Wow, I'm SO SORRY for the very long wait for this story, this chapter, this stuff at all. I'm glad I kept some reviewers, those meant a lot, and I hope some and more come back after my absence!
Thanks to Chocolate Chip Cookie, xSecretEvansx, doing 25 to life in azkaban, phoenixgurl195, LilyHeartsMarauders, my anonymous pavi, my beta snaplappl21, and Katie.Cupcake for all their reviews. That means a lot!
Let me know what you think please!!
CHAPTER TWO
Lily had always liked life simple. She'd enjoyed plain toys, plain clothes, and plain bedspreads when she was little. When she left for Hogwarts, she'd liked the simple meals she got to eat, and the regular schooling she received. She liked life simple.
James' life was not simple.
Not only were his parents absurdly rich, they were influential and known all around the world. Being their son made James a celebrity, to a degree, as the heir to a huge fortune and mansion, as well as the reputation set down by his father and previous fathers.
Lily felt bad for him once the Daily Prophet writers showed up.
The Quidditch game had been going well, with an easy pace but tough players, and Lily was enjoying watching. But she was in between Alicia and Jenna at the latter's request, because they didn't trust her to sit with Jacob and pull the act off.
So Lily was one of the first to spot the camera flash over a hedge hiding the neighbour's yard. She thought at first it was a brief flash of sunlight, as now it had strengthened, but once it happened a few times in the same area she became suspicious. A few others were noticing too before Sirius actually pulled up his broom. "Whose over there?" he called, a hint of anger in his voice. James, his aunt and uncle, and all the other players had pulled up too.
There were a few more flashes before they heard a yelp and scurrying. James and Brian flew over to see, and came back furious. "Sasha Coklin," James muttered. "A horrible writer, really, I think this party deserves someone with skill, at least."
Brian laughed, but called an end to the game, with a tie announced. Lauren, Joanne, and Sirius were arguing a rematch later, however, with the game so closely tied.
By noon Lily could see just how much this party was going to be a success. Not only were every single one of her friends, close or distant, present, but also nearly all of Gryffindor House, from fourth-years and up. Quite a few Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were there too, but Jacob was the only Slytherin again. It didn't seem to bother him, though, as he made friends easily despite his quiet manner. He was soon talking with two teenage Australians.
Lily was standing baffled in the hall she'd come into after Flooing there, marvelling at the decorations. House elves and men alike were stringing the ceiling with banners in red and gold, which also happened to be his family colours. This hall, the main dining hall, and two dancing halls were being opened, as well as a few lounges and the upper floor. The library and east and west wings were going to be off limits.
"Scary, huh?" said a voice behind her. She turned and saw James himself walking toward her. "My parents can still manage to pull this all together while being across the world in Chile."
"I'm sorry they're not here," Lily said, looking around again. "I'd like to see their faces at the end."
"Mum would find something wrong. She's very sharp." He said nothing for a moment, also looking about. "Seventeen."
"An adult."
"Seventh year in school soon."
"Last year."
He turned to her, hazel eyes serious behind his glasses. "Did you know that Sirius and I had a bet when we were in first year about seventh year?"
Lily groaned aloud. "Do I want to know?"
"I think so. He was betting that I will have had at least twenty girlfriends, while I was betting he would have snogged twice as many."
"You blew that bet out of the water," she said sarcastically. "What are you on now, twenty-seven?"
"Keeping count?" he asked mischievously. Lily blushed a little despite herself. "I think a few people are keeping count for fun; they're probably getting a kick out of it." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "Anyway, I thought you'd like to know."
"Why would I want to know?"
"Because if you're supposed to be my girlfriend you should know my history," he said. "You know all the other bets. And almost everything else. I'm not very private."
"Except with the big stuff, I hope."
"Anyone can trust me with the big stuff." He winked at her. "What do you think of Brian and Tracy?"
"Very charming; I would have thought they were your parents."
"Brian is a lot like me. I think I inherited almost everything from him, except maybe concentration. The only thing Brian can concentrate on is Qudditch or Tracy."
Lily laughed to hide her faint blush. "That's not a very nice thing to say about your uncle."
"Wait until you hear what he says about me." James rolled his eyes. "It's like an older Sirius."
"Your best friend and uncle; maybe there's a connection?"
