Nothing On Earth

Chapter 8

April 12^th, 1912

10:30 AM

R.M.S. Titanic

Sirius hated sending wireless messages.

In his opinion, it was all just one great, money-making scam. The wireless operators would grossly overcharge you for sending a ten-word message, and then, if you wrote more than ten words, you'd be penalised and get charged extra for each additional word.

Sirius never failed at getting charged extra when he wrote wireless messages. He had never been good at sending messages, for he usually left out important bits or wrote more than necessary, so, naturally, Dumbledore decided that he would be the one in charge of keeping the Order updated and paying for the messages.

He chewed his bottom lip thoughtfully and tried to ignore the glaring wireless operator as he stared at the blank form. There was no way he was going to get everything that needed to be in the message in ten words.

Sighing resolutely, he picked up a nearby fountain pen and began writing:

A.D. -

Going well. Cousin in France, looking after L.M. instead. J.P. befriended L.E. Getting along, being careful. Next on 15^th.

- S.B.

Sirius read over it quickly and decided that it better be good enough for Dumbledore. If Dumbledore wanted an essay of their adventures thus far, then Remus could write the message and pay for it next time. Better yet, they could just wait until they docked at New York, and then send a letter, but of course Dumbledore had to be difficult about correspondence...

He looked over the message on last time and handed it to the snappish operator who had not stopped glaring at him throughout the entire time he had been writing. The operator took five minutes to look the thing over, probably just because he thought Sirius was an idiot and incapable of filling out a simple wireless form.

"Everything seems to be in order," the operator said at last. "Your total comes to about six dollars and twenty-seven cents...You do have American currency, correct?"

Sirius rolled his eyes and pulled out a crisp ten-dollar bill from his pocket. He slapped it down on the wireless desk and asked, "You do have change for a ten, correct?"

The operator glared at him again and ruffled through one of the desk drawers for some change. He shoved the change into Sirius's awaiting palm and turned away to send the message.

Sirius pocketed the change and made a face at the operator's back before walking out of the wireless room and aft toward the Grand Staircase. Once he had gotten there, however, he decided it probably wouldn't be in his best interest to use such an open walkway to get down to the lower decks. He had beaten Riddle at a high-stakes poker game (because he wasn't about to lose fifty pounds just to stay on Riddle's good side) last night, and to say that Riddle hadn't taken it well was an understatement.

So it was perfectly within reason that Sirius took the lifts instead of the stairs this morning, though it was high unlikely that Riddle was carrying a chair around with him just so he could have another go at him. Then again...you never did know with Riddle.

Luckily, Sirius didn't run into Riddle when he got on the lift, and he was nowhere in sight when he got off at D-deck. Still, he wouldn't be safe until he got back to his stateroom, for Riddle's own stateroom was in the same area of D-deck as well, and he could pop out at any moment.

Thankfully, his stateroom wasn't too far away from the lobby and his short walk to his door was completely devoid of chair-throwing maniacs. There was no one else in the corridor either and - with a quick look at his pocket watch - Sirius presumed that they were finishing up breakfast.

Sirius began rummaging in his suit pocket for his key. Hopefully, Regulus wouldn't be in, and he'd be able have a quick nap -

Out of the corner of his eye, Sirius noticed movement further down the hall. He glanced quickly at the upcoming figure, ready to leap in the shadows if it was Riddle, and found that there was no need to worry.

It was a just a steward. He was wearing a white shirt and blended very well with the surrounding white walls, which explained why Sirius had missed him earlier.

Shaking his head at his own paranoia, he began to search for his key again. But then he realised something important: First class stewards didn't wear white uniforms.

Sirius's head whipped up again, and he barely caught sight of the steward as he turned onto the corridor crossroads and disappeared around the corner. But he already knew who the steward was.

The only thing he didn't know was what third class steward Peter Pettigrew was doing in first class this morning.

***

"And where is the charming Miss Evans this morning?"

Lucius looked over his hand of cards and across the table at Tom. The older man was watching him calculatingly, his own hand clutched close to him.

"She's off spending the day with her sister...Said something about sisterly bonding or whatnot," Lucius explained, leaning back in his chair. "Damn good idea, if I say so myself. That harpy has been complaining non-stop ever since she set foot on this ship."

