Things Change: Chapter Seven

"Men"

(disclaimer: i do not own Harry potter, i'm just filling in the blanks of the past that JKR is hinting at in my own, amusing way. Enjoy!!!)

Thursday went by smoothly, except for the fact that Lily's mind was running overtime. She had been wondering about her mother's reply, because she hadn't received it yet. She kept telling herself that her mother might just be busy, or hadn't received her note yet, or there was a chance she was avoiding it.

But that was the least of Lily's worries right now. She could handle the fact that she was actually a witch, born to a wizarding family. But Lily wasn't sure if she could deal with the new feelings she was having towards James Potter. Lily couldn't deny that she had enjoyed his company last night. It was the first time he had talked to her and done something without trying to pull a stubborn stunt.

It was Thursday night, and she was sitting in Binns' classroom, and the only sounds were three quills scratching across parchment. Lily was sitting in the middle of the room, with Potter three seats down from her right, and Snape four seats to her left. They were writing lines, which they had been doing for the past two hours. Professor Binns was sitting at his desk, seemingly entranced by his very large book, which lay open for him.

Every now and then, Lily could detect incoherent grumbling from her left, and she would peer out of the corner of her eye at Snape. She didn't dare turn her head because she could tell that when he growled, he was looking their way. More specifically at Potter. His mumbling was growing louder, and Lily wasn't surprised that Binns' didn't take notice. Students often would whisper during his lectures and he was unaware of it, even after his death.

"I can't believe I'm wasting my time doing this," Snape hissed, his eyes glancing at Potter.

Lily looked over at James, wondering if he could hear him. He had.

"It's your fault you're in here, so stop complaining," Potter snapped back in a hushed tone.

"I believe you are the one who is to blame," Snape replied, setting down his quill. He was looking right over Lily's head, and she sunk down as if trying to disappear. She noticed that their strikes to his face had left a lasting effect on his nose.

James had pivoted in his seat, glaring at Snape. "Excuse me, but you were the one who threw the first punch." His eyes darted up front to Binns, who was seemingly unaffected.

"Only because you and your incompetent playmate thought it would be funny to turn me into a dog." As he said 'playmate,' Lily couldn't help but think he was referring to the start of term banquet. Her eyes were like tennis balls, bouncing back and forth from Snape to Potter.

"You're just jealous because he thought of it first and not you."

Lily snapped her head around and gave Potter a scolding look. "That is such an immature thing to say!" she retorted.

Binns was suddenly in front of her, and three pairs of eyes were on his gossamer figure. They were dead silent as he looked at them with a scolding expression. "This is detention and you will do well to keep quiet, lest I give you another hour." With one last glare, he turned around and hovered back through his desk, continuing to read.

Lily was still hunched over her parchment, writing the same sentence over and over again. Just as she was growing tired of hearing the tedious scratching, Potter started whispering again at Snape.

"You're just sore because you owe me."

Lily's attention was suddenly diverted again. Where had this come from? James Potter, the same boy who always tortured Snape, had a debt on him? Lily could hardly believe this. She hoped it wasn't anything like Black's repayment. Perhaps he was just trying to start a fight again. But Snape's reply confirmed everything.

"You only did it to save your own skin," Snape sneered, making sure to keep his voice low.

"But I did it none the less, and it's torturing you." James seemed to be sneering, and he caught Lily's confused glance. He lowered his own eyes to his parchment, seemingly embarrassed by her reaction.

Snape seemed highly amused by this. "I see your Mudblood girlfriend has to keep you in check," he snickered.

Before Potter or Lily could reply, Binns was hovering over the foul-mouthed Slytherin. "I do not take kindly to such language in my class room. You will remain here for another hour, writing me an apology for use of such terms."

Snape glowered at him and leaned over his parchment, his facial expression hidden by his greasy hair.

Binns turned to Lily and Potter, and with his usual morbid tone dismissed them. Potter eagerly stood up and rushed out of the room. Lily was right behind him, only keeping a slower pace. She couldn't believe she had almost replied that she wasn't a Mudblood.

