"Come on Wormtail," begged James, as he tucked on Peter's robe. He had been watching him trying to mug up for Defense against the dark arts O.W.L. "It's going to be alright."
"Just the last –" said Peter, his eyes scanning the pages of his books faster than his brain could process. Sirius was growing just as impatient.
James tried to snake Peter's book away as he said, "How hard is it going to be?" But Peter turned away, his eyes still glued to the book.
Sirius snatched Peter's book away, closing it and throwing it on Peter's bed. "It's the second last exam anyway," mumbled Sirius, as he pulled Peter up from his chair. "Who studies for the second last exam?"
James was on his feet at once too. "Well in your case, who studies at all?" he said, looking at Sirius.
The boys began gathering their belongings, as James shifted from one foot to another. "Let's get going," he implored, gesturing towards the door of their dormitory. He had to see Evans before the exam. Every exam he gave after seeing her went brilliant!
"She's not running away mate," reminded Remus, as he exited the door first.
The boys made their way inside the Great Hall after James had caught up with Evans. He had no time to talk to her. She was with her friends and didn't pay any heed to him. He and his friends made their way inside the Great Hall right behind them.
Sirius took his seat first, as he was in the farthest back of the classroom.
"Good luck mate," said James, patting Sirius on the back as he made his way to his desk. "Good luck Wormtail," he said, looking over at Peter. He had already began chewing on his nails. James shook his head. This paper was going to be easy! James gave Remus a thumbs up too, who smiled in return.
"Everyone take their seats," said Professor Flitwick as he stood over the chair on his desk to get a good look at the students. A roll of parchment was sitting on every desk, with the question paper flipped backwards.
The students took their seats in haste. The clock struck 11 a.m. and Professor Flitwick raised his hands, "You may start now."
James flipped over his question paper. His eyes scanning it at once. He smirked, as he thought 'This is easy.'
"Five more minutes," Professor Flitwick's voice made James jump. The room was too quiet for him to shout when he was right next to him. James rolled up his parchment, his eyes scanning to read what he had written.
Half way through, he decided he didn't want to read it. It wasn't like he needed to correct the answers. He knew he had done well. Rumpling up his hair, James yawned. Then, with a glance toward Professor Flitwick, he turned in his seat and grinned at Sirius sitting four seats behind him.
Sirius gave James the thumbs-up, as he grinned. He was lounging in his chair at his ease, tilting it back on two legs. His parchment was resting at the end of his desk.
James almost let out a snort when he caught Peter trying to copy off Stebbin's parchment. He was chewing his fingernails, staring down at his paper, scuffing the ground with his toes. Remus looked at ease, a little too pale as he ought to be with the full moon approaching.
James risked a glance in Evans direction, she seemed like she was almost done with her exam too. He sighed, before turning to his desk, as he began drawing a golden snitch along with scribbling L.E. on the bit of parchment left.
"Quills down, please!" squeaked Professor Flitwick. "That means you too, Stebbins! Please remain seated while I collect your parchment! Accio!"
More than a hundred rolls of parchment zoomed into the air and into Professor Flitwick's outstretched arms, knocking him backward off his feet. Several people laughed, including James. A couple of students at the front desks got up, took hold of Professor Flitwick beneath the elbows, and lifted him onto his feet again.
"Thank you . . . thank you," panted Professor Flitwick. "Very well, everybody, you're free to go!"
James was out of his seat at once, he met his friends near Sirius's desk, as they began making their way out of the Great Hall. James looked over his shoulder, Evans and her friends were making their way out too.
"Did you like question ten, Moony?" asked Sirius as they emerged into the entrance hall.
"Loved it," said Lupin briskly. " 'Give five signs that identify the werewolf.' Excellent question."
"D'you think you managed to get all the signs?" said James in tones of mock concern. Though, he couldn't keep the smile off his face for long.
"Think I did," said Lupin seriously, as they joined the crowd thronging around the front doors eager to get out into the sunlit grounds.
Once they were out in the open, Remus began again, "One: He's sitting on my chair. Two: He's wearing my clothes. Three: His name's Remus Lupin . . ." making the boys erupt in laughter.
