1 Lily, the Vampire Slayer
Author's Note: Yay! Chappy number 7! Ernie's coming to visit! No one's gonna read this author's note anyway, so I could at least spoil this! On with the story.
Chapter Seven
She stared at her watch and sighed. Eight o'clock. Ernie was supposed to have arrived by now. The train was so late! Ugh! Well, after anticipating his arrival for over two weeks, she could probably wait a few more minutes.
Ernie always said, patience is a virtue.
Well, he always said that she never listened, so, she didn't. She sat on one of the benches in the train station, her feet planted on the seat and her fingers drumming to some unknown rhythm on the backrest.
Another one of her so called problems.
She could never sit properly. She would either slouch in her seat, put her feet up on the table, balance the chair on two legs as she sat, sit on the chair backwards or sit on top of the backrest, as she was doing right now.
Ernie usually lecture her about good posture and etiquette and if he saw her sitting like this, he would go off into one of his little rants about how good manners are highly essential for a young woman's proper upbringing.
And she wouldn't want it any other way.
Now, if only he'd get here.
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"We should probably visit Zonko's, we're running low on dungbombs. Then to Honeydukes! I want some more Chocolate frogs and Sugar Quills! Someone finished off all of mine!!! Waaaaaaaaaaahhh!" Sirius wailed, burying his head in his hands, feigning anguish.
"Oh, come off it, Sirius!" Remus interjected, shaking his head. "You know as well as I do that you finished off all those sweets that you keep hidden in your sock drawer."
Sirius looked like a criminal caught red-handed for a few moments before brightening up and accusing, "Hah! You ate all my sweets! For how would you know that I keep them in my sock drawer? Hmmm?"
"Please!" Remus snorted, his voice very soft, not yet full recovering from the last full moon. "Everyone in our dorm knows that! You practically stand in front of it all day, gobbling up everything edible in there."
"Wormtail!" Sirius cried out pathetically, raising an eyebrow, faking suspicion. "You ate all my sweets, didn't you?"
Peter looked at him, confused. "What're you blubbering about, Sirius?"
"You did!" Sirius acted hurt. "I thought you were my friend! James saw you! Didn't you, James?"
But James wasn't paying attention to the conversation going on.
"James?" Sirius called once again.
"Leave him be, Padfoot," Remus grinned secretively.
"What's wrong with him?" Padfoot and Wormtail chorused, worried about their friend.
Remus chuckled, shaking his head in pity. "Look at what has caught our Jamesie's attention."
"What?" Sirius asked, confused, while Peter looked around, not actually seeing anything that might have caught James' fancy.
"Are both of you completely daft?" Remus said, irked at their ignorance. He grabbed each boy by the shoulder and turned them around to face the train station. "There!"
"James likes trains?" Peter asked, perplexed while Sirius nodded in agreement, adding, "Poor, Jamesie. Obsessing over trains. Isn't it sad?"
Remus slapped his own forehead out of frustration. "Do both of you have brains in those enormous heads of yours? Never mind, don't answer that. Look at the train station closely, what do you see?"
"Uh, trains?" Sirius answered.
"Benches?" Peter added.
"Brilliant, Wormtail, brilliant!" Remus cheered, clapping Peter on the back. "Now, look at one of those benches, what do you see?"
"Nothing?" Peter tested.
"Evans!" Sirius rejoined.
"Good dog, Padfoot!" Remus congratulated, visibly relieved.
"Why's James staring at Evans?" Peter asked, scratching his head, completely baffled.
This time Remus and Sirius simultaneously slapped their foreheads.
"Does Prongs like Evans?" Peter tried to understand.
"Yes! Give the boy a prize!" Sirius said sarcastically.
"But why does he like Evans? She absolutely abhors him!" Peter queried.
"Yeah, why?" Sirius echoed Peter's inquiry. "There're lots of others who're willing to throw themselves at him, why go chase after Evans who absolutely doesn't care?"
"Well, there you go. For the chase," Remus said simply. "He wants something he can't have."
"Oh!" Sirius and Peter nodded as it dawned on them.
"Crazy bugger," Sirius muttered, then brightened, realizing the torture he could inflict upon his best friend. "Hehehe! Our Jamesie's in loove!" he crooned then danced his way in front of James. He raised a hand and waved it over Prongs' face. "Oi! Loverboy! Wake up!"
James finally blinked but still didn't take in what Sirius was saying. He couldn't get her off his mind. He continued to watch her frail form, which was now clad in green baggy pants, a white, long sleeved top whose sleeves she kept pushed back up to her elbows, an orange winter vest and a blue baseball cap which covered most of her face.
He really hated that hat right now. They covered her eyes. Those two deep pools of emerald jade that haunted his entire being. Well, maybe he was exaggerating but he saw sparkling green orbs everywhere.
He even saw them in the Shrieking Shack two nights ago. And he thought he saw her there. But that was impossible, she couldn't've been there. No way could she have been there. He was probably hallucinating. He blamed it on his lack of sleep due to his and the Marauder's little escapades and adventures.
Not that he didn't enjoy them, but he really did need to get her off his mind. Most of the female population in Hogwarts were willing to date him, dying to go out with him and he could easily pick all of them, but no, he had to obsess over a girl who hated him with a passion and made it clear that she didn't want anybody, most especially him.
So, why did he want her so much?
"Jamesie?" Sirius called. "Yoohoo?! Anyone in that so-called brain of yours?"
"Cut it out, Padfoot!" he snapped.
"Ooooh! Touché! Still staring at Evans? Hmmm?"
James gritted his teeth. Sirius had that annoying talent of getting on his nerves. "No, Sirius," he spoke in a tone as to which a mother would use to explain things to her child. "I was just observing the beautiful sunrise."
"The sun rose two and a half-hours ago, James," Remus desperately tried to hide an amused grin.
"Well, I was staring at the sun," he said defensively.
"And the sun just happens to be on that side," Peter put in, pointing at the sun, which inconveniently happened to be on the opposite side of the train station.
"Oh, be quiet, you gits," James muttered huffily.
"Busted!" Sirius sang, dancing circles around James and pulling Remus along with him.
Remus groaned then muttered something about Sirius dislocating his arm for the thousandth time this month before allowing himself to be dragged into Sirius' psychotic dance.
