Chapter Thirty-Eight “ A Few Words, If You Please
The study sessions between Laila and James continued over the next week, along with the strange lapses in James’s memory. He would still approach Lily, smirking and acting as if nothing had changed. It hurt Lily still to think that someone had come between them. She supposed it happened in every relationship, but she didn’t think it would actually happen in hers. She figured that since James had spent the better part of five years trying to catch her attention that he wouldn’t be sidetracked by a pair of brown eyes, frizzy hair and too-short skirt. Really, her school skirt had been taken up about three inches.
That Laila girl’s coy little glances and guile-filled smiles set Lily on edge.
James didn’t even tell her he was going to study. He just got up after the seventh year’s study hour and went to the fireplace. That Laila girl would be sitting there, ready to wiggle her fingers to great him.
He had just left, one night, when Nikeia bumped Lily’s arm.
“What’s going on?” she whispered.
Josey and Alice leaned over, worried expressions on their faces.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t give us that,” said Nikeia. “You guys seem distant.”
“It’s nothing I’ve done,” spoke Lily, an edge to her voice.
“Lils…”
“Look, I don’t know what he’s doing. I don’t know if he knows that he’s doing what he’s doing. I just know I can’t sit here and watch them study together anymore.” She began packing up her things, and her girlfriends sat back in their chairs, looking at each other.
“Maybe he’s been bewitched,” tossed out Josey.
Lily scoffed. “He’s smart enough to be tutoring that dolt; he should be smart enough to tell if he’s being bewitched.”
Josey’s brow wrinkled. “Uh, Lils? I think that’s part of the definition of ‘bewitched’. One doesn’t know that’s it’s happening.”
Lily scoffed loudly and threw her bag over her shoulder.
Sirius muttered, “So, this is how a woman acts when she hasn’t been kissed in a while?”
Remus slapped him as Nikeia, Josey and Alice all cried, “Sirius!”
Lily ignored him, though her brow did crease.
“I’m going to patrol.”
“It’s still a bit early, isn’t it?” asked Remus, not unkindly.
“Yes, but I want to be alone for a while.” She pulled her bag over her shoulder and walked to the couch.
She frowned down at the pair on the couch. “James.”
He ignored her, still talking to Albright.
“James,” she said louder. He jumped, and looked up at her.
“Oh, hey Lily!” His expression was bright.
“I’m going to start patrolling.
“Now? But it’s early…”
She didn’t say anything, but watched as James turned worried eyes to his tutored student. “I’m sorry. I should probably go with Lily.”
Was his grudging undertone just imagined?
Laila pouted. “But, I haven’t gotten this charm yet.”
“Well, just keep at it,” he said kindly as he stood.
Suddenly, Laila’s face cleared. “Oh! I bet I can find a book that would be helpful! Though, nothing could be as helpful as you, James.”
Lily stared at her. “Have you no respect, woman?” she muttered under her breath.
Laila heard her. “Of course, I respect James. He’s a wonderful teacher.”
Lily rolled her eyes at the misinterpretation. “He must be, for you to be learning anything.” She turned to leave the room, tossing her bag into the hallway as she passed it.
She heard James stammer, then say, “Why don’t you come with me now? I’ll walk you to the library and help you find the right books. I’m sure I’ll be able to find Lily afterwards.”
Lily heard a loud giggle come from behind her as she left the Portrait Hole. James and Laila”laughing together”exited a few moments later.
She started in the opposite direction from the library, waving over her shoulder when James shouted, “I’ll find you in about an hour!”
She walked slowly, her eyes on the floor and a crease in her brow.
Minutes later, running footsteps approached, accompanied by a shout of her name. She turned, and saw another Gryffindor coming toward her.
“Lily!” The girl cried.
Lily recognized her as another sixth year and a reserve chaser, though she was unsure of the name.
“Yes?”
“Glad I found you. I have something to tell you.” The girl caught her breath as Lily stood frozen.
“Yes?” she repeated.
“Merlin, you got far in only a few minutes!” She had straightened, but was still breathing somewhat heavily. “Though, I did get rather sidetracked at the Portrait Hole.” The happy and sappy look on her face caught Lily’s curiosity.
“Sidetracked?”
The girl giggled. Lily tensed, but realized the giggle was quite different from that Laila girl’s. It was warmer and more genuine.
“Isaac Hoffmann asked me to the next Hogsmeade weekend.” She giggled again, twizzling her toe against the stone floor.
