~Lily~ Who cares about Vampires?

Jonathan Blake was an interesting bloke. Interesting to Lily at least. Lily had never met an American Wizard before and now she had befriended one. He was incredibly funny in a witty sort of way that always kept you entertained. He was smart too, at least in Potions. Lily invited him to come and sit with her at dinner. She hadn't realized until after that James may potentially be jealous. She hoped he wouldn't be. She hoped they were at a point in their relationship that they were past such trivial things. And even if he was jealous, she wouldn't stop being Jonathan's friend. He was nice and Lily wouldn't let James stop that. He did have a tendency to be controlling about such things and Lily was dreading the potential conversation.

"Lily? You good?" Jonathan asked with a goofy grin on his face. Lily smiled at him, coming out of her thoughts.

"Yes, just thinking," she replied.

"OK, I thought you might've died from boredom or something. I haven't even been here a day and Binns is already doing me in," he joked. "If a ghost could kill, that is." Lily chuckled.

"Now you can see why only a handful of people are in the class," Lily said. She surveyed the room. There was Michael Stebbins, Davey Gudeons, Aster Lockheart, and Miravet Clearwater. Davey and Aster were Ravenclaws and Michael and Miravet were Hufflepuffs. Then there was Lily, a Gryffindor, and Jonathan, who wasn't anything just yet. Or maybe he was a little of everything.

"Seems like too many people to me," he said, before giving her a thoughtful look, "Y'know why on Earth did you take this class? You knew what you were getting yourself into." Lily's smile faded a bit. Jonathan was a pureblood. From America, but a pureblood no less. He wouldn't understand.

"I'm a muggleborn, Jonathan. If there's a possibility that I could be accepted in the slightest by purebloods, perhaps when the war ends, then I need to be knowledgeable. I need to know the Wizarding World like the back of my hand. Even if it seems to be something as trivial as some of the rubbish we learn in this class, I need to know it." Lily's voice choked up a bit. She hadn't told him she was a muggleborn yet, but she assumed that he knew. Her last name was Evans after all. His smile fell from his face too and he continued with his thoughtful stare.

"I hadn't thought about it like that," he said, "That isn't fair that you have to think like that. This whole war thing Britain, the papers back home make it seem like it's nothing. Like it's just a disagreement between some people, but it isn't, is it?" he asked her. His green eyes peered into her own and the thought hadn't occurred to her that other countries didn't know what was going on. Gregor had known. He had told her himself how his country was torn between wanting to assist Britain and staying out of the conflict altogether. They decided not to bother, but still, they had been informed. The thought that people didn't know angered her.

"People are dying every day. They are hunting muggleborns, people like me. Death Eaters they're called, the lot of them are Dark Wizards, led by Lord Voldemort. He's the one who set this all in motion, because there was always hate, but now there is action. Entire families are disappearing and bodies left beneath that God awful mark. It's horrifying. Even- even the Muggles are being affected, but they just don't know it," Lily said. His eyebrows dipped in concern.

"Affected how?"

"Our murders are making it into their papers. Bridges are being torn down. Explosions across cities. Fires and storms caused by Death Eaters they just think are natural disasters. Muggles are being tortured and killed too. They can't explain any of it though." Tears threatened to appear, but Lily forced them away. She would not cry. She just wouldn't.

"Well damn," Jonathan said dejected. Lily, in her head, agreed. There wasn't a better way to sum up their world at the moment. But she didn't say a word. She returned her attention to Professor Binns. His voice was wheezy, but it was better than thinking about the war.

"And in the year 1831 there was an uprising in the vampire community-" Binns droned on. Lily saw Jonathan staring at her from the corner of her eye. She didn't need to turn to look at him to see the concern in his eyes. She didn't want to see it. She couldn't handle pity.

"It came after the Minisrty Decree of 1831. The Decree condemned all Vampires to death by a silver blade. And in reponse the Vampires began to infect as many wizards and witches as they could." Lily could hear the disgust in the ghost's voice.

"-number of wizards and witches infected with the vampiric germ doubled during the period of unrest." She wasn't the one that needed pity. She still had her family. She had her friends. No one close to her had died. Even her herself was safer than most since she was in Hogwarts.

