True Love Waits
By Foiilej
Chapter Two
Walking down the hallway, all Lily could think was why she had to be the one. Why did she have to dance with him? Things were going fine for the past six years. He didn't talk to her, she didn't talk to him, and all was right with the world. Now she had to dance with him? James, on the other hand, was thinking differently. This would be his chance. He would tell her he was so sorry for doing that to her and that he was sorry for not apologizing earlier and that he was sorry for not being able to get to know her. She was walking ahead of him and he decided he would catch up and see what he would have to deal with.
"Hey there, Lily. What's up?" He smiled at her but this seemed like he was being smug to her so she answered a little on the mean side. "Nothing, you gonna bomb me at the dance too?" She instantly thought that this sounded a little more tart than she had planned. "O, I was hoping maybe you didn't remember that. I meant to apologize. I really did, but I never really talk to you that much and I'm always so busy…" Lily rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'm not one to care too much, but I still think that was pretty mean." She started to quicken her pace so she would lose him but he just kept on going. "But um, anyway, I was wondering since, we have to, you know, dance together and everything, maybe we should go together too. What do you think?" At this, Lily stopped dead in her tracks. "What do I think?" She repeated. 'I think that you and I have never, in seven years of school together, had anything more to say than excuse me. I think that this is all really just some sort of joke to you, just like everything else. And I also think that, no doubt, you are scheming up something to do to me while we are at the dance, which is why you want me to go with you. So James, dear, I'm going to have to decline that offer." With that, she picked up where she had left off and James was left to wallow in self-pity until his stomach told him to go to dinner.
When he arrived at the Gryffindor table, he sat in his usual seat next to his best friends, Sirius and Remus, and across from Peter. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but when he sat down he noticed that Sirius had an odd look on his face. "Sirius, anything the matter?" James asked through a mouth full of food. "Yes, well, dear prongs, not so much for me, but from what I hear, you are having a little trouble." A wink and a half smile accompanied this last sentence by Sirius. "We will discuss this later, padfoot. Pass me the pumpkin juice." And that was the end of the conversation over there. Just as you might be wondering what Lily was talking about with her friends, James did the same. When he looked over to her usual place, he discovered that she wasn't there. Where was she?
Back in the seventh year girls dorms Lily sat with her long time friend Shannon Diggory and they analyzed the whole scene thoroughly. "So he said he was sorry, and asked you if you wanted to go with him? O yah Lil, it sounds like he's out to get you." Shannon joked. "Shannon, seriously, think about it. He doesn't say a word to me for seven years and then he just all of the sudden apologizes and asks me to the dance. There's something going on there." A small laugh escaped Shannon's mouth. "Lily, maybe he's just trying to make it more bearable at the dance. You know, clear things up so you guys can at least act civil." Lily wasn't one to be persuaded so easily though. She just sat in contemplation for a while and then started on her charms homework.
When people heard the name 'James Potter' the thoughts would vary from person to person. Some would think, smart, strong, and great at quidditch. Others would say charming, cute, modest. This is really what bugged Lily. Why would he want to go with her? She was none of those things and he could have any girl he wanted basically. Why else would he want to go with her other than to humiliate her again. Since Lily was who she was, she decided to ask him herself and get a straight answer. She made this decision the next morning when she woke up. She would just wait until History of Magic and ask him then….
A meal, two classes, and a whole lot of yawns and notes later, she finally caught up with James on the way to History of Magic. "Hey, James, I want to ask you something and I want a straight, honest to goodness answer alright?" A dreary feeling came over James but he agreed anyway. "Seriously, why did you ask me to the dance? I want a truthful answer, not some cock and bull 'water-under-the-bridge' rubbish." Lily's steadfast gaze did not falter even thought the thought of her being a bit harsh crossed her mind. "Well, um, can we talk about it later? It's kinda, hard to explain and it takes a little while." James was looking rather rushed and it seemed, rather flushed as well. "Yeah, I guess so. Around when?" Still staring at him intently, his blush increased a little. "Um, how about around…six. In the common room?" With that he rushed ahead to join Sirius. This created a little bit of a problem though. "Smart, cute and straight forward, eh James? What more could one ask for? O yah! Easy! Too bad, she would have been perfect." Sirius was the only one of his three best friends that knew James had liked Lily since the first year. "No, Sirius, I think you have my thoughts mixed in with yours." James retorted. "O yes, gallant, gentlemanly James, you would have left that last one out huh?" Sirius winked. Though he was quite the looker and had girls hanging on him most of the time he was awake, Sirius deep down really wished he could find a girl like Lily as well. Not just for the things that are said about redheads… "You know what they say about redheads…" he nudged James in the arm, but James didn't appreciate the comment in the least. "Man, you know it's not like that at all. We're just gonna drop this subject before we're late." With that they both entered the class and sat in there usual seats.
