Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognize from any Harry Potter book. If you don't recognize it: Hey it's mine!
Added a bit to Remus' transformation, and Shack scenes.
Heyhey people!! I'm back once again this week with another chapter for all of you! Can you believe its Chapter 25 already? I think I feel a couple of tears coming. *sniffles* You've been with me since the beginning… it's all so touching.
Many things happening here… I give my deepest condolences to the families of those who died in the Shuttle explosion this morning. God bless them all.
Well, without further ado – Chapter 25!
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"Lily, your muscles aren't relaxing." James told her as he tried to rub out some knots. He sighed as he did this. "Have you shown Dumbledore the last letter?" Lily didn't answer. "Lily, you have to give it to him. You promised him that much."
"James, you wanted to give me a massage. So that's all I want, a massage." Lily said in monotone.
James was hurt by that statement and knew that pushing the topic further in an argument wouldn't get them far. He tried a different route. "Really? So anything else I do is out of generosity?"
Lily quirked an eyebrow and sighed. "I suppose…"
"So we can never have that 'you never do anything special for me' fight?" he asked.
"No… we'll have the 'you never do anything special for me anymore, remember when' fight." Lily told him.
"Ah I see…"
"Life's a fickle bitch, isn't it?"
James laughed. "Fickle indeed. Alright, let's go." He said, getting up and stretching.
"And where are we going?" Lily asked, slowly following suit and getting up.
"Our good friend Dumbledore's office. Yay…" He said, grabbing her upper arm and hoisting her up. Lily groaned. "We'll get the letter and go."
"What do you mean 'we'll get the letter'? Do you not trust me?" She asked, covering her annoyance by playfully shoving him.
"Not when you're in this mood, Lily dearest. You're fickle." He took her hand, and started their way to the girls' dorm.
"Fickle indeed."
They made it to the gargoyle and now stood outside it, arguing.
"I can bloody do this myself James. I'm not a child." Lily said, crossing her arms, and stomping her foot.
"Well you're doing a very good a demonstration." He hissed quietly as people walked by and stared at the two Prefects. "I've been up there nearly every time, why can't I go this time?" He said normally, trying to calm himself.
"Because."
"Because why?"
"Because I said so." Lily turned away.
James put his face in his hands and growled in frustration. "Dammit Lily! Droobles Best Blowing Gum!" He yelled at the gargoyle. It bounded aside as if James had burned it.
Lily turned, shocked. "Don't yell it! People could have heard you!" She said as he herded her in.
"There was no one there, I checked." He said nearly calm as he knocked on the door. They heard Dumbledore answer, and they walked in. "Hello Professor." James and Lily said politely, smiling pleasantly.
Dumbledore laughed. "I was under the impression that you two weren't in too good of a mood today."
They both blushed. "Yes well, just minor differences we felt needed taking care of." Lily said. All of them were quiet for a second. "In the halls."
"Now what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Dumbledore asked them. "There are not many reasons you come up here and judging by the topic – discussed – downstairs… am I right in guessing that you have received another letter?"
Lily took it out of her pocket. "Yes sir." She handed it to him. "The same day all the other letters came."
Dumbledore unfolded it and read it's content. His face contorted with fury as he read the words Voldemort used, and his accusations as he implemented Lily as a murderer. "You are not a murderer, Ms. Evans. This had nothing to do with you. That's one thing to be glad about."
James smiled, and Lily shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose." She answered blandly. James stopped smiling. "Professor, I do not mean to sound rude, but is that all?"
Dumbledore gazed at her through his half-moon spectacles. Lily shifted uneasily and looked away, something she had never done with the Headmaster before.
"Very well, Ms. Evans. Mr. Potter, I ask you to stay here for a minute longer. Ms. Evans, please wait outside my door." She nodded and left, closing the door behind her.
"Mr. Potter – James. Look after her. She blames herself, but doesn't know why. Keep her busy and around people. If she gets too reclusive, I need you to get her out, or have her see me. I pray she doesn't try to save you, her friends, the way Ms. Kensington had."
James eyes grew wide. "I never thought of that, sir." His voice became determined. "I will do my best."