"Sirius pulled a prank on him."

Lily looked up curiously at Potter. He had stopped after one flight of stairs and was looking at his feet. "What?"

"That's why I saved his life. Sirius pulled a prank and it backfired, nearly killing him."

"Oh," Lily replied, looking at the floor as well. He must have told her because he thought she was going to ask. But she honestly wasn't worried about it.

"He really irks me," he growled, slamming his fist into the wall. The portrait that was only inches away shrieked, glaring at him for coming so close to hitting her. He paid no attention. "The nerve to call you that. I just want to pound him into his grave."

What happened next surprised even Lily. Normally, she would scold James for acting so irrationally. But she didn't. She stepped closer to him, lightly placing her hand on his arm. She could feel his tense muscles beneath the blue sweater he wore, which brought out the blue in his eyes as he turned them to her in surprise.

"It's all right. Don't let him get to you." She smiled at him.

"But doesn't it bother you when he calls you that?" he asked, not moving his arm that was currently being touched by her slender fingers.

"It did," Lily replied, "but I finally decided not to waste my energy on someone who's not worth it."

"Am I worth it?"

His eyes were unwavering as he held her gaze in his. As Lily looked into his hazel eyes, she felt his other hand close over hers. She felt like her heart was trying to break out of its cage. These emotions were all too sudden. The soft touch of his hand, the look in his eyes...

Lily turned away, slipping her hand out from under his. She took a few steps up the staircase.

"Lily!"

She stopped, turning slowly. He was looking up at her, his face expressing he was waiting for her answer.

"You're starting to be," she whispered with a smile, and then raced up the stairs.

("Men")

"Now make sure to keep a good hold on the top of their roots: they tend to flail about if they're not secure," Professor Sprout stated as she displayed the lively plant in her hands. She was wearing her dragon hide gloves, as were all the students around Lily, to protect from the poisonous sting of the plant they were repotting. The roots, although safe to touch, could wrap itself around whatever it found and squeeze with all its might. But as long as they grabbed in the right spot, they would be safe.

"The Tenticalaus like to wiggle around, so make sure you have a good hold before you move them into the other pot," the plump woman advised, as she placed hers into a clay pot.

"Almost snake like, aren't they?" Black mumbled, gripping at his a little too tightly. The top part, which contained many hairs full of venom, shot some of its liquid at him, leaving scorch marks on his gloves.

"Black!" Sprout shouted at him. "Don't manhandle your Tenticalaus!"

"Yeah," Potter chuckled, "don't manhandle your testicalaus."

"Five points from Gryffindor," Sprout shot, "and next time, leave your crude humor at the door."

The boys remained quiet as Professor Sprout watched them repot their plants, and then she moved on to another table. Potter sneered at her.

"You two are really too much," Zora laughed, putting mulch around her Tenticalaus. She suddenly rubbed at her back with her gloved hands after lifting a bag of mulch from the ground.

"Are you all right, Zora?" Danyel asked, trying to push a stray root back into her pot.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little sore from riding my broom and practicing last night."

"You still think Zora can't make the team, Black?" Kassie asked Sirius, who was trying to stifle his laughter.

"It's not that. I know she can do it," he replied, winking at her. "I was just thinking about something that happened in detention the other night."

Before anyone could ask him to explain, Professor Sprout began to shout exasperatingly. "MISS MARX! DON'T USE YOUR WAND TO PUSH IT IN!" She ran to the other side of the greenhouse, where Crystal was fighting back her Tenticalaus with her wand, apparently trying to get it to stay.

Besides a few scorch marks on their gloves, Crystal was the only one to acquire injuries during Herbology that week. Her plant had managed to leave some nasty boils on her arms, but Madame Pomfrey cleared them up by dinner. Lily noticed that the incident had no affect on her energy. It may in fact have boosted it, if possible.

