Chapter Four: "You know, this doesn't change things between us."
A/N:- Talk about unjust praise! Thanks for all your support guys! Here's the next chapter for you all!
This Chapter is Dedicated to:
J.K.Rowling who is expecting her third child.
To Those who are upset at the unlikelihood of ever getting the 6th book because of the above event.
Sebring – I couldn't resist throwing in some Latin .....Argh! it's taking over my life!
Serendepetee – Not too a long wait I hope! I just have so many ideas for stories that I don't know which one to follow up – but I'm definitely gonna continue with this one since some people out there actually like it!
Theoneandonlystephy – Yeah, I'd die too if James Potter asked me out .....mainly cos it would be like he's jumped straight out of a page of a book! Lol. Yeah, he does seem like the charming handsome prince from a little girl's dream. sigh
Lady Riddle - blushes I don't deserve so high praise. Incidentally, I looked at your profile page and – That quotey thing about Fanfiction – well, I actually wrote it although as I quoted it as Anon as I was rather distressed at having become so deep at the time ....Also, How can you not like LOTR – It's a crime! Lol. (I won't judge you though....) Also, sorry hun but I'm Harry/Hermione all the way although I can totally foresee Ron/Hermione in future books. :)
Shadowed.Phoenix – Once again, I don't deserve any such praise whatsoever. I'm glad that it's kinda believable and not majorly OoC but as to the characters being developed – I think that's my big weakness as I concentrate on the plot more than anything and just rush straight in asap. I kinda put all the characterisation in the first chapter and hope for the best, although if their character is coming through in their dialogue and actions then that's the best news ever! :-)
Man Eating Plant – Thanks!
Swishy Willow Wand – Please say you've survived ....I won't take so long next time I promise! Catches you as you faint
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lily walked along the corridor to Professor McGonagall's classroom, ready for her first lesson of the year. She examined her timetable, and was pleased to see that she was in the top set for all of her subjects. Suddenly she felt someone breathing on her neck as they peered over her shoulder, looking at her timetable.
"Well, I never." said James. "Looks like I'm in all of your lessons, Evans." he grinned as he showed her his timetable which was identical to hers. "It seems that I'm smarter than even I would have dared to hope."
Lily bit her lip. As much as she hated to admit it, it did seem that James was cleverer than he looked .....
"Shocked?" laughed James.
"No one said you're not clever Potter." she admitted grudgingly.
"You know, if you played Quidditch, you and I would practically be the same." James laughed. "But I forgot – you don't like flying."
Lily turned and looked at him sharply. "Just because I don't need all the attention and glory of playing in the Quidditch team, it doesn't mean that I'm not good at flying."
James nodded. "Shame to let your talent go to waste if you're as good as you say you are then." he said lazily before sliding into the Transfiguration classroom.
.....................................
Lily felt the wind blow through her hair and she closed her eyes, savouring the moment before turning sharply and doing several loops in the air. She wondered if it was not for Potter's arrogant remark about her not being able to fly, whether she would be out here on her broom for the first time in years. No, there was no way she had let Potter get to her. She simply felt like coming out and it was just a coincidence that Potter had mentioned flying earlier. There was no reason why she had to prove to herself or anyone else that she had what it takes to make the Quidditch team. 'The look on Potter's face if he could see me now ...' she thought as she sped to the ground, stopping just a couple of inches from the Quidditch stands.
.........................................
James led his all-male Quidditch team out to the pitch. "Okay, so this year is my last year and it is absolutely essential that we keep up the high standard of playing that we achieved last year and to win the House Cup for the sixth time in a row."
"Who's going to play as the new Chaser now that Dale has left?" Sam, a fifth year, asked.
James frowned, they were getting closer to the Quidditch stands and he could see someone flying about. If it was the Slytherins then ....... "Oh, well, we'll find one by the end of the week." he said distractedly.
"Hey! Who's flying on our time?" shouted Henry, another Quidditch player. "You said we had the place to ourselves."
"Yeah, we'll find out soon." James muttered.
It was not until they were a few paces away that he could make out the figure of Lily Evans speeding through the air. The disgruntled look faded from his face and a grin spread across his face.
"What the hell is she doing here?!" muttered Sam.
"Oi! HEAD GIRL!" James called.
..................................................
Lily could not believe how much fun she was having. It was a great way to de-stress before rounds with James Potter tonight. Just as she was considering having a quick fly over the Forbidden Forest, she heard someone shouting up at her. The last thing she needed was to see James Potter's face grinning up at her.
