Okay Nuthr chang of plans. No one is going to supervise the hogsmeade weekends, because I don't want a group of students following Lily and James. Although, James and Lily and the prefects are just going to make sure everyone gets there alright, but they're not going to follow them around, okay? So no adult supervision, oh, I'm no naughty.
Ch 9: A Date to Remember
Lily woke up early the next morning to find her heart beating incredibly fast. She jumped out of bed and put on her robe. She then peeked outside her room, and found James wasn't up yet for his door was closed. She made a quick dash out and into the empty corridors, letting the sunshine warm her up. When she reached Gryffinfdor's Tower, she gave the password, and sprinted up to the girl's dormitory, to find April examining herself in her body length view mirror. Ever since Lily could remember, April was always the first one up, which surprised Lily at first, because she suspected girls like April, would sleep in to get their 'beauty rest.' But apparently not, for April explained that she got up early, because she had to make sure she looked perfect for the day. Lily didn't understand, for no one could see her outfit, anyway. Under all of her school robes, that is.
"Good morning, Lily. You seem tired, what'd you do? Run here?"
"Yes,." Lily stepped over and laid on her bed, out of breath.
"Woah, what's wrong? Why are you up so early?"
"April I need your help."
"Oh, what sort of help. If it's relationship help, you should ask May. If it's self-consciece help, you really should wake up June. Alhtough, my department is fashion and the looks."
"Good, because I need you to help me figure out what I'm going to wear today."
"Oh," April smirked, devishly and decidedto tease Lily a bit.
"And why would you like my help? I'm sure James would like you in anything you wear, Lily." Lily shot up, how could April have known.
"April, you wouldn't happen to have played a part in today, would you?"
"Oh, and what event might that be, my precious Lily flower?"
"You know exactly what events, my percious April."
"I do, now let me think. This wouldn't have to do with the fact that you're going out on a date with the James Potter, now would it?"
"APRIL!"
"Okay, okay, I admit. I might have given encouragement, where it was needed, but that it all. No harm in that is there? So have you any idea what you want to wear?"
"No, not the faintest clue."
"I knew it, well luckily for you, you're in the right place. Now let's start by taking a nice refreshing shower."
(Rewind)
James leapt out of his bed and got changed as quietly and quickly as possible. When, he finished he grabbed his cloak, threw it over him and peeked out of his room to find the girl of his dreams, running to the portrait door, in her night robe. James smirked as he followed her out of the head's common room and through the castle. Obviously, Lily didn't suspect him, and he continued to chase her up to Gryffindor Tower, where they parted in the common room. Making sure Lily was in the girl's dormitory, James ran up to the boy's and slammed it shut. Remus woke with a start, nearly falling off his bed, while Sirius and Peter continued to daze away, although, Peter shifted from the disturbances. Once, Remus had pulled himself together, he looked at his full moon, clock and groaned.
"James, can you tell me exactly why you are up at this hour?"
"Remus, I need your help. I have this big date with Lily today, and I just think I'll mess it up, and, and…" but Remus was now wide awake with shock.
"You? You have a date with Lily? We are talking about the same Lily, right? The same Lily Evans?"
"The one and only, now will you help me?"
"Sure, but why do you need my help? Why not ask Sirius?"
"If I wake him up, he'll probably give me a hard time. Now come on, give me some advice will you?"
"I can't believe it's finally happened," April wailed through the castle later that morning.
"Neither can I. You did a great job dressing her April," May agreed, and boy did she ever. April seemed to have guessed what Lily would look best in, and chose the perfect hair style. She wore an airy brown skirt that hovered right above her knee and a tan long sleeved shirt with a black vast. April also chose a pair of brown sneakers that matched skirt's color. April had some how put her some of her hair in some kind of elegant, braided bun, with the rest flowing to her shoulders, and letting a few braids mix with the strands.
"Yeah April, thanks." Lily was about give April a hug, but she back off,
"No, no, no. You mustn't do anything that will mess up the look. One falter and the whole image could be ruined, put your welcome," she scolded while brushing away a hair strand from Lily's face. Lily smiled, and they continued to the Great Hall, where they met a small girl waiting for them by the doors.
"Excuse me, are you May March?"
"I'm May March," May stated, walking forward.
"I was told to give this to you," the girl announced and gave her an envelope, with an enchanted heart in the top left corner. May took it, and the girl left, but not before glaring at Lily, who was taken back. May opened it, and then slapped her hand across her mouth.
