Author's Note: Hey to all my lovely reviewers out there. I am so glad you guys seem to like my story. It means a lot. Really, it does.
Now, I have a question. It's like a poll, if you will. Okay, would you guys rather see:
1. Lily and Remus in an arguement. (If we do this we will find out why Lily doesn't cry...well, we'll find out anyway but this way will be faster.)
2. Remus tricks Lily into telling how she feels about James. (I'm not going to tell you how.)
3. Sirius finds out that Remus fancies Torrance. (I dunno about this one...)
Please state which one you would you want to see in the review. Thanks!
Chapter Title: Calming the Drama
Disclaimer: By now you guys should really know that these character aren't mine. Well, at least the ones you heard of. Torrance is one hundred percent mine.
***TORRANCE'S POV***
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She followed her best friend through the entrance of Hogsmeade, down the dirt path towards the end of the chain of shops. Torrance still had her wand tip lit as it was quite dark out and easy to trip over rocks in the road. Hogsmeade seemed very eerie when there wasn't any wizards out walking about.
"Lily, what are we doing here? My legs hurt, I'm tired and I can't feel my fingers." Torrance whined. She held up her arm to reveal a red and shivering hand.
"We're almost there. Just two shops over." Lily replied.
Two shops over? Okay, they just passed the Three Broomsticks. The only shops that were left was Quality Quidditch Supplies and...
"NO!!" Torrance stopped abruptly, "You won't take me alive!" She turned and ran as fast as she could in the opposite direction.
Merlin, she wished that Lily wasn't faster than her. In a matter of seconds, Torrance could feel Lily dig her nails into her arm.
"You are going to get a dress, you are going to look pretty and you're going to like it." Lily said as she pretty much dragged her into the formal robes shop.
Torrance heard the ring of the bell as they entered the surprisingly bright store. There were all sorts of dresses and robes to please any kind of wizard. Some dresses that flared at the bottom, some that were real sparkly. There were ones with thin straps and some without. They were all really beautiful and princess-like. Torrance didn't like it.
"Hello girls. How may I help you?" the store clerk asked.
Lily let go of her arm, "Um, we need dresses for an upcoming ball--"
Torrance took this chance to look around the small shop. Okay, okay she had to admit that some of the dresses were really gorgeous but she also had to admit that she wouldn't be caught dead in one of them.
See, there's this thing about Torrance. Nobody has ever seen her wear jewelry except her locket around her neck, she has never let anyone see her with a bathing suit on and the only time she ever wore a dress was when her mom made her. Which was seldom. She wore very little make-up, but that was about it.
Lily practically skipped over towards her, "Ready to find you a dress?"
Torrance despised her cheery attitude.
"What did I do to you? Did I hurt you in some way?"
Lily looked confused, "What?"
"Have you ever heard of the term 'cruel and unusual punishment'?"
Lily rolled her eyes, "Don't you want to look good for Sirius?"
"Well...."
"For Remus?" Lily inquired.
Torrance sighed, "Fine! Fine, you win."
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After about a hour, Torrance hadn't made any progess. Lily had come in and out of the dressing room four times and had already found her dress, which was amazing by the way.
Torrance was in the back of the store going through a rack when Lily came up to her with an alarming wide grin on her face.
"I've found it! This is the one for sure!" Lily said triumphantly. She held out a long and slender, gold-colored dress.
"That's not even a full dress!" Torrance protested. Lily seemed set on that dress because without another word she had Torrance pushed into the nearest changing room. Ten minutes passed...
"Come on! It doesn't take that long to try on a bloody dress!" Lily yelled as she banged on the door.
"I'm not coming out." Torrance said stubbornly.
Lily chuckled, "What are you going to do then? It's nearing eleven o'clock, are you going to stay the night here?"
"You don't understand! The last time I was this naked I was coming out of a uterus!"
Lily sighed, "Don't make me come in there and get you."
The door opened gradually.
Lily gasped, "Perfect..."
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***REMUS' POV***
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Remus opened his eyes slowly only to shut them again against the bright rays that sneaked through the window. He knew this place. He rolled over on his side and saw James slumped over in a hospital chair fast asleep. It was always quiet in this part of the castle. That is, until Sirius came in.
"Okay gentlemen, time to put your galleons down." Sirius announced as he took out a crumpled piece of parchment from the inside of his robes.
"Five for me." Peter said from the corner of the room, digging in his pocket and pulling out a fistful of loose change.
"Oh, come on, Wormtail." Sirius wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Be a little more risky."
"What, pray tell, are you trying to do this time?" Remus asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Betting on Jamsey," Sirius announced like it was an everyday activity. "Come on Moony, I'm giving great odds. Three to one that Prongsey gets the hell beaten out of him for the stunt we pulled last night."
Remus looked shocked. "I thought you had more faith in James' charming ability! Lily wouldn't actually blow up for just that little thing," he stopped, thought for a second, then continued: "Er...better write me up for fifteen..."
"Ah...now there's a good man!" Sirius exclaimed gleefully as he scribbled the bets down on his parchment. "Maybe a bit of me has rubbed off on you, yet."
"God forbid." Remus muttered.
At that moment, James awoke from his slumber with his glasses crooked on his face.
"So, I heard you had a fine time last night. Too bad I missed it." Peter said, trying the best to hide his smile.
