Hate Me, No, Love Me Chapter 19: The Stag Revealed, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter 19

Lily was now flustered in everything she did, to the amazement and curiosity of many of her peers. Although she'd tried many times to try and find a better solution to her problem at hand, she couldn't seem to come up with a better reason to why the six of them would suddenly get together in the approaching Hogsmeade trip. Her brain hurt as she was constantly racking it for answers it seemed unable to give…she'd also spent many sleepless nights pondering over them.

Added to her now seemingly unchangeable 'date', she still hadn't cracked the mystery of the stag which was now bothering how quite a lot. She had many wonderful dreams where she had ridden on the handsome stag's back through wild paddocks of flowers. Her feeling that it had something to do with James Potter still hadn't disappeared, but she found it very awkward to do anything properly when he was around.

"Ms. Evans!" Professor Horace Slughorn's voice sounded in the Dungeons as he made a rare pointed glare at his favourite student. Lily's cheeks immediately blazed, as she focused on the Professor and gave a weak smile. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw James, who was sitting in his usual sit surrounded by his usual female fans, raise his eyebrows inquiringly. She ignored him.

"Sorry Profosser, I didn't catch what you just said" Lily mumbled, as she slumped in her chair, so embarrassed now that the whole class was staring at her. The Slytherin side of the room were hooting and sniggering like lunatics.

"Well, I expect you didn't. Honestly Lily, I don't know what's caused you to be like this. One of the best pupils dozing off in class! I'm very disappointed in you, I'd expect much better. Ten points from Gryffindor." And for the first time ever recorded, Slughorn frowned at his favourite student.

Lily's heart sank further and further, and she breathed in and out quite heavily. Her fingers clutched her quill so hard that her knuckles were turning white. She couldn't meet the Professor's eyes and see his disappointed expression. Slughorn turned his pudgy body back to address his class.

"Well, I welcome you all back to the first Potions lesson of the term." Slughorn grinned, his meaty cheeks was now tinged with red due to his over excitement at seeing his NEWT class again. James rolled his eyes.

"I hope you all received the notice about the delay in your assignment. Professor Dumbledore has found it necessary to extend the time period in which you will be working on the assignment." The Potions master grunted before continuing "And of course, I had no choice but to obey his wishes"

Lily's eyes were still cast downwards, and her blush had not faded. It seemed as if she was really cursed. There was just one unfortunate thing following another. She had received the owl shortly after their encounter with the three Marauders, and was feeling more begrudged by the second. She had even forgotten the assignment existed!

The hours that she and James worked on the assignment seemed so long ago. The Love Potion was now stored safely in the Heads Common Room where it hadn't seen daylight for months. Now that she thought about it, she had been so agitated when she was facing the prospect of accomplishing the assignment, but those worries seem to minute and unimportant now.

"Class Dismissed" Slughorn croaked, after collecting the vials collecting the Potions they had been working on that lesson. Lily's vial held a fizzing liquid that wasn't quite as yellow as Severus Snape's, but at least looked better than James' vial which contained a gooey substance the colour of Doxy droppings. Lily smirked at him as he walked past when she noticed he'd gotten some of it down the front of his shirt. He, not looking the one bit unhappy, beamed at her and in the process, spilled some more of his Potion.

She decided that she couldn't put off talking…really having a conversation with him any longer. They really needed to work out some things together.

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"Radilicious" James had already made his way back to the Heads Common Room after dinner, hoping for an early night. He arched his back and rolled his head, finding his body aching all over. His Head duties started tomorrow which meant patrolling the corridors with Lily. His wounds had all healed nicely, and he really had to give it up for Lily. How she had learnt such complex magic he really wanted to find out.

He also needed to prepare himself and the team for their next Quidditch game with Hufflepuff. Ravenclaw was already out of the competition for the Quidditch Cup, and Hufflepuff had beaten Slytherin by ten more points than they did. The competition would be difficult, especially since Amos Diggory was Hufflepuff's Seeker.

He'd been receiving many death glares from the Hufflepuff's, which Gryffindor usually got along nicely with. Amos Diggory always seemed to be whispering something to his friends when he walked past, and they then would jeer at him from behind. But James wasn't all too concerned. Somehow, he knew that Amos would be taking this opportunity to revenge him on the embarrassment he'd endured with Lily.

James had to admit, Amos Diggory was a talented Quidditch player, but perhaps, his strong intention to show him, James up would turn into a weakness when the game took place next week.

