AN: Shanks to my loverly reviewers: Veronica Willis, MayFairy, rolfshuvakomail, Loslote, anonymous, cara, and SiRiUs-PaDfOoT-bLaCk23451
Wellp, as promised here are the legacy story stats! (remember they're out every five chaps?)
Words: 16,290; Chapters: 9 (eight and a prologue); Reviews: 62; Hits: 3425; Favs: 21; Alerts; 26
Yep, we are lookin' good!
*SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS AT END OF CHAPTER*
Red
Chapter 9
"Mate, with all of your experience with girls, you should know that you never tell her you like her."
"Yeah, Prongs, like you never told…her that you fancy her."
"I haven't this whole year!"
"And how much progress have you made?"
"She doesn't hate me, and that's a start that I'm happy with."
"Wow. Bravo, Mr. Prongs."
"Here, let's take a vote. Who agrees with me that Padfoot here shouldn't tell his bird that he luuurves her? Moony?"
"I don't think I should get into this."
"Aw, c'mon Moonshine. You have to agree with me, Padfoot, the smartest bloke in the world when it comes to all things women!"
"Well, I just think you should treat her right—something you are incapable of doing, Padfoot—and be honest."
"So who do you agree with?"
"I said what I needed to. I don't need to agree with anyone."
"Fine then. Wormy, what do you think?"
"I—I dunno. I don't really know much about girls…"
"You must have been with one bird before!"
"Well…"
"Oh Merlin, Wormy."
"Once, in my second year…"
"That doesn't count. You know what? I'm going to tell her if I want to."
"Pads, you're going to look like a bloody idiot."
"What else is new, Prongs."
"True, moonshine, true."
XXX
This time Potter had supposedly been called home on some urgent family business, So I was left alone to do rounds. Again. This was what, the third time? Fourth? Either way, that was way too many times. But being the more mature one, I decided to let it slide, yet again, and not make a big fuss out of it. Besides, he obviously had some good reason if it was enough to be called home.
I shuffled through the corridors, yawning and checking the time occasionally. 10:18. 10:52. 11:39. The minutes felt like hours. I tried to find something to entertain myself with as I wandered seemingly pointlessly through the stone cold silent halls. I started to plan out my essay for Ancient Runes, but I realized I needed my textbook for that. Then I thought of my family and what they were doing at this hour—probably sleeping. Then I counted all the suits of armor I could find as I wandered through the passages. 12:02. Who came up with the idea of doing rounds, anyway? Whoever did was an idiot. Honestly, just set up some spell that detects motion or something, and let the poor prefects and Heads get some rest. I guess its like a punishment for being a person of authority.
I was getting bored out of my mind just drifting through the halls, so I took a detour outside. The full moon cast a bright eerie light across the grounds, illuminating the tips of the grass and the surface of the rippling lake. Feeling at ease, I took off my shoes and socks, dropped them on the ground, and perched of the edge of the dock, letting my feet dangle in the cold water. All was still, quiet and peaceful. The giant squid raised a lazy tentacle above the water, almost as a greeting.
The tranquil silence was broken by a unnatural howl. Cold, shrill, and blood curdling, it reverberated through the cool air. I shivered despite my warm sweater and scarf. My head snapped in all directions, trying to discern where the call was coming from, all the while rising slowly from my spot on the deck and grabbing my shoes and socks. I started slowly back to the castle, my mind yelling "GO!" but my feet seemed to be numb and unable to move. The howl sounded again, only this time distinctly louder and to my right. My feet took a few small steps before I heard the sound of sticks breaking, and something (or somethings) trampling through the woods. Then I started to run.
But I was too late.
Out of the forest flew a large wolf, with a tufted tail, huge eyes that seemed yellow at first glance, rippling mussels, and dripping fangs. He was panting, and his chest heaved as he gasped for air. Following him was a large black, disheveled, dog that was limping and bleeding from his right shoulder. And after him, a magnificent white stag that seemed to be shining as much light as the moon itself, with a rat swinging precariously from one branch of his antler. It was quite the parade.
But I didn't really have time to reflect of the weirdness of it all, as much as I wished I did.
I picked up my pace instantly, skirting to the wood on the other side, as to get away from view.
Too late.
The wolf realized that I was there immediately, and his haunches snapped back as he lunged towards me. The stag, however, stood still and looked at me. I saw him shake his head slightly, and then he and the dog chased after the wolf, tackling him and scratching at his coat. The wolf snarled, but in an almost friendly way, but slightly annoyed. Not defensive or angry in the least. He quickly threw them off and started towards the part of the forest that I had entered, but the others were fast at his heels.
I continued to sprint through the woods, ignoring the twigs and the brambles that tore at my skin and clothes. I turned my head back every now and then, trying to see if the wolf was still in sight. He was. He was growing nearer and nearer, and I was getting more frantic and started to stumble on things more easily. After one hard look, I realized something that made my heart beat five times more faster; the sound of it pounding flooding my ears.
That wasn't a common timber wolf.
It was a werewolf.
The tail, eyes, snout, it all made sense. Along with the addition of the full moon, all seemed to be screaming werewolf. I tore through the woods faster and faster, and concluded that trying to lose him wasn't working, and I had best get out of the Forbidden Forest and onto the grounds, where I could run easier. With another glance behind me, I saw that the dog and the stag were trying to distract the wolf, to throw him off; by jumping on top of him, and biting and scratching him. He shook them off presently, and continued to chase after me.
I was seriously screwed.
He was much faster than me on foot But I doubted he had ever swam in werewolf form. I kicked off my shoes as I ran to the lake, and dove in. The wolf chased after me, following onto the dock. When he realized what was below him, he skidded to a stop, paws flailing everywhere as he tried to halt. He did just in time, and for a moment I was safe.
AN: so this is late, and cruelly short. I'm soooooo sorry. I had a writers block this whole week; you wouldn't believe how much I had to rewrite. But next week, I'll update for sure on Sunday as I usually do.
Previously…Lily Evans is back for her seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and has been appointed Head Girl. With just her luck, the person who irks her the most, James Potter, is Head Boy. He isn't as bad as she thought; fairly tolerable at best. They go to their first day of classes and she is his partner in Potions class. After Potter takes away her Transfiguration book, telling her that she doesn't know how to have fun and only studies, he forces Lily to go outside with him. He has her prove that she really can have fun by jumping in the lake. Later that day he proves that he really can't handle responsibility by skipping out on rounds. Lily goes to study with Jacob Dawson, the handsome, smart, quidditch captain from Ravenclaw, and quite enjoys his company. James is very irritated at something, and Lily picks up on this right away. He doesn't specify why he is so angry, though. He later admits that he is still irritated but decided he better just back out of the situation and let it be. Lily finds that Jacob can be quite possessive, but she decides that as long as he doesn't go too overboard, that she can deal with that. During rounds, Lily and Remus discuss the ever-growing threat of Voldemort, and the chapter ends with "Severus, finally you've arrived. Any news from the Dark Lord?" Lily cant believe it, and feels horrible that she couldn't have prevented it. James manages to talk her out of believing it's her fault. Brittani admits that she fancies Sirius, and Lily is expecting Jacob to make a move on her soon.