Disclaimer-The wonderful and talented J. K. Rowlings created, and therefore owns, Harry Potter and his world, not I.
Chapter 11- Hogsmeade, After All
Lily woke up and looked at her watch. It was 8:18! Her date with James started at 9, which gave her only 40 minutes to get ready!
Lily jumped out of bed and ran to the full-length mirror across from her bed. She groaned when she saw what she looked like. "My eyes are puffy, and my hair! It looks like a pack of rats made a nest in it. If I don't take a shower, James is going to think I'm a disgusting pig!"
Lily ran out of the room in such a hurry that she forgot to put her bathrobe on and also forgot shut the door leading to her room. She ran into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.
James ran out of his room, wand in hand, to investigate the loud noise that woke him up. He looked around the common room and shrugged when he noticed the bathroom door was shut. He chuckled when he realized Lily must've gone in there. "Well, when you gotta go, you gotta go."
James turned to go back to his room when he noticed that Lily's door was ajar. He peered in and saw her bed empty, and in disarray. "I wonder is she keeps a diary," James thought aloud and rubbed his hands together while he walked into the empty room.
James looked around the room in awe. He couldn't believe that he was in Lily's room. Granted she didn't know he was in her room, but that didn't matter to James. All that mattered to him was the fact that he was in her room.
James noticed the bureau, and walked over to further investigate it. A chuckle escaped his lips when he saw his reflection in the mirror. He thought he looked pretty funny at the moment. Seeming as he only had his boxers on with his hair even crazier than usual and his wand in his hand. Stuck in the frame of mirror were some muggle pictures of Lily and two people whom he assumed were her parents and some wizard pictures of her and her friends from Hogwarts.
James frowned when he noticed the picture of himself that he had given Lily last year for Valentine's Day. He was holding a bouquet of roses and puckering his lips for a kiss. "I can't believe she kept this," he muttered and looked at all of the other pictures she had crowding the edges of the mirror. James didn't even think about the fact that Lily supposedly hated his guts.
He saw pictures of Lily's families, a few of the Marauders, a bunch of her friends, one such picture of Monica making various funny faces, and one of a strange girl who James had never met. He recognized the brunette's facial features, but couldn't figure out who it was.
James got bored of looking pictures and started looking through one of the bureau's drawers. There were more pictures, a few notes, and a rather thick book with papers sticking out from each of its sides. Intrigued, he picked the book up and closed the drawer.
James opened the book and slowly made his way over to Lily's bed. He grinned madly when he realized the book was a diary. Still walking, he flipped to the back of the book and started reading the latest entry aloud. "October 9, I can't write very long, but I'm so excited. James is taking me to Hogsmeade with him tomorrow after all! I was so upset when I-"
James stopped reading when the book flew out of his hands and onto the bed, which he had just run into. He groaned and picked the book where it lay open on the bed and sat down on the edge of the bed.
The diary had flipped open to September 30, and James decided to start reading from there. "September 30, Today James Potter asked me out, and I said yes. I didn't know why I said yes at first, but then it all made since to me. I've been having... feelings for James' lately. He's incredibly sexy and smart, and funny and, just perfect! Well, almost perfect. He still does that stupid thing with his hair, but suddenly I find it adorable, and not annoying," he stopped reading and grinned.
"Lily, you dog, you," James muttered in a vain tone. He was about to read more when he heard the bathroom door open and Lily's footsteps.
"Oh shit," he said under his breath and shoved Lily's diary under the bed. His eyes darted about the room looking for a hiding place, and then abruptly stopped. James grinned to himself and sat on the bed and started fiddling around with his hands.
The footsteps sounded closer. He could tell Lily was in the hall and heard her mutter something about her hair and the time.
James looked down at his hands and grinned. He jumped off the bed startled when he heard her shriek his name.
"James Potter! Out, now!" Lily forgot that she was holding a towel against her body and let go of the towel and pointed towards the door for emphasis. The towel dropped, leaving her nude and open for viewing.
James mouth hit the floor when her towel dropped. His eyes traveled down her naked body freely. All he could utter out was "Wow!" The look on his face deeply resembled that of a child's who had just gotten everything they wanted for Christmas.
Lily screamed when she realized her towel was gone and hurriedly bent down to pick it up and drape over her body was again. She looked at James, her face blushing fiercely. Lily noticed that the only thing James had on were his boxers, and her face turned even redder, if possible.
The trance he had been in was broken by Lily's scramble to put her towel back on. James muttered something about having to get ready and dashed out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Lily, still thoroughly embarrassed, started getting dressed for her date with James, which was probably going to be really awkward.
XXX
James was grinning to himself and singing a muggle song while he finished getting ready. "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day. And when it's cold outside girl I've got the month of May. Oh I guess you'd say what can make me feel this way. My girl, talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl.
