Right so I am officially a Salty Sea Sailor-ess and I do love it. So if you couldn't tell I had a blast sailing on my tall ship( a ship with sails). Teehee. I'm gunna miss me shipmates! This one's for you Dan, Andrea, Rudi, Karl and Cap. I love you guys, you taught me much.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the wonderful, terrific, and much moneymaking Harry Potter franchise. If I did I why would I be writing this here and not making millions more? So all hail the genius that is J.K Rowling.
Chapter Eight: The Other Letter and Near Kisses
It was now day eight of Lily and James' stay. The past few days had passed uneventfully in the Evans household. The only troubling event was that Marie was getting weaker and wanting less and less to spend time with those around her; she didn't want her family to see her in her new helpless state. She accepted the visits but they were getting increasingly shorter and shorter. The only person that she really spent her time with was Lily.
Lily wouldn't talk about what she and her Grandmother spoke about; it was too painful, or maybe too personal. James didn't press her about it, he was concerned of course, but he didn't want to seem nosey. He left it so if Lily wanted to talk, she would come to him.
James could tell that the time spent with her Grandmother was taking a wear on Lily. She would stumble up to bed late each night after sitting with her Gram and fall straight to sleep. But Lily was strong and wouldn't let her tiredness show through. James admired her for it.
Once in a while Marie would ask James to sit with her and they would talk about Lily, James' childhood, his future plans, his intentions for Lily, and more of Marie's life. She had done some extraordinary things, when she was younger. James admired her all the more for them. Yet, after all she had told him, James had a feeling that there was something still about Marie that she hadn't told him, or anyone else for that matter, not even Lily. It came from certain…gaps, in her stories, or how she had done some of the things she had done. It seemed to James that there was a familiar aura that surrounded her, but he couldn't even begin to guess what it was, so he didn't let it trouble his mind, though occasionally a fantastic thought would creep into his brain and would set him wondering again.
Also, there had been a subtle change the way Lily acted toward James. She was nicer and was, much to James pleasure, warming toward him, though, admittedly, it was a very small and slow change. But it was still something. Lily was starting to discover things about James that she never knew had existed. The only James she had known was the loud, obnoxious, teasing James from Hogwarts. Now she was seeing the quieter side, the sensitive side. But she wasn't going to let that fool her… she still kept her own councils and refused to get too close. This was, after all, not a personal arrangement.
James awoke the morning of the ninth day before Lily, which wasn't surprising, considering the extra things Lily had been doing for her grandmother lately.
James lay for a while on his back, staring absently at the ceiling. He was debating on whether to wake Lily up, just to be annoying, or to let her sleep. He got up from his bed and walked toward Lily, debating.
If I wake her up she could either be really annoyed or… he thought hard…or…really annoyed. Hmmmm.
He slowly backed away from Lily's bed, not wanting to evoke her wrath this early in the morning.
He looked at Lily's peaceful sleeping form and sighed. She was just so…so… he couldn't find the right words to describe her. He loved the way her hair fell into her face, and the way her face got the same color as her hair when she was mad, her determination and her strength. James smiled to himself, as a little song started up in his head.
You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off of you.
You'd be like heaven to touch.
I want to hold you so much.
You're just too good to be true.
Can't take my eyes off of you.
James sighed and closed his eyes again. I wish she felt the same as me about this arrangement. I wish it were personal. I wish I were the boy she was truly dating and wanting to bring home to her family for approval. I wish her gram could really believe that it was me that Lily cared for. James sighed deeply again.
Lily stirred and mumbled something into her pillow.
James watched her for a moment. He had to do something, something to woo her. James giggled to himself. Woo…funny word.
And then a thought struck him. He quickly got dressed and preceded down the stairs to the kitchen.
Lily awoke some time later to find James' bed empty and the room quiet. She also found herself nestled snugly in her covers, upon which the night before she had flopped most unceremoniously on top of.
Aww James. Thought Lily. She sat up and looked around, rubbing her eyes and stretching. She half expected to see James hovering in a corner somewhere, just waiting for her to wake up. But, to Lily's slight disappointment, he was nowhere in the room and there was no water running that Lily could hear, so he wasn't in the bathroom.
