Chapter 7
Satan; Occupation: Angel
"So, Adrian..." Lily said, stirring absently at her butterbeer. "Where are you from?"
She and Adrian had been at Hogsmeade for all of thirty minutes, including the impossibly long length of time spent waiting in line for their butterbeers, and already the conversation had crashed and burned.
"I'm from Kent, actually." Adrian said.
Lily nodded. "Ah. Kent. Is it nice there?"
"Yes, it is. Very green."
"Sounds pretty."
"It is. You'll have to visit some time."
"Oh, I'd like that."
"Good."
"Yeah."
Once again, the conversation died. Lily sighed. She had been expecting this to be fun and romantic. They'd spend some time together in the Three Broomsticks, drinking butterbeers and chatting about everything, then later they'd walk hand-in-hand down the street and go into the woods where he'd have a picnic set up and they'd spend the rest of the afternoon there, kissing and talking. She let out a breath, blowing her bangs up.
Adrian pushed his drink around the table, leaving little wet streaks. "Lily." he said, somewhat hesitantly. "There's something I have to tell you."
Lily's head shot up. Please God, don't let him be gay. James'll never let me hear the end of it. "What is it?" she asked.
"Well, this isn't easy for me to say."
Come on, spit it out, she thought anxiously.
"Thing is, I'm not entirely sure about it, but I figure, if I'm not feeling anything for a pretty girl like you, then it's wrong to lead you on, especially if there's someone else who wants you more."
"Um, Adrian? What are you talking about? And what do you mean, someone wants me more?"
"Well, Lily, I think I'm gay."
Shit.
"And you have to know that James wants you, bad."
"How do you know you're gay? I mean you could be straight, but just not have a crush on me." Lily protested.
"That's just it. There isn't a single girl at this school who I'm even remotely interested in."
"So?"
"Well, I've had feelings for guys."
Lily frowned slightly. "Ah."
"Yeah." He ran a hand through his hair nervously. "Look, Lily, I'm really sorry about this. I hope I haven't hurt you at all?"
Lily thought for a second. Did she feel hurt? "No." she said slowly. "No, you haven't hurt me. That's odd, I would have thought..."
Adrian broke into a grin. "Good. I'd really like to be friends with you, even though it didn't exactly work out between us."
Lily smiled broadly. "Yeah. Yeah, that'd be fun. I've always wanted a gay guy for a friend."
"Fantastic." Adrian gave Lily a sideways hug.
*
"What's happening? Can you tell?" James asked, trying to peer around the booth over to Adrian and Lily.
"Adrian just hugged Lily and she's smiling." Cara said, twisting around.
Sirius, James, Peter, and Remus were all crowded into a booth with Madeline and the rest of Lily's friends to spy on Lily and Adrian on James' behalf. To make room, Sirius had chivalrously offered Shayne his lap and she had charitably accepted.
"Remember what we told you, Padfoot." Remus said in a low voice.
Sirius nodded. "Course I remember." he said. "But we needed more room!"
Remus rolled his eyes and turned to Madeline. "What do you think?" he asked. "Are Adrian and Lily hitting it off?"
"I can't really tell." she said. "Sirius' big head is blocking my vision."
"My head is not big!" exclaimed Sirius indignantly.
"Then move it!" Madeline said. "We can't see!"
Sirius rolled his eyes, but obliged, resting his chin on Shayne's shoulder. Shayne looked down at him and smiled, shaking her head slightly.
"They're leaving!" exclaimed the wounded voice of James as Adrian and Lily came into view.
"They're not holding hands. That's always a good sign." Peter said.
James grinned. "Yes! Her radar is working!!"
Jessie looked at him. "Radar? What radar?"
"Yeah, since when does Lily have radar? What is she, a robot?" asked Shayne.
"Nah, it's just some theory Pro-James came up with at breakfast." Sirius said from his position on Shayne's shoulder.
"Enough chat, let's go!" James cried, shoving Cara out of the booth and scooting out.
*
Now that Adrian's secret was out in the open, Lily found herself having a lot more fun with him and feeling much more relaxed. She had told him about her problems with James and discovered that he gave very good advice.
"Do you like him?" he asked.
"I don't know." she replied. "Sometimes he does nice things, like sending me flowers, but other times he just completely and totally pisses me off and I want nothing to do with him."
"So is that a yes?"
"What?! No!" Lily exclaimed vehemently.
Adrian shot her a look. "Liar."
"If I'm a liar, then...then Satan's an angel."
"Technically he is. He's a fallen angel. So...liar!"
"Dork, you know what I mean."
"Ah, I can feel the love!"
Lily swatted him on the arm. "I don't and never will like him."
