Taunted

Chapter Two

It was late. At least ten past eleven. All head students from each house had to patrol the corridors. Lily made her way back to the common room for a quick drink. It was dim inside; the fire only just ablaze. The room was completely deserted, having all students been put to their dormitories at ten. Lily poured herself a glass of water and sat on the couch facing the fire to sip it. She yawned, rubbing her eyes to resist sleep. But her unconsciousness was getting the better of her. She couldn't resume patrol like this. Slowly she let herself drift off for a little bit before she had to head back.

James walked in and stretched. His eyes fell on lily's figure sprawled out on the couch. He walked up to her, thinking of awful idea's he could do to her while she was asleep. She rolled over onto her side and made a little groan, tucking her head just underneath her arm. James hesitated, smiling as the last flames illuminated her face. She was beautiful, he knew this. But she was so much more beautiful lying there peacefully, then her usual aggravated face he had grown so familiar with. He went to carry her to her dormitory, but thought against the idea remembering the problematic magic against males upon touching the female staircase. Instead he placed his cloak over her body and sat by the nearest armchair. He made himself comfortable as he watched her mumble a few incoherent words. He himself was dozing off. He leaned his head back as Lily let out a smile, he watched as her lips turned. He hadn't seen her smile, not a pure one anyway. He watched her for another fifteen minutes remembering his continuous crush on her before his eyelids crept shut. Her image played through his dreams, her smile beckoning him. He opened his eyes as he went to reach for her and found the sunlight shinning lightly around the room. He took in his surroundings and slowly remembered how he had gotten to be here. he looked upon Lily and saw her stir in her sleep. James checked his watch as she opened her eyes and blinked, still caught in her dreams.

'James.' She whispered.

'Yes'. He said lightly, knowing she must be half asleep to hear her call him by his first name.

'What time is it?'

'It's still early, go back to sleep.'

She tried getting up. 'I have to get back to my dormitory.' She rubbed her eyes and sat up.

He gave her his hand. She eyed him warily.

'Do I have green hair or something, because you're being unusually nice?'

'What. Can't I be a gentleman for once?' He asked in an amusing tone.

'You're James Potter, of course not'

He laughed at her, helping her up. 'You know you smiled last night when you were sleeping, it was quiet unbelievable.'

'I did'

'Yeah, you should do it more often, you have a beautiful smile.'

'Okay Potter, what prank are you pulling now?'

'No prank, I'm just tired. I'll be proper James in a few hours.' He finished walking her to the girl's staircase.

'Well night then.' She said heading up to her comfortable bed.

'Morning' He replied, taking one last glance at her before leaving.

_

'Lily, wake up. You'll be late for class. Lily's eyes shot open and she saw Victoria prancing around the room, her book bag in one hand and an apple in the other. 'Charms is first'. She continued walking out of the room. Ten minutes later Lily hurried out of the room to charms, quickly taking a seat with Victoria before Professor Flitwick walked in. Slightly flustered lily took a look around the room. Everyone was mucking about. She gazed at them all, her eyes settling onto James. He flickered his eyes away and lily looked on, remembering the morning's encounter. She had called him by his first name and more surprising to her was that he was actually normal, a real gentleman, there was something terribly wrong. Lily looked back to Victoria and yawned. 'Looks like a good day'.

'Perfect. Sky's blue, weathers warm and everyone's smiling... Beside's Peter.' She pointed to a short and ratty looking boy.

'Why isn't he sitting with Potter and the others?' Lily asked looking back over where James was, Sirius and Remus were both sitting with him, accompanied by two Hufflepuff's who were throwing themselves onto James and Sirius.

'They would have gotten him under some spell, likely enough anyway.'

