Chapter 17: Of Disasters

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3rd December 1976

James was glad that Lily was opening up to him; so much that she actually wanted him to tag along while she eavesdropped on teachers. That's right! Lily Perfect Evans was going to eavesdrop on teachers for what she claimed to be 'mere self preservation'. As they ran towards the gargoyle on the third floor, they were intercepted by the most delusional person at Hogwarts, Edda Hornsby, the Divination professor.

"Oh shite! She had turn up right now, didn't she?" Lily huffed.

"Just pretend as if we're here casually. Don't fret and don't panic," James said with authority. Being a Marauder and pulling off a thousand pranks had its perks in such situations.

Lily didn't have a smart come back this time because he was actually right.

Professor Hornsby noticed them and said in her faraway misty voice "Ah! Miss Evans, Mr Potter. Surprised to find you here at dinner time! I did foresee this that day, didn't I Miss Evans?"

"Er... yes Professor," Lily answered, confused, yet eager to get the conversation over with.

James gave Lily a stare as she answered. She mouthed 'I don't remember' to him.

"Fine night, isn't it?" the professor said.

Suddenly Hornsby's hands went limp and her eyes became wide and misty. It was as if she was having a fit or something. She opened her mouth and asserted in a very strained voice, as if someone else was speaking through her:

"As the end of the year approaches,

A choice must be made

Choose, must you, between the one who knew you longer

And the one you hold in esteem.

Be prepared o chooser,

For the one you leave may be gone forever."

She just collapsed into her normal, earthly form then without saying a word, walked away.

James stared, shocked. What did she mean? Did she just make a real prophecy? If yes, was it for him? Was it for Lily? A hundred other questions were swimming through is brain when it hit him.

Oh no... if this was a prophecy, it was already fulfilled.

His brain took him back to that dreadful evening in Fifth Year. When Lily chose him over James. That dirty git of a wanna-be Death Eater who broke her trust and her heart not one week after she chose. That fateful evening when she chose Snivellus over him. She didn't know she broke his heart too. James's, that is. She liked him and he knew it. But she'd known Snape longer, he'd been her best friend for years. He was also broken, and everyone who knew Lily, knew that she liked fixing broken things, broken people even.

Everything went downhill from there. James didn't talk to her and Snape called her a mudblood. James was mad and Lily was betrayed and she hated him but he loved her. They almost lost each other, till they didn't this year, when they decided to be mates again.

So, yeah. Technically, the prophecy had already been fulfilled. It made him feel oddly relaxed, no more choosing between two options. No more losing someone he loved.

When James looked at Lily, he could see that she had thought about the same evening and he could tell that she was relieved that the prophecy was fulfilled too.

They both stared for a moment before she whispered, "I think we should go back to supper James. I don't feel like stepping onto that gargoyle anymore."

He just gave her the tiniest smile and nodded. He didn't feel like pushing her to overhear a couple of teachers right now. They turned around and walked back to the Great Hall, in companionable silence.

12th December 1976 (evening)

James had had a great day. Most of his favourite classes and quidditch practice! It honestly couldn't get better, except if Lily finally would go out with him, but he didn't think about that anymore since they were 'mates' now. He didn't think about it much.

The boys were already down for supper but James had stayed back for a shower, and now he was caught up helping a first year with some Transfiguration doubts. Just as he finished with the kid, Lily walked down the stairs from the girls' dorm. "Hey Lily! Where're the girls at?"

"James! Already down for supper. I stayed back for a bit." She said.

"Oh alright. I'm heading down myself."

"Come on then." Lily walked next to James.

After a while of silence, Lily asked, "What were you doing up in the common room?"

"Just took a shower after quidditch and then got caught up with a first year." James answered nonchalantly.

"Pranking the poor sod?"

"No, actually helping him with transfiguration. Scared of McGonagall, poor thing." James answered her with a little pride. He could see that she was impressed but chose not to comment on it.

They walked the rest of the way in silence.

Supper was delicious! Steak and kidney pie, everyone's favourite, with mashed potatoes and chocolate éclairs for dessert. James was staring at the redhead sitting between him and Alice with a quizzical expression. Merlin, could that girl eat! That's when she looked up and said, "What?! I'm hungry!"

And Sirius backed her, "With this kind of food, everyone's hungry."

And she mock-saluted him as a reply.

All in all, everything was great...

Till it wasn't when he turned up.

It wasn't Snivellus this time. It was Aleksander, the Durmstrang champ. James couldn't find a reason to not like him so he decided to not like him just for the heck of it. But this time he got a substantial reason to almost hate Dragomir.

Alek came by and stood next to Lily. "How are you Lily?"

Lily suddenly sounded excited, "Alek! I'm grand! And you?"

"Very good, thank you."

They had a bit of a conversation to which James didn't really pay attention. He could see that Lily had a thing for Aleksander. And he felt a little hurt by it, which was stupid since they were mates, but it was the way it was. James kept ignoring their conversation. Then, Alek said something that caught his attention.

"So Lily, I actually wanted to ask you if you wanted to colour coordinate or something?"

Lily whose brain wasn't really working because she was in a food coma, asked confusedly, "I'm sorry, colour coordinate for what exactly?"

Alek gave a little laugh and said, "The Yule Ball of course!"

Before James could even process the thought and possibility of Lily going to the Yule Ball with Aleksander Dragomir, Marlene yelled, "The WHAT?!" everyone in the near vicinity was staring at Lily and Marlene.

Lily had a tinge of red creeping onto her face. She said in a small voice, "I can explain..."