Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not mine! Surprise, surprise!
Author's Note: Thanks for continuing to read my story! I hope you enjoy it. Now we ought to return to our confused James. There are so many questions to be answered, and what is all this about Lily liking James?
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Chapter 3: "Just absorb you surroundings."
James…
James woke up at 7:30 the next morning. There was an owl pecking at his window. The owl was gray with spots of black. It was definitely not a usual color even for owls. The persistence of the owl forced James to get up and go to the window. It landed on his bed. James retrieved the letter attached to its leg. It read…
James,
This is Madame Chiang Kai-Shek, my owl. I hope you accept my apology for my rude behavior yesterday. I realize that my outburst was uncalled for. Please do not be angry with me. Will you meet me in the fields to the east of the school at lunch?
Sincerely,
Lily Evans
"What the heck?" James mumbled. Lily was apologizing. He should be the one to apologize; he mocked her lifestyle. Most people would have been searching for retribution, instead of sending apology notes, but then Lily was not most people.
"James…" Peter called out as he rubbed his eyes and yawned.
"Oh, good morning Pete," James greeted him.
"I'm so dead right now," Sirius complained.
"No more late nights!" Peter swore.
"Definitely," Sirius agreed. Remus had gotten up and was currently showering.
"So, how about we get some breakfast!" Peter proposed.
"Oh…right…huh?" James said confused. He was still consumed in the words of Lily Evans. They got ready and walked down to breakfast. The Great Hall was full of talkative students busily discussing their schedules. James picked his up.
"Oh great, Potions with the Slytherins," Sirius complained.
"So what else is knew?" James mumbled.
"Pease guys, I already have a headache!" Peter moaned.
"You'll be happy James, we have Defense Against the Dark Arts tomorrow!" Remus said attempting to lighten the mood.
"Really? Man, so you think Professor Artemis is going to teach us about attacking an Aquirillis yet? He said he would last summer," James began only to be interrupted by Sirius.
"Alright, new topic! Remus why did you have to bring it up?" Sirius laughed.
"Will you look at them?" James frowned glancing at the Slytherin table.
"Oh my gosh! And then he said this, and oh, oh, like I think I might die without my precious cell phone and mall," Sirius mocked in a girly voice.
"We should prank them!" Peter thought up.
"No Pete, let's send them candy!" Sirius laughed sarcastically.
"Brilliant!" James whispered, "Hairrific-Hard Candy!"
"Haha…that's perfect. When they suck it, their hair will change color!" Remus laughed.
"Oh, can we toss in some acne bars!" Sirius yelped with glee. They all shared a good laugh. Their pranks were always hilarious, even though some people didn't think so. No one noticed her, but Lily had sat down a little down the table.
She leaned over and commented, "So James Potter does laugh."
"I laugh!" James protested.
"Ha! That's worth laughing over!" Sirius joked.
"Yea, she's got you there James." Remus smiled.
"Okay, okay, so maybe I could laugh a little more. I just don't see what's all that funny," James said still protesting, but a playfully.
"Everything," Lily laughed. Then she went back into conversation with another Griffyndor girl.
"That girl must be stupid or something," Sirius commented.
"Really…I mean where did she come from?" James asked.
"The United States," Peter said.
"She's out there," James added.
"No, I was talking about how much she likes you," Sirius corrected.
"Whatever," James shook it off.
"I think she's cool," Peter smiled.
"Guys, it's just some other girl," James said annoyed with his friends.
"Can't you just stop and see how awesome she is?" Sirius shook his head at James. James looked over at Lily. She was talking to Esmerelda Biggins, probably the most made-fun-of girl at Hogwarts. Lily was laughing and smiling.
"Let's just go to class," James asked. His chin fell to his chest and he walked to transfiguration in deep thought. "What's so awesome about Lily? She is just any other girl. She's not cool…she's...different. That's it," he thought. James didn't know what he thought, he didn't even know if was dreaming or awake. It was as if some one had reached inside him, and was remolding his life without his knowledge.
Class was the same; it was always the same. The teacher, Professor Harold, was one of those teachers whose lack of spirit reflected into his students. Every class Professor Harold would assign a few transfigurations. The students would finish them within the first half of class. The remainder of the class was filled with talking, sleeping, and running around. Professor Harold didn't care as long as they didn't get him in trouble.
