"Now see, I told you they did care."
"I still can't believe they did it for me though." Said Lily, "I didn't even mention that it was my birthday."
"Maybe you did without realising." Said Lavender. "But what was it like, was it the same as a normal party."
"It was." Said Lily, "Except, I didn't blow up the cake this time."
"Well that was all well and good." Said Lavender, "Well I'm glad you feel better."
"It took my mind away from being away." said Lily, she looked around the office. "You know, I think I'm warming to this place.
"Aren't you glad I didn't let you come home now?" asked Lavender.
"Some days I wish I was at home." Said Lily. "But they don't come around as much as they used to."
"That's good to hear." said Lavender. "Let's try and cut down the phone calls as well now Lily. I think that's important to." Lily nodded from the other end.
"It's every week now." said Lavender, "We'll try every two weeks and see how that go's, ok?"
"Alright." Said Lily. "I'll call you in two weeks then."
"Yes you will." Said Lavender, "I love you Lily, and I'll see you soon."
"Yeah," said Lily, "See you soon." Lily placed the phone down and looked around the room. The conversation hadn't even lasted till curfew. Lily gathered her things and left, if she was lucky she might be able to get the last things of dinner. She made her way towards the great hall.
"Lily." Lily turned to see Sev.
"Hey Sev." She said brightly. "I'm just going to get some dinner. You fancy coming?"
"No, I've eaten." He said coolly. "I heard you had a party for your birthday."
"Yeah, I did." Said Lily.
"Why wasn't I invited?" Lily looked at him confused.
"Invited. Sev, if I'd known I would of invited you." Said Lily, "They did it as a surprise."
"Was Potter in on it?" he asked accusingly.
"He was there." Said Lily, "But It was Dorcas who organised it."
"You spend too much time with them." said Sev.
"What? Sev there my friends." Said Lily.
"But I'm your friend to." Said Sev, "Your best friend."
"Yes Sev and-"
"Do you even really value our friendship?" he asked heatedly.
"Of course I do." Said Lily. "You know I do, I would never of come here if it wasn't for you."
"Then maybe you should start acting like it does mean something to you." Said Sev. "Instead of hanging out with Potter and his friends all the time!" Lily was shocked, she looked at the floor and then back at Sev.
"Ok Sev." She said, "I'm sorry."
"Thank you." Said Sev.
"So, do you want to do something tomorrow?" asked Lily, "I'm free."
"Do you want to do some homework together?"
"Yeah, yeah that sounds good." Said Lily. "In the library at seven?"
"Good." Said Sev, and with that, he sulked away from the hall, down towards the dungeons. Lily looked at the door; maybe she had been neglecting Sev recently. Maybe she did need to spend more time with him. She had forgot that he too was new here, and they had to look out for each other, because that was what best friends did for one another.
The Marauders Proudly Present James Potter In: The Marauders Year One
Chapter Twenty One
The L Word
Written By Chambers10
"I hate this."
"Suck it up."
"We didn't do anything."
"Not really."
"We singed off all the Slytherin's eyebrows. And we spiked their food so they'd throw up." Said James.
They were in professor Flitwick's Office, the time delay vomit pouches they invented worked a treat. Shame they couldn't hide the evidence when McGonagall raided their dorm. Peter Pettigrew had of course denied all involvement, so if fell on the three of them to try and explain themselves. Slughorn did say it was a very sophisticated design and potion making. McGonagall didn't take such a view, and so this was the 7th of their ten detentions.
"I agree with James." Said Sirius, "I think we didn't go far enough."
"I think we went too far." Said Lupin. "Why can't we just have fun?"
"This is fun." Said James.
"Scrubbing sick." Said Lupin. James slipped out his wand and muttered a cleaning curse that cleaned a portion up.
"McGonagall said without magic." Reminded Lupin.
"What she doesn't know can't hurt her." said James. "Beside, who's going to tell her, you?" Lupin looked around and pulled out his wand and muttered the same spell as James to clear up the sick. He couldn't help but smirk.
"Oh come on, it was so worth It." said James, "Seeing Snape throw up like that was priceless."
"Projectile." Said Sirius, "It was better seeing it happen to Gibbs and Avery personally."
"Remind me why I'm friends with you two again?" asked Lupin.
"Because you're in our house, and they only other boy in it house is that Pettigrew." Said James. "Believe me, you'd rather be doing this."
"I could have been friends with the girls." Said Lupin.
"Yeah, and be Remus their best gay friend." Said Sirius, "You found the sludge bomb funny, right."
