Chapter Fifteen: She’s Mine!

*“Well, I don’t know how different a wizarding house is from a muggle house, but…”

“Wow! These photos! They don’t move! Not at all huh?”

“James, of all the things I expected you to say, that was not one of them.”

“Sorry. I just get carried away sometimes. You know me Lady Lily, always hopping from one idea to the next.”

“Well, through that hall is the family room, and through this door is the kitchen, where everyone should be.” Lily broke their conversation.

“I can’t wait to meet this evil sister of yours Lily. I’m going to…”

“James Potter, you promise me you won’t hurt her. Not until after the wedding. Promise!”

“Come on Lady Lily!”

“Promise. Please James?” Lily begged. James looked into her hypnotizing emerald eyes and gulped. So deep, so dark, so enchanting…

“Alright Lily, I promise.”

“Thank you James.” And she lightly smiled. At least she knew her sister was safe from his pranks- for the time being. “Are you ready to meet the muggles?”

“Sure!” James snapped himself out of his reverie.

“Just please be careful James. These people, they aren’t your average run of the mill kind of muggles. They’re different.”

“No sweat Lily.” She looked at him sharply one more time before pushing on the swinging doors. As both she and James entered the kitchen, James looked around. Gadgets and gismos he’d never seen before filled the room. He could smell wonderful food coking over a hot stove, and the ingredients were out on the countertops. There were four people milling about the room, two sitting and chatting at the table to the corner, and the other two serving them.

“Mother?” Lily quietly asked for attention.

“Lily? Oh Lily! Good thing you’re up dear, I was just going to go call you. Bacon, eggs, and toast for breakfast… who’s that dear?” Lily’s mother asked with slight interest. It looked as though she was more concerned with the toast.

“Mother, Father, Petunia, Vernon, this is James Potter, my friend from Hogwarts. He came to be the stand in for Vernon’s sick cousin.” All heads turned towards Lily as she mentioned she has found a stand in.

“Him?” Petunia scoffed. “He’s a bit young, isn’t he?” James balked inwardly. What a nice girl Petunia truly wasn’t.

“He’ll do Petunia. Nice to meet you James, thank you for coming on such short notice to help with the wedding.” Lily’s mother gave James a warm smile and then went back to her toast.

“Lily, you’ve saved the day.” Her father smiled. “But when did he get here? I didn’t hear the doorbell ring.”

“I got here last night sir. My friend’s father apparated me over here, then left. He’s coming back in three days to get me.” James answered.

“Apparated?”

“Left one place and instantly transported to another.” Lily explained quickly. “He was here when I woke up.”

“In your room?” Her father’s eyes narrowed.

“Outside in the hall Father. You must have just missed him coming down here this morning.” Lily covered quickly.

“The real question is, will he be suitable for standing in?” Petunia asked.

“Yes, I’d like to know.” Vernon chimed in.

“I’ll do my best. I’ve never been to a muggle wedding… or anything muggle for that matter. See, I’m pure wizard, and…”

“Yes, yes. We know. You’re a freak like little Lily-kins over there. Just don’t screw up Potter, or you’ll get yours.” Petunia sneered. Lily gulped, and James felt her squeeze his hand tightly as her sister’s comment registered in her mind. Instantly James regretted making the promise not to hurt Petunia. Anyone that spoke like that to Lily was purely vile in his mind. He didn’t understand how anyone could be so harsh to Lily- she was so sweet and kind. At least once you got to know her.

“I won’t screw up.” James promised.

“I’ll train you personally so that you don’t.” Vernon told him authoritatively.

“Alright.” James agreed. Petunia nodded, and she and Mrs. Evans walked out of the room together.

“James, why don’t you sit on down?” Lily asked him quietly. “I’ll make you some breakfast.”

“Sure Lady Lily. Need any help?” He asked as he settled down on the end of the table to watch her. He knew her father and Vernon’s eyes were glued on him.

“No.” She whispered. But she couldn’t help but smile at the name. “You’ll only blow something up.”

“I’m not that bad with muggle stuff.”

