Summary: He thought she hated him. She thought she was just bragging rights. He kept missing his chances. She was running away scared. A story of love that follows Lily and James from 6th year until graduation. R/R!
Disclaimer: So no one sues me, I'm not JKR, I could never compare to JKR and you all know that. She is the almighty goddess of all things Harry Potter/magic. Her riches are not mine. Enjoy!
Even though the day was bitterly cold, the sun was shining through the grey, snow-filled clouds so it made the below zero temperature seem a bit more kind. Nearly every student was outside, enjoying the two feet of snow that Hogwarts had gotten the previous night. After all, it was Saturday and there was so much time to use putting off homework.
Three particular students were trekking across the snow, making their way across the vast lawn, although one had finished her homework on Friday. Lily, Rita, and Aurelia were going to visit Hagrid; something they had been doing every few weekends since Aurelia first found out he shared her passion for magical creatures in first year.
"I love the snow," Aurelia said happily, spinning around on her tiptoes and making snow dust fly up around her calves.
Lily wrinkled her nose slightly. "It's alright, very pretty, but I'm not to fond of being in it."
"Unless there's a snowball fight," Rita pointed out.
Nodding in agreement, Lily said, "Of course. But I much prefer spring."
Rita opened her mouth to add her opinion, but was interrupted when a seventh year Hufflepuff casually slid up next to her and wrapped an arm around Rita's waist. "You must be cold," the boy said in mock concern and pulled Rita closer.
Wiggling to no avail, Rita said coolly, "No and who are you?"
Grinning widely, the boy said, "Regis McCay. And I know your Rita Garbunkal."
"Congratulations. Now if you'll excuse me," Rita said and once again tried to wiggle away.
Regis tightened his grip on her. "Now, now, don't be in such a hurry to leave me." Lily and Aurelia shared worried glances – first of all, Rita liked to make the first move and second, did not like to be talked down to. "So, what are you doing tomorrow?"
With a glare, Rita spat, "Too busy for you…please excuse me."
Chuckling, Regis leaned his mouth close to Rita's ear and whispered something. Promptly, Rita twisted out of his unsuspecting grip and slapped him hard across the face. "Say that to me or any other witch again and you'll be sorry. Now get out of my sight."
Regis stood there stunned for quite some time, then finally squared his shoulders and hurried away in a would-be dignified way. "Wow," Lily said, "And you say I'm cruel to guys."
"Not guys, just James," Aurelia put in nonchalantly and Lily glared at her.
"Well, you should've heard what he said to me! 'You'll be plenty busy snogging my brains out, along with many other unspeakable acts.'" Rita's voice returned to her normal octave from the overly masculine one she just imitated. "Hufflepuffs are supposed to be friendly."
Aurelia laughed and said, "Technically, Rita, he was being very friendly."
The friends laughed and had a good time teasing Regis without his knowledge. They walked a couple minutes in silence, passing by groups of students frolicking in the snow. "Speaking of snowball fights," Rita said, breaking the silence and pointing over to a group of boys having an extreme snow war.
James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter were having it out, laughing and shouting insults while throwing snowballs, building up damaged forts, and using tricky snow spells to hinder their opponent. James and Peter were on one team while Sirius and Remus were on the other.
Aurelia gave a small involuntary sigh and Lily looked at her, seeing her eyes following Remus steadily. Grinning slyly, Lily said, "Good game over there?"
Jumping, Aurelia said, "N-no, well, yes, I mean – "
"Oh Aurelia, just admit it," Lily said. "You're head over heels in love with Remus."
At first Aurelia opened her mouth in shock at being discovered, although Rita and Lily had suspicions since the end of last year, but recovered by saying quickly, "I'm not in love with him, just I think he's cute, smart, funny, cute…"
"I think you mentioned 'cute' twice," Rita said playfully.
"Yeah, well, it's no secret you fancy Sirius," Aurelia accused.
Rita managed a very short and jerky laugh. "I do not, whatever gave you that idea?"
Sarcastically, Aurelia put a finger to her chin and looked up at the sky. "Hmm, let's see. How about the fact that during Quidditch practice you two are constantly flirting? Or that you stare at him in class? That during pranks you stop watching the prank and watch his reaction instead? That whenever he has a new girl you get very volatile until they break up a week later. Or – "
"I get it, but you're wrong," Rita said.
