Summer of Love
Lily Evans and her best friend Athena Asimokopoulos head for a vacation in Athena's homeland—Greece. Lily expects a great summer, filled with lazy days on the beach, checking out hot Greek men and eating bizarre Greek food. However, the best part of the entire trip would be NO JAMES POTTER!
James Potter, however, is stunned when he is told he has to go to Greece for his cousins' engagement party. He doesn't want to go at all, but with some persuasion from his mother and Sirius Black, they're off.
Lily is outraged when she sees her worst enemy, James Potter in Greece! She thought she could get rid of him! James, meanwhile, is thanking himself repeatedly for deciding to come to Greece after all.
James is desperate to make Lily fall in love with him before the summer is over, but the question is—can he?
Chapter 10—Mt. Olympus
Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, do you think I'd be writing this? (Didn't think so). I only own Athena Asimokopoulos, her grandparents, Eileen, Stella and other characters you may not recognize.
No flaming please! I really do think that flaming just makes the author of the story feel miserable and that they stink at writing—so no flaming please!
This story is dedicated to THE BIG DANCE, for being my first reviewer. Thanks so much TBD!
Dear James,
Be up early tomorrow. We're heading to Mt. Olympus at ten o'clock in the morning. Meet us by the beach that we went to yesterday so we can take a taxi to the mountain. Be sure to bring some water, sturdy shoes (NOT barefoot. Cough, Black, cough), and something suitable to wear. We are going to be hiking all day, so get ready for some serious exercise!
-Athena.
James gaped at the letter later that night as the two boys got ready to go out to dinner with Aimee.
"HIKING?" James gasped. "What does she think we are here for? A work out?"
"I came here to snog hot girls," Sirius remarked, tying his shoes. "You came here cause you had to."
"Thanks Captain Obvious."
"You're welcome." Sirius said cheerfully, not knowing that James was sarcastic.
James shook his head in exasperation but re-read the letter.
"Sturdy shoes," he said thoughtfully. "What does that mean?"
"Um, these?" Sirius kicked his foot in the air and pointed to his tennis shoes.
"Oh, yeah," James said sheepishly. "Guess I forgot."
"You always forget, you idiot." Sirius said, hunting for something else.
"Boys!" Aimee Potter appeared in the doorway, looking furious. "It's time to go! Do you realize we are going to be late?"
"Mrs. Potter!" Sirius exclaimed, "We are never late. Time waits for us."
"Suck up." James sneezed.
"Bless you." Sirius said offhandedly.
James rolled his eyes. Sometimes Sirius didn't get things.
Aimee put her hands on her hips. "James Tristan Potter," she snapped. "Shake a leg and let's go!"
James shrugged and shook his leg and walked out of the room. He didn't get these Muggle expressions.
"Okay," Lily exclaimed, jumping slightly on Athena's bed, "so I said I would be friends with Potter! Big whoop!"
Athena gave a sly grin. "It is a big deal, Lily Marie! Do you realize you could fall in love with him? After all, Greece is such a romantic place." She put an extra emphasis on 'romantic.'
Lily laughed so hard she fell off Athena's bed. "Honestly, Athena," she laughed. "Do you honestly think that I would love James Potter?"
Athena nodded.
Lily rolled her eyes. "I need new friends," she muttered, then switched the subject immediately. "So, what's the game plan for tomorrow?"
"Mount Olympus." Athena said cheerfully. "That reminds me, be sure to bring a knapsack with stuff in it. Bring hiking boots, if you have any, cool clothes cause you'll get hot on the way up and water.
"Hiking?" Lily cocked an eyebrow. "Thena—are you serious?"
Athena nodded, turning to her closet to find something. "I need to loose some serious poundage. And I think that Black—" Athena stopped herself there, horrified at what she said.
Lily peered closely at Athena. "Did you just say black?" She asked in confusion. "As in Sirius Black?"
Nice going, Athena.
