Dear readers:
I am very well aware of the date. It's been over five weeks. Last chapter I said I would update in three weeks on a Tuesday. As an author, I have totally misled you!
Apology time: I apologize. *tears* But I'll let you know, this has got to be the hardest chapter I've ever tackled. It was going to be even longer, too. Plus, as I'm sure you've all experienced, I had some computer difficulties uploading my new chapter.
Surprisingly, the only way I can intercept your forgiveness is by the best form of telepathy: reviewing. XD hahaha!
...A fifteen minute long laugh later...
Aw man, I totally killed it that time. Enough of these jokes! Time for some announcements! Like I said last chappie, I would post the names of whoever used the best form of telepathy. As promised, they are in italics.
isabel in lala land
Anti-Banana19
inluvwitheverythingpotters
Thanks a bunch for reviewing! *Throws a bunch of bananas at reviewers* Now: scold me however you want, there's no chapter song for this one. There is, however, not one, but TWO juicy behind the scenes info about the fic that can't be accessed elsewhere. Why? Because they're all in my head! Mwa hah a haa! If you have an idea for a song that would fit nicely with the chapter, just give me a PM or review. I'd appreciate it!
Well. :) I do not own Harry Potter, and not even Concepta Blanche. (You'll see down below.) Well...I invented her last name on this fic, so i guess I half-own her, but don't tell anyone I said that. Ta-ta, and happy reading! As always, words in bold AND the lovely italics are my comments on the fic unless noted otherwise.
Some things never change Chap 4.
The rest of that first year passed in a flap of an owl's wing, and it seemed in no time that Lily was standing once more on Platform 9 ¾, baggage in hand, waiting for the new year ahead of her.
As she watched smoke curl out of the shiny scarlet train, Lily grinned at the thought of seeing her friends again. Soon she'd hear Alice, calling her over to a compartment. Inside Lily would find Tullia, Leto, and the rest of the gang. She couldn't wait…
"Lily!" someone shouted. The redhead turned to see Severus running towards her, black sleeves flapping like a little bat.
"Hey Sev!" called back Lily. His face lit up at her voice.
"Look, Lily! A new owl!" said Severus, holding up a rusty cage.
"Woah!" Lily crouched down to observe the little bird. One could almost mistake it for a starling, with its black-and-white-speckled feathers. Severus looked overjoyed to see her; he bubbled over with excited words of the new year. Then something strange happened.
"Mum and Dad didn't even fight as much this summer, Lily! And I hope we can have more classes together…that'd be great—"
"Um…Sev?" asked Lily weakly, staring at his skin. It was slowly turning into a neon shade of violet.
Severus saw the transformation just in time for students to spot him and laugh. "Wh-what's going on?" said the boy. Lily was thinking the same thing. Suddenly they were interrupted by laughter nearby. "Like your new complexion, Snivellus?"
The Marauders appeared behind Severus out of nowhere, with James holding a cloak of some sort. Before Lily could shout a warning, they attacked from behind and stuck a Hex Me sign on his back, along with a hard shove.
"Ow!" shouted Severus, falling flat on his face.
"Some things never change," muttered Lily, drawing her wand. "POTTER!"
Later
James emerged from the bathroom and walked back to the Gryffindor table, shooting dirty looks at Lily Evans the whole time. She returned his glares with a completely innocent gaze. Muttering under his breath, James plopped down next to his friends. "No need to feel so down, mate," remarked Sirius, exposing the mashed potato he was chewing in his mouth. "So you got creamed by a girl. So what if she hexed you halfway across the train? So what if she made Chocolate Frog guts explode in your face? Doesn't hurt your reputation or anything."
"Your sarcasm is not appreciated," replied James icily. James wondered why his scalp was suddenly so itchy. Now that he thought of it, Evans did direct a hex to his hair…
Headmaster Dumbledore stood. Hush immediately blanketed the students, and Dumbledore raised a hand to speak.
"Students, of new and old: I welcome you to Hogwarts." Applause erupted around the Hall. "Yes, yes, very good," said the old man, smiling. "Well, I have many announcements to make, but we must not neglect the first and foremost task: the Sorting!" He revealed the Hat, and McGonagall started to call out names. The Marauders watched with mild interest.
