Dear Readers,
THAT'S IT! FINISHED! Exams are over and Summer has officially commenced, (not a moment too soon in my opinion)! I now can get back to the chapter you are all waiting four and (crossing fingers) in shouldn't be very long at all. Hint hint ;) But to keep you all going for these last few days of waiting, I fished out another scene that never quite made it into the official story. However because it's longer than I remembered I've posted it as a one-shot story rather than a Forum-Thread quite simply because it wouldn't fit.^^
This is not really a true "Deleted Scene », like the previous one, in the sense that what takes place, did actually happen. Originally, it was designed as a flashback, to show the Marauders as they were in fifth year, before the incident with Snape, when they're a little younger and a lot less mature. Its other role was to show a part of the story that had me a little worried for a while: how Lily and Sirius' friendship worked out with the guys still picking on Snape.
In the canon scene by the lake it always struck me as odd that, although both Sirius and James were tormenting Snape, Lily only really got pissed off with James. This, combined with the fact that James asked Sirius what he thinks her "problem " is, rather than Remus who, I always imagined knew her better, with both of them being prefects, was one of the reasons that Lily's and Sirius' friendship never seemed "non-canon ", in fact to me it was completely possible. That and the fact that it was Lily who wrote the letter to Sirius in book four, rather than James. What did bug me however was how they would be friends despite Sirius' obvious continued enmity with the Slytherin. This scene is therefore basically a "working out " in my mind of how they would overcome that barrier.
It starts Sunday lunchtime, the day after Chapter 1 and the scene with Emmeline Vance. For those who also remember the note, it is the same day both Lily and Sirius mention in Chapter 3, where they talk about Lily's love of drawing.
So, there you go; the scene is set and I hope you enjoy this insight into the younger Marauders and the girls' minds.
"Not on your life Moony, my friend. The day Hufflepuff beats Ravenclaw is the day I quit the team and join the Gobstones club instead. "
Remus rolled his eyes at the exaggeration but took the point his friend was making a little more seriously, head tilted to the side in thought.
"I still say that Diggory is a pretty decent seeker, with three years of experience to boot. That new kid Bones found may be good, but it doesn't change the fact that he's only in second year. That's a lot of pressure for a twelve year old. "the werewolf said, turning back to look at his friend before realising that he was in fact talking to empty space. He swung round in confusion before a rueful smile warmed his eyes and he shook his sandy head in reluctant amusement.
James' attention had, as so often happened, deviated from the subject in hand to apply itself fully to the task of turning the pretty blond girl walking past them into a starry-eyed puddle on the floor. Sure enough, one devilish grin from the school idol was enough to make her round face flush bright red, polished fingers fiddling nervously with the wayward strands of flaxen hair she was attempting to hide behind.
Remus sighed and waited patiently as James stopped close enough to whisper into the flustered girl's ear, something that, judging from her nervous giggle, was probably not something he wanted to know. The girl's brunette friend was tapping her foot in a mixture of impatience and ill-concealed jealousy and Remus briefly considered sending her an apologetic shrug. But before he could make up his mind, James was by his side once more, grinning wickedly as the girl swayed to lean against the wall, touching the ear he'd just playfully nipped, her blue eyes wide and decidedly dazed.
James' wickedly innocent grin made the werewolf roll his eyes for what seemed like the thousandth time and the two boys continued down the corridor, ignoring the stares, some jealous, some adoring when to Remus' surprise, James continued their debate precisely where he'd left off.
"It's true I admit, but even if the kid does crack, Bones and Davis are still some of the best chasers in the school. Besides yours truly of course."
The evil glint in his eyes deepened at his friend's momentary confusion. It took a moment but Remus recovered and retorted with a deceptively placid smile.
"Strange; I thought they really were THE best in the school. Doesn't Bones still hold the record number of goals scored by single player. »
Just as predicted, twin fires ignited in James' eyes at the obvious challenge. He took a deep breath, all but ready to launch into a tantrum when suddenly the teasing glint in the werewolf's innocent gaze registered. His full lips twitched despite himself, and quick as it had come, his temper vanished, and the school's Golden Boy threw back his shaggy head and laughed, acknowledging the hit. He couldn't however resist at pointing out the reason for this irritating truth.
