J.K. Rowling owns all this wonderful stuff. I'm just playing in her sandbox
It took the watching Gryffindors a moment to react and pull Lily off of James. Even then, as Mary and Dorcas each held one arm, she struggled, kicking and flailing with all her might.
"You absolute git!" she yelled. "You could have died! You never think of anyone but yourself!"
Sirius, Remus, and Peter looked on, shell-shocked, as the redheaded girl ranted and railed against their friend, all the while struggling to break free so she could continue to beat him. Sirius' mouth hung open, his jaw slack.
"-didn't even occur to you there might be dark creatures in that lake!"
"Erm, Lily?" James tried to interrupt, but she was on a roll, eyes blazing. He stared at her, marveling that she had the energy to throw such a fit even after single-handedly rescuing a boy twice her size from drowning.
"Have you ever even learned how to swim properly? Just thought you'd wing it, I suppose! And of all the days to go charging into the deep end of the lake, you pick a blustery day where the lake temperature is near freezing! You would have deserved to die! "
She collapsed, apparently exhausted, panting but no less furious than before. Bright red spots stood out on her pale cheeks.
James rolled up onto his knees, crawling toward her slowly.
"Are you done?" he asked gently. She just glared.
"I'm sorry I frightened you."
She sputtered, clearly objecting to this characterization, but he stopped any further tirade by gently laying a hand on hers. The feeling of his fingertips brushing over her bare skin made her shiver, and a new batch of goose bumps spread over her arms.
"It was stupid," he continued. "I wasn't planning on going for a deep dive; that's why I didn't prepare better. Then that grindelow got a hold of me and I couldn't get to my wand and I guess I just panicked."
He spoke softly, as if to a wild animal. The burning feeling returned to Lily's eyes, and she could feel more tears collecting there. He sensed victory was within his grasp.
"Thank you for rescuing me. You're my witch in shining armor."
She burst into tears, and this time Mary and Dorcas let her go when she tried to pull away. She threw her arms around his neck, bawling.
"Never do anything like that again," she ground out, hating herself for clinging to him but not being able to stop. "Do you hear me? Never."
He allowed himself a small moment to savor the victory, and then happily replied. "Never."
:o:o:o:o:o:
Despite the scene at the lake, or perhaps because of it, the party started earlier than anyone anticipated. If there was one house in the school that knew how to celebrate a thrilling act of bravery, it was Gryffindor, and so it happened that Lily and James found themselves sharing the spotlight.
"I was really impressed with how calm you were through the whole thing, Lily." Oscar Kearney leaned in close to refill her drink, flashing an alluring smile. He was a handsome boy, and most of the sixth year girls were wild for him. "Have you considered Healing after school? You have the presence of mind for it."
He delivered the compliment smoothly, staring deep into her eyes, but it was all she could do to stop herself from laughing in his face.
"Not really," she answered honestly. "To tell you the truth, I was so scared I couldn't remember any of the healing charms we learned in first aid last year. I was lucky the boys were waiting with cooler heads."
Her eyes drifted across the room, seeking out James' lanky form. He was standing by the fire, surrounded by a crowd and talking animatedly about the game. As if on cue, all the girls within earshot of him laughed at once. Lily sighed inwardly and directed her attention back to Oscar, who was still talking.
"Slughorn is always talking you up in Potions. He says you're the most gifted Muggleborn he's ever taught."
Oscar's words sounded complimentary, but they left a bad taste in her mouth. Somewhere in the room, a radio blasted a popular song by the Cornish Pixies, and Lily cut him off before he could continue.
"Do you want to dance?"
Oscar stared at her blankly for a moment, mouth still half-open. Then her words seemed to register with him, and he grinned.
"Absolutely."
James watched Lily out of the corner of his eye as she was approached again and again by male admirers. He started to go over to her several times, but each time he was stopped by another group of people eager to hear about his plans for the rest of the season. He had been talking to a group of fourth year girls about the same play for nearly fifteen minutes when Lily joined Oscar on the dance floor.
