A/N Terribly sorry haven't been updating, I'm really tired and I have
no idea how to get from where I am to where I want to be. Ah well, hope I
can be forgiven.
Li walked off the field feeling very much like slamming her head into a brick wall. This whole girl's side, which had been practicing for three months and had played and won its first and poorly attended game, was not going to work. How could it? Girls were too weak to play properly, they all stopped whenever someone got hurt, come on, that's the point of bludgers. This is not to say they weren't all good. Li had to admit that even Lisa was at least the level of many keepers on the Men's side though she still found the valley girl intolerable. Besides, there was no coach. It was like a large band without a conductor. It worked but it didn't work as well. To make Li's bad mood worse it was Christmas. Christmas for goodness sake. The time when people were supposed to be all happy and all familyish. Stupid Christmas love songs kept playing in Li's head and she was going to smash the next radio she heard playing "All I want for Christmas is you." She was quite sure she was going stark raving mad.
Li's teammates had different reactions to her mood. The twin beaters Jill and Jesse mostly ignored her, but then again Jill only talked when she needed to and Jesse not at all. Andrea attempted to be comforting, Lisa acted like a snob, Bridget told Li she had a stick up her arse but otherwise left her alone but An-mei had a completely different response.
"What the hell do you expect us to do?" An-mei yelled at Li after practice. "We won our last game isn't that enough? It's damned Christmas. We're supposed to be happy and you're putting us all in a bad mood! If you keep this up I'm beating you over the head with a two by four!"
"Oh sod off won't you? I can be as miserable as I want to be and you have no right to tell me otherwise you damned Griffindor two bit wanna be Quiddich player!" Li shouted back.
"You slimy Slytherin! Get that royal stick out of your arse and act sensible. We are tired of putting up with your behavior. You're just angry cause the rest of us have lives unlike you, you miserable little snake. You're such a slimy git!"
"And you're an arrogant Griffindor always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong!"
"Excuse me? I'm here to see Li Evans," a voice called from the entrance to the locker rooms. All seven women turned toward the voice. Even from a distance the site made Lisa's heart jump and Li's face scowl. It was none other than James Potter.
"What do you want you git?" Li called back.
"How dare you speak to him that way!" Lisa whispered harshly. She turned to Bridget. "I can't believe I'm about to meet James Potter!" she squealed before fainting into Bridget's arms leaving the stocky girl to deal with her unconscious friend. James made his way toward the group.
"I need to ask you something..." he started.
"A little privacy?" Li scowled at her teammates. They all tried to pretend they were going about their business but failed miserably. Li grabbed James' elbow and dragged him outside. She gave him a shove for good measure and then backed away. She didn't really know why she was so angry and neither did he, but both decided to just go with it.
"Listen, I got a dinner party I have to go to on Christmas Eve. Its required I bring a date," James explained.
"I don't see how this concerns me," she replied coldly.
"I was wondering if you would come with me."
"Why?"
"Cause I need a date."
"Why me? I don't know you, you don't know me. We don't like each other plus don't you have some bimbo of a girlfriend?"
"We broke up. Come on. You're the only woman I know who's a real person," he tried.
"Are all the rest plastic?" Li asked.
"I mean, I can talk to you and even if its arguing its better than hearing about someone's hair."
"Fine, but you owe me. What do I have to wear and when will you pick me up?"
"You don't really have to wear anything special even though it's formal. Women usually wear muggle fancy clothes and men wear dress clothes as well with their robes open over. But it doesn't really matter and it would actually be funny if you showed up in Quidditch robes or something. I don't really expect you to dress up. I'll pick you up at six thirty," James told her. "I got to go to practice so I'll see you."
Li stood there for a few minutes before shivering and heading back inside the changing rooms.
"What did he say?" gushed Lisa who had woken up. "Did he ask me to marry him?"
"No," Li told her coldly. "I have a favor to ask from one of you. Are any of you good at makeovers?" Li winced preemptively for the squeal which would mostly come from several of her teammates.
"Sorry, I'm absolutely fashion challenged," Andrea told her. "I'm having other people do me over for my wedding in a few months since I'm absolutely useless."
"Same here, only I'm not getting married," Lisa told her.
"Wouldn't help you if I knew how," An-mei said. Jill shook her head.
"Bridget, would you be willing?" Lisa asked her friend who was just coming into the room.
"To do what?" Bridget asked.
"Make Li over," Andrea finished.
"Sure," Bridget informed them. "When do you want to?"
"I have to go to a party Christmas Eve at six thirty," Li replied.
"Not so good. Meeting my girlfriend's parents that night. I don't think they approve of me. I'm leaving at six. I'll get June over to make things go more quickly. I'll make appointments with the hairdresser at this place," she said handing Li a card, "at twelve. Then we'll go shopping and June will apply make up." The girl was practically jumping up and down with excitement.
"Are you sure?" Li asked rather nervously which her teammates found funny.
"Bridg's got a degree in fashion and such," Andrea told her. Li had a hard time imagining the sturdy girl giggling over fabrics and figuring out which colors went with which.
The day of Christmas Eve arrived. Li woke up promptly at ten o'clock, late for her and forced herself up out of her warm bed. She stumbled down many flights of stairs to Severus' flat after throwing on some clothes for her daily cup of coffee. Severus was one of those annoying people who could be his usual self whether it was early or late. His usual self was what most people considered someone with a stick up his arse, but nonetheless he was little changed by the hour of the day.
"Huh," Li grunted as she entered his flat when he opened the door.
