Summary: When a class assignment pairs two students who have never seen eye to eye together for two weeks during the summer, sparks are bound to fly, along with tempers, tears and clothing? JPLE. Rating may change.
A.N.: J.K.Rowling, Scholastic, Warner Brothers, they all own Harry Potter. I own nothing. I can barely afford gas for my car let alone try to copyright a story for a fanfic site. And if you, Mrs. Rowling would just put out a new Harry Potter book each week we uber-fans wouldn't have to take matters into our own hands and hope to Merlin you don't sue us for plagiarism.
This isn't my first fic just the first one I've had the nerve to post, most of the time they are just a very weird catharsis. I appreciate your opinions so please review and tell me what you think! Will update often. Rating will most likely change later just to be on the safe side.
Muggle It
Ch. 2 At a Whiff
"LILY!"
A pair of green eyes flew open, blinking in the sunlight.
"LILY!"
She pulled the blankets over her head as her door flew open. The girl her parents still insisted was her sister burst in.
"LILY!"
"Whaaa…t." She yawned out lazily.
"You borrowed my pink jumper!"
"I did not. I don't even wear pink."
"You borrowed it and spilled ink all down the front."
"Petunia. Get out, I didn't ruin your stupid jumper." She just rubbed her eyes sleepily. Her sister just huffed at her and stormed out, slamming the door so hard it flew back open. Lily just picked up her wand from her bedside table and flicked the door closed as she rolled back over to get a bit more sleep.
"Lily?"
Lily just groaned as she was awoken once again. Why wouldn't these people just let her sleep?. She had to deal with a certain exasperating dark haired wizard later and would need her rest.
"Lily, are you awake?"
"No."
"Your friend is here."
"My what?" Her eyes opened to see her mother standing in the doorway. She and Petunia had the same features but her mothers tended to be much less harsh, due to the presence of a soul.
"Your friend dear, you should have told me he was coming. I would have made sure you were awake."
"Oh no."
"He's quite cute."
"Ohhh no. No, No, No."
She got out of bed quickly grabbing her wand, not caring that she was currently in unicorn covered pajama bottoms and an oversized Wimborne Wasps shirt.
She took the stairs down to the living room two at a time as her mother called something about a hairbrush and lip-gloss after her.
"What!" She spat with rage, "Are you doing here?"
He turned around and grinned at her appearance.
"Having a bit of a lie in Evans?" He looked her up and down innocently, as her father was standing there. "Has anyone ever told you that you look smashing in the mornings? But the Wasps? Come on, everyone knows Puddlemere is going to take the league."
"I asked you what you were doing here."
"We have to get to that house using Muggle transportation. Its part of the rules. And seeing how we are going to the same place, and I don't exactly live anywhere near here and it doesn't specify where we have to depart from, it only seemed logical I came here first. Its all in the owl I sent you."
"I Never Got An Owl." She growled.
As if on cue a large black Owl flew in the kitchen window and held out a letter for her. She took it grudgingly and watched as the Owl flew onto his shoulder.
"What, did you send this then apperate over?"
"No. I gave him and hour head start." He just smiled sweetly at her. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"
Lily just seethed at him. However her parents were looking at her expectedly now. "Fine. Mum. Dad. This is James Potter. I have the distinct misfortunes of sharing a house at school with him."
"Lily! That was rude." Her mother scolded.
"Oh, no, don't worry about it Mrs. Evans. Its just this little game Lily and I have. She's shy about you finding out I'm her boyfriend."
Lily went Gryffindor red as her parents turned to look at her. "He is NOT my boyfriend. James tell them you are not my boyfriend!"
James just chuckled. "Sick of me already sweetheart?" He laughed as she batted him on the arm. "No. She's right, I'm sorry Mr. and Mrs. Evans. See she pulled a little prank on me at the end of the year and I had to get her back."
"A prank" Mr. Evans asked.
"Well not so much a prank as she and her friends putting Stinksap in my hair gel."
Lily couldn't help but giggle a bit.
"Only they put a temporary smell masking charm on it."
With that Lily did laugh as her parents looked at her. "Well, it really was funny, half way through Defense Against the Dark Arts it smelled as though he had washed it hair with rotten manure. And we only did it because you though it would be funny to charm Lavinia's boyfriends eyebrows off."
"That was Sirius."
"Well there was a slight chance he would use your gel."