"Because we never got caught doing It." said Lupin darkly.
"There we go." Said Sirius, "Next time we know to hide all the evidence about planning it." There was a knock on the door and all three looked up to see Madam Pomfrey.
"Remus." She said, "We've received word that your mothers ill." She looked to James and Sirius with various degrees of distrust. "She has asked for you, you will floo home now."
"Right, ok." Said Lupin getting to his feet. "See you guys soon." He said walking out with Madam Pomfrey. James watched curiously as Lupin walked away, he looked at him walking out and then to Sirius who was still scrubbing.
"Don't you find it strange?"
"Oh not this again, Evans wasn't doing anything." Said Sirius irritated.
"No, not her." said James softly, "Remus." James looked outside. "Full moon tonight as well."
"What does that have to do with anything?" asked Sirius, James looked knowingly at Sirius, he started to chuckle.
"A werewolf?" James nodded.
"Don't be absurd James." Said Sirius laughing and going back to scrubbing. "Why would Dumbledore let a werewolf into the school? Besides, what evidence have you got to support that?"
"Remus goes home every month." Said James.
"His mum has cancer James." Said Sirius, "That's a little-"
"Every month, at full moon!" pointed out James. He pulled his wand up and wiped away a bit of sick.
"And it just so happens, that this year they get a whomping willow as part of some Herbology study?" continued James. "I don't buy it."
"You're acting like your dad." said Sirius, "Remus's mum has cancer, he goes home every month to visit her, he's not a werewolf, it's a just coincidence."
"But-"
"Accept that things just might be everything that they seem." Said Sirius. James frowned. "You thought Evans was in some ghastly scheme, how far did that get you again?" James frowned and went back to scrubbing.
"Are you sure you heard 'screeches'?" Said Jessica.
"I swear." Said Isabel, "It was howling, it was creepy. I don't like it."
"Where was it coming from?" asked Lily, taking a bite of toast.
"That place outside Hogsmede?" Said Dorcas. "It's haunted, apparently."
"It is though." Said Isabel, "Those bloody poltergeists kept me up all night."
"Just ask another ghost to go over and ask them to be quiet." Sad Lily.
"There poltergeists." Said Dorcas, "They aren't as…for coming as the ghosts here."
"What about Peeves?" asked Lily. "He's a poltergeist, couldn't he do something?"
"I don't know." Said Dorcas, "Look, all I know is that these things weren't happening last year and they are now."
"What could it be?" asked Isabel. Lily's attention was distracted by Potter and Black coming in. Lily could feel the blood rushing into her cheeks and looked away from them as quickly as she looked up. Dorcas was quick to notice, and didn't help her cause.
"Hey, James!" Lily glared at Dorcas who was smirking proudly. Potter and Black came over and sat down with them.
"Morning Ladies." Said Black as he sat down. "How goes the day?"
"Fine." Said Dorcas, "Although Izzie thinks that old shack in Hogsmede is haunted."
"Why?" asked Potter.
"There these weird noises coming from It." said Isabel, "Like…shrieking."
"A shrieking Shack." Said Potter, "Who knew?"
"That's an awesome name." said Dorcas, "The Shrieking Shack. Where those who go in." She pulled her hood over her head.
"Never come out!" in a ghoulish voice.
"Stop it Dorcas!" said Isabel. "That place was creepy enough without you making up stupid nicknames for it."
"Yeah, of course, it'll never catch on." Said Potter shaking his head. The post came in, owls hooting as they swooped down. Dante came down with the newspaper in his beak. He perched himself on Potter's shoulder and flapped his wing impressively.
"Nice owl." Said Lily timidly.
"His name is Dante." Said Potter as the owl looked for attention. Potter stroked him with his finger and the owl let out a pleasurable sound.
"I've had him for a while." Said Potter, "One of my best friends." Potter took the paper from Dante's beak and he flew away.
"Anything worth reading?" asked Jessica.
"Some people have gone missing." Said Potter, "Ivan Prado."
"The historian?" said Lily. All eyes turned to her. "I read his book on the Blackest Night." She explained, "He was looking into something about Elemental Armours."
"They found his office ransacked and all relevant research had gone." Said James. "Maybe it has something to do with Leviathan."
"You don't know that?" said Jessica.
"Who are Leviathan?" asked Lily.
"There a Terrorist Group." Said Potter, "After Grindewald was defeated he had a band of loyalists, they still believe in his ideology and still try to carry it out."
"So…there like the IRA." Said Lily.
