No Control // Wolfstar

Forty Two

James was avoiding Lily like the plague. Which was hard because every corner he turned she was there. Normally he would find this as the best day of his life. Unfortunately, it was just the opposite. He had to avoid her in order for her to stay in the dark. Sirius was right, she was too smart for her own good.

He walks by the courtyard, immediately spinning around when he spots her with Marlene. Her emerald eyes widen when she sees him, and he breaks out into a sprint.

"Potter!" Lily shouts.

James flies across the grounds with his long strides, continuously looking back to see how far Lily was. She was insanely fast for a small girl. His shoe's are soaked from the half melted slushy snow. The water squishes with grotesque noises beneath his weight, leaving a trail of footprints. He glances behind him, slipping on the snow and tumbling down the hill. He lands on his back in a puddle, mud seeping through the melted water. Lily appears at the top of the hill and he calls out to warn her, "Lil-"

Lily screams, slipping just as he had and rolling down the hill. She lands in a heap on the ground, soaked by the snow. Luckily for her, she avoided the mud patch James was lying in. "Gross..." she mutters, flinging her hands to dry them. "Why do you keep running away from me?"

"Because you keep asking me questions!" James stands, offering a hand to help her up.

She accepts, peering around him at the Whomping Willow. "Can you please just be honest with me?" she asks. "I know you're hiding something."

"Okay yes I wasn't totally honest with you," James sighs, walking out of the puddle he stands in. He paces the ground, running a hand through his hair like he always does. But instead of the conceited way he normally does, it's stressed. Lily stands off to the side, letting him vent it out naturally. The sun shines overhead, reflecting off his glasses. "You have to promise me that what I'm about to tell you, you won't tell another living soul. Not even Dumbledore." Lily opens her mouth when he cuts her off. "Lily I'm not joking around here. You have to promise me."

"I-I promise." She takes a few steps forward shakily. "James-"

"I knew that Sirius was going to talk to Remus that night." He holds both hands behind his head, turning away from her. "I wasn't going to try and find Sirius. I was going to meet Remus myself." Lily doesn't ask questions, biting her bottom lip tensely. "Because I'm an animagus."

Lily gasps, cupping her hand to her mouth. Maybe she didn't hear him correctly. "You're a what?" Lily stammers.

"I'm an animagus." James walks around until he's in a clearing. "I go every full moon to keep Remus company because -"

"Werewolves won't attack animals like they do humans," Lily finishes in shock.

"I was in my animagus form heading to meet Remus at the usual time I do when I heard the screaming. It took a third of the time for me to show up when I did if I were human because I'm a stag. I changed back before you could see or hear me."

"That's impossible! You're sixteen!"

"It took me years to learn how. Remus is my best mate, I had to help him somehow."

"But...your nicknames - you're all animagi, aren't you?" James doesn't answer, but she knows. "Bloody hell!"

"I'll show you." James scans the area to ensure they're alone before transforming into a magnificent stag.

Lily's jaw drops in amazement. She takes a few apprehensive steps forward when the stag moves closer. It's coat is a shiny hazel brown with spots of white along the back. Massive antlers protrude from his head, curved intricately and beautifully. Lily extends her hand, touching his back cautiously. It was soft with a coarseness. "I can't believe..." she whispers in awe. She moves to her left, trailing her hand along the animal's back to its face. Small black spots mark around its eyes, similar to James' glasses.

James transforms back, standing in the stag's place. Lily's hand still cups his rosy cheeks.

"Do you believe me now?" he asks breathlessly.

"I do."

James stares down at her shimmering eyes, pink nose, perfect lips. Lily pulls away, walking past him while mumbling things incoherently. Hanging his head, he lets out a defeated sigh. Lily wanders around the area rambling when James calls her, "Hey Lily!" She half turns to see a small pile of white flying straight at her. The snowball hits her square on the arm, disbanding to mush.

"James!" Lily shouts. She bends down, scooping a handful of snow and flings it at him. It slaps him in the face and she erupts into a fit of laughter.

"Lily you're going to wish you didn't do that!" He makes to go after her, but his foot slides on the snow and he flails around before landing on hit butt. "Damn snow." He picks himself, charging after her. Her red hair whips around vibrantly against the muted surroundings. His arms wrap around her waist, pulling her from the ground.

"Put me down!" she shrieks. "James Potter!"

"I love it when you call my name, Lily." James jumps about three feet in the air, dropping Lily to the ground as he wiggles around helplessly. "Real nice, ice down my shirt."

Lily shrugs innocently. "What can I say? I'm a smart witch." She grips the boulder by her side to push herself up; the rock was slippery, a wet film wiping on her hand. "Ew..." she mumbles brushing her hand off. Leaning closer, there was a small patch of frozen over goo, a thin strip barely inches long, an odd shape even. The sunlight hits the glossy surface on the rock. It was shimmery. Glittery. Curiously, she tilts her head to the side, staring back and forth between James and the rock. James was still jumping around by the tree, trying to get the ice out of his shirt. "James."

"Bloody snow," James grits.

"James!"

James stops moving, looking at her. "What? Is there something on my face."

"No." She runs towards him, grabbing his hand. "Come on - we've got to go. Now!"