Chapter Nine
James woke up Christmas morning and halfheartedly opened the gifts at the foot of his bed. Remus had given him another book, this time one on the greatest pranksters of all time and what they were famous for. Sirius had gotten him a Prank Potions kit; and Peter had gotten him the usual, a gift certificate to Zonko's seeing that James could never decide what he wanted most.
He reached for Mademoiselle's gift, and almost started to cry when he saw that it was only a bar of chocolate. Suddenly an owl flew up to the window carrying a last minute present.
He let the bird in and flopped onto the bed, he felt like crap. He had gotten Mademoiselle something that he thought she would really like. Something he felt said, "I really like you, and this is my way of saying so." And in return she had gotten him a bar of chocolate.
The owl dropped the package on his face and flew away.
Might as well open the thing, he thought with resignation. It's not like it can make my day any worse. It might even cheer me up. Lifting the brown package up, he untied the white packing string, and unwrapped the small box. Inside he found a watch, a gold watch, with an Italian leather strap.
He lifted the watch out of the box in wonder, who would by him a present like this? It had to be someone who really liked him. Then, he noticed the little note that had fallen out of the wrapping.
He picked it up and read what it said. She likes me! SHE REALLY LIKES ME! Yes, I knew it! I knew it! James started jumping around the room, doing a little song and dance to a nonsensical tune.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ten days later, the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry returned to begin classes again. They all gathered in the Great Hall for the announcements given every year when the students returned.
When Dumbledore had finished Lily stood, "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank your patience with my tardiness in revealing my identity. I'll start at the beginning, when I was a second year student at this school, my father, Harry Evans, became the Muggle English Ambassador in France. My family and I moved to France where I've attended Beauxbaton's School of Witchcraft for the past four years. Though few of you will remember me, and those of you who do congratulations, my name is," she paused, looking around at the expectant faces, "Lily Evans."
There was a stunned pause, nobody moved, the only thing that could be heard was the soft whooshing sound of the wind, heard though the glass windows.
James stood up and stalked out of the Great Hall. It just didn't make any sense, Mademoiselle was Lily Evans. They were one in the same. But how could they be, Lily didn't look like that, and Mademoiselle was. well, she was Mademoiselle. But at least it made sense why she had gotten mad when he had insulted her figure of four years past.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After two or three minutes of stunned silence at James' angry retreat, Dumbledore stood and said, "Well, that went well. Now for the feast, I know you're all hungry from your journey, please, dig in."
There was nothing to say, Lily just stared at the door where James had exited. Was he mad at her? What had she done wrong? Was there something about her that he didn't like? How would this change their awkward friendship?
There were hushed whispers all over the hall, the wind was nearly deafening. Everyone was speculating the events that lead up to James' departure. Most of the older students were telling stories of the things they remembered of Lily, while the younger years gossiped about things they had heard from their older siblings, or distorting the stories told to them by others.
Lily sat in silence, trying not to cry. She didn't know why, or even when, but over the course of the last few months James' opinion had come to matter to her. The thought of him being angry with her, and possibly ignoring her was devastating. She picked at her food, and sat at the head of Gryffindor table waiting for almost ninety minutes for the meal to end.
James didn't know where to go. There was no where of sanctuary that he knew of that he could go to in order to find isolation; the Marauders had never taken into account the need for time alone when making their map.
He wandered around the school for ten minutes before finding himself in font of a mirror. Finding the trigger, he opened the mirror to reveal a hidden passage. He walked down the narrow tunnel, and emerged in he basement of an abandoned shed.
He looked around, I wonder if anyone misses me. The Marauders will figure it out. Pushing aside al further thought he walked into the Hogs Head.
James woke up Christmas morning and halfheartedly opened the gifts at the foot of his bed. Remus had given him another book, this time one on the greatest pranksters of all time and what they were famous for. Sirius had gotten him a Prank Potions kit; and Peter had gotten him the usual, a gift certificate to Zonko's seeing that James could never decide what he wanted most.
He reached for Mademoiselle's gift, and almost started to cry when he saw that it was only a bar of chocolate. Suddenly an owl flew up to the window carrying a last minute present.
He let the bird in and flopped onto the bed, he felt like crap. He had gotten Mademoiselle something that he thought she would really like. Something he felt said, "I really like you, and this is my way of saying so." And in return she had gotten him a bar of chocolate.
The owl dropped the package on his face and flew away.
Might as well open the thing, he thought with resignation. It's not like it can make my day any worse. It might even cheer me up. Lifting the brown package up, he untied the white packing string, and unwrapped the small box. Inside he found a watch, a gold watch, with an Italian leather strap.
He lifted the watch out of the box in wonder, who would by him a present like this? It had to be someone who really liked him. Then, he noticed the little note that had fallen out of the wrapping.
He picked it up and read what it said. She likes me! SHE REALLY LIKES ME! Yes, I knew it! I knew it! James started jumping around the room, doing a little song and dance to a nonsensical tune.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ten days later, the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry returned to begin classes again. They all gathered in the Great Hall for the announcements given every year when the students returned.
When Dumbledore had finished Lily stood, "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank your patience with my tardiness in revealing my identity. I'll start at the beginning, when I was a second year student at this school, my father, Harry Evans, became the Muggle English Ambassador in France. My family and I moved to France where I've attended Beauxbaton's School of Witchcraft for the past four years. Though few of you will remember me, and those of you who do congratulations, my name is," she paused, looking around at the expectant faces, "Lily Evans."
There was a stunned pause, nobody moved, the only thing that could be heard was the soft whooshing sound of the wind, heard though the glass windows.
James stood up and stalked out of the Great Hall. It just didn't make any sense, Mademoiselle was Lily Evans. They were one in the same. But how could they be, Lily didn't look like that, and Mademoiselle was. well, she was Mademoiselle. But at least it made sense why she had gotten mad when he had insulted her figure of four years past.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After two or three minutes of stunned silence at James' angry retreat, Dumbledore stood and said, "Well, that went well. Now for the feast, I know you're all hungry from your journey, please, dig in."
There was nothing to say, Lily just stared at the door where James had exited. Was he mad at her? What had she done wrong? Was there something about her that he didn't like? How would this change their awkward friendship?
There were hushed whispers all over the hall, the wind was nearly deafening. Everyone was speculating the events that lead up to James' departure. Most of the older students were telling stories of the things they remembered of Lily, while the younger years gossiped about things they had heard from their older siblings, or distorting the stories told to them by others.
Lily sat in silence, trying not to cry. She didn't know why, or even when, but over the course of the last few months James' opinion had come to matter to her. The thought of him being angry with her, and possibly ignoring her was devastating. She picked at her food, and sat at the head of Gryffindor table waiting for almost ninety minutes for the meal to end.
James didn't know where to go. There was no where of sanctuary that he knew of that he could go to in order to find isolation; the Marauders had never taken into account the need for time alone when making their map.
He wandered around the school for ten minutes before finding himself in font of a mirror. Finding the trigger, he opened the mirror to reveal a hidden passage. He walked down the narrow tunnel, and emerged in he basement of an abandoned shed.
He looked around, I wonder if anyone misses me. The Marauders will figure it out. Pushing aside al further thought he walked into the Hogs Head.