Memorable Memory
Another frustrating week went by but even in the forest Sirius had caught a whiff of excitement in the air. The first game of Quidditch was approaching. Sirius remembered from his school years that the first match was usually Gryffindor versus Slytherin. He had also heard that young Harry was on the team. He didn't even consider not going.
As the time for the match approached Sirius felt his own excitement grow. Was Harry as good a chaser as his father? James had been the best in his time so Harry must have followed in his footsteps; he was so like his father. Sirius had learned many things since escaping Azkaban, not the least of which was the great things Harry had already done. Facing Voldemort and surviving in his first year, slaying a basilisk just last year, he clearly had his father's bravery and his mother's quick mind. Harry was the best of both of them. Another memory rose in his mind, one he guiltily treasured for James would have killed him if he had known he was there.
"Hey Evans! Are you ok?" James called when she came in from her talk with Snape.
"Trouble in paradise?" Sirius asked with a grin, turning to James for support.
"Shut up, Sirius!" James got up and followed Lily, ignoring Sirius's shock.
Something made Sirius fetch James's invisibility cloak and go after them, he was determined to find out what was going on.
James caught Lily's arm as she tried to flee up to the girl's dormitory and drew her back out of the portrait, making sure that Snape was gone before leading her to the closest door in the corridor and entering the room.
Lily wouldn't look at him. "What do you want Potter? I thought you needed an audience when you ridiculed someone," she said quietly, her downcast eyes missed the pained expression her words caused.
"No," he winced as she moved to push past him. Grabbing her arms he added quickly, "I mean I don't want to ridicule you… Lily."
She looked up at the curious way he said her name, a slight frown on her face. "What do you want Potter?" she repeated less harshly than before.
"I- are you ok?"
Lily searched his eyes with hers but could see nothing but an honest sincerity she never thought to find. "My best friend called me something I would never call my worst enemy. What do you think?" her words were angry but her tone was sad, her shoulders sagged and she bowed her head.
"Best friend, hey?"
Now Lily was angry. She jabbed him in the chest as she replied, "Yes, he was my best and closest friend and it is your fault!"
James resisted the urge to ask about the past tense she used and forced himself to lie as sincerely as possible. "I know, I'm sorry."
Lily snorted in wry amusement. "No you're not, but- …what do you want?"
"I know I act a bit stupid at times and I let Sirius talk me into doing stupid things," Sirius's involuntary snort almost gave him away. Most of their schemes were cooked up by James. "but Lily, perhaps Sniv- Severus," James reluctantly corrected himself, "was different to the other scum-sucking Slytherins but look at who he associates with now. What he said today just proves he isn't your friend anymore, he's changed."
"Why are you saying this? You've always hated Severus," Lily asked, picking up on something James was trying to avoid.
"Well, I mean it- truthfully? Because I have gotten to know you, and I- forget it."
"What?" Lily persisted.
"I respect your judgement, okay? Your smart and resourceful and kind and generous and beautiful so there must be more to Snape than we- than I, thought."
"What did you say?"
"There must be more to-"
"No," Lily interrupted erasing Snape from his mind with a wave of her hand. "Before that."
"You, you're smart?"
Lily gave a laugh, "That wasn't it."
James moved closer. "Resourceful?"
Lily looked up at him, "Yes, but not the answer I'm looking for."
"Generous?" James asked bending his knees slightly so his face was inches from hers.
She stepped back from him with a mischievous glint in her eye, "am I?"
"Kind?"
Lily stepped forward again. "Close," she whispered.
James slowly leaned closer, his lips brushed hers as he finally asked, "the most beautiful girl in the world?"
"Better than Janice?"
James jerked back as if stung.
"Or Amanda? Or-"
"Stop it, Lily." To her and Sirius's shock there were tears in his eyes. "There's never been anyone else."
"Right," Lily scoffed.
"They were all attempts to replace you," he ignored her angry expression, "because I knew I'd never have a chance, because you hate me."
James spun to leave but Lily was faster, getting between him and the door, her face flushed with anger. "Hate you James? I don't know you. You hide behind your arrogance and false bravado and then, out of nowhere, you're suddenly this sensitive and caring person I didn't know existed, then you're back to arrogant James trying to jump down my throat. I don't know you."
James looked pathetic, defeated. It scared Sirius.
"And now you assume I don't want to."
James looked up at Lily the hope in his eyes made Sirius never want to fall in love, not if it made you that vulnerable. He was also confused and a little angry. James had never told him how deeply he cared for Lily, Sirius had just assumed it was a crush. That he wanted Lily because he couldn't have her, but this was way more than that.
"Meet me in the library after lunch."
James made a face but Lily insisted, "If you want to get to know me, you are going to study with me."
"Study? I don't study."
"My future is too important to me to give up my hard work on the chance that we might go on a couple of dates, no matter how handsome you are." Lily slipped out the door and was gone before James could reply.
James had actually started to spend time in the library. It lasted two days before Lily broke, agreeing to go with him to Hogsmeade if he would stop coming to the library with her. She had said something like, 'study means actually picking up a book James, not staring at me and asking stupid and irrelevant questions.'
Sirius smiled as he remembered how glad he had been that James wasn't going to the library anymore. His smile grew wider as he remembered how short that lasted. For about a month after that every sentence that came out of James's mouth seemed to start with Lily. Either Sirius got used to it or James stopped doing it after Remus, unable to take it anymore, blew up, he wasn't sure. That had surprised everyone, that Remus had been the first to crack, but… the sound of a whistle blowing in the distance distracted Sirius. The game had started and he wasn't there. Sirius the man disappeared and large dog bounded out of the clearing, running towards the Quidditch pitch.
A/N: I had planned to have the quidditch match in this chapter but the confrontation between Lily and James took over. I'm not real happy with it, I think it's just because it isn't what I planned for this chapter. Please review and let me know what you think.
