Chapter Six: Shameful
By Natali K. A.
-Lily's POV-
"Lily, dear," Kathryn said, coming toward me the instant I made it downstairs. "Since it's after dinner, the parties have split up a bit. The younger ladies are in the front parlor, if you'd care to go there."
"Sure," I smiled. "Point me in the direction."
"Down that hall and the door on the left."
I made my way down the hall and to the left, just as she'd said and opened the door to find some of the most beautiful women in the world. Damn it.
From what I gathered, the Potters hosted these dinners quite often, and were also invited to others. Did that mean James and all these beautiful women were also at those?
They turned to look at me collectively, and it was quite annoying. I was a few minutes later than the others, and it's understandable that everyone would be curious as to who entered the room, but this was just rude.
I was being scrutinized from head to toe.
"And you are?" one of the girls in the center asked haughtily.
"Lily Evans," I replied strongly and clearly.
When I was young, Mum had taught Petunia and me how to deal with the wealthy. She'd grown up in one of the homes as somewhat of a foster child known as a "cousin". I could dance social circles around these bitches.
"Evans?" another blonde said. I noticed how low the neckline to her dress was, the whore. "I don't remember anyone at the dinner tonight with the last name Evans."
"Well, there's me, isn't there?" I smiled coolly.
A brunette sitting near me suppressed a grin. "True. Who's your father?"
"Pardon?"
"What's the reason you are here," the first blonde snapped.
I raised a brow. "Oh, my father isn't anyone you'd know." A few of the girls-I calculated seven-seemed to think that was obvious.
"Then why are you here?"
"James Potter is my boyfriend."
That was satisfying. The first blonde's eyes narrowed.
"Really?" she asked disbelievingly. "I'm Fira, daughter of the Head of the British Auror Department. This is Anneliese-her father is a great benefactor to the Ministry, Sarah, Joanna, Dahlia-granddaughter of the Arabian Minister, Christine, and Debra."
Dahlia was the brunette who had spoken to me. I decided I liked her.
"You're so lucky," she said with just a twinge of an accent.
"While I agree, I wonder specifically why you think so," I said. I had no idea why she would be jealous.
Sarah, a short girl with tiny, pinched lips and eyes too far apart said, "You're dating James."
I raised my eyebrow. Bloody hell. Beautiful women-and all of them were diamonds of the first water-and they'd formed some sort of James Potter fanclub? No wonder he'd acted so sodding bigheaded before! I would too if I'd had my own fan club.
"Yes, I am, but I hardly think it's a big deal."
They all stared at me including Fira.
"Haven't you seen those eyes of his?" Sarah asked, sighing dreamily. "They're like caramel! Beautiful color…"
"And that strong nose," Joanna interjected. "So straight and charismatic. I've never seen such a handsome nose before."
"That sexy hair," Anneliese blushed. She looked to be rather shy but had a pair of the loveliest white shoes I've ever seen.
By now, I was freaked out. Not nervous per se, because honestly I'm not insecure like that. But if they've known him for so long, and I was sure they'd known him for years…
"And he's strong," Christine commented. "During the summer parties, he and the other blokes always go for a game of Quidditch, usually involving removing their shirts. It's like the best damned Christmas present ever-only during the summer."
Finally, Fira was the last to speak.
I didn't think it would be anything nice.
"I wonder why he didn't introduce you to any of us?" she asked sweetly. "We've known him for years. That's a bit odd. But I'm sure there's a perfectly good reason."
Yes, I was too busy getting to know his parents. Oh, and don't forget the part where I fucked him just a floor above you!
I shrugged though, holding my tongue. "We were busy. His parents and I were talking. But now I can become the best of friends with you all, so don't worry yourself, Fara." I purposely messed her up name, and you could tell she knew that.
Good. I want it to grate.
"It's Fira."
There was an uncomfortable silence, before Dahlia spoke up. "Here, Lily. Have a seat." I took the seat next to her. I'd won one of them over, and most others seemed to want to follow-with Fira as the exception.
"How long have you and James been dating?" Christine asked.
"About three months."
