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Every Other Time
Mei Queen
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Authoress' Note: Okay, so this chapter is pretty random. Product of too little sleep, too much work on a Saturday, and not near enough coffee. Oh, and the plot really doesn't go anywhere yet. Sorry. Big thanks to everyone that reviewed the first chapter, and another huge thanks to my fantabulous beta Chelsea!
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LAST CHAPTER:
He had closed his eyes. He seemed to be leaning closer to me. Was he trying to do what I think he was trying to do? He was rapidly closing the distance between us. Mind reeling with disgust, I was about to back away when I heard the door click open. Grant's face was barely inches from my own.
James Potter was standing in the doorway, one arm clutching the doorknob, one arm clutching my pink monstrosity, and looking like he was experiencing the difficult decision of whether he wanted to throttle or vomit.
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Chapter 2: Mental Health Day
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"James. Hi," I murmured awkwardly, immediately stepping back from Grant. He, meanwhile, was still poised midair, awaiting some sort of physical contact with me that I'd rather not think about.
James Potter appeared to be taking every bit of self-resolve to stay calm. Turning to me and exhaling a deep breath, he met my eyes as he asked, "Lily, what's going on here?"
"This has nothing to do with you, Potter," Grant spat, obviously recovered from the shock of James' interruption and turning to my boyfriend in annoyance.
The Head Boy in question quirked an eyebrow accompanied by one of his sarcastic smiles before answering. "I hardly think you're in a position to talk right now, Ashcroft. Try not to dig yourself in deeper."
Taking a few paces toward me and taking my hand, he pulled me close before whispering, "What happened?"
I mustered the closest expression to a smile that I could manage and pulled back to look him in the eye. "Nothing. Honestly."
"Okay, then. Let's go, Lil…do you have your things?"
Grant gave a loud snort of indignation.
"So, that's it, then. You're just going to go with him. Like nothing's happened between us. Like I don't even matter to you," the blond accused in a deadly whisper, meeting my emerald eyes with his stunning cerulean. I immediately felt wracked with guilt, though I hadn't the slightest idea why. Who the hell was he to accuse me of this? I was going to leave with my boyfriend; I was going to Petunia's wedding with my boyfriend… because I loved my boyfriend. Because James and I belonged together, damn it!
It was never meant to be Lily Ashcroft, I thought with a sigh. That just sounds terrible…
Looking at my ex challengingly, I replied quietly, "That is it, Grant. It has been over for months. I'm sorry that this fact seems to have escaped you, and I'm sorry for having to be cruel in telling you like this. But I'm not sorry for telling you, because I'm tired of you making me feel guilty for something I can't help. I'm genuinely sorry for the way we ended things, that wasn't fair to you. But you stalking me? You continually thinking that I want you back or have some deep, suppressed desires toward you? That's unfair to me. Please leave me alone."
Turning and striding out, I noticed that James seemed to be lingering behind a few moments to have some final words with Grant. Shaking my head in exhaustion, I turned to head back to the Tower. Alone. As alone as I feel inside, I mentally quipped, running a hand through my hair anxiously. I had an ex that wanted too much from me, and a boyfriend that, for all intents and purposes, was pretty damn perfect, but I kept starting problems with. I'm ready for a bubble bath, because attending classes just isn't going to happen today, I thought exhaustedly, throwing my arms up in a yawn as I muttered the password to the Fat Lady. I'll just tell them I'm horribly ill or something. Muggle diseases always work wonders as excuses around here…
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.:3rd P:.
"Where the hell is she?" Annabelle Burton whispered furiously to her boyfriend, Sirius Black.
He met her eyes blankly. "Who?"
"Oh for the love of Merlin. Celestina Warbeck, that's who."
Sirius' face lit up into a broad grin. "Celestina? Where is she? Is my hair all right?"
"I'm going to smack you," Bella countered. "I meant Lily, you nitwit."