James took a small glance at Lily; this morning had caught him in a realization. For the past two years he had some what gotten over his crush for Lily. Her smile brought back every drop he had forced behind him. They shared a few minutes of none bickering, who would have ever guessed that impossible. He rid her from his mind and nudged Sirius, and started talking about Quidditch. Amelia and Mariah giggled at the boys as they described the memory of a bludger attack on the Slytherin keeper Tony Albert from last year. James gave them a wink and let Amelia throw herself upon him. There giggles and smiles were flattering, but James couldn't help but remember Lily's smile. He shook the memory off and grabbed Amelia onto his lap. Professor Flitwick walked in and stood before them all.

'Miss Hilder, please remove your self from Potter and take a seat. Evans, would you please come forth to the front of the class for a demonstration. Watch students and learn.' He gave Lily some instructions and got her to perform a simple spell in front of her peers. She did as told and levitated a book and magically turned it over to page fifty one and made the words float off the paper and onto the chalk board. The class clapped in awe.

'Nerd'. James called out. Lily gave him a death stare.

'Why don't you use that spell all the time?' Sirius asked.

'I, for the matter of fact like to write on my own with out magic'. Flitwick replied. 'Now you all try it'.

_

Lily walked with Victoria and the rest of her friends into the great hall for lunch. The Gryffindor house was huddled in the middle of the table all gawking at something. James and Sirius rushed by to get a closer look. 'Move on ladies, let us through.' Victoria and the others joined them. They made there way to the centre. Lily walked to the end of the table away from the commotion, Remus joined her.

'Hello Remus.'

"Morning Lily, How are you today?'

"Well thank you, yourself?'

'Not bad. I wanted to warn you and the other girls that the.. err the 'boys' are planning to do something in the common room tonight. It didn't sound too great, so try and stay as far as possible and warn the others.'

'Thank you Remus.'

'No problem Lily, I've tried numerous times to prevent them, especially with James being head boy now, but I don't think they'll ever grow out of it.' He smiled thinking of his mates and looked back to Lily.

'I've been trying for sixth years now Remus, they're impossible.'

'Nothing is impossible.' He left her side and found a seat further down the table. Lily took a seat and made herself a plate of salad. James and Sirius jumped out of the huddled group with two girls linked on either arm. They sat opposite Lily and stuffed there mouths with chips. The four girls chuckled as James drank his Pumpkin juice in one gulp.

'Do you really have to sit here?' Lily said watching in revulsion.

'Oh come on Lily,' Sirius said through a mouthful of mashed potatoes. 'You're such a bossy boots. Join in.'

'No thank you.'

James looked up at her. 'Poor lil's, want some?' He held out half a chicken wing to her.

'No' she said giving him a horrid look. He shrugged turning to the girls and gave them a bite. 'See Evans, they'll have some.' He was hand feeding one of the pretty blondes. Lily stood up and shook her head, leaving the great hall, no longer wanting food. James pulled the blonde off not finding the fun in it anymore and walked after Lily. She had already made it to the second floor when he caught up with her. She turned at the footsteps.

'What do you want?' She sighed.

James took his words carefully, but in the end blurted, 'Wanna come to Quidditch practice with me this afternoon?'

Lily looked him over surprised. He hadn't asked her out since there public fight in fifth year. 'No'. She turned to look out the closest window, which looked out to the grounds and lake. James pretty much kicked himself for blurting those words out.

'Rejected huh.'

'One more to add to the list.'

He got his grin back and watched her amused. 'You're the only one who has rejecting me you know.'

She looked over at him. Yes he was handsome; his body was broad and toned from his five years of Quidditch. She could only imagine how nicely his torso would feel under her fingertips. She didn't blame the other girls melting into his charm. His mischievous grin, beautiful hazel eyes that drew in any female who connected with them. Lily shook the thoughts away. She despised this male, who used his talent and beauty for his advantage.

'Oh I'm sorry, did I break the record?'

He shrugged as if this didn't matter much to him. 'Cya around then.' And he left down the corridor. Lily turned back to staring at the grounds not even bothering to reply.

'James, why are you staring at her?' Sirius asked him hours later that afternoon. James took his eyes a way from the girl in the corner of the room.