"Thank you James. Your best is all you really can do." He patted James on the back and led him to the door.
"Dumbledore, sir. If one of Lily's girlfriends knows about this is, it alright if I fill her in and have her help me?" James asked quietly, hand on the doorknob.
"You tell me one already knows? Who?"
"Yes, Jennifer Black. She is to Lily as Sirius is to me. I think it's good that Lily has one of them who knows, and doesn't blame her."
"Yes, yes of course James. Does Lily ever want to tell the rest about this?" Dumbledore headed back to his desk.
"All the time. Do you think they should know?" James asked, taking his hand off the doorknob and following Dumbledore as he wrote on some parchment.
"It would be better done in my presence. If Ms. Evans wants to tell them, we will have a meeting here sometime soon or whenever she is ready." He said, putting his quill down, folding the parchment, and putting his wax seal on it. "Take this, James, and give it to Ms. Evans once you leave. I have some assignments to catch up with."
"Of course. Thank you very much for everything, Headmaster." James left and met with Lily who was sitting on the top of the stairs, chin in her hands.
"Hey love." James said, helping her up. "This is for you." He handed her the parchment, and they made their way down the stairs.
"Thanks." She read it as they started going through the corridors to the Great Hall for lunch, James guiding her so she wouldn't hit anything. "What do you think everyone is doing tonight?"
"Full moon. Tomorrow evening or even the day after would be best to talk to everyone. It'll be less hectic, and Dumbledore would be able to make some time for us. And we have a Prefects meeting in the library."
~ * ~
Sirius sat on the couch in front of the fire. He was deep in thought as he rubbed his leg and arm where there were rapid bruises forming. Jen had unsuccessfully beaten out the conversation that he had with Snape the day before, earlier that afternoon when James and Lily were out.
He smiled a bit at the memory of them rolling on the rug, biting, pulling hair and pummelling each other. Jen yelling at him, and him laughing at her while she smacked him in the chest. All in all, it was a fun time. Even Jen laughed while she questioned him.
He almost laughed out loud at the memory of people who were watching them, not knowing what to do. Do they stop it, and get hit in the process, or do they let the siblings brutally bicker?
He actually did laugh aloud at the memory of Remus' face when he first saw them. He had looked so shocked, even in his horribly sickened state that morning. ('Dear God – Sirius no!') If only he knew she started it. He told him so. ('She's a girl!') But she was also his sister. He had told him that too. It apparently sounded like a better argument in his head than out loud. He laughed again at the look of comprehension on Remus' face. None.
"I really don't think the fire is that funny." He heard Jen say, somewhat distantly. In reality she had just sat beside him on the couch. "Knut for your thoughts?"
Sirius blinked a few times, focusing his eyes. When he turned to look at her, his eyes weren't used to the lack of light, and it took him a minute to respond. He rubbed his eyes, and shook his head. "Just thinking about our quarrel earlier today." Jen smiled. "And Remus' face."
Jen laughed. "And your lame ass argument?"
"It was pretty bad, wasn't it?" Sirius said, slouching further, and smiling.
Jen nodded, smiling. "So what did you and Snape talk about?" She asked, not smiling.
Sirius groaned. "Fine, I'll tell you. I just told him, more or less, that Remus had other reasons than to see his sick mum."
Jen gaped at him. "You told Snape that Remus is a-"
"No!" Sirius said, waving his hands in front of her, because she looked ready to pound him some more. "He'll probably find out though." He said, his face darkening. It looked as though he had forgot that Jen was there. "He'll not bother us anymore after tonight. With a scare like that…" He seemed to snap back reality and see Jen wide-eyed and still gaping.
"Did you tell him how to get into the Willow?" She yelled, reading his face like an open book.
"Remus'll just give'em a scare -"
"He could die!" She whispered desperately. "What'll Remus think? That you used him…" Sirius paled, clearly not thinking of that aspect. "Did you tell him to go tonight?"
"Yes, but Peter and I -" But she was gone after his first word. He jumped up and followed her. He heard her calling James' name as she ran. He remembered that him and Lily had a Prefects meeting that evening, and he ran in the opposite direction to the Willow where Peter and Remus should be by now. It was a quicker route to the Willow than it was finding your way through the moving staircases and corridors that brought you to the library. Especially when you're Sirius Black and you know secret passages.
