It was only after ten consecutive minutes of fierce reprimanding from Professor McGonagall and twenty-five house points taken from Gryffindor house that I decided never to risk lying about a missing assignment again.
I'd figured out three possible excuses for the essay that I didn't bother to do. The first one being the classic, 'I lost it'. An easy con to that option would be McGonagall deciding to summon it and ending up with the long-forgotten piece of parchment under my bed that contained not even the date. That ruled out option number one.
The second excuse had been to pretend I'd been incapable of writing it. Perhaps that I'd caught a serious case of dragon pox the past week and I'd spent it at the hospital wing, dying, barely able to breathe, and that sadly I hadn't had time to write the essay. Yet McGonagall could easily talk to Madam Pomfrey, and then I would've been screwed.
Option number three was to blame someone else. Tell the teacher I'd done it but that somebody had stolen it and burned it. But I had needed someone who was capable of stealing an essay, someone who never did his homework and had decided to harm my grades by destroying my work. Someone McGonagall wouldn't even think of believing. Someone like Sirius Black. Nothing could go wrong, right?
So when I entered the Transfiguration classroom that morning, ready with my excellent excuse as to why I did not, in fact, have my essay in hand, I was utterly confident. What I did not expect, however, was an unmistakably handwritten, five-foot essay explaining in detail the workings of Animagi to be handed in (accompanied by an irritably handsome smirk of smugness) by the likes of Sirius Black.
Needless to say, McGonagall had been furious, and I ended up with a double essay to write not only on Animagi, but also on that day's lesson, Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration; GLET for short. All in all, it had been a morning gone from bad to worse.
I walked deliberately forward, yet with no idea where I was supposed to go. Stopping for a minute, I tried to recall my schedule. I'd just finished Charms…therefore I had a free period before double Potions! Awesome. I started walking again, now towards the Grand Staircase that would take me to the Gryffindor Common Room, where I figured I'd meet my friends, until somebody approached me.
"Hey, Silena," greeted a soft, polite voice from behind. I nearly jumped out of my skin and screamed. But no, that wouldn't be good. First of all, I quite liked my skin, and I'd spent the entire summer in France trying to tan. And secondly, if I screamed, I'd most likely freak him out, and he'd never talk to me again, which was, once more, not good.
Trying not to look too nervous, I smiled brightly and replied, "Hey yourself, Marauder. What are you up to?"
Remus chuckled slightly and shrugged, motioning up the stairs. "Common room. I've got Astronomy next period and I need to study for this test that's coming up," he explained, accommodating his bag over his shoulder and following me onto a staircase, which promptly moved. I was still working on keeping my cool and chatting him up.
"Ah. So you're going to be able to predict the workings of life through the stars, then. Interesting…" I continued, conversationally. In truth, I'd never understood a single thing about Astronomy. It was an unnecessarily boring subject that would never be useful in the future, and as it wasn't an obligation for the Auror career I wished to pursue, I'd happily dropped it. But he didn't need to know all that.
"I thought you disliked Astronomy," Remus replied, slightly amused. "If I recall correctly, you once called it an unnecessarily boring subject that will never be useful in the future."
I stood there, my face burning up, evident shock plastered on it, stumbling over my own thoughts. Remus laughed. "I'm joking, that's okay. Personally, I find it interesting, but I know half the school doesn't,"
See what I mean? He's absolutely perfect. Now that my embarrassment had reduced…a little, I began to internally squeal as I realized he'd thought my words important enough to remember them. And he was looking at me, with his perfectly brown eyes and sexy hair, as if waiting for me to say something. Shoot. I probably should say something. I managed to fake a little laughter.
"Yeah, well I'd forgotten you have that unbelievably accurate memory of yours," I said, smiling again. We'd reached the seventh floor, and I stepped off the stairs, lagging a little so he'd have time to do the same and walk beside me. Then, of course, something embarrassing would obviously have to happen to me.
I tripped. And fell, face-first onto the rug in front of me. My bag fell off my shoulder and my books scattered all over the place. Sweet Merlin. Trying as hard as I could to regain whatever self-dignity I had left, I pushed myself off the ground and made to stand up. However, I found a hand preventing me from doing exactly that, instead, held out by the person I irrevocably adored, offering to help me up.
Remus pulled on my hand and helped me to my feet. Keep cool, Silena. Always stay level-headed. "Thanks. I'd forgotten you're not supposed to step with both feet at the same time," I said, jokingly. Remus laughed, his eyes brightening up, making my heart leap. Then he leaned down and started to pick up my books. He was such a gentleman. I did the same, fetching my bag as well.