Lily looked toward the door, which was slightly ajar, and letting in the smells of something cooking in the kitchen Lily's sniffed the air hopefully.
That smells good…I wonder what it is. She threw back her covers and put her bare feet on the icy cold floor. She quickly drew her feet back under the warm blankets.
Hmmm…socks first. She wisely thought.
As Lily dived under her covers and went sock hunting, James walked up the stairs and into the room laden with a covered tray.
He smiled as he watched Lily fish around under the sheets looking for an elusive sock. She came up a few seconds later with tousled hair and the sock in hand and exclaimed. "Ha-ha! Got you!" and she triumphantly put the sock on.
"Morning!" said James brightly, walking further into the room.
Lily jumped and looked around, going red. "You weren't watching me sock searching were you?"
"Why yes I was, in fact. Your bum was in the air and wiggling about." James said seriously, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Oh stuff it!" said Lily, good-naturedly. "It was not."
"I know." Said James, grinning.
Lily started to get up from the bed but James stopped her.
"Now where do you think you're going?" he asked.
"Um…" started Lily; "to get some breakfast…" she cocked an eyebrow.
"I don't think so." Said James, walking still further into the room with the tray.
"Why? I'm hungry." Said Lily, slightly pout.
"That is why," said James with a twinkle in his eye. "I have slaved away in the kitchen to make you…this," and, with a flourish, he whipped the cover off the tray he was carrying to reveal eggs, bacon, toast, orange juice, tea, and a cinnamon roll dripping with sweet honey icing. He looked at Lily's disbelieving face smiling.
"Wha…wha…" was all Lily could mumble as she looked at the tray.
"Breakfast in bed for you," said James, striding forward and placing the tray on the nightstand next to Lily's bed. "Now prop your little self against those comfy pillows and enjoy this delicious feast that I have made for you."
Lily sat back against the headboard. James summoned a breakfast-in-bed tray out of thin air and laid it across Lily's lap and placed the food on it. "Bon appetito" said James as he kissed his fingers like an Italian chef.
Lily tried the cinnamon roll first. She picked it up and took a little nibble off the corner. It was the best cinnamon roll she had ever tasted!
"James, this is amazing!" she exclaimed with surprise.
"Lily, lily, Lily…" said James, shaking his head. "You're surprised that I could cook?" He put on a hurt look. "Uhhh uh uh."
"I never said that." Said Lily quickly, not wanting to hurt James' feelings. He looked up at her and smiled. "But, I didn't think you could cook this well." Lily smirked and his smile broadened.
Lily continued to munch on her breakfast, with James still standing, watching her.
Lily looked up at him and said, "You don't have to stand over there. You could…" she hesitated for a fraction of a second, "You could sit on my bed…if you want."
James' eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Lily. "Really?" he asked suspiciously.
"Really," said Lily.
"You aren't going to push me off or something once I sit down?"
"I wasn't planning on it," said Lily, seriously. "Until now." She smiled at him, looking up from under her long eyelashes.
James' stomach did a flip-flop. He walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down.
There was a tap on the window. Lily and James looked over and on the window ledge there sat a tawny owl with a letter strapped to its leg.
James leaned across the bed and over Lily's outstretched legs to open the window and let the owl in.
Lily felt his weight and felt his body heat through the covers, and instantly got a heat shock up and down her body, which caused her face to heat up.
James's face a little pink also when he straightened at took the letter off of the owl's leg. The owl hopped onto Lily's tray and took a sip of her orange juice. Lily gave it a few bits of egg and bacon and then it took off. Lily shut the window, as James was busy reading the letter.
So," asked Lily. "What news from the wizarding world?"
"Um Molly, Sirius, and Remus say, and this is a direct quote, 'hello to the lovey dovey birds', this is from them." Said James scanning the letter. "Sirius and Molly are…involved now and thought we should know…"
Lily grinned and shook her head. Anyone could see that relationship was coming from a mile away.
"What about Peter?" asked Lily, noticing his name not mentioned.
