Chapter Six: Borrowed Cloaks and Bavarian Whores

 

            Professor McVane was a somewhat boring woman from Bavaria.  She enjoyed long walks in the park, candlelit dinners, and staring at Sirius.  At least that’s what Lily, Emia, and Avia gathered from her hour-long getting-to-know-me speech.  Yes, Veronica McVane was the new DADA teacher.  Hogwarts certainly went through DADA teachers…the last one had an unfortunate incident with a hinkypunk….the one before, it is said, was killed by a Lethifold, but was spotted in a tavern with a middle-aged Moulin Rouge dancer a couple weeks later. 

            Sirius seemed to take a liking to Veronica McVane, she was rather pretty, and she had definitely taken a liking to HIM.  Emia did not welcome this 23-year-old threat, and protested DADA homework for weeks after meeting the new teacher. 

“Oi! Lils!” Lily heard a whisper behind her. 

She turned around to see James pointing to an empty seat next to him. 

“What?! Can’t you just write notes like normal people?” Lily asked impatiently.  Lily did not want to leave Emia, especially since Emia looked ready to murder.

“Come on, Lils…it’ll just take a minute.”

Lily Evans did not appreciate rule-breaking in any form, but decided to compromise with the insistent James Potter.  “Fine,” Lily began, “if you promise not to call me Lils. EVER.”

“Fine!”

Lily, realizing the sudden power she held over James, realized that there was something else she wanted to know.

“And,” she continued, “you have to tell me your middle name.” 

James sighed, but agreed.

“Now will you come back here already?!” James asked.

“Fine.”

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“Well…”James began, “I know Emia has a thing for Sirius.”

Lily gaped at him, extremely surprised that James managed to get his head out of his egotistical butt to see his surroundings.  Lily eventually realized that she was supposed to respond, and gave a quick nod of confirmation to James’ statement. 

“Well,” James continued, “I know Professor McVane isn’t good for him, so maybe…”

Lily caught on. “We should set them up, eh?”

“Yes, that’s the plan,” James continued, “and…and…my…middle name is…Blake.”

Lily’s face lit up.  “I like it,” she replied, “James Blake Potter. How cute.”

“Please don’t tell,” James continued, “I don’t want people to know.”

“Oh fine. Spoil my fun.”

“Well, Lil, if you don’t want me to call you L-I-L-S, what would you like me to call you, Angelic Princess?” James asked.

Lily looked thoughtful and replied, “Okay. You may call me Lil, Princess, Lily, or Majestic Goddess of All. Deal?”

James nodded, and asked, “So what’s your middle name?”

Lily gave him a mischievous smile and replied, “Now, that wasn’t part of the deal.”

And with that, Lily Evans made her way back to her seat.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“I’m going to KILL that Bavarian whore!” Emia was extremely buggered off. 

Lily wrapped a consoling arm around her best friends and replied, “You know, Emie, I think Sirius might have a thing for you…”

At this, Emia perked up. “No way…really? How do you know?”

Lily lied to her friend with the utmost honesty and sincerity, “He asked me if you were going to the Yule Ball with anyone….”

“EEEEEE!!!!!!”

“Oh my god, Emie!!!!” screamed her twin.

And with that, the twins ran excitedly down the corridor, happily babbling about dress colors and Christmas wonderlands, leaving Lily alone.

Lily heard footsteps coming up behind her, and turned to see James.  He was walking down the corridor alone, with his books in one hand. Wow, he looked….good. The sun filtering through the stained-glass windows was glinting off his perfect skin, and his glasses were setting colors dancing off on the walls.  James’ bright hazel eyes were dancing with the familiar mischievous grin that was always on his face, and soon those eyes settled on Lily.

“Lily! Now aren’t you going to tell me what your middle name is?”

James came closer to her, and threw an arm around her shoulder in a friendly fashion. Lily’s heart fluttered and she felt a shiver go through her body. 

“Cold?” James asked, absentmindedly.  He took his cloak and put it around her shoulders.  She smiled up at him for the gracious gesture, and decided it was only fair to tell him.

Lily stopped walking, and turned towards James. She put her locket into his hands.

“L. A. E,” James read. “Lily Something Evans, eh? Just tell me.”

“Amiel,” Lily answered with her smile. 

“Amy WHAT?” James said with confusion.

“Amy-El.” Lily pronounced it for him slowly.

“Amiel,” James repeated, “I like it. A lot.”

He realized his hand was on her shoulder and quickly withdrew it. 

“Oh,” said Lily, “here’s your cloak…thank you.”

“Anytime,” answered those fiery brown eyes.

“I…I…have to go!” Lily panicked and ran down the corridor. Then Lily remembered she had Divination next, and ran back up the corridor.

“Uh, bye!” she called to James. 

“Bye, Princess!” he replied.

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