Disclaimer: I own nothing, please don't sue but please oh do read and review!
Thanks to my two reviewers:
skinynrita - aw you made me blush, thanks! Don't worry I'm up to Chapter Eight at the moment, am just awaiting my beta to get back to me.
MoonJasmine - thankyou! Christmas tree just kinda popped into my head as an insult... i think I have a very strange brain, it's wired all wrong but it must work somehow. I'll gladly go off and read your fic.
And for my Beta: Ren xxxx
Chapter Two -Corridors, Common Rooms and Classes
By the time everyone had reached the Great Hall they had missed the Sorting Ceremony and Dumbledore was giving his speech with regards to the areas in the castle that were out-of-bounds to all years.
Lily shrunk down in her seat as she sat down at the Gryffindor table ignoring the looks from the other students as she kept her gaze firmly on the gold plate in front of her.
"And now, dig in!" Dumbledore's arms swept across the room and every table was filled with delicious foods from thin air and the students dug in with a vengeance.
"Lily? Aren't you hungry?" Melody, who was beaming since Sirius had chose to sit next to her, questioned as she piled food high on her plate.
"I'd be famished after that punch!"
"You're always famished Sirius." James pointed at his plate that was piled twice as high as Melody's. Sirius shrugged,
"I'm hungry, in case you hadn't noticed it's nearly eight o'clock." James ignored Sirius's comment and looked over at Lily who was looking now decidedly pale. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted.
"I'm going to the library." Lily stood up abruptly and speaking to no one in particular she left the hall without another word. James looked at Remus whose blue eyes had also followed her fleeting figure out of the hall.
"Hadn't someone see if she is okay?" Peter looked from James to Remus and back again.
"You'd better go James, I don't feel so good tonight." Remus's eyes looked up at the bewitched ceiling and the nearly full moon lurking beneath the clouds.
"Okay. I guess I'll see you guys in the common room." James stood up and walked calmly from the Great Hall, his dark eyes wandering the corridors for a pale figure with red hair and bright green eyes.
After walking for nearly half an hour he pulled out a blank piece of parchment and tapped in once with his wand.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." He watched the parchment fill in and noted that everyone was in the Great Hall except the lone figure stationed outside the Gryffindor common room labelled 'Lily Evans - hottie'. James rolled his eyes at Sirius's labelling; sometimes he really worried about old Padfoot.
He walked quickly through the corridors and up the stairs, making sure to step over the missing stair, till he reached the common room entrance. He saw her slumped against the portrait of the fat lady with her head buried in her hands.
"Lily?" he approached her cautiously not wanting to frighten her, or have a punch inflicted on his nose. She sniffed and looked up, her teary green eyes gleaming in the dimly lit corridor. "Are you alright?" She shook her head, sending her hair flying in all directions and gave a small sob.
"I don't know the password." She gave another sniff, "and I'm going to be expelled and my father will be so disappointed and my sister will be thrilled and I'll have to be taught in a normal school and I'll never be allowed to do magic and I won't be able to see Melody and I'll-"
"Okay stop and take a deep breath." James gave a small laugh as he sat down next to her. "First of all, of course you don't know the password, but I'm sure someone will be along soon to tell us. Secondly I doubt you'll be expelled he deserved it. Besides Malfoy won't dare tell anyone his was punched a girl." Lily gave a small laugh. James smirked at her "well I'd never admit to that!" He stood up and grabbed his nose feigning pain. "Oh sir, sir, Professor Dumbledore sir, I was just punched by a girl sir." Lily giggled at James's impression and gave another sniff before wiping away the remainder of her tears.
"How did you find me anyway? I said I was going to the library." James shrugged at her as he sat back down.
"That my darling Lily is a secret." Lily narrowed her eyes at him, ignoring the slight blush that came over her cheeks as he called her 'darling'.
"You're not doing anything illegal are you?" James looked back at her with wide innocent eyes.
"Would I do anything like that?" Lily raised her eyebrows.
"Well I don't know you well enough to say yes or no but you're reputation certainly proceeds you."
"Oh the lady doesn't listen to gossip like that does she?" Another blush tinted Lily's cheeks.
"No but she can hardly ignore the amount of detention the gentleman receives from Professors can she?" James smirked at her and feigned a hurt look.
"Oh, so you're think you know me then?" Lily scoffed,
"Didn't I just say I didn't?"
