A/N: Yay chapter 16 is here and all I'm gonna say is enjoy and review afterwards!
Disclaimer: JK ROWLING'S! It's all hers.
Without further ado here's chapter 16 of After the Quidditch Game.
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Lily looked frustratingly in her closet. She couldn't find anything to wear that evening to go out to dinner with James, Sirius, Remus and Peter. Or more so she couldn't find anything SHE liked. There were tons of clothing tossed on the floor after she had tried on about fifty outfits without finding something presentable.
Or maybe it was the fact that she was worrying more about what to wear since her and James were together? She didn't know, all she knew that it was terribly annoying to go through this much trouble to find one bloody outfit.
Lily grimaced in the mirror as she took in her appearance. She had just slipped into a black skirt along with an orange cashmere sweater making her look like she was getting ready for Halloween.
"For frig's sake it shouldn't be this hard to pick out one outfit." Lily complained to herself, already feeling a nasty headache coming full speed.
"Oh ho do I hear someone having a faaaaaaashion problem? Wait no longer for Super Julia is here!" Came an enthusiastic voice outside of her door and all of a sudden Julia had shoved open the door and was standing there with a big grin on her face.
Lily cringed and shook her head despairingly. "I can't find ANYTHING to wear and I have to be leaving in four hours."
"That's not enough time at all!" Julia exclaimed sarcastically and Lily glared at her.
"Hardly. I haven't taken a shower or anything yet and I'm meeting them all at the restaurant tonight so I want to go a little earlier to make sure I get there with plenty of—" Lily was saying feverishly and Julia gawked at her friend.
"Helllllo where's the real Lily hiding? Since when are you all flustered to go see James with his friends and about what to wear?" Julia asked waving her hands in Lily's face as if to awake her.
Lily sighed and slid down onto her floor. "I dunno Jul, it's like I'm all psyched out for this one date for some reason and I don't know why. You could hardly call it a date anyways cause his friends are coming along. I wish you could come."
Julia smiled sympathetically at her friend and said, "You know I would but I have a business engagement with my director."
"Yeah. Well c'mon help me pick something to wear tonight." Lily said in a defeated voice and Julia nodded.
Julia went into her 'super mode' and rushed towards Lily's closet with new enthusiasm. They pulled out dozens of skirts but then decided that since it was mid January and it was still very cold they didn't want Lily to freeze her 'buns' off as Julia put it unabashedly.
Then they flipped through piles of shirts and pants. It was one of those days that Lily felt like nothing looked good on her or they made her look 'fat'. Course she was always overreacting and most of the clothes that Julia forced her to try on looked really good on Lily but she was being difficult.
Finally, after much arguing and debating they decided on a pair of burgundy velour pants and a cream long sleeved baby-doll chemise that flattered Lily's shape. She smiled in the mirror and then threw her arms around Julia.
"Thank you sooo much. I don't know what I would do without you." Lily said with a laugh.
"I know." Julia said smugly.
"Alright well I'm gonna go take a shower. You're gonna be gone though when I get out so have a good evening with your director." Lily said, winking at her friend.
Julia shrugged with a half grin on her face. "He's kinda cute but way my senior by ten years." She said giggling.
Lily raised her eyebrows and then dashed down to the bathroom. She untied her bathrobe and turned on the shower with a flick of her wand. Putting one foot cautiously in to feel the temperature she noted it wasn't too hot and then slid in.
As the water gushed out through the nozzle and soaked her hair she began to think and wonder why she was so jittery about tonight. Things couldn't have changed that much since she had last seen him or since they had made it official. It would be just the same wouldn't it?
She lathered in her coconut shampoo in and then rinsed. Once her leave-in conditioner was applied in she turned off the shower and stepped out into the steamy warm air. Lily wiped at the humid mirror and grinned at her reflection. She squeezed some minty toothpaste on her toothbrush and then began to brush her teeth trying to calm her nerves.
Once her hair was wrapped in a turban like towel and another towel firmly secured around her body she opened the bathroom door and waltzed down to her bedroom to get dressed. It was getting on close to around the time and she wanted to be ready.
She took off the towel that was drenching the water from her hair and then absentmindedly began to brush it as she stared off into space. Lily stood up and drifted down the hallway to the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and her eyes roved across the measly contents of the fridge. Her and Julia needed to go grocery shopping.
Her eyes lighted up once she found the white container she was looking for. Uhmmmm cheesecake. There was one quarter left of the cheesecake that they hadn't eaten up the other day. Lily grabbed a fork and then dug into the delicious cheesecake savoring the taste.
She decided to let her hair dry naturally in the air so it would have a bit of curl. Her clock read 4:43 pm, so she basically had a good hour left to get ready since she was meeting them at six.
