A/N: Hello again guys! Trying to get on my old schedule of updating- hope this was soon enough for ya!
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Chapter 31- To Hogsmeade…and back?
Lily watched, a smile forming itself on her face. The image of two of her best friends washed away all of her other worries. And still they seemed to have no idea that they were being watched, so intent were they on each other. Lily laughed internally. They must have really missed each other. And then she thought of James. Oh, she had missed him. Especially with the overload of work this week, she had needed comfort, and he was the only one who could give it to her.
One of her hands left the side of her body slowly, tentatively, and met James' halfway. He moved closer and wrapped her into a tight hug, not saying anything. For awhile, she forgot about everything else, and just breathed in the scent that she had been missing, almost unconsciously. How long ago since she had been this close to him?
And then they pulled away from their hug, but continued to hold hands. There were Chloe and Remus, still kissing, but slower now. How can they breathe? A glance to her right, and Lily saw Jennifer looking at Sirius, with her arms folded and shaking her head. He looked disappointed.
"Well I suppose not everything good can happen in one day." she heard James whisper from beside her.
Finally, Chloe took a step back, still holding onto both of Remus' hands. It was then that they both looked out of the corner of their eyes to see all four of their friends watching them with silly, happy grins.
Chloe blushed and Remus stood there looking bashful. "We-er-" he started, quickly giving up. Chloe turned back to Remus.
"I thought you were going to explain something. Not go into that."
He grinned. "So did I. I couldn't resist though." he paused thoughtfully. "This does mean that we're back together again...doesn't it?"
Chloe appeared to be outraged. "How can you even assume such a thing!" Remus turned a pinkish color, and looked remotely sick. She laughed and leaned over to give him another quick kiss. "You should know when I'm kidding." A thankful, praising composure came about him.
"Alright. So enough of this! Are we finally all going to talk to each other again?" Sirius announced in his usual loud voice.
Jennifer sniffed, refusing to look at him. "I'll talk to the others, but you're out of the question."
"What did I do? I've been perfectly nice to you. Do you even remember why you're mad at me in the first place?"
She grunted, and opened her mouth. Realizing that she had no idea of what excuse she had, it was promptly closed.
Lily jumped in, "You were being an ass, that's all." she stated, smiling sweetly at Sirius. James shook his head and Jennifer sent her a grateful look.
"I vote for we all talk to each other again." Chloe and Remus had approached the others.
"Well of course. What else?" James added. "It was stupid..." he looked at Lily and winked. "I know that now."
She grinned and wrapped her arms around his waist. "James, I don't want you to ever say that you don't trust me again. How many times, how many ways do I have to show you that I love only you?" she shook her head. "It's really annoying, James."
"Yeah, Prongs. You're really annoying." Sirius joked, and saw Jennifer scowl and hit him on the side with the back of her palm. "What?"
"Now what?" she asked, ignoring him and turning towards the others.
"How about- you and me?" Sirius grinned toothily. "Wouldn't that be nice?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Sirius! You're doing worse than before. At least you were only stalking me then, not being extremely aggravating."
He shrugged. "I don't see your point."
"What do you say we celebrate?" James commented, breaking up the rather extended argument.
"Oh, that would be great! Hogsmeade?" Lily asked, looking up at him.
"Where else? You guys coming?" he looked to the rest of them, and they all nodded in turn.
So they stumbled through the school, Chloe and Remus, James and Lily, and then Sirius at the head and Jennifer in the back. Until of course, he resumed his annoying habits and went back to pestering her. James tried several times to tell him that he didn't think Jennifer appreciated it, and maybe if he really wanted her back he should take advice from the 'ladies master'. Sirius just looked at him weirdly, and Lily snorted.
"If that was ever true James, then I don't know you." she said.
It wasn't long before they reached the familiar cellar door, and went through it one by one. The Three Broomsticks was, of course, the first destination. It had been forever since they had been there. All together, anyway.
"A butterbeer for everyone, please. And large!" James said, Madame Rosmerta smiling at them in a knowing way and scampering off as best she could in high heels. Remus and Chloe mostly kept to themselves, whispering, both of them looking joyous.
"So," Sirius said, having calmed down a little in the past few minutes. "What's the plan?"
"There isn't one, dumbass." Jennifer replied smartly, and then turned to Lily and James. "Anything you guys really want to do?"
"Not me." she grabbed James' shirt and gave him a quick kiss. "And you?"
"Nope." she grinned. Jennifer watched them, and Chloe and Remus, and was beginning to feel a bit left out; for there wasn't any way she would give in to Sirius. Not easily, anyhow.
Sirius hadn't been in any conversation. He appeared to be looking down at his lap. But he looked thoughtful, and he was concentrating on something. Jennifer watched him without making it too apparent that she was doing so. What was he doing? Finally, she couldn't stand it anymore, and leaned over to see him writing a note.
He looked up at her, grinned, folded the note up, and shot it across the table at her, putting on a satisfied face. Jennifer kept her composure neutral and decided to read it, even if it was from him. It's not as if she really hated him anyway....but she was sort of enjoying this whole battle, to her surprised realization.
Her blue eyes perused the note slowly, her face changing a couple times from annoyance to thoughtfulness, and finally she looked up at him and stared a moment. She appeared to be having an argument with herself in her head. The kind side won, and she gave him a small smile and slipped the note inside her robes.
Sirius pointed towards the door and she nodded. They both waved and were gone.
"Well that was odd." Lily said.
"Who cares?" James leaned down to give her another kiss, but she pulled back and grinned.
"Let's go somewhere else." she stood up and stretched. "Bye guys," she said loudly to Chloe and Remus, who were busy. They each waved a free hand.
James extended and arm to Lily, which she took readily, grinning to herself. They left the pub and walked down the street, not especially caring where they ended up. They talked, they stopped to kiss, they walked and held hands. It was relaxing. It wasn't until they noticed that there weren't any more buildings or shops around them and in front of them extended the forest in waves of green, that James suggested they start heading back. Lily nodded, turning away from the forest to face him. He was staring at something behind her though, and she saw fear build up in his expression. Without another thought, she turned to look, and saw two red eyes staring at them, unblinking, from inside the forest.
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A/N: I hope that wasn't really boring or anything- but even if it was, let me know! Oh, and thanks to my reviewers, as usual ;) Leave me more reviews! I promise I'll update faster if you do!! And my thanks for your benevolence =)
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KaTiE- Thank you =) Lol, well of course she would have to slap him...he was being annoying again. I'm glad you liked it.
dreamcatcher- Hope you liked this chapter too! Thanks a bunch for reviewing!
SMAC- Lol, yeah. Well of course they would have to get back together sometime though ;) Thanks for another review!!
Shattered Angel- That's for sure- it would be sort of hard to get married and be angry with each other at the same time, hehe. Thanks for your reviews on both of my stories; I appreciate it!