"Kinda." Said James, "Except they use more destructive measures in getting there point across."
"Do they have a leader?" asked Lily.
"Robert Murdoch." Said James.
"Anyone else we know?" Asked Dorcas, Lily thought she almost felt scared to know the answer.
"Too many people." Said James. He looked up at Dorcas, "I think some things coming."
"James, not now." she said. James nodded and carried on with his breakfast.
Dallas Hilton, Dallas, Texas.
"I like it, it's quaint, and it's homely." Katherine looked at Alec who was tinkering with his work station.
"Do all your missions have a presidential suite?" she asked sitting on the bed.
"Not in a long time." said Alec. "But I have no idea how long I'll be here for." He opened a suitcase. "This is a portable communications stand." Said Alec. "You're gonna be my eyes and ears here." Katherine got off the bed and walked over to the station.
"So we have to do a bit of research." She said hugging him.
"Yeah, a study session on this Galveston place about what has happened in the last fifteen years." Said Alec. "And everything we can on Lenard Burns. He's overseeing the expansion of Galveston Shipping so is staying in a converted Victorian house in the affluent area."
"What do we need to know about him?" Alec turned round.
"He might be working with Murdoch." Said Alec. "He must be using muggle shipping to smuggle wizarding artefacts and dark arts into America and Europe."
"Hence the expansion of shipping." Said Katherine, Alec nodded.
"Burns is an oil mogul, he has no desire for this. And especially after working so hard to buy shares in the North Sea Oil trade why he would give it up and suddenly go for shipping." Said Alec.
"You think he's hiding something." said Katherine.
"I think there's more to it than meets the eye." said Alec getting up from his seat. "Besides. I need to shake down a lead, and I need you to test this." He said patting the machine. He picked up an ear piece and placed it in.
"What are we tackling first?" asked Katherine sitting down.
"The airfield where Young's would do their dealings is owned by a guy called Gary Caldwell." Said Alec preparing his utility belt with various capsules and weapons.
"The man likes a drink. I want to see if I can find out anything from him before I go after Burns."
"Why not go to Burns directly?" asked Katherine.
"Because if he is in cahoots with Murdoch then he'll be very shrewd." Said Alec opening the wardrobe. "I've spent the last month tracking this guy." He continued remerging through clothes. "And nothing so far. No meetings or anything."
"Maybe he isn't?" said Katherine. "Maybe you want there to be a connection." Alec turned to her. Katherine stared back and stood her ground.
"Alec, Murdoch has been the only person who you never caught." Said Katherine. "To me, this seems very cut and dry."
"But who would want to kill those smugglers?" Said Alec. "With an Omega curse as well."
"You don't know that." Said Katherine.
"They were because there where loose ends." Said Alec. "Murdoch always said he liked tying up loose ends."
"And you think this Caldwell could be one of them."
"If he's smart he will." Said Alec pulling out his black coat. He but it on and adjusted the sleeves.
"I'm going to Happy Harrys in the downtown section." Said Alec. "This Caldwell goes there after work. Let's pay him a visit."
The market place was filled with the sound of people bartering at their stalls. Alec Potter looked up from underneath his hood at the sky above him. The clear moon night shining down on him as he made his way through the market till he arrived at the small bar.
Happy Harrys Girls and Bar.
Alec walked to the fortified door and knocked on the door.
A small slit opened and a pair of eyes looked at Alec. As soon as he realised who was there the slit slammed shut.
"Oh we can't have that." Said Alec. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at the door. "Bombarda!" The door blasted the door of its hinges and smacked against the doorman and carried on until it hit the back of the corridor.
"Thanks for getting the door." Said Alec as he walked in. He took a left down some stairs until he heard music play. Alec walked towards it. With each step the sound became louder and louder, Alec placed his hand cautiously on the handle, he could feel the sound course through his body as he pulled the handle down. Nothing could prepare Alec for the sheer noise that greeted him when he opened the door. There was little or no light in room, there were people dancing to song playing as he stepped into the room.
The room was circular with tables and chairs around the edge with a huge dance floor in the middle. The light coming in was from some rigging above the dance floor, Alec looked around at cages that were hanging from the ceiling with naked girls dancing, slowly and provocatively for the group of men who were watching them, with two girls on their arms. The Barman was cleaning while chatting to regulars while waitresses walked around with drinks.
They hadn't seen Alec come in. Alec pointed his wand at the door which locked into place. The sounds of the locks made their heads looked up. The Barman stopped cleaning the bar, men watched as all eyes fell on Alec.
