Okies, it's been a while. A little over a month, I think. I'm going to save all this blabber for after the chapter, so please read the Author's Note, ok? I'm not getting that many reviews anymore (**pouts**), but oh well. My estimate was really off last chapter. Do you think you could let me get 100 reviews? It would help boost my confidence a lot, because if I'm not getting reviews, I might stop writing these fics and go write Newsies fanfiction instead…
Well, here's Chapter 5.
NOTE: This chapter is split into sections, separated by "~*~*~". Sometimes, they are occurring at the same time, except that they are told from different points of view or happening in different places. I hope it's not that confusing.
Chapter 5: The Confrontation(s)
Peter, clad in a dark blue nightgown, glared down at the three Marauders, and continued. "Oh, I've always been wondering why you were all of a sudden so interested in that girl. I originally thought it was just because James wanted her, but now, I see there's more to it. I suppose you had fun laughing over my stupidity behind my back, didn't you? I really did make a complete and utter fool of myself trying to understand why you just became so interested in her this year. You weren't ever going to tell me, were you?" He laughed bitterly. "Remember the Marauders' Code we swore on in first year? 'No Marauder will ever betray, harm, or hide something from another.' Apparently you're not following the code, so why should I? I—"
"What's this?" asked a sleepy voice behind Peter. Chase Montgomery, the other seventh-year Gryffindor male, appeared at the top of the stairs, running a hand through his tousled brown hair and rubbing sleep from silver-gray eyes. He was not a Marauder (though he had been invited to join the gang), but he was just as well liked and respected. He was the only seventh year Gyffindor male to whom the Slytherins were civil, and sometimes even friendly. Reluctantly, they had admitted and accepted that he was sharp, fair, and intelligent in a "worldly" way, AKA street-smart— he trusted his instincts above anything else, and because he had been born and raised in the rough area of New York (Brooklyn) before his mother decided to move to England (A/N: GO NEWSIES!!!), he had had to put those skills to use more than once. Plus, he was handsome in a rugged kind of way, and not even the Slytherin girls could deny that. (Another A/N: For all of you who have watched "Newsies" (**glares at the people who haven't**), Chase is somewhat like Spot Conlon (Gabriel Damon) in both looks (::drools::) and personality (::swoon::), though Chase isn't as powerful and feared as Spot is, and not quite as arrogant. OK, I'll shut up with the Author's Notes and parentheses now. I'm overdoing them, aren't I?) Chase was also a Chaser (no pun intended; okay, well, maybe it was intentional…) on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. All in all, there were many very good reasons for why much of Hogwarts' female population was following him around with stars in their eyes, but the thing that distinguished Chase from people like Sirius was that Chase wasn't fickle. If he dated a girl, he didn't dump her a week later (::cough "Sirius" cough:: **ducks UFO from Sainatee**). He also had many girl-friends— friends that were girls— and Lily happened to be one of his closest friends.
With a quick, sweeping glance, Chase's sharp eyes took in the situation, and then in a soft but impatient voice, he said, "If you're going to have a fight, do it in the dorm. We don't need the whole House meddling in whatever it is you're fighting about. Come on."
Without a word, Peter stomped back through the door. James, Sirius, and Remus looked at each other, sighed, and followed Peter. Chase raised an eyebrow at everyone's reactions, but kept his mouth shut and closed the door after his fellow roommates.
~*~*~
Meanwhile, in the girls' dorm after the boys had left, Lily was still staring at her bedcovers and shivering uncontrollably. She just couldn't erase the frightening images of James, Sirius, and Remus from her mind— what did they mean? How was her nightmare connected with the other ones that she had been having during the past few weeks, if they were at all?
It would be impossible for Lily to think of them like before again, meaning things would never be quite the same between them. A single tear slid down her cheek.
Arabella glanced at Lily once, then snatched up the steaming glass of hot chocolate and held it in front of her face. Lily looked at the proffered mug, then at Arabella's worried face, then at the chocolate again, and finally, with an unsteady hand, she took the cup.
Magical hot chocolate is an excellent all-around remedy, similar to the way Muggles view chicken broth. After gulping some down and letting the warmth engulf her, Lily ceased shivering and immediately felt better.
Lily was about to thank Arabella for the hot chocolate when she saw that Arabella was deep in thought about something. When Ara was twirling a lock of hair around her finger, it meant something bothered or puzzled her.
