A/N: wow! I love u guys! AND…I absolutely love your reviews! Hopefully, eventually, I will get around to reviewing the stories of all you who sign your reviews and have authored stories. Hopefully, it will be done relatively soon, but I can't guarantee anything. After all, I can't update this if I'm reading your stories all the time ( I now have 2 pages of responses, and it's taken me like 3 or 4 days to do it!). Oh, and to all of you who don't have stories for me to read, I really do appreciate the time you take to review my little fic, so here are responses to all of you (those who give longer reviews, or guess things get longer responses)
Kaia: Hopefully my new layout is easier for you to read! I will do anything so people can actually read my story, so thanks for your suggestion!
Demothenes and Locke: Hopefully I have now solved your problem with the layout of my chapters, so don't worry, you don't have issues! I'm so sorry that my updating forms part of your preservation of sanity! I wouldn't recommend it, I am NOT a frequent updater, though I do try!
Monkeys rok my sox: Yes, he was being a butthead, but this is still in the stage where he has an overlarge ego, so maybe we will see if eventually he stops being a butthead…but who knows?
Lizzie Black: Glad you like my changed layout. And don't worry, I don't plan on making them fall in love straight away, Lily has some issues to overcome, and James isn't exactly perfect either, so their relationship may be fraught with some hurdles. Plus, remember, Lily still has a boyfriend and overbearing, albeit well-meaning, parents to deal with first. So you need not worry, it will not be tooooo cheesy, or not so cheesy as it could be. I will try to keep clichés to a minimum.
I am very sorry to inform you though, about the length of my chapters. They are not THAT short, however, I do know it is annoying to only have shorter chapters when some lazy person like me doesn't update that frequently. There isn't really a lot I can do about it, as my ideas only come to me in shorter bursts, and it takes me a while to mull over ideas in my head before I even write them. And I don't mind criticism, especially creative criticism like yours, as it helps me to understand what readers think, and how I can grow as a writer. So thank-you.
Demeters Child: Thanks. I find it easier to write about them to. You get a bit more freedom without people attacking you for not keeping them "in character." Hopefully, you've read my next chapter and that it answers your question a bit.
Snowyangelmidnight: I'm trying to follow your suggestion a bit, and I am explaining why Lily hates James in my next few chapter.
xlilypotterx: I love marauder stories too ( as well as maroon 5). Christmas and summer is weird for me too! Its seems too hot, when you always see pictures of snow and winter. Thanks for your review.
mizlovegood: Thanks, and hopefully you will hear more, when I'm done responding to all my wonderful reviewers! And I will hopefully get around to reviewing one of your stories…soon!
Lirimaer Elearie I know, I know, punctuation has NEVER been my strong point….but I hope it is tolerable enough for you to keep reading…and I'm really flattered by your review to chapter 2...thanks a lot!
Auror: Well, I'm glad at least that you are still interested. If you really like the story, its shouldn't really matter how long it takes. I'm not extremely busy, but it does take a while for me to actually decide what to say in each chapter
My thanks must also go to all these people, because without all of you, I wouldn't be nearly so motivated to keep going: Stephanie, Senshiofmars, skybluepink (I'd write you a long review, but all the stuff I'd say is in my review to your story!), Sally da pumpkin queen, sjpgurl13, Ashley, hypa4evr, Tears-That-Fall, beyonce-85, moony391 (oh, and I've changed my layout, so maybe you can read it now?), Clurey, Marauder-Magick33, newsieduckling, potato maker, navy-blue6, missmcweir (I just thought I'd try a bit of a cliffie, but I think I'm too slack to update fast enough to do it very often), inuyoukai-01, haley (yes, I am, eventually), wacky one, tomismyboy4life, Hermione-Potter-52036, lilypad007, sallymander, Lillith Potter, Stacey, fuzzy, apotterlover (you may or may not be right…not necessarily his ego, but more his own insecurities, that no-one thinks he could have) and lillypEoVtAtNeSr
Ok, so now that's all done, this is the next chapter of She Will Be Loved.
Lily heard the bell, and yelled up the stairs for Ella to hurry up. Down came Ella, her shoes untied and a hairbrush in hand. Lily let out a gentle laugh and shook her head at her disorganised friend.
'When will you learn the advantages of an alarm clock? Especially when we have McGonagall first period!' said Lily, pretending to sound exasperated, but failing dismally.
'When did you get your timetable?' asked Ella, giving her friend a gentle shove as they raced around a corner, just in time to join the rest of their class as they entered their transfiguration classroom.
'It's called paying attention sweetie,' said Lily somewhat patronisingly as they took their seats. 'Last night, at the feast, Dumbledore did mention that we could pick them up from Prefects either last night or this morning. They were trying a different system this year I think.' she finished.
Ella gave Lily a gentle nudge in the ribs. Lily looked up to find McGonagall giving her a pointed look. Lily went quiet immediately and turned a delicate shade of pink. At that point, several people, including a certain Marauder, and Gem, rushed into the room, looing relieved at the sight of the people in it. Clearly, they, like Ella, hadn't been listening to Dumbledore and had not collected a timetable, and therefore had to guess their class.
The members of the class who had turned up on time laughed, and McGonagall swept her trademark silencing gaze around the room. She then said,
'Clearly, Professor Dumbledore's new system was not effective. I shall let him know.'
The class dared not laugh again, as the late students sat down. Gem came over and sat near Ella and Lily. Gem shot a look at Lily and mouthed,
'Where were you last night?'
Lily mouthed back, 'Tell you later,' and turned around just in time to see James approach the other Marauders, in their usual seats up the back, but Remus put his bag on the empty chair and gave James a scathing look. James got the message and was forced to sit close to the front on his own.
