Lily had been limited to hanging around with Remus and Peter for the rest of the week after classes. James had booked the Quidditch pitch almost every night to practice for the game against Slytherin on the weekend. It was Thursday night and Lily was sitting with them in the common room playing Exploding Snap out of boredom.
Lily kept stealing glances at Alice, Ella, Marlene and Adaline. They were laughing loudly and sharing sweets and Lily wished she could still be a part of that.
"Do you think I should go and talk to them?" Lily asked Peter and Remus nervously.
"It's up to you, Lily," Remus said unhelpfully.
Peter shrugged, "If you want to you should."
"You know, you two really suck at giving advice."
"Well, look at it this way," Peter said. "If you go up either two things are going to happen. Either, they'll let you talk and you'll forgive them or they'll still hate you and you'll be even more unhappy."
"I think I preferred the sucky advice. But now I can tell them the truth. James doesn't mind and it doesn't effect anything now. The accusations have been dropped and do you think they'll understand?"
"I hope they do, Lily, I do but I really don't know," Remus said and Lily sighed frustrated. She wanted to make up with her friends, needed to if she wanted to stop sleeping on transfigured couch cushions on the floor of the boys dormitory.
They played another couple of hands of Exploding Snap until Lily snapped and stalked over to the group but her anger died out half way there. The girls saw her and their smiles faded, giving Lily a hard stare and Lily breathed in sharply but kept walking over to them. She was going to stick to her choice.
"Hi," she said awkwardly.
"What do you want?" Ella asked coldly.
"I want to talk to you. It's been weeks."
Adaline and Alice glanced at each other as Marlene said, "So?"
"I know you're angry with me but I can explain everything now."
"Explain? You mean lie to us again?" Ella spat.
"What do you mean?" Lily asked confused.
"'There's nothing going on between Potter and I'," Alice imitated, "Next minute we see him giving you piggy back rides in the corridors and exchanging kisses and you're sleeping in their dorm!"
Anger bubbled in Lily. "I'm sleeping in their dorm because you kicked me out of my dorm! I didn't tell you about James because at the time there was nothing happening between James and I! Don't you dare call me the liar and a bad friend when you guys have just completely shut me out!" Lily shouted trying to keep her eyes clear, "You've no idea what I've been dealing with these last couple of weeks and you only want to talk to me when it suits you! I'm trying to fix things! I let you, simmer down and I'm trying to explain why I had been distant back then but obviously you don't give a rats arse!"
Her eyes betrayed her. A tear fell.
"Lily," Adaline said reproachfully.
"No, just leave me alone. Did you ever consider the reason that I didn't tell you lot something was because I couldn't? That I wasn't allowed to tell you? Did you ever consider that that was why I kept my distance, because it was too hard to be around you lot when I couldn't tell you what was happening? You are rotten friends, the lot of you!"
"Lily!" Adaline exclaimed again as Lily turned her back and started walking away from them.
"Leave me alone!" Lily shouted and she fled the common room. She heard Peter and Remus call after her but she ran. She didn't even know where she was running to until she ended up on the Astronomy Tower.
—
Adaline frowned, gathering her things as well.
"Why do you guys keep having to push her away?" she asked angrily. They'd all done shitty things in the past and just because Lily had kept something from them, they were ready to crucify her. "Her story matches up with Black and you can't tell me that Potter's exoneration had nothing to do with Lily."
"Della, come on," Ella rolled her eyes. "She completely dumped us for them," her head nodded sharply to Peter and Remus, "And she even had the gal to lie about it and to get Black to lie to us."
"That's not Lily," Adaline shook her head. "And she's right, we are rotten friends." She sung her bag onto her shoulder.
"Where are you going?" Alice asked, standing up after her.
"To find Lily."
Adaline climbed out of the portrait hole and looked around. There was no way to tell which way she'd gone, so she started down thinking that maybe she'd gone to the library but the thing with such a large castle is that there were endless places she could be. An empty classroom, a bathroom, a broom closet, a stairwell, she could even be on the grounds somewhere. The options were endless but she searched.
She searched every girls' bathroom, she checked the library, she checked every door she passed and still there had been no sign of Lily. It was their fault that Lily was upset. Lily had tried to be honest with them best she could but the other's hadn't even wanted to hear her out now because they were jealous that they weren't the first to hear about James and Lily getting together. They had to hear about it from Polly Piggens of all people.
"Bennett?" Potter asked, Sirius next to him. "Curfews over, what are you doing?"
"Looking for Lily," she sighed.
"What do you mean?" James asked, worry etching every curve of his face.
Adaline quickly explained the argument that had happened in the common room almost an hour previously and James was off the moment she finished pulling a map out of his robes.
