The Notebook
Chapter Six: He's Got It!
***May I just say that Monday (April 11th) was my sixteenth birthday! Yay! I actually came in here on Monday night, to put up a chapter for you all, as a birthday present to you, but when I got online I couldn't remember what I was on for! So I went to bed, feeling rather stupid… Even if I was a year older. But really, you can just pretend today is my b-day! See, it works. Lol… Hope you all enjoy, I kind of like this chapter… -Lils***
[Onto the fic!]
"What is it with people and Friday the thirteenth?" Lily muttered, jumping over a puddle of muck. "They act like just because it's October, it's worse than any other day…"
She'd been given the day off early… Bobbie, her boss, had said she'd be better off at home for the rest of the day. Lily eagerly took to the opportunity to leave- anything to skip out on paperwork. She really did hate being bent over a stack of parchment all day. Not only did it make her back ache, but her left hand was completely covered in black ink that wouldn't ever come off. It wasn't quite the job she'd expected. They used more parchment in a day that any of the scribes down the hall.
"I imagine it's the simple fact that horrible things always seem to happen to even the best of employees, especially those with clumsy hands and feet." said a voice very near Lily's ear.
She grinned and turned to the speaker, whose head was nearly touching her own, as he leaned down. "You think so?" she cocked her head to the side. "Wait… Bobbie told you I have clumsy hands and feet?" She frowned at him now and took a step back, feeling gravely offended.
"Something along that line. I stopped by to see you earlier, because I got the rest of the day off, thank Merlin. Moody seemed to think there was nothing do in any of the offices, so he told us all to go home. Good thing he didn't see Sirius's desk, or he'd be owling us back in about two seconds." James grinned impishly and wrapped his arms around his fiancée. "Constant vigilance!" He winked. "Let's go home, love."
"Cheers."
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"Lily, dear, do you and James have a date picked yet for your wedding?"
Lily laughed quietly and leaned against the clothes rack. "Not exactly." she glanced shyly at James's mum, Gail, as she shuffled through the size fours.
"What do you mean, not exactly? Oh, this would look good on you!" Gail held up a velvety set of emerald-green dress robes.
"We know around the time we want it, but it just seems so far off. And really, it's only a couple of months, and we know better than anyone that time doesn't matter…" She took the velvet robes in her hands. "It's just that we don't want to wait forever, either. We aren't really getting far with our planning. Every time we make a decision, one of us has another idea, and then we have to switch…" Lily smiled, just thinking of James. "You know how stubborn we both are! And this robe is a bit too big around the middle."
"You know the charm to shrink it. That color would just look… exquisite on you. I know what you mean- the wedding plans are the hardest part of the engagement, but I know the two of you will figure out something simply perfect." Gail smiled in a motherly way to Lily. She liked her very much already.
"We do know a few things that we want for it, though… Like we don't want to see a bunch of people we don't really know, or even like, so we're not inviting all that many… Well, not really. And we don't want some giant thing, where people are snoring by the end of the day, because we tried to do too much. No, it's not going to be anything terribly fancy or anything. Just us."
"Oh, I think that's a lovely decision, Lily!" Gale glowed with pride. Merlin, those two were smart for their age. "Do you know what you want your bridesmaids to wear yet?"
"I haven't got a clue! James is begging me for Gryffindor colors, of course." Lily laughed. "It all just seems to be… overwhelming me." Lily paused, fingering a soft white robe. "What… what was your wedding like?"
"Oh… It was beautiful." Gail sighed in contempt and gazed absently over the clothing racks. "I still remember it as if it was yesterday. We were so happy then… Still are, though, but that day… We were just…"
Lily felt her shoulders sagging, slightly.
"What is it, Lily?" Gail asked, suddenly serious. She put her hand on Lily's arm.
"It's just… I want everyone to remember my wedding- I want it to be different, somehow, because James and I… we're different and I want people to remember us that way." She sighed again and looked down at the tiled floor. "But the way things are going, we'll never have a wedding at all."
