To Mystical Flame: yea, I know there's not much Lily and James, but I kind
of have to find a way for Lily to be obligated to be around James, and
that's through Lana's friendship with Lily. So once Lily gets back (which
will be soon! *cough cough cough cough*) there is going to be a lot of, oh
man what's that word?? I can't remember. Well, there's going to be a lot of
stuff between the two. So anyways, I think that's all I was going to say.
Just thought I'd throw this in too ***=location change *~*~*=perspective or perspective and location change (^^that way no one's confused!)
So, here's chapter four in all its entirety.
::4::
--Notice:
All students will be receiving a week's vacation period following the Halloween Celebration on October 31. Students may return home if they wish.
The train will be leaving on Sunday November 1 and returning on Sunday
November 8.
Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster--
"You did this, Moony?" Sirius said, reading over the board one more time.
"Yea, and after getting you three a weeks vacation I'd say you owe me," Remus said.
"How'd you do it?" Peter asked, not really thinking.
"Wormtail, how is it that you never follow anything?" James asked as he rolled his eyes.
Peter opened his mouth to say something but decided against it,
Remus started walking towards a patch of tress. "I just asked if they could give us some time off during the full moon so I don't miss much school. Then I can say I went home early."
"You're a genius, Moony," James said as he and the rest of the Marauders sat on the surrounding ground.
"So who are you asking to the dance, Prongs?" Sirius asked.
"Well, if Evans would get back in the next two weeks I'd ask her. She's been away long enough anyways. What about you, Padfoot?"
Remus looked at them with a bit of confusion on his face and lowered his voice. "You do know that I'll probably be making my transformation the night of the dance."
James looked up and glanced around to see if anyone might have heard. Only Severus Snape, a sixth year Slytherin, was walking by and it was doubtful he had heard anything. "Don't worry, Moony. We wouldn't miss the full moon for anything."
"I'd just like to have a date lined up incase it isn't that night," Sirius said as he lounged against a tree.
"So Padfoot," James asked, "who are you asking?"
"Well, I was thinking about asking Lana."
"She makes me nervous," Peter said.
"Wormtail, everyone makes you nervous. Scared she's going to eat you?" Sirius laughed.
Peter looked nervous and a whine-ish sound came from the back of his throat.
"She's a nice person," Remus said, "seems a bit too complex for your tastes, though, Padfoot."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sirius growled.
"Only that you tend to go after the . . . . .how can I put this?" Remus said as a smile spread across his face.
"The more intellectually challenged." James added helpfully trying to hold back laughter.
"That's what I was going for!" Remus laughed.
"Shove it, Moony. I might just ditch you for Lana on Halloween."
"Would you, Padfoot?" Remus asked. "You haven't even asked her, have you?"
"Well not yet, but I will," Sirius said as he stood up and walked off.
*~*~*
Lana was sitting in the library reading a rather large book. She was so buried in her own thoughts she almost didn't hear the library door open.
"Hey Sirius," she said as she heard him near her.
"Wha-how'd you know it was me?"
Quickly flipping away from the section she was reading, Lana turned around and gently tapped on her ears. "I heard you."
"Oh," Sirius said as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"What do you want?"
"What do you mean, why do I always have to want something?" Sirius said in a playful whining voice.
"Well," Lana paused, "You're nervous about something, so what is it?"
"Sirius looked up at the ceiling as if searching for the right words. "You know that Halloween Dance." He asked.
"Yea."
"Well, uh, do you want to go with me?"
Lana looked down as she thought. - What is there to think about? - She silently screamed at herself, - this is Sirius Black asking *you* to the dance! - But despite how dream like it sounded, something was holding Lana back from saying yes.
Sirius saw Lana's internal conflict and added. "I mean you don't have to if you don't want to. I just thought it would be fun, I guess."
Lana smiled, "I'd love to go with you."
*~*~*
"Really?" Sirius asked.
"Yea, sure," Lana smiled, "like you said, it might be fun."
"Ok," Sirius said, feeling quite proud of himself. "Well, I've got that Potions essay to write, so I'll see you at dinner."
"Maybe. Lily's supposed to be coming back before dinner so I might sit with her."
Evans was coming back. "She could sit with us, I don't think anyone would mind." Now James couldn't say Sirius never did anything for him.
"Sounds good, I'll see what she wants to do." Lana said as she turned back to her book.
