The Woos and Woes of Love
Chapter 4- Blunders Galore
Disclaimer- Everything belongs to J.K.Rowling (except all that is mine)
A/N: Okay, first of all, I've just got to say I've got the best reviewers ever! okay.. there were only five of you, but that's ok! (I'd really really appreciate more.. but you know) Anyhoo, you really know how to make a girl feel grand.
Miss Effie- Wow! I'm really really glad you like it, thanks for such an awesome review!
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James shuffled a bit of his egg around, trying to form a face out of his morning meal. So far he had a pretty decent bacon mouth, and a spectacular hash brown nose. He decided just the right amount of pepper and a splash of pumpkin juice would make his creation complete.
This important task is what drew he attention away from the impatient red head behind him.
"Once you're finished," Lily began sharply, her sudden curt greeting causing James to start, and fling some of his fork full of egg in surprise.
James got up quickly and brushed off his sweater, to rid of scattered pieces of food. "Oh, yes, er- I'm finished."
Lily looked up at the ceiling and took a deep calming breath. "I've just come to inform you," she said, "that we've got out first Head Meeting tonight." At this point she shifted her eyes to glare at him. "And you'd better be there."
James began to nod, but stopped half-way. Sirius's voice flooded through his mind, A disgrace to mankind, it rang, causing him to think the situation over. Ha! He would not let Lily Evans control him like this. Yes, it was time he got some power around here. "And what if I'm not?" He asked, crossing his arms defiantly.
James immediately regretted this.
"If you're not," she began, her voice venomous and threatening. "I'll take that rumpled up tie of yours and," at this point Lily proceeded to make some hand gestures and implications that were very unfit for virgin eyes of the first years.
"Oh.." James began, his eyes wide with fear. "Alright then. Just wondering, er- I'll be there." He nodded enthusiastically, as Lily flashed him one more warning glare.
"So," he began, just as Lily was about to turn away. "You want to go out sometime?"
Lily simply replied with the same indecent hand motions, before turning and walking away.
"Huh," Sirius commented, as James sat back down. "Never knew you could do that with a tie."
########
The Marauders took their usual seats in the back of the class-room, as far from the Professor's reprimanding eye as possible. They plopped down, taking out their standard quills and parchment. For James and Sirius, this of course was not to take notes, but to plan their next Snape attack. Remus sighed at his two friend's less than adequate attempts at schoolwork.
"Mr. Lupin," Professor Thomps called from the front of the room. "Could I have a moment after class, please?"
Remus nodded, just as James and Sirius chorused childishly, "Ooooooh!"
Remus ignored their immature antics, tuning into the current lesson. At the end of class he broke away from his friends, and headed toward the Professor's desk.
Professor Thomps smiled briefly at Remus as she shuffled through the copious amounts of tests scattered on top her desk. Finding what she was looking for, she held it up, her smile fading.
"Did I answer something wrong?" he asked, his forehead creasing with worry. "I thought I'd studied hard enough, I was fairly confi-"
"No, no," the Professor shook her head. "It's not you, Remus. Your's looks marvelous. No, I'm afraid it's another student." Her frown increased as she examined the paper. "And, feel no need to be obliged, but I just thought this would be an excellent opportunity for you to further your Defense Against the Dark Arts practice. You mentioned something about teaching, correct?"
"Yes," Remus nodded. "You'd like me to tutor?"
"It would be most appreciated," she said. "The sooner the better, actually. Tonight after dinner, approximately six?" Remus nodded, and she continued. "Okay then, I'll tell them to meet you by the entrance."
#######
"Oh, this is going to be good," James whispered, grinning mischievously. "I can't wait to see his face!"
"I know!" Sirius responded eagerly. "This is going to be the best ever!"
The two were currently huddled together, conspiring their latest prank ideas on top of James's bed. Normally Remus would have joined them, but it was just about time to begin his tutoring.
"Well, I'm off," he said, grabbing his bulging bag. "I'll see you later."
"Goodbye," Sirius called, pulling his head out of his and James's powwow. "Hope she's hott!"
Remus ignored this last comment, as he trekked down the stairs and toward the library. His footsteps echoed throughout the corridors as strode along consistently, only stopping to readjust his bag. It was a bit heavy, as he had filled it with a numerous amount of books, all concerning the subject of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Turning into the grand library, a bit of dread appeared in the pit of his stomach. Sure, he was very glad for the opportunity, but he didn't quite want to spend his free time with someone who didn't care for their grades, or bother to persevere. Pushing open the large oak doors, he headed toward a seat on the far side of the room, near an extravagant window. Setting his bag down and settling into the uncomfortable wooden chairs, he spread his books across the table and waited, going over the lesson he had prepared. Glancing around, he hoped he wouldn't have to wait too long for this slacker to show up.
#######
"No, no, no," Sirius protested, waving his hand. "We've already done the twisting torpedoes, but we haven't done the excellent explosives."
James and Sirius were currently crouched under an Invisibility Cloak, debating over which items would best cause Slytherins harm.
"I'm positive it's the opposite, but, perhaps we'll have time to do both."
Sirius nodded. "Okay, it's..." he shoved up his sleeve and looked at his watch. "Half past seven, yes I suppose we've got time."
James suddenly stopped walking, causing Sirius to nearly stumble out of the robes. "James," he hissed, recollecting himself.
"Hmm..." he muttered thoughtfully, "Half past seven rings a bell. I feel as if I should be doing something."