"Oi! Who's that bloke with her?" Peter spoke up, causing Sirius to cease his little jig, much to Remus' relief.
"Where?" James and Sirius chorused, the former's voice tinged with jealously while the latter's was filled with curiosity.
All four Marauders stared at the train station and at the fiery redhead who was hugging a distinguished looking old gentleman.
"Must be her dad," Remus guessed, while all the others nodded in agreement.
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"Ernie!" she shrieked as she pounced on her Watcher.
"Lillian! So good to see you!" Ernie laughed as he enveloped her in a tight hug.
Same old Ernie. The same salt-and-pepper hair, lanky but firm build, faltering British accent, wire-rimmed glasses, wide smile and same cinnamon-y chamomile, old ancient book-y scent.
"You sure haven't changed at all," she muttered into his coat. Ernie was about six foot two and she could only reach up to his chest.
"Well, I can't say the same for you. You've grown to be the extraordinary young woman I've always hoped for you to be."
She snorted into his coat. "Yeah, right, Ernie. You wish. I've only been gone for three months, I can't change in that shorta span."
"Well, it seems that you really haven't."
"Yep, sure haven't."
He pulled back and stared at her. "What have I told you about your posture? Don't slouch."
She made a face but straightened herself anyway. "There, happy?"
"I would be if you wouldn't continue to slump the moment I turned my back on you."
"Well, add another number to my New Year's Resolution list."
He chuckled and shook his head and she grinned.
"Oi! Would you look at that? The green-eyed monster can actually smile!" someone taunted from behind her.
She growled, realizing who it was. Why couldn't they leave her alone? Why, Lord, why?
"Hey, the idiot can actually form a sentence!" she shot back, not her best counter diss, but hey, at least she had one.
There they were, Black and his little entourage. She was right as usual.
"Evans, so, that your father?" he asked.
She was about to open her mouth and tell him in the most creative way she can, to mind his own business when Ernie intercepted, knowing that what would escape his Slayer's mouth would be something completely unpleasant.
So to prevent the anticipated bloodshed, he answered. "No, I'm her uncle actually. Joseph Erwin," he held out his hand.
Black stared at it stupidly while Lupin groaned, shoved Black aside and took Ernie's hand. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Erwin. I'm Remus Lupin, and these are my friends, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black."
"Pleased to meet you, boys."
Ernie nodded in acknowledgement and placed his hands on his Slayer's shoulders in a protectively paternal way. The boys looked like trouble. Especially the messy-haired boy and the other boy who looked like him. He wasn't so much worried for Lily's safety as he was for the boys'.
There was an uncomfortable silence in which Ernie looked at the teenagers uneasily while Lily shot daggers, figuratively speaking, of course, at the four boys, the Black fellow to be more precise, as he grinned stupidly at her.
Ernie could feel the young Slayer's strain, he had by now deduced that these boys were not her friends. He knew those daggers would become real soon enough, so, being the adult, he gave Lily a pat on her shoulder, "Well, we should really get going, isn't that right, Lillian?"
Black, Potter and Pettigrew started to snicker. Remus just shook his head at them. (A/N: He does that a lot doesn't he? He sounds like the adult supervisor in their group or something.)
"Hey, you think there something wrong 'bout my-" she said, her voice menacingly low before Ernie tightened his grip around her shoulders.
She stared up at him defiantly, feeling his grip grow even tighter on her shoulders, while he gave her a slight but firm shake of his head.
She rolled her eyes at him and returned her attention to the three idiots.
"Something wrong about your what, Lillian?" Black smiled sweetly at her.
Potter and Pettigrew sniggered once again while Lupin closed his eyes, preparing for the upcoming onslaught that was slated to take place.
But instead of attacking, she just shook her head pityingly at them. "You can't push my buttons or pull my strings, Black. And I won't beat you up this time. You dumbasses just aren't worth it. Ain't worth my attention or time."
She turned and picked up one of Ernie's humungous suitcases and by the weight of it, she could tell that they were old tomes and weapons. Call it Slayer's intuition or something.
"Let's go Uncle Ernie, I think we're done here."
Ernie chuckled as he followed her retreating figure, leaving two very pissed off teenage boys.
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"So," she said, taking a long drag out of the flagon that the barmistress had set in front of her. "How long you gonna be stayin', Ern?"
He stared at the liquidy substance in his own mug and dipped a finger in it cautiously. He tasted his finger, which was a source of great amusement for Lily.
"God, Ernie! It's not poisonous! I mean I drank it! Well, Slayers do have better immune systems than most people, but still! They won't serve shit like this if it were poisonous."
"Lily, I thought you promised to keep your swear words down to a minumum?" he asked, avoiding the subject.
She made a face. "Just drink it already. It'll make you feel better."
"I highly doubt that this brown liquid would help make me feel better."
"Stop bein' a snob. If ya drink it I'll, um, let me see," she cocked her head, supposedly lost in thought, looking for an offer that she could make. "Right! Got it! I promise to get top grades in at least one subject until I graduate. Well, if I do," she added as an afterthought.
"Three subjects, good grades, no failures at all and not taking any unnecessary risks during your patrols. Do we have a deal?"
"All that for a cup of butterbeer? Hello, I'm getting the way worse part of the deal. You can be cold and go hungry, I'm not forcin' ya to drink that crap no more if you gonna ask all that from me," she grinned and leaned back in her seat, triumphant.
"Well, what would make you do as I ask?"
"Be my Watcher again."
She wasn't stupid. Quesnel was Ernie's replacement. She'd suspected it all along. They didn't want her with Ernie any more because he cared for her too much. Their bond didn't fit in with the Society's concept of the perfect Watcher-Slayer relationship. Ernie had developed a paternal sort of attachment to her and even though she would never admit it, Ernie was a sort of father figure to her.
He looked at her sadly and sighed. "You know that I can't do that."
"Why? Why can't you? You were my Watcher; you were the one who taught me and the one who was there when I was first called. Quesnel, hell, he don't even like me. He tells me the all about the demons, well, he's only given me info about one demon and he don't even train me. He's way too chicken to come patrol with me, to see if I'm doing good or something!" she was almost hysterical now, though she kept her voice low.
