Summary:Lily and James love/hate fic. James uncovers some dark secrets in his seventh year.
Author's notes:I'm on a roll! I'm on a roll! *cheers* ^.^ Yes yes! I can feel it! I WILL finish this fic! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *coughs* Okay, now that I'm done celebrating the fact that I'm actually going to finish a fic (short stories are not counting in this statement) I am just going to say that I'm surprised that I actually got more reviews *gasps* Everyone must be looking for something to read and when they stumble across mine they just feel like reviewing or something. *shrugs* Oh, come on! It's not that good!...is it? O.o?
Dedicated to KAYDEE! HAPPY LATE B-DAY MY SCOTTISH TWIN! ^.^" And don't whine about it being so long since I updated. LOOK HOW LONG IT IS! ^.^"
Disclaimer:You know the drill...*sighs* I still want Jimmy, Siri, and Remy *dreamy sigh* (getting repetative, isn't it?) ^.^
Of Hidden Truths
(Horrible Halloween)
"Oy, James!" came the voice of none other than Sirius Black. James rolled his eyes as he made his way over to where Sirius, Remus, and Peter were sitting, waiting for him most likely as he had just finished his night detention with Lily Evans.
"Hey, guys," he greeted as he took a seat in an arm chair, studying the three on the couch. All of them regarded him with curiosity, while he leaned back, waiting for the questions he knew were bound to come.
He wasn't disappointed.
"So...how was your talk with Dumbledore?" asked Sirius. James didn't even bother wondering how they knew he had talken with their Headmaster--as he already knew how--and shrugged.
"Like all talks with him: Confusing and seeming to have no point," he answered truthfully, as always. Normally, James wouldn't lie to his friends, but if he did it would be because he didn't know orhe would do it to keep them safe--which was happening a lot lately. At the moment, he was being honest, but he didn't want to tell them what had happened in the conversation with Dumbledore.
They wisely took the hint.
"Ah...and detention?" questioned Remus while Sirius wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
James rolled his eyes at Sirius' antics. "Exactly like last time: I worked and she criticized."
Sirius chuckled. "She's one tough cookie, that one," he said as he looked across the room where the object of their discussion was sitting with her friend Arabella Figg. Again James rolled his eyes.
"Please, Padfoot, if you like her so much, why don't youask her out?" he asked, tired of the teasing he was receiving.
Sirius gave him a dubious look. "You would let me?" he asked.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake! I do not like her!" shouted James. The three on the couch all exchanged glances with one another, while their friend acted as if he were pouting.
"Sure, James," replied Remus calmly.
"I don't," stated James, crossing his arms.
"I know."
"Sure didn't sound that way to me."
"I was just agreeing."
"You didn't have to sound like that though."
"Sound like what?"
"Like you don't believe me!"
"I didn't."
"Yes, you did!"
"Okay, James."
"See? There you go again! I don't."
Sirius chuckled at the two. "James, old boy, you're just digging yourself a deeper hole. My suggestion: Either stop denying or stop what you're saying. You know Remus always wins these kinds of fights without even trying."
There was a moment of thoughtful silence before James sank into his seat, muttering incoherently to himself. Remus shook his head at his friend's actions, but wisely didn't comment on it and, instead, turned to Sirius. "What exactly did you mean by 'you know Remus always wins these kinds of fights without even trying'?"
"Just what I said. You do," answered Sirius as he shrugged.
"Would that mean I have the best logic in the group? Or were you implying something else?" asked Remus, curiously raising an eyebrow. Sirius chuckled and opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by the opening of the portrait and the entrance of McGonagall.
Several curious glances were exchanged before everyone in the common room followed the Transfiguration teacher's gaze and stared at the dark haird boy that was trying futilely to hide from his friend's teasing and now McGonagall and the Gryffindors' gazes.
"James Potter. A word if you would please," she called from her position in the middle of the entrance way. James winced at these words, but pushed himself out of the chair and slowly made his way toward the Head of Gryffindor, all the while aware of everyone's curious looks and wondering gazes.
As soon as the young Gryffindor made his way outside of the common room, McGonagall nodded to the rest of the students in the room. "Right then. Carry on," she told them, before turning on heel and marching swiftly out of the entrance, the portrait of the Fat Woman swinging close behind her.
"Follow me," she told James, who, though usually energetic, followed her, a feeling of dread sinking into his stomach. The last time anyone had been pulled out of the common room was when one of their parents, grandparents, or any other relatives had been killed. Surely that couldn't be the case now? Surely it had to be Dumbledore wanting to talk to him again about what had happened the year before.
Instead of continuing down the corridor, McGonagall took a right and began to lead the Head Boy toward her classroom. Okay, so he had been worried about nothing, apparently, which only caused the boy's curiosity to be perked as he glanced confusedly toward his House's Head. McGonagall, however, didn't acknowledge his glances and suddenly stopped in front of a door, almost causing James to run into her back.
"Er..." James didn't have a chance to say anything as the Transfiguration teacher opened the door, stalked into her own classroom, and went straight for her desk. James followed, shrugging to himself. It probably had something to do with--
"--Quidditch?" asked McGonagall and James chuckled to himself. Of course. He was stupid not to have known what the Head of his House had wanted to talk about. And, seeing how James was the Team Captain, it made perfect sense that the professor had wanted to talk to him about it.
"Professor?" he asked, realizing that he hadnt heard the question. McGonagall eyed him for a moment, studying to see if he was mocking her as he usually did in her classes. Of course, he was actually being genuine this time.
"Have you made any decisions on when you think it would be best to start practices for Quiddtich?" she repeated and narrowed her eyes. "Last year was a disaster because we had tryouts far too late, because they were simply horrible against Slytherin in November. I will not tolerate Professor Bulstrode's taunting a second year."
"Ah." James mentally grinned at how his most stern professor disliked the Slytherins as much as any other Gryffindor. "Then maybe we should start the practices near the end of October. It's far away enough from the match, but not too far away enough for our new formations to be found out by the...opposing team."