Sirius gave a bored sigh. "You mean like, pulling a massive prank on the Slytherins, or something? Cause if you haven't noticed, we're doing that right now. Or at least, supposed-"
"Oh no!" James cried suddenly, his eyes widening. "She's going to kill me!"
#######
Two hours. Two long, dragging hours passed by while Remus waited for the student, growing more and more furious at wasting his time. He had just dwindled away waiting for this no-gooder, when he could have been more appropriately studying for his up-coming Transfiguration Exam. Finally he gave up all together, and began shoving the books he had so carefully selected back into his bag. Frustrated at his failed attempt to perform a good deed, he whipped his bag over his shoulder, and began to stalk out the exit. He didn't notice the girl leaning against the doorframe, and nearly knocked her over when he threw open the large oak door.
"Oh, sorry Charlotte," Remus apologized, helping her stabilize herself. "Didn't see you there."
"That's alright," she said, brushing herself off.
"Are you heading out?"
Charlotte took a glance around the room before slowly nodding her head. "Yes, I suppose so." She walked through the door Remus held open for her, and they began to walk down the hallway.
Glancing at him she was a bit taken aback, for he was seemingly red with anger, and the usually calm boy now looked quite perturbed. "Something the matter?"
Remus looked at Charlotte and gave a frustrated sigh. "Well, some halfwit was supposed to come in for me to tutor in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and they didn't even show! I've been waiting for more than two hours, when I could of been spending my valuable studying time elsewhere. I mean, this person's dense in the first place for not passing such an easy class, but then they've got to prove they're even more of an indolent deadbeat by not showing up."
A few moments of silence passed by, before Charlotte spoke up softly. "It's not that easy," she said, twisting a brunette lock habitually around her finger.
"Yes it is!" Remus protested, "I mean, what, you flick your wand and say a few words? What else is there to do besides read, but I guess I shouldn't assume they can, you know, considering they can't even obtain the basics. I mean, have some consideration, you know? I've been waiting there for two hours. The least the dimwit could do is show up."
Charlotte looked at the ground. "I've been here for two and a half."
"What?" Remus asked, a bit thrown off by random the statement.
Charlotte turned to look at him. "I- I do try, it's just, you know, I don't..."
Remus's eyes widened. "Oh, oh gosh, oh-"
"I've read over the book hundreds of times, but, well I just..."
"N-no, no, it's not, oh gosh.."
Charlotte bit her lip, looking away from the stuttering boy. "I know it's probably easy, I just can't grasp some of the concepts, I suppose.."
Remus opened and closed his mouth, unsure of what to say. "You said you were there?" he finally asked meekly. "Why didn't you go over to me?"
Charlotte gave a half-shrug. "I was only told we were supposed to meet at the entrance."
#######
James darted down the corridor, knocking over first years and a group of giggling girls in the process. His robes flew out behind him, creating a sort of Superman persona, as he zoomed down the hallway in haste. Finally he reached the designated meeting room, and skidded in with an abrupt halt.
"Hello," he greeted breathlessly, as all eyes turned towards him. Apparently this gathering for Prefects, too, because there were at least a dozen or so students present.
Lily, who stood at the head of the class-room, paused briefly at the interruption, but then went back to her instructions as if the disturbance had been non-existent.
"The Headmaster would like me to inform you that these meetings will be held once a week, at the same time. If you have any other obligations you may come talk to me, but if not, you're free to leave." At these words the clunking of chairs and rustling of notes sounded as the students got up to depart. One by one they filed out of the class-room, each looking forebodingly at James as they left, obviously signifying they knew of the wrath she was about to bestow upon him.
A slight whimper escaped from James's mouth as he took a tentative step toward her. She had her back towards him, as she gathered the files and papers she had prepared for the meeting. Finally after she appeared to have everything organized, she tucked the materials into her bag, and turned to depart.
"Okay," James started, cringing at the expected consequences. "I just want to say I'm sorry, and I got off track, and well, you see, I was dist-"
"Whatever Potter," Lily cut in, her face blank and expressionless. "It's not as if I didn't expect it."
She brushed past him heedlessly, an impervious frown present on her face.
Watching her disappear down the hallway, James felt worse than if Lily had yelled at him. Raging and ranting he could take, but the indifference she presented him with was hardly manageable. He had to fix this.
"Lily!" James called, sprinting after her. "Wait!"
She paused and her chest rose and fell as she took a deep breath of annoyance.
"What do you want, Potter?" she spat, her back still towards him.
"I want to make it up to you. What can I do to-"
"Listen," she started, swerving around to face James. A bit startled, James noticed her usual cool presage was now ruffled by the sparkling of tears. "I don't know what Dumbledore was thinking when he made you Head Boy, but I do know that you aren't going to work, because you're obviously too involved with your own personal affairs, and that you're only going to make life more difficult for me. So, do us both a favor, and just leave it alone. I'll do all the work, and you can, as usual, take all the glory."
"Lily," James protested, as she turned to leave. "I wouldn't do that, I..."
"Oh yeah?" she shot back, her fierce demeanor back in play. "And why should I believe you? You're the same arrogant couldn't-care-less prat you were in fifth, sixth, and now seventh year. I don't think you'll ever grow up, Potter."
With a sinking feeling James realized she was right. So far he hadn't done anything to prove he'd changed in the least, and he knew if he was going to ever get her to feel anything but loathe for him, he'd need some drastic differences. And drastic differences.. he would make.
A/N: hello! so, what'd you think? please let me know, good or bad, grand or sad, it doesn't matter, just review! one word, a novel, i'll take it. just push on that little bitty button and make my day spectacular. : ) thanks for reading