Disclaimer: Hi, I'm not J.K.R. Not feeling creative at the moment, but please don't sue. That's the best disclaimer I have in me tonight.
Also, last chapter, I was so excited about being able to upload documents that I was in a rush to get it on FanFiction before I couldn't again (if that makes any sense at all). Anyways, I forgot to mention my beta! Thanks Char, for helping me out.
Down to business: the reviews weren't many, but they WERE, and that is the point. All three of them DO exist, which is better than nothing.
Headmaster Cromwell, I am honored by your invitation (should I be, or am I just over excited?) However, the link you gave me "didn't exist" when I tried to go to it. Just thought I should let you know. I'm glad you think the story is good.
Larken84, I'll do the best I can with the posting! I hope to crank out Chapter Four by the end of this week. (ambitious, I know.)
stellar, I'm glad you decided to check out my story despite the initial hesitation, and I hope you don't regret your decision. This chapter is dedicated to you, believe it or not, just cause you were unsure about whether this story was for you, but you dove in anyway. Thank you for reviewing.
Again, thanks to all (um, threes company, not crowded yall) and I mean ALL reviewers. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to something I've been working on for quite awhile. Enjoy the next chapter.
Chapter 2: Feeling sorry, Paying Homage, Making Enemies
Refresher from the previous chapter:
"Class. Is. Over. Everyone's gone. They were just going to leave you here, and you know what? Next time, I will too. Excuse me for breathing, I think I'll remove myself from your exalted presence as I have better things to do with my afternoon." Turning on her heel, she stormed out of the room, leaving a confused and slightly annoyed Sirius behind.
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Oh great job, Sirius, he thought angrily to himself, watching her retreating back. Can you stick your foot in your mouth even more? Sighing, he grabbed his books and trudged slowly out of the classroom and down the hall. Women. I'll never understand them. So I was a bit grouchy- did she have to fly off the handle like that? Then again, it was Lily. Man, does she have a wicked temper. I'd hate to be the guy that really pisses her off. Wonder why the guys just left me there anyway? Guess I'll have to ask them about it later. "Fiddlesticks," he growled at the Fat Lady.
"Bad day dear?" she asked sympathetically, swinging open to admit him.
"The pits." His day couldn't have gone any worse if Voldemort had dropped in for a visit. He'd slept in that morning, missing breakfast and coming in late to Transfiguration, earning him his first detention of the day. He'd turned McGonagall's hair purple in retaliation, but not to be outdone, she'd decided he needed detention for the next two weeks as well. Charms had gone pretty smoothly, except it was his worst subject, so he hadn't mastered whatever Flitwick had assigned by the time the bell sounded. The result? He'd gotten held back after class for a short tutor session with Flitwick himself. This only left him five minutes to eat lunch, and too drained to make his way to the Great Hall, he'd just headed to History of Magic and fallen asleep. Then there's the cold shoulder Moony's been giving me since we got back from summer vacation. What's his deal? Ever since the Express, he's been sort of distant. Ugh, I am starving! Dropping his books off in the dorm, he saw James and Remus's books on their respective beds and noted the missing chess pieces. I'll bet they're at Old Oak, since I didn't see them in the common room. Okay, list of things to do: one, apologize to Lily, two, filch some food from the kitchens, three, find the guys. Decided, he left the boys dorm and scanned the common room. Not spotting the red head anywhere, he turned towards the girl's dorm, nearly bumping into another sixth year girl who was on her way down.
"Ah, Kate, lovely to see you, smashing really," he said jovially, smiling what he hoped was a winning smile.
"What do you want now, Black?" she asked with exasperation. They'd dated in third year, and then he had dumped her rather brutally for a Hufflepuff after about a week and a half. She'd hated him ever since. This day just gets better and better, doesn't it?
"I was wondering if Lily was up in your dorm? I was pretty rude earlier, and I feel an apology is in order."
"Are you for real? The great Sirius Black, apologize? By all means, don't let me stop you. However, she's not in the dorm, she and Joni left less than five minutes ago, something about hide and seek. How immature can you get?"
"Well, thanks for saving me the time to check, I'll see you around then? Again, corking to see you." Without waiting for a reply he rushed out of the Fat Lady and after a quick nip by the kitchens where he was given mounds of food from over cooperative house elves, he was soon out in the sunshine. If he had any luck at all, the guys would be at the Old Oak, and if he was even luckier, he'd run into Lily there, since the best trees were over in that area. He began to jog across the lawn. Maybe things are looking up.