"James, dear God, where are you?" She ran into the library where a Prefect meeting was being held because Peeves had set off dungbombs in their lounge. "James!" She ran to him, dragged him off his seat, and away from the others. Lily followed.
"Jen – I'm busy, what -"
"Sirius – Snape – Willow! Get Dumbledore! I don't know password." She panted.
"Wait – Sirius told Snape about the Willow?" James asked, paling. Swearing, he ran off, leaving his things behind. Lily told Jen that she'd get Dumbledore, and then she too took off. Jen stood in the library panting. She put her hands on her hips and looked around. Aside from the other Prefects, and Heads, everyone who was up late studying, was looking at her.
'Think of something witty…' she thought as they awaited a response of some kind. "It was their night to call out the numbers for Bingo in Gryffindor Bingo match." She said, with a nervous laugh afterwards.
Everyone from the other Houses shook their heads and went back to work. Every Gryffindor in the library continued to stare at her as if she just announced her engagement to Professor Binns (who died 2 years earlier), and was having Snape's love child.
"Well, I better go before Sirius steals my cards." She said, and speed walked out the library before Madam Pince went after her.
James tore down the corridors, hitting students, wall corners with his arms and Mrs. Norris as he went.
"Sorry Filch!" He yelled as he scrambled back to his feet. "I'll pay for that!" he said over his shoulder as someone dropped their Remembrall after he shoved them out of his way.
He ran into the front doors, forgetting how hard it was to open them. He took a deep breath and pushed. Once open enough he squeezed through, not closing them.
He tore across stone paths, and grass, occasionally slipping on the moist ground, but not falling. He looked to the speckled sky and saw the moon rising. He saw a figure by the thrashing tree.
"Snape! Snape stop!" The tree stopped moving and the figure disappeared. "Shit! Snape – come back!" He tried to stop running before the reached the grasp of the Willow, but slipped and slid on his back. The branches flew over him as grass and mud stained his robes. The tree pounded the ground where he had lain, and he scurried to the roots. Just before a branch in the shape of a fist knocked off his head, he pushed the knot. All movement from the tree stopped, and he dove into the tunnel.
Lily ran and ran. She got to the gargoyle within ten minutes of wrong turns, and changing staircases, and yelled the password. ('Droobles Best Blowing Gum dammit!') The gargoyle jumped, the second time that day as if burned, and Lily ran up the moving staircase.
"Professor!" She yelled before reaching the door. It opened before her, and she nearly collided with a surprised Binns – but much to her dismay, passed right through him. "Oh God…" she cringed as she felt a wave of cold wash through her.
"What is it Lily?" Dumbledore asked, stepping towards her.
She shook her head to collect her thoughts. "Sirius told… Snape in Willow! Remus – full moon! James going there!" she gasped, holding a stitch in her side.
Dumbledore had heard enough to get the gist of it, and ran down the stairs, pardoning himself from the ghostly teacher, with Lily behind him. She told Dumbledore quickly of Jen interrupting their Prefect meeting to tell her and James to get him.
He ran down the hallways faster than Lily would have thought he could, and she had to strain herself to keep up. That stitch was trying to slow her down, but what egged her on was one word. James.
Padfoot and Wormtail stood transformed in the Shack, with a transforming Remus. Remus cried out in agony as his face elongated into a muzzle, his arms grew, and fingers shortened. His wide human ribs changed into a werewolf's narrow set. He grew a tail, and at different positions, his legs curved. A spine-curdling howl told them he was done.
Moony turned his now amber eyes on the large black dog before him, and the grey rat on a bedside table and let out a growl that suggested it was a laugh. Moony looked around his familiar settings confused, looking for Prongs.
Padfoot shook his head signalling that Prongs wasn't to come tonight, and waited for his reaction. He stiffened his muscles bracing himself for a pounce.
And that's just what Moony did. After a little bit of tackling each other and rolling around, Wormtail attempting not to get trodden, Moony abruptly stopped and stood rigid. His hackles were raised; his ears perked and head erect. He let out a low growl from the back of his throat, and put his ears back. The werewolf walked out of the bedroom they occupied, and made his way slowly downstairs.
