In the Days of Lily Evans and James Potter
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except maybe the plot. Can you own one, or is it unownable?
A/N: Sorry for the delay! I forgot to upload the file! Okay, we're skipping into the future a little bit, to about the end of September, and we are going to be seeing a lot more Lily/James interaction. This chapter may or may not be as long as the last, depending on how much I feel like writing right now.
Chapter 6
"James, the Halloween party's a month away," Remus explained as the boys walked freely through Hogsmeade. The other half of their usual group was missing.
"I know, mate, but she still hasn't given me a straight answer," James said, wondering where Sirius and Peter had disappeared to. He stopped outside a gift shop, glancing over the items in the window. Nothing looked appropriate to give to Lily.
"Well," Remus replied, glanicng in the shop as well. "There's your next opportunity. She's in there, talking to Alice." Indeed, when James looked very closely through the window, he saw her vivid green eyes looking at Alice with laughter.
"But it's got to be classy, not bugging," James commented. "Perhaps I could go persuade her a little." He disappeared from Remus's side and slid quietly into the shop, easily spotting Lily's red hair near the window. She was still laughing with Alice, and James tried to catch one of their attentions without making it look obvious.
He gave a small cough from a far away spot, he sneezed (wasn't planned, but had a good effect), and he dropped a small wooden object. Eventually, though, Alice casually looked over to see James. He waved his hands and pressed his finger to his lips. Alice gave the slightest nodd. Lily was busy with a trinket on the wall.
James waved his hand as if to say, "Give us a minute, please?" and Alice gave a nother nodd before turning back to Lily. Lily waved goodbye as Alice disappeared out of the shop. James began his plan, using his wand to move an object right by Lily's feet.
Lily tripped, and James was quickly behind her to catch her, almost having to bend down to get her before she hit the ground. She smiled at him, a ritual that had become something common in the last month, and he lowered his face to her ear.
"We have to stop meeting like this," he whispered, and she laughed, pushing his head away.
"Where's your usual gang?" she asked as he helped her stand.
"Remus is off shopping for a good costume for the party, and as for Sirius and Peter, heaven knows." At the mention of the Halloween party, Lily's eyes flashed for a quick moment.
"Interesting," Lily said. "What does Remus plan on being?" James shrugged, glancing at the wall.
"He's not even sure he's going," James said. "The only dates he has right now is Sirius or Peter, or me if my favorite doesn't come through." He laughed, letting his eyes follow a lock of her hair from its root to its end.
"I haven't had much good offers," Lily said. "One kid with hazel eyes and glasses asked me, but I think he might have Remus for a date instead." She laughed, tapping the brim of his glasses lightly.
"Nah, I hear that kid's head over heels for you," James muttered. Lily took a step closer.
"Then I suppose I'd better let him have the chance," she replied. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Yes, James, yes."
"Really, or are you messing with my head again? I don't see any lakes for you to push me in," he laughed.
"Speaking of which, meet me there in one hour," Lily said, suddenly in a rush. "Long story, have to go, explain later, bye!" She rushed past him, her red curls bouncing behind her.
"Strange girl," he muttered, but was still excited to have this chance. He practically danced out of the store, running into Sirius and Peter.
"We need to talk," Sirius said, grabbing the front of James's robes and pulling him into an alley, where Remus was standing.
"What's wrong?" James asked, looking at the grave expression that consumed each of his friends.
"W-we just saw Snivellius," Peter stuttered. "He was with Regulus. They've both got the mark, Sirius saw it."
"And then, when Lily left the shop, she started to follow them," Remus added. "I think she knows, too." James was filled with rage.
"She followed two Death Eaters to who knows where?" he asked. The others nodded.
"Yeah, pretty much," Sirius commented. They saw James start to change into the stag.
"What are you doing?" Remus asked. "Your not going to follow her." James shook his head, making it clear that was exactly what he was going to do.
"Prongs, you idiot!" Sirius declared, but James sprinted down the roads of Hogsmeade and was soon following the trail of Lily's scent.
A/N: A bit of a new angle there, and a lot shorter than planned, but to be warned, REMEMBER THE SPOT AND THE BROOM CLOSET. They are essential in the next two chapters. R&R, please. CC welcome, idiot writing not.