Can't Buy Me Love
Summary: Lily paid James for him to pretend to like her, to impress a boy. Well, James isn't pretending anymore, but how will she ever know with HIM in the way?
Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing but the plot and optional characters.
I Promise
'Since my best friend has been the happiest I've ever seen him' Lily thought. 'Since my best friend has been the happiest I've ever seen him'
"Lily… hello? Earth to Lily!" James said the nest morning at breakfast waving this hand in front of her face.
Lily snapped out of her trance. "Oh hey James." she smiled.
James sat down next to her putting some bacon on his plate. "You're up early." she commented.
"Yeah." he said taking a bite of her eggs.
"Why?" she asked.
James smirked. "I had to get out before the girls realized there was something in the shampoo."
Lily laughed as other students came into breakfast. "Looks like we both pranked them this morning." she said.
"What did you do?" James asked.
Lily smiled a mile wide, "You'll see."
Sirius and Remus walked into breakfast just then. "Morning." Remus said sitting across from James and next to Sirius who was on the end across from Lily.
"Good morning." Lily smiled in a very happy mood.
"Why are we so happy this morning?" Sirius asked.
"You'll see." Lily said the owls coming in delivering mail. A package and 2 letters came onto Lily's plate.
Just then, the three girls walked in. Paige with electric blue hair, Alix with green and Molly with purple. "Did you do that Lily?" Remus asked.
"No, James did that one." she said opening a letter. "You'll see mine soon enough." she said. The girls walked by Lily glaring daggers at her. They looked at their back and the whole school corrupted in laughter.
Written on their robes (permanently) in big bold glittery letters was I Want to ravish Snape.
"What?" The girls asked around them, everyone pointing to their robes.
"Mr. Potter, Black and Lupin! Detention!" Professor McGonagall said.
Lily stood up, "Actually Professor, I did the robes." she admitted.
"Fine then, all four of you will be in my office tonight 8 to midnight!" She said sternly.
The laughs in the Great Hall subsided and filled with chatter again. "Look James, I got a letter from Zonko's!" She said proudly.
"What's it say?" He asked leaning over her shoulder.
She took a card out and read, "Dear Lily, because of your continuously purchases, you have been promoted to Gold Card member. From now on you will receive 20 off all of your purchases. And by the way…" she stopped reading and laughed.
Sirius grabbed the letter from her and laughed reading it aloud, "Don't tell James, but I will give you a free sample of every new product before they hit the shelves."
James' jaw dropped, "What we are the only one's that get this privilege!" He said to Sirius and Remus.
"You know what this means." Sirius said.
"Lily, you get to become and Honorary Marauder." Remus said.
Lily smiled and took a bit of her bacon, "Okay." she said simply reaching for her package. She opened it and found a case of butterbeer with a note attached, Share it with someone special -Rosmerta "Who wants butterbeer?" she asked holding up the case of six, each boy taking one.
James opened the Daily Prophet and read headline article, 2 MUGGLES KILLED. He read on.
Last night at 2:34 a.m. two Muggles believed to be parents of a Hogwarts student were killed at their home in London. Rose Evans and Nick Evans had two daughters, one who wasn't present at the time and one attending her last year at Hogwarts…
James' jaw dropped. "What's wrong?" Lily asked trying to see the newspaper.
"Lils, I-" He tried to get the newspaper away from her but failed as seeing it in Lily's hand.
"Oh my god." She said tears already forming in her eyes letting one escape down her cheek. She was paralyzed in her seat staring at the article.
James looked at her sympathetically. "Lils…" he started but she bolted out of the room.
"Two muggles killed…" Sirius read aloud.
James looked at where she had just ran out and stood up, going after her.
Lily kept running as fast and as far as she could, thinking that she could outrun her sorrows. She ran out the doors and onto plush green grass. She ran past trees, over hills and hills past flowers waiting to bloom, and finally stopped and fell to her knees.
James ran after her trying his best to keep up with her. He saw her on the grass, her head in her hands crying.
Lily felt two strong arms wrap around her and she turned to cry into their chest. A tear for every memory about her parents. When she first left for Hogwarts, all the letters her mother sent her telling her how much she loved her and wishes she was with them. Lily felt guilty that she was a witch, because if she weren't he parents would still be alive.
"Shh…it's okay Lils…" she automatically recognized the voice as James' and melted into his arms.
"They're gone." she whispered harshly. "Gone." she said a bit softer.
James felt his own eyes start to tear up. Seeing Lily like this was torture to him. He pulled her back so he could look into her emerald eyes filled with sadness and wiped away the tears from her tear stained cheeks. "I'm so sorry." he said holding her in his arms. He dragged her over to a tree and sat down, Lily in-between his legs. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders with his chin on top of her head and looked out into the clear blue sky.
"What am I going to do?" She asked aloud. "I have nowhere to go, no family who loves me, no money nothing!" She turned her head into James' chest again.
James tried to sooth her running his hands gently through her fiery red hair. "You do have family who loves you Lils. You have me, Remus, Sirius. You can always stay with me, and I can support you Lily." he said desperately wanting to take away the pain. "I'll always take care of you Lils." he said meaningfully.
She looked up at him, "Of course you will." she said slightly smiling. The tears stopped and she looked away from him her body relaxing into his like a puzzle piece. She sighed and the bell rang for class.
Lily was about to get up, but James pulled her back down. "No Lily, rest." he said more like a demand that request.
She sighed and sat down again. She listened to the beat of his heart against his chest, felling his chest rise and fall as he breathed. Was she falling form him? Her eyes became heavy and soon closed as she drifted off into a deep sleep.
James felt her limbs weaken and looked down at her sleeping figure, letting a tear roll down his cheek. One minute she was happy and having fun, and next she finds out her parents are dead. He let his head fall back onto the trunk of the tree and let the morning wash away.
"Lily." James said softly slightly shaking her. She opened her eyes a bit and squinted at the sun. "Come on, it's lunch time." he continued.
Lily sighed. "I don't feel like eating much." she said sadly.
James nodded in understanding but wouldn't give up. "Come on baby, you need to eat a little bit." he said pulling his wand out conjuring food which consisted of two Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches.
"James." she whinnied.
"Not even a pb&j sandwich?" he asked dangling one in front of her.
Smiling she took it and took a small bite. "Thanks James." she said. "If it wasn't for you, I would probably be on the lake's floor." she finished.
James held her close. "Don't say that Lily. I would never let you do anything to yourself like that." he said.
Lily smiled, "I know." she said. "Will you always be here to take care of me James?" she asked.
"Yes." he said.
She got up and stretched her legs sitting next to him. She turned to face him. "You promise?" she asked with tear rimmed eyes.
"I promise."
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To all of my reviewers, thank you! Here's a cookie! I'm sorry for not updating in a long time. I have a hectic schedule this time of year. Anyways, look for another update next week!
Keep reviewing and reading! Zeppelin Girl