"That sentence made no sense."
"Yes it did you just don't listen hard enough Potter."
"Oh so we're on surname basis now are we Evans?"
"I think so Potter." She smiled innocently at him and he noticed for the first time the way the light caught her eyes and made them seem like sparkling emeralds. Her face changed as she looked at her watch and noticed the time. "Oh I have to go and see Re-" she stopped before she could let anything else slip. "See Professor Remould about my new class." She said as she jumped up and sped down the corridor leaving James sitting on the floor.
Lily sped down the stairs and into the Great Hall, which was now empty of any students except for a few sixth and seventh year couples re-acquainting themselves with each other. She turned and ran out of the hall speeding towards the castle entrance. Stopping before she pushed the doors opened she felt a shiver run down her spine and a hint of fear flood into her heart.
"Remus?" She turned and searched the darkness for any sight of Remus's bright eyes. Shaking off the funny feeling she pushed her way out of the doors and rushed through the grounds, not stopping till she reached the Whopping Willow. Staying a safe distance away from it she looked up at the full moon now very evident in the night sky, she assumed that Remus was safely locked away as the Willow was swinging it's branches madly and she turned back to the castle.
James noticed the time a few minutes after Lily has left, he hoped Remus had made it down to the shack without being caught. Pulling out the map he scanned it noting that Remus's label was lurking safely in the Shrieking Shack and Sirius's was halfway to the passage, unfortunately not three feet away from Lily Evans.
"Bloody Merlin that girl likes to get herself into trouble." Jumping up he ran down to the doors of the castle, stormed straight through them and down the steps to the Willow.
Seeing the scene in front of him he nearly wet himself with laughter, there stood Lily bent over and fussing a black dog who was rolled on his back and letting her rub his stomach. Snorting with laughter Lily jumped out of her skin and looked at him with a disgusted glare.
"What's so funny Potter?" James shook his head as he kept his lips pursed together.
"Well I'd watch what you're doing with that dog if I were you." Lily frowned,
"Why exactly? It's harmless."
"Not in human form it isn't." Lily frowned and looked from James to the dog and back again, her mouth opening for a second and then closing. Not able to take the laughter building up inside him he yelled at the dog. "Come on Sirius show yourself."
"Sirius?" Lily looked back at the dog that had suddenly transformed into Sirius Black who was now glaring at James.
"James! I was enjoying that!" Lily looked stunned for a moment, unable to speak as her mouth opened and closed repeatedly.
"You dirty little Animagus!" She leant out and whacked Sirius on the arm, before taking a deep breath and pointing her wand out.
"Oh Lily don't get upset, we only do it to-" there was a loud pop and Lily disappeared a beautiful deer stood in her place. It gave them both a filthy look and sprinted back to the castle.
"Holy Merlin James! Looks like we're not the only ones who are dirty little Animagus!" Sirius slapped James on the back and started back towards the castle.
"What about Moony?" Sirius smirked,
"Up at the shack, was coming back from making sure he was alright when I bumped into the lovely Miss. Evans. She's quite an enigma."
"Hmm." James mumbled a reply as he let his thoughts wonder.
The next morning the entire common room was in pandemonium, there were first years shrieking at each other to hurry up because they didn't want to be late, third years yelling at their friends for making them late to their new classes and a general sense of foreboding terror as the fifth years realised they'd be taking O.W.Ls this years.
Lily was already in the terrible mood, she hadn't slept at all last night and she was decidedly cranky that morning. It had been a dirty trick Potter and Black had played on her yesterday and she was still seething from the embarrassment of it. More than that she was late.
"Lily? Where have you been? You know that Professor Remould hates latecomers." Melody shook her head as she looked at her timetable, and Lily apologised.
"It'll only be by a minute or so." Lily said as they ran down the corridor. Melody shook her head as they made it to the door as the bell rang.
"But this is worse than tardiness."
"What?" Lily asked as she turned the handle. They walked into the classroom and Lily looked around, her face fell with embarrassment as she spotted Potter and Black sitting at the back of the classroom but Malfoy sitting nearer the front.
"See." Melody said as they took the only seats available, right in the line of fire, the row in front of James and Sirius and opposite Malfoy and his goonies.
"Well, well if it isn't the only and only Christmas tree. Providing seasonal cheer all the year round are you Evans?" Lily flushed bright red and looked down at her desk.
