Chapter 26

Lily was walking up the stairs. In fact, Lily was running up the stairs, she was running up the stairs because it was 8:00. She had 4 minutes. Streaking through yet another corridor, the paintings watched her with ever curious eyes, not saying anything as she zipped past. Up another staircase, through a passageway, she was so close to her dormitory and the safety of private Attacks it held. She swerved around a corner—

"oof" She said as the force of running into someone knocked her flat on her back, her speed had knocked whoever she had ran into over as well.

"Ugh, I am so sorr-"

She propped herself up on her elbows and as Arameo tingled slightly; she looked into the face of James Potter.

"Watch where you're walking, you don't own the place." She said, instantly irritated on top of her already present stress. He didn't listen to her, as he was already on his feet and offering her his hand. She slapped it, and stood up. At least he was alone, though as she became level with him, his hand automatically flew up to his stupid hair.

"Where you off to so fast?"

"Where ever I want, go away."

"If you go out with me, consider it Evans, one date."

"No, ditch it."
She pushed his hand that was finally coming down from ruffling his dark hair out of the way and began to walk off. He grabbed her wrist with enough force to spin her back around to face him before dropping her hand.

"What is up with you? Why are you shunning me? It's rather rude, you know."

"Oh I have complete right to shun you; you're nothing more than an annoying, arrogant oaf, who automatically assumes that everyone must LOVE him simply because he exists. Yourself centered, sly and have a complete lack of loyalty."

"I am nothing like any of those things!"

"Rest assured, you most definitely are."

"Where's your proof?"

"Every where! Blimey, you being confused at why I'd say that, at why I won't go out with you are perfect examples!"

James opened his mouth and began to retort when she continued.

"I'd wager that you couldn't find an entire minute of your life that you hadn't been deeply annoying at least one person."

He took a step closer to her, Lily held her ground.

"Strange," He said, pushing a lock of auburn hair out of her face. He was so close he could hear her breathing, "I can think of a few times with you where I wasn't annoying, on your nerves maybe, but not annoying."

James watched her emerald eyes flash, and he knew she too was thinking of that day in the study room when she had left her bag. The small proximity, the shortness of air that disappeared in each other's mouths. Thinking of that night in the garden, the warmth emanating from their bodies against the chill from the wind. The night in the garden…

James' hand didn't leave her face from where he had pressed her hair back, slowly, cautiously, he pulled her face up, she put a feeble hand on his arm. Her breathe washed over his face, coursing his eyes close and his mouth open. His free hand found its way to her waist, where it laid lightly. They were so close, James could feel Lily's lips move against his as she spoke

"The only difference, between you and Snape, is that he has the decency to call me a Mudblood, instead of constantly implying it."

She glided off, he couldn't bring himself to put his hands down, he couldn't bring himself to breathe. The drafty air of the castle seemed almost frigid after the heat from Lily's body. There was a deep pit in his stomach that seemed to swell and consume his insides. His heartbeat was pounding in his ears, when he finally brought his eyes to be opened, he discovered his sight blurry and the corridor in front of him complete abandoned from Lily.

"What's the bother, shela?"

Declan. Walking up to a statue Lily, arms folded across the railing, eyes sweeping the landscape. At the sound of his voice she looked down, up then over at him as he walked up and leaned against the railing with her.

"The usual."

Pause, in which, a yellow bellied bird chirped, a light breeze toyed with Lily's hair, and the sun monetarily peeked out from behind the clouds.

"And that being?"

Lily opened and closed her mouth several times, testing out different versions of the truth that wouldn't get her detained and experimented on.

"Boy trouble?" He guessed, his tone appeared to be joking, but she could detect and underling of honest sincerity.

"Yeah, that's part of it…"

"James Potter?"

Lily looked up at him, he had a knowing smile. "I live in his dorm remember Lily? He's quite taken with you."

She didn't respond for a much longer pause. The wind picked back up again, Lily drew her cloak tighter around herself.

"Dec-i-bear," she paused, her mouth feeling dry "I told Potter about Constance."

Declan looked over at her surprised, but, sensing she wasn't finished, didn't say anything.

"I told Potter, and Potter told everyone else."

Pause. In this single moment, Declan noticed, how tired, frail and flat out exhausted she look.

"Well that was stupid"

Lily closed her mouth and nodded vigorously at him, a completely serious look on her face. Declan mirrored her expression, with his lips over-pursed just enough to make her laugh slightly.

"Yeah, that's sort of the understatement of the year."

"That sucks."

"One second though, that is the understatement of the year." Declan was chuckling slightly before she was even finished.

"I knew you'd say that" he retorted under his breath, with another slight chuckle.

Hey guys! Sorry that took forever! I was going to make this chapter WAY longer, but I figured enough important things have happened. Sorry this story had been so boring, by the next chapter (maybe two) it'll get way better! Also, it'll get M rated, and it'll get M rated fast. Just a warning.

~LIZIES~