"Proving a point, eh?" James called, as Lily climbed off her broom at tied her hair back in a pony tail. James sighed inwardly. She was so beautiful, and the windswept look totally suited her.
"I don't need to prove anything to you Potter." she said coldly, as the rest of the Gryffindor team sniggered.
"Hey Evans!" James called. Lily turned round reluctantly. Why didn't that git just leave her alone? Wasn't it bad enough that they had to see each other every night for rounds?! Obviously not for him ........... but then again he was 'madly in love with her' according to Kirsty, Zoë and Sarah .......... "You know, you fly pretty well." James said sincerely.
"Wow, another compliment Potter. You're on top form this week." Lily said dryly. She could not decide whether she preferred it when he was teasing her or when he was paying her compliments. At least with the teasing, she could retort or just ignore his immature behaviour but when he was being nice, it unnerved her. Firstly, most of the time it was much harder to think of a reply, and secondly because he looked like he actually meant what he said ..................but there was no way James Potter would be 'in love' with her ......and if he was, it was his problem, not hers. If you forget the fact that she almost enjoyed him kissing her.
"Well, I've been thinking." James mused.
"That's a first." Lily muttered.
"Haha, thanks. No, I was thinking, you should join the team – be our new Chaser. You're really good on a broom and we could do with you on the team – you may well be the motivation our team needs ....... and you'll always be there to spice things up a bit." James winked.
Lily glared at him. "Thanks but no thanks. I have to spend enough time with you and your idiotic ego already."
"Oooh harsh. But then again I expect I can forgive you for being so raw and bitter – it comes part and parcel with not getting any action..... if you know what I mean." James said nonchalantly, before turning away. "Come on, let's get practising." he said to his chuckling team, leading them away.
Lily gripped her broom handle tightly. She just wanted to go up to him and punch him so hard that he would not be able to speak for a week.
...................................................
"- and then he said I was being irritable because I was not sleeping around with idiots like him." Lily narrated, fuming, to her friends in the library.
Kirsty ran a hand through her hair. "Are we going to get the full blown works EVERY time James annoys you? Because if we are then I'm officially asking for a transfer to GilGalad's School in America." Kirsty said before resting her head on her hands.
Lily ignored her but turned to Sarah and Zoë for sympathy. "Come on guys, you agree with me don't you? How immature does he get?!"
Zoë sighed. "Lil, I thought your procedure was listen to his immature remark, make a witty comeback, walk away and forget about it. I'm not excusing him but ever since he tried to kiss you and you slapped him, how do you think he's going to act when he's around you? He's immature and you want to kill him; he's nice and you still blow up ....he's trying his best to impress you."
"But doesn't he get it?! Nothing he can do will impress me!" Lily said irritably, before standing up.
"Where are you going hun?" asked Sarah.
"Duty."
"You're going .....I would have thought if you were so annoyed with James then ....."
"You think I'm going to let him have the satisfaction of seeing how he much he irritates me?" demanded Lily before stalking off.
...................................................
"Evening." James greeted as Lily joined him outside the Gryffindor common room. Lily did not say anything. "Well, I guess I didn't expect to be spoken to but I think you need to know that McGonagall wants to see you in her office immediately."
Lily looked at James, checking that this was not one of his wind-ups. "What about?" she asked suspiciously.
James shrugged. "You'll never find out by standing around here." he said, leading the way towards the Deputy Head's office.
When they arrived, James waited outside as Lily walked hesitantly inside.
"Good Evening Miss Evans." came the cool, calm voice of the Head of Gryffindor House.
"Evening Professor McGonagall." Lily said, taking a seat.
"So, how are your Head Girl duties going?"
"Okay."
"Working well with Mr Potter?" Professor McGonagall asked, looking at Lily carefully.
Lily chose her answer carefully. "We're working through our differences." she said.
"So you don't mind spending all this extra time with him?"
Lily looked puzzled for a second. Surely this was not a social meeting. Lily thought about the question. She could not exactly tell her how much she hated the very sight of James Potter otherwise she might suggest that Lily gave up her role as Head Girl. "No, I don't really mind." she said quietly.
"Oh good." Professor McGonagall said, perking up, "Because there's something I've got to ask you."
'Now we get to the point .....' Lily thought.
"As you probably know, there is a gap in the Gryffindor Quidditch team and it has been suggested to me that you would be the perfect candidate to fill the gap and play Chaser on the team."
