True Love Waits
By Foiilej
Chapter Three
After leaving McGonagall's class, all of the Gryffindor seventh years looked like they had sat in there with dementors. The color had drained from their faces and they all looked exhausted. Aiden came out with Lily, holding three books in his hands and four scrolls of parchment. She had nothing in her hands except a quill and inkbottle. Her motto was, why bring anything you don't need. You should've learned it all by then and ten extra minutes wasn't going to help. "How do you think you fared that storm?" Aiden began. "Well, I know I am utterly relieved that it's finally over." Lily breather a deep sigh and smiled. "I don't think I did too bad. I'm sure I passed, but that was a tough one." Aiden rolled his eyes at this. "Lily, you know you got the best marks. That's how it works. You always say it was a tough test, and you always come out on top. So I hear you have to commence the graduation dance with none other than, Mr. James Potter." He teased, but continued. "Look, it won't be so bad. I'll keep my eye out for any mudbubbles, though I dare say that's a bit childish now, isn't it. Anyway, I was thinking of asking Shannon to the dance. Do you think she would say yes?" They talked about this for a while until they reached the great hall. Since they only had two exams a day that were about four hours long, they went to get some nourishment before the Charms exam.
Aiden sat next to Shannon today leaving a seat next to Lily open, but she didn't mind. She had another hour before the charms exam and she was still trying to memorize some spells. They weren't exactly in the text, but she didn't want to take any chances. She glanced up once and found Shannon and Aiden talking rather intensely about something. She smiled and looked back to her book. Someone came and sat down in Aiden's usual seat but she paid no attention. Aiden and Shannon seemed to though because they just stopped talking. That is what got Lily's attention. She looked up, "Why is everyone so quiet all of the sudden?" She stopped when she found her answer. James looked at her with a large grin on his face. "Hello, there. Don't mind me. I just wanted to get some studying done before charms and Sirius and Remus are acting daft." Aiden and Shannon knew better than to except that as an answer, but they took it more like a hint. "Hey, Lil, Aiden left some books up in the common room, so I'm just gonna go with him to get them. I'll see you in Flitwick's." And with that Lily was left to her studies…almost. "So, how do you think you did on McGonagall's?" James offered to strike up a conversation. "I think I did rather well. That is to say I'm fairly certain I passed." She said with a slight laugh. "That's good. I'm glad to here. Myself, I think I did alright. It was quite tough though wasn't it?" Lily nodded at this but was more rapt in her studies. James looked over her shoulder at the parchment she was looking over. "I don't remember studying any of this. Did I miss a whole section." A slight look of panic crossed his features as she turned in answer. "No, this wasn't in our text. It was in one of the books that I bought to help me. Sort of like a study guide. I just want to make sure he doesn't spring any of this on us by surprise or anything." James started to laugh a little but stifled it. "You mean to tell me, you're studying for things that aren't even in our text, let alone the fact that they weren't even mentioned in class. Lily, you need to calm down a little. I really doubt that Flitwick would do something like that." She didn't reply though. "I meant to ask you, what color robes are you wearing? I need to get an idea for the corsage and all." Lily looked up a bit startled. "Corsage? What would you need that for?" The whole prospect of going to a formal dance with a formal date was foreign to Lily and she didn't seem to understand the purpose of a corsage. "Well, that is usually how it works right? I mean, the guy gets his date a corsage. You ever been to a dance? O no, don't tell me, you can't even dance. Am I right?" She just looked at him indifferently. "James, I assure you that I won't embarrass you. I can dance to an extent so, as long as you keep it rather simple, we should be fine. I don't know what you're so worried about. I've been to plenty of dances, granted none at this school, but I know how to dance. As for the corsage deal, I never really thought it so important. I guess you can get one if you want, but I would rather you didn't waste your money." She went back to her studies. "So, what color are they?" James persisted. When he found they were baby blue, he told her he had to leave.
The next exam was a great deal easier than the Transfiguration one. Many students felt they had a chance of a good grade in charms after they had left. Lily and Shannon and Aiden made their way from the class with high spirits. Lily's next exam was to be Care of Magical Creatures so she didn't even need to study for it. She felt confident she had everything down. So she spent the rest of the night studying for her potions exam which was after CMC.
