His Last Chance
Moony
JK's
Chapter 2
Lily furrowed her brow. By last chance, she had meant like, a last chance for him to show Lily that he could be good. Not ask her to a date and see how she thought. She growled. There was no way out of this, since she was a promise-keeper. That James Potter was smarter than he seemed.
Later that night...
James quickly beckoned his friends to the Common Room after taking a night walk in the snow. They threw their scarves and cloaks on the empty chair where Lily usually sat and took places by the fire.
"What is it James? You look like you've been bursting to tell us something!" Peter asked.
Sirius began sniggering, and Remus's eyebrows arched in amusement.
"It's not funny Sirius!"
"Yes it is! You forced Lily into a date!"
"Not technically!"
"You tricked her James," Remus interrupted.
"Yea well – I just need to show her, and to do that I have to get her with me. But – what do I do? I mean, how do I get her to you know – well stop hating me?"
Sirius started rolling on the floor laughing and even Remus chuckled a bit. James didn't get what was so funny.
"What's going on? What is so funny?" James asked exasperatedly.
"Oh nothing James it's just that – you're so clueless!" Remus explained.
"What? I've never had a girl before come on a date with me? I mean – I guess I went with Lorelei once – but that ended in 10 seconds! And I didn't really like her."
"Just leave it to us James. You go with Lily, and we'll take care of the rest."
"Ok, ok. I just hope I can trust you guys."
"Aww... we won't let you down, promise," Sirius mocked.
"Shut up. I'm going to bed."
"Me too."
"Wait for me!"
And James slept a fretful night wondering what could go wrong. It was his last chance and he had to make it good.
In the girls dormitories...
The dim blue light of dawn touched Lily's eyelids and they fluttered open. Argh. She thought. It was only six; she pulled the covers over her eyes, trying to block the light, but then gave up. Yawning, Lily tossed her hair behind her shoulder and headed towards her wardrobe. She had planned just what she was going to wear, and pulled out her fancy red satin thin- strapped top, then found the long black skirt that was decorated with silver sparkles here and there. Lily laid the outfit on her bed, wondering if there was any better things to wear, but in the end, she thought it would just do. Smiling, she threw off her pajamas and slid the top on and pulled up the skirt. Shoes – she needed shoes. But Lily didn't have much shoes. She quickly ran back to the closet. Ah! Perfect! Black high heels made of glossy black plastic. Oh James was going to get what he wanted. Leaving the heels beside her bed, she raced to the bathroom and began running a wet brush through her hair until it shone and became soft and silky. With satisfaction, he put in black chain earrings and began to apply makeup.
Lily was never a makeup kind of girl. She saw it pointless to try and look beautiful at such a young age – at least that was what her mother said, and she listened to her mother. But today, she had special purposes. She picked up the tube of lip-gloss, then spied lipstick on the counter. Mother didn't like her to use lipstick. But what did it matter? It was only for one day. She put the lip-gloss back and opened the tube of lipstick and applied it, she dabbed blush on her cheeks and eye shadow and mascara. She felt it pointless for lip-liner and mascara, so she just rolled some body glitter here and there then strapped on her shoes and hurried downstairs for breakfast.
In the boys dormitories...
"Argh! Sirius! What do I wear?" James cried.
Sirius was digging through his closet.
"James – don't you have ANY nice clothes?"
"No..."
Remus groaned, and finally pulled out a casual t-shirt saying 'GO CHUDLEY CANNONS' and a pair of jeans.
"This works," he said.
"What?"
"It's ok, as long as you can charm her with your words and manners, your clothes won't matter."
"Fine fine. Whatever you say," James said grumpily as he closed the curtains to his four-poster to change. The minute his curtains wrenched open Sirius fell over his bed laughing.
"What?!" James said furiously, he didn't think anything was funny, and he wasn't in the mood to laugh.
"It's just I've never seen you dressed in Muggle clothes like that," Sirius said between laughter.
"It's not funny!"
Remus patted his shoulder then said – "You need to get some shoes."
"I don't have any good shoes!" James wailed. The situation was becoming hopeless.
"Yes you do," Remus said firmly and threw him a pair of the newest style of sneakers.