"He worries about her," Sirius sighed as a way of explanation. "They still haven't caught the real attacker."
"How's he going to find her?" Adaline asked staring down the corridor James had just disappeared from.
"He will," Sirius assured her. "Come on. We should get back."
Adaline nodded and they started walking towards the Gryffindor Tower. A silent walk with Sirius Black was perhaps the most awkward thing that Adaline had ever endured. She'd never actually witnessed Black staying so quiet for so long. He was always the loudest one in the room.
Footsteps. Black pulled her into an empty alcove where they could blend into the shadows easily, his hand over her mouth to stop her from speaking. A group of adult wizards hurried down the corridor.
"We are so late, Fab," Emmeline Vance announced. "I knew we should have just apparated."
"Where's the fun in that?" Gideon Prewett replied.
"Being on time!" she chastised.
Adaline frowned. What could Alice's sister possibly be doing in the castle this late at night?
Their voices floated farther away and Black released Adaline. "Come on, let's go before we get caught," he whispered.
—
They'd cleaned away the Red Lake, it was all scrubbed spotless by Filch no doubt and all evidence of that night was gone. It was surprisingly easy to be in the place she'd been attacked. It didn't feel like the place she'd gotten attacked in, it just felt like the Astronomy Tower. It had a great view of the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid's Hut with the sky forever expanding over her head until the stars met the horizon like lips met flesh. It was too beautiful to remind Lily of such a horrible experience.
She collapsed on the floor, crying and heaving for breath. She never knew how incredibly frustrating and maddening it was to have people not see your side of the story and it was starting to boil over. She had just had perhaps one of the best weeks of her life with James and all she wanted to do was tell her friends and they weren't there for her. She wanted to tell them things that girls told girls. Like how when James kissed she felt all fluttery and nervous and how he links his pinky with hers in the corridors because he doesn't want McGonagall to see and how he's a complete dork at heart. She wanted James to meet her friends and for her friends to tell him that if he ever hurt her they'd curse him to oblivion. She wanted girlfriends. Not Allison Hopkins who just wants to analyse the way James Potter kisses. Not Sirius who, whilst a rather good listener, could not see things the way a girl would. She wanted her friends. She wanted to have to sneak out to see James at night and not have Sirius make kissy noises whenever they lay on a bed together.
Lily was so angry and frustrated and the two emotions acted like a tag team. The angrier she got the more frustrated she got and the more frustrated she got the angrier she became. It was simply infuriating. She stood up and started pacing. Was it really too hard for her friends to just listen to what she had to say? Lily would've done it for them. She always listened and solved the problems. Maybe that's why this was taking so long to resolve, because Lily was always the one who fixed things. When Alice and Ella or Adaline had a fight, Lily would listen and help them sort it out. When Adaline was angry because Marlene and Alice drew Merlin's beard on the poster of the Appleby Arrows captain, Lily acted as the mediator and enchanted the drawing away and made Alice and Marlene apologise. But now, how was Lily supposed to fix this? They all hated her and then Lily got even angrier. Why did she have to pick such rotten friends, she thought even though she knew deep down that she wouldn't have it changed for anything in the world.
"You know," James said coming out of nowhere, "I get wanting to hide, but did you have to hide here?"
"How'd you find me?"
"Map." He held up the piece of old parchment and muttered, "Mischief managed."
The markings disappeared and Lily stared in wonder for a moment before saying, "Right. How was Quidditch practice then?"
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Well obviously or else I wouldn't have asked," Lily said looking at James.
"Practice was good. How was your night?"
Lily sighed, "You know."
"I ran into Bennett on the way back from practice. She was looking for you. Do you want to talk about it?"
Lily sighed before letting out all of her frustrations and anger. James had never heard Lily rant for so long and whilst he hated the circumstances, he had to admit she looked cute whilst doing so. She became very animated when she was angry, waving her hands around and pulling different faces and acting out conversations that were completely ridiculous. When she finished James just said, "You're cute when you're mad, Marie."
Lily was taken by surprise so much that a laugh escaped her lips and a smile betrayed her mouth.
"This is why you're my boyfriend," Lily smiled and James smiled.
"I'm your boyfriend, am I?"
"Yep."
"And don't I get a say?" he asked placing his hands on Lily's small waist and pulling her closer.
"Nope," Lily said with a smile, "Because you make me smile even when I'm mad. So you're mine now." Lily looped her arms around James's neck. "Is that all right with you?"
"Sounds good to me, Evans."
"Good, because you don't get a say anyways, Potter."
