A/N: Sorry I haven't been updating as often as I used to. One word: midterms. And I know you feel my story isn't getting anywhere, and it is taking way too long for Lily and James to get together, if they do in my story. And it's true. It is taking a long time, isn't it? Pleeease be patient!
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Lily Evans made her way over to Gryffindor table for breakfast. She casually sat between James and Whitney, stretching her arms as she sat.
Sirius raised his eyebrows. "What the hell are you doing, Ev-OUCH! DAMN IT, MOONY! What was that for?" He yelped, massaging his shin.
Remus gave him a warning look. "Padfoot! Don't you dare screw things up! Let her sit where she wants to sit, you dunce!" he hissed under his breath.
James laughed at his friends' argument. He turned his head to face Lily. "Morning, Evans," he said, smiling charmingly.
Lily giggled as she grabbed the pumpkin juice pitcher. "Morning, Potter," she said, as pumpkin juice leaked onto the table. She had missed her glass by several inches. People around her giggled as she hastily mopped up the mess with her napkin, gazing at James, apparently forgetting she could have used her wand. James smiled at her, winked, and used his wand to clean the table. She blushed heavily, looking away from James in embarrassment.
Suddenly, dozens of owls flew into the Great Hall. Ever since her parents' death, Lily had a queasy feeling in her stomach whenever Owl Post arrived. A brown, shaggy owl dropped a Daily Prophet onto her toast. As she looked down at the first headline, she gasped:
TEENAGE HEROES
By Phoebus Bizzeeboddy
Three weeks ago, James Potter and Lily Evans, both seventeen and of Hogwarts' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, dueled with You-Know-Who himself at the Ministry of Magic. We would like our readers to know that we would have had this news much earlier, if only Headmaster Albus Dumbledore would have allowed us to print it. Then, when our own lovely Rita Skeeter pointed it out, we realized that we did not need Dumbledore's consent to print an article.
Lily Evans (daughter to the recently murdered John and Abigail Evans) and James Potter heard that You-Know-Who would be at the Ministry of Magic, and, rather rashly, they decided they would defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. James Potter battled with four Death Eaters at once. There is evidence that one was flipped upside down (aurors found pink undergarments…rather strange considering it was a male), and the others were petrified at least once each. "It takes an extremely talented wizard to take on such powerful Dark wizards," announced Millicent Bagnold, Minister of Magic. "Both Mr. Potter and Miss Evans showed unbelievable courage and intelligence that night."
Lily Evans took on You-Know-Who himself. There is evidence that You-Know-Who used the imperio curse on Potter, trying to make him kill Evans, however Potter refused. This could be because of the widely known fact that Potter is infatuated with Evans. "He stares at her all the time, like a love-sick puppy," states a classmate of Potter's, Severus Snape. "It's quite pathetic, actually. She always turns him down. Potter never gives up. It's so stupid. It's obvious who Evans loves – me. Everyone loves me. Yeah, you could say I'm the 'cool kid' of our year, people follow me around all the time-"
Whatever the reason, Potter saved Evans two times that night. The first incident was when You-Know-Who put imperio on him. The second was when he covered Evans with his body, so he would be killed instead. "It takes the bravest man to actually sacrifice his life for another," said Bagnold, Minister of magic. "Mr. Potter committed an act of the purest love and loyalty at the Ministry of Magic." Currently, both Potter and Evans are safely inside Hogwarts, having been rescued from the Ministry by none other than Albus Dumbledore.
As of press time, no more information was released. We plan to give you an exclusive interview with Potter and Evans in an upcoming issue.
Above the article was a large, black and white picture of James and Lily at the Ministry of Magic. James was covering Lily with his body, and both were unconscious. The Daily Prophet must have snuck in to take the picture when Dumbledore was talking to the aurors.
James, who had been reading the article himself, threw his paper down in disgust. "That GIT! I am NOT a love-sick puppy!" He scowled, glaring down at his paper.
Sirius sneered. "Hate to break it to you mate, but, well, you kind of are."
"Shut up, you twit!" James shouted indignantly, crossing his arms.
Lily smiled at the look on James' face. There were so many things she could say to him – Has anyone ever told you how cute you look when you're angry? I think its sweet, James. Who cares what Snape says? Everyone knows you're the most popular guy at school. Don't we look cute together in that picture? She shook these thoughts away, and instead exclaimed, "Don't worry about it, Potter. I know you're not a love-sick puppy. You haven't even asked me out lately!"
Remus and Sirius exchanged excited glances, raising their eyebrows at each other. She'd noticed?
Lily went on. "Anyway, I guess you really did save me back at the Ministry. So I owe you a…a thank you," she said, grimacing.
James sat up eagerly, smirking. "Go ahead, spit it out, Evans," he said gleefully.
Lily rolled her eyes. "I just did!"
