Chapter Eleven

Around the school, across the grounds and into Hogsmeade, James was a perfect gentleman. He held her hand and they shared friendly conversation. Lily was surprisingly happy throughout their little chat, and she couldn't help the sudden disappointment when he dropped her hand as they entered the Three Broomsticks. He did, however, pull out her chair for her.

"Thank you," she said approvingly as she took her seat. "I've never seen this side of you before, James."

He was grinning. He loved hearing her say his name, instead of 'Potter' all the time. "I'm just trying to prove to you that I am boyfriend material." She sighed.

"James, I -" But James interrupted her, by giving his order to a young, cheery Madame Rosmerta.

"I'll have a butter beer." he said, then he lifted his eyebrows at Lily. "I'll have a pumpkin juice, thanks."

"Coming right up, dearies." Then she walked away, though Lily noticed a knowing smile and a sparkle in her eye as she looked at the two of them. Lily turned to James, but before she could speak again, he did.

"So - do you know how you did on the exam yet?"

Lily shook her head. "Professor Jammes usually tells me the next day. Either that, or she announces it as the highest grade in the class. You know that."

"Yeah, I had a feeling you were in with Professor Jammes to get me kicked out of Hogwarts." he said with a playful smile.

"What?" Lily giggled.

"Oh, you know what I'm talking about. You and she are Co-Presidents of the 'I-Hate-Potter' club." Lily suddenly burst out laughing, making James' heart melt.

"Well, we're the only two in the club, then. Everyone else in this school loves you!" She said as their drinks were placed in front of them.

"No, I can actually think of two others who could join in your ranks." James said, taking a swig of his butter beer.

"Who?" Lily challenged.

"Malfoy and Snape." he said simply.

Lily nodded. "Oh. Yes."

"And any other Slytherin, for that matter." he said.

"No, I'd say every Slytherin male, for every girl in this school is smitten with you, regardless of house!"

"Well, all except one." he said, raising his eyebrows over his drinking glass. Lily just sighed.

"James, I don't hate you, contrary to popular belief." she said, a smile tugging at her lips though she was honestly trying to be serious. "I've come to learn that you are a very nice young man and I... I was wrong about you." She couldn't believe what she was saying as she stared at her hands in her lap. "I can only apologize for misjudging you over all these years and tell you that I hope we can put all this behind us and be friends." Then she looked up at him for a response.

Inside, James was ecstatic. Finally! But James kept his composure by simply smiling. "Thanks, Lily. I really appreciate that." She just nodded and took a sip of her drink. Then he shook his head.

"But why are we talking about me? We're here because of you!"

"What?" she said, nearly choking on her drink. "It's you grade!"

"Which I wouldn't have gotten if you hadn't been such a wonderful teacher."

"Yeah. Me. A teacher." she said mockingly.

"I'm serious Lily! I don't know what your plans are after Hogwarts," I am so smooth, James thought. "But I think you could definitely have a future here at the school."

"Nah, I'm not really into teaching." she said waving him off, looking intently at her drink.

"Well, what are you considering?" James asked, his curiosity peaked.

"Well, I've really been interested in..." but her voice trailed off and she looked up at him shyly. "You don't want to hear about this."

Oh, yes I do! "Come on, I really do. Tell me." he said encouragingly.

"Well," she began reluctantly, "being muggleborn and all, ever since I learned about the wizarding world and stuff, I've always been interested in the Ministry. And when I first heard of the Department of International Magic Cooperation and the Department of Mysteries, that's what I've always wanted to do, one of the two."

"Interesting." James said, in awe of how this could so perfectly fall into his lap. "So, you didn't know that my parents work for the Ministry?"

"No, I didn't." Lily said curiously.

"My father is one of the few people who is hunting You-Know-Who, and from his owls, it looks like he getting really close."

"Interesting." Lily said with a smile.

"Anyway, I could always ask him to put in a good word for you with the Minister."

"Oh my gosh - James!" Lily's heart started beating faster, her dreams becoming a vague reality. "You would do that for me?"

"Of course. I'd do anything for my Lily flower." She suddenly covered his hand with hers and looked up at him with those dazzling green eyes of hers. "Thank you, James. That would mean so much to me." He was lost in her eyes for a moment, then he shook himself.

"Then it's settled. I'll owl father after practice... oh, damn! Practice! Lily, I'm so sorry, I forgot about quidditch practice. I'm going to have to leave you." He stood and quickly fished in his pockets, placing two gold coins on the table. He then turned to leave, but stopped.

"Thanks for all your help, Lily." he said, then taking her chin gently in his hand, he kissed her softly on the cheek. "You're the best." Then he ran to the door. Looking over his shoulder at a stunned Lily, he laughed silently, then rushed off to practice.

---

Lily sat in the common room with Nancy and Jenny, trying to change the direction of her thoughts. She struggled to keep her mind clear of beautiful hazel eyes and friendly smile, the lips that had kissed her so gently that it sent her pulse racing... but it was very difficult. She had all but admitted to herself that she no longer hated James Potter as she thought she always would. She found that she was growing rather fond of him. He made her laugh, her made her feel special - he made her happy.

"Hello? Lily? Earth the Lily?" Nancy said waving a hand in front of her face.

"Sorry, Nance."

"And what were you in such deep thought about?" Jenny asked, bumping her with a shoulder.

"Um, charms." she said quickly.

"Charms, huh?" Nancy said, winking at Jenny. "Are you sure you weren't thinking of the charming James Potter?"

