Okay, so to show my love for the Jily ship I’ve decided to take part in the OTP Boot Camp Challenge by Gamma Orionis. I’ll write fifty Jily stories!!! True, some of them will just be one shots - but they’ll be fun to read for any Jily shippers.
The first prompt was Acrid meaning stinging, acidic, irritating and sharp. Read and review your thoughts!
Monday Morning
After hiding in my dorm all of Sunday with only the girls for comfort I dread first lesson potions for three reasons; James is going to be there, Slughorn is making us swap partners and did I mention - JAMES IS GOING TO BE THERE!
It’s not unusual for students to get engaged in their last year of school, I know for a fact that Frank is planning on proposing to Alice soon. It’s just that you don’t propose to the girl who’s only been able to stand you for two minutes. Do you?
Shut up Lily. I tell myself. James isn’t the bad guy here. Can you propose to someone who you’ve loved for the past five years? Yes.
What if I hadn’t laughed? What if I’d said yes? What if I’d just kissed him by the lake? What if I’d kissed him in the room of requirement? What if? What if? What if?
The ‘What if’s’ were killing me slowly but surely. But there was one that hurt the most; What if I felt the same way, if I loved him back?
“Lily! Get out of bed or we’re going to miss breakfast! I’ve got important news for you!” Dorcas smiled as she pulled open my curtains.
“Yeah, you can’t stay in there forever.” Marlene added.
I roll out of bed and onto the hard wooden floor, like I do every single morning, the pain of the impact tends to wake me up.
As we enter the great hall for breakfast Cas leads us toward where the marauders are sitting. Mentally I have a break down. No.
Alice looks at me and kindly asks if I’d prefer to sit somewhere else, I decline, face them sooner rather than later.
“James, I’m really sorry.” I say as I take the seat opposite him.
He shakes his head. “Lily you can’t just say sorry, what you did hurt me, alot. You’ll be pleased to know; I’ve given up on you. You aren’t worth the trouble.” He says turning away from me to talk to Alice.
Sirius stands up from next to James and flops down in the seat next to me.
“What happened on Saturday? He came in on Saturday crying and James never cries, he won’t tell anyone what happened, not even me!” Sirius looks distraught as he tells me this.
I explain what happened, truthfully, not the way I wish it had gone. Even telling him about our conversation we’d just had.
Before Sirius has time to reply I check my watch, stand up and make my way to potions.
Outside the potions classroom Sirius grabs my hand and turns to face me, there are about two inches between our faces, just like we’re about to kiss. There are hundreds of thoughts running through my head mostly - MERLIN? Okay, so I have no feelings for Sirius but see how you react when the hottest guy in school tries to kiss you.
Sirius quickly turns around to look at James’ face, he looks broken. Sirius steps back and whispers in my ear: ‘He hasn’t given up yet.’
I grin at him. James hasn’t given up. I still have a chance. I’ve been denying it far too long, I really like James Potter. Probably too much for my own good.
The classroom door opens and we all head inside, Slughorn has drawn a seating plan on the blackboard. I’m sitting next to James. Fate really loves me today.
As we all shuffle into our seats James doesn't even look at me.
“Okay, settle down now!” Slughorn bellows. “This is your final year in my class and I will expect only the very best from you, hence the new seating plan, I have placed you next to people who you work well with. However, it is up to you to get the grades you need. Okay, for today’s lesson we will be brewing the Amortentia potion. It’s extremely dangerous and I expect you all to work sensibly. Page 5 in the books. Everything you need is in the cupboard. Proceed.” Slughorn directed.
I turned to face my partner, James.
He looks at me with sad eyes and says: “So you and Sirius, huh?”
I can’t help but laugh a little, James should know by now that Sirius Black would have no interest in a girl like me.
I shake my head, hop off my chair and begin to collect my potions supplies.
James stares at me baffled.
I’ve never brewed Amortentia before but I know of it’s properties; extreme obsession. To be honest I’ve always wanted to know exactly what mine would smell of.
I return to my seat and begin chopping my ingredients. I’m halfway through the potion when James starts looking at me again.
“What?” I question as he quickly turns back to his cauldron. That’s when the smell kicks in. James must have finished his potion.
The smell of bonfire smoke, liquorice, mint, fresh fruit and something else which I can’t quite place.
“James. What does it smell like? For you?” I stumble over my words, the smell is overpowering.
“Err, broomsticks, marzipan and flowers, I think.” He mumbled, as if ashamed. I found it cute that he smelt flowers, ver, ver manly!
Hold the bus - I just found something a certain Mr J Potter did, cute.
Just as James opened his mouth to say something, the smell was gone, replaced with a vinegary smell that could only be described as acrid.
I didn't have much time to register the smell before the potion was burning through the chauldron and onto our desk, all over our potions books and notes.
"Oh crap!" James muttered pulling our books onto a side bench causing the potion to spill on the floor.
"No. No. No. No. No." James muttered. Pulling his hands through his hair.
I put my arm over his shoulder just as Professor Slughorn marched over very red in the face.
"Disgraceful. From my two star students, absolutley unbelieveable. Go stand outside the classroom, the both of you. You'll be coming back tonight for detention to clear this away." He told us, with a hint of sadness in his eye.
As soon as we stepped into the cooler corridor I burst out laughing.
"You think this is FUNNY Lily. We just ruined our whole education, our lives!" He cried, slumping onto the floor.
James' dramatic outburst only made me laugh more.
"S'okay Jamie, you're just overreacting." I pulled him into a hug.
And as I looked down at his face I saw the biggest smile James could fit onto his face, in fact I didn't see another like that until our wedding day.
Cheesy I know! Look out for the next Challenge, the prompt is 'Agitated'....
