Disclaimer: I own nothing! Got it? Nothing! And by the way, for all you
anti-smoking people out there, I am sorry but everyone smokes in this
story! Its not like I advocate it in any way, it is just part of their
character, at least I say it is. So whether or not you think it is
disgusting or don't picture it for the character, take into account that
this is the early 70's here. No one cared about the consequences or harm it
can do. And it is the UK people! Name me one British person who doesn't.
Plus, I do, so you're just going to have to deal, thank you!
~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~
About 2 weeks later...
Lily and James spent the past two weeks remaining remarkably civil to one another. Then again they were on the same team now, and the 5:00am practices weren't exactly fight provoking. It was simply too early.
Oddly enough, Lily and James both convinced themselves that the other was not exactly their cup of tea anyway, and ignored all the awkward moments and hidden glances. They quipped at least once a day, so that everyone wouldn't start talking and they were more comfortable in each other's presence. They even exchanged the rare small talk during Arithmancy. It was mostly because James had no idea what was going on most of the time, despite his intelligence. James knew what he was doing in class, sort of; it was just that his shallowness got in his way.
Lily was indifferent to helping him. She was somewhat forced to tutor him under Professor Vector's request because she was the girl with the highest average in the class. She protested, but there was really no one else to do it. He wasn't failing, it had only been two weeks, but the professor felt that he was not reaching his full potential.
The tension between Remus and Nicole only strengthened; their feelings painfully clear to everyone else, and strangely not to them. They were both shy in that respect.
Diana and Sirius..well, their relationship wasn't exactly how it was ordered to be. The first week went well, they ignored each other successfully and rarely even made eye contact. Sirius seemed to have a serious attitude problem, which everyone questioned but were slightly indifferent to the cause. Not even he knew it. He and Diana fought more than James and Lily did on the Quidditch field, and James and Lily were never in agreement about the plays, despite James being captain.
Sirius was being downright impossible to be around during practice, even James scolded him for not keeping the team in order. They would have their first Quidditch match on September 19, the same day as the ball. James was increasingly nervous about it, even though he had confidence in the team.
It was September 15, about 6:00...
Diana opened the door to the dorm to find Lily hard at work on homework.
"You're not done yet?" she asked. Lily was usually the type of person to put her work first. It was almost six, and homework for Lily never took more than an hour.
"Nope. This essay is a killer. I've been doing it forever." Lily replied, not looking up. "Did you finish?" she asked.
"Mmm hmmm." Diana said, looking very intently at Lily. She still didn't look up and she could tell that she was, by no means concentrating on her essay. She was copying the textbook, which required no effort whatsoever. Diana walked over to Lily and plopped on her bed. She stared at her again, Lily totally didn't notice.
"Do you have a date for the ball yet?" she asked. Lily's ears perked up, and then she sighed.
"Nope. I completely forgot about it, to be honest." She lied. "Why?"
"Guess what?" Diana asked, trying to avert her attention.
"What?" Lily replied, still not looking up.
"Well, you probably don't care because, well, I didn't, but since gossip is so short these days..." she began
"Spit it out Ana." Lily said.
"Ok. I was serving detention last night, obviously, and Potter and I had to clean the girl's dorms."
Lily looked up at the mention of James' name. "And." she said, looking at her.
"Well, I heard him ask out Narcissa Black to the Ball on Friday." Diana said, pretending to sound secretive. "Can you believe it?"
Lily coughed. "Well I'm sure she was happy about that." She said, closing her books and pushing them off the bed.
"Indeed, oh you should have seen her. She acted as if he had proposed. It was so priceless I wish you could have been there." She said, remembering.
This did make Lily smile. She had always thought the girls that chased after James were pathetic. "Let me guess she got all red and grabbed her chest in excitement." Lily blurted, while leaning on the headboard.
"Oh my god, yes! And she was like 'oh James! Of course I will!' it was really too sad, I think she almost started crying."
"Pathetic. You'd think he was a god or something." Lily chuckled.
"I know. I swear, every woman who is attracted to Potter must have a screw loose or something. They are all stupid, relentless, and...blonde, come to think of it."
Lily thought for a moment. "Yea. I've never really thought about it before." She said. "Narcissa's sweet though, despite being a Slytherin and so utterly predictable. We've spoken a couple of times this year, she seems harmless."
"I suppose." Diana said, looking very closely at Lily's expressions. They were different, strange. Then Lily smiled for what it seemed to Diana for no reason. Lily then shook it off. Then a thought hit her.
Diana's eyes widened and she began to laugh.
"What?" Lily said, snapping out of it and looking up.
"What's with you?" Diana asked intently.
"Nothing." She answered and shrugged it off once more.
"Like hell there isn't. You only have that look when you want something. What is it?" Diana asked, hopping on her bed.
"Calm down it's nothing. I don't want anyone I swear."
Diana gasped. "You do!"
"I do not!" Lily answered, shocked.
"Yes I said 'something' and you answered with 'anyone'. Hmmm Lily, I don't know, I have inquisitions."
"Don't flatter yourself its nothing." Lily answered. "What time is it?" she asked, changing the subject.
Diana looked at her watch, even though this conversation wasn't over. She felt that she shouldn't force her to discuss it if it made her uncomfortable. But she was certainly curious.
"Dinner time, finally!" she said, stretching and pushing herself off the bed.
