A chapter - Yaay!

It is taking forever to try & remember where I got up to what I had included & what I was changing around but I think I'm getting there. I might have to go back & edit quite a bit but I'll let you now if & when I do

Its seems like all my old work is gone forever sandwhiched inbetween various computer updates *sniff sniff* but anyways I shall continue on the best I can. I hope this makes up for the wait.

(Just a quick FYI Henry & Arabella are James' parents I was reading HP Lexicon to try & make this as cannon as possable & it seems Dorea was only 53 when she died. I always imagined her to be really old so in this fic Dorea & Charlus are cousins of some sort)

Chapter Four

Quidditch Tryouts

When they got to the common room Lily went to seek out Marlene & Alice while James went to the boy's dormitory where he knew he'd find Sirius.

"...she doesn't like the attention mate, just leave her alone, especially in class" James summarised laying back on his pillows.

Sirius stared at the ceiling fishing a snitch out of his pocket he let it fly about a foot above his head before catching it & repeating the process "I'm happy for you." "I'm happy that you're happy." "I'm happy that you're happy that… I'm stopping this right now".

There was a timid knock on the door. It opened & Lily stood on the threshold

"Ah if it isn't the Scarlet Woman"

Lily blushed & James shot him a look

"Merlin's beard I meant her hair" Sirius pocketed the Snitch, eased himself off his bed & made his way towards the door "come in Lil, I'll leave you & Prongs alone".

Lily stepped into the room to be swept up in James' arms so fast it made her head spin & a giggle burst from her lips. Sirius closed the door behind him & went to find Marlene; maybe if he was lucky he'd pursued her for a jaunt in a broom cupboard.

"I guess you talked to him then?" She said catching her breath from their spinning, her feet finally touching the ground

"Yeah he promises to lay off us around school; I couldn't get him to promise he won't stop all the innuendos when we're with our mates or in the common room though"

"Ah well Marlene told me she refuses to promise anything & Alice is calling it payback for when I used to tease her & Frank all the time. It'll be an interesting year if nothing else"

He kissed her falling backwards onto the bed so she fell on top of him "we still have about two hours left until patrols start" he smirked sliding his hands up her back under her shirt.

Lily laughed taking his wand from the side of his bed & waved it to close the hangings.

"I love you Miss Evans"

"I love you too; I'll come down tomorrow & watch the try-outs"

"I hope you'll be there to watch every games as well" He slipped her shirt over her head & placed kisses on every freckle on her chest, she ran her fingers down his torso unbuttoning his shirt as she went.

"Godric's baggy underpants, that's what you do when you're alone, talk about flaming Quidditch? Peter teased from the other side of the hangings. Lily blushed again

"Wormy fuck off" James was getting really irritated again & Lily half fearful he'd try & hex his mate & to keep his head in the game so to speak moved her hips hard against his repeatedly as she took off her bra & deposited it outside the hangings "Damn Lil warn me next time"

"Never. Pete if you leave now I'll hook you up with Kira Goodhand from Hufflepuff, I know you like her"

"Going, damn Pads was right, you two are crazy"

James & Lily didn't hear him they were too absorbed in each other, clothes were been discarded quickly, thrown everywhere. Declarations of love poured from their hands, bodies & lips as they crawled trying to get closer, trying to make up for lost time, trying to take advantage of this little slice of privacy & what little time they had cocooned in their own private world. Here there was no war, no noisy friends, no homework, duties, detentions, or families. Here there was no exams, or bitchy newly wed sisters, just them moving to their own rhythm.

A bead of sweat ran down Lily's temple, James followed it in the opposite direction with his mouth lingering there a few minutes before recapturing her lips muffling her cries as she came around him. He followed moments later, closing his eyes briefly as he felt Lily splayed across his chest, he was still inside her holding her tight so she couldn't move from her current position. After a while she raised her head resting her chin on his sternum, playing with the hair there. He opened one eye lazily, it was then they both realised he still had his glasses on.

"Enjoying yourself"

She shifted her hips until she started to feel him harden inside her "Yeah I am" she grinned wickedly

"Oh Miss Evans, don't start something you're not planning to finish"

"Who said anything about not finishing, I always like to finish what I started & I don't like settling for anything less than perfect" she winked.

If her swirling hips weren't driving him crazy enough her words were close to pushing him to the edge of insanity.

He flipped them over pausing just long enough to kiss her softly but passionately before moving hard against her. He reached for her hands holding them in his above her head. She moved her hips meeting him for every thrust, pulling her legs up to wrap around his waist "Damn James" She swore as he trust particularly hard almost knocking the breath out of her. She was so close she could feel it just beyond her grasp. She leaned up slightly & kissed the tip of his nose lightly.

He continued he relentless punishing pace "just let go Evans" he growled. Seconds later she came hard & loudly, he pressed his mouth to her to prevent the whole of Gryffindor Tower hearing.

