A/N: this story is supposed to be about the whole L/J hooking up in seventh year thing. Please R/R

Disclaimer: Anything that is J. K Rowling's creation is her creation and I wouldn't dare make money off it. There are some original characters though and they are mine.

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We're Gonna Go Swimming

Eleena Thea

Chapter One: A first taste of the swim

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Lily Evans sat in the warm, golden sand on the shore of the lake. The cool water moved over the sand and imbibed Lily's bare feet. She leaned back and let the sunlight caress her smooth skin. She bent her head back to catch more of the sun's rays. Her deep red hair glimmered in the mid-day sun. Autumn afternoons such as this had to be taken advantage of, for it was almost guaranteed that the following day would be filled with drab skies and rain. Lily loved to be outside. The Hogwarts grounds were so picturesque and serene. Lily could bathe in the sun for hours. As the sun became warmer, Lily grew tired. She lay down and closed her eyes, soon drifting away into a world of dreams.

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The Marauders were lounging under their usual tree. Remus Lupin was resting up against its dense trunk, lost in a book. Sirius Black and James Potter were lying next to one another, talking. Peter Pettigrew was curled up against the tree, listening to James and Sirius.

"Well, mate. This day has been officially deemed tedious. . . . James? Did you hear me?"

"Sure." James's attention was captured elsewhere. He was staring at the shoreline of the lake. A figure lay sleeping; her red hair sprawled around her face. Sirius was now also staring at the girl. A large smirk now resting on his face.

"You know, Prongs, Evans looks like she could use a swim."

"Your right, Padfoot. We – er – wouldn't want her to – a – shrivel up from the heat." Peter laughed and Sirius rolled his eyes.

"What do you think, Moony?" Sirius had crawled over to where Remus lay and had taken his book. He then shuffled the page acting mildly interested.

"I think Evans needs her sleep," Remus replied casually taking back his property.

"Oh, but where's the fun in that?" Sirius chuckled, standing up.

"You coming, Jamsie-wamsie?" James stood and brushed the grass off his pants. He hated that nickname. Remus shook his head and went back to his book. Peter laughed apprehensively and sat up, watching as the other two strolled off towards the lake.

* * *

Lily was flying through her dreams. Her body felt weightless. She was floating and free. Suddenly, she felt a stinging cold all over her body. She opened her eyes to find herself drowning in cloudy water. As opened her mouth to scream, she took in the lake water, Waking as she swallowed. She came to the surface coughing. Looking to the shore, she saw James Potter and Sirius Black standing, bent over in laughter. Lily was so angry she couldn't breath. It definitely wasn't funny. She shrieked and began to swim towards the boys but felt a sharp pain around her ankles. She tried to kick free but her ankles were bound. Looking below the surface, she saw the clawed hands of a Grindylow. She tried to grab for her wand but a second Grindylow had grabbed at her arms and pulled them behind her back. She tried to scream help but was pulled under the water. She began thrashing about causing the sharp claws to dig deeper into her numb skin. She was being pulled deeper into the water. She couldn't breathe.

* * *

The two boys were still laughing when James noticed the first sign of trouble. He glanced up briefly and caught Lily's penetrating green eyes. They were full of fear and panic. She opened her mouth to speak but then she went under. She had to be joking. That was it. She was trying to turn the tables on him. However, after a few seconds, when she still hadn't emerged, James became worried. He ran to the edge of the lake and looked out to where she had been a few moments earlier. The surface was unbroken. He jumped in leaving a laughing Sirius behind.

The water was extremely murky and he couldn't see anything. He swam out to where they had tossed Lily in and dove. After swimming down about ten feet, he saw her. Her now white skin illuminated the dark water. She was like a beacon calling him towards it. As he swam closer to her, He saw them. Two Grindylow had a hold of her arms and legs. He pulled out his wand.