("Men")

Lily averted her attention from the Ravenclaw table back to her own housemates. Sirius was indulging in his usual eating habits. Kassie was watching him like a hawk. "Why do you insist on sitting by us? There's plenty of table."

"You should feel honored to be sitting with us. All those girls down there would kill to get your seat." Sirius looked down the table and they could hear a few fifth years squealing with glee.

"They'd probably die if they sat near you while you stuffed your face," Kassie smiled. "I for one am full, so I'm going to the common room. See you later!"

As Kassie stood up, Potter approached the table and put his hand on her shoulder. "I just talked to McGonagall, and she said we'll have the field Wednesday evening. So make sure anyone who you think is a good seeker candidate knows." Kassie nodded and turned away, disappearing into the hallway.

James sat down next to Black, snatching the turkey leg out of his friend's hand. "We don't need a fat chaser."

Sirius snarled and grabbed it back, biting into it. "I've yet to be fat, haven't I?"

"Evans."

Lily blinked at the sound of her own name. She realized that Potter was looking right at her, waiting for her attention.

"Yes?"

"We have detention tonight with Sirius. Supposed to help him clean the Owlrey."

Sirius laughed. "Bet you regret assigning me that detention now, huh?"

"McGonagall will be supervising," James said seriously, looking at Black.

"Damn!"

("men")

Because of McGonagall's watchful eyes, little was spoken between the three as they served their messy detention. Lily was grateful she didn't have to do this all week, like Black. After McGonagall was satisfied, she sent them to their dorms. Most of the students had already gone to their rooms, leaving behind a few classmates. The red headed first year was once again napping at the same table, but this time on a different book. Two fourth year girls were giggling in the corner, and then blushed when they saw Sirius.

Black smiled and held his arms to the side, letting himself fall onto a nearby sofa. "I'm beat!" he sighed, watching the girls run up the stairs to their dorm room. "Glad the weeks finally over."

"Well, I hoped you learned your lesson," Lily replied, sitting across from him in another fluffy armchair.

"Sure did: don't get caught."

James playfully bopped Sirius on the back of his head. "That's not the point."

"I know, I know." Sirius whimpered playfully. "You're no fun anymore, Pam."

"Of course I am. I just decided to grow up," James teased. When he caught Lily's eyes, she noticed a slight pink tone in his cheeks. James ran his hand through his hair, almost as if he was nervous. "Well, I'm going to bed. See you two in the morning."

As James disappeared up the stairs, Lily sensed Sirius gaze upon her. She turned. "Yes?"

"You did something to him, didn't you?" Sirius asked, his voice low and stern. It was as if she was a child being scolded by her father.

"What do you mean?"

Sirius pushed himself off the chair, and he slowly approached her. "Was it a potion?"

Lily only replied with a curious expression.

"Or maybe a hex."

"I don't have the slightest idea what you're getting at, Black," Lily retorted. She was finding the personal space between she and him was getting smaller.

"You did something to him. I know it. He hasn't been the same since he got here." Sirius was now leaning over her, his hands leaning on the arm rests to support his body. "I know, because I lived at his house this summer. He's different."

Sirius was practically touching her nose with his, and Lily was rather uncomfortable with this position. He had her trapped, much like James had the other night in the trophy room. But she doubted he was going to kiss her. Or was he?

"Black, please move."

But he didn't. His gray eyes looked deep into hers, and Lily couldn't help but swallow the nervous clump that had formed in her throat.

"You shagged him, didn't you?"

Lily's eyes suddenly widened in shock. "I did not!"

Sirius suddenly fell backwards, landing with a thud on the floor. He clutched at his sides as he went into a fit of laughter. "The look on your face!"

Lily scowled at him, jumping from her seat. She watched him tossing and turning, howling like a maniac. She didn't like being made a fool of. With a swift kick, Lily landed a painful blow to Sirius, right to his groin.

"Don't think I owe you anything for that, Black." Lily turned on her heels, her auburn waves bouncing around as she walked away from Sirius's howls of pain. "Men."