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Post by James Potter on Jun 8, 2008 13:19:43 GMT -5
It was a rare occurance that you would find James in the library, a very rare occurance. He hardly ever left Riley's side anymore, he just felt drawn to her, but duty calls, and James had to study for Charms, or he'd never pass that test they had. It was unreal, he'd avoided the library as much as he could, yet here he was, stuck in here for the better half of a day, and it was warm out! It really was unreal! He couldn't even concentrate on the book he was reading, it was too stuffy in here, how did people manage being stuck in here, day after day? He'd only been in here for a while, and he was regretting this choice now. He was trying to be more mature, and for what reason, he didn't know, but he was, so here he could be found, pouring over some old text book, trying to understand the concept of Cheering Charms.
He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair, he really was trying to concentrate, but it just wasn't happening. He couldn't for the life of him understand the words that were in front of him, they were starting to merge together in to a blue or black writing, and it wasn't helping that he hadn't had much sleep the night before. No, it really wasn't helping. Not at all. His quill scratched aimlessly on to the paper, as he tried to copy what the book had wrote down, but it really was getting hard for him to do. He sighed, again, and leaned backwards in the chair, running his hands over his face, and closing his eyes. His hands went to his hair, and he ran them through it, trying to distract himself from the work he had to do. He was having no such look though.
He closed the current book he was reading, and picked up another one of the pile he'd brought over to him. He flipped it to a random page, and began to copy everything down again, he could revise it later.
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Post by Lily Evans on Jun 8, 2008 13:28:37 GMT -5
It didn't make sense.
How could she be so happy one minute and so upset the next? It was like she was on some sort of crazy, haywire, emotional roller coaster that kept going and going. Every time she tried to get off as it stopped briefly and she thought she was safe, it pulled her back again and she was thrown into a whirlwind of events against her will. It was like she was swimming in an ocean alone or, standing in a crowded room, screaming at that top of her lungs but no one even looked up. It just didn't make sense.
As Lily dashed toward her sanctuary, crystal tears shimmering in her eyes, she wondered briefly if anyone had bothered to follow her. She certainly hoped no one did, unless it was someone that she was comfortable with and trusted. No one possibly could've known though. No one could've seen her, no one could've known about the Slytherin harrassment, the failed test that only added to everything else on her mind.
Her cheeks were stained with tears, looking as though she'd been sobbing for hours, but in reality she'd only been upset about five minutes ago. But it had felt like an eternity. It was a warm day, so she wasn't wearing her cloak, or even her robes. Just her plaid skirt and the button-up white shirt, part of her uniform. She had at one point been wearing her red and gold striped Gryffindor tie, hanging loosely and not tied around her neck, but it was gone now. She gussed that in her flight from the enterance hall it had flown off, probably somewhere on the Grand Staircase, but there was no way she was going back up there. No way in hell. We'll have to move. she decided, sniffling, not slowing her pace. To Zimbabwe.
She stopped running, out of breath and hugged her arms around her chest, sinking to her knees, hidden between bookshelves, hopefully out of sight. No one would be in the library this time of day, she'd thought, and that's why she came here. Lily did the best to blink her tears away and closed her eyes in one last desperate attempt to keep the crystal droplets of sadness from falling. But she failed, and one silent tear escaped her emerald eyes and slipped lightly down her cheek. She shuddered, both from cold and humiliation. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs, her entire body quivering as she sniffled loudly and attempted to brush her tears away. She blinked rapidly, several times, but her eyes didn't leave the ground. She was afraid that if she looked up, she'd remember, and then nothing would be okay again. Ever.
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Post by James Potter on Jun 8, 2008 13:41:45 GMT -5
James could hear something behind the shelves somewhere, and he ignored it at first. He really needed to get this work done. It was probably some younger student trying to mess around in the Library, and since James didn't care much for the library, it didn't bother him. He continued to work, his quill still scratching away against the worn parchment, his mind aching from all the thinking he had to do, but he realised he couldn't always rely on Remus to help him, Remus had his own problems anyway. He flipped the page in his book, and continued to write all the words down, trying to take them in as he wrote them. He wasn't doing very well with that part in all honesty.
He heard a sniffle, and realised the noise he'd been hearing was a someone crying. And it sounded like a girl. Unsure who it was, he closed his book and screwed the cap on his ink well, placing it in his pocket. He then folded his parchment and placed that in his robe pocket before pushing his chair back and standing up from the desk. He streched lightly, his muscles sore from being still so long. He moved slowly, and kept his footsteps quiet, trying to locate where exactly the crying was coming from. He realised after a couple of seconds, and made his way there. His paused just behind the shelf, and waited to see if anyone was with the person. He couldn't hear any other sounds, so assumed that there wasn't. He stepped out, going between the shelves.
