a/n. Hi, ok please don't tell me how crap this is because I am aware of the fact that shit is an understatement. I know it's a bit fluffy (sorry Crystallina Auctia) and not as funny as the other 2 chapters, but I promise that the 4th chapter will be better. Big thanks to K*t my beta reader and my inspiration, you rock girl! Please review, pretty please.....
Chapter Three - Rumours and Revelations
"Come on."
"No."
"I said I was sorry."
"Yeah to me, but I'm not the only person you should be apologising to."
"Me, apologise to him!?! You must be joking."
Tiffany shot Sirius a frosty look. She was still fuming about the 'incident' in Care of Magical Creatures where Sirius had shouted out to the whole class that Snape fancied her. Tiffany had not found it amusing unlike Remus and James who were still laughing about it several days later.
"Do I look like I'm joking!" she said icily. "You embarrassed me in front of everyone. In fact, I don't know why I'm still talking to you." Tiff stalked away from Sirius, towards a secluded armchair by the fire in which she settled herself down and started reading a book of Lily's.
"Fine! But there is NO WAY I'm gonna apologise to gitface, so you can forget that idea," said Sirius haughtily, turning his back on her. Tiffany turned round and glared at him, slamming the book down.
"You make it sound like I was in the wrong." she said shrilly, a few younger Gryffindors stopped their conversations to listen and watch. "I mean, it's not my fault if I attract every ugly, evil, foul-mouthed egotistical, pigheaded excuse for a man that I meet. Hey, you know I'm beginning to think I've got a magnet stamped to my forehead saying, "GET IT HERE! ONLY TOTAL IMBECILES ACCEPTED!" Tiffany yelled at a bewildered Sirius; her cheeks pink with frustration, platinum hair spilling wildly over her shoulders. She breathed through her nose heavily for a moment. "Oh what's the point," she muttered, stomping off to her dorm and slamming the door.
Sirius sat for a moment, taking in what had just happened. He sighed, catching the eye of a 3rd Year Gryffindor boy.
"Never try to understand women," he said wearily, his eyes fell on Tiffany's book. He picked it up, "Pride and Prejudice?" and started reading the page which she had book-marked.
"What's up?" James entered the common room, his Nimbus 1000 slung over his shoulder. He sat down on the opposite side of the sofa, tucked his long legs up, and peered inquisitively at Sirius through his glasses.
"Bloody women. You try to do something nice for them and they throw it all back in your face." he said bitterly, tossing the book onto the table.
"Ahh, Tiff troubles I guess." said James thoughtfully.
"You guessed correctly." Sirius furrowed his brow and looked up at James. "Anyway, you know what tonight is?" he said meaningfully. James nodded.
"The full moon," he replied, taking care to keep his voice low. "Time for the Marauders to go on a night trip."
"Yep, we'll go down after Madam Pomfrey's gone and fetch Remus from the shack. Bring the cloak, just in case." Sirius was referring to the silvery invisibility cloak, which James had inherited from his late grandfather. It had proved itself to be a necessity for every method of rule breaking possible. In their second year, Sirius and James had discovered Remus' dark secret. Each month, he had always needed to go home suddenly because his grandmother had died, or his mother was ill. They had quickly become suspicious, and in time, had worked it out for themselves. Remus was a werewolf, and had been absolutely terrified when they had confronted him. But instead of deserting him like most people had, they did something remarkable. Sirius and James had just last month mastered the art of Animagi, the ability to transform into a different animal at will. James had been staying at with Sirius for the last three weeks of the school holidays when they had cracked it. James had turned into a stag and Sirius into a large dog, which resembled a Grim more than a little.
"Do you think it'll work? I mean, there'll only be us two and Remus, what if we can't control him?" said James apprehensively.
"Stop worrying, we're both bigger animals than him in his wolf form anyway," said Sirius reassuringly. "Speak of the devil," he grinned up at Remus who had just walked in with Amber.
