Hello once more, mates! Anyway. very fun. This chapter is great. I'm sure
you all will love it. Can someone tell me how to upload something so that I
can make things bold and Italics and so that I can be like, DOT DOT DOT and
it doesn't die? I'm pretty sure that's possible. Heeeheheeeeheeeeee....
have fun!!!!
oh, and for clarification: Lily's friends are Cassidy O'Connor, Miranda Rimmer, and Arabella Figg. The other girl their year is Alice Garney. The boys (from Gryffindor) are Remus, Sirius, Peter, James, and Frank Longbottom. The Slytherin girls are (so far) Bellatrix Black, Emily Parkinson, and December Macnair. The boys are Rodolphus Lestrange, Crabbe, Goyle, Snape, and Nott.
Have fun! (now I'm actually going to write.)
Changes
It was on their first day of classes that James first talked to Lily. 'Hey, Evans,' he said smoothly, sliding into a seat beside her. Lily sighed and Arabella, Cassidy, and Miranda all giggled.
'Hello,' she greeted him, not looking up. If he was disappointed, James didn't show it.
'Congratulations on making Head Girl,'
'Thank you,'
'Diggory is Head Boy, right?'
Lily made a noncommittal answer in her throat. Bella snorted.
'Do you like him?'
'What? Diggory? No! I mean, er, I'm uh, well he's, ah,' Lily stopped, 'oh, no, he's all right,'
Her voice trailed off unconvincingly.
'I see,' James raised a dark eyebrow, amusement evident in his deep voice. Remus, Sirius, and Peter entered the Great Hall. 'Well, I'll be seeing--'
'Ooooh nooo!' Sirius interrupted. 'You want to deprive us of this chance to sit with such lovely ladies? Afraid I'll steal--mlsdf'
James had clamped a hand over Sirius' mouth, his cheeks slightly pink. Lily couldn't believe it. James Potter, blushing? It was ludicrous.
'Good morning, Sirius,' she said casually.
'MlhsadohappphahahhaSO,;!'
'OW!' James cried, snatching his hand back. 'He BIT me! Vicious, evil person!'
'Bleg, don't blame me! Your hand tastes vile! Bear that in mind, Lily,'
'I will,' Lily answered, smiling at the daggers that James was shooting Sirius. McGonogall was going down the line, handing out time tables. Lily groaned as she received hers.
'Transfiguration with the Slytherins! The two most evil things in life!' she announced.
'Aurors need to be good at Transfiguration, Lily,' Miranda reminded her helpfully. Lily glared at her.
'Lily is good at it. I think she only hates it because Potter here is better at it than she is,'
'You want to be an Auror, Evans?' James asked, his hazel eyes interesting. Lily switched her glared to him.
'Yes, JAMES, I do, and furthermore, I have a name. Lily. Let's see if you can say it: Llllliiiiiiiilllllllllllllyyyyyyy.. Try it,'
Sirius sniggered.
'Oi, he can say it all right,' Peter piped up. 'He moans it every night--'
'You are so dead, wormy!' James cried, lunging across the table. Peter, who was fast for such a wimpy-looking person, slipped away from him, bringing on a chase around the Great Hall, which Peter was not up for. It was a pathetic fight that ensued after James caught him.
'Mercy! Mercy!' Peter yelped. Sirius, Remus, Cassidy, Arabella, and Miranda were shaking with laugher. Lily was furiously concentrating on her breakfast.
Peter was rather pale as he returned to the table. 'Righto,' he commented nervously, 'never EVER tease James about Evans,'
'Oh, we learned that long ago, mate,' Remus said, patting him on the head and recovering from his laughter as he wiped tears from his gray eyes.
'I think we should go to class,' Lily announced, standing up. 'So I'll see you later, Remus, Peter, Sirius,' she paused for emphasis, 'JAMES,'
'Wait, let me see your time table!' James cried. Lily raised an eyebrow. '.please?' She handed it to him, sighing heavily. James' hazel eyes skimmed over it. 'Oi, we have all the same classes!'
'Yes, JAMES, we have every year,' Lily said, rolling her eyes.
'Oh, how sweet! She noticed!' Arabella and Sirius said at the same time. James blushed and Lily glared at the two of them.
'Cass, Miranda, Bella: you coming?'
'So are weee!' Sirius cried dramatically.
