It's not mine; it's J.K. Rowling's.
Chapter 9: In which James Comes to the Rescue
Or
In which James Tell off his Aunt
James stared at the wall where Lily had just been leaning, open mouthed. Gods forsaken secret passage ways! He pulled out his wand and walked over to the wall. Now he just had to figure out what she'd been doing to trigger the passage way that had pulled her in. Ok, she'd been running her fingers over the mosaics. He ran his hand up and down the mosaic and then went horizontally. Nothing worked. Damn it. He was going to need some help.
When he entered the kitchen at a run, his family, who had been animatedly chatting about Lily, stopped short.
"James?" his mother said, looking at him questioningly.
"Lily got eaten by a secret passage way in the small library. I think she triggered it by touching the mosaics on the fire place. I just wanted to know if anyone knew about that particular one..." James shot a hopeful glance at his relatives.
"You mean the one that connects to the attic?" His aunt Liza asked.
"I don't know, how do you trigger that one?"
"I think you have to rub the wings of the platofish."
"Thanks!" James called, already running out the door.
He heard his mom say, as he ran down the hall, "Were you that worried about me when I got stuck in that secret passage in our shower, Tristan?"
That was his mothers favorite complaint. Apparently, they'd just gotten back from their honeymoon and she'd gotten sucked into a secret room off of the shower that triggered if you picked up the soap at exactly 9:15 in the morning. She'd been stuck in the tiny dark room, naked, for 4 hours before his dad even noticed she was gone and then for an additional 3 hours while the whole family scoured the house for her. In the end his dad had found her, but she'd was very pissed off by that point. James didn't blame her, but he had no intention of making Lily wait 7 hours.
Back in the library, he pulled out his wand and carefully ran his fingers over the platofishes wings. He felt a sick feeling and then he was in the passage.
"Lumos," he said, his wand light nearly blinding him in the dark. Lily was huddled against the opposite wall, curled in the fetal position.
"Lily," he said, kneeling by her and pulling her into his arms. She clutched him to her like she was drowning and he was her life preserver. He gently picked her up in his arms, it was pitifully easy, as always. She really needed to eat more. Holding up his wand, he located the exiting panel and pushed it. Then they were back in the library. He went over and sat down on the couch, keeping Lily close.
"I'm so sorry, Lils. I didn't even know there was a passage there. Gods, I bet you wish you'd never agreed to come. I just didn't realize you'd have such an awful time," he rambled on, really glad she didn't seem to be trying to kill him (His dad swore that as soon as he'd gotten his mom out of the shower room she'd tried to break his nose, his mother claimed that he was exaggerating, she'd only been trying to give him a black eye).
"I'm not having an awful time," she told him, her eyes still slightly panicked, "I like being here with you."
James grinned at that. She smiled at him and, in general, looked pretty damn kissable, so he did what any sane man would do; he kissed her.
It was nothing fancy, just a short kiss, but when it ended Lily was curled in his arms, obviously feeling much better.
"I think I've had enough of the small library," Lily told him clearly wanting to get out of there.
"How about a tour of the big library?"
"Is it really bigger than this one?"
"Yep."
"I would like to see it..."
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" He said, helping her off of the couch.
The big library was an impressive place with its towering shelves of books that stretched two stories high. James pulled the spell chain and the glittering light globes his many time great-grandfather had installed lit up.
Lily looked at him. "Don't worry, there aren't any secret passage ways in here," he told her. Well, except for that one, he thought, but she probably wouldn't find it.
She wandered around the room, her hands skimming the tops of the books. "They're not dusty," she said.
"No," he agreed, "There's an anti-dust charm."
"James," she said pulling her eyes away from the books to meet his, "I knew your family was pureblood, but you never said anything about," she made a gesture that encompassed the entire house, "All of this."
James dropped his gaze. Sure, he'd been an arrogant prat for most of his school career, but he'd bragged about his accomplishments, not his families. "Oh, I don't know, it's just where I live. My whole family lives like this, so it was normal to me and when I found out it wasn't, well...normal, I was rather embarrassed really, so I never talked about it."
