A/N: I thank you for the reviews. You therefore have my blessing on your life witch at this moment in time is officially sacred (hey if you don't believe me ask the pope.) And now, on with the next installment:
Chapter 11: Dropping Eaves
Upon two weeks of appraisal of James's performance via the cloak, Emily had come to two very distinct conclusions.
One: men have no clue what so ever about the way the world works outside their own unnaturally large heads.
Two: Chivalry can be taught.
On the one hand, James didn't seem to understand a concept that created one of the basic ground rules of a chivalrous attitude: humility.
No matter how hard Emily had tried to explain it to him, no matter how many times she had covertly stepped on his foot beneath the cloak during his attempted conversations with Lilly, James Potter's favorite topic of conversation was and, (she feared) always would be: James Potter.
If she had to hear one more time about how he had won the quidditch (apparently a sport played on broomsticks, that sounded a bit like football.) cup for his house team the previous year after performing a spectacular dive in grueling conditions, she would hurl herself out of the nearest window
It was obvious that Lilly Evans shared her sentiments about James's topic of conversation.
Though, to his credit, James had as of late been able to engage Lilly( he had successfully grown into the habit of calling her by her first name), in short civil conversations that did not involve slaps, insults, or any other confrontational devices. And this, Emily thought, was reason to congratulate herself.
So Emily continued to follow James despite the fact that she had promised her observation would only take a few days. James, after all needed all the help he could possibly get while around Sirius Black, who was not exactly the best influence.
Not that Emily didn't have her own motivations (other than James's continued progress) for following the four of them. She had known from the beginning that these little outings would be for her own enjoyment as much as the continued battle for chivalry in today's day and age.
And Emily was beginning to find that nothing gave her more enjoyment than watching Remus Lupin concentrate.
It was really adorably attractive the way little frown lines appeared on his forehead while pouring over the review for one class, or the homework for another. She even found that she had grown fond of his attempts at convincing the others (namely Sirius) to do the same. It was rare when he had the strength to scold his friends, and Emily always felt as though she was being let in on a treat when she heard him do it.
Not to mention that a veil of mystery surrounding Remus continued to pique Emily's curiosity. She still had not discovered what exactly it was that he was keeping from her, but she was now positive that it was something of importance
Needless to say, it was becoming difficult to stick to her mission. She only hoped she could keep James from noticing that she didn't exactly give 100% of her attention to all of his attempts at wooing Lilly, preferring instead to keep her eye on his mysterious friend. This became a problem one afternoon in early June.
"So how did I do?" James whispered once he had pulled Emily aside to a dark corner.
To tell the truth Emily hadn't even realized that James had met Lilly in the hall after Ancient runes. She had been quite intent on watching Remus's attempt to walk, carry his bag, and read the assigned chapter out of his transfiguration book at the same time.
Still, Emily proceeded to answer James's question. Which in essence meant, she proceeded to...er...fib.
"You're doing much better." She felt almost sickened with herself, but it seemed to be what James had needed to hear.
"Thanks." He said giving her a rather adorable smile that turned a guilty knot in her stomach.
"I was thinking of trying to partner her in charms next. Is that a good idea? I mean at this stage..." James said biting his lip and looking hesitantly at Emily
"I think it is a good idea to have more than a two minuet conversation with her. So go for it." She answered in a mannerly voice.
James looked relieved to hear her say this and began to walk back to the hall before Emily grabbed his arm again. It was worth reminding him one last time.
"Just remember, whatever you do, do not talk about yourself." Emily implored him for the umpteenth time. Now, however James put on his cocky grin.
"Well I'll try, but it won't be easy. I mean you try not talking about me."
Emily rolled her eyes, but put the invisibility cloak back over her head and followed him out to the hall, doubting seriously weather humility was a trait that he could ever aquire.
They stoped in front of the charms class room where they met up with Sirius, Remus, and Peter.
"Where have you been Prongs?" Sirius asked, slightly agitated. "We've been waiting out here for ten minuets."
"Sorry, got distracted." James muttered distractedly as Lilly began to walk down the hall with her usual group of giggling girlfriends.
"Right." Sirius said smirking as he watched James's gaze follow the girls into the classroom "You've been er...distracted a lot lately."
"By the way, congratulations on that front." Remus said putting his transfiguration book back into his bag. "You haven't been slapped in what, two weeks now?"
James put on another one of his cocky, triumphant grins. "Yeah, I told you she'd come around."
Of all the egotistical nerve! He seemed to have forgotten that if it hadn't been for Emily he would still be getting the cold shoulder. Emily took it upon herself to remind him of this and promptly slamed her foot down on his.
"Ouch!" James yelped
"What is it?" Peter asked
"Stubbed my toe on that step." James answered but continued under his breath "Would you quit doing that?"
"What did you say?" Sirius asked.
"Nothing." James replied a little too loudly.
"hmm..." Sirius responded looking at him suspiciously as they reached the door and began to take their usual seats. Remus and Peter sat down at a double desk at the very front of the class room.
Sirius began to take the few steps to the desk directly behind them. James, however, took a sudden glance at Lilly Evans. He made a determined sort of grimace and walked over to the other side of the room where Lilly had set down her books at a desk by herself.
"Fine, just abandon us then!" Sirius called looking vaguely sullen as James began to cross the room.
Emily was once again torn as Remus began to take out his charms book.
On the one hand she would have loved to watch him concentrate throughout an entire lesson as he would no doubt do, but on the other hand she had a purpose for using the cloak and she couldn't make up excuses for herself forever.