* * *
Mcgonogall surveyed the classroom. 'Due to many,' she pursed her lips, 'disruptions,' she stopped again at a hoot of laughter from Sirius, 'in past years, I shall assign you seats this year.'
Groans erupted from the class. Lily put her head down on her desk and whacked it several times.
'Stupid, stupid, stupid,'
'What?' Miranda asked.
'Idea,' Lily clarified.
'Ah,'
'So,' continued their professor, her voice growing louder in order to be heard over the noise, which immediately died down, 'if you will please gather up your stuff. And we'll have Black, Rimmer, Crabbe, Parkinson, Avery, Macnair, Potter, Evans, Goyle, Figg, Snape, O'Connor, Longbottom, Garney, Lestrange, Black, Pettigrew. Find your seats, everyone.'
There were a few minutes of shuffling. Lily found, to her slight relief, that she was at the end of her row, seated beside James. Then she was surprised at her relief. Last year she would have rather sit next to Snape than Potter. But he hadn't been his normal, egotistical, conceited self. In fact, he hadn't said anything about himself all morning.
James smiled as her and did his best to ignored December Macnair who was sitting beside him and flirting with Rodolphus Lestrange sitting behind her. Bellatrix Black, who was sitting next to Lestrange was glaring at December.
Suddenly, Bellatrix wrapped a hand around Lestrange's arm and whispered something into his ear. Lestrange laughed softly and murmured something to her. She smiled seductively. James rolled his eyes at Lily, who found herself smiling back.
Lily pulled out her books and some parchment and James followed her example. He scribbled something down on a piece of parchment and slipped it onto her desk. Curious, but aware that Mcgonogall had just started the class, Lily delicately turned the slip of parchment over.
'I'm sorry,' James had written. Lily blinked, and looked around, trying to figure out what James had donw.
'Er, it's okay. Why though?' she scrawled. She hesitantly pushed the parchment to the edge of her desk. James snatched it up.
Mcgonogall swooped down on him.
'POTTER! Who are earth are you passing notes to?' she screeched. Lily winced. Mcgonogall was a fair teacher, but when she caught people not paying attention. it was not a pretty sight.
James tilted his chair back, grasping the parchment tightly in his hand. 'Nobody, Professor,' he stammered. 'I was just doodling,'
Lily was surprised. Last year, James would have leapt at the chance to serve a detention with her. Now he was standing up for her! Even still, she wasn't sure what made her get up.
'I'm sorry, Professor. He was passing notes with me. It won't happen again,'
'See that it doesn't! You're Head Girl, Miss Evans! I expect better from you! Five points, each, from Gryffindor, and you two will serve a detention tonight,'
Blushing slightly, Lily sat back down. *
James started to write Lily a note, thought better of it, and grinned at her instead. Sneaking a glance in her direction, he noted she was grinning back at him. He felt his insides soar.
She didn't hate him! And why not? He had just earned her a detention. Lily Evans. in detention. with himself. James returned her smile, feeling happier than should be allowed.
***
".So she DIDN'T kill you!' Sirius exclaimed loudly during lunch. The Marauders had gathered around James eager to find out what had happened to him after he got a detention with Lily.
James glared at his best friend. 'No, she didn't,' he said witheringly. He glanced down the table and his gaze softened as his eyes fell on Lily.
'Ooh, Jamie,' Peter chortled. James sighed, ignoring him. Sirius sniggered into his Shepherds Pie.
'Oooh-ooh, look, Diggory!' he said, bouncing in his seat.
Diggory had indeed walked over to the Gryffindor table and was talking to Lily and her friends. James felt his blood boil.
'Now, James, DON'T go over there! Lily will only hate you for meddling,' Remus pointed out practically.
James clenched his fists, but heeded the advice and stayed where he was. If looks could kill, however, Diggory would be dead and buried.
*
Lily nodded and smiled politely at something Amos was saying, wishing inwardly that he would leave her along. Arabella was turning red from her attempts to keep from laughing.
'So, um, Head meeting today, and then we call the Prefects,' Amos told her.
'Oh. That's nice. Did Dumbledore tell you?'
'Yeah, he owled us, but I took the liberty of simply telling you myself,' Amos smiled winningly at her.
'Thank you,' Lily muttered through gritted teeth. How dare he! She was Head Girl with him!
