1
"Hello James," Alexis,or Lexi for short, said while walking up to James.
"Hello Lexi," James replied, looking up from his book to look at her.
"I haven't seen you around lately," she purred. James smiled at her, closing his book.
"Yeah, I've been a bit busy," he answered.
"Oh, really? Studying?" she asked. James nodded. "Oh." She looked over at the lake and then back to James. She gave James a charming smile and took his hand. "Would you like to go for a walk around the lake with me?" she asked him.
"Okay," he said taking her hand and leading her to the lake. I watched them leave
"Well, it looks like James is back in the world of girls now, doesn't it?" Remus said, watching James leave with Lexi.
"Yes it seems he has," I answered back. I shook my head and turned back to my book.
"Oh, Sirius, you are sooo cute!" A girl squealed from behind us. I looked up from my book, annoyed, and turned to see Sirius surrounded by a bunch of girls. He was, of course, flirting with them.
"And funny," another gushed. I looked over at Remus. He didn't seem to mind the noise. I sighed and closed my book. There was no way I would be able to concentrate with those girls being so loud. I got up to leave.
"Where are you going, Wormtail?" Sirius asked, noticing me get up. I was a bit annoyed at the time and really just needed to get away from them. Especially the girls. Their just , SO LOUD.
And annoying.
"I'm just tired of studying," I lied. "I'll go see if I find James. He's been gone a while."
"Oh, alright." He was just about to turn back to the girls but suddenly came charging back at me. He grabbed me and pulled me away and said, "If James happens to...uh...be doing a certain something with Lexi, Like if you see a few things keep them...to...uh...yourself. And just um, leave quickly. You get me?" He asked. I had no clue what he was talking about. What Something would James be doing? When it clicked. Th thought throughly disgusted me.
"Of course I get you," I said in an affronted tone.
"Okay good. I'd tell you to take Remus with you, but he would probably just... Well you know him. He studies too much. Peter remind me to take his books and hide them later, would you." I nodded already used to how random Sirius was at times. Starts at on topic ends up talking about something completely irrelevant. I merely nodded and went my way.
I walked down to the paddock and stared at the lake. I continued to stare until something black caught my eye. There was a mop of messy jet black hair peeping behind a tree. I walked over to it. It was James. He sat his back against the tree. He stared out across the lake at the forbidden forest. He seemed to be in a kind of trance. I walked over to him cautiously.
"James, hi," I said coming closer to him.
'Oh, hi Peter," he said looking up at me.
"So where's Lexi?" I asked him, stopping next to the tree. He shrugged.
"Who knows. We were just talking and she had to go to a class," he said. "Her break was over," He said upon seeing the confused look on my face.
"Right. I knew that," I said stupidly. He gave me a sympathetic smile.
"I'm sure you did. You're really sharp Wormtail."
"Ummm... thanks?" I said uncertainly. He stared at the forbidden forest. "What are you-"I began.
"What do you think is out there?" I looked over to the forbidden forest, and a flock of crows flew out of the tree's.
"Lot's of stuff. Animals, plants, and stuff. You should know; we go there practically 10 times a year," I said.
"No, I mean beyond what we see when we go there every full moon."
"Well how would I know? I've never gone any deeper than that."
"Yeah, neither have I," James said more to himself than me. "But...I'd like to." As soon as he said that he had my complete and undivided attention
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Just everything. I– never mind, It's stupid."
"What is?"
"I just...I kind of realized that in 2 years I won't be here anymore. I'll be out there. In the 'real world', as muggles say."
"You mean you're nervous about leaving Hogwarts?" I asked, astonished. He nodded sheepishly.
"I know, stupid, huh?" I shook my head.
"No, it's not." James smiled and got up.
"Thanks Wormtail."
"For what?"
"For listening."
"Oh, you're welcome."
"Well we better go, or Sirius will bite my head off again." He started walking back to the school. On the way back to the school, we passed Lily and her friends. I noticed them. (It was kind of hard not to. They are quite pretty.) But James didn't. He walked right past them and continued talking to me about quidditch. The tryouts and some new strategies.
