Author's Note: I last updated this story Setpember 4. explanation? This is
the fourth version of chapter 10. the others didn't quite satisfy me and
then being a senior in high school is sooo exhausting!!!!!! Ah, I'll try to
move a bit faster once all the college apps are done! Anyway, enjoy this
chapter. have fun and review!!!!!!!!!!!
Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to JK Rowling, unfamiliar ones belong to me!
Chapter 10- Once Upon a December
The next few days following Lily's awakening were the slowest she ever experienced. Madam Pomfrey made her stay in bed and sleep as often as she could, allowing her to get up only if Lily had to go to the bathroom. Professor McGonagall visited Lily the night after her awakening and to prevent one of her favorite students from going into a frenzy, McGonagall changed all the homework to extra credit and with Lily's outstanding average, it would not be necessary for her to do all the work. So that gave Lily nothing else to do but eat, drink, sleep, use the bathroom and look forward to visitors.
Upon hearing that Lily was in the hospital, Alaina and Jonathan made the effort to visit her everyday. As entertaining as they were, Lily felt very restless and was always waiting to hear Peeves's cackling laugh, the warning of upcoming chaos. Unfortunately, Madam Pomfrey was skilled at keeping Peeves away from the hospital wing. Plus, no student was in the wing except Lily.
Then three days before Christmas, Lily's heart leaped as several panicky, quick moving feet ran towards the hospital wing. She closed her eyes and pretended to sleep as the feet scurried into the room. She listened to the people as to figure out who was joining her in the wing.
"Bludger.. Knocked off broom.. wouldn't respond after a good hard kick..." Were the only words Lily could pick up.
'That tells me that the person is a Quidditch player, one of twenty eight in the school.... I hope it's not a Slytherin.'
Ten minutes later, all the people walked out except Madam Pomfrey and whoever it was that fell from his or her broom. Since she was supposed to be sleeping, Lily kept her eyes shut and waited until Madam Pomfrey finished tending to her new patient to open her eyes. She sat up almost immediately after she heard the door close to take a look at who it was.
Her heart sank to her stomach upon seeing black, disheveled hair poking out from the blanket of the second bed to her right. Even though darkness was creeping through the window, Lily knew immediately that it was James. Lily mentally scolded herself for not thinking it was James, the only Quidditch player in Hogwarts that frequently fell off his broom. James was fast asleep, and Lily smiled at the sight, but dove back under her blankets as footsteps reapproached the hospital wing. The doors opened and somebody momentarily pulled Lily's blankets off her.
Lily grimaced as the cold air hit her. She didn't realize how warm those blankets were.
"Lily, I know you're awake. Anyway, Madam Pomfrey says you'll be able to leave tomorrow morning, provide we let you rest and we feed you," Camille's voice said loudly and cheerfully.
Lily peered up and picked her blankets off the floor.
"Well, of course I'm leaving tomorrow morning. We're going to Ashley's for Christmas, right?" Lily pointed out.
Camille chuckled.
"I almost forgot about that. Yeah, the train leaves tomorrow. We packed your trunk for you already; we did it about a week ago."
Her eyes averted towards James and sighed.
"We told James he was insane to have practice at this time of year. But did he listen? No! Ah, well, he has been acting a bit odd lately. Even the other Marauders say so. For them not to know, something's really wrong with him" Camille stated curiously.
Lily shrugged.
"I haven't had a proper encounter with him since Halloween, so I wouldn't know." Camille's eyes went back to Lily in realization.
"Well, he's got it so bad for you that he landed here in the hospital wing," Camille said with a hint of pride in her voice for finally coming up with that idea.
Lily looked stunned for a moment, then began spreading her blankets back over her bed.
"Camille, I'm aware he's been after me for a couple of years, but for me to have that much of an effect on him is very unlikely, I think." "But listen to what you just said a moment ago: "I haven't had a proper encounter with him since Halloween." Lily, let me remind you that that was October 31. Today is December 22. You've been so wrapped up in your studies and the first years that you haven't been aware of the things happening around you!"
"Tell me then."
