Summary: L/J love/hate. James discovers some secrets in his seventh year that turn his life upside-down and haunt him years afterward. Will these secrets affect his friendship with his fellow Marauders or his never-thought-possible relationship with Lily Evans?
Author's Notes: *is hanging upside-down in a tree* Aye, I know...I said I wouldn't be continuing this one and that I would work on the sequal again. Well, guess what? As I am the Authoress, I can do as I please. That includes changing me mind *goofy grin* ^.^ Sorry to those who were enjoying that arrangement, but someting occurred to me that I didn't consider before so I decided to wait until I'm done with THIS fic before I start on that one again. SORRY KAYDEX! *sheepish grin* ((Lady Javexalot: Did I not tell thee that thou wouldn't be able to finish thy sequal?) Hush it, Javex, or I'll be forced to use my monkey feet on you. :P ((Javexalot: Such a crude person, thou is)) Oooh...that reminds me. KAYDEX! YOU'LL LOVE SIRIUS AT THE END! *grins* Personally, I liked James in this part...*dreamy sigh* Wish I had a man like that...*bats eyes* Anyway...on with the fic! Hope you all enjoy! ^.^
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this fic...*pouts* I want Remy, Jimmy, and Sirius...*pokes disclaimer, hoping it will fall off*
Of Hidden Truths
(First Steps)
Halloween morning, however, found James Potter struggling to keep himself from waking. He wouldn't have needed to try to cover his head with his pillow or burrow himself deeper into his blankets if his roommates wouldn't make so much noise. Actually, they weren't making all that much noise, but James had gotten only a few hours of sleep and everything that morning seemed to be multiplied by ten.
It sounded to him like Peter was being his usual self and had tripped over something…Sirius' boxers most likely, for a thud resounded throughout the room and a voice hissed viciously at the offending noise.
"Damn it! Keep it down!" Sirius' voice said sharply and James assumed that he was gesturing or pointing to his bed because the next person to speak was Peter.
"Is he sick?" he asked, slightly worried. Good old Peter, James thought to himself. He was always the one that was concerned when one of them had problems that no body could solve or if they were ill. He must have saw it as some sort of repayment for all the times they had defended him from bullies and such.
"Tired, most likely," answered Remus in a whisper that the groggy boy could here because Remus was in the bed next to James' left. "Plus he doesn't want to face the day. Let him sleep."
There was some shifting noises that sounded like someone was getting dressed and then some walking around. "Can you help me a bit with that Defense Against the Dark Arts assignment, Remus?" asked Peter as the footsteps halted and the sound of the door opening replaced it.
"Sure, Wormtail," answered Remus kindly and patiently, as he would normally do whenever Peter asked for help. "Let's go down stair--Padfoot!"
Sirius must have sorted in barely contained laughter, or else Remus wouldn't have been so sharp at him.
"What? I didn't say anything!" James assumed that Remus had led Peter out of the room before he began to admonish Sirius.
"You were thinking it," hissed Remus as the footsteps started up again.
James started to drift off again and couldn't help but to grin as Sirius retorted, somewhat childishly, "You've got no proof."
Hours later, while the other three-quarters of the Marauders were in Transfiguration, James was on a mission. He knew what he wanted and how he would find it. First he needed to get out of the Common Room and not be spotted by Filch, who would know that he was up to something. So he donned his Invisibility Cloak and took the Map which the others had been considerate enough to leave behind in case he got hungry or something.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," he whispered as he pointed his wand at the Map that they had worked so hard on. It had taken them over a month to actually draw out Hogwarts and its grounds and yet another month to find all of the spells for its accessories and place them on the piece of parchment.
He watched the Map, just outside of the Common Room, carefully, looking for someone who might help him get the information he needed.
Ah ha…Severus Snape. Perfect. He would definitely have the answer, even if he wasn't willing to give it. Really, James would have preferred going straight to the person he wanted to confront, but this would work out better. Snape would be willing to cooperate, wouldn't he?
Apparently, he had thought wrong, for Snape had tried to loose James once he had revealed himself and forced James to chase him. Of course, James had the advantages of the Cloak and the Map, so he easily cut him off and manage to shove him into the bathroom, not at all happy that he had to chase the greasy Slytherin down a whole floor.
"What do you know?" he demanded, as Snape glared at him against the wall on the other side of the bathroom. It would have been funny, being in the bathroom and interrogating Snape like some spy or something, if he didn't know how important this information was.
"That regards you, Potter?" sneered Snape, not willing to give in so easily. "Nothing."
James, however, saw that Snape was taunting him, letting him get himself get angry because he had information James didn't.
"Don't play games with me, Severus," said James, seriously, and Snape stopped his sneering. "What Malfoy said yesterday, ring a bell?"
Now Snape's cockiness returned.
"Malfoy said a lot of things," he replied dryly.
This caused James to take a step toward him, only stopping himself because he knew that Snape definitely would not tell him what he wanted to know if he threatened him.
"You're really pushing it," he warned, glaring at the Slytherin.
"Then my goal in life has been fulfilled, Potter," said Snape sarcastically.
Another step and this time, it was larger so that now only two stalls was the distance between the two.
"Just. Tell. Me. What. You. Know," said James, gritting his teeth in impatience and anger. Why couldn't the git ever make anything easy for him? He always managed to make everything seem so much harder…
"…I know a lot of things," murmured Snape, which showed that he was close to telling James, who was feeling a little more than relieved.
"Yes, and does any of it involve me?" he asked, while Snape smirked.
"Quand deux deviennent un et on devient deux, le premier qui est venu des deux originaux doit résister le taunting d'un des deux originaux et suivez l'autre. Quand le premier choisit un des deux originaux, la seconde des deux originaux doit combattre avec un des deux originaux. Si elle choisit incorrectement qui un combattre, tous seront perdus." All of this was said without so much as a blink or a stutter from the one reciting it. It was almost as if he had memorized the whole thing by heart and was merely repeating it for James' sake.
James stared at him when he finished, unsure of what to say. He didn't know French at all, but it seemed like Snape did and that put him off slightly.
"What was that?" he asked in disbelief. It hadn't sounded like anything James had ever heard, since it was French. Snape, however, was bland about the whole thing, as if it was old news and that the Gryffindor shouldn't be surprised by it.
"A prophecy, Potter," said Snape without a sneer or a smirk. "And what a coincidence that it involves you."
James stared at him a moment and tried to remember what the Slytherin had said, but the foreign language made that increasingly difficult. "What does it mean?"
