Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Here's the review responses:
Lady Knight -Kelani of Masc...: Will do, I hope.
Galateagirl: I'm glad you do!
dragonriderhp:Yeah, LoL, that was a. . .little ironic. I hope you like this chapter, I felt that the story might have been rush a bit.
Petroleumjellydotone: Yes, James is SUCH a hero, yeah? LoL.
-ShIvErInG sMiLe-: Thanks!
MessersSpideyTap: James a little different in all of my stories. In 'An Off Course Bet', he's the exact opposite, basically. He's really, REALLY arrogant. LoL.
Norwegianchick101: Oops, I really haven't updated that quick this time. . .
hoolihoopgrl131: I wonder that too. . .LoL, thanks for reviewing!
Heart of the Phoenix: Thanks!
Mahazzy: Thank you: )
JeJnIfEr88: I hope this next chapter is good. . .
I felt that this chapter was rushed, tell if you think so too, I might redo it. . .
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"So. Are you ready to set your life on the line?. . .Or at least your detention records?"
Lily rolled her eyes, her hands fidgeting nervously,"I have no idea how you talked me into this."
It was the late night of Febuary 22nd. James had talked Lily into setting off some dungbombs near the Slytherin Common Room. . .Well, James, more than likely, talked Lily's leg off until she forgot what she agreeing to. She was risking getting in. . .trouble. Oh, Merlin!
They were half an hour into their heads patrol, just a floor above the dungeons and Slytherin.
"Good." James answered as if she never said anything.
"Wait, maybe we shouldn't tonight. You now, I think the Slytherin's have a club right about now in the their common room. What if they hear us? What if they catch-" She babbled nervously, only to be cut off by James.
"That's kind of the point, Lily. Your risking your spotless record-"
"Well, actually, it's not so "spotless" thanks to you and your bloody friends." Lily recalled, thinking back to 4th year when the Marauders. . .
"What?" James asked in confusion.
Lily shook her head,"Nevermind, it happened before the accident."
"Moving on." James continued in a determined fashion. He pulled out a bag of dungbombs, smartly having a rag to cover his face already.
It seemed, even though James lost his memory, Sirius had brought him up to date with all the prank stuff.
Lily's face scrunched up and she covered her face,"Ugh. That's disgusting. Do you have another one of those?" She asked pointing at James' rag.
"Nope, sorry. You should have brought one along." James said, examining the bombs in interest.
Lily sighed in annoyance,"I would have if I had been filled in on the plan. The plan that I didn't even agree to, by the way."
"Of course, you did." James said, voice muffled through the rag.
"Only because you made me forget what we were actually talking about, making me forget what I was agreeing to."
"What?" James askedin confusion,"I got lost at the "because" part."
Lily shoved him in the shoulder then crossed her arms and walked faster, so she was a bit in front of James.
"You sure are moody. Are you sure we didn't do anything?" James asked warily.
Lily stopped rigidly, turning slightly to him,"What does "anything" imply?"
"Uh, well, you know." James stumbled a bit, rubbing the back off his neck,"Do that. Then, uh, you got. . .-Merlin, I hate talking about this-um, you got. . .pregnant?"
She stared at him,"For the last time, Potter, we have never done anything. And for the last time also, I am not and never have been pregnant. Honestly, where do you get these ridiculous ideas?"
"Well, sorry. I was just swiped in the head by a bludger, forgetting everything." James said.
James had learned if he said that comment, it would make Lily feel guilty-or at least bring her temper down a bit and not murder him.
And just as he predicted, Lily's face softened some and she began to walk again, stomp, actually. Letting her anger out on the floor, it seemed.
"Are you saying I'm fat?" Lily asked a few minutes later.
James rolled his eyes,"No. In fact, your as skinny as a stick-I mean, forget I said that!" He quickly said, realizing his mistake too late.
Lily stopped again,"At least I don't have a head the size of sun!" She began walking, calmly again.
James stood for a while, watching her. He shook his head and continued walking,"Oh, come on. I don't have a big head. . .do I?"
Lily scoffed up ahead,"Well, that depends. Am I as skinny as a stick?"
A look of dawning spread across James' face,"Oh. So that's what this is about. In that case, your the perfect size. So is my head big?"
