Safety From a Distance

Chapter 8

©PrincessLesse 2003

"Padfoot!" I yelled down the corridor. We were late tonight. Tonight was a full moon, and I couldn't wait to go.

"Prongsy, why don't you hold your stags?" I rolled my eyes at the bad pun. Then I heard chuckling. "'Hold your stags', heh, that was a good one."

Only Padfoot...

"Prongsy! Merlin, you take so long! Why can't you hurry it up a bit?"

Again, only Padfoot.

"Geez, Padfoot, why don't you wait a tic and let me grab clothes?"

"Why ever would you need clothes? We should run around, free like birds, or animals really, none of us are actually birds."

You don't say... I always knew Padfoot was a sharp one. But, I did listen to what he said. I wasn't going to run around in the buff, but I was going to leave the clothes here. I walked to the window, the full moon was shining on the room, and I thought it looked rather beautiful. Not that I'd ever tell anyone that! But, I wonder if Lily is looking at the moon now, and wonders how beautiful it is. Like her.

"Dammit, Prongs! Will you bloody get a move on?"

"My, listen to those swear words! Do you talk to my mother with that mouth?"

Sirius flipped me off! The wanker. Anyhow, we did start to hurry. When we got to the Whomping Willow, we saw a rat scurrying around, squeaking in a manner as if it were upset.

"Just wait a damn minute, will you?" Sirius asked. Commanded really, but I won't say that.

The next thing we knew, we heard a pop, and Peter was standing there, glaring at us.

"Took you girls damn near long enough!"

"Quit your whinging, Wormtail, we're here aren't we?" Padfoot asked, grinning slightly. "C'mon, you slow-pokes, we're missing all the fun!"

Then I watched as Sirius transformed. I narrowed my eyes at him, and then I said aloud, "'Slow-pokes'? What are you, an ickle firstie?"

I dodged to the side as the giant dog lunged at me. Since they were waiting for me, as Peter already transformed, I too turned. Stag it was for me. I started prancing around, looking back at the castle. We were obscured from view, and it didn't mater anyhow. They wouldn't be able to tell with the concealment potion that I brewed up for us earlier.

It was free, being an animal. You get these instincts, and yet you still have human minds. I've always wondered why I became a stag of all things. It was only appropriate that Sirius become a dog, he's named after the Dog Star. As I pranced--erm--walked closer to the Whomping Willow, Peter scurried to the knob, and pressed it. It was slightly amazing how this flailing tree would become still with a touch of a knob. We all scurried down the hole, my four knees scurrying along. Good thing I had my human mind, or I would've freaked out because of the closure.

When we arrived at the Shrieking Shack, a werewolf was howling at the window, tearing up a chair, his back hair raised. He was snarling, but when he saw us, it was as if he immediately calmed down. This never ceased to amaze me how we could do this every month and yet not be killed.

I heard Padfoot give a bark and Moony give one in return. There was a scurrying around on my hind legs, and I knew that Peter was on my back. I gave a snort, and started beating my hooves. We were going to the Forbidden Forest tonight, and it would be an incredible night indeed.

~~**~~

When I awoke the next morning, I was groggy and annoyed. I couldn't remember why, but then I realized it was because of the incessant chime of a bell. It kept ringing, and ringing, and ringing... felt like it had been ringing for hours.

"No, Mum! I hate church..." I heard Peter mumble into his pillow as he rolled over and put the pillow over his head. I looked to Sirius, and his leg was hanging off the bed, and he was drooling, seemingly oblivious to the ringing bell. How I wished I could sleep like that...

I looked up, and the bell was ringing in the air, enchanted to ring at a certain time to wake us up for classes... classes? Bloody hell!

I took my wand and turned off the alarm, and then I threw a book at Sirius. "Wake up, you dolts! We're late for classes!"

Sirius shot up (after I hit him with the book), his eyes glazed over, and mumbling, "But I want the cheese."

"Snorfle finus blerp..." I heard Peter mumble. Then a massive snore came from him. Sometimes...

"Peter! Wake up! We are late and Kathagitus is going to have our hides!"

I watched as Peter rolled over and ignored me. Sirius was rubbing side of his face, as he couldn't seem to concentrate it to one spot. His hair was stuck up on end at one side. I glared at him as he yawned and blinked sleepily at me.

"Watcha worryin' 'bout, Jamesie? Y'know--" Sirius was cut short by a yawn he gave. I rolled my eyes as I cast a spell on Peter, and he then fell off the bed.

I threatened Sirius, but he saw I wasn't in a good mood, and he held up his hands. "Then we should go, he's probably half-way finished."

I panicked and looked at my watch. Well, we were twenty minutes late. I started running around, pulling on my slacks, then realizing that I had my pyjama pants on. I started all over again, getting everything right, and then pulled on my blazer, tucking my tie down the front. I didn't bother with my hair as I ran to the bathroom, intending to brush my teeth.

When I ran back to the dorm, Peter was in his knickers, and Padfoot in the buff. I yelled and turned away. "Point that somewhere else, Padfoot!"

"Wha..." Padfoot asked sleepily. Then he looked down. "Oh. Don't mind that."

I rolled my eyes and then looked at my watch again. Thirty minutes late... "Look, I'll see you guys in a bit. Well, if you make it."

I ran to grab my bag and pulled on my shoes before I ran down the stairs, and then out the portrait hole.

I ran down a couple of flights of stairs, and finally skidded to a halt in front of the Potions room in the dungeon. I burst into the room, breathing heavily.

