Eyes on Me
There was a knock on the door, then footsteps. Lucian Sinclair raised her head from the pillow to look at the guest.
Albus Dumbledore appeared shortly at her beside then sat down on a nearby chair, holding a simple goblet with purple liquid in it.
"Headmaster -I" she started.
"No formalities, Lucian. And don't stress yourself." He interrupted.
"I am not, Sir. Only doing my part." She replied coolly and weakly waved her wand to the tea set on the table. It poured steaming tea on a china cup and added cream and sugar in it, utensils moving by themselves.
"Thank you, thank you." He said and sipped his tea in silence for a while as she looked out to the window once more. "It seems that you disobeyed me, Lucian. And look what happened to you." He calmly said to her.
She bowed her head. "I could not leave them alone, Headmaster. Someone would be taken away from them, especially Evans." She said.
"You have done very well against it and in protecting the students. I was right about choosing you as our Defense teacher but do not try to take things single-handedly. You'll end up hurting yourself." He reproachfully said.
She opened her mouth to speak but he raised his hand.
"You are mature beyond your years, yet you are still young. Only eighteen."
"I'm about to be nineteen this winter, sir." She objected vehemently.
"Still too young." He firmly pointed out. "Given your condition, you won't last long if you keep fighting all by yourself. I know you are very independent. Surviving almost through only your own capacity at a very young age. But trust us, child. We'll help you." He ended in quiet tones and smiled warmly. He rose then continued. "Now, you'll have to sleep even for a while to regain your strength. I've brought you a sleeping potion."
"But-" she started.
"Guaranteed no dreams." He injected. "Good (glancing at a clock) morning and sleep tight."
"Headmaster, I saw what Lily Evans had seen." She said even before he could leave his position. She looked up and said. "The shadows are growing fast. He would come for me. But I fear, long after I'm gone, our mentor would come."
He turned around slowly. "Yes I know. I know." He ended darkly and left with a swish of his long silvery robe.
Lucian stared at the window. It was slowly turning gray. She turned her gaze on the goblet Dumbledore left. For quite a while her stare lingered there. And with a sweep of her hand, she threw the contents to the fireplace. Then she went out of her office to the Hospital Wing.
James woke up refreshed that morning, yawning hugely. He took a bath and put on clothes. Sirius was already waiting in the common room. "You're early." He greeted his friend.
"It is rather you're late, Prongs. Hurry, Peter already went to the Great Hall." Sirius answered.
"What for?"
"What else? Breakfast, of course."
He jogged to keep up with the other. "What's the hurry?"
Sirius rolled his eyes upward. "How thick can you get? Detention, mate. Professor Mcgonnagal would be wanting to see us during breakfast."
James groaned loudly. She certainly won't be light on the detentions. He hoped he wouldn't get something awful as hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons. Filch was getting too keen on the both of them. When would he have the chance to go to the Hospital Wing, he thought to himself.
Lily woke up groggily on the hospital bed. Her eyes flew wide open as she remembered what happened last night. When she saw that she was in the Hospital Wing, she sighed in relief. She thought someone was really after her. In the Shrieking Shack too, the hard truth came down on her. Remus Lupin was a werewolf. She shook her head. No, it couldn't be him or else he would've recognized her. A werewolf nearly bit her if not James had saved her.
James Potter!
She sat up to quickly and she felt suddenly nauseous. Good thing a bucket was nearby and she spit the bitter bile from her mouth.
Someone came to her aid instantly and brought her water.
She cleansed her mouth then leaned back on the sheets. It was nice to just sleep. Her eyes still felt heavy from lack of sleep. She looked up and saw Professor Sinclair sitting nearby.
"You might be thinking why am I here. I'm not giving you detention or anything, I'm here to ask questions to you. But first, Would you like something to eat?. You could use something." Sinclair said.