"You're very James-like," Sarah commented. "I mean, you're definitely the type of girl we always thought he'd end up with." She cast Fira a nervous glance. "Well, we'd always thought it'd be Fira, but-"
"I wasn't aware you'd dated." It was cruel of me, and I knew I'd touched a sore point with her immediately.
"We didn't." Her unsaid yet hung in the air.
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-Sirius' POV-
"Lily, you've got to come back very soon," Kathryn said once all the guests had left. "We can get to know each other better then without these distractions."
"I agree," Lily smiled, kissing her cheek. "Thank you for inviting me." She hugged Bobby then waited while James and I said goodbye to both.
Seconds later, we'd stepped through the fire to McGonagall's office.
"How did the girls treat you?" I asked Lily as we headed back for the Gryffindor tower. "They're vultures."
"They were lovely, actually," Lily said. "Wary at first, but then they heard I was dating the mighty James Potter and they were won."
"Even Fira?" I didn't believe for a second that Lily had gained Fira's friendship. Once Fira found out that James was dating someone who seemed very capable of keeping his attentions for a long time, she'd be pissed.
No wonder she hadn't even bothered to corner James when she asked if he wanted to go up to his room. It had been as if I wasn't even there. That had been during the dancing, when Lily had been on the dance floor with Bobby.
Lily's expression turned smug. "Of course not Fira."
James cast me a glance. "Had I known Mum was planning to throw you into the proverbial lions' den-"
"It was a pure sink or swim situation, and I swam like the very devil, James," she interrupted. She almost seemed offended. "You don't have to worry about that."
"I wasn't worried, but you didn't have any warning."
"I can handle myself just fine socially."
"I never said you couldn't. But those girls are just a nasty bunch to someone they feel threatened by."
Ah. This was uncomfortable. I thought Lily would feel a bit… disturbed is probably the word I'm looking for. There was no doubt that there were very beautiful, very rich, very educated, and very bitchy ladies in that room. James and I have known them all our lives and they're more like sisters, but it's no secret that they've all got crushes on James.
And me, but I tend to be thought of as the "bad boy" you need for a good time.
We'd reached the common room, which was empty at this late hour. I made to leave, because this was not an argument I wanted to witness.
"James, why didn't you introduce me to anyone unless they came up to us?"
I winced, my foot on the first step. So that was it. She couldn't give a shit if they tried to feed James love potions. She was upset because she'd noticed that James didn't go out of his way to introduce her to everyone.
I couldn't leave. I had to back James up on this. I turned around to watch them, resolving not to intercede unless I needed to.
James' face clouded with anger. "So, Fira decided to pull that one, did she?"
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-James' POV-
Fucking bitch. I'd wondered why she'd been so blunt about trying to screw me this time around. I was so pissed-incensed. She had absolutely no right to do that.
"Leave her out of this," Lily snapped. "Why didn't you, James?"
I shrugged. "Lils, it's not how we do things. It raises unwanted questions."
"Admit it. You're ashamed of me because I'm muggle-born and my father isn't someone powerful."
If Fira had pissed me off, Lily infuriated me, just like she'd always had the knack of doing.
"I have never cared about your background," I said in a lethal whisper, and I could tell Lily regretted crossing that line. "I have never been ashamed to associate myself with you, even when we were much less than friends."
She didn't reply, and for a moment I thought the old us would come back. I knew I was ready to explode-how dare she think that of me? I couldn't give a bloody shit if she was the daughter of a potato and a parsley leaf!
But when Lily broke eye contact with me, I knew. She was hurt.
Sirius must have sensed it too because I heard him continue his way up the stairs.
"Alright. Goodnight then, I guess."
"No, it's not." I wrapped her up in a hug. "Lils, how could you think that? You let Fira get to you."
"Why do you think it has to be Fira?"
"Because only the spawn of Satan could get something so untrue into your head. Don't listen to her. She's just in a snit because I don't find her remotely attractive."
"That still doesn't change the fact that you didn't introduce me to a lot of the people there. I kept getting strange looks and I swear I saw people whispering about me."
"I don't doubt it. Come on, let's sit." We walked over to one of the couches and sat next to each other. "It was a social strategy. I didn't want everyone to know who you were. Mum and Dad agreed it was a good idea. Obviously, if someone came to talk to us we'd have to introduce you-it's just plain rude otherwise. But with a party that big, with people so influential, I could hardly go around introducing you."
