Hey guys thanks for reading. I know. this is the longest chapter so far and i must say that i think that it might be oneof the few that is this long!
Thanks for reading
Luv Yas
Chapter 6- You have got to be Joking.
'Come on guys help me find my Quidditch robes.' Hannah nagged one bright very early morning. She joined the Ravenclaw Quidditch team last year. The year they spent as real teenagers for the first time. They—Jessie, Lily, Anna, Sasha, Stefi and finally Hannah—groaned and Hannah who was now looking at her friends pleadingly went over in the middle of all the beds.
'Come on guys its not my fault that we have to get started picking out people for our team this early in the morning.'
'Hannah, it's bleeping six in the morning. This early is an understatement.' Jessie groaned from under her pillow.
It was then Hannah remembered something. 'You want me to beat Gryffindore don't you?' Hannah new at least three of them would be on her side for a few minutes and she was right.
Lily, Stefi and Sasha all forcefully pulled themselves out of bed. They all had their reason for disliking the Gryffindores. Last year, their third year was filled with interesting accidents. Or not. Lily's dislike of James Potter, seeker of the Gryffindore Quidditch team increased when he orchestrated a prank against their new dorm mate, Stefi on her first, well second day of school here at Hogwarts. So that prank gained them another member of hate the Gryffindore boys. Sash, well she was a different story. Hannah wasn't sure how she got to dislike the Gryffindore boys so much. Lily and Stefi never really asked her they just was glad she was on their side for once. Jessie hadn't really changed her opinion of the Marauders, as they liked to be called. Maybe it was because she was dating of them? Yesterday had made it a year since the two of them started going out, as Jessie would remind them every day. Jessie had made the first move and asked the bloke out and now it seemed that it was a match made in heaven or so she would like to think.
None of them had a boyfriend so it was because of Jessie they had hope. All of them were fourteen years old and though a couple of them would really care for a boyfriend right now it was hard not to be interested in them. According to Anna it was in the blood. Women can't live with them and they can't live without them. Lily stubbornly said that it was a girl's prerogative to be without a man. They don't really need them. Independence was the way to go. They all changed a lot over the year too. Because they hadn't seen each other as much for the two months made the changes stand out more but all of them were slightly different. Lily had gotten taller and gained a bit of weight, which she gladly embraced. Sasha and Jessie had got taller as well but Jess was taller than Sash and pointed it out gladly rubbing it in her cousin's face. Anna and Steffi's hair had changed mot of all both getting a bit longer but looked different in new styles. Hannah really didn't think she had changed and twisted her trainer top more snugly on her self, okay so she had biceps. She hadn't really though of that as changed but she figured Quidditch could do that for you.
Hannah was also the youngest player on the team so far. Since they were recruiting two new people that day she might not be the youngest anymore. Lily, Stefi and Sasha pulled themselves out of bed each thinking that Hannah could never find anything on her own. After about five minutes they found her robes and climbed back into bed.
'Thanks guys, see you later.' She said before disappearing. The dun hadn't even risen properly but she was hyper and ready to go. They could have strangled her for being such a morning person.
It was a half an hour later that Sasha got up from her bed. She couldn't go back to sleep so she thought that she might as well be the first to use the bathroom. When she came out Anna was stretching, in the act of climbing out of bed. So by the time eight o clock had rolled around all five were awake and dressed. They blamed waking up this early on a Saturday morning on Hannah. At breakfast the Great Hall was scarce but they did see Sasha and Jessie's cousin, Sarah and her friends at the Gryffindore table. Of course just like any other time they were pointedly ignored. Lily didn't understand why their family was like that, mind you she wasn't one to talk because of her sister but if she had cousins she would be the best of friends with them.