Riddle raised an eyebrow, amused. "Are you positive that's what she's doing?"

"Of course. Lily knows better than to lie to me," Lucius replied, picking out his best cards and laying them face down on the table. After last night's fiasco with Sirius Black, it would be best not to try Tom's temper by winning a hand of poker. "She may not be the most obedient girl in the country, but she knows when not to cross me."

"I do wish you would've chosen a better fiancée, Lucius," Tom sighed, reaching for the deck of cards in the middle of their table. "Lily Evans...Honestly, I could think of a hundred girls who would be better suited for you than she."

"Like who, pray tell?"

"That last Black girl...What was her name? Narcissi?"

"Narcissa," Lucius corrected lightly.

"Ah, yes. Her. She would've been a fine match for you - beautiful, charming, from an old and respected family..." Tom listed, looking over his hand again. "The Blacks have been on our side since the beginning...But the Evanses are a completely different story."

"They're on our side now, aren't they?"

"Once you and Evans are married, they will be. Just because you had her parents taken care of doesn't mean she and the remaining relatives are on our side...Evans completely worships that fool up at Hogwarts. Haven't you heard her blab about him enough?" Riddle said, a scowl forming on his face. "Have you even told her about our organisation yet?"

Lucius waved his hand dismissively, purposely showing a few of his cards while he did so.

"Lily doesn't need to know yet; she can go on and keep praising Dumbledore if she wants to. It gives the Malfoy family a better look in the public eye if one of us thinks he's doing right," Lucius explained. "But I do think once we're married, I'll tell her everything...I quite sure she's heard rumours floating about, as she's been acting rather strange lately, but I'd like to clarify it after the wedding. That way she can't go running off or to the police unless she'd want to cause a great scandal..."

"If Evans's past behaviour is proof of anything, then she won't care about a scandal...Caused a fine one all by herself a few years ago with all that Beauxbatons rubbish...I suppose Evans still thinks you don't know about that?" Tom asked, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"She hasn't admitted it to me nor has she brought up the subject of it," Lucius admitted. "I do think that Dursley woman forbade her to ever mention it again."

"I can't believe Joseph Evans put up with that...If she had been my daughter, she would've been out on the streets faster than you could say Salazar Slytherin," Tom stated, reaching for his glass of water. "That's another thing I like about the Blacks...They know how to raise respectful children, except for the occasional mishap like that Andromeda and that Sirius...Luckily, the latter has seen the light..."

Lucius nodded in agreement and glanced at his hand again. Hopefully Tom had a better hand than a two-pair, otherwise he might be on the receiving end of the infamous Riddle temper for once.

"I wish you would've listened to me when I told you to go for Narcissa instead of Evans...She's clearly not Malfoy material at all. To be honest, I thought you were joking when you told me you had proposed to her." Tom continued, setting his hand face down on the table. He pulled out a cigar from his breast pocket and lit it up. "You two are polar opposites... She has no redeeming qualities about her. Her family is new and chock full of Dumbledore supporters...She is disrespectful, free-minded, uncontrollable, clumsy...She disagrees with everything you say and speaks when her input is clearly unwanted - " Tom took a drag on his cigar, " - she didn't even complete finishing school, and as a result, her manners are nearly non-existent, she doesn't know proper protocol and makes a fool of herself at every moment possible...Why, the only reason I even consider her a lady is her good looks and astonishing figure."

Lucius took the criticism of his choice in a fiancée in good measure. This wasn't the first time Tom had gone off at him for choosing Lily, and he certainly wasn't going to stop now that the wedding was nearing. Still, he was getting rather tired of it and he decided to defend his position this time.

"I believe I made a perfectly good choice with Lily."

Riddle raised an eyebrow sceptically. "Lucius, old friend, if you're only marrying Evans for her parents' inheritance, I say you're wasting your time...They have nothing on your family's wealth."