"Stupefy!" he tried to shout, swallowing a large amount of water. He swam closer. The Grindylow around Lily's ankles released itself and swam out to meet him. It lunged at him, slashing at his face. He grabbed it by the neck and fought it off. Finally, James managed to stun it. He then moved in one the second one. This one was considerably smaller and he had no struggle at all in stunning it. He grabbed Lily around the waist and pulled her towards the surface. Her body was so lifeless that for one moment he thought her dead. She can't be dead, he told himself, though it wasn't very reassuring. James gazed up above him. He had run out of air. He began to kick even harder but his efforts were fruitless with Lily in his arms.

Suddenly, her weight seemed to be lifted and he could see Sirius in front of him. Now able to swim with speed, he quickly kicked himself to the surface. Taking a few deep breaths, he swam to the beach a few feet ahead of Sirius. When he got onto the sand, he took Lily from his comrade's arms. Her skin was chalky in color and texture and her full lips were purple. There was no breath. He laid her down on the sand and opened her mouth.

"Sirius, go get help." He yelled at Sirius who was pacing in a sort of daze. He abruptly snapped out of it and took off running. James looked back down at Lily. He bent down and breathed into her mouth. How could I be so half-witted? He thrust his hands upward just above her bellybutton a few times, and when he didn't get a response, he breathed again. I just killed the only girl I've ever really fancied. He did a few more thrusts and pushed another breath into her lungs. Nothing. Her body felt like ice.

James sat up. He had really done it this time. Her body looked so frail with claw marks etched into her colorless skin, and yet she was radiant. What had he done? He had lost her. No! He told himself, She is not going to die because I am a foolish git. He bent down and breathed another, hope-filled breath into her mouth. She coughed, spraying lake water in his face. He rolled her over onto her side. He smiled as he wiped his dripping hair away from his eyes. She was okay. His Lily was alive.

* * *

Lily rested in the hospital wing. Madame Ludwig had given her a warming and a strengthening potion but she was required to spend the night. In the bed across from her was James. Apparently, he had suffered a severe laceration to his cheek from a Grindylow and required a warming potion. She hoped the Madame Ludwig wouldn't be able to heal it, and he would be permanently scarred. Sirius was sitting in the chair next to him. They had been watching her closely for quite a while. This is why she had decided to "sleep." At the moment, all she really wanted to do was avoid the situation. Lily despised them both. She always had. They were arrogant, egotistical, and as they had proved earlier, dangerous. She would have liked nothing better then to hit them with some horribly disfiguring hex. But she couldn't muster the strength. She would just listen to what they had to say.

"Do you think that she will be okay?" She opened an eye. James was leaning close to Sirius.

"Yeah, James, she'll be fine. A bit waterlogged. That's all," Sirius whispered back.

What a git.

"It's not funny, Sirius. She almost died. We almost killed her."

"It was just a spot of fun, James. Everyone faired all right in the end."

"Are you really that big of a fool? We almost killed the only girl I have ever loved in my entire life." Lily shifted. Had James Potter just said love?

"Did you say you love her?"

"I – er – I – think I'm going to sleep now." James rolled over and closed his eyes. Sirius stood up, stretched, and left for the door.

Lily didn't know what to think. James Potter couldn't be in love with her. He liked her, which had always been quite obvious. But he didn't really know her. Besides, a conceded fool like James Potter couldn't know the meaning of love. He was just a little crazy with guilt. Yes, that was right. Lily fell asleep.

* * *

By the time Lily had gotten down to breakfast the next morning, the entire school had heard about James and Sirius's daring rescue. As she entered the Great Hall, the volume level decreased dramatically. They all watched, whispered, expecting her to approach James and Sirius and give them some exuberant thank you speech. The masses would have to be sorely disappointed.

When Sirius got tired of the silence, he continued telling the heroic story, and the Great Hall went back to normal. There were very few Gryffindors not engaged in Sirius's long-winded retelling of the rescue of Lily Evans. He had always had a flare for drama. Lily sat down at the end of the table where there were two girls whispering.

