Author's Note: I am so sorry about the long delay in posting! I've had this edited for days now and meant to have it up right after the first one, but all I've been able to do is work and sleep for the past week. (Can I get some sympathy here?) Work will settle down after tomorrow, so expect weekly updates unless something huge comes up. A HUGE thank you to yunie7777 and lilynprongs for reviewing the first chapter. Thanks for your patience!
Disclaimer: Alas, I do not own the Harry Potter series or any characters you recognize. I do, however, force them to play here.
She didn't know how long she'd stood there staring at James's retreating back in shock, but eventually she'd regained some composure and took a short walk to hopefully clear her head. Hastily, she made her way to the painting of Sylvester the Suave which served as the door to the Heads' Common Room and noted his slumber. Opening her mouth to wake him, she hesitated. Here came the problem. She wasn't sure how much time had passed but guessed James was probably back from helping Flitwick by now, and there was no way in Hades she was facing James Potter now; not before she'd had a chance to process what had just occurred. It certainly didn't help that the only way to her (thankfully roommate-free) room was through the Common Room she shared with the Head Boy.
Oh, why did James have to be Head Boy? And whose stupid idea was it that Heads should share a Common Room? she thought bitterly and sighed. She only had a handful of options. A) She could walk through the portrait and proceed through to her room with her head held high, James Potter and his almost-kiss be damned! But then she would risk facing him, and she didn't think she could do that now. Or B) She could find alternate sleeping arrangements and have him think her a coward. Which was worse?
She pondered her slim choices for a minute longer before coming to a decision. Was she a Gryffindor or not? If she ran away like a frightened squirrel, she gave Potter the satisfaction of knowing he'd affected her. Which was probably exactly what he wanted! Of course! The big-headed git was purposely trying to embarrass her! Embarrass her, Lily Evans - Head Girl and genius extraordinaire! Well, she'd show him! And she'd tell him just as soon as she saw him what she thought of him, too! There!
Satisfied with James's intent, Lily smiled. Being angry at Potter – now this was familiar territory! She quickly straightened herself in order to seem taller and more opposing than her mere 5'4 and said "Sylvester?" quietly in an attempt to wake the sleeping blond man. When this seemed to have no effect whatsoever, she called out "Sylvester!" a little more loudly this time, and was rewarded when the promiscuous portrait began to stir.
"Potter, if you woke me up for no good reason I'll beat the shite…" he stopped mid-sentence when he saw it was the green-eyed Head Girl who had awakened him and not her raven-haired dorm mate. He face instantly seemed to relax into a flirty grin and Lily steeled herself for what she knew was coming.
"Well, Lily beautiful, if I'd known it was your lovely self, your welcome would have been a little… warmer."
Lily inwardly winced and reminded herself that if she wanted to see her bed anytime in the near future, she needed to stay in Sylvester's good graces.
"It's quite alright, Sylvester. Now if you don't mind, I'm very tired and wish nothing more than to go to bed. The password is "Widgum."
"Well you know, love, there're quite a few empty beds in a portrait down the hall. Want to join me? We'll sleep, I promise…..eventually." He grinned suggestively and eyed her chest that her thick robes could never quite conceal.
Lily barely managed to keep from crying. It had to be almost eleven by now. She was tired. He anger at James was quickly dissipating and now with her encounter with Sylvester, and she was back to utter confusion. All she wanted was to sink into bed and let the Sandman claim her. Why couldn't the Fates just give her a break?
"As…nice…as the offer is, I'm really quite tired. Please let me in."
"Er, no. Maybe later. How 'bout we discuss this later after a nice long bath, eh? Preferably together." His coal-black eyes were now raking up and down her body.
Lily sighed mournfully and buried her face in her hands.
"Oi, Sylvester! I thought we already had a discussion about how you are to treat the Head Girl!"
Lily's head snapped up so fast that, for a second, she feared she'd gotten whiplash. Knowing already to whom that deep and utterly masculine voice belonged, she turned slowly around and was not disappointed to see none other than the object of her previous anger glaring at the portrait with what was clearly a scowl.
"So what if we did? It's not as if she minds it, nor is it any of your business, Potter!" Sylvester's coal eyes glared right back into James's hazel ones with unmistakable defiance, and Lily recalled the (seemingly good-natured, but apparently not so) earlier disputes between the two.
James took an equally defiant step forward and replied angrily, "Judging by the fact that she looks like you just killed her dog and that she's about to pass out from sleep deprivation, I'd say she does mind. And yes, it is my business. No one, especially not a cheap painting of a sleaze like you is going to make passes at her while I'm around!" She could practically feel the disdain radiating off him in torrents.
