Disclaimer: It's not mine
Chapter Twelve: Of Make-ups, Break-ups, and General Weirdness
The first week back was as normal as a week can be at a school for witchcraft and wizardry. Lily finally beat Remus in chess, a feat Remus promised her she would never accomplish again. She stuck out her tongue at him, and he threw a chess piece at her, hitting her square on the nose. Consequentially, she turned his hair a putrid purple color, and bolted into her dorm before he could retaliate. She rushed, giggling, into the room and slammed the door shut, magically locking it before he could enter. Peyton looked up from her Charms homework.
"What did you do this time?" she asked, not really interested, just for an excuse to stop thinking so hard.
"Well, I beat Remus in chess for starters," Lily replied. Carolina popped out of the bathroom to grin at her.
"You? Beat Remus? You sure it wasn't Peter in disguise?" she chided. Lily threw her a warning glare, and continued.
"But then he said I could never do it again and I stuck my tongue out at him and he threw his bishop at me and I turned his hair purple," she said quickly.
"Purple?" Peyton wondered. "I really don't think that would go over well with him." Lily giggled.
"That's the point, Peyton dear. Say, Lina, have you done your transfiguration homework yet?"
"We had Transfiguration homework?" Carolina asked, walking back into the room. Lily sighed.
"So that's a no, right?" Carolina nodded, pulling off her socks.
"I can't believe you beat Remie at chess!" she exclaimed. "Hang on a minute…"
"What?" Lily asked utterly confused.
"Are you sure he didn't…let you win?" she asked. Lily was appalled.
"Now why on earth would he do something like that Lina?" Peyton caught on to what Carolina was thinking.
"You mean…?" she gasped. And Carolina nodded.
"What do you two know that I don't?!?" Lily exploded, furious.
"Lily, have you ever wondered why Remus is so nice to you? Or why let you cry on his shoulder-?" Carolina was cut off.
"He let her cry on his shoulder? Oh, he's got it bad!" giggled Peyton, gleefully.
"He's got what? Will you two stop it?" Lily was beginning to get exasperated. Carolina sighed. Lily could be so clueless sometimes.
"Lily, so I have to spell it out? Remus likes you," she said.
"What?" Lily was taken aback. Carolina sighed.
"Remie…likes…you…" she said slowly, pronouncing each word correctly.
"Yeah, whatever. So, did you get the Potions notes? I wasn't listening…" Lily fluidly changed the subject, trying to get away from what couldn't be true. At home, none of the boys would take a second glance at her or a first glance if it comes to that. Petunia attracted all the attention, casting a shadow over Lily. Lily just wasn't a people person in the way that Petunia was.
Carolina shrugged, and acknowledged that Lily just wanted to drop it. Peyton wasn't ready to just yet, but that stopped when Taryn walked giggling into the room.
"Have you seen Remus's hair?" she choked out. Lily groaned and buried her head in a pillow.
The next morning was going perfectly well for Lily, until Professor Dumbledore stood up to make an announcement at breakfast.
"I have something to say," he said, in his calm raspy voice. Everyone quieted down immediately. Dumbledore had that effect on people. "Thank you. Now, as most of you out there have found out already, Second years and above are allowed to participate in the House Quidditch Cup. The tryouts for teams that need them will be held in two days time. Please contact your house's team captain immediately if you wish to try out. You may resume your meal." As soon as he finished speaking, there was a definite up swing in the level of noise in the Great Hall. James was practically jumping up and down.
"Finally! I've been practicing all summer for this!"
"You really think you have a shot at it, Potter?" Lily asked. "Some of those older kids looked pretty good…" James threw her a glare full of contempt that he hadn't given her since they were enemies.
"Shut up Evans. Just shut up," he fumed. He tossed another scornful glance in her direction, but they could see that he was genuinely hurt. Lily was frozen in an attitude of stunned confusion. Sirius shook his head.
"Now you've done it. We're back to square one on you two…he'll never forgive you that one."
"Well I didn't think he would go all ballistic on me," Lily defended. "I was just kidding…it's not my fault he got so touchy about it. Stupid Pot-head." She angrily got up from the table, considering her meal ruined.
Remus put his head in his hands. "What're we going to do? It'll be just like last year," he sighed. Sirius shrugged.