"Already? Wow. Hey, didn't you just have a snack. Nicole had Chocolate Frogs in her dorm."
"Well that's not food." Diana said, as if it was common knowledge.
"Then what do you call it?" Lily chuckled. "I swear you remind me of Black sometimes."
"Hey, don't compare me to him, that's an insult." She said, pointing at her. "How would you like it if I told you that you reminded me of Potter. Which you do sometimes, by the way." She was fixing her hair in the mirror. She took it out of her ponytail and let it hang loose.
"I guess you're right." Lily said, gripping her hands around her knees. "Why are you dressing up?" Lily asked as she watched Diana grab some makeup out of her bag. "It's just dinner."
"I know." She answered as she turned around. "Excuse me if I want to look halfway decent sometimes." She said, with a little attitude. Diana was certainly acting strangely lately, but Lily couldn't contemplate what it could possibly be about.
Lily gave her an annoyed look. "We have detention after dinner." She suddenly remembered, and said out loud.
"I know, just like every other night. C'mon, lets go down, we have to get Nicole." She said, heading towards the door. Lily nodded and got up.
Then a curious thought hit her. "You're dressing up for him, aren't you?" Lily whispered as they neared Nicole's dorm. Diana shot her quite a glare. Lily couldn't quite interpret it.
"No." she answered nervously. She was blatantly lying, and Lily knew it. She raised an eyebrow at her. "Really, we haven't even spoken all that much lately. He's always with Snape."
Lily knew her better than that, but dismissed what she had said anyway. She didn't think it was going to be serious or anything.
"Hey, she's not here." Diana said surveying her room.
"Maybe she went down." Lily answered. They nodded and proceeded to go downstairs. When they neared the entrance to the great hall Lily stopped Diana.
"Listen I'm just going to go outside for a few minutes. Save me a seat ok?" she asked.
"Sure." She said and began to walk in. "Hey, do you have my lighter by any chance?" Diana asked, pointing at Lily suspiciously.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." She simply said. Then she smirked and turned to walk outside.
When she got out thee she rummages through her bag and let out a sigh if relief when she found her cigarettes. She wasn't looking where she was walking, and it was dark outside and she rammed, smack into someone else.
She screamed. Then she saw who it was. "Damn it Severus, you scared me half to death!" she said, slapping his shoulder.
"Ow! Sorry." He said.
"No. It was my fault really." She said.
"This is true. So what are you doing out here?" he asked, putting formalities aside.
"Same as you." She said, pulling out her cigarettes and Diana's lighter.
"Ah." There is a pause and he nods. "I haven't seen you this year. Well I have, but we haven't said a word."
Lily felt bad about this but didn't really show it. "I know. Sorry about that. I have been slightly distracted." She said, lighting it and leaning against the stone wall. "I acknowledged you though." She said with a half smile.
"Oh yes, thank you for that. " he said, sarcastically. "So how are you?" he asked, staring her up and down. She didn't seem to notice.
She chuckled. "Fine." She was never one for hopeless small talk. There was uncomfortable silence as they stood there. Severus stared at her, and he knew that she knew nothing of his feelings for her. Lily liked him; he had always been nice to her. She would say they were friends if anyone asked. For years they had this kinship because they seemed to be the butt of a lot of the pranks played by the Marauders. Despite being from opposite houses, the two had sort of a hidden friendship.
"So," he began, thus breaking the silence. "How's... Diana?" he spit out. Lily looked puzzled and he could tell it wasn't something she would rather discuss. Then she wondered why he would ask that. It was an odd topic of conversation, especially if it had been the first time they had spoken in months.
"Um.." She began. "What do you mean? She's fine.. why? Do you know anything?" she asked, quite inarticulately.
Well that depends. What would you like to know?" he slyly asked.
"Oh stop that. Is there anything going on, between, well, you know? She was cut of by the sound of Severus grunting, and then laughing. She widened her eyes at him. "And what is so funny?" she asked, confused an annoyed. He just looked at her, as if he couldn't believe she didn't know.
Then she gasped. "Oh no...are they?" she asked, and put her hands over her mouth.
"No, no, no." he replied, reassuring her. She breathed heavily out of relief. "Well, not yet anyways."
"What does that mean?" she asked, eyeing him nervously. She didn't like not being informed, especially when it concerned her best friend.
"Well, they're not sleeping together if that's what you're worried about. But you must know that he is trying very hard to win her affections." He said, taking another puff of his cigarette.
She sighed and shook her head. "I knew it. Is it working?"
"Well you're going to have to ask her."
"She won't tell me." She said, shaking her head. "She knows I'll disapprove." She paused. "Is he taking her to the ball?"
"He hasn't asked her...yet." he replied.
"Shit. Well, it's not like I can do anything. She's not looking for anything long term anyway. Neither am I come to think of it." She said, thinking out loud.
"Yea I know what you mean." He said.
"Do you now?" Lily asked, glaring at him with question. Her cigarette was finished so she then proceeded to leave.
"I'll see you later Severus."
"Wait, I'll walk in with you." He said, speeding up his walk. She nodded and stopped.
"Alright. You know, I'm glad we ran into each other. I don't know when I would have spoken to you."
"Me too." He said, smiling. She smiled sweetly back.
"So tell me, any witch taken your fancy yet?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Let's go inside." He replied.
