Chapter 4: Cold Lakes
The next morning, Lily stumbled downstairs. She had been up for an hour, but she was still tired as hell.
"Don't we look fine and lovely this morning?" James asked.
She pointed a finger at James. "Shut it." Walking towards the portrait hole, she stumbled from tripping over a chair.
She headed down to breakfast and ate in silence, ignoring her friend's attempts to get her to talk.
"Lily, what happened?"
The red haired girl ended up giving everyone the silent treatment. She picked up her books and once more headed from the Great Hall.
During class, she was still silent. Her attention all seemed to be focused on the desk. She didn't look at the professor or anyone else.
"Evans, care to explain what you find so interesting about the desk?" the teacher snapped up once.
"No."
The teacher looked taken aback. "Fine."
"Thanks for shutting up. Don't come again," she murmured.
When classes ended for the day, Lily silenty crept back to the room again. Where James was waiting for her with a concerned look. "What, Potter?" she snapped.
"What is so interesting in this room, Evans?"
"Nothing at all, Potter, nothing at all."
James frowned. "You're hiding something from me."
"And?"
He took a step towards her, care written all over his face. "Why?"
"Because I can?"
He touched her shoulder, his face softening. "Don't snap at me, Lil."
"Why not?"
He grabbed both of her shoulders gently. She turned her face to the side. "Look at me, Lil."
Lily looked at him.
"What's wrong? Tell me," he whispered, his eyes locking with hers.
"I--I--It's hard to describe," she finished lamely.
"Lil, tel--"
But she had turned and ran off in the other direction.
"Huh," he muttered. "Wonder what's wrong with her?"
Lily ran smack into Professor Dumbledore. "Oh, I'm so sorry Professor--"
Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled. "There. There. What seems to be the problem Miss Evans?"
She plastered a very weak smile on her face. "Nothing? Why does it seem like something is wrong?"
He raised an eyebrow as his eyes laughed at her with amusement. "Maybe because you were running away from Mister Potter?"
"Oh. . .That. . .Hey, how'd you know--"
"It seems, Miss Evans, that you have discovered the Mirror of Erised, am I correct?"
"H--how did you know?" she stuttered.
"Never mind that. Am I correct?"
"Yes, you are," she mumbled.
"Ah, I see, I see. Men have wasted away before that mirror, Miss Evans, even driven insane. Do you plan to let it do that to you?"
"No, why would I do that?" she asked.
"Because you're lashing out at all of your friends, especially Mister Potter. I presume this has to do with him and what you saw in that mirror?" He looked at her over his half-moon spectacles.
Once again, Lily gasped. "How could you know?" she asked.
"I know many things, Miss Evans. Especially the rude behavior you seem to be displaying towards young James." The two of them had begun walking this whole time and when Lily finally looked up she discovered they were in Dumbledore's office. "Have a seat, Lily," he said kindly and sat down himself. She oblidged. "Now. You refuse to believe that image projected into the mirror from within, do you not?"
"No, why?" she asked. She was very curious now.
"Then why, Miss Evans, are you running from it?" he asked quietly, looking at her pointedly.
"What do you mean?"
He placed his hands on the table and folded them. "The mirror does not lie."
"How does it project those images?" Lily knew she couldn't keep up this innocent act forever.
"Magic," he said as if it were the most casual thing in the world. "And, Miss Evans, tell the truth. You're a very terrible liar." Laughter was written across his face.
"Why do you want me to say, then?" she asked, rather crossly.
"Now, now, Miss Evans, don't snap."
"What do you need me for?"
"Nothing."
"Then may I go?"
"If you wish."
She got up and walked out. "Bye, Professor."
Dumbledore pulled out a notepad and pencil and wrote, 'Brittany's bet: 1. Jessica's bet: 2.' Then he placed them within his robes and took out lemon drops, unsticking them and eating them.
"Lil?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to go for a boat ride with me some t-time along the lake?" James stuttered a little, face turning slightly crismon. Wait. . .Why was he blushing!?
Lily raised a red eyebrow. "Oh, I don't know-" she sighed, but was interrupted when James grabbed both her hands in one of his own.
"Please, Lil," he said, looking at her with intense eyes.
"S-sure, James," she stuttered, faltering under his gaze.
"Great! Tomorrow at lunch?" He smiled warmly.
"Al-alright-"
He grinned, kissed her cheek without even thinking about it, and rushed off again.
Lily raised her eyebrows. "Well, that was. . .interesting," was all she could manage to say as she gingerly touched her cheek.
"What was?" Britt's voice sounded.
"Nothing, Britt, nothing," Lily said. This was one of those things best kept to yourself.
She quietly turned on her heel and walked off.
Brittany raised an eyebrow. "Alrighty then." And she turned and walked off in the opposite direction.
"Argh, you are so annoying!"
"I'm annoying!? Look at you! Jess, you've been bickering at me for the last--" He paused, checking his watch. "Half hour!"
"Because you pulled a horrible prank on me!"
