Summary–Lily tries to enter the supposed club the girls in her year have suddenly created. But they want some proof of her worthiness before they let her in. In an not-so-well-thought through plot, the truth is...they're just trying to get Lily to give James a chance. friendship/romance

Disclaimer–I do not own Harry Potter, which belongs to its respective owner(s) and is only being used in a fan-made, fictional story.

xoxo

Shock and Awe – "quick paralyzing assault"

Chapter 3

By–Moon Prynces

xoxo

"Hey, you busy?"

Lily and Alice looked up to see James standing before them in front of the armchairs.

"Hi, James," Alice greeted, and then made a face to Lily.

"Hey," he returned. "So Lily, are you free tonight to help me study for Potions?"

Lily looked dumbfounded for a second before remembering her promise. "Oh, sure!"

"I'll just get out of your way then," Alice replied with a wink and gathered her things from the nearby table.

James quietly took the seat that Alice had occupied and was laying out his books on the table as she scurried away, laughing at Lily the whole while.

"So..." he started off, looking up at her and pulling his hand away from the last book he'd placed.

Lily just stared blankly and glanced around the room. Alice had already left for who knows where and the common room wasn't packed but it definitely wasn't anywhere near empty either. She spotted Mary hanging out with a few people in one corner and Angela was sitting at a table staring hard into the pages of a book.

The redhead grinned to herself and turned back to James who was nervously pushing a hand through his hair.

"So what did you want help with again?" Lily asked, thinking about a visit to the kitchens for some cake.

"Uh, potions!" he said excitedly, pulling the book onto his lap.

"I don't get why you couldn't ask Remus to help you out," she responded, taking the book from his hands and turning to a specific page.

James shook his head. "He keeps saying he's busy with all the classes he's taking this term." Then he unexpectedly leaned forward to share some secret. "But really I think he's hanging out with some girl that he won't tell us about."

Lily shrugged. "Then why don't you Marauders pop out from walls and dead end corridors like you normally do and find out who it is?"

"We would but he's always taking the map with him–" James started with a frown and brows coming together.

"The what?" she asked, looking up at him curiously.

"Uh... So what are we studying this week again?"

"The Draught of Peace. It really isn't so bad..." she trailed off, staring hard into the book. "Here, all you need to do is memorize the order you add everything and the amounts and-"

"Oh, right. That'll be easy," he replied with heavy sarcasm. "How do you do it?"

Lily looked up quickly. "Do what?"

"This!" He held up the book near his face and shook it slightly. "It all looks so easy for you, even with things that nobody else seems to get and yet you understand it!" He rested an elbow on the armchair and put his face in his palm to lean forward. "So I've always kind of wondered, how do you do that? I'm pretty jealous over it."

"I-I–" she stuttered, leaning away in surprise. Then she just turned away altogether. "Well first, you forget about having a life," she smiled and looked up. "And there's really no point in sleeping for a full night when that's time that could be used for studying."

He grinned. There was a pause where James wasn't being obnoxious and Lily wasn't tearing him down or having violent thoughts towards the boy. They went back to reading through the potion and tried to get him to memorize the steps involved.

After Lily started laughing at his mispronunciation of something he began staring.

"You know, something's different..." he started off.

Lily pretended to not have heard him. "Hm?"

"Why aren't you biting my head off for coming within two meters of you?" he asked.

"Why aren't you professing your love and throwing flower petals at me?" she shot back.

"Good point." James started to gather his things. "Well Lily-flower, I think that's enough mind numbing exercise for now. I'm a busy man and all."

"What?" She stared as he gently tugged the book from her hands.

"I've got some things to take care of and I'm sure you do too so we'll just pick up another time, right?" he grinned as he stood

Lily didn't say another word as she watched James Potter walk swiftly up to the boy's dorms and out of sight. She sighed and slumped in her seat wondering how an entire hour passed pleasantly with someone who she had once considered an arrogant toe-rag.

Maybe he wasn't all that bad. Just like Mary, who she'd always thought was just a big gossip and Angela, who seemed like such a rude person before she got to know them.

And maybe it was better that she was letting go of her rigid and unconfirmed misconceptions of so many things.

xoxo

Someone groaned and sat down heavily in the seat next to her, making Lily glance up from the notes she was rereading.

"This has been such a lo-ong day," Mary groaned and buried her head in her arms crossed atop the table.

Lily looked startled at the companion, seeing as she hadn't spent much time with Mary.

"What're you up to?" Mary asked when she didn't get a response.

"Just reviewing some things," was Lily's reply.

"For class?" she asked again and sat up straighter to stare at the words. The redhead managed a weak nod as she was being scrutinized. Mary watched a few moments longer before speaking again. "Why bother? We're not going," she declared loudly, though the common room was mostly empty.

"What? Why not? It's only midday! I've got History of Magic and Herbology and–"

Mary shook her head. "We're cutting class," she grinned wickedly.

About to protest, Lily paused to think this over. If it had been two weeks prior she would have brushed off Mary's insane words and gotten up at eleven when her break was over to head to class, ignoring the other girl's plan. But things had turned around a lot lately and so she sat quietly for a moment while considering all this.

