FIC--Changing Perceptions--Part Two--Diagon Alley
Title: Changing Perceptions
Rating: PG13 (R in later parts)
Summary: How exactly did James and Lily get together in their seventh year?
Words: 5,349
Betas: queenb23more I also have to give credit for Snape's dialog to the uber fabulous madam_minnie because I hate the git and can't write him for anything. So if you are completely awe-struck by him in this, it's all due to her.
Part One--Lily
Part One--James
Changing Perceptions
A James and Lily Fan-Fiction
James and Sirius walked along Diagon Alley, both of them excited about the day, but for differing reasons. Sirius walked a little taller than normal, knowing that freedom lay just inside the massive doors of the Wizarding bank. James, who normally walked with a confident swagger, was nervous and kept going over and over the steps of making a phone call in his mind. Feeling this way was foreign to James and, in his mind, meant that things would go horribly wrong somewhere along the way.
"You alright there, Prongs?" Sirius asked as they turned the corner toward the bank. "You don't seem yourself."
"No-no, I'm fine, really," James lied, feeling a heaviness in his stomach.
"Liar. You'll do fine, and if she's really changed how she thinks of you, she's bound to agree to come here."
James stopped on the cobblestone street, his mouth gaping.
"How do you know? I mean, what if I've ruined everything by being such a stupid pillock? What if she's been pulling my leg and setting me up for a lark? What if-"
"Who the hell are you and what have you done with James Potter ?" Sirius interrupted. "Snap out of it! Hell, she answered your first letter! That's got to mean something!"
James smiled at the mention of that letter, which was now safely tucked away in the bottom of his school trunk. There was no way in hell that he'd let his friends know he kept all her letters in an old cigar box. That secret, he'd take to the grave.
They continued their silent stroll until a big, booming voice stopped James in his tracks.
"Sirius!"
It was Alphard Black, a jovial older man with brown curly hair that was just beginning to recede. He was short and stout, a bit like Slughorn, now that James thought about it.
"Uncle Al!" Sirius said joyfully, wrapping his arms around the older man.
James stood aside while the two of them exchanged pleasantries and several more embraces.
"And this must be James!" Before he could say anything in response, James found himself enveloped in a hug similar to the one Sirius had received. After a couple hard swats on the back, Alphard released James and smiled broadly at the two of them.
"Well, boys, I wish we could tarry here on the street, but the goblins are impatient," Alphard stated. "I'm afraid we'll be occupied for most of the morning, James."
"Oh, alright," he answered, shifting uncomfortably while his gaze drifted down toward the cobblestone pavement.
"I'll call you on the mirror when I'm done, okay?" Sirius nudged James and winked slyly before following his uncle into the bank.
James watched until they stepped inside the large doors and felt strangely alone, standing there on the street as several dozens of witches and wizards strolled by. But he couldn't think on that too long. He had a job to do, of sorts; reaching into the pocket of his jeans, he jingled the coins inside to remind himself what he needed…no, wanted to do with all his being. He only hoped it would work out the way he wanted it to.
Lily took a deep breath and looked at her reflection in the mirror. For once, she wished this mirror was enchanted like those at Hogwarts. She really needed to hear someone's impression of how she looked. However, this was not the case and she was forced to take stock of her appearance on her own.
Her hair was pulled back by barrettes, holding it up off her face on the crown of her head. She'd applied some powdery blue eye shadow and some dark eyeliner, along with several coats of mascara. Her lips were covered with a thick, matte silvery lipstick. The look was all the rage these days and yet, it made her look like some sort of drag queen.
She turned and looked at the clock on her bedside table, biting her lip. She’d told James that she would be there in five minutes.
"Damn!" she shouted and reached for her wand, quickly casting a removal spell, making her face clean and natural. Leaving her hair back in the clasps, she reapplied the mascara lightly and put on a little eyeliner. She stepped back and rechecked her makeup, finally pleased. Her eyes were her favourite feature, and the mascara and liner played to her strengths.
"Much better," she whispered and placed her money bag in the pocket of her jeans. She usually didn't wear jeans, but this was a special day. It was the day she'd give him a chance. Not much of one, but a little.
Earlier, when she'd got off the phone with him, Lily excitedly chose her clothing and flipped to a section of a magazine about makeup. She wore a simple, form-fitting t-shirt with a French cut neckline that showed off her neck and collarbones, her second favourite features. She also liked the fact that it showed her new curves and the cleavage she'd recently acquired. Before this past spring, she had always had a bit of a straight figure; although her roommates got breasts and hips as early as third year, she was a bit slower in the maturation department. But shortly after Easter, she began to blossom. Her hips widened a bit and her backside was more rounded than before. The waist that had always been nondescript was more defined now. Added to that were the larger breasts that Petunia was jealous of. That thought made her smile more than anything else.
One last look at the clock told her that she had better get a move on if she didn't want to be late. James sounded anxious enough over the phone, and if she was late, Lily feared the poor boy would never recuperate.
James glanced at his watch for the third time in five minutes, each time, telling himself that she wasn't coming, that she was merely toying with him, and that anything he thought had developed between them was gone like a puff of smoke. He growled in frustration and actually hit himself on the side of the head to get rid of those sorts of thoughts. This wasn't like him to be nervous and unsure of himself. He was James Potter, after all.
He was a player; he seduced birds with his words, his smile, and the way he pushed his hair off his face. He dated girls at school since he was in second year; he had his first French kiss at age twelve; he felt a girl up over her school sweater at thirteen and under it three months later. He'd done things with girls that would have given his mother a heart attack; no girl ever denied him anything until her.
Lily Evans.
The more she denied him, the more he wanted her. Her flat-out refusal drove him to satisfy his needs with other, less desirable girls, even though his heart was never in it with them. They'd have their fun and move on. But she was different.
She made him feel alive, even when they were fighting over something as stupid as Severus Snape. She made him want to snog her in the middle of a boring Potions class just by stirring whatever she had in her cauldron. He very nearly swooned when he smelled her perfume in Amortentia during sixth-year, along with fresh air and the smell of his favourite leather chair at home. In short, she made him crazy.
"James?"
