Lily and James the Prequel

"Okay, relax.  We'll just find a payphone MacGiver." Lily said sarcastically, and scrounged some muggle money from her purse.  She called her house, and her mother picked up on the third ring.

"Uh, Mum, did you forget something?  Namely me?" Lily asked, trying very hard not to get mad.

"Oh my gosh, Lily, I'm so sorry.  James is there too, isn't he.  I was supposed to pick both of you up.  Oh nooooo!  His parents are at some meeting deal because his father was elected something or another.  I will be there as soon as possible.  You remember what I told you to do if you ever get lost right?"

"Yes mum, I remember." Lily said in a voice that almost all teenage girls use at their moms sometime or another.  You know, the one that implies tha tyour mom has no clue.  "And, what may I ask, were you doing to prevent YOU FROM PICKING UP YOUR OWN CHILD?" Lily asked, her voice rising, and put more change in the phone.

"I was shopping with Petunia." her mom said in a quiet, guilty voice.  "I'm on my way, Lily, it-" Lily hung the phone up with a slam.

"That didn't sound good." James observed.

 

"No kidding.  My mum was supposed to pick us up, but she went shopping with Petunia.  I better get a shopping trip out of this." Lily muttered this last part to herself, but James heard and smiled.

"Anyhow, you have some good news.  Your dad was elected the Minister of Magic." Lily said brightly.  James didn't seem too thrilled.

"That's just what I need." James said.

"What do you mean?"

"This is the 32nd Potter to become the Minister of Magic.  That means I'm expected to be the 33rd.  I don't have a chance.  I'm expected just to fall into his shoes."

"Who knows, by the time you actually grow up you might want to be the Minister."

"Yeah right.  That's too much responsibility.  All I want to do when I grow up is play quidditch."

"And what, may I ask, are you going to do when you get too old to play quidditch?" Lily asked.

"Fall into the grand shoes of my dad, and become an Auror.  The same thing everybody in my family does.  I'm bound by tradition.  I'll have to work at the Ministry, but I don't have to be the Minister."

"Just wait, one of these days you'll want to be." Lily said, and started walking away.

James followed her to the bench she sat down at.  "What are we doing?"

"Waiting.   This is standard muggle procedure if a child is lost.  The child is directed to stay in an open public place, don't move, so you can be found, and scream like a banshee if someone tries to abduct you."

"Sounds easy enough.  So, what are you doing this summer?" James asked. 

"Well, I need to get some summer clothes.  Then I need to get something done with my hair.  All the times I let you guys dye it has completely fried it.  Then let's see, besides my continual trips to the mall, I'll sit on my bum all day, watch soap operas, and paint my fingernails."

James stared at her like she sprouted a second head and said, "Please tell me you're joking."

"I am.  Actually, I need to get some summer clothes and go to the salon, but I'm planning on joining a summer softball league, and going camping for a week with my dad.  That's about it though, you?"

"I'm going to stay a week with Sirius, and my family will be going to America for some convention that the Minister always attends.  Besides that I don't have any plans."

After about thirty minutes, Lily's mom and a smug Petunia found them.  Lily and James were talking as usual, not minding the wait.                                                                      "Lily, I'm so sorry." Debbie started.

"Just forget about it Mum.  I don't care." Lily said it in such a cold voice James flinched. He knew how it felt to be on the receiving end of that voice.

"Lil, please don't be mad at me."

"I [I]said[/I] forget about it." Lily said, slamming her door for punctuation.

"Uh, James, congratulations about your dad." Debbie said.

"Thanks.  It's a real honor." James said.

"I understand that a lot of men in your family have received the title.

"Yes.  He's the thirty second.  And yes, I'm expected to be the thirty third."

"How nice, it sounds like a good job." she said in an overly cheery voice.

"Mum." Lily said, ending the conversation.

Lily continued speaking normally to James, but whenever her mom spoke, she answered in her cold voice.  Her mother wasn't going to live this one down.  They dropped James off at his house, and Lily immediately went to find her dad.

"Hiya Princess." Logan said with his usual adoration on his youngest daughter.

"Hi Daddy." she said, and gave him a hug.  It was nice to have one parent who loved you. "Did you sign me up for softball?"

"Yes I did sweetheart.  Do you want to practice?"

"Yes.  Just let me put on some clothes that can get all messed up." Lily answered and went to change.  Ten minutes late she was playing catch with her dad.  Lily was a pitcher.  She hadn't played since last summer, but she figured she could pick it back up soon.  Sure enough, being Lily, she fell back into the groove, and was pitching perfectly as usual again.

"That's enough for today Princess.  How about batting practice?"

"Sure" Lily answered, and picked up her bat.  Her dad started out easy, and started pitching faster as they went.  Lily was a pretty good batter, but she got nervous when she went up to the plate.  It was better than it used to be, Hogwarts had left her with no lack of self-confidence.