Without answering, James lifted his glasses and rubbed his eyes while producing a long heart-felt sigh.
"Lily is going to kill me."
"To right you are." Remus replied.
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***JAMES' POV***
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The morning went by quickly enough. Pretty much eventless. Sirius managed to pick up two more detentions and James tried to steer clear of Lily and Torrance all morning. But it was inevitable because History of Magic was next.
"Come on. We have to go in there together." James whispered outside of Professor Binns classroom.
James peered inside and managed to see that Lily had already seated herself at his table.
"Oh no...It's not mine or anyone else's problem now." Sirius said, folding his arms across his chest. "You're on your own mate. She blames you, not me."
"What's this I hear? Sirius Black is giving up on a fellow Marauder? Dear God, I always knew this would happen but I never thought I would be alive to see it."
"You've seen what these women can do with a wand. Blokes like us haven't got a chance." Sirius said, pushing James into the classroom.
Ironically, James lost his balance and stumbled halfway across the classroom and fell at Lily's feet.
"Smooth Potter." Lily said, crossing her legs.
"Yeah well, you know me...always making an entrance." James replied, sending glares at a smug looking Sirius. He sat down.
"Yes, unfortunately I do know you."
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The History of Magic class seemed to take forever. It was torture to our poor James. He kept trying to make conversation only to be put down by Lily.
"So, uh, Remus is feeling pretty bad today...I don't think we'll be seeing him around." James said, scratching the back of his head.
Lily looked up from her completed essay, "Well, I think he should be feeling pretty bad since the full moon is today."
James quickly looked around the room to see if anyone was listening in on their conversation.
"Don't talk about it so casually. What if someone heard you?"
Lily rolled her eyes, "Stop being paranoid, nobody heard."
James watched Lily pull out a book from her bag and begin reading.
"So..." James said, "Have you found a dress for the ball yet?"
"Yes. Torrance and I found one on the late Hogsmeade visit last night." Lily said, not looking up from her book.
"Is it pretty?"
"Yes."
"Expensive?"
"Yes."
"Can you breathe in it?"
"Yes."
"Is it--"
"Stop asking me questions! What are you trying to do?"
"I'm trying to push your buttons. Is it working?" James asked.
"I have no buttons to push." Lily said matter-of-factly.
James tipped his chair on its back legs, "That's not true. Everyone has a button, you just have to know where to push."
"Oh, well if that's true I found your button a long time ago." Lily said.
James snorted, "The button rule doesn't apply to me. I'm too laid-back to worry."
Lily raised her eyebrow then stood gradually from her chair.
James' heart froze as he watched Lily inch closer to his face. She was so close, he could practically taste her perfume. He couldn't move, he couldn't speak, he couldn't breathe.
"Are you sure?" Lily breathed into his ear, "Then how come you're not breathing?"
"Uh..err..t-the...well..--"
"Face it Potter, I am your button." Lily said, heaving her bag onto her shoulder. Professor Binns dismissed the class and Lily exited the room.
James stood up from his chair, his knees feeling like jelly. Sirius walked over to him and leaned casually onto his shoulder.
"There may be luck for you yet, mate."
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***TORRANCE'S POV***
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Torrance stood in front of her mirror in the girl's dormitory. She held in front of her, the gold dress that she would be wearing to the ball. After several pleadings from Lily, Torrance finally decided that she would let Lily dress her up like a doll.
'Why me?' Torrance thought as she sized herself up in the mirror, 'It's not like I want to impress anyone.'
'Well, that's not completely true. What about Remus?' Torrance thought immediately.
Torrance sighed.
Maybe he could accept her for who she really is. I mean, look at him. He wasn't exactly honest about who he was either. Being a werewolf and all, you would think that he would know what being different felt like.
'The only difference is, he's only different once a month. You're different all the time. Do you think he can handle that?'
Torrance slowly twirled in front of the mirror.
"Remus will accept me." Torrance said to her reflection.
"Yes my dear, you just keep saying that." The mirror spoke back to her.
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Torrance went down to the infirmary to see how Remus was doing. When she arrived there, it appeared that he had already left to the Whomping Willow for his monthly transformation. Sighing, Torrance headed back to the commons for a full nights rest.
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The next morning, she woke up bright and early. Well, early anyway. It wasn't even light outside when she woke up. Which was weird, what woke her up? She slipped her night robe on over her bed wear and quietly opened the door and headed downstairs. As she inched downward towards the common room, she could hear whispering, but when she got there the room was empty.
"That's odd...I could have sworn--" Torrance mumbled, pulling her robe tighter around her.
She cautiously scanned the room from where she stood but saw no one. Giving up, she turned to head back upstairs when suddenly out of pure luck she saw a dent in the carpet across the room.
Torrance quickly walked over towards the corner of the room and kicked what appeared to be thin air. But thin air doesn't talk.
"Ouch!" came a voice from nowhere.
"Why in the bloody hell are you up so early?" Torrance asked, pulling off the invisibility cloak from James, Sirius, and Peter.
"How'd you know we were here?" James asked, rubbing his shin where Torrance had kicked.
"It was Peter's breathing. I swear, the rat could be mistaken for a troll." Sirius murmured.
Torrance rolled her eyes, "Actually, I saw your foot imprints in the carpet," she pointed at their feet.
"Oh, right..."
