Dreams of Someday

Chapter 15: Really?

When they had returned to the common room that night, Lily had kissed him goodnight, then made her way up the girl's stairs. James watched her go up silently, then sighed deeply and leant against the wall. What a night.

His shoulder no longer hurt, thanks to Lily. He didn't know what spell she had used, but it had certainly worked. It allowed him to be able to think about what had happened that night more clearly, without dull throbbing pain that he usually had to deal with after an escapade.

Lily knew he was an Animagus. He knew that at some point, she would have figured it out, and he knew that it couldn't have happened in a better way. He had been worried that she would be angry at him, as he was breaking more than just school rules; but she wasn't. This surprised him, but he didn't mind. It was definitely a plus that she thought he was amazing, and was a large leap up from what he was expecting her reaction to be.

James made his way up his respective stairs, and walked into his dorm with a satisfied smile on his face. Sirius raised his eyebrow immediately when he saw the look on his best friends face.

'Ok, so you weren't long enough to have had a good shag, so I'm guessing…a good snog?' Sirius asked, still watching his friend and the goofy expression on his face in confusion. James sighed happily, flopping onto his bed and supporting his head with his arms, staring up at the hangings.

'No…well, yes, it did include that, and it was a plus…a big plus-'

'Get on with it my dear love sick boy! If it is not just snogging you're so lovestruck about…then God knows what it could be without you spilling the beans!' Sirius cried. James smiled again, and took a calm breath.

'I told her I was an animagus,' James started. 'And she said I was…amazing.' He finished breathily, as if he might faint once again.

Sirius' jaw dropped open, for a number of different reasons. When James finally realised that Sirius hadn't commented on it, he turned, to still see his friend's mouth open, wide enough for a bird to make a sizeable nest in it.

'Well?' James asked. 'Aren't you going to comment?'

Sirius seemed to snap out of his utter shocked state, and looked at him with wide eyes.

'So, no yelling? No lectures about breaking the law? About how dangerous it was to take Mooney out?' Sirius asked sceptically. James shook his head and grinned. Sirius found he needed to sit down hard on the bed from shock. After a few moments, he looked back over to James.

'Wow, that's really out of character for Lily, especially since she's a red head, and there always the ones with the bad tempers.'

James didn't reply. He was too busy thinking about Lily.

When Lily got back up to her dorm, her friends looked up eagerly at her. She sighed.

'Where were you, young miss?' Anna asked.

'No where, mother.' Lily said innocently. Anna shook her head, and Ellen grinned.

'It might be that young miss Lily, was doing something far more than snogging in her "Quality time" with James this evening.' She said roguishly.

'What? No!' Lily cried.

'Well, what were you doing then?' Alice asked critically. Lily thought desperately about what to say. She couldn't tell the truth, as this wul,d give away too many secrets she had been told to keep. She decided the only thing to do, was lie.

'James and I were just spending some quality time together. That's all.'

'Right, so were you spending this quality time in an empty classroom, or a broom closet?' Ellen asked. Lily hit her hard, smiling slightly. At least they didn't expect the truth.

'Well we all know what that smile means!' Alice said. 'So, was he good?' She asked eagerly. Lily hit her in the arm as well.

'I am telling you, I did not have sex with James!' She cried.

'Sure you didn't,' Anna said sarcastically. 'And I slept with a giant hippo!'

'Who's sleeping with who now?' Came a voice from the doorway. They turned to find Sirius standing there, curious grin on his face. Lily sighed.

'Know one's sleeping with anyone,' she snapped. 'What do you want?'

'Ouch,' Sirius said in mock hurt, who then recovered quickly, with a rebound rate of about a second. 'Anyway, I have come to whisk Ellen away.' He finished grabbing Ellen up in his arms and holding her bridal style. Ellen squealed as he did, but didn't tell him to put her down.

'And where are you taking her?' Lily demanded, sure that the destination was an empty classroom.

'None of your business,' Sirius said, turning towards the door. 'Oh and Anna,' He said, turning his head. 'I don't think Remus will be very happy that you're two timing him with a hippo. I mean, surely he's not that bad!'

The two of them then left, off to who knew where. Ellen came back around 2 in the morning, looking very ruffled and untidy.

The next morning Lily woke up long after her friends who had already left the room. She thanked God it was a Saturday, otherwise she would have missed classes. Lily got out of bed and soon after getting ready, left for the Great Hall for any breakfast that may be left on the golden plates.

She walked along the corridors lazily, still feeling half asleep. She hated waking up late. You still felt tired when everyone was well past that stage.

It only occurred to her slightly as she noticed the corridor was empty. This was the last thought she had before she felt someone grab her and haul her into a classroom. Her heart was racing from fear, even before she saw who her attacker was. She was pretty sure she knew who. Only one group would throw her into a classroom with such force.

'You didn't do what we asked, Evans.' A voice that she knew all too well spat. She looked around, seeing the familiar faces of the girls who had oppressed her. Lysandra had been the one to speak. Lily knew she must look frightened, and realised that it would not help her predicament. She straightened up and raised her head, attempting to feel confident, and forget her beating heart.