"Ah, Sorting," declared Sirius. "Was it really just a year ago when I was anxiously waiting while shooting spitballs at Slytherins?"
"Yes," answered Peter.
"It was a rhetorical question, Pete."
"What's that?"
"Ask Remus, he'd be the best to tell," said James, rubbing the top of his head. "Oh Divine Dictionary we call Remus, please define 'rhetorical' for our poor, naïve Peter!" James turned to his friend. Suddenly James was concerned for his friend. Remus looked terrible. He mumbled something about a question that didn't expect an answer and returned to picking at his food.
"Feeling alright, Reme?" asked James worriedly, scratching his head.
The boy looked at him with a sense of alarm. "What? Oh… of course…"
"I believe the Hat has chosen well, and I hope you all agree," Dumbledore said, before James could question further. "And now to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher…"
All the students leaned forwards in their seats. Last year's teacher, a painfully dull man, had to leave for unknown reasons. "My students, this year you will be taught by a highly acclaimed teacher: Professor Pereguinn." Everyone clapped while craning their necks to spot the new professor. A tall man with a beak-like nose and brown hair stood up, surveying the sea of students. He curtly said, "Thank you," and sat down.
"Did you get a good look at him, Seer?" asked James to Sirius.
Black snorted. "Of course. Rather severe looking, if you ask me…" Sirius glanced at James and fell out of his chair laughing.
"What?" demanded James. "What?"
Silently, Remus extended his arm and reached for something on James's head. He plucked it off with a painful sting. "Ouch!" complained James. In Remus' fingers was a pink pansy. James couldn't believe it. A flower. She planted a stinkin' flower on his head!
"EVANS!"
James was becoming worried about Remus. Every day he got paler, quieter, and more exhausted. But this wasn't the first time. Oh no. James noticed the previous year how sickly his friend was. But now it was becoming more than just a little concerning.
During Divination James whispered to Sirius, "Mate, have you noticed Remus is sick, like, a lot?"
Sirius' brow furrowed. "I have."
"Tell Pete to join us in the dorm right after dinner. Remus will have Transfiguration then."
So the three Marauders met at the appointed time. They gathered on the floor uneasily and quiet. They weren't quite sure what to say.
Sirius spoke first. "He's always been a sickly guy. It seems like it's the same symptoms each time."
"Good observation," James nodded.
"Don't you become immune to sickness after you get it once?" asked Peter.
"Exactly," said James. "So why is the sickness the same every time?"
Troubled silence. None of the trio wanted to believe that Remus was hiding something from them. It was just not part of the Marauder code. "I bet he has a disease?" said Sirius in a question tone. "A malady?"
"I don't know any maladies like the one Remus has. Maybe it's time we head to the library."
Sirius scowled. "The library? James, Quidditch tryouts are this Sunday!"
James rubbed his eyes. "I know. I had no idea second year would be so busy." He thought for a moment and then said, "Perhaps you can find a couple of books for us, Pete."
"Of course," the boy replied.
"In the meantime…" Sirius said, "Is there any other pattern? Besides the symptoms?"
The boys thought hard. "Well," said James slowly, "it's not as if Remus gets sick at random times. I'd say that he gets ill…monthly."
"Monthly?" repeated Sirius. He suddenly looked uncomfortable. "You don't think…that maybe…"
"What?" asked James, who had no sisters.
The Black swallowed. "You know what girls do every month, don't you?"
What followed were sounds of shock, denial, horror, and retching. "Eww! No! Just no!" shouted James. Peter shook his head hard in refusal. Sorry to you boys. I just had to add that. XD
Sirius shrugged. "Hey, how can you blame me, with the billion girl cousins in my family. Trust me, they talk about tons of other girl stuff"—more retching noises from James and Peter—"but I'm just throwing out some ideas!"
"Yes, very much appreciated," said James, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Sorry."
"Shhh! Here he comes!" The boys scattered to casual places in the dorm and held their breath as the doorknob turned. Remus (for of course it was he) came in and trudged to his usual homework spot.