"Why don't we let them battle it out?" suggested Peter. "If worse comes to worse, one of them will kill the other, and then they'll go to Azkaban so we wont have to put up with them anymore." Everyone laughed at his suggestion, glad that he had lightened the mood. They all finished their breakfast and headed off to their History of Magic class. When they arrived in the classroom, most everyone was already there, Lily and James purposely sitting as far apart as the room would allow.
"We'll take Jamie, you go after the Lily-flower," said Sirius. Carolina nodded, and went to sit next to Lily.
"Hey Lily," she said. Lily turned around.
"Oh, hey," Lily answered. Their conversation was cut short when Professor Binns floated into the room and began to talk, driving them all into a stupor. Carolina had to do something before she died of boredom, or did something stupid, so ripped up a piece of parchment and began a note to Lily.
Hey Lils. Listen, don't take what James said literally, he was peeved. C'mon, please can we not go back to what last year was like. I mean, eventually someone's going to die, or we'll run out of spells. Please just call it quits?
She gracefully flicked it onto Lily's desk with practiced ease. Lily quickly scanned the letter, and wrote back.
Why shouldn't I get peeved at Potter? I was just kidding and he flipped out. Again. Do you sense a pattern here, cause I do. He is the biggest egotistical jerk I've ever met. He's bloody GREAT at Quidditch and I don't know why he's obsessing. Have I mentioned that I was JUST KIDDING and he keeps taking it the wrong way? Honestly, his head is so filled with Quidditch crap and dust that I'm surprised he can remember our bloody names.
Carolina smiled as she wrote a reply.
Whoa there Lily. 'He's bloody GREAT at Quidditch'? Did you just complement Snotty Potty? Things are getting serious (no pun intended) here! Do you still want to be friends with the 'air headed jerk'? Because if you do then just APOLOGIZE for Christ's sake! And if you don't then don't make everyone ELSE's life miserable by feuding and attacking innocent bystanders, okay?
Her reply:
Lina-Snotty Potty? That's a good one, thanks. I'm sure he'll appreciate it. And no I didn't complement him. Well, maybe I did, but it was very unintentional. Apologize? No thank you grandmother! Only in his dreams would I EVER do something like that.
By the time they had finished the class had ended and they were heading to Charms. Carolina left Lily to walk with Sirius, Remus, and Peter. They had obviously had a written conversation as well, and compared notes. The boys' went like this:
James, what's up with you and Lily. I think she was just kidding. (That was Sirius's unruly scrawl.)
Siriusly (pun intended) man, give her a chance. She's nice. (Remus's neat cursive made Sirius's handwriting look like chicken scratch.)
You don't have to be friends, just don't hurt anyone else! (That was Peter's loopy writing.)
BACK OFF! Siri-you think she was just kidding. That doesn't help, because in order to think, you need something resembling a brain (which you lack). Remie-you're just saying she's nice because you LIKE her. Petey-how many times can I say sorry about the leg-locker hex! I was honestly aiming for Lily! (James had obviously written this one.)
I do to have a brane. So there.
I DON'T LIKE LILY!
That's okay. I had already forgotten about the leg-locker thing. I was talking about the green hair…
BRAIN, Siri. You spell it BRAIN...and you call yourself a Gryffindor. Remie, come ON! Everyone knows you like her. It's obvious. Oops. Sorry Peter. STOP GANGING UP ON ME!
James, stop bagging on our poor lil wolfie. Just because he helps her with homework and gives her the answers and lets her win at chess and cry on his shoulder doesn't mean he LIKES her likes her. Jeez. And was that Gryffindor thing a shot?
Siri, that didn't help my case. And actually James, what else could Siri be? Ravenclaw *snort*? They're known for CLEVERNESS, something our lil' moron here doesn't posses. Hufflepuff? Could you imagine Siri being loyal and hard working? Umm…NO! Or perhaps you were referring to Slytherin. Might I remind you that we hate Slytherins and they are the root of all evil? No, Siri is just right for Gryffindor (he's full of reckless stupidity that the Sorting Hat probably mistook for bravery…)
That's okay, really. But guys, we're getting side tracked. JAMES, APOLOGIZE TO LILY OR WE"LL HEX YOU BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING THROUGH THAT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carolina laughed out loud. As they entered the large Charms classroom, Carolina moved to sit next to James, while the boys took Lily this time.
"Hey James," said Carolina. He looked up at her, not really caring.
"Oh, hey," he replied, going back to his last minute studying for a Freezing Charm quiz.
"So, d'you think you're ready for those Quidditch tryouts?" she asked, deperate to hold a conversation with him. James head shot up at the mention of his all-time-favorite-to-the-point-of-obsession-sport.