"Sneakers?"
"Just wear them!" Remus snarled.
When the whole dilemma had been cleared about James clothes, his friends finally escorted him into the Great Hall, where August Filch was taking names.
"He needn't do so – us and Lily are the only ones who are gonna be going, everyone's back home enjoying the holidays with their families," James said.
"Just go. Good luck!"
James walked nervously over to Lily.
"Hello James," she said.
"Hi Lily..."
James was awed. Lily was standing right in front of him, looking more beautiful than ever. He just gaped for a minute, when Sirius finally gave him a kick in the shins to knock his senses back.
As Lily and James boarded the trolley, Sirius gave a tiny wave and walked to the back of the trolley, leaving the two alone. James seemed at a loss for words and Lily sat primly looking out the window. Then something hit him. This was only Lily Evans. He had been joking with her and torturing her to go out with him forever. Why was he afraid of her? He could talk like they always did.
"Why are you always reading Lily?" he asked in a mocking boyish, innocent way.
Lily turned around, surprised he could talk so casually.
"It's called enjoyment Potter."
"Why don't you do some things that are really enjoyable?"
"Like what?"
"Swim in the lake with the Giant Squid, snowball fights, playing pranks on innocent little first years..."
"James, what you think is enjoyment is not what I think is enjoyment."
"I like to read!"
"I've never seen you with a book Potter, I can't even imagine you sitting with a book."
"How do you know I don't read in secret?"
"Ok. Ok. This conversation is getting incredibly stupid."
"You don't always have to have intelligent convos, it takes the fun out of life."
"I'd rather have an intelligent convo than a stupid pointless one."
"Really?"
"Yea..."
And the trolley lurched into a stop. James smiled as he said in a professional voice, "May I help you out of your seat Madam?" and stretched out his hand.
"No thanks. I can get out of a seat myself."
James grabbed her hand.
"I insist," he replied, a twinkle in his eye.
Lily almost started chuckling. James was reminding her of an old crush she had when she went to a Muggle school, Hayden Forrest. But she didn't like James. No – she couldn't. Stop Lily. Ignore him. Let your heart be cold to his doings. And she snatched her hand away from James'.
"No."
James' twinkle had disappeared. He looked sorely hurt. Lily almost felt ashamed as he gave her the look. No Lily – she said. You don't care if he's hurt. But did she? Her heart seemed to work faster than her brain.
"I take it as an insult as if I am a crippled lady needing the help of a handsome man," she said quickly.
James laughed and Lily got out of the seat. Lily was shocked.
"Where shall we go miss?" James asked.
"Oh I dunno, let's go around shopping for a bit, shall we?" Lily said, "I want to do some last minute Christmas shopping."
"Yes 'maam."
Lily smiled as she went through slabs of Honeydukes chocolates, wondering which one her parents would like. She selected a chocolate with a crispy crust and a honey filled center and paid for two boxes of it. James waited with her and when she turned around, he popped a sample chocolate in her mouth. Lily swallowed it in surprise as her body filled with warmth.
"What was that James?"
"Honeydukes' newest chocolate, it's supposed to have the same effect as Butterbeer."
And certainly it did. Lily smiled and they headed out to a small shop by the road that had all sorts of trinkets. Lily selected a pair of chain earrings that spun constantly for her mother, a swirling patterned tie for her father, and a color-changing bead for Petunia. James had paid for something in a box he wouldn't show Lily.
Lily hated to admit it, but she was having a great time with James, he had even pelted her in the back of the head with a snowball, which started a snowball fight, until a shopkeeper had told them to stop.
As the snow swirled harder, James suggested they headed to the Three Broomsticks for Butterbeer, and Lily wholeheartedly agreed. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind knocked Lily off her feet. She might've been ok, had she had not been walking on ice, but then her luck ran out.
"Oh!" she cried, as her feet slipped and she fell, her head hitting the ice with considerable strength. James ran, panicking and picked her up.
"You ok Lils?" he asked.
Lily felt very dazed as her head lolled over onto James shoulder. It felt warm. Very warm. She could've laid there forever. She didn't ever want to leave. Stop Lily, she thought. Stop. You're letting him get to you. And the world blacked out.