Lily nodded, "I guess I see, but it seems pretty impossible that you could think this was normal."
"It grows on you," he told her.
"You grew on me," Lily said, putting her arms around his neck.
He smiled at her, "I love you."
"I love you too."
They stood there, just holding each other for a few minutes in silence and James took the opportunity to listen to her heart beat. It sounded to him like their hearts were in sync.
Then Lily broke the quiet, "Haven't you always wanted to make out in the library?"
"Ummm...no," he said laughing, "But if you want to, we most certainly can. No one ever uses the charms section, so we could try there."
"Hey! I use the charms section."
"I know," he said, kissing her gently.
"Cough...hehm...hehm."
James pulled away from Lily and turned around to see that his dad was standing in the doorway, trying to suppress a grin.
"Better not let Edna catch you at that unless you want her sitting outside Ms. Evans door with knitting needles all night."
James put on his most innocent face, "But, sir, she forced me to."
Lily slapped his arm, feigning outrage.
"She's a temptress; how's a man supposed to resist?"
His dad laughed, "You'll just have to suck it up James. I have faith in you...or at least I have faith you can find a nice unused room..." he trailed off thoughtfully.
James smiled at Lily who was quietly laughing, her eyes dancing. "Did you need us for something?"
"Ah, well, your mother was worried that, judging from the size of Ms. Evans bag, she didn't bring a dress for New Years."
Lily turned and looked at him, "Dress?"
"Shit," he groaned, "I completely forgot to tell you. I was so happy you were coming at all I just...I'm sorry...I can fix this though. We can go shopping and find a dress."
Lily looked unsure.
"Don't worry; it'll be on me. Since it is my fault you didn't bring a dress."
"No, no, that's ok, James. I was just thinking that shopping probably wasn't your thing. I could just go by myself."
"Don't be silly," James said, "I would love to drag you into dress shops and make you try on sexy dresses."
"Actually," his father interjected, "Krista wants to take her. Since Boy's Day is tomorrow, Lily would need something to do anyway..."
"That's a great idea! Mom's the best shopper ever. If she weren't such a great counselor, she could probably make her living at it."
"Yes, I'm sure she could," his dad said, grinning fondly. "Well, it's about time for the annual swim. Maybe you could show Lily to her room and get her to put her suit on."
Lily didn't even say anything, she just looked at him.
"Oops."
"Your mother expected as much," Mr. Potter said ruefully, throwing her a suit. "It should be about the right size, but James can always transfigure it a bit."
"Thanks," Lily said, eyeing the skimpy two piece his dad had thrown at her with apparent suspicion.
James grinned, "Tell Aunt Mary thanks."
"Yes, we all voted to borrow one of her bathing suits. We figured you'd appreciate the effort. I'll just leave you guys to it then. Try not to get into too much trouble."
"Thanks Dad," James called after him. "I guess we better go," he said to Lily.
Lily was quiet as they walked down the halls, her hand tucked in his, they soon reached his room. Lily would be staying in the room across from his. If his relatives had known he was bringing home a girl, they probably would have arranged things differently, but it was too late now. He'd just have to suffer. Darn.
Opening the door to her room, he led her in. "Well, here we are. My room's right across the hall, so if you ever need anything just come on over and ask. After you get dressed you can come over and get me."
Noting the overwhelmed sort of look on Lily's face he asked, "Is everything all right?"
"No."
He waited for her to continue, she didn't.
"So what's not ok?"
"I can't wear this," she said, flipping the bathing suit into his face.
"Why not?"
"Look at me, James, and don't say 'oh, you're perfect' because we both know that's a lie!" Lily started crying, leaving James feeling helpless. To him, she was perfect.
"Lily," he said, reaching out to take her in his arms. She flinched back as though his touch would burn her. "Lily, you don't have to wear the bathing suit if you don't want to; we don't even have to go swimming."
"You don't understand, James!" That was the understatement of the century.
"Please," she whispered, "Just leave."
"No, Lily, not when you're hurting like this."
She looked at him, her eyes already red and tear tracks marring her face; he felt as if his breath had been snatched away. She looked beautiful, shining; he had to try and tell her.
