I might have been slightly amused with the horrified expression on his face when I held the bracelet up for him to see. If I was amused, I didn't recognize the feeling much; I was confused beyond anything.
Why on earth would James Potter give me a bracelet? It's just plainly unnatural and…horrifying. I don't know why, but it is.
It scared me…and yet somehow it made me extremely happy…which scared me even more.
"What is this, Potter?" I asked. It sounded uncouth and offensive. I felt bad. I really did.
Why was I angry anyway? He gave me a silver bracelet…with a small lily dangling from the lock. It was beautiful and I loved it. So what was I doing being rude to Potter? Shouldn't I be thanking him?
What is wrong with me?
He gave me a quick frown as he fumbled to put something inside his pocket. He looked back at his friends quickly before staring at me and finally speaking up. "Why don't we step down to the common room and…" He paused, thinking. "…analyse just exactly what it is." He held his hand out toward the wide open door. "Shall we?"
I glared at him and went down the stairs, frowning. What exactly was going to come out of this? When I barged in their dormitory I was so sure that I was angry—even furious—about something. But now that I think about it…I don't really know or understand what it is I should be angry about. What is it?
God. I need help.
I stood firmly in front of an armchair by the hearth. Potter sat down on the armchair opposite the one I was standing in front of and eyed me warily. "Aren't you gonna sit down?"
I ignored him and showed him the bracelet again. "What do you mean by this?"
He raised an eyebrow before quirking a smile. He seemed confident and comfortable. And I hated him for that—simply because of the fact that I was inconceivably jittery…which was just puzzling. He stuck a hand into his pocket and pulled something out. I nearly flinched when I saw what it was. He looked at me with a quiet and slightly cheerful curiosity while the broomstick hovered right beside him like a devoted puppy. "What, Evans, do you mean by this?" he asked. I wanted to slap that grin off his face. It wasn't a smirk, but it wasn't any better. In fact, in my current situation, any smile is a hundred times worse than a smirk. He shouldn't be allowed to smile.
I huffed and slumped down dejectedly on the couch across from him. What was I supposed to answer to that? I didn't even know why I decided to give him that in the first place. It was expensive, pointless, stupid, and…and…exactly what I thought he would have wanted.
I sighed and looked up at him. I probably caught him off guard or something, because his smugness died suddenly and he averted his gaze. For a while we just sat there, waiting for the other to speak, or for an interruption, something that can save us. Yes…that's what we need. A savior.
Well, not really. He ended up breaking the awkward silence anyway.
"Look," he sighed as he looked back at me. "It was just a Christmas present. I know you don't really trust me or anything remotely like that…and a present like this is really fishy…but I assure you that you can relax on this one. It's not a prank; not bribery; not anything destructive. It's just a gift, Evans. I'm sorry if it offended you, or annoyed you, or made you angry—"
"No."
He looked at me expectantly, his eyes questioning. "What?"
I wanted to and was trying to tell him that there was nothing to be sorry about. Nothing at all. But…well, we all know that body parts have their own ways of thinking. Lips, for the most part, are the more disobedient ones. Needless to say, they have, yet again, conspired against me. "It scared me," I whispered.
What am I saying?!
"Scared you?" I could almost taste the confusion and slight amusement in his voice. "Why?"
I swallowed. I shouldn't panic. It's actually kind of a good thing that lips can sometimes work on their own. It's very handy when you suddenly get brain-dead. "It's a drastic change. I don't handle drastic very well."
His eyes danced. "It's not a change, Evans. It's a shot at being convivial." He smiled crookedly and then looked at me seriously. "It's a shot at saying that I'm sorry. For everything," he added as an afterthought.
"And what exactly is 'everything'?"
"Now the answer to that lies in your hands entirely." His eyes were sparkling. "Because I'm sorry for everything that I need to be sorry about. Everything that irked you. For my being a cocky prat, for my hexing people, for my arrogance—" he grinned "—for my hair-ruffling."
I looked around the common room. I was either checking if anyone was eavesdropping, or I was just avoiding his gaze. What he said… It was the most beautiful and terrifying thing that I have ever heard from him. It was definitely not what I had expected.
I jumped when he cleared his throat quietly. I turned my head and faced him apprehensively. I sighed. I had made up my mind. I will probably regret this afterwards, but for the time being, it seemed like the perfect thing to do. I looked back at him, straight into his deep hazel eyes, which were wide with some sort of anticipation. "Arrogance?" I asked. "What arrogance?"
He stared blankly at me.
"Is… is that forgiveness I'm hearing, Evans? Or did you just randomly bump your head on some random wall and randomly forgot about stuff… from the past… that are… random?"
"Oh, stop blabbing. It's a random act of kindness." I smiled a little. "I guess for now, one can say that 'everything' is in fact 'nothing'."