Padfoot glanced at Wormtail, and they set off after him, the rat slower, jumping down each step. Moony was prowling unhurriedly, sniffing the air before him. His nose brought him around a corner, and through a short hallway to a living room, where the furniture was torn and covered in debris. He sniffed around to where the trap door was, and Padfoot could smell and sense it too. Human. Moony's ears went up again, as did Padfoot's; because of the sounds they heard. Voices. Wormtail stood on his hind legs, and sniffed the air, making little squeaks, twitching his little rat nose. A faint light came threw the boards, then vanished. Moony made his way over there, sniffing and growling softly; the voices continued. He scratched his paw lightly at the floorboards, and tilted his head as they lifted a bit beneath his paws. He seemed to be smiling, and moved his paws from atop the trap door, growling in amusement, and restless anticipation.
"Lumos."
James ran through the tunnel, keeping his hands on the ceiling above him to keep from knocking his head, and kept his wand pointed ahead of him.
"Snape!" He called. He was just about ready to transform and charge head down to catch up with the grease-ball. He faintly heard a howl and knew that Remus' transformation was complete. "Snape, please!" He heard someone up ahead of him, and knew that he was nearly at the trap door. He turned a corner and ran straight, his wand light connecting with another's. "Snape, whatever Sirius told you -"
"You cannot save yourself now, Potter. The Headmaster will learn of this hideout, and I'm sure he'll be pleased to scope it out." Snape said, looking around for an exit of sorts. Some dirt flitted down from above them. Snape looked above and pointed his wand up. It illuminated a wooden floor. "Ah…"
"Snape don't. You have no idea what you're doing, please." James said, moving slowly towards him, hands up in front of himself.
Snape looked back down, and in James' face, putting his wand down as well. "I have waited long enough to get you idiots expelled."
"Why?" James asked, stalling. Surely Padfoot could get Moony back upstairs. Surely. "Why do you hate us so much?"
"Why, you ask? What is not to hate about you low-life Gryffindors? You four have tormented my House and I to no end – and you're all lazy, slack jawed, imbeciles. You act like a king, Potter. Black feels he can control anyone with his cocky smile. Pettigrew is nearly a squib. And Lupin… Lupin… there's something wrong with that boy. Sick nearly every month. When he's not, it's his mother -" A scratching was heard right above Snape's head. Before James could react, Snape had pushed the trap door up ever so slightly, but something heavy kept him from pushing higher. "What are you hiding up there, Potter?"
Growling sounded above them. Snape looked at James. Snarling was heard next, then nails scraping at the opening.
"Look Snape," it now sounded as if animals were beginning to fight, "If you go up there, you'll be attacked -"
"Stop dancing around the subject." Snape said, gripping his wand tighter. A howl was heard right above them that sent shivers up both their spines. Barking, and rough housing was pounding above them still.
"A werewolf. There's a werewolf up there Snape." James said calmly, putting his hands down and getting his own wand out, and ready. They heard an ear-piercing yelp. 'Padfoot…' James thought, biting his lip.
"Potter, you hardly expect me to believe -" then realization dawned on his face. "Lupin." He breathed.
"Yes, now let's just go Snape-"
"The Headmaster will hear of this! Smuggling a werewolf into the school! Think of the catastrophe's awaiting the -"
"He knows, Snape." James cut off, still listening to the hammering, scraping, barks, yelps, and howls that were coming from above them. Both his and Snape's usual black hair were now covered in a fine layer of dirt that kept descending onto their heads, and shoulders. "He let Remus come anyways, and I'm sure Sirius wanted just to scare you -"
"By sending me into the house of a werewolf?" Snape yelled. "That's murder, Potter, and believe me when I say that I won't stop until Black is expelled."
"Snape, you know Sirius didn't mean for you to get killed." James said angrily, although he wondered about Sirius' intentions. "He's… no. Sirius wouldn't do that. He's many things, but he's not a murderer."