"It's what I do, Jessica! I couldn't resist!"
"Sure you could! Stupid, idiotic, egotistical, acne, boggie, snobby, snot-nosed, creep, freaky, jerk, who has no life!" she yelled furiously, hands clenching in fists.
"Ooh, I have no life, who's the one who sat on the magical whoopee cushion without looking?" he asked just as angrily in response.
"Not my fault, idiot!" she yelled, standing on her tiptoes to where she was almost eye level with him. Her face had red splotches appearing from being so outraged. "You embarrassed me in front of the whole Common Room, you jerk!"
"Do you have any clue how naive you're being?" he yelled at her. "Any at all?"
"I don't care! All I care about is that you're a cruel hearted bastard who cares about no one but himself and his lousy pranks!" She reached up a hand and raised it to slap his face.
He grabbed her hand. "Don't you dare slap me!"
"Oh yeah!? Who's gonna stop me!?"
"As a matter of fact, me!" Remus responded.
"I'd like to see you try!" she yelled furiously.
"I'd like to see you even try to slap me! You slap me, I bite back!" he responded.
"You bite me, I bite back!" Jess yelled in response.
Remus smiled wryly. "Let me tell you, werewolf fur does NOT taste good."
Jessica raised an eyebrow. She decided he didn't know what he was talking about and was just playing with her mind. "What the fuck are you talking about, Remus!?"
"What does it sound like, Jessica!?" he snapped.
"You're fucked up in the head, you know that!?" she screamed, baring her teeth and snarling.
"You should talk, Jessica!" he yelled back.
Britt stepped in mildly. "Hey, hey, what's going on over here?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Her!"
"Him!" they both yelled, pointing at each other.
She sighed. "What happened this time?"
"He pulled a prank on me!" Jessica hollared. "Need I say more!?"
"Yes. What'd he do?" she asked, smiling at the absurdity of the situation.
"I put a magical whoopee cushion in her seat," Remus replied, smirking.
"Yeah, and he put a Sound Modifier Charm on it, too!" she yelled.
Britt had to stiffle a laugh. "That's all? If that happened to me, I'd burst out laughing!"
Jessica let out a blood curdling scream. "I hate you people, you know that!? I hate this school! I hate my friends! I hate the people in this school! And most of all, I hate *you*!" She shouted the last part at Remus.
"How can you hate your friends?" Britt asked mildly.
"Ugh!" Jessica yelled. "UGH UGH UGH!"
"Doesn't she just love us?" Remus asked.
"Yes," Britt agreed laughing. "She does."
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She kicked Remus' leg. "SHUTUP!"
"And she really loves you," Britt said, grinning.
Jessica gave Brittany a look that could freeze Hell over.
"Whoa, you're an ice girl," Britt said, unaffected.
Remus smirked. Jessica glared at him. And Brittany pointed her wand and magicked them into a closet, locking the door with magic as well.
For the first few minutes, she could hear many cries, most sounding like, "Oh, damn!" or "Oh, shit!" but after a while, they gave up and began fighting for a good few hours. For a while, the fighting was so intense that the closet door shook, but it calmed down. Around the end of the shaking, Sirius came in. "Hey, Sir," Brittany said, grinning.
"Hey, Britt," Sirius said, smiling. "What's going on in there?"
"Oh, nothing, I just locked Jess and Remus into the closet," she said, calmly.
"Are they getting it on or are they fighting?" he asked.
"SIRIUS!" Britt giggled. "You sicko!"
"Proud of it."
For a while, there was silence from Britt and Sirius as Jess and Remus fought, but after a while, Jess and Remus began to get very quiet.
"I hate you, Remus!" Jessica shouted within the closet.
"Same to you!"
Remus moved foward a step. "I hate how you always get in my way and always wail and complain to me!"
"It's not like you're any better!" she yelled back, taking a step foward as well.
"You're a bitch!"
"You're an asshole!"
"Your point!?"
"Ugh!"
All the while, they had been stepping closer and closer.
"You're a conceited jerk," Jessica whispered, standing merely an inch away.
"And you're a complicated young woman I'll never understand," he murmured, his breath tickling her lips.
"And you're a-"
But his lips had melted against hers, the two sharing a sweet kiss. Jessica raised her eyebrows in surprise. But soon they lowered and she closed her eyes, their kiss picking up passion.
Outside, Brittany and Sirius once more noticed how quiet it got.
"Shall I look and see what's going on in there?" Britt murmured.
"Might as well," was Sirius' reply.
She tiptoed over. Remus and Jessica were kissing. Passionately. "Sirius, you'd better come look at this," she whispered.
Sirius came over and looked. "I never would have thought Jessica's last name would be changing to Lupin!" he said in a normal tone. Britt jumped. She had been talking in and hearing words in whispers all day, so she didn't expect it. Apparently, neither did Jessica and Sirius.
Remus casually lifted a finger from behind Jessica's back in a vulgar gesture. Sirius snickered and Britt and he closed the door once more.