Peter was the only one who didn't laugh. "I got the snout shape, the pupils of the eyes, and the tufted tail," he said anxiously, "but I couldn't think what else —" he wiped off the sweat with the back of his hand.
"How thick are you, Wormtail?" said James impatiently. "You run round with a werewolf once a month —"
"Keep your voice down," implored Lupin, looking around to check if anyone had heard them.
"Well, I thought that paper was a piece of cake," said Sirius, swatting his hand. "I'll be surprised if I don't get Outstanding on it at least."
"Me too," said James. He put his hand in his pocket and took out a struggling Golden Snitch.
"Where'd you get that?" asked Sirius, eyeing the tiny ball.
"Nicked it," said James casually. He started playing with the Snitch, allowing it to fly as much as a foot away and seizing it again; his reflexes were excellent. Peter watched him in awe.
They stopped in the shade of the beech tree on the edge of the lake. James was thankful for that; he could see Evans and her friends laughing as they dipped their feet in the Great Lake. It ought to feel nice, the cool water against their bare feet, in the hot weather. Maybe James could talk to her later.
"Put that away, will you?" said Sirius finally, as James made a fine catch and Peter let out a cheer. "Before Wormtail wets himself from excitement."
Peter turned slightly pink but James grinned. "If it bothers you," he said, stuffing the Snitch back in his pocket. Sirius was the only one for whom James would stop showing off. He knew how impatient Sirius got when James showed off too much.
"I'm bored," said Sirius. "Wish it was full moon."
"You might," said Lupin darkly from behind his book. "We've still got Transfiguration, if you're bored you could test me. . . . Here." He held out his book.
Sirius snorted. "I don't need to look at that rubbish, I know it all."
"This'll liven you up, Padfoot," said James quietly. "Look who it is. . . ." he jerked his head in someone's direction.
Sirius's head turned. He had become very still, like a dog that has scented a rabbit. "Excellent," he said softly. "Snivellus." He smirked, his eyes glistening with mischief.
Snivellus was stowing the O.W.L. paper in his bag. As he emerged from the shadows of the bushes and set off across the grass, Sirius and James stood up. Remus and Peter remained sitting. Remus's eyes remained glued to his book, though his eyes were not moving and a faint frown line had appeared between his eyebrows. Peter was looking back and forth from Sirius and James to Snivellus, a look of avid anticipation on his face.
"All right, Snivellus?" James's voice boomed. The students grew quiet around them, waiting to see what would happen.
Snivellus was getting better at reacting fast. As though he had been expecting something to go wrong. Dropping his bag, he plunged his hand inside his robes, and his wand was halfway into the air when James shouted, "Expelliarmus!"
Snivellus's wand flew twelve feet into the air and fell with a little thud in the grass behind him. Sirius let out a bark of laughter. "Impedimenta!" he said, pointing his wand at Snivellus, who was knocked off his feet, halfway through a dive toward his own fallen wand.
Students all around had turned to watch. Some of them had gotten to their feet and were edging nearer to watch. Some looked apprehensive, others entertained. Snivellus lay panting on the ground.
James and Sirius advanced on him, wands up. James glanced over his shoulder at Evans and her friends at the water's edge as he went. Maybe this would show her that Snivellus was worse than him. Peter was on his feet too, watching hungrily, edging around Remus to get a clearer view.
"How'd the exam go, Snivelly?" said James, a smirk forming on his lips. He cocked his head.
"I was watching him, his nose was touching the parchment," said Sirius viciously. "There'll be great grease marks all over it, they won't be able to read a word."
Several people watching laughed. Snivellus tried to get up, but the jinx was still operating on him; he was struggling, as though bound by invisible ropes. James felt a surge of joy spread across his body.
"You — wait," he panted, staring up at James with an expression of purest loathing. "You — wait. . . ."
"Wait for what?" said Sirius, his brows creased. "What're you going to do, Snivelly, wipe your nose on us?"
