Deeper Than Love: Chapter 4 ("Through Your Eyes")
Disclaimers in Chapter 1
A/N: A lot of thank-yous are in order! Please review with likes, dislikes, thanks!!
The Eighth Weasley: thanks soo much!!
InvisibleInk: Thanx sooo much! Yea, I like to end the chapter with a nice line!
OtterMoon: haha, yea! James can be a sweetie!
Pat: Omg, you're so sweet!! On your favorites list...I'm SOO HONORED!! Thanks!!
Lara1786: Thanks! I love LIly and James stories too!
blinkemaggie25: thanks!!
SiriusBlack4Ever: LOL! Thanks!!
ruhnasL: DOn't worry, I won't end it like that! Thanks!
liqin-padfooty: SOrry I had to make you wait! I'll try to write faster!!
Hpgirl55: Thanks for reading this chapter, katie! I didn't change too much!
rnarissa: thanks so much!! hope you enjoy this chapter!!
Clare: thanks! I like the flashbacks too!
Cat: Thank you!! Yes, poor Jamesie!
Jen: Thank you!!
Gryffi-gURL88: Thanks!! I hope you enjoy this chapter!!
~*~
"Prongs, come on mate. Tell us what's wrong," Sirius said watching James toss and turn on his bed.
"It's nothing. Just, stress, I guess," James said.
"James Potter, stress? Now that is something that's unheard of," Sirius joked. Catching James's face of seriousness, Sirius sat up.
"James, we're your friends. We're here for you...tell us what's wrong."
"Nothing's wrong," James lied.
"Yea, something's up, James. Even I know it," Peter said.
"Even Peter knows it! Bloody hell, the whole school knows! You haven't been the same since you came back from Christmas break. With Lily..." Sirius stopped and mentally slapped himself in the head for not realizing it before.
Remus picked his head up from his book and watched Sirius slap himself.
"Of course, why didn't I think of it before? James, what happened between you and Lily?"
"Nothing happened!" James snapped.
"Something must have. You're miserable," Sirius told him.
There was a soft knock on the door. "Come in!" Sirius yelled.
"Hey, uhh..James, can we talk to you outside?" Rachel asked poking her head in.
"Yea," James said dragging himself from his bed to the door.
James followed Rachel down the boys dormitory stairs until the bottom...
"SURPRISE!!" A loud crowd of Gryffindors shouted as James appeared in the dark common room.
James look bewildered and jumped. "What's going on? It's not my birthday," James exlclaimed, glancing at the balloons, food, and party decorations. Lily slyly walked up to James and handed him an envelope.
James eyed it warily, and his eyes shifted to meet her. "What's this?" he asked, as Lily handed it to her.
"Open it and find out for yourself," Lily said sweetly. Her whole face was grinning.
James opened the envelope, which had been resealed and looked nervously at Lily.
"Dear Mr. Potter," James read aloud, "Upon viewing your performance on a recent trip to Hogwarts, it is my pleasure to tell you that you have been accepted as Seeker for the Chudley Canons," James breathed as he finished.
His eyes darted at his crowd as they looked at him expectantly.
"But, I didn't...I didn't apply," James stuttered. "You have to apply in order for them to come down, and watch, and to get in!" As pleased as James was to have been accepted, he knew that he hadn't applied.
"I applied for you, silly," Lily responded, hoping he wouldn't be mad. James looked uneasily at Lily. Her voice was casual...like she hadn't heard a word of James's confession an hour prior in the library.
"Oh, ok. Thanks, Lily," James said.
"I thought you'd be happy..." Lily noticed the disappointment in his voice.
"I am, but being a Quidditch seeker wasn't really the profession I had in mind," James admitted. "But, still, it was great to have been accepted. Thanks Lily," James said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
A couple of the 1st years sighed romantically as Liesl said, "Well everyone, there's plenty of food," and the crowd headed towards the food table.
"So, what sort of profession were you looking in to?" Lily asked curiously, her bright green eyes big.
"I want to be an Auror," James said simply. He always had, ever since he was 6.
"Jamesie-boy! Man, you made the Canons! And you don't wanna take it!" Sirius slapped his back. Peter followed in the same suit.
"Quidditch isn't everything, Sirius." James told him matter-of-factly. Sirius stood back and gasped.
"Who are you and what have you done with James Harold Potter?" he asked jokingly. Lily excused herself and walked over to talk to Felicia.
