Chapter 7: Threats and the Sort
I'm taking over my body, back in control, no more shotty,
I bet a lot of me was lost, T's uncrossed and I's undotted.
I fought it a lot and it seems a lot like flesh is all I got.
Not anymore, flesh out the door, swat!
(Holding On To You- Twenty One Pilots)
"C'mon Remus! You can't miss Hogsmeade on Halloween!"
The boy in question gave a non-committal shrug and sunk further into the armchair by the fire, turning the page of his Potions textbook, the crackle of paper lost in the general rumble of noise that seemed ever present in the Common Room. "I have rounds that night."
James pinned him down with a look that oozed exasperation. "Moony, I'm not stupid. You have rounds at night okay, I think it's perfectly acceptable to go to Hogsmeade during daylight hours."
"You and Pete go on," he suggested lamely. "I have to catch up on Potions, I'm way behind."
The other boy frankly looked scandalized. He addressed Peter, who was currently pouring over his Transfiguration essay. "Please tell me you didn't hear that Wormy. It'll mean I'm hallucinating."
"'Fraid not." Peter didn't even bother raising his head.
"I see how much we, as friends, mean to you Moony," he deadpanned, wiping away an imaginary tear.
"You all mean plenty. But OWLs mean more."
James glared at him some more. "You are coming with us and that's final."
"Why are you so insistent on me going?"
"I paid a lot of Galleons to have a couple of Hippogriffs maul you and there's no refund," was his blunt reply.
"James."
"Remus."
"James."
"Alright," he huffed. "It's because I've had it with you moping. And if it was infectious I would've stuck you in quarantine ages ago. We're going to go, raid Zonko's and Honeydukes' as per tradition, maybe flirt with Rosermeta and watch her go red and use our new merchandise on Slytherins, a certain slimy one included."
"The two of you skipped Hogmeade last time because I didn't want to go," Remus narrowed his eyes at him. "And then snuck out later that night when you thought I was asleep." He smiled a little here as James's eyebrows shot up and he could see the latter contemplating his observation skills. "So what's different now?"
"It's Halloween," James stressed, stretching it out.
"James." A droll stare.
"Remus." A nonchalant expression.
"James." A meaningful look.
"Remus?" Slightly hesitant.
"So your intense need to go to Hogsmeade is completely devoted to the usual pranking and goofing off?" At James's vigorous nodding, he continued, "So it has nothing to do with the certain red head who is going on her first date? The certain red head whom you're infatuated with?"
"I'm not infatuated with her!" James squawked, his ears burning bright red like they always did when he was embarrassed. "How the actual fuck did we get here? This is about the lads and Hogsmeade without any birds in the equation."
"I sense a flower in this particular equation though."
"Remus, I am close to getting on my knees and begging you to shut up and nod happily and make the list of merch we have to get like you always do," James replied in all seriousness.
"Just admit this is all about Lily." Remus had a knowing look about him.
"It is not! I just need to breathe in the morning Hogsmeade air," James insisted.
"So go. I just don't see why my presence is imperative."
James huffed in frustration, running his hand through his hair. "Remus-"
But the boy in question cut him off, long knowing the answer the other was unwilling to speak. "You'll feel guilty," he supplied, with a wry smile. "You'll feel guilty about having fun without at least trying to force me to laugh a little. Am I right?"
"No!" James was all head shakes and slashing motions. "My reasons are entirely selfish. I need someone to carry my bags and I'm planning on buying so much stuff that even Pete will be over burdened alone."
" 'Priciate it mate," Peter put in, only half listening as he frowned over his essay.
"So take Sirius," Remus suggested with a casual shrug of his shoulders.
That had to be the first time he had mentioned Sirius in a very long time. Dropped it like a bomb, leaving it to the others to diffuse it.
But James didn't miss a beat in replying. "He's too scrawny. No good for lifting." And yes he was talking about the Gryffindor team's freaking Beater. Maybe he should have thought a little harder.
Remus shot him a droll stare. "Now you're not even trying with your lame excuses."
James let out a sigh of defeat. "That's it, I give up." He threw himself back on the sofa behind him. "Pete you better have some fireworks under that bed of yours because I'm all out."