"Wonder if they'd go further if we locked it again?" Sirius asked.
"SIRIUS!"
"What?" he asked innocently.
"That is really cruel!" Britt responded. "But why not?" She locked it again.
Sirius smirked and casually wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I'd knew you see it my way."
She wrenched away. "How could I not?" Britt didn't really like what she called 'side-embraces'. She preferred full hugs. "And don't forget that I abhor side-embraces, please!"
Sirius grinned. "Alright, alright."
Britt rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Sirius, I would think you'd know that by now."
"I do. I just act like I don't."
"So you're purposely aggravating me then?" she asked, grinning.
"Yep. Sure am."
She said, "Roar. I am a panther. Here me roar. Roar."
"Well. . .Well. . .Well, I am the mighty kisser. See me kiss!" He bent down and pecked her cheek.
"Not impressive, Mr. Black," Britt said, grinning up at him. She was average height, but Sirius was around 6'3".
He grinned again. "Shall I do better, Milady?"
She shrugged. "If you want to. I won't push you away."
"But how about we sit down first?" Sirius asked.
Britt shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
They sat down on the couch and turned to face each other. Britt closed her eyes as she felt his warm lips against hers. Wow, he was right, he is an awesome kisser, she thought. She tipped up her head slightly so it would be a little easier. Once they were done, she said her thought aloud. "You're right, you are an awesome kisser!"
"Well, thank you, Britt," he said, smiling.
"You're always welcome, Sirius," Britt said happily. Ah, life was bliss.
The next morning at breakfast, owl post came again. An hour swooped over to the table to land before Lily. It held a boquet of roses in it's beak and a letter attached to its leg.
Smiling, Lily took the boquet and read the letter as the owl flew off. It read:
Lily,
You smell as sweet as summer roses,
Your name even better,
I bet you taste as wonderful as you look,
But I'm too afraid to find out.
I watch you from not too afar,
I gaze at you wholeheartedly,
I think I love you,
I don't know,
But maybe you can teach me,
What it means to love?
Lily looked up. There was no signature. She flipped the parchment over to the back. There was none there either.
"Ooh, Lil has a secret admirer!" Britt said, looking over her friend's shoulder.
"I guess so," Lily said softly. She looked down the table to look at James. James was busily engrossed in laughing and talking with Sirius, Remus, and Peter, not giving her a glance.
"Wonder who it was?" Jess said.
"I bet it was Jaaaaaaaaaaames," Britt said, grinning.
"Can't be," Jessica said, grinning slightly. Maybe she would win this bet after all. "See? He's not even paying attention to her."
"Maybe he doesn't want to because Lil will think he did."
"Yeah, but. . ." Jessica caught Remus' eye. "You guys, I need to go um. . .To the library. That's it. Yeah, the library!"
"Why?" Britt asked warily.
"Oh, just to research on that project from Mr. Binns?"
"Don't you mean research of Remus' lips?" Britt asked teasingly.
Jessica calmly held down her temper. "No. Research on my paper about werewolves," she said, honestly trying to sound convincing and hoping it was working.
"Yep. Have fun researching his lips!"
She sighed and her and Remus left the Great Hall hand-in-hand.
Britt looked over at Sirius and winked. "Mission accomplished," she mouthed.
Sirius grinned and turned back to his food.
Meanwhile, Lily was still staring at the letter, narrowing her eyes and trying to recognize the handwriting. It looked familiar. . .But she just couldn't lay a finger on it.
"I still think James sent it," Britt told her. "That's his handwriting."
"Nonsense," Jessica replied as her and Remus came back. She took a seat across from Lily and began buttering some toast.
"I thought you were with Remus at the library?" Brittany said. It was more of a statement than a question.
"Nah, he only had to tell me something. The library was a diversion to let you think I was studying.
"But if it was James, don't you think he'd have enough decency to give her these white roses in person?"
"Why white roses though?" Lily asked.
"I believe white roses symbolize truth. . ."
"Why not red roses?" Brittany asked. "They symbolize love, after all."
Jessica set down her silveware and glared at Brittany. "He doesn't love her, you dimwit. If he did, we wouldn't be having this conversation about why there are white roses and why it wasn't James that sent them."
"How do you know it wasn't?" Brittany asked in response, setting down her silverware also.
"Because like I said: He would have the decency to send these flowers himself. Watch." She looked down the table. "Oy! Jamsie!" He looked up. "Did you send these roses!?"
"No. . ." He looked confused.
She grinned and turned back to Brittany. "See?"
"And you know he's telling the truth HOW?" Brittany asked, raising her eyebrow.
Jessica looked smug. "Because I have some vertiasium potion right here, you idiot. I slipped it in there on the way back."
"Maybe Wormtail did it?" Brittany asked, shrugging.
"Why don't you ask?" she replied, rolling her eyes.
"Hey, Wormy!" Brittany called. Peter Pettigrew looked down the table to her. "Did you send these roses to Lil?" She gestured to the roses.