She watched another lady, about her mothers age, flipping through a stack of sale items.
"I love him so much, it wouldn't matter to me if our wedding had ten people or ten thousand people, but I want it to be perfect… I don't guess it really matters what it looks like, as long as he's there. And me, I suppose." Lily let out a disbelieving laugh. It sounded even worse, now that she'd voiced her concern.
But Gail only laughed and smiled. She nodded understandingly. "I know what you mean. And don't worry, dear, you'll find it. And how could we all not remember it, just because it's the two of you? I doubt people on the street could forget Lily and James, as perfect for each other as the two of you are."
Lily watched her (soon-to-be) mother-in-law carefully, a small smile slowly creeping it's way onto her lips. "You're right. We'll find it. Crying or getting angry won't help us figure out what we want any faster."
"That's right, dear. You know, that's one of the things I love so much about you. No matter how things are going, you always seem to find a better way to look at them. I've heard James say that before, but I've never seen it in a person, until I met you."
Lily blushed at this unexpected compliment and bowed her head, under the pretense of looking at a pair of shoes… She wondered what else James had told his parents.
If what she'd told her parents about him was any indication, his parents had been hearing things about her for a long time.
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Lily chuckled as she scribbled on the napkin in her lap. She knew her surprise for James would be something even he wouldn't have thought of. She couldn't wait until next Wednesday, when she could finally give it to him. Or… take him there.
As far as she knew, he had no idea she was even planning anything, but Lily wasn't taking her chances. She hadn't told anyone about her idea, except Professor Dumbledore and a few other people whose cooperation for the event would be required.
"What are you doing, there?" Remus asked, taking his seat once again.
The two had met for lunch, since Sirius and James were both gone- and the two were feeling slightly left-out and alone.
"Ah… something I've been planning for James for our one year anniversary." Lily smiled to herself. It felt good to have something to do, other than cook or work. "The ideas for it come to me at the most random times."
"I see." Remus nodded. "What are you doing?"
Lily bit her lip. She did want to tell someone… She was so excited, she might burst if she didn't tell someone the whole plan. Remus would never tell James.
"I haven't told anyone yet, so it has to be a secret, all right?" She said seriously, leaning forward to whisper it. "I've already talked to Moody and Bobbie, so we've both got the day off… And I've made plans with Dumbledore."
"Oh, Dumbledore?" Remus grinned. He knew this was going to be good.
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Lily picked uninterestedly at the pillow in her lap. It was Sunday night and James still wasn't home- he should have been back at one on Saturday, so he could be at home for a few hours before leaving again that night, to be back on Monday evening.
She hadn't heard from him since Thursday when he'd gone. But she knew he'd be back as soon as he could- he wouldn't keep her waiting.
He hadn't, as long as she could remember.
For some reason, the memory of the Halloween Ball came to her mind. She saw herself dancing with James, both were laughing and smiling. She smiled and hugged the pillow. She couldn't wait until he got home. It would be good just to be in his arms again.
With a decided air, Lily got to her feet and went to the hall closet, where she pulled a red and gold box off the top shelf. She smiled and sat right there, on the floor.
She pulled off the lid and sighed. Inside were dozens of pictures of James and her… At the Halloween Ball, sitting in the common room, opening Christmas presents, walking down a pathway of leaves, holding hands.
It was their special box… Where they kept pictures, cards, spare bits of parchment- anything.
With a sudden idea, Lily jumped to her feet and pulled her gray overcoat out of the closet. She took a handful of muggle cash out of her jar by her bed and hurried out the door, stuffing her keys in her pocket.
She returned, an hour later, with a fat shopping bag and a goofy grin.
She settled once more in the hallway, with her box of pictures and bag.
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It was there that James found her, some time later, when he wearily opened the front door and set down his bag.
She hadn't heard him come in, so she stayed there, legs crossed, hair in a messy bun, humming James's favorite song.