"Everyone remain silent and sit still. We'll be starting the most important-"
"Evans?" Lily caught a whisper of her name on the air and chose to ignore it, "Evans?" She turned and glared at James who was trying to catch her attention. "Evans?" Lily ignored it again, "Evans? Evans? Evans?"
"WHAT?" She yelled as she turned and looked at him, her eyes glittering with anger.
"Miss Evans, Mr. Potter! Detention for both of you, and five points from Gryffindor for speaking through this potion! Not a word out of either of you. Especially you Potter." Lily gritted her teeth and muttered something rude under breath at James.
"What did you do that for?" Melody whispered to her as Professor Remould made his way round the room staring at people's potions, placing a spoon in each and examining the colour.
Lily didn't answer instead she glared down at her potion, she was turning redder and redder by the second. She could hear Malfoy sniggering at her and she fought hard against the urge to punch him again.
She was glad when the class was over.
Lily threw her books down on the table in the Great hall causing several first years to jump and squeal in fright.
"Damn Potter!" She swore venomously as she grabbed a couple of sandwiches from the plate in the middle and poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Lily?" Melody approached her with caution, "Why did you storm off like that? Remus was frantic with worry when he saw you leave." Melody picked up some sandwiches and began to tuck into them. "And you got detention! Lily you're turning into a right little rule-breaker."
"Shut up Melody." She looked around at some of the first years that were reading letters from home. "Oh Merlin! I didn't owl my father! Stupid Potter! This is all his fault!" She swore again.
"Where did you go last night? You could've done it then if you hadn't been out till Merlin knows when."
"I told you I was in the library and besides," she pulled out a piece of parchment and her quill and ink. "I can write it now." She bent low over the table and began to scribble frantically on the parchment finishing in ten minutes and not a moment too soon.
"Hi Sirius, hi James." Melody's sweet voice rang in Lily's ears a little too long and Lily immediately looked up meeting James's dark eyes before she could look back down.
"Melody I have to go and send this to my dad. I'll see you in Transfiguration." Lily stood up abruptly and walked out of the hall.
"You know I think we may have upset her." Sirius muttered. James rolled his eyes,
"You think?"
Thanks to my two reviewers:
skinynrita - aw you made me blush, thanks! Don't worry I'm up to Chapter Eight at the moment, am just awaiting my beta to get back to me.
MoonJasmine - thankyou! Christmas tree just kinda popped into my head as an insult... i think I have a very strange brain, it's wired all wrong but it must work somehow. I'll gladly go off and read your fic.
And for my Beta: Ren xxxx
Chapter Two -Corridors, Common Rooms and Classes
By the time everyone had reached the Great Hall they had missed the Sorting Ceremony and Dumbledore was giving his speech with regards to the areas in the castle that were out-of-bounds to all years.
Lily shrunk down in her seat as she sat down at the Gryffindor table ignoring the looks from the other students as she kept her gaze firmly on the gold plate in front of her.
"And now, dig in!" Dumbledore's arms swept across the room and every table was filled with delicious foods from thin air and the students dug in with a vengeance.
"Lily? Aren't you hungry?" Melody, who was beaming since Sirius had chose to sit next to her, questioned as she piled food high on her plate.
"I'd be famished after that punch!"
"You're always famished Sirius." James pointed at his plate that was piled twice as high as Melody's. Sirius shrugged,
"I'm hungry, in case you hadn't noticed it's nearly eight o'clock." James ignored Sirius's comment and looked over at Lily who was looking now decidedly pale. He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted.
"I'm going to the library." Lily stood up abruptly and speaking to no one in particular she left the hall without another word. James looked at Remus whose blue eyes had also followed her fleeting figure out of the hall.
"Hadn't someone see if she is okay?" Peter looked from James to Remus and back again.
"You'd better go James, I don't feel so good tonight." Remus's eyes looked up at the bewitched ceiling and the nearly full moon lurking beneath the clouds.
"Okay. I guess I'll see you guys in the common room." James stood up and walked calmly from the Great Hall, his dark eyes wandering the corridors for a pale figure with red hair and bright green eyes.
After walking for nearly half an hour he pulled out a blank piece of parchment and tapped in once with his wand.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." He watched the parchment fill in and noted that everyone was in the Great Hall except the lone figure stationed outside the Gryffindor common room labelled 'Lily Evans - hottie'. James rolled his eyes at Sirius's labelling; sometimes he really worried about old Padfoot.