"Vampires, as you learnt in Defence Against the Dark Arts, are Dark Creatures, evil creatures. They are dangerous beings with an unfortunate yet relentless taste for blood. In our modern society the creatures are required to be registered-" Vampires had it worse than Lily. They were probably being hunted just like Lily was. Halfbreeds they'd be called. Just like what people would call Remus if they knew about his lycanthropy. Lily felt sick.

"As I've always said: History applies to the present! And today the vampiric beasts are being hunted as they were in 1831! The creatures still remember being hunted! They haven't died and I fear they'll try and repeat their vicious bloodthirsty rampage, the savage things!"

That was it for Lily. She was done. She slammed her textbook closed, the sound echoing in the room. She stuffed it into her bag and stood up, walking furiously out of the room.

"Miss Evans! Miss Evans you cannot-" Binns voice was cut off when she slammed the door closed. She couldn't stand staying in that class a minute longer. Not with a man or ghost or whatever as prejudiced as he was. She didn't slow her pace as she continued down the corridor. Before it was her tears she was holding back, but now it was a string of angry curses.

She needed Marlene. She needed Marlene to tell her that she was right and to make her laugh for a little bit. Because Marlene would imitate Professor Binns creaky voice and Marlene would joke, but before that she'd let Lily rant on and on and then she'd look at Lily with a blazing look in her eyes and Lily would know that Marlene hated the bigots just as much as her.

But it wasn't Marlene who called her name from down the corridor. It was Jonathan.

"Lily wait!" His voice was so different than anyone else in the school. His accent obviously, but also the tone in which he spoke was just different and the way he looked at people. He could switch from joking to that philosophical look in his eyes. She turned around and waited as he asked. She didn't speak and at first neither did he.

"You wanna talk about it or be distracted from it?"

"He had no right saying those things! Speaking about Vampires as if they were lower than everyone else! It wasn't their fault, they didn't ask to be vampires! They complied with the Decree and with the Ministry. But bloody arseholes like Binns twist everything around to push them on the bad side! He acted as if in 1831 it was the vampire's fault! It wasn't. They were being hunted and killed! Making the Ministry more evil then anyone else. Murderers, the lot of them, and Binns just thinks- just assumes that should the vampires be hunted once more than they are somehow in the wrong. Tell me the logic in that!?" Lily vented. Jonathan wrapped his arms around Lily and she closed her eyes into his shoulder. She hated it. She couldn't stand people like Binns. People who couldn't bother changing.

"There is no logic. Nothing that could justify what they are doing. Nothing," he said to her. He released Lily from his arms. Their brief hug over and Lily felt so much better. The anger was still there, but she felt calmer. Then he gave her another thoughtful look. "And I don't just mean about Vampires."

"Thank you," she said. Jonathan smiled at her softly. And with that the hour was over. The kids spilled out of their classrooms, desperately happy to go to Dinner. Lily felt the heavy air clear between them and she returned his smile.

"Ready for your first Hogwarts dinner?" Lily asked him. He grinned at her, his white teeth gleaming.

"Can't wait."

"So America, huh, what was it like?" Sirius asked. Jonathan sat directly across from Lily, occasionally shooting her glances, making it feel like they were sharing a private joke.

"Wasn't much really compared to here. Just home, I guess," Jonathan answered casually, but seeing as no one was swayed, he continued. "I went to Ilvermonry, that was the Wizarding school. It was in Massachusetts on Mount Greyback. Beautiful place."

"So did your lot not get sorted?" Marlene asked.

"No we did, just not like here, from what I understand. There's four houses: Horned Serpent, Wampus, Thunderbird and Pukwudgie. And when you got to school for the first time, all the kids stepped onto the Gordian Knot in front of the four house statues. Whichever House wants you will react," he explained.

"What's the difference between the Houses?"

"It's kind of hard to explain, but basically Horned Serpent represents your mind, Wampus represents your body, Thunderbird represents your soul, and Pukwudgie represents your heart," Jonathan said with a shrug.

"Which were you in?" Mary wondered.

"Horned Serpent."

"Which one is that again?"

"The mind."

"So is that like the equivalent of Ravenclaw?" Peter asked.