"Two of something," answered Snape monotonous, as if he didn't see the importance of it all, although James suspected that whatever the words were they were important. "will become one and then the one created from the two will create another like himself." He paused for a moment, studying his enemy. "The first one created from the two must battle with an original one and ally himself with the other. Once he has done that, the second of the two must choose who to fight."
A silence descended upon the two. Neither noticed as one studied that other and the other looked to be in deep thought.
The grey-eyed one then looked up and hesitantly asked, "How does that have anything to do with me?"
It was then that the dark-eyed one regained his cocky smirk and while pushing himself away from the wall and walking out, he replied, "Figure it out yourself. You've solve a quarter of it already."
James didn't bother to follow him and, instead, headed back to the Common Room, not at all surprised to see that classes were over and the halls were crowded with students once more. He stuffed his Cloak and the Map into his pocket and, without drawing attention to himself, made his way back to Gryffindor Tower, noticing how close to the Slytherin's Dungeons he was.
Once he reached the Fat Lady, she looked up from her tea partner Violet to ask, "Password, Dear?"
"Transfiguro," he answered blandly as the portrait swung open. As he entered, he thought of how he wouldn't let Sirius decide the password again. His friend had thought this password was funny since it sounded like something in an opera. Needless to say that their Head of House wasn't too, too pleased.
"Hallo, Prongs," Peter greeted once he had entered the Common Room and the portrait had swung closed. Remus looked up from whatever he and Sirius were looking at, grinned, and nudged the other boy.
"Sirius," he said, holding out his hand. Sirius tried to pretend not to notice but once Remus had it right under his nose, he snorted and pulled out two Sickles.
"Betting?" James asked curiously as he came over and sat beside Peter, who was working on hi Transfiguration. "On what?"
"How long until you came back," answered Remus and once again James didn't bother to ask how they knew he had been out. "I got the closest, saying two o'clock."
Sirius looked over to James and gave his friend a frown. "Couldn't have hurt for you to stay out four more hours, Prongs, could it?"
"Mm…" James replied, staring at whatever Peter was writing, not really paying anymore attention and thinking about what Snape had said. One fourth of the puzzled had been solved…how? What part had he--?
"You all right?" asked Remus, leaning forward to see James' vacant expression.
The messy haired boy nodded. "Mm..."
At this, Sirius grinned deviously and leaned back into the couch, his hands behind his head in a relaxed manner. "I see…" he said in an amused tone which caused James to snap out of his thoughts.
"See what?" he asked curiously, wondering what Sirius had concocted this time.
"You know what?" asked Sirius in a mischievous manner, leaning forward again.
"What?" asked James, knowing he was playing right into Sirius' hand.
Sirius grinned more widely. "I think--" he began in a taunting tone.
"Don't," interrupted Remus. "I don't want to hear it."
Sirius gaped at Remus before scowling at the werewolf. "It's not about you."
"Don't care," said Remus, opening his own Transfiguration book. "Just do your homework, Sirius."
Sirius, however, did no such thing and merely stuck his tongue out at the lighter-haired boy. "You're no fun," he said before ripping a piece of parchment and, after chewing it up a but, throwing it at a second year, who cried in dismay.
***
It was night once more and once more night found James sitting by the Gryffindor fireplace, thinking about the past and, presently, about that prophecy Snape had told him about. It was difficult to get himself away from those thoughts, so when the guys had gone up to bed, he had told him he was going to make up his work.
No such luck.
Everything he thought of reverted back to one of those two things. It was like a curse or a something. He couldn't focus at all…which was probably why he never noticed that someone else was awake also until he heard a thump.
He spun around in his seat to see who it was and frowned at what he had saw. Lily Evans had, apparently, tripped down the stairs, while clutching a book (A Light in the Darkness by Celeste Anderson). For a moment, he was slightly amused that Evans had actually tipped, but then he got slightly annoyed as his quiet wasn't going to be so quiet anymore.
"What are you doing?" he asked curiously, shoving the annoyance aside. Evans picked herself up quickly at hearing his voice and dusted herself off, trying futilely to hide the blush that was creeping up her cheeks.
"Nothing," she replied quickly as she reached down to pick up her book, which she hid the title of, not knowing James had already seen it. This also amused the boy greatly. "I couldn't sleep so--why are you up?"
James nodded mentally in approval. She was a quick one all right. She knew just when to take the attention away from that question.
He looked around him as he thought this before he looked to her once again and then answered, with his hands gesturing around him, "Enjoying the peace?"
Evans' face, which had lost the blush, went a bit pick at this, as if he had just reminded her of why she was embarrassed.
"Oh…well…I'll just leave you alone then," she said quickly. "Enjoy your peace--"
"I couldn't sleep either, actually," James confessed, though he didn't know why. Evans paused with one foot hovering above the first step and her right hand on the rail.
"Oh?" she asked, not looking at him. "Is it--? Do you have…nightmares?"
"'F course," he answered without hesitation and sounding as if she were a little off, not knowing this. "Everyone does at some point of their already miserable lives." Here Evans spun around to look at him, her green eyes studying him intently, and for once James wasn't bothered by them.
She didn't say anything for a moment, but then, when she had been silence for a good while, she asked, "Why are you always so…negative?"
Again James looked amused. "Negative?" he echoed in disbelief.
Evans gave him a curious look before shaking it off and continuing, "Yes, well…it sees every time I've run into you this year, you're depressed or angry. Like that time before our second detention and…" She hesitated. "…and on the Express."
"Express?" James asked, cluelessly before it hit him. "Oh…oh! Evans, I've alw--er…wanted to apologize for that. I didn't mean to scare you or hurt you or--"
"You didn't," she answered quickly, as if he was saying something he shouldn't.
"Still," he continued. "I've felt bad about it and wanted to apologize…but everything keeps…" He trailed off, searching for the right word.
Evans seemed to noticed this and decided to help supply a word or two. "Becoming hectic?" she suggested. "Happening?"
"Changing," James finally mustered out. Evans blinked for a moment before shrugging awkwardly.
"Oh, well…apology accepted then."
Now it was James' turn to blink.
"Just like that?" he asked in confusion.
"Well, it would have been kind of strange if I held that against you," she answered, sitting down on the couch between the two armchairs, one of which James was sitting in. "It was a long time ago…"
Again the teenaged boy blinked in surprise.
"I suppose so…" he said slowly, wondering where this was going.