Lily smiled. “Well, congratulations.”
“I’m just so happy! He’s so cute! I know most people don’t think he’s really cute, because his nose is a bit long, and he’s rather skinny, and with brown hair and brown eyes he’s rather plain and common, but I think he’s just adorable! Even when he just said, ‘Hi, Lauryn,’ I”Oh, I’m Lauryn, by the way. Lauryn Ross. Anyway, I was just excited to hear that.”
She was rambling on, and Lily found that the girlish chatter was rather endearing and strangely calming.
“And he’s smart, too, you know. He first asked me to help him with charms, but I figured that was just his being shy, which is wonderfully adorable! So, he finally asked me, and I had the most delightful case of the butterflies in my stomach! There’s a St. Valentine’s Day party that night, since Valentine’s Day is the following Wednesday. Actually, he just asked me if I was going to Hogsmeade, so when I said yes, he asked if I was going with anyone. So I nodded, and oh, Lily, if only you had seen the look on his face! His face fell, as if he was sad that someone got to me first! Then he asked, ‘who?’, and I said ‘you’ and he smiled again! I nearly lost my balance! Then I teased him about stumbling over his words and not just right-out asking me. And then-”
Lily held up a hand. “Lauryn? It’s not that I don’t care, because I’m as much of a romantic as anyone else, but I really should get-”
“OH!” Lauryn’s eyes widened. “I totally let myself get carried away didn’t I? Dear Merlin, I’m sorry! I was so excited!” She was speaking from behind her hands, and Lily still thought she looked adorable. She nodded, accepting the apology. “I’m such a scatterbrain! Anyway, I came after you because… because…” She looked down at the floor as if trying to remember. Then she straightened, and held up a hand. “Because I have something to tell you about Laila Albright.”
Lily’s face fell and she took a deep breath. “I don’t really want to hear about her…”
“No, you want to hear about this! I think she’s got a power over men.”
“A power?” asked Lily with raised eyebrows.
“Yeah, I’ve seen the way she acts around boys, or more specific the way they act around her. They never seem to be able to resist her… oh, her allure.” Lauryn drew out the word sarcastically. “It’s almost like she’s part siren, or veela, even. Maybe not anything as much as half- or even quarter-blood, but there must be something in her heritage.”
Lily’s brow furrowed, and she realized that there could be truth to what the younger girl was saying.
She continued. “I’ve even heard her talk to her friends, the brainless tagalongs, about how she can get any guy she goes after. About how her mother and grandmother taught her things. And she’s just so arrogant about it, but for some reason I believe her. She’s the kind of girl that would share anything about her that would get others to revere her.”
Lily could easily believe that Albright was arrogant. Then she realized she was probably biased against Albright’s disposition.
“Listen, if she is using these talents of hers on your boyfriend then he doesn’t realize what’s he’s doing. He’s being lured in without knowing it.” Lauryn’s face was kind. “He’s hurting you without realizing it. She’s probably found a way to make sure he doesn’t realize anything suspicious, since she can’t be around him all the time.”
Lily nodded slowly. “He’s had some fake memories. Memories of spending time with me, or kissing me…”
Lauryn nodded more enthusiastically. “That makes sense. It follows with the research I’ve done. Though, really, sirens or even mermaids are known for seducing their prey and carrying them to their deaths quickly, which would make planting memories unnecessary.”
Lily pulled a face, which Lauryn mirrored almost exactly.
“If James can stay out of her way, then he’ll be fine. He’ll realize what she’s done, and what he’s done. But the sooner, the better.”
Lily was still, thinking of the past week or so. Then, she nodded. “He’s in the library with… that girl.”
“Then he’s alone with her.”
Lily’s eyes widened, and she realized what could be happening.
“We have to find them,” she said.
“And you have to get your boyfriend back.”
The girls set off in the direction of the library. Before they rounded the corner, they heard voices.
.
A Few Detentions and A Story by LaneTechFreshie
Chapter Notes: After watching the triangle between Laila and James and Lily, another sixth year decides to talk to Lily.
Quiditchfan, an early and steadfast reader, is Lauryn Ross. Thanks so much for all your input over the years! Thanks for Lantern for the idea.
Chapter Endnotes: Original AN that I just loved: So… Like it? Tell me. Don’t like it? Tell me. Love it? Tell me. Hate it? Tell me. Ideas for help? Tell me. Want me to shut up… I will