Her stomach was grumbling loudly, Lily realized for the first time. Strange. She thought Professor Sinclair was stone cold. But she was capable of feeling despite her unsmiling face. She watched as the other whipped out her wand, conjure a mug and as dark brown liquid poured from it then gave it to her. It felt wonderfully warm in her hands and the temperature was not too hot nor too cold. The steam sent the fragrance of cocoa to her nose. She looked at Sinclair who was drinking from another cup too.
"Drink up. It's cocoa with sugar. It's good for you since you had a severe dose of shock last night. Don't worry. It has no poison and no potion. See, I'm drinking too. Besides, it's pointless to poison you." Lucian waved her mug to make her point.
Lily too a tentative sip. Surprisingly, it warmed her heart and her limbs. She beamed and took a generous swig.
"What is it that you want to ask me, Professor?" Lily asked as she finished her mug.
Lucian put down her own mug. "Do you recollect what you dreamt last night?" she asked.
"Yes. Umm.Professor, what happened last night."
" Sometimes, Night passes over us. Fortunately, they did not take anyone last night. And it wont happen again here."
"They?"
"The nightmares. Your own nightmares to be exact, each one different. When they pass, they take their toll from us."
"But how-"
Lucian shook her head. "Curiosity killed the cat. Don't be too curious about it. It's better not knowing."
After some quiet moments Lily said: "Are they real? Or will they? I dreamt a horrible dream last night. I'm afraid that it would happen to me."
The other reached for her shoulder and reassured her. "Nothing will happen, yet. But for now, sleep would be best for you. You had a trying night." Then she rose to leave. Before she could go a few feet away from Lily, she said: "I reckon that you would like to talk to your savior. He'll come here on my bidding by this afternoon. Pleasant dreams." Then she strode towards the doors of the wing and was gone.
Lily lay back on the covers. Even though the professor had explained something to her, everything was still vague to her and she was much befuddled. She closed her eyes and tried to recollect the nightmare she had. But no memory came to her. A frown formed at her brow. She was sure that before Sinclair talked to her, she could vividly recall every detail of the dream. But now, she couldn't recall anything. Not a single thing about it.
Suddenly, her stomach fluttered and she felt giddy. She'd have to talk to Potter about the reason why he did save her. Maybe to make amends, she thought. But no one in his proper mind would ever face a werewolf and save his enemy just to make amends over some petty fight. And this troubled her somewhat. Languor lapped gently in her mind and she dropped off to sleep once more.
Professor Sinclair went inside her office. She was right after all that someone would come to shake the fate of the world. The man with the hooded cape, she knew him all too well. Something inside of her hurt as she recalled how Lily saved the child, her child. She'd rather suffer than to see her child harmed. The empty feeling in her stomach grew. The act reminded her of the past and a strange ache filled her. She felt the necklace of beads she hid behind her clothes. Some wounds would never fully heal, she thought. No time for anything else, she had an errand to do. But even before she could walk outside her office, a shortness of breath seized her and she crumpled to a heap on the cold floor, not waking until that afternoon.
"Stupid." James muttered under his breath. "Very, very stupid." He repeated again. Mcgonnagal had given him the detention with Filch who unfortunately gave him the task of cleaning a dungeon that was empty for so many years already. And without magic! Sirius was told to do the dishes in the Kitchens. He thought that this was easy but he saw the dungeon and he was crestfallen. Grime stuck at the windows, spiders and other insects scampered here and there and molds prospered on the damp walls. He swore aloud and said a colorful train of profanities, which he regretted later. It cost him to polish all the trophies in the Trophy room. He had just finished his errand at the dungeon and now he was climbing the stairs to the Trophy room. Already he was very tired and it was just afternoon.
"Mr. Potter," a voice called out to him.
He looked around and saw Professor Sinclair leaning at a wall.
She walked and stood in front of him. She looked haggard and weary too but her face was not so stern as she spoke to him. " I am deeply impressed on the bravery you shown to save Ms. Evans. But in the process you broke a few rules and lost some points and earned yourself detention." She said and pointed to the cleaning bucket he had. "I would not question your intentions of saving the girl but I know Ms. Evans herself would. That is why she asked for you to come to the Hospital Wing as she is being released this afternoon."