"Oh, really?" Lucius challenged, a smirk forming on his face. "Then it'll surprise you to know that because of her parents' fateful deaths, Lily now stands to inherit around eight and a half million pounds in the Evans account in the bank; nearly three hundred valuable property locations in various spots of England and the States; several priceless art pieces and quite a lot of precious stones and jewellery." Lucius paused to savour the shocked look on Tom's face. "If she were to inherit all of that, I would become one of the richest and powerful men on the planet."

"What do you mean 'if'? Isn't she guaranteed a portion of it in her parents' will?"
"No," Lucius replied, his smirk changing into a scowl. "Those fools decided that the inheritance would go to the first daughter who had a son. Apparently, her actions at Beauxbatons did not go unnoticed by her parents. They clearly thought that Lily couldn't be responsible enough to get even half of the inheritance...Maybe it would've changed if I had let them live a bit longer, but they were being such meddlesome fools and they had to be disposed of..."

"Pity," Tom replied, taking another drag on his cigarette. "But what if Petunia Dursley becomes pregnant and has a son before Lily does? It'll make your marriage all for nothing."

"I wouldn't say nothing...You said yourself that Lily is amazingly good looking, and I care for her, I suppose...But if she keeps acting up like this, I think I'll have to make her become a Malfoy lady," Lucius said, a smug look on his face. "And Petunia Dursley is not a problem. I've already hired the necessary personnel and they're in place. If Mrs. Dursley announces she's with child, she'll have a most unfortunate fall down the stairs soon after."

"I see," Tom murmured, an approving gleam in his eyes. "And what will happen to Evans after she has a son, you have the inheritance, and she is no longer any use to you?"

Lucius leaned forward in his seat and whispered the answer in Tom's ear. After a moment, he leaned back into his seat with a satisfied grin on his face, and Tom smirked back.

"Well, it seems as though I've greatly misjudged your future wife, Lucius. Lily is a wonderful match for you."

If Lucius didn't know any better, he would've sworn that Tom looked positively snake-like throughout the rest of their card game.

***

"There you are. I was just beginning to think that you weren't coming," Remus stated as Sirius slid into a seat next to him. As usual, the other man had been late; they had planned to meet at noon and it was now a quarter after twelve.

"Sorry. I got...distracted..." Sirius replied, glancing around the general room.

It wasn't as crowded as it normally was, as many of the other passengers had gone above decks to enjoy the chilly but pleasant weather. Sigrid and her family had gone, but Remus hadn't gone with them because of his meeting with Sirius and because he didn't fancy cold weather at all.

"Is Lily here today?"

"Yes. She came down this morning and had breakfast with James," Remus said, pointing in the direction of where he had last seen Lily and James.

They were across the room in the secluded corner that housed a small piano for the third class's enjoyment. James was leaning against the piano and Lily was sitting on the piano bench. He was gesturing at the keys, probably trying to persuade her to play a piece or two.

"They can't see me from over there, can they?"

Remus shrugged. "I'm pretty sure they can't, and if they can, you'll just have to hide under the table again until they go away."

"Wonderful," Sirius breathed, rolling his eyes. He leaned back in his chair, looking sulky. "...I sent that wireless to Dumbledore this morning...Wasted six dollars on it, so he'd better be happy with what he gets."

"What'd you tell him?"

"The kind of stuff he wants to hear...Everything's going well, we haven't killed each other yet, we're getting work done, there's been a change of plans regarding Bellatrix..."

"I don't think he's going to like that last bit."

"He doesn't exactly like a lot of things we do, so his reaction will be nothing new," Sirius reminded Remus, looking irritated. "He'll probably say that we should've got off at Cherbourg with Bellatrix instead of going after Malfoy."

"I think Dumbledore will understand once he learns the circumstances. We didn't have a lot of options and we made a good decision," Remus said, and the other man nodded in agreement. "Did you say anything else?"

"Er...That the next message would be on Monday and a sentence about those two - " Sirius motioned across the room. " - Dunno if he'll be able to figure out who I meant, though. I only put Lily's initials, just in case the leak got a hold of it."

Sirius's eyes flicked over to Remus when he mentioned the Order leak, and Remus had wonder if he had just imagined the suspicion in the other's eyes. Deciding it'd be better not to mention it, he changed the subject.

