Herbology was boring and Lily was now walking to Potions with the Marauder-Peter included. They were early and waited in the dungeons outside Slughorn's classroom.
"Oh Lily, Sirius and I have been meaning to ask you som-," but James was cut off by a cold, slimy voice.
"Well, well, well, look at what we've got here."
"Snivellus," Sirius muttered dangerously, that even Lily was a little frightened.
"Black," spat Snape, "talked to your dear old Mum, I did. She seemed happy to talk to someone who knows good from bad. Like the older son she never had and-,"
"Oh please- why would I want to be liked by people like you?"
James stepped in and said, " Why don't you just crawl back into the hole we all know you were born in Snivelly."
Snape sneered, "This doesn't concern you, Potter. But what's this? Evans holding hands with you? Tsk, tsk. Touching a mudblood-,"
James made to go at him but was restrained by Sirius and Remus and even Lily a little bit. 'Damn James is strong' Lily thought but snapped back to reality.
"Don't even think about calling her that. Apologize and I won't rip you to pieces." James said fiercely. Snape's face paled slightly and Sirius smirked.
"Yeah right, Potter." He said coldly.
James made another move to get at him but now it was taking the strength of Sirius, Remus, Frank Longbottom and Peter. James almost broke free when he heard Lily's voice.
"Don't try him Snape. Or me for that matter." She said surprisingly calm.
"Oh yeah? What are you going to do?"
"Do you want to wait around and see or are you going to shut the hell up?"
But the voice that spoke was not Snape, but Lucius Malfoy.
" I like a beautiful feisty red head. Even if she's a mudblood." Said Lucius.
"What do you want Malfoy." She spat.
James was glaring daggers at Lucius. If looks could kill, Lucius would be dead before he hit the ground.
"I think you know what I want." He said in a low voice. He went over to her and snaked his arms around her. Lily almost threw up. But she got an idea. James looked ready to kill somebody and the guys were about to let James go for they were also glaring at Malfoy who was hitting on Lily. She winked at them, telling them she knew what to do.
"You're right. I do." She said. Lucius looked almost surprised but was enjoying it nonetheless. "Do you want to be able to reproduce?
"Only with you babe."
"Oh, well, I'll just make that real hard for you," and she kneed him below the belt. He keeled over in pain, clutching himself. "Don't you even think about touching me, ever."
The little crowd that had formed around them, cheered and laughed. The Marauders and Frank let go of James and laughed along with James.
"I'm sorry James, it was the only way to get rid of him."
"Well, as long as it worked and he didn't make another move on you." They whispered to each other.
"You- wait Evans," Lucius panted from the floor, "I'll get you someday."
"Sure you will sweetie-pie," Laughed Sirius. James waved his wand so Lily wouldn't get in trouble and Lucius was all better, but still furious.
"Is everything alright?" asked Professor Slughorn, who just showed up.
"Everything's wonderful Professor," said Remus firmly but politely.
"Yeah Sluggy, no worries." Said Sirius
When everyone was seated in the classroom, Professor Slughorn started talking
"Today, we will not be brewing, but having a review, because these N.E.W.T. tests will be…" and he went on and on. Even Lily felt sleepy when she saw James's neat handwriting on a piece of parchment. (James, Lily, Sirius, Remus)
Hey flower.
Hey James.
Before, I didn't get to finish what I was saying.
Yes, I know, tell me now.
Okay, for Christmas, Sirius and I would like to know if you would like to spend it with us, at my house.
For break you mean.
Yeah. You could come to my house and meet my parents.
Oh I would love that. And for New Years you could stay at my house. Sirius is welcome of course.
That sounds great. I'll invite him in now
Yo people!
Hey SiriusHi Padfoot. Erm- Lily's coming with us for Christmas
Wicked.
Yepp.
I was also wondering if you wanted to come to my house for New Years?I wouldn't be in the way, would I?
Of course not!
Okay, thanks Lils
So we can pack the Saturday after the ball/dance thing and leave on Sunday. Agreed?
Agreed.
Agreed.
Wait what about Remus?
Oh uh, normally he comes too, but he has to uh…
Visit his sick mother.
Yeah, so…he has to stay home.
Oh, okayI'm inviting him
Hi guys
Moony! I missed you! How have you been?
Padfoot, I'm sitting next to you.
Oh…yeah.
Hah, idiot.
Shut up Prongs.
Make me Padfoot.
Don't even start four-eyesFlea bitten canine
Antler headMad mutt
Damn alliteration.
I Think I'm beginning to see how your friendship works.You will never understand it. Even I don't understand it. And I'm part of it.
Crap, Slughorn!
