Winning Miss Lily Evans Over

By: neen

Author's note: The sequel to Ways to Ask Out Miss Lily Evans is finally here!…what do you think?

Hope you all like this! Please review as well…(I accept anonymous reviews, so no need to login if you don't want to…and guests, you can review now too!)

Enjoy!

If you have not read Ways To Ask Out Miss Lily Evans, please do so, because I will refer to some of the events that happened in there in this sequel! Once again, this is the SEQUEL! Please go read Ways To Ask Out Miss Lily Evans if you have not already!

Chapter Three: Flying Lessons

"Hi, Evans! Beautiful Sunday morning, isn't it?" James asked of Lily, who was sitting in the Common Room, reading a textbook.

Lily squinted suspiciously at James, who looked oddly cheerful so early in the morning.

"It is," Lily said evenly after deciding to a minute later.

"Very," James agreed before glancing over Lily's shoulder. "Working on the Transfig essay, I daresay?"

Lily controlled her desire to whack James silly with the heavy Transfiguration book sitting in her lap. "Yes, I am, Potter. I'm sure that interests you greatly."

"Oh, as a matter of fact, it does, my dear Evans! Need help?" James asked with a smile.

"No!" Lily immediately answered, but she was regretting it greatly. It was well known that James was the top of the class at Transfiguration and there was the tiny little fact that she wasn't that well at Transfiguration. However, she would not let her Gryffindor pride down and if she were to ever be tutored at Transfiguration, the last person she would ask would be James.

James, hearing her quick reply, smirked.

"Do whatever suits you, Evans. But my Transfiguration paper is always here—" James conjured his essay out of the air and placed it in front of Lily, "—if you ever decide you need it."

"I don't need it, Potter!" Lily called after him, holding his essay out to him, but with a final grin, he had already departed.

"Drat that stupid talented Potter," Lily muttered under her breath.

She sighed and picked up her quill again, writing two more sentences. "This–is—insufferable!" James's essay glanced up innocently at her, taunting her to read it.

"No! I won't do it, I won't!" Lily said to herself, stuffing the essay under the book to refrain herself from reading it.

A sentence later, Lily could not help it anymore. She struggled—oh yes, she struggled—against her will, but her fingers just automatically reached over and tugged the long piece of parchment out from under the Transfiguration book.

"Animagi are wizards that after many years, can become a certain and only that animal at will and can stay that way for however long they want, unlike users who use the Animas Potion, which will allow the user only an hour to become the animal they place a part of in the potion."

Lily stared. She could not believe all the information James had put in was in only one sentence. James then went on to tell all the characteristics and the process of becoming Animagi in very close details, saying everything in nearly eighteen inches of parchment, whereas they only needed ten inches. James wasn't top at Transfiguration for nothing.

Lily glanced at the seven inches she had written after such a long time and sighed.

James was ungratefully talented and there was not a thing she could do about it.

Lily sighed deeply and added a few things she had read in James's essay, rewording it.

"I see you've decided that you would use my substandard paper?" James asked coolly.

Lily startled. "Potter! Where did you come from?"

"Through the door. What did you want me say? Through your Transfiguration book?" James asked sarcastically.

"You gave me quite a scare. Your essay," Lily said, shoving the essay to him.

"Now, Evans, where are your manners? No thank you for copying my delightful paper?" James asked mockingly.

Lily glared. "You don't deserve any."

The comment stung and Lily knew it, regretting it the minute it came out of her mouth.

"Sorry. Thanks, Potter," Lily said quickly, looking down.

"I don't deserve it, do I?" James said quietly and went upstairs to the boy's dormitory.

"Potter! I didn't mean anything! Potter!" Lily called after, but James did not turn around.

"Nice, Lily."

Lily turned around, half-thinking it was Jacqueline. It was Arielle.

Lily groaned mentally. "Thanks."

"I bet James doesn't like you much anymore, does he?" Arielle asked, smiling broadly.

"I don't know about that. Maybe he likes me more," Lily said lightly, shrugging as she stepped past Arielle elegantly to sit back down.

Arielle stared at her as Lily pretended not to know. When Arielle did not take the hint and leave, Lily asked pointedly, "What? Have I got something on my nose?"

Arielle gave a small 'hmpth' with her nose tilted in the air and hastily left. Lily snorted openly as she left.

"Nice, Lily."

Lily turned around, but even before she did, she already knew the voice that haunted her. James Potter.

"Thanks, Potter. I'm really sorry, all right?" Lily said hesitantly, her pride corroding some.

"It's all right. Sirius says things like that all the time; I'm used to it. Those things bounce right off me," James said, waving it away.

Lily stared at him in amazement. This was not the 'James Potter' reaction she had anticipated. Interesting.

"What? Have I got something on my nose?" James grinned at her.

"Nothing you mind, Potter," Lily said quickly and looked away, her face flushed. James caught the blush and grinned to himself.

"Stop that. You look like a clown when you do that," Lily said finally as she saw the huge grin James had plastered on his face.

James's grin faltered. "A clown?"

