Chapter 26
"He saved your life! You lucky child…I mean Sirius Black wouldn't even save me from detention after I was caught talking in class because HE started a conversation. Hmph…and he just manages to weedle out of everything with that charming smile of his" Brittany Davies rolled her eyes sarcastically to the ceiling of the common room as she and her two best friends shared some bonding time in the wee hours of the morning.
"Yeah Lils – tell me exactly how he did it, every detail. So what do you think of Potter now?" Eva stuck her tongue out in her foetal position in the couch.
Lily, after being released from the Hospital Wing had received a sea of congratulations commending her bravery and her luck but moreover, received jealous looks from the girls as they had undoubtedly heard of the infamous James Potter saving her life. In just a mere two days she was to return to class and why she was conversing with her friends at 2 a.m. in the morning was beyond her. She just needed some peace and quiet after a very long day.
"Well he's certainly grown up – I mean risking your life to save another takes some bravery" she understated, hoping her friends would not press the matter further…but knowing her friends –
"Oh come off it! He loves you, he's been in love with you for the past 5 years. Although at times he may be selfish, a jerk, a toe-rag if you must" Brittany's voice as she ticked off his less desirable qualities droned on.
"But" Eva continued"if even Remus is friends with him and he's always complimenting him…then we can conclude he's noble and from reliable sources, we know he's a good kisser!"
"Yeah that I have first hand experience knowing" Lily mumbled.
"WHAT?" yelled her friends
"Nothing…" she said a little too quickly and starting to blush, she covered her head with a pillow."I'm going back to the Head Room…let's call it a day" and she began sprinting, knowing that if she didn't leave, she'd be tormented to no end.
"Yeah run back to your James Potter…tell him from us that he's a lucky man!" Brittany and Eva's laughs could be heard ringing around the room as they hi-fived each other, taking mirth at their friend's embarrassment.
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James Potter meanwhile, was lounging on the couch of the Heads Room. He, like Lily had shared some priceless moments of friendship with the rest of the Marauders. Remembering back, he couldn't help but smile at their giddiness over some girls…
'how ironic' he mused, he and his 2 friends were head over heels in love with Lily and her 2 best friends when they had all sworn in their first year not to fall in love because that would affect their pranking skills.
With the swing of the Damsel's painting and her bidding the only other person who could enter the room a nice evening, James Potter's body tensed…he couldn't face Lily now, it would be too awkward after the whole school had been discussing their relationship.
He knew the only way out was to feign sleep and with some difficulty, he lay down on the couch and winced as his nearly healing wounds made contact with the cool leather. He regretted not putting a shirt on, but he knew that the fabric as they rubbed against his scars burned against him. Running a hand through his hair and seeing Lily's foot step through the entrance, he quickly composed a serene look on his 'sleeping' face.
Lily crept through the entrance, not knowing how to face James Potter and secretly praying he was in his room already. What surprised her was his sleeping form on the couch and to her embarrassment, he was yet again shirtless. She knew that Madame Pomfrey had advised him to not let anything make contact with his healing wounds if he could help it but realized that this situation would be quite awkward if he was to not wear a shirt outside of class.
She tiptoed silently, about to head up the stairs to her room but something dawned on her that was not quite right. James Potter was not snoring. After sharing a room for nearly 6 months with him and able to hear his thunders through the walls, she had almost gotten used to them. But now, he was lying, although peacefully breathing, she wouldn't accept the face that he had miraculously cured of snoring.
And that came down to one thing she silently smiled. He was faking sleeping, to what reason she didn't know. But she realized this was one time where the joke would be on him…instead of his usual victimizing, he would be the victim.
'Revenge is, as they say, very very sweet'
She crept to the couch and sat on the coffee table, still unsure of how to carry out her revenge dish. She wished Brittany was here, she was the one with the cruel ideas on how to torment people, not her. Well, she would try her best.