He watched her for a few moments, leaned up against the wall, with a grin to match hers in its goofiness. She was just flipping back through a large leather-bound book, a look of immense satisfaction on her face, when she started gathering the scattered pictures, tape, glue, stickers, parchment, and her wand. She sighed happily and turned to walk into the kitchen, and her eyes fell on James, standing there. Her face lit up with happiness and she ran forward, dropping her armload.
James laughed and held out his arms. "My girl is still here, eh?"
Lily threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. "Of course she is. Where else would she go?" She snuggled her face into his neck. "Oh, I'm glad you're home… I've been so lonely, love. And bored."
James picked her up off the floor and spun her around in a circle.
"I couldn't have gotten away sooner- we couldn't even come back yesterday, we were so busy. But we finished up today, so no going back."
"Good. How long have you been standing here?" she asked, kissing him.
"Not long. I was just enjoying the sight of you doing your… project. What is it?" he asked with interest, peering down at the once again scattered corridor.
Lily laughed proudly. "I was really missing you, so I made us something." She slid out of his arms, but took one of his hands and led him over the mess. "It's of all the time we've been together." She picked up the leather-bound book and handed it to him.
James opened the front cover and sighed. On the first page was a picture of the two, dancing and spinning around the fountain at Hogwarts. Both were grinning and completely ignoring the camera. Underneath the picture, Lily had written, in curly, golden letters: Lily and James… Something to Remember.
James looked up at Lily, speechless.
She only smiled softly and squeezed his hand in understanding.
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"Come on, Lily! This isn't fair! At least give me a hint!" James pleaded, putting on the most pathetic look he could manage.
"A hint? You want a hint?" Lily giggled mischievously. She was quite pleased with herself- she hadn't given away a single thing, despite his hardest efforts to make her crumble. That morning, she'd gotten up early, given him breakfast in bed, and apparated him to Hogsmeade, without him knowing where they were. She'd been quite proud when she had the blindfold idea- James had no clue where she was leading him.
He nodded vigorously, so Lily left her seat in the carriage and slid beside James, who sensed her movements, but couldn't guess what she was doing.
She put her hand to his cheek and turned his face to hers. She giggled again before leaning in and kissing him deeply.
James smiled into the kiss and pulled Lily closer.
The carriage pulled to a bumpy stop. Lily jumped and pulled away from James, both still grinning. She helped him out of the carriage, and up to the steps of the castle. "Do you trust me?" she asked.
"Always, love." was the immediate reply.
Lily smiled. "Okay, then. Hold still a moment." She went up on the step behind him and untied his blindfold. "Are you ready?"
James nodded, so with a quick kiss on the cheek, she let the scarlet scarf fall. He took a quick look around, then at Lily. "Okay."
"Hogwarts isn't the surprise. That is." Lily shivered excitedly and pointed down toward the Quidditch pitch, where the stands were packed, and fourteen players were taking their warm-up flights.
"A… a match?" He sounded disbelieving.
Lily's smile faltered. She'd thought he would like the idea of going to one of the old Quidditch games. She knew he missed Quidditch, as he still talked about it when he saw the points each team had. She'd met especially with Professor Dumbledore, to ask if he would mind having the game that was originally scheduled for the following Saturday a few days early. It was a Slytherin-Gryffindor game: James's favorite at school. Even Remus had said James would love it, when she told him.
"You don't like it." she said dully. "Well, I have something else for you, anyway." she said hurriedly. "I just thought that you might like to-"
"Oh, Lily, I love it!"
Relief- warm, happy relief spread through Lily's body. She smiled again.
"But- on a Wednesday?"
"I… had a little chat with Dumbledore." she said casually.
"Oh, Lily! Thank you!" James grinned and put his arms around her. "Thank you."
"It's Gryffindor versus Slytherin." Lily added.
James chuckled. "You know me too well."
"Well, come on! I bet those kids down there are tired of waiting for us. There's a game they want to see!"
They walked down the grassy slopes, to the Quidditch pitch, holding hands. It almost felt like they were back in school again… It was nice.
But as they reached the stairs that led to the stands, Lily hesitated. "I… I didn't know which you'd like better- stands with the rowdy Gryffindors or the Top Box with the professors. We can sit in either."
