"Lily, what's up with you and James?" Cassandra asked during Charms. They
both had skillfully mastered the Confundus Charm and were waiting for the
class to end.
"What do you mean?" Lily asked innocently.
"Come on, you know what I mean. I saw you guys kissing the other day. And he's always staring at you. Like right now." Lily whipped her head around and saw James staring at her. He quickly averted his eyes and a blush began creeping up his face. "See!"
"Nothing's going on," she denied. "What's with you and Sirius? You seem to be hanging out with him an awful lot." Lily had the satisfaction of seeing Cassandra squirm while searching for a somewhat - truthful answer.
"We're just hanging out, that's all. I wouldn't go out with him. Sirius is a player. You know, a new girlfriend every week," she replied with a shrug. "I don't want to be one of his throw away's."
"Yeah, sure. Whatever," Lily replied, rolling her eyes.
"Well, why won't you go out with James? We all know he likes you."
"Everybody seems to be missing the point! I don't like him!"
"Why not? He can be sweet and romantic, and he's dead sexy. If he wasn't so stuck on you, I'd go for him myself."
"Well -" Just then, the class ended and Lily quickly ran out of the room. As she rounded a corner, she leaned back on the wall and sighed.
"You never gave me an answer," said a voice near her ear. Lily jumped, startled and saw James smile.
"An answer to what?" she asked as she started walking to Transfiguration.
"To the question I asked you," he said, falling into step beside her. Lily quickened her pace.
"And what question would that be?"
"Would you slow down?" he asked and grabbed her arm. "I'd like to have a normal conversation without have to run down the halls at the same time."
"I have to get to Transfiguration. And so do you," Lily said and escaped from James's hold.
"Fine. Sit with me in class, then. Please."
"Okay," she said with a sigh as they go to the classroom. "But don't bug me, I have to pay attention."
"Sure, no problem," James replied and sat at a table.
"Good afternoon, class," Professor McGonagall said as she came into the room. "Today we are going to change lizards into a quill. Would everyone please partner up?" Lily quickly looked around for Sol and Cassandra, but they already paired together.
"Do you want to be my partner?" James asked pleadingly.
"I suppose," she sighed. "Maybe with you as my partner I could get the transfiguration correct."
"You're not that bad."
"Wanna bet?"
"Let's just wait and see."
"I hope everyone is paired up!" Professor McGonagall called from the front of the room. A few people scrambled to their partner's tables and then silence hung in the room. "Good. The incantation is Lizardus Quillus. Begin." Muttering was heard around the room as people tried to remember the incantation.
"Lizardus Quillus," Lily said, waving her wand at the lizard. It did nothing.
"Here, let me try. Lizardus Quillus!" And with a wave of his wand, the lizard changed into a quill. "See? It's not that difficult."
"But you are great in Transfiguration. This is my worst subject," Lily moaned.
"You'll do fine with me helping you," James assured her. But whatever they did, Lily couldn't seem to change the lizard into a proper quill. "I take back what I said earlier. You suck at Transfiguration."
"I know. Ugh, that's one ugly quill," Lily said, looking at the green spiked one she just transfigured.
"Yeah, I think you need a little extra help.
"You're telling me," she muttered.
"Lily Evens! How did you manage to make your quill look like that?!" Professor McGonagall cried. "And with James helping you!"
"I know, Professor. It's horrid. I don't know how I could have done that."
"I think James is correct. You do need extra help. Wait a second, maybe James could tutor you."
"Wait a minute, what would I get out of it?" James asked.
"You'd get a liable excuse to spend time with me," Lily replied, batting her eyelashes.
"As tempting as that may be, Lily of the Valley, I have found that it is healthier to resist temptation."
"Oh, but not half as satisfying," she replied with a sultry smile. He is really sexy. Maybe I will go out with him, Lily thought to herself.
"But a hell of a lot safer," James said. Is Lily flirting with me? Could she really like me? James thought.
"Excuse me, children, but this is not request. James, you have to tutor Lily. You can use this classroom after dinner every night. I'll see you next week, class," Professor McGonagall said as she raised her voice so she could address the entire class. "No homework tonight."
"So, do you want to start tonight?" Lily asked as they made their way to the Gryffindor common room.
"Sure. Uh, Lily, I was wondering if you could help me."
