Disclaimer: Anything that rings a bell belongs to J.K Rowling

Chapter 22: Conjunctive Adjectives

Like clockwork, on his third trip passed the unsuspecting blank wall, a door magically appeared, and James shouldered his way in, balancing the tray of food in his left hand.

"I have pizza!" He announced happily to the room and received a grin from its sole occupant.

Jude pushed off the chair she sat on and walked over to him, relieving him of the tray of pizza and hot chocolate with a warm smile and placing it on the dinner table. The Room of Requirement was currently a replica of their living area at home.

The setting for the Room of Requirement had been Jude's inner desire and James knew that it would have made his mother beam from ear to ear to know that this was the atmosphere she felt most relaxing and safe.

She handed him a slice, which he gratefully took and watched as she took a slice of her own…without him even asking! He hadn't forced her to eat since two weeks ago, a feat he was incredibly proud of.

He watched as she bit into the cheesy food and couldn't help smiling as she chewed.

Cheeks.

She actually had cheeks.

Gone were the bony, pale, skin covered facial feature and in its place was unmistakably a pair of cheeks.

They weren't rosy, they still had the pale tinge, but it didn't look pallid and that was a definite improvement.

She patted the seat next to her and he fell into it, grabbing another slice as she pulled out a scrap piece of parchment and scribbled on it.

How was practice?

James sighed, he had just got back from four 'o clock practice which was an unmitigated disaster, "Cornfoot's hurt his hand pretty badly, some Herbology mishap and even if he gets out of the Wing by next week, he still wouldn't have enough time to practice and he needs it the most because he was our last recruit. I played Benjy Fenwick as a reserve beater but he and Kenway have absolutely no chemistry, and I need my beaters to work together."

She pondered his words and began scribbling.

What about Dean Logan? Isn't he reserve chaser?

James frowned, "Yeah but I need a…" He grinned when he caught on to what she was saying, "You mean I should play Dean as chaser and move Robert from chaser over to beater because he played reserve beater for two years before he got a chaser spot! He worked much better with Kenway! That's brilliant!"

She smiled, evidently chuffed with thinking it up. Jude had gotten into the habit of talking quidditch with him, and sometimes he bounced off playing tactics which made her quite familiar with the team.

After the events of last Christmas, James tried to spend as much time as possible with her, which was exceptionally tricky as nobody could know that she was living with them. After the whole incident with the imposter in her room in Mungo's, and the attempted assassination on his father, any ties to the Potters would only increase her vulnerability as a target.

Whilst last term it was incredibly easy pretending that Jude didn't exist, this term it was quite the opposite. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that she had risked her life to save his. Or the fact that she had finally shown such improvement and he feared anything that would set her back.

Everyday James warred with himself with at least telling Sirius, but something prevented him from getting the words out.

His parents trusted Sirius; he was as good as their own son. And he would take the secret to the grave if James asked him.

Dorea wants to know why you didn't reply to her last letter?

James chuckled, breaking away from his thoughts, "I've written it out…I'm just waiting to get a hold of Cery so she can take it to mum. Sirius has been flying the poor thing to France and back almost every other day."

James may still be ignorant to who the fake Lily was, but Sirius had better luck. The mystery French girl had indeed been a Beauxbatons student who now had him nose deep every night writing long letters that he was very private about.

Which was surprising as Sirius initially said the girl had more than implied that she wanted nothing to do with him. And Sirius had replied agreeing in what he described was a literary aloofness that painted him as the picture of indifference. A month later, the painting was quite a contrast as his friend spent a good amount of time penning responses that his poor owl delivered diligently.

You can use Halo if you want.

"And have my finger bitten off. No thanks." Halo was Jude's Eagle owl that his father had gifted her at the beginning of the year, and he was a feisty, unkind bird that only had a temperament for his owner. "I'll use a school owl. How's astronomy coming along?"

Jude was Sirius' astronomy partner, and just last night he and Padfoot had finished their part of the assignment, which meant that Jude had done the part that James' partner, Edward White, had done.

Good. I had a look at your work, your partner made a mistake on question three. Triton is an irregular moon of Neptune.

He nodded, making a note to tell White and caught a glimpse of the parchment on the worktable she had been seated at when he walked in. He wandered over and raised his brows, "What's this?"

She shrugged and picked up the heavy tome that weighed down the parchment and gave it to him in answer.

James couldn't even decipher the title, it was in a Runic language he wasn't even familiar with, "This isn't for class, is it?"

She let out a silent chuckle at the nervousness in his voice and shook her head as James studied a neatly drawn array of symbols. He had no idea what they were, but they looked concise, "You like Ancient Runes?"

She shrugged casually, but evidently from the heaps of parchment there was nothing nonchalant about her passion for Runes. James could see she spent days translating them, granted it was an odd hobby, but it was a hobby nonetheless.

And considering when they first met, she could pass a whole day staring at a blank wall, James would be pleased even if she took to Gobstones.

Thank Godric she didn't though, he loathed Gobstones.

What do you like to learn?

He was about to reply 'transfiguration', easily it was his best subject. But that was such a peculiar way to phrase it.

What did heliketo learn?

"I suppose I like to learn how to make things. Like… I mean…" Her dark eyes were looking up expectantly at him, "Well obviously I like transfiguration, but it's no fun transfiguring a bird into a goblet or whatever. I like making something of substance…like… a chunk of wood into a table. I know it seems boring… I mean… dad likes that you know." He turned to her, and she tilted her head to the side, he realized that she was always pleased when he spoke about his parents, "When I was a kid and when he was just a normal auror and he had considerably more time, he used to make things. He made the kitchen table, for his and mum's twentieth anniversary, that's why it has those rose engravings on the corners because its mum's favourite flower."

James felt a flicker of sadness processing that the kitchen table was now destroyed, very few things were recovered from the fire, and anything muggle made and wooden definitely perished.

You should make Lily something.

James sputtered on the hot chocolate he had just been sipping, "Lily? Lily Evans." He didn't know why he said it, as if she didn't know the only girl in their Year that paid her an ounce of attention. "Don't listen to those rumours, there's nothing going on between Lily and I."

What would be going on between you and Lily?

James opened his mouth to answer and halted… He definitely didn't like the idea of Jude hearing rumours about him making out with fake-Lily at the party, it made him feel weird and embarrassed. He suddenly swallowed a groan; did Jude even know about such things. He can't have the birds and bees talk with Jude.

Isn't she your friend? Don't you like Lily?

Yet again he refrained from responding. "Well… I mean… that's majority of the reason that people think there's something going on between me and her."

She blinked rapidly for a few moments as if trying to process his words and he had to stifle a laugh at how funny that made her look.

I wonder whether people think there's something going on between the two of us.

His eyes widened at that, "Why would you say that?"

Because you're my friend, James. I like you.

He looked at the words, shining innocence and his throat caught at the honesty and naivety and suddenly James felt a fierce protective burn in his tummy.

"I like you too, Jude."

She beamed, and he nodded and cleared his throat, "Let me know if you need help with that transfiguration assignment. I'm heading over to the library."

She nodded, and he left the room, thinking that if he could have just one thing, he'd make sure that her innocence would never be ruined.

That she'd never understand the cruel whispers that passed between the inhabitants of the school, some about her and others about nefarious deeds that he had done with certain redheads, or what it felt like to have her heart broken.

That last thought made him oddly angry; it annoyed him to even imagine some overly excited teenager laying a finger on his little sis-

He stopped the thought in its tracks… did he really just think that…

"Going in?"

"What?"

"The library?" Lan Daiyu sighed in exasperation from behind him, "You know that room you're blocking the way to with all the books James. Books seventh years need to read if they wish to pass their NEWTs and then perhaps have a chance to become Healers or join the ministry or become a businesswoman. Godric, will you stop with the questions and just let me pass!"

"Oh. Sorry." He muttered, stepping aside, and letting the evidently flustered Head Girl through, her little outbreak sufficiently distracting him from his thought process.

James narrowed his eyes and walked into the huge Hogwarts library, recalling the reason for this destination and seeking out the heavy browed, dark-haired boy and finding him seated at a table towards the back. He groaned at the sight that greeted him and made to duck back out of the room but White had already saw him and was waving him over.

James clutched his astronomy assignment like it was a sword going into battle, his enemy being the brunette at White's side.

He walked confidently over, even though that table was the last place he wanted to be.

James didn't have a problem with most of its occupants, Daisuke Akita and Lucky Jadhev were fifth years, the former usually kept to himself whilst the latter was one of the most popular girls of her year. Edward White, his astronomy partner, and the reason for his approaching the group of Claws, was a decent enough fellow. And of course he didn't mind Aiza, who looked both agitated and bored at her present company.

His problem lay in the couple that sat at the middle of the table who seemed to reign over them all with regality.

James should have known that Bell would be there. White tagged along wherever Phillip Bell and Andy McKinnon went, the latter's absence explained away by the scene he walked past on his way to the Room of Requirement. Marlene had blushed crimson as she waited patiently for James to walk pass them in the narrow, dark shortcut to the seventh floor, which the pair obviously assumed would be empty at this time of day.

"Potter!" White greeted him pleasantly. James nodded at him and Akita, who nodded back. Lucky winked at him naughtily and James returned it with a smile whilst Aiza glowered at her cousin.

Lily didn't greet him, she barely spoke to him for weeks after the party incident, the rumour mill had a field day about him and her apparently hooking up. Bell obviously wasn't happy about that either as his only notion that he even saw James was a swift blue-eyed stare, after which he returned to playing with Lily's fiery red hair as she scribbled on her parchment.

Something burned at the pit of James' stomach at the sight of the scarlet locks twirled about those long thin fingers and he placed the parchment down on the table, "It's done. I thought you wanted to look over it before we hand it in tomorrow. Oh, and I hope you don't mind but I corrected question three of your section."

James knew White wouldn't mind, the boy's only response being an appreciative nod, not even questioning James' reasoning. James nodded back and turned for the exit, in no mood to torture himself any longer.

"What he initially had was correct, Potter." James stilled at the voice and slowly turned to find Bell reading his work, his black hair not the least bit ruffled as he leaned down over the parchment. "Triton is aregularmoon of Neptune."

James wouldn't usually care if he was right or wrong, but being called out by Bell was an entirely different only occupant of the table who seemed aware that there was a storm brewing was Lily, whose quill hadn't moved an inch even though it was poised over her work which she still was bent over.

James shrugged, "I suppose we should take your word for it Bell, seeing as you take Astronomy and all."

"Just because I find star gazing too banal to pursue at an advanced level, doesn't mean I don't remember a thing or two fromfirstyear."

James' hands fisted slightly at the implication that an eleven-year-old would be able to do his sixth-year assignment. White shrugged and picked up a quill to make the edit but James stopped him with a glare that seemed to freeze his hand in fear.

"Triton is an irregular moon." James was proud that the sentence wasn't ground out and had a lilt of insouciance to it.

"It isn't."

"It is." His last retort, unfortunately, had an edge to it.

This show of immaturity on the pair of sixteen-year-olds part seemed to grab the attention of the rest of the table, and Lucky was smirking at the impending fight.

Bell sighed and turned to Daisuke Akita, "True of false. Triton is a regular moon of Neptune."

Akita groaned, "Just because my father teaches astronomy doesn't mean I know a thing about the subject. I suppose White knows how to cut open a muggle seeing as his father does that for a living."

"What?" Lucky gasped and White blanched.

"Akita for the last time, the term is operate. He operates on people. How are you top in muggle studies with your poor knowledge of the muggle world, I don't understand."

"Probably the same way Potter got to Sixth year by thinking Triton is an irregular moon." Bell smirked at his comment.

"Better than getting to Sixth year because my daddy had to beg the Governing Body to let me back in." James knew it was slightly below the belt, nervous breakdowns were not a laughing matter, even if it were Bell's nervous breakdowns which had him miss half his OWLs last year.

Phillip Bell's blue eyes narrowed, and it looked like he was about to rise from his seat when Lucky sighed, "Don't you think you're taking this quidditch rivalry a bit too far. We get it, you're playing an important match next week, and would you tell Alice Burke to watch her back. Selina knows who sent that tripping hex at her and she's looking for blood. I swear, people get stupid about quidditch."

Lucky smiled even though she seemed to be complaining, evidently unaware that this fight was definitely not about quidditch.

"Speak of the devil." Lucky drifted to her feet and pulled Akita with her, as she glanced to the door as a group of Slytherins and Selina Selwyn walked in, "I'll see you boys later, play nice."

Lucky winked and dragged Akita behind her and walked to her friend, Selina, who was walking next to Regulus and Narcissa, Mulciber and Avery pulling up the rear.

The tall blue eyed Mulciber looked in their direction and Aiza stood and left without even saying goodbye.

James narrowed his eyes, looking after his friend's girlfriend with interest.

"Well… I suppose…" White looked confused at the parchment, unsure what to do.

James shrugged; he didn't care. He'd rather go and find Robert Thomas and discuss the idea of him taking on the role of beater whilst Cornfoot was injured.

"Wait." Lily muttered, for the first time as White put the quill to the parchment to make the correction, "It's irregular."

James' brows rose… was Evans actually taking his side in something?

Bell didn't seem to mind that she corrected him, or more importantly taken James' side, pinching her left cheek in a patronizing way, "I always wonder how you ladies have a mind for such minor details."

James hands curled into a fist at the flippant remark and Evans eyes narrowed, "Excuse me?"

"Sorry darling, it is I who should be excused. Prefect duty." He leaned forward and James can only assume that he kissed her as suddenly the view of the forest in the window behind them seemed so very interesting. "Come on Ed."

