Brave Hearts Never Fear Death
The week passed fairly fast for Lily who was now getting pretty excited about her date with James Potter. Her friend Kharisma was ecstatic and the other Gryffindor girls were quite jealous.
"Yeah, that's right! My friend Lily has a date with hottie James Potter!" Kharis would say to the passing girls giving jealous glares towards the embarrassed Lily.
Another person Lily noticed, considering he was her potion's partner, wasn't exactly happy this week was Snape. He seemed to keep his head down low and refused to make eye contact with her and only talked to her when it had something to do with the subject of study.
Lily however wasn't going to let her friend ignore her like that.
"Severus, are you okay?" She asked him the day before the Hogsmeade trip.
Snape continued to stare intently at his cauldron and replied softly with only a slight rise of his lips. "I'm fine."
She sighed. "Okay, just making sure because you hardly talked to me at all this week and I was just wondering if I did anything to make you mad at me."
She saw his face soften slightly but he still didn't look at her. "I'm not mad at you Lily, I have no reason to. You're not to blame." Snape cast a slight glare over at James who was watching them with a cocky grin.
"Well, okay then. As long as you're not mad…" Lily said with a smile on her face, obviously not catching the look from James to Snape.
"Snape is such a git." James chuckled to Peter after turning away from the scowling Snape.
"Yep, sure is." Peter said, carefully adding lacewig flies to his cauldron.
"Students, it's about time to pack up your things and carefully store your cauldrons in the cupboards for tomorrow's lesson as we are just going to continue what we were doing today." Slughorn said, cleaning up around his desk.
"Oh Severus, here let me help you!" James heard Lily exclaim. Turning around he laughed out loud with Peter and Sirius. Snape had just spilled the potion he was working on all over the front of his clothes and was turning a bright shade of pink on his pasty white cheeks.
"Wow, Snape! Careful there!" Sirius called out as Snape was trying to wipe the thick potion of his neck in haste as it was clumping up and creating painful blisters.
Snape turned and glared at the Marauders, completely embarrassed.
"Reparo!" Lily yelled. The cauldron that had been broken from the fall had repaired itself and the potion residing in it was instantly filled within in from Slughorn's helping wand.
"Miss Evans, could you please escort Mr. Snape to the hospital wing? I'm sure if those blisters stay on much longer, they might scar after they burst."
Lily looked at Snape sympathetically. "Of course, c'mon Severus." Taking his arm, she led him towards the door. James, who was laughing severely decided to have one more go at Snape, since it was his jinx that had caused Snape to get butterfingers.
Whispering his curse, he slyly pointed his wand once more at Snape's feet, causing the already extremely embarrassed Snape to trip over himself and catch himself painfully hard on the side of the door frame. The classroom exploded into laughter once more.
Snape threw an icy glare at James who raised his eyebrow and grinned.
"C'mon Severus, let's go." Lily said soothingly, still not catching on to James' torture and leading him out.
"Was that necessary?" Remus sighed at James.
"Isn't it always?" Sirius said in between fits of laughter.
Remus gave them a look.
"Oh c'mon Moony, stop sticking up for that freak just because you're a prefect. Let loose and have some fun." Sirius said.
"Yeah, okay but why did you have a go a second time?"
James looked up as if thinking. "Let's just say it was for him trying to eavesdrop on our recent plan to get to the Shrieking Shack with you next week."
Remus rolled his eyes and grabbed his bag. "Alright, you've convinced me. Let's go."
Saturday came and everyone who was going to Hogsmeade (which was everyone who was able considering it was the last one of the year) had been ready and waiting down by the Great Doors.
Lily and Kharisma had planned on getting their new dress robes for the ball that was on the following Saturday and possibly shopping for new accessories before Lily headed for the Three Broomsticks at 1:15 for her date with James.
Walking down the street, Kharis had bought Lily and herself an ice cream cone and were happily eating them while window shopping.
"Ooh, Lils look at that! I bet Petunia would love that!" Kharis teased, pointing at the very bright store of Pasties Pink Poka which had a window display of very prim and proper dresses.
Lily snorted, "Yeah and I'm sure Vernon would fit in those." Pointing to a mannequin wearing a very large pin striped suit of pink and emerald.
"What gits they are, huh?" Kharis said, licking up the melting ice cream.
