Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling beat me to the idea of Hogwarts and Harry Potter. And I was too young to write such long books. So the characters (well, the one's you recognize) and the setting is hers.
Summary: An accident in Potions forces the bickering Lily and James to be stuck together…literally. A bond, invisible and unbelievable, only allows them to separate by 1 meter only, and that 'bond' isn't love.
Authors Note: I said I wasn't going to write it, but I never listen to myself anyway. All the ingredients/plants really do exist (I researched on them, and just changed some things), let's just say Allan (you'll find out who he is) is Amos' younger brother, and I don't own a Latin dictionary, so you'll have to make do with the words I warped from the French dictionary.
Indulge! I hope you enjoy it! =D Don't forget to drop a review when you're finished!
Bonding Time
By: kaleidoscope0 0eyes (Pat)
Chapter 1: That Dreaded AfternoonThe sun shone brightly that breezy afternoon, reflecting against the sparkling green water of the Great Lake. The large, resilient castle, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was filled with joyous students enjoying the end of classes for that day. It was, indeed, a peaceful afternoon, where the centaurs pranced through the Forbidden Forest without a care in the world, and the hippogriffs lay lazily staring at their meals near Hagrid's hut.
That is, until you enter the calamitous Gryffindor Common Room…
"POTTER!" a furious redhead screamed, from the top of the Girls' staircase. She flounced her way down toward a cluster of chattering people sitting on the most comfortable velvet settees.
"Potter!" she shouted once more, "What did you do to my essay?" The girl held out a glowing parchment with animated words that flashed in bright pink, 'Lily loves James' or 'Mrs. Lily Potter'.
The group hollered in laughter at the display.
"Why, Lily Evans! Why didn't you tell me you wanted to be mine?" a messy-haired boy said in mock astonishment. He looked at her red face and gave a lopsided smirk.
He was James Potter, the second most sought after boy in all of Hogwarts (after Sirius Black). James was known for his advanced skills in Transfiguration, and his inexhaustible pranks. His attitude was most unbearable, but his looks let him off the hook, unless it was with one of the Professors, or, of course, Lily Evans. He was blessed with jet-black hair that could never be fixed, yet he liked it that way, the most adorable hazel brown eyes, framed in thin-wired glasses and a towering build, from his hard work at Quidditch.
Lily glared daggers at the boy. One fist clenched tighter around the embarrassing parchment, while the other hand was ready to pull out her wand.
"Lily!" he exclaimed, "You're face is red as your hair!" The girls beside him burst into giggles.
Lily groaned. She hated it when people made fun of her hair color. It was, in fact, an unusual combination, what with her flaming, auburn red hair, and her dazzling emerald green eyes. It was different, but most certainly flattering against her porcelain white skin. She wasn't the prettiest girl at the school, but her friendly demeanor attracted many suitors. Even though she preferred a quiet night in the library, to a boisterous, ear-wrecking party.
James opened his mouth to say something, but noticed the wand Lily was grasping, and decided to shut it. Lily was known for her vast knowledge in charms, and he didn't want to risk it. Instead, he turned to the ladies worshipping him, and 'politely' asked them to leave. Without an argument, they complied.
Lily shook her head in disgust. "Don't treat the feminine gender that way!" she commanded, pointing the parchment at him.
He gave a hearty laugh, and provided a side-glance at his best friend, Sirius, who was busy snogging a blonde girl he barely met. "Is it my fault the ladies praise the land I walk on?"
He moved closer to where she was standing, and reached out a hand to tuck her hair behind her ears. Although he was a head taller than her, their faces were very close, that any girl would have fainted if they were in that situation. Lily merely looked at James straight in the eye, took hold of his hand, and before he knew, she had James begging for mercy.
"Ow. Ow. Ow." James pleaded. His hand was twisted in a sort of karate move. "Okay, Evans! Let go!"
She sternly gazed at him, and gave a plastic grin. "Next time, don't try any of that Potter charm with me. Trust me, it doesn't work." She twisted his hard harder, and he flinched. "And, never ever try to mess with my homework!"
With that, she let go, and stomped back to her dormitory, the soft curls of her hair bouncing against her back as she did.
