Disclaimer: It's all JK's. I own nothing. Not even the computer I typed it on sniff
Please Review. I feel really cheesy saying this just like everyone else, but it makes all the time I put into this so worth it just to hear what people actually think!
The large dungeon room was warmed by the fires under the many caldrons with a rainbow of potion mixtures, each emitting a variety of smells. Very few were the reddish purple colour it was supposed to be, and the owners of the other caldrons were looking distinctly frustrated. A short, fat teacher called Professor Slughorn was wandering around the room, adding things to various potions here and there as he went, trying and failing to explain why they should and shouldn't add certain things, to a largely disinterested class.
He paused by Severus Snape's and gave him a "well done," before moving over to Lily Evans'. "Fantastic as usual, Lily!" Lily beamed. Severus glared at Slughorn, before looking back at his potion. His was just as good, if not better, than Lily's. 'Just because she's his favourite,' he thought angrily, while making a note in his textbook. 'Her and the rest of that stupid "Slug Club".'
Severus didn't have much to complain about really, as Slughorn was not in a very good mood with the rest of the second year class at all. "Mr. Black, you have had plenty of warnings and my patience is running thin. If one more word comes out of your mouth, consider yourself in detention. That goes for the rest of you too!"
Apart from the faint bubble and hiss of potions and the roaring fires, the class was quiet for the best part of five minutes before a quiet murmuring crept out again. Lily Evans added some more Sopophorous Beans to her potion, and flicked her long, red hair out of her face. She then frowned as a balled up piece of parchment hit her desk. She picked it up and opened it to find the words "Will you pleeeease go out with me, Lils?" She rolled her eyes and wrote below the messy writing "Fat chance. Now leave me alone! And stop calling me 'Lils'!" It was crumpled again, and thrown back to James Potter's desk.
Before he had a chance to read the reply, Sirius Black muttered a spell to send it over into his own hands and read it first, before adding to the bottom "I told you she'd say that. I mean come on, you've been trying all year. And most of the last."
James finally got his answer and then wrote "Yeah, well 211th time lucky... or unlucky... whatever. I'm not going to give up, even if it takes right up until 7th year. And if she still doesn't agree, I wont bother getting a job, but will dedicate my time to stalking her!"
Rather than add to this, Sirius grinned evilly and sent it back over to Lily. She didn't look impressed and James groaned. "I was only joking" he mouthed to Sirius, who mouthed back "No you weren't!"
Again James caught hold of the parchment. "If you dare, I'll set the entire Ministry on you, Potter, so just give up now and stop wasting your time. If you don't mind, I'd like to do this next bit properly, meaning I don't need any of your distractions."
"You can't set the whole Ministry on me! For a start, most departments have absolutely nothing to do with stalkers, and you're too sweet and kind to do anything of the sort."
This time Remus, managed to get hold of the message. "If you lot don't cut it out you'll all be in trouble. And besides, you're putting me off my work." Remus' potion was pink and hissing slightly- not correct, but much better than others in the class, including Peter who was beside him, and had a strange, black, gloopy mess in his caldron.
"Sorry Remus. This is important though: for the 212th time- Go out with me, Lily? A rose (or indeed a Lily) by any other name would smell as sweet :)"
"Not in a million years. And why have you been sniffing me?! Urg, why am I even encouraging you?!"
"It's Shakespeare, and it's because deep down you love me really :D What about a million and one?"
"Duh, I know it's Shakespeare. I am muggle born, Potter. I was joking. If you think I have any feelings for you whatsoever, you must be crazier than originally thought. The day I go out with you, is the day the Earth implodes."
"Ah, you made a joke. That means you like me right? Positive comments and all that jazz."
"Professor, Potter is throwing notes."
Slughorn turned round just as James was in the act of throwing, and summoned the note towards himself. He quickly scanned over the page, then tossed it onto his desk. "James Potter, detention- No buts! I've had enough. You have ten minutes to finish your potions."
James huffed, but turned back to finish his potion. "Stupid teacher. Thinks he knows better than us. Ruins everything. Stupid Snape. He'll pay for that."
"Well it was your fault..." Remus ducked to avoid a shower of some finely cut plant he was sure James shouldn't be adding anyway. "You started it." Finished Remus quietly, wishing he didn't sound so childish.
"Yeah, well, I agree with James!" came the voice of Peter.
"Duh, you always agree with James."
"Mr. Black, how many warnings have I given you? You have also earned yourself a detention. Anybody else?!"
Once again, there was almost silence in the room, but Sirius was now cursing under his breath along with James. Both their potions got steadily worse than before, neither really paying attention to what they were doing. Giving up, Sirius nudged James and levitated a random potion ingredient into the air, letting it drop into Severus' potion. It bubbled wildly, overflowing onto the work bench, and turned a fluorescent green.
"I have no idea what you have done, or what you were thinking when you did it, Mr. Snape, but you will stay behind to clear that up, please."
Snivellus turned round to glare at James and Sirius, but said nothing.