In the end the latter hand won out and, grudgingly, and with one last longing look at Remus's narrowed eyes as he studied the page in front of him, Emily followed James across the room.
"Hey Lilly." James said in what was supposed to be an off hand, casual voice.
Lilly looked slightly reproachful, but not unhappy to see him. At least they were getting somewhere.
"Hello James" She said slowly bending over her bag to hide a small blush that Emily noticed was creeping into her cheeks.
Perfect. Now they were definitely getting somewhere.
"Look, I was wondering...if you wouldn't mind sharing a desk with me today." James was nervous and he sounded like it.
Good. He was finally beginning to understand sincerity.
That only left humility and that civil to your enemies thing (which wasn't quite so important any more. Especially after Emily had met the slytherins. They truly were a violent, unpleasant lot.)
Lilly looked at him for a moment and then turned to her girlfriends who had been watching the scene with rapped attention. As Lilly looked at them they collectively began to giggle. Before anything else could be said each of the girls headed off to separate desks leaving Lilly quite on her own.
"All right I guess." She said once certain that all of her friends had abandoned her.
"But just this once. I don't want you making a habit out of it." She said in an attempted stern voice. Though Emily was quite sure there was a small trace of a smile on her lips.
All things considered James did very well for himself this time around. He kept most topics of conversation on the lesson at hand, he barely mentioned quidditch or his athletic ability, and actually managed to make Lilly laugh more than once.
Things were going so smoothly in fact, that she was able to steal the occasional glance, (or long luxurious stare) at Remus Lupin who had finished his work and was currently writing intently on a spare piece of parchment. No doubt it was an essay for another class. But she had to wonder what class could possibly cause Remus to write so meticulously?
"So, there's another hogsmead visit next weekend..." James stirred Emily from her silent revilry.
"Is there?" Lilly answered coolly, as if bracing herself. Emily resisted the urge to pull James out of the class room with all the force she could possibly muster.
"Yeah, they say it's the last one of the year."
What the hell was he doing?
"They do, do they?"
It was much too early for the courtship phase to begin. She thought she'd told him that.
"So, do you want to go with me?"
Apparently she'd forgotten or it had conveniently "slipped" his mind.
In any case Lilly didn't look all too enthusiastic.
"James we've been through this. I'm not interested." She said exasperatedly.
"Oh, all right then." James said, not attempting to hide his dejected state. This seemed to win him a bit of sympathy
"But thank you for the offer." She added politely giving him a small smile. Though this seemed to cheer James up a bit, it did not stop him from throwing a mutinous glare in, what he was certain, was Emily's direction.
Emily however didn't catch the look that James sent her way, as she was looking across the room.
Her subject was no longer Remus Lupin, but the greasy haired hook nosed small and lanky teenager sitting just behind him.
She had come to know Severus Snape in the past few weeks as extremely odd. There was no other word for it. He seemed to have a dark and bitter aura. Emily was in fact certain that he was one of the quiet ones, waiting, just waiting for his chance to snap. To do something so sinisterly evil that no one could ever have possibly seen it coming.
And it was clear that the foursome that she followed had the same feeling about him, only they (two of them at least...three guesses which two) chose to take a more...er... active role in Snape's inevitable combustion. There were times when they were down right cruel to the poor boy.
And there were times when she herself did feel sorry for him, but now was not one of those times.
For now Severus Snape was wearing an evil smirk on his gaunt face and eying Remus's half open bag with undisguised glee as Remus attempted to covertly fold four pieces of parchment and stuff them into his bag with out any one noticing.
Emily got the feeling that, like James with Lilly's diary, these pieces of parchment were something that Remus did not want any one else to see.
It was clear however, that like Emily, Severus Snape had seen them. It was also clear by the gleam of triumph in Snape's eyes that, unlike Emily, he planed to use this knowledge to his advantage. Whatever that was.
Well Emily wouldn't stand for it. She had to stop whatever he was planning to do. After all, Remus had never done anything to him. And she wouldn't watch him get in trouble because some undoubtedly quiet homicidal maniac had pinned him down as a target.
She would have to keep a close eye on Severus Snape.
Quietly she walked over to the other side of the room and slipped between Snape's desk and the small space before Remus and Peter's row.
Snape was still eying Remus's bag which was lying on the side of the wall, apparently currently unguarded, with fervor.
It was only moments later that the bell rung and Severus stood up like a shot, grabbed his bag and hurried down the steps.
When he reached the wall where Remus's bag had been haphazardly laid, he took a quick look at Remus who was busy closing his book and meticulously, almost lovingly, folding another piece of parchment, looking away from his bag.
Satisfied, Snape quickly, quietly, grabbed the bag by the handels and walked briskly out of the class room before anyone else.
Emily knew it. She knew she didn't like him from the moment she laid eyes on him. (Though, she thought, he would make a quite fitting mysterious evil villan...)
But that didn't matter now. Now, somehow, she had to get the bag away from Severus Snape before he saw...whatever it was that Remus didn't want him to see.
Emily followed Snape out of the classroom and into a dark corner where he opened the bag and took out the four folded pieces of parchment. He unfolded the first with a smile lighting his face.
Emily tried to think of something she could do to get that parchment from Snape's grasp. She inched closer to him trying to see it she could possibly reach it from over his shoulder. Yes that might work.
She had almost reached her hand out to take the pilfered object from Snae's greasy hands when three words written at the top made her stop dead in her tracks:
My Dearest Emily...
Love you.)