Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

There was a short ten minute intermission, and the curtains fell, but the light stayed out on the stage for a few moments. Lily still held onto James, and they looked at one another for a long moment. She could feel butterflies in her stomach. The crew was busy cleaning the stage and they cleared their throats loudly to let them know they needed to get off.

James let go of Lily first, and stepped down off the pulpit before giving her his hand. She took it, and stepped down before following him off stage hand in hand. James led them through the crowd until it was quiet. There was another set of curtains that were no longer used but still hung and he buried them deep in the velvet layers. It was deathly quiet; the only sound was their breathing, and the shuffling of their feet.

“I…” Lily said looking up at him. She could barely see him from the lack of light in the curtains, but she could see the whites of his eyes, and the deep brown that almost looked black color in the center. Gently she pressed her hands onto his chest, feeling the soft silk of his shirt, and the toned muscles underneath.

“Shh,” he replied leaning down to look at her. The musty smell of the curtains was filling his nose, but when he moved closer to Lily he could smell her hair, and perfume. His hand gently rubbed her upper arm before he leaned down, letting his senses guide him rather than his eyes. His lips connected gently with Lily’s, and his arms moved around to her back holding her fast against him.

She took a quick breath before pushing up against him lightly. This was not acting, it wasn’t part of the play, and it certainly wasn’t a friendly kiss either. Lily could feel herself tremble a little against him, but not out of fear, she was unsure why she was really.

James pulled back from the kiss, his arms still holding her close, and he heard her let out a small whimper, but she did not seem like she was trying to get away from him. “Are you alright?” He asked her quietly, though he did not let her go.

“I’m fine,” Lily said quietly as she leaned her head against him. She had no idea what had overcome her on the stage, it was like a huge revelation when James had kissed her on the balcony. Lily did in fact James, in fact she cared greatly for him, and it just took a kiss to bring the truth forward.

“Where is my Romeo!” The stage manager yelled, though her voice was very distant. “We have five minutes left and he needs to change! SIRIUS BLACK! Or rather JAMES POTTER!” The voice called more distraught now.

“You should go,” Lily said stepping back slightly, though her hands still rested on his chest to feel his heartbeat. There were footsteps coming closer, and more people calling out James’ name.

“I don’t want to,” James said then instantly closed his mouth as the steps stopped right next to them on the other side of the curtain.

“They are going to kill you,” Remus said feeling like a fool as he talked to the curtains. “Hurry up before others find the both of you.”

Lily flushed a deep shade of red, as James let go of her and peeled his way out of the curtains. Lily followed behind, and wouldn’t look Remus in the eyes out of embarrassment. She locked eyes with James for a second, neither of them said anything, but they communicated to one another. He then turned off, and put on his normal personality, mocking the stage manager as he got his ear chewed off.

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The beauty of magic made everything look so very real. When Mercutio was stabbed, there was blood, though it was fake coming from a fake wound in his side. Lily smiled slightly as she clung to the curtain watching James. He was a very good actor, crying at the death of his best friend before turning to rage to kill Tybalt. James had to fake in injury, and he actually made it look very real when he cried out in pain, causing Lily to flinch slightly.

Finally came the scene in Juliet’s bedroom, they had managed to make a thunderous storm, with rain off the side of the stage. Lightening struck when Lily learned from the nurse that Romeo had killed her beloved cousin Tybalt. She fell to her knees in distraught and cried as she held onto Phoebes skirt, and her friend comforted her.

Lily left the stage for the next scene change, and her fingers gently brushed James’ without anyone noticing as they traded places. Remus was waiting for her off to the side, and he rose up to stand next to her. “How are you doing?” He asked her casually watching James fake writhing in pain from his wound inflicted by Tybalt.

“I am alright,” she replied turning around to smile up at her friend. “How’s Sirius?” She asked a bit spitefully.

“He is in a makeshift bed Pomfrey made for him. She wanted to see the play, than afterwards he is going to the hospital wing,” Remus replied. A few people had been able to figure out just what had happened, though only Lily and Remus knew the truth straight from James.

Then came the scene that Lily feared the most doing on stage, but it now strangely enough, she was relaxed. She sat on her bed, holding the comforter as she cried, and heard the quiet footsteps of James, since he was supposed to sneak in. She jumped as she was supposed to when his cold hand touched the bareness of her back. Lily rolled over and stared at James quietly, the fake tears rolling down her cheeks.

For a moment James was paralyzed, it was as if she really were crying, and the only thing he could think about for the briefest of moments was Sirius hurting her. A flicker of anger flashed across his face before he came too and leaned down onto the makeshift bed to kiss her. Gently her arms wrapped around his neck, and that side of the stage fell dark, and the other side of the makeshift wall was the Capulet’s living room where Juliet’s proposed husband, her father, and mother sat talking.