"I sure hope so," he said animatedly. "I hope the seeker spot's open, though I can be a decent chaser. What're you going out for again?"
"Keeper. Who's the captain this year?"
"Not sure-I know that Madame Hooch was the captain two years ago, but she graduated…" He trailed off as Professor Flitwick floated into the room on a small hovering pillow (A/N I WANT ONE!). They continued whispering about Quidditch as the entire class lined up at the front of the room and the professor watched them freeze an extremely annoyed firefly. Everyone was successful. In fact, Lily was so successful that the poor firefly fell out of the air and lay motionless on the ground for several minutes before the professor could remember the counter charm. At lunch, the peaceful members of the group took at last desperate stand. They forcefully pushed a struggling Lily and James into spots on the bench right next to each other. They tried to get up and move, but they couldn't.
"You have just sat down on liberal amounts of Sticking Potion. It will not release you until I pour the Unsticking Potion on it," Sirius said gleefully, waving a small vial of amethyst liquid in his friends scarlet faces.
"And," Carolina continued, snatching the potion from Sirius, "we will not give you the potion, until you have resolved your differences. We are prepared to skip class for this."
"Or at least prepared to let you skip class for this," Remus added, apologetically. The four friends stood staring at Lily and James. Neither would look at the other of even acknowledge the others existence. Carolina sighed.
"Jesus Christ you two!" she exploded, drawing far too much attention to herself in the crowded Great Hall. "James, here's the letter Lily and I were writing in History of Magic. Lily, here's the letter James and them were writing during History. Read them." Her voice was significantly lowered has she whipped the crushed notes out of her pockets and handed them to the respective person. Remus let out a strangled cry that he hastily turned into a hacking cough as Lily began to read her letter. James finished first.
"Bloody great at Quidditch, Evan?" he asked. Lily was surprised to hear no hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Well that's what I wrote isn't it?" she answered quietly, folding the boys' note into an aerodynamically correct paper airplane. James was taken aback. He had expected a smarting retort at the least.
"Fine," he sighed. "Friends?" he held out his hand, and Lily shook it, mock seriously.
"Friends," she replied, sincerely. Sirius let out a sigh of relief, and Carolina collapsed into the seat next to Lily.
"Oh thank God," she murmured. Remus nodded, knowing exactly what she meant.
"Hey, it's time for Herbology," interjected Peter, glancing at his watch. Lily struggled against the potion, almost tearing her skirt in the process.
"All right Siri, let us go," she deadpanned.
"No," he said simply, and ran away as fast as he could. The others giggled and followed their insane friend, leaving a flabbergasted Lily and James starring after them.
"He is so dead," growled James menacingly. Lily nodded emphatically, already planning what she would to him.
"Blue skin," she muttered.
"With green and silver hair," James added.
"Red teeth," said Lily.
"Long pink finger nails."
"Bunny ears."
"SLIME!" That they said simultaneously. They looked at each other and grinned.
"Hang on," James gasped in mock horror. "Evans, did we just have a civilized conversation?" Lily clasped both hands over her mouth in a look of genuine terror.
"We'll never hear the end of it!" Now she placed one hand on her forehead in a dramatic sweeping gesture. This time, James cracked up laughing, and his laugh was so infectious that Lily had to laugh as well.
A good time later, several house elves walked in to do a final polishing of the floors before the night meal to find two students sitting on a bench. Shermy, the boldest of all the current house elves walked slowly up to the two big people.
"Excuse me sir and miss," he squeaked loudly, trying to get their attention.
"Hello there," said Lily.
"Um, if yous would pardon little Shermy for asking, what is you twos doing still in here?" Made bolder by Lily's kind response, Shermy became curious. James got an idea.
"Shermy, would you please do us a favor?" Shermy jumped at his polite tone.
"Sir, t'would be an honor," he said bowing low.
"Could you please go into Professor Centia's classroom for me? There wont be a class there, I'm sure of it. All you have to do is get a vile of purplish liquid from his cupboard and bring it back here." Shermy happily raced off and was back in minutes with a small glass of Unsticking Potion. Lily sighed with relief as she stood up for the first time in hours, massaging her cramped muscles. James followed suit, and they praised Shermy, who blushed turning his green skin an odd brownish color. The soon left the hall and walked up the Common Room planning revenge.