"Help you with what, James?" Lily asked, looking up at him and turning her head to one side.
"With Charms. In case you haven't noticed, quite frankly, I suck at it," he said with a half laugh. When Lily laughed softly, he felt a pull in his stomach.
"Of course I'll help you. We can practice in McGonagall's room. We can do it alternate nights with Transfiguration."
"Cocker Bells," James said and the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open.
"I have to grab my stuff for Divination. Will you wait for me, James?" she asked.
"Sure."
"Thanks. I'll be right back," she promised and rushed up the steps to her dormitory.
When James could no longer see her, he leaned back on the wall. Calm down, James, he told himself, she doesn't really like you. She's just playing with you, trying to see how you react. She's just having some fun. But what are you going to do when you guys are alone for hours?
"Are you ready, James?" Lily asked as she came up to him.
"Huh? Oh, yeah," he said distractedly. She even smells like lilies, he thought absently.
"Cool, let's go then. I wonder who's dying today," Lily mused. He's so adorable, she thought happily.
When they finally got to Divination, Lily sat down with Sol and Cassandra. Despite the thing with Remus and Sol, her and Lily remained friends. "Hey, guys."
"My, my, don't you look chipper. What happened in between now and Transfiguration?" Cassandra asked with a slight smile.
"Does this have something to do with James? I saw you come in together and you were partners in McGonagall's class," Sol said mischievously. Lily was rarely this carefree.
"No! Well, yes," she said with a smile and a giggle.
"Well . . ." Cassandra prompted.
"Gimme details, honey!" Sol said enthusiastically.
"Did you decided to give him chance?" Cassandra asked.
"Are you gonna go out with him?" Sol added.
"Calm down, kids!" Lily said, laughing. Just then, James's head whipped around. Their eyes met and held until Professor Trelawney came into the room.
"Good afternoon, class," she said in her misty voice. "Todaywe will work with Tarot Card. Pair up with a different partner that usual. Once you are paired, you may begin." People shuffled around, looking for someone to pair with. Cassandra partnered with Sirius, and Sol with Remus. That left Lily and . . .
"James, will you be my partner?" Lily asked cautiously. James looked up at her and nodded. "Cool," she announced and sat down close to him. "Do you want to ask a question first?"
"Uh, sure. I know just what to ask. We don't have to say it out loud, do we?" he asked Lily uneasily.
"Mhm? Oh, no," she replied distractedly. James really had beautiful eyes.
"Good. Here we go, then," he said with a sigh. Will Lily ever love me? He calmly picked out the cards and put them in their correct spot. Lily dutifully flipped them over. That's when they heard a gasp from behind them.
"My children, who asked this question?" Professor Trelawney asked.
"Uh, I did," James admitted regretfully.
"This is a very interesting answer. You have plenty of good cards. Love in your life," she murmured. "But horror. Oh, I can't look at them anymore!" she announced and turned away. Lily looked at James and saw that his face had paled greatly.
"James? Are you okay? James?" she asked softly. "James? James, can you hear me?" When he didn't answer, Lily panicked. He looked so vulnerable and he was just sitting there, unresponsive.
As Lily tried to revive him, all James could see was a flashing green light. All he could hear was a high pitched laugh, and a woman's screams. And a child's helpless crying. Faintly, he could hear Lily call his name, but he couldn't answer. All he could concentrate on was that laughter - that sinister laughter - and those heart-wrenching cries. Until he felt someone's lips on his own.
Lily felt James become more aware as she sunk into the kiss. When she pulled away, James was looking at her with a confused expression. "Lily?" he asked tentatively.
"Oh, thank goodness," she sighed. "We'd better take you to the hospital wing, James."
"Huh? What? Why?"
"Just come on," Lily insisted as she pulled on his hand. "I'll be back, Professor. I have to take James to the Infirmary."
"Of course, child. He looks frightfully pale. You might as well take your books. I imagine Madame Monte will have you stay for a bit."
"Thank you, Professor," Lily said and rushed out the door, pulling James behind her.
"I wonder what that was all about?" Cassandra asked Sirius.
"I don't know. But it looks like Lily is finally coming to her senses," Sirius replied.
"Yeah. It's about time."
"Next thing you know, you'll be falling in love with me."