"Well, now that I have you two alone, " Torrance grabbed Sirius and James by their collars, "I want to talk about your little prank. Did you think it was funny, scaring the daylights out of me and Lily?" Torrance asked, glaring at Sirius.
"Woah, woah, woah!" Sirius backed away from Torrance, his hands up in the air. "This is on James' head, not mine. I'm not going to a complete hell just because my best mate is in a downward spiral leading to a path of eternal hurt and excruciating pain."
Torrance turned her death glare at James.
"Okay, I know! It was a stupid plan. I'm sorry, okay?" James said, cowering slightly at Torrance's grip on him.
Sirius chuckled, "Come on, you have to admit it was pretty funny until Lily threw herself on top of me. Then it was exciting..."
James smacked Sirius, "Go throw yourself in front of a train Padfoot."
"So, what are you guys doing up so early?" Torrance asked, letting go of their necks.
"Just came back from visiting Remus. He looks and feels terrible but he'll be his right self when the afternoon comes." Sirius replied.
"Oh, well I guess I'll go take a shower or something. See you fellas later then." Torrance said, heading back up towards her room.
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***REMUS' POV***
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In the late morning Remus finally had the strength to get up out of the Hospital Wing. He had bruises on his biceps and he was starving to death. He looked at himself in front of the mirror. Boy, did he look awful. Bags under his bloodshot eyes, pale face, welts on his chest and scratches here and there on his abs.
"Hello Remus."
He stopped examining the damage to his body and turned around to see Torrance standing in the entrance of the room. He quickly walked over to his bed and pulled on his shirt over his head.
"How's it going?" Torrance asked.
"Not to bad, anything interesting happen today?" Remus croaked. He had never been good at small talk.
"Well, Sirius couldn't bear to sit through the entire Potions class without causing something to explode in a fit of flames."
Remus smiled, "Blowing up sulpher again, isn't he?"
"Yeah, my mum's going to kill me, you know," Torrance muttered under her breath, poking her finger through one of her scorched robe pockets. "These are brand new. Thanks to him, they'll probably disintegrate in the wash."
"I'm glad I missed it." Remus replied, fidgeting with the back of his hair.
Remus and Torrance just stood there, in an uncomfortable silence. Not knowing what to say to one another. What could he say? I'm sorry for not telling you I was a fierce man-eating monster and I should have told you a long time ago?
"I'm sorry." Torrance said, playing with the locket around her neck.
"For what?"
He thought he should be the one apologizing. Not the other way around. What should she be sorry for?
"For thinking of you less than a human." Torrance mumbled. "I just got scared and I really think you're a great guy. Sweet even. And I just wanted to let you know that it doesn't change anything between us or our relationship."
"And what exactly is there between us?" Remus asked cautiously, frightened of his own daring to ask such a question.
Torrance looked up at him, "Well--"
"Excuse me Mr. Lupin but it is time to take your potion." Madam Pomfrey called out from the other room.
Muttering a string of curses under his breath Remus replied, "Yes ma'am."
"I'll see you later." Torrance said as she swept out of the room quickly.
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Remus cursed his luck all the way back to his dormitory. When he opened the door, his nose was hit with the most disgusting smell.
"Ack! Did something die in here again?" As the intense smell of sulfer hit him, he staggered through the door, looking as though he may blow chunks.
Peter crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, "Padfoot decided to see how much chaos he could create in one Potions class. It wasn't very amusing."
"I bet." Remus replied, trying not to gag at the horrible smell.
As if right on cue, the running water in the bathroom stopped. Sirius came casually stolling out, a towel around his waist and his overgrown hair sopping wet. "Hey James, you should try Pete's new body wash. It makes you smell like mang...oh."
The four Marauders stood in awkward silence for several hard seconds before Peter piped up.
"It's not mango, it's tropical fruit."
James winced, really not caring to receive this kind of information. "That's not much better, Wormtail."
Remus decided to change the topic. "So, Peter. Who are you going with to the ball next week?"
Peter turned slightly red, "This rat is flying solo."
"That means he couldn't hire a date." James muttered to Sirius.
"At least I'm not taking a vegetable for a date. Tell me, she does have a brain, doesn't she?" Peter snapped at James.
James groaned, "Don't remind me!"
Remus chuckled while kicking his boots off onto the floor. Sirius however had to keep his towel around his waist with difficulty from laughing so hard.
James glared at Sirius, "I know where you sleep, Padfoot. I also happen to know what you say in your sleep." James put on a high pitched voice for his impression of Sirius: "Oh, Torrance! I love you! Hold me Torrance! Kiss me like you've never kissed another man! Oh, Torrance!"
Sirius was no longer laughing, neither was Remus for that matter.
"Damn it, Potter!" Sirius growled like a dog, advancing on James, who looked utterly pleased with himself for pissing off his friend so much. "Wank off, you little bastard!"
Remus pulled Sirius back before he could do permanent damage to James' nose. "No fighting tonight, Padfoot," Remus muttered, retraining his friend. "Besides, it wouldn't look so good. You're just wearing a towel...we wouldn't want Lily to get jealous now, would we?"
Almost magically, Sirius' face slowly cracked into a small smile. "Yes, I suppose you're right." He then put on the same high pitched voice James had used for his impression: "Oh Jamesy dearest. Would you be a sweetheart and go fetch me my pants? They're still in the showers."
