Rating: PG-13 for language
Title: Parchment Scroll Writer
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters, settings, and situations created and owned by J.K. Rowling as published by, including and not limited, to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books, Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. The use of these characters and settings is for entertainment purposes only; no infringement is intended or should be inferred.
Spoiler Alert: Aren't really any, but I am sticking with Books 1-5 anyways. (Because there are some mild allusions if you are one to catch those…)
Summary: "Bloody hell, Potter," he said slowly, "this is…awful. Pathetic, really. I mean, just dreadful. Where in the hell did you learn to write like this?"
Pairings: James/Lily
Author's Notes: The random thought (RONIN10 is still to blame) has grown to three chapters. This is something of a companion piece/prequel to "Listless in Hogwarts", a Harry/Hermione piece, which will be posted in the next week. This is Chapter Three of Three and blah blah blah the story is still set during the Marauders' time at Hogwarts.
I've tagged it as Romance/Humour and it's a tad fluffier and even a little funny in places. My thanks to all of those who have read and reviewed. It is greatly appreciated. I'm sorry for the wait to update this.
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PARCHMENT SCROLL WRITER
[] OR, I WANT TO BE A...
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It didn't take long for Lily to catch up to him. He wasn't exactly walking very quickly. James seemed to be a bit lost in thought. This occurred to her when her repeated and varied utterances of his Christian name and surname garnered no response.
So it came as no surprise to her that, when she did catch up with him and then tapped him on the shoulder, he fairly leapt into the air with a yelp.
"GAH!" he shouted for the second time that day. When he regained himself, James Potter was horrified to see Lily Evans standing in front of him, laughing heartily.
"I'm sorry, James," she gasped, "but that was priceless."
He put on a pout and folded his arms. "That's as maybe. It is not very nice, frightening me like that."
"I did say I was sorry. Besides, I've been calling your name clear across the Commons." She shook her head and smiled at him.
"You didn't hear me." - "I didn't hear you," they said in unison.
"Sorry," they said again as one.
They both laughed at that, and Lily held the parchment scroll out to him. "Is this yours? It was left over by the oak tree."
The smile disappeared from his face and Potter's eyes widened at the sight. The parchment. His parchment. Her floss. Did she…?
"Crap," he said weakly. He took the scroll from her and shook his head. "Um, sorry, Lily, I mean, thanks."
"Convincing, that was," she smiled. James managed a vaguely apologetic face. She nodded and then took him by the arm. "Come along."
His eyes widened again. "Where are we going?"
"Here," she said. They had walked across the Commons into an exterior hallway of the school. They were now on the other side of one of the many columns. "They were staring at us," she said with a slight frown.
"Who…?" began James and leaned from behind the column to have a butchers. He saw the Marauders and her friends eagerly looking in their direction. Their faces visibly brightened at the sight of him, so he quickly dodged back behind the column. "Right. Them."
"Yes." She leaned against the column as she shook her head. "I'd prefer that we didn't have an audience."
"Okay." James wondered what she meant by that.
She shifted position and pointed at the scroll. "Is this what you were fighting about earlier?"
"Hmm?" He squinted at the parchment, avoiding her gaze. He fully intended to lie and to say that they weren't fighting earlier, just fooling about, but then he glanced at her, saw her brilliant emerald green eyes, and said, "Yes." Damn. "I wasn't going to tell you that. Why is it that I can't ever lie to you?" he asked. Then he blinked. He shocked himself in saying that aloud.
"It's a skill that I have," she murmured. Lily shifted again and folded her arms across her chest.
It's her eyes. It has to be her eyes. Every time I look in them… "I'll say it's a skill," he sighed.
"So…what's on the scroll?" she inquired, a sly smile on her face.
Right, if I don't look in her eyes, I won't have to tell her what's on the scroll. The thing to do here is to not look in her eyes. Don't look in her eyes, Potter. Just don't look in those green eyes…
Damn.
"Something I wrote," he mumbled. He diverted his eyes down and away from Lily.
"Would you tell me what it is?" She sounded like she was smiling again.
