Chapter Eight: Soothing Motion
By Natali K. A.
"Jack, Will, David, George, you know my daughter Lily. These are her friends Victoria and James," Mr. Evans said, introducing everyone as the dinner party began. "Lily, dear, these are my colleagues, whom I'm sure you remember. Except for David, he's a recent addition."
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance," Lily smiled, wishing she'd found some way to get out of this dinner. She'd forgotten how much she'd hated these things; they were an utter bore.
"Food's ready if you would like to be seated, gentlemen," Mrs. Evans said, entering the front parlor. "Lily, you and your friends will be sitting on the left side."
"Alright, Mum," Lily said, taking James' proffered arm to go into the dining room for dinner. Vicky grabbed onto his other arm.
He had definitely done this sort of thing before.
Vicky, of course, knew how these things went. Her mother had divorced her father when Vicky was three and had married a muggle who ran a major company. A dinner party this size was a piece of cake for her.
But Lily had wondered whether to point out a few things to James or not. Of course, she knew that the Potters held a high position in pureblood wizard society, but there were probably a few differences along with the similarities to muggle and wizard parties.
So far so good, however.
The dinner was, as she'd predicted, a boring affair but with very good food-the Evanses had had the same French housekeeper for over ten years now, and they'd never been let down. Lily's mum had been her usual thoughtful self when she'd set up the places so that the females were on one side with the males on another. It made for more interesting conversation.
And so, while the three women discussed the expected fall fashions, Lily eavesdropped on the conversation the men were conducting-something about horses. She felt an odd pride in the fact that James was her boyfriend and how completely perfect he was. She could tell her father was content that James could hold his own down at a formal gathering, no matter the size.
"Try not to gaze adoringly, Lily," Vicky whispered in her ear, sounding slightly disgusted. "It doesn't become you to be the simpering girlfriend."
Lily narrowed her eyes slightly but smiled anyway.
"Lily, what do you make of it?" James asked her.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart, I wasn't listening."
"Five Arabians for sale. Not a bad price either. Not the cheapest but probably worth it. I'm considering buying them from Will there."
Lily raised her eyebrow. "And put them where, James?"
"I'd have to buy a big house with stables," he shrugged. "We could go horseback riding every morning on our very own horses."
"You'd never get her off," Mrs. Evans laughed. "Lily's happiest childhood memories were at our cousins' where we'd visit during the summer. They own a stud."
"I say, are you engaged?" asked the fat, sweaty man that was Jack. He turned to the older people. "These young things keep getting married earlier and earlier. They should learn to enjoy their lives for a while first."
"In the process of an engagement," James replied. "I haven't formally asked yet."
Lily could feel her cheeks heat up and had to fight the urge to roll her eyes when she saw her parents give each other a knowing, pleased look.
*~*
"The fat man was quite irritating," Vicky said the instant they walked through the back doors. She reached into her purse and took out a faggot and lighter.
"He's not so bad. Just a little… distasteful," James shrugged, automatically putting his arm around Lily's waist. "I can't imagine what he was thinking when he put on that powder blue suit. It clashes horribly with his coloring."
"I'm not too sure anything would look good on old Jack," Lily snickered. "I've never liked him. I swear to you that he tried to make a pass at me when I was fourteen. And he says that we `young things' should live our lives first."
"What'd he say?" Vicky asked.
"It had been about four years since he'd last seen me-I'd gone away to Hogwarts-and he said I was growing up very nicely and was I considering marriage? That was the long and short of it, anyhow."
"Gross," Vicky muttered, blowing out a puff of smoke. She turned to the couple and gave them a sassy look. "So, when are you going to formally propose, James m'boy?"
"It's a surprise."
"No doubt. If in any way, shape, or form your plan involves tying Lily up and gagging her, I'm there to help. Remember that," she winked, putting out the cigarette. "Well, I've got to go."
"So early?" Lily asked. "It's not even ten."
"Yes, I know. Johnny wants to take me out," Vicky sighed. "It's so demanding to be a girlfriend. Actually, I'm meeting his parents, even though he thinks I don't know."
"How did you find that out?" James asked.
"Ran into his mum at his flat the other day. She'd been there reading on his couch waiting to go out to lunch with him and I'd popped in to pick up the chainsaw he let me borrow."
"Why does he have a chainsaw?" Lily asked.
"Oh, I don't know," Vicky huffed. "He's such a packrat, it's so bloody annoying. Something about the price being too good to pass up. But when I used it, the thing tried to lift me up in the air so I think it's some sort of illegal form of traveling that happens to double as a chainsaw."
"I don't want to know," Lily muttered. "So what did she say?"