However, Athena gave a sweet smile and said, "No. I said—I think that black won't due for tomorrow. Since it will be so hot."
She prayed that Lily wouldn't question any further.
Lily stared at Athena closely for a few seconds before nodding her head. "Black wouldn't be good for tomorrow. The way the temperature has been you'd sweat the minute we get outside."
Athena blew a sigh of relief.
I got to be more careful.
"Hey, James, I have a question," Sirius asked the next morning as they started getting ready for the daylong hike.
"What?"
"Why does one wear to go on a hike?"
James shrugged. "How should I know? I'm just wearing a tee shirt and shorts."
"I mean, do we wear tennis shoes?"
James shrugged. "That's what I'm wearing."
Sirius, satisfied with that answer, started throwing things into a knapsack. Hair care products, water, hair care products, socks, hair care products, suntan lotion, oh, and hair care products.
James eyed Sirius' bulging knapsack and asked, "Sirius, mate, why all the hair care products?"
"Well, I read—"
"You actually read something?"
Sirius glared. "I read!"
"Yeah, Play Wizard."
"The models are hot! Especially Emma Roderick—but anyway, I read that the sun can dry out hair and I can't have it happen to mine!"
James shook his head in exasperation and muttered something that sounded like, "Girly."
"I heard that!"
"What?" James had the picture of innocence. "I said nothing."
"Boys!" Aimee came into the room, smiling. "Where are you two going?"
"Hiking on Mount Olympus!" Sirius said.
Aimee laughed. "Really? Well, if you go high enough, you might find Zeus."
"Who?" James and Sirius asked.
Aimee smiled. "The ruler of the gods. King Zeus."
Sirius' eyes went wide. "We can actually see gods? Cool! Come on, James! Maybe their will be hot girl gods."
"Their called goddesses, Sirius." Aimee chuckled.
"Whatever—c'mon, Servant Boy! Let's go!"
"Thanks Mum!" James shouted just before he was whisked away.
"You're welcome, dear." Aimee called.
Athena checked her watch in exasperation. Ten o'five.
They're late.
Athena tapped her foot angrily. She told James ten o'clock. Why was he five minutes late?
"Aren't we leaving?" Lily asked.
Athena paled. For the past five minutes, she had tried to stall Lily, so that James and Sirius could arrive.
"Um, yeah. Let's just keep looking at the beautiful fallassa." (Beach).
Lily crossed her arms in annoyance. "We've been staring at the ocean for the past five minutes. All I see are kids splashing, babies making sand castles, old people trying to get a tan and waves. Big deal!"
Athena knew she was running out of options to keep Lily busy and telepathically sent James a SOS message.
"Lily? Athena? What are you doing here?" Came a familiar voice and Athena breathed a sigh of relief. James Potter was standing in front of her.
"Potter?" Lily asked in confusion. "What are you doing here? Literally."
"We're going hiking." James said proudly, giving a small wink at Athena. "Aren't we Sirius?"
Sirius looked pointedly away.
James rolled his eyes and said, "We're going hiking? Aren't we Your Handsomeness Sirius?"
Sirius nodded. "We sure are Servant Boy."
Lily and Athena looked at James in amusement. "Why did you call him, 'Your Handsomeness Sirius?"
Sirius' dark blue eyes twinkled as he opened his mouth to say something but Athena cut him off.
"I wouldn't say anything if I were you, Black. If you catch my drift." Athena gave a small nod to Lily.
Sirius glared at Athena who gave a cheeky grin.
Lily shook her head and James, noticing it said, "Their too much alike, aren't they?"
Lily widened her emerald green eyes and nodded slowly.
"We are not!" Sirius and Athena shouted.
"As I said," James said, "their too much alike."
The four soon lapsed into silence until Athena asked loudly, "So, what mountain are you guys hiking on?"
"Mount Olympus." James said, looking directly at Lily.
