Chapter Twelve
The Art of Presents
After the success of our first date, James and I were going from strength to strength. There was just one thing that was holding us back.
"He hasn't kissed me yet." I complained to Alice and Marlene, falling backwards on Marlene's bed and landing on her legs.
"Ouch!" She exclaimed, shoving my head off of her and rubbing a knee. She jabbed me in the side with her foot in response. "Maybe it's because you physically hurt him." She suggested sarcastically.
I laughed and rubbed the red spot on her leg. "I'm sorry." I said, sitting up. "I'm just confused. He's supposed to like me, right? So why hasn't he kissed me?"
"Maybe he's nervous?" Alice suggested, sitting on the bed next to us and eating some Honeyduke's chocolate.
"But he's kissed me before." I reminded her. "I just wasn't able to enjoy it properly because I hated him."
She laughed, throwing me over a bit of chocolate which I promptly shoved into my mouth and chewed.
"Why don't you kiss him first?" Marlene suggested, applying some lipstick and flipping her hair over one shoulder as she held up a compact mirror.
I snorted. "No way." I said through my chocolate.
"Why not?" Alice asked, smiling. "I think it's good for women to make the first move."
"Yeah. You know he's not going to reject you so I don't know why you wouldn't." Marlene chipped in, moving me further so she could get out of the bed. I sat up.
"You really think I should?"
"Definitely!"
"I think so."
"Okay, I'll kiss him!" I exclaimed, jumping up and starting to walk towards the door.
"Lily, wait!" Alice shouted after me, I spun in a circle to look at her questioningly. "We have classes."
Seventh year Potions class was my favourite class of them all. Professor Slughorn love me and this year I had something special to give him for Christmas which was right around the corner. I looked a bit odd holding a fishbowl but I had cleverly transfigured a stone into a fish and decided to give it to him after he said he missed having pets but was unable to have any.
I figured a fish wouldn't be breaking any boundaries.
I got to the classroom before everyone else and knocked on the Potion Master's door.
Professor Slughorn answered looking a bit bemused until he saw me standing there. "Ah Miss Evans! Lovely to see a student so interested in the craft they arrive early. I would have expected nothing less from such a talented young lady. Oh what's that you've got there?"
"Hello Professor, I've come to give you a Christmas present." I took the bowl from behind me and presented it to him.
His eyes lit up in delight. "Oh wonderful! I've always wanted to have pets you know, but ever since my mothers dog bit me as a child I've been rather wary. I can start somewhere small! Thank you ever so much. Come in, come in." I followed him into his office where he placed the fishbowl on the desk nearest the window, moving some books out of the way.
"I'm glad you like it Professor." I said honestly. It was nice to see someone so happy with a present you had thought about. "I was worried you weren't going to like it."
"I do like it Miss Evans." He said, turning back around, his portly belly narrowly missed hitting his desk. "I have a little something for you too, this has reminded me." He went into his desk door and pulled out a letter. "I wasn't planning on giving these out so soon but with the occasion I feel to give it to you now."
He handed the letter over to me, I undid it and saw an invitation for his upcoming Christmas party. "Thank you Professor. I can't wait." I lied, his parties were usually very uncomfortable and boring but it was nice to get dressed up every now and again.
"Just to remind you Miss Evans you are expected to bring a plus one." His eyes twinkled. "I think I know who will be joining you."
I blushed red and smiled awkwardly. "Yes Professor." I was saved from saying anything more as the rest of the class was arriving in the corridor outside. Professor Slughorn bustled me out of his office and I went to stand with Alice and Marlene as he opened the Potions classroom. We filed in and took our seats.
Professor Slughorn stood at the front of the class, beaming at us all. "Good morning class."
"Good morning, Professor." We chimed back.
"Today we will be making a very difficult potion, a very difficult potion indeed." He uncovered a cauldron that was on his desk, the red liquid was still and the steam rising from it smelt almost rusty. As though it was blood.
"Can anyone tell me what this potion is?"
Severus Snape raised his hand. I refused to look in his direction, after the events of Fifth year I was no longer on speaking terms with him on my own behalf. I will never forget that day, the day I lost my best friend. I didn't want to get drawn into bad memories so even though it was him speaking I forced myself to keep looking at the potion.
"It's the blood-replenishing potion, Professor." He said monotonously.