He was pulled out of his thoughts by the voice he'd know anywhere. James turned around and openly gaped at her. Lily stood before him without a cloak in a dream of a t-shirt and jeans that hugged her hips deliciously. She was bloody gorgeous; she now had curves where she hadn’t when school let out and the way the sunlight hit her hair caused the blonde highlights to give her sort of a halo.
James swallowed hard and forced the words from his mouth. "Lily. Hey, you're here!" He couldn't hide the excitement in his voice any longer.
"Am I late?" She looked down at her watch with wide eyes and smiled. "Didn't think so. What're your plans, James?"
"Er, I really didn't have any plans," he admitted, finding himself still gaping at her like a fish gasping for breath.
Instead of admonishing him, she laughed. Oh, what a sweet sound that is, James decided. He closed his eyes to savour the sound as it drifted off into the breeze.
"Are you sure you're the same James Potter that I left in Kings Cross?" she asked with a bemused expression. "Because I'm not sure whether you're a Polyjuiced version or not." Her voice was full of teasing which managed to set his mind at ease.
"Why is everyone asking me that question today? First Pad--Sirius and then you. Am I really all that different?"
James began walking and beckoned for her to join him, which she did quickly. He couldn't help but notice the way her breasts bounced at her quickened pace, making him groan, but not loud enough for her to hear him.
"So've you finally made a decision, then?" she asked from his side.
James hesitated in answering, not sure if his quick decision would be met with the reaction he was hoping for. Throwing caution to the wind, he stopped and turned to fully face her. The breeze picked up a few wisps of her hair, sending it fluttering behind her.
"First thing, I'm going to prove to you that I'm a progressive, open-minded wizard."
She lifted her left eyebrow at his statement and eyed him warily. "And that would be to…?"
Feeling more emboldened than ever, he placed an arm around her shoulders. Amazingly enough, she actually let him. Never before had James been so glad that he'd put quill to parchment and taken that chance to write to her.
"I'm going to let you take me to lunch."
"You're letting me?" she asked incredulously, turning to him, their faces inches from each other.
"Uh huh," he answered with a smile. "You once accused me of flaunting my wealth, Evans, and I'm showing you that I'm not all about that."
"You forgot to stop at Gringotts, didn't you?"
Their laughter followed them into the back entrance of The Leaky Cauldron.
Lily didn't know when she'd laughed as much as she did during that lunch with James. He had so many interesting stories to tell about the mischief he and his friends got up to. Several times, Lily wondered how they could get around the castle without being caught or how they found places that no one else knew about. She pushed aside the part of her that was prefect and merely enjoyed the light-hearted mood at their table.
"So the Shrieking Shack isn’t really haunted?" Lily asked in astonishment.
James stumbled for a moment at her question, and she could almost see the gears turning in his head.
"Er…well, no," he stammered and ran his hand through his hair. "The three-four of us stumbled on it one night and…well, found nothing."
She let out a huff and sat back against her chair, crossing her arms over her chest with her prefect cap firmly in place.
"James, how in the bloody hell do you get around without getting caught? I mean, the new guy…what's his name?"
"Filch? He's a pansy," James scoffed.
"Well, he's always out with his damn cats. I don't see how you lot can manage all that," she pointed out.
James smirked and leaned forward onto his elbows, closing the gap between them and sending shivers up and down her spine.
"Can I trust you?"
"Of course."
"Don't go all Head Girl on me, okay?" he teased, making her chuckle as she nodded her answer. "Come closer. I need to whisper this to you."
At his request, she did so and found herself eye to eye with him. He had gorgeous hazel eyes, with flecks of green, brown, and a touch of blue in stark contrast to the darkness of his hair. He had a scar on his nose, she noticed, and even remembered the time he walked into Transfiguration with a bandage covering the bridge. When asked about it, he merely shrugged it off as a Quidditch injury when, in fact, Lily knew he hadn’t had practise the day before.
The warmth of his breath on her cheek drew her from his thoughts. His lips were nearly touching her cheek.
"Wha-what is it?" she asked with a shaky voice.
"I have an Invisibility Cloak," he answered, his voice deep and breathy, before pulling away from her and sitting back with a smug look on his face.
"No way! They're not that good, Potter. You have some other secret to getting around the castle, I know it!"
James stared at her for a moment before recovering and shaking his head.
"I can't tell you all my secrets yet, Evans. And yes, it's an Invisibility Cloak. Better than any that have ever existed." He looked extremely proud of himself. "Family heirloom from Merlin knows how many generations."
"But that's impossible, James," she said. "They aren't infallible!"
"Shh!" He looked around the pub, apparently anxious to keep his secret. "This one is," he added as he leaned in towards her again. "That's all I can say right now. I swear, one day, you'll know everything." James sat back and smiled at her again.
Determined not to let that charming smile get the better of her, she rolled her eyes at him.
"Promises, promises," she teased. "Come on, I thought we were going shopping for our supplies. I can't waste all day talking to you, you know."
"Wasting your time? Oh, that hurts, Evans. That hurts," he said with a dramatic flair. "Fine. Pay the waitress and I'll meet you by the wall."
Before she could say anything, he leaned in and gave her a peck on the cheek. She watched him walk away with her hand on the spot where he kissed her and her cheeks extremely warm to the touch, her eyes lingering on his bum, which she just now noticed was extremely squeeze-worthy. Shaking the thoughts out of her head, Lily laid her money on the table and made her way toward the back, finding the portal already opened with James wearing a broad grin.
"What's so funny? Do I have lettuce in my teeth?" To double check, she moved her tongue over her teeth, searching for an errant piece of vegetation.
James groaned. "Sweet Merlin, Lily! That's so damn sexy that I may be forced to snog you in full view of Diagon Alley!"
She immediately stopped her tongue and found a loose cobblestone at her feet very interesting.
"Did-did I say that out loud?"
Lily looked up at him at an extreme angle and nodded sheepishly.
"Can we just pretend that never happened?" he asked warily, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Fine," she answered with a chuckle. "Where should we go then?" Lily reached out and linked an arm in his. "Scrivenshafts? The apothecary? Flourish and Blotts?"
They stepped dramatically along the street, arm in arm, stopping at the windows and making funny faces, laughing at themselves and the reactions of those on the inside of the shops. They dropped the silliness long enough to buy their books at Flourish and Blotts and find new quills and parchment before being torn between heading to Quality Quidditch Supplies and the apothecary.