"Morning to you too," he replied closing the door behind her in his usual brisk manner. She sat down at the table watching his pour the beautiful liquid most called coffee into a glass for her. She grabbed for it greedily and took wonderful sips of it letting the aroma and warmth flood into her.
Li loved coffee. If she had to take ten things to a deserted island with her three would be a strainer, a pot to boil water and of course coffee. She'd drunk the stuff since childhood as if it was her mother's milk. When she's first tasted Severus' coffee she's thought she'd died and gone to coffee heaven. Severus' coffee was amazing. It tasted like Columbian with Pumpkin Juice, cinnamon and something else she couldn't place. He refused to tell Li what he put in there, so everyday she showed up without fail to steal a cup of coffee as punishment to him for not telling her the recipe so she could make it on her own. In the beginning she had stolen the cup out of his hand as he was about to drink leaving him coffeeless and having to cook up a new pot. After two years of her doing this every morning, he just made extra to serve to his caffeine-addicted friend along with breakfast.
"How goes the morning?" Severus asked when he thought Li capable of speech. He picked up his pan and shoveled some eggs onto Li's plate. She smiled into her cup and put it down reluctantly.
"S'ok. Have a party to go tonight unfortunately," she told him. His face fell. "What?"
"Nothing," he told her assuredly. It then hit her.
"Oh no! It's Christmas Eve! How could I forget!" she cried. They always spent the night together watching scary movies and pelting carolers with snowballs. It was almost as good a night as New Year's Eve when the spent the night making fun of the stupid partyers who were so excited over the new year as if it was going to be completely different from the old one.
"No worries, we'll hang New Years. Don't forget Lucius' Christmas dinner, we can catch up and be bored then ok? I'm sure there will be plenty of carolers we can charm snowballs to fly at," he assured her.
"It's a date. Besides, I'm being made over and so I'll surprise you and Lucius with my new look," she laughed.
"Don't tell me you're turning into some kinda of girl."
"I am a girl." Severus gave her a look. "Hey, I'm not getting all soft on you. I'll send a caroler flying and put sticky snow up his pants so he can't get it out, ok?" Severus smirked at the thought of this.
"Ok," he told her. The two friends both turned to their breakfasts. Severus took a moment to study Li as she stared intently at her half empty cup of coffee. Her hair was longer than he'd ever seen it at two inches past her shoulders. It was not at all well kept and at any given time looked like she had just gotten up. She still looked very youthful, a woman in her prime years, but it was obvious she was starting to develop wrinkles on her forehead from scowling so much. Severus idly wondered if the same was happening to him.
Li made her livelihood playing Quidditch and now selling her patented charms for extra cash. She sold them to whoever would pay the most for them being completely undiscriminatory about which side they went to. The war seemed not to affect her at all. Severus wondered how she could live without worry like that. Severus himself was constantly afraid of being drafted to either side. He didn't think himself as particularly evil or particularly good. He seemed to fall somewhere in the gray area in-between.
Severus looked back at Li who was now staring sadly into her empty cup and pulled her a new one much to her delight, or as much delight as a former Slytherin shows. She still looked beautiful to him. He laughed inwardly at himself for still having that schoolboy crush on her. How many years had he had it now? Five? Six? Seven? It seemed too long. Why did he like her so much? Was it because of her brilliant mind or her winter hair the color of shiny copper? Was it because her skin was warm when she fell asleep on his shoulder after a night of watching movies? Was it because of her stubborn chin or her fiery eyes? Was it because of her coffee addiction? Her friendship? Her dependence on him? His dependence on her? Was it the way she shoved her brussel sprouts to the side of her plate thinking no one saw her or how she kept the spoon in her mouth after putting the last spoonful of ice cream in? Was it her fighting spirit or her quick intelligence? Was it the yelling matches they had or the long discussions? Severus resolved to never know and to definitely never tell her. He wondered why he could face dragons without breaking a sweat but the thought of telling his violent friend that he liked her sent shivers down his spine.
"Well, I've got to go. I have an appointment at Bridget's and I want to ride my broom," Li announced snapping Severus out of his reverie. Severus smirked at the real reason she was going to ride her broom. Li, for all that she was brilliant at charms, was horrible at apparating. She'd passed the test by threatening to dismember the judge if he didn't pass her. That and Lucius had paid the man a whole lot of money.
"Bye," Severus called after her retreating form. He turned back to his breakfast and didn't see Li snatch with lightning fast speed the package of ground coffee that contained the blend that Severus had carelessly left out. Li closed the door behind her and cackled triumphantly.
Li flew through the almost noonday sky with ease. She had a clocking charm of her own design in place and had little fear of anything except avoiding airplanes. She was told the salon was somewhere downtown and she decided to land on someone's roof next door. She touched down with ease and removed the charm before shrinking her brook so it would fit in her pocket.
She made her way down the stairs surprisingly easily. No one asked her any questions and no one even thought to stop her. Li stood outside a salon, a muggle salon. Li wondered why Bridget wouldn't direct her to a magical one, but put the question to the back of her mind for later.
"Li?" a voice asked. Li turned around to see a woman who could only be classified as a flower child. Her brown hair was in waves that looked tousled and windswept, but not to the point of being messy. Her skin was a peach color, rosy in some places of her face. Li speculated that her skin tanned nicely in the summer. Her eyes were a slightly purple color and were highlighted with makeup to make them stand out. She had a petite build, but average height. She was wearing a purple skirt with flowers that flowed as she walked toward Li. In short one of the most beautiful women Li had ever seen.
