CHAPTER 2

Splash! There was a muffled shout and a shriek as Lily landed, submerging under the water.

'What the-' She resurfaces to find herself treading water in the middle of a swimming pool in her clothes, nice.

A head surfaced beside her.

'Whoa Evans! Bit enthusiastic to get in the pool aren't you?'

Black and Alice were laughing so loudly Alice had tears running down her cheeks.

'You-you l-la-landed on top of him!' She spluttered, pointing at Potter.

My cheeks flushed as I avoided meeting his eyes. Everybody in the pool was laughing. As I looked around, I could see Remus, Black, Potter, Frank Longbottom (Alice's boyfriend), Alice and Mary McDonald, our dorm mate.

'Here are you- what the hell are you doing Lily?' Marlene had just come out of the house with a tray of drinks but dropped them when she saw Lily in the pool. It was quite a sight.

Lily was standing in the middle of the pool in her clothes with a grumpy expression on her face. Her hair was dripping water and she was glaring at the others. Sirius, James, Lupin and Mary had doubled over laughing. Frank was suppressing a grin and Alice, in an attempt to not laugh, was giggling with a fist stuffed in her mouth.

'Are-are you ok Lily?' Marlene was really struggling to keep a straight face but her eyes were rolling in her head with laughter.

'Oh Marlene!' Alice shrieked. 'You should've been here,' she choked. 'Lily and her stuff apparated out of the sky, her stuff landed on the side and Lily-,' she paused for air, wiping her tears of laughter away. 'Lily landed on top of James!'

Marlene burst out laughing and collapsed into a sun lounger on the side.

'Hey where's James?' Frank asked, suppressing a smile.

'Over here,' replied James, turning round to face them. 'Look at my eye.'

His eye was a purply-blue and was slowly turning black.

'A black eye, Evans, a black eye is what I've got off you,' he turned and went to get his wand to sort it out as Lily flushed a red.

'Come on Lily,' Marlene picked up the trunk and owl as Lily awkwardly clambered out the pool.

'See you Lily-flower!' Black called, grinning.

Lily turned round and gave him a dirty look before hurrying after Marlene to get changed.

'So, Lily,' she smiled. 'Arriving with a flourish are we?'

'I didn't mean to land in the pool. Especially not on Potter!'

Marlene turned away from her, pretending to put down the tray but in actual fact it was to laugh.

'You landed on top of James?'

Lily bit her lip.

'Don't laugh.'

'I'm not!'

'You are!'

Marlene turned around and burst into fits of giggles. She put down the trunk and owl cage before pouring Lily a drink.

'I'll leave this in here for you then you can come outside when you're ready, wow!'

Lily was wearing a halter neck navy and white tankini. It contrasted beautifully with her creamy skin and red hair.

'All done,' she replied cheerfully. 'Now be quiet when we go outside, I want to surprise them.'

There was a diving session going on outside. Black was crouched on the diving board as he launched himself off the board and into the water, Lily slid into the pool. Nobody noticed as she sped underwater towards him and poked him sharply in the side.

'Nice try Lily-flower but I'm not ticklish,' he smirked at her.

'Damn you!' She cried, throwing up her hands in frustration.

Unfortunately, at that moment, Lily realised as Black's eyes flickered up for just a moment but as she was a little too late as a shape under the water sped towards her and poked her all the way around her ribs and on her side.

'No! No stop it! No eeek!' She squealed as James emerged from the pool and flicked water out of his hair, splattering her with it. 'What was that for?' She shrieked.

'Revenge for earlier,' he smirked. As Lily looked at his eye, she noticed it was a black-blue colour now.

'Sorry about that,' she flushed slightly.

'Never mind.' He said, awkwardly.

'Dinner time!' Mrs McKinnon came outside with a tray of drinks in one hand and he wand in another. The table levitated out after her and set itself down on the patio. 'Help yourself!' She called.

We all ran over and piled our plates with homemade quiches, sausage rolls, sandwiches and crisps. Lily had never seen so much excellent cooking in her life, except for the Hogwarts food of course. Marlene lead everyone over to the deck chairs by the pool and they lounged in them. Lily took a seat next to Alice and Potter. She was halfway through her dinner when he spoke.

