Fic: "The Fall of Lily Evans" for everybody
Gift for: everyone
Author: lostlikealice
Title: The Fall of Lily Evans
Pairing: Lily/James
Rating: PG
Summary: Sometimes you don't want something until you know you can't have it. Observe September to September, the fall of Lily Evans right into the arms of one arrogant showoff - James Potter.
Early September 1976. It's the start of the new year, the class of 1978's sixth year. Twitching an eagle feather quill back and forth, back and forth, Lily Evans sits alone at a table in the library. Yes, that Lily Evans; the no-nonsense prefect skilled in both practical and theoretical magic to the point of top marks for years on end, charming with her matter-of-fact diplomacy, and rather pretty on top of it all.
She isn't humble. Well, nobody's perfect.
But here she sits like bait for the trap, and, indeed, here he comes. James Potter, alone for once and already mindlessly ruffling his hair like an idiot - walking in her direction. She knows this game! Lily draws herself up in the chair to tell him what's what, raises her eyes boldly to his face...
... and watches him walk past her.
Her small mouth falls open and she continues to watch him as he nonchalantly browses the shelves behind her, a section specifically stuffed with books on Tracking Charms. Her lips snap shut and she ignores him in a huff. She shoves her book open, the cover hitting the table with a thunk. How dare he? Lily fumes.
James researches idly, oblivious that the love of his life sits spurned not ten feet away.
Before, Lily probably couldn't have thought of a better stroke of luck than James Potter avoiding her. Her roommates watch with amused alarm the violence with which Lily treats her hair and face to make them all the more noticeable. Oh yes, James would want her, would fall at her feet, and she would take great pleasure in rejecting him yet again.
Stupid prat.
A month goes by and James, Sirius, Remus, Peter continue their regular schedule of pranks but are otherwise found embroiled in their studies, ravenously scanning book after book in the library as though they're searching for something in particular. The likelihood that any of the four (well, maybe Remus, Lily will admit) is actually that interested in a topic that isn't humiliating people... well, it's less than minuscule.
Lily half-heartedly continues with her beauty products, but her ego has taken the blow. She finds other things to worry about as it becomes evident there's little she can do about it. There's homework, after all, and Professor Slughorn's parties, which keep her out of the common room and away from him. Still, it bothers her.
Has James Potter actually chosen to listen to her? Why? He should have known better!
February 14, 1977. Lily sends him a note on a scrap of parchment, no frills. On it she writes, I still won't date you. - L.E. The response comes within the same day, scribbled on the back of what looks like a Quidditch play:
We'll see about that. - James.
A triumphant smile springs to her lips. She knew it! She's known it all along. He's hers. Or he thinks he's hers. Yes, that's right.
Late May 1977. Lily's ears are pink as she watches Gryffindor's Quidditch team face Hufflepuff. She remains seated though everyone else standing, shouting, because to be seen shouting to back James Potter -
Well, he's an arrogant berk, a showoff, self-satisfied, sadistic and thick-skulled, who would willingly cheer for that?
James swerves to dodge a Bludger, weaves past the Hufflepuff Beaters, and makes an incredible shot. Being James Potter, he grins and poses as though photos are being snapped. His hair is mussed and his glasses askew. Lily stares critically up at him as though willing him to fall, and his eyes lower to catch hers for an instant. She sits stunned, the pink tint spreading from ear to ear, until he sweeps away to continue with the game.
She convinces herself that he was looking at Peter who sits a few seats away, mostly because she's scared of what this means. If one glance from James can embarrass her to the tips of her toes, James's full attention on her...
Lily Evans is above petty fancies on arrogant berks.
Really.
June 1977. The school has now grown somewhat accustomed to the quartet of troublemakers being too busy with each other to really bother anyone else, but one morning it is clear that silence has broken as they enter the Great Hall for breakfast. They enter as boisterously and chattering as ever, but the most notable part of the morning is Sirius holding aloft a piece of ordinary parchment and crowing, "If you didn't know, we are BRILLIANT!" No one's too shaken. Sirius Black does a lot of things that make no sense.
They tumble into their usual seats, except for James. He sees the spot next to Lily is open, and he seizes his opportunity.
Lily feels herself flush entirely, and pointedly ignores James's gaze when it hits her. She forces herself to look apathetic when she considers herself courageous enough to face his cute, arrogant, admiring eyes. "Is there a problem, Potter?" she asks simply.
"No, everything's great," James says, with the usual bald honesty and benign smile. "Especially you, Evans, want to go out with me?"
As easily snapped out as that. She has to seriously stifle a grin. "Not a chance."
He sits back, taking it in egotistical stride. "We'll see about that."
Late September 1977. It's the start of the new year, the class of 1978's seventh and final year. Lily Evans and James Potter - to everyone's surprise - are out on their first date in Hogsmeade. On the way back, he has his arm around her waist, or rather, she allows it there. He says, "I told you so."
"You're lucky," she retorts.
"Right you are." He grins, tugging her closer - always pushing his limits!
Barely hiding a grin, Lily kisses him to shut him up, and seals her fate. Arrogant berks, it seems, are good kissers as well.