"That is I," Li responded coolly.
"Hi! I'm June, Bridget asked me to meet you here and tell them what to do," the woman informed Li. "Well, turn around, let me get a look at you." Li sighed and did as she was told. "Well, Bridg is better at this than I am, but I'd say that you're hair is much too short. Someone like you needs long hair. So I'm thinking add highlights of a goldy color to add dimension. Can you take out you're hair?" Li took the hair band out of her hair letting it fall out of its bun. "Yes, gold. I think gold make up and we'll handle the dress later."
"Wait, dress? I haven't worn a dress since a wedding and I don't plan to for anything less than that," Li protested.
"This is a Christmas party, you're wearing a dress," June said in a no nonsense voice.
Li was shoved into the salon and came out a while later feeling rather strange. This was not the first time she had had forced makeovers, but this time it was almost...fun. Li was slightly disgusted with herself. June had given Li Bridget's address and left to change for her own party.
Li was walked the few blocks to Bridget's flat which was five stories up in a rather pleasant looking building. Li wondered how Bridget could afford such a flat on the salary she was being paid for Quidditch. Li rang the bell and Bridget answered. The normally almost tomboy girl was completely transformed. She was wearing a long mahogany shirt and a long black skirt. Her makeup was in shades of red and her hair was done up on top of her head.
"Finally, we have very little time, let's move," Bridget told her grabbing her purse and heading outside. Bridget dragged Li around and forced her to try on dresses. In the end she let Li off the hook and let her wear flowing black pants. She did force Li to wear the gold wrapping shirt that came down to the middle of Li's thighs. Li had to admit it didn't look too bad and was comfortable. Upon getting back Li was forced into a chair and "gunk" was put on her face. The gunk was goldy gittery eye shadow and light pink lipstick, but Li still felt to classify it a gunk.
"How does she look?' a familiar voice called from one of the rooms.
"Come see yourself," Bridget told her. June came out looking all dressed up and rather delicate.
"Good choices," June congratulated Bridget.
"Not bad yourself," Bridget commented. She gave June a quick peck on the lips. "Now for her hair. I'm thinking classical yet interesting. She has that hair that longs to be intricate but it's so beautiful that it shouldn't be all up."
"I was thinking half up half down," June put in. Bridget and mumbled something, her mouth now full of bobby pins. Li's hair was twist and pulled until she thought her skull was going to be pulled off. The result of their endeavors was a bun of half her hair on the back of her head with various strands coiling around others. Li tried to trace a single hair when a mirror was present to her but lost it quickly in the coils. Two tendrils were left in curls to frame her face.
"You're beautiful," Bridget told her. "But it's almost six and we really must dash. We're off to have dinner with June's parents. Will they be surprised when they find out we're going to have a baby!" Bridget put her hand proudly on June's stomach. Li spied the catalogue sent to women wanting to be pregnant of possible donors.
"You look lovely," June assured her. The three left the flat. Li watched as June dragged Bridget down the stairs. Li muttered the charm she had made up to protect her makeup and hair from the dangers of broomstick flying and took off from the roof of the flat.
Li wondered briefly, as she flew through the sky, why she was going all this. She certainly didn't have to. She hadn't talked to Potter in a long time. Why should he want her to come? Why had she agreed to go?
Was she lonely? Was the wanting for something Lucius and Narcissa had? No, she had never wanted that. In twenty years she still saw herself sitting around Severus' flat stealing his coffee. She looked forward to still be participating in their morning routine for years to come. In fact she wouldn't trade it for the world.
Arriving at the flat, Li went to Severus' quickly, eager to show him her new look. She raced down the stairs and hallways to his flat before stopping before him door slipping on the gold hamstring stretching strappy heels Bridget had made her buy. She wobbled a bit, no sure how well she could move. Bridget had made her practice moving about with them on, but she was in no way comfortable. She couldn't remember ever wearing heels before and knew very much why at this moment. She knocked on the door. It opened with its slight squeak.
"What is it now I thought you were gone for the day," Severus said tiredly. He looked at her mouth, where her eyes usually were and had to raise his gaze to see properly. Severus was a rather tall man at six five. Lily, being a slightly above averaged height woman at five seven was someone he was used to being about a head taller than. Now she came up to the bottom of his nose. "Li?" he asked bewilderedly.
"Yes, this is the result. I think walking in heels is an art form or should be considered one," Li said sarcastically.
"It's excessive."
"You don't like it?"
"It isn't you," Severus argued.
"Well, it'll have to do. I really have to go now, I just wanted to show you." Li raced, or as quickly as she could, down the stairs to the lobby where James was supposed to meet her.
He was standing there, already waiting. He was wearing a white sweater with black pants. Over it was a navy blue dress robe open in the front. For some reason the color had always suited him to a T. His hair was brushed though still impossibly messy.
"Li?" he asked squinting to see if it was really her as he had his glasses off and was cleaning them.
"Yea, let's go," Li told him. "How are we getting there?" James put his glasses on and did a double take. She was beautiful. James was always amazed how well Lily "cleaned up."
"I ordered a carriage, it's the only way to travel properly to these things," he informed her. Li shrugged thinking a broom was better.
They made their way outside and got into a carriage pulled by hippogriffs which none of the muggle seemed to notice. The driver was an older woman who kept a sour look on her face as if she had better things to do than drive up and ups to parties on Christmas Eve.
"Muggles think it's a limo," James assured her. They seated themselves in the carriage and pulled into an alleyway, taking flight as soon as no muggles could see them.