Sirius, seeing that the conversation was obviously over, walked out of the library very confused. He couldn't believe it; someone almost turned him down. Him, Sirius Black, the same person, who could be seen snogging with at least three different girls in the same day, almost got turned down. This wasn't any different than any other relationships. Well, if you could call them relationships. They were normally girlfriends here and there; Remus and James had even started calling them 'kissing partners' because frankly, that's what they were. As Sirius thought about it, he'd never been in a real relationship before. Was Remus right? Did Sirius only go after the girls who would be hopelessly devoted to him? Who would fawn over him and worship him as their very god? Maybe Remus was right, and Sirius hated that. He hated the fact that Remus seemed to know him better than he knew himself.
Instead of going back outside with his friends, Sirius headed towards Gryffindor tower. He actually felt like doing that stupid essay than go back outside. For once, he felt like he needed time to think. For once, he was actually confused by a girl's actions. He even thought for a moment that he would have been pretty depressed if Lana had turned him down. Not just because of his friends promptings to ask her, but Sirius thought he actually cared about her. (a/n: Woah, revelation time for Sirius)
***
As 6 o'clock rolled around, Sirius found he had only completed about half of his essay in three hours. What was wrong with him? These essays normally took only fifteen minutes, and now he spent three hours on half of it? It was definitely time for dinner.
As he walked into the Great Hall he heard James call him over to their table. "Oy, Sirius! Where have you been?"
"Probably off snogging with someone he met in the halls." Remus snorted.
"Shove it, Moony," Sirius growled. "I was in the library."
"Snogging with someone?"
"No. I was talking to Lana."
"Well I knew it involved a girl," Remus laughed, "I didn't think you go to a library to actually study."
"Very funny, but I asked Lana to the Halloween Dance."
"So," James asked, " are you going with her?"
"Yea, as a matter of fact, I am."
"It took you three hours to ask her?" Remus asked with a smile.
"No, I did my potions essay."
"Sirius. Homework. Something's wrong, you never do your homework," Remus laughed.
"Can we just drop this?" Sirius said, getting angry.
Remus and James were exchanging looks as Sirius saw Lana walk in. And she wasn't alone. Lily was back and the two were walking in laughing and smiling. Sirius had never seen Lana laugh like that when she was around him, he thought. They walked past the Marauders; Sirius thought he felt a dropping feeling in his stomach. What was going on? Did it really bother him that Lana wasn't going to sit with them today?
"Art! Where are you going?" James called as Lana and Lily walked past him.
"I'm sitting with Lily, what does it look like, Potter?"
"Come on, sit with us. Just like old times."
"Old times? James, that was this morning."
James grinned, "Seemed like forever ago."
"Do you ever quit?" Lana laughed.
"What do you think?"
"Need I ask?"
"I think you know the answer, now come on and sit down, bring Evans too."
"Ok, ok, but only because I doubt you'd let me sit anywhere else." Lana said as she walked toward their table.
"Smart girl."
"Thanks, but what about Lily?"
James looked around, "there are plenty of seats available, pick on," he said to Lily.
Lily sat down next to Lana and didn't say much during dinner. She added in a few comments, but Sirius noticed she never sounded too happy.
When dinner was over Lily was the first to stand. "I'm going to back to the dormitories, I've got a lot to catch up on."
"I'll go too, I've got to write that potions essay," Lana said standing up.
They said their good byes and Sirius watched as Lana and Lily walked off.
*~*~*
Walking up to the dormitory, Lily didn't say much. Lana wondered if she was mad at something. But what could she be mad at? Nothing insulting was said at dinner; at least she didn't think anything was said.
As they stepped into the Gryffindor common room Lily exploded.
"How could you do that??!!" she yelled.
"Do what?! What did I do??" Lana said defending herself.
"Be friends with James like that. You've known I've-" Lily cut herself short.
"You've what?" Lana said, raising her voice. "Look Lil, I didn't think you would get so pissed because I talk to James, okay?"
Lily didn't respond even though she looked like she could have killed Lana at the moment.
Lana continued, "All last year James would flirt with you, and you always insisted that you couldn't stand him. But I never said anything. And then you left and who was I supposed to talk to."
"What about Liz, Helen, and Katie? Did you ever think of talking to them?"
"No Lily, they're your friends, not mine. I've never gotten along with them and you know that. I wasn't even the one to start talking to James; he started talking to me. What was I supposed to do? Say 'I'm sorry James, my best friend has a problem with me talking to you.'"
"Yea!! Something like that!" Lily said, not thinking about what she was saying.
"Well fine Lily, next time someone tries to talk to me I'll consult you first to make sure you're not offended."
"Good."
Lily turned to walk off but Lana said, "If I didn't know any better, Lily, I'd say you liked James Potter and you were jealous of me."
Lily quickly turned around, "I do not!" she yelled. "I mean- ugh," she said as she turned around, walked up the stairs and slammed the door.
