Mishmash
Chapter 9 – The Apology
Every story I read has a **disclaimer** so I figure, what the heck? Mostly everything is J.K. Rowling's, like every other story you read. Except for Steph...she belongs to herself (lol Stepha-Lah) and Michelle, and Dallas, and, umm...anyone else you don't recognize. I wish Sirius belonged to me............*sigh*...
***Recap from chapter eight...*** Lily whined, "Do I have to apologize?" Stephanie nodded.
"Alright, then." Lily said. "Here I go..."
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"Ummm......Remus?" Lily asked, as she approached him by the door.
"What?" Remus scoffed in a voice that told her she wasn't important, which of course, was a complete lie.
"Can we talk for a moment?" Lily whispered.
"Talk away." Remus said snobbily.
"No, like could we sit down?" Lily asked, starting to feel hurt.
"Fine." Remus said, sighing impatiently. Lily led him over to a table in the far corner, away from everything. As soon as they sat down, Remus tried to say something, but Lily cut him off.
"Look, Remus." She said. "I know I treated you like crap, and I am sorry. REALLY sorry. Look, I know that sorry isn't going to cut it, I know!" She said, reading the expression on Remus' face. "But I am willing to work on it. I guess, I freaked out, because, well..." Lily was trying to find the right words to say, but it was difficult. "The last long term relationship I had he dumped me cold-heartedly. I was in love," She sighed peacefully, but then her expression changed. "And he dumped me. After a WHOLE year! I was so angry; it felt like I had lost the world. So when you said you didn't love me, I got really scared. I didn't want to feel like that again, I DIDn't! So I lost my mind. I realize now though," She added while a tear ran down her cheek, "That love can't happen overnight. And that you wouldn't hurt me. You're Remus Lupin, Goddamn it! You're the nicest person in the world. And I shouldn't have done that. I should never have done that. So, like I said, if you are willing to give me a second chance, honour me with a second chance, I am willing to work at my need for commitment. And I am willing to love you more then I do already."
Lily made to get up, done doing what she had to do, but Remus held her back by her arm.
"Wait." He said in a raspy whisper. "Sit down." Lily sat down and looked at Remus. He looked like he was going to cry.
"I'm sorry." He said.
"For what?" Lily whispered. "You're perfect."
"I'm not." He said simply. "And I am sorry for forgetting about Frank Longbottom. (lmao Stepha-Lah) Sorry for forgetting what he did to you just for that Alice girl. And I am sorry for not knowing if I love you or not." Lily made to interrupt him, but he waved her off with his hand. "Hush. You had your turn, now I get mine. I am sorry for hurting you, especially because I did it to not hurt myself. You have to realize that I can't commit so soon. It isn't like I am going to cheat on you, or just up and leave you. I need time to make sure it is real, so neither of us gets hurt. Alright?"
Lily gave a watery smile, as tears were now silently pouring down her face. "Maybe I don't love you, Remus Lupin, but I sure do like you." Remus smiled broadly.
"And I like you too." He said, all thoughts of the fight now out of his head. Lily's expression suddenly changed.
"Is there anything else you want to say, though?" She asked sharply.
"What? Oh...uh..." Remus said, not sure what she expected.
"Anything important you need to tell me?" Remus gave her a blank stare.
"I thought...I told you...I don't know...if I...love...you." Remus stumbled, not sure what to do.
"Not THAT." Lily said. "Anything happen this morning?"
"Besides us fighting...not that I know of..." Remus trailed off, and saw Lily's angered face as she jumped up from the table.
"Then maybe I was wrong, Mr. Lupin. Maybe we don't need each other, if you can't even be HONEST with me!" She screeched. Remus wildly looked around searching for answers. Finally, his eyes rested on Stephanie. She was giving him a frightful look and pointing from herself to him, and back, and forth. At last, before Stephanie almost screamed, he got the clue.
"OY! Lily!" He called, as she started to turn her back. "I forgot!" Lily turned around and gave him a cold glare. "I'm sorry." He rushed on, clearly flabbergasted. "I forgot because I was so happy to have you back! Silly me, of course Stephanie would remember and tell you, and oh! I am so sorry."
"Spit it out already, Lupin." Lily said coldly.
"Alright." Remus said, looking hurt. "Steph and I, um, sorta, like, uh, yeah, this morning, that's right!" Lily did not look impressed.
"Steph and you sorta what?" Lily asked in her icy tone.
"We, uh, sorta, uh," He stumbled around for the right word. "Hung out?"
"If you can't tell the truth Lupin, then I am leaving."
"Alright! Stephanie and I snogged this morning on the blue coach in the left side of the Gryffindor common room for a half an hour, and on the floor."
"I didn't ask for DETAILS." Lily hissed. Remus blushed.
"Sorry." He mumbled. He didn't want to let her know that he had been thinking about that, or should I say HER, all afternoon. Just then Michelle and Sirius walked in.
"Let's get back, now that we are all here." Lily mumbled.
"Yes." Remus said, and they strode back to the group.
"Ohmygod!" Michelle was saying, in between gasps for air. "Sirius made me run all the way from the other side of Hogsmeade!"
"So?" Sirius asked, barely puffing, "I am not the one that tripped over her own dress!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!" Sirius argued back.
"Why don't you just agree to disagree?" Remus asked.
"Whoa! I didn't see you there!" Michelle said. Remus smirked.
"Your luck." He said.
"Alright, Sirius." Michelle said brightly. "I'll agree to disagree." They shook on it.