"You know full well that the prat's got a year on me. End of seventh year, that record will be smashed into the dirt, just like your pretty face if you don't wipe that grin off it. "
The said grin stayed firmly in place; they both knew that the show of anger was for a laugh, just as they both knew that, with the full moon in less than a week's time, it was as impossible for James to carry out the threat as it was for him to fly to that same moon. But Remus obligingly let the point slide, only allowing one eyebrow to raise in amusement, which James decided to ignore.
It was at this moment, as the two boys were approaching the portrait of the bowl of fruit that concealed the hidden entrance to the school kitchens, that the third member of the Marauders appeared, as smoothly and silently as a ghost from the shadows, falling into step with the pair without a thought.
"Sirius, we'd all but given up on you. Where've you been? " James' voice was already filled with laughter, imagining where he thought he knew full well his friend had disappeared to for the past two hours.
The black-haired boy didn't answer for a few seconds, his beautiful face creased into an expression of hesitation before shrugging his broad shoulders with inimitable languid elegance. Both Remus and James glanced at him in new curiosity. Usually when Sirius returned from one of his frequent rendezvous, he was at his most exuberant, the high from sexual satisfaction transforming him instantly into "Happy Sirius ". But today his brother seemed lost in his thoughts. James frowned, thinking about Sirius' stunned expression of wonder when he'd returned to the dorm the night before. Something had been bubbling inside him, bursting to get out, something big. But to James' surprise and no small annoyance Sirius hadn't confided in him, for what must have been the first time ever, so James had swallowed the burning curiosity and had forbore to press him. Today however the look on his brother's face seemed more troubled than simply in shock, so he asked carefully
"What's up mate, you've been acting weird since yesterday. "
Sirius' thoughtful gaze lifted to meet his friend's eyes, before twisting his perfect lips into a billboard smile. The dimple danced, as did those deep violet orbs and he threw back quicker than lightening.
"James buddy, I didn't know you cared. ", batting his ridiculously long lashes in friendly mimicry of one of the hundreds of worshipping girls the school seemed filled with.
Remus chuckled quietly as James rolled his eyes and shoved his brother lightly in the shoulder, but the cautious look on his face remained. James was right, Sirius HAD been acting odd, but if the raven-haired boy didn't want to talk about it just yet, than neither of his friends would push him.
They rounded the corner, still laughing and came to a stop in front of the faded, rather dull still-life of a bowl of fruit. Without even a glance, James brown fingers shot and trailed with deliberate slowness down the side of the green pear, and on cue, the fruit squeaked and transformed into the handle to the door to the Hogwarts kitchens.
As they descended the stairs, Peter came to meet them, chocolate and a huge grin spread all over his round face as he licked the last of the sticky sweetness from the tips of his fingers.
"Finally! I was wondering where you'd all got too. "
Sirius lounged forwards with an apologetic grin and ruffled his friend's fluffy blond hair, eyeing the remains of what once must have been a ginormous pile of chocolate pancakes with a teasing grin.
"Lucky we got here when we did or there'd be none left, hey Pete? "
The smaller boy flushed lightly but grinned back, and followed Sirius and Remus over to the table. James stood by the doorway with a strangely puzzled look on his handsome facing as though waiting for someone…OOFF!
"Master Jamie, master JAMIE! "
The wrinkled little cannonball's squeals were almost unintelligible with his thin arms round James middle, face smothered in the Gryffindor red jersey.
James let out a shout of laughter and pulled the little house-elf into a breath-taking hug, swinging him around and around as easily as a feather.
"Tipsy, how're you doing mate? Training hard I hope. " James put on a mock stern look and the goggle-eyed house-elf named Tipsy giggled and nodded, ears flapping like bat-wings. A second later he had launched into a long, excited explanation of what sounded like every minute of every day for the past month and Sirius rolled his eyes and turned back to his plate. He had no personnel vendetta against house-elves, apart from one in particular, but he could never quite understand his brother's obvious affection for the weird creatures.
Right now James was sitting crossed-legged on the floor, his eyes dancing in amusement at the house-elf's tales of triumph and embarrassments as though it was the most interesting thing in the world. Which let's face it, Sirius thought; completely unimpressed by the description of how Tipsy had accidentally woken up Professor Slughorn whilst cleaning his room, it quite frankly was not.