"My girl, my girl, my girl, talkin' bout my girl. My girl, talkin' 'bout my girl. On a cloudy day with my girl. I've even got the month of May with my girl. Talkin' 'bout, talkin' 'bout my girl. Talkin' 'bout my girl."
James took one last look in the mirror before he turned to leave, still humming the tune of My Girl. He winked at his reflection and went into the common room to wait for Lily.
XXX
Lily was applying some makeup. Because she was wearing a Rick Springfield shirt, black jeans and three-inch heeled black boots, she only put on black eyeliner, black mascara, and lip-gloss. She looked at herself in the mirror, and when she was pleased she grabbed her wand and stuffed it in her purse.
Taking one last glance at the mirror, she headed out to the common room to meet James. It was already 9:10, and Lily figured that James would want to grab a quick bite to eat and leave.
This time, Lily gently closed the door behind her and stepped into the common room. She crossed the room to where James was standing, dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a plain t-shirt.
James grasped her hands and greeted her softly with a "Hey Lily." "God, she's beautiful," James thought as he stared at her in disbelief.
"Hi," Lily replied shyly.
James smiled while he allowed himself to remember the earlier incident. "It's nice to see you with clothes on again but," he smirked, "I liked it the other way, too, though."
Lily took her hands out of his and hit him lightly on the arm with one. "James!"
He smiled and chuckled lightly. "Ms. Evans," he stuck his arm out so that she could take it, "would you care to accompany me to breakfast?"
"Why Mr. Potter, I thought you would never ask," she laughed and grabbed onto his arm. Together, they proceeded out of the common room and towards the Great Hall.
XXX
"Sirius," Monica whined. "Why can't you go to Hogsmeade?"
"I already told you, baby," Sirius replied sorrowfully. "I got in trouble for that little prank on Snivellus," he gestured over to the Slytherin table where Snape, a long, black cloak covering his dress, was sitting with a beautiful, blonde girl, who had her arms wrapped around him.
Monica looked over to where Sirius pointed and gasped. "Snape...with a girl?!"
"I know, I said the same exact thing," Sirius pouted. "Sad isn't it? Snape picks some hussy up, and I can't even go with my girlfriend!"
Monica beamed, "Am I your girl?"
Sirius nodded and Monica giggled. She leaned in to kiss him when James and Lily interrupted them.
"Hey Moni, Sirius," Lily greeted. Her arm was still looped in James.
"Hey Lily..." she trailed off because she was staring at Lily's shirt. "You look great, but who's the cute guy on your shirt?"
Sirius glared at Monica, which caused to giggle. "How about the cute guy BESIDE you?"
Lily ignored Sirius and answered Monica's question. "Rick Springfield is a muggle singer. He sings 'Jessie's Girl,' which is one of my all-time favorites!"
Sirius glared at James. "Great job bringing you Lilykins down here, Prongs," he said sarcastically.
"Don't you just love her?" James grinned and unhooked his arm from Lily's and wrapped it around her body instead.
Lily giggled. She peered at the table, "Well, I think I'll get a-"
James cut her off and picked a blueberry muffin off a tray, "Blueberry muffin?"
Lily smiled and took it from his hand. "Thanks." She took a bite and swallowed and stuck the muffin in James' face. "Bite?"
"No, I think I'll take..." James looked around the table, "pancakes."
Lily shook her head back and forth and backed up. "Not this time James."
He frowned, "But I really want pancakes."
"Oh," she giggled. "Go ahead."
James nodded and took the empty seat beside Sirius. "Here," he patted the one beside him for Lily to sit on.
Lily smiled and was about to sit down when Peter rushed in and took the seat beside James. "Thanks, man. I thought I was going to have to sit with the first years."
James grinned and patted his lap, "Here Lily. Saved you a seat."
Lily sat down on James' lap before anyone else could and wiggled her butt around to find get comfortable. "Thanks," she said and laughed at the grimace on James' face.
"Stop wiggling," James breathed in Lily's ear. His warm breath tickled her ear, causing her to laugh and wiggle more.
Sirius, Monica, James, and Lily talked and ate until it was time for James and Lily to go get a carriage to take them to Hogsmeade. Monica decided to spend the day at Hogwarts with Sirius.
XXX
James and Lily were sitting in the carriage that was going to take them to Hogsmeade.
James intertwined Lily's hand in his. "So, what do you want to do first?"
Lily chuckled, "I don't care. You pick first." She was absorbed in studying James' hand, trying to memorize every detail about it.
He grinned from ear to ear, "I don't care either, because as long as I'm with you, it'll be perfect."
"Aww, James," Lily cooed, lifting her eyes to James', and kissed him on the cheek. "You're so sweet."
"What do I have to do to get one on the lips?" James asked seriously.
"Just be," Lily paused looking for the right word and smiled when she found it, "perfect."