They tangled themselves in the sheets as written and held very still. Lily was sure her father was having a heart attack in the audience since she was in such close proximity with another boy, in a bed. A fake bed, but that wouldn’t matter to him. She could even see it when she closed her eyes, her father turning red, and her mother hushing him, and Petunia, if she even came agreeing with her father. If only her father knew just what her and Vernon did when her parents weren’t home, he would have no problem with Lily acting this scene out.

James held Lily close, and he looked down at her. Her face a even paler from the lack of light, but her lips looked lush and red. Gently he kissed her forehead before adjusting back when the light came back on their side to finish out the scene. He sat straight up, and leaned over the bed to grab his shoes.

In a sleepy voice Lily sat up, “wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day.”

“I must be gone and live, or stay and die,” James said his hand brushing her cheek gently.

“Yon light is not day light,” Lily said pointing out to the audience as if she is pointing out the window. “I know it, I: it is some meteor that the sun exhales, to be to thee this night a torchbearer, and light thee on thy way to Mantua: therefore stay yet; thou need’st not to be gone.” She said her voice pleading as she grabbed his hand.

James leaned in and kissed Lily hard, keeping his face only inches from hers “let me be taken, let me be put to death. I have more care to stay than will to go. Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so.”

Lily froze, and her eyes widened at his remark.

He smiled before kissing her again, “how is’t, my soul? Let’s talk It is not day.”

Lily rose from the bed, and pulled him to stand on his feet looking out the window. “It is, it is! Hie hence, be gone, away! O, now be gone! More light and light it grows.” She said worriedly tossing him a belt that had been laid on the floor between scene changes. God her father must be panicking.

“More light and light: more dark and dark our woes,” James said as he fumbled to put the belt on his waist. The loops were too small for it, and eventually he tore one, cursing because the costume designer was going to kill him.

There was a knocking noise, causing Lily to jump and frantically look at James.

“Juliet!” Phoebe called from off stage.

“Nurse!” Lily said a bit relieved before turning back to James.

“Your lady mother is coming to your chamber,” she said a bit more urgently.

“Then, window, let day in, and let life out,” Lily said dragging James toward the balcony. A small wall appeared, and she heard the audience oh at the sight, since it was obvious magic. She opened the door and James threw a leg over the edge of the railing. He was going to drop down in a trap door of the stage to make it seem like he had left.

“Farewell, farewell. One kiss and I’ll descend,” he said before leaning in to kiss Lily. The more they kissed the more he felt relaxed, and he could tell Lily was not forcing it out either.

“O, think’st thou we shall ever meet again?” Lily asked mournfully.

James smiled up at her, “I doubt it not,” he called as he sank down a bit, his feet finding the ladder.

“O God, I have an ill-diving soul. Me thinks I see thee, now thou art so low, as one dead in the bottom of a tomb,” Lily said leaning over the railing to see James.

James quickly climbed back up, his foot slipping slightly on one of the steps. “Trust me, love, all these woes shall serve for sweet discourses in our times to come.” He stopped when Juliet’s mother called from inside. He dropped down so only his shoulders were visible but they were hidden from Lady Capulet’s view.

He gently reached his hand up to trace his fingers along her hand, then over the ring, and across her fingers before descending into the darkness of under the stage.

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For the rest of the play James and Lily passed one another, unable to stop for quick chat or even to touch one another. Backstage was frantic, and it seemed as if the stage manager was trying to keep them apart, with her constant barking and pointing.

Finally the last scene came, and James could be with Lily once again. The stage was a haunting view, all the lights were out except hundred of candles that flickered from the draft that ran through the theater. They had paled Lily’s face even more with makeup, with only a hint of blush, and she was wearing a light shade of pink on her lips, though it looked more like blood red. He paused for a second at the sight; she looked like an absolute porcelain doll, unmoving, but perfect.

“O my love, my wife, death, that hath suck the honey of thy breath, hath no power yet upon they beauty, thou art no conquered.” He was walking very slowly across the stage, his hand fumbling around in his pocket with the small vile in it. “Beauty’s ensign yet is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, and death’s pale flag is not advanced there,” James continued before kneeling next to Lily, his back to the crowd.

“Ah dear Juliet, why art thou yet so fair? Shall I believe that unsubstantial death is amorous and keeps thee here in dark to be his paramour?” James asked, his fingers running gently down her cheek. Even though they were just acting, he could feel sorrow as he stared at Lily. “For fear of that I still will stay with thee. Here, oh here will I set up my everlasting rest and shake the yoke of inauspicious stars from this world-wearied flesh.”He then moved so his body is laying next to Lily. “Eye, look your last. Arms, take your last embrace. And lips, O you, the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss…” James whispered, though the audience could hear. He moved and gently kissed Lily’s unresponsive lips. Had he not seen her chest moving with breath, she could have fooled him with how still she was.

“A dateless bargain to engrossing death,” he said before uncapping the vial, and drinking the ‘poison’, which was mere water. He convulsed forward, making a choking sound and his head feel to rest on Lily’s chest. “O true…” James said gasping, “apothecary, thy drugs are quick.”

