The Love of Patronus | JILY

Evans

          Lily Evans was sitting in a soft, plump armchair in front of the fireplace in the Heads dormitory, annotating her N.E.W.T. copy of Standard Book of Spells (Vol. 7) while James was taking a shower. Her eyes scrutinized every inch of the page but nothing seemed to sink in. Everything in front of her was dull in comparison to her time in the lake with James earlier that day. 

          She had squeezed his arm in thanks for his help, and felt a shock run through her arm and run through every inch of her body in the few seconds that their connection held. She had let go rather quickly, but only physically: mentally it was all she could think about.

          Had her feelings towards James officially turned around completely over the last month? Had they maybe always been this way, and she had simply dismissed it all these years? Could she even contemplate a relationship with James Potter, the playboy of Hogwarts?

          She inhaled sharply at the finality of her last thought. She had gotten to the point where she was considering a relationship with this boy. This stuck up, arrogant... newly charming boy who had seemingly turned his entire life around over the span of one summer.

          She was so preoccupied in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed James emerge from his shower in his loose sweats and tight white t-shirt, watching her from the doorway.

          "Aren't your eyes supposed to move across the pages when you read, Evans?" His voice rang out clearly through the silent air. Lily blinked in surprise as she looked at him. He was adjusting his glasses and when he met her eyes, ruffled his wet hair which threw small droplets in every direction.

          She had no response to him, and instead dipped her head back into her book, this time focusing on every movement he made in the corner of her eyes, trying to see if anything he did gave her another ounce of what she had felt by the lake.

         Eventually he came back and sat down in the armchair in front of her.

          "What are you thinking about?" His voice was softer, curious, and she wondered if he was thinking about the lake.

          "Nothing, really. I'm a little confused at the moment." about you. She kept the last part to herself, but she was sure that he had caught the gist of it.

          "You're talking about earlier? At the lake?" She looked up sharply, but before she could open her mouth there was a sharp crashing noise outside, and James leaped into the air.

          "Damn! Remus!" Lily blinked in surprise looking worriedly up at him.

          "What are you talking about?" But James was hurtling to the door.

          "I can't explain now, Lily, but I'll  see you tomorrow alright?" And he was out the door, leaving Lily in complete surprise. But curiosity got the best of her, and with a quick dissolussionment charm she covered herself and quickly followed him, waiting for a couple moments behind the gargoyle outside her dorm to look at the group of boys below him.

          "... It looks like the One-Eyed Witch is out best bet this time." James was saying to his three Marauder friends, and with that he stuffed whatever piece of parchment was in his hand - into his back pocket and the four of the thundered down the hallway, Lily in quick pursuit.

          After what felt like an eternity, they reached a statue, muttered a spell and Lily watched in surprise as a passage appeared, and the group ran through it - closely followed by Lily.

          They appeared in a cellar and quickly ran through it and out of... Honeydukes? Lily had no time to question it as she charged down the road after them and towards... the Whomping Willow. For a seven year-old tree it was massive and powerful its branches waving menacingly at the approaching group of four- five with Lily.