Disclaimer: I still own nothing, anything from my imagination is based of Rowling's work
Authors note: Okay so quite fun, I have 5 followers. It's pretty cool to have people who actively seek to read my work. I've had 150 'views' so at least 5 of those have actually liked my fanfic. I've still only had one review (thank you so much for that, I mean that sincerely…it was lovely to hear )! Anyway, this will be focusing on Lily's and James first patrol (I always write this before I write anything so I have no idea where it will go). Most of this will be from James perspective, so enjoy Again, reviews would be appreciated and loved.
Lily was quite nervous about going on the first patrol with James. He'd ignored her all day but when she came back from dinner, he smiled at her like he hadn't been ignoring her all day. It was quite odd behaviour, even from him. At least normally he was consistent in his behaviour.
At around nine pm, she approached him where he was sitting in the armchairs with Marauders.
'James, we have to go.' She said.
'Oh right, I'd completely forgotten. Of course.' He said. Sirius laughed at this and Remus kicked him. Lily didn't know what was so funny.
'Well Prongsie, have a great time. Don't get too over-excited.' Sirius said, winking. This time Peter kicked him.
'Right. Well, let's go right now.' James said, taking Lily's arm and basically dragging her out of the room.
They walked in silence for a while down the corridors, with their wands lit. Several portraits complained but they both simultaneously ignored them. Lily didn't actually mind too much because these days she preferred to not be talking. They were walking down a staircase, when suddenly it started moving and Lily lost her footing, falling sideways and grabbing hold of James to stabilise herself. He, in turn, wrapped his arm around to help.
'Oh gosh, sorry.' Lily said, quickly stepping out of his arms.
'No, no its fine.' James said, feeling she had stepped away too soon.
They carried on walking down the steps in silence, Lily being sure to hold tightly to the bannister so if it moved again she wouldn't fall on James.
'Well, at least it got the conversation going.' James said, dryly.
Lily laughed lightly at that, though James noticed it didn't quite reach her eyes.
'You do that a lot recently, you know.' James stated, in a very matter-of-fact way.
'Do what?' Lily questioned, looking sideways at him.
'Laugh even when you don't think something is funny. I think you do it so you don't have to respond by speaking. That way the conversation effectively ends.' James told her.
'That's not true.' Lily denied. 'I just don't really have anything to say.'
James thought about that and asked, 'What was your father like?'
'I'm sorry?' Lily looked as him she considered this question extremely callous.
'What was he like? His hobbies? Interests? What was he like?' James asked, a little worried about the answer by the slight anger he could see in Lily's face.
Lily ignored his questions completely this time, she looked ahead and James could see many emotions playing across her face. He knew he'd surprised her by asking outright and wondered if it was because of their history. He wouldn't place himself on the top of her list to be the one to ask about her father, but he was sincerely curious to learn about the man who raised such a marvelous witch.
'He was funny.' Lily said, suddenly. 'He loved to know about my magical world. So did mum, but he always said he should have been the magic one. He loved Wizard's Chess and always made me play with him. He used to say that he liked my eyes, because his favourite colour was green.' Now she had started she couldn't stop.
'When I was younger I wanted to be just like him. I used to follow him everywhere, a proper tomboy. I loved to watch him work, and he loved to answer my questions. He was such an inspiration to me, and I never really told him. He knew anyway. He wasn't the perfect father. He had a quick temper, something I've inherited but him, and he was so stubborn, also something I've taken. But he cared about everyone, always looking to help. Especially his family. He even used to help me revise for my wizarding exams. He'd love it. He used to help Tuney too. He'd always kiss mum on the cheek when he got home from work. Always read the newspaper, and read out what he felt were the most important articles of the day. I loved him. And I will continue to love him for every day I live.' Lily finished simply.
'He sounds like a great man. I wish I could have met him.' James said in response.
'I wouldn't be so sure on that.' Lily said, smirking.
'I guess he may not be as pleased to meet me.' James said, laughing.
'Actually know I've said that, I'd have to say he would have this past summer.' Lily began, whilst James looked at her questioningly.
'Well before, I described you as a bully.' Lily said, apologetically.
'It's okay…I was a bully.' James replied, with a nod. 'I like to think I've changed though.'
'You have.' Lily insisted. 'I noticed it towards the end of 6th year. You still pranked people, but you rarely hexed anyone just because they were there. I usually mentioned you and the Marauders and how your pranks upset me in letters to my dad. He started to dislike you because of it, but still wanted to know what you were doing and how it was affecting me. He knew you used to have a crush on me, and figured you were trying to find a way to show off. The only time you've ever really upset him is when I came home one Christmas and started crying immediately because of one of your pranks.'
'Which one?' James interrupted, sounding shocked.