McGonagall paused for a moment, perhaps thinking over what he had said, before nodding. "Yes, that sounds like the best solution. And when, exactly, is it to take place?" she asked, raising a curious brow.
"How about the day before Halloween?" suggested James.
"I suppose that could work," answered McGonagall, thoughtfully. "Now, it is becoming quite late. I suppose you already know the way back to the common room?"
James nodded. "Yes, Professor."
"Then I will see you tomorrow. Have a nice evening," she replied, immediately turning back to whatever was on her desk. James couldn't help but to blink at the sudden change before he shrugged and exited the room quickly.
***
Just as before, the weeks flew by and, somehow, the day before Halloween had snuck up on the young witches and wizards of Hogwarts. Everyone was astonished that morning when they had walked into the Great Hall and saw the decorations already in place. That is...everyone except three Gryffindor boys.
"It's a beautiful day! In the merry, merry month of--!"
"October," Remus interrupted with a smirk while Sirius glared at him for daring to ruin his song. James grinned a bit at the two but stopped smiling when he noticed who was approaching him. Lucius Malfoy and Seveus Snape. Along with Crabbe and Goyle.
Perfect.
"Oy, Padfoot," he hissed at the taller boy, who also took notice of the four Slytherins and nudged Remus in the side, laughing a bit.
"Look what the cat dragged in," said Sirius with a slight smirk as part of their plan commenced. The three boys--really just James and Sirius, Remus was opposed to it--had planned a prank to pull on the two hated boys. And just as they thought, the two reacted to what Sirius had said and faced the slightly smaller group in annoyance.
"Indeed," replied Snape, who also got a small smirk on his face. Obviously he knew he was being baited, not that the Marauders really cared. They had stopped pranking him much after what had happened last year when a prank got...out of hand. By the way Snape ignored him and Remus and glared at Sirius, James concluded that he was still very much sore about that.
"Amazing how a cat dragged in a dog your size," he finished, still glaring at Sirius but with a more victorious look.
"What's even more amazing," said Malfoy in agreement, "is that you actually smelllike a dog, Black."
Sirius looked as if he was trying reallyhard not to tackle the other boy to the group and punch the living daylights out of him, but somehow controlled himself and merely smiled--more like smirked--back.
"Thanks," he said coolly.
Snape's victorious look fell into one of utter contempt and loathing. Malfoy's turned into a suspicious yet surprised look that still had that arrogant air about it. Sirius', however, turned to an almost cocky, almost amused look that usually came when he somehow managed to throw the Slytherins for a loop.
"Smelling like a dog," continued Sirius, by way of explanation, "is better than smelling like the rear of a hippogriff."
James snorted as he tried to conceal a laugh while Remus laughed silently as he took something Sirius passed behind his back.
Phase Two: success.
"I'm glad yourself amusing, Black," Malfoy spoke up with a sneer. "It just makes this all the more easy for me."
Immediately, Sirius' eyes narrowed. James knew that look and knew very well that he was having a difficult time to stop himself from hurting the slimy git. Instead, he questioned in a quiet, deadly voice, "You threatening me, Malfoy?"
Now Malfoy looked triumphant and gave James a half-glance for a moment. "I would never dreamof it," he drawled, not at all sounding sincere. "Especially with...himhere."
For a moment, James thought that the blond haired, silver eyed Slytherin was looking over to Remus, but when he saw his friend's surprised look, he turned back to Malfoy, who was actually staring at him. Staring at him with a look a hungry cat might give a scared mouse when it has cornered it.
James shifted a bit, uncomfortable.
Sirius didn't even bat an eyelash. "Spit it out, Malfoy. I hate it when you waste time trying to sound 'mysterious,'" he snapped, barely restrained distaste spilling out.
Malfoy gave James a fairly amused look before eyeing Sirius carefully. "Just how much do you know about Potter? Well, Black? Lupin?" he asked, raising a curious brow.
Sirius looked ready to answer when Remus spoke up in defense. "He's our friend," he stated firmly. "If he doesn't tell us something, it's in our best interest."
Again Snape's lip curved into a smirk as if he was amused at the answer. This smirk, however, wasn't directed to Remus...nor Sirius. He stared at James with dark brown eyes that easily gave away the hatred he felt toward the Gryffindor. James struggled to return it, but failed miserably.
"Typical Gryffindor," said Snape at last, looking away from James and to Remus. "Always looking on the positive sides of things--"
"While you lot just positivelyenjoy the negative sides of things, Snape," retorted Sirius, who was having more and more trouble handling his temper.
Mission status: ABORT! ABORT!
"Just so you know," said Malfoy to James, who felt incredibly small for some odd reason. "we know exactly who you are, Gryffindor. No use hiding, is there?"
And then realization dawned on the bespectacled teenager. They knew? How? How could they?...and if they knew...
James paled considerably for a swift second before he transferred his fear to his anger and pulled out his wand, greys eyes blazing brightly behind his glasses. "Get out of here, bloody Slytherin," he growled, surprising not only Remus and Sirius, but Malfoy and Snape as well. "or I swear to whatever god is out there--"
"Ten points from Slytherin and five from Gryffindor," announced a feminine voice with an edge of harshness. Nearly everyone spun toward the source. James and Malfoy remained rooted to the floor as Lily Evans marched her way toward the quarreling groups.
She looked between the two boys; one with his wand out and glaring fiercely and the other glaring coldly at the first. She sighed in impatiance. "Are you done? Or will I be forced to take more?"
Neither boy moved, and so their friends remained. That was, until Snape made a slight movement, as if he was nudging Malfoy away. Malfoy narrowed his eyes further at James, but, reluctantly, spun on heel and stalked off with Snape, Crabbe and Goyle blinking in bewilderment, having missed the whole thing.
It was only until the Slytherins were out of sight that James lowered his wand. And as his wand lowered, so did his anger, leaving him cold and full of dread and fear.
Evans must have noticed the change in his demeanor, for she stepped in front of him and looked him directly in the eyes. James blinked, in slight surprise. Were they always a startling shade of green? Funny he never noticed before...
For a moment, he thought he was going to say something kind. Her eyes certainly showed that she was worried, but her words stated otherwise. "Just what do you think you were doing, Potter? Right inside of the Hall? You're lucky none of the professors--"
For some reason, the dark haired boy felt his anger rise again, though not as much as it had been when he was facing Malfoy. "Just. Leave. Me. Alone. Evans," he said coldly before stalking off himself before he could see her reaction.
Of course, he should have known Sirius would have followed. Whenever James was reasonably upset, the other two Marauders would send the class-clown-like teen to calm him down. Amazingly it worked everytime. This time was no different, including the way they greeted each other.
"I thought I said for you to leave me alone," muttered James, already feeling the anger slip away and leaving him cold again. He was afraid to talk to Sirius, but even more afraid to tell him to go away.
Sirius, as always, got the message.
"You told Lily to, not me," he replied with a small grin which immediately fell as he sighed. "And, frankly, I don't want you wandering 'round alone in the state you're in."
"I'm not in a 'state,'" muttered James indignantly as he intently studied his feet and the ground. Sirius gave his friend a mild glare as he stopped walking, making James follow him to a halt.
"Lying now, are you?" the taller boy asked, arms crossing angerily in front of him. "Admit it, something Malfoy said spooked you--"
"Drop it, Sirius," James stated firmly, meeting his friend's eyes. "Just let it alone."
Sirius looked as if he was going to argue at any moment when his shoulders sagged, he uncrossed his arms, and sighed. "Fine, James," he agreed. "I'll leave it alone. But I just want to let you know that I am your friend--your *bestfriend, need I remind you?--and I'm willing to listen if you have a problem."
With that said, there was silence. A buzzing kind that made James wish he hadn't told the other boy to be quiet. Finally, not being able to take it anymore, he said slowly, "You know...I'm reallybeginning to hate Halloween."
Sirius' expression turned from thoughtful to slight confusion and puzzlement from this declaration. "Why?" he couldn't help but to ask.
James shrugged and ran a hand through his already unmanageable hair. "Nothing good has ever happened on it," he answered.
***
Just as he had promised McGonagall, James held Gryffindor's first Quidditch practice that night, a few hours before the sun began to set. When he arrived on the field, the group of six players were all together, talking about the upcoming season and how much they wanted to get back at Slytherin, who had managed to disable one of their Chasers during the game. That move cost the game...and almost cost the game against Ravenclaw...that was, if James and Sirius hadn't talked Remus into flying in the person's place.
James couldn't help but to grin, the earlier confrontations with Malfoy and Snape burning in his mind. Just as he was about to get into those thoughts again, Samuel Thomas gave a large laugh as Sirius grinned broadly, signalling that he had made the tall, black boy laugh. Samuel was from America and was a Muggle born wizard. He often used his knowledge of the Muggle World to confuse those wizards who were clueless about such things. It was too bad the fifth year couldn't use those skills while he was playing Keeper.
A look of annoyance came from another boy on the field. This one was Clayton Wood, a very sporty boy who was a pure-blooded wizard with no sense of humor. The second Chaser would often somehow manage to take control of practice sessions and drill the team. Not that James minded. He didn't mind it at all when someone else took responsibility from him. One less thing to worry about.
Jaclyne Hoover, their Seeker, laughed a little as Samuel mentioned something that must have involved Muggles because the others looked completely bewildered. Jaclyne was from England and was half Muggle which explained her own knowledge in that department. She seemed to have a small crush on Clayton, but refused to admit it when the others would poke fun at her, stating that the sixth year sports-a-holic would never like a small fourth year like her. That would always get a good laugh from Samuel and Sirius, while Clayton, hearing the laughter, looked disgruntle.
Drake Dawson stood slightly apart from the rest of the team, though he smiled at all the jokes, even if he didn't understand them. Drake was certainly an interesting case as he was a quarter Muggle, his grandmother being a Muggle herself, and was German. Drake had been a surprise for most of the students in his year since they weren't used to having someone outside of the British Isles being at the school. He was their third Keeper and was the one who had been injured in the awful game versus Slytherin.
And then there was Leon Harnt, a stubborn third year who would argue with anyone who would question what he did no matter the reason. Sirius wasn't fond of the boy, as it was evident that he was spoiled, but was surprisingly more than excited to welcome him onto the team when he had demonstrated how he was at the position of second Beater, Leon all the while saying, "Anyone could hit this bloody ball. Damn near too slow," as he whacked it forty yards away, nearly a new record.
Feeling that it that it was time to get a move on, James called out, "All right! Mount your brooms!"
There was a clatter of sound as everyone rushed to get onto their brooms, Leon rolling his eyes as Samuel accidently whacked Drake with the end of his broom, which he was getting ready for take off with. As he tried to apologize to the German-raised fifth year, Sirius hummed a little and threw a leg over his own broom stick.
"O'! Hydee, hydee, hydee hi!
Hydee, hydee ho!
O'top the broom I mount!
And into the air I go!" he sang before kicking hard off of the ground, leaving Drake cursing in German and Samuel trying to apologize on the ground. James shook his head, amused while Jaclyne stared in bewilderment.
"Is he Scottish or something?" she asked, puzzled.
James laughed at this. "Half Scottish, half English," he answered, getting himsefl ready to kick off.
"Thou insults me once more! Half Scottish, half Welsh!" shouted Sirius from ten yards up. James looked up and frowned in feigned thoughtfulness.
"Where's the difference?" he questioned, smiling inwardly.