"You are," he said, pulling her reluctant hand into his, "The most beautiful, intoxicating, fun, amazing woman I've ever met and it's not a wonder I can't stop thinking about you. I know something's bothering you, just tell me what it is; let me help."
She looked at him for a moment. "I'll put the damn suit on," she said, snatching it from where it had landed on the floor and stalking to the bathroom, leaving James trying to stutter out a reply.
James wasn't sure that her giving in was a good thing. When they fought at least he knew where she stood, but now he still had no idea what was bothering her. He was completely hopeless when it came to figuring out women, but it was pretty obvious that Lily didn't have a great opinion of her body and he had no idea how to fix that.
Sighing, he went to his room and put on his swim trunks (no speedos, I know you're disappointed). Lily knocked quietly on his door a few minutes later.
"Come in."
She had a huge t-shirt, one that looked suspiciously similar to one he'd 'lost' a few months ago, on.
"That looks familiar," he said, grinning as she blushed. Pulling her into his arms, he wondered what they were going to do about these crying fits. Then he was hit with inspiration, "Lils, how about after dinner we sit up in the small library and talk?"She nodded, good, that was settled.
Swimming at Christmas was a Potter family tradition that had started when his grandfather had pushed his grandmother in the pool as a joke. When they reached the pool, most of his relatives had already jumped in and jumped out. Probably the only reason they bothered with it at all was that it was James' favorite tradition. Really though, swimming at Christmas, is that not awesome? Now the adults were lounging on lawn chairs next to the windows, looking out at the quickly darkening sky. They spotted James and Lily and they all waved.
"Jump in," Aunt Mary called; she was in another of her bikinis with Uncle Joe wrapped around her waist.
Joe smiled at Lily, "Didn't like the bathing suit?"
"Oh, no, it's fine," she said, fidgeting uncomfortably in the baggy shirt.
Now standing on the edge of the pool, James felt his entire family watching him. He knew what he was supposed to do; the first time you brought your girlfriend, finance, wife, or whatever, to Christmas you were supposed to push them in the pool. Only if you were serious about the girl, of course. His sane side knew that Lily would kill him if he tried to throw her into the pool, but he ignored it. He wrapped his hands around her waist and picked her up.
"No!" She cried, but it was too late; he'd already let go.
She came to the surface of the water looking adorable, sputtering water, trying to look crossly at him and at the same time get the hair out of her face. He was more painfully aware now than ever of his family watching him.
Lily scowled, "Well Mister I-Throw-My-Girlfriend-Into-The-Pool-For-Fun, aren't you going to help me out?" She held out her hand to him.
Grasping it firmly in his, he knew instantly that he'd made a mistake. There was an unmistakable gleam in Lily's gorgeous eyes that said, 'I've got you now.' He felt her tug his hand and he lost his balance, teetering toward the pool. Then he crashed in beside Lily. Pushing to the surface, he glared at her. She grinned. His relatives clapped.
"I can't believe you pulled me in," he said.
"I can't believe you threw me in," she replied, backing up as he moved toward her until her back was up against the wall.
James was maybe a 2 feet away from her when he stopped. "You're mine," he whispered.
"Only if you catch me," she said impishly and dove under the water.
So they were off chasing each other around the pool. Finally, exhausted, they gave up. James helped her out of the pool and over to where his family all sat smiling and talking. Lily started tugging off his baggy waterlogged shirt while he pulled up the only remaining chair for them to share.
When he turned to look at her, he froze. Now, the casual observer would have said he was captivated by the sight of Lily in a bikini, which admittedly was a rather nice sight, but what had caught his attention was her back as she bent over the small railing hanging his former shirt to dry. The scars on her back stood out, fiercely red against her pale skin. He shot a glance at his family; they hadn't noticed yet.
He started toward her, grabbing a towel, and he was almost there when his Aunt Reese, in her usual tactless style, cried, "Dear Lord, poor girl, what have you done to your back?!?"