"Maybe." He paused again. "Do you want to take a walk?"
Lily hesitated; she usually wasn't this civilized with James, and it was out of character for her to be so lenient. But she nodded, despite herself; partly because it was her role to play, and partly because she was curious about his intentions.
He offered his arm to her, looking so like a gentleman Lily laughed. He frowned, confused. "What's so funny?"
"You've never offered your arm to anyone in your life, have you?" she asked, grinning, as she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow.
"Yes, I have, but they were all older women and it was expected. I thought it might charm you." They started out, first leaving the mansion and heading outside. Besides the yard there was a beautiful little flower garden, with an ornate fountain that stood empty now. They could see house elves cleaning it out, though.
"So, Lily. How are your parents?" James asked airily, in the fashion of a man starting a polite conversation.
She chuckled. "They're fine, last I heard. A little tentative to let me here, mind you. You're lucky you got me."
"I would have written to them and explained I absolutely adored you and that they had to let you go," he assured her quite seriously. "What have you told them of me?"
"What do I usually say of you?" she asked back. He paused, looking thoughtful.
"You say I'm annoying. And rude. And obsessive."
"That's what I've told them." Lily caught the hurt expression on his face before he hid it again behind his jovial mask. And it wasn't until that moment that she stopped to think maybe she hurt him more than she had thought.
They continued walking, through and around the gardens, talking idly of their lives and families. Lily learned he had a very extensive family, living mostly in England, but he had some in Russia, Israel, and Japan.
"We Potters are known a great deal for our brains and charm," he said proudly. "I have a lot to live up to."
"I can imagine. I really pity you."
"Oh? You wouldn't want all the riches and fame?"
"Never. I'd hate it. I like my privacy and comfort."
"Ah, yes, the infamous Lily Evans' love for being alone." He sounded dramatic. "You can't love it as much this week, though, OK? Or else we'll never pull it off."
"I know," she sighed. "I know that, James. The whole reason I'm here is to help you, and I'm going to do it right."
He stopped walking, and suspiciously enough they were hidden from view by a tall hedge. "You didn't come for any other reasons?" he asked, looking straight into her eyes. "Not even a shred of attraction to me in any form?"
"Of course–Lord, James, if I hated you absolutely I wouldn't have considered at all."
He pulled up, eyes wide. "You don't hate me anymore?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Should I?"
"No, no–it's just you yelled at the top of your lungs quite a few times that you detested my very being and wished me to hell." He looked strained. "Is that gone?"
"I still think you're annoying," she said firmly, but smiling. "But since this winter you've changed a bit. Or I have."
"Oh. The curse." A silence fell over them at the memory; Lily had been cursed severely and had almost died in the hospital wing that January, and had learned afterwards it had been a Death Eater's curse, one of Lord Voldemort's followers.
"So...Are we friends?" he asked hopefully. Lily saw so much anticipation in his face she buckled underneath its intensity.
"Sort of. I think we still have a way to go."
"OK. But it's better than nothing."
"Yeah."
James offered his arm again, and they started walking again.
"Hey, James?"
"Yeah?"
"Who gave you my address?"
He laughed out loud, his mischievous glint in his eyes. "That I cannot reveal. I promised."
"Jenna." Lily sounded more resigned that angry. "I should have known. She can't keep her mouth to herself for the life of her."
"How do you mean?"
"Jenna talks a lot. Don't trust her with big stuff; she'll blab. Alicia's good for it though."
"Speaking of Alicia..." James sounded pleased. "She and Remus make a good couple, don't they?"
"Has he said anything?"
"He hasn't had to. Moony tends to go silent whenever in the thinking process."
"Oh. So he really likes her, doesn't he?"
"Yep. Fell head over heels. Now he can't bother me so much."
Lily ignored that comment to avoid discomfort. "But they're still in school. They still have lots of time to decide on anything serious."
"Maybe not. With the war going on so close, people are marrying left and right. Do you know who the Malfoys are?"
"Sort of. Lucius Malfoy graduated when we were in our third year."
"Yeah, he and his family are extremely rich. They're also purebloods, and he's set to marry Sirius' cousin Narcissa once she's out of school."
"They still arrange marriages?" Lily said loudly, surprised.
"To keep the flow of pureblood, yeah. The Malfoys and Blacks are big supporters of ousting Muggle-borns and half-bloods and the like; they're also big supporters of You-Know-Who."