Tipsy's mother on the other hand, Sirius admitted openly, was something special. Mrs Flipsy, as both the boys called her, had been James' nursemaid from when he had first opened his eyes, a second mother to a boy who had everything in the world other than time with his parents. James adored the old elf who was tough as old boots and had the uncanny ability of knowing immediately if her young, rebellious charge was telling a little white lie to escape punishment. When Sirius had moved in only a few months ago, Mrs Flipsy had immediately claimed him as another disobedient boy to be as much scolded as doted upon. The implacable raven-haired teenager winced, remembering the furious earful he had received having refused to eat the spinach she had determinedly placed on his plate. Even now, just thinking about the fifteen minute rant made him cringe, almost as much as the dreaded green vegetable he had stuffed into his mouth as fast as humanely possible.
Yes Mrs Flipsy was a tarter, she probably got that from MJ, Sirius laughed inwardly. The elf's no-nonsense attitude and complete love and devotion towards her family, had both equally stunned the Black runaway. At home, discipline meant torture, love bragging about his virtues to any other pureblood society lady and if he was lucky, being allowed to escape to his room for a brief hour of rare solitude and respite.
Mrs Flipsy had only the one son, and Tipsy was excitable to say the least, ever brimming with, in Sirius' opinion a slightly nauseating enthusiasm for everything in general, most of all his six month training at Hogwarts. The young elf was unfortunately also hopelessly clumsy, finding even the task of carrying plates, a dangerous undertaking. Add to this the never forgotten fact that the little thing had throw their first attempt at Remus' idea of a Map, into the dustbin along with one extremely long, highly difficult potions essay due for the first week back, and Sirius couldn't help but find the creature less than appealing.
James on the other hand adored him, and made a point of coming down to the kitchens to visit the little elf at least once a week. Sirius rolled his eyes and stuffed another fork-load of pancake into his mouth. If it wasn't for the free food…
It was some two hours later that the quartet finally made their very full way up the stone steps into the main body of the school, listening carefully at the portrait hole before slipping silently into the empty corridor. Sunday lunch was long over and most students were either relaxing or studying in their various spots, and the four boys couldn't help but be thankful that their numerous fan clubs seemed to be doing the same thing.
James was a shameless attention seeker at the best of times, Peter too thrived on the novel sensation of being worshipped and adored if only for his connections rather than on his own merit. However even they admitted that, on occasion, the winy, giggling groupies who followed their every move, were as irritating as the other two Marauders claimed; Remus reluctantly honest and Sirius in acid tone that left no doubt whatsoever as to his deepest contempt and loathing for his adoring fans.
It was because of the giggling girls that on occasion the Marauders slipped away to eat their meals in piece, without the surrounding babble of blonds, brunettes and the occasional carrot-top, down to the kitchens where the house-elves had welcomed them with open arms since their second year.
The boy's stretched and yawned and Remus asked pensively
"Any ideas how to spend the rest of the day? "
James and Sirius glanced at each other, before nodding their black heads and saying in solemn unison
"Practicing. "
Remus' brow creased into a frown of vexation, odd for one who's easiness of temper and never failing cool, was legendary. He huffed disapprovingly, opening his mouth to repeat the same old arguments.
"I still think this is reckless and stupid and definitely danger… "
But the others were already cutting him off. James grabbed his arm firmly, steering him down the corridor as Peter pushed from behind. Sirius moved languidly beside them, sweeping the away the lock of hair that had fallen into his eyes with a slightly bored smile of amusement saying
"Give it up Moony. You should know by now that we are going through with this, like it or not. "
Remus pouted but rolled his eyes with reluctant humour.
"You don't think this is just slightly MY business I suppose. ", he protested half-heartedly but without much hope.
James' eyes sparkled in pure mischief as he pointed out with a broad smirk
"Considering you won't be conscious for most of it, no, not really "
Remus sighed once more and, for what seemed like the thousandth time, gave up, shaking his arm out of his friends grip declaring that he was perfectly able to walk by himself even if he couldn't think.
The four boys laughed and carried on, mounting the stairs, through the corridors making their slow but sure way up to the seventh floor and the Room of Requirement. Unfortunately however, this path took them past the library and it was just as they were crossing this same corridor that Severus Snape stumbled out through the doorway and straight into the foursome's path.
The five students froze in unison. Snape's coal black eyes flickered from one face to the other, nervous as a cat in unknown territory. Remus shut his eyes briefly, knowing without looking the huge gleeful grin that would have spread over his two friends' faces, matching and evil as they smirked at their hated enemy. Peter looked from one cruel smile to the other, in eager anticipation, and not for the first time, the werewolf felt the urge to hit him smartly on the head for encouraging what could only really be called their bullying.