"Oh so now you don't want to talk about it Severus, hmmm? Interesting I'll have to remember that one." She said, kidding with him. He chuckled at her as they opened the large cherry wood doors. They each sat as their respective tables. Severus took his usual spot next to Lucius, while Lily sat next to Diana. Nicole was across from them. The Marauders were sitting on the other side.
"Hey Lil." Nicole cheerfully said while shoving some food into her mouth.
"Hey. So, Nic, do you have a date for the ball yet?" Lily asked, grabbing her utensils.
Nicole blushed. "No, um, not yet." She said, smiling secretly to herself.
"Well you better get a move on, dear, it's in..four days is it?" Diana said.
"Yes. Its not like you have a date Di, right?" Lily asked, pretending to be ignorant.
"Nope. I plan on going solo to this one. You know, keep my options open." She said, looking down.
"Well has anyone asked you?" Nicole questioned, looking back and forth from Lily to Diana, who seemed to be speaking to the air.
"Not that I remember." Was Diana's reply.
Nicole noticed Lily roll her eyes when she saw them stop at the other side of the table. Then she saw her squint in disgust.
Nicole looked to where Lily was staring to find James speaking with Narcissa. She had walked over to say hello. They were laughing and she saw him hug her. When she left they heard him yell, "Bye beautiful," before sitting down.
"That must be nice." Nicole said to them.
"Huh? What is?" Lily asked, returning her focus to her friends.
"Affection." She said. They nodded.
"Yea." Diana said. There is a pause. "Oh well" she said, and smirked at them.
As James sat down Sirius glared at him.
"What?" he asked, annoyed.
"Nothing." He said.
"Listen I know she's a Slytherin but..." James started.
"Forget it Prongs, I don't care." He replied, and then proceeded to change the subject. "So Moony, ask out Portman yet?" he asked, shoving a piece of food into his mouth.
Remus tensed up a bit. "Um, well...no."
James huffed. "Well why not? It is so obvious that you two are into each other."
"I don't know. She's just too...too-"
"If you say perfect I just might vomit on you." Sirius spat.
"Just do it Moony. She'll say yes. I guarantee it. Why don't you hurry up, she is getting up from the table now." James said, cocking his head towards the girls. Nicole waved at Lily and Diana. She was about to head up to the common room to finish her homework. Diana and Lily had detention so they didn't follow. They simply smiled and waved her off before resuming their meals.
"I don't know, not now-" Remus was extremely nervous.
"If you don't do it now, I will, and that's a promise." Sirius said, making up his mind.
Remus let out a nervous grunt. "Ugh, fine." He reluctantly said.
"Quick, your letting her get away." James remarked. Sirius chuckled. Remus stuffed his hands in his pockets and proceeded to go to the common room. It was now or never, he thought.
Nicole was curled up on the couch, concentrating hard on her Charms homework. There was no one in there. They were all at dinner. She liked the peace and quiet. Then she heard the door opened, and she smiled secretly when she saw who it was.
She could hear his footsteps over her concentration. He stopped in front of her.
"H-Hey Nicole." He said, trying to sound cheerful.
"Oh, hi Remus." She sweetly said. "What are you doing up here?"
"Well, um, I thought.. could I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, a little jittery.
"Sure. About what?" she asked him, closing her books and staring into his kind, sea-blue eyes.
"Well, I don't know if you've noticed, but, um.. well...what I'm trying to say to you is, that I've always noticed you." He spoke, fumbling his words.
"Really?" she said shyly.
"Yea. And I was just wondering, well, if you would, I mean, if you want to.." He sighed. "Will you go to the ball with me?" he spit out.
She was blushing fervently and took no trouble trying to hide it. She chuckled a bit out of nervousness and he took it the wrong way.
"It's ok. I'm sorry I bothered you. I.I'm going to go." He said, incredibly embarrassed. He was just about to curse James and Sirius when...
"Wait, no!" she said, a little too loudly. He stopped.
"I would love to go with you Remus. Really, I would love to." She said, boosting his confidence tremendously.
"Seriously?" he said, dumfounded.
"Yes. I've uh, been wanting you to ask me, for years, actually." She admitted. He just had the biggest grin she had ever seen.
"Wow, great. I can't believe that. So, I guess I'll pick you up, on Friday, at like 7:30?"
"Perfect." She said, and blushed again.
"Alright." He answered and ran out of the common room as fast as he could. He couldn't wait to see James and Sirius to tell them. He was halfway down the hall when he realized they would be going to detention soon. He didn't think Peter would appreciate the news as much as they would. No matter, he thought, and went to the library to get a jump-start on his work. He had such a surge of energy it was indescribable.
*~"Alright. Lets go to detention." Sirius sighed, still in the Great Hall.
"Yea. Say, how's Evans been lately?" James asked as he got up.
"Uh, fine I guess. She is certainly less vile than usual." He said, eyeing James strangely. "And you care because?"
"Just curious mate. You really have to do something about that bug up your behind, I'm really not liking it." James said.
"Yea, well, me neither." He said, grabbing his jacket. "I don't know what the hell is wrong with me lately."
"Perhaps I'll send Renton over tonight to help you remove it." James laughed. Diana and James have actually come to the realization that they could tolerate one another. They got along fairly well during detention, lately.
