AN: This chapter is inspired by the song Shattered by Trading Yesterday, Enjoy and please review!
Chapter Two - All Is Lost, Hope Remains
.{ Later that week }.
Lily bolted up in her bed, a layer of sweat covered her body. A scream echoed off the walls and she forced air into her lungs. She always dreaded sleeping. Of course she had forgotten her dreamless sleep potion. Once she was able to breathe again she pulled back the covers and stood intending to go stare into the fire until the dream faded enough she could get some more sleep. She made her way down the stairs and in-front of the fire. It wasn't until she sat down that the hairs on her neck stood up. She quickly turned and there was James. "Merlin James, are you trying to give me a heart attack?"It had been easy to avoid him this past week as he had not only head duties, but exams to study for, and Quidditch as well. She just kept to her room and kept one of the girls near her at all times for when she wasn't.
James felt this was the perfect opportunity. He moved between her and the stairs. "I pose you the same question." He gestured to her nightshirt. It showed off her curves as well as her long shapely legs.
Lily looked down just now noticing she had forgotten her dressing gown. Her cheeks turned pink in the dim lighting. 'The one time I forget, he has to be down here.' She crossed her arms over her chest feeling exposed. Then she saw what he was wearing, or rather not wearing, as in a shirt. 'He's blocking my escape on purpose.' Lily was starting to panic, she couldn't leave the common room in what she was wearing and to get to her room she'd have to get by James. "Yes, I wore this because I knew you'd be down here." She fell back on sarcasm. "I'd like to go back to bed now." She stayed as far away from him as she could while still headed towards the stairs. "Excuse me." She waited for him to move aside, but she wasn't that lucky.
"On one condition." James hoped he wasn't crossing the line, but it was too good an opportunity to pass up.
Lily had a bad feeling. "What condition?" Lily swallowed hard at the predatory gleam in his eye.
James relied on his most charming smile. "A kiss, just a kiss." Watching her face, he wondered what was going on inside her mind. She kept her eyes on the floor so he couldn't be sure what she was thinking.
'This is a bad idea.' If she kissed him she wasn't sure she could stop there. Just thinking about finally touching him in an intimate way had her body buzzing with excitement. She lifted her eyes to his hopeful ones. "One kiss, but I swear…" His lips were on hers before she could finish her sentence. His hand cupped the base of her head as he tenderly kissed her lips, just a soft languid kiss. Her eyes opened a moment after he pulled back. She cleared her throat as he moved out of her way. "Goodnight." She hurried up the stairs. Once she closed her door she threw herself down on the bed. Her fingers ghosted over her lips. Lily had dated before, what eighteen year-old hadn't? But not one of her boyfriends made her feel like this from just a kiss. She found herself wondering what it would feel like to engage in more intimate acts with him. Then images from her dream flooded her mind full force and it was like falling into a tub of ice water. She swallowed painfully. No this had to stop now. 'I won't let it come to that.'
James laid down on his bed. 'I just kissed Lily Evans.' He grinned. Her lips were like two soft rose petals. Apt considering her perfume was a rose scent. He put his hands behind his head. 'I'll make her love me yet.'
.{ Halloween }.
Lily loved Halloween, it was always her favorite holiday. The mystique and wonder, the excuse to be anyone you want to be. It was never about candy to her like most muggles. Even as a child she loved anything that had to do with magic, and All Hallow's Eve was filled with magic. Lily had decided to take a walk around the lake. The air had a chill to it and the gold and red leaves were starting to fall. She was enjoying herself so much that she failed to spot the three seventh year Slytherins coming towards her until they were only twenty feet away. Namely Avery, Mulciber, and Severus. She squared her shoulders and didn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her afraid. She didn't overtly avoid them, but she wasn't dumb enough to turn her back on them either. Particularly being so out numbered and isolated. Her wand was in her hand ready to act. "Would you look at that? The marauder whore is walking around all by her lonesome. Where are your masters, mudblood?" Severus spat out. Avery and Mulciber smirked at her lewdly.
Lily flinched when he called her marauder whore, she was used to being called mudblood, but this was new. It was true she was usually in the company of one or another of the Marauders this year, but to hear it from Severus still hurt. She felt the urge to cry remembering all the times he would defend her. Everytime her sister called her freak and he saw how much it hurt her. Now here he was using more vile words than Petunia. Lily saw their mouths move and cast a mirror charm which reflected whatever curses they threw at her back onto themselves. Her laughter rang out as Avery was naked, Mulciber was bound to a tree and Severus had managed to dodge whatever attack he cast. Lily waved her wand and all three of their wands flew into her hands. "A pleasure as always." She levitated their wands by a high tree. "Hope you like climbing trees." She left them there and continued on her walk. She was too busy laughing that she didn't notice anyone until someone had her arm in their grasp. She turned ready to attack whoever grabbed her. "For Merlin's sake James, say something next time." She took a deep breath and place a hand over her chest.
James' gaze followed her hand, he was a teenage boy after all. As she caught him leering he lifted his gaze. "Jumpy much?" He looked behind her and saw Severus trying to climb a tree. "Do I want to know?" His laugh rang out as Severus slid, almost falling. James saw Avery hiding behind another tree and Mulciber was tied to yet another tree. "Let me rephrase: you have to tell me."
Lily shrugged playing with a leaf that fell on top of her sleeve. "They called me the marauder whore. So I used a mirror charm and levitated their wands." Lily smiled wickedly. "Guess they will have to pick better curses next time."
It was then James saw that Avery was naked. He felt rage that they were going to strip her and tie her to a tree and probably... He gave them a death glare. 'If they so much as touch a hair on her head...' He made a mental note to get together with the lads and plan revenge against the three boys.
Lily saw the change in the way he looked at the three Slytherin boys, he looked ready to murder them. 'If looks could kill.' She put her hand over his to calm him, but pulled back as fire passed though her skin. Before she could start walking his hand grabbed hers again. Lily looked at James with a shake of her head. "We can't." She tried to back away.
James rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. "Why not Lily?" He'd been very patient, but it was killing him, not knowing. Patience is definitely not one of his virtues. "Would it be so bad to be with me?" It was agony to be so close and yet so far.
Lily looked down at her feet. It was easier to resist him if she wasn't looking at him. "We just can't." She pulled her hand from his. "It's dangerous."
Before she got one step away he moved in her path. "Dangerous how?" His jaw was tense and his eyes, which usually were full or mirth, were dead serious. "How Lily?" He prompted when she remained quiet.
Lily lifted her head and looked him in the eyes. "I can't…" She hoped her eyes conveyed what she couldn't say out loud. It was a bone chilling fear, the kind that turns your hair white.
James balked at what he saw in her eyes. He'd never seen fear like that, especially from her. She was never afraid of anything, what she just did confirmed that. Most girls would have broken down in tears at being alone with three boys who were trying to attack her. He couldn't fathom what was scaring her so completely. "What…" Lily turned and ran back towards the castle. He wanted to go after her, but if he was going to fix this, whatever it is, he needed a plan. James heard a crunch of leaves behind him and just managed to dodge a curse.
"Stay away from her." Severus' voice was like ice. He would be damned if Lily ended up with Potter of all people. He did what he could to keep her from harm. Like just now when he pretended to curse her, but didn't. She was better than Potter, she deserved much better than him. Better than even his own self.
James carelessly flicked his wand and Severus was covered in bubbles. "Likewise." He looked in the direction Lily left. He waved his wand "Accio broom." His broom came racing from his room through the window and into his hand. Now was a good time to get in some flying and figure somethings out. Like how he was going to get Lily to tell him about her fear.