Summer Surprise

The 'Black' Shock

As the clock in my bedroom strikes four, I once again realize one of the most annoying theories of life; if a person wants something to happen fast, time mocks them and moves as slow as a sloth in sleep and if a person is dreading something in the future, time mocks them yet again and moves as fast as lightning on a stormy night. And right now, I am experiencing the latter of the two.

Where on earth did the past 3 and half hours go? Oh Merlin!

Cursing time and its annoying habits, I grudgingly get up from my bed and walk over to my closet to grab a swimsuit and towel. Confused as I always am about picking outfits, I can't manage to select a swimsuit that won't make me look like a 17th century prude or a slutty bitch who doesn't think of anything else but boys. Merlin, I need new outfits.

Irritated at my lack of knowledge on fashion, I pull out all of my six swimsuits and throw them on the bed. Immediately, I cancel out a golden one that has 'slut' written all over it and a sky blue one that has 'prude' written all over it. After much thought, I limit my options to two swimsuits – a black monokini with thin straps, and a Purple and white bikini.

Fifteen minutes later, I walk down the stairs with my bag stuffed with my swimsuit, hair brush, and make-up (so that I can hide my hideous red eyelashes after swimming) in one hand and my towel in the other. After reaching the living room, I see that no one except me is downstairs yet. Confused, I glance at the clock on the wall opposite me and find that it is only 4:30 pm yet. Wow, maybe I didn't take that much time figuring out what to wear, after all.

After another fifteen minutes pass away, I come to the conclusion that either Petunia wanted to delay seeing me for as long as she could or she was too busy drowning herself in make-up - only to get it all washed away. Jeez, that girl needs help – and James had forgotten that we were supposed to leave – very unlikely. But seeing that he's not here, I decide to go and call him.

Leaving my bag and towel in the living room, I trudge up the stairs again and turn left to go into the guest room. Guest my ass, more like intruder, I scoff inwardly. As I am about to knock at the door, I hear some voices from inside.

Wait a second…voices? As in plural? Curiosity winning over manners, I lean and press my ear against the door…

"Why would I lie to you? Merlin, Padfoot, I literally spent all night yesterday trying to convince you…and you still don't believe me?" James asks

Padfoot? Padfoot…Padfoot…who among the four marauders is Padfoot, again? Even though I don't know what anyone else's nickname means, I know it's not Remus. I know he's Moony 'cause he's a werewolf (he told me last year during prefect duties). So it's either Pettigrew or Black. But which one?

I am greeted with an answer as Black's voice rings out from inside the room, "You can't blame me, Prongs. Do you know how unrealistic and desperate you story sounds? Anyone can tell that it's a lie. I mean, do you seriously, no pun intended, expect me to believe that Evans, as in the Lily Evans asked you to be her boyfriend? Why don't you just admit that it was a lie you made up to escape punishment from Mum and Dad?"

Wait…what? I didn't ask James to be my boyfriend. I asked him to pretendto be my boyfriend, I think with a why was James at Black's house, escaping punishment from his Mum and Dad? Merlin, this is bloody confusing.

That's when I realize that Sirius was referring to the Potters as his parents and that James was at his own house, convincing Black about what happened yesterday. I knew that Black had moved in with the Potters at the end of fifth year because he was disowned by his family. That was the only one time that I actually felt something resembling respect towards Black and Potter. In fact, that was when I realized how close the two friends really were.

But Merlin, all this means that Black knows everythingthat happened here.

"Yes, Sirius, I do expect you to believe it, 'cause it's the truth, for Merlin's sake! Now, please let me go; Lily is probably waiting for me downstairs. We're going to some swimming club. Stop rolling your eyes! I am not lying." James says, his voice laced with exasperation.

Suddenly, I realize a very important fact and mentally berate myself for not thinking about that earlier.

Sirius Black is in my house! Oh, Merlin! I never thought I'd ever have to face the day when both James Potter and Sirius Black ended up here.

Without a second thought, I push open the door, anger boiling inside me. Expecting to find two tall, black-haired, and as much as I hate to admit it, handsome teenage boys inside the room, I become a little more than surprised to see only one of them. Spotting me, James' hazel eyes widen in shock and fear and I catch a glimpse of something in his hand that suspiciously looks like a mirror, before he quickly hides it behind him.

"L-Li-Lily?" he stutters, still in shock.

"Lily? Evans, you there?" Black's voice rings out again, and surprisingly, like earlier, I can't see him.

As my eyebrows furrow in confusion and suspicion at the voice, I vaguely hear James hiss, "Shut your yap, Padfoot."

"Ah, I see...I'm not falling for that one, Prongs. You think you can pretend that Evans is there with you to get me to believe you? You are highly mistaken, mate! Though I must say if I didn't know any better, I would believe you; you do sound pretty convincing. You know, terrified and all?" Black says again, finishing his comment with a chuckle in the end.

Not able to contain my thoughts to myself anymore, I all but shout, not knowing where he is or whether he can hear me. Which is a pretty dumb thing to suspect, considering he heard James' barely audible hiss. But why take a chance?