Suddenly, Arabella broke out of her trance and turned to Lily. "Lily, I know James is your boyfriend, but when you screamed bloody murder, they all ran down here like they had to protect you. It's hard to explain— it's just a weird feeling that was nagging at me. Is it just me and my screwed-up little brain, or do you get what I'm saying?"
Thoughtfully, Lily replied, "Yeah, I think I know what you mean. It's one of the only times I've ever seen Sirius serious, no pun intended. They've been shadowing me for a while now, and I can't get any straight answers from them about why. I don't believe the crap they were feeding me about James being madly in love with me, even though it would be nice." She smiled, but then added on an afterthought, "And not once have they ever gotten in trouble for it. Ara, I think the teachers are in on this little conspiracy too."
Arabella was about to reply when something caught her attention. "Wait, Lily, listen." She crept over to the door, where she crouched silently. Arabella was known for her keen sense of hearing, which had gotten them out of many a scrape and given quite a few Slytherins detention for whispering things that they thought no one could hear, so Lily closed her mouth and waited.
Finally, Arabella turned back and said, "Apparently they never told Pettigrew, because he woke up, heard something, I guess, and is starting to raise hell right now. Chase just pulled them into the room." She paused. "Hey, Lily, if you're up to it, why don't you sneak over and listen? You might learn something useful. Plus, I don't think you're in any condition to go back to sleep. Here, take Potter's Invisibility Cloak."
As Lily caught the aforementioned object from Arabella, she asked curiously, "How'd you get this?"
Arabella's mouth twitched. "Let's just say I borrowed it."
Lily grinned. "Okay, I won't ask any questions. Actually, I think I'll follow your suggestion. You're right, I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway."
Lily changed out of her pajamas into her robes, dug around for her wand, slipped the cloak on, and crept over to the boys' room. She knelt by the door and cast a Listening Charm, then settled into a nice little niche for the 'show'.
About fifteen minutes later, though, Lily had had enough. She had learned more than she ever wanted to know. She began to make some sense out of the dreams and messages she'd been receiving, though she still didn't understand the reason for the shape-shifting and the blood all over Remus in her latest nightmare. However, almost everything else was horrifyingly clear.
That night, Lily couldn't sleep at all. Over and over, the conversation echoed in her mind, the words haunting her…
~*~*~
Back in the boys' dormitory, all five boys piled through the door and locked it shut.
The moment the charm was cast, Peter whirled on them and screamed, "Why couldn't you tell me? A true Marauder would have? True Marauders don't keep secrets from each other!" (A/N: Oh, the irony! Hehe.)
Chase fidgeted, "I can see this is Marauder business. I won't meddle. I'm going to sleep, and someone can cast a Blocking Charm on my bed. No Sleeping Charms though, because last time you guys forgot to wave me up, and I missed all of my classes and got thoroughly dressed-down by Professor McGonagall." He grinned, and as he crawled back under his covers, he said, "Good night. Or is it good morning? Nah, too sleepy to decide. Anyway, one of you can cast the charm. I won't even try one, because I'm horrible at Charms. I don't know what I'd do if Lily wasn't tutoring me." Chase faked a yawn and pulled the curtains shut. "Nighty-night."
Sirius grinned, but then looked at the closed-off bed and sighed, wishing he was snuggled beneath the covers in his own bed with his beloved stuffed poodle instead of being out here faced with the wrath of an extremely (and in his opinion, ridiculously) outraged Peter, who had a dented ego because they had neglected to tell him everything that was going on, like he expected them too because "they were Marauders". Yeah right, he thought. Being a Marauder doesn't mean that we'll spill all our guts to you. We're entitled to some secrets, no matter what the Code says. And I highly doubt that you've told us everything about you. "Oh, whose going to cast the charm? Not me; I don't want poor Chase waking up with three heads or something."
From behind the curtains they heard a laugh and a muffled, "Thanks, Sirius! Excellent choice! James, you're Head Boy, and you're not as unskilled as Sirius, or so we hope, so you do it. Please refrain from giving me any extra body parts. I like myself the way I am, thank you very much."
