Just That Simple
-----
When she said that she had to restock, he had offered to carry her things because that was what a gentleman would do. If he had known that she would've practically bought out the store, he would've reconsidered the offer.
"Was it really necessary for you to buy all this?" James complained for perhaps the tenth time.
Lily promptly ignored him as she went through her list of things to get. "Let's see, I have quills, parchments, books, and ink…what else do I need?" Grumbling, James muttered something that she wasn't able to hear. "What was that?" She asked sharply.
He lowered the bags on the ground and stretched out his cramped arms. "I need to buy some things too now that I think about it." He mused, ignoring her question. "Would you mind coming?" She paused, but nodded. "I guess it would only be fair."
"No, it'd be fair if I made you carry my things as well." He corrected. "Lucky for you, I am a gentleman." Lily rolled her eyes. "You're no gentleman, Potter. What are you going to get anyway?" Giving her a sheepish look, he said. "I suppose Zonko's would be a problem with you right?"
"Potter, you're Head Boy!" Came her scathing response. "You can't go around playing pranks on the students!" James sighed and shook his head. "Of course. Dreadfully sorry. Stupid of me to suggest it to you."
Lily bit her lip. What was that supposed to mean? Sure she must come off as a terrible bore at times, but she was Head Girl. She had responsibilities and she was going to take them seriously - even if he wouldn't.
Still, hearing him say, if not imply it, made her feel…well she couldn't figure out what it made her feel but it was definitely nothing good. She watched him pick up the bags and say something that she didn't catch. Only when he started walking did she realize that she was getting left behind. Lily quickly caught up with him as casual as she could. Damn him and his long legs!
"…I heard that they imported a bunch of new things from India. It'd be interesting to see what they have." James said.
Not wanting James to know that she hadn't been listening, she replied, perhaps a bit too quickly. "Oh definitely!"
"I never knew you liked those things." He said mildly.
"Shows just how much you know about me." Lily retorted, still unsure about what he was talking about and where he was taking her. "I happen to be very into that stuff." He raised an eyebrow at her. "So would you be willing to role play for me?"
"Excuse me?"
James threw her a grin. "Surely you wouldn't reveal this side of yourself if you didn't mean to share it with me. Galleon Girl is only a few blocks away if you want to buy a few new robes."
Lily froze with shock. Galleon Girl? Lily whirled around and slapped him smartly across the face - satisfied when his head whipped to the side.
"You pig! You think that I would actually shop in that - that tramp store?!"
"If I remember correctly you were the one who said you were into those things!" James retorted, rubbing his injured cheek.
"I didn't know what you were talking about in the first place!" She shouted, her face burning with more anger than embarrassment. Honestly! And to think that she was going to be nice to him! Lily was about to give him a piece of her mind when she saw the triumphant gleam in his eyes. "Aha! I knew it." He exclaimed. "You weren't listening to me at all were you?"
She snorted. "Of course I was, imports from India and all that junk."
"Well you obviously didn't hear everything." He replied. "I was talking about Honeydukes."
Lily blinked. "W-what?" James sighed and gave her a look. "I was saying how Honeydukes had gotten a supply of sweets imported from India. That country's been known for their Taffy Spice Lizards and I wanted to try some for myself."
Lily flushed. "Why did you lead me on then?" She demanded. "And out of all places, Galleon Girl?!"
"It's not my fault you're so gullible." James laughed. "How you didn't notice that Galleon Girl was in the other direction is beyond me! It's not even in Hogsmeade anymore. Too many parents were complaining and they had to relocate."
"Good! This is no place to host things of that sort!"
"I couldn't agree more!" He replied loudly and grabbed her arm. "Now that we've reached common grounds, let's go." James practically dragged Lily the rest of the way. "Hey, slow down!" Lily exclaimed, trying to pull free from his grasp. "Not everyone is a giant like you!" James stopped and gave her a sheepish grin, loosening his hold enough for her to snatch her arm back. "Sorry, I've just been looking forward to trying them for a while." He explained, walking at a much slower pace.
"I couldn't tell," She said sarcastically, still wanting to smack him for his trick earlier. "Besides, don't your parents buy you sweets?"