"Yeah, I guess. Petunia can be, for the lack of a better word, helpful I suppose in times of need, but considering there isn't much time like that, yeah, gits."
"LILIAN EVANS!"
Lily and Kharis turned at the shout and came face to face with a short and blonde haired girl in their year. Kharis rolled her eyes at the girl and continued licking her ice cream cone as if the girl didn't matter one bit.
"Yeah?" Lily replied.
"It is 12:45 and I heard that at precisely 1:15 you are supposed to meet up with James Potter at the Three Broomsticks, am I right or am I right?"
"Err.." Lily said, a bit taken back by the sudden demand and greeting. Kharis finished off her cone and helped her friend out a bit.
"What's it to you Jorkins?"
Bertha Jorkins turned her curious eyes over to Kharis and sneered. "I don't think I was talking to you now was I?"
"No but I'm talking to you, so once again, what's it to you?" Kharis glared.
Lily looked between her friend and Bertha uncomfortably. Not wanting to start anything, she lightly pushed Kharis prominent tough posture down a bit.
"It's okay Kharis, I don't mind." She muttered, now facing Bertha. Kharis rolled her eyes as Bertha smirked and rotated her greedy eyes to Lily again.
"Well? Is it true or is it not?"
Sighing, Lily answered. "Yeah, it's true. Nothing too wish-washy about it though Bertha, so don't go shouting to the nearest person that it's like a romantic date or something or that we are going to get eloped cause we're not. Just going as friends who want to know each other better, okay?"
Bertha folded her arms and frowned. "Like I'd say something like that."
"Of course not." Kharis said in a very sugary, sarcastic voice.
"Well, if that's all," Lily grabbed Kharis by the arm and turned around to walk away. "We better get going."
"Alright Lily! But if anything happens, just be sure to know that I'll find out! HAVE A GRAND TIME!" Bertha shouted as the two girls walked away.
"Ick, I seriously can't stand her." Kharis bunched up her nose in disgust.
Lily laughed out loud. "I can't either that much but she does have a knack for some seriously good story telling. Like when she told us when Frank Longbottom and Alice Short were caught making out in the Prefect bathroom!"
Kharis grinned. "Yeah, that was funny! Them of all people; definitely didn't expect that. Hey did you hear that Frank was accepted to take his test in two weeks?"
Lily stopped short in her tracks and her jaw dropped. "He really got accepted for the Auror Test? That's like near impossible!"
Kharis' eyes widened. "I know huh? But then again he's like great at everything he does, ya know."
Lily nodded and kept walking. "Yeah I know, so I guess it wasn't that unexpected. That's really great though. It's sad that it's his and Alice's last year here though, they were really nice as Head Boy and Girl."
"Yeah, cool, but also! I totally forgot! Did you know they got engaged?"
"WHAT?" Lily exclaimed happily.
"Yeah!" Kharis squealed. "He asked her on her 18th birthday last week! They said they'd plan their wedding after he passes the Auror Test."
"Which he will." Lily added, smiling. "Wait, how do you know all this?"
"Well," She took a deep breath. "Frank told Edgar Bones who told Fabian Prewett who told his brother Gidgeon who told their sister Molly who told Bill Weasley who told Emmeline Vance who told Marlene McKinnon who told Sturgis Podmore who told Nearly Headless Nick who told Remus Lupin who told Sirius Black who told me and James Potter and Arabella Figg."
"Wow," Lily sniggered. "You're just as bad as Bertha."
"Am not." Kharis stamped her foot. "Oh my gosh Lily, you better hurry! It's already 1:05 and we are way at the other end of the Three Broomsticks!"
"Nice," Lily muttered. "Late on my first date." And with that she took off in a sprint towards the beginning of Hogsmeade.
James Potter walked into the Three Broomsticks washed, shaven, dressed nicely and smelled like a smidge of cologne. He strode up to the counter confidently, running a hand through his messy yet striking hair and ordering two butterbeers. The trainee bartender smiled warmly.
"Well if it isn't Mr. James Potter."
"Hi there Miss Rosmerta, how are you?" James asked politely with a small tinge of flirt in his voice. Rosmerta laughed softly.
"I'm fine. But I must ask where your partner in crime is, Mr. Black?"
