A/N: Well, here is the third chapter to my story. Things are going to get really interesting here so beware. I hope you all enjoy.

Disclaimer: You should know what is mine and what is J.K Rowling's. In other words, most everything is hers.

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We're Gonna Go Swimming

Chapter 3: The End to a Beginning

Eleena Thea

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Lily couldn't sleep, and it was once again due to of James. She was wondering if there was even a point to getting an early start on her sleep. She then thought of James sitting down stairs and knew exactly why she was hiding. Lily couldn't help but think she had been a bit harsh on him. After all, James had been willing and even interested in helping her with their project. Of course, then he had made that vexatious comment about needing a "big, strong man." Lily quivered at the comment. Had he not gained any knowledge from their incident earlier in the day? Oh well! Lily knew she needed to get over this. She was meeting him the following afternoon to work on their potion and she wanted that to go a well as possible. She laid her thoughts to rest and drifted into another unpleasantly dreamful sleep.

* * *

James entered the Gryfindor common room feeling slightly crestfallen. He offended Lily again. He didn't understand. With any other girl he could have said that to, they would have batted their eyes and giggled. Why was it that Lily turned into a raving lunatic? That was overstating a bit. Lily wasn't raving. He definitely had to approach her in a different way though.

"Prongs. How was the library." Sirius said putting a special emphasis in the word library. James knew exactly what his friend was playing at. He came over and took his seat by the fire.

"Well, for starters, it was the library," James snapped

"You know, you have been a real arse here lately James. What the bloody hell the matter with you?" Sirius seemed offended.

"Oh, your right. I just have a lot going through my head at the moment. You're my mate, right?"

"Mate? Sure. I know you can't resist me." James laughed. It was good to be back in each other's good graces.

"Or maybe it's you that can't resist me?" Sirius was now also laughing.

"Really, James. How did it go?" Remus interjected.

"She bloody freaked out again, that's how." James came across a little harsher then he had meant to but his friends seemed unfazed.

"Well, what did you do?" Sirius smiled.

"Why do automatically assume I was in the wrong?" James said pretending to be offended.

"Well, it is something I have learned about women. When there is an argument between a male and a female it is always the man in the wrong."

"You actually learned something?" James laughed.

"Seriously, James. If I ever get into a fight with a lady friend, the only way I can gain proper closure in the situation is tell her she is right. Even if I know that she has no idea on the present matter." Sirius smiled, obviously pleased with himself.

"Is that so?" Reggie had just come down from the stairs of the girls' dormitory.

"Damn," Sirius whispered under his breath.

"Please tell me you didn't just tell James that." Sirius was looking truly alarmed as his girlfriend approached him.

"Well, it was just a spot of fun, dear. I was just blabbering. You know me."

"Don't you give me that act, Black." With that, Reggie turned around and stormed back upstairs. Sirius was in trouble. She had used his last name. He tried to go after but after getting about half way up the stairs, they transformed into a slide. Sirius fought to climb, only to end up falling over backwards and somersaulting down the slide. He stood up and approached his friends in silent. He then sat down and began to nurse his bleeding forearm, sulkily. James had to laugh. It seemed this was the day from hell for everyone.

* * *

It always seemed that the day went by very fast when there was something dreadful approaching. As the last class ended, Lily slowly packed up her bag. James was standing outside the door when she finally decided to exit the classroom. Damn. There was definitely no escape now.

"Afternoon, Evans."

"Potter."

"Where should we do this?" He asked with a very serious tone in his voice.

"I was thinking that the common room was as good a place as any."

"All right, then. Shall we?" James stuck out an arm.

"Yes. Let's." Lily began to walk on and James quickly put his arm down and followed, blushing at being shot down.

"That bag looks terribly heavy. What do you have in there?"

"Just my school things, Potter. Haven't you ever heard of books? You should try using one sometime. Then you wouldn't have to ask such a pointless question." Lily smiled. She had made a joke. James could feel the butterflies in his stomach kick it into high gear.

"I see. Well, I will have to try and read me one of those, books?" Lily laughed. "Anyway, I was thinking that you could do me favor and let me relieve you of that bag until we returned to the common room." James was choosing his words very carefully, and with the smile on Lily's face, it seemed to be working.

"I suppose I could do that for you."

"And one more thing. Since we are going to be working together and all, do you think that maybe we could venture into the world of first names?" Lily laughed and smiled as she handed him the bag on her shoulder. James thought he was doing well.