"I can't help it if her boyfriend is a dirty rotten Quidditch player. He broke one of our Chaser's arms during the last match."
"He didn't do it on purpose."
"He hit her with a bat."
They both stopped to see the Evans staring at them, looking rather amused.
"The point is, he's not my boyfriend."
"Yet."
Lily glared at him. "I'm going to go change. Don't touch anything." She walked past him coolly.
As Lily walked up the stairs she stopped in horror.
"Oh, Hey, you must be Petunia."
Lily covered her mouth. "Oh no." She started to turn around.
"Lily talks about you a lot. I heard your getting married. Congratulations."
She vaguely heard her sister stutter out something resembling a thank you.
"Vernon, right? Works with drills?"
"Y..Yes."
"Yeah. Lily said he's becoming pretty successful. Never had much of a need for drills but I've heard there dead useful."
"So this is it."
Lily looked up as James walked into her room. "I always pictured there to be more books, and one of those cute pink canopy beds. Dunno why."
"Well, I would appreciate it if you didn't try to imagine my room anymore thank you."
"Don't have to do I? Now that I've seen the real thing. Your families nice."
"My mum and dad are."
"Petunia doesn't seem that bad."
"That's because she too afraid your going to turn her into a cockroach or something." She zipped up her bag, slightly peeved that he was currently looking at pictures on her shelf.
James let out a loud laugh. "Is this you?" He brought a picture over to her. Lily looked down at the little redheaded girl dressed in a little white tutu.
"Uh, yeah."
"What in the world are you wearing?"
"A costume"
"Was it Halloween or something?"
"No. It was my first dance recital."
"What's that?"
"Its…never mind." She said, trying to take it.
"No. Really come on, because if you don't tell me that there was a reason for you wearing this, I'm just going to take the mickey out of you for it for the next two weeks."
"It was a ballet recital. I used to dance. It's a muggle thing. You wouldn't understand." She got it from his grip and held it carefully.
He looked at her looking at the picture. She looked…sad.
"If it helps…you were a really cute kid." He said. She blushed and quickly put it back on the shelf. "No, really you were. I was a funny looking little kid. I had these dreadful knobby knees and I was short, I wore glasses."
"You don't wear glasses."
"Actually Evans, I do. See, there's a lot you don't know about me."
"We've lived in the same house for six years and I've never seen you wear glasses."
"That's because I only wear them during the summers, well not this summer. And at night. I do a Seeing Charm. First spell I ever learned. First year I jumped on the train, ducked into the bathroom and whala, I'm the breathtakingly handsome bloke you see before you."
Lily scoffed lightly. "Why?"
"Why what? Am I so handsome? Well you'll have to ask my parents that."
"Why deal with charms and not just wear your glasses. Their part of who you are, why hide it just because you think it might make you look cooler. And you still have knobby knees I saw you and all your friends swimming in the lake last term."
"Checking out my legs are you Evans?" He wagged his eyebrows at her.
"Merely laughing at them."
James went red and shifted uncomfortably. It took her a moment to realize that he was genuinely embarrassed. Could it be that James Potter wasn't the disgustingly confident person he tried to pass himself off as? Self-conscious about the fact that he did in fact have knobby knees?
"They weren't that bad…I have funny looking feet." She said hopefully, trying to help the awkward silence that had filled the room.
James just chuckled lightly and handed the picture back to her. "Anyways…you were pretty…still are." He smiled thoughtfully. "I definitely hope our kids take after you."
Lily glared at him. "In your dreams Potter."
He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "For now."
He grinned at her as he walked out leaving her standing there a little breathless. They had been standing not a foot apart. She could still sense his smell lingering where he had been. A sort of spicy sweet sweat and soap. It was intoxicating.
Intoxicating? James Potter was not intoxicating! Toxic, yes, infuriating most definitely, but not intoxicating.
Then why was she still rooted on the spot still trying to breathe in the last bit of him? She shook her head and looked back at the picture on the shelf. It was right next to her old ballet slippers. She touched them lightly, not seeing James watching her in the doorway. When she did look over, he was gone. And she, much to her surprise, was disappointed.
"Ok. Be good and if you need anything call us."
"Ok Mum." She hugged her mother then her father. "Bye Daddy."
"Goodbye sweetheart. Have fun."
"Er…I'll try."
They stood in Kings Cross in front of the train that would take them to the town they were staying in.
"Oh, and it was nice to meet you James." Her mother smiled at the boy.