James smirked, paying for the drinks. "He's probably off chasing Petra Dearborn, though I don't think her older brother, Caradoc would highly approve of that."
"No, probably not." She said grinning, and then eyed him curiously. "Are you perhaps, on a date, James? Because if you are, you better not hurt this one, I'm warning you. I'm sure you are making a list of girls that could join up and cause some serious bodily harm on you one day."
James mocked hurt. "Well, Miss Rosmerta!" He playfully put a hand to his heart. "That just pains me that you'd accuse such a thing! I would never intentionally hurt any woman."
Rosmerta smirked, handing him the two butterbeers. "Okay, but I'm still warning you, be careful."
"Yeah, yeah." He laughed, grabbing the drinks. The door bell rang letting everyone know that someone had just walked in. Turning around, he saw her. "Okay well better go."
Rosmerta nodded. "You've hooked a beauty. Have fun."
"Thanks, bye."
James walked over to her and smiled as she smiled back when she saw him. He noticed that her cheeks were a bit pink, as if she were running and the wind slightly nipped at her, and her auburn hair was in long loose curls today.
"I'm sorry I'm a bit late. Didn't know it was one so fast." Lily apologized, following him to a table.
"It's okay; I just barely got here too." James said, helping her to a seat before taking his.
When James sat down, he and Lily just looked at each other and it took a whole minute before either of them said something.
"I-"
"So-"
They stopped and blushed slightly, a little embarrassed that they talked at the same time.
"I'm sorry." They said in unison.
Lily laughed and James grinned.
"You go first." Lily giggled.
James chuckled and nodded, loving everything about her cheerful personality. Not even two seconds into their date they already got embarrassed.
"Well, that was eventful." James said.
"Yeahh." Lily replied, putting a curl behind her ear.
They had a wonderful time talking about everything from their favorite subjects at school to their families and what their favorite bugs were. Everything seemed to flow nicely with them and no awkward silences happened between them anymore. Lily and James had been there for over four hours before they realized that they had to get back to school because the sun was setting.
It was kind of chilly outside when they left the Three Broomsticks so James draped his cloak over Lily's shoulders and continued walking the route to Hogwarts. Lily smiled and said thanks as she hugged it close to her.
"So Lily, you said you wanted to become an Unspeakable right?"
"That's right, and you said an Auror right?"
"Correct." He said as they started passing the shifty part of Hogsmeade, a few buildings that sold everything from cursed handbags to ancient dark artifacts and peculiar potions.
"Hey did you know that Frank Longbottom was accepted to take his test?"
"Yeah I did, that's crazy huh? Did you know he got engaged to Alice Short?"
Lily laughed. "Yep, found out today. Kharis told me."
"That's funny. Sirius told me." James grinned. He watched as her emerald eyes sparkled from the ray of dusk light.
"So do you think you'll get accepted for the Auror Test?" Lily asked, kicking a pebble along the path.
"Maybe. Professor McGonagall said that it was highly doubtful because I don't have the well behaved records or the Status of a Prefect or Head Boy."
"Way to shoot your dreams down huh?" She snickered.
"Yeah, seriously." James rolled his eyes. "But I dunno, I talked to Dumbledore and he said that I had the right state of mind for an Auror and that he'd put in a good word."
"Dumbledore has got to be the greatest man ever." Lily said. "So why do you want to be an Auror?"
"Well," James started. "I like the idea of adventure and the adrenaline rush you'd get for taking care of the idiotic maniacs we have. I'd like to start on Voldemort and those nasty Death Eaters he's racked up and some other slimy people."
As Lily and James reached another shady building that sold nothing but dark potions that was restricted to enter for 15 year olds and down, Severus Snape exited it. James immediately drew his wand but hid it from view from the smiling Lily. Speaking of slimy people…
"Hi Severus." She greeted.
Snape watched James give his cocky smirk as if daring him to say anything back and then his eyes lingered slightly to the veiled wand that pointed directly at him from the side of his jeans. He merely glanced at Lily but didn't say anything.
James, however, found it highly amusing that Snape was trapped between being rude to Lily Evans, the girl he probably only ever admired and being jinxed in front of her to quite an embarrassing altitude for replying back politely.
"Snape, what are you doing in that very unusual dark-product-selling store and aren't you still fifteen?"