'I am Head Girl, and you are not allowed to harass me, otherwise I will deduct points.' She said bravely, not matching how she felt inside. Lysandra analysed her, then smirked.

'You're scared, Evans. As much as you try to hide it behind that title, your scared shitless of us, and it shows.'

'You haven't done what we commanded, Evans.' Another girl said. Lysandra nodded.

'And now you must pay the consequences.' She said, pulling her wand out. Lily was scared now, and didn't bother to hide it. Lysandra smirked as she noticed the change in Lily.

'It doesn't have to be this way,' She said, before moving her wand down on Lily.

'Has anyone seen Lily?' James asked.

'For the hundredth time James, NO!' Sirius cried without looking up from the game of Wizard's chess he was playing with Peter, and was winning by a mile.

'Why are you so concerned, James? She probably at the Library or something,' Remus offered. James nodded slightly, though he did not believe it himself. He was worried. The others weren't because he hadn't told them about the threats his girlfriend was getting. He knew that there was a large chance she was ok, and was at the Library, but it wasn't the dominant thought in his mind. His heart was racing, and all he could do was pace, wondering what he should do. Should he go searching? Should he tell someone? No. He knew that there would be no point if she was perfectly fine, and he would most likely get in trouble. In the end he decided to go to the common room, as pacing wasn't doing him any good.

James walked through the corridors at a quick pace, well as quick as he thought he should be going without drawing attention to himself. He was almost there when he heard noises coming from an empty classroom. At first, he dismissed it as a couple having some quality time together, but then he realised that muffled cries were coming from there, and desperate pleas for someone to stop. James rushed over to the door and without thinking, opened it.

The scene inside took a moment to digest, but when he did, he was filled with rage. There was a group of girls, all of which James knew, surrounding someone on the floor. This was the person who was pleading. He then noticed Lysandra, the girl who he knew was obsessive over him and Sirius. She was holding her wand to the girl in the middle, but when he had burst in, they had all looked up. The only sound left in the room was the girl sobbing.

'What's going on here?' He asked angrily. The girls looked stunned like deers in the headlights, but remained silent.

'I am Head Boy, and I demand to know what you are doing!' He said, moving towards them. Slowly, those girls who looked terrified, moved away, to reveal the girl cowering in the centre. James recognised her instantly.

'Lily!' He cried, running towards her and pushing the girls out of the way. She sobbed louder as he reached her. James then realised something was different. Her long auburn curls were now cut close to her head messily, with singed black tips on every strand. James touched it, shaking with rage.

'Don't look at me, James.' Lily said softly, not keeping eye contact with him and preferring to look at the floor. James got up shakily, and glared at the girls, some of which had been attempting to leave.

'Did you do this to her?' He asked angrily. Many of the girls looked terrified, and it was Lysandra who took a step forward and smirked.

'Of course we did, Jamsie,' She said, slinking closer to him and touching his arm slightly. 'What do you think of her now?'

James lost it then. He grabbed Lysandra by the collar and brought her up close to his face.

'I don't think any different of Lily,' He hissed. 'It is you and your friends who I think are disgusting. You make me sick.'

Lysandra looked slightly shocked. This had not been the reaction she had been hoping for.

'Lily is still Lily, no matter what you do to her on the outside, she's still beautiful, and I still love her. There is nothing you can do that will ever change that,' He said to her. 'So I suggest that you stay well away from her, or you'll have me to answer to, and believe me, I will get you expelled.'

Absolute fear began to show in Lysandra's eyes, and she nodded to his terms.

'Meanwhile, 50 points each from your houses, and you will all be reported to Dumbledore for this behaviour,' James said, finally letting go of Lysandra, who stumbled out of his reach. 'Now go!'

The girls ran out of the classroom, falling over each other to get away from James, maybe silently hoping that he would not remember who they were if they got out quick enough. But he remembered. The images of every girl's face were implanted in his rage filled mind.

James looked over at Lily, who was still crying silently. He knelt down in front of her, and lifted her chin. Her teary grin eyes met his and he smiled at her, wiping away the falling ones with his thumbs. She did not smile, but looked down.

'James, I'm so ugly.' She said shamefully. James lifted her chin up again.

'Stop it,' He stated firmly. 'You are as beautiful as before. Don't believe what they wanted you to believe, because it's not the truth. Lily, you have never been more beautiful on the inside, and that's all that ever mattered to me.'

Lily let out a slight sob, then looked up at him.

'Really?' She asked. James nodded.

'Really.' He stated. He leant down and captured her lips, kissing her softly and lovingly. When he pulled away, Lily knew he was telling the truth.

'I love you, Lily Evans.'

A/N: ok sorry about the lateness of the chapter and all! Argh writers block! My greatest enemy! Well I hope you all liked this chapter anyway! Please review, and I will attempt to get the next chapter out much sooner!