Apparently no where, because just as Evans lifted her book to read it, she put it back in her lap and said, "On second thought, I think I'll try to sleep no--"
"Do you have nightmares?" asked James, quickly before she could stand. Evans stared at him for a moment, leaned forward in a way that made her look slightly odd since she had been getting ready to get up.
"What?" she asked almost faintly.
"Do you have nightmares?" he repeated, still not knowing why he was detaining her. So she wanted to sleep? Why couldn't he just let her go and do that?
Perhaps it was because she provided him with a distraction.
Evans didn't answer for a moment. "…yes…" This time the answer was barely heard.
James turned back to his Transfiguration work and asked, "That's what kept you up?"
Again there was a moment of silence.
"I--" she seemed about to stop herself, so James confessed, "Me, too."
"Oh…" said Evans, seeming not to know what to say. "Erm…what was it about…exactly?"
James looked back to her with an amused smile and, ignoring the question, asked, "Aren't we supposed to be rivals?"
"Erm…you're right. I'm sorry I asked--" she apologized, standing up and backing away. James frowned and stood up as well, which seemed to make her go rigid.
"Why?" he asked, confused.
"Why what?" asked Evans, backing up into the arm of the couch by accident. James narrowed his eyes and took a slow step toward her, then another. For every two he took, she took yet another one toward a small corner. He stopped.
"Why are you apologizing?" he finally asked the nervous looking Evans. The Evans he had never saw before…except twice that year. "Why are you so timid?" Again he took a few steps forward, trying to get her to stop backing up.
She, however, jumped back another step. "Don't…don't do that…" she said shakily and James froze.
Evans--Lily Evans--was…scared?
"Do what?" He took a cautious step forward.
"That! Please, stop!" Now this was too much. What could make her so scare of him that she would be near tears?
James decided he didn't want to find out the way he was doing in and backed away, his hands in the air in a surrendering fashion. He backed up until he was back at the arm chair. Evans, seeing the distance between them, slowly came toward him, not noticing the book she had dropped, and sat back down on the couch, hugging herself slightly.
James slowly followed her example and slowly sat down, watching in bewilderment and fascination as she then wiped her eyes.
"…what was your nightmare about?" he asked softly, hoping he didn't scare her anymore. It was one thing when it was funny and was a joke when he scared her, because she would also fight back. This time…she didn't. And it scared him that she was this way.
Evans sighed a little before wiping her nose a little and sniffing. She was quiet yet again for another moment before answering, "…someone was…hurting me…"
The answer was a shock to James.
"Hurt you?" he asked and she nodded, looking away as if ashamed. "Why would anyone hurt you? Lily Evans? Gryffindor Head Girl? Top of the Class?"
His attempt to take her mind away from the previous topic succeeded and she smiled a little at him.
"You're right below me…" she said, while James waved a hand in an impatient fashion, causing her to smile a little more.
"Trivial information," he said and again there was silence. Lily--should he still call her Evans?--was still hugging herself and rubbing her arms as if she were cold. This made James' resolve to ignore what had happened to falter and then fall.
"Why would someone be hurting you in your dreams?" he asked quietly, as if hoping she wouldn't hear him. But she did.
She seemed to stiffen a little at the question and then look at him with slightly wide eyes before looking away. "I don't know…" she answered after a pause and somehow--somehow--James knew that this was not so. Somehow he knew that she knew exactly why she was having those dreams, but he didn't say anything.
Instead, he murmured to himself something that he had heard his mother say when she had been alive. "…and so another wears the Mask of Hidden Truths…"
Lily--Evans?--looked over to him again and smiled a little once more. "I didn't know you were a poet," she said in amusement.
James shrugged and replied, "I didn't know that Lily Evans was actually kind of nice, kind, and slightly timid. What does that tell you?"
Lily--yes, that suited her much better at that moment--seemed to think about this for a moment before saying with another slight smile, "That the Mask of Hidden Truths doesn't only hide the Truth, but the person, as well…"
"…for the person," James continued what she had said with a neutral face, watching her. "cannot be themselves when wearing a Mask that can so easily Hide their true nature--"
"--or their true feelings--" added Lily, watching him as well.
"--but can one counter a Mask of Hidden Truths? For it take more than one crack to break through the layers of deceit," he finished and saw that she was smiling even more.
"You're really good," she told him and he gave her a smile.
"Thanks. You should hear Sirius and I when we take turns," he said, making her laugh a little.
She rubbed her arms again, looking at the carpet for a moment, before saying, "It's very…soothing."
James nodded in agreement. "My mum always said I had the mind of a poet," he said quietly.
Lily was quiet for a moment before brightening. "And what of your heart?" she asked, playfully. James grinned and decided to play along.
"My heart? It is built from the very foundation of all the greatest and worst things on the earth," he replied, placing a hand over his heart.
Lily leaned forward, letting go of her arms and watching him carefully. "And that would be…?"
"That, my dear Lady, is a Secret," he told her mysteriously.
"Maybe I'll learn of this Secret," she replied, looking for any hints, but James wouldn't let her get away with it that quickly.
"My heart is a stout one," he said, pounding his right fist against his chest, making Lily laugh a little. "Not many have managed to gain entrance so easily--"
"I'll except that challenge, Sir Knight!" she declared, throwing James off a bit.
"I…er…"
Okay, a lot.
"Speechless, Sir Knight? If your voice failed you so quickly, then the stoutness of your heart shall not last too long," said Lily smugly, while James grinned.
"And if you think that the Battle has been won, you have been mistaken, my Lady."
"It is not the Battle I intend to win," said Lily, sitting up a bit. "But the War of discovering this Secret that lies in your heart."
"Ah…" he replied before leaning toward her as she had done before. "And what of your heart?"
"Mine?" she asked with slight surprise before giving him a mischievous smile. One that seemed to brighten her already bright green eyes. "It has been taken away for the moment and I fear it coming back."
James rose his eyebrows in curiosity but plunged onward. "Is there any Secret that lies inside?"
Lily shook her head, smiling as if she knew something he didn't. "None. For one merely has to look to know, Sir Knight."
"And you say that it has been taken away?" he asked, trying to find out what she was saying, whether or not it was true.
"By pretty words and a handsome face of someone I will not reveal," she replied before she looked up at the old clock that read the time. James looked as well.
Two forty-seven in the morning.
"The night is old," said Lily and James looked over to see that she was standing, her book in her hand. "and I shall need my sleep. Adieu, Sir Knight. Adieu."
And for he could reply, she smiled, turned, and headed up the stairs to her dormitory. James stared after her and his gaze lingered on the stairs before he heard some shuffling and someone asking, "Can I barf now?"