SCATTER!They immediately stopped writing. After five minutes of torture, the day was over. They had the Prefects meeting and James was heading to the pitch. Sirius was beater until he got hit in the arm so badly, he couldn't play on the team anymore so he commentates along with Remus. James was captain this year just like he was last year. Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup every year since James was on the team. He was a Chaser, and probably the best. Despite his strength, he has amazing reflexes and could easily be a seeker. Practice went on for and hour and a half. When James got back it was 8:30. Thank Merlin he did all his homework before. Now he was exhausted. Lily didn't seem to be there so he went and took a long, hot shower in the Heads' tower (A/N: "Moony guess what?" "What Padfoot?" "She rhymed!" "Oh lord…") When he got out, he saw his favorite redhead sitting on the floor, working on an essay, chewing the end of her quill. He smiled at the way her face was set and determined.
"Need help?" he asked in a deep, mature voice. Lily looked up and what she saw, made her feel like she had gotten the wind knocked out of her.
There, in front of her, was James Potter, in nothing but a towel wrapped around his lower hips and beads of water hanging from his hair. She had seen his chest before, but now it was different. Underneath the towel was- 'Lily shut up!' she thought.
"Well-er-I was-er-y-you-uh-no?" She stuttered. James fought to hold back a laugh as he walked over and sat on the couch that she was leaning her back against.
"Lily, I know I'm sexy but it is rude to stare." Lily snapped out of her trance and blushed, and went back to her essay muttering a 'sorry'.
"Are you sure you don't need my help?" he asked, moving closer. He knew him being half-naked was driving her nuts.
"You're not wearing anything," she said, trying not to look at her boyfriend who said,
"Yes I am, I'm wearing a towel."
"Well you might as well not be wearing one!"
James smirked, "If you say so," James went to go remove his towel
"James!"
"I'm kidding, calm down. I'll go get dressed." Lily nodded and James kissed the top of her head and went into his room.
Lily sighed in relief when his door shut. She didn't think she had that much self-control.
When James shut his door he was sure he heard Lily run into the bathroom screaming,
"Cold shower, Cold shower, Cold shower, Cold shower!"
Once they were all showered and on the couch working on Lily's essay James said, "Be sure to include that concentration is the key to human transformations because say if…" Lily really wasn't paying attention anymore; she was staring at him with a dreamy, far-off look. James looked at her and realized she wasn't absorbing anything he was saying
"Lily?" he asked softly, waving a hand in front of her face. She still did nothing. James rolled his eyes and leaned in on her. She was paying attention now but pretended she had no clue. James saw her eyes flicker. She thought he was going to kiss her when she was disappointed. James Whispered, "No attention, not kiss, I'm hurt, Goodnight." Lily's mouth hung open.
'Mad over that? Oh please. He'll get over it, tomorrow's Hogsmeade." She thought, but oh, was she wrong.
James didn't say one word to her at breakfast and went to Hogsmeade with the Marauder. Lily sighed heavily as it was yet another Hogsmeade trip alone. She didn't have friends at Hogwarts besides the Marauders. Not even at home. They grew apart as Lily came to Hogwarts. So she set off down the lonely path. She stopped at Honeyduke's first to get candy. That's when she saw them, The Marauders. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and-, 'Wait' thought Lily, ' there is no 'and'. That's it. It was the four of them.' But there was another boy and it was-.
"Jesse Richards?" She asked herself. Then she remembered James saying they were good friends.
Lily kept walking until she stopped at a dress robe shop. She realized she needed robes for the Christmas Ball. She looked around and tried on different robes of all different colors. Emerald seemed the best color on her until she saw one that really caught her eye. She took it off the rack and gasped. It was Perfect. And a wonderful fit so she bought it. She also bought white, strappy, high-healed shoes that strapped up, stopping mid-calf.
She bought Remus, Sirius, Peter and James their gifts and her parents'. She walked dully back to the Castle only to be stopped by someone wrapping their arms around her lower waist.
"What is such a beautiful lady, such as yourself, doing walking alone?" he asked.
She pried herself out of his arms and turned around to come face to face. Very closely.
"I don't know, ask her boyfriend," she snapped, only half-heartedly.
He smiled and slung an arm lazily over her shoulders, they started walking again, "It just so happens that I did and he said he needed an excuse to go alone, without you that is, so he could buy you a gift."
Lily smiled, "Well, then, that's okay. I'll let it slide…for now."