"Well, for one, English is spelt E-N-G-L-I-S-H, not W-E-L-S-H. And another thing is that Welsh men have bigger---"
"Let's get started already!" shouted Clayton impatiently a few yards away from Sirius who smirked deviously.
"Impeccable timing, Wood! Yes, let's get a move on then! And stop making fun of my Scottishness!" he exclaimed, shooting James a look, missing Samuel's arrival in the air.
"Can't help it, Black!" shouted the American with a wicked grin as the aformentioned boy spun around to see him behind him. "You're too easy!"
James shook his head and kicked off of the ground and drifted slightly lazily to Sirius' side. Sirius had a semi-puzzled look on his face and turned to his friend when the other had arrived. "Should I be insulted?" he queried in a confused fashion.
James laughed a little before answering, "I think so, Padfoot."
The reaction was instantaneous.
"Watch out, Thomas! You've got into my red book now!"
The response, though, was not from Samuel.
"Nasty mental images, there," said James with a smirk, while Samuel laughed and Jaclyn, who had been flying around, shook her head in amusement. Clayton swung by on his broom then, a furious look on his face.
"Are you captain or what, Potter?" he demanded angrily. James looked to Sirius and Samuel who were busy insulting each other--Samuel winning by using his Muggle knowledge--and Jaclyne who watched it all with a grin. Then he looked to the other Chaser and shrugged.
"I would answer 'or what,' but it's time to practice," he replied, coolly. Clayton got a superior look and flew off toward the center of the field, leaving James to round everyone up again. "POSITIONS EVERYONE!"
***
"Don't wake me up tomorrow," moaned James mourfully as he tossed himself onto his four-poster bed without even tossing his broom away, leaving it lying beside him on the bed with him in his Quiddtich robes. Sirius grinned as he entered the dorm as well, but, unlike his friend, remembered to prop his broom against the wall before hoping onto his own bed, legs crossed in an Indian style.
Remus didn't even look up from the book he was reading at that moment. "Why is that?" he asked for the benefit of his friend.
James didn't even bother to reply, knowing Sirius could do that job quite well. And so he did.
"Prongs hates Halloween now," he said as he changed his clothes, not botherng to stand as he did. Remus rose a curious brow and looked from Sirius, who was now struggling with his shirt that was under his Quiddtich robes, to James, who was staring at the canopy of his bed.
"OurProngs?" asked Remus in surprise just as a dull thud resounded throughout the room.
Sirius, who had fallen off of his bed while pulling off his shirt, answered fom behind his bed, "No joke."
"I thought you lovedHalloween," said Remus to James, who sighed loudly, getting tired of Sirius answering for him.
"I don't anymore," he answered simply.
"Why the change?" asked his lighter haired friend, who cocked his heda to the side, watching James, who groaned and put a pillow over his face.
"Don't say that word," he moaned in a muffled voice.
Now Remus blinked in surprise. "What? Change?"
A sigh. "Yes..."
"What's so wrong about change?"
No reply.
Sirius, having finally pulled the shirt off and was now bare-chested, got out from behind his bed and hopped onto James', making the other boy grunt in suprise as he felt his bed bounce with the arrival of the second teenager. Sirius studied his quiet friend for a moment before lifting an index finger...and poked him.
"You're hiding," he stated, continuing to poke his friend, knowing he would get a reaction.
What James hated the most was that he always didget the reaction he wanted.
"I'm in plain view," he retorted, his voice still muffled by the pillow.
Sirius blew a sigh, which shifted a strand of hair away from his handsome face, and pulled the pillow away from James. "No, I meant what you were thinking."
No reply.
"We're your friends, James," said Remus, deciding to take a different route to get their friend to open up. "You can trust us enough to tell us why you don't like the word change, can't you?"
Hesitation. "...it hurts..." said James, after sitting up and looking at his hands.
Sirius blinked in surprise while Remus looked slightly deflated. "That's how life is, James," he siad, closing the book he had been reading before looking intently at his long-time friend. "People, places, events--they all change. There's not much we can do to prevent it besides being ready for when it comes."
Again James hesitated to answer. He'd been 'hiding' from his friends so long that he wasn't sure if he couldtell them. "...I wasn't ready...I'm still not..."
"Are you ready to talk now?" asked Sirius kindly with a hint of worry. Well, of course he would be worried. How long had James been acting like this, anyway? Months.
"...I don't think so," answered James truthfully, looking up at his friends. "and I'm not sure when I will be."
"That's all right, James," said Remus almost immediately. "We understand."
An uncomfortable silence, one that the small group had never had before, decended and hovered over the three friends.
"...I think I'm going to go to sleep," said James, breaking the silence. The other two recovered from the surprise that someone had spoken and nodded, Sirius climbing off of James' bed.
"We'll tell Peter you said goodnight," said Remus as James lied down--still in his Quidditch uniform--and turned on his side where he couldn't see the other beds.
"Yeah, you can count on us, Prongs," said Sirius, semi-seriously. With that, the lights went out, except for Remus' lit wand he was using to read with in the dark, signalling the end of the day. James shifted and sighed when he heard Sirius' heavy breathing begin to even out.
He wished he could count on the others about what was going on, but he wasn't sure of anythign these days. And even though Dumbledore said he couldn't say anything, he wanted to so badly. It was unfair, he believed, for him to go through all of this at the age of seventeen. Why couldn't the Fates have chosen a better age for him to deal with this?
Surprisingly, as James thought about these thing, he also listened to Sirius' breathing and somehow began to follow his friend's lead and drifted off to sleep before he even knew it.
Author's notes:WHEW! That HAD to be the longest thing I've written! ^.^" Well...second longest. ^.^" I hope you all have enjoyed it! ESPECIALLY KAYDEX! THIS ONE WAS FOR YOU NOW DON'T ASK BE ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHAT! ^.~" Just kidding. You know you can always bug me about that. ^.^" Anyways, I'm too lazy to write responses to everyoen after writing this monster of a chapter, so all I have to say is...MORE SOON! ^.~ Ja ne!