"No, from what I know it seems like Hogwarts Houses are more about your traits when Ilvermorny is more about what part of yourself that you value most. So for me it was my mind I suppose," Jonathan said with another shrug.

"Nice. So what d'you think of Hogwarts?"

"I like it. Food is incredible. The whole castle aura thing is kinda spooky, but it's interesting. The people, yeah the people are pretty great," Jonathan said, shooting her a glance. She felt her heart warm and she beamed at him.

"James, it looks like you've got some competition, eh?" Marlene joked. Sirius turned and glared at her, but James laughed it off. James threw his arm lazily around Lily.

"Mate, it took me two years for Lily to like me back. If you can win her affection in a single night, then cheers to you," James said grinning. Jonathan smiled back.

"It wasn't two years, James. I started fancying you 'round New Year, I reckon, I just didn't realize until like June," Lily said blushing.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"You had started dating Melissa, remember?"

"All too well, love, all too well. I wouldn't have if I had known that Lily Evans wanted to become Lily Potter!" James said loudly. Lily blushed and everyone around them broke out into laughter.

"I didn't realise I fancied you until June!"

"And what brought that on, besides my dashing good looks and insurmountable charm?" James asked her. His fingers wrapped around her waist, bringing her closer to him.

"That day down by the Lake right after exams had ended," Lily admitted. Sirius burst out laughing.

"Lily knew she fancied you after you made her run away crying! The pair of you are perfect for each other," Sirius said between breaths because he was laughing so hard.

"I thought you hated me then."

"More like scared of liking you." She felt the heat rising to her cheeks. She felt everyone's eyes on her. Judging her. They were her friends, but they were his friends too. And Lily, somehow felt guilty about not liking James sooner. Not seeing how perfect he was for her. She felt horribly guilty and it weighed on her. She didn't deserve someone like him. Someone who just always knew what he wanted. Who he wanted.

"That's stupid," Sirius said.

"Stuff it, Padfoot," James said. Lily shot James a grateful look and Sirius only shrugged.

"It's still stupid."

"Yeah I know that now," Lily said. Sirius turned to Jonathan.

"The two of them weren't always like this y'know. Not always so vomit-inducing," Sirius said smirking, "They used to hate each other. Then James fell and love and Lily hated him even more when he'd try and ask her out. Then they became friends, begrudgingly. Until the beginning of the year." Jonathan raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Interesting. You guys just seem so in love, I can't imagine you not in love. Then again, I've only known you for like a day," he said with a chuckle. Lily blushed, averting her eyes. She knew James was grinning his head off then.

~James~ A Sprig of Mint

His life was so hectic, but Lily came before all of that. He never envisioned himself so hopelessly in love. He felt like he was drowning, yet he didn't want to take a breath. She was always in his thoughts. And he'd do anything for her. Anything. But he couldn't figure out what to do for their date for the life of him. The typical Hogwarts date would be in Hogsmeade, but Dumbledore said no and, more importantly Lily said no. But it was for the best, any date with Lily shouldn't have to settle for being typical. He wanted something unforgettable. Something she would tell their kids. It didn't even seem absurd to want kids with Lily. He wanted to marry her. He wanted to spend his life with her. Live together, die together. He knew they were young, but so what? As long as they were happy nothing else mattered. James had so many doubts about the future, but he didn't doubt Lily.

"Hey Reginald?" James asked.

"Yes?"

"Where did you take Mary for your first date?"

"I think you mean 'where did she take me?'" Reginald said with a chuckle. "And to answer that, she asked me to Hogsmeade, but I had gotten sick. I didn't want her to think I'd stood her up so I showed up for our date and she took one look at me and started dragging me to Madam Pomfrey's. We spent the day curled up under a blanket, talking for hours. I wouldn't change a thing, 'cept she ended up getting sick too." James watched the boy's face glow with nostalgia.

"I just don't know what to do with her. She doesn't want to sneak out of the castle, because things are so dangerous, but there isn't much date material in here," James said frustrated.

"Then how 'bout you don't sneak out," Reginald stated.

"What do you mean? There's no other way out of the castle."

"Get permission," he said. "You and Lily are the Heads. The most trusted 7th Years. Mary said last year you and Lily got permissoin to leave for a wedding."

"Huh. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask," James said. "But where would we go?"