James noticed that he looked pale, a little more than usual. He smiled up at them warmly, a quizzical smile came across his face.
"Where's Lily?" he asked Amber, after realising that she wasn't in the common room.
"Dunno, oh wait..." Amber paused in thought. "She said something about Library, Herbology, Ravenclaw and Ilianna Harman. Oh and homework was mentioned." Amber grinned, amazed at her memory which usually only had room for remembering gossip.
"Ilianna Harman? And she would be...?" asked James.
"That fit chick in Ravenclaw, you know the blonde Chaser. Tall and leggy." Sirius grinned, he had a good eye for talent on and off the Quidditch pitch.
Amber frowned at this comment.
"Typical male," she sighed. "Are you ok darling? You don't look well at all," she cooed over Remus.
"I'm fine, just feeling a bit 'off' today that's all," he smiled weakly at Amber as she enveloped him in a hug, patting his back and muttering, "Poor baby." Sirius and James traded a glance, then promptly burst into silent giggles, mouthing at Remus, "Poor baby," and "Darling."
* * *
"Lily?" A pretty looking girl with sunshine blonde hair poked her head round Lily's textbook and peered good naturedly at her.
"What is it Ilianna?" she asked wearily.
"Can I ask you a question?" said Ilianna silkily.
"Well I thought that was implied by me saying, 'what is it Ilianna'," Lily retorted sarcastically. Ilianna Harman was in Ravenclaw and a very pretty girl indeed. She had long legs, buttercup yellow hair and was a Chaser on her Quidditch team. She was also very popular with the boys. Although Ilianna had beauty and brains to a certain extent, she was undeniably classed as naive. A top grade student with a brain like a chicken when it came to conversation. Lily often wondered whether it was possible to be clever yet clueless at the same time.
"Ok," Ilianna smiled and moved closer to Lily. "Are you dating James Potter?" she asked outright.
"What!" Lily exclaimed. "Who told you that?"
"Aha, so it IS true!" Ilianna shrieked.
"No of course not, we're just friends," said Lily, blushing a little.
"Liar." The girl regarded Lily with baby blue eyes, which twinkled merrily. "I've seen you together, you two were made for each other."
"I'm telling the truth, there's nothing going on between James and I." said Lily defiantly. "Who told you anyway?"
"Erm, well... I kind of overheard Amber Carrington talking to... oh, what's her name? You know, that small one... ooh, I always forget her name. Is it... Tanya or Tara?" Ilianna guessed wildly.
"You mean Tiffany," said Lily, an amused smile creeping over her face.
"Yeah that's the one. Anyway, Amber was saying how obvious it is that you and James are going to get together soon. Ooops, I hope I haven't got anyone in trouble," Ilianna simpered.
"No, not at all," Lily smiled sweetly through gritted teeth, thinking, 'You've just handed her a death sentence.'
"So, what about Sirius? Is he going out with anyone?" Ilianna asked innocently.
"Not that I know of, why? You don't like him do you?" Lily grinned.
"Of course I do, honestly Lily, do you have eyes?" said Ilianna without a trace of embarrassment. It was a well-known fact that Ilianna liked Sirius. Pretty and popular, she couldn't understand why he hadn't fallen for her "not-so-subtle" charm.
"Yes I do have eyes, but I just don't think about Sirius in that way. In fact, it kind of repulses me," Lily pulled a face as impure thoughts ran through her mind. Yak, she shuddered. "Anyway, moving swiftly on, Herbology report. Must finish," said Lily in between yawns.
"Ok, right. Ahem," Ilianna cleared her throat. "Gillyweed is a rare water plant, which allows the user to breathe underwater on consumption, it's effects lasting for around two hours afterwards so you can breathe underwater and not drown from excessive water in your lungs. There, finished," she exclaimed triumphantly, slamming her quill down on the table and sending inky droplets flying everywhere. Finally, Lily sighed.
"I've got to go now and try to console Tiff," she quickly packed her books away and left the library at an alarming speed.