His eyebrows shot up. "Speak my language, please, Evans."
I rolled my eyes. "You've been pardoned, Potter. Simple as that."
He broke into a smile. "See, that's what I thought you meant by what you were saying, but I was only making sure. You're pretty unpredictable at times."
I shrugged. "So why did you give me this?" he asked, gesturing toward the miniature broomstick.
"I dunno. I'm actually still a bit fuzzy on that. I just saw it and thought of how you'd react if you got one of those as a present. I mean… well, you can probably afford the whole collection in one visit to the shop, but I was thinking that it'd be a little more meaningful coming from me—who, as we obviously know, has never really been very kind to you… and is nowhere near as rich as you are. Oh, but I'm not saying that it cost a lot. Wait—actually, it did cost a lot. But I'm not saying that it was any trouble. I was just… trying to…" I let out a frustrated sigh. "Whatever."
"Did you charm it?"
"Erm… yes."
He looked at me with a funny smile on his face. "It's wonderful. Thank you."
"The bracelet was amazing, too."
"The bracelet wasn't anything special."
"I thought it was very, very special."
"Oh. You really think so?"
"Yes. Really."
"Well," he said cheerfully as he jumped up from the couch, "I think I should be going back up now to get ready for breakfast." He grinned. "I'm glad you liked the bracelet." He made his way toward the stairs leading up to the boys' dormitories but stopped right after he put a foot on the first step. "Evans," he called out, twisting his head to look at me.
"Yes?"
"You got any plans for today?"
"Uh…no."
"What a lonely Christmas!" he cried. "Tell you what…you go on upstairs and change out of those emerald jammies, eat breakfast with us, then we'll let you experience Christmas Marauders style. Thoughts?"
"Erm—okay."
"Great! We'll be down here in five."
"I won't. I need at least ten."
His eyebrows shot up. "Evans…you take time to primp?"
I rolled my eyes.
He grinned slyly. "Are you trying to—" He stopped.
"What? Am I trying to what?"
"Nothing."
I could feel my eyes narrowing out of their own accord. "Am I trying to what, Potter?"
He chuckled tensely. "Well…I was going to ask if you were trying to impress me, but—" He trailed off, looking away.
I felt a skeptical question coming on. "And why didn't you?"
"I – see, I – well – erm –" I noticed that part of his neck was starting to redden. I hid a smile as he continued, more determinedly this time. "I just didn't want to mess up two minutes after being redeemed. That's like getting hit by a bludger a minute into the game."
I smiled a very 'Evans' smile. "No worries, Potter," I said as I turned to make my own way back up to my dormitory to get dressed. "I'm feeling particularly forgiving today. You're still in the game."
He didn't say anything. After a while, just before I was to turn left and disappear from the staircase, he spoke. "Evans…"
I didn't say anything but stopped so he'd know that I was listening.
"Are – are there any bludgers close by?"
I smothered a giggle. "No, Potter. None that I know of."
I heard him laugh quietly before I turned and left the common room completely.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Couldn't get enough of the fearsome four, Red?"
I never liked it when he called me Red.
"Shut up, Sirius," said James.
"What did I do now?! You know, I've come to realize that you've never really been a very good friend to me, James. You ignore me, you mock me, you chastise me, and you tell me to shut up…constantly."
"That's for your own good, Paddy."
Sirius snorted. "Right. Tell me, Jamesie…If I were in a boat, and the boat was sinking, would you save me? Or would you rather save the girl you like – possibly love – who also happens to be in the same boat, which, if I may remind you, is quite positively sinking."
Sirius shot me an uncharacteristically sharp look as he finished the question. "So…what'll it be, James? Your best friend or your hem 'maiden in distress'?"
James rolled his eyes as he chewed on some pumpkin pie. "You swim well, Sirius. I'd go for the girl."
Sirius threw me another look.
"Well…what if I can't swim? What if my arms and legs were amputated 3 days before I rode in that cursed boat?"
James looked up at this and seemed to be thinking. Remus, who had been eating his meal peacefully, looked up at the lack of response from James. Peter, too, looked quite attentive. Well, I guess this is turning out to be quite interesting. But I don't really know why he's even thinking. If I were him, I'd save Sirius. He has been his best friend for as long as I can remember. And I for one would not choose some guy before my friends.
Wait. Wait. No. Nononononono….
James. I've been calling him James. In my thoughts too. Well… I suppose that's better than actually calling him 'James' out loud, but still… referring to him as 'James' subconsciously is bad. It's bad.
I inwardly rolled my eyes at my thoughts and snapped back into the conversation.
"—I'm sure Remus – or Peter – is around there somewhere. I mean, we're never really away from each other, are we? I'm sure they'll be able to come to your rescue."