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"Oh… and love? There's one more thing." Lily said, as they watched a sixth year by the name of McKenzie Star, the Seeker of Gryffindor go into a sudden dive.
"More? Lils, you're spoiling me." James chuckled.
"Ah, yes, I know." Without taking her eyes from the game, Lily took her diary from her pocket and passed it over, to James.
He took it in his hands, but didn't say anything. He didn't even have to open it to know what it was.
It was only after the Snitch was caught and the stands were exploding in wild eruptions of cheers that Lily noticed James was staring at her. She gave him a small smile, trying to gauge his reaction to her present.
The Gryffindors around them were on their feet, talking about the match, all starting to leave the stands, to hug their victorious house members, but Lily and James were still in their seats. James hadn't taken his eyes off her since she'd given him the diary, and Lily had hardly looked at him.
Finally, James reached over and put a finger under her chin. He forced her to look up, into his eyes. She did for a moment, then looked away. "Lily, look at me." he said in a soft, but commanding voice.
Slowly, she obeyed… but her bottom lip was trembling and her cheeks were wet with tears.
"What are you crying for?" He smiled slightly.
"You hate it." She swallowed hard. "I thought you'd like it."
"I've already told you I love it." Now he was laughing quietly, too.
"You didn't say a word throughout the entire match. You just sat there. Probably thinking about something more useful you could be doing at work." More tears fell down her cheeks, but she didn't turn her head.
"I didn't say anything because I was wondering what I ever did to get such a wonderful girl. One who would do just about anything for me, I think… No, I know." James said softly. "One that planned the most perfect day for me- one that is crying because she thinks I could possibly hate it. One who is right on almost all occasions… except this one." He put his hand under her chin; she smiled. "One who loves me so much she cleans for me and cooks my dinner- agreed to marry me- stubborn, messy, forgetful me. What did I ever do to deserve such a girl? I could never repay her for all the things she's done for me… But Merlin, I love her."
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Lily fell angrily on the couch. She pushed her favorite pillow away impatiently and wrapped her arms around her legs, folding them in front of her.
The day had not been kind to her.
First, she woke up (with a raging headache) to find that James had been called away in the night, and would be gone until after dinner, if not later; she'd been late to work, because she was trying to pick up the flat, just in case he came home earlier; and she'd left her lunch at home on the table, meaning she had to apparate home, and leave the office, which she didn't like to do on days she wasn't eating out. The day hadn't ended well, either- Bobbie yelled at her twice, which had never happened before, and she felt ill, so she couldn't apparate; on her walk home, she was nearly hit by a double-decker bus with a mad driver, she couldn't find her keys when she first reached the door, and she tripped over her poor little flower plant (which had long since been neglected) upon entering the apartment.
The day had not been kind to her.
She was slowly beginning to hate her job. Hate it with a passion. At first, she'd been upbeat and kept telling herself it would get better. Things had improved a little, after she'd completed her training stage, and her fellow colleagues saw that she wasn't an ignorant little twit just looking for a summer job… But things still weren't glamorous.
James had loved his job from the first minute he'd walked in the door- true, it was a little hard and demanding at times, but what thing that's worth it isn't? Lily wished she could love her job the way James loved his.
When the two were discussing their jobs, Lily would smile and say how much she loved it… In truth, she felt suffocated and like she was being held back. She had thought that the Committee of Experimental Charms would be exciting, trying new spells and charms before anyone else, but all it really was was a load of paper and an occasional day of charming rats.
Rats!
Lily didn't even like to touch rats.
Still, she breathed not a word of it to anyone… even James. She thought that if she did, he might tell her to quit… and then, what would she do? Sit at home and knit? Lily didn't fancy being kept in a stuffy house, even her beloved flat she shared with James, so she kept her mouth shut and bore it the best she could.
Hugging her knees for comfort, Lily ran things over in her mind. It had been three months since she started working on the committee… She was still young, still only a few months out of school, and still eager to do whatever job she had with as much enthusiasm and brilliance as she could muster.
