A/N: Hey, everyone! Well, here is chapter six, I hope you all like it. It's sort of short, but there's really nothing more to say. Kind of straight forward, I suppose. Anyway, enjoy!
What day is it
And in what month
This clock never seemed so alive
I can't keep up
And I can't back down
I've been losing so much time
Cause it's you and me and all of the people
With nothing to do
Nothing to lose
And it's you and me and all of the people
And I don't know why
I can't keep my eyes off of you
- You and Me, Lifehouse
Strangely enough, Lily had found out that Lannie and she were now friends. A notice for a Hogsmeade trip had been posted in the common room in mid-October, and Lannie had gone to find Lily in the Great Hall when she was having breakfast, ranting on about how she could help her find dress robes for the Graduation Ball and that they should stop at Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer or two.
"Whoa, whoa, wait." Lily had said, frowning slightly as if Lannie was making fun of her. "You want me to go to Hogsmeade with you?"
Lannie stopped talking for a moment and gave Lily a confused look, as if she couldn't quite understand her. "Of course," she said finally, in a tone that made Lily blush with embarrassment. "Don't you want to?" And once Lily had mumbled an affirmative answer, she continued with her ecstatic plans, not even noticing that Lily was finding it very strange to go to Hogsmeade with someone else, when normally she went alone or didn't go at all.
"-and then I really need to buy a new quill, can you believe I haven't got a single one? Must've lost them…"
"Should be fun," Lily muttered, although she was thinking in her head that it would be far from it. But still, it was better than going with James, who had predictably asked her the day before. He was actually being quite strange, stranger than usual. Even though he was in the N.E.W.T. level class for Charms, his grade was dropping drastically, according to Professor Flitwick who had been saying that for the past few weeks. Lily found this very odd, because even though she detested James Potter, she did admit grudgingly at times that he was smart. But now…well, he was acting out-of-the-ordinary. Professor Flitwick had even told him in front of the whole class that if he didn't start to pick up his act, he'd be forced to drop the class.
Lannie seemed to notice that Lily wasn't paying much attention to the conversation and was pondering on something else. She gave her a questioning look then said, "Are you all right?"
"Yes," Lily said distractedly, just as James himself entered the Great Hall and waved to her before sitting down with Sirius. "Just thinking…"
Lannie grinned. "Okay."
And soon, the weekend arrived quicker than Lily could imagine, and for once she had something to do on Saturday. She had gone downstairs to find Lannie already dressed in a blue cashmere sweater, a brown jacket and scarf, and gray slacks that covered slightly her blue shoes. Her gloves were sticking out of her pocket, and she raised her eyebrow upon seeing Lily.
"Is that what you're going to wear?"
Lily looked uncertainly at herself; she was wearing a gray skirt and white stockings, with black shoes. Her shirt was white and she was wearing a black jacket, and she didn't think that anything was wrong with her appearance. Lannie, however, begged to differ.
"Here," she said, grabbing her arm and dragging her to the girls' staircase again. "I'll let you borrow some things."
She didn't make Lily change her attire, although she did say something like, "We don't have to wear our uniforms on weekends, Lily." She dug into her trunk and threw Lily a multi-color and changing scarf and a dark green cap. After shushing Heather for snorting in the back, she gave Lily a critical look and smiled. "Okay. Now, you're okay."
In Lily's opinion, she looked fine before, although all she did was scowl. After all, she actually had a good friend now, and didn't want to scare her away. They walked out of the dormitory and headed down to the entrance hall, Lannie said that there was a nice breakfast place they could eat at in Hogsmeade. Lily agreed, after all, James Potter was having breakfast in the Great Hall in the moment and she didn't want him to know that she was going to Hogsmeade. Filch let them pass after verifying that they had signatures, and they set out in the autumn air and down onto the winding path that led to the gates. It was slightly chilly and brisk, but in a nice way. Lily admired the trees for a while, whose leaves were crimson and the color of tangerines.
They ate some delicious pancakes in a small pub that Lily had never heard of, and then looked around for Lannie's `dream dress robes'. There were more students on the streets now, also looking at the shops and carrying a few bags of products. Lily and Lannie walked aimlessly around, talking about a few things such as Remus and wondering if he'd wear that navy blue sweater of his and if her friends Samantha Welling and Terry Jordon were really going out as the rumors said. It was only after Lily was sure that they were having a wonderful, pleasant time together that they bumped into James Potter and his friends.
"Hello, Lily. Looking lovely today." He said, with a cocky grin.