"It was lovely to meet you too Mrs. Evans." He shook her hand gently, then went on to shake her fathers hand more firmly. "I hope to be seeing you both soon."
Mrs. Evans couldn't help but smile at her daughter as James picked up his trunk and her suitcase. She leaned in and whispered to Lily. "Cute, Funny, and Well-mannered. Tell me he's smart to boot and I might consider leaving your father for him."
Lily looked at her mum, horrified. "Mum!"
"Oh look at that, its your train. Have a good time dear."
"Give me back my suitcase."
"I'm being polite."
"Your being chauvinistic."
"My dad always carries my mum's bag."
"Well your not your dad and I'm not your mum."
"Give it a rest will you. I'm just trying to be nice." He said as he put her bag and his trunk into an overhead compartment and motioned to a seat.
Lily sat in the seat by the window with her arms crossed as he sat down next to her. He was looking around curiously. "I think I like the Hogwarts Express better."
"It is much nicer."
"Yeah."
They were quiet for what seemed like the longest minute in human history. James suddenly found the need to find something on his finger very interesting as she dug for a non-existing pack of gum in her purse.
The train started with a lurch and they began to head off towards their new home for two weeks.
"You know, I don't know why I couldn't have just brought Moe with me."
"What?" Lily just stared at him.
"I bring him on the Hogwarts Express all the time, he likes it."
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"Moe, What if he has trouble finding us?"
"Who's Moe?"
"Moe, my owl."
"Ohhh. You named your owl Moe?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"That's not an Owl name."
"What and Ingrid is?"
"Yes. And how did you know my Owls name?"
"I happen to be very smart. That and you had her cage on your desk with her name on it." He smiled at her. "And Moe happens to be a perfectly fine name for and owl. Better than Sirius, he named his Hefner."
"Hefner?"
"Yeah like after Huge Hefner?"
"Who?"
"He's this muggle who…never mind." He smirked awkwardly and stretched out in the seat the best he could.
"Why did you say all those things to Petunia earlier?" She asked.
"What things?"
"I heard your talk to her when I left the room. You told her I talked nicely about her and…how did you know about Vernon? I know I didn't tell you."
"I'm smart remember."
"James."
"I just thought if maybe she thought you were saying nice stuff about her to all your freaky friends then things might not be so hard off between you. I was trying to help. Sorry."
"No, I'm not mad, I was just wondering why you did it. I wasn't exactly being nice to you back there."
"She's your sister and…I could tell when you told me about her that the whole situation upset you. Ok and I had Sirius talk to Lavinia and she told him about Vernon so I had something to use when I met her. I had to make a good impression with your family didn't I?"
There was that token Potter grin again. A slightly crooked smile mixed with an arrogant smirk that said 'I am so clever and you can't help but love me for it'
"Why would you care if my family liked you or not?"
"Its always best to get along with your in laws isn't it? My dad and mums parents don't get on very well and it makes it rather difficult around the holidays. And it's always best to start out on the right foot."
Lily just gawked at him in disbelief. He was sitting there as if he had just commented on the weather.
"Your crazy." Was all she could manage to stammer out.
"Yeah, maybe but it doesn't mean I'm not being serious. Were going to end up together Lily. I know it, you know it, I think your mum knows it too, but it could have been my imagination, her telling you how perfect I was. You just haven't realized it yet. Its no big deal. I've waited two and a half years. I can wait a bit longer."
And with that he reached into his knapsack and pulled out a Quidditch magazine and started reading.
Lily had nothing to do now but sit there in a stunned silence, look for that blasted pack of imaginary gum once again, then stare out the window.
She couldn't figure out if he was being serious or pulling her leg. He had just basically told her that she was the girl he was planning to marry, that he…No, he had to be joking around. This was just another one of his stupid jokes. Right?
As she watched the city go by in a blur she couldn't help but wonder if she wanted him to be joking.
Of course she did. This was James Potter! It would be a stretch to call him a friend, let alone have feelings for him. Feelings other than annoyance and disgust that is. As she worked to burn those words into her mind she couldn't help but look at his reflection in the glass.
His messy hair hung down a bit longer than most guys wore theirs these days. Those beautiful…annoying, hazel eyes were staring intently at the page of his magazine. The black of his polo shirt made his pale skin stand out even more under his black hair.