"You could have tried."
"Yes, but I told you it was a strategy. Now when we have another party-next month by the way, in southern Wales-the gossip will have spread if it hasn't already."
Lily didn't say anything, and I knew she hadn't caught on.
"Lils, it was a way of getting everyone to want more of you."
"It's ridiculously complicated, James."
"That's how the political life goes," I snorted. "I've never before brought anyone outside of the circle to one of these things before. It's obvious that you're not some girl I picked up for a good shag."
At this, I earned a smile from Lily that warmed me to my toes.
"Then shouldn't have you introduced me?"
"No, because now," I whispered, "when you pop up again at another party, you'll be the very center of it." I tipped her chin up. "But the thought of being ashamed of you has never entered my mind for even a second."
Lily sighed. "Yeah, I know. It was stupid, but I couldn't help-"
"Shh." I leaned down and kissed her, like I'd been longing to do for hours now, ever since we'd left my room. "Always remember, Lils, how beautiful I think you are."
She touched her lips to mine again, crawling into my lap.
It'd felt so satisfying to have her in my bed. It's a fantasy I'd been toying with ever since I found out about the party and knew Lily would be going, and it was better than I'd expected.
Just heavenly.
She was my angel and I think she knew it. She knew just how whipped she had me. If she wanted the Crown Jewels, I wouldn't have stopped until I'd gotten them for her.
I deepened the kiss, learning every single crevice of her warm, delicious mouth.
"Lily. Come up to my room with me," I whispered.
"But there's other people there. That's just… nasty."
"I'll move them out of their bed. They can sleep on the couches tonight."
She laughed a little. "No, there's no need. Really."
I thought for a moment, then came up with the perfect solution.
"I know what to do. Come with me." I stretched out my hand and took hers, hoisting her up. "I'm going to take you to a place where we'll be more alone than you could ever dream of."
She looked weak for a moment, her eyelids going down. "Alright. Let's go."
We made our way deep into the castle, to a corridor that is hardly ever passed and one that many students never even see in their time here. The room hidden there is even more of a secret, and of this moment I'm pretty sure only the Marauders know where it is. As far as professors go, I'm not sure.
But it's got its endless uses.
"What is this door?" Lily asked once I'd walked past three times and the door had appeared. "Where does it lead to?"
"You'll see." I opened the door and let her go in first.
"This is your room."
"Yeah."
"Your real room?"
"Yes."
She gave me a funny look. "What if someone comes in? Or if they hear?"
I took out my wand and locked the door. "My room's soundproof from the outside. I can hear outside but they can't hear me," I said. "I've had the spell up for about four years. Mum and Dad never found out. It's useful for when the Marauders are doing things we aren't supposed to do."
"Like what?"
"We've tried inventing a few things we shouldn't be working on," I grinned. "Mum's wondered about the odd smells, but she's never quite figured it out."
Lily's lips formed an "o" and she wrapped her arms around my neck. "Sounds naughty. What are we doing here, then?"
"I'm going to make love to you," I smiled, dragging her toward my bed. "Nice and slow, like you deserve."
"Hmm, sounds nice."
"I'll try my best."
*~*
A/N: Ok, I seriously enjoyed writing this chapter. It is by pure chance that I am able to post this today, because I discovered that I do have an internet connection at my dad's girlfriend's house-no matter that it's practically nothing and I have to squat in one of the corners, praying for a connection. BUT IT IS THERE! I feel proud.
But anyway, I really enjoyed writing the scene between Lily and Fira. I don't know why, but I love it when girls go at it (well, when one good girl everyone loves and another bitch that needs to get over herself go at it anyway). I got to introduce different characters and show how much better Lily is than everyone else.
Ooh, and James was particularly fine in this chapter. Sexy. Blah. I wish he really existed.
Moving on! Review, please!! I might not be able to post next weekend because I'm being dragged away to Halloween Horror Nights against my will. I'll try to post Friday, but… eh, time might not be something I've got. Will try my hardest, however.
Much love,
Natali K. A.
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