Lily
Chapter 7-James and Jules
Reluctantly, I decided to patch things up with Holly. She still disapproves of my so-called 'temper tantrum', but the two of us have decided to pleasantly agree to disagree. So, now that I have her back, she won't shut her bloody trap.
I mean, I've told her about the detentions I've been serving as of late and well, she finds them extremely fascinating. Why? Couldn't tell you. If I'd have to pinpoint her object of interest, I would say James Potter himself. She's been raving about the boy. I mean, she's not romantically interested in him or anything. She's just been awfully curious and well, she won't share those blasted suspicions of hers.
Always the same questions, over and over again.
"He stares at you a lot?" she asked me, her eyes excited and full of dancing revelations. "He wants to meet Jules?"
"Well, yeah, but who wouldn't? She has one eye," I pointed out. It was true. Often, people just found the oddest quirks interesting. I mean, if I wasn't so used to it and I didn't love my cat dearly, I would probably be somewhat repulsed. But the fact of the matter is that I am used to it and she is my little pride and joy. So there. "And it's not like I'd even think of exposing my precious cat to that absolute nightmare."
"Why not?" Holly inquired thoughtfully. "I mean, Jules really does need more human interaction. Not many people want to pet a one-eyed cat. Sure, they want to look at it. They want to laugh at it. They want to marvel over the possibilities pertaining as to how exactly she came about being one-eyed. But, they normally don't have any desire to pet the poor dear."
"Yourself included," I reminded her once more.
"That is completely besides the point," Holly dismissed. "I am trying to say that maybe it wouldn't be so bad, for everyone actually, if you and Potter tried hanging out outside of detention. I mean, lord knows we could live without any public displays of violence."
She was out of her mind. I told her just this and she simply rolled her eyes and passed me the cat. I think I saw her flinch a bit, but I overlooked this.
And when I refused once more, she literally pushed me down the stairs. I could have died! I could have acquired a fracture of some sort or even a permanent affliction, such as an irrational fear of stairs. I do believe that I shouted this up to the closed door that Holly was lurking behind.
However, I did not develop any mental or physical injuries. I only managed to topple onto my behind, landing at the bottom of the stairs in front of nearly every Gryffindor in the common room.
And to my surprise, it was Potter who helped me up. Yes, scrawny, stupid, slippery Potter. If I weren't so polite, I probably would have screamed. And yes, to answer any and all questions, I was cringing on the inside.
He provided a shocking smirk and eventually noticed that I was carrying Jules, who happened to be clawing my robes vigorously.
"Is this Jules?" he asked me, petting her carefully. If things hadn't been bizarre enough, Jules actually stopped clawing me to release a satisfied purr of some sort. And she hates almost everyone.
"Do you know any other one-eyed cats?" I responded, hoping that didn't sound rude. He didn't seem offended in the least, only mesmerized with the one-eye.
"Does she still have nightmares?" he asked. I was sort of surprised he even remembered that tiny, insignificant detail.
"Nearly every night," I told him quietly.
I really didn't like where this whole 'befriend Potter' idea was going. It was sort of flustering, especially so considering that the whole common room was watching us as if we were some highly amusing circus freak show.
So, as Potter was petting Jules, I mumbled out, "I really do have to go do some homework. In my room. So, I guess I'll be going."
"Can the cat stay?" he asked, as I headed up the stairs.
And, reluctantly, I let Jules trample down the steps to go sit with James Potter in the common room. I am such an idiot.
***
A couple of days later, I was scurrying around the dorm room, attempting to find a sketchbook to bring with me to detention. No, I was not going to draw creepy Snape-like images, thanks. I was only bringing it to doodle in. Anything to distract me from that incessant twerp so affectionately named Potter.
Holly entered, a devious grin adorning her face.
"You know who I saw getting cozy on the Gryffindor couch?" she taunted, nearly laughing.
"Don't care," I managed to spit out, while fervently searching in my trunk.
"Potter and Jules," she told me, despite my lack of interest in the conversation.
"So?" I inquired, looking up at her from the ground.
"Just saying that they make a remarkable couple, is all," she said, whistling as she flopped down onto her bed.
What was she trying to get at anyways? So what if Potter liked my cat? That didn't mean anything. Even though she has one-eye, she is a very likeable cat. Pft. Holly just never got to know her. I mean, just because she has some weird phobia, doesn't mean that everyone does.
But, now that she mentions it, I am rather curious as to why he is so interested in my cat. It's really irking me, truth be told. At least I have something to do in detention now.
Potter & Jules-- How did this happen?
Possibility 01--Potter was deprived as a child and is using my cat to fulfill his youth-filled dreams of owning a pet of his very own.
Possibility 02--Fate. Maybe it's written in the stars that Potter and Jules belong together. If so, I will NOT be attending the wedding.
Possibility 03--He's extremely desperate.
I'm leaning towards the third possibility, if I must say so myself. I spent so much time pondering the idea of Potter enjoying the company of my cat that I, well, lost track of time and barely noticed his eyes straying on mine every so often. Alright, I did notice this, but it bugged me a bit less since I had something to focus my attention on.
As the three of us, Snape, Potter, and myself, drifted apart after detention, I came across none other than Sirius 'Love My Body' Black. I heard him chanting that one day in the common room and now he has officially been dubbed so.
"Why, Evans, what a surprise to see you on this very beautiful night," Black told me suavely.
Let me refrain from hacking all over this diary.
"Has anyone ever mentioned how the hall light brings out your eyes?" he questioned, as charmingly as he could.
Not charming enough, Black. Sorry.
"No, but I'm oh-so glad you noticed," I told him coldly, walking away.
He ran to catch up with me, shouting, "Wait, Evans!"
"What is wrong with you, Black? The two of us hold a mutual understanding of the fact that neither one of us cares for the other. We both find the other loathsome, irritating, and insufferable. Now, please, let's leave it at that," I told him.
"You have a point," he told me. "But I'm not here for me. Well, I'm not here on anyone's behalf, actually. Merely trying to be a good friend."
"Enlighten me," I told him, pausing to roll my eyes.
And as he told me exactly why he was there, I think I bloody fainted. I woke up in my dorm room, with you, diary, clenched so tightly to my chest, and the feeling of immense motion sickness overcame me.
I now know why James Potter was becoming buddy-buddy with my cat.
Apparently, he likes me.
Goodie.
Sick until death, Lily
A/N: Please review.