- Rating:
- PG
- House:
- Astronomy Tower
- Characters:
- James Potter Remus Lupin Sirius Black
- Genres:
- Romance Humor
- Era:
- Multiple Eras
- Stats:
-
Published: 11/08/2003Updated: 11/30/2003Words: 6,930Chapters: 5Hits: 3,077
Courting Lily
CrystalDragonfly
- Story Summary:
- Take James Potter: Quidditch extraordinaire, dashing, handsome, and something of a jerk. Now, do yourself a favor and enter Lily Evans, a sweet girl with an attitude... A story of courtship gone wrong with fibs, fluff, and all-around fun. Excerpt:``"James put down the cushion he'd beaned Sirius over the head with. 'Sirius, the whole point of Evans is that she's not like all the other girls. She's--she's perfect. And there's no way she's falling for me if I just carry her books around for her.' He looked at Sirius flatly.`` Unconcerned, Sirius put his feet up on the table between them and grinned that daredevil smile of his (the one that melted an average of five girls every day.) 'Who says you're just going to carry her books for her?'
Chapter 04
- Posted:
- 11/30/2003
- Hits:
- 460
Us and Them-
Chapter 4: Promising Holidays
"James. James! Wake up."
The hazel-eyed boy rolled over and groaned. "What now, Sirius?" he grumbled at the red velvet canopy.
"I have the best idea--so we tip off Du--"
"No, no, no Sirius... Not again! Remember what happened last time you had a good idea?" James dropped a pillow over his head and attempted to block out Sirius' insistant voice.
Sirius sighed, exasperated. "James, you can't never give me another chance just because of that! What about the skunk idea? And Delamere with cat whiskers and ears? You have to admit, that was a stroke of genius..."
James didn't reply.
Sadly for him, Sirius took this to be a positive answer. "Good! I knew you'd see it my way." He grinned. "Now, if we wreak total havoc for the next week or so, Dumbledore'll practically be pulling out his hair, and Filch will have gone up the wall long before that. So, if he gets a note from us that we'll be very willing to bargain with him and let the school rest in peace for certain things in exchange, we can--"
James whapped Sirius over the head with the pillow. "Sirius, when will you get some common sense? Bargaining with Dumbledore? You are psychotic..."
"Well, how else are we going to get a ball?"
"What in heaven or hell do you want a ball for, Sirius? Grow up already... unless you mean a quaffle?" James' expression hovered somewhere between exasperation and confusion.
"No, a dance-ball! You know, where you ask a girl to go with you and you have to go through all that work to get ready with dress robes and corsages for your date and stuff?"
James sighed loudly and put his head in his hands. "Padfoot, why in the world do you want a ball? You're a guy. Guys aren't supposed to bribe headmasters for balls, you know..."
"Don't you see? Because then you have to perfect way to win a girl over. See, girls love balls and fancy clothing. Since I look drop-dead gorgeous--" here he smirked--"in dress robes, Delamere won't stand a chance. See? It's the perfect plan." He looked appraisingly at James. "Prongsie, it really is a pity that you don't look any good when your hair doesn't stick up all over the place..." He ducked the jelly bean James launched at him, laughing merrily as he hastily exited the room.
~*~
"Oohhh... That Sirius Black..." Leigh Delamere had caught sight of the handsome boy (probably not a good thing, as she was still fuming over the whisker escapade from a week ago...), and was not pleased. "He will so have to pay..."
Joanna Chang had followed Leigh into the Great Hall, ignoring the growl and discreetly steering her friend to the end of the Gryffindor table opposite where Leigh's arch-rival had been sitting with the rest of the Marauders. "Leigh, what did I say about paying too much attention to him?" she asked patiently, though hiding a smirk.
"I do not get raging mad at him just so I can have an excuse to stare at him!" Leigh hissed back, furious, as they sat down beside Lily and Alice. "It's not like anyone'd want to stare at him anyways," she muttered, pointedly ignoring the fact that roughly a quarter of the female population of Gryffindor was gazing at Black in complete and utter adoration. (Another half was staring at James Potter, and it really became hard to tell who was staring at whom, as Padfoot and Prongs were sitting next to each other.)
A wave of silence swept the Great Hall as it became obvious that Dumbledore had stood up at the teacher's table and intended to speak. Lily quickly shushed her blonde friend and turned around in her seat to listen.