Snivellus let out a stream of mixed swearwords and hexes, but his wand being ten feet away nothing happened. It only enraged James, more so that Evans had noticed none of this!
"Wash out your mouth," said James, in a nonchalant manner. "Scourgify!" Pink soap bubbles streamed from Snivellus's mouth at once; the froth was covering his lips, making him gag, choking him. James smirk grew into a grin.
"Leave him ALONE!" a voice made the grin disappear from James's face.
James and Sirius looked around at the same time. James's free hand ran his fingers through his hair.
"All right, Evans?" said James, a genuine smile forming on his lips. He had almost forgotten about Snivellus hanging upside down.
"Leave him alone," Evans repeated, her green eyes filled with rage, throwing daggers at James. "What's he done to you?"
"Well," said James, appearing to deliberate the point, as he pursed his lips. "It's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean. . . ."
Many of the surrounding watchers laughed, Sirius and Peter included, but Remus, still apparently intent on his book, didn't, and neither did Evans. She narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth.
"You think you're funny," she said through her teeth. "But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone."
"I will if you go out with me, Evans," said James, smiling. He could feel his heart thumping against his chest. He must be out of his mind. "Go on . . . Go out with me, and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again."
Behind him, the Impediment Jinx was wearing off. Snivellus began to inch toward his fallen wand, spitting out soapsuds as he crawled. But James hadn't noticed, Evans had his whole attention.
"I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid!"
"Bad luck, Prongs," said Sirius briskly, turning back to Snivellus. "OY!"
But too late; Snivellus had directed his wand straight at James; there was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James's face, spattering his robes with blood. The muscles in his jaw bunched, as James whirled about. Another flash of light later, Snivellus was hanging upside down in the air, his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair of greying underpants.
Many people in the small crowd watching cheered. Sirius, James, and Peter roared with laughter. If Evans believed him to be a monster worse than Snivellus, James was not going to hold back now.
Evans, looked like she had almost smiled, or perhaps James was being delusional. She yelped, "Let him down!"
"Certainly," said James and he jerked his wand upward. Snivellus fell into a crumpled heap on the ground. Disentangling himself from his robes, he got quickly to his feet, wand up. Sirius was faster as he said, "Petrificus Totalus!" and Snivellus keeled over again at once, rigid as a board.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" bellowed Lily, as she pulled out her own wand out now.
James and Sirius eyed it warily. "Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you," said James, shaking his head. James heard Sirius and Peter gasp beside him. He could feel his blood rile up. How blind was Evans? Snivellus had used his curse on him in front of her!
"Take the curse off him, then!"
James sighed deeply, then turned to Snivellus as he muttered the countercurse. He rolled his eyes, "There you go," he said, as Snivellus struggled to his feet again. "you're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus —"
"I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!"
The crowd around them gasped, and James's eyes widened too. Evans froze in her place. James clenched his hand around his wand. Remus too had looked up from his book now.
Lily blinked. She seemed like she was blinking back tears. "Fine," she said, in a nonchalant manner. "I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus."
"Apologize to Evans!" James roared at Snivellus; his wand pointed threateningly at him. He took a step towards him, his eyes glaring at Snivellus.
"I don't want you to make him apologize," Lily shouted, rounding on James. Her nose flared as she tried to keep her voice even. "You're as bad as he is. . . ."
"What?" yelped James. His jaw hit the floor; brows creased at the centre. "I'd NEVER call you a — you-know-what!"
"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can — I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK." She turned on her heel and hurried away.
"Evans!" James shouted after her, "Hey, EVANS!" He took a step towards her, but she had already sprinted away. She didn't look back. Her arms wrapped around her torso.
"What is it with her?" said James, trying and failing to look as though this was a throwaway question of no real importance to him. How did this equal to what Snivellus did?! He stopped the urge to run his fingers through his hair again.
"Reading between the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited, mate," said Sirius, patting James on the back.
"Right," said James, his face flushed with anger. "right —" He'd apologize to Evans later, first he had to deal with Snivellus. There was another flash of light, and Snivellus was once again hanging upside down in the air. "Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?"