She had to carry out her plan slowly…she saw that Potter could feel her advancing footsteps as he furrowed his eyebrows and shifted his position on the couch, attempting to turn away from her but Lily couldn't let that happen. She spontaneously placed her fingers on his side, causing him to flinch but he remained determinedly 'asleep'.
Suddenly as if a realization spell hit her, Lily knew what to do – it was so simple, the perfect way to get back at all the pranks he had played on her and the rest of the school. She whispered, with her wand out to the pen on the coffee table and magically it turned into a long, peacock feather. She couldn't help herself as she grinned evilly, poised to begin her attack.
She began slowly, only causing him to swipe at his tummy but his bitter grin already gave him away. Soon, it was a full launched attack and after a few seconds, James Potter opened his eyes which were sparkling with humorous fury. He grabbed her arms, causing her to squeal and her eyes bulged wide open.
"LILY EVANS! You have got to be the most evil, most despicable, most charming girl I have ever met" He yelled and with that, he began a tickling attack on her, causing her to bolt up and run for her life.
"No Potter…c'mon I knew you were feigning sleep, I just wanted a little revenge. Who knew playing pranks were so much fun?" She panted as she sprinted around the couch, James on the other side not looking the least bit tired.
She should've known she could never outrun him with all the workout he did, she noticed he was perspiring only a little as their chase had developed for around 10 mins. Lily secretly congratulated herself on lasting this long, but knew it was attributed to the wounds that James was suffering. His muscular body was shining in the dimness of the fire and for a split second, Lily wondered what it would feel like for his arms to embrace, holding her forever…
That was all he needed, the dazed look Lily had on her face meant only one thing, James knew it was time to strike when she wasn't paying any attention to him. Creeping up to her, he launched his full weight and body tackled her onto the floor. They both hit the floor quite hard, yet the fluffy carpet softened the blow. Her hair fanned out behind her, James Potter quite liked the position he was in, his whole body above hers.
Lily breathed quite hard, not knowing how she managed to find herself in this awkward position. She contemplated begging James to get off of her, but knew that her wish would be unanswered. Her arms were caught above her head and her legs caught between his, she stared into his face and did the only thing she could possibly do. She blew, with all her might at his face. Caught by surprise, and his glasses very much askew, Lily took advantage of the situation and rolled over, her small frame now directly above his. The absurdity of their situation was beyond comprehension, here were James Potter and Lily Evans, sworn enemies frolicking on the carpet, finding undeniable chemistry between them, yet refusing to take the leap.
Unfortunately for her, Lily's strength was no match for James's…and both of them, not breathing quite hard, James enveloped Lily with one catch, hugging her towards him.
"So Evans, you think you could play a prank on ME? Well, the joke's on you" James whispered into her ear as he laughed, enjoying the feel of her small frame struggling against his muscular body. Her face was pressed into his shoulder, muffling the choking sounds of outrage she was delivering.
"Oh come on Potter…let me go" Secretly though, Lily quite enjoyed the feel of James's protective embrace of her, she enjoyed the feeling of safety that now surrounded her and she appreciated that the man lying beneath her was capable of giving her this security. His arrogance and pride Lily found now was indeed quite charming, his despicable ego was just a part of him, something that could not be changed. She realized at that moment, that all of them had grown up, and through the maturing process, things have changed.
"Beg me" he whispered, sending an involuntary shudder up Lily's spine.
'No way' she thought, she would never beg him, that would just give him too much satisfaction, she was not going to lose this game…and luckily with these thoughts, her eyes set on something a few inches away from James's head…her wand, it seemed to exhibit a glow of light, beckoning her. It was her only weapon against James's attack…but how to get it?
James Potter was not used to being outsmarted and his iron-like grip was not going to loosen anytime soon, Lily's struggling for the past 5 minutes had proven this fact. She must have something at her advantage…YES! This would be most unlike her, but desperate times called for desperate measure. She placed her hands on his chest and smiled seductively down at his stunned face, which had released his grip but nonetheless not allowing her to escape.
