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Just because I can and it's about time you feel appreciated.
A shout out to my reviewers for this.
Allergic-To-Sunlight, fearblank, mrs. Nesbit and Someone aka Me.
Hmm… thought I had more.
Well thanks anyway to you, you keep me going
This chapter is dedicated to you.
Because I think you all need some praise.
Thanks to you guys and all those who read but didn't review
Enjoy, A.J
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Chapter Four: Let the Lessons Begin
"Mr Black one more outburst and it's a detention!" Professor Slughorn shouted.
"Yes sir!" Sirius said obediently.
We all sat in potions. It was less the five minutes into the first class and already I had the feeling I'd be spending my first weekend back here in detention.
There was a loud bang from behind me. I turned around and saw Sirius standing next to Serverus Snape. They were both covered in a sticky black substance and were shouting at each other.
"Why me?" Slughorn was muttering. "Why do they always put Slytherin and Gryffindor together in my classes. McGonagall gets Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. I get… oh I'm too old for this"
"Sir, We'll help clean up," Lily said.
Ah of course. Lily the golden girl, teachers pet would volunteer.
Wait did she say we? Which we? I turned and saw her standing next to me.
"Ah thank you Ms Evans, Mr Potter. Everyone is dismissed. You two" Slughorn said pointing to Snape and Sirius. "Follow me"
The whole class ran out and I stayed back watching Sirius trail miserably after Slughorn as they presumably headed for hospital wing.
Lily and I were left staring at the wall splattered with the black sticky substance.
"Why'd you volunteer for clean up?" I asked turning to Lily who smiled.
"I always do. I mean my mum's an economics teacher at the high school near my house. She's always said that students don't understand how hard it is for teachers. And I know it must be ten times worse for magical teachers. So I try to help," she said
"You are truly flawless" I said she smiled with a small blush.
"Don't please" she said. I frowned at her then realised what I'd done.
"No. I didn't mean anything by it. I'm neutral. Totally neutral" I said.
"Maybe I sh-"
"I don't thi-" we both started then stopped.
"You first" she said.
"Why did you volunteer me?" I asked.
"I don't know. I suppose I thought it was about time everyone saw that James Potter can be good"
"Are you included in that?"
"Of course I am. I think your highly irresponsible and I'm still wondering how much your parents have to pay Dumbledore to keep you in school," she said.
"Ouch Lily. Watch where you're throwing those sharp words. You almost hurt my feelings," I said. She did. Hurt my feelings. I'm just good with comebacks and even better at lying.
"James I'm so sorry. I didn't…"
"Relax Evans. I won't tell anyone. You may keep your squeaky clean image" I said with a grin. She stared at me worriedly.
"I'm sorry… I don't-"
"Spare me" I said and walked over to the sink to grab some cleaning supplies.
"Going to clean the normal way?" Lily asked.
"Yes. The only cleaning spells my mother taught me were lemon and a bit of bicarbonate soda gets any stain out and that no amount of soapy water could wash the shame from her mind thanks to that sad July morning" I said.
"That sounds like it's got an interesting back story"
"Well it involves Sirius, alcohol and a large chocolate cake," I said making Lily smile.
We cleaned the room in almost silence. Occasionally making small talk about classes and ambitions for next year… things like that.
In a few of the silent moments I thought about her. Obviously… my mind only comprehends a few things. Women… parents… friends and occasionally classes or something educational. So I thought of Lily. I'd stalked this girl, well not stalked her I mean I'd never followed her home or hung outside her bedroom door or left weird messages for her. But I was pretty close. I mean I'd grown accustomed to her habits and things. Random outbursts were in there of course. They are for all women. So I wasn't that surprised that Lily had hurt my feelings. I was just surprised by what she'd said… she insults me all the time but what she'd just said weren't Lily insults. They were general ones… what people who don't really know me think of me.
"Ok well thanks for helping out. I shouldn't have volunteered you but it's the right thing to do. Even you… deep down know that" she said and with a beautiful smile and quick flip of the hair she left.
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I do not get women. They are confusing… with their mood swings and 'time of the month' stuff. It's all a little to weird. Like they're not only from another planet but a different galaxy all together. If they were from the right galaxy they'd understand that yes is a perfect response to 'I love you' and things like that. But they don't. They bite your head off.
"I know what you mean" Sirius said I looked at him.
"You were doing that thing were you think your thoughts aloud" he said nodding. I sighed and sat up from the couch.
