!!!HEY!!! Okay, well this is it, the last chapter. The last one! Okay, so enjoy! !!
Chapter Ten: "The Way"
Clay Aiken
Lily gave James her gift, which turned out to be a one of a kind broom compass that would warn the rider during a Quidditch Game if a bludger was coming at them. James seemed thoroughly excited, like a little kid at Christmas.
"Lily thanks so much!" he said with a childish grin, running his thumbs over the face of the compass.
"Well, I think we're about square now, wouldn't you say?" she laughed at his expression. He is so cute when he acts like that! She thought, gazing into his chocolaty brown eyes.
"Yeah, we're square." He repeated, still transfixed by the shiny face of Lily's gift.
------
Five Days Later…
Exams!
------
Lily sighed and re-read for the tenth time question #100.
100) describe the correct wand movements to transfigure a tea set into a pack of rodents.
Lily hesitated. She knew these answers like the back of her hand, but there was something tugging at the back of her mind; something that kept making her look up across the Great Hall at James. Focus on the exam Lily! This is not the time to be thinking all about James! She scolded for letting herself get carried away in her thoughts.
Describe the correct wand move-
He was playing with his hair, like we usually was, his other hand gripping a quill that was whizzing across the page with ease. That wasn't a surprise, James' best subject was easily Transfiguration, and he was doubtlessly through with the test already, even though they were only an hour in.
Describe the correct wand-
Those eyes… those hazel eyes… they were sparkling as anticipated. This exam wasn't fazing James in the slightest. Lily remembered all the times she had glared angrily into those eyes, hating their color, hating the boy owning them, hating everything about them. It was a silly thought now, after everything he'd done for her…
Describe the cor-
And then there was his smile, a straight toothed almost smirk that he typically wore. She managed to suppress a giggle as she thought about all the times that grin had given away a prank, or a surprise he had planned. LILY! Pay attention to the test, and stop acting like a crazed James Potter fan girl! She told herself, shaking her head, as if that would shake James from her thoughts.
Describe-
Lily bent her head over the desk, frustrated. Why couldn't she just concentrate?!
--
Across the Great Hall, James Potter sat back in his chair. This Transfiguration exam was a piece of cake! As he glanced up from his paper, he caught sight of Lily's desk. She had her head propped up with her left hand and with her right she was holding her quill on one spot of her parchment, making a severe ink blot. He cocked his head. What on earth could be bothering Lily Evans during an exam?
He sighed and looked back down at his exam paper.
149) what are the four steps in becoming an animangus?
James smiled, knowing exactly how to become and animangus. He wrote the answer and then reflected on it. He had, after all, mastered that process years ago in order to accompany Remus when the full moon was out. His best friend Remus was a werewolf, but no one but the Marauders knew about it.
He looked over to where his friend was seated, his head over his paper, scribbling away furiously at his piece of parchment. Moony was smart, like James was. Sirius was bright also, but his time was spent with every girl in the school, and not studying for tests and classes. Peter, well, James wasn't sure what was up with Wormtail lately, he hadn't exactly been himself. It was probably the stress of exams weighing on the guy, he thought to himself and brushed the notion off.
James thought about his friends and grinned. The Marauders were always going to be there for each other, they had promised that when they first formed their friendship. It was all or nothing, one for all and all for one. If there was one thing in the world that James could count on it was those three. A motley crew, though they were, the intense loyalty he felt to them (and that they felt for him) was impassible.
Then something pulled in James' brain, making him gaze across the room and sigh at the girl who would probably hold his affections for the rest of his life. Hell, she already had been for the past six years, what's the rest of them? What makes me go completely crazy over that girl? He pondered, setting his quill down. He was one question away from the end of the test; he'd be able to finish it within the time limit.
It's the way she smiles. He thought, but then another popped into his mind. It's the way that her tears make you want to hug her and take away all the pain. It's the way she laughs at your jokes, even if they're not really funny.
"Exams here please!" a voice entered James' brain. Oy! He thought as he quickly scrawled down the answer to number 150.
--
Lily gasped. She still had five questions to finish! Her green eyes skimmed over the last questions. This had really never happened to her, faltering during an exam for Lily Evans was impossible! She stole a glance at Meredith, who was sitting at a desk next to her, who also seemed to have wasted her time gazing across the room at a boy. Goodness those two are joined at the hip! She thought to herself as she finished the last two questions on the exam.
She liked Remus, and thought that he was a perfect match to Meredith. They weren't exactly alike, but maybe it was their distinct differences that made them even better for each other. The two seemed to counteract each other's inequity. She sighed, thinking about all the differences she and James had. He was, well, a little out there, and she was a little more conservative in her thoughts and actions. Well, that was to say, her normal actions. She tended to lash out harder than she usually would when she was in situations with Slytherins like Malfoy and Snape. Anyway, they were different, but it seemed that, just like Remus and Meredith, they would always manage to neutralize the other's behavior.