"Next time, do remember. I'd hate to have to drag off your dead body and bury it in the woods," he replied, smiling and holding out the rest of my books. I dumped them in my bag and swung it over my shoulder. We reached the Fat Lady, who was having an animated conversation with her friend, Violetta, or something. Remus said the password and the portrait opened. He waved a hand in front of us and waited for me to go in first. I couldn't hold back a grin and stepped in. I recognized Lily's handwriting on an unfinished essay on top of one of the tables, and figured she was in the room. I turned on the spot and faced Remus, who'd entered behind me.
"Well, Mr. Lupin. This is where I leave you," I told him, curtseying and beaming at him before going the girls' staircase, two floors up, and into my bedroom. I closed the door behind me and squealed, flinging myself onto my bed and giggling.
"Leen?"
I looked up at Lily, who was lying on her bed next to me. I started to open my mouth to tell her about my encounter with Remus, when I noticed she'd been crying. Immediately I sprung up from my bed and ran over to her, kneeling down and resting my hand on her back.
"Whose sorry butt am I kicking?" I asked hurriedly, trying to imagine who could've hurt her. Lily shook her head sadly and buried her face in her pillow. She mumbled something incomprehensible.
"Lils, tell me, please. What's happened?" I inquired urgently. She didn't reply, but I heard a sob emitting from her pillow. I decided on another tactic, and pulled the pillow from under her head. As I knew she would, she turned her face toward me.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling okay?" She nodded.
"Then… did you get a detention?" Okay, don't blame me. She could possibly be crying about that. Lily's got a perfect detention-free record in her six years at Hogwarts. But no, she shook her head. Rather violently I might add.
"Lily, come on. I don't know what else… has someone said something to you?"
A single nod. Crap.
"Was it Snape?" She shook her head, fresh tears brimming under her eyes. I stroked her hair softly, trying to recall anyone who'd been mean to her previously.
"Anyone in Slytherin? You know those foul-mouthed idiots have absolutely no right to-"
"It was James," she cut me off. I felt my eyes open wide in shock. James? James Potter? What could he have said that had upset her? James wasn't capable of… hurting a girl, especially Lily. James absolutely loved Lily. He'd made it pretty clear these past six years.
"Lily… James… well, you know him. He's an arrogant idiot sometimes but… you have to admit he's gotten better this year. I mean, he never bullies anyone for the fun of it anymore, and rarely does he ever flaunt his Quidditch skills nowadays…" But Lily had begun to shake her head once more.
"Then what? What did he say?"
Silence.
"Lily, please. I'm trying to help you. James… well, friend of mine or not he's going to pay for making you cry. Where is that son of a-"
"He said he loved me."
Silence. What? I was absolutely perplexed. Of all the things… this? Well, yes, that much was obvious, to everyone except Lily, of course. Although, I couldn't recall him actually ever saying that to her. It could have definitely shocked her, flattered her even, but… made her cry? What was so bad about having someone love you?
For once, I didn't know what to say. Lily sniffled and sat up, holding her pillow to her chest and looking down.
"The problem is… I've fallen in love with him, too."
Oh, sweet Merlin. Out of all the things, that was the last thing I expected. Ever. I was dumbfounded, confused, shocked.
"You what?"
"I know, I know. I have no idea. I just do, I think. I mean, he said that to me and then as usual I ignored him but then I started thinking and… well, I think I'm in love with him, too." She sounded desperate. I could see why.
"But… you said you hated him!"
"That was last year."
"True… but… wow… You really love him?"
Silence.
"Don't say a word to anyone, Silena. Please. I'm not completely sure… I mean, I don't know how to talk about this… It's weird. I like him, a lot; I really do. But you have no idea what it felt like. Him saying he loved me. He's never said that before. And he just said it in this completely matter-of-fact way and…" Lily flumped back onto her back and sighed. I giggled and sat back down on the edge of my bed. She looked over.
"What?" she asked slightly annoyed.
"Sorry. It's just… James!" I said, grinning. Lily bit her lip and smiled, shoving the pillow over her face. I started laughing. So did she. It seems that Lily finally got her fairytale ending. I just hope I can someday turn the page and find mine, too.
Lost-Hogwarts-Student haha, yeah, I thought that was pretty amusing too, especially if you can picture it... :) Hurricane Rachel Mmm, I can totally relate to those types of conversation, too. RachTheDork Thank you! I hope you do love it, in the future, though. :) I'll try; thanks.
Disclaimer fanfiction, hello? Ring a bell?