"Oh, the usual. `I can't wait until I can get to know you better at dinner later this week.' Seems lovely and eager to get to know me," Vicky replied, kissing Lily's cheek and then James'. "Ta-ta, darlings." She disapparated.
James led her over to the wooden swing where Lily used to swing when she was younger. It was just wide enough to two children to sit side by side; for them to fit, Lily had to sit in the space between his legs and lean on him. One of his legs was brought up so the knee hung over the back, the other foot touching the ground so he could gently rock them.
"You look beautiful," he murmured, kissing her temple.
"I hate this dress, but it's the only one that covers my cleavage. I'd rather not give Jack a reason to goggle. I feel ten in it."
"You definitely do not look ten," he chuckled. "Then again, you'd look ravishing in a dirty dish rag, wouldn't you?"
"You'd like that. A dish rag only covers so much." She turned a little to look at him. "Are you really going to buy those horses?"
"Do you want me to?"
"It's up to you-it's your money."
"It'll be our money soon."
"But at the moment it's still just yours."
"I don't think of it like that. In my head, you're already my wife. So if I call you that, don't be alarmed."
She smiled into the dark night. "I thought men were supposed to be afraid of commitment."
"It'd hardly be a bother to fuck you, Lily." He hugged her tighter, pushing off the ground with a little more power. "So?"
"So what?"
"Do you want me to buy them?"
"It's up to you."
"Do you not want me to buy them?"
"No."
"Then I'll buy them."
Lily leaned her head back with a little nod and shut her eyes. It was a little nippy outside, but she didn't feel cold at all with his arms wrapped around her as they were.
"Did you see my parents when you mentioned that you hadn't formally asked me to marry you yet?" she giggled. "They looked as if they'd just gotten me to marry the Prince or something."
"I was too busy watching Vicky sniggering and choking on her peas," James said amusedly. "I like her."
"I'm glad. You're going to be seeing a lot of her. I give her six months and she's married to Jonathan. I know she acts like it's the biggest pain to do all of these `girlfriend' things, as she terms them, but she loves every second of it. She gushed about him the other day. I almost fell out of my chair."
"She's very level-headed and practical. You've got to give that to her."
"I think it's that she's a tad cynical about life," Lily said. "Her parents divorced when she was so young, you know. And her dad hasn't spoken to her for about twelve years. I'm not so sure her faith in good men is all that high."
"She'll be fine," James told her soothingly. "She doesn't need any man."
"I know, but I still worry about her. She's not bitter or scarred or anything nearly so dramatic, but it makes me a little sad that she finds it so hard to just let herself love."
They fell into a thoughtful silence and it was about twenty minutes before James spoke up.
"We should double date soon."
But there wasn't a reply from his love. It was then he noticed her breathing had become deep and even.
He sighed. "My little addiction… You fell asleep on me. How rude." James did not move, but instead kept swinging and lay his head on hers, just letting himself enjoy the evening with the most important person in his life.
A few minutes later, he could tell she was dreaming. Oh. That would explain a lot…
*~*
Lily turned the corner and walked towards the Charms room. She was nearly fifteen minutes early, and she knew it. But since Vicky hadn't been feeling so great and she'd finished eating, the redhead had decided to get a head start and just get there early. Perhaps talk to the professor about an extension on that essay…
"You're certainly here early."
She looked up to find James leaning against the door frame.
"Decided to get here a few minutes before and talk to the professor about something."
"She's still at lunch."
"Oh." Lily leaned on the doorway as well, across from him. "What about you? Shouldn't you be wreaking havoc off with the rest of your mates somewhere?"
He shrugged. "I wasn't interested in what they're doing today. Besides they've got a free period now and I don't. Most likely I would've been late."
She nodded. There was an awkward silence then, as their eyes glanced at everything except each other.
"You look nice today, Lily."
"Thank you," she smiled. "I got my hair cut yesterday. You don't think my bangs are too short?"
"They're perfect," he assured her. "They always are."
Her stomach did a little flip flop as her cheeks flooded with color. "You need a haircut yourself," she giggled, pointing. "Though I don't suppose that has ever really helped, has it?"
"To my annoyance, no," he sighed. "But I accepted the unruliness of my hair years ago. What else could I have expected? I got it from my father. My mother, of course, has the best hair ever. But that's life for you. Thankfully, it hasn't damaged my self esteem."
Lily nodded. There was another awkward pause as they thought of things to talk about. "Did you have a nice time in Hogsmeade yesterday?" she asked finally.
"Nice enough."
"Just? You sound a little let down."
"I am. I was looking for you." He halted just long enough to savor her cute blush. "What about you?"