"It saddens me to have to bring an unpleasant reminder of the state of the world outside," the headmaster began gravely, "but, as we all know, Voldemort"--here almost everyone in the hall flinched-- "is gaining more and more power in the wizarding realm. Any place outside of Hogwarts is now at a level of danger that the board, faculty, and Ministry have deemed unsafe for current Hogwarts students. As a result, we have decided to request that all of you remain at Hogwarts over the winter holidays, along with your teachers and the staff." He paused, letting the information sink in for the students. Disappointment and fear hung heavily in the air, almost tangible substances clouding the minds of all present. But the silver-haired man had not finished. His voice took on a lighter note as he continued. "But, here at Hogwarts School, it is part of our duty to ensure your safety. Remember this, and keep your spirits up!" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled over half-moon glasses. "As part of this effort, there will be, in addition to the annual Hogwarts Christmas celebration, a New Year's Ball to be held on the night of the 31st--"
Dumbledore's voice was drowned out a wave of loud cheering from the tables. Sirius looked like all his dreams had just come true, turning and winking at Prongs and mouthing the words "I told you so" to his best friend. James' excitement showed on his face, and even Peter seemed interested by the idea.
Perhaps we may excuse them for not noticing Remus' reaction, for after all, the Marauders were boys, and rather oblivious ones, at that. And yet it might have been better this way. Because some things are bettered borne alone.
And some things are not.
~*~
Lily was not pleased.
Last week's announcement of the ball had served to put every girl in Hogwarts into a frenzy. There must be dress robes, and soon! And rumor had it that there was a top-secret list of dates circulating among the boys--each had to claim his date publicly, signing it onto the sheet (which, unfortunately for Lily and the rest, had been enchanted to be unreadable to non-male eyes...). It had become general knowledge among the guys that if they did not stick to the list, they would be in for a truly horrendous bout of pranking. And if everyone disregarded the list, the holiday season would be a terror for all. Naturally, most were swayed easily enough by this threat, and the list had become a fixture. And as if this were not enough cause for worry, Lily had also found out why she had not been asked to the ball yet.
She had been claimed. By The Potter.
After some more probing, she'd found out from her reluctant informants that apparently, the list had originated from the general area of the Marauders. And, of course, James had gotten the first pick.
So Lily now had three choices: either she could just not go to the New Year's Ball, or she could wait for Potter to take his time to ask her to go and then attend on the arm of the loathed 'Prongs'.
Or, she could stick up for herself, make James relinquish his claim on her, and go with whomever she wanted--she was sure that there'd be a rush to get her as a date the moment she was officially 'free'.
The answer to the situation was obvious. Lily went off in search of James.
~*~
She found him in the common room, sprawled on an armchair, watching Peter struggle with his Defense Against the Dark Arts essay. Remus was nearby, looking more withdrawn than usual, and Sirius was nowhere to be seen.
Lily marched up to him with blazing eyes. "Potter? We need to talk. Outside." Without waiting for a reply, she whirled around and strode towards the portrait hole, knowing he'd follow.
He did, and soon wished otherwise. When James emerged into the hallway, he was immediately confronted by a furious Lily. Before he could say a word, she launched into her angry tirade.
It could have been better. It could have been like a temper tantrum. He could have let half her words slide past him. But instead, Lily chose to speak in cold, minced sentences, syllables falling like so many knives against him.
"James Potter, you are without a doubt the greatest jerk the world has ever seen." She looked straight at him, eyes burning with an icy fury. "How do you stand it? Being the way you are, I mean? Claiming a girl as if she has no thoughts, no feelings, nothing beyond a pretty face and an 'attractive' body?" She circled him, spitting out the words like venom. "Because if you think you will ever win me over," and here she drew near--so near that James could practically count every luxuriant eyelash and was nearly swooning from her presence-- "drop dead, Potter." Her eyes flashed more hate than she'd thought she could feel in a lifetime.
It hurt. It hurt more than James ever knew words could, and, unprotected in front of his greatest desire, he was completely unshielded. Every sentence found its mark and buried itself deep inside his heart. James felt something welling up in his eyes.
But of course he refused to let it go. And instead of apologizing, he sought refuge in arrogance. In the thing he chose to call 'charm'.
He flashed her his signature lopsided half-grin, as unabashedly as he could manage at the moment. "You're blushing," he whispered, leaning in so close their noses were almost touching. He closed his eyes and thanked god that, by a lucky chance, he'd brushed his teeth a few minutes ago.
He didn't expect to be slapped. Hazel eyes flew open, and the tears, barely visible, threatened to spill, in surprise, in loss, in anger.