"But you tripped on your own." He whispered.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Michelle yelled exasperatedly. "Do you ever give up?" She demanded.
"Nope." He answered coyly. "Sirius Black always gets what he wants."
"That sounds like a threat." Dallas said. Sirius just smiled mischievously.
"Hemhem." Lily cleared her throat. They all looked at her, eyebrows rising in unison. "Conference. Now. Girls." She added as Sirius tried to follow.
"Awwww......" He whined. Lily, Michelle, Dallas, and Steph all made their way over to the same back table where Lily and Remus had just been.
"Well?" She demanded. They gave her blank stares. "How did it go?" She elaborated impatiently.
"OH!" Dallas said. "Well my day was miserable. Remus was in such a bad mood." Lily and Stephanie gave her an angry glare. "Right. Sorry." She said.
"Mine wasn't much better." Stephanie admitted sheepishly. "I was crying all over Peter." She blushed and giggled a bit. (Yes, Giggles, Chompers made you giggle) Lily looked at her for a moment, but decided to deal with her later.
"Well I am sorry you two had a rotten time." Michelle said beaming. "But I had so much fun!" They gave her am eyebrows-raised look. "Get your mind out of that goddamn gutter!" She screeched. "Do you know what a *normal* friendship is? You know, without the snogging?"
"Oh I think I heard about those on a T.V. program once!" Steph exclaimed.
"T.V.?" Dallas asked.
"Never mind." Lily said. "Now for me."
"We know." Michelle interrupted. "It was horrible and you would like nothing more than to kill James."
"Actually, it was great." More raised eyebrows were passed around. "I have the greatest news, guys!" She gushed.
"You're pregnant?" Steph asked incredulously. They all gasped.
"How could you?" Dallas whispered in a deadly voice. "I had dibs on him!"
"No, he was mine!" Stephanie yelled, infuriated. "That was the first reason for this all, remember?" Dallas gave her the death glare.
"I am not pregnant!" Lily yelled at the top of her lungs. The whole pub turned to look at her. She turned bright red. "Never mind." She yelled to them. They returned to their business. "My good news is that the meeting was about Halloween. She wants James and I to get together a committee to help organize an event for Halloween. BUT we convinced her to let us run two events."
"What are they?" Stephanie burst out before she could stop herself. Lily slyly smiled.
"That is the best part." She said. "One event for years first through fourth, and another for years fifth through seventh."
"Wicked." Michelle breathed.
"What are they?" Dallas asked curiously.
"For the younger students, we will be organizing a muggle styled dance. They always go over well. And for us," She held a dramatic pause, "We will be having a talent show. And I don't think any teachers want to bear witness to that, so it will hopefully be *unsupervised*." They all just stared.
"That is awesome." Michelle said at last, breaking the silence.
"I noticed." Lily said proudly. "So, who is in on the committee?"
"I'll work on the talent show." Dallas said at once. "I don't know much about muggles."
"Well if you are going to help, you have to help for both. We're there too, you know." Dallas thought about it.
"Alright, I'm in." She said.
"Definitely." Michelle said enthusiastically.
"For sure." Added Steph.
"Good. Then that is all of us. Now lets go discuss the details with the boys? We have an hour before dinner..." They walked over to the boys' table and sat down.
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MEANWHILE
"How was your day, fellow Marauders?" James asked in a business-like tone.
"Horrible." Peter said bitterly. "She was weeping all over me. Got my best robes all wet and mucky." Remus gave him a glare. 'How dare he speak about HER that way.' He thought maliciously to himself. He had decided to refrain from saying Stephanie's name, because it hurt too much.
"Well do you think mine was better, Pettigrew?" He asked irritably. "Dallas trying to cheer me up just made it worse."
"Oh come on, Remus. You and Lily made up!" Sirius said lightly.
"Not THAT." Remus said. "I did something else."
"What?" Sirius asked.
"Ooooooh it's bad." Peter said gleefully.
"Not that bad." Remus said, blushing.
"Well what is it, then?" James asked.
"Well, me and Steph kinda snogged in the common room for a while."
"You didn't." Sirius gasped.
"Yeah." Remus said, blushing even more.
"Was she good, mate?" James asked eagerly. Remus slapped him on the arm.
"That's not polite." He said defensively.
"So she was a bad kisser, then?" James said.
"NO!" Remus protested. "She was g-never mind." He said going even redder, if possible. "That isn't – she – oh just leave me alone!"
"She must be better than Lily for him to get so upset." James whispered very loudly to Sirius. Sirius snickered. Remus glared.
"How was your day then, Sirius?" James asked. Sirius gave him a curious look before answering.
"Fine." He said suspiciously.
"Nothing to be scared of, or did you do something bad as well?" James asked.
"No." Sirius said. "It was fun."
"What did you do?" Peter asked wearily.
"Nothing!" Sirius exclaimed defensively. "Have you never heard of a friendly outing before?" The others gave him a blank look. "You know, without snogging?"
"You know, mate, I think you are off your rocker." James said laughing. "Alright. Now me." He said.
"We know." Remus interrupted. "It was horrible and you hate Lily Evans."
"Actually, it was great!" James said. "It was about Halloween. I need you guys to help me organize a dance for the first, second, third, and fourth years and a talent show for the fifth, sixth, and seventh years. Alright?"
"Do I have to?" Peter whimpered.
"Yes." James said blandly. Peter frowned deeply.
"Can we do comedy?" Sirius asked eagerly. James smiled.
"Why of course! That was the first thing I asked! How about a duo?" They shook on it.