Silence was held. "Hello to you too," Sirius said sarcastically. Silence was broken.
"Sorry," said the boy, rubbing his eyes. "Just tired."
"Your illness, of course," said James casually. "We always wondered what it was, exactly."
Poor Lupin found himself pinned to three suspicious looks. "Cold," he said, even providing a fake sniffle. It was always his excuse.
"Oh, yeah," said James. This was going to be harder than he thought.
The next evening James and Sirius went to the Quidditch locker room to an information session. There they'd meet the team Captain and sign up for try-outs. James was arrogant and cool throughout the whole thing, impressing the older students. He even amused the team Captain with one of his (what James thought) brilliant jokes.
The Captain was what really surprised James. Potter expected the Captain to be a big brawny boy. Not Concepta Blanche.
Concepta was a relatively small girl with silvery-blonde hair that was tied in a long ponytail. She stood before the team hopefuls, analyzing them with a careful eye. "All right, everyone," she said when everyone arrived. "I am Concepta, fifth year Seeker, and you're captain for team Gryffindor this year."
Fifth year. James was amazed. She seemed petite enough to be in third. A good trait for a Seeker, James supposed.
"…Now, let's get all your names down on the sign up sheet." A clipboard floated up and down the rows of students as Concepta explained the virtues and expectations on the team. Finally, she thanked them all for attending. Thus the meeting was over.
Sirius and James followed the throng of students out of the door. "I am so making the team," said James, making sure everyone in the near proximity could hear.
"You got that right, mate," said Sirius.
A couple of students (*cough cough*, girls) flocked around the boys. "Really?" they asked, awed by his obvious confidence. "You think you can?"
"You bet I can," grinned James. "A piece of cake, really. I started playing since I was four."
"Ah, Potter. Will I ever hear your big mouth not spouting some boast?" James turned. Evans stood behind him, a hand on her hip.
"Not a boast, Evans," replied James. "But solid-hard fact."
"I'd like to be there when you're proven wrong, Potter," said Lily airily. "It might deflate that big fat head of yours."
Even more students came to watch the fight-off, intrigued. "When I'm proven wrong, Evans? When? Why, that's just mean."
"If you're proven wrong. Of course, if."
James smirked. "I, equally, would be excited to see when - excuse me, if - you find out you're wrong. Let's bet on it."
"I don't bet," said Lily in a voice that could almost be described as detached. But her green eyes said different, her gaze as sharp as a knife. Distracting, those eyes were.
"No need to worry," said James gallantly, miming a bow. "They'll be nothing asked for of this bet except glory. Sweet, sweet glory."
Lily tilted her head to one side, thoughtful. "If you get in the Quidditch team, you win; if you don't, I do. For pride," she mused aloud. "I'll take it." And so they shook.
Five minutes later
"What kind of gall does that girl have, to agree to that kind of bet against me?" asked James to Sirius as they entered the Portrait Hole.
"Dunno," said Sirius, grinning slightly. "A lot."
"Shut up, you. Why must you and Peter turn everything into a lesson in rhetorical questions?" Yay for rhetorical questions! James grabbed the doorknob to their dorm and turned.
"AHAA!" a loud voice shrieked when James opened the door.
"AAAAHHHHHH!" screamed James and Sirius, gripping each other in fright.
"Thank god you're here!" said Peter, oblivious to their near heart-attack. "Remus! He is holding back something!"
"What happened?" demanded Sirius.
Peter ushered them away from the door, mousy eyes gleaming. "Okay, okay. So: after you guys were gone, Reme told me that he was going to the Owlery. But I was a little sus-sups-susp..."
"Suspicious?" suggested James.
But I wanted to see where he was really going so I got the Cloak.
"I figured I'd only follow him a little way…but he wasn't going to the Owlery at all! He was going down to the first floor!"
"But the Owlery's two floors up," mused James aloud, astonished.
"Exactly. So I just kept followin' him…and he goes to Pomfrey's!"
"Pomfrey!" exclaimed both James and Sirius. "Did you hear anything?" asked Sirius anxiously.
