slippersRfuzzy -- Haha. I updated!Disclaimer: Yes, I own Harry Potter. I'M A BILLIONAIRE! But it's all in my head…
A/N: WOW! That's all I can say to all the reviews I got for chapter three. Thank you so much! You do not know how excited and bouncy I was! Thanks you!
Leave Me Be
By: blahblah
As the words flew from my mouth, my mind abruptly clicked. Didn't Moody say that Voldemort wanted to kill me because I dated James?
Oh, now you realize it, a sarcastic voice drawled in my head.
Shut up! And…didn't James mention something…?
"Voldemort's after me, not her. If I hadn't dated her… I thought he would leave her alone if I left her." God, you're slow. And blind…
"Lily?"
I broke off my conversation in my head abruptly. "Yes?" I said absentmindedly.
"Don't…you want to hear my answer?" James said looking slightly hurt.
"Oh!" I blushed furiously. Why don't you just say it? You're an idiot.
Thanks. I know it's the truth, too. "I'm sorry I was a bloody moron," I blurted out. "I should've figured it out my own! Moody said it, and I heard you say it…"
"Did you just call yourself…a moron?" Frank slowly said. I turned to him, quickly realizing that he and Sirius were staring at me with their mouths open.
My cheeks burned. "Lily, you aren't a moron," James said seriously. "I am. I'm sorry I hurt you… It was foolish and--" I looked at him. My lips twitched slightly and despite myself, a smile lit up my face.
Hmm… Yes, a good move. Look like a Barbie doll… I quickly wiped off the ridiculous smile on my face.
"It wasn't your fault," I interrupted seriously. "You were just looking out for me. And thank you." The wisest you've said in a century! Why don't you go in a bloody corner and shut your mouth?
"I lied," James said firmly. "It was the worst I felt in months. It took so long to impress you…to--erm--deflate my ego. And I ruined it." His hazel eyes frowned, drooping with guilt.
I swallowed hard. A wave of emotion slapped me hard in the face, swallowing me in a sea of guilt and pain. "Don't say that," I whispered. "It's not true." Appreciation flooded through me as I stared down at James who dug his hand through his dark locks.
"Actually, I don't think I could find any man who would sacrifice so much for me," I said loudly. Except Dad, of course. I fought the urge to roll my eyes at myself. "Except D--you, James."
I cursed the voice inside my head, influencing the words slipping off my tongue.
"R-really?" James said hopefully, looking up at me.
Another smile graced my face. "Yes," I said confidently. James suddenly got to his feet, towering over me. I smiled up at him and on my tiptoes, kissed him gently.
As I leaned back, I touched my cheek, dotted with a tear. I studied James's face carefully, drinking in his wet eyes. "Aw! You cried!" I laughed.
Sirius knocked over his chair and peered at his face. "You cried!" he said obnoxiously. Frank grinned despite himself, stealing a quick look at the tears rolling down James's cheeks.
How very touching. Not. Why do you always come when you aren't needed? Sarcasm is needed for all occasions. SHUT UP!
I quickly brushed the tears off his cheeks. "And men don't cry!" I said teasingly. "What a bunch of rubbish."
James grinned sheepishly. Warmth snuggled around me like a blanket, blessing me with happiness. A grin glowed on my face and even if you wanted me to, you could never wipe it off. Never.
My eyes lingered on the bacon and eggs in the frying pan, occasionally tipping the eggs onto a plate and breaking new ones. A sweet aroma of bacon danced around the kitchen, tantalizingly wavering underneath my nose. I glanced quickly behind my shoulder and took a quick nibble of the bacon.
"I saw that." My heart jumped, and I whirled around, pointing my wand at the voice's owner.
"Oh, God, Claudia!" I scolded. She smiled innocently.
"I so terribly sorry, Miss. Evans," she chimed in a mocking voice. "Excuse me if I cannot cook." She gingerly fingered her wand. "I tend to…burn things a bit, don't you know?" Her eyes widened as she shook her head furiously.
"No!" I gasped sarcastically in return.
"Besides, when you have a friend with food, come over unexpected and uninvited. Oh, by the way, the bacon's burning," Claudia pointed out. I whirled around and stared at the shriveled black bacon in the pan.
"Toast!" Claudia said eagerly, running to grab a piece. She stuffed it into her mouth ravenously, only looking up to stare at the bacon I dropped onto the plate.
"You are so rude," I scolded. "Why don't you just drink some coffee and I'll finish up--?" Claudia hurried to the coffee pot and poured herself some into my favorite mug. I watched mournfully.
"Watch the bacon," she reminded, looking up at me with large innocent eyes. I glared at her before resting my eyes on the bacon, sizzling loudly.