James chuckled and shook his head before bending down so his lips could reach hers. Once their lips met, his arms snaked further around her body and Lily's arms hugged James closer. Lily leaned on James's shoulder looking at the sky and said, "The stars are so pretty tonight," and James said, "If the stars are pretty, you're beautiful." Lily turned her head so her face was buried in his neck and pressed small soft kisses on his neck. James had never imagined a kiss could feel like floating on air.
—
James couldn't speak. He was stuck and paralysed. He had been temporarily petrified but he was conscious. He hadn't thought anything unusual would happen that night but that just proved how wrong he could be.
James lay, motionless and powerless, on the floor, hidden under the cloak as Snape kept slashing her with the mutter of a word, "Sectumsempra," and the slash of his wand. It was torture to watch. Snape with his long, greasy black hair and flapping robes, hurting Lily when James was right there. Lily kept shouting in pain as small cuts appeared all over her body and suddenly the Red Lake was back and Lily wasn't moving but Snape was still slashing her. Still hurting her. James was stuck and desperate to get to Lily.
"James!" someone whispered. "Get up, you git!" I'm trying! "James!" the voice said again. "James. Shh, shh, shh. It's going to be all right." How is it going to be alright when she's dead? For now, Lily was not moving at all. Her face had gone so white, James was sure it could never regain colour. Her chest wasn't moving. "James! Wake up!" and something pinched him.
His eyes opened for a start, only to be met with darkness. He felt a little sweaty and he was breathing heavily. James searched around for the blankets but they must've been kicked off because he couldn't find them.
"James?" Sirius asked and James snapped his head to the sound of the voice.
"Sirius? What's wrong?"
"You were muttering something in your sleep. Woke me up."
"Oh, stop acting all macho. Sirius was worried you were having a nightmare," Lily butted in coming out of the bathroom with a damp towel. "Here," Lily said handing it to him. James smiled crookedly and took it from her gratefully. He wiped his face and neck and felt a little refreshed.
"Where's Remus?"
"Patrol," Lily answered.
"What we're you dreaming about?" Sirius asked straight away.
"Sirius!" Lily scolded.
"What? It's a valid question. Bloody woke all of us up."
"Peter didn't wake up," Lily pointed out and Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Wormtail could sleep through the apocalypse. Watch," and before Lily could say don't Sirius shouted loudly and clapped five times. James watched amused as Peter just rolled over and continued to sleep. "See?"
"Shut the bloody hell up," Brown groaned from his bed.
"You're a git," Lily told Sirius quietly as she rolled her eyes.
"You're just annoyed 'cause I'm right."
"I'm annoyed because you're a git. And you're insensitive."
"To what? Prongs's feelings?" Sirius snorted and Lily glared at him hotly.
"Yes."
"I don't have feelings!" James defended.
"See?"
"Insensitive," Lily accused Sirius. "James is only saying that because guys have to act tough in front of other guys."
"We do not," they chorused together turning on Lily.
Lily raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, looking at James. "Fine then, James, what were you dreaming about?"
"I, uh, don't want to say," he admitted sheepishly.
"Because you're embarrassed right? See, that's a feeling!"
"Come on, Prongs, just spit it out."
"Don't push him, Sirius."
"I'll do what I want."
"You really are insensitive!"
"I'm not!"
"Are too."
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Okay!" James shouted, "I dreamt that Lily was being attacked by Snape and I wasn't able to stop it." Lily and Sirius went silent and James felt really uncomfortable and he wished one of them would say something.
"You're still having dreams about that?" Sirius questioned and Lily nudged him and coughed, "Insensitive," to which Sirius rolled his eyes.
"You weren't there," Lily said to Sirius. "Leave him alone. Why did you dream of Snape though? Snape wouldn't hurt me."
Sirius and James glanced at each other. "It isn't impossible for Snape to attack you, Lils."
"But Snape wouldn't hurt me. We've been friends for years."
"You used to be friends," Sirius pointed out quickly and Lily looked offended, for some reason the sound of someone saying it out loud made Lily feel a little weak in the stomach. "There's no telling what Snape would or wouldn't do."
"Lily's right," James said, "You are insensitive."
"Really now?"
"Yes."
"Right well, you, you're a moron."
James snorted, "Good one."
"I'm, er, going to go to bed." Lily stood up straight and James looked at her but she was avoiding his eye. He knew she was upset with Sirius's comment. He didn't know if it was just because they weren't friends anymore or if she felt disappointed in Snape that it's possible he could've attacked her, which James thinks is the truth. James kept seeing the dream in his mind and the more he thought of it, the more he felt like the attacker was Snape.
"You okay, Marie?" James asked getting out of his own bed and walking over to Lily as she climbed into her own bed. She just nodded. "Lily?"
"I'm fine, James. I promise."