"With relish, lamb-chop." James played along, while he waltzed over to the next room to retrieve his companion's clothes.
Remus shook his head as he began to fold his own laundry. "I'll never understand you and Jim," he said to Sirius. "One minute you're at eachother's throats, the next you're giving eachother pet names."
Sirius threw an arm around Remus, still holding the towel with the other. "Yes, it's true. Prongs and I have a fickled relationship. Maybe, one day, you'll have a special connection with someone too."
James reappeared into the room. "Maybe with his secret date to the ball that we have no idea about."
Sirius put a hand on his heart, pretending to look scandalized. "Ah! Methinks Remie has begun to crack under the pressure of his teenaged male hormones! Going to ask that special someone to share a nap with you, whoever she may be."
"Who says I haven't already?" Remus arched an eyebrow airly.
James snorted loudly. "You're joking," he spat out, but Remus clearly did not find any humour in the subject. For once, James was quite speechless. "You're joking," he repeated, asking a question rather than making a statement.
Peter went absolutely pale. "You mean...You--"
Remus nodded knowingly, a small smirk of contentment creeping away across his face.
"I don't believe you," Sirius narrowed his eyes. "I always thought I'd be the first to go...then maybe Jim- but you?" he paused for a moment and mused restlessly over the horrible thought.
James smirked, "Fine then. Who is she?"
Taking the time to think of an answer to really eat away at James' nerves, Remus replied delicately: "Lily."
James almost choked with laughter. "Lily? That's the best you could come up with? Bloody hell, Lupin, if you're going to make something up, make it so that it actually sounds believable. Lily? Merlin, you'd have an easier time taking Snape out for a romantic evening then jumping into bed with the untouchable Lily."
Remus didn't care to reply. His expression stayed cooly on his face, the corner of his mouth not even twitching. He almost seemed...completely serious.
"Moony," Sirius' laughter quickly died off, his heart flopping quickly in his chest. "Please tell me you're joking."
No expression. Nothing.
"Oh God!" Peter's eye's widened, a fit of nausea rolling over his stomach. "Oh God, oh God, oh God! He's really not joking! Merlin, Remus how could you?"
"Don't believe him Pete," James eyed the werewolf suspiciously. "The little berk's lying."
"Fine then, you don't believe me?" Remus' smile grew even wider, as if he was enjoying battling around with his friend's sanity. "Ask Lily, she'll tell you."
"I think I will ask," James said darkly. "Just to prove what a lying bastard you are."
Remus smirked, quite glad James was ready to call his bluff. "She steals the covers you know."
"Lupin, I-"
"And howls. Thinks she's a werewolf herself."
Sirius and Peter plugged up their ears.
"You're completely and utterly full of shit."
"Thank you." Remus said cheerfully.
'Why is it so easy to make James jealous?' Remus thought to himself. 'I swear I'm going to get them together, if it's the last thing I do!'
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***LILY'S POV***
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It was dinner time in the Great Hall and as usual Lily was sitting with her best friend, talking away.
"So then he asks me what exactly there is between us." Torrance said as she drank from her goblet.
"And what did you say?"
"Well, I couldn't say anything. Madam Pomfrey chose that exact moment to peep into the room!"
Lily sighed. How ironic.
The next thing she knew, Remus was running full speed in her direction, completely out of breath and red in the face.
"I'm glad to see you're feeling better." Lily said, eating from her plate.
"James....coming...play....along." Remus gasped, heaving for breath.
"Play along? With what?"
"HEY LILY!" James yelled, entering the Great Hall. Not caring who was looking at him.
Lily stood up next to Remus, "Yes?" she asked sweetly.
"Moony has been telling me that you two were a thing." James said.
"A thing? What is that suppose to mean?" Lily asked, glancing at Remus with a confused expression upon her face.
Remus gave her a knowing glance.
"He tells me, you guys have...well, you know. Been in bed." James said slowly.
Sirius snorted with amusement behind him and Torrance choked on her pumpkin juice being her.
Lily snapped her head in Remus' direction. "He what?!"
"So, it isn't true then?" James asked quickly, sending Remus smug looks.
Lily cleared her throat, "Oh, no. It's true. One hundred percent."
"What?" James asked dangerously, taking a step forward in Remus' direction. Remus seemed extremely entertained by the situation.
"Oh yeah, I thought you knew. He steals the covers, you know."
James' face drained of color. Sirius and Peter replugged their ears.
Lily stepped closer to James and whispered in his ear. "I know now why he's a werewolf. Howls like mad in the sack." she stepped back quickly.
"I-I don't believe you!" James yelled, his chest heaving.
Remus burst out laughing with such force, Lily thought he might be having a heart attack.
"Oh no! I can't believe you fell for that!? Me?" Remus pointed at Lily. "And her? I should be so lucky."
Lily shook her head slowly.
"Run Lupin," James said murderously. "Run your arse off!"
"I think he means it mate." Sirius said.
You didn't need to tell Remus twice. The next blink of an eye, he was gone. Out of the Great Hall and James hot on his heels.
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A/N: I know, it isn't as long as the other chapters. But now, I will start getting into the Christmas Ball chapters and the humor that follows after it. So bear with me. I plan to have maybe around five more chapter, but who knows? There may be more. I also know that this chapter was kind of pointless, I just figured that this story had enough drama in it so, I made a pointless chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.