Moony
JK's
Chapter 2
Lily furrowed her brow. By last chance, she had meant like, a last chance for him to show Lily that he could be good. Not ask her to a date and see how she thought. She growled. There was no way out of this, since she was a promise-keeper. That James Potter was smarter than he seemed.
Later that night...
James quickly beckoned his friends to the Common Room after taking a night walk in the snow. They threw their scarves and cloaks on the empty chair where Lily usually sat and took places by the fire.
"What is it James? You look like you've been bursting to tell us something!" Peter asked.
Sirius began sniggering, and Remus's eyebrows arched in amusement.
"It's not funny Sirius!"
"Yes it is! You forced Lily into a date!"
"Not technically!"
"You tricked her James," Remus interrupted.
"Yea well – I just need to show her, and to do that I have to get her with me. But – what do I do? I mean, how do I get her to you know – well stop hating me?"
Sirius started rolling on the floor laughing and even Remus chuckled a bit. James didn't get what was so funny.
"What's going on? What is so funny?" James asked exasperatedly.
"Oh nothing James it's just that – you're so clueless!" Remus explained.
"What? I've never had a girl before come on a date with me? I mean – I guess I went with Lorelei once – but that ended in 10 seconds! And I didn't really like her."
"Just leave it to us James. You go with Lily, and we'll take care of the rest."
"Ok, ok. I just hope I can trust you guys."
"Aww... we won't let you down, promise," Sirius mocked.
"Shut up. I'm going to bed."
"Me too."
"Wait for me!"
And James slept a fretful night wondering what could go wrong. It was his last chance and he had to make it good.
In the girls dormitories...
The dim blue light of dawn touched Lily's eyelids and they fluttered open. Argh. She thought. It was only six; she pulled the covers over her eyes, trying to block the light, but then gave up. Yawning, Lily tossed her hair behind her shoulder and headed towards her wardrobe. She had planned just what she was going to wear, and pulled out her fancy red satin thin- strapped top, then found the long black skirt that was decorated with silver sparkles here and there. Lily laid the outfit on her bed, wondering if there was any better things to wear, but in the end, she thought it would just do. Smiling, she threw off her pajamas and slid the top on and pulled up the skirt. Shoes – she needed shoes. But Lily didn't have much shoes. She quickly ran back to the closet. Ah! Perfect! Black high heels made of glossy black plastic. Oh James was going to get what he wanted. Leaving the heels beside her bed, she raced to the bathroom and began running a wet brush through her hair until it shone and became soft and silky. With satisfaction, he put in black chain earrings and began to apply makeup.
Lily was never a makeup kind of girl. She saw it pointless to try and look beautiful at such a young age – at least that was what her mother said, and she listened to her mother. But today, she had special purposes. She picked up the tube of lip-gloss, then spied lipstick on the counter. Mother didn't like her to use lipstick. But what did it matter? It was only for one day. She put the lip-gloss back and opened the tube of lipstick and applied it, she dabbed blush on her cheeks and eye shadow and mascara. She felt it pointless for lip-liner and mascara, so she just rolled some body glitter here and there then strapped on her shoes and hurried downstairs for breakfast.
In the boys dormitories...
"Argh! Sirius! What do I wear?" James cried.
Sirius was digging through his closet.
"James – don't you have ANY nice clothes?"
"No..."
Remus groaned, and finally pulled out a casual t-shirt saying 'GO CHUDLEY CANNONS' and a pair of jeans.
"This works," he said.
"What?"
"It's ok, as long as you can charm her with your words and manners, your clothes won't matter."
"Fine fine. Whatever you say," James said grumpily as he closed the curtains to his four-poster to change. The minute his curtains wrenched open Sirius fell over his bed laughing.
"What?!" James said furiously, he didn't think anything was funny, and he wasn't in the mood to laugh.
"It's just I've never seen you dressed in Muggle clothes like that," Sirius said between laughter.
"It's not funny!"
Remus patted his shoulder then said – "You need to get some shoes."
"I don't have any good shoes!" James wailed. The situation was becoming hopeless.
"Yes you do," Remus said firmly and threw him a pair of the newest style of sneakers.
"Sneakers?"
