Cruel Summer
The next two days at Hogwarts were a hazy blur to the Head Girl. A haze of James…and kissing…and being together. It was something she knew she didn't want to give up. Ever. She knew that she sounded like a crazed, love-struck teenager when she thought about him, but frankly, she didn't really care. But she hoped that she wasn't going too overboard and crossing the line to scary-stalker-girl. Lily smiled to herself at the prospect of that, and shifted her eyes to rest on the Gryffindor Seeker that sat across from her in the Muggle Studies meeting.
The thrill and excitement of the Halloween Ball had ended - to everyone's disappointment - and things had mostly gone back to normal. The news of the Head Boy and Girl actually being together had spread through the school like wildfire and everyone, apart from the odd few, had been extremely happy for them. Lily wondered whether this was the case because they were living out a school fantasy. Head Boy…Head Girl…finally realising their feelings for each other and living happily ever after…like High School sweethearts in a Muggle movie. She knew it was a bit cliché, but wasn't that how everything was in the end?
Lily tapped the end of her quill on her chin as she turned her attention back to the Professor, making random notes here and there to look like she had been listening. Truthfully, she didn't really need to make any, being a muggle-born herself, and the things that he was telling the group was basic muggle information anyway.
With the Halloween Ball needing to be arranged and things that had…just made themselves apparent in the last couple of days, Lily had completely forgotten the Muggle Studies trip that was on the Wednesday after. Rachel had been the one to remind her by asking how many hats to wear for the event. She had had trouble trying to convince the girl that even though some Muggles wore hats of some kind, they rarely donned them in numbers.
Lily's gaze strayed over to where the three Marauders were, and she rolled her eyes at their antics and disrespect for the Professor. Sirius and James were trying alternate levitating spells to raise Alice Pembroke's long, golden plaits into the ink wells at the front of their desks. The two boys were sniggering so loud it was a wonder that the Professor didn't deduct house points. Shaking her head one more time and looking back at the Professor, Lily took down arrangements of the shopping centre and the whereabouts of the place. It was explained that they would all use a special Portkey to the Shopping Centre in the city of Milton Keynes; a shopping centre that Lily had been to lots of times and loved. She would have no trouble helping the other students where they needed it.
`I'm very excited about this everyone,' the Professor spoke, his hands clasped to his chest in enthusiasm, `I, myself, have never been to this particular place, and I think it's a wonderful change for me to be learning with you.'
His excitement seemed to pass onto the students as he explained what they would expect when they should arrive. Lily was watching them all in amusement as they chattered and babbled on in excitement. Then everything was broken as a shrill scream pierced the air. She spun around to see her boyfriend covered and dripping in thick, black ink.
After a moment of silence, the room burst into laughter at James' expense. He was glaring daggers at his best friend, whilst Sirius fell about laughing his head off.
`Sorry mate,' Sirius panted between laughs, the sight of the Head Boy catching his eye and setting him off again.
James scraped the sticky liquid from his hair and scrunched his nose in disgust, muttering obscenities like, `This stuff stinks,' and, `Sirius you bloody idiot.'
Alice had jumped up screaming as Jen, a pretty Ravenclaw girl had pointed out to her the Marauders misuse of her braids. The ink, that Sirius had decided to levitate instead of the actual plait, had flown in the other direction due to the surprise that the shriek had caused him, and hitting his best friend square in the face.
James caught Lily watching him as he glanced in her direction, and she threw him a `that-is-what-you-get' look, before turning back around.
`Ok everyone, I think that should conclude our meeting, and we shall meet in the Entrance Hall shortly after breakfast tomorrow morning. Make your way back to the dormitories quietly so not to wake the 1st Years.'
Lily pushed her chair back and stood up, everyone else following and making their way from the classroom. Lily picked her bag up off of the stone floor and put her things away. Turning to follow everyone else, she found herself in front of James, Sirius and Peter. She tried to stifle a laugh behind her hand, but James noticed it nonetheless.
`Fine, make fun of me,' he glared at her, then at Sirius who grinned back.
`I intend to,' she smiled, lifting her hand up to his face and wiping ink off of his lips before leaning forward and kissing him softly.
James grinned as she pulled away and moved around them, making her way to the door and walking through it.
`I'll see you later Padfoot,' James said quickly, running after her with the soppy grin still plastered over his face.
*************************
James pushed Lily backwards into the Head Common Room as the Portrait door opened, kissing her eagerly on the lips. The Head Girl met his ardour equally as she pushed her hands up his chest, around his neck and into the thick locks of his black hair; the black ink now gone from her `Scourgify' spell. She whimpered gently as his tongue stroked hers, occasionally pulling back and taking her full bottom lip with his teeth. The kiss was hot and passionate and saturated with need…everything that their relationship was like.