Now, I have a question. It's like a poll, if you will. Okay, would you guys rather see:
1. Lily and Remus in an arguement. (If we do this we will find out why Lily doesn't cry...well, we'll find out anyway but this way will be faster.)
2. Remus tricks Lily into telling how she feels about James. (I'm not going to tell you how.)
3. Sirius finds out that Remus fancies Torrance. (I dunno about this one...)
Please state which one you would you want to see in the review. Thanks!
Chapter Title: Calming the Drama
Disclaimer: By now you guys should really know that these character aren't mine. Well, at least the ones you heard of. Torrance is one hundred percent mine.
***TORRANCE'S POV***
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She followed her best friend through the entrance of Hogsmeade, down the dirt path towards the end of the chain of shops. Torrance still had her wand tip lit as it was quite dark out and easy to trip over rocks in the road. Hogsmeade seemed very eerie when there wasn't any wizards out walking about.
"Lily, what are we doing here? My legs hurt, I'm tired and I can't feel my fingers." Torrance whined. She held up her arm to reveal a red and shivering hand.
"We're almost there. Just two shops over." Lily replied.
Two shops over? Okay, they just passed the Three Broomsticks. The only shops that were left was Quality Quidditch Supplies and...
"NO!!" Torrance stopped abruptly, "You won't take me alive!" She turned and ran as fast as she could in the opposite direction.
Merlin, she wished that Lily wasn't faster than her. In a matter of seconds, Torrance could feel Lily dig her nails into her arm.
"You are going to get a dress, you are going to look pretty and you're going to like it." Lily said as she pretty much dragged her into the formal robes shop.
Torrance heard the ring of the bell as they entered the surprisingly bright store. There were all sorts of dresses and robes to please any kind of wizard. Some dresses that flared at the bottom, some that were real sparkly. There were ones with thin straps and some without. They were all really beautiful and princess-like. Torrance didn't like it.
"Hello girls. How may I help you?" the store clerk asked.
Lily let go of her arm, "Um, we need dresses for an upcoming ball--"
Torrance took this chance to look around the small shop. Okay, okay she had to admit that some of the dresses were really gorgeous but she also had to admit that she wouldn't be caught dead in one of them.
See, there's this thing about Torrance. Nobody has ever seen her wear jewelry except her locket around her neck, she has never let anyone see her with a bathing suit on and the only time she ever wore a dress was when her mom made her. Which was seldom. She wore very little make-up, but that was about it.
Lily practically skipped over towards her, "Ready to find you a dress?"
Torrance despised her cheery attitude.
"What did I do to you? Did I hurt you in some way?"
Lily looked confused, "What?"
"Have you ever heard of the term 'cruel and unusual punishment'?"
Lily rolled her eyes, "Don't you want to look good for Sirius?"
"Well...."
"For Remus?" Lily inquired.
Torrance sighed, "Fine! Fine, you win."
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After about a hour, Torrance hadn't made any progess. Lily had come in and out of the dressing room four times and had already found her dress, which was amazing by the way.
Torrance was in the back of the store going through a rack when Lily came up to her with an alarming wide grin on her face.
"I've found it! This is the one for sure!" Lily said triumphantly. She held out a long and slender, gold-colored dress.
"That's not even a full dress!" Torrance protested. Lily seemed set on that dress because without another word she had Torrance pushed into the nearest changing room. Ten minutes passed...
"Come on! It doesn't take that long to try on a bloody dress!" Lily yelled as she banged on the door.
"I'm not coming out." Torrance said stubbornly.
Lily chuckled, "What are you going to do then? It's nearing eleven o'clock, are you going to stay the night here?"
"You don't understand! The last time I was this naked I was coming out of a uterus!"
Lily sighed, "Don't make me come in there and get you."
The door opened gradually.
Lily gasped, "Perfect..."
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***REMUS' POV***
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Remus opened his eyes slowly only to shut them again against the bright rays that sneaked through the window. He knew this place. He rolled over on his side and saw James slumped over in a hospital chair fast asleep. It was always quiet in this part of the castle. That is, until Sirius came in.
"Okay gentlemen, time to put your galleons down." Sirius announced as he took out a crumpled piece of parchment from the inside of his robes.
"Five for me." Peter said from the corner of the room, digging in his pocket and pulling out a fistful of loose change.
"Oh, come on, Wormtail." Sirius wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Be a little more risky."
"What, pray tell, are you trying to do this time?" Remus asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Betting on Jamsey," Sirius announced like it was an everyday activity. "Come on Moony, I'm giving great odds. Three to one that Prongsey gets the hell beaten out of him for the stunt we pulled last night."
Remus looked shocked. "I thought you had more faith in James' charming ability! Lily wouldn't actually blow up for just that little thing," he stopped, thought for a second, then continued: "Er...better write me up for fifteen..."
"Ah...now there's a good man!" Sirius exclaimed gleefully as he scribbled the bets down on his parchment. "Maybe a bit of me has rubbed off on you, yet."
"God forbid." Remus muttered.
At that moment, James awoke from his slumber with his glasses crooked on his face.
"So, I heard you had a fine time last night. Too bad I missed it." Peter said, trying the best to hide his smile.
Without answering, James lifted his glasses and rubbed his eyes while producing a long heart-felt sigh.