James yawned, before ruffling his hair and stepping into open portrait of the Distressed Damsel, who had seemed quite jubilant to see him. He still had a Charms essay and Transfiguration homework to complete before he could proceed to bed.

"Potter!" a familiar sweet voice called out behind him, and he quickly whipped his head around, a smile forming on his lips.

"Why, Evans…is this you I hear calling my name?" he beamed as the red haired girl caught up to him, her breathing a little rapid.

Immediately, the expected frown formed on her face, and her emerald eyes shot out dangerous sparks. But James couldn't resist…he needed to taunt her more! "I must remind you, our Hogsmeade DATE is a mere week away" he yelled so that all the paintings turned to face him, some with interest on their faces, others grunting in annoyance.

Lily was seething…she had come to have a proper talk with him, and here he was, being his usual immature self. She guessed he couldn't help it. Dumbledore had said he'd had a sufficient reason for choosing James as Head Boy…but from what Lily could deduce, Dumbledore 02had either lost all his sanity, or was probably fooled by something sickening that James had done.

"Look Potter" her voice was barely above a whisper, and her eyes still held his as she folded her arms. Although she was short, James always felt intimated when she was in this mood. But of course, he never let it show. "I know this may seem hard to believe…but I'm here, on good intentions. We need to talk"

The Distressed Damsel was still hanging wide open, and her annoyed voice sounded from behind James.

"Look, if you two want to fight, go bicker somewhere else. All I'm seeing is a dark brick wall…go on, shoo. My Prince Charming and I have a date this evening!"

James broke the eye contact and promptly moved away so that the Damsel's portrait could swing closed once again. The Damsel had now turned an ugly shade of crimson, but her frown slowly lifted as James beamed at her. "Sorry dear Lady…I do hope you have a lovely time this evening. Your Prince Charming must be a lucky man"

The Damsel was now beaming at the pair as she fixed up her hair. "Oh thank you dear boy. Honestly young lady, I don't know why you two always fight! James is a dashing, perfect young wizard. I bid you both goodbyes." She said, before she walked out of her frame.

James turned to his right and grinned uncertainly at Lily who had her eyes closed and who was probably counting to a hundred in her mind as James saw her lips move silently. "So, Evans…what is so important that we need to discuss it, so late?" Lily blinked her eyes open, and pursed her lips so thin that they could match Professor McGonagall's.

"Come on, we're disturbing the paintings. Let's walk to the Lake." Said Lily before turning her heel and scurrying down the corridor, James followed closely behind her, having to almost jog to keep up with her. For someone her size, she could certainly move fast. Finally, they both settled down on the lush green grass. Pale glows of moonlight were fighting to get through the grey clouds.

The pair just sat and enjoyed the cool breeze and silence for a few moments. It seemed their previous argument had been forgotten as Lily contentedly closed her eyes and let the wind run through her hair. James also breathed in the smell of dew and spring around the corner.

"Do you think Snape did it?" Lily's voice was lighter as she turned to face him, the previous anger had vanished from her face.

James pondered over this question for a few moments. "I really don't know. Sure, Snivelly's as annoying as hell and very developed in the Dark Arts…and also quite unattractive too" James conjured up a small smile. "But I doubt he'd be possible of murder, especially right under Dumbledore's nose."

"Yeah, I s'pose you're right." A kind of peaceful silence fell between them again.

"I know I've asked you this before…b-but I need to make certain. Y-you were that stag, the stag that saved me from the werewolf, weren't you?"

James considered her for a few moments, not sure how to respond. His heart sped up as he was torn between love and loyalty to his friends. This was already the second time this had happened!

"And what makes you think that?"

Lily looked away and stared up at the clouds as she struggled to find an appropriate answer. She knew it probably sounded really silly, how was a person an animal at the same time? But this was the magical world, and she knew, anything was possible.

"I know this sounds silly, but I couldn't help but notice…well, the similarity in your eyes"

James smiled, but it was neither cruel nor mocking. He supposed he could understand what Lily was feeling. Maybe her finding out that the four of them were unregistered Animagus was meant to be. James really didn't know whether he should confide in her. He couldn't betray his friends trusts on any accounts. Could he trust her?

"S-some things are better off without knowing, Evans" His voice revealed nothing, and he chose his words carefully. He was still in between telling her or not. He didn't want to keep anything from her, as he knew trust was essential, but he also couldn't let his friends down.