Lily's eyes widened even more as she slowly shook her head. "Are you serious?"
"No," Sirius grinned. He loved it when people said this. "I'm Sirius."
Exasperated groans came from the trio and Athena pelted stones at him.
"As I said at the airport," James glared at Sirius. "That's getting old. It was funny back in first and second year, but every year after that it's just plain annoying."
Sirius grinned. "That is exactly why I do it."
Beep!
The four turned their heads to see a taxi standing right next to them.
The driver started shouting at them in Greek and the three English turned to Athena.
"He's saying, 'Do we want a ride or not? Cause he's not going to sit their all day, listening to us talk."
"It doesn't really matter now, does it?" Sirius said. "He can't understand what we're saying."
"You—boy! I understand all you say!" The driver shouted, insulted.
"I beg to differ." Lily laughed.
After an impromptu chat with the cab driver, Athena motioned for the three to follow into the cab.
Lily went in first to the back and Sirius was about to go next when James shoved him out of the way so he could sit by Lily.
Grumbling, Sirius took the end seat.
Athena went to the front seat and said, "To vouno." (Mountain).
The taxi driver said something else and Athena nodded. "Nea. Olembaki." (Yes, Olympus).
The driver gave a brisk nod and started the cab. With a glare at Sirius, he started up.
"Why did he just glare at me?" Sirius asked in wonderment.
"Cause," Athena said from the front seat. "You insulted him by saying he couldn't understand English."
"Greeks hold long grudges." Sirius muttered. (A/N: Very true! I've been holding a grudge against some kid for 4 years!)
The cab driver and Athena glared at Sirius, who shrank back.
"I guess I need to keep my mouth shut." Sirius muttered.
"You think?" James said.
Ten minutes into the car ride, everybody was silent—even Sirius, which was saying something because Sirius never shut up.
Lily, however, was watching James out of the corner of her eye, something she would usually never do.
Their was just something about James that made Lily want to strangle him. However, Lily could never figure out what that was.
A second later, James rumpled his hair.
Oh, yes. That's what Lily hated.
"Would you stop doing that?" Lily snapped.
"What?" James was confused. He didn't do anything to Lily this time.
"Stop messing up your hair." Lily said. "It's annoying."
"How is it annoying?"
"I don't feel like having your dandruff fall on my shoulder."
James glared. "I don't!"
"And also, I hate that I-just-got-off-my-broom look. It makes you look stupid, not cute."
James looked hurt. "But all the other girls think it's cute."
"Yeah, but I'm not one of them."
"Hem hem." Athena glared.
"Okay, me and Athena aren't like the other girls." Lily switched her sentence quickly.
"Lily, Athena, James, please shut up." Sirius groaned. "I'm carsick."
Nobody said another word for the entire trip.
"Is this it?" James asked in shock, craning his neck to see the extremely large mountain.
"Yup." Athena said, happily, paying the cab driver and exiting the car. "Mount Olympus."
"Can we go to the top?" Sirius asked hopefully, his carsickness gone.
"Duh, of course we are!" Athena exclaimed.
"Good! Then, let's go find some hot Greek god women." Sirius shouted.
Athena and Lily gave a long look at Sirius.
"What? You mean there's not any hot Greek god women?"
Lily turned to Athena. "Does he mean goddesses?"
"That's what I'm guessing."
Sirius looked upward, cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted, "HEY! HOT GREEK GODDESSES! THE SEX GOD IS COMING!"
Lily and Athena started snickering loudly, which didn't go unnoticed by Sirius.
"What?" He demanded. "Why are you two laughing? Is it about the hot Greek god women? Don't worry; they should have somebody for Lily. Now for Athena, I'm not sure."
Athena was laughing to hard to care for what Sirius just said.
"Black!" Lily cried. "There's no such thing as goddesses."
"There's not?" Sirius looked crestfallen.
