Never Got Along
By: neen
author note
Please read this before reading the story! The info might help you out a lot…and takes about one minute!
Set in 5th year as you might notice. It's the beginning of Lily's hate for him
My own character: Penelope Walker. She is a Gryffindor, who is also in 5th year and is basically Lily's best friend.
Yes, James has recently asked Lily out before this opening scene (the 1st time as well) and Lily refused him and gave a reason of studies being more important. Then Lily notices his personality and attitude and greatly hates it.
Chapter Ten
"But the thing is, Paddy, I don't want Lily to like me just because of my looks," James said, still frowning.
Sirius stared at him in awe, his jaw open. "You must be joking. This is Lily Evans we're talking about who wants to kiss you. You know, the girl of your dreams—the person you want to marry and have some little midgets wit—"
"I know," James interrupted him.
"You've changed, Prongs," Sirius said quietly, still looking at him as if he was seeing James in a new light.
"But you are dead handsome, Prongs, so don't feel bad if Lily's just falling for your great charm," Sirius said on a happier note after a few minutes.
"Well, I just wanted her to see that me—the person inside—has changed for her," James said softly.
"Ah don't worry, Prongs. She will," Sirius said sympathetically, clamping a reassuring hand on James's shoulder.
"Thanks, Padfoot," James said weakly as he saw Lily talking to Penelope and a few other boys.
Lily emerged from the group, looking very happy. Her eyes met with James's for a split second. Quickly, she looked away. Penelope followed her, looking quite angry for some reason.
"Just what are you precisely wanting to do?" Penelope demanded once she and Lily got inside the Common Room. It was good that the Common Room was deserted.
"I have no idea what you're talking about Penelope," Lily replied sharply, stopping in front of the fire.
"Lily—you know perfectly well what I'm saying. Why did you go on with that stupid Ravenclaw boy when James likes you? What are you playing at?" Penelope asked.
"Because," Lily paused, "I like him."
"Lily Marie Evans—you know that you do not like that Ravenclaw bloke—he's such a superficial person—smart yes, but very shallow. You could do so much better—like James, for instance!" Penelope argued.
"James is a shallow person!" Lily shot back.
"Was. He changed Lily, and if you're going to act immature about the whole thing, and if you won't admit that you've fallen for James Potter, I'm not talking to you," Penelope said angrily as she stormed up the stairs.
"Me? Fallen for James Potter? Ridiculous!" Lily mouthed furiously as she flopped into the armchair by the fire, thinking deeply.
Even as she said those words though, she couldn't help but think of James. True, Penelope was usually right. James Potter had indeed changed, but—she couldn't have possibly begun liking him!
As she was thinking, James entered the room and saw Lily sitting alone.
"What's wrong?" James asked as he sat down next to Lily, who didn't notice.
Lily jumped. "Oh, it's you."
"Yes, it's me," James confirmed, a bit irritated at Lily's tone. "What happened? Where's your friend, Penelope?"
"She—I—we had a row," Lily finally said.
"About what?" James asked, curious.
"Y—nothing," Lily said quickly, covering up.
"Oh. Lily, I've always been wondering. Why do you hate me so much?" James inquired and there was a definite note of hurt in his voice.
Lily looked into his eyes. They were earnest and very warm. Lily stared as she got lost in the pools of hazel. "I—I—don't be silly," Lily snapped after she got out of the trance. "I don't hate you."
"Then why aren't we friends?" James pressed, trying to catch Lily's eye.
"I don't know. Never crossed my mind," Lily said simply, staring determinedly at the roaring fire.
"Then why don't we be friends?" James asked, holding out his hand.
Lily stared at his hand—calloused and somewhat windburnt from Quidditch. She didn't realize that her hand had gone up to shake it.
"Truce," James said as he leapt up from the chair and grinning madly, dashed up the stairs.
"Well at least Penelope would be happy," Lily thought sulkily as she too, left the Common Room to go upstairs.
"Pen?" Lily called out and noticed a lump on Penelope's bed.
"What?" Penelope growled from underneath.
"Me and Potter—we're friends now," Lily said in an unexcited voice. On the contrary, Penelope bolted up from the bed.
"Really?" Penelope asked, grinning now.
"Yes," Lily muttered, looking rather unhappy.
"That's good, that's good. It's a start," Penelope murmured to herself.
"What?" Lily asked.
"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking that we should go to Hogsmeade together next weekend. Well, Remus asked me already, but now we can all go together," Penelope beamed.
"Who do you mean by 'we'?" Lily asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Erm—well, Remus and me, of course, and you and ah—erm—James," Penelope said, looking somewhat anxious."As friends for you and James, of course."
"Fine," Lily sighed and lay on her bed.
"You'll like him, don't worry," Penelope said, trying to assure Lily.
"I don't care what you say, Pen, we're just friends. No chemistry in between," Lily stressed.
"I'm sure," Penelope said, a doubtful tone in her voice.
After a few minutes, Penelope's light breathing filled the air. Lily turned on her back, looking up at the ceiling.
"Potter isn't really that bad," Lily thought to herself as she finally fell asleep.
