Heading the School

Chapter Seven

The only problem with the simmering snogfest he had with Lily, was the simple fact that whenever he saw her, he couldn't help but picture her in her underwear, and that had very unfortunate consequences in certain areas of his anatomy. Which was odd, because he'd seen a girl in her knickers before, but somehow, Lily was an entirely different story. She looked so innocent and inviting and just waiting for him to-

"Mr. Potter, please pay attention!" McGonagall barked. James blinked and sat up straight. That woman had a voice to break the bubble of even the most focused daydreamer. At the moment, she was giving them a bit of an after-class lecture on a tricky spell. With only four of them, she could catch his attention slipping away in a second.

"I was paying attention, Professor," he grinned. "I just appear to have a glazed expression, but, in fact, I am concentrating."

"Well, then, why don't you explain to us what I've been talking about for the last five minutes," she asked, folding her arms in front of her. James opened his mouth and then smiled again, blushing slightly.

"All right, you caught me, I wasn't paying attention," he said. Next to him, Sirius snorted. Professor McGonagall couldn't keep down a smile.

"Class dismissed," she finally said. James stood up to leave, but Professor McGonagall kept him back. "I need to speak with you," she said. James sat back down in his desk and waited for everyone to leave.

"Yes, Professor?" James said.

"James, I do hope that your attention is kept in all of your other classes, lest I think that you've got too much on your plate."

James laughed. "Come now, Professor, this is nothing."

McGonagall raised her eyebrow and cleared her throat. "Then, I suppose you wouldn't mind taking on a bit more then, am I correct?"

"B-But, I'm barely making do as it is!" James stuttered. "You can't add on to-"

"Then I suppose I shall have to tell Professor Dumbledore that you cannot handle the stress of your Head Boy duties, as this is a part of them."

James stopped stuttering and made a face of nonchalance again. If it had to do with Lily, it didn't matter that much. "Oh, in that case, there's no problem."

"I see," McGonagall sniffed. "Well, then, as it has happened, a Ravenclaw 5th year, whether because of the pressure of OWLs or because she has been rusty, is having considerable trouble in Transfiguration. You will tutor her on Friday evenings in the library from 7 until 8."

"No problem," James nodded. "Who is it?"

"Her name is Abbey Fleet," she said. "Now, I hope I don't need to remind you that this is a part of your Head Boy duties and must be taken with extreme seriousness. You are supposed to be a role model to this young lady-"

"Oh my, I hope not." James couldn't resist. "I think Lily would be much better suited, as she is a girl-"

McGonagall gave him a stern look. "That is all, Potter, hurry on to your next class."

"James, are you sure that you have the....patience to be a tutor?" Lily asked him at dinner on Friday evening. James threw his hands up into the air and gave her a disbelieving expression.

"First, being Head Boy, now tutoring?! Why don't you ever believe I can do anything!"

"James," Lily put her hand on his arm. "I didn't say I didn't think you could do it. I think that you're one of the best at Transfiguration in our year, maybe even the school. What I meant is that because you're so brilliant at it, that you may not have the patience to teach others what you know." She waited for the comeback, but there was nothing. James was just grinning at her.

"You think I'm brilliant at Transfiguration?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "How do you like your new team?" she asked, changing the subject. Quidditch tryouts had been the previous Tuesday and James had picked a nice group to fill out the slots. Though Lily was sure that he was going to be a bit harsh on the new seeker, a small 4th year girl.

"Next Tuesday, do you want to watch practice?" James asked, hopefully. Lily thought about it for a moment.

"Well, if I don't have homework. Someone needs to make sure you don't bring the new Seeker to tears."

"Hey, I'm just going to use tough love, you know," he defended. "This Seeker's got to live up to my legend."

"Don't get too cocky, James," Lily sighed. "So you're off to tutor, then?"

James looked at his watch and nodded. "Yes, what are you going to do tonight?"