"Oh, Lily. You're out of the hospital wing this morning. Good," a blonde girl with smoky blues eyes said.

"Yeah. All better." Lily smiled as she took a few pieces off toast of the platter and splattered them with marmalade.

"Thank goodness, you had James Potter there to save you," an Asian girl with dark hair replied.

Lily Evans, Regina Eastwood and Ling Wa were probably the only three girls in school who didn't worship James Potter and Sirius Black (minus some Slytherins of course). Further more, they were the only three girls above their fourth year whom Sirius had not managed to snog.

"You know, our fellow students never cease to amaze me. They have completely overlooked the fact that the reason I needed saving in the first place was because my rescuers threw me in the lake."

"Well, why would the all wonderful Potter and Black ever have tried to drown you."

"They weren't trying to drown Lily. Simply, cool her off."

"Where did you hear a ploy like that, Reggie?" Lily asked. Ling laughed.

"From the king of dramatics himself, Sirius Black. He told me that when I broke up his telling the story to a couple of fifth year Hufflepuffs in the entry hall today."

"Did the girls buy it?" Ling asked.

"Sure did. Told him it was very nice of him to look out for his fellow students." The three girls laughed. Ling and Reggie continued discussing the matter but Lily wasn't interested. Instead, her eyes wandered down to the center of the table where the Marauders were sitting. The Marauders. She had always wondered why they called themselves that. It was like their own secret brotherhood. They even had nicknames for one another. James went by Prongs. Sirius was Padfoot. Peter went by Wormtail and Remus went by Moony. This was the only nickname that made any sense to Lily. Lupin was always ill about the same time each month and always around the full moon. Lily knew he had some secret. A reason for his monthly absence. That is why Moony was so befitting.

Lily liked Remus. He had been her study partner on multiple occasions and always seemed to carry the dissenting opinion when James and Sirius were up to no good. She looked down at him. He was clearly not interested in Sirius's vocal escapades. He was reading, glancing up only when Sirius made some extreme embellishment. Remus would roll his eyes and then continue with his breakfest. On one of these occasions, he caught Lily's gaze. He made an expression as if he was about to vomit and winked. Lily smiled. At least someone outside her friends knew the truth. Remus went back to reading. Lily continued to watch them. Sirius had increased both the intensity and the volume in his voice, so as the surrounding tables could hear his tale. James was watching Sirius, smiling. Lily wanted nothing more than to curse him. However, the Great Hall wasn't the best place to do this. It would have to wait until later. Sirius had just made some joke about Lily being a bit waterlogged, when James glanced her direction. He had been laughing at Sirius's joke. She stared him straight in the face and glared. James blushed and looked away. He was embarrassed. Good.

* * *

Classes had been excruciating. James and Sirius had both been deemed heroes. When they came into the charms room, the Gryffindors (and a few Ravenclaws whom Lily knew were some of Sirius's prior snogs) actually applauded them. Lily snorted and everyone fell silent. Rouge Grizzle actually had the nerve to murmur, "that ungrateful wench." The people sitting near her giggled. At this point James stepped in.

"Now, I want everyone to hear this. Evans has been through a very traumatizing experience, so anyone who has a problem with that can answer to me." The silence was only broken when Sirius called out, "my hero," in a mock feminine voice. He batted his eyes and hugged James, who immediately pushed him away. He then proceeded over to Lily.

"Isn't that right, Evans? Jamsie-wamsie is your hero."

"Nuff off." Lily whispered under her breath just loud enough for Sirius to hear.

"Now is that any way to talk to rescuer number two. Next time I'll just let you drown."

"That would be wonderful." Some people around them giggled. Sirius returned to his seat, looking a bit flustered. Luckily, Professor Flitwick began. He started class quickly but then left everyone to practice their charms. Sirius again moved and sat down with Lily. The rest of the Marauders followed apprehensively. Sirius placed himself in between Lily and Reggie. James sat on the other side of Ling. Remus sat down across from Lily looking apologetic. Peter pulled up a chair next to James. The girls sat and ignored them until Sirius spoke.