Lily fell silent for a moment, letting the seriousness envelop her. "Is that true?"
"I think so. Sirius' brother Regulus is a Slytherin, as were all the Blacks, and all the Malfoys. You-Know-Who was Slytherin too; some say he was related to the founder."
"That's irony for you," Lily said bitterly. "Stupid wizards who can talk to snakes and kill people with one spell. It's evil, pure and simple."
"Lots of people agree, Lily. The Longbottoms, for instance, and the Lovegoods, and Andromeda in Sirius' family...Lots of people. I just don't remember them all. We had a meeting here last year about it; even Dumbledore came."
"Were you even allowed near that room?"
"Nope; Sirius and I were kicked outside and spells were put on the door. We didn't hear anything, but I knew all of them hated You-Know-Who."
Just then James looked down and noticed Lily's necklace. It was a simple gold chain and a simple little garnet, her birthstone, hung from it.
"Where did you get the necklace from?"
"Christmas. An anonymous sender." She gauged his reaction carefully, but didn't notice any flick of emotion. So she didn't consider it.
Later that evening Lauren Bailey gathered Lily, Alicia, Jenna, Alice White, Joanne, and a few others into one of the lounges on the first floor. Curiously, though, it was only lit by a few lamps and candles. Lauren told them all to sit down and get comfortable as she left again.
The others were Sarah Laurence, Neela Ballin, Olivia Stock from Ravenclaw, Haley Robbins from Hufflepuff, and Veronica Hill, also from Ravenclaw. Everyone was from sixth-year.
"What do you suppose she's got us here for?" asked Neela. "Some kind of initiation?"
"Probably; she is North American, after all." That was Sarah.
"Just because she's Western doesn't mean she's a freak," Alicia said sternly, glaring at Sarah. "That's prejudice and racism."
Lily and Jenna giggled with everyone else, but Sarah and Alicia didn't find it funny.
Lauren came back, this time with the boys. James, Remus, Sirius, Jacob, Frank Longbottom, Evan Grissom, Alex Jackson, Will Lakes, Garret Walsh, and the two Australians, who introduced themselves as Mark Ryan and Luke Bishops.
"Alright, now we have even numbers...I think." Lauren made a fast count. "Yep, eleven and eleven. I'll be right back–don't be too loud."
She left again.
James turned to the settled crowd of girls. "So what's this all about?"
"I dunno," Lily replied. "She hasn't said."
"We think it's a Canadian ritual," Jenna said lazily, lounging in an armchair. This room was more for comfort than style. There were several sofas and chairs and tables inside, which they all now moved together in a rough circle. When Lauren came back she was loaded with every favourite English sweet; Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Chocolate Cauldrons and Frogs, Liquorice Wands, Ever-Lasting Blowing Gum, Sugar Quills–the varieties went on. And she'd thrown in some of her own favourites.
"These are Lemon Pops; you eat two or three and you'll pucker for at least a week...oh, and Salem Sluice, really popular in my school, it's like Butterbeer except sweeter...And these, these are amazing," she said, holding up a round ball. "Fashioned after the gob ball in North America; it never ends, and its flavours are whatever comes to your mind. Roast beef, cherries, yam...Whatever suits your fancy."
In the end only the boys were brave enough to try the never-ending gob ball, and they were already obsessed by the time everyone had some kind of sweet. Then Lauren took a seat on a sofa and waved her wand, conjuring pillows and blankets. "These are for comfort only, not sleeping," she warned, distributing them. "Anyone who falls asleep before midnight is subjected to free-style magic."
"What kind of game is this?" James asked now, tucking a pillow behind his head. Lauren grinned. "A game we love over in Canada, called truth-or-dare."
"It sounds lethal," Lily commented, biting off the legs of a Chocolate Frog.
"Truth-or-dare is only as exciting as your minds are creative."
Nearly every girl moaned aloud, and nearly every boy split into wide grins. The exceptions were Lauren and Jacob.
"Are you Englishmen dirty?" she asked cautiously, looking directly at James. "Mr Potter?"
"They think we are," James said. "But this sounds much more fun than our usual games; we should be able to pull out something new."