"I don't know," Lily shrugged. "Probably do some studying. Meet you for rounds at 10, then?"

"Of course, that's my favorite part of the day," James said, stretching. He gave Lily a squeeze of the hand (he had figured out the hard way that Lily didn't like public displays of affection in front of the teachers) and then headed towards the library, his old Transfiguration book, Standard Book of Spells Level 5, tucked under his arm. He ducked into the library and looked for an empty table. He was a few minutes early, as he knew that she probably knew who he was, yet he'd never seen her before.

"Well, well, this is a rare occurance."

"Snivellus," James turned around. "Have a problem?"

"I was just leaving," he brushed by James and continued walking. He stopped as if having some kind of internal debate and then turned around. "And you'd best remind your girlfriend that she's not in a position to insult people like Rodolphus Lestrange."

"What?" James said, rushing over to him. "What do you know about that?"

Snape gave him a cold stare. "Nothing." He continued walking and left James concerned and standing in the middle of the library. James turned and plopped down at the table, deep in thought. He didn't notice the gaggle of 5th years appear in the doorway or spy him and dissolve into a giant vat of giggles.

The group of girls moved behind a bookcase directly behind James who's brows were furrowed in concentration. One of them, blonde, blushing, and giggling, broke away and approached the table.

"H-Hi James," she grinned. James looked up and then stood, holding out his hand.

"Are you Abbey, then?" He held out his hand and nodded when she took it, blushing deeply and giggling. He sat down and opened his book, not noticing how close she was until he looked up and she was a foot away from his face. Smiling a bit, he scooted his chair away.

"Now then-"

The girl, who had scooted closer (and was wearing robes that were much too low cut for a 15- year-old), was twirling her hair around her finger. "Call me...Gail," she said, her voice dropping to a low, womanly voice.

"Right, Gail, so what is it that you're having trouble in?" James banged his knee on the corner of the table when he tried to move away from her again. He was getting rather uncomfortable with her proximity and was getting the impression that she really didn't need help in Transfiguration. Especially when she slammed the book shut.

"I don't think that we need to worry about that right now," Gail said, putting her hand on his arm. James, smiling slightly, picked her hand off of his shoulder and back into her lap.

James decided to get something out straight away before rumors started flying. "Listen, Gail, I don't know if you've noticed, but I've got a girlfriend."

"She's not much to look at," Gail said, a little put out. "And she obviously doesn't like you."

"What do you mean by that?" James asked.

"Well," Gail shrugged. "I've never seen you kiss her."

James suddenly had a vision of Lily in her knickers and then made a decision. "All right then, I think I've heard enough." He stood up and was going to leave but Gail stopped him.

"Then I'll just tell McGonagall that you're neglecting your Head Boy duties and she'll chuck you out."

James whirled around and glared at her. Either way he was caught: McGonagall probably wouldn't believe that this girl was failing just to get closer to James, and she would most definitely ‘chuck him out' if he left. "What house are you in again?"

"Ravenclaw," she smiled. James sat back down and glared at her.

"Stupid hat should have put you in Slytherin."

"James, isn't that the girl that you tutor?" Lily asked, as she passed a group of 5th years. One of them was glaring at her intensely as she walked hand in hand with James. James turned and then shook his head.

"Yeah."

"Were you rude to her or something?" Lily asked, wondering if maybe she was glaring at James.

"N-No!" He wasn't sure whether or not Lily would be able to understand how the conniving girl had kept him trapped. After some deliberation, he had told McGonagall, but her reaction was as he had suspected; she didn't believe him and told him that if he couldn't handle his duties, that she'd take away his position.

"Then why is she glaring at you?" Lily asked.

"Who knows?" James said, and while Lily wasn't looking, narrowed his eyes at Gail and put his arm around Lily.

A week later, James had realized that Gail's persistence was equal to his in his pursuit of Lily, ‘back in the day.' Except, he was pretty sure that Gail wasn't an unregistered Animagus.

