I own nothing you recognize; everything else is mine. So no sticky paws! And I just realized something as I was writing this. Silly me, I said James was captain and then wrote that Vanessa was. Soooo, we're gonna change it to: Sirius is captain of the Quidditch team, and James is head boy like he's supposed to be. Got it? Good!
To HealerAriel: Shirtless Sirius? HELL YEAH! :P
As Told By Padfoot
I leapt out of bed after reading the card three times. I ripped open Wormtail's bed hangings, but he was still fast asleep. I put my hand over his mouth and grabbed him by the shirt, forcing him out of the dormitory and onto the spiral staircase. At this point, he was very much awake, and extremely terrified, judging by how wide his pale, watery eyes were. The eyes of a rat. A backstabbing rat.
"What in blazes do you think you're doing Pettigrew?!" I whispered as loud as I dared. He looked at me with confusion. "What's the matter with you, you great oaf?!"
"Sirius, what the devil are you talking about!"
"This!" I threw the roses into his arms, but kept the card. I held it up, right to his face. "Here's to us. HERE'S TO US?!!"
"Sirius, I-"
"I can't believe you Wormtail, you rat. James is your best friend! Why would you try and do something like this to him!"
"Sirius, I-"
"You're nothing but a backstabbing worm! I...I can't believe this. Everything James has done for you, this is how you repay him?! Trying to steal his girlfriend!"
"But Sirius, I-"
"No excuses Peter! I can't believe you! You're lucky I left my wand in there, or so help me, I-"
"SIRIUS!" Peter shouted.
"What?!"
"Would you listen, for a minute?!"
"Why should-"
"Wassamatter?" James said groggily, standing in the doorway, still half asleep. "Was goin' on?"
"Nothing Prongs, go back to sleep." James turned to go back into the room, but turned around again.
"Was- was that you got there Pete?" James was squinting at the bundle of flowers Pettigrew was holding.
"It's...it's nothing. Herbology project. Go back to sleep."
James nodded, trying to stifle a huge yawn, but to no avail. He turned around again, but walked straight into the doorpost. Not seeming to notice, he walked over to his bed, hitting his toe on my trunk. He also seemed not to notice this; he toppled into bed, and started snoring almost instantly.
I let a small grin etch itself on my face. But then I noticed Wormtail again.
"You! You-"
"Sirius!" Peter drew his fist back, aiming at my stomach. "If you don't listen I'll punch you!"
"Now now Peter, would that really be wise? Getting big, bad Padfoot even madder?"
"Y-you d-don't s-s-scare me!" Pettigrew said, trembling slightly.
"You're lying through your teeth! But I'll pity you; you have thirty seconds to explain why you're hitting on Lily."
Wormtail gulped. He looked around, searching for the right words. "W-well, you see, Lily has-has always b-been so n-nice and kind t-to me. S-s-she helped me with my homework when you guys couldn't," he said. Then added, almost to himself: "or wouldn't."
I pretended not to hear the last bit.
"And she's s-so pretty. I w-wouldn't have gotten the f-flowers if I h-had know J-James was going t-to ask her out t-tonight."
"Oh, I see! I understand!" I exclaimed falsely.
"Y-you do?" Peter stammered.
"Yes! It all makes sense now! YOU wanted to ask Lily out before James could, even though you know he's been madly in love with her since he first laid eyes on her! You thought if you asked her first, she would go with you and never even give James a second thought! You'd be superior to James, you would be better then him, and Lily would think so too!" This was obviously not the answer he had expected, but by the look on his face, these words were true. "Isn't that right, Peter?"
His eyes turned even more watery then they normally are.
"That is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard Pettigrew. The thought that someone could do that to their own friend sickens me. I don't want to ever see you anywhere around James again. Or Lily, for that matter!" Peter started sobbing quietly.
"Sirius, please, I d-didn't k-know I would c-cause t-his much t-trouble. P-please forgive m-me."
I closed my eyes, trying not to hurt him. My fists tightened involuntarily. But, he said please. Now I'd have to feel bad about saying- "No."
"Sirius, you're one of the best friends, and so is James. I-I would n-never hurt either of y-you purposely...give m-me one m-more c-chance. Please?"
I sighed, groaning inwardly. I had a bad feeling about this.
"Alright. Fine. One more chance. That's it. But if I receive so much as an iota of evidence that you're interfering with James and Lil, I'll have your head mounted in my home next the house-elves'. Got it?" Peter nodded, smiling slightly.
"T-thank you Padfoot. But don't t-tell James about this, o-okay?"
"I won't Wormtail. I won't. Just get rid of the flowers and we're square." He nodded and walked down the stairs quickly. I guess he just didn't want to be near me right then, and that was fine with me.
I walked quietly to my bed, feeling slightly guilty about the way I treated Wormtail. But James has been my best friend since forever; we have to stick up for each other. Maybe I'll apologize to Wormtail. Someday. Maybe.
-
YEAH! IT'S SATURDAY! So why am I up at 7 AM in the morning?!! I'll tell you why! James thought it would be terribly funny to wake me up by transforming into a stag and sitting on my knees. (Did I mention James, Pettigrew, and I are Animagus? I'll get back to that later.) Of course, I didn't share this feeling.