"Do you mind if I lie down with you?" he asked because whatever the reasoning, Lily wasn't happy and James didn't like the idea of Lily not being happy. To James's relief, Lily shuffled over and James climbed into the bed after her, pulling the blankets up to their chins and then Lily pulled it over their heads so they were in their own little world.
"Do you have a lot of nightmares about that night?" Lily asked quietly. They lay on their sides, facing each other and their heads were barely an inch away from each other. Lily had one hand under her cheek, supporting her head and her knees bumped James's.
James nodded, "Sometimes."
"Oh James," she sighed and she traced his face lightly with her fingers, making his skin tingle. "I'm okay now. I promise."
"I know, but you weren't and the person who did that to you still hasn't been caught and I just can't help but think that it'll happen again to you."
"I'm not going anywhere," Lily promised but James didn't find any reassurance in that. It wasn't a promise she could really keep. She could drown in the Black Lake or fall down the stairs or be attacked or be eaten by a dragon.
"I'll make sure you won't," James whispered, grabbing Lily's hand and kissing it.
"You say that like you'd die for me," Lily whispered back. "You've got Quidditch tomorrow, you nervous for the game?"
"No."
"Good. You'll slaughter Slytherin and if you start to lose I'll hex the seeker."
"Would you mind getting the keeper too?" James asked and Lily laughed quietly.
"I'll see what I can do. Maybe I'll talk Remus into helping."
"Fat chance."
"We'll see."
"Goodnight, Lily."
"Goodnight, James."
"Well, it's about time!" retorted Sirius from outside their little world and Lily and James laughed.
"Goodnight Sirius!" they chorused, poking their heads out of the blanket.
"Just don't start to make any babies under there."
James just sighed and said, "You're a git, Padfoot."
"Yeah," Lily agreed, "You know we use the morning after potion."
"Wait! You guys have done it?"
"I guess you'll never know," James said, smirking at Lily. "'Night, Padfoot."
"But! You can't not tell me! I'm your best friend!"
"He also didn't tell you that he stole your teddy bear in first year and fed it to the Giant Squid trying to catch it," Lily said.
"Traitor!" James accused.
"You what!" Sirius shouted angrily.
"The squid wasn't supposed to eat it. It just kind of did and if it is any consolation the squid also took a stick from the floor that I'd grown a fond attachment to."
"That was my favourite teddy bear!"
"Yes, but Sirius, I noticed that when we hung around the lake and you brought your bear the squid would always come to us so I thought it'd be cool to catch the squid but the little bugger ate the damn thing and swam away, with my stick!"
"You know, I find it amusing how a man who believes he has no emotions is getting so emotional about a bear," Lily pointed out.
"I'm not emotional. I just happen to think Prongs is a bloody git. And a shit friend."
"Woah. Crossing a line, mate."
"You let the Giant Squid eat Miss Fairy! You looked with me for her! For a year!"
"Miss Fairy?" Lily asked holding back a laugh and failing. "You named a bear Miss Fairy?"
"Oh, shut up, Evans."
"No," Lily said covering her mouth to hide her giggles, "It's a very, uh, pretty name."
"Sod off."
"I swear to Merlin if you three don't shut up in the next three seconds I'm reporting Lily to McGonagall!" Brown threatened sitting up in his bed.
"We should get to sleep. You guys have the game tomorrow."
"Yeah well if Prongs hadn't woken us up with his feelings we'd all still be asleep."
"Goodnight, Sirius."
"Goodnight."
—
Marlene was stewing. Nate had chosen to sit with Mia Scott instead of her for breakfast. They always sat together for breakfast even when he was dating Emma Price from Hufflepuff and they had dated for almost a year. It's not that she was opposed to Nate dating a fifth year Ravenclaw, it was just that she didn't quite understand what he saw in a fifth year Ravenclaw.
"You're staring," Ella declared.
"He didn't sit with us for breakfast," Marlene stated, not bothering to avert her gaze from the curly haired girl and her best friend who were laughing at something.
"About time."
"He's my friend, Ella."
Ella grabbed a piece of toast. "Yes, well right now, you're acting like a very jealous girlfriend or something."
Marlene scolded. "I am not. I am just offended that he didn't sit with us for breakfast like he usually does."
"Sure." She wagged her eyebrows. "Lily alert."
Marlene saw Lily walk in with the Marauders, James and Remus on either side of her as they talked.
"I am losing all my friends to other people," she huffed. First Lily, now Nate. "Who's next?" she wondered.
"You're being dramatic," Adaline took a seat opposite them. "Lily would still be our friend if we just gave her the benefit of the doubt."
"We've been over this, Della," Ella reminded her.
"Yeah, yeah," Adaline rolled her eyes before smiling when Tommy sat down next to her. "Hey, Tommy."
