A/N: So apparently I am the only person that deals with assholes, as no one left any they knew of in their reviews. I am jealous of your easy, asshole free life. Anyways, this chapter is dedicated to Logan. The biggest asshole I know. Please read and review!
Chapter Sixteen: On Breaking Up and Broken Noses
"Are you sure no one will mind me being in here?" asked Lily as she held Emerson's hand.
"No one will mind, I promise, Hufflepuff is a lot less catty than Slytherin or Gryffindor." replied Emerson, smiling as they walked through the common room, which was surprisingly empty—rare for a Friday night.
"You just compared Slytherin and Gryffindor, you're walking on thin ice, buddy." joked Lily as she took a seat next to Emerson.
"Thanks for the warning." he smiled before kissing her on the mouth. Lily responded with another set of kisses but the quiet, serene setting of the room shocked her. The Gryffindor common room would never be this empty, or quiet. "Where is everybody?" she asked.
"Well the third through seventh years are outside having an Exploding Snap tournament. They have to go outside because of the many cards…a single explosion covers the entire place with ash and soot and the house elves started to complain, so. The first and second years are more than likely sleeping, studying, or out trying to feel rebellious by sneaking around Filch with muddy trainers on." explained Emerson like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I see." replied Lily. "You set this up, didn't you?"
Emerson smiled. "Well I got to see your common room…I thought you could see mine."
Lily smiled and kissed him playfully. "Well it's slightly larger."
Emerson laughed before kissing Lily with a fiery passion that surprised her.
He kissed her again and again, each one more passionate then the next. Soon, Emerson had moved himself on top of Lily, and his hands began to wander up her blouse. Lily continued to kiss him back, but as his hands traveled farther up, she pulled away.
Out of breath and surprised that it had stopped so suddenly, Emerson looked at Lily.
"Is something wrong?"
Lily pulled a strand of loose hair behind her ear and smiled politely.
"Emerson, I'm just not ready to go this fast…I'm sorry. But I've only been dating you for a month, and that's not nearly long enough…to be moving like this, don't you think?"
Emerson coughed and smiled reluctantly. "If that's what you want Lily."
He checked his watch as casually possible. "Well I better get you back…I have a big Quidditch match in the morning, against Gryffindor."
Lily smiled excitedly. "I know, I'll be there."
"I assume you would object to sitting on the Hufflepuff side?"
"You assume correctly."
Emerson smiled as he stood up. "Let's go."
There was no feeling better than the feeling of being on a Quidditch field first thing in the morning, according to James Potter. The smell of the dewy, damp grass, the suspense and excitement oozing from the stands, the tension between the two teams flowing carelessly through the morning air. James took a deep breath as Madam Hooch called the captains to the center.
"Shake hands." she ordered.
James held out his hand and clenched his jaw tight to avoid saying anything that would eject him from the game before it even started. He was going to find it very hard to stay civil through out the entire match. Emerson was smiling broadly at him as they shook hands.
"Good luck, Potter, you're going to need it." he muttered viscously.
James glared. "How's the nose, Burton? I hope you aren't bludger shy today."
"Don't worry, by the end of the match, you'll be the only one scared of bludgers." Emerson laughed as they let go of each other's hands and he swung his beater's bat casually at his side.
James took his stance as the whistle was blown and the balls were released.
"So who are you cheering for, Evans?" asked Sirius as he, Peter, and Remus took a seat next to Ellie, Allison, Lily, and Jacob.
Lily's green eyes pierced Sirius. "Who do you think, Black? Surely you know I have more loyalty to Gryffindor than that."
Sirius gave her his cheesy grin. "Just checking, love."
"It looks like James and Emerson are going to bloody kill each other." remarked Remus as they watched the captains shake hands.
"I do hope James doesn't do anything stupid." mumbled Lily under her breath.
Allison eyed her friend with curiosity. "I would hope more that Emerson didn't. He's the one with the beater's bat."
"Yes, but James is more notorious for being a complete fool." answered Lily.