The party was held at a rather large mansion with sprawling greenery all around. The carriage landed smoothly while other such carriages were taking off and landing. Li was helped out of the carriage, much to her displeasure, by a formal looking gentleman in a uniform. It didn't help her wounded pride that James was laughing the entire time at Li's struggle to refuse the man's help. Li scowled at him as he grinned, biting his lip to keep from laughing.
"Shall we proceed?" he asked, holding out his arm after he'd gotten control of his face. Li ignored the arm and started walking toward the door.
"Let's get the night from hell over with," she muttered. James sighed and caught up with her.
After a night of gossip and annoying high pitched laughter, Li found herself hiding in the kitchen, charming pots to dance as sing so she could blast them satisfactorily to smithereens.
"Do you have something against frying pans?" James asked coming into the room. Li said nothing but shot her spell at the innocent frying pan just for good measure. James grabber her wand away from her. She gave him a glare that if he had not been holding her want would have sent him crying for his life in a corner.
"Leave me alone Potter," she warned him.
"Are we back on last name basis?"
"I have no idea why I came. Give me back my wand!"
"You know I don't want to be here either! My parents make me come to these damn things and if I don't bring a date then they do their whole 'we disapprove' act. Besides you should be grateful to me for introducing you to upper class society unlike those gits you hang out with. I'm saving you!" James exclaimed.
"Grateful? You arrogant Griffindor jerk-off. How dare you call me low! How dare you insult my friends! They're twice whatever you'll be! So much for Griffindor courage, you can't even get the courage to stand up to your parents!" Li yelled.
"You slimy Slytherin bitch! You insult me? Well you're a muggleborn. Your friends will sell you out to Volemort! He just wants to kill muggleborns and do you think your friends will stop him? What use do they have for someone like you?" James shouted. Li punched him soundly in the chest, which should have caused him to back up from the force, but he didn't, he couldn't. Li looked up. Mistletoe. She'd seen the damn things all night, catching people unaware. 'Uh-oh,' she thought as she felt herself moving forward against her will.
James' lips pressed against her own forcefully. She fought back, pushing her own just as hard against his. His hand went to her back, pushing her against him. Her hands went into his hair, keeping his head in place for the assault of her lips. Li knew neither she nor James was moving by force of the mistletoe anymore, but she couldn't nor wanted to make herself stop.
He sat down on a bench nearby, bringing her straddling his lap. Their tongues battled for dominance. She leaned over him, to get the advantage. They paused, both breathing heavily. Li was first to regain control of her senses and quickly fell off the bench and backed away from James who was staring at her with a half-dazed look. Li's eyes went to her wand, lying on the floor a little bit away where it had fallen out of James' grasp. She grabbed it and apparated away, first of many panicked apparations to come, leaving James wondering what happened.
Li was curled up on the sofa of Severus' couch. It was New Year's Eve, almost a week after Christmas Eve. A week of owls upon owls pouring into her flat with letters from James. She'd burned them all in the fire without reading them. She wasn't talking to him again. She felt ashamed embarrassed. She hadn't left her flat. She'd even claimed sick so she wouldn't have to go to Lucius'. Why was she acting like a love sick little girl? That was something a Hufflepuff would do, not her. Why was she acting like this! She scolded herself over and over, but it didn't work. Severus' had knocked on her door everyday, slipping food in and yelling at her that she was being a prat even though he still had no idea why he was upset.
Now Li was here, at Severus' for a traditional New Years because she had made a promise and because Severus had threatened to stop giving her coffee if she didn't come. The TV, the only muggle invention Severus had, was on with the ball in New York Times Square.
"Look at them! What idiots!" Li commented on some people on TV who were saying their New Year's resolutions to the camera. "Do they think they're actually going to keep that up?"
"Just tell me what's wrong," Severus demanded. "I'm sick and tired of you're whining and moaning about."
"It's nothing," she told him firmly. Usually he would recognize the sign to stop, but he didn't take the hint.
"No it's not nothing! It's bothering you and as your friend I want to know what it is!"
"Mind your own damn business!"
"You are my business," Severus told her. "You're my friend. Besides you're making me go up many stairs to get to your place and I hate heights so I should at least know why I'm facing my fear for you." Li smiled to herself, a sort of smirk-grin, just on the boundary of what is allowed by Slytherins. Severus leaned over to give her a hug and Li fell into it, putting all her weight against him.
"On Christmas Eve..." Li began but was interrupted by knocking at the door.
"I'll get that," Severus said.
"I will, I need more hot chocolate anyway," Li told him. She made her way to the door, holding a bag of powder, which turns the skin multicolored for a day when it comes in contact with humans. She opened the expecting to find some people wishing her a happy New Year.
"James?" she gasped. His hair was frozen into spikes and her has snow all over him.
"I was standing underneath your window but no one was there," he explained. "You have some very annoying kids for neighbors." Li moved to shut the door but he stopped it. "Hear me out," he said getting to business. "I've been thinking and I realized I really like you. I've never felt this way about anyone before and it scares me."
"Why should I believe you and why should I care? You've probably said that line to many girls before." Li moved to close the door again but he put his foot forward to catch it.
" You're on my mind every waking second since then. It's as if you won't leave me alone. I know you feel the same way. If you didn't you wouldn't have kissed me like that. I really want to be with you," James confessed. Li paused, feeling the words hit home. "Please?" She nodded slowly, feeling giddy inside. He leaned in slowly and kissed her gently, not at like the first kiss. It was sweet and loving with all the caring of the world.