Lily picked up her burgundy pants and slipped them on. Deciding that it was a little too quiet in the room she flicked on her stereo and began to groove to the music. She didn't have the wizarding music radio, just muggle music. She preferred it to the former.
She rooted around her hair box and found a pretty black barrette to clip in her hair on the side. Lily slid onto the floor and flipped through the Order member list that she had gathered from everyone. There were still about 6 people she hadn't met yet because the meetings were always very short and small.
Lily suspected Dumbledore had various meetings during the week for a different small handful of the Order members. It was essential now that there were separate meetings for the rumors floating around about there being a spy. She didn't know who else knew that there indeed was a spy and were clarified by Dumbledore himself.
One of the positive aspects of being in the Order other than bringing down Voldemort and his minions were meeting the great people in the group. She had come to like Remus and Peter very much, James other two close friends. The Longbottom's were also a darling couple that contributed very well to the Order since they were well-known Aurors.
Lily finally slipped on her cream top on and then checked the clock once more. It was time to leave and get to the restaurant that they were going to.
She got her winter clothing on and then apparated in her living room concentrating on the place James described in London.
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Lily looked around at her surroundings and felt a twinge of anxiety because nothing really looked like what James had described. All of a sudden though, she heard her name being called and she whirled around.
"Lily!" James said with a trademark grin as he ran up to her. Lily felt her insides swirl around happily when she noticed the dark green scarf around his neck. His hair was messier that day and she felt her hand go up instinctively to ruffle her hand through his hair.
"Hi James." Lily said quietly and then she found him standing over her and leaning in to kiss her. She kissed him back but then broke off somewhat embarrassedly because she wasn't exactly comfortable with public affection.
"C'mon in, the guys are already in there and you can meet Remus's girlfriend." James said slipping his hand in hers and tugging her along to follow him. Lily quirked her eyebrows, since when had Remus had a girlfriend?
The restaurant they were going to was a muggle place Lily noted with interest. James noted her inspecting the restaurant and he smiled. "Sirius proposed we go to a cool place where they serve the… piz- pez- poz—"
"Pizza." Lily interrupted laughing at James attempts of remembering the muggle food.
"Yeah that." James said laughing with her. They entered the restaurant and soon found the comfy round table with sinky leather seats.
"Lily!" Sirius cried animatedly with a wink and patted the seat next to him.
Lily laughed and sat down next to him but pulled James in on the other side so she was in the middle.
"Hi Remus." Lily said warmly and she noted the pretty girl on his right.
Remus smiled at her and her and then said, "This is my girlfriend Gwen Kensington."
"Lily Evans." She said and reached over to shake her hand looking over the light brown haired woman.
"Nice to meet ya. I've heard loads already just hanging out with those two this afternoon along with Remus." Gwen said with a simpering smile pointing to Sirius and James.
Lily couldn't help a twinge of jealousy rise up in her chest while she returned the smile halfheartedly. Dear old Gwenny had spent the afternoon with her boyfriend and her other two guy friends. James looked over at her with a naïve smile and Lily returned it.
She suddenly noticed someone missing and asked them, "Where's Peter eh?"
James sighed and Remus shifted in his seat. "Peter couldn't make it tonight. He's been quite busy for the last month." Remus said thoughtfully.
Sirius couldn't stay too quiet for too long and he opened his mouth meaningfully. "I think we should order an extra large POZZA!" He just about yelled it out and the bustling restaurant quieted down at his outburst.
Lily clamped her mouth shut from the laughter and then James looked at him sympathetically as he said, "It's pizza mate. Remus was right."
"Aha!" Remus said triumphantly and Sirius scowled at him.
"They were arguing about that the whole way to the restaurant and even bet ten gold galleons on it." James explained to her as Sirius reached into his coat pocket and counted out some money, and then handed it to Remus.
"Padfoot this is only 7 galleons…" Remus said with a smirk.
"Dammit." Sirius cursed and he grudgingly pulled out the other three galleons.
Lily laughed and then immersed herself into conversation with Gwen as the other three talked about the usual subject: Quidditch. The waiter came over and they ordered two large pizzas since the guys had hearty appetites.
Lily found out from Gwen that she worked at the Ministry as one of the secretaries for the Aurors and that she enjoyed reading Witch's Weekly. All she did was gabble not letting Lily get in a word with James and Lily was grateful when the pizzas arrived.
Everyone dug into the pizzas but then Remus asked Sirius with a quirky grin, "How's the pozza?"
Sirius sent him a dark look, muttered something then bit into another slice. Lily patted him on the shoulder with a grin and then looked over at James kind of wishing that they were along together someplace not that she disliked going out with everyone but she did want him to herself sometimes.