Just like Jessie and Sasha who tormented each other but only in fun. This past summer had been the worst. Petunia had constantly called her the freak of nature but Lily had hardly paid her any mind. Their parents Lily knew were getting worried about their daughters and their mutual dislike for one another. Of course like normal parents they wanted to see a family physiologist—a muggle therapist— but Lily, although wanted her family to love each other and live happily ever after had to convince her parents that they couldn't see the doctor because how would they explain Lily's schooling and the fact that one of the main reasons for Petunia's dislike for her was because she was a witch.
Of course she really didn't dislike people often. She made it a rule never to hate people so to dislike was kinder. Like, Potter for instance. Ever since she confronted him nearly a year ago he had made it his personal crusade to prank her. She didn't know why she had to open her big mouth. Just last week he had magnetised her shoes. She could walk to any of her classes with out people's hair and metal things sticking to her feet. She fixed it by lunch but she also wanted to fix him. To her utter morality she didn't do anything to him with seeming as though she was bad as he was.
Also she made it a point never to provoke him. She had in fact told her friends that if they ever see her going blue from holding her breath in anger towards Potter to get him out of her sight and at least hit her so that she could stop. And then as if it was her mind had conjured him up James Potter entered the great hall and Lily unwillingly remembered what Jessie had mentioned to her a while ago and scowled. At the beginning of the year she had gotten into a fight with him and had stalked into the dorm room. There, Jessie had come in and listened to her tirade but she had also said something else. Something that Lily never ever wanted repeated again.
Of course it was just a fleeting thought on Jessie's part because she hardly believed it herself. It was a long shot but she had said it anyway.
'Lily calm down, have you ever thought about the real reason that you dislike James so much?'
Lily had raised her eyebrow, 'James? Since when you started to refer to him as James? OH wait never mind I know you date one of his best friends of course you would call him by his first name. But to answer your question yes I have thought about it. I don't make it my personal mission to dislike anybody so I know why he drives me crazy. It's the fact that he always hexes and pranks everyone with regard for their feelings. And people have feelings you know.'
'Lily I know he does that but they encourage it sometimes. Like the Slytherins for instance, you think Lucious Malfoy just like to sit idly by and see the Gryffindores beat them in Quidditch or anything else? They purposely goad them sometimes, especially Sirius and him. Snape can't stand them either as well. So cut him a little slack sometimes.'
'I would Jessie but how do you explain the others? And me for instance.'
'I can't really but you must remember as well that if you hadn't confronted him last year he wouldn't have known who you were really.'
That was another thing that made her mad at him; it was as though she hadn't really existed to him until she had confronted him. Which was bloody annoying. Then Jessie had dropped that stupid bombshell on her. Like if she was supposed to forget what her best friends said, even if she wasn't sure of it herself.
'When you think about it Lily, I know this might not be true I highly doubt it myself but what if all this anger has to do with something else besides him being a sort of bully.'
'What are you going on about Jessie?'
'I mean Lily that it could probably be that you have a different sort of feelings for him. That you may like him.'
'You have got to be joking. Please tell me that you are.' Lily had asked incredulously.
'I'm not really. I don't really believe it but you have to think too that there may be some truth to it but not in your case. I read in this magazine that when girls and boys really appear to hate each other somewhere under the surface there is an underlying attraction towards the other.' Jessie said but had stopped and looked at Lily's scowl. 'Hey its what the magazine said but let me finish. Okay the underlying attraction is more passionate than any kind of other relationship because since it's a love/hate thing the passion you use in hate will be so much more useful toward the love part of the relationship.'
'But Jessie you're forgetting one thing I don't hate him, I just dislike his personality a tiny bit. Okay a whole lot but that doesn't mean anything.'
'I know that Lily I'm just letting you know what the Magazine says. And as I said before I hadn't really believed it really but it really did remind me so much of you and James.'
'Those people probably don't know what they're talking about.'
'But Lily they took a survey and it was the most promising witches and wizards in the therapeutically known world. Okay, okay I give I'll drop it. As I said before I highly doubted it anyway.' She said and finished the last part quickly.
