'A/N: well, here is the second chapter.

This is a big thank you to all my reviewers. I love you guys.

Disclaimer: You all should know what is mine and what is the very talented J.K Rowling's. I have no intent on making any money off this stuff.

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We're Gonna Go Swimming

Chapter Two: Calm Down and Breathe

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Lily was sinking in the water. She could no longer hear the laughing above her. She was sinking lower and lower into the water and it became dark. She was alone and scared, then she felt the warmth of arms around her waist. They lifted her through the water and the cold feeling left her. She was pulled through the surface of the murky water. The figure laid her on the warm sand. She tried to open her eyes but couldn't. She had been engulfed in the light. It was all around her. Taking her. She then felt a new feeling. It was a tingling that washed over her body. She began to move towards a second light. It was golden. A she came through it and blinked. She was again lying on the sand, staring into a pair of hazel eyes. The face hovered over her, smiled, its disheveled and dripping hair hanging in the face. She wiped it away. She held the contour of the face in her palm. It belonged to a boy her age. She cupped her hand around the back of his head and pulled him towards her. She tousled his hair. Their lips met and she closed her eyes. She could feel the warmth again. Every nerve in her body tingled with excitement. She could taste him. Feel him. He finally pulled away revealing his face. She was again staring in those hazel eyes. A pair of horn-rimmed glasses surrounded them. She was looking into the eyes of James.

Lily sat up with a start. This was the fifth night in a row that she had had that dream. She hated it. James Potter? He was an irritating, egotistical prankster who had almost killed her. She detested him with every ounce of her being. She shuddered at the thought of kissing James. That would be almost as terrible as kissing Sirius. Lily lay back down, ashamed of her fantasy. No! Fantasies applied a lusting or musing. Lily felt no lust towards James Potter. It was just because he had resuscitated her. She appreciated it. That was all. Lily fell asleep thinking these thoughts.

* * *

James was sitting next to the fire in the Gryfindor common room, thinking. He couldn't sleep – not since the accident. Accident. Ha! What an excuse. Attempted murder sounded more befitting. Why did Sirius always get him into these situations? Sirius was a prat. A real prat. He would never do any of the things he did if it weren't for Sirius. It was all Sirius's fault.

What was he saying? Sirius was his best friend. He had been there through everything. That was typical James. Blame his foolishness on someone else. Sirius was arrogant. Always had been. But James was just as bad. Lily was right. She was always right. He was a prat.

* * *

"Lily! Get up! We are running late." Reggie was hovering over her sleeping friend's bed.

"Humph." Lily pulled her pillow over her head.

"Accio, pillow." The pillow over Lily's head flew into Reggie's arms. Feeling defeated Lily rolled over and sat up.

"Morning, sunshine." Reggie smiled at her flustered friend.

Lily stood up in silence. She slowly slipped out of her pajamas and pulled on her clothing. She was feeling quite thankful that she had chosen to bathe the previous night. Lily hated feeling rushed. She quickly brushed her hair, causing it to become very frizzy and more disheveled then before.

"Oh, Bugger." She patted it down with her hand to no avail. Finally, she went running to her trunk and opened it. Digging through it, she found a hair tie. She put her hair into a fairly neat ponytail and threw on her shoes. Lily, Reggie, and Ling headed down the stairs into the Gryfindor common room. It was empty. Lily was sure that the entire school populace was already gorging their faces with an extravagant breakfast feast.

* * *

James sat in the Great Hall, listening to Sirius's rambling. Sirius was telling him about some asinine plan he had for a Halloween party in the Gryfindor common room.

"It'll be great, James. You're already Head Boy so all I need is an okay from you and it's a done deal."

"Your forgetting that there are two heads and it would only be properly sanctioned if both of us okayed it."

"You mean that I have to get Evans to okay it."

"Well, yes. That does sound like what I'm saying doesn't it."

"Hey, Sirius. It – er – looks like you've got that chance now," Peter laughed nervously and pointed towards the entrance hall.

"Brilliant, Wormtail." Sirius leaned over the table and clapped Peter on the shoulder. He raised his arm in the air and waved.

* * *

As Lily entered the Great Hall, her suspicions were confirmed. The Gryfindor table was completely full and there was a friendly aroma in the air. Lily and her companions were unable to sit in their usual spot at the end of the table for it had been seized by a group of third years. Sirius waved at them from the center of the table, obviously wanting to spend time with his girlfriend or something.

"No, Regg. Absolutely not!" Lily exclaimed, seeing the longing in her friend's eyes.

"Oh C'mon, Lily," Reggie pleaded.

"Don't be a sourpuss, Lil. I am starving," Ling chimed in.

"Oh, so now you're on her side."

"There aren't any sides. I am hungry." Ling was also now pleading.

"Fine." Lily said feeling a bit defeated.

