Lily and James the Prequel

Sorry this one took so long folks. But here it is. Also I would like to let you know that I will have my own story up son. It's called Morning Glory. So keep an eye out for it.

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"Lily" Logan said with exasperation.

"Sorry Dad." Lily said with an equal tone.  "What's going on though?"

"I have a business meeting in an hour, and your mother and sister are shopping.  I am to take you to them so you can pick out your summer wardrobe."

"Great, let's go." Lily said, all fired up for some knock out drag out shopping.

"Ahh, the magic words: shopping, wardrobe." Logan laughed to Mr. Potter, trying to catch up with Lily. Mr. Potter walked with both of his children to the Leaky Cauldron so they could use the Floo network.  Anthony saw the Evans's drive up, the women loaded with packages.  After they had gotten in the house Mr. Potter went to pay a visit with Logan Evans.  He came out an hour later with a large list of non-Lily activities, and a much smaller list of Lily activities.  Anthony called James into the library and said once he sat down, "James, I have decided you need some structured activities."

 

"Such as?"

"Baseball, weightlifting, a basketball program, tennis, football, and running."

"WHAT?" James yelled.

"It will help with your quidditch.  Just think how impressed will be with your new physique." Mr. Potter said, thinking this was a surefire success route.

"The point is Lily is barking up the wrong tree with that one.  I am not playing tennis.  Or run or play basketball for that matter. Baseball and weight-lifting is okay, but that's where I draw the line."

"It's a deal, you'll be enrolled by the end of the day." Mr. Potter said.  James wondered at what he had been roped into.  The next day Mr. Potter and a reluctant James went to Lily's house.  She answered the door wearing one of her new outfits, he hair in a bouncy ponytail. 

"Hello, Lily." Mr. Potter said.

"Hi, Mr. Potter, James." Lily said cheerily.

"You father said you wouldn't mind to show James to the softball and baseball fields.  He has baseball practice today."

Lily smirked, trying not to laugh.  "Uh, sure, I'll take him.  Do I get a leash?"

"How cute." James said.

"I thought so."

"Okay, you two.  That's enough.  Thanks for taking him." Mr. Potter said.

"So, is this like babysitting.  Do I get to boss him around, tell him what to do, make him retrieve stuff for me?" Lily asked.

"Don't you usually?" James asked sarcastcially. Lily told her mother where she was going and walked out the door with James.  "Do you actually know the rules of baseball?"

"You have such little faith in me." James said, pretending to be offended.

"Well, it's awful mugglish for you." Lily said.

"I have played baseball before Lily, remember, I'm a good fielder.  It's relatively easy compared to all the rules of quidditch." James said.

"Ahh, you so modest." Lily joked.  They didn't have anything else to talk about, so they didn't say anything the rest of the way to the field.  "Here it is, James, good luck.  I guess I'm supposed to wait on you."

"I'll astound you with my amazing skills." James laughed, and Lily slid into the bleachers.  James was the first one there, aside from the coach's son. James and the coach's son were playing catch, and Lily found this very boring.  She pulled out her handy dandy nail file and went to work on her nails.  Teenage guys were slowly trickling in.  Very good looking teenage guys in Lily's opinion, although they lacked the cute, adorable, charismatic qualities James possessed.  They were all playing catch to warm up, waiting on anybody else who might be there while one of the bolder and better looking ones decided to come sit by Lily.  Actually, ON Lily would probably be a better description since if he got any closer he would be sitting in her lap.  The dunce seemed oblivious of the fact she kept scooting over away from him.  Lily kept scooting, the guy scooting with her, until she had no place left to scoot.  Lily finally moved to the very edge of the row in front of her, and as planned, the guy followed suite.  Then Lily switched sides so he was on the edge of the bleachers.  She he tried to put his arm around her, Lily pushed him off the bleachers and said, "I beleive you're here to play baseball, not talk to me.  I don't even know you.  You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers."

"So, sweetheart, when do you want to go out with me?"