"Now, Evans, do you remember us pulling you out of the lake?"

"Unfortunately, I was kind of dead at that point. It's a funny thing, drowning and all." Sirius kept talking unfazed. James and Remus looked a bit nervous.

"Are you sure Ludwig gave you enough warming potion because you're still a bit frigid," Peter laughed.

"Leave her alone, mate." Remus always stood up for Lily. She appreciated that. Reggie and Ling shook their heads in agreement. James was silent but he looked a bit flushed.

"So how was it, Evans?"

"How was what?" Lily snapped extremely annoyed.

"The tongue Prongs slipped you." Lily just glared.

"Now, how the bloody hell did I get pulled into this?" James said in an angry tone.

"C'mon, I think we'd better go practice our Charms."

"Now, my dear Moony. Do I, Sirius Black, need any more charm? Hell, I'm almost as charming as James."

James smiled and took a little bow. Lily noticed that his concerned, embarrassed act lasted about five minutes before his ego was inflated and his arrogance stepped up again.

"I don't find either one of you charming at all. Actually, I think you're both disgusting. I'd rather snog Peter then one of you two!" Reggie exclaimed. Peter's eyes lit up. "And I wouldn't do that if my bloody existence depended on it."

"That's not what you said last night, Reggie," Sirius said. Ling and Lily laughed until they saw the embarrassment on their friend's face.

"No," Lily exclaimed brutally.

"Let's go gentleman. I think Sirius has done all he can do here," Remus said pulling Sirius off his chair and toward their table. James smirked and followed with Peter in tow.

"He was joking, right Reggie?" Lily asked pointlessly. She already knew the answer. Ling sat in stunned silence.

"I – er – well, he told me he fancied me, and he is very desirable, I just caved I - you know?"

"This is so disgusting. What about the I-hate-all-things-Sirius-Black club?"

"We were eleven, Lily. We have only been courting for a week or so."

"WHAT?" Lily shouted so loudly that Professor Flitwick had come to check on them.

"I thought it was just a harmless little snog. You two are a couple?"

"Well, yes. I suppose we are."

"This is unbelievable. Ling say something, damn it."

"Hmm."

"Thanks, Ling. Oh Regg. He is a womanizer. He is just using you."

"Well, maybe." Lily had never known her friend to be this superficial.

* * *

Potions was a little better. They shared this class with the Slytherins and because the Slytherins despised all things Marauder they had "sided" with Lily.

"So anyway. James here fought off about twelve Grindylows and..."

"Oh, it's twelve now?"

"Bugger off, Snivellus." Sirius continued his story. Lily watched carefully as Snape dropped an extra handful of Grapeulis root into Sirius' potion before returning to his seat. A few minutes later, the potion began to send up a violet plume of smoke and shoot of sparks. This caught Sirius' attention. As he looked down, the contents erupted into his face, knocking him to the stone floor of the dungeon. The class broke into chaos as people surrounded the fallen Marauder. As he stood up and wiped the liquid of his face the room erupted in laughter. Sirius's skin and the white in his eyes had turned a violent shade of purple. Professor Drackney asked James to escort him to the hospital wing, suppressing a grin.

It took Madame Ludwig two days to remove the purple from Sirius's skin. The staff had decided that there was no need for Sirius to stay in the hospital wing so he was forced to attend class purple faced. Lily actually felt sorry for him. If she wasn't so angry with him and James for almost killing her, she might have stood up for him, but she thought he deserved a "humbling experience." In fact, James could have used one too.

The first two weeks of Lily's seventh year at Hogwarts had been an interesting.

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Well, I guess I want ya to r/r. I hope my writing hasn't scared you. If you want to read a good Marauders story read, The Divine experiences of Lily Evans and Company by Olivia Frost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. She has been my inspiration and my beta, ironically.

Luv Ya,

Eleena Thea