After that Jessie never brought up the subject again and as Lily looked at one of the banes of her existence stuffing him self with food Lily snorted. Her and James? An underlying attraction? Yeah right. Not in this bloody millennium.
James and the others headed down to the great hall for breakfast. He, Matt and Sirius should have had Quidditch practice that morning but the Ravenclaw team had booked the pitch first so they had nothing to do really than sit there and feed eggs and sausages into his mouth. He looked of over that the table in question and saw the girls of his same year. One of them was Remus's girl and she was pretty cool. So far Remus had the longest standing relationship with a girl but he had said he wasn't going to share his forbidden secret with her. They all of course new of it.
But one thing they weren't going to let Remus go through alone was becoming a werewolf every month at the full moon. All of them were studying and researching. They were going to become something that they hoped would help their friend during his transformation. So that he wouldn't be alone and lose to the animal within him. Of course James had agreed with him. It was his secret; he could do what he wanted with it. But James, Sirius and even Peter had come up with their limit of excuses. Remus had his first batch of excuses used up within the first six months, the same ones he had used on them when they had asked. For the other months they other three had come with the rest.
'James would you stop looking over there.' Exclaimed Sirius who was sitting there buttering his toast and looking James at the same time.
'Looking over where Sirius. I have no idea what you're talking about.' James replied scowling because he was caught doing something he caught himself doing a couple times. Not because he wanted to mind you. He didn't even find her pretty he said to himself over and over.
One of these days he'll believe that, he was sure. The girl was a bloody pest and didn't sit well with him that he found her to be easy on the eyes.
'Never mind James I understand where you're coming from.' He said but James knew Sirius had no idea what he was talking about. Sirius prided himself to being able to dish out subsequent support and advice to anyone. It didn't matter that half of what he said didn't make sense.
Sirius said he understood but he probably though James looking over there to think about a prank that needed to be pulled on her. Well he was partly right. He didn't know why but he wanted to show Lily Evans that she should judge people without knowing how they worked. Evans didn't know the first thing about how he operated. And he for one wasn't going to tell her. Pulling pranks on her somehow satisfied his soul in getting back at her. Of course none of it was dangerous. It was just orchestrated to annoy the hell out of her. She hadn't spoke directly to him since last year. He partly enjoyed that and he partly could wait for when she finally burst.
Just then their Quidditch Captain—a seventh year—Bryan Carey and a part time Marauder Matthew Ashton came up to them. Bryan was the lead chaser on their team and Matt was their keeper. James played seeker, the spot he got two years ago. Sirius was one of the beaters. The other people who held the other positions are a sixth year girl who was a chaser—Nadia Blanca—another seventh year, who was Sirius's cousin —Andi— was the other chaser and the last person on the team was Jared Dunn who was in sixth year and a the last beater.
They were a pretty good team and won against Slytherin last year after slaughtering the Ravenclaw team. They didn't win by much mind you, twenty points was little to win by.
'Hey there, well I've booked the pitch for sure tomorrow morning so be ready, I hear that the Slytherin team has gotten better this year.' James highly doubted that the Slytherins will ever be a better team but they almost lost to them last year so he really couldn't say much. He just nodded knowing that they were going to train harder this year.
Matt then went and sat next to his girlfriend of four months Kit. She was the twin sister to Kat, one of Sirius's exes. Sitting there they loaded up their plates and started eating with the rest of them.
After Remus was finished with his breakfast he left them and went to sit next to his girl and her friends. James then decided to ditch his mates and go chat up some girls. After all he was single once more.
Kim hadn't worked out and since then he had decided not to ask anyone out again. Well at least for the rest of the year. Since it was almost October in the new school year he figured that he might as well find himself a good companion to take out to Hogsmede. Walking out of the great hall it seemed like fate that the first person to see walking down the corridor was Leah Carrier. Although she was in Slytherin she impressed him very much. It was well known around the school that Leah didn't like a lot of girls her age. Especially Megan Matthews and Arlene Gil from his own House and year as well as most of the Ravenclaw girls.
