Hi. Sorry it took so long to get this up, but my computer *just* got fixed, and my first draft of this sucked pretty badly. Thanks to all of my reviewers, I love them, so keep doing it!!
Starting in...
3...
2..
1.
Go.
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So what if he'd lied? Did it really matter if he cared that Lily was here? It sure mattered to him. James couldn't tear his eyes off of her. She looked amazing. He loved the way her hair fell just past her shoulders, in soft red waves. He loved the way her eyes sparkled, whether she was happy or angry. He loved the way she tried to insult him. He loved the way she cringed when he rumpled up his hair. He loved---her.
"Aw, Lily, don't be harsh," he teased, and then, without fully realizing what he was doing, and why, James took a few steps closer to Lily, and enveloped her in a bear hug.
Lily made a face of disgust and pushed him away. "Potter," she said, "Those days are over."
Lily and James had dated in 5th year, but after James played a prank on her, (which was incredibly funny to him), and embarrassed her in front of the whole school, (he didn't think it was that bad), she had broken up with him. They had tried to stay friends, as they (somewhat) enjoyed each others company, but it never really worked out. They grew further and further apart, until they just smiled at each other in the hallways.
James was opening his mouth to reply, when there was a loud thump, bump and "Hey, I'm here!" from the fireplace.
He swivelled on his heels to see who had arrived. Mia hadn't said anybody else was coming...
Arabella Figg had arrived. She was covered, head to toe, in soot, and still looked great. Her long, dark hair was barely out of place, which was quite a feat considering she had just come from France. Although covered in soot, it was clear that she hadn't given up her habit of always being in fashion.
~*~*~
"Bella!!" Lily squealed, seeing her friend tumble out of the fireplace.
"Lily!!" Bella squealed right back.
"Bella!" Mia cried, running in from the kitchen, where she had been preparing lunch.
"Mia!!" Bella cried.
"If you girls don't stop this, we're going to go deaf," Sirius joked.
Lily glared at him. Why, oh why, had Mia thought it would be fun to invite *them*? Now she was stuck for the *entire* summer with her ex and his buddies, although Remus wasn't altogether that bad.
Bella turned in circles, taking in all who were here. Her gaze stopped on Remus.
"Remus," she said, her tone flat.
"Oh...," Mia breathed, "Sorry. I forgot..."
Bella and Remus had a complicated past. They had been quite good *friends* up until fifth year, when Bella moved away. Remus had said that if she really loved him, he wouldn't leave, which infuriated Bella, who fought back saying that it's not her decision where she can stay, and that she should be happy for her. They fought for weeks, until Bella had to go. They didn't say good-bye, didn't say nothing. They left it at "Just go, Bella" and "I hate you, Remus."
Remus blew out the air he was holding.
"Bella...," he said, quietly, "We should talk..."
Bella nodded. "Okay."
Mia showed them to the living room, where they could sit and talk in private. She quickly walked back to the hall, where Lily, Sirius and James were standing, looking uncomfortable.
"Mia...how could you forget?" Lily accused.
"It's all part of my plan," Mia giggled, "They were so perfect together. By the end of summer, they will be together. You guys want to help?"
Lily nodded insanely. She knew how happy Bella had been with Remus, and knew how much it hurt her when she had to go. Mia was right, they did belong together. And they would be together.
Lily Evans and Mia Burkley were, quite possibly, the worlds greatest match-makers. *They* were the ones who set up Bella and Remus. Mia had been the one to set up Lily and James, although *that* one didn't turn out right.
"Sirius? James? You in?"
Sirius looked at James.
"We're in."
"Good. Then it's settled. Operation Bella & Remus is a go."
Lily burst out laughing. "You've named it, Mia?"
"No...just always wanted to say something like that..."
~*~*~
Bella did not want to sit down. She thought it showed weakness, which was one thing she would never show in front of Remus Lupin. He wanted to apologize. Lets move on, he said. It was all troll dung to Bella. If there was one thing she was not, it was forgiving.
"Bella," Remus protested, "Would you just accept my apology?"