Author's notes:I'm on a roll! I'm on a roll! *cheers* ^.^ Yes yes! I can feel it! I WILL finish this fic! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *coughs* Okay, now that I'm done celebrating the fact that I'm actually going to finish a fic (short stories are not counting in this statement) I am just going to say that I'm surprised that I actually got more reviews *gasps* Everyone must be looking for something to read and when they stumble across mine they just feel like reviewing or something. *shrugs* Oh, come on! It's not that good!...is it? O.o?
Dedicated to KAYDEE! HAPPY LATE B-DAY MY SCOTTISH TWIN! ^.^" And don't whine about it being so long since I updated. LOOK HOW LONG IT IS! ^.^"
Disclaimer:You know the drill...*sighs* I still want Jimmy, Siri, and Remy *dreamy sigh* (getting repetative, isn't it?) ^.^
(Horrible Halloween)
"Oy, James!" came the voice of none other than Sirius Black. James rolled his eyes as he made his way over to where Sirius, Remus, and Peter were sitting, waiting for him most likely as he had just finished his night detention with Lily Evans.
"Hey, guys," he greeted as he took a seat in an arm chair, studying the three on the couch. All of them regarded him with curiosity, while he leaned back, waiting for the questions he knew were bound to come.
He wasn't disappointed.
"So...how was your talk with Dumbledore?" asked Sirius. James didn't even bother wondering how they knew he had talken with their Headmaster--as he already knew how--and shrugged.
"Like all talks with him: Confusing and seeming to have no point," he answered truthfully, as always. Normally, James wouldn't lie to his friends, but if he did it would be because he didn't know orhe would do it to keep them safe--which was happening a lot lately. At the moment, he was being honest, but he didn't want to tell them what had happened in the conversation with Dumbledore.
They wisely took the hint.
"Ah...and detention?" questioned Remus while Sirius wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
James rolled his eyes at Sirius' antics. "Exactly like last time: I worked and she criticized."
Sirius chuckled. "She's one tough cookie, that one," he said as he looked across the room where the object of their discussion was sitting with her friend Arabella Figg. Again James rolled his eyes.
"Please, Padfoot, if you like her so much, why don't youask her out?" he asked, tired of the teasing he was receiving.
Sirius gave him a dubious look. "You would let me?" he asked.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake! I do not like her!" shouted James. The three on the couch all exchanged glances with one another, while their friend acted as if he were pouting.
"Sure, James," replied Remus calmly.
"I don't," stated James, crossing his arms.
"I know."
"Sure didn't sound that way to me."
"I was just agreeing."
"You didn't have to sound like that though."
"Sound like what?"
"Like you don't believe me!"
"I didn't."
"Yes, you did!"
"Okay, James."
"See? There you go again! I don't."
Sirius chuckled at the two. "James, old boy, you're just digging yourself a deeper hole. My suggestion: Either stop denying or stop what you're saying. You know Remus always wins these kinds of fights without even trying."
There was a moment of thoughtful silence before James sank into his seat, muttering incoherently to himself. Remus shook his head at his friend's actions, but wisely didn't comment on it and, instead, turned to Sirius. "What exactly did you mean by 'you know Remus always wins these kinds of fights without even trying'?"
"Just what I said. You do," answered Sirius as he shrugged.
"Would that mean I have the best logic in the group? Or were you implying something else?" asked Remus, curiously raising an eyebrow. Sirius chuckled and opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by the opening of the portrait and the entrance of McGonagall.
Several curious glances were exchanged before everyone in the common room followed the Transfiguration teacher's gaze and stared at the dark haird boy that was trying futilely to hide from his friend's teasing and now McGonagall and the Gryffindors' gazes.
"James Potter. A word if you would please," she called from her position in the middle of the entrance way. James winced at these words, but pushed himself out of the chair and slowly made his way toward the Head of Gryffindor, all the while aware of everyone's curious looks and wondering gazes.
As soon as the young Gryffindor made his way outside of the common room, McGonagall nodded to the rest of the students in the room. "Right then. Carry on," she told them, before turning on heel and marching swiftly out of the entrance, the portrait of the Fat Woman swinging close behind her.
"Follow me," she told James, who, though usually energetic, followed her, a feeling of dread sinking into his stomach. The last time anyone had been pulled out of the common room was when one of their parents, grandparents, or any other relatives had been killed. Surely that couldn't be the case now? Surely it had to be Dumbledore wanting to talk to him again about what had happened the year before.
Instead of continuing down the corridor, McGonagall took a right and began to lead the Head Boy toward her classroom. Okay, so he had been worried about nothing, apparently, which only caused the boy's curiosity to be perked as he glanced confusedly toward his House's Head. McGonagall, however, didn't acknowledge his glances and suddenly stopped in front of a door, almost causing James to run into her back.
"Er..." James didn't have a chance to say anything as the Transfiguration teacher opened the door, stalked into her own classroom, and went straight for her desk. James followed, shrugging to himself. It probably had something to do with--
"--Quidditch?" asked McGonagall and James chuckled to himself. Of course. He was stupid not to have known what the Head of his House had wanted to talk about. And, seeing how James was the Team Captain, it made perfect sense that the professor had wanted to talk to him about it.
"Professor?" he asked, realizing that he hadnt heard the question. McGonagall eyed him for a moment, studying to see if he was mocking her as he usually did in her classes. Of course, he was actually being genuine this time.
"Have you made any decisions on when you think it would be best to start practices for Quiddtich?" she repeated and narrowed her eyes. "Last year was a disaster because we had tryouts far too late, because they were simply horrible against Slytherin in November. I will not tolerate Professor Bulstrode's taunting a second year."
"Ah." James mentally grinned at how his most stern professor disliked the Slytherins as much as any other Gryffindor. "Then maybe we should start the practices near the end of October. It's far away enough from the match, but not too far away enough for our new formations to be found out by the...opposing team."