"Nope!" Athena wiped the tears of mirth from her eyes. "The ancient Greeks used to believe in that. Modern Greeks don't except for three percent of them."
Sirius, looking dejected, sat on the ground. "Great. Only reason I came on this hike was for the hot Greek god women."
Lily laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry Black! You'll love this hike anyway."
Sirius, looking thoughtful, stood up and proclaimed, "You're right Lily! I mean, there are hundreds of Greek women just waiting for me! Some hot Greek god women are just missing out!"
"Did I miss something?" Lily asked in confusion.
As the four headed up towards the mountain (with Athena in the lead) they found that the road split into two.
"Hmmm," Athena said, pausing to look at the trail. "Looks like we'll have to split up."
James, who had been very bored, suddenly perked up. Maybe this could be the chance to show Lily how awesome he was!
"Good idea!" He shouted.
Athena nodded. "Alright. Now, normally, I would pair Black and James together but since they don't know the land, I won't even think about it. So, James you go with Lily and I'll go with—" Athena stopped, her eyes widened with horror as she realized what she had just said. "I change my mind." She said hurriedly. "Let's just all go together."
"I don't think so, Athena." James gave a glare in her direction. "It would be a lot better if we split up."
"But I don't want to be with—oh fine." Athena finally caught on to what James was hinting.
"Fine, have it your way! Lily and James go to the right. The idiot and I will go to the left."
Lily groaned. She had to be with Potter? Even if they were 'friends' this was inexcusable.
"Where are we supposed to meet up?" Lily asked.
Athena jerked a thumb. "All the way to the top."
"Won't we get lost?"
Athena shook her head. "No. All the trails head right up, so we should be at the way top in about two to three hours max. Any questions?"
"Yeah," Sirius said, "I do. Why do I have to be with you?"
"Because," Athena said through gritted teeth. "It's best this way."
"I still don't get—OH!" Sirius' eyes went wide. "Oh, now I get it!"
"About time." Athena muttered, walking down the left path. "Come on Black."
Sirius made a face at Athena's retreating back and glared at James. "You'll pay for this!" He whispered before running after Athena.
James chuckled. "Typical Sirius."
Lily laughed awkwardly and rubbed her bare forearm nervously.
"Right," James said, "Athena said we're taking the right path. So, let's go!"
Lily had no choice but to follow so she started to walk.
The walk was very uncomfortable, as James and Lily weren't speaking to each other.
Finally, James got sick of it and burst, "Okay! I get it, I get it! You don't want to be with me."
"Of course." Lily muttered, ducking under a branch. "But, I would shudder to think of what would happen if you and Black were together."
"Why don't you like me?" James asked in a hurt voice.
Lily sighed and took her time before answering. "Because, you're conceited, rude, arrogant, egotistical, bigheaded, think you're the god at Hogwarts, prank people for unsuspecting reasons and when you mess up your hair."
James' eyes went wide. "Wow. That's a lot of reasons to hate me."
"I don't hate you, Potter." Lily said. "And I don't like you."
"So, we're in-between?"
Lily nodded. "As mutual friends."
James nodded, knowing that if that's what Lily wanted—then so be it.
There was another awkward silence as they widened up the path until James said, "Look, I hate it when it's too quiet. Can't we just talk or do something?"
"Now I know why you make such a racket when it's quiet in class," Lily smiled. "It's cause you hate quiet."
James nodded. "Yup."
"So, you want to talk, let's talk." Lily said.
"Really?" James was ecstatic. He was going to have a civil conversation with Lily Evans!
"Really."
"Good!"
"Okay then. Um," Lily squinted, trying to think of something to say. "Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"Nope." James said. "I'm an only."
Lily groaned. "Lucky."
"What about you?" James inquired. "Only?"
"I wish! I have a pain-in-the-arse eighteen year old sister named Petunia."
"What's wrong with her?" James asked, hearing the bitterness in Lily's voice.