Lily rolled her eyes at Alicia next to her on the floor, leaning against a sofa which held Alice, Joanne, and Veronica. Lauren, beside Neela and Sarah, grinned as she leaned back; Haley Robbins and Olivia Stock were also in arm chairs.
"It's easier to play than to explain, but I think I should set down some rules. Whose dating someone in the room?"
Lily forgot to raise her hand until Alicia nudged her in the ribs with her elbow. Then her hand shot up to join those of James, Alice, and Frank. "Alright; those people cannot be dared to do anything that involves romantic contact with another person besides their partner."
That was simple enough.
"Anyone dating someone not present?"
Alex Jackson, Mark Ryan, and Veronica Hill raised their hands. "OK; those people are fair game, but an oath is to be taken that not one word of this game shall leave the room under pain of humiliation."
Veronica looked curious rather than upset. Alex and Mark looked intrigued. Lauren conjured papers, which she passed around to everyone for signatures. "Lastly...No loss of clothing, body parts, or normal bodily functions."
Sirius huffed loudly. "Is this supposed to be fun?" he demanded, earning himself several pillows in the face. Just then Lily noticed an absence.
"Where's Peter?"
"Sleeping; the little boy was up past his bed time again." Sirius rolled his eyes as James and Remus laughed silently.
"Alright then." Lauren received the documents back and cast a silent spell on it, which made it glow slightly and the fade to normal. "Done."
"How does this game work?" Haley asked from the floor.
"Truth-or-dare is a classic game designed to get the dirty secrets from someone or to get revenge from past pranks. I'll start by asking someone a question." Lauren turned to Sirius. "Sirius, do you pick to tell a truth or do you choose to do a dare?"
"Dare," he said promptly.
"Whatever he chooses I will respond appropriately with a dare for him to do or a question he has to answer." Lauren grinned widely. "You have to eat five Lemon Pops within thirty seconds."
Sirius scoffed at the easy dare, but at the end of his fifth swallow of the sour candy he looked very sick. He smiled tightly, cheeks slightly withdrawn.
"And then Sirius will ask someone if they want a truth or dare, and the game goes as such. Try and keep it within the room, though."
"This is easy," Sirius said. "Jenna, truth or dare?"
"Truth," she said. She looked very unlikely to rise from the arm chair to even do a dare.
"Did you and Evans plan the kissing bit last fall?" he asked.
"Nope; that was on our own. Poor Black knows he's a target." Jenna smiled sweetly at him before picking Luke Bishops on the other side, who also picked truth.
The game went on for a few minutes as everyone grew accustomed to it. With Lauren as the regulator no one was picking anything outrageous–yet.
Alicia finished off by picking James, who picked dare after a moment's consideration. "I dare you to..." She rummaged through the pile of sweets before finding a Chocolate Frog and pulling out her wand. She cast a spell on it, but nothing seemed to happen.
"Eat this," she said, handing it to him. He took it, sniffed it, but it didn't smell any different. He then downed the entire thing and promptly pulled a brilliant face.
"UUGH! What did you DO to it?"
"Made it taste like pomegranates," Alicia said simply, tucking her wand back into her pocket. "I know you hate them."
"Traitors," James choked out to Remus and Sirius, who were laughing along with the rest of the boys.
Once James could speak again James chose Lily. She picked truth, afraid of his dares.
"What is your middle name?"
That was unexpected. "Marie," she said warily. "Why?"
"That was one of the few things I didn't know about you."
There was a fair bit of snickering as Lily rolled her eyes and chose Jacob, who had yet to be picked.
"Truth."
She had to think for a moment. "Who is the person you hate the most? And you can't say You-Know-Who," she said quickly. "He doesn't count as a person."
"Here here," Alex and Evan agreed, raising bottles in her direction.
Jacob thought for a second before replying with an unexpected answer. "Jennifer Blane, that Ravenclaw who graduated last year; she was the most obnoxious person I'd ever met."
"So was it you who jinxed her with boils last year?" Frank asked. Jacob smiled. "I wish it had been me; sadly, it was Regulus Black."
"Wow; little Regulus is being spontaneous." Sirius sounded awed.
Jacob then asked Alice, who picked dare.
"Snog Frank full and flaming," Jacob said, smiling tightly. A couple of people snickered, but Alice stuck her chin up and walked over to her boyfriend, whom she kissed in full view of everyone. They cheered as the two broke apart, grinning.
