White Stag

Lily went back to the Forest the next day. But as she headed through the trees toward the clearing, she heard whistling. Not birds singing, no, it was distinctly whistling. And then it stopped, and she heard a very familiar voice singing the Hogwarts school song.

What on earth was James Potter doing in the Forest? And he was so close to her clearing, too! But then, he had almost flat-out told her he was in the Forest sometimes, saying he had seen that stag so much.

Lily heard a soft pop at the same time as the singing stopped abruptly, then she heard bushes rustling. She wondered what he was doing, then all thought of James was driven out of her mind as she saw the white stag again.

He had run across the pathway right in front of her, stopped, and turned to look at her. She found herself transfixed by his huge, unblinking hazel eyes. The spell was broken as quickly at it had been cast as the stag moved from his position in the pathway to Lily's side.

She gasped, staring over at him. He glanced back over at her as if to ask, "Is this a problem?" She shook her head quickly, then started walking to see what he would do. He took a step, then stopped. She smiled and waved him forward. Lily could've sworn he smiled back before slowly walking to her side.

"So how about I show you the clearing?" she asked him, before remembering. "Oh wait... you've already seen it, haven't you?" He tilted his head slightly and rubbed it lightly against her shoulder. She laughed. "That tickles!"

A whistle echoed through the forest. The stag looked up, nudged Lily's shoulder gently, then ran off the way he had come. Maybe it was James who had whistled. Maybe he knew the stag. She would have to talk to James when she got back to the school.

Later that day

She found James in the common room two hours after her second encounter with the stag. His hair was a little bit messier than usual, and there was a leaf in it that he obviously hadn't noticed. He was sitting with his back to her in one of the armchairs by the fire. Normally Sirius, Remus, and Peter would be ranged across the couch, the other armchair, or the rug, but he was alone. Maybe that would make it easier to talk to him.

Lily walked up behind the chair, then realized he was reading. She wasn't quite sure how to get his attention, then he spoke. "Just a second, Evans, I'm almost done with this chapter." She blinked. Had she been that loud? He finished that page, then lightly dog-eared the page, closed the book, and turned around. "Yeah?"

"Um... I was just going to ask you about that stag..." she said, sitting down on the couch.

"What about him?" asked James, turning to look at her there.

"Well... I saw him again today, and I was just going to ask-"

"You were in the Forest again? I'm impressed. Miss prefect Evans is becoming a regular rulebreaker." James smirked.

"I'm not half as bad as you or any of your friends! And what about Remus? He's a prefect too, isn't he?" Lily replied defensively.

James shrugged. "He's Remus. You're Lily."

"Well... just because I... he's not... it's quiet in the Forest!" James raised an eyebrow at her. "I mean, that's why I go to the Forest. Because it's quiet. You probably only go in there cause it's against the rules."

"Sure, that was why we went in the first time. But you've been in there, you know how nice it is. That's why I go back alone. And you're right, it is quiet."

"I'm impressed now. Potter wants some quiet time."

He laughed. "I finally impressed you? Wow."

Lily crossed her arms. "That's not what I meant and you know it. And we're completely off-subject. What do you know about that stag?"

"He's white."

"Potter!"

He laughed. "Oh, besides that? He'll come to you if you whistle."

"So that was you!"

James nodded. "Yep. And... hmm... what else..." He started to run his hand through his hair, then stopped. "Oops, sorry. Habit. Um... I don't think he likes me."

"Why do you say that?" Lily asked curiously.

"Cause if I'm around he leaves, so you'll never see us together. He only came to me when I whistled cause he didn't know who it was."

"Mm. Anything else?"

"If I think of anything I'll te- oh yeah, and he likes sugar. From the right people, of course. Won't take any from me, but he's taken a bit from Sirius and Remus. Peter too, I think."

"How do you know?"

"I hid behind a tree and watched."

Lily couldn't help laughing. "James Potter, hiding from a deer."

He smiled.

Already two reviews for chapter 1! Thank you Hogwartsgirl52 and jeevesandwooster. :feels loved: And about how I said I had already written 9 chapters of this last year and was just redoing it a little... well, it's more than a little. The only part in this chapter that's in the original is the beginning up to where the stag walks across the path (originally he ran off as soon as Lily saw him) and Lily going to see James to ask about the stag and seeing him reading. I like this much better though.

And as for jeevesandwooster's question, ... Will Lily find out about the Animagi-ness or won't she? Good question. :winks: And when will she fall in love with James? I mean, we know she has to, cause it's J/L. But when? Let's just say... soon. :smirks: