All the young Dudes 2 (Summer Camping trip James POV)
Chapter 1: Lily
“Don’t come back stinking of fag ash, you two."
He turned his back an made is way from the beach to the camp site. He had a funny feeling in his gut, leaving Sirius with Remus after the revelations of the night. Not that Sirius was a particularly bigoted person, but he knew how Black could take things the wrong way, say things the wrong way. Like the hot headed idiot that he was. This time, that simply wouldn't do. James brows furrowed with determination.
If any of his friends would dare to treat Remus any different, they'd have to answer to him.
He zipped up the only empty tent, his and Sirius', and stretched himself over the poorly blow up mattress. “Should have brought the bloody magical ones” he murmured under his breath, taking of his glasses and rubbing his temples. He was getting a headache.
He'd just decided to wait for Sirius, to hear how Remus was feeling, when he heard his tent being zipped up.
“Think of the devil Pads- oh hiya Evans” the redheaded girl was climbing into the tent, zipping it back up in the progress.
“We need to talk.”
Her face wore a determined expression, that made James sit up a bit straighter, he grabbed his glasses and shoot her a questioning glance.
She lifted her wand, casting a silencing spell. Normally James would have been beaming, Lily Evans in his tent, a silencing spell, what a promising setting. But the serious look on her face pulled him in.
“So tell me Evans, what's on yer mind?” she sat down next to him, wordlessly casting a charm, that made a glowing ball appear between them, filling the tent in a warm light.
“Brilliant” James said, reaching out to touch it. “Don't you idiot” Lily said, slapping his hand away, her lips curling into the tinniest of smiles.
“Whats this about then.” James asked, rubbing his hand. Lily's smile faded. “Remus.” She said, catching James' eyes. “Ah.” he said, his eyebrow suspiciously raised. “Evans if you got a problem with Remus being gay --” he started, but the redhead didn't let him finish. “God no, James! That's not what I meant. Bloody hell what do you think of me.” James rubbed the back of neck smiling cheaply murmuring an apologie.
“Well, it's about Peter actually.” Lily continued. James captured her gaze again, question in his eyes. “Well, I mean he's not exactly known to be the.... well... most open minded? I saw how he looked at Remus when he told us. I don't want him saying something nasty to him. Poor Moony's been through enough.”
James was eager to agree. “Don't worry Lily, I wont let him. Pete's a nice guy, but I know he can sometimes be a bit inconsiderate. Won't be a problem though, I won't let him be a wanker about this. I'll talk to them about it. Sirius too.” Lily smiled.
“I gotta hand it to you Potter, even though you are one arrogant tosser, you are a good friend.”
James responded with a seriousness in his voice: “Anything for our Moony.” They were quiet for a second, than Lily raised her voice:
“James,” his heart still stoped a bloody beat when he heared her saying his name, even seven years later “Can I ask you something? Something bit personally maybe?” He lifted his hand, wanting to reach out and touch her arm, but stopped himself. No need to make her feel uncomfortable. “Sure Evans, anything” She scotched a bit closer and examining the looks on his face. “I honestly thought for a long time this 'good guy' persona was just a face you put on. Well I don't anymore, but it kinda gets me wondering” James held his breath as he felt her gaze on him “How do you do it? How are you kind to them all the time, be there for them, put up with all their loudness and their chaos? How---” her voice was quieter now
“Why isn't it too much for you?”
“Blimey Evans, didn't have an easier question for me have ya?”
She laughed. James stretched himself back into an horizontal position, keeping his eyes fixed on the green ones before him. “Honestly? I have no idea. Grew up without siblings I guess, Sirius is like my brother. The others too, even weaselly ol' Pete-boy.” he shot her a grin. “Nothin' I wouldn't do for them. They're my family. You gotta put up with the good AND the bad stuff. I mean, somebody has to look out for them, so why not me.” When Lily didn't answer, he gots back up, his hair tumbling into his face. Suddenly the girl in front of him raised her hand to his face, pushing a strand of hair behind his ear.
Her touch was soft and James repressed a shiver. “I'm glad he has you.” she said silently. “huh?” was James' brilliant response. “Remus.” Lily added, her eyes still focused on the strand of hair now pushed behind James' ear. “He's been through so much, glad he has someone in his corner. Reckon he hasn't had most his life.” James nodded, but Lily continued on. “Gotta be lonely at that children home he lives at, I meant to go and visit last summer, but Tunia told my parents and they wouldn't let me go.”
He couldn't believe this was happening, Lily Evans in his tent, sharing her thoughts, letting him listen.
The other marauders, 'specially Pete, never tired of making jokes about James wanting to get into Lily's pants, but here now, he knew, that if he'd never actually got to touch her, it would still be alright. Just her soul, her thoughts, her voice, would for ever be enough.
“It's a shame isn't it? All that nasty stuff happening to the good people.” She smiled at him weakly.
“I mean Remus and his furry Problem, Sirius and his parents, doesn't really seem fair.”
A memory of fourteen year old Sirius falling unconscious through the fireplace, rolling onto the carpet of Potter Manor flashed in front of his eyes. Remus, tearing himself apart every month, a war, Lily and Mary scared to leave the tower alone, kids planning to be soldiers.
“I'm going to make it better.” his voice was quiet, he said it more to himself than to her. She still heard. “What do you mean?” He had to clear his throat before answering. “The war, I'm going to fight in the war.” He hasn't told her yet. It only occurred to him now, as he could see her eyes widening. “All of us are, but I brought it up.” She nodded slowly. “I mean I'm a pure blood. I'm bloody privileged. I know it. But I want this shitty world to be safe. For Remus and Sirius and Mary and you. I want to help with this war being won by the right people, and if it's the last thing I do.”