James chuckled. "I wouldn't count on that. The only reason I'm getting such good grades in Charms is Lily, the sacred, revered Charms master— if I didn't have her, I'd just be scraping by. But then again, I think you would look rather nice with only one eye in the middle of your forehead— I learned that charm somewhere—"
A pillow flew out, but hit Remus instead of James. Remus caught it, etched a little face with one eyeball on it with his wand and labeled the drawing "Chase Montgomery, Gryffindor's Resident Cyclops", and tossed it back in, grinning. When he heard Chase's muffled sound of mock outrage, he laughed, and resolved to always check his bed for any slimy things or any curses before he went to bed from now on. Then, remembering the subject they had been on, he said lightly, "You guys are pathetic. You can't do a simple Blocking Charm after all the hours you've spent with Lily plus what we've spent in the library? And you're Head Boy, James? Tsk tsk!"
Again, a voice came through the curtains. "You all are pathetic! Remus, just do it! I need my beauty sleep, and I don't feel like hearing you Marauders bickering!"
Remus laughed, and cast the charm. Then, after he was done, a spark of genius visited him. In his best imitation of a saccharin-sweet female voice, he drawled, "Nighty-night, Chase m'love. Sweet dreams— of me, my dear," and then, he blew a very wet, loud kiss towards the bed.
When no pillows or hexes came flying out, Remus turned to a howling Sirius and a hysterical James and pronounced, grinning maniacally, that the charm had worked.
When he had finally calmed down, Sirius jerked his head towards Chase's bed and grinned. "I always knew I liked that kid. He knows when to keep his nose— well, his ears— to himself."
"A very good Chaser, too." That was James, obviously.
"Also rather good-looking," observed Remus without quite thinking of what he had just said before it was too late. Oh no, he muttered.
"Remus!" exclaimed Sirius. "When did you become attracted to the same sex?" He then wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, advancing towards Remus.
"Not like that, you huge oaf!" laughed Remus as he dove out of the way. "I was just comparing him to you! Besides, if I wasn't straight I wouldn't— oh, never mind." He flung a pillow at Sirius and dove over James's bed, laughing hysterically at the look of mock outrage on Sirius's face when it had sunk in that Remus had just said Chase was better looking than he was.
"You okay, Moony, old pal? And I thought you were the sensible one in our group!" James shook his head, grinning as he watched Sirius chase a rather hyper Remus around the room.
And Peter was watching this too, just watching. Then, in what he thought (or rather, hoped) was a disdainful manner, he cleared his throat and looked down his stubby nose at them and their antics.
However, this didn't quite elicit the effect Peter had hoped. No one showed any sign of noticing him, and Sirius even tripped over him, just like an inanimate piece of furniture, in his mad dash around the room.
Finally, growing angrier and angrier, Peter pointed his wand between Sirius and Remus and screamed, "Dolorus Obstare Illum!"
A wall of sparks formed around Sirius, restricting his movement. Every time he tried to move, a searing burn formed across his skin where it touched the wall of sparks.
Suddenly, Peter realized exactly what he had done. He had just used a Dark spell, one commonly used to stop Aurors. Shit, he thought frantically, how do I explain this? Master won't be very happy, to say the least, if my cover slips.
Peter quickly muttered the countercurse, and just as a light of suspicion began to flare in Remus's eyes, Peter quickly cut in and said, "Well?"
"Well what?" snapped Sirius, rubbing his arm, which was still smarting from the burn. "And what spell was that? Where'd you learn it? It hardly seems like something that would be taught—"
Peter ignored the last couple questions, and said, "Well? Care to fill me in on what I've missed, my dear fellow Marauders?"
When no one answered, Peter narrowed his eyes and coldly said, "It seems I have overstayed my welcome, haven't I? You've decided to stop the charity? That's it, isn't it? The only reason you let me into the group was charity for the weak and stupid. I certainly was stupid when I thought you actually accepted me as a true Marauder, when I thought that you wouldn't keep things from me because we were friends. I actually thought we were friends," he added bitterly.
Peter started to turn and walk out when James grabbed his arm. "Wait." James turned to Sirius and Remus, searching for a 'yes' or a 'no', but their faces were blank and impassive, having long decided that if James wanted to tell Peter, it was his choice. This was against Sirius's better judgment, but after much arguing with Sirius the other day, he had to give in.
So James sighed, and began to tell Peter everything, while Lily (who had just arrived a few moments before) listened.
When he was done, Peter sank down on his bed in shock. So that was what Master was talking about. That Mudblood being protected. But why does it have to be James, Sirius, and Remus? As stupid and lovesick as they can be sometimes, I still don't want them to get killed. Thinking quickly, Peter whined, "But you guys might get hurt if you try to get in You-Know-Who's way! Or even killed!"