James backed her up until the small of her back met the thick oak table that stood in the Common Room. He tore his lips from hers and trailed feathery kisses down her neck, alternately sliding his hands over her shoulders, down her sides then round to grip the tops of her thighs, and pulling her into him. Lily leaned backwards onto the table slightly; allowing a better angle for his administrations. She felt his hands slide back up her front, meeting with the buttons on her school shirt and tugging impatiently; hearing the significant sound of cotton tearing. James made a sound low in his throat as he pulled his lips away from her, and took in the appealing contrast of lace and satin skin. Her breathing quickened under his intense gaze, and when his eyes roamed back up to her face she couldn't help but gasp from the fire they held; turning the icy colour into a dark and fervent cobalt.
James brushed the material over her shoulders, letting it flutter to the floor, and not breaking eye contact as she moved her hands up to work on his Gryffindor tie. Slipping it over his head and letting it meet the same fate as her shirt, she pushed his robes over his shoulders. Without another moment more of thought, she pushed him hard backwards, following him until they reached the soft red sofa. Lily placed her hands at the nape of his neck, sliding them down to his chest and pushing him down into the cushions.
The Head Boy looked up into the face of his girlfriend, surprised at the vehemence in her usually tender behaviour. There was such passion in her eyes, lighting them up as though a candle was flickering behind the emerald. He swallowed slowly; a bout of nervousness suddenly taking hold of him as she moved down over his body. James took hold of her arms as she moved to straddle his waist, pulling her down and kissing her hard; making her moan into his mouth.
Lily broke away from him, sitting back and looking at him gently. She gripped the shirt he wore, and slid her hands up to the top button near his neck. Grazing her fingers softly over the skin, she took the button and slowly pushed it through the little hole, her eyes on his. James closed his eyes and frowned in frustration, a low growl emanating from his throat as she worked the shirt open leisurely. A small smirk flitted over her features as the buttons popped open one after the other and James' patience was quickly about to snap. He felt her hands slide over his chest as she brushed the fabric away, felt her eyes follow the movements until she reached the waistband of his trousers.
`Lily…please…' he moaned, sucking in breath as she pulled the zip down slowly.
The Head Girl shifted her eyes to watch him; a sheen of perspiration over his forehead and his eyes pressed shut. She moved back up his body, dropping tiny kisses onto the corner of his mouth and jaw line. He looked so divine and entrancing as he lay there, merciful to her touch…even if it was driving him slowly insane.
`James,' she whispered, blowing cool air gently over the wet spots she'd left, and causing a shiver to run down to the base of his spine.
Their eyes met again, and she paused; just looking at him for a second. She felt his hand roam into her auburn hair as he gently pulled her down into a soft, languorous kiss. James' hands slid back down her body to her thighs that were pressed over his, slowly running his fingers over the silky skin, and making her moan into his mouth as he moved his hand between them.
James whispered into her ear as he brought her closer. Every touch and caress was connected with a soft `I love you' or a promise that seemed to fasten a strong hold on her, pushing her nearer to that moment where everything fell apart.
And then everything did.
James held her and kissed her as everything became normal again. Her breathing…her pulse…James guarded it all. And he whispered against her lips as her hazy eyes met his again. The Head Boy paused for a second then moved out gently from under her, sliding his hands under her body once he had stood, and picking her up easily from the sofa.
Lily, still in her daze, felt her back meet a soft mattress of a bed, and felt tiny shards of electricity over the inside of her wrist as someone kissed it. Her eyes fluttered open as James moved up over her, and laid a cute kiss on the tip of her nose. She wound her hands back up into his hair; tugging him back down to kiss her, wanting to feel the passion that they always had together. Lily couldn't explain it, she never could; a need so strong that she just wanted to touch him, feel him on her, no space between their skin.
She felt him gasp lightly as she deftly pushed down the dark boxers, winding her thigh around his and pushing the garment off slowly with her foot as she gazed wantonly up at him. He couldn't stand the delicious look that she had across her features; ardent and passionate yet innocent in a way James felt he could never comprehend. And it certainly didn't douse the flames either, which were licking up the insides of his body as the gaze seemed to become more intense. He couldn't stand it, he needed her again and again; it would never stop.
James pulled at the last piece offending material that separated their bodies, making it come away easily in his hand. He felt her breath against his skin and her pulse beating rhythmically, getting quicker as he moved over her; their skin pressed tight. James tugged on her bottom lip before kissing her again, meeting barely no resistance this time as he slid gently inside her.