"Did you tell Dumbledore that Peter was on board as steward? I know he's been trying to contact Peter for a very long time. Wants to talk to him, make sure he's all right or something."

"No, slipped my mind...I'll tell him in the next wireless," Sirius replied, frowning. "But funny you should mention Peter..."

"Why's that?"

"I saw him up in first class again this morning."

"Isn't he a third class steward?" Remus asked. He frowned too, mostly due to the tone Sirius was using than the revelation that Peter was in first class.

"Yeah, he is. Remember I told you yesterday I found him in one of the corridors?" Sirius asked, and Remus nodded. "Well, now that I think about it...Both yesterday and today, I think Peter was walking away from the area of Riddle's stateroom - " Remus glanced warningly at Sirius, knowing where this was going. " - but when I followed him around for about an hour, he didn't do anything suspicious - "

"You spied on Peter?"

"Not spied, more like...followed around inconspicuously..."

"Let me get this straight...Instead of eavesdropping on Malfoy and Riddle, you wasting an hour spying on a loyal Order member?"

"Didn't you listen to me? I just told you that he was in first class and in the same area as Riddle's stateroom - "

"He was probably doing his job. You know, that thing you don't have?" Remus snapped, annoyed. Sirius shot him an offended look, but he could care less. "It was probably just a coincidence that you saw him when he was returning from Riddle's cabin area."

"Moony...something's telling me that seeing Peter this morning wasn't just a coincidence - "

"Padfoot, please just stop and think about who we're talking about...It's Peter Pettigrew, for God's sake. He's a good man and friend, but he's...he's not spy material. Even the Order doesn't like to use him on missions as he's screwed up more than anyone else...He's forgetful, careless, doesn't like to take the initiative..." Remus explained, looking Sirius in the eye. " He can't be the leak...He's afraid of half the Death Eaters and he's not of their social class...Why would Riddle pick him - of all the people to chose from - to spy on the Order?"

Sirius thought about it for a moment and then shrugged his shoulders. His frown, though still in place, was smaller than before.

"All right, I'll admit that spying on Peter, and thinking that he was the leak was a bit much..." he responded. "But still...I can't shake this feeling."

"Well, if you see him again, ask him what he's doing and you'll get your answer."

"I'll do that then."

The two of them sat in an uncomfortable silence afterwards. Sirius was glaring across the room, undoubtedly stewing over Remus's lack of reaction regarding his news about Peter, while Remus, on the other hand, was glaring at Sirius.

The thought of Peter's appearance in first class being more than a coincidence had crossed his mind at first, but then it was overshadowed by the realisation that Sirius was probably being paranoid again.

Remus hadn't been surprised when James had told him that Sirius had off-handily suggested that he was the leak in their conversation yesterday; he, after all, had done the same thing hours earlier, so it was only natural that Sirius would return the favour.

But he had been surprised by how much that suggestion had hurt him. Yes, he had been doing some questionable things and been more agitated lately, but that shouldn't have given Sirius any reason not to trust him like he had always done.

Remus might snap at his friends and give them a hard time occasionally, but he would never betray them like that - they mattered too much to him. James, Sirius, and Peter had been his first friends, and over the years, they had become like the family he had never had. He wouldn't forsake or sell them out for anything in the world...

So why couldn't Sirius Black realise that?

The tinkling sound of piano music suddenly filled the room and drew Remus out of his thoughts. People all over the room - including Sirius and himself - looked up from what they were doing and stared in surprise across the room.

A grin split across Remus's face at the sight he saw; James had moved and was now sitting beside Lily on the bench. His hands were flying over the keys, playing a complex classical piece expertly, and Lily looked astonished, as though she had never seen anyone quite like James before. Among other things, he had always had a natural talent for the piano.

"How long has she been down here?" Sirius asked suddenly, diverting Remus's attention away from James.

"Who? Lily?" Remus replied, glancing at his friend. "Few hours, I think...I haven't been paying too much attention to them."

"They've been spending a lot of time together...haven't they?"

"Yes...Strange, isn't it? They really only met yesterday, yet they act as though they've known each other for years," Remus replied softly. "At least, that's what James told me yesterday, and he had this...look in his eyes when he was talking about her..."

