Those were the thoughts coursing through Lily Evans head as she sat watching the gang of boys play with, of all things, tree branches. The idiots……….
Suddenly, one boy from the game came over and sat down by Lily, grabbing a book out of his bag. It was her good friend, Remus Lupin.
"Hi Lily," said the tall, peaky sandy blonde headed sixth year. "What are you up to?"
Lily grinned at him. She had had a crush on him once in their first year, but after that she'd always thought of him as a friend. Him and Sirius were her only friends from their little gang. Remus smiled back and handed her a slip of parchment from his book. Noticing the cursive handwriting on it, her grin turned to a frown. It was from James Potter.
"What does he want now?" She muttered, unfolding it.
Dear Lily,
I was wanting to apologize for the way I've treated you lately. I know you're not something to be won. Anyway, I was wanting to tell you that I'm deeply sorry for everything, and hope that this year we can be friends.
Sincerely,
James Potter
She was confused. He was apologizing to her? Why? She glanced over at Remus to explain, but he was looking down at his copy of "How Arithmancy Can Be Your Friend." Sighing, she scribbled down as small note below it and read it over to make sure there were no mistakes.
James,
I guess we can be friends. However, attempt to impress me it's over, for good.
-Lily Evans
Lily grinned at her work and refolded the letter, handed it to Remus, and gathered up her things to leave. On her way up the grounds, she looked back at Potter, who'd just whacked Peter a good one. He was tall and gangly, with hazel brown eyes and untidy black hair. Lily grinned at him and he grinned back, before Sirius hit him on the head. Trying hard not to laugh at this, she ran for the castle.
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"Give me it," said James as soon as the entered the common room that evening.
"Here you go, mate," said Remus, handing over the folded parchment. However, Sirius grabbed it out of Remus' loose hand and unfolded it.
" 'James," he read with a mock Evans voice, " I guess we can be friends. However, attempt to impress me it's over, for good.' Bunch of rubbish, if you want my opinion. This friendship won't last long-"
"Well, I had to apologize," responded James, now pocketing the letter.
"Whatever you say, mate," said Sirius, taking a chair by the fire.
"If you want my opinion, Prongs, I think you rather got her attention," said Remus, as he sat at one of the tables.
Good old Moony, thought James, gazing into the fire that flickered and glowed an orange-red color. On the crisp fall evening, nothing more would have been better. As Remus got out his books to complete his homework due about a week later, Sirius started to play Peter a game of exploding snap.
However, all James could do was think about Lily. The way she smiled, laughed, not to mention all the occasions she got angry with him. Once he even upset her, which made him sick to think about. James was never going to do that again. He'd rather die than upset Lily.
Just then, James got up, muttering something about taking a walk around the castle.
"Be careful, and try to be back before nine, if you're not taking the cloak. I can't stand reporting you," said Remus, glancing up from his work.
"K, I'll try," said James, smiling.
And with that, James left through the Fat Lady portrait. Going down the corridor, he stopped at the sight of some Slytherins. They had to be about fifth, sixth, and a few seventh years. What really caught his eye was Severus Snape, who he loved to annoy. What were they doing? Quietly, he slid behind a statue a few feet away and got out an old piece of parchment. Lily's note slid out with it. Taking a few minutes, he managed to get out his map. However, just then the last one walked through a door, then it closed.
He tapped his parchment, muttering, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Just then, lines surged over the map, till finally it bore a map of Hogwarts. On it, he noticed that the Slytherins were walking toward Hogsmeade. Pocketing it, he pursued the door and examined it. After a few seconds, he managed to get the door to open. Grinning, he said, "Lumos!" and then felt his way down the pathway.
Exiting the pathway now, he strolled around the village, hoping not to be noticed. Reaching the forest, he caught sight of one boy, standing near the foot of a hill. What he was doing there, he didn't know.
"Hey, you!" he shouted at the kid, who suddenly took off.
James chased him as far as a cabin, where he found, to his surprise, a fifth year Slytherin standing guard, but now sight of the boy. He slid behind the tree and hoped that nobody had noticed him before hand.
After about a half hour, Severus came out, apparently to take his shift guarding the area. Now was the time to leave. Yet, before he turned around, he felt a wand prod him in the back.
"Don't move," said the chilling voice, which made James suddenly freeze. Turning around slightly, he saw the man's face. A man with brilliant jet black hair and emerald green eyes starred at him. He had to be well into his twenties, maybe even his thirties.
"What?" said James dumbly.
"Crucio!!!!" hollered the man, conducting the incantation.
James world suddenly went dark and shaky. Then he passed out.
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