"Oh-Hey listen Lily?" he asked, taking his arm off of her. They stopped walking and they looked into each other's eyes. "I don't know if you've heard this, but, it's kind of a Marauder thing that we do. I never really asked you out and, well, I want to. But not just any other way, the Marauders' way. It actually started in the 50's. When my parents went to school. Instead of asking my mother out, my dad asked her if she wanted to go steady." Lily smiled as James laughed a little. She was getting more and more curious and excited as he went on, "And when she said 'yes', he pinned this pin on her," she said, patting his pocket but did not show it to her. "Now, I heard that almost every female heard about this here, so the whole school basically knows that when a Marauder gets a girlfriend, she is 'pinned' so to speak. So, Lily Evans, do you wanna go steady?" he asked, looking into her startling, emerald eyes. She smiled and even laughed a little and replied,
"Yes, of course, James Potter." He grinned at her and pulled out the pin. Lily didn't know what to say. The pin was truly beautiful. It was gold, round and had a few diamonds. Written on it was, Marauder's Girl, in beautiful, swirly handwriting. He pinned it on and she kissed him, almost crying. She was just happy to be here, with him, and, Sirius?
"Oi! Lovebirds! Cut it out I'm gonna barf." He yelled playfully with Remus Peter and Jesse behind him.
Jesse Richards was a 7th year Ravenclaw prefect and Lily's crush since her 1st year. It was weird, James and Jesse being friends. Why? Lily didn't know. It just, was.
"So guys I-Woah, James, Lily's shirt!" exclaimed Sirius. Lily looked down quickly, wondering if something was wrong. James just looked confused. "She stole your mother's pin!"
"Idiot…" Mumbled Remus, smacking his forehead.
"I'm going to the Heads' room to wrap everyone's gifts. Don't get into too much trouble okay? Limit to 3 detentions if you can okay sweetie?"
"Yes Mum." James replied jokingly. "Hey-and no feminine pet-names either!" Lily let out a breathy laugh and pecked James on the lips.
"What about me?" Pouted Sirius, looking like a puppy. Lily kissed the top of his head, almost mother-like, and went inside the castle, "Much better." He said, folding his arms across his chest.
(A/N: Okay guys, Theresa here. I was really bored and I was watching bye bye birdie. So there is this part when they're all on telephones talking about this girl and guy getting pinned so I had Hogwarts sing. HAHA if you totally think that's retarded, then skip all of the bold because it's not important to the story. Okay good. And btw, both Lily and James have singing skills lol…. okay …proceed)
Later, the people of Hogwarts were going nuts over this fresh news. Everyone was talking about it. Suddenly, it was like everyone but the Marauders (minus Peter) and Lily were in the hallways. Everyone was talking…
" -Hi Nancy
Hi Ursula, what's the story, morning glory? What's the tale, nightingale?
Did you hear about Lily and James?
- Hi Margie
Hi Alice, what's the story, morning glory? What's the word, hummingbird?
Is it true about Lily and James?
Girls: -Did they really get pinned?
-Did she kiss him and cry?
-Did he pin the pin on?
-Or was he too shy?
Guys:-Yeah right!
Girls:-Well, I heard they got pinned
Guys:-Yeah, yeah!
-I wasn't hoping they would
-Uh huh…
-Now they're living at last
-He's gone
-Going steady for-
-Hello Professor Flitwick, this is Peter Pettigrew, can I speak to Audrey Raines?
-Is it true about James?
-Audrey?
-I just knew it somehow!
-About the ball…
-I must owl him at once,
-Friday?
-I can't talk to you now!
Girls:-Going steady!
Guys:-You know it, man
-Going steady!
-It's crazy, man
-Going steady!
-You know it-
Girl #1-It wont last
Girl#2-Not at all
Girl#3- She's not thin
Girl#4- He's too tall
-Hello Professor Vector, this is Peter Pettigrew, can I speak to Carlotta Green?
Guys:-Hi, you Potter
Hi, you stupid!
Whatcha wanna go get pinned for?
Girls:-Well I heard they got pinned
Guys:-Good luck
-I wasn't hoping they would
-You lost your morals
-Now they're living at last
Both:-Going steady for-
Peter: Hello Professor Sinistra, is Charity back from tutoring yet?
James:If you gotta go
That's the way to go
When they got you hooked,
Then you're really cooked.
Whatcha gonna do?
Whatcha gonna do?
Lily:This is the way it should be
James: We'll be happy I know
Both:Going steady for me
That's the way it should go
Rest:Going steady!
Going steady!
Going steady!
Steady for Good!
Going steady!
Going steady!
Going steady!
Steady for Good!
The next couple of week went by quickly for Lily. Before she knew it, it was Friday, December 20th, the Christmas Ball. They had a half-day so they could prepare. Charms was their last class of the day. Flitwick was late, so the whole class, Gryffindors and Ravenclaws, were outside.
"Attention! Attention!" yelled Sirius, everyone was silent and listening, "James Potter would like to ask his flower a question!" Everyone's eyes turned to Lily and James
"Oh Merlin," muttered Lily. James flashed her a smile and got down on one knee
"Lily Grace Evans-,"
"Not the middle name," she groaned.
"You're interrupting."
