Thanks for the encouragement LilyotValley86 and Tiffany! It means a lot :) I hope you like this next chapter.
Disclaimer: I own no one, just the plot and unfamiliar characters, blah blah, you know the drill :)
The week that passed before the Hogsmeade trip was unbearable long for James. He couldn't wait to go with Lily; and his classes felt like years. Every time he saw here in the halls, or in the Gryffindor common room, he smiled at her. They didn't talk much, but there would be plenty of time for that.
On the morning of the visit, James got up early, had a shower, and even attempted to make his hair lie flat. That was a failed attempt. Exasperated, he gave up and went down to breakfast with Sirius, Remus and Peter. Peter was talking a mile a minute asking questions about Lily, and what they would do on during the trip.
"Shut UP, Wormtail!" Sirius said finally, as the questions finally got to him. Remus opened his mouth to say something, but shut it again, knowing nothing he could say would change the way Sirius and James treated Wormtail.
"Look, there she is!" James whispered as they arrived in the Great Hall. Lily had white flowers weaved into the long braid that trailed down her back. Wormtail's mouth hung open, and he nearly tripped over the Hufflepuff table. James walked over to her, and sat down. The bench was almost entirely empty to her left. Her best friend Leala was to her right, and they were giggling quietly. The marauders sat down to James' left.
"Oh hi, James," she said smiling at him. He smiled nervously back, and she blushed.
"Hi," James replied, helping himself to some toast. Remus and Sirius sniggered beside him. He shot them a look.
They ate in a nervous silence. Leala had left to join some of her other friends, and the rest of the marauders slid down the bench, putting a good 3 feet between James and themselves. With distance between himself and his friends, James realized exactly how close he and Lily were sitting. She caught him looking at her, and giggled nervously. He smiled, and felt his ears go red. Wow. Was this ever awkward.
Finally the meal was over, and they joined the rest of the students emptying the Great Hall into the grounds. They walked together into the line up, where the caretaker, Apollyon Pringle was checking names off his list of students with permission. They walked the road into Hogsmeade.
When they'd put some distance between themselves and other students, James finally attempted speech. "Hey… um… err…" It was a failed attempt. Luckily, Lily didn't laugh.
"So, what do you want to do?" She asked, as if his pathetic show of intelligence had never existed.
"Well, how about Madame Puddifoot's Tea Shop?" he asked, hoping that she'd say no.
Lily looked like she was about to really laugh this time, but she didn't. "Sure, I guess."
They walked down the main road, and entered the cramped shop full of incense. There were already a few Hogwarts couples in there, a few sipping tea, but most of the making eyes at each other, and two couples making out in the back corner. James navigated to what looked like a safe table by the window. Lily and he sat down, and the pink patterned teapot in the middle of the table started to whistle softly, as if it had been waiting for them to arrive. Two teacups flew from the opposite corner of the shop where the kitchen was, and fell with a clatter onto their table. The teapot poured them some steaming orange tea. James looked at it in disgust. Lily laughed.
"I HATE tea," she said, hoping James wasn't offended.
"So do I," he said, feeling incredibly stupid. Why had he suggested this stupid place anyways? "Why don't we get away from this place and go for a walk?"
"Yes!" Lily said, standing up abruptly. They hurried out of the shop, accidentally bumping into a couple making out. James turned to say sorry, but stopped. That couple looked strangely familiar.
"Leala? Sirius?" Lily asked. She looked shocked, "You never told me that you two…"
Leala was biting her lip. Sirius was staring at the floor. "Well THIS is interesting." James said, breaking the awkward silence. "Well, we'll leave you to it I suppose… Let's go Lily."
"Yes. Yes, let's go." She said glaring at Leala. They exited the shop. "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!" Lily burst when the door had shut behind them. People on the streets stopped to look at them. James was furious too.
"Our best friends!" he said angrily, although with slightly less gusto then Lily. "I can't wait to get my hands on him," he growled.
"Me neither. Leala is going to die," Lily said looking hurt, "We tell each other everything."
"Let's go for a walk." James said. He held out his hand to her. Hesitating for a moment, she took it, and they walked off down the street, happy and talking about the best way to punish their friends for not telling them of their secret romance.
Later that day, James and Lily were playing chess in the common room. They had spent the rest of the day together, and after having exhausted methods of punishing Sirius and Leala, they went into The 3 Broomsticks, and talked over Butterbeer. James treated.
After a depressing loss – Lily was an excellent chess player – Lily and James got up and left the common room to go for a walk.
They walked around the lake, talking and admiring the gorgeous sunset. It was all pink and orange, a dusky glaze across the sky. They sat down under the big tree by the lake, James' arms around Lily's shoulders. She rested her head on his shoulder. They watched the owls begin to come out to hunt as the sun drifted below the horizon. James tipped her chin up gently with his fingers. He looked into those emerald eyes, and she smiled a very small smile. Their faces came close together, and their lips brushed each other for a brief moment that suspended the two of them in time, and when they finally separated, there was an understanding that the two of them were meant to be together.
Well, that's chapter two…hope you like. I'll post more soon if you want it. It's up to you, my loyal readers :P Maybelline