"Now you're trying to guilt me into it," Remus observed dryly.
"I have no ulterior motives whatsoever," James said with a scowl. "But there are people depending on us to have something ready for Halloween and I don't take disappointment well."
"Like the first time Evans rejected you," Peter recalled. "You locked yourself in the bathroom until we blasted the door down."
James whacked him upside the head, triggering an indignant 'ow!' from the other boy. "Thank you for that trip down memory lane."
Remus had a small smile playing at his lips. And it didn't lessen when he continued- acting as if the interruption had never happened. "Sirius plans the best pranks. You could consult him."
James's eyes shot towards him- Why was he all Sirius this, Sirius that, today?- but he settled for a faux offended scowl. "Is this your subtle way of saying that you think my pranks are shit?"
Remus rolled his eyes. "Just admit it. You miss him. And rightfully so, he is your best friend."
Now James was glaring at him in earnest. "And I from hereon ban you from talking about him. He fucked up and he didn't even apologize because he has a big fat ego and you don't get to play softy and get over it. Don't be a martyr."
"I'm not,' Remus objected, slightly surprised by his words. "And he did apologize."
"But- wait," James blinked in confusion. "He did?"
"Well not in words," Remus admitted, that day flashing in his mind's eye. "But he looked apologetic enough. Plus I really didn't give him much time to say, well anything."
"Well unless you don't get an apology in writing, I don't give a shit," James's scowl had returned. "The fact that he 'looked apologetic enough' doesn't cut it. Otherwise he wouldn't be avoiding us like the plague."
Remus rubbed his eyes, suddenly looking very tired, like he did on full moon days. "Please just drop it."
James's obstinate facade crumbled slightly. Maybe he shouldn't have pushed that far. Maybe he shouldn't have pushed at all?
He shared a look with Peter who had been observing the conversation with a furrowed brow. The other boy could read the questions of his face and gave a slight nod in confirmation.
James hoped he wasn't making the wrong decision. "If you don't go willingly, we're kidnapping you."
And on that happy note and a smirk on his face, he swept out of the Common Room and out of the Portrait Hole.
Lily loved the scent of autumn in the air.
That crisp, clear, cold air that filled you up but wasn't chilly enough to make you feel like you were swallowing pins. Ever since she was a little girl, she and Petunia used to spend all of autumn playing in piles of leaves- that were abundant in their neighborhood- among the reds, oranges and browns until she was drowning in them, minus the panic. And of course the gardener would chase them away with scowls and shouts after the remains of the neat towers were scattered in the wind but all that would cause was a childish bout of giggles rather than a chastised pout.
Sitting under the willow tree by the lake, all she wanted to do was curl up with a light read.
Too bad she had annoying friends.
"Don't make me wack you, Black."
The person threatened just rolled his eyes and looked at the sky, as if asking for patience he did not yet have. "Drop it Evans. You're wasting your breath."
"You do realize there might not be a prank this Halloween? Doesn't that go against your personal beliefs or something?"
He quirked an eyebrow at her, lips moving upwards in a half smile. "What even?"
"Believe it or not, you literally said those exact same words to be back in third year," she replied dryly, pushing a wayward lock of hair out of her face. "You went batshit crazy at the thought of going without a prank for a bleeding week."
Sirius laughed a little at that, the beginnings of the first true grin Lily had seen on his face for a while. "I remember that now."
"It was exam week too and your fireworks weren't letting me concentrate," Lily huffed a little in indignation at the memory.
"You still came top of the class so don't get your knickers in a knot."
She did wack him up the head for that comment.
"Bloody violent you are y'know," he grumbled.
"Bloody pain in the arse you are y'know," she mimicked with a smirk.
He let out his signature bark-like laugh at that. "Okay I'll kick the bucket. What is it exactly that you want me to do?"
"Go to Hogsmeade and be Sirius Black. Flirt with every girl with a pulse. Make Zonko's explode with their own fireworks. Run down the road starkers for all I give a damn. Just don't sit here and mope for Merlin's sake."
