Disclaimer: Most of the characters, their personalities, and the idea of the plot belong to the wonderful J.K. Rowling! We hope you enjoy Fearless, and please give us feedback! (The italics are flashbacks from Lily's years at Hogwarts:) ) -Sam and Kelly.

Fearless
Chapter One

Who would ever have thought that I would be leaving this school with James Potter’s arm wrapped around me? Not only that, but the fact that I could meet his tender gaze, and smile. As we looked back and stole one last glance at the castle that had been our home for the past seven years, I could not stop the tears from welling up in my eyes. I knew every story had its ending, but that every ending was just a new beginning. I just wasn’t sure if I was ready for this new chapter in my life—facing the “real world”. The only problem was that the real world really wasn’t there anymore; it was contaminated with frequent death and Dark magic.

I must have shown my worries on my face, because James suddenly pulled me a little closer to his body. The butterflies started up in the pit of my stomach; I don’t think I will ever get over the sensation of having him so close to me. James leaned down, his lips inches from my ear, and whispered, “What are you thinking?”

“Just scared of what’s to come,” I muttered back, as the cool summer breeze started up again, causing my long, red hair to flow with it. James stopped and gave me a long, meaningful look.

“You have nothing to worry about, love. As long as we’re together everything will be fine,” he reassured me, as he bent down and pressed his lips to my forehead. I looked up and gave a weak smile, then pulled on his hand and continued walking toward the boats that would start us off on our journey…

It was a dark, stormy night, and to be honest, I was in no mood to fulfill my duty of Head Girl by patrolling the corridors. To make matters worse, I would have to do this task with James Potter, the boy I despised most in this world. But, as always, I trudged down into the common to find James sitting on the arm of a chair, wearing a huge, obnoxious grin. Of course he was pleased to be awake at this hour—the whole school knew he was after me, but he still has yet to get the hint that I will never feel that way about him. “Ready Lils?” he asked, standing up.

“Whatever, Potter. I’m in no mood to deal with you tonight, so let’s do this separately,” I said, and before I could hear his reply, I turned on my heel, and walked out of the portrait hole. Unfortunately, I didn’t entirely get too far before I heard footsteps approaching me. I picked up my pace, hoping to get farther away and ducked down another corridor, hoping Potter would realize I was serious when I said I didn’t want to be bothered. The footsteps, however, just grew louder. “POTTER, I told you to leave me alone,” I shouted into the dark, and wheeled around to be face to face with a Ravenclaw, Jeremy Park. He wasn’t the most clean cut guy, and had a poor reputation. His buff structure was a result of being the star on his house Quidditch team. This had earned him a lot of girlfriends over years he had been attending Hogwarts.

“Hey pretty girl,” he said, and I could smell the faintest smell of firewhiskey on his breath. I backed up, but realized I was cornered. I reached for my wand as he put his arms on the wall behind me, pinning me to it.

“Jeremy, you’re not thinking clearly, just back off. You don’t know what you’re doing,” I said, panic rising in my voice.

“Of course I do, Lily. You are the prettiest girl in the school, and every guy would agree with me,” he replied, his words all slurred together. He leaned in closer to me, and I felt his lips on my neck. I tired to push him away, but his hold on me was too strong. He moved up my neck, and lingered at my jaw bone.

“Jeremy, stop it,” I screamed, “I can assure you that you will have detention for a very long time if you don’t!” My yells were pointless to him, and he violently kissed my soft lips. I pushed against him with all my might, but my attempts were futile. I could feel hot tears rolling down my face. The next thing I knew, there was a flash of red light, and he was on the floor feet away from me.

I looked over to see who my hero was, and standing there was James Potter. I groaned internally at the thought of having to thank him, and sunk to the floor. Before I knew it, James was thrusting Jeremy upright, and he threw a hard punch into the side of Jeremy’s face. James threw him against a wall, and continued to hit him with all his might. James was wearing a blood-thirsty look I had never seen him wear before, and my stomach churned as I saw drops of blood fall from Jeremy’s face. “James, stop it!” I pleaded. No matter how much hate I had for Jeremy at the moment, I did not want James to be responsible for murder! “Please,” I whispered.

James looked up at me and his expression softened. “Lily, I—I’m so…sorry, are you okay?” Before I knew it he was trying to help me to my feet, but I only pushed him away. I may have been shaken, but I hadn’t lost my mind. “Lily…did he hurt you?”

“I—I’ll be okay, but what do we do with Jeremy? He’s hurt, James…” My voice trailed off as he smirked his infamous smirk. “What is it? This isn’t funny you know.”

“No, of course it isn’t. It’s just that…you’ve never called me James before.”

“Oh…” I said bluntly, but I could feel the color rushing to my cheeks. I turned away from him, hoping he wouldn’t see and get too satisfied. “I suppose we can bring him to the Hospital Wing?”

“Yeah, I suppose,” James said reluctantly. He pulled out his wand and levitated Jeremy’s unconscious body, and began to walk. We reached the Hospital Wing in no time it seemed, and Madam Promfrey was quick to ask what happened to him.

“Well, you see, we were patrolling the corridors and we came upon him,” I paused, and glanced sideways at James, “It seems to me that he helped himself to some drinks earlier tonight, so who knows where he’s been.” Madam Promfrey didn’t ask any more questions and we were free to go.

Once we made our way back to the Gryffindor common room, James turned and looked at me. “Why did you cover for me tonight?”

“Just my way of paying you back for saving me,” I said quietly. James nodded, and began to make his way toward the boys’ dormitories, when I said in a feeble voice, “James?” He turned back slowly to face me. “Thanks.” He nodded once again, and the ends of his lips twitched as he continued into the dormitories. That was the first night I questioned my feelings toward James Potter…

“Lily?” James’s voice sounded, knocking me out of my trance. I hardly realized that we were on the boats that would lead us to the Hogwarts Express one last time.

“Mmm?”

“Are you okay? I swear you were just in your own little world,” James said, chuckling. He held out a hand, and helped me step out of the boat and towards the train.

“Oh, I was just remembering some of the memories we had here. It’s weird to be going home isn’t it?”

“Home to me is wherever you are, sweat heart. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll be sending a child to Hogwarts, and they’ll get to experience what we got to.” I nodded and smiled. "Everything will be okay. I love you," James said soothingly.

"Forever?" I challanged him.

"Always," James replied, and bent down to touch his soft lips to mine. Before he could, I was knocked out of the way. Sirius Black had wiggled his way between James and I, and put an arm around both of our shoulders.

"WOOHOO," he yelled at the top of his lungs, "We did it! We're finally free!" I laughed again, and continued walking. I didn't know what destiny would bring us, but right now in this moment, everything was just fine.


Thanks for reading Fearless; let us know how you like it here! Thanks! - Sam and Kelly.