Sorry this has taken so long to get out. I've had a few mishaps with it. And here are just the normal disclaimers. I don't own Harry Potter or have any affiliation with it except my own obsession. And I'd also just like to point out that I really don't think James is a jerk—he's just written that way in this story sometimes. And I'd like to thank Jayce for helping me with some of the more "difficult" parts where only a guy can help *lol* Thanks!! (And I'd of course like to thank my bestest friends Andrea and Manda (who have helped me with my stories) and my beta reader Aly. Love ya guys!) And this story should be finished in 2-3 chapters. This chapter also hasn't been edited cuz I wanted to get it out asap. Songs used are It's Your Love (duet of Faith Hill and Tim McGraw) and Right Here waiting for you (Richard Marx).
Boy Against Girl – Chapter 13
The Dance
James looked in the mirror and smiled. He was a prefect! So was Sirius and Remus, but other then that he wasn't sure if anyone else he knew was. 'Maybe Lily is one.' He thought hopefully. He had tried to be friends with her after the wedding. They had been so close during the past school year, telling each other everything. She'd been a little weird this summer. That was the only word he could use to describe her actions toward him. She would barely even look at him! He'd tried talking to her about it, but she'd never answer. He didn't know what he could to do to get her to talk to him again—but he was determined to find out. This was, after all, his sixth year. To add to his success he was Quidditch Captain. The only thing he couldn't say he was happy about was his friendship with Lily, but that was soon to change.
**********
Lily shined her prefects badge. It was so…perfect. She'd tried hard to always excel and knew it was starting to pay off. The thought of all the school work she'd have to do to remain at the top of her class made her a little queasy, but other then that she was so excited to go to school and be able to see all of her friends again. The only person she'd really seen a lot of was James. She didn't know how to act around him anymore. Her head kept telling her she shouldn't like him; that all it was doomed to be was disaster, but her heart wouldn't listen. The only way to stop from liking him was to stay away, but James was so impossible!
**********
After the sorting, but during the feast, James tried to look over at Lily. Had she purposefully sat next to Sirius and Remus so that he couldn't look her straight in the eye? She'd played Chess with Remus the whole time on the train and hadn't said hardly a word to him. Why was she acting so weird? "Hey Lily, you know how we were going to go to the dance last year, but it got cancelled cause of those muggle killings?"
"Um yeah." She muttered.
"Well do you wanna go this year?"
'Think of an excuse…I'm going with Remus? No, he'll want to take Andrea, who looks so much prettier this year! Um…Sirius will take Andromada…and I'd never go with Peter…um…she was stuck!' "Yeah of course, James. It'll be fun." She replied with a smile.
"Great! We can talk about that later. I have to go to sleep now and think over some Quidditch stuff. G'night everyone!" He walked around the table to where Lily was and gave her a kiss on the forehead and then left towards the Common Room.
Lily started blushing. What was he doing?
"So you two are still dating?" Erin asked in her screechy voice.
"Umm….I don't know?" Lily said, befuddled at what to answer.
"Oh you poor thing! It's ok though. James usually doesn't stay with any one person for too long so if he's still even remotely with you after a whole year and a summer you should feel blessed."
Lily rolled her eyes. "I'm going to bed." And left the room.
Andromada glared at her. "Lily is going through a really tough time right now. You had no right to say any of that too her." And chased after Lily.
Sirius got up. "Dromada wait for me!"
Remus looked at Andrea, and she looked at him and they both nodded and stood up from the table. "Good night." And followed the rest of the group out.
**********
Lily stormed into the Common Room where James was reading Quidditch Through the Ages. She stopped when she saw him. "Hi James. I thought you were going to be in your dorm."
"Yeah but I figured it'd be quiet in here since no one would be here." He gave her one of his grins.
"Fine, if you don't want me to be here I'll leave!" And she turned to leave the common room again. Something, or rather someone, grabbed her arm.
"Lily, you know I didn't mean it that way. I love being anywhere near where you are."
"James…"
"What is wrong Lily? You hardly even acknowledge that I exist anymore." She still wasn't looking at him.
"It's complicated…" They heard footsteps coming toward the common room and they both rolled their eyes.
"I think we need to talk." James said simply.
"There's nothing to talk about."
James turned her around. "I think there's a lot that we need to talk about. Unfortunatly…"
Andromada bursting through the common room door interrupted him. "I can't believe what Erin said! That little pig had no right."
James looked over at Lily. "Lil what happened?"
"It's nothing." She mumbled.
"Nothing? When someone purposefully rubs something in your face that they know will bother you it's something." Andromada fumed.
Lily looked at Andromada and pleaded with her eyes. Lily had cried so many nights when she had told Andromada about her feelings for James and how she hated the fact that Erin and him had been a couple.
"What are you all talking about?" James almost yelled.
Just then Sirius, Remus, and Andrea burst into the room.
"Lil, I can't believe she did that to you."
"That little brat! Someone should drop her off a tower."
"Lily, it'll be ok. If you want me to beat her up I will." The three said at once.
