#(she left the room briefly and another teacher took pity on me struck up a convo and gave me a calendar full of wolves <3)< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[luzarya]

Liquid Smooth

Vil Schoenheit x Yuu

Summary: Vil only has limited time with Yuu. Soon, Yuu leaves, and Vil is left with a few realizations.

warnings: slightly angsty, not too much though, slightly suggestive but not too spicy

ao3 link: here

song: here

word count: 1,363

--

I'm beautiful, I know cause it's the season

But what am I to do with all this beauty?

Biology, I am an organism, I'm chemical

That's all, that is all

Vil posed for the moment, a flash of white overtaking his vision, yet he never blinked. The sound of a picture echoes, everyone still as stone as Vil continued, another pose after another.

After all, it was only natural to capture beauty whenever, no?

“That’s great! Keep it up!”

It went on like that for hours, until he was done with the job. Vil briefly looked at the clock, and for a moment, he wondered, “how much time do I have left?”

The answer, he knew, was, “Not much.”

I'm liquid smooth, come touch me, too

And feel my skin is plump and full of life

I'm in my prime

I'm liquid smooth, come touch me, too

I'm at my highest peak, I'm ripe

About to fall, capture me

Vil walked through the halls of the campus, wanting to reach his next class. He didn’t fail to notice all the glimpses and stares, a few phones pointed in his direction. Yet, he remained completely candid.

It was fate that he bumped into Yuu, the other-worlder waving their hands over to Vil. It had been only a few weeks after they had practiced and did the VDC, the wound still healing on Yuu’s face.

For a brief moment, Vil pitied Yuu. It wasn’t known except to him and the other dorm leaders that Yuu was actually just a young woman, and he knew that it was important for a woman to have a beautiful face, free from scars and anything that is considered to be taint.

“Hello, Vil!”

“Greetings, Yuu.”

“Off to your next class?”

“Yes. I assume the same for you?”

“Oh, I’m off to do an errand for my teacher. I suppose they trust me out of everyone to do the task.”

Vil almost offered to walk with Yuu, but halted. Yuu must have noticed, as they smiled, her warmth had not gone unfelt.

“Well, I wish you the best of luck in your next class, Vil! See you later!”

With that, the Ramshackle Prefect left, leaving Vil to contemplate his thoughts.

It was then that Vil decided that his feelings ran deeper for her than he liked, or care to admit.

Or at least take my picture

Kuzurete yuku maeni

I'm pulsing, my blood is red and unafraid of living

Beginning to end

A kiss. Another. And another, until Vil was covered in red, the marks almost photogenic.

It wasn’t often that Vil partook in such carnal-like activities, yet, like most boys, he had needs. And unlike most boys who yearned for the touch of a woman, Vil received.

Yuu straddled Vil, hovering over his neck, planting more and more kisses, only pausing to reapply the lipstick.

No words had been exchanged, instead, there was a mutual agreement, to never let their desires overtake lest they deal with the consequences.

Though, Vil would be lying if he said he hadn’t thought about a domestic life with Yuu.

But for now, he’ll just enjoy the limited amount of time he has with Yuu.

I'm liquid smooth, come touch me, too

And feel my skin is plump and full of life

I'm in my prime

I'm liquid smooth, come touch me, too

I'm at my highest peak, I'm ripe

About to fall

It was the last day, and everyone knew. Picture upon picture was taken, before it was time. Vil had enough pictures of Yuu to remember her clearly, but still, his heart ached at the fact that they would be leaving.

It was an entire affair, a party to say farewell.

Yuu exchanged many words, but when it came to Vil, Yuu only smiled, and handed him a small book. It was an album of sorts, to remember the times. A physical reminder that Yuu existed.

“Thank you,” Vil uttered out, keeping his composure neutral. It needed to be neutral.

“You’re welcome, Vil,” Yuu replied, but it was quiet; faint. Vil wouldn’t have heard if not for the fact that she was near and close, along with the stray tear that fell.

