Disclaimer: of course I don't own any of JKR's characters. Gee.
Chapter 4—In The Astronomy Tower (God, no, not what you're thinking.)
James couldn't sleep. It's been a rather long day, what with all the homework he's getting and Professor Adrian blew up at him again for trying to curse Snape while he wasn't looking. And he's having that dream again, but every time he was about to see her face he wakes up, this time it was by Peter's snoring. Damn that kid snores like the thunder.
So now he can't go back to sleep, not with everything on his mind. James decided that a nice stroll around the castle ought to clear his head somewhat. It's Friday anyway. Maybe he could go to the Astronomy Tower, it's always nice there with the stars and all. Just hope it's not already "occupied". He'll never forget what he saw during one of his night strolls.
Not that much was on his mind actually. Just Lily. How pathetic. He scowled himself.
Ever since Lily came to Hogwarts he'd been having strange thoughts. And he was very, very curious about her. She's uncommonly innocent, unlike any other girl in their year. At times she might seem naïve, like in Potions today, when she asked Lucius Malfoy rather politely why he picks on the first years. But there is something about her that unsoundly demands respect. A shocker was that Professor Adrian seems to be afraid of her. She always stands up to him, but she does so in the tone of discussing the weather. And she never does it out of anger, it's like she's telling him rather sincerely what he did was not nice and trying to convince him to be a better person. People laughed at that but James loved it.
There we go again, it's always Lily this, Lily that. She's only been here for two weeks and you've been thinking about her for two weeks. Get a grip!
Before James knew it, his feet have already carried him to the entrance of the tower. He waited to see if he could hear anybody talking inside. No. It's safe to go in.
He wasn't prepared, however, to see Lily Evans stretched out on her back with her hands behind her head, staring up at the stars in the sky. The loose strands of her auburn hair would occasionally sway around her face by the breeze. A tiny smile was on her face and…and… He's never seen a sight so beautiful.
Before he could do anything, she turned her head and looked at him. Their eyes met in the dimming light.
Suddenly it's hard to breathe. He could feel his heart pounding in his ear. His cheeks started burning, and the flip-flopping in his stomach is out of control. He felt light headed and his feet seemed to be rooted on the spot. God it almost felt like a sin to look at her. In the moonlight she resembled an angel, his angel, sent from the heavens. He felt shy now, and wondered if Lily could see how red his face was.
"James!" she called brightly, "nice to see you here!" Good, she didn't seem to notice anything.
"H-Hi Lily." Get your act together Potter!
"What are you doing here so late?" she asked with mild interest.
"I –uh- couldn't…" for God's sakes I thought you're supposed to be witty and smart, so why don't you say something intelligent with more than one syllable "I couldn't sleep." Pitiful. And of course he didn't tell her the cause for his sleeplessness was mainly her.
"Come sit with me then." By now she was sitting up and patting the floor next to her, inviting him with a genuine smile on her face. James obligingly went over to her and sat down, Indian style.
Lily turned her head towards the sky again without speaking. After watching her for just another minute, James followed her gaze and found himself looking at a clear sky, so clear that the stars seemed to be a lot more closer to the ground than he remembered.
"They are beautiful, aren't they?" Lily said in a whisper without looking at him.
"Yeah…" then James turned his eyes to her again, taking in her face still looking up at the stars, her eyes so peaceful, her lips so full, and the cute little freckles dusted across her nose…. "Beautiful…" he whispered involuntarily.
"I use to learn about them, the stars, what they tell, about the past and the future." Lily said. "but I'm not good at it."
"It always amazed me that some of the stars we see now might no longer exist. We are just looking at the light they emitted years and years ago." James told her, getting more comfortable in her presence.
"Yes, their light lives on, for years, and years, and years."
"Sirius is pretty good at Astronomy." James said, remembering his best friends obsession with stars and constellations.
"The one who eats six servings every morning?" Lily grinned at him.
"He's the one." James laughed too.
"Sirius. Sirius is one of Orion's hunting dogs!" Lily said brightly, pointing at a constellation in the sky. "In Canis Major. It's the brightest star in the night sky!" (A/N: this is actually accurate information, although I don't think you could see the Dog Star that easily in the fall where this story is currently taking place, I think.)
"Yeah, he is like a dog." James said, thinking about Sirius' animagus form. "His family must have a thing for stars. He has a brother called Regulus and a cousin called Bellatrix."
(A/N: in case you're wondering which you probably aren't, or you already know this stuff, but Bellatrix is a star in the constellation Orion--the hunter, and Regulus is the main star in Leo the lion. I'm just a little bit obsessed with astronomy. Anyways on with the story.)
"He's your best friend?" it wasn't really a question.
"Yup, has been since I can remember. But Remus and Peter are also my best friends." James, you're sitting in the astronomy tower next to a fallen angel and you're talking about Sirius and your other friends. Doesn't it seem a bit odd to you? Oh shut up, I'm enjoying myself.
"Your friend Remus, he's a werewolf isn't he?" Lily asked simply.
That knocked James off his rocker. "Wha-what? How do you know?!!" How did she know? Merlin this is not normal!
"I sensed it was him, I've seen his wolf in the forbid… no never mind." She caught herself just before she said too much. But James caught on.
"What??!!?? You've seen him????" something's off here. James thought. "but the last full moon was before you came!" yes something's majorly off about her. And in the times we talked she never really said anything about her past except she learned about the stars. First she couldn't operate eating utensils and now this.
"I can't tell you everything now James, but you can be sure that his secret is safe with me. I honestly think Remus is a good person." Lily said quickly wishing James could drop the subject.
"Ok Lily. But you can trust me. Really." James said solemnly looking straight into her eyes. God, please let her trust me. "and promise me you'll tell me when you're ready?"
"I promise."
A/N: I've tried making my chapters longer but it's just not coming to me. Anyways here's chapter 4. Reviews are very much appreciated. and Merry Christmas everybody!!! Sad that my family dont celebrate Christmas, so the only present i'm likely going to get is your reviews. yes i'm throwing myself a pity party. well at least i have time in the holidays to write chapter 5.
PammaPoo–Thanks for the idea! I like it a lot, might use it in the next chapter!
GSCer –Just wanted you to know that it's your first review that prompted me to update and got me off my ass to start working. Thanks.