Chapter Fourteen
Lily was standing on her tiptoes looking over the edge of the courtyard wall, staring at Nancy as she was sitting talking to Frank Longbottom. They were waiting on her and Travis, but Lily was busy. There was an ease in Nancy's countenance that she didn't normally have when talking to guys. There was no flirtatious smirk, no teasing touches, only a friendly smile and a cheerful laugh. Lily was so enjoying watching her friend in such a happy state, she didn't hear the footsteps behind her.
"Spying is a sin, you know."
Lily covered her mouth from screaming when she heard the whisper in her ear, but when she turned and saw James, she smirked and smacked him playfully as he laughed.
"You scared me!" she hissed.
"That was my intent." he whispered with a smile. "Why are we whispering?"
"Don't worry about it." she whispered back. "What are you doing here?"
"I just got out of quidditch practice. What are you doing here?" he asked quietly, craning his neck to see over the wall.
"Nothing. Just looking at my friends."
"Still waiting for Travie-poo?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact." she said, relieved that he didn't say it bitterly.
"Well, while you're waiting, do you want a ride?" he asked patting his broom. "Travis is going to be a while, showering after practice and all."
"Nah, I don't think so." she said, eyeing the broom warily. "I don't fly well."
"Whatever blows your skirt up, girl!" He winked and flew off, leaving her to shake her head after him. She looked back to Frank and Nancy, who had stopped talking and were both now looking around nervously.
Oh, no! Lily thought.
Oh, yes! She grinned as she went to go rescue them from embarrassment.
Suddenly, she wasn't walking anymore. She was in the air, on a broomstick. She turned around to see a grinning James. "Wahoooo!" He had flown up behind her and picked her up. She gasped and grabbed the collar of his uniform, but then laughed right along with him. His arm slowly came around her waist and her pulse sped up. She knew he was just holding her strictly for safety reasons. Yes, and she was grateful, for the fear was building up greatly.
But he made sure she wasn't scared. He made this flight one of her most memorable ones. They flew through the trees in the nearby forest, where James conked his head on a branch. He only laughed and rubbed his head as he told her to scream. After she did, they pulled out above the all the branches and a flock of birds flew along side them. It was almost magical, she thought.
Then he flew her out over the lake, and he leaned his broom over just close enough for her to run her fingers through the water as they hovered there momentarily. Then after flying recklessly around the pillars of the school and waking up the children in the History of Magic class by flying in one open window and out the other, he finally returned her to the ground where he had picked her up. They were both laughing and hair wind blown.
"Oh, my, goodness," she said breathlessly.
"That wasn't too bad, now was it?" James asked as she dismounted the broom, looking rather dizzy as she did so.
"No, that was awesome." she said laughing, holding her head. "My head is still spinning, but that was great."
"Well, good." he said flashing a satisfactory smile.
"Thank you, James. We'll have to do it again sometime." she said, patting his arm.
"No problem. But now that you're smelly like me, I must go shower."
"Don't hurt yourself." she giggled.
"He he he," he said mockingly.
"I'll se you around, James." she said, turning to go meet her friends.
"See you later, Lily flower." Then he flew off. Lily smiled. She was so glad to hear 'Lily flower' again. To be on James good side, to be is friend again meant the world to her. Though she did feel kind of guilty after having such fun with James and now she was off to meet Travis.
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James walked into the common room after his nightly hall patrolling shift. There was a large crackling fire in the fire place and over the edge of the sofa he could see a head of red hair. Smiling he walked around to see Lily.
"Nice night for a patrol, ay, Lily?" he said slowly as he came around. But then he saw her eyes, her beautiful green eyes that were glistening, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Aw, what's the matter, Lily?" he asked quietly.
"Leave me alone, Potter." she said clearing her voice and wiping her tears.
James narrowed his eyes. "Back to 'Potter,' now is it?"
"Please just go away." she said in a shaky voice.
"And you know, I would, but you cut me deep, Lily. You cut me real deep just now. And what kind of a friend would I be if I didn't listen to my friends problems?" he said, plopping down next to her. But she suddenly scooted away.
"You don't want to hear about this." she said bitterly.
"Yes, actually, I do." he said sincerely.
"You wouldn't understand, James. It's just about my sister. She hates me."
"How could anyone hate you?" he said quietly, wiping away a tear from her cheek. She shoved his hand away and stood angrily before him. "James, you just don't understand! You don't know anything about me!"
"I would if you'd tell me." he said simply.
Lily only folded her arms across her chest and looked away, refusing to tell him anything. Then after a few moments, a single tear slid down her cheek and the emotions caught in her throat as she began.