"Sure, James."

"Fabulous."

The walk to the common room, in all actuality, was almost pleasant. Although, Lily could have done without the flirtatious comments that James had snuck in every now and then.

"I have to run upstairs and grab some ingredients and things. Would you mind getting your own cauldron and whatnot?"

"Not at all." James smiled. There he went with that flirting again. Lily turned upstairs and rolled her eyes. She couldn't help but wonder how many girls had actually bought into his act. Judging by his reputation there were plenty of girls who enjoyed that sort of flattery or stupidity as Lily saw it.

After she had grabbed her materials, she walked back downstairs to find James already setting his cauldron up on one of the tables. She silently followed suit for a few moments until she had lit the fire below it.

"Well then. We have everything except for the hair."

"Hair?"

"Yes. You have to have a piece of the hair you are coloring or the dye won't isolate itself to just your hair. You also need a piece of hair for the antidote but it has to be a transformed one. Don't be such a girl." James put on a mock sort of offended face and Lily laughed. She grabbed a long piece of hair and plucked it from her head. James did the same thing. They handed the pieces to each other and began to mix ingredients. The potion seemed fairly simple. James was rather talkative so Lily just listened and nodded her head. She was actually enjoying herself (except for the flirty comments thrown in very discreetly. Although, it did seem he was making an effort to act mildly intelligent.) Lily was adding something that would create a pink color in her potion. James added something blue. Finally, Lily added the hair and spooned some of the potion into a vial. James repeated the motion. They handed the vials to each other.

"Well, I think we should drink at the same time." Lily said, nervously.

"All right, one...two...three." They both took large drinks from the vial. It was disgusting. Lily almost gagged. She looked at James. His hair had turned bright pink.

"Pink is a highly dignified look for you, James." Lily said laughing. "James? What's wrong." James had a look of horror on his face. He quickly grabbed at the table and held up a piece of hair. It was long and had a red shine to it. It was Lily's hair.

Lily looked down at her hands. They were a violent shade of royal blue. She continued her gaze up her arm, which was also blue. Everything was blue. She screamed.

"Lily. Calm down, Lily." James looked horror struck.

"Oh my God. I-I-I am blue. How can you tell me to calm down? I look like I am some sort of monster! A hideous monster. How could you be so stupid? HOW COULD YOU BE SO STUPID?" Lily was in tears as she grabbed at James' robes. James said nothing

"I am blue. I look like a smurf. A big, ugly smurf." Lily sat down on the couch and cried.

"Um, Lily? I know this probably isn't the best time to ask you but what's a smuf?"

"You're right, it's not the best time to ask. But since you're an insensitive git - it's a muggle cartoon. Now will you go away?"

"Why?"

"Because I am BLUE." Lily sobbed violently. James sat down on the couch next to her.

"Lily. I am so sorry. I am such a git. I was to busy talking to you. I completely forgot about adding the piece of hair."

"Go away!" Lily turned her body away from him. He had to figure out what to do. He could fix it.

"Wait! You said the antidote needs a piece of the transformed hair, right?"

"W-what? My hair is the only thing that didn't turn blue." Lily grabbed her still dark red hair.

"Right, but what if we used a piece of skin. Then we could return your skin back to normal, right?"

"I don't know. Maybe I should just go down to the hospital wing."

"Nonsense. I created this problem and I'm going to fix it." Lily thought James sounded very arrogant in this matter but she did want to avoid a trip to around the school with blue skin.

"Uh. Okay. Um, if you think it will work?"

"Of course it will work." James smiled and began to work on the antidote. Lily had already started it so James assumed it would be easy to continue. Lily was very good at this sort of thing. It now had to boil for about ten minutes. James looked over at Lily. She was sitting and staring at the potion with those penetrating green eyes. James focused on her eyes. He didn't want to look at the mess he had made of her. Her eyes looked glazed over, like she was in a state of shock or something. He watched as a tiny tear rolled out of her eye onto her cheek. He couldn't take it anymore so he glanced away. The antidote was almost ready.

"All right, Lily, here comes the really terrible part. I need that piece of skin now."

"Right." Lily said. She didn't move. James picked up the knife and went over to her. He would have to get it himself.

"Give me your arm, Lily." Lily stuck out her arm without looking at him. She was definitely in shock. James poked the tip of the knife very lightly into her skin until there was a tiny flab sticking up. Then he pulled on the skin until it ripped away from her arm.

"Ouch." Lily jumped.