The next few days went by in a blur since so many hours were spent testing. No one really gathered socially during that week, only for study sessions. As the last exam approached, Lily grew more and more impatient and nervous. She still had no idea what she wanted to do, but she couldn't wait until the end of the year. She would be free but she would also be…free. Feeling doubtful in her life after school and of her last exam (Arithromency), she entered the class solemnly and got through with her test quickly. She wasn't sure if that was a good sign though, as everyone else took about an hour longer. She just waited, thinking about how lost she was. The two things she really enjoyed, she could make no real living off of. She thought maybe she would go to university, but she wasn't sure what she wanted to be her primary course of study. She could always get into the ministry…But that would never work, since she hated desk jobs. She wanted to be out and about, see the world, do what she loved and not have to worry about bills. Bills…cooking…cleaning…doing all of these things for herself would be odd. She had quite some time to think and eventually the subject came to the upcoming dance. It was only a week away and she still hadn't had her robes tailored. She would just do it this weekend in Hogsmeade. As far as she was concerned, they needed to be let out a little bit. They fit her much too well. She wasn't used to clothes fitting her and it made her feel as if they were too tight, though Shannon assured her that they looked great. After what seemed like hours later, they were dismissed. The whole school was so relieved. The NEWTS, OWLS and all other exams were done. Everyone felt free.
Lily made her way, with her robes, down to the robe shop on Main Street in Hogsmeade. Shannon and Aiden went down to the Three Broomsticks and told Lily that they would wait there for her. She walked in to find the place crawling with girls of the same age with the same idea apparently. As soon as she had taken in the scene, a clerk asked her rather hurriedly, "You got an appointment 'ear? We're only takin' appointments today. Too many girls, too little time. Sorry, dearie." With that the witch bustled past her and Lily was left in the dust. "Well, what the hell am I going to do now? I can't wear this." She brooded all the way to the pub and still after until she made it to the table Shannon and Aiden sat at.
"Wow that was quick. I figured you would be there all day." Lily told them her dilemma and neither of them looked sympathetic. In fact, "Good, I'm glad. Your robes are always too large for you anyway. It's about time you showed off that body!" With that Aiden got a punch in the arm from Lily. "Come on now, I'm going to assume that you two are going out and say that you shouldn't have said that. If you aren't then, what's taking so bloody long? You like him, he likes you. Problem solved." Shannon gave a smile, "You're one to talk Mrs. Potter. I saw you two chatting rather amiably at lunch yesterday." Lily slightly blushed and only said, "well you know if your two best friends decide to go out and disappear for each meal, you tend to get less and less picky." "Sure…" was all either of her friends said to this and the subject changed. "Look we were going to go up to Zonko's when we finished." Aiden commented. "I'll not tag along thanks. I'm going to see what I can do about these robes. There has to be a charm or spell or something, that can make them…not so…" before she could finish Shannon did. "Well fitting? Get off it Lily, they look good and you know it. Just leave them be." They sat for a little while talking about the different tests and other things until they finished they're butterbeers. Then they all went they're separate ways. Lily back to the school, the other two down to the joke shop.
As she walked down the road to the gates of Hogwart's she passed by Sirius, Remus and Peter. The first two smiled slyly as she walked. She just ignored it, but another thought popped into her head. Where was the fourth member of the marauders? They're usually never seen apart. The thought vanished and she made her way to the common room.
There she was met by Aiden's little sister Moira. She and Lily had become quite close since she had spent a few weeks each summer at the Finnigan's visiting. She grabbed Moira's hand, "Good, you can help me. I need your opinion. Come with me." Moira accompanied Lily up to the seventh year girls' dorm and waited as Lily put her robes on. "What do you think. Do they need to be tailored?" Moira looked her over carefully. "Well, they don't look that loose. I suppose you could bring it in an inch. I think you would be much more comfortable with it like that though. They look perfect." "I don't want them taken in. I want them taken out. I think they fit a little too well. They are too tight you know?" Moira looked at her quizzically. "Well, do they feel tight. I mean can you zip it up and all that?" "Yes, I can zip it up perfectly." Lily was a little frustrated that she would soon hear the same thing from Moira as she heard from her two other friends earlier. "What do you need them tailored for then? They look great on you. Just because you have a problem with clothes that fit, I mean really. You don't want to go there looking like you don't care. Beside, you want to knock your date off his feet right? I can't believe you're going with James Potter. What a knock-out. You would throw half the girls in the room out of the competition if you wore that the way it is. O and if you took off your glasses."
"But I need my glasses." Lily protested. She was getting rather tired of wearing them and her eye condition was pretty much gone. The mediwizard even told her she didn't need them anymore unless she was flying or reading. Even in those situations, she could use a simple charm to clear her vision for six hours. "Lily for Merlin's sake, you know you don't need those anymore. You should stop wearing them. Otherwise you'll get accustomed to them and you will eventually need them." Because Moira made a pretty good point with that, she took her glasses off. "There, now you're gorgeous!" Moira exclaimed as she went over and broke Lily's glasses. "Moira, I do need them for reading! What you go and do that for?" Moira then started to play with Lily's mid-back length hair. She always had it down and never did anything different with it. "I think an up-do would suit you." Moira continued. They spent the rest of the day playing with Lily's hair and talking about shoes, nails, and all other girlie things that are discussed prior to a large dance or party.