To Lily, it was a reasonable question. It was a known fact that the Potters were a very prestigious, very rich family. Naturally it was assumed then that his parents would buy him whatever he wished. The look on James' face however, told her that she was wrong, big time. James grew solemn almost unnaturally, brown eyes seeming to cloud over. "Well," He said evenly, a little too evenly. "My folks are really busy…being Aurors and such…it seems kind of silly to ask them for some sweets."
Although his tone was controlled and she had to applaud him for giving nothing away, Lily had all she needed to know to feel really horrible. There was, after all, a war brewing outside the safety of Hogwarts. A war about who was deemed fit to practice magic and to live in the Wizarding World. Every day the Daily Prophet listed more casualties in battles and attacks. Every day people were falling victims for being 'impure' or because they were fighting to protect those people - to protect the innocent.
She never knew his parents were Aurors.
What were those names again? Oh yes. Mudbloods. Half-breeds. Blood Traitors.
Evans is a Muggleborn! Evans is a Mudblood! She remembered all too clearly. And James…his parents were Aurors - Blood Traitors. People who chose to be in danger, people who were fighting and sacrificing and dying so that people like her could be free to simply be in their world.
"Oh," Lily said softly. Shaking his head slightly, James smiled at her. There's that smile. She thought. He's always smiling at me… like I make things that much better for him.
"Anyway, Mum never really wanted me to have too much sweets, said it was bad for the teeth." Why? Why are you telling me this?
"Padfoot was the one who snuck me sugar when she wasn't looking though. It drove her crazy when the two of us were bouncing off the walls and making vases explode." This is so personal.
Lily realized that she was being too quiet and quickly said, "I can only imagine." He looked down at her and their eyes locked, making her heart skip a beat. Please don't look at me like that. James grinned and winked at her, making her look away as she felt a small blush bloom across her face. I don't know what to think when you do.
"My Mum was made out of tough stuff Evans, don't underestimate her. She had the two of us levitating upside down when we really messed up!" You must really love her. How can you possibly want me around when it's people like me that put her life in danger?
James swore when Honeydukes was in sight. "Look at that crowd! I was hoping to get here earlier to avoid this."
"Well why didn't you then?"
"Nonsense, at the risk standing you up?"
"You didn't have to wait, you know." Lily said. "You didn't even know if I was coming or not."
"Don't be ridiculous." He replied briskly. "If there was even a small chance that you would come, I'd wait as long as it takes." Well she didn't have a response to that. "Well come on. We're getting in that store if it's the last thing I do." He took hold of her hand and led her quickly towards the store. Surprisingly, she couldn't find it in her to protest this time.
James dragged her deep into the heart of Honeydukes where other students were cramped up trying to sample the newest item on shelf. Lily couldn't help but smile at the happy energy. James heard her laugh and turned to look at her. Seeing his questioning gaze, she explained. "I've forgotten how busy this place is." Nodding, he stopped when he reached the shelf stocked full of chocolate frogs and other assortments. James reached up and proceeded to stuff handfuls of Chocolate Frogs, Sugar Quills, and other sweets in his bag.
"Isn't that a bit much?" Lily asked. He rolled his eyes and continued shoving sweets inside the bag. A tingling in his pockets made him grin and he discreetly slipped a few feet away from Lily while she was looking at a box of jumping jellybeans. James lowered the bags he was carrying and took out a small mirror. He was greeted with his best friend's reflection. "Oi Padfoot, how's detention going?"
Sirius Black rolled his eyes exasperated. "The same threats as always, you'd think they'd come up with something new from time to time." James grinned. "Anyway, the Professor's in one of her moods again so I won't be able to make it out to meet you like we planned. You'll have to get the stuff from Zonko's yourself."
"I wish I could, but Evans won't go near that store. I suggested it earlier and she nearly ripped my head off."
Sirius was floored. "You mean to tell me that she actually showed up?!" He exclaimed slack-jawed. "Way to go Prongs! Lady Luck is finally shinning down on you…that or she's off her rocker." James sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Your confidence in me is quite astounding Padfoot, it truly is."