"You didn't seem very happy when Lily told you she applied for you," Remus said quietly.
"I was happy, I was thrilled that she cared enough for me to apply." James protested. "But, I don't know. I felt like Lily and I had something good going, and then...she tells me she just wants to be my friend. I mean, she gives me all these signs, and I'm so mad at her. Is it me, Moony?"
"So, let me get this straight. She gives you signs that she likes you..." Remus asked James, and James nodded. "But, she tells you she just wants to be friends?", to which James nodded again.
"Either Lily's in denial, or Lily's in denial. Sure sounds like she likes you," Remus told James. James gazed akwardly at Lily, who was across the room laughing with some 5th years.
"I would," Remus continued, "sit down with her, and really talk to her,"
"We've talked enough." James told him. Remus raised an eyebrow.
"Ok, you've talked enough," Remus surrendered, as he left James and headed towards the food.
~*~
"That was so sweet of you, Lily...so apply for him," Janelle Gerry, a fellow 7th year, told Lily for the 30th time.
"Thanks, again, Janelle." Lily said, a bit annoyed. It was no secret among the girls that Janelle had a huge crush on James Potter.
"I wish I'd had done that. Then James would've liked me for sure," Janelle said confidently. "By the way, Lily, I was talking to Michael Whitter." Janelle started.
From across the room, James watched Lily talked with Janelle. The party was dying down, people were starting to head up to bed.
"Hey, man. I'm beat...you wanna head up?" Sirius asked as he yawned and slapped James's shoulder.
James, who hadn't taken his eyes of Lily, shook his head and said, "I think I'll help clean up,"
Sirius made a face at the mention of "clean" and said good night to James, with Peter and Remus at his tail.
By the time James had said good night to them and others, Lily and Janelle were on their way out of Gryffindor Tower.
"Lily!" James shouted and Lily poked her head back into the common room. "Where are you going?"
"I'll be back in a couple minutes," Lily assured him. "Don't worry...I won't let you clean up this mess by yourself," Lily teased as Janelle pulled her out of James's vision.
James sighed and took a seat on the couch. 1 minute turned into 2. 2 minutes turned into 3. James glanced at the watch on his write unpatiently. Soon, 5 minutes had passed and Lily had not returned. James never did find out what time Lily returned, because he had fallen sound asleep.
~*~
James awoke with a start at the beeping of his watch. Brushing a strand of his hair out of his face, James glanced at the time. It was 6:30...time for breakfast. James groaned as he rolled himself off of the couch. A blanket had covered him. James fingered the wool blanket gently. It was Lily's blanket...it had Lily's smell. James sniffed it repeatedly, extremely giddy that Lily had put the blanket over him. With a grateful feeling bubbling inside of him, James hurried upstairs to take a shower and get dressed.
~*~
As James walked into the Great Hall, he saw Lily already seated with her group of friends. Walking over to her, he whispered, "Thanks for the blanket," into her ear. Lily turned her head, shocked and surprised, and asked, "What blanket?" with a confused expression.
James frowned. It was Lily's wool blanket, he was sure of it. "Your wool blanket. You covered it over me last night," James explained. Lily's confused expression didn't leave her face. "I wasn't back in the tower until 1 this morning..." Lily stopped herself. "And you didn't just hear that," Lily added glancing at the teacher's table.
James's heart dropped. Not only did she not cover him with her blanket, but she had been out until 1 in the morning. "With who?" James prompted.
"Michael Whitter," Lily whispered. "Listen, James...I don't mean to hurt you or anything. I just thought it would make it easier to get over, well, this relationship between us. We're both moving on, right?" Lily asked him. Her answer sounded reasonable.
"Yea, right...good idea," James told her. Lily smiled at him. "Our little secret, ok?" Lily winked at him. Before James could respond, Janelle galloped into their presence.
"James! Did you sleep well last night?" Janelle asked grinning. Noticing Lily at the table, she said, "Lily, I hope you don't mind, but your blanket was on your bed and I knew you wouldn't be back until late, so I borrowed it," Janelle explained.
"I know, James already told me. It's fine," Lily assured her. Janelle took a seat next to Lily.
"So, James...you know there's a Hogsmeade trip this weekend. How about it? You and me..." Janelle proposed.
Lily looked up at James expectantly. For a minute, James thought he saw a flash of jealousy and curiosity in James's answer. But then, James blinked and saw Lily peering into his eyes for an answer.
