Chapter 7: Yeah, It's The Squid

17th November, 1976

Well, I'm fucked. I need to find Potter. Where is he when you need him?

"Oi, Sirius! Where's Potter?" he's looking around.

"He doesn't have your anchovies if that's what's bothering you."

"Honestly, Sirius, sometimes I—"

"Want to strangle me, kill me, et cetera, et cetera. I get it, you can be violent. Now moving to the more important question, what's got your knickers in a bunch?"

"Just tell me where Jam—Potter is, will you? I'm dying here, I don't have much time."

"Calm down, Lily. Didn't know you loved him that much—"

"Sirius—"

"Alright, alright, he's practicing on the grounds."

"What?"

"He's practicing Quidditch, you know that game we play while flying on brooms, yeah, he's playing that game on the grounds with the rest of the team of Gryffindor, and you know the house you're in. Just because there's no Cup this year doesn't mean they shouldn't practice, we always have next year. I chose not to play today because it's really…" but I didn't hear the rest of it.

What do I do now? The one time I need him, he's unreachable. I know what you're thinking—why can't I just go and call him, eh? Because I never have and never will step on that godforsaken Quidditch ground. It's a death trap I tell you. Plus, I don't want to overinflate Ja —Potter's already inflated ego.

But this thing can't wait. I have to do it. Ugh, I already hate my life and I'm just in Sixth Year. I haven't even married a douche or had too many kids to count or divorced the douche and raised my kids on my own only to see them become Death Eaters yet, and I hate my life. And in case you're wondering, those really are my worst fears come to life.

But I'm here on the grounds now. Where is he? Oh, there he is flying around like an absolute fool. Hmm. Okay I have to give it to him, he does kind of look cute. No scratch that, I never said that. You never heard anything of the sort. What is wrong with me?

"Potter! Oi, Potter!" He's looking at me like I'm mad. I guess I am. Honestly, I thought he'd be happier, you know, considering that I am the love of his life and all. At least, that's what he says.

"Lily? What're you doing here?" there's that smile (that I absolutely do not like).

"I wanted to talk to you about the Tournament."

"Go on…"

"A bit more privately, if you don't mind," I said pointing towards the locker rooms because the whole team was staring at us by now. I guess me talking to Potter willingly again is a big deal.

"Yes, now, go on," he said after bringing me inside the locker rooms.

"Mary told me that the first task includes but is not limited to racing across the Black lake, avoiding the Merpeople and the Grindylows to steal the Giant Squid's eggs and then come back to the shore!" I was a little breathless after shouting that at the top of my lungs.

"She did, did she?"

"And by the cold reaction you just gave me, I'm guessing you had something to do with this," I said while stepping close to him to look a little intimidating. It's safe to say that that did not work because he stepped even closer and smiled down at me and I grew a little red. Damn his good looks and height!

"I did have something to do with this, actually. I'll explain—I told Moony to tell Wormtail to tell Padfoot to tell Marlene to tell Alice to tell Mary that that was the first task."

"You did what now?"

"I told Moony to tell—"

"I got that part. But are you trying to tell me that you find out about it?"

"Yes?" My face fell. He must have noticed because he asked me about it.

"Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not. I was hoping this would turn out to be a baseless rumour. How did you find out about it anyway?"

"I was practicing Quidditch past curfew at night and I saw Dumbledore and all the Professors walking towards the Black Lake. I thought it was odd so, obviously, I followed them there. I heard Dumbledore talking about it with some of the Merpeople. I guess he was instructing them or something."

"How long have you known about this?" he looked nervous.

"About a week."

"A week?! You knew about it for a bloody week and you tell me now?"

"Lily, I can take a hint. You didn't want to talk to me."

"Of all the times I've wanted you to take a bloody hint, you take it now! Honestly, James, you couldn't have worse timing. If you would have told me a week ago, I would've… would've—" I stopped speaking as I realized I couldn't have done anything a week ago nor could I do anything now. "Oh bloody hell, what do I do?"

"Don't worry Lily. You're not going to die. It's a simple enough task—"

"James, I don't know how to swim."

"What did you just say?"

"I said, I don't know how to fucking swim."

That shut him up for a whole ten seconds before, "Well I could teach you."

"We literally have one week, James."

"Well, then we better start practicing, don't you think? Now I'm sorry I'll have to leave, team's waiting for me. I'll see you at lunch?"

"Well, yeah but—"

"Bye" and he just jogged out on the field, stupid git.

So now I'm here sitting in Charms thinking 'just how do I get myself in these situations?' I'm not only going to compete in a swimming race that involves battling sea demons and the giant squid but I'm also going to have to actually learn how to swim in a week with James Bloody Potter.

"Lil, you okay?" asked Alice at lunch as I looked around for a sign of James.

"Peachy, really," I said.

"Who're you looking for?" asked Marlene.

"Erm, no one." I lied but all three of my friends sent me knowing looks.

"You're looking for James, aren't you?" asked Mary.

"No, I'm not looking for James," I said sternly. Again, the looks were sent in my direction.

"Okay, I admit this has started to become a habit recently but that's because he's being abnormally calm. He hasn't tried anything since the past two weeks days. I feel like it's a build up for a prank or something. Besides, I have a reason today. He said he'd meet me at lunch to discuss something about the first task." I told them all while staring at my full plate and they had the nerve to start laughing.

"Lily, you really can be impossible sometimes. He's finally starting to act mature and you think it's for a prank?" asked Marlene.

"Well, of course!" I said, "It is not normal for James Potter to act like this!"

"Act like what?" came a hurt sounding voice from behind. I didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"Er, nothing?" I said

"Never mind, we have more important things to discuss," James said, sitting down beside me. Normally, this would've bothered me, but right now, it didn't matter.

"Like what?" I asked. I still didn't know he wanted to talk about besides the fact that it was about the first task.

"Like our timings. When are you free today, Evans?" Had he just called me Evans? Okay, he was hurt. I just gotten used to him calling me Lily all the time. But wait a minute…

"Are you asking me out again, Potter?" I asked sort of loudly.

"I'm talking about swimming lessons, Evans." Ouch. The way he said Evans was like a slap to my face. What did I do?

"Oh right, well I guess I'm free after dinner."

"You can't swim just after having dinner. Okay, maybe we shouldn't keep it at night. What about tomorrow early morning?"

"Okay." Did I just say that? How early is early? Did I mention I'm not a morning person? I wake up every day by the time breakfast is nearly over which is around 9:30 really.

"Alright then, I'll see you at six in the morning tomorrow. Bye." And then he just got up and left while I stared after him like a fool. What the… SIX IN THE BLOODY MORNING?! James Potter will be the death of me. Ugh.