It's been a long time, no? Heh... I promise this story won't be as forgettable as it has been. The next chapter will come in at most a week. If it doesn't, I give any of you permission to storm my house with a giant mob.

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"And the difference is what?" James grunted angrily. He and Lily were in the Library and had been there for quite some time already. James had explained Animagi again, and Lily finally understood (or so she said) and now it was James's turn to "learn".

"You have to put the emphasis on the right syllable." Lily sighed and demonstrated. "It's not 'per-BE-a-TUS', it's 'PER-be-A-tus'."

James rolled his eyes and tried again. "PER-be-a-TUS."

A soft giggle emitted from behind a nearby bookshelf. James stared over at it angrily. "Is something funny?"

A rather short girl stepped out. She had light brown hair that fell just above her shoulders and her small, blue eyes were hidden behind intellectual glasses. Her face could only be described as 'modestly pretty', but an air of importance made her presence command attention- and get it. She smiled slyly.

"Oh, nothing. It's just, you..." She paused when she noticed the threatening glare James was giving her. "You... two are just so cute together."

James's frown morphed from a sour frown to a gigantic grin in a second; Lily's face did the exact reverse.

"Well thank you for your input, but we need to be getting back to work. I definitely do not plan on staying here all night trying to teach an uncooperative toerag the simplest of happiness charms just because HE doesn't pay attention during class." Lily ranted. She needed some sleep soon or someone was going to get hurt and frankly she didn't care who.

"I do TOO pay attention is class, just not to the teacher..." James attempted to bat his eyes bashfully at Lily. It didn't work.

"Well, stop it." She replied, this time more subdued.

"Would you like some help? With the tutoring, that is." The girl asked. Lily had nearly forgot the girl was there, but eyed her warily. The girl inched towards Lily carefully and whispered into her ear.

"I was really laughing because he just sounds so... dumb, to put it bluntly."

Lily gave a small smile despite herself and laughed appreciatively. She gestured for the girl to sit down across from her and James.

"By the way, my name is L-" Lily started, but the girl interrupted.

"I know who you are, Lily. Everyone does."

"Do they? But-... uh... wha-? How?" Lily stuttered. She honestly didn't think people were that familiar with her.

"Every girl know you out of jealousy, except me, of course, because you hang around with the Marauders."

"Not willfully." Lily muttered.

James ignored the last remark and kept the conversation going. "So, I assume you know I'm James." He waited for the girl to confirm this and continued. "And you are?"

"The name's Cathleen. You can call me Cath or Cathy if you like. I'm a sixth year Ravenclaw. In your Herbology class, I am." she answered.

"Well, thanks for the offer, Cathy, but Lily here..."

"Is doing a terrible teaching job." Lily finished James's sentence, albeit in a completely different manner than how he had intended it to go. Cathy laughed again.

"That's alright," she said, "not all of us were meant to be teachers."

"Prongs!" came a loud, deep voice from the front of the Library. The owner of the voice was immediately shushed by at least twelve greatly disturbed individuals.

"Sheesh," Sirius said as her slouched over towards James, his voice getting louder as he went to get back at those who shushed him, "You'd think they would appreciate a little study break. But no, they've all got sticks shoved so far up their a-"

"Padfoot! You know Cathy? She's got Herbology with us." James interjected with perfect timing.

"Funny, I've never noticed her. Ow!" Sirius had just received an elbow jab from Lily who mouthed 'be nice, talk to her.'

Sirius rolled his eyes, but took the time look Cathy up and down. Truth be told, he had noticed her once. She had a nice enough body and that certain vigor dripping from her eyes, but he dismissed her when he found her not to be the type to fawn all over him.

"Siri-poo!" Another voice, this one high-pitched and grating, came from the door. Another round of shushing came. Sirius groaned.

"Man, Martha's barking mad, follows me everywhere. She won't leave me alone, that one... oh, hi sweetie..."

Martha flashed a dreamy grin. "I thought we were going to have a picnic out by the lake." She said sweetly. She spotted Cathy and glanced at her suspiciously. "And who is this?"

"Cathy, a Ravenclaw in our year." James offered.

"Right," Sirius nodded, "And Cathy, this is Martha, my..."

"Girlfriend. I'm his girlfriend." Martha finished and sneered in Cathy's general direction.

Sirius was taken aback by Martha's rudeness and looked away with anger. "And as far as that picnic goes, I was only thinking of your figure, snuggle-butt. You had a rather large lunch and quite a bit of that ice cream I conjured for you." Sirius said, adding a light poke to her midsection.

Martha's eyes watered. "Oh..." she said pathetically and muttered something that sounded like, "I guess I'll see you in the morning," and disappeared, a lot quieter than how she appeared.

"That," started Lily, "was absolutely horrid."

"You could've done better?" Sirius challenged, still somewhat irked by Martha's attitude toward Cathy.

"Aye. Anyone could have. You have utterly no tact." Lily replied.

"I don't need tact." Sirius winked. "That's why I have such gorgeous features." Lily furrowed her brow.

"You're going to end up a bitter, lonely, old man!" She fumed.

"But a handsome digger, nonetheless."

