Chapter 25 "Underneath it all" by marauderyears
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to it, J.K Rowling does.
Note: Thanks, I hope I didn't disappoint anyone with this chapter. This was the most difficult chapter I've done and I've flip flopped a lot, trying to decide what to do...
Thanks to all those who read and reviewed:
Pranks Are So Siriusly Padfoot- I'm glad that you appreciated the little chappie I had! Thanks again for sharing the cookie, even if you don't normally do that, lol!
ChristinaMarie15- I don't like the way Lena's acting either, but if I was her, I'd be pretty mad at Lily too.
glaz- So you decided not to kill the character? Lol. Happy to hear you like James' finishing line.
Slytherinbabe05- I'm glad that someone appreciates how I cut it into 2 chapters. If you think about what James said about make-up...it's true...
Funnykido- You'll have to continue reading to find out if they kiss...
iluv0liver16- I read A Seperate Peace...it's so bad...shudders...Can't remember it though, thankfully. And let me just say that it is VERY hard to get chapters out fast.
Hello? mary- I like you're idea! This isn't the only date (obviously, lol) that James and Lily go on, so many more things are going to happen! I REALLY, REALLY hope that I don't disappoint you with this chapter. It took me forever (the longest time ever) to write this chapter. I was flipflopping and couldn't decide how to go about it, so I really hope you like it!
GeorgieGryffindor- Really? I am SO honored to hear that, I really am! It makes me feel so good when you take the time to review and tell me that!
mgirl- Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Smay- You must be my biggest fan, you're the only person who's said that! LOL, Thank you so much! And I'm really happy that you like my James. I was worried what people would think of my James.
milkywaypnay37- Here's the chappie!
evil-pillow- You're wish is my command...Here's the chapter!
Last chapter:
Lily smiled and glanced through the rest of her parchments. "Well that's all I have so far..."
James grinned. "Oh good, so we can actually start our date?"
Lily laughed. "That would be nice."
James' POV
"Would you like a refill, dearies?"
Lily smiled at her and I nodded. "That'd be nice, thank you."
Madame Rosemerta took our mugs and walked away. I turned back to Lily. Did I mention how absolutely beautiful she looks? I don't know what to say to her...I've never had a problem with talking with girls before...But with Lily, everything's different.
I smiled at Lily. "I don't know what to say." Why did I just say that out loud? I wish I had a filter between my brain and mouth. It'd be extremely useful.
Lily laughed. "That's a first for you, huh?"
I nodded, blushing.
"How does it feel?"
"Weird..."
She laughed again. I love her laugh. "Well I guess it would." Lily frowned, appearing to be thinking. "Do you have any siblings?"
I looked up at her surprised. "That was a quick change of subject."
"Yes it was, now answer me."
"No."
She sighed. "Look if you don't want to tell me-"
My eyes widened, "No, I mean 'no I don't have any siblings'."
"Oh..." She turned pink.
"Well, I already know you have a sister, so I guess there's no point in me asking."
She shrugged. "Yeah...We don't get along very well."
"That's too bad. Why not? It's pretty hard not to like you."
She smiled. "Thank you. But she makes hating me seem so easy."
"I seriously doubt she could hate you."
"Well if she doesn't, than she sure does a good job of acting like she does..." Lily looked a little sad. I wish I hadn't brought this up...I don't want to ever make Lily sad.
"Well, I wish I had a sibling. I'm all alone most of the time."
"What about you're parents?" She asked attentively.
Lily's POV
He seemed to hesitate for a moment. "Well my dad works a lot because he's a top Auror, so I never really see him. I can't remember a single time when I was little- or ever come to think of it- that he was there for me. So I guess you could say I'm not really close to my dad. My mum's nice, and she works for the Ministry of Magic, but she's kept busy a lot because she's the best in her unit and her boss is always working her overtime."
I nodded. I found myself really listening. Not like listening and nodding along pretending that I actually care, like I've done on most of my other dates...But with James...he's different in a refreshing way.
"My parents don't really ever see each other and they don't get along as well as most people's folks, but that's because they were set up."
"Set up?" Does he mean...?
"An arranged marriage. The Potter's entire line of generations have had arranged marriages. "
Seeing the look on my face he quickly said, "But I'm going to break that tradition. My mum doesn't want me to have an arranged marriage...she wants me to marry someone I actually love..."
I blushed and broke our eye contact for the first time that evening. As a matter of fact, neither of us had looked anywhere else but at each other...well until I looked away just now.
"So they're not really in love. Although they've been trying to make it seem like it."
I nodded. "That's awful. Do all purebloods do arranged marriages?"
James made a pained face. "Unfortunately most of them do because purebloods are old-fashioned, like our family. Although you can resist, but you'd be 'shaming the family' as my father so nicely puts it." He ground his teeth together.
I looked back into his hazel eyes. "So, are you going to shame you're family?"
He nodded, the corners of his mouth twitching.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."
"But it will be worth it, I'm sure of that." He grinned. He's so sweet. How does he know who he's going to marry? What if she turns out to be a total drag?
"How do you know?"
"Because I know who I'm going to marry."
I laughed. "Oh really?"
He nodded, smiling.
"Does you're family ever have big get-togethers or parties?"
He groaned. "Unfortunately, yes."
"Why is that such a bad thing?"
"Because lots of snobby relatives who like to pinch my cheeks come over, tell me how much I've grown, complain about things and leave after raiding us for food."