Author: lostlikealice
Title: The Fall of Lily Evans
Pairing: Lily/James
Rating: PG
Summary: Sometimes you don't want something until you know you can't have it. Observe September to September, the fall of Lily Evans right into the arms of one arrogant showoff - James Potter.
Early September 1976. It's the start of the new year, the class of 1978's sixth year. Twitching an eagle feather quill back and forth, back and forth, Lily Evans sits alone at a table in the library. Yes, that Lily Evans; the no-nonsense prefect skilled in both practical and theoretical magic to the point of top marks for years on end, charming with her matter-of-fact diplomacy, and rather pretty on top of it all.
She isn't humble. Well, nobody's perfect.
But here she sits like bait for the trap, and, indeed, here he comes. James Potter, alone for once and already mindlessly ruffling his hair like an idiot - walking in her direction. She knows this game! Lily draws herself up in the chair to tell him what's what, raises her eyes boldly to his face...
... and watches him walk past her.
Her small mouth falls open and she continues to watch him as he nonchalantly browses the shelves behind her, a section specifically stuffed with books on Tracking Charms. Her lips snap shut and she ignores him in a huff. She shoves her book open, the cover hitting the table with a thunk. How dare he? Lily fumes.
James researches idly, oblivious that the love of his life sits spurned not ten feet away.
Before, Lily probably couldn't have thought of a better stroke of luck than James Potter avoiding her. Her roommates watch with amused alarm the violence with which Lily treats her hair and face to make them all the more noticeable. Oh yes, James would want her, would fall at her feet, and she would take great pleasure in rejecting him yet again.
Stupid prat.
A month goes by and James, Sirius, Remus, Peter continue their regular schedule of pranks but are otherwise found embroiled in their studies, ravenously scanning book after book in the library as though they're searching for something in particular. The likelihood that any of the four (well, maybe Remus, Lily will admit) is actually that interested in a topic that isn't humiliating people... well, it's less than minuscule.
Lily half-heartedly continues with her beauty products, but her ego has taken the blow. She finds other things to worry about as it becomes evident there's little she can do about it. There's homework, after all, and Professor Slughorn's parties, which keep her out of the common room and away from him. Still, it bothers her.
Has James Potter actually chosen to listen to her? Why? He should have known better!
February 14, 1977. Lily sends him a note on a scrap of parchment, no frills. On it she writes, I still won't date you. - L.E. The response comes within the same day, scribbled on the back of what looks like a Quidditch play:
We'll see about that. - James.
A triumphant smile springs to her lips. She knew it! She's known it all along. He's hers. Or he thinks he's hers. Yes, that's right.
Late May 1977. Lily's ears are pink as she watches Gryffindor's Quidditch team face Hufflepuff. She remains seated though everyone else standing, shouting, because to be seen shouting to back James Potter -
Well, he's an arrogant berk, a showoff, self-satisfied, sadistic and thick-skulled, who would willingly cheer for that?
James swerves to dodge a Bludger, weaves past the Hufflepuff Beaters, and makes an incredible shot. Being James Potter, he grins and poses as though photos are being snapped. His hair is mussed and his glasses askew. Lily stares critically up at him as though willing him to fall, and his eyes lower to catch hers for an instant. She sits stunned, the pink tint spreading from ear to ear, until he sweeps away to continue with the game.
She convinces herself that he was looking at Peter who sits a few seats away, mostly because she's scared of what this means. If one glance from James can embarrass her to the tips of her toes, James's full attention on her...
Lily Evans is above petty fancies on arrogant berks.
Really.
June 1977. The school has now grown somewhat accustomed to the quartet of troublemakers being too busy with each other to really bother anyone else, but one morning it is clear that silence has broken as they enter the Great Hall for breakfast. They enter as boisterously and chattering as ever, but the most notable part of the morning is Sirius holding aloft a piece of ordinary parchment and crowing, "If you didn't know, we are BRILLIANT!" No one's too shaken. Sirius Black does a lot of things that make no sense.
They tumble into their usual seats, except for James. He sees the spot next to Lily is open, and he seizes his opportunity.
Lily feels herself flush entirely, and pointedly ignores James's gaze when it hits her. She forces herself to look apathetic when she considers herself courageous enough to face his cute, arrogant, admiring eyes. "Is there a problem, Potter?" she asks simply.
"No, everything's great," James says, with the usual bald honesty and benign smile. "Especially you, Evans, want to go out with me?"
As easily snapped out as that. She has to seriously stifle a grin. "Not a chance."
He sits back, taking it in egotistical stride. "We'll see about that."
Late September 1977. It's the start of the new year, the class of 1978's seventh and final year. Lily Evans and James Potter - to everyone's surprise - are out on their first date in Hogsmeade. On the way back, he has his arm around her waist, or rather, she allows it there. He says, "I told you so."
"You're lucky," she retorts.
"Right you are." He grins, tugging her closer - always pushing his limits!
Barely hiding a grin, Lily kisses him to shut him up, and seals her fate. Arrogant berks, it seems, are good kissers as well.