Author's Note: Ta-DA! Another update, I bet you all have just fallen off of your various computer chairs when you saw that I am updated so quickly. I just had a very…helpful (tad on the brutally honest side) review and it has prompted me to update so quickly. Just so you know, (you know who you are) all of the contractions in this chapter and hopefully all chapters to come are dedicated to you and only you. =)
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters created by J.K. Rowling. I just thank the heavens that there is a site like this so that I can be nerdy and write my own story.
Charmed Love Chapter 27
February 11
History of Magic
"Miss Evans, did this letter just fall out of your bag?" Professor Smittey asked as I gathered up my bags and headed out of the Ancient runes classroom.
"No, Professor. I don't have a letter in my possession." I replied as I turned around just outside the door, careful not to drop the bottle of ink that I was holding in my hand because it was the last one that I had in my stock.
"Well, that is peculiar because the letter is clearly addressed to Lily, and it is for the occasion of her 17th birthday. Which, thanks to Miss Vanessa, the entire class is well aware that you celebrated just a couple of days ago." He snorted as he probably remembered Vanessa's charming singing.
"I didn't say that the letter in question is not mine, I just said that it was not in my possession. That is a true statement because it isn't in my possession because you are holding it; therefore it is in your possession." I replied giving him a cheeky smile.
"Very well, Miss Evans. But I would remind you that you are talking to a teacher and not one of your friends." He scolded as he thrust the letter out in my direction.
That fact is not lost on me, you are definitely not one of my friends, I thought as I grabbed the letter from his hand, and turned too headed down to the Great Hall for lunch.
"Yes, sir." I turned around and gave him a salute before shaking my head and continue walking on my way pretending that he doesn't exist. I really hated everything about Professor Smittey, from his nasal-y voice to the way he spit on you when he talked if you were unfortunate enough to be sitting in front of him when he walked around the classroom during one of his lectures.
It was an instant and deep hatred. Ordinarily, I don't really support people's irrational hatred of other people, but in this case, I was more than willing to make an exception. Professor Smittey could go jump off of the Astronomy tower, fall into the Black Lake, and be eaten by the Giant Squid for all I cared.
Actually, I think that I would just stand and laugh at him if I would ever be fortunate enough to see that happening. Unfortunately, the odds of that happening are about as good as me winning the Muggle lottery, which if you ask me is a complete farce. "Odds are, you'll have fun."
Yeah, and re-growing every bone in your body is also the way that I enjoy spending my free time.
Oh, well. At least next year I'll be able to leave him in the past when I graduate from Hogwarts. There are going to be things about this school that I will miss, but I can say with full confidence that he will most certainly NOT be on that list, probably along with the trick stairs that I always manage to get my foot stuck in at least once a year.
But I will definitely miss these rolls. I thought as I looked down at my spot at the Gryffindor table. There was a pile of rolls right in front of my place…very advantageous positioning if I do say so myself.
No one else was at the table yet, because most of them were coming from the dungeons on the other side of the castle, and I tend to be early like that. But it is not as if I'm cutting off my nose to spite my face here. I don't have to go back to my room to get any books right now because my morning classes are pretty light as far as materials go.
Filling my plate with the chicken, mashed sweet potatoes, and at least two rolls, I decided to once again read the letter from my mum that I was still holding in my hand.
Dearest Lily,
So today is your 17th birthday, sweetie. It seems so hard to believe that you are now an adult in your world now. It seems so hard to believe, but you really are grown up now. You have grown up to be as smart and beautiful as I always knew that you would be.
I am really proud of you, my little Lily. I know that you have had to deal with a lot of things that most girls your age don't have to deal with. Especially regarding your sister. I had hoped that you two would have been able to work out the wedge that was driven in between the two of you when you got your letter, but I guess that it was just not meant to be. It always pained me as the mother to see her treating you coldly when you were trying too hard to be friendly. I wish that I knew the reason behind it, but I am afraid that I never will. My best guess is that she has always been just a tad jealous of you. She was older than you, and probably felt like she should have been able to do all of the special things that you have been given the chance to experience. But please know that, underneath it all, you are still sisters, and nothing can change that. You will always have that bond, even though it is not as strong as the one that I believe should have been yours to enjoy.
I just wanted you to know how much I do love you. My little girl is grown up now. And while I can't help but wish that you were little again lead you around with your little hand in mine, I know that I need to let go and trust that you know what you are doing.
So as is custom in my side of the family, I am giving you a special gift as special coming of age present. Usually, it is given on a girl's 18th Birthday, but seeing as this is the coming of age that you will celebrate, I am giving it to you now with all the love and pride that a mother can have for her youngest daughter.
I will love you forever and always, no matter what you decide to do.
XOXO, Mum
I carefully folded the letter and placed it back in my bag where it would be safe when I heard the chatter of my friends and the Marauders start as they took their places around me.