"Snivellous! "
The slight widening of Snape's eyes, made James' smirk grow impossibly bigger as he sauntered forward a pace, twirling his wand between brown fingers. Remus hadn't even seen him take it out. Being brought up by two very well-know aurors had meant that James had been taught seventh year level duelling before he had entered school. Beside him Sirius followed his movement, the catlike grace still awe-inspiring really even to one who had know him so long. Remus shivered slightly, recognising the dreaded glint of Black madness in his friend's eyes as he gazed with such hated at the scrawny Slytherin.
Snape looked like he wanted nothing more than to retreat back in to the safety of the library but he gritted his teeth and held his ground, lip curled in obvious loathing for the two School idols who smirked at him so evilly.
"Out of my way, Potter. "
The look of hurt that creased James' handsome face would have melted the hardest of hearts if not for that glint of wicked laughter.
"Don't be such a spoil-sport; we only wanted you to participate in our little game. "
"Game..? " the boy repeated warily and those hazel eyes sparkled openly with unholy mirth. James and Sirius dug their unoccupied hands into their pockets in unison and Remus barely suppressed the groan.
"Yeah, " James continued evilly, holding up the handful of little balloons that seemed to be filled with an ominously pulsating green liquid.
"Target practice. "
Snape ran. The scrawny black-haired boy was halfway down the corridor to freedom when suddenly an invisible robe tightened round his angle and yanked him painfully into midair. Snape let out a snarl of frustration as Sirius' Expelliarmous not only blasted his wand out of hand but also threw his suspended body hard against the stone wall, causing him to hiss through his bared teeth in pain.
From his upside-down view, he could see the two taller boy's advancing towards him, identical smirks hovering on their gleeful faces; behind them Pettigrew goggled eagerly while Lupin simply watched in silence, an unspoken apology tightening the skin around his amber eyes. Snape glared back at him viciously, hating the freak's pity more than his Nemesis' cruelty, despising the pale gaunt looking prefect for the cowardice no GRYFFINDOR should posses.
James flicked his wand so that the squirming little grease ball was pushed forward until his scrawny figure was pressed totally up against the wall, before stuffing all but one of the balloons back into his pocket. He grinned wickedly into the Slytherin's face, ignoring the loathing that contorted his already unattractive features and playing with studied innocence with the little green ball, throwing in the air and catching it before it fell.
"Know what this is Snivellous? " The only answer he received was a bellow of rage that came out muffled as the green and silver tie fell into the suspended boy's face. James continued without missing a beat.
"Stinksap bombs my greasy friend. A common muggle prank put to even better use. " James turned to wink at his best mate and Sirius' dimple danced in evil delight back at him. His shaggy hair gleamed in the sunlight that streamed through the nearby window as he tilted his handsome head to the side, eying the upside down boy with deep concentration before saying with deceptive thoughtfulness
"Fifty galleons says I hit his nose? " James sniggered.
"What that oversized conk? I wouldn't give you twenty. I however say Forty galleons says I can hit that weeny little dick of his. "
Sirius licked his lips in vicious anticipation and said promptly
"You're on. "
Remus winced as the first stink sap filled rubber balloon hit the Slytherin squarely in the face. The boy spluttered and swore as the green mucus stung his eyes and ran down his nose making him choke. James and Sirius high-fived each other, their cruel laughter echoing down the corridor. Peter whooped as Sirius' balloon exploded on Snape's crumpled shirt staining the already shabby material irreparably. The green stuff stuck to the skin like glue and the dark curtains of hair swung back and forth as the boy coughed in an effort to clear his airways enough to swear furiously at his tormentors, his face red with humiliation that only made James and Sirius laugh harder.
Suddenly James turned around to grin disarmingly at his friend who stood rigid and undecided behind them, saying cheerily
"Come on Moony, you're missing out on the fun. There's fifty galleons going to whoever can hit the empty space where the git's balls should be. " he juggled the balloons deftly between his fingers, showing off as ever.
Remus shook his head and said softly
"Guys, why don't we just leave it. "
He turned his sad gaze to where Snape still struggled pathetically against his invisible bonds and finished quietly
"Joke's over. "
A frown creased James' brow, his lips turning downwards into a pout at his friend's obvious disapproval. Then he sighed putting the green balls back into his pocket with huff.
"You're no fun anymore Moony. "
Sirius looked over his shoulder to grin handsomely at James' put out expression.
"Who knows; maybe he'll start taking points off us next. Now he's a PREFECT. " he mocked wickedly.