Bella snorted loudly, unable to hold back her mirth as she gagged into her potatoes. Lily laughed under her breath.
'Gee, I wonder what's gotten into Bella,' Cassidy said innocently. Miranda collapsed into giggles. From down the table came the sound of laughter and Lily, Miranda, and Diggory turned to look.
James and Sirius were laughing, their heads bowed down as though so no one would be able to tell that it was them. Remus had a small smile on his face and Peter was chucking nervously.
'Sorry,' Remus mouthed. Lily shook her head.
'What?' she mouthed back. Remus mimed interrupting her conversation, and Lily shook her head.
'I really don't care!' she yelled back. James' head snapped and he glared between Lily and Remus. Lily rolled her eyes.
Sirius, who seemed to love being amused as his friends expense, jumped up, taking James who grabbed Remus who in turn grabbed Peter and dragged the line down beside the girls and Diggory.
'Cassidy! Lily! Miranda! Diggory!' he offered a bright smile to each of them and shoved James into the chair beside Lily.
'Hello, James,' she said sweetly.
'Hey,' he muttered. She sighed.
'Still working on mastering my name then?'
James gave her a bright grin. 'I think I might have it down!' he explained, drawing his eyebrows together and looking as though he was concentrating hard. 'Lllll,.. iiiii.. lllll..-'
Amos cut him off. 'Well, LILY, I'll see you at the Heads meeting tomorrow,' he said.
'Er, right, see you then,' Lily said, attempting to look intersted but still laughing at James. Amos narrowed his eyes and stalked off.
'I don't think he likes you,' Miranda commented.
'Who, me?' Lily asked in surprise.
'No, it's obvious he LIKES you,' Cassidy said, ignoring James' scowl, 'but I don't think he likes James,'
'Well, duh! But that's cause Lily and James will go out, get married, have children, heck, they'll probably DIE together!'
'SIRIUS, SHUT IT!' Lily and James yelled at the same time. Remus and Cassidy shared looks, both of them grinning.
***
Lily threw her books onto her bed, glad that she had finished her homework right away. It was time for her detention, and she would have hated homework lurking evilly in the back of her mind.
On her way to the dungeons (she had escaped the Common Room with only a few jeers and taunts from her friends and Sirius) where she had been assigned to go, James caught up with her.
'Hey, Lily,' he said, grinning at her. Somehow, she didn't mind that grin as much as she might have a year ago. Instead, she returned it easily. 'How was your homework?' James asked.
'Just spiffy,' Lily replied.
'Spiffy?' James laughed.
'Yep, and yours?'
'I haven't finished it. I had Quidditch practice,' James explained.
'Dang,' Lily grimaced.
'I know. I finished all but that blasted charms paper! It was hard! I hate charms,' James muttered.
'Oh, it wasn't so bad,' Lily shrugged. "I can help you, if you want,' she offered casually, again not sure why she was doing so. He just seems so different! she thought. So nice!
'That would be great,' James exclaimed cheerfully. They had reached the dungeons. James held the door open for her, and Lily thanked him with a smile. Wow, she thought, where did that come from?
'Right on time,' Professor Mcgonogal announced. 'Luckily for you,' she added as though on afterthought. 'You will be cleaning cauldrons without magic,' she told them. Lily sighed, but James shrugged. Lily realized with a small smile that he had probably done this before.
Professor Mcgonogal waved her wand and performed a simple spell on the cauldrons to prevent magic from being used before she swept out of the dungeon, the door slamming behind her.
'Does she always leave?' Lily asked incredulously.
'Why are you asking me?' James smiled slyly.
'Because you have a lot, er, I mean, you always, um, that is, not to say it's a BAD thing, but you see, and I thought you might.' Lily trailed off, embarrassed.
James only smiled, then explained. 'She knows who we are, so if it isn't done she knows why so we can't leave until we're done anyway, because she'll know,'
Lily nodded, 'that makes sense,' she commented. James tossed her a sponge and rag and brought a tub of soapy water. The cauldrons stood in a line.
'Ten of them, so five each?' Lily turned to him.
'Sure thing, Lils,' he said, kneeling down and beginning to scrub. Lily joined him.
***
Half an hour later, they were each on their third cauldron and talking like good friends.
'So I take it you don't like Diggory?' James raised a dark brow.