Vil wished he would have given a proper gift instead of a necklace with a pendant with the both of them. Yuu clearly liked it when he had given it to her, but in comparison to the album he received, it was basically nothing.

At the last moments, right before Yuu went through the mirror, Yuu shot him a tearful look. Her mouth moved, and Vil managed to make out her words.

I love you.

How I feel this river rushing through my veins

With nowhere else to go, it circles 'round

As a successful model and actor, Vil rarely had the opportunity to sneak a peek of the album. He only ever glanced through it a few times over the past few years since Yuu had left.

So he took the chance to open it, going through its pages slowly, until he reached the near the end, a note inside a slot instead of a picture.

His eyes widen at its contents, his eyes starting to tear up, his throat constricting. He wished he had asked Yuu to stay- but what then? Would the nature of her life have changed? Then, it was when he realized that yes, the nature of her life would have been different.

Yuu was a young woman, they already had an established life from their original world. It was selfish to think that Vil could have provided for them somehow, even with his life busy as a model and actor. But, at least then, he would’ve been there for them.

I'm liquid smooth, come touch me, too

And feel my skin is plump and full of life

I'm in my prime

I'm liquid smooth, come touch me, too

I'm at my highest peak, I'm ripe

About to fall, capture me

Vil went through another photo shoot, the photographer giving a thumbs up when it was done. Soon, he left the position, opting to sit down at one of the numerous seats that was laid all throughout the premise.

An intern came up to him, the young woman’s eyes averting to meet Vil’s.

“Do you need anything, potato?” Vil asked plainly, his eyes glaring at the intern. He wished to be alone.

“Ah, apologies,” the woman looked down, “I just had a question, sir.”

“What is it?”

“Sir, are you married?”

The question caught Vil off-guard, though it wasn’t surprising- the media often asked him about his relationship status, and his hesitancy to enter one with anyone.

“No, what gives you that impression?” He replied, already wishing that the intern would leave.

“Oh, it’s just that I’ve been a longtime fan-”

“So you’re shooting your shot?”

“No!” They stammered, looking up at Vil, “You’re the same age my father would be sir, so no. It’s just-”

“Just what?” His voice grew agitated by now, growing in volume. No doubt, everyone else in the room had noticed.

“It’s just that whenever someone asks if you have someone special in your heart, you look sad,” the intern managed to get out, her curls reminding Vil of someone, “I know that look anywhere. I just wanted to ask, since my mother has the same look.”

Vil calmed down, exhaling loudly, “You’re not wrong. I once had someone in my heart, still do.”

“I see. That’s all I wanted to know sir,” they gave a small curtsy, “Thank you for sharing. I can only imagine how difficult it is to think of them, so I’m sorry for bringing up painful memories.”

Vil shook his head, “It’s fine. If that’s all, I wish to be alone.”

“Of course, sir.”

The intern left, though not before Vil caught a glimpse of her necklace, the pendant oddly familiar. As the intern walked away, a thought struck Vil, although he dismissed it as quickly as it came.

After all, Yuu returned to their original world.

And even if they returned to Twisted Wonderland…

By now, surely, it would have been too late…

Right?

[koorinohebi]

🆗

Drabbles || Accepting  “You pretended that you’re drunk? Why would you even do that?”

Kiomi stared at this annoying excuse for a human being, brows lofted and twitching. 

“Testing out a theory is all.” And it seemed that it was correct. She really did end up helping him, and even bringing him into her own abode. How careless she was, for sure.

“Glad, NOT so glad to be part of your little pet project. If you’ve nothing more, you can leave.” Her brows were furrowed, an obvious annoyance in her tone.

“Tell me,” Instead of standing to leave, he remained seated opposite from her. Kashin Koji removed the mask which barred a portion of his face that she was surely uncomfortable seeing. And he was right. She averted her eyes briefly, before putting up a veil of feigned indifference once their optics finally met.