"N-n-no," he said.
Jessica shrugged and took a bite out of her toast. "You couldn't get anything out of him if his life depended on it."
Lily paused. "Wait a second. . .Jess, you said you put veritasium in his goblet?"
"Yeah. . ."
"Hey, James, who do you love?" Lil yelled up the table.
"I love-"
Dumbledore, who happened to be sitting at the staff table this fine morning, suddenly stood up and waved his wand. James stopped mid-sentence.
"May I have your attention?" he asked as the students shut their mouths. "Thank you. Now then, I have an anouncement to make:
"WE'RE GOING TO HOGSMEADE TOMORROW!"
Jessica literally fell out of her chair.
Britt giggled. "Hey, Lil, I dare you to ask James to go to the Leaky Cauldron with you."
"Dare not taken."
"What should the penalty be, Jess?" Britt asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Have her ask him to go to the Shrieking Shack," Jess suggested. "On a full moon."
"Oooh, okay. Lil?"
"Lily, I believe it's time for our boat date," James said, standing up and picking Lily up over her seat. "This way please." He flipped her playfully over his shoulder and carried the shrieking and laughing Lily out of the Hall.
Jessica scowled. "This is not supposed to be happening!" she yelled, slamming her fist down on the table.
Everyone got really quiet and gave her weird looks. "What are you looking at!?" she snapped and they all went back to their food.
"What the Hell?" Brittany asked Jess.
"Just forget about it," she replied, sighing. She absolutely did *not* fancy jumping into that lake in the middle of December.
"James, are you sure about this?" Lily asked, watching him set the boat into the water.
"Positive, Lil," he said gruffly.
"Okay, James."
Finally, he had it in there. Sighing in relief, he walked over to Lily and took her hand, gently setting her in the boat and climbing in after. He took the oars and began to row.
It had been two hours since breakfast as they had to get ready, as well as their things. Lily sighed and folded her hands in her lap, looking about.
"Pretty, isn't it?" he asked.
"Beautiful," she responded.
He smiled to himself, watching her as he rowed.
"It's really cold , though," she said, drawing her cloak tight about her and shivering.
"But it's barely into November, Lil," he commented.
"And?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
He smiled and shook his head, pausing to wave his wand and mutter a charm. Lily warmed up immediately.
"Thanks, James," she said, smiling. "Aren't you cold?"
"Nah, I'm fine," he replied, but there was a slight stutter in his voice.
"You liar," she said, casting one for him.
Half an hour later, James stopped rowing. "Well, we're in the middle of the lake."
"Wow," she breathed. "It's really pretty.
Meanwhile, Jessica and Remus were creeping down along the bushes. "Jessica, what *are* we doing?"
"We're spying, Remmy."
Lily slowly moved over to James and turned her back to him, leaning up against his chest and sitting between his legs. He raised his eyebrows in surprise then wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head.
"Cold?" he asked quietly as silence settled around. The only other thing that made a sound was the soft and gentle breezes blowing out across the lake and tousling their hair about.
"You know, James," Lily murmured.
"Hm?" he asked, closing his eyes and burying his nose in her hair, smelling its sweet smells.
"I could get used to this," she said softly before she thought about it.
"Yeah, me too," James replied quietly, leaning his head down and burying it in the crook of her neck.
She smiled softly, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"Lil?" he asked after ten minutes of holding her.
"Yeah?" she murmured.
He placed two fingers under her chin and turned her head to face his. "I think that. . ." He hesitated, their eyes locking.
"Think that what?" she whispered as he leaned his head in.
"That I'm . . . ."
And, quite suddenly, the boat turned over and knocked its contents into the water.
"Ahaha!" Jessica whispered in triumph, grinning and putting her wand back in her robes.
"What the hell?" Lily asked furiously.
James stuttered up to the surface and the two of them turned the boat back over and scrambled in. "Hold on, Lil," he said. He lifted his wand and shouted, "Accio broomstick!"
His broom came flying over to them and hovered above James's head. He gathered up Lily into his arms and climbed atop the broom.
"James, are you sure I won't fall off?" she asked doubtfully.
"Yeah, I'm sure," he replied, his grip tightening about her.
They flew back to the castle and James picked Lily up, immediately heading towards the hospital wing.
Once he arrived, the nurse came bustling over. "What happened?"
"We fell into the lake," James said simply.
Blankets immediately appeared in her hands. "Put these around you and get yourselves into bed. I'll make some Pepperup Potion."
She came bustling back a few minutes later and gave some of the potion to Lily first. She drank it and winced as she immediately warmed up slightly. She repeated the process with James.
When James looked back a few minutes later, he found her sound asleep, a smile spread across her face.
A/N: OK, so that was Chapter 4. What do you guys think? Do you like? :( If so, we want atleast five reviews. OK? Pwease? Thankie for all the others! They were so sweet!!!! R/R please -Jess and Britt
The next morning, Lily stumbled downstairs. She had been up for an hour, but she was still tired as hell.