Lily hit one ball, and she really got a hold of it.  It sailed right over their fence into the Potter's window.

"Oh NO!" Lily yelled, and ran with her father next door.  She knocked on the door, and James answered.

"Hey, Lily!  What are you doing over here?" he asked cheerfully.

"I came to retrieve my softball." Lily said with a grimace.

"We don't have it, do we?" James asked.

"Uh, yeah.  It kind of went through one of your windows." Lily answered.

"Oh, which window?"
"Third floor, facing our yard." Lily answered. "It had purple curtains in the window."
"That's Gina's room. Luckily she is staying with Adriana." James answered and led them to Gina's room.
"This house is a lot bigger than it looks." Mr. Evans commented.
"All wizard houses are. Here it is." James opened the door, and Gina and Adriana was there. "Hey, you're supposed to be at Adriana's."
"I forgot something." Gina explained. "But look at this. It came flying through my window." She held up the softball.
"That's my softball. Sorry Gina. I was having batting practice."
"I saw you. You were throwing the ball really fast. You're good." Adriana said.
"Thanks. I'm really sorry about the window. I'm guessing you can charm it back together somehow?"
"Yes I can." Mr. Potter came in to check out the commotion.
"Mr. Potter. I am really sorry about the window. I didn't think I could hit it that hard." Lily apologized.
"No problem my dear. Sports and excercise shouldn't be neglected. I hope you havn't been having any problems."
"No, everythings's fine. We'll just be leaving now if you don't mind." Lily said, backing out of the room.
"Bye Lily." James said brightly, walking her out.                                                                       The next week, Lily started having softball practice three nights a week. She was the only pitcher the team had. Since visitors were welcome, sometimes James came to watch. This was hilarious, because they soon figured out he came to Thursday night practices, because those were the nights his dad had meetings. On those days, the girls would try to practice with their hair down in their face, and makeup dripping down their face. Lily was the only one who acted normal, which was good, or James would have an ego the size of Texas. She wordlessly handed over the brush, but she must  have had an expression on her face, because James said warningly, "Don't even think of saying it."  They continued walking down the street, James braiding Lily's hair.  He was almost done with the second braid as they walked next to the dugout at the field.

"Is he braiding her hair?" one girl whispered. 

"Well, James, if your job at the Ministry doesn't work out, you can always be a muggle hairstylist." Lily said, kissed him, and walked onto the field.   As Lily walked onto the field where the girls were warming up, complete with makeup and styled hair, several said, "Wow, that's so cute he would braid you hair for you."
"He better after all he's done to it." Lily muttered, and made a mental note to bring that up with him.
"No kidding, our boyfriends won't come to our practices. Heck, our boyfriends aren't near as cute as yours." another said.
"He is kind of cute, isn't he?" Lily said sweetly. This was getting old. Luckily, practice was started, saving any further conversation on the topic of her boyfriend. Lily pitched while her teammebers took turns batting for an hour, then she got to bat herself. Actually, they had to rustle up a pitcher first.
"Can anybody else here pitch, even a little?" the coach asked. She was a little on the overweight side, and wouldn't be able to get out of the way of Lily's line drives to the pitcher.
"Hey, I bet he can." one of the girls said, pointing at James."What? Him?"
"What? Me?" both Lily and James asked.
"Yes, you. What's your name?" the coach asked.
"James." he answered.
"Well James. You're going to pitch while she bats."
James's eyes widened. He remebered when she hit the ball through the window.
"He plays first base. He doesn't pitch." Lily said quickly.
"He doesn't have to throw hard. Just get it over the plate. Come on." the coach urged. Lily walked over to James, and handed him her glove, and started walking very slowly with him to the pitcher's mound.
"James, this is a softball." Lily said, placing the ball in his glove, then taking it back out. "I'm going to stand at that white pentagon over there, and you're going to throw the ball in my vicinity. I'm going to try to hit it with the bat. I always hit it up the middle, right to the pitcher. I can't hit it anyplace else. As soon as you throw the ball, either put your glove up, or hit the ground."                                                                                                         "Will that hurt?"
"Probably not worse than a bludger. Depending on where you get hit." Lily answered.
"Oh Lord. Lily, you are way too dangerous for me." James said.
"It will be okay. Now just stand here, and toss the ball underhanded. Just like you're tossing a quaffle over that white pentagon. Got it?" Lily asked. She hoped he didn't get hurt. It might be hard to explain.  Lily walked slowly to the batter's box, bat in hand. She was frantically trying to think of something to keep James from getting hurt. She had almost got ready when she came up with an idea. She ran up to the pitcher's mound and talked quietly to James. "I've got an idea. When you throw the ball, throw it pretty fast, and hit me with it."
"I CAN'T DO THAT!" James yelled, making the entire team stare at him.  Lily clamped a hand over her mouth and said, "Shhh, don't talk so loud.  And just why can't you?"

"I can't purposely hit a girl." James said like it was the most obvious thing in world.

"Yeah you can.  It's just me." Lily said.

"My point exactly I definitely can't hit you.  Abuse.  Why would that help anyhow?"

"If the batter gets hit by the pitcher, they get to take their base."

"Take it where?"

"They run to it and stand on it so they can't get out."

"Oh, well, I guess I'll just have to try to catch the ball.  I can't hit you." James said stubbornly.

"Fine.  It'll come straight to you." Lily said, and walked back to the plate.  James didn't have a chance.  No pitcher had ever caught one of her line drives before.  Lily stood in the batter's box, waiting for James to throw the ball. It came towards her, going surprisingly fast, and it was a good pitch. She swung, and heard the familiar clunk. She would have normally started running, but she stayed still this time. She watched the ball head straight at James. She closed her eyes, she couldn't watch this. When she opened them, James was standing on the pitcher's mound, looking perfectly normal, and he had caught her line drive.  She narrowed her eyes at him. This was not good. Maybe she was losing her touch.
"Lily, go again. That boyfriend of yours is better than you let on like. If it would've been me, I would've hit the deck if you were batting." the coach said. Lily walked back to the plate. James threw the ball, and she hit it again, only this time she ran. James caught it again. And again, and again.
"Okay, I've had enough of this. I think this would be a good time for you to teach me how to bunt." Lily told the coach, who smiled.  The coach showed her how to bunt.  Lily wanted to see James actually catch a grounder and throw it to first to get her out.  There was going to be some serious butt kicking after practice if he did.  James threw the ball again, and Lily just barely tapped the ball, enough to keep it from being a foul ball.  As soon as the bat and ball connected, she ran as fast as she could to first base, and barely made it.  Somehow James had caught the grounder and threw it to first.

Once Lily had made it all the way around the bases, James pitching to three of the other girls while Lily ran, she resumed her position as pitcher for the remainder of the practice.  By the end of practice, Lily was in a very bad mood.  James had caught five of her line drives, almost got her out twice, and stretched out her glove.  Her glove would probably shrink back again, if not, she would have to get a new one.  Once she got off the field she immediately said to James, "You lied didn't you?  You have to played softball before."

"Actually, I haven't played softball.  I played baseball, there's a difference.  Not much, but there's the name difference."                                                                                            "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU JAMES POTTER! I WAS WORRIED I WOULD HURT YOU! YOU MADE ME LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT!" Lily yelled, and picked up some rocks to throw at him. James hid behind a trash can momentarily.
"Lily, calm down. It was just a joke! You looked cute when you were worried about me!" James said. The shower of rocks had stopped earlier. "Lily? Lily?" James asked, and got out from behind the trash can, much to the amusement of the team. Lily was already a block down the road.                                                                                                    "Good grief, this is just what I need now. She is mad at me once again." James muttered, and started chasing after Lily. He was wondering why he always went after her. When he caught up with her he said, "I don't know why you're so mad. Think of all the worse things I've done. All the times I've dyed your hair, and that time I put gum in it. This was nothing compared to that."
Lily hated to admit it, but he was right. How could he stay so calm all the time? It was very aggravating. "You're right. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gotten so mad. Do you want to eat lunch at my house?" Lily asked.
"Sure, and I guess I probably shoud've told you that I knew how to play. But it was funny when you were explaining what a softball was, and where I was supposed to throw the ball. I couldn't help myself." James said with the smile that made girls fall all over him.  Lily couldn't help but smile back, "You're pathetic."

"I'm also charming and devilishly handsome, right?" James asked sweetly

Lily started laughing, she couldn't help it.  "You're incorrigible."

"That's part of my charm, Lily dear."

"You are about as charming as a frog." Lily told him.

"Gee, thanks for the complements.  They're really rolling off your tongue today, aren't they?" James laughed.  It was fun to have a girl that didn't fall all over him like everyone else did.  That was part of Lily's charm, she always gave him a hard time.

"I know, I'm being extra nice today, can't you tell?"

"Yeah, and I'm Merlin?" James said.                                                                              "Nice to meet you Merlin." Lily said, shaking his hand.                                                    Lily and James walked in her house, and Lily was surprised not to smell lunch cooking in the kitchen. She hollered at her parents, and only her dad came down.
"Hi sweetheart. It's just us for lunch. Your mum and Petunia went shopping."
"Great." Lily said, "I'll make lunch then. I asked James to stay for lunch too."
"That's fine." Mr. Evans said, and went back up to his study. Lily led James to the kitchen. Lily got a chair to stand on, and pulled a recipe book from the cabinent.  She flipped through the pages, then found a chicken recipe.

