A/N: Woah! Thanks for the reviews, guys! You're awesome. Okay, I promise that this chapter will be longer. Keep reviewing!
You know, I used to hate how far away the kitchens were from the dormitories. But now, more time to talk with (and enjoy the presence of) James! Yes, I've admitted it--- I like James. I. Like. James. Wow, a few months ago I never would have thought that would be possible. Most people probably still don't think that would be possible.
"So, Lily…" started James, "you seem a lot--- different--- towards me. Than you were last year, I mean."
Gawd! You think! The fact that I have gone an entire day without yelling at you doesn't sway your opinion enough so you don't need to state the obvious? "Yeah, well, people change," I said bluntly. Jeez, James, I like you now. Accept it and move on.
Obviously, James couldn't go this long without being a bit of a prick. "My charming good-looks finally get to you?" he said, wiggling his eyebrows and squeezing my hand.
Same, conceited, old Potter. Ah well, at least he's cute. And I hear he's tutoring first years. How noble! But, as Andra said, I couldn't let him know that. Right? Remembering back to all those tips she gave me in 4th year is tiring. I guess I should just wing it. And I should probably start winging it now, since its been about a minute since he spoke.
I snorted. "That's it, Potter." He looked slightly disappointed, a bit sad, almost. Dang. I wonder why… oh. Because I called him Potter. Andra's advice is crap. Mental note: Tell Andra her guy advice is crappy.
"So, James," I said, taking a stab at conversation, "how was spending your summer with Sirius?"
"Oh, it was alright. Nice to not have to spend the summer alone with your parents, you know?"
"Yeah, really," I said, scowling as I thought of my sister Petunia. "You come from a pureblood family, right?"
He sighed. "Yep… Not that I'm not proud of my ancestry or whatever, but some of the stereotypes that come with that title bug me sometimes. Especially this summer."
"Oh," I said dully. What is he talking about? Surely, being muggleborn gets more stereotypes?
"Yeah…" he said, apparently lost in thought. "All of my family's been really smart, really good at sports and all that… and… I don't know… this summer some of my relatives came to visit. They were all over me about only getting 10 O.W.L.'s, telling me that because I'm a pureblood I should have done better." He laughed. "It's funny, you'd think that people wouldn't have stereotypes against themselves, but they do."
"That is weird." Way to be smooth, Lily. "I never really knew about the stereotypes about purebloods, coming from the opposite side of the spectrum."
"Yeah, well, it goes both ways doesn't it? Here we are," he said, approaching the painting of the fruit bowl, and promptly tickling the pear. Gosh, he did that nicely. I remember going here with Eliza, horrible tickler, let me tell you. Took her ages to get that pear to---
"Master James! How nice it is to see you! And--- look--- you've brought your lady!" said a house elf from inside the kitchens. I could feel my cheeks burning. Looking up at James, I was surprised to see a rather pinkish tint on his cheeks too.
"Oh, no, she's not mine," he said, and then he muttered something under his breath that I couldn't quite hear. Really, I rather dislike when people do that, I mean, if you're not meaning to tell anyone, then why not just keep it in your head?
"Lily? What would you like to eat? Treacle tart?" James asked me.
Gross! I hate treacle tart. "Sounds lovely," I hear myself saying. What! Honestly, James is nice, but I didn't think I liked him enough to stuff disgusting food down my throat.
"Perfect!" says James. "Lilykins"--- I hope he was referring to the house elf, and that he didn't get some bogus idea that I thought being called Lilykins was cute or something--- "if you could just set us up a table."
"Of course!" squeaked---? --- Lilykins, gesturing to some other house elves, who immediately took up the task of fixing us up a table with not only treacle tart (thank god) but ice cream, pie, biscuits, and loads of other sweets that I swear I didn't see at dinner tonight. Gosh, James sure does well with these house elves; I don't get service half this good when I come here. He must be a regular.
"This way, my lady," said James with a broad grin on his face, offering me his arm. I giggled (I giggled!) and took it.
Seriously, James must be getting special treatment, because I swear I've never seen half this stuff at Hogwarts. Lucky.
An elderly-looking (alright, deformed-looking) house elf came up and put napkins on our laps. How formal!