"And I'm having nightmares. I don't know why. I told Quesnel about them and he doesn't give a damn. I could die, for all he cares. He'd really love it if I would. Then, maybe he'd get a more 'cooperative' Slayer. I can't work with someone like that. Heck, how am I supposed to bond with an insensitive holier-than-thou prick?"
"Lily, shh, it's all right. Even if I have been fired as your Watcher, I would still be here for you. And if that ass, Quesnel, gives you a hard time, come to me and I'll help you kill him."
She smiled at the thought of mild-mannered Ernie kicking the crap outta Quesnel.
"See, now, show me those pearly-whites."
She giggled. Then continued to repeat her original question.
"So, how long you staying?"
"Three days."
"Make it a month with occasional visits, three days every month and you got yourself a deal."
"Five days with three visits every two months."
"Three weeks with visits."
"A week with two visits every three months."
"Two and a half weeks with five visits every month."
"Two weeks with three visits every month."
"Sold!" she smiled triumphantly.
"I think I got swindled," he muttered, rubbing his face with his hands.
"What was the deal again? Two subjects and passing grades?"
"Don't push your luck, Lily. Three subjects with top grades, great grades without any failures until you graduate and no needless gambles while on patrol. Do we have a deal?" Ernie held out a hand.
Lily snorted and groaned. But she shook her Watcher's hand anyway. "Y'know, I still think I got the crappy part of this bargain."
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"Hey, Ernie," she called as she did a cartwheel and in the process smash a vamp's face with her combat boots. "Did you know-" The vampire staggered and she ran up to him. "That there-" Her fist collided with his face while her knee rammed itself into his gut. "Are some-" It retaliated by knocking their foreheads together. She growled and curled her left leg around its right and tripping it, causing the vamp to fall to the ground.
"Witches that don't need wands to cast spells." She bent down and dusted him sticking her tongue out at it.
Ernie chuckled at the childish gestures that she interlaced with her Slaying. Then he answered her.
"Yes, I have known of them. There are millions of different kinds of magick and they are applied in many ways. How have you come to know of these types of witches? Have you been reading?"
She snorted, "Me? Read? Yeah, right. No, I've met this Wiccan, her name's Samantha and she's really nice and all and I just wanted to ask you, y'know."
"You made a friend?" he asked, delighted.
"I guess you can call it that. And, oooh," she glared at an attacking vamp as she ducked his sloppy attack and grabbed his ankle, causing him to fall flat on his face. "And that guy, the one you shook hands with, he be a werewolf." She straddled the vamp's legs with her thighs continuously smashing its face onto a nearby marble memorial.
She looked up at her Watcher and grinned. "See, you happy that I made acquaintances that you could call friends? I at least made one friend." Then she once again returned her attention to the bloodied vampire and staking him from behind.
"Well?" she asked her Watcher.
"Fifty-five seconds," he replied, glancing at his stopwatch.
"I know, poor. But hey, if I can get that time while talking to you, then I can multi-task!" she said brightly but inwardly groaned at her lame excuse.
Ernie pointed at something behind her.
"Vampire," they both spoke and without a backward glance, she did a handstand, bent down and swept her feet in a half- circle behind her, but the vamp dodged her attack.
It grabbed her by the back of the neck and hoisted her up in the air. She couldn't breathe, much less think but far away, she could hear the distinct click of a bolt being loaded into a crossbow. Ernie was preparing to give her some back up.
Okay, she could do this. She couldn't die like this, not by some common, ordinary vampire. She could see black spots dancing before her as the vampire squeezed her neck even more. She could feel his hot putrid breath on her neck. Her mind screamed at her to do something and her body didn't respond.
She willed her senses and reflexes to move on their own but failed. She could feel the vampire's fangs on her neck and she realized that she might die. She heard the trigger of the crossbow then the release of a bolt. In a last and probably hopeless attempt, she smashed the back of her head into the vamp's face and used all of her remaining breath and strength to flip herself over the vamp just before the bolt shot out and landed smack in its unbeating heart.
She plummeted to the ground and was too tired to prevent the impending impact of her body and the ground. But it didn't come. She couldn't feel the dewy grass on her back and on her head and she didn't hear that sound of body hitting earth.
She looked around her and below her and she was floating. Maybe she had heard wrong and the bolt had hit her and now she was dead. She didn't know for sure but she was sure that she was floating.
She felt her body being slowly lowered to the ground and Ernie's hurried footsteps as he rushed to her side.
She looked up and met his eyes. "Am I, y'know, dead?"
He was pale and ashen as he checked her pulse. He shook his head and she sighed in relief. "But you came quite close to it."
She raised a hand and gazed at him, implying that he help her up. He reluctantly grabbed it and pulled her to a standing position.
"Happen t'know why I was floatin' like some kinda kid in an Exorcist movie?"
Ernie pointed behind her and she groaned.
"Why don't ya just tell me insteada just doin' that? You want me to go through almost dyin' again?"
Ernie knew she didn't mean what she said and was just cranky, but he couldn't hide the hurt expression in his eyes.
She saw them and quickly hugged him. "Sorry, Ern! I didn't mean it! I'm just cranky, is all. Y'know, me almost losin' t' that vamp and all. Enough to make anyone pissed off."
He nodded. "It's all right, I understand completely. And no, the person behind you is not a vampire but, if I have to guess, it's your witch friend."
She turned and saw Samantha there.
"Are you all right, Slayer?"
Lily smiled. "Yeah, thanks."
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A/N: Yeah, I know, it's kinda plotless from here, but this is just a starting point. Next chapter's gonna have what you all are waiting for. The big confrontation. I think. I'm not exactly sure. But please! Help! Suggestions for the cute vamp's name! Help! And oh, yeah, REVIEW. REVIEW! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!!
And thanks to everyone who reviewed, you guys're what keeps me going:
2 Angel of Doom-The entire story's already in my head and I'm writing this as fast as I can. I just can't post when I want to since my internet time's limited, but I'll do my best to get it extended, though.
aojn- I'm gonna write more chappies! This'll be a long fic, with sequels.
Aurora- Well, this fic'll be a real long one. I plan to have a sequel. I'm not tellin' how, but there'll be a funnier sequel.