"Get a life, kid," Cassandra said sarcastically. Sirius, not easily discouraged, leaned over and gave her a kiss full on the lips.
"What do you mean?" Lily asked innocently.
"Come on, you know what I mean. I saw you guys kissing the other day. And he's always staring at you. Like right now." Lily whipped her head around and saw James staring at her. He quickly averted his eyes and a blush began creeping up his face. "See!"
"Nothing's going on," she denied. "What's with you and Sirius? You seem to be hanging out with him an awful lot." Lily had the satisfaction of seeing Cassandra squirm while searching for a somewhat - truthful answer.
"We're just hanging out, that's all. I wouldn't go out with him. Sirius is a player. You know, a new girlfriend every week," she replied with a shrug. "I don't want to be one of his throw away's."
"Yeah, sure. Whatever," Lily replied, rolling her eyes.
"Well, why won't you go out with James? We all know he likes you."
"Everybody seems to be missing the point! I don't like him!"
"Why not? He can be sweet and romantic, and he's dead sexy. If he wasn't so stuck on you, I'd go for him myself."
"Well -" Just then, the class ended and Lily quickly ran out of the room. As she rounded a corner, she leaned back on the wall and sighed.
"You never gave me an answer," said a voice near her ear. Lily jumped, startled and saw James smile.
"An answer to what?" she asked as she started walking to Transfiguration.
"To the question I asked you," he said, falling into step beside her. Lily quickened her pace.
"And what question would that be?"
"Would you slow down?" he asked and grabbed her arm. "I'd like to have a normal conversation without have to run down the halls at the same time."
"I have to get to Transfiguration. And so do you," Lily said and escaped from James's hold.
"Fine. Sit with me in class, then. Please."
"Okay," she said with a sigh as they go to the classroom. "But don't bug me, I have to pay attention."
"Sure, no problem," James replied and sat at a table.
"Good afternoon, class," Professor McGonagall said as she came into the room. "Today we are going to change lizards into a quill. Would everyone please partner up?" Lily quickly looked around for Sol and Cassandra, but they already paired together.
"Do you want to be my partner?" James asked pleadingly.
"I suppose," she sighed. "Maybe with you as my partner I could get the transfiguration correct."
"You're not that bad."
"Wanna bet?"
"Let's just wait and see."
"I hope everyone is paired up!" Professor McGonagall called from the front of the room. A few people scrambled to their partner's tables and then silence hung in the room. "Good. The incantation is Lizardus Quillus. Begin." Muttering was heard around the room as people tried to remember the incantation.
"Lizardus Quillus," Lily said, waving her wand at the lizard. It did nothing.
"Here, let me try. Lizardus Quillus!" And with a wave of his wand, the lizard changed into a quill. "See? It's not that difficult."
"But you are great in Transfiguration. This is my worst subject," Lily moaned.
"You'll do fine with me helping you," James assured her. But whatever they did, Lily couldn't seem to change the lizard into a proper quill. "I take back what I said earlier. You suck at Transfiguration."
"I know. Ugh, that's one ugly quill," Lily said, looking at the green spiked one she just transfigured.
"Yeah, I think you need a little extra help.
"You're telling me," she muttered.
"Lily Evens! How did you manage to make your quill look like that?!" Professor McGonagall cried. "And with James helping you!"
"I know, Professor. It's horrid. I don't know how I could have done that."
"I think James is correct. You do need extra help. Wait a second, maybe James could tutor you."
"Wait a minute, what would I get out of it?" James asked.
"You'd get a liable excuse to spend time with me," Lily replied, batting her eyelashes.
"As tempting as that may be, Lily of the Valley, I have found that it is healthier to resist temptation."
"Oh, but not half as satisfying," she replied with a sultry smile. He is really sexy. Maybe I will go out with him, Lily thought to herself.
"But a hell of a lot safer," James said. Is Lily flirting with me? Could she really like me? James thought.
"Excuse me, children, but this is not request. James, you have to tutor Lily. You can use this classroom after dinner every night. I'll see you next week, class," Professor McGonagall said as she raised her voice so she could address the entire class. "No homework tonight."
"So, do you want to start tonight?" Lily asked as they made their way to the Gryffindor common room.
"Sure. Uh, Lily, I was wondering if you could help me."
"Help you with what, James?" Lily asked, looking up at him and turning her head to one side.