Lily walked by the two silently, hoping she wouldn't get dragged into this Marauder debate. She knew that Rita and Aurelia liked Sirius and Remus respectively. It was only natural…Rita and Sirius were both extremely mischievous, loved Quidditch, and were extremely ADD-like. Aurelia was shy and reserved around unknown people and Remus was just the same. But they were both brilliant and playful underneath all that. Perfect matches, and where was hers? Certainly not James, they were just as opposite as can be. Not that she would ever even consider going out with him. Although he was very loyal and giving when he absolutely had to be, everything else about him was rotten.
Rita spoke again and Lily broke out of her trance. "I guess we all fell for Marauders."
As much as she didn't want to get dragged into another James discussion, Lily couldn't let that one slide. "Uh, not me, remember?"
Aurelia and Rita shared a quick knowing glance. "Sure," they piped together.
Lily looked at her two friends suspiciously. "Now what's that look for?"
They shared another look. "Nothing," they piped again.
Stopping and putting her hands on her hips, Lily said, "Look, we've already discussed this, I don't fancy James in any way, shape, or form. I rather go out with, with Peter or someone."
Trying not to grin, Rita said seriously, "Well, Lily, if that's how you feel, I'm sure I could arrange something between the two of you. I hear from Sirius that he's getting quite desperate."
Grimacing, Lily replied, "No, no, just kidding. But you and Sirius are getting chummy, eh?"
They continued laughing and joking the remainder of the walk to Hagrid's and Lily managed to keep her friends clear of the James subject. But that didn't mean it stopped entering her mind all through the visit when Aurelia and Hagrid talked excitedly of creatures she'd never heard of.
February…
To James, it was the best feeling in the world and nothing, nothing, could compare to it. Soaring gracefully through the air, pushing the limits of speed with the wind slapping your face, diving, dodging, and, oh yes, scoring so gracefully…nothing compared.
James and his fellow Chasers were making insanely complicated formations with near professional precision. Gina Davies, their 7th year captain, had made the Gryffindor Quidditch team better than they ever had been in the history of Hogwarts. The past two years of her coaching had pushed them to the brink of death, but it was all worth every glorious second.
Currently James was positioning himself so Derek Nehemiah could pass him the Quaffle, then he could spin his broom, and pass it off to Joelle Mackenzie who would then pass it so quickly back to James, their opponents would not have seen it and James was free to score.
"James!" Derek yelled and the Quaffle was in his hands a second later. He spun, threw it to Joelle, and a millisecond later it was back safely in his hands. He was elated, he knew the Gina had no idea what was coming, the Chasers had stayed after practice one night and worked on it. James dodged a Bludger sent from teammate Rick Harcourt, arched his arm back and threw it perfectly to the left hoop.
But James' elated feeling was immediately replaced with one of disappointment. Gina had been onto their switch and had been watching James the whole time. "If you're going to try to pull the wool over the Keeper's eyes, do it quicker with more confidence than that sorry excuse for a play that you just gave me!" she shouted and raised her pointer finger, rotating it in rapid, clockwise circles, signaling for the Chasers to try it again.
As they positioned themselves to start again, Rita began shooting to the ground in a blur, her hand stretched out in front of her. "BEATERS, ARE YOU GOING TO LET THE OPPOSING SEEKER JUST HAVE THE SNITCH!" Gina screeched. "AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING WATCHING CHASERS? YOU CONTINUE PLAY WHILE THE KEEPER AND BEATERS ARE DISTRACTED!"
James had just enough time to see Sirius whack a Bludger towards Rita and the Chasers were off, going faster and quicker than they had the whole practice, craving that goal before Rita caught the Snitch and won the game for the "other" team. James faked just in case Gina was watching and the Quaffle flew perfectly into the middle hoop just as Rita caught the Snitch.
"Ha!" Rita said as she soared up, holding the snitch above her head. "Missed me, Sirius! That was weak – are you afraid to hurt a girl?"
Smiling, Sirius replied, "Oh, I see no girls out here, besides the lovely Joelle Mackenzie."