"Lily is going to kill me."
"To right you are." Remus replied.
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***JAMES' POV***
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The morning went by quickly enough. Pretty much eventless. Sirius managed to pick up two more detentions and James tried to steer clear of Lily and Torrance all morning. But it was inevitable because History of Magic was next.
"Come on. We have to go in there together." James whispered outside of Professor Binns classroom.
James peered inside and managed to see that Lily had already seated herself at his table.
"Oh no...It's not mine or anyone else's problem now." Sirius said, folding his arms across his chest. "You're on your own mate. She blames you, not me."
"What's this I hear? Sirius Black is giving up on a fellow Marauder? Dear God, I always knew this would happen but I never thought I would be alive to see it."
"You've seen what these women can do with a wand. Blokes like us haven't got a chance." Sirius said, pushing James into the classroom.
Ironically, James lost his balance and stumbled halfway across the classroom and fell at Lily's feet.
"Smooth Potter." Lily said, crossing her legs.
"Yeah well, you know me...always making an entrance." James replied, sending glares at a smug looking Sirius. He sat down.
"Yes, unfortunately I do know you."
~
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The History of Magic class seemed to take forever. It was torture to our poor James. He kept trying to make conversation only to be put down by Lily.
"So, uh, Remus is feeling pretty bad today...I don't think we'll be seeing him around." James said, scratching the back of his head.
Lily looked up from her completed essay, "Well, I think he should be feeling pretty bad since the full moon is today."
James quickly looked around the room to see if anyone was listening in on their conversation.
"Don't talk about it so casually. What if someone heard you?"
Lily rolled her eyes, "Stop being paranoid, nobody heard."
James watched Lily pull out a book from her bag and begin reading.
"So..." James said, "Have you found a dress for the ball yet?"
"Yes. Torrance and I found one on the late Hogsmeade visit last night." Lily said, not looking up from her book.
"Is it pretty?"
"Yes."
"Expensive?"
"Yes."
"Can you breathe in it?"
"Yes."
"Is it--"
"Stop asking me questions! What are you trying to do?"
"I'm trying to push your buttons. Is it working?" James asked.
"I have no buttons to push." Lily said matter-of-factly.
James tipped his chair on its back legs, "That's not true. Everyone has a button, you just have to know where to push."
"Oh, well if that's true I found your button a long time ago." Lily said.
James snorted, "The button rule doesn't apply to me. I'm too laid-back to worry."
Lily raised her eyebrow then stood gradually from her chair.
James' heart froze as he watched Lily inch closer to his face. She was so close, he could practically taste her perfume. He couldn't move, he couldn't speak, he couldn't breathe.
"Are you sure?" Lily breathed into his ear, "Then how come you're not breathing?"
"Uh..err..t-the...well..--"
"Face it Potter, I am your button." Lily said, heaving her bag onto her shoulder. Professor Binns dismissed the class and Lily exited the room.
James stood up from his chair, his knees feeling like jelly. Sirius walked over to him and leaned casually onto his shoulder.
"There may be luck for you yet, mate."
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***TORRANCE'S POV***
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Torrance stood in front of her mirror in the girl's dormitory. She held in front of her, the gold dress that she would be wearing to the ball. After several pleadings from Lily, Torrance finally decided that she would let Lily dress her up like a doll.
'Why me?' Torrance thought as she sized herself up in the mirror, 'It's not like I want to impress anyone.'
'Well, that's not completely true. What about Remus?' Torrance thought immediately.
Torrance sighed.
Maybe he could accept her for who she really is. I mean, look at him. He wasn't exactly honest about who he was either. Being a werewolf and all, you would think that he would know what being different felt like.
'The only difference is, he's only different once a month. You're different all the time. Do you think he can handle that?'
Torrance slowly twirled in front of the mirror.
"Remus will accept me." Torrance said to her reflection.
"Yes my dear, you just keep saying that." The mirror spoke back to her.
~
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Torrance went down to the infirmary to see how Remus was doing. When she arrived there, it appeared that he had already left to the Whomping Willow for his monthly transformation. Sighing, Torrance headed back to the commons for a full nights rest.
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The next morning, she woke up bright and early. Well, early anyway. It wasn't even light outside when she woke up. Which was weird, what woke her up? She slipped her night robe on over her bed wear and quietly opened the door and headed downstairs. As she inched downward towards the common room, she could hear whispering, but when she got there the room was empty.
"That's odd...I could have sworn--" Torrance mumbled, pulling her robe tighter around her.
She cautiously scanned the room from where she stood but saw no one. Giving up, she turned to head back upstairs when suddenly out of pure luck she saw a dent in the carpet across the room.
Torrance quickly walked over towards the corner of the room and kicked what appeared to be thin air. But thin air doesn't talk.
"Ouch!" came a voice from nowhere.
"Why in the bloody hell are you up so early?" Torrance asked, pulling off the invisibility cloak from James, Sirius, and Peter.
"How'd you know we were here?" James asked, rubbing his shin where Torrance had kicked.
"It was Peter's breathing. I swear, the rat could be mistaken for a troll." Sirius murmured.
Torrance rolled her eyes, "Actually, I saw your foot imprints in the carpet," she pointed at their feet.
"Oh, right..."
