Nothing Left to say…
James sat down next to Lily gingerly, unsure what to say to her. In the end he decided to say nothing, opting to fill his plate instead. It was a comparatively quiet lunch punctuated by chewing and the occasional thanx when someone passed something. But the silence wasn't an uncomfortable one, James enjoyed it more not being forced to talk as all too often he made a complete fool of himself when he had to say something when he had nothing he needed or wanted to say.
"James?" Lily said looking over at him for the first time since the start of lunch.
"Yeah" James said suddenly realising just how close he was sitting to her.
"Quiet Please, I have a couple of announcements to make," James slumped in his chair, the one time he gets close to actually talking to Evans – Dippet decides to make some announcements. Lily also wasn't as attentive to the announcements as she normally was, if fact she wasn't listening at all. Her thoughts were filled with the feel of James' leg touching hers; how did he have this effect on her? Surely she didn't like him or anything… she sighed she didn't know what she felt!
"Are you all right?" Lily jumped
"What?" She said spinning round to face James, who had spoken.
"You sighed, you are alright aren't you?" He said now talking to his plate as if ashamed of what he was saying. Lily grinned, he never stopped surprising her. The first day back not only did he know who she was but he actually said hello – and woke her up but that is irrelevant – he seemed to be watching her as if what she had to say was important…she shock her head, now was not a good time to start analysing his behaviour.
"Yeah I'm fine, just tired I s'pose." Lily said watching as his gaze shifted back to her face, then when he saw she grinning he grinned too.
"Prongs," James tore his eyes away from Lily regretfully, directing them instead at Sirius who had spoken. "Are you going to eat the rest of your pie or can I have it?" Sirius said eyeing James pie hungrily. James looked down at his half eaten and now cold pie, it didn't look very appetising so he handed it over to Sirius.
"Thanx Prongs, you're the best." Sirius said before attacking it. Carma laughed as Sirius picked the whole lot and proceeded to put it in his mouth all in one go.
"Uh Oh! Guys we better go we've got Charms and you know how much she hates people being late." Lily said jumping up suddenly looking at her watch, they looked around they were the only students left and the last teacher left was Professor Bins who always came late to class after lunch.
They grabbed their books and ran to the third floor just in time to get in the door before the Professor. Instead of the usual desks, there were groups of armchairs clustered around low tables not unlike the ones in the Divination class room.
'Now as you will remember I taught you cheering charms in your third year, well today we will be furthering that charm. Today we will not only cheering the person up but we will make them re-live the best moments in their lives.' She said waving her wand at the black board. Diagrams and explanations appeared in a flourish of chalk dust as an imaginary hand neatly wrote up the notes.
'I will also be showing you Memorius petrifica which is sometimes described as 'your worst nightmares come back to haunt you.' But this is a very difficult spell and should only be performed by an adept as it can have many serious consequences.' She said grimly as though she had no desire to show them this charm at all.
Memorius Petrifica
"Why do you recon she's teaching it to us if we're not allowed to do it?" Sirius asked in a low voice so she wouldn't over hear. James opened his mouth to say something but Carma got there first.
"It must be really important that we learn it, she doesn't like it you can see it in her face…." She faltered as James collapsed falling hap-hazardously onto a terrified Lily.
Lily screamed as James face contorted in agony.
"Be quiet you silly girl!" Professor Stilten snapped advancing on Lily with a grim smile on her lips, "I cast the Memorius Petrifica charm on him, as I will be doing to all of you over the period of two lessons." Lily gasped the colour draining from her face her bottom lip quivered but Professor Stilten went on regardless of the affect her words were having on Lily. "it is VITAL," she spat the word at them menacingly, "that you understand the consequences connected to this charm and as you not old enough to be taught the charm itself you must learn the theory as it will be on your EXAM!" the class jumped. The room was silent except for the occasional moan coming from James, who had now gone as white as a sheet and cold sweat ran down his face still distorted by this seemingly endless torture. James was not the only one that lesson who fell victim to the charm at the hands of Professor Stilten.
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=* James *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
One minute he was listening intently to what Carma had to say – the next his head seared with unimaginable pain that was spreading throughout his body like fire.
* # *
He was five again out side the family home; he was angry. Angry at the whole lot of them – how could they do this to him and on his birthday too! He ran as hard as he could, his legs hurt and his breathing was haggard. But he kept on running, running. It started to rain, drenching his clothes and the fire that had kept him going. He stopped, it was getting dark and the forest didn't seem so appealing now. He stared around – it all looked the same, which way had he come from? A bolt of lighting lit up the sky turning the surrounding bush a ghostly white, he ran in the opposite direction of lightning not wanting to get any closer to it. He crossed the swelling river, battling with all his might against the current that pulled at his thighs, threatening to pull him under. Finally made it up the other bank but instead of seeing Godric Hollow he was surrounded by Forrest. Using what was left of his will power he ran on, sliding along the unfamiliar path hoping against hope that this was the right way – THUD! He whacked into the ground, face first into the mud.
Everything went black.
*#*
"Evans! Good to see you." James said running a hand through his already messy black hair.
"Get out of my way Potter!" She snapped back taking James by surprise.
"Wha.." James said mystified by her behaviour towards him.
"Don't even think about playing innocent with me James! I hate you." He paled. "That's right – I HATE you James Potter!" She said trying to push past him but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her round to face him again.
"What have I done?" he asked roughly.
"What have you done? Only broken my heart Potter – nothing serious I assure you!" she said prising herself out of his tight grip.
"I – I love you Lily!"