"Sorry." James stood up and approached the boiling potion. Dropping the piece of skin in it, he removed the cauldron from the tiny fire and extinguished the flames. He then ladled the potion into a vial. He proceeded back to the couch and handed Lily the vial.

"Drink this." James handed it to Lily. She leaned her head back and took a large mouthful. She contorted her face and James assumed that it had tasted terrible. They were silent for a few moments until Lily cried out.

"Ouch." Lily began to grab at her skin.

"What? What is the matter."

"It feels like I am being pricked with needles all over my body. Make it stop." Lily was now standing up and shaking.

"Lily. Calm down." She was scratching and pulling at her skin. She let out one more cry and then turned around so that her back was to James. She began to sob yet again. James grabbed Lily's shoulder and spun her around. This time, her skin was white. Completely white. Like she had had all of the color drained from it.

"Lily? I think it is time to go to the hospital wing, now."

* * *

"Madam Ludwig!" James and Lily had entered the hospital wing together. Lily was silent.

"Mr. Potter this is a hospital wing. You have no right to come in here shouting and... Merlin's beard! What happened?" Madame Ludwig had a look of terror in her eyes at the sight of James and Lily. James quickly explained to her what had happened. Madame Ludwig had Lily lay down on one of the cot like beds.. James sat down in a chair next to the bed. Lily was staring at him. He couldn't look at her. She seemed off her rocker, and he felt like it was his fault. Which it was.

"Well, Mr. Potter, Ms. Evans. The two of you have shown a large amount of foolishness today. I am surprised. Especially by you, Ms. Evans. You two should have come to me right after Ms. Evans had taken the potion. That antidote was not for skin, it was for hair. You removed all of the pigment from Ms. Evans's skin." Lily looked scared.

"Can it be returned?" She asked.

"The pigment? Of course. It is a quite simple potion really. It only takes a night or so."

"You mean I have to stay here all night, again?" Lily seemed very unhappy.

"Well, that is what I'm saying, Ms. Evans, now drink this down." Madam Ludwig handed Lily the potion and left. Lily drank it down quickly.

"So, I guess you are free to go," Lily said to James angrily.

"Now wait a minute. Are you kicking me out?"

"Well, don't you think you've done enough damage today?"

"You can't possibly blame it all on me, can you?"

"Of course not, James. I just figured you had something better to do." Lily laughed. So did James. He was glad to see that she wasn't insane after all. This made his spirits soar.

"Lily, I am so sorry. Really." James sounded truly sincere.

"Hey! Not everyone can say they've changed colors before. It was an adventure."

"I am serious, Lily." James was flustered. He wanted to make a good, heartfelt apology.

"So am I." Lily smiled again. James thought she was beautiful, even with the white skin.

"I have to ask you a question. Why did you want us to use the potions on each other." James was dying to know. Lily let out a quiet laugh.

"Honestly? I thought you would take it more seriously and nothing bad would happen."

"Well, that was a serious lapse of judgment."

James and Lily continued there very friendly conversation for about an hour before James noticed a large amount of noise outside the hospital wing.

"Oh no."

"What's the matter, James?"

"Well, by the looks f it, all those laughing people in the hallways want to catch a glimpse of the white skinned wonder."

"Oh, joy. Hey, do you think you could tell them I am not up t signing autographs at the moment?"

"Sure can try."

"You're a doll." James stood up and bowed. He noticed the tiny spots of color returning to her face.

He walked to the entrance of the hospital wing and peeked his head through the large door. There were about twenty people standing around, talking.

"What the bloody hell is going on out here?" James came out and stood in front of the door.

"Oh, James. What happened? Is Lily alright?" Reggie came running up to James with Ling in her wake.

"She is fine, Reggie. We had an accident. That's all."

"What kind of an accident?" Reggie still sounded very worried.

"Well, it was more my accident. See, I forgot to add the hair to the potion and I kind of turned her blue." Both girls gasped. "But, I thought we could fix it with the antidote and all so I finished it and instead of adding hair I added piece of her skin but the potion wasn't made for skin so it didn't work."

"Oh no, she is still blue?"

"Now, that is the funny part," James laughed nervously. "See, instead of making her skin normal it kind of drained all the color so she is – er – white." James made another nervous laugh. Reggie did not look amused at all. Neither did Ling.

"You turned her white? What kind of a crazy bastard are you?" Reggie was turning a bright red, and Ling looked terrified.