"Then why didn't you just say that?" Peter Pettigrew interrupted after leaning over to overhear their conversation. After all, the seventh year Gryffindors' first class of the day was History of Magic, so there was not really much else to do but eavesdrop. Remus Lupin, meanwhile, looked over at his mates disapprovingly, making a hushing sound and pointing to Binns, who appeared to be noticing that the class was not listening with rapt attention.
Annabelle rolled her eyes in response to Peter, apparently not feeling up to justifying his idiotic question with an answer. Sighing, she leaned over to her other side to ask the only person that might know the location of Lily Evans- her boyfriend, James Potter.
"James, where's Lily at? She was there at breakfast…but now she's not."
"I've noticed," he whispered in frustration. "We had a run-in with Grant this morning, and she just… disappeared."
"What, you didn't go looking for her?" Bella replied incredulously, as if James were a complete and hopeless moron.
"I tried," he snapped crossly. "She wasn't in the common room, though. I can't exactly go up to your dorms, now, can I?"
"Oh. Right. Forgot about that. Well, I'll check on her after this class, then."
Bella and James both gulped when they noticed that Binns' usual monotonous strain of babble had paused, something that was never a good sign.
"You two! Bumpkin! Porter! I'm trying to teach about the Goblin Rebellion of 1678, but if you'd rather teach the class about it yourselves, by all means, keep up your idle and senseless chatter!"
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.:Lily's P:.
My right big toe sneaked out of the sea of bubbles to turn off the running faucet in the prefect's bathroom. Letting out a contented sigh, I felt my muscles relax in the fragrant warmth of the bath. This is so much better than an hour of Binns, I thought contentedly, one hand reaching for my shampoo.
I don't know how long I was in there. It must have been the whole period of morning class, because when I exited, hair still dripping wet and clothes slightly askew, the corridor was packed with students trying to make it to their next class on time.
My eyes rolled when I noticed a familiar head of hair in the corridor walking toward me. What is this? 'Grant sticks to Lily like used Drooble's Best Blowing Gum Day? Honestly. It's ridiculous…I've had over a month of a great relationship with James, and now Grant decides it's time to interfere. The bloke's got timing, I'll give him that much.
Ducking my head slightly and covering my telltale hair with my towel, I walked a little more briskly, fervently hoping that Grant wouldn't notice me. I didn't want a repeat of this morning, and I certainly did not want to have to explain why my hair was wet. After all, Grant had been lecturing me about the threat James Potter was posing to my academic career just this morning, I didn't want to go and prove him right only hours later.
I was fairly relieved when I heard someone call Grant over to my side of the hallway. Looking back, I noticed it was the Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain, Gideon Prewett...an egotistical seventh year I'd never gotten on too famously with, actually. "I have a question for you about the match, Ashcroft!"
"Sure," he replied, striding over my way. Oh shit. Shit shit shit…he's coming over here! Where the hell can I go? I can't let him see me, I thought frantically, head turning to the side to see if there was anything I could hide behind. Gratefully noticing that the tapestry brushing my hand seemed to have a very convenient alcove behind it, I surreptitiously slid in. Not a moment too soon, either.
"What is it, Prewett?" Grant asked, treading over and stopping directly in front of the tapestry. My heart beat even faster when I realised that I could even feel the fabric move slightly as Grant's hand brushed against it. Praying to the founders, I desperately hoped that Gideon and Grant would not notice the alcove like I had...or for that matter, the fact that I was hiding inside said alcove.
"I just wanted to ask if you got a new Seeker like I heard from McKinnon this morning… we've been training up ours, but we still don't know what'll happen at the match. Those second years, great in practice but still nervous as mice on brooms once the Quaffle's in the air, you know how it is. Hey, man, you all right?"
Grant made some noise of muffled assent that I couldn't really understand. Mildly intrigued in the conversation on the other side of the tapestry now, my ears perked as my ex began to speak. "It's been a long day, yeah?"
"I mean, I know we're not the best of mates or anything, but even I've noticed you've been a bit off since Lily got with Potter."