"Please. Renton will only make it worse." He said, all too seriously. James rolled his eyes and began to walk towards the girls. "Later Peter." They both said, but he wasn't really paying attention. He had been silent the entire time.
"Hey, Padfoot, come to think of it, you haven't had one date all year. I think these girls are getting restless. What's up with that?"
"I just haven't felt like it that's all."
"It's not like you." James said.
"I know." He said as they reached the girl's table.
"Hi Potter." Diana casually said as she looked up. He nodded.
"Ready?" he asked. She nodded and got up. She smiled flakily at Sirius as she pushed passed him. James followed.
"Let's go Evans." Sirius said.
"Right." She replied and hopped over the bench. They walked to the kitchen in silence. It was habit by now. They quietly walked passed the house elves, who nodded and smiled at them. They smiled back.
One by one Sirius handed the dishes to her and she dried them. After a while this was getting incredibly boring. Lily began to stare at him quizzically.
"God Sirius, what is with you lately?" she asked as he threw a dish over her onto the pile. He just sighed at her.
"I wish you all would stop asking me that." He said.
"Do you even know?" she asked, confused.
"I have an idea." He replied as they switched places.
"Is it..a girl?" she playfully asked him. Then she laughed at herself. "I'm sorry. Sirius Black pining over a girl. That's not possible." She corrected herself. He reluctantly chuckled.
"Not me." He answered as he smiled sarcastically at her. She smirked.
"Can I ask you a question? Now don't freak out I just want a man's perspective." She cautioned.
"So I'm a man now? Ok. What can I help you with Evans?" he asked, yawning.
"It's about Diana." He groaned at this comment. "Now I know that you two haven't made up. In fact I think it's getting worse. But, anyway, as a man, how far would you go, exactly, to get a girl?"
"Where is this coming from?" he asked.
"Well I don't know if you've noticed, but she seems to be a bit taken with Malfoy. I have no idea why, but I feel that he is trying a little too forcefully to be with her. I don't feel she's thinking clearly. And I would just like to know, if it were you, given your history, what would you do?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"So what would I do if I wanted Renton? And I were really horrible for her and she is making a huge mistake being with me, but I refuse to let her go and eventually manipulate her?"
"Well don't go that far, Jesus. But in a nutshell yea." She said plainly.
"Well, I would get her to trust me first, and like me. Considering there is sexual chemistry, and she is probably willing, despite my horrid personality, I would go for it."
"Would you try to change her?"
"I don't know Lily I'm not Malfoy!" he spat.
"This is true." She said, thinking deeply. "It is bothersome to me, that's all."
"I understand." He said.
"Did Potter tell you anything? Well since they're in detention together and everything."
He shook his head. "A bit, nothing much. Just incessant flirting that's all." He said, scratching his head.
"Oh. What's up with him and Narcissa?" she asked, trying not to sound too curious.
"They're dating. It's official." He blurted.
"Oh. I figured as much." She said, casually, even though she could feel herself twitching. "Hey, is she related to you?"
"Sort of." Sirius said, dismissing the thought. "So you really think she goes for that type huh?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Who?" Lily asked.
"Dia..Renton." he corrected himself.
"She doesn't have a type." Lily said, and then she looked up. "Hold on." She turned to him. "Since when do you care?" she said, turning her head to the side. "You hate her."
"I don't know Evans." He said nervously. She put down one of the towels she was holding.
"Don't know if you care or if you hate her?" she pointed at him.
"I don't know." He said throwing his hands up in the air. Lily paused. Her mouth wide open.
"I don't believe it." she said, defiantly. "You? Diana? It's just not plausible. You..like her? Like that?" she asked still in shock.
"I.. I can't believe I'm telling you this. I...don't know." He said, shaking his head. He realized the reason as well. Lily made him see it a little clearer.
"Well either you do or you don't Black. Oh my God, oh my God. I think hell just froze over."
"Don't joke. Believe me it's not fun. What's strange is, that I still can't stand to be around her, but when I'm not..."
"Sirius. You're having a nervous breakdown." She said carefully. "This isn't you."
"That's what I'm afraid of." He said, under his breath. She still heard.
What they both didn't realize was, at that moment Sirius and Lily became closer. He confided in her, for reasons unknown to both of them. He didn't know why he had been so unpleasant until he heard about Diana and Lucius. He couldn't understand why he cared, but he did. It wasn't just the fact that he was a Slytherin, or a Malfoy. But that he knew it was bad for her, and he caught himself thinking that it wasn't him. He shuddered at the thought until he realized Lily didn't like it either.
They finished the dishes in silence, neither of them wanting to continue the conversation. The silence was comfortable, however. They didn't dwell on anything. A shiver of jealousy ran through both of them as they both thought of their respective friends in the Slytherin common room. It was taking them awfully long to clean that particular common room, the one they had previously complained about. Their expressions soured at the thought. They didn't know it at the time but they both had a common misfortune, and they both denied it.
"Listen, Lily." He began, as they were about to leave. "Best not tell anyone about this alright? It's just between you and me ok?" he said, asking for her word.
"I promise Sirius, but please, lighten up. After a while it might start to get obvious, and then where would your reputation be?" she half smiled at him, and he returned it.
"Very true, Evans.very true."