"That doesn't sound too much like our Prongs."

"No, it doesn't..." Remus murmured, his brow furrowing. "I've never seen him like this before."

Sirius nodded slowly as the piano piece ended and the general room broke out into light, scattered applause. Once the applause died down, Lily began quietly talking to James, her face alight with excitement. James looked rather embarrassed by her attentions, though he was grinning just a bit as he ran a hand through his hair.

As if spurred by the sight of their two, beaming faces, Sirius spoke up.

"Are you as worried about him as I am?"

Remus looked sharply at Sirius, surprised that the other man had just voiced what he had been thinking.

"Worried about what? About him and Lily?"

"Yeah. I'm worried that...that he's going to get hurt going after her. He can't have Lily, but he's falling for her all the same...He knows better, but...from the way it sounds, I think he cares more about her than he does about the consequences..."

"...You're worried that we're going to lose him," Remus concluded softly, and Sirius nodded, his face grim.

"That too."

Remus glanced across the general room again and - as if to confirm their fear - James had disappeared.

***

"And what do we have down this hallway?" James asked as he closed the door to the squash court behind him. He pointed a second door, further down the way, and along the opposite wall. He began walking toward it. "Do you know what it is?"

Lily shook her head and followed him.

They had left the steerage general room nearly two hours ago and had spent most of the time exploring Titanic. They hadn't eaten lunch, but had stolen a quick snack of scones from an unattended steward trolley while they had been walking around the B-deck promenade.

Except for an occasional trip into the first class areas (like now, for instance), they had mostly stayed deep inside the titan, to avoid coming in contact with anyone who might cause them problems. Lily had lied to both her fiancé and sister about her whereabouts today, and she knew it would curtains for her and James's...friendship?...if they were caught together before tonight's dinner.

"...I think I might know what this is," Lily stated, as they neared the second door. James looked over his shoulder at her, his eyes playful.

"What is it then?"

"Quite possibly, the swimming bath."

"The...swimming bath?" James repeated, looking rather stunned. "You mean they actually have one on Titanic?"

"Yes...Now that I think about it, I do remember Lucius mentioning something about it while we were boarding at Southampton." Lily explained. They stopped in front of the door, and she glanced into the small, circular window in the door. "I also remember Vernon - my sister's husband - going on and on about how his company had helped with Titanic's swimming bath...I suppose it's going to cost us a few shillings to - "

"Nah," James replied, opening the door and taking a quick peek inside. Her turned back to her and grinned. "It's empty..."

"James, I'm quite sure that we have to pay the use the bath - "

"Well, I don't know about you, but I certainly didn't bring my bathing suit with me, so unless you want to go swimming in your corsets, I don't think we're going to be using the bath itself much." James said, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "'Sides, no one will ever know...C'mon, Lily...Just a quick look, and we'll be on our way."

Lily sighed. "Fine...Just a quick look."

He was already pulling the door open as she spoke, and grabbed her hand to pull her in too. Once they were both inside, he let go of the door and it shut with a loud BANG that echoed throughout the bath chamber.

The swimming bath looked much better than some Lily had seen on land. The bath itself was surprisingly large and the water looked crystal clear. The floor surrounding the bath was made out of gleaming, white marble, matching the white panelled walls perfectly. A few deck chairs lined the walls on each side, and some large potted plants were in the corners. Two, well-sized chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and their light reflected off the water and glimmered on the ceiling, giving the whole room a magical sort of feel.

James let out a low whistle.

"Maybe I would've paid to use this...Blimey."

Lily nodded in agreement. As much as she loathed to admit it, Vernon's company had done a brilliant job with the bath.

Quite suddenly, James disappeared from her side and was at the bath side. He knelt down, rolled up the sleeve on his overcoat, and stuck his arm in the water. After a moment or two, he pulled it out again and glanced at her, that trouble-making grin on his face again.

"Water's not too bad," he stated simply, before making himself a comfortable spot on the marble. He reached for his right boot and began unlacing it.

Lily perked an eyebrow as she walked over to him, almost getting hit with his boot as he threw it over his shoulder. She sat down beside him, and asked rather dryly, "Whatever happened to talking a quick look and leaving?"

