Chapter 2 -
"I can't believe that Wood actually enjoys all of this," Sirius said as he acted as James' crutch as they made their way back towards the common room.
"Hmm," James said as he limped beside Sirius.
"I swear, that if I didn't love quidditch so much, I would have quit a long time ago," Sirius said as he tried to stretch out his right arm, which was supporting James.
"At least you didn't get the beating of a lifetime," James said as he looked at Sirius.
"Sorry mate," Sirius said as he became James' crutch again and changed course to go to the infirmary.
"May I ask what you two are doing walking the halls?" came a voice from behind the two.
"Why did it have to be Evans? Why couldn't it be Moony? At least he would have understood," Sirius muttered under his breath, which caused James to smirk at him.
"Well?" Lily asked as she walked up to them.
"Give us a break, huh, Evans. We just got out of practice," James said as he turned around to face her.
"Oh my…what happened?" Lily asked as she rushed over to where they were and looked at them.
"Nothing. Just…practice," James said as he tried to focus on Lily's face.
"Prongs…you alright there?" Sirius asked as he felt that James was getting heavier.
"...No," James said as he blacked out and fell.
"James!" Lily yelled as she rushed over to him and was able to help Sirius lay him down, his head on her lap.
"Sirius, go get Madam Pomfrey," Lily said as she conjured up a wet washcloth and began to wipe James' forehead.
'I can't believe that Alex would actually have such a demanding practice,' Lily thought as she saw a bruise forming on James' left cheek.
"What happened?" said a voice that was coming down the hallway.
"I don't know…Sirius and James just got out of practice right now, Madam Pomfrey," Lily said as she looked up and saw her and Sirius running towards them.
"I'll have to have a talk with Mr. Wood when he finds out that his seeker and one of his beaters are in the infirmary," Madam Pomfrey replied as she lifted up James with a spell and carried him to the infirmary with Sirius and Lily walking behind her.
"What happened?" Lily asked Sirius, wondering how James got so beaten up, but not Sirius.
"Well…you see…we're playing against Slytherin this week…in two days to be exact…and I guess Wood thought it would be a good idea to toughen us up a bit by having a bit of roughhousing on the pitch and everything," Sirius said as they entered the infirmary. "Guess he took it a bit too far this time."
"You mean he's done this before?" Lily asked, shocked at what he said.
"Oh yeah…and its always against Slytherin. Unfortunately though, their seeker is a bit more rougher than Prongs is…even though he can hold his own and everything…and Wood decided to put him through an obstacle course," Sirius said as he looked at his friend, who was now lying on one of the cots.
"What kind of obstacle course?" Lily asked, walking towards James and sitting in a chair.
"James had to try to avoid us while chasing after the snitch on his broom. Wood had the chasers bump into him as many times possible from all angles, trying to make him fall…which he did towards the end of practice…and us beaters had to…well…beat him. We were all reluctant to…especially me, but…you know," Sirius said as he looked down at his friend apologetically.
"I'm sure he forgives you, Sirius," Lily said as she reached out and held one of James' hands in hers.
"I don't believe it," Sirius said as he looked down at Lily.
"What?" Lily asked, turning to look at him.
"You just…you just called me Sirius…we just had a decent conversation…and you're showing a concern for Prongs here," Sirius said as he saw Lily began to blush at what he had said about James and her.
"Whatever, Black," Lily said as she looked back at James.
"Now there's the Lily Evans we all know and love," Sirius said as he noticed Madam Pomfrey motioning him to lie down in the cot next to James.
"A quick sleeping potion will help you, Mr. Black," she said as she gave him the drink.
"Well…cheers," Sirius said as he lied down and took the drink and fell asleep almost instantly.
"Ms. Evans…I believe it is safe to say that Mr. Black and Mr. Potter will live," Madam Pomfrey said as she looked at Lily's worried face.