"James is being told off by almost every teacher for staring into space and although I'm not in O.W.L. Transfiguration like you, I'm hearing that McGonagall is dissatisfied with James's recent grades and is thinking of telling James to get extra help. Now, don't tell me that isn't a problem. Neither is he focused during Quidditch practices. He's been hauling all of us out of the Tower into this freezing weather. Insane and off his rocker is James Potter." she started, as she shook her head. Then she continued speaking.
"And some Slytherins, and I'm quite sure as to who they are, decided to have a bit of fun and let out the bludgers and made them to trail James until he fell off his broom. The snowfall we've been having lately didn't help the situation. And I've been talking to Remus and he says that James tosses and turns while he sleeps and says your name every once in a while."
Lily was overwhelmed with the information just given.
"These classes are getting to his head too. I got here via exhaustedness from O.W.L. classes and James finally lost it from O.W.L. classes too and led him to make you guys practice Quidditch today and land him here," she rationalized.
But Camille simply gave Lily a sincere smile.
"Loving somebody body is one of the greatest gifts you can ever give to them. I'll be back at 6:30 tomorrow morning to help you. Your friend Jonathan and his sister are coming as well. Sleep well Lily," Camille said then walked out of the wing.
"Loving somebody back is one of the greatest gifts you can ever give to them," Lily murmured to herself as she lowered her hand back down on her pillow.
"But am I willing?" she whispered to the silence.
Groans softly came form James's bed as he began to stir. Lily threw her blankets back flat on top of herself, hoping James wouldn't notice that she was there.
"Thanks god Christmas is here," she heard James whisper to the air.
"I need the time to think over things and calm down. I let my emotions get the best of me and that pulled me off track. I wouldn't always be lost in thought and my teammates wouldn't have brought me up here. But is it my fault or Lily's that I landed up here? We started fighting back in Halloween before I could say what I wanted to. I wish she didn't dislike me as much as she does. Sometimes we get along well, why can't it be that way much more often?"
James's voice grew soft and moments later, all Lily heard was his soft breathing, which meant he had fallen asleep again. Lily looked at him sleep now in a curled up position. One foot dangled a few inches above the floor and his hair graced his face in a way that increased Lily's attention. She had never seen him sleep or anyone else sleep at that. Anyway, what else was there to do?
'Just stare at James Potter sleeping. it's not that bad though,' she thought as she shifted into a more comfortable position and curled herself up. There was absolutely nothing for Madam Pomfrey to re-enter the wing for.
Hours passed and by midnight, Lily longed to not be as alone as she was, more than she felt for the past two weeks. Something had to happen. careful as to not make any loud noises that could wake up Madam Pomfrey, she made her way to James's bed and knelt down on the floor, in front of James's face. Hoping not to wake him abruptly, Lily's right hand gently sifted James's dark, messy and thick hair. Sure enough, James let out a sigh a minute later and opened his left eyes sleepily. Lily's face slowly came into focus. He serenely smiled.
"Lily.." he gently whispered.
"Hi James, it's been a while, don't you think?" Lily said in reply. 'Whatever happens, happens,' Lily thought firmly.
James opened his other eye, ready for conversation although he was tired.
'This could just be a dream,' he thought as his hand went out to caress her face.
His fingers lightly brushed her forehead.
"Even though we usually end up fighting, yeah, I miss seeing you. I've been stuck here since the seventh. I'm leaving here early tomorrow morning though."
"Tomorrow's Christmas Eve, isn't it?"
"Yeah, and it's about time. I heard you're staying here for Christmas. Aren't you planning on visiting your parents?"
James shook his head.
"My mum's sick and she doesn't want it going around. Anyway, Hogwarts is far more interesting when only about twenty students stay."
"My friends are making sure I don't stay here for Christmas. I suppose it's for my own good though."
James made a face.
'You haven't missed much in our classes. Everybody's thinking about Christmas that most teachers don't bother teaching new stuff. That and a lot of sixth years are scared of landing in the hospital wing because of work like you. Mostly reviews and McGonagall made all that work extra credit instead. Wish she hadn't though. I finished all that stuff already."
Lily's eyes widened in surprise.