"Okay," James sighed. "You know that's going to be terribly hard for an imperfect person like myself, right?"
"But I think you're perfect," she replied and continued to stare deeply into James' eyes.
An amused grin appeared on James' face, "Since when do you think I'm perfect?"
Lily kissed James on the cheek again and whispered into his ear, "Since you became perfect!"
James had a puzzled look on his face. "And when was that?"
After a few moments of hard thought, Lily replied, "I think it was the day you started acting human."
The puzzled look didn't leave James' face. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it when the carriage they were in came to an abrupt stop.
James hastily stood up and opened the door and stepped out. He gave a low, regal bow and held his hand out for Lily, "Madame?"
Lily giggled and placed her hand in his and allowed him to help her out of the carriage. "Merci, Monsieur," she returned in French also and kissed him lightly on the lips.
James' grin was genuine happiness. "Am I to assume that I was being perfect?"
"Yes," Lily blushed and pulled him forward with the hand that he was firmly grasping. "Let's walk around for a bit."
James obliged and followed Lily's lead.
They were strolling around Hogsmeade, pointing out shops they liked and asking questions about the other, when a hand latched onto James' shoulder and spun him around. A hand did the same to Lily.
Lily and James' hands let go of each other because of the direction they spun in. Lily screamed and laughed hysterically when she saw the faces of none other than Frank Longbottom and Alice Prewitt.
When Lily finally caught her breath, she asked, "What the bloody hell was that for?"
A red-faced Alice waved her question off while she tried to fight the laughter that consumed her.
"Yeah, what the bloody hell was that for?" James mimicked Lily with a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Frank, having finally caught his breath, answered that question. "We just wanted to ask you guys to join us for a drink at the Three Broomsticks. So do you wanna?"
Lily asked the inevitable, "Like a...double date?"
"Sure," Alice replied. She had just gained her breath back, but her face was still a very bright red.
Lily gave a huge smile and turned to James and gave him her saddest puppy eyes. "Can we, pleaseeeeee?"
He had really wanted to spend some quality alone time with Lily, but if this made her happy he was up to it. "I don't see why not."
"Yes," Alice squealed. "I promise we won't keep you for too terribly long," she winked at James.
XXX
"Four butterbeers, please," Lily ordered the group's fourth round of drinks and threw some galleons on the bar. She made her way back over to the table her friends were sitting. Sinking into her seat beside James, she smiled and squeezed his leg.
"Missed you, too." James checked his watch, "But we've got to head out of here soon."
"Why?" Lily frowned. "What time is it?"
"Ten till noon," he replied casually. Truth be told, James really wanted some quality alone time with Lily and Frank and Alice weren't helping that matter.
"Wow," Alice had a look of awe on her face, "it's been thatlong already?"
Frank knew how James was feeling because he just wanted to be alone with Alice at this point. "I vote this our last mug of butterbeer because I'm pretty sure they," he motioned across the table to where James had his arm wrapped around Lily and her head resting on his shoulder, "would like to be alone pretty soon."
James gave Frank a thankful grin and got a nod in return. "You must be psychic or something."
"Or something," Frank replied which got the group laughing again.
"Four butterbeers?" a waiter asked levitating a tray with four butterbeers beside him.
The four teenagers all nodded in reply because they were all in the midst of laughing.
The waiter nodded levitated the tray slowly down to the table. "Enjoy," he said and disappeared.
Once the butterbeers were gone, the group made their way out of the Three Broomsticks and said hasty goodbyes.
When Frank and Alice had disappeared into the crowd wandering the streets of Hogsmeade, James grabbed Lily's hand and entwined his fingers in his. "So, where do you want to go?"
"Umm...how about Honeydukes or Zonko's?"
"Sounds good to me," James replied and pulled Lily off towards the two shops she mentioned.
They walked in silence until they reached their destination, Honeydukes. James had been reveling in the fact that Lily liked him while Lily enjoyed the peacefulness of their situation, and the feel of James hand around her.
"Ah, Honeydukes," James smiled and pulled Lily inside the door.
Lily took a deep breath. She loved the chocolaty smell of Honeydukes.
"Let me buy you something," he told her. "What are you in the mood for?"
Without hesitation, Lily pulled James toward the chocolates. "Here," she pointed at some small, dark chocolate heats.
He grinned, "Are you trying to tell me something?"
"Maybe," she smiled seductively.
"Well, in that case..." he trailed off as he grabbed a bag of the chocolates and rushed over to the counter, Lily still in tow, to pay.
After James had paid for the candy and given it to Lily to stick in her purse, they stepped back onto the noisy street. Zonko's was only a few shops down from where they were standing.
James motioned towards his favorite jokes shop and Lily nodded. He pulled her down the street and into Zonko's, which if possible, was louder than the streets of Hogsmeade!