"Well you must admit though, I'm the charming one." He said looking quite pleased with himself. "You're just the sidekick."
"Don't be daft," James retorted. "I'm just as charming, if not more."
Sirius shrugged. "Fine, deny the truth...Drat, I have to go, I hear McGonagall -" Sirius had apparently shoved the mirror into his robes because he disappeared from view. James could hear him trying to weasel his way out of being caught and snickered. "Hello Professor! Have a nice trip to the loo? Oh of course, terribly inappropriate, sorry…What? You must be mistaken, there's nothing in my hands…no no, I swear it on my family honor…HEY!"
There was a quick fumbling and James realized that McGonagall had most likely summoned the mirror from his robes. "It's just a mirror! I have to look my best for your class of course." Sirius said innocently.
James broke the connection so that it would once again become an ordinary pocket mirror, thus saving Sirius some fast thinking. He might blow a fuse from the strain. He thought. Looking around, he realized that he lost track of where Lily was. James craned his neck a bit to look for her signature red hair and saw that she was curiously looking at a display of Cherry Criers. Grinning he grabbed the bags and made his way to her. Sneaking up behind her, he quickly grabbed her shoulders while shouting, "Boo!"
Lily nearly jumped out of her skin and she whirled around to see James clutching his sides, shaking with laughter. "You jerk." She hit him on the arm, face flushed with embarrassment. "Sorry, couldn't resist." James replied once he calmed down. Adjusting his glasses, he grinned at her in that stupidly boyish way she found charming on occasions. "Looking at the antique candies are we?"
Still a bit miffed, Lily replied curtly. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't lie to me. You were looking at the Cherry Criers." He replied. "There's nothing to be ashamed of, I'm still fond of those lemon drops Dumbledore keeps offering me every time I visit him." Lily looked at him curiously, anger fading away. "Lemon drops? As in the muggle candies?" He nodded. "Don't you know? Oh well, I suppose not. When I was about six, the Wizarding World got swept up in the muggle phenomenon lemon drops. It was a nice sweet to suck on and quite affordable."
"However," James lectured on with a mock professor-like voice that made Lily crack a smile unwillingly. "The craze died down in a few years and lemon drops were quickly replaced by the now classic, Chocolate Frogs."
"You made that up, didn't you?" She accused. Startled, James looked at her as if to say, "Who me?" but the grin threatening to split his lips said otherwise. "Well yes, but I did get really addicted to them when I was a kid. Still am, I suppose."
Lily looked back at the display. "Why are they called 'Cherry Criers' anyway?"
"You've never had one before?" He asked surprised. She shook her head. "You know that I must force you to try it then." He unwrapped one of the foiled candy and held it up to her mouth. Hesitantly, she plucked the candy out of his hand and popped it in her mouth. A warm feeling spread over her as her muscles relaxed. The candy was very sweet and she closed her eyes to savor it. Lily opened her eyes when she heard James laughing and when she opened her mouth to speak, the strangest thing happened.
"Mew."
James looked like he was suffocating.
Completely bewildered, she covered her mouth, afraid of what had happened to her voice. Slowly she uncovered her mouth and tested her voice again. "Meow?" Horrified, she turned to James who had just started to recover his composure.
"Relax Evans, it's only temporary." He said once he was able to speak. Seeing the murderous look in her eyes, he explained quickly. "The reason they're called 'Cherry Criers' is because it tends to make people cry out different animal sounds. It'll wear off when you're finished eating."
Almost immediately, he heard her crunching the candy in her mouth and swallowing it. Taking a deep breath, she softly spoke. "Hello?" Satisfied, she turned her glare on him. "Potter you jerk! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Where's the fun in that?" He dodged her fist. "Anyway, who knew you were such an adorable pet? You were purring and everything!"
"Was not!" she exclaimed blushing. Great, how was she supposed to live that down? Stupid Potter and his stupid tricks. She thought vehemently. James smiled widely and hooked an arm around her shoulders, drawing her near. "You're my little pet kitten! Aren't you just the sweetest thing?" He pinched her cheeks as he cooed, making Lily turn a shade darker.
"Let go of me!" She wrenched out of his grip and turned away from him huffing.