"Oooh, the one that Severus Snape fancies?" Ilianna shouted after her, ignoring Madam Pince's rather rude 'Shhh's'.
* * *
"Oh my god, what a nitwit! I have never met anyone so cretinous in my life! Honestly, she belongs in Hufflepuff not Ravenclaw." Lily stressed to James and Sirius.
"Let me guess, Little Miss Me-Me-Me, aka Ilianna Harman?" Amber verified, showing obvious dislike of the girl.
"I wonder what gave it away. Oh!" Lily exclaimed, suddenly remembering something. "I am so gonna kill you." She glared at Amber.
"Moi? Why, what did I do?" Amber asked, a frown playing across her face.
"Well a certain somebody overheard you talking with another certain somebody and now that somebody has got a very wrong idea about myself and another certain somebody." Lily hissed. Amber blinked several times.
"I think I speak for all of us here when I say - huh?" Sirius and James both bore bemused expressions, whereas Amber was slowly understanding.
"You mean that she was earwigging on me and T- err, a certain somebody?!" said Amber quickly. Sirius looked suspicious.
"Yes, and you know what you and that person were talking about..." Lily went very red around her cheeks as Amber slightly paled.
"Erm, we were, erm..." Amber was running out of things to say when she had a brainwave, her eyes fell on Sirius and she grinned. "Yes. We were talking about you and James." A look of horror came over Lily's face and she turned a wonderful shade of magenta. James had reacted in very much the same way as Lily by going beetroot and staring at Amber, mortified. Sirius grinned, nodding for Amber to continue. "Well me and Tiff - and Sirius too, we've seen how you are around each other, so this is us telling you to either get it together, or leave it, ok?" Amber said.
"Let's leave them alone to 'talk'," said Sirius using air-quotes.
"Yep, come on Remie. We'll go this way, and Sirius can go and apologise to Tiff." Amber grinned at Sirius, dragging Remus up the spiral stairs towards the boys dorm. Reluctantly, Sirius set off up the stairs muttering incoherently. There were no other students in the common room except Lily and James.
Silence. Lily looked at James. James looked at Lily.
"So," he said...
* * *
"It's raining men!" Tiff danced round the room wearing only a towel, droplets of water sprayed everywhere from her drenched hair. She was singing to a song that was playing on Lily's magically modified cassette player. ~:~a/n no cd's then (1978 ish)~:~ "Hallelujah, it's raining men. Amen! Woops," the towel dipped dangerously low down her back, Tiffany quickly pulled it back up, securing it firmly.
Sirius walked through the door, his eyes growing abnormally wide at the sight of Tiff in a towel that barely skimmed her thighs.
"Jesus!" he said loudly in shock. Tiffany spun round and let out a small scream.
"Sirius! What the hell are you doing?!?" she shrieked, crossing her legs and desperately trying to stop her towel from falling.
"I erm, needed to, erm... tell you something," he said, unable to stop staring. "But you obviously anticipated my timely arrival," a crafty glint appeared in his eyes.
"Stop it! Get out!" she screamed.
"But it's really important," he stared into her *eyes* trying not to glance lower.
"Turn around." she instructed, watching him suspiciously. She quickly pulled on a lacy black bra, ~:~ a/n completely meaningless ;)~:~ with matching knickers, and slipped into a silver satin nightgown, which also happened to be very short.
"So what did you want to tell me?" she asked, standing rather awkwardly.
"That you've got great legs, and you must come and listen because we've just left Lily and James alone together," Sirius said quickly, grabbing her hand and pulling her down the stairs where they had a silent fight over who got to listen at the door.
* * *
"So... this is weird," James grinned sheepishly. What the hell am I supposed to say? he thought wildly. "So, erm... how did it go in the... library with Ilianna?" Oh my god, what I am? Braindead? He groaned inwardly, knowing how stupid that would've sounded. Not to his surprise, Lily laughed. It wasn't a scornful or mocking laugh, but one of genuine amusement, which made her face shine with radiance.