Bubby- By chance, do you watch X-Men: Evolution, since you left a review which was partly in German and well, there's this character named Kurt who's German and… never mind. Thanks for the review!!! =)
Cassie- Thanks so much! =)
Celtic Ember-Thanks for saying that this' original. Someone left a review once in my old shared account that the concept isn't. Oh well, it was probably because of the exchange student thing. Oh well *shrugs* thanks!!! =)
cheetos- I'd update fast if only it wasn't for my limited internet access. *grumble* 15 hours a month. Stupid server!
Draco Malfoy's kitten- Yeah, she's too mean to everyone. I just had to get a little battle raging on between the Marauders and our Slayer. It was all part of my plan. I think. *shrugs* Glad you love my story.
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4 Erin Finnlaith- So happy you're hooked on my story! =)
firebird16- Yeah, Lily's probably gonna get an entourage. Well, she already got one person, right? Sam's there.
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6 Harriet- She's been through a lot and she's got issues and pent up frustrations that come out in her personality. Sorry if you hate her attitude, but I like it and I'll stick with it but I'll change her attitude in l8r chappies! =)
Jade- an athame's a knife. It's always mentioned in Charmed and I kinda like the way it sounds.
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8 Jo-Yay! You like Sammy! Yes, she is part white-lighter. Her grandmother married a white-lighter. Yeah, if you watch Season 4 of Charmed, Paige's white-lighter ability isn't really that strong, but, I'm changing it. I kinda like it this way.
Katy Kat- Thanks. I really needed your reviews at the beginning since I wasn't sure if I was gonna continue.
Kizzy- Glad that you like Samantha. I was thinking of maybe making her Remus' love interest or something. Tell me what you think about it. I'd like to hear if you think they'd be great together. I watch Ranma ½, too. I just don't know their names. I like the perverted ol man, was he Ranma's teacher or grandpa? I forgot. But I like Ranma more as the red-head girl. And I kinda like Shampoo, I think that was her name. Haven't seen it in awhile.
Krissia- Yay! People like my original characters! Ernie's kinda Giles/ my version of a perfect Watcher. A fatherly-type of mentor, I really like Giles. He's kinda like Buffy's dad. Joyce should marry Giles!!! Giles' like Buffy's dad already and ther is undeniable heat between Joyce and Giles, oh well, my ramblings'll stop right now! Yay! People like Ernie and Sammy! =)
Lalala- Thanks for reviewing my story one chapter at a time! Thank you so much! =)
ltvs-When you asked that question, I do update. It was just that back then my account had problems and I had to move my stories.
Maddy- I know! It's so hard to find the crossovers that I like, too! I kinda like Batman Beyond/Buffy fics. There's this fic, 'Tears of a Raven that I just love! It's about Buffy and Angel's daughter, Jesse. Anyone who likes Batman/Buffy should read this!
Miki-I did continue! ( : )
Milkyweed- You reviewed again! I love you! In the most non- promiscuous way, that is!
Min Hee Ha- Thanks so much! I didn't really plan to make Lily mean, but it just happened. Not so many people like her attitude though! She's kinda like a tortured soul, doesn't knowwho to depend on and very cautious of who she befriends.
Nevi-I'm so gonna finish this story! Don't fret. There ain't that much've a plot yet but there will be. =)
Nicole Eve-THANKS SO MUCH!!!=)
Olivia- I kinda like my Lily, too. She's a the kind of person that thinks fights solve everything. I hope I can get her to meet some people *cough* James and co. *cough* that might change her outlook on life. Thanks for saying I'm a great writer. I wanted to write for my school paper but I wasn't accepted. Stupid editors! Not really! I had to submit a work about what was happening in the gov't around me and well, I'm really bad at politics and natural calamities, so… *cries*
POD- I updated, but you don't review. Are you still reading this story? Hope you are! : )
Princess Evil- I used to love Charmed! I loved Season One and Two. I hated it when they killed off Andy! *throws tantrum* I always thought they always meant to be! But now that Prue's dead, in my psychotic head, they're together in Heaven, *dreamy sigh* And Piper/Leo forever! Die Dan! (Sorry to all Dan fans reading this) I hate Cole!!! [Sorry to all Cole fans here, too. I think he's cut and all, but…]I always wanted Phoebe to be with Cupid guy in Season Two! Paige is okay, but I wanted the original Charmed Circle. Phoebe seems more assuming and dresses more provocatively now that she's dating Cole. I don't like the new Season, but I like the idea of three sisters saving the world.
Princess Tangawine- Thank you for reading my story and even squeezing it in between your before school rush period. (That's what I call it) I do that too. Read fics before school. Up until my mom caught me and I was late and she nearly screamed my head off. =)
puddles- Yeah, I was gonna write that she wears normal clothes instead of her robes in the second chapter, but, I'm gonna follow the book and say that you can wear ordinary clothes under your school robes. I think they kinda changed it and placed uniforms under the robes in HP's time. Well, that's just me! Thanks! Love her attitude, too. I didn't make her out as a Buffy-type. I kinda made her a Faith-type of person. I love Faith!!!=)
QueenOfTheQueer-Thanks for saying my story's cool! This's probably the only way cool might be associated to a person like me. (I'm such a dork!)
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10 Red-I will try to update more often, if my server allows me to. And if I get enough reviews. *nudge, nudge, wink, wink* Okay, I'll shut up now. Let's hope this cheapskate server of mine gets a little bit sorrier for their customers and increase the maximum time used.
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12 Sierra Mist-Yay! Another person who loves Samantha! I know not many people like Oc's but…thanks! I'm just askin', do you think she'd be great with Remus? Just a question. Tell me what you think. =)
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14 Star-Sorry if I didn't use your ideas, but I got this entire thing all mapped out in my head, but thanks anyway. =)
Stressqueen- Happy you like my story! At the beginning, I was kinda embarrassed to share this with my friends and when I finally had the guts to tell them 'bout it, they were uninterested. Oh, well, at least I had a brother to cheer me on.
takcy- Thanks! Y'know at first glance at your Reviewer name, I thought you would flame me, y'know since your name's kinda like tacky at first glance. But your encouragement is gratefully acknowledged.
