It's not mine; it's J.K. Rowling's.
Chapter 12: In Which Lily Eavesdrops
or
In Which Lily's Eyelids Once Again Function
Where our rather comatous heroine was last (and due to the comatous issue, still is):
I was alone.
ooo...ooo
For a while, all I was aware of was darkness and silence. It was quite boring and rather made me want to scream ... if only my mouth worked. And even if it did, I bet my vocal cords wouldn't work just to vex me.
A crash sounded, reverberating through the room.
My eyes flew open in surprise at the sound (which was clearly not silence).
Wait ... my eyes opened!
Hallelujah! My eyelids are fixed!
I tried to sit up and to my amazement, I found that I was able to do that as well.
I'm fixed!
I'd rather expected Madam Jeffries to botch it like she did with James' leg. Honestly ... peroxide!
I pulled the covers off of my legs and swung them over the side of the bed. Bracing myself, I stood up.
Nothing happened ...
I didn't fall over.
The world didn't end.
James Potter didn't come walking through the curtains surrounding my bed to see me as I realized that this thing they've got me dressed in most certainly doesn't have a back.
Life must be looking up!
I gathered the robe together behind my back with both hands. This thing is practically the equivalent of walking around in half a bag and your underwear!
And my socks ... you can't forget my socks!
I'm feeling very exposed right now.
I peeked out of the curtains and saw that half of the hospital wing was partitioned off and empty. I suppose they're isolating the potentially possessed girl (and I'm not possessed).
Still this is excellent for me. I'll just slip out, go to my dorm, find some decent PJs, and come back. If anyone asks I'll say James brought them to me.
Wait, boys can't go into the girl's dorms. Oh, who cares, this is James Potter; even the teachers acknowledge he can get to anywhere in Hogwarts any time he wants. McGonagall even asked him once to show her the fastest way to the Dungeons when they discovered Jeffery Bates after all of those weeks.
As I was heading to the side door that was on this side of the partition, I heard a murmur of voices from the other side. I was curious (big surprise). Of course, I wanted to know who was talking and what they were talking about, so I snuck over to the edge of the partition and pushed it away from the wall a bit.
Peeking through I saw Madam Jeffries, Professor Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Vittles clustered around a table. Odd, it's the same group that came for me in Transfiguration.
"All my tests have come back negative, Albus," Madam Jeffries said, "I can't hold her once she wakes up. There's no proof at all that she's being possessed."
Ah Ha! I told them! In their sorry faces! Me, possessed? I think not.
"Then why would she come to you and tell you she was hearing voices that may be controlling her actions?"
Holy cannolis, is that what caused this? I knew I shouldn't have gone to the Hospital Wing. Besides, I ... well, I'd rather not think about the voices now. Besides, I was suffering from temporary insanity, not being possessed.
"I questioned Mr. Potter concerning her recent behavior and he was most reluctant to comment on the matter," McGonagall said (at least she hasn't switched to James, I don't think I could deal with that), "He kept dodging my questions and giving artful answers that weren't really answers at all." She threw her hands up in exasperation with a sigh.
Clearly she's as used to Potter and his annoying answers as I am. That man will not give you a straight answer to anything if he can help it. I suppose it comes from being raised to watch his words and not offend any other pureblood families.
"Perhaps he doesn't want to believe she's possessed," Vittles commented dryly. Sorry, no-good, back stabbing cheater.
"What do you mean, Vincent?" McGonagall asked.
Yes, what does he mean? Not that it matters since I'm not possessed, so really this whole conversation is pointless, but still, what does he mean?
"Well, if she's possessed, it might not be her own thoughts and actions that caused her to become involved with him. I probably spend more time with Mr. Potter than any other teacher," there was a wry chuckle from everyone in the group, "And I can say with reasonable authority that the pair became involved a scant 5 days ago."
We are not involved! I wish he would get that straight. Just because there are some crazy invisible magnets in James' lips doesn't mean we're involved. No one seems to get that.
"So he might have reason to believe her finally acquiescing to him was not typical behavior?" Madam Jeffries asked.
Well if I had acquiesced to him (which I haven't) then it might not be typical behavior, but that doesn't mean I'm possessed. Honestly, these people seem rather hooked on the possessed thing.
"Five days ago Miss Evans would not touch Mr. Potter with a 10 foot long pole."
Dumbledore leaned forward and surveyed Vittles, steepling his fingers. "I think you are being too hasty, Vincent. But, nonetheless, perhaps it would be prudent to question James' friends. He would undoubtedly confide in them if he was worried about Miss Evans."