Lily Evans included. Actually she and her friend Jenna really seemed to dislike Lily and her friend Jessie, who was Remus's girlfriend. He seemed to have something in common with her and she was also really pretty. She always flirted with him but he never really thought about asking her out until now. He wondered if she was seeing someone. If she was he probably was someone in the older years. He liked her for that too. She thought of herself more maturely than the rest of the girls, he really liked that. Spotting him she flashed him a smile and he slowed down, he really hadn't decided if he should ask her out yet.
'Hello James. It's so nice to see you. I was hope we could get together soon. I really need to ask you about that Potions assignment we got yesterday.' She said smiling again and he saw all her perfect teeth lined up.
Potions assignment? There wasn't really a Potions assignment. In fact there was one but unless he missed his guess he was sure it was seriously simple, he could have figured it out in a few seconds and he knew she could have too. Grinning at her he saw what she was getting at.
'Yeah sure, when would you like to study?' he replied smoothly. He was only will to do so much in the name of education.
She ran a finger from his shoulder to halfway down his chest coming closer. 'Anytime would be fine James.'
'Great how about now?' he said smirking from within.
'Sure where and when do we start?'
'Sure where and when do we start?'
James answered her and then after getting their books he led the way to a quiet place on the grounds.
It was just past Halloween when Remus stormed up angrily into the dorm room and James as well as Sirius wasn't sure what set him off. It seemed to them, or to Sirius that he had a bee in his bonnet. James had no idea where his friend had gotten such wording from but he had to struggle not to laugh. Remus was in a bind and they didn't need to be laughing their heads off they needed to find out what was wrong. They were of course on in the dorm because for the moment it was the only safe place for either of them to read up more on becoming animagus.
'What's got your knickers in a twist?' Sirius asked and James shot him a glance that said give it up. Sirius was in an odd phase. Everything he said has to relate to some sort of metaphor or saying.
'Jessie. I tell you she is getting on my nerves.'
Jessie? Jessica Ann Adams the most fantabulous girl in the world—according the Remus a month ago—is getting on his nerves. James thought incredulously but the more though about it more he wondered what it could be about. The only thing that James could come up with was that it had to do with Remus's time of the month.
It seemed Sirius figured out that it was the full moon as well.
'Asking about your trips is she?'
'Yes and she wont take a simple "None of your business" either.'
'Well so would I if you used those words and that tone.' James informed his friend, so much for being tactful about the whole thing.
'Why don't you just tell her? I mean if you really care about her, why don't you just get it out all in the open. I would be less painful that way.'
'No way I am not telling her anything of the sort. Remember Mindy? I told her and she ran screaming for the hills. If the two of you hadn't obliviated her mind where would I be? In a cage that's where I'll be.'
James scowled at him. 'You can't compare everyone to her. She was a dim witted idiot of a girl.'
'I'm still not telling her.'
'Why?'
'Just because and anyway its too late. I already broke up with her.'
'What?'
'I told her in no uncertain terms that if she continued to harass me that maybe we shouldn't see each other anymore. She said that if caring about where someone she cares about is going every month is a crime then she was guilty of it. And I said well I guess its over then, then I walked out.'
After this brave statement in front of all this dorm mates Remus when into the loo and slammed the door locking himself in there. After this slight tantrum James had to pound Peter's back because he was chocking on his water when Remus had announced that he called it off with Jessie. Bloody hell, he was shocked. James had never expected Remus to break it off with the girl. He had more expected Jessie to break it off with him if they were going to spilt. Sirius was still shaking his head. Even he had better tact than that. They were going to have to talk to him about trusting people. He was a nice fellow but he would not survive the harsh realities of the world if he didn't trust the people who care about him.