"Is that all you can think of?" she giggled, desperately trying to keep a straight face. James looked rather hurt. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you but, hey at least it broke the silence." She flashed him a stunning smile, her green eyes glinting mischievously as she sat down next to him on the sofa feeling far more comfortable with the situation.
"Yeah, stupid, but funnily enough a conversation starter. That'll be the world's best pick-up-line I can tell you," he grinned, regaining his confidence. "So, what were we talking about?"
"Apart from Ilianna? Well..." Lily hesitated slightly before throwing caution to the winds and following Amber's direct example. "James do you like me?" she said, holding her breath. James froze. Say yes you imbecile, yes... nagged a little voice at the back of his mind. James took a deep breath.
"Yes, and I know that you don't like me but I have to tell you because I can't hold it in much longer. I've always liked you Lily, ever since the first day we met on the train. I love your hair, your eyes, your smile, but most of all I love you. You're the most amazing person I've ever met and probably ever will meet," said James passionately. He sighed. "Ok, I feel really stupid now." He blushed furiously, eyes averted to the floor.
"Awwww, that is sooooo sweet." Lily moved closer to him and touched his hand lightly. "I like you too James," she said softly. A strange fluttering sensation flowed through Lily, sending her light-headed and dizzy. James gazed into her deep emerald eyes, gently squeezing her hand.
"Are you sure about this, I mean, it could totally kill our friendship. I just... don't want to lose you..."
"Shh..." Lily held a finger against James' lips to silence him. "We'll always be friends, no matter what happens." She traced the outline of his top lip with her fingertips, gently trailing along his cheek and down his neck. James shuddered under her touch, strangely vulnerable.
"So, what's going to happen now?" He gave her a crafty grin which was so familiar that it was uncanny.
"Well, after you've declared your undying love for me in front of the entire school, I'm going to make you run naked through the Forbidden Forest, flashing to all the baby unicorns." said Lily seriously.
"And you don't think that might corrupt the innocent creatures Lil?" he replied, eyebrows raised.
"Not in the slightest. It might scar them for life seeing your hairy butt though," she poked him playfully.
"Ahem, how do you know my butt is hairy? For your information I shave it regularly," James protested with a grin.
* * *
"What are they saying?"
"I don't know, shut up or they'll hear us."
"You shut up." Tiffany hissed. She was pressed up against Sirius in a corner, trying to eavesdrop on James and Lily through a tiny crack in the door, but not having much luck as Sirius kept fidgeting.
"Stop moving," she hissed.
"Shh," Sirius clamped a strong hand over her mouth. Tiffany wriggled violently, digging her long nails into his flesh.
"Ow," he released her, glancing at his arm, which was full of deep half-moon dents.
"Never try that on with me again, or you'll get a lot more than a scratched arm," said Tiff, softly yet menacingly.
"Oh that's how you like it is it? The pain and pleasure thing," Sirius whispered seductively into her ear, placing his hands on her waist.
"Right now, I'm up for pain," she elbowed Sirius in the stomach, causing him to double over in agony.
"Now, if you don't mind. I'm off to dry my hair and get changed." Tiffany stalked off up back up the stairs, returning three minutes later with magically straightened hair, clothed in flared jeans and a light pink gypsy top which showed off her slender shoulders.
"What's happened?" she asked Sirius.
"Nothing, they're saying nothing at all." He frowned at her, pain was still a fresh memory. Tiffany grinned, taking care to restrain herself from screaming.
"And if they're saying nothing then you know what they're doing!!!" she squeaked, jumping up and down with joy. "Eeee." Sirius grinned.
"About time! Shall we go in yet? Make them feel embarrassed?" said Sirius eagerly.
"No. Leave them to it..." Tiff smirked. "On second thoughts, let's have a bit of fun." She giggled. "Follow my lead, ok?" Sirius nodded.