***(I know, terribly rushed, yet exceedingly long. I am so sorry that it took so long but school has been up my ass for the past week! And yes I am well aware that nothing major happens here. I am also aware that the Lily/Snape conversation was completely pointless, but I had to make them speak eventually. Next chapter is the ball, and all the crazy shit that happens after. And Read and Review! You guys are really the best ever! I can't thank you enough!)***
About 2 weeks later...
Lily and James spent the past two weeks remaining remarkably civil to one another. Then again they were on the same team now, and the 5:00am practices weren't exactly fight provoking. It was simply too early.
Oddly enough, Lily and James both convinced themselves that the other was not exactly their cup of tea anyway, and ignored all the awkward moments and hidden glances. They quipped at least once a day, so that everyone wouldn't start talking and they were more comfortable in each other's presence. They even exchanged the rare small talk during Arithmancy. It was mostly because James had no idea what was going on most of the time, despite his intelligence. James knew what he was doing in class, sort of; it was just that his shallowness got in his way.
Lily was indifferent to helping him. She was somewhat forced to tutor him under Professor Vector's request because she was the girl with the highest average in the class. She protested, but there was really no one else to do it. He wasn't failing, it had only been two weeks, but the professor felt that he was not reaching his full potential.
The tension between Remus and Nicole only strengthened; their feelings painfully clear to everyone else, and strangely not to them. They were both shy in that respect.
Diana and Sirius..well, their relationship wasn't exactly how it was ordered to be. The first week went well, they ignored each other successfully and rarely even made eye contact. Sirius seemed to have a serious attitude problem, which everyone questioned but were slightly indifferent to the cause. Not even he knew it. He and Diana fought more than James and Lily did on the Quidditch field, and James and Lily were never in agreement about the plays, despite James being captain.
Sirius was being downright impossible to be around during practice, even James scolded him for not keeping the team in order. They would have their first Quidditch match on September 19, the same day as the ball. James was increasingly nervous about it, even though he had confidence in the team.
It was September 15, about 6:00...
Diana opened the door to the dorm to find Lily hard at work on homework.
"You're not done yet?" she asked. Lily was usually the type of person to put her work first. It was almost six, and homework for Lily never took more than an hour.
"Nope. This essay is a killer. I've been doing it forever." Lily replied, not looking up. "Did you finish?" she asked.
"Mmm hmmm." Diana said, looking very intently at Lily. She still didn't look up and she could tell that she was, by no means concentrating on her essay. She was copying the textbook, which required no effort whatsoever. Diana walked over to Lily and plopped on her bed. She stared at her again, Lily totally didn't notice.
"Do you have a date for the ball yet?" she asked. Lily's ears perked up, and then she sighed.
"Nope. I completely forgot about it, to be honest." She lied. "Why?"
"Guess what?" Diana asked, trying to avert her attention.
"What?" Lily replied, still not looking up.
"Well, you probably don't care because, well, I didn't, but since gossip is so short these days..." she began
"Spit it out Ana." Lily said.
"Ok. I was serving detention last night, obviously, and Potter and I had to clean the girl's dorms."
Lily looked up at the mention of James' name. "And." she said, looking at her.
"Well, I heard him ask out Narcissa Black to the Ball on Friday." Diana said, pretending to sound secretive. "Can you believe it?"
Lily coughed. "Well I'm sure she was happy about that." She said, closing her books and pushing them off the bed.
"Indeed, oh you should have seen her. She acted as if he had proposed. It was so priceless I wish you could have been there." She said, remembering.
This did make Lily smile. She had always thought the girls that chased after James were pathetic. "Let me guess she got all red and grabbed her chest in excitement." Lily blurted, while leaning on the headboard.
"Oh my god, yes! And she was like 'oh James! Of course I will!' it was really too sad, I think she almost started crying."
"Pathetic. You'd think he was a god or something." Lily chuckled.
"I know. I swear, every woman who is attracted to Potter must have a screw loose or something. They are all stupid, relentless, and...blonde, come to think of it."
Lily thought for a moment. "Yea. I've never really thought about it before." She said. "Narcissa's sweet though, despite being a Slytherin and so utterly predictable. We've spoken a couple of times this year, she seems harmless."
"I suppose." Diana said, looking very closely at Lily's expressions. They were different, strange. Then Lily smiled for what it seemed to Diana for no reason. Lily then shook it off. Then a thought hit her.
Diana's eyes widened and she began to laugh.
"What?" Lily said, snapping out of it and looking up.
"What's with you?" Diana asked intently.
"Nothing." She answered and shrugged it off once more.
"Like hell there isn't. You only have that look when you want something. What is it?" Diana asked, hopping on her bed.
"Calm down it's nothing. I don't want anyone I swear."
Diana gasped. "You do!"
"I do not!" Lily answered, shocked.
"Yes I said 'something' and you answered with 'anyone'. Hmmm Lily, I don't know, I have inquisitions."
"Don't flatter yourself its nothing." Lily answered. "What time is it?" she asked, changing the subject.
Diana looked at her watch, even though this conversation wasn't over. She felt that she shouldn't force her to discuss it if it made her uncomfortable. But she was certainly curious.
"Dinner time, finally!" she said, stretching and pushing herself off the bed.
"Already? Wow. Hey, didn't you just have a snack. Nicole had Chocolate Frogs in her dorm."
"Well that's not food." Diana said, as if it was common knowledge.
"Then what do you call it?" Lily chuckled. "I swear you remind me of Black sometimes."