"What are you ladies doing?" Sirius asked, eyeing Lily's scarf that had just turned from green to yellow with amusement.
"Shopping." Lannie said simply, shaking her bag full of Honeydukes sweets. She looked at Remus, blushing a bit although it wasn't really noticeable since her cheeks were already flushed from the wind. Lily caught her eye and they both grinned upon seeing that Remus really was wearing Lannie's favorite sweater.
"What did you buy, Lil?" James asked, still grinning in a dumb sort of way. Lily wondered vaguely if the reason that James's grades were slipping in Charms was because he was getting stupider.
"Nothing," Lily said slowly. James's grin faltered slightly as he gave her a penetrating stare. Lily lowered her eyes to the floor, although she wasn't certain why.
"Well, Flitwick is in Three Broomsticks, Lily." Remus said, making Lily look up curiously. "He's been looking for you for some reason."
"Oh? Um…okay."
"All right, see you all later then." Lannie said, grinning at Remus, who smiled back. They took off with James yelling goodbye cheerfully behind them, saying something about how Lily should hurry and see what Flitwick wanted. Lily gave him a hard look before turning the corner to High Street.
"He's weird." Lily said, shaking her head confusedly.
"He's lovely." Lannie sighed, looking dreamy. They walked into Three Broomsticks and found Professor Flitwick about to walk out, although he stopped and greeted them jovially.
"Why Ms. Evans! And Ms. Williamson." He said, nodding to both of them. "I take it Mr. Lupin found you then?"
"Yes, he did. You needed to see me…?"
"As a matter of fact, I did. Hm, why don't we sit down?" He gestured to the nearest empty table and they followed him as he climbed onto his seat. Lily and Lannie exchanged looks, and then turned to look at Flitwick, who was looking rather worried.
Lily furrowed her eyebrows. "What is it, sir?"
"Ah, it's not very good, Ms. Evans." Flitwick said. Upon seeing the alarmed looks on their faces, he said quickly, "Oh no, no, don't worry, it has nothing to do with those attacks by You-Know-Who that have been happening. This is less grave, but still unfortunate-you see, Mr. Potter is failing my class."
Lily, who didn't find this appalling or unfortunate, but yes, weird, said, "Failing? Really?"
"Yes." Flitwick said, frowning slightly. "And even though he is not the only one, he is certainly doing the worst."
"I could help tutor," Lannie said, shrugging. "I'm already tutoring a few younger kids in Arthimacy."
"That would be great, Ms. Williamson." Professor Flitwick said, smiling slightly. "But really, the reason I wanted to talk to Ms. Evans here is if to see if she could tutor as well."
"Oh, of course-"
"Wonderful, Mr. Potter would be delighted."
"-not!!"
Lannie and Flitwick both looked at Lily, who was looking horrified. "Professor," she said quickly. "You know that James and I don't get along."
"Well, of course, I know the way you two-ahem-feel about one another." Professor Flitwick said delicately, moving his hands nervously in his lap. "But Ms. Evans, the way Mr. Potter is doing poorly-I know that you would be a good tutor to him, since you are the best in my class." He smiled warmly at her, but Lily had turned slightly green with her eyes widened.
"Uh, er, sir, the thing is-" Professor Flitwick looked expectantly at her, and for some reason Lily found herself saying, "-uh…all right. I'll do it."
Professor Flitwick clapped his hands enthusiastically as he hopped off his chair. "Excellent, Ms. Evans. I cannot thank you enough…usually my students pass my class in rather well form but-" He paused, smiling at her. "I'm glad that you're helping generously."
Lily merely nodded and watched as he left Three Broomsticks, looking relieved. Lannie was giving Lily a strange expression, saying, "You gave in awfully fast."
"Yes, I did, didn't I?" Lily asked, confused. She could not understand why either, but the prospect of tutoring James didn't sound so terrifying now that the alarm and horror had receded. She sighed and got up from her chair, Lannie following her out into the autumn breeze.
***
James had retired to the common room already, leaving his friends behind in Hogsmeade. He wanted to be alone, just to think for a while. He wondered if everything he was doing was worth it. His heart's desire was to make Lily fall for him, just as he had fallen for her. Things were not going too well.
Why did she hate him? He had gotten better, hadn't he? When James was alone, as he was now, with no one to bother him and to give him revolting looks, he did admit that he was a jerk before. He was immature, a complete fool, but didn't Lily know that was because he wanted her attention? Was she really that daft to see that every time he bullied a first year around, or made Snape do ridiculous things without any control to stop, she was there? Sure, it was not the best way to get her attention, but it was certainly an effort….