"Li, what's going..." Severus started but never finished. He saw what was going on and felt his heart drop.
Li walked off the field feeling very much like slamming her head into a brick wall. This whole girl's side, which had been practicing for three months and had played and won its first and poorly attended game, was not going to work. How could it? Girls were too weak to play properly, they all stopped whenever someone got hurt, come on, that's the point of bludgers. This is not to say they weren't all good. Li had to admit that even Lisa was at least the level of many keepers on the Men's side though she still found the valley girl intolerable. Besides, there was no coach. It was like a large band without a conductor. It worked but it didn't work as well. To make Li's bad mood worse it was Christmas. Christmas for goodness sake. The time when people were supposed to be all happy and all familyish. Stupid Christmas love songs kept playing in Li's head and she was going to smash the next radio she heard playing "All I want for Christmas is you." She was quite sure she was going stark raving mad.
Li's teammates had different reactions to her mood. The twin beaters Jill and Jesse mostly ignored her, but then again Jill only talked when she needed to and Jesse not at all. Andrea attempted to be comforting, Lisa acted like a snob, Bridget told Li she had a stick up her arse but otherwise left her alone but An-mei had a completely different response.
"What the hell do you expect us to do?" An-mei yelled at Li after practice. "We won our last game isn't that enough? It's damned Christmas. We're supposed to be happy and you're putting us all in a bad mood! If you keep this up I'm beating you over the head with a two by four!"
"Oh sod off won't you? I can be as miserable as I want to be and you have no right to tell me otherwise you damned Griffindor two bit wanna be Quiddich player!" Li shouted back.
"You slimy Slytherin! Get that royal stick out of your arse and act sensible. We are tired of putting up with your behavior. You're just angry cause the rest of us have lives unlike you, you miserable little snake. You're such a slimy git!"
"And you're an arrogant Griffindor always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong!"
"Excuse me? I'm here to see Li Evans," a voice called from the entrance to the locker rooms. All seven women turned toward the voice. Even from a distance the site made Lisa's heart jump and Li's face scowl. It was none other than James Potter.
"What do you want you git?" Li called back.
"How dare you speak to him that way!" Lisa whispered harshly. She turned to Bridget. "I can't believe I'm about to meet James Potter!" she squealed before fainting into Bridget's arms leaving the stocky girl to deal with her unconscious friend. James made his way toward the group.
"I need to ask you something..." he started.
"A little privacy?" Li scowled at her teammates. They all tried to pretend they were going about their business but failed miserably. Li grabbed James' elbow and dragged him outside. She gave him a shove for good measure and then backed away. She didn't really know why she was so angry and neither did he, but both decided to just go with it.
"Listen, I got a dinner party I have to go to on Christmas Eve. Its required I bring a date," James explained.
"I don't see how this concerns me," she replied coldly.
"I was wondering if you would come with me."
"Why?"
"Cause I need a date."
"Why me? I don't know you, you don't know me. We don't like each other plus don't you have some bimbo of a girlfriend?"
"We broke up. Come on. You're the only woman I know who's a real person," he tried.
"Are all the rest plastic?" Li asked.
"I mean, I can talk to you and even if its arguing its better than hearing about someone's hair."
"Fine, but you owe me. What do I have to wear and when will you pick me up?"
"You don't really have to wear anything special even though it's formal. Women usually wear muggle fancy clothes and men wear dress clothes as well with their robes open over. But it doesn't really matter and it would actually be funny if you showed up in Quidditch robes or something. I don't really expect you to dress up. I'll pick you up at six thirty," James told her. "I got to go to practice so I'll see you."
Li stood there for a few minutes before shivering and heading back inside the changing rooms.
"What did he say?" gushed Lisa who had woken up. "Did he ask me to marry him?"
"No," Li told her coldly. "I have a favor to ask from one of you. Are any of you good at makeovers?" Li winced preemptively for the squeal which would mostly come from several of her teammates.
"Sorry, I'm absolutely fashion challenged," Andrea told her. "I'm having other people do me over for my wedding in a few months since I'm absolutely useless."
"Same here, only I'm not getting married," Lisa told her.
"Wouldn't help you if I knew how," An-mei said. Jill shook her head.
"Bridget, would you be willing?" Lisa asked her friend who was just coming into the room.
"To do what?" Bridget asked.
"Make Li over," Andrea finished.
"Sure," Bridget informed them. "When do you want to?"
"I have to go to a party Christmas Eve at six thirty," Li replied.
"Not so good. Meeting my girlfriend's parents that night. I don't think they approve of me. I'm leaving at six. I'll get June over to make things go more quickly. I'll make appointments with the hairdresser at this place," she said handing Li a card, "at twelve. Then we'll go shopping and June will apply make up." The girl was practically jumping up and down with excitement.
"Are you sure?" Li asked rather nervously which her teammates found funny.
"Bridg's got a degree in fashion and such," Andrea told her. Li had a hard time imagining the sturdy girl giggling over fabrics and figuring out which colors went with which.
The day of Christmas Eve arrived. Li woke up promptly at ten o'clock, late for her and forced herself up out of her warm bed. She stumbled down many flights of stairs to Severus' flat after throwing on some clothes for her daily cup of coffee. Severus was one of those annoying people who could be his usual self whether it was early or late. His usual self was what most people considered someone with a stick up his arse, but nonetheless he was little changed by the hour of the day.
"Huh," Li grunted as she entered his flat when he opened the door.