James glanced guiltily at her as he pulled off his last boot.

"Sorry, luv. Changed my mind." he replied, starting on removing his socks. "Water's too nice to pass up...and I doubt White Star Line's going to have me arrested for not paying to soak my feet for a bit."

"All right then," she said, shrugging. She reached for her shoe and unbuckled it, throwing it into James's pile of shoes and socks. Her second shoe was off and in her hand, when she finally noticed that James was staring at her. "What? If you think you can break the rules and have fun without letting me join in, then you've got another thing coming, James Potter."

He stared at her incredulously for a few moments, before he threw back his head and laughed. Lily grinned impishly back at him in return, and then turned her attention back to her stockings.

Soon, their pile of shoes and stockings had moved to one of the deck chairs, while they had stayed by the side of the bath. James had rolled his trouser legs up to his knees, and Lily had done the same with her dress - though it had been a bit more difficult - so they could dangle their legs in the water.

After they had accomplished this, they sat in silence for quite a while. She supposed James wasn't striking up conversation because he probably wasn't used to sitting beside a girl whose legs and underskirts were exposed for everyone to see, but she didn't mind the lull in conversation. They'd be talking all day, after all, and she was content just to look at him, for James was very handsome, in his own, scruffy way.

He had an aristocratic nose and high cheekbones that any male member of the first class would be jealous of, and his eyes were just the right shade of hazel - the shade that always sparkled when he laughed and twinkled when he was in a mischievous mood.

His personality wasn't too shabby either. His adventurous nature - though over-whelming sometimes - was wonderful, and she liked the way he listened to and respected her. He knew when to be serious, when to be playful, and when just to throw it all to the wind.

It was hard to believe that she hadn't even known him for two days. It felt like she had already known him, as if he was very dear friend who had went away and come back. Her feelings about him were strange and she'd never experienced anything like it before. She hadn't expected any of this when she'd caught him staring at two days, down in steerage...

Speaking of staring, James seemed to have noticed that she was doing just that, and Lily quickly diverted her attention to the water below.

"You know...you're definitely not what I expected in a first class girl, Lily," James stated suddenly, breaking the silence that had descended upon them. "I thought I had the lot of you figured out...and then I met you, and I couldn't believe it..."

"Couldn't believe what? That I don't like caviar?" Lily joked, watching his feet swirl the water around below.

"No...I just couldn't believe how...how bloody amazing you are."

She looked up at him, surprised.

"I'm not...I haven't done a thing to deserve to be called amazing."

"Sure you have...You're this wild and exciting woman, who won't let society take over her life and who makes her own decisions about what she wants...You don't care about what other people think and you're strong enough to stop what you don't like or rebel if you can't stop it or if someone tries to push you into the wrong thing."

"I don't know what girl you're talking about, but it certainly isn't me...At least, not now."

"I certainly don't know any other girl like that, as most of them think I'm some kind of bug, and you don't...That attitude and spirit is what makes you different from the rest of them."

"I won't be too different from them in a few months time," Lily replied bitterly, glancing back down at the water. "I'll be married by July, and then...then I get to sit around Malfoy Manor and play the good little wife until I'm old and grey...I can't be amazing or exciting when I'm stuck with that sham of a future."

"Well," James said, after a moment's pause. "What do you think your future would be like...if you weren't stuck with him?"

Lily laid back on the cool tiles, staring at the sparkling chandeliers, and contemplated his question. What would her future be like if she wasn't trapped with Lucius? Well, one thing was certain - she'd pick a better person to marry that time around.

"...I know I'd become a dancer. That's been my dream, ever since I was very little. I can't think of anything more exciting than dancing across a stage, in front of hundreds of people, and entertaining them for hours on end...Dancing is such a great pleasure and a wonderful art..." She laughed dryly. "Of course, dancing is only amazing until your daughter wants to dance, and then it's the most awful thing you can imagine.

"My parents hated the thought of me being a dancer because proper young ladies - like I'm supposed to be - don't dance to support themselves. Proper ladies marry rich men and live the good life, not having to worry at all.