"Don't we look fine and lovely this morning?" James asked.
She pointed a finger at James. "Shut it." Walking towards the portrait hole, she stumbled from tripping over a chair.
She headed down to breakfast and ate in silence, ignoring her friend's attempts to get her to talk.
"Lily, what happened?"
The red haired girl ended up giving everyone the silent treatment. She picked up her books and once more headed from the Great Hall.
During class, she was still silent. Her attention all seemed to be focused on the desk. She didn't look at the professor or anyone else.
"Evans, care to explain what you find so interesting about the desk?" the teacher snapped up once.
"No."
The teacher looked taken aback. "Fine."
"Thanks for shutting up. Don't come again," she murmured.
When classes ended for the day, Lily silenty crept back to the room again. Where James was waiting for her with a concerned look. "What, Potter?" she snapped.
"What is so interesting in this room, Evans?"
"Nothing at all, Potter, nothing at all."
James frowned. "You're hiding something from me."
"And?"
He took a step towards her, care written all over his face. "Why?"
"Because I can?"
He touched her shoulder, his face softening. "Don't snap at me, Lil."
"Why not?"
He grabbed both of her shoulders gently. She turned her face to the side. "Look at me, Lil."
Lily looked at him.
"What's wrong? Tell me," he whispered, his eyes locking with hers.
"I--I--It's hard to describe," she finished lamely.
"Lil, tel--"
But she had turned and ran off in the other direction.
"Huh," he muttered. "Wonder what's wrong with her?"
Lily ran smack into Professor Dumbledore. "Oh, I'm so sorry Professor--"
Dumbledore smiled and his eyes twinkled. "There. There. What seems to be the problem Miss Evans?"
She plastered a very weak smile on her face. "Nothing? Why does it seem like something is wrong?"
He raised an eyebrow as his eyes laughed at her with amusement. "Maybe because you were running away from Mister Potter?"
"Oh. . .That. . .Hey, how'd you know--"
"It seems, Miss Evans, that you have discovered the Mirror of Erised, am I correct?"
"H--how did you know?" she stuttered.
"Never mind that. Am I correct?"
"Yes, you are," she mumbled.
"Ah, I see, I see. Men have wasted away before that mirror, Miss Evans, even driven insane. Do you plan to let it do that to you?"
"No, why would I do that?" she asked.
"Because you're lashing out at all of your friends, especially Mister Potter. I presume this has to do with him and what you saw in that mirror?" He looked at her over his half-moon spectacles.
Once again, Lily gasped. "How could you know?" she asked.
"I know many things, Miss Evans. Especially the rude behavior you seem to be displaying towards young James." The two of them had begun walking this whole time and when Lily finally looked up she discovered they were in Dumbledore's office. "Have a seat, Lily," he said kindly and sat down himself. She oblidged. "Now. You refuse to believe that image projected into the mirror from within, do you not?"
"No, why?" she asked. She was very curious now.
"Then why, Miss Evans, are you running from it?" he asked quietly, looking at her pointedly.
"What do you mean?"
He placed his hands on the table and folded them. "The mirror does not lie."
"How does it project those images?" Lily knew she couldn't keep up this innocent act forever.
"Magic," he said as if it were the most casual thing in the world. "And, Miss Evans, tell the truth. You're a very terrible liar." Laughter was written across his face.
"Why do you want me to say, then?" she asked, rather crossly.
"Now, now, Miss Evans, don't snap."
"What do you need me for?"
"Nothing."
"Then may I go?"
"If you wish."
She got up and walked out. "Bye, Professor."
Dumbledore pulled out a notepad and pencil and wrote, 'Brittany's bet: 1. Jessica's bet: 2.' Then he placed them within his robes and took out lemon drops, unsticking them and eating them.
"Lil?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to go for a boat ride with me some t-time along the lake?" James stuttered a little, face turning slightly crismon. Wait. . .Why was he blushing!?
Lily raised a red eyebrow. "Oh, I don't know-" she sighed, but was interrupted when James grabbed both her hands in one of his own.
"Please, Lil," he said, looking at her with intense eyes.
"S-sure, James," she stuttered, faltering under his gaze.
"Great! Tomorrow at lunch?" He smiled warmly.
"Al-alright-"
He grinned, kissed her cheek without even thinking about it, and rushed off again.
Lily raised her eyebrows. "Well, that was. . .interesting," was all she could manage to say as she gingerly touched her cheek.
"What was?" Britt's voice sounded.
"Nothing, Britt, nothing," Lily said. This was one of those things best kept to yourself.
She quietly turned on her heel and walked off.
Brittany raised an eyebrow. "Alrighty then." And she turned and walked off in the opposite direction.
"Argh, you are so annoying!"
"I'm annoying!? Look at you! Jess, you've been bickering at me for the last--" He paused, checking his watch. "Half hour!"