"Do you like chicken?" she asked James.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Okay." Lily said, and started making it.  After about 45 minutes she had a chicken dish, macaroni and cheese, and spinach cooked.

"Spinach?" James questioned, looking at it doubtfully.

"My dad eats it with almost every meal." Lily answered, and went to get her beloved father.  She came back down with him shortly.  As he walked into the kitchen, Logan said with a smile, "Ah, Princess, smells good.  I believe you're the best cook in this family."

"Thanks Dad." Lily said happily, and they sat at the table and ate.  They were halfway through the meal when Petunia and Debbie came in.

"Hello Lily dear!" her mother said cheerily.

Lily ignored her.  Her mother had promised to take her shopping and get her hair fixed.  Neither of these promises had been fulfilled yet.

"Oh, you made lunch Logan!  Thanks!" Debbie said.

"Lily made lunch.  Nobody else in this house can cook as well as Lily." Logan answered cooly.  James and Lily's jaws dropped to touch their plates.  Lily had never seen her parents fight before. 

"Logan-"

"Debbie, I also thought you were going to take Lily shopping.  She needs new summer clothes.  You have been ignoring her this entire summer...."  Lily grabbed James's arm, and signaled for him to take his plate.  Lily didn't want to be witness to this argument.  Lily could tell her dad was mad too.  His face was turning red.

Once the kids were out of the room, Logan continued, "...And I want to know why?"

"I haven't been ignoring her!"

"Yes.  You .  Have.  She is also our daughter.  I have let you take control of raising Petunia, while I raised Lily.  It was the deal when we got married.  You would raise the girl, I would raise the boy.  You only wanted two children, so when Lily was a girl, I raised her.  I think I did a damn good job too.  She is the sweetest thing since ice cream.  She is kind, caring, smart, funny, and honest.  She has the morals we wanted our children to have.  But look at Petunia!  She lies.  To us, to her friends, to the whole world.  She is paranoid about being normal.  I know you never loved me Debbie!  I didn't want to get married either.  We couldn't control that our families arranged our marriage.  It was practically written in blood.  But I have done my best by you.  I have been faithful, and I fell in love with you.  I love both of our daughters, but I am ashamed of the way you have brought Petunia up."

Debbie turned the same shade of red, "Don't talk about Pet like that.  And at least my daughter didn't turn out to be a tomboy like Lily."

"Lily grew out of her tomboy stage.  In case you haven't noticed, she has a steady boyfriend, who happens to be very nice, as well as smart and rich.  She is just dying for your attention, but you are denying it of her.  She wants the whole mother/daughter bonding experience, going shopping, getting your hair done together."

"Petunia is pretty in her own right.  At least she isn't a freak like Lily."

Logan looked madder than he had ever been in his life.  "Lily is not a freak.  She is a witch.  A very powerful one at that.  Did you know that when she grows up, she won't need a wand to do magic?  Of course you didn't.  You don't listen when she talks.  You gave up on her the day she went to Hogwarts.  FOR YOUR INFORMATION, SHE WILL BE THE MOST POWERFUL WITCH TO WALK THIS EARTH."

"I don't care.  How's that going to affect us?"

Lily hadn't gotten far enough away.  She still heard her parents yelling.  James saw the tears drip down her face.  He had no idea what to say.  How do you comfort somebody who has a mom that doesn't love her.  After her father slammed out of the kitchen, he opened the door to the living room they were in, with a smile on his face.  "Lily, your mum can't take you shopping, so if you're free tomorrow, your own personal fashion consultant will take you shopping."

"Sure Daddy, that would be great." Lily said with a smile.  After he left she sat down on the couch and silently started eating her chicken.  When James had finished eating Lily said, "James, would you mind leaving?  I would like to be alone right now.  I hope you understand."

"Yes of course Lily.  Call or come over if you want to talk to me." James said, and kissed her forehead.  He walked over to his house, shocked.  He couldn't imagine his mother not loving him.  He decided he needed to have a talk with his dad.

"It will affect me.  Because I am her father.  Obviously you are not her mother.  Just stay away from her.  I will be both of her parents.  She doesn't need you Debbie." Logan said with disgust, and walked out of the room.

James went to his father's study and asked, "Dad, can I talk to you?"

"Of course son." he answered.  As James sat down he said, "Whoa, this looks important.  Do I need to break out the family rings?"

"Ha ha, Sirius." James said sarcastically.

"Okay, tell me what's really wrong.  Is it Lily."

"How did you guess?"

"You have this boggled look on your face.  It's the same look I get when your mother is around.  The female race is something we aren't meant to understand, so don't try.  It kills braincells.  I don't think they understand each other."

Sorry about the short update folks. There will be more tomorrow.

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