"Quidditch!"
"Apothecary!"
They laughed after they spoke at the same time before James spoke up.
"Er, why don't you go there because you know damned well I hate Potions," James pointed out. "I'll meet you in twenty minutes?"
"Okay. I'll say 'hello' to Madam Rothschild for you, okay?"
"Is she still alive?" He rolled his eyes. "Dear Merlin, she's older than my dad!"
"Whatever. I'll see you later, Potter."
"Not if I see you first, Evans!" he called over his shoulder once he turned around and began walking away.
As James made his way across the street, Lily again stared at his retreating figure, especially his very firm-looking behind. As he entered the shop, she sighed, wondering for a moment if this was a dream or real. If it was a dream, she never wanted to wake up.
James whistled as he left Quality Quidditch Supplies with new shin guards and a new Quaffle in his shopping bag. On a whim, he also purchased a pendant for Lily shaped like a broom. He wouldn't give it to her today, but he was sure that sometime soon, there would be a time. Even as he was looking at the pendant and the other jewellery in the shop, he just felt like he needed to buy something for her. Those sorts of feelings had always turned out to be right in the past, making his decision easier for him.
Swinging the bag back and forth as he walked, he made his way across the street to the apothecary, happier than he had been in a long time. He had always known that Lily was special, nearly from the moment he'd met her on the train back in first year. She was bright, talented, and wicked smart. Of course, he had thought she was pretty; her red hair matched her fiery spirit to a tee and that's what really attracted him to her. Lily Evans gave him a thrill in his soul, and that was something that could no longer be denied.
Anxious to get inside the smelly shop for the first time in his life, he swung the door open, and the perpetual smile that was on his face suddenly disappeared. A few feet away to his left stood Lily and the slimiest of gits, Severus Snape. Neither of them saw him, as they were both looking at a shelf of Potions ingredients and waiting for assistance. He crept a little closer and stood next to a large cabinet that hid him from view.
"You never did say who was named Head Boy, Lily."
James cringed at the way Snape said her name.
"How should I know, Sev? It's not like Dumbledore sends me personal owls, you know."
Good girl, James thought.
"Well," Snape said with an extremely greasy voice, "I find it hard to believe anyone could have beaten my marks, especially in Potions." He turned to the clerk. "I need lacewing flies, saffron, and a new mortar and pestle."
Lily huffed at the slimy git. "I was here first," Lily said in an irritated voice.
"Clearly, I'm more important," said Snape.
Bastard.
"Whatever." Lily turned around and started to make her way to another but before she moved, Snape put his hand on her arm.
The blood in James' body began to boil at the sight of Snape touching Lily. How dare he? It took every measure of restraint he had to keep from marching over there and removing the fucker's hand from her. Fortunately, Lily shrugged him off and her fiercely independent spirit came to the front.
"Don't touch me! I can't believe you actually think that! What have they done to you, Sev? Where's the ten-year-old kid I met in the park?" She was angrier than James had ever heard her before.
Snape never got to answer that question, as they were interrupted by a tall, dark-haired and sallow woman who could only be Snape's mother. James wondered how she managed to get a man, she was so ugly.
"Lily! I haven't seen you in ages! Severus hasn't brought you round lately," Mrs. Snape said as her eyes fell on Lily.
"H-hello there, Eileen," Lily stammered. "I guess Sev's got better friends now." She gave the git a scathing look that made James proud.
"Oh, I doubt that." She turned to her son, saying "Finished?" Mrs. Snape rose an eyebrow in an eerily similar fashion to that of her son.
"I'm waiting for a few things, Mother," Snape answered through clenched teeth as he backed away from his mother. "I'll meet you outside."
Her face fell as she nodded at her son. "Fine. It was nice to see you again, Lily." Mrs. Snape turned and headed toward James and the entrance.
James forgot that he was standing in front of the door and the woman bumped into him.
"Oh, pardon me," she said in a haughty tone while she looked down at him with her overly-large nose.
James stepped aside and let the woman pass, her cloak flying behind her and sending out a scent that was vaguely familiar, something akin to mothballs, he reckoned. He watched her pass through the door and then descended upon Lily and Snape.
"Evans, what are you doing here?" He hoped that Lily would play along and act as if they weren't together. The last thing he wanted was that git to learn that they had gone shopping with each other.
"Potions, Potter, remember? The class in which you are hopelessly inept," Snape sneered. He gave Lily a half-smile. "Takes more than a vault of your father's money to become a Potions Master, you know."
"Someone's got a big head underneath that greasy hair. I would have thought that you'd brew up a shampoo for yourself. Or collect it all for cooking," James added, with a smirk.
"Oh, please," Lily interrupted impatiently. "You’re both acting like a couple of ten-year-olds! When will you two grow up?"
James stopped mid-thought, realizing that if he wanted a real chance at being with her, he had to try and play nice.
"Sorry, Evans," he said softly. "Forgive me?" As he looked up, he noticed her face had softened greatly.
"Fine," she answered and stepped a bit closer to him. "So did you need anything here? I can't remember you ever buying Potions supplies before."
"Please don't tell me you've gone and fallen for this… what did you call him once? A toe rag?" Snape cocked an eyebrow and flashed a yellow-toothed grin. "Or has he finally got into your knickers? I may just vomit." He rolled his eyes, which only added to the reasons why James hated him. Even for someone who used to be Lily's friend, that comment was way below the belt.
"Severus!"
James turned on Snape and scowled. "You…are a filthy bastard!" he hissed, fighting the urge to hex Snape. James' eyes widened as the tip of Snape's wand appeared a few inches from his face. With wide eyes, Snape dared James to reach for his wand.
Without taking his eyes off James, Snape remarked,"I would have thought your standards to be higher, Lily. You disappoint me."
James felt his blood bubbling up inside him as the anger and hatred began to take over his brain. He continued to fight an internal battle as part of him wanted to usher Lily out of there and the other part wanted to hex the living daylights out of the greasy piece of shit. Lily was shaking visibly as she backed away from her former friend, her eyes beginning to glass over.
"What's the matter with you, Snape? Your Dark Mark itching or what?" James sneered, swatting the wand out of his face. "Leave her alone. I know you don't hate her, so why're you acting like a complete and utter arse?"
