Disclaimer: See previous chapter. Hence, the prologue.

Safety From a Distance

Chapter 1

© PrincessLesse 2002

"Hey, Jamesie-boy! Why so down and blue? You know, you need a clue! Today is a day for flowers and daisies, and not because we're lazy. But because we're chums, and we like to run! Frolic and laugh, prance and sing, because today is a day for wondrous things!" Sirius sang to me as he came into the Great Hall.

Why does my best pal have to be abnormal and a bit on the "funny" side? Well, he isn't "funny" in that kind of "funny". But "funny" in the "Haha! Look at me, I'm crazy!" kind of funny. Yet,

I'm a bit of a nutter, as I'm here still gaping at my cereal. What nice cereal it is, too.

"Prongsy! I was SINGING to you! Would you like for me to sing it louder? I will. HEY, JAMESIE-BOY! WHY--" I yanked Sirius down before he could sing anything else. Bumbling buffoon.

"You know, James, you could've kindly asked if I would cease from singing. But no, that's too good for the all-wonderful James Potter." He smiled at me, to show me he's joking.

I rolled my eyes as I grinned at him, and threw a piece of toast on his plate.

"Why don't you eat something? It'll do good for what's lacking in the thinking area."

"Hey, my testicles are in right shape, thank you very much!" Sirius told me good-naturedly.

I stared at him, before I burst out laughing, and then he started laughing, too. He nudged me with his elbow as he said, "Don't you know that I'm the balls of this foundation? You know good and well if you Marauders didn't have me, you'd be lost. Sad. Forsaken!"

"What are you going on about, Padfoot?" Moony asks him as he walked up, Wormtail in tow.

"He's stupid, that's what. What do you think that dingbat goes on about all the time? He never stops talking about himself. 'Why? Me? I'm the best looking male in all of Hogwarts!'" Peter, or rather Wormtail, mimicked Sirius in a high falsetto.

I snorted into my milk as Sirius stood. He towered over dear Peter and said, "I do NOT speak in that high of a pitch!"

The three of us stared at our dear Sirius, as we couldn't hold it in any longer. We burst out laughing, because, poor Sirius, he just squeaked.

"Oh, reALly?" Remus--Moony--said, squeaking in the middle of the word.

"I don't need this kind of torture. I have real friends over here. Don't I, Savannah?" Sirius asked the girl sitting next to him. She turned to him, her black hair hitting him in the face. She grinned slightly at him, and wouldn't you know it, she laughed.

"Serves you right, Mr. Black. I think that you'd get better treatment from them than from I."

I laughed, but promptly shut up when he looked at me. Then he sighed and turned back around to us.

"I guess I'm stuck with you blokes then. Say, how about we head off to Hogsmeade today?" Sirius suggested. Really, the boy has nothing better to do.

"Sorry, no can do. I've got a tutoring session after school," Wormtail said nonchalantly. Sirius and I pick up quickly though, and we leaned in.

"Oh? A lucky lady, Wormtail? Is she leggy? Come on, you can tell us!" Sirius--more-or-less--demanded of Peter. I--on the other hand--take the less demanding approach. I used reverse psychology to coax it out of him.

"It doesn't matter, Padfoot," I said offhandedly to Sirius. "We've probably dated her anyhow."

This boiled Peter, I could tell, because all of a sudden he just burst out, "You have not dated her! And it IS a tutoring session, you stupid gits!"

I laughed, and Peter scowled at me and he said, "I know you haven't dated her, because she doesn't like you mates. You, my friends, are womanizers. She said it herself. Lily Evans has definitely not dated you."

I choked up at this, and then I forced a weak smile.

"Oh, womanizers are we? I wonder why she thinks that. Sirius, do you know why she thinks that?" I turned to him, expecting him to answer. Of course, his eyes glazed over, said quietly, "Say, Wormtail, ol' buddy. What kind of tutoring are you getting?"

Peter narrowed his eyes and he said, "Why does it matter? None of you can come with me because you'll distract me! The professor is already disappointed in me. I need to improve! Improve I tell you!"

I grinned and told him, "No worries. We won't go with you, Remmy here will!"

Remus jerked up from the book he was reading, and he looked at us with wide eyes. "What are you on about? I do well in Charms, I need no help!"

"Hey? Did Peter say Charms, James? I don't think he did! Oh, so you were in on this?! Shame on you, Moony, leaving us out when we were bringing you in! I'm hurt. Really I am. It's a shame, because I was considering on giving you some chocolate."

