Lily Evans and the Infamous James

The Dirigible Tree

The breakfast was even more pleasant as Lily's friends filed in a few minutes later. Laughter echoed throughout the dining hall as James and Sirius bickered lightheartedly.

"Oh! Sorry! Sorry! I'm so sorry Remmy! I didn't-" Peter stuttered out after spilling his drink over Remus.

"It's okay, Petey. You're alright. I can clean it up, see?" Remus said soothingly as he waved his wand, and his wet leg dried instantly. Peter blushed and Remus smiled sweetly.

The moment was ruined when Sirius imposed "Stop making googly eyes at each other, we have more important matters to discuss" Sirius looked at Peter as he tried to hide his ears from the flushing.

"Ah, yes- the important matters before classes have even started. Time to discuss" James rambled, "As we all know, by this day and age, Lily is very pretty."

"You complete loon, Prongs" Sirius said incredulously, "I was talking about the Slughorn thing. You think Evans could get Snivelly to conjure up some potion to make Sluggy invite me to one of his bloody parties? " He pauses and looks pensive before turning to one of the girls at the table, "Speaking of parties, there is a dance by the fifth years in October and I was wondering, Anne? Would you do me the pleasure of going with me?" Despite his eloquent proposition, Sirius bit his lip afterwards in bated breath and it seemed as if it took all the courage he could muster to ask the pixie-like girl.

When Anne obliged, Sirius beamed and received a hard slap on the back from James saying "that's my boy".

A burly seventh year stopped at the table next to Lily and haphazardly leaned against it. He addressed Lily in a cool, Irish lilt, "so, Evans, there is this dance that fifth years are organizing. I reckon it's coming up soon." The lad bit his lip and smoldered at Lily. James looked to Sirius in disdain.

"I am aware, Shane," Lily teased the handsome blond. 

James glowered at the two and in a vain attempt to distract Shane, Sirius suggests, "Shaney, do not move. There is a sleeping pixie on your shoulder. I am going to try and catch the tiny bastard." However, he had a slightly overwhelming reaction.

Shane batted at his shoulders and screamed "get it off me! get it off me!" He knocked over a plate of toast and stumbled into the Hufflepuff bench before sprinting out of the dining hall. His screeches could be heard just barely over the laughter of the surrounding students. Before Shane could realize there was no pixie, James turned to Lily.

"How about we go sit by the lake," he spewed. Lily looked miffed, but conceded nevertheless.

James got up, bowed, and reached for Lily's hand flamboyantly.

"Just go, you dolt," Lily chides, pushing James out the door playfully.

The two students sat in the shade of a fairly new Dirijible Plum tree, it's light-colored fruit occasionally spinning. James plucked a plum out of mid-air and gifted it to Lily. Lily smiled before casually biting into the juicy fruit.

"You seem more distant than usual, Evans. How are you holding up?" James inquired, tilting his head. He cautiously eyed Lily for any discomfort. Lily shifted slightly away from James.

"I'm fine. I just have a lot on my mind," Lily answered curtly. She looked away, presumably towards the castle. James tried again.

"Is it him? Is it Snivell-"

"Do not call him that. His name is Severus," Lily barked. 

"Severus does not deserve your thoughts, Lils. He called you a mudblood, he is no longer your friend," James explained. Lily reluctantly looked to him, her face contorted into regret.

"I should have never befriended him, but he was just so nice to me," Lily said ruefully.

"Don't live in the past! You have plenty of other people being nice to you."

"I suppose you are right."

James glanced at Lily, and a question bubbled up from his lips before he could stop it.

"Will you g-go to that dance with me?" he stuttered, bewildered that the words had come out easily enough. Lily stared, calculating him. Her cheeks pinked when she saw the serious expression on his face.

"I don't understand why not- I-I mean sure, I will go to the dance with you," Lily rushed out. She anxiously bit into her plum that she had been tossing. James shook his head to collect himself and smirked at Lily.

"Brush up on your jigs, love. I don't want to be embarrassed by your dancing," James teased.

Lily coughed indignantly. "I don't want to be embarrassed by your dancing," she countered. She giggled when James stood up and did a little Irish dance. He then offered his hand to pull her up. The two students took the slightly longer path back to the castle, chatting about their breaks.

"What is your fourth class? I have Potions. Maybe we can walk to the hall together-"

A screech was heard from the castle, followed by multiple shrieks. Multiple students rushed out of the hallway that James and Lily were coming up on. Always looking for entertainment, James ran towards where everyone was flooding. Knowing James had a knack for getting into trouble, Lily followed in pursuit.