White shuffled to his feet and turned to James, "Thanks for the heads up about-

The boy didn't finish his sentence as he hurried after his friend, tossing James a wave goodbye behind the Captain of the Claw Quidditch team's back.

Fucking tosser.

"Beg your pardon!"

His eyes widened, there was no way he said that out loud in front of Evans, which he now realized was the only person there.

"I asked about the poster." James swallowed and took the seat opposite her, hopeful that he could talk his way out of this, "That one you're making for the Charms club." Her emerald eyes widened in surprise at being questioned about the poster she surely thought he didn't even know about.

Little did Lily know that there was nothing that she did that James didn't see.

He saw all of her.

His chest panged as she looked down at her work.

Well… I suppose that's the only response he was to get.

He grabbed the parchment and made to rise, "I don't know whether the rhyme is too childish."

He stared at her and had to swallow at the radiance that greeted him, the sun was setting in the window and threw her hair into fiery flame of colour. "I want to catch people's attention, but for the right reasons. I want them to join the club, not mock it."

James had reminded himself to look away from her glowing skin that made his fingers itch, "People are going to mock the Charms Club, rhyme or no rhyme."

She narrowed her eyes at him, and he hastened to his point, "You should make them see why it would be cool to join. See why it's actually worth their time."

"And how do you propose we achieve this?"

"Practice."

"Sorry? This isn't quidditch you know. People don't just flock to join, there's no glory to be won."

"People don't join quidditch teams because of the Glory Evans. They join it for fun."

"Orange."

"What?"

She giggled. Actually giggled, and James stilled. He was being completely serious about the quidditch thing, "I'm sorry. You should see your face. I win!"

"What?" He was beyond confused.

"At Rhyming! Weren't we doing that? Rhyme-time. This-practice. Won-fun. Nothing rhymes with orange though." She smirked and James backtracked in their conversation and smiled.

He didn't even realise they were doing that.

Godric she was smart.

"Borange." He chirped.

"Borange isn't a word, Potter."

"It is though. Definition is a conjunctive adjective of bore plus orange. How to use it in a sentence, 'Why Phillip, what a positively borange sweater you gave me for my birthday.'"

Her eyes narrowed but her face was fighting off a flush of laughter, "The sweater was not borange." She bit her lip, "It was baroon."

She giggled, failing to stifle her laughter and James' brows raised, surprised that they were actually laughing alongside each other like this. His stomach was alive with a thousand queasy emotions but in contrast he felt totally in equilibrium.

He felt as if he were flying.

"Oh, I'm horrid." She gasped, "But don't boys know not to buy clothes for a girl! Maroon! Look at my hair, does it look like I can pull of maroon."

"I think you can pull of anything." It slipped out before he could stop himself and she stilled, and he watched as she grew uneasy.

Her eyes flittered away, and she stiffened. James turned to see a group of fourth year girls staring inquisitively at them, whispering furiously at each other, not the least bit concerned that they were looking back.

"I have to go." Lily scooped up her parchment.

"Don't." James muttered, "It'll only look more suspicious."

"Why would it look suspicious, we weren't doing anything."

James rolled his eyes, "I know that. You know that. But you walking off makes it look like we were guilty of something."

She remained in her seat and watched him with those beautiful emerald eyes, "Like you'd care if they did. You didn't say anything when the whole school was calling me a slut."

"Nobody called you a sl… that Lily." He couldn't even bring himself to utter the word. He knew exactly what they were saying about her. That she wasn't the perfect princess that she made herself out to be. That she fell for his charms. That she and him shagged all over his bedroom.

All sorts of untrue things.

"The only reason why I didn't say anything because the less attention you give to a situation, the faster it dies down. I estimate your great defence of the matter made it last three weeks longer than it would have."

She tilted her chin up at him, "Is an apology too much to ask for?"

He tilted his head at her, "I am sorry that people are talking about you. I'm sorry that people think they know you when they don't. I'm even sorry that you felt offended enough to defend yourself. But I'm not sorry that I kissed you." Her eyes widened and face flushed, and he hastened, "Or kissed someone who I thought was you. How was I to know that it was an imposter? I really don't see why I should apologise for that."

She straightened off the chair, her face flushed with anger, "How were you to know James!" She spat, "You're right. People do think they know me when they don't. Perhaps I somehow thought after all this time that you were not one of those people."

She turned and stalked off leaving James baffled! What was her problem!

He grumbled to his feet, wondering whether he'd ever finish a conversation with Lily Evans without feeling like he had just walked off a roller coaster ride.

A/N: Love to know what you guys think!

Thanks for reading!

Kalina