Chapter 6: Plans Afoot!


Author's Note:
Lily looks to be a bit of a flirt in this one. Just bare with me. I waited to post this chapter on purpose. I was hoping Book 5 would be a little more descriptive of Sirius, Peter, James, Remus, Lily, and Snape. Needless to say my wishes were granted.

Author's Second Note: To the person who reviewed this story last. I try and make it a point to e-mail my reviewers to thank them. Since it appeared to be anonymous, and maybe a bit glitchy I'll thank you here.  Thanks, and could you please e-mail me?

It was cold, very cold. Christmas was drawing near and November had already passed. One of the disadvantages of living in a castle was the difficulty in keeping the temperature at a tolerable level inside. Great stone fireplaces and magical heating did their best, but quite a few places in the castle just simply could not escape the cold. Several students shivered as they studied. They tried to get as close as possible to the lamps and candles on the tables in one of the many study hall. Elanus busied himself helping a few first years with their studies. Most of them needed practice with their wand waving techniques and annunciation of the words needed for the spells.

"It's not a club, William," Elanus said, removing his hand from the arm of one of the more enthusiastic first years, "Just swish and flick, like Professor Flitwick showed you," He said, demonstrating the movements for the boy.

"I'll never get this," William said, "It's so hard."

"It's not very hard," Elanus, "Alright, here's what we'll do. I'll cast the spell too, and you stand beside me and mirror what I do."

"Ok," William said, "I'll try."

Elanus stood up and removed his wand from his robe, "You do the candle, I'll levitate the lamp."

"It might catch something on fire if it doesn't work," William said, eyeing the candle.

"Well, let's just hope it works," Elanus said with a grin, "Ready?"

"I guess."

Elanus made a slow, exaggerated swish with his wand. William did the same, though nervously and with a bit less grace. "Wingardium," he said slowly as his swish came to an end, William did the same. Elanus gracefully flicked his wand towards the lamp and said, "Leviosa!"

The lamp began to lift off the table where it was sitting, and hovered a few feet in the air. William repeated after Elanus and pointed his wand at the candle. The candle wobbled slightly, and one student picked up a small glass of water. Slowly but surely the candle lifted off the table, wobbling in the air. Small droplets of wax splattered on the table as the candle hovered unsteadily over it.

"Alright, now lets set them down slowly," Elanus said as he lowered the lamp. William did the same with his candle but it fell over on the table. One of the other students was quick enough to blow out the tiny flame before it caught anything on fire.

"Very good, William," Elanus said, "Work on your control. We'll use water next time."

"Thank you," William said.

Elanus gathered his wand and a small book he left laying on the table and started to walk out of the hall, running right into Lily. "Oh, sorry," Elanus said, looking down at Lily who didn't seem to want to move.

"There are worse things that could happen to a girl," she said, winking up at Elanus, "Mail Call," she said, backing up and handing Elanus an envelope with a good number of American stamps on it.

"I thought these normally came by owl," Elanus replied.

"Well, it looks like it's from America somewhere, I got one too," Lily replied, "From the same place. A postman who's privy to us brought it by."

"Oh really," Elanus said in a puzzled tone, "Where from?"

"A city called Amarillo. It's in Texas somewhere," Lily replied.

"Uncle Gene," Elanus said, carefully opening the envelope.

Lily looked surprised and grabbed Elanus by the arm and quickly walked him to a corner of the school rarely traveled.

"You have an uncle Gene from America?" asked Lily.

"Yes," Elanus said looking a bit puzzled. He pulled the letter from the envelope and opened it up. "He's coming here in a few days! It looks like he sent the letter several weeks ago. Bloody slow postal service."

"Elanus," Lily said, "Focus, I got one from the same place."

"From Amarillo?" Elanus asked, "You must be his…"

"Half sister," Lily replied.

"That would make us cousins," he said a bit mournfully.

"Fate is cruel," Lily sighed.

"Yep, God definitely has a sense of humor," Elanus chuckled.

"You must be related on Annie's side then," Lily asked.

"Yeah, she's my dad's sister," Elanus replied.

"Well then we're barely related, so I don't have to stop flirting," Lily said jokingly.

"I doubt anyone could draw any kind of connection there," Elanus said.

"Well why don't we keep it that way?" she said, slapping his belly.

"Why?" asked Elanus.

"For one you drive my friends crazy," Lily said, "And two it could come in handy some day.  We need to swear never to tell anyone we're related, and if confronted pretend like we had no idea."

"I sense ulterior motives," Elanus replied, "But who am I to deny family?"

"Good," She said, "I swear never to tell anyone I'm related to you, and if asked about it I swear to pretend like I had no idea."

"Can I put my hand on your stomach to swear?" Elanus asked.

"I don't think so," Lily said, not moving her hand.

"Alright," Elanus replied and raised his hand, "I swear never to reveal our relationship, and if asked I will pretend I had no idea."

"That's good, now why don't you walk me to the stairwell, and I'll see you later tonight," she said.

"Alright," Elanus said, "Can I ask what your fascination with my abdomen is?"

"It's so flat and strong," Lily said teasingly, rubbing her hand a little.