McGonagall paused for a moment, perhaps thinking over what he had said, before nodding. "Yes, that sounds like the best solution. And when, exactly, is it to take place?" she asked, raising a curious brow.
"How about the day before Halloween?" suggested James.
"I suppose that could work," answered McGonagall, thoughtfully. "Now, it is becoming quite late. I suppose you already know the way back to the common room?"
James nodded. "Yes, Professor."
"Then I will see you tomorrow. Have a nice evening," she replied, immediately turning back to whatever was on her desk. James couldn't help but to blink at the sudden change before he shrugged and exited the room quickly.
Just as before, the weeks flew by and, somehow, the day before Halloween had snuck up on the young witches and wizards of Hogwarts. Everyone was astonished that morning when they had walked into the Great Hall and saw the decorations already in place. That is...everyone except three Gryffindor boys.
"It's a beautiful day! In the merry, merry month of--!"
"October," Remus interrupted with a smirk while Sirius glared at him for daring to ruin his song. James grinned a bit at the two but stopped smiling when he noticed who was approaching him. Lucius Malfoy and Seveus Snape. Along with Crabbe and Goyle.
Perfect.
"Oy, Padfoot," he hissed at the taller boy, who also took notice of the four Slytherins and nudged Remus in the side, laughing a bit.
"Look what the cat dragged in," said Sirius with a slight smirk as part of their plan commenced. The three boys--really just James and Sirius, Remus was opposed to it--had planned a prank to pull on the two hated boys. And just as they thought, the two reacted to what Sirius had said and faced the slightly smaller group in annoyance.
"Indeed," replied Snape, who also got a small smirk on his face. Obviously he knew he was being baited, not that the Marauders really cared. They had stopped pranking him much after what had happened last year when a prank got...out of hand. By the way Snape ignored him and Remus and glared at Sirius, James concluded that he was still very much sore about that.
"Amazing how a cat dragged in a dog your size," he finished, still glaring at Sirius but with a more victorious look.
"What's even more amazing," said Malfoy in agreement, "is that you actually smelllike a dog, Black."
Sirius looked as if he was trying reallyhard not to tackle the other boy to the group and punch the living daylights out of him, but somehow controlled himself and merely smiled--more like smirked--back.
"Thanks," he said coolly.
Snape's victorious look fell into one of utter contempt and loathing. Malfoy's turned into a suspicious yet surprised look that still had that arrogant air about it. Sirius', however, turned to an almost cocky, almost amused look that usually came when he somehow managed to throw the Slytherins for a loop.
"Smelling like a dog," continued Sirius, by way of explanation, "is better than smelling like the rear of a hippogriff."
James snorted as he tried to conceal a laugh while Remus laughed silently as he took something Sirius passed behind his back.
Phase Two: success.
"I'm glad yourself amusing, Black," Malfoy spoke up with a sneer. "It just makes this all the more easy for me."
Immediately, Sirius' eyes narrowed. James knew that look and knew very well that he was having a difficult time to stop himself from hurting the slimy git. Instead, he questioned in a quiet, deadly voice, "You threatening me, Malfoy?"
Now Malfoy looked triumphant and gave James a half-glance for a moment. "I would never dreamof it," he drawled, not at all sounding sincere. "Especially with...himhere."
For a moment, James thought that the blond haired, silver eyed Slytherin was looking over to Remus, but when he saw his friend's surprised look, he turned back to Malfoy, who was actually staring at him. Staring at him with a look a hungry cat might give a scared mouse when it has cornered it.
James shifted a bit, uncomfortable.
Sirius didn't even bat an eyelash. "Spit it out, Malfoy. I hate it when you waste time trying to sound 'mysterious,'" he snapped, barely restrained distaste spilling out.
Malfoy gave James a fairly amused look before eyeing Sirius carefully. "Just how much do you know about Potter? Well, Black? Lupin?" he asked, raising a curious brow.
Sirius looked ready to answer when Remus spoke up in defense. "He's our friend," he stated firmly. "If he doesn't tell us something, it's in our best interest."
Again Snape's lip curved into a smirk as if he was amused at the answer. This smirk, however, wasn't directed to Remus...nor Sirius. He stared at James with dark brown eyes that easily gave away the hatred he felt toward the Gryffindor. James struggled to return it, but failed miserably.
"Typical Gryffindor," said Snape at last, looking away from James and to Remus. "Always looking on the positive sides of things--"
"While you lot just positivelyenjoy the negative sides of things, Snape," retorted Sirius, who was having more and more trouble handling his temper.
Mission status: ABORT! ABORT!
"Just so you know," said Malfoy to James, who felt incredibly small for some odd reason. "we know exactly who you are, Gryffindor. No use hiding, is there?"
And then realization dawned on the bespectacled teenager. They knew? How? How could they?...and if they knew...
James paled considerably for a swift second before he transferred his fear to his anger and pulled out his wand, greys eyes blazing brightly behind his glasses. "Get out of here, bloody Slytherin," he growled, surprising not only Remus and Sirius, but Malfoy and Snape as well. "or I swear to whatever god is out there--"
"Ten points from Slytherin and five from Gryffindor," announced a feminine voice with an edge of harshness. Nearly everyone spun toward the source. James and Malfoy remained rooted to the floor as Lily Evans marched her way toward the quarreling groups.
She looked between the two boys; one with his wand out and glaring fiercely and the other glaring coldly at the first. She sighed in impatiance. "Are you done? Or will I be forced to take more?"
Neither boy moved, and so their friends remained. That was, until Snape made a slight movement, as if he was nudging Malfoy away. Malfoy narrowed his eyes further at James, but, reluctantly, spun on heel and stalked off with Snape, Crabbe and Goyle blinking in bewilderment, having missed the whole thing.