"I don't like this honey." Kath's voice was in his ear. "Are you sure you'll be fine?"
"Always am." Said Alec pulling down his hood.
"Human smuggling." Said Alec loudly so everyone could hear it. "Anyone heard of it?" Alec heard the sound of wood whistling in the air. He looked up to see a few people come from the pool tables with cues in hand.
"Who wants to know?" asked one. "We just don't give out things to strangers." He said getting closer.
"Though you have balls." Said another one. "Coming onto our turf like this. Not many come and get what they want." He got right into Alec's Face.
"And what is it you want?" he asked. Alec's mouth twitched into a smile as he rolled a couple of purple smoke bombs into his hand.
"Justice." He said, with that he threw the bombs at the light rigging. They exploded, covering the bar in a thick purple smoke. A few people got out hand guns and started to fire. Alec rolled onto his haunches and rolled behind for cover as the room turned into a thick purple haze.
"Subtly done, as always." Said Katharine.
"Please." Said Alec as he stood up. One of the youths swung at him with the pool cue. Alec caught it with his hand and kicked him in the stomach; he flew to the floor with a crack. Alec twirled the cue in his fingers and smacked another person across the face with it. As another approached he tripped him up with the cue so he fell to the floor and hit him across the head.
Gun fire started to rain from above Alec slipped a couple of wingdings into his hand and threw them across the room.
"AH!" he hit one of them in wrist, the guy fell back and shot another in his foot as he hit the floor.
Alec's attention was distracted by the sound of chains against the floor, a guy, much taller than him swung for him in the purple haze. Alec ducked as the chains missed his chin by millimetres, with his trailing leg he tripped him up and grabbed the chains and swung for a second guy coming towards him. It clotheslined him as Alec threw the chains at a third person shooting at him. The chains bounded his hands together and he dropped to the floor.
Alec pulled out a bolas as another group came closer. He threw it so it was travelling only a couple of inches off the floor, it snared one of them and he fell. The other four hurdled him and made for Alec. One swung a punch. Alec caught it and grabbed him by the neck, he lifted him of the floor and let go. He round house kicked him into a wooden table, as he landed he swivelled on the floor tripping up another, as he fell on the floor, Alec kicked his throat with his heel, knocking him out cold.
The giant man that had the chains came for him next. He brought his huge fore arm down. Alec blocked it with both his arms. The force made him bend his knees slightly, with a grunt he pushed the man's arms off him with a quick turn he kicked his elbow. The joint made a sickening crunch as his radius and ulna punchereted his skin. Alec landed on a table, kneeling on one knee and looked around. The group snapped out of the initial shock of their friend's injury and all pulled hands guns on Alec.
"Aren't you done yet?" asked Katherine.
"No." said Alec.
"Tut. You're losing your touch." Said Katherine.
Alec heard the clock of a shotgun. He turned to the sound and saw the barman had pulled one. He was taking aim at Alec and fired.
Alec jumped from the table as it smashed into a hundred pieces from the force of the cartridge. He pulled a couple of more boomerangs and threw them at the group. He hit them in the wrist again making them drop their guns. Alec pulled his wand out on the barman.
"Roparo!" the lasso shot out his wand and snared the barman round his feet. Alec looked up to see a hook where a cage would be hung from. Alec tucked his wand over it and as he fell the barman was swept up of his feet and smacked his head on the bar.
Alec landed on the floor and disconnected the rope from his wand. He then used an unbreakable seal to bound the rope to the floor so the barman was tied up.
"Die you son of a-"
Alec blocked a punch with his elbow; he punched the attacker in his face. Grabbed his arm and threw him over his shoulder. He landed on a table, smashing it as he went through it.
Alec pointed his wand at another man; a sonic boom erupted from his wand, sending him across the bar and threw a window into the alley outside.
Alec turned his wand another person and hit them with a Bombarda charm. He flew across the room and hit the DJ stand, making the music cut off. The last person came at him with a broken bottle. He thrusted it at Alec, Alec caught it and smashed it together in the attacker's fist. He let out a scream of pain as Alec squeezed his hands together.
"So…" he said, leaning in closer. "Care to tell me about human smuggling now?"
"Go to hell." The youth grunted out. Alec squeezed his fist tighter, reacting in another howl pain.
"Look, I swear! I swear I don't know!" he shouted, tears now streaming down his face. "I just come here to play pool man,"
"Have you heard of it though?" asked Alec.