"Now you wait just a minute. You think I did it to her on purpose? It was a mistake, a stupid mistake. Now, calm down." The red seemed to be lifted from Reggie's face. "Why are all these people out here?"

"They are all the people that say you and Lily coming down to the hospital wing. They wanted to know what had happened." James looked around at all the people.

"Potter. Is it true you turned Evans white? Ha! It's bad enough she's a Mudblood. Now she is an ugly one as well." Snape was standing in a small group of fellow Slytherins and was now facing James. James didn't know what to say. Luckily, the Marauders were also against the wall.

"You should mind your business, Snivellius, before you get hurt." Sirius had jumped out of the group and approached Snape, wand in hand.

Snape backed down and muttered something along the lines of "go to hell" before walking away. The few Slytherins that were there followed him. James was grateful Sirius stepped in for he might have killed Snape.

"I don't think it is a good idea for Lily to be by herself while everyone is still up and awake. I'll go say good bye and then you and Ling can sit with her."

"Yeah, okay." Reggie said distractedly. She was watching Sirius who was talking quietly with Peter and Remus.

James went back into the hospital wing. A few spots of color had showed up on Lily's arms now and she was touching them.

"Look! My skin is starting to get its color back." Lily smiled, excitedly.

"That is great. Well, you have to very worried girls out there so I am going to leave."

"All right. Well, I will see you tomorrow when I have skin color again." James stood up to leave but turned back around.

"Lily? Do I maybe have the chance of getting a hug or is that too much to ask." Lily was surprised at the bluntness of James's comment. Happily surprised nonetheless.

"I suppose that it's not out of the question." James bent down and hugged her. He began to pull away from her but stopped with his face close to hers. He was staring straight into those mesmerizing green eyes. He leaned a little closer to her and pecked her on the lips. He pulled away and she had a surprised look on her face. James feared he had overstepped his bounds, but Lily reached up and touched his face. Her hand was warm. He took it and turned it over. He kissed it and rose to his feet.

"Afternoon, Ms. Evans."

* * *

Lily was flabbergasted. Had that really just happened? Had she actually enjoyed it? Two very worried looking girls coming to her side interrupted her thoughts.

"Oh, Lily! You look so - so white." Reggie exclaimed hugging her friend.

"I am fine. Really. The color already is starting to come back." Lily smiled. "So lighten up, both of you." Ling laughed and Reggie smiled.

"What was up with James? He looked extremely excited coming out of here?" Ling asked, changing the subject to something a little lighter.

"I don't know. He hugged me and then he pecked me on the lips." Lily smiled.

"Really? Are you to together?"

"No! It is nothing like that. It just happened."

"How was it?" Reggie asked curiously.

"Nice, I guess." Lily closed her eyes. She really had enjoyed their seemingly trivial kiss.

"This could be the start of something great, Lily." Reggie laughed.

"Maybe. How is Sirius?"

"I wouldn't know," Reggie said coldly.

"They are fighting," answered Ling.

"Why didn't you tell me this morning?" Lily asked.

"I did, but you were too absorbed in your thoughts," Reggie replied.

* * *

"James," Sirius called over as James came through the door of the hospital wing. He walked over to his three best friends, all standing up against the wall.

"How is she?" Remus asked as they headed toward the common room.

"She's fine," James smiled. Everything was good at the moment.

"What are you so happy about, Prongs?"

"Oh nothing, Padfoot," James replied slightly dreamily. The others continued questioning James and he tried to answer but he was distracted. Had Lily really enjoyed him kissing her? It was a simple, innocent peck but still. Where was this going? He had no idea. James was so engrossed in thought that he didn't even see her.

"Ouch!" cried a feminine voice. James snapped out of his trance to find a girl lying on the floor. He had obviously knocked her over.

"Oh, I am sorry. Here let me help you." He reached out a hand and pulled her up.

"Why, thank you." She said. She had a very beautiful voice. James looked at her more closely. She had a very beautiful everything. She had long brown hair and violet-gray eyes. He found his eyes wondering up and down her beautifully sculpted body. She had creamed-coffee looking skin as if she had year-round tan. He looked at her face again. She was gorgeous with those eyes and her large, sulky lips. James was instantly attracted. Hell, a gay man would go straight for this girl.

"Hello, there. I am James Potter."

"Yes, I know. I am Rhiannon. Rhiannon Overholt but you can call me Rhi."

"Well, Rhi. It is a pleasure meeting you." James lifted her hand, still resting in his palm, toward his mouth and kissed it. She giggled.