Meanwhile Jessie was still sitting where Remus had left her no less than fifteen minutes ago, in the corner of the library where there were sofas and a fireplace. Angry eyes shone in her eyes and she willed herself not to shed them. Why should she anyway? He had no right to treat her the way he did. She gave him over a year of her life and how did he repay that respect? By not trusting him that's what, she would not make that mistake ever again. Just because she had asked him about where he went every month. Was it her fault she found that her boyfriend disappearing every month was strange? And that he come up with all the excuse known to man. And was it her fault that she was getting tired of hearing them anyway and that she needed honesty in a relationship? Was it her fault again that she expected more from this Marauder than the rest—that at least this one wouldn't be like the others?
Guess she was wrong.
Boy did she want to smash something. Oh she knew what she wanted to smash, Remus's head. Thinking about it she got an evil glint in her eye.
'Uh oh, you look ready to kill someone.' An accented voice said from somewhere in front of her.
Looking to the right she saw who was speaking to her. I was Matt Ashton. That Australian accent of his always got to her. It was so exotic and it somehow suited him. Jessie wondered what he was doing here. She saw him earlier with his girlfriend.
'Yeah I might be. Well I'm in the mood anyway.'
Matt raised his eyebrow. Well he knew what she was talking about. In fact if the few people who were in the library about twenty minutes ago were standing where he was they would know what she was talking about as well. Every had heard the argument between Jessie and Remus, Kit hadn't heard though. She had left just before the argument picked up volume. He just stopped by to see if she was alright because Remus really let her have it. It really wasn't her fault anyway. But he was surprised she was wasn't crying. Well he was twenty minutes after the event so he really didn't know. Matt was also not going to bring up anything; he will let her talk if she wanted too. She surprised him by her next statement.
'I guess you heard all that huh?'
'Uh, yeah I'm afraid so.'
'Don't be, we would have broken up sooner or later but I just need to um ask you a question. If you don't want to get involved it fine.'
'No it's okay, of course it does depend what the question is.'
'Um okay well do you think it was wrong of me wanting to total honest truth from someone? I mean I need a blokes prospective. Do you think I was too needy in wanting total honesty in a relationship?'
Matt though carefully before answering. 'What I think is that there never really is total honesty in a relationship. There is always some little bit you don't know about the other person but I understand what you mean. I guess it wasn't wrong of you because in this case he was keeping a big part of himself away from you, so no I don't think you were needy.'
She smiled wanly. 'Thanks I needed some reprieve.' But then she grinned. 'I really like your accent you know.'
Jessie really didn't know what made her suddenly tell him that. Maybe it was because he listened to her and agreed with her a certain degree. She certainly hadn't expected a person from a male species to agree with her especially someone from her ex's own house. Didn't the have a loyalty thing to uphold?
'Thanks.' Replied Matt. The compliment wasn't strange. A lot of people compliment him on it. It was one of the reasons that he didn't want it to change. Going to school full of Brits at a young age would have influenced change but he tried his best to keep it.
'Um, have you ever thought of being a err fireman after school?'
'A fire man? Why would I want to catch myself on fire for a living?'
'Oh never mind its okay.' Jessie said waving away what she just blurted out. She could have slapped herself for asking such a thing. Thank the gods that he didn't know what the heck she was asking. Firemen what was she thinking. At least he wasn't taking muggle studies otherwise he might know what she was going on about
Hell, she didn't know what she was going on about. Getting up from her place on the couch nearest to the fire she shot him a thankful smile. He did make her feel better and at least he hadn't come when she was crying. That would have been too horrible and embarrassing for a boy, any boy to see a girl in that state. They would think she was a blubbering fool. Well would think she was a blubbering fool at least.
'Matthew? Thanks for listening.'
'Anytime, Jessica.'
They smiled before Jessie left the library to go to her dorm. Her friend would be another pillar of support for her. She hated to think what Lily might say. Everyone really thought that Remus was the best Marauder. Now lily would hate them all. She would hate him because Jessie hated him.