"Thank you students, you are excused. Enjoy your vacation and the Ball tonight!" Professor McGonagall's voice carried through the hall as all the exam parchments flew into her outstretched hands. "Not too much Black." She said as Sirius grinned at his new flavor of the week, Skye Robbins, a beautiful 6th year Hufflepuff.
Lily stood like the rest of the students and picked up her messenger style navy book bag, stuffing her quill and ink bottle into one of the compartments. Meredith stood as well, picking up her bag that was slung across the back of her chair. They both walked out of the exam, chatting happily now that all their exams were through. The only thing that was left in the year was the end of term ball, the one that was the topic of conversation all throughout the whole 4th through 7th years.
"Lily, you're costume is classic! It's great!" Meredith assured her.
"Yes, I know its "classic", but how am I going to disguise myself with these locks?! They're a dead give away!" she replied, holding out a red ringlet that coiled itself back up as soon as she let go of it.
"Well, you're the charms expert here! If you don't have any idea, then we have to go to the library and look up something!" she smiled and took Lily's arm at the elbow, dragging her off towards the library.
--
Remus, James, and Peter walked out of the great hall and headed up to the Gryffindor Tower. Sirius had fleetingly told them that he had a "meeting" with Skye and would meet up with the rest of them later. Outside it was raining, and so their usual midday stroll was forced inside. James was talking about something, but Remus wasn't really paying attention. Ahead of them in the corridors was Meredith LaBelle and Lily Evans, they were laughing and talking. From what he had overheard, they were going to the library for something or other.
He sighed, thinking about Meredith. She was his dream girl. It seemed so cliché and so silly, but she was smart and funny, not to mention stunningly beautiful, and she even wasn't afraid to make some mischief and get into a little trouble. Remus was concerned though, because even though she was his girlfriend, he was still fearful of getting too close to someone before they knew his… condition. This problem wasn't something new to him either. Usually Remus had just kept away from girls in general, but she was, well, different. He knew now what James felt every time he would talk about Lily to the other Marauders, that feeling that there's someone out there that was the perfect match to you.
There were just these things she did that made him like her more and more. The way her long, straight caramel brown hair swishes effortlessly behind her as she walks, the way her eyes twinkle whenever she smiles or laughs, and the way she listens so attentively to you when you really have something to say. He thought about all those things that made her so attractive to him, as a friend at first, but then as a girlfriend. Remus sighed again, remembering that he would eventually have to tell her that he was a werewolf, and then what?
She'd run and leave me broken hearted. He answered himself.
"Moony?" James busted into his thoughts, waving a hand in front of Remus' glazed over eyes. "Hello?"
"What?" Remus asked, looking from Prongs to Wormtail, "Did I miss something?"
"No, but it seems as though we have. Were you thinking about Meredith again?" James grinned.
"Who's Meredith?" Peter asked, looking lost.
"Please Wormtail, you're telling me you haven't a clue as to who Meredith is?" James laughed, "She's only our mate Moony over here's gal, and Lily's best friend. Where have you been all year?"
Peter turned a pale color and mumbled something that sounded a little like "nowhere".
"Anyway, oh, Magical Mischief," James said as the portrait door swung open and permitted the boys to enter the Gryffindor Common Room, "Like I was saying Moony, have you told her, ya know?"
Remus shook his head slightly.
"Well, when are you going to? It's not like you can keep this a secret from the girl forever!" Prongs insisted.
"Yeah, the longer you put it off, the angrier she'll be!" Wormtail added in, saying the only useful thing he'd said in a while.
"But what should I say? 'Oh, hi Mere, um, I like you, and well, I just wanna tell you that I'm -"
"SHH!" James cut Remus off. "You don't want the whole common room to know!"
They all went quiet for a minute, and then Peter broke it by asking in a low yet whiny tone,
"Why is it that you guys always get the girls and I don't? I don't even have a date for the dance!"
"Oh shut up Wormtail!" the others shouted in unison.
--
Thirty minutes later, Meredith and Lily entered the common room and without taking a second glance at the room, they waltzed over to where ¾ of the Marauders were seated, talking about something or another. With a sly grin, Lily nudged her best friend's arm, and they both continued over to their unsuspecting boyfriends.
"Hello boys!" Lily called out brightly as she sat herself across James' thighs, putting an arm around his neck.
"Hello Lily!" James laughed and slipped his arms around her waist.
Meredith seated herself in the same fashion upon Remus' lap, although she didn't receive the same treatment. He seemed a little nervous around her, and Lily noticed that Remus didn't appear to be pleasantly surprised as James was about her and Meredith's actions. That's strange; she thought to herself, Remus and Meredith usually can't get enough of being around each other! She shrugged it off and turned her head to face James.
"So, have you thought about what you're going to the Masquerade as?" she asked innocently.