"No!" Bella half-shouted, "I won't. You don't deserve it, not one bit."
Remus sighed. He knew Bella. She was not one to break down and forgive someone. But come on, the "incident" was over three years ago!
"How come I don't deserve it?"
"Because," she said, "At a very, extremely hard time for me, all you could think of was yourself."
"Well, sor-ry, Bella! I've apologized thousands of times! Would you just grow up and put this behind us?"
"No!"
"Bella, I'm sorry. Really, I am. I'm not going to say it anymore. At the time, I was a stupid 15-year-old who was in love. How would you have felt if I had moved away, huh?"
The corners of Bella's mouth twitched a little. "Remus Lupin," she said, "You are such a girl."
~*~*~
"Ugh," complained James, "How long are they going to be?!"
"Remus and Bella in a room together?" Lily commented, "Mia, you didn't leave any sharp objects in there, did you?"
Mia laughed. "Nah, they'll have to kill each other with their fingernails."
Maybe Remus wouldn't, but Bella would.
~*~*~
To everyone's shock and surprise, Bella and Remus emerged from the living room, both alive....and *laughing*.
"What happened?" Lily asked, curiously.
"Truce," Remus said simply.
"Ah."
~*~*~
"I'm starved," Sirius complained, "Where's lunch."
"In there," Mia said, pointing to the kitchen, "All you have to do is make it."
"Okay," Sirius said, grinning slyly, "Maybe I will. Prongs, Moony, you're helping." "We," said Sirius, looking directly at Mia, "Will make an utterly delicious lunch."
"Oh, no," Lily said, as the three boys disappeared into the kitchen, "They're going to poison it or something."
~*~*~
Mia Burkley had set her sights on none other than Sirius Black. She didn't dare breath a word of it to Lily, because she knew she'd just ridicule her, Mia, on her choice of boyfriend. But Bella, Bella was different. You could tell her stuff, anything at all, and she'd just listen without judging you at all. It was nice, to talk to Bella. Refreshing, really, to get loads of things of your chest without being judged, or ridiculed, or insulted.
Mia, Lily and Bella were lounging on the sun deck, waiting for their lunch. The sun deck was very comfortable indeed. It was furnished with *chaise lounges* with incredibly soft, squishy cushions. There were darling little black wrought iron and glass tables, and many plants, starving for water in the hot sun. The sun deck over looked the gardens, where Mrs. Burkley grew her prize-winning flowers, and the ponds, which were adorned with lily pads. The ponds, no doubt, were Lily's favourite.
"So, what's new with you?" Bella asked Lily.
"Not much, really. But in October," Lily said, getting excited, "I start my training."
Lily was training to be a Charms professor. It was her best subject at school, and she loved it, so she thought, Why not make a living from it? She intended to get a position at Hogwarts, because no other school would do.
"Sounds fun," Bella said sarcastically. Bella had always hated Charms. "How 'bout you, Mi-Mi?" Bella asked, using Mia's detested nickname.
Mia groaned. "I," she said pompously, "am boyfriend-hunting."
Now it was Lily's turn to groan. She knew who Mia meant by that. "Mia, don't tell me you're after Sirius again!"
"Alright, I won't," she said, giggly, "Bella...tell us about France..."
Bella had been rambling on about the Eiffel Tower, and Paris, for twenty minutes, when Sirius, James and Remus entered, each carrying a tray laden with food. They set them down on the little glass tables.
"Enjoy," Sirius said proudly.
"Bon appetit," Remus said, looking pointedly at Bella.
~*~*~
The food, amazingly, was delicious. Contrary to Lily's beliefs, it was not laced with poison or anything undesirable.
"Well!" Sirius said, smirking, "Guess we proved you wrong!"
"Guess you did," Mia complimented, placing her white linen napkin on her plate.
James smirked and raised his eyebrows.
"Beach, anyone?"
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Dun, dun, dun. *Laughs* Beach antics ensue in the next chapter. Antics? Ensue? Nice words, huh? I'll have the next chapter much faster than this one, *if* you review, well even if you don't, because this story is fun for me. But make sure you review!!!!