It was only until the Slytherins were out of sight that James lowered his wand. And as his wand lowered, so did his anger, leaving him cold and full of dread and fear.
Evans must have noticed the change in his demeanor, for she stepped in front of him and looked him directly in the eyes. James blinked, in slight surprise. Were they always a startling shade of green? Funny he never noticed before...
For a moment, he thought he was going to say something kind. Her eyes certainly showed that she was worried, but her words stated otherwise. "Just what do you think you were doing, Potter? Right inside of the Hall? You're lucky none of the professors--"
For some reason, the dark haired boy felt his anger rise again, though not as much as it had been when he was facing Malfoy. "Just. Leave. Me. Alone. Evans," he said coldly before stalking off himself before he could see her reaction.
Of course, he should have known Sirius would have followed. Whenever James was reasonably upset, the other two Marauders would send the class-clown-like teen to calm him down. Amazingly it worked everytime. This time was no different, including the way they greeted each other.
"I thought I said for you to leave me alone," muttered James, already feeling the anger slip away and leaving him cold again. He was afraid to talk to Sirius, but even more afraid to tell him to go away.
Sirius, as always, got the message.
"You told Lily to, not me," he replied with a small grin which immediately fell as he sighed. "And, frankly, I don't want you wandering 'round alone in the state you're in."
"I'm not in a 'state,'" muttered James indignantly as he intently studied his feet and the ground. Sirius gave his friend a mild glare as he stopped walking, making James follow him to a halt.
"Lying now, are you?" the taller boy asked, arms crossing angerily in front of him. "Admit it, something Malfoy said spooked you--"
"Drop it, Sirius," James stated firmly, meeting his friend's eyes. "Just let it alone."
Sirius looked as if he was going to argue at any moment when his shoulders sagged, he uncrossed his arms, and sighed. "Fine, James," he agreed. "I'll leave it alone. But I just want to let you know that I am your friend--your *bestfriend, need I remind you?--and I'm willing to listen if you have a problem."
With that said, there was silence. A buzzing kind that made James wish he hadn't told the other boy to be quiet. Finally, not being able to take it anymore, he said slowly, "You know...I'm reallybeginning to hate Halloween."
Sirius' expression turned from thoughtful to slight confusion and puzzlement from this declaration. "Why?" he couldn't help but to ask.
James shrugged and ran a hand through his already unmanageable hair. "Nothing good has ever happened on it," he answered.
Just as he had promised McGonagall, James held Gryffindor's first Quidditch practice that night, a few hours before the sun began to set. When he arrived on the field, the group of six players were all together, talking about the upcoming season and how much they wanted to get back at Slytherin, who had managed to disable one of their Chasers during the game. That move cost the game...and almost cost the game against Ravenclaw...that was, if James and Sirius hadn't talked Remus into flying in the person's place.
James couldn't help but to grin, the earlier confrontations with Malfoy and Snape burning in his mind. Just as he was about to get into those thoughts again, Samuel Thomas gave a large laugh as Sirius grinned broadly, signalling that he had made the tall, black boy laugh. Samuel was from America and was a Muggle born wizard. He often used his knowledge of the Muggle World to confuse those wizards who were clueless about such things. It was too bad the fifth year couldn't use those skills while he was playing Keeper.
A look of annoyance came from another boy on the field. This one was Clayton Wood, a very sporty boy who was a pure-blooded wizard with no sense of humor. The second Chaser would often somehow manage to take control of practice sessions and drill the team. Not that James minded. He didn't mind it at all when someone else took responsibility from him. One less thing to worry about.
Jaclyne Hoover, their Seeker, laughed a little as Samuel mentioned something that must have involved Muggles because the others looked completely bewildered. Jaclyne was from England and was half Muggle which explained her own knowledge in that department. She seemed to have a small crush on Clayton, but refused to admit it when the others would poke fun at her, stating that the sixth year sports-a-holic would never like a small fourth year like her. That would always get a good laugh from Samuel and Sirius, while Clayton, hearing the laughter, looked disgruntle.
Drake Dawson stood slightly apart from the rest of the team, though he smiled at all the jokes, even if he didn't understand them. Drake was certainly an interesting case as he was a quarter Muggle, his grandmother being a Muggle herself, and was German. Drake had been a surprise for most of the students in his year since they weren't used to having someone outside of the British Isles being at the school. He was their third Keeper and was the one who had been injured in the awful game versus Slytherin.
And then there was Leon Harnt, a stubborn third year who would argue with anyone who would question what he did no matter the reason. Sirius wasn't fond of the boy, as it was evident that he was spoiled, but was surprisingly more than excited to welcome him onto the team when he had demonstrated how he was at the position of second Beater, Leon all the while saying, "Anyone could hit this bloody ball. Damn near too slow," as he whacked it forty yards away, nearly a new record.
Feeling that it that it was time to get a move on, James called out, "All right! Mount your brooms!"
There was a clatter of sound as everyone rushed to get onto their brooms, Leon rolling his eyes as Samuel accidently whacked Drake with the end of his broom, which he was getting ready for take off with. As he tried to apologize to the German-raised fifth year, Sirius hummed a little and threw a leg over his own broom stick.
"O'! Hydee, hydee, hydee hi!
Hydee, hydee ho!
O'top the broom I mount!
And into the air I go!" he sang before kicking hard off of the ground, leaving Drake cursing in German and Samuel trying to apologize on the ground. James shook his head, amused while Jaclyne stared in bewilderment.
"Is he Scottish or something?" she asked, puzzled.
James laughed at this. "Half Scottish, half English," he answered, getting himsefl ready to kick off.
"Thou insults me once more! Half Scottish, half Welsh!" shouted Sirius from ten yards up. James looked up and frowned in feigned thoughtfulness.
"Where's the difference?" he questioned, smiling inwardly.
"Well, for one, English is spelt E-N-G-L-I-S-H, not W-E-L-S-H. And another thing is that Welsh men have bigger---"
"Let's get started already!" shouted Clayton impatiently a few yards away from Sirius who smirked deviously.