"Because you pulled a horrible prank on me!"
"It's what I do, Jessica! I couldn't resist!"
"Sure you could! Stupid, idiotic, egotistical, acne, boggie, snobby, snot-nosed, creep, freaky, jerk, who has no life!" she yelled furiously, hands clenching in fists.
"Ooh, I have no life, who's the one who sat on the magical whoopee cushion without looking?" he asked just as angrily in response.
"Not my fault, idiot!" she yelled, standing on her tiptoes to where she was almost eye level with him. Her face had red splotches appearing from being so outraged. "You embarrassed me in front of the whole Common Room, you jerk!"
"Do you have any clue how naive you're being?" he yelled at her. "Any at all?"
"I don't care! All I care about is that you're a cruel hearted bastard who cares about no one but himself and his lousy pranks!" She reached up a hand and raised it to slap his face.
He grabbed her hand. "Don't you dare slap me!"
"Oh yeah!? Who's gonna stop me!?"
"As a matter of fact, me!" Remus responded.
"I'd like to see you try!" she yelled furiously.
"I'd like to see you even try to slap me! You slap me, I bite back!" he responded.
"You bite me, I bite back!" Jess yelled in response.
Remus smiled wryly. "Let me tell you, werewolf fur does NOT taste good."
Jessica raised an eyebrow. She decided he didn't know what he was talking about and was just playing with her mind. "What the fuck are you talking about, Remus!?"
"What does it sound like, Jessica!?" he snapped.
"You're fucked up in the head, you know that!?" she screamed, baring her teeth and snarling.
"You should talk, Jessica!" he yelled back.
Britt stepped in mildly. "Hey, hey, what's going on over here?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Her!"
"Him!" they both yelled, pointing at each other.
She sighed. "What happened this time?"
"He pulled a prank on me!" Jessica hollared. "Need I say more!?"
"Yes. What'd he do?" she asked, smiling at the absurdity of the situation.
"I put a magical whoopee cushion in her seat," Remus replied, smirking.
"Yeah, and he put a Sound Modifier Charm on it, too!" she yelled.
Britt had to stiffle a laugh. "That's all? If that happened to me, I'd burst out laughing!"
Jessica let out a blood curdling scream. "I hate you people, you know that!? I hate this school! I hate my friends! I hate the people in this school! And most of all, I hate *you*!" She shouted the last part at Remus.
"How can you hate your friends?" Britt asked mildly.
"Ugh!" Jessica yelled. "UGH UGH UGH!"
"Doesn't she just love us?" Remus asked.
"Yes," Britt agreed laughing. "She does."
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She kicked Remus' leg. "SHUTUP!"
"And she really loves you," Britt said, grinning.
Jessica gave Brittany a look that could freeze Hell over.
"Whoa, you're an ice girl," Britt said, unaffected.
Remus smirked. Jessica glared at him. And Brittany pointed her wand and magicked them into a closet, locking the door with magic as well.
For the first few minutes, she could hear many cries, most sounding like, "Oh, damn!" or "Oh, shit!" but after a while, they gave up and began fighting for a good few hours. For a while, the fighting was so intense that the closet door shook, but it calmed down. Around the end of the shaking, Sirius came in. "Hey, Sir," Brittany said, grinning.
"Hey, Britt," Sirius said, smiling. "What's going on in there?"
"Oh, nothing, I just locked Jess and Remus into the closet," she said, calmly.
"Are they getting it on or are they fighting?" he asked.
"SIRIUS!" Britt giggled. "You sicko!"
"Proud of it."
For a while, there was silence from Britt and Sirius as Jess and Remus fought, but after a while, Jess and Remus began to get very quiet.
"I hate you, Remus!" Jessica shouted within the closet.
"Same to you!"
Remus moved foward a step. "I hate how you always get in my way and always wail and complain to me!"
"It's not like you're any better!" she yelled back, taking a step foward as well.
"You're a bitch!"
"You're an asshole!"
"Your point!?"
"Ugh!"
All the while, they had been stepping closer and closer.
"You're a conceited jerk," Jessica whispered, standing merely an inch away.
"And you're a complicated young woman I'll never understand," he murmured, his breath tickling her lips.
"And you're a-"
But his lips had melted against hers, the two sharing a sweet kiss. Jessica raised her eyebrows in surprise. But soon they lowered and she closed her eyes, their kiss picking up passion.
Outside, Brittany and Sirius once more noticed how quiet it got.
"Shall I look and see what's going on in there?" Britt murmured.
"Might as well," was Sirius' reply.
She tiptoed over. Remus and Jessica were kissing. Passionately. "Sirius, you'd better come look at this," she whispered.
Sirius came over and looked. "I never would have thought Jessica's last name would be changing to Lupin!" he said in a normal tone. Britt jumped. She had been talking in and hearing words in whispers all day, so she didn't expect it. Apparently, neither did Jessica and Sirius.
Remus casually lifted a finger from behind Jessica's back in a vulgar gesture. Sirius snickered and Britt and he closed the door once more.