There was a relative distress in her features, he could tell. But he continued to stare at her…curiously, seriously. “Do I resemble him? Your Jiraiya.”

Looking at him was like staring into a nightmare, a stark reminder of what she could never hope to have. However, she understood his question. They were past simple notions of physicality. It wasn’t just about his face, nor was it about his origin. It was deeper than that. For Kiomi’s alleged simple-mindedness, this concept was not something so hard to grasp. Not when this was the very base of the learnings she had inherited from the mentor she respected the most. Despite Jiraiya and Kashin Koji’s shared similarities, they were two different people. After all, denying a man his own identity was probably the cruelest judgment any living being could impose on another.

“You don’t.” The answer came simply; however, he did not miss the semblance of melancholy that lingered upon her visage. To him, it felt indicative of disappointment…such fragile and complicated feelings.

“I see.” Kashin Koji had closed his eyes then, satisfied with the answer. In a sense, he felt his lips curve into a smirk. Two words of reassurance. To think that something other than ‘Mission accomplished’ could have significant impact. And as for Kiomi who had only seen the man scowl at her existence, seeing this look on his face for the first time caused her chest to ache. Perhaps in her words, there had been a lie; if only because such an expression looked frighteningly similar to her teacher’s.

“The two of you must have loved each other very dearly.” At this point, he had refocused his gaze upon the female, only to raise a brow shortly after. He had never seen anyone choke on air before. Her flustered features shouldn’t have been anything extraordinary, but it felt amusing. “Was I mistaken?”

“Yes, you’re wrong! You’re very wrong!” She retorted, her flushed face, easily beating the most crimson of fruits. “Everything, this…my…they’re all just…” She tried to calm down as she explained. “…they’re all just…what I’m trying to say is…whatever they are, they’re all just one-sided emotions…” She looked downtrodden. He recalled Naruto saying that their mentor died while she was away figuring out herself, and had carried a burden none of them could share. Jiraiya had meant everything to them, each within varying degrees unknown just how much to one another.

Now learning that all of this was one sided, he looked at her with lethargy. “Are you actually an idiot after all?”

“Oi, you actually dare to call me an idiot in my own house. Besides, it’s not like I stood a chance against the person sought after.” It wasn’t a secret to her after all, that he had his eyes on Lady Tsunade. What chance did she have against someone who had shared in his losses, successes, strife, and victories? They had years of history together. Things that an outside like her could not touch. It was enough just being a student. That was perfectly fine. 

“Was what you felt actually so flimsy that it lost to someone else’s? Did you confirm it with your own mouth?”

The questions that bombarded her, matched with such an unexpected interrogator threw her off. So much that when she had come to her senses, she found herself face to face with Kashin Koji. If she was distraught earlier, then the ante had been upped. Trapped in between his arms and the wall, being stared at, it felt horrible and suffocating for many reasons that she couldn’t understand. “Should I teach you just how lofty your feelings are?” He lingered so close, too close for comfort. But that was where she drew the line. Steeling herself, she pulled her head back just enough to give her some room to drive her forehead down against his. THWACK!

Both of them found themselves clutching their heads, one clicked his tongue and the other was cussing up a storm in her mind.

“Don’t you dare mock me—“

She was on the verge of throwing him out, but there he was, laughing, collapsed on the floor as he held onto his forehead. She stifled her annoyance because she remembered how; pranks of the same nature had been done to her, by none other than her favorite mentor. And he would laugh just the same. At least sensei’s were a little more innocent and subtle. “Don’t laugh at me either!” She demanded with childish vigor, kicking him in the shin repeatedly. He fended them off well enough, which added to her irritation. 

“That’s enough out of you.” Finally, he spoke.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do in my own hou—hou—“ That was to say, if she wasn’t going to stop her assault, then he would have to play along. Grabbing her ankle when she struck, he pulled her over; just enough to make her balance crumble, bringing her down effectively.

“What the actual hell is wrong with you?”