After that less than enlightening class was lunch. Things went rather normally with the occasional glance from Sirius toward Lily's direction. She paid no mind though, as she and her friends were stressing over the NEWTS coming up the very next day. Lily had been studying harder than she thought she could the past two days and she was now getting quite nervous. She drudged her way through a double potions (it never really was her subject) and finally got to the best class of the day (in her opinion); Care of Magical Creatures. The teacher, Mr. Aslan, was a very knowledgeable man who, somehow, commanded respect from every animal he had ever brought to the class. Today, they were going over any last minute things, they forgot, or never paid attention to. Lily was very intently scribbling notes as Mr. Aslan was explaining things. When the lesson ended, she didn't even realize that she would have to talk to James in a little while, so she walked back to the castle alone, still scribbling absentmindedly, and humming. That is until she bumped into someone. "O I'm terribly sorry. I didn't even see you there." She began but when she saw it was Sirius she only said "Oh." And moved on. "What, you don't have time to talk to me? I'm hurt." A fake pout played on Sirius' lips as he walked beside her. Lily didn't answer. "You know, you have a marvelous voice. I don't know why I've never heard it before." She mumbled thanks but continued to walk. "Hey, maybe it's because we have never talked to each other in … seven years. Wow, I think that could be it. Why didn't we ever converse now? O yes, it was because James threw that mudbubble at you. Ah yes, maybe that's why." He smiled. Though he was a good guy at heart, Sirius loved to cause trouble. He, in fact, was the one who dared James to do it. "You know, just because James, is a git doesn't mean we can't talk now does it?" He flashed her a bread-winning smile but she didn't even look up when she told him this. "Sirius, it's not like I've been living in a hole for the last seven years. I know that you are a hustler, so to speak. Now, let me save you the trouble and tell you straight out. I'm not easy, and there is no chance that you will ever get into my pants. James may be a git, but you, my dear Sirius, are a bloody idiot." And she passed through the entrance up to the Gryffindor common room and from there straight to her room.
Sirius was a bit taken aback, but the rejection was expected. He didn't think it would be that blunt though. He then went in search of an attainable "conquest." Lily brooded over that for a little while and completely forgot about James and meeting him. She changed into her pajamas and was sitting with all of her transfiguration books (her first exam tomorrow) covering her bed. All of her notes from all seven years, all of her school books and books she had bought to help her with her schoolwork and she was diligently studying. It was quite easy, since half of the school was in the library and all of her roommates were either there or in the common room.
After a period of time, there came a knock on the dorm door. "Come in." She said between the pencil in her teeth. She never looked up to see who it was. "Hi, um, you never came down. I was wondering where you might've been." It was James. "Hmm? O right! I completely forgot. Your charming friend, Sirius got me a little sidetracked what with him trying to chat me up and all. Either way, I'm sorry. O my! That was so hard. An apology! I don't think I'll live through that ever again." She imitated a faint, and sat back up. He grinned sheepishly at her. "Yah, about that. See, I think you should know how that whole thing started. I look back and think of what a dolt I was. It was rather mean of me." And so he went into the whole thing about Sirius daring him and how he just wanted to look cool. "So, because he dared you, it took you this long to apologize?" Lily asked, though not as harshly as she was earlier in the day. "It took me this long because, I'm stubborn. I hate apologies in general. I would always tell myself I was too busy. I know, I shouldn't have waited this long, and believe me, I wish I hadn't. From what I hear, people tend to enjoy your company. That is, if they're on your good side." He smiled.
She just sat there for a while. "Well, I suppose I could forgive you. I mean, it's not such a big deal to me anymore." A wave of relief washed over James and he didn't even realize what he was saying. "Thanks, I'm so glad. That's been hanging over my head since it happened. So do you think we could go to the dance together? I promise I won't do anything to you." Lily caught herself before she could think he had a nice smile and answered him guardedly. "See, that is what boggles my mind. There's no reason for you to ask. You apologized. I accepted. That should be enough for you. If you feel like you have to repay me or something like that, it's ok. I mean, you have almost every girl in this school at your disposal. I figure we just go, dance and that's it. Part on good terms, you know?" This had been the first time she had ever spoken to him amiably and he wasn't used to it. "Well, I figured differently. I thought maybe we could even, leave on a, dare I say, friendly note? I think we would have fun. Come on, what do you say then?" He was trying desperately to convince her without telling her why he wanted so badly to go with her. "I'm warning you now, if Sirius makes one more advance on me before, or during this dance, it's off. I'll make like a priest and get the hell out of there." He smiled broadly at her acceptance. "That's great. It's a deal. I'll keep him off your back and I'll see you there. I should be off now. Good luck on your NEWTS tomorrow." And with that he left.
Chapter 3
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