"Hey James," the clerk greeted. "What do you need today?" He noticed Lily at James' side and motioned towards her, "Beautiful girl you get there. New girlfriend?"
James hesitated. He didn't know if Lily was his girlfriend or not. He was about to answer, but Lily beat him to it.
"Yes," she replied, running a hand through James' hair to muss it further, "I am his new girlfriend."
James turned to look back at Lily and asked in disbelief, "Really?"
She smiled and nodded.
"Great," James murmured and pulled Lily to him for a kiss. He grinned when Lily's eyes closed in anticipation for the kiss.
When their lips were centimeters apart, the clerk shouted sarcastically, "Go get a room!"
James pulled away from Lily and shot the clerk an evil look. "Gee, thanks Ernie. I really appreciate that one, mate."
Ernie, the clerk, laughed, "Good to know James. Now go buy something!"
"C'mon," James muttered and pulled Lily towards the fireworks. "Sirius asked me to pick him up some because he's running low," James explained and grabbed an armful of fireworks and headed to the counter.
Ernie gave James a skeptical look after counting the fireworks. "Twenty-three at eleven galleons each."
James pulled a tiny drawstring bag with the letters "SB" out of his pocket and opened it. "I hope this is enough," he laughed after examining the inside of the pouch and poured its contents on the counter. Out fell a handful of sickles and a couple of galleons.
The clerk counted the coins in front of him and smiled, "You're gonna have to teach me the charm for that bag!"
A grin appeared on James' face, "Not today. I'm...occupied." He grinned even harder and stuffed the fireworks into the tiny bag, much to Lily's shock and amazement.
After all the fireworks were stuffed away, James once again grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her into the street.
"Um, I have a question," James said rather nervously. "Back there in Zonko's, you..." he trailed off and Lily finished his statement.
"Said that I'm girlfriend?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well," she began and leaned her head against them as they walked, "because I am. Aren't I?"
"Only if you want to be," James answered, shock evident on his face, and in his voice.
"Good," Lily giggled and pushed herself closer to James.
"Do you want to, er, go somewhere?"
"Do you want to?" she answered back.
"Well, uh, yeah..." he trailed off.
"Lead the way," Lily replied with a giggle.
James gave a giant grin and turned Lily around, back towards Honeydukes and Zonko's. The walked in silence until he suddenly stopped in front of Honeydukes.
"Sorry to burst your bubble," Lily started apologetically, "but we've been here already!"
"I'm not stupid. It just so happens that this was the, uh, most pleasant way back to Hogwarts," James explained.
"There's a tunnel to Hogwarts in Honeydukes?" Lily asked in a confused tone.
Instead of replying verbally, James grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her into the candy shop for the second time that day. He pulled her to the rear of Honeydukes, near the storeroom.
"Where are we going?" Lily asked in a soft tone.
"You'll see," James breathed in her ear and pulled her into the storeroom. He let go of her hand and motioned for her to stay where she was. "Ah," he muttered and bent down to pull up the hidden trapdoor that led to Hogwarts.
"Hm?" Lily raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"This," he began and motioned her forward, "is how we're going to get back to Hogwarts. After you."
Lily smiled and climbed down the mini-stepladder and into the dark tunnel. She pulled her wand out and muttered, "Luminos."
James stepped down after Lily and pulled the door shut after him. "C'mon," he muttered and grabbed her hand.
"How'd you find out about this secret passageway-tunnel thing?" Lily asked curiously.
James winked at her, "That's for me to know, and you not to know."
"Meanie," she replied with a giggle and started swinging their joined hands back and forth.
"I know this is going to sound childish, but do you wanna race?" James asked in a childish tone.
Lily giggled, "I betcha you can't beat me!" With that, she sprinted down the tunnel, holding her wand in front of her so that she could see in the dark.
James sighed and ran after her. He easily caught up to her and stayed even with her. "This is really pointless!" he shouted at her.
Lily turned her face towards him and opened her mouth to say something, when-
-SMACK!
Lily's wand flew out of her hand as she collided into something, or someone, and groaned.
The tunnel was dark and James fumbled for his wand so that he'd be able to light it up and see whom Lily had run into.
"Luminos," he said and looked at the ground in front of him at the three tangled bodies of...
XXX
A/N- Please do not get used to 3,802 words. There was a lot I wanted to put in this chapter, so I needed a lot of words. Please review and tell me what you think.Someone please explain wizard money to me!
MissMrprk- Here's a cookie for sticking with my story, and for being smart. :)
Blad3- I hope you liked some of the situations in this chapter! ;)
Pranks Are So Siriusly Padfoot- Kudos to me for spelling your name right! I liked that part also! But I liked the part w/ the towel and James and Lily better! :)
minicrouton86- I'm glad you loved my fic! You can have a cookie too!
-ilovecaptainjacks