“Even now, you’re struggling to protect what’s important to you. You may be a bit weaker than others, but it doesn’t seem like you’re lacking in persistence and perseverance. What are you so afraid of?”

Again with questions and commentaries that she did not ask for.

Her silence was enough of a response. Regrets, apprehensions, guilt, it was painted on her face. Shaking his head, Kashin Koji came to a stand and dusted himself, thereafter extending a hand for her to take.

“At the very least, come up to the starting line and show that mentor of yours your resolve.”

She begrudgingly looked at the hand that was offered to her. She felt ashamed and annoyed at herself because she knew that his point was valid. He wasn’t wrong, and in fact, he made more sense than she had wanted to admit. With an inward sigh, she took that hand and he helped her to her feet.

“…” Their grasp on each other persisted for a while. There was no warmth there; no comfort of a familiar friend, but there was a firmness that was enough to uproot whatever doubt it was that crept within the confines of her mind. She wouldn’t exactly call the other’s presence reassuring, but in a sense it was something remotely close to it.

“Tsk, just who do you think you are? Acting all high and mighty?” Compared to before, the scowl had turned a bit friendly, but a scowl none the less.

“In case you haven’t heard or have been mistaking me for someone else, it’s Kashin Koji.” He replied with a tinge of whimsy in his voice. Matched with that was a tighter grip on the female’s hand which she reciprocated in kind. “Kiomi.” She rebutted against his satirical introduction.

When they at last released each other, there was probably a reddening mark there, but it also seemed like they’ve come to a certain understanding. “With a grip like that, what do you even hope to accomplish?”

Everything that comes out of his mouth is a fucking insult… Kiomi mused, unabashed by such a sentiment. Still, she watched him retrieve his mask only to wear it over his face once more. “I’ve a scouting mission at the Hokage’s behest. Two days time.” He stated out of the blue, walking towards her direction, incidentally near the exit. “Join me.”

“And why exactly, should I do that?” Folding her arms over her chest, she asked.

“Learn something useful rather than wallow in your self-pity.” Just before he could pass her completely, the intruder halted to cup her chin casually. “You’re not outclassed by anyone, not even by the Godaime. Put yourself to good use. You are a Shinobi, after all.”

“What does Lady Tsunade even have to do with this?”

“Who else would you feel so inferior to? It doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together. Besides,”

Finally, he’d relinquish his hold to observe her frame carefully. She was a slender woman, possibly bordering voluptuous underneath all that fabric. From the wrinkles and silhouette of her attire, he could tell that she was filled out in all the right places. Fair skin, a set of apprehensive platinum orbs…among other things. “You have the curves. Maybe not the appeal and self confidence, but you have the curves. You’ll be fine.”

Perhaps it was in that retort that Kiomi ran after Kashin Koji as he left her place, albeit with a senbon or two hurled at the man. “I was wrong; you’re probably as much of a letch as Jiraiya-sensei!”

The projectiles were caught between the fingers and twirled around like some kind of toy. With ease, no troubles; he decided to keep them as a souvenir. “How presumptuous, I wouldn’t waste my time on countless women.” He waved her off, walking away and finally disappearing from her sight.

What the hell is up with that guy anyway…? It was the last of her thoughts as she returned inside.

They started on the wrong foot, and it probably wasn’t going to get better any time soon.

However, they were finally at the starting line of their own journeys; making the best of who and what they were meant to be.

[theazkabandreamer]

Of Christmas Dinners and New Friends

Another one of my old works that I haven’t posted to Tumblr.

____

The Fireplace in the empty Gryffindor Common Room crackled merrily as snow fell outside. But Lily Evans wasn't in a festive mood. For the first time since she started Hogwarts, despite the increased workload that Sixth years have to endure, despite the fact that it felt like she was studying for exams every day, she dreaded going home.

Her Sister, Petunia had gotten herself a boyfriend and she was bound to be insufferably smug at Christmas Dinner. Lily knew that she would have to endure taunts from her, claiming that no normal man would ever want to be with a freak like her. Lily hoped that she might be able to make things up with Petunia, but so far, she had ignored every letter that she had sent her.