"So how you doing?" she said seriously.
"Oh, wonderful!" I said brightly, a huge smile on my face. "James… Oh, he is wonderful!"
"Since when?" she said slowly.
"The only reason he broke up with me was because he was afraid You-Know-Who would kill me. You know, to get to him," I said lowering my voice slightly.
"What if he's lying?" Claudia said suddenly. "He might need another girl… Playing you." She looked at me piercingly.
I bit my lip. He wouldn't. "He wouldn't," I said cheerfully. "I saw it in his eyes."
"Okay," Claudia said shrugging. "I was just making sure--I would never want him to use you, Lils." And he wouldn't…
"Thanks," I said gratefully.
"And about You-Know-Who?" she prompted. The joy spreading through me suddenly dimmed.
"I don't know," I said darkly. Brushing away my childish joy, the memory of the Death Eaters weighed heavily in my mind. I glanced down at my fingers. My nails were still scratched, blood dried.
"Bacon!" Claudia reminded. "So…we're not going out anymore, are we?"
"No," I said frowning, sliding the eggs and bacon onto the plate. I turned off the stove quickly and handed a plate to Claudia before balancing three heavy plates, laden with eggs, bacon, and toast, to the table.
"It's so depressing though," Claudia said sighing. "But I guess it's the best for you since he's out there…looking."
"Do you have any idea why he hates the Potters?" I asked slowly.
"No," Claudia replied, her face darkening. She took a seat at the table, chewing thoughtfully on her toast.
"All I know is that we keep you safe," she said. "I would miss our Lils." She paused. "And her cooking," she added, stuffing her mouth with eggs.
I smiled slightly and helped myself to two slices of toast and an egg. "No bacon?" Claudia said incredulously.
"Nope," I replied carelessly. "It's too burnt."
"It's delicious," Claudia said, munching obnoxiously on her own. "Sure you don't want any?"
"BACON!"
I turned my head. Frank stood in the doorway, staring at the bacon. "Erm…help yourself?" I offered, indicating to the empty plate on the table.
"Did I hear BACON?" Sirius scrambled into the kitchen, his long dark hair tousled, falling into his eyes softly. An eager expression crossed his face.
"Yes--help your--"
"BACON!" James shoved past Sirius, eyeing the table with a child's enthusiasm. If possible, his untidy hair was messier than usual. His glasses were askew, sliding off his nose.
"Yes," I said impatiently, determined to finish my sentence. "Help yourse--"
Sirius grabbed two slices of bacon in each hand, shoving it into his mouth. "--lf…" I looked at him disgustedly. Claudia's mouth twitched slightly.
"What is so great about burnt bacon?" I said stunned.
"Crispy!" James said a dreamy look crossing his face. I sighed and dug into my eggs, chewing with my mouth closed. Unlike some others…
Sirius opened his mouth filled with bacon. "Ey, Wils, cwan I haf mof?"
I eyed him. "What?" I said.
"Hey, Lils, can I have more?" translated James, chewing with some toast in his mouth. I groaned.
"There's extremely burnt bacon in the frying pan, I doub--" Sirius flew for the pan, grabbing the black bits of bacon.
"Did I not feed you? Why are you stuffing your faces--?" I asked surprised.
"Whole wheat crackers and coffee?" Frank interjected. "We haven't seen a real meal in weeks!" He shoved a healthy amount of eggs into his mouth.
"Erm…" Despite all the amusement I deprived from the three, I thought about Voldemort and his Death Eaters. I stole a look at my fingers again.
How long did this have to go on?
A/N: I'd like to thank all the reviewers from the previous chapter! Thank you!
Admiral Lily -- Aw, thanks!
Tekyah Ariel -- Thanks. I'll take that suggestion and try to give Longbottom more parts.
Lily Skylo -- Haha. Sirius is the best! Thanks.
i am a strange person -- Lily is a bit dense, don't you think? But not everyone is perfect… Thanks.
ToughCritic -- Thanks for pointing those out to me. I'll try to repeat words less. Thanks!
SweetMimi -- I wrote this as quickly as I could! Thanks.
kitkat -- I know, I hate cliffhangers! I'm sorry! Lol. Think of it this way: it's suspense. Haha. Thanks.
lexiegirl -- I hope I updated soon enough. Have a good time on your vacation!
KDraco7 -- Thanks.
Nadia Greenleaf -- Thanks for reviewing!
Chrislovercharmed -- I hope your keyboard works now. Thanks.
Misakichi1 -- Haha. Thanks!
californiagurl -- Little brave James. Just like Harry. Lol.
Katrina -- I'll try to write longer chapters. It depends on how much ideas I have at the moment…
Thanks so much!! Please review!