"How in the world did you finish all that work and the stuff from our other classes? All that bloody work is the reason why I'm here!" Lily said in a loud whisper.
James grinned.
"If you had held on for a few more days, your workload would have been a lot less."
"And how would I have been able to hold on for those "few more days"?" Lily implored.
James lifted up the corner of his blanket.
"Quit kneeling on the floor and get in here. Then I'll tell you," he offered.
Lily looked hesitant and moved away from James..
James sighed.
"I land in detention all the time, but I'm not that bad," James said persistently.
Although still a bit hesitant, Lily climbed in. James made no move to touch her in any way, so Lily relaxed... as much as she could. The beds in the hospital wing could barely hold the average sixteen year old.
"Aren't you under the impression that we're both going to fall off?" Lily asked, turning herself around to face James.
"What else happens if you fall off? Madam Pomfrey can mend bones in an instant."
Lily frowned.
"I know that, but I don't think Madam Pomfrey will keep quiet about the fact that we're in the same bed."
James grunted.
"You need to calm down. You're going to Ashley's home aren't you?"
"Yeah..."
"As her next door neighbor, I know Ashley will make sure you don't do a stitch of work. I made her promise a week ago," James said firmly, looking her straight in the eye.
Lily stared at him in disbelief.
"Since when have you ever cared for me?" Lily asked with a tone of great dislike in her voice.
"I'm the one responsible for you being here this year, don't you remember that?" James shot back.
Lily's face softened a bit.
"And I thank you for that. I belong here more that there," she replied as she unconsciously fell into James's eyes and closed her eyes, reflecting on what she could have missed all those years if she had not found out she was a witch.
All the people and experiences... How different it would have been if she were a muggle. But then again, if she were a muggle, she wouldn't be separated from her family for so long.
"Lily?" James softly murmured.
She opened her eyes and found herself staring into James's hazel eyes. She hadn't realized their proximity to each other. James gently brushed his forehead against hers.
"Are you alright?" he asked with a tone of gentleness hardly anyone had ever talked to Lily with, and she liked it. Lily felt as if a barrier were lifted and she could talk to James about anything.
So for the next hour, Lily told him everything that had been going on in her mind a minute ago. And James gave intelligent opinions to each of the things she had expressed, which was a rare trait. A lull though, came over them after Lily finished talking. Lily breathed deeply. Perhaps she had told him too much?
"I'm glad you told me these things, I really am," James said as he tucked a strand of Lily's hair behind her ear.
"Such is the life of a muggle-born witch," Lily chuckled.
James shook his head.
"I liked getting to know you as an individual. You need to laugh more, have a bit of fun. Part of the reason why you're here in the wing is because you take life entirely too seriously. Being a magical person is a gift, not granted to every person alive. Use the gift you've been given, just don't use it in a way that will lead to the destruction of anyone or anything."
Lily smirked.
"Then why do you still hex Snivellus every time you see him in the hallways or the lawn?"
James chuckled.
"Because he's Severus Snape!"
"That's so mean!"
"But it's fun, and none of my hexes are going to kill him. It's not bad, he just chooses to hex me right back and that's when the trouble begins."
"And the reason why you mess up your hair even more than it already is?"
"You answered that question during O.W.L. examinations. Also, I have given up on trying to keep my hair orderly. Next question."
"Why do you play with the Snitch so much?"
James hesitated. He didn't feel like saying it.
"You don't know?"
"James, I'm supposed to be the one asking questions."
"You really want to know the truth?"
"YES!"
James took a deep breath.
"For the first part, it's for showing off but mostly, the Snitch reminds me of you."
Lily was extremely surprised at his second remark.
"How do I remind you of the Snitch?"
"You're always just out of my grasp. I can catch the fast, speedy Snitch, but nto you," James answered with a feeling of reluctance. He didn't want to tell her, but she asked for the truth.
'That's not entirely true, James," Lily replied, her cheeks reddening. "You've caught me a couple of times, but I let myself free."
James thought for a moment.
"Halloween.."
"I ran away from you right after you got me."
"Lily Evans: the hardest snitch to catch," James joked.
"And of all snitches of the world, I'm the one you pursue. This snitch is going back to her own bed because she doesn't want to be caught by anyone with authority."