It was in that moment that Lily made up her mind. She would just have to ask James first… Though she was almost positive he would approve.
Not that she had to have his consent first, she just wanted to have his support.
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James had barely had time to see a hair full of red hair throw itself upon him before he was being hugged the tightest he thought he'd ever been hugged. "Lily!" he laughed. "I'm glad to see you, too, love."
"Oh, James! I'm ever so glad you're finally home." she sighed into his cloak. "I really need to talk to you about something important and I could hardly wait for you to get here, so I can ask you."
"Okay… Would you mind terribly if I-"
"Oh, you can go ahead and take a shower, if you want. I've already eaten, but I've got it in the oven, I'm sure you're hungry, yes?" Lily said.
James smiled sheepishly at her. "You always know."
"I'm just brilliant." Lily winked at him and headed back into the kitchen. "Glad you're home."
"Me too. Today was… well, not fun. It was ugly, in fact. How was your day?" he called, going over to the dresser and pulling open the bottom drawer.
"Erm… It was a day." Lily said truthfully.
"Oh." He knew right off that something was up, but he didn't ask. Instead, he ran to the bathroom, took a quick shower and came out smiling.
"Okay." he said, taking his seat at the table. "Let's hear it, then."
Lily pulled her leg up in her chair and leaned her head on her knee, thinking how to best phrase her question. "Well, I-"
"This is about work." James said. He took a bite of his roast beef and smiled. "Ooh, honey, this is excellent. You're getting very good."
Lily laughed and shook her head. "It isn't at all difficult. Yes… it's about work. How did you know?"
"I do pay attention, even if you try not to show me how you hate it." He picked up his glass and took a drink. "That, and I could just tell from your diary."
"But… do you know what I want to do about it?" Lily asked meekly.
"You… you want to quit." James narrowed his eyes in thought. "But I know that staying at home wouldn't suit you. You couldn't stand that." He smiled. "But I'm all for you getting a job somewhere else. You're too talented to be filing their paperwork."
Lily's eyes widened. "You… really don't mind that I want to quit?"
"I think it would be best if you left there. You don't like it. Why work somewhere you hate?" He nodded encouragingly. "Do you have anything in mind?"
"Yes…" Lily bit her lip. "But it takes three months of training before I'd actually start working." she said anxiously.
"Understandable."
"I want to try Healing." Lily said quickly, waiting breathlessly for his reply.
James considered her carefully. "I can see you Healing." He grinned. "So if I'm ever sick, you can take care of me."
"So you don't care? Really?"
"I've already told you, I'm behind you one hundred percent at whatever you want to do. Healing would be a good thing for you. Seriously. I think you have too much energy and passion to be poking toads and rats with your wands. Now you can poke humans, instead." James chuckled and pushed his empty plate away. "Lovely dinner, by the way."
Lily broke out with a relieved smile. "Thank you for understanding."
"I wish you'd said something sooner. You've been there four months and… two weeks."
"I didn't want you to worry about it." She smiled tentatively, playing with the corner of James's napkin, head still on her knee.
James sighed and pushed back his chair. He got down on his knees, in front of Lily's chair. "Look, Lils. I know we're not married yet, and we're still young, and that we're not all that used to being out in the big, bad real world, working and buying groceries… cooking, cleaning, living. But I want you to know you can come to me for anything. I mean it, anything. You know that?" He smiled playfully and put his chin on her other knee, where her hand was.
"I know that." She smiled shyly, then paused. She recognized that look! He was about to tickle her, or something equally immature of that nature.
Just as he started forward, cackling and grinning, Lily jumped up and ran for the living room. There was no way she was about to be tickled!
James, on the other hand, had a different opinion on the matter.
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"Lily! I've got it!" James cried, jumping out of his chair, knocking it to the floor.
Lily smiled. "What have you got?" She asked, holding her wand in one hand, a spoon in the other.
"I meant to tell you earlier! How could I forget?" He said excitedly, putting his chair back in place. "What we can do for our wedding!"