"Wonder if they'd go further if we locked it again?" Sirius asked.
"SIRIUS!"
"What?" he asked innocently.
"That is really cruel!" Britt responded. "But why not?" She locked it again.
Sirius smirked and casually wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I'd knew you see it my way."
She wrenched away. "How could I not?" Britt didn't really like what she called 'side-embraces'. She preferred full hugs. "And don't forget that I abhor side-embraces, please!"
Sirius grinned. "Alright, alright."
Britt rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Sirius, I would think you'd know that by now."
"I do. I just act like I don't."
"So you're purposely aggravating me then?" she asked, grinning.
"Yep. Sure am."
She said, "Roar. I am a panther. Here me roar. Roar."
"Well. . .Well. . .Well, I am the mighty kisser. See me kiss!" He bent down and pecked her cheek.
"Not impressive, Mr. Black," Britt said, grinning up at him. She was average height, but Sirius was around 6'3".
He grinned again. "Shall I do better, Milady?"
She shrugged. "If you want to. I won't push you away."
"But how about we sit down first?" Sirius asked.
Britt shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
They sat down on the couch and turned to face each other. Britt closed her eyes as she felt his warm lips against hers. Wow, he was right, he is an awesome kisser, she thought. She tipped up her head slightly so it would be a little easier. Once they were done, she said her thought aloud. "You're right, you are an awesome kisser!"
"Well, thank you, Britt," he said, smiling.
"You're always welcome, Sirius," Britt said happily. Ah, life was bliss.
The next morning at breakfast, owl post came again. An hour swooped over to the table to land before Lily. It held a boquet of roses in it's beak and a letter attached to its leg.
Smiling, Lily took the boquet and read the letter as the owl flew off. It read:
Lily,
You smell as sweet as summer roses,
Your name even better,
I bet you taste as wonderful as you look,
But I'm too afraid to find out.
I watch you from not too afar,
I gaze at you wholeheartedly,
I think I love you,
I don't know,
But maybe you can teach me,
What it means to love?
Lily looked up. There was no signature. She flipped the parchment over to the back. There was none there either.
"Ooh, Lil has a secret admirer!" Britt said, looking over her friend's shoulder.
"I guess so," Lily said softly. She looked down the table to look at James. James was busily engrossed in laughing and talking with Sirius, Remus, and Peter, not giving her a glance.
"Wonder who it was?" Jess said.
"I bet it was Jaaaaaaaaaaames," Britt said, grinning.
"Can't be," Jessica said, grinning slightly. Maybe she would win this bet after all. "See? He's not even paying attention to her."
"Maybe he doesn't want to because Lil will think he did."
"Yeah, but. . ." Jessica caught Remus' eye. "You guys, I need to go um. . .To the library. That's it. Yeah, the library!"
"Why?" Britt asked warily.
"Oh, just to research on that project from Mr. Binns?"
"Don't you mean research of Remus' lips?" Britt asked teasingly.
Jessica calmly held down her temper. "No. Research on my paper about werewolves," she said, honestly trying to sound convincing and hoping it was working.
"Yep. Have fun researching his lips!"
She sighed and her and Remus left the Great Hall hand-in-hand.
Britt looked over at Sirius and winked. "Mission accomplished," she mouthed.
Sirius grinned and turned back to his food.
Meanwhile, Lily was still staring at the letter, narrowing her eyes and trying to recognize the handwriting. It looked familiar. . .But she just couldn't lay a finger on it.
"I still think James sent it," Britt told her. "That's his handwriting."
"Nonsense," Jessica replied as her and Remus came back. She took a seat across from Lily and began buttering some toast.
"I thought you were with Remus at the library?" Brittany said. It was more of a statement than a question.
"Nah, he only had to tell me something. The library was a diversion to let you think I was studying.
"But if it was James, don't you think he'd have enough decency to give her these white roses in person?"
"Why white roses though?" Lily asked.
"I believe white roses symbolize truth. . ."
"Why not red roses?" Brittany asked. "They symbolize love, after all."
Jessica set down her silveware and glared at Brittany. "He doesn't love her, you dimwit. If he did, we wouldn't be having this conversation about why there are white roses and why it wasn't James that sent them."
"How do you know it wasn't?" Brittany asked in response, setting down her silverware also.
"Because like I said: He would have the decency to send these flowers himself. Watch." She looked down the table. "Oy! Jamsie!" He looked up. "Did you send these roses!?"
"No. . ." He looked confused.
She grinned and turned back to Brittany. "See?"
"And you know he's telling the truth HOW?" Brittany asked, raising her eyebrow.
Jessica looked smug. "Because I have some vertiasium potion right here, you idiot. I slipped it in there on the way back."
"Maybe Wormtail did it?" Brittany asked, shrugging.
"Why don't you ask?" she replied, rolling her eyes.
"Hey, Wormy!" Brittany called. Peter Pettigrew looked down the table to her. "Did you send these roses to Lil?" She gestured to the roses.