"Sorry to disappoint you Black, but James isn't lying. I actually am here. Now seeing that you couldn't figure that out yourself, I would assume that you can't see me. So would you be kind enough to tell me where you are?"

"Ev-evans? You're really there?" Black's voice asks. Though this time, all his cool demeanor is drained from it to be replaced by surprise and shock like James'.

Feeling very annoyed at the invisible person and very confused about what is going on, I reply through clenched teeth, "Yes, Black. I am here. Weren't you listening? As I am sure James has already told you, this is my house. So I hope you would excuse me if I don't explain why I'm here and ask that question to you instead?"

Not that I give a rat's poop about you minding, of course. You still have to answer me. I silently add in my mind.

After a few moments of silence, I turn to glare at James because he's the only visible person in the room who knows what's going on. "Well?" I prod.

"I'm telling her, Padfoot," he announces to the seemingly invisible room and then sighs and looks me straight in the eye. "He's not here, Lily. As in, not here physically."

With that said, he pulls out a mirror from behind him - So it was a mirror – and says "Go on, look inside it." He pushes it towards me and gestures to take a look.

Silently concluding that he has gone completely loony, I take the mirror from him and look inside nevertheless.

Expecting to see myself with an annoyed expression on my face, I nearly drop the mirror in surprise as I found Sirius Black smirking up at me.

"Hey, Evans! Wow, you became hotter in just three days!" He says, still smirking up at me.

Usually, I would have come up with a witty, sarcastic comment at his remark. But given the present circumstances, I am having a little difficulty in even opening my mouth, let alone force my brain to think something that would help me defend my pride. Yes, I consider being 'praised' by Sirius Black as an insult. So there.

"How? What? Mirror? Black is?" I manage to stutter at James, expecting him to not understand a word of what I say. Surprisingly, he does understand what I ask and warily explains, "It's a two-way mirror, Lily. It helps me speak to Sirius directly instead of having to send owl-post. It's also very handy in times of emergency. That's why I packed it with my stuff last night and brought it here."

"Oh," I say, gaining some of my senses back. After a few more moments, where I try and get a grasp of everything that happened, I look at Sirius, who is still smirking – Merlin, is his face stuck like that? – and speak up. "For your information, I did not ask James to be my boyfriend. I asked him to pretend being my boyfriend. It's a huge difference."

What the heck? I ask myself, surprised. After all that happened, this is what I tell him? Merlin, what's wrong with me?

"Aha! I knew Prongs was hiding something. His story sounded way too much like a dream of his. Now it all makes much more sense and is much more believable, may I add."

"Well you can tease him about it for as long as you want. I swear I won't complain. But for now, we need to get going…we do have to go to the club. James wasn't lying about that either." I say, glancing at the messy haired wizard who grins at me sheepishly.

"James, huh? What happened to Potter, love?" Sirius asks, his smirk growing wider. Well, at least now I know that his face isn't stuck.

"Get your mind out of the gutter, Black! It's all a part of the act. I can't exactly call him by his last name in front of my family now, can I?"

"Hmm…I guess not. Very well, seeing that I am interrupting your plans, I'll leave you two alone then. Bye Prongs! Bye Evans!" He says, chuckling at my horrified expression at his suggestive comment before disappearing from the mirror.

As soon as he disappears, I see myself looking back at me from the mirror, an expression of disbelief etched across my face. I don't know what makes me do it, but I suddenly let out a chuckle, remembering Black's comment and the ridiculousness of the idea. Merlin, am I losing my bloody mind? I mean, I just laughed at Sirius Black's joke, didn't I? Yep, I am definitely losing my mind.

Turning around to face James, a small smile still playing on my lips, I say, "Let's go then. Petunia's gonna rip my head off if we delay any longer."

He looks at me incredulously, like I've grown an extra head. "Um, Lily? You ok? I mean, you just chuckled at Sirius's suggestive joke and didn't even tell me off for informing him about everything that's going on here." He says to me, as if I missed everything that just happened here.

"Nah. I understand that you might wanna talk to your best mate about such stuff. I'd tell Mary too, if she wasn't in Paris at the moment. And I don't think I would want to write about it either; that's why I haven't written to her, in fact." I explain, surprising even myself with my calm nature and understanding behavior.

James sighs in relief and picks up a bag from his bed before walking over to me. "Ready to face the cruel world with only your dashing, talented and smart boyfriend as your company, sunshine?"

I roll my eyes at his immaturity and pig-headedness and make my way to the door. As soon as I turn the corner, an idea pops in my mind and I stick my head back inside the guest room. "Oh and Potter, did I mention that if you ever call me 'sunshine' again, you would wake up to find important parts of your anatomy missing?" I ask sweetly.

Laughing at his horrified expression, I make my way downstairs again. And for once in my life, I understand why James Potter does what he does.

It was bloody entertaining, watching him stand there with nothing to say. No wonder he does that all the time to me.

To be continued…

AN – Chapter seven done! Thanks a ton to all those people who have favorited/followed my story…it means a lot to me. I'd really appreciate more reviews, guys. Any type of feedback is welcome. The next chapter is when they go swimming and I promise it's gonna be entertaining. It'll be up as soon as I finish writing it.

Claudia