Lily in Full Blossom
Chapter 03: An Understanding
Pre-Author's Notes: This fic is based on the manga, Hanazakari no Kimitachi e also known as For You in Full Blossom. I had to change some elements from the Harry Potter story to make it work, so live with it. Yes, I am aware that some of the facts from the Harry Potter series is off, but I had to change it for the story. ^^
"I want you to stay out of James Potter's way," said Julie as she bent over Lily.
Lily felt her pulse quicken as she looked into Julie's gray eyes. "I'm not in his way. I stay out of his way," she said.
"Good. You need to understand how important James is to Gryffindor. To this entire school. He can't afford to have any distractions. If you keep bothering him, he'll never get back on the Quidditch field," said Julie.
"I'm not doing anything. Besides, it's his business if he wants to play Quidditch or not," said Lily bravely. She was starting to get mad.
"How dare you assume to know anything?! Don't act like you understand!" screamed Julie as she raised her hand to strike Lily. She closed her eyes, but to her surprise someone grabbed Julie's hand.
"I forgot something in my room, so I went to go and get it. I was wondering why there was so much yelling," said James in an annoyed tone. "Julie, whatever I decide to do is my business, not yours or anyone else's. Stop acting like my manager."
Julie gave him a hurt look as her eyes filled with tears. "Now, just lay off. Leave Lucas alone. He has nothing to do with this," ordered James further. He let go of Julie's wrist and to Lily's surprise, he grabbed her hand as he walked off, dragging her along.
Lily stumbled forward as James dragged her along. She turned back for a moment to see the hurt look on Julie's face. Lily bit her lip because she realized that Julie cared about James a lot. How could he get so angry at someone just for caring about him? Lily wretched her hand free at that moment. She stopped cold.
"What's wrong with you?" asked James with a sigh.
"I would ask you the same thing," replied Lily as she looked at the floor. "She was only worried about you, but what you did was mean."
"Fine, whatever," said James. "I don't care." He turned and walked off.
He kept going until he reached the Great Hall. His friends were waiting for him. "Geez, James how could you forget it? You keep getting distracted," said Sirius.
"The full moon is weeks away," said James as he took a seat. "Don't sweat it."
"You guys really don't have to go through so much trouble on my account," said Remus.
"Why wouldn't we?" asked Peter. "Besides, this should be fun."
"What are you four up to?" asked a voice from behind Peter. It made him seize up and squeak. He didn't have to turn around to know who was speaking.
"Sod off, Snape!" ordered Sirius.
"I'm sure that you four aren't up to anything," said Severus Snape. His black hair was shading his eyes. His dark eyes managed to flash through. Remus looked at him in a bored manner before becoming more interested in his potatoes.
"You don't want to look foolish again, Snape. How many times are you going to turn us in for things we haven't done? You know that your creditability is already down the tubes," said James calmly.
"I'll get you, Potter. You will go down for sure, if it's the last thing I do," said Snape. "One day you'll make a mistake. Oh, by the way, where's your little boyfriend?"
"What the Hell are you talking about?" asked James, even though he knew who Snape was talking about.
"That short kid with the red hair...I didn't know you liked red heads," replied Snape.
James' pressed his lips together. He really didn't care if anyone thought he was gay because he wasn't. Not in the slightest bit, and he was talking some pleasure out of the fact that Snape was wrong. "Whatever you say, Snape," chuckled James.
Snape betrayed a look of surprise because he was expecting James to get riled up and start a fight. Instead, he was sitting there giving him the trademark Potter smirk. Snape's look of surprise became a scowl as he turned around and stalked off.
Sirius looked at James, but he smiled because Snape hadn't notice the huge piece of parchment on the table. The Marauders laughed because Snape couldn't catch what was going on under his overgrown nose.
*
Lily didn't know where to go. She didn't feel like eating. At the rate she was going, she was going to starve herself. She went towards the only place where she could talk to someone who would understand. Lily was never good with understanding boys. She knew that Bella was busy because she was a Ravenclaw prefect.
She walked to the infirmary. She saw Dr. Pomfrey drinking a glass of wine. He was reading over scrolls. "Um...Dr. Pomfrey," said Lily bravely.
He looked up at her, "Ah, Mister Evans, are you ready to discuss things with me now?" he asked her. She gave him a nod. "Then, close the door." She did as he ordered.
"Now, tell me why you're here, Mister Evans. Tell me everything," said Dr. Pomfrey.
Lily sighed and poured out her story. She told him how much she wanted to meet James Potter because she loved Quidditch and how bad everything had turned out. She told him how much she just wanted to be his friend. She felt like she had made a mess out of everything.