“Electronics are a different matter all together James.” Lily chided him, easily slipping into a happier mood. She always did when James was around, that was a given. He just made her happy for some reason, as if everything she had been so worried about slipped her mind and she didn’t have to worry because he was there.

“Yeah, that’s true. Lady Lily, I don’t know what half the machines in here are for. And I thought still pictures were amazing.”

“James…” Lily sighed.

“Still pictures?” Her father inquired. Both James and Lily jumped. They had forgotten about her father and Vernon.

“Yeah. In the wizarding world, all of our photographs move. You know, the people in them.”

“How odd. Why?” Vernon asked listlessly.

“Why?” James asked.

“Why would you want pictures that moved?”

“Because. That’s just the way we do things I suppose. I never asked why.”

“Not very bright, are you boy?”

“James is ranked second in the school.” Lily chimed in. There was no way she was going to let Vernon eat James alive if she could help it.

“Only to Lily here, of course.” James smiled. Lily was worried about him, he could tell. Her eyebrows furrowed and she had a dimple between them when she was worried.

“Is that so? They must not teach you very well then. Who ever heard of a girl being the smartest? James, you’d better pass her soon, or she’ll never learn her place in life. She’s a girl who needs discipline, not more thinking skills.” James gaped open mouthed at Vernon.

“Pardon me?” He asked incredulously.

“James, here’s your food.” Lily came in at the right moment. She had known Vernon would try to pull something like this and though she had tried to warn James, she had also known that sooner or later he would get a rude awakening to what Petunia and Vernon really were.

“Thank you Lady Lily. Why don’t you sit down and eat something with me?” James’ eyes lightened as he looked at Lily.

“I don’t eat breakfast James, you know that.” James grinned.

“I know.” And then he reached up, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her into his lap. “But I don’t see why not? Food is good.” Lily smiled. James always did this when he was trying to forget something that was bothering him… he would act extra goofy to try to take his mind off of it. Besides, she didn’t mind sitting in his lap; it was harmless.

“Food may be good, James, but I am just never hungry in the morning.”

“I know Lily, I’m sorry. Forgive me?”

“Of course.” And she stood. “I need to find Petunia and talk to her about getting that suit tailored to fit you. Did you want to stay here and eat? I mean, do you mind if I leave you alone?”

“Go on Lady Lily, I’ll be fine. Vernon needs to teach me anyway.” He grinned at the double meaning of his words.

“Alright then. I’ll see you later James.”

“And Lily?”

“Yes?”

“I like the no make up. It’s pretty.” She flushed, but said nothing as she walked off.

“Are you and my daughter dating?” Mr. Evans finally spoke up.

“No sir.” James looked slightly shocked. Where had he gotten that impression from? Him and Lily? Dating? No. But some lucky guy would get her one day, James knew. She was too good to pass up- and she was a good cook… at least, her cooking smelled good enough for her to be one.

“Then what was that all about? Lady Lily? The lap?”

“Lily and I are just good friends. Our friends are good friends. Lady Lily is a nickname we call her, and the lap… I don’t know. Just something we randomly do when we feel like it.”

“Randomly do? Something you randomly do? Is that what you kids are calling it these days?”

“Calling what?” Asked James, thoroughly confused.

“That display…you’re calling it just something?”

“Well, err, that’s what it was.” James scratched his head and took a big bite of food. Oh… his mouth watered. Lily was such a good cook… A very lucky man indeed.

“Hmm.” But Mr. Evans said no more.

“Well, come on them Potter. I’ll show you what to do.” Vernon sighed as he stood and rubbed his portly belly.

“Alright then.” James nodded as he inhaled the last of the scrambled eggs on his plate. Funny… he wondered how Lily had known he liked his eggs scrambled? He wouldn’t eat eggs otherwise, and she must have known that. Hmm. James followed Vernon outside and to a car.

“Is this what I think it is?” James asked in awe.

“That’s right, it’s a BMW 740i.”

“Huh? I just wanted to know if it was one of those muggle cars?” James scratched his head.

“Yes. Damned witched and wizards. Don’t know a damned thing.” Vernon mumbled under his breath. “Look here boy. You sit in it and do not make any comments. Understood?”