Author's Note: Yay! Chappy number 7! Ernie's coming to visit! No one's gonna read this author's note anyway, so I could at least spoil this! On with the story.
Chapter Seven
She stared at her watch and sighed. Eight o'clock. Ernie was supposed to have arrived by now. The train was so late! Ugh! Well, after anticipating his arrival for over two weeks, she could probably wait a few more minutes.
Ernie always said, patience is a virtue.
Well, he always said that she never listened, so, she didn't. She sat on one of the benches in the train station, her feet planted on the seat and her fingers drumming to some unknown rhythm on the backrest.
Another one of her so called problems.
She could never sit properly. She would either slouch in her seat, put her feet up on the table, balance the chair on two legs as she sat, sit on the chair backwards or sit on top of the backrest, as she was doing right now.
Ernie usually lecture her about good posture and etiquette and if he saw her sitting like this, he would go off into one of his little rants about how good manners are highly essential for a young woman's proper upbringing.
And she wouldn't want it any other way.
Now, if only he'd get here.
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"We should probably visit Zonko's, we're running low on dungbombs. Then to Honeydukes! I want some more Chocolate frogs and Sugar Quills! Someone finished off all of mine!!! Waaaaaaaaaaahhh!" Sirius wailed, burying his head in his hands, feigning anguish.
"Oh, come off it, Sirius!" Remus interjected, shaking his head. "You know as well as I do that you finished off all those sweets that you keep hidden in your sock drawer."
Sirius looked like a criminal caught red-handed for a few moments before brightening up and accusing, "Hah! You ate all my sweets! For how would you know that I keep them in my sock drawer? Hmmm?"
"Please!" Remus snorted, his voice very soft, not yet full recovering from the last full moon. "Everyone in our dorm knows that! You practically stand in front of it all day, gobbling up everything edible in there."
"Wormtail!" Sirius cried out pathetically, raising an eyebrow, faking suspicion. "You ate all my sweets, didn't you?"
Peter looked at him, confused. "What're you blubbering about, Sirius?"
"You did!" Sirius acted hurt. "I thought you were my friend! James saw you! Didn't you, James?"
But James wasn't paying attention to the conversation going on.
"James?" Sirius called once again.
"Leave him be, Padfoot," Remus grinned secretively.
"What's wrong with him?" Padfoot and Wormtail chorused, worried about their friend.
Remus chuckled, shaking his head in pity. "Look at what has caught our Jamesie's attention."
"What?" Sirius asked, confused, while Peter looked around, not actually seeing anything that might have caught James' fancy.
"Are both of you completely daft?" Remus said, irked at their ignorance. He grabbed each boy by the shoulder and turned them around to face the train station. "There!"
"James likes trains?" Peter asked, perplexed while Sirius nodded in agreement, adding, "Poor, Jamesie. Obsessing over trains. Isn't it sad?"
Remus slapped his own forehead out of frustration. "Do both of you have brains in those enormous heads of yours? Never mind, don't answer that. Look at the train station closely, what do you see?"
"Uh, trains?" Sirius answered.
"Benches?" Peter added.
"Brilliant, Wormtail, brilliant!" Remus cheered, clapping Peter on the back. "Now, look at one of those benches, what do you see?"
"Nothing?" Peter tested.
"Evans!" Sirius rejoined.
"Good dog, Padfoot!" Remus congratulated, visibly relieved.
"Why's James staring at Evans?" Peter asked, scratching his head, completely baffled.
This time Remus and Sirius simultaneously slapped their foreheads.
"Does Prongs like Evans?" Peter tried to understand.
"Yes! Give the boy a prize!" Sirius said sarcastically.
"But why does he like Evans? She absolutely abhors him!" Peter queried.
"Yeah, why?" Sirius echoed Peter's inquiry. "There're lots of others who're willing to throw themselves at him, why go chase after Evans who absolutely doesn't care?"
"Well, there you go. For the chase," Remus said simply. "He wants something he can't have."
"Oh!" Sirius and Peter nodded as it dawned on them.
"Crazy bugger," Sirius muttered, then brightened, realizing the torture he could inflict upon his best friend. "Hehehe! Our Jamesie's in loove!" he crooned then danced his way in front of James. He raised a hand and waved it over Prongs' face. "Oi! Loverboy! Wake up!"
James finally blinked but still didn't take in what Sirius was saying. He couldn't get her off his mind. He continued to watch her frail form, which was now clad in green baggy pants, a white, long sleeved top whose sleeves she kept pushed back up to her elbows, an orange winter vest and a blue baseball cap which covered most of her face.
He really hated that hat right now. They covered her eyes. Those two deep pools of emerald jade that haunted his entire being. Well, maybe he was exaggerating but he saw sparkling green orbs everywhere.
He even saw them in the Shrieking Shack two nights ago. And he thought he saw her there. But that was impossible, she couldn't've been there. No way could she have been there. He was probably hallucinating. He blamed it on his lack of sleep due to his and the Marauder's little escapades and adventures.
Not that he didn't enjoy them, but he really did need to get her off his mind. Most of the female population in Hogwarts were willing to date him, dying to go out with him and he could easily pick all of them, but no, he had to obsess over a girl who hated him with a passion and made it clear that she didn't want anybody, most especially him.
So, why did he want her so much?
"Jamesie?" Sirius called. "Yoohoo?! Anyone in that so-called brain of yours?"
"Cut it out, Padfoot!" he snapped.
"Ooooh! Touché! Still staring at Evans? Hmmm?"
James gritted his teeth. Sirius had that annoying talent of getting on his nerves. "No, Sirius," he spoke in a tone as to which a mother would use to explain things to her child. "I was just observing the beautiful sunrise."
"The sun rose two and a half-hours ago, James," Remus desperately tried to hide an amused grin.
"Well, I was staring at the sun," he said defensively.
"And the sun just happens to be on that side," Peter put in, pointing at the sun, which inconveniently happened to be on the opposite side of the train station.
"Oh, be quiet, you gits," James muttered huffily.
"Busted!" Sirius sang, dancing circles around James and pulling Remus along with him.
Remus groaned then muttered something about Sirius dislocating his arm for the thousandth time this month before allowing himself to be dragged into Sirius' psychotic dance.