"What's it say, May?" April teased, peeking over her shoulder, but May thrust the letter into her robe pocket.
"Um, I've got to go do something, okay guys. I'll meet you at the front doors." And without another word, she dashed off.
"What was that?" Lily asked in confusion, although April smirked.
"Oh, nothing just has to do with a certain prefect we all know and love." Lily smiled, for now she knew what the letter could be.
After having breakfast, James continued to pace by the entrance doors, waiting for his date.
"Okay James. This is it. She finally says yes, so you better not mess anything up. But what if I do? What if I mess up, and she'll never want to speak to me again? What if I accidentally spill some butter beer on her, and she snaps at me?" And the worrying continued. As Remus watched his distressed friend walk back and forth, he was making himself extremely dizzy. He shook it off, and stopped James in his tracks.
"Nervous? James?" Remus teased, James was about to say 'yes,' but gaped.
"Me? Nervous? HA! Don't make me laugh Remus, ha. If you think for one second I'm nervous, then you don't know me at all," James lied quickly, although Remus saw right through it.
"Hi there Lily," Remus greeted, which through James into a jumping frenzy.
"Oh god, she's here. How do I look Remus? Is my hair staying put. Oh shoot, is that a blob of jelly on my robe? She's probably think I'm a slob. I know I'll go make a quick change. No wait, there's no time. Plus, she'll know something's wrong, and probably want to cancel the whole thing, because she thinks I don't want to go out with her. Although, that's a total lie, seeing as I've asked her out since forever…"
"James, James, I was only joking. Calm down. It'll be fine. The prefects won't be here until after breakfast, and neither will Lily. So you can relax." James sighed, the hugest sigh he's ever done, and looked at Remus scolding.
"That was a low and dirty trick Moony, a total Padfoot move."
"Hey, I couldn't help it. The way you were walking around in circles, like a lost pup, it was classic. You must really like her don't you?" The question caught James off guard. Of course he'd say yes, but something stopped him. His hesitation scarred Remus into saying,
"Well? You do like her, don't you?" James was in a state of panic. Of course he liked her, but something about that seemed wrong. It didn't make any sense but it just sounded wrong. Upon noticing James' pause, Remus changed the subject.
"Also, I want to say sorry for the other night James. You know, when Lily and May…"
"No, don't apologize; it's not your fault. You weren't yourself."
"Yeah, but if you hadn't been there, I can only imagine what I would've done. So I'm sorry for scarring you."
"Hey, it's no big. Let's just forget about it."
"Ok."
"Although, I wonder what May would say if she found out, her boyfriend nearly killed her best friend."
"She'd probably…" but then the question sunk in, and Remus blushed a deep crimson.
"James!"
"Well, you do like her don't you?" Remus didn't hesitate like James did, but said,
"Yeah, I guess. I mean she's pretty cool, so why wouldn't I like her."
"Well, I can't give you a reason for you not to like her, but I can think of loads of reasons for her not to like you." James laughed at his own joke, while Remus smirked in irritation.
"James, you've got a butter stain on your arm."
"WHERE!"
"So you ready for today, Lily?" April asked, teasingly, as they ate their breakfast.
"I guess. Thanks for helping me out this morning, April. I don't know what I'd do with out you," Lily thanked, while hugging her best friend.
"Probably live a dull, yet peaceful life," June murmured, making June pout.
"I'm not that annoying, am I?"
"The only time your not is when you close your mouth, which happens by the way never happens."
"I can so keep my mouth shut, but why would I want to."
"Whatever you say April, whatever you say." April's long bronze trestles sprung out, and she zipped her mouth.
"Here we go again," Lily sighed in amusement. Every year, June would be able to shut April up, but it never lasted more than a day. Lily looked over to May, who had just sat down and was starring dreamily at her goblet. Lily smiled mischievously and asked, "How about you May, any special dates for you today?"
"Actually, yes. I've got some plans for today."
"Oh, and may I ask, who with?" Knowing May wouldn't lie to her, Lily was in complete shock when May answered,
"Sure it's…" Lily's jaw dropped, and April spit out her juice and hollered,
"HIM!"
As James and Remus watched the prefects coming along with the rest of the school, James felt his stomach twist and turn.