"So who do you think will try out for Chaser? Wait, what about beaters or keeper?" He asked.
I struggled to keep up with the questions and finally replied. "Um...chaser, don't know. Beaters, don't know. Keeper, don't know" James gave me a disbelieving look. "What? You know I don't know all that much about Quidditch."
I shrugged off the look he was giving me. We neared Sirius and Remus. Sirius was just as we had left him, surrounded by girls. Remus meanwhile had traded his heavy book for a piece of parchment, James and I sat next to Remus. James then engaged Remus on a long discussion on the new principles and facts on animagi that McGonagall had given us the previous lesson.
"But it makes no sense what she says about your animal instincts staying with you," James said.
"Yes it does. If you haven't noticed you act like a stag even when you're not in your stag form." Remus argued back.
"What? How am I like a stag?" James asked Remus, offended.
"Well, you seem to be acutely aware of your surroundings like your stag form." Remus explained. "And besides you act like a stag as a human as well. Well, actualy you look like a stag." And so it went on back and forth, and back and forth. I pretty much tuned out what they were saying thinking, or rather remembering a moment a few days ago.
–Flashback–
"Hello Evans." James said sliding into the seat next to her.
"Oh, great. And the day had just started out so well." Lily groaned.
"Oh, come on, talking to us isn't all that bad now is it?" Sirius said from behind Lily.
"Ugh, and my day just keeps getting better and better." Lily said sarcastically.
"Well, I'm glad you feel that way." Sirius said happily taking the other seat next to her.
"And how may I make it even better?" James asked.
"How about , not speaking to me for the rest of your life. Or better yet jump off a cliff."
"Ouch, that hurt Lils. It really did." James said in a hurt voice.
"Don't call me Lils, Potter." She said angrily. She turned away from him.
"Aw, come on, Lils-" James began but Lily never heard him. She jumped up and walked away from him. Liz and Jo exchanged glances and followed her. Lily walked to the exit and was about to leave when James suddenly called out to her.
"Come on, Lily don't walk away from me. I'm sorry!" She stopped when he hit the word sorry. She slowly turned to face him. He stood in front of her, happy he had got her to stop.
"Look I was wondering. Will you go out on a date with me?" James asked. Lily glared at him. I swear if looks could kill. James would've died on the spot.
"You never change, do you? You're still the sane arrogant, idiotic, selfish, annoying, stupid boy you've always been!!" She practically yelled. The whole hall was staring at them, except for the professors. She turned on her heel and left. James stared after her. He sighed and walked out of the hall with the rest of us following behind
–End Flashback–
"Hello Remus." Lily said to Remus pointedly ignoring James. James didn't seem to mind in the slightest. He ignored her as well. This obviously was just fine for her, for she began ro speak to Remus about some questions she had on a Herbology essay. James turned to me.
"What do you think about the animagus principles McGonnagal gave us?" He asked me.
"Idon't really know.It make sense though , because wizards turn into animals they're similiar to. So in some ways they always are like the animals or animagi they turn into." I said slowly picking my words carefully.
"Well, I suppose, you might be right," James concedded, I myself was slightly surprised he had actually agreed with me. "Alright, I give up! You and Moony win,"
Remus looked up at James as soon as he said 'you win'. He looked absolutely shocked. "Repeat that again,please"
"I said you win."
"Wow, I thought I would die before I heard those words some out of The James Potter's mouth, voluntarily of course." Remus said in mock awe.
"Yeah, me too." James said nodding.
"Well, I guess I'll see you in the library to study Transfiguration" Lily said getting to her feet.
"Yes." Remus said giving her a small wave goodbye. Lily walked to the castle. Remus stared at James from the corner of his eye. I think he was wondering when Jealous James would come out. I myself was wondering that as well. He usually got angry, jealous and defensive when it came to matters concerning Lily.
"I'm bored," Sirius said plopping himself down between Remus and James.
"What about the girls?" I asked glancing back to the girls sirius had been talking to. They all stared at him longingly while talking to eachother.
"I got kinda bored."
"Really? I thought you never got bored of talking about yourself." James said.