"You just said that so I'd say your head wasn't big, which it is. Thanks for the compliment, though." Lily said looking behind her with a smirk on her face.
"Oh, real nice, Lily. Thanks." James said sarcastically.
Your welcome. And just to let you know, if we get caught, it's your head."
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"Okay, on the count of three. . .One-"
"Let's just go back, Potter." Lily cut in nervously for the fourth time.
Lily couldn't get into the habit of calling James, James. It seemed Potter was implanted in her brain well. Must be from the gazillon and five times she'd yelled it. . .
The two heads students were stationed just outside the Slytherin Common Room, behind a corner. They were going to throw the dungbombs, then run. Well, if Lily would just let James count down.
"Lily, you've cut off the count down three times already. We're not going back. I've got to get you out of your 'All Studying, no fun' stage. That stage is so boring." James said in a bored way.
"Studying is not boring! It's educational." Lily protested haughtly.
"Whatever, Lily. Count of three-again. One. . ."
Lily opened her mouth.
"Three!"
"What?" Lily exclaimed,"That's not fair! You skipped two-urgh!" She groaned as James threw the dungbomb at the Slytherin entrance, setting it off. It smelled even worse now.
James began backing away, ready to run for it, when he noticed Lily not moving from the corner, instead just standing there, rambling on about how he'd was such a git or prick, one or the other. He sighed and hurrid back over.
"Come on, Lily. Do you want to get caught?"
"-And you are such a git-What?" Lily stopped for second, taking in James' words. Finally, she composed herself,"Ahem, right. Let's get out-"
"Mr. Potter? Ms.Evans? I never-Ms.Evans, I am appalled! You of all people setting off a dungbomb!" Mcgongall's voice interrupted them.
Lily moaned then glared at James,"That's your head, Potter."
"Er. . .sorry?" James put in unhelpfully.
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"I still can't believe you got detention. . .for purposely setting off a dungbomb. . .with James Potter." Emma commented in amusement the next day at the quidditch match. It was Ravenclaw Vs. Gryffindor. And James Potter would be playing for the first time since his accident.
Most everyone (except for the Slytherins) was anxious for him. Was he going to get another bludger to the head? Lose his memory permanantly?
Lily grumbled as they climbed up the Gryffindor stand steps."He tricked me."
"How did he trick you?" Alice asked in confusion.
"Well, he did that talking thing, you know?" Lily asked.
Alice and Emma stared back at her with confused, blank looks.
She sighed in frustation,"Well, anyways, he tricked me into setting off the dungbombs. It wasn't my fault. So now, because of him," Lily said bitterly pointing her heads towards James' figure flying around in the center of the pitch,"I get to spend a lovely two hours dusting portraits on the 4th floor. With him. With James Potter."
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"Party in the Gryffindor Common Room!" Someone yelled over the crowd heading back to Hogwarts an hour later.
The game ended after the Gryffindor Seeker caught the snitch leaving the score as,120-100. A bit close, but James was still trying to get the hang of flying again and one of their other chasers was ill, so they had to replace them with a. . .er, not-so-great chaser.
Luckily, there was not any injuries, unless you count a 4th year Hufflepuff tripping down the stairs of the stands, but that wasn't really quidditch-related. Everyone made it out A-OK. . .except for the 4th year Hufflepuff that tripped, he got a bruise the size of Merlin on his head, but he isn't really important to the story and doesn't even have a name, so moving on.
"Did you see Black? He acted as if he owned the pitch or something. Oh, and Potter! Pfft. He seems to have lost his touch; that bludger must have really got to his head." A nearby group of Ravenclaws jeered loudly, especially when a Gryffindor went by. It seemed they were looking for trouble. It was true that James was still a bit awkward at the game-it was his first-well, not really, anyway-it was his first game and he hadn't trained for it that long. . .
And Sirius. . .well, Sirius did look like he owned the pitch, sort of. . .but that wasn't the point.
The girls were nearby and heard, they scoffed. "What sore losers!"
"And I thought they were smart, those Ravenclaws. They're just a bunch of idiot!" Emma exclaimed angrily, ready to hex.
