Chapter Ten – Set Seating
A/N – Sorry! I have been in New Zealand for the last ten days! Hot Kiwis (as in New Zealand boys – not the species of bird) Tikis Snow Fun For Me!
Disclaimer – Nothing you may recognise here belongs to me! This includes J K's awesome characters, Nicholas Nickleby (I wish) and Anita's words of wisdom!
Lily sneaked a quick glance in James' direction from underneath her copy of Nicholas Nickleby.
James was sitting by the fire with Sirius, Remus and Peter, laughing at some private joke. A frown creased her forehead and even though Lily could tell Meg knew what the cause of it was; she couldn't bring herself to smile.
Ever since that fateful Hogsmeade visit when she had refused to play along with the prank on Severus, James had been practically ignoring her. It had been ages, and he didn't show any signs of breaking the silence. At first, Lily had tried to apologise to him, but then it had hit her.
She hadn't done anything wrong. So why on Earth should she be the one to apologise? He was the one being an insufferable git!
So, living up to her stubborn reputation, she had said nothing to James either. But that didn't mean she couldn't stare at him every once in a while, right?
Right?
As long James didn't notice, it was fine by Lily. Ignoring Meg's look of exasperation, Lily continued to stare at James. Even though she hadn't done anything wrong, and she did value the friendship that had sprung up between Severus and herself, she still wished he would just walk over and kiss her again like he had the night of the ball.
She still daydreamed constantly about that night.
Meg's voice broke through Lily's current daydream where James' armour hadn't broken up the kiss.
"Lily, are you coming to class? Lily? LILY!" Meg cried, snapping her fingers in front of Lily's face.
Lily jumped at the sudden noise and leaping to her feet, hurried after Meg, books in hand.
They got to the Muggle Studies classroom just in time, to find that James and co. had used some shortcut to get there before them. After quickly taking their seats, Professor Goodall started with her announcement.
"As part of our unit this semester, I have decided to host a Movie Night where we will view several Muggle romance movies. This will take place this Friday night. Snacks will be provided and uniform is not compulsory. Now that's out of the way, open your books to page 173..."
Lily smiled to herself. Trust Professor Goodall to find a way to make movie-watching part of the curriculum.
"Excuse me! Excuse me, Professor!" Sirius called from the back of the classroom.
Professor Goodall sighed deeply before turning to face Sirius.
"Yes Mister Black?"
"Will we be viewing these movies in darkness, by any small chance?" Sirius said, a grin spread across his face.
Professor Goodall nodded curtly.
"Splendid," said Sirius, thinking of all the things he could get up to in dark corners.
To Lily, the week passed by in a blur and before she knew it was Friday afternoon and she had less than an hour until the Movie Night started. She carefully brushed her soft red hair into a loose ponytail and changed into a pair of jeans and a simple black t-shirt. Looking quickly down at her watch, she cursed under her breath before rushing out of the room, down the stairs, into the common room...
And right into James Potter.
"Sorry," she said, blushing. She was unsure of what his reaction might be. Anger? Indifference?
"It's ok, Lil. No biggie," he replied, smiling softly at her.
She felt so relieved Lily thought she might burst. HE WAS FINALLY TALKING TO HER!
"Look Lily, about that day at Hogsmeade..."
Lily took a deep breath, not sure of what to expect.
"I'm sorry. I acted like a jerk... I – "
Lily placed a hand on James' shoulder to stop him.
"James, it's fine! Friends?"
And even though both of them wanted more, they shook on it.
They walked down to the Muggle Studies classroom together, making small talk to fill the silence. When they got there, they found a screen stretched over one wall and a number of beanbags with individual nametags facing it.
"Set seating eh?" James muttered.
Lily felt a sudden feeling of panic. She desperately hoped she wouldn't have to sit next to any of the Three A's, who were in this class. But she needn't have worried as she soon found she was sitting in an orange beanbag right next to James... with Severus on the other side.
Oh boy.
She sat down and settled in, her uneasiness increasing as the two said boys took their places next to her and the lights began to dim...
The first movie they watched was Casablanca. Lily struggled to hold back the tears as the movie progressed. And here was she thinking love stories were meant to end happily ever after.
"Of all the gin joints in the world she had to walk into mine."
Thanks for giving me puffy eyes Professor Goodall, Lily thought miserably.
In one particularly heart stopping moment, Lily took in a deep shaky breath. Her hands gripped the beanbag on either side of her but her emotions soon turned to surprise when she felt two different hands, one cold and one warm, cover her own. Her eyes flickered over to James who was looking at her with a slight smile on his face, his arm outstretched to cover Lily's hand.
Then she dared a glance in Severus' direction. His face was full of worry at her emotional reaction to the movie and his hand grasped her own as if expecting her to break down at any moment. But with her gaze upon his face, he appeared to suddenly remember what he was doing, and who with. He quickly withdrew his hand and snapped his head back to face the screen.
At the same time, James patted Lily's hand gently before withdrawing also.
Turning her attention back to the screen she noticed that the next movie had come on. West Side Story had always been one of her favourites and she found herself miming the words of the songs. It was in the middle of Anita's song to Maria that Lily's thoughts returned to Severus.
Severus was a suspected Death Eater. Of course she had always heard about it but she never liked to assume things on hearsay. But now she heard Anita's words and wondered if they applied to her friendship with Severus.
A boy who kills cannot loveA boy who kills has no heart
If Severus was a Death Eater, that meant he killed. Was Severus incapable of love? But she had no proof he was a Death Eater. Therefore, she had no proof he had ever killed anything. Besides that, Lily had seen Severus' heart at work when he was with her. Sure, he wasn't all sunshine and rainbows but he had come a long way from the brooding grease beetle she used to know.
Evans, you have yourself worked up over nothing.
Reaching for a packet of lollies nearby, Lily got comfortable for the last movie of the night. It was Sabrina. She watched awkward, shy Sabrina fawn over the highly attractive and suave David.
It was kind of like Lily's feelings for James.
Then Sabrina went to France, got a makeover and grew up and when she returned, David finally noticed her.
Well, James had finally noticed Lily this year.
But then Linus, David's brooding and serious older brother, entered Sabrina's life.
Severus is exactly like Linus, Lily thought to herself.
Lily was pretty sure she had the whole movie sussed out. Surely Sabrina would get what she had wanted all along – David. Linus' presence was merely something to keep the story interesting.
But then Sabrina ended up with Linus.
There had to be a mistake. Was there more to the movie? But the rolling credits confirmed Lily's fears. Sabrina had ended up with Linus. So did that mean she would end up with Severus? Was she falling for Severus? Why was it that she had stood up for him like that in Hogsmeade? After all, even friends play pranks on each other.
No. There was nothing more. She was just worried about him – Lily knew the extent of Sirius' mischief and despite their innocent faces, the Three A's could easily become malicious... especially Bad Alice.
All the same, as soon as the credits had rolled and the lights had come back on, Lily walked out of the room as quickly as she could. She couldn't face Severus or James at that moment.
Not when she had so many doubts in her mind.
A/N – Ok so I don't really like this chapter all that much.
But oh well! At least it's out!!!