𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄
chapter twenty-six; A Lily Evans Laugh
" Getting involved in anyone else's' relationships or. . . whatever is pointless. And rude. "

  JAMES POTTER NOTICED something off in his best friend when winter finally melted into spring. The snow had all faded away, bitter cold a faint memory as students traded coats for shorts and skirts, all knocking knees in tall grass and pink tinted noses matching bright smiles as they rushed back inside for class.

  And Sirius was quiet. 

  He'd been collapsing into himself in recent days, hiding beneath a layer of leather jacket and thick eyeliner haphazardly smudged in his waterline. His cigarette habit had returned, smoking packs so quickly James had to wonder where they came from. 

  When the Marauders dragged him outside, Sirius only laid back, leaning on one elbow, smoking with his other hand, and staring. He made no effort to join in conversation, to wrestle James in the dining hall or shove his face between Remus' quill and parchment to find out if the boy would notice before writing on his cheek, not even to pay attention to Peter and laugh at his sometimes funny jokes.

  Nothing.

  "I know what's wrong," James announced one morning at breakfast, making Sirius cock an uninterested eyebrow. 

  "Let's hear it, then," Sirius said boredly, leaning on the table, "The doc' is in."

  "You, my dear friend," James began, pointing, "Haven't got laid in a particularly long time."

  Sirius put every ounce of effort into keeping a stone face, know James would catch the slightest crack.

  "Last year it was all about being the playboy," James continued, leaning back. He stayed for a moment, before grinning, "Unless Padfoot's found a girlfriend he's not told us about."

  Remus Lupin found his gaze drift to the Ravenclaw table on instinct. He hid a frown behind his bacon, watching Madeline smile falsely as Bluebelle and Kai laughed loudly. It was clear to him that it was all a show, she made faces as she forced food into her mouth, filling an appetite that wasn't there, and her face only lifted when their eyes were on her.

  She wasn't doing much better than Sirius.

  "I'd never have a girlfriend," Sirius scoffed harshly, too harshly if you asked James.

  "Not a one-girl kind of man, are we?"

  "Relationships are for idiots," Sirius told Remus, stabbing a piece of egg with his fork, "Of which, I am not one."

  "Alright, so, what's with the lack of birds?" James questioned with a laugh, "You lose your touch, mate?"

  "No, I didn't."

  "Prove it."

  Sirius held his breath for a second. He and Remus locked eyes accidentally, Sirius broke this first because he couldn't stand to hold it.

  "Fine."

  James let out hoots as Sirius stood up, his stride was already different. Lazily giving off confidence, one hand in his pocket the other swinging with his swooping steps. He swung only one leg over the seats beside a familiar group of Gryffindor girls.

  Lily Evans and Marlene McKinnon seemed annoyed at first. Dorcas wasn's so bothered, neither was Alice, but then again they were hardly paying him any mind. And the Sirius rested his cheek on his fist, his lips forming words the boys could not hear. 

  Lily's expression melted, eyes darting to James for a moment. Marlene had even gone as far as to place a hand on Sirius' arm, which only fueled James' pride.

  Sirius wandered back over after a moment, poking at his food silently.

  "Well?"

  "I'm seeing McKinnon tonight."

  "You're seeing her or. . ." Peter trailed off, his cheeks pink. Whether they were before or not was unknown.

  "C'mon, Wormy, you know what I mean," Sirius chuckled, nudging him.

  "Yeah, Padfoot!"

ϟ

  James had been banished to the common room. Sirius had claimed the dorm for his night with a certain blonde, and while both Remus and Peter had things to do, James did not.

  Remus was busy spending time with a familiar group of Ravenclaws, and Peter had mumbled something about some Hufflepuffs but James doubted Peter would be anywhere but the kitchens.

  "James?"

  The boy let his head lull back on the couch, a small smile crawling onto his lips when he saw Lily Evans. Clad in pajama pants, red hair falling down in the same way waterfalls did, somehow illuminating her bright green eyes all the way across the room.

  She was magic.

  Everything was, yes, but to James, Lily Evans was the only kind of magic that mattered.

  "Lily," James turned fully, resting his chin on his folded arms, "Come to see me?"

  "Marlene's with Black," Lily said, ignoring James' cockiness. She took careful steps, before falling into the large armchair that nearly swallowed her whole. "Dorcas and Alice are studying."

  "And you've decided not to?"

  "Studying isn't the extent of my life," The redhead informed.

  "I know," James' smile was ever-present, somehow making Lily's confidence falter. 

  "So, Black and Marlene," Lily cleared her throat, turning her attention to the warm fire.

  "Mhm," James hummed, looking to the fire as well, "You alright with it?"

  "Not up to me, is it?" Lily questioned. "Getting involved in anyone else's' relationships or. . . whatever is pointless. And rude."

  "Right, remind me never to have an opinion."

  "That's not what I meant," Lily turned, rolling her eyes when James laughed. "Arse."

  "Admit it, Lily," James grinned, leaning his head back and resting folded hands on his stomach. "You don't actually hate me."

  "I've never hated you, James," Lily stated confusedly, making James bolt upright, "You're rude and cocky and annoying, but what grounds have I got to hate you?"

  "Oh."

  "Plus. . ." Lily sighed heavily, "Your sister's a good person, and she seems to think enough of you to actually listen sometimes."

  James raised his brows, "You're basing this off of Maddie?"

  "You don't give her enough credit," Lily smiled lightly, "She has to put up with you all the time, and somehow she doesn't hate you, or hasn't gone mad."

  James' jaw hung open.

  Then Lily Evans began laughing loudly, not the way girls did around James Potter. The girls that fancied him, liked his curly hair and arrogant attitude, they brought freshly polished nails up to cover their half-open mouths that only let out giggles. Hair fell in a rehearsed way over their eyes, and they'd always brush it out while looking up at him.

  Not Lily Evans.

  She was laughing louder than Peter did, her hair had no care for what she wanted it to do, maybe because she didn't want it to do anything. Head thrown back, finding far too much amusement in the simple situation.

  And James Potter was quietly falling deeper in love.

  "Who's the arse now?"

  "You know," Lily sighed after the laughter had faded out, a smile still present on her lips, "You're not that bad when you're not trying to be The James Potter."

  "What does that mean?" James questioned amusedly.

  "That just James is alright," Lily said, her smile fading into a gentle, natural one. "I don't want to hit just James."

  "Oh, we are making big steps here, Lily."

  "Lils!"

  The redhead turned in the chair to see Marlene descending from the boys' dorm stairs. Her hair was ruffled, a large sweater swallowing her figure. Even her previously heavy eyeliner had been smudged horribly.

  "Come on," Marlene said quieter as she stepped off the last stair.

  "Bye," Lily said to James quietly, smiling still as she followed Marlene.

  James Potter let out a dreamy sigh after the girls were gone entirely, leaning back in the couch. It was lucky that he remained there for a bit too long, for the room was still being used by Sirius Black.

  But of course, his companion was only his anger, Sirius danced with his sadness like he was at a ball his mother had thrown. He didn't wrestle with the loneliness or banish the heartache, Sirius had learned far too long ago it was better to feel everything all at once, than nothing at all.

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
Jily is the purest ship
do not @ me