\James was grateful that Gryffindor's first Quidditch match was over and that they had won, with all O.W.L work, Duelling practice he was not able to practice much and had to miss a few practices too. Their first match was against Hufflepuff, their seeker Kevin Bell who has come in place of James when he sifted from seeker to chaser in 4 th year, caught the snitch within an hour. He wanted to do something for Lily's birthday which was tomorrow, 30th January, last year he had overdone and Lily had gotta angry because she didn't like big parties, so James thought better and sent her a gift that she will love ( at least he hopes so ).
Lily woke up early the next day, it was her birthday she felt really happy, when she sat it was still dark, and her dorm mates were still asleep, then her attention was drawn to a red color box with a green ribbon ( clever thinking she thought ), the box smelled of roses she looked for name slip but there was none, who will send her a gift with no name? She hesitated ( could it be dangerous ) but gave in to curiosity and opened the box, inside was a single Lily flower but as soon as she picked it up, it turned into a walkman there was a note attached to it :
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL"
P.S. "Sorry wasn't able to get a new one"
As soon as she completed reading it, the note detached itself from the walkman, turned into an orange paper bird, and flew over her head before sitting over her right ear and it turned into a Lily flower. This was the best gift. She has never thought a person could ever think so much, so she decided not to remove the flower.
James sat in the Great hall nervously, had he liked his gift? what if she didn't like it? Then he saw the red-haired girl enter the Hall with her friends smiling and laughing and on her ear was the flower, which meant she loved it, she approached where he sat and then passed and sat ignoring him. James become sad ( she could have to thanked him or at least looked at him but she ignored him.
" Prongs " Sirius was speaking to get his attention.
" Hmm"
" Prongs look at that snitch " he pointed towards the entrance of the Great hall. A paper snitch, its wing flapping entered the hall.
Some students tried to catch it but failed as the snitch escaped each of them, reached James and started circling over him, he raised his hand and caught it, it stopped flipping its wing, James opened it, written inside it was :
Loved it.
Thanks.
P.S. " Old is Gold ; ) "
Snape approached Lily when she was about to leave the Great hall.
" Can we talk alone? "
" Sure " Lily replied.
" Happy Birthday Lily " and he gave her a book on potions. " I also wanted to show you something, but it's not ready yet, but I will show you when it is ready " Lily didn't pay much attention to him as she started shuffling the pages of the book.
" Thanks, Sev, it is an amazing book," Lily replied still looking at the contents of the book.
Snape was about to say something but at that moment James walked passed them.
" Nice flower Evans, it looks beautiful on you," he said and Lily couldn't help smiling.
Anger rose in Snape as he saw Potter walking as though he owned the castle, that swine. He looked at Lily who was smiling and looking towards Potter, how could she smile she should hate him and more anger rose " You should stay away from Potter, he is a git ".
Lily looked at Snape sharply, but Snape was eyeing the marauders with disgust. Was Snape going to give her orders now she took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. Sure Potter was arrogant there was no denying but he was good inside.
" Severus, we both are partners for the duel championship, we practice together and you have no right to give orders to me," she said.
" I was just ... I was just alerting you to be safe from him."
" I can look after myself and it's not like he uses dark spells "snapped Lily. And then the bell rang and they separated to go for different lessons.
But Snape was now more furious at Potter he will teach him a lesson the next time he sees him.
On 5th Feb feast was organized for the guests who had arrived along with participants.
The participants from Beauxbatons, Ronan Martin, and Victoire Leandre sat with Gryffindors. Sirius wasted no time and started flirting with Victoire much to Ronan's annoyance but Victoire seemed to be enjoying it.
" How can he so easily do this thing " muttered Peter
" Dunno, I think we both should start taking lessons from Padfoot," said Remus.
" I would rather die without kissing a girl than take lessons from him " replied Peter and others started laughing.
When they had all finished their desserts and plates disappeared, Dumbledore stood up and silence fell.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and - most particularly - guests," said Dumbledore, beaming around at the foreign students. "I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable." He then continued " The championship will start tomorrow and the first duel will be between 'Hogwarts and Shamrock '. Mr. James Potter and Ms. Lily Evans will represent Hogwarts and Mr. Thomas O'Neill and Ms. Chloe McCarthy. " cheering erupted from the entire hall. " There will be two judges Mr. Matthew Greenwood who is head of the International Magical corporation and Miss Rachel Williams who is a well-known dueller from Italy. " Both the judges stood up and waved.
" The Championship will take place in the quidditch grounds at 5 p.m. Thank You, now off to bed you go. And I request our Heads to show the guests their rooms. "
With that, all students rose and left.
The Marauders and girls were just moving out of the Great Hall towards Gryffindor tower when a few Slytherins approached them among them were Mulciber, Avery, Barty Croutch, and Snape.
"Look the mudblood and blood traitor are going to duel, I hope that if they will be killed then some dirt will be cleaned " sneered Mulciber.
Lily instead of looking at Mulciber looked at Snape, who was just standing there not looking toward her. Lily felt a pain inside her, she can't believe snape would just stand and tolerate it, but then she turned her gaze against Mulciber.
"Mulciber if you use that word again I will hex you into oblivion. And you both weren't even able to qualify to compete, you should think better, at least we are skilled enough to qualify. " spat back James.
"Careful Potter with that big head of yours it will become easier to target your head," Snape spoke through gritted teeth.
" You should leave them, Potter, the dark Lord will give you mercy if you join us and stop supporting the traitors whose parents disowned him, " Avery said and pointed towards Sirius.
James took out his wands, Snape and his companions also draw out their wands, then Lily, Sirius, and Remus also followed. But Peter used his mind.