Lily could only look up in pure shock. She'd never, never had anyone get so…so…angry on her behalf. And although she didn't appreciate James attempting to fight her battles for her, she also realized that he truly meant what he was saying. The flutter this gave her in the pit of her stomach she chose to ignore.
Sylvester looked ready to throw daggers.
"Why don't you just bugger off Potter, and quit trying to be her 'Knight in Shining Armor.' 'Friend,' my arse! You think nobody notices how your eyes follow her every movement? You think I don't notice? I think you're just jealous because you know that she'll never give you the time of day. You don't even have the bits to try to get some action. I sure wouldn't mind getting some." His eyes again rested on her breasts.
"Potter, NO!"
Lily was shocked out of the trance-like state she'd been in watching James and Sylvester go at it by the voice of her Transfiguration professor who had apparently just arrived on the scene. Her eyes darted over from the guard of the Heads Rooms to James who she saw had his wand raised and pointed at the painting's frame. He slowly (and… reluctantly?) lowered his wand and turned to face Minerva McGonagall. Lily did likewise and noticed that the professor was accompanied by the Headmaster (and that she'd apparently recovered her hat). Dumbledore looked neither angry nor shocked at the predicament he'd just stumbled upon. In fact, his features were almost eerily calm. The same could not be said for McGonagall who was practically seething.
"Potter, explain yourself!" she demanded.
Lily could've sworn that his hazel eyes had glanced her way for a split second before he answered, but he was already speaking before she had a chance to register it.
"I was about to hex this portrait into smithereens, Professor," James said without of hint of sarcasm or humor in his voice as he gestured behind him at the now silent Sylvester.
"I could see that, Potter! What eludes me is the reasoning behind such an action. You know that it is forbidden to use magic on a portrait! And I should think that you would be especially reluctant to break such a rule on the guardian of your rooms. As Head Boy, you should be setting a better example than this." She had started an agitated pacing. Dumbledore, however, merely watched what passed while his face betrayed no emotion but tranquility.
"I should think my actions quite verified, Professor, considering the prompting I was given." His anger-darkened eyed were now directed at the floor below Dumbledore's feet, although this did not make him look ashamed as it should have. Instinctively, Lily knew that he was trying to calm his anger. She also couldn't help silently admiring his calm way of speaking in the midst of such anger. She would have been shouting to the heavens.
McGonagall stopped her pacing and followed his downward gaze.
"And such a prompt would be?"
Lily was about to open her mouth to explain when Dumbledore spoke instead.
"There is no need to explain, Miss Evans. I have been made aware of the situation on several occasions, including what has just occurred." All three of them looked at the elder wizard. "But what I must ask is why did you not come forward? Such behavior to students is strictly forbidden, and Mr. Sylvester would have been replaced long before it could escalate to such a level."
McGonagall looked from Dumbledore to Lily, her brow raised in a questioning fashion. Apparently she had not been made aware of the "situation."
Lily answered, "I thought that if I gave him no encouragement, he would eventually stop. At first, it was simply crude compliments. Then there were offers." She averted her eyes.
Dumbledore smiled contentedly as though his guess had been confirmed. He then looked to James.
"And you were aware of this, Mr. Potter?" The Headmaster looked as though he already knew the answer.
"Yes, sir. I also thought I could stop it on my own."
"Well, then! There you have it, Minerva. I believe the only wrong that can be accredited to these two is failure to report such an incident."
"But, Albus! What about Potter? He was about to-"
"Ah, Minerva, but surely you heard the prompt he was given? I see no reason to punish Mr. Potter, except perhaps to chide him about his temper." Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled as he spoke.
"Yes, sir." James continued to stare at the floor.
"Well! I believe you two have been kept from your beds long enough. Come, Minerva. I have something I must discuss with you. Miss Evans, Mr. Potter, the portrait will be replaced upon the morrow. Goodnight."
McGonagall appeared as though she wished to protest; however, sensing the fruitlessness of such an action, she reluctantly followed the Headmaster toward his office while he happily discussed something pertaining to socks, or perhaps a lack of.
Lily stared at the wall until the Headmaster was out of earshot, hastily trying to determine what she should do next. She hardly knew how to act around the Head Boy after such an occurrence. He apparently had nothing to say either.
The minutes passed, and she felt her energy level diminishing. Finally, summoning her Gryffindor courage, she looked at James and whispered, "Thank you."
He jumped, startled, and looked at her in surprise.
"No problem," he said after a moment and swiftly walked through the now open portrait hole, leaving a somewhat confused and very tired Head Girl in his wake.
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