Follow Your Feet

Chapter 1 – A Sense of Futility

James Potter stepped through Platform 9 ¾ alongside his best buddy, Sirius, and glanced around the crowded station. Hewas trying to look casual, but his best friend knew exactly what was on his mind.

"You're looking for her aren't you?" Sirius asked knowingly, rolling his eyes in exasperation, "why can't you understand that she's out of your league?"

James looked slightly hurt, but he grinned as a slight red tinge crept up his cheeks, "she's more important than my pride mate."

The sea of bobbing heads surrounded him, frustrating him in his search for what he thought of as 'his' girl.

The holidays had been difficult for James, being away from the girl who was so important to him had been near impossible. He had no photo, no contact with her whatsoever, and it was no consolation that he lived within a distance of 5 miles from her, seeing as she despised him. Sirius had stayed over, and they played quidditch most days. James found that this took his mind off her, while he got fitter. The outdoors had a great effect on his body. He was tanned, and he had a few lean muscles, the type that just rippled under the surface. James had shot up over the summer, and towered over his parents. Sirius often called him a bean, much to James' annoyance. Even if James didn't realize it, he could have almost any girl. Except for one girl. And to him, she was the only girl.

James suddenly glimpsed red in the midst of the crowd. He surged forward, his heart beating erratically. By now, he was unconsciously grinning, as Sirius, beside him, groaned.

Why? Sirius thought, the one girl who is too good for him, why her? Anyone else but her! And not only is she too good for him, she makes him act like a fool!

James' eyes were on Lily Evans, a popular girl in sixth year. She was smiling and joking with her friends, telling them of her recent exploits and adventures. A slight graze brushed her cheek, and she was explaining to them how she fell from a tree in the holidays. She laughed at her own stupidity. In between her story, she was flashing intermittent grins at a blonde boy standing near the train. James noticed that a soft feeling came over her eyes whenever she turned his way. Jealousy rippled through him, who was this boy? He would soon give him the message, loud and clear.

-

James finally reached Lily, and tapped her on the shoulder. She faltered in her story and turned around. Her face was very close to James Potter's. As soon as she noticed this, she jumped away, as if burnt.

"Oh it's you," she said, disappointed. James looked somewhat put out.

"Lily! I've been looking for you, how were you holidays?" A feeble attempt at conversation, he knew, but he felt as though he was floundering in the deep.

"Just fine, yours?" Lily seemed bored already. He knew she thought was was a loser and a waste of time and he could feel the futility of his conversation.

James tried to redeem himself, but he already felt it was pointless.

"I missed seeing you, you have no idea how much," he claimed with feeling. Lily coughed to hide her embarrassment, her cheeks were slightly pinker.

"Um … me too, you know what I really have to get going!" she laughed nervously, and slowly backed away.

-

OH MY GOD! How awkward! I feel sorry for him … why can't he just leave me alone and save himself and myself the embarrassment?? Lily thought. James Potter was popular, smart and had a great personality … apparently. All she could see in him was a bumbling fool. Well she could also see how good he looked, with his thick eyelashes shadowing his eyes gently. Sometimes, she found herself looking at him, and her heart would start to hammer, but then she remembered who he was, and the disappointment that seeped through her was intoxicating. Does he like me or something? Lily found it hard to reason out those little exchanges. They were as frequent as they were awkward, and she usually found a reason to dash off before she had the chance to find the real James.

-

As these thoughts were coursing through Lily, James was grimacing in frustration.

"Oh God! Why can't I just be normal around her? She makes me look like a goldfish, with my mouth opening and close and nothing but meaningless air bubbles coming out!" he yelled in frustration and agony as he pounded on his friend's chest with his fists. Sirius was used to it of course, and didn't say a word.

"Look mate, keep your voice down, your scaring the first years," Sirius said in a would-be soothing voice, if not for the slight edge of worry, "just forget about Lily, go after someone who is within reach, there are plenty of other girls, just look how successful I am with them. My secret is … look don't tell anyone mate, but … I go for the ones that I know won't turn me down." James looked down. His eyes had the hard edge of shame and sadness in them. Sirius almost felt the waves of disappointment radiating off him. He looked into the distance, where Lily was standing, yet again surrounded by a different group of friends.

He saw beautiful black face in the crowd, and knew exactly how James felt

Disclaimer – I do not own anything but the plot …and I'm slowly losing it.