Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Catalyst, you insist to pull me down
You contradict the fact that you still want me around
And it's all downhill from here
And it's all downhill from hereDownhill, New Found Glory
'You know, it is customary for a gentleman to help a lady up in time of need,' despite the fact she was sprawled on the floor in front of him, she still managed to keep her bitter disposition.
His handsome face twisted into a dark smile. 'I shall let you know when I see one Evans.'
'No matter, from those tramps you so openly associate yourself with you wouldn't know a lady from a tart, and I don't really feel like waiting until you can tell the difference.'
'I see you still have that stick lodged up your arse Evans. Sirius will be disappointed, he was so sure it couldn't possibly stay in so long, he hates losing bets too.' His tone was sardonic but as the words came from his mouth he was helping her off the floor. His contradicting manner irked her a bit.
'Right this way m'lady,' he said in a mock posh voice. Scowling, Lily followed him down the hall. She couldn't tell immediately that the house was a large one, if not considered a mansion. The rooms she passed had fancy medieval themes. She felt so miniscule in such a grand setting, but James waltzed through it like it was no big deal.
They finally stopped in a modern beautiful kitchen. Over James's shoulder Lily could see a woman sitting at the table concentrating hard at a sheet of paper and pinching the bridge of her nose in concentration. Her hair was brunette and the resemblance between her son and she was slim until she turned to look at them. James had her eyes.
A huge smile covered her face as she shifted herself out of her chair, and engulfed Lily in a huge hug.
'Oh you must be Lily, it's so great to finally meet you. I'm Mrs. Potter, but please, call me Helen dear.' All Lily could do was manage a small smile. It was painful to be treated in such a daughterly way so soon. Too soon. She didn't want another mother figure, not now, not ever. She could see James rolling his eyes at his mother's actions, and she couldn't seem to help the urge to stick out her tongue at him.
'James, honey, will you please show Lily her room?' He groaned in annoyance and rolled his eyes again, reminding her of a little kid who had just been told he had to clean his room. Helen gave him a stern look.
'James-'
A new voice curtly ended her soon-to-be rant. 'Never fear Mrs. P, wherever there is a pretty damsel in need, a fellow such as myself would have all the pleasure in helping them-'
'Unhook their bra str-'
'James Harold Potter, that is enough! Sirius, I trust you'll help Lily get settled into her room then?' Lily studied Sirius he was carelessly lounging on one of the barstools, and she wondered how had she had not noticed him before. Aside from James, Sirius was considered to be the most attractive person in the school, and charisma practically radiated off of him. Dangerously sought after by the female population, and outrageously envied by the male.
'I am honored to be bestowed with such an privilege,' he said mock bowing. 'Lily darling, right this way.' He picked up her bag with ease and set off down the hall.
She hurried and followed in suit, but not before witnessing James fake gagging, and his mother boxing his ear. As she scampered after Sirius she caught bits of James being told off. Lily didn't care if it was because of her, he was getting what he deserved.
'Don't mind Jamsey Evans,' back to the surname then, 'he's still a bit sour due to the nasty rejections you let on him many a time.'
'That was fifth year, honestly, you would think he had the maturity to let things go like that.'
'Oh that's rich, when are you such a saint on this topic? One could say the same thing about you Evans. Your enmity towards James comes from his past actions, does it not? Things you have not yet let go, although the boy has clearly seen the light. The passed is etched in stone, pardon the kid already.'
His speech rendered her quiet. He was actually comparing her to the likes of Potter. She supposed one might say James was better behaved than before, but she wouldn't go as far to say 'has seen the light.' As she was wondering this they began to walk up a maroon carpeted staircase, which winded it's way up as far as she could look.
'Besides,' Sirius scoffed breaking the heavy silence; 'us marauders have a certain flare when it comes to holding grudges, best of luck this summer.' His menacing tone was a sure signal for trouble ahead. 'You'll need it.'