"What did I miss?!" James now yelled.
The three looked surprised to see him. Andromada had obviously told Sirius and Andrea must have told Remus. She sighed and started walking up to the Girls Dorm's.
"Not that easy Lily." James pulled her back again. He wanted so much to be a part in her life and she was keeping him out! He hated seeing her hurt in the first place, like she had been most of the summer, but to see all of his closest friends know about what was making her this way made it even worse. "Everybody if you would please leave. Lily and I need to talk."
Andromada bit her lip but gave Lily a squeeze. "It'll be ok."
Sirius looked at James. "Be careful."
Remus nodded in agreement.
Andrea gave Lily a hug. She was actually taller then Lily now. "Be strong."
Lily smiled at everyone, trying not to roll her eyes and their dramatics, and walked over to the couch. "Yes oh mighty one who can control everyone when he deems it necessary? You wanted to talk, so talk."
"Lil, don't act that way. I think we really need to talk and I can't do that with all of them in here. And why do they all get to know whatever this big secret is that's so 'unimportant' when it obviously is ruining your life!"
"I'll get over it." I hope.
"What you don't seem to understand is that it's ruining my life not knowing." He ran a hand through his hair. "I know we haven't always gotten along, but that all seemed to change last year."
"James…"
"I'm not quite finished yet." He smiled slightly. "Lily, I care for you a lot…and that's kinda scary for me. I can't help but feel more complete and safe when I'm around you. And whenever I look into your eyes it's like I'm holding you, and I never want to let you go."
This was not the James that Lily had been prepared to face. She'd thought he'd try and get her to tell him everything that was going on, and she'd be prepared to lie…but this was different. "James…you're scaring me…"
"Lily, every time you walk into the same room as me I can't help but stare and wish that you could love me the same way that I love you."
Lily stared up at to him. She wanted to yell 'But I do love you James!' But she didn't know if this was just a line or…she bit her lip. "James…"
James moved Lily right in front of the fireplace so that the fire reflected in her beautiful green eyes. "I want this to be perfect." He whispered and leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. "I love you, Lily Evans."
A tear rolled down her cheek. "I love you too James."
**********
James held Lily's hand as they walked to class. "The dance is going to be a costume one again, so what should we go as?"
"Romeo and Juliet?" Lily asked. "No…too tragic."
"Who?"
Lily laughed. "Don't worry about it."
"Whatever you say, hun." He smiled.
Sirius and Andromada burst out of a corridor. "We have our idea!" They laughed.
"Um should we be scared?" James asked.
Sirius just grinned. "You guys will see." And then they ran down the hall holding hands.
Lily looked worried. "Those two." She shook her head.
"I don't know what we'll be yet, but I'll be good." James grinned.
"Uh oh!" Lily laughed. "But we'd better get to class. Prefect's can't be late you know."
James groaned. "I knew I'd end up regretting this!"
**********
Lily ran down the corridors. "There's no way on earth your gonna catch me, Potter!" She said laughing.
"Wanna bet?" James replied while chasing after her.
"10 galleons says you can't." Laughed Andromada, who was watching the couple.
James stopped for a moment. "Your on." Then went back to chasing Lily. "I'll get you my pretty."
Lily didn't stop for a moment. She headed toward the stairs that were the fastest shortcut towards the girl's bathroom.
"Cheater!" He yelled. If she was going to cheat so was he. He took out the Marauder's Map that his friends had made over the summer. There was a passage way somewhere around here. He walked up to a gargoyle and mumbled some words. A passage opened and he started running. He could see the dot that said 'Lily Evans' above it. He was getting closer to her. He came out the end of the passageway and tackled her. "Hah!"
Lily screamed. "How did you do that?!"
James just grinned and kissed her. "I have my ways." He bent down to kiss her again and Lily pushed him off.
"None of that Mr. Potter." He heard Prof. McGonagall say.
"Err…hello Professor. Lily and I, we were just…"
"I don't think I want to know what you were doing. This is unacceptable behavior from Prefects. You should be glad I was the only one who saw you. Now I suggest you go and finish your homework and get ready for the Halloween Ball."
"Yes Professor." James and Lily said in unison. Once Prof. McGonagall was out of sight they went into hysterics.
"Did you see her face?!" Lily asked.
"None of that Mr. Potter." James said in a high Scottish accent.
Lily started laughing again as Sirius and Andromada came up the stairs.
"I believe you owe me 10 galleons Andromada." James grinned.
**********
Walking toward the common room. "Lily we don't know what Sirius and Andromada are going to be, Remus can't go—"
"Why can't Remus go?" Lily asked.
"Umm…you know."
"Oh!" It dawned on her that it was going to full moon. "What is Andrea gonna do?"
"What does Andrea have to do with anything?" James asked lost.
"Don't you know anything about your best friends James? They've liked each other for a year now, and have started holding hands. I mean duh!"
"Um…yeah…I knew that."
"Sure honey." Lily said while patting his shoulder.
"Anyway back to the subject, what are we going to go as? I mean the dance is tonight!"