He held them back. She cried instead. She cried and hurled insults like stones, pelting him with more profanities than he thought she knew. The tears only made it worse for James.
"Lily," he pleaded, desperate, letting go of all and any plans. To hell with rational thinking. "Lily, stop crying--"
She cut him off, shouting through her tears. "I will not! You have no right to tell me what to do, and I'd cry my eyes dry just to spite you anyway--" She stormed at him, fists clenched.
James cracked. His temper had risen to full fury now, and all restraint died. "To hell you'd spite me! What the fuck did you slap me for? You're a heartless slut, you know that?" He'd lost it. Everything he did, somehow, always went so horribly, incomprehensibly wrong. It was as if she'd sworn to herself that she'd never acknowledge anything good he did. He'd not doubt that if he sent her roses, she dump them in the mud. "You're just a stupid--" He doubled over in agony, biting his lip to keep from making the sounds that would betray the extent of his pain. "Bitch," he muttered, willing the wetness at the corners of his eyes to go away.
"How dare you call me that?!" Lily was screaming at the top of her lungs now. "You're a sexist, domineering prat who can't see beyond his own damn fucking nose! And I'd kick you again, jerk, except I don't think I want to be singlehandedly responsible for your not having any children--"
A throat cleared.
"Ahem," coughed Dumbledore. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but do we seem to be having any... problems?" asked the headmaster, hands templed and looking gently concerned from over half-moon glasses. From behind him could be seen the figure of Snape, who had doubtlessly tipped him off to the incident in the hall.
Lily could have died right then and there. She was a prefect, and caught yelling profanities at James Potter in the hallway? And crying too, to boot. She tried to speak, but the words stuck in her burning throat.
Ironically, it was James who spoke for her, haltingly and with a burning face, anger melted away like last night's dusting of snow. "I--we--I provoked Evans into an argument, Professor, and..." he trailed off. "I'm sorry." He looked up dejectedly. "How many points from Gryffindor will this be?"
Dumbledore looked sternly down at the hazel-eyed boy. "This about more than just points, James." He held the gaze for a moment longer, then spoke again.
"There will be no points deducted from Gryffindor for this outburst. I realize that the added stress of this latest development, the ball, could easily pitch students into fights. However, Hogwarts cannot and will not tolerate this kind of behavior." He looked straight at Lily's repentant form. "At Hogwarts, we learn to work with those we may not like as much as we would want to. Throughout your lives, you will have to deal with all sorts of people, some who are truly unsavory." He looked up, almost as if addressing the portraits high up on the walls.
"You will go down together to the Gamekeeper's cottage tomorrow night when dinner is finished, to help him with business." Then his voice lost its distant, aloof quality, and his eyes twinkled again. "Dress warmly, as for mischief," he said softly, and James could have sworn that Dumbledore had winked at him before turning around and leaving.
~*~
Chapter 4: Promising Holidays
"James. James! Wake up."
The hazel-eyed boy rolled over and groaned. "What now, Sirius?" he grumbled at the red velvet canopy.
"I have the best idea--so we tip off Du--"
"No, no, no Sirius... Not again! Remember what happened last time you had a good idea?" James dropped a pillow over his head and attempted to block out Sirius' insistant voice.
Sirius sighed, exasperated. "James, you can't never give me another chance just because of that! What about the skunk idea? And Delamere with cat whiskers and ears? You have to admit, that was a stroke of genius..."
James didn't reply.
Sadly for him, Sirius took this to be a positive answer. "Good! I knew you'd see it my way." He grinned. "Now, if we wreak total havoc for the next week or so, Dumbledore'll practically be pulling out his hair, and Filch will have gone up the wall long before that. So, if he gets a note from us that we'll be very willing to bargain with him and let the school rest in peace for certain things in exchange, we can--"
James whapped Sirius over the head with the pillow. "Sirius, when will you get some common sense? Bargaining with Dumbledore? You are psychotic..."
"Well, how else are we going to get a ball?"
"What in heaven or hell do you want a ball for, Sirius? Grow up already... unless you mean a quaffle?" James' expression hovered somewhere between exasperation and confusion.
"No, a dance-ball! You know, where you ask a girl to go with you and you have to go through all that work to get ready with dress robes and corsages for your date and stuff?"
James sighed loudly and put his head in his hands. "Padfoot, why in the world do you want a ball? You're a guy. Guys aren't supposed to bribe headmasters for balls, you know..."