Two hours later Lily was sprawled out on her new luxurious bed, staring at the grand cathedral ceiling. She had definitely underestimated this house. If not a mansion, it had to be a castle. She knew the Potters must have been well off, must blue blood families were, but this was just incredible.
After Sirius had so gallantly guided to her to her private room a house elf immediately appeared at her side informing her he would be at her hand and foot during her stay at Potter Manor.
On the bright side, James was better behaved than she would have thought he'd be. His comments were more of a playful banter than of a bitter nature.
Just then a small knock resounded on her door and Slinky entered, or was it Blinky.
'Miss Lily, Mistress Potter would like you to be informed that dinner is ready in the main dining hall.'
'Thank you...you.' She finished lamely, having not finished remembering the house elf's name.
'Oh Miss Lily, you are very much welcome.' With that he disappeared again, and Lily realized that she did not have the slightest notion on where exactly the main dining hall was.
Half an hour later, after stopping to get directions from two portraits and one suit of armor, she unwillingly entered what must have been the main dining hall. To her chagrin the Potters and Sirius Black had already arrived, and judging by the house Sirius and James we're making out of silverware, it looked like they had been waiting for awhile.
'Oh, look who finally decided to join us.' James had looked up from his handiwork to see her come in.
'Shush James. Lily dear, I'm so sorry, it didn't occur to us you didn't know your way around here until it was too late.'
To her utmost agony, she saw the only place left was next to James, giving him a full chance to antagonize her all dinner. As she sat down, he muttered under his breath to her.
'Your hell Evans, Mum wouldn't let us start until 'the guest of honor' arrived.' Her only response to him was a swift kick under the table. A cry of pain from James caused everyone to look at him questionably, but he ignored them and went back to his dinner stabbing it fiercely and mumbling about evil redheads.
The dinner went along without many events, with Mrs. and Mr. Potter quietly mumbling about work, and James and Sirius clearly having a heated debate about something seemingly important in low voices. Probably quidditch, Lily thought.
Or it was what she thought until a tingling sensation began making it's way through her back. Suddenly she had the most unbearable urge to itch herself everywhere. She gripped her fork so tight trying to fight it her fingers began trembling. Her face contorted in complete agony, this was hell.
Looking across the table she saw that Mr. and Mrs. Potter did not notice the alteration in their guest, and she caught the fragment 'the Prewett's and Longbottem's...'
A loud noise quickly withdrew her from her puzzlement. James was chortling into his drink causing bubbles to rise to the surface, and Sirius was having one hell of a suspicious coughing attack into his napkin. Both of their mouths were twitching at the corners, apparently trying hard not to smile.
They didn't fool her though, the mystery was solved for Lily, and after discovering the culprits it made her even more determined not to give into the urge.
Mr. Potter seemed highly amused with the commotion. 'Sirius boy, chew your food, and James I thought we got out of the 'blowing bubbles' habit in grade school.' James's cheeks immediately colored offering some consolation to Lily, but her whole body was aching. Everything begged to be scratched, her hand were twitching in anticipation badly, and she couldn't wait until she was out of their presence.
Mrs. Potter, however, looked anything but amused. Her eyes slowly made their way from the state of the boys to the look on Lily's face, and she could see the gears turning inside her head. 'Alright boys, would one of you like to confess willingly, or do I have to drag it out of you?'
Sirius seemed to snap out of his coughing fit just in time, as his deceiving instincts kicked in. 'Mrs. P. you your lack of faith in us shames me. When have we other been anything but perfect angels,' Another snort from James, ' Honestly Helen I can see where you might doubt your own son, bless his troubled and disturbed mind, but when have I ever mislead your trust?' The bubbles in James's drink presently ceased, and he was now glaring daggers at his accomplice.
