Nah, She Didn't

~ Part 29 ~ Serves Him Right, That Does ~

Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N Roses

-Lily POV-

I walked into the Great Hall for breakfast, and sat down. Piling up my plate with eggs, toast, and bacon, I notice the Remus, Mary and I are the only ones who have arrived to breakfast.

I begin to eat when I hear someone clear their throat behind me.

It's Sean McLaggen. The player who automatically thinks that every girl loves him to the moon and back.

"Lily. You are an enticing girl, and I would like you to accompany me to Hogsmeade this weekend," McLaggen pompously. My eye twitches.

That git never does know when to sod off, does he?

Notice how he payed me no heed before I hit my peak in puberty. There is more to me than just my looks. All that ignorant prat wants me for is my appearance!

Also, he can't just expect me to agree! Oh, ho ho, I'm Sean, and I just get to say that I want you to be my date and you will!

The nerve of him!

"Yes, Sean, I know I'm hot, but you'll never get any of it because you are an ignorant, perverted, idiotic, A+ arse. Is that clear?" I ask him, and I feel that I am holding in my lividness quite well.

McLaggen stares at me for a moment, and then glares. "You know what, I wouldn't want to go with a bitchy girl like you anyways."

"Right back at ya! And don't forget, further beyond the beauty you asked me out for, I'm a smart, clever, and amazing bitchy girl!" I yell at him as he walks away. I smirk. Serves him right.

"Haha! That was awesome Lily!" Mary shouts at me, high giving me.

Remus fist pumps the air. "Serves him right, that does."

As Marlene, Alice, and Frank arrive, Mary happily tells them what happened.

"Awesome, Lils!"

"That player had it coming."

"Ahaha, that's great!"

~ ~ ~

With breakfast finished, James and Sirius are still absent. I wonder where they are, but I don't worry. Those boys know their way around this school, and probably have knowledge of more secret passages than Filch! They can handle themselves.

Marlene and I walk into Charms, laughing at some story she's telling. I see James and Sirius both sitting at their desks. Early to class?

I give a small wave to them, and Sirius does that 'sup boy nod thing, but James just looks distant.

I sit down, and as the lesson begins I can feel James's hazel eyes boring into me.

After half of class, I get suspicious and scribble down a note.

What's going on with you?

I half crumple, half fold it, and toss it behind me onto James's desk. I hear him un-crumple the note, and wait a moment, then scrawl down a response.

A wadded up piece of paper lands in front of me. I unfold it and read his messy handwriting.

Meet me in the Astronomy Tower after dinner

My eyebrows raise at this. The astronomy tower is where people go to shag. I repeat shag. Have sex. Make love. Making one's way downtown. Doing the frick frack.

Have I made myself clear enough? Good, because I don't know any other slang words for sex because I still hold my innocence, and I intend to keep it that way.

Okay, Lily, you're being ridiculous. James doesn't want to shag you! I mean, sure, he's had a crush on you since like 3rd year, but he's over that now! We're friends! You're being utterly ridiculous.

I sigh, scribble an ok on the paper, and toss it back.

~ ~ ~

For the rest of the day, James acts weird and distant, and keeps furrowed eyebrows. He's rather... antisocial today, which is extremely concerning considering he's, well, James.

I walk into the Great Hall for dinner, and he isn't there. I eat up, and wonder what he wants in the Astronomy Tower.

Eventually, dinner ends and I begin the long trek to the tower. I walk down corridors, and up moving staircases, and I climb up the winding staircase, and reach the top.

I see James leaning over the railing, looking out at the setting sun, and the darkening sky. Before I start staring at the picturesque view in front me-his tall silhouette surrounded by orange sky-I walk up to him and break the silence.

"James? What did you want? You know I have to write an essay for History of Magic tonight, so if this could be quick, then..." I trail off. "I really am curious, though, why you've been so weird and distant today."

James looks over at me with weary, hard eyes.

"Did you say yes to McLaggen?" James asks. The question takes me by surprise, but why shouldn't I answer it?

"Why would I say yes to that excuse of a human? You seriously thought I said yes? To him?" I ask, bewildered.

James's face fills with relief. "So you said no?"

"Yes! I would never say yes to that prat!" I half-yell.

"Oh... that's good."

"Did you want me to say yes to him?"

"What? No! I'm glad you said no!"

I blink. "Well... um... is that all you wanted?"

"Well... no... I guess... for Hogsmeade..." James starts, and I get a light feeling in my gut that I can't explain. "Do you want to come hang with me and the Marauders? I think Mary and Marlene are coming too...?"

"Sure, that'll be fun," I agree, with a small smile threatening to grow larger.

"Oh! Okay, cool," James replies.

"Erm... yeah," I say. "Well... I... have that essay..."

"Oh, yeah, uh," James stutters. "Well, bye then, I guess?"

"Bye!" I call out behind me, rushing out of there before James can see my smile that has grown from a ghost on my lips to a Cheshire Cat.

-James POV-

I run into the Gryffindor common room and jump on Sirius's back, not caring that now he's sort of choking on a Bertie Bott's jellybean because I'm just so happy.

"Guess what? Guess what?" I ask excitedly, sliding off Sirius.

Sirius finished coughing, and pounding his chest. "Guess what? Oh, I'll take a guess, you just made your best mate choke and almost die because you are happy for some small and idiotic reason."

I feign hurt, gasping. "Sirius! This is much more important than you and your measly choking. So I would like an adequate guess, this time."

"Something to do with Lily, is my guess," Remus says with an arched eyebrow as he joins the conversation. "You've got that Lily look in your eye."

"Correct!" I exclaim. "Good job Moony! At least someone"-I turn to Sirius-"can come up with a decent guess."

"Well, what is it?" Sirius asked, rolling his eyes.

"She..." I do a drumroll on my knees. "Said... yes! When I asked her to come with us to Hogsmeade!"

Sirius whistles. "Well, I suppose I applaud you. But you do know that this isn't a real date, aye? Everyone else is gonna be there too."

"Baby steps, Padfoot!" I say. "Do you have any idea how these things work? Baby steps! It's progress!"

"Well, it's about time, then. Been waiting for this moment since '73!"

~ ~ ~
NOTES: X

-Amelia