Alice and Lily kept quiet about what happened during the Quidditch celebration. In fact they were the soberest of the oldest students, so Lily ended up having to kick out everyone before helping drunk Quidditch players to their rooms and disposing of the evidence before McGonagall could see anything. That Monday in Transfigurations, though, she made it quite clear that she knew what had happened, but she had no way of proving anything.
On Tuesday she sat in her customary spot besides James with her other friends around them. Alice and Frank were strangely quiet sitting an odd distance apart. Lily wondered if she told him how she felt, as she thought this her eyes wandered to James.
"Lil, are you alright?" James askedvas he noticed her gaze.
"Fine," she replied.
"Hope you're ready for DA," he told her. "Rumor has it that Wolfe is letting the sixth years practice with a Boggart."
"Why? We dealt with them our third year." Lily looked over James.
"It's fun," he said.
"Facing our worst fear is your definition of fun?" Remus remarked looking very disgusted. "Sirius, how do you feel about heading to Honeydukes?" he questioned.
Sirius just smirked and clapped his friend on the shoulder. Lily rolled her eyes knowing she should intervene, but it would be futile. The teachers would realize Sirius was ditching class and give him detention anyway. Remus most likely would be pardoned as Professor Wolfe would assume that he was sick.
"We should head to class, unless you're going with them." Lily got to her feet, a hand lingering on his back as she gripped her bag in her free hand and walked towards the door. Like she expected James wasn't far behind and he hooked an arm around her waist, Lily squealing as she was pulled to a stop. "James people are going to start talking them if you keep on following me into empty corridors."
"Let them," he said and looked around before planting a kiss on her lips. "The guys already say you have me wrapped around your little finger."
"They're right about one thing." Her hand drifted to his on her waist. "We should get to class, before we have to deal with the first years." With that she clasped her hand in his before walking to the Dark Arts classroom. They were the first ones there Professor Wolfe wasn't even present yet, so they sat down at one of the middle desks.
"Since we're alone, maybe we could start where we left off?" James asked.
"You're not alone Mr. Potter. Please, detach yourself from Miss Evans before I am forced to pry apart after I remind you that this is Defense Against the Dark Arts. We practice defending ourselves, not snogging the opposite sex," the Professor remarked dryly.
James scooted away in his chair and the Professor cleared his throat as he walked across the room and tapped the desk at the front of the room. "We can control ourselves," he muttered as he plopped in the chair.
"Miss Evans can," he said before turning around and writing notes on the board. Gradually the rest of the class filtered around the pair. Alice and Marlene sat on either side of her as she eyed the trunk standing in the front of the classroom.
"On your feet," the professor shouted. As soon as they scrambled to a standing position, no sooner did they do that were the tables magically pushed to the side creating a wide aisle. "I'm sure you've heard the rumors, today you will get to practice on a Boggart again. If you remember not all of you got the chance to practice with it, just Gryffindors and Slytherins. The reality is that this lesson will come in handy for you and the seventh years, more so than the third years. In a short time most of you will be facing some of the most unimaginable horrors this world has to offer and knowing your worst fear will come in handy. Get in line." He paced in front of the room while they stood in a crooked formation. "Do you all remember the spell?"
"Riddikulus," they chanted.
"Good, good, but first we need someone to do a proper demonstration. Miss Evans, come up here."
"Professor, I doubt I am the best student to do this," she replied. Defense was never her strong suit.
"Nonsense, if I remember right you did quite good the first time around."
Lily bit her lip as she walked to the front of the room. She couldn't even remember what she was scared of then, snakes? Or maybe it was her sister...Now, she couldn't even imagine what it would be. "I'm ready, professor."
He said no more as he opened the trunk, there was a flash of a shapeless black smoke before it began to form. Lily froze as she saw a man with that ridiculous mask that covered his head, a death eater. A death eater like that day at Hogsmeade. "He's next, mudblood," the figure said.
Lily shook her head and willed herself to fight him. "Riddikulus!"
The boggart didn't go away, Lily couldn't think of anything to change it to. Then, from behind her, she heard another voice shout. "Expecto Patronum!" James. It was James. A very realistic stag ran forward running around the figure who looked very confused.
"Mr. Potter impressive use of the patronus charm, but-"
"Riddikulus!" Lily shouted as the death eater disappeared into a cloud of smoke, forming a cyclone and whirling around the stag. The class laughed as the figure of light's head whipped a back and forth before they both disappeared.
"Good teamwork," the professor said. "Now, since you are so eager to prove yourself why don't you come up here Mr. Potter." The trunk was now shut, but his hand poised over the latch on the lid. Lily turned around to go next to Marlene As she passed a smile to James. "Please remember that unless the Boggart turns into a dementor the patronus charm does not have much use."