"Potter," he began, his voice thick with distaste, "use your head for something better than holding that unruly mop of hair and think for once."
"Oh you're talking to me about hair? Lily, I think we've finally found a way to rid the world of Death Eaters…chase 'em with shampoo!"
The three of them were thankfully interrupted by the shop clerk. "Here's your order, Severus. Sorry it took so long." He handed over the package and took the money that was laid on the counter.
With deliberate slowness, Snape turned and looked at James, his dark eyes boring into James' as he stepped away from the counter.
"I wouldn't bother if I were you, Potter. Her talents are lacking," he whispered, loud enough for Lily to hear as well, and sauntered away, leaving behind a gobsmacked James and a teary Lily standing next to him.
Once Snape left the shop, James turned to Lily and lifted her chin; she looked so sad and shaken from the encounter with Snape. He wanted to gather her up in his arms and console her, but this wasn't the best place to do so.
"Come on, let's go," he urged, leading her toward the door with an arm around her shoulders.
"But…but my supplies-"
"Don’t worry about that now. You can get them by owl order," he said softly.
Once they were out on the street, he led her to a vacant bench and sat her down, placing her shopping bags on the pavement next to them.
"Thanks," she said as a solitary tear slid down her cheek. "I don't know why he has to act that way all the time. He used to be my friend-my best friend." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand before looking at him. "You really restrained yourself back there. I thought you were going to hex him."
James chuckled and began playing the hair on her shoulder. "I wanted to. Really, I did. But, well, I knew it wouldn't do any good. That git knows some nasty Dark magic and I wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of his wand should he choose to use it."
Lily nodded before answering, "I know. He didn't used to be that way." She looked away and watched the people passing them, merrily unaware of the turmoil inside her.
"You knew each other a long time, yeah?"
"Mmm hmmm. Met him when I was ten. He told me I was a witch and I took it as an insult." She smiled again and laughed a bit. "But after he…well, you know what happened."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry you lost a friend and that he hurt you." The words began flowing out of his mouth and James had no idea where they came from. "He's a git, and a right royal one at that. And I promise you one thing, Lily."
"What?" She turned toward him and for the first time, James noticed how very green her eyes were, like a new leaf on a tree in the spring. And the shape was just…perfect.
"I promise to lay off him this year. I don't trust him as far as I can curse him, but I'll do it for you." He reached for her hand and absently began stoking the flesh of her hand. "I mean it. Like I told you before, I've had a lot to think about this summer, and he's not worth it."
"Make Sirius Black follow your example and I may just think there's hope for us all," she teased. "Seriously though, thank you. I really appreciate it." Lily leaned toward him and kissed him on the cheek. As she withdrew, James' hand went to his cheek. "I better get home. I didn't leave a note and my parents'll be getting home soon."
"Can I take you home?" He didn't want the afternoon to end.
"Well, that would be the polite thing to do."
They Apparated to the corner of her street and silently made their way toward her house, their hands automatically linking. His hand felt warm and comfortable against hers and, to her surprise, was a little bit sweaty.
Had it been that way before? she asked herself. Why would he be as nervous as I am?
"Well, this is home," she said softly once they reached the pavement that led to the front door.
James looked at the house, his eyes darting back and forth. Finally, he turned back to her and smiled.
"Looks, nice. Homey," he said, his eyes not leaving hers. "Nice hydrangeas."
Lily giggled slightly, finding it an odd remark for him to make. "Yeah, they are. Er, actually, they're my sister's. The delphiniums are mine." She held out her hand and pointed to a bush with large, electric blue flowers.
"Del-delphiniums?" A smile crept up onto the corners of his mouth. "You have a delphinium bush?"
"That's what I said. Are you alright, James?" A sudden rush of tenderness came over her and she placed a hand on his cheek. At the contact, she was warm all over while he leaned into her hand, his eyes closing slightly, as if he were trying to memorize the feel of it upon his skin. She began to pull her hand away, but he caught it around her wrist with just enough pressure to startle her.
She opened her mouth to say something, but he placed a finger on her lips. A jolt of electricity shot through her, making her wonder exactly what it would feel like to have his lips on hers rather than his fingertip.
"Lily…er, can I kiss you?" he blurted out.
"Please do."
She wanted to watch him kiss her, but her eyes wouldn't cooperate and closed a second before his lips reached hers. His lips were surprisingly soft as they moved over hers. He opened his mouth and licked her lips with his tongue, urging her to open her mouth. In a giddy rush, she obliged and he slipped inside her mouth. His tentativeness surprised her. She thought that'd he be a little more forceful in the way he kissed her. Wanting to prove to him, for some odd reason, that she wanted a forceful kiss, Lily put a hand on the back of his head and held him to her as she increased the intensity of their kiss.
James hissed as her tongue stroked his before settling into her kiss. He placed his hands on her back and she felt the heat from his skin through her t-shirt. It was almost as if he was branding her with his touch. Lily moaned into his mouth and found herself pulled tight against him, her body flush with his while her hands began to roam eagerly over his own back. She didn't protest when his hand went to her bum, nor did he when one of her hands dipped inside the waistband of his jeans. Things could have progressed further, if not for the door swinging open and a shrill scream breaking into their moment.
"LILY!" shrieked Petunia with a very purple-faced Vernon standing next to her.
James pushed Lily away and his face turned a dark crimson, which she thought was rather fetching on him. Normally, James would have a witty comment to say in this situation, but Lily knew that he'd lost that capacity once they began kissing.
"I…I, well, er, I should get going then," James stammered as he grabbed Lily's hands. He didn't look like he was going anywhere.
Lily discovered that her own reasoning was gone as well, holding his hands tighter and wearing, what she was sure was, a stupid grin on her face.
"I s'pose. You'll owl?" She couldn't help the excitement at the prospect of a letter from him.
"Wild hippogriffs couldn't stop me," he said, sprouting a grin that brightened his eyes.
They continued to stand there in the front yard with Lily's sister and Vernon, neither of them wanting to leave nor caring that they had an audience. She kept looking at him and examining every detail of his face, almost as if seeing him for the first time. And in a way, she was. The day with James was better than she could have ever imagined. The conceited, brash boy that she'd known for six years was pleasantly replaced by the genuine and intriguing young man now standing in front of her.
Lily couldn't wait for school to start.