Lily gasped a little as James entered her; it was different to the last time, a different kind of feeling. Him being inside of her, being one with her. Lily stroked the short hairs at the nape of his neck as they looked at each other. A small smile graced her lips as the feelings broke and he pulled back. The loss of it was overwhelming, an emptiness, like losing half of herself. A moan escaped her throat as he pushed back in firmly, and Lily knew he was holding back; not wanting to hurt her.
`Please James…god…'
She could feel a light sheen of sweat on his shoulders as she held him tightly, the feel of it somehow strangely invigorating as he pushed back again. Her back arched slightly as he moved inside her. James brought their lips together again imitating the motions of his movements with his tongue and making her whimper into his mouth.
Lily moved with him as his administrations sped up on their own accord, thrusting deeper inside of her and making her fingers dig deeper into the muscles of his back, softly urging. Moments of lasting together and around one another. Her hips met his, skin and warmth joining together, his pants of breath with near completion and her answering gasps.
`Lily…god, I love you,' James moaned as he felt the end approach; the feeling where you fall and can't turn back.
Slipping his hand down in between their bodies to their joining, he met where his hand had been moments before, gently bringing her back up to the height she dropped from previously. But sensation was deeper this time, making everything erratic and passionate. James could feel himself falling as she did, over the edge again where bliss was spoon-fed and everything was just so calm.
Slow…velvety…perfection…
****************************
`I hate getting up early!' Sirius whined as he squinted at Peter, `Stupid Muggle Studies…I dunno why we even have to do it…we went to Evans' house during the summer didn't we? That should be enough!'
Peter looked at the black haired Marauder and shook his head amicably. Sirius had only taken the subject due to the fact that he thought that it would be an easy way out of having to work, but apparently, that kind of backfired on him and left him with a lot more work than he would have liked; namely one - getting up earlier.
`It's not like I will need the thing in the real world anyway…it's just a stupid excuse for a lesson.'
Peter kept his mouth shut as his best friend grumbled on about the cruelty that was Muggle life and quickly got dressed. It wasn't that he enjoyed the fact of getting up anymore than Sirius did, but he knew that he would probably bite his head off in irritation if he did say anything.
`Look at this!' Sirius might as well have screeched, thrusting the Muggle Jeans under Peter's nose and shaking them with rage, `What the hell is this?!! They look ridiculous! People are going to remember this forever if I go out looking like a damn idiot.'
Peter sighed and turned away to his bed, where he neatly folded the blue pyjamas and rested them on his pillow. He looked back at Sirius who was picking up the rest of the Muggle clothes and muttering profanity under his breath as he glared daggers at them.
`Look it's only for one day Padfoot, and James said th…'
`One day could ruin my reputation!' Sirius snapped back, rounding on the small Marauder, `This is a nightmare, how does Evans put up with this stuff?'
Peter shrugged, not really worrying about the clothes as he answered, `James said it was what they wear, and Lily helped him buy all that stuff anyway so…I wouldn't worry.'
Sirius chucked the shirt back down onto his bed that he had been holding, and scoffed at Peter's statement, `Damn, she has got him so whipped! Making him buy Muggle clothes? Huh, I don't think so!'
Sighing in exasperation, Peter pulled the purple tie around his neck. He knew that anything that anyone did, said or breathed was going to annoy Sirius today and so he just left him to it. This was one argument that he was going to avoid; if that was even possible. He'd let James deal with him, after all, he or Remus were the best at managing the Marauders temper tantrums, and Remus was still asleep, surprisingly with all the ranting Sirius was doing.
Hmm, maybe he zones it out…
Peter was actually surprised that Sirius was moaning about having to wear the Muggle clothes as he was sure that he had worn them to Lily's.
Maybe it's because of his mood…I'm not going to get involved.
When Sirius had finally got dressed and ready, they made their way down to the Great Hall with their bags, carrying their parchment and Muggle pens in. They had always used those kinds of pens for this class, and they only seemed to agitate the Marauder even more when he saw them sitting at the bottom of his school bag. They entered the hall and Sirius chose to glare at anyone that dared to look at him, challenging them to say something to his face. No one did. Thankfully, it was still early and not many people were up then, but it seemed that a few of the Slytherins that the Marauders disliked had got up especially to see Sirius' change in attire. Sitting down at the table, Peter could practically feel Sirius bristling across from him as he loaded his plate up with food.