And before James could register it, Lily had went back to her own bed, turned away from him.
'And the snitch manages to get away again,' James thought.
Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to JK Rowling, unfamiliar ones belong to me!
Chapter 10- Once Upon a December
The next few days following Lily's awakening were the slowest she ever experienced. Madam Pomfrey made her stay in bed and sleep as often as she could, allowing her to get up only if Lily had to go to the bathroom. Professor McGonagall visited Lily the night after her awakening and to prevent one of her favorite students from going into a frenzy, McGonagall changed all the homework to extra credit and with Lily's outstanding average, it would not be necessary for her to do all the work. So that gave Lily nothing else to do but eat, drink, sleep, use the bathroom and look forward to visitors.
Upon hearing that Lily was in the hospital, Alaina and Jonathan made the effort to visit her everyday. As entertaining as they were, Lily felt very restless and was always waiting to hear Peeves's cackling laugh, the warning of upcoming chaos. Unfortunately, Madam Pomfrey was skilled at keeping Peeves away from the hospital wing. Plus, no student was in the wing except Lily.
Then three days before Christmas, Lily's heart leaped as several panicky, quick moving feet ran towards the hospital wing. She closed her eyes and pretended to sleep as the feet scurried into the room. She listened to the people as to figure out who was joining her in the wing.
"Bludger.. Knocked off broom.. wouldn't respond after a good hard kick..." Were the only words Lily could pick up.
'That tells me that the person is a Quidditch player, one of twenty eight in the school.... I hope it's not a Slytherin.'
Ten minutes later, all the people walked out except Madam Pomfrey and whoever it was that fell from his or her broom. Since she was supposed to be sleeping, Lily kept her eyes shut and waited until Madam Pomfrey finished tending to her new patient to open her eyes. She sat up almost immediately after she heard the door close to take a look at who it was.
Her heart sank to her stomach upon seeing black, disheveled hair poking out from the blanket of the second bed to her right. Even though darkness was creeping through the window, Lily knew immediately that it was James. Lily mentally scolded herself for not thinking it was James, the only Quidditch player in Hogwarts that frequently fell off his broom. James was fast asleep, and Lily smiled at the sight, but dove back under her blankets as footsteps reapproached the hospital wing. The doors opened and somebody momentarily pulled Lily's blankets off her.
Lily grimaced as the cold air hit her. She didn't realize how warm those blankets were.
"Lily, I know you're awake. Anyway, Madam Pomfrey says you'll be able to leave tomorrow morning, provide we let you rest and we feed you," Camille's voice said loudly and cheerfully.
Lily peered up and picked her blankets off the floor.
"Well, of course I'm leaving tomorrow morning. We're going to Ashley's for Christmas, right?" Lily pointed out.
Camille chuckled.
"I almost forgot about that. Yeah, the train leaves tomorrow. We packed your trunk for you already; we did it about a week ago."
Her eyes averted towards James and sighed.
"We told James he was insane to have practice at this time of year. But did he listen? No! Ah, well, he has been acting a bit odd lately. Even the other Marauders say so. For them not to know, something's really wrong with him" Camille stated curiously.
Lily shrugged.
"I haven't had a proper encounter with him since Halloween, so I wouldn't know." Camille's eyes went back to Lily in realization.
"Well, he's got it so bad for you that he landed here in the hospital wing," Camille said with a hint of pride in her voice for finally coming up with that idea.
Lily looked stunned for a moment, then began spreading her blankets back over her bed.
"Camille, I'm aware he's been after me for a couple of years, but for me to have that much of an effect on him is very unlikely, I think." "But listen to what you just said a moment ago: "I haven't had a proper encounter with him since Halloween." Lily, let me remind you that that was October 31. Today is December 22. You've been so wrapped up in your studies and the first years that you haven't been aware of the things happening around you!"
"Tell me then."
"James is being told off by almost every teacher for staring into space and although I'm not in O.W.L. Transfiguration like you, I'm hearing that McGonagall is dissatisfied with James's recent grades and is thinking of telling James to get extra help. Now, don't tell me that isn't a problem. Neither is he focused during Quidditch practices. He's been hauling all of us out of the Tower into this freezing weather. Insane and off his rocker is James Potter." she started, as she shook her head. Then she continued speaking.