"Don't you see? Because then you have to perfect way to win a girl over. See, girls love balls and fancy clothing. Since I look drop-dead gorgeous--" here he smirked--"in dress robes, Delamere won't stand a chance. See? It's the perfect plan." He looked appraisingly at James. "Prongsie, it really is a pity that you don't look any good when your hair doesn't stick up all over the place..." He ducked the jelly bean James launched at him, laughing merrily as he hastily exited the room.
"Oohhh... That Sirius Black..." Leigh Delamere had caught sight of the handsome boy (probably not a good thing, as she was still fuming over the whisker escapade from a week ago...), and was not pleased. "He will so have to pay..."
Joanna Chang had followed Leigh into the Great Hall, ignoring the growl and discreetly steering her friend to the end of the Gryffindor table opposite where Leigh's arch-rival had been sitting with the rest of the Marauders. "Leigh, what did I say about paying too much attention to him?" she asked patiently, though hiding a smirk.
"I do not get raging mad at him just so I can have an excuse to stare at him!" Leigh hissed back, furious, as they sat down beside Lily and Alice. "It's not like anyone'd want to stare at him anyways," she muttered, pointedly ignoring the fact that roughly a quarter of the female population of Gryffindor was gazing at Black in complete and utter adoration. (Another half was staring at James Potter, and it really became hard to tell who was staring at whom, as Padfoot and Prongs were sitting next to each other.)
A wave of silence swept the Great Hall as it became obvious that Dumbledore had stood up at the teacher's table and intended to speak. Lily quickly shushed her blonde friend and turned around in her seat to listen.
"It saddens me to have to bring an unpleasant reminder of the state of the world outside," the headmaster began gravely, "but, as we all know, Voldemort"--here almost everyone in the hall flinched-- "is gaining more and more power in the wizarding realm. Any place outside of Hogwarts is now at a level of danger that the board, faculty, and Ministry have deemed unsafe for current Hogwarts students. As a result, we have decided to request that all of you remain at Hogwarts over the winter holidays, along with your teachers and the staff." He paused, letting the information sink in for the students. Disappointment and fear hung heavily in the air, almost tangible substances clouding the minds of all present. But the silver-haired man had not finished. His voice took on a lighter note as he continued. "But, here at Hogwarts School, it is part of our duty to ensure your safety. Remember this, and keep your spirits up!" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled over half-moon glasses. "As part of this effort, there will be, in addition to the annual Hogwarts Christmas celebration, a New Year's Ball to be held on the night of the 31st--"
Dumbledore's voice was drowned out a wave of loud cheering from the tables. Sirius looked like all his dreams had just come true, turning and winking at Prongs and mouthing the words "I told you so" to his best friend. James' excitement showed on his face, and even Peter seemed interested by the idea.
Perhaps we may excuse them for not noticing Remus' reaction, for after all, the Marauders were boys, and rather oblivious ones, at that. And yet it might have been better this way. Because some things are bettered borne alone.
And some things are not.
Lily was not pleased.
Last week's announcement of the ball had served to put every girl in Hogwarts into a frenzy. There must be dress robes, and soon! And rumor had it that there was a top-secret list of dates circulating among the boys--each had to claim his date publicly, signing it onto the sheet (which, unfortunately for Lily and the rest, had been enchanted to be unreadable to non-male eyes...). It had become general knowledge among the guys that if they did not stick to the list, they would be in for a truly horrendous bout of pranking. And if everyone disregarded the list, the holiday season would be a terror for all. Naturally, most were swayed easily enough by this threat, and the list had become a fixture. And as if this were not enough cause for worry, Lily had also found out why she had not been asked to the ball yet.
She had been claimed. By The Potter.
After some more probing, she'd found out from her reluctant informants that apparently, the list had originated from the general area of the Marauders. And, of course, James had gotten the first pick.
So Lily now had three choices: either she could just not go to the New Year's Ball, or she could wait for Potter to take his time to ask her to go and then attend on the arm of the loathed 'Prongs'.
Or, she could stick up for herself, make James relinquish his claim on her, and go with whomever she wanted--she was sure that there'd be a rush to get her as a date the moment she was officially 'free'.
The answer to the situation was obvious. Lily went off in search of James.
She found him in the common room, sprawled on an armchair, watching Peter struggle with his Defense Against the Dark Arts essay. Remus was nearby, looking more withdrawn than usual, and Sirius was nowhere to be seen.
Lily marched up to him with blazing eyes. "Potter? We need to talk. Outside." Without waiting for a reply, she whirled around and strode towards the portrait hole, knowing he'd follow.