The laughter broke the tension and cleared the uncomfortable look from Remus' weary face. James sighed a final time before turning regretfully back towards Snape's suspended figure, his wand lifted to undo the spell that held him prisoner when suddenly he smirked evilly back towards the werewolf.
"Just one last shot to win those fifty galleons and I'll let him go. "
Remus opened his mouth to protest but James' arm was in and out of his pocket in a flash, the green ball of stick sap was pulled back and a blur of red flew past, knocking both Remus and Peter into the wall. The balloon was released before Sirius' eyes had time to do more than widen.
It flew through the fifteen meters of air with deadly accuracy before exploding in a faint hiss on the face of the petite red-head girl who had stood determinedly in its path..
The entire corridor was silent. Then the newcomer broke the spell, lifting a white hand to wipe the murky green stickiness from her eyes and away from her cheeks that were flushed red with anger. She flicked her fingers impatiently trying to remove the sap before turning to glare at the four boy's with the ferocity of a tiger. Finally she forced out through tightly gritted teeth, eyeing James in particular with a look of deepest loathing.
"Do you really have nothing better to do with your time. "
The question was rhetorical; they all knew it but nothing annoyed James more than being made to feel inferior and contemptuous way the girl was curling her lip at him, HIM, pissed him off no end. The disgust on her face made his stomach seem to clench, his tall figure seemed to shrink until he was only an inch tall and to his fury the blood pooled in his lean cheeks bringing the faintest of flushes to them. Her obvious loathing was something he wasn't used to, not from a girl anyway and it made him uncomfortable, uneasy, almost like a kid being caught doing something wrong.
The anger clouded his mind, so much so that he missed the way his friend was suddenly rigid and pale as he stared with clenched fists at the interfering little red-head. Who was this tart who actually thought she could tell him what to do? The little bitch obviously didn't know who she was dealing with.
The flushed and furious school idol folded him arms with studied nonchalance, forcing his trademark smirk onto his face despite the murderous fire dancing in his eyes. This smirk was one of his favourites; mocking, inviting, tempting and insulting all at once, it had an inimitable way of bringing a blush to even the coolest of damsels . Sure enough, this carrot-topped fireball was nothing different.
"Oh I have hundreds of better things to do with my time babe, but I tend to like my girls more wet and less sticky. "
The girls eyes seemed to burst into flames, the look in those emeralds said quite clearly she wanted nothing more than to slowly disembowel the boy in front of her and feed his manhood to the giant squid. James couldn't help it; he took a pace back, before snarling inwardly at the sign of weakness.
"Perfect. " the girl retorted icily. " I like guys who aren't spineless enough to pick on people four to one. Obviously they put you in the wrong house Potter. "
James' jaw clenched but his lips returned to that dangerously beautiful smile almost immediately, his voice soft and disarmingly silky as he answered.
"What do you know Evans; I was going to say that green suits you unbelievably well. You and that greasy git really are the perfect match; why don't you run along and have a bath together. " He sniggered cruelly looked the pair up and down with obvious superiority. "Merlin knows you need it. "
Lily curled her at him, her voice filled with the deepest contempt.
"And you're pathetic Potter. The only time you're probably in the bathroom is to visit your own reflection. "
The boy simply grinned disarmingly, his handsome smirk taunting her and mocking the weakness of her response. She eyed him coldly before suddenly turning her glare to the pale tawny haired boy standing nervously to the back.
"And for God's sake Remus you're a prefect. How could you just…stand there? You're better than that. A better person that this narcissistic bullying toerag. "
James scoffed and rolled his eyes, freeing the blushing werewolf from his predicament. He smirked down into her slime-covered face, openly and obviously condescending.
"Get over yourself Evans. No one here gives a damn about your opinion, so just go back to that pathetic little thing you call a life and leave the mouthing off for someone who actually cares.
The words struck a nerve, just as he had meant them to. Peter guffawed as her face turned red in humiliation and her fists clenched trying to fight back the desire to slap that mocking smirk right off his face. He was not better than her; she would NOT lower herself to his level. He was just a spoilt brat who thought that good looks and talent meant that the rest of world existed simply to lick his boots. He was nothing but a bully, cruel and arrogant as Malfoy himself and not even worthy of her time or anger.
The boy beside him still stood as motionless as a Grecian statue. She could feel his gaze scorching her already red face but her pride would not let her look at him. She didn't want to see the apology in those forget-me-not eyes, or worse the absence of it. She didn't want to hate the boy she suddenly met for the first time ever, the true Sirius Black, the one no one but his friends ever saw.