We sat in the Gryffindor common room. Ignoring our homework from our first day back of classes. It's the first day. Your not supposed to learn anything on the first day. Well maybe on the first day of your last year but why would I break tradition just because it's my last year?
"She's really got you hasn't she?" Sirius asked. I nodded
"Aw my poor Prongsie. How on earth are we going to do anything when your…" he stopped and together with Remus and Peter made the 'wa-chii' whipping noise.
"Whipped" he finished.
"Nice… how long you guys practise that?"
"Not long" Peter said proudly.
I sighed and slumped back into the couch. Lily walked by giggling with Grace and Molly. I stared after her and watched as she bid her friends goodbye at the portrait hole.
"I think someone has a late night date with Nathan Zwaine" Sirius said
"You shut up" Molly ordered "and you! Don't you dare ruin this for her"
"I wasn't going to" I protested.
"Whatever Potter. Just leave her alone" Molly snapped and then led Grace away.
"How did I end up the bad guy?" I asked
"It was all that stalking" Sirius said nodding.
"I've never followed her around for more then ten minutes how is that stalking?" I asked
"It's not. It's just really creepy" Peter said nodding.
"Thanks Pete" I muttered.
"Just being honest" he said I smiled. We were usually the last four people to leave the common room. So I wasn't terribly concerned when I looked around at midnight to find only my friends in the common room. Remus was still reading and Sirius was reading over his shoulder frowning as he concentrated. Peter was trying to do his homework and apparently failing at it.
Molly scurried into the common room.
"Ok normally I'd never ever do this but-" she began but Grace came out of the dormitory and ran into her causing her to fall over.
"Lily isn't back yet" Grace said calmly while Molly sat up glaring at her friend.
"And...?" I asked.
"Well what if something happened to her?" Molly asked
"She's a big girl. She can take care of herself" Sirius said not looking up. Remus looked at me pointedly.
"Hey have you ever been on the receiving end of one of her Bat-Bogey hexes?" I asked he shook his head.
"Well she's pretty good at them so I think if Zwaine tries anything she'll be fine"
"Ok!" Molly cried running over and sitting in front of me.
"Your awesome ok? You gave Lily her space you let her move on. I'll tell her all about it. How you refused to ruin her date but Grace and I forced you to come out and help just please!"
"Fine Callahan I'll come" I said standing up.
"But if she's in no danger then I will not step in and tell Lily to go to bed all right?"
"Fine! I just have to know she's ok" Molly said.
"How are we going to find her?" Grace asked.
"Well Potter knows where anyone is when he needs to know" Molly said looking at me.
"How?" Grace asked.
"I have my ways. Padfoot... Callahan lets go"
"I'm coming too" Grace said.
"Sorry bit it's easier for the headboy to say he caught Sirius with his latest squeeze rather then in the middle of a threesome"
"So I'm a decoy?" Sirius asked
"Essentially yeah" I said.
"You expect people to believe I was in a broom closet with Sirius Black?" Molly asked. I just smiled at her.
"We'll be back in a second" I said grabbing Sirius by the arm and leading him up to the dormitories. We searched through my bedside table and pulled out the familiar blank parchment.
"I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good" Sirius said quickly and tapped the parchment with his wand. Lines began to race across the page forming rooms, towers, stairs and pathways. Soon we were both staring at a detailed map of Hogwarts.
"Find us first" I muttered. We always did this, to make sure the map was working properly. And in the Gryffindor tower dormitories were two little dots labeled Sirius Black and James Potter.
"Lets look for Lily" I said.
"There... the astronomy tower" Sirius said pointing to the little dot labeled Lillian Evans.
I grabbed my invisibility cloak and Sirius wiped the map clean and we headed back into the common room.
"Lets go" I said and Sirius took Molly's hand she tried to jerk away but he held strong and they led the way out of the portrait hole.
We walked down the hallway and through a few others before stopping at the top of the stairs.
"Well... where is she?" Molly asked.
"Astronomy tower" Sirius said.
"I don't know how you do it" she said and led the way.
"Here you two check on her. I'll wait down here" I said handing Sirius my invisibility cloak.
"Whoa!" Molly said staring at it.
"Is that...?"
"Yes" Sirius said impatiently and threw it over the both of them. They disappeared instantly and I heard their footsteps fade up the stairs.
I heard a meow and my insides froze. I looked down at the red eyed cat that belonged to the caretaker who seemed to stalk these halls. It meowed again.