For the rest of the week Lily went without her glasses. No one really noticed except for a few people including Shannon, Aiden, Moira, and of course James and Sirius. In fact, they recognized the difference Sunday night after the Hogsmeade trip. She sat in the common room, reading one of her favorite books. She had really gotten into horror books and her favorite author had just put this one out. Aiden spotted it and got it for her the day before while he was still in Hogsmeade.
Lily was quite contented for the first time since exams and she didn't wish to see anyone or do anything other than what she was at that moment. Of course, when as soon as one feels this way, it just so happens that something interrupts. "Well, hullo there. My name is Sirius Black. And who is this stunning beauty that I happen to be looking at right now." Lily looked up from her book rather annoyed. "You're daft, do you know that? Just let me be please." He grinned at her. "Why, Lily, Lily Evans? Is that you? Well, I wouldn't have guessed if I didn't get such a sour answer." He laughed a little. "How's this, Sirius, my dear, I would appreciate it so much if you would let me finish this book. You see, as engaging as a conversation with you is, I am rather into it, and I would hate not giving you my undivided attention." She smiled at him placatingly. "Now, see if you could just be like that all of the time then I would've chatted you up years ago." A flicker in his eyebrow. "That wasn't an invitation, darling, it was the most polite way I could tell you that I'm not in the mood for your antics. I am like that to most people. You've never been on that list though, so tah." And she went back to her room. It wasn't too long before she was interrupted again. A hand reached down to her shoulder from behind. "Look Sirius, I was really…um serious-o well isn't that funny-either way, I do want to finish this…" When she looked up she saw it wasn't Sirius at all. "Was he bothering you again? I told him to stay away. He doesn't listen though."
James came around and sat down on the ottoman in front of her. "He actually, rather behaved himself… well, for Sirius anyway." They both laughed a little. "So what brings you over here?" Every time she looked at James, he would feel himself start to get a little warm. It was so much nicer to be able to talk to her, then just observe her from afar now. "I just wanted to say, congratulations, you know, with your glasses. Bet you must be glad to get rid of them. I know I would be." She smiled and before she could stop herself she told him what she was thinking. "Well, I think you look nice with your glasses. They fit your face I mean. They distinguish you from the rest of the pretty-boy jocks around here." Her face reddened slightly. She instantly regretted saying it. "Well, thank you. I'm glad to hear that. So you think I'm a pretty boy? Well, I must say I never thought that would come out of your mouth." He winked at her. "I was afraid you would catch that. Don't let it go to your head though." She said from behind her book. "I won't don't worry. Since we're sharing though, I've thought that about you for quite some time." He gazed at her somewhat intensely, for a moment and then broke away. "What are you doing tomorrow, after classes?" He asked. "I'm not quite sure. Since we haven't any work that matters now, I imagine I need to busy myself otherwise. Why?" Lily was racking her brain for an excuse. She couldn't let herself feel this way about him, and she needed to get out of spending any time with him. "I was actually going to just walk the grounds. Feel like joining me?" At the moment the question left his mouth, he felt, oddly nervous. James Potter shouldn't feel that way. He was, after all, James Potter. She was right, he could have any girl he wanted. But why did he want this one so badly?
"Well, seeming as I can't quite think of anything else I'd be doing, I suppose so." James beamed at this. "Great, then. I'll let you get back to your book." With that he walked around the same way he had came and touched her shoulder as he passed. Lily scolded herself once he left. She shouldn't be going with him, yet she couldn't tell him no. A simple word. She started to think about the possibility of them ever having a relationship, but quickly dismissed it. She had to think about what she wanted to do with her life. Adding him into the equation just made things harder. She would leave at the end of the year and most likely never see him again. Yes, that was that.
Though this was how she thought on Sunday night, that wasn't what she thought during the rest of the week. After classes from Monday to Friday, she would go on three or four-hour walks with him and they would just talk. Mainly about what they would do after they left school, their interests (which were surprisingly similar), friends, and family. This last subject was quite touchy for both of them. In their time enrolled here, it seems that the dark lord had claimed both of their parents' lives. Lily's was only last year, but she had gotten through it. Somehow, it was comforting that she could talk with someone who had been through a similar situation. This made a type of bond with him, that she could never have with Shannon or Aiden. Or maybe it was something else that made this feeling of closeness…
Chapter 4
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