Excellent idea, no wonder everyone says Dumbledore's the wisest wizard of our time. Then again, just about anyone could have told you that James tells his friends everything.
McGonagall nodded in agreement, "I could arrange that."
"I think it's safe to say that if she was possessed at any time she no longer is," Madam Jeffries said, "I will, of course, keep her here under the pretense of monitoring her reaction to the curse she took for as long as possible."
Why that B … witch! How could she? I hate the Hospital Wing! The least she could do is tell me the truth about why I was being kept.
Mind you if anyone mentioned possessed I'd go berserk ... maybe it's a good idea not to tell me.
"That was a particularly nasty curse, Vincent. Why in the world did you choose that one?" Madam Jeffries asked crossly.
"I lost my temper," Vittles grumbled, looking uncomfortable, "It was the first time in a long time."
"I trust you have your temper under control now," Dumbledore stated.
"Yes, I do. I've already talked with Mr. Potter and he has accepted my apology, albeit with much reluctance."
He accepted his apology! I was lying unconscious in the Hospital Wing because that idiot shot a curse at James' back and he accepted his apology. Reluctance my foot, he should have said, "NO!"
"He understands that holding grudges can only lead to unwanted problems," Dumbledore said, almost as if he was reading my thoughts.
I suppose he's right, but still. Well ... as long as he showed reluctance, I guess it's ok. But he better have shown a whole dump truck load of reluctance.
"He grew up right under my eyes and I didn't even notice," McGonagall said, shaking her head, "He went from that vexing, egotistical, prankster that was the bane of a teacher's existence, to a noble, powerful young wizard that makes you proud to say you've taught him, and I didn't even bother to look."
"None of us did," Dumbledore said, "Except for you Vincent. I had forgotten, but after that meeting where we discussed the O.W.L. results you told me that James might surprise me in the future. I assumed at the time you were referring to a prank of some sort, but ..."
"I was more referring to potential. I honestly did not think he would strive to meet it until after Hogwarts. I thought he'd be the one who would shock everyone at the 10 year reunion as the most changed."
James has changed, hasn't he? I managed to miss it too, just like all of the teachers, but he's grown into a fine man. Very, very fine. Exceedingly fine ... and yummy ... I mean ... ummm ... well, I don't know what I mean.
I shook my head, trying to clear it of troubling thoughts. I shouldn't be eavesdropping on teachers anyway, I'm Head Girl after all.
I still can't believe Vittles tried to attack James. I suppose it was his pride that spurred him to it and he was probably very ... surprised. Still, it wasn't very nice.
I let the partition fall back into place and then padded over to the door. I slipped silently into the hallway, re-gathered my robe behind me, and set off toward the dorm.
After giving the Fat Lady the password - skunk cakes - and receiving a rather disapproving look toward my clothing (or lack there of) (But I'm wearing socks! You can't forget the socks!), I headed up the stairway and into my dorm room.
My roommates were already asleep, curtains drawn, so I quietly made my way to my bed.
OW! Ow! Ouch! Sorry piece of ... sadistic wood! Don't yell!
I bit my tongue.
Stupid bedside table! How long has it been there? Yeah, yeah, since 1st year.
I grabbed my toe and sank down on my bed.
It hurts! I pulled off my sock.
It isn't bleeding, is it?
I quickly moved my foot away from the bed, so I wouldn't stain the comforter if it was, in fact, bleeding. I wiggled all of my toes a bit. They all appear to be moving.
Nothing's broken or in need of amputation, thank Merlin!
I resisted the urge to flop back on my bed and never get up again (but it was a near thing) and stood up. Then I realized I was still in the Hospital Wing get-up with naught on but half a bag, my underwear, and one sock.
Only one sock, for crying out loud! At least it's my Halloween skeleton sock with the sparkly green eyeballs ... very classy.
I blushed in the dark even though I knew no one could see me looking so ridiculous. Gathering the back of my "robe" cough half a sack cough, I fished one handed through my trunk.
Santa Clause PJ bottoms.
Phantom of the Opera glow in the dark t-shirt (that kind of freaks me out, I mean ... it glows ... isn't that just freaky?).
Excellent.
I yanked off the "robe" cough dismembered burlap sack cough and pulled them on. Balling the "robe" cough grocery sack cough up, I convinced myself hexing it into oblivion would help no one. So instead I threw it out the half-open window next to my bed. It didn't go very far, though.
Stupid roof.
I reached out and snatched the "robe" cough half-masticated and spit out bag cough and instead shoved it under my bed. Serves it right because Merlin only knows what's under there.
I pulled off my very classy sock and slipped into my lime green, fluffy slippers. Grabbing my bathrobe (which must be the deluxe version of a hospital robe), I headed out the door.