"What made you say that?" she said innocently, her ears turning pink.

"Oh, I don't know. You're always laughing, smiling, blushing in his presence." said Nancy.

"Everybody thinks you two are an item." Jenny said.

"What!?" Lily was fumbling for words, wondering what the rumors could be about her and James. She didn't even have time to really analyze her feelings for him and already tongues were wagging.

Suddenly, the entrance to the common room behind the Fat Lady opened and students piled in. Lily stopped talking when a young man who was walking by smiled at her. "Hey, Lily." said the deep masculine voice of Travis King, the gorgeous Gryffindor Keeper, who was walking along side his friend Frank Longbottom, a somewhat clumsy, somewhat attractive, all-around good guy.

"Hi, Travis." she said, as she watched him climb up the boys dorm stairs. He looked over his shoulder to flash a smile, then he was gone.

"Ooooooh, Lily!" Nancy said.

"That's what I was trying to tell you!" Jenny said, getting Nancy's and Lily's attention. "He asked me about you the other day. He was wondering if you and James were together, and when I said no, he got all relaxed and smiled and said 'Good.'"

"Dang, Lily!" Nancy said, shoving Lily while she smiled embarrassedly.

"Lily, he is so into you." Nancy said confidently.

"Oh, hush, both of you." Lily said. "That doesn't mean anything."

"Wanna bet?" Jenny said. "I heard that he was going to ask you out."

Lily froze then looked at her in shock, "Really?" she asked quietly.

Suddenly they all burst into excited giggles.

---

The Marauders sauntered into the common room late that night for dinner. James suddenly stopped walking, however, and grabbed Remus' arm.

"Moony, why is Lily sitting with Travis King?" Remus turned and looked where James' eyes were affixed, and he sighed.

"I dunno, James. I thought I heard he was going to ask her out over the weekend at a trip to Hogsmeade."

"Where did you hear that?" James asked incredulously.

"I overheard Travis telling Frank in the dorm." Remus patted his arm sympathetically, then went to go sit down.

James, however, was fuming. He could feel hot anger and seething jealousy flooding through him. James had assumed that he had made it clear to the entire world that Lily was his. Maybe she didn't know it yet, but someday, she would be his. And Travis, of all people, a fellow quidditch player, should have understood that. But no - he was moving in on James ground. And it made him furious.

As he watched Lily sitting with Nancy and Frank, though playing and laughing with Travis, he clenched his jaw and unclenched his fist and walked to his seat, blinded by his emotions.

"Ask her out over the weekend? On a trip to Hogsmeade?" James muttered under his breath, a dark glare coming over his face. "Not if I can help it."

---

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

James watched as the tattered old parchment suddenly lit up with a map of the school, dots and names scattered everywhere. He searched carefully, but he finally found them - King and Evans. Two dots rather close together at the Three Broomsticks. Where James had taken her the week before.

"Conniving wench," he muttered under his breath as thunder suddenly crashed in the distance. He pulled his invisibility cloak over himself and followed an old fat wizard into the pub. His eyes scanned he room until he spotted them, sitting in a corner booth. James felt jealousy burn in his heart as he watched Travis with his arm around her shoulder and her warm smile on him. The scene was too... they were too... close. James didn't like it. He would have to change that.

Lily and Travis were one side of the table when James, still hidden under his cloak, sat across from them. Staring intently at Travis, he watched as Travis' eyes traveled the length of Lily's body, causing the anger inside James to grow.

"So Lily," Travis said, taking a swig of his butter beer, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," Lily squeaked. James was astounded. Lily wasn't... nervous, was she? Around this womanizing jerk?

"What's going on with you and Potter? You two seem like quite the couple lately."

Lily nearly choked on her drink. "Me and James? Never. He's had this piddly little crush on me since first year, but I've always ignored him." She said boldly.

"Then what's all this talk of you and him staying up to all hours of the night, walking around the corridors together, having drinks here last week?"

Lily froze. "Oh, well, we are Head Boy and Girl, you know. We have duties that must be fulfilled, so we do spend quite some time together patrolling the halls. Um, He was having some trouble with Potions, so I was just helping him study for the exam, which he passed and in his gratitude, treated me to a drink last weekend." she breathed a sigh of relief when Travis nodded. "I told you, he's had this hopeless crush on me, so I had to humor him."

James was now fuming and he was glaring hatefully between the two of them. Not only was he red-faced mad, but he was fighting the tears in his eyes. Anger, embarrassment and rejection all raging inside him.

"Well, if that's the case, then I was wondering if maybe you'd like to be my girl fr-"

Instantly, Travis' drink ended up in his lap the cold drink spilling down his robes. His arm, being around Lily's neck, jerked forward, causing her face to go nose first into her drink, splashing everywhere as well.

"What the bloody hell?" Travis stood screaming, shaking the wet drink from his robes. Lily was in shock. She couldn't believe her misfortune. Making a complete and total idiot out of herself in front of Travis, the one boy she had her sights set on since last winter. She hadn't seen how it happened, but she was positive he would never see her the same way again.

Suddenly, the front door slammed shut. Curious, no one had exited or entered. No one that anyone could see, that is.

Once James was outside, he threw his cloak off and in a hoarse voice said "Mischief managed." Then shoving the old parchment in one pocket and his wand in another, he wiped he hot tears from his eyes and walked back to the school in the pouring rain.

---

A/N: Okay, now, please don't shoot me, it's just part of the story...

-hides from angry readers-

-another chappy coming up-