I winced. Did he have to bring me into this? Though I had made it a point not to speak too excessively with him in our entire time at Hogwarts, I was now feeling an overwhelming wave of dislike for Gideon Prewett.
"Yeah," Grant murmured softly. "It's hard to believe, isn't it?"
"That someone as fabulous as Lily Evans would compromise herself with Potter?" Gideon asked tactlessly. "Yeah, it's a pity. That fiery red hair, those green eyes…you two would have made some beautiful kids. But with Potter…Merlin, the poor child will probably have that prat's hair…"
Okay, now I was getting hacked off. They had no right to talk about my boyfriend like that! And I never knew Gideon disliked James that much…James was usually much better liked than I was, but I suppose Grant and Gideon were exceptions to that general rule. Why isn't Grant replying? He's got the perfect opportunity to talk rubbish about James, but now he doesn't seem up to it…
Prewett apparently did not sense Grant's hesitation, however, as he continued. "What if…what if we could save her from making some horrible mistake, Grant? We get Lily and Potter to break up, and get her back with you. It shouldn't be too difficult, eh? I can't stand to see you this depressed, man…it's bad for Quidditch. If we get you and Lily back together, everyone will be happy. It's the right thing to do, really."
I cocked my head to the side. What the hell is that logic? Am I the only sane one here? And exactly how does Prewett expect to break up me and James, anyhow? He's even more of a pompous prick if he thinks that whatever Grant and him do will affect James and I as a couple. Why hasn't Grant replied yet, anyway?
Finally, Grant coughed awkwardly, breaking the silence between the two blokes. "All right, Prewett…well, I'll just see you next game. I need to get to class."
Gideon returned the sentiment, hollering "just think about it" to Grant's retreating figure before striding off himself. After waiting a few minutes to be sure that the coast was clear, I was finally allowed to get out of my claustrophobic hideaway and back into the corridor, mind reeling with questions.
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Two hours later, I was nipping down to the kitchens for a quick snack (after all, I hadn't eaten since breakfast. But since I was "sick", I couldn't exactly go eat lunch with everybody else, either).
"Miss Evans. I didn't see you in class this morning," I heard from over my shoulder. Stomach sinking with dread, I turned, finding myself face-to-face with Minerva McGonagall.
"Er…yes, Professor. I'm afraid I'm not feeling well today," I replied in my most sick-sounding voice, making sure to insert at least four coughs into every sentence, all the while fervently hoping she would believe my act.
"What a pity," she countered briskly, obviously not fooled in the slightest. "What are you doing out of bed? Has Poppy seen you yet?"
"Madam Pomfrey? Um…not yet, I was on my way there right now."
"Well, you certainly are taking the scenic route, aren't you?" she asked with the ghost of a smile tugging on her features. "…Seeing as the Hospital Wing is on the other side of the castle, Miss Evans."
My cheeks reddened furiously. "Right. I'll just be on my way then, shall I?"
I walked past her, and heard her call my name after I had almost rounded the corner of the hallway. Turning to face her, I inwardly groaned as McGonagall called, "Oh, and next time you're feeling 'sick', maybe you should let someone know… a professor, preferably. Then we'll let you know whether or not you're actually 'sick', Miss Evans."
Nodding and fighting the extreme urge to roll my eyes, I rounded on my heel and began to grudgingly make my way to the Hospital Wing.
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.:3rd P:.
Annabelle Burton threw her hands up in exasperation, descending the stairs two at a time. At the bottom, she was met with her best friend's extremely nervous boyfriend, who was currently standing in the middle of the common room, one hand anxiously tousling his mop of ebony hair and one foot tapping so quickly Bella was surprised it hadn't fallen off yet from the effort.
"She's not there," Bella exclaimed hopelessly. "I don't know where else she could be…we've looked bloody everywhere."
"Well," Peter interrupted from his seat by the crackling fireplace. "Logically, she could be anywhere in the castle. Hey, Prongs!"
"What?" James asked in annoyance, turning to face Peter impatiently. "What is it, Wormtail?"