I laughed as Moony's face paled. He stared pitifully at Sirius, pulling the puppy dog eyes. Very pathetic they were.

"Ch-chocolate. Sirius, mate, you wouldn't do that to a bloke like me, would you? I have an ailment, you wouldn't want to make me worse, now would you?"

Sirius stuck his nose up snottily, and had his arms crossed. He sighed, as if he were contemplating a great decision. "I don't know, Moony. It is Honeydukes' chocolate. I shan't be the same if I were to give it up. It grieves me so, that I can't share it with you."

I started chuckling as Remus' eyes became wide. He was pretty good at the puppy dog eyes, the pitiful 'I'm too sad and perfectly innocent' look. Too bad that Sirius was exceptional at it, too.

"Now, now, Moony. You know those eyes won't work on me. I am the absolute best at them. Here. Now watch and learn. Lily!"

I turned to watch as Lily turned towards us. I inhale a sharp breath as she turned and smiled at Sirius. She was blinking her bright, beautiful eyes—eyes that I wished were only for me.

"What?"

Sirius pulled the eyes on her. I watched her own eyes, those beautiful, green eyes of hers, soften and she crinkled out one of her 'special' smiles.

"Oh, Sirius. What do you want now?" she chuckled as she fully turned around and gave him her complete attention. Why didn't I think of that? I'm pretty good at the eye thing. I could do it, really!

"Well, Lily, how about you, me, and a bottle of butterbeer?" Sirius asked, putting the puppy dog eyes into full effect. If this works, I'm stealing it.

"Sirius, didn't Peter tell you? I'm tutoring him tonight. Maybe some other time."

How can she be so nice and so brutal at the same time? I turned to stare at Sirius; he must've been thinking the same thing. He looked slightly putout. Sorry, pal, I feel no sympathy. With you thinking Lily Evans was a catch, I hold nothing back.

"Ha! See? I told you!" Peter said. He grinned at me and winked. He was probably the only one who knew my little 'infatuation' with Lily. He overheard me whispering to myself. Why, oh why, must I talk to myself? It's really a sign of insanity. I'm insane.

"Well, lads, I'm off! Anyone care to join me?" I stood and grabbed my bag. Sirius was still sitting in his seat, just now deciding he was going to eat that toast. He turned to me, his mouth full of bread, "Sorry, mate. I'm famished. I'll catch up."

I turned to look at Peter, but he was touching up on an essay. "I forgot to write the last metre last night. S'rry, I'll be there soon, though." I nodded. I turned to my last beacon of shining hope. Remus.

"Well, Moony, what do you say?" He turned to look up at me, and immediately I groaned. He pulled the puppy dog eyes.

"It's okay, Moony. I'm a big boy, I can walk on my own." He smiles at me in response, as he goes back to finishing his essay.

"But, you'll get lost if you don't have a pretty guide, Mr. Potter."

I turned around, and I swear my heart was doing flip-flops in my stomach. Dare I dream? It's the flower herself.

"Well, I'm sure I can find my way. It'll be much easier though with a pretty guide." I grinned charmingly at her. She smiled at me, as she picked up her books and threw her bag over her shoulders.

"But, Mr. Potter, I'm not that pretty, are you sure that you won't get lost with me as a guide?"

I tried not to stand and gape. I sucked it in though, as I said, "What are you talking about? I have the prettiest redhead leading me to class! How could I ever get lost?!"

"James, I'm the only redhead," she said tartly.

"Exactly my point, Lily Evans. Because if they were to make any more redheads, there would be an overriding of beautiful people. And one infinitely beautiful girl is enough. These young men here can't take it. But I am different. Send all your beauty at me, Lily Evans. I can take it!"

I stood there, squeezing my fists and closing my eyes tightly. I looked as if I were ready to take a blow to the stomach. But, I'm positive it was a blow to the heart.

"James?"

"Yes?" I say, opening one eye.

"Shut up."

"Okay," I said cheerfully. I grabbed her books out of her hand, as I whistled, and walked by her side. We have Transfiguration classes first.

"James? May I ask as to why you're getting here so early?" I turned to look at her, and she was smiling. She was doing it again. Staring at me as if I were the most important person in the world.

"Well, I wasn't anticipating this, but it's a bonus. A walk to my favourite class with my favourite girl."

She smacked me on my arm, and I shook my head at her, "Tsk. Now, now, you wouldn't want me to drop these books, now would you?" She rolled her eyes as she indicated for me to continue.