James made it a point to keep his eyes averted and stared at the stone floor. He was determined not to look up at her, and especially determined to not look in her eyes again. He tried to find something to hold his attention. Shoes. Shoes, shoes, shoes. Hello, shoes. You'll be my friends, won't you, shoes? You won't let me look into her eyes. No, shoes, you wouldn't do that to me. You won't let me down. Oh, look there are Lily's shoes. Hello, Lily's shoes. Her shoes are always polished. I'll wager she cleans and polishes them every night before she goes to bed. And there are her socks. Her socks are always pulled up to her knees, very prim and proper. And there are her knees. Oh, Merlin. Those are nice knees. Those are very nice knees indeed. Not knobbly or anything of the sort. Dad's knees are all knobbly. Lily doesn't have knees like Dad. Thank Merlin for that. And there's her skirt. Her skirt is always nicely pressed. The pleats are always so neat and perfect. Just like her. And there is her jumper. Hello, jumper. Warm, woolly jumper. And her shirt collar, all starched and proper. I wonder if the House Elves do that for her or if she does it herself? I'll bet she does it herself, just like she polishes her shoes herself. There's her necktie. A perfect little four-in-hand knot. How did she learn to square a tie like that? And then there's her chin…such a perfect little chin…and then her lips…she has very pink lips…right under a very cute nose…so petite…and then…
Damn.
"Um, if you really want to know what it is," he heard himself say to her, "I'll tell you."
I did not just say that.
"I'd love to know what it is."
Of course you would. "It's, um, it's…it's, ah…"
"Candyfloss?"
Ohdamncrapdamn.
"No, it's parchment," he said dumbly, staring at his shoes. That was bloody brilliant, Potter.
"James…" She reached out and touched him on the wrist. "I know it's parchment. And you know what I mean when I call it candyfloss."
"I do?" He refused to look up, but his eyes did dart over to where Lily was holding his wrist.
She took a step closer to him. James knew because he saw her polished shoes take a step toward his scuffed ones. He was slightly bothered at how shabby his shoes looked next to hers. "You write candyfloss. You're Beatrix Jacobs."
His eyes widened, his head snapped up and James found himself staring into those green eyes. "How…how did you know? I never told anyone. I was careful with…and I was well chuffed when I came up with that name. I was certain no one would ever suss it."
"Well, it did take me a little while to figure it out," Lily said as a hint of a blush crept onto her cheeks. "It is rather clever. It came to me one night while studying. It was all reference, I came to see. You'd inverted and corrupted your name. Beatrix was a reference to Beatrix Potter, and James is alliteration to the Late Latin name Jacob."
Potter stood there for a moment, utterly gobsmacked. Then he finally said, "You are the brightest witch of your age, just like Professor McGonagall says."
Her blush deepened. "I'm not that terribly bright. I mean, it did take me three months to figure out the name."
"Don't feel too badly; I'm much more clever than I look," he joked half-heartedly.
"Yes, you are," she answered, sounding and looking rather serious.
James found that his mouth had gone suddenly dry.
"So," they said in concert.
"You first," he offered.
"Thank you." Lily appeared to realise that she was still holding his wrist and she tentatively released him. James felt his heart literally sink into his stomach at that. "You…you seemed a bit embarrassed when I asked if you'd written floss. Why is that?"
Potter swallowed with some difficulty and said, "It's because I hate it."
She seemed quite surprised at his statement. "Hate it," she echoed. "How so?"
"I hate thinking it up, I hate reading it, and I especially hate writing it." He was staring into her eyes. It wasn't as though James had any choice in the matter. He had to tell her what he thought of the floss, and the truth, at that. "I'm sorry, Lily, I know you like it, but I can't stand the stuff."
Her forehead creased into a frown and James felt his heart slip down into the heel of his left shoe. "Then why do you write it? You've been writing this for ages now. I remembered hearing about Beatrix Jacobs at the start of term."
"Well, I write it because…" He paused, attempted to summon up the courage he was quite certain he'd forgotten someplace, and finally told her, "I write it because you like it, Lily."
She blinked at him.
He blinked at her.
Then she laughed.
He puckered his brow at that.
She laughed a great, consuming, full-fledged laugh, one that soon had her grasping the column they were hiding behind for support.
His brow puckered even more at that.
"I'm sorry," she panted between laughs.