"Hey, don't compare me to him, that's an insult." She said, pointing at her. "How would you like it if I told you that you reminded me of Potter. Which you do sometimes, by the way." She was fixing her hair in the mirror. She took it out of her ponytail and let it hang loose.
"I guess you're right." Lily said, gripping her hands around her knees. "Why are you dressing up?" Lily asked as she watched Diana grab some makeup out of her bag. "It's just dinner."
"I know." She answered as she turned around. "Excuse me if I want to look halfway decent sometimes." She said, with a little attitude. Diana was certainly acting strangely lately, but Lily couldn't contemplate what it could possibly be about.
Lily gave her an annoyed look. "We have detention after dinner." She suddenly remembered, and said out loud.
"I know, just like every other night. C'mon, lets go down, we have to get Nicole." She said, heading towards the door. Lily nodded and got up.
Then a curious thought hit her. "You're dressing up for him, aren't you?" Lily whispered as they neared Nicole's dorm. Diana shot her quite a glare. Lily couldn't quite interpret it.
"No." she answered nervously. She was blatantly lying, and Lily knew it. She raised an eyebrow at her. "Really, we haven't even spoken all that much lately. He's always with Snape."
Lily knew her better than that, but dismissed what she had said anyway. She didn't think it was going to be serious or anything.
"Hey, she's not here." Diana said surveying her room.
"Maybe she went down." Lily answered. They nodded and proceeded to go downstairs. When they neared the entrance to the great hall Lily stopped Diana.
"Listen I'm just going to go outside for a few minutes. Save me a seat ok?" she asked.
"Sure." She said and began to walk in. "Hey, do you have my lighter by any chance?" Diana asked, pointing at Lily suspiciously.
"I have no idea what you are talking about." She simply said. Then she smirked and turned to walk outside.
When she got out thee she rummages through her bag and let out a sigh if relief when she found her cigarettes. She wasn't looking where she was walking, and it was dark outside and she rammed, smack into someone else.
She screamed. Then she saw who it was. "Damn it Severus, you scared me half to death!" she said, slapping his shoulder.
"Ow! Sorry." He said.
"No. It was my fault really." She said.
"This is true. So what are you doing out here?" he asked, putting formalities aside.
"Same as you." She said, pulling out her cigarettes and Diana's lighter.
"Ah." There is a pause and he nods. "I haven't seen you this year. Well I have, but we haven't said a word."
Lily felt bad about this but didn't really show it. "I know. Sorry about that. I have been slightly distracted." She said, lighting it and leaning against the stone wall. "I acknowledged you though." She said with a half smile.
"Oh yes, thank you for that. " he said, sarcastically. "So how are you?" he asked, staring her up and down. She didn't seem to notice.
She chuckled. "Fine." She was never one for hopeless small talk. There was uncomfortable silence as they stood there. Severus stared at her, and he knew that she knew nothing of his feelings for her. Lily liked him; he had always been nice to her. She would say they were friends if anyone asked. For years they had this kinship because they seemed to be the butt of a lot of the pranks played by the Marauders. Despite being from opposite houses, the two had sort of a hidden friendship.
"So," he began, thus breaking the silence. "How's... Diana?" he spit out. Lily looked puzzled and he could tell it wasn't something she would rather discuss. Then she wondered why he would ask that. It was an odd topic of conversation, especially if it had been the first time they had spoken in months.
"Um.." She began. "What do you mean? She's fine.. why? Do you know anything?" she asked, quite inarticulately.
Well that depends. What would you like to know?" he slyly asked.
"Oh stop that. Is there anything going on, between, well, you know? She was cut of by the sound of Severus grunting, and then laughing. She widened her eyes at him. "And what is so funny?" she asked, confused an annoyed. He just looked at her, as if he couldn't believe she didn't know.
Then she gasped. "Oh no...are they?" she asked, and put her hands over her mouth.
"No, no, no." he replied, reassuring her. She breathed heavily out of relief. "Well, not yet anyways."
"What does that mean?" she asked, eyeing him nervously. She didn't like not being informed, especially when it concerned her best friend.
"Well, they're not sleeping together if that's what you're worried about. But you must know that he is trying very hard to win her affections." He said, taking another puff of his cigarette.
She sighed and shook her head. "I knew it. Is it working?"
"Well you're going to have to ask her."
"She won't tell me." She said, shaking her head. "She knows I'll disapprove." She paused. "Is he taking her to the ball?"
"He hasn't asked her...yet." he replied.
"Shit. Well, it's not like I can do anything. She's not looking for anything long term anyway. Neither am I come to think of it." She said, thinking out loud.
"Yea I know what you mean." He said.
"Do you now?" Lily asked, glaring at him with question. Her cigarette was finished so she then proceeded to leave.
"I'll see you later Severus."
"Wait, I'll walk in with you." He said, speeding up his walk. She nodded and stopped.
"Alright. You know, I'm glad we ran into each other. I don't know when I would have spoken to you."
"Me too." He said, smiling. She smiled sweetly back.
"So tell me, any witch taken your fancy yet?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Let's go inside." He replied.
"Oh so now you don't want to talk about it Severus, hmmm? Interesting I'll have to remember that one." She said, kidding with him. He chuckled at her as they opened the large cherry wood doors. They each sat as their respective tables. Severus took his usual spot next to Lucius, while Lily sat next to Diana. Nicole was across from them. The Marauders were sitting on the other side.