"Sirius!" James exclaimed, spinning himself toward the boy dormitory stairs and seeing his friend standing there, long dark hair loose and all over the place as he leaned against the wall in his sweatpants. "How…how long have you been there?"
"Since 'And what of your heart?'," replied the more mischievous of the duo, doing a pretty good impression of a girl's voice, before walking away from the wall and sitting in the couch Lily had just vacated. "You two make me want to gag."
"I was just showing her my poetic abilities…" said James cautiously, hoping that Sirius wouldn't--
"And you just 'happen'--" Here he quotated the word with his fingers. "--not to notice what she was showing--rather telling--you?"
James looked confusedly at his partner in crime. "What?"
Sirius rolled his eyes. "You are dense. Merlin, James, who do you think took her heart with 'pretty words and a handsome face'?" Again he did a remarkable impression of a girl.
James froze at this, realizing what his friend was saying.
"She--? Sirius…I-I can't!" he cried out in a panic.
"Well, you can't string her on like that," said Sirius, standing up again and pulling James up as well, leading him to the dormitory. "That my job, not yours."
"I don't want to lead her on," said James as they went up the stairs and approached the door to their room. 'But…I can't like her, Sirius."
He couldn't…but he wished he could…
Sirius opened the door and pushed his friend inside, all the while saying, "I remember when you two used to yell at each other--" James shook his head as he took his shirt off and tossed it over a chair. "--Now you're telling her poetry and…having midnight…rendezvous…" Sirius really did do a good impression of a crying mother.
"I need to get some sleep," said James, hoping to escape the torment known as Sirius Black, who continued the crying mother bit.
"My poor little Prongs!" he cried as James pulled the covers off of his bed and settled himself in. "--all grown up now--!"
"Stuff it and get some sleep," James told him with a small laugh in his voice. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep yet again, but while he listened to Sirius chuckle to himself, he couldn't find the peace he needed. Yet another worry had been placed onto his already overfilled mind.
Lily Evans, his former House rival, was no longer just that. Now she was something more. She actually meant something to him…and he didn't know if that would be for good or for ill in the future...
Pebble of Insanity: Oh! Cute name! ^.^ Yes, yes...poor ickle Jimmy. ^.^ Don't worry...he'll get a hug real soon *wishes she was Lily* *dreamy sigh* Thanks for the review! ^.^
animegirl: *blushes* Nah...it's not that cool...thanks for the compliment! I hope you keep reading! Oh, and shere's the next part ya wanted! ^.^"
earendil: What took so long? Er...I was working on my sequal...and that's why THIS one took so long to get go out. Gomen! (FYI: Japanese leasson one: Gomen = Sorry ^.~) Thanks for the review!
Shei: See? I knew you would! MWPP rock, Shei :P You can't resist it...you cannot resister the pull of the MWPP fics...they have claimed you...((Javexalot: *sweatdrops*)) Er...right...^.^"" The pendant? Ooooh! That's coming up in a good bit...Chapter uh...*looks* Eight? Wow...only two more Chapters until an explanation. You ready for it? You sure? You positive? Lol. Okay...I'll be quiet now. Thanks for the review, girl!
A very sorry kaydee: Hey...you have my twin's name! THIEF! Lol, just kidding. Now, really, Kaydee, it's not that bad. You don';t need to go on and on about being a bad twin...I've actually been a bad twin really! *cries* I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T BEEN ON MORE LATELY! I GOT CAUGHT UP IN MY WRITING! *sniffles* Honestly, I really do feel bad about not talking to you in a while and for erm...um...not posting anymore of OIH...*winces* yeah, sorry...so flying objects please. ANYWAY....All will be revealed about your questions with James in TWO(count 'em: TWO) Chapters! Need not to worry, my dear Scottish twin, for I have a bad memory also. Hehe...Your first? Um...I think you said that somewhere...I distinctly remember you telling me that...I just don't remember when. Lol. Okay, I've given you some suggestions over at Tempest's right? Well, here's a new one. Read Dangerous Flirtation. It is REALLY good. I really like it, though it's short *rolls eyes* Why can't there ever be good long ones? Also...try The Marauder Chronicals(I THINK that's what it's called) OMG...that fic is like...awesome. You must read that one if you haven't. Seriously! You didn't know what Welsh was? Well, gee...I wasn't too sure when I wrote it, so I had to ask my dad(who is GENIUS at history and english and geography and such) *shrugs* Yes, yes! You are correct! Welsh is a person from Wales! Very good! And Sirius is a Scotsman and a Welshman rolled into one (yum...*licks lips*) As I have said already, the explanation will be in Chapter EIGHT. So be a little more patient *can't wait till she gets to the real twist in the story* MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH---*cough, gag, CHOKE!* I'm all right! I'm all right! Yes, that is when Harrys parents died, but I don't think he really knows that. That's why I have it mentioned in the sequal smewhere...like in Chapter Six or something(I have Chapters One-Eight written, along with Chapters 20-22 and Chapters 34-37 ^.^ Go me!) *grins* I know I write those two(Siri and Jimmy) well. Everyone says that. And you want to know where I base Siri's sense of humor? Well, quite coincidentally, he sounds a lot like my older sister who is only a year older than me. She ALWAYS wants me to tell people that, and I have YET to fulfill her wish, hehe...I know, I am evil. :P ^.^ Thanks for the review, Kaydex! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! ^.^
Lyta Padfoot: @.@ F-f...f-f-favorites? Oy! It's not THAT good is it? @.@ Whoa...I think that really shocked me. You read it at Schnoogle? Really? Wow! Thanks for the lovely compliments! I've been trying very hard to keep everyone in character and yet have them develop, you know? Thanks for the review! ^.^
mooncancer: Eat 'em up! Eat 'em up! Go! Fight! Win! Sorry, I just miss going to football games *is in the band* Ah...miss the good old days of marching season...which was like a months ago ^.^" Anyway, thanks for the review! Hope you liked! ^.^
Ariana: Thanks for the compliment! ^.^ More here! I hope you enjoyed it! ^.^
Them Girl: Hoo-boy...another email address to remember! Not to worry! I will be sure to email you each time it's updated! Thanks for the compliments! ^.^
x-woman: Yes, James DOES die on Halloween. I couldn't help but to put in that ironic statement. Oh, and get this...*looks around and whispers* It gets worse...^.^ Thanks for the review! ^.^
NOTICE! IMPORTANT NOTICE: Do not, under any circumstance, translate any foreign language in my fic. All of the translations will be done by ME in the last chapter of this entire fic. Do NOT put it in my reviews. This is a warning! ^.^ Thank you! Ja! ^.~
Author's Notes: *is hanging upside-down in a tree* Aye, I know...I said I wouldn't be continuing this one and that I would work on the sequal again. Well, guess what? As I am the Authoress, I can do as I please. That includes changing me mind *goofy grin* ^.^ Sorry to those who were enjoying that arrangement, but someting occurred to me that I didn't consider before so I decided to wait until I'm done with THIS fic before I start on that one again. SORRY KAYDEX! *sheepish grin* ((Lady Javexalot: Did I not tell thee that thou wouldn't be able to finish thy sequal?) Hush it, Javex, or I'll be forced to use my monkey feet on you. :P ((Javexalot: Such a crude person, thou is)) Oooh...that reminds me. KAYDEX! YOU'LL LOVE SIRIUS AT THE END! *grins* Personally, I liked James in this part...*dreamy sigh* Wish I had a man like that...*bats eyes* Anyway...on with the fic! Hope you all enjoy! ^.^
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this fic...*pouts* I want Remy, Jimmy, and Sirius...*pokes disclaimer, hoping it will fall off*
(First Steps)
Halloween morning, however, found James Potter struggling to keep himself from waking. He wouldn't have needed to try to cover his head with his pillow or burrow himself deeper into his blankets if his roommates wouldn't make so much noise. Actually, they weren't making all that much noise, but James had gotten only a few hours of sleep and everything that morning seemed to be multiplied by ten.