"Not nearly as much as I am," he replied bitterly. He clutched the scroll tightly in his fist and started to march away.
"No, James, you don't understand…"
"Don't I? It's all right, Lily, it's fine, don't worry about it." Everything in his voice and his body language practically screamed that it wasn't fine, but he wasn't looking at her, so he didn't have to tell her the truth.
"Dammit, Potter, look at me." She took him by the wrist and turned him roughly around. She threw him against the column and blocked off any possible escape routes. As he had yet no idea of how to Apparate, and as Apparition was impossible at Hogwarts, James found himself quite trapped.
"That hurt," he snapped at her, too angry to notice how very close she was to him.
"Good, I hope it knocked some sense into you." She matched his tone and his expression.
"What in the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means you are going to stop being stroppy and you are going to stand there and hear me out."
"I'm not being stroppy," he pouted, staring at her necktie.
"James?" She gently took him by the chin and arched his face upwards.
"I'll stop being stroppy," he murmured, staring into her eyes.
She made a low-throated noise of satisfaction (one which James swore to himself he would illicit from her on as many occasions as he could possibly manage), and crossed her arms. "Very good, Mr. Potter. Now, as I was trying to tell you…you misunderstood why I was laughing. I wasn't laughing at you…I was laughing at the irony of it all. I was laughing because I don't like floss."
"Pardon?"
"I don't like floss."
"I'm sorry?"
"I don't like floss, James."
"I don't think I heard…"
"James?" Lily was grinning at him.
"Yes?"
"I. Don't. Like. Floss."
"You…" James titled his head and thought for a moment. "You don't like floss?"
"No." She started to laugh.
"But…why do you read it, then? Why did I hear that you loved it?"
"Because…" She was giggling now. "Because I knew that you wrote it. That's why I read it, that's why I love it."
"You…you…blow me," he finally said. He ran a hand through his tousled hair. "I don't believe this, I've been labouring over this for months now, and you don't even like it?" He was incredulous, but he was smiling at her.
"I like that you write it. I like that you can write. I like that you can think like this. I'm just not partial to floss." She smiled at him, a smile that made his toes curl, and asked, "Who told you that I liked floss?"
"It was, ah, Amelia Bones."
Lily snorted, though James didn't find that unattractive in the least. "She wouldn't have any idea of what I would or wouldn't like when it comes to reading material, trust me on that."
"Okay," he said with a small smile. His heart rose from the heel of his shoe to his belly button.
She giggled at that, something that he also swore to himself he would cause to happen as often as possible. Lily regarded him warmly, and James felt his heart take its place back in his chest. "What do you like to write?"
"Um…" He bit his lower lip shyly. "I prefer to write…well, some of the things can be a bit…beastly. Some a bit aggro. Others, mostly, fairly involved. I like mysteries and drama. Serious pieces."
"Everything that isn't floss," she added.
"Everything that isn't floss," he smiled.
They stood there for a moment, James leaning against the column, Lily standing before him, both smiling at one another in companionable silence.
"Well, now -" they said in unison.
"We keep doing that," smiled Lily.
"Yes, we do," agreed James.
"I don't mind," she told him.
"Neither do I," he said softly.
Lily stared at him, and James thought that his legs would turn to blancmange or something else, something equally flaccid. What is she thinking? Now it's out in the open...everything's out in the open…she must know that I fancy her, I mean, I've been writing bloody floss for her…oh, Merlin, please, say something Lily.
"James?"
"Yes?" His voice croaked unexpectedly and he shut his eyes in embarrassment.
James was relieved when he didn't hear her laugh at him. "Do you think…that I could perhaps…read something else that you've written?"
He opened his eyes and stared at her in surprise. "You want to read something else I've written?"
Lily smiled at his repetition of her words. "Yes."
A grin spread across his face and he nodded. "I'd like that. No, I'd love that. Very much."
"I was hoping you'd say that. Thank you."
"I'll bring along some scrolls to the Library?"
"The Library? Oh. Right. Well…" She cast a wayward glance behind her. "It might be…a little awkward. Loads of questions. And I don't think you want the school to know about this?" she asked, pointing to the parchment he clutched in his hand.