"Oh?" She looked up in interest.
"Come here… I want you to see this. It's perfect. I got the idea from Emma and Remus, actually. And Sirius, believe it or not. And no, it isn't horrible. I actually like the idea."
"Sirius?" Lily asked doubtfully. "I'm not sure he's all that-"
"No, seriously, Lil, come here!" James pulled her, spoon and all, over to the kitchen table. Lily laughed and set it down on a napkin.
"Okay. What?"
"What if we have it on June 29th-- exactly one year since we got engaged."
Lily nodded. "I like that."
"But- if you look on the calendar, they'll already be out of school- they get out two days before… Well, what if we…" He trailed off, looking in the direction of the teapot. It was whistling shrilly.
"Sorry…" Lily muttered, sending a spell in it's direction.
"This is brilliant, really, see, if we have it on that day, we can-"
At that moment, there was a popping noise in the living room. "Oi! James? Have you told her yet?" Remus called.
James groaned. "Not yet, Moony."
"What are you waiting for, then? Tell her already!" He cried exasperatedly. He walked into the kitchen. "Oh! Fixing dinner, are we?"
"Pork chops, roast potatoes, and pumpkin pie." Lily answered patiently. She turned back to James and smiled. "There's a loaf of bread in the oven, too."
"Yum! Anyway, he wants to-"
"Shut it, Moony, let me tell her!" James said through clenched teeth.
"Apologies." Remus snickered.
"Anyway, I think-"
"PRONGS! Have you told her?!" Sirius called.
James threw up his hands in annoyance. "I'll never get it out!"
"Get what out?" Sirius asked. "Oh! Dinner!"
"Pork chops and potatoes!" Remus said brightly, taking the seat next to Lily at the table. "And Lily's bread… and pumpkin pie."
"Oh, Lils, I love your bread! You're just about better than the Hogwarts house-elves, really. Have you told her yet? Has he, Moony?"
"Oi!" James cried.
Lily smiled, fighting back a laugh. At this rate, they'd never have a wedding, exactly like she told Gail.
"I'll tell her, then. Lily, he wants-"
"I CAN TELL HER!"
"Merlin, Prongs." Sirius snickered, joining them at the table.
"I want-" James started.
"Lily?" Emma called. She, too, had joined the party. "Hey! You're making dinner! No one cooks better than you. Yum!"
Lily and James both turned to her. "It's pork chops and potatoes!" they said together. Emma shrugged.
"And a loaf of her bread! And pumpkin pie!" Sirius grinned and rubbed his hands together.
"Sounds good. Have you told her yet?"
"Argh!" James ruffled his hair. "You lot aren't helping!"
"Who else have you told? Because I'm pretty sure they'll show up, too." Lily laughed quietly.
"I'm thinking-"
"Just tell her!"
James turned, agitated, to Sirius. "Oi, I can't even finish a sent-"
"And get it over with!"
James looked at Lily. "Do you think-"
"Quit stalling!"
"Are you all enjoying this?!" James asked. "Hey! I finally finished one of my-"
"Lily, he wants to-" Emma began.
"Have everyone ride the Hogwarts Express-" Sirius interrupted.
"On June 29th-" Remus added.
"To Hogwarts-"
"So you guys can-"
"Get married there."
James made a sound between disgust and annoyance. He ruffled his hair in frustration. "So much for me telling her, eh?" he muttered.
"You weren't doing it-"
"And we just wanted to-"
"Help!"
"Would you stop that?! It's creepy!" James yelped. He ran a hand through his hair again, feeling strangely distracted.
"What do you mean-"
"This? Oh, you and-"
"Lils do it all the time!"
"So how about-"
"That dinner? Lily, it smells-"
"Absolutely divine!"
Lily put her hand over James's and leaned forward, resting her chin on his shoulder; he turned his head, looking at her with worried eyes. "I think it's brilliant." she whispered.
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Haha! I love the ending… Any comments? Please? As a birthday present, I NEED REVIEWS!