It sounded to him like Peter was being his usual self and had tripped over something…Sirius' boxers most likely, for a thud resounded throughout the room and a voice hissed viciously at the offending noise.
"Damn it! Keep it down!" Sirius' voice said sharply and James assumed that he was gesturing or pointing to his bed because the next person to speak was Peter.
"Is he sick?" he asked, slightly worried. Good old Peter, James thought to himself. He was always the one that was concerned when one of them had problems that no body could solve or if they were ill. He must have saw it as some sort of repayment for all the times they had defended him from bullies and such.
"Tired, most likely," answered Remus in a whisper that the groggy boy could here because Remus was in the bed next to James' left. "Plus he doesn't want to face the day. Let him sleep."
There was some shifting noises that sounded like someone was getting dressed and then some walking around. "Can you help me a bit with that Defense Against the Dark Arts assignment, Remus?" asked Peter as the footsteps halted and the sound of the door opening replaced it.
"Sure, Wormtail," answered Remus kindly and patiently, as he would normally do whenever Peter asked for help. "Let's go down stair--Padfoot!"
Sirius must have sorted in barely contained laughter, or else Remus wouldn't have been so sharp at him.
"What? I didn't say anything!" James assumed that Remus had led Peter out of the room before he began to admonish Sirius.
"You were thinking it," hissed Remus as the footsteps started up again.
James started to drift off again and couldn't help but to grin as Sirius retorted, somewhat childishly, "You've got no proof."
Hours later, while the other three-quarters of the Marauders were in Transfiguration, James was on a mission. He knew what he wanted and how he would find it. First he needed to get out of the Common Room and not be spotted by Filch, who would know that he was up to something. So he donned his Invisibility Cloak and took the Map which the others had been considerate enough to leave behind in case he got hungry or something.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," he whispered as he pointed his wand at the Map that they had worked so hard on. It had taken them over a month to actually draw out Hogwarts and its grounds and yet another month to find all of the spells for its accessories and place them on the piece of parchment.
He watched the Map, just outside of the Common Room, carefully, looking for someone who might help him get the information he needed.
Ah ha…Severus Snape. Perfect. He would definitely have the answer, even if he wasn't willing to give it. Really, James would have preferred going straight to the person he wanted to confront, but this would work out better. Snape would be willing to cooperate, wouldn't he?
Apparently, he had thought wrong, for Snape had tried to loose James once he had revealed himself and forced James to chase him. Of course, James had the advantages of the Cloak and the Map, so he easily cut him off and manage to shove him into the bathroom, not at all happy that he had to chase the greasy Slytherin down a whole floor.
"What do you know?" he demanded, as Snape glared at him against the wall on the other side of the bathroom. It would have been funny, being in the bathroom and interrogating Snape like some spy or something, if he didn't know how important this information was.
"That regards you, Potter?" sneered Snape, not willing to give in so easily. "Nothing."
James, however, saw that Snape was taunting him, letting him get himself get angry because he had information James didn't.
"Don't play games with me, Severus," said James, seriously, and Snape stopped his sneering. "What Malfoy said yesterday, ring a bell?"
Now Snape's cockiness returned.
"Malfoy said a lot of things," he replied dryly.
This caused James to take a step toward him, only stopping himself because he knew that Snape definitely would not tell him what he wanted to know if he threatened him.
"You're really pushing it," he warned, glaring at the Slytherin.
"Then my goal in life has been fulfilled, Potter," said Snape sarcastically.
Another step and this time, it was larger so that now only two stalls was the distance between the two.
"Just. Tell. Me. What. You. Know," said James, gritting his teeth in impatience and anger. Why couldn't the git ever make anything easy for him? He always managed to make everything seem so much harder…
"…I know a lot of things," murmured Snape, which showed that he was close to telling James, who was feeling a little more than relieved.
"Yes, and does any of it involve me?" he asked, while Snape smirked.
"Quand deux deviennent un et on devient deux, le premier qui est venu des deux originaux doit résister le taunting d'un des deux originaux et suivez l'autre. Quand le premier choisit un des deux originaux, la seconde des deux originaux doit combattre avec un des deux originaux. Si elle choisit incorrectement qui un combattre, tous seront perdus." All of this was said without so much as a blink or a stutter from the one reciting it. It was almost as if he had memorized the whole thing by heart and was merely repeating it for James' sake.
James stared at him when he finished, unsure of what to say. He didn't know French at all, but it seemed like Snape did and that put him off slightly.
"What was that?" he asked in disbelief. It hadn't sounded like anything James had ever heard, since it was French. Snape, however, was bland about the whole thing, as if it was old news and that the Gryffindor shouldn't be surprised by it.
"A prophecy, Potter," said Snape without a sneer or a smirk. "And what a coincidence that it involves you."
James stared at him a moment and tried to remember what the Slytherin had said, but the foreign language made that increasingly difficult. "What does it mean?"
