Chapter Fourteen : Surprises

"Look at that!" Sirius said in the loudest whisper, earning himself a clunk on the head from Remus' Arithmancy text. "What was that for?" He asked, but this time a little softer than before.

He rubbed the spot he had been struck on tenderly.

"For you incessant shouting. What's there to look at?" Remus asked flatly, staring at James who was fast asleep.

"There's a smile plastered on his face." Sirius pointed out.

"Maybe things went well at Lily's, yesterday." Peter murmured.

"Lily's?" Both the boys said in unison.

Sirius grabbed Peter by the shoulders.

"What's this about going to Lily's?"

Peter gulped rather audibly but that couldn't hide the glee on his face. James had chosen to tell him about going to Lily over Sirius and Remus.

"Lily asked him over for dinner."

Sirius looked faint at Peter's declaration. He let go of Peter suddenly, causing the boy to stumble.

"He told me he was going back to his mum's place!" Sirius shrieked at Remus.

Remus shrugged.

"That's the same thing he told me."

"Why, that two-faced git!"

James yawned behind them and all the three shuffled to face the two-faced git in question. James blinked his friends into vision before sliding on his spectacles.

"'Morning," He said coolly.

"James, what in Merlin's name, were you doing at Lily's?" Sirius said quickly. His voice full of hurt at his friend's betrayal.

"What?" James asked bewildered by the ambush.

"Oh, come off it!" Sirius shrieked once again.

"I didn't plan on going. I was as surprised as you are." He said, rubbing the back of his neck. "She asked off-handedly and I agreed without thinking it through. And I panicked."

"Why'd you have to lie to us about it?" Remus asked, slamming his textbook onto desk next to him.

"I was so sure she was going to cancel the whole thing. I couldn't afford to look like a fool."

Remus snorted and Sirius burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" James asked irately.

"You!" Remus said. He picked up his book and marched out.

"Okay, he's gone," Sirius said conspiratorially. "So tell me everything."

James smiled.

"Sirius, you've become a dandy!"

"I have not!"

"Yes you have!" James insisted. "But, really there's nothing much to tell."

"You're a moron!" Sirius exclaimed, having no better come-back of his own.

"Thanks." He smiled. "We just gave each other a goodnight peck is all."

Sirius began ranting some more curses his friend's way but stop short, taking James' words into account.

"You scoundrel you!" He said, cheerfully punching James on his shoulder. "So what does that make the two of you?"

"Umm… that's a good question. I have no clue what-so-ever."

"This call's for Remus' expert analysis."

James nodded his approval.

"And another thing James, why'd you tell Peter and not us?"

"He was there when she came and announced what time we had to be at her house."

Sirius stopped his sulking immediately.

Lily Evans was in deep sleep. She couldn't open her eyes, and she didn't want to either. In her mind she was re-enacting yesterday's scene. She was so glad Alice couldn't use occlumency and see her thoughts.

The two of them were right outside McGonagall's door. She was doing her level best to keep from crying in front of him. That was the last thing she wanted to do – be a damsel in distress. Despite her determination to keep the tears at bay, a few traitor drops slipped and before she knew it she was sobbing silent tears. She shut her eyes tight. She couldn't face him. Her hands automatically balled up.

She wasn't sure how he was going to react. He didn't say anything for quite a while. Instead, he grabbed her hand and extended each finger, one at a time. Slowly he entwined his fingers in hers and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Then he released her hand and put his arm on her waist and pulled her closer.

"Hey," He said in the softest whisper. "Don't cry."

She looked up to face him.

"How can she possibly say something like that?" She managed to say in between sobs.

It was evident that he didn't know what to say that could console her. So he pulled even closer to him. Her head was crushed against his chest, her tears spilt onto his shirt. She could smell his cologne. It was strangely comforting. She looked up in James' eyes. She could see the concern and worry in them. She had never seen him like this, and she had never thought he was ever capable of exhibiting such emotions.

She closed her eyes, as if to seal this memory in her mind forever. He slowly brought his face closer to hers.

"Lily!" He said. But it wasn't his voice. The voice coming out of James' Potter mouth was much too high pitched and angry.

"Lily Evans!" The voice belonged to Alice.

Lily groaned loudly. She forced her eyes open.

"Whoa!" Alice exclaimed. "If looks could kill!"

"You just ruined a really nice dream." She said pulling the covers over her head.

"You can dream about Potter some other time." She said smiling.

"What?" She said up straight. Had she been talking in her sleep?

"What?" Alice mimicked Lily.

"My life does not revolve around Potter." She said in the most unconvincing manner. A blush crept onto her cheeks.

"Yeah, sure it doesn't." She said rolling her eyes.

"Did you wake me up to subject me to your sarcasm?"

"No… I woke you up to find out what happened yesterday!" She giggled in the most girly fashion.

"Ugh!" Lily covered her face with her pillow.

Alice ran over and snatched the pillow from Lily.

"I'm not sparing you. You have to tell me!"

James rushed to grab a seat in front of Lily at breakfast. Sirius helped shoo off a few first years. He winked at her, and she blushed and looked away. Sirius nudged him.

"Will you stop acting like some school boy!" He reprimanded his friend.

"Sheesh, as if it's a crime to be happy for a friend." Sirius scowled at James.

"Yes, especially if you act like this." He shifted his eyes to the far end of The Great Hall. "Oh my god!"

"What?" Sirius asked disinterestedly. Playing with his scrambled eggs.

"My mum's here!" He said pointing to the lady standing next to Dumbledore.

Lily followed his gaze to the plump lady who was standing next to their Headmaster, engrossed in an animated conversation with him. She raised her eyebrows in question.

"My mum." He said quietly, slowly getting out of his seat.

"What's his mum doing here?" Lily asked Sirius.

"How am I supposed to know. You're his wife, you ought to know." He sulked.

"What?" Lily asked in confusion.

Sirius stuck out his tongue and ignore her the remainder of the meal. Why in Merlin's name was James' mother in Hogwarts?