Lily began to stir, and she fluttered her eyes open, and moved her arms gently to push herself up. She then pretended to realize that James was there. “Oh Romeo, what’s here?” She asked and forced herself up the rest of the way. She grabbed James’ head gently and turned it up to look at him, his eyes were wide, and the only sound and movement from him was a fight for weak short breaths. Lily becomes frantic, and looked to help him when she saw the vial in his hand. Quickly she snatched it up and looked at it, feeling herself become weak with grief, she began to cry silently.

“Drunk all, and left no friendly drop to help me after. I will kiss thy lips. Haply some poison yet doth hang on them to make me die with a restorative,” Lily said before gently bending her head to kiss James, and he weakly returned it.

“Thy lips are warm,” she her voice dripping in sorrow. She clung to James desperately, and he mustered the strength to do the same. James fought for breath before saying:

“Thus with a kiss I die,” he said before completely falling limp against Lily. He could feel her shake with sobs, and he gently rubbed her back where the crowd couldn’t see, he could tell she actually was upset.

“Romeo. O’ my true love Romeo,” Lily breathed before letting out a small hiccup. She looked over his body before spotting the dagger at his hip. There was a noise outside the mausoleum , and Lily snatched the dagger.

“Yea noise? Then I’ll be brief. O happy dagger,” she said looking at it, before aiming for her chest with both hands. “This is they sheath,” she said before plunging the knife into her chest, though the blade was fake and retracted into itself, causing the fake blood to begin to trickle out and stain her snow white dress. “There rust, and let me die.”

Lily fell onto James, her face buried in the crook of his neck. She could feel the sticky coolness of the fake blood running down her chest and stomach, before starting to ooze over James and puddle on the floor. A few candles blew out, and she could hear the others acting on the other side of the stage which was supposed to be outside, then the doors burst open and her friend playing her mother feel to the floor with an anguished cry.

“You did amazing,” James said quietly into Lily’s ear, his breath hot, and lips close.

“Thank you, you did too,” she said quietly, her lips brushing his neck. They remained still for the rest of the play, and she heard the prince step up to the stage, the rest of the players froze, and all the light fell on James and Lily’s limp bodies.

“A glooming peace this morning with it bring,; the sun, for sorrow, will not show his head: go hence, to have more talk of these sad things; some shall be pardon’d, and some punished: for never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” The lights fell after a moment being on Lily and James, and the audience cheered and clapped.

Everyone was quick to get up and clean the stage. Lily and James were rushed off to get changed. She was shoved back into the dress she had worn in the beginning, and they changed her makeup back to how it was before. She found James being chided for ripping his belt loops as he tucked in his shirt. They were the last to hit the stage, and they listened to all the claps and cheers for the others.

“And finally Lily Evans and Juliet Capulet and James Potter as Romeo Montague,” the stage manager said, her voice loud and clear. They entered the stage from either side, and met in the middle to the loudest applause all night. James gently grabbed Lily’s hand, rose his and hers in the air before bowing. The rest of the cast joined them, then the curtains fell, and the cast celebrated a great opening night. Lily barely had time to celebrate with James because a crew member came to tell her that her parents were looking for her. She gave James a longing look, and he ushered her to go, telling her his parents were there as well and were probably itching to see him.

James watched Madame Pomfrey go and grab Sirius before apparating to the edge of Hogwarts limits. He felt a bit bad for Sirius, but it was quickly squashed when his parents and friends came over to congratulate him on his performance. He and his parents went out for a late dinner, all students were allowed to be out until eleven since the play did not end until nine that night.

Lily joined her parents for dinner, Petunia had to work that night, and Lily was sure she had made sure she had to work so she would not have to come. She had asked her mother if her father had been flustered during the bedroom scene, and she said he was, but not too bad.

“Thank you for coming,” Lily said as she walked with her parents to the edge of town where taxis’ were waiting. They were staying a nearby hotel that night before making the long trek home the next morning.

“You were amazing sweetheart,” her mother said before hugging her, and her father hugged her as well before leaving.

Lily walked by herself along the empty streets back to Hogwarts. She had changed back into her normal cloths, and thick cloak before dinner, but it was still cold, colder than it had been earlier. Her feet crunched the leaves that she walked on, and about ten minutes later she passed through the open Hogwarts gates.

The whole time she had spent with her family all she thought about was James, and what had happened between them. She was hoping he was still awake, Lily wanted to be with him again, hold him, kiss him, and just see him.

James had been sitting in the common room for about thirty minutes now, relaxing on the couch as he stared at the fire. All the lights were out, and he watched as the flames licked up the fireplace flue. There was a click of the door opening, and he straightened up a bit.

Lily pushed the door open, and saw James was still up waiting for her. The room was dim, and the shadows that were cast only enhanced his features. “James…” she breathed before shutting the door and walking over to the couch where he sat.