"They didn't seem to understand that I wanted to have the thrill of worrying over something everyday or that I wanted to do something other than marry and have children during my life...I wanted more than what they were offering me. I was planning on travelling the world, visiting exotic places, and meeting new kinds of people...I was going to have adventures, meet the love of my life, and fulfil my dreams. I was going to make my life worth living." She raised her left hand above her, studying it for a moment. Her engagement ring glittered in the light and she glowered. "But instead, I got stuck with this...thing."

***

Lily lowered her hand after a moment, and she glanced his way. She was watching him expectantly, as though she was waiting for him to make a snarky comment about her engagement ring again. But he didn't feel up to making any comments at the moment. Lily's proclamation about her dreams had struck a chord, reminding him about his future, and his own, unanswered dreams.

"I suppose that might just be another thing we have in common, Lily."

Lily rose up on her elbows and stared at him, incredulous. "You have a five-carat engagement ring on your finger too?"

James chuckled in spite of his serious mood, and shook his head negatively.

"Both of us want to do something important with our lives, but we're stuck in society's expectations. You're supposed to marry a rich man, and I'm supposed to work all my life to support myself or an eventual family," he explained. "I was always a bit of a dreamer, still am, actually, but...I turned eleven the same day that the Wright brothers flew the first aeroplane in Kittyhawk, and somehow...I knew that's what I wanted to do with my life. I wasn't going to let myself work to death in a factory for the rest of my life - one way or another, I was going to become a pilot, an aviator and see the world from the sky..."

"Why haven't you done it yet? You don't have anything holding you back, do you?"

He shrugged listlessly.

"I don't know why I haven't gone and done it yet...I think it might be because my life's a bit too frantic at the moment, with my odd jobs, this voyage, and doing the occasional work for Dumbledore - who isn't too keen on the idea of me flying in the first place..."

James grimaced at the thought of Dumbledore. The old man had out-right forbade him to even think about flying when he brought up the subject during a talk with him. He seemed to think it was too dangerous and didn't want to risk losing James to some freak piloting accident. While James was rather touched that Dumbledore would care if he died, he didn't appreciate the fact that the headmaster felt it right to shoot down his dreams and discourage him from doing what he wanted to do. So, as a result, James was going to directly disobey Dumbledore's wishes and get his piloting license while he was in America.

"Say we'll do that sometime."

Lily's sudden statement drew him out of his thoughts. He looked at her, wondering what on earth she meant.

"Do what?"

"Go flying."

James chuckled again, and leaned over her. His stupid hair fell into his eyes again, obscuring his view of the beauty beneath him, but he smiled at her all the same.

"All right," he agreed softly. "But I'll have to get my license first. And after that, I'll figure out how to fly over to Britain, and come rescue you from the boredom at Malfoy Manor."

"Instead of my handsome knight in shinning armour, you'll be my scruffy pilot in flying goggles." Lily laughed, reaching out and brushing his fringe away from his face, as if to emphasise her point on his scruffiness. Her hand lingered in his hair, playing with different strands as she talked. "And once you steal me away, we'll hide out in Paris and do all sorts of things, like climb the Eiffel Tower at night or go to questionable pubs."

James couldn't believe that this was actually happening. Here he was, in Titanic's swimming bath, leaning over the most wonderful, beautiful (and non-available) girl he had ever met, while she played with his hair and mapped out a future for them.

A future, his heart noted with a dull ache, which would never exist between the two of them.

"Once we're discovered in Paris, we'll make our way back to America and head for the west coast," he added, playing along with her. He tried to ignore how good her fingers felt in his hair or the way she was looking at him right now, with those gorgeous green eyes...but it wasn't working too well. "We'll go to beaches, piers, bars, those amusement parks...and eventually build a house, right on the beach - a nice little house, with a porch and a garden. Then, we'll - "

" - live happily ever after?"

Somehow, his face had gotten much closer to hers during his speech. Her hand pressing on the back of his neck might've had something to do with it, yet he wasn't about to complain to her about it to her.

"If that's what you want."

Lily thought about it for a moment and he thought she looked positively irresistible as she did so. Maybe he was imagining things, but she seemed to have leaned closer to him while she was thinking.