"Nice of you to join us, Mr. Potter. Please, do take a seat."

I nodded, grinned at him in that way that said, 'I'm innocent!' and then made my way to where I usually sat. I realized that Moony wasn't here, and Wormtail and Padfoot probably weren't going to make it. I looked beside me, and Lily was sitting by herself.

Merlin, what luck! I grinned at her and gave her a roguish wink as I sat down and pulled out parchment and a quill.

"Well, if it isn't Lily Evans all by her lonesome!"

"Hmm… yes, it certainly is. Are you having more problems than usual with your hair, James?" she asked me, eyeing my hair with a casual eye. I quickly felt the top of my head, and then tried to flatten it down, giving her another grin.

She smiled at me, and then I heard her quill scratching. She was writing down the ingredients to the potion that we were doing. I glanced at her papers, and realized I missed at least ten inches of notes. Not bad. I suppose it could've been worse.

"You didn't get lost without a pretty guide, James?" she asked me, still scribbling and not looking at me.

I grinned as I, too, started to take notes. It's not often that I do, because I usually use this nifty spell to record what the Professor is saying, but I figured I could show Lily I had a studious side.

"Ah, no, I had no worries. I had a pretty girl waiting for me."

"I don't see anyone waiting for you, James."

I coloured a bit, and then I said, "Well, you're not looking. You're too busy staring at the parchment."

I heard her chuckle and then she said, "I don't have to look to know that no pretty girls are waiting for you. You're here now, aren't you? Why would they still be waiting for you?"

My this Evans was a fiery one! I loved that about her! I was about to tell her something else when I was interrupted.

"Ahem, Mr. Potter. I understand that you're enthused to be sitting by Ms. Evans, but please pay attention to the lesson. You're going to be brewing this potion in a few minutes."

"Yes, Professor Kathagitus, sir!" I said, giving him a salute. The Professor gave me a jaunty grin as he returned to the black board.

"What do you know, the infamous James Potter does get caught," I heard Lily say.

I gave her a teasing glare, knowing that she was watching me out of the corner of her eyes. "I think you're giving me bad luck, Lily. Perhaps it's you're fault."

Lily put down her quill, and then folded her arms and looked at me. She grinned slightly as she said, "I'm never in trouble, James. I don't *get* into trouble. I leave that up to you."

I smiled. This was one of those conversations I rarely have with Lily. She's usually very subdued. I guess Potions brings her extroverted side out in her. I don't know why, it's a stupid class with stupid Slytherins, but hey, today I'm sitting by Lily!

"Touché!" I said to her, crossing my arms as well.

She grinned at me, sending me one of those looks that I knew that meant she was pleased. Mental note: give Lily compliments on her brains rather than looks. Although, I'm sure she enjoys those, too.

"Alright, class, time for the potion-making," Kathagitus said to us, clapping his hands as everyone pulled out their cauldrons. I frowned, and realized that I hadn't gotten mine from the back of the room. I raised my hand to ask for permission, and it was granted.

I stood up and walked down the isle, but not before I tripped over something, and stumbled to the back. My lanky form not quite used to being throttled around like that.

"Learn how to walk, Potter," I heard Snape say. The class chortled, and the Slytherins laughed at me with Snape's cheek. I snarled, before I grinned and said, "Learn to take a bath, Snivellus."

The classroom stirred. They expected one of those infamous confrontations, and before Snape could say something else, I heard a yell.

"Oh NO, Professor! I put in the crushed beetles instead of snails!"

I turned and stared at Lily, who was ashen-faced. The professor quickly ran over to the table, and the class looked that way, when a small explosion was heard. I hurried over to the table, and the Professor was covered in a slimy mixture.

"Ms. Evans, I had reprimanded your partner, Mr. Potter, about paying attention, and yet you add the crushed beetles? Five points from Gryffindor."

I heard angry muttering, mainly towards Lily for losing the points. None of them actually realized that she was usually getting the points. I went to the back of the classroom again, sending a glare at Snape, and then grabbing my cauldron and returning. I sat down by Lily, who's face was still white, except this time, it didn't seem to be from mixing the wrong ingredients.

"Lily?"

"Yes? Oh, don't mind me. I promise I won't put anything in you're potion, 'kay?" Lily said rather shakily. Then I realized something. Lily never lost points before. In fact, she never mixed ingredients incorrectly before, either. I looked at her parchment, the ingredients were written down perfectly, her neat handwriting glaring up at me.

"I don't care about that. I know what you did...and thanks."

She looked up at me, a smile flitting across her face as she stirred her potion. I looked at it, and I realized that it was the colour it was supposed to be, and she did it in a rather quick amount of time. I started on mine.

I took another quick glance at Lily, as she was still smiling, now stirring the potion counter-clockwise.

"I thought that was rather brave. And don't worry about the points, I've lost loads more than that, and plus, you saved me from losing loads more than five today. You'll win them back, don't worry."

I looked at Lily as she chewed on her lip, distinctly showing that she was nervous. She pushed back her hair with the back of her hand. "You think so?" she asked nervously.

"Of course! It was a measly five points. You'll win those back brushing your teeth the right way or something."

I heard Lily laugh and then she returned to her potion. I sat there, mulling my thoughts. Lily had deliberately mixed up her ingredients, knowing the effects, so I wouldn't get into another fight. So I wouldn't get in trouble... maybe, maybe Lily is starting to have a change of heart about me. I surely hope so.

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