Outward Appearances

Chapter 3: Innocent Session Gone Astray

"So, where are you going this time?"

Lily flinched at the steel note in Marcella's voice. Without looking at her, she said mildly, "I have to tutor James. He's waiting in Tilandi's class."

"Oh, that's right," Marcella snapped. "It's always James. You have to meet James. James needs help with the potion homework. James needs to review before the test."

"I'm his tutor, Marcella," Lily said, struggling to remain patient as she stuffed some books into her bag.

Marcella snorted. "Yeah, I'm sure that's all you two do in that cold classroom."

Lily bit her lip, and remained silent. Marcella had been acting a couple degrees cooler to her ever since that party in the Common Room. It didn't take a genius to figure out why the girl was upset with her.

Arabella laughed loudly. "Yeah, James seems like the perfect type to warm a girl up. Maybe a little romp on Professor Tilandi's desk before hitting the books? Bet it's not cold in there for long, huh Lily?"

Lily glared at her. Her best friend seemed to find the whole situation amusing. She silently reminded herself that she still needed to talk to Arabella about her big mouth.

Scowling, Marcella stomped out of the room. Giving Arabella an annoyed look, Vivian followed her. Arabella smirked.

"What was that about?" Lily growled.

Arabella laughed again. "Come on, Lily. You have to admit that this is funny!"

"Pray tell," she said sarcastically. "How is this funny? Marcella is furious with me."

"Of course she is," Arabella said smoothly. "For about two seconds she thought she had a chance with the amazing Gryffindor Seeker, and she probably would have one, if it wasn't for you."

Gritting her teeth, Lily stuffed a few more quills into her bag before throwing it over her shoulder. "I'm not interested in James!"

Arabella rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know. You're in love with Remus, although I haven't exactly seen any action there yet. I was just saying that James might be thinking differently."

"What is that supposed to mean? Wait! Never mind!" she growled in frustration. "I don't want to know what you're thinking in that twisted head of yours. I'll talk to you later."

Lily left the room, and after climbing down the staircase, she glanced around the Common Room in search of Remus. He wasn't there. Sighing, she trudged through the portrait hole.

Arabella's words had struck home. It had been weeks since that party when she had gotten Remus to dance with her, and so far that was her biggest accomplishment with him. Granted, she had been busy, between her own schoolwork and helping James, and Remus had been oddly absent from wherever Lily happened to be.

But no more, she thought resolutely. She was going to corner Remus if it was the last thing she did. Lily always got what she wanted, and at the moment, that was Remus.

When she reached the classroom, it was still empty, so Lily dropped her bag onto a table before collapsing into a chair. While she waited, Lily fingered the gold chain around her neck. That morning, she had received an owl from Sieranda Smiltine. Lily had quickly shoved the letter into her pocket and told the girls that the owl had been lost. She didn't need to read the note to know what it said. Tomorrow night she would be sneaking out again. Ever since she had been walking around with butterflies in her stomach. Would *he* be there? Lily had no idea how he had known where to send his gift, and that made her a little nervous. He didn't even know her name, let alone know where she went to school. Or did he?

Her thoughts were interrupted when James burst into the room.

"Hey," he said, plopping down into the chair next to hers.

She smiled at him, and tucked the necklace back under her collar. There hadn't been any mention of their -err- moment, on the dance floor, which assured Lily that it had all been in her head. Their sessions hadn't been nearly as bad as she had thought they would be. She was actually coming to enjoy spending time with James, even if it was spent doing potion reviews. He wasn't anything like she had thought he would be. Lily had always gotten the impression that James was your everyday jock. James and Sirius must have set a record on number of detentions accomplished in a single term. But Lily had found herself laughing as James recounted some of their exploits.

"What did you need help with today?" she asked him.

James bit his lip, and stared at the floor. "Um, Ilantisism?"

Lily raised an eyebrow. "We went over that last week."

"Oh. Well, I still don't get it," he said sheepishly.

Sighing, she went over to Professor Tilandi's ingredient cupboard. He had left it unlocked, knowing that they would be needing access to it. She pulled out the necessary beakers and ingredients, and brought them over to James.