'Don't get me wrong! He's a great person, and really nice,' Lily said hurriedly.
James chuckled. 'You're just too nice, Lily,' he said with a shake of his head.
'He's Head Boy! I shouldn't not like him! I'm going to have to spend some time, planning and all,'
James ran a hand through his hair, making it even messier than it had been. 'Lots of time, huh?' he asked.
'Well, me, him, prefects, and professors,' Lily amended. James nodded slowly. Lily moved onto her fourth cauldron and after a minute James followed her example.
'Do you hate me?' James asked her suddenly. Lily looked up, surprised, and narrowly missed whacking her head on her cauldron.
'Well, I just, that is to say, er.' Lily stopped, waiting for James to laugh or smirk at her. He didn't do either. Instead he sat down, his hazel eyes fixed intently on her face.
Did she hate him? No, of course not. She only hated people like Snape or Bellatrix. But did he annoy her?
No. He didn't even do that, not this year at least.
'No,' she said quietly.
'What?' James asked.
'I don't hate you. You haven't even annoyed me this year,' she told him. James laughed sheepishly.
He flashed her a sudden grin and rumpled his hair. 'So then will you go out with me?' he asked, hazel eyes dancing with laughter.
Lily rolled her eyes. 'No, James,'
'Friends?' he held out a hand.
'Friends,' she smiled, shaking it. He had nice, strong hands she noticed.
***
He had officially achieved the impossible. Friends, with Lily Evans! James wanted to jump up and down and shout it to the world. He didn't care that she wouldn't go out with him. A year ago, people would have bet their life that Lily Evans would NEVER be friends with James Potter.
She was smiling, too. At him, and him alone. And she didn't like Diggory! James thought that he would explode with hapiness.
She was so beautiful when she smiled. Actually, she was always gorgeous. but now. James thought his heart would burst it was feeling so jumpy.
'Hey, James, you've scrubbed that same side of the cauldron for the past five minutes,' Lily's voice interupted.
'Er, uh, yeah,' he stammered, looking up at her laughing face.
Dang she was amazing.
They had finished their cauldrons. Lily grinned suddenly and kissed his cheek. James felt his heart stop.
'You called me Lily,' she whispered and he grinned foolishly. This was heaven.
DONE !!!!! WHHAHAHHA
THE END!!!11
oh, and for clarification: Lily's friends are Cassidy O'Connor, Miranda Rimmer, and Arabella Figg. The other girl their year is Alice Garney. The boys (from Gryffindor) are Remus, Sirius, Peter, James, and Frank Longbottom. The Slytherin girls are (so far) Bellatrix Black, Emily Parkinson, and December Macnair. The boys are Rodolphus Lestrange, Crabbe, Goyle, Snape, and Nott.
Have fun! (now I'm actually going to write.)
Changes
It was on their first day of classes that James first talked to Lily. 'Hey, Evans,' he said smoothly, sliding into a seat beside her. Lily sighed and Arabella, Cassidy, and Miranda all giggled.
'Hello,' she greeted him, not looking up. If he was disappointed, James didn't show it.
'Congratulations on making Head Girl,'
'Thank you,'
'Diggory is Head Boy, right?'
Lily made a noncommittal answer in her throat. Bella snorted.
'Do you like him?'
'What? Diggory? No! I mean, er, I'm uh, well he's, ah,' Lily stopped, 'oh, no, he's all right,'
Her voice trailed off unconvincingly.
'I see,' James raised a dark eyebrow, amusement evident in his deep voice. Remus, Sirius, and Peter entered the Great Hall. 'Well, I'll be seeing--'
'Ooooh nooo!' Sirius interrupted. 'You want to deprive us of this chance to sit with such lovely ladies? Afraid I'll steal--mlsdf'
James had clamped a hand over Sirius' mouth, his cheeks slightly pink. Lily couldn't believe it. James Potter, blushing? It was ludicrous.
'Good morning, Sirius,' she said casually.
'MlhsadohappphahahhaSO,;!'
'OW!' James cried, snatching his hand back. 'He BIT me! Vicious, evil person!'
'Bleg, don't blame me! Your hand tastes vile! Bear that in mind, Lily,'
'I will,' Lily answered, smiling at the daggers that James was shooting Sirius. McGonogall was going down the line, handing out time tables. Lily groaned as she received hers.