"They wont be out of class for another ten minutes," said Lily. "So that should give up plenty of time to set up." They got to work, and when Carolina, Remus, Sirius, and Peter walked in approximately eleven minutes later, they never knew what hit them. As they were covered in slime from a bucket above the doorway, Lily and James hit them with as many curses and hexes as they could remember easily dodging the poor ones their friends threw in self defense. In a few minutes the battle was over: Lily and James had won convincingly. Each friend was covered in a mixture of orange and green slime, Sirius had blue skin and pink nails, Carolina had a bunny tail, Peter had red teeth, Remus had angry purple boils sprouting on his skin (James's hair hex had gone wrong), and Lily and James were rocking with laughter, tears of mirth spilling down their cheeks.
The other four were just standing motionless in the door, gaping at their two friends, trying to regain their senses. Carolina was the first one to really get a grip on the situation. She sighed and cast a hasty cleaning charm, tenderly examining her new attachment
"This piece of shit had better be gone by tryouts," she muttered crossly. "How will I sit on the broom?" Remus reacted next, tentatively poking a new boil, and grimacing.
"I'll be off to the Hospital Wing then," he sighed, and turned to walk out of the room, but stopped when he saw Sirius and Peter. He stared at them for a moment, and began to laugh uncontrollably. Everyone joined in when they got a look at themselves, and soon they were cracking up, all animosity forgotten.
"So, did we miss anything important in class?" questioned Lily, wiping a tear from her eye.
"Nah," said Carolina. "Just a load of baloney from Metus, and another werewolf story from Necare. Remus started sneezing and getting all red and blotchy when he passed one of the silver bullets around the room to show us what it was like."
"He looked at me real funny," added Remus. "I think Dumbledore told all of the Professors what I was, but I'm not sure…" He trailed off, not able to conceal the worried tone in his voice.
"Not to worry, Remie," said Peter. "He attacks you, we'll-"
"Kick his ass?" suggested Sirius.
"In a major way," Lily affirmed. Remus gave them all a huge smile.
"Now, down to business," said Sirius, "how do we get this shit off us?" Here Lily had to add a triumphant giggle to punctuate his remark. The spells were set to wear off in several hours-after dinner no less. Sirius would have to go, because nothing could stop his stomach.
After she explained, and the four were spluttering with anger, she sighed happily.
"I love being evil."
(A/N) Hey y'all! I've gotta do this fast because my little sister needs to get on the computer (ARGH!)…so on to the thank yous—Amber-Yupperoni, finally updated! I wish this chappie were longer, but a lot happens next chapter. And the next chapter. In the future you can expect a bit more about dear old Voldie, pranks, and Quidditch! What will happen to Lily's father? Tune in next week…fairypixie3-well, they have to start liking one another eventually (that wont actually happen for a while…I've got it all worked out) Musicizdbest- The Sword of Truth? What's that about? I love the Chronicles of Narnia, though I found Redwall to be slightly boring (sorry). Okay, Artemis Fowl is about this criminal master mind who happens to be a twelve year old boy. He has discovered that fairies do exist and is trying to exploit them for their gold. It's actually much better than I made it sound. The Alanna books are about this girl who wants to become a knight so she hides her sex for eight years and has loads of great adventures. Lord of the Rings…let's see. Small hairy footed hobbits go on a quest to destroy and incredibly evil ring…they are joined by one HOT elf, a comic relief dwarf, an evil dude, and a mangy hero who happens to be in love with an elf…Sabriel is about this girl who is an Abhorsen. It's her job to keep necromancers from raising dead souls and conquering the Old Kingdom and Ancelstiere. Turst me, they're all great books, I just suck at summaries. Fowl-Star-ANY boat with MY ENTIRE FAMILY on it can be rightly considered a disaster area and a danger to ALL HUMAN LIFE! That's a god idea about the journal…I must look into this dryer sheet thing…well, I'd just like to keep mine one BIG story, so I'm going to keep writing on this one. Dani-well, I think YOU got the smart half of the brain. Congrats on the Local Gifted Program thing, that's GREAT! I don't know why Lily's so musical, it seems kinda fitting…who knows? Well, I know Lily's dad is going to die (No offense dude!), but he doesn't necessarily have to die of Leukemia (HINT HINT)…okay, I'll scratch the noose references…that would be distressing. And prefects aren't necessarily bad, it's just that at the time Sirius has to view them as the enemy because he always gets in trouble…and why DOES Lily care what James thinks? The world will never know…