"Two of something," answered Snape monotonous, as if he didn't see the importance of it all, although James suspected that whatever the words were they were important. "will become one and then the one created from the two will create another like himself." He paused for a moment, studying his enemy. "The first one created from the two must battle with an original one and ally himself with the other. Once he has done that, the second of the two must choose who to fight."
A silence descended upon the two. Neither noticed as one studied that other and the other looked to be in deep thought.
The grey-eyed one then looked up and hesitantly asked, "How does that have anything to do with me?"
It was then that the dark-eyed one regained his cocky smirk and while pushing himself away from the wall and walking out, he replied, "Figure it out yourself. You've solve a quarter of it already."
James didn't bother to follow him and, instead, headed back to the Common Room, not at all surprised to see that classes were over and the halls were crowded with students once more. He stuffed his Cloak and the Map into his pocket and, without drawing attention to himself, made his way back to Gryffindor Tower, noticing how close to the Slytherin's Dungeons he was.
Once he reached the Fat Lady, she looked up from her tea partner Violet to ask, "Password, Dear?"
"Transfiguro," he answered blandly as the portrait swung open. As he entered, he thought of how he wouldn't let Sirius decide the password again. His friend had thought this password was funny since it sounded like something in an opera. Needless to say that their Head of House wasn't too, too pleased.
"Hallo, Prongs," Peter greeted once he had entered the Common Room and the portrait had swung closed. Remus looked up from whatever he and Sirius were looking at, grinned, and nudged the other boy.
"Sirius," he said, holding out his hand. Sirius tried to pretend not to notice but once Remus had it right under his nose, he snorted and pulled out two Sickles.
"Betting?" James asked curiously as he came over and sat beside Peter, who was working on hi Transfiguration. "On what?"
"How long until you came back," answered Remus and once again James didn't bother to ask how they knew he had been out. "I got the closest, saying two o'clock."
Sirius looked over to James and gave his friend a frown. "Couldn't have hurt for you to stay out four more hours, Prongs, could it?"
"Mm…" James replied, staring at whatever Peter was writing, not really paying anymore attention and thinking about what Snape had said. One fourth of the puzzled had been solved…how? What part had he--?
"You all right?" asked Remus, leaning forward to see James' vacant expression.
The messy haired boy nodded. "Mm..."
At this, Sirius grinned deviously and leaned back into the couch, his hands behind his head in a relaxed manner. "I see…" he said in an amused tone which caused James to snap out of his thoughts.
"See what?" he asked curiously, wondering what Sirius had concocted this time.
"You know what?" asked Sirius in a mischievous manner, leaning forward again.
"What?" asked James, knowing he was playing right into Sirius' hand.
Sirius grinned more widely. "I think--" he began in a taunting tone.
"Don't," interrupted Remus. "I don't want to hear it."
Sirius gaped at Remus before scowling at the werewolf. "It's not about you."
"Don't care," said Remus, opening his own Transfiguration book. "Just do your homework, Sirius."
Sirius, however, did no such thing and merely stuck his tongue out at the lighter-haired boy. "You're no fun," he said before ripping a piece of parchment and, after chewing it up a but, throwing it at a second year, who cried in dismay.
It was night once more and once more night found James sitting by the Gryffindor fireplace, thinking about the past and, presently, about that prophecy Snape had told him about. It was difficult to get himself away from those thoughts, so when the guys had gone up to bed, he had told him he was going to make up his work.
No such luck.
Everything he thought of reverted back to one of those two things. It was like a curse or a something. He couldn't focus at all…which was probably why he never noticed that someone else was awake also until he heard a thump.
He spun around in his seat to see who it was and frowned at what he had saw. Lily Evans had, apparently, tripped down the stairs, while clutching a book (A Light in the Darkness by Celeste Anderson). For a moment, he was slightly amused that Evans had actually tipped, but then he got slightly annoyed as his quiet wasn't going to be so quiet anymore.
"What are you doing?" he asked curiously, shoving the annoyance aside. Evans picked herself up quickly at hearing his voice and dusted herself off, trying futilely to hide the blush that was creeping up her cheeks.
"Nothing," she replied quickly as she reached down to pick up her book, which she hid the title of, not knowing James had already seen it. This also amused the boy greatly. "I couldn't sleep so--why are you up?"
James nodded mentally in approval. She was a quick one all right. She knew just when to take the attention away from that question.
He looked around him as he thought this before he looked to her once again and then answered, with his hands gesturing around him, "Enjoying the peace?"
Evans' face, which had lost the blush, went a bit pick at this, as if he had just reminded her of why she was embarrassed.
"Oh…well…I'll just leave you alone then," she said quickly. "Enjoy your peace--"
"I couldn't sleep either, actually," James confessed, though he didn't know why. Evans paused with one foot hovering above the first step and her right hand on the rail.
"Oh?" she asked, not looking at him. "Is it--? Do you have…nightmares?"
"'F course," he answered without hesitation and sounding as if she were a little off, not knowing this. "Everyone does at some point of their already miserable lives." Here Evans spun around to look at him, her green eyes studying him intently, and for once James wasn't bothered by them.
She didn't say anything for a moment, but then, when she had been silence for a good while, she asked, "Why are you always so…negative?"
Again James looked amused. "Negative?" he echoed in disbelief.
Evans gave him a curious look before shaking it off and continuing, "Yes, well…it sees every time I've run into you this year, you're depressed or angry. Like that time before our second detention and…" She hesitated. "…and on the Express."
"Express?" James asked, cluelessly before it hit him. "Oh…oh! Evans, I've alw--er…wanted to apologize for that. I didn't mean to scare you or hurt you or--"
"You didn't," she answered quickly, as if he was saying something he shouldn't.
"Still," he continued. "I've felt bad about it and wanted to apologize…but everything keeps…" He trailed off, searching for the right word.
Evans seemed to noticed this and decided to help supply a word or two. "Becoming hectic?" she suggested. "Happening?"
"Changing," James finally mustered out. Evans blinked for a moment before shrugging awkwardly.
"Oh, well…apology accepted then."
Now it was James' turn to blink.
"Just like that?" he asked in confusion.
"Well, it would have been kind of strange if I held that against you," she answered, sitting down on the couch between the two armchairs, one of which James was sitting in. "It was a long time ago…"
Again the teenaged boy blinked in surprise.
"I suppose so…" he said slowly, wondering where this was going.
Apparently no where, because just as Evans lifted her book to read it, she put it back in her lap and said, "On second thought, I think I'll try to sleep no--"
"Do you have nightmares?" asked James, quickly before she could stand. Evans stared at him for a moment, leaned forward in a way that made her look slightly odd since she had been getting ready to get up.