"I don't see her, Remus. What if she doesn't want to go out with me now? What if…" but Remus didn't seem to be listening. Instead, he his mouth was plopped wide open. James looked at what Remus was starring at and shook his head in disbelief. There was May, holding hands with Eric! James just couldn't believe it. Innocent May, playing around, flirtatiously, with Eric's fingers. James just couldn't believe it. Something must have gone wrong. Why in blue blazes would she go out with him, when she knew perfectly well, what happened between him and Lily. James was in a complete state of shock, that he didn't notice Lily, April and June coming over to them.
"Scary, huh?" Lily asked, calmly. James turned to see April looking furious, and June looking disappointed.
"You knew?"
"We just found out. She told us right before we got here." James didn't know what to say, but Lily looked more disturbed than Remus, who was looking deeply hurt.
"How, could she… why would she… what in her right mind made her say yes, to that, that, argh!" April stammered.
"Well, we can't do much about it, so…," Sirius said, suddenly appearing, "you two better get to the front, or we won't be able to leave." He directed to Lily and James.
"Oh, yeah, Right," James agreed, grabbing Lily's elbow and pulled her away.
"Alright, is everyone ready?" James asked. The whole crowd stood in a huddle waiting to be excused, after Filtch dismissed them.
"Okay, then. Let's go," and with that, James opened the door, and they were off.
"Guys, I don't think May would approve of us spying on her," James mentioned, as the group followed May and Eric into the village. They had spent almost the entire morning trailing them in and out of the stores, and still they couldn't find anything, wrong. Beside May going out with a total jerk.
"Hush, James. I can't hear them," April scolded, and the group inched around the corner. James sighed, in defeat. Here he was, spending a gorgeous day with a gorgeous girl, sneaking around with his friends, as if they were playing hide-and-go-seek. Not to mention, he was his first date with Lily Evans, and he sure didn't want it to be his last.
"Um, I think May will be fine." Wrong answer, April and, surprisingly Lily, turned to glare at him, making him shut up.
"FINE? SHE'S ON A DATE WITH THE MOST ARROGANT GUY AT HOGWARTS, AND YOU THINK THAT'S FINE? NOW SHUT UP, I CAN'T HEAR THEM," April hissed, angrily. James looked suspiciously at her, how could they even hear what's going on? They were more than 10 ft away from them. Although, Remus seemed also concentrated on hearing what the two had to say, although he was just as equally annoyed with the noises behind him.
"Luckly him, he has great hearing," James thought sarcastically, but immediately regretted it. He wasn't lucky at all. Here he was, just 10 ft away from the girl he's liked, watching her date some other guy.
"I know exactly how he feels."
Seeing the sudden disturbance on his best friend's face, Sirius coughed loudly which really ticked April off.
"Jeez, if you guys can't be quiet, just shut up."
"You know we can't do that, April. I mean, we are bored and all," Sirius teased.
"Well, if you're so bored, go and entertain yourselves then. We'll meet you guys at the castle," Remus ordered.
"Okay," Sirius agreed and pushed James and Lily off to another part of the village.
"I had imagined this date to be a bit more cheerful but," James sighed. He and Lily split up from the group so they could be alone. Not that he was complaining or anything, but he had hoped Lily would forget the whole Eric and May thing. Then, a thought struck him. He then moved his arm around Lily's waist, and began reaching for something on the other side. Lily was brought out of her daze, by his sudden action, and chuckled,
"James, what are you doing?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing at all." Lily was about to remove his arm, but was too late. He drew his arm back and cried triumphantly. In his hand was Lily's purse, carrying all of her things, including her money.
"Hey!" Lily cried, as she tried retrieving her stolen item.
"I don't think so Evans. I told you it would be my treat, so I don't expect you to spend a single knut."
"James, give it back. Now," Lily laughed, while jumping over him now, to reach him. As she continued to jump, she accidentally took hold of James' shoulder and hoisted herself up.
"Got it," she cried, but was taken by surprise when James' fingers took hold of hers, and he placed a warm, quick kiss on her frozen lips. At the feel of his touch, Lily's legs collapsed under her, and leaned against James, with him losing his balance. The two stumbled backwards down the hill rolling in the newly fallen leaves. When they stopped at the base, James was holding at Lily's waist protectively, and she was on top of him, her red hair tickling his face. When they realized the position they were in, they laughed happily, and helped each other stand up.
"Well, we certainly are a pair aren't we?"