Dr. Pomfrey listened without interrupting her. At the end he said, "I see your problem is that you're not being honest with yourself this way. If you can't be honest with yourself, then other people can tell."
"So, you think that he thinks I'm fake?" asked Lily. "I know that I'm pretending to be a boy, but I'm still me."
Dr. Pomfrey sighed. "That's why I can't stand listening to girls' problems. You make things so much more complicated than they really are. That's why I like men better."
Lily's eyes widened in surprise. She gaped at him. "Y-you are--"
"Yes, I'm gay," finished Dr. Pomfrey. "I find women to be too complex to deal with. Men are so much more fun. In fact, I sort of fell asleep halfway through your little story."
And he's supposed to be a doctor? What is this? There's something seriously wrong with this person. How can such a self centered person be a doctor? Isn't medicine a caring profession? thought Lily. He's not a freak because he's gay. At least he's honest...but really he could stand to be a little more compassionate.
"I'm not going to give up. I'm going to stay optimistic," insisted Lily. "No matter what you say."
Dr. Pomfrey chuckled softly. "I wouldn't expect you to give up so easily. Otherwise, it wouldn't be interesting. Don't worry. I don't plan on telling the Headmaster or anyone else about your little secret, Lucas. I find this whole thing rather amusing."
Lily gave a sigh of relief. It felt good to be able to talk to someone. Even if it was someone like Dr. Pomfrey. She sensed that he cared just a little bit, but it was deep down inside. She sighed as she went back to Great Hall. She actually felt like eating now.
*
Over the next two weeks, Lily tried her best to be herself. Perhaps she was trying too hard. She noticed that James and his friends had a tendency to cause trouble in the school. She now knew that the Marauders were troublemakers.
"Where are you off to?" she asked him from her bed late one evening.
James stiffened at her question. There was a lot of preparation going on because the full moon was arriving soon. He didn't have time to stop and make up excuses to answer Lily's questions. "Why do you care? Stop pestering me!" he shouted. "Why do you think I yelled at Julie?! For who's sake do you think I did that for?! Have you ever thought of that?!"
Lily didn't say a word as he yelled at her. He was hovering over her. James finally spun around and stalked off. Lily stood up to go and follow him to apologize for being a pest. However, she felt weak at the knees and sank onto the floor.
The moment James set off outside he felt an unexpected surge of guilt. He walked towards the kitchens. Maybe, he should apologize. He yelled at her, but she was only pestering him because she was worried about him. Maybe, he could pick up something for her at the kitchens.
Lily sat on the floor. She wasn't crying, but she wanted to. James had left the door slightly open. Frank Longbottom was walking by because he had to return Lily's notes. "Hey, Lucas. I brought back your notes," he stopped when he saw her sitting on the floor. "What's wrong?"
"I did it again. It's becoming my specialty to make James mad," said Lily as she gave Frank a sad smile. The tears started coming as she laughed. "Why am I crying?"
I want to hug him. No. What the Hell am I thinking? Thought Frank as he reached out his hand. He cleared his throat. "Cry when you want to cry."
"Thank you," said Lily. Frank patted her on the head, thinking at the same time, This is fine. This is fine.
James was walking back with some strawberry juice. It was Lily's favorite. He was wondering why he was getting so worked up over her. He stopped at the door when he heard Lily's voice. She was talking to someone.
"Sorry. I suppose I really embarrassed myself," said Lily.
"Moron. Don't worry about it," said Frank. "If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, just let me know."
James was wondering if he should go inside or not. He was going to put his hand on the knob. He turned around and walked away. He ran into another Gryffindor in the hall. "Here," he said as he tossed it to the third year.
"What?" he asked.
"It's too sweet for me," said James as he walked off. He had a meeting with his friends. But somehow, he just didn't feel like keeping his appointment.
*
The next morning, James woke up to find that Lily was gone. He decided to get ready for the day, even though it was a Saturday. He wanted to go to Hogsmeade this weekend to get some more pranks from the prank shop. He was headed for the Great Hall when Frank stopped him.
"James, I need to talk to you for a moment," said Frank with a very serious look on his face.
"Sure," said James as he followed Frank to another corridor. They got up to one of the higher floors and into one of the terraces of the castle.
Lily was wandering aimlessly around the castle and meandered outside. She didn't want to go to Hogsmeade. She stopped when she collided with someone's chest. She looked up to see Reggie Baker smiling at her. "What's wrong, Lucas?" he asked.
"Huh?"
"Your eyes look red. Were you crying?" he asked with concern.
"Um..." started Lily.
"Come with me. Let's talk and get some thing to eat. We can talk about it," he said as he led her off.