Lily opened her mouth in shock and then closed it again. She was going to wring James Potter's neck ...how dare he go behind her back! How dare he not take 'No' as an answer!
"Surely, you would love the opportunity to play for your house in your final year and to make sure we keep our hold on the cup ....." Professor McGonagall added, smiling sweetly.
"Erm ...yes ...okay ..I'll do it." Lily said at last, seeing that she was being nudged into it.
"Great." beamed the Professor. "Well, I won't keep you and Mr Potter away from your duties any longer." she said, standing up.
Lily got up slowly and headed for the door. There was hell to pay for this. The fuel for her anger was the fact that James Potter had got his way again. She opened the door, her body almost quivering with anger and was met by an excited James.
"Well? What did you say? Please say you said yes because our team really needs you and – well, what did you say?" he asked enthusiastically, looking at her eagerly through his deep brown soulful eyes.
Lily looked at him and felt her anger being drawn away by his enthusiasm. "Yes, I said yes." she replied reluctantly.
James' eyes lit up and Lily could not help but notice that he had such a beautiful smile. "Oh, thank you, thank you, you won't regret it. I'm so happy, this has really made my day. I don't know what we would have done if you said no ..." James said excitedly, before catching Lily totally by surprise and hugging her. "Thank you." he added, pulling away.
Lily smiled at him for the first time ever. She did not know what was coming over her but she no longer felt an ounce of anger or resentment that she had been forced into playing Quidditch. Instead, she felt happy she had said yes. It had obviously made James very happy ...........................wait ............since when did it matter to her whether James was happy or not????!!!! Since the kiss obviously. She had felt in his debt for forgetting that the kiss had ever happened. "You know, this doesn't change things between us." she said looking at him, her smile still playing on her lips.
James returned her smile. A true smile. Not a cheesy grin or an arrogant smirk but a real smile. "I know. But for once it doesn't matter." Lily raised her eyebrows questioningly. "I get to boss you about for five hours a week." he said, his smile breaking into a grin. "And with that, let's get going with duty." he said hurriedly as Lily began to glare at him.
A/N:- Another chappie done. Now I'm on hols, I should be able to update faster than I have been, so if you want more, please review. :)
A/N:- Talk about unjust praise! Thanks for all your support guys! Here's the next chapter for you all!
This Chapter is Dedicated to:
J.K.Rowling who is expecting her third child.
To Those who are upset at the unlikelihood of ever getting the 6th book because of the above event.
Sebring – I couldn't resist throwing in some Latin .....Argh! it's taking over my life!
Serendepetee – Not too a long wait I hope! I just have so many ideas for stories that I don't know which one to follow up – but I'm definitely gonna continue with this one since some people out there actually like it!
Theoneandonlystephy – Yeah, I'd die too if James Potter asked me out .....mainly cos it would be like he's jumped straight out of a page of a book! Lol. Yeah, he does seem like the charming handsome prince from a little girl's dream. sigh
Lady Riddle - blushes I don't deserve so high praise. Incidentally, I looked at your profile page and – That quotey thing about Fanfiction – well, I actually wrote it although as I quoted it as Anon as I was rather distressed at having become so deep at the time ....Also, How can you not like LOTR – It's a crime! Lol. (I won't judge you though....) Also, sorry hun but I'm Harry/Hermione all the way although I can totally foresee Ron/Hermione in future books. :)
Shadowed.Phoenix – Once again, I don't deserve any such praise whatsoever. I'm glad that it's kinda believable and not majorly OoC but as to the characters being developed – I think that's my big weakness as I concentrate on the plot more than anything and just rush straight in asap. I kinda put all the characterisation in the first chapter and hope for the best, although if their character is coming through in their dialogue and actions then that's the best news ever! :-)
Man Eating Plant – Thanks!
Swishy Willow Wand – Please say you've survived ....I won't take so long next time I promise! Catches you as you faint
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lily walked along the corridor to Professor McGonagall's classroom, ready for her first lesson of the year. She examined her timetable, and was pleased to see that she was in the top set for all of her subjects. Suddenly she felt someone breathing on her neck as they peered over her shoulder, looking at her timetable.
"Well, I never." said James. "Looks like I'm in all of your lessons, Evans." he grinned as he showed her his timetable which was identical to hers. "It seems that I'm smarter than even I would have dared to hope."