"Oi! Who's that bloke with her?" Peter spoke up, causing Sirius to cease his little jig, much to Remus' relief.
"Where?" James and Sirius chorused, the former's voice tinged with jealously while the latter's was filled with curiosity.
All four Marauders stared at the train station and at the fiery redhead who was hugging a distinguished looking old gentleman.
"Must be her dad," Remus guessed, while all the others nodded in agreement.
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"Ernie!" she shrieked as she pounced on her Watcher.
"Lillian! So good to see you!" Ernie laughed as he enveloped her in a tight hug.
Same old Ernie. The same salt-and-pepper hair, lanky but firm build, faltering British accent, wire-rimmed glasses, wide smile and same cinnamon-y chamomile, old ancient book-y scent.
"You sure haven't changed at all," she muttered into his coat. Ernie was about six foot two and she could only reach up to his chest.
"Well, I can't say the same for you. You've grown to be the extraordinary young woman I've always hoped for you to be."
She snorted into his coat. "Yeah, right, Ernie. You wish. I've only been gone for three months, I can't change in that shorta span."
"Well, it seems that you really haven't."
"Yep, sure haven't."
He pulled back and stared at her. "What have I told you about your posture? Don't slouch."
She made a face but straightened herself anyway. "There, happy?"
"I would be if you wouldn't continue to slump the moment I turned my back on you."
"Well, add another number to my New Year's Resolution list."
He chuckled and shook his head and she grinned.
"Oi! Would you look at that? The green-eyed monster can actually smile!" someone taunted from behind her.
She growled, realizing who it was. Why couldn't they leave her alone? Why, Lord, why?
"Hey, the idiot can actually form a sentence!" she shot back, not her best counter diss, but hey, at least she had one.
There they were, Black and his little entourage. She was right as usual.
"Evans, so, that your father?" he asked.
She was about to open her mouth and tell him in the most creative way she can, to mind his own business when Ernie intercepted, knowing that what would escape his Slayer's mouth would be something completely unpleasant.
So to prevent the anticipated bloodshed, he answered. "No, I'm her uncle actually. Joseph Erwin," he held out his hand.
Black stared at it stupidly while Lupin groaned, shoved Black aside and took Ernie's hand. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Erwin. I'm Remus Lupin, and these are my friends, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black."
"Pleased to meet you, boys."
Ernie nodded in acknowledgement and placed his hands on his Slayer's shoulders in a protectively paternal way. The boys looked like trouble. Especially the messy-haired boy and the other boy who looked like him. He wasn't so much worried for Lily's safety as he was for the boys'.
There was an uncomfortable silence in which Ernie looked at the teenagers uneasily while Lily shot daggers, figuratively speaking, of course, at the four boys, the Black fellow to be more precise, as he grinned stupidly at her.
Ernie could feel the young Slayer's strain, he had by now deduced that these boys were not her friends. He knew those daggers would become real soon enough, so, being the adult, he gave Lily a pat on her shoulder, "Well, we should really get going, isn't that right, Lillian?"
Black, Potter and Pettigrew started to snicker. Remus just shook his head at them. (A/N: He does that a lot doesn't he? He sounds like the adult supervisor in their group or something.)
"Hey, you think there something wrong 'bout my-" she said, her voice menacingly low before Ernie tightened his grip around her shoulders.
She stared up at him defiantly, feeling his grip grow even tighter on her shoulders, while he gave her a slight but firm shake of his head.
She rolled her eyes at him and returned her attention to the three idiots.
"Something wrong about your what, Lillian?" Black smiled sweetly at her.
Potter and Pettigrew sniggered once again while Lupin closed his eyes, preparing for the upcoming onslaught that was slated to take place.
But instead of attacking, she just shook her head pityingly at them. "You can't push my buttons or pull my strings, Black. And I won't beat you up this time. You dumbasses just aren't worth it. Ain't worth my attention or time."
She turned and picked up one of Ernie's humungous suitcases and by the weight of it, she could tell that they were old tomes and weapons. Call it Slayer's intuition or something.
"Let's go Uncle Ernie, I think we're done here."
Ernie chuckled as he followed her retreating figure, leaving two very pissed off teenage boys.
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"So," she said, taking a long drag out of the flagon that the barmistress had set in front of her. "How long you gonna be stayin', Ern?"
He stared at the liquidy substance in his own mug and dipped a finger in it cautiously. He tasted his finger, which was a source of great amusement for Lily.
"God, Ernie! It's not poisonous! I mean I drank it! Well, Slayers do have better immune systems than most people, but still! They won't serve shit like this if it were poisonous."
"Lily, I thought you promised to keep your swear words down to a minumum?" he asked, avoiding the subject.
She made a face. "Just drink it already. It'll make you feel better."
"I highly doubt that this brown liquid would help make me feel better."
"Stop bein' a snob. If ya drink it I'll, um, let me see," she cocked her head, supposedly lost in thought, looking for an offer that she could make. "Right! Got it! I promise to get top grades in at least one subject until I graduate. Well, if I do," she added as an afterthought.
"Three subjects, good grades, no failures at all and not taking any unnecessary risks during your patrols. Do we have a deal?"
"All that for a cup of butterbeer? Hello, I'm getting the way worse part of the deal. You can be cold and go hungry, I'm not forcin' ya to drink that crap no more if you gonna ask all that from me," she grinned and leaned back in her seat, triumphant.
"Well, what would make you do as I ask?"
"Be my Watcher again."
She wasn't stupid. Quesnel was Ernie's replacement. She'd suspected it all along. They didn't want her with Ernie any more because he cared for her too much. Their bond didn't fit in with the Society's concept of the perfect Watcher-Slayer relationship. Ernie had developed a paternal sort of attachment to her and even though she would never admit it, Ernie was a sort of father figure to her.
He looked at her sadly and sighed. "You know that I can't do that."
"Why? Why can't you? You were my Watcher; you were the one who taught me and the one who was there when I was first called. Quesnel, hell, he don't even like me. He tells me the all about the demons, well, he's only given me info about one demon and he don't even train me. He's way too chicken to come patrol with me, to see if I'm doing good or something!" she was almost hysterical now, though she kept her voice low.