"James, what the hell?! GET OFF ME!"
He hit my head with one of his antlers when he jumped off my bed, straight onto his.
"Hahaha, sorry mate, couldn't resist!" he said with a laugh after he transformed back. You're lucky I can resist hexing you, mate.
"Yeah yeah. Seeing as how I'm up, might as well get some breakfast."
"Me too," agreed Remus.
"I'll come too, I guess," James added. "Think we should invite Lily with us?" he added thoughtfully.
"No," Remus and I said in unison.
"You already have a date, you can't ask her out again before that," I explained.
"Oh, right. Let's go to the kitchens then, instead of the great hall." My thoughts exactly. stomach growls
"Either of you seen Peter?" I looked around. Peter wasn't there; strange, he's usually the last one up.
"Nope."
"Not me."
"Oh well, let's get going then." We walked to the kitchens in silence. I think we were too hungry to talk.
We turned the corner and entered the hallway with giant pictures depicting different foods, but quickly jumped back. To my enormous surprise, Lily Evans was walking out of the hidden door to the main kitchen.
"What's Lily doing here?" I whispered frantically. How did Lily know where the kitchens were? Guess we're rubbing off on her grins.
"Dunno...let's go ask her," James said. He rubbed the 'Head Boy' badge on his robes, making it gleam. Honestly, James acts as if he's never talked to a girl before sometimes.
"No!" Remus and I said as we each grabbed his arms to pull him back.
"What is UP with you two?" James said, looking perplexed.
We both just shook our heads. "Act natural," I whispered in James's ear as we re-entered the corridor. Lily was walking toward us, her arms full of bottles of Butterbeer.
To my absolute horror, James was walking as if both his legs were broken and in casts and he couldn't keep his balance. "WHAT the hell are you doing Prongs?" I nearly yelled. I caught myself just in time and whispered it though...loudly.
"This...this is my, erm, walk," he said, flushing.
"Your walk? Since when do you have a walk? And that is not a walk! That's more like a hospital hop if you ask me."
"Yeah, well I didn't, so shut it." Tsk tsk, temper. Just giving a bit of friendly advice...I'm so under appreciated :(
"Hiya Lils," I said as we passed her. She jumped at the sound of my voice.
"Oh, hey Sirius. W-what are you three doing here?" She was acting like a toddler who got caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"We were just, uh..." I started to say.
"Taking a walk!" Remus provided, grinning at James, who shot him a death glare.
"Yes, taking a walk," I said. "What are YOU doing here?"
"Taking a walk," Lily said with a grin. The badge on her robes was even brighter then James's. James looked like he was about to pass out.
"Well, err...see ya around then," said Remus.
We waved to her as she walked off.
"Smooth James. Real smooth," I said, rolling my eyes at him.
"Nearly talked her ear off you did James," Remus added.
"I was flustered."
"Flustered? Good word. You didn't look so flustered when you were doing your gangsta' stroll though." I quickly dodged out of his aim as I said this.
"Wonder what she was doing with all the Butterbeer though?" Remus asked thoughtfully.
"Her Charms group is having a party," James supplied at once.
"What, do you have her schedule memorized or something?" I asked incredulously. He didn't answer, but he blushed even more.
"Let's just get some food, I'm starving."
-
"Alright team, line up!"
It was the first Quidditch game of the season. I had been made captain just a week earlier, when Vanessa Zach had to leave school because of a family emergency, and I was still new to this managing bit.
My team however, continued to talk as if they hadn't heard me, which I knew they had.
"I said line up you maggots!" Nothing. "Line up or I'll hex you!" Considering I had my wand out and pointed at the lot of them, they reluctantly stopped talking and lined up near the door that led to the packed stadium.
"Everyone know the strategy? Everyone got their broom? Their socks? Good! Let's roll!" I marched out into the bright sunshine, followed by fellow beater Leon Homes. Next came the three chasers: James and two girls named Jane and Mandy, and our keeper Stacey Swan. Lastly came our seeker, Michael Jacobs.
I grinned as the tidal wave of applause washed over us. Scanning the crowd quickly, I saw Lily was there. I never knew she liked Quidditch.
"Teams, ready?" said the new referee, Madame Hooch. I nodded, as did the Ravenclaw captain, Jennifer Gang, a blonde who's hair was longer then mine. Her eyes were ice blue, and I could tell she didn't wear make-up, but she was still very beautiful.
"Shake hands and we'll begin." We did, and the game began.
I kicked off from the ground; the wind stinging my face at first. I kept my hair out of my face by pulling it into my customary ponytail. It's a Muggle thing I learned from Lils about a year ago, and it's been my style ever since.
But anyways, back to Quidditch. The game didn't last very long; about half an hour. The Gryffindor chasers were almost like one, indomitable player rather then three separate ones. The Ravenclaw team wasn't that bad, either. We were up 70-50, and I still hadn't knocked anyone off their broom. Chasing after a bludger, I saw a speck of gold and a blur of red out of the corner of my eye. Three seconds later, and enormous amount of cheers echoed through the stadium, coming mainly from the Gryffindors. Haha, our first game with me as captain was a success! This can only mean one thing...PARTY!