"BLOODY HELL" came the announcer's voice, interrupting Allison and Lily's conversation. "Sorry McGonagall, but you saw how illegal that was!"
"Where is James?" asked Sirius, who was looking urgently around the pitch.
Peter pointed to the ground. "Down there, bloody hell, where did that come from?"
"Even McGonagall is peeved. It has to be illegal." remarked Remus. "They're pausing the game!"
"I wish I had been paying attention!" cried Lily. "Did anyone see what happened?"
Jacob held out a pair of binoculars out to Lily, who looked at him with confusion. "I don't need to see now, thanks."
Jacob laughed. "They're Omnioculars. They record the game, just press this button." he showed her a bronze dial. "And you can go back and see what happened."
Lily smiled and viewed the Omnioculars as her friends waited in suspense.
As Lily watched, her jaw dropped. Although it had been utter confusion to see what happened on the pitch at the time, it was quite clear to Lily what had happened.
Two beaters, Emerson and Charles Sanford, were seen flying by James, two teaming him and each taking a swing at James's head, each hitting James's skull. Lily scanned the image again, not to be morbid, but to see what had been going on to distract the audience from such a blatant foul.
"Penalty awarded to Gryffindor." came the announcer's voice. "Bloody deserve it. Sorry, McGonagall, but honestly."
Professor McGonagall looked just as perturbed as ever, peering down onto the pitch.
James was slowly being carried off the field in a stretcher that Professor Dumbledore was carefully guiding.
"Merlin." gasped Lily.
"Bloody Burton will rot in hell for this." muttered Sirius viciously. Sirius suddenly got up, picking up Peter as well.
"You're not going to fight him now, are you Padfoot?" squeaked Peter.
Sirius shook his head. "I'm going to see Prongs, I assumed you'd be tailing me."
Peter nodded and scurried to follow a hasty Sirius.
Remus let go of Ellie's hand. "I'm going to go too."
"Me too." added Lily, standing up.
"Aren't you going to wait for your lovely boyfriend?" snapped Remus, who was as angry as Lily had ever seen him, as Remus was usually even-tempered and polite.
Lily frowned. "James is the one who's hurt, Remus. I'm going to see him."
"Well we're not going to be left behind." interrupted Allison. "We're all going, we're all James's friends."
"Fine. It will only annoy Madam Rider, but fine." replied Remus as he took Ellie's hand and led the way.
Lily took one last look at the pitch, where the penalty was about to be taken by George Spinnet, a fifth year Gryffindor chaser. Lily saw Emerson, looking smug and domineering. Lily looked at him with the Omnioculars, and any desire or attraction she had once seen in him had vanished. With his shining hair, teeth, and Quidditch robes, all he looked like was a bully.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Black, but I simply cannot allow all of you in here to see Mr. Potter." ruled the head nurse, Madam Rider. "Mr. Potter is suffering from a severe concussion, and shouldn't be bothered."
"But Clara." tried Sirius with his winning smile. "It's James, you know he'd want us to be there. And you look lovely today."
A faint blush covered her fleshy cheeks. "Fine, but only two people, and for only five minutes. Decide who will come in and the rest of you will wait out here and come back tomorrow, when Mr. Potter is sure to be feeling better."
"I'm going." decided Sirius. "And Lily."
Peter began to open his mouth to protest but any attempt to argue was lost from him as Sirius shot him a glare.
"Alright, follow me please."
Sirius pulled Lily aside before following the nurse. "Look, Evans, you're coming only because I know James would want you to, and that I know you're probably feeling terrible about this right now, because I believe you truly love James. However, I do not forgive you for this, or your choice in boyfriends."
Lily who was surprised enough to be chosen by Sirius, who she clearly thought resented her, nodded. "Fair enough."
"Are you coming or not?" asked Madam Rider.
"Coming, Clara." cooed Sirius in a sickly flirtatious voice. "Just warning Ms.Evans here about the sanitary precautions."
"Make sure you wash your hands, Ms. Evans." she replied, leading Lily and Sirius to a sink before showing them where James was laying.