'Evans?'

'Mmm?' She unsuccessfully tried to swallow her quiche.

'Do you think that erm, this year, we could erm try to be friends? I mean, it's like the last year and I don't really want to hold a grudge against you which sort of from when we were eleven.'

Lily searched his face for sign of a joke but he wasn't. He was just looking earnestly over the side of the chair.

'Well, I suppose. I guess it would be a shame to carry on hating each other.'

'Thank you.' Potter grinned.

'But,' Lily said quickly. 'There are some deals we need to make.'

'Yes?'

'You can't ask me out, at all or just generally pester me because you're bored.'

'Fine.' He thought for a moment. 'You can't get involved with any of the marauders pranking either, or loose your temper at me for no reason.'

She nodded then thought.

'Do we call each other by our first names now we're friends?'

'Erm, dunno. It's up to you.' He replied.

'We will then, deal James?' She offered her hand.

'Deal Lily,' he shook it then turned away. 'What Padfoot?'

Smiling, Lily turned back to Alice who was smiling slightly.

'What now?'

'So, you and James eh?' She smirked, eating a forkful of salad. Gesturing between her and him.

'Er no that's not funny Alice!' Lily squeaked. 'We're just friends!'

'Sure.' She laughed, raising her eyebrows.

'Did I tell you? I'm head girl!' Lily said, wanting to change the subject.

'Aww, congratulations Lils!'

'Do you know who's head boy?'

She clapped a hand to her mouth.

'Ohmigod! Erm, I do but I think it will be better if you figure it out for yourself,' she laughed.

'Right?'

Marlene suddenly stood up and started collecting in plates. As she moved, light reflected off her coral baudeau bikini.

'So James, Sirius, Lupin. You staying her for the rest of the week?' She asked.

'My mum says if your parents don't mind then it's ok and so do Remus'.' James grinned.

'Ok that's fine come on you lot, let me show you to your rooms then.' She collected my plate and beckoned to the rest of us. As we trooped into the house, Mrs McKinnon asked Lily.

'Hey Lily. Do you think you could give me your Hogwarts list because I'm heading to London tomorrow to buy all your stuff as well as everyone else's if you give me some money.'

'Ok sure Mrs McKinnon.'

'Please call me Julia.'

'Julia,' Lily smiled.

Upstairs, Marlene was allocating out rooms. They all stood nervously along the corridor as she pointed out doors to certain people.

'Right, me and Lily will be sharing this room,' she grinned at Lily and opened a door revealing a twin bedroom with a scarlet polka dot theme.

She opened the door opposite.

'James and Sirius will be in here.' Marlene gestured around a mint and white room before giving Frank and Lupin a navy blue striped bedroom and Alice and Mary an pink one. 'See you guys tomorrow!' She smiled before closing the door to her and Lily's bedroom.

'So,' she grinned as she flopped down on her bed. 'You and James is it?'

'What? NO!' Lily cried in anguish. 'Why does everyone keep saying that?'

'Isn't it obvious?' Marlene smirked. 'You just couldn't keep your eyes off him could you?'

'Honestly Marley? I love you and everything but sometimes I just have to question your sanity?' Lily sighed. 'Plus I was not staring at him!'

At that moment, a note with Lily's name on the front was pushed underneath the door. She ran over to get it and her eyes widened as she read it.

To Lily-flower (Prongslette to be?),

what is going on between you and James. You're being really friendly to each other and you were staring at him at dinner! Does somebody have an ickle crush?

From your good friend,

Padfoot (otherwise known as Sirius)

Groaning slightly, Lily took out her wand and incinerated the note as to leave no evidence.

'What was that?' Marlene asked curiously.

'A letter from Sirius asking about me and James,' Lily rolled her eyes. 'Honestly!'

Marlene smirked as another note was pushed under the door. This time, she beat Lily to it and read it before passing it to her.

To Lily,

What is going on between you and James and don't say nothing because it's really obvious! You were just looking at him while he was talking to Sirius and then you've been really distant. Mary agrees with me too, here is a note from her:

Lily or should I say Mrs Potter. You and James were getting quite cosy and dinner and you stared at him for ages and then when he turned round you went bright red and your voice went squeaky. I'm expecting an answer...