James sat down on the bed beside Peter. "I know. We all know the risks, but we've accepted them. If shit happens, it happens. I'm willing to risk my life for Lily, and for the greater good of the Light side. She is extremely talented and powerful, and if she is on our side of the war, we may be one step closer to winning and getting rid of Voldemort forever." Then, quietly, James added, "I think I love her. No, I don't think I do— I know I do."
"But James," said Peter shrilly, a bit too shrilly, "if you die for her, then there's no point in being in love with her because you're dead!"
"That's not how love works, Peter!" James shook his head, clearly frustrated. "I can't explain it. When you fall in love with someone someday, you'll understand what I mean."
Yeah, right, like that'll ever happen, thought Peter bitterly. Of course it's easy for them to say— they're all handsome and popular, and they have girls falling at their feet. They never knew, and probably never will, what it feels like to be all alone. Acceptance is a bittersweet thing; now I've found it. Why do you have to interfere? I found a family who actually gives a shit about me; I'm worth something to them. If only you didn't have to mess things up. I don't want to have to choose between them and you, and you're forcing me too. I don't want to make the choice, but if it eventually does come to that decision, there's no doubt who I will pick.
Seeing Peter's still rebellious, disapproving look, Remus sighed and said, "Peter, listen to me. James loves Lily and the cause of the Light side enough to die for them. Sirius and I do too. We will protect Lily with our lives. Enough said?"
Tauntingly, Sirius added, "Are the concepts of love and honor that difficult to understand? We love Lily. We are passionately dedicated to the Light side. Dying for either cause is honor. I would be proud and honored to die for Lily or if my death would bring us all one step closer to the downfall of the Dark side." Sirius spat out the last two words, his face dark with contempt.
That did it. "You'll all die!" Peter shrieked, his pudgy face turning a shade of mottled reddish-purple from fury. "And she's the one who'll kill you!! You're all going to die because of her!!" With that, he unlocked the door and stomped off, mere inches away from stumbling upon where Lily was crouched, wide-eyed and terrified.
When he was gone, Lily waited to see if anyone would open the door and run after Pettigrew. When no one did, she silently ran back up to her room, then Banished the invisibility cloak back to land in a heap in front of the door, where one of the boys would find it the next morning. I never want to see that cloak again, she thought fiercely as she pocketed her wand. Why did I have to hear that? I wish I had never followed Arabella's suggestion.
But she had, and she had learned more than she ever wanted to know. Now she was faced with one of the most difficult decisions of her life, and either way, someone would be hurt. All she had to do was pick who.
You're all going to die because of her!…it's your fault…
~*~*~
Chase and Ariel were lounging in the Gryffindor common room playing wizard chess that evening.
Chase, having lost a game to an extremely happy Ariel was playfully protesting. "Cheater! You were using your powers!"
Ariel knew people thought she could read minds. She laughed. "Was not!"
"Was too!"
"Was not!"
"Was—"
Their good-natured bickering was interrupted when a harried Lily clambered through the portrait hole and rushed into the room. "Chase!" she said urgently. "Come here for a moment! Please!"
Chase and Ariel looked at each other, then he shrugged and got up to follow Lily."
"What?" asked Chase as Lily dragged him to a corner of the room. "What's this madness?" In a glance, he noticed that Lily looked harassed and frantic. What now?
"Chase, I've been tutoring you for a while now and we've always been friends and—"
"Lily," interrupted Chase not unkindly, "stop rambling. Just get on with it. I'm guessing you need a favor. Shoot."
Lily took a deep breath. "Chase, whatever I do next, just play along. Please? Don't say or do anything. I'm begging you, Chase. Just please do this for me."
Before he had a chance to react to this strange request, things happened so abruptly that his mind was whirling. James Potter climbed through the portrait hole, and Lily wrapped her arms around Chase's neck and firmly pressed her lips against his.
Just as Chase thought, Lily! What the bloody hell?, it was all over and Lily was looking properly ashamed of herself as she turned slowly towards a gaping James standing motionless by the portrait hole.