"When you took that shot from fifty meters, I couldn't believe it," Rowena Jackson simpered, putting her hand on his arm. James sighed and looked down at her.
"Right, well, I'm pretty unbelievable." He made eye contact with Sirius and jerked his head, beckoning his friend over.
"Sirius here can tell you all about it." James deftly sidestepped the younger girl and slapped Sirius on the back. "I owe you," he muttered in Sirius' ear as he stepped away.
"When do you not?" Sirius replied, just as quietly. "Pretty girls are my specialty, you know," he said to Rowena, slinging his arm over her shoulders and pulling her in close. She giggled and James sighed gratefully, clearing the girls and edging around the room toward where Remus was tending bar.
"You look like you could use a piece of treacle tart," he said when James approached. Following James' gaze to wear Lily was swinging her hips on the dance floor and laughing with Oscar, Remus nodded sagely. "Or maybe a firewhiskey."
"Make it a double."
James eyed the deep red liquor as it filled the tumbler. He hadn't been drinking much, foolishly hoping that their interactions earlier in the day would make Lily putty in his hands. He didn't want to be drunk for the moment when she finally realized how much she loved him.
These were thoughts he hadn't let himself dwell on in a long time, and the realization that nothing had changed, despite their friendship and her obvious feelings towards him, filled him with despair. He steeled himself and drank deeply, then slammed the glass down in front of Remus once more.
"Again."
His friend's eyebrows drew together in concern, and he opened his mouth.
"Unless you're about to tell me you have something stronger, shut up and pour, Moony."
Reluctantly, Remus lowered the bottle again. "You know, you still haven't really talked to her."
James ignored him and threw back the drink. "Again."
"No."
He made to grab for the bottle, but Remus held it out of reach.
"Moony," James whined.
"You know how you get when you're plastered, Prongs. I'm not saying you can't drink, just...pace yourself."
James slumped against the table serving as a makeshift bar and glared back at Sirius, who was now educating Rowena on the finer points of snogging.
"How does he do that? Every bloody time."
Remus rolled his eyes. "He finds a girl who thinks he's fit and then flatters her until she agrees to fool around. That's not what you're after."
"It could be," James said sullenly, still watching his friend.
"No, it really couldn't. You're so hung up on Lily that any girl with brains would see it from a mile away."
"Easy solution. I'll find one without a brain."
"Right because that's better. Look, Lily's obviously having a miserable time with Kearney. Go make your move. Just talk to her; she'll thank you for it, I promise."
James swiveled his head blearily back toward the dance floor, and noted with pleasure that Remus was right. While they were still dancing, Lily was staring vacantly around the room, clearly bored with her companion. Every time Oscar turned to look at her, she'd smile unconvincingly, then go right back to looking like she'd rather be just about anywhere else.
"You think so?"
She sighed and looked toward the bar, and as soon as her eyes fell on him, she smiled. James noted with distinct pleasure that there was nothing unconvincing about the way she looked at him. He grinned back and she laughed, shaking her head and turning back to Oscar, who had started talking again.
"I think you have your answer," Remus said, nudging his shoulder. "What are you waiting for?"
James pushed his way onto the dance floor, weaving through couples and pushing aside a few overly enthusiastic third year boys who looked more like they were having seizures than performing any kind of recognizable dance moves.
"Evening, Evans," he called once he was in earshot. "Kearney."
Oscar turned around and frowned at James. "Potter. Anything I can help you with?"
James cocked his head and examined the younger boy. He supposed he could see what the girls liked about him, but he was altogether too buttoned up and proper for a girl like Lily.
"No, actually I was looking for Evans here."
Oscar pulled himself up to his full height, which was still several inches shorter than James. "We're a bit busy. Can't it wait?"
"'Fraid not." James made a sad, tsking sound with his tongue and winked at Lily. "Official Head business. You wouldn't understand. Top priority."
