Before it Began
By. SkyQuill
Summary
James knew he was in love at first sight, but what would it take for Lily to love him back? Read their story leading up to their deaths and discover the dangers they faced and the loves and friendships they shared.
Disclaimer
I do not own most of the characters and places or anything else that may seem familiar. J.K. Rowling has the exclusive claim to this as well as the general plot that formed this fanfic.
Chapter 6: Awakening
As Lily and her friends sat eating breakfast at the Great Hall the next morning, she help but keep shooting expectant glances at the doors to the Great Hall. She was eagerly awaiting the moment she would get to see which marauder she had sniped with the textbook the night previous. Cadence and herself had already filled the rest of their friends in about the incident. All seemed to think it was rather funny.
Suddenly Lily heard a startled gasp from her left.
"Alice? Is everything okay?" Calli' asked, looking panicky and tense. Alice nodded slowly, still reading whatever news it was,
"Ludovic Bagman has been arrested on charges of being related to death eater acitivty." Lily turned her astonished green eyes onto the article,
"I don't believe it!" she muttered, "Who'd have ever thought?" Serena however, looked un-perturbed,
"Well as long as nobody's dead." she said flatly.
"Yeah, I suppose..." Cadence said quietly. The group continued eating in silence, ignoring the chatting around them. Lily kept looking towards the entrance at frequent intervals. It was almost time to leave for classes when the Marauders finally made an appearance.
Remus was leading the way, a half-smile pasted onto his face. Following him, was a tired looking Peter. Eagerly, Lily craned her neck to get a view behind them. She was not disappointed, James shuffled in, trying to conceal a large red bump on the side of his head with his right hand.
Grinning, Lily exchanged a serves-him-right look with Cadence. Sirius meanwhile was practically skipping behind them, apparantly over-joyed he was not the one that had been hit.
"Can't remember that healing charm?" Lily heard Remus ask smugly. James merely scowled at him in reply. Lily had to stifle a giggle as they passed.
"Wow, Lily, you got him good." Alice remarked as she watched them settle themselves at the end of the table.
" I wonder why he hasn't gone to Madam Pomfrey though; trivial as it is she could at least get rid of that goose-egg!" Calli' exclaimed wonderingly. Serena answered,
"Probably too embarrassing." She grinned, her light turquoise eyes sparkling with amusement, "If only I could have been there." Cadence snorted into her oatmeal with humour as the rest of them laughed appreciatively.
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James's wound from Lily however, was probably the last very amusing thing that would happen in the next few months. The teachers were piling unreasonable amounts of homework and almost every second of the seventh year's free time was spent in the library or else in the common room beside a stack of books. A few Hogsmeade trips came and went, but Lily and her friends only embarked on a trip to the village once, and for only a few hours. They was simply too much homework to be dealing with.
It therefore came as a great relief when Christmas arrived bringing with it a heavenly break and plenty of glittering snow. As Lily's parents had passed away the previous year, she would be spending the break at the castle and her friends opted to keep her company, for which she was grateful.
Lily, Cadence, Calli', Serena and Alice had spent the last few days wrapping their gifts and Lily, who had Head Girl duties was forced to decorate the castle with James. This was probably the only unenjoyable activity she had to bear with during this season, excluding all the daily prophet news of recent attacks and murders.
Everytime they went to work hanging garland, or decorating the trees in the Great Hall Lily had to bear with an increasingly annoying James. Although he was constantly trying to initiate conversation, and on more then one occasion accidentally got holly caught in her hair, she supposed she should grateful that he had at least stopped his daily attempts to ask her out. However, she made sure to keep far away from the mistletoe in his presence, just in case.
"So what are your plans for Christmas?" he said cheerily on Christmas Eve as they finally finished the decorating. Lily turned to face him irritably,
"I don't believe that's any of your business Potter." she replied rather unkindly. He had somehow just managed to dump an enormous pile of non-melting snow on her head, though he swore on his broomstick it was an accident...again. However, James didn't seem put off though by her words; instead, he retaliated with flair,
"Well, actually it would be. You see, I have to know where you'll be if i'm to send you a Christmas gift."