The crowd that had gathered cheered. It took one more flash of light for James to get rid of Snivellus's pants. It hung at his ankles, revealing his greying underpants once again. "This is for the leg," spoke James from between his teeth. 'And for what you said to Evans,' he thought but couldn't add out loud.
He watched tears pool at the brim of Snivellus's eyes, but he had no remorse. All he remembered was Evans's eyes glistening with tears a few minutes ago.
James shifted in his bench, a hurricane of thoughts swimming in his brain. He felt the need to move. Maybe that would ease the nausea he was feeling. He couldn't help the shaking of his leg under the table. James hadn't seen Evans since the afternoon. He knew she was anything but okay. And he felt horrible!
"What's got your trousers in a knot?" asked Sirius, narrowing his eyes. He jerked his head in James's direction.
"I haven't seen Evans since afternoon," replied James, pushing away the plate in front of him. He pushed his glasses back; his mouth went dry. He massaged his temples, taking a deep breath.
"Some people are saying she was crying," whispered Peter, taking a mouth full of chicken.
James almost jumped to sit in his lap. "Where did you hear that?" he gasped, his heart clenching in his chest. He could feel the saliva thickening in his throat.
Peter swallowed the food in his mouth, his eyes widening. "Common room," squirmed Peter, pointing his finger towards the door of the Great Hall. He slid away from James, looking at his friends.
"Her friends aren't here either," huffed James, balling his hands in fists. He tapped them on the wooden table. His eyes drifted towards the entrance of the Great Hall again.
"She's upset," whispered Remus, cocking his head to one side. He pressed his lips together. "and she ought to be."
James sat on his bed after dinner; his eyes glued to the map. His mind kept replaying the memory of that afternoon. Evans hadn't moved an inch in her room. His eyes roamed around on the map and he froze. "What is he doing here?" sneered James, jabbing his hand on Snivellus's footsteps on the map.
"What?" inquired Remus, getting up from his bed. He padded across the room, to James's bed. Squinting his eyes, he looked at where James was pointing.
"Snivellus is waiting outside the common room," announced James, swallowing back his anger. He screwed his eyes for a brief second, biting the inside of his cheeks. His insides were churning, a buzzing ache sat behind his ears.
"Our common room?" asked Sirius, with his furrowed brows and crinkled nose.
"Yes!"
"Is that Mary?" asked Peter, looking at the footsteps that stopped near Snivellus's.
"Yes!" cried James. He wanted to tear his hair out. But he sat still, watching Mary make her way inside. She made her way upstairs to the girls' dormitories. James thought that was the end, but Snivellus remained standing outside their common room.
Now Evans was making her way down the stairs. "Is that Evans?!" James's eyes almost bulged out of his sockets. He stomped his finger against Evans's footsteps on the map. Why was she going out to meet Snivellus?
"Yes!" cried Peter, hanging over James's shoulder. His eyes were just inches from the map.
James began getting up from his bed, his hand on his wand. He'd teach Snivellus a lesson. A lesson he would never forget. But Remus caught him by his arm, shaking his head.
"Mate," said Sirius, a frown forming on his lips. "Maybe he is here to apologize."
James settled back on his bed; his eyes glued to the map. Anxiety swirled through his stomach. What was Snivellus doing? How did he manage to get a chance to apologize to Evans before James did?
Much to James's confusion Evans left the scene in less than two minutes. Sirius looked at James, his eyes gauging for his expressions. "That was brief."
James watched her dash up the stair of the girls' dormitories. His heart ached knowing she had been crying. Worse of it all, that he had played a key role in it. Had he not began bullying Snivellus, she wouldn't have gotten involved. And Snivellus wouldn't have called her –
"Should I talk to her?" James wondered out loud, but he sighed. Dropping his head, he added, "But say what?"
It had been a week since the incident. James tried his best to run into Evans. But she was like a ghost. All he wanted was to apologize to her. It was suffocating him. He had no idea how she had been. There was no way to see her, except in the Great Hall. Where she entered with her friends and left as soon as she was done with her food.
