Transformations and Transfiguration

By: Jasmine

Chapter 15

"Only One I See"

After that morning's events, Lily was astonished at the number of giggling girls who ran up to her between classes, excitedly inquiring as to the sender of her brithday gift. Every time she'd reply with a smile and a shrug, saying, "I really wish I did know. I'd love to thank them." Every time she said this, Sirius would have to grab the back of James's robes to keep him from throwing himself at her feet, telling him that patience is a very needed virtue.

"You should talk." James would reply irritably, sniffing and crossing his arms over his chest. He then would have to remind himself that he'd put very much time and effort into his little plan and foiling it before it was even fully unraveled would be pointless and very unbelievable. He'd rather have Lily experience the whole thing and then reveal himself, or rather have her guess.

"You've become quite popular in the last hour." Jasmine said with a grin as probably the thousandth girl ran off, still giggling her head off. "That was a first year, though. Can't wonder where she got the courage to come speak to you, considering we were terrified to go speak to even the third years, let alone the fifth."

"Quite the talkers, these new ones are." Lily responded with a nod, feeling herself bump into someone considerably shorter than her as she did so. She glanced down to see a small boy with dark hair that clashed with his bright eyes, which were staring into her own emerald ones strangely. Lily frowned. "Yes?" She said impatiently when he didn't move, checking her watch.

The boy smiled, putting his hands in his pockets in a mock-humble manner. He kicked at the floor and said, "Well, Lily Evans. I guess it's time the truth came out." Lily's eyebrows shot up, as did Jasmines, and the two stared amusedly at him. He looked up into Lily's eyes and said, "I'm the one who sent the letter this morning. I just had to let you know of the burning passion I feel." He dramatically put a hand to his chest.

Jasmine snorted, covering her mouth quickly and taking a few steps back. The boy glared at her. "Okay..." Lily said, an amused smile perched upon her lips as well. She quirked an eyebrow. "And you're how old...?"

"Thirteen." He replied promptly, nodding his head in a satisfactory manner, as if that ended the conversation. "And I believe that two years of difference is as good as nothing. Age is nothing but a number, after all." Lily gaped slightly at the boy. Jasmine seemed to have recovered slightly and returned to the scene, a band placed upon her hip.

Just then, a second boy ran up to them, one hand waving at them to stop, the other holding his stomach as tears strolled down his face. "Ok, ok. That's enough." He panted, halting at last to catch his breath. He then moved his gaze up toward Lily and Jasmine, who gave him an inquiring look. "Sorry, I dared him to do it."

"Yep. It's a part of an initiation process so I can get into—"

"No one cares." Jasmine cut him off. The boys watched Lily and Jasmine stroll past them, eyes wide and mouths cavernous. Once they were out of earshot, Jasmine said, "Stupid gits. Wouldn't be surprised if Sirius put them up to it." She shook her head, rolling her eyes. Lily thought about it for a moment before nodding.

Just before they entered class, Jasmine let out a sudden yelp of pain and frustration. Lily spun around to find her rubbing the back of her head where something very solid had hit her hard. She looked past her to see a small tawny owl beating its miniscule wings in an attempt to stay in the air, a large parcel weighing it down.

"Why you little—" Jasmine began, stomping toward the owl when she set sight upon the parcel as well. Her head turned in such rapid motion that she cricked it, but she could careless because her eyes were eager and staring at Lily's expression, which as identical. "Think it's from the same person?" She asked breathlessly as Lily untied the parcel and letter.

Lily nodded slowly, taking the letter first and ripping it open. She stared at it for a moment before handing it to Jasmine, turning toward the parcel now. Jasmine read:

O is for the only one I see...

"What the...?" Jasmine muttered, her eyes following Lily's hands as they ripped wrapping off the box. Lily pulled out a second bit of parchment then, her eyes whizzing across it before she handed it to Jasmine as well. "This is too much." She muttered as she read:

...because I hear you like watching the stars.

"Oh my god, Jasmine, take a look at this!" Lily gasped as she threw out the bits of tissue lining the inside of the box to show Jasmine a glinting telescope, small rubies and emeralds embedded in its golden handle. She stroked it slowly with her index finger, following the round tip of the lense, admiring its perfection. "...but how did they know I like counting stars? I haven't even told you that." She wondered aloud, pondering the answer.

