A/N: More of a Lily/James chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: We forgot to put in a disclaimer last chapter, so we don't own most of these characters squared! So have fun!
Chapter 3: Snog Much?
"I know what he means. I know he hates me," Lily said wiping away a tear.
"How can you be so sure?" Mel asked sitting beside her on the floor, in the corridor they were in.
"It's pretty obvious Mel. 'Who'd want to snog her?' 'Anyone who likes her is a prat,' 'She's a bitch,'" Lily mimicked James. "Oh he really likes me, right?"
"Well, I know that doesn't exactly sound so good, but, well, I think he feels horrible about everything." Mel insisted. "What's that noise?" Mel turned her head at the sound of footsteps.
"It's Sirius," Lily said without looking up.
"I don't want to talk to him." Mel said stubbornly. "He's a prat."
"Yeah, he's not the only one," she said still thinking about James Potter. The royal prat... that's kind of cute. Not that she just admitted that he's good looking - 'cause he's not.
"Hey ladies," Sirius said from behind them. He looked from Mel, who was trying to ignore him, to Lily, who was looking extremely confused.
Lily stood up crossing her arms. She walked towards the window at the end of the corridor and sat on the seal. James Potter had always been mean to her. But she couldn't help but notice the malice look he got when she was flirting with Sirius. And the far away look he had, almost like a blush, when she flirted... well if you call it flirting, with him.
"What's wrong with her?" Sirius whispered to Mel, watching Lily walk away and sit by the window sill.
"Oh yeah, I forgot. She's your snog partner. God forbid something happen to your snogging partner," Mel snapped.
"Don't be like that. You told me to do it," Sirius insisted.
"Yeah! For James. But it's not like you cared as long as it was a good snog!"
"Oh come on, Mel. I was only doing this for you. And now it back fires in my face," Sirius said, tilting her chin to look him in the eye. "Don't," she moved away from him. She didn't want his touch. Well, not now anyway.
"Don't what?" Sirius asked disappointed as she turned her back to him. "I'm sorry okay, Mel? I'm sorry."
"Saying sorry and not meaning it is like not saying sorry at all."
"But I do mean it. I am sorry. You've got to believe me," Sirius said pleadingly. "I've brought good news for you," Sirius said, hoping this would get her to talk to him.
"No news is good news," she turned around and sat against the wall holding her knees to her chest.
"Well this is. Guess who admitted they loved Lily?" Sirius said sitting beside her on the floor, edging toward her.
"Why did you do that?" she slapped Sirius getting the attention from Lily. "We'll be right back," Lily shrugged and they walked away. Mel pushed Sirius against the wall. She was a foot away and was about to yell when he kissed her.
Mel broke apart, and looked into Sirius' eyes, looking both scared and hurt. "Sirius, why...." she tried to say more, but words seemed to be failing her. She felt a tear begin to from in her eye, and Sirius could see it too.
"Mel, I'm sorry, I don't know what happened to me."
Mel let go of her grip on his shoulders, and slid down the wall, holding her knees. "Sirius, why'd you do it?" she said, her voice muffled from her face being hidden in her hands.
"I--you just looked so cute," he tried to flatter. "And I didn't want you to yell at me. I hate when you do," he tried to win himself sympathy.
"Sirius, you can't always do that." Mel said, thankful he couldn't see her blush. "I do have a boyfriend. What would he think?" Mel questioned, looking up at him.
"You--you do? Who?" he tried to stop her from hearing the pain in his voice.
"We've been over this. Amos. Amos Diggory." Mel said, finding that she didn't feel like crying any longer as she stared up at Sirius.
"But I--never mind. James admitted he loves Lily. And I'm sorry, really I am," he stood up and started walking. "Have fun with D-- Amos."
Sirius walked along the corridors feeling crushed. Though he didn't understand why. It was just James' kid sister. Not that she was a kid. But he just couldn't get the kiss out of his mind. What did she see in Diggory anyway? He'd love to know. He decided he didn't want any more drama for the night. For he knew James was still talking about Lily, and Remus was
still not with Laur. He decided to walk around the grounds.
He looked up at the sky above and saw that it was going to rain any moment. He walked along the lake, kicking rocks into it, picturing Diggory's face on each one. Why was Mel going out with him anyway? He was a Beater on the Hufflepuff team, and competed with her own team, so what was there to like? He could feel a drop of rain on his head now, and knew more were about to come.
"Sirius!" Some one yelled from near the entrance hall, catching his attention.
Sirius looked up to see a Hufflepuff looking at him. Amos Diggory in the flesh. He came running towards him.
"Hey mate..."
"Mate?" Sirius could've punched him.
"Uh yeah, do you know what's wrong with Mel?" Amos asked looking at him strangely. "When I saw her, she was mumbling something about you and being confused. And she wouldn't tell me anything."
"Well, how would I know what's wrong with her? You're her boyfriend, shouldn't you know?" Sirius said through gritted teeth, trying to control himself from throwing Amos into the lake.
"Sure but we've only been going out for a few days. I haven't spent as much time as you two have with her. You pulled a move on her?" he asked calmly.
"What if I did? What are you going to do about it?" Sirius said in the same calm voice, but with a hint of hatred hidden beneath it.
"I'm gonna kick your ass."
"Are you?! Why do you care about Mel anyway!? It's not like she means that much to you!" Sirius said, bracing himself to fight back.
Amos laughed. "You should really consider a career in acting. It's not like Mel would ever go for a playboy like you. Thanks for the laugh," he patted Sirius on the back and started walking away.
Mel sat under the big oak tree throwing acorns into the lake. She absent mindedly started singing.
"Get a load of me
Get a load of you
Walkin' down the street
And I hardly know you
It's just like we were meant to be
Holding hands with you
And we're out at night
Got a girlfriend
You say it isn't right
And I've got someone waiting too
This is, this is just the beginning
We're already wet
And we're gonna go swimming."
She threw another into the lake and continued.
"Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you?
It's inevitable.
It's a fact that we're gonna get down to it.
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
Isn't this the best part of breaking up
Finding someone else you can't get enough of
Someone who wants to be with you too
It's an itch we know we're gonna scratch
Gonna take a while for this egg to hatch
But wouldn't it be beautiful," she didn't notice someone behind her.
"Here we are
We're at the beginning
We haven't fucked yet
But heads spinning
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you?
It's inevitable.
It's a fact that we're gonna get down to it.
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
I'd love for you to make me wonder
Where it's goin'?
I'd love for you to pull me under
Somethin's growin'
For this that we can control
Baby I am dyin'. "
The figured stared at her questionably. She spoke, "Sirius," softly as if in deep thought. Then continued,
"Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you?
It's inevitable.
It's a fact that we're gonna get down to it.
So tell me
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?"
"Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you?" said a voice behind her. She turned to see Sirius.
"What were you doing?" Mel asked, her cheeks going slightly red, hoping he hadn't heard that much. She hated it when people listened to her sing.