"Impeccable timing, Wood! Yes, let's get a move on then! And stop making fun of my Scottishness!" he exclaimed, shooting James a look, missing Samuel's arrival in the air.
"Can't help it, Black!" shouted the American with a wicked grin as the aformentioned boy spun around to see him behind him. "You're too easy!"
James shook his head and kicked off of the ground and drifted slightly lazily to Sirius' side. Sirius had a semi-puzzled look on his face and turned to his friend when the other had arrived. "Should I be insulted?" he queried in a confused fashion.
James laughed a little before answering, "I think so, Padfoot."
The reaction was instantaneous.
"Watch out, Thomas! You've got into my red book now!"
The response, though, was not from Samuel.
"Nasty mental images, there," said James with a smirk, while Samuel laughed and Jaclyn, who had been flying around, shook her head in amusement. Clayton swung by on his broom then, a furious look on his face.
"Are you captain or what, Potter?" he demanded angrily. James looked to Sirius and Samuel who were busy insulting each other--Samuel winning by using his Muggle knowledge--and Jaclyne who watched it all with a grin. Then he looked to the other Chaser and shrugged.
"I would answer 'or what,' but it's time to practice," he replied, coolly. Clayton got a superior look and flew off toward the center of the field, leaving James to round everyone up again. "POSITIONS EVERYONE!"
"Don't wake me up tomorrow," moaned James mourfully as he tossed himself onto his four-poster bed without even tossing his broom away, leaving it lying beside him on the bed with him in his Quiddtich robes. Sirius grinned as he entered the dorm as well, but, unlike his friend, remembered to prop his broom against the wall before hoping onto his own bed, legs crossed in an Indian style.
Remus didn't even look up from the book he was reading at that moment. "Why is that?" he asked for the benefit of his friend.
James didn't even bother to reply, knowing Sirius could do that job quite well. And so he did.
"Prongs hates Halloween now," he said as he changed his clothes, not botherng to stand as he did. Remus rose a curious brow and looked from Sirius, who was now struggling with his shirt that was under his Quiddtich robes, to James, who was staring at the canopy of his bed.
"OurProngs?" asked Remus in surprise just as a dull thud resounded throughout the room.
Sirius, who had fallen off of his bed while pulling off his shirt, answered fom behind his bed, "No joke."
"I thought you lovedHalloween," said Remus to James, who sighed loudly, getting tired of Sirius answering for him.
"I don't anymore," he answered simply.
"Why the change?" asked his lighter haired friend, who cocked his heda to the side, watching James, who groaned and put a pillow over his face.
"Don't say that word," he moaned in a muffled voice.
Now Remus blinked in surprise. "What? Change?"
A sigh. "Yes..."
"What's so wrong about change?"
No reply.
Sirius, having finally pulled the shirt off and was now bare-chested, got out from behind his bed and hopped onto James', making the other boy grunt in suprise as he felt his bed bounce with the arrival of the second teenager. Sirius studied his quiet friend for a moment before lifting an index finger...and poked him.
"You're hiding," he stated, continuing to poke his friend, knowing he would get a reaction.
What James hated the most was that he always didget the reaction he wanted.
"I'm in plain view," he retorted, his voice still muffled by the pillow.
Sirius blew a sigh, which shifted a strand of hair away from his handsome face, and pulled the pillow away from James. "No, I meant what you were thinking."
No reply.
"We're your friends, James," said Remus, deciding to take a different route to get their friend to open up. "You can trust us enough to tell us why you don't like the word change, can't you?"
Hesitation. "...it hurts..." said James, after sitting up and looking at his hands.
Sirius blinked in surprise while Remus looked slightly deflated. "That's how life is, James," he siad, closing the book he had been reading before looking intently at his long-time friend. "People, places, events--they all change. There's not much we can do to prevent it besides being ready for when it comes."
Again James hesitated to answer. He'd been 'hiding' from his friends so long that he wasn't sure if he couldtell them. "...I wasn't ready...I'm still not..."
"Are you ready to talk now?" asked Sirius kindly with a hint of worry. Well, of course he would be worried. How long had James been acting like this, anyway? Months.
"...I don't think so," answered James truthfully, looking up at his friends. "and I'm not sure when I will be."
"That's all right, James," said Remus almost immediately. "We understand."
An uncomfortable silence, one that the small group had never had before, decended and hovered over the three friends.
"...I think I'm going to go to sleep," said James, breaking the silence. The other two recovered from the surprise that someone had spoken and nodded, Sirius climbing off of James' bed.
"We'll tell Peter you said goodnight," said Remus as James lied down--still in his Quidditch uniform--and turned on his side where he couldn't see the other beds.
"Yeah, you can count on us, Prongs," said Sirius, semi-seriously. With that, the lights went out, except for Remus' lit wand he was using to read with in the dark, signalling the end of the day. James shifted and sighed when he heard Sirius' heavy breathing begin to even out.
He wished he could count on the others about what was going on, but he wasn't sure of anythign these days. And even though Dumbledore said he couldn't say anything, he wanted to so badly. It was unfair, he believed, for him to go through all of this at the age of seventeen. Why couldn't the Fates have chosen a better age for him to deal with this?
Surprisingly, as James thought about these thing, he also listened to Sirius' breathing and somehow began to follow his friend's lead and drifted off to sleep before he even knew it.
Author's notes:WHEW! That HAD to be the longest thing I've written! ^.^" Well...second longest. ^.^" I hope you all have enjoyed it! ESPECIALLY KAYDEX! THIS ONE WAS FOR YOU NOW DON'T ASK BE ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHAT! ^.~" Just kidding. You know you can always bug me about that. ^.^" Anyways, I'm too lazy to write responses to everyoen after writing this monster of a chapter, so all I have to say is...MORE SOON! ^.~ Ja ne!