Back to the Hospital Wing for me ... Blah.
As I made my way down the stairs, I stopped in surprise. There are voices coming from the common room. Who in the world would be up at this time of the night?
I inched down the last few steps and poked my head around the door way to see the James and his friends had just come in and were apparently still wide awake (probably plotting something nefarious). James, however, did look exhausted. Dumbledore was right, he needs to get a decent nights sleep. We'll never beat Slytherin if he's not in top form.
"So how are things between you and Lily?" Sirius asked. I leaned farther out of the doorway, holding onto the banister for balance.
What are the chances ... happening on a conversation about me? This should be an excellent opportunity to find out how James talks about me when I'm not around.
James is blushing. Hmm ... is that a good sign or a bad sign? But goodness he's so adorable sometimes. If I weren't eavesdropping on their conversation (and, thus, having to worry about being caught at said activity) I would be sighing like a lovesick schoolgirl right now. Which I'm not! Lovesick, that is … I was merely making a point. What the point was I can't remember, but I have a new point and that is that I am not lovesick. So there.
"Things are going as well as they can, seeing as she's unconscious, Padfoot."
Padfoot? I hate those secret Marauder code names. I used to bug Remus about them, but he'd never tell me what they meant. Still ... Prongs has a ring to it (and is undeniably mysterious and sexy). What girl wouldn't want a guy whose nickname is Prongs (unless the girl is me and the guy is James Potter, but still!)?
"Just fine, huh? And what about the happenings before the whole issue of unconsciousness arose. After all, you seem to be spending an ungodly amount of time in the hospital wing now-a-days."
James reddened every more. Interesting. I need a book that explains boy's reactions because even if the blushing is interesting, I have no bloody clue what it means.
"Why such an interest? Usually you don't like to hear me talk about Lily."
He talks about me? And apparently a lot. I'm guessing that means something. Why, oh why, isn't there a book on these things. It could be a good thing. He could gush about the wonders of my mind and the magnificence of my charms work. Oh, who am I kidding? He could gush about my lovely bum and bra size (not that either of those are exactly brilliant, but hey, they could be worse). Or he could be venting about what a horrid individual I am and how he can't stand the sight of me (like I tend to do for him). While I certainly don't approve of such gushing I most confess I heartily support it as compared to the latter. Not that it really matters, I suppose, but it would make me feel better.
"No reason mate, but I couldn't help noticing how cozy you two were before Transfiguration two classes ago."
I blushed from where I was hanging out of the doorway. That incident is going to haunt me for the rest of my life; isn't it? Still, I think it ranks as less embarrassing than the whole Christmas tree of kisses thing. Thank the Crinkle French Fry Saints of the World only Vittles (filthy, worthless individual) saw that!
"What happened before Transfiguration?" Remus asked, looking up from his book.
"Don't tell him!" James shouted at Sirius, and I nodded emphatically in agreement (unfortunately since no one could see me, my input didn't count for much).
"Good ol' Prongsie was making out with Lily dearest on the floor!"
"Sirius!"
I want to knock my head onto something, but that would create noise and even more than I want to knock my head I want not to be discovered. Imagine the mortification. Simply horrifying. It would be like the Christmas tree of kisses incident except worse because Sirius would be here and he would tell Ally and then Ally would bug me about it for the rest of my foreseeable life! Obviously, I can't have that. I'll just knock my head on something later to make up for my lack of being able to do so now.
Sirius seems to be getting too much amusement from this. Mental note: kill Sirius (or at least injure him severely) next time you see him. Oh, fine, just give him a dirty look.
I'm never going to be able to face Remus again, never ever. What must he think of me!
"Way to go, James!" Remus said, smiling broadly.
Why that ... that ... I can't believe him! I should disown him as my friend.
"Thanks, Moony," James said, shaking his head in embarrassment, "I'm just, I'm just ... ah, never mind."
"No, tell us, James. What is it?" Remus said, setting down his book and folding his hands counselor style (It's freakish how good he is at that).
I wonder what James seems so worked up about? I tried to lean further out of the doorway, nearly lost my grip, and decided I'd just have to settle for where I was.
James looked at Sirius who put on an innocent look.
"What?"
"You can't say a word."
Sirius sighed dramatically. "Alright."
I can't say I blame James. Merlin knows I wouldn't want Sirius to comment on a seemingly delicate subject that had me worked up and perhaps a bit embarrassed.
