A/N: I'm so sorry for the wait between chapters, I didn't mean for it to go so long. I'm going to stop talking and get on with the story. I really can't think of anything to say anyway.
Disclaimer: I own only Gabby, Courtney and Emily. Everyone/thing belongs to J.K. Please bear in mind that the idea for this chapter centres around the suggestion generously donated to me by ScarletInk.
88888888
Who's That Girl?
Chapter 9: Thoughts and Worries
The day after the Hogsmeade visit was a Sunday. Most students spent Sundays sleeping in and completing homework for the beginning of the school week but not Lily. Lily had previously finished all required homework and had awoken very early; why, she wasn't sure.
Unable to return to Dreamland, Lily had risen, dressed and made her way quietly down to the lake, which she walked around upon reaching it.
She had a great deal to think about, most of it concerning James, who was now constantly on her mind. Lily was extremely aware of the fact that, having agreed to go to Hogsmeade with him, they were now officially dating. Funnily enough, this thought didn't scare her as it once had and instead brought a smile to her face. He wasn't so bad really.
Lily was childishly very proud of herself for having sorted all this out in her head. The one point that worried her, was the fact that Lily now believed she loved James.
'I'm seventeen years old', Lily thought. 'Do you fall in love at seventeen? We've only been on one date! But we've been friends for a while now, I suppose. Still, it doesn't change anything.'
Reaching up to her throat, Lily found the golden phoenix and rubbed it between her fingers. Slowly, a smile spread across her face. It didn't matter whether she loved James next month, next week or even tomorrow. She loved him today and that was what mattered.
Lily's stomach rumbled and she turned to return to the castle and breakfast.
88888888
Lily's breakfast of porridge and toast was relatively undisturbed, except for the glances and whispers awarded her by some of Hogwarts' resident James Potter fans. She ignored them and drained the last of her tea from the cup and dried her lips petitely on her napkin.
Rising from the table, Lily left the Great Hall, still ignoring the stares. It was quite amusing actually, that they treated James like a god.
She started up the stairs in the Entrance Hall, intending to see if Courtney, Gabby or the Marauders were awake yet. Halfway up though, someone said her name and she looked to the top of the stairs to see who it was.
It was Emily, who gradually made her way down to meet Lily halfway.
"Lily! I've been looking for you everywhere!"
Lily was confused. "You were? Why?"
"Oh nothing really," she replied, waving a hand nonchalantly, "I just wanted to ask you about yesterday."
"Yesterday? I assume you mean my visit to Hogsmeade with James? What about it?"
"I was just wondering about what you two did, where you went. Did he take you to Madam Puddifoot's? He always takes his girlfriends to Madam Puddifoot's."
"No, we didn't go there. I didn't want to. In any case, boys only go there so that they can snog their girlfriends senseless. James respects me a little more than he did his previous girlfriends and agreed to go elsewhere."
Emily stared at her in shock, eyes wide. She blinked once, twice then her eyes travelled down to the pendant that Lily held in her fingers.
"That's new," she said, indicating the phoenix.
Lily glanced down at what she could see of her hand. "Yes, it is. James bought it for me yesterday."
"James bought it? It must have been very expensive."
"Oh it was. I said 'no' but he insisted and purchased it anyway. Pretty isn't it?"
"Oh it's beautiful Lily," Emily said, whose face went pale then after a moment, red.
"Emily? Are you alright?"
"Am I alright? Yes, Lily, I'm just fine!" she said sarcastically. "You stole my boyfriend from me! That necklace is mine! It should be mine!"
Emily suddenly reached out and grabbed the chain to yank it from her throat but Lily's instincts took over before she had time to think. It was only after she'd taken a large step backwards that she remembered she was in the middle of a staircase.
The gold chain snapped and Lily tumbled down the stairs. She heard someone scream right before the back of her head whacked the stone floor and everything went dark.
88888888
Half an hour later, the Marauders, Courtney and Gabby entered the Great Hall for a late breakfast.
They sat at the Gryffindor table and Sirius stated the obvious. "Lily's not here James."
"Yes, we can all see that Padfoot, thanks anyway though."
James looked around the Hall with a worried expression clearly displayed on his features.
"Maybe she woke up early and went to the library to study," Remus said, ever the voice of reason.
Courtney nodded. "Remus is right, James. Lily has been known to wake up at the most unreasonable hours, particularly when she has something on her mind. It's a good thing she's so quiet or else I'd tie her to the mattress every night."