"I'd rather you don't thanks." she replied, thinking uncomfterably of the dozens of small gifts he had sent over the last few years. They were all crammed in the bottom of her trunk, for some reason, she hadn't thrown them away, though she had never looked at them twice. James frowned this time, and Lily found herself feeling a tad sorry for him. It must be the Christmas mood that's going around, she thought. Feeling sorry for that arrogant gargoyle!
Lily stopped at this thought though. The last time he had actually done anything fat-headed was the eavesdropping incident. Frowning, Lily pondered this. Was he ill, or had he actually matured? Well whatever, Lily decided firmly, I do not like Potter. Again Lily stopped as she listened to her own confused thoughts. Where did that come from? Awkwardly, Lily dared a quick glance at James, who was now busy placing ornaments on the the last tree
"Wonderful job you two." Proffesor McGonagall announced, strolling into the hall with a rare smile on her face. Lily beamed, snapping out of her reverie. James however did not return the professor's smile but continued to gaze moodily at the floor. Sensing the tension, McGonagall wisely dismissed them. Just in times to do my rounds and get in bed early, Lily thought satisfiedly. Hurriedly she set off to do them, darting a quick last look at James, all the while, considering his apparant change of heart.
By the time Lily had returned to the common room, she had decided that she should apologize, she couldn't leave him so dejected on Christmas. It was the holiday after all.
After telling her friends who were playing games like wizard chess and Exploding Snap, that she needed to do something, she looked around for the marauders. Please say they're not up to another ridiculous prank, she thought gritting her teeth. But much to her relief, they came in through the portrait, as if on cue.
Nervously, she approached them, ignoring her friends astonished looks. James who was still visibly moping took no notice to her, as he and Sirius were apparantly reliving the frosty conversation previously. Wringing her hands apprehensively she opened her mouth to speak, encouaraged by Remus' reassuring gaze.
"Er, Potter may I have a word?" James's head shot up in surprise. Peter was wide-eyed and gaping while Sirius had frozen with shock. Even Remus looked mildly astonished. Ignoring there startled reactions, James nodded and followed her out the portrait hole, leaving a stunned Gryffindor common room behind them.
"Fancy a walk?" Lily asked in an attempt to be cheerful. James didn't reply but narrowed his eyes suspiciously as he followed her.
"I won't send you a gift if that's what you're worried about." he said abruptly, sounding unusually cold. Lily paused in surprise and turned around to face him. It was slightly unerving to see his expression so stony.
"That's not what I wanted to talk about." she said quietly, letting her voice echo off the stone walls.
"Well then, what is it?" he asked indifferently. Lily glanced down at her hands nervously.
"Er, just that, well...I'm sorry." The two stood facing each other in shocked silence. I can't believe I just apologized to Potter.
I can't believe Evans is apologizing to me! James's coldness seemed to melt before Lily's eyes. His hazel eyes twinkled with joy,
"Apology accepted." Lily dared a cautious smile,
"And I suppose i'm sorry for how i've treated you for the last few years." she said. James shook his head slightly,
"No i'm sorry, I really shouldn't have been so persistant." He smiled weakly but struck by the oddness of the situation, Lily had a fleeting thought of how cute he looked, with that sheepish expression. But still refusing to admit her sudden attraction she replied briskly,
"Apology accepted. So I guess there's nothing between us anymore. Animosity I mean!" she added quickly.
"No, well not really..." James replied thoughtfully. Lily raised an eyebrow,
"What do you mean not really?" But James didn't answer instead, he gazed up at the ceiling.
"Potte- I mean James?" Lily tried again. She followed his gaze, where there was a wad of mistletoe attatched. Her emerald eyes widened. Of all the things, she thought incredulously, wondering why she didn't flee while she had the chance.
Stunned with disbelief and a new unfamiliar feeling rising within her chest she watched as James tentatively stepped closer. Slowly James lowered his face, and gazed into her eyes. Lily felt numb as he moved in, and wrapped his arms around her. She was even more surprise as she returned the action.
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Minutes later Lily burst through the portrait hole, blushing scarlet but a joyous feeling coursing through her body. Immediatly she ran over to Cadence and exclaimed,
"I'm not dreaming anymore! I'm awake!"
A/N: Sorry for the long time gap but instead of filling it up with unnessecary, boring everyday events, I thought i'd skip ahead. I think I managed it pretty smoothly Anyways I personally love this chapter, James and Lily have finally made peace. Well, I hope you enjoyed! Please review!