Amnesty & Adjustment - Prefect's Lounge(Oct. 6){James}

[James Potter]

If asked, James Potter would admit that it was rather nice to be the one chased by this girl, for a change. Especially as she breathlessly shouted his name - that was something he wouldn't be letting himself forget - as they approached Vindictus, and the bookshelf underneath him, at full speed. So it was with more showmanship than necessary, really, that he drew his wand and flung the bookcase aside, seeing as he had her full attention at the moment. Not something to waste. "Scared, Evans?" he teased over a shoulder, grinning as he burst onto the secret stairs. If he was hearing right, Lily slowed to a momentary stop before joining him. Did she really think he'd lead her anywhere unsafe? Hurtful. But it was only a few moments before he could hear her again, determination in every pounding step...

Once they were on the even stone again, just meters away from The Fat Lady, James vacillated. How much of a "toe-rag" move would it be to keep going at full tilt? Could it even be an arrogant move, beating her at this when it was her challenge in the first place? While their friendship was stronger than it had ever been - seeing as he could actually call her a friend these days - James didn't want her opinion lessening of him because of any minute slip-up he made. You can't always be watching over your shoulder, thinking she's judging you... The decision was made for him, though, as James became unbalanced, the Head Girl having launched herself at him with enough force to take them both down.

He laughed as the redhead climbed off of him, but was on his feet and returning the favor within seconds. James looped his arms around her waist, spinning her away from the portrait hole, and while he hadn't meant to take her feet out from under her...bit easier for me to throw you about than the other way around. One hand on the portrait's frame, one extended to the girl, James couldn't keep a rather smug grin off of his face, especially as her glare faded almost instantly. 

James grinned even more broadly at Lily's words reached out to brush dust off of the arm of her sweater, knowing his had to look a disheveled mess as well. "What d'you think I've been doing here this whole time?" he said with a laugh. "Can't drop me in a magical castle and expect me to stay on the obvious path! I'll show you some more, if you want." While James knew that they really should head inside to grab what they needed for Astronomy, and while he knew he was stalling...he didn't want this to stop, which he felt it would as soon as others were around. His heart was coming back down to normal, but the rush of adrenaline from this mad sprint with her was still more than pleasantly coursing through him. It could always be like this, Lily...

[Lily Potter]

She would be lying if she said she didn't like this. Racing each other through Hogwarts in the dead of night, her trying to push herself to run fast and faster still and James teasing her over his shoulder. She let out a laugh and came back with a quick "You wish." before she was chasing after him again through the secret tunnel that spilled out onto the seventh floor.   

~*~ 

What did she think he spent his time doing here at Hogwarts? Getting up to no good. she answered in her head but said nothing out loud, simply slanted her eyes as he helped her from the ground and she came to stand next to him at the portrait. She gave him a curious look. "So, you know a great deal about the castle I take it?" She really shouldn't have been surprised. James was a right pain in the arse sometimes, but he was very intelligent and clearly brave. She took him for a thrill seeker and exploring the castle -which was both a dangerous and exciting notion in her mind- seemed right up his alley. Hogwarts was ancient and she was sure it held many secrets in its walls, secrets worth finding out while you could.  Yes, she could totally see James and his mates mapping the place out in their spare time, finding all the best-hidden things, secret passages, disappearing rooms. 

"Maybe you can show me a way to make it from Earth Magic to History of Magic without having to walk the same path as The Madusa's. That would be a lifesaver. Secrecy Sensor." The last bit at the end was for the Fat Lady, who swung open to admit them, but the first part was delivered to James with a smirk. She precedded him into the tower, thinking on how amazing it would be to have to see the Slytherin girls less often. The common room greeted the Head students quietly, with a dying fire and few students still up and about, really only those also preparing for their Astronomy lesson. The stillness of it felt clarifying after so much activity. They had just been running and playing like children, but now, thinking of the way she had used her body to gain an advantage over her counterpart made her blush and she felt exposed in the calmness. You really need to get a grip on yourself. You really need to talk to Tommy. With that in mind to do later, she headed for her dorm with resolution. "I'll just go and grab my telescope then." Lily made it up only two steps before she turned back to the Head Boy. "See you in class..?"

[James Potter]

"You could say that," he replied, trying to not sound too cocky, but honestly. He and his mates had stomped on every stone in this castle, found their way into all of the hidey holes, and revealed more secrets than James could count. With how much he, at that moment, wanted to tell her about the Marauder's Map, James knew he was in trouble. Merlin, they weren't even together yet and he was nearly spilling secrets! But he refrained, with some difficulty, and was glad for it; for one, the blokes would murder him collectively for telling her such things, and for two, Lily was actually agreeing to his help. Without knowing that he had a bloomin' map as reference! Her question got him thinking, though. I've definitely been paying more attention to you than you have to me. She seriously hadn't noticed him and the Marauders ducking into this hallway or that and disappearing?...

"I'll have a plan for you by morning," James promised as he followed her inside, chuckling at the Head Girl's use of the nickname for those awful snake ladies. Me and Remus are getting them soon, don't worry, he wanted to tell her, but the fear that she'd lose her current ease about him by her inner rule-abider coming out kept him quiet. He gave a few waves to those still scattered about the quiet Common Room, headed towards the stairs on automatic. Just need the 'scope, and star maps... He nodded to her similar plan of action, and was caught watching as she turned back to him from the stairs to the girls' dormitories. Was it the low light of the room, or was she...blushing?

Deciding to accept the second as truth, James smiled up at her. "Meet you back here in three? Will show you another way up, one that avoids the Bloody Baron," he promised. The ghost was all too fond of bemoaning his life - or death? he wasn't entirely sure - when students passed by on their way to class. And...it wasn't strange for him and Lily to go to class together. They were both here, and needed to be there. You're pushing it...

[Lily Potter]

Lily gave a laugh, turning back to James. "If you know the castle as well as you say you do, if you find a way around those snakes, well, I just can't promise that I won't tell everyone. Seems like knowledge a lot of people would approve of." She laughed at her own joke, wondering what that would be like, to not have to defend herself at every turn from girls that might as well have been monsters. Her face fell a little, even after she left this castle, she would likely never know what that felt like. There was an all-out war against her kind raging on the outside of these walls, she could never let her guard down. 

The fact was sobering and it brought her around to a more solid way of thinking. She glanced at James but thought of Tommy before heading up the stairs, bidding James a slightly uncertain goodbye. Her counterparts voice halted her though, less than halfway up. Biting her lip, and fighting a deeper blush, Lily turned back to him. For some reason, she felt guilty and part of her knew to hang around any longer was probably not a good idea. "Actually, I'll just meet you there. I've got some, um, stuff I have to get together before I go." Merlin Evans you sound the lamest. Lily gave an awkward chuckle, a strange little smile not even she understood and spun around, sprinting back up the stairs. She stopped though, again, leaning back against the wall halfway up and letting her voice carry down. "Oh and Potter, who says I need to avoid the Baron? He's a good friend."