Speaking of that, the full moon was coming in a few weeks. As it was, it happened upon a Friday in September, so James would have to find a way out of tutoring Gail that evening. He had wanted to maybe get Lily to fill in for him, but he didn't trust Gail alone with her; she might tell Lily some lies.

Of course, Gail didn't need Lily alone to start some nasty rumors. James (who never realized that he never had to prove his innocence to Lily) had to fend off everyone else who was concerned that he was cheating on her.

"You can tell us, Mate," Sirius said, the Monday before the full moon. "I mean, staying with one girl is a hard thing. I don't blame you for-"

"Sirius!" Remus hissed. "That's not helping."

"I'm not lying about this!" James said. He cast a hex towards the dummy that they were aiming for. "I would never cheat on Lily. Not after all the crap I had to go through to get her to be my girl in the first place."

"But honestly, I know you. You can't stay with one thing for longer than two weeks," Sirius said.

"If you would like to know, Lily and I have been dating for three months. I'm not about to dump her or anything like that."

"I've figured it out!" Sirius said, snapping his finger. "You're just after some sex, aren't you?"

"What?!" James exclaimed.

"Because Lily's being a prude, you're sexually frustrated."

James gaped at him and Remus clicked his tongue in his cheek. "James, that is quite low of you."

"Will you two get off my back!" James cried. "I'm not having a bloody affair with the girl."

"Then why does everyone think you are?" Remus asked.

James looked around and brought them in close to him. "If you want to know the truth, this chick's got it out for me. The only reason why she's failing Transfiguration is to be alone with me."

"That's the worst lie you've ever come up with," Sirius said. "You're out of practice."

"It's the truth!" James cried.

Remus said nothing, but continued practicing his casting.

By the Thursday before the full moon, James was worried that he'd have to just take the consequences and not show up. The rumor mill was still going strong, and even Professor McGonagall seemed like she wanted to say something to him every time she saw him. The only person that had been quiet about it all was Lily.

That was, until Thursday evening rounds.

"James, can we talk about this whole ‘Gail' rumor?" she asked, nonchalantly.

"S-Sure."

"I just want to let you know that I don't believe it," Lily said. "You know, it probably started because someone saw you in the library and it just went through the rumor mill and became something bigger than it began-"

"Erm...that's not what happened, but if you-"

"What do you mean, ‘that's not what happened?'" Lily stopped. "What happened?"

"Oh, you won't believe me," James shook his head, walking again. Lily reached for his arm and stopped him.

"You'd be surprised," Lily said.

"Well, I got there the first night and realized that she was only failing to be alone with me."

Lily, to his surprise, smiled. "That's so pathetic, James."

James hung his head.

"To think, a girl would stoop that low to bring her grades into such a matter. And to get a guy that's already got a girlfriend-"

"So, you believe me?" James asked, incredulous.

"Well, of course," Lily said, threading her hand through his. "I mean, with all of the dirty looks I've been getting lately-" James stopped her talking by sweeping her into a giant hug.

"You're the best girl ever."

"James, I don't think that you'd cheat on me. Not after the way you look at me all the time."

"Well, you are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen," James said, causing the expected blush. He suddenly was struck with an idea. "Can I ask a favor of you, then?"

"Sure," Lily said.

"Can you cover for me tomorrow night?" he asked, his eyes darting past her to the almost full moon. Lily followed his eye line and nodded, understandingly.

"Of course, and while I'm at it, why don't I give her a little talk on boyfriends?" James broke out into a grin and picked her up, swinging her around again.

"Do you think that'll stop her?" he asked her, still holding her close. "What are you going to say?"

"I'd better not tell you, lest you won't be able to walk through a door with your big head," Lily teased, breaking away from him and walking a bit ahead of him.

During lunch, Lily decided to pop in to see Remus in the hospital wing, before her afternoon classes. He was looking very pale against the sheets and was laying half-awake. She sat down and put her hand on top of his. His eyes opened fully and he smiled weakly at her.