James felt his cheeks warm, much against his will. He protested: "But I'd still have to clean the Trophy room, Professor."
"That could be arranged. Run along now, she wants to talk to you." She dismissed him quickly and strode away. "And Mr. Potter," she called out again.
"Yes, Professor?" he replied, wondering why.
Without a backward glance she said "Fifty points for Gryffindor for your bravery." Then she walked away.
He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and smile. That was weird. But he didn't rush to the Hospital Wing. Instead, he went to the empty dormitory and washed then changed his robes and clothes. Why would Evans talk to me, he thought. It would be impossible for her to thank him since they were not in good terms with each other. Maybe she'd want to talk about Remus. His spirits sank and went towards the Hospital Wing grudgingly.
It was a blessing that Madame Pomfrey wasn't there so James quietly walked down the wards until he found Lily's.
Her bed was directly under an open window so the golden light of the autumn afternoon shone on her and suffused the ward with a soft glow. She was still asleep so he took the opportunity to look at her well enough. But as soon as he sat down on the foot of her bed, she stirred and sleepily sat up, without opening her eyes.
Her wavy and rich copper hair was slightly disheveled on her head, a few tendrils framing her face. There was a softness in her features caused from too much sleep and she opened her eyes, vividly green depths stared at him too. And the light behind her made her look ethereal. She wasn't a bit pretty. She was beautiful, James reflected.
"Are you alright, Potter?" she waved her hand on his absently staring face. He seemed to be looking at something behind her or he was struck dumb.
He snapped out of his reverie and seemed disconcerted. "Sorry, I was just.thinking." He muttered. He felt severely tongue-tied when she faced him. He prayed silently that he wouldn't say something awfully stupid to arouse her fury. "Professor Sinclair said you wanted to talk to me." He said rather formally than he intended to.
She bit her lower lip. "Did she? I really did not tell her that. I only thought about it. Strange how she knows a lot of things just from talking to you. I hope it wasn't inconvenient for you to come here so we'd talk." She shyly said to him.
He was surprised that she wasn't angry or something at him. "What is it that you want to talk about?"
She hesitated then said slowly. "I wanted to ask if it was really.Remus who was in the Shrieking Shack. I want to know badly. As one of his closest friends, I hoped that you know of it."
A part of him was depressed as she said this. He was right that they'd talk about Lupin. "I'm surprised that he did not tell you about it. He is." He confided, a tone of his bitterness slipped while he told her. "He is put away in the Shrieking Shack once a month so that he wont do any harm to anyone."
She noted it and wondered. He seemed different from the James Potter she knows. That Potter was rude, annoying, a pompous airhead, and obnoxiously arrogant too. She prevented herself for wondering aloud. "How did you know about that?"
"He told us." He bluntly said.
She chewed on her lip. He seemed bitter towards Remus. She opened her mouth to say something then shut it again. An awkward silence ran between them and she did not know how to break it.
He lifted his head again to look at her who was somehow dismayed too. "You all right, Evans?" he asked.
"Hm? Oh. Yeah, I'm all right. Just needed sleep. I think I could go now to the dormitory." She replied.
"So I'd be going now before you." He rose from his seat but she clutched the sleeve of his robe.
"No! I mean-don't go yet." She said. "Is it alright for you if you'd accompany me to the common room?" she asked, again in a hesitating manner.
He paused, adjusted his eyeglasses and said "Sure" in a throwaway gesture but inside he felt happy again, and strangely accompanied with some apprehension. He was rewarded with one of the most treasured things he'd have in his life.
Lily's smile. Just for him. Only for him.
Slowly and side by side, they walked through the corridors to their dormitory. The tension between them was eased a bit but it was still there. Suddenly, something caught Lily's eye.
"Look," she said softly and pointed toward an open window.
