A/N: Here it is, everyone! The second chapter! Thanks to all of my reviewers, you four are great!
Zim the goth chick: This isn't really a love/hate, she just doesn't understand a few things about him. Sorry! I hope you like it anyway!
Love2write: I'm glad you liked it! Here it is …
Trashcan87: Thanks for the review, hope you like this one …
Grim Wolf: Thanks! I love reviews … (hint, hint)
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Chapter 2: Expected Runnings
"Lily Anne Evans! Get down here this instant!" Anne Marie Evans called up the stairs. She had just about had it with her youngest daughter. Every waking moment, she was, well, not awake. She slept far too much for a young girl, in her opinion.
"She's too lazy for her own good. You know, you really made a mistake with her, Dad. I have no idea why she didn't turn out normal, like me," Petunia Evans, Lily's formidable, older sister, smugly stated.
A stern look from her father shut Petunia up straight away. "Petunia, I don't know how many times I've asked you to give up with your childish insults! She is your sister, and you had better begin treating her like one!" Jacob Evans began, his voice hinting that at any moment it would raise to a shout.
Seconds later, Lily appeared at the top of the stairs, leading into the kitchen.
"Is everything alright, Daddy?" Lily asked as she took a seat next to her father. "You look a little upset."
"Oh, no, I'm perfectly fine," he replied. "How's my little Head Girl? Sleep well?"
"Jacob, stop babying her. Lily, our train to London leaves in a half an hour, so I suggest you speed things up a bit," Mrs. Evans said bluntly.
At this, Lily jumped out of her seat and rushed upstairs, breakfast forgotten. How could she have forgotten? Today Lily and her mother were going to pick up her school supplies from Diagon Alley, and she had ten minutes to be down those stairs and out the front door. Dad would need at least twenty minutes to drive to the station.
'Wait, Diagon Alley … James! What if I ran into James?' she thought frantically. Lily tore through her closet, finally settling on a white button-down blouse and her favorite dark blue jeans.
Some ten-odd minutes later, Lily was rushing out the door, and was soon on her way to the train station with her parents.
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The ride to the train station gave Lily some time to think. She had so many thoughts swirling through her mind, she felt it would take days to sort through them all.
Many of her thoughts, as of late, had been thoughts of one James Potter. To Lily, James was the one thing that put her in-balance life completely out of orbit. She had so many mixed feelings about him, and she hardly knew the guy!
She remembered her last train ride back home at the beginning of summer holidays only one month ago. It was now August. Lily didn't know whether to be angry at him, for acting as if he knew her, or to be thankful, for his help. She also couldn't help but remember how he had carried her trunk along with his own onto the platform, refusing to allow her to take it herself. He had walked with her all the way through the barrier, and wouldn't put Lily's trunk down until they had reached her parents. James had briefly explained Lily's little 'episode', as he put it, and suggested she get some sleep.
The one thing that had been eating at her, though, was the way he had acted all the while. The way James spoke, soft and soothing, even when Lily had acted as arrogant as she had, and the way his eyes never left hers when they talked was a bit unnerving. James Potter …
Lily's thought process was brought to a halting stop as their car did the same.
"Lily, dear, do hurry a bit faster. We've got five minutes until our train leaves!" Mrs. Evans said hurriedly. They both said quick goodbyes to Mr. Evans, and raced into the station.
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The train to London only took a mere half our, and before they knew it, they were standing at the entrance to Diagon Alley, watching the bricks twist and turn, revealing the tremendous sight that was Diagon Alley.
Mother and daughter took no notice of the Alley's greatness, however. This was the Evans's seventh visit to Diagon Alley, and they had become quite accustomed to its wondrous aspects.
Their first stop, of course, was Gringott's. They were soon out of Gringott's with a fresh supply of money from Lily's volt, and ready to shop!
"Lily, we don't have much time today, so we might as well split up. You can get your robes first, since you'll have to try them on, and I'll get your books. Meet me here again in half an hour." Mrs. Evans, as usual, had taken charge.
Lily handed her mother enough of her money to pay for her books. "Thanks, Mum. See you in a bit!" Lily said cheerfully as she headed off to buy her new school robes.
Just as Lily walked in the shop door, she spotted Sirius Black. The wheels in her head began turning quickly, and she soon devised a plan.
Dodging through the racks of robes, Lily managed to get within two feet of Sirius without him noticing. She drew out her wand, muttered a quick 'Amara Haro', and watched her handy-work take shape.
Sirius's hair had turned a sickly orange color, and had grown just a bit longer. It seemed to poke out at every angle. Lily couldn't stop herself from laughing, and was soon discovered by Sirius.