Today, once again, she sat with her friends. Her eyes turned towards Headmaster Dumbledore, who was giving his speech "Another year has come to an end …"
James had tuned out the speech long ago. He let out an exasperated sigh. Risking a peek in her direction, he saw the red rims under her eyes. James found it hard to remain seated. Every muscle in his body told him to move. He had to talk to her now! The thought of her crying was clawing at his heart. He swallowed back the lump forming at the back of his throat.
"Mate?" whispered Peter, his hand resting on James's shoulder.
James averted his eyes to the table. "I'm alright."
Any other day, James would have been sitting on the edge of his bench. But today, his leg was shaking under the table, as he rummaged through his brain to catch up with Evans.
"The points stand thus," started Dumbledore, but James didn't bother looking up. "In fourth place, Slytherin, with three hundred and fifty-six points; in third place, Ravenclaw, with three hundred and sixty points; in second place, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and ninety two points," the students cheered for their houses, and then the Great Hall grew silent. "And in first place … Gryffindor, with four hundred and five points."
The noise from the Gryffindor table was the loudest, as if an explosion had gone off. McGonagall's thin lips were stretched in a huge grin too. The only people who didn't cheer as loud as the other Gryffindors were James and Evans.
When James looked up again, his eyes locked with Evans. His hands that were clapping, froze. He almost leaped out of the bench – almost. But behind the glassy layer of tears in her hauntingly beautiful eyes, was hatred for him. It made James loose all his nerves and he remained glued to his seat.
In no time their trunks were packed, students chattered and hurriedly boarded Hogwarts Express. The compartments were filled with buzzing noise. The countryside became greener and tidier, until they could see King's Cross station from their windows. The students were laughing and hugging their friends goodbye, as they got down on Platform nine and three quarters.
James jumped out of the train right behind Evans. He had almost forgotten his trunk, his eyes fixed on her. This was his last chance before summer vacations. With the war going on, he could die before the next school year! He couldn't die without telling Evans how sorry he was. His heart was already in his mouth. "I must say something to her now!"
Sirius took James's trunk, gesturing him to go after Evans. "Go on then," he said, nodding his head.
"Ev –" started James, jogging up to Evans. He hadn't noticed that she had reached her parents. He halted at once, the words dying in his throat. Once again, he found himself glued to the ground.
Her parents looked at her in concern when she jumped into her father's arms. James could feel his heart sink to the pit of his stomach. Evans didn't deserve this!
"What happened love?" her father whispered, patting her fiery red hair. He placed a kiss on top of her head.
Evans's voice was strained, "Can we leave now?" she asked, looking at her father from under her lashes. Her father at once gave her a firm nod.
Her mother, looked at her friends frantically. "Is everything okay?" she asked, her hand resting on where her heart should be.
Before her friends could say anything, Evans jumped between them. Her doe eyes widened further. "Please let's go mum… please!" begged Evans, pulling at her mother's sleeves.
Her father took Evans's trunk from Marlene, giving her a small smile. Wrapping his arm around Evans's shoulder, he escorted her to the exit.
"Bye Lily," her friends waved at her, fighting back the frown forming on their lips.
James jumped when he felt an arm snake around his shoulder. He blinked back his tears when he met Remus's eyes. "What happened?" Remus whispered.
James watched defeatedly where Evans had been standing a few seconds ago. "She left."
And all he could think was 'She didn't deserve this.' He knew somehow, he had to make it right. Because he couldn't fathom what a cruel world it was where Lily Evans was sad. All he wanted was for her to smile again – no matter what it takes.
A/N: Hey Readers,
Thank you so much for the constant support. I was able to finish the story because of all the wonderful reviews I received. Yes, the story has ended, at least for now. In case you are a hardcore Jily fan, you can read my other story 'Falling and Catching' that picks up right from where this story ended. If you ship Blackinnon, I can suggest you my other story 'Protector'. I have a few tasks at hand that require my immediate attention. Anyhow, if I ever feel like writing again, I would for sure continue the story. Thank you once again for all the love and support!
-JT