James took this opportunity to save his best friend by taking Lily by the elbow and leading her out to the hallway with the excuse of a headache from so much work. Behind him, he heard Sirius so naively ask, "Was it something I said?" Once outside, James let her go.

"I thought I told you not to drag me anywhere." She said gruffly.

"Sirius's safety is important to me. I swear, he's had so many women, you'd think he'd learn about them by now. I was just kind of afraid you were going to take his head off in there... sorry."

"No, no... it's ok. I think I might have. So, uh..." Lily cleared her throat, "thanks."

"No problem," James beamed. "So, to the common room, then?" Lily nodded.

They walked through the hall without talking. James's fingers brushed Lily's hand again, this time finding their way into it. James had only a moment to celebrate being able to hold her hand before she yanked it away.

"Good evening, Professor Dumbledore." She said, embarrassed that he had seen as much as he had.

"Ah, Mister Potter, Miss Evans. What is this I hear about you being nice to each other?" Dumbledore asked in a relaxed tone, but his eyes were very evidently excited.

"Not being mean doesn't exactly translate to being nice." Lily huffed.

"Well, then, civil. You were being civil." He corrected.

"Don't go spreading it around."

"Aha... anyway, you two are no doubt some of the smartest in your year. I've devised a little advanced workshop for the bright students. I'd enjoy it very much if you were to attend. Be there tomorrow night at eight sharp." Dumbledore bowed his head slightly and continued on his way. Lily knocked herself out of her daze and turned quickly.

"Wait, Professor!" He turned toward Lily's confused visage. "You never told us where we are to be."

"Didn't I? I suppose I didn't. Well, what with my age and all, you never can tell, I guess." He chuckled. "I needn't tell you now though. I'm sure Mister Potter has a certain way of knowing where I'll be." He emphasized the last three words and looked directly at James, who had a frighteningly shocked expression. "Hm? So, you two mut simply be together before that time." With that, he returned to his walking, leaving two very stunned students.

"He must know everything... he even knows about the..." James whispered.

"The what?" Lily prompted.

"Er, nothing. It's... nothing."

Lily looked skeptical. "But what does he mean? Obviously it's something."

"It is NOT something. It is the opposite of something. Nothing is the opposite of something. Therefore...?" James said curtly.

"It's nothing..." Lily finished hesitantly and James nodded. "Chimera!" she mumbled to the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Now, now, dear. Hold your temper." The Fat Lady warned, but Lily pushed right past her and once inside, rounded on James.

"You're lying and I don't have to be a fool to know it. Don't think I'm dumb. I'm the opposite of dumb. Smart is the opposite of dumb. Therefore...?" she spat spitefully.

"Don't mock me!" James whispered vehemently. "It's up to me whether or not to tell you and you don't seem very receptive right now!"

Lily's cheeks flushed pink. "Why you ruddy little twit! You know perfectly well that it's your fault I'm angry in the first place!"

"Oh, is that so? I hadn't the foggiest!" James retorted and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"Fine," Lily growled, "keep your secret. See if I care!"

"Merlin, Lily. You're impossible!"

"Oh, I'm impossible? Go soil yourself!"

A heavy silence settled upon the room and Lily stormed up the stairs to the girl's dormitories where she knew James couldn't trick his way into following her.

James flopped onto an overstuffed couch and ran his hand through his messy-chic hair.

"One step forward, two steps back," he sighed.

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TeenTypist: Thankyou. Yeah... this time it's been over two months. You probably forgot about this, but I can't blame you, it's been so long and it probably is pretty forgettable. Hope you at least kind of like it still.

MorphManiac: Of course I did! And I wouldn't mind if you contributed other ideas as my imagination seems to be on a dry spell (as you can see by how long I left this off).

Tanya J Potter: Thanks! I KNOW this doesn't qualify as soon, but thank you!

FrightninglyObsessed: THANK YOU!!!

Auroraborealis: This time it's been longer... I've had tennis practice and such... but mostly writer's block, sorry. Thanks.

I-Love-Orlando-390: Thank you and HAPPY LATE, LATE BIRTHDAY! This IS your present, but I accidentally sent it using one of those imitation postal services. First it got shipped to India, then Mars, then finally to you! Sorry it took so long, hope you enjoy. (PS, I love Orlando, too!)

Luthein: Thanks. Do you mean the stars around some words? Those are supposed to put emphasis on some words. Don't get too bogged down with it if you don't get it because it's not that important.

Gothic-Cutie-Blues: Thanks!

Lily Lupin89: I struggle through terrible writer's block, that's how. Seriously, though, sometimes I dream about it and I wake up and start writing and this comes out. Not great, but I think I'm proud of it.

Shayley Rain: This was not soon, sorry. I'm just not one of those writers who can crank out a chapter a day, or week for that matter. But, my classes are nearly over (one week, then exams!), maybe then I'll give quicler updates.

kurtcobain4eva: Thanks! Doesn't MorphManiac have good ideas? She doesn't seem to think so, but she does. Yeah, I mourned the ten year anniversary. Wore my black Kurt shirt and spent the entire day listening to my whole Nirvana collection (I think I'm only missing one now) and reading through his journals and other books I have. sigh What a shame to lose him so young...