Chase was about to grab Lily around the neck and ask her what the hell she was doing when she turned around and gave him a pleading look. Chase had been friends with Lily long enough to know that whenever she brought out that pleading look, it was serious, so he sighed, gritted his teeth, and kept his mouth shut. At least for now. Lily, if you don't give me a good reason for everything, I will personally wring your neck and feed you to Fang. If you wanted to break up with James, why couldn't you just tell him? Why'd you have to drag me into the mess? I'll never be able to look James, or any of the other Marauders, in the face again! Damn, all the things I do and sacrifice for you, Lily.
The hurt and betrayal in James's eyes was too much for Lily to bear. If she looked up at him, she would break down and lose all her resolve, so she stared at the floor and mumbled, "I'm sorry, James. It's— it's not working for us anymore. I thought it was—" Lily gulped. "I thought it was love, but it wasn't. I— I was going to tell you—"
Lily never had to finish her sentence, because James turned abruptly and ran blindly towards the boys' dormitory, slamming the door shut behind him.
~*~*~
James closed the door behind him and leaned up against it, silently willing himself to be strong. I can handle this. I've broken up with girls before. There's no difference. Then he sighed, and willed himself to accept the inevitable. Yes there is. Admit is, Jamsie-boy, you loved her.
He sank down to his knees and closed his eyes. Lily… I thought she was the one. I truly loved her. But not only did she not love me back, she cheated on me behind my back. With Chase.
His throat tightened, but James swallowed convulsively, took a deep breath, and forced the pain down. So that's why she was so frightened of me before. Was she afraid I had found out about her and Chase? No, I got it— in her dream, I must have discovered their affair and killed them. When I ran into her room last night, she must have thought I really had found out and was about to murder her in her bed. James laughed bitterly, mirthlessly, a harsh, painful sound that rasped in his throat and rang in his ears. I'm good, Lily m'dear, but not that good. You were better for a long time. I admit it. You concealed it all perfectly until just now, with that one stolen kiss. Why Lily, you couldn't keep your hands to yourself and wait till midnight, or whenever you two would meet in some deserted classroom?
How long was this going to go on? You weren't ever going to tell me, were you? Suddenly, in his mind, he heard Peter's angry voice screaming the same thing just last night: "You weren't ever going to tell me, were you?"
The irony in it all was enough to produce another harsh, bitter laugh from James's mouth… his throat… his heart… his soul. But this time he couldn't stop.
James didn't stop laughing at the broken fragments of his ruined dreams until he couldn't laugh anymore. Then, the pain set in, the raw pain of disappointment, of betrayal, of shattered dreams and hopes, and there he lay, sobbing quietly, as the remnants of his love tore into his heart, leaving deep wounds and gouges that would never fully heal.
~*~*~
When the door to the boys' dormitory slammed shut behind James, Lily let forth a strangled, tortured cry and fled to her room.
I'm a bloody coward, thought Lily as she sobbed into her pillow. I should have just told James… I never should have brought Chase into this whole cursed mess…maybe it would have saved us both from all this pain… oh gods, that look in his eyes…
Why didn't I just tell him? Because I'm a bloody selfish coward! I was too weak to straightforwardly break up with James… I couldn't do it…and look what has happened…
Oh James… I wish I didn't have to do this at all… why did this have to happen to me, of all people? But it has… so this is for both our own goods. I don't want to kill you. I don't want to live out the rest of my pitiful life drowning in guilt, knowing I could have saved you by just staying away.
I don't want people to die because of me. I am willing to suffer in silence if it means you will live. James, just— a painful sob wracked her body— go find another nice girl. There are plenty out there that throw themselves at your feet. I hope you'll be happy. Please don't let my sacrifice be in vain. Forget me. Make the most of your life. Forget me and I'll try to forget you.
Forget me and I'll try to forget you. I'll try…~*~*~
Chase could only stare after his two friends as they each fled to their rooms. What the bloody hell?
He raced up the stairs to Lily's room, and seriously considered pounding on the door and screaming, "Lily, what in the bloody hell have you just done and for god's sakes, why???", and not stopping until he got an answer that satisfied him, but then he heard her dry, heaving sobs, and all his anger abruptly disappeared. Lily seldom cried, but when she did, it tore at him, knowing that his best friend was in that much pain but he was unable to do anything about it.
But that didn't mean he wouldn't try. Chase knocked softly on the door and was about to enter when he heard Lily's tearful voice say, "Go away, please. Just leave me alone." Then her voice cracked, as she burst into more strangled sobs.
