The rest of that night was spent on planning Snape's death, and of course making fun of the smack James' had earned himself.
"…should have seen the look on your face," Sirius snorted, as the four Marauders sat alone on the comfy sofas in the Gryffindor common room, the fire crackling merrily.
"Oh yeah, 'cuz you know I deserved it, defending my friend and all!" James said sarcastically, wincing slightly as he pressed a damp cloth to his cuts on his cheeks.
Sirius grinned. "Don't get me wrong, mate, I really appreciate what you did and everything; god knows Snape deserved it, but you didn't deserve that smack, and that my friend, is what makes it funny."
Peter curled up into a ball in his chair and stared into the fire, apparently unaware of anything going on around him.
James scowled to himself. He knew Sirius didn't mean any harm, he never did (unless it was in Snape's case) but James just wasn't in the mood for joking. His ribs ached from where Snape had hit him several times when they were on the ground, and the deep cut above his eye stung like mad.
Remus looked up from his book and studied James. "You don't look so well, James," he said.
"I'm fine," James muttered, and now he too, was staring into the fire just like Peter. I was smacked in the face by Lily Evans, he thought. She really does hate me.
"You never were a good liar, Prongs," Sirius said. His face held concern. "I hate to admit it, but Snivellus got in a few good punches. Maybe you should go to the hospital wing."
"Don't start, Padfoot," James replied huffily, as he watched the dancing flames unconsciously, his mind playing the scene of Lily's furious face over and over again.
"You know, for once, Sirius is right," Remus said, which was immediately following by squawks of protest from Sirius. Remus ignored it as he marked his place in his book, set it down on the table, then stood up and walked over to James. "Stand up."
James broke away his gaze from the hot, licking flames and looked up at Remus. "For the last time, Moony, I'm fine!"
Remus sighed. "Don't be stubborn and just stand up, will you?"
James grumbled under his breath as he got up and stood awkwardly in front of Remus, wondering what he was going to do.
Remus placed his hands on James' upper waist and began pressing lightly against his ribs. When he pushed on a certain place, James bit off a low moan of pain.
"Fine, are you?" Remus said sarcastically, as he dropped his hands. "You have a cracked rib, that's what's fine."
"Great, just great," James growled, throwing himself back down on the couch angrily. That was a mistake; he let out a loud groan of pain.
"Prongs, you know Moony is right," Peter said suddenly. James glared over at him, his hand clutching his rib. Peter fell into stutters of protest. "I-I mean, James, y-you should go see the nurse, you don't want to g-get worse.."
"Oh, can it, Wormtail," James exclaimed, his temper now boiling hot.
"Leave him alone, James," Sirius said defensively. "He only wants to help, and so do the rest of us."
"I know," James said softly. He raked his fingers through his hair and sighed, peering miserably into the fire. "But I'm not going to let Snivellus have the satisfaction of seeing me stay in the hospital wing because of him."
"Oh, come off it, James," Remus said annoyingly. "Let go of your pride for once."
James grew angry again and stood up. His fists were clenched as he looked around at everyone defiantly. "Let go of my pride, you say?" he snarled. "My pride is all I have left, and you're telling me to let GO of it?"
"James, what are you talking about?" Sirius said, taken aback. "You have us."
Peter was looking up at James with surprise. The James he knew so well, the unmovable James, was upset? But what about?
"If you're upset about Lily," Remus said calmly, "Then don't take it out on us."
"Upset about…!" James cried, throwing up his hands. "Upset? Who said I was upset?!"
"Well, look at you," Remus replied. "You're all worked up, you're never like this. You're upset because you like Lily a lot, and she doesn't like you back. And don't glare at me like that, James, you know I'm right."
James stared around at all of his friends. Peter was staring up at him with an expressionless face, Sirius was watching him with concentration, and Remus was looking at him expectantly.
"Oh for the love of.." James watched as Sirius' frown slowly curved into a grin. "I don't.."
Even Remus was smiling in an amused way now. "I'm not.." He could feel his face growing hot. "..I'm going to bed!" he yelled, as he stormed up the staircase.
The three looked at each other and burst out laughing.
A/N: Hey guys, sorry about the so short chapter, but my next chapter will be long, I promise :)