James strutted to the front of his line, his eyes lingering on Lily as he stood in front of the room. His head snapped to the front as the boggart was released and began to take shape. He stumbled backward, wand out mouth forming the words, but he froze. It was his family, his friends and...Lily. James couldn't do it. Seeing Lily lifeless in front of him was too much, it was as if he was reliving that day all over again. He knew it wasn't actually her, but it took every once of self-control to not run over there to try and pull the fugue into his arms or at the very least turn around to find the real Lily.
"Riddikulus," a small voice said as she stepped forward. The scene soon disappeared in a puff of glitter .
James whirled around and saw Lily with her wand poised. He pushed past the crowd of people and marched out the room. "What are you doing James?" Lily questioned as she walked toward him. "Storming out really isn't your thing."
"I could have done it," he itold her.
"Are you mad?" she asked. "You helped me, I helped you."
"It's different Lily," he said. "I'm supposed to-"
"No, we're supposed to help each other, that's...that's how this works James." Lily shook her head. "If it was Sirius would you be angry at him? Or Remus?"
"Lily-" he reached for her but she pulled away. "You have to understand. Don't you here what everyone says? They all think that I follow around like a lost dog-"
"My worst fear wasn't seeing you dead? Is that why you're upset?"
"No!"
"Yes, it is. Are you that stupid that you didn't realize it was a death eater? Like the ones you and I faced?" Lily walked forward. "You know that you terrify me, right? Because I hate loving someone so much when I know that they could be tore away from me any day. I don't care that you're angry now because we always do this." She gestured between the two of them, both in defensive positions. "And I for one am going to stop being so damn stubborn. Come to me when you're going to stop too."
"Lily…" James reached for her hand as she turned towards the classroom.
"No, you're perfectly happy as long as I'll snog you and take off my clothes and wish you good luck….You're fine as long at the end of the day you can hold me and tell yourself that you saved my life. You like being the hero and I thought I loved that about you, but maybe I'm wrong. Because even Superman needs saving every once and a while."
"Who's Superman?"
"That's not the point! Swallow your damn pride and talk to me when you can realize how stupid you're being." Lily pulled her hand away from James and walked back to the classroom.
James took a deep breath and followed her waiting by the door until the Professor noticed him. "I"m feeling under the weather, I think I should lie down."
"Mr. Potter, you and I know there is nothing wrong with-"
James accioed his bag as laughter filled the classroom again. "I'm going to head back to my room."
"Mr. Potter if you leave my class I will be forced to give you detention."
"Do it, at least skipping class will help me salvage my reputation." With that being said James walked down the corridor. He wander a bit before heading to Gryffindor tower when he entered his room he saw Sirius and Remus sitting on the floor, a few bottles between them along with scattered candy wrappers. "You're enjoying truancy."
"Butterbeer," Remus said. "Want a bottle? We got one for you and Peter."
"I want something a bit harder after class today." He sank to the floor beside them and reached for a licorice wand. "Remus, who's Superman?"
Remus looked puzzled as he reached for a chocolate frog. "It's a muggle comic book character. He flies around and saves the world. Why?"
"Lily said that even superman needs saved."
"Can you stop talking about Evans for once?" Sirius groaned as he got to his feet before digging around in his trunk for a bottle. "Here, drink this and then we can have a nice conversation."
"What's this?"
` "Pumpkin juice, now can you stop asking stupid questions and drink up?"
"It's not even ten," James said. "And you really need stop with the drinking Padfoot." He handed it Remus. "Hide that."
"You drive me to drink every time you talk about Evans, what happened this time?" Sirius sank to the ground as he feigned interest.
"I yelled at her because she stepped in to help me with the Boggart."
"Are you serious?"
"I'm Sirius and he's James, we've been over this a million times mate," Sirius said. "Did you tell Evans how stupid that was? I mean you're the guy in the relationship."
"Exactly what I said."
"James, don't you think you're...overreacting?" Remus asked.
"No, I'm supposed to protect her, that's how these relationships work."
"Do you remember last year? When you hexed Snape?"
"I am not Snape. I do not need a-"
"A girl's help? It's Lily. She's brilliant," Remus said. "Besides, I doubt anyone will say anything against you after you won the Quidditch Championship." At that point the lanky boy got to his feet. "Lily's right, it feels good to tell you what I'm thinking and you know what James?"
"What Moony?" he questioned with a scowl on his face.
"Pull your head out of your arse."
The spring air had a chilled edge. Lily pulled her jumper tighter as she muttered, "Lumos" to herself. Tonight was her night off, but she offered to switch Benji after she heard him complaining about an exam. Besides it was the perfect way to avoid Janes.
"Lily?" It was David Goldstein. She was supposed to have Prefect duty with the Ravenclaw girl, Olivia. "Isn't it your night off?"