What with her bad relationship with her Sister and the situation in the Wizarding World where a Pure-Blooded maniac calling himself Lord Voldemort was steadily gaining power, Lily thought that she was going to be in for a truly miserable Christmas.

She was still shaken by the news about a Muggle massacre about seven miles from Cokeworth. She had promptly Owled her parents to see if they were alright and got a reply to say that they were fine. She was relived but still shocked that the Death Eaters struck so close to home.

'What if they had been killed?' She thought miserably. The fighting was getting far more intense lately and she had eighteen months left at Hogwarts. She briefly considered teaching and asked Professor Slughorn if she could stay on and help him teach Potions, but he turned her down.

"Now, Lily" He had laughed, wagging a sugar coated finger. "You're still young. There are far more exciting things in life then teaching Potions in a stuffy Dungeon. Why don't you get out there and enjoy life's wonders before putting your neck on the block, so to speak. Dumbledore's not too keen on students becoming teachers right after they leave school. I've got some excellent contacts in the Potions industry. I could arrange you a meeting with them. With brains like yours, you could go far! Why you even give Severus a run for his money!"

Severus. She had not spoken to him since he called her a Mudblood by the Lake, last June. He had been drifting away from her and getting more and more involved in the Dark Arts with his Slytherin friends.

Despite him begging her for her forgiveness, she had turned him down. 'He made his choice and I made mine. If he wants to run around with his Death Eater pals, then I'm not going to stop him." She thought firmly. But her heart still ached for her first friend. Her friend that introduced her to the Wizarding World. 'Don't start feeling guilty!' She reminded herself. 'His friends are evil and he would sooner wash his hair then change his ways.'

All in all, it was a truly rotten Christmas.

Lily put down her Charms book after spending hours looking at it and not taking in the words. She shouldn't be doing any studying, anyway. Not when it was only a couple of days before the Christmas Holidays.

Lily heard the Portrait open and someone stumbling through it, muttering under their breath. She looked around to see a soaking, dripping wet James Potter on the threshold, glasses askew. He shook himself and made his way towards the fireplace.

Lily tensed. James Potter was the last person that she wanted to see tonight. Potter was the reason why she wasn't talking to Severus. If it wasn't for Potter and his idiot pals, Severus wouldn't have called her a Mudblood. 'Although I shouldn't be too hard on Potter.' She thought. 'Severus was already getting bad before Potter humiliated him at the Lake.'

Lily had refused to even look at Potter after that. She happily ignored him all year and he seemed to have taken the hint. He even stopped asking her out on dates. Although, she missed screaming at him.

Potter stopped by the fireplace and proceeded to warm himself. He didn't even notice Lily sitting there, lost in her thoughts. But Lily was soon jerked out of them as he blocked the fire, trying to dry himself. She noticed that he was wearing his Quidditch robes.

"Do you have to do that?!" She snapped.

Potter jumped, accidentally causing some ash to fall on the rug.

"I didn't see you there." He said guiltily.

"No wonder you wear glasses." She remarked waspishly.

Potter gave her a sheepish grin, far different from his usual cocky one.

"It's rather wet, that stuff," He remarked airily. "The snow."

"You don't say?" Lily spat sarcastically. Potter looked even more sheepish, to her delight. 'Serves him right for thinking he could just barge in!' She thought savagely.

Potter gave her another sheepish smile and just stood there, dripping wet and looking rather pathetic. Lily felt something in her stomach that she finally understood to be pity. She was feeling sorry for Potter. She withdrew her wand and Potter looked at it with apprehension.

"Here," She said shortly and gave it a little flick. A jet of hot air shot out of it, instantly drying Potter so that he wasn't dripping wet. Potter sighed in relief.

"Lily! You're a lifesaver!" He said weakly.