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Remus grinned, and took James's knight. "Checkmate."
"God Moony, can't give this poor bloke a break, could you? Five times in two hours!"
"I told you already. I'm invincible. It's a well-known fact and you're the only one who doesn't seem to get it. I am Remus, god of chess and chocolate and-"
"And what?" James asked, egging him on.
"And women!" he finished proudly.
A voice snorted aloud, making the two boys spin around, dislodging their board.
"You?" Joni asked, her eyes leaking mirth. "You, Remus Lupin, proclaim yourself God of women? Puh-lease, I thought you of all people would've come up with something better than that. Women are not governed by anyone but themselves. We are individuals just like you, not just a piece of ass!"
"I didn't-" Remus stuttered, but Joni barged on.
"We've got minds and we can think. Just because most girls around here have mush for brains, fake boobs, and follow you guys around with drool dangling from their chins, that doesn't mean-"
"Oh, Joni, are you attacking these poor ickle boys with your speech on feminism again?" a light, feminine voice quipped.
Remus looked up at this beacon of hope. "Lily? Is it really you? Oh save me, save me! I repent all sins against women, I didn't mean it, honestly!" He dove at her legs, clutching them and begging forgiveness.
Lily frowned with mock sternness, and seemed to consider his pleas. "Well," she relented slowly, "all right then. I forgive you. And your friend too, notwithstanding his silence. Why Remmie, haven't you taught your friend any manners at all? When in the presence of a great goddess such as myself, and Madame Joni of course, he should grovel- or at least bow properly. I am appalled at the company you keep!" Immortal green orbs, filled with laughter and a spark of mischief, turned to include James in the conversation. James gawked at her, taking in the rich, fiery red curls that framed her angular face complete with creamy complexion, cheeks slightly flushed with the heat. Light circled around her, and for a moment, James believed her jesting, looking up at her from his position from the ground.
"Uh- uh," James stalled, staring at this beautiful girl in wonder, momentarily rendered speechless, which was highly unusual. Then, thoughts that actually made sense began to leak through the awe and he looked at her closely. She looks familiar. I'm sure I've seen her before. "You're not a goddess... I've seen you around the tower a few times." Oh, good job, James, he thought sarcastically. You sound as intelligent as a cardboard box.
"And in your classes," the girl pointed out, raising one sophisticated eyebrow.
"Duh, Prongs," Remus hissed in his ear. "Snap out of it."
"We are in your year, you know!" Joni yelled at him from where she was standing, grinning at his denseness. "And Gryffindors at that, you ox!"
"I know who you are, Jo," he growled back, slightly embarrassed. "Who doesn't? You're so obnoxious even Binns knows who you are, and that's saying something!" He turned to Lily again. "Lainie, is it? Nice to meet you, I'm Ja-"
"James Potter," she finished for him, entrancing green eyes flashing in anger.
"Yes, I know who you are. And the name's Lily, not Lainie."
"Ah, I see." This girl's got a temper, she does. Damn, I love it when a girl gets all feisty and fired up. At least, I do now... "Well, Lily, now that you mention it, I do remember seeing you around school."
"Really?" she drawled sweetly, batting her eyelashes at him. James was just beginning to think he'd actually scored some points with the girl, when she snapped him out of his reverie by saying, "Should I be flattered, Jo, that the great Potter has 'seen me around school?'"
"Oh yes, you should," Joni smiled thinly. "It's a great day when James notices you, babe. Just wait until he invites you up to a tower for a one-night snog. Then you can fall into a swoon."
"Too bad swooning's not my style."
"I do not treat girls that way!" James declared, shooting a glare at Joni, who merely smiled. Is she trying to ruin any and every chance I have with Lily?
Lily ignored this outburst and turned to address Remus who was still sprawled on the grass. "Remus, dah-ling, I doubt just an apology will get you on Joni's good side."
"Oh no," Joni crowed. "No apology will do for me. You'll have to pay me homage!"
"Homage?" Remus asked weakly. Joni was always dangerous when you owed her a favor.
"Yes, homage. You- and him-" she jabbed her finger in James's direction. "-will play hide and seek with me, forcing Lily to play also."
