A/N: These are taking longer and longer to write . . . phooey. Oh, well . . . this story might actually have a plot!!!! *looks around proudly* Woo hoo!! By the way, I'm assuming students can go to Hogsmeade when they want, but I'm not sure. What do they do during Christmas vacation???? Read Deathmachine Best Moments!! Its funny!! Or, don't. Either way's fine with me :) On with the story!!!!!
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Lily sat down with a sigh between her two friends, across from the marauders. They both seemed to be deep in conversation with their . . . adoring followers. Lily could have spit. Instead she decided to talk to the grinning figure in front of her.
"James," she said coldly, lifting her chin.
"Lily," he replied with a sneer.
She pursed her lips and shot him a hard look that slid off him like water on a rock. For the fiftieth time, she cursed her friends' choice of love. There were plenty of fish in the ocean, as the saying went, so why did they have to choose the piranhas?
She set about eating, peering at James every so often. He seemed . . . smug was the only word to describe it. But why? Another trick, maybe? It was hardly beyond him, after all. The pig. She would have to be on her guards.
"So, James," she was very proud at the amount of spite she could fit into that one syllable. "What have you been up to?"
Lily was sure he purposefully bit a piece off of that cookie before talking to her.
"I, dear Lily, have been talking to Lucius and Severus."
Lily pressed her middle finger on her chin, taking the opportunity to wipe the crumb off of it, seemingly pensive. She hoped James go the message.
"How nice. Typical of you to make friends with snakes, isn't it, Jamsie?"
He was definitely up to something. Just the mention of his childhood nickname – from her, no less! - should have been enough to send him into a rage. Instead, he just smiled.
"Oh yes, Lily. Snakes fit me nicely. They strike when least expected."
Lily furrowed her eyebrows. Strike when least expected? What was he going to do?
"Of course," she said sweetly, still wondering about his last comment. "But remember, snake-boy, play with fire and you get burned."
She stood up to leave – she was not going to let him have the chance to gain the upper hand - and, for a wonder, Becca and Kat stood up with her. Apparently their "important" conversation had finally ended. James smiled that annoyingly knowing smile and waved.
"Toodle-oo!" he said mockingly.
***
As soon as Lily vanished behind a group of people, James allowed his shoulders to sag. Not many people could make him lose his temper, but Lily was on of them. He was amazed he had managed not to shout at her. Had his voice sounded tight? He hoped not.
Gulping down some lime juice – Dumbledore seemed to be playing some cruel joke on them; the lime juice didn't seem sour to him – he turned to Remus.
"So. That went well, wouldn't you say, Moony?"
Remus jumped and mopped his forehead with his sleeve.
"What? Yes. Yes, very well. Ah . . . If you'll excuse me Prongs, I have to go . . . hum . . . To the library. Thinking, you know?"
Without another word, he stood up and walked out the Great Hall. James wondered what he was up to. He decided to try Sirius.
"So, Padfoot, your little conversation with Becca seemed rather . . . promising," he said teasingly. "What did you talk about? Or would you rather I not know?"
Sirius cast him a wary look, of all things, then grinned. Weakly, James thought, but maybe he was wrong.
"Well, Jamsie, get yourself a girlfriend and maybe you'll find out!"
With something resembling a cackle, he stood up and walked off.
"Hey!' James shouted at his rapidly retreating back. "Where are you going?"
"Hogsmeade!" Sirius called over his shoulder.
James slumped and picked at his food. Lily insulting him with all the right jeers, his friends mysteriously disappearing, Remus looking as worried as he had when they had set the dungbomb in Lily's bed . . . Something was happening, and he didn't know what.
***
Becca looked anxiously at Kat as she unfolded her conversation with Remus.
"See, when Lily said James had just left it there, I was suspicious. It isn't like James to be careless like that. I had an idea of what he might be trying to do, but I wasn't sure. So, during breakfast, I asked Moony . . ."
"Moony?" Becca interrupted with a quirk of her eyebrow.
"Um . . .yeah, that's his nickname. He hasn't told me why yet, but I intend to pull it out of him. Anyway, back to the matter at hand. I asked Remus if he knew anything about it. At first he didn't say anything, just kinda sat there and twiddled his thumbs, so I knew he did. After a little pressing, he confirmed it. When a person drinks the potion, they grow horrible pustules and warts that pop all at once within one day. You can imagine the mess when they do!"
Kat wrinkled her nose at the last comment, obviously visualizing Lily, covered in pus. Becca had to admit it was not a pretty sight in her own mind.
"That's funny," she said slowly, "Sirius told me exactly the same thing. He was worried."
She allowed herself to sigh dreamily, looking up at the cloud-painted ceiling.
"Imagine that! My sweet Sirius, worried! Vondervul!"
"Ahem," Kat said sharply.
Becca blushed and smiled weakly at her friend, who grinned sympathetically back at her. It really was nice to have someone to share these things with.
"So, anyway, Sirius says it's true. What do we do now?"
"I'm not sure, Becca. I thought about this a lot, and I still have no idea whether or not we should tell Lily. Part of me says she should, since she's our friend and everything, and the other . . ."
She shot a pleading look at Becca, who understood immediately. How could Kat betray Remus' trust? How could she betray Sirius'? It was a nice little mess they had placed themselves in.
"Kat, let's handle this logically. That's where you come in. We can't betray Lily and just leave her to the potion, but we can't betray Remus and Sirius either. What should we do?"
Kat furrowed her eyebrows and chewed on her fingernail. Becca could almost see the wheels of thought whirring in her head. After a good bit of time, she finally lifted her head up and smiled at Becca.
"I've got it. All we have to do is counteract James' little prank with one of our own. That way, we'll get back at him for Lily without being rats."
"Spiffing, Kat! I love it! What should we do?"
"Hmmm . . . well, we're getting back at him for Lily, so it should be something that has to do with her . . ."
"Right. A love potion perhaps?"
Kat waved the idea away.
"Too classic. We need something more devious."
"We could tie him to a chair and stuff beans down his throat till he's about to explode . . ."
"Becca, don't be so juvenile!"
"Well, it sounded good in my head . . ."
They sat there for a little while, both deep in thought, when Becca's face lit up.
"Eureka!" she shouted gleefully.
"Shh! Quiet, you fool! What is it??"
"Right. You know how Lily's wart things are all going to explode?"
"Yeah . . ."
"Well, what better way to get back at James than to have them explode on him?"
"Hmm . . . I like where this is going, Becca, but how do we get them to explode on him? He'd have to be . . . really . . . close . . ."
Kat grinned broadly as it dawned on her.
"I always thought they'd make a cute couple!"
***
A/N: Ah, yes, fair readers! 'Tis the end! But fear not! More is to come! (As soon as I think of what should happen next :) Bwahahaha!) Can everyone see where this is going to go?? I can too, but maybe I'll change it later . . . we shall see where the story takes us.Review!!! REVIEW! REVIEEEEEEEEEEEEW!!!!! I'll explain why you need to in the next chapter! *wink, wink*