"Oy, Lily! Over here," James hollered over as soon as Lily entered. He was pointing at two vacant seats. One was next to Remus and the other…was next to him. Lily grimaced as Penelope flew over to sit next to Remus, leaving her with the only other spot. Next to James Potter.
"Morning," Lily greeted James half-heartedly.
"Morning!" James roared happily, adding sausages to her plate.
"I'm a vegetarian, Potter," Lily lied as she placed them back onto the plate.
"Oh. Sorry, I didn't know. Want a biscuit then?" James asked eagerly.
Penelope was glancing at Lily suspiciously. "Since when did you go vegetarian on me?" she mouthed to Lily who glared at her.
Lily reluctantly took the buttered biscuit from James and took it apart, eating it slowly as James watched her intently.
"Merlin! Stop it!" Lily cried, getting up.
"Stop what?" James said, looking quite puzzled at Lily's outburst.
"Stop looking at me for about two minutes, would you?" Lily said, irritated.
"Oh. Sorry, I didn't know it was bothering you," James said lightly before sticking his fork in some bacon. He missed his mouth and poked it into his cheek as he stared at Lily again.
"You—are—an—annoying—git," Lily said heatedly as she walked away, grabbing another biscuit.
"What did I do wrong? I was nice, wasn't I?" James asked of his friends, bewildered.
"Actually, I think you scared her," Remus said thoughtfully. Penelope nodded. "Yes, just don't pay her so much attention. And the fact that's she not really a morning person doesn't help much."
"Oh," James said.
Suddenly a poke.
"Potter," Lily greeted half-heartedly.
"Hi, Lily. Come to eat again?" James grinned at her.
Lily flushed. "Can you hand me the butter?" she asked sheepishly.
"Lily, listen, I'm sorry about that—it's okay, I won't bite you, I swear. Sit down," James said as he handed her the butter and the butter knife.
Grudgingly, Lily sat back down, helping herself to some fruit.
"You like strawberries?" James asked, eyeing her pile some on her plate. Lily nodded.
"Ah, me too! That's an exciting thought!" James said, beaming.
Lily decided to be nicer to him. They were friends now, right?
"So, how's everything going for you?" Lily asked, a smile forced on her face, taking some bacon.
"Great! Wait—I thought you were a vegetarian," James said befuddled, glancing at Lily's plate.
"Oh, well, I decided that I'll continue my animal rights some other way. The house-elves are just too wonderful cooks," Lily lied smoothly.
"Ah, you're into animal rights?" James asked, trying to look interested.
"Yes. I've headed a campaign for those pandas in China—the poor things—they're endangered and people don't—" Lily was cut short as Sirius nudged James to look at the entrance.
In walked a girl.
Not just a normal girl, mind you, but an extremely beautiful girl. Nearly all the guys turned around to take a look at her. Her long, silvery hair rippled artfully behind her even though there was barely any wind. The light caught it, and it sparkled like platinum sheets. Her large, cerulean blue eyes glanced over at everyone, making some of the boys goggle at her senselessly. She flashed the boys a very bright smile. Her eyes locked in with James and she gracefully glided over.
"'ello. Are you James Potter?" the girl said, smiling.
James's eyes were wide as he looked at the pretty girl.
"Erm—yes, yes. And you are?" James finally asked, getting his sense back in as he saw Lily get up and leave in a huff. The girl sat down in Lily's now vacant spot.
"I'm Celeste Provolone from Beauxbatons. You know my muzzer—Madeliene Provolone? Zey are Aurors in France—friends wiz your parents," Celeste beamed at him.
"Provolone? As in the cheese?" Sirius cut in.
Celeste smiled at him. "Oui, like ze fromage."
"I know my cheeses well," Sirius announced proudly.
"Ah, yes. So, erm—what exactly are you doing over here?" James asked, craning his neck to see where Lily went.
"I've transferred over—my muzzer told me zat I have an arranged marriage wiz you, James," Celeste said happily.
James's head snapped back. "What?"
Author's Note:
Oh dear…it seems there is a possible dilemma, isn't there? Oops?
Review please! Thanks.
Reviewers
: My Taste of Ink: I love strawberry jam too! Yay! Ahh…you're not a nitwit…I just have twisted thinking…
: october tuscany : thank you for reviewing! My heroine! Goodness, I almost wrote heroin there…don't worry, I'm drug-free…really. Thanks for the encouragement!
: Prongsie4028 : Yeah, as I said to My Taste of Ink, I have twisted thinking…I'm glad you like it though, thanks!
: James'sSnitchBoxersLover : ahh, what a creative name! Two reviews from you! I'm excited. Sigh. James did read it…horrible, I know. I agree with you on the top 3 worst things to do to a girl! Yes, dear Lily is falling for James now…even if she won't admit it…
great thanks to all the following people that added this to their favorites list: godsangel715, James'sSnitchBoxersLover, obsessivescottishdemocrat, prongs is mine, and Prongsie4028!
love to the people that added this to their alert list: cylobaby, My Taste of Ink, obsessivescottishdemocrat, phantom radio, Prongsie4028, and SubJacket!
Thanks you guys…and please go check out Ways to Ask Out Miss Lily Evans, my other story!
French vocab lesson:
Oui—yes
Fromage—cheese