Snapshots
The Date That Shall Not Be Mentioned
I'm NOT JK Rowling and I don't own Harry Potter! This is written for EvylinDevilin's Choose Your Path Challenge.
"Bloody hell! Are they at it again?" James asked as yelling reached his ears.
"Yep." Remus replied not taking his eyes of his Transfiguration textbook. James rolled his eyes and sat down beside Remus in one of the armchairs by the fire. People in the Common Room looked over at the portrait hole where the sound of a fierce argument was coming from.
"This is the third time this week!" James frowned.
"I know."
"They argue like an old married couple." James complained as the yelling increased in volume and profanity. "A loud old married couple."
"Try telling them that mate." Remus replied ignoring the shrieking that came from outside the portrait hole.
"What is it this time?" James asked pulling out his half completed Charms homework.
"Sirius convinced Sam's younger brother to spy on her." Remus answered "Apparently Sirius was going to set up a prank and needed Philip to get some "inside information""
"Let me guess...Sirius was trying to ask her out again huh?"
"Got it in one. They're like you and Lily only with more swearing."
"Yeah I don't remember Lily ever saying something about my wand being shoved up my arse or anything about my--"
"Let's not go there mate."
"Yeah on second thoughts best leave that one alone."
The yelling got louder and louder and eventually James and Remus abandoned the Common Room for the boys' dormitory. Sirius stormed into the room twenty minutes later and started to complain loudly about Samantha. Remus sat with his text book open on the bed, Peter watched Sirius like he was a bomb about to go off and James sat listening but looking like he wasn't paying attention.
"I only wanted her brother to get her diary or something! She acts as if I told him to offer himself on a silver platter to a dragon! God's sake! Sometimes I wonder why I bother with Samantha bloody Clearwater! The girl is a lunatic! She accused me of putting ideas in her brother's head! If she'd seen what Philip did on his own she would think I was the responsible one! I mean did you see what he did to those first years the other week! That should've been us!"
Remus and James shared a look and went back to trying to complete their potions homework.
"Why don't you just ask her out?" Remus asked in an exasperated tone.
"It would imply that I actually like the girl!" Sirius countered.
"If you don't like her then why the hell are you asking her out?" James asked.
"Have you seen Sam?" Sirius asked with a raised eyebrow. "She's got every boy after her! Even the bloody Slytherins!"
"Good point well presented, but do you actually like Sam?" James asked.
"Yes." Sirius said after a few minutes.
"Then walk up to her tomorrow in Transfiguration and say "Will you go out with me Samantha"" James said.
"And how many times have you said that to Lily?" Sirius asked
"Erm…Dunno." James said scratching the back of his head while trying to think "A couple?"
"And how many times has she said yes?"
"None."
"Then you see the problem with this plan."
"But the difference is--" Began James but Sirius cut him off.
"We're like you and Lily with more swearing."
James rolled his eyes at his friend "If you don't ask her out then I'll do it for you." He warned.
"You wouldn't."
"He would." Remus and Peter said at the same time.
"I would you know."
"Piss off James!" Sirius grumbled collapsing on his own bed "And what's the answer to question twelve on the Transfiguration homework?"
Three days had passed with no incidents or arguments from either Sirius or Samantha, if anything they seemed to be ignoring each other. They didn't talk to each other unless it was absolutely necessary like in Potions, but even then they didn't say much.
James was sure that one way or the other they would talk to one an other and two days later an opportunity arose. Lily Evans was Samantha's friend so obviously she knew almost everything that James would need if he were to succeed in getting the two of them to go out with each other.
"C'mon Evans!" James pleaded.
"For the last time I won't go out with you!" The red head snapped spinning around to face him. "So stop asking!"
"I wasn't going to ask that!" James cried indignantly
"Oh really?" Lily's voice was heavy with sarcasm.
"I just need some help!"
"For another one of your stupid pranks? Dream on!"
"No! I need you to help me set Sirius and Sam on a date!" James said grabbing Lily's wrist and dragging her behind a tapestry with her yelling and fighting all the way.
"What makes you think I would help you!" Lily hissed.
"So you like all the very loud arguments?" James asked with a raised eyebrow. Lily seemed to ponder this for a few minutes and then sighed loudly.