"And some Slytherins, and I'm quite sure as to who they are, decided to have a bit of fun and let out the bludgers and made them to trail James until he fell off his broom. The snowfall we've been having lately didn't help the situation. And I've been talking to Remus and he says that James tosses and turns while he sleeps and says your name every once in a while."
Lily was overwhelmed with the information just given.
"These classes are getting to his head too. I got here via exhaustedness from O.W.L. classes and James finally lost it from O.W.L. classes too and led him to make you guys practice Quidditch today and land him here," she rationalized.
But Camille simply gave Lily a sincere smile.
"Loving somebody body is one of the greatest gifts you can ever give to them. I'll be back at 6:30 tomorrow morning to help you. Your friend Jonathan and his sister are coming as well. Sleep well Lily," Camille said then walked out of the wing.
"Loving somebody back is one of the greatest gifts you can ever give to them," Lily murmured to herself as she lowered her hand back down on her pillow.
"But am I willing?" she whispered to the silence.
Groans softly came form James's bed as he began to stir. Lily threw her blankets back flat on top of herself, hoping James wouldn't notice that she was there.
"Thanks god Christmas is here," she heard James whisper to the air.
"I need the time to think over things and calm down. I let my emotions get the best of me and that pulled me off track. I wouldn't always be lost in thought and my teammates wouldn't have brought me up here. But is it my fault or Lily's that I landed up here? We started fighting back in Halloween before I could say what I wanted to. I wish she didn't dislike me as much as she does. Sometimes we get along well, why can't it be that way much more often?"
James's voice grew soft and moments later, all Lily heard was his soft breathing, which meant he had fallen asleep again. Lily looked at him sleep now in a curled up position. One foot dangled a few inches above the floor and his hair graced his face in a way that increased Lily's attention. She had never seen him sleep or anyone else sleep at that. Anyway, what else was there to do?
'Just stare at James Potter sleeping. it's not that bad though,' she thought as she shifted into a more comfortable position and curled herself up. There was absolutely nothing for Madam Pomfrey to re-enter the wing for.
Hours passed and by midnight, Lily longed to not be as alone as she was, more than she felt for the past two weeks. Something had to happen. careful as to not make any loud noises that could wake up Madam Pomfrey, she made her way to James's bed and knelt down on the floor, in front of James's face. Hoping not to wake him abruptly, Lily's right hand gently sifted James's dark, messy and thick hair. Sure enough, James let out a sigh a minute later and opened his left eyes sleepily. Lily's face slowly came into focus. He serenely smiled.
"Lily.." he gently whispered.
"Hi James, it's been a while, don't you think?" Lily said in reply. 'Whatever happens, happens,' Lily thought firmly.
James opened his other eye, ready for conversation although he was tired.
'This could just be a dream,' he thought as his hand went out to caress her face.
His fingers lightly brushed her forehead.
"Even though we usually end up fighting, yeah, I miss seeing you. I've been stuck here since the seventh. I'm leaving here early tomorrow morning though."
"Tomorrow's Christmas Eve, isn't it?"
"Yeah, and it's about time. I heard you're staying here for Christmas. Aren't you planning on visiting your parents?"
James shook his head.
"My mum's sick and she doesn't want it going around. Anyway, Hogwarts is far more interesting when only about twenty students stay."
"My friends are making sure I don't stay here for Christmas. I suppose it's for my own good though."
James made a face.
'You haven't missed much in our classes. Everybody's thinking about Christmas that most teachers don't bother teaching new stuff. That and a lot of sixth years are scared of landing in the hospital wing because of work like you. Mostly reviews and McGonagall made all that work extra credit instead. Wish she hadn't though. I finished all that stuff already."
Lily's eyes widened in surprise.
"How in the world did you finish all that work and the stuff from our other classes? All that bloody work is the reason why I'm here!" Lily said in a loud whisper.
James grinned.
"If you had held on for a few more days, your workload would have been a lot less."