-
"-Hic- Great -hic- party, eh Jamesie? -Hic-" Okay, maybe I added a little something to the Butterbeer (but just mine, so don't go and get me arrested =P).
"Oh -hic- yah, best one so -hic- far," James said in-between hiccups. Okay, and James's drinks too.
"I think you've had enough to drink boys," Lily said, looking disapprovingly at the empty Butterbeer bottles littering the floor of the common room.
"Y-you're not me -hic- mum," James stated matter-of-factly, his eyes somewhat glazed.
"Thank god, or else I might have done something drastic years ago," Lily said with a slight grin.
"She's your -hic- girl though mate, better -hic- listen to her," I said. James and Lily both blushed a deep shade of red.
"Well, I think I'm going to hit the sack, stay out of trouble," Remus said, taking one last swig of his perfectly normal Butterbeer. The goody two shoes.
"Guess I'll leave you two alone," I said with a wink.
"I'll be up in a few," James called after me. Of course I didn't go to bed, I grabbed James's invisibility cloak and crept back down the stairs. James was sitting next to Lily, saying something that made her laugh. Urgh, James, not till your date!
Before I knew what was happening, James bent down and kissed Lily on her cheek. She looked incredibly surprised, but incredibly pleased at the same moment. James smiled as he tucked a stray piece of Lily's vivid red hair behind her ear; his hand lingered there for a moment.
"Good night, Lily," James said so softly I could barely hear him.
"Good night, James," Lily breathed.
Lily started towards the girls' staircase, but James grabbed her arm and drew her close to him. His head drew closer to hers, and then-
"Sirius! What the hell are you doing?" James yelled. On the pretense of trying to get a better view, I tripped over the hem of the cloak. I fell down six stairs, landing at James and Lils's feet. James was seething; Lily looked highly amused.
"I was...um..."
"Spying on me and Lily?"
"Why James, I would never! How could you ever think of such a thing?"
"Sirius, what am I going to do with you?" James said, shaking his head at me.
"Love me and cherish me and serve me for the rest of my life?"
"Sure mate." James jerked his head slightly in the direction of our dorm; he was obviously anxious to get rid of me, so I said my good nights and headed up the staircase. Of course, I just threw the cloak back on and tip-toed back downstairs.
"Sorry about that Lil, he's a handful sometimes."
"I don't mind. He's quite amusing," said Lily with a grin. At least someone appreciates me!
"Well, night." James stood awkwardly for a moment, before turning and heading towards the staircase. This time it was Lily's turn to stop him. Before he could even react, she kissed him. They stood lip-locked for what seemed like ages. I decided to leave them alone, and went to sleep for real.
-
"M-morning Padfoot," James said, yawning like a lion. "Sleep well?"
I stopped rummaging in my trunk. "James! No time for small talk! Do you realize what time it is??" His confused look told me 'no'. "You have ten minutes to get downstairs to go to Hogsmeade!" James gave a slight yelp.
"What the devil?! Why didn't you wake me up?!" he yelled, frantically looking for his black cloak.
"Here!" I shoved his robes, cloak, socks, shoes, and money into his arms. "Run while you dress!" James slipped the robes over his shorts and shirt; the robes would cover them anyway, so it didn't matter if he changed his actual clothes at this point.
"Remus!" I yelled. Wolf-boy ran after James and me as we ran out of the common room, drawing stares from anyone we happened to pass.
"I tried waking you up mate, but you wouldn't budge," I explained to James as we took a shortcut through a tapestry of Scarlet Maarix, a witch famous for...something.
James leaned on my shoulder as he put his socks and shoes on. If anyone asked, we were practicing for a three-legged relay championship in Taiwan. As soon as we reached the huge oak doors, the line of kids started marching out of them.
"Just in time," said a voice behind us. James's face turned two shades paler.
"Hiya Lil," I said, nudging James in his ribs to get him to start walking. He stepped on my foot in retaliation and walked over next to Lily. The two took off chatting, leaving me there, all alone, again. Gah!
"I hope she's good enough for him," I whispered to Remus.
-
Alright! How was that? Okay okay, maybe it wasn't ludicrously long, BUT! It is I think the longest chapter so far, AND I'm getting better at updating! So good news bad news time.
Good news, I'm really starting to like this story! Thank you to all my lovely readers and especially reviewers! You're my inspiration to keep this story going; so if ya like it, click that little button and review!
Bad news, I'm going to my dad's in a week :/ I'll update as much as I can before that, but I guarantee updates will be a lot slower the next two months. BUT I SHALL RETURN!
WITH AN UPDATE!
Next time: James goes on his big date! YEEE-HAW! I know Sirius was a little mean in this chapter, but he's really a nice person :P His funny side will show more in the next chapter. Does anyone else detect a slight hint of jealousy between Sirius and Lily? ;)
Ciao :)