Peter shook his head. "Door was thick…and I couldn't remember the spell from Charms. So I headed back. Didn't want him to get suspicious and all that."
James was amazed. He never knew his friend was so sneaky. (Sigh.) "Remus is definitely hiding from us. Why'd he lie about going to the infirmary just for a harmless 'cold?' If we can get to Pomfrey, we can get our answer about Reme!"
Immediately after rising the next day, the Marauders, excluding Remus, pounded on Madam Pomfrey's door. The infirmary was not yet open, so the nurse opened the door with a disapproving frown. "Heavens! Why must you bang the door so?"
"Madam Pomfrey," said Sirius, "It's an emergency. A private one."
"All right, come in, all of you." The nurse opened the door wider, and the three filed inside.
"Well? What do you want?" asked Pomfrey, while mixing elixirs.
James leaned forward. "Madam, we have some questions about our friend, Remus Lupin."
Her busy hands froze. "Lupin? Oh yes, him. What about him?"
"We need to know why he is always so sick. We're his best friends!"
Pomfrey got up to store some bottles of medicine in a cabinet. Or perhaps she just wanted to have her back turned to the curious crew. "There's no need to - to worry about it. Students fall ill. Some more than others. I appreciate your concern, but as the school nurse, I assure you that Remus is under the best of my care."
"Then why does he always keep getting the same sickness?" asked Peter abruptly.
The nurse looked taken aback. "Excuse me? I'm under the impression that you doubt my abilities, young man!"
"Of course not," said James, hoping to smooth the tension Peter rose. "We're simply worried. We'd like some more insight on our friend, though."
Pomfrey shook her head. "That's quite enough. One's well-being ought to be kept to himself, by right. Shoo! Shoo, all of you!" She hurried the boys out of the infirmary and shut the door a little louder than necessary.
"Well, we got absolutely nothing at all from that experience," noted Sirius blatantly.
"Shut up!" snapped Potter. He was frustrated. Usually after a little sweet-talking (or none at all), James got what he wanted. Not this time. But sure as hell he was determined to find out what was stubbornly out of his way. "We won't give up," declared the boy.
"Hey mates," said a voice so tired that James nearly didn't recognize it. "What're you doing here?"
James turned to look at Remus. Then stare. His friend looked as if he was at death's door. Heavy limbs. Dark circles under his eyes. And brutally pale.
"In the good name of Merlin, Remus! What is wrong with you?" asked James exasperatedly.
Several emotions flickered past of Remus' face. Surprise, for one. A bit of confusion, too. But there was fear. So much fear. James desperately wanted to know what was ailing Remus, but all the boy said was: "Wrong? Nothing is wrong."
But for the rest of the day, everything was wrong. Remus' gaze looked distant. He ate and spoke little. He deined all inquiries of sickness. But when darkness blanketed the great castle, a look of enormous dread was etched in his every feature. James, as well, felt sick just looking at him. A heaviness in his stomach. A faster beating of the heart. A slight jumpiness. But an enormous guilt, too. Had this always happened the year previous? Why didn't James notice? How could he not notice?
Because of this, James had trouble sleeping, wondering what in the world could be wrong with his friend. But sleep he did. It must've been 11:30 when James heard a noise outside their dorm.
James's heavy eyelids opened to see the room unnaturally bright. He lifted his tired neck and looked at the window, where the moon was a perfectly round lantern in the sky. Its moonlight spilled over onto the floor of the room. Suddenly, the doorknob turned. James, too exhausted to be alarmed, gazed confusedly (convinced that it was a dream) as the door opened, revealing the dark silhouette of a woman—an orb of light gleaming on her wand tip.
The woman quietly shuffled over to Remus's bed. She shook his sleeping form. "Remus…Remus!"
Remus whimpered. He was not asleep, after all.
"Remus! Why didn't you come down to my office? We need to get down to the Willow as soon as possible!"
"I don't want to go," whispered Lupin. A shard of moonlight helped James see Lupin's features. He was surprised to see Remus's forehead shiny with sweat.