"And how would I have been able to hold on for those "few more days"?" Lily implored.
James lifted up the corner of his blanket.
"Quit kneeling on the floor and get in here. Then I'll tell you," he offered.
Lily looked hesitant and moved away from James..
James sighed.
"I land in detention all the time, but I'm not that bad," James said persistently.
Although still a bit hesitant, Lily climbed in. James made no move to touch her in any way, so Lily relaxed... as much as she could. The beds in the hospital wing could barely hold the average sixteen year old.
"Aren't you under the impression that we're both going to fall off?" Lily asked, turning herself around to face James.
"What else happens if you fall off? Madam Pomfrey can mend bones in an instant."
Lily frowned.
"I know that, but I don't think Madam Pomfrey will keep quiet about the fact that we're in the same bed."
James grunted.
"You need to calm down. You're going to Ashley's home aren't you?"
"Yeah..."
"As her next door neighbor, I know Ashley will make sure you don't do a stitch of work. I made her promise a week ago," James said firmly, looking her straight in the eye.
Lily stared at him in disbelief.
"Since when have you ever cared for me?" Lily asked with a tone of great dislike in her voice.
"I'm the one responsible for you being here this year, don't you remember that?" James shot back.
Lily's face softened a bit.
"And I thank you for that. I belong here more that there," she replied as she unconsciously fell into James's eyes and closed her eyes, reflecting on what she could have missed all those years if she had not found out she was a witch.
All the people and experiences... How different it would have been if she were a muggle. But then again, if she were a muggle, she wouldn't be separated from her family for so long.
"Lily?" James softly murmured.
She opened her eyes and found herself staring into James's hazel eyes. She hadn't realized their proximity to each other. James gently brushed his forehead against hers.
"Are you alright?" he asked with a tone of gentleness hardly anyone had ever talked to Lily with, and she liked it. Lily felt as if a barrier were lifted and she could talk to James about anything.
So for the next hour, Lily told him everything that had been going on in her mind a minute ago. And James gave intelligent opinions to each of the things she had expressed, which was a rare trait. A lull though, came over them after Lily finished talking. Lily breathed deeply. Perhaps she had told him too much?
"I'm glad you told me these things, I really am," James said as he tucked a strand of Lily's hair behind her ear.
"Such is the life of a muggle-born witch," Lily chuckled.
James shook his head.
"I liked getting to know you as an individual. You need to laugh more, have a bit of fun. Part of the reason why you're here in the wing is because you take life entirely too seriously. Being a magical person is a gift, not granted to every person alive. Use the gift you've been given, just don't use it in a way that will lead to the destruction of anyone or anything."
Lily smirked.
"Then why do you still hex Snivellus every time you see him in the hallways or the lawn?"
James chuckled.
"Because he's Severus Snape!"
"That's so mean!"
"But it's fun, and none of my hexes are going to kill him. It's not bad, he just chooses to hex me right back and that's when the trouble begins."
"And the reason why you mess up your hair even more than it already is?"
"You answered that question during O.W.L. examinations. Also, I have given up on trying to keep my hair orderly. Next question."
"Why do you play with the Snitch so much?"
James hesitated. He didn't feel like saying it.
"You don't know?"
"James, I'm supposed to be the one asking questions."
"You really want to know the truth?"
"YES!"
James took a deep breath.
"For the first part, it's for showing off but mostly, the Snitch reminds me of you."
Lily was extremely surprised at his second remark.
"How do I remind you of the Snitch?"
"You're always just out of my grasp. I can catch the fast, speedy Snitch, but nto you," James answered with a feeling of reluctance. He didn't want to tell her, but she asked for the truth.
'That's not entirely true, James," Lily replied, her cheeks reddening. "You've caught me a couple of times, but I let myself free."
James thought for a moment.
"Halloween.."
"I ran away from you right after you got me."
"Lily Evans: the hardest snitch to catch," James joked.
"And of all snitches of the world, I'm the one you pursue. This snitch is going back to her own bed because she doesn't want to be caught by anyone with authority."
And before James could register it, Lily had went back to her own bed, turned away from him.
'And the snitch manages to get away again,' James thought.