"I didn't do it for you!" She snapped defensively, dimly noting that he addressed her by her first name. "I did it because I don't want to be soaking wet, thank you very much."

"All the same, thank you!" Potter said gratefully.

Lily was taken aback. Since when did James Potter ever thank anybody?

"You're welcome?" Lily said uncertainly. Thinking Potter would change his mind and say that it was a joke.

Lily looked out of the window and watched the falling snow. Potter just stood there, looking sheepish and uncertain and so unlike his usual self. She was about to tell Potter to go away before his spoke.

"Is it alright with you if I sit down?" He asked politely. "I'm still quite cold."

"If you must." Lily said coldly.

Potter smiled at her again before sitting down on the other end of the Sofa. Lily didn't mind him being here. Truth be told, she was feeling quite lonely, lately. She didn't mind having a bit of company. Even if it was Potter.

Lily didn't have much energy to read her Charms book, so she just stared into the flickering flames. Mind spinning and dreading going home.

Potter just sat there, warming his hands and occasionally glancing her. Lily was enjoying the silence, when he spoke.

"It's beautiful, isn't it? The Snow?"

Lily nodded. She didn't feel like speaking at the moment. She had no energy for it.

"I was just going for a Broom ride. Clear my head, you know." Potter was saying.

Something finally seemed to work in Lily's brain.

"So that's why you were late." She said. "Black, Lupin and Pettigrew went up to bed an hour ago and the rest of the Quidditch team came back an hour ago, as well."

"I had a lot on my mind." Potter said seriously. Lily frowned at him.

"Who are you, and what have you done with James Potter?" She asked suspiciously.

Potter laughed and jerked his right arm as if he were going to run a hand through his hair but thought better of it.

"It's hard to believe," He said slowly. "That we're already Sixth Years. I mean we've got eighteen months before we graduate and that's it. We have to go out there and face it."

"I know." Lily admitted in a small voice. "It's quite daunting."

Lily wondered whether or not she should tell Potter about her fears. She had been bottling them up for a while now. Potter seemed to be quite serious, right now. Not his usual arrogant self.

"I asked Slughorn whether or not I could teach Potions with him after I leave Hogwarts," She confessed. Feeling relieved that she was getting it off her chest. "He told me to get out there and enjoy life."

"So he should." Potter said. "You're a brilliant Witch, Lily. But you have a lot more to offer then just teaching Potions. With brains like yours, you could go far. I think you could even invent a cure for lycanthropy. You've got the potential for it."

Lily gave him a small smile, touched by his words. This wasn't the same arrogant Potter that used to hex everybody he could. Was it possible that he had changed since she last spoke to him? At any rate, she felt that she could at least confide in him.

"I've been a bit worried lately." She told him "You know about that Death Eater attack at Ironminster? Well that's just Seven miles from where I live. My Mum likes to go the Market, there."

Potter's face whitened. "That's too close." He muttered. "Is your Mum alright?" He asked after a moments pause.

"Oh, yes. They're fine. My Mum and Dad. They thought that it was a gas explosion or something. I had written to them after I heard the news and I got a reply back, saying that they were fine."

Potter exhaled in relief. "That's good. I wouldn't want anything to happen to you or your parents."

Lily smiled at him again, astounded that he was being mature. But she stared at the fire again, feeling glum. Potter seemed to notice.

"Are you okay, Lily?" He asked softly. "You seem rather down."

Lily thought for a moment. Should she tell Potter about her private life? He had been quite mature tonight. A side of him that she hadn't seen before and a side that she quite liked. She decided that it wasn't something that she should bottle up. So she took a breath.

"Not really." She said in a flat tone. "Something's been bothering me, actually." She told him all about Petunia. How Petunia wasn't answering her letters. Petunia's loathing of Magic, Petunia's Boyfriend.

"And now she seems to be dating what looks likes this bad tempered Aberdeen Angus. I haven't' even met the man but I just know that at Christmas Dinner, she's going to rub it in!" It felt good, getting it off her chest. Talking to someone about it. Potter was a good listener.