"What about you?"
"Olivia's sick," he explained as they began the walk around the outside walkways by the lake. "So, why do I have the pleasure of your company?"
"I need to clear my mind," she answered. "Listen, I'm sorry for blowing you off after that disastrous Hogsmeade trip. I haven't really seen you except in classes."
"I understand Lily, I've seen you with James." He dug his hands further in his pockets. "Even nice guys can't compete with knights in shining armor."
Lily rolled her eyes and crossed her arms tightly as she looked the lake mirroring the night sky. "I'm going to ask you a hypothetical question and I want you to answer you honestly."
"Alright."
"If you needed help-say someone was hexing you or you were scared and couldn't complete the task at hand-would you object if someone like me helped you?"
David stopped and walked over to the railing as he took a deep breath. "No, I wouldn't object if the person was smart and capable and I knew that they were helping me because they wanted to." He turned to look at Lily. "I'm a lot different than Severus or James."
"I know that." She sighed and leaned against the railing, of course he would know what happened today. She should have guessed that David was smart enough to put two and two together.
"I'm not close to Severus, but from what I gather he's prideful and not used to having people stick up for him." David looked at Liky's blank face as he loosened the scarf he was wearing before tugging it off. "You've probably analyzed that situation already and are far more curious about James."
"Yes!" she exclaimed. "I mean you're a guy and don't have a problem with it and I asked a few others...but James was so indignant."
"Lily you need to realize who James is. I know this isn't an excuse, but he was raised with traditional values. I know you live with the Potter's and however progressive they may seem, they still hold firm with the old ways. Chivalry and etiquette may as well be law with old Wizarding families, do you understand that."
Lily nodded her head as she held even tighter to herself as a gust of wind blew. "We should hurry and finish our rounds."
"Wait." David held out his scarf. "Take it, I'm dressed for the weather."
"Funny," she muttered. "Are you sure taking this won't compromise my virtue?"
"Cheeky," David said as he draped it over neck. "Besides, I think Potter has already done that."
"He hasn't, I'm still a virgin."
"Too much information." David laughed as Lily knotted the Ravenclaw scarf around her neck. They finished their round and as they split up to go their respective towers David grabbed Lily's armst try to see things from his perspective.
She just nodded and turned left toward Gryffindor Tower. She held out her wand, the small light coming from the tip leading the way. As she approached the painting she saw a figure sprawled beneath it. "Nice try, but I wash my hair with soap." James stood to his full height a good head or so taller than Lily. "I knew this was the only way I could talk without you disappearing up the girls' staircase."
"It's past curfew, I could give you detention." She attempted to push past him, but stopped her, his hand enclosing around her arm in a gentle but firm grip.
"I love a woman with authority."
"No, you really don't." Lily tried to tug loose, but to no avail. Her wand still grasped in her hand she uttered a quick charm that would make her arm temporarily slick. James was forced to let go. "We can talk now."
James opened his mouth, but paused a moment to use the lighting spell that had been put out when Lily used the other charm. "Wait, whose scarf is that?"
"David's, I was cold and he was warm,"
"Merlin, Lily."
"We're friends, are you still going to want to date me after I sullied my honor by being alone with another boy."
"What in the bloody hell are you talking about?"
"Nothing."
"Listen, I was waiting out here to say sorry. I told Remus what happened and he told me to stop being stupid in so many words. We have to stop fighting over stupid stuff."
"Eloquently put," Lily replied. "David told me I shouldn't get angry because it's how you're raised?"
"Lily," his voice was a warning tone. "You've met my parents, you like my parents and now you're saying-"
"I'm not saying there's anything wrong, but Agatha and Charles have different values and expectations than my parents. You're a pure blood and I'm a muggleborn."
"Not this again," James moaned.
"What?"
"How you always bring blood into everything. I could care less." He stepped forward, his hands resting on her upper arms.
"James, all I was pointing out is that you were raised differently. My parents were always always telling me that I could do anything and..." She shook her head and took a step away from him as his hands dropped. "If I punched you, what would you do?"
"You wouldn't punch me." James looked at her unamused expression and sighed before answering, "I'd walk away."
"If Sirius did it?"
"I'd punch him back, any guy would say the same thing."
"Fine." Lily rolled her eyes. "I just want you to understand that we're a team. I never meant to emasculate you." She held back a snort at that. "Like you said Ighting over stupid stuff." She stepped forward to kiss him.
James happily accepted the gesture, wrapping his arms around Lily to dip her ever so slightly. She laughed as she pulled her lips away from his. "Can I at least give David back his scarf and tell him to stay away from my girl ?"
Lily just rolled her eyes at what she knew was his attempt at a joke. The only response she gave him was another kiss.