"Believe what you wish, Potter, but choose your friends wisely. Black will be the end of you, I assure you that, if no precautions are taken immediately -"
"Got my best interests in mind, have you Snape?" James asked coolly. He pointed his wand at Snape. "Let's go before the werewolf gets out." He hated referring to Remus like that, but in this state of mind, he wasn't Remus, especially with humans so close. The rumbling and thumping above them didn't help sway him either.
"I'm not going anywhere with you, Potter." Snape spat, standing straight, head held high.
"So you'd rather hang out with the werewolf, then?" James asked, than shook his head. "Just follow me." He said, turning slightly. Snape didn't move. "Surely you don't want to stay?" No response. "I'm not letting you wait here. Don't make me use desperate measures…" James went right up to Snape's face, looking eye to eye. James could hear many pawed feet ascend the creaking stairs. The fighting had stopped just a minute before. Relief washed over him and Snape noticed it.
"He's left now, has he?" Snape said. "What other things could you be hiding up there that the Headmaster does not know of?" Once again, before James could do anything, Snape shoved him down, pushed up and lifted the trap door.
"Snape no!" James yelled.
Moony was being herded upstairs and didn't like it one bit. He kept on glancing over his shoulder and glaring at the dog that was behind him.
Padfoot watched the werewolf ahead of him, and unintentionally let his mind wander. Snape and James' conversation got him acting quickly. How could he have been so stupid? Did Snape really get to him that much? He was jolted out of his thoughts from James' yell. It sounded much clearer… meaning the trap door was lifted.
"Snape no!"
Still coming from his reverie, Padfoot was heaved aside as Moony bolted down the staircase to get to the human. Padfoot heard more yelling as he ran to stop the crazed Moony, and the trap door, he saw with relief, closed right before Moony got to it. Moony was foaming and scratching mercilessly at the floorboards. He snarled, and growled the wooden floor when the voices ceased. He stopped and blinked, Padfoot watching him wearily. He couldn't hear James or Snape anymore, but he could faintly smell them still. Moony let out a puff of a breath through his nostrils that lifted a large amount of dust into the air.
On top of an upturned box sat Wormtail, relieved it was all over. Padfoot looked at him, and the rat looked away. The dog shamefully lowered his head as the restless Moony bitterly walked away to tear at one of the already torn sofas. Padfoot sighed. Tomorrow, or rather today, was going to be a long day.
James jumped up, lunged forward and grabbed Snape around the waist as he heard Moony's great paws pound the stairs, and advance towards them. He pulled Snape down, and let him fall to the dirt ground in a heap. The door slammed itself shut.
"What kind of death wishes do you have Snape?" James yelled furiously. Snarling and digging was sounding above his head. "I'm not waiting to see if that old floor holds up." Snape opened his mouth to say something as he stood, but James stopped him. "No. And I'm not taking no more damn chances with you." He pointed his wand at Snape and thin cords shot out of it and coiled themselves around Snape's wrists and ankles, bounding them together. Things seemed to quiet a bit above.
Snape looked horror stricken, and furious. More cords covered his mouth. He fell against the side of the tunnel and glared at James.
"Sorry for having to do this, but you understand, don't you?" James said, quietly, yet lacking no unkindness. If possible, Snape's glare darkened. James levitated Snape ahead of himself and began his trek down the tunnel to the school grounds.
Lily ran with Dumbledore to the front doors, and saw that they were slightly ajar. The doors swung open before they reached them. They ran over stone paths and ran straight toward the land where the Willow awaits them.
Dumbledore and Lily strode across the grounds more slowly now that the grass they tread upon was wet with the spring dew. It sparkled against the backdrop of the Forbidden Forest, and shone from the bright full moon. It would have seemed pretty to Lily if the circumstances were different. Shaking her head, she saw the tree whip violently, then stop.
They neared it, and Snape came floating out, bound and pissed. James came after him, and they kept going until they were out of reach of the Willows branches.
Lily ran forward, calling James' name. His face softened as he saw her running full speed across the twinkling grass as if she hadn't run at all that night, leaving Dumbledore behind. His thought wavered, causing Snape to collapse on the ground. He put his wand in his pocket as Lily slid to him, giving him a bone-crushing hug.