After a few minutes they were glad when James and Lily walked into the Great Hall together, and made their way over to Gryffindor table. They were both dressed in Muggle clothing, making Sirius scowl when he realised that James could pull it off better than he could.
`Hey guys,' James said as he sat down next to the scowling Marauder, Lily sitting next to him.
`Looking forward to today?' Lily asked, the question being directed to everyone.
James turned to his best friend as he grunted in disapproval to the inquiry, `What's wrong with you?'
`Nothing,' he snapped back.
`Nothing?' James smirked, `You've practically got steam coming out of your ears! What happened?'
`I look like a damn fool! And! I had to get up early for the privilege!'
`Is that all?' Lily asked tentatively.
`Isn't that enough?!'
`He's been like this all morning,' Peter grumbled to James.
`Oh, shut your trap! And what the hell is that thing around your neck?'
`Wha…it-it's a tie,' Peter stuttered, looking down at his garment and holding it up, `Muggles wear them, you know! Lots of them do!'
Sirius snorted, `Yeah right, it makes you look like a dork.'
James looked at his girlfriend who was trying to contain her laughter behind her hand.
`We just look like idiots,' the Marauder continued, `you included Wormtail.'
Lily looked between the boys. She could tell that James had lent the clothes that she and he had bought, to Sirius, and they seemed to fit him well. To make it plain, he didn't look that bad actually.
`Hey!' Peter frowned, `I know what Muggles wear actually, and they do wear this!'
She didn't want to burst his bubble, but if he did go out like that he would be laughed at.
`Erm…actually Peter, Muggles don't tend to wear ties with jeans and stuff you know? It's not the…typical fashion out there.'
Peter flushed slightly from humiliation and pulled the tie over his head, mumbling, `It didn't feel right anyway.'
Sirius smirked and snickered at the smaller Marauder and then stopped as Lily turned to him instead.
`What?' he asked warily.
`You don't actually look that bad Sirius. Stylish, but not overly so…you look good. All the Muggle girls will be fawning over you.'
Sirius' mood picked right up after her compliment and he grinned, imagining having queues of girls after him in the shopping centre.
`Why thank you Lils', you look pretty good yourself.'
`Hey, no flirting with the girlfriend Padfoot,' James argued playfully.
Lily rolled her eyes at both of them, and Sirius grinned again, `Sorry dude. Girls just love me.'
The Head girl laughed silently as a few girls across the table caught onto Sirius' statement and looked longingly at him.
`There is no doubt that that is true Siri',' she said sweetly.
*****************************
After breakfast, they made their way to the Hogwarts entrance, where the rest of the Muggle Studies class were all assembled and waiting. A few Professors were helping to put the students all into a few smaller groups as they would be traveling by Portkey and could only go a few by each. Dumbledore had made the Portkeys that had been approved by the Ministry, making six in total to travel by.
The Marauders had found Rachel - due to the command of the Head Girl - and had made sure that they all stayed together in a group, as they held onto the Portkey/glove. Dumbledore had arranged that when they arrived at the Muggle Shopping Centre, they would appear inside it, but with a cloaked charm fully around the lot of them; so that the Muggles wouldn't notice them as they appeared before their eyes. It reminded Lily of the Wizard pub in London that Muggles couldn't see, but which was definitely there.
She didn't have much time to think much more about this though as she felt the familiar tug behind her navel as the Portkey activated. She held onto her bag tightly as they swirled through nothingness until they hit the floor with a jar; sending some of the students to their knees with a thud.
`Well, I guess we're here,' she said softly as they all looked at their surroundings.
The Muggles around them seemed nonchalant about the fact that just over thirty wizards and witches had just appeared in front of them, and they stepped around the group and went off into the shops around them. Chatter started quickly between the girls as they spotted the colossal amount of shops; feeling the desire to go and explore, and more importantly, to spend.
`Hold on Class,' the Professor called, making everyone groan in displeasure, `now, I know you all want to go off and investigate the place, but please remember that this is an assignment and that you have to do research as well. I would like us all back here at the large Muggle Clock in four hours.'
James groaned at the last part of the Professors statement, `Muggle time…I'm so glad you're here Lils'.'
Lily looked at him and then at the other three, then answered sarcastically, `Thank you, I feel so loved…for my time reading abilities apparently.'
James grinned and kissed her hair as she took a moment to think. All of them were Purebloods, and they were relying on her to get them all through this. The shopping, the money, the times, the people. Everything.
`This is going to be a long four hours,' she thought out loud.
`Aww, don't worry Lil,' Rachel spoke up, slipping her arm through the Head Girls' and pulling her away from James, `lets go shopping!'
-->