Evil's Kiss

Chapter Seven

The Argument

Richard Powers said: "I don't mind arguing with myself. It's when I lose that it bothers me."

"Well I think the ball was a success," the headmaster announced to the students left at the end of the ball. "Let's give a round of applause to the Head Boy and Head Girl for putting on a wonderful event."

The small number of students left applauded politely and continued to heed the rest of the headmaster's speech. Tom, however, was anxious to leave and leaned over to whisper softly in Lily's ear.

"Let me walk you back to your tower," Tom said.

"Well, alright," Lily said. She took his extended arm and they both left the great hall quietly, not disturbing the other attendants. As the couple walked on, Lily began to talk lightly of the things she liked and dislike about the ball. Then unexpectedly, she said something that made Tom literally stumble.

"Oh Tom do be careful! Are you okay?" Lily asked concerned.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. But could you do me just a small favor and repeat what you just said?" Tom asked, his eyes slightly round.

"About the 'I want to have your baby part' or the other thing," Lily asked teasingly.

"Lily," Tom groaned.

"Oh, then it must be the other part." She smiled and faced him. "Thank you for taking me to the ball tonight. I had a really good time and I can't wait for another magical night like this." Lily said completely honest.

" Lily, I hope you realize you are the first person to actually thank me because I did something that benefited both parties. This means a lot more than you think it does." Tom said and entwined his hand with hers. They walked the rest of the way in contented silence. They arrived at the Gryffindor tower about ten minutes later, still not talking, just holding each others hands, lost in thoughts about one and other.

"Well, I guess this is goodnight," Tom said and looked wistfully at her.

"Yes, well again thank you for a beautiful evening," Lily said and turned to the portrait and said the password, then pause as if she had forgotten something. A sly, secret smile crept on her face as she walked over to Tom and placed a small kiss on his cheek. "Good night," she whispered and escaped into the Gryffindor common room before he could do anything but stare.

As Lily closed the portrait, she leaned her head against the wall and sighed blissfully. She had just had one of the most fun and romantic evenings of her life and she reveled in every moment of it. Nevertheless, she was rudely awakened when her blissful state was shattered by an all too well know voice. A voice that she loathed to hear at the moment.

"Lily, is that you?" James called from an armchair facing the dying embers of a fire. Lily's smile melted off her face and mentally, she prepared for battle, trying to control her raging emotions. After finding out that he had deliberately spied and eavesdropped on her conversation with Tom, a very private on at that, she had been trying to figure out what she would say to him. Now as she forced her tone to sweeten and her facial expression to relax as if she knew nothing, worrying about what she was going to say ceased. She would speak her mind and not care the repercussions.

"Yes it's me James, where are you?" Lily said.

"Good, I have to talk to you. It can't wait. Will you come here?" James said in a tight voice.

"Sure be right there," Lily said. She shook herself and went over to the armchair. He was the only one in the common room. Lily found that odd and looked up to the big mantel clock. It read 3 A.M. Dear Merlin, was I out that late? No wonder James is all alone; everyone else is off in la la land dreaming of sugar quills and chocolate frogs. But her feelings and thoughts quickly took another path as she approached James. James noticed the little reserve Lily had and asked her about it.

"Lil, what's wrong, you look a bit distracted," James said, his voiced tinged with worry.

"What's wrong? Is that what I just heard? What's wrong! I'll tell you what's wrong James Potter," Lily laughed bitterly. "Why in the bloody Hell were you following me when Tom and I were having a very private conversation tonight?" Lily said between clenched teeth. Jer green eyes bore into his hazel ones, practically spitting daggers.

"Well that's what I wanted to talk to you about. See the thing is that I didn't uh, trust Riddle. I thought her might uh, hurt you or something of the sort, so I followed," James said almost all composed but his voice wavered just a bit.

"You thought WHAT?" Lily screamed. "You thought that... that he would try... oh you are so thick sometimes James Potter! Tom is too much of a gentleman to do something like that especially since our relationship is still a bit new. WHAT has gotten into you? I thought you said you wanted me to go with Tom tonight," Lily said.

"I never said I wanted it to be a permanent thing! Sure, once maybe even twice would be okay, but really!" James stopped at the look in Lily's eye. "Oh what now I'm the bad guy. I was just trying to watch out for a friend. Dammit Lily, I don't like him, never have. It's just you and him, together, I just don't know!" James yelled back, his own temper rising.

"Oh no you weren't You wanted to know what Tom was going to say. I've seen the looks you've given him when you think I'm not watching," Lily said.

"Fine I admit it, is that what you want? Yeah, I was curious so I followed. But I had a good reason to," James retorted.

"Oh, and what was that?" Lily asked doubtfully.

"Okay, it might sound stupid now, but forgive me for thinking that we were going to get together Lily! With you leading me on all the time and all our study dates, was I suppose to think anything else? But oh no, ever since Tommy boy came into the picture ever even so much as pay attention to me when I talk," James shouted. His face was flushed from yelling, but things were just getting hot.

"Excuse me?" Lily said flabbergasted. "I need those study sessions, not dates, to get help from you in Transfiguration, because you are the best in our year. As for me not talking to you, give me a break! I have talked to you and given all my attention to you and Tavia, Remus, Peter, Sirius, and to all my other friends when they are around. I can't believe you would say something like that. And don't call him Tommy boy!" Lily said angrily.