Sirius sat beside her, leaning on the tree too. "Mel, is it true that you couldn't like someone like me?" he said barely above a whisper, so Mel had to strain to hear him.
"Who said that?" Mel asked, surprised by his question.
"Your boyfriend," Sirius said as if it were venom.
"When'd you talk to Amos?"
"Before you started singing," he answered, staring out into the lake.
"You heard me?" Mel made a nervous noise, hoping he hadn't.
"I heard it all," he said smiling slightly. "I'm sorry though. You can sing. And I especially like who you were singing about," he stood up grinning and made his way to the castle.
"Wait, Sirius, don't go," Mel said, just loud enough so he could hear her.
"Sorry," he turned back to her. "Your boy told me that he'd kick my ass if I hit on you. And I can't be alone with you without doing it," he shrugged and started walking away.
"Sirius, don't be like that. And do you really think Amos could kick your ass?" Mel said jokingly, hoping he would turn around again, showing that all-too-familiar heart melting smile of his.
"Look," he turned around not wearing that smile. "Your song is right. You have someone else. And I guess it's best if I get over you and find someone else."
He walked away not turning back again.
Mel let out a large sigh, as she saw him disappear into the castle. She knew no matter what she would have said, it wouldn't have made him stay. She looked over at the lake, feeling miserable. She didn't want to think about any of this. She was sick of the whole love triangle thing, and hated that she was now a part of it. Then something popped into mind. "I want to go swimming," Mel whispered to herself, ignoring the fact that it was raining harder now, and she would be freezing. The only thought in her head was that Sirius would do that exact thing if he were with her.
Sirius walked off of the grounds and into the castle. As soon as he reached the nearest wall out of view he sat down next to it and thought about Mel. He got lost in his thoughts. He pictured her in his mind. He saw her smiling face. He heard her voice, her laugh, her sparkling personality. And he stood up. He knew what he had to do. He walked straight towards the Hufflepuff common room. He was a man on a mission. And was 100% sure his ex would have him back.
Sirius walked along the corridor, looking out the windows as he walked by. He looked under the tree where he had just been sitting, to find Mel was gone. He stopped walking to look around the rain for her. The he saw something in the lake, and realized it was Mel right away. 'What the hell is she doing?' Sirius thought, but smiled nonetheless. He looked up at the sound
of someone's footsteps, and realized it was the Hufflepuff he had been waiting for.
She ignored his presence and kept walking.
"Hi," he said stopping her.
She turned around, "Oh hello Sirius. How have you been?" she said with what seemed like a forced politeness.
"Not too bad," though his expression proved otherwise. "What about you?"
"Um, well, I guess I've been better," she said, preparing to turn around and walk away.
"So I'm sorry about what happened before," he said taking her by surprise.
"What do you mean?" She asked, knowing already what he was talking about.
"I," he didn't know it could be this hard to say. "Do you want to go back out?"
"Really!? Do you mean it!?" she asked running over to him, and almost knocking him down with a hug.
"Of course," he grinned. She kissed him which he returned.
But for some reason, that he already knew, he didn't want her kiss, which surprised him. "Look Michelle, I got to go I'm meeting someone. See you!" He said, pecking her on the cheek and heading back down the corridor.
"Bye Siri!"
Sirius headed back down to the hall, wondering what he was meaning to do. Deciding he'd rather go to sleep he headed into the common room. Then he remembered. He ran down the halls and came back to the same corridor. Where Lily was staring out the window barely noticing they were gone.
"Lily?" he said quietly, hoping to catch her attention.
"Oh, done with your talk with Mel?" she asked standing up.
"Uh, I guess so. How'd you know about it?" Sirius asked confused.
"It's not like she didn't tell me," Lily rolled her eyes.
"When'd she stop swimming?"
"I don't know. But do you want to go back to the common room?" Lily started walking when she tripped and Sirius caught her. Their faces were very, very, close together.
"Uh, here." Sirius said nervously, placing her back onto her feet. "You all right?"
"Uh, yeah I guess," Lily said dusting herself off.
"Good thing James wasn't here," Sirius muttered under his breath.
"What do you mean? Good thing James wasn't here?" Lily asked, looking at him accusingly.
"I--uh... look the thing is," he stuttered as the walked up the final flight of stairs stopping in front of the portrait. "I have a girlfriend and he doesn't want you getting me into trouble."
"Who's your girlfriend now? Mel?" Lily asked, apparently dropping the subject.
"No... uh, she's with Amos," He looked uncomfortable.
"So, there is that little fact that she was struggling with dumping him or not. And I just thought, that maybe you just gave her the little push. I mean, it was kind of obvious she liked you." Lily said in a matter-of-fact tone.
He choked as they walked into the common room. "Struggling whether to dump him? What?"
"Yeah! Didn't she say anything about it to you? I mean, I think she said something about a pity date or something like that." Lily said looking at him with a questioning look, wondering if something she said was wrong.
"No! She just started, err, singing about me, but she never said anything!" Sirius said indignantly sitting on the couch getting looks from Remus, Laur, and James.
"What's he going on about?" James asked, looking from Lily to Sirius and back again.
"She was singing about you?" Lily asked confused.
"Yeah. 'Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you? Why can't I think whenever I talk about you?'"
"You mean, 'Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you? Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you?'" Lily said with a small chuckle.
"She let you hear her sing?" Laur asked joining the conversation. "She doesn't even let me."
"I kind of snuck up on her," Sirius grinned sheepishly.
"I can't even do that!" Laur exclaimed annoyed.
"I didn't mean to," Sirius said. "She said my name and I sort of sung to her. And then I told her to forget about me."
"You told her to forget about you! Why?!" Lily and Laur yelled in unison.
"Because I--have a girlfriend," he said quickly stopping himself from what he was originally going to say.
"When'd you get this girlfriend? And who is she?" Lily said with an almost threatening voice.
"Today and it's Michelle," he said quietly getting a high five from James who had really liked Michelle for some odd reason.
"What's wrong with you? Was it payback or something?" Lily asked. But before he could answer her, someone came in through the portrait hole, soak and wet.
"Hi guys!" Mel said laughing and drying herself off with a spell. "Why the down faces?"
"It wasn't pay back! I just really like her," Sirius said to Lily ignoring Mel.
"Like who?" Mel asked sitting down in between Remus and Laur, which by the way, was a bad idea.
Laur gave Mel a death glare, before nudging her off the couch, and moving to sit on Remus' lap. "Okay? Who likes who?" Mel asked again, apparently not phased. "And what do you mean pay back?" Mel was very confused.
Everyone looked at one another, hoping for the other to be the first to say something, but after no one saying anything after several minutes, Mel was getting impatient. "Well?"
"Mel it's, just nothing. Don't worry about it. Let's play some chess and you can tell me about Amos."
The most unexpected person pulled Mel off the couch. James. She nodded and went upstairs to get her chess board. Nobody spoke. Lily stood up and started walking towards the girls' stair case. Laur tripped her and she fell on top of James. He held onto her as they crashed onto the ground. They were very close together. James leaned down and kissed her. Two words: bad
move.