He walked quickly through the corridors and up the stairs, making sure to step over the missing stair, till he reached the common room entrance. He saw her slumped against the portrait of the fat lady with her head buried in her hands.
"Lily?" he approached her cautiously not wanting to frighten her, or have a punch inflicted on his nose. She sniffed and looked up, her teary green eyes gleaming in the dimly lit corridor. "Are you alright?" She shook her head, sending her hair flying in all directions and gave a small sob.
"I don't know the password." She gave another sniff, "and I'm going to be expelled and my father will be so disappointed and my sister will be thrilled and I'll have to be taught in a normal school and I'll never be allowed to do magic and I won't be able to see Melody and I'll-"
"Okay stop and take a deep breath." James gave a small laugh as he sat down next to her. "First of all, of course you don't know the password, but I'm sure someone will be along soon to tell us. Secondly I doubt you'll be expelled he deserved it. Besides Malfoy won't dare tell anyone his was punched a girl." Lily gave a small laugh. James smirked at her "well I'd never admit to that!" He stood up and grabbed his nose feigning pain. "Oh sir, sir, Professor Dumbledore sir, I was just punched by a girl sir." Lily giggled at James's impression and gave another sniff before wiping away the remainder of her tears.
"How did you find me anyway? I said I was going to the library." James shrugged at her as he sat back down.
"That my darling Lily is a secret." Lily narrowed her eyes at him, ignoring the slight blush that came over her cheeks as he called her 'darling'.
"You're not doing anything illegal are you?" James looked back at her with wide innocent eyes.
"Would I do anything like that?" Lily raised her eyebrows.
"Well I don't know you well enough to say yes or no but you're reputation certainly proceeds you."
"Oh the lady doesn't listen to gossip like that does she?" Another blush tinted Lily's cheeks.
"No but she can hardly ignore the amount of detention the gentleman receives from Professors can she?" James smirked at her and feigned a hurt look.
"Oh, so you're think you know me then?" Lily scoffed,
"Didn't I just say I didn't?"
"That sentence made no sense."
"Yes it did you just don't listen hard enough Potter."
"Oh so we're on surname basis now are we Evans?"
"I think so Potter." She smiled innocently at him and he noticed for the first time the way the light caught her eyes and made them seem like sparkling emeralds. Her face changed as she looked at her watch and noticed the time. "Oh I have to go and see Re-" she stopped before she could let anything else slip. "See Professor Remould about my new class." She said as she jumped up and sped down the corridor leaving James sitting on the floor.
Lily sped down the stairs and into the Great Hall, which was now empty of any students except for a few sixth and seventh year couples re-acquainting themselves with each other. She turned and ran out of the hall speeding towards the castle entrance. Stopping before she pushed the doors opened she felt a shiver run down her spine and a hint of fear flood into her heart.
"Remus?" She turned and searched the darkness for any sight of Remus's bright eyes. Shaking off the funny feeling she pushed her way out of the doors and rushed through the grounds, not stopping till she reached the Whopping Willow. Staying a safe distance away from it she looked up at the full moon now very evident in the night sky, she assumed that Remus was safely locked away as the Willow was swinging it's branches madly and she turned back to the castle.
James noticed the time a few minutes after Lily has left, he hoped Remus had made it down to the shack without being caught. Pulling out the map he scanned it noting that Remus's label was lurking safely in the Shrieking Shack and Sirius's was halfway to the passage, unfortunately not three feet away from Lily Evans.
"Bloody Merlin that girl likes to get herself into trouble." Jumping up he ran down to the doors of the castle, stormed straight through them and down the steps to the Willow.
Seeing the scene in front of him he nearly wet himself with laughter, there stood Lily bent over and fussing a black dog who was rolled on his back and letting her rub his stomach. Snorting with laughter Lily jumped out of her skin and looked at him with a disgusted glare.
"What's so funny Potter?" James shook his head as he kept his lips pursed together.
"Well I'd watch what you're doing with that dog if I were you." Lily frowned,
"Why exactly? It's harmless."
"Not in human form it isn't." Lily frowned and looked from James to the dog and back again, her mouth opening for a second and then closing. Not able to take the laughter building up inside him he yelled at the dog. "Come on Sirius show yourself."