"Fantastic, mate." Sirius said. Just then the girls joined them.
"I suppose you have told them?" Lily asked James in an icy tone.
"Of course." He replied just as icily. "We decided that we will organize the talent show and you can do the dance."
"That is not how it is supposed to go, Potter." She said in a fierce voice.
"Well that is what I want." He shot back. There was an immediate uproar.
"That isn't fair!" Stephanie screeched.
"Yeah, that isn't right!" Michelle yelled. Dallas went right for the kill.
"Fine." She said. "You can work on the talent show."
"Are you out of your mind?" Lily screeched.
"No. But because we will be soooo busy preparing the dance I won't have ANY time for *other* things." James looked mortified.
"Alright!" He said. "We can share duties for both."
"Well if you want to do the talent show...." Dallas trailed off.
"No! We can do both!"
"But you didn't want to." Dallas said.
"C'mere." James said gruffly, as he took hold of her arm and pulled her over to him. "I want to do both now, alright?" James said, looking her in the eye.
"Alright then." Dallas whispered. James leaned forwards to kiss her, but before they could, Stephanie interrupted.
"I think we should get going." She said sharply. Dallas gave her another death glare, but said in a sweet voice, "Alright, let's go."
While they were walking back to Hogwarts, Lily pulled Stephanie aside.
"What's up?" Stephanie asked quietly.
"Exactly what I want to know." Lily said sharply. Steph gave her a quizzical look. "Why were you crying all day?"
"I told you. Because of what. Happened. With Remus." Stephanie said, confused. "I thought we already discussed this?"
"Yes, we discussed why you were upset. But you didn't tell me you were crying ALL day. Obviously, you are upset about more than your friendship."
"What do you mean?" Stephanie asked nervously. 'Could Lily know that I think I might...NO! I. Like. JAMES!' Stephanie furiously thought to herself.
"What I mean, is are you confused and overwhelmed by everything?" 'She knows...she knows! Play stupid...'
"I don't understand." Steph said, trying not to scream in horror.
"Well I think that maybe Remus using you just cracked your hard shell, and you have been wanting to cry for a while." 'Using me?' Stephanie wondered. 'I was just as much a part of that...'
"What are you on about?" She asked incredulously.
"James and Dallas of course. As soon as you started to get upset abut your ruined friendship with Remus you just went on to cry about what Dallas is doing to you with James, and are trying to use Remus as an excuse to cry over James." Stephanie gave her a blank look that Lily took as a look of understanding. "See, I told you." Lily said happily.
"What are you on, Lily?" Stephanie yelled quizzically. "You don't get it, do you?" This time Lily gave her a blank stare. "Fine. I don't want you to get it." She decided, and took off down the road to Hogwarts.
"What's that all about?" Remus asked Lily, concerned for HER, of course.
"Whoa. I didn't see you there, Remus." Lily said stiffly. "It's nothing." She assured him with a tight smile. He smiled back. He leaned his tall form down to kiss her, but she brushed him away.
"Not now, Lupin." She said coldly. 'Whoa, Lupin?" Remus thought. 'What did I do now?' Instead of voicing his concerns, he just fell into step with Lily. He tried to hold her hand at least, but she brushed him off again. 'Maybe she is still upset about 'recent events with HER' he thought convincingly. 'Yes, that MUST be it.'
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The seven friends entered the great hall to find Stephanie already sitting with Manny Fondue and Earl Avery. Did I say sitting? More like flirting. Upset from recent events, Stephanie decided she wanted to do *something*. Meaning, she wished she had a boyfriend, and since she didn't she would just have to find someone else to share her favourite activity with. Snogging, that is.
"Oh Earl!" Stephanie gushed. "You are so brave!" (lmao Steph – You banana!) Earl beamed.
"I have taken a good beaten too, you know." Manny said defensively. Steph batted her long lashes at him.
"I know." She said in a flirtatious voice. "The way you beat those bludgers! You must have muscles of iron! You *must* let me see some time."
"What about my muscles?" Earl asked, now him being the one on defense.
"Well I'm sure I could find time to check both of you out." She said with a wink. Just then Michelle walked up and tapped her on the shoulder. Steph spun around with a flick of her long silky hair and met Michelle's gaze. 'Not now!' She mouthed to her friend.
'Now!' Michelle mouthed back. Steph gave her a glare and turned back to her courters. She held up her index finger and whispered, "One moment. MICHELLE needs to talk for a second." Earl turned red at the mention of Michelle's name and quickly went back to his food.
"What?" Stephanie hissed menacingly.
"You are being stupid. Let's go."
"No!" Stephanie protested.
"I am not going to let you snog some guy senseless just because you had a bad day! Get over it and get over here!" Steph was beat. She turned back to Manny and Earl.
"I have to go." She whispered, up close and in their faces. They looked *very* disappointed. "But, uh, if one of you is around later tonight, maybe you can *find me*." She added with a massive wink, and turned around again with another swish of her brunette hair. Michelle noticed that as soon as she turned, Earl and Manny started a silent fight over who would find her first.
"What is your problem, anyways?" Steph asked. "I was ACTUALLY having fun!" She whined.
"I don't care. It wouldn't be fun later. Now come eat!" Michelle demanded.
"Fine." Steph said grudgingly. She and Remus sat at total opposite ends.
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"What are you looking at?" Lily demanded to Remus.