"N-n-no," he said.
Jessica shrugged and took a bite out of her toast. "You couldn't get anything out of him if his life depended on it."
Lily paused. "Wait a second. . .Jess, you said you put veritasium in his goblet?"
"Yeah. . ."
"Hey, James, who do you love?" Lil yelled up the table.
"I love-"
Dumbledore, who happened to be sitting at the staff table this fine morning, suddenly stood up and waved his wand. James stopped mid-sentence.
"May I have your attention?" he asked as the students shut their mouths. "Thank you. Now then, I have an anouncement to make:
"WE'RE GOING TO HOGSMEADE TOMORROW!"
Jessica literally fell out of her chair.
Britt giggled. "Hey, Lil, I dare you to ask James to go to the Leaky Cauldron with you."
"Dare not taken."
"What should the penalty be, Jess?" Britt asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Have her ask him to go to the Shrieking Shack," Jess suggested. "On a full moon."
"Oooh, okay. Lil?"
"Lily, I believe it's time for our boat date," James said, standing up and picking Lily up over her seat. "This way please." He flipped her playfully over his shoulder and carried the shrieking and laughing Lily out of the Hall.
Jessica scowled. "This is not supposed to be happening!" she yelled, slamming her fist down on the table.
Everyone got really quiet and gave her weird looks. "What are you looking at!?" she snapped and they all went back to their food.
"What the Hell?" Brittany asked Jess.
"Just forget about it," she replied, sighing. She absolutely did *not* fancy jumping into that lake in the middle of December.
"James, are you sure about this?" Lily asked, watching him set the boat into the water.
"Positive, Lil," he said gruffly.
"Okay, James."
Finally, he had it in there. Sighing in relief, he walked over to Lily and took her hand, gently setting her in the boat and climbing in after. He took the oars and began to row.
It had been two hours since breakfast as they had to get ready, as well as their things. Lily sighed and folded her hands in her lap, looking about.
"Pretty, isn't it?" he asked.
"Beautiful," she responded.
He smiled to himself, watching her as he rowed.
"It's really cold , though," she said, drawing her cloak tight about her and shivering.
"But it's barely into November, Lil," he commented.
"And?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
He smiled and shook his head, pausing to wave his wand and mutter a charm. Lily warmed up immediately.
"Thanks, James," she said, smiling. "Aren't you cold?"
"Nah, I'm fine," he replied, but there was a slight stutter in his voice.
"You liar," she said, casting one for him.
Half an hour later, James stopped rowing. "Well, we're in the middle of the lake."
"Wow," she breathed. "It's really pretty.
Meanwhile, Jessica and Remus were creeping down along the bushes. "Jessica, what *are* we doing?"
"We're spying, Remmy."
Lily slowly moved over to James and turned her back to him, leaning up against his chest and sitting between his legs. He raised his eyebrows in surprise then wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head.
"Cold?" he asked quietly as silence settled around. The only other thing that made a sound was the soft and gentle breezes blowing out across the lake and tousling their hair about.
"You know, James," Lily murmured.
"Hm?" he asked, closing his eyes and burying his nose in her hair, smelling its sweet smells.
"I could get used to this," she said softly before she thought about it.
"Yeah, me too," James replied quietly, leaning his head down and burying it in the crook of her neck.
She smiled softly, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"Lil?" he asked after ten minutes of holding her.
"Yeah?" she murmured.
He placed two fingers under her chin and turned her head to face his. "I think that. . ." He hesitated, their eyes locking.
"Think that what?" she whispered as he leaned his head in.
"That I'm . . . ."
And, quite suddenly, the boat turned over and knocked its contents into the water.
"Ahaha!" Jessica whispered in triumph, grinning and putting her wand back in her robes.
"What the hell?" Lily asked furiously.
James stuttered up to the surface and the two of them turned the boat back over and scrambled in. "Hold on, Lil," he said. He lifted his wand and shouted, "Accio broomstick!"
His broom came flying over to them and hovered above James's head. He gathered up Lily into his arms and climbed atop the broom.
"James, are you sure I won't fall off?" she asked doubtfully.
"Yeah, I'm sure," he replied, his grip tightening about her.
They flew back to the castle and James picked Lily up, immediately heading towards the hospital wing.
Once he arrived, the nurse came bustling over. "What happened?"
"We fell into the lake," James said simply.
Blankets immediately appeared in her hands. "Put these around you and get yourselves into bed. I'll make some Pepperup Potion."
She came bustling back a few minutes later and gave some of the potion to Lily first. She drank it and winced as she immediately warmed up slightly. She repeated the process with James.
When James looked back a few minutes later, he found her sound asleep, a smile spread across her face.
A/N: OK, so that was Chapter 4. What do you guys think? Do you like? :( If so, we want atleast five reviews. OK? Pwease? Thankie for all the others! They were so sweet!!!! R/R please -Jess and Britt