"With Charms. In case you haven't noticed, quite frankly, I suck at it," he said with a half laugh. When Lily laughed softly, he felt a pull in his stomach.
"Of course I'll help you. We can practice in McGonagall's room. We can do it alternate nights with Transfiguration."
"Cocker Bells," James said and the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open.
"I have to grab my stuff for Divination. Will you wait for me, James?" she asked.
"Sure."
"Thanks. I'll be right back," she promised and rushed up the steps to her dormitory.
When James could no longer see her, he leaned back on the wall. Calm down, James, he told himself, she doesn't really like you. She's just playing with you, trying to see how you react. She's just having some fun. But what are you going to do when you guys are alone for hours?
"Are you ready, James?" Lily asked as she came up to him.
"Huh? Oh, yeah," he said distractedly. She even smells like lilies, he thought absently.
"Cool, let's go then. I wonder who's dying today," Lily mused. He's so adorable, she thought happily.
When they finally got to Divination, Lily sat down with Sol and Cassandra. Despite the thing with Remus and Sol, her and Lily remained friends. "Hey, guys."
"My, my, don't you look chipper. What happened in between now and Transfiguration?" Cassandra asked with a slight smile.
"Does this have something to do with James? I saw you come in together and you were partners in McGonagall's class," Sol said mischievously. Lily was rarely this carefree.
"No! Well, yes," she said with a smile and a giggle.
"Well . . ." Cassandra prompted.
"Gimme details, honey!" Sol said enthusiastically.
"Did you decided to give him chance?" Cassandra asked.
"Are you gonna go out with him?" Sol added.
"Calm down, kids!" Lily said, laughing. Just then, James's head whipped around. Their eyes met and held until Professor Trelawney came into the room.
"Good afternoon, class," she said in her misty voice. "Todaywe will work with Tarot Card. Pair up with a different partner that usual. Once you are paired, you may begin." People shuffled around, looking for someone to pair with. Cassandra partnered with Sirius, and Sol with Remus. That left Lily and . . .
"James, will you be my partner?" Lily asked cautiously. James looked up at her and nodded. "Cool," she announced and sat down close to him. "Do you want to ask a question first?"
"Uh, sure. I know just what to ask. We don't have to say it out loud, do we?" he asked Lily uneasily.
"Mhm? Oh, no," she replied distractedly. James really had beautiful eyes.
"Good. Here we go, then," he said with a sigh. Will Lily ever love me? He calmly picked out the cards and put them in their correct spot. Lily dutifully flipped them over. That's when they heard a gasp from behind them.
"My children, who asked this question?" Professor Trelawney asked.
"Uh, I did," James admitted regretfully.
"This is a very interesting answer. You have plenty of good cards. Love in your life," she murmured. "But horror. Oh, I can't look at them anymore!" she announced and turned away. Lily looked at James and saw that his face had paled greatly.
"James? Are you okay? James?" she asked softly. "James? James, can you hear me?" When he didn't answer, Lily panicked. He looked so vulnerable and he was just sitting there, unresponsive.
As Lily tried to revive him, all James could see was a flashing green light. All he could hear was a high pitched laugh, and a woman's screams. And a child's helpless crying. Faintly, he could hear Lily call his name, but he couldn't answer. All he could concentrate on was that laughter - that sinister laughter - and those heart-wrenching cries. Until he felt someone's lips on his own.
Lily felt James become more aware as she sunk into the kiss. When she pulled away, James was looking at her with a confused expression. "Lily?" he asked tentatively.
"Oh, thank goodness," she sighed. "We'd better take you to the hospital wing, James."
"Huh? What? Why?"
"Just come on," Lily insisted as she pulled on his hand. "I'll be back, Professor. I have to take James to the Infirmary."
"Of course, child. He looks frightfully pale. You might as well take your books. I imagine Madame Monte will have you stay for a bit."
"Thank you, Professor," Lily said and rushed out the door, pulling James behind her.
"I wonder what that was all about?" Cassandra asked Sirius.
"I don't know. But it looks like Lily is finally coming to her senses," Sirius replied.
"Yeah. It's about time."
"Next thing you know, you'll be falling in love with me."
"Get a life, kid," Cassandra said sarcastically. Sirius, not easily discouraged, leaned over and gave her a kiss full on the lips.