"Wha-...?" Remus asked, snapping out of his trance. It was later that night and they were all sitting around in the common room. Dallas and James were, uh, *occupied* in the corner, Michelle was watching Sirius beat Peter in a cruel game of wizarding chess, Stephanie was flirting, AGAIN, with both Earl Avery and Manny Fondue, and Remus was staring at HER, and I will let you imagine what Lily was doing.
"I asked you what you were looking at." Lily repeated herself.
"oh, uh, nothing!" Remus squeaked.
"That's what I thought." Lily said with a smirk. "So what do you want to do?" She asked with an obvious hint.
"Iono..." Remus said thoughtfully. Lily gave him a playful slap.
"You're a dense one." She giggled. 'Giggle.' Remus noted. 'I guess that means...' but he was pulled out of his thoughts by Lily jumping on his lap and snogging him.
"Thought so." He mumbled as he took a hurried breath, before continuing on with his yummy task.
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Stephanie sat over to the one side of the common room, flirting with the boys who were still keen to flirt with her. She glanced over to the corner and saw Dallas inspecting the inside of James' mouth. For some reason, this didn't bother her much. She moved her gaze a bit and it landed on Michelle, sitting cross-legged on the floor by Sirius and Remus' chess game. Her gaze moved once more and landed upon, "HIM!" She hissed. Remus was following James' suit and snogging Lily senseless! 'Well that's just fine.' She found herself thinking angrily. 'Two can play that game.' And she turned the charm up to maximum.
In a matter of ten minutes, though, two blond sixth years joined Stephanie and managed to steal most of Earl's attention. 'He's a flake, anyways.' Steph though. 'And Manny is better toned, anyhow.' Soon enough, the giggling bimbos left with Earl to 'go for a walk'. Then it was just Steph and Manny.
"So, uh Steph!" Manny said seductively. What would you like to do now that we are, uh, *alone*." Stephanie noticed that he emphasized the 'alone' part.
"Well actually, Manny, we're surrounded by at least a dozen people." Manny blushed a bit.
"Well would you like to make it so we are alone?" Manny asked, in that same deep voice that Stephanie found hard to resist right now.
"Alright." She said with a smile. "Let's go for a walk then." Manny took her hand and she giggled her way out of the common room.
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As Remus was positioned with Lily on the couch, snogging, [because what else was there to do?] he noticed Stephanie finally get up with the stupid quittich player and leave, giggling. This upset Remus so much that he actually forgot to kiss Lily.
"What's wrong?" Lily mumbled, as she pulled away from Remus.
"Nothing." He said nervously.
"Wanna call it a night?" Lily asked thoughtfully.
"You go ahead." Remus said. "I would really fancy a walk, myself."
"Alright." Lily said, nodding her head. She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight, darling." She said with a yawn.
"Same to you." Remus said, and then turned around to leave the room, not trying to make it look like he was in a hurry, or anything. As soon as he exited the room, however, he let his eyes dart all over the place, looking for HER, of course. He wandered all of the corridors on the seventh floor and found not a trace of anyone. He ran into a very flustered Avery on the second floor, along with one of the bimbos, who as well looked quite flushed.
At last, upon reaching ground level a good forty-five minutes later, he heard a bunch of movement and giggles coming from a broom closet by the oak doors. He slowly approached the broom closet, but opened the doors quickly. He saw a few beer bottles, muggle kind, and some firewhisky roll out onto the floor. That wasn't all, though. A very shocked Stephanie and Manny Fondue rolled out onto the floor.
Steph looked up at the up side down Remus and said cheerfully (and quite drunkenly), "Hey Remmy!" Remus gave her a disapproving glance before turning to Manny.
"Fondue." He said gruffly.
"Whasmatta?" Manny asked with a heavy slur.
"Go. Now." Remus said tightly. "Before I hurt you!" Manny stole a glance at Remus, and that was all he needed to know that Remus wasn't joking.
"Alright, Lupin." He grumbled, and walked away to the common room while bumping into everything as he cut his jagged path.
"Are you okay...? Remus asked. 'Omigod!' He thought to himself. 'I almost said HER name!' Steph looked at him with a look of [drunken] dislike.
"Whatsit to you?" She asked groggily. "Don't remember you caring about my feelings before." Remus looked hurt.
"Now that's not true!" He said. Steph gave him a questioning glance.
"Have some firewhisky." She said, pointing to the bottle. "It helps." 'Omigod!' He thought again. 'Is she upset about me?' Stephanie, however, wasn't as concerned.
"Hey!" She said suddenly. Remus looked alarmed. "Did you know that you have beautiful eyes?" She asked in a whisper. Remus forgot all about her being drunk.
"You think so?" Remus whispered back. Stephanie nodded slowly. "Well they don't even compare to yours."
"Really?" Steph asked. "Well your lips are beautiful too." She whispered into his ear, as they were now very close.
"Not as nice as yours." He whispered back. Stephanie raised her eyebrow with a drunken giggle. "Come here." He said gruffly as he pulled her into the broom closet and locked the door.
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A/N I never was good at cliffhangers. Sorry. Hope you like!
p.s. I am sorry it took so long! And thank you, *Orligrl* for being my most consistent reveiwer, and one of possibly three readers! I know my story is bad....but still! And sorry it has taken so long, but I have been busy doing things for Steph and her birthday 'Gathering' as she likes it put. So I hope chapter ten will be up soon, I am ALMOST done it, and please review! Thank you!
Raw~Bean
Chapter 9 – The Apology
Every story I read has a **disclaimer** so I figure, what the heck? Mostly everything is J.K. Rowling's, like every other story you read. Except for Steph...she belongs to herself (lol Stepha-Lah) and Michelle, and Dallas, and, umm...anyone else you don't recognize. I wish Sirius belonged to me............*sigh*...