James turned back to Remus. "I'm worried Lily doesn't understand that I'm ... that I'm for real, I guess. What if she thinks we're just messing around? Because I don't think she wanted to kiss me at first and it's not like I'd ever force her, but it seemed as if all I had to do was wish my lips were on hers and then ... they were. And it keeps happening. A few times I think she might have initiated it, but ... but I can't be sure. She's so irresistible; I can't even think around her. I just want to kiss her so much and I want to believe she wants it just as much as I do ..." James broke off, burying his head in his hands.
He thinks I don't want to kiss him?
Hello! Is anyone home? Obviously not.
I mean I'd practically jumped him in the Hospital Wing!
And what about in the secret hallways?
Or the girl's bathroom?
Oh, and how about in the hallway after our trip to the kitchen!
I should tell him my theory about the magnets so he won't have to worry so much about it.
You know, I think I could come to like the magnets given time ... and plenty of kisses.
"Uh, James ..." Sirius said.
"Sirius, I don't want to hear it. You promised not to say anything."
"But ..."
"Sirius!"
Sirius fell silent looking highly annoyed and Remus said, "Well there's one way to be sure she knows how you feel."
"Really," James said, eagerly, "What?"
I hope it involves kisses!
"Tell her."
Both Peter and Remus cracked up at that. I wonder what's so funny. It seems like a perfectly reasonable suggestion to me. It doesn't involve kisses, true, but I'm sure after the telling thing I could easily arrange for a few.
"What's so funny?" James asked indignantly.
Ahh ... someone else who doesn't get the joke. At least I'm not alone. I'm with Potter, which is, in actuality, a fate worse than being alone (unless it involves kisses, then he can stay).
"You'll never tell her," Peter said, sniggering.
"I could! I could ... it's just, how do you go about it? Do you just walk up to her and say, 'Hey gorgeous, I'm madly in love with you, will you go out with me?'"
Madly in love with me ... madly in love with me ... madly in love with me ... James is madly in love with me, Lily ... James Tristan Potter is madly in love with me, Lily Marie Evans ... oh my gods. Oh my gods! AHHHHHHHHHH!
"Yeah, mate, do something like that," Sirius howled, joining Remus and Peter in laughter.
James stood up and huffed, "I'm not staying around here with you ungrateful gits."
He started walking toward the doorway (and by virtue of the fact I was hanging out the doorway, towards me too).
Panicking, I pulled my thoughts back into some semblance of order, jerked myself upright and raced up the stairs two at a time. I leapt through the doorway to the girl's staircase and pressed myself against the wall, trying not to breathe as I heard James' (who's madly in love with me) footsteps stop on the landing. I breathed a sigh of relief as they continued up the boy's staircase and I peeked out, hoping to catch a glimpse of him (and his rather attractive rear end), but what I got wasn't quite what I'd been hoping for (better than his rear end, surely, if only his face did not have eyes (even his dreamy ones)).
I hate incantation-less magic. I mean, who even knows a spell to imitate the sound of footsteps? James was leaning against the door of the boy's staircase, staring straight at me.
"Look, I don't know who you think you are, but it's not nice to spy on people." He held up his wand and it lit without saying a word, revealing my face in the light. Oh rain spotted china sets ... the jig is most definitely up. I'm caught and I've still got my hands in the bucket of red paint.
"Lily? Lily! Is that really you? You're better! You're awake!" He took an eager step toward me, smiling like he'd just received the best news in the world, "Shouldn't you be in the Hospital Wing?"
Then his face froze in a mask of horror as he realized I'd heard his conversation. I don't know what he's so worried about though.
"How much did you hear?" He asked in a monotone sort of voice, after hurridly re-arranging his face into a bored look.
"Enough," I squeaked, after all, I don't want him to take back what he said. I stepped out of the door way and onto the landing with him. He looked me up and down, as if checking me for injury. He smirked at my lime green slippers, but his face fell into an expressionless mask again.
"You can say it, if you want."
"Say what?" He replied, looking at the floor.
"What you said before." Does he really think he can play stupid with me? I know him too well.
"I'd really rather not."
Panic swept my mind. He can't have changed his mind. Not so quickly.
"Why? Didn't you mean it?"
"I'd just rather not have you laugh in my face too."
"I wouldn't laugh in your face."
Nope, I'd probably do something more along the lines of throwing myself at him and screaming "YES!"
James laughed a bit, "You're right, you'd be nice enough to do it behind my back."
Wait ... that's not what I meant.
"I prefer people who laugh in your face and are honest about it."
"You have a point, but things are different with you."
What does he mean different? He still won't look at me. This is getting tedious.
"Why are things different with me?"
"While I value honesty, I would prefer to go on pretending you don't hate me and find my love for you a laugh," James said, his voice filled with something that sounded suspiciously like self-loathing.