'You'd distracted me in our end of term Charms exam in fourth year, and I nearly failed. Flitwick said he was disappointed in me, that he expected better. It was the first time a teacher had ever been disappointed in me.' Lily explained.
'I didn't know that hurt you so bad. I knew you were annoyed, but it was just a joke for me. I usually thought you took things like that too seriously.' James said.
'It's because I didn't deserve it.' Lily replied.
'What do you mean?' James asked.
'I didn't deserve to be magic. No more than anyone else in the Muggle world. So I was always seeking to prove myself. To show my friends, and classmate and teachers that I was just as magic as anyone else, just as good. It took a very long time to accept that I deserved to be there as much as anyone else, that I was just as magic. Anyway, so I went home and I cried. I told dad I hated you. Properly really hated you. He was so angry, I rarely cried. He saw you across the platform, laughing with Sirius and Remus. I think Peter had already gone home with his mum. He was so, so angry at you. That made me stop crying. I realised he was heading over to you, but I wouldn't let him. He looked ready to strangle you.' Lily finished, almost smiling.
'You should have let him.' James said, shaking his head. 'I'd have been so embarrassed but I'd have probably never come near you again. Of course you deserved to be at Hogwarts, you're just as much as a witch as everyone else – more so than some.'
'He might have killed you, it's times like that I realised my dad was stronger than most wizards – just in different ways. He wasn't afraid to confront you, even though the platform was flooded with wizards. So after that, he'd always check in and make sure you were behaving yourself.' Lily laughed sadly. 'Then last term he wrote and said he hadn't hear anything about you for a long time and asked if you'd been expelled. It was then I realised it was because you hadn't done anything. Not only that but you'd started to talk out against the war, and had legitimate reasons for hating the Slytherins. Dad said he wasn't shocked, you had to grow up eventually. But I kept talking about how you'd stick up for the Muggleborns, and Muggles in general and Dad really warmed to you. He said you were becoming a man and he wanted to meet you. And the other Marauders, even Sirius became more serious.'
James laughed at her weak joke, and thanked her for the kind words. He was secretly very happy that Lily's dad knew he wasn't a total twat before he passed away. They talked on as they went, and James saw Lily opening up a little more. They didn't talk about her family more, but James talked a little about his mother and father and about their jobs as Aurors. He said he was forced to grow up because he saw his parents putting their lives in danger every day and felt bad for never even considering the war.
They started to head back towards Gryffindor House when it was nearing midnight. They hadn't come across anything on their patrol, but didn't really expect to. James was glad that Lily finally opened up a bit, though he still saw such sadness in her face. He wondered if that would ever truly go. He hoped so. Lily had also had a nice time. She'd been glad to be able to speak openly about her father, but it also made her unbearably sad to think about him when he was alive.
When they made it back to their joint dormitory, they separated to go up their separate flights of stairs.
'Nice to see you, it's been a while.' James said, as soon as she'd opened her door to the lounge area.
Lily smiled properly at this.
'Want something to eat or drink?' He asked.
'A tea, would be nice.' She replied, sitting down on the sofa.
He made them both cups of tea, and also grabbed himself a slice of cake from the fridge. James saw Lily looking at it longingly, so when he put her tea down he left the cake with her and went to get himself another slice.
'Thank you.' Lily smiled.
'It's alright. It's good cake.' James said.
They ate and drank in silence, but it wasn't awkward silence like before. After they had finished, James got up to go shower and get ready for bed but Lily stopped with just the sound of her voice.
'Early today you seemed upset with me, had I done something?' Lily asked.
James looked very embarrassed and then sighed.
'I was upset when I saw you laughing with Sirius.' James said, honestly. 'Not that you were happy, but that he made you that way. I've been trying a little to be able to cheer you up and to try and help you but he managed it. Maybe I was jealous.'
It was Lily's turn to look embarrassed. James noted that she seemed oddly pleased with his words, but also confused.
'Why would you want me to be happy?' She questioned.
James shrugged in what he hoped was a very casual manner, and hoping his face wasn't revealing how deeply he cared for Lily.
'Everyone should be happy for as long as they can be. Especially with this war coming, and the opposite side getting stronger and more powerful.' James answered.
'Oh. Yeah, I guess that makes sense.' Was it just him or did she sound disappointed? It was probably just him hearing what he wanted to hear in her voice.
'Well anyway, I think I'd better go and shower.' James said awkwardly, standing by the door to his flights of stairs.
'Yes, of course.' Lily replied, getting up from the sofa. 'I'd better get some sleep.'
However, instead she walked towards him. She stopped right in front of him, standing close enough for him to lean down and kiss her.
Stop it, he thought.
'Thank you for listening to me tonight.' She quickly reached up and kissed him on the cheek, before turning and going into her room.
James raised his hand to his cheek and stared at the door where Lily had disappeared.
That was interesting, he thought.