"Well, now that I have you two alone, " Torrance grabbed Sirius and James by their collars, "I want to talk about your little prank. Did you think it was funny, scaring the daylights out of me and Lily?" Torrance asked, glaring at Sirius.
"Woah, woah, woah!" Sirius backed away from Torrance, his hands up in the air. "This is on James' head, not mine. I'm not going to a complete hell just because my best mate is in a downward spiral leading to a path of eternal hurt and excruciating pain."
Torrance turned her death glare at James.
"Okay, I know! It was a stupid plan. I'm sorry, okay?" James said, cowering slightly at Torrance's grip on him.
Sirius chuckled, "Come on, you have to admit it was pretty funny until Lily threw herself on top of me. Then it was exciting..."
James smacked Sirius, "Go throw yourself in front of a train Padfoot."
"So, what are you guys doing up so early?" Torrance asked, letting go of their necks.
"Just came back from visiting Remus. He looks and feels terrible but he'll be his right self when the afternoon comes." Sirius replied.
"Oh, well I guess I'll go take a shower or something. See you fellas later then." Torrance said, heading back up towards her room.
~
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***REMUS' POV***
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In the late morning Remus finally had the strength to get up out of the Hospital Wing. He had bruises on his biceps and he was starving to death. He looked at himself in front of the mirror. Boy, did he look awful. Bags under his bloodshot eyes, pale face, welts on his chest and scratches here and there on his abs.
"Hello Remus."
He stopped examining the damage to his body and turned around to see Torrance standing in the entrance of the room. He quickly walked over to his bed and pulled on his shirt over his head.
"How's it going?" Torrance asked.
"Not to bad, anything interesting happen today?" Remus croaked. He had never been good at small talk.
"Well, Sirius couldn't bear to sit through the entire Potions class without causing something to explode in a fit of flames."
Remus smiled, "Blowing up sulpher again, isn't he?"
"Yeah, my mum's going to kill me, you know," Torrance muttered under her breath, poking her finger through one of her scorched robe pockets. "These are brand new. Thanks to him, they'll probably disintegrate in the wash."
"I'm glad I missed it." Remus replied, fidgeting with the back of his hair.
Remus and Torrance just stood there, in an uncomfortable silence. Not knowing what to say to one another. What could he say? I'm sorry for not telling you I was a fierce man-eating monster and I should have told you a long time ago?
"I'm sorry." Torrance said, playing with the locket around her neck.
"For what?"
He thought he should be the one apologizing. Not the other way around. What should she be sorry for?
"For thinking of you less than a human." Torrance mumbled. "I just got scared and I really think you're a great guy. Sweet even. And I just wanted to let you know that it doesn't change anything between us or our relationship."
"And what exactly is there between us?" Remus asked cautiously, frightened of his own daring to ask such a question.
Torrance looked up at him, "Well--"
"Excuse me Mr. Lupin but it is time to take your potion." Madam Pomfrey called out from the other room.
Muttering a string of curses under his breath Remus replied, "Yes ma'am."
"I'll see you later." Torrance said as she swept out of the room quickly.
~
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Remus cursed his luck all the way back to his dormitory. When he opened the door, his nose was hit with the most disgusting smell.
"Ack! Did something die in here again?" As the intense smell of sulfer hit him, he staggered through the door, looking as though he may blow chunks.
Peter crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, "Padfoot decided to see how much chaos he could create in one Potions class. It wasn't very amusing."
"I bet." Remus replied, trying not to gag at the horrible smell.
As if right on cue, the running water in the bathroom stopped. Sirius came casually stolling out, a towel around his waist and his overgrown hair sopping wet. "Hey James, you should try Pete's new body wash. It makes you smell like mang...oh."
The four Marauders stood in awkward silence for several hard seconds before Peter piped up.
"It's not mango, it's tropical fruit."
James winced, really not caring to receive this kind of information. "That's not much better, Wormtail."
Remus decided to change the topic. "So, Peter. Who are you going with to the ball next week?"
Peter turned slightly red, "This rat is flying solo."
"That means he couldn't hire a date." James muttered to Sirius.
"At least I'm not taking a vegetable for a date. Tell me, she does have a brain, doesn't she?" Peter snapped at James.
James groaned, "Don't remind me!"
Remus chuckled while kicking his boots off onto the floor. Sirius however had to keep his towel around his waist with difficulty from laughing so hard.
James glared at Sirius, "I know where you sleep, Padfoot. I also happen to know what you say in your sleep." James put on a high pitched voice for his impression of Sirius: "Oh, Torrance! I love you! Hold me Torrance! Kiss me like you've never kissed another man! Oh, Torrance!"
Sirius was no longer laughing, neither was Remus for that matter.
"Damn it, Potter!" Sirius growled like a dog, advancing on James, who looked utterly pleased with himself for pissing off his friend so much. "Wank off, you little bastard!"
Remus pulled Sirius back before he could do permanent damage to James' nose. "No fighting tonight, Padfoot," Remus muttered, retraining his friend. "Besides, it wouldn't look so good. You're just wearing a towel...we wouldn't want Lily to get jealous now, would we?"
Almost magically, Sirius' face slowly cracked into a small smile. "Yes, I suppose you're right." He then put on the same high pitched voice James had used for his impression: "Oh Jamesy dearest. Would you be a sweetheart and go fetch me my pants? They're still in the showers."
