DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but this minute plot. I only do this retain what little sanity I have left.
As soon as I stepped back into the Common Room, I was bombarded by Alice, Marlene, Mary, Emmeline, and Remus, all demanding to know if James and Sirius were out of trouble.
I shook my head and said, "I don't know. I told Dumbledore the truth, that they were just defending me and everyone else who had ever been tormented by Mulciber and Avery, but he just told me to come back here. I don't know what he'll do," I added, realizing I was terrified for the two boys.
We all sank into seats and sat in silence. Even when the sun rose and early morning sunlight crept into the Common Room, none of us moved.
Wouldn't James and Sirius have been back by now? Wouldn't they have walked in, telling us they were expelled? Where were they?
I was biting my lower lip, rocking back and forth in my seat, staring at the faintly glowing embers, when people began coming out of the dormitories. They noticed we were sitting there, but they left quietly, occasionally throwing glances our way, saying nothing to us.
What seemed like hours later, the portrait hole opened once more and in came Professor McGonagall, her mouth in a thin line. She took us all in and her face softened.
"Why are you all not in class?" she asked.
It was Remus who answered.
"Where are James and Sirius?" he asked, his voice cracking.
A flash of realization crossed McGonagall's face and she said sternly, "It is none of your concern about those two. Now off to class before I put you all in detention. Go. Now!"
Everyone but Remus and I moved and left. This was not missed by McGonagall.
"Evans! Lupin! Go to your classes," she repeated.
"Professor, please," Remus said, getting up to stand in front of her. "What happened to them? Please tell us!"
"It is up to them to tell you, Lupin, not me," McGonagall said. She looked to me and then back at Remus before saying, "If I do not see you in my class, then I will put you in detention for a month. And no Hogsmeade trip either!" she added before walking out of the portrait hole.
Remus and I looked at each other in confusion.
"What does she mean?" I asked, my voice cracking.
Remus shrugged, looking as confused as I felt.
If James and Sirius were supposed to tell us themselves, then that must mean…
"MOONY!" a voice roared from the portrait hole.
Remus spun around and stared in shock as James and Sirius bounded through the hole, broad grins on their faces.
Remus let out a roar and rammed into James and Sirius, who both embraced him, laughing loudly.
"Where were you two?" Remus demanded, pulling away, a broad smile on his face.
"Detention with Hagrid," Sirius said in an offhand voice, walking around Remus to the steps that led to the boys dormitory. He looked back and said, "Come on, Moony, Prongs. We've got McGonagall's in fifteen minutes and I don't fancy having another detention right now. Especially after Hagrid had us help feed those bloody Thestrals. I can't even see them and I had to feed them. It's madness, that's what that is, Moony. Madness."
Remus laughed and followed Sirius up the stairs.
"Do you ever run into them, Moony?" I heard Sirius ask.
"No I don't," Remus replied and then the door shut. That was when I was acutely aware of the fact that I was alone with James Potter.
"I'm glad you aren't expelled," I said, offering a smile. He didn't move, but only watched me closely. "I'm sorry I got you in trouble, James."
He shook his head and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"You didn't get me in trouble, Lily," he said. "I went after them, for you, and I don't regret it."
"Even though you were almost expelled?" I asked him.
He shrugged. "I kind of knew Dumbledore wouldn't expel us, but the idea that it was hanging over our heads kind of worried me."
"How did you know that, James?" I asked teasingly, smiling at him. He smiled back.
"I heard it through the grape vine that someone pled our cases," he said with a chuckle.
"Okay, yes, I told Dumbledore that you were all were defending, not only me, but everyone they've ever attacked," I said truthfully. "It wasn't fair to you all that you got expelled when they didn't."
"Yeah, they didn't get expelled," James said darkly. "But they did get detention until the end of the school year."
I scoffed. "Oh yes. Such a punishment," I said darkly.
James laughed and then said, "C'mon, let's get to class before McGonagall skins us alive for being late to Transfiguration."
I laughed before I turned and went up to my dormitory to change.
I decided that my hair would have to do with being up, so I pulled it into a high ponytail where it brushed my shoulder blades. I gathered my books and raced out of the dormitory only to find James leaning against the wall, waiting for me. He had a slightly crooked smile on his face.
"Let's get to class," he said, with a nod of his head.
I smiled and took the lead.
"So what exactly did you do last night in detention?" I asked him curiously as we passed between a group of fifth year Ravenclaws who were poring over their notes.
"Nerds," James muttered, earning him dark glares from the group.
I hit him on the arm.
"Be nice!" I demanded. "I was almost a Ravenclaw!"
"Really?" James asked, sounding genuinely surprised.
I nodded. "But I guess the Sorting Hat wanted me in Gryffindor."
"I'm glad he put you here," James said honestly.
I laughed. "I'm sure you are."
James was silent as we entered the almost full classroom. All eyes were on James and Sirius, who both took a bow, grinning broadly.
"Yes, yes," Sirius said proudly. "We are still here!"
The class applauded while I rolled my eyes, taking my usual seat beside Alice and Marlene.
"I see the Golden Boys are back in town," Marlene with a roll of her eyes even though she was grinning.
"Of course they are," Alice said as the two friends took their seats. "Dumbledore loves them too much to expel them."
I laughed just as McGonagall walked into the room.
"Quiet down," she barked as she reached the front of the class. "Yes, having Potter and Black is quite a blessing, but contain yourselves. This is no time for lollygagging. If you will not take class – and your NEWTs seriously, I must ask you to leave now."