"Hey, Del," he said grabbing a plate.
"See? You haven't ditched us for your boyfriend," Marlene sighed.
Adaline rolled her eyes. "Nate hasn't ditched you. He's just eating breakfast with his girlfriend."
"She is not his girlfriend," Marlene shook her head. "They've just gone on a few dates."
"You know if I didn't know any better, Marlene, I'd say you fancy McKinnon."
The three girls looked at each other before bursting out laughing. Marlene did not fancy Nate McKinnon in any way. That would be like fancying her brother. Her and Nate had grown up together, had even had baths together when they were two. She had taught Nate how to ride a bike and he'd taught her how to ride a broom. They were just friends. Best friends.
"Good try, Thomas but this is just the thing that Marlene does."
"The thing," Thomas repeated. "Right."
—
Next morning at the table, James was telling Sirius, Remus and Peter how Lily didn't see the big deal in Quidditch.
"What? She defended. "The first time I heard 'quidditch match' I thought they had said 'cabbage patch'."
"Cabbage patch?" Remus asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, you know. The cabbage patch dolls."
"Dolls?" Peter asked. "Muggles name stuff weirdly."
"As opposed to 'Quidditch'?" Lily snorted.
"At least it's a good game."
"And cabbage patch is a good doll. I have one in my room."
"Really now?" Sirius asked taking Lily's piece of toast off her plate. "And what's her name?"
She took a piece of toast off of James's plate. "I actually name things normally. Her name is Evie."
"Well, you better keep it away from Prongs. He'll feed it to the Giant Squid."
"You aren't still going on about that, are you?" James asked annoyed.
"It was a good bear!"
James rolled his eyes and Lily smiled, leaning her head on his shoulder.
"When do you have to go down?" she asked.
"Soon. Maybe in ten minutes or so."
Lily nodded and hugged him from the side. "Don't get hit with a bludger or anything."
"Thanks."
"What's with the hugging?" Peter asked.
"Can't I hug my boyfriend?" Lily asked, still hugging James. She was rather tired and James was comfortable.
"No," Peter said. "You'll kill us with your affection."
"In that case," James said and he turned to face Lily, with his hand softly under her chin and kissed her and the three boys groaned with disgust.
"Do you two really have to snog in front of us?"
"When you get a steady girlfriend Padfoot, you'll be snogging her all the time so shut it," James said and Lily smiled.
"I don't think Sirius could deal with it. Not being able to snog who he wanted when he wanted."
"Hey! I shag, not snog."
"Oh, sorry, my apologies," Lily said sarcastically. "Sirius, you have permission to be hit by a bludger."
"I love you too, Lily."
"Don't you forget it."
"I won't," Sirius promised. "Who'll write my Potions essays other wise?"
Lily rolled her eyes and said, "I don't know. You always brag about your 'superior' brain. Why don't you give that a try?"
"It hurts too much from being too superior."
"Alright calm down. Let's not forget the actual mastermind in the group," James said, "Me."
"You?" Lily asked raising an eyebrow. "The guy who tried to catch a Giant Squid with a stick and a bear named Miss Fairy?"
"It was an ingenious plan. I just wasn't strong enough to rope it in."
"You could've used your wand," Remus pointed out.
"I was in first year. I didn't know the spell yet."
"And you want to be the mastermind," Sirius snorted.
"You don't even know a simple spell," Peter accused.
"Yeah! Even Wormtail knows it!"
"Yeah – hey!"
"I said I didn't know it back then not that I don't know it now!"
"I've an idea. Why don't all of you tell me your achievements and ideas, successes and failures and I'll judge who is the true mastermind?" Lily suggested.
"Done!" Remus said.
"But after the game," James said. "We've got to get going."
Lily kissed James's cheek before releasing him from the hug and sat back up normally. James and Sirius stood and James shouted down the table, "Quidditch team! Let's go!" another five people stood up and followed James out of the Great Hall with Nicolea Flawley with her arm around James's neck.
Nicolea Flawley was a beautiful girl. She had long curly hair that was as black as a starless night. Her eyes were a deep piercing blue and she had the face of an evil seductress. Beautiful, yet deadly.
"Shall we walk down then?" Peter suggested and Lily and Remus agreed.
"Lily, can I borrow your scarf?" Peter asked and Lily looked at him funny.
"Why?" Lily held onto the scarf with her hand. She hadn't worn a skivvy today.
"I've nothing Gryffindor on me. You've got your gloves and you're wearing a red jumper."
"Uh, but I'm, er, really cold," Lily lied unconvincingly.
"You can have mine, Wormtail," Remus said intervening and looked at Lily purposely. Lily looked away and pretended nothing was wrong.
They made their way to the stands and found themselves really good seats and settled down.