"What?" she asked almost faintly.
"Do you have nightmares?" he repeated, still not knowing why he was detaining her. So she wanted to sleep? Why couldn't he just let her go and do that?
Perhaps it was because she provided him with a distraction.
Evans didn't answer for a moment. "…yes…" This time the answer was barely heard.
James turned back to his Transfiguration work and asked, "That's what kept you up?"
Again there was a moment of silence.
"I--" she seemed about to stop herself, so James confessed, "Me, too."
"Oh…" said Evans, seeming not to know what to say. "Erm…what was it about…exactly?"
James looked back to her with an amused smile and, ignoring the question, asked, "Aren't we supposed to be rivals?"
"Erm…you're right. I'm sorry I asked--" she apologized, standing up and backing away. James frowned and stood up as well, which seemed to make her go rigid.
"Why?" he asked, confused.
"Why what?" asked Evans, backing up into the arm of the couch by accident. James narrowed his eyes and took a slow step toward her, then another. For every two he took, she took yet another one toward a small corner. He stopped.
"Why are you apologizing?" he finally asked the nervous looking Evans. The Evans he had never saw before…except twice that year. "Why are you so timid?" Again he took a few steps forward, trying to get her to stop backing up.
She, however, jumped back another step. "Don't…don't do that…" she said shakily and James froze.
Evans--Lily Evans--was…scared?
"Do what?" He took a cautious step forward.
"That! Please, stop!" Now this was too much. What could make her so scare of him that she would be near tears?
James decided he didn't want to find out the way he was doing in and backed away, his hands in the air in a surrendering fashion. He backed up until he was back at the arm chair. Evans, seeing the distance between them, slowly came toward him, not noticing the book she had dropped, and sat back down on the couch, hugging herself slightly.
James slowly followed her example and slowly sat down, watching in bewilderment and fascination as she then wiped her eyes.
"…what was your nightmare about?" he asked softly, hoping he didn't scare her anymore. It was one thing when it was funny and was a joke when he scared her, because she would also fight back. This time…she didn't. And it scared him that she was this way.
Evans sighed a little before wiping her nose a little and sniffing. She was quiet yet again for another moment before answering, "…someone was…hurting me…"
The answer was a shock to James.
"Hurt you?" he asked and she nodded, looking away as if ashamed. "Why would anyone hurt you? Lily Evans? Gryffindor Head Girl? Top of the Class?"
His attempt to take her mind away from the previous topic succeeded and she smiled a little at him.
"You're right below me…" she said, while James waved a hand in an impatient fashion, causing her to smile a little more.
"Trivial information," he said and again there was silence. Lily--should he still call her Evans?--was still hugging herself and rubbing her arms as if she were cold. This made James' resolve to ignore what had happened to falter and then fall.
"Why would someone be hurting you in your dreams?" he asked quietly, as if hoping she wouldn't hear him. But she did.
She seemed to stiffen a little at the question and then look at him with slightly wide eyes before looking away. "I don't know…" she answered after a pause and somehow--somehow--James knew that this was not so. Somehow he knew that she knew exactly why she was having those dreams, but he didn't say anything.
Instead, he murmured to himself something that he had heard his mother say when she had been alive. "…and so another wears the Mask of Hidden Truths…"
Lily--Evans?--looked over to him again and smiled a little once more. "I didn't know you were a poet," she said in amusement.
James shrugged and replied, "I didn't know that Lily Evans was actually kind of nice, kind, and slightly timid. What does that tell you?"
Lily--yes, that suited her much better at that moment--seemed to think about this for a moment before saying with another slight smile, "That the Mask of Hidden Truths doesn't only hide the Truth, but the person, as well…"
"…for the person," James continued what she had said with a neutral face, watching her. "cannot be themselves when wearing a Mask that can so easily Hide their true nature--"
"--or their true feelings--" added Lily, watching him as well.
"--but can one counter a Mask of Hidden Truths? For it take more than one crack to break through the layers of deceit," he finished and saw that she was smiling even more.
"You're really good," she told him and he gave her a smile.
"Thanks. You should hear Sirius and I when we take turns," he said, making her laugh a little.
She rubbed her arms again, looking at the carpet for a moment, before saying, "It's very…soothing."
James nodded in agreement. "My mum always said I had the mind of a poet," he said quietly.
Lily was quiet for a moment before brightening. "And what of your heart?" she asked, playfully. James grinned and decided to play along.
"My heart? It is built from the very foundation of all the greatest and worst things on the earth," he replied, placing a hand over his heart.
Lily leaned forward, letting go of her arms and watching him carefully. "And that would be…?"
"That, my dear Lady, is a Secret," he told her mysteriously.
"Maybe I'll learn of this Secret," she replied, looking for any hints, but James wouldn't let her get away with it that quickly.
"My heart is a stout one," he said, pounding his right fist against his chest, making Lily laugh a little. "Not many have managed to gain entrance so easily--"
"I'll except that challenge, Sir Knight!" she declared, throwing James off a bit.
"I…er…"
Okay, a lot.
"Speechless, Sir Knight? If your voice failed you so quickly, then the stoutness of your heart shall not last too long," said Lily smugly, while James grinned.
"And if you think that the Battle has been won, you have been mistaken, my Lady."
"It is not the Battle I intend to win," said Lily, sitting up a bit. "But the War of discovering this Secret that lies in your heart."
"Ah…" he replied before leaning toward her as she had done before. "And what of your heart?"
"Mine?" she asked with slight surprise before giving him a mischievous smile. One that seemed to brighten her already bright green eyes. "It has been taken away for the moment and I fear it coming back."
James rose his eyebrows in curiosity but plunged onward. "Is there any Secret that lies inside?"
Lily shook her head, smiling as if she knew something he didn't. "None. For one merely has to look to know, Sir Knight."
"And you say that it has been taken away?" he asked, trying to find out what she was saying, whether or not it was true.
"By pretty words and a handsome face of someone I will not reveal," she replied before she looked up at the old clock that read the time. James looked as well.
Two forty-seven in the morning.
"The night is old," said Lily and James looked over to see that she was standing, her book in her hand. "and I shall need my sleep. Adieu, Sir Knight. Adieu."
And for he could reply, she smiled, turned, and headed up the stairs to her dormitory. James stared after her and his gaze lingered on the stairs before he heard some shuffling and someone asking, "Can I barf now?"
"Sirius!" James exclaimed, spinning himself toward the boy dormitory stairs and seeing his friend standing there, long dark hair loose and all over the place as he leaned against the wall in his sweatpants. "How…how long have you been there?"