"That didn't suffice. It needs to be a hearty thank you, Evans."
Lily giggled as James demonstrated "hearty thank-yous" repeatedly. "Alright, alright. Thank you so very much for saving me, Potter. Whatever will I do to repay you?"
James grinned. "I can think of a few things."
"Not those things!" Lily blushed, causing James to laugh. "Anyway," she went on, "We'd better get to Charms. It's almost time for class."
They all made their way out of the Great Hall, James and Lily standing awkwardly close to each other.
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OH. MY. GOD.
What NOW, Paige?
James. And Lily.
OH MY GOD!
What the hell is with girls and the "OH MY GOD OH MY GOD!" crap?
Shut it, Sirius. We were just talking about James and Lily.
Oh. Right. Them. What about 'em?
LOOK AT THEM, YOU IDIOT!
I AM looking at them, thank you!
Sirius! They're writing NOTES to each other. And GIGGLING.
Damn. My best mate has gone to the Dark Side.
Excuse me?
He's gone to the Dark Side…all of that love stuff. I feel for the bloke.
Oh, my God, Sirius. It's so CUTE! And ROMANTIC!
Oh no. Not YOU TOO!
But really! Look at them! EEEEEEE! They're SO CUTE!
Oh Lord. I feel my masculinity draining as we speak.
Very funny. OH! LOOK AT THAT! They're blushing! And STARING at each other!
Are they still passing notes? I can't see anything anymore, Peter just moved in front of me.
They're still passing notes. Who cares? WE'RE passing notes, and I'm not deeply in love with Whitney.
I notice you didn't mention that you weren't madly in love with me.
But passing notes is just PASSING NOTES.
Nice change of subject, Sirius. But they're not writing NORMAL notes! They're writing LOVE NOTES.
Do I WANT to know what you three are talking about? All I've read was about love notes and something about Sirius being madly in love with Paige.
I NEVER SAID THAT, MOONY!
He so did, Remus.
Shut up.
You LOOOOOOOOOOVE me.
Don't be mean.
When is the wedding?
I'm warning you!
So after the wedding, I take it you'll be Mr. Paige Wallace?
SHUT IT! RIGHT NOW! Do you WANT me to turn you into a horse?
Er, no. What is all this talk about Lily and James?
They're, like, totally in their own little world!
Like, TOTALLY!
Wow, you're right. They ARE in their own little world. I'll bet they don't even realize that there are other people here.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I KNEW THEY WERE IN LOVE!
Crap. Why did I have to pick the so-girly-its-scary girlfriend?
Shut up or no snogging tonight.
Shutting up now.
I thought so. OH! LOOK AT THAT!
What?
Yeah, what?
You two are so clueless.
TELL US, DAMN IT!
James just brushed an eyelash out of Lily's eye!
So?
That is SO Flirting 101.
I am now terrified. SAVE ME, MOONY! SAVE ME FROM THE SCARY WOMEN!
I happen to like the scary women.
Thank you.
I always liked you better, Remus.
HEY!
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Evans?
Potter?
Want to make a little wager?
It depends. What exactly IS this bet?
I'll bet you 10 galleons that I'll do better than you on the next Charms essay.
Deal.
Excellent. So when are our next Head Rounds?
Not for two weeks.
Oh. WHY ARE YOU STARING AT ME LIKE THAT?
What are you talking about? I'm not staring!
Yes you are!
YOU'RE the one that's staring!
NO WAY!
Um, yes way.
AHA! THERE! YOU'RE DOING IT AGAIN!
Doing what again?
The scary staring thing! You're eyes sparkle more than usual, and you just…STARE at me! And you've got this cute smile when you do it-
Excuse me? Cute smile?
God, Evans. You're not telling me that it has JUST occurred to you that I think you're cute?
Well, yes, it HAS just occurred to me.
So my 6 years of pursuing you was wasted time?
I thought it was all a joke, sort of.
WHAT?
Sorry. So I take it that it wasn't a joke all those years?
No, it wasn't. And why are you using past-tense? You should be using present tense, Evans, so the sentence is as follows: "So I take it that it hasn't been a joke all these years?"
I have to admit, I'm surprised.
That I like you?
No, that you know what the past and present tenses are.
Very funny, Evans.
I thought so too.
So.
So.
Do you return my feelings? DON'T SLAP ME, IT'S JUST A QUESTION!
Maybe.
Maybe? MAYBE?
Yes. Maybe.
You're torturing me here, Evans. Can't you just give me a yes or no? WHY ARE YOU GIGGLING LIKE THAT?
I'm not giggling! And no, I'm not going to give you an exact answer. It is much more fun watching you die of curiosity.
I'll get it out of you somehow, Evans.
Is that a threat, Mr. Potter?
I believe it is, Ms. Evans. In fact, I have just the idea.
Oh God. Tell me what you're going to do to me.
Maybe.