"Us, a pair, you must be joking." Lily said sarcastically. For a minute James would have believe her, but then noticed she hadn't let go of his hand still. Not wanting to let go, he didn't mention it to her, and the two walked around Hogsmeade holding hand, teasing each other about their lives.
"Now this is what I'm talking about."
"What do you think they're saying," April asked, as she and Remus sat under an oak tree a few ft away from May and Eric. Seeing May giggle at something Eric said, he somewhat growled,
"I don't know, but I don't like it." April turned to him, and asked,
"You really like her huh?" Remus blinked out of his glare and sighed,
"Is it that obvious?"
"Well, maybe, a lot. So why not go and tell her?"
"Because."
"Because why?"
"Because I want to know what she sees in him? I want to know why n earth did she agree to go on a date with him," Remus roared, clutching his fingers into a fist. April looked at his hands and noticed they were bleeding.
"REMUS!" Remus stopped and released his grasp.
"Sorry, April, I didn't mean to scare you." April ignored him and took out her wand. After cleaning the cuts up, bandage strips flew out of her wand tip, and wrapped around his knuckles.
"Thanks," Remus said, flexing out his fingers, again, April ignored him, but this time she was looking at something else. Across from them, the girl that they had met that morning was hidden among the nearest bush, starring at May and Eric.
"It seems like we aren't the only ones spying on May and Eric, come on," April commanded and grabbed Remus' hand and they rushed to the girl.
There seemed to be some commotion somewhere beyond her and Eric, and May was curious what was causing the ruckus that was disturbing her oh-so-perfect date with Eric. Then she saw it, or who was more like it. She looked up to see April and Remus running to a bush, holding hands! Then, something in May made her snap. She felt dizzy and confused. All morning she had felt light headed and airy, but those feelings seemed to have dissolved when she saw April and Remus.
"Argh," May groaned in pain. Eric looked suspiciously at her and noticed what she had just seen.
"Uh, let's go May, I'm sure you're feeling cold, aren't you?" Eric said, testingly.
Something inside her, told her to obey and say 'Yes, I sure am, Eric. How about we share a butter beer?" but something else was triggering her to yell, 'No, get away from me. Why are you even standing next to me?' But no matter how hard she tried, she just grabbed her head in pain. Eric now looked terrified.
"Who are you, and what are you doing watching our friends?" April demanded to the girl, who shot up from surprise.
"Some friends you are? Spying on them like that. At least as a stalker, I have a good enough reason to defend myself," the girl sniggered. Now April was furious.
"You better fess up twerp. Now why are you stalking them, and what was that letter that you gave May this morning?"
"Letter," Remus asked.
"Yes, she delivered a letter to May right before breakfast, and that's… when she started acting weird." April rounded to the girl, to find Remus towering over the girl and looking extremely furious.
"What did the letter say?" he snarled. The girl looked truly terrified, and searched for a way out, and luckly, there was.
"Oh, my gosh!" she yelled and pointed over to where Eric was standing up, and May was, lying on the ground clutching her head. Instantly, Remus dashed over and bent over to see if she was hurt. April looked over for a minute, giving the girl a chance to run for it. Then she rounded to Eric and roared,
"What did you do?" He didn't answer. Then, Remus grabbed him by the collar, and shoved him into the tree.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER O'BRYAN?" He still didn't answer.
"Forget about him Remus. May needs help," April ordered.
Remus then jerked his head into the tree, and Eric fell to the ground unconscious. Then he lifted May into his arms and dashed with April back to the castle.
"Let's go in here," James mentioned as he and Lily continued walking past the shops.
"Zonko's?" Lily asked, as they stepped in.
"Hold on a minute. I want to introduce you to someone." And with that James left her to look around. While examining some objects that seemed familiar to her, a handsome brown wizard, around the age of 20 greeted her.
"Ah, hello, hello and welcome, my, my, such a pretty customer, I say girl what's your name?"
"Um, it's Lily." And with that a bouquet of Lily's appeared in her arms. Lily smiled and noticed a card. When she read it, she sighed,
"Let me guess, I name joke huh?" Lily asked the man.
"What do you mean?" She turned the card over and one it read, 'ROSE.'
The man laughed, happily, with Lily joining him.
"Cut it off, Zonko, and stop hitting on Lily." James chuckled and came out from behind the man. The man laughed and hugged James like a bear.
"Nice to see you too, James my boy. Now by Lily, you wouldn't mean the same Lily Evans who has an ambition to put my best customer out of buying, now would you?"