"Uhh, I'll see if I have other plans," James told her quickly. Lily looked at James in surprise, but didn't say anything. James said good-bye to the two girls and headed to find his own friends.
~*~
"Hi, Lily," Rachel said as Lily walked into the girls dormitory.
"Hey, Rachel. Listen, what are your plans this weekend?"
"Well, the rest of us are going to follow you and Whittier around Hogsmeade." Rachel joked.
"Too bad, because Whittier and I broke it off," Lily informed her.
Rachel sat up on her bed and practically leapt onto Lily.
"What happened? Why? How?" Rachel begged her for details.
Lily laughed and gently pushed her away. "Not my type," Lily shrugged.
"Not your type!" Rachel said, looking outraged. "And who is your type?" she scoffed. "James Potter?"
Lily whipped her head to look at Rachel. "James and I are just friends."
Rachel studied Lily for a moment, and then her eyes grew wide.
"You're in love with him," she murmured in realization.
"No, I'm not Rachel!" Lily snapped.
"Yes, you are. It's in your eyes...and, oh, I should've known! When you told me he was accompanying you to your parents house, and applying for him for the Canons!" Rachel cried as she began to piece the puzzle together.
"Rachel, you are completely..."
"I'm right, aren't I? I'm completely right..." Rachel said in a voice that Lily knew she couldn't beat. Lily bit her lip.
"Oh, Lily!" Rachel hugged her estactically. "And to think he likes you too!"
"Not anymore," Lily said and Rachel gave her a curious expression. From then, Lily went on to explain the incident at her parent's house in the gazebo, the scene in the library, and the blanket issue with Janelle.
"He's always loved you, Lily. Only you were too blind to see it," Rachel pointed out. "Go find him. Tell him you love him too,"
"We can't rush into things like this! I may like James, more than a friend, but I don't love him," Lily said.
Rachel studied her eyes one more time. Lily felt like she was the top suspect in a crime and was being interrogated by an officer.
"You do," Rachel breathed again. "You do love him," she said determindly.
"That's great, Dr. Rachel. Now if you'll excuse me, I have homework to do," Lily said grabbing some books and leaving Rachel to herself.
~*~
Hope you enjoyed this chapter!! More to come!! Please review!!
Disclaimers in Chapter 1
A/N: A lot of thank-yous are in order! Please review with likes, dislikes, thanks!!
The Eighth Weasley: thanks soo much!!
InvisibleInk: Thanx sooo much! Yea, I like to end the chapter with a nice line!
OtterMoon: haha, yea! James can be a sweetie!
Pat: Omg, you're so sweet!! On your favorites list...I'm SOO HONORED!! Thanks!!
Lara1786: Thanks! I love LIly and James stories too!
blinkemaggie25: thanks!!
SiriusBlack4Ever: LOL! Thanks!!
ruhnasL: DOn't worry, I won't end it like that! Thanks!
liqin-padfooty: SOrry I had to make you wait! I'll try to write faster!!
Hpgirl55: Thanks for reading this chapter, katie! I didn't change too much!
rnarissa: thanks so much!! hope you enjoy this chapter!!
Clare: thanks! I like the flashbacks too!
Cat: Thank you!! Yes, poor Jamesie!
Jen: Thank you!!
Gryffi-gURL88: Thanks!! I hope you enjoy this chapter!!
~*~
"Prongs, come on mate. Tell us what's wrong," Sirius said watching James toss and turn on his bed.
"It's nothing. Just, stress, I guess," James said.
"James Potter, stress? Now that is something that's unheard of," Sirius joked. Catching James's face of seriousness, Sirius sat up.
"James, we're your friends. We're here for you...tell us what's wrong."
"Nothing's wrong," James lied.
"Yea, something's up, James. Even I know it," Peter said.
"Even Peter knows it! Bloody hell, the whole school knows! You haven't been the same since you came back from Christmas break. With Lily..." Sirius stopped and mentally slapped himself in the head for not realizing it before.
Remus picked his head up from his book and watched Sirius slap himself.
"Of course, why didn't I think of it before? James, what happened between you and Lily?"
"Nothing happened!" James snapped.
"Something must have. You're miserable," Sirius told him.
There was a soft knock on the door. "Come in!" Sirius yelled.
"Hey, uhh..James, can we talk to you outside?" Rachel asked poking her head in.
"Yea," James said dragging himself from his bed to the door.