Lily's face began to slowly turn the color of her hair. "POTTER!! Get the hell off of me!!" Lily screamed an ear plugging scream.
James rolled off of Lily quickly, slapping his head for kissing her. "Why'd you do that?" Lily asked in a calm voice that scared him.
"Well, you see, you just looked so cute when you fell, and I just felt like kissing you," James said.
Mel looked over at Sirius and blushed slightly, remembering almost two hours ago he had said something like that to her.
"Don't you ever, EVER call me cute again! Oh my god! How can you say that? You--you," she backed away quickly. "I thought you hated me!"
"Well, I guess I just stopped. And I think I can call you cute whenever I like. It's not a rule that I can't. And even if it was who cares?"
"I care! You hate me. I hate you. That's what it has always been and that's what it should always be! Why would you care about me anyway? I'm just a stupid Mudblood to you," she turned her back towards him. She couldn't stand looking at his calm face.
"What!? Never in hell would I ever call you a M--that! It's just wrong! And why would I not care about you!?" James yelled getting angry at her, for hating him because he now liked her.
"Maybe because you used to hate me. You used to make fun of me and call me ugly. I thought we were content hating each other. And then I turn around and you touch me, and hold me, and kiss me!" She snuck a look at him and regretted it. He was looking at her with a soft face of confusion. She could see he cared. But she didn't want him to.
"Why do you care so much that I like you now? Is it that bad? And isn't it better to have more friends than enemies?" James asked in a soft voice, that no one could hate.
"You aren't supposed to like me, Potter! You. Are. Supposed. To. Hate. Me," she said clearly despite his voice.
"But I don't. I did, but I can't anymore. I'm sorry. Really I am, but I can't hate you any more," James said in the same calm voice, but with a small smile.
"Why the hell not?" she demanded.
"Well, like I said before. You're just too cute." he said, pinching her cheek slightly.
She smacked his hand away. "You are such a pervert."
"No, not really. I just know a pretty lady when I see one," he teased, winking at her.
"If the only reason why you like me is because I'm cute then you are a pervert. If you only want me for my knickers then you better shut up right now," she warned threateningly.
"No, not really. How shallow do you think I am? You know, you got a lot of better qualities then just your looks."
"Too bad you don't notice any of them," she spat turning away from him.
"Well look who's talking. I guess you only look for the bad in people too. Or maybe just the tightness of their ass," James said in return.
"Yeah that's right," she rolled her eyes. "Just because I don't like you, Potter, doesn't mean you have to get upset about it."
"Oh yes, look at the river I've cried over you." James muttered sarcastically. "And besides, did you honestly believe that I was going to end up liking you one day?" James said, completely forgetting everyone around him.
"So you don't like me," she looked at him quizzically. "So if I," she walked over towards Sirius and sat on his lap. "Do," she kissed him firmly on the lips. "That." She kissed him deeply this time. "You don't care?"
Mel gave Lily a death glare, forming her hands into a fist. And Sirius looked confused. "Lily, don't do that. I just told you I have a girlfriend." Sirius muttered softly, looking away from Mel.
"You what!?" Mel yelled, forgetting the fight that had been going on between James and Lily.
Lily sighed slowly, and she heard Sirius say, "Sorry Lily, but you can't use me like that any more."
"Forget it Sirius. Lily doesn't give a damn about anyone's feelings. Why should she care about yours?" James began to head out of the common room, but stopped and looked back. "Oh, and I never said I didn't like you."
"That's right Potter. I don't give a damn. About you. And I'm sorry Sirius. Sometimes some people need to learn that they shouldn't open their mouths. Especially little boys that don't think before they speak," she said sitting down across from Sirius.
James gave one last look at Mel and Laur, and struggled a smile, but they could see the hurt in his eyes anyway, before he left through the portrait hole.
"That was cold Lily," Laur stated, rounding on Lily.
Mel sat on the couch still speechless. Running the events of that night over in her head. It had definitely been a long night. "If he hadn't done that then I wouldn't be so mean." Lily's voice snapped Mel out of her thoughts.
"I'm going to bed now. Night, Remus," Mel whispered quietly, not wanting to disturb Lily and Laur's row.
"Night Mel." Sirius called after her. She looked back at him, but didn't say a word.
"Look I just don't want to deal with James. In all honesty I don't believe your brother. I don't think he gives a damn," she got up and walked out of the portrait hole to find James sitting there.
"Wait!" he called as she started walking away.
"I don't want to hear about it Potter."
"Lily you... you were hurting me. I'm sorry. I admit it. I do like you," he took her hand.
"James," she said shaking her head. "No matter what answer you would've given me I'd have just walked away.
"I don't want you to like me and I don't want you to lie. Just go back to one of your fan club members," she spoke softly to him, and then started walking away.
"Do you really think I want to like one of those tarts?" James called out down the corridor at Lily.
"Well, it doesn't matter who you pick. Because I don't want you."
"That won't make me stop liking you," James said truthfully.
"It should," she stopped walking as he came towards her.
"Just because something should or shouldn't be, doesn't mean it happens that way," James said, stopping once he was in front of her.
"What can ya do?" she asked not expecting an answer.
"This," James said quietly approaching her. She backed up into the wall, and he was inches away from her. She could feel his breath on her face. She expected him to kiss her again, and even, for some odd reason, had closed her eyes.
"Uh... uhh, James," Lily began shakily but regained her composure. "If it means that much to you I'll hook you up with a cute Ravenclaw."
"Naw, don't want her. Whoever it was you wanted to hook me up with." James whispered, moving away from her.
"I-I," she found herself stuttering for some reason. "Then don't complain," she started walking away not looking at him.
James watched her walk away, knowing, in some weird way, he had effected Lily with his almost kiss. He smiled slightly at the thought, and walked back into the common room to find Sirius staring at the fire deep in thought, and Laur and Remus snogging on the couch.
"Yeah, you can stop now," he spoke irritably.
Remus broke off their kiss, and moved over to James, "So what happened with Lily?" he asked, getting the attention of Sirius.
"Who said I came back in here because of Lily?"
"Just a guess," Remus said shortly, waiting for an explanation.
"Well you guessed wrong," he lied looking away from them.
"Sure, so what didn't happen with Lily?" Sirius asked, joining the conversation.
"Nothing happened! I can't believe I like her so much."
"Me neither. Especially since she plays yo-yo with your feelings," Laur said.
"I'm sorry Prongs," Remus said. "Well, it's not like she's had much of a reason to like you," he spoke truthfully.
"Thanks. That's a real comforting thought, James muttered sarcastically. "Is there any way I could get her to like me?" James asked hopefully, staring at Laur.
"You'd have to stop acting like yourself," Laur said putting a comforting arm around her brother.
"Thanks Laur. It seems like you care." James stood up. "Where's Mel? Maybe she can help me."
"Look," Sirius said standing up. "If she can't see you as a good guy... f
she doesn't like you, then she's not worth it, mate."