James turned to Lily. Her eyes were transfixed upon the teacher absorbing every word he said. She was probably the only one listening. After she completed every transfiguration, Lily picked up a book and started trying to find other spells she could attempt. James stared at her in half-confusion half-fascination. Her auburn hair was so beautiful; it was tossed into a bun. She wore no make-up.
"Oh class is over? Uh…do Chapter 2, Section 1 for homework," Professor Harold yelled as his class scurried out the door laughing and chatting.
"I uh…I…uh…can't hang out with you guys at lunch today" James mumbled.
"Wait, why?" Remus asked.
"James, you didn't get detention already did you?" Peter laughed.
"You pranked without us!" Sirius said betrayed.
"No…uh…I…have to…uh…well, I am late. Got to go!" James lied hurriedly. He walked off the other direction.
"I can't believe he already pulled something off!" Peter said in admiration.
"No, he's going to meet Lily," Sirius reassured him.
"Wait, how do you know that?" Peter asked.
"She send him an owl this morning," Sirius explained.
"He told you, and not us," Remus said hurt.
"No, I found it on his bed. I figure he's just embarrassed, but he better tell us eventually," Sirius explained further.
"Oh I see," Remus nodded.
James was rushing towards the eastern exit of the castle. He kept turning around to see if anyone was following him. Before he got there James paused.
"What am I doing?" James asked himself. "She's just some girl. All I have to do is explain that she doesn't have to feel sorry and leave. Oh man, what am I doing?"
He walked up and swallowed hard when he saw her. Lily was sitting in the grass, looking out over the mountains. Her hair was blowing wild in the wind. She was stroking the ground with her hand. A dandelion crown lay among the waves of hair atop her head. She looked so peaceful, like an angel. James walked up looking down at the ground.
She turned around. Her brilliant green eyes matched the color of the grass.
"So, you came," she said almost in a whisper.
"I came," James replied equally as quiet.
"I knew you would," she smiled.
"So, uh…what is it that you wanted to talk about?" James asked. He sat next to her in the grass.
Lily picked up James's hand and whispered, "Just look, isn't beautiful up here?"
"Yea I suppose," James said in an apprehensive manner.
After a long pause James said, "So what do you think of Professor" Lily cut him off as she dropped his hand and pressed her finger to his lips.
"Just absorb your surroundings," she explained like it was common practice.
Feeling his discomfort she started to talk to him, "I think he ought to find something about transfiguration that empowers him. It would make him happier, and he could inspire his students."
"Wait, are you talking about Professor Harold?" James asked.
"Well that was what you were going to ask me wasn't it?" she asked.
"Well yea," James said still confused.
"So, what's your family like?" Lily asked interested.
"Oh, well I have a little sister, Emma. My Dad works for the ministry. My mom is pretty cool. She cares about us a lot," James explained being very vague.
"I think your family sounds nice," said Lily smiling.
"I suppose. You came here from The United States right? What was that like?"
"Well it wasn't very different from here. My school was based in an abandoned Buddhist monastery. It was really cool because we were able to study some of the things they left behind. I think Buddhism is fascinating, although I find living in a castle equally amazing. There was this beautiful Zen garden, and off in the woods there was a waterfall. I used to go to. Oh, how I used to love to go there and read books as the water rushed through the rocks. I miss it a lot. It's like, it's like I left a part of me there," Lily explained with such a passion that James did not know she possessed.
"It sounds great," James said, still unsure of what he felt.
"It was," Lily said as the dreamy look on her face soon focused on James. Lily took James's hand and pressed a flower into it. She looked up and smiled.
"I don't get you Lily," James whispered.
"You are not supposed to," Lily replied with a broad smile leaving James in complete perplexity.
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Disclaimer: Thanks for reading and especially for responding! To those of you who think this may turn into a Lily-James Love-Hate, have no fear. If it seems like James hates Lily right now it is only because she confuses him. He might want to hate her, but he can't because he is so utterly confused. You see, James has no idea what he wants. Well thanks for sticking with my story! By the way Madame Chiang Kai-Shek (I hope I spelled it right!) once said "We live in the present, we dream of the future, but we learn eternal truths from the past," and "We write our own destiny, we become what we do," which are two of my favorite quotes. ^^Lily named her owl after her!^^
To all who have inspirational words, may you shine on others forever,
LilDucky18
