Safety From a Distance

Safety From a Distance

Chapter 7

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Grand adventures. Moony is undeniably happy about these. He gets to learn something new. Gets to experience something, to take his mind off things, like his sister, who is coming in about a week. I personally can't wait to see Sam; she's always brought a smile to my face.

Well, as for me, there are entirely too many grand adventures, all equaling challenges I truly don't want to face. Surely one must know that. As for grand adventures and challenges, there's only one I want. Lily Evans.

Speaking about her, there she is, on the couch, looking perplexed. Perhaps I should go talk to her...

"Jamesie! I'm starved, do you want to grab a bite to eat?"

Merlin, Padfoot has bad timing. "Not right now, Sirius. Perhaps Moony or Wormtail will be able to accompany you."

"Nah, Moony is busy doing something, I didn't bother to see what after he said 'Potions'. Y'know how I hate Potions. Snivellus is such a prat in that class.

"As for Wormtail, he was busy with McGonagall on that Muggle thing. I mean, I'm not against them or anything of that rot, I just don't see how you can spend all your bloody time worried about them. If I didn't know better, I'd have a feeling you'd get a job in that field."

I nodded absently. A job dealing with Muggles couldn't be that bad. Well, I could play Quidditch professionally; I'm not a half bad Chaser. I am Captain of the team; I shouldn't see why I couldn't. BUT, that shall be used for another thinking time.

"Perhaps, Padfoot, you should find someone else. Couldn't you find someone to eat with?" I asked him, making jerking motions to the couch. A friend of Lily's was sitting by her, and I'd very much like to speak with her alone. Lily that is.

"Good idea, Prongsy! I'll ask Lily! LIL--"

"NO!" I yelled when I realized what Padfoot had thought I meant. In my haste, the only thing I could think of to silence him was to jump on him. Jump on him I did. I practically flew as I tackled Padfoot, like the Muggles do in the Americas.

"Whoa, Prongsy, I didn't know you wanted me like that. The best thing to do would be to wait until everyone isn't looking at us."

It was one of those unexplainable situations again, and instead of McGonagall finding us, it was worse. The whole of the Common room was staring at us. That included Lily.

I quickly scrambled off of Padfoot as he blew a kiss at me.

"Sorry, James, I thought you knew, I'm not into that."

"You--"

"James?"

"Lily! How--er--are you?" I finished lamely.

Sirius started laughing. "Lilykins, I was wondering--"

"He was wondering if you'd finished your Charms! Y'know Sirius--he wanted to double-check and see if he could copy mine and be all right. You know, compare mine to yours!" I interjected.

I tried grinning and sent Sirius a dirty look when he looked as if he was bout to protest.

Lily looked at us strangely and arched a brow. I tried to smile charmingly.

"You already finished your Charms essay?" she asked, perplexed.

Well, no I actually hadn't, but it was the best I could come up with at the moment. I nodded, a smile on my lips.

She narrowed her eyes at me, staring at me in that way that made my stomach flop.

"Well, that's something. I wouldn't have thought you'd have finished it already. I suppose because I haven't started, I assumed no one had. It's only due in three weeks, ample time to finish it."

I grinned forcibly, my ears turning red as Padfoot snorted.

"Oh, you know I'm not good at Charms. I just wanted to get it out of the way. Well, I guess Padfoot will have to worry about it later. So, see you, Padfoot!"

Padfoot glared at me, then turned to Lily. "I suppose I'll get to see your Charms when you finish, eh? You know how I can't trust James.

I choked a bit when Lily smiled at him. I realized it was for naught when Lily said, "Why don't you do it on your own, Sirius?"

I chuckled as Sirius was bested once again by Lily. Yet, he always redeemed himself well.

"Then I wouldn't get top-notch grades! You've always helped me out before, Evans!"

"No I've--Sirius! Have you cheated off me?"

Padfoot started laughing and gave Lily a salute as he disappeared out of the portrait hole.

"Has he cheated off me before?" Lily asked as she turned to me, her eyes shining.

I didn't chuckle, because I knew that'd be the wrong thing to do. Instead, I gave her a winning smile that usually worked on everyone else.

"I doubt it. He sits in back with me. He couldn't be bothered to cheat off you--he's too lazy."

Watching with satisfaction, Lily calmed down. Yet, it was short-lived.

"What do you mean 'couldn't be bothered'? Are you saying I'm not good enough to be cheated off?"

"No! No, that's certainly not what I meant! I was saying that there were people closer to cheat off--he usually cheats off me! You're too far in the front!" I was trying desperately to make Lily understand.