Speaking of her….
"Oh, it's you." Lily said. She had just climbed into the common room with Lannie, who giggled and mumbled something about forgetting her book upstairs. She left almost immediately, winking at James before closing the door. As they heard her light footstep bouncing up the staircase, James stared. He couldn't help it; Lily's cheeks were flushed from the cold outside, and her eyes seemed to gleam in their emerald beauty. She took off her hat so that her auburn hair came spilling down in a messy yet attractive state, and threw it aside. She strode over to him. James couldn't believe his eyes. Why was she coming to talk to him? Was she really coming on her own free will?
"You look beautiful." James said automatically, blushing. Lily raised her eyebrow and for a moment he thought that she was about to smile, but it must've been his imagination. She cleared her throat.
"James, I know what you've done." Her voice was cold and breezy, like autumn itself. "Flitwick came to talk to me."
"Well, you're a smart girl." James said with a half-smile. "I knew you would."
Lily widened her eyes at this; James supposed that she was thinking that he was trying to do this discreetly. She caught on quickly, however. "Oh?" she said as she put her hands on her hips. "Well, all right, Potter. You can play dumb for as long as you like, but I just want you to know that I'm not tutoring you."
James felt his stomach drop. "You refused Flitwick?"
"Oh, no. I told him I would. That doesn't mean I will, though." Lily said, smirking. She raised her eyebrow, surveying him. "You didn't think that I'd actually do it, did you?"
Somewhat. "No, I guess I didn't." James said, sighing heavily. Lily looked confused.
"So…now what?"
"Well," James said, feigning a look of innocence. "I'm afraid you don't have a choice, Evans. You're Head Girl, and I know you're responsible. But Flitwick won't really see that if I tell him that you're not really tutoring me, will he?"
"James, why are you doing this?" Lily hissed, narrowing her eyes. "I know you're good at Charms. About a month ago you were gloating about that `Outstanding' you had."
"Things change." James said simply.
"And you certainly don't." Lily shot back. James frowned.
"You must be joking." James said slowly, furrowing his eyebrows at her. "You've got to be."
Lily laughed loudly at this. "James Potter, what have you ever changed about yourself? I thought you thought yourself flawless, hm?"
"I never said that."
"Actions can prove more than words, I'm afraid."
James jumped over the couch at this, rounding on her. "You've got some nerve, you know." He said. Lily widened her eyes at this, and finally seemed to be intimidated. It looked like she had just noticed just how much taller he was than her and bigger.
"Well, y-you haven't." Lily said, stuttering slightly and blushing for it.
"Do you see me bully first years anymore? Or jinx Snape?" James snapped. When he saw that she was about to open her mouth, he added, "Without being provoked."
"Oh, so that justifies it, does it?" Lily said, standing up straighter and looking braver.
"Well, do you want me to just bow down my head and take it?"
Lily obviously didn't have anything to say to this. She merely opened her mouth and closed it, looking rather like a goldfish. An attractive goldfish.
"Lily," James said softly, stepping closer. He could smell her rosy perfume that lingered on her cheeks and neck; his heart beat faster. "Why do you hate me?"
"I don't." Lily stammered, widening her eyes as he stepped even closer. James held gently onto her waist and inhaled her smell deeply.
"Yes, you do. I can tell by every time you look at me."
"I have to go." Lily said weakly, but didn't move. James smiled as he leaned in to her face, his lips hovering over her own. Suddenly a horrid thought had occurred to him. What if she doesn't want this? Will she jinx me into oblivion later as a punishment?
James looked into her blazing eyes, which even though they were green, seemed to be on fire. I don't care, James thought fervently, and in one, short time-stopping, heart beating moment, he bent down to kiss her.
She turned away and he brushed her cheek instead. "I h-have to go." She repeated, and with that, she turned on her heel and left him there, speechless and frozen.
***
I am going crazy, Lily thought as she treaded up the stairs to her dormitory. James Potter just tried to kiss me. And I almost let him too.
"What did he say?" Lannie said excitedly as she opened the door. Once seeing her face and expression, her grin quickly faded. "Oh. He was being a jerk again, right?"
No. Not at all. "Yes." Lily said, although her voice sounded distant and strange. "I suppose he was."
Lannie hopped her bed and walked over to her, stopping in front of Lily and inspecting her face. "You okay?" she said, obviously thinking that she as sick or something once feeling her head for a fever. "You don't look too good."
"Nothing that sleep won't cure," Lily said, giving a weak smile. Lannie didn't say anything as she closed the curtain and hid herself from sight.
-->