The woman's scolding voice turned gentle. "I know it's painful, dear. But you must. You are such a brave soul."
Remus muffled his sob in his pillow, but he let her lift him out of bed.
James knew he had to act. Who knew what this woman was up to. He tried to shout, but his tongue was drier than an old owl pellet. Then James sat up in bed, determined to follow them despite his exhaustion.
The woman gave a start when she saw James awake. She drew her black wand and flicked it in his direction. Immediately, even more heavy drowsiness enveloped James like soft blankets. James valiantly tried to fight it, but soon the thought of a pillow seemed like the biggest luxury in the world. Oh well, thought James. Perhaps it was all a dream, anyway…
James woke up with a jolt. Sunlight streamed softly from the window. Peter and Sirius still snored in their beds. James usually felt groggy in the morning, but today he felt alert and refreshed.
Probably because of that spell that lady put on me last night, he thought. He leaped out of bed and tore back the blankets from Remus' bunk. Empty.
Minutes Later
Storming into the Great Hall, even James could sense the metaphorical thunderclouds floating around his head. He was bloody mad. No more Mr. Passive Potter anymore. James was fully prepared to shake Remus by the collar until the boy spilled the truth. He wanted answers…
And there Reme was. Sitting at the Gryffindor Table; the back of his head visible to James. James quickened his pace. "Aha!" shouted James triumphantly, grabbing Remus by the shoulders. "You better explain why you're always so—!"
James's last word, "sick," stuck in his throat. Because when Remus turned around to face James, he looked as if he was never fallen ill in his life.
Remus nearly glowed with a healthy luster, and his eyes had a spark in them that had been absent for so many days. "Oh! Hello, James. You're not usually up this early," said Remus almost cheerily, chewing on some pancakes
Numb with shock, James replied, "You…you usually aren't either."
Remus' gaze wandered toward Madam Pomfrey sitting with the rest of the teachers eating breakfast. "Oh, well…I couldn't sleep much last night, so I thought I'd come down here early."
James's mind raced. How could this be? Everything last night was a dream, the spell cast over James the previous night whispered. But James refused to believe it. The only dreams he had about his friends were about them torturing Snape. Anyway: "I see you're feeling better," said James, hoping for hints.
"I am," replied Remus in measured tones. "Whatever Madam Pomfrey gives me always works wonders."
"I see," said James, skeptical. Finally, he sat down to breakfast.
Fifteen minutes later, Sirius and Peter arrived. They were stunned by Remus's transformation too, but said nothing about it. All in all, the rest of breakfast passed uneventfully until a quarter to eight.
"Well, time for Herbology," pointed out Remus.
James groaned inwardly. He excelled in all subjects but two. Potions and Herbology. James wasn't spectacular in the latter because he simply wasn't in to it. Herbology was mostly lectures and notes. Still, he stood from the table with the other Marauders and headed towards the class.
"All right students," announced Pomona Sprout. Sprout was young, and it was only her third year at Hogwarts. She looked even younger with her short height. "Today we'll be moving to the greenhouses where I'll be teaching you the fundamentals. Then we will finally get started on our hands-on curriculum!"
"What?" cried James. "No more lectures? No notes?"
"I believe last year I explained that the curriculum moved to hands-on during the second year and after. Or were you too busy tormenting Severus Snape –during class—last year to remember?" said Pomfrey, giving him a stern look.
James danced a jig toward his friends. "Can you believe it? Hands-on for the rest of our school careers! Imagine all the botanical mischief we could do!"
"That might not be a good idea, James. Our ignorance of some of these plants could be dangerous to play around with," said Remus.
Sprout led students to the greenhouse, enchanting crates of supplies in the air to follow the class of students through the halls. They finally stopped at a frosted-glass door.
"Hogwarts greenhouses are very versatile," said Pomfrey as she took out a ring of keys. "They can cultivate specimens from Donnaga Root to Whomping Willows." The Professor chuckled, as if remembering fond memories. "Of course, the Willows can only live in the greenhouses in their very small stages."
She finally opened the door, and the class filed inside. Except for James, who stood, perplexed. Whomping Willow…didn't the woman last night say something about a Willow?