"She hates me because I'm a witch. You know I'm muggleborn, and my sister Petunia hates me because I'm a witch. She's always hated me." Lily then covered her mouth with her hand and tried to fight the tears that suddenly came.
"No," James said in a soothing voice, standing and taking a step closer to her, rubbing her arm affectionately.
"Now she's getting married," she continued. "She's marrying this horrid fat git Vernon and she's planned the wedding in March. She doesn't want me there."
"Oh, sure she does."
"No, James. She doesn't. She told me she didn't want me there in the letter she just sent." she said, pointing to the ripped up pieces of paper on the floor.
Lily suddenly felt a finger under her chin, turning her head to look at him. She looked up into his warm hazel eyes and found a compassion there she had never seen before. Then he pulled her into his arms. She easily slid her arms tightly around his neck and nuzzled her nose into his shoulder, all of the hurt and the pain dissipating through the magical scent of him. Although tears came flooding and her shoulders began to shake, she felt secure; sheltered; loved.
James wrapped his arms tightly around her waist and rubbed her back comfortingly. He felt a hatred and a resentment towards Petunia, Vernon or anyone else who treated Lily less than a queen, and he knew that she was hurting right now. Though he couldn't help but enjoy the way she melted against him, the scent that she carried and filled his senses as he held her gently. He knew he shouldn't be thinking like that while she was in such pain, but he loved it. And there was nothing else he could do. So he just held her close and let her cry.
---
James woke as the giant clock chimed two times. He opened one eye and smiled. Lily was asleep - on top of him. They were laying on the couch together and she had cried herself to sleep in his arms. James, of course, didn't mind one bit. There she was beautiful as an angel, taking small even breaths, sleeping quietly on his chest.
James felt his heart swell with emotions that could only make him smile. He wished he could take her away from her terrible sister, take her away from the pain, the hatred and take her to a place where she would be surrounded with love. Only because he knew he could.
James kissed her lovingly on the top of her head, put an arm around her waist and snuggled closer. With a smile on his face and a beautiful scent filling his senses, he went happily to sleep.
---
Eyes still closed, Lily smiled sleepily. Running a hand across his chest, she nestled closer by touching his jaw with her nose, causing her to giggle. A warm feeling settled over her heart, like she could stay in this very situation forever. Listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, having his hands rub lovingly over her back, hearing his smooth voice saying,
"Good Morning, Lily flower."
Oh. My. Gosh.
Her eyes flashed open and she immediately jumped off James.
"Whoa!" James said, sitting up, clutching his stomach in pain. "Watch the elbows, will ya?"
"Okay, um - what just happened?" she asked nervously.
"Lily, breath. It's ok. We just slept... together." James said, standing slowly with a smile.
"Oh my gosh..." she said, closing her eyes. "Did anyone see?"
"Listen, Lily. Calm down." There was a disappointment in his eyes to her reaction of the night they had spent together, but there was also a humorous smile on his lips. "Listen, it's barely six in the morning. I doubt anyone has even thought of getting up yet. Besides, it wasn't anything too bad - we were just sleeping!"
"Yeah, I guess... but you can't tell anybody!" she said slapping him playfully on the chest. "I know you, you'd gloat about that until my dying day."
"As long as you don't tell anybody what a big sap I really am." he chuckled, then stuck out his hand for her to shake. "Deal," she said and shook his outstretched hand. He suddenly pulled him closer and leaned in.
"Tell me this, Lily - it wasn't really all that bad, was it?" he said, with a knowing smile.
"No, it was rather nice, actually." She said sheepishly when she blushed when he grinned. "You kept me nice and warm. Besides, I think I just overreacted a little bit."
"Are you going to be okay?" James asked in concern.
"Yeah, I'll be fine, thanks to you."
He placed a loving hand on her cheek and gazed down at her. "I try to help where I can."
"You always make me feel better, James." she said He let his hand fall and too a step closer, smiling down at her. But she took his closeness differently than he expected.
"James, you are such a good friend!" She exclaimed, then wrapped her arms around his neck in a friendly hug.
Well... James was actually going to lean in and kiss her. He felt silly for letting his desire and emotions block him from reality, when he knew that she only saw them as friends. He didn't know what to do, so he just wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
"Thank you," she mumbled into his shoulder, and he just held her. "It gave him confidence and it only confirmed the emotions he was feeling.
After many long moments, Lily was surprised when James pulled away. There was a small smile on his lips, though he refused to let go of her hand.
"Come on, Lily flower. Let's go be first for breakfast." he said, tugging on her arm. So the happy two walked to breakfast hand in hand.
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A/N: I know what you're thinking.... Aw!
So let me know what you think - thanks for the reviews, but I need more! lol! -huggles-