"James, it's all right. I was only teasing. Marcy tries to cheat off me all the time. I'm used to it. I just didn't expect Sirius."

I calmed down and looked around the Common Room. They quickly turned back to what they were doing. I shrugged, not bothered if Lily was paying attention to me.

"So, Lily, the dance is coming up soon. I was wondering what colour dress robes you were wearing? So I could match, or try to, anyhow."

I coloured a bit as Lily smiled impishly at me.

"Well, James, I haven't really thought about it. How about you help me out? I've narrowed it down to three colours: Ice blue, green--forest green that is, and an off-white colour."

I smiled a bit. I think that Lily would look great in all three colours. I stated so as well.

"I think anything would look great on you," I answered dutifully. Not that there wasn't any reason not to.

Lily laughed and said, "Thanks for the compliment. C'mon, let's go take a walk or something. The Common Room is stuffy."

I jumped at the chance to spend time with Lily. So I nodded enthusiastically as I said, "Let me summon our cloaks."

Raising my wand, I said, "Accio Cloaks." They came zooming down the stairs. Lily grabbed hers and I snatched mine. We walked out of the Common Room after I made sure that Lily was situated.

We were chatting amiably, talking about this and that as an unwelcome distraction started to bother us.

"Look who it is. It's Potter and the Mudblood." I tensed and Lily grabbed my arm.

"Don't be bothered by him, James. Try being the bigger person and ending this."

I nodded jerkily, my glare on nothing but Snivellus. There was nothing but hatred in his glare, perhaps because of what happened with us in fifth year, and all the torment and what not. Last year was hectic. I suppose you could say I was growing into my hormones.

"Letting your woman speak for you?"

My hand jerked, but Lily stopped me before I could hit him. Encounters with Snape happen like this all the time. There was always something about him I couldn't stand. Just him being there bothered me.

"Snape, leave us alone. We're practically adults, let's act like them," Lily said for us. I couldn't talk, or I would end up doing or saying something I'd regret later.

Snivellus turned his glare to Lily, and it softened before it went back to the usual glare.

"Don't speak to me, Mudblood," Snivellus responded. That was the last time I was going to let him insult Lily. I pulled out my wand, when I realized that Snape was ready.

"You deserved everything you get and don't get," Snape muttered, direction that general comment towards me. Yet, before either of us could cast an incantation, Lily took both our wands.

"Expelliarmus!"

I looked at Lily, surprise on my face. It was nothing compared to Snape's--being bested by a girl. A Muggle-born at that!

"Listen, let's forget this ever happened or I'll deduct points and get McGonagall."

I watched as Snape glared at Lily, clearly not liking what he heard. My face was still devoid of emotion and my whole body was tense. I had promised Lily last year that I wouldn't fight with Snape. She hated confrontations like these.

"Now, I'm going to give you two your wands back. Don't try anything, and Snape, if you do, remember that it's two against one."

I spared Lily and quick and surprised glance, but then I quickly switched it back to Snape. He kept his eyes on Lily. I knew this girl was smart... she gave me my wand first. I'm sure she was entrusting me not to cast a spell. Then she gave Snape's wand back.

Snape stuck it in his pocket and gave us a glare. When he walked by me, he hissed for only me to hear, "This isn't over with, Potter. It's far from over. I'll always hate arrogance, so I'll always hate you."

If it weren't for Lily, I would've resulted to Muggle dueling and punched him. When he was out of earshot, I practically deflated, rage still suppressed with in me. I glanced at Lily, the embarrassment I wasn't accustomed to starting to kick in.

"Well, James, I suppose all of our actions have consequences. This is a just a repercussion of the things you've done before."

I couldn't be angry; it was fairly true. I've always hated Snape. Then I narrowed my eyes. "But, Lily, you've never done anything but try to help him."

"Yes, well, I'm a Muggle-born, aren't I? It doesn't matter; we never finished our walk. Come on, then."

I let out a sigh but gave her one of my smiles. I realized it was for naught, as she was biting her lip, looking nervously ahead of us.

"Lily, that was a really brave thing, standing up to Sniv--Snape."

She looked at me, with all of her attention, making sure I knew that I had it undivided. "I think you were brave to stand up for me, James."

I truly smiled at that. Lily thought I was brave. It's all that counts.

Okay, this is about the whole Snape encounter. I'm not saying that James is right, but the things he says, they aren't objective. Remember that. James hates Snape, so Snape will get no glory, because this is told from James' P.O.V. Just remember, I'm not bashing Snape, I felt bad for him, it's what *JAMES* feels.