In a few short hours, one brief conversation, she had found in the school heartthrob and heartbreaker a person that already she wanted to know better, to understand and be close to. He was a mystery she wanted to unravel. A lost boy that she for some reason, dearly wanted to find. Something in the way he had clung to her so tightly, pouring so much pain onto her soaked shirt had made her want so badly to protect him from whatever it was that had caused this lingering agony that was always repressed and locked away. She didn't want him to see the accusation and hurt in her own eyes, the disappointment she knew he would find, because it wasn't fair; she couldn't expect him to suddenly change overnight.
To see him torturing Sev so cruelly, it had number her to the core despite the fact that it shouldn't have. The Marauders as they called themselves, had always hated any Slytherin and Sev, however much she hated to say it, bookworm, poor and unpopular as he was, made a ridiculously easy target. Every time they met wands were drawn and she had detested the foursome because of it. Peter for his obvious relish of someone else being the weak one for once, Remus for his cowardice in never telling his friends how disgusting their behaviour really was. And James Potter; Lily hated the arrogant womanising leader of the stupid pack most of all.
She'd hated Sirius too but it hadn't quite been the same. She'd been too in awe of his courage, the strength it must have taken to stand against such a tsunami of opposition in regards to his stance on muggle and muggle-born rights, to produce the same level of antipathy she felt for Potter. She detested his bullying ways certainly but Lily could never quite push aside the admiration she grudgingly felt for the school enigma nor the empathy of his loneliness.
To have her parents taken from her had nearly killed her, but to turn one's back on everything you had ever know, to willingly lose one's family to stand up for one's beliefs, it was something that she still couldn't quite comprehend. Surely it would be so much easier to just give in. After all what was one voice out of thousands going to change. One martyr ready to sacrifice his place in the world to fight for those who couldn't.
But it had only needed one person to change her. One person to stop her giving up against the ridiculous odds and inspire her to prove to the world that he was right. She did deserve this, as much as any other filthy rich pureblood who thought himself better than the world and his mate.
So Lily didn't look at him, didn't force him to make a choice between old and new allegiances. She wouldn't win anyway. For the briefest of moments a surge of jealousy surprised her at the thought that he had chosen Potter, the most arrogant bastard in the school, to be his brother in all but blood. It was stupid and childish but already she felt the hint of possessiveness towards her new…for Merlin's sake they were barely even friends yet. Lily laughed inwardly and sighed before looking Potter straight in his annoyingly pretty eyes.
"Take the spell off him Potter and get lost. Save YOUR showing off for someone who's easily impressed. "
The arsehole opened his mouth, probably to tell her where to shove it when suddenly Remus' low voice cut through the tension like a knife.
"Come on James. This is time much better spent practising remember. "
James hesitated staring down in the girl's defiant emerald eyes. Then he finally threw a quick grin at his friend, raising a mocking eyebrow.
"NOW you want us to practise? " he joked, mock impatience pulling his lips downward in a pout but he shrugged and flicked his wand with a nonchalant hand. Lily let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding as Severus fell heavily to the floor. She ran to him, helping him to his feet and James found himself glaring as she fussed and patted down his uniform. His lip curled in something that was originally meant to be disgust before pulling himself together and turning to the other Marauders with an arrogant sneer.
"Come on guys, lets leave the love-birds to clean themselves up. Though looking at that greasy head Evans might be there a while. " Lily shot him glare but didn't answer, gritting her teeth and staring determinedly at the floor wanting him only to GO.
Remus and Peter obediently turned and fell into step behind as James sauntered down the corridor as though he owned it, Remus with only a last apologetic look back that made Lily shake her head in disappointment.
She turned back to Severus, who was retrieving his wand from where it had been blasted too and was desperately trying to avoid looking her in the eye. Lily hesitated before starting sadly
"Sev, I… "
He cut her off with a vigorous shake of the head, still staring furiously at the stone floor. Hurt at his refusal to talk to her made her bite her lip, but she swallowed the pain and simply passed him his bag that he'd forgotten in the Library where they'd been studying. He took it without a word, slinging it over his scrawny shoulder whilst trying desperately to wipe the remains of the Stinksap off his face with the other pale hand. Realising it was futile, he gave up and muttered finally
"I'm gonna go and get cleaned up. I…I'll see you later. "
Lily put out a hand to stop him but he was already scuttling down the corridor as if the hounds of hell were after him. Lily's copper curls fell over her eyes as her chin dropped to her chest, hiding from the hurt and the guilt and confusion.
