Author's Note: Um…
Title: Love and Flashbacks
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Erm… Possibly.
Summary: Lily and James remember the events that led to their romance.
Disclaimer: As much as I'd love to own Harry Potter and its characters, I don't.
Setting: This story takes place when the Marauders are at Hogwarts.
*** = setting change
*~*= begin flashback
~*~ = end flashback
[…] = time
italics = emphasis
~The Opinions~
[November 16]
"Charlotte?" Remus called.
"Yeah?"
"Uh, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, Remus."
"Well—I—You see…"
Charlotte looked closely at the young wizard. "Are you okay?"
"Me? I'm fine. Just… fine."
"You don't look fine. Far from it. Actually, you look like you're going to faint any second."
"No, really. I'm okay."
"All right. So what's your question?"
"I was wondering—Do you—Would you—?"
The girl looked at his face and suddenly she understood. "Remus, are you asking me to go out with you?"
He nodded. "So… will you?"
"Of course. Remus, maybe you'd better go lie down."
"Yeah. Okay. Good idea. Bye," Remus said as he rushed up the spiral staircase to his room.
Charlotte smiled, then went up to her own room to tell her friends the news.
***
"Took him long enough," Koren said. "He's had a crush on you for a long time."
"What? He has?"
"Well, yeah. Don't tell me you haven't noticed the way he stares at you all the time."
"Well, I thought that maybe… but I didn't believe it before."
Lily remarked, "You've liked him almost as long as he's liked you."
*~*
[4th year]
It was a Friday night and the girls were having a slumber party, of sorts.
"So we've already done each other's hair, and messed it up," Koren said, glaring at Lily, who shrugged and grinned.
"What do you want to do now?" Charlotte asked.
"We could talk about… boys," Lily suggested.
"Okay."
"Fine."
Koren started talking. "Okay, so… Charlotte," she said turning to her dark-haired friend, "Who do you like?"
"Um… I don't know, but I guess Remus Lupin isn't bad," she answered shyly.
Lily asked, "Oh my God. Remus? Remus Lupin? Potter's friend?"
"Yeah…"
"Well, I guess it's better than you liking Potter the Rotter himself."
"So who do you like, Lily?"
"Well, there's this Ravenclaw in our year who's kind of cute… Patrick something-or-other."
"I would have thought you had a thing for the 'Rotter,'" Koren teased.
"What?!"
"Oh, come on. It's so obvious you're attracted to him."
"I am not!"
"Yes, you are!"
Lily jumped off her bed and attacked Koren. "Take that back!"
"No!" The blonde got away from the redhead and ran around the room, screaming. Lily chased her.
Koren jumped behind Charlotte and used her as a shield. "Ah! Don't let her get me!"
Lily leaped onto the bed and tried to get her. Koren grabbed Whiskers as she slid off the bed. She held the cat out toward Lily and said, "Back! I have a cat, and I'm not afraid to use it!"
Whiskers meowed helplessly.
The green-eyed girl fell back onto Charlotte's bed, howling with laughter. The brunette was giggling with her. "Koren, put—put Whiskers down."
She set the cat down on the floor.
Lily recovered and asked, "Well, now, Miss Smith. You haven't told us who you like yet."
"I don't like anyone," Koren said quickly, settling back down on her own bed.
The other two girls exchanged suspicious looks.
"Come on, tell the truth."
"Seriously, Koren, who do you fancy?" Charlotte asked.
"I'm telling you, I don't like anyone," Koren replied, not making eye contact with Lily and Charlotte.
"Come on, Char," Lily said, advancing toward the blonde, "I bet there's some way we can get it out of her."
She grabbed her wand and pointed it at Koren. "Rictusempra!" Charlotte came over to stand beside Lily.
The blue-eyed fourth year started giggling as the Tickling Charm took effect.
"Tell us!"
"No!"
"Tell!"
"No!—Hahaha!—Stop it! Please!—Ha!—Ah!"
"Tell us and I'll remove the charm."
"Okay! Okay. Anything."
Lily stopped the charm. "So, who?"
"Um… Sirius Black." Koren braced herself for Lily's response.
"Oh God! Both of my best friends like Potter's friends!"
"Sure, Lily, say it louder. I don't think they heard you down in Slytherin."
"Sorry. I just—I mean… This is crazy! How is this possible?"
"Lily, it's not so bad. And we can't help how we feel."
"Well, yeah, I guess…"
~*~
"We're happy for you, Char," Lily said.
"Yeah. This is so cool! We can go on, like, double—er—triple dates."
"Whatever, Koren. Sometimes you can be as idiotic as your boyfriend."
"I really should stop hanging out with him so much… But he's just so adorable!"
"Uh huh. Okay…"
***
[Meanwhile…]
"So you finally got up the nerve to ask her, eh, Moony?" commented Sirius.
"Yeah," Remus replied. He had collapsed on his bed after running upstairs, and he hadn't moved since.
Peter squeaked, "Oh great. Now everyone has someone but me."
Sirius put an arm around his friend. "Don't worry, Wormtail. There are tons of girls out there. You know, I saw a Hufflepuff girl looking at you the other day…"
"Whatever, Padfoot."
James came out of the bathroom. "Hey, what's going on?"
"Remus asked Charlotte out."
"Finally."
*~*
[4th year]
"Charlotte? Charlotte Davis? You like her?" James asked Remus.
"Mm hmm."
"How come?"
"She's really nice and really pretty—"
"A bit of a mouse, though, don't you think?" Sirius asked. "She's very quiet. I don't think I could be with a girl like that."
Remus turned to him. "So then who would you prefer?"
"Well, that Koren girl is kinda cute…"
James said, "Koren Smith? Why do you guys have a sudden fascination with Evans's friends?"
"Calm down, James. I was just saying that it wouldn't be so bad if she was my girl. She likes to have fun, she's pretty tough, she's smart but not snotty about it, and it doesn't hurt that she does pretty well in the looks department." He grinned. "You know who would be perfect for you? Lily."
"What? Are you insane?"
Sirius just raised his eyebrows at him.
"Never mind. Of course you're insane. But what are you talking about?"
"You know you like her, James."
"Evans? No way," James replied with a look of mild disgust on his face.
"I'm your best friend, mate. I know you."
"Yeah, well, you're going to be my worst enemy if you keep going."
"All right, all right." Sirius fake-whispered to Remus, "They are gonna end up together, just wait."
"I heard that!"
"Why do you think I said it so loudly?"
~*~
"Uh, Remus?" Peter said. "You look like you're gonna hurl."
"No, no. I'm—I'm okay." Remus took a few deep breaths and calmed down.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Author's Note: I'm not doing such a good job of the L/J, am I? Focusing more on the S/K and R/C for some reason… Anyway, review! And if you like this story, read my other one, Role Reversal. It's a lot longer and more dramatic (definitely). I have over 50 fans who will tell you it's good (hopefully).