"I suppose that'll work...As long as I don't have to live my happily ever after with your mop of hair," she exclaimed, running her hand through his hair again. He shivered, delighted at the feel.

"I think I'll keep my hair like this if it gets you to play with it all the time," he murmured huskily. Giggling, she ran her hand through it one more time, before settling her hand on his cheek. "Lily...I..."

"Hmmm?" she replied, idly caressing the side of his cheek. Her eyes were glassy, half-closed, and he could feel her hot breath on his cheek. Her full lips were just there, waiting for him, taunting him...

"I think...I think that..."

The last bit of reason James had was screaming for him to stop, to pull away, to do something other than what he was about to do...It was truly a pity that James usually never listened to his reasonable side -

"OI! WHAT'RE YOU DOING IN HERE?"

James snapped back into attention faster than he thought imaginable, and quickly pulled away from Lily. He sat up and looked around the source of the distraction, and found it in the doorway of the bath.

He nearly beat his head into the tiles in frustration at the sight. Of all the stupid things to interrupt them, it had to be a steward. A bloody, pompous steward.

"Well, what're you doing in here?" the steward repeated, glaring. He left the doorway and marched forward. James stood up when he reached them, and he towered over the meddlesome steward, who didn't look deterred at all. "You're not allowed!"

"Of course we are!" Lily exclaimed, poking her head out from behind James's legs. Her face was nearly as red as her hair and she looked like she was trying to compose herself.

The steward looked positively aghast at the sight of her and backed off a few steps.

"O - Oh, sorry ma'am...Excuse me, I thought that this thug - " he shot James a dirty look. " - was alone. He must have managed to sneak past the gates and in here. I hope he hasn't bothered you. I'll escort him out immediately."

"You most certainly will not!" Lily replied indignantly, pulling her legs out of the bath water and standing up beside James. "This man is a friend of mine and I brought him into the bath with me."

"But ma'am, the steerage are not allowed - "

"If you want to throw him out, you'll him to throw me out as well," Lily replied, folding her arms over her chest and glaring at the steward, who looked torn at the choice of disobeying White Star Line policy or displeasing a passenger.

"All right...If that's what you wish," the steward said after a moment of hesitation. He crinkled his nose in distaste at James one more time and James glowered back. With a sniff, the steward on his heel and began walking back toward the exit. He was nearly out the door, when he turned back, a smug expression on his. "Though I wouldn't get too close...fleas are contagious, you know."

Then, as if sensing James's murderous intentions, he ran the rest of the way out and quickly slammed the door behind him. The sound of the door slamming echoed off the walls, and then silence momentarily settled on the bath. Then -

"That bloody wanker! That son of a - "

James stared incredulously at Lily as she went off on a tirade that described (in vivid detail) the steward's ancestors - including, but not limited to, his father, mother, and grandparents - his personal habits, and where she would shove one of her pointed shoes if she got the chance. She finished with a dramatic huff and a snarl written on her face.

"Um...right," James added, recovering from the shock of Lily's outburst a minute or two later. "...And I don't have fleas!"

Lily's snarl broke and she stared at James, looking torn between amusement and shock.

"What? You said everything I wanted to say..." he replied, running a hand through his hair. "And, Jesus, you swear like a footballer! My God, and I thought Sirius was bad - HEY! Don't shove me while I'm near the bath - "

James took a step-backward to avoid Lily, and unfortunately, there was nothing behind him to stand on. He made a great show of trying to regain his balance by failing his arms and teetering on the edge of the bath, but gravity eventually went into effect and James fell backward into the bath with a large splash.

He resurfaced a moment later, spluttering like a maniac. The water was cold, but not entirely unpleasant, and only went up to his chest. His clothes were sticking to him uncomfortably and water was dripping off his hair and over glasses, obscuring his vision. He reached up and wiped them off after a moment, and swam back over to the side of the bath.

Lily was laughing and her laughter echoed throughout the bath. After she had gotten herself under control, she knelt down to meet him at the side. She observed him for a moment, before reaching out a hand and touching his hair.

"Doesn't it ever lie straight?"

"No."

And with that, James grabbed her hand and pulled her, shrieking, into the bath.