"Oh, it's just—well, ever since I found out I was a witch, Petunia's always been well—jealous. According to her, I got everything better—looks, popularity, smartness, kindness, and I was Mum and Dad's favorite child, if you asked Petunia."
"So, she doesn't like you?"
Lily chuckled. "That's an understatement. She hates me."
"Hate you?" James was shocked. How could anybody hate sweet Lily Evans?
Lily nodded. "Yes, Potter. Hates me."
James figured that the subject of Petunia was a sore one so he quickly changed the subject. "So, um, what's your favorite color?"
"Green."
"Blech. Green's too Slytherin for my taste. I like red and gold."
"Gryffindor colors?" Lily asked, smiling.
"Of course," James said arrogantly. "My entire family's been in Gryffindor for the last one hundred years!"
"Wouldn't be surprised," Lily muttered.
An awkward silence fell again as they twisted corners and started walking higher and higher.
It was getting hotter and hotter as they kept walking up and Lily took her hair tie and put her hair into a sloppy bun and thanked herself for wearing a white and blue racer back tank top and her old soccer shorts.
"Remind me to murder Athena." James panted as they turned another corner. "When we meet them at the top."
"Why Athena?" Lily asked curiously. "It's not like she asked you to come here."
James' heartbeat raced quickly. Lily was too smart for her own good!
"Because me and Sirius originally planned just to hike for fifteen minutes but then Athena came in and said we had to hike to the top and you know how Athena is. Bossy Greeks."
Lily smiled. "Yup, I know that."
On the other side of Mount Olympus, Athena and Sirius were not fairing well.
Athena was walking at an incredibly quick speed to get away from Sirius while Sirius was walking fast just to keep up with Athena.
"Damn you Athena!" He swore, as a branch came smacking into his forehead. "Can't you slow down?"
"The faster we walk," Athena said, stepping over a rock, "the faster we get to the top."
"This is just plain old ridicule—OY!"
Sirius tripped over a stone and fell flat on his face.
Athena howled with laughter, seeing the mighty Sirius Black on his face.
"Tee hee." Sirius said sourly. "Stop laughing and help me up!"
Athena stopped laughing. "Why should I?"
Sirius frowned angrily. "Cause, I'm too lazy to get up on my own. Satisfied?"
Athena nodded. "Yup."
Sticking out her hand, Athena grasped Sirius' hand and pulled. She felt some warmth pass through their clasped hands and she let go immediately.
"Ouch woman!" Sirius stumbled. "What was that for?" He rubbed his arm as he felt a spark of electricity.
"Whoops!" Athena said carelessly, turning around so her long wavy dark brown hair spun around. "Guess I let go too soon. My bad, Black."
Sirius grit his teeth in anger as he swallowed down the curses that were ready to fly from his mouth.
James better appreciate this. Sirius thought, glaring at Athena. He owes me big time.
"We're almost there!" Lily called, scanning the top. "I can see the top!"
"Good!" James heaved. "I hate hiking and I hate this. How does Athena even like this?"
"Oh, she doesn't." Lily laughed. "She always wants to try something knew, so hiking was her main priority."
"Stubborn Greek."
"That's exactly what I tell her."
We actually have something in common. Lily thought in amazement. Funnily enough, that was the same thought running through James' mind.
The two stared at each other quickly before James, reluctantly tore his gaze away.
"Guess we should get to the top before the two idiots do." He said gruffly.
Lily nodded silently, and started walking again.
Why were you acting that way? Lily scolded herself. You don't stare at James POTTER, let alone talk to him!
James, however, was smiling from behind Lily. He was getting closer and closer.
Yet, he hoped he had enough time left.
"We're off to see the wizard! The wonderful Wizard of Oz!"
Athena scowled and clamped her hands over her ears. "Do you have to sing that stupid song?"
Sirius nodded, loving every moment he could annoy Athena, "Yes sir."
"It's yes, ma'am." Athena hissed. "I'm not a man."