With a sigh she replied, "But I've never cut class before. Ever. I mean, won't we get into trouble? Don't I need to fake sick so McGonagall won't get angry?" Lily turned to look at her companion. "And what are we gonna do if we don't go to class? Won't someone notice?"

"Calm down Lily," Mary responded with a grin, lifting her head from the table where she had drooped down again. Then her eyes lit up. "I know exactly what we could do!" she said excitedly, jumping up from her seat and pulling the redhead with her. "And all we need are our wands!"

The two hurried up to the girl's dorm where Mary proceeded to throw her bag and books on her bed and ushered Lily to do the same.

"Where are we–" Lily was cut off as Mary shushed her and then the two were sneaking down and out the portrait hole.

It wasn't long before Lily felt the chill of the autumn air as the two stepped out onto the grounds without being noticed.

"If we get caught we're dead!" the redhead whispered fiercely, glancing over her shoulder towards the castle every few paces.

Mary chose to ignore all these doubtful words and kept her hand around her friend's wrist while keeping up a steady gait.

When they did stop it was so unexpected that Lily stumbled forward a bit before gathering herself and looking up. Mary let go of her and the two stood staring out across the lake with the sun high in the sky at almost midday.

The surface reflected everything around it, including every minute detail of the sky while small ripples broke out from disturbances that nobody above water could identify.

Lily took a moment to glance at her companion out of the corner of her eyes and saw Mary standing tall with a smile and serene look that the redhead had never seen on her before. She stared out at the scenery, admiring it whole-heartedly.

Mary suddenly disrupted the mood, and startled one redhead, when she turned to said person and spoke.

"I'm going for a swim!" she declared, walking closer to the water's edge.

Lily blanched. "What?" She followed close behind, watching her step. "It's November! The lake must be freezing! And who knows what's down there! You'll catch a cold, or worse, die from hypothermia!" She looked around wildly, hoping no one could see from the castle windows.

Mary was carefully walking as well, but only because she was slowly peeling off her clothes. "It's ok! I know that hot-air charm we can use to dry ourselves and our clothes off!" She shot a smile over her shoulder, dropping a boot to the ground while simultaneously taking another step and working on the other.

"Our?" Lily echoed, not comprehending.

It wasn't until Mary was down to her mismatched blue panties and light pink bra with a trail of clothes behind her that Lily found it was too late to do anything to prevent the situation.

"It does look pretty chilly," Mary stated, the two standing at the edge of a slight cliff.

Lily nodded, peering down as well.

Then the brunette shrugged. "Well, then I might as well just dive in," she said before taking the initiative and jumping off into the water.

"Oh my god!" Lily shrieked, sinking to the ground and trying to get a closer look. "Are you okay? Should I use that hot-air charm?"

The water was still for a few moments before Mary surfaced, pushing her hair away and laughing loudly.

"It is freezing!" she agreed, still laughing.

"How– You're crazy!" Lily cried out, laughing as well, now kneeling by the edge.

"You should come in! We might never get another chance like this!" Mary called, turning away to swim to a few yards before turning to come back. "It isn't so bad once you get warmed up a bit, and it's really sunny so that helps," she said as she came closer, looking up.

The decision came quicker than either of them thought it would and Lily was pulling off her sweater, tie and skirt before they knew it. She did leave on her lingerie and the t-shirt she wore just to be modest. She dumped her clothes in a pile and stuck her wand into the ground before getting a running start and diving in.

Mary shrieked in mild surprise and it wasn't long before the two were racing back and forth, and even getting out to dive in again and again.

"I didn't think you had it in you," Mary commented as they paused in their games to catch their breaths.

Lily turned her face up towards the sun and closed her eyes while answering. "Well you were right. Sometimes it's easier to just dive in."

Mary grinned, swimming closer and quickly splashing water onto the redheads upturned face, causing another pretend fight to break out.

"Hey!" the redhead screeched. "If I had my wand–" she pretended to threaten.

Two hours later the two were sitting on the ground in their respective swimwear while looking over the lake as the sun was making its slow descent in the sky.

Mary wrapped her arms around her knees and turned to stare at her companion.

It took Lily a few moments to notice this. "What?" she questioned with a tilt of the head.

"It's just...really though, what's gotten into you? You turned so willing so quickly. For a second I thought you were someone else with a polyjuice potion in your veins," she commented.

The look of surprise turned to one of understanding slowly as she turned back to stare out at the landscape. "It just seems so unlike me, right?" she said with a nod.

"Oh no– Lily I didn't mean it like–" she quickly started tumbling over words.

The redhead just waved it off casually. "Don't worry. I get it." Her lips slowly turned upward, taking in the colors and contrast.

Mary gazed at her carefully a few moments longer before also turning her attention to the horizon. "At least one of us does," she commented, making Lily smile wider.

xoxo

This chapter only had two scenes but they added up to over 2000 words so it's why I cut it off here. Like I said when I started, finished with chapters 1-5 and half of six now but it hasn't ended yet. I will continue to update once a week. And I tried to change up the summary to see if it captures more interest.

Thanks for reading. Check my profile for updates if you'd like.

7-5-10

3:02pm