Rita scoffed indignantly and rocketed towards Sirius, who ducked just in time to avoid a collision. Gina blew her whistle to interrupt the flirting that was the only disturbance during her practice and the team surrounded the golden hoops. "Good practice, although you didn't come in with one hundred percent effort. Make sure you bring that next time," Gina said condescendedly. "Chasers, good play. You fooled me the second time; make sure that doesn't happen again. Beaters, you were missing everything tonight. I want you to stay an extra fifteen minutes and practice hitting. Rita, you did great but I want you to stay behind too so the Beaters can use you as target practice." Rita paled considerably and Sirius and Rick hi-fived each other. "Rest well for the game tomorrow. Chasers dismissed."
James gave Rita a slightly apologetic look before landing on the ground. Derek had run to the locker rooms for something so it was James and Joelle who walked out of the stadium, discussing their play and a way to perfect it so Hufflepuff's Keeper would have no idea what was coming in their next match.
Their Quidditch discussion came to an immediate halt when Joelle spotted her boyfriend, a fifth year, like her, named Koby Dempsey from Ravenclaw. That was all fine with James, because he spotted Lily, watching Rita dive and dodge for her life as Sirius and Rick whacked Bludgers non-stop at her. "I'm amazed you were having a civil conversation with Joelle – she's a very beautiful girl, you haven't pestered her for a date," Lily said as James approached, still watching the sky.
"That's because we're friends, teammates, and she has a boyfriend," James said, leaning on his broom and ruffling his hair.
"So I need to become all these things so you'll stop asking me out?" Lily said, letting out a small "oh!" when a Bludger hit the front of Rita's broom, nearly causing her to fall off.
James looked up after Lily's reaction and smiled. "Don't worry, Rita's a good flier and Sirius and Rick just need to get the Bludgers close enough to her body so Gina's satisfied. And I won't stop asking you out until you finally say yes," James added, giving her a lopsided grin that would make most girls melt.
"I certainly hope you'll stop, James, or I might have to wallop you a little bit," said a voice behind James. He turned and saw Derek walking past him, grinning slightly as his light brown curled hair blew in the cold breeze. Lily smiled at Derek and entwined her hand in his, next kissing his cheek and snuggling up close to him as it was February, very cold, and she had been standing outside watching the practice for quite some time.
James' jaw dropped as Lily gave him a cheeky and slightly evil smile. Realizing what he was doing, James snapped his mouth shut and said, "Wow, you two, together. Forgot to mention it, Derek?" James voice was easy-going, but his eyes were sharp and accusing.
Clearing his throat uncomfortably, Derek said, "Well, I just asked her last night and she said yes, plus I thought Quidditch was more important to focus on."
Lily gave him a slightly patronizing look, but covered it. She had to act as if she was blissfully happy with Derek and that nothing was wrong in their relationship so James would finally take a hint.
"Huh," James said, his voice rising in octave. "Well, uh, congratulations you two and I hope you're very happy together." James tried to saunter off, but tripped over a small hole and did half a clumsy twirl in the air to keep from falling. Lily let out a shout of laughter while Derek bit his lip to keep his own laughter inside. Without looking back, James righted himself and walked normally back up to the castle.
"It's wonderful, he was so confused and now he has no idea what to do with himself!" Lily told her friends quietly while waiting outside the door for Defense Against the Dark Arts. A little ways down from their little group stood the Marauders. Sirius and Remus were talking quietly to James with Peter nodding along vigorously. James, who was leaning against the wall stonily silent, chewed the inside of his cheek thoughtfully while watching Lily talking. "I mean, you'd think his life revolved around asking me out," Lily said.
Aurelia shrugged. "It kinda does, Lily. That plus Quidditch and pranking."
"He really is distraught about it," Rita said. "James has been off during practice and he was muttering angrily to Sirius about how Derek is such an untrustworthy person now."
"I just love seeing him off his game," Lily said happily but quickly stopped talking when Professor Riordan opened the door to his room to begin class.
As it was usually two to a table in Defense, the three girls took turns sitting together while the other opted with sitting whoever was left. Usually this was Christopher Midgen, a shy boy who had a shockingly bad case of acne. Today he seemed to be missing, so Lily had a table to herself while Aurelia and Rita shared another.
Professor Riordan was very old and had a wheezy sort of voice that showed he was a big pipe smoker. He walked with his back hunched over and performed what would've been fearsome spells that same way, only he looked quite weak doing them. They learned what they needed to learn but Riordan was getting up there in age and they were expecting a new teacher any year now.