Tiffany counted to three, then burst through the door, with Sirius directly behind her. Her eyes fell on James and Lily, locked in a cuddly embrace. They sprang apart, both of them wearing guilty looks. Tiff winked at Lily, then turned to Sirius.
"Oh James, I love you more than life itself." she said dramatically. Sirius took her hands and got down on one knee.
"Oh Lily dearest. You hair is like the setting sun and your eyes are the stars. Please allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. Will you be my wife?" he said loudly, throwing himself into the role. Lily and James cringed.
"Of course Jamie darling. I'd be absolutely thrilled to spend the rest of my life with you. Now take me away to the honeymoon suite where we can shag now, shag later and shag each other again in the morning." Tiff put a stupid sort of grin on her face, looking uncannily like Ilianna Harman. Sirius swept Tiff off her feet and into his arms.
"Of course my love, nothing would please me more than a passionate night spent in your arms *cough* legs *cough*. Quick, to the ShagMobile." Sirius carried Tiffany back up the stairs.
Lily and James collapsed into peals of laughter, holding onto each other for support.
"Where do they come up with these ideas?" Lily chuckled.
"Absolutely barking mad, both of them," he grinned, putting his arm around Lily. She smiled coyly, resting her head on his shoulder.
"So how long will it be before they get together?" said Lily.
"I give them three months maximum. If people think we were bad then I don't know what to say about Si and Tiff," he replied with a slight grin.
* * *
"Sirius! Put me down, you know I hate heights!" Tiffany was clinging onto him for dear life as he carried her up the narrow, winding staircase towards her room.
"Tiffany you're only two feet above the ground, how can that possibly scare you?" He asked incredulously.
"Just put me down," she wailed, still clutching him desperately.
"Hang on, we're almost there." Sirius carried Tiff over to her bed and dumped her on it. "There you go," he grinned cheekily, leaning on the bedpost.
"Hmph," she muttered, a disgruntled look on her face. "So tell me Sirius, when did you learn to quote Jane Austin?"
"About half an hour ago when I read a page of your book. I don't know how you understand it, it's so drawn out and long. Why don't they just get to the point."
"Because darling Sirius, then it wouldn't be half as romantic." Tiff sighed dreamily. Sirius sat down on the bed next to her.
"So when are you going to let me come and sweep you off your feet like Mr. Darcy?" He said softly, meeting her gaze with sincere azure eyes. Tiff hesitated for a moment.
"When you're ready," she said simply, keeping eye contact for a couple of seconds before pulling away, smiling secretly.
"Does that mean I'm forgiven? For the Snape thing?" he asked, the familiar crafty smile returning.
"I suppose so. I mean, it could've been worse. You could've made it out that I liked him instead of the other way around," she grinned.
"Hmmm," said Sirius thoughtfully. Tiff hit him with a pillow.
"Come on, or they'll think we really are at it like rabbits." She walked towards the door.
"Hmmm, now that you mention it, lets stay here," he winked as she shot him an *as if* look. "Or we could leave." He smiled innocently.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
Three bodies silently shuffled across the grounds towards the Whomping Willow, invisible to the eye. Peter, who had only managed to transform several days ago, slipped under the thrashing branches to freeze the tree. A large shaggy, black dog disappeared under the roots, returning a minute later with what was unmistakably a wolf.
He howled at the moon, magnificent and feral, the beast was somewhat saner when in the company of the three. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. They crossed the grounds; the wolf and the dog nipped playfully at each other under the watchful eye of the stag and rat.
Life was so much better now. Now he had company on these lonely, painful nights when his curse was unleashed. No more harming himself, no more lying to his friends. Yet there was still Amber... So many times he had come close to telling her, only to bottle out for fear of rejection.
They made their way into the forest, totally unaware that someone was watching their every move.
She smiled. The moon lit up the room in which two others lay asleep. A frown passed over her face as she watched the odd procession of animals disappear into the silent shadows of the forest. In the blink of an eye they were gone, and so she retired to bed, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.