She had though about telling him what a prat he looked like earlier with the collar turned up. However now…it looked kind of cute. She wasn't used to seeing him in muggle clothes. They were almost always in their school uniforms and robes. Always long-sleeved. But there was his arm. The angle it was at was causing his bicep to bulge out a bit. It seemed that all that tossing and catching the Quaffle had paid off.
She blushed, realizing she was checking out James's arms in the window and quickly looked upward. However looking up she only saw his profile.
Wow, he had a strong jaw. And nice ears. Ears probably weren't all that important in the long run but she had dated a boy with rather large ears a while back and seeing that his were nice and in proportion was a slight relief.
Then there was that spot where his ear met that strong jaw. What a perfect place to kiss.
NO!
Oh no. This wasn't happening. How could this be happening! It was happening. She was sitting there fantasizing about bloody James Potter and his perfect jaw and hair and ears. Just like he wanted her to. This was not happening!
She stared at the seat in front of her in disbelief then quickly looked out the window again.
She startled slightly when she saw his reflection looking back at her. He was looking out the window now too. She looked into those hazel eye and for the first time in her life didn't see annoying James Potter looking back at her.
She was looking into her future, and she knew it.
NOOO!
"Are you going to hex me if I try to carry your bag again?"
"No." She said quietly.
He looked at her curiously. "Ok then." He picked up her bag and they made their way to the door to wait for the train to stop. The city was gone and they had spent the last half an hour going though the country side.
They got off the train in a small station and looked around. It was late afternoon so the sun was still high but that didn't stop the station from being empty.
"Great." James looked around. "Now what do we do?"
"Well, maybe their just a bit late?"
"Maybe."
"I'll call if their not here in ten minutes."
"Call?"
"On the telephone. Remember we studied them?"
"Right! There like plastic two way mirrors."
"Er, yeah."
They set their things down on the bench and sat down. Lily couldn't help but look around nervously. "You don't think they would have forgotten us, do you?"
"Professor Gale owled me to tell me everything was still good to go."
"Same here."
Lily's stomach growled and she blushed. It had occurred to her earlier that with the surprise of James showing up at her house, she had yet to eat today.
"You ok?"
"I'm fine."
Her stomach told them both she was lying moments later.
"Here." He said digging in his bag. He pulled out a bag of cookies.
"Oh, no, I couldn't."
"Your starving, eat some."
"They're yours."
"I know. That's why I'm offering some to you. Stop being stubborn and eat some." He held the bag out to her and she took one and reluctantly bit into it.
"Umm. Oh my. These are good."
James smiled proudly. "My mum was worried I might get hungry on the trip. I had to talk her out of trying to sneak a steak and kidney pie in there while I wasn't looking."
Lily laughed a bit.
"But I will tell her that her cookies were a hit, she'll be thrilled. If Dad or I tell her something is good she just brushes it off. But if someone out side the family tells her they like her cooking she acts like she's never had a compliment in her life. I think that's why she always liked having Sirius there with us."
"Sirius?"
"Yeah, he lived with us for a while, last summer and over the holidays. Well he's been staying with us over the holidays since first year."
"I didn't know that."
"Yeah. He and his family well…lets just say they don't get along. He got his own place this summer. A little flat over Quality Quidditch where he's working."
"Sirius Black living on his own with no adult supervision. Now that's a scary thought."
"Ahh, Come on. You don't give ole Padfoot a chance."
"Padfoot? What on earth is the point of those stupid nicknames anyways?"
"Sorry Evans. If I told you I'd have to kill you."
"Well they can't be to hard to figure out. There's what, Padfoot, that's Sirius. Moody is Remus."
"Its Moony." He was smiling, watching her think.
"Sorry, Moony. Then the weird one, Peter's name, Rattail, Mousetail… its something tail."
"Wormtail."
"Yes, that's a rotten nickname by the way. And your what, Prongsie?"
"Its Prongs, thank you very much." He said haughtily.
"Prongs?"
"Yes."
"And you don't even feel a little bit silly walking around and having your friends call you Prongs?" She asked with raised eyebrows.
"Nope. We could give you a cute little nickname if it would make you feel better?" He grinned.
"I'm quite happy with Lily."
"Suit yourself."
She reached over and took another cooking, trying to convince herself the reason she was enjoying a conversation with James was merely a side effect of food depravation.
"So. You said you were going to try and figure out what our nicknames meant?"
"Right. Ok, Prongs well that could have to do with the fact you always have your hair sticking up in the back of your head?"