"Just wear them!" Remus snarled.
When the whole dilemma had been cleared about James clothes, his friends finally escorted him into the Great Hall, where August Filch was taking names.
"He needn't do so – us and Lily are the only ones who are gonna be going, everyone's back home enjoying the holidays with their families," James said.
"Just go. Good luck!"
James walked nervously over to Lily.
"Hello James," she said.
"Hi Lily..."
James was awed. Lily was standing right in front of him, looking more beautiful than ever. He just gaped for a minute, when Sirius finally gave him a kick in the shins to knock his senses back.
As Lily and James boarded the trolley, Sirius gave a tiny wave and walked to the back of the trolley, leaving the two alone. James seemed at a loss for words and Lily sat primly looking out the window. Then something hit him. This was only Lily Evans. He had been joking with her and torturing her to go out with him forever. Why was he afraid of her? He could talk like they always did.
"Why are you always reading Lily?" he asked in a mocking boyish, innocent way.
Lily turned around, surprised he could talk so casually.
"It's called enjoyment Potter."
"Why don't you do some things that are really enjoyable?"
"Like what?"
"Swim in the lake with the Giant Squid, snowball fights, playing pranks on innocent little first years..."
"James, what you think is enjoyment is not what I think is enjoyment."
"I like to read!"
"I've never seen you with a book Potter, I can't even imagine you sitting with a book."
"How do you know I don't read in secret?"
"Ok. Ok. This conversation is getting incredibly stupid."
"You don't always have to have intelligent convos, it takes the fun out of life."
"I'd rather have an intelligent convo than a stupid pointless one."
"Really?"
"Yea..."
And the trolley lurched into a stop. James smiled as he said in a professional voice, "May I help you out of your seat Madam?" and stretched out his hand.
"No thanks. I can get out of a seat myself."
James grabbed her hand.
"I insist," he replied, a twinkle in his eye.
Lily almost started chuckling. James was reminding her of an old crush she had when she went to a Muggle school, Hayden Forrest. But she didn't like James. No – she couldn't. Stop Lily. Ignore him. Let your heart be cold to his doings. And she snatched her hand away from James'.
"No."
James' twinkle had disappeared. He looked sorely hurt. Lily almost felt ashamed as he gave her the look. No Lily – she said. You don't care if he's hurt. But did she? Her heart seemed to work faster than her brain.
"I take it as an insult as if I am a crippled lady needing the help of a handsome man," she said quickly.
James laughed and Lily got out of the seat. Lily was shocked.
"Where shall we go miss?" James asked.
"Oh I dunno, let's go around shopping for a bit, shall we?" Lily said, "I want to do some last minute Christmas shopping."
"Yes 'maam."
Lily smiled as she went through slabs of Honeydukes chocolates, wondering which one her parents would like. She selected a chocolate with a crispy crust and a honey filled center and paid for two boxes of it. James waited with her and when she turned around, he popped a sample chocolate in her mouth. Lily swallowed it in surprise as her body filled with warmth.
"What was that James?"
"Honeydukes' newest chocolate, it's supposed to have the same effect as Butterbeer."
And certainly it did. Lily smiled and they headed out to a small shop by the road that had all sorts of trinkets. Lily selected a pair of chain earrings that spun constantly for her mother, a swirling patterned tie for her father, and a color-changing bead for Petunia. James had paid for something in a box he wouldn't show Lily.
Lily hated to admit it, but she was having a great time with James, he had even pelted her in the back of the head with a snowball, which started a snowball fight, until a shopkeeper had told them to stop.
As the snow swirled harder, James suggested they headed to the Three Broomsticks for Butterbeer, and Lily wholeheartedly agreed. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind knocked Lily off her feet. She might've been ok, had she had not been walking on ice, but then her luck ran out.
"Oh!" she cried, as her feet slipped and she fell, her head hitting the ice with considerable strength. James ran, panicking and picked her up.
"You ok Lils?" he asked.
Lily felt very dazed as her head lolled over onto James shoulder. It felt warm. Very warm. She could've laid there forever. She didn't ever want to leave. Stop Lily, she thought. Stop. You're letting him get to you. And the world blacked out.