"I see," Elanus said, reaching down and swatting her rear quickly.

"What was that for?" Lily asked indignantly, stepping away from Elanus.

"Nothing, I had a witty remark, but it's gone now," Elanus said, humming merrily as he walked down the hall, "If you want me to walk you back, you have to keep up."

Lily walked briskly beside him, then caught his arm as he headed toward Gryffindor Tower. "You're uncharacteristically cheerful tonight you know," Elanus said quietly as they walked.

"Christmas break, I get to see my family," Lily said.

"Me too," Elanus said as they arrived near the stairwell leading to the Gryffindor Tower. Elanus bent in close to Lily's ear, "I'll see you in a few hours."

Lily turned to Elanus' ear and said, "We'll be in the same place we always are."

Elanus kissed her on the cheek and walked off towards his own House. Once inside the common room he found John sitting on one of the chairs reading.

"Hey," John said, flipping his book closed.

"Evenin'," Elanus said, nodding his head.

"Have a seat," John said, gesturing towards a nearby chair.

Elanus sat down in the chair and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. John's face broke out into a large grin.


"So, you and Lily seem close," John commented.

"You have no idea," Elanus said, "Thanks for introducing her to me."

"No problem, I knew you two would hit it off," John said.

"So what are the prospects for the game after school starts again?" asked Elanus.

"Not good actually," John said, his voice lowering, "Some Slythern, Snivellus probably, has called for a broom inspection before the game."

"So what, you're playing Ravenclaw," Elanus said.

"Doesn't matter," John said, "It's a matter of 'fairness', and they want all the brooms inspected."

"They won't find anything, we didn't tamper with the brooms," Elanus said.

"They're going to look at the scarves to," John sighed.

"Who's inspecting?" asked Elanus.

"Flitwick."

"I was afraid you'd say that," Elanus said, "Alright, get 'em together, I can fix it where he won't see it."

"You sure? He's awfully good, and I hate to lie to the head of my own house," John said.

"I'll just tangle the charms up a bit, and put a 'luck' charm on them," Elanus said with a shrug, "He'll get tickled and probably won't bother to inspect them much more."

"You can do that?" asked John.

"No, but Lily can," Elanus replied.

"Whoa, hold on she's a Gryffindor remember?"

"Yeah, but she already figured out what was going on anyway," Elanus said, "Besides she'll bend over backwards to help deflate James Potter's ego."

"Well, do what you need to, we're counting on you," John said, "I'm going to hit the sack, see you tomorrow."

Elanus leaned back in his chair for a few moments, and watched as everyone went to bed, and finally the candles went out. He made his way to his room. After making sure his roommates were asleep he donned his cloak and went out into the halls. He found his perch and watched his map. Several girls from all four houses converged on an abandoned classroom that was seeing a lot of night time activity lately.

"Time for my payment," Elanus said, leaping down from his ledge. He slowly made his way to the room, avoiding the grounds keeper who was making his nightly patrols. After stopping as another group of younger curfew breakers ran down a hall intersecting with his, he threw a coin down the hall after them. The groundskeeper spun around and ran after the group, right past Elanus.

Elanus found the room and carefully slipped inside and removed his cloak. "Hi Elanus," the girls in the room chirped in unison.

"Good evening," Elanus said cheerfully, "Lot of activity out tonight."

"Here's your Pepsi," Lily said, handing Elanus several bottles.

"Thanks, mind if I join you all for a bit?" asked Elanus.

"Not at all," one of the girls said, "It'll be a bit before the old git goes to bed."

Elanus chuckled, "He'll have a fine time with the group I sent him after for sure."

"Really, more rule breakers?" asked Lily.

"Yeah, some boys," Elanus said, "I've never seen them out before. Probably a first time out."

"Boys!" one of the younger girls squealed, "Were they cute? Why did you have to get them into trouble?"

"I don't know if they were or not. I'm not a good one to ask that anyway," Elanus said, "And hey, we all have to make sacrifices."

"Better them then you," Lily said, taking a drink from her bottle.

"Why's that?" asked Elanus.

"She thinks you're hot," one of the other girls replied, giggling.

Lily laughed, "That and he's the reason Potter's minions haven't conducted a panty raid in months."

"Here's to Elanus, savior of our underwear," the girls said in unison, clinking their bottles together and giggling.

"Why don't you help us get Potter in trouble?" asked Lily.

"There's an idea," Elanus replied, rubbing his chin. "It could be risky though."

"Why is that?" asked one of the girls.

"The problem with getting someone in trouble like that is; you'll likely get in trouble yourself," Elanus replied, "Also, Potter and his legendary Dumbledore immunity might be tricky. They get in trouble fairly often anyway don't you think?"

"Yes, but that map of theirs keeps them from getting caught at night," one of the girls replied, "I don't think anyone but Severus Snape has ever managed to catch them. That was outside the grounds."

"How'd you know about that?" asked Elanus.

"I could see out my window," the girl said with a shrug.

"Well getting those four in trouble will take preparation," Elanus said, still rubbing his chin, "It might take a few allies."

"Allies?" Lily asked.

"I think I know a few dozen people who'd like to see Potter's ego deflated," Elanus replied with a grin.