James followed Rachel down the boys dormitory stairs until the bottom...
"SURPRISE!!" A loud crowd of Gryffindors shouted as James appeared in the dark common room.
James look bewildered and jumped. "What's going on? It's not my birthday," James exlclaimed, glancing at the balloons, food, and party decorations. Lily slyly walked up to James and handed him an envelope.
James eyed it warily, and his eyes shifted to meet her. "What's this?" he asked, as Lily handed it to her.
"Open it and find out for yourself," Lily said sweetly. Her whole face was grinning.
James opened the envelope, which had been resealed and looked nervously at Lily.
"Dear Mr. Potter," James read aloud, "Upon viewing your performance on a recent trip to Hogwarts, it is my pleasure to tell you that you have been accepted as Seeker for the Chudley Canons," James breathed as he finished.
His eyes darted at his crowd as they looked at him expectantly.
"But, I didn't...I didn't apply," James stuttered. "You have to apply in order for them to come down, and watch, and to get in!" As pleased as James was to have been accepted, he knew that he hadn't applied.
"I applied for you, silly," Lily responded, hoping he wouldn't be mad. James looked uneasily at Lily. Her voice was casual...like she hadn't heard a word of James's confession an hour prior in the library.
"Oh, ok. Thanks, Lily," James said.
"I thought you'd be happy..." Lily noticed the disappointment in his voice.
"I am, but being a Quidditch seeker wasn't really the profession I had in mind," James admitted. "But, still, it was great to have been accepted. Thanks Lily," James said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
A couple of the 1st years sighed romantically as Liesl said, "Well everyone, there's plenty of food," and the crowd headed towards the food table.
"So, what sort of profession were you looking in to?" Lily asked curiously, her bright green eyes big.
"I want to be an Auror," James said simply. He always had, ever since he was 6.
"Jamesie-boy! Man, you made the Canons! And you don't wanna take it!" Sirius slapped his back. Peter followed in the same suit.
"Quidditch isn't everything, Sirius." James told him matter-of-factly. Sirius stood back and gasped.
"Who are you and what have you done with James Harold Potter?" he asked jokingly. Lily excused herself and walked over to talk to Felicia.
"You didn't seem very happy when Lily told you she applied for you," Remus said quietly.
"I was happy, I was thrilled that she cared enough for me to apply." James protested. "But, I don't know. I felt like Lily and I had something good going, and then...she tells me she just wants to be my friend. I mean, she gives me all these signs, and I'm so mad at her. Is it me, Moony?"
"So, let me get this straight. She gives you signs that she likes you..." Remus asked James, and James nodded. "But, she tells you she just wants to be friends?", to which James nodded again.
"Either Lily's in denial, or Lily's in denial. Sure sounds like she likes you," Remus told James. James gazed akwardly at Lily, who was across the room laughing with some 5th years.
"I would," Remus continued, "sit down with her, and really talk to her,"
"We've talked enough." James told him. Remus raised an eyebrow.
"Ok, you've talked enough," Remus surrendered, as he left James and headed towards the food.
~*~
"That was so sweet of you, Lily...so apply for him," Janelle Gerry, a fellow 7th year, told Lily for the 30th time.
"Thanks, again, Janelle." Lily said, a bit annoyed. It was no secret among the girls that Janelle had a huge crush on James Potter.
"I wish I'd had done that. Then James would've liked me for sure," Janelle said confidently. "By the way, Lily, I was talking to Michael Whitter." Janelle started.
From across the room, James watched Lily talked with Janelle. The party was dying down, people were starting to head up to bed.
"Hey, man. I'm beat...you wanna head up?" Sirius asked as he yawned and slapped James's shoulder.
James, who hadn't taken his eyes of Lily, shook his head and said, "I think I'll help clean up,"
Sirius made a face at the mention of "clean" and said good night to James, with Peter and Remus at his tail.
By the time James had said good night to them and others, Lily and Janelle were on their way out of Gryffindor Tower.
"Lily!" James shouted and Lily poked her head back into the common room. "Where are you going?"
"I'll be back in a couple minutes," Lily assured him. "Don't worry...I won't let you clean up this mess by yourself," Lily teased as Janelle pulled her out of James's vision.
James sighed and took a seat on the couch. 1 minute turned into 2. 2 minutes turned into 3. James glanced at the watch on his write unpatiently. Soon, 5 minutes had passed and Lily had not returned. James never did find out what time Lily returned, because he had fallen sound asleep.