The first thing he saw was the red hair, and then he saw the girl crouched down on her knees, she looked...broken. It was then he realised who it actually was. It was Lily. Sure, his feeling for her may have somewhat diminished, but he didn't like seeing anyone he knew sad. He frowned lightly, and crouched down next to her,
"Lily?" He asked, "Are you okay?" he wondered why she was upset. He knew, for once, it wasn't him that had effected her as he hadn't seen her in days, and he'd not spoken to her for longer than that, but he didn't know what the matter with her was. Whenever he'd seen her, she looked so strong, like nothing could effect her, and nothing would break her, yet here she was, hiding out in the library, crying. He sat down fully, and studied her until she spoke.
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Post by Lily Evans on Jun 8, 2008 13:50:42 GMT -5
Lily, who was usually quite attentive and had excellent senses, didn't even hear James approaching until he spoke. Under normal circumstances, she probably would've jumped and shouted at him until he snapped back and they parted ways. But today she was just so drained. Everything that had happened was just getting to her, and this was pretty much the final straw. She sniffled slightly, lifting a pale hand to wipe the tears from her cheeks, trying to appear nonchalant, as if she hadn't been running and crying at all. "Uhm, yes." she managed, though her voice was shaky. "Yes James, I'm quite fine, thank you." Technically, she was trying to convince herself more than convince him.
Lily was surprised that he was speaking to her nicely. The Lily-James history was a rocky one, full of him constantly asking her out and her constantly refusing him. She thought him to be rude and uncouth, but she had been a bit hard on him in the past. Now she had no reason to be mean to him. He was being kind to her, and she had run in crying like a child while he was trying to study, after all. The side of her face was turned, the deep purple bruise hidden by a curtain of thick hair. Giving a deep shuddering sigh, Lily turned her face a bit to he could see, averting her eyes in embarrassment. "You wouldn't happen to have any dittany, would you?"
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Post by James Potter on Jun 8, 2008 14:15:27 GMT -5
James looked at her, disbelief wrote on to his features. You didn't run crying in to a library then tell someone you're okay. It was obvious she wasn't okay. "Don't like, please." James said, his voice actually soft for once. " It's unbecomming." He told her. He tilted her head, to watch her. Why wasn't she shouting at him, and pushing him away like she normally did? Maybe it was because he'd stopped pestering her to go out with him, but really she had to thank Riley for that one.
James saw her turn her face and he saw the nasty bruise, he frowned and his eyes turned stormy. Who'd do that too her? Lily never got in fights with people, she never caused trouble, James knew this from all the years of stalkin--- trying to befriend her. She wouldn't have done anything to deserve that. He knew her too well, she wouldn't start on someone who was brave enough to do that. He might not like Lily in the same ways he did, but he still liked her for a friend, and he'd be damned if he let her take that, "What the hell happened to you?" He asked, his tone seething. "And no, sorry, I don't have any...Wanna go to the Hospital Wing?" He asked, his tone soft again. His hand reached up under her chin, and he tilted her head slightly so he could see the bruise better. He winced, that looked painful...
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Post by Lily Evans on Jun 8, 2008 14:26:30 GMT -5
Lily managed a light smile at James's words, despite her slight sniffling and shivering that happened every so often beyond her control. "Well in that case..." she managed, the tears finally slowing and the shake in her voice dissipating slightly. "No, I suppose I'm not alright..." The realization and the fact that she'd admitted it to James made her bit her lower lip slightly and wince.
His reaction was a bit unexpected... Potter was concerned? Lily had figured that he would tease her or something... but honestly she knew he wasn't that horrible, just a bit arrogant from what she could tell. But now he was showing a side of him that she'd never seen. James was being kind to her, and caring. She was surprised. Maybe they could be friends after this... Lily frowned slightly, a bit embarassed as he examined her minor injury, his hands guiding her face for his inspection. "Slytherins." she managed. "They were hurting a first year... I told them to stop and they..." Her eyes filled up with tears and she looked at him sadly. "They did this and called me a.. you know." The word honestly hurt worse than the bruise had. She shook her head about the hospital. "No, thank you, I... I don't want to draw attention to myself." |
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Post by James Potter on Jun 8, 2008 14:37:18 GMT -5
James nodded, he could see she wasn't alright. But he really didn't see why anyone would do this still. He really didn't. It was unfair, and unjust. He was slightly uncomfortable. This was new, him actually being able to have a normal conversation with Lily, it wasn't all that common, really. If anyone saw them, they'd probably think they'd gone insane. Hell, James thought he'd gone insane. " I know you're not." He said, "Do you want to sit down on a chair?" He asked, slowly.
He looked at her face again, dropping his hand back down to his side. The damn people that had done that really had no idea what they'd got themselves in to. You don't hit a girl, and not a girl that was held highly with most people in the school. "Should have guessed, I suppose." James said, a small sigh escaping him, "You might be muggleborn, but your blood is purer than theirs will ever be. You've never purposly harmed someone, and I don't think you ever will." He shook his head at her, Yeah, because walking around with a purple bruise won't draw attention to you at all," He said, his tone still kind. " It's your choice, I'm not going to pressure you in to it, I suppose." He sighed.