"You know. I wish that I could not like her. Honestly I do. More than Lily wishes I hate her. But I don't think I could get over her even if I tried my hardest. Now Laur, can you go get Mel for me?"
"James, there's nothing you can do. For now. But I promise Mel and I will talk you up. Just call it a night," she hugged her brother.
"Night," James said going up the stairs to his room, trying to follow the advice she had given.
Laur smiled. "I didn't mean end his night. But I think I'm going to bed too."
"Aww, come here," Remus pulled her onto the couch. "I just want to thank you for understanding," his voice faded. "So thanks," he kissed her good night.
"No problem!" she kissed him. "No problem love," she kissed again and skipped up the stairs causing Remus to laugh.
The next day
Mel woke up the earliest of the three girls. She quietly got up, and took a shower and got dressed, heading down the stairs with her book, hoping to be alone.
Unfortunately for her Sirius was sitting down stairs alone looking out the window absent mindedly. He had been in the same spot wearing the same clothing from yesterday. She got the impression that he hadn't been to bed.
He looked up at the sound of footsteps heading down the stairs, and unfortunately for him, Mel had spotted him there. "Sirius, did you even go up to bed last night?" Mel asked, looking him up and down suspiciously.
"I gotta go take a shower," he stood up and walked up the stairs right as James walked down them.
James eyed Sirius, but didn't say anything, letting him pass him on the stairs. James walked over and sat by Mel. "James, is it true he has a girlfriend?" Mel whispered to him nervously.
"Yeah, his ex and him got back together. I don't have details though. Is Lily still mad?"
"Well I think she's still kind of confused about everything. What happened with her after you left?" Mel asked almost accusingly.
"I told her I only wanted her basically. And she told me she'd find me someone else. I told her I only wanted her and almost kissed her. But when I didn't she stuttered, walked away and told me to not complain."
Mel smiled at him with her cocky all-knowing smile. "Wow, that was a risky move. Almost kissing her again I mean."
"Yeah well," he sat down on the couch. "You've created a monster."
"And no one wants--right anyway. Sorry I know. You're my widdle Frankenstein!" Mel said putting an arm around him.
"Stop. I just want her to like me. Laur said you would talk me up."
"Well she's right. I'm sorry I just had to let that out of my system. Well, now let's see, how shall we approach this situation?" Mel pondered to herself. "I don't think jealousy will work for Lily like it worked for you. Although that plan wasn't that bad."
"I don't want you to trick her. And I don't want to make her jealous because I can't. No girl is like Lily, Mel. No other girl makes me feel like waking up. No other girl ever makes me feel like telling a joke just to see her smile. No other girl makes me jealous when she snogs someone. No other girl makes me want to chop off my arm for her."
And as he spoke of Lily he didn't see her come down the stairs and hear everything she did to him. Everything she meant.
Mel looked up to see Lily standing behind James, as he kept rambling on about her. She was trying to signal for her to sneak back upstairs, but she just stood frozen to the spot.
"She's everything, Mel. Everything I want. She knows what she wants and how to get it. She turns me on with a smile. She gives me a run for my money in classes. She has a mind of her own. She doesn't follow the crowd. She's not afraid of who she is. She's not afraid of what's to come. She's not afraid of anything. I love her," James walked towards the portrait hole and out of sight.
Mel let out a sigh of relief as James walked out of the portrait hole. "Hell Lily, what did you think you were doing?" Mel asked, although she smiled a broad smile.
Lily opened her mouth then quickly shut it again, trying to find the words for what she felt inside. "Mel I..." she managed to say after several minutes.
"You're hopeless." Mel let out a small laugh. "Both of you. What's so wrong with my brother anyway?"
"Don't get me started," she walked out of the portrait hole upset and confused.
Mel laughed to herself, as she heard another set of footsteps coming down the stairs. She silently prayed that it wasn't who she thought it was. But she did have a high probability it wouldn't be him. She sat down on the couch, picking up her book, deciding whoever it was, that if they wanted to talk to her, that they would.
"Hey Mel! Where's Laur?" Remus wasted no time.
"Calm down Remus. Laur's coming any minute. You can snog her then. Or you could go down to breakfast, wait for her there, and snog in a closet later." Mel suggested not looking up from her book, trying to hide her smile from being so happy for her sister.
"Ha ha, very funny. Aren't you coming to breakfast?" he asked sitting down.
"No, I think I'd rather just read my book," Mel said, turning a page.
"Yeah, but finding Amos will take your mind off Sirius," Remus smiled the all knowing smile this time.
Mel put her book down on her lap, and her smile disappeared immediately. "Oh, yeah, umm, good idea, I could get my mind off of Sirius and his new and old bitch," Mel said in a sad type voice. "Not like I'm jealous!"
"I'm sorry Mel. He's just really confused. I know he likes you but you have Amos and he just can't take it." Remus tried to calm her down. "For now anyway."
"Are you implying that I'm jealous of.....her! Why would I be jealous of her? She has nothing that I would be jealous of! Besides I hear that she's a total bore and is only asked out for her snogging," Mel said in a more calmer voice. "And you're right! I have Amos."
"I never said you were jealous. Because you aren't a jealous person. And I have nothing against Amos. Sirius is the jealous one," he said causing her to smile.
"Now why is Sirius jealous? It's not like he has that much competition," Mel said, picking up her book again, happier than before. "So how long are you planning on waiting for Laur to come down?"
"I wouldn't say that. You should've heard him. 'What does Diggory want?' 'He's not good enough for her,' 'pretty boy,'" Remus said ignoring the last part. He'd wait for Laur for forever.
"He did not. He never said any of that to me. If he didn't like Amos so much then why didn't he just tell me what he thought?" Mel asked, putting down her book again.
"He didn't say it to you because he's dumb. He said it to James and I. Denial is not only in Egypt," he smiled at her. "Why would he tell you something like that? He likes you but he's acting shy for some reason."
"Sirius, shy? You have got to be joking. And what do you mean Sirius is in denial? How's he in denial?" Mel asked confused, eagerly sitting at the edge of the couch waiting for his response.
"Look Mel, if he wasn't in denial he would have asked you out already," he said as Laur walked down the stairs and into his arms.
"But you didn't ask out Laur for a very long time, and everyone, or maybe only me, knew that you fancied Laur," Mel said, trying to prove a point.
"Can't you just trust me?" he asked before Laur kissed him.
"Are you talking about Sirius being in love with Mel?" she asked them.
"I could, but he is not in love with me," Mel said, glaring at Laur as she did so. "Are you two just going to snog here? Or are you going to have the decentcy to go into a closet?" she picked up her book again, attempting to read even one sentence.
"I guess we better find a closest Remus," Laur said seductively. "See you at breakfast Melly."
"Yeah, well, have fun in your closet. I don't think I'm going to breakfast. So I'll see you in class." Mel waved good bye, her eyes still fixed on her book.