"Sirius said that he went away for the holidays and hasn't written." James shrugged. "Dunno where he went."
"You're not concerned? What with all the evil stuff that's been happening with You-Know-who? If one of my friends went away and hadn't written, I'd be a bit worried." Said Lily, sitting up straighter and looking at James.
"Yea, well WE aren't," said James, a little defensively; still reading, his brow furrowing all the time.
"Ok," said Lily. "There's no need to snap at me. I was just wondering if you were worried."
"Well I'm not, ok?" snapped James.
"James, WHAT is the matter?" asked Lily, taken aback by his outburst.
"It's…it's just that it finally hit me!" James stood up from the bed and started pacing the room like a caged animal, letter in hand. "It's our final year at school then we have to DO something with our lives and FACE reality!"
"But that time comes for everyone, James." Started Lily, softly, pushing the tray of food away from her. "That realization can't be what's upsetting you." Lily pressed.
"I KNOW that. But now that it's here, we can't pretend anymore! People are disappearing, DYING! Lily and because of Voldermort!"
Lily didn't even flinch at the name.
"Sirius wrote that Emily Davven and Melissa Frecks and their families were tortured and killed by the death eaters. FOR SPORT!
I just need to do something about it! I can't stand it." James' head fell a little toward his chest in a defeated way.
Lily got up from bed and walked tentatively toward James. "It's ok. Dumbledore is working tirelessly against him. And when we're old enough we can join and help to put a stop to His wicked purging of the wizarding world." Said Lily, as she walked closer to James and put a hand on his shoulder.
"I…I" started James hesitantly. "I just wish I could help now!" he growled.
"I know, James. I want to help my fellows too! But there is no use worrying about it until the time comes! All that we are allowed to do now is wait and keep ourselves safe and cherish our innocence while it lasts."
James looked into Lily's tired eyes. What am I doing? She doesn't need this stress! What with her grandmother and all! I am SOOO stupid! I should be comforting her! Not have it the other way around!
" Lily I'm sorry. I just went on a tirade! You shouldn't be…" he took a deep breath and let it slowly out. Lily continued to stare into his eyes. "Don't worry about me. I'm…" he looked away. "I'm sorry I ruined your breakfast."
"You didn't. I'm touched that you made it for me in the first place. Not everyone would have done that."
James looked back into her eyes.
"You are sweet, I'll admit that." And Lily stepped up on tiptoe and kissed James on the cheek. "Thank you," she whispered in his ear.
James tried to speak, but found a lump in his throat and merely nodded.
Lily pulled away and walked toward her bathroom. "I'll be out in a bit. Then we have some cleaning to do. Gram wants it done, so I told her I would. Well…we would. But you don't have too." Lily paused, turned to look at James and bit her lip.
"N...no," said James. "I'll help." And he smiled.
"Oh good. Right, be out in a jiff." And with a swish of red hair she went into the bathroom.
James went over to his bed and flopped onto it, his face against the pillow. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out, thinking.
When Lily came out of the bathroom, fifteen minutes later she was dressed in a pair of jeans ripped at the knees, an old shirt with paint stains on it, and her hair French braided.
She walked over to where James was still lying facedown on his bed and she sat on the edge, putting her hand on the small of his back.
"James?" She asked quietly. "James…James."
He wasn't responding.
"Potter get up!" she moved her fingers to his sides and squeezed, tickling him.
"Gah!" exclaimed James as he jerked and flailed on the bed. "Lily!" he laughed. "Stop!" he snorted with laughter. "I can't breathe!"
Lily stopped tickling him, and James took a few moments to compose himself. Once he had he sat up and asked, "Ready for some cleaning?"
"You bet!" said Lily, mock excitedly. "Let's go!"
She stood up. James stood up too, towering over her. Lily looked at him, cocking her head. She looked at his mussed hair, his glasses and his entire body. She felt…safe when he was near her, as girlish and fairy-tale like as it sounded.
James looked at her quizzically. "What?" he asked. "Do I have pillow lines on my face or something? A bogie hanging from my nose? Is my hair purple again?"
Lily snorted. "When was your hair ever purple?" she asked amused.