"My kitten has claws." He teased.
"I am not your pet!" Lily whirled around and sent him such a frosty glare that James immediately sobered up. "If you're going to be such a bloody prat, I'm leaving." She pushed her way through the crowd and managed to get out onto the main road. "He'll never change," She said to herself angrily. "Stupid of me to think otherwise…so stupid of me to-"
"Evans!"
Gritting her teeth, Lily purposely tuned out his voice and quickened her pace. She didn't want to see him. She didn't care anymore. He could stuff his face with candy until his teeth rots. He could go at break-neck speed on his stupid broomstick. He could run around with his stupid friends at night, get caught by Filch and risk expulsion. He could ruffle his stupid hair a thousand times a day. She hoped he starts balding when he turns twenty. It's not like she ever worried about him. It's not like even she cared about him. It's not like he ever did anything but tease her. It's not like he was serious in wanting her to be his girlfriend. What did she care? She didn't.
Lily was so furious with him that she could've hexed him three lifetimes over when he grabbed her arm and turned her around to face him. Before she could chew him out like she was aching to do, he spoke first. "I was only teasing you know." He said quietly. "Don't you think you're overreacting?"
The words ran in her head as she narrowed her eyes. "I'm overreacting?" She echoed, eyes flashing with anger. James wasn't the least bit intimidated. "Yes, I think you are. If I'd have known you would be like this, I wouldn't have said anything to you at all. I didn't think that you would get so defensive about it." He was using that tone again. That not-so-subliminal hint to her that he thought she was being a stiff.
"Just because I don't appreciate your immature humor doesn't mean that I'm overreacting!" Lily shouted.
"No, it doesn't. Storming out and screaming at me when you know that I'm right and you're wrong, that means you're overreacting." He replied, looking intently at her. She met his eyes defiantly for a few heartbeats before looking away.
Damn, he was right. She was overreacting, but there was no way that she could back down now. Not after yelling at him (again) in public. "You were being such a-"
"Bloody prat?" He supplied with a smile. "Yes, I've been told such. I've also been told that I was a big-headed fool, an insufferable jerk, an arrogant wanker, and my personal favorite, a delusional git with the intelligence of a Squib."
"…I never called you the latter." Lily stated cheeks tinted red from embarrassment. She wasn't that mean to him, was she?
"No you didn't, but I thought that it would've been fun to add that one in." He winked and she couldn't help but color more. James gave a quick laugh and stretched. "Now that we've done our row for the hour," He said calmly as if she hadn't been yelling at him a minute ago. "What do you suppose we do now? I don't feel like braving through that crowd again."
Lily shrugged, glad that he wouldn't demand an apology from her. She always hated admitting she was wrong. "Just do a bit of window shopping I suppose." James hesitated but acquiesced and started to walk with the bags down the road leading to the little shops dotting the streets. Lily followed and the two walked side by side in silence. She snuck a glance at him, noting the mild but happy look on his face before looking past him at a cute little store with a display of spring cloaks.
She would never admit it of course, that she had even spared him a glance and whether she did or not wasn't the point. What matters in the end was that James saw her looking at him when she thought he didn't know, and that made his grin that much wider.
Suddenly, he halted with wide eyes. Noticing that something was wrong, green eyes inquisitively fell upon him.
"What's wrong?"
"I never got a chance to try the Taffy Spice Lizards!"
The reply was so unexpected, so completely childish that Lily couldn't help the laugh that escaped from her lips. The look of such horror on his face…oh what she wouldn't give for a camera right now, or better yet, a penseive! "You're upset because you didn't get your sweets?"
Miffed that she was laughing at him, James said, "Hey, don't laugh at me! It's your fault I didn't get to try them."
"Me? What did I do?"
Rolling his eyes, he replied, "As if you didn't know. Don't tell me you forgot that you stormed out of there all mad and how I had to run after you!"
Lily paused. "Hey, you didn't have to go after me. Besides, I thought you went off to the display to get them when you disappeared. You must've forgotten it. Don't try to blame me for you being absentminded."
"No, I was no where near the display." James retorted. "And of course I had to go after you. Do you really think that I would let you leave in such a huff?"