"How about never?  Is that good enough for you?"

The whole baseball team was watching this now, snickering at the guy who thought he was God's gift to women.  Lily sat back down on the bleachers and resumed her nail filing.  James and the coach's kid were laughing hysterically.  Lily glared at James as the coach called the players back on the field.  She didn't find it very funny.  Anyhow, as it turned out, James ended up being the team's catcher since there was only one other person who wanted to catch, and he was rather lousy.  Lily would rather die than wear the catcher's gear in the heat of summer, but to each his own.  Their pitcher turned out to be the guy who hit on Lily, and needless to say, James didn't care much for him.  After practice was over, James walked over to Lily and said, "See, I told you I knew how to play."

"Yeah, go ahead and rub it in, I was wrong."

"I wouldn't dream of it." James said, taking Lily's hand.

"Don't tell me you're going out with the catcher!" The guy who liked Lily said.

"Uh, yeah.  Don't tell me you still haven't taken the hint to leave me alone."

"You said you didn't know who I was."

"Yeah?"

"My name is Chris, I'm sixteen, and I want to get to know you better."

"What you want isn't always what you get." Lily said, trying to walk away.

"Come on, I'm the team's pitcher.  He's only the catcher."

"And if he wasn't the catcher, you might as well not be pitching, because that other guy would miss every time.  What's so great about being the pitcher anyhow?"

"Everything.  The game depends on me."

"Haven't you ever heard there's no I in team?"

"A loser made that up.  He apparently wasn't the star player."

"So I guess you made it up, huh?" Lily asked sweetly, and Chris sneered at her.

"You seem to think an awful lot of yourself."

"Look who's talking."

"Bitch." Chris said.  James punched him.

"Nobody calls Lily names." He said coldly.  Chris and James were glaring at each other, as if willing death by a glance.

"Umm, James, my parents will be worried if I don't get home.  I havae to go to the salon at three." Lily said, trying to get him to leave before they decided to get into a knock out drag out fight.  James didn't acknowledge that he heard Lily.  She wasn't sure what she should do exactly, so she just walked away, thinking 'James can take care of himself.  He should just walk away.'

But he's defending you, Lily.

Oh, no, not that dumb voice again.

Oh, me again.  Why don't you go get him?

Because it would probably embarrass him having me drag him away.  Just leave me alone.

Fine, if you say so.

Lily walked back home to get ready for her trip to the salon.  She wanted to do something different to her hair yet again.  Lily watched out her bedroom window while she was getting ready, wanting to see if James was home yet.  When she still hadn't seen him go in his house five minutes before she had to leave, she promised herself that she would check after she got back from the salon.  Lily ended up getting a loose perm and and trim.  When she and her mother had gotten home, Lily walked over to the Potter house.  Mr. Potter opened the door.

"Hi, Lily.  If you're wanting to see James, he's in his room."

"Okay." Lily said, waiting on Mr. Potter to call James down.

"Uh, you'll have to go upstairs to see him, he's feeling a little under the weather.  See if you can stop Gina from tormenting him while you're at it."

"Uh, sure." Lily said, walking quickly to James's room.  This was all of her fault if he was hurt.Lily knocked on his door.

"It's open."  Lily walked in to see James lying on his bed with some ice on his jaw.

"Er, what happened?" Lily asked, fidgeting.

"Nothing." James said shortly.  Oh great, he was in one of those moods again.

"I guess nothing is the reason that you have a bruise on your jaw."

"Actually, that stupid git Chris is, but that's not the point at the moment."

"What is the point."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Why not?"

"I just don't."

"You can tell me.  What was it?"

"Fine, he was just calling you some stuff and we got in a fight."

"How bad was this fight?"

"All I have is a bruised jaw.  He looks a lot worse than me."

"Well.  How nice.  I thought you were really hurt when your dad said you were under the weather."

"He was exaggerating.  Worried were you?" James asked with a sly smile.  "You can sit down you know."

"Where at?" Lily asked, his room was a junk pit.  He had managed to destroy it in one short day. 