" Leave them, James , they just want to distract you from tomorrow's match. Leave them its no use.", he then pointed towards Prof Patrick who was coming in their direction
James and others left the Slytherins. James cursed under his breath.
"Potter, we need to talk about tomorrow. " Lily said as the others sat in the common room.
"Let's go to my dorm there no one will disturb us " Lily nodded and followed James up to his dorm.
" You should not let their words affect you," said Lily once they reached his dorm.
" But they used the... you know... the m-word and insulted us, how can you suppose me to leave them. " James said anger still in his voice and he sat on his bed.
Lily acted cleverly and then took a deep breath and sat beside him.
" James I am also angry at them but that was exactly what those Slytherins wanted that's why they behaved like that, ... James, you should not let their words into your head, otherwise, your focus will be diverted and we will lose. ... Please James for me forget about what they said, when we will that will be the best comeback. "
James looked at Lily and smiled " You are the best Evans. And now we have got one more reason to win."
" Now, let's discuss our tactics for tomorrow's duel."
James and Lily stood on the stage facing Thomas and Chloe.
" Welcome to the 'Underage Duel Championship ', the first duel will be between Hogwarts and Shemrock " there was lots of cheering and clapping from all around. " The pair from Hogwarts is Mr. James Potter and Ms. Lily Evans, and from Shemrock is Mr. Thomas O'Neill and Ms. Chloe McCarthy. You are not allowed to use illegal spells," said Flitwick ( who was in charge to manage.)
" Now, Bow"
" Wands at ready, at the count of three one... two ... three..."
Lily cast the shield charm and saw the opponents do the same and grinned, the plan has begun.
After thirty minutes of throwing and ducking jinxes, James finally waved his wand " Rictusempra" and saw Chloe fall to the ground with a thump.
" Mr. Potter and Ms. Evans have won the first duel," said one of the Judges and the crowd cheered.
Their next duel was against Durmstrang.
Both James and Lily fought very hard but the opponent's technique distracted them and at that moment the opponents defeated them.
" Fuck, if I could have understood that they were feigning that move earlier we could have won, how could I have ignored that move, Flitwick told us about that still I messed," James said angrily as they left towards the exit after Madam Pomfrey had examined them.
" It was both of our mistakes, I also panicked and gave them the way to beat us," said Lily
" Thought it was my task to look out for such tricks and without thinking I attacked them when I should have been defensive. " groaned James as he walked in front of her in the narrow exit.
"Didn't knows you were able to think Potter with so much ego in your head, it's a miracle that you survived so far, shouldn't you be with your parents being pampered by your old mother, how was she even able to give birth to you with a such thick head of yours " Snape sneered with an unpleasant smile, behind him his Slytherin companions laughed. Snape was so lost in his hatred for Potter that he didn't know that there was a Redhead girl standing behind Potter, hidden from his view by Potters's tall figure.
That's why when Lily stepped forward from behind James (who was shaking with fury ) his smile fell, he should have known that she would be with him, Fuck.
Before James could raise his wand, Lily placed her hand on James' wand hand and spoke slowly but her words were full of anger.
" You better leave Severus or I will make sure you get detention for no less than a week with Filch."
Without any word, Snape turned and left with his companion.
" Thanks, otherwise I would have turned them into Skrewt and presented them to Hagrid," said James, calming slowly.
" I am just sick of them, don't know what has gotten into him," said Lily.
"Probably jealousy " replied James.
" Can you turn them into skewers? It N.E.W.T level transfiguration and a very hard one too . or were you just showing off ? " asked Lily.
" Evans I do not show off. " James replied and Lily rolled her eyes.
" Why don't you believe me, wait let me show you . " he grabbed her hand and took her to the Owlery. A beautiful Blue colored owl with red eyes, a golden beak, and bright red eyes landed on James' shoulder, he grabbed her and placed it on the table in Owlery which had quills and parchments.
" Hey Sage," James said as he took out a piece of chocolate and gave it to it.
" Your's owl name is sage?
" Yeah like Sage the owl from 'THE HERBS ' series," replied James.
" I didn't know wizards watch T.V.," said Lily.
" Most don't but some do we got a T.V. at home, uncle Ben brought it when Mom was on leave to take care of me, so she could enjoy it at home. The house elves were all afraid at first but now they got used to it, still, they don't go near it when it is turned on."Lily roared with laughter and James joined.
" Now, time for the work we are here for. Sage sorry, don't panic ok ."
James pointed his wand at the owl drew a pattern on his wand in the air and muttered some spell and then flicked it upwards. A spell hit the owl and soon where there was an owl was a rabbit another flick and the rabbit turned into a cat and then into a baby horse. Lily's eyes were wide in shock.
" WOW ! IT AMAZING," she said to James, the fact that he has done this so easily was shocking as it was a complex one.
James again waved and flicked his wand muttering some spell and the Sage was back, he gave him another large piece of chocolate which he ate and flew to sit with the other owls.
" See Evans I don't do fake show offs " he grinned.
" But you still do show off " she stuck out her tongue teasingly.
" That was rude Evans, you hurt me " he faked a hurt by placing his hands on his heart.
"Don't be dramatic Potter, come let's go others will be looking for us," she said.
" Thanks, Evans," said James as they made their way to the castle.
" For what ? " she asked with a confused look.
" For taking my mind off the lose "
" Then I should also thank you for taking my mind off the lose too "
Soon they were in Gryffindor's common room, which was full of noise, Lily sat with the two Ms and looked at James who was sitting opposite her with his back to her and was now planning on pulling off a prank on probably Snape. Lily got sad that why can't he be the same James Potter who was with her at the owlery, the one who doesn't make fun of others and is not arrogant.