"Professor McGonagall asked me to come early today. And no, I've no idea what for."

She pursed her lips at me, and then she smiled. Goodness, how I love to see her do those, especially at me. But, sadly no, I won't tell her that I do. Maybe I would jokingly, but not seriously. Never seriously, because then she may figure me out.

"James, my boy, you shouldn't be such a smart-ass. I may like you if you do that." She grinned at me as we continued down the hall.

If only words spoken in witticism were true. But, no. Not for me, not for James Potter.

"You know, James, I think that the song that Sirius sang for you this morning may repeat itself if you keep looking so gloomy."

I smiled, and I said to her, "The song won't work. Because I'd be forced to take drastic measures to make you shut up."

"Oh, and what would those 'drastic measures' be?"

I gulped as she arched one of her delicate eyebrows. Don't do that. It's bad for me, didn't you know that, Lily Evans?

"Oh. Well, I don't know if I should tell you, because what if one day I wanted to quit your rambling, and that was my only way to stop you? You'd know!"

She chuckled as we were standing in front of the entrance to the Transfiguration classroom.

I don't know if I ever told you, but Lily Evans is exceptional at those puppy dog eyes. It's a shame she had to pull them on me. Very tempting they are, so I had to tell her what my secret was.

"Well, it's top-secret. So be sure not to tell anyone. Lily, for me to make you shut up, I'd have to--kiss you!" I said this in a whisper, as if I were really telling some great secret.

Not that it's a secret to myself, and now it isn't a secret to Lily. She now knows I'd kiss her. But, I don't think she believes me.

The look on her face was of barely contained laughter. She finally let it out, and grabbed onto my arm as she pulled me into the classroom. I sighed, there's no reason to tell her I'm not joking. It'd ruin our acquaintanceship.

"Professor, I'm here!" I said as I handed Lily her books.

Lily smiled, as she sat down at a desk and waited for the Professor.

Professor McGonagall came out from in her supply closet.

"Why, hello, James, Lily. Thank you, James, for coming. Ms. Evans, is there a reason you're here?" Professor McGonagall asked, her mood switching as she continued talking.

"I decided I'd accompany James to class, Professor," Lily says charmingly.

"Well, it turns out nicely for me, then. Ms. Evans, help Mr. Potter here set out the furniture. We're turning the assorted pieces of furniture into animals. Now, I'd also like for you to put a vial of this on their desks. It's not anything important, but it'll help them turn the furniture into animals that best reflects the spell caster."

I'm positive my eyebrows shot up to my hairline. That was something we didn't usually do in Transfiguration. She noticed my look, and asked me a question in a slightly disapproving tone.

"Mr. Potter? Do you have a question?"

"Yes, Professor, I was wondering why you're using a potion?" I stared at her, giving her my best

'I'm just curious!' look.

"Well, Professor Johnston decided to help me. He said that this would be 'interesting and unusual' to have the students do this."

Lily looked at me, and then she grinned.

"Professor Johnston wasn't going to be here for Potions, was he?"

I choked back a laugh as Professor McGonagall looked very miffed. She gave Lily one of her downsizing glares. This didn't affect Lily in the least. She stared at Professor McGonagall with one of her own looks. The one that made you see the error of your ways, whether or not you be wrong.

"Ms. Evans, I'm afraid that, yes, Professor Johnston won't be here. His wife is having a baby and well, he asked me to give you the potion. He altered it a bit. It was supposed to make you turn the next thing you touch into that animal. Instead, it's what you transfigure."

I grinned; I already knew what my animal would be. I've been an Animagus for quite a while now. I'm positive that my animal would be a stag. Hence my name, Prongs.

"Oh, well that's wonderful for him! I hope everything goes well!" Lily, ever the caring one, said this to Professor McGonagall.

Professor McGonagall's face softened as she smiled at Lily.

"Yes, I do hope so, too. Now, you two get to work!"

She walked back into her supply closet.

I grinned at Lily, and gave her a wink when we both turned around. She smiled at me, as she put an arm around my shoulder. I stiffened, but I had relaxed immediately. She didn't seem to notice, though.

"We make a pretty good team, James Potter. I think that we should both be the Head students next year, what do you say?"

I could only nod as she grinned at me once more, and went to put the potion on a desk, and levitated the furniture next to it. I can only stare at you, Lily Evans. Because, little do you know, we'd make a good pair no matter what we were. No matter what.