"Uh, just move those books over there, I guess.  I'm not much of a cleaner."

"I can tell." Lily said dryly, looking around the room.  It was done completely in Gryffindor scarlet with gold trim.  Blinding to be exact.

"Hey, it could be worse." James said.

"Not much." Lily laughed.

"Your hair looks really, umm, nice." James said.

"Thank you, I would hate for you to get into another fistfight." Lily said, making them both laugh.

"Yeah, you're scarier than most guys when you're mad." James said.

"Look who's talking.  Mr-break-my-broomstick-just-because-I-lost himself."

"Ohhh, I still haven't told Dad about that yet." James said.

"I suggest you wait until he forgets about today's incident.  He didn't look to thrilled." Gina said, stepping in the room.

"Can it Gina." James said.

"You're going to scare poor Lily off with your magnificent housekeeping skills."

"Hey, my room's pretty clean." James said.

"Yeah, if you overlook the books on the floor, the clothes all over the place, and prank stuff wherever there's room."

"James?  Lily?  Can I come in?" James's mum called, apparently afraid to come in the room.

"Yeah Mum." James said.  His mother came in, looking around the place warily.

"You have managed to destroy your room in one day.  Unbelievable!"

"Did you have a reason for coming in here?" James asked.

"Yes.  Lily, your dad called to say that you need to go home immediately and get ready to go running with him."

"WHAT?" Lily shrieked. 

"That's what he said."  Mrs. Potter said and walked out.                                                   Lily started muttering something, making James laugh.  She kissed him lightly on the forehead, being careful to avoid his bruised jaw and left.  Honestly!  Her dad was going to make her go running on her first full day back. What was he doing, running a boot camp?  Lily got home to see her dad waiting for her impatiently.
"Missy, you have been neglecting your physical fitness, and it will stop now. You're spending too much time with the Potter boy. You need whipped back into shape."
"Okay, okay, Dad. Let me change." Lily said, rushing up the stairs. She pulled out a pair of shorts, t-shirt, and running shoes. Two hours later, a winded Mr. Evans jogged up to his front door. Five minutes later, Lily was walking very slowly, panting, and collapsed on the stoop.  Petunia came out, obviously armed with some nasty comments, but Lily interrupted her, "Petunia, just let me live my final moments in peace."                             "So, supergirl can't handle the running, can she?" Petunia asked smugly.                             "I can outrun you even now." Lily said hotly.                                                                 "I'd like to see you try, let me change." Petunia said snootily.  Lily put on some sweat-free clothes.  She looked at the bright side, if James saw her like this, she would know he didn't like her just because of her looks.  She looked worse than something the cat dragged in.  Lily's new outfit was sleeveless, and Petunia's was almost topless.  Petunia was wearing the shortest shorts possible and a tube top.  Quite a horrifying picture.  Lily and Petunia went running, and the sad part was the exhausted Lily could keep up with Petunia.  This time, both Petunia and Lily collapsed as soon as they stepped in their yard, and fell fast asleep.  An hour later, Logan and Debbie Evans were searching frantically for their daughters, not able to find them anywhere.  When they didn't come down for dinner, they searched the house.  Then they called Petunia's boyfriend's house and the Potters, but to no avail.  They looked inside and outside, upstairs and down, and finally asked the Potters to check again for Lily.  James was still in his room, nursing his wound.  After the Potters got the second call, they became worried about Lily too, so they started looking.  James was searching the yard, when he found the two girls asleep.  Petunia had fallen asleep under the willow tree right by the gate, but Lily was lying in the bright sunlight, a hand slung over her eyes.  James could see why they hadn't been found, both were wearing a green the same color as the grass, not making them noticable.  James woke Petunia up first, and she grumpily went in the house.  Then he woke Lily up.  She went to stand up, but collapsed.  When he looked at her, he could see why.  Every inch of Lily's skin not covered was a bright red.  She was going to have one nasty sunburn.  He gently carried her to the house and laid her down on the couch, waiting on her parents.  After about twenty minutes, they came in to check if the girls had been found, relieved when they saw Lily lying on the couch. 

