Okay, so I apologise profusely for my very long absence, but unfortunately I was unable to write anything for some time due to unforeseen circumstances (I was just as peeved as you guys probably were, so please don't mean e-mail me). HOWEVER, there is a good side to this! In the time that has lapsed since I was last able to write, I have managed to finalise where I am going with this fic AND as an added little bonus I have also had an idea for another fic, which I will be posting the first chapter of tonight, so check it out if you want :D
I will be trying to stick to a chapter every week (roughly) so I hope that makes up for leave of absence!
Lily flopped into an armchair by the fire and let out a long sigh. She laughed as Alice did the same beside her. After a few moments of exhausted silence the girls began to chat about the upcoming exams and the mountain of work that had descended upon them as a result. Whilst they were talking, a fluffy white cat slunk out of the boys dormitory and jumped up onto Lily's knee. Lily absentmindedly tickled it's ears to a chorus of contented purrs.
"That cat is sooo cute!" Alice sang in her gleeful voice.
"He is adorable isn't he?" Lily replied burying her fingers deep into his long fur.
"Err…yeah!" Alice said, her mouth turning into a mischievous grin, "Just like his owner, eh?"
"Yeah," Lily's non-committal reply didn't go unnoticed by her best friend.
Lily sat looking into the roaring fire, her fingers tracing patterns in Fluff's fur. Her hair was loose and covered a large portion of her face. Alice could only see one of her friend's emerald eyes and knew just from that solitary eye that Lily was in deep thought. Lily sat for a few moments more before she turned to look at her best friend, her eyes beseeching her for confidentiality.
"Hey, you can tell me anything you know, Lils," Alice said quietly looking around the room quickly.
"I really like James, I really do, it's just that…," Lily took a deep breath before continuing, "When we're alone he's wonderful and charming and funny and I can actually talk to him, but he's still so… arrogant." Lily finished and dropped her head, her hand ceasing it's ministrations in Fluff's fur.
"I do have to admit that he seems a bit…over confident?" Alice looked at Lily gently and smiled slightly.
Lily burst into laughter and beamed at Alice, "Nah, Alice he's arrogant and it's just not for me."
Lily's eyes filed with tears that she would not, under any circumstances shed.
"I wish it was though, I really do."
Alice squeezed herself into Lily's chair and hugged the girl tightly. Lily rested her head on her friends shoulder and resumed petting James' cat as Alice waved her wand, summoning a bar of Honeydukes' best for the two girls to share. They sat together in front of the fire eating the chocolate, laughing and discussing Frank's upcoming birthday.
"Oi Evans!" The familiar voice assaulted Lily's ears and she turned to face the source.
James Potter stood with his friends in the Transfiguration corridor, beaming his look-at-my-girlfriend smile. The collection of Slytherins and Gryffindors crowded around them turned to look at the couple. Lily walked slowly towards the Marauders without glancing at the students that watched her progress, Alice sticking close by her.
"So, how are you today beautiful?" James sang, looping his arm around Lily's waist and kissing her cheek.
"I'm right here, there is no need to shout," Lily said quietly stepping out of his embrace as Professor McGonagall opened the door.
"Hey, you okay, Lils?" He asked quietly this time, no longer performing for his awaiting audience.
"How do you do that James?" Lily turned to look at him as the rest of the class filed into their classroom.
"Do what?" He looked worried now and all Lily wanted to do was take his face into her hands.
"Switch from the arrogant idiot to the sweet boyfriend in a second?" She sighed and continued, "It's not fair and I don't…I won't put up with it any more, I'm really sorry James, really."
James didn't speak, couldn't speak, he just looked at the beautiful girl before him. She smiled, trying to alleviate his suffering.
"Miss Evans, Mr Potter, you may continue this later, right now come inside and take your seats!" Their Professor's voice whipped out into the corridor, they turned and entered the classroom.
Sorry it's only short : (
Many thanks to those who added me to their Story Alert list: MaryandMerlin, LunaticLOVEgood, Niks17, RachelElizabeth, smallvillemonster123, .limits111, Cloee99
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And many thanks to all of you who this read this story!!!