"Why, if it isn't Miss Lily Evans! Tell me, dawling, if summer has been treating you as good as you look," Sirius drawled melodramatically, mock-bowing slightly.
It was all Lily could do to keep down a fit of giggles. "Uh, Lily, what'd I miss?" Sirius did a three-sixty, trying to find the source of her laughter. He stopped abruptly as he spotted his reflection in a nearby mirror.
"Lily, you wouldn't be able to tell me who did this, would you?" Sirius asked suspiciously.
"ME!" Lily shouted as she bolted out the door.
Sirius followed and was amazed at how fast Lily could run! He had a hard time keeping up with her, but he was determined not to let her get away with pranking a world-class prankster.
Lily, not looking where she was going, ran right into someone, knocking them over and scattering their parcels everywhere. Lily heard a crunch, as one of the bags hit the ground. She looked over, and blushed furiously, realizing it was none other than James Potter!
"Sorry … Sirius … hair … not watching …" Lily huffed, trying to catch her breath. James, surprisingly to Lily, didn't seem to mind at all. He just smiled at her, and was about to say something when Sirius ran up to the two.
"Lily Evans, you have this coming, you kineiving redhead!" Sirius bellowed. James could tell he was very angry. James jumped up off the ground, standing between Sirius and Lily.
"Move, James. She deserves this! Look at my hair!" Sirius whined.
"Come on, Sirius. Your hair looks better orange," James said slyly. "I think it looks rather becoming." He cracked a wide smile.
"I'll give her becoming, just moved over!" Sirius snarled. He was indeed very angry.
"Sirius, it's not that big a deal." James took out his wand and said a hurried 'Finite Incantatum'. "Look, good as new. Go," James ordered.
Something suddenly appeared to have dawned on Sirius. "All right, Prongs, whatever you say," Sirius chortled, suddenly in a much better mood. He winked at James, and then gave him a knowing expression, walking off in the direction he came from.
"What the- Sirius!" James called, but Sirius had already turned a corner.
"Potter, I'm really sorry, I didn't see you." James's attention was jerked back to Lily. She was bent over, trying to pick up all his things.
"Don't worry, Lily. And please, call me James,' James answered as he stooped down to help Lily collect his parcels.
"Okay, James, again I'm really sorry. I should have been watching where I was going. I didn't mean-"
James interrupted her. "I told you, Lily, don't worry about it." James was chuckling by this time. "Look, everything's all picked up now. No harm done."
One of the parcels Lily was holding had contained three bottles of ink, which had shattered upon hitting the pavement. The ink was slowly soaking through the wrappings.
"But, your ink. I'll pay for it, here …" Lily said, reaching into her purse for enough money to replace the ink.
James slowly pushed her hand away from her purse. "I couldn't let you do that," he said softly. His hand lingered on hers for a few moments, and he looked deep into her eyes. They stared at each other for nearly a full minute, but Lily suddenly looked away.
"I, um, I have to go," Lily stammered, handing James his parcels. She started to walk off, but James stopped her.
"Lily … can you, um, what I mean is, can I … can we … get together … sometime? You know, and … do something?" James couldn't believe how stupid he must have sounded.
"Lily was quite shocked. This was the last thing she had expected to hear, and she had no clue what to say.
"Um, yeah," she started slowly. "Sure, James. I, uh, no wait, you owl me, okay?" 'Is that what I'm supposed to say?' Lily thought.
Apparently it was, because the grin on James's face could not have been any wider. "Great, Lily, I'll do that," he almost whispered. He was standing so close, only she could hear him.
"Well, I guess I'll see you then," Lily said, blushing slightly. She was all too conscious of James, only inches away. She didn't realize how quietly this was spoken.
"Yeah, I guess you will." James's smile never left his face.
"Well, uh, goodbye, James," Lily said, slowly turning around.
"Goodbye, Lily," James replied. He watched her walk away. He watched her until she turned a corner, and heaved a long sigh of relief. Her scent still filled the air around James, and it was intoxicating. He breathed deeply, and felt very content, and a little proud. James was usually very shy around girls, most especially Lily. The fact that he had mustered up enough courage to do that was a big achievement in itself, and he was slowly befriending Lily.
James took one last deep breath and began to walk over to the Leaky Cauldron, rather absentmindedly. All the while, that grin remained plastered to his face.
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Lily couldn't believe that James Potter actually wanted to spend time with her! She couldn't help but smile.
Suddenly remembering her mother, Lily glanced at her wristwatch. She gasped as she realized she only had ten minutes until she was supposed to meet her mother!
'Oh well, that twenty minutes was well worth it,' Lily thought to herself as she hurried to get her robes.
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A/N: Well? Review, please!!! And give me suggestions on my writing structure, I could use that. :) thnx ppl, have a great day!