James sat outside of the Fat Lady's Portrait, waiting for Lily.
Lily was kindhearted, Remus said. He said she could always see the best in people. If she could always see the best in people, what could she see in him? An idiot, no doubt. He had blown his chances in the years before, hexing people and annoying her. It would be best if he just gave up now, and saved himself some wasted time. She would never go out with him. No one is that forgiving.
Nevertheless, James sprung up when the portrait flew open, ruffled his hair, and prepared himself for another awkward patrol.
What he did not expect, was Lily wiping away tears, with a ball of paper crushed in her hand.
James stepped back in shock. Evans did not cry, that was a form of weakness.
"Evans?" James asked tentatively.
Lily jumped, just now realizing that he was there. "P-Potter," She said, composing herself. She brushed back her hair, quickly wiped her eyes with the palm of her hand, and started walking.
James stood for a moment, trying to grasp what he should do next. "Evans, wait!"
She stopped in a huff, tapping her foot, still clenching her paper.
"C'mon Evans, what's wrong?" He asked, knowing he wouldn't get an answer.
"Nothing," she scowled.
"That is obviously not true. I want to help."
"Believe it, Potter, because I don't give a damn what you want!"
James stood with his mouth slightly ajar, confused, looking at Evans. He had never seen her so moody and unpredictable that wasn't directly related to something he had done. Had he done something?
She sighed, frustrated, and pulled out one of the crushed pieces of paper. She threw it up in the air.
"Incendio!" She yelled, and a spew of flames erupted from her wand. The paper was now ash.
She looked as though she would burn the second piece of paper, until her green eyes became soft, and she tucked it into her robe pocket.
She continued walking.
"Evans, don't be ridiculous!" James shouted, walking after her.
"I'm fine, Potter!" She yelled back, walking faster.
"No, you aren't!"
"Yes, I am!"
"You can't truly think that I wouldn't notice something?"
"There's nothing to notice!"
James stopped. "Humor me then, Evans!" He yelled down to her. "Pretend there's something wrong and tell me what it might be!"
Lily froze. Whether Potter realized it or not, the words were from the train, from the only time Lily actually needed James, though she denied it.
Lily turned around and faced him. She stood firm, the candlelight shining in her brilliant green eyes.
"What was in that paper, Evans?" He asked, more gently, taking a few steps forward.
In every word, Lily's wall was breaking. James could see it in her eyes.
"What happened?" He was a few steps closer now.
"I won't tell anyone else." He nodded, now only a foot away from her. "Not even Sirius. Not even Remus."
Lily's eyes were narrowed, though she began to tremble.
James new he was just a few words away from reaching her, and those words would have to be chosen wisely.
"Trust me."
The battle had been won. Lily's defense was not strong enough. She stumbled to the floor, and leaned against the wall. She brought her knees up to her chest, where she tucked her head.
James sat next to her, not moving to consol her with touch. He most certainly did not want to push it.
"Dumbledore," she said, muffled from her head being ducked down. "He asked me to join. The Order of the Phoenix."
James leaned back, relieved, worried that it had been something worse. "That's fantastic! I'm joining as well."
Lily looked up, her eyes sharp, though her voice shook. "You d-don't understand, Potter. My parent's are Muggles. If I join, which I truly want to, Dumbledore would wipe their memory of a magical world. To protect them, so they wouldn't be targeted."
James took in the information. "That's not so bad."
Lily shook her head. "I'm a witch, Potter, they would forget me."
James leaned his head back against the wall.
"They wouldn't remember that I was their daughter," She threw her head back into her knees. "I don't know what to do."
They sat in silence for a while. In any other instance, Lily would've hated it. Sitting next to James Potter, in her weak state. But, for one reason or another, it was comforting. The quiet, the darkness, and the fact that someone else knew. For one moment, Lily Evans did not have to be strong.
"What's the other paper?" James asked quietly.
Lily rested her chin on top of her knees. "From my Mum," she murmured. "Petunia and Vernon Dursley are engaged. I'm supposed to meet with them over Christmas."
James silently nodded, and they sat.
An eternity later, James stood, and extended his hand to Lily.
"You know," he started. "You don't have to decide now, what you're going to do. We have all year."
Lily grasped his hand and pulled herself up. "I know."
"Right," James nodded, pushing his glasses up over the bridge of his nose. "We should probably finish the patrol."
"Right."
"After you, Evans," James mockingly bowed.
Lily scowled, with a little less intensity than before. "Shut it, Potter." She kept walking.
James shoved his hands in his pockets, and followed, with a small, successful smile on his face.
September rolled into October, with a routine in form. Classes would drag on. Sirius would make an attempt at Adelaide, to be shot down as she went after Remus. James kept a relatively even relationship with Lily, not progressing, but not worsening either. The NEWTs tests were a month closer, and all of the professors realized it.
James pulled together a new Quidditch team, stacked with fantastic chasers (including himself), two stocky beaters, a keeper, and a very small second year seeker. Many had doubts on the youth of Hestia Jones, though James saw promise in her.
Hogwarts was, in short, a prison. You were not allowed to roam the grounds between classes, and were confined to the halls of Hogwarts, until the weekend. Doors were locked at all times, though the secret passageways the Marauders had discovered were not. Everyone was restless in their new restraints.
Including, apparently, Albus Dumbledore.
The Marauders were eating another dinner, when Dumbledore claimed his place at the top of the hall.
"It has come to my attention," he said, looking over his half-moon spectacles. "That Hogwarts is in need, of a little light." He waved his hand, and the candles ignited into a fantastic white light, creating a bright glow over the hall. "A Halloween Ball will be held on Halloween Night for the sixth and seventh years. It is a reminder that evil spreads when we are not thinking in the dark, but happiness flourishes in the light."
There was rambunctious chatter of the unexpected ball, and gossip spread like wildfire.
"Why can't fifth years go too?"
"Do you think Dumbledore will let us play our music there? Imagine what kind of a fan base we could get! There could be a Weird Sisters fan club!"
"Who do you think is going to ask me?"
Sirius, James, Remus and Peter discussed the festivities as well.
"We have about three and a half weeks until the ball," James said, strategically. "I have to find the perfect moment to ask Evans."
"Don't wait too long, mate, or she'll be gone," Sirius said warningly.
"Oh, yeah? Who are you going with then?"
Sirius leaned back on the bench and looked up and down at the line of girls at the table, scratching his chin.
"Oi!" Sirius shouted down the table. About a dozen girls turned to look hopefully. "Alice!"
Alice Queens flipped around. "What?"
"Go to the dance with me?" Sirius said, smiling. There was a collective moan of loss at the table.
She shrugged. "Sure!"
Sirius turned back to the Marauders. "See?" He said, smirking. "Simple as that."
James began to contemplate the best time to ask. It had to be soon, no doubt Evans would be asked more than once. He didn't want to embarrass her, or himself for that matter, so they should be alone. Patrol, on Friday night would be perfect. On Friday night, he would ask Evans.
Hola. I apologize for lateness. Blame the public school system.
Review, por favor?