"Good afternoon, class," Riordan wheezed, coughing slightly. "We will be discontinuing our study of Dark creatures and begin on defense spells. There is a new Dark wizard rising, with an army gathering quickly behind him. Dumbledore has asked me to begin teaching you defense mechanisms so you can – " Riordan gave a violent hack " – defend yourselves. Today will be introductory, just teaching the theory behind some of the Dark spells and the ones that counter them, then next lesson we will begin hands on interaction."
All the Marauders grinned at the mention of hands on interaction and the rest of the class looked on fearfully. The Marauders were known for being over-exuberant with their Defense spells and had caused many injuries to other classmates for their extreme energy behind spells. "Now, if you'll please open your books to page 827, we will begin notes."
"So, how long do you think until James finds himself a twit in attempts to make Lily jealous?" Aurelia asked Rita quietly as Riordan hunched along the room, looking for some chalk.
Rita put her quill to her chin, pretending to deeply ponder the matter, then said, "Probably by lunch."
Riordan began lecture and Rita and Aurelia allowed him to get a little ways into it before continuing their discussion. The only time they could get away with talking in class was when Lily was not sitting with them, for she continually shushed them so she could avoid trouble. In all her years at Hogwarts, Lily had never gotten a detention. "My bet is before our next class," Aurelia said.
Smirking, Rita replied, "Whatever, James isn't that popular."
"Ah, but he does have Sirius as a wingman, and the two of them make a lovely pair," Aurelia pointed out.
"Good point," Rita grumbled, her face displaying a frown instantly. "Alright how much?"
"Five galleons."
"What!?" Rita nearly shouted. Aurelia had tried to shush her but it was too late – Riordan stopped in the middle of a sentence describing the Imperius Curse to turn around. "Miss Garbunkal, are you confused about something?" Riordan asked, his voice revealing agitation. Rita was not a model student.
Shaking her head and feeling irritated she had been caught not paying attention, Rita said sarcastically, "Oh no, this is so interesting and I'm absorbing every syllable of it."
Behind Rita, Lily shook her head exasperatedly while Aurelia rolled her eyes. "Miss Garbunkal, I don't appreciate your cheek."
"And I don't appreciate notes or lectures, but I sit through them anyway, don't I?" Rita replied. Sirius looked at his teammate in open admiration while James concealed a laugh.
"Ten points from Gryffindor, Miss Garbunkal," Riordan wheezed, turning back to the chalkboard, "and next time it will be a detention."
"Looking forward to it, sir," Rita said, but Riordan chose to ignore that statement.
The bell signaling the end of the period rang forty-five minutes later and Sirius and James were the first to scuttle out. Aurelia and Rita shared knowing looks and looked back at Lily, who was still packing up and hadn't noticed their quick escape. All seven students shared their next class, which was Transfiguration – easily Sirius and James' best class. Lily had a bit of trouble with Transfiguration and had to work extra hard just to stay average.
After stopping in the common room to drop off a few books, the three girls headed to Transfiguration and were one of the first people there. Aurelia and Rita sat there impatiently, craning their necks whenever anyone filtered in. They shared this class period with Hufflepuff and both girls were sure that, if James wanted to make Lily jealous quickly, James would've scrounged up a 6th year from Hufflepuff.
"Are you two even listening?" Lily asked her two friends.
"Huh?" both Aurelia and Rita said, turning their heads to Lily reluctantly.
"I said I was worried about Derek – he has Ancient Runes and Professor Delaney hates him," Lily repeated slowly, watching her friends darting, uncaring eyes over the concern of her 7th year boyfriend. "Is there something wrong? You both are really antsy…"
"Uh, oh no, it's nothing," Rita muttered distractedly, tapping her fingers spasmodically on the wood surface while her eyes searched the hall for a sign of the Marauders. "It's just – ah ha! Damn, Aurelia, I owe you five galleons."
But Lily took no notice of what Rita had said and instead focused on James entering the classroom with his Marauder friends a few paces behind him. Grasping his hand and giggling stupidly was a fellow 6th year Hufflepuff named Fay Jones; a blonde haired skinny girl with decently pretty features, but no brains whatsoever. James was grinning down at her as she nearly bent over double, most likely laughing at a joke James had just told her. Lily's mouth dropped open, a horrified look creeping into her eyes as James glanced at her and smirked.