"Morning to you too," he replied closing the door behind her in his usual brisk manner. She sat down at the table watching his pour the beautiful liquid most called coffee into a glass for her. She grabbed for it greedily and took wonderful sips of it letting the aroma and warmth flood into her.
Li loved coffee. If she had to take ten things to a deserted island with her three would be a strainer, a pot to boil water and of course coffee. She'd drunk the stuff since childhood as if it was her mother's milk. When she's first tasted Severus' coffee she's thought she'd died and gone to coffee heaven. Severus' coffee was amazing. It tasted like Columbian with Pumpkin Juice, cinnamon and something else she couldn't place. He refused to tell Li what he put in there, so everyday she showed up without fail to steal a cup of coffee as punishment to him for not telling her the recipe so she could make it on her own. In the beginning she had stolen the cup out of his hand as he was about to drink leaving him coffeeless and having to cook up a new pot. After two years of her doing this every morning, he just made extra to serve to his caffeine-addicted friend along with breakfast.
"How goes the morning?" Severus asked when he thought Li capable of speech. He picked up his pan and shoveled some eggs onto Li's plate. She smiled into her cup and put it down reluctantly.
"S'ok. Have a party to go tonight unfortunately," she told him. His face fell. "What?"
"Nothing," he told her assuredly. It then hit her.
"Oh no! It's Christmas Eve! How could I forget!" she cried. They always spent the night together watching scary movies and pelting carolers with snowballs. It was almost as good a night as New Year's Eve when the spent the night making fun of the stupid partyers who were so excited over the new year as if it was going to be completely different from the old one.
"No worries, we'll hang New Years. Don't forget Lucius' Christmas dinner, we can catch up and be bored then ok? I'm sure there will be plenty of carolers we can charm snowballs to fly at," he assured her.
"It's a date. Besides, I'm being made over and so I'll surprise you and Lucius with my new look," she laughed.
"Don't tell me you're turning into some kinda of girl."
"I am a girl." Severus gave her a look. "Hey, I'm not getting all soft on you. I'll send a caroler flying and put sticky snow up his pants so he can't get it out, ok?" Severus smirked at the thought of this.
"Ok," he told her. The two friends both turned to their breakfasts. Severus took a moment to study Li as she stared intently at her half empty cup of coffee. Her hair was longer than he'd ever seen it at two inches past her shoulders. It was not at all well kept and at any given time looked like she had just gotten up. She still looked very youthful, a woman in her prime years, but it was obvious she was starting to develop wrinkles on her forehead from scowling so much. Severus idly wondered if the same was happening to him.
Li made her livelihood playing Quidditch and now selling her patented charms for extra cash. She sold them to whoever would pay the most for them being completely undiscriminatory about which side they went to. The war seemed not to affect her at all. Severus wondered how she could live without worry like that. Severus himself was constantly afraid of being drafted to either side. He didn't think himself as particularly evil or particularly good. He seemed to fall somewhere in the gray area in-between.
Severus looked back at Li who was now staring sadly into her empty cup and pulled her a new one much to her delight, or as much delight as a former Slytherin shows. She still looked beautiful to him. He laughed inwardly at himself for still having that schoolboy crush on her. How many years had he had it now? Five? Six? Seven? It seemed too long. Why did he like her so much? Was it because of her brilliant mind or her winter hair the color of shiny copper? Was it because her skin was warm when she fell asleep on his shoulder after a night of watching movies? Was it because of her stubborn chin or her fiery eyes? Was it because of her coffee addiction? Her friendship? Her dependence on him? His dependence on her? Was it the way she shoved her brussel sprouts to the side of her plate thinking no one saw her or how she kept the spoon in her mouth after putting the last spoonful of ice cream in? Was it her fighting spirit or her quick intelligence? Was it the yelling matches they had or the long discussions? Severus resolved to never know and to definitely never tell her. He wondered why he could face dragons without breaking a sweat but the thought of telling his violent friend that he liked her sent shivers down his spine.
"Well, I've got to go. I have an appointment at Bridget's and I want to ride my broom," Li announced snapping Severus out of his reverie. Severus smirked at the real reason she was going to ride her broom. Li, for all that she was brilliant at charms, was horrible at apparating. She'd passed the test by threatening to dismember the judge if he didn't pass her. That and Lucius had paid the man a whole lot of money.
"Bye," Severus called after her retreating form. He turned back to his breakfast and didn't see Li snatch with lightning fast speed the package of ground coffee that contained the blend that Severus had carelessly left out. Li closed the door behind her and cackled triumphantly.
Li flew through the almost noonday sky with ease. She had a clocking charm of her own design in place and had little fear of anything except avoiding airplanes. She was told the salon was somewhere downtown and she decided to land on someone's roof next door. She touched down with ease and removed the charm before shrinking her brook so it would fit in her pocket.
She made her way down the stairs surprisingly easily. No one asked her any questions and no one even thought to stop her. Li stood outside a salon, a muggle salon. Li wondered why Bridget wouldn't direct her to a magical one, but put the question to the back of her mind for later.
"Li?" a voice asked. Li turned around to see a woman who could only be classified as a flower child. Her brown hair was in waves that looked tousled and windswept, but not to the point of being messy. Her skin was a peach color, rosy in some places of her face. Li speculated that her skin tanned nicely in the summer. Her eyes were a slightly purple color and were highlighted with makeup to make them stand out. She had a petite build, but average height. She was wearing a purple skirt with flowers that flowed as she walked toward Li. In short one of the most beautiful women Li had ever seen.
"That is I," Li responded coolly.
