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Green Eyed Monster

By: Noelle

Chapter 12: Confessions

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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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The Gryffindor Common Room was noisy, and brimming with people. Taking in their latest Quidditch victory, the party was in full swing. James, who had scored the winning goal in the nick of time, was the center of attention. And he was loving it. Casey and Lacy, twin Fourth Years, were his 'escorts' of the evening. Sirius was spending time with Isabelle Watkins, a Sixth Year. She was rather short, with brown hair, bearing a striking resemblance to Ella. Ella was with her new boyfriend David. James thought he was rather wishy-washy and dull. Ella looked positively miserable at the moment.

David must be talking about his spoon collection, James thought. James Potter, to the rescue. He politely excused himself from his dates, and walking suavely over, while girls swooned over him. "Hullo Ella. How are you doing?"

"Perfect, James. And you?" Ella put on a bright face, while David looked thoughtfully at James.

"I'm doing all right. Speaking of perfect, where is the insatiable Ms. Evans on this fine evening?"

Ella frowned. "Well, she ran out of here a few minutes ago. When I asked her where she was going, she went close-mouthed." She took a sip of punch, and rolled her eyes as David rushed off to refill her already full cup. "He tries too hard," Ella explained. "He is a sweetheart, but I don't think this is going to work out..."

"Sorry about that, love," James said. "But are you sure that Lily didn't say where she was going?"

"She just said that she had to meet somebody. You'd think that her white knight had finally... oh boy."

"What? White knight? You don't meet that prat who's been giving her all those presents, do you?"

"James, if I were you, I'd bloody hurry to wherever she was, before things go downhill for you... who is Sirius with right now?"

"Isabelle Watkins, Sixth Year. Do you have any clue about where Lily rushed off to? Anything would help..."

Ella glared daggers as Isabelle. "You'd think she would go after someone her own age. And her hair... eurgh! A mass of split ends! Her nose is a bit too big... Don't even get me started on her bottom..."

"I thought you were over Sirius," James said, clearly confused.

"I am over him. In fact, I never was on him. I'm just saying, you know... oh, bloody hell James, you really know how to confuse a girl. But, I'd head toward the lake if I were you. A romantic setting if there ever was one. And quickly. You have to stop this thing from going through."

James bolted up, and ran a few steps. He then turned around, and looked at her. "Ella, why are you helping me do this?"

"Well, this might not be the fairy tale romance that Lily wants, but I can recognize true love when I see it. Now, hurry up!"

"Thanks Ella! I owe you!"

Ella smiled. "And I will never let you forget that," she said quietly to herself, and groaned as David rushed toward her, punch in hand. "Never."

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James jumped on top of the table in the center of the room. "Can I have your attention please?" he shouted. The common room silenced. "Will Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew please report to the Fifth Year Boys' Dormitory. I repeat, Remus and Peter, get your arses up to the Fifth Year Boys' Dormitory. Thanks!"

He leaped down as the room buzzed with talk once again. James walked over to Casey and Lacy, and sadly informed them that he would have to cut their evening short, due to a business problem, before running up to the dormitory. Peter and Remus were waiting for him.

"Potter, what are you doing? I was having an important discussion with Natalie," Remus growled.

"Talking about the Defense assignment does not classify as an 'important discussion'. Now, to more serious matters. I need help."

Peter unwrapped a chocolate frog. "I've been telling him that for years," he said to Remus, who tried his best to hold back a chuckle.

"No, I'm serious...

"No, I'm Sirius," Sirius interrupted, as he walked into the room. "I can't believe you, Potter. Calling those two clowns and not me..."

James smirked. "Black, you looked rather busy to me with Isabelle... trying to convince her that you weren't looking at Ella, right?"

Sirius began to say something, but Remus interrupted. "I do not have time to listen to the two of you argue and insult each other. Natalie is waiting for me. So, what do you want James?"

"I need a horse."

"Er... what?" Peter said.

"I... need... a... horse..." James said, breaking apart each word. "What do you not understand?"

"The why," Sirius answered. "Why do you need a horse?"

James frowned. "Do you think I have the time to explain? I need a horse, and pronto! Can't one of you prats transfigure one?"

"Do you have an animal?" Sirius asked.

"Why do I need an animal? You're going to transfigure one for me."

Remus cleared his throat. "Prongs, you git, you need an animal to transfigure into another animal. We haven't figured out how to transfigure inanimate objects into animals yet."

"Just try! Please!" James groveled, getting down to his knees. What can one say, he was desperate.

Moony rolled his eyes, and muttered an incantation. James sputtered in disbelief. "This? This is not a horse!" Remus had conjured him a broomstick with a stuffed horse head.

"That's the best I can do. Take it or leave it," Remus answered. "Now if that's all, I have someone waiting for me." He got up, and exited the room.

"As do I," Sirius said, following Remus' lead. He paused before exiting the room though. "Prongs, I think you're falling..." James glared daggers at his best friend.

"Aren't you leaving too?" James asked Peter, grumpily.

Peter took another bite of his chocolate frog. "I don't have anyone waiting for me," he answered.