The bell rang and McGonagall walked in the room, but Lily was still in shock. "I don't believe it…why would he go with that, that berk!" Lily said in a loud whisper.
McGonagall looked at Lily, surprised. "Excuse me, Miss Evans, but why are you nearly shouting in my classroom?"
Lily broke out of her trance and blinked at McGonagall slowly. "Oh, erm, I'm sorry Professor, just not thinking, I suppose," Lily stumbled over her words, not making much sense. James grinned at her bumbling and turned attentively to McGonagall while Fay draped herself over his arm.
"Yes, well, I hope the rest of you are thinking, because we are about to begin a particularly difficult section of Transfiguration – human," McGonagall said, continuing her lecture, but neither Lily nor James were listening. Lily was stunned that James one up-ed her and James, besides the fact that he could already turn into an illegal Anamagus at will, was soaking up the glory of beating Lily Evans at her own game.
"Today, the match will be Hufflepuff against Gryffindor!" said the announcer whose name Lily did not know.
It was the weekend after Valentine's Day and Lily had come to the Quidditch match to support Rita and Derek. Really Lily had no interest whatsoever in Quidditch, but when Rita joined the team as Seeker in her third year, Lily of course came to support her. It was a bit exciting to be apart of the competition between houses and to witness some of the crazier plays that had happened over the years.
Since Lily and Aurelia were not big Quidditch fans, they rarely had any idea what was going on. In their fourth year, however, they began to go to the matches with Remus and Peter, who heard so much Quidditch talk from Sirius and James that it was like a second language to them and spent most of the match explaining to Lily and Aurelia what was going on.
"According to James, Hufflepuff has been very poor the past few years, but this year they have stepped it up and are somewhat of a threat," Remus explained loudly as the Hufflepuff team walked into the stadium.
"Have they won any games so far?" Aurelia asked, clapping politely.
Peter nodded. "They've only played Ravenclaw and they surprisingly flattened them."
"And now, Gryffindor! Lead by captain and Keeper Gina Davies are the three Chasers: Nehemiah, Mackenzie, and Potter, the two Beaters: Black and Harcourt, and the Seeker: Garbunkal!"
Wild cheers erupted from the Gryffindors while the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins booed. Ravenclaw soon joined Gryffindors in the cheers to override the booing – Ravenclaw was still a bit shirty that Hufflepuff had beaten them in their Quidditch match.
"The captains shake hands, each determined to win, and Madam Hooch releases the Quaffle!" the announcer said excitedly as each player zoomed into positions.
Immediately Gryffindor seized the Quaffle and began a series of complicated formations. Bryant, the Hufflepuff Keeper, seemed to be following the Quaffle very closely, but all of a sudden it sailed through the far left hoop while he was guarding the middle.
"Gryffindor scores: ten to zero! And it's Marriot with the Quaffle, dodging a bludger effectively and passing it to Walker. Walker to Laird and Laird prepares to score – oh my! Doppelbeater Defense carried out by Black and Harcourt perfectly! Laird is knocked sideways – her leg must be broken! – she drops the Quaffle and Nehemiah who zooms towards the goal posts with his fellow Chasers picks it up. Nehemiah to Mackenzie, Mackenzie to Potter, Potter gets ready to score, fakes left, right, left IT SOARS THROUGH THE MIDDLE HOOP! Twenty to zero Gryffindor!"
Lily cheered loudly with everyone else, even if it was James who scored. "What's a Doppelbeater Defense?" Lily asked loudly as the Hufflepuffs took control of the Quaffle.
"It's a play where the Beaters whack one bludger together at one of the opposing players," Remus shouted, then groaned with everyone else as Hufflepuff scored. "According to Sirius, it's very difficult to get and can go astray easily."
They both turned back to the game as Gryffindor was now in possession. But only James and Joelle were passing the Quaffle to each other – Derek was just sailing next to them holding his hands out randomly and putting them back down. "Huh," Remus said, "Peter, do you remember them telling us about this move?"
Peter shook his head. "No, but it could be something secret they couldn't share."
Remus raised an eyebrow and looked at the sky. "They've never done that before…"
Joelle failed to score and Hufflepuff took control of the Quaffle. James and Derek seemed to be arguing about something but James put on a burst of speed and left Derek behind. He intercepted the Quaffle and threw it to Joelle. Joelle threw it towards Derek who lifted his hands to catch it, but James zoomed forward and grabbed it out of the air, scoring another ten points.