"Not even close Evans." He looked highly amused.
"Well, Moony, you know I really don't want to know where that might have come from. I will however be keenly aware to avert my eyes whenever I see him wearing a trench coat.
James laughed and Lily realized, with much distress, she loved his laugh. But then couldn't decide whether to try to make him laugh again, or stop it all together so she wouldn't have to watch his eyes light up and lips turn up in that crooked grin.
"Give it up Evans. Your never going to figure it out."
"Then tell me then."
James smile faded slightly. "Sorry Love. Can't do that."
"Why not."
"Because."
"Because is not an answer, its an avoidance. And don't call me Love"
"Maybe someday."
She was about to ask whether he meant telling her the nicknames, or calling her love, because the second wasn't an option, when she was interrupted.
"James Evans, Lily Potter?"
They both jumped a little and looked up. An older man was now standing by them.
"James Potter, Lily Evans." James corrected
"Right. Sorry. I'm Judge Hawthorn, Sorry for the delay."
"Its quite alright Sir." Lily held out her hand, smiling. The judge shook it hesitantly, then shook James.
"I actually can't show you up to the house. I have to catch a train to town. Here are the directions. My housekeeper is there. She will get you settled in.
With that, he walked off.
James and Lily just looked at each other. Both looking slightly worried. James spoke first. "Well, guess we should start walking."
"Yeah."
They headed up a long dirt road and James kept looking over at Lily. "Hey, Lily?"
Lily looked slightly startled by the use of her first name. "What?"
"Don't tell them your muggleborn, ok."
"What! Why not?" She asked defensivly.
"Just with the way things are right now. We don't know who these people really are, sure they've been cleared by the school but, you never know. I just don't think you should tell them."
"I've never been ashamed of the fact that I'm a muggleborn. I get better marks than you do."
"I know you do. I've never believed that being a muggleborn is anything to be ashamed of. But some people do. Like those bloody Slytherins calling you a…you know. And right now there are a lot of wizards who are doing a hell of a lot more than name calling. I know you've seen the papers, and its getting worse. So, really Lily, I'm not saying tell them you think muggleborns are scum just, try to not mention it...please?."
Lily looked at him furiously. "They are letting us stay here to help improve relations between wizards and muggles! Not hurt them."
"Lily. Do you have any idea how long I fought with my parents to let me come here. In the end I think they only agreed just to make sure nothing happened to you. Do you know what a prime opportunity this is for the death eaters? Get young wizards who are muggle supporters and spend two weeks turning us against them."
"That's crazy."
"But it's a possibility. That's why I'm just saying that, for your own safety, just don't mention it. Ok, Please." He asked urgently.
She was looking at him intently now. She had never seen him look so serious before. "Ok. I wont mention it."
"Ok."
They walked along in silence for about a mile. The tension in the air was so thick a saw couldn't have cut into it, let alone a knife.
Lily just kept looking down at James hand as they walked. Before long she was willing him to pick up hers. Something that surprised her quite a bit. It was just there, inches from her own, perfectly proportioned to hold her own in it comfortably. Soon after that hand holding was forgotten and thoughts of it in her hair, running down her back, traveling up to her breast were flooding her head. They really were nice hands.
The hand in question brushed hers as he stumbled over a root, sending a spark rushing though her. A spark that wiped out thoughts of innocent wanderings and those hands were now ripping away her skirt and touching her like no man ever had.
She felt her face flush and her entire body grow warm as her mind crossed into new areas.
"Want to take a break?"
Her head jerked up and she saw James looking at her.
"What?"
"You look a little flushed, do you want to take a break?"
"No. No I'm fine." She could she his face masked with concern for her, and the concern almost masked the amusement...almost.
Why has she never noticed his face before? Sure, she had always had to agree with the popular opinion that he was good looking, even handsome. But a stinging dislike for him had always made it end there.
He was gorgeous.
"Ok, just checking, we should be there soon…are you sure your ok? Your really red."
"I'm Fine James!" She snapped as she quickly walked ahead of him.
Behind her James was grinning like an idiot as he watched her walk. "Ok. If you slow down, I'll walk with you so you can stare at my hand some more. "
His grin got wider as he heard her let out an exasperated growl.
A.N. Please, tell me what you think. I've got the story mapped out but if there's something you really don't like or that you think can be improved let me know. I know it might be a little slow right now but I'm trying to set it up for later. Thanks for reading!