A/N: Awww, thank you all. I actually got some different reviewers! Hey, if you liked this story, go read my other ones! [insert cheesy grin and a thumbs-up] I'll answer the reviews at the end of the story. For now...enjoy!
Disclaimer: You are smart people...I think you get it by now.
Chapter Two
"Don't Give Up: Advice From a Hat"
Lily gasped as she entered the Great Hall for the first time that year. The beauty of the night sky (even though it wasn't real) never ceased to amaze her. There were hundreds of candles poised in the air above the different tables.
"Come on, let's go find a seat," said Gwen, tugging on Lily's arm. They began to walk towards the Gryffindor table until someone tapped Lily's shoulder. She turned around and saw...
"Potter," she said, coldly.
"Evans, Professor McGonagall wants to see us now...head student stuff," he said quickly.
"Okay," she replied. "Go find me a seat!" she told Gwen. "I'll be back in a bit." Gwen nodded and continued to walk towards the Gryffindor table. Lily walked with James.
"Look, Lils, about the train..." he said.
"Let's just forget about it, okay?" she said, forcing a smile. If she was going to have to work with him all year, they would have to get along to some extent. James looked taken aback.
"Oh, right," he replied. They walked out of the Great Hall in silence.
"Ah, there you are!" said Professor McGonagall once she had seen them. She was holding the Sorting Hat. "I'll just need a quick word with you about your duties as Head Boy and Girl before the sorting." She ran through their obligations and responsibilities. "Is everything clear?" she asked, once she was finished.
"Crystal," James assured her. He looked at Lily and she nodded in affirmation.
"Professor?" said a voice hesitantly.
"First year," she explained to them. "A little nervous. Mr. Potter, will you hold the hat for me? Just for a minute while Miss Evans and I sort this out," she said, handing him the hat. Professor McGonagall and Lily walked off in the direction of the voice. James felt rather awkward holding the hat. Suddenly, it spoke.
"You like her, don't you?" asked the hat. James jumped.
"Professor McGonagall?" he asked, horrified.
"No, no, no, the other one...Miss Evans."
"N-no," he stammered.
"You don't have to lie to me, Mr. Potter."
"Okay, well, yes, then. How could you tell?" asked James, holding the hat up to eye level.
"I've been around for quite some time," replied the hat. James nodded.
"She doesn't like me back, y'know. Thinks I'm arrogant. I'm trying really hard," he said.
Why am I confiding in a hat? he asked himself. Oh well. Not like it matters.
"Well, don't give up," said the hat.
"O-okay," replied James, bemused. "Thanks..."
"My pleasure," it replied. Lily and Professor McGonagall returned a few minutes later with a young girl.
"We can go in now," said Professor McGonagall. Lily walked sat in the seat Gwen had saved for her, and James sat next to Sirius.
"We got a good view," said Sirius to James, nodding his head towards Lily. James grinned.
"Thanks," he whispered back. The Sorting began but James didn't catch one word of it. He watched Lily the entire time. Something about her manner captivated him. Suddenly he realized that the tables had been filled with food. He shook his head and turned his attention back to his table. Remus and Sirius were staring at James, and Peter was watching his wristwatch.
"Two minutes," Peter squeaked.
"Dammit, Remus, you win," said Sirius, rummaging around in his robes. "Here, one galleon." Remus took the coin from Sirius' hand. "This is a monumental day...James ignored food for a girl. Just my luck."
"What's going on?" asked James.
"Well, you see, lover boy, we made a little bet on how long it would take you to realize that the food was on the table," Sirius informed him. "You must really like her." James just blushed and grabbed a drumstick.
"Moony, 'ow 'id 'oo ge' 'er?" Remus grimaced.
"Close your mouth, chew your food, and swallow it completely. Then, start over." James followed his directions.
"Moony, how did you get her?" he repeated slowly and articulately.
"You sound like she's a fish to be caught!" Remus said.
"Well, isn't she?" asked Sirius, grinning at Remus' growing annoyance.
"No! James, that is half the reason why she doesn't like you! I told you before; you're going to have to figure it out by yourself."
"So much for friends," James grumbled.
"I'll help you, Jamsie!" said Sirius, slapping James on the back. James coughed and spluttered on his chicken, then looked up to see Lily watching him. She turned away quickly, blushing.
"Just great..." he said to himself. "She saw me choke on some chicken. Perfect."
"What's that, Prongs?" Sirius asked.
"Nothing..." replied James, half-heartedly. He went back to eating his meal.
At least she was looking at me, he thought to himself. That's something.
"Well?" asked Sirius.
"Well what?" replied James.
"D'you want me to help you?" From the look on Remus' face, James could tell that Sirius would not be the best role model.
"No, that's all right. I think I can handle it," James lied. Sirius looked at him skeptically.
"Well, I'm glad to see you are confident in yourself, m'boy. But I think you're going to need all the help you can get." Now it was Remus' turn to look skeptical.
"Not your sort of help, Padfoot," he said. "You are just as bad as James in Lily's eyes." James sighed.
"Oh, I see," said Sirius. "I would give James bad advice. That's probably true...I'm used to fast, ditzy, sexy girls, not intellectual, moral girls like Lily."
"An intellectual, moral, beautiful girl," said James, glancing at Lily. Remus, Peter and Sirius just rolled their eyes.
"Talking about fast, ditzy and sexy girls..." said Sirius as Bella from Hufflepuff walked towards him. She was the blonde girl who had been attached to his arm before boarding the train.
"Hi Sirius," she said in a breathy voice. She put her arm around him and squeezed in next to him on the bench.
"Hi doll," he replied, looking a little crowded. She started picking food off his plate and forcing it in between his lips. Remus and James were trying hard to conceal their laughter. Peter was just gazing adoringly at Bella.
"Bella," said James, helping Sirius out, "we are kind of talking about some personal stuff here so, if you could just...bugger off, that'd be great." James smiled sweetly. Bella looked hurt.
"Siri-poo, how can you let him talk to me like that?" she whined. Remus' shoulders started shaking and James started coughing to disguise his laughter.
"Oh, well, James might have put it bluntly, but see, he's been having some girl problems and I was helping him out..." Sirius said. James immediately stopped coughing and glared at Sirius.
"Well, I could help," simpered Bella.
"No, James doesn't really want anyone else to know." Bella frowned.
"All right, I'll go..." she said, reluctantly. She untangled herself from Sirius and walked away slowly, swinging her hips animatedly.
"She's got to go," James and Remus said simultaneously.
"Why?" asked Peter. James, Remus and Sirius just ignored him.
"I know..." said Sirius. "She is a great kisser though..." James raised his eyebrows. "While we are on that subject...Moony, was Lily a good kisser?" asked Sirius, saucily. James turned sharply to look Remus in the eye.
"Well...yes, I'd say so," replied Remus awkwardly. "Not that I had had much experience in that sort of thing before I met her." James sighed.
"I'll probably never find out for myself, though," said James, running his hand through his hair.
"Ah, mate! Your optimism is kind of scaring me! Tone it down a little," replied Sirius. James smiled slightly. He turned his attention back to the food in front of him. After finishing, James walked out of the Great Hall. The words of the Sorting Hat came back to him.
Don't give up...
A/N: Sorry...not much happened in that chapter. More Lily and James interaction next time!
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