Part Three--The Hogwarts Express
Rating: PG13 (R in later parts)
Summary: How exactly did James and Lily get together in their seventh year?
Words: 5,349
Betas: queenb23more I also have to give credit for Snape's dialog to the uber fabulous madam_minnie because I hate the git and can't write him for anything. So if you are completely awe-struck by him in this, it's all due to her.
Part One--Lily
Part One--James
Changing Perceptions
A James and Lily Fan-Fiction
James and Sirius walked along Diagon Alley, both of them excited about the day, but for differing reasons. Sirius walked a little taller than normal, knowing that freedom lay just inside the massive doors of the Wizarding bank. James, who normally walked with a confident swagger, was nervous and kept going over and over the steps of making a phone call in his mind. Feeling this way was foreign to James and, in his mind, meant that things would go horribly wrong somewhere along the way.
"You alright there, Prongs?" Sirius asked as they turned the corner toward the bank. "You don't seem yourself."
"No-no, I'm fine, really," James lied, feeling a heaviness in his stomach.
"Liar. You'll do fine, and if she's really changed how she thinks of you, she's bound to agree to come here."
James stopped on the cobblestone street, his mouth gaping.
"How do you know? I mean, what if I've ruined everything by being such a stupid pillock? What if she's been pulling my leg and setting me up for a lark? What if-"
"Who the hell are you and what have you done with James Potter ?" Sirius interrupted. "Snap out of it! Hell, she answered your first letter! That's got to mean something!"
James smiled at the mention of that letter, which was now safely tucked away in the bottom of his school trunk. There was no way in hell that he'd let his friends know he kept all her letters in an old cigar box. That secret, he'd take to the grave.
They continued their silent stroll until a big, booming voice stopped James in his tracks.
"Sirius!"
It was Alphard Black, a jovial older man with brown curly hair that was just beginning to recede. He was short and stout, a bit like Slughorn, now that James thought about it.
"Uncle Al!" Sirius said joyfully, wrapping his arms around the older man.
James stood aside while the two of them exchanged pleasantries and several more embraces.
"And this must be James!" Before he could say anything in response, James found himself enveloped in a hug similar to the one Sirius had received. After a couple hard swats on the back, Alphard released James and smiled broadly at the two of them.
"Well, boys, I wish we could tarry here on the street, but the goblins are impatient," Alphard stated. "I'm afraid we'll be occupied for most of the morning, James."
"Oh, alright," he answered, shifting uncomfortably while his gaze drifted down toward the cobblestone pavement.
"I'll call you on the mirror when I'm done, okay?" Sirius nudged James and winked slyly before following his uncle into the bank.
James watched until they stepped inside the large doors and felt strangely alone, standing there on the street as several dozens of witches and wizards strolled by. But he couldn't think on that too long. He had a job to do, of sorts; reaching into the pocket of his jeans, he jingled the coins inside to remind himself what he needed…no, wanted to do with all his being. He only hoped it would work out the way he wanted it to.
Lily took a deep breath and looked at her reflection in the mirror. For once, she wished this mirror was enchanted like those at Hogwarts. She really needed to hear someone's impression of how she looked. However, this was not the case and she was forced to take stock of her appearance on her own.
Her hair was pulled back by barrettes, holding it up off her face on the crown of her head. She'd applied some powdery blue eye shadow and some dark eyeliner, along with several coats of mascara. Her lips were covered with a thick, matte silvery lipstick. The look was all the rage these days and yet, it made her look like some sort of drag queen.
She turned and looked at the clock on her bedside table, biting her lip. She’d told James that she would be there in five minutes.
"Damn!" she shouted and reached for her wand, quickly casting a removal spell, making her face clean and natural. Leaving her hair back in the clasps, she reapplied the mascara lightly and put on a little eyeliner. She stepped back and rechecked her makeup, finally pleased. Her eyes were her favourite feature, and the mascara and liner played to her strengths.
"Much better," she whispered and placed her money bag in the pocket of her jeans. She usually didn't wear jeans, but this was a special day. It was the day she'd give him a chance. Not much of one, but a little.
Earlier, when she'd got off the phone with him, Lily excitedly chose her clothing and flipped to a section of a magazine about makeup. She wore a simple, form-fitting t-shirt with a French cut neckline that showed off her neck and collarbones, her second favourite features. She also liked the fact that it showed her new curves and the cleavage she'd recently acquired. Before this past spring, she had always had a bit of a straight figure; although her roommates got breasts and hips as early as third year, she was a bit slower in the maturation department. But shortly after Easter, she began to blossom. Her hips widened a bit and her backside was more rounded than before. The waist that had always been nondescript was more defined now. Added to that were the larger breasts that Petunia was jealous of. That thought made her smile more than anything else.
One last look at the clock told her that she had better get a move on if she didn't want to be late. James sounded anxious enough over the phone, and if she was late, Lily feared the poor boy would never recuperate.
James glanced at his watch for the third time in five minutes, each time, telling himself that she wasn't coming, that she was merely toying with him, and that anything he thought had developed between them was gone like a puff of smoke. He growled in frustration and actually hit himself on the side of the head to get rid of those sorts of thoughts. This wasn't like him to be nervous and unsure of himself. He was James Potter, after all.
He was a player; he seduced birds with his words, his smile, and the way he pushed his hair off his face. He dated girls at school since he was in second year; he had his first French kiss at age twelve; he felt a girl up over her school sweater at thirteen and under it three months later. He'd done things with girls that would have given his mother a heart attack; no girl ever denied him anything until her.
Lily Evans.
The more she denied him, the more he wanted her. Her flat-out refusal drove him to satisfy his needs with other, less desirable girls, even though his heart was never in it with them. They'd have their fun and move on. But she was different.
She made him feel alive, even when they were fighting over something as stupid as Severus Snape. She made him want to snog her in the middle of a boring Potions class just by stirring whatever she had in her cauldron. He very nearly swooned when he smelled her perfume in Amortentia during sixth-year, along with fresh air and the smell of his favourite leather chair at home. In short, she made him crazy.
"James?"
He was pulled out of his thoughts by the voice he'd know anywhere. James turned around and openly gaped at her. Lily stood before him without a cloak in a dream of a t-shirt and jeans that hugged her hips deliciously. She was bloody gorgeous; she now had curves where she hadn’t when school let out and the way the sunlight hit her hair caused the blonde highlights to give her sort of a halo.
