Title: Anachronistic
Authors: Muse Calliope
Category: Angst/Drama
Rated: PG-13
Summary: Due to tragic circumstances, Hermione decides to go back to the past. She knows it's dangerous but now she's extremely desperate. She knows there are some serious repercussions but they can't be as bad as things are now…
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
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"What was he doing, the great god Pan,
Down in the reeds by the river?
Spreading ruin and scattering ban,
Splashing and paddling with hoofs of a goat,
And breaking the golden lilies afloat
With the dragon-fly on the river."
- A Musical Instrument, Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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Chapter Five: If You Can't Leave It Be
James Potter walked down the halls as quickly as he could without actually running and alerting Filch or any teachers.
He was furious at the Granger girl. But more importantly, he was embarrassed, at being beaten. And to have been beaten at something that was his forte infuriated and mortified him even more. And to have it done by the new kid who knew nothing about him or the way things went around Hogwarts. And to have Lily seen the whole debacle. And-
"Hey, Prongs! Wait for me!"
James spun around swiftly on his heels with a scowl plastered on his face. His angry rant had preoccupied him enough to leave him completed distracted so that Sirius had managed to take him by surprise, despite the fact that his friend had done nothing to muffle the sound of his feet on stone floors. He was not in the mood to deal with Padfoot's jokes right now.
"What?" James asked briskly.
Sirius slowed to a stop in front of him and held up his hands, palms facing outwards in a sign of his peaceful intent.
"Calm down, Prongs. There's no need to snap at me. It's not my fault Evans is in the common room right now probably laughing at you until she turns blue."
"I think that's enough. I get the point." James grounded out, turning even redder.
"You sure? All the blood pounding in your head may have prevented you from hearing me properly."
"There's no blood pounding in my head." James snapped.
"Yes there is. I can tell by looking at you. Your whole face is red, especially the tips of your ears and your fists are clenched tightly and your jaw is snapped shut so forcefully, I can see the muscles in it twitching." Sirius smirked at him calmly.
Taking a deep breath, James forced himself to relax, feeling only marginally better once he had. With a quick turn to face away from his friend, he began walking in the same direction he was heading with Sirius falling in step with him easily.
The pair continued walking in silence while James stewed some more, interrupted only so often by Sirius humming softly. Finally, the silence or the humming (he could not tell which one) became too oppressive for James.
"So what's our plan?" He asked softly, his voice conveying his silent apology for being rude.
"Well, I figure we head to the kitchen and get a snack." Sirius replied nonchalantly, letting his best friend know that he had already forgotten about it.
"I'm not talking about that, Padfoot. I meant what happened just now in the common room."
"Oh. So where are we headed if not the kitchens?" The question momentarily surprised the bespectacled Marauder, causing a short relapse of silence.
"I'm not sure but until we figure that out you have to help me think of a way to get revenge on Granger."
"But McGonagall told us she's off-limits. If anyone pranks Granger, she's going to blame us."
"Well, what should I do?" James asked feeling rather peeved. Not only did Hermione Granger best him, but there was no way for him to get her back.
"Maybe you should try focusing on your fair lady Lily." Sirius teased him in a sing song voice.
"Padfoot, I doubt she's still laughing," James responded dryly.
"No, but what are the odds she'll be able to keep a straight face the next time she sees you, eh Prongs?"
James sighed, realizing the truth behind Sirius's joke.
"But then again," his best friend continued merrily, "Maybe she'll be too busy hexing you and telling you how much she wants to kill you to laugh."
"Oh stuff it. Lily is just one of those people who takes a lot of time and effort to be wooed. She'll come around eventually. You'll see."
"Oh yeah. Of course. That's what the real reason is. I believe you Jamesie." Sirius snorted while giving his partner in crime a condescending look.
"And what would you know about matters of love? All you know how to do snog some blonde bimbo and then drop her as soon as you see the next pretty face."
"I'll have you know that it takes some serious skill and romancing abilities to get them that far." Sirius responded, lifting his nose up and giving a hurt, yet dignified, sniff.
"Ha! You probably grab one in the halls and just starting kissing her there. Then, she probably gets excited, thinking that's she's finally captured the heart of Sirius Black, Hogwarts' most notorious playboy, so she allows you to continue. After that you head off, leaving her alone and googly eyed. She'll expect a repeat performance but when you don't even seem to notice the next day, she seeks you out and then – wham! – you break her heart into pieces by saying it was nothing more than a fling." James finished, feeling out of breath but triumphant in beating Padfoot in this round of playful arguing.