"Screw you kitty" I hissed. I had no invisibility cloak because my excuse had run off with it. I glanced around wondering if I could make a run for it. To late I closed my eyes and sighed. I'm an Animagus... I can turn into an animal at will. I picked a deer... not suspicious if running about in the forbidden forest late at night but roaming the castle? Tends to stand out.
The cat meowed at me and I just picked it up in my mouth. Note to self: mouth wash and eight packets of toothpaste when I get back to the dormitory.
Lily and Zwaine stumbled down the stairs.
"Nate... you are so drunk" Lily giggled.
"You seem pretty wasted yourself love" he said they both stopped at the sight of me. I stared back wondering where the hell Molly and Sirius had gotten too.
"Is that a deer?" Lily asked.
"Look it's got Filch's cat" Zwaine said.
"Why?" Lily asked looking at Zwaine.
"Maybe to help us. Kitty can't run back to master and dob on us"
"That's so sweet. Do you think it'll let me pet it?" Lily asked looking rather excited. I took a step back. I'm not getting petted! No matter how awesome it would be because it was Lily. I'm not an actual deer.
I heard barking behind me which I instantly recognised. A large black dog beckoned me over with a paw. I followed it and we slipped into a secret passage just nearby.
I put the cat down and turned back into a human spitting cat hair from my mouth.
"Where's Molly?" I asked looking down at the black dog which with a simple nod of its head turned into Sirius.
"Left her in the tower. I heard Lily mention a deer and knew I had to help you out" he said.
"Thanks" I said.
"I think our lovers have stumbled away by now" Sirius said and peaked his head out of the passage.
"Come on kitty" he said picking the cat up and patting it as we slipped out of the hidden passage. We walked along the hallway gloriously Lily and Zwaine free and headed up the stairs to the astronomy tower.
"Molly" Sirius hissed. Molly appeared on our right holding the cloak in her hand.
"Hi" she said handing me back the cloak.
"So there... she's safe and sound and I will never ever do anything like this for you again" I said to her. Sirius and Molly both avoided my eyes.
"What? Was she not safe? They seemed fine when they came down..."
"Oh they were fine. We just walked in at an awkward moment" Molly said.
"Yeah... saw a lot more of Zwaine then I'd have liked to" Sirius muttered.
"Did they...?" I asked Molly and Sirius nodded.
"Up here...?" I asked again they nodded.
"They had sex...?" I asked they nodded.
"Oh" I said "well... uh... we should... go back to the common room"
"You're ok?" Sirius asked
"Yeah..." I replied with a small smile. I followed him out of the room Molly trailing behind me.
"I didn't realise Lily put out" Sirius said.
"My friend is not a slut. She just obviously trusts Zwaine a lot. She's only ever had three boyfriends she's been that serious about" Molly said hurrying past me to step in front of Sirius.
"For a girl sex isn't about the fun or whatever it is to you you sick bloody pervert. It's a bonding experience between a boy and girl. Your giving a boy this gift... the gift of you completely. So you don't go around giving it to just anyone. Well Lily certainly doesn't"
"Then why after only a week of casual flirting with the guy would she do that?" Sirius asked
"Because! That's not Lily! She wouldn't ever sleep with someone that quick. I think he did something to her" Molly said.
"You have to do something" she said turning to me.
"What? Why? Get a professor or something!" I said
"James! He's doing something to her. Don't you care at all?" Molly asked I stared at her.
"He's ruining her. You have to do something! Anything!"
"Why do I have to?" I snapped.
"Because you love her," Molly said. I buried my face in my hands.
"Damn skanky Evans!" I muttered and punched a wall. I held my bleeding hand to my chest.
"James-"
"YES I KNOW! I LOVE HER. I'M AN IDIOT! SHE KEEPS GETTING HERSELF INTO TROUBLE AND I HAVE TO GET HER OUT OF IT. BECAUSE I LOVE HER! AND I THINK I BROKE MY HAND. BUT ALL THAT DOESN'T MATTER DOES IT? BECAUSE EVERYONE CAN COUNT ON ME TO FIX IT BECAUSE I'M A MORON AND I LOVE HER. SO WHAT MOLLY WHAT?" I bellowed. Molly just pointed behind us. I turned and saw our head of house slowly making her way over.
"Damn" Sirius breathed.
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Hey readers.
I've been very inspired lately.
It's awesome!!
Not the best chapter I know but whatever.
I feel so awesome for updating a lot!
Please review
Till later gang, A.J
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