"Yeah! Yeah!" he cried out, "The people at the bar sometimes mention it when I go to get drinks for the guys, they always talk about large shipments. Some special project called Leviathan!"
Alec clutched the glass more. "That word, Leviathan, are you sure?"
"Yeah! Something about a really big score, Caldwell said that he would let his friends in on it!"
"Did he?" asked Alec. The youth was hesitant, Alec clutched his fist a little tighter which elicited a wail of pain.
"NO, NO!" he shouted. "No, his, his supplier then cut everything out, said he'd been compromised and the sipping was the way forward! And I swear that's all I know I PROMISE!" Alec squeezed his hand till the youth passed out of the pain. Alec then walked up to the barman who was out cold and swinging from the hook.
"Are you a cop?" Alec turned to one of the girls in the cage who was unashamed and looking at him curiously.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because no cop I've seen can do shit like that." she said. She looked down at her body and back to Alec.
"You fancy a ride? I'll do you for free." she teased.
"You better say no." said Katherine in his ear. Alec laughed softly.
"As nice as you are." He pulled out his wand and with a wave all the cages opened. "I'm spoken for. Now go. I'm not done here."
"That didn't sound convincing enough." Said Katherine.
"Shame." The girl said stepping out. "I think you would have been a good ride to." Alec grinned as she and the rest of the girls walked out. Alec looked down at the bodies on the floor. He had a plan.
Alec saw the five people by the bar all tied up like the barman, upside down and bound. Alec pulled picked up the bucket of cold water and threw it at them. Almost imeadietly, as soon as the cold water hit their faces they all awoke, startled and gasping for air. As they cursed Alec, he sat down on a chair and twirled his wand in his hand, waiting for the situation to calm down.
Soon enough, they all started to settle down and only lightly thrusted about in their bonds. Alec sat down in his chair and looked at them.
"Who the fuck are you!" one them asked.
"That depends." Said Alec, "If you tell me what I want to know. I can be your best friend." He stood up and grabbed him by the hair and brought him closer.
"And if you don't. I can be your worst nightmare." He let go and let him swing back and forth from the rope.
"So, shall we begin?" The five looked nervously at Alec.
"Now be nice." Said Katherine, "I took me ages to wash blood out the last time."
"There's a group with a branch out here called Leviathan." Said Alec, "I want to know everything you know about it." Alec looked between the five of them. All of them remained silent, Alec laughed softly.
"We don't know anything." Said one of them. "There are lots of gangs out here."
"They aren't a gang." Said Alec, "There a terrorist organisation. They will stop at nothing until they get what they want."
"They won't hurt us." One of them said.
"You think so?" said Alec, "I will find them one way or another, and when I do, and they'll come here."
"Why here?"
"Glad you asked." Said Alec, "Everyone knows that all the gossip in this place comes through here." Explained Alec, "So there coming to you when I find them." All five looked to the persons next to them. "Or, more to the point, one of you has been bragging about this little group." All four now turned to a dark haired man who swore.
"But if you give me what I want. Then you have protection." Said Alec. "So…what you know, please?"
"Mr Caldwell." Alec stared him down. "Who first came to you with this name?" Caldwell closed his eyes.
"These south Korean smugglers." He said. "Yun-fuk-something or other. They smuggled people in the plane who wanted in. In return they took back things that Koreans wanted here from after the war." He explained. "They flew in under the radar to Galveston, some shitty port in the south. They charter to my airfield, get all the stuff, and then, well. You know."
"So how did they mention Leviathan?" asked Alec.
"They wanted to add extra cargo." Said Caldwell. "Weird ingredients, stupid sticks and strange animals. Said it was a new client they wanted to get."
"Leviathan."
Caldwell nodded.
"And you didn't find it weird."
"It's Asia, man!" said Caldwell. "They do all sorts of freaky shit over there!"
"What happened."
"It went well." Said Caldwell. "We were, Ur, making loads, then…a, at a pick-up in London, they were photographed." The photograph that Parks showed him, the one in London, how did they find out about that?
"Then what."
"They stopped." He said grunting. "Son of a bitch decided that shipping was the way forward! Haven't heard from Young's since, almost four months!"
"There dead." Said Alec, "So no wonder."
"So why here, why now?" asked one. "He's been doing this for years. Why have only come here now to stop him."
"Because he's been under the radar." Said Alec, "Much like the planes."
"It looks like this Burns's shipping is taking over Young's with smuggling in Burner wands. Also illegal potion ingredients and animals." Said Katherine. "Do you reckon The Institute knows about this?"