"All right, James?" asked Sprout, giving him a searching look.
James shook out of his daze. "Professor, is there a Whomping Willow on campus?"
"Why, yes, I grew it myself at the start of my career here. Protection reasons. Why?"
"Oh, no reason in particular," replied James breezily, walking into the greenhouse.
She rose a skeptical brow. "The Willow is one of the many things in Hogwarts not to meddle with, Mr. Potter. I suggest you keep out of trouble, young man."
"Of course, Professor," said James sincerely. Talking to teachers was so easy with your fingers crossed behind one's back.
Professor Pereguinn was brilliant, reserved, and organized. However, he was a strict teacher. Sirius and James had too many close calls with detentions to keep count. Luckily, they were both excellent students in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Still, the Marauders were plotting. It was time for the Professor's first taste of a prank. Good old Mr. P: More with him next chappie.
James and his co-captain crept by Pereguinn's door. Under his father's cloak, they were both completely invisible. The cloak was the best of James's possessions. He wouldn't give the Cloak up for the best prank kit in the world.
It would be best not to give a detailed report of exactly what James and Sirius were planning. Let's just say it involved several stink bombs, a family of a dozen pigeons, balloons filled with enchanted glop, exploding bombs, trip wire, duct tape, a bucket of pink dye, and—worst of all—a permanent marker (perfect for drawing curly mustaches, of course).
Fortunately for Pereguinn, the two troublemakers stopped short at the door of his classroom. "There's someone in there!" mouthed Sirius to James. "Dumbledore!"
James took out an extendable ear (also part of the prank pack) and slipped it between a crack below the door. Words immediately flowed into the boys' ears:
"I just find the student's behavior odd, Headmaster," said Pereguinn. "He finishes all the assignments perfectly but frequently looks as if he's digging his own grave!"
"Remus Lupin," began Dumbledore, giving the boys a start, "is a victim to a terrible affliction that should never be placed upon such an innocent young boy. I'm not sure how you'd feel about him if I told you, Professor, which is why I feel hesitant to tell you."
"You doubt me?" growled the Professor.
"One cannot be too careful these days—" Dumbledore started to protest.
"I only worry about the student! All of them. As a teacher, it's my responsibility to make sure the students are well. I have rights to know what ails the boy!"
A sigh. "Very well." There was a deafening pop, and the Extendable Ear blasted out of its crevice, making James and Sirius's ears hurt awfully.
"Imperturbable Charm," groaned James. "We can't eavesdrop."
Sirius folded his hands into fists. "Dash it. We would've found out was wrong with Remus, didn't we? Now we know something's up."
"We need to ask Pereguinn," James said. And so they waited for about ten minutes until, finally, Dumbledore swept out of the classroom in his midnight-blue robes. The boys tumbled, invisible, into the classroom. Mr. Pereguinn's back was turned, arranging dusty books on a shelf.
James hurriedly took off the cloak and stuffed it in his pocket. "Sir!"
The Professor turned, alarmed. "Dear lord, you came in like Peeves, only quietly. What do you want?"
"We need to know about our ill friend, Remus," asserted Sirius.
Pereguinn's back stiffened. Up close, James could tell that whatever Dumbledore told him had jarred the man. "Remus? You were eavesdropping. Why, you little twits!"
"We are his best friends," protested James. Then, choosing his words carefully: "We have rights to know what ails him."
Pereguinn's mouth twitched downwards. "Well I can't," he said. "Dumbledore forbids me from letting such serious matters escape into the student body, and when he means business, he means business." He glanced out of the classroom door and walked briskly to his desk, scribbling out a note. "As you should know, eavesdropping about adult matters will result in a detention. Tomorrow." The Professor held out the detention pass.
"But sir—!"
"You'll have plenty of time to discuss this during detention, Mr. Potter," he said icily. Then he shooed them out of the classroom.
"Another botched attempt," Sirius scowled, as the door slammed.
"We don't need him," said James pompously. "What have you found from the library?"
"What we always got: nothing."