"Stop saying that. You don't have to do anything for me. We're not even friends." Lily saw the immediate raw hurt in his eyes after she said that and covered her mouth, wishing that she could take her words back. James looked at her for a moment before shaking his head in disappointment.
"You were right. You obviously don't know anything Evans, much less anything about me."
She winced at his flat tone. Nice going Lily. She thought to herself. Way to go about being nice to him. She watched as James picked up her things and resumed walking with one hand stuffed in his pockets, a bit more slumped in posture than before. And it's all because of me.
Before she knew what she was doing, she found herself running to catch up with him. Lily managed to get ahead and stopped in front of him. "Look, I didn't mean what I said before." She told him apologetically. "I mean, I think that we've gotten much better at communicating and-"
"Save it Evans." He cut her off. "Don't say things that you don't mean. Besides, you're right. We're not really friends at all, are we?" For some reason, hearing her words coming out of his mouth cut her deeper than she would care to admit.
James managed a tight-lipped smile in hopes of elevating the distressed look on her face. "We still have a couple of hours left before we have to round everyone up to go back. Let's finish that window shopping of yours."
"No, we don't have to if you don't want to."
"I don't mind, there's nothing else to do."
"But if you don't want to I'm sure-"
James laughed. "Don't worry Evans, I'll manage to survive your raging feminine needs for clothes and sorts." Lily playfully punched him in the arm. "Doing be such a smart-ass. And this is nothing to when I really get in the mood to shop. I bet you wouldn't be able to keep up with me. You'd probably end up sitting in a chair."
"I probably would," He conceded. "But it wouldn't be so bad if I had some sweets to munch on." She saw the disappointment flash across his face briefly before he covered it up, making her feel that guilty gnawing in her chest again. Lily had to make it up to him for putting up with her behavior today, and she knew exactly how. While she would most likely regret it, Lily was willing to do what was fair.
"You said that you'd show me around Hogsmeade correct?" She asked. He looked at her strangely but nodded. "Well I've never been to this one place and I was wondering if you would care to show me?"
"I thought you knew this place as well as I did." James said. "Are you talking about the Shrieking Shack? I know a lot of people like to avoid going there but I can show you the inside." He smiled playfully and winked at her. "If you get scared, I could hold your hand. I'll make sure no ghosts will bother you with me around."
"I'm sure that's what you'd want to happen." She scoffed. "But I was talking about Zonko's."
To say that he was shocked would've been the understatement of the century. "I'm sorry, I must be going deaf. I thought you said that you wanted me to show you Zonko's Joke Shop."
"I did."
"Are you sick?" He touched her forehead with the back of his hand. "You aren't that warm…maybe you're just tired. That must be it. I told you to stop working yourself so hard over your Head Girl duties. I'll take you back to the carriages so Madame Pomfrey can take a look at you." James took a hold of her wrists but she promptly threw his hands off of her.
"Potter, I'm perfectly fine!"
"But you said-"
"I know what I said!"
Are you sure you're not-"
"Potter!" James closed his mouth in fear of the agitated girl standing in front of him.
Lily closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. When she opened her eyes, she looked at him and spoke.
"I'm fine. I want you to show me Zonko's." She said sincerely.
"W-why?" He asked, still a bit surprised. Her green eyes met his brown ones and James felt his heart jump in his throat when she smiled at him. It was the first time she smiled at him ever and it was better than anything he had ever imagined it to be. "Because I want to get to know you better." She said simply.
It was then that Lily decided that it was the best feeling in the world that she could just string a few words together and make someone as happy as she saw he was. The look of excitement and happiness on his face made her feel pleasantly warm inside.
"Why, are we finally ready to discover your feelings for me?" He teased, eyes sparkling with delight. Lily rolled her eyes and started walking away from him. "I already know what my feelings for you are." She called over her shoulder. "And believe me when I say that it's no where near what your twisted mind is thinking of."
"Well in that case, I just have one thing to say to you." He called after her retreating figure.
Lily turned around to face him. "And what's that Potter?"
James grinned happily. "Zonko's is the other way!"
-----
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling in association with Scholastic Books, Warner Bros, etc.