"Oh? No. No. Good thinking. No, I'd rather that no one knew. I mean, Sirius, Remus, and Peter know, and you. Those three can be berks, but they are my best mates. They know that I am serious about writing."
"I'm glad. You are lucky to have them as your friends." Lily started to slowly back away from him. "So we'll meet in the Common Room after Dinner, then?"
"Yeah. I mean, yes. Yes, in the Common Room, after Dinner."
"Brilliant. I'll see you then, James." She smiled at him, that smile that made his toes curl, and turned to walk away.
"See you then, Lily," he called after her. She turned and gave him a smile and a wave. He managed a goofy smile and limply waved in return. As she walked away, he collapsed against the column. "Oh, Merlin. What…crap, what will I give her to read? Dammit, I've got to think now." He frantically started to go over his mental inventory of stories written thus far, searching for the most suitable scrolls. He was at the verge of a full-blown panic when he heard footsteps rapidly approaching. James looked up to see that Lily was walking toward him.
He quickly moved away from the wall and attempted to look casual.
"James," she said breathlessly, "do you think that you might…write something…for me?"
"Huh?" he said.
"I know that the floss was meant for me but…do you think…you could…I mean…something for me?" There was a blush tingeing Lily's cheeks to soft pink. It made her eyes even greener.
James gulped loudly and stammered, "Y-y-y-y-yes. Yes. I'd love to. For you. Yes. Write something. Just for you. Not floss. Yes."
She beamed at him, deftly stepped forward, and placed a soft kiss on his lips. James found himself blinking through his glasses at her as she kissed him. He was fortunate in that his body reacted of its own accord and returned the innocent kiss. Lily withdrew, smiled at him again, and said, "Thank you." Then she quickly headed back down the corridor with a giggle.
A thought occurred to him, and he was only just able to voice it. "But…what should I write about?"
"Whatever comes to your mind," her reply floated back to him.
James tilted his head as he watched her depart, his eyes wide and his jaw drooping slightly. When she disappeared from view, he blinked, and then finally came to. He started to pat down his robes, looking for a quill. "Bugger. My desk. Right." Potter started running down the hallway, headed for the Gryffindor tower. He had to get to his desk. He had to get a new roll of parchment, a new quill, and some ink. He needed to start writing straightaway. He dodged a group of Second Years and nearly collided with Sirius, Remus, and Peter.
"Bloody hell!" chirruped Lupin.
"Sorry!" he called over his shoulder.
"Where are you going?" asked Peter.
"To our dorm…!" he answered, still running.
"What for?!?!" demanded Black.
Potter spun and ran backwards. He spread his arms out from his sides, flashed a tremendous grin at his mates, and yelled, "TO WRITE SOMETHING FOR LILY!" Then with a laugh and a leap he turned round and disappeared into the school.
The three Marauders cocked their heads to one side in unison and stared at the doorway that Potter had just vanished through.
"Do you think…?" started Peter.
"Yeah," answered Sirius.
"So he's…?" began Remus.
'Yeah," replied Black.
There was a moment of silence. "Well," Pettigrew and Lupin said at length, in harmony.
"Yeah," responded Sirius.
They blinked at the doorway.
"Love makes you barmy," mumbled Sirius.
"Right, then. What's next?" asked Peter, rubbing his hands together.
Black grunted. "Indeed. Where's Snivellus?"
"Good question." Remus gave the air a sniff and shrugged. "Dunno, but I don't think he's anywhere near."
Black gave the air a snuffle as well. "No, he's not nearby." He tipped the wink to Lupin. "I think it's high time we found him, Moony."
He grinned. "Agreed, Padfoot."
"We can start in the Library. He oftentimes will be at a table by the Restricted Section," offered Pettigrew.
"Good man, Wormtail. We'll start there." Sirius and his mates started for the Library, the latest Marauder mission set (albeit sans Prongs). Black lagged behind to cast an introspective gaze at the doorway where he last saw James. He thought about the grin that was on the swotty prat's face… Sirius shook his head and his lips curled into a wry smile. "You lovesick sod," he murmured, "good on you, Prongs. Good on you." He jogged to catch up to his mates and manoeuvred to walk between Lupin and Pettigrew, clasping them by the shoulders. "Now, gents, what to do with Snivellus when we find him…?"
∞