***Recap from chapter eight...*** Lily whined, "Do I have to apologize?" Stephanie nodded.
"Alright, then." Lily said. "Here I go..."
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"Ummm......Remus?" Lily asked, as she approached him by the door.
"What?" Remus scoffed in a voice that told her she wasn't important, which of course, was a complete lie.
"Can we talk for a moment?" Lily whispered.
"Talk away." Remus said snobbily.
"No, like could we sit down?" Lily asked, starting to feel hurt.
"Fine." Remus said, sighing impatiently. Lily led him over to a table in the far corner, away from everything. As soon as they sat down, Remus tried to say something, but Lily cut him off.
"Look, Remus." She said. "I know I treated you like crap, and I am sorry. REALLY sorry. Look, I know that sorry isn't going to cut it, I know!" She said, reading the expression on Remus' face. "But I am willing to work on it. I guess, I freaked out, because, well..." Lily was trying to find the right words to say, but it was difficult. "The last long term relationship I had he dumped me cold-heartedly. I was in love," She sighed peacefully, but then her expression changed. "And he dumped me. After a WHOLE year! I was so angry; it felt like I had lost the world. So when you said you didn't love me, I got really scared. I didn't want to feel like that again, I DIDn't! So I lost my mind. I realize now though," She added while a tear ran down her cheek, "That love can't happen overnight. And that you wouldn't hurt me. You're Remus Lupin, Goddamn it! You're the nicest person in the world. And I shouldn't have done that. I should never have done that. So, like I said, if you are willing to give me a second chance, honour me with a second chance, I am willing to work at my need for commitment. And I am willing to love you more then I do already."
Lily made to get up, done doing what she had to do, but Remus held her back by her arm.
"Wait." He said in a raspy whisper. "Sit down." Lily sat down and looked at Remus. He looked like he was going to cry.
"I'm sorry." He said.
"For what?" Lily whispered. "You're perfect."
"I'm not." He said simply. "And I am sorry for forgetting about Frank Longbottom. (lmao Stepha-Lah) Sorry for forgetting what he did to you just for that Alice girl. And I am sorry for not knowing if I love you or not." Lily made to interrupt him, but he waved her off with his hand. "Hush. You had your turn, now I get mine. I am sorry for hurting you, especially because I did it to not hurt myself. You have to realize that I can't commit so soon. It isn't like I am going to cheat on you, or just up and leave you. I need time to make sure it is real, so neither of us gets hurt. Alright?"
Lily gave a watery smile, as tears were now silently pouring down her face. "Maybe I don't love you, Remus Lupin, but I sure do like you." Remus smiled broadly.
"And I like you too." He said, all thoughts of the fight now out of his head. Lily's expression suddenly changed.
"Is there anything else you want to say, though?" She asked sharply.
"What? Oh...uh..." Remus said, not sure what she expected.
"Anything important you need to tell me?" Remus gave her a blank stare.
"I thought...I told you...I don't know...if I...love...you." Remus stumbled, not sure what to do.
"Not THAT." Lily said. "Anything happen this morning?"
"Besides us fighting...not that I know of..." Remus trailed off, and saw Lily's angered face as she jumped up from the table.
"Then maybe I was wrong, Mr. Lupin. Maybe we don't need each other, if you can't even be HONEST with me!" She screeched. Remus wildly looked around searching for answers. Finally, his eyes rested on Stephanie. She was giving him a frightful look and pointing from herself to him, and back, and forth. At last, before Stephanie almost screamed, he got the clue.
"OY! Lily!" He called, as she started to turn her back. "I forgot!" Lily turned around and gave him a cold glare. "I'm sorry." He rushed on, clearly flabbergasted. "I forgot because I was so happy to have you back! Silly me, of course Stephanie would remember and tell you, and oh! I am so sorry."
"Spit it out already, Lupin." Lily said coldly.
"Alright." Remus said, looking hurt. "Steph and I, um, sorta, like, uh, yeah, this morning, that's right!" Lily did not look impressed.
"Steph and you sorta what?" Lily asked in her icy tone.
"We, uh, sorta, uh," He stumbled around for the right word. "Hung out?"
"If you can't tell the truth Lupin, then I am leaving."
"Alright! Stephanie and I snogged this morning on the blue coach in the left side of the Gryffindor common room for a half an hour, and on the floor."
"I didn't ask for DETAILS." Lily hissed. Remus blushed.
"Sorry." He mumbled. He didn't want to let her know that he had been thinking about that, or should I say HER, all afternoon. Just then Michelle and Sirius walked in.
"Let's get back, now that we are all here." Lily mumbled.
"Yes." Remus said, and they strode back to the group.
"Ohmygod!" Michelle was saying, in between gasps for air. "Sirius made me run all the way from the other side of Hogsmeade!"
"So?" Sirius asked, barely puffing, "I am not the one that tripped over her own dress!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!" Sirius argued back.
"Why don't you just agree to disagree?" Remus asked.
"Whoa! I didn't see you there!" Michelle said. Remus smirked.
"Your luck." He said.
"Alright, Sirius." Michelle said brightly. "I'll agree to disagree." They shook on it.
"But you tripped on your own." He whispered.
"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Michelle yelled exasperatedly. "Do you ever give up?" She demanded.
"Nope." He answered coyly. "Sirius Black always gets what he wants."