"With relish, lamb-chop." James played along, while he waltzed over to the next room to retrieve his companion's clothes.
Remus shook his head as he began to fold his own laundry. "I'll never understand you and Jim," he said to Sirius. "One minute you're at eachother's throats, the next you're giving eachother pet names."
Sirius threw an arm around Remus, still holding the towel with the other. "Yes, it's true. Prongs and I have a fickled relationship. Maybe, one day, you'll have a special connection with someone too."
James reappeared into the room. "Maybe with his secret date to the ball that we have no idea about."
Sirius put a hand on his heart, pretending to look scandalized. "Ah! Methinks Remie has begun to crack under the pressure of his teenaged male hormones! Going to ask that special someone to share a nap with you, whoever she may be."
"Who says I haven't already?" Remus arched an eyebrow airly.
James snorted loudly. "You're joking," he spat out, but Remus clearly did not find any humour in the subject. For once, James was quite speechless. "You're joking," he repeated, asking a question rather than making a statement.
Peter went absolutely pale. "You mean...You--"
Remus nodded knowingly, a small smirk of contentment creeping away across his face.
"I don't believe you," Sirius narrowed his eyes. "I always thought I'd be the first to go...then maybe Jim- but you?" he paused for a moment and mused restlessly over the horrible thought.
James smirked, "Fine then. Who is she?"
Taking the time to think of an answer to really eat away at James' nerves, Remus replied delicately: "Lily."
James almost choked with laughter. "Lily? That's the best you could come up with? Bloody hell, Lupin, if you're going to make something up, make it so that it actually sounds believable. Lily? Merlin, you'd have an easier time taking Snape out for a romantic evening then jumping into bed with the untouchable Lily."
Remus didn't care to reply. His expression stayed cooly on his face, the corner of his mouth not even twitching. He almost seemed...completely serious.
"Moony," Sirius' laughter quickly died off, his heart flopping quickly in his chest. "Please tell me you're joking."
No expression. Nothing.
"Oh God!" Peter's eye's widened, a fit of nausea rolling over his stomach. "Oh God, oh God, oh God! He's really not joking! Merlin, Remus how could you?"
"Don't believe him Pete," James eyed the werewolf suspiciously. "The little berk's lying."
"Fine then, you don't believe me?" Remus' smile grew even wider, as if he was enjoying battling around with his friend's sanity. "Ask Lily, she'll tell you."
"I think I will ask," James said darkly. "Just to prove what a lying bastard you are."
Remus smirked, quite glad James was ready to call his bluff. "She steals the covers you know."
"Lupin, I-"
"And howls. Thinks she's a werewolf herself."
Sirius and Peter plugged up their ears.
"You're completely and utterly full of shit."
"Thank you." Remus said cheerfully.
'Why is it so easy to make James jealous?' Remus thought to himself. 'I swear I'm going to get them together, if it's the last thing I do!'
~
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***LILY'S POV***
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It was dinner time in the Great Hall and as usual Lily was sitting with her best friend, talking away.
"So then he asks me what exactly there is between us." Torrance said as she drank from her goblet.
"And what did you say?"
"Well, I couldn't say anything. Madam Pomfrey chose that exact moment to peep into the room!"
Lily sighed. How ironic.
The next thing she knew, Remus was running full speed in her direction, completely out of breath and red in the face.
"I'm glad to see you're feeling better." Lily said, eating from her plate.
"James....coming...play....along." Remus gasped, heaving for breath.
"Play along? With what?"
"HEY LILY!" James yelled, entering the Great Hall. Not caring who was looking at him.
Lily stood up next to Remus, "Yes?" she asked sweetly.
"Moony has been telling me that you two were a thing." James said.
"A thing? What is that suppose to mean?" Lily asked, glancing at Remus with a confused expression upon her face.
Remus gave her a knowing glance.
"He tells me, you guys have...well, you know. Been in bed." James said slowly.
Sirius snorted with amusement behind him and Torrance choked on her pumpkin juice being her.
Lily snapped her head in Remus' direction. "He what?!"
"So, it isn't true then?" James asked quickly, sending Remus smug looks.
Lily cleared her throat, "Oh, no. It's true. One hundred percent."
"What?" James asked dangerously, taking a step forward in Remus' direction. Remus seemed extremely entertained by the situation.
"Oh yeah, I thought you knew. He steals the covers, you know."
James' face drained of color. Sirius and Peter replugged their ears.
Lily stepped closer to James and whispered in his ear. "I know now why he's a werewolf. Howls like mad in the sack." she stepped back quickly.
"I-I don't believe you!" James yelled, his chest heaving.
Remus burst out laughing with such force, Lily thought he might be having a heart attack.
"Oh no! I can't believe you fell for that!? Me?" Remus pointed at Lily. "And her? I should be so lucky."
Lily shook her head slowly.
"Run Lupin," James said murderously. "Run your arse off!"
"I think he means it mate." Sirius said.
You didn't need to tell Remus twice. The next blink of an eye, he was gone. Out of the Great Hall and James hot on his heels.
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A/N: I know, it isn't as long as the other chapters. But now, I will start getting into the Christmas Ball chapters and the humor that follows after it. So bear with me. I plan to have maybe around five more chapter, but who knows? There may be more. I also know that this chapter was kind of pointless, I just figured that this story had enough drama in it so, I made a pointless chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.