Lily didn't say anything, since she didn't usually defend Sirius or James, even if they were fellow Gryffindors. But, it seemed winning Gryffindor a game had changed her mind this time.
She marched up to the group of Ravenclaws, Emma and Alice trailing behind her. Lily tapped a rather large boy on the shoulder. He turned, scowling when he saw it was a Gryffindor,"Yeah?"
"I'd just like to tell you that Ravenclaw will be losing 20 points for you and your friends here trying to start trouble. And for the comments that were uncalled for." Lily said, flashing her heads badge, as if daring any of them to stand up against her.
"Wait, now, we weren't causing trouble. Besides, we're entitled to our own opinions." A bold one said.
"That's true, but you were just saying your opinions, you were trying to cause trouble through your opinions. Now, move along before those lost points turn to detentions." Lily said back sternly.
Emma and Alice glared from behind her as the Ravenclaws scowled and stormed off.
Emma patted Lily on the back,"Way to go, Future Professor Mcgongall!"
Lily turned and gave Emma the Look.
"What?" Emma asked.
Alice and Lily laughed as they started back the common room, to the party.
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"Hey, Evans, good party, eh?"
"What?" Lily shouted over the noise and music of the party.
Sirius nodded around, the rest of the Marauders at his side,"I said, good party, huh?"
"What? I will not go snog with you, you git! Are you intoxicated or something?-oh, Merlin! Black, you had better not be intoxicated! I could lose my heads position-"
"I'm not "intoxicated"! I was just say how-" Sirius raised his voice more, leaning in a bit,"NICE THE PARTY IS, YEAH?"
Lily nodded in understanding, "Yeah! The quidditch match was great!" Er, maybe not. . .
Sirius scratched his head and shared a look with his friends. "NO, I SAID, THIS IS A GOOD PARTY, YEAH?"
"Gosh, Black, you don't have to yell! I can hear you just fine! And yeah, it is a nice party, as long as it doesn't get too-"
"-too rowdy or wild, and that no one gets "intoxicated". Yeah, yeah. I know, Evans. It's the same speech over and over again. Have I ever let you down?" Sirius asked.
Lily raised her eyebrows,"What?" She shouted.
"I said-NEVERMIND!" He said after a second, giving up.
Lily nodded her head,"Right!"
James walked up in Sirius' place as he and the other Marauders walked away-towards a table with sweets and butterbeer. Typical.
"Hi, Lily!" He shouted.
Lily's eyes narrowed for a moment at the sight of James before she sighed tiredly. She pointed to her ear,"I can't hear you!"
James nodded in understand and beckoned her to follow him. They ended their short journey of the the edge of the crowd.
"Now, what did you want, Potter?" She asked, crossing her arms.
James raised an eyebrow,"What's with you?"
"You got me in detention!"
"But I also won a Gryffindor a game." He pointed out.
"But that doesn't get rid of my detention."
"I know, but I still won a game."
"I know you did. Good for you." Lily said dullfully.
"What? Not grateful?"
"Oh, no. You did marvelous, Potter."
"It's James and you owe me." James said calmly.
Lily stared at James for a moment,"What? You got me detention-"
"You went on your own accord. I didn't force-" James cut in.
Lily talked over him,"-and I owe you? I think that bludger did more than just damage your memory, Potter."
"I told you it's James and you do owe me. Remember?"
"No, please explain, Potter." Lily said in a false cheerful voice.
James ran a hand through his hair impatiently,"Back at the pitch. That day. Ring any bells?"
"Oh, yeah!-no."
"The first time I learned to ride a broom. . .or actually, I think it was the second. . ." He trailed off.
A look of dawning spread across Lily's face,"Oh, oh. That. . .I didn't really think you meant that, though." She ended unenthusiastically. Lily obviously wasn't looking forwards to whatever she owed James.
"Yeah, that."
"So. . ."
"What?"
Lily sighed in exasperation,"What do I owe you?"
"Oh, that."
"Yeah, that, Potter."
"It's James and a kiss."
"Your names 'James and a kiss'? Wow. I always thought it was just James. . ."
"Ha ha ha, Lily."
". . ." Lily didn't say anything. Actually, she was furtively edging away from James. She was shocked.
A kiss?