"Why do you care?" he let out, suddenly looking very tired. he had been grinning till the last sentence when it all but slipped off and Lily wondered whether she should have touched that soft spot. Too late to take it back though.
"Because you're my friend," she replied simply. "And I look out for my friends."
"Why though? I've always been nothing but an arse to you but this past month you've been acting like we've been best friends since the diaper days."
"You were never an arse to me," she objected, nudging his shoulder. "You were always a friend, believe it or not. All of you were- are."
"Even James?" he asked skeptically, his expression accusing her of lying.
Lily thought that over. "I won't consider him a let's-talk-about-our-woes-and-advise-each-other friend. But he's not the scum of the earth either. He's hovering somewhere in the middle of the mess. I'd like to have a decent conversation with him if he ever shows that he's capable of it but I will not be nice to him if he won't be nice to me. Simple as that."
Sirius's expression was one of a man who had been told that his entire life was a lie; utter shock. "You're kidding me," he choked out.
She shot him a droll stare. "My life does not revolve around hating your mate. I don't really hate anyone. Nobody's pissed me off that much yet."
"I never said it did," he said immediately. "But- shit Evans- if you don't hate him, I'd pay a fortune to be alive and around to see how much you'd curse the poor sod who you do hate."
"Ouch. Should I be hurt and happy, I can't decide."
"Try honoured," Sirius suggested.
Lily laughed as if to say yeah right but said nothing. Instead she just looked up at him through her eyelashes and asked, "So you'll do it?"
Brows furrowed in confusion and slight wariness, he said, "Do what?"
"Go to Hogsmeade."
He let out a long suffering groan. "Evans."
"I would love to accompany you," she continued as if he had said nothing. "We'll make it a day for you to teach me the tricks of your trade and I can show you the little shops I've discovered where no one else bothers to go apparently. and-"
"Wait a second." Something about it struck Sirius. "Don't you have a date this Hogsmeade Evans?"
Lily's gaze didn't waver but her pale cheeks did decide to go a little red. "Oh yes I suppose I do. But I'm sure Michael won't mind if I cancel-"
"No you don't!" Sirius cut in, fully aware that if James was beside him, he would've stopped his little celebratory jig at the thought of Lily calling it off and murdered Sirius with his bare hands for telling her not to. But this wasn't about his loyalty to James or even a vindictive desire to see him seethe. It was about Lily being happy and he'd be damned if he stood in the way of that. After all she did to try to cheer him up too. "I know you've been looking forward to it, you can't lie to me."
She rolled her eyes. "Oh yes because I've been giggling and fantasizing about it to you, eh?"
"No," he countered. "But I do know that it's your first and who wouldn't be excited about it?"
"Um, you."
He smirked mischievously at that, a twinkle in his eye suggesting that what was going to come next was not for young ears. "Yeah but I'm experienced in more than first base."
"EW," Lily all but yelled out, scrunching her nose and scooting far away from his as she possibly could. "I am not a fan of over sharing, you twat. Also EW. EW EW EW."
He laughed, laughed more than he had in what felt like ages, laughed till his stomach hurt and damn he did not think that the prudish Lily Evans could make him laugh so hard. Wasn't she supposed to be a disapproving swot?
"Okay I'll give in," he choked out, after he had caught his breath. "I'll go and I'll go alone. And you are not cancelling."
"Alright then!" she scooted back to him happily and clapped his back appreciatively. "Glad we got that settled."
Hey guys! Long time no see!
This chapter is long overdue, I apologize wholeheartedly. Life majorly got in the way.
I know it' short and will never make up for the disgrace that is me but I feel like I can't add anything more in this chapter. It's bizarre i know.
Next chapter will be Hogsmeade! I'm excited!
i haven't been writing ANYTHING in a long long time and I hope this will be the catalyst in bringing back my words to me. And I swear and I will try my hardest to update this story before my others.
Thanks for bearing with me.
until next time!
~Lily
P.S. I'm on Wattpad too now! You can find me there by searching LilyHerondale. I've got this story and another one there and plenty on the way. Still deliberating whether or not to post them and I'd love to know if y'all want to see more from me!