'Transfiguration with the Slytherins! The two most evil things in life!' she announced.
'Aurors need to be good at Transfiguration, Lily,' Miranda reminded her helpfully. Lily glared at her.
'Lily is good at it. I think she only hates it because Potter here is better at it than she is,'
'You want to be an Auror, Evans?' James asked, his hazel eyes interesting. Lily switched her glared to him.
'Yes, JAMES, I do, and furthermore, I have a name. Lily. Let's see if you can say it: Llllliiiiiiiilllllllllllllyyyyyyy.. Try it,'
Sirius sniggered.
'Oi, he can say it all right,' Peter piped up. 'He moans it every night--'
'You are so dead, wormy!' James cried, lunging across the table. Peter, who was fast for such a wimpy-looking person, slipped away from him, bringing on a chase around the Great Hall, which Peter was not up for. It was a pathetic fight that ensued after James caught him.
'Mercy! Mercy!' Peter yelped. Sirius, Remus, Cassidy, Arabella, and Miranda were shaking with laugher. Lily was furiously concentrating on her breakfast.
Peter was rather pale as he returned to the table. 'Righto,' he commented nervously, 'never EVER tease James about Evans,'
'Oh, we learned that long ago, mate,' Remus said, patting him on the head and recovering from his laughter as he wiped tears from his gray eyes.
'I think we should go to class,' Lily announced, standing up. 'So I'll see you later, Remus, Peter, Sirius,' she paused for emphasis, 'JAMES,'
'Wait, let me see your time table!' James cried. Lily raised an eyebrow. '.please?' She handed it to him, sighing heavily. James' hazel eyes skimmed over it. 'Oi, we have all the same classes!'
'Yes, JAMES, we have every year,' Lily said, rolling her eyes.
'Oh, how sweet! She noticed!' Arabella and Sirius said at the same time. James blushed and Lily glared at the two of them.
'Cass, Miranda, Bella: you coming?'
'So are weee!' Sirius cried dramatically.
* * *
Mcgonogall surveyed the classroom. 'Due to many,' she pursed her lips, 'disruptions,' she stopped again at a hoot of laughter from Sirius, 'in past years, I shall assign you seats this year.'
Groans erupted from the class. Lily put her head down on her desk and whacked it several times.
'Stupid, stupid, stupid,'
'What?' Miranda asked.
'Idea,' Lily clarified.
'Ah,'
'So,' continued their professor, her voice growing louder in order to be heard over the noise, which immediately died down, 'if you will please gather up your stuff. And we'll have Black, Rimmer, Crabbe, Parkinson, Avery, Macnair, Potter, Evans, Goyle, Figg, Snape, O'Connor, Longbottom, Garney, Lestrange, Black, Pettigrew. Find your seats, everyone.'
There were a few minutes of shuffling. Lily found, to her slight relief, that she was at the end of her row, seated beside James. Then she was surprised at her relief. Last year she would have rather sit next to Snape than Potter. But he hadn't been his normal, egotistical, conceited self. In fact, he hadn't said anything about himself all morning.
James smiled as her and did his best to ignored December Macnair who was sitting beside him and flirting with Rodolphus Lestrange sitting behind her. Bellatrix Black, who was sitting next to Lestrange was glaring at December.
Suddenly, Bellatrix wrapped a hand around Lestrange's arm and whispered something into his ear. Lestrange laughed softly and murmured something to her. She smiled seductively. James rolled his eyes at Lily, who found herself smiling back.
Lily pulled out her books and some parchment and James followed her example. He scribbled something down on a piece of parchment and slipped it onto her desk. Curious, but aware that Mcgonogall had just started the class, Lily delicately turned the slip of parchment over.
'I'm sorry,' James had written. Lily blinked, and looked around, trying to figure out what James had donw.
'Er, it's okay. Why though?' she scrawled. She hesitantly pushed the parchment to the edge of her desk. James snatched it up.
Mcgonogall swooped down on him.
'POTTER! Who are earth are you passing notes to?' she screeched. Lily winced. Mcgonogall was a fair teacher, but when she caught people not paying attention. it was not a pretty sight.
James tilted his chair back, grasping the parchment tightly in his hand. 'Nobody, Professor,' he stammered. 'I was just doodling,'
Lily was surprised. Last year, James would have leapt at the chance to serve a detention with her. Now he was standing up for her! Even still, she wasn't sure what made her get up.