"Since 'And what of your heart?'," replied the more mischievous of the duo, doing a pretty good impression of a girl's voice, before walking away from the wall and sitting in the couch Lily had just vacated. "You two make me want to gag."
"I was just showing her my poetic abilities…" said James cautiously, hoping that Sirius wouldn't--
"And you just 'happen'--" Here he quotated the word with his fingers. "--not to notice what she was showing--rather telling--you?"
James looked confusedly at his partner in crime. "What?"
Sirius rolled his eyes. "You are dense. Merlin, James, who do you think took her heart with 'pretty words and a handsome face'?" Again he did a remarkable impression of a girl.
James froze at this, realizing what his friend was saying.
"She--? Sirius…I-I can't!" he cried out in a panic.
"Well, you can't string her on like that," said Sirius, standing up again and pulling James up as well, leading him to the dormitory. "That my job, not yours."
"I don't want to lead her on," said James as they went up the stairs and approached the door to their room. 'But…I can't like her, Sirius."
He couldn't…but he wished he could…
Sirius opened the door and pushed his friend inside, all the while saying, "I remember when you two used to yell at each other--" James shook his head as he took his shirt off and tossed it over a chair. "--Now you're telling her poetry and…having midnight…rendezvous…" Sirius really did do a good impression of a crying mother.
"I need to get some sleep," said James, hoping to escape the torment known as Sirius Black, who continued the crying mother bit.
"My poor little Prongs!" he cried as James pulled the covers off of his bed and settled himself in. "--all grown up now--!"
"Stuff it and get some sleep," James told him with a small laugh in his voice. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep yet again, but while he listened to Sirius chuckle to himself, he couldn't find the peace he needed. Yet another worry had been placed onto his already overfilled mind.
Lily Evans, his former House rival, was no longer just that. Now she was something more. She actually meant something to him…and he didn't know if that would be for good or for ill in the future...
Pebble of Insanity: Oh! Cute name! ^.^ Yes, yes...poor ickle Jimmy. ^.^ Don't worry...he'll get a hug real soon *wishes she was Lily* *dreamy sigh* Thanks for the review! ^.^
animegirl: *blushes* Nah...it's not that cool...thanks for the compliment! I hope you keep reading! Oh, and shere's the next part ya wanted! ^.^"
earendil: What took so long? Er...I was working on my sequal...and that's why THIS one took so long to get go out. Gomen! (FYI: Japanese leasson one: Gomen = Sorry ^.~) Thanks for the review!
Shei: See? I knew you would! MWPP rock, Shei :P You can't resist it...you cannot resister the pull of the MWPP fics...they have claimed you...((Javexalot: *sweatdrops*)) Er...right...^.^"" The pendant? Ooooh! That's coming up in a good bit...Chapter uh...*looks* Eight? Wow...only two more Chapters until an explanation. You ready for it? You sure? You positive? Lol. Okay...I'll be quiet now. Thanks for the review, girl!
A very sorry kaydee: Hey...you have my twin's name! THIEF! Lol, just kidding. Now, really, Kaydee, it's not that bad. You don';t need to go on and on about being a bad twin...I've actually been a bad twin really! *cries* I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T BEEN ON MORE LATELY! I GOT CAUGHT UP IN MY WRITING! *sniffles* Honestly, I really do feel bad about not talking to you in a while and for erm...um...not posting anymore of OIH...*winces* yeah, sorry...so flying objects please. ANYWAY....All will be revealed about your questions with James in TWO(count 'em: TWO) Chapters! Need not to worry, my dear Scottish twin, for I have a bad memory also. Hehe...Your first? Um...I think you said that somewhere...I distinctly remember you telling me that...I just don't remember when. Lol. Okay, I've given you some suggestions over at Tempest's right? Well, here's a new one. Read Dangerous Flirtation. It is REALLY good. I really like it, though it's short *rolls eyes* Why can't there ever be good long ones? Also...try The Marauder Chronicals(I THINK that's what it's called) OMG...that fic is like...awesome. You must read that one if you haven't. Seriously! You didn't know what Welsh was? Well, gee...I wasn't too sure when I wrote it, so I had to ask my dad(who is GENIUS at history and english and geography and such) *shrugs* Yes, yes! You are correct! Welsh is a person from Wales! Very good! And Sirius is a Scotsman and a Welshman rolled into one (yum...*licks lips*) As I have said already, the explanation will be in Chapter EIGHT. So be a little more patient *can't wait till she gets to the real twist in the story* MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH---*cough, gag, CHOKE!* I'm all right! I'm all right! Yes, that is when Harrys parents died, but I don't think he really knows that. That's why I have it mentioned in the sequal smewhere...like in Chapter Six or something(I have Chapters One-Eight written, along with Chapters 20-22 and Chapters 34-37 ^.^ Go me!) *grins* I know I write those two(Siri and Jimmy) well. Everyone says that. And you want to know where I base Siri's sense of humor? Well, quite coincidentally, he sounds a lot like my older sister who is only a year older than me. She ALWAYS wants me to tell people that, and I have YET to fulfill her wish, hehe...I know, I am evil. :P ^.^ Thanks for the review, Kaydex! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! ^.^
Lyta Padfoot: @.@ F-f...f-f-favorites? Oy! It's not THAT good is it? @.@ Whoa...I think that really shocked me. You read it at Schnoogle? Really? Wow! Thanks for the lovely compliments! I've been trying very hard to keep everyone in character and yet have them develop, you know? Thanks for the review! ^.^
mooncancer: Eat 'em up! Eat 'em up! Go! Fight! Win! Sorry, I just miss going to football games *is in the band* Ah...miss the good old days of marching season...which was like a months ago ^.^" Anyway, thanks for the review! Hope you liked! ^.^
Ariana: Thanks for the compliment! ^.^ More here! I hope you enjoyed it! ^.^
Them Girl: Hoo-boy...another email address to remember! Not to worry! I will be sure to email you each time it's updated! Thanks for the compliments! ^.^
x-woman: Yes, James DOES die on Halloween. I couldn't help but to put in that ironic statement. Oh, and get this...*looks around and whispers* It gets worse...^.^ Thanks for the review! ^.^
NOTICE! IMPORTANT NOTICE: Do not, under any circumstance, translate any foreign language in my fic. All of the translations will be done by ME in the last chapter of this entire fic. Do NOT put it in my reviews. This is a warning! ^.^ Thank you! Ja! ^.~