"That's terrible." He said sympathetically.

"It's ever since I received my Hogwarts letter and she didn't." Lily burst out. "She even wrote to Professor Dumbledore, begging him to let her go. But that didn't work and she's been jealous of me ever since."

"That's no reason to call you a freak." Potter said reasonably.

"I know." Lily sighed. "I've been trying and trying to make things up with her, but she seems determined to pretend that I don't exist. I don't know why I bother, sometimes."

"Keep trying." Potter insisted. "You'll regret it if you don't. She's family, isn't she? My parents taught me that family should stick together."

"That's all very well." Lily said. "But when she claims that I'm abnormal, just because I'm a Witch… It just makes me so miserable sometimes."

"Don't give up." Potter said. "Look, I don't have a sibling. Sirius, Remus and Peter are the closest things to brothers that I'll ever have. But the point is, that if you make an effort, then somewhere down the line, Petunia would probably take notice and respond and even if she sends you a horrible present, wouldn't that be a start? "

Lily gave him another small smile.

"Yeah. Maybe." She said quietly. "Things would've been better though if it wasn't for Severus." She spat out his name as if it were poison and Potter tensed.

There was a moments awkward silence as the tension became thick. Potter seemed to be trying to speak. He seemed to finally manage it.

"L-Lily. I just want to say that I'm really sorry. You know. At that day by the Lake. He was your friend, wasn't he? Snape?"

"He was the one who told me what I was." Lily muttered, staring into the dancing flames. "Petunia never liked him."

"You were right." Potter was saying. "I was a bigheaded, conceited, bullying git."

"You've got that right!" Lily snapped, firing up. "Hexing people in the corridors, ruffling up your hair, thinking you're superior to everyone, just because you play Quidditch! It makes me sick!"

"I know." Potter said solemnly and he actually had the decency to look ashamed as well. "But I've been trying, you know. Not to be a big headed, arrogant toerag."

Lily smiled at the label he give himself, recognising that it was the one that she used to frequently give him.

"Well, you haven't asked me out at all, this year." She said slowly.

Potter muttered something about thinking she wouldn't want that.

Lily fell silent again. The need to discuss Severus was welling up inside her. Potter had been quite mature, lately. He had even apologised for his behaviour. How would he react if she brought Severus up again?

"He was getting worse." Lily said abruptly. "Severus. Before you…Before the Lake."

"He was your friend, wasn't he?" Potter asked tentatively.

Lily gave a hollow laugh. "He used to be my best friend." Lily said bitterly. "But ever since he got in with that Slytherin lot, we've been drifting apart! But I've been making excuses for him, for years!"

"He doesn't deserve you." Potter said quietly. "You are the kindest, bravest, most wonderful person that I've ever met. You touch people's lives in ways you can't imagine. Snape doesn't deserve someone like you. If he really was your friend, he wouldn't have called you….That…word."

"Mudblood." Lily said tonelessly. Potter winced.

"Yeah. That." He said darkly.

"He calls everyone of my birth, Mudblood." Lily said. "Why should I be any different? He's a bit of a hypocrite, anyway." She added with another hollow laugh.

"His Dad's a Muggle and here he is, acting all holier then thou. It doesn't matter, anyway. He made his choice and I made mine. As far as I'm concerned, I've washed my hands of him."

"They're loonies, those Blood Purists." Potter said wisely. "So what if you're Muggle born? You're just as good as anyone else. You're really good at Magic. I love watching you in Charms. You really shine you know. When you cast spells."

"Thanks." Lily smiled, touched by his words and pleased that she was able to get the large weight of anxiety off her chest. Thinking that it would be a little rude not to compliment him back, she added.

"You're very good at Transfiguration. You make it look easy."

"It is easy." Potter grinned. Not his usual cocky grin, but a genuine grin that seemed to enhance his features and make him look warmer. "I could help you sometime, if you're struggling."