Gabby poured coffee into everyone's cups and spoke up. "You mustn't worry James. She's fine, probably just wandering the grounds."
James nodded, still looking unconvinced. "Of course, it's just that I thought she'd be here. We had such a great time yesterday."
"We know," Courtney said. "She showed us the necklace. It's very beautiful. She's never been given something like that before."
James smiled at the two girls. No one knew Lily like the two people in front of him. If they weren't worried, he shouldn't be.
"You know," continued Courtney, a funny lilt in her voice. "She really likes you James."
James went pink at her words and Sirius laughed. "James! Are you blushing?"
James threw a roll at his friend's head, getting a laugh out of everyone and was about to reply when the group was approached by Professor McGonagall.
"Potter," she said.
"Yes Professor?"
"First of all, those bread rolls are to be consumed not used as weapons against friends. Second, I do believe you are wondering about the condition of Miss Evans."
The teens exchanged bewildered glances and James said, "What condition?"
McGonagall frowned and looked in turn at each face. "You don't know?"
James was now becoming increasingly worried. "What, exactly, don't we know?"
"Miss Evans had an accident early this morning."
James stood abruptly. "An accident? What happened? Where is she? Is she hurt? Will she be alright?"
The genuine worry in his voice was the only thing that kept McGonagall from telling off one of her best students. "Apparently, Miss Evans and Miss Sawyer had an argument this morning. Witnesses say that Miss Sawyer went to grab what appeared to be a chain that Miss Evans was wearing and Miss Evans stepped backwards. As both were standing on the stairs, Miss Evans fell and is currently unconscious in the Hospital Wing. You'll have to ask Madam Pomfrey any other questions."
Before she'd even finished speaking, James had taken off. The others waited long enough to thank their Head of House then followed James.
They called out to him, but he refused to slow down, even for a moment. When they finally reached the doors to the Hospital Wing, they were all very puffed out. It was only there that James slowed and stopped.
He opened the doors and walked quickly to the only occupied bed at which Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore stood.
The two adults looked up at the group of students who had just entered. James went straight to Lily's side but the others gathered at the foot of the bed with their Headmaster.
James smoothed the hair from Lily's face and without looking up asked, "Will she be alright?"
Madam Pomfrey replied, "I think so. Of course, we can't be sure of what damage she's done until she regains consciousness. She's got quite a nasty bump on the back of her head."
James sat in the chair beside the bed and gently took her hand, trailing a finger down her cheek to her throat. "Wait. Where's her necklace?"
For the first time he looked away from her face and up at the matron, who shrugged. "I didn't know she was wearing one."
"I think you should ask Miss Sawyer about that, Mr Potter," Dumbledore said. "Do try and wake Miss Evans up, won't you? I believe you can." To Madam Pomfrey he said, "Don't lock this young man out Poppy, love is a very powerful medicine."
Madam Pomfrey nodded, though reluctantly and they all watched as the Headmaster left the room.
"Well, Mr Potter may stay, but there is no reason for the rest of you to be waiting around. Should anything change, you'll be notified."
Sirius, Remus, Courtney and Gabby were all herded out of the Hospital Wing and James turned back to Lily.
"Lily? C'mon Lils, wake up. It's James. Open your eyes, please, open you eyes."
James sat beside Lily for the better part of the day pleading with her, hoping she'd hear him, wherever she was. It wasn't until near dinner that Lily finally did as he asked and her eyes fluttered open.
"James?"
"Lily? Are you alright? How do you feel?"
She groaned. "My head hurts."
"I don't doubt it. What happened? What did Emily say to you?"
"She was jealous. She wanted my necklace."
Her eyes widened and she reached for the necklace that was no longer in its rightful place.
James took her hand. "Don't worry about it. I'll get it back. Look, here comes Madam Pomfrey."
When the matron had finished checking over Lily, she turned to James. "You need to go and eat."
"But-"
"No 'buts' Mr Potter. Miss Evans needs her rest, you need food and your friends need to be told what's happened. You may all return tomorrow."
Seeing her stern eye, James knew that there was no point objecting. He kissed Lily gently and left the Hospital Wing to seek out his friends.
88888888
A/N: Well, it started out alright but I don't like the end. Too bad.
Thanks for all the people who gave ideas for this chapter when they reviewed. All suggestions were greatly appreciated.
Now, speaking of reviews, just leave me a little message using that little blue box and we'll all be happy… well, I will be at least.