"Oh, I don't , but they kinda stopped talking about me and started talking about make-up and stuff." He said yawning. "So I am ,really , really bored." I laughed.
"Well, I think I know something that'll liven you up." James said with your mischevious smile. Remus followed his gaze and rolled his eyes at what he saw. "Oh, brother," he muttered. Sirius also followed James's gaze and looked as if Christmas had come early. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"Hello Snivellus, " James said standing up. Severus Snape autimatically turned and reched for his wand.
"Now, now, now, Snivellus James and I just want to help you." Sirius said also pulling out his wand.
"Sirius's is right. We just want to help you."
"Yeah, help you clean up!" Sirius said waving his wand. Snape easily deflected the spell and cast one of his own. "Petrificus Totalus!" Sirius dodged it easily.
James rounded on Snape with his own spell. "Expeliarmus!" Snape not expecting it let his wand slip out of his grasp.
I found the whole thing highly amusing. I looked over at Remus, he seemed to not be paying them any attention. I turned back in time to see Snape throw a rock at James, James dodged it easily but Sirius didn't. Snapes wand, which Sirius had held captive, slipped out of his hand . Snape grabbed it off the ground and and yelled out "Sectusempra!" Two long gashes appeared over James chest. He started bleeding, He looked shocked then angered, quickly he waved his wand over his chest and the gashes seemed to disapear. Snape looked on shocked, and from the look on his face he looked scared and uneasy.
And no wonder. James looked absolutely Murderous. Snape turned and tried to flee but he was suddenly hanging upside down by his ankle. Sirius stood right underneath him. He pointed his wand at him and Snapes robes turned a bright pink as did his hair.
"This'll teach you Snivellus!" James said pointing his wand at Snape. A light blue lighted wafted through James wand and onto Snape. "I'll just keep your hair that way."Snapes eyes widened in horror. "Maybe that'll teach you to ckean your hair!" And with that James waved his wand and Snape fell on the ground . As soon as his feet touched the ground he took off running with James and Sirius behind him. "COWARD!" James roared after him as he stumbled and fell.
I walked over to them, James was breathing heavily and Sirius looked angry. 'He's not going to have pink hair forever is he?" I questioned them. James shook his.
'Nah, just for a few days " James said slowly. He was having difficulty breathing, and was holding his chest where the gashes once were.
"Are you okay prongs?" Sirius asked seeing James difficulty. He bent over him and saw James face and turned and yelled at me, "Wormtail, go get Remus! Now! Hurry!" I scrambled to where Remus sat reading his book.
"Remus! Come quick! It's James, he needs your help." Remus immediately closed his book and stood up.
"Where?" He asked.
"By the lake" I answered. Remus ran in the direction of the lake, with me behind him.
"James are you alright?" Remus asked as soon as we reached them. That is such a stupid question in my opinion. All you had to do was look at him to know he wasn't alright! But as always I kept my opinions to myself.
Meanwhile James was turning white and having difficulty breathing. Remus pulled out his wand And muttered a spell and ran his wand over James body. It wasn't until the wand reached James chest that it lit up. Remus looked confused at first then a look of understanding crossed his face.
"James did you put a concealing charm on yourself?" James gave a nodd with great difficulty. Remus immediately swished his wand over James chest and instead of the plain black Robes James was wearing before the Gashes had reapeared and his robes were slowly turning A dark Purple. The gashes Gushed out loads of blood. The blood pooled on the grass and James was becoming a ghostly white color. I found it quiet frieghtening.
"We have to get him to the hospital wing, quick!" Remus said grabbing James arm and pulling him up. "C'mon, help me Sirius!" Sirius grabbed James other hand and together they helped James up to the castle. I ran ahead of them and into the Hospital wing.
"Madame pomfrey!" I yelled. "Madame Pomfrey!" I yelled again. Madame Pomfrey came out of her office looking slightly frustrated.
"What is it now, Mr. Pettigrew?" She asked upon seeing me.
"We need help. It's James he's bleeding and," I began when the doors swung open to Reveal A flustered Remus and Sirius carrying sickly looking James. The blood continued to gush out and a trail of blood could be seen trailing behind him.