James swallowed hard and forced the words from his mouth. "Lily. Hey, you're here!" He couldn't hide the excitement in his voice any longer.
"Am I late?" She looked down at her watch with wide eyes and smiled. "Didn't think so. What're your plans, James?"
"Er, I really didn't have any plans," he admitted, finding himself still gaping at her like a fish gasping for breath.
Instead of admonishing him, she laughed. Oh, what a sweet sound that is, James decided. He closed his eyes to savour the sound as it drifted off into the breeze.
"Are you sure you're the same James Potter that I left in Kings Cross?" she asked with a bemused expression. "Because I'm not sure whether you're a Polyjuiced version or not." Her voice was full of teasing which managed to set his mind at ease.
"Why is everyone asking me that question today? First Pad--Sirius and then you. Am I really all that different?"
James began walking and beckoned for her to join him, which she did quickly. He couldn't help but notice the way her breasts bounced at her quickened pace, making him groan, but not loud enough for her to hear him.
"So've you finally made a decision, then?" she asked from his side.
James hesitated in answering, not sure if his quick decision would be met with the reaction he was hoping for. Throwing caution to the wind, he stopped and turned to fully face her. The breeze picked up a few wisps of her hair, sending it fluttering behind her.
"First thing, I'm going to prove to you that I'm a progressive, open-minded wizard."
She lifted her left eyebrow at his statement and eyed him warily. "And that would be to…?"
Feeling more emboldened than ever, he placed an arm around her shoulders. Amazingly enough, she actually let him. Never before had James been so glad that he'd put quill to parchment and taken that chance to write to her.
"I'm going to let you take me to lunch."
"You're letting me?" she asked incredulously, turning to him, their faces inches from each other.
"Uh huh," he answered with a smile. "You once accused me of flaunting my wealth, Evans, and I'm showing you that I'm not all about that."
"You forgot to stop at Gringotts, didn't you?"
Their laughter followed them into the back entrance of The Leaky Cauldron.
Lily didn't know when she'd laughed as much as she did during that lunch with James. He had so many interesting stories to tell about the mischief he and his friends got up to. Several times, Lily wondered how they could get around the castle without being caught or how they found places that no one else knew about. She pushed aside the part of her that was prefect and merely enjoyed the light-hearted mood at their table.
"So the Shrieking Shack isn’t really haunted?" Lily asked in astonishment.
James stumbled for a moment at her question, and she could almost see the gears turning in his head.
"Er…well, no," he stammered and ran his hand through his hair. "The three-four of us stumbled on it one night and…well, found nothing."
She let out a huff and sat back against her chair, crossing her arms over her chest with her prefect cap firmly in place.
"James, how in the bloody hell do you get around without getting caught? I mean, the new guy…what's his name?"
"Filch? He's a pansy," James scoffed.
"Well, he's always out with his damn cats. I don't see how you lot can manage all that," she pointed out.
James smirked and leaned forward onto his elbows, closing the gap between them and sending shivers up and down her spine.
"Can I trust you?"
"Of course."
"Don't go all Head Girl on me, okay?" he teased, making her chuckle as she nodded her answer. "Come closer. I need to whisper this to you."
At his request, she did so and found herself eye to eye with him. He had gorgeous hazel eyes, with flecks of green, brown, and a touch of blue in stark contrast to the darkness of his hair. He had a scar on his nose, she noticed, and even remembered the time he walked into Transfiguration with a bandage covering the bridge. When asked about it, he merely shrugged it off as a Quidditch injury when, in fact, Lily knew he hadn’t had practise the day before.
The warmth of his breath on her cheek drew her from his thoughts. His lips were nearly touching her cheek.
"Wha-what is it?" she asked with a shaky voice.
"I have an Invisibility Cloak," he answered, his voice deep and breathy, before pulling away from her and sitting back with a smug look on his face.
"No way! They're not that good, Potter. You have some other secret to getting around the castle, I know it!"
James stared at her for a moment before recovering and shaking his head.
"I can't tell you all my secrets yet, Evans. And yes, it's an Invisibility Cloak. Better than any that have ever existed." He looked extremely proud of himself. "Family heirloom from Merlin knows how many generations."
"But that's impossible, James," she said. "They aren't infallible!"
"Shh!" He looked around the pub, apparently anxious to keep his secret. "This one is," he added as he leaned in towards her again. "That's all I can say right now. I swear, one day, you'll know everything." James sat back and smiled at her again.
Determined not to let that charming smile get the better of her, she rolled her eyes at him.
"Promises, promises," she teased. "Come on, I thought we were going shopping for our supplies. I can't waste all day talking to you, you know."
"Wasting your time? Oh, that hurts, Evans. That hurts," he said with a dramatic flair. "Fine. Pay the waitress and I'll meet you by the wall."
Before she could say anything, he leaned in and gave her a peck on the cheek. She watched him walk away with her hand on the spot where he kissed her and her cheeks extremely warm to the touch, her eyes lingering on his bum, which she just now noticed was extremely squeeze-worthy. Shaking the thoughts out of her head, Lily laid her money on the table and made her way toward the back, finding the portal already opened with James wearing a broad grin.
"What's so funny? Do I have lettuce in my teeth?" To double check, she moved her tongue over her teeth, searching for an errant piece of vegetation.
James groaned. "Sweet Merlin, Lily! That's so damn sexy that I may be forced to snog you in full view of Diagon Alley!"
She immediately stopped her tongue and found a loose cobblestone at her feet very interesting.
"Did-did I say that out loud?"
Lily looked up at him at an extreme angle and nodded sheepishly.
"Can we just pretend that never happened?" he asked warily, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Fine," she answered with a chuckle. "Where should we go then?" Lily reached out and linked an arm in his. "Scrivenshafts? The apothecary? Flourish and Blotts?"
They stepped dramatically along the street, arm in arm, stopping at the windows and making funny faces, laughing at themselves and the reactions of those on the inside of the shops. They dropped the silliness long enough to buy their books at Flourish and Blotts and find new quills and parchment before being torn between heading to Quality Quidditch Supplies and the apothecary.
"Quidditch!"
"Apothecary!"
