Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not mine! Surprise, surprise!
Author's Note: I haven't been able to check my reviews yet, but since I only put the story up last night I have few expectations. I suppose you want to know what happens to our disgruntled James and joyous Lily. I am deciding whether to put in a chapter about the same time except in Lily's head. What do you think? Keep reading and reviewing!!
~^ ~^ ~^ ~^ ~^ ~^ ~^ ~^ ~^ ~^
Chapter 2: Coasting
James…
First years gaped at the sight of Hogwarts's Great Hall. The ceiling (as we all know) was enchanted to reflect the sky outside. Four long wooden tables faced them upon entry. Each had a different tablecloth. The tablecloths were made of fine material and very colorful. One table sat at the front of the room. Presently a group of teachers sat facing the arriving students at that table. Every teacher had a welcoming smile and a hope for the new beginning. James barely glanced around as he stumbled to the table on the right and took a seat. His friends did the same. James looked up and noticed Lily, the girl he had met on the train. She was touching the tablecloths in admiration, smiling at the stars, gazing upon the portraits, and altogether reveling in her surroundings.
"You see that girl there?" James pointed out to his friends.
"Yea, what about her?" Remus asked. He didn't notice anything wrong. Of course, Remus never judged.
"Well, look at her. She's a bit odd," James laughed.
"I suppose, but James you were never the one to judge first off," Remus noted.
"I guess," James mumbled.
"Students if you please, I have a few start of the term announcements," Dumbledore began. "To the first years, and to all who need reminding, the Dark Forest is strictly out of bounds. Also you may recall the tree I planted only 6 summers ago. It should be regarded as dangerous; any student who does not wish to be injured should make his path one that does not include the Willow. Ah yes, and one more announcement. I will ask you to remember a time when you were starting something new. Change is always very frightening. With that thought I would like to introduce a new student. She is a transfer from America, and I am sure she is quite a bit scared at this moment. Please help me to welcome her into our school, Miss Lily Evans."
Everyone clapped as the smiling girl walked up on to the stage. She gave Dumbledore a hug like an old friend. Then she sat upon the stool at the front of the room. The school sorting hat was placed upon her head.
It took a few moments, but soon enough the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" A burst of cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table like a title wave. James clapped, but definitely lacked the enthusiasm of his friends who were standing on the bench whistling and clapping. They were rowdy and loved to do things that people wouldn't expect. James had the attitude that he was too cool to stand up on his chair. What was so excited about this girl anyways?
Lily ran over to join her table. Sirius hopped down off his bench followed by Remus and Peter. Each feel to one knee and kissed her hand. Lily laughed merrily. She noticed James laugh, but he was definitely not as happy as his friends. They escorted Lily in between James and Remus.
"Oh hi!" Lily laughed amidst much the happy glow she projected.
"Hello," James said with a small smile.
"Uh…James would you be so kind?" Sirius asked James still smiling.
"Oh, I apologize. Lily this is Sirius, Remus, and Peter," James introduced.
"Better known as the Marauders my dear," Sirius laughed with a wide smile. Lily joined him. James knew Sirius liked to flirt, but he was acting as if Lily was worthy of a crown, or was she? James wasn't sure what was going on. He frowned at the sight of his laughing friends. He was supposed to be making them laugh. They were supposed to be plotting against the selfish and distorted Slytherins. This, this Lily girl was certainly pretty, but what was it about her that entranced him so? He frowned again and got up from the table.
"James, where are you going?" Peter asked.
"Oh, I'm beat. I think I am going to make it an early night," James explained.
"Do you mind if I come?" Lily asked timidly. "I would love to see the common room."
"Oh, umm…it's really…nothing special," James assured her.
"Just the same, do you mind?" Lily asked again.
"Well…I suppose…no, don't mind," James said unsure himself. Lily smiled and got her things together.
"Thank you," she commented as they left the Great Hall. As they walked down the hallway, Lily ran her fingers across the stone walls and paused at every picture to glance at its magnificence. She walked slowly and often closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. James noticed a little annoyed because he just wanted to get back to the common room, but more confused. Lily paused again to take a deep breath.
James, unable to contain himself, burst out, "what is it with you?"
