The Feast

Hey guys! Here is our next look at Jily. I think you'll notice a little change in their relationship this chapter!

JamesJames just couldn't understand Lily Evans. It was about impossible. Were all girls that hard to understand, or did he just happen to pick the most difficult girl that there was?

One day, Lily looked at James as if they actually had a chance at friendship, and then she walked out on him the next time. Lily had avoided James' eyes as she had patrolled the train. When it had been time to go up to the castle, she had immediately left without a glance at him to go find Mary, Marlene, and Alice.

James had found the rest of the Marauders, explained the reason for his glare, and joined them for the carriage ride up to the castle. The air had been warm and the castle had looked oh so familiar, but his usual excitement was drowned out by everything he was feeling towards Lily.

James had found a seat in the Great Hall at the Gryffindor table. That's where he sat, his friends next to him. Lily was down the table diagonal to him. She was smiling at something Alice had said from across the table. James had remembered the time the sorting hat had chosen her for Gryffindor. She had been shocked and a little sad because her best friend had been chosen for a different house. Now, she looked as proud as a Gryffindor could be.

The sorting this year took what seemed like forever. James played with his hair and muttered jokes to Sirius under his breath until the sorting finally finished.

At the end of the hall, the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, had called everyone to order from his seat at the center of the teachers' table. He began to make the announcements for the year about the forbidden forest and the usual stuff. James barely payed attention until he heard Lily's name announced.

"Miss Lily Evans of Gryffindor house will be the Head Girl of Hogwarts this year."

Lily's face turned bright and she put her head down. James always thought Lily looked cute when she got embarrassed. The great hall applauded politely for her. No one was really shocked at the outcome for Head Girl.

"And the Head Boy this year," Dumbledore continued, "is James Potter of Gryffindor house."

The hall was split between two reactions, disbelief and pure excitement. The Slytherins all scowled as the Gryffindor table erupted into shouts and cheers. James barely noticed this, though, because Lily was now looking at him. When there eyes met, she looked as if she was deciding upon something, but then dropped her eyes to her empty plate.

Dumbledore finished his speech, lifted his hands, and announced the start of dinner.

Their plates filled with delicious food and their goblets filled to the brim with different drinks. James tried to block out his pain by talking to the rest of the Marauders about their start of year prank. Although Moony usually didn't approve of their trouble, he always seemed to be the brains behind their pranks.

"I mean, we would have to do something elaborate," Remus said. "Not that I, as a prefect, encourage this of course."

"Got any bright ideas this year, boys?" Sirius asked. "We need something big so I can impress Ma..."

He stopped mid sentence as all of the other Marauders gasped.

"Oi Padfoot," James grinned devilishly. "Why didn't you tell us? Who's the lucky lady?"

"Or dog? We don't know," Peter added under his breath. James buckled over laughing and Remus snickered.

"Shove it, you three," Sirius growled. The boys laughed as Sirius glared back at them. The Marauders spent the rest of dinner like this, picking on each other and shoving their faces with food. When their stomachs were filled with the sweet and savoury treats, the plates and goblets cleared before them instantly. Dumbledore announced the end of the feast and announced for first years to follow their house prefects.

Everyone got up to return to their common rooms. James tried to reach Lily and fought the crowd of Gryffindors.

"Evans! Evans wait up!"

James finally reached her and grabbed her arm.

"Ouch, Potter!" Lily exclaimed. James immediately let her go.

"Why did you speed away?" he demanded. "We have to go supervise the halls, remember?"

Lily looked slightly shocked. "I didn't think you'd remember," she said quietly.

"Well I did," James said annoyed. "Now lets go."

Lily shut up for the rest of their patrol. James kept glancing down at her. Her hair was braided today, and he couldn't help but notice how pretty she was with it in. He couldn't take the silence anymore. The only sound in the empty corridors was their footsteps. He had to break it.

"Lily..."

"I'm sorry, Potter," she said. James stared at her. This is what she looked confused about. She had apologised to him for acting rude. She never did this.

"It's okay," James replied. "I told you in my letter over the summer, I don't think I could go a day without your glare, Evans. It gives me such pleasure."

Lily rolled her eyes, but she seemed to be a little calmer.

"So," she said as the turned the corner the hallway near the kitchens. "I heard you're Quidditch captain this year."

James beamed. Was she impressed?

Does it matter?

No... okay maybe.

"Yep. We're going to win that cup this year! I can feel it."

"Merlin, I hope so," Lily said.

"I didn't think you really cared," James said.

Lily stopped on the spot. She whirled on James and put a finger to his chest. "Listen here Potter. The only reason I never play is because of my fear of heights. Just because I don't sit in the front of the stands screaming, make cutsie signs with your name on them, rattle on about the sport, or even play it at all doesn't mean I don't care. I can tell you the reason we didn't win the cup last year was because our stupid seeker was to busy trying to command the team than try to find the snitch. I also know that you scored 110 points alone, but still managed to lose that game. Ask me a question, Potter, and I'll give you the answer. So, in case you haven't figured it out, I do care."

James was speechless. His jaw was practically on the floor.

"Also," she added. "I'll be at the season opener, so you better win."

With that, she turned on her heel and continued their patrol. James was still speechless. How had he never noticed this? How had he never noticed that the girl he had practically been in love with has liked his favourite sport this whole time?

They continued through all of the corridors and didn't see anything wrong or anyone out of bed. When they returned to the fat lady's portrait, James realized he didn't know the password to get into the common room. He started to ask Lily about it, but she just rolled her eyes.

"The prefects and I picked it," she explained. She turned to the fat lady. "Cleansweep."

James smiled at her as the portrait swung open. "Nice choice," he said.

She turned to him with a smirk. He was so happy that the patrol had gone better than he expected. She seemed to think so, too. The common room was so warm and familiar. Everyone seemed to have already gone to bed because all of the plush couches were empty.

"Well, Potter," Lily said, "I need to get some sleep.

"Well then, I guess I'll see you tomorrow Evans," James said.

"Bye."

She gave a tiny nod before turning to go to the girls' dormitory. He watched her go with a feeling of triumph. She hadn't stormed away from him or glared at him when she left. She had walked away from him like she would walk away from any of her other friends.

Progress! he thought.

He skipped up the steps of the boys' dormitory and into the 7th year dorm where the rest of the Marauders were in their beds.

"Bloody hell, Prongs," Sirius laughed. "Don't you look cheerful."

"Lily didn't glare at me or anything," James gushed as he threw himself into bed.

"Sounds like a true love story," Remus joked.

"And she likes Quidditch," James added.

"Not bad, Prongs," Sirius said with a nod.

"Does she know that you still like her yet?" Remus asked.

James went silent. "I hope she doesn't see it as obviously as you did," he muttered.