Disclaimer: The usual stuff: We don't own the Harry Potter characters of whom the wonderful J.K. Rowling created, but the OC belongs to us. Also, this is our first ficcy, so please review! Thanks! =)
Summary: When they first met, it was a coup de foudre for him, but for her... more like hate at first sight.
~ ¤ Blissful Ignorance ¤ ~
Chapter 1: A Blessing In Disguise
©opyright cOnSpIrAcY_tHeOrEm
* ~ * ~ *
The reason no man knows; let it suffice,
What
we behold is censured by our eyes
Where
both deliberate, the love is slight;
Who
ever loved that loved not at first sight?
—Christopher Marlowe
* ~ * ~ *
It was said, as a rule of etiquette that, for one to stare at another for a period of time is considerably rude. Yet, under the green and white umbrella of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor sat a girl, glaring and scowling, nonetheless, at the back of a boy who was not seated very far away. The noon sun radiated the girl's beautiful dark red hair that went just past her shoulders, which framed her creamy complexion of a heart-shaped face. Her lips were drawing thinner as she watched this certain messy-haired somebody laugh and crack jokes with his three best buddies, her amazing green eyes never faltering from its target. Only when one of her best friends spoke did she leave her reverie.
"Lily, dear, glaring is not going to turn him to stone," Melanie McKinnon
commented thoughtfully, not looking up from the newspaper placed in front of
her.
"I wasn't glaring at that pompous git," Lily Evans muttered under her breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Lily adverted her gaze to the Scottish, milky-skinned, yet dark-haired girl, seated across from herself, who was currently reading the front page of The Daily Prophet, eyebrows scrunched, arched in concentration.
"Let me guess, another attack?"
Melanie nodded and pushed the newspaper towards the center of the round table, all the while, disgust etched clearly on her usual-mild face.
"This 'Lord' person is sick," she said, downcast.
"Voldemort?" Lily asked absentmindedly, making Melanie flinch. "Oh, don't look at me like that, Melly, people are stupid not to say his real name. But, which group of innocent people did he attack this time? Wizarding families? Muggles? Children?"
"Muggles, but this time, the giants attacked." Melanie sighed sadly. The two stayed silent for a while, but Lily broke the silence.
"Look, Marlene's coming back," she paused, squinting, "and what in the world is she holding?"
Melanie turned around in her chair and all sadness forgotten, clapped her hand over her mouth and giggled. Marlene McKinnon, Melanie's sister, and Lily's other best friend, was holding in her hands a huge cup of chocolate ice cream, layered with whip-cream and fruits of many kinds. As she came up to Lily and Melanie's table, she stopped and raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Nothing," Lily and Melanie said together, smiling.
"Okaaay," Marlene shrugged carelessly as she seated herself. She grabbed Lily's extra spoon ("Hey!") and started eating.
"You know," Marlene pointed at the newspaper with her spoon, "it won't do you much good to worry about things like that, Melly."
Melanie nodded while she bagged the newspaper, sighed, and continued to eat her ice cream in silence, while Lily's gaze wandered back to the messy-haired boy, contempt returning to her in full strength.
* *
*
James Potter suddenly turned to his best friend, Sirius Black, and mumbled, "Is she still looking?"
Laughing, Sirius grinned maniacally and nodded, "Yeah... never left her gaze."
"I know she loves me."
Remus Lupin raised an eyebrow, but wisely kept quiet, while Sirius commented with mirth, "I think that's the attitude that'll get her to dislike you even more."
"Is that even possible?" Peter Pettigrew asked, scrunching his forehead in mock thoughtfulness. "For her to hate him even more, I mean."
"Shut up, Wormtail," James crossly said.
The other three Marauders laughed heartily.
* *
*
"For goodness sakes, Lily, blink already. Is having a staring contest with the back of James Potter's head really all that fun?" Marlene mused, plopping another spoonful of chocolate ice cream in her mouth.
"I am not—"
"Oh?" Melanie joined, a smile dancing on her lips.
"Yes, and I do believe you need your eyes checked, Melly, dear… Goodness, Marlene, how much of that stuff did you eat? Yet you never seem to gain a pound..."
"Fast metabolism," Marlene shrugged. "And how is that relevant?"
"Don't listen to her, Marlene, she's just trying to avoid the subject," Melanie grinned.
Lily's eyes narrowed.
"It's not all that funny, you know." Lily sighed and propped her elbows on the table, "I got my Hogwarts letter last week…"
"And…?" Melanie mentioned for her to go on.
"And I was made Headgirl."
As soon as those words were muttered, Melanie squealed with delight and Marlene dropped her spoon. Congratulations were said, but Lily's face remained wretchedly sullen.
"Potter's Headboy."
As soon as those words were said, Marlene, who bent down under the table to get her spoon, bumped her head painfully against the table.