They laughed after they spoke at the same time before James spoke up.
"Er, why don't you go there because you know damned well I hate Potions," James pointed out. "I'll meet you in twenty minutes?"
"Okay. I'll say 'hello' to Madam Rothschild for you, okay?"
"Is she still alive?" He rolled his eyes. "Dear Merlin, she's older than my dad!"
"Whatever. I'll see you later, Potter."
"Not if I see you first, Evans!" he called over his shoulder once he turned around and began walking away.
As James made his way across the street, Lily again stared at his retreating figure, especially his very firm-looking behind. As he entered the shop, she sighed, wondering for a moment if this was a dream or real. If it was a dream, she never wanted to wake up.
James whistled as he left Quality Quidditch Supplies with new shin guards and a new Quaffle in his shopping bag. On a whim, he also purchased a pendant for Lily shaped like a broom. He wouldn't give it to her today, but he was sure that sometime soon, there would be a time. Even as he was looking at the pendant and the other jewellery in the shop, he just felt like he needed to buy something for her. Those sorts of feelings had always turned out to be right in the past, making his decision easier for him.
Swinging the bag back and forth as he walked, he made his way across the street to the apothecary, happier than he had been in a long time. He had always known that Lily was special, nearly from the moment he'd met her on the train back in first year. She was bright, talented, and wicked smart. Of course, he had thought she was pretty; her red hair matched her fiery spirit to a tee and that's what really attracted him to her. Lily Evans gave him a thrill in his soul, and that was something that could no longer be denied.
Anxious to get inside the smelly shop for the first time in his life, he swung the door open, and the perpetual smile that was on his face suddenly disappeared. A few feet away to his left stood Lily and the slimiest of gits, Severus Snape. Neither of them saw him, as they were both looking at a shelf of Potions ingredients and waiting for assistance. He crept a little closer and stood next to a large cabinet that hid him from view.
"You never did say who was named Head Boy, Lily."
James cringed at the way Snape said her name.
"How should I know, Sev? It's not like Dumbledore sends me personal owls, you know."
Good girl, James thought.
"Well," Snape said with an extremely greasy voice, "I find it hard to believe anyone could have beaten my marks, especially in Potions." He turned to the clerk. "I need lacewing flies, saffron, and a new mortar and pestle."
Lily huffed at the slimy git. "I was here first," Lily said in an irritated voice.
"Clearly, I'm more important," said Snape.
Bastard.
"Whatever." Lily turned around and started to make her way to another but before she moved, Snape put his hand on her arm.
The blood in James' body began to boil at the sight of Snape touching Lily. How dare he? It took every measure of restraint he had to keep from marching over there and removing the fucker's hand from her. Fortunately, Lily shrugged him off and her fiercely independent spirit came to the front.
"Don't touch me! I can't believe you actually think that! What have they done to you, Sev? Where's the ten-year-old kid I met in the park?" She was angrier than James had ever heard her before.
Snape never got to answer that question, as they were interrupted by a tall, dark-haired and sallow woman who could only be Snape's mother. James wondered how she managed to get a man, she was so ugly.
"Lily! I haven't seen you in ages! Severus hasn't brought you round lately," Mrs. Snape said as her eyes fell on Lily.
"H-hello there, Eileen," Lily stammered. "I guess Sev's got better friends now." She gave the git a scathing look that made James proud.
"Oh, I doubt that." She turned to her son, saying "Finished?" Mrs. Snape rose an eyebrow in an eerily similar fashion to that of her son.
"I'm waiting for a few things, Mother," Snape answered through clenched teeth as he backed away from his mother. "I'll meet you outside."
Her face fell as she nodded at her son. "Fine. It was nice to see you again, Lily." Mrs. Snape turned and headed toward James and the entrance.
James forgot that he was standing in front of the door and the woman bumped into him.
"Oh, pardon me," she said in a haughty tone while she looked down at him with her overly-large nose.
James stepped aside and let the woman pass, her cloak flying behind her and sending out a scent that was vaguely familiar, something akin to mothballs, he reckoned. He watched her pass through the door and then descended upon Lily and Snape.
"Evans, what are you doing here?" He hoped that Lily would play along and act as if they weren't together. The last thing he wanted was that git to learn that they had gone shopping with each other.
"Potions, Potter, remember? The class in which you are hopelessly inept," Snape sneered. He gave Lily a half-smile. "Takes more than a vault of your father's money to become a Potions Master, you know."
"Someone's got a big head underneath that greasy hair. I would have thought that you'd brew up a shampoo for yourself. Or collect it all for cooking," James added, with a smirk.
"Oh, please," Lily interrupted impatiently. "You’re both acting like a couple of ten-year-olds! When will you two grow up?"
James stopped mid-thought, realizing that if he wanted a real chance at being with her, he had to try and play nice.
"Sorry, Evans," he said softly. "Forgive me?" As he looked up, he noticed her face had softened greatly.
"Fine," she answered and stepped a bit closer to him. "So did you need anything here? I can't remember you ever buying Potions supplies before."
"Please don't tell me you've gone and fallen for this… what did you call him once? A toe rag?" Snape cocked an eyebrow and flashed a yellow-toothed grin. "Or has he finally got into your knickers? I may just vomit." He rolled his eyes, which only added to the reasons why James hated him. Even for someone who used to be Lily's friend, that comment was way below the belt.
"Severus!"
James turned on Snape and scowled. "You…are a filthy bastard!" he hissed, fighting the urge to hex Snape. James' eyes widened as the tip of Snape's wand appeared a few inches from his face. With wide eyes, Snape dared James to reach for his wand.
Without taking his eyes off James, Snape remarked,"I would have thought your standards to be higher, Lily. You disappoint me."
James felt his blood bubbling up inside him as the anger and hatred began to take over his brain. He continued to fight an internal battle as part of him wanted to usher Lily out of there and the other part wanted to hex the living daylights out of the greasy piece of shit. Lily was shaking visibly as she backed away from her former friend, her eyes beginning to glass over.
"What's the matter with you, Snape? Your Dark Mark itching or what?" James sneered, swatting the wand out of his face. "Leave her alone. I know you don't hate her, so why're you acting like a complete and utter arse?"
"Potter," he began, his voice thick with distaste, "use your head for something better than holding that unruly mop of hair and think for once."