"No Joni," Lily replied, facing her friend with a challenging gleam in her eyes. "I said three others, not two."
"Wrong again Lils. I talked to Sean; you know, Sean Finnegan, that Ravenclaw boy? Well, I ran into him on the way up to the tower, and he said he'd love to play………if you did."
"I see." Lily sighed, totally missing Joni's suggestion. It didn't go unnoticed by James, however. "Okay, fine, I give. Let's play."
"Yahoo! All right Lils, that's the spirit."
"Who'll go find Sean?" Lily asked, suddenly struck with a burst of ingenious. If she could get Joni to go look for him, she could post-pone the game for a while yet.
Joni fell right into her hand. "I will," she volunteered, dashing off towards the castle without waiting for a reply.
Lily shook her head and found a lovely rock to perch on. Facing the boys again, she spoke into the ensuing silence, a Cheshire cat grin playing across her lips. "So, how was your little afternoon escapade? Skip class much?"
James's jaw dropped while Remus looked up at her in resignation. "I thought you might've spotted our little disappearing act. I saw your face when I vanished."
"Will you tell McGonagall?" James demanded in a low voice.
"Is Dumbledore a Death Eater?" she said. Glaring at him, she shook her head. "I'm no tattle tail. And I especially don't rat on my friends. If you knew anything about me, you'd know that much."
"It's just, I thought- you being a prefect and all-" James stuttered, looking like a deer caught in car headlights. Those eyes, they just blaze right through you, into the inter depths of your soul...like she knows all my secrets.
"Surprise, surprise! You actually noticed something about me after all…I am shocked. What about you? You're a prefect too."
"I wouldn't tell on myself. Besides, I was thinking-"
"Maybe you shouldn't try to think so much. You might have fewer headaches." The three teens sat in silence, Lily glaring daggers at James, and Remus staring back and forth between the two. Suddenly Lily spoke up, shattering the peace, shifting her gaze from an uncomfortable James to Remus. Smiling sadly, she said, "Remmie, I need to talk to you. Later. Alone. It's quite important. When can you fit it in?"
"How about our secret place at-" he checked his watch. "7:30?" He glanced at her with worry. Whatever she wanted, it seemed urgent.
Relieved at his willingness, she nodded. "Sounds perfect."
So they have a 'secret place'? James wondered jealously. Wonder what's so important that she can't talk about it here?
James felt, with some shock, a reply sound in his head, but it wasn't his voice, it was feminine- If I thought it was any of your concern, James, I would've said it already. Mind your own business. James stared at Lily, wide-eyed, not in awe anymore, but in slight fear.
"How'd you do that?" he demanded aloud.
Lily met his angry blue gaze with cool green. "Do what?" she asked nonchalantly, examining her nails.
"You know what I'm talking about," he shouted at her. When she continued to level his gaze, he thought hard in her direction, hoping it would reach her. Can't you hear me? Or are you a Trelawney in the making? There was a snort of contempt in his mind, the only response. He tried again. Only dark magical beings can communicate mind to mind- you Death Eater!
She lurched, as if she'd been slapped. "Who do you think you are, James Potter?" she hissed at him, leaping up from her seat. She began to back towards the school, her voice rising to a screech. "How dare you! Don't ever speak to me again, got that? Ever!"
Scowling, he goaded on with his mind. Go ahead, little flower. Retreat, retreat, it just proves I'm right.
"Stop it!" she screamed at him, running towards the school now. "Leave me alone!"
You must be dark, Lily. How else can you hear my thoughts? How many have you killed Lily? How many have suffered at your hands? Too many, came the fleeting reply. James barely heard her before he felt something else in his mind, like a door slamming on him, and suddenly the connection was broken.
Remus was staring at him in alarm and anger. "What did you do to her, Prongs?" he growled, sounding like the wolf he was. "What happened?"
"What I did to her?" James shouted back. "She did it to me! She- she- I don't know how she did it…" James trailed off. "She's a Death Eater Moony, she's one of them- I thought you had a sixth sense about these things-"
"She's what?! James!" Remus looked horrified. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I- she-" James faltered.
Remus shot him one last glare, and then raced off after Lily.
James was left sitting, bewildered, at the base of the Old Oak wondering what had just happened.
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And that, my friends, is chapter two. Please review, feedback of any kind is horded like a dog with a secret stash of bones.
Crys