Review.
Review.
Review.
Begging you to review,
*Lily~Pad*
Starting in...
3...
2..
1.
Go.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So what if he'd lied? Did it really matter if he cared that Lily was here? It sure mattered to him. James couldn't tear his eyes off of her. She looked amazing. He loved the way her hair fell just past her shoulders, in soft red waves. He loved the way her eyes sparkled, whether she was happy or angry. He loved the way she tried to insult him. He loved the way she cringed when he rumpled up his hair. He loved---her.
"Aw, Lily, don't be harsh," he teased, and then, without fully realizing what he was doing, and why, James took a few steps closer to Lily, and enveloped her in a bear hug.
Lily made a face of disgust and pushed him away. "Potter," she said, "Those days are over."
Lily and James had dated in 5th year, but after James played a prank on her, (which was incredibly funny to him), and embarrassed her in front of the whole school, (he didn't think it was that bad), she had broken up with him. They had tried to stay friends, as they (somewhat) enjoyed each others company, but it never really worked out. They grew further and further apart, until they just smiled at each other in the hallways.
James was opening his mouth to reply, when there was a loud thump, bump and "Hey, I'm here!" from the fireplace.
He swivelled on his heels to see who had arrived. Mia hadn't said anybody else was coming...
Arabella Figg had arrived. She was covered, head to toe, in soot, and still looked great. Her long, dark hair was barely out of place, which was quite a feat considering she had just come from France. Although covered in soot, it was clear that she hadn't given up her habit of always being in fashion.
~*~*~
"Bella!!" Lily squealed, seeing her friend tumble out of the fireplace.
"Lily!!" Bella squealed right back.
"Bella!" Mia cried, running in from the kitchen, where she had been preparing lunch.
"Mia!!" Bella cried.
"If you girls don't stop this, we're going to go deaf," Sirius joked.
Lily glared at him. Why, oh why, had Mia thought it would be fun to invite *them*? Now she was stuck for the *entire* summer with her ex and his buddies, although Remus wasn't altogether that bad.
Bella turned in circles, taking in all who were here. Her gaze stopped on Remus.
"Remus," she said, her tone flat.
"Oh...," Mia breathed, "Sorry. I forgot..."
Bella and Remus had a complicated past. They had been quite good *friends* up until fifth year, when Bella moved away. Remus had said that if she really loved him, he wouldn't leave, which infuriated Bella, who fought back saying that it's not her decision where she can stay, and that she should be happy for her. They fought for weeks, until Bella had to go. They didn't say good-bye, didn't say nothing. They left it at "Just go, Bella" and "I hate you, Remus."
Remus blew out the air he was holding.
"Bella...," he said, quietly, "We should talk..."
Bella nodded. "Okay."
Mia showed them to the living room, where they could sit and talk in private. She quickly walked back to the hall, where Lily, Sirius and James were standing, looking uncomfortable.
"Mia...how could you forget?" Lily accused.
"It's all part of my plan," Mia giggled, "They were so perfect together. By the end of summer, they will be together. You guys want to help?"
Lily nodded insanely. She knew how happy Bella had been with Remus, and knew how much it hurt her when she had to go. Mia was right, they did belong together. And they would be together.
Lily Evans and Mia Burkley were, quite possibly, the worlds greatest match-makers. *They* were the ones who set up Bella and Remus. Mia had been the one to set up Lily and James, although *that* one didn't turn out right.
"Sirius? James? You in?"
Sirius looked at James.
"We're in."
"Good. Then it's settled. Operation Bella & Remus is a go."
Lily burst out laughing. "You've named it, Mia?"
"No...just always wanted to say something like that..."
~*~*~
Bella did not want to sit down. She thought it showed weakness, which was one thing she would never show in front of Remus Lupin. He wanted to apologize. Lets move on, he said. It was all troll dung to Bella. If there was one thing she was not, it was forgiving.
"Bella," Remus protested, "Would you just accept my apology?"
"No!" Bella half-shouted, "I won't. You don't deserve it, not one bit."