Before he could object further, James offered his arm to Lily.
"Sorry, Oscar," she said cheerily. "Duty calls."
Once they were out of earshot, she sighed gratefully. "Thank you. Really, you have no idea."
He chanced a peek over his shoulder and saw Oscar glowering at them. "Dodged a bullet with that one, Evans. I hear he snogs like a fish."
She punched his arm. "I wasn't planning on snogging him."
"That's a relief. You could do much better."
There was a pause while Lily wondered if he would say what she was sure they both were thinking.
"I was actually just checking to see if you were doing okay. You haven't been yourself lately."
The abrupt subject change threw Lily, and she realized she was disappointed that he wasn't flirting with her anymore. She let go of his arm and sighed.
"Yeah, well...with N.E.W.T.'s, everything going on over Halloween, the holidays coming up...I guess I've been a bit overwhelmed." And I think I'm falling in love with you, so that hasn't helped. She tried to keep her voice as steady as possible, but she was sure he could hear it shaking.
"Why are the holidays stressful?" James looked down at her, realizing that he knew very little about her home or family. He had gathered that she had a sister, older, he thought, and he knew her parents on sight thanks to years of run-in's at Platform 9 3/4. But other than that, he knew precious little about her life in the Muggle world.
"My sister and I don't really get on at the moment. Haven't for years, really. And she's engaged and getting married this summer, so there will probably be a lot of hubbub about the wedding. Her fiance is a bore, and at last check he had no idea I was a witch. So that's fantastic. No magic, even though I'm of age. My parents will probably make me lock up my spellbooks and wand just to keep the peace."
James stared at her. "I thought all birds loved weddings. Isn't it in your basic, girly make-up? And where does he think you go all year if not to Hogwarts?"
"I don't know." She shrugged uneasily, vaguely uncomfortable sharing such personal details with James, but surprised at how good it felt to voice them to someone. "Petunia has made it pretty clear that she doesn't want me to have anything to do with her big day. She only asked me to give a reading because our mum forced her."
"Oh, I'm sure-"
"I heard them arguing about it last summer. It was a couple of weeks before the end of holidays. They had this huge, horrible fight and Mum basically threatened her into it. Said that we're family, and when she and Dad are gone we'll only have each other to rely on."
James frowned. "Seems a bit grim."
"She's right, though. Petunia's all I've got. Both my parents were only children and all my grandparents are dead. And she despises me."
"I'm an only child," James offered. They sat down near the fire. Around them, the party raged on, but for the moment no one seemed to be looking for them. In their corner of the room, all was quiet and peaceful. "My parents are both really old, too. I don't know what I'll do if they ever die."
Lily looked at him oddly. "How old are they?"
"They're in their seventies. And my dad is Head of the Auror Department at the Ministry, which isn't exactly an easy-going sort of job. Sometimes I worry about him. He works too hard, and my mum...well, she isn't what I would call frail." He grinned. "In fact she'd probably box my ears if she heard me say that. But she's been sick on and off for the last couple of years."
"James..." Lily looked up at him, at a loss for words. For years she thought she knew him so well, but it turned out she had no idea. His eyes were soft and open, as if he was willing to tell her anything, if only she asked. She wished she knew the right question. Finally she said, "I'm sorry. I didn't know any of that."
He shrugged and smiled, breaking eye contact. The moment passed. "It's all right. I didn't know any of that stuff you told me, either. It's amazing how much you miss, living side by side with someone for seven years."
Lily didn't miss the hidden meaning in his words, and she swallowed hard against a sudden lump in her throat. He was giving her an opening, if only she was brave enough to take it.
"I need a drink," she said quickly, standing up and moving out of the firelight. Without saying goodbye, she fled for the bar.
Peter joined James not long after she left. "You just lost me a galleon. I bet Sirius she'd kiss you before the night was over."
"Night's not over yet, Wormtail."
"It is for you two." The smaller boy gestured to the stairway leading to the girls' dormitory, and James saw a flash of red hair disappear into the gloom. He sighed deeply.