"Hey Lil." Nicole cheerfully said while shoving some food into her mouth.
"Hey. So, Nic, do you have a date for the ball yet?" Lily asked, grabbing her utensils.
Nicole blushed. "No, um, not yet." She said, smiling secretly to herself.
"Well you better get a move on, dear, it's in..four days is it?" Diana said.
"Yes. Its not like you have a date Di, right?" Lily asked, pretending to be ignorant.
"Nope. I plan on going solo to this one. You know, keep my options open." She said, looking down.
"Well has anyone asked you?" Nicole questioned, looking back and forth from Lily to Diana, who seemed to be speaking to the air.
"Not that I remember." Was Diana's reply.
Nicole noticed Lily roll her eyes when she saw them stop at the other side of the table. Then she saw her squint in disgust.
Nicole looked to where Lily was staring to find James speaking with Narcissa. She had walked over to say hello. They were laughing and she saw him hug her. When she left they heard him yell, "Bye beautiful," before sitting down.
"That must be nice." Nicole said to them.
"Huh? What is?" Lily asked, returning her focus to her friends.
"Affection." She said. They nodded.
"Yea." Diana said. There is a pause. "Oh well" she said, and smirked at them.
As James sat down Sirius glared at him.
"What?" he asked, annoyed.
"Nothing." He said.
"Listen I know she's a Slytherin but..." James started.
"Forget it Prongs, I don't care." He replied, and then proceeded to change the subject. "So Moony, ask out Portman yet?" he asked, shoving a piece of food into his mouth.
Remus tensed up a bit. "Um, well...no."
James huffed. "Well why not? It is so obvious that you two are into each other."
"I don't know. She's just too...too-"
"If you say perfect I just might vomit on you." Sirius spat.
"Just do it Moony. She'll say yes. I guarantee it. Why don't you hurry up, she is getting up from the table now." James said, cocking his head towards the girls. Nicole waved at Lily and Diana. She was about to head up to the common room to finish her homework. Diana and Lily had detention so they didn't follow. They simply smiled and waved her off before resuming their meals.
"I don't know, not now-" Remus was extremely nervous.
"If you don't do it now, I will, and that's a promise." Sirius said, making up his mind.
Remus let out a nervous grunt. "Ugh, fine." He reluctantly said.
"Quick, your letting her get away." James remarked. Sirius chuckled. Remus stuffed his hands in his pockets and proceeded to go to the common room. It was now or never, he thought.
Nicole was curled up on the couch, concentrating hard on her Charms homework. There was no one in there. They were all at dinner. She liked the peace and quiet. Then she heard the door opened, and she smiled secretly when she saw who it was.
She could hear his footsteps over her concentration. He stopped in front of her.
"H-Hey Nicole." He said, trying to sound cheerful.
"Oh, hi Remus." She sweetly said. "What are you doing up here?"
"Well, um, I thought.. could I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, a little jittery.
"Sure. About what?" she asked him, closing her books and staring into his kind, sea-blue eyes.
"Well, I don't know if you've noticed, but, um.. well...what I'm trying to say to you is, that I've always noticed you." He spoke, fumbling his words.
"Really?" she said shyly.
"Yea. And I was just wondering, well, if you would, I mean, if you want to.." He sighed. "Will you go to the ball with me?" he spit out.
She was blushing fervently and took no trouble trying to hide it. She chuckled a bit out of nervousness and he took it the wrong way.
"It's ok. I'm sorry I bothered you. I.I'm going to go." He said, incredibly embarrassed. He was just about to curse James and Sirius when...
"Wait, no!" she said, a little too loudly. He stopped.
"I would love to go with you Remus. Really, I would love to." She said, boosting his confidence tremendously.
"Seriously?" he said, dumfounded.
"Yes. I've uh, been wanting you to ask me, for years, actually." She admitted. He just had the biggest grin she had ever seen.
"Wow, great. I can't believe that. So, I guess I'll pick you up, on Friday, at like 7:30?"
"Perfect." She said, and blushed again.
"Alright." He answered and ran out of the common room as fast as he could. He couldn't wait to see James and Sirius to tell them. He was halfway down the hall when he realized they would be going to detention soon. He didn't think Peter would appreciate the news as much as they would. No matter, he thought, and went to the library to get a jump-start on his work. He had such a surge of energy it was indescribable.
*~"Alright. Lets go to detention." Sirius sighed, still in the Great Hall.
"Yea. Say, how's Evans been lately?" James asked as he got up.
"Uh, fine I guess. She is certainly less vile than usual." He said, eyeing James strangely. "And you care because?"
"Just curious mate. You really have to do something about that bug up your behind, I'm really not liking it." James said.
"Yea, well, me neither." He said, grabbing his jacket. "I don't know what the hell is wrong with me lately."
"Perhaps I'll send Renton over tonight to help you remove it." James laughed. Diana and James have actually come to the realization that they could tolerate one another. They got along fairly well during detention, lately.
"Please. Renton will only make it worse." He said, all too seriously. James rolled his eyes and began to walk towards the girls. "Later Peter." They both said, but he wasn't really paying attention. He had been silent the entire time.
"Hey, Padfoot, come to think of it, you haven't had one date all year. I think these girls are getting restless. What's up with that?"