The three girls wandered over to the middle of the table. Reggi sat right down next to Sirius, pecking him on the cheek. Ling went around the other side of the table and graciously took a seat in between Remus and Peter. The only spot now remaining was next to James. Lily took the seat, sluggishly. She was forced into a silent anger. How could Ling do this to her? Her own best friend.

"Good morning, Evans."

"Right. What can I do for you Sirius?"

"Now, Miss Evans. I am appalled to think that after inviting you and your companions to dine with us this morning that you would think I was wanting something."

"He needs you to okay his Halloween house party," James responded rather bluntly. Sirius smacked him in the back of the head.

"Well, Sirius. I suppose the Head Boy has given you the go, then?" Lily glowered at James who nodded. "Oh, I don't know." Lily already knew what her answer would be. A Halloween party actually sounded like an entertaining idea. She just needed to hear him grovel.

"Oh, please, Evans – I mean Lily? I have the most elaborate plans ever conceived for party cheer."

"Well, I suppose I am inclined to process your request." Lily smiled at the perplexed look on Sirius's face.

"She said, yes," Remus said candidly, taking a sip from his coffee.

"Oh, thank you, Evans." Sirius grabbed at her had and kissed it. Lily pulled it away, embarrassed. She didn't like herself to be familiarized with Sirius Black. It was a bad reputation. She began to fill her plate with some of the various breakfast edibles arranged on the table. Reggie and Sirius had engaged in an intense kissing session, which resolved only when Sir Nicholas, the Gryfindor house ghost, sat down in between them. Ling sat talking to Remus while she happily ate her breakfast. Lily stared at her plate. She took a few nibbles of food every once in a while but mostly just stared. She picked up a dry piece of toast from her plate. She longed to smother it with butter or marmalade but she would have to ask James in order to get it. That she would never do. She didn't want James's help on anything ever again. Look at how he helped her that last time, saved poor old lily from drowning due to his own stupidity. She was tired of being the girl whom needed saving by the illustrious James Potter. She held her toast in her hand wishfully.

"Evans?"

"Yes?" Lily snapped never removing her eyes from her toast. She knew it was James talking to her.

"Did you – er - want some butter or marmalade for your toast?" There he went again trying to help her. Prove that he was the finest gentleman in the whole bloody world. A swell of anger had suddenly and unexpectedly swarmed over Lily's entire body.

"What? Poor Lily can't even eat her bloody toast without some help from James Potter? Well, yes. I would love some marmalade." James handed her the bowl with a nervous grin on his face. Lily noticed she had attracted the attention of many students in the Great Hall.

"Why, thank you, James. What would I do with out you? You know actually I think I will take my toast to go." Lily stood up with that marmalade jar still in her hand. As she stood, the jar "slipped" from her fingertips. It shattered on the table in front of James, spraying him with the orange spread.

"Oops, clumsy me! Let me fix that. Reparo." The jar quickly pieced itself back together. Leaving its contents splattered about the table "Well, I'll see you in Charms." Lily walked out of the Great Hall feeling quite satisfied but strangely enough guilty at the same time.

* * *

"Well, tough luck, Prongs." Sirius chuckled.

"Sirius, go to hell." James left a very mystified looking Sirius behind as he jumped up and ran towards the Entrance Hall. He was covered in marmalade but he didn't take the care to notice. He had to know why Lily had done that to him. Humiliated him like that. He looked down the hall. He couldn't see her anywhere. He decided he'd chance the direction towards the Charms room. He wandered down the corridor, attentively for a few moments before breaking into a jog.

Finally, after turning a few corners, he spotted her. She was sitting on the floor, her back against the wall. The locked door to the Charms room sat directly to her right. She was running her fingers through her long, red hair.

"Evans?" Lily looked up startled.

"What do you want, Potter?" She seemed agitated

"I want to know what the hell this was about?" James pulled at his white shirt, which was covered in yellowish-orange stains. Lily hadn't realized the mess she made of him. She began to stand up, and James held out a hand the help her.

"I can stand up on my own, Potter." Lily shouted, angrily, standing up without the help from James.

"I was just trying to help."

"Well, I don't want your help. Do you have any idea what you have done to me? Everyone looks at me as little old Lily the girl who would have died if it weren't for the great James potter. I can't stand it. They worship you and that dog, Sirius. (James had to smile at this comment which seemed to further infuriate her.) You to almost killed me and they bloody worship you."

"So you are jealous that you're not getting any sympathy?" James realized immediately that this was not the thing to say.

"Are you really that conceited, James? You think I am mad because you are popular? That I want sympathy? You almost killed me. I almost died. In fact I thought I was dead. You are a pathetic excuse for a person. You are conceited, arrogant, and dangerous. I thought that humiliating you this morning would deflate that magisterial head of yours but you're to damn thick to get it." Lily was so angry that she could feel the tears building up in her eyes. She wanted to strangle him. Squeeze every last bit of air from his lungs. Or better yet drown him. She shivered and shook the last thought from her mind. She needed to calm herself.