"Yes, but why do you think they let me go that far? Could it perhaps be the way I treat them like they mean the world to me or the way I speak sweet nothings in their ears?" Sirius replied, grinning.
"You? Sweet nothings? I have never heard anything nice or polite come out of your mouth except when you're lying to professors." James snorted, amused by the idea of a suave and debonair Sirius Black ever existing.
"Well at least I'm getting some action, unlike certain lonely stags that spend their evenings alone in their bedrooms, mooning over unrequited love."
"I'd get some too if I didn't have any morals."
"Hey! I resent that. I have plenty of morals. Just because you lack skills that I have in abundance doesn't mean you should strike out at me."
"Prove it then," James said confidently.
"Don't you remember what happened the last you said that? Granger humiliated you into the dust."
"Shut up. There's no way I can lose this."
"And what exactly is 'this'?" Sirius asked, slightly curious now after seeing the devious smirk on his fellow Marauder's face.
"A challenge, a dare, call it what you like. Here are the rules: you publicly woo someone for as long as it takes to for them to love you. In the mean time you have to stay celibate to make it seem like you're really in love. If you can't get the girl to love you by the end of the year or remain 'faithful' to her, you lose. Understand?"
"Yes. And what happens if I succeed?"
"Then I yield and acknowledge you as the great one. Deal?" James smirked.
"Yeah, deal. But what do you say to raising the ante a little?" Sirius asked with a devious smile of his own.
"In what way?"
"Well, I chase after this girl while you continue after Lily but more earnestly this time. The same rules apply to you as to me and in the end whoever gets the girl first wins. The winner then gets to make the loser do whatever horribly embarrassing thing he wants."
"Hmmm, I'll take it. Considering the girl I've got picked out for you, you'll never win."
"And who is this mystery girl, my dear Mr. Prongs?" Sirius asked with his curiosity rapt.
"Why it's dear Miss Hermione know-it-all Granger. Is there anything unsuitable with my choice?" James asked flippantly.
"Just your motive. Why her?"
"Because either way, I win. If you lose, I get it rub it in your face, and there are is a good chance of that. I get the impression she doesn't like either of us so good luck. You'll need it. But if you win and get her heart, then you can end the 'relationship' and break her heart. I'll get my revenge then, indirect as it may be, and McGonagall can't do anything about it to either of us."
"Dear me, Mr. Prongs. That is devilishly tricky of you. But since I have already accepted, I have no choice but to continue with the bet and to compliment you on your cleverness," Sirius spoke in his best imitation of an elderly aristocrat (which was very good considering he had met so many of them).
James laughed happily before checking his watch. "We still have another two hours until dinner starts. If you want, we can go to the kitchens and grab a snack."
"Alright. But first we consolidate the deal. So let's shake on it." Sirius stuck out his hand, which was quickly grasped by James and thrust enthusiastically several times before they let go and began walking to the kitchens.
"Remember," James added, "It all officially starts at midnight tonight, so make sure to have something planned and ready to be executed by tomorrow."
"Of course. And don't think the same doesn't apply to you, Jimmy." Sirius teased again.
"I haven't and don't call me that!"
"What are you going to do if I don't?"
"Maybe I'll just hex you, huh? Ever think of that?"
"Truthfully, no. You couldn't hit me with a charm no matter how hard you tried. In case you haven't noticed, my grandmother has better aim than you." And with that final comment, Sirius took off, zigzagging through the corridors in hopes of avoid his best friend's wrath.
"Why you little bastard. Get back here!" James then began to chase the other Gryffindor down the halls in the hopes of pushing him into a professor or worse.
End Chapter Five. To be continued.
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Authors' Notes:
Yes, yes, we know this chapter is very short and extremely late. If anyone wants a reason, you can blame it on that fact that we both had a least five projects each to finish. And now that finals and regents exams (we live in New York) are coming up, it'll get harder to update. But obviously, we're not giving up and you should expect a new chapter hopefully within a week or two.
The chapter title is taken from a song by Dashboard Confessional, "If You Can't Leave It Be, Might As Well Make It Bleed".
Finally, homemade cookies filled with love go to:
Captain Oblivious
harryp/charmedfreak
Honolulu
Rane2920072
MaisjetadoreSiriusNoir – Thanks for the tip. It's been duly noted and corrected.
Avestia
Magic Crystal Rose – Peter is not going to be in the forefront for a while until… well we're not giving away until what
s.s. harry – Alas, even your power was not enough to make us update sooner. Sorry.