"And I'm having nightmares. I don't know why. I told Quesnel about them and he doesn't give a damn. I could die, for all he cares. He'd really love it if I would. Then, maybe he'd get a more 'cooperative' Slayer. I can't work with someone like that. Heck, how am I supposed to bond with an insensitive holier-than-thou prick?"
"Lily, shh, it's all right. Even if I have been fired as your Watcher, I would still be here for you. And if that ass, Quesnel, gives you a hard time, come to me and I'll help you kill him."
She smiled at the thought of mild-mannered Ernie kicking the crap outta Quesnel.
"See, now, show me those pearly-whites."
She giggled. Then continued to repeat her original question.
"So, how long you staying?"
"Three days."
"Make it a month with occasional visits, three days every month and you got yourself a deal."
"Five days with three visits every two months."
"Three weeks with visits."
"A week with two visits every three months."
"Two and a half weeks with five visits every month."
"Two weeks with three visits every month."
"Sold!" she smiled triumphantly.
"I think I got swindled," he muttered, rubbing his face with his hands.
"What was the deal again? Two subjects and passing grades?"
"Don't push your luck, Lily. Three subjects with top grades, great grades without any failures until you graduate and no needless gambles while on patrol. Do we have a deal?" Ernie held out a hand.
Lily snorted and groaned. But she shook her Watcher's hand anyway. "Y'know, I still think I got the crappy part of this bargain."
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"Hey, Ernie," she called as she did a cartwheel and in the process smash a vamp's face with her combat boots. "Did you know-" The vampire staggered and she ran up to him. "That there-" Her fist collided with his face while her knee rammed itself into his gut. "Are some-" It retaliated by knocking their foreheads together. She growled and curled her left leg around its right and tripping it, causing the vamp to fall to the ground.
"Witches that don't need wands to cast spells." She bent down and dusted him sticking her tongue out at it.
Ernie chuckled at the childish gestures that she interlaced with her Slaying. Then he answered her.
"Yes, I have known of them. There are millions of different kinds of magick and they are applied in many ways. How have you come to know of these types of witches? Have you been reading?"
She snorted, "Me? Read? Yeah, right. No, I've met this Wiccan, her name's Samantha and she's really nice and all and I just wanted to ask you, y'know."
"You made a friend?" he asked, delighted.
"I guess you can call it that. And, oooh," she glared at an attacking vamp as she ducked his sloppy attack and grabbed his ankle, causing him to fall flat on his face. "And that guy, the one you shook hands with, he be a werewolf." She straddled the vamp's legs with her thighs continuously smashing its face onto a nearby marble memorial.
She looked up at her Watcher and grinned. "See, you happy that I made acquaintances that you could call friends? I at least made one friend." Then she once again returned her attention to the bloodied vampire and staking him from behind.
"Well?" she asked her Watcher.
"Fifty-five seconds," he replied, glancing at his stopwatch.
"I know, poor. But hey, if I can get that time while talking to you, then I can multi-task!" she said brightly but inwardly groaned at her lame excuse.
Ernie pointed at something behind her.
"Vampire," they both spoke and without a backward glance, she did a handstand, bent down and swept her feet in a half- circle behind her, but the vamp dodged her attack.
It grabbed her by the back of the neck and hoisted her up in the air. She couldn't breathe, much less think but far away, she could hear the distinct click of a bolt being loaded into a crossbow. Ernie was preparing to give her some back up.
Okay, she could do this. She couldn't die like this, not by some common, ordinary vampire. She could see black spots dancing before her as the vampire squeezed her neck even more. She could feel his hot putrid breath on her neck. Her mind screamed at her to do something and her body didn't respond.
She willed her senses and reflexes to move on their own but failed. She could feel the vampire's fangs on her neck and she realized that she might die. She heard the trigger of the crossbow then the release of a bolt. In a last and probably hopeless attempt, she smashed the back of her head into the vamp's face and used all of her remaining breath and strength to flip herself over the vamp just before the bolt shot out and landed smack in its unbeating heart.
She plummeted to the ground and was too tired to prevent the impending impact of her body and the ground. But it didn't come. She couldn't feel the dewy grass on her back and on her head and she didn't hear that sound of body hitting earth.
She looked around her and below her and she was floating. Maybe she had heard wrong and the bolt had hit her and now she was dead. She didn't know for sure but she was sure that she was floating.
She felt her body being slowly lowered to the ground and Ernie's hurried footsteps as he rushed to her side.
She looked up and met his eyes. "Am I, y'know, dead?"
He was pale and ashen as he checked her pulse. He shook his head and she sighed in relief. "But you came quite close to it."
She raised a hand and gazed at him, implying that he help her up. He reluctantly grabbed it and pulled her to a standing position.
"Happen t'know why I was floatin' like some kinda kid in an Exorcist movie?"
Ernie pointed behind her and she groaned.
"Why don't ya just tell me insteada just doin' that? You want me to go through almost dyin' again?"
Ernie knew she didn't mean what she said and was just cranky, but he couldn't hide the hurt expression in his eyes.
She saw them and quickly hugged him. "Sorry, Ern! I didn't mean it! I'm just cranky, is all. Y'know, me almost losin' t' that vamp and all. Enough to make anyone pissed off."
He nodded. "It's all right, I understand completely. And no, the person behind you is not a vampire but, if I have to guess, it's your witch friend."
She turned and saw Samantha there.
"Are you all right, Slayer?"
Lily smiled. "Yeah, thanks."
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A/N: Yeah, I know, it's kinda plotless from here, but this is just a starting point. Next chapter's gonna have what you all are waiting for. The big confrontation. I think. I'm not exactly sure. But please! Help! Suggestions for the cute vamp's name! Help! And oh, yeah, REVIEW. REVIEW! REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!!!
And thanks to everyone who reviewed, you guys're what keeps me going:
2 Angel of Doom-The entire story's already in my head and I'm writing this as fast as I can. I just can't post when I want to since my internet time's limited, but I'll do my best to get it extended, though.
aojn- I'm gonna write more chappies! This'll be a long fic, with sequels.
Aurora- Well, this fic'll be a real long one. I plan to have a sequel. I'm not tellin' how, but there'll be a funnier sequel.