You have got to be kidding me. How could I hate him? Where's my cocky, self-assured James? I want him back! Right now!
"I don't hate you, James ... I love you." I whispered, but my words were lost in a huge bang erupting from the common room.
I looked down the stairs in surprise, wondering what in the world could have caused such an explosion (I suppose you really can't wonder too much when the Marauders (even 3/4 of them) are concerned. For them anything could be an explosive). When I looked back to James, I got a start ... he was gone.
Gone ...
ooo…ooo
Thanks for reading! Hope you like the new chapter. Confessions of love are so fun, even if they aren't exactly confessions, but more over-hearings. If you're not swamped by homework or other such paltry things a review would be much loved and appreciated.
Daystar – The week from hell is over and I'm updating. I swear I'll write you a letter too. Ok, I lie, but I do so with the good intention of making you feel happy. So are you happy? Because if you aren't you should be.
HauntedAngel – Your most welcome and there is indeed some Sirius-ness, so it's your lucky day.
HarryluvsMoaningMyrtle – Lily couldn't open her eyes because she was in sort of in a hyper-aware unconcious state. It's all really Madame Jeffries fault since it's her healing method that did it. Since Lily had been unconcious so long Madame Jeffries had been giving her a lot of different potions to restore conciousness. Unfortunately the potions didn't quite work when mixed together, but they were able to give Lily awareness of her surroundings.
Missprongs07 – I feel like that all of the time. Then again ... we can't be quite sure I'm not completely insane.
Boogie – Sorry it was so short, but this one is pretty long, so that should make up for it, right?
Hurleygurl – I don't have any particular curse in mind, but I do know that the state she was in wasn't exactly due to the curse itself, just the way she was being healed. After all, if James and Dumbledore knew she could hear they wouldn't have been talking about her right next to her.
Siriusly.Mad.for.Sweets – I wouldn't stay they think she's crazy now, but they think she was crazy and are worried she might become so again.
JillZee – You are right, that could be the case. I've acutally thought about it, but I just don't buy it. I thought it was pretty obvious in the first book that Quirrell had been DADA teacher, but I could be wrong.
TajM – Wow, a whole language in blinks, that's so weird. Luckily dearest Lily doesn't have to bother with that. Thank the gods on my part too, I don't think this poor writer could deal with the freakiness of it.
PsychoLeopard – Alright, this is just something I've noticed. Dumbledore calls adults by their first names and they call him Albus, so I was just thinking that a good symbolic sort of way to show that Dumbledore now regards James as a fully grown wizard instead of a student would be to have them use first names. It's kind of obscure, but it makes sense.
Eluding-you – Of course he was going to say he loved her. He just chickened out. What a wuss.
Jane – Alas, James is not King, just grown up. Such a pity.
Unlikely-to-bear-it – If your handy dandy magnifying glass didn't help see what I said to PsychoLeopard.
Withered Quill – TWUW WUV is the greatest thing ever isn't it? We've no found out James' feelings on the subject, but I believe Lily might need a little more time.
GoddessoftheMaaN – I didn't realize that. And now that I do I find it kind of disturbing.
x-woman1 – Vittles isn't exactly evil, he just made a really bad mistake. Also you have to consider he was planning on hitting James and the spell would probably have knocked him out for a few hours, but since Lily is a great deal smaller than James it knocked her out for days. She isn't in a coma, she's just unconcious.
Thanks and Hugs to: FrEgOrGeLuVeR225, skyhoofhearted, famousindafuture, drumer girl, Wrinkles The Troll, genuinescence, Heiress-To-The-Dark-Throne, vegetarians will rule, J.E.A.R.K.Potter, Brighton Baby, SuperSpy, CarbonMonoxide, OnerousOrangutang, leeleigh, Ctimene, EowynSaule, hehe, Trapped Rabbit, xXfiRePhoEnixXx, Sirael, Jana, Lo, taniita, sodafizzz19, JeminaDOTM5, graceypoo, Mischief16, iris2489, Xaris of the Fish, Briee, audreyblaine, check6, Siriusly Sirius Lily Black, Kuddls, angelofmynightmare, MiSs WeStHoFf HeRsElF, siriusforeva, Sango-Inu-Yasha-lover, Seren Lunar Echo, Sugarplum-Farie, Elvislivesagain, Procrastinator-starting2moro, hawaiiangirl, Neha, melodicmoonstar89, AllIWannaDo, LCH8292, gabby, Misha, Stasya, SnakeEyesHannah, GaryLovesPickles, PurplePixies, gldnsunsprite21, and misha1989.