“Yes sir.”

“Good.” And off they drove. James was so caught up in the workings of the vehicle that he didn’t even notice when they stopped. Finally, it took Vernon shaking his shoulder roughly before he woke up and managed to drag himself out of the car.

“Where are we?”

“The church.”

“The what?”

“Church. We’ll be getting married here. Come along now, we have a lot to do.” Vernon replied stiffly. James followed him and soon he had more to wonder and gaze at. As Vernon began explaining what to do, James’ mind drifted away again. Inside the church were huge windows of color glass; stained glass windows Vernon had said. Each had pictures and told a story, and soon James was involved in them so deeply that Vernon became enraged with him.

“See here boy! I don’t know what that damned witch-freak Lily sees in you! You’re a lazy day dreamer who will never amount to anything in the real world.” Vernon paused. “Then again… that witch-freak herself is worthless, I don’t know what you see in her.”

“What do you mean by that?” James narrowed his eyes, his focus immediately turned to Vernon.

“She won’t even give me any, I don’t know what you’re sticking around for. She’s uptight, that’s what.”

“Give you any? Give you any what?”

“Are you incompetent boy? That crazy loon girl won’t sleep with me, and if she won’t sleep with me, she probably isn’t sleeping with you, so why are you with her?”

“You don’t like Lily cause you can’t sleep with her?” Anger was building in James. Who the hell did this man think he was?

“Well? She’s the freak. I told her if she’d lose the makeup she could have me, but she ruddy well refused.”

“You stay away from Lily from now on.” James’ eyes darkened and he glared menacingly at Vernon.

“Why’s that boy?” Vernon smirked.

“She’s mine. Understand? Lily is mine, and no creepy sap of crud like yourself is good enough to be anywhere near her. You aren’t fit to polish her shoes, so just you stay away from her.” James let Vernon have it. He didn’t know where the possessiveness came from; it was really sudden. Not unwelcome, but sudden. He had meant it too. While he was around, Lily was his. No one else could touch her or hurt her because he would be there to protect her.

Had Lily been putting up with this for a long time? He hoped not. Oh, poor Lily! No wonder she had been worried about her sister’s wedding. Her sister was marrying a man who was hitting on her, and if she said anything, chances were she wouldn’t be believed. Lily… James’ heart went out to her. And here he was, thinking his home problems were bad.

“Yours huh? Thought you weren’t dating her?”

“I’m not. But go near her, and I’ll rearrange that face of yours. And don’t think I can’t.” James saw Vernon’s eyes survey him, as if to see who would be the obvious winner if they were to fight.

“Look here. I’m marrying Petunia. She’s a nice, quiet, dumb girl who sleeps with me when I want her to. I don’t need your precious Lily to keep me satisfied. Just you remember that I let her go, not the other way around.”

“Whatever.” James blew him off. “Let’s go.”

“Do you…”

“Yeah, I know what to do.”

“Fine.” And the car ride back was in silence.

>>>)(<<<

“James?”

“Hey Lily.”

“James, what’s wrong? You aren’t usually this quiet. What did Vernon say?” Lily asked him. It was late, and they were the only two left up in the family room. James was going to be sleeping on the couch, but Lily had waited till everyone had gone to sleep so she could speak to him privately.

“Is it true Lily?” James asked in mid thought. He looked over her. Once again the dark makeup donned her visage, but she seemed strangely serene in the dim lighting. Her nose ring was gone, and her cheeks were slightly flushed, making for a beautiful but dangerous façade.

“Is what true?”

“That Vernon offered to let you sleep with him?” Lily gasped.

“How did you find out?” She whispered.

“He told me. Lily, he did, didn’t he?” James watched her eyes darken. He hated it when her eyes were dark… it made him feel as if he weren’t doing enough to protect her… she was so innocent to everything.

“I told him no James. I swear I told him no. Oh, what a wicked man! Whatever he told you about me…”

“He asked why I put up with you if you weren’t sleeping with me. I told him to shove off.”