He looked at what she was pointing at and squinted to see better. At the edge of the Forbidden Forest was a young unicorn pawing at the ground. There was a marvelous grace in its movement. But his mind wasn't there as he stared blankly at it then messed his hair a bit.
Lily watched him as he absently gazed at the unicorn. His dark hair was always messed up and he had a sort of handsome hazel eyes, she had to admit, that was very observant and when staring at her had a way of making her feel strange, almost lightheaded. She did not know how to explain.
"You know, I'm troubled why Remus nearly killed me that night. I thought he wouldn't do that to me and he'd recognize me one way or another. It pains me a bit." She confessed.
James felt oddly hurt. Remus again. "No one is in their proper state of mind when they are turned into monsters. They'd have the same mind as the beast itself. " he told her but his tone cold and flat.
"I suppose so." She stared at the unicorn again. Suddenly it whisked away like a breath of wind.
James began to walk away again when she called from behind him: "Potter -I mean James." He tentatively turned round to face her.
Lily walked towards him, her eyes were downcast as she said: "James, when you were called to talk to me this afternoon, it wasn't Remus I wanted to talk about. "There was a pause then she continued. "I just wanted to thank you.for saving me, whatever the reasons were." She finished, raising her eyes timidly to his gaze.
He didn't know what exactly the insanity that came to him. But he took he chin and gently kissed her. It wasn't like the last time he kissed her that she did not respond. She did respond now, placing her hand against his chest. A new longing grew in him alongside a new happiness.
She was surprised but did not draw away from his kiss. It warmed her and made her feel awfully comfortable. She wanted to stay that way. Her heartbeat in painful thumps and loud to her ears. Again, she felt giddy. It was as if all common sense inside her brain was incapable of functioning.
He drew away but his face lingering near hers. She was lightly gasping for breath, her breath mingling with his. Her eyes wide and stared at his own. She went scarlet, then pale. In a few moments, she ran away from him, leaving him standing alone in the corridor, still yearning for her.
There was a knock on the door, then footsteps. Lucian Sinclair raised her head from the pillow to look at the guest.
Albus Dumbledore appeared shortly at her beside then sat down on a nearby chair, holding a simple goblet with purple liquid in it.
"Headmaster -I" she started.
"No formalities, Lucian. And don't stress yourself." He interrupted.
"I am not, Sir. Only doing my part." She replied coolly and weakly waved her wand to the tea set on the table. It poured steaming tea on a china cup and added cream and sugar in it, utensils moving by themselves.
"Thank you, thank you." He said and sipped his tea in silence for a while as she looked out to the window once more. "It seems that you disobeyed me, Lucian. And look what happened to you." He calmly said to her.
She bowed her head. "I could not leave them alone, Headmaster. Someone would be taken away from them, especially Evans." She said.
"You have done very well against it and in protecting the students. I was right about choosing you as our Defense teacher but do not try to take things single-handedly. You'll end up hurting yourself." He reproachfully said.
She opened her mouth to speak but he raised his hand.
"You are mature beyond your years, yet you are still young. Only eighteen."
"I'm about to be nineteen this winter, sir." She objected vehemently.
"Still too young." He firmly pointed out. "Given your condition, you won't last long if you keep fighting all by yourself. I know you are very independent. Surviving almost through only your own capacity at a very young age. But trust us, child. We'll help you." He ended in quiet tones and smiled warmly. He rose then continued. "Now, you'll have to sleep even for a while to regain your strength. I've brought you a sleeping potion."
"But-" she started.
"Guaranteed no dreams." He injected. "Good (glancing at a clock) morning and sleep tight."
"Headmaster, I saw what Lily Evans had seen." She said even before he could leave his position. She looked up and said. "The shadows are growing fast. He would come for me. But I fear, long after I'm gone, our mentor would come."
He turned around slowly. "Yes I know. I know." He ended darkly and left with a swish of his long silvery robe.