Sirius took the seat by James's bed, so Lily had no choice but to stand and look down at James, who had several swollen lumps around his face along with black bruises and cuts. His nose was severely broken along the bridge. He looked horrible, his glasses were laying on the bed stand, broken along the nose piece. Lily burst into tears, startling Sirius.
"Merlin, I know he looks horrible, but it's not so bad that you have to cry." replied Sirius in a quiet voice that was threatening to loose it's steadiness.
"It's all my fault, if I had just believed him about Emerson the other night, and broken things off with him, he wouldn't be like this." she sobbed.
Sirius looked at Lily for a moment, his eyes were full of sadness and concern.
"If you had broken up with that git because of something James had said he would have gotten him a lot worse than this, I imagine."
Lily blew her nose and then lent down to kiss James's forehead. "I'm so sorry." she whispered.
They were soon greeted by a feisty Madam Rider, who was eager to usher them out. "The boy needs to be healed. I have a set of potions to give him and I have to set his nose. You two better leave, and tell your friends not to come back till tomorrow, you hear me?"
"Yes ma'm," replied Sirius before giving the unconscious James a pat on the shoulder. "You'll be alright, Prongs."
Lily sent him one more sympathetic look before following Sirius.
Once out of the Hospital Wing, Lily and Sirius were greeted by their friends, and surprisingly enough, Emerson.
"Is the match over?" asked Peter, trying to make conversation as his friends glared at the intruder and watched as Lily just stared at him.
"Yes it's over." muttered Emerson. "We lost, that's one fine Seeker you have."
"You." snapped Lily.
Emerson rushed over towards her and attempted to give her a hug. "Lily, I'm so sorry, love. It was an accident, I didn't mean to."
"I wasn't aware James's head looked like a bludger." spat Lily, pushing Emerson off her. "Get off me."
"You don't really think I did it on purpose do you, Lily?" He smiled his winning smile. "Of course you don't. You're just confused…I forgive you, Lily. It's just a mistake."
Lily glared at her boyfriend, mouth agape. "How dare you! I saw it Emerson, you and Sanford beat James on the head, the bludger wasn't in sight!"
Allison, Ellie, Jacob, Remus, Peter, and Sirius watched the argument in suspense.
"You saw wrong." stated Emerson simply. He attempted to kiss Lily's neck.
"Get off me!" shrieked Lily. "We are through, Emerson! I can't go out with someone that cruel! Just get away from me!"
Emerson backed away from Lily, his face was red, and any passerby could tell that he was furious. No one just simply broke up with Emerson Burton.
"You believed bloody Potter, didn't you! I knew the bastard would tell." he shouted, throwing his arms out in anger.
"I didn't believe him at first, but now I most certainly do!" retorted Lily, whispering despite her rage.
"No one just breaks up with me, Lily!" argued Emerson. "You're just upset!"
"Really? Then what do you call this?" she shouted. "You are a horrible boyfriend, I'm breaking up with you!"
WHAM.
Lily barely realized what had happened. She felt dizzy as she clutched her nose, which was spurting blood. She looked up at Emerson, who was frozen with shock.
Before anyone could say or do anything, Emerson sprinted off, leaving Lily to her friends, ironically by the Hospital Wing.
"Oh my God. Oh my God." whispered Allison, tears streaming down her cheeks. She and Ellie rushed to Lily, calming her down while Jacob and Sirius went to get Madam Rider.
Lily tried to give a weak smile before fainting in the arms of Ellie.
Theresa-Thou-I-Love, bananaslugg, Galasriniel, and Snail-Sama: Thanks for the reviews! Keep reading!
Lily Evans 4 Life- Well we might have to wait a bit for the real Emerson ass kicking to begin. And by waiting, I do mean a while. So don't get too impatient and assume James has better things to do.
hpgirl7777: I plan on reading This Side of Paradise and The Last Tycoon! Thanks for the review and the book recommendation.
chikichiki: Yes, you can use a hit counter. I'm hating it because it shows me how many people are reading my story and not reviewing. So if you non-reviewers are reading this—please review. Thanks. Anyways, I appreciate your review as always. Keep reading.