'I'm sorry, Professor. He was passing notes with me. It won't happen again,'
'See that it doesn't! You're Head Girl, Miss Evans! I expect better from you! Five points, each, from Gryffindor, and you two will serve a detention tonight,'
Blushing slightly, Lily sat back down. *
James started to write Lily a note, thought better of it, and grinned at her instead. Sneaking a glance in her direction, he noted she was grinning back at him. He felt his insides soar.
She didn't hate him! And why not? He had just earned her a detention. Lily Evans. in detention. with himself. James returned her smile, feeling happier than should be allowed.
***
".So she DIDN'T kill you!' Sirius exclaimed loudly during lunch. The Marauders had gathered around James eager to find out what had happened to him after he got a detention with Lily.
James glared at his best friend. 'No, she didn't,' he said witheringly. He glanced down the table and his gaze softened as his eyes fell on Lily.
'Ooh, Jamie,' Peter chortled. James sighed, ignoring him. Sirius sniggered into his Shepherds Pie.
'Oooh-ooh, look, Diggory!' he said, bouncing in his seat.
Diggory had indeed walked over to the Gryffindor table and was talking to Lily and her friends. James felt his blood boil.
'Now, James, DON'T go over there! Lily will only hate you for meddling,' Remus pointed out practically.
James clenched his fists, but heeded the advice and stayed where he was. If looks could kill, however, Diggory would be dead and buried.
*
Lily nodded and smiled politely at something Amos was saying, wishing inwardly that he would leave her along. Arabella was turning red from her attempts to keep from laughing.
'So, um, Head meeting today, and then we call the Prefects,' Amos told her.
'Oh. That's nice. Did Dumbledore tell you?'
'Yeah, he owled us, but I took the liberty of simply telling you myself,' Amos smiled winningly at her.
'Thank you,' Lily muttered through gritted teeth. How dare he! She was Head Girl with him!
Bella snorted loudly, unable to hold back her mirth as she gagged into her potatoes. Lily laughed under her breath.
'Gee, I wonder what's gotten into Bella,' Cassidy said innocently. Miranda collapsed into giggles. From down the table came the sound of laughter and Lily, Miranda, and Diggory turned to look.
James and Sirius were laughing, their heads bowed down as though so no one would be able to tell that it was them. Remus had a small smile on his face and Peter was chucking nervously.
'Sorry,' Remus mouthed. Lily shook her head.
'What?' she mouthed back. Remus mimed interrupting her conversation, and Lily shook her head.
'I really don't care!' she yelled back. James' head snapped and he glared between Lily and Remus. Lily rolled her eyes.
Sirius, who seemed to love being amused as his friends expense, jumped up, taking James who grabbed Remus who in turn grabbed Peter and dragged the line down beside the girls and Diggory.
'Cassidy! Lily! Miranda! Diggory!' he offered a bright smile to each of them and shoved James into the chair beside Lily.
'Hello, James,' she said sweetly.
'Hey,' he muttered. She sighed.
'Still working on mastering my name then?'
James gave her a bright grin. 'I think I might have it down!' he explained, drawing his eyebrows together and looking as though he was concentrating hard. 'Lllll,.. iiiii.. lllll..-'
Amos cut him off. 'Well, LILY, I'll see you at the Heads meeting tomorrow,' he said.
'Er, right, see you then,' Lily said, attempting to look intersted but still laughing at James. Amos narrowed his eyes and stalked off.
'I don't think he likes you,' Miranda commented.
'Who, me?' Lily asked in surprise.
'No, it's obvious he LIKES you,' Cassidy said, ignoring James' scowl, 'but I don't think he likes James,'
'Well, duh! But that's cause Lily and James will go out, get married, have children, heck, they'll probably DIE together!'
'SIRIUS, SHUT IT!' Lily and James yelled at the same time. Remus and Cassidy shared looks, both of them grinning.
***
Lily threw her books onto her bed, glad that she had finished her homework right away. It was time for her detention, and she would have hated homework lurking evilly in the back of her mind.
On her way to the dungeons (she had escaped the Common Room with only a few jeers and taunts from her friends and Sirius) where she had been assigned to go, James caught up with her.