A few minutes later they lay side by side on their backs hands entwined trying to catch their breath. "That's what I've been missing?!" she turned onto her side to face him

He shrugged " I do what I can Miss Evans" he drawled arrogantly trailing a finger up & down her arm

She eased herself off the bed & began to get dressed

"Hey where are you going?" James sat bolt upright all trace of arrogance gone

"Shower & patrol"

He leaned back against the headboard watching her lazily "As much fun as this is, I'd prefer it if you were taking them off" he drawled again

"Are you always this insufferable & cocky after sex?"

"I am when it's that good"

Lily laughed "come on Casanova let's see if we can clean that dirty mind of yours"

James pulled on his underwear & robes "you can try" he smirked & they made their way to the head students bathroom.

"You coming to bed Miss Evans?" James hadn't let go of her hand the whole way through their two-hour patrol, he now stood in the middle of a practically deserted common room spinning her around so they were chest to chest.

"I'm going to bed if that's what you mean, there's an incredibly hot bloke on the Gryffindor Quidditch team I want to watch out for tomorrow" Lily smirked & winked at Sirius who was watching them from an armchair by the fire. James pouted hoping she was joking "James darling don't pout you look like a fish" she laughed ruffling his hair "don't worry I'll be there first thing supporting the captain" She leaned up burying her hands in his hair pressing her lips hard against his "night"

"Night" he kept her pressed into his body

"James, let me go" Lily laughed as he laughingly pressed kisses all over her face, in her hair, down her neck & behind her ear

"Never"

Lily squirmed enough to get free "I'll see you tomorrow James" Lily kissed his cheek & ran off to the girl's staircase.

Saturday dawned clear & bright, there was a slight chill to the air as if to remind the students that winter was around the corner. James had been up since dawn, after running several laps of the Quidditch pitch he was now warming up on his new Comet Two-Twenty. His father Henry Potter had given him as a reward for been made Head Boy.

Henry had really hoped this new responsibility might be the kick that his son so desperately needed to grow up. He, like everyone else who had ever meet James, couldn't deny he was incredibly talented & intelligent, but he was also arrogant, rude, & spoilt. Which Henry partly blamed himself & Arabella for, until he realised that no matter what, James would always do what James wanted to do. Henry had to admit James had deflated his head quite a bit since the Easter holidays when Arabella let Remus & Peter stay for the duration. Sirius had lived with them since the summer before the boys 5th year. Henry liked having both boys home for the holidays & around Sirius, James was less arrogant & spoilt, although he had called both boys into his office the night before they left for Kings Cross, one more owl about their behaviour between either of them & he promised they would regret it. Henry never resorted to threats so as soon as he had finished his speech both boys sat a little straighter in their chairs.

So far so good it had been two weeks into term & not one letter (Arabella hadn't told him about the one from Professor Dunger about James' inappropriate use of a classroom during detention time, & after tearing it into small pieces burnt it). Henry had always found it hard with James, he was fearless, rash, a tornado of energy, he was always the boy who jumped without thinking, acted first, asked questions later, & for the quiet, calm elderly man who tried to raise him the way he had been raised he was a contant heartache, there was many locked horns over the years, the Potter family trait – stubbornness manifest itself in both father & son usually while Arabella sat quietly in the corner. She'd given up trying to reason with them both.

James thought about his parents while he warmed up on his broom, checking his watch he realised he has another ten minutes till breakfast. He left his broom on the desk in the captain's cubby & took a slow walk up to the castle.

In the Entrance Hall he met Lily & Marlene coming down for breakfast both deck out in Gyriffindor colours, Marlene with her Quidditch uniform on under her red hoodie. He dropped a kiss to Lily's cheek "Morning baby, ready McKinnon?"

"It's not training Potter 'slongs you keep your thermonuclear-melt-down-angry-captain-voice for when the situation actually calls for it, we'll be cool" Marlene joked but her eyes held steel that did not go unnoticed by James.

"How are you feeling baby" Lily slipped her hand in his

"Last night I had nightmares, the only people who showed to try-outs were 8 year olds, Sirius & Andy turned the bludgers into dragons for a joke, you & Lori forgot how to ride & I lost my voice"

"The last one will come true this year Potter if you don't stop going bat-crap crazy anytime someone misses a pass in practice" Marlene & Lily laughed "Don't worry it'll be fine, everybody wants to be on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, no-one under 2nd year is allowed a broom so the youngest you'll have to contend with is 12 year olds, I highly doubt Sirius & Andy are capable of transfiguring anything larger than a teacup, & Potter me & Lori are the best girls in the school – we'd be the very best in the school if it wasn't for you" Marlene attempted to ease James' nerves

"We have to win that cup this year McKinnon, it has had my name on it since joining the team in 2nd year"

"Don't worry as your number two, I'll make sure of it. The only person who wants that trophy more than me is you"

"Wha...who said you were my number two?"

