Author's Note: Please note; this story was intended to be written as a light-hearted sort of challenge. Never anything lengthy. That's why the chapters are so short. It wasn't supposed to be a big project. If you'd like to be notified of when I update, just add me to your "Author Alerts" list in the member's area. Fanfiction.net will send you an e-mail when I update or create a story. Oh, I got a few reviews last time that I'd like to reply to, so I apologise for the length of this Author's Note.
Logical Raven: Samhain is the ancient festival of the Celts and Romans. Now, as a witch, Lily would have known about this. A wicca [or in this case, witch/wizard], each Halloween [or around that time] can choose to participate in the ancient Samhain rituals, one of which is taking a solitary bath [thus, naked] in a pure place. In this case, the most pure place Lily can get to was the lake. Hope that cleared up your confusion.
Mickey:Yeah, it is real and everything. Almost everything I put in my stories is researched so it is as close to the truth as the plot allows it to be. Sometimes I have to manipulate a few facts or make things up [especially for the theories involving souls in The Myth of Innocence, which is very hard to research], but I usually stick as close to the truth as possible. And I haven't stopped writing the Myth of Innocence, but I'm trying to get this chapter right, and it just keeps eluding me. It shouldn't be much longer.
Tymeless-Moment: Thanks for your reviews. Yes, the last chapter was 'interesting', however, that's as far as it goes in terms of the interest level. And it does get fluffier, believe me.
Changes
"So what did happen on Halloween?" Padfoot's question came from out of nowhere, but he should have expected it. After all, he hadn't mentioned that night at all, something unusual for him. Of course, what would he say? That she'd gone skinny-dipping in the middle of the night where anyone could see her? No one would believe it anyway.
He just shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine, Padfoot."
"So nothing happened? Because I know you didn't come back to the feast, and Marianne – she's in the same dorm as Lily-"
"I know who Marianne is."
"I wondered. You've never looked at any of them twice, you know. Anyway, from what she's told me, Lily never came down to the feast, either." Sirius' hair was ruffled, his lips suspiciously pink. James could guess why Marianne was so happy to tell her what her friend had been up to.
"Nothing happened." His voice brooked no argument; knowing Sirius, he'd try anyway.
"I believe you," Peter put in. "I spoke to Theresa – Marianne's friend. And she said Marianne only tells Sirius things so that he'll reward her, if you know what I mean." He grinned, his rat-like face alight with amusement.
James sighed. "Since when has either of you two been old women? Bloody gossips." He sighed and scrubbed his face with his palms. "And am I the only one who isn't getting some?"
Moony entered the library at that instant, paused, then grinned and slapped James on the back. "Don't worry, I'm not either. 'Course, it's a bit hard for me: 'So what sort of things do you do when you're not at school?' 'Well, every three days of a month, I turn into a wolf and try to bite people.' Not exactly the best conversation starter, even I must admit."
Sirius nodded. "We should get you a shirt: 'Werewolves like it doggy style.' Maybe it'll attract some more women." He grinned and leant back in his seat. "Cheer up, Moony. One day you'll find someone, and have lots of sweaty hot sex."
"Is that all you think about?"
"How can I help it? I have girls flinging themselves at me almost everyday of the week. I'm coming to the conclusion that one of you guys has dumped a love potion on me while I was sleeping." Sirius needed no help with the 'fairer' sex. His dark hair and eyes sent off lethal attraction vibes that made most girls obsess over him.
James sighed. "I wish you'd return the favour, then."
"Still having trouble with your lady fair?"
He nodded. "I mean, I just don't understand her. I try to be nice, she hates me. I be nasty, she's even nastier. I try to be a gentlemen, she gets angry at me."
Sirius shrugged. "No one understands girls, Prongs, that's why we like them."
Remus nodded, but Peter gasped, then volunteered his idea. "Why don't you get her a present? It can be something little. These romance novels that Theresa reads always have presents in them. She absolutely melts when it happens."
"So why haven't you gotten her a present, Wormtail?"
Peter snorted. "What, do I look crazy? I'd never hear the end of it. And she'd expect more presents. I'm sorry, but I'm not going to waste my money buying her roses and chocolates at any time but Valentine's Day. Theresa knows how I feel about her."
"Speaking of whom…" Padfoot let his sentence hang and nodded towards the group of Gryffindor girls sitting at a table in the library. There must've been about ten of them, all laughing and talking quietly. They weren't from the same grade, but were probably all fifth, sixth or seventh years.
Lily was there, talking quietly to Marianne and Theresa. Marianne, too, was looking very flushed, and she kept stealing glances at Sirius. Lily glanced over at their table, her eyes finding James'. They stared at each other for a long second, a mutual challenge, a slight question in her eyes, and an emphatic answer in his. No, he hadn't told anyone. Yes, he still wanted her. She was the first to look away, a puzzled smile on her face, as if she'd just discovered something that she never knew. He started after her for a long second.
"You know," Remus said wisely, looking absently at Lily, "Eye contact is acknowledged as one of the most powerful forms of flirting."
Sirius and Peter laughed. James suddenly had hope for the future.