No one moved and McGonagall gave a curt nod.
"Now, today, we will be learning how to transform into Animagi," she said. "I will only show you how, but I will not teach you, only show you the methods. If you so choose to become an Animagi, you must go through the Ministry, am I understood? If you attempt this illegally, you will be expelled from school."
The class was silent and motionless.
"Now, let us begin…"
And with that, class began.
After class, we all headed to lunch, everyone chattering excitedly about what we had just learned.
"But it looks so painful," Emmeline commented as we took our seats at the table.
"I'd take the pain of turning into an Animagi if it meant I could be one," Marlene said as she piled her plate up with food.
"I don't know," Alice said as she poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice. "I think I'm just fine with being a witch."
"But think about you could do when you're an animal!" Marlene said excitedly, her eyes getting a faraway quality.
"But what if your something completely useless," Mary pointed out.
"Like what?" Alice asked.
"Like a fish or something," Mary said. "I mean, that's useless."
"Only if you're on land," Marlene laughed.
"Which, most of the time, you would be," Emmeline cut in.
"That's true," Alice said thoughtfully.
I was hardly paying attention to their conversation as I was too busy watching James and Co guffawing a little ways down the table. James turned his head in my direction and his smile softened before Sirius swung his arm around his neck and pulled James into a headlock.
I smiled as I watched them, somehow admiring the way they were so carefree at a time like this.
"Hello? Lily?" Marlene called, waving a hand in front of my face.
I blinked and turned my attention back to them.
"What?" I asked stupidly.
"We wanted to know your opinion on the whole Animagi thing," Mary said as she took a drink of her juice.
"Oh, um," I said, frowning. "I don't know. I mean, it'd be cool to be able to turn into an animal, but you'd have to register and it all just seems complicated."
"Or you don't have to register," Marlene said with a devious wink.
"We could get into serious trouble for that, Marlene," Alice shot back. "I don't fancy being in trouble with the Ministry when I'm fresh out of school."
"Killjoy," Marlene muttered into her food.
I rolled my eyes and the conversation turned to the first Quidditch match of the season which was, as always, Gryffindor against Slytherin.
"Oh, come off it!" Emmeline cried. "There's no way Slytherin will win! I have you seen whose on our team this year?"
"Yeah, Potter," Marlene grunted.
"Besides him," Emmeline said impatiently. "I mean, we've got some really good people on our teams! Johnson, Abernathy, Robbins! It's going to be a good team! We'll have the House Cup for sure this year!"
Alice, Mary, Marlene, and I all rolled our eyes simultaneously, causing Emmeline to burst out into laughter.
"Oh, Merlin's beard!" she laughed, rolling around in her seat. "I wish you could've seen that!"
"Seen what?" Alice asked, confused, looking to Marlene and I. We both shrugged.
"You rolled your eyes…at the same time!" Emmeline laughed, gasping for breath, tears of mirth running down her face.
"It can't have been that funny," Mary said, giggling.
"It was," Emmeline said, taking deep, calming breaths. "Oh, Merlin's beard, that was hilarious."
"And you're taking the mickey," Marlene said with a frown.
"Well, I've got to go," I said after a final sip of pumpkin juice. I stood and grabbed my bag. "I need to finish my Charms essay."
"But that isn't due until next Wednesday!" Marlene cried.
I shrugged. "I'd rather have it done."
"See you later, Lily," Mary said, smiling.
"See you," I said and left the hall, heading to the library.
"Hey Lily."
I turned and saw James not too far behind me.
"Hey James," I said, fighting a smile that threatened to show.
"What are you up to?" he asked as we walked through the Transfiguration courtyard, passing a group of Gryffindors who cheered as James approached.
Oh sure, blow up his ego even more, I thought darkly as we passed. James didn't acknowledge them and I looked at him as if he had lost his mind.
"What?" he asked, seeing my face.
I shook it off.
"Nothing, it's just…you usually do something egotistical when your admirer's call for you," I said, not realizing until after I said it how cold my words were.
A look of hurt crossed his face and I immediately backtracked.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" I cried. "I didn't mean it like that! I'm sorry!"
"It's the truth at least," James said quietly. He gave me a small, sad smile. "You're the only one who tells me the truth, even if it is harsh."
I smiled.
"Well, someone has to do it."
He smiled and then put his fingers to his lips as we entered the library.
We took a seat by a window and sat quietly. James left for a few minutes while I pulled out of my Charms homework, and came back with a few Quidditch books. We sat in silence while I worked and he read.
Finally, it was finally for my Arithmancy class and I bade him goodbye.
"Wait, Lily," he said quietly.
"What is it?" I asked.
Without a word, he took my left hand in his own and, with his hazel eyes on mine, he put my hand to his lips and then released it without another word.
I took my hand back wordlessly and, after gaping like a moron for a few minutes, I pointed out the door and said, "Er…class…gotta….See you…."
I practically ran out of the library, my heart pounding in my chest. When I was outside the library, I leaned against the wall and tried to calm my breath and my heart.
Merlin's beard. I am getting seriously way in over my head.
I hope you liked my new chapter! Sorry for not updating more often. Life's been busy. Plus...I got into Pottermore. :) SO excited! Anyways, please review the chapter! I seriously love feedback!
Til next time, my lovelies!
~TheTragedyIs13~