James stared at his plate. Then looked at the empty seats around him. He decided to go back to the common room. While on his way he ran into someone. Ah, just his luck. He caught her as she fell and she see looked up at him. For that moment they looked at each other. She wrapped her arms around him to keep her from falling. He smiled at her. She stared back. Not until now, ever noticing his hazel eyes. She tried to become angry. But some how she couldn't. She looked up into his eyes for one last moment, before pulling him down to meet her lips.
He instantly pulled away, standing her up. "Uh Michelle, why'd yo--"
"James Potter what in hell do you think you're doing!?" Lily yelled from down the corridor. She came running up to where Michelle and James stood.
"Nothing I--it wasn't me," he stuttered dropping Michelle.
"Wait until I tell Sirius!" Lily started walking away trying to shake the image out of her mind.
James grabbed onto her arm, pulling her back. He glared at Michelle before turning to Lily. "Wait, please don't tell Sirius. I'll do anything." James pleaded, giving her his best puppy-dog eyes he could produce.
"Look Potter, I saw what I saw. You kissed your best mate's girlfriend!" She started walking away again.
James grabbed hold of her arm again. "But I didn't kiss my best mate's girlfriend!" James exclaimed, hoping that she'd believe him, if only this once.
"Yes you did," she wrenched her arms free. "I'm not blind or stupid Potter. You'll want your last snog with Michelle before you lose your best mate." She started up the Grand stair case.
James quickly walked in front of her, blocking her path. "Things aren't always what they seem," James said quietly, his eyes asking her to understand.
"Well, then what happened Potter, she tripped and fell on your lips?" Lily asked sarcastically, trying to get around James.
"Not exactly..." James began as Lily cocked an eyebrow at him. "She tripped and I caught her and then she--"
"I don't want to hear it, Potter. You better hope Sirius is more understanding than I am," Lily started heading up the stairs again.
"I'll do anything," James begged.
"Stop liking me."
"Stop--what? I just can't do that!" James said taking her hand.
"It's either me or Sirius," she pulled her hand free.
"Lily I--I really need you to understand."
"Why should I? I don't trust you."
"Fine, fine. I'll stop liking you," he put his hands in his pockets.
"Good."
"I didn't kiss her, but you won't tell Sirius will you?"
"A promise is a promise," she said walking towards the Great Hall.
James exhaled. How could he just stop liking her? It's not like he could control what he felt toward her. But he couldn't let Sirius deal with another problem. His sister was enough, and to add onto a cheating girlfriend just wouldn't help much. He kicked his feet as he walked back down the stairs to see Michelle standing in the corridor alone.
"Weren't you going somewhere?" James spat.
"What's wrong with you? Its not like I cheated on you," she purred in return, walking closer to him.
"No, but you are supposed to be dating my best mate, and now Lily thinks that I-"
"Why do you care what Lily thinks so much?"
"Just get away from me. You've done enough." he pushed himself off of her, and ran up the stairs to the common room.
Lily walked down the stairs again and past Michelle to which she smiled friendly. But instead of going to breakfast she went outside to think. Sitting next to her favorite oak tree she smiled. James Potter was no longer going to like her. No longer going to be the annoying prat he always was. She could forget about him. Maybe date someone else. But who else was there?
She had gotten used to James chasing her. It was going to be different with a stable boyfriend. She caught herself thinking about James and sighed loudly. She wanted him to stop obsessing over her. She didn't like guys to be weak like that.
She didn't want guys to chase her. But as she thought about what she wanted she really didn't know. James wasn't weak. She knew that. But the fact that he was always chasing her did annoy her. Along with the kiss.
Ah, yes, the kiss. At first she didn't know what to do. Too much in shock, she pulled back. A tingly feeling remained in her stomach after the kiss. She didn't know why but she could feel his touch moments after he stopped touching her. But out of all the confusion she was happy about it all. James Potter didn't like her anymore.
'Great, never again do I have to be annoyed by James Potter. He can go obsess over some other girl.' Lily thought lazily. 'I don't even know why he liked me so much anyway.' Lily then heard James' voice in her head. The words James had said earlier that morning ringing loud and clear. 'She's everything, Mel. Everything I want. She knows what she wants and how to get it. She
turns me on with a smile. She gives me a run for my money in classes. She has a mind of her own. She doesn't follow the crowd. She's not afraid of who she is. She's not afraid of what's to come. She's not afraid of anything. I love her.'
'No, that's not true. He doesn't love me. He can't love me. I'm wrong for him, and he's wrong for me.' Lily thought with a strange tugging feeling in the pit of her stomach. 'He just can't love me. Potter doesn't even know what love is. He was probably lying to Mel. Yeah, that's it;
he lied to Mel like he just lied to me. Why is this bugging me? He doesn't even like me anymore! I just need to think about happier things. Like, who could be my potential boyfriend. Um, well he'd have to be tall. But not too tall, but not too short. Maybe around James' height. I mean, no, he'd have to be taller then that.' She corrected herself.
'He'd have to be strong from Quidditch. No, not Quidditch, James plays Quidditch.
'Uh, let's see. He'd have to have great friends. I guess like James' does....no. Not like James. James isn't even a good friend. He just kissed that one girl. So no, not like James at all.
'He'd have to be funny. Enough to make me laugh. And he'd have to make a face. Much like James' face when he gets made fun of by Mel. No... not like James!
'Ugh! This is frustrating! I hate James. I mean Potter, he has no good qualities what-so-ever. Okay, I just got to think clearly. Now let's see. What other quality should he have? Let's see, well I guess he'd have to love me for me.' She thought happily, before getting another bad thought. "I love her," sang in her head in James' soothing voice.
She stood up and started walking around the grounds. 'Okay, she thought, if I can't think of what my guy should be like, I'll think about what he shouldn't be like. He shouldn't be a show off. James is a big show off! He struts around like the greatest Quidditch player in history. And he acts like he's God's gift to women. Just because he's good looking doesn't mean... okay! I did not just think that.' Lily smacked herself mentally.
Lily rubbed her head annoyed. 'Okay, again, I'll think of things he shouldn't have. He shouldn't be able to always get what he wants. James always gets what he wants. He just asked for it, and he gets it. Well, besides the whole thing with me, and that whole thing in third year, and well....this is hopeless.' Lily tossed a rock into the lake irritated.
She decided it wasn't worth it anymore. Don't think about James, and don't get annoyed. Yep that's what she'd do. Forget about James. She checked her watch. Almost late for Transfigurations.
She rushed inside the castle, and up the stairs, barely making it to Transfiguration. She walked into the classroom to find only one empty seat. Next to James Potter. 'Great, I'm trying not to think about him, and now I have to sit by him!' Lily thought annoyed as she took the seat by him, inching her seat away from his.
He seemed to be trying to forget about her too. He looked away from her as she sat down. And took notes, surprisingly. But it was all to stop him from thinking about her. He had to let her go. Until Padfoot broke up with Michelle. Until Padfoot broke up with Michelle.... A grin crept onto his face.
'I got an idea!' He thought happily. If I get Sirius to break up with Michelle then I can like Lily freely again! But how? Hmm...I need to ask Mel or Laur about this one. But, I know this has got to work!'