He'd been pushing her away from some time now, since the middle of fourth year to be precise. It had only been tiny things at first; a sudden tension when she'd hugged him at Christmas, a new habit he had of staring at her when his mind wandered. Then he'd started spending more and more time with his so-called friends. The ones who would like nothing better to see her dead and who treated her almost as badly as Potter and his gang treated him. He wouldn't meet her eyes after that, and shut up like a clam when she'd carefully asked him whether he was mad about something. He'd looked horrified and had hastened to reassure her but the feeling was still there, the vague but ever growing certainty that he was hiding something from her. He wasn't the kind of person you could chase after; when backed into a corner he would simply shut down and cut himself off completely. Like he had done just now.
She didn't know how long she'd been standing there when suddenly a movement in the shadow made her jump and drew her wand in alarm.
His tall toned body pushed away from the wall in a single fluid movement, stepping into the blaze of sunlight so that his ebony locks shone almost blue. Blue as those eyes that stared into hers, filled with too many emotions to count. Lily stared back, she hadn't noticed his continued presence; she thought he'd left with the others. She looked at him doubtfully, at a loss whether to be angry or sad or simply not to mention what had happened at all. Where were they, WHAT were they? Sure she was the only female he'd ever spent time with outside a broom closet that she could remember, but what did that mean? That she could lecture him on what he could and couldn't do? Judge him? The uncertainty made her fiddle, a white finger coming unconsciously to twirl one wayward scarlet curl nervously when suddenly he broke the uncomfortable silence with the last words she could ever expect.
"Do you hate me? "
Whatever she had been unconsciously waiting for it wasn't that. Lily felt her mouth drop to the floor and hastily shut it in fleeting embarrassment, but the emotion was overridden by the simply overwhelming SHOCK. The words had been emotionless, empty of any kind of feeling and those flawless features were carefully neutral. He simply looked at her and when she didn't respond he continued in the same tone.
"You should. "
The shock was lessening now and in it's absence it was as if the list was fading and things were becoming clearer. The tightness of the boy's jaw, the deliberate hardness of his eyes. He was nervous, however well he hid it, like a little boy who has done wrong and is secretly scared about his punishment but is trying his very hardest to show he doesn't care.
Like… Lily winced inwardly. Yes, that was who he reminded her of. Andy. Before the car-crash. It pulled at something in her heart, some rush of warmth that washed away the anger and disappointment and it made her raise her brows and shrug her smalls shoulders with studied nonchalance.
"Well if you really want me too. "
For a moment the words didn't seem to sink in. Only when she allowed the rueful grin to finally escape and spread over her features did Sirius give in to the bemusement that was pulling his jaw down to the floor. He stared at her as though she'd grown a third arm, or was wondering if she was quite sane. Sure enough he tilted his handsome head to the side, surveying her as one would study a rare species before saying in a voice filled with great concern
"You really are not…normal…are you? »
It was her turn to gape at him, disbelief and then pure indignation sparking in those emerald eyes and it pulled his lips upwards into the beginnings of a smile.
"I…you are a prat, and an arrogant bullying one at that. " she added dryly, frowning at him darkly.
The laughter vanished. The tension returned in a rush as they simply looked at each other and waited. His face was serious and carefully blank once more before finally opening his mouth to say quietly
"Maybe if there was someone to be a good influence… " the hesitation in those low velvet tones was strangely endearing. "Correct the many faults in my character. "
There was a hint of laughter in his eyes now, the dimple quivered in his cheek, threatening to escape and dance to the same music. Lily raised an eyebrow, unmoved and unimpressed, at least outwardly. Because the git clearly had the gift of being obnoxiously adorable and charming when he needed to, and obviously used both traits unscrupulously to get out of trouble. Why else would she have the sudden almost overwhelming desire to pat him on the head like a cute little puppy. Smarmy git.
"Somehow I feel that if Remus hasn't been able to correct those faults in just over four years, there isn't much hope of my doing so. " Lily retorted with rueful amusement.
The dimple was let loose as was the disarming grin that made her heart almost melt. His expression was one of pure unadulterated mischief and laughter shook in his voice as he threw back promptly.
"Ah but Remus never gave me the right incentive to acquire any basic morals. " he glinted at her wickedly, before continuing almost as an afterthought.