"Um... right, I think I'll be going, then." James was slowly backing away from Lily like she was some deranged animal.

"You do that. You might want to change that shirt. Wouldn't want anyone to think you were some trollop." Lily breathed deeply. He was leaving. She could relax.

* * *

Charms had gone by languidly. Reggie had informed Lily what James had said to Sirius after Lily had told her friends about her run in with James.

"Well, they should both go to hell for all I care."

"Um, Lily? Do you maybe think you were a bit harsh on James?" Ling asked with a shy innocence in her tone.

"Is that what you both think? Big bad Lily insulted poor old James? Well, that is fine. Just fine." Lily stood up and went to an empty table. She spent the remainder of the period alone.

Potions was worse, if possible. Lily again chose to sit by herself now embarrassed at how she had snapped at her friends. She had no desire to be around anybody at the moment. She got through the first half of the period making an uncomplicated potion fairly easily. However, the class was interrupted by Professor Drackney who was looking like he was in a particularly malicious mood.

"Well, I have decided that it is time for me to unleash this years first partner assignment." There was a slight groan from the class.

"Now, you are all aware of the recent event involving Grapeulis root." Professor Drackney winked at Sirius who glared at the laughing Slytherins at the table with Snape.

"Due to that, incident, I have decided it time for you all to begin work with transformational potions. You will be partnered up, by me," another groan, "and will have to choose, create, test, and then present a transformational potion and its antidote. Now, I am going to pair you up with people from your house so please congregate accordingly." The masses rose and shifted into two bunches on opposite sides of the room. Professor Drackney paired the Slytherins first. Lily pretended to watch interestedly. She was beginning to get quite good at using such tactics in order to avoid people.

Drackney had finally moved over to the cluster of Gryfindors. Lily backed even farther out of the crowd. She had never liked working with others and the day's events had definitely magnified that animosity. She watched as smiling Gryfindors were slowly paired. Sirius was put with Reggie. How convenient. Lily was positive they would have to do some late night studying in the Astronomy Tower. Remus was paired with Ling. Lucky girl. Peter was paired with Rogue Grizzle. She watched as people were taken until there was only one left. James Potter.

"Why me?" Lily muttered again on the brink of tears, looking up towards the dungeon ceiling. She definitely was being punished for something. James moved sheepishly towards her like he was afraid that she would attack him at any moment. Lily stepped away from him. He seemed to get the idea and stopped moving.

"Well, each pairing will now draw a potion." Professor Drackney produced a jar with miniature rolls of parchment. Lily slowly approached the bowl and drew. Hair coloring potions. That didn't sound too hard. She returned to her seat. James sat down next to her.

"So?" James still sounded apprehensive. Lily threw him the tiny roll of parchment. He read it and smiled. He was about to say something but Professor Drackney announced that class was over. Lily quickly gathered her things up so as she was the first person to leave. She couldn't believe the injustice of having to do a project with James.

* * *

Lily decided to go to the library instead of enjoying a dinner with her fellow students. That way she could at least get her preference on the reference books for her project. Especially since she was going to have do it on her own. An overbearing prat like James Potter wasn't going to work on a project when he could just sit back and let his partner do it. It was better that way any way.

"Afternoon, Madam Pince." Lily smiled.

"Afternoon, Miss Evans." Madame Pince smiled up from behind a pile of books. Lily wandered over to the potions section. Scanning the selections she found a few textbooks. She sat herself down at a table and began to search the books for a hair-coloring potion. A few minutes later Reggie and Ling came wandering into the library, laughing.

"Oh, Lily. We were hoping to find you." Ling whispered after receiving a glare from Madame Pince.

"C'mon. Lil. This whole thing is silly. James is a prat. We all know it and we are your friends. You can't just use us to vent your anger because it is convenient," Reggie's spoke bluntly and Lily appreciated that.

"I am sorry. I just don't like all this new found fame and attention." The three of them laughed and received another glare from Madame Pince. The girls talked for a while until it was time for dinner.

'Well, you two go ahead and go down. I am not too hungry."

"You know, your gonna have to face James eventually. He is you partner."

"Now Ling. James isn't going to be doing any work." Ling and Reggie giggled and left. Lily felt better knowing she had two people on her side again.

* * *

"Good evening, ladies," Sirius greeted Reggie and Ling as they sat down with the Marauders. He wrapped his arm around Reggie's waist and kissed her on the cheek. She smiled. James was staring towards the Entrance Hall.

"She's not coming down to dinner, James." James noted how plainspoken Reggie was. He wasn't sure he liked it.

"Hmm?" He played it innocently.

"So what potion did you to get?" Remus asked curiously.