“James?” Lily asked, her brow furrowed. James had to smile- she was once again worried.
“Lily.” He stated softly. Then he opened his arms and held them out. Lily looked at him for a moment, then flung herself into them and held on tightly. “It’s ok Lily, it’s alright. I told him off good for you. No one will ever hurt you while I’m around, I promise. God Lily, I swear no one will ever hurt you when I’m around. I’m kill them if they do.”

“James…” She whispered. She wasn’t crying, but she was so choked up with emotion she could barely speak. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you Lily.” They stayed in the hug for a moment longer, then they pulled away.

“I’m sorry. Not all muggles are this bad James.” She tried to apologize.

“I know. Just as all wizards are not good.” James’ eyes darkened. Lily almost gasped. She had never seen him look like that before. It almost frightened her to see that look in his deep chocolate eyes.

“James? What happened? What wizards were bad to you? Was it Snape or Malfoy?” He wanted to laugh. She thought they were bad? She was just so innocent…

“No Lily. Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing.” He tried to deter her.

“James, it isn’t just ‘nothing’. Otherwise you would have already tried to cover up you worrying by joking around.” She frowned, worried for him.

“Do I do that?”

“Yes. Tell me James.”

“Lily, no one except Sirius, Remus and Peter know. And I’m not sure I can…”

“Trust me?” James looked down at Lily’s hurt face. That wasn’t the reason!

“No! Lily I trust you. It’s just… it’s hard for me to talk about.” James swallowed hard. He always choked up thinking about it.

“James? You can tell me. I promise I won’t laugh.”

“Lily. I never thought you would. It’s just… all right. I’ll tell you, but don’t interrupt me; otherwise I’ll never finish. Let me put this in a way you can understand it. There are bad muggles, right?”

“Of course. Look at Vernon.”

“No, I mean bad muggles with power.”

“Yes, history is full of them- Nero, Hitler, Mussolini, and the list goes on.”

“Well, now imagine one of those men in power had been wizards.”

“The world would have come to an end!” Lily gasped.

“Now you know how bad Voldemort is.” James finished.

“Voldemort? You mean the guy who every one says they can’t say his name?” Lily asked, slightly confused.

“He’s a bad wizard Lily. So bad that he’s killed before. In fact, he’s killed lots of times. One of those times happened to be two years ago. See, my parents were aurors. They hunted all of the bad wizards down and sent them to trial. They were the top pair of aurors in the ministry. But then they were given a new assignment. Lily, my parents were sent to hunt out Voldemort.” Lily gasped and James took a deep breath.

“I guess Voldemort thought they were getting too close because one night when I was over at Sirius’, Voldemort and his ugly followers murdered my parents.”

“Oh James.” Lily breathed.

“Yeah. That was two years ago. I’ve been staying with Sirius ever since.”

“James.” They sat in silence for a moment. Then Lily crawled from her place next to James and sat in his lap. James was slightly shocked. Lily had never been this bold before. But she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in close, softly humming. James instantly relaxed. She always made him feel more at peace for some reason, even when he was hurting inside.

Just thinking about his parents, James’ heart started to speed up. His throat tightened, and it was harder to breath. His stomach flopped about, and his eyes suddenly burned and were itchy. His parents… god his missed them! And tears began to roll down his face.

“Mom!” He cried into Lily.

“Shh. It’s ok James, everything will be alright.” She tried to help him. Her whole heart ached for him in a way she hadn’t known was possible. Poor James. She couldn’t even imagine what everything would be like without her family. She felt glad she knew. This way she could at least help James. He trusted her enough to confide in her, and she felt lucky and special because of it. They fell asleep like that; Lily and James curled up together, tear streaks running down James’ face.

In the early morning when Lily finally woke, she slipped away from James’ hold only to crawl up stairs into her cold bed. She missed him, but if anyone had seen them… *

~~~ I am terribly sorry this took me so long… school and all, plus the play I’m in, plus I sprained my foot (Yes, it’s possible) Ahh! I’m bogged down! That and writer’s block… I’m sure some of you know how that is! But I promise to have more soon! And I also promise L/J romance starting in the next three chapters! REVIEW PLEASE! Much love, Vixen ~~~