"You're the stag Potter, I just know it. Why don't you just admit it!" Lily's voice was steadily rising, and her face was turning a deeper shade of cherry by the second. James' temper was also flaring and he met her emerald orbs which were now blazing.

"No, I'm not!" He didn't even know why they were fighting over this. Perhaps it was destined that he couldn't have a proper conversation with Lily Evans without it turning into a heated argument.

The two were now facing each other, uncontrollable anger present on both their faces. Lily's lip was trembling, and she almost in tears. James' jaw was clenched and he slowly brought his hands up from his sides unconsciously. Seeing her beautiful face when she was angered made him want to do…unimaginable things.

He wanted to strangle her, hate her, be unaffected by her radiating beauty…but none of these things happened. Perhaps, it was this special bond between them that made both their lives so interesting. He was so flustered…he just wanted to sink below the earth, or pound himself to death. But he did neither of these things. Instead, he did probably the worst thing possible at the time. He knew he would most likely sorely regret later, but his anger was blinding him.

James Potter took a hold of the back of Lily's neck and leant down…and firmly pressed his lips on hers. Lily's eyes widened at the physical contact and her first reaction was to pull back and give James Potter a sharp slap on the cheek that he would never forget in his life. But then she thought better of it. This was his way of showing her that he could overpower her. Well, that wasn't going to happen.

It was James' turn to be shocked now. He'd expected some sort of pain where she was sure to have belted him good. But instead, he found her returning his kiss with an equal amount of force as he was exerting. Lily couldn't deny the intense invisible fireworks that were exploding all around them. Their anger was clearly blazing, and sparks and jolts of electricity were flying uncontrollably.

Finally, James broke the contact and calmed his breathing. He looked away as did Lily. A sort of silence was established, and it was sort of tense. It was as if the two of them had just committed some sort of evil fraud. In fact, now that she thought about it, Lily realised the absurdity of what had just happened. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she would have kissed James Potter. But the impossible had happened.

Lily was now flushing an uncomfortable deep cherry, whether from embarrassment or anger she wasn't even sure herself. She was just about to quickly scamper up to the Heads Common Room and never show her face in the world again, when James faced her.

"You're right Lily. I don't even know why I'm doing this. God, Padfoot, Moon and Wormtail are going to downright murder me" James mumbled, Lily straining her ears to catch what he'd said.

James took a deep breath and inhaled it, a cloud of mystery now flooding his hazel eyes. Lily gasped in awe as he majestically transformed himself into the gallant stag that had saved Lily's life. Lily didn't know how long she stood there, her mouth hanging open and her eyes full of shock and surprise.

The stag bent its head down and nuzzled her neck, and Lily stroked its shining fur, appreciating every ounce of its beauty. Lily felt its coarse tongue lick her cheek, and she giggled. Then, the beast cantered the length of the lake before returning. The water in the lake was glistening under the moonlight, and Lily felt a warmth spread in her body.

After he transformed back, it was as if some invisible barrier had been broken between the two. They walked the way back into the Common Room in serene silence and no words needed to be spoken. James felt reassured that she wouldn't tell anyone about the fact he was an Animagus. And about the kiss he'd given on impulse…well, that would just have to be another interesting happening during the course of their obscure and unique relationship.

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A/N: Yay! I'm back…after receiving complaints about the last chapter being too long, I've written this one shorter! Yeah, I know what everyone means, I personally don't like reading long chapters either. Ah well, thx to every1 for their support!

I'd just like to clear up the kiss of theirs. It might seem very random and you might wonder why I put it in. I want people to see that both James and Lily were seething with angry. They were furious, as they usually are with each other. Lol! Anyway, James was undecided as to whether he should tell this secret that he only shared with the Marauders.

And he kissed her out of anger…and impulse. I don't think he was half conscious when he did it. Lily returned it not because she'd suddenly realized she loved him, but because she thought it was his way of challenging her. Yes, that's right; Lily felt that if she pushed away this challenge, she would appear weak.

Yup, that's all there is to it…really. Of course, it's a pretty important event of their relationship, but it doesn't mean that James/Lily are going to get together anytime soon. And to Lily, it didn't mean much. With James…well, of course he was elated that she returned his kiss, but he could guess that it wasn't really romantic.

Okokok…everyone tell me what you thought of the chapter!

REVIEW!

Okay, I think I've made my point. Love all you pplz!

Purebliss90