Once all that remained was a few disliked toppings and crust they all stood up to leave. James ever the gentleman paid for the whole meal and Lily waited for him to pay, and then walked outside with him where the other three were.
The snow had stopped and now the evening was just crisp, the sky a dark navy with a few twinkling stars.
"It's so beautiful out!" Sirius said dramatically, clutching his chest.
Lily snorted and then pulled James a little ways down. "So what's the plan now? You and I could go back to my flat..—"
"James don't forget you promised to bring me to the Quidditch Pitch where you first played." Gwen's voice broke through their conversation and Lily raised her eyebrows angrily. What was with this girl?
James sighed and looked at Lily with annoyed hazel eyes. "Gwen's been nagging me all afternoon and asking me about my quidditch playing and surprisingly a lot about you. I promised her just to shut her up. D'you want to come?" He asked her hopefully but Lily shook her head.
"S'ok. Owl me later when you get home or something. How did someone as nice as Remus get hooked up with … that?" Lily asked wonderingly.
"Well she was quite random actually. I don't really know where she came from. Remus just begun to talk about her and then they were together just a few days ago. Anyways I better get going. Spect Sirius will want to come along so we'll see each other soon. Maybe tomorrow?" He asked hopefully and Lily nodded. She reached up and kissed him intently and then gave him a slight prod.
"Go on. I'll see you soon." Lily said and James nodded with a goofy grin on his face as he ran off with them. She waved to them and then began walking home not feeling like apparating just yet.
Lily was so caught up in her thoughts (which was rather unwise since it was late at night in the streets of London) she hadn't noticed a looming shadow behind her. The person grabbed Lily and put a hand over her mouth enabling her from yelling out and pulled her into an alley. Thoughts were racing through Lily's mind and she could feel panic rising in her.
The streetlight filtered over her captors face and she saw that it was none other than Lucius Malfoy. His sneering face loomed near hers and his gray eyes glittered with malice. How Lily would've dearly loved to tell him to wash the grease out of his hair because weren't purebloods disgustingly pure and clean? Alas she didn't think that would be a good conversation starter…
It was Lucius who broke the silence. "My dear Lily Evans." His voice came out in a purr and Lily felt goosebumps rise on her neck.
"Now now don't be shy my darling…we have some things to discuss and I wouldn't want you to feel uncomfortable."
He said silkily smirking slightly at her. Lily knew full well he was trying to make her feel most uncomfortable and to remind her he was in control.
"Well do hurry Mr. Malfoy for I have much more important tasks to attend to." She replied smiling at him. Lucius's eyes narrowed and his manner dropped.
"I hope you know that the Dark Lord wasn't tricked by your ridiculous disguises when you went to leech information out of Regulus for Dumbledore." He spat out fully intending on intimidating her.
"He would have obviously of guessed that by now." Lily snarled out darkly.
"Yes well unto more pressing matters for the moment…" Lucius said taking a hold of Lily's hand. Lily blinked and then she whipped her hand out of his wondering what the hell he was smoking tonight…and what was that clicking sound?
Lily wildly looked around and after not seeing anyone she turned back to Lucius glaring at him. If only she had just stayed with James.
"I have something to confess to you." Lucius said and Lily became painfully aware of how close he was to her but it seemed as if he was hypnotizing her with his gray eyes. Her will was gone and it was if she was trapped inside of her own body!
"I have become rather fond of you." Lucius said and with that he leaned in towards her and they're lips touched.
Something inside of Lily exploded and she felt herself gain control again. She slapped him with as much strength as she possessed.
"Get away from me you dirty snake. You have a wife, disgusting bas-" Lily was cut off when Lucius's hand came down hard on her mouth not letting her finish her sentence.
"Listen to me and know that the Dark Lord possesses something of yours that is very important to you. It might be worth your while to go and meet with him." And with that Lucius Malfoy was gone.
Lily felt a tear slide down her face and she wiped it away angrily. She was stronger than this, though it was pretty traumatizing when he had kissed her.
"Pervert." She said and then she too was off running to her flat looking around feeling rather paranoid.
Someone that had missed her eye though emerged from the shadows near the alley she had just left. There was an evil grin on her face and she said into the night before disappearing as well, "Prepare to have everything ripped away from you Lily Evans."
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A/N: Alright people it's the end of chapter 16! Ahh I'm so good at getting this chapter out before the 'real' work begins in school. This is SUCH an important chapter and I know some of you are gonna be confused at the way Lucius was acting but… there's a lot of stuff about to happen. That's all I'm gonna say on that.
So I don't know if you know but reviews are highly motivating so drop me a whole bunch and I'll get working on chapter 17. Hope everyone is having an okay time at school. See ya next time.