Snape glared furiously at James, trying hard to bite back the feeling of turning his wand on him. He had turned sixteen in January but the fact that he had just exited out of a dodgy dark store was very suspicious and even Snape knew that.
"What's wrong Severus?" Lily asked a bit cautious. She had got the feeling that something was bothering him. She looked at James who she thought might be making Snape feel this way, but he looked like he wasn't doing anything, just there as an innocent bystander.
Snape tore his eyes away from his and James glaring match and looked at Lily. She noticed that he opened his mouth to say something, but closed it in a blink of an eye. Instead he jammed his hands inside his pocket and stepped around them, walking away without a word.
"That was weird." Lily whispered when James steered her back on the right path to Hogwarts. "I wonder why he didn't say anything. He's always been so nice to me, a bit shy sure, but never ignored me."
"Don't worry about it. He is a bit unusual." James stated matter-of-factly.
Lily turned on him. "Don't say that! There is nothing wrong with him. He's a really nice guy when you get to know him. He's a lot different when it's a one on one talk with him."
"I'll take you word for it." James muttered.
"Right." She said a bit stiffly.
James sighed. "Oh Lily, don't let him ruin this perfect day so far. I don't want to fight with you about Snape, please?"
"Alright, I'm sorry. I just don't know what's gotten into him lately."
"No idea." James replied.
They had finally reached the Gryffindor common room and it was time for their day date to end. Lily walked up one step of the stairs to the girl's dormitories and turned and looked at James, despite the step difference was eye level to her.
"I had great fun today with you, James." Lily smiled, staring into his hazel eyes.
James smiled back. "And I, you." He moved in a little closer. "We should definitely do this again."
"That's a definite possibility." She teased. She could see the dark browns spots in his eyes he was so close.
"Is that so?" He could see the moistness on her lips.
"Well, goodnight James." Lily turned her head and kissed him gently on the cheek. She twisted away from him, threw her long curls over her shoulder and grinned back at him teasingly before walking up the steps to the dormitories.
James stood there, a little unsure that Lily Evans had just teased him and kissed him on the cheek.
"I had great fun today with you Jamesie-poo! Let's do it again Jamesie-poo! Wanna make out, err, a kiss on the cheek Jamesie-poo?!" A high pitched teasing voice came from behind him. James turned and rolled his eyes, walking towards the now cackling Marauders.
"Har, Har. Very funny." He sneered at his best friends, especially Sirius, as it was him who made the voice.
"Well, it certainly was." Remus snorted, holding his pained side from trying to hide his laughter behind the couch as they spied.
"How long have you been there, huh?" James growled a little irked.
"From when you first walked in mate, saw the whole thing." Peter snickered, leaning on the back of the couch.
"Some friends you are, right?"
"Aw, c'mon Prongs, it was all in good fun," Sirius said, trying desperately to hold in his sniggers. "But you know," A little air escaped from his lips, "I don't think," Remus turned his head to hide his laughing, "you should ever," Peter grabbed a pillow and put it over his face, shaking uncontrollably from fits of amusement, "Wash that cheek again." Sirius erupted in laughter and the rest of the Marauders couldn't hide it any longer.
James stared at all his laughing buddies and folded his arms, clearly not amused. Sirius was now on all fours pounding the ground with one hand and holding his side with the other.
"Give it a rest will ya?"
"Ha ha hah aha!" Sirius calmed down and wiped a tear from his eyes. "Sorry. I'm better now."
James glared. "Right. Well I'm going to bed because I don't think I want to see any gorillas right now."
"Hey I heard," Sirius called out as James started walking up the steps to his dormitory. "That gorilla's get kisses too, but I don't think they get any on the cheeks!" He laughed out loud again and mocked kissing on the cheek with Peter.
They all laughed out again when James gave them the finger without turning around before shutting the door to his room.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
-More reviews please..please..please. thank you for the two reviews so far though.
-ENJOY
VVV Times are tragic and pain is real, deceit is easy to conceal. But keep in mind, a tale is told, of two young lovers with Hearts of Gold. A power, in which no evil can embrace, runs through the veins in those they face. Two young lovers so strong and bold, bear no evil with Hearts of Gold. A thought so chilling is hard to find, but it's the next great adventure to the well organized mind. Courage so true till their very last breath, these Brave Hearts will Never Fear Death. VVV