Lily smiled at him before returning to look at the fire. A thought occurred to her. Something that often came to her when Potter and his friends played pranks on people. Something that was far different then anything that Severus or his Slytherin friends.

"You don't use Dark Magic, do you?" She asked Potter. Potter's face darkened as he answered.

"I hate the Dark Arts." He muttered. "Always have."

"You're not evil, though. Like Mulciber and Avery. Some of the things you do, are actually quite funny."

"I don't see us as evil," Potter said slowly and thoughtfully. "I see us as Purveyors of Magical Mischief."

Despite herself, Lily burst out laughing at Potter's name for him and his friends. Potter watched her is awe, before joining in.

"You're laughing." Potter noted softly. A genuine smile on his face that seemed to light up his hazel eyes.

"You know, you four should open up a Joke Shop when we leave Hogwarts." She told him after she calmed down. " It could be called..um.. What are those names you call yourselves? Hang on. Oh yeah: Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs: Purveyors of Magical Mischief."

"Oh Merlin!" Potter snorted before he burst out laughing as well.

"I can't imagine Sirius working in a shop. He'd be slacking off with me. Peter would probably mess everything up and poor Remus would be doing all the work. I think we should leave the Joke Shop thing to the next generation of Mischief makers."

"You'd be really good at it." Lily insisted.

"I don't think it would be the right time for it, though." Potter said seriously. "What with the war going on. Doesn't mean we're going to stop laughing for that. Life's too short. You never know, we could be dead in ten years time."

Lily shivered, feeling a great sense of forbidding at his words.

"Don't say that." She said in a small voice. Potter looked guilty and scooted closer to her.

"Sorry." He said sheepishly. "Forget the war, though. It'll soon be Christmas. Merry Christmas, Lily."

Lily smiled at him again. "Merry Christmas, James." She said. James felt far more softer then Potter. A name that she often spat out with anger and venom. James suited the person before her. The person who helped cheer her up and offer her words on comfort.

"You called me James." James smiled. Hazel eyes twinkling in the firelight.

"I've noticed you stopped calling me Evans." Lily replied.

"Cracker?" James asked suddenly.

"I think you are quite crackers." She smiled. James laughed.

"Nah. Sirius is the one who's crackers. I'm the sane one."

"You wish!" Lily snorted.

James took out his wand and conjured a Wizarding Cracker.

"Here." He said, offering her one end. She took it and together they pulled. The Cracker let out an almighty bang, before several live, white rats came scuttling out of it and went through a crack in the wall.

"That's a shame. Peter would've liked to have had one of those. He's always had a soft spot for rats." James quipped. Lily laughed again.

"Thank you." She said to him. "I was feeling utterly miserable before you came in, but you did a surprisingly great job of cheering me up. And you seem so mature as well. It's amazing."

James shrugged. "You were right." He said. "I was big headed. I want us to be friends, Lily so I changed. For you."

Lily sat there, stunned that James Potter would have done such a thing for her.

"That's the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me." She breathed. James looked delighted.

"I do want to be your friend. It's been really great chatting with you, tonight and I'm glad that you were here so I could get these things off my chest. I can't thank you enough."

The next thing she knew, she was hugging James and James seemed to be at a loss for words. He patted her back.

"I'd do anything you for you." He said. Lily pulled out of the hug to look at him.

"Like I said, you touch people's lives in ways that you can't imagine. I hate seeing you sad and I hate the fact that I might have been the one to have made you sad."

"Being mature really suits you." Lily told him. "I'd like to see more of that."

"I can try." James told her. "Think about what I said about your Sister, though. Keep trying. Because, I've got the feeling that one day, you're going to be very thankful that you have a Sister."

Lily shivered again, despite the fire. But she no longer dreaded Christmas day. James was right. She should keep trying. Maybe one day, she would be pleased that Petunia Evans is her Sister but at this very moment, nothing. Not even the impending Christmas Dinner would puncture her happiness of having a new friend.