Lily bit her lip. As much as she hated to admit it, it did seem that James was cleverer than he looked .....
"Shocked?" laughed James.
"No one said you're not clever Potter." she admitted grudgingly.
"You know, if you played Quidditch, you and I would practically be the same." James laughed. "But I forgot – you don't like flying."
Lily turned and looked at him sharply. "Just because I don't need all the attention and glory of playing in the Quidditch team, it doesn't mean that I'm not good at flying."
James nodded. "Shame to let your talent go to waste if you're as good as you say you are then." he said lazily before sliding into the Transfiguration classroom.
.....................................
Lily felt the wind blow through her hair and she closed her eyes, savouring the moment before turning sharply and doing several loops in the air. She wondered if it was not for Potter's arrogant remark about her not being able to fly, whether she would be out here on her broom for the first time in years. No, there was no way she had let Potter get to her. She simply felt like coming out and it was just a coincidence that Potter had mentioned flying earlier. There was no reason why she had to prove to herself or anyone else that she had what it takes to make the Quidditch team. 'The look on Potter's face if he could see me now ...' she thought as she sped to the ground, stopping just a couple of inches from the Quidditch stands.
.........................................
James led his all-male Quidditch team out to the pitch. "Okay, so this year is my last year and it is absolutely essential that we keep up the high standard of playing that we achieved last year and to win the House Cup for the sixth time in a row."
"Who's going to play as the new Chaser now that Dale has left?" Sam, a fifth year, asked.
James frowned, they were getting closer to the Quidditch stands and he could see someone flying about. If it was the Slytherins then ....... "Oh, well, we'll find one by the end of the week." he said distractedly.
"Hey! Who's flying on our time?" shouted Henry, another Quidditch player. "You said we had the place to ourselves."
"Yeah, we'll find out soon." James muttered.
It was not until they were a few paces away that he could make out the figure of Lily Evans speeding through the air. The disgruntled look faded from his face and a grin spread across his face.
"What the hell is she doing here?!" muttered Sam.
"Oi! HEAD GIRL!" James called.
..................................................
Lily could not believe how much fun she was having. It was a great way to de-stress before rounds with James Potter tonight. Just as she was considering having a quick fly over the Forbidden Forest, she heard someone shouting up at her. The last thing she needed was to see James Potter's face grinning up at her.
"Proving a point, eh?" James called, as Lily climbed off her broom at tied her hair back in a pony tail. James sighed inwardly. She was so beautiful, and the windswept look totally suited her.
"I don't need to prove anything to you Potter." she said coldly, as the rest of the Gryffindor team sniggered.
"Hey Evans!" James called. Lily turned round reluctantly. Why didn't that git just leave her alone? Wasn't it bad enough that they had to see each other every night for rounds?! Obviously not for him ........... but then again he was 'madly in love with her' according to Kirsty, Zoë and Sarah .......... "You know, you fly pretty well." James said sincerely.
"Wow, another compliment Potter. You're on top form this week." Lily said dryly. She could not decide whether she preferred it when he was teasing her or when he was paying her compliments. At least with the teasing, she could retort or just ignore his immature behaviour but when he was being nice, it unnerved her. Firstly, most of the time it was much harder to think of a reply, and secondly because he looked like he actually meant what he said ..................but there was no way James Potter would be 'in love' with her ......and if he was, it was his problem, not hers. If you forget the fact that she almost enjoyed him kissing her.
"Well, I've been thinking." James mused.
"That's a first." Lily muttered.
"Haha, thanks. No, I was thinking, you should join the team – be our new Chaser. You're really good on a broom and we could do with you on the team – you may well be the motivation our team needs ....... and you'll always be there to spice things up a bit." James winked.
Lily glared at him. "Thanks but no thanks. I have to spend enough time with you and your idiotic ego already."
"Oooh harsh. But then again I expect I can forgive you for being so raw and bitter – it comes part and parcel with not getting any action..... if you know what I mean." James said nonchalantly, before turning away. "Come on, let's get practising." he said to his chuckling team, leading them away.
Lily gripped her broom handle tightly. She just wanted to go up to him and punch him so hard that he would not be able to speak for a week.
...................................................
"- and then he said I was being irritable because I was not sleeping around with idiots like him." Lily narrated, fuming, to her friends in the library.
Kirsty ran a hand through her hair. "Are we going to get the full blown works EVERY time James annoys you? Because if we are then I'm officially asking for a transfer to GilGalad's School in America." Kirsty said before resting her head on her hands.