"Sirius?" Lily looked back at the dog that had suddenly transformed into Sirius Black who was now glaring at James.
"James! I was enjoying that!" Lily looked stunned for a moment, unable to speak as her mouth opened and closed repeatedly.
"You dirty little Animagus!" She leant out and whacked Sirius on the arm, before taking a deep breath and pointing her wand out.
"Oh Lily don't get upset, we only do it to-" there was a loud pop and Lily disappeared a beautiful deer stood in her place. It gave them both a filthy look and sprinted back to the castle.
"Holy Merlin James! Looks like we're not the only ones who are dirty little Animagus!" Sirius slapped James on the back and started back towards the castle.
"What about Moony?" Sirius smirked,
"Up at the shack, was coming back from making sure he was alright when I bumped into the lovely Miss. Evans. She's quite an enigma."
"Hmm." James mumbled a reply as he let his thoughts wonder.
The next morning the entire common room was in pandemonium, there were first years shrieking at each other to hurry up because they didn't want to be late, third years yelling at their friends for making them late to their new classes and a general sense of foreboding terror as the fifth years realised they'd be taking O.W.Ls this years.
Lily was already in the terrible mood, she hadn't slept at all last night and she was decidedly cranky that morning. It had been a dirty trick Potter and Black had played on her yesterday and she was still seething from the embarrassment of it. More than that she was late.
"Lily? Where have you been? You know that Professor Remould hates latecomers." Melody shook her head as she looked at her timetable, and Lily apologised.
"It'll only be by a minute or so." Lily said as they ran down the corridor. Melody shook her head as they made it to the door as the bell rang.
"But this is worse than tardiness."
"What?" Lily asked as she turned the handle. They walked into the classroom and Lily looked around, her face fell with embarrassment as she spotted Potter and Black sitting at the back of the classroom but Malfoy sitting nearer the front.
"See." Melody said as they took the only seats available, right in the line of fire, the row in front of James and Sirius and opposite Malfoy and his goonies.
"Well, well if it isn't the only and only Christmas tree. Providing seasonal cheer all the year round are you Evans?" Lily flushed bright red and looked down at her desk.
"Everyone remain silent and sit still. We'll be starting the most important-"
"Evans?" Lily caught a whisper of her name on the air and chose to ignore it, "Evans?" She turned and glared at James who was trying to catch her attention. "Evans?" Lily ignored it again, "Evans? Evans? Evans?"
"WHAT?" She yelled as she turned and looked at him, her eyes glittering with anger.
"Miss Evans, Mr. Potter! Detention for both of you, and five points from Gryffindor for speaking through this potion! Not a word out of either of you. Especially you Potter." Lily gritted her teeth and muttered something rude under breath at James.
"What did you do that for?" Melody whispered to her as Professor Remould made his way round the room staring at people's potions, placing a spoon in each and examining the colour.
Lily didn't answer instead she glared down at her potion, she was turning redder and redder by the second. She could hear Malfoy sniggering at her and she fought hard against the urge to punch him again.
She was glad when the class was over.
Lily threw her books down on the table in the Great hall causing several first years to jump and squeal in fright.
"Damn Potter!" She swore venomously as she grabbed a couple of sandwiches from the plate in the middle and poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Lily?" Melody approached her with caution, "Why did you storm off like that? Remus was frantic with worry when he saw you leave." Melody picked up some sandwiches and began to tuck into them. "And you got detention! Lily you're turning into a right little rule-breaker."
"Shut up Melody." She looked around at some of the first years that were reading letters from home. "Oh Merlin! I didn't owl my father! Stupid Potter! This is all his fault!" She swore again.
"Where did you go last night? You could've done it then if you hadn't been out till Merlin knows when."
"I told you I was in the library and besides," she pulled out a piece of parchment and her quill and ink. "I can write it now." She bent low over the table and began to scribble frantically on the parchment finishing in ten minutes and not a moment too soon.
"Hi Sirius, hi James." Melody's sweet voice rang in Lily's ears a little too long and Lily immediately looked up meeting James's dark eyes before she could look back down.
"Melody I have to go and send this to my dad. I'll see you in Transfiguration." Lily stood up abruptly and walked out of the hall.
"You know I think we may have upset her." Sirius muttered. James rolled his eyes,
"You think?"