Chapter Seven: Sketches and Compliments

 

In Divination with Professor Trelawney later that day, Lily caught Peter subtlety glancing her way. Okay, maybe OBVIOUSLY STARING. 

“WHAT is his problem?” Lily wondered.

“Peter,” she hissed.

“Huh?!”  Peter looked like all his dreams were granted to him in that one glance from Lily.

“Why are you staring at me? Do I have something on my nose? Oh dear!”

Lily began to panic and frantically look for a mirror.

Peter sighed, “No, Lil, you look perfect…totally perfect….”

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In Arithmancy, James’ mind was definitely not on the numbers.

Wow, he thought to himself, Lily is really pretty…

James looked down to discover that her face was drawn all over his notes along with Lily Amiel Potter.

What am I thinking about? There’s no way I’d want to marry that haughty brat!, he thought rashly. James began to furiously erase, but then realized that he doodled in ink. He got up loudly, stomped to the garbage can, and threw the parchment in.

            The twins looked at each other curiously as he did this, and mentally agreed to see what the paper said after class was over.  After the bell rang, and everyone filtered out of the room to go to lunch, the twins stepped towards the garbage can. Avia went up to Professor Salinas to distract him momentarily while Emia fetched the paper from the trash.

The twins left quickly, satisfied that they completed their mission.  They walked a good ways down the corridor before opening the paper. 

They both gasped, and Emia exclaimed, “She’s so LUCKY!!!”

But Lily did not feel lucky.  Peter had not left her alone since that morning. He was a nice guy, but he was driving her insane. She saw a familiar pair of hazel eyes approaching.

“James!” Lily looked so happy to see him. James began to wonder why.

“Uh, hey, Princess, what’s up?”

“Well, nothing, Trelawney predicted Sirius’ death today…didn’t she, Peter?”

Peter nodded vigorously at this.

“Hey, James…I need to go change before lunch, I got some orange juice or something on my jeans…can you go with Peter down to lunch?”

She asked this of James with her pleading eyes that begged James to get her away from Peter. 

James smiled, “of course, Princess…we’ll save you a seat.” 

Lily mouthed, “THANK YOU!!!!” and James winked in reply.

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

Emia and Avia were already in the 4^th year Gryffindor girls’ dorm.  They seemed to be eagerly poring over a piece of parchment.

Lily looked at them quizzically, and asked, “Uh, what’s up, guys?”

“N-nothing…”said Emia, but she was really a terrible liar.

“Dear, you’re lying to me. It’s obvious. What are you hiding?”

“Uh, nothing?” said Avia, but it was more of a question than a statement. 

“Just tell me, I don’t want to tear that paper away from you.”

“Uh…you don’t like James Potter, do you?”

“No, of course not…”said Lily, but she blushed a bit when she said it.

“You’re not a good liar either, Lily POTTER.” This made Lily blush even more, so now she resembled a swelled-up tomato.

“Just let me see the bloody parchment!”

Emia was holding the paper of Lily’s head, taunting her tantalizingly. 

“Ughhh!” Lily grunted, and she finally grabbed the paper.

Lily gasped, and turned a redder color than before. Dear god, she thought, is this what Potter really thinks about me?

To the twins, she asked, “Did…P-Potter do all…this…?”

The twins nodded solemnly, and Avia slowly explained how the parchment came into their possession.

“Wow.” Lily said. That was all she could say. Sure, James’ glinting eyes and cute personality were great, and her heart skipped a beat when she heard “Princess” called after her in the halls, but no…he wasn’t…boyfriend material. And that, in Lily’s mind, settled the matter. She put the parchment into her trunk, and resolved not to look at it again.

But then, she didn’t throw it away, either.

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

James smiled as he saw Lily and the twins descend the steps into the Great Hall for lunch. 

“Oi! Princess!! Over here!” James waved to her, and pointed to a bench he managed to save in between him and Sirius.

Peter, Remus and Sirius were already there, they were just waiting for the girls to arrive.

Naturally, Emia sat next to Sirius, and Lily next to James. Avia happily nestled herself in between her two best friends, and began to eat.

“So, Princess,” James said to Lily in hushed undertones, “why were so anxious to get rid of our friend?”

“I think he likes me,” Lily said in an equally quiet tone, “and….his staring was starting to scare me, James.”

“Aw, I’ll protect you, Lil,” James replied, throwing his arm around her in a friendly manner for the second time that day. Lily couldn’t help but feel safe next to James.  His muscular arm felt just right around her petite frame.

Ah, what are you doing? Lily thought to herself, He’s a pompous idiot, why do you even care about him?!

A voice dragged Lily out of her thoughts.  “So, Lily Amiel Evans, how are we going to get ‘em together?” James asked with a smile.

A weird shiver passed through Lily’s body.

“W-who? W-what?  I’m s-sure…I don’t…k-know…what y-you’re talking about,” Lily said. 

James gave her a quizzical look, and replied, “Uh, Sirius and Emie, who else?! Princess, are you okay?”

“Y-yeah, I’m fine,” Lily looked down the table to see Sirius and Emia.

“Well,” Lily replied, “they certainly hit it off…they talk really well.”

James looked around her, “yeah…um…they’re great together. Emia looks so happy when she’s talking to Sirius. She’s perfect for him. She’s….beautiful, really…”

Lily looked up at James to see that James’ attention had turned from Sirius and Emie to her.

“She’s beautiful,” James firmly repeated, looking straight into Lily’s emerald eyes.

“Um…I have to go….James,” Lily said, then grabbed her book bag and practically ran out to Care of Magical Creatures.

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