"Hi! I'm June, Bridget asked me to meet you here and tell them what to do," the woman informed Li. "Well, turn around, let me get a look at you." Li sighed and did as she was told. "Well, Bridg is better at this than I am, but I'd say that you're hair is much too short. Someone like you needs long hair. So I'm thinking add highlights of a goldy color to add dimension. Can you take out you're hair?" Li took the hair band out of her hair letting it fall out of its bun. "Yes, gold. I think gold make up and we'll handle the dress later."
"Wait, dress? I haven't worn a dress since a wedding and I don't plan to for anything less than that," Li protested.
"This is a Christmas party, you're wearing a dress," June said in a no nonsense voice.
Li was shoved into the salon and came out a while later feeling rather strange. This was not the first time she had had forced makeovers, but this time it was almost...fun. Li was slightly disgusted with herself. June had given Li Bridget's address and left to change for her own party.
Li was walked the few blocks to Bridget's flat which was five stories up in a rather pleasant looking building. Li wondered how Bridget could afford such a flat on the salary she was being paid for Quidditch. Li rang the bell and Bridget answered. The normally almost tomboy girl was completely transformed. She was wearing a long mahogany shirt and a long black skirt. Her makeup was in shades of red and her hair was done up on top of her head.
"Finally, we have very little time, let's move," Bridget told her grabbing her purse and heading outside. Bridget dragged Li around and forced her to try on dresses. In the end she let Li off the hook and let her wear flowing black pants. She did force Li to wear the gold wrapping shirt that came down to the middle of Li's thighs. Li had to admit it didn't look too bad and was comfortable. Upon getting back Li was forced into a chair and "gunk" was put on her face. The gunk was goldy gittery eye shadow and light pink lipstick, but Li still felt to classify it a gunk.
"How does she look?' a familiar voice called from one of the rooms.
"Come see yourself," Bridget told her. June came out looking all dressed up and rather delicate.
"Good choices," June congratulated Bridget.
"Not bad yourself," Bridget commented. She gave June a quick peck on the lips. "Now for her hair. I'm thinking classical yet interesting. She has that hair that longs to be intricate but it's so beautiful that it shouldn't be all up."
"I was thinking half up half down," June put in. Bridget and mumbled something, her mouth now full of bobby pins. Li's hair was twist and pulled until she thought her skull was going to be pulled off. The result of their endeavors was a bun of half her hair on the back of her head with various strands coiling around others. Li tried to trace a single hair when a mirror was present to her but lost it quickly in the coils. Two tendrils were left in curls to frame her face.
"You're beautiful," Bridget told her. "But it's almost six and we really must dash. We're off to have dinner with June's parents. Will they be surprised when they find out we're going to have a baby!" Bridget put her hand proudly on June's stomach. Li spied the catalogue sent to women wanting to be pregnant of possible donors.
"You look lovely," June assured her. The three left the flat. Li watched as June dragged Bridget down the stairs. Li muttered the charm she had made up to protect her makeup and hair from the dangers of broomstick flying and took off from the roof of the flat.
Li wondered briefly, as she flew through the sky, why she was going all this. She certainly didn't have to. She hadn't talked to Potter in a long time. Why should he want her to come? Why had she agreed to go?
Was she lonely? Was the wanting for something Lucius and Narcissa had? No, she had never wanted that. In twenty years she still saw herself sitting around Severus' flat stealing his coffee. She looked forward to still be participating in their morning routine for years to come. In fact she wouldn't trade it for the world.
Arriving at the flat, Li went to Severus' quickly, eager to show him her new look. She raced down the stairs and hallways to his flat before stopping before him door slipping on the gold hamstring stretching strappy heels Bridget had made her buy. She wobbled a bit, no sure how well she could move. Bridget had made her practice moving about with them on, but she was in no way comfortable. She couldn't remember ever wearing heels before and knew very much why at this moment. She knocked on the door. It opened with its slight squeak.
"What is it now I thought you were gone for the day," Severus said tiredly. He looked at her mouth, where her eyes usually were and had to raise his gaze to see properly. Severus was a rather tall man at six five. Lily, being a slightly above averaged height woman at five seven was someone he was used to being about a head taller than. Now she came up to the bottom of his nose. "Li?" he asked bewilderedly.
"Yes, this is the result. I think walking in heels is an art form or should be considered one," Li said sarcastically.
"It's excessive."
"You don't like it?"
"It isn't you," Severus argued.
"Well, it'll have to do. I really have to go now, I just wanted to show you." Li raced, or as quickly as she could, down the stairs to the lobby where James was supposed to meet her.
He was standing there, already waiting. He was wearing a white sweater with black pants. Over it was a navy blue dress robe open in the front. For some reason the color had always suited him to a T. His hair was brushed though still impossibly messy.
"Li?" he asked squinting to see if it was really her as he had his glasses off and was cleaning them.
"Yea, let's go," Li told him. "How are we getting there?" James put his glasses on and did a double take. She was beautiful. James was always amazed how well Lily "cleaned up."
"I ordered a carriage, it's the only way to travel properly to these things," he informed her. Li shrugged thinking a broom was better.
They made their way outside and got into a carriage pulled by hippogriffs which none of the muggle seemed to notice. The driver was an older woman who kept a sour look on her face as if she had better things to do than drive up and ups to parties on Christmas Eve.
"Muggles think it's a limo," James assured her. They seated themselves in the carriage and pulled into an alleyway, taking flight as soon as no muggles could see them.