Lucian stared at the window. It was slowly turning gray. She turned her gaze on the goblet Dumbledore left. For quite a while her stare lingered there. And with a sweep of her hand, she threw the contents to the fireplace. Then she went out of her office to the Hospital Wing.
James woke up refreshed that morning, yawning hugely. He took a bath and put on clothes. Sirius was already waiting in the common room. "You're early." He greeted his friend.
"It is rather you're late, Prongs. Hurry, Peter already went to the Great Hall." Sirius answered.
"What for?"
"What else? Breakfast, of course."
He jogged to keep up with the other. "What's the hurry?"
Sirius rolled his eyes upward. "How thick can you get? Detention, mate. Professor Mcgonnagal would be wanting to see us during breakfast."
James groaned loudly. She certainly won't be light on the detentions. He hoped he wouldn't get something awful as hanging by your thumbs in the dungeons. Filch was getting too keen on the both of them. When would he have the chance to go to the Hospital Wing, he thought to himself.
Lily woke up groggily on the hospital bed. Her eyes flew wide open as she remembered what happened last night. When she saw that she was in the Hospital Wing, she sighed in relief. She thought someone was really after her. In the Shrieking Shack too, the hard truth came down on her. Remus Lupin was a werewolf. She shook her head. No, it couldn't be him or else he would've recognized her. A werewolf nearly bit her if not James had saved her.
James Potter!
She sat up to quickly and she felt suddenly nauseous. Good thing a bucket was nearby and she spit the bitter bile from her mouth.
Someone came to her aid instantly and brought her water.
She cleansed her mouth then leaned back on the sheets. It was nice to just sleep. Her eyes still felt heavy from lack of sleep. She looked up and saw Professor Sinclair sitting nearby.
"You might be thinking why am I here. I'm not giving you detention or anything, I'm here to ask questions to you. But first, Would you like something to eat?. You could use something." Sinclair said.
Her stomach was grumbling loudly, Lily realized for the first time. Strange. She thought Professor Sinclair was stone cold. But she was capable of feeling despite her unsmiling face. She watched as the other whipped out her wand, conjure a mug and as dark brown liquid poured from it then gave it to her. It felt wonderfully warm in her hands and the temperature was not too hot nor too cold. The steam sent the fragrance of cocoa to her nose. She looked at Sinclair who was drinking from another cup too.
"Drink up. It's cocoa with sugar. It's good for you since you had a severe dose of shock last night. Don't worry. It has no poison and no potion. See, I'm drinking too. Besides, it's pointless to poison you." Lucian waved her mug to make her point.
Lily too a tentative sip. Surprisingly, it warmed her heart and her limbs. She beamed and took a generous swig.
"What is it that you want to ask me, Professor?" Lily asked as she finished her mug.
Lucian put down her own mug. "Do you recollect what you dreamt last night?" she asked.
"Yes. Umm.Professor, what happened last night."
" Sometimes, Night passes over us. Fortunately, they did not take anyone last night. And it wont happen again here."
"They?"
"The nightmares. Your own nightmares to be exact, each one different. When they pass, they take their toll from us."
"But how-"
Lucian shook her head. "Curiosity killed the cat. Don't be too curious about it. It's better not knowing."
After some quiet moments Lily said: "Are they real? Or will they? I dreamt a horrible dream last night. I'm afraid that it would happen to me."
The other reached for her shoulder and reassured her. "Nothing will happen, yet. But for now, sleep would be best for you. You had a trying night." Then she rose to leave. Before she could go a few feet away from Lily, she said: "I reckon that you would like to talk to your savior. He'll come here on my bidding by this afternoon. Pleasant dreams." Then she strode towards the doors of the wing and was gone.
Lily lay back on the covers. Even though the professor had explained something to her, everything was still vague to her and she was much befuddled. She closed her eyes and tried to recollect the nightmare she had. But no memory came to her. A frown formed at her brow. She was sure that before Sinclair talked to her, she could vividly recall every detail of the dream. But now, she couldn't recall anything. Not a single thing about it.