"D'you mind moving?" a voice cut into her thoughts like a blade. Lily glanced upward to see James and Sirius staring down at the pair. It had been Sirius who'd spoken. Jasmine stood quickly, punching Sirius for being a "git" as she called it.

James, however, was staring peculiarly at Lily, a slightly lopsided grin upon his face. "What, Potter?" Lily snapped him out of his trance. He shook his head and marched into the classroom without a word, which Lily found rather annoying considering she'd been expecting him to question her to death about the gifts she'd received. After all, that was what he'd have done on normal circumstances.

When Lily confided such feelings within Jasmine, she just shook her head and told her to worry not because she knew him and knew he'd do no such thing. "How d'you know him so well?" Lily inquired with a look. Jasmine hesitated, looking around for anything to change the subject with, but Lily did the honors. "Oh, forget it. I'm wasting my time. What I really want to know is who these superb gifts are from because whoever it is, they know me quite well."

Jasmine nodded. "Let's think. Now, it's obviously a boy, so we can cross out all girls because they all seem to be love notes of some kind." Lily nodded in agreement. "They're probably not in Slytherin." Lily grinned. The only way it could've been a Slytherin was if they'd been put under the Imperius Curse.

"So, not a girl and not Slytherin. That's leaves, what?" Lily said, ticking them off her fingers. "Only about three hundred possibilities." She ended in mock-happiness, clapping her hands sarcastically. Jasmine slapped her playfully on the shoulder.

"No. I think they'd have to have met you and had a decent conversation with you at least once. I also have a strong inkling that they're in Gryffindor." Jasmine continued, softly scratching her chin. She glanced around the Common Room. The male population that seemed to have suddenly quadrupled since last she checked. "Well, he's definitely fifth year or above—"

Jasmine was cut off by two strong arms wrapping around her from behind as Sirius appeared, quickly kissing his girlfriend on the cheek and hopping over the edge of the couch, landing right next to her. "Ay, Jas. Evans. What's going on?" He said casually, putting a hand through his hair. Lily did not respond, her eyes upon James, who'd stayed still the whole time.

"Just talking about who it might be that's sending these gifts," Jasmine answered, pointing at the table ahead, upon which was the notes and gifts sent. "And, if you don't mind, I'd appreciate it if you didn't hop onto the sofa in such a manner. I'd like to keep the circulation in my legs, and I don't feel too keen about you falling on me."

Sirius stared for a moment before a smirk appeared about his mouth. Next moment he'd jumped onto a screaming Jasmine, who was trying her best not to laugh. He feel off the couch in a heap, Jasmine having just pushed him off her and was straightening her robes. He stood and rubbed his head where he'd hit it and explained, "I didn't really think you knew what it'd feel like if I fell on you, so I thought I'd show you for future references." James and Remus laughed, Remus shaking his head and taking a seat in the empty armchair facing the fire.

James diffidently placed himself across Lily, who didn't even notice him sit down. She glanced up and looked around at the group, asking, "So, have any of you got any clue who it might be from?" There were mumbles and shrugs all around, all except for one. "I'm thinking Jake, but—hey, wait. Have any of you seen Jake around recently, anyway? I haven't seen him all day."

Sirius snapped his fingers, sitting up straight. "Yep. Told me he had to see Dumbledore today. He came in the middle of the year, and since O.W.L.s are three weeks from now, they're checking to be sure he's learned everything that's necessary." An involuntary shiver flew through the group as this sudden realization that the O.W.L.s were so near set.

Lily frowned slightly. "Hm. He didn't tell me about that." Her head slowly turned toward the gifts, though her eyes were looking beyond. If Jake had been busy all day, would he have found the time to send all these at the times she'd received them? Was he testing right now or just waiting for results from America of his previous tests there? She wasn't even sure if he'd remembered her birthday, let alone been the one to send all these gifts.