James rubbed his wrist, where there were red marks from Lily's fingers, and shook his head as he fell back lazily on the couch.
"She's good." Sirius said in admiration. "You have to admit Prongs, she got you there."
James glowered at him. "No she didn't." he protested, still rubbing his red wrist. "Besides, shouldn't we be worrying how the Gryffindor Team might lose, when the Quidditch King has a broken wrist?"
"It's not broken." Remus said, finally looking up from his book.
"Fine. Temporarily damaged." James stated, raising his wrist. "Let's all revolt against Lily Evans!"
"You know, I really don't get why you two hate each other. I mean, you would make the perfect couple." Remus exclaimed, incredulous.
"Yeah, she's hot." Sirius said.
Peter nodded, looking from one face to the other, keeping quiet.
James looked like he could puke. "I can't believe what I'm hearing!" He put his hands over his ears to emphasize. "Simple: Lily Evans is annoying, a goody two-shoes, a teacher's pet, and the total opposite of 'hot'!"
"Don't forget who had a crush on her in fifth year!" Remus reminded, his cheeks broke into a grin, revealing two fangs.
"I was young, okay? Give me a break! That was a year ago! My taste in ladies has, since then, evolved! Plus, Lily was 'cute' when she was fifteen. Now, she's…ugly."
Sirius squirted out the butterbeer he was drinking, and laughed. "Ugly? Lily Evans, ugly? That's a good one! Have you even seen her?"
"Are you saying I can't see?" James inquired defensively.
Remus and Sirius just shook their head. Remus turned back to his book, while Sirius indulged himself in ladies galore.
James shrugged in skepticism. 'Lily Evans was ugly. Is ugly. I don't get it?' Deciding he shouldn't waste his time pondering about his 'enemy', he laid out a scroll, filled with diagrams, and continued working on some new Quidditch plays.
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"I hate him. I hate him. I hate him." Lily murmured under her breath, as she banged the door behind her.
Her dorm mates' attention was quickly averted to her.
"Isn't he such a jerk?" Lily asked out loud to no one in particular. She stomped her feet towards her bed and fell backwards on it.
Alice, Hestia, and Summer mouthed to each other knowingly, "Potter."
This happened all the time.
Lily sighed deeply as she stared at the ceiling of her four-poster bed. On it was a posted picture of Allan Diggory, he, other than the Marauders (James, Remus, Sirius, and Peter), was one of the most popular boys in school. His ravishing blonde hair and perfectly carved chin was a gift from the Greek god Adonis (or so he said). To many, it would be weird to stare at a picture while you were sleeping, but Lily had the biggest infatuation with him.
"There's word that he's going to ask you out." Summer said cheerfully. She was always one who partook in gossip. She let out a squeal and bounced towards Lily's bed. Her straight blonde hair was tucked behind her ears, and her brown eyes glistened in excitement.
Lily abruptly sat up. "Potter!' she asked in disgust.
"No, silly!" Summer said, lightly tapping Lily's arm. "Allan!"
All four girls screamed so loud that probably the whole Common Room heard. Muffled "What's that noise?" and "Be quiet!" 's entered their dorm, and caused the sixth year girls to fall into fits of giggles.
"Wait a minute!" Hestia said. Her wavy brown hair, tied in a messy bun, shook, and her bright blue eyes narrowed. "We don't giggle." She was the sporty one of the group, a chaser in the Quidditch team, and a superb dancer.
"I do." Alice and Summer said simultaneously, amidst giggles.
"I can't help it!" Lily exclaimed. "I can't believe it! Allan? The Allan Diggory?"
"Yeah." Summer said. "I'm sure."
"This is great!" Alice cried. She smiled her usual cheerful smile, and her short, curly, black hair sprang about vivaciously.
"I know!" Lily screamed, then fell back on her pillow. "Gosh, I love him!"
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The next day, students groaned as their butts were dragged to their respective classes. Everyone gazed dreamily at the sun shining brilliantly through the window, and couldn't wait for classes to end. But the chances of them enjoying the wondrous weather were small to nil, for the teachers seemed to have made an agreement to pile their students with numerous essays and reports.
Lily and her friends made their way to Greenhouse 3, for Herbology, a class they shared with the Hufflepuffs. Their faces were nervous, because Greenhouse 3 was the home of the wilder, more dangerous plants.