"Well, t seems to me that you think that the sun rises and sets with him. Come to think about it, when was the last time you went to Hogsmeade. Or when was the last time you hosted one of your famous Hogwarts bake sales for St. Mungos? James inquired, his voice falsely sweet.

"How did you figure that out?" Lily said surprised. Actually, come to think about it, I haven't been anywhere since the term started. I've always been too busy with Tom, James, or school. Oh for Heavens sake, get back to the point Lily, her brain told her.

"It's not like I haven't noticed that you been totally occupied with one or two things. Your bake sales were the one thing everyone knew you did. It was a revolutionary thing and I remember how proud you were every time you went to the hospital to give the money you earned to research. What happened to that Lily? Suddenly everything stops, or seems to, right around the time Miss. Evens fell head over heals for a Slytherin. Now I wonder what that has to do with it?" James said coldly.

"Oh please, The term has only started and for Heavens sake, James, we are already starting to prepare for NEWTS! I have to get my priorities straight before I do anything else," Lily said exasperated.

"Oh I see, your priorities. Now that really makes all the difference," James said sarcastically.

"I will not stand here and be insulted because I want to do well in school. What is your problem James? You know what, save it. I don't want to hear it. Goodnight," Lily said in strained politeness and turned to leave. She headed for the girl's dorm, but hearing James voice stopped her.

"We are not finished here Evens! You still think that after all I've told you and the things I've said to justify my actions, you still think I am the bad guy. Don't you?" James called after her.

Throwing her hands at her sides in a gesture of frustration, Lily pivoted and looked James directly in the eye. "Yes Potter, I still think you are the bad guy because you had no business in my business. However, when you insult me because you are jealous of my boyfriend and whatever other insane things you can come up with, the discussion is over. There's only so much I can take," Lily said, and with that she turned around and made her way to the stairwell. Before she could get there however, she heard rushing footsteps and a steel-like grip took hold of her wrist. Lily let out a hiss of pain as James turned her around to face her. With her eyes full of agony, she looked up at James.

"Oh my gosh Lily, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize how strong my grip was," James said, all words of argument fled as he saw the pained look in her delicate features.

"No, it's not you. Don't worry it's just that my wrist is a bit sore from an accident I had today. It's nothing really," Lily said, rubbing her wrist, desperate to get away before James saw the marks.

"Lily, really let me see you wrist, maybe I can help you dull the pain," James said concerned.

"No, James I'm fine. Please let me just go upstairs," Lily said and tried to turn away, but James' Quidditch reflexes activated and caught her in the upper arm, just before she disappeared. He looked her in the face and then pulled her sleeve up to reveal her wrists. Still looking at her, James silently seethed at what he saw. The bruises from earlier in the day had dulled slightly but they were still and ugly array of purple, black, and blue colors on her wrist. Lily looked anywhere except to James questioning gaze until he gently took his other hand and forced her chin up to look at him.

"Who did it Lily?" James said quietly, fearing he already knew the answer.

"No one. I told you, it was something silly that I got into. It's nothing really. Please let me just go to bed," Lily said, ashamed of what he had found.

"Lily, I don't believe you. Those are finger markings, as if someone was holding on to your wrists for dear life. Seriously, who did this Lily?" James asked once more.

"Tom," she whispered so quietly it was as if she hadn't said anything at all. But James heard.

"Dammit, I knew it! What was he doing manhandling you like that? What were you thinking? Did he do anything you didn't want him to do, because by God, I will get him if he did! I swear..." James said but was interrupted by Lily.

"James calm down. It was an accident; he didn't mean to do it. Trust me, it was like a heat of the moment kind of thing. James just leave it be," Lily said calmly.

" LEAVE IT BE! ARE YOU OUT OF YOU MIND?" James said livid. "This time his NOT going to get away with it," James said and headed toward the exit. Figuring out his intention once he headed for the door, Lily quickly followed him and pulled back on his robe.

"James, no don't. I swear to you it was an accident. Don't do this. For me, please." Lily pleaded. If anything happened to James or to Tom, she would never forgiver herself.

"He deserves it Lily! He can't just go around beating up people, especially those people I happen to love," James said, all too ready to continue his rampage.

"No! Let him be. It's over and done with. But James I swear, if you do anything to him I will never forgive you, do you understand me?" Lily said, trying again to bargain with him.

"Alright, okay, fine. This time the bastard gets away with it. But I swear that if he even looks at you wrong, I'll be the on to make him pay. Promise me that you will tell me if he ever does this or anything like it again. Promise," James said.

"I promise James. Thank you for trying to be my knight in shining armor James, but I think I can take care of myself," Lily said sweetly, relieved that James wasn't going to do anything, at least tonight. "James, are we still friends?" Lily asked.

"Of course Lily," James said and embraced her as a sister.

"Good night James. See you in a few hours. Sunrise, don't forget. It was your God forsaken idea, so I'm not letting you back out of it kid!" Lily said smiling.

"Are you serious you still want to do the lessons?" James asked amazed, they would only get a few hours of sleep before the sun rose to begin another day.

"You betcha! Good night," Lily said, turned, and went up to her room, this time with no incident. James watched the petite red head all the way until he couldn't see her anymore. With a sudden sense of urgency, James then rushed to his own room, eager to relay all that had transpired down in the common room.

"Wake up boys, we have a serious problem," James said loudly, addressing Peter, Remus and Sirius. All the boys groaned. It was four thirty in the morning.

"This better be good prongs, or some time in the near future your broom will meet a horrible demise," Sirius said sleepily.

"It's about Lily guys, she needs our help."