Chapter 10
After dancing with Remus several times, then Peter, then Sirius, then Remus again and then with Hestia, Lily decided to get some air. After the mishap with James, she had actually been having fun. Hestia it seemed had ditched McLaggen after he had described the ideal woman his parents wanted him to marry (none of the descriptors suited her) and had found herself in the arms of Sirius. Entering the grounds alone, Lily sighed as she looked out onto the beautiful sight around her. Flitwick no doubt had charmed blue lanterns with a silver flame to float around the grounds. They were most beautiful, Lily thought, when reflected in the lake, which is where she decided to go. There was no one else down there so it might be nice to clear her thoughts.
Despite everything else, Lily once again felt quite happy. Almost skipping down towards the lake she suddenly felt herself trip and heard a squeal of pain come from the ground as she landed.
"Oh no I'm so sorry I –" Lily began before she heard familiar laughter.
"Are you trying to get me concussed Evans?" asked James, as he brushed grass off his robes.
Lily laughed. She sat herself down on the grass and just laughed. James initially looked confused, but after Lily pulled him down onto the grass too he also began to laugh. They both looked at each other, and stopped laughing but were just smiling. After a few moments, James looked away.
"You know there is a rumour that the Giant Squid is Godric Gryffindor in animagus form" he said.
"Really? That would make him the oldest animagus in …"
"History" James finished her sentence.
"I've always thought it must be so cool to be an animagus" Lily said casually.
"Really?" asked James slyly.
"Yeah. To be able to transform like that, wow" she replied.
"What animal do you think you'd be?" he asked her.
"I don't know – is it linked to your personality? My patronus is a doe so maybe I'd be that" she replied.
He raised his eyes, but Lily didn't see. "You can produce a patronus charm?" he asked.
She looked up at him. "Yeah can't you?" she asked.
"I don't know I've never tried" he admitted.
"Oh it's more simple than the books suggest" she said. "Expecto Patronum!" she said and a beautiful silver doe erupted from her wand. It charged ahead of them, into the lake, disappearing after a few seconds.
James stared after it. "Wow" he said. "No surprises there – you're the top of the class after all" he smiled.
Lily blinked. "You're just saying that to be nice" she began but James cut her off.
"Lily I'm serious. You don't give yourself enough credit. I don't know anyone our age who is as bright or as brave as you are" he said.
"Where is all this coming from?" she asked. "What happened to the James who thought it was hilarious to embarrass me daily?" she asked, finally.
He sighed. "I grew up. A bit" he smiled. "Lily after that day in Knockturn Alley I realised how little respect I'd given you. I'm truly sorry for that and I hope you can forgive me. I hope we can be … friends".
There was his use of 'friends' again. Deciding that this had become too serious for her liking, she leaped to her feet.
"Right Potter, I want to see your Patronus Charm" she said decidedly.
"Alright" he said.
"The key is to feel really happy when doing it. That way you can counteract the effect of a Dementor. So think of a happy memory and say 'Expecto Patronum".
James screwed up his eyes, thinking of the first Quidditch match he had won as Captain.
"Expecto Patronum" he said. Nothing happened.
"Come on, a really happy memory!" said Lily.
James smiled and thought of the moment he had shared with her earlier, when they were dancing.
"Expecto Patronum!" he cried and some silver mist appeared.
Lily laughed. "Nearly" she said. "I'm surprised I found the one spell James Potter can't do instantly" she teased. "Perhaps you should ask Flitwick for some extra lessons!" she was still teasing him and laughing.
"Alright Evans, can you do this?" he asked.
Lily gasped and stopped laughing immediately. Instead of James standing before her there was a beautiful male stag, with huge antlers.
"What? How? What" she cried. The stag came closer to her and she recognised something of James in the eyes.
"James?" she whispered.
The blinked, as if to confirm her suspicions. Without thinking, she went to stroke its cheek, which had very soft fur. The stag closed its eyes, clearly enjoying her touch. Suddenly James was standing in front of her again.
"But … how? When?" asked Lily, standing closer to him, almost whispering.
"For Remus. Peter, Sirius and I all learnt how to become Animagi so we could keep him company when he transforms" James whispered back.
Lily's eyes filled with tears.
"You did that … for him?" she asked.
James smiled. "Yes". He stared into her eyes. "Lily you know your hand is still on my cheek".
And without thinking, without caring about anything, Lily put her other hand on his other cheek and kissed him.