James sucked his teeth in annoyance. They were nowhere near finding out Remus's problem, and there was no way they could force it out of him. James also was clueless about the woman he saw several nights ago; James was convinced more and more each day that the mysterious event was just a dream.
What the bloody hell was wrong with the boy?
James experienced detention before. It was not so bad; in fact, the first couple of detentions survived were like badges of honor. Still, it stank. Especially if it was for a noble cause.
The boys trudged to the room. Pereguinn stood by the door, waiting for them. "You two will be cleaning ink pots today," he declared. "Then you will organize my books in alphabetical order. Of course, you should arrange the books first so the ink won't dirty them."
James and Sirius glanced at each other; the Black gave an almost imperceptible nod. They had worse. The pair set to work. There were however, many books. James eventually resorted to just glancing at the author's last name and placing it in its correct place to finish the chore before the hour was up. He picked up a dust-gray tome (by Rowley Mandible) and started to place it with the other "m"s when Professor Pereguinn gave a slight cough behind him.
James did not turn. "That is a very good book," Pereguinn said.
Seriously? "Mhm," said James in his lengthy reply. Ah, I love it when I write things like that.
"Very interesting," said the Professor again.
This time James faced him and gave him a medicine-sweet smile. "I'm sure," James enunciated. Then he turned back to the bookshelf.
James heard Pereguinn say the same thing on Sirius half an hour later about the same book. Dozens of ink bottles and heavy books later, detention was over.
"See you tomorrow, Professor," the boys chorused as they started to leave.
"Wait a moment, please." The teacher stood from his desk, plucked a book off a shelf, and handed it to the boys. "Here. I sincerely insist that you read it." James took the dusty book and, for the first time, noticed its title. Brutal Bites and its Symptoms: by Rowley Mandible.
Hmm…
Potter stood next to Sirius, Nimbus in hand. A warm breeze rippled through the grass on the Quidditch field. James oozed confidence. He could do this. The glory only earned from Quidditch team was his.
Sirius squirmed uncomfortably. "I - I don't think she'll assign me Beater..."
"Merlin's socks," retorted James. "Not giving you Beater is almost as crazy as leaving me out of the Chaser spot!"
"Let's get started," announced Concepta. A group of boys clad in Gryffindor robes immediately raised into the air. "We will test Keepers first. These five Beaters will test whoever wants the spot." She made a vague gesture to a couple of students in line. "Up!"
So the Keepers were tested. Concepta looked thoughtful, then pointed to a burly student, Vetch York, who did keenly well. He absolutely beamed. Concepta shouted, "All right. Beaters!"
Sirius mounted his broom and shot into the air. Concepta undid the golden clasps of a large suitcase and released two Bludgers into the air with a woosh. "They'll need opponents," noted the Captain to herself as James watched Sirius successfully block Bludgers with his bat. Suddenly, five broomsticks rose from the pile behind Concepta and crude models of Slytherins appeared on them.
James was impressed by Sirius's game. He whacked Bludgers at the "Slytherins" with loud cracks.
Concepta called the students down and reported that she'd announce who'd get in later. She cast an analyzing look towards Sirius. He stood beside James once more, breathing steadily.
"You did well," commented James with a grin.
"Yeah, pretended all the dummies were my brother."
"Chasers!" called Concepta.
James, among with other students, gathered around her. "Shall I test them?" asked the newly selected Keeper.
"No," said Concepta, grabbing a helmet. "I am."
James almost laughed. The Captain looked as if a single Bludger would knock her to the ground. She flew up to the goal hoops and gestured for the Chasers to follow. James lifted into the air. "All right," said Blanche. "Just try to get the hoops. Begin!"
Her look was fierce as she blocked every Quaffle James flung at her. Frustrated, James noticed that she was too petite to block more than one hoop at a time. When she lunged for a Quaffle directed at the rightmost hoop, James threw his ball at the leftmost one with all of his strength. Her hand almost reached it, but the Quaffle successfully slipped through the ring.
After a while, Concepta descended toward the field. The Chasers followed. James did a loop-dee-loop on his broom, showing off.
"You're a great Keeper, Concepta!" exclaimed the new Keeper, when everyone touched down. "What am I doing here, with you around?"