"That sounds like a threat." Dallas said. Sirius just smiled mischievously.
"Hemhem." Lily cleared her throat. They all looked at her, eyebrows rising in unison. "Conference. Now. Girls." She added as Sirius tried to follow.
"Awwww......" He whined. Lily, Michelle, Dallas, and Steph all made their way over to the same back table where Lily and Remus had just been.
"Well?" She demanded. They gave her blank stares. "How did it go?" She elaborated impatiently.
"OH!" Dallas said. "Well my day was miserable. Remus was in such a bad mood." Lily and Stephanie gave her an angry glare. "Right. Sorry." She said.
"Mine wasn't much better." Stephanie admitted sheepishly. "I was crying all over Peter." She blushed and giggled a bit. (Yes, Giggles, Chompers made you giggle) Lily looked at her for a moment, but decided to deal with her later.
"Well I am sorry you two had a rotten time." Michelle said beaming. "But I had so much fun!" They gave her am eyebrows-raised look. "Get your mind out of that goddamn gutter!" She screeched. "Do you know what a *normal* friendship is? You know, without the snogging?"
"Oh I think I heard about those on a T.V. program once!" Steph exclaimed.
"T.V.?" Dallas asked.
"Never mind." Lily said. "Now for me."
"We know." Michelle interrupted. "It was horrible and you would like nothing more than to kill James."
"Actually, it was great." More raised eyebrows were passed around. "I have the greatest news, guys!" She gushed.
"You're pregnant?" Steph asked incredulously. They all gasped.
"How could you?" Dallas whispered in a deadly voice. "I had dibs on him!"
"No, he was mine!" Stephanie yelled, infuriated. "That was the first reason for this all, remember?" Dallas gave her the death glare.
"I am not pregnant!" Lily yelled at the top of her lungs. The whole pub turned to look at her. She turned bright red. "Never mind." She yelled to them. They returned to their business. "My good news is that the meeting was about Halloween. She wants James and I to get together a committee to help organize an event for Halloween. BUT we convinced her to let us run two events."
"What are they?" Stephanie burst out before she could stop herself. Lily slyly smiled.
"That is the best part." She said. "One event for years first through fourth, and another for years fifth through seventh."
"Wicked." Michelle breathed.
"What are they?" Dallas asked curiously.
"For the younger students, we will be organizing a muggle styled dance. They always go over well. And for us," She held a dramatic pause, "We will be having a talent show. And I don't think any teachers want to bear witness to that, so it will hopefully be *unsupervised*." They all just stared.
"That is awesome." Michelle said at last, breaking the silence.
"I noticed." Lily said proudly. "So, who is in on the committee?"
"I'll work on the talent show." Dallas said at once. "I don't know much about muggles."
"Well if you are going to help, you have to help for both. We're there too, you know." Dallas thought about it.
"Alright, I'm in." She said.
"Definitely." Michelle said enthusiastically.
"For sure." Added Steph.
"Good. Then that is all of us. Now lets go discuss the details with the boys? We have an hour before dinner..." They walked over to the boys' table and sat down.
*****************************************%%%%****~~~~%%%%~~~~****%%%%******* ****************
MEANWHILE
"How was your day, fellow Marauders?" James asked in a business-like tone.
"Horrible." Peter said bitterly. "She was weeping all over me. Got my best robes all wet and mucky." Remus gave him a glare. 'How dare he speak about HER that way.' He thought maliciously to himself. He had decided to refrain from saying Stephanie's name, because it hurt too much.
"Well do you think mine was better, Pettigrew?" He asked irritably. "Dallas trying to cheer me up just made it worse."
"Oh come on, Remus. You and Lily made up!" Sirius said lightly.
"Not THAT." Remus said. "I did something else."
"What?" Sirius asked.
"Ooooooh it's bad." Peter said gleefully.
"Not that bad." Remus said, blushing.
"Well what is it, then?" James asked.
"Well, me and Steph kinda snogged in the common room for a while."
"You didn't." Sirius gasped.
"Yeah." Remus said, blushing even more.
"Was she good, mate?" James asked eagerly. Remus slapped him on the arm.
"That's not polite." He said defensively.
"So she was a bad kisser, then?" James said.
"NO!" Remus protested. "She was g-never mind." He said going even redder, if possible. "That isn't – she – oh just leave me alone!"
"She must be better than Lily for him to get so upset." James whispered very loudly to Sirius. Sirius snickered. Remus glared.
"How was your day then, Sirius?" James asked. Sirius gave him a curious look before answering.
"Fine." He said suspiciously.
"Nothing to be scared of, or did you do something bad as well?" James asked.
"No." Sirius said. "It was fun."
"What did you do?" Peter asked wearily.
"Nothing!" Sirius exclaimed defensively. "Have you never heard of a friendly outing before?" The others gave him a blank look. "You know, without snogging?"
"You know, mate, I think you are off your rocker." James said laughing. "Alright. Now me." He said.
"We know." Remus interrupted. "It was horrible and you hate Lily Evans."
"Actually, it was great!" James said. "It was about Halloween. I need you guys to help me organize a dance for the first, second, third, and fourth years and a talent show for the fifth, sixth, and seventh years. Alright?"
"Do I have to?" Peter whimpered.
"Yes." James said blandly. Peter frowned deeply.
"Can we do comedy?" Sirius asked eagerly. James smiled.
"Why of course! That was the first thing I asked! How about a duo?" They shook on it.
"Fantastic, mate." Sirius said. Just then the girls joined them.