"I dunno. That part is up to you."

"Yeah I guess it is," James said dejectedly.

"Now what do you reckon adding dandelion roots'll do?" Reginald went on.

"Go for it," James encouraged. They were at that stage. They had a solid base which they recorded so it could be rebrew at any time. Now they needed to experiment. Figure out what would make their potion work. Right now the effects of the potion were making someone excessively dizzy and sort of hypnotic. Obviously not the desired effect. They had had quite a few mishaps. Everyone had. Potions this year involved a lot of yelling, smoke, explosions, and emergencies. A change of pace from following the instructions out of their textbooks.

James looked over to Lily's potion. It was simmering a light blue. Sort of the color of the sky, except the blue was layered with darker hues and a silvery shimmer. He wondered what it was that Lily and Jonathan were actually making. He had never seen a potion that captivating or of that shade. James glanced over to Sirius and Marlene. Surprisingly enough, everyday they worked diligently beside one another. They rarely talked, from what James could gather. And they never so much as looked at each other. Heads down. Work hard. Keep quiet. Count down the minutes. Their potion was a murky greenish color and Sirius seemed frustrated. Marlene was calm and collected but who knows how long that could last. He then looked over to Snape and Remus who were getting along better than expected. They had the same thing going on as Marlene and Sirius. They were simply working together, but James watched as Snape did most of the work. Potions never was Remus' forte and Snape was not the type to let others get in his way. Their potion was, disturbingly, the color of blood. It's bright crimson color that thickly splashed in the boiling cauldron. He knew that Remus would keep Snape in check morally, but he still had a very bad feeling about it. James averted his eyes back to the light green potion that sat in front of him.

"What's wrong?" Reginald asked. James turned to his partner suddenly.

"What? No nothing."

"Oh alright," Reginald said. "I think next class we should look into adding unicorn blood to the potion." James wasn't really paying attention. He was trying to sneak glances back up to Remus, who looked preoccupied.

"Sounds good."

"James!" Reginald scolded.

"What?"

"Were you even listening?"

"Of course. You want to do some more research next class, yeah?" James answered. In truth he had only heard half of it and Reginald wasn't letting this one go, he could tell.

"I said unicorn blood, James, one of the worst, most impure things ever."

"Why would you want to go adding that to our potion!?" James asked.

"I don't," the shorter boy said. "I was seeing if you were paying attention."

"Sorry, I'm just having an off day," James admitted.

"Is this still about your date or lack thereof with Lily?"

"No, I mean that is part of it, but I just have a bad feeling," James said. Reginald looked at him curiously. James stirred their potion absentmindedly and apparantly one times too many, because it began to bubble and turn a lighter and lighter color.

"Is that supposed to happen?" James asked.

"How would I know?" his partner said irritated. The bubbles got bigger and were popping louder and louder. The foaming and bubbles were getting ready to pour over the sides and it had gained the attention of the entire room. James stopped stirring, but he didn't know what to do.

Lily rushed over and took James' spot by the cauldron. She removed the cauldron from the heat and took James' stirrer from his hands. She began to stir the potion counterclockwise. After every third stir she would pour in a swig of honeywater. After a minute or so of this the bubbles all but disappeared and the foam was gone. It had settled into a pale yellow color, the color James and Reginald were attempting to reach at that stage.

"Place the cauldron in a pot of water, that'll regulate the temperature. And add a sprig of mint," Lily said to the two boys, "it'll do wonders for the stability."

"Okay," Reginald immediately said. He rushed off to find a tub of water and James began to cut up the mint. Lily had already returned to her own potion, but James would be sure to thank her later. She had effectively saved their potion. They had an incredible idea and James almost ruined it. It was a good thing she stepped in because they had reached a road block and didn't know what to do.

"Good thing your girlfriend was there," Reginald said. "Could'a been disasterous. Could'a blown the roof off this place." James froze and Reginald gave him a weird look.

"What? I was only joking-"

"No no, not that. I just realized where I want to take Lily for our date."

AN: Hey all. It's been a hell of a past few weeks. I don't know where you all are, but stay safe out there. Things are getting CRAZY. All the teachers are getting ready for online school and everything by me is closing down. But hey... if I have two weeks (or longer) off than I'll be able to write more.