***
Lana was fuming as she sat on the couch in front of the fire. How could Lily be like that? All Lana did was talk to James and it wasn't like they were anything more than friends. She was so mad she missed Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter. She missed Sirius looking at her, almost holding her with his eyes.
But it wasn't Sirius who came and talked to her that night after everyone had left the common room.
"Are you okay?" James asked.
"Yea, I guess, but how could she do that?? How can she expect that of me?" Lana said, able to vent her anger to someone now.
"Do what? What's wrong? You look like you want to cry." James said as he sat next to her on the couch.
"It's Lily, she got mad, really mad, and kicked me out of our room," Lana said, glancing over at her guitar and pajamas that were lying at the end of the couch.
"She did what?" James asked, sincerely concerned.
"It's nothing really," Lana said as she burst into tears.
*~*~*
James sat watching as Lana started to cry. She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder while her body shook with silent sobs. James had no clue what to do. Should he say something, or just sit there. No, sitting there was cold and heartless, but what do you say to a crying girl? He put his arm around her back and sat holding her while his other hand jumped back and forth from messing with his hair to the arm of the couch. He thought he felt her relax a bit as he held her but she was still sobbing.
It must have been a big row for Lana to be crying this much, James thought. But how could Evans do that to her best friend? James had always seen Lily as a nice pleasant person who only lost her temper with him. Countless times she had insulted him and turned him down, but something in her eyes told him she wanted him to keep trying. And so he did, asking her out, flirting with her, he tried all of that last year. Lily had kept on turning him down but still, something stayed in her eyes; something that told him not to give up on her.
But he still couldn't see Lily yelling at anyone other than him. They had looked so happy at dinner, especially Lana. He had never seen her that happy and care free around him. Now she was sitting here, crying on his shoulder. He felt a wave of almost brotherly compassion. Over the past month and a half, he and Lana had grown pretty close. She had stopped objecting to him calling her by her first name and he knew almost as much as Lily knew about her.
"I'm sorry," Lana said as she sat up, trying to gain control of the sobs shaking through her body.
"For what?"
"For you having to see me like this. It just that-" Lana stopped talking as she started crying and laid her head on his shoulder again.
Again, James didn't know what to say, and putting both arms around Lana sat holding her until she fell asleep.
--
Well, that was really long. Thanks for all the comments; they're super nice! I'm glad people like this. Now that Lily's back, James there's going to be a lot going on between them. I'll be writing again soon, please send reviews! They're such good inspirations to keep writing.
Just thought I'd throw this in too ***=location change *~*~*=perspective or perspective and location change (^^that way no one's confused!)
So, here's chapter four in all its entirety.
::4::
--Notice:
All students will be receiving a week's vacation period following the Halloween Celebration on October 31. Students may return home if they wish.
The train will be leaving on Sunday November 1 and returning on Sunday
November 8.
Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster--
"You did this, Moony?" Sirius said, reading over the board one more time.
"Yea, and after getting you three a weeks vacation I'd say you owe me," Remus said.
"How'd you do it?" Peter asked, not really thinking.
"Wormtail, how is it that you never follow anything?" James asked as he rolled his eyes.
Peter opened his mouth to say something but decided against it,
Remus started walking towards a patch of tress. "I just asked if they could give us some time off during the full moon so I don't miss much school. Then I can say I went home early."
"You're a genius, Moony," James said as he and the rest of the Marauders sat on the surrounding ground.
"So who are you asking to the dance, Prongs?" Sirius asked.
"Well, if Evans would get back in the next two weeks I'd ask her. She's been away long enough anyways. What about you, Padfoot?"
Remus looked at them with a bit of confusion on his face and lowered his voice. "You do know that I'll probably be making my transformation the night of the dance."
James looked up and glanced around to see if anyone might have heard. Only Severus Snape, a sixth year Slytherin, was walking by and it was doubtful he had heard anything. "Don't worry, Moony. We wouldn't miss the full moon for anything."
"I'd just like to have a date lined up incase it isn't that night," Sirius said as he lounged against a tree.
"So Padfoot," James asked, "who are you asking?"
"Well, I was thinking about asking Lana."
"She makes me nervous," Peter said.
"Wormtail, everyone makes you nervous. Scared she's going to eat you?" Sirius laughed.
Peter looked nervous and a whine-ish sound came from the back of his throat.
"She's a nice person," Remus said, "seems a bit too complex for your tastes, though, Padfoot."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sirius growled.
"Only that you tend to go after the . . . . .how can I put this?" Remus said as a smile spread across his face.
"The more intellectually challenged." James added helpfully trying to hold back laughter.
