A/N: Quite short but I hope you likey!!
Chapter Thirteen: Sirius Conversations
(Haha! Didya get it? Didya?)
Hogwarts seemed like a castle of the dead on the second day of the Christmas holidays. Though there were more students staying than normally did, the corridors seemed unnaturally silent. Lily, though, didn't mind. As popular as she was, she was happy in her own company and always had been. Today, she was up bright and early in the common room, curled up on a fluffy newly-conjured beanbag in front of the fire, writing letters and Christmas notes.
The first went:
Dear Mum and Dad
I'm fine, thank you, and for the last time I don't mind staying here for the holidays! The most important thing is that you both get better and don't worry about me. Good luck with your operation, Dad, and Mum, good luck with putting up with him dosed up on morphine!
It's weird being at Hogwarts with hardly anyone here, and so far unnaturally relaxing! I'm going to do all my homework today and then sit around doing nothing for the rest of the holidays.
In answer to your question Mum, no, I'm not on my own, there are a few other people staying too. My new friend Sherine- I told you about her, remember? -And my ex-friend Severus, along with Remus, who you've met, a few Ravenclaws, and- here's the trump card- Sirius Black and James Potter.
I know what you're going to say, and don't worry, I think the chances of either of them molesting me in the hallway are minimal, although James might have a try if he wasn't aware of my prodigious skills in the fields of Dismemberment and Castration. Actually, I'm not being fair; we've definitely been getting along better recently since he saved my life (long story), although I haven't fully ruled out a return to my chaos-mongering of earlier this term! I'll probably threaten hi m with it until he returns Andy's broomstick and place on the team, at the very least.
Well, I've got cramp in my hand and I need to write to a few more people, so I'll go. Write back soon! And don't terrorize the nurses, Dad.
Lots of love
Lily
The second:
Andy
I know you're going to ask me about your broom and I'm working on it. How are things with You-Know-Who? (No, not THAT one!The one WITH hair!) I heard he was planning to head out your way on Boxing Day. No need to thank me.
Enjoy your present, and the holidays!
Lil X
The third:
Ems
Andy's driving me nuts. Will you please try to stop her sending me a Howler if I can't get her broom back?
I owe you five sickles, you were right about Sherine. She didn't take her eyes off him all lunch yesterday, and kept missing her mouth with her food. I'll try and exercise my matchmaking skills, but maybe you could serve as a written counsel?
Enjoy the holidays, missing you already
Lil X
The fourth:
Alice
If you don't get a new year's kiss from Frank I will wash my hands of you completely.
Have a happy Christmas!
Lil X
The fifth:
Frank
Kiss her on New Year's; she won't start it. And I need to focus my matchmaking skills on a new pair, so for Christ's sake get a MOVE ON! Hope she likes the earrings I got for you to get her, and have a great holiday, I'll miss your Hufflepuff gossip.
Happy Christmas
Lily X
The sixth:
Ted
Go to Andy's house on Boxing Day, or I'll send you a cursed pair of boxers (excuse the pun)
I promise I'll look after Sherine, you might even find that when you get back she'll have a distraction or two to keep her away from you and A.
Merry Christmas :)
Lily X
And the last:
Dear Loony Tunes
Have a Happy Christmas with Vermin! And thanks SO much for my present. A girl can never have too many drawing pins. Or was it an accident that there were four enclosed in my Christmas card?
Your dearly beloved sister
Lily
She sat back, satisfied with her work, and sealed all seven letters before reluctantly uncurling herself from her cosy spot and stepping into a pair of slippers. She stretched, wincing at the click in her neck, and headed out of the Gryffindor portrait, then up the stairs to the Owlery. She wrinkled up her nose as she arrived- she didn't have an owl of her own, and detested the smell.
She called down six school owls and Andy's black Eagle Owl, Lucifer, and gave them each a letter.
"Just put that in a letterbox, okay, Lucifer?" she whispered. "I think my dad would have a heart attack if an owl flew in through his window, he's never got used to it. And he's in a fragile state"
She heard a click at the door and hurriedly stepped away from the owl before it took off. She didn't want to be discovered talking to owls. Some of the more bitchy girls already suspected she was a lesbian for refusing James Potter- she didn't want them thinking her lack of romance had driven her to chatting to animals, or anything.
"Lily?" she relaxed.
"Heya, Remus. How's it going?"
"Not bad. Haven't seen you since I- well, you know" Remus looked a bit depressed, and Lily went to put an arm around him.
"It's okay, Moony, things could be worse. Shall we head back together? James and Sirius will be up in a bit, I'm sure they'll cheer you up" he nodded and, after fastening a letter and card to a school owl- which it took them a while to find, since Lily had severely depleted the stock- the two headed out of the Owlery.
"Actually" said Remus absentmindedly, watching Lily hit Peeves with a hex from behind. "I kind of wanted to talk to you about that" Lily didn't hear, as she was apologising to Nearly Headless Nick for the flying bogies she had accidentally sent at him. He didn't seem to mind the bogies- he was more insulted about the fact that he looked like Peeves from behind.
"Lily?"
"Seriously, Nick, the ruffles are great, they really suit your skin tone, bring out the silver- what?"
"Conversation, please?" Lily looked a little sheepish, said goodbye to an indignant Sir Nicholas, and linked her arm with Remus.
"Okay, I'm sorry. What was it you wanted to discuss?"
"Well, how do I put it... Your little revenge thingy"
"Our" said Lily, raising an eyebrow. "You said they needed taking down a peg or two as well, remember?"
"I know, I know. But can I ask a favour?"
"Hmm..."
"Lay off"
"Whaaat?!"
"Just for the Christmas Holidays"
"I wasn't going to do anything anyway without the others, but why the sudden mercy?" said Lily, smiling at her friend.
"Well, I just think you could give James a chance to be himself a bit more, without his usual... how would you say it..."
"Worshippers?"
"Captive audience, actually, hanging on to his every word. Do you know what I mean? Sirius too. They're pretty decent guys if you'd take the chance to find out"
"Err... well, I'll try for you Remus, but I reserve the right to hate them if I want. Kumquat" the Fat Lady nodded cheerily at them and they entered the common room, sitting down by the fireplace and jumping up immediately when they heard a volley of bangs outside the window.
"What-the-hell-is-that?" shrieked Sherine, running down the stairs and looking at the window. "Oh, it's James and Sirius throwing rocks. I reckon they want us to go down" Lily huffed and strode over to the window, flinging it open.
"You could just come and get us, like civilised people, instead of trying to break- OI!" she slammed the window shut and glared at Remus and Sherine, who were both roaring with laughter at the sight of her with a faceful of snow.
"Want to go down and get them, babe?" laughed Sherine.
"Lead the way" said Lily, scowling and picking up a poker from the fireplace.
"No poker" said Remus, looking apprehensively at the weapon, and even more apprehensively at the wand Lily had just drawn. She giggled.
"Only joking, Moony. If there's one sport I know how to win, it's a snowball fight"
XxXxX
A/N: Oooh, excitement next time... I can't say much, but I can say that truth or dare might get involved... oops!
Kudos to IluvSEVERUS, clarealexandrea, JAMESandLILLYareCUTE, brooke-ella1790, madmoonyXImCharmedX, sarena678, laura sedai, UnexpectedInspiration, serpentqueen92, vampireprincess1606, emereldeye, TheRedBandit and... phew, that's it. Love you all! Also thanks to Dooki, without whom this chapter would be out tomorrow or maybe even later...
Riddle xx