"So, you guys must have hilarious stories about James," Lily hinted casually.
"Well," Remus started, "There was that time that he tried to smuggle in a puppy. He got his cousin Isabella, to send it in. You see Isabella is a couple of years older than him but as equally mischievous, so she jumped on board immediately. She tried to send it through via owl but McGonagall came to investigate when a puppy ran down the Gryffindor table at breakfast."
"That was James!?" Lily asked surprised. No one had ever gotten the blame for the puppy incident of 1974.
"Yep."
"What about the time Prongs set Nifflers loose in Professor Nittles office?" Peter asked. Lily couldn't help but laugh. Professor Nittles was the D.A.D.A teacher from their fifth year. She was a bit of a psycho. She always wore sundresses, even when it was snowing and she would wear diamonds around her neck and on her hands. She would always make a big deal of it if a kid got hurt in any sort of way, whether it was a small jinx or a hex, one time she fainted when James hit Snape with the Leviacorpus spell. Her office was another thing all together. You see, Professor Nittles distrusted Gringotts, she had told the students many times.
"James and Sirius wanted to find her gold. It was quite hilarious. Professor Nittles went into shock when she found her autistic office ripped apart with a bunch of nifflers barrelling around in galleons."
"What kind of detention did he get?"
"He had to scrub the owlery spotless."
Lily scrunched up her nose. "That's disgusting."
"Look! They're walking out!" Peter announced pointing at the field. "Is it just me or do the Aitken twins look like they are ready to bash people off their brooms?"
"Oh, don't say that, Peter," Lily hushed him.
"Don't worry Lily. They'll be fine."
"I'd feel better if they were playing soccer," she said faintly as the two teams kicked off into the air. Madam Befert released the four balls into the air and Sirius took off with the ball. James, Sirius and Adaline Bennett zig zagged around the Slytherin chasers, passing the ball between the three of them. James had the ball and ducked when a Peyton Aitken shot a bludger at him. He threw the ball at Sirius who caught it easily and shot down the field as fast as a spell, faked a left at the goal posts only to throw the ball into the right goal hoop. Gryffindor scored and erupted into cheers. Lily clapped loudly and shouted happily.
The ball was taken by a Slytherin chaser but half way down the field Bennett intercepted a pass, dodged one of the Slytherins and passed the ball to James before ducking to miss being hit by a bludger by Aitkens, which then went on to hit one of the Slytherin chasers who hadn't seen the bludger. Gryffindor laughed and shouted approval as Aitken turned red faced with anger and embarrassment.
Sirius passed the quaffle to James at the last second and he pummelled it through the middle goal post. Gryffindor scored again and Gryffindor roared. The game kept going in this manner. Gryffindor kept scoring and there had been near slip-ups but Flawley never failed to catch an oncoming quaffle. She was everywhere. Lily could see James flying around with the biggest smile. Even if Slytherin caught the snitch it'd be a Gryffindor win.
"You know, the school really should have a commentator," Lily said. "It's quite hard to see some of the plays or who has the ball."
"The school usually does, McGonagall probably hasn't found a replacement for Eddie Waverly," Peter said.
"She should really find one," Lily amended.
Gryffindor scored again and when the faint cheering started no one noticed that the Slytherin Seeker, Regulus Black started speeding down the pitch. Podmore joined the chase and she caught up to Black but he was still slightly ahead. Bell shot a well aimed bludger at Black and it nicked the back of his broom making him spin out of control. Podmore sped up, her hand outstretched and finally her fingers closed around something. Gryffindor caught the snitch they had won! The whole stadium erupted with noise; booing from the Slytherin stands and unimaginable cheering from Gryffindor.
Lily went to walk onto the field but Remus and Peter stopped her.
"We've got to organise the common room party."
"People actually organise that?" Lily asked astonished. She had always thought it was something that had just happened because everyone was really happy.
"You've a lot to learn, Lily."
"I'll sneak into Rosemerta's to get the Firewhiskey. I think Sirius ordered two cartons," Peter said. "Were gonna be sloshy."
"What if Gryffindor didn't win?" Lily asked as they descended from the stands.
"We keep the order for the next game," Remus shrugged. "But James has never failed to win us a game."
"That's our Prongs. Unstoppable."
Lily noticed how the cheers seemed so distant from the castle as they pulled Lily into a run and they laughed and stumbled as they ran up seven floors to the Gryffindor tower. Peter had almost smashed into a wall and Lily almost fell off the Grand Staircase.
In the common room, Peter left with the map and cloak whilst Remus and Lily set everything up. They conjured up a table cloth and created a table that wasn't noticeable unless you walked right into the common room and was small enough to cover with the invisibility cloak.