'Hey, Lily,' he said, grinning at her. Somehow, she didn't mind that grin as much as she might have a year ago. Instead, she returned it easily. 'How was your homework?' James asked.
'Just spiffy,' Lily replied.
'Spiffy?' James laughed.
'Yep, and yours?'
'I haven't finished it. I had Quidditch practice,' James explained.
'Dang,' Lily grimaced.
'I know. I finished all but that blasted charms paper! It was hard! I hate charms,' James muttered.
'Oh, it wasn't so bad,' Lily shrugged. "I can help you, if you want,' she offered casually, again not sure why she was doing so. He just seems so different! she thought. So nice!
'That would be great,' James exclaimed cheerfully. They had reached the dungeons. James held the door open for her, and Lily thanked him with a smile. Wow, she thought, where did that come from?
'Right on time,' Professor Mcgonogal announced. 'Luckily for you,' she added as though on afterthought. 'You will be cleaning cauldrons without magic,' she told them. Lily sighed, but James shrugged. Lily realized with a small smile that he had probably done this before.
Professor Mcgonogal waved her wand and performed a simple spell on the cauldrons to prevent magic from being used before she swept out of the dungeon, the door slamming behind her.
'Does she always leave?' Lily asked incredulously.
'Why are you asking me?' James smiled slyly.
'Because you have a lot, er, I mean, you always, um, that is, not to say it's a BAD thing, but you see, and I thought you might.' Lily trailed off, embarrassed.
James only smiled, then explained. 'She knows who we are, so if it isn't done she knows why so we can't leave until we're done anyway, because she'll know,'
Lily nodded, 'that makes sense,' she commented. James tossed her a sponge and rag and brought a tub of soapy water. The cauldrons stood in a line.
'Ten of them, so five each?' Lily turned to him.
'Sure thing, Lils,' he said, kneeling down and beginning to scrub. Lily joined him.
***
Half an hour later, they were each on their third cauldron and talking like good friends.
'So I take it you don't like Diggory?' James raised a dark brow.
'Don't get me wrong! He's a great person, and really nice,' Lily said hurriedly.
James chuckled. 'You're just too nice, Lily,' he said with a shake of his head.
'He's Head Boy! I shouldn't not like him! I'm going to have to spend some time, planning and all,'
James ran a hand through his hair, making it even messier than it had been. 'Lots of time, huh?' he asked.
'Well, me, him, prefects, and professors,' Lily amended. James nodded slowly. Lily moved onto her fourth cauldron and after a minute James followed her example.
'Do you hate me?' James asked her suddenly. Lily looked up, surprised, and narrowly missed whacking her head on her cauldron.
'Well, I just, that is to say, er.' Lily stopped, waiting for James to laugh or smirk at her. He didn't do either. Instead he sat down, his hazel eyes fixed intently on her face.
Did she hate him? No, of course not. She only hated people like Snape or Bellatrix. But did he annoy her?
No. He didn't even do that, not this year at least.
'No,' she said quietly.
'What?' James asked.
'I don't hate you. You haven't even annoyed me this year,' she told him. James laughed sheepishly.
He flashed her a sudden grin and rumpled his hair. 'So then will you go out with me?' he asked, hazel eyes dancing with laughter.
Lily rolled her eyes. 'No, James,'
'Friends?' he held out a hand.
'Friends,' she smiled, shaking it. He had nice, strong hands she noticed.
***
He had officially achieved the impossible. Friends, with Lily Evans! James wanted to jump up and down and shout it to the world. He didn't care that she wouldn't go out with him. A year ago, people would have bet their life that Lily Evans would NEVER be friends with James Potter.
She was smiling, too. At him, and him alone. And she didn't like Diggory! James thought that he would explode with hapiness.
She was so beautiful when she smiled. Actually, she was always gorgeous. but now. James thought his heart would burst it was feeling so jumpy.
'Hey, James, you've scrubbed that same side of the cauldron for the past five minutes,' Lily's voice interupted.
'Er, uh, yeah,' he stammered, looking up at her laughing face.
Dang she was amazing.
They had finished their cauldrons. Lily grinned suddenly and kissed his cheek. James felt his heart stop.
'You called me Lily,' she whispered and he grinned foolishly. This was heaven.
DONE !!!!! WHHAHAHHA
THE END!!!11