Not that that stopped him though; nothing would at that point. In fact, it made him even more determined to go in. Chase slowly cracked open the door, and found the curtains drawn shut around Lily's bed.
"Lily?" he said softly. "Lily, it's me, Chase." He walked quietly to her bed with the intention of opening the curtains, but then thought the better of it, and sat down on Arabella's bed instead. "C'mon, Lily. Talk to me. And please don't cry like that. It hurts me, and trust me, you look horrible when you cry. Your face gets all blotchy, and—"
He managed a weak smile when Lily drew back the curtains and scowled, though he saw that she was trying her best not to sob again. She looked at him pleadingly, but all she could say was one word, a barely audible whisper, "Chase…"
He quickly crossed over and enveloped her into a hug, rubbing her back and whispering soothing things to her as she sobbed into his shoulder. (A/N: Isn't the irony absolutely touching? All these secrets and Lily crying and needing comfort. Awww…)
Finally, Lily's sobs were reduced to heaving, shuddering gulps of air, and she raised embarrassed, bloodshot eyes to his face. "I'm sorry, Chase. I'm normally not such a crybaby. It's just that— that—"
"It's okay, Lily. Don't worry about it. You're okay now, right?"
When she nodded, he returned his arms to his sides and somewhat self-consciously shifted a little farther away on the bed, putting some space between himself and Lily. Lily noticed this and couldn't help feeling a bit hurt, though she supposed her actions had warranted this. :I suppose you would like an explanation?" she asked quietly.
Chase nodded, but then quickly added, "You can tell me later if you want— that is, if you don't feel comfortable talking about it now—"
Lily shook her head, and answered wearily, "No, I'd rather get it over with." And so the words began to flow, starting from all her nightmares to what she had overheard the night before.
Lily's mind wasn't in her words— the words were pouring out mechanically, not unlike a programmed robot, while she half-heartedly listened to what she was saying. Most of her thoughts— and her heart and soul— were with James.
Chase saw that Lily wasn't truly focused on what she was saying; the bleak, reminiscent pain in her eyes gave it away that she was thinking about James. But he listened, and he listened well, as Lily subconsciously spun her tale.
When she finished, the light returned to her eyes and the emotions to her voice as she pleaded, "Chase, you have to help me. Please, I'm begging you. I can't face this alone."
Chase swallowed hard. Am I digging my own grave here? Of all the things for Lily to do… But finally he nodded and said quietly, "I'll try, Lily, I'll try."
He gave Lily one last brotherly hug, then left to try and find some solitary place to process his thoughts and make sense of all that had just changed in his life.
~*~*~
Ariel watched out of the corner of her eye as she began to slowly put away the chess pieces. She saw the grim desperation in Lily's eyes as she dragged Chase over to the corner… the obvious pain radiating from James when he saw Lily kissing Chase… the torn, conflicting emotions boiling in Chase as he watched both James and Lily run to their respective dormitories… Ariel never missed much. In fact, hardly anything ever escaped her notice.
It was then that Chase returned from the girls' dormitory, a faraway, unreadable look in his eyes. Not even noticing that Ariel had put away the chessboard, he mumbled, "Sorry, Ariel. I'll play you again tomorrow. Not tonight. I— I need to find some place to think."
Ariel nodded, having already sensed the myriad of conflicting emotions swirling inside him. He did need to think whatever it was that was bothering him over, or he might drive himself insane. Humans simply couldn't cope with too many unorganized emotions. All she said to him was, "Chase, do what you think is right. It isn't selfishness— it's called judgment. Thinking only of others but not of yourself may not always be good and honorable, it may sometimes be foolish. It might even harm someone. Think carefully, Chase."
Chase took in her words, nodded his thanks, then climbed out the portrait hole. Ariel sighed. "Lily, what have you just started? And why?"
But she felt she already knew the answer.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Finally! Done! Woohoo!
Okay, this is what I want to say. Please read:
Reviews are awfully slow lately, and I've kinda lost a lot of my obsession/interest in Harry Potter fics. Newsies is a lot better. If I don't start getting reviews to help make me feel appreciated, I might stop writing L/J and write Newsies ficcies instead. Okay? Thank you for listening. LOL
I'm not even going to try and set an estimate for when the next chapter's gonna be up, if at all. If I reach 90, I'll be happy.
=^.^= Merlin's Quill