They spent over an hour on the seemingly simple potion. Lily wouldn't have believed that anyone could be so hopeless at something. She would have suspected that James was purposefully adding the wrong ingredients if she could have come up with a logic explanation that would explain why. He kept messing up on steps that he had previously seemed to have down. All Lily could do was patiently go over each individual step over and over again until James could do it on his own, but she didn't mind because it took her mind off of all the hours between her and the next night.

Once she was sure that they had covered everything possible about the Ilantisism potion, they both began to pack up their stuff. James seemed to be taking his time.

"Lily?"

"What?" she asked, not looking up.

James was silent, and then Lily felt a light touch on her cheek. Surprised, she looked over at James. He didn't move his hand away, but continued to stroke her face. When she didn't respond, he moved closer, until she had to tilt her head back to look into his face. Lily felt a fluttering in her stomach, and all words died in her throat as James looked down at her. His hand slid to the back of her neck, cradling it. Was this the same boy who had put a hopping charm on her dinner roll during their second year?

His mouth was close... Something in the back of her mind was screaming for attention, but she couldn't focus. Her mind was too fuzzy to concentrate....

James... Please... Don't. Lily opened her mouth, but she couldn't bring herself to say the words out loud.

Closer... His lips brushed lightly against hers.

"A-hem!"

They sprang apart as someone cleared their throat. Professor Tilandi stood in the doorway, his eyebrows drawn together in a scowl.

"It's nice to know that my classroom is being put to educational use," he said sarcastically.

Blushing, Lily stared hard at the floor.

"We were just cleaning up, Professor," James said smoothly.

"Right," Tilandi smirked. "Then you won't mind if reclaim my classroom now?"

"Of course not. It's all yours." James grabbed his stuff, sent Lily a look, and then left.

Lily made to leave too, but Tilandi caught her arm. "Miss Evans, I would have expected better from you. This isn't the first time I've caught Mr. Potter in here, but you? I never would have believed it." He released her arm, and walked up to his desk.

Turning scarlet, Lily left the classroom. James was waiting for her. Gritting her teeth, Lily brushed by, ignoring him completely. What the hell had she been thinking?

James matched her stride easily. "You okay? Don't worry about Tilandi. He just blows steam at you, but he never actually does anything." He spoke with the confidence of having gotten away with more than he was ever punished for.

"Well, I guess you would know," she snapped. "He just told me that you're quite the regular. I forgot that Remus told me how much of a ladies man you are."

James flinched. "That's not---"

"Whatever! Just don't try to kiss me again, James," she said harshly. Why wouldn't he leave already?

"Why?" he asked, sounding genuinely confused.

"Because...." She didn't know how to answer that. "Because.... I don't want you to."

James snorted. "I didn't hear any objections back there." He was getting angry now.

"Well I'm telling you now!"

James halted and grabbed her arm, forcing her to face him. "Is this because of Remus?" His face was an odd plumb color.

How did he know about that? She wondered anxiously. Had Remus said something?

"That's none of your business!" she hissed.

He smirked. "I didn't believe it when Marcella told me."

Lily froze. When had he talked to Marcella?

James's smirk grew. "I don't think you're his type, Lily."

"Sod off!" Lily shoved him away angrily. What the hell did James know?

She turned down the nearest corridor, not really caring where she was going. To her relief, James didn't follow.

Damn him! What the heck was James's problem? The arrogant bastard.... Her mind was swimming again, but there was nothing pleasant about it this time.

What in the bloody hell had gotten into her? That was the second time James had managed to get under her skin. He had tricked her somehow! Yes, that was it. He had manipulated her into thinking that.... Into feeling.... Lily shook her head violently. No! She didn't feel anything except contempt for James. For a moment she had been confused, but that was definitely the last time! She never wanted to see that jerk again.

Looking around her, Lily realized that she didn't know where she was going. This was the opposite direction from Gryffindor Tower. But, wait. James would be going back that way. She sped up. It didn't matter where she went. All that mattered was that she got as far away from James Potter as possible.

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