"You know what Potter…you have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen…they're a million shades of chocolately hazel" As she murmured, Lily Evans inched up his body, reaching desperately for the wand which would save her from the trauma. James's bewildered expression did not change yet as he felt her getting away, his grip on her tightened, no way would he let Lily out of his grasp, no way in this lifetime.
Inwardly grunting in frustration, Lily leaned down, her hair across his sweaty face, causing James to hiccough in confusion. But he wasn't the one to complain, an 18 year old man could control everything basically, except those raging hormones. He felt his arms slipping and Lily allowed herself to climb up further. She had to take it slow, one wrong move and it would be game over.
Her hands clutched his sweaty skin, their noses inches from each other. James closed his eyes as Lily expected, all she had to do was lean down, the tension in the air was so thick…she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and her hands reached under his neck. She placed a little bit of her bottom lip on his top, he leaned up in expectation of the sweet kiss and just as his arms were going to envelope her once again, she rolled off and dived for her wand.
Cackling evilly, she muttered something under her breath and directed her wand at James's frame whose expression was now both confused and angry at being played like this. He was supposed to be the one good at the tricks, but he supposed when it came to Lily Evans, he was always losing…and he accepted this, she was the one who could always confuse him, entice him and destroy him.
Without warning, thick vines grew from the carpet and bound his two wrists to the floor causing him to wince and shout in surprise. He wouldn't have expected something this evil from Lily Evans…but the innocent Lily was gone and in her place, the fiery red head with anger management problems appeared and right now, she was unfortunately blinded by revenge and why would she give up the perfect opportunity to torment him.
"C'mon Evans…you know you don't want to do this…you don't want to commit torture" He whimpered as she approached with the feather that had been dropped on the floor earlier, a malicious, playful glint in her eye. He struggled against the bounds, but knew resistance was futile.
'O god this is going to worse than the Crucio curse' he sighed in defeat, bracing himself for the attack.
As Lily climbed over his body, whispering down into his ear 'beg me' in a mocking voice, James smirked in glee. 'CHECKMATE!' he bellowed into her ear as his legs came up from behind and caught her…down onto his body which was now perspiring more than in an intense Quidditch match. Both were now unable to move…and as Lily beat her fists onto his stomach, looking helplessly as her wand once again rolled away from her, she cursed his muscular legs.
"Okay Potter…you release me and I'll remove the vines after I get my wand" she wheezed, her breathing distorted from being trapped against his chest.
"Yeah I'm sure that's going to happen. If I know you Lily Evans which clearly I don't after finding this more…interesting side of you today you're capable of anything" He hissed down at her. "I'm quite happy staying like this all night. Once I let you go – I don't know whether I'll get out of this Common Room alive."
Lily opened her mouth but was cut off.
"Oh don't think you can use any more of your sultry glances or tempt me…one time was unfortunate enough" James Potter humphed and Lily promptly closed her gaping mouth, a frown appearing on her lips. This situation was getting worse and worse.
"We'll just have to wait for some kind soul, possibly McGonagall to find us here tomorrow morning after they've noticed we're missing" James smiled, that would indeed be quite hilarious.
"No! That would ruin my life" Lily gasped as she found the comical side of their positioning. She blew hard at his stomach, the cold air on his sweaty body causing him to shudder, but contrary to Lily's hopes, the grip of his legs grew tighter.
Lily sighed, what a jiffy she had gotten herself into…if only she had bound his legs as well!
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A/N: Laughs evilly – well you guys can imagine the rest of their evening…after all both reading and writing is about imagination is it not!
Well I enjoyed writing that very very random chapter…but I think it's a great little interlude to the serious stuff that has happened. I promise after this chapter there'll be more Slytherin action [yay! and the Love Potion[if anybody remembers
Thanks for reading and REVIEW!!
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Purebliss90