"Are you really going to have a talk with Alex Wood?" Lily asked, looking up at her as she held James' hand in hers still.
"Yes…unless you would like to talk to him as well, then you may," Madam Pomfrey said as she began to heal some of James' cuts and bruises that were visible.
"Hmm…I believe I will then. Goodnight, Madam Pomfrey," Lily said as she looked one last time at James and Sirius before leaving.
'I'm so going to have a talk with Wood once the match against Slytherin is over,' James thought as he looked up at the ceiling that belonged to the infirmary room.
"Glad to see you're finally up, mate," Sirius said as he walked in through the doors.
"I could say the same for you, Padfoot," James said as he smirked at his friend.
"I believe Prongs is right, Padfoot, because it took you three straight classes to wake up," Remus said as he walked in behind Sirius.
"It seems as if the whole world is against me once again!" Sirius said as he sat down on a chair.
"No…just you're friends," Remus said as he smirked at him.
"Oh thanks! I feel so much better now," Sirius said as he looked at James and smirked at him.
"What?" James asked as he noticed the smirk he was receiving from Sirius.
"You wouldn't believe who held a concern for us…or you…yesterday," Sirius said, which caused Remus and James to look at him.
"Who?" both had asked, wanting to know.
"Evans."
"Nerdy, Ms. Perfect, who believes she has the answer to everything, showed a concern for us yesterday!" James said as he looked at Sirius with shock.
"Nice to know what you really think of me, Potter," came a voice from the door.
"Evans…I…uh…um…sorry," James said as he saw her glare at him as she walked towards him.
"You know…contrary to what you all may think, I do have a heart," Lily said as she sat down next to Sirius when Remus stood up and stood next to Sirius.
"Uh…I think we better go," Sirius said as he stood up, said good-bye to James and Lily and left, dragging Remus out the door with him.
"Um…thanks…for you know…helping me get here," James said as he looked at Lily, who blushed.
'I can't believe he actually showed me some gratitude,' Lily thought as she began to blush. 'I guess he does have a heart after all as well.'
"Your welcome, but it was Sir-Black…that helped you here…along with Madam Pomfrey of course," Lily said as she smiled a small smile at him.
"Well…thanks anyways," James said as he looked at his hands.
"If it helps, I talked to Alex today and told him about you and Black. He couldn't believe that you were all a bunch of wimps, coming to the infirmary, but I told him how bad it was and he said he wouldn't have any more practices like that," Lily said as she looked down at her hands as well.
"I don't think it'll help, but thanks anyways," James said, trying to stay calm.
'What is this that I'm feeling? I've never felt this way around a girl before…especially Evans, so why now? Unless…' James thought as he looked at Lily.
'How is it that everything I've ever thought about him just went out the window…by just having one 'decent' conversation,' Lily thought as she looked at James questioningly while he looked at her.
"Um…well…I guess I better go, J-Potter. I've got rounds to do," Lily said as she stood up to leave, but felt James' hand grab hers before she got too far.
"Lily…I know I haven't been the nicest person to you and everything…ever since we met, but I would like to start over with you," James said as he looked up into her eyes, getting lost in them.
"Potter…"
"James."
"James…I…I don't know…"
"Please, Lily…just give me a chance," James said, hoping she would say yes so he could find out what he was feeling.
"…Alright," Lily said as she hoped she was going to regret any of this.
"Good. Hello, my name is James Ryan Potter," James said, smiling up at her and sticking out his hand for her to shake.
"Uh…nice to meet you. I'm Lillian Keira Evans," Lily said as she shook his hand and returned the smile.
'Maybe this won't be so bad after all,' they both thought, still smiling at one another.
YAY!! I was able to update again! Hehe…um…yeah…so…anyways…here is the second chapter, of course…duh. I'm hoping to finish this story, as well as my others…hopefully! I'm hoping to have a bit more romance later on! Flames are welcomed of course. J Thanks! -Bluepiper