"James I was so worried. I thought maybe Remus would… then he… Oh James – I just couldn't think of life without… how could you be so stupid?" Lily raved, crying into his shoulder, burying her face deeper. Her hands and robes were getting dirty from his filth covered robes, and she couldn't care less.
James laughed, and for one of the few times in his teenage-hood, fought back a tear himself. What could he have done without Lily? He couldn't possibly think of life without her… "I'm fine, love. Hair's gone grey, but otherwise I'm fine. I love you so much." And this was true. James hadn't any large scratches on him, and his uncontrollably messy black hair was even messier and looked as though it was covered in soot. And he loved her – that was true also. He hugged her tighter, then lifted her face and kissed her. It was a minute before they broke. Hearing Dumbledore clear his throat, they let go of each other, yet still held hands, and faced him.
Dumbledore had just taken Snape's bonds off, and helped him stand. "Are there any reasons for either of you to visit the Hospital Wing?" he asked James and Snape. Each replied with a 'No.' "Then let us go back to the castle, and get some rest. I feel tomorrow, or rather today, will be a very long one…"
Dumbledore and Snape started off. James kissed the side of Lily's head, and put his arms around her waist, and they started walking side by side. They caught up with the other two. "You mean you do not wish to talk to us now?" James asked.
"Indeed I usually would, but as of right now, everyone involved is not suited for a discussion." They all knew he meant Remus, and James knew that Sirius and Peter couldn't be called upon either. "And it would be better if all concerned were present and heard everyone else's story from their own mouths."
They walked silently up the steps, and into Hogwarts. Lily occasionally reached up to kiss James' chin. James would also kiss Lily's forehead. At a moving staircase where the Gryffindors would part with the Slytherin, Dumbledore spoke.
"I want all three of you to meet me at noon in my office. Bring Messrs. Black, Pettigrew and Lupin. Also Ms. Black." The three students nodded. "Mr. Snape, I ask you not to mention to anyone what you have learned tonight. My Lupin had no conscious part of this, and you should hold nothing against him personally."
Snape nodded, although it was simple to tell that he thought otherwise.
They all separated, and Lily and James silently walked to Gryffindor Tower, James with his arms still firmly planted around Lily's waist. On their way, they luckily ran into no teachers, Filch, or Peeves. Once in the Common Room, Jen jumped up and ran to them, giving them both huge hugs.
"Oh Merlin I was so worried. How is everyone? Where's Sirius?" she asked, wringing her hands in front of her, grey eyes wide.
"Everyone is fine." Lily replied. Then she looked confused. "Where is Sirius, James?" she asked as he shook his head to un-dust his hair.
James, not really wanting to say that he was in the Shack with Peter and a transformed Remus, shrugged his shoulders. "As long as we find the stupid bastard by noon, we're ok." He said. He kissed Lily goodnight, gave Jen a comforting hug, and waved goodnight to the two girls as he headed off to bed. Well, first to shower, then to bed.
Lily and Jen sighed and walked up to their dorm to a rather sleepless night. Lily with thoughts of her friends, and the note Dumbledore gave her on her mind. Jen with thoughts of Remus and Sirius plaguing her sleep… the two men she cared most about.
The other two girls sleep blissfully unaware of the night's events.
A werewolf tackling a dog, completely forgetting what he had nearly done, and won't remember by morning spent his night roughing it up.
A dog chasing and exchanging blows with a werewolf, thinking of how screwed he really is after all of this.
And a rat squeaking on the winner, and hoping he has no part in whatever went down this evening.
* * *
Woo! Chapter 25 done!
Lily getting a little testy with James there? Hm… wonder what that's about? And her melancholic attitude in Dumbledore's office…
I hope you all liked how the Willow scene went… considering almost everyone has done it… I tried to make it original you know? I don't think Snape ever saw James transform, or that either of them got bloodied up. Well, the crisis will continue onto the next chapter with the outcome of Sirius' loony mind. And what about the letter Dumbledore wrote to Lily about her friends learning of her and Voldemort? When will that happen now that this little scenario has gotten in the way? See next week in Chapter 26 of The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Learn…
And what about me thanking everyone for last chapters reviews? Well, that's coming now!
