A Reason in Madness

"There is always some madness in love. But there is also some reason in madness."

Chapter Eleven: Franglais

James saw the auburn waves disappear around a corner just as he reached the top of the staircase. He shook his head as he walked towards the Head Lounge. He wondered if the way he felt about Lily Evans would continue to intensify as it had over the last six years.

Now, he dismissed his feelings during his first and second years as a silly crush. Third and fourth years, he genuinely liked her. It was fifth year when he screwed up. He began to act like the arrogant prat that Lily had recognized him as for time to come. Last year, he simply adored the girl. But she always seemed to catch him at the most inopportune moments. So, in her eyes, he had remained a prick throughout sixth year.

James gave his name (used as a password; Lily used hers) to a pixie that flitted across the front of the tapestry which concealed the Lounge. It appeared as if an invisible cord pulled the tapestry aside, revealing a door. Entering the room, James unhooked his cloak and casually tossed it over the back of the sofa. He simply stood for a moment, lost in his thoughts.

His final year at Hogwarts had begun wonderfully. He had started towards to Head Students' compartment on the Hogwarts Express, confident in the "unknown" identity of the Head Girl, his only goal achieving friendship with her. But, when he had reached the door, he peered inside to see if she was there.

She had been.

Almost immediately, his heart had fluttered and butterflies had overtaken his stomach. What was he to say? He was going to screw up again, he just knew it! She was going to hate him for the rest of forever!

Eventually, he had given himself a good talking-to and contented himself with the prospect of Lily's friendship again. Finally walking into the compartment, his seventh year had begun.

*~¤~*

James retracted his mind from the past and focused on his location. Where was he? As he took in his surroundings, he suddenly recalled leaving Quidditch practice and hoping to see Lily here.

Wow, he thought, I must really be out of it aujourd'hui... mais, that's understandable, unless, of course, je me suis trompé... I'm probably just crazy...

When he reached the conclusion (in Franglais he couldn't really help it: he had spoken French as well as English for as long as he could remember, although it really came in handy sometimes) that he was insane and should probably find some purple raspberries, James began to wonder over to a portrait of the left wall.

As soon as he had added the Head Lounge to the Marauder's Map (strange how they hadn't already found it), all the passageways to and from the room had appeared around it. There were two: one from behind a painting on the left wall to his dorm room; and another, leading from behind a painting on the right-hand wall, to Lily's room.

He stopped, with his hand on the appropriate frame, when he saw is bag in the corner of the room, with something silvery spilling out.

"Merde!" His invisibility cloak! I must have left it ici il y a deux jours...

Surprisingly, a tired voice, interrupted his thoughts. "Lily Evans."

"Merde!" James grabbed the invisibility cloak and threw it over himself just as the door opened.

He noticed, horrified, his school cloak on the back of the couch. And he watched, as Lily picked it up, and felt happier than he had felt in quite a long time.