"Besides, Remus loves me just the way I am. " he stated proudly, with the air of one triumphantly throwing down a trump card. It was too much for her gravity and Lily gave in to giggles, her auburn curls flying as she shook her head in half-hearted disbelief. Then suddenly her own face lit up in wicked delight, at how his words could be taken in another sense.
"Just wait until I tell the Hogwarts population that two of their idols are actually batting for the other team! " she crowed gleefully as Sirius' grin was wiped off his face.
For a split-second, his face darkened into an ugly sneer and Lily was abruptly serious, waiting cautiously for his reaction. Had she pushed him too far? She wondered nervously. Any other girl in the school would have been hexed to Antarctica for so blatantly mocking the school idol. The faint sneer that curled his lip seemed to indicate that it was indeed too much too soon and Lily's apology was already on her lips when just as suddenly Sirius relaxed.
The madness seeped away, the tension leaving his jaw and his fists and he shook his shaggy head at her. Lily watched him dubiously, still worried at the fit of temper she'd almost brought out of him. He took a deep breath that seemed to shudder in his broad chest and eventually opened his tanzanite eyes only to roll them elegantly at her.
"Do it; you die Evans. " Then he added thoughtfully "Or should I say, Snivellous does. "
Lily frowned at the taunting way he was lifting his eyebrow at her, challenging her for her reaction but she didn't rise to the obvious bait. Instead she simply shrugged and smiled sweetly back.
"Touch one hair of his head, " she began, ignoring Sirius' disgusted snort of "As if I would. "
"And I'll just have to inform Professor McGonagall that it was your little friend who charmed the suits of armour to say "Here kitty kitty kitty… " Every time she walked past. " she finished with an evil grin.
Sirius eyed the diminutive red-head darkly, irritation battling with a grudging new-found respect.
"You know full well that wasn't him. "
Lily's smile was brighter than the morning sunshine as she answered cheerfully,
"I do. But McGonagall doesn't. "
The tall boy's brown creased for a moment at the girl's sheer duplicity before finally his sense of the ridiculous chased away the tension. He gave a gravely shout of laughter, acknowledging the hit with an appreciative smirk and offered
"How about this; I loathe your friend, you hate mine. I promise to lay off Sniv…SNAPE a little, and you promise to avoid deliberately aggravating my rather choleric best mate, thereby not putting me in the position of having to save you from one if his numerous and decidedly painful hexes. Sound good? "
Lily tilted her head to the side considering, her scarlet curls falling gently into her eyes. Sirius felt his lips tug upwards in amusement. No other chick in the school would think twice about accepting any offer he put on the table. Evans…Lily…she really was something special. His smirk widened as she finally nodded in acceptance that she wouldn't get a better deal than the one she was being offered. Not even for this girl whose approval suddenly meant everything to him, would he start being buddy-buddy with the slimy Slytherin, but she wasn't fool enough to expect him to. Nor, Sirius sighed inwardly, was she weak enough to simply bow down to his slightly big-headed friend who unconsciously expected the adoration he invariably received wherever he went. He eyed her appraisingly tinged with admiration.
But even so, maybe they could make this work.
She seemed to read the debate written all over his handsome face and as if in reply smiled the brightest sunniest smile he'd ever seen. The same warmth from the night before made his heart of stone almost feel real, and an unexpected passer by would have been astounded to see the soft glow of affection that emanated from his perfect features as he simply looked into the girl's piquant face.
It was a quiet moment. Not life-changing like the night before, nor heartbreaking as the one that was to come, but a small sweet moment. One not to be flaunted or maybe even remembered very clearly. Just a small sigh of relief from life's struggles. A moment of understanding between two people whose friendship should have never really been but now that it was, now that they'd made it so, maybe, just maybe could be something incredible.
It's quite a strange little scene really, but I liked it mainly because it gives a little glimpse into what the young Marauder's were like before the huge uproar that is « All Over Again. » Plus it was fun to see James hating Lily and Lily hating James, not because they still love each other, but simply because he's a git and she hates players and two people so different can only ever really love or hate each other.
But tell me what you thought of it, or maybe didn't like it, or want to know more or anything really. You know I rub my hands with gleeful avarice over each and every new review I receive. So pretty please, make my day ;)
Oh and before I go I'll say it once more; I am officially now ON HOLIDAY and hope to finish Chapter 21 some time in the coming week! So look out for it!
As always, I luv y'all lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and well…you get the picture ;)
Lili
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