"Thirty to ten, Gryffindor! It seems that Gryffindor's Chasers are having problems today as Potter and Nehemiah are having constant arguments in the air," the announcer pointed out.
"Why won't James let Derek have the Quaffle?" Lily asked Remus angrily as Hufflepuff scored again.
Shrugging, Remus said, "I don't know what his – oh…" Remus trailed off, his eyes widening in realization.
"What?" Lily asked.
Remus glanced at her, then shook his head. "N-nothing."
"And Nehemiah finally has possession of the Quaffle," the announcer said. "He dodges a Bludger from Dennis, then another from Cromwell. He passes to Mackenzie, Mackenzie fakes and passes it back to Nehemiah, Nehemiah arches his arm to score…and Potter soars in front of him, taking the Quaffle out of his fellow teammate's hand! He goes to score but does so poorly – Bryant blocks the Quaffle easily and Hufflepuff is in possession." The announcer laughed. "It seems that now Mackenzie is yelling at both Nehemiah and Potter! I heard the words 'arrogant prats'…this is getting heated! And Davies calls a time out."
Up in the air, the Gryffindors zoomed to Gina at the goal posts. Her face was brick red and each player looked scared for his or her life. "Potter! Nehemiah! What the bloody hell are you two doing up there? Chasers work together to score, not against each other!"
"James won't give me the Quaffle, he's taking all the glory for himself again, like he has in practice!" Derek accused.
"I can't depend on you as a teammate," James replied crossly, folding his arms and looking sour.
Joelle growled furiously and slapped both of them upside the head at the same time. "Ow!" James and Derek yelled, but Joelle ignored them and said, "Stop being arrogant blighters, I can't be thrown into the middle of this control game. Either you work together or I'm leaving the pitch, understand?"
"Couldn't have said it better myself, Joelle," Gina said, flying into James and Derek's faces. "Work together and if you don't, you'll wish you'd never been born. Break!"
The team began to fly off but Gina called Rita back. "I don't know what their deal is – " Gina began, but Rita held up a hand.
"Derek is going out with Lily and James is jealous and going about it the wrong way," Rita explained in monotone.
Gina's face resembled ketchup. "This is all about a girl?" Rita nodded and Gina groaned. "Well, this will never get resolved. Rita, I need you to catch the Snitch, and fast, before these blokes strangle each other in mid-air, got it?"
Rita sighed and nodded. Gina soared back to the goal posts and play resumed. "I'm going to kill James and Lily," Rita muttered to herself as her eyes frantically scanned the sky for the Snitch.
Even after Gina and Joelle's threats, James and Derek continued to work against each other rather than together as Hufflepuff gained a huge advantage on the scoreboard.
"And it's seventy to forty, Hufflepuff," the announcer read off. "Nehemiah with the Quaffle and Marriot rides along side him, trying to throw off his game. Nehemiah refuses to pass it to Potter or Mackenzie and Marriot takes his stubbornness to her advantage. Hufflepuff now in possession…and Mackenzie is flying off the field! Looks like she's had enough of Potter and Nehemiah's stupidity, so does their captain Davies, as a matter of fact – AND SEEKER GARBUNKAL HAS SPOTTED THE SNITCH!"
Lily and Aurelia stopped tearing at their hair in frustration and stood up with the rest of the stands, watching Rita speed towards the Snitch. The opposing Seeker, Reeve, had sped up right next to her, both reaching up towards the Snitch that was trying desperately to flutter away from them.
"Potter uses the opportunity while Bryant is distracted to score a goal, but all eyes are focused on the Seekers," the announcer said as the stands began cheering on their favorite Seeker. Rita pulled out in front, her fingertips grazing a wing of the Snitch. Panicked, Cromwell, a Hufflepuff Beater, raced towards a Bludger and whacked it with all his might to Rita. She was forced to perform a very messy Sloth Grip Roll to avoid it and ended up hanging off her broom with one hand. The Bludger instead hit Reeve's shoulder, sending him sailing off course.
"And the Snitch has disappeared again as both Seekers were thrown off co – no wait, Garbunkal is back on her broom, eyes still on the Snitch, sailing towards it. She dodges another Bludger, effectively this time, and catches the Snitch! Gryffindor wins!"