"Well," said James, as he put an arm around Lily and they walked to the door. "I had just had a row with Sirius and there I was, minding my own business, trying to think of a way to curse his brains out, and he from across the common room he shouted 'What so ever you do, turn that stupid prat's hair blue!' and waved his wand. And the spell whizzed over my head, hit a mirror, rebounded back and hit me in the back of the head. And my hair turned purple." Shrugged James.
Lily just shook her head. "But he was trying to turn your hair blue. How did it end up purple?" She said incredulously.
"Yeah well, the spell got changed a bit by the mirror, distortion and refraction…or something like that." Said James offhandedly.
They continued to walk down the stairs, James's arm still around Lily's shoulders. They walked through the deserted kitchen and into the living room.
Lily slid out from under James's arm and said, "This is where we are going to clean today. I cleaned the rest yesterday while you were asleep,"
"Why didn't you wake me up?' asked James indignantly. "I would have helped. You shouldn't have done it alone."
I didn't," said Lily, somewhat amused. "Petunia and Vernon helped…sort of." She shrugged.
James frowned.
We have plenty to do today don't you worry. We'll be scrubbing, dusting, mopping, vacuuming, and any other thing that involves cleaning and ends in –ing."
James stood at attention.
Lily walked back and forth in front of him. "We'll start by moving the furniture, then you'll sweep and I'll get mops and buckets and soapy water. After floors are done we dust. Then windows. Then a final vacuum and the furniture goes back into place. Got it?"
James saluted. "Aye, aye captain." He looked sideways at Lily and gave her a smirk that sent a warm chill through her entire body.
"Right…" said Lily, trying not to show the emotion that just coursed through her. "lets begin." They moved all the furniture, two couches, two rocking chairs, two tables with lamps on them, and the television into the kitchen. James got a broom and dustpan from the cupboard and swept while Lily got buckets, mops, and hot soapy water.
Lily set the buckets down and disappeared for a second while James got rid of the rubbish in the dustpan. He looked around for Lily; she quickly returned with a small radio that she plugged into the wall. It immediately started playing music from the Wizarding Wireless Network.
"How did you get it to do that?" asked James, thunderstruck.
"Oh just a few magical modifications…" said Lily slyly, as she grinned.
They commenced the scrub down of the living room. Lily swabbing the floor and swaying her hips to the music when she thought James wasn't watching.
James grinned to himself as Lily spun around her mop and then leaned over it like she was singing into a microphone.
A slow song came on and Lily stopped her rock star impersonation.
If only you knew how deeply I cared.
Lily continued to mop the far side of the floor.
If only you cared how deeply I felt.
James propped his mop against the wall and slowly made his way over to Lily. I think it's time for a break…
If only you felt as deeply for me.
James put his hand on Lily's shoulder. She turned around, a few loose strands of her red hair falling out of her braid and into her face.
"Dance with me?" asked James, as he took Lily's mop out of her hand and placed it against the wall.
Lily nodded and placed her right hand on his shoulder and her left hand in James' right. They swayed back and forth to the slow music. Their bodies an arm length apart.
If only you were that precious to me.
James twirled Lily out and pulled her back toward him, closing the space that used to be between them. He looked deep into her lovely large green eyes. He smiled, a look of pure joy on his face
Love is for fools
And fools follow love.
Lily stared into James' dark brown eyes. She felt she was going to get lost in their dark depths, were it not for James' hand upon her waist. She smiled back at him, enjoying the sweet break from mopping. James is awfully romantic, Lily thought.
Love is for those not afraid to loseLoving someone is not something you choose.
To be loved by someone
Is Life's greatest treasure.
James twirled Lily again and this time when she came back he dipped her backward, carefully so as not to drop her.
Though it is not always love,
That is the source of Life's pleasure.
We must all learn to Love
And with love
Live life.
Be not afraid to lose
And
Be not afraid to love.
The music ended. Lily was still dipped backwards, supported by James, their faces close together, both of them hardly daring to breathe. James slowly straightened, bringing Lily with him. They stood facing each other, each still holding on to the other.
"Thank you James," whispered Lily.