"I did, let's get some breakfast" Marlene walked into the hall, closely followed by James & Lily, who had learnt, from Marlene to stay out of Quidditch team talk

"Oi McKinnon, make sure you keep your personal relationship with my Beater off the field"

Marlene turned to face him & saluted "aye, aye Captain"

"Right you lot, we are the best team in school for a reason, we train damn hard & we have the best players. Now today I am looking for a Keeper & a Seeker, if you were hoping to try out for Beater or Chaser positions you're wasting your time, you may leave" James waited patiently for a few stragglers to make their way off the field, disappointment clearly evident in the way they trudged off.

"Now I want Keepers lined up on my left, Seekers on my right, Sirius Black, Marlene McKinnon & Lori Dencer will be taking you Keepers over that end of the field, Andy Smith & I will take the Seekers over this end & putting you through your paces. I'll warn you now you think try-outs are hard, you'll never survive practice; we've held onto that trophy for the last six years, I want it again this year. Go."

Up in the stands Lily was sat in between Peter & Remus. "He's really hard on them" Lily noted

"Yeah well, that's James, he's passionate about Quidditch, him & Sirius don't talk up to a week before any match" Remus was just as engrossed as Lily, Peter on the other side of Lily detested Quidditch but after saying to the boys in first year how much of a fan of Puddlemere United (James' team) they seemed to accept him more, & each year he found it harder & harder to tell them. In his opinion it was a bunch of oversized egos living out the only glory days they'd ever have. He was jealous of the glory & the girls especially Padfoot & Prongs seemed to wear it like a cloak. It wasn't like Peter hadn't had a few girls - it was a privilege of being a Marauder but the girls he got were the averagely pretty, quiet girls, the girls James, Sirius (& sometimes Remus) pulled were jaw-dropping stunning, the best of everything.

It wasn't just the privileges that annoyed Peter, he'd heard of some muggle sports where the players played to a set time, at least then you could plan something to do after the game, with Quidditch you never knew if it was going to last five minutes or five hours, & what was with bludgers, what kind of game needed two cast iron to float around & beat people up.

"Chocolate Caldron?" Lily brought him out of his musings, offing him a bag of his favourite sweets.

Peter took one "thanks" he smiled looking into her deep green eyes, darling he thought. Lily & Remus turned their attention back to the try-outs commenting on a few plays & laughing at James' over-reaction to something while Peter took this uninterrupted time to study Lily. Beautiful Lily, the love of his life. He'd seen her first on the platform with what was clearly her mother & her sister. She looked nervous, terrified even, but even at eleven with still a hint of baby fat & a tear-stained face he thought she was gorgeous. It was only when James confessed to fancying her about a year or so later that he realised she was off-limits unless she turned him down. Unfortunately for Peter that didn't stop James, he asked her out daily for over two years. He'd give anything for her to look at him the way she looked at Prongs, he'd once tried teasing her like he did but rather than the firy reaction he was hoping for which in his mind ended with her snogging him & everyone even James applauding, & looking on at them happily, it ended with Lily wrapping an arm around his shoulder & gently telling him he shouldn't try to be someone he wasn't. "Don't be that bloke Pete, I really don't want to have to start hexing you too it's bad enough with that idiot. Besides aren't you breaking some kind of bro-code, or is this just for your ego because one day Pete a girls gonna come along who'll look at you like you're the only bloke in the world". Even though that was as flat out no as anyone could ever get out of Lily (except James) Wormtail realised then why James kept going back to get jinxed all over again, every time Lily had looked at him in class whether she meant to or not, every time she passed him in the corridors, passed him food or condiments in the Great Hall he fell a little bit more in love with her. He was the one that told James her & Kingsley were dating just to make him jealous. He realised now watching her watch him she was never his, she always belonged to James & James to her.

"That ginger boy looks a good Seeker, what do you reckon third year?" Lily never took her eyes off the pitch

"Are you sure you're not just checking out James?" Remus teased

"Ha maybe, he looks damn good in his uniform. Don't you dare tell him though, his ego really doesn't need inflating anymore. Wow have you seen that blond girl keeping, she hasn't missed a single Quaffle?"

About an hour & a half later James blew a whistle & everyone landed. "Right well done everyone that was great, let me have a think & talk to the rest of the team over the weekend & I'll post the selections on the common room notice board before classes on Tuesday, you may go".

The hopefuls walked off towards the castle it had been a tough couple of hours, chances were they were all off for a shower & a lay down.

"Lori can you help me get the rest of the balls away, the rest of you can hit the changing room, if you write your choices on the piece of parchment on my desk & a reason why". James addressed the rest of the team effectively dismissing them.

"Ooo what will Lily say if she knew Lori was helping you with your balls James" Marlene laughed making her way to the changing rooms which in turn made Sirius & Andy crack up too

"I'll see you in the common room later boys" Lily stood up & made her way to the changing rooms

What do you think. It's nowhere nearly as good as what I had originally written but I hope you enjoy it all the same. I think this one is really more of a filler chapter

The-Other-Scarlet-Lily x