Frank looked at James with narrowed eyes. James was wondering what was bothering him. Frank was usually so easy going. "What did you want to talk to me about?" asked James.
"What do you think you're doing with Lucas?" demanded Frank.
"None of your business," replied James.
"I'm making it my business," said Frank. I don't care if this makes me gay. If it stops Lucas from crying like that again, then I'll act like this. "What is it that you don't like about him?!" Frank grabbed James' shirt.
"You don't even know what the Hell you're talking about. You're just an outsider. Shut up, Frank," said James without any attempt to stop him. He was about to really tell Frank off, but he spotted something below. It was Reggie talking with Lily. They had gone off inside. "What the Hell?!"
"What?" demanded Frank. James wretched himself free and ran. "Hey! James! I'm not done talking to you yet! Come back here!"
James ignored Frank as he ran downstairs. That idiot. Consorting with that playboy. Has she no sense of danger? He thought frantically as he ran. "Hey! I was talking to you, James!" shouted Frank after him.
Damn it. They're gone thought James, still ignoring Frank.
"I know where they went, Potter," said a voice from the bushes. James whirled around. Rita Skeeter was standing there with a camera. "But, I'm not telling you where. It's going to be tomorrow's big scoop." She had a catty smile on her face.
James grabbed her. "SPIT IT OUT!" he roared.
"In the head boy and head girl's meeting room," replied Rita, not expecting James to blow up. He pushed Rita away from him. She collide with Frank.
"Take care of her, Frank," said James as he took off running again.
"What am I supposed to do?" asked Frank.
"She's the one who's been taking those pictures of Lucas," replied James.
"What?" asked Frank as he grabbed Rita. "You've got some nerve!"
James was running towards the head boy and girl meeting room. Damn it. Why do I care so much? Why do I care what happens to her? He burst through the door without knocking. "Lucas!" he called.
Lily and Reggie were having some tea when he came into the room. She looked up at him in surprise. "James?"
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm having tea with Reggie," replied Lily. Reggie was taking a sip, while she spoke. James looked at her with a stunned look on his face.
Reggie stood up. "I have to be going. I have a date waiting for me in Hogsmeade," he announced.
"Thank you very much for the tea. It was very good," said Lily happily.
"No problem. Come back sometime," said Reggie as he gave her a wink. She smiled and nodded. He walked up to the doorway, which James was still standing in front of. "Don't pick on him anymore. Or you'll have to hear it from me," Reggie told James in a low enough tone, so that Lily couldn't hear him.
As soon as he was gone, there was another uncomfortable silence in the room. "Did I ever tell you why I quit Quidditch?" asked James.
"No," replied Lily.
"Last year, I was supposed to be in the final match of the Quidditch game against the Slytherin. A few nights before the game, I went out with my friends. We thought it would be interesting to go to a Muggle town. You know just to look around. Besides, we didn't realize that we'd be missed. A car came out of no where. Sirius was almost hit by it, but I pushed him out of the way before anything could happen to him. The car hit me hard. But you see I had a split second to react. I could have moved out of the way, but I didn't."
"Why?" asked Lily.
"It was because I gave into the pressure. In the end, I didn't want to play anymore. All my life people have been pressuring me into doing things," said James. It was hard for him always being the center of the spotlight and never having a moment's peace.
"I had no idea," whispered Lily.
James gave her a slight smile. "I've been thinking of going back to Quidditch again. It feels right again. I should get serious about it."
"You weren't serious before?" asked Lily.
"You're one of my fans, aren't you?" asked James.
Lily's cheeks turned red as she nodded. Her eyes filled with tears. "What? Hey, don't cry. Guys don't cry," said James.
"I'm sorry for being a pest," she said.
"You idiot, it's okay. Now, stop that," said James as he put his hand on her head. He pulled her face against his chest. "Stop crying. I haven't got a handkerchief."
Lily could hear his heart beat, but she couldn't see the light blush on his cheeks. "I don't hate you," said James. "Let's go to Hogsmeade before everyone else leaves without us," he said as he cleared his throat and started to walk off ahead of her.
Lily ran to catch up to him. I want to know more about him she thought as she smiled.
Post Author's Note: Yes, it is their fifth year, which means that the Marauders have mastered the Animagus spell to change into their respective animals. A few of the quotes should be recognizable if you have read Hanakimi's English translations. If you are interested in reading the first volume of Hanakimi, please go to my webjournal, http://remyelf.livejournal.com.
Sorry for all the delays between each chapter. ^_^;; Forgive me or pray for me...I have school. So, I am asking for twenty reviews before I get the next part up. Ambitious? No. Just trying to see if I should hurry up or not. ^_~
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (For You in Full Blossom). I just borrowed these for my fic.