"Why are you so happy Potter?" Lily asked, noticing the smile on his face.
"Nothing," he lied quickly and stopped smiling while he continued to take notes. 'Yes,' he thought, 'Laur'll have to help me get Sirius to break up with her.'
"Potter, I know something is making you happy. What is it?" Lily asked irritated.
"McGonagall will hear you talking to me, so will you let me take my notes before you get us in trouble?" James said, trying to think out his plan properly.
She looked up at him. Everything about him seemed to be made especially for him. His hazel eyes, from what she had thought before, were just hazel. Normal hazel. The hazel anyone could have. But they weren't. They showed everything. Everything he felt, everything he loved. When he was happy, sad, nervous, mad. Those eyes were made for him.
James looked at her questioningly for a while, when he noticed her staring at him. "Lily?" Lily snapped out of her train of thought, and shot her gaze to the blank parchment in front of her. 'That was embarrassing!' Lily thought, remembering to slap her head once she was alone. 'That was just weird, I think I need some sleep or something.'
And so she did.
"Lily! Lily! Wake up," James whispered shaking her.
"You're very cute James," she whispered back.
"What?" he asked causing everyone to look at her and for her to sit up.
The rest of the class went silent as McGonagall went on.
"What did I say?" she whispered.
"You said you thought I was cute!"
"I--you're lying," she said automatically.
"I'm not lying. And if I liked you still, I would be very happy right now," James whispered, trying to hide his smile. "What were you dreaming about anyway?"
"Don't get any ideas. I wasn't dreaming about you," she spat.
"It was just a question," he said casually.
"Leave me alone," Lily muttered upset.
"As you wish," James said almost dully, hiding the enthusiasm.
Lily looked up at him shocked, and quickly stopped. 'Stop staring at him.' Lily told herself. I can't believe I just did that. Maybe he's lying again. I definitely didn't say he was cute. He's imagining that. She felt a quick jab in her ribs, and she looked up at James with the meanest glare she could. He motioned over at McGonagall who was staring at her angrily.
"Yes Professor?"
"I said Miss Evans, what's the answer?" McGonagall said her temper rising.
Lily gulped loudly, and heard a faint whisper in her ear. "Three," James said quickly.
"Uh, three professor?" Lily asked uncertainly.
"Correct, three flicks of the wand should do it." McGonagall returned her attention back to the class room.
"Thanks," Lily whispered to James.
"No problem. You were in your own world there for a minute," James whispered back, returning to his notes, but smiled a hopefully unnoticeable smile.
"Yeah, I should be taking notes." She looked around for her quill but saw it nowhere. And her bag was kicked under the chair in front of her where she couldn't reach. She sighed.
"Here." James gave her his quill and ink bottle, grabbing a new one for himself. "You can use mine."
"Thanks," she took it. They both tried to dip the quills in at the same time but missed. They almost spilled the ink but James caught it at the last second. Lily tried not to laugh. James couldn't help but smile. He picked up her quill and dipped it in. Then handed it to her just to be safe.
"Uh, thanks," Lily murmured, before grabbing the quill from him. She let out a large sigh. 'Why does Potter have to be so damn sweet now of all times? You think he could do that when I...well, I don't know. All the time. Has he always been this sweet?' Lily asked herself, noticing she still hadn't written anything.
From across the room Laur and Mel exchanged happy glances as Lily and James shared a civil moment.
"Here," James handed her his notes. "I need more parchment. And here's what you missed."
Lily let out another small sigh, taking his notes and whispering yet again, "Thanks." She took the parchment, writing down what she had missed.
"Did you see that?" Mel leaned over and whispered to Laur excitedly, not trying to hide her huge grin.
"Aww, I can't wait to see their child. We'll have to convince them to name him Harry!"
"After Daddy?" Mel smile shrunk.
"It's okay Mel," Laur put an arm around her sister. "He's okay. I'll owl him tonight just to make sure."
It was no big secret that Harold Potter was a top-notch Auror that was fighting against the growth of Voldemort.
"Okay. I just you know, thought they would have a girl and name her after me!" Mel said, trying to brighten the mood, after all James and Lily were being civil. "Wait, I just had a thought. Why isn't Lily being mean, and why isn't James being cockish or anything?"
Laur smiled the all knowing smile for once.
"We'll know soon enough."
"What's this word?" Lily whispered pointing towards the parchment.
"Flick," James said looking over her finger,
"I thought it was hick," they laughed a little.
"I'm not a very legible writer."
"No," she insisted. "It's not bad. I can read it."
"You sure? I can help you out with it if you want," James offered.
"No really, I can read it."
"Positive?"
"No negative to be found." Lily smiled at him shyly.
James almost fell off his seat when he noticed what she was doing towards him. "Oh, okay, that's good, um, tell me if you need help." 'She smiled at me! She smiled at me! I can't believe she smiled at me!' James thought happily looking back at his parchment.
'I can't believe I smiled at him! I smiled at James Potter. Whom, let me remind you, I absolutely hate! His life purpose is to make me feel awful.' She came across a line in the notes. It looked oddly like, "I still love Lily." She looked at it again. But instead of letting him see, and instead of worrying about telling Sirius, she let it go.
Suddenly Lily saw James reaching under the desk. His hand rested on her knee as he sat up with the quill. He blushed.
"Sorry--I dropped quill... won't happen again... sorry."
"It's okay," she tried not to smile.
James watched her rest her hand on the spot he touched. Was she holding it because she didn't want him to touch her ever again? Or maybe because she felt what he felt whenever he touched, thought or talked about her.
"I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.
"Why are you sorry, James?" Lily asked quietly.
"You called me 'James'. What happened to 'Potter'?" James asked a teasing smile on his face.
"Fine. Would you like me to call you Potter?" Lily asked, noting to slap herself again.
"You only call me James when I'm with my sisters. I like it if you like it," he tried not to flirt.
"Would you like me to like to call you James?" Lily asked confusing him.
"Miss Evans, Mr. Potter, when you are done flirting I'd like either of you to answer the question."
"Orange?" James asked causing Lily to laugh.
"Detention, both of you, come to my room tonight at seven thirty. Don't be late," she turned to look at a Hufflepuff who knew the answer.
"Sorry," James said.
"Don't be. It was as much my fault as it was yours."
He smiled. He was loving her more by the minute.
"You sure?" he asked again sweetly. "I could try to get you out of it."
"No its okay, do you know how to make detention funner for the both of us?" Lily asked, trying her best not to flirt.
"Of course I do. They don't call me James Potter for nothing."
Lily laughed at this. She wasn't afraid to admit that he was one of the funniest people she knew. It must have been a Potter thing. The bell rang. Lily and James packed their things and the others ran to lunch quickly.
"What do you usually do in detention?" she asked picking up her bag and putting the notes inside.
"Oh that's right. Lily here has never been to detention before," James said as they all sat down together at the Gryffindor table.
"Hey Siri, how's my number one guy?" Michelle came up and sat on Sirius' lap playfully kissing him.