Lily ignored his statement she opened her eyes and turned to him. Her hand touched his cheek. "Why are you so unhappy?" she asked. Then she returned to his original comment feeling the stress that unhappiness evoked in James, "have you ever just stopped to take in your surroundings? It's all so beautiful. Sometimes I feel like it's overwhelming you know? I bet this place has an interesting history."
"I'm not unhappy," James said in his defense.
Lily laughed. She smiled up and said, "Potter, you couldn't fool anybody. Why, I have barely seen you smile since I met you!"
"So?" James asked; he was confused and annoyed. "Why is everything so marvelous to you? Just because I am not prancing around here like I am in some sort of fairy tale doesn't mean I'm not happy. Life isn't all haha you know!"
Lily was upset at his mocking of her. "What is the point of doing anything if it won't make you happy? Why coast through life being bored and unhappy. You act like you are just waiting to die." This was the first time James had seen Lily a little bit upset. What she said had hit him hard. He wasn't coasting through life, waiting to die. Lily was wrong. She had to be wrong. He stomped off upset. "James, James I apologize. I shouldn't have said that," Lily called after him. She sat down and put her head in her knees.
James felt bad about leaving her, but what was he supposed to do? She had hit him where it hurt. No one before had ever criticized him for being unhappy. They pitied him, or assumed everything was alright, but never criticized him. What was it about Lily? She was so wrong, but some how so right. He was unhappy, but life wasn't all that great, there is nothing he could do about it. Why was Lily getting to him? James couldn't go back to the common room; he would have to face Lily eventually. He fled to the one place he knew he could be alone. In the library among the pages and pages of literature he had his own place. A simple spell would reveal his hide-away. It was hidden under a rug in one of the many rooms of defense against the dark arts books.
The room was exquisite, with two tall windows, a grand fireplace, and in the center there were a few chairs and couches. James flopped down and noticed something he hadn't before. On the fireplace mantle was the most interesting figurine. It was very old and hadn't been cleaned in a very long amount of time. It was of a boy, much like himself. The boy had James's outrageously messy brown hair. He was sitting among a group of people about his own age. One had the striking red hair of a Weasley. The most noticeable thing about the boy was his eyes. They were a vibrant shade of green. Almost, almost like Lily's eyes. James frowned at the thought of Lily, but as he was falling asleep a gentle smile crossed his face.
James woke up and ran to the common room. It must have been 2:30 because he could hear the grandfather clock chime the half-hour. Good thing he had his invisibility cloak with him. As he entered the common room his friends were sitting at the fireplace playing exploding snap.
"Fall asleep in the library?" Sirius asked not looking up from his game.
"Yea," James noted rubbing his head. "I didn't think you would be up."
"So, Lily is pretty amazing isn't she?" Remus asked.
"What?" James asked. "She's just another girl," but she wasn't. James knew this. Lily was far from any other girl.
"Well, we got into a pretty cool discussion about stars and astronomy," Remus said happily.
"Yea, and who would have known Lily knew so much about dragons," Peter laughed.
"Oh, really?" James asked.
"James, she is really trying to be your friend. You should give her a chance. I think you would like her," Sirius commented. "Plus, I think she has a little bit of a crush on you."
"Whoa, wrong lane Sirius! Lily was just lecturing me in the hallway about not being happy enough or something. She never ever could like me!" James assured him.
"All I know is, she didn't look at any of us the way she did at you. When Lily was starring at you during dinner, it was like you were one of those paintings she loves so much." Sirius went on. James fell asleep at around 3:30. That day was possibly the most confusing he had ever been through. Lily Evans was twisting his world out of shape.
~^ ~^ ~^ ~^ ~^ ~^ ~^ ~^ ~^ ~^ ~^
Note from the author: Thanks to everyone who has been reading so far! Feel free to respond1 Just remember to include some tips. If I forgot anything or misplaced somebody don't hesitate to tell me. I'm blonde, what's your excuse? Be a free thinker, and review my story. Also to remind you that updating this story is incredibly hard due to the fact that internet has still not been set up at my mom's house. I think it's a worth-while enough to wait for though. Please R+R!!
Very Contently,
Lilducky18