Lily was starting to see why Lauren had rules set in place. As the minutes went on and people took their turns the players started becoming sly and cunning, The boys were looking for a loophole, and Lily was quite disgusted by it despite knowing them. She couldn't blame them; they were, after all, only teenage boys.
The game was becoming more and more dangerous, in a sense. Secrets were being spilled, dares becoming more and more clever. Lauren looked impressed with them rather than angry; perhaps in Canada her schoolmates didn't think of such creative things.
Again Lily was asked, this time by Lauren herself. She asked a surprising question.
"How long has James been chasing you?"
"How did you know about that?" asked Sirius loudly, earning him a punch in the arm from his best friend.
"I have my sources." The blonde looked to Lily. "So?"
Lily looked at James, trying to remember the year he'd started his quest for her hand. She saw his face was calm, not the smirk or laugh he usually had on. He was testing her.
"I think it was late third-year," she said at last, looking to her friends for confirmation. "After Charms, we'd just learned that excellent spell for invisibility."
"And when he asked you and you said no he went on and on about it in the common room and you got really angry and that was when the whole asking and answering started," Jenna drawled, picking at her nails. "Since then it's been an ordeal; James would ask her out and she would think of creative ways to say no. It's become something of a dramatized production."
"Really?" Lauren asked in interest. Mark Ryan and Luke Bishops also looked intrigued. "And what did James do every time you said no?"
"I'd think of more charming ways," he said airily, leaning back in the sofa. "It got really tiring sometimes, and I'd want to give up, but I knew I couldn't."
"Aw, how sweet!" Hayley said, smiling. "I thought it was more shallow than that."
"James, shallow?" Sirius said, shocked. "Never!"
"Alright, alright, on with the game," Lauren said, still smiling. "Lily, choose someone."
"Alicia," Lily said. "Truth or dare?"
"Truth, please."
Lily had to think hard. Alicia was her best friend and Lily knew almost everything about her. Except one thing.
"What have you and Remus been doing while cooped up in the library?" Lily asked slyly. There were a few "oooh" 's around the room, particularly from the boys. Alicia and Remus were both blushing in the dim light.
"Homework," she said simply.
"Oh, come on," James said eagerly. "You and Moony don't just do homework in there, do you?"
"Oh, I'm sure we do," Alicia said firmly. "It's just the library is such a romantic setting; dusty bookcases, cranky old woman in charge, glaring light...Just sets the mood, right Remus?"
He was laughing too hard to answer.
By eleven o'clock a few people were nodding off. Garret, Veronica, and Olivia looked sleepy, and were tickled or wacked awake a few times. But before midnight the three of them had fallen asleep, as had Will and Evan. The five of them got the honour of a full-face spell that made them look like trolls, pixies, or, as a very forceful suggestion, Slytherins.
"No, his face is more narrow here," Sirius was saying as he guided Lauren through the spell. "And his eyes are way darker."
Lily chose not to participate. She didn't like Snape's face anyway, let alone imitated on a fellow Hogwartian.
Now, with only seventeen people left, the questions got a little deeper, the dares just a little more wild. Lily tried to pick truth as often as she could, but she couldn't always without protests. She was waiting for the dare to come along that would have her regretting this whole decision to play.
By midnight Hayley, Frank and Mark also dropped into sleep. They didn't get face alterations, but they were going to be excluded from Lauren's next game. Lily was dreading it.
Half an hour later, after narrowly avoiding a dare by finding a loophole in it, Lily noticed Jenna, Sarah, and Alex were also asleep. They were put on the sofas as the remaining players moved to the floor.
Lauren counted again. "James, Sirius, Remus, Jacob, Luke, Lily, Alicia, Lauren, Alice, and Neela," she said thoughtfully. "Ten even, right?"
"Yeah," James said, stifling a yawn. "What is this?"
"A game that has no rules," she said with a wolf grin. "Again, another North American game. Not as creative, I don't think, but a bit more gossip-worthy."
The nine listeners perked up at this. "What is it?"
She grinned wider, if possible. "Spin the bottle."
Is that an OK cliffy, or is it like way too dramatic for something so common place? I thought it was fun, but that's just me. And I had to end it because the chapter was way too long, I think like ten pages or something, so you're all very lucky.
Review!! Please!!
Heiress