"It wasn't a bad time. I spent more money than I'd intended to, however. I'm waiting for the reply to the letter I sent to my parents asking for more. No doubt my dad will chastise me about learning to stay on a budget and send me twice as much as before. He hasn't figured out how much galleons are yet, compared to pounds."
"And you haven't bothered to correct him," James chuckled. "Right?"
"Right-o."
"Were you looking for me?"
"I shouldn't have to answer that."
"But you do, since I asked. And if you don't answer I'll have to assume that you were and that you're embarrassed to admit it."
"And if I admit it verbally?"
"You're only able to hold your head up a little higher."
Lily laughed. "Very well, to hell with my pride. Yes, I was looking for you. I remember you'd promised me a drink at the Three Broomsticks."
"I did," he affirmed. "I suppose," he sighed dramatically, pushing himself off the frame to lean towards her, "that next time we'll just have to go together as to not lose each other."
"I suppose so," she grinned.
"It's a deal, then. We'll work out the details later." The falling of footsteps could be heard on the stairs-they were about to be joined by someone. With a surge courage he didn't have, James leaned forward and kissed her cheek fleetingly just as the Charms professor came into view.
"After you," he smiled, holding the door open for her and then the professor. He gave himself a mental pat on the back because he knew he'd done something right-whatever that had been. She was looking at him with a contented expression…
Always good news.
*~*
"James, dear? Is Lily asleep?" Mrs. Evans asked, walking toward the swing and wrapping her shawl tighter around her. "A bit chilly, eh?"
"Yes, it is. She fell asleep in the middle of a conversation and I didn't have the heart to move her," he responded. "I'll just carry her up to her room."
Mrs. Evans nodded, but James could feel he wanted to say something to him.
"It was surprising news to hear that you and Lily have talked about marriage," she began uncomfortably. "Jack, of course, has never been one of my favorite people because of his stupidity and all around… er, `grossness', I believe Lily calls it. But I feel unexplainable gratitude towards him for asking such a rude question even when he saw quite clearly that Lily was not wearing an engagement ring."
"People are different. I don't think he was being rude exactly."
"I concur. But the fact of the matter remains that no doubt you two shall be making an announcement soon."
"I want to see Mr. Evans sometime next week to ask for his blessing to marry his daughter," James stated, knowing that was what she'd come outside to hear.
She smiled. "That's delightful, dear. Drop by whenever you'd like. But do give me a heads up so I can bake you something. Or so Laura can, anyway. I'm a terrible cook," she confided. "Why don't you grab Lily there and you can take her up to her room?"
He did just that, careful not to wake her.
"I'll say my adieus now, as I'll just disapparate from her room. Tell Mr. Evans a good evening and that I'll see him soon."
"I'll make sure to. Would you like to take home some sugar biscuits? They're delicious."
"I'd like that very much."
Lily's mum went into the kitchen and came out with a package two minutes later. With a little hug, she bade him goodnight and he started up the stairs.
He pushed open her door and shut it with his shoulder. Gently, he lay her on her bed under the covers, making sure to take off her shoes. He would have undressed her and placed her in pajamas as well, only he couldn't figure out how to undo her dress.
Complicated things, dresses.
"'Night, Lily," he whispered, bending down to kiss her lips. She made a humming sound and moved a little but didn't wake.
He disapparated, package of sugar biscuits in his hands.
*~*
A/N: "Can I get another amen? AMEN!" -Sorry, am listening to Green Day. Anyhow, I've been positively dying to get that little scene in the doorway down for weeks now-inspired from real life. Not me, of course, as my love life is nonexistent. But my best friend had that happen to her, and it was just delicious to hear about (I wasn't actually there to witness it) and I loved it so much I had to put it in one of my stories! Naturally, I tweaked it a bit (they definitely did not talk about what James and Lily talked about) to fit my own personal wants and desires, but yeah.
Also… Well, that's it, isn't it?? This took me awhile longer to write, even though I already knew what I wanted to say. I can't really explain it.
And I've got a yearbook deadline tomorrow that I really should work on… Hah.
Thank you, everyone, for your reviews. I can't tell you how much I love receiving them. It's almost silly, but I adore reading what you think.
I think… Uh, maybe another couple chapters? I know-I keep saying that and it goes on even longer, but… I don't know. I can't figure out how I want to end it. Actually, that's a lie. I know exactly how it'll end and what the last line is. But I have to get there first (reminds me of A Budding Rose, where me and Rosie had had the last chapter-or the proposal, anyhow-down for ages before I actually got there).
I'd also like to point out that Lily had a dream again! Why? Oh, no idea. But I couldn't figure out another way to incorporate that doorway thing. And for the first time, it's about a past point in their relationship that never happened. I wonder why?? I'll let you know when I come up with it.
Much love,
Natali K. A.
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