"Hmmm…good question." Lily thought for a moment and then started giggling and whispered something into his ear.
"No! There is no way on earth I'm going to do that Lily Dawn Evans."
Lily pouted. "Don't you love me?" James' face didn't change. "Look it'll be funny and you'll look adorable!"
"No!! I will not look adorable. I'll look an idiot."
"You look like that already." Lily mumbled.
"What?"
"Oh nothing, nothing." She grinned. "Come one Jamie it'll be cool."
James groaned. "Fine. But no curls."
**********
James walked down the stairs wearing a short white toga, his normally black hair was blonde and had curls in it, and he was wearing a wreath of leaves. He wasn't wearing a smile however. Lily looked up at him as if she was trying not to laugh. James was so cute as a cherub! (aka one of those little angels like cupid kinda) James looked down at Lily and tried not to stare. She was wearing a long and flowing red robe, that actually went well with her hair, horns, a tail, and a…a pitchfork thing. She looked gorgeous for the devil.
"If that's what the devil really looked like I wouldn't mind going to Hell. No matter how hot it was." James thought. "Lily, you look, you look…wow."
Lily giggled and bit her lip. "Thanks James." She walked up to him and ran her hands through his curls. "You certainly look different, but cute anyway. Kind of like a Timmy Geoble."
"Who?"
She giggled. "An american muggle."
James didn't know who he was, but he knew he didn't like that fact that Lily thought he was cute.
They sat on the couch in front of the fireplace waiting for Sirius and Andromada to come down. When the heard the clanking of armor they looked toward the boys dorms. Nothing. They looked at the girls and there was a girl tromping down the stairs.
"Um…who are you?" Lily asked.
The unknown person raised the lid of her helmet to reveal a grinning Andromada. "Great costume huh? We had to pinch it from one of the halls, but Dumbledore won't mind." She said.
"Um if you're a knight, what is Sirius? Or are you not really going together?" James asked, looking somewhat worried.
Just then Sirius came gliding down the stairs, his hair was poofed, and he was wearing makeup. He was also wearing a light blue dress.
Lily gasped. "That's mine!"
Sirius grinned. "We had to make it longer and a bit wider, but I wanted to wear light blue and Andromada wouldn't let me do it to her light blue dress."
James was holding his stomach laughing hysterically.
Sirius looked over at him. "Who is that…froofhead?"
"I'm your best friend, Mr. First Wizard Drag Queen." James grinned.
"Actually I'll have to correct you there. I'm a DiD."
"What?" James and Lily said in unison.
Sirius sighed as if they were too stupid to get it. "Damsel in Distress."
Lily started laughing hysterically. "You guys are too funny. But I hate to be the one to break up this…whatever we are…but if we don't leave soon we won't even be fashionably late."
"What about Andrea?" Andromada asked.
"She isn't coming." James but in before Lily could say anything.
"She didn't wanna go if Remus couldn't." Lily supplied the rest.
"Ah. Wouldn't Remus want her to go anyway?"
"Yeah." Sirius said. "But he doesn't know."
**********
Andrea snuck into the boy's dorm and took out James' carefully hid cloak. There was no way she was going to let Remus do this alone with out his best friends. She had seen how they got the tree to open and figured she'd find someway to do it. She walked down toward the Whomping Willow and grabbed a long stick that was close by. She pushed the knot she had seen pushed so many times and walked into the opening under it.
**********
James took Lily's hand. "Would you like to dance?"
"Nothing would please me more." She smiled.
(I know they didn't have this song then but I like it!!)
Dancin' in
the dark
Middle of the night
Takin' your heart
And holdin' it tight
Emotional touch
Touchin' my skin
And askin' you to do
What you've been doin' all over again
Oh, it's a beautiful thing
Don't think I can keep it all in
I just gotta let you know
What it is that won't let me go
James pulled Lily closer and whispered into her ear. "I love you, Lily."
"I love you too James." She whispered back.
It's your
love
It just does somethin' to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder
About the spell I'm under
Oh, it's your love..
Sirius walked Andromada away from the punch. "We haven't danced yet."
"I know." She whispered, pulling him to the dance floor.
Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn't stop the pain
If I see you next to never
How can we say forever
Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you…
**********
Andrea stood by the door to the Shrieking Shack, hearing Remus' howls of pain.
'How can Remus stand this alone?' She thought. "Well he survived alone for the first eleven years of his life."
She slowly put her hand on the knob and turned the handle. She took a deep breath and walked into the room, hearing the rabid sounds of the werewolf inside. Walking into the room she saw the large wolf, with the same color hair as Remus.
"Remus it's me." She whispered hoping he'd be recognizing her voice. She hadn't totally read all about werewolf's as she had hoped.
The werewolf, or Remus, growled. Andrea bit her lip. "Remus…." She murmured worriedly. He howled and lunged at Andrea.
Andrea shrieked in terror and backed into the corner.
**********
Great place to end it huh? Next chapter will be out soon!!! REVIEW!!!!!