"Ouch!"
"Ouch is right," Lily said, ignorant of what was going on. "I mean, how could he, of all people, get chosen to be Headboy? Why, oh why, does this have to happen to me?" She buried her face into her hands.
"Hey, cheer up, Lily." Melanie reached over and patted her on the back. "There'll be something good out of this. Trust me. 'Every cloud has a silver lining', that's what Mum used to say."
" 'But you have no silver linings without a cloud'," Marlene finished.
Melanie nodded, "Exactly. So, even though James isn't all that… responsible, this year will be fun. I promise!"
Lily peeked from her hands with one eye, "Really?"
"Yup! Now… hurry up and finish your ice cream so we can go shopping for our school stuff," Marlene added, enthusiastically.
"What? You mean you're done with your ice cream already?" Lily asked incredulously.
"She finished it a long time ago," Melanie said helpfully.
"Yeah. I finished it a long time ago," Marlene repeated, then grinned mischievously, "Of course, you wouldn't have noticed, dreaming about your lover-boy, and all that."
"Oh, you *so* did not say that," Lily challenged.
"Oh, I *so* just did," Marlene countered.
"Then you better run your ass off."
Two chairs screeched the floor as one of the occupier ran madly down the street, the second ran, chasing after her.
Melanie shook her head at the youthful behavior, left a satisfying tip on the table, and walked down the same street, in hopes to find her fraternal twin still in one piece.
* *
*
"Damn, she left."
"Well, you can't expect her to camp around here all day," Sirius said in a matter-of-factly tone. A glare from James shut him up.
"And we can't either; got lots of things to buy today," Remus advised, getting up from his chair.
"You're right. So, where to first?" James asked, also getting up.
"Flourish and Blotts, of course," Peter responded, pointing to the bookstore across the street.
"Flourish and Blotts it is, then."
The four walked into the bookstore and was greeted by books that stacked to the ceiling, as well as a brusque manager.
"All Hogwarts students?" the manager asked curtly.
"Yes," Remus spoke up, "here's the list—"
"Oh, the Hogwarts professors are off their rockers this time," the manager mumbled to himself, "invisible books! Almost went broke trying to buy all the copies, but not one is in sight! What could be worse?"
"Er, we don't need that book. Here's the list," James passed the parchment on to the manager.
"Thank goodness," the manager said, full of relief as he led the four to the back of the bookstore. "Wouldn't be able to sell you them invisible books anyway. Honestly, what an investment."
A full ten minutes later, all four boys emerged from Flourish and Blotts, with new stacks of books. James turned around to walk backwards, as it was easier to talk to his friends.
"I think it was him who was off his rocker," James noted, indicating the bookstore manager. "Who would be stupid enough to buy invisible books anyway? Isn't that—"
James dropped his books in surprise as he bumped into someone. A redheaded someone.
"Evans," he said, completely off guard.
Lily's face immediately hardened and replied discourteously, "Potter." She bent down, along with her friends, to pick up her things, not once acknowledging his presence. James just stood there, looking like a complete idiot as Lily straightened and left with her friends, nodding a hello to Remus, Sirius, and Peter. She left James standing, his books still scrambled on the ground.
Sirius blew a low whistle and turned to James, "I'm sure she loves you *very* much, Prongs."
* *
*
"—didn't even help me pick up my books! And I'm supposed to work with that idiotic fool for the rest of the year? And remember how he acted in 5th year? I don't understand why the professors picked an arrogant pig like him to be a Headboy!" Lily rambled, as the threesome reached the Apothecary.
"Calm down, Lily," Melanie soothed. "It'll get better, remember?"
Lily turned to her, "Melly! Did you see how he acted? Doesn't he know what common courtesy is?"
"Oh, come on Lily, he was just too mesmerized by looking at you," Marlene joked to lighten the mood. A sharp look from Melanie told her otherwise.
"Then, maybe the whole Headboy thing is just a blessing! A blessing in disguise!" Marlene corrected herself.
"Yes, a blessing in disguise," Melanie agreed.
As the Apothecary's window came in plain view, Lily muttered, "Well, the blessing is in one HECK of a disguise."
Melanie smiled knowingly. In actual, Lily and James were perfect together in every way; from grades to wit to (surprisingly) personalities. It just might take some time for Lily to realize it. And until then, they've got a long way ahead of them.
A/N: Ugh… that didn't turn out the way I planned… Anyways… was
it good? Bad? Or does it just plain suck? Please review!!! (Oh, btw, this fic
is written by two people: Lenee and Jing. We will be alternating our chapters).
Now, if you please, just click on that button, below, we'd be more than happy
to receive any suggestions, adumbrates, and even though it'll bruise our ego,
flames are welcome too. Review, review, review! C: So, until next time...
much luv,
Lenee