"That's what I was going for!" Remus laughed.
"Shove it, Moony. I might just ditch you for Lana on Halloween."
"Would you, Padfoot?" Remus asked. "You haven't even asked her, have you?"
"Well not yet, but I will," Sirius said as he stood up and walked off.
*~*~*
Lana was sitting in the library reading a rather large book. She was so buried in her own thoughts she almost didn't hear the library door open.
"Hey Sirius," she said as she heard him near her.
"Wha-how'd you know it was me?"
Quickly flipping away from the section she was reading, Lana turned around and gently tapped on her ears. "I heard you."
"Oh," Sirius said as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"What do you want?"
"What do you mean, why do I always have to want something?" Sirius said in a playful whining voice.
"Well," Lana paused, "You're nervous about something, so what is it?"
"Sirius looked up at the ceiling as if searching for the right words. "You know that Halloween Dance." He asked.
"Yea."
"Well, uh, do you want to go with me?"
Lana looked down as she thought. - What is there to think about? - She silently screamed at herself, - this is Sirius Black asking *you* to the dance! - But despite how dream like it sounded, something was holding Lana back from saying yes.
Sirius saw Lana's internal conflict and added. "I mean you don't have to if you don't want to. I just thought it would be fun, I guess."
Lana smiled, "I'd love to go with you."
*~*~*
"Really?" Sirius asked.
"Yea, sure," Lana smiled, "like you said, it might be fun."
"Ok," Sirius said, feeling quite proud of himself. "Well, I've got that Potions essay to write, so I'll see you at dinner."
"Maybe. Lily's supposed to be coming back before dinner so I might sit with her."
Evans was coming back. "She could sit with us, I don't think anyone would mind." Now James couldn't say Sirius never did anything for him.
"Sounds good, I'll see what she wants to do." Lana said as she turned back to her book.
Sirius, seeing that the conversation was obviously over, walked out of the library very confused. He couldn't believe it; someone almost turned him down. Him, Sirius Black, the same person, who could be seen snogging with at least three different girls in the same day, almost got turned down. This wasn't any different than any other relationships. Well, if you could call them relationships. They were normally girlfriends here and there; Remus and James had even started calling them 'kissing partners' because frankly, that's what they were. As Sirius thought about it, he'd never been in a real relationship before. Was Remus right? Did Sirius only go after the girls who would be hopelessly devoted to him? Who would fawn over him and worship him as their very god? Maybe Remus was right, and Sirius hated that. He hated the fact that Remus seemed to know him better than he knew himself.
Instead of going back outside with his friends, Sirius headed towards Gryffindor tower. He actually felt like doing that stupid essay than go back outside. For once, he felt like he needed time to think. For once, he was actually confused by a girl's actions. He even thought for a moment that he would have been pretty depressed if Lana had turned him down. Not just because of his friends promptings to ask her, but Sirius thought he actually cared about her. (a/n: Woah, revelation time for Sirius)
***
As 6 o'clock rolled around, Sirius found he had only completed about half of his essay in three hours. What was wrong with him? These essays normally took only fifteen minutes, and now he spent three hours on half of it? It was definitely time for dinner.
As he walked into the Great Hall he heard James call him over to their table. "Oy, Sirius! Where have you been?"
"Probably off snogging with someone he met in the halls." Remus snorted.
"Shove it, Moony," Sirius growled. "I was in the library."
"Snogging with someone?"
"No. I was talking to Lana."
"Well I knew it involved a girl," Remus laughed, "I didn't think you go to a library to actually study."
"Very funny, but I asked Lana to the Halloween Dance."
"So," James asked, " are you going with her?"
"Yea, as a matter of fact, I am."
"It took you three hours to ask her?" Remus asked with a smile.
"No, I did my potions essay."
"Sirius. Homework. Something's wrong, you never do your homework," Remus laughed.
"Can we just drop this?" Sirius said, getting angry.
Remus and James were exchanging looks as Sirius saw Lana walk in. And she wasn't alone. Lily was back and the two were walking in laughing and smiling. Sirius had never seen Lana laugh like that when she was around him, he thought. They walked past the Marauders; Sirius thought he felt a dropping feeling in his stomach. What was going on? Did it really bother him that Lana wasn't going to sit with them today?
"Art! Where are you going?" James called as Lana and Lily walked past him.
"I'm sitting with Lily, what does it look like, Potter?"
"Come on, sit with us. Just like old times."
"Old times? James, that was this morning."
James grinned, "Seemed like forever ago."
"Do you ever quit?" Lana laughed.
"What do you think?"
"Need I ask?"