~*~
James awoke with a start at the beeping of his watch. Brushing a strand of his hair out of his face, James glanced at the time. It was 6:30...time for breakfast. James groaned as he rolled himself off of the couch. A blanket had covered him. James fingered the wool blanket gently. It was Lily's blanket...it had Lily's smell. James sniffed it repeatedly, extremely giddy that Lily had put the blanket over him. With a grateful feeling bubbling inside of him, James hurried upstairs to take a shower and get dressed.
~*~
As James walked into the Great Hall, he saw Lily already seated with her group of friends. Walking over to her, he whispered, "Thanks for the blanket," into her ear. Lily turned her head, shocked and surprised, and asked, "What blanket?" with a confused expression.
James frowned. It was Lily's wool blanket, he was sure of it. "Your wool blanket. You covered it over me last night," James explained. Lily's confused expression didn't leave her face. "I wasn't back in the tower until 1 this morning..." Lily stopped herself. "And you didn't just hear that," Lily added glancing at the teacher's table.
James's heart dropped. Not only did she not cover him with her blanket, but she had been out until 1 in the morning. "With who?" James prompted.
"Michael Whitter," Lily whispered. "Listen, James...I don't mean to hurt you or anything. I just thought it would make it easier to get over, well, this relationship between us. We're both moving on, right?" Lily asked him. Her answer sounded reasonable.
"Yea, right...good idea," James told her. Lily smiled at him. "Our little secret, ok?" Lily winked at him. Before James could respond, Janelle galloped into their presence.
"James! Did you sleep well last night?" Janelle asked grinning. Noticing Lily at the table, she said, "Lily, I hope you don't mind, but your blanket was on your bed and I knew you wouldn't be back until late, so I borrowed it," Janelle explained.
"I know, James already told me. It's fine," Lily assured her. Janelle took a seat next to Lily.
"So, James...you know there's a Hogsmeade trip this weekend. How about it? You and me..." Janelle proposed.
Lily looked up at James expectantly. For a minute, James thought he saw a flash of jealousy and curiosity in James's answer. But then, James blinked and saw Lily peering into his eyes for an answer.
"Uhh, I'll see if I have other plans," James told her quickly. Lily looked at James in surprise, but didn't say anything. James said good-bye to the two girls and headed to find his own friends.
~*~
"Hi, Lily," Rachel said as Lily walked into the girls dormitory.
"Hey, Rachel. Listen, what are your plans this weekend?"
"Well, the rest of us are going to follow you and Whittier around Hogsmeade." Rachel joked.
"Too bad, because Whittier and I broke it off," Lily informed her.
Rachel sat up on her bed and practically leapt onto Lily.
"What happened? Why? How?" Rachel begged her for details.
Lily laughed and gently pushed her away. "Not my type," Lily shrugged.
"Not your type!" Rachel said, looking outraged. "And who is your type?" she scoffed. "James Potter?"
Lily whipped her head to look at Rachel. "James and I are just friends."
Rachel studied Lily for a moment, and then her eyes grew wide.
"You're in love with him," she murmured in realization.
"No, I'm not Rachel!" Lily snapped.
"Yes, you are. It's in your eyes...and, oh, I should've known! When you told me he was accompanying you to your parents house, and applying for him for the Canons!" Rachel cried as she began to piece the puzzle together.
"Rachel, you are completely..."
"I'm right, aren't I? I'm completely right..." Rachel said in a voice that Lily knew she couldn't beat. Lily bit her lip.
"Oh, Lily!" Rachel hugged her estactically. "And to think he likes you too!"
"Not anymore," Lily said and Rachel gave her a curious expression. From then, Lily went on to explain the incident at her parent's house in the gazebo, the scene in the library, and the blanket issue with Janelle.
"He's always loved you, Lily. Only you were too blind to see it," Rachel pointed out. "Go find him. Tell him you love him too,"
"We can't rush into things like this! I may like James, more than a friend, but I don't love him," Lily said.
Rachel studied her eyes one more time. Lily felt like she was the top suspect in a crime and was being interrogated by an officer.
"You do," Rachel breathed again. "You do love him," she said determindly.
"That's great, Dr. Rachel. Now if you'll excuse me, I have homework to do," Lily said grabbing some books and leaving Rachel to herself.
~*~
Hope you enjoyed this chapter!! More to come!! Please review!!