James gave a nervous glance at Lily, silently pleading for her to keep her mouth shut.
She didn't seem to notice.
"So Lily what happened in Trans?" Mel asked smiling ignoring Sirius and Michelle.
"I got detention," Lily said, James grinned.
"You did, well that's a first," Mel said scooting away from Sirius who she was sitting by.
"Didn't you notice?" James asked accusingly.
"No, she was staring at Sirius," Laur piped up.
"Shut up, was not." Mel pouted.
"Did someone say my name?" Sirius asked, ending the kiss he had been sharing with Michelle.
"No," Mel answered shortly, trying to ignore him.
"Right, you guys are hopeless," but Remus kissed Laur.
"Well, this is awkward," Mel said silently, wondering whether she should leave or not.
"Hey Mel! Come over here!" Mel heard someone call her name from across the room. She turned to see Amos motioning over toward her. "I'm going to go over there," Mel said leaving, catching the attention of everyone at the table as she left.
"Right," Lily and James were watching their friends snog each other very awkwardly.
"Want to get out of here?" he asked then added, "Just to hang out?"
"Why not?" She smiled standing up.
"Okay, where should we go?" James asked as they stepped out of the Great Hall, knowing they wouldn't be too missed.
"I don't know! Maybe outside?"
"Sure! Lets go, want to go for a swim?" he suggested.
"James," she motioned at what she was wearing. A white shirt and short skirt.
"Oh right, maybe we should change if we're gonna swim," James said, hiding his face from her so she wouldn't see the small blush creeping up.
"We have Charms this afternoon. But if you want to swim, by all means." She smiled as she pulled him out to the lake and pushed him in.
James let out a large yelp as his once dry self, was now soaked to the bone. He looked at her mischievously, and she started walking backwards cautiously. "Don't you dare push me in. Remember I am wearing a white shirt, and-and a skirt." she warned.
"Who said that was a bad thing," he gripped her arms grinning.
"No!" she giggled despite everything. "Please? I was just going to talk to you while you swim."
"Is that so?" he laughed pulling her towards him and getting her soaked.
"Stop James, I'm going to get wet, and I really don't want to show the world what I've got at the moment." Lily said, trying to get away from his grip.
"So now I'm the world to you?" He smirked holding on to her tighter and loving every minute.
"No, I-I didn't mean it like that. Just, please, don't get me wet." Lily gave him her cute-sad look.
"Not the look!" He laughed. "You're already wet. Okay I'll make you a deal. I'll give you my gray shirt to put over your white one," he offered.
Lily looked at him hesitantly, but shook her head nonetheless. James threw his shirt over his head, to show his bare chest underneath. Lily took a step backwards in shock, almost tripping over a rock. "Uh, th-thanks," she stuttered slightly, as he handed her the shirt.
'Damn! Quidditch did him good!' Lily found herself thinking after gawking for a moment.
"So are you coming?" He pulled his arm around her waist and started leading her towards the lake.
"Yeah. I'm going. Calm down," Lily told him, nervously moving away from his grip on her waist.
When they reached the lake she was about to get in when she felt the coldness of the water. She held onto James' broad shoulders. Never really noticing how broad they were.
"Oh God, it's cold in here! Maybe we shouldn't do this!" Lily complained, practically jumping up into his arms to keep away from getting any colder.
He grinned as he felt her hands move across his chest as if she was making sure they were real.
"It's not that cold," he complained.
"What?" Lily said distractedly. "Oh, yeah, right. No, you're wrong. Its freezing in here."
"Here," he muttered the warming spell. "Now?" he said impatiently taking her hand and leading her into the water.
"Better I guess," Lily said in a teasing tone. What the hell is wrong with me? Lily thought angrily, as she tightened her grip on his hand as they stepped out into the lake further. Am I actually flirting with him? Not the flirting like before, but like, 'I'm actually interested' flirting.
James put an arm around her leading her into the lake. He splashed her playfully while giving the, 'I'm too cute to splash back,' look.
"How many years have you been trying to pull that look off? It's not going to work," Lily insisted. She raised her hand threateningly above the water preparing to splash him.
"I haven't practiced. Should I?" he teased pulling his arms around her.
Lily quickly jumped out of his embrace and began swimming out into the lake. She turned around once she was at least four feet away from him, and slapped her hand to the water, splashing him. "Tag! You're it!"
"How do you play tag in water?" She was moving closer to explain it to him when he did the same and yelled. "You're it!"
"Hey that's cheating!" Lily called out to him as he began to swim out into the middle of the lake.
"I didn't cheat! I just realized how to play once you got close enough!" he insisted with a smirk, as he swam in place waiting for her to chase him.
When she caught up with him she splashed him. Grinning, he started after her. And when he caught up he didn't splash her.
"Give up?" he pulled his arms around her.
Lily turned to face him, not removing his arms from her waist. "James," she whispered shakily.
"Yeah?"
"You... you promised."
"Well, like you said," he began coolly. "You don't have to like someone to flirt with them. I mean, according to you, I do it all the time." He started swimming back to shore.
Lily grudgily followed James back to shore. She got up out of the water, and preformed a drying spell on her clothes and hair. She caught up with James and they began walking back up to the castle. "Look I'm sorry James, I just thought--"
"Thought what? You didn't want me to like you so I don't. I was just being nice."
"Right. You're uh, right. Sorry. Uh we should get to class. You want your shirt back?"
"I don't have one on now do I?" he replied cooly.
Lily let out a sigh before replying with a, "No I guess you don't." She took off the now dry shirt and handed it to James, speeding up to the castle.
"We still have a few minutes before class starts, I got to go find Laur," James said, passing her, and running into the castle.
When he walked into the Great Hall he spotted Laur and ran over to her.
"Can we talk?" She nodded and followed him out into the Entrance hall.
"What's up?"
"Um, I was wondering if you could help me out with something." James said excitedly, looking over at Mel, and then back at Laur.
"What happened? Is it about Mel?" she followed his gaze to see Mel with Amos smiling happily.
"Yes! Exactly! It's about Mel!" James said, jumping up slightly from all the energy he had for some reason.
"Only Mel?"
"No! its about...." he lowered his voice. "Sirius too. So I need your help."
"We have five minutes to get to class. Walk and talk," she suggested waving to Remus.
"Oh right. Um, I can do that. So anyways, wait, what was I saying?" James said very A.D.D.ishly.
"Something happened and you need my help."
"Oh right. So this is what happened. In the corridor I kinda ran into Michelle. Literally. And well, when I was helping her up, she kinda kissed me. So Lily saw me, and threatened to tell Sirius. And I didn't want him to have anymore problems than he already had. So, then I made a deal with her. I said I wouldn't like her anymore if she kept her mouth shut. Well, I can't do it. So I need Sirius to break up with Michelle on his own free will, and the only way to do that is to get him together with Mel. But Mel is with Amos, and it's very complicated. Do you know what I mean?" James finally stopped talking after rambling on and on, surprisingly only taking one breath for his story.