"Umm, I think she has a bad sunburn.  She collapsed when she tried to stand." James said.

"I can see that." Debbie said sharply, touching her daughter's skin, making her flinch awake.

"That was smart." James muttered, making Logan, who heard, chuckle.  Lily immediately tried to sit up.

"You ought to lie down, sweetheart." Mr. Logan said.

"It hurts to lie down.  In case you can't tell, I'm sunburned all over."

"Well, technically, just where you didn't have clothes on."

"Ya wanna bet?" Lily asked, lifting her shirt tail slightly to expose her burned stomach.

"How'd that happen?" James asked, not happy at being wrong.

"Her shirt was too thin." Mrs. Evans said.

"Well it's nice we know how it happened, but can we do something about it?" Lily snapped, not at all happy.

"Go put on your loosest and skimpiest clothes, and we'll put some aloe vera on it." Her mother said gently.  Lily walked stiffly out of the room.

"I will be going home now, sir." James said, heading towards the door.

"Okay, thanks for finding them for us.  Why don't you come back later this evening, I'm sure Lily will enjoy your company." Mr. Evans said with a smile, and Mrs. Evans frowned.

"Sure, 8 o'clock?" James asked.

"That will be just fine." Mr. Evans said with a smile. Lily was in her room, three hours later, watching "I Dream of Jeannie" on her TV.  Lily had a sheet that she kept wrestling with, but was currently pulled up to armpits.  James entered her room.

"You're dad said I could come talk the invalid."

"Gee thanks."  Lily said, wondering why he was looking at her so strangely.

"Umm, Lily, this might not be polite to ask, but do you have clothes on?"

"WHAT?  Of course I have clothes on you dolt?  Do you think my dad would let you up here if I didn't?!"

"Uh, I guess not, but are you sure, because it doesn't look like it?"

"Yes, I'm sure, see?" Lily said, kicking off the sheet as best as she could, revealing a pair of pajama shorts and a tube top."Oh." James said shortly.

"Now can you put the sheet back on me?  It hurts my skin to move."

"Sure." James said, and recovered her. 

"How's your jaw?" Lily asked.

"Okay, it doesn't hurt anymore.  Why were you sleeping outside?"

"After my dad put me through basic training, Petunia said she could outrun me.  I couldn't let her get away with saying that, so I raced her.  We both collapsed as soon as we hit out yard."

Lily and James chatted for awhile longer, and then watched the TV.  At 9:30  James said, "I think I probably ought to leave before I get thrown out." He kissed her lightly and exited the room.  A week later, Lily was still wearing spaghetti strapped shirts and loose shorts.  Her skin was almost back to normal, no longer red, and only mildly sore.  She would also be going with the Potters to James's first ball game.  During the game Mr. Potter looked at Lily's animated face with sadness.  He wished he wouldn't have to separate them so soon.  James's team won the game.  After James shook the other team's hands and got stripped out of his catcher's gear he went running up to his family and Lily. 

"See, I told all of you we would win."

"Congratulations, James." His father said.

"I think you played well, but I'm not sure since it was a muggle game." His mother said with a smile.

"You didn't screw up too much." Gina said begrudgingly.

"You played well, James.  Good job." Lily said with a smile.  James went to hug her, but she backed up like lightening and said, "No way, remember my sunburn?" Causing his family to laugh. A week later James came by Lily's house.  She answered the door.  "Lily, I need to tell you something."

"Sure." Lily answered, and led him to the porch swing.  He was silent for a minute then said, "Lily, my family is moving in two weeks.  We would have to move sooner, but we will have to pack our stuff the muggle way, with a truck, since there are so many around here.  We would probably have a couple more weeks, except all of our houses have separate furniture so we don't have to move it.  We're moving the London house and I'm babbling, aren't I?"

"Yeah, but why are you moving?"

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