"What else were you two betting?"
"Sirius bet me a sickle she'd hex you before the holidays."
"You must like giving him your money."
:o:o:o:o:o:o:
Once she reached her room, Lily ran to the window and threw open the sash, letting the cold November air pour into the room. Her cheeks were burning, and she wasn't sure if it was because of the alcohol, James, or some unholy combination of the two. He had looked at her as if he could see right through her. The only other person who had ever looked at her like that was Dumbledore, and it wasn't the same thing at all.
"Knock, knock."
Mary stood in the doorway, arms crossed against the cold. "Can I come in?"
Lily smiled wearily. "It's your room, too. Of course."
She walked across the room and sat down next to Lily on the bench at the window.
"You left pretty quickly."
Lily squirmed. "I guess I just didn't feel like partying. I'm tired. Potter isn't exactly a lightweight."
The joke fell flat, and Mary gave her an appraising look.
"You know, you may fool a lot of people, but you don't fool me, Lily Evans."
"Excuse me?" Her heart started to pound, but she forced her face to remain neutral.
"I won't tell anyone. If it makes you feel any better, I don't think anyone would believe me if I did. Except maybe Alice, but then, you've probably told her everything."
"What are you on about, Mary?"
"You want me to spell it out for you? Fine. You fancy James Potter, and you have no idea what to do about it."
Lily stared at her, heart in her throat. The words floated there between them, taking up space, breathing her air. She didn't know what to say. Finally, she gave a barely perceptible nod. Mary's face split into a wide grin.
"I think it's splendid. Plus it's good for you to be thrown off balance now and then."
"Off balance is one way of putting it."
Mary patted her knee. "He'd be good for you, you know. We all think so."
"What does 'we all' mean?" Lily spat, outraged. "Are you all just sitting around chatting about my love life now?"
"What love life?" Mary rolled her eyes. "No, no one has said anything about it in ages. But we have talked about the two of you on occasion. The girls and I have, that is."
"He makes me completely mental," Lily protested. "We'd kill each other!"
"I don't think that's true," Mary said sagely. "You get along well enough now. Once he stopped trying to romance you constantly and against your will, and once you lightened up a little bit, things calmed down."
There was a pause while Lily digested that and Mary looked out the window.
"He makes you laugh." Mary's soft voice cut through the silence. "Really laugh, not just smile politely. I can tell you feel better when he's around. You look for him now when you get stressed out, like he can do something to fix it."
"What, are you stalking me now?" For the third time that day, Lily could feel tears burning in her eyes, but this time they were tears of defeat.
"No, just paying attention. Come on, you obviously have feelings for him. What's holding you back?"
Lily blinked, and a tear trickled down her cheek.
"You can tell me. I won't breathe a word. Not to anyone. We never have to talk about it again."
When Lily still didn't answer, Mary reached out and pulled her into a hug, ignoring the soft sounds of protest. Sniffling, Lily let tears seep from her eyes and into Mary's robes.
"It's stupid," she said finally. Mary smiled but didn't reply. She rubbed slow circles in her friend's upper back, swaying lightly from side to side.
"It's just...he's Potter, isn't he? He's always been this huge thorn in my side. But he's also a constant. I know what to expect, or at least I always used to. Everything is changing, out there, in here. People have all of these expectations of me, but I still feel like a kid. Going out with James...I don't know how to describe it, but it feels like that would be a real step forward, into some future that I don't even know I want yet. And once I've taken that step, there's no way back. What if I'm completely wrong about him? Do you know how awful that would be?"
Mary waited for several long seconds, but Lily seemed to have run out of words.
"All good points," she said. Lily pulled out of their hug and wiped her eyes. Mary looked into her friend's tearstained face and smiled. "But Lily, but if you're right?"
A/N: Welcome to all the new readers! We're going to go on a little romance-centric frolic for a few chapters. Hope you enjoy :) Thanks for reading!