Suddenly, her stomach fluttered and she felt giddy. She'd have to talk to Potter about the reason why he did save her. Maybe to make amends, she thought. But no one in his proper mind would ever face a werewolf and save his enemy just to make amends over some petty fight. And this troubled her somewhat. Languor lapped gently in her mind and she dropped off to sleep once more.
Professor Sinclair went inside her office. She was right after all that someone would come to shake the fate of the world. The man with the hooded cape, she knew him all too well. Something inside of her hurt as she recalled how Lily saved the child, her child. She'd rather suffer than to see her child harmed. The empty feeling in her stomach grew. The act reminded her of the past and a strange ache filled her. She felt the necklace of beads she hid behind her clothes. Some wounds would never fully heal, she thought. No time for anything else, she had an errand to do. But even before she could walk outside her office, a shortness of breath seized her and she crumpled to a heap on the cold floor, not waking until that afternoon.
"Stupid." James muttered under his breath. "Very, very stupid." He repeated again. Mcgonnagal had given him the detention with Filch who unfortunately gave him the task of cleaning a dungeon that was empty for so many years already. And without magic! Sirius was told to do the dishes in the Kitchens. He thought that this was easy but he saw the dungeon and he was crestfallen. Grime stuck at the windows, spiders and other insects scampered here and there and molds prospered on the damp walls. He swore aloud and said a colorful train of profanities, which he regretted later. It cost him to polish all the trophies in the Trophy room. He had just finished his errand at the dungeon and now he was climbing the stairs to the Trophy room. Already he was very tired and it was just afternoon.
"Mr. Potter," a voice called out to him.
He looked around and saw Professor Sinclair leaning at a wall.
She walked and stood in front of him. She looked haggard and weary too but her face was not so stern as she spoke to him. " I am deeply impressed on the bravery you shown to save Ms. Evans. But in the process you broke a few rules and lost some points and earned yourself detention." She said and pointed to the cleaning bucket he had. "I would not question your intentions of saving the girl but I know Ms. Evans herself would. That is why she asked for you to come to the Hospital Wing as she is being released this afternoon."
James felt his cheeks warm, much against his will. He protested: "But I'd still have to clean the Trophy room, Professor."
"That could be arranged. Run along now, she wants to talk to you." She dismissed him quickly and strode away. "And Mr. Potter," she called out again.
"Yes, Professor?" he replied, wondering why.
Without a backward glance she said "Fifty points for Gryffindor for your bravery." Then she walked away.
He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and smile. That was weird. But he didn't rush to the Hospital Wing. Instead, he went to the empty dormitory and washed then changed his robes and clothes. Why would Evans talk to me, he thought. It would be impossible for her to thank him since they were not in good terms with each other. Maybe she'd want to talk about Remus. His spirits sank and went towards the Hospital Wing grudgingly.
It was a blessing that Madame Pomfrey wasn't there so James quietly walked down the wards until he found Lily's.
Her bed was directly under an open window so the golden light of the autumn afternoon shone on her and suffused the ward with a soft glow. She was still asleep so he took the opportunity to look at her well enough. But as soon as he sat down on the foot of her bed, she stirred and sleepily sat up, without opening her eyes.
Her wavy and rich copper hair was slightly disheveled on her head, a few tendrils framing her face. There was a softness in her features caused from too much sleep and she opened her eyes, vividly green depths stared at him too. And the light behind her made her look ethereal. She wasn't a bit pretty. She was beautiful, James reflected.
"Are you alright, Potter?" she waved her hand on his absently staring face. He seemed to be looking at something behind her or he was struck dumb.
He snapped out of his reverie and seemed disconcerted. "Sorry, I was just.thinking." He muttered. He felt severely tongue-tied when she faced him. He prayed silently that he wouldn't say something awfully stupid to arouse her fury. "Professor Sinclair said you wanted to talk to me." He said rather formally than he intended to.