Professor Sprout welcomed them in cheerfully. Her curly, brown hair was covered with a leaf-designed bandana, and her light green eyes fit well with her green robes. "Come in! Come in!" she urged, in a high-pitched voice.
Lily, Alice, Hestia, and Summer scurried over to one of the 6 tables, which, coincidentally, was perpendicularly across Allan's.
"Today we will be taking care of the 'Purple-belled foxgloves'!" She announced cheerfully. The Hufflepuffs hooted; they loved Herbology. "Can anyone tell me what it does?"
Lily's hand shot up. "It is mainly used for cardiac conditions. Muggles believe this as well, so they have what they call digitalis, a foxglove derivative."
"Good job, Ms. Evans! Five points to Gryffindor!" She put on a mask, which greatly resembled that of a beekeeper's, and proceeded toward the corner of the house. The plant she so cautiously held, was willowed in large green leaves, and on one stem, there were purple to pink bell-like flowers dangling. Inside the 'bell', there were different shapes of black dots outlined with yellow. "These little things may look innocent, but they turn into some nasty little buggers once you get to know them.
"Be careful. We are going to replant them, and treat them with this", she pointed out to the thick green liquid found on each table. "This is their 'food'. They are much too sensitive to receive ordinary water. Be careful, you are to shoot them in the hollow part, but they tend to squirt out a putrid-smelling yellow discharge…"
The class made a face. This was going to be one lesson they would always remember, but want to forget.
"Hey Evans! Go out with me!" Someone called out, from the end of their table.
The girls turned around in shock. A few minutes ago, it was just them. The marauders looked back smiling cheekily, Remus looked down, pretending not to notice how immature his friends were acting. "Well?" James said, so they knew it was him who asked the question. "We can snog first, and shag later!" He raised his eyebrows suggestively.
Lily turned red. "Never!"
James chuckled. He knew he had gotten to her. "Too bad. You're missing out on the chance of the lifetime."
"You ask me everyday." Lily stated.
"So?" James asked.
Lily turned back at the professor without answering him. "Stupid bloody git." She mumbled under her breath.
--
All the students left the Greenhouse with scowls on their faces and their noses pinched, even the normally cheery Hufflepuffs seemed to be frowning. James and Sirius were throwing globs of the yellow discharge at each other, while Lily tried her best at removing them from her robes.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, as she tried brushing off particles from her robe "My robe will be smelling for days!"
At that moment, a finger tapped her shoulder from behind, and she whirled around automatically, wand at the ready.
"Woah!" It was Allan. He moved back, still smiling.
"Oh my…" Lily exclaimed, fuddling around to put her wand back, absolutely red in the face. "I-I'm so sorry!" She was suddenly very conscious about her stench.
"It's fine." Allan said. "Listen, you want to go out, like, this Saturday? At 7?"
"Saturday? At 7?" Lily repeated, thinking if she had anything planned. "A little early…"
"How about 7:30?" Allan suggested.
"You know what? Early is good. Let's make it at 6:30!"
"Uh, okay." Allan said, awkwardly, because of Lily's strange behavior. "I'll see you then, babe!"
"You don't know what you're getting yourself into!" Someone called from across the lawn. It was obviously James; Lily didn't even have to look.
She stood deathly still, hoping that Allan didn't hear the comment, but fell into a soft smile, when Allan said nothing, and waved good-bye.
She felt like she could walk on water! Allan Diggory had just asked her out! Now this is what dreams were made of! She jumped and screamed, then jumped again.
To James' displeasure, she stuck a tongue out at him, smirked, then waltzed away happily.
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"Okay, students." the skinny gray-haired teacher said, giving the pupils a sly grin. "To make your Potions class more miserable, I'm going to choose your partners for today."
The Gryffindors groaned, but the Slytherins had nothing to fear, since Professor Adramelech favored their house, especially one smug-looking grease-haired boy names Severus Snape.
"Now let's see: Black (Sirius) and Lawrence (Hestia), Lupin (Remus) and Winston (Summer), Potter (James) and Evans (Lily)…"
All their eyes widened in fright. Even Lily wiped the foolish smile off her face, the one she was wearing since Herbology. This would be chaos.