Slughorn beamed and clapped his hand. "Excellent, Mr Snape. 10 points to Slytherin." Behind me James and Sirius groaned under their breath. Professor Slughorn waved his wand and directions appeared on the board. "We are brewing this potion because Madam Pomfrey has requested some to refill her stocks and if it's any good St Mungo's will be pleased with the donations. Please turn to page 314 in your books and get started."
I was lucky in this class that Alice was my partner, Marlene was stuck with a rather stuck up looking Ravenclaw girl who she had previously described as fun as chalk. There were not many students who managed to get into N.E.W.T level potions. Remus had managed to get himself a Hufflepuff girl as a partner, but she blushed beet red whenever he looked at her so I'm not sure how well they are going to do.
"I'll get the ingredients." I told Alice, pushing my stool away and getting up from my seat. I went to the storage cupboard and grabbed everything that we needed, accidentally running into James on my way out.
"Alright Lily?" He grinned. "In a hurry?"
I smiled back up at him as he leaned in the doorway, blocking anyone else from coming in. "You know me, I love potions. Can't wait to chop up some," I looked at one of the jars I was carrying. "spleens."
He grimaced, then chuckled, moving past me to grab his own stuff. "Nice one. Do you wanna go for a walk after dinner?"
"Okay." I nodded, smiling shyly. You would like after dating for a bit I would have gotten over the shyness but whenever he asked me to do something I felt it all come rushing back through me.
I went to walk out of the cupboard but he pulled me back, looking behind me to see if there was anyone there before leaning down and kissing my cheek. I blushed, feeling warmth rush to my cheeks. I hurried out as he went back to collecting his things and rushed over to Alice, haphazardly spilling all of the ingredients onto the desk.
"Are you okay Lily?" Alice asked me, confused as to why I was such a state.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." I said quickly, pulling my potions book towards me to remind myself of the first step. "Listen, James has asked to go for a walk after dinner so if he doesn't kiss me by the end I'm going to do it." I said, quietly to make sure that Sirius who was aimlessly doodling on some parchment behind us couldn't hear.
Alice squealed, drawing attention to her from students and the Professor alike. "Everything ok there, Miss Prewett?" Professor Slughorn asked, making his way towards us from the other side of the room.
"Yes Sir, sorry Sir." She said, ducking her head to hide her glowing cheeks.
"How are you ladies coming along?" He asked, peering into our cauldron.
"Just finishing the prep Sir." I said, knowing that our cauldron was basically empty. "Give us an hour and Madam Pomfrey will be very happy indeed."
He chuckled. "Right you are Miss Evans." He left and I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Alice." I hissed, throwing a small piece of unidentifiable organ at her. She grimaced and flicked it back to me. "Okay," I clapped my hands, "let's get started."
As promised an hour later Alice and I had made a very respectable Blood-replenishing potion. Professor Slughorn came back over and showed the rest of the class how thick and red it had gotten, it was only slightly off hue.
The only person to do better was Snape and his partner, Malfoy.
I rolled my eyes, grumpily acknowledging that theirs was indeed a brighter red. Professor Slughorn awarded them another ten points and Alice and I five for coming in second place. I packed up my books quickly, not wanting to be caught in the crowd of students as they slowly packed up.
Once Alice and I were in the corridor we had to wait for Marlene as she had gotten caught in it. This also left us with the Slytherins who had slowly walked out of the classroom.
"Look who it is. Little Mudblood Evans and her Bloodtraitor friend." Bellatrix Black was a foul girl, her eyes glinted maliciously and with amusement as she saw us. "What do you say we teach them a lesson boys?" She spoke to Malfoy, Snape, Nott and Avery, the seventh year Slytherin boys.
"Oh yeah?" I asked, gritting my teeth. "I think we'll pass for today. Thanks for the offer." I didn't want to get into a fight with them, I was Head Girl and they were not worth my badge or my time.
She laughed, a sound that is supposed to be of joy but promised pain. "It was non-negotiable."
AN: Hi everyone! I hope you guys like this chapter, as usual let me know what you think and if you have any constructive criticism please let me know!
Does anyone have any plans for Halloween? It's coming up real soon and I'm super excited for it! I'm also really excited for the new Fantastic Beasts film, is anyone planning on watching?
Thank you for reading and I do hope you enjoyed! If you have anything you would like me to add do let me know and I can see what I can do!