Lily gaze was unreadable as she straightened her posture and looked him dead in the eye. “Me too. I'll fight too.”
No. A tightening pulled around his chest, making it hard to breath. A strangled noise left his throat, as he reached for her, fingers inching back seconds before reaching her hands. “God Lily. Not you.” he whispered, taking of his glasses and pressing his palms over his eyes.
Bad enough Sirius was following him into a battle. The thought of Lily, standing against a wall of those black clothed, masked murderers.... Not that she wouldn't be capable. But the thought of a curse, burrowing itself into her chest. He couldn't even bear the thought it.
Her warm hands closed over his, removing them from his face carefully. “Yes, me.” she said warmly. “I gotta fight my own battles Potter.” He looked at her, vision blurry from tears and the lack of his glasses. As if she could read his mind, she took his glasses from his lap and settled them onto his face.
“I want Remus to be able to walk the hallways holding hand with whatever guy he wants to fancy, I want him to be able to take a job in the magical world, I want Sirius to be more than “a black”, god dammit, I wanna walk the corridors with Mary without fearing for our bloody lifes. Don't worry Potter, I'm not following you into a war. I've decided to do this a long time ago. Just didn't know how to start. Guess I'll just go with you lot then.” She giggled at his marveling expression.
“So” she adds “Does this make me a marauder then?” The laughter bubbled out of him. “Sorry, Evans, but it doesn't. Not yet.”
She shrugged, blushing turning her head away from him.
“Should have known you want to fight these fucking battles.” She shook her head looking at her hands.
“Bloody perfect Potter and his savior complex.”
James beamed at her.
“Evans? You'd just call me perfect?”
she blushed, turning away, in an attempt to move to the exit.
“No. You dreamed that.” James grin felt like it should physically split his face in two.
“Oi, don't go Evans, let's just talk a bit more.” She turned to him, a wicked smile on her lips.
“Yer? What about Potter?” for a moment he's frozen, not believing his luck.
“Ehr.”
She laughed. “You're an idiot you know?” He nodded.
“A cute one though.” she added straightening his glasses.
James was certain he'll wake up any second, realizing this is just a dream.
“Evans..” he began, but she interrupted him with a hushed voice
“Why don't you call me Lily for once.”
He marveled at her “Right.. eh. Lily.” she smiled as she heard him say her name.
“I thought I got you all figured out James. Arrogant tosser, pretends to have this heart of gold, mocking me with his stupid bloody compliments, probably laughs behind my back. Simply wants to prove he can have them all.” her hand had freed the bit of hair, she had pushed behind his ear just some minutes ago.
“What?” he wasn't sure if that was supposed to be a joke. “Lily, what are you talking about, wasn't ever like that! I would never laugh about you behind your back!” Lily just smiled, silencing James with a look.
“Oh I know Jamie.”
Jamie. Jamie. JAMIE?!
“Turns out your heart actually does match your ego. Who would have though?”
What in the name of Godrics balls on a broomstick was happening.
“You..” he pressed out “Called me Jamie.” she smiled, cheeks darkening.
“Remus was right. No use pretending in front of ones friends.” Then she leaned forward, her face so close to his, he can count the freckles on her nose. Which he is more than willing to do for the rest of his life.
“Lily” he started “What are you....?” the question hung in the air between them, unanswered for a moment and James feared she will get up and leave him, alone with the fuzzy feeling in his chest.
“I'm....” she said, voice wavering unsure. “I'm going to kiss you.”
That's the moment James Fleamont Potter stared to believe that he has died and went to heaven.
“You what?” he breathed against her lips, eyes widened. “You heard me. I'm going to snog you. Now.” she repeated, voice mimicking Remus butchert english.
“If you still want to, that is.”
If he still wants to. What kinda stupid question is that.
“Yes I bloody want to, fucking hell!” he spat through the grin creeping onto his face.
She lifted her hands placing them softly on his forearms, closing the space between them. Than her lips were on his, slowly applying pressure.
His heart leapt forward as he grabbed her face with his hands, without even thinking about it for a second.
When she didn't make a move to break the kiss, he moved to encircle her hips with his hands, pulling her onto his lap.
She deepened the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck, melting into him, and James, James just about dies.
He had pictured kissing Lily Evans about as many times as one can, but this, this is more than he could ever dreamed of. The soft curve of her back beneath his hands, her lips moving on his, hands now playing with his curls.
A meteor could drop next to them. A wildfire ravish the forest around them. Voldemort himself could appear in front of this tent. James wouldn't bring himself to care. Because now, in this moment, he had Lily Evans in his arms making him forget his own bloody name.
After a while, could have been seconds, or a lifetime, no way of telling, she drew back to examine James's flushing face before her.
“Bloody good snog wasn't that?” she grinned at him. James beamed back, grinning from ear to ear.
“Definitely worth the wait.” he said, getting a tiny slap on the shoulder from her.
“Shut up Potter.” she said, pulling his face back to her.
“Gladly.” he responded, before he reached her lips, laying the love, the ache,the happiness of finally finding her, the fear of losing her again, the fuzzy feeling in his chest, into the kiss. The ball of light cast byLily's charm expanded, dividing itself into thousands of little lights, streaming across the walls of the tent, like stars.