"Yes, the muggle entertainers that had huge red rubber noses and dress eccentrically and wearing grins very similar to yours."

"Ohh. Say, Evans, do you like flying?" James asked casually.

"No," was Lily's rapid answer. "Why do you ask?"

"Why not?" James asked, frowning.

"I—I—I'm just not fond of it," Lily said.

"You'e scared." The words did not sound like an accusation coming from James. It was merely a statement.

"I am most definitely not!" Lily retorted defiantly, her cheeks burning. "I just can't fly!"

"You what, Evans?" James asked, amazed.

"I can't fly," Lily said in almost a whisper of shame.

"I can teach you," James said softly.

Lily snapped back to her fiery self. "I don't need lessons, Potter! I'm well off without flying."

James nodded. "Of course. It must be…"

"Must be what?"

"You're scared."

"I am not! Haven't I told you that already?"

James shrugged. "I think you are."

"Well, you're wrong! Tonight at ten o' clock by the lake," Lily said to both her and James's amazement.

James quickly nodded before Lily could say anything. She looked absolutely horrified at her words. "Wouldn't miss it for the world." He left, humming happily.

Lily groaned.

o.O.o.O.o

"Lily, what's wrong with you today?" Jacqueline asked, looking over her book at her best friend. Lily had groaned yet again. "Something the matter? Don't tell me you have ulcers!"

"I might when I get through tonight," Lily said grimly and groaned again.

"Lily, honestly! Stop that—it's driving me crazy," Jacqueline snapped crossly.

"Sorry, Jackie—it's just that it's so depressing—so degrading! I can't believe I agreed to that in the first place!" Lily sighed.

"It might not be as bad as you think, Lily. It's just flying lessons with James Potter," Jacqueline shrugged.

"Key words: James Potter," Lily said stubbornly and sank into a nightmarish sleep in the comfy armchair, dreaming of James beating her with broomsticks, demanding that she fly into the Whomping Willow.

o.O.o.O.o

Lily groaned for the 1835th time that day and mentally beat herself up. How the heck had James Potter got her to take flying lessons with him at night and worst—after curfew! She was a prefect—someone people looked up to—a role model for the well-being of society, for crying out loud! Lily shook her head. She had gotten herself into a complete mess. She really should have controlled herself, but her fiery temper got the better of her.

Lily glanced at the clock in the Common Room. Nine fifty. Hastily, Lily threw on a dark-colored cloak, hoping it would blend her in with the night and sneaked away to the lake after explaining to the Fat Lady—strictly prefect duties.

"Drat that Potter! I knew I should have stayed in bed!" Lily muttered crossly. He was late.

"And missed this spectacular view?" James hovered over her, grinning. He had been there nearly an hour ago and had watched Lily arrive, looking highly uncomfortable.

"Potter," Lily greeted through clenched teeth.

"You don't have a broom with you?" James asked in disbelief. Lily looked at the ground, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

James looked like he was about to have another go at Lily but quickly shut his mouth. "Er—never mind, we can use mine."

"First things first: the joy of mounting. Don't let the broomstick kick you—it's just like those muggle horses. Always be at the front of the broomstick where it can see you," James began.

A few minutes later of thorough instruction, Lily got on the broom. She was shaking nervously. "Great. I'm done. Lesson's over, right?"

"Very nice." James gave her a warm smile and chuckled. "Far from it, my dear."

James expertly mounted lightly onto the broom close behind Lily.

"Potter…three feet behind and don't you dare touch me with your filthy, nasty hands," Lily glared.

James looked annoyed. "Listen, Evans—a broomstick is only about five feet. You're taking up one, so do you want me to dangle off on the bristles until it bucks me off?"

"Fine. Two and a half feet," Lily decided, nearly grinning.

The broom looked close to bucking James right off it.

James sighed. "All right. I'm going to do a soft, slow kick-off. Hold on firmly to the handle."

They were hovering three feet in the air. Lily let out a loud scream when she looked down. The large bats in the tree next to them scattered out quickly, having been disturbed.

"Evans, shut up! What are you playing at? You'll wake up the whole damn castle!"

Lily just tittered slightly.

"Potter, bring me down! I can't stand it anymore!" Lily was getting close to tears.

Suddenly something whizzed past, grazing James's ear, clicking loudly.

"Damn!" James swore loudly as he grabbed the broom, jerking it towards the castle.

"Potter—those weren't Blood-Sucking Bogies by any chance, were they?" Lily asked, her face turning pale.

"As a matter of fact—they were—hang on tight," James muttered as they sped over the Forbidden Forest. Lily's face went even paler.

"Potter—go—slower…"

"Sorry, Evans—they're on our tail."

Lily quickly shut her eyes as they nearly ran into a large tree. "I hate you, Potter."

"Hurry, run for it, Evans—I'll lead them away," James instructed after gently letting Lily to the ground.

Lily made a mad dash for it, muttering, "Never again…" under her breath as James tackled the bats and flew straight into them.

Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait, guys! I'm glad you guys liked Chapter 2...

Thanks for the reviews!