Lily ignored her but turned to Sarah and Zoë for sympathy. "Come on guys, you agree with me don't you? How immature does he get?!"
Zoë sighed. "Lil, I thought your procedure was listen to his immature remark, make a witty comeback, walk away and forget about it. I'm not excusing him but ever since he tried to kiss you and you slapped him, how do you think he's going to act when he's around you? He's immature and you want to kill him; he's nice and you still blow up ....he's trying his best to impress you."
"But doesn't he get it?! Nothing he can do will impress me!" Lily said irritably, before standing up.
"Where are you going hun?" asked Sarah.
"Duty."
"You're going .....I would have thought if you were so annoyed with James then ....."
"You think I'm going to let him have the satisfaction of seeing how he much he irritates me?" demanded Lily before stalking off.
...................................................
"Evening." James greeted as Lily joined him outside the Gryffindor common room. Lily did not say anything. "Well, I guess I didn't expect to be spoken to but I think you need to know that McGonagall wants to see you in her office immediately."
Lily looked at James, checking that this was not one of his wind-ups. "What about?" she asked suspiciously.
James shrugged. "You'll never find out by standing around here." he said, leading the way towards the Deputy Head's office.
When they arrived, James waited outside as Lily walked hesitantly inside.
"Good Evening Miss Evans." came the cool, calm voice of the Head of Gryffindor House.
"Evening Professor McGonagall." Lily said, taking a seat.
"So, how are your Head Girl duties going?"
"Okay."
"Working well with Mr Potter?" Professor McGonagall asked, looking at Lily carefully.
Lily chose her answer carefully. "We're working through our differences." she said.
"So you don't mind spending all this extra time with him?"
Lily looked puzzled for a second. Surely this was not a social meeting. Lily thought about the question. She could not exactly tell her how much she hated the very sight of James Potter otherwise she might suggest that Lily gave up her role as Head Girl. "No, I don't really mind." she said quietly.
"Oh good." Professor McGonagall said, perking up, "Because there's something I've got to ask you."
'Now we get to the point .....' Lily thought.
"As you probably know, there is a gap in the Gryffindor Quidditch team and it has been suggested to me that you would be the perfect candidate to fill the gap and play Chaser on the team."
Lily opened her mouth in shock and then closed it again. She was going to wring James Potter's neck ...how dare he go behind her back! How dare he not take 'No' as an answer!
"Surely, you would love the opportunity to play for your house in your final year and to make sure we keep our hold on the cup ....." Professor McGonagall added, smiling sweetly.
"Erm ...yes ...okay ..I'll do it." Lily said at last, seeing that she was being nudged into it.
"Great." beamed the Professor. "Well, I won't keep you and Mr Potter away from your duties any longer." she said, standing up.
Lily got up slowly and headed for the door. There was hell to pay for this. The fuel for her anger was the fact that James Potter had got his way again. She opened the door, her body almost quivering with anger and was met by an excited James.
"Well? What did you say? Please say you said yes because our team really needs you and – well, what did you say?" he asked enthusiastically, looking at her eagerly through his deep brown soulful eyes.
Lily looked at him and felt her anger being drawn away by his enthusiasm. "Yes, I said yes." she replied reluctantly.
James' eyes lit up and Lily could not help but notice that he had such a beautiful smile. "Oh, thank you, thank you, you won't regret it. I'm so happy, this has really made my day. I don't know what we would have done if you said no ..." James said excitedly, before catching Lily totally by surprise and hugging her. "Thank you." he added, pulling away.
Lily smiled at him for the first time ever. She did not know what was coming over her but she no longer felt an ounce of anger or resentment that she had been forced into playing Quidditch. Instead, she felt happy she had said yes. It had obviously made James very happy ...........................wait ............since when did it matter to her whether James was happy or not????!!!! Since the kiss obviously. She had felt in his debt for forgetting that the kiss had ever happened. "You know, this doesn't change things between us." she said looking at him, her smile still playing on her lips.
James returned her smile. A true smile. Not a cheesy grin or an arrogant smirk but a real smile. "I know. But for once it doesn't matter." Lily raised her eyebrows questioningly. "I get to boss you about for five hours a week." he said, his smile breaking into a grin. "And with that, let's get going with duty." he said hurriedly as Lily began to glare at him.
A/N:- Another chappie done. Now I'm on hols, I should be able to update faster than I have been, so if you want more, please review. :)