"What are you going as?" he replied, grinning cleverly.
"I'm not telling! I asked you first anyway!" Lily retorted, mocking poutiness.
"I thought that you weren't supposed to know what everyone else is wearing, and for once, this is a rule I will follow! Well, my dear Lily, it seems as though you will just have to find out!" he said, kissing her cheek playfully.
"Huh! Well, Remus, will you whisper to me what you're going as?" Meredith made puppy dog eyes at her boyfriend.
"That Meredith, would be telling, and as James has said, that's a rule I also will follow" he replied, not seeming to miss a beat.
"Fine." She turned away, acting disappointed.
"C'mon, Meredith, these two are going to be of no help." Lily smiled and stood, taking Meredith's wrist and pulling her away, "Let's go upstairs. We've got some planning to do."
And with that, the two girls dashed off up the girl's dormitory staircase, giggling madly to themselves.
"Anyone want to take a guess as to what they're plotting?" James asked.
"I don't think we want to know Prongs" Moony answered him.
------
The End of Term
Medieval Masquerade Ball
------
The Great Hall, which was filled with desks and students working hard only hours ago, was completely transformed. There were now dozens upon dozens of small round tables encircling a massive wooden dance floor with an adjoining stage where a band was waiting to start. The hall was dimly lit, except for tiny red candles that dotted the darkness, sitting and flickering cutely on each of the tables. The House banners that hung around the walls were covered with black cloths sporting question marks over them, in the spirit of the Masquerade.
James stared out at the Great Hall through his masque, which showed a dance floor packed with students of all years, dressed as anything from medieval pages to kings and queens. He looked from Sirius to Remus, and then walked boldly into the mass, looking for a certain red head…
--
Meredith sat next to Lily at one of the candlelit tables to one side the dance floor, looking out at all the eligible guys standing in their same position. One caught Lily's eye as she scanned the room, and she noticed that he was making his way through the crowd to where she was sitting.
"Meredith! Someone's coming over here!" she whispered excitedly. She, of course, had no clue who he was, but that was the thrill of it, wasn't it? Not knowing exactly who you're going to end up dancing with? Lily took a deep breath and flipped a golden curl off of her shoulder. She smiled to herself; no one but Meredith would recognize her in this disguise. She was dressed up a fairytale princess, crown and all. It was corny, it was very little girlish, but with her killer dress and a completely re-charmed façade, Lily pulled it off.
She wore a gorgeous satin baby blue ball gown, complete with a beaded bodice, regal long sleeves held together atop her arms in intervals of 1 ½" by glass beads, and finished off with a chiffon covered puffy skirt. Meredith had found a charm in the library to change hair and eye color, and with a flick of the wand, she charmed Lily's fiery red hair a golden blonde and her eyes to match her dress. The new 'do was completed by curling her blonde hair and then setting it in a low ponytail, excluding some front strands so that a select few fair curls hung around her milky white skin. Her sparkling silver and rhinestone crown was perched regally atop her head, just above her white masque that went around her eyes, covering the required amount as instructed by the rules of the Masquerade.
Lily looked up back at the mystery guy that was still approaching her. A chill went down her spine as she viewed his costume. He was dressed as a prince in the medieval times, complete with a doublet and coat of arms and pulled together with tights. As he reached Lily, he extended a hand, and she tentatively outstretched a white long, elbow length gloved hand.
The Mystery Prince led her onto the dance floor, bringing her into traditional waltz positioning, one hand behind her back; the other held out to the side, lightly grasping her own right hand. Her left hand was busy holding up her dress daintily, as she and the Mystery Prince swayed side to side. She gazed up into his eyes, which were barely visible from behind his black mask. His eyes were just as fixed downwardly at hers, bearing an unreadable expression. She sighed happily and thought about the ball… This was her idea of fun, dancing with people without knowing their true identity.
"Princess," her Prince whispered her after the song ended, "What House dost thou reign from?"
"Which House dost my lord reign from?" she replied quaintly, trying to keep her true identity secret.
"Why the most noble and esteemed Ravenclaw" he answered politely.
Lily's heart sank… There was a large part of her hoping that her Mystery Prince was James. She mentally shook off the feeling and courteously curtsied to the boy.
"Thank you for such a lovely dance. I am required elsewhere." Lily finished quickly and walked back to where Meredith was sitting a few minutes earlier, leaving a confused Ravenclaw. She took a quick glance around and saw her dancing in the arms of one of the Three Musketeers. She laughed to no one in particular at what was surely Remus. Of course! The three Musketeers! It's so Marauders! Lily was startled to find that another Musketeer was standing beside her chair, laughing also, and holding out his blue gloved hand.
--
James grinned from behind his white Phantom of the Opera style mask. Lily laid her hand in his, and he swept her onto the floor near Remus and Meredith. Lily's disguise was clever, but no matter what, James would always be able to