"Have you two always done this?" Lily asked as Peter came back floating two cartons of Firewhiskey in front of him. He set them down under the table and pulled out three bottles and put them on the tables. Lily conjured up plastic cups and also set them on the table.
"What are those?" Peter asked curiously.
"Plastic cups, for drinking. Afterwards you just throw them out. No need for extra cleaning. Don't wizards have plastic cups?"
"No, we usually steal goblets from the kitchens and then return them," Remus said. "Do you remember the time where the Slytherins and Ravenclaws didn't have goblets? That was because we'd forgotten to return them to the elves. Very annoyed with us they were."
"You guys take too much advantage of the house elves," Lily frowned.
"Talking of house elves, I'll go get the food."
"Food?"
"We, uh, make a special order for cakes and finger food for parties."
Lily shook her head before saying, "Can I come? I want to see how the map works."
"Prongs will hex me if he wasn't the one to show you how to use the map. Besides that requires a group meeting. We have to make sure you're trustworthy."
"Really now?" Lily asked raising an eyebrow. Peter and Remus nodded. "All right, go before everyone starts coming." Remus disappeared through the portrait hole and it was just Peter and Lily. Lily couldn't help herself and asked Peter, "Would James really hex Remus if he showed me how to use the map?"
Peter nodded fervently. "Not even a question."
Lily smiled slyly. For some reason the idea of James being somewhat jealous that his best mate would show Lily something without him made Lily happy. Jealousy in small dosages was good. It showed they cared enough to be angry over something stupid.
Peter looked at Lily's face and raised an eyebrow. "That made you extremely happy, didn't it?"
"Shut up," Lily said with a smile but blushing nonetheless.
Within an hour the common room was roaring with noise and Lily still hadn't found James. Sirius had come, Adaline had come and in fact the whole team had come back apart from James and that Flawley girl. Lily knew she shouldn't worry but Sirius had said James was right behind him but fifteen minutes had passed and it was evident James wasn't 'right behind' Sirius. Where was he?
—
James was shoving his Quidditch robes into a hamper and headed out to the lockers. He was about to leave when he saw Nicolea Flawley nursing a hand on the seats.
"You okay?"
Nicolea shrugged. "My wrist hurts. I think that bludger that hit me did more damage than I thought."
"Broken?"
"Sprained, I think."
"Let's go to Madam Pomfrey then."
Nicolea nodded and stood up. She fell into step next to James and they stayed silent until they reached the castle.
"So you finally got the girl," Nicolea said with a smile.
"Hmm?"
"Lily Evans, you douche."
"I've the faintest idea what you're talking about," James said with a knowing smile.
"Oh shove it. The whole school knows you're in love with her. I wish my love life was like yours."
"He'll realise soon enough," James promised.
"Sirius? Do you really think so?"
James couldn't say he approved of his cousin's choice in crush but he may be biased seeing as Nicolea was his cousin and Sirius was his best mate.
"I wouldn't say it's out of the cards," James said carefully, "He thinks you're really fit."
Nicolea snorted. "Is that all you boys care about?"
"Hey, Sirius is Sirius. The first thing he judges about a girl is her looks."
"Maybe I don't like my crush choice anymore."
"Oh cheer up. You'll get married some day. Besides not all the guys can be as handsome as me."
"Keep dreaming. But congratulations on, you know," she trailed off awkwardly.
"Getting the girl," James finished for her and she nodded. "Thanks, cousin."
"Now go and keep the girl. I can't imagine she'd be pleased at your delay. I can handle a sprain. Sirius was up there twenty minutes ago. What if she thinks you're having an affair?"
"I wouldn't."
"I know. Go."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I'm fine. Stop being annoying. You're acting like I'm five. I'll join the festivities in a little while and you can harass me with worry then."
"Love you, Nikki."
"Yeah, yeah. Go on. See you in a bit."
"You did good today, just so you know."
"I always do good you git!"
James grinned before running off to the common room, eager to see his girlfriend.
When James found Lily she looked a little worried. Her face wasn't smiling and she looked distant.
"What's wrong?" James asked her immediately. "Is it your dad?"
"What? No! I was – where were you?"
"I was with Nikki. Why?"
"You were with 'Nikki'. Who's that?" Lily asked and for some reason she looked even more upset. Tears weren't about to well out of her eyes or anything but she definitely looked bothered.
"Nicolea."
"Oh," Lily said and her shoulders slumped.
"My cousin," James continued.
"Oh!" she said. "Is Flawley your cousin?"
"Yeah. Why, what did you think?" James accused.
"I, well she had her arm around you this morning and I just – James Potter stop laughing!"
James immediately straightened up but a laugh still escaped his lips and Lily blushed. "I'm sorry, Marie. It's just I'm not used to you being jealous."