"Oh, so that's a 'no' on the parties?"
"Well they call that a party."
All of the sudden I smiled. "So they pinch you're cheeks?"
Looking pained, he nodded. "Oh yes, most annoyingly painful, it is."
I grinned and reached across the table to pinch his cheeks but he blocked me. "Oh no you don't, I hate it when people do that!"
Grinning like mad, I leaned over the table, and managed to grab a side of his face and pinch it hard.
"Jeeze woman, you have quite a pinch there. If that was anyone else but you, I'd be really mad right now." He said indignantly, while he rubbed his face.
I smiled, holding back a laugh. "Well than I'd say it's a good think I'm me."
We both laughed. A few minutes later we were walking down the cold streets of Hogsmeade, window shopping.
He must have noticed me getting cold (I hadn't brought my cloak and neither did he) because he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer to him. I felt myself stiffen, but I soon relaxed. It kind of feels nice to have him holding me. Heck, it feels great!
He looked down at me. "If I had brought my cloak I'd offer it to you, sorry 'bout that."
I rolled my eyes. "It's fine. I should have brought mine, but this dang fall weather is warm in the morning and cold in the evening."
"I've still never heard you cuss."
"And you never will."
"Please Liiiilllyyyy..."
"No."
"For me?"
"That gives me even more of a reason not to swear." I said, teasingly.
"Hey!" He lightly pinched my side, tickling me.
I squealed. "Stop, I'm ticklish in my side. No where else, mind you."
"Really? You know you're never supposed to tell someone where you're ticklish."
"Why?"
"Because then they'll tickle you there..." He started to pinch my side, and I squealed, laughing hard.
"Hahaha, please stop, hahaha, my side hurts." After a bit of begging he stopped, but continued to grin.
"You're a huge flirter you know that?" I said, hoping to embarrass him.
To my pleasure, he blushed. "I do not flirt."
"Yes you do."
"Do not."
"Okay."
"Do not- hey. You're not supposed to agree with me."
"Well I changed the rules."
"There are rules to arguing?"
"Yes, of course."
"I didn't know that."
"Well now you know." (A/N: Mike's Super Short Show!)
"I guess I do..."
"Yup."
"Okay."
"Uh-huh."
"Alright."
"Can we stop with this, it's getting annoying."
"I live to annoy you, but I'll stop just for you."
I blushed, "Thank you."
"You're quite welcome Miss Lily."
We walked around the streets for a bit, and I was having a WONDERFUL time, but unfortunately it started to get dark so we decided to start heading back to the castle.
On the way back we passed Remus, Sirius, and Peter walking the opposite way as us. The three of them stopped and Sirius waved frantically at us.
He shouted (a LOT louder than was necessary) across the street. "Hey James, Lily! How is your date going?!" We could see Remus and Peter snickering behind him.
James blushed a deep red. I'd never seem him blush like that before. He whispered closely to my ear, making my ear tingle. "Maybe if we just ignore them, they'll leave us alone..."
I giggled. "That's never worked in the past, believe me..."
Sirius cleared his throat loudly, getting the attention of a group of young passerby's. "Have you two snogged yet?!"
I felt my face heat up, and I'm pretty sure that James's did, too.
I decided it was about time that I step in. "Sirius Black do yourself a favor and bugger off or I'll hex you into next Tuesday and I'll make absolute sure that you're never able to use certain parts of your anatomy that are of paramount importance to you!" That shut him up. But it also got James grinning widely. Hopefully I didn't boost his ego.
He put his arm around my waist and whispered in my ear. "Thatta girl."
I blushed and he continued, "You're quite dirty you know that?"
I looked up at him, raising an eyebrow. "I actually meant his eyes considering how important they are, but half way through saying it I realized how completely dirty it sounded, but I decided that I may as well finish what I had started to say."
He burst out laughing. "It sounded like you meant something else."
I smiled, "I'm not that mean."
"You're not mean at all."
"Well thank you Mr. Potter."
"You're quite welcome Miss Lily." He stuck out his arm. "Shall we continue on to our rooms?"
"Yes please." I took his arm and we arrived back at Hogwarts a little while later.
Standing in the Head Common Room at the door to my room, I smiled widely at him.
"Thank you James for taking me out. I really had a wonderful time."
He turned pink. "I wish it could have been more romantic, but I can make it up to you if you'd like to go on another date with me..."
I felt like my face was going to crack, I was grinning so wide. "I'd love too." I stood up on my tip toes (he's that tall) and kissed him lightly on the cheek. I felt my lips tingle pleasantly.
I was going to leave then, but I stood up and kissed him again, this time a little longer. He wrapped his arms around me, just holding me. We stood like that for a minute, before I pulled away.
"Good night James."
"Night Lily..." I started to open the door, but turned around right before I was going to close it.
"Oh and James?"
"Yes?"
"Don't make it too romantic. I'm more for just having fun, than the sappy romance-novel type of thing..."
He grinned. "Of course you are, that's what I love about you."
A/N: Please no one kill me if they are disappointed. I had so much trouble with this chapter, that's why it took so long. I couldn't decide what should happen, how it should happen, etc.
I almost cried because when I just finished typing up all the replies to your lovely reviews, something happened to my computer and it deleted them all so I had to go back and try and remember what I said. Anyways, hope you enjoy this chapter...