"Oh you're talking to me about hair? Lily, I think we've finally found a way to rid the world of Death Eaters…chase 'em with shampoo!"
The three of them were thankfully interrupted by the shop clerk. "Here's your order, Severus. Sorry it took so long." He handed over the package and took the money that was laid on the counter.
With deliberate slowness, Snape turned and looked at James, his dark eyes boring into James' as he stepped away from the counter.
"I wouldn't bother if I were you, Potter. Her talents are lacking," he whispered, loud enough for Lily to hear as well, and sauntered away, leaving behind a gobsmacked James and a teary Lily standing next to him.
Once Snape left the shop, James turned to Lily and lifted her chin; she looked so sad and shaken from the encounter with Snape. He wanted to gather her up in his arms and console her, but this wasn't the best place to do so.
"Come on, let's go," he urged, leading her toward the door with an arm around her shoulders.
"But…but my supplies-"
"Don’t worry about that now. You can get them by owl order," he said softly.
Once they were out on the street, he led her to a vacant bench and sat her down, placing her shopping bags on the pavement next to them.
"Thanks," she said as a solitary tear slid down her cheek. "I don't know why he has to act that way all the time. He used to be my friend-my best friend." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand before looking at him. "You really restrained yourself back there. I thought you were going to hex him."
James chuckled and began playing the hair on her shoulder. "I wanted to. Really, I did. But, well, I knew it wouldn't do any good. That git knows some nasty Dark magic and I wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of his wand should he choose to use it."
Lily nodded before answering, "I know. He didn't used to be that way." She looked away and watched the people passing them, merrily unaware of the turmoil inside her.
"You knew each other a long time, yeah?"
"Mmm hmmm. Met him when I was ten. He told me I was a witch and I took it as an insult." She smiled again and laughed a bit. "But after he…well, you know what happened."
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry you lost a friend and that he hurt you." The words began flowing out of his mouth and James had no idea where they came from. "He's a git, and a right royal one at that. And I promise you one thing, Lily."
"What?" She turned toward him and for the first time, James noticed how very green her eyes were, like a new leaf on a tree in the spring. And the shape was just…perfect.
"I promise to lay off him this year. I don't trust him as far as I can curse him, but I'll do it for you." He reached for her hand and absently began stoking the flesh of her hand. "I mean it. Like I told you before, I've had a lot to think about this summer, and he's not worth it."
"Make Sirius Black follow your example and I may just think there's hope for us all," she teased. "Seriously though, thank you. I really appreciate it." Lily leaned toward him and kissed him on the cheek. As she withdrew, James' hand went to his cheek. "I better get home. I didn't leave a note and my parents'll be getting home soon."
"Can I take you home?" He didn't want the afternoon to end.
"Well, that would be the polite thing to do."
They Apparated to the corner of her street and silently made their way toward her house, their hands automatically linking. His hand felt warm and comfortable against hers and, to her surprise, was a little bit sweaty.
Had it been that way before? she asked herself. Why would he be as nervous as I am?
"Well, this is home," she said softly once they reached the pavement that led to the front door.
James looked at the house, his eyes darting back and forth. Finally, he turned back to her and smiled.
"Looks, nice. Homey," he said, his eyes not leaving hers. "Nice hydrangeas."
Lily giggled slightly, finding it an odd remark for him to make. "Yeah, they are. Er, actually, they're my sister's. The delphiniums are mine." She held out her hand and pointed to a bush with large, electric blue flowers.
"Del-delphiniums?" A smile crept up onto the corners of his mouth. "You have a delphinium bush?"
"That's what I said. Are you alright, James?" A sudden rush of tenderness came over her and she placed a hand on his cheek. At the contact, she was warm all over while he leaned into her hand, his eyes closing slightly, as if he were trying to memorize the feel of it upon his skin. She began to pull her hand away, but he caught it around her wrist with just enough pressure to startle her.
She opened her mouth to say something, but he placed a finger on her lips. A jolt of electricity shot through her, making her wonder exactly what it would feel like to have his lips on hers rather than his fingertip.
"Lily…er, can I kiss you?" he blurted out.
"Please do."
She wanted to watch him kiss her, but her eyes wouldn't cooperate and closed a second before his lips reached hers. His lips were surprisingly soft as they moved over hers. He opened his mouth and licked her lips with his tongue, urging her to open her mouth. In a giddy rush, she obliged and he slipped inside her mouth. His tentativeness surprised her. She thought that'd he be a little more forceful in the way he kissed her. Wanting to prove to him, for some odd reason, that she wanted a forceful kiss, Lily put a hand on the back of his head and held him to her as she increased the intensity of their kiss.
James hissed as her tongue stroked his before settling into her kiss. He placed his hands on her back and she felt the heat from his skin through her t-shirt. It was almost as if he was branding her with his touch. Lily moaned into his mouth and found herself pulled tight against him, her body flush with his while her hands began to roam eagerly over his own back. She didn't protest when his hand went to her bum, nor did he when one of her hands dipped inside the waistband of his jeans. Things could have progressed further, if not for the door swinging open and a shrill scream breaking into their moment.
"LILY!" shrieked Petunia with a very purple-faced Vernon standing next to her.
James pushed Lily away and his face turned a dark crimson, which she thought was rather fetching on him. Normally, James would have a witty comment to say in this situation, but Lily knew that he'd lost that capacity once they began kissing.
"I…I, well, er, I should get going then," James stammered as he grabbed Lily's hands. He didn't look like he was going anywhere.
Lily discovered that her own reasoning was gone as well, holding his hands tighter and wearing, what she was sure was, a stupid grin on her face.
"I s'pose. You'll owl?" She couldn't help the excitement at the prospect of a letter from him.
"Wild hippogriffs couldn't stop me," he said, sprouting a grin that brightened his eyes.
They continued to stand there in the front yard with Lily's sister and Vernon, neither of them wanting to leave nor caring that they had an audience. She kept looking at him and examining every detail of his face, almost as if seeing him for the first time. And in a way, she was. The day with James was better than she could have ever imagined. The conceited, brash boy that she'd known for six years was pleasantly replaced by the genuine and intriguing young man now standing in front of her.
Lily couldn't wait for school to start.
Part Three--The Hogwarts Express