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Post by Lily Evans on Jun 8, 2008 20:23:52 GMT -5
Lily sighed slightly, her voice quivering a bit. She was slowly regaining more composure the more James spoke to her kindly. For some reason the two were conversing like normal, rational human beings, and Lily found that she liked this side of her enemy. Lately (meaning last year too, of course) he'd been much nicer and chivalrous. Maybe they could be friends, after all, with the way things were going. He asked her if she wanted to sit down, and she sniffled and nodded. "W-will you please help me?" she requested softly, she didn't trust her legs to work right now and for some reason she trusted him.
He spoke about her blood, and there was a fire in his eyes that showed he was truly upset at the event. Even last year he'd expressed that he wasn't like most pure-bloods, and that he'd never call her... that. Smiling slightly and wiping at her eyes again, careful to avoid her bruise, Lily smiled gratefully up at James, who seemed to have matured dramatically in a short period of time. "Thank you for helping me, James."
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Post by James Potter on Jun 9, 2008 0:29:54 GMT -5
James watched her for a second, his eyes pausing on the bruise again, before standing up. He nodded, he had no qualms over helping her up. It wasn't good for her to remain on the floor, he paused for a second, however, "Do you just want help standing, and then support to walk to the chair, or do you want me to just carry you?" He asked. It didn't bother him, both were as easy as the other. He could tell she was starting to trust him, and she'd realised he wasn't the same immature person he'd been last year. Sure, he still loved pranks, but he had a serious side now.
James looked at her, and shrugged. There was no need to thank him, he wasn't just going to leave here there when she was clearly upset, and hurt. Although, he hadn't known she was hurt at the time. "It's no problem" He told her, a small smile on his face. "Thank you for letting me help you for once," He said, the smile remaining. He did honestly expect her not to tell him what the matter was, and he couldn't blame her after the way he'd treated her in the past, and the way he'd acted around her, but she was obviously nicer than people made out, James wouldn't know, he'd never really spoken to her, except to ask her the same question over, and over again.
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Post by Lily Evans on Jun 9, 2008 14:14:53 GMT -5
Lily did feel a bit foolish, frozen on the ground in front of a bookshelf in the library, with her previous arch enemy in front of her. His question caused a light blush of humiliation to run to her face. She was relying entirely on James to help her, but she found that as she saw this different side of him she didn't mind too much. Lily didn't do well with mean or degrading people, so something like this nearly destroyed her. Averting her bright emerald eyes away from him she sighed. "I'm sorry... but, I don't think I could stand on my own right now..."
James's nonchalant response caused her to smile lightly. "Maybe I was wrong about you," she managed. James was showing a different side to him, one that Lily could easily befriend. He'd always been arrogant and immature, but then again Lily had constantly shot him down without either of them really getting to know each other. Maybe this could be a good thing, for both of them. |
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Post by James Potter on Jun 10, 2008 14:30:38 GMT -5
James nodded, and crouched down in front of her. He didn't mind carrying her in the least. She was in pain, or at least she looked like she might be, and he wasn't about to just leave her there. He might be a prat, but he wasn't that big of a prat. Not at all. He lifted her slowly, his hands supporting her the best he could, and he stood slowly. She wasn't heavy, but he didn't want to drop her because he wasn't steady on his feet. He didn't think she needed another bruise. "Okay," He said.
He walked over to a chair, and placed her down in it carefully. He didn't want her to get anymore hurt. That would be bad. He was glad she was letting him help her, he didn't like her suffering, damn, he didn't like anyone suffering, unless they were Deatheaters, or teachers of course, and he really did hope she'd let him befriend her, and she'd return his friendship. She was a brilliant person to know.
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Post by Lily Evans on Jun 10, 2008 19:22:08 GMT -5
The ease at which James picked up Lily and carried her surprised the small redhead. Sure she knew she was rather light, and the Quidditch player was toned and strong from said sport, but it was almost effortless the way he scooped her into his arms and lifted. Of course, he was moving slow so as not to injure her, she guessed, but he was doing an excellent job of being a good friend and aiding her gently. A warm smile passed over Lily's lips; it was strange and nice at the same time how she lost her enemy and gained him as a friend.
Once seated, she sighed in relief slightly and her emerald eyes met his. "Thank you again, but I must know..." she paused for a moment, averting her eyes and biting her lower lip slightly. "Why are you helping me? I mean... I've always been so horrible to you..." she wasn't trying to be rude; she was genuinely curious. |
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Post by James Potter on Jun 11, 2008 1:56:46 GMT -5
James sat next to her on the next chair, and ran a hand through his hair. He, for once, didn't have an answer to her. Not a good enough one, anyway. He supposed he'd just have to tell her the reasons he himsel had, and they weren't good ones. He was pretty slow on the uptake today though, and he really couldn't think of the aforementioned reasons. He laid his arms out on the table, and turned to look at Lily before even attempting to answer her question,
"You've never been horrible to me, just...turned me down every day of the past couple of years." He smiled, "Plus, you've been hurt. I wasn't just going to leave you there when you were obviously upset." He shrugged, "It's not me. I wouldn't do that."
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.x.