See, Mary agrees with me and if Mary does then it must be true, why don't you ask him out?

From Alice and Mary xx

'Oh no! Marlene this is really bad we're just friends, seriously. What am I going to do when James finds out and I wasn't staring at him and it was hot so I got all flushed and-'

'Lily cut the rabble. You like James and you know it.'

'No I don't!'

Marlene raised her eyebrows and looked at Lily who went slightly red. She laughed hard until Lily was blustering and trying to speak.

'See there it is Lily! That blush. You to are cute together!'

'Noooo, that's not funny Marls.' Lily squeaked.

'Anyway I'm off to bed so you can think about whether or not you really like him because you are so flushed around him it's unbelievable.'

Lily huffed slightly and changed into her pyjamas. They were small white shorts with a green tank top.

'James' favourite colour is green, do you want me to dye your shorts too?'

'SHUT UP!' Lily picked up a pillow and threw it at Marlene who ducked out of the way only just in time to avoid getting hit.

'Awww, somebodies in love,' Marlene sang.

'Yeah that's Alice!' Lily cried, dodging a pillow by Marlene so that it hit a white vase on the windowsill. 'Reparo,' the shards flew back together as she put it out of the way. 'Ow!' A pillow caught her sharply on the back of the head. 'I'll get you for that!'

Lily picked up her wand and levitated a cushion towards Marlene who did the same. They both enchanted the pillows to fight then resumed the manual way.

'Hey Marls your mum said-OW!'

Sirius had just opened the door and was hit in the face by a pillow.

'Oops sorry Black pillow fight I'm-'

Sirius grinned and flung the pillow back at a spluttering Lily who threw one back.

'Marlene!'

A pillow whizzed by and caught her sharply in the back of the head.

'James I need help here!' Sirius called over his shoulder as James came out of his room in his jeans and t-shirt.

'Right you are Padfoot!' He picked up a pillow and lobbed it straight at Marlene who ducked as it hit the lampshade.

Marlene jumped off the bed and started a full on wrestling fight with Sirius who dived at her and whacked her with pillows so James and Lily started a full on fight of there own.

'Take that Potter!' She cried, charming all the pillows to attack him.

'Protego!' He cried as a light silver shield appeared in front of him, causing all the pillows to bounce back.

'Marlene! I told you that if you wanted to have a quidditch game tomorrow you need to go and relax now!' Mrs McKinnon stood in the corner of the room looking slightly angry with Marlene. It wasn't the best sight either.

Marlene and Sirius were kneeling on the floor. Sirius holding a pillow directly over her head. She had her wand out and was about to mutter an incantation. James was holding a shield charm and was flinging pillows around it whilst Lily had conjured up a sort of pillow tornado which occasionally one flew off to attack the shield. They were all paused.

'Marlene! Clear this up right now or no quidditch game tomorrow!'

'Yes mum.'

Mrs McKinnon closed the door behind her with a click and everyone looked at each other. James released the shield charm and collected together all the stray pillows. Lily stopped her tornado which unfortunately collapsed on her head, Sirius repaired all the broken vases, glasses and mirrors whilst Marlene gathered all the feathers up that were in the lampshade, underneath and in the beds and all over herself and the others. Slowly, the room began to look normal.

'Ok boys, I think you can go now, we're nearly done.' Marlene ushered the boys out and turned to Lily, smiling. 'You just couldn't keep your eyes off him could you?'

Lily settled down in to bed blushing but smiling. Did she really like James? She'd just have to wait and see because the she couldn't find the answer in her heart.

Awh! ❤ ❤ ❤ I promise you it's not going to be all soppy! (does that even count as soppy?!) No it's not going to be a straightforwards relationship all the way through but there will be cuteness as well. I think this was quite a long chapter so I'm sorry if you got bored but I have to say, the bit about the dying the shorts green made me laugh, and I wrote it! (Yes that is quite sad and it's probably not funny to you but oh well!) Please Read and Review because when you review, my ipad pings (not even joking) and that reminds me I have to upload sooner and on that note, I will upload soon so goodbyee! ❤❤❤