"Oh, hair coloring," James said distractedly.

"Right. Have fun with that, Prongs."

"Thanks, Sirius." James wasn't quite sure what is friend was playing at but he knew he wouldn't like it. "Well, Reggie and I have skin softening solutions. We are gonna try it out tonight in the Astronomy Tower," Sirius laughed.

"Right. What did you get Remus?"

"Ling and I got skin tinting solution."

"What did you get Peter?"

"Shrinking solution." Peter looked embarrassed. Sirius laughed, most likely at some joke he had told himself. James was in no mood for Sirius that evening. Luckily the food appeared and everyone busied themselves with their dinner. James was about half way through his plate when curiosity got the best of him.

"Reggie? Why didn't Lily come down to dinner." Reggie was giggling at something Sirius had said and looked at James, smiling.

"Well, she is working in the library."

"Oh."

"Yes. She wanted to get a head start on your project."

"What? Why?"

"Oh, I don't know."

"I do." Remus interjected.

"Really?"

"She thinks you are inmate and have no desire to do any work. She is expecting to have to do the entire project by herself."

"Why?"

"It is the way she sees you, James," Sirius laughed again. James felt his anger boiling up. Why did Lily see him that way?

"What do you mean they way she sees me, Padfoot?"

"Well you're a horses arse, for starters." Sirius laughed again. James threw a fork at him, and he laughed harder. "Easy boy. Is ickle Jamsie-wamsie angwey? Ah, to bad." James began to stand but Remus cut in.

"James, sit down and Sirius, keep your bloody mouth shut." Remus said calmly.

James replaced himself on the bench feeling better at the smile that was washed from Sirius's face. Remus certainly had a way of defusing situations.

"Listen, James. We all you know you fancy her but face it, she wishes you were dead. Maybe you should prove to her that you are different then what she sees you as," Ling said in her typical shy voice.

"Well, that'd be a lie," Sirius muttered under his breath. James glared at him.

"Yeah. I think I'll go talk to her now."

"You go get her, Jamsie-wamsie," Sirius shouted behind James as left the Great Hall. James had to smile. Sirius could be funny at times.

* * *

Lily had just copied down the potion and then its background onto a roll of parchment when she felt the presence of someone behind her. She whipped her head around startled only to see James. He smiled and sat down next to her.

"What are you doing here, Potter?"

"Well, for starters, I wanted to help you work on our project," James snapped. Lily was taken aback. She had expected him to blow off the assignment and force Lily to do it all. She found herself pleasantly suprised. By James Potter? This was a definate improvment in personality.

"Oh, well, sorry. I just – er – you didn't seem – well – you know."

"I won't hold it against you," James laughed as he reached behind his head and tousled his hair. Lily was rudely reminded of the James Potter she usually knew. He truly was a git, but flirtatious at that.

"Right. Shall I catch you up on what I've done so far, then?"

"You're the boss," he smiled again. Lily felt like vomiting. What was going through his head?

"I hardly think I am the boss. You're Head Boy. That gives you just as much power as the Head Girl, but anyway." Lily began to talk about the ingredient of the potion and the background behind its creation, but James found his attention focused elsewhere. He had grown quite good at looking like he was listening when he really wasn't. Living with Sirius had brought out this talent. He was able to look her straight in the face, and she looked particularly beautiful. He thought he was doing quite well with her.

"So, when do you want to give it our first shot?" Lily had finished her explanation.

"Hmm? Oh, t-tomorrow."

"Right. Well, I figure we can each brew one and test it on each other. If that is fine with you?"

"Perfect," James smiled. He did have an amazing grin. Lily mentally slapped herself.

"Well, I think I am going to head off towards the common room." Lily started to pack her things away.

"I'll walk you."

"That's really not necessary."

"Well, all young ladies need a big, strong man to help them out from time to time," said James flirtily. He immediately realized his mistake at the anger in Lily's emerald eyes.

"You didn't honestly just say that, did you? Could you be any bigger of a git?"

"Probably." James thought this was a good recovery line. Lily disagreed.

"Humph." Lily stormed out of the library leaving a highly embarrassed James in her wake.

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A/N: For those of you (Like my frosty beta who think of James as the Head Boy with Lily like Hagrid says in the first book, he is in this story. For those of you, like me, who see him as the not a prefect guy that Remus describes him as in OotP, sorry. For those of you who don't care, I applaud you. Please r/r. A special thanks to my favorite beta Oliva Frost no matter how difficult she can be. She not only edits for me but also is the queen of the plot bunnies that have helped fuel this story. I hope you all liked it.

Eleena Thea

Beta's Note: DON'T YOU DARE DELETE THIS STEPH!!! For all of you readers, I am critical not frosty. Her story is ten times better because of me (A/N: She is a bit full of herself isn't she.) I'm sorry, but I have to be tough! Grrrr. :-)