"I can't believe the words are coming out of my mouth but…I think your right. Just how exactly do you think putting them on a date will stop them fighting?"
"Trust me it'll work!" James stated confidently.
"Tell me why I'm very sceptical about that sentence."
"Look Evans, if I know anything is that this will work."
"Fine…but if this all goes south I had nothing to do with this." Lily said with a note of finality and pushed past James and out from behind the tapestry.
"And wait Evans! Will--" James called sticking his head out from behind the tapestry.
"Not going to happen Potter." Lily called back, not even turning to look at him.
James frowned as he read the plan over again, he wasn't so sure about this anymore. Lily, Remus and himself had worked on their plan for the best part of a week and had only put the finishing touches on it the previous night.
"Mate don't give yourself a brain haemorrhage." Sirius teased. James quickly whipped the parchment into his pocket and Sirius raised an eyebrow at him.
"Hey Padfoot!" James said cheerfully.
"Uh…Hi Prongs?"
"So…what's up with you?" James asked
"I think I should be asking you that question." Sirius replied. "And I found this lying on my bed."
Sirius dove into his pocket and retrieved a crumpled piece of parchment before throwing it at James. James caught it easily and smoothed out the paper to read it.
Dear Sirius,
I'm sorry about the argument the other night it was wrong of me to accuse you. Philip has just told me the truth and realize that I had overreacted. Can you meet me at the Room of Requirement tonight? I'd like to talk to you.
Samantha
James grinned, the plan was falling into place. It was a very good forgery he had to admit Lily had outdone herself this time.
"Room of Requirement?" James said acting confused "Where's that?"
"Seventh floor." Sirius replied. "You think I should go? Something seems off…Sam's never apologised or admitted she was wrong before."
"Don't knock it mate." James said crumpling the paper again and throwing it back to Sirius. "Just go and see what she wants."
"I dunno…something still seems off."
"Mate trust me, just go." James said.
"Fine." Sirius said with a shrug "I'll go but I still think something's off."
James smirked as his friend walked away Step one: Complete!
Lily walked with Samantha to the Room of Requirement and Samantha was all but jumping for joy. Lily smiled at her friend's enthusiasm but she wondered how enthusiastic she would be when she saw just who she was going on a date with.
Samantha's golden hair was tied in a long pony tail and it made her heart shaped face and dark blue eyes more noticeable. Lily smiled at her friend, Sirius wouldn't know what hit him.
"I can't believe Amos asked me out!" Samantha exclaimed.
"You're lucky." Lily said with a smile.
"If I was lucky I would be able to see the answers to next weeks Transfiguration test." Samantha closed her eyes "I foresee that McGonagall will ask about Transfiguration."
"That's useful." Lily laughed.
"I try my hardest Lily." Samantha said with a grin.
"Well I have to go now so I'll see you later and you can tell me all about your date with Amos." Lily said.
"See you later Lily!" Samantha called after her friend. Samantha stood at the barren stretch of wall waiting for Amos to show up. Five minutes past and she heard the sound of running footsteps behind her. Samantha grinned and turned around to say something and her face fell.
"What the--" she started when she saw Sirius.
"Hey Sam."
"Samantha! For the last time my name is Samantha!"
"Alright Samantha!" Sirius said holding up his hands in surrender. "I'm here now so what do you want to talk to me about?"
"Talk to you?" Samantha asked "I don't want to talk to you! I'm waiting for Amos!"
"But you sent me a letter--"
"I never sent you a bloody letter!"
"Then I must be imagining things when I look at this!" Sirius snapped digging into his pocket and pulling out the letter. Samantha grabbed the letter and scanned the parchment looking more furious by the minute.
"I never sent that!" Samantha said shoving the letter back at Sirius.
"If you didn't then who did?" Sirius asked shoving the letter into his pocket yet again.
"How am I supposed to know?!" Samantha said. Sirius rolled his eyes at the furious girl
"Do you want to just go into the Room of Requirement?" Sirius asked. Samantha looked torn but gave a small sigh.
"Alright but you don't mention this…ever." Samantha warned and Sirius gave a jerky nod before both of them vanished through the door.
Around the corner at the top of the corridor James gave Remus a high five and Lily looked smug.
"I told you that would work." She stated.