It is dinner right now.
The ceiling above our heads is clouded and leaky, the rain outside almost overcoming the talk inside the Great Hall. Almost. The fires are burning full blast, and everywhere is lighted by the angelic glow and warmth. I'm sitting here, next to Lily and Coral, eating this warm meal with everyone else in Hogwarts. I can see the Professors chat nervously in the head table, girls around the hall- the Gryffindor table in particular- looking at the three marauders, who all seem to be way too quit to not be planning something.
I'm in full view of the Slytherin table, where most guys are looking smug, happy, encouraged. The Quidditch season is coming up- first game, Gryffindor against Slytherin. And we are missing the captain- our star chaser- James Potter.
It's been a long while since anyone has seen Potter last. When he first disappeared, I admit, I was the only one to take it seriously. And Lily. And Jessica Norman, who's now sitting with her green and silver decorated housemates, looking worried and depressed. Everyone else thought- thank Merlin. The first prank of the year- finally!
But now, two weeks later, the ministry is starting to get suspicious. It has gone too far, even for the marauders…a missing student- for fourteen days now- and there's a war going on…
Well, welcome to reality, people. Good morning. It's about time.
There's a ministry official sitting in the staff table. Umbridge something or other. She has a notepad, and is staring at everyone sweetly. (Yeah, right.) Writing notes. What is there to write about a few hundred teenagers eating dinner, I'll never know. A waste of money is all this women is- and she's so incredibly fake, it's amazing. And she has the nerve to try and hide it by the most unconvincing 'sincere' smile I've ever seen in my life.
Disgusting.
The most aggravating thing in the whole situation is that it's so incredibly obvious the marauders know exactly where Potter is. I know where he is, too. St. Mungo. A few days ago Remus came up to me to ask me not to tell anyone where James is even if they ask me. (Black was standing behind, rubbing his head that Remus must have hit after hearing what he told me. A crude attempt, but might actually manage to knock some sense into that buffoon…) I told him straight out that I don't like lying to people. (I prefer to call it 'fooling' people.) But I'll do my best.
Now, if anyone would have simply asked me to tell them where Potter was, I might have dropped a hint or something. But would they? Of course not. Because they are all-knowing Professors, and don't need help from silly seventeen year old girls who think they know what's best for everyone.
So I didn't say anything. And Potter remains in St. Mungo, healing from whatever injuries he got from whatever silly trouble his friends got him into. Which would explain why the marauders are so unhappy lately. It's their fault, obviously.
But isn't it ironic? The whole situation? Not exactly funny, but still… in a sick sense… and I mean sick… and not very… like… nice and all…
I was considering telling Lily. I told Coral, since I knew Remus would tell her anyway. (And if he didn't, then they have issues.) But when I came up to my first British friend (I was born in the US, by the way, moved here at eight and six months) she was ranting about how he's putting everyone on look out, just for another stupid prank, and all her usual ranting which she simply refuses to quit with.
I turned right back out the common room.
But I'm starting to rethink that decision. I mean, looking at her, all depressed, playing with her food… frowning… you'd think she actually cared about Potter's well being…
…Which of course she does. Just don't tell her I said that.
See, Lily's problem is that
-Aly?
Lily Evans! Do not write in my journal!
What? Headmaster Dumbledore's talking. I can't talk over him!
Yes you can! You can whisper! Ever thought of that?!
What are you writing?
Don't change the subject!
Is that a diary?
No! Lily, stop, before I take away the quill.
I have a bunch more in my backpack.
Why is your backpack in dinner?
Why is your diary in dinner?
It is NOT A DIARY! It's a recorder of- Lils, this is none of your business.
I don't see what's wrong with a diary.
It's not a diary!
Coral has a diary.
Really? Where is it?
Aly! You're not going to read someone else's diary!
What do you think you're doing right now?
I'm talking to my best friend, silly. It's a real storm out there, isn't it?
You're impossible.
Thank you.
You'd think you were mad at me, Aly.