"I suppose you have told them?" Lily asked James in an icy tone.
"Of course." He replied just as icily. "We decided that we will organize the talent show and you can do the dance."
"That is not how it is supposed to go, Potter." She said in a fierce voice.
"Well that is what I want." He shot back. There was an immediate uproar.
"That isn't fair!" Stephanie screeched.
"Yeah, that isn't right!" Michelle yelled. Dallas went right for the kill.
"Fine." She said. "You can work on the talent show."
"Are you out of your mind?" Lily screeched.
"No. But because we will be soooo busy preparing the dance I won't have ANY time for *other* things." James looked mortified.
"Alright!" He said. "We can share duties for both."
"Well if you want to do the talent show...." Dallas trailed off.
"No! We can do both!"
"But you didn't want to." Dallas said.
"C'mere." James said gruffly, as he took hold of her arm and pulled her over to him. "I want to do both now, alright?" James said, looking her in the eye.
"Alright then." Dallas whispered. James leaned forwards to kiss her, but before they could, Stephanie interrupted.
"I think we should get going." She said sharply. Dallas gave her another death glare, but said in a sweet voice, "Alright, let's go."
While they were walking back to Hogwarts, Lily pulled Stephanie aside.
"What's up?" Stephanie asked quietly.
"Exactly what I want to know." Lily said sharply. Steph gave her a quizzical look. "Why were you crying all day?"
"I told you. Because of what. Happened. With Remus." Stephanie said, confused. "I thought we already discussed this?"
"Yes, we discussed why you were upset. But you didn't tell me you were crying ALL day. Obviously, you are upset about more than your friendship."
"What do you mean?" Stephanie asked nervously. 'Could Lily know that I think I might...NO! I. Like. JAMES!' Stephanie furiously thought to herself.
"What I mean, is are you confused and overwhelmed by everything?" 'She knows...she knows! Play stupid...'
"I don't understand." Steph said, trying not to scream in horror.
"Well I think that maybe Remus using you just cracked your hard shell, and you have been wanting to cry for a while." 'Using me?' Stephanie wondered. 'I was just as much a part of that...'
"What are you on about?" She asked incredulously.
"James and Dallas of course. As soon as you started to get upset abut your ruined friendship with Remus you just went on to cry about what Dallas is doing to you with James, and are trying to use Remus as an excuse to cry over James." Stephanie gave her a blank look that Lily took as a look of understanding. "See, I told you." Lily said happily.
"What are you on, Lily?" Stephanie yelled quizzically. "You don't get it, do you?" This time Lily gave her a blank stare. "Fine. I don't want you to get it." She decided, and took off down the road to Hogwarts.
"What's that all about?" Remus asked Lily, concerned for HER, of course.
"Whoa. I didn't see you there, Remus." Lily said stiffly. "It's nothing." She assured him with a tight smile. He smiled back. He leaned his tall form down to kiss her, but she brushed him away.
"Not now, Lupin." She said coldly. 'Whoa, Lupin?" Remus thought. 'What did I do now?' Instead of voicing his concerns, he just fell into step with Lily. He tried to hold her hand at least, but she brushed him off again. 'Maybe she is still upset about 'recent events with HER' he thought convincingly. 'Yes, that MUST be it.'
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The seven friends entered the great hall to find Stephanie already sitting with Manny Fondue and Earl Avery. Did I say sitting? More like flirting. Upset from recent events, Stephanie decided she wanted to do *something*. Meaning, she wished she had a boyfriend, and since she didn't she would just have to find someone else to share her favourite activity with. Snogging, that is.
"Oh Earl!" Stephanie gushed. "You are so brave!" (lmao Steph – You banana!) Earl beamed.
"I have taken a good beaten too, you know." Manny said defensively. Steph batted her long lashes at him.
"I know." She said in a flirtatious voice. "The way you beat those bludgers! You must have muscles of iron! You *must* let me see some time."
"What about my muscles?" Earl asked, now him being the one on defense.
"Well I'm sure I could find time to check both of you out." She said with a wink. Just then Michelle walked up and tapped her on the shoulder. Steph spun around with a flick of her long silky hair and met Michelle's gaze. 'Not now!' She mouthed to her friend.
'Now!' Michelle mouthed back. Steph gave her a glare and turned back to her courters. She held up her index finger and whispered, "One moment. MICHELLE needs to talk for a second." Earl turned red at the mention of Michelle's name and quickly went back to his food.
"What?" Stephanie hissed menacingly.
"You are being stupid. Let's go."
"No!" Stephanie protested.
"I am not going to let you snog some guy senseless just because you had a bad day! Get over it and get over here!" Steph was beat. She turned back to Manny and Earl.
"I have to go." She whispered, up close and in their faces. They looked *very* disappointed. "But, uh, if one of you is around later tonight, maybe you can *find me*." She added with a massive wink, and turned around again with another swish of her brunette hair. Michelle noticed that as soon as she turned, Earl and Manny started a silent fight over who would find her first.
"What is your problem, anyways?" Steph asked. "I was ACTUALLY having fun!" She whined.
"I don't care. It wouldn't be fun later. Now come eat!" Michelle demanded.
"Fine." Steph said grudgingly. She and Remus sat at total opposite ends.
*!*!*!*!*!*!**!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!**!!***!!!**! !**!*!*!*!***!*!****!!!!!!!!!************!!!!!!!!!!!!!!********************* ****!!!
"What are you looking at?" Lily demanded to Remus.