"You're welcome…" James whispered, his breath tickling Lily's cheek.
Both Lily and James stared into each other's eyes for minute more, then inched their faces closer together, going in for a kiss. Lily closed her eyes and held her breath.
Oh my!ohmyohmyohmyohmy!This isn't real….
There was a loud throat clearing "ehemmm" from the doorway.
I knew it….I just knew it…Lily and James jump apart as though they had been burned and looked toward the doorway, where Lily's cousins Chris, Brandon, Shawn, her Aunt Terrie stood supporting Marie.
Lily and James turned red.
Lily's grandmother had a small smile on her face, Aunt Terrie was beaming and the three cousins looked on the verge of dragging James out back and shooting him.
"There will be none of that." Said Chris, through clenched teeth.
"Yeah," said Brandon and Shawn together.
"Oh stop!" cried Terrie. "You are just as bad with your girlfriends, if not sometimes worse." She scolded, still smiling at James and Lily. "You go right ahead dears."
"Oh gawd," Lily groaned, smacking her forehead with the palm of her hand. "This is seriously not happening…."
James grinned in an uncomfortable sort of way and looked sideways at Lily.
Terrie walked through the now spotless living room with Marie and over to Marie's bed on the far side of the room, behind the screen.
Chris, Brandon, and Shawn went into the kitchen grumbling and casting malevolent looks over their shoulders at James
"erm…." Said Lily, looking at the floor. "Let's put the furniture back, yeah?"
"Right…" said James, still looking at Lily's face.
So Lily and James moved all the furniture back into its respective places and made the room look normal again. Both Lily and James not speaking, but each casting furtive glances in each other's direction and smiling when they made eye contact.
When the furniture was in place both Lily and James flopped onto the couch.
"So," started James. "That was embarrassing."
"Yeah," said Lily, looking at James and raising her eyebrows. "Little bit." She shrugged.
James grinned.
"Well at least they are thoroughly convinced." Said Lily, quietly. "We couldn't have planned that better."
James' smile faltered a little, but he hitched it up quickly before Lily noticed. "Y…yes. I quite agree. Couldn't have planned it better…" said James, lying through his teeth to conceal his disappointment.
"Well good job James, and thanks for helping me clean today." Said Lily falteringly, as she got up and began walking toward the kitchen.
What am I doing? Thought Lily as she walked away I should be laughing about this with him, not treating him like…like…this. After all he's done for me…James' heart slipped a few notches. And just when I thought she was starting to like me…after all I've done for her she still sees this as just an arrangement? He sighed. At least she didn't call me 'Potter'. That's a plus, I guess.
Lily stopped halfway to the door at James' sigh. She turned around and saw that his head was bowed. She walked silently back up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her. Lily locked her almond green eyes on his deep chocolaty brown ones.
"Thank you." She said. "For everything." She smiled and bent to kiss him on the cheek.
James blinked in disbelief and touched the spot where Lily had kissed him, looking up at her. The small token of intimacy had the same effect on James as though Lily had kissed him full on the mouth. She continued to look at him sitting on the couch, a glazed expression on his face. She smiled at him again and touched his cheek.
"I'm going to shower and change," Lily said and she turned to walk away.
"Wait, Lily," called James, standing up from the sofa. Lily paused where she was and turned around. James took a few quick strides toward her and enveloped her in a wonderfully tight hug.
When James put her down, Lily staggered through the kitchen, up the stairs and into her room, still with the phantom feeling of James' arms wrapped around her. She fell onto her bed and smiled into her pillow. Today, she thought, has been a good day.
So? Like it? I know I do! Teehee so leave me a nice long and praise filled review! Tee Hee. Sorry it took so long. Inspiration was long in coming. The song in this chapter is mine; it's actually a poem I wrote. So yeah.
Until next time.
Keep a sharp Eye. ;)
Pupparoux
P.S If any of you have questions that you would like to ask the marauders, please email them to me or send them in your review. Just in the subject box of an email, type questions or something so I don't delete it. I have an idea for another fic I just need the questions. KK? I think it should be fun if I get some neat questions.