"Sorry," several people laughed softy
"Ahem. Lily Grace Evans, will you accompany me and be my date for the Christmas Ball this evening?" James asked, taking out a box and opening it. Several girls awed and Lily gasped as she saw what was inside. It was the most beautiful pair of diamond earrings she ever saw. They were sparkling Lilies and the perfect size. She broke into an enormous grin to match James's and said,
"Of course."
James's smile got even bigger (if possible) and kissed her passionately. The surrounding crowd cheered, pumped their fists in the air and made wolf whistles and catcalls. Professor Flitwick coughed and James and Lily broke apart grinning sheepishly. Flitwick shook his head and laughed.
"Sorry I'm late, but it seems you weren't bored. Everyone in." The class got settled and Remus and Sirius sat behind Lily and James. They got bored (even Lily) and started passing notes (Normal- James; Underline-Sirius; Lily-Italic; and Remus-italic underline)
The reason he was late was cause of his height
Hah! I know, we need to do something
I don't like the sound of that
Oh come on! You're a Marauder Moony, party pooper
Yeah really
James! Your Head Boy!So?
So?
Never mind
Okay. So what are you wearing tonight?
NothingReally?
Really?
No
You're cruel. Really, What are you wearing?
I'm not telling you. But you'll like it cause it's a little low. Ew did I just tell you that?I love it already
Perv.
Hey, it comes with being a male eh Padfoot? Moony?
DUHToo true Prongs
Remus!What? I have hormones too!
Good man Moony. So Lils, after class want to hang out with us?
Erm- will Jesse be there?
Probably. Does it matter?
No, but I think I'll do my homework to get it out of the way.
Lily, is there something wrong with Jesse?
Oh er Flitwicks coming this way. Bye!
Um, can you say weird?
Yeah watch"Weird!" screamed Sirius in the middle of Professor Flitwicks's sentence. Everyone looked at him. James was hysterical laughing with Remus and Lily had her hand on her mouth to keep from laughing and smacked Sirius behind the head, "Ouchy!"
Class ended and Lily rushed to the Common Room. The truth was, Lily didn't like to be near Jesse anymore. She found out he sort of liked her now. She didn't like him anymore, he was too late and she loved James. Wait. What? Did she love him? She definitely liked him. But love? What was that song? Oh yeah, 'What is love'. She started painting her nails a crème color for tonight and started singing not noticing someone coming through the portrait hole.
"It's the
way you're nervous when you speak
and the way I know just what you
mean
it's the kind of thing that's bittersweet
it's a
funny feeling deep inside
so many different sides
but still so
easy to define
cause you'll know it every time
and its not
just in your mind
you can feel the butterflies
sending chills
down your spine
what is love
but a kiss on a rainy
day
a smile that won't go away
a safe place to run
what is
love
but a complicated simple truth
a bond between me and
you
the number one
oh that's love
and the things that
never cross your mind
now you're doing all of the time
cause
with someone special it's so right
it's like dancing when you
walk
and singing when you talk
and you're happy just to be
alive
live in the moment don't pretend
let it go or take it
in
you don't have to understand
the how why and when
What is
love
but a kiss on a rainy day
a smile that won't go away
a
safe place to run
what is love
but a complicated simple truth
a
bond between me and you
the number one
oh that's love"
When Lily finished, James couldn't believe it. "You have the most beautiful voice I think I've ever heard." Lily jumped in surprise and turned to face him. "Why didn't you tell me you could sing?" he asked.
"I didn't think it was that good."
"It's amazing!"
Lily smiled at him, "Thank you." James nodded in reply. "What time is it?"
James looked at his watch and replied, "4:30,"
Lily's eyes widened, "Holy Mother of Merlin! I have to get ready still!" She yelled, running to take a shower.
"But it starts at 7:00!" He shouted at her while shaking his head.
It was 5:00 when Lily got out of the shower. She put a slip in, and started doing her make-up when there was a knock on her door. Forgetting what she was wearing, or, wasn't wearing, she opened the door to find James standing there.
"Hey I-woah." He said when he looked at her. Also, being taller did have its advantages.
"What?" She asked but realization dawned on her. "Oops. Whatever, what do you want?" James was still standing, staring at 'her' when he replied,
"You." Lily smirked when James turned red. "I mean-er-I-uh-you…I can't remember," he finished stupidly.
Lily laughed, "Okay," and she shut her door. James closed his mouth and walked away to go get ready. And he really really REALLY needed a cold shower
Lily put on foundation, blush, light brown eye shadow, black eyeliner and mascara, and clear lip-gloss. Vanilla. Yuuuummmmmm. James told her it was his favorite flavor because it tasted good. (A/N: Hahahaha lol Oh James…much love 3) She opened her closet and took out her dress. She put it on, looked in the mirror, did her hair and nodded her approval. She was ready a wonderful night.