"The one and only, and take off that stupid mask. I hate it." Lily looked confused until the man pulled off what looked like his face, but was really a paper mask, and suddenly the young man in front of her disappeared and was replaced with an aged wizard with ruffled grey hair, growing around his head like a mane.
"Ha, ha, Could always be able to see right through my jokes, eh James my boy."
"Well, they are a bit out of style, better luck next time." The tease, led Zonko into an insulted frenzy. As Lily watched the two argue of what was considered a real joke, Lily gazed at the mask, Zonko had on. Zonko noticed this and sniggered,
"Ms. Evans, I think I have some items in the back that you might like to check out. Yes, yes, yes, come with me, please." He began pushing Lily to a back room, with the sign, 'Watch out for the dragon!' When, James tried to follow, Zonko tapped him with his wand and an explosion boomed right in James' face.
"Sorry James, this is only between me and the girl. But don't worry; I won't do anything bad to her." And with that he disappeared behind a curtain.
"ZONKO!"
"Ah, that James Potter, quite the spiritual youth wouldn't you say?"
"Maybe a bit too much spiritual youth, but anyway what were the items you liked to show me."
"Well, I've heard from the grapevine that Hogwarts is having a masquerade, but no one has ever thought of coming into a joke shop to come for a mask, so I am flattered enough to show you my best masks."
"Oh, thank you, but I also need an outfit."
"Oh, pish, didn't you see me earlier? My masks don't just cover the face; they cover you from head to toe. So you don't have to worry about buying an outfit too, so…" but he was cut off short, for Lily had just given him a huge hug.
"Thank you Zonko." Zonko smiled to himself and stated,
"It's no wonder why James has had a thing for you, Ms. Evans." Lily stepped back and blushed.
"I'm not that great at all, really. So I can't understand why…"
"He'd want you? Well, there are so many things he's told me about you, that I can't choose which one is a better reason. There's you being beautiful and all, which by the way even a blind man can see that. In both body and soul, which by the way, he gave no justice. You're much prettier than he described you. Plus, there' how you are so smart and intelligent, that you were top of you year too. There' also, that you seemed to be the only gal who hadn't fallen for him. Which by the way, I think is a bit healthy for him .Having you damsels drooling over us guys is just not civil. Anyway, there's more to list, but I'd run out of breath and time. So, does that answer you're question?" Lily starred, even a joke shop keeper could tell how James liked her, but Lily herself just wouldn't accept it.
"So, here we go. My best masks." Zonko led her to a huge wall full of masks of different colors and shapes. Each one seemed to have a certain style or theme. Although there was one, that caught Lily's eye. Not to mention the note that was placed by it.
"Zonko, is this true. What this mask can do, is it true?" Zonko came over and chuckled,
"Well, you seemed to have a little prankster spirit in you too, Ms. Evans. Yes, what this note says is true." After a minute of hesitation, Lily cried,
"I'll take it!" Zonko smiled and nodded. When, Lily reached toward her pouch, she remembered,
"Shoot, I forgot James' has my purse, and he won't let me buy anything myself."
"Then, it's my treat or rather my trick."
"But, what about your business?"
"I'll be fine. If you continue to take the kid's pranks away, they can always come to buy some more. So you'll actually be helping my business." Lily hugged him again and kissed him on the cheek before putting the mask in her vast pocket and running out of the room. Zonko smiled, and rubbed his cheek.
When he finally left the room, Lily had gone out, and James was looking annoyed. So Zonko decided to tease him a bit,
"Ah, she has the kiss of an angel. You're pretty lucky Mr. Potter. What I would give to have my youth again and have a gal like that." James glared suspiciously at Zonko and asked,
"Zonko what did you do?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing, but I must say, best keep a firm grip on that one James. She's quite a keeper."
"Yeah, I've known that much longer than you Zonko. Well, catch you later."
"Okay, well bye, bye then." And he stepped outside to watch the two walk back up to the castle laughing and smiling.
"I mean it James, she's a real keeper."
OH how do u like? 2 short? i kno, but it's still gr8, right? Sure it is. Well keep review'n + stay tund 4 the nex ch we'll find out what Lily bought and what's going to happn 2 May. Also it'll be 'bout the masquerade 2 so, hehehe. I'm so naughty.
ALSO HAPPI HALLOWEEN!
'kay luv ya, bye. KT