The party was held at a rather large mansion with sprawling greenery all around. The carriage landed smoothly while other such carriages were taking off and landing. Li was helped out of the carriage, much to her displeasure, by a formal looking gentleman in a uniform. It didn't help her wounded pride that James was laughing the entire time at Li's struggle to refuse the man's help. Li scowled at him as he grinned, biting his lip to keep from laughing.
"Shall we proceed?" he asked, holding out his arm after he'd gotten control of his face. Li ignored the arm and started walking toward the door.
"Let's get the night from hell over with," she muttered. James sighed and caught up with her.
After a night of gossip and annoying high pitched laughter, Li found herself hiding in the kitchen, charming pots to dance as sing so she could blast them satisfactorily to smithereens.
"Do you have something against frying pans?" James asked coming into the room. Li said nothing but shot her spell at the innocent frying pan just for good measure. James grabber her wand away from her. She gave him a glare that if he had not been holding her want would have sent him crying for his life in a corner.
"Leave me alone Potter," she warned him.
"Are we back on last name basis?"
"I have no idea why I came. Give me back my wand!"
"You know I don't want to be here either! My parents make me come to these damn things and if I don't bring a date then they do their whole 'we disapprove' act. Besides you should be grateful to me for introducing you to upper class society unlike those gits you hang out with. I'm saving you!" James exclaimed.
"Grateful? You arrogant Griffindor jerk-off. How dare you call me low! How dare you insult my friends! They're twice whatever you'll be! So much for Griffindor courage, you can't even get the courage to stand up to your parents!" Li yelled.
"You slimy Slytherin bitch! You insult me? Well you're a muggleborn. Your friends will sell you out to Volemort! He just wants to kill muggleborns and do you think your friends will stop him? What use do they have for someone like you?" James shouted. Li punched him soundly in the chest, which should have caused him to back up from the force, but he didn't, he couldn't. Li looked up. Mistletoe. She'd seen the damn things all night, catching people unaware. 'Uh-oh,' she thought as she felt herself moving forward against her will.
James' lips pressed against her own forcefully. She fought back, pushing her own just as hard against his. His hand went to her back, pushing her against him. Her hands went into his hair, keeping his head in place for the assault of her lips. Li knew neither she nor James was moving by force of the mistletoe anymore, but she couldn't nor wanted to make herself stop.
He sat down on a bench nearby, bringing her straddling his lap. Their tongues battled for dominance. She leaned over him, to get the advantage. They paused, both breathing heavily. Li was first to regain control of her senses and quickly fell off the bench and backed away from James who was staring at her with a half-dazed look. Li's eyes went to her wand, lying on the floor a little bit away where it had fallen out of James' grasp. She grabbed it and apparated away, first of many panicked apparations to come, leaving James wondering what happened.
Li was curled up on the sofa of Severus' couch. It was New Year's Eve, almost a week after Christmas Eve. A week of owls upon owls pouring into her flat with letters from James. She'd burned them all in the fire without reading them. She wasn't talking to him again. She felt ashamed embarrassed. She hadn't left her flat. She'd even claimed sick so she wouldn't have to go to Lucius'. Why was she acting like a love sick little girl? That was something a Hufflepuff would do, not her. Why was she acting like this! She scolded herself over and over, but it didn't work. Severus' had knocked on her door everyday, slipping food in and yelling at her that she was being a prat even though he still had no idea why he was upset.
Now Li was here, at Severus' for a traditional New Years because she had made a promise and because Severus had threatened to stop giving her coffee if she didn't come. The TV, the only muggle invention Severus had, was on with the ball in New York Times Square.
"Look at them! What idiots!" Li commented on some people on TV who were saying their New Year's resolutions to the camera. "Do they think they're actually going to keep that up?"
"Just tell me what's wrong," Severus demanded. "I'm sick and tired of you're whining and moaning about."
"It's nothing," she told him firmly. Usually he would recognize the sign to stop, but he didn't take the hint.
"No it's not nothing! It's bothering you and as your friend I want to know what it is!"
"Mind your own damn business!"
"You are my business," Severus told her. "You're my friend. Besides you're making me go up many stairs to get to your place and I hate heights so I should at least know why I'm facing my fear for you." Li smiled to herself, a sort of smirk-grin, just on the boundary of what is allowed by Slytherins. Severus leaned over to give her a hug and Li fell into it, putting all her weight against him.
"On Christmas Eve..." Li began but was interrupted by knocking at the door.
"I'll get that," Severus said.
"I will, I need more hot chocolate anyway," Li told him. She made her way to the door, holding a bag of powder, which turns the skin multicolored for a day when it comes in contact with humans. She opened the expecting to find some people wishing her a happy New Year.
"James?" she gasped. His hair was frozen into spikes and her has snow all over him.
"I was standing underneath your window but no one was there," he explained. "You have some very annoying kids for neighbors." Li moved to shut the door but he stopped it. "Hear me out," he said getting to business. "I've been thinking and I realized I really like you. I've never felt this way about anyone before and it scares me."
"Why should I believe you and why should I care? You've probably said that line to many girls before." Li moved to close the door again but he put his foot forward to catch it.
" You're on my mind every waking second since then. It's as if you won't leave me alone. I know you feel the same way. If you didn't you wouldn't have kissed me like that. I really want to be with you," James confessed. Li paused, feeling the words hit home. "Please?" She nodded slowly, feeling giddy inside. He leaned in slowly and kissed her gently, not at like the first kiss. It was sweet and loving with all the caring of the world.
"Li, what's going..." Severus started but never finished. He saw what was going on and felt his heart drop.