beating the Snot out of the Dark Side by Eville von Hatus. "I dunno, nor do I really care. Lily is you affair Jamsie-boy, not mine." Remus realized how very snobbish that sounded but… oh well.
James didn't reply, but watched Lily eating with Ria, Nichelle and Ayeka. She looked so… bubbly around her friends. He wished that he could make her like that… He sighed I will do it… he thought determinedly. I will make her truly happy. I know I can do it. I know I can.
Something hit James in the side of the head, he looked down and saw a chunk of bread. He looked around to see Lily looking guilty as can be. As soon as she saw him looking, she gave him a mischievous grin and looked back Ria.
James shook his head, god that girl was confusing. He stood up and grabbed his bag. "Well, time to head off to Care of Magical Creatures." The four boys headed off toward the grounds.
******
The day passed rather uneventfully for Lily, classes passed smoothly and she was soon back in the dorm with her friends. Nichelle was painting her nails and listening to disco music on her specially made radio. Nichelle's dad was scientist and has figured out how to infuse the metal of a radio with certain spells that kept it from overloading itself at Hogwarts. Ayeka was reading something she called manga. It was like a comic book except for it was covered in weird line symbols that Ayeka could apparently read. Ria was digging through her trunk for something. Lily was sitting on her bed reading Gone With the Wind. And the fifth girl, Irene, whom they really didn't care for too much, was looking through a fashion magazine.
All of a sudden Ria stood up and shouted "Where are all my panties!!!??"
The other four inhabitants looked up at her in surprise. "What!?" The all asked in unison.
"My underwear! Every single pair is missing!!!" Ria was fuming.
"How is that possible, Ria? No one wants your knickers… besides Peter Pettigrew, of course." Lily giggled, little Peter had a major thing for Ria ever since 2nd year. They loved to tease her about it.
"Lily Malvina Evans! Don't you dare ever bring that up again!" Ria tackled her. The two girls rolled around, giggling, on the bed, knocking things round. They must've made quite a racket because someone poked their head through the door.
"Excuse me?" The person said.
Lily and Ria stopped mauling each other and looked up to see none other than Sirius and James. "What?" they asked, embarrassed
"What, may I ask, is going on in here?" Sirius asked. "You all are scarign the 1st years."
"Ria's panties have all gone missing." Ayeka explained.
"Want us to ask Peter if he has them?" James asked, solemnly.
"NO!!!" Ria shouted. "WHY ME!!!!!!" she sank to the floor in mock pain. "Why me Lord?"
"Mebbe the underpants gnomes stole them…" Sirius suggested.
"Underpants gnomes? What are those?"
"Underpants gnomes! They steal people's underpants so they can sell them and make money!"
The five girls stared at him, dumbstruck. None of them could figure out what the hell he was talking about.
"WHAT?!?!?!?!?" They all shouted.
Sirius and James rolled their eyes. And burst into song.
I'm an underpants gnome and I'm okay,
I work all night and sleep all day.
(I'm and underpants gnome and I'm okay,
I work all night and sleep all day.)
I climb up pants,
I take off skirts,
I go through dresser drawers.
I sometimes get aroused,
And go through women's bras
(And go through women's bras)
I'm an underpants gnome and I'm okay,
I work all night and sleep all day.
I freak out Tweek
I go through phases
Numbered one two three
We get the underpants and go about our work
Back in our nice warm tree.
(Back in our nice warm tree)
I'm un underpants gnome and I'm okay,
I work all night and sleep all day.
I cut off belts.
I tak off clothes.
I'll do anything at all.
I won't stop until I get the undies.
Off everyone near and far.
(everyone near and far.)
The girls just stared at them, slack-jawed.
Lily was the first to speak. "Oh… my… Lord… I'm scared."
Ria jumped back up on the bed and hid behind Lily. "Me too."
Nichelle looked at them patronizingly. "You know, they have help for people like you."
The boys grinned. "Thanks."
Lily shook her head and got up off the bed. "goodnight boys." She gently shoved ((a/n: that's kinda contradictory isn't it?)) them out the door and shut it. After they were gone, she leaned on the door and grinned.
"God they're debases."
Ria laughed." Yep, but they're actually being amusing now. Don't get used to it. Who knows when they'll snap and go back to being assholes."
"Good point."
******
A/n: Well, that's it for chapter 6. I know this is short but… oh well. I can't think of anymore to write. What'd you think? Likie? No Likie? I need input! I'm sick of getting no reviews!!!! I'd better get at least 5 this time. *pouts* I'm so under appreciated.
BTW, yes, I do know that the underpants gnomes are a newer invention but… oh well! I put them here and they're staying.
Anything ya'll would like to see in alter chapters? Questions? Comments? Flames? All are welcome.
Brownie points for anyone who can tell me where the underpants gnomes are from!
BE A RESPONSIBLE READER AND REVIEW!!!!!