A/N: The chapters are going to be shorter than my other series. Here is the next installment in which Remus comes in, and James makes the first move. James also meets his match…
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Green Eyed Monster
By: Noelle
Chapter 2: The First Move
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Disclaimer: I do not own Lily Evans, James Potter, Sirius Black, and any of the recognizable characters. I do own Ella Reichman though. I do not own the recognizable places, such as Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. J.K. and Warner Brothers have the right to the Harry Potter universe, and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
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James frowned. This was going to be a lot harder than he thought. What did he get himself into? And it was all Sirius' fault. Sirius knew that James couldn't resist a dare.
"What's wrong?" Remus Lupin asked in concern, as he slid into the seat next to James. They were eating breakfast in the Great Hall the morning after that fateful bet was made. "You look like death warmed over."
Remus was also tall (almost as tall as Sirius). He was fair skinned, and had dirty blonde hair, and had deep blue eyes, with a hint of silver. He had wisdom beyond his years. Perhaps that had to do with his condition. Remus Lupin was a werewolf. He was bitten when he was a baby, but was allowed to attend Hogwarts. That summer, the Marauders had become Animagi. They had already accompanied Remus during one full moon.
"I am going to be dead soon. I'm sure Sirius filled you in about the bet," James said, slamming his head on the table.
Remus bit his lip. "Er… yes, he did. But I have some advice for you."
"Moony, I already know what you are going to say. 'Emotions are not meant to be played around with'. Do you think I want to be in this position? You know how I am with dares and bets!" James gazed up momentarily. "I can't back down."
"Well, I wish you the best of lucky, my friend. Perhaps this will help…" Remus handed James a gigantic bar of Honeyduke's Best Chocolate. "Always makes me feel better."
"Thanks. How's Wormtail doing? Is he still in the Hospital Wing?"
"Peter is due out Friday afternoon. Those Slytherins really got him…"
"We'll get them back in due time. Right now I have other things to worry about. Such as staying alive," James moaned.
Remus smiled. "I'll leave you to that. I have to go see Professor Reddington about my Defense paper. I'll see you in Transfiguration."
James nodded as he stared at Lily. Her hair was in the perfect bun, and her robes were ironed neatly. She had on those thin gold-rimmed glasses, but without the glass. She didn't need glasses, but she thought they made her look smarter. At least that's what James' opinion was.
"My life is over," he muttered, as he stood up to make his way to meet Sirius.
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Lily and Ella walked to Transfiguration together, where they parted ways. Ella chose to sit in the back, where Professor McGonagall wouldn't pay attention to her. Lily chose to sit up front, so she could hear every word. Usually, she sat by herself in Transfiguration, but today was different…
"What are you doing?" Lily asked furiously. James Potter smiled meekly at Lily from the seat next to her. "I want a good seat," he said. "And that would be the one I am in, next to you."
Lily glared at James, her green eyes wide with fury. "What, so you can cheat?"
James smiled at Lily politely. "May I remind you, Ms. Evans, that I am ranked first in the class in Transfiguration. I don't need to copy off your work."
Lily felt a red blush creeping up her cheeks, but she forced herself to remain calm.
"You have pretty eyes," James said smoothly. "It's a shame to hid them behind glasses…"
"POTTER!" Lily hissed, as Professor McGonagall entered the room. At once, Lily dropped the argument, and grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill.
Professor McGonagall stopped when she reached the front of the room. "Today will be a practical lesson, so please put away your quills and parchments. However, I do want your homework before we begin."
She went around collecting homework. That is, until she came to where Ella Reichman and Sirius Black were sitting in the back. Sirius was in the process of eating his homework, while Ella's torn parchment was displayed proudly.
"May I ask what you are doing, Mr. Black?" Professor McGonagall asked sternly.
"Er… enjoying a midmorning snack of Grade A parchment? I would turn in my homework but one of Professor Kettleburn's animals ate it." Sirius grinned charmingly at the Transfiguration professor.
"Ms. Reichman? What happened to your homework?"
Ella bit her lip, cursing Sirius mentally for stealing her excuse. "Er… Sirius ate it!"
The class erupted into laughter, except for Lily (who was appalled at the lack of maturity), Ella (who was trying to keep a straight face), and James (who was analyzing his miserable life, and how he would win the 'Green Eyed Monster' over). Even Sirius was laughing. "That is more believable," Professor McGonagall said, stifling a snort. "However, ten points will still be deducted from Gryffindor."
"But Professor!" Sirius whined.
"And you, Mr. Black, Professor McGonagall said, "will receive a detention. Our lesson today is turning furniture into animals. Ms. Evans, would you care to demonstrate?"
Lily, smiling, put her chair on top of the small table she shared with James. She took a few steps back, and waved her wand, concentrating. However, the chair remained a chair. That is more than can be said for James. James was transformed into a pig. "I guess I missed. I've always had terrible aim…" Lily claimed. The class was shocked. Lily never did anything like this before. And everyone knew that she had the best aim in the school. They knew that she most have been very irked at James.
James the Pig snorted at this proclamation. Professor McGonagall dismissed the class and took James up to the Hospital Wing to be transformed back.
Lily waltzed out of class as if nothing had happened. Ella caught up with her. "Lily!"
"Yes?" Lily called out, smiling slightly.
"I can't believe you did that! What's going on?"
Lily thought. "Let's just say that Potter pushed me too far. That and he finally met his match…"
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A/N: Well, the end of the chapter. James is going to have to try a bit harder, isn't he. If you have comments/criticism/suggestions, review or email me at Luckie7n13@aol.com. Thanks!
~Noelle