Her enemy since the tender age of 11 was asking for a kiss?
She reasoned maybe it was because he lost his memory. That's all. Yeah. He just didn't remember what enemies they were before the accident.
Oh, Merlin, was she flustered? Probably because it was hot in there. Yeah.
"Is it just me or is someone edging away furtively?" James asked in a knowing voice, coming closer.
Lily stopped moving,"Wow, "furtively"? That's a big word, Potter. Don't hurt yourself." She said, ignoring his question.
James stepped forward again, against Lily now. "I think someone is. And it's James."
"Okay, Potter, your way past my personal bubble here." Lily said, putting a hand in front of her, trying to push James back; it didn't work well. "My personal bubble is at least 10 feet apart."
"If we're 10 feet apart, how can we kiss? You owe me, Lily." James pointed out, taking her hand that was trying to push him away with his hand, rubbing it like he did at the palm reading session.
She snatched her hand away from him, feeling the heat on her face. She thought that some windows needed opening. "Why don't I just blow you a kiss or something?" Lily asked. "The personal bubble thing is a big issue with me, Potter."
"It's James." He murmured, lips inches from Lily's, taking her hand again.
Just as their lips were about to touch and Lily told herself to run for it, a voice called over the crowd,"James! Oy, James! JAMES!"
James jerked away, letting go of Lily's hand and turning his back from her, searching for the caller. It was Sirius.
"Yeah?" He asked.
Sirius elbowed a 4th year out of the way,"Madame Pomfrey just sent an owl here. It's for you." He said, handing a scroll to James anxiously. Behind him was Remus, Peter still trying to get through the crowd.
It seemed as though the noise of the party disappeared as James slowly unrolled the scroll.
"What does it say, James?" Remus asked.
Lily, even though she told herself she needed to run now, get away, was also curious. She leaned around James, trying to read the letter. No luck.
James abruptly rolled the parchment and looked up at his friends. He glanced at Lily saying,"The potions ready."
". . ."
"Great! Right now?" Sirius said grinning.
"Yeah."
Lily wasn't smiling. Even though this James wasn't the best in the world, she had to admit that he was better than the old James she knew. He was actually fun to be around, sometimes. When he wasn't being a prick, she supposed.
"This is wonderful, James. I knew everything would work out alright." Remus said, a smile on his face too.
Sirius "pfft"ed,"You said the first night that you had no idea what would happen to James."
"That was you, Sirius!" Remus said, wacking him over the head.
"Oh, uh, right." Sirius said sheepishly, rubbing his head.
James sighed as Peter finally made it,"I guess I'll go then. . ."
"Go where?" Peter asked in confusion.
"To Doxieland, Peter." Sirius joked.
"He's going to the Hospital Wing. Madame Pomfrey has the potion ready." Remus explained.
The group stood, staring at James pointedly as if say,'Well, are you going or not?'.
"Uh, well, see you guys later. . ." James said awkwardly, he waved.
They stood still.
"I guess you can go, since I'm leaving. . ." He said, waving again.
Lily shrugged,"Okay, bye, Potter. I had an. . .interesting time. . .with you. This other side of you, I suppose." She began to walk off, James grabbed her arm.
"You still owe me, though."
"Oh, come on, Potter."
"It's James; Lily, your a fair person, I know. You would't want to break the rules, would you?" James asked with raised eyebrows.
Lily sighed,"Potter, your going to get your memory back. I don't want to kiss you. Your my enemy."
"Are you sure?" James asked.
"Yes, I am perfectly sure."
"Wait, wait. Hold up. You want to kiss James?" Sirius asked in surprise.
"No, I don't-" Lily replied.
"-Sure she does." James also reply.
"No, I don't." She repeated, giving James a look.
"She really does." James said, mock whispering to the Marauders.
"Potter-"
"It's James." James said, planting his lips on Lily's in front of everyone.
Lily stood for a moment in shock, her eyes wide. She brought her hands behind his neck for some unknown reason. What was she doing? Kissing James Potter, obviously. But why? Because she owed him. . .obviously?
James pulled back and grinned at her, face still close.
He looked so arrogant.
And prickish.
And cocky.
And weird.
And idiotic.
And crazy.
And. . .nice?