Lily froze like a deer in the headlights and then whipped around hands going behind her in an effort to hide the scars. James dropped his stealth and ran to her side throwing the towel over her shoulders, but it was too late everyone; had seen.
James' mother said in her matter of fact counselors voice, "Those are whip marks."
Lily looked positively frightened. Her hands were gripping frantically at the towel. James put his hands on her back, wishing that they could both be far away. He didn't know what to do. Should he drag her out of here? What would he tell his parents?
"You should let me look at those dear, I'm very good with scars," his Aunt Marie, the healer, said. Lily didn't respond, she just shifted closer to James.
"Would you?" James responded eagerly for her. "I would feel a lot better if you looked at them."
"Of course I will dear," she said, standing up. "It won't hurt at all, sweetie, I'm just going to look at them," she reassured Lily as she placed her hands on Lily's shoulders and spun her around, pulling the towel off.
Lily buried her face in James' chest, and he gently stroked his fingers over her wet hair.
Aunt Marie hissed in astonishment, "These haven't been seen by a healer, have they?"
James shook his head. All of his relatives were trying hard not to look, but they couldn't seem to help themselves.
Marie put the towel back over Lily's shoulders, "Why don't we go upstairs to your room so I can work on these?" Lily nodded hesitantly.
James made to follow them as the left, but Aunt Marie stopped him, "I'll come get you when I'm done."
Now what was he supposed to do. He sighed, turning around tiredly and rubbing his eyes. Could this day get any worse? Not that it started out badly though, he thought of Lily's devilish grin and Sirius' pink hair. It was hard to believe that this was the same day. It seemed so impossible that the strong, sexy, tempting woman he'd made out with on the train was the same scared, hurt, shivering one that he'd held in his arms moments ago.
"How did it happen, James?"
James jerked his head up; he'd forgotten that he was surrounded by his family.
He sighed, "Voldemort." That was all he needed to say; they understood.
"She's muggleborn?"
"Yes."
"So it was just for entertainment?"
He saw what they were getting at. The Potter family was in danger as it was for their stance against Voldemort; they didn't need to take in another person who had angered him. It would put James in danger, but he didn't care about that.
"Apparently she angered him some how,;I've never really gotten the details," He said addressing their fears and confirming them.
"James," his mother who moved from her seat and pulled him into her arms. She brushed her fingers gently through his hair, rocking him in her arms.
His Aunt Edna wasn't as gentle, "How could you invite her here? A mudblood isn't worth the risk. Find yourself a decent girl and bring her home, not some walking death notice."
James stared at her for a few seconds and then vented his frustration, his helplessness, "How dare you call her that!" He cried, pulling from his mothers arms, "How dare you presume to judge her! You don't know her at all. She's worth 10 times any pureblood! I've been in love with her since 5th year; how can you tell me she's not worth it? How can you even pretend to understand? Do you think she wanted me to love her? Because that's not true. In fact, she was so scared of hurting me, she tried to end our friendship. I had to beg her to even look at me. I had to convince her that whether we were together or not, I would still love her and die for her. And now you tell me that it was 'worthless'. That the most amazing woman I've ever met, who I can picture spending the rest of my life with, isn't worth the risk of loving. That the possibility of marrying her and having children with her isn't worth it. Well, you know what? It is worth it. She's worth that and so much more. But if you can't see that, fine. I have no problem taking Lily back to Hogwarts and spending Christmas with her there." James finally stopped, practically frothing with emotion.
"Nonsense," his mother said, "If Edna has a problem with Lily, she will spend Christmas elsewhere."
His dad stood up joining the action for the first time; as the patriarch of the family what he said would go. "Come on, boy," he said, walking toward the door.
James hesitated. What was going on? This wasn't the judgment he'd expected that would end the argument one way or another.
His dad turned around and looked at him, "Well, are you coming?"
"Where?"
"I assume we'll be needing to chat about defensive spells and such for Ms. Evans, and really, the sooner we get started, the more likely that we'll be able to finish them and use them as her Christmas presents."
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Thank you to all of my reviewers! I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint.
I'll answer questions/comments from chapter 8 next chapter because I don't have time right now.
Daystar: happy turkey day