"Oh, James Potter. You flatterer, you."

"Yeah, well. I am terribly sorry about that whole knocking you over."

"It happens."

"Where were you heading?"

"I was just walking actually."

"Well, if you'd like, I could walk you to the Great Hall. Since it is almost dinner time and all."

"Sure." James stuck out his arm and she wrapped hers with it. He told his friends he would catch up with them later and headed down the corridor with Rhi.

"It is amazing how quickly he forgot about, Lily." Remus blurted out after James was out of earshot.

"Funny how that works. I guess he is on to bigger breasted, more attractive things." Sirius replied. The three boys laughed.

* * *

James and Rhi were now in the entrance hall. He knew that she was a sixth year Gryffindor but had never really paid to much attention to her. They had had a nice conversation. James thought that she was very arousing. Everything about her. They started into the Great Hall but James pulled on her arm and they stopped.

"I was thinking you might want to meet me after my Quidditch practice tomorrow and maybe take a walk."

"I would love to, James." Rhi responded it that voice of hers. James smiled and was about to say something when two girls called for her. "Oh, I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow." She kissed him on the cheek and hurried away to her friends.

When James entered the Great Hall he saw the other Marauders already sitting in the middle of the table. Rhi had sat down at the far end with her friends. James advanced the table and sat down.

"Nice walk, James?" Sirius asked.

"Fine." James was watching Rhi. She was talking excitingly with her friends. She was laughing when she caught his eye. They stared at each other for a few moments until she blushed and looked away.

"What about Lily, James?"

"Lily? Oh no. I'd forgotten. I had kissed her in the hospital wing." James had forgotten all about that.

"You what?" Remus asked with curious excitement.

"Well, it was a harmless, little peck and anyway we're not going anywhere. But look at Rhi. She is beautiful and sexy and she fancies me. I mean she kissed me on the cheek after one, little walk. This girl is amazing. You lot saw her."

"Yeah, we saw her James. She is beautiful but that is beside the point. Lily, James, Lily." Remus tried again to reason with his companion but James wasn't paying attention. He was still watching Rhi and her friends. He seemed like he was in trance. Sirius picked up a spoon and flicked some of his potato at him. It landed in his hair but he didn't seem to notice. Sirius and Peter laughed and Sirius flicked another bit of potato at him. This time it hit James in the face. He whipped his head around causing the bit of potato in his hair to fall onto his shoulder.

"What was that for?" James asked startled.

"I just wanted to make sure you were awake, Prongs."

"I'm fine."

"Splendid." Sirius and Peter were laughing at the potato and James's shoulder.

"I think I am going to, er, go up the common room. I have a lot to do tonight." James started to stand up but Remus stopped him. He grabbed him by the collar and pulled him down. He then wiped the potato from his shoulder, which made Sirius and Peter laugh even harder. James glared at the laughing pair and left.

"What do you think, Moony?"

"I think that boy's in love."

"Nah, that boy is in lust." They all laughed and finished their meals.

* * *

Lily was glad to be out of the hospital wing. She was now back to her normal color and that put her in an even better mood. Reggie had informed Lily when she came to bid her good night that her and Sirius were going to spend some time in the Astronomy Tower making up, and everything seemed to be returning to normal. She entered the Gryffindor common room feeling wonderful. She ran up the girls' dormitory to change her clothes. Ling and Reggie had just finished their morning rituals.

"Good morning," Lily said cheerfully.

"Morning." Ling and Reggie replied in unison.

"How was making up in the Astronomy Tower?" Lily asked smiling.

"It was wonderful," breathed Reggie.

"Barf." Ling said and the three girls laughed.

"So have either of you two seen James?" Lily's friends looked at each other awkwardly.

"Um, Lily? There is something you should know about."

"Hmm?"

"Her name is Rhiannn Overholt. She is really pretty and Sirius told me James is head over heels in 'love' with her – or at least in lust."

"What?"

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A/N: I hope you liked it. I was going for a twist. I know you are all probably thinking. Ah, poor Lily. Well, don't fret. I am not going to tell you any more then that but do not fret. Any who, thank you to all my die-hard readers who actually got through the first two chappies and reviewed. Please keep that good stuff up. I love those reviews. I would also like to thank that crazy beta of mine, Olivia Frost who does a great job even though she is insane. (And the Sarcastic Ice Queen! :D -O.F.)

Eleena Thea