Cheers erupted from the stands and the Gryffindor teamed soared to the ground, all looking very irate despite their win. Rita was the first on the ground, letting go of the Snitch as she landed. James and Derek were still arguing, Joelle was nowhere to be seen, Sirius and Rick looked irritated with the Chasers disagreements and Gina looked fit to kill. All walked straight to the locker rooms without celebration from the rest of their house.
Once the team was together, Rita beat Gina to the lecture. She charged towards James and Derek, who forgot their argument and looked extremely frightened. "I almost break my bloody neck to win because of you two being control freaks!" She changed her focus to James. "I know Quidditch is one of the most important things in your life and you always put one hundred and ten percent into it, but I can't believe you let a stupid thing like jealousy would make you play like shit."
Derek's expression changed from scared to curious. "Jealous? Of what?" He turned to James. "We're equally talented, James, you know that…"
Rita let out a bitter laugh. "Oh no, he's not jealous of your talent, Derek…it's the fact that you're going out with the girl he's been pining after the past six bloody years."
Utterly confused, Derek continued to look at James questionably. "All that was about Lily?"
James swept a hand through his hair, then half shrugged. "A little…" he said. "But I don't know why I acted like that. It's not like Lily is mine or anything."
"No she's not," Derek said firmly. "Sorry, mate, but you never really had her."
For a moment James' eyes flashed dangerously, but it was gone as quick as it came. He muttered another sorry and the two shook hands briefly. "Gina, sorry about my behavior, it won't happen again," James said almost robotic-like.
Gina gave James and Derek an evil smile. "That doesn't make up for anything. Tomorrow you two will be on the pitch at five in the morning and will continue to run drills until lunch. Understood?"
Both boys opened their mouths to protest, then they looked at one another and back at Gina, nodding.
Immediately after, Joelle came storming in the locker rooms. "You bloody pillocks! I'm going to strangle you two!"
James held up his hand. "Save the lecture, we've already had it – I'm sorry Joelle!" James said exasperatedly as Joelle continued to glare evilly. "Quit looking at me like that!"
After everything was resolved and everybody had changed, they made their way back to the common room to enjoy the victory party. Lily looked as if she wanted to scold James also, but he spent the whole night avoiding her, for once.
Lily couldn't believe the way James was acting. First he made a complete arse of himself at the Quidditch game and Derek told her he had said it was because he had been jealous. Then he avoided her at the after party and for the following week during lessons, meals, and in the common room. And now he was being completely disgusting with that cow, Fay Jones. Lily had caught her and James really going at it in a broom closet on one of her Prefect patrols and took twenty points off of each of their houses.
He was driving Lily to the brink of insanity.
"Eurgh! My hair!" a girl whined to the left of Lily. Turning off the faucet, Lily looked down the row of bathroom sinks and saw the very same girl that was the current object of James' affection. Lily's blood boiled just looking at the blonde and too skinny Fay. She was currently running her hands through her slightly wavy blonde hair and throwing them down in agitation every so often. "It is so hard to manage! I've looked up every hair spell in the library," she was telling a brunette girl that Lily recognized as 6th year Hufflepuff Tina Louis, someone Lily used to like, but now that she was hanging out with Fay… "and none of them work!"
Now, Lily was normally a very nice and good person. She strived to be friendly to everyone, even the Slytherins. It was only when you got on Lily's bad side that you had to watch out for your safety. It's true that Fay never did a thing wrong, it was just the fact she was the tool James was using to attempt to make Lily jealous – which I'm not!
Putting on her best smile, Lily dried her hands and walked over to Fay. "I'm sorry, I couldn't help but overhear – " because your voice is so obnoxious " – but you're having trouble with your hair?"
Sighing and nodding, Fay jutted her hips out and put her hands on them. "Totally, I don't know what the deal is!"
Annoyance crept into Lily's skin and her smile became very forced. "Well, I know this spell that will make your hair, like, totally smooth."
Fay looked at Lily eagerly. "Really? What is it?"
Lily began twirling her finger around her hair. "The incantation is levis and all you do is point your wand to the crown of your head."
Fay looked amazed and Lily was trying her best not to smirk. The charm levis didn't really make someone's hair smooth, as Lily was sure Fay didn't know, but it actually made a person bald. "Thanks so much, you are a total life saver," Fay said as she grabbed Lily in a hug. As soon as Fay released her, she pulled Tina closer to her and said, "You do it, I'll probably mess it up, knowing me."