I'm not mad at you. I'm playing along with your idiotic games.
What games?
The games you've been playing ever since Potter stopped stoking you.
Not that again… Aly, Potter is just my teammate. We're head boy and girl, and that's the end of it!
Ok.
You don't believe me.
Nope.
---
She's gone. I can see her looking at me from the corner of her eye, pretending to be eating the potato salad. She should know better then to try to spy and me.
Some storm it is. The clouds are a thick black, with lightning stripes running through them like snakes. Not the Slytherin kind, the cool kind. And the rain is gradually changing to hail. I can here it outside, banging on all the windows…
Boy, what lightning…
From the fantasy of Jessica Norman:
The Prince entered the castle at the crack of thunder.
All the people of the land were seated around the four tables, talking intensely amongst themselves. The Prince has been missing for fourteen sunsets; everyone wanted to know what's going on.
Princess Jessica was sitting by the Silver Table of the Snake. Uninterested with her fellow students, all of which live alongside her in the kingdom of Hogwarts, Jessica looked up at the sight of lightning, intently listening for the thunder.
It came a moment later, and with it the Prince stepped inside, his hazel eyes behind locks of raven black hair looking tired, yet shining with joy.
The Prince. Prince James the Great.
The Princess found herself standing, looking at her Prince with heart-warming relief. He was back from his journey- the journey she has set him to, not realizing the great danger awaiting him. He was back, alive and well… back to her, and back to his people- the People of Hogwarts.
There was nothing the Princess wanted more then to go to him and hug him- kiss the life out of those sweet red lips. But the thought of her father- King Joseph the Muggle-pulls Princess Jessica back down to her sit. No. She can't be with her Prince- he was a Wizard.
The tears threaten to escape her eyes as the Prince's Knights- Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew- stand to welcome him with excitement and joy. The Princess looks away.
No…
From Alyson Morla's record of School Hilarities:
James Potter was standing in the entrance.
His hair was wet, his glasses flooding. The black robes were glued to a body that was way to lean to be healthy, while his wand was held tightly in his hand, dripping water like the rest of him. He looked around nervously for a while, before adopting the usual Potter-ish expression- the one we haven't seen since April, sixth year. Before his dad got sick.
His eyes swept across the shocked-into-silence crowd of teachers, students, and toad like ministry officials. He lingered on the Slytherin table, possibly searching to meet Jessica Norman's sky blue gaze. Then moved on to the Ravenclaw table, then Hufflepuff, skimming them quickly, finally landing on Gryffindor. His eyes seemed to relax somewhat, and he quickly found his staring friends near the end of the table.
"American?" he said, a hint of a laugh stealing into his voice, smiling broadly. Boy, how long has it been since we saw this guy smile? Too long, even for someone as uncaring as yours truly…
The marauders were up and by his side before anyone could see them moving. The reunion was almost comical- the hugs, the uncertain smiles growing big enough to threaten a dragon's. I couldn't hear what they said- they were joking about something, laughing and talking and yelling all at once, chuckling all the way through with twinkles generally belonging to Dumbledore shining in their eyes. I felt Lily give a sigh of relief, and couldn't help but giggle. God, I'm such a sucker for happy endings…
And suddenly, lightning strikes- and the marauders are gone in the blinding light, replaced by a group of animals… a wolf, a dog, a rat, and a stag, jumping around the great hall with such a joy which was never found in this old castle since the days of the founders.
Could it be?
Nah.
Could it?
And it's finished.
What, seems too easy? I can see how you'd get that... a happy ending, right? The marauders will stop James from ever going back home... and all will be well. Right?
No.
Worry not, you angst lovers. The next few chapters will be all mushy mushy happy happy (jealous jealous) but like I said, this story has character death in it, and I'm planning on short term cutting (that's for you, Black Blood Dragon Goddess...) biting (any Remus fans out there?) loss of sanity, broken hearts... and a lot of kisses. (It's angst/romance, people, get used to it.)
Just you wait. in a few chapter...