Sirius's false angelic ploy, neither moved nor swayed Mrs. Potter, as it had with many teachers before. 'Cut the crap Sirius, you two are full of baloney. You've 'mislead' my trust more times than I breathe in a day. Lily what did they do?' She said turning her attentions to the redhead. James and Sirius both threw eager side-glances at Lily. She was about to sell them out like a rat, but then a thought occurred to her. They wanted her to say something; they would never have been so obvious if they didn't. She knew from the past, they could very well hold a straight face, and could cover up their tracks as good as the best. Well, she would not give him the upper hand; she couldn't bear his smug satisfaction.
She shook her head trying to be nonchalant, 'Nothing. That I'm aware of anyway.' Her voice was overly controlled, and Lily was sure it would give her away. Stealing a glance at James she noticed a flicker of disappointment in his eyes, and Sirius seemed to carry the same downcast attitude.
Mrs. Potter frowned for a moment, but seemed to give in, 'Oh you boys...' She sighed giving them a once over before completely throwing in the towel, 'Very well then, I probably don't even want to know.' Hesitantly she turned back to Mr. Potter, who didn't have anything to say on the matter, but carried a slight grin on his face. They once again resumed talking in hushed whispers.
Excusing herself politely, Lily got up and began to walk at a fast pace down the hall, eager to get away. She had become familiar enough with this palace to at least make it back to her room, but as her luck would have, that moment did not come as soon as she thought it would.
Just as she was about to relieve the terrible sensations, the trouble duo caught up with her.
'Oy Evans!'
'Hey Evans, wait a minute will you.' Sirius hand came to rest on he shoulder pulling it back.
'What do you want Black?' She spat.
'Hold back on the biting remarks for a moment prissy, we just wanted a little chat.' His lip curled as he said this, and James quickly jutted him in the ribs, shoving him backwards.
'What my associate is trying, and falling most miserably, to say is that we couldn't help but notice your blatant restlessness at dinner, and were wondering if we could be of any service to you?' James tone was a taunting evil, she knew what he wanted. He was dying for her to finally admit her inferiority to him, That the infamous James Potter had finally pulled one over on the untouchable Lily Evans.
'I don't believe I know what you're talking about,' her skin was begging now, if she could just run one nail... 'Besides, when have you ever been one to offer help Potter, it certainly is a rare most unpleasant occasion.'
'It is exactly that Evans, but I thought maybe we could come to some sort of an agreement. You know, I scratch your back, you scratch mine sort of thing.' The words made Lily fidget in her spot, but she was not close to caving into her, her pride wouldn't let her.
'I can hardly be in a 20 foot radius without scratching your eyes out Potter, somehow, I don't think this deal you have in mind will work out.' The scathing remark tainted the air with hostility. James was about to respond with some equally, if not, worse but Sirius stopped him by putting his hand on James's arm.
'Well Evans, I can tell your just itching to get out of here so without much further ado will be on our way.'
As they turned to walk down the hall she heard Sirius mutter, 'Told you we should have done the whiskers, lets see her try to deny it then...'
Thirty minutes later Lily was lying on her bed, in a similar state as she had been for the last forty-five minutes. She had tried every spell she knew, which was quite an impressive quantity, to undo James's scheme with no avail.
Now her skin was sensitive, raw, and littered with red streaks from her frantic chafing. She could just picture James's flippant reaction when she saw him tomorrow and blanched. The worst part was; however, the perpetual sensation had not yet ceased.
If it was not at her expense, she may have applauded James on whatever he had used. A soft hoot brought her out of her revere; she glanced up to see a foreign snowy white owl glide through her window and land next to her.
Frowning, she untied the message and read it, almost grinning at the content.
Try taking a bath Evans, it works better on washing off Muggle itching powder.
Maybe he did have a heart, after all.
A/N:
Wow, I am so sorry at how long this took, it's shameful. I've been so busy with school and the World Series (Mass Native : LETS GO RED SOX, what curse?) I just didn't have the time. This Chapter is a shocking ten pages though, pretty long for me. I wrote this at like 12:30, so I didn't really get a chance to proof read...
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