"Well, I'm off." Jasmine snapped her back to reality, standing and straightening her robes. She rubbed her stomach gently and said, "It's lunch time and I'm not about to miss out on any meals while we still have the time to eat." Lily nodded and Jasmine disappeared, Sirius following loyally. Remus tapped his fingers on the table for a moment before he, too, left without a word, leaving Lily and James seated alone.

Lily opened her mouth to break the annoying silence, but it was James who was quicker. "I guess you're pretty lucky, getting all these gifts from someone who seems to love you. What's the occasion, if I might ask?" He questioned casually as if he wanted nothing more than to hear the answer and begin friendly conversation.

Lily glanced at him for a moment, trying to read his expression but failing miserably. "It's—er—my birthday." Her voice cracked slightly at the last word for some strange reason. She rubbed her throat promptly, clearing it and frowning.

"Oh." said James in mock-surprise. He nodded his head slowly, straightening his glasses. "So, how old are you now? Sixteen?" He continued, trying to look Lily in the eye but only managing her shoulder.

"I've still got a full year to wait for that." Lily replied, staring up at the ceiling in thought. James glanced at her for the first time immediately. He'd thought she was fifteen all along. He'd no idea she was so young. He himself was turning sixteen in barely a month's time, after all. "Nope. I just hit fifteen. I guess that would make me the youngest of the year, d'you think?"

"Your guess is as good as mine." James replied, shocked, as was Lily, he'd left out the cockiness in his tone that'd been begging to be let out. There was an awkward silence that followed once again. After glancing around for another topic of conversation, both opened their mouths, but once again James won the race. "I guess I'd better get going to lunch as well."

He stood to leave swiftly, but Lily called out to him. "Look, Potter. I know you know who sent these, so would you mind letting me in on it? I'd really like to thank them." She said in one breath, fidgeting with her fingers all along.

James paused, giving her a piercing, intense stare before slowly opening his mouth and saying, "You see, he's a close mate of mine, so I've been promised to secrecy. But, mind you, I won't hesitate to let him know of your thanks." With that, he spun around and left before Lily had the chance to say another word, leaving her gaping after him.

Was this the James Potter she'd always known? The James Potter who'd have done anything to ruin a dream of hers, to let out a secret that she'd been trying to keep? No. He was different now, in an unexplainable way. He'd kept his big mouth shut for the first time she'd ever seen, and it was puzzling her greatly.

Lily shook her head, dropping her arms to her sides hopelessly. She hauled all the gifts and notes up to her dorms before running off to catch a bite of lunch before it disappeared.

Well, there you have it. I guess it started out okay at the beginning, but I was just dragging along the chapter toward the end, so I guess I'd just decided to end it there. I haven't decided what's going to come up in the next few chapters yet, but I've already got how the story's going to end, and trust me, it's going to be a surprise. I'm actually surprised I thought it up. Anyway, I'm not going to ruin the surprise for you all, but know that I'm not going to have anymore than 25 or 30 chapters. I'm not very big on long stories, so 30's the max, though I'll probably end at 25.

Anyway, before I go, I guess I'll answer a few reviews...

Fairy-GYAKUTENNO-MEGAMI:
really good... but how come lily didn't thank james? please update soon!

Well, Fairy, Lily doesn't know that it was James. It's more of a 'secret admirer', if you catch my drift.

Steelo:
Great job but I am really beginning to not like Jake I mean at all ( he seems like a totall jerk) anyway keep writing bye

Jake's actually supposed to be the 'bad guy' type... for now at least! heh. confused, right? Well, be sure that Jake isn't going to be getting any nicer any time soon... Hope I didn't give anything away, because Jake really is the bad guy.

oceanmist05:
This is an awesome story! I love that you are making the storyline go with what the series says. You are a great writer, please don't stop.

Well, thank you for the compliment! I actually can't stand it if it doesn't go by the books because we're not the creators of the characters, J.K.Rowling is, so we shouldn't be changing something around that isn't ours. That's my personal feeling, anyway. And, I don't plan on stopping the story anytime soon, and I've vowed to myself that I'm going to finish this story because I've never finished a story before, so yeah...

Ok. I guess that's about all. I hope, for those of you with questions, I was able to answer them, and thanks to all my loyal reviewers! I really do love you, and keep 'em coming!

Please Review!