James gathered his things and transferred next to the glowering Lily.
"Now, you are to make a bouclier potion…this will temporarily shield you from an evil eye…" Professor Adramelech droned on.
"You better not mess up, Potter!" Lily warned out of the corner of her mouth.
James chortled. "Cor blimey, Evans! You stink!"
"Oh sod it! You reek as bad as I do! Blasted Herbology…" She muttered.
"So, you're going out with Allan Diggory, eh?" he asked, just to annoy her. His figure was laid back against his chair, and his hands were rested behind his head.
"Shut it!" Lily said, highly irritated.
James just looked at her and smirked.
"…Now, your potion should be ready in 30 minutes – sharp!" Professor Adramelech affirmed.
--
"Okay, now cut the shrub mugworts into –" Lily dictated.
"Evans, I know what to do!" James grunted. "You forget you're dealing with the only person who can compete against you academically…and I don't even study!"
Lily waved her hand meaning 'I know', and turned back to her notes. "Add 10 petals of the flower mallow –"
"Wrong. You only need to add 8 petals, my daft dear."
"No, it's 10! I'm sure of it!" Lily argued.
"It's only 8!" James disputed. "Eight!" He held out 8 fingers. "Eight!"
"10!"
"8!"
"1 more minute!" Professor Adramelech declared.
They both looked at each other angrily, James holding eight petals in his hand, Lily holding ten.
"Eight!" "Ten!" they said in chorus, and threw the petals in the brewing cauldron. A second later, they realized they had put eighteen petals in altogether. Big mistake.
The mixture vibrated violently, and Lily and James could feel the floor shake. All of a sudden…
BOOM!
It had erupted orange liquid all over the bickering couple, leaving them both flabbergasted.
"Oh great!" Lily moaned. "We'll fail! I won't graduate! I'll be forced to sell flowers on the street!"
"Don't worry Evans." James said, highly amused from the incident. "I'll buy a flower from you."
Lily looked at him firmly. "This isn't funny."
"It's just one potions class. Who cares?"
"Who cares? I care!"
"You are –"
"Potter, Evans! What have you done?" Professor Adramelech demanded, full of austere in his voice.
"P-professor! It was an accident! We didn't mean to --!" Lily pleaded.
"Failing grades for both of you! 20 points from Gryffindor! And before I hand out the detentions, Potter, return the ingredients, Evans wipe away that mess!"
James motioned to run toward the cabinet, petals and lizard's tail in his hand, but felt a strain pulling him back. Eyes set on the cabinet, he moved his legs harder, and started to move.
"Hey! Why are you dragging me!" Lily screamed, already in a bad mood, gripping tightly to a chair.
"I'm not dragging you! You're holding me back!" James shouted back, still trying to pull away.
"What are you talking about?" Lily yelled
"Wait!" the Professor moved next to them and examined what was going on. Everything seemed normal, but for some reason, Lily and James could not separate. "What went wrong in your concoction?"
"W-we added 18 petals of flower mallow, sir." Lily explained meekly.
"Potter, you run to that corner, while you, Evans run to the opposite corner. At the count of three." he said. The students watched in mystery and everyone was silent. "One. Two. THREE!"
James pulled. Lily pulled. "Let go, Evans!" he said.
"You let go!"
James finally moved, but dragged Lily's body alongside him.
"Ow!" Lily screamed, slapping James arm.
"It seems that you two are under the ancient curse, Lientocharme, but more commonly known as the Bonding Spell." the Professor said simply.
"No way." James said.
"Please, no." Lily cried.
They looked at each other, and shouted at the top of their lungs.
"Potter. Evans." the Professor added, "Get ready for some Bonding Time!"
Authors Note: Well? What do you think? I never do that well on my first chapter, since it's like an introduction to everything, so it'll be a lot funnier in the chapters to come.
This plot has been wandering around my brain since before, and only now am I writing it all down. I don't know if it's been used before, but it's the product of my imagination.
Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to update as frequently as I usually do, but maybe if I get a lot of reviews, they'll rush me to update sooner.
So, you know, REVIEW for the sake of making me happy.
I've got my EYES (get it?) on you, kaleidoscope eyes (Pat)
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