Sugarquill: Thank you! And yes, Dumbledore had a short chat with Lily… not quite up to her usual standards though… Guess all the stress is catching up with her! Hope you liked this chapter!
Nessie: Hey!! You know what – you are special. I like Peter's mannerism, too. I really think he'd need something like that, eh? I've been reading parts of PoA lately. Anything that mentions Lupin, or the MWPP years… I think I've memorized them now! And as for Sirius smellin' them roses? Not too bloody soon. Remember, he doesn't use his brain to often when needed. Dim. And yea – writing course was fun. Guess what? We had to write a sex scene on Thursday. Co-relate it with a storm and how they both build up… and me – being the youngest one there (Everyone is over 30 and married except for 3 college guys. And c'mon what are the chances that none of them have had sex?) I almost burst out laughing. I turned to the girl next to me, Holly, and said: "Well Holly, I'm obviously the expert on this assignment, aren't I?" It was a good class though… Anywho! Now that I'm way off topic!! ;);) Thanks for the review! And yes – maple leaf! You should get a Kangaroo with a Koala in its pouch tattooed to you!! Think how cool that'd be! Isn't this a long thank you?
KeeperOfTheMoon: oooooooooooooooooooooooooo… thank you so much!! And I LOVE your reviews!! And I made you cry!? Yay! I really was going for that, you know?
shortydork: Thank you – and us Jen's are cool, aren't we? Thanks for the comment on my Sirius telling Snape about the Willow. I think he did it more than a prank… even though both Snape and Lupin (in PoA) say that it was… not for me. It may have seemed one, and in a way it was, but more deep. You know? Lol – thanks for the review!
Moe23: Thank you – and about the Gryffindor character… you have a choice. (If you choose to accept it. :)) Do you wish to be Genie's or little Lisa's friend? Genie: Sirius' fling right now, or Lisa: the 3rd year, reserve beater out to hex Sirius and Arabella? I like knowing what people want! :):)
kerry: Lol – you think you understand? What don't you understand, and I'll clear it up for you! :) Lol – no one's story sucks – and trust me. I read other people's and think: "Why the hell are people even trying to read mine!?" Thanks for the review!
Zoe Lefebvre: And you my friend have really been here with me from the beginning!! I really do love the Crazy Cat Lady thing, which will herein be called CCL. Only 139 days as of Feb. 1st until OotP! Already pre-ordered mine!! And I won't forget about you!! I've been busy – but really, I swear I'll read your new one! *scratches it into palm of hand* There – I'll do it today! Thanks for the review!
Agent AAA: Hey – it is you again! Woo! Thank you very, very much! Oh God – what don't we learn in a writing course? (Lol – that's my effective way of dodging you question.) There's so much really. You learn how to better your writing, and the Author/Professor dude will help you pick out your errs and so will the other people taking the course. I'll be bringing in a piece of this and hand it out to my class (oh God – I'm sweating about it already! What part do I choose?!) and hope that they understand what's going on without reading them the whole damn thing! But yea, people will tell me what to work on, and what I'm doing fine! And that' s the gist of it! One of your favourite authors?! Aw… I'm trying to finish this before OotP… and that will be done. But I also want to start 7th year right after – no break or it'll take me forever to start… so there's bound to be a month or so break from June 1st on. People won't touch ff.net or any other site like it to read Harry Potter when it comes out! Anywho… my second long thank you for this chapter is now done! *laughs* Hope you liked this chapter as well!
And thank you to everyone who reviewed other chapters! Such as: Ravishingly Discreet (I know they seem '90s' but I'm an 80's child!), KeeperOfTheMoon (for all of them!;)), ferahgo (no it wasn't too long!!), Individual-9086 (Yes – deaths will come in time!!), and Lily Smith (I usually don't review till the last chapter, too!).
Ok, thanks everyone for reading! I'm nearly done the next chapter, and will probably update on Wednesday. If you would like me to e-mail you whenever I update, say so in your review. I already have one or two going… So I'll make it a joint thing. Newsletter if you wish. Alright? Want e-mail update – tell me so, and please leave your e-mail address! It's kind of needed… just kind of.