"I just haven't felt like it that's all."
"It's not like you." James said.
"I know." He said as they reached the girl's table.
"Hi Potter." Diana casually said as she looked up. He nodded.
"Ready?" he asked. She nodded and got up. She smiled flakily at Sirius as she pushed passed him. James followed.
"Let's go Evans." Sirius said.
"Right." She replied and hopped over the bench. They walked to the kitchen in silence. It was habit by now. They quietly walked passed the house elves, who nodded and smiled at them. They smiled back.
One by one Sirius handed the dishes to her and she dried them. After a while this was getting incredibly boring. Lily began to stare at him quizzically.
"God Sirius, what is with you lately?" she asked as he threw a dish over her onto the pile. He just sighed at her.
"I wish you all would stop asking me that." He said.
"Do you even know?" she asked, confused.
"I have an idea." He replied as they switched places.
"Is it..a girl?" she playfully asked him. Then she laughed at herself. "I'm sorry. Sirius Black pining over a girl. That's not possible." She corrected herself. He reluctantly chuckled.
"Not me." He answered as he smiled sarcastically at her. She smirked.
"Can I ask you a question? Now don't freak out I just want a man's perspective." She cautioned.
"So I'm a man now? Ok. What can I help you with Evans?" he asked, yawning.
"It's about Diana." He groaned at this comment. "Now I know that you two haven't made up. In fact I think it's getting worse. But, anyway, as a man, how far would you go, exactly, to get a girl?"
"Where is this coming from?" he asked.
"Well I don't know if you've noticed, but she seems to be a bit taken with Malfoy. I have no idea why, but I feel that he is trying a little too forcefully to be with her. I don't feel she's thinking clearly. And I would just like to know, if it were you, given your history, what would you do?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"So what would I do if I wanted Renton? And I were really horrible for her and she is making a huge mistake being with me, but I refuse to let her go and eventually manipulate her?"
"Well don't go that far, Jesus. But in a nutshell yea." She said plainly.
"Well, I would get her to trust me first, and like me. Considering there is sexual chemistry, and she is probably willing, despite my horrid personality, I would go for it."
"Would you try to change her?"
"I don't know Lily I'm not Malfoy!" he spat.
"This is true." She said, thinking deeply. "It is bothersome to me, that's all."
"I understand." He said.
"Did Potter tell you anything? Well since they're in detention together and everything."
He shook his head. "A bit, nothing much. Just incessant flirting that's all." He said, scratching his head.
"Oh. What's up with him and Narcissa?" she asked, trying not to sound too curious.
"They're dating. It's official." He blurted.
"Oh. I figured as much." She said, casually, even though she could feel herself twitching. "Hey, is she related to you?"
"Sort of." Sirius said, dismissing the thought. "So you really think she goes for that type huh?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Who?" Lily asked.
"Dia..Renton." he corrected himself.
"She doesn't have a type." Lily said, and then she looked up. "Hold on." She turned to him. "Since when do you care?" she said, turning her head to the side. "You hate her."
"I don't know Evans." He said nervously. She put down one of the towels she was holding.
"Don't know if you care or if you hate her?" she pointed at him.
"I don't know." He said throwing his hands up in the air. Lily paused. Her mouth wide open.
"I don't believe it." she said, defiantly. "You? Diana? It's just not plausible. You..like her? Like that?" she asked still in shock.
"I.. I can't believe I'm telling you this. I...don't know." He said, shaking his head. He realized the reason as well. Lily made him see it a little clearer.
"Well either you do or you don't Black. Oh my God, oh my God. I think hell just froze over."
"Don't joke. Believe me it's not fun. What's strange is, that I still can't stand to be around her, but when I'm not..."
"Sirius. You're having a nervous breakdown." She said carefully. "This isn't you."
"That's what I'm afraid of." He said, under his breath. She still heard.
What they both didn't realize was, at that moment Sirius and Lily became closer. He confided in her, for reasons unknown to both of them. He didn't know why he had been so unpleasant until he heard about Diana and Lucius. He couldn't understand why he cared, but he did. It wasn't just the fact that he was a Slytherin, or a Malfoy. But that he knew it was bad for her, and he caught himself thinking that it wasn't him. He shuddered at the thought until he realized Lily didn't like it either.
They finished the dishes in silence, neither of them wanting to continue the conversation. The silence was comfortable, however. They didn't dwell on anything. A shiver of jealousy ran through both of them as they both thought of their respective friends in the Slytherin common room. It was taking them awfully long to clean that particular common room, the one they had previously complained about. Their expressions soured at the thought. They didn't know it at the time but they both had a common misfortune, and they both denied it.
"Listen, Lily." He began, as they were about to leave. "Best not tell anyone about this alright? It's just between you and me ok?" he said, asking for her word.
"I promise Sirius, but please, lighten up. After a while it might start to get obvious, and then where would your reputation be?" she half smiled at him, and he returned it.
"Very true, Evans.very true."
***(I know, terribly rushed, yet exceedingly long. I am so sorry that it took so long but school has been up my ass for the past week! And yes I am well aware that nothing major happens here. I am also aware that the Lily/Snape conversation was completely pointless, but I had to make them speak eventually. Next chapter is the ball, and all the crazy shit that happens after. And Read and Review! You guys are really the best ever! I can't thank you enough!)***