He did, and soon wished otherwise. When James emerged into the hallway, he was immediately confronted by a furious Lily. Before he could say a word, she launched into her angry tirade.
It could have been better. It could have been like a temper tantrum. He could have let half her words slide past him. But instead, Lily chose to speak in cold, minced sentences, syllables falling like so many knives against him.
"James Potter, you are without a doubt the greatest jerk the world has ever seen." She looked straight at him, eyes burning with an icy fury. "How do you stand it? Being the way you are, I mean? Claiming a girl as if she has no thoughts, no feelings, nothing beyond a pretty face and an 'attractive' body?" She circled him, spitting out the words like venom. "Because if you think you will ever win me over," and here she drew near--so near that James could practically count every luxuriant eyelash and was nearly swooning from her presence-- "drop dead, Potter." Her eyes flashed more hate than she'd thought she could feel in a lifetime.
It hurt. It hurt more than James ever knew words could, and, unprotected in front of his greatest desire, he was completely unshielded. Every sentence found its mark and buried itself deep inside his heart. James felt something welling up in his eyes.
But of course he refused to let it go. And instead of apologizing, he sought refuge in arrogance. In the thing he chose to call 'charm'.
He flashed her his signature lopsided half-grin, as unabashedly as he could manage at the moment. "You're blushing," he whispered, leaning in so close their noses were almost touching. He closed his eyes and thanked god that, by a lucky chance, he'd brushed his teeth a few minutes ago.
He didn't expect to be slapped. Hazel eyes flew open, and the tears, barely visible, threatened to spill, in surprise, in loss, in anger.
He held them back. She cried instead. She cried and hurled insults like stones, pelting him with more profanities than he thought she knew. The tears only made it worse for James.
"Lily," he pleaded, desperate, letting go of all and any plans. To hell with rational thinking. "Lily, stop crying--"
She cut him off, shouting through her tears. "I will not! You have no right to tell me what to do, and I'd cry my eyes dry just to spite you anyway--" She stormed at him, fists clenched.
James cracked. His temper had risen to full fury now, and all restraint died. "To hell you'd spite me! What the fuck did you slap me for? You're a heartless slut, you know that?" He'd lost it. Everything he did, somehow, always went so horribly, incomprehensibly wrong. It was as if she'd sworn to herself that she'd never acknowledge anything good he did. He'd not doubt that if he sent her roses, she dump them in the mud. "You're just a stupid--" He doubled over in agony, biting his lip to keep from making the sounds that would betray the extent of his pain. "Bitch," he muttered, willing the wetness at the corners of his eyes to go away.
"How dare you call me that?!" Lily was screaming at the top of her lungs now. "You're a sexist, domineering prat who can't see beyond his own damn fucking nose! And I'd kick you again, jerk, except I don't think I want to be singlehandedly responsible for your not having any children--"
A throat cleared.
"Ahem," coughed Dumbledore. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but do we seem to be having any... problems?" asked the headmaster, hands templed and looking gently concerned from over half-moon glasses. From behind him could be seen the figure of Snape, who had doubtlessly tipped him off to the incident in the hall.
Lily could have died right then and there. She was a prefect, and caught yelling profanities at James Potter in the hallway? And crying too, to boot. She tried to speak, but the words stuck in her burning throat.
Ironically, it was James who spoke for her, haltingly and with a burning face, anger melted away like last night's dusting of snow. "I--we--I provoked Evans into an argument, Professor, and..." he trailed off. "I'm sorry." He looked up dejectedly. "How many points from Gryffindor will this be?"
Dumbledore looked sternly down at the hazel-eyed boy. "This about more than just points, James." He held the gaze for a moment longer, then spoke again.
"There will be no points deducted from Gryffindor for this outburst. I realize that the added stress of this latest development, the ball, could easily pitch students into fights. However, Hogwarts cannot and will not tolerate this kind of behavior." He looked straight at Lily's repentant form. "At Hogwarts, we learn to work with those we may not like as much as we would want to. Throughout your lives, you will have to deal with all sorts of people, some who are truly unsavory." He looked up, almost as if addressing the portraits high up on the walls.
"You will go down together to the Gamekeeper's cottage tomorrow night when dinner is finished, to help him with business." Then his voice lost its distant, aloof quality, and his eyes twinkled again. "Dress warmly, as for mischief," he said softly, and James could have sworn that Dumbledore had winked at him before turning around and leaving.
Author notes: As of November 25th: Heyall, I'll be gone for about week--Hawaii--and won't be able to update... sorry! I'm working hard to finish the next chapter before I leave, though!