"Thank you, Pubert," said James, looking like he was holding back a laugh.
Wait--- what? Pubert! Pubert! PUBERT! WHAT THE HECK KIND OF NAME IS THAT! He must be kidding. Another one of James's little jokes. I look over at the house elf, who nodded--- he must be in on this joke too--- and walked away. Pubert!
"Lily? Are you alright?" asks James. That's probably a logical question; I'm sure some of this inner debate I'm having is showing up on my face. But Pubert!
"Pubert?" I ask softly.
"Yes," says James.
"Wow," I say.
"Treacle tart?" asks James.
Ew. "Ew," I say.
James laughs. "I knew you didn't like them." He knew! He--- he knew! Then why the heck did he ask! He's playing tricks on me. Just like Time was earlier today. And Pubert. This must be international-play-tricks-on-Lily Day. Really. Just what I need. Taking a biscuit and buttering it with a bit more vigor than usual, I look back at James, who is staring at me and looking amused.
"What?" I ask defiantly through a mouth fully of biscuit.
"Nothing," he says, obviously keeping back a laugh. "It's just funny watching you have inner debates with yourself." I chuck a biscuit at him.
The rest of our feast went rather smoothly--- excluding the bit where James referred to one of the elves as this strange, exotic name that included a lot of tongue clucking--- and I must say, it's quite nice talking to James--- he's easy to talk to.
Saying goodbye to Lilykins, Pubert, and that other one with a name that I refuse to even attempt to pronounce, James and I set off down the corridor, laughing about one thing or another; I wasn't quite paying attention, it's just nice to hear James's laugh.
"You, know, Lily, you're really easy to talk to," said James.
"You too," I said. "I wish we could talk like this more often, instead of biting each other's heads off."
He stopped, and looked deep into my eyes. Those beautiful, dark, hazel eyes. "Me too," he said in a rather hoarse voice, picking up my hand. But, of course, this wonderful moment couldn't last long, and not two seconds later Mrs. Norris is meowing at our feet. Damn cat.
He looked down at her, very obviously disappointed. "I guess we'd better keep going," James said rather reluctantly.
I sighed. "I suppose." We walked all the way back in silence, though we were still holding hands.
Right outside the portrait hole, James let go of my hand and stopped, so I turned around to face him, my back several inches from the wall. He took a couple steps towards me, and did an odd sort of stumble and fell forward, pinning me against the wall.
"Tripped," he mumbled with a grin, as he lifted his hands up and put them against the wall. There was a sound coming somewhere down the corridor. We both looked, but not seeing anything, James turned back to me, looking into my eyes. Stupid entrancing hazel eyes.
"Listen, Lily," he started in a slow, husky voice. "I had a lot of fun with you tonight." Our faces were barely two inches apart. I had just opened my mouth to speak when---
"Aha! I've finally caught you! Out after hours, eh, Potter!" It was Filch. Spotting me with a look of delight on his face, he added, "And with a girl! I'll get you for this one, Potter!"
James glanced back at me, then, somewhat reluctantly, unpinning me against the wall, he turned to Filch and pointed to his badge. "Not tonight, Filch. I've got as much right to be out as you do."
"And why's that?" said Filch bluntly, the smile sagging off his face.
"Because I'm bloody Head Boy!" said James. "Come on, Lily, let's get to bed."
Filch watched as we entered the portrait hole, hate and disappointment etched onto every feature of his grotesque face. James walked me over to the girl's staircase, and stopped. He was probably hoping to get back what we had going out there--- if only we had gone inside the common room!--- but just then, Remus Lupin, another one of James's friends, comes down, sees us, and mutters something about forgetting his book. Oh well, I suppose people will have to get used to me being on friendly terms with James before we start a relationship or anything.
I sighed. "I suppose we'd better get to bed," I said reluctantly.
"Alright," said James, looking disappointed. "Patrols"--- HA! ---"same time tomorrow, okay?" he added, his eyes glimmering.
"See you then!" I said happily, pecking him on the cheek, before turning and positively sprinting up the stairs to the girls dormitory.
Who knew you could have so much fun patrolling.