Absently, I started to finger the pearl that was delicately placed in the center of the silver flower that was attached to the simple silver chain that my mum had given to me as my special coming of age present. I had always wondered why she had always carefully avoided my questions about what I was going to be getting for my 18th birthday that I used to ask when I was little. She was always saying that it had to be a surprise, and that it was going to be the most special gift that I ever received for my birthday.
And this necklace was perfect, I could not have asked for anything more beautiful for my birthday.
"Whoa! My gosh Lily, you look absolutely stunning today." Alice exclaimed as she plopped down into her seat which was directly diagonally from me. "You actually look liked you tried this morning, I mean you hair is actually curled and not just pulled back in a messy bun. I am impressed."
"Why do I always detect a note of surprise in your voice whenever you say that?" I laughed as I carefully speared a piece of chicken that was on my plate.
"It is just that you usually look like you could not care less, and now today you actually look like you put some thought into your outfit today." Alice joked as gestured to my carefully pressed shirt and robes.
"Maybe it has escaped your notice, Alice, but we have a uniform here at Hogwarts, there is not much that one can do in the ways of changing up their wardrobe when all one wears are grey skirts, white shirts, and black school robes." I countered as I rolled my eyes at here.
"But, Lily, today you accessorized! Usually you wear no makeup and today I am detecting the hint of blush and lip gloss on your face. I am so proud of you." Alice gushed as she leaned over to pat me on the shoulder.
Vanessa decided to join in our conversation by adding "I have to agree with Alice here, girl. You definitely put some thought into your outfit today. There is no sense denying it."
"I am not even trying to deny it though. I just don't see why you all feel compelled to point out when I look nice. Because then what am I supposed to feel like when you don't compliment me. It is like you are implying that I look like a drunken troll when you don't comment on my outfit. Oh I am sorry, when I decide to "accessorize"." I sarcastically added the air quote things around the last word. I usually despise when people do that, but I completely think that the situation called for it.
"I don't think that I would go so far as to day a drunken troll, but definitely a goblin that did not get much sleep the night before." Beth teased, flashing a smile in my direction.
I snorted into my pumpkin juice at her comment. "Oh thanks, I love you too, sweetie." I replied dryly.
"Aww, Lily is getting grumpy now. Maybe we should apologize for being mean." Vanessa said sticking her bottom lip out sarcastically.
"Ugh, why must I be surrounded with such mean people?" I asked no one in particular.
But obviously not getting the fact that it was mean to be a rhetorical comment, Sirius replied. "Because without us, you would be all alone with no friends just like Charles Miller, and you would not want to be in that situation." He indicated the unfortunate ginger Hufflepuff 2nd year that was sitting alone at the table. "We keep your life interesting."
"I trust that it is in my best interest not to try to disagree without you, even though right now I am internally questioning what exactly you have been smoking in your free time." I laughed as I tossed my hair over my shoulder in a rather grand flip if I do say so myself.
"You should at least be happy that you sit by people who like you, otherwise they would probably start a scene for whacking them in the face with your hair as they are trying to peacefully eat their lunch." James friendly threatened as he tucked my hair behind my ear.
"You are also lucky that I know that I feel secure in our relationship, otherwise I would probably misinterpret your comment and think that you were actually scolding me. Which I know could not possibly be the case, right James?" I replied looking pointedly at my plate, trying my best to keep a straight face, and not burst out laughing.
"I'm once again astounded by your intelligence and good taste in men." He added with a quick kiss on the cheek causing my skin to grow warm right were his soft lips had made contact with my skin.
"How fortunate for the both of us that we both acknowledge my superior intellect and excellent taste in boyfriends, otherwise we really would be up a creek without a paddle with a hole in our canoe." I boasted turning to look at him in the eyes which were twinkling causing the golden flecks to stand out against the bluish-green surroundings.
He leaned in a few centimeters closer so that his nose was touching my own, and his eyes were completely filling my vision.
"Almost correct, I think that I am the smarter one in this scenario because I was the one who finally decided to just kiss you. So I think that that puts me a couple of points ahead in the intelligence department." James whispered just barely brushing his lips with my own.
I inhaled deeply, breathing in the warm cinnamon and vanilla scent that was so uniquely his own. I don't know why it appeals to me so much, but if I had to make a guess, I think that it would have something to do with the fact that it reminds me of grandma's apple pie. And I had always felt so secure and content when I was at her house.
Even though, I think that James tastes much better than that pie, considering the fact that the pies never caused my heart to beat in triple time and my insides to twist and turn, but in a good way.
It was always in the good way, whenever or wherever James Potter is concerned.
I am pathetic.
I am a love-sick fool.
Also, I am a terrible waster of parchment because I know that I have written about this before.
And as soon as I wrote that last sentence, I discovered that I do not care, because no matter how many times that I say it, it never loses any of the sparkle.
Whatever, it is not like anyone is ever going to read this, so it is not like it matters what I write about.