"Oh, my, Mr.Potter!" She rushed over to him. She pulled himto a bed and layed him down. She moved her wand over the large gashes and the blood flow slowed and then stopped. She did it again and the gashes stitched themselves shut leaving a scar behind in it's place. James still had a pained expression on his face, was very pale, and Was having difficulty breathing.
"Out of the way boys," Madame Pomfrey commanded as she bustled about taking potions, we ignored her.
"James why did you conceal it?" Remus asked. James merely shrugged. Sirius stared at him silently. "James you're such an idiot sometimes!"
"How am I an idiot?"
"You let pride get in the way of your safety!"
"I did not!"
"Then why didn't you stop?"
"Because I wanted to."
"To what?'
"Nothing."
'To what?"
"Nothing!"
"TO WHAT!"
"To finish him alright! Happy? I wanted to finish him already. And besides it's just blood. No big deal." James crossed his arm over his chest as if to say that was the final word, but it was far from over.
"No! It's more than just blood! James you could've really hurt yourself!" Remus scolded. Sirius nodded inagreement. James looked at me as if asking me to back him up. "I agree with Remus."
James said nothing. Madame Pomfrey came back with a tray full of potions.
"Here Mr. Potter, drink all of these. And you lot clear out, he needs his rest." She shooed us all out. And the door swung shut behind us. As we walked to Gryffindor tower I noticed how quiet we were. Usually James and Sirius were so rowdy and loud that we usually attracted the attention of quite a few teachers. We stopped at the portrait of the fat lady in the pink dress.
"Password" She asked staring at us in distatse.
"Alpha Centurai," Sirius replied dully. The portrait swung open and we trooped in. Sirius flopped down on one of the couches. Remus and I sat down in one of the couches opposite him.
" I can not belive this! I really hope Snape keeps his new hairstyle!" Sirius said angrily. Remus nodded in agreement.
"I wonder where he learned that spell?" I wondered aloud.
"Do you forget he practically worships the dark arts? Obviouisly his little deatheater mates taught it to him." Sirius said angrily. I shifted in my seat and noticed several people looking at us. I took a sharp intake of breath realizing other people must have seen the duel outside and obviously spread word around the school.
'I don't think so Sirius, if they did haxve a spell like that, wouldn't they have used against the muggleborns they're attacking already? " Remus asked, practically. "I mean these deatheaters really only care about causing as much pain as possible to the people they hate."
"Maybe, but where else could he have learned it?" Sirius asked.
I shook my head, 'Idon't know"
"Wow, there are only three maurauders, where's the forth?" Liz said from behind us. No one said a word. She laughed, "You guys look like you're going to a funeral!" Sirius flinched at the word funeral. She seemed to notice how subdued we were.
"No, really, where's James?" She asked looking a slight bit worried. We all looked at eachother.
'He's in the hospital wing," Remus finally answered.
"Why?"
"He was hurt-" Sirius replied
'In a duel,' I added. Sirius glared at me and I realized I should've probably kept that peice of information to myself.
"In a duel?" Liz asked slowly. Remus nodded slowly in response. As did Sirius. I meanwhile was still trying to figure out why everyone was speaking so slowly. When Liz stood up abruptly and walked up the staircase to the girls dormitory. Sirius sighed then shrugged.
'So do you think she'll tell Lily that James landed himself in the hospital wing?" He asked us.
"Oh, I have no doubt she will," Remus replied.
"What do you think Lily'll do to him when she finds out he was dueling with Snape again?" I asked. We all shuddered.
"I'd hat to think, what she'd do to you Sirius" Remus said to Sirius.
"What about you ,Remus?' Sirius pointed out. And we all shuddered again. I groaned.
"What she'll say when she see's Snapes new hairstyle?" Sirius laughed amd Remus let out a snort.
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Okay, I hoped you liked this chapter. I wroked really hard on it. Since last June actually. I already have chapter 3 written. So If you could review I'd really apreciate it. If you have any ideas I'd like to hear them. So, yeah, Thanks.
-storyteller A.K.A Dizzy