Remus sighed. He knew Bella. She was not one to break down and forgive someone. But come on, the "incident" was over three years ago!
"How come I don't deserve it?"
"Because," she said, "At a very, extremely hard time for me, all you could think of was yourself."
"Well, sor-ry, Bella! I've apologized thousands of times! Would you just grow up and put this behind us?"
"No!"
"Bella, I'm sorry. Really, I am. I'm not going to say it anymore. At the time, I was a stupid 15-year-old who was in love. How would you have felt if I had moved away, huh?"
The corners of Bella's mouth twitched a little. "Remus Lupin," she said, "You are such a girl."
~*~*~
"Ugh," complained James, "How long are they going to be?!"
"Remus and Bella in a room together?" Lily commented, "Mia, you didn't leave any sharp objects in there, did you?"
Mia laughed. "Nah, they'll have to kill each other with their fingernails."
Maybe Remus wouldn't, but Bella would.
~*~*~
To everyone's shock and surprise, Bella and Remus emerged from the living room, both alive....and *laughing*.
"What happened?" Lily asked, curiously.
"Truce," Remus said simply.
"Ah."
~*~*~
"I'm starved," Sirius complained, "Where's lunch."
"In there," Mia said, pointing to the kitchen, "All you have to do is make it."
"Okay," Sirius said, grinning slyly, "Maybe I will. Prongs, Moony, you're helping." "We," said Sirius, looking directly at Mia, "Will make an utterly delicious lunch."
"Oh, no," Lily said, as the three boys disappeared into the kitchen, "They're going to poison it or something."
~*~*~
Mia Burkley had set her sights on none other than Sirius Black. She didn't dare breath a word of it to Lily, because she knew she'd just ridicule her, Mia, on her choice of boyfriend. But Bella, Bella was different. You could tell her stuff, anything at all, and she'd just listen without judging you at all. It was nice, to talk to Bella. Refreshing, really, to get loads of things of your chest without being judged, or ridiculed, or insulted.
Mia, Lily and Bella were lounging on the sun deck, waiting for their lunch. The sun deck was very comfortable indeed. It was furnished with *chaise lounges* with incredibly soft, squishy cushions. There were darling little black wrought iron and glass tables, and many plants, starving for water in the hot sun. The sun deck over looked the gardens, where Mrs. Burkley grew her prize-winning flowers, and the ponds, which were adorned with lily pads. The ponds, no doubt, were Lily's favourite.
"So, what's new with you?" Bella asked Lily.
"Not much, really. But in October," Lily said, getting excited, "I start my training."
Lily was training to be a Charms professor. It was her best subject at school, and she loved it, so she thought, Why not make a living from it? She intended to get a position at Hogwarts, because no other school would do.
"Sounds fun," Bella said sarcastically. Bella had always hated Charms. "How 'bout you, Mi-Mi?" Bella asked, using Mia's detested nickname.
Mia groaned. "I," she said pompously, "am boyfriend-hunting."
Now it was Lily's turn to groan. She knew who Mia meant by that. "Mia, don't tell me you're after Sirius again!"
"Alright, I won't," she said, giggly, "Bella...tell us about France..."
Bella had been rambling on about the Eiffel Tower, and Paris, for twenty minutes, when Sirius, James and Remus entered, each carrying a tray laden with food. They set them down on the little glass tables.
"Enjoy," Sirius said proudly.
"Bon appetit," Remus said, looking pointedly at Bella.
~*~*~
The food, amazingly, was delicious. Contrary to Lily's beliefs, it was not laced with poison or anything undesirable.
"Well!" Sirius said, smirking, "Guess we proved you wrong!"
"Guess you did," Mia complimented, placing her white linen napkin on her plate.
James smirked and raised his eyebrows.
"Beach, anyone?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dun, dun, dun. *Laughs* Beach antics ensue in the next chapter. Antics? Ensue? Nice words, huh? I'll have the next chapter much faster than this one, *if* you review, well even if you don't, because this story is fun for me. But make sure you review!!!!
Review.
Review.
Review.
Begging you to review,
*Lily~Pad*