Really? Sirius thought. I never would have known the difference.
He didn't dare say it aloud cause it would mean the deal would be off for James and Athena and Sirius didn't feel like being massacred by an angry James.
Ignoring the comment, Sirius steadied his balance and said, "How long do you think it will be before James finally wins over Lily?"
Athena glanced back at Sirius. "Seriously?"
Sirius grinned. "No, I'm—"
"You say that stupid pun and I'll throw you off this mountain."
"Okay, okay! Geez—no need to get violent!"
Athena rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I think that it'll take til the end of summer until James wins over Lils. She's one tough cookie."
"Obviously."
"What about you, Black?'
"Three weeks." Sirius said confidently.
"Three weeks? Why so short?"
"Because he's James Potter. James always gets the girls he wants. And trust me, their probably snogging right now."
Athena snorted. "Give me a break."
Sirius shrugged. "You never know."
The two continued walking until inspiration dawned on Athena. Stopping suddenly, she thrust out her hand.
"Halt!"
"What?" Sirius whined. He hated stopping for things.
Athena turned to face him, her dark eyes twinkling mischievously. "I think a little wager is in for us, Sirius Black."
Sirius' face brightened. "You sparked my attention. Go on."
Athena rubbed her hands gleefully. "How about, the first person who guesses closest the day Lily and James finally hook up gets fifty Galleons."
Sirius didn't even have to think about this one. "You're on."
Athena gave a wicked smile and started walking again. "Get ready to pay me fifty Galleons, Black!" She called. "You're going to loose."
"Sirius Black never looses at bets!" Sirius shouted. "Because Sirius Black gets whatever he wants!"
All Athena did was cackle.
"How much longer?" James groaned.
Lily looked up from where she was climbing. "Not very far." She called. "About fifteen more steps."
"That's still a lot."
"You're such a baby," Lily teased. "Imagine, masculine, tough, Quidditch captain James Potter whining about something as simple as fifteen steps!"
James ignored that comment but brightened when he heard these words replay in his head.
"Imagine, masculine, tough Quidditch captain James Potter!"
"Do you really think I'm masculine?" James asked eagerly.
Luckily, he never saw Lily's face flush.
"Of course not!" Lily yelled, slightly peeved. "Honestly, you're more girl than Tara Jennings is!"
James' smile quickly turned into a scowl. Tara Jennings was the girliest girl in all of Hogwarts. She was also the president of the James Potter Fan Club.
"Thanks a lot," James said sarcastically. "Just being told I'm more girl than Jennings makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside."
Lily laughed. "See? I told you that you were more girl than guy!"
James muttered some well-chosen words as they neared the top.
"Yay!" Lily shouted happily. "We're here!"
"Huh?" James asked stupidly. The Tara Jennings comment was still hurting.
"At the top, stupid!"
"Oh," James could have smacked himself. "I knew that."
He hoisted himself up and stood next to Lily at the top of the mountain, taking in the view.
"Wow."
It was beautiful, just seeing all the scenery of Greece from a high elevation. It looked straight from a painting he saw at home!
The ocean sparkled and was bright blue and they could see hundreds of white buildings next to each other. Lily assumed that they were houses next to the beach.
"It's beautiful." Lily whispered.
"Yeah," James said, "It sure is."
Yet, he wasn't looking at the scenery when he said that. He was looking at the girl next to him.
WOOT! The hardest chapter I had to write right now is done! That means I'm half way done with this story! Boo!
This chapter was fun (and hard) to write at the exact same time cause I didn't know how to transform a hike up Mount Olympus into a fluffy-ish conversation. Oh well. It's the best I can do.
Well, American Idol is about to start right now and you bet I'm going to watch it!
Until next time, my faithful readers.
Greekchic.
P.S. out of curiosity, how many of you think that Sirius and Athena will get together? Cause, I've been getting a lot of private messages asking if it's true or not.
Greekchic.