'I'm not'.

'Yes you are. Is she your new objective?'

'Huh, no. I wasn't even staring at her.'

Sirius just laughed, 'Yeah, what ever Prongs. Come on, it's prank time.'

Lily noticed James and Sirius rise from their couch and head towards the boys staircase. She put her book down and left her corner to wait up in her room where she didn't have to become a victim to their upcoming prank. She stopped as she reached the top flight of stairs and looked back. 'I'm head girl, I stop these things remember'. She told herself mentally. She walked back down the stairs and found Sirius and James giving out sweets. Almost everyone had taken one by time Lily reached them. All at once the room was filled with screams. Lips were turned blue, hair changed to a light pink and voices were high pitched. Sirius and James bellowed in laughter. Lily rounded on them with such rage.

'Stop it NOW' she yelled.

'Want one?' Sirius handed her the bowl of sweets. She grabbed the bowl and with her wand made it disappear. The boys didn't stop laughing they had already accomplished there prank. A First year ran passed them crying as she tried to hide her mouth.

'Put them back'. Her face grew red. How on Earth can someone be so immature?

'What are you going to do about it? He asked, too pleased with himself.

'Fifty points off Gryffindor.' She bellowed.

'What!? Lily that is so unfair.'

'Turn them back!'

'It lasts for an hour.' James put in, not laughing any more.

'I need to talk with you Potter.' He nodded and followed her to a booth at the back of the room.

'Yes?' He asked innocently, using his charm.

'Your head boy! You should know better. If Dumbledore knew he'd-'

'He'd love them. Maybe I should give him one.'

'POTTER'

'You're cute when you're angry.' He beamed. It took Lily every ounce to control her muscles from strangling him.

'Grow up!'

'Go out with me.'

She stopped, the last few words digesting in her mind.

'You heard me Evans. You go out with me, and I'll grow up.'

'Never' she spat walking away. James watched her leave, a little hurt. Sirius just shrugged at him from across the room. 'Woman'

The next day was another beautiful sunny morning. James had forgotten about his disappointment with Lily; well rather put it to the back of his mind. He let the swarm of daily girls hang off him as a typical Hogwarts day. He watched lily trot by with a stack of books piled in her arms and remembered how she was meant to be to him. 'My number one victim in pranking and only that. But was that why I had tripped in front of her in first year, would she have been my victim still if she had of just said yes? I didn't expect her to be my victim or for tripping in front of her. Truth be told, I was drawn to her. Her rich red curls, unique emerald eyes, and the way she held herself so gracefully'. He shook these thoughts from his mind and tugged the closes girl into his right arm. She smile pleasantly at him and her friends all shared envious expressions. He had to get Lily Evans out of his mind. How could she now worm herself back in after two years? Or better yet, why did he still have this continuous crush on her since the last six years?

_

Was it a prank? A dare? Was he trying new ways to prank me? By meddling with my heart? She held her books closer as she noticed him a few meters behind her. Look at him, he thinks his king of the school. So immature. Everything I hate and despise. What gave him the right to ask me out? Joke or not! That stoops real low. Even for him. She walked on ignoring the happy giggles from the girls and walked into the library.

_

'Mr. Potter'

James turned around to find Professor Flitwick. 'Yes sir'.

'I need a word with you. Alone.'

James left the group of girls and followed his charms teacher by one of the many arched windows. 'What did I do now' He asked as they stopped.

'I've asked Lily Evans if she could tutor you.'

'You WHAT!' Said James wide eyed.

'Look, your recent homework has been, well under the weather and Lily has been exceptionally above it. I have asked out of your best interest Potter. I advise you to take advantage of this situation. We have our Charms pre exam not long away and it contributes to your final year OWL's.' Professor Flitwick gave James a nod and left.

'Yeah', James said to himself quietly. 'Just terrific. I try and get her out of my mind and now I'm stuck with her.' He groaned and walked back to the group of girls who were waiting for him.