Finally it was the end of the lesson and they were all free to go (except Severus, of course). "Stupid Slughorn. He better not arrange detention to clash with Quidditch, or serious pranking will have to ensue. Speaking of which... what are we doing tonight?"
"I was thinking about finding a way to infiltrate the Slytherin common room," grinned Sirius.
"You know, I'm not really feeling that great. Must have been something I ate earlier."
"You think someone spiked your food, Remus?"
"Why didn't you say something before? You could have gotten out of potions!"
"No, and I can't just bunk off whenever I feel like it." James was about to protest but Remus kept talking. "Potions isn't my best subject and I really don't want to fall behind. I'll go see Madam Pomfrey tomorrow night if it doesn't get any better."
The four friends turned round at what was, in their opinion, one of the most irritating voices in the history of irritating voices. "Oh sure. You're sick are you wolf boy? Funny, the same thing happened last month too. And the month before, you 'had to go to a funeral'. How convenient."
James exploded. "What exactly is that supposed to mean Snivellus? If you're up to something- anything at all- there'll be trouble. How very convenient indeed, that none of your Slytherin 'friends' are here to help you, eh? Especially after grassing on me back there."
Remus was shaking, and although he kept his face calm, he couldn't hide the horror in his eyes and his clenched fists. "James, stop it. He's not worth it. Let's just go back to the common room, OK?"
"Have you not told them then, wolf boy? Or are they too thick to work it out for themselves? Sorry, clearly they are." Came the snarling reply, while Severus eyed Peter cowering behind James.
James and Sirius both raised their wands and Severus took the unsaid advice of shutting up while taking a step backwards. Before they could do anything else, Remus grabbed their arms and pulled them back. "Come on, let's go."
They scowled, but started to walk away towards the Gryffindor common room. Just before they turned the corner, James looked back to see Snivellus still standing there. "Petrificus Totalus!"
Snape fell over, unable to move, and James smirked in satisfaction, knowing he could be stuck there for some time.
Once back in the common room, the four friends managed to shoo some first years from the seats in front of the fire, and pulled out various homework.
"You know," said Peter, "I've always wondered why the teachers call it homework, even though we're not actually at home to do it."
"Well what do you want to call it? 'Common room work'?" Asked Remus sarcastically.
"That hasn't got such a ring to it really." Said Peter with a look of extreme concentration on his face. "What about... 'not in class work'?"
The others shook their heads at each other, then to humour him, told Peter it was a great idea, and wondered why they hadn't thought of that.
"What was it Snivellus was calling you, Remus? Dog boy or something? What was that about?"
"No idea." Said Remus, shifting uncomfortably and not bothering to correct Sirius.
"What did he mean, haven't you told us something? Is something wrong?"
"No, I'm fine!" Remus practically shouted, jumping out of his seat. He sighed. "I'm going to put this away, then we'll go for dinner, right?"
"Sure." Said James and Sirius glancing at each other.
"I'd better get cleaned up." said Peter staring intently at his ink covered hands. The others grinned. Poor Peter still couldn't get the hang of using a quill with out making a complete mess.
As they walked down the staircase beside the Great Hall, Snivellus walked in with some other Slytherins, including Sirius' younger brother, Regulus. Severus whispered something to them, and they all turned round to glare at them threateningly, except Regulus who pretended he couldn't see his brother. The Gryffindors stood their ground, and scowled back, Sirius cracking his knuckles.
Just then Professor McGonagall came down the stairs behind them. "Move along boys. You actually have to sit down in the Hall to receive dinner." She looked her usual stern self, but there was a hint of laughter in her voice.
James led them down the hall and deliberately sat down close to Lily. They all filled their plates, Remus choosing sausages, chicken, lamb... in fact, anything made of meat. Then when dessert came, James levitated a strawberry down to Lily. He was already practically stalking her and knew she loved strawberries. However, his romantic gesture didn't quite go to plan when he overshot his target of her plate, and the fruit ended up in a mess on Lily's lap.
"Uh-oh..."
"James Potter you stupid, irritating, idiot!!"
"She loves me really." James said quietly, ducking under the table. The others just laughed at him.
"Mr. Potter, I'm sure you'll be delighted to learn you will spend your detention in my office tomorrow night. Mr. Black, I've decided I can't trust the two of you together, and Professor Clearwater has kindly allowed you to spend detention with her. Oh Lily, did you know, you appear to have some... something... on your robes. Good evening." As Slughorn walked off to the teachers' table, James was muttering again, and Lily frowning harder than she had when the strawberry first made impact.
"This day just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it? At least I'm alright for Quidditch on Saturday. You alright now Remus? Looks like you haven't lost your appetite..."
"What? I like cake. Cake is gooood! Err... although, I'm still not feeling too good..."
"We could just go to Madam Pomfrey now if you want-"
"No, no, like I said, I'll go tomorrow if I'm still not right. I'm sure it's nothing that wont clear up soon." The others didn't look convinced, and Remus hoped they wouldn't question him any more. He didn't know how long he could keep up hiding this from them much longer, but he couldn't just tell them. He couldn't lose the only true friends he ever had.