"Well, Wormtail, I have to go. I have a bet to win..." James rode his horse off into the night.

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The corridors were silent, without even a bare remnant of the students who had strode nosily through hours earlier. Faint pools of light were available, due to the torches that lined the hall. A quiet thud broke the silence, as Lily Evans took another step forward. Her silver prefect badge glittered when she stepped into the light, gleaming of perfection. Lily Evans was perfect. So, why was she creeping around after curfew?

Lily reached her destination, nervous anticipation pulsing through her. Her Secret Admirer would finally reveal himself. She pushed open the door to the library, and a cool, musty draft hit her. Walking around, Lily searched for any sign of him.

He wasn't in the Reference section, or in the miscellaneous section. He wasn't by the counter, or near the Restricted Area. He wasn't anywhere. For a moment, Lily worried that he wouldn't show up. But, he had to. After all he had told her, he had to.

Lily was standing to the side, watching the door, when another cool breeze hit her. The window was open. Curious. It wasn't opened earlier. Shrugging it off as absent-mindedness, Lily stepped forward to close the window. And she gasped, as she gazed outside.

A boy wearing silver mail was sitting on top of a majestic white horse. He was looking at her, she knew. "I am here, my love," he called out. Lily couldn't quite recognize his voice. "And we finally meet, after all." Steps suddenly appeared, leading down to her knight. Lily gingerly stepped on one, and once satisfied that it wouldn't collapse, walked gracefully down.

The knight took off his helmet. It was Severus Snape.

Lily hid her gasp fairly well. However, Severus still knew. "I know that you probably weren't expecting me..." he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"I didn't know who to expect," Lily answered honestly. She didn't tell him that he was at the bottom of her suspect list.

"I've admired you from afar for years now. And I finally got the courage to confront you."

Lily looked down, a faint pink tinge creeping toward her cheeks. "Why now? What gave you the courage?"

"Well, 'someone who shall remain nameless' convinced me that the time was right. And now, I can only hope..." Severus never got the chance to finish his sentence, as a blurry shape tumbled toward them, through the air.

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"Hullo Ella," Sirius said, putting his arm around her shoulders. Ella shrugged him off, ducking under him.

"Sirius," she snapped irritably, "do you mind? I'm looking for David." Internally, her heart fluttered, and she could feel a red tinge creeping through her cheeks. Hopefully, Sirius would mistake it for anger.

Sirius grinned his infamous 'Marauding Grin', the one that turned girls' legs to jelly. Ella refused to let him get to her though. "I just wanted to say hullo... is there a problem with that?"

"It is when you only talk to people when it benefits yourself..."

"Ella, Ella... that is not the case. I just wanted to check up on you..."

Ella turned toward him, all signs of embarrassment gone. Anger had replaced it. "Checking up on me?" she said, in a deathly whisper. Sirius found himself shrinking back from the five-foot beauty. "Sirius Black, I do not need you to check up on me. I am doing fine on my own. And if you ever 'check up on me again', I'll... I'll... I'll do something really horrible and painful to you..."

"You really do have a way with words," Sirius said charmingly. Isabelle came up, and took his arm. "Parting is such sweet sorrow," he said to Ella, winking, as he bowed in a medieval fashion. Putting his arm around Isabelle, Sirius walked away.

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"Potter! What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" Severus Snape growled, picking himself up off the ground. James hurried up after him. Sweating, he dropped to one knee in front of Lily, straddling his 'horse'.

"My... fair... maiden..." James panted, clearly out of breath. "Your... brave... knight... has... arrived..."

Lily looked at the both of them in horror. "You have to be kidding..." she muttered to herself. Then aloud, she said, "Mr. Potter, may I inquire as to what you are doing here?"

James stood up, shoving Severus out of the way. "I am here to ask your hand in... er... dating? Yes, that's right, dating..."

She glared at James, tears visible in her green eyes. "Are you mocking me James? What is this?" She picked up his 'horse', which he had dropped when he stood up.

"A horse, of course. Now, climb on behind me, and let us ride to the moon and beyond."

Lily took a step backward. Severus came, and stood behind her. He placed one hand comfortingly on her shoulder. "You can't be serious," James said. "You are not going to date a Slytherin."

Lily just looked at James, silently shaking her head. Her eyes told all. "James..."

"I can't believe you," he said, standing up, as realization hit him. "I can't believe you. I worked for months, to try to become your friend. All this in hopes of someday dating you. and you are 'dumping' me, for Snape. A lousy Slytherin!"

"You don't love me, James. Yes, you wanted me. But you didn't love me. You don't know what love is. Someone with your level of maturity never could..."

James angrily said, "How could I know what love is if you never gave me the chance to love you! You've pushed me away from the start. I tried."

Gently pushing Lily behind him, Severus stepped forward. "You heard what she said Potter. She chose me. Now get lost..."

James looked hopefully at Lily once again. He then turned around, and rode off on his 'horse' toward the Quidditch Pitch. Lily mentally cursed herself once he had gone. It was all his fault that she was now stuck with Severus Snape. She was planning on turning him down gently, but James pushed her to say yes. James Potter managed to ruin her life in every which way.

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