One thing was for sure she was going to speak to Remus ever again. She wouldn't even consider doing so if he was the last man on the planet. When Jessie got upstairs she noticed her muggle fireman's calendar. It was fairly huge with glossy pictures. She had gotten it one day while she was out shopping for muggle things with Lily and Sasha. Taking out her wand she flipped the picture over. She new she would blush every time she saw it.
It wasn't too long before she knew she had to tell the girls everything. They would probably here from someone who had over heard them arguing. They arrived in the dorms a few minutes form each other and found Jessie sitting on her four-poster with her wand out. In front of her was big picture of Remus and she was defacing it. She was using spells that altered the pictures appearance and actions. He was either attempting to kick himself and rub his nose at the same time or he was throwing darts at a picture of himself.
They could see she was really angry. Sasha and Anna had heard about the argument. The others had not. That was why they were puzzled beyond understanding of what Jessie was doing. To say Lily hit the roof was an understatement. She started talking about how she thought Remus was the only decent one, never again would she think that. But after a while she calmed down because she realised that her friend might be hurting and it wasn't making any sense to trash the boy in front her but when they tried to ask if she was okay she start declaring things a on her own.
One she wasn't ever going to talk to him in her life ever again but realistically said that it may last for the rest of the school year or at least till she finds herself another boyfriend, she wasn't going to limit herself hoping he would change is mind one day and open up to her. The second thing was that she was never going to ask another boy out again, okay maybe she might but she'll cross that stupid bridge when she came to it. Third she wasn't going to sulk over any man. He could go and jump in the freezing lake for all she cared because she doesn't care if he ended up along for the rest of his bloody life.
Finally though after she said all these things a couple of tears fell from her eyes. She was going to cry but it still hurt. It hurt that he couldn't have trusted her enough to let her in.
Though it was slightly difficult for Jessie to get over Remus things went along smoothly. Anna was going out with Chris Parker; he was blue eyed and dark haired as well as gorgeous. Each of them would take turned telling one person or the other, mostly Sasha though would was only too glad to listen.
She was a hopeless romantic even if she didn't have a boyfriend as of yet. Of course she wanted one but so far she didn't have any suitors. But there was this one person, who made her blood boil with anger. She really disliked him. On top of that she had once fancied the thought that she somewhat half in love with him.
Bloody idiot.
The seasons changed and Quidditch was played. Gryffindore won the last match against Slytherin and the team celebrated. James had already called it quits with Leah and had celebrated with his friends instead. Sirius's girlfriend Mia Sabrina wasn't allowed in the Gryffindore common so he made out with her a little just outside before going in.
When the finals rolled around it was Gryffindore against Ravenclaw for the first time in five years. The entire Ravenclaw forth year girls were cheering on Hannah as their team played their best. It was only a week before final exams and every one was glad form the break of studying.
But through out the entire match it seemed that Ravenclaw was going to win. They had a strong chaser team this year and the score was thirty—one hundred and eighty, in their favour. However at the last minute Lacey Pasquelini made a goal and two seconds after James Potter caught the snitch.
Gryffindore had won the Quiddtich cup and were elated because that made them also eligible for top spot in the House cup.
True to her word Jessie hadn't spoken to Remus since that faithful day. There was this one time he had sort of attempted an apology but it fell flat when Jessie told her cousin who was standing next to her to let her ex know that she didn't care.
Soon exams were over and the leaving feast had arrived. Lily loathed the sight of Potter as always because just yesterday he had made her shirt say instead of "Girls Rule" say "I'm a Prissy Pants". Jessie for once had realised that she finally did get over Remus. Sasha was bored. Anna was sitting next to her beau Chris while Stefi let her eyes wander over to the Gryffindore table where the fifth year of her dreams sat. Hannah however was still stewing over the loss of the Quidditch and the grimness had returned at full force when Dumbledore awarded the house cup to them as well.
The end of other year, thought Lily as she clambered on the train with her friends that took them home.