"Wha-...?" Remus asked, snapping out of his trance. It was later that night and they were all sitting around in the common room. Dallas and James were, uh, *occupied* in the corner, Michelle was watching Sirius beat Peter in a cruel game of wizarding chess, Stephanie was flirting, AGAIN, with both Earl Avery and Manny Fondue, and Remus was staring at HER, and I will let you imagine what Lily was doing.
"I asked you what you were looking at." Lily repeated herself.
"oh, uh, nothing!" Remus squeaked.
"That's what I thought." Lily said with a smirk. "So what do you want to do?" She asked with an obvious hint.
"Iono..." Remus said thoughtfully. Lily gave him a playful slap.
"You're a dense one." She giggled. 'Giggle.' Remus noted. 'I guess that means...' but he was pulled out of his thoughts by Lily jumping on his lap and snogging him.
"Thought so." He mumbled as he took a hurried breath, before continuing on with his yummy task.
************!****************!************!***************!
Stephanie sat over to the one side of the common room, flirting with the boys who were still keen to flirt with her. She glanced over to the corner and saw Dallas inspecting the inside of James' mouth. For some reason, this didn't bother her much. She moved her gaze a bit and it landed on Michelle, sitting cross-legged on the floor by Sirius and Remus' chess game. Her gaze moved once more and landed upon, "HIM!" She hissed. Remus was following James' suit and snogging Lily senseless! 'Well that's just fine.' She found herself thinking angrily. 'Two can play that game.' And she turned the charm up to maximum.
In a matter of ten minutes, though, two blond sixth years joined Stephanie and managed to steal most of Earl's attention. 'He's a flake, anyways.' Steph though. 'And Manny is better toned, anyhow.' Soon enough, the giggling bimbos left with Earl to 'go for a walk'. Then it was just Steph and Manny.
"So, uh Steph!" Manny said seductively. What would you like to do now that we are, uh, *alone*." Stephanie noticed that he emphasized the 'alone' part.
"Well actually, Manny, we're surrounded by at least a dozen people." Manny blushed a bit.
"Well would you like to make it so we are alone?" Manny asked, in that same deep voice that Stephanie found hard to resist right now.
"Alright." She said with a smile. "Let's go for a walk then." Manny took her hand and she giggled her way out of the common room.
!*!*!*!*!*!**!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!**!*!*!*!*!*
As Remus was positioned with Lily on the couch, snogging, [because what else was there to do?] he noticed Stephanie finally get up with the stupid quittich player and leave, giggling. This upset Remus so much that he actually forgot to kiss Lily.
"What's wrong?" Lily mumbled, as she pulled away from Remus.
"Nothing." He said nervously.
"Wanna call it a night?" Lily asked thoughtfully.
"You go ahead." Remus said. "I would really fancy a walk, myself."
"Alright." Lily said, nodding her head. She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Goodnight, darling." She said with a yawn.
"Same to you." Remus said, and then turned around to leave the room, not trying to make it look like he was in a hurry, or anything. As soon as he exited the room, however, he let his eyes dart all over the place, looking for HER, of course. He wandered all of the corridors on the seventh floor and found not a trace of anyone. He ran into a very flustered Avery on the second floor, along with one of the bimbos, who as well looked quite flushed.
At last, upon reaching ground level a good forty-five minutes later, he heard a bunch of movement and giggles coming from a broom closet by the oak doors. He slowly approached the broom closet, but opened the doors quickly. He saw a few beer bottles, muggle kind, and some firewhisky roll out onto the floor. That wasn't all, though. A very shocked Stephanie and Manny Fondue rolled out onto the floor.
Steph looked up at the up side down Remus and said cheerfully (and quite drunkenly), "Hey Remmy!" Remus gave her a disapproving glance before turning to Manny.
"Fondue." He said gruffly.
"Whasmatta?" Manny asked with a heavy slur.
"Go. Now." Remus said tightly. "Before I hurt you!" Manny stole a glance at Remus, and that was all he needed to know that Remus wasn't joking.
"Alright, Lupin." He grumbled, and walked away to the common room while bumping into everything as he cut his jagged path.
"Are you okay...? Remus asked. 'Omigod!' He thought to himself. 'I almost said HER name!' Steph looked at him with a look of [drunken] dislike.
"Whatsit to you?" She asked groggily. "Don't remember you caring about my feelings before." Remus looked hurt.
"Now that's not true!" He said. Steph gave him a questioning glance.
"Have some firewhisky." She said, pointing to the bottle. "It helps." 'Omigod!' He thought again. 'Is she upset about me?' Stephanie, however, wasn't as concerned.
"Hey!" She said suddenly. Remus looked alarmed. "Did you know that you have beautiful eyes?" She asked in a whisper. Remus forgot all about her being drunk.
"You think so?" Remus whispered back. Stephanie nodded slowly. "Well they don't even compare to yours."
"Really?" Steph asked. "Well your lips are beautiful too." She whispered into his ear, as they were now very close.
"Not as nice as yours." He whispered back. Stephanie raised her eyebrow with a drunken giggle. "Come here." He said gruffly as he pulled her into the broom closet and locked the door.
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A/N I never was good at cliffhangers. Sorry. Hope you like!
p.s. I am sorry it took so long! And thank you, *Orligrl* for being my most consistent reveiwer, and one of possibly three readers! I know my story is bad....but still! And sorry it has taken so long, but I have been busy doing things for Steph and her birthday 'Gathering' as she likes it put. So I hope chapter ten will be up soon, I am ALMOST done it, and please review! Thank you!
Raw~Bean