"I'm not jealous!"
"It can be our secret," James said wanting to kiss her.
"I'm not jealous!" she repeated as James grabbed her hands and pulled her closer.
"Whatever you say," James smirked and Lily sighed.
"I hate you," she said.
"Mmmhmm," James said brushing his lips over hers. "Tell me more."
"You're arrogant," he kissed her lips, "and annoying," he kissed her again, "and a troublemaker," he kissed her again, "And I love you."
James froze. "What?"
"I love you," she smiled. "I love you. I love you. I love you!"
"Does this mean I can finally say it?" he asked and Lily nodded. "I love you, too."
"You're such a goof, I swear."
"Yeah well you're the girlfriend of a goof so that makes you even goofier."
Lily shook her head. "You drive me crazy."
"Then leave."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because, I just can't. Good win today, love." She pressed her lips to his and someone in the common room wolf whistled – James had his money on Sirius – but they didn't care. Lily's hands were cupping James' face and James hands were running up and down her hips, pulling her closer. James pulled back slightly, "Wanna go up?" he asked gesturing to the dormitory stairs. Lily bit her lip in the moment it took her decide and nodded her head with a small smile. James grinned and surprised Lily by lifting her up bridal style. She laughed loudly as people looked and James shouted loudly for people to clear the way. Half way up the deserted dormitory stairs he set Lily down and pressed her against the wall. Lily looped her arms around his waist and James's face was a centimetre from hers as he leaned the wall. Within a second his lips were on hers again and Lily slipped her hands under James's jumper digging her nails softly into his skin. James couldn't help himself. He moaned straight into her ear as she placed soft kisses on his neck. James unable to contain himself, pulled her up and she wrapped her legs around him and they slowly started making their way up to the dorm. They giggled as James stumbled on a step a few times and laughed loudly when they finally tumbled onto James's bed. Lily pulled off James's jumper so he was only in a white t-shirt and James pulled off Lily's scarf as she kicked off her shoes. Lily pulled off her coat and jumper as James kicked off his shoes and looked at Lily.
She was looking at him with wide, wondrous eyes and James thought her eyes were prettier than anything he'd ever seen. James would never be able to get over the simple beauty Lily Evans had and they way she was looking at him would haunt James until he died, he was sure of it. The happy smile, wide eyes and soft skin. He just wanted to kiss her. He wanted her so much it hurt.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"I love you," she said simply and nodded again. James pointed his wand at the door to lock it and Lily pulled off her shirt. James crawled over her, tracing his hand up her skin and loving that the touch of his fingertips gave her goose bumps. His lips hovered lightly over hers and her hands fumbled at the hem of his shirt. Finally she grasped it and pulled it up and James straightened and finished the job as Lily stared gloriously at his physique. James came back down and attacked her with kisses, his palms firmly going up her hips and over her breasts before he lowered his head and left a trail of kisses down the middle of her chest and stomach until he got to the start of her jeans. He popped the button open and pulled the zipper down slowly. He pulled her pants off slowly kissing a path down her leg, his hand playing with her panties, teasing her. When the pants came off his lips were at her mouth, her hand holding the back of his neck firmly, the other trying to pop the button to his jeans open. James kissed along Lily's jaw line and down her neck, sucking softly on her skin. He found immeasurable pleasure in making her moan. James pushed down Lily's panties and massaged her clit pushing his fingers in and Lily gasped from surprise and delight. He slid them out and Lily pulled his underwear off. Lily's fingers dug into his back and he moaned quietly and Lily whispered, "Do it." And so he did. He slid inside her and they rode it out together.
"I love you," he whispered looking right at her eyes. She traced his face and said, "Oh James, I love you too."
"You don't know how long I'd wished you say that for."
Lily smirked, "I think I've a pretty good idea. I've seen your mind, remember?"
"Right. The turning point."
"I love you," Lily repeated bringing down James face and kissing him hard. James reciprocated and slid his hands under her back. She arched up so their naked bodies were touching, he went in again and again and again until they were both spent.
They wondered down the stairs back into the common room an hour later, barely able to keep their hands off each other and James could barely keep his eyes off of her. She looked beautiful. Her hair, despite her best efforts, was a little dishevelled and she was wearing one of James's jumpers. Her face was slightly flushed but bright with happiness, he could look at that smile forever. Her hand fit so perfectly in his and it felt so easy to be with her. He could do this for the rest of his life and all he could do was hope and pray that she felt the same way.
Author's Note:
Hi, everyone! Sorry this update was a bit delayed but like I mentioned the chapters, whilst already written, need some work on them and at the moment I have exams coming up.
Thanks for reading!
-Natalie xx