After deepening the kiss, I pulled back slightly. "I was all ready kicking your rear in the intelligence department because this whole fiasco began, so at the very least we are just even now. And that is only if you are very lucky."
"I am very lucky. The stars danced across the sky the night I was born." He continued in the most arrogant tone of voice that I have heard him use in the longest time.
"You are also very ridiculous, and you're quite lucky I like you as much as I do, otherwise you would be in serious trouble." I finished as I threaded my fingers through the hair at the back of his neck.
"Did you just say my name?" Sirius questioned loudly enough to catch our attention, before turning to Alice to continue. "I knew it, St. Prongs! Lily is a bad influence on my best mate. Now they are plotting against me, probably deciding how best to kill me…Probably planning on murdering me in my sleep like You-know-who."
Quickly sending a wink in James's direction so that he would be on board with my plan, I whispered loudly "I think that the best way would be to sharpen an old stick and stab him in the back with it when he has his back turned to us."
"No, I think it would be better to drop him in the Black Lake with a weight tied to his foot so that the Mer-people can just kill him for us, because then they cannot trace us to the murder." James corrected me, effortlessly catching on to what I was intending to do.
"You see what I have to deal with." He complained to Ernie. "And to think, I was originally hoping that the two of you would do me a favor and get together…but I thought what we had was special, James. Come on mate, Chicks before Dicks!"
James and I both doubled over in laughter unable to keep a straight face any longer. It was Sirius's last comment that had done us in; he was so wrapped up in the moment that I think that his mouth was working faster than his brain, because he obviously did not realize that his comment should have been "bros before hoes" and not "chicks before dicks".
"Sorry Padfoot, but Lily is a much better kisser than you are. So I am sure how you can see how my hands are tied in this situation." James confessed as he put his arm around my shoulders.
"Oh, I see how it is Prongs. All it takes is for her to bat her eyes and toss her auburn hair over her shoulder and the Big brain shuts off and the Little brain goes into overdrive." Sirius accused.
Looking unperturbed by his train of logic James just smiled and leaned over to place a kiss on my hair over my ear.
"At least there is some brain function going on, which is more than I can say for you, Sirius." I retorted, taking aim and deciding that it is best to get him with at least one barbed comment while I can.
Alice, Beth, and Remus all snorted into their glasses of pumpkin juice, and I took that as all the affirmation that I needed to know that my comment had been a particularly good one. That is definitely one of the joys of having friends; they know when to take you seriously and when to just disregard your comments in the name of a good burn.
"Oh, how you wound me Lily." Sirius said dramatically placing a hand over his heart.
"You will live." I replied picking up my books and heading to my next class now that lunch was over. James hurried to pack up all of his materials so that we could walk to our next class together.
"Lily?" James began as he casually matched my shorter stride. It had been a problem when we first started walking together. I felt like I was forever walking a half a pace behind him, considering the fact that his legs are longer than mine are.
"Yes, James." I answered not bothering to look at him as I was preoccupied with making sure that I did not have any crumbs attached to my face. I ended up eating about five rolls during lunch, but I don't care; they are too delicious for their, or my, own good.
"Have I ever told you that you are the most delightful person that I know?" He asked as he reached down to clasp his hand around my own.
"That is what I keep telling everyone, but you are one of the first people to believe me." I joked as I leaned into him slightly.
"I highly doubt that you have to remind too many of your teachers of that fact very often, they practically go around singing your praises to anyone who will listen to them anymore." James frowned as he ran his free hand through his hair. I have noticed that he still does that, but not just to make himself look cooler. I think that it has just become a habit for him after all this time.
"Tell that to Professor Smittey." I rolled my eyes. "He does not have a good thing to say about me."
"Professor Smittey is not in his right mind, and I don't think that he likes anyone. I should know I had him last year myself." James affirmed with a shake of his head.
"You are only trying to make me feel better; Professor Smittey does not hate everyone. You are a shameless flatterer, James Potter." I stated knowing that I really did not care in the slightest.
"Only for you, my darling." James brought our entwined hands up to his lips so that he could kiss the back-side of my hand, in a charmingly courtly manner, which he knew made me do weak at the knees thanks to my addiction to Julia Quinn and Jane Austen.
That's reassuring I thought to myself as I leaned up to kiss him properly on the mouth before we walked into Professor Binn's classroom, knowing that that would be our last bit of excitement as we would be hearing about the Goblin and Troll Revolutions of the 18th Century.
Author's Note: I wanted to know how many of you caught the regrowing of bones mention that I included at the beginning of this chapter. It was my subtle tribute to what I think was the best of the Potter Films, even though that is my least favorite book. (I also wonder how many of you scrolled back up to the top, if you missed the mention the first time.)
Anyways, I hope that you liked this chapter…I know, you are probably just excited that I updated again so fast. I am surprised by it myself, and you know that is saying something in and of itself.
Once again, please leave me a review with your thoughts.
Love, Allison.