Adrian snorted. "You're denying your true feelings."
"Am not."
"Then why are you all red?"
Lily felt her face. Hot as a firepoker. Goddamn genes, she thought. "Because it's hot out."
"Lily. It's drizzling."
"So?"
"It's not hot."
"Whatever. So, what do you think of that guy?"
"Oh, he's cute. Not your type though."
*
James saw Adrian and Lily talking and laughing up ahead and his blood boiled. How dare she go out with any guy other than him? He quickened his pace in order to catch up, but was stopped by Remus. "What?" he snapped, turning around.
"Prongs. Think clearly now. If you go up there and interrupt their conversation, what's Lily going to do?"
"Flip out on me?"
"Wow, we've got a scholar here, Moony!" exclaimed Sirius.
"Thank you for that completely random comment, Padfoot. And yes, Prongs, incidentally, you're right. And then can you tell me what will happen?"
"I'll yell back?"
"We're batting a thousand here!" cried Sirius again.
"Exactly." Remus said, choosing to ignore Sirius' comment. "And then all our hard work will be ruined and she'll be back to hating you with a passion..."
"Rather than just hating you, like she does now."
"Words of encouragement provided by Padfoot. Thank you." quipped Peter.
"So basically, James or Prongs or whatever I'm supposed to call you—"
"James is good, Prongs is just what these three call me."
"Ah, okay, anyway, what Remus is saying is, in a nutshell, save a confrontation for..." Madeline paused to think.
"For never!" chirped Jessie.
"Yeah, that." agreed Cara.
"Fine." James grumbled, folding his arms across his chest.
*
After having left Adrian at the foot of the stairs, Lily climbed through the portrait hole, thoroughly exhausted, but happy.
"Lily!" Shayne's squeal greeted her upon her entrance.
"How was it!?" Jessie asked, from her seat in the biggest armchair.
Lily walked over and sat on the couch next to Cara. "I had a LOT of fun." she said. "Adrian's a really great guy."
"So are you going to go out again?" asked Cara anxiously.
"Maybe. I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?" Jessie asked, thunderstruck.
"I mean, I don't know. Where's Madeline by the way?"
"Madeline? Oh, I don't know."
"I think she went off with Remus after Hogsmeade."
"With Remus? Oh, my best friend flirting with my enemy's best friend! The pain!" exclaimed Lily dramatically.
"You're nuts, Lily." commented Shayne.
"Thank you, darling, I rather think so myself. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get my beauty sleep. I'm exhausted." With that, Lily waltzed up the stairs to the girls' dormitories.
There was a stunned sort of silence after Lily's disappearance.
"Well." Jessie said.
"Do you get the idea Lily's not telling us something?" asked Cara.
"I get the feeling Lily's finally gone off her rocker." Shayne replied.
*
As James, Sirius, Shayne, Jessie, and Cara had gone back up to Hogwarts Castle, Remus had asked Madeline to stay back with him. "Come with me." he whispered, taking her hand and leading her off across the grounds.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"One of my favorite places to go to when it's dark." and when it's not a full moon, he added to himself.
He led her through a patch of trees that formed something like a circle before joining up with the Forbidden Forest. "Here." he said.
"Oh my God!" exclaimed Madeline. "I didn't know this was here!"
Hidden by the cluster of trees was a clearing with a little pond in the center of it. Looking up, Madeline saw all the stars, more than she'd ever seen in her life at one time. "It's beautiful."
Remus smiled a bit. "Yeah. It is."
"Thank you for showing this to me."
"You're welcome. Madeline, there's something I wanted to tell you."
Madeline looked at him. "Really? What?"
"Well, you see," Remus blushed and scratched at the back of his head. He didn't quite meet Madeline's eyes.
"Yes?"
He raised his head and looked at her. "I like you, Madeline, I like you a lot."
Madeline's eyes widened. "You-you do?" Her voice came out rather hoarse.
"Yes and, um, I'd be absolutely thrilled if you liked me too?" he asked hesitantly.
Madeline didn't know what to think or to say. Did she like him? Silly question. "Yeah...yeah I do like you, too." she said, looking up at him and smiling.
His anxious face broke into a grin. "That's great!" he exclaimed. "Now come with me." He picked up her hand again and tugged her with him.
He led her behind a large rock next to the pond to reveal a red and white-checkered blanket lying on the ground. "For stargazing." he explained.
Madeline smiled. "Cool." she said, laying down next to him with her head resting on his arm.
*amazing. I can still write even when I have writer's block. Score! Anyway I don't know if there are any cliffhangers aside from the obvious (James and Lily: will they EVER get together?). So read and review and let me know if you can help me get a livejournal account and if you want me to notify you when I update, leave your email!*