Chapter 7 "Underneath it all" by marauderyears
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to it, J.K Rowling does.
Lily's POV
"She'll be okay, but when she wakes up give her this potion." Lily heard the nurse say. Lily heard her footsteps getting distant. She was too exhausted to open her eyes.
"You know Padfoot, when she finds out that it was you who spiked the drinks, she's going to give you hell." Lily recognized Remus' voice.
"Prongs, are you okay?" Lily heard a worried voice. Sounded like Padfoot.
"Yeah, I'm fine." His voice didn't sound okay.
"Lily's going to be fine." Frank's voice reassured.
Lily opened her eyes and immediately shut them with a yelp of pain, "The light!!"
She heard them all laugh. She groaned, "It's not funny!" The light switch was immediately shut off by James. Lily cautiously opened her eyes to see Lena and Frank on one side. And James, Sirius, and Remus on the other side of her bed.
Lily laughed, "I have more friends than I thought!"
Sirius nodded, "Yes, exactly! And as a friend, you won't get mad at me for spiking the punch..." He mumbled the last part.
Lily smiled to herself, "Sirius?"
Sirius seemed to sigh in relief, "Yeah?"
"You better run as fast as your fine little legs can carry you because I am going to kill you...just as soon as I--" Lily jumped up and ran into the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet to dispose of all traces of alcohol in her.
It was dinnertime and Lily, Lena, and Frank were sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table. Frank was currently talking to them about this girl he likes named Alice.
Lily wasn't paying attention. Wait a second...How did she..?
"Hey Lena?" Lily said interrupting Frank who resentfully shut up after a few protests.
"What Lily?"
"How did I get up to the Hospital Wing last night?" Silence met her question.
"James brought you up. It was really sweet. He carried you all the way."
Frank's eyes widened, "Wow. That's a long way."
"Why didn't he just use magic?"
"Well...we were going to point that out to him, but he seemed to like holding you...even if you were unconscious."
Lily blushed.
Frank looked at her. "Do you like him Lily?"
Lily sighed and opened her mouth to say something when a voice interrupted her.
"Who does Lily like?" She'd recognize that voice anywhere.
To her delight and displeasure at the same time, James sat down in the empty seat to her left. Remus sat across from him. And Sirius sat to Lily's right.
Lily groaned. Great, just great!
Sirius grinned, "Not happy to see us Flower?"
"You could say that."
"Who do you like, Lily?" James asked suspiciously.
Lena saved her from answering. "No, Frankie was just asking...what she thought about...about...Greg! Yeah, Greg!" Lena nodded violently as to prove her point.
Lily's jaw dropped. That didn't help! Now they were all staring at her. Remus had a look of amusement on his face. James looked...eager and angry at the same time! Lily did horrible under pressure. She felt her face heat up. Was there a buzzing in this room? Why was it suddenly quiet?
"Uhh..." Great, now I sound even more intelligent than I look!
Frankie nodded his head for her to continue.
"...What was the question again?" They all let out exasperated sighs.
James looked anxious, "Do you like Zander or not?"
Lily felt her temper rise. "Why does it matter?"
James frowned, "Because it does! Okay...I'm curious!"
Sirius snorted. "More like jealous..."
If looks could kill, Sirius would have been slaughtered by James.
Lily rolled her eyes, "No. I do not like that pig. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm tired. I'm going to bed!" (Pig meaning Greg, not James.)
Lily gathered up her stuff and said goodbye to them all. She noticed the look of relief on James' face, but disregarded it. Lily left the Great Hall blushing. She knew they were all watching her.
Later that night, Lily lay wide awake. She hadn't even bothered to change into her pajamas; she was still in her school uniform. For some reason she wasn't sleepy. Lily tossed and turned for a few minutes before she decided that it was hopeless. Lily sighed and jumped up. She knew exactly what she needed.