Boy, when was someone going to open the windows?
Lily pulled away and cleared her throat, thoroughly enbarrassed by the fact that James' friends just stood gaping at them like idiots.
Except Remus, of course. Remus could never be an idiot. He was too smart. Black also had a smart brain, he just never used it.
"Well. . .well." Lily said, not sure what to say."Well, I guess I don't owe you anymore."
James' grin came down a bit, as if expecting her to say something else, some different.
Lily, for a moment, thought she would have too. She just didn't know what else she would have said. . .
Merlin, that was some kiss!
I've never like owing anyone until now!
She'd never say that. No. No.
"Er, did I miss something here?" Peter asked uncertainly.
"Don't worry, your not the only one." Sirius whispered loudly to Peter. Peter nodded his head in solemn understanding. Remus just stood looking between Lily and James with curious expression.
"Well, I guess it's time to go. . .unless you want to give someone else a last minute unexpected kiss, James?" Sirius teased. He stepped back,"Leave me out, though, will you?"
James gave him a sarcastic smile, starting towards the portrait hole. They followed.
He turned towards Lily just before he left,"Bye, Lily. See you soon, yeah?"
She shrugged,"Yes, I suppose. Bye. . ."
James gave Lily a smile and blew a kiss to her.
She waved in return,". . .James."
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(Later that day, after the party)
Lily sighed and picked up a pair of shoes."Honestly, who leaves shoes lying around in the common room?"
She was cleaning up the party along with a few other prefects.
She sniffed them,"Ugh, they smell atrocious!" Lily turned to a 5th year, Megan. "Can you open a window? Please?"
"Sure." Megan said, starting towards a window, only to find it open. She started to another, only to find, you guessed right, it open too. "They're all open, Lily. Sorry. Maybe we can find a spell or something that freshens the air."
Lily dropped two empty butterbeer bottles on accident at the statement,"What?"
"They're open." Megan repeated slowly.
". . .Open? As in, not open? She asked.
"Yeah. . .are you okay?" The prefect asked uncertainly.
"Oh, yes. I'm fine. Now, your positive they're open?" Lily asked anxiously glance around at the all the windows.
"Uh, yeah. I'm pretty sure-"
"Are you pretty sure or positively sure?"
"Positively." Megan said, quickly turning back to her stick-your-hand-in-the-couch-cushions-for-any-trash-or-trash-related-objects job.
Lily stood for a while, staring in space.
If the windows were open, that meant they were open all along. Even during the party. . .when she was all hot. That means it wasn't because the room was just stuffy. . .if she wasn't flustered because of that, then why was she flustered?
Lily absentmindly banished the bottles, picking up a jacket after,"Honestly,it's as if I'm the mother of Gryffindor or something." She muttered to herself.
She thought about James right now. He was getting his memory back. He'd be his old self again and everything would be the same. Was she sad? No. . .maybe. . .yes. . .she supposed. . .James had been different after the accident, she knew that. Anyone could tell that.
They had almost been friends-
The portrait hole opened and closed, bringing voices with it.
Lily dropped the jacket, startled. She turned to see James Potter himself with his friends behind him.
He had happy expression right now, laughing as Remus and Sirius joked at something.
She watched him as they passed her.
For a moment, James looked at her with a strange expression, a faint grin still on his face before it turned to a scowl,"What are you looking at, Evans?" His voice was different. Yet, the same. It was the same he used before he lost his memory. It was cold.
James Potter was back.
"I see the old prickish you is back, Potter." She said just as coldly, though her heart really wasn't in it.
"Better watch yourself." He spoke, stepping forward a bit, reminding Lily of their kiss at the party. He shot a glare at her, then continued walking up to their dorm, she supposed.
Lily couldn't figure it out. Wasn't she suppose to be happy? He was back. James Potter would stopp bugging her like he had the past few months. He'd stop trying to be friendly.
Why wasn't she happy about this?
Why was her eyes blurry?
Why did she feel tears pricking at the corners of her eyes?
Why was all of this happening because of James' sharp words?
She'd heard them for so long, but they'd never hurt her before. So. . .why now?
Why?
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Poor Lily, she's so confused!
Just Another Harry Potter Fan