Lily snuck out of the bathroom, laughing quietly to herself as she walked down to dinner. But as soon as she reached the staircase that led to the Entrance Hall, Lily felt very bad for what she did. Fay did nothing wrong to her and all this was a revenge tactic on James for – what was it for?
Passing James and acting as if she didn't see him, Lily sat down across from Aurelia and Rita. "You guys, I did something so mean," she said guiltily.
"Was it to James?" Aurelia asked as she piled more Yorkshire pudding on her plate.
Lily shook her head, then shrugged. "Well sorta, no, yes, actually...no, no it wasn't to James."
Aurelia stopped scooping, looking at her best friend in shock. "Really? You're nice to everyone!"
"Except James," Rita added, joining Aurelia in looking at their best friend in surprise.
Lily quickly told them what she did to Fay and when she finished, both her friends broke out in gales of laughter. "You are an evil genius!" Rita said, wiping tears of mirth away. "I really wish I would've thought of that."
"It's not funny! I am such an awful person, she didn't do anything wrong!" Lily said but her friends continued laughing heartily. "Shut it, you two! I'm serious!"
"Oh Lily, it's fine, if she can't figure out how to fix it, Madam Pomfrey will in an instant," Aurelia said. "Come on now, have a bit of roast beef."
Lily shook her head wearily. "I couldn't, I have no appe – oh no…"
Tina, Fay's friend, just ran into the hall looking alarmed. She immediately went to James and whispered a few words in his ear. "I've got to go," Lily said, getting up and running past James, who glanced at her, and up to the common room.
Students came up from dinner every few minutes and Lily hid in the darkest corner of the room, reading a book without absorbing any of the words. Derek came over and apologized for not eating with her, but Lily waved him away impatiently and, feeling hurt, he walked up the boys staircase to go to bed. Rita and Aurelia came up and tried to engage Lily in conversation, but her mind was so troubled it was no use and they ended up playing Exploding Snap. The Marauders, with the exception of James, came in soon after Rita and Aurelia had started a game and sat next to the fire, chatting amongst themselves. Lily got more anxious with each passing second.
Right after the loudest explosion of cards from Rita's hand, James came storming in the common room looking furious. He spotted Lily at once and came over. "You made her bald!?" he yelled and half the common room looked over at him.
"I'm sorry! I had a temporary loss of sanity!" Lily apologized.
"What the hell are you playing at?" James asked heatedly. "Why would you even consider doing that?"
Shrugging lamely, Lily replied, "I just, I don't know, I just hated her at that moment and I got really mad and I seem to lose myself when I get mad and – "
"Was this some dumb revenge for the Quidditch game? Are you upset your precious Derek didn't get enough playing time?" James spat.
Lily's normal fury with James hit her full force. "Not everything in the world is about Quidditch, James," Lily said in her dangerous low tones.
James surveyed her quickly, then roughly grabbed her wrist. "Come on, you're going to put her right."
Snorting, Lily yanked her wrist from his grip, unaware that the whole common room was watching. "Don't command me to do something. I feel bad for what I did, really, ask Rita or Aurelia, I wouldn't eat! But I'm not going to respond to you being rude to me."
"I don't give a damn, you are just going to put my girlfriend right!" James nearly yelled. He made another grab for Lily's wrist, but before he could get there, Lily raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face. James put a hand to his cheek, looking at Lily in shock.
"Your girlfriend? Or is she only your new tool to make me jealous." It was a statement, not a question, and right after Lily uttered it she ran up the girl's dormitory stairs.
James shook out of his surprise and yelled after her, "Don't think I'm the only jealous one, I know you are jealous too! I know the reason behind all this!" There was a door slam from above him and James ran a hand through his hair.
Sirius stood and walked over to James through the silent common room. "James," he said, putting a hand on his shoulder, but James shook it away and walked stonily out of the common room.
Author Notes: I am on my knees begging for your forgiveness in this late and (quite frankly) not very good chapter. But at least it's long! It's sorta a transition chapter into, well, you'll see.
Still need suggestions for filler situations for 7th year AFTER Lily and James get together. Thank you for everyone who gave me ideas, you had no idea how much that helped me.
And that's about it. R/R!