She bit her lower lip. "Did she? I really did not tell her that. I only thought about it. Strange how she knows a lot of things just from talking to you. I hope it wasn't inconvenient for you to come here so we'd talk." She shyly said to him.
He was surprised that she wasn't angry or something at him. "What is it that you want to talk about?"
She hesitated then said slowly. "I wanted to ask if it was really.Remus who was in the Shrieking Shack. I want to know badly. As one of his closest friends, I hoped that you know of it."
A part of him was depressed as she said this. He was right that they'd talk about Lupin. "I'm surprised that he did not tell you about it. He is." He confided, a tone of his bitterness slipped while he told her. "He is put away in the Shrieking Shack once a month so that he wont do any harm to anyone."
She noted it and wondered. He seemed different from the James Potter she knows. That Potter was rude, annoying, a pompous airhead, and obnoxiously arrogant too. She prevented herself for wondering aloud. "How did you know about that?"
"He told us." He bluntly said.
She chewed on her lip. He seemed bitter towards Remus. She opened her mouth to say something then shut it again. An awkward silence ran between them and she did not know how to break it.
He lifted his head again to look at her who was somehow dismayed too. "You all right, Evans?" he asked.
"Hm? Oh. Yeah, I'm all right. Just needed sleep. I think I could go now to the dormitory." She replied.
"So I'd be going now before you." He rose from his seat but she clutched the sleeve of his robe.
"No! I mean-don't go yet." She said. "Is it alright for you if you'd accompany me to the common room?" she asked, again in a hesitating manner.
He paused, adjusted his eyeglasses and said "Sure" in a throwaway gesture but inside he felt happy again, and strangely accompanied with some apprehension. He was rewarded with one of the most treasured things he'd have in his life.
Lily's smile. Just for him. Only for him.
Slowly and side by side, they walked through the corridors to their dormitory. The tension between them was eased a bit but it was still there. Suddenly, something caught Lily's eye.
"Look," she said softly and pointed toward an open window.
He looked at what she was pointing at and squinted to see better. At the edge of the Forbidden Forest was a young unicorn pawing at the ground. There was a marvelous grace in its movement. But his mind wasn't there as he stared blankly at it then messed his hair a bit.
Lily watched him as he absently gazed at the unicorn. His dark hair was always messed up and he had a sort of handsome hazel eyes, she had to admit, that was very observant and when staring at her had a way of making her feel strange, almost lightheaded. She did not know how to explain.
"You know, I'm troubled why Remus nearly killed me that night. I thought he wouldn't do that to me and he'd recognize me one way or another. It pains me a bit." She confessed.
James felt oddly hurt. Remus again. "No one is in their proper state of mind when they are turned into monsters. They'd have the same mind as the beast itself. " he told her but his tone cold and flat.
"I suppose so." She stared at the unicorn again. Suddenly it whisked away like a breath of wind.
James began to walk away again when she called from behind him: "Potter -I mean James." He tentatively turned round to face her.
Lily walked towards him, her eyes were downcast as she said: "James, when you were called to talk to me this afternoon, it wasn't Remus I wanted to talk about. "There was a pause then she continued. "I just wanted to thank you.for saving me, whatever the reasons were." She finished, raising her eyes timidly to his gaze.
He didn't know what exactly the insanity that came to him. But he took he chin and gently kissed her. It wasn't like the last time he kissed her that she did not respond. She did respond now, placing her hand against his chest. A new longing grew in him alongside a new happiness.
She was surprised but did not draw away from his kiss. It warmed her and made her feel awfully comfortable. She wanted to stay that way. Her heartbeat in painful thumps and loud to her ears. Again, she felt giddy. It was as if all common sense inside her brain was incapable of functioning.
He drew away but his face lingering near hers. She was lightly gasping for breath, her breath mingling with his. Her eyes wide and stared at his own. She went scarlet, then pale. In a few moments, she ran away from him, leaving him standing alone in the corridor, still yearning for her.