Lily hid her surprise at this, and focused on what McGonagall was telling them about her expectations for Gryffindoor this year, and how she hoped that in this, the year before their O.W.Ls, they would focus harder on academic application, because this was a very crucial year in their studies.
Lily knew all this, she'd already heard it from her parents and Mark. Argh! She really didn't want to think about Mark, but she just had, and now he was staring at her from across the room, and she did NOT like that stare. It was beginning to scare her.
She wasn't the only one who had seen it though. James looked up, hoping to find a friendly face somewhere. Whilst he was searching, he saw Mark looking at Lily, and he did NOT like that look either. James could hear McGonagall droning away in the background still.
James already knew about this subject, transfiguration was his best subject. After all, his grandfather had once been the Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts many years ago, and was very keen to pass his skills onto James. James saw the look in Lily's eyes when she saw the look Mark was giving her.
The look of sudden fright, and then slowly it turned into a smile, after getting over the initial shock. James knew that look exactly, because it was the one she had given him on that day back in first year, the one he had been thinking about only half an hour ago.
The look in Lily's eyes suddenly changed and a smile lit up her face. She nodded slowly, and, turning that delicate shade of pink that so often tinted her cheeks, she saw the satisfaction on his face as he suddenly regained his usual charming, if not slightly cocky, demeanour and she rushed into her room.
James was thrilled, very happy to say the least. At last, he had got the courage that had so often failed him in regards to Lily. It never happened at any other time, but with Lily it was different. But now, letting her see him at his most vulnerable, at her mercy, seemed like a huge mistake. She would think she had power over him, his irrational mind informed him.
Oh no! He'd have to show her who was boss, and he'd have to show her soon. His mind immediately began to think of a plan. Of course, he'd have to consult with the other Marauders, but he was already thinking maybe some really bad public humiliation. Yes, that was it. Now, where was Sirius when you needed him most?
The thoughts about Sirius brought James back to earth with a very painful jolt. Having to deal with not only losing something he had just gained, especially the respect of Lily Evans, was made three times worse with having to deal with the rejection of his friends, all his friends. Remus was bad enough, but Peter and especially Sirius made it even harder, if that was possible.
Remus must have gone to the others before class and told them his story. Well, James would just have to do the same. But maybe he'd give them a day or so to cool down a bit. Lily, well Lily, he had no idea what to do about her. But she had a very good idea of what to do to him.
Yes:Lily was very pleased with herself for having come up with this idea all by herself. She was mulling over the final details as the bell rang. On her way out the door, she waited for Mark to catch up with her. She had seen the anger and annoyance James had shown when he saw Mark looking at her.
Determined to get back at him, she now took Mark by the wrist and firmly pulled him away from the group, but still in clear view of the members of the class filing out of the room. Then she leant over and whispered something in his ear. His reaction to that was caught by James, and Lily looked over to him with a mischievous grin on he face. It wasn't too hard for James to guess what Lily had suggested and anger flared in his eyes. Lily planted a kiss on Mark and ran over to join here friends, who were waiting for her outside the nearest bathroom. They dragged her inside, checked no-one else was in there and Gem said,
'And you were where exactly last night and this morning? Are you cheating on Mark?' she demanded eagerly.
Lily shook her head ad sighed deeply. She launched into the explanation of the emotional events of last night and that morning. Her friends listened, making all the right noises at all the right times, and when she had had finished, they immediately considered the appropriate punishment. Lily told them of her idea, and they agreed.
The bell rang at that point, and the girls rushed off to class. Lily felt a lot better than she had earlier that morning. There was someone who was really not happy. His name was Remus Lupin, and he was thoroughly pissed off. James' behaviour this morning had been totally uncalled-for and now Lily hated him too. This was not good, not good at all.
However, Remus wasn't one for thinking irrationally, and he quickly formulated an idea to remedy the situation. Right now though, he needed to concentrate on Defence Against the Dark Arts. His plan would come into action as soon as the bell went. Lily would have to listen. He would make her.
The bell did eventually ring, and he managed to seek Lily out. Although she was reluctant to go with him, she relented, and let him lead her down to an unused classroom. James saw them, but this time he decided NOT to follow.
Once they got to the classroom, Remus forced Lily to sit down and listen.
'Lily, I am so, unbelievably sorry. I had no idea James was there until it as too late. After you left, he told me how he had heard us from the other side of the Portrait Hole and decided to follow us. I honestly had no idea. I was so angry, especially when he laughed, like it was some big joke. The truth is Lily, you can never know how upset and angry he made me, and how sorry I really am, because,' he said, after a rather pregnant pause,
'because, you have no idea how I much I value your respect, however secret you like to keep it. I value it far beyond ever compromising it for a joke or a prank. But there's more to it than that. I don't think now is the right time to tell you, but I just want to give you a word of advice. Whatever it is that you are planning on doing with Mark tonight, don't do it because you want to get back at James. I have a much better idea,' he finished, with what couldn't have been mistaken as a playful grin on his face.
At this point, after seeing the look in Remus' eyes and on his face as he said it, Lily had a fairly good idea of what he was talking about. Remus saw the comprehension dawn on her face and he then demurely proposed,
'Shall we go to lunch?'
Lily grinned back, a much better idea now in her head, and she stood up and walked to the door, letting Remus slip his arm around her waist, as she said,
'I really must find Mark, I'm afraid he has some bad news.'
A/N: well, there's the next chapter, hope you all like it. Even if you didn't, please REVIEW and let me know.
Much appreciated
Caitlin