"You really did that?" she smiled slightly. "From the way you were at the lake I'm starting to think she likes you too," Laur said missing the problem entirely.
"You think so!? Wait, don't get me off topic. So will you help me?" James pressed on, smiling all the same though.
"Of course," she said automatically.
"Okay, well, how are you gonna do it?"
"Me? Every hero needs their sidekick," she smiled.
"Well who's your sidekick?" James asked even though the answer was obvious.
"Come on James," she smacked his arm. "What do you have in mind?"
"Well, I thought that from some miracle, named Laur, could get Mel to break up with Amos, and convince her to go out with Sirius. And then vice versa."
"Oh," she frowned. "Look, I'm not Mel--"
"I know you're not Mel. You're Laur. The Laur that's gonna help me right?" James asked desperately.
"Of course I am going to help you. But you need to help also! I'll do my best with Mel. But you should do your best with Sirius. And after I convince Mel, I'll help you convince Sirius. Unless," Lauren smiled evilly. "Unless you want to try something else?"
"What do you mean? What else is there?"
"We could make them get upset and break up with their others? Plan something. Set Michelle and Amos up."
"Oh...I get it! Well how are we going to set them up without them knowing we're setting them up?"
"Pay off some people to help."
"Like who?" James asked eyeing her suspiciously.
"Oh I don't know. Just some random people."
"Okay, and what are these random people going to do for me?"
"They'll seduce Amos and Michelle! And we'll just happen to be walking by when it happens," Laur smiled.
"Wow, you have one mischievous mind, James said. "And I love it. So who do you think would help me?"
"Basically any girl in the school."
"You really think so?" James asked curiously. "Any girl?"
"James shut up! Look," she pointed towards a fourth year that smiled and waved at James with a flirtatious look.
At first James had a puzzled look on his face, but soon got the hint, winking at the fourth year. "Wait, we're late. We got to get to class! I don't need another detention this week," James yelped panicked, staring at his watch, and back at Laur.
They ran down the hall and straight into History of Magic. The only two open seats were next to Lily and Remus. Unfortunately for Lily, Laur only saw Remus and took the spot. She was stuck with James.
"A little too much déjà vu today?" James whispered into her ear as he slid into his seat.
As his voice entered her ear a chill went down her back.
"We should've never gotten them together," she looked longingly at Laur who could be sitting next to her.
"What? Oh yeah. Well, at least they're happy," James stated looking over at Remus and Laur too, who were whispering into one another's ear, Laur giggling every once in a while.
"Kind of lucky though aren't they? Finding each other like that," her voice seemed distant. This was no longer about them, and James could tell.
"Lily, are you all right?" James asked, catching her attention, for she was in her own dream-like world before.
"Why wouldn't I be?" she rested her head in her hands. "It's just, we'll all be leaving soon. And then where will we go? They all have someone. I'll be left behind."
"I'll never let you get left behind," James said in a sweet soothing voice. "And besides, we won't be leaving that soon. You still have plenty of time to find your dream guy. Who knows, he could be closer than you think."
She looked up at his face. Of course he was referring to himself. How could she answer that? She just sighed and stared at him. Then she noticed something. Staring at him seemed to come easy. Like reading a good book, she was sucked into it. He was thinking himself she saw. But she right then really noticed how easy it was to talk and look at James Potter.
"James I...." she tried to say, but found that there were no words for whatever she was feeling.
"You what?"
"I should really be taking notes," she said staring deep into his eyes, making no moves to do so.
"Oh, do you mean notes to me?" James asked flirtatiously.
"Stop," she said trying to keep her voice firm.
"Stop what?" James asked with a cute smirk.
"Stop everything. Flirting with me, touching me, smirking at me... just stop." She turned to face the window where he was no longer in view.
James didn't say anything in response, but instead looked over at Laur, whispering to her. "We better hurry."
He sat straight, looking at the board lazily.
Lily sighed. James was stopping. He was trying not to like her anymore. She knew it. Because he would have asked her if she was okay. Or he would have tried to get her attention again. She should be happy... But she wasn't.
Why in hell wasn't she happy? This is what she had wanted from the beginning. So maybe it wasn't what she wanted in the beginning. 'No, that's ridiculous; of course I wanted him to leave me alone,' Lily thought furiously. 'Why isn't he pestering me? This is even more annoying than him pestering me.'
"Well?" she said turning to face him again.
"Well what?" he turned to her with a look full of no emotion.
"Aren't you gonna---ugh, never mind. What time is it?" she tried to cover up.
But he ignored her. Instead he was staring at a Hufflepuff. She was blushing as he smiled at her.
"What do you think you're doing?" Lily asked her temper slowly rising.
"Getting over you," he said quietly. He made a mental note to ask the Hufflepuff out.
"Oh," was all Lily could say. "I wouldn't go out with her though. She's a major slut and has cheated on all her boyfriends," Lily said dully. The Hufflepuff apparently heard her, because she was giving Lily an evil glare.
"Should it matter?" he said looking at her skeptically.
"Yes it should. Do you really want a girlfriend like....." she looked over at the Hufflepuff. "that?"
"Better than no one," he said quietly.
"Is it?" Lily asked playfully, trying to get his attention off of the Hufflepuff.
"Better than false hope," he said turning away from her.
Lily could have hit him. She had no idea why she was getting jealous over nothing. She took one last look at their professor who had just been rambling on about something, and then at the door. She got up from her seat, rushing out the door, not bothering to grab any of her books with her, knowing Laur or someone would get them for her.
But it was James who followed her. As she ran down the hall tears threatened to leave her eyes. James called after her and caught her hand.
"What's wrong?"
She didn't answer. Instead she shook her head, choked and cried.
"Lily, I'm being serious. Tell me what's wrong," he grabbed her around the waist, pulling her closer to him, embracing her into a hug. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" Lily barely managed to say.
"For annoying you. For flirting with you even when you told me to stop. For bothering you. For calling you names. And for anything else I can think of later."
"It--it wasn't you," she would've pulled away but they seemed to fit perfectly.
"Then who was it then? You want me to kick their ass?" James suggested with complete seriousness.
"Okay, I'll admit it," she said. "It was you."
"Do I have to apologize again? Or would you rather me kick my own ass?"
Lily giggled at this.
"It's okay," James smiled running his hands through his hair.
"Where were you planning on going anyway?" James asked as he handed her, her books.
"The lake."
"Swimming again?" James asked laughing.
"I don't know what I was planning on doing," Lily said truthfully, beginning to walk.
"Are you really going to ask that Hufflepuff out?"
"Not now."
"So when then?" Lily asked trying to stay calm.
"I was going to, but I've changed my mind."
"What changed your mind?"
"I don't know what I did, but I don't want to do anything again."
"What are you talking about?"
"I upset you, so I don't want to hurt you again. So I'll just stop everything," he shrugged.
"Everything?" Lily asked her voice cracking.
"Yeah. I hope you feel better," he started walking away. If he hurt her, he'd have to stop talking to her.