Lily loved the chilly air. It was refreshing. And the stars were shining so bright, it was amazing. Lily took a moment to look up at the sky as she walked down to the lake.
Lily looked down at the shimmering water reflecting the crescent moon. She smiled and pulled her shoes and leggings off. She undid her tie and pulled her shirt off. She quickly shimmied out of her skirt. Standing in her knickers, Lily took a deep breath before plunging into the lake.
The shock of the cold water hitting her skin made her yelp. A laugh behind her nearly made her heart stop.
"I expect the water to be a bit chilly."
Lily spun around to see James sitting on the dock (next to her discarded clothes!) with his feet dangling in the water.
Lily's eyes widened when she noticed he was only wearing boxers. (A/N: yummy...)
"How long have you been there?!" Lily's voice came out hoarse.
James just smiled. "Don't worry, it's too dark to really see anything."
Lily still didn't like this. And the fact that he was standing there practically naked, wasn't helping. Although she wasn't about to complain.
James stood up, startling Lily. He winked at her and dived into the water. She closed her eyes as cold water splashed all over her face. She yelped as she felt his hand grab her ankle.
When he came up to the surface, Lily smacked his shoulder.
"Ow, what was that for?"
"You scared me. I thought you might be the Giant Squid."
James burst out laughing as she turned crimson.
"I didn't realize the Giant Squid had fingers. Or was this good looking, for that matter."
Lily rolled her eyes. "You can stop teasing me now."
"Aw, Flower, I'm just playing with you."
There was an awkward silence in which she noticed James' eyes never left her face. She smiled. Maybe he wasn't so pricky?
After a second James said, "Nice outfit." So much for being not pricky...
Lily didn't get mad, instead she prettily blushed (again), "Thank you. But you know my bathing suit is similar, so I'm not too embarrassed. I mean if you think about it, bikinis are basically like girls' knickers."
James nodded, "Yeah. Except less lacy."
Lily laughed. She was talking about knickers with James Potter? "I thought the black was rather pretty."
"It is." James said with a hint of a smile.
Oh my god! Am I flirting with him? I think I am? I hope it's subtle! Am I being subtle? I should shut up! And with that Lily clamped her mouth shut. James cocked a brow at her.
"I don't think you could stay quiet for very long."
"Yes I could!" Opps...Good one, Lily.
James laughed. She noticed his laugh was really calming. When it wasn't taunting. And this laugh wasn't.
"So what brings you out on a beautiful night like this?"
"I couldn't sleep." Lily said, heaving a sigh. Was he getting closer to her? She didn't remember him being this close...
"Oh and why not?"
"I was thinking..."
"About what?"
"What is this, 20 questions?"
James smiled. "No, but I haven't reached 20 even if it was. So what were you thinking about?"
"Oh...everything. Greg...last night. My parents. I can't believe..." She felt tears well up in her eyes, but she brushed them away.
"I'm glad you don't like Zander."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you to like him." They both blushed. There was a moment of silence.
Lily sniffed, "I wanted to thank you..."
James looked puzzled, "For what?"
"For everything...for bringing me up to the Hospital Wing...for being right here.."
"It was my pleasure, Flower."
"I miss them so much. I feel bad for not getting a lot of time to think about them. Their funeral is next Saturday, a few days before Christmas. Isn't that great?"
"You know your parents would want you to be happy and live on, so if you find yourself smiling, don't be ashamed."
Lily nodded. She felt tears running down her cheek. She saw James reach up and brush them away. "Could you come to their funeral with me?"
James nodded sadly, "Anything for you."
James was staring into her eyes. He was definitely closer than before because now she could feel his hot breath on her. He smelt good. Like foresty and pepperminty. Yummy...
Lily could count the speckles of green in his hazel eyes. They were hazel? She always thought they were brown. His lips were close to hers. Lily was snapped out of her thoughts when he spoke.
"We should go in. It's getting late."
She nodded, that's all she could do, she was so confused.