"Have you checked the…um…" Peter looked around to make sure nobody was eavesdropping. "The map?"
The Head Boy smacked himself in the forehead, unable to believe he hadn't thought of that option himself. "You're brilliant, Wormtail!"
James Potter was quite a sight to see at that moment. He raced towards the boys' dorms, pushing to the side whatever was in his way, jumping over first years, upsetting games of chess and Gobstones that were actually in session, all the while uttering a steady stream of "excuse me" and "sorry". Needless to say, James managed make it to his dorm in record time. Flinging open his trunk, he got out a certain faded piece of parchment that was folded and sitting on top of his clothes. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!"
Even though he had ran the whole way up to his dorm, James' heart beat even faster as he located the dot of 'Lily Evans'…in the Hospital Wing.
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"Where is she?" James Potter gasped, trying to catch his breath from the long run over. He burst through the doors to the Hospital Wing loudly, allowing the heavy doors to slam, not really caring whether or not Madam Pomfrey took it as a disturbance. Frantically glancing around the near empty wing in between wheezing gasps, he demanded, "Where's Lily?! Lily! Are you in here?"
"Mr Potter, what are you doing here?" Madam Pomfrey enquired in annoyance, crossing her arms over her chest, and quickly striding out of her office to have a word with whoever was so loudly and inconsiderately disturbing her patients. "I'll have you know that this isn't a good time for visiting."
"I don't care. I want to see my girlfriend. Where's Lily at?"
"She's over in that bed by the window. See her? She's perfectly fine," the woman snapped, pointing to the bed in the farthest corner of the wing, where a redhead was sitting up, observing the conversation with noticeable amusement. "Now please get back to your classes."
"I need to talk to her."
"About what, pray tell?" Madam Pomfrey pressed, tightening the arms over her chest suspiciously and raising a quizzical brow. Lily Evans, too, cocked her head curiously, wondering what excuse her boyfriend would come up with to get to see her.
James Potter, however, was not to be intimidated. "The schoolwork she's missed," he countered evenly, knowing without question that bringing schoolwork to ill students was usually an assignment presided over by the ill student's Head of House- which for Lily, happened to be Minerva McGonagall, someone far more senior, superior, and severe than Poppy Pomfrey.
Throwing her hands up in exasperation, the nurse turned to go back in her office, face looking almost as if she'd sucked on a lemon. Before slamming the door behind her, the nurse called bitterly, "Five minutes! Then you have to leave!"
Sighing, James turned back to Lily's bed. Walking over and gingerly sitting on the bed, he took one of her hands in his, murmuring, "Hi there."
"Hi."
He chuckled hollowly. "Seems like we're in here a lot lately."
Lily joined in the laughter, feeling a smile widen on her face. "Yeah, we are, aren't we? Odd."
"Where were you today?"
The redhead sighed, looking away from the probing stare of her boyfriend. "I just couldn't take it today. Life just seemed too difficult…I didn't want to have to deal with everything…everyone."
"What's up, Lil? Is it that git Grant? Because if it is, I know plenty of secret passageways to hide the body in, and I know Sirius would help me. He owes me, speaking of which…"
"First off," Lily scolded, "that's mildly disgusting. And…it's a little bit Grant, but more just everything happening at once today…the wedding, Grant deciding that we're soul mates or some crock of shite, it's just a lot to take in one day. I suppose I just needed a mental health day. Nothing serious to worry about, though."
"Oh," James replied, obviously relieved. Reaching over to take her hand, he brought it to his lips in a soft kiss before whispering, "I love you, you know."
Lily smiled in response. "I love you, too. So…are you ready to meet my family?"
"Are you kidding?" he asked excitedly. "I've been thrilled about this since you got the invitation! I really hope your parents like me."
The redhead chuckled at her boyfriend's nervousness, using a consoling hand to ruffle his hair affectionately. "They'll love you," she promised. "Petunia, on the other hand…well, she doesn't even like me, so don't be offended if she doesn't like you, either…"
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