Bubby- By chance, do you watch X-Men: Evolution, since you left a review which was partly in German and well, there's this character named Kurt who's German and… never mind. Thanks for the review!!! =)
Cassie- Thanks so much! =)
Celtic Ember-Thanks for saying that this' original. Someone left a review once in my old shared account that the concept isn't. Oh well, it was probably because of the exchange student thing. Oh well *shrugs* thanks!!! =)
cheetos- I'd update fast if only it wasn't for my limited internet access. *grumble* 15 hours a month. Stupid server!
Draco Malfoy's kitten- Yeah, she's too mean to everyone. I just had to get a little battle raging on between the Marauders and our Slayer. It was all part of my plan. I think. *shrugs* Glad you love my story.
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4 Erin Finnlaith- So happy you're hooked on my story! =)
firebird16- Yeah, Lily's probably gonna get an entourage. Well, she already got one person, right? Sam's there.
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6 Harriet- She's been through a lot and she's got issues and pent up frustrations that come out in her personality. Sorry if you hate her attitude, but I like it and I'll stick with it but I'll change her attitude in l8r chappies! =)
Jade- an athame's a knife. It's always mentioned in Charmed and I kinda like the way it sounds.
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8 Jo-Yay! You like Sammy! Yes, she is part white-lighter. Her grandmother married a white-lighter. Yeah, if you watch Season 4 of Charmed, Paige's white-lighter ability isn't really that strong, but, I'm changing it. I kinda like it this way.
Katy Kat- Thanks. I really needed your reviews at the beginning since I wasn't sure if I was gonna continue.
Kizzy- Glad that you like Samantha. I was thinking of maybe making her Remus' love interest or something. Tell me what you think about it. I'd like to hear if you think they'd be great together. I watch Ranma ½, too. I just don't know their names. I like the perverted ol man, was he Ranma's teacher or grandpa? I forgot. But I like Ranma more as the red-head girl. And I kinda like Shampoo, I think that was her name. Haven't seen it in awhile.
Krissia- Yay! People like my original characters! Ernie's kinda Giles/ my version of a perfect Watcher. A fatherly-type of mentor, I really like Giles. He's kinda like Buffy's dad. Joyce should marry Giles!!! Giles' like Buffy's dad already and ther is undeniable heat between Joyce and Giles, oh well, my ramblings'll stop right now! Yay! People like Ernie and Sammy! =)
Lalala- Thanks for reviewing my story one chapter at a time! Thank you so much! =)
ltvs-When you asked that question, I do update. It was just that back then my account had problems and I had to move my stories.
Maddy- I know! It's so hard to find the crossovers that I like, too! I kinda like Batman Beyond/Buffy fics. There's this fic, 'Tears of a Raven that I just love! It's about Buffy and Angel's daughter, Jesse. Anyone who likes Batman/Buffy should read this!
Miki-I did continue! ( : )
Milkyweed- You reviewed again! I love you! In the most non- promiscuous way, that is!
Min Hee Ha- Thanks so much! I didn't really plan to make Lily mean, but it just happened. Not so many people like her attitude though! She's kinda like a tortured soul, doesn't knowwho to depend on and very cautious of who she befriends.
Nevi-I'm so gonna finish this story! Don't fret. There ain't that much've a plot yet but there will be. =)
Nicole Eve-THANKS SO MUCH!!!=)
Olivia- I kinda like my Lily, too. She's a the kind of person that thinks fights solve everything. I hope I can get her to meet some people *cough* James and co. *cough* that might change her outlook on life. Thanks for saying I'm a great writer. I wanted to write for my school paper but I wasn't accepted. Stupid editors! Not really! I had to submit a work about what was happening in the gov't around me and well, I'm really bad at politics and natural calamities, so… *cries*
POD- I updated, but you don't review. Are you still reading this story? Hope you are! : )
Princess Evil- I used to love Charmed! I loved Season One and Two. I hated it when they killed off Andy! *throws tantrum* I always thought they always meant to be! But now that Prue's dead, in my psychotic head, they're together in Heaven, *dreamy sigh* And Piper/Leo forever! Die Dan! (Sorry to all Dan fans reading this) I hate Cole!!! [Sorry to all Cole fans here, too. I think he's cut and all, but…]I always wanted Phoebe to be with Cupid guy in Season Two! Paige is okay, but I wanted the original Charmed Circle. Phoebe seems more assuming and dresses more provocatively now that she's dating Cole. I don't like the new Season, but I like the idea of three sisters saving the world.
Princess Tangawine- Thank you for reading my story and even squeezing it in between your before school rush period. (That's what I call it) I do that too. Read fics before school. Up until my mom caught me and I was late and she nearly screamed my head off. =)
puddles- Yeah, I was gonna write that she wears normal clothes instead of her robes in the second chapter, but, I'm gonna follow the book and say that you can wear ordinary clothes under your school robes. I think they kinda changed it and placed uniforms under the robes in HP's time. Well, that's just me! Thanks! Love her attitude, too. I didn't make her out as a Buffy-type. I kinda made her a Faith-type of person. I love Faith!!!=)
QueenOfTheQueer-Thanks for saying my story's cool! This's probably the only way cool might be associated to a person like me. (I'm such a dork!)
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10 Red-I will try to update more often, if my server allows me to. And if I get enough reviews. *nudge, nudge, wink, wink* Okay, I'll shut up now. Let's hope this cheapskate server of mine gets a little bit sorrier for their customers and increase the maximum time used.
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12 Sierra Mist-Yay! Another person who loves Samantha! I know not many people like Oc's but…thanks! I'm just askin', do you think she'd be great with Remus? Just a question. Tell me what you think. =)
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14 Star-Sorry if I didn't use your ideas, but I got this entire thing all mapped out in my head, but thanks anyway. =)
Stressqueen- Happy you like my story! At the beginning, I was kinda embarrassed to share this with my friends and when I finally had the guts to tell them 'bout it, they were uninterested. Oh, well, at least I had a brother to cheer me on.
takcy- Thanks! Y'know at first glance at your Reviewer name, I thought you would flame me, y'know since your name's kinda like tacky at first glance. But your encouragement is gratefully acknowledged.