"Probably not." Said Alec. "We need to go to Galveston. There the ones that are shipping in the ingredients." He turned back to the men tied up.
"Are we going to Galveston now?" asked Katherine
"I'll tell you when I return." Said Alec. Alec turned his head as Police sirens sounded in the distance.
"Well, there's my cue."
"Hey! You can't just leave us here!"
"Watch me." Said Alec.
"You said you'd give us protection!"
"And I will." Said Alec. The sound of police sirens blared from outside, the blue and red light lighting up the bar through the windows as Alec walked away.
"The cops can't protect us!" he shouted,
"We always need a disguise." Said Alec. "And if what you told me was a lie, he'll be the least of your worries."
James somersaulted out of the way as a branch smacked down beside him. He looked over to see the second year who challenged him who was now trying avoid the branch from decapitating him. James knew that guy was out of his depth as soon as he challenged James. Dorcas obviously said not to, but the devil on his shoulder said go for it.
"Your outer your league mate." Said James. "Why don't you quit while you're level."
"No way Potter." He said, "Some has to tell you - OPHHH!" a branch hit him in the stomach an sent him flying.
"I'm listening." Said James as he touched the trunk. There were cheers from the Gryffindor's as James triumphantly walked back towards them. Of course Dorcas wasn't as James milked the applause.
"POTTER!" Lucius Malfoy came towards him. He didn't look happy, but then again, after all the pranks against that been committed against the Slytherin's by James, he would be pissed off.
"What is it Lucy?" asked James, Dorcas elbowed him in the stomach.
"That's ten points from-"
"For hurting your feelings." Said James. He started to laugh.
"No for."
"Save it." said James, "You have no power." James started to walk back to his friends.
"That's another twenty points!"
"Whatever." Said James picking up his bag and walking up towards the castle. He walked past the group of Hufflepuffs who were tending to their friend.
"And I think he needs to go to the hospital wing." Said James as he walked past, he noticed a second year girl from the group watching him. He winked at her; she smiled shyly and looked away, pretending to tend to her friend.
James was about to walk into the great hall when he was pulled away. He was half hoping it was that second year from Hufflepuff. Only to be disappointed to see it was Dorcas. She didn't look happy to see him either.
"What on earth where you playing at!" she said still dragging him through the corridor. "Why do you have to try and prove yourself against a bloody tree?!"
"You know, I'll never get tired of doing that." Said James.
"Trying to get yourself killed!" said Dorcas, she had secluded James in an abandoned corridor.
"What do you care." Said James, "I'm here no, harm done."
"James, that tree is dangerous, all the things you've been doing with Sirius since Christmas, are dangerous!"
"There pranks." Said James.
"Ones that can permanently hurt people." Said Dorcas, "I know you're scared about your parents but doing this to get their attention is stupid James."
"Why do you care? Huh?" asked James. "Why are you so obsessed about my welfare now?" James started to walk away.
"Because I don't want to lose you as well!" said Dorcas. James stopped and turned round.
"You think I don't know what's coming up." Said Dorcas, James looked back round. Dorcas sighed and relaxed her shoulders.
"James…I miss her to." Said Dorcas walking towards him. "She was my best friend, and I don't want to lose you." She walked up to James and hugged him. She wasn't sure whether he would return the gesture, but he did.
"I know you want them around." Said Dorcas, "But we'll be here, ok." James nodded into her shoulder.
"No more dangerous pranks please." Said Dorcas, "Lily's been throwing a hissy fit about how many points you and Sirius have been losing for us." James smiled.
"I didn't know she cared."
"She does." Said Dorcas.
"Has she been coming out of her shell more?" asked James. Putting his hands round her shoulder
"Since the party. She has." Said Dorcas, her arms threading round his waist. "But she spends more time with Snape than she does with us."
"Bet he loves that." Said James as they walked back to the castle.
"It's almost like he's bullying her into spending time with him." said Dorcas, "I heard them arguing, saying that she doesn't value his friendship."
"Why doesn't she grow a back bone?" asked James.
"She's not like that James." Said Dorcas, "She does her best to try and please everyone."
"For some that's never enough." Said James. "She really need to sort out her priorities."
"She was friends with Snape long before us James." Said Dorcas, "We can' expect her to just, cast it aside, we have accept her wishes."
"Even if he is an idiot." Dorcas laughed.
"Yes James, even if he is an idiot." Said Dorcas.
They made their way up to the common room, James gave the password and they walked in. James and Dorcas sat down by the fire. They both sighed and stared into the flames.