"I think you know the answer, now come on and sit down, bring Evans too."
"Ok, ok, but only because I doubt you'd let me sit anywhere else." Lana said as she walked toward their table.
"Smart girl."
"Thanks, but what about Lily?"
James looked around, "there are plenty of seats available, pick on," he said to Lily.
Lily sat down next to Lana and didn't say much during dinner. She added in a few comments, but Sirius noticed she never sounded too happy.
When dinner was over Lily was the first to stand. "I'm going to back to the dormitories, I've got a lot to catch up on."
"I'll go too, I've got to write that potions essay," Lana said standing up.
They said their good byes and Sirius watched as Lana and Lily walked off.
*~*~*
Walking up to the dormitory, Lily didn't say much. Lana wondered if she was mad at something. But what could she be mad at? Nothing insulting was said at dinner; at least she didn't think anything was said.
As they stepped into the Gryffindor common room Lily exploded.
"How could you do that??!!" she yelled.
"Do what?! What did I do??" Lana said defending herself.
"Be friends with James like that. You've known I've-" Lily cut herself short.
"You've what?" Lana said, raising her voice. "Look Lil, I didn't think you would get so pissed because I talk to James, okay?"
Lily didn't respond even though she looked like she could have killed Lana at the moment.
Lana continued, "All last year James would flirt with you, and you always insisted that you couldn't stand him. But I never said anything. And then you left and who was I supposed to talk to."
"What about Liz, Helen, and Katie? Did you ever think of talking to them?"
"No Lily, they're your friends, not mine. I've never gotten along with them and you know that. I wasn't even the one to start talking to James; he started talking to me. What was I supposed to do? Say 'I'm sorry James, my best friend has a problem with me talking to you.'"
"Yea!! Something like that!" Lily said, not thinking about what she was saying.
"Well fine Lily, next time someone tries to talk to me I'll consult you first to make sure you're not offended."
"Good."
Lily turned to walk off but Lana said, "If I didn't know any better, Lily, I'd say you liked James Potter and you were jealous of me."
Lily quickly turned around, "I do not!" she yelled. "I mean- ugh," she said as she turned around, walked up the stairs and slammed the door.
***
Lana was fuming as she sat on the couch in front of the fire. How could Lily be like that? All Lana did was talk to James and it wasn't like they were anything more than friends. She was so mad she missed Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter. She missed Sirius looking at her, almost holding her with his eyes.
But it wasn't Sirius who came and talked to her that night after everyone had left the common room.
"Are you okay?" James asked.
"Yea, I guess, but how could she do that?? How can she expect that of me?" Lana said, able to vent her anger to someone now.
"Do what? What's wrong? You look like you want to cry." James said as he sat next to her on the couch.
"It's Lily, she got mad, really mad, and kicked me out of our room," Lana said, glancing over at her guitar and pajamas that were lying at the end of the couch.
"She did what?" James asked, sincerely concerned.
"It's nothing really," Lana said as she burst into tears.
*~*~*
James sat watching as Lana started to cry. She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder while her body shook with silent sobs. James had no clue what to do. Should he say something, or just sit there. No, sitting there was cold and heartless, but what do you say to a crying girl? He put his arm around her back and sat holding her while his other hand jumped back and forth from messing with his hair to the arm of the couch. He thought he felt her relax a bit as he held her but she was still sobbing.
It must have been a big row for Lana to be crying this much, James thought. But how could Evans do that to her best friend? James had always seen Lily as a nice pleasant person who only lost her temper with him. Countless times she had insulted him and turned him down, but something in her eyes told him she wanted him to keep trying. And so he did, asking her out, flirting with her, he tried all of that last year. Lily had kept on turning him down but still, something stayed in her eyes; something that told him not to give up on her.
But he still couldn't see Lily yelling at anyone other than him. They had looked so happy at dinner, especially Lana. He had never seen her that happy and care free around him. Now she was sitting here, crying on his shoulder. He felt a wave of almost brotherly compassion. Over the past month and a half, he and Lana had grown pretty close. She had stopped objecting to him calling her by her first name and he knew almost as much as Lily knew about her.
"I'm sorry," Lana said as she sat up, trying to gain control of the sobs shaking through her body.
"For what?"
"For you having to see me like this. It just that-" Lana stopped talking as she started crying and laid her head on his shoulder again.
Again, James didn't know what to say, and putting both arms around Lana sat holding her until she fell asleep.
--
Well, that was really long. Thanks for all the comments; they're super nice! I'm glad people like this. Now that Lily's back, James there's going to be a lot going on between them. I'll be writing again soon, please send reviews! They're such good inspirations to keep writing.