"Lucky for you, I'm a Seeker," smiled the Captain. She faced the team again and said, "I'll announce the Chasers and Beaters tomorrow. Very well done, all of you."
Tomorrow. James couldn't wait.
The next day
James raced through the hallways, eyes ablaze. The list of who made the Quidditch team were to be pinned on Concepta's door. Now. This exact moment it was hung there. He was running like a maniac, to that list. His brain was glued to THE LIST all day. If only his eyeballs were that close to it.
James's legs couldn't carry him fast enough. He was flying past doors, nimbly dodging students. It was much like avoiding Bludgers. And now the ceiling disappeared, and James was on his broom, hair blowing back, his hands reaching for THE LIST…
James skidded to a stop at Concepta's door, breaking out of his daydream. He didn't notice his friends trying to catch up. He read the names under the heading CHASERS and all the blood rushed to his head…
One hour later, lunch.
Lily chatted amiably with Alice when noise erupted all around the Gryffindor Table. There were "wow"s and cheers and congrats. "What's going on?" she asked Alice. Alice shook her head. She did not know.
Lily's curious demeanor immediately sank into a scowl. Here came Potter, being lavished with praise and (especially) girls. "Why, hello Evans," bragged Potter when he reached her seat. "I suppose you want to hear the news?"
"I never asked anything of the sort," frowned Lily. She suddenly smiled. "Unless the bet is over, that is. Well, Potter? Where's my glory?"
James paused dramatically. He was going to love the next moment so much. "For your information, Evans, I got a Chaser spot on the Gryffindor Quidditch team."
The girls around him "ooh"ed as if it was the first time they heard the news. For Lily, it was the first time. "What?" croaked Lily in disbelief. "Chaser?"
"That's what I said. Must I repeat myself?" said James smugly.
Lily regained her composure. "I know you'd love to, Potter. Leave it to you for being such a humble guy."
"Compliments are not necessary, Evans," James replied, tipping an invisible hat to her direction.
"Ergh!" Lily cried in frustration. "Just leave your bragging mouth to yourself. That bet changed nothing. This...this Quidditch thing changes nothing! Nothing!" James laughed and walked away. He knew just as well as Lily that this changed everything. Their rivalry had tipped dramatically in James's favor. He had success, fame, and glory while Lily was just the good student. She watched, with a huff, as he accepted many compliments in his haughty mien. Potter better be a damn good player for the team, thought Lily. Otherwise she just may hex him again…
And that's the end. Of the chapter, I mean. Heh. Yes, not much Evans, but more of that next time. By the way, I realize just how bad chapter two really was. I might revisit that sometime. Keep your eyes peeled!
Okay, juicy secrets time:
Secret 1) I swear that this was totally unintentional, but I uploaded this fic on January 25th. EXACTLY a month before, on December 25th, I put up my first fic! Ha! Like I said, totally didn't mean it. I decided that whenever I would make a new fic I would post it on the 25th. Cool, huh? Btw, my first fic is about the Sisters Grimm series! So if you're a fan of that, go ahead and check it out!
Secret 2) Leto Nonlucet. A relatively behind-the-scenes kind of character right now. She has an entire history, as well as secrets. She was based on one of my school friends, though obviously I don't know anyone with black and white hair. Things will get more exciting for Leto in this fic. She has secrets! And...I'm dropping a SUBTLE hint here, but there may even be a romance! Oooooooh! For any of you wondering, I originally thought of Leto's name being pronounced "leh-toe." But realizing that it was usually pronounced "lee-toe," I figured it works either way. I'm actually warming to "lee-toe," to tell the truth.
One last thingie: I'm currently the owner of THE SISTERS GRIMM WIKIA. The jerk who actually founded it hadn't managed the site for years so I'm blowing the dust off! My wikia user name is MirrorMirrorOnTheWall. Go check out the site and (hopefully) help add a few things. Find it at .com. Thanks a bunch!
Well! see you in a couple o' weeks! Hopefully three...no definite promises ;) Happy April Fools!
Valete, amici!
~mysterywings