Sirius' mouth fell open in outrage. "I don't believe this! I can't believe you, James! You'd choose Li – I mean – a girl over me?! How utterly ridiculous."
Remus shoulders started to shake in silent laughter. James – I mean Potter – was glaring at Sirius. Peter, on the other hand, was looking at Sirius gravely, as if trying to decipher whether he was just goofing around or was actually really angry.
"After almost 13 years of friendship? James…you'd abandon me for a girl?"
"Sirius, you'd abandon me for a girl."
"No, I wouldn't! Only a horrible person like you would be able to do that to their best friend."
"Shut up, Sirius," James said, looking back down at his food and playing with it.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Exactly what I was saying. Shut up, Sirius. Go away, Sirius. Leave me alone, Sirius."
"Give him a break, Sirius," said Remus. "The young man is smitten."
James snorted, but refused to look up from his plate.
"You're too dedicated for your own good, James. That's one lucky girl."
Remus reached out and patted Peter's shoulder in agreement. "Too true, Peter."
"It's sad though that the girl hasn't been very cooperative. Thus, Jamesie here remains, as I like to put it, lovelessly in love." Sirius paused for a minute to think. "You know… that's actually quite funny. He's in love – I'm assuming – yet he's loveless. But how can he be loveless if he's in love? But he is loveless because he's pretty much alone and lonely – in spite of the fact that he's in love."
Peter wrinkled his nose. "You just lost me, Paddy."
Sirius scratched his head quickly. "Don't worry, Pete. I confused myself halfway through."
Remus laughed and started getting up from his chair. Peter quickly followed suit. As did I, then James, then Sirius.
James slipped in beside me as we were walking back from the Great Hall to the common room. Wait…we just turned left, which is not where we should be heading.
I guess we weren't going to the common room after all.
James cleared his throat and said quietly: "That was quite a vexing breakfast. But that's over. Now…back to that Marauder Christmas that I'd promised…"
A/N Nooooooooooooo! I took two months! I took two months to update! When I first started reading and writing fanfiction, I actually told myself that I would NEVER ever take a long time to update because I myself didn't like waiting because… well, waiting is very unpleasant. Well, it's true what they say: NEVER say "never". Nope. Don't do that.
……I am really, really sorry. Summer's coming up though, so I will try really, really hard to update more… as compensation for all my… erm… crimes. I'm sorry!
I'm not very sure about this chapter. I think it may have been a 2000-word chapter with nothing in it. Just… blah. I need to know what you think! Because I'm agitated! Nyaaaa….
And THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the reviews…. I am incredibly flattered… the reviews for chapter 6 were the most I have ever gotten among all my stories. So THANK YOU! You guys are wonderful.
auroraborealis – Nope. I don't think Lily was for the bracelet. I think she was mad ABOUT it. =) And Sirius.. haha… I love Sirius. Thank you and I'm sorry it took long. cringe
babbling – Haha. Thank you for the GREAT review! And believe me… I myself wish I'd update sooner.
beaky22 – Thank you!
child-of-scorpio – Haha! I loved your review so much. It was so…. Paranoid. =) Thank you!
Cowgirl Up – Are you a mind reader or something? 'Cause I swear…you have the "Sight"
Drusilla – You're review made me laugh =) "that is, if she DOESN'T just give him a hug or whatever" Haha…
duva – Hehe. I figured Lily had to be stupid every once in a while. Just so we're sure she's human.
Faerie Lover – Wow. You actually took time to review all the chapters. Thank you!
fairy in pink pants – Thank you!
FireBringer – Thank you!
Hairyhen – I agree… they'll get there… eventually.
jaderadcliffe – Thank you!
Jaizar Black – Thank you!
LilyandJamesLover - rubs head sheepishly Thank you!
Living In A Nightmare – Don't be ridiculous. This fic isn't anything too special. I'm sure you write stuff much better than this. =) Oh and thank you!
LogicalRaven – I will never abandon this story! I just…hem…took my time. Sorry! =(
Lolly O'Neill – hehe. I'm glad you liked that bit. I was a little unsure of it, actually. Thought it might come out a little lame. But.. you liked it.. so Thank you!
MonkinO - Don't worry…you're not alone on the giggling. I giggle EVERYTIME I'm reading fanfiction. I think I'm starting to creep out my friends. Anyway, thank you!
PhEoNiXReBiRtH – Thank you!
Realmer06 – Haha. I actually forget about Peter all the time until I reread the whole thing before I put it up. So his parts are almost always just hastily added in.
silverblue-eyes - Thank you for reviewing ALL those chapters. Thank you!
Tracey – Actually, the title has everything to do with Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Totally not a copyright infringement. =)
Twilight66 – Thank you!