"Good morning, Lily."

"Afternoon, Remus," Lily smiled. "How are you doing?"

"About normally," he nodded. "And you?"

"Well...this whole James and Gail thing is getting a bit out of hand, you know?" Lily laughed. "To think that she'd actually do something as dumb as ruin her grades just to be alone in a library with James-"

"Lily, do you...believe him?" Remus asked, his brows furrowing together.

"Of course," Lily smiled. "Remus, you don't see him when we're alone, he's so....I know that he wouldn't cheat on me. Besides, the little bitch and her friends have been giving me evil looks all week."

Remus' eyes bugged out of his head. "That's amazing. I didn't think that anyone would..."

"I'm going to have a bit of a talk with her tonight," Lily grinned. "Tell her to back off, that he's...." She trailed off.

"He's what?" Remus pressed.

Lily looked like she was deep in thought for a moment. "Remus, when did I start to like him so much? I mean, I'm going to tell this girl to back off because James is mine. When did that happen? When did he become mine? It all happened so fast, you know?"

"It's hard, once you let him into your life, for him not to become a part of it quickly. He's just like that."

"But, Remus, I used to not be able to stand him and now I'm going to fight for him!"

"Things change so quickly if you aren't paying attention," Remus nodded, and it turned into a large yawn. "Oh, excuse me," he said.

"I'd better let you get back to sleep. I'll come by and see you tomorrow, is that all right?"

"That would be lovely," Remus nodded. Lily leaned forwards and gave him a kiss on the forehead.

"You be careful tonight, Remus."

"Good luck!" Remus grinned back at her.

Lily arrived in the library, looking quite (as she felt it) formidable. She had just kissed James goodbye as he went off to frolic with his friends and was reassured of his devotion to her. She also realized that she was, in fact, a 7th year, which meant that she had seniority over this puny 5th year.

She found her, sitting at a library table, putting on lipstick and kissing into her mirror. Lily slid into the seat and smiled.

"Hello," Lily said. Gail gave her a once over and rolled her eyes.

"What do you want?"

"Oh, I'm your tutor from now on," Lily grinned. "James and I were talking and we both thought it best that I tutor you, as you make him a bit nervous."

Gail's jaw dropped. "But...? Y-You probably forced him to-"

"No, no, no. James came to me first and asked me to tell you to back off, as he'd been trying and you weren't listening."

"You're just scared, because I'm taking him away from you-"

Lily had to laugh. "I assure you, I am very secure in my relationship. I've never doubted James, nor has he ever doubted me," Lily said. In her mind, she was realizing that phrase with shock.

"Sure," Gail said, looking back at her mirror. Lily reached out and grabbed the mirror from her. She now had Gail's full attention.

"Listen up, girlie. James is my boyfriend. And as he has only had the eyes for me for the past three years, I highly doubt that you would have had any chance with him, had there been any chance at all for any other girl. So I suggest that you bring your grades up, because you have not made me very happy, and, as such, I won't be a very kind teacher."

She slammed open the book to make her point known. "Now, what is it you're having trouble in?"

"Mr. Potter, I need to speak with you after class," McGonagall said. James came up to her desk, worried that maybe Gail told on him.

"As it has happened, Miss Fleet has become quite adept at Transfiguration in a very short amount of time. She will no longer require tutoring."

"That's a relief," James sighed.

"I have heard a rumor that-"

"You've been teaching for how long and you still listen to rumors?" James asked, grinning. He slipped out of the classroom and spied Lily down the hall.

"Hey Lily!" James called, running down the hall. He caught up with her. "What'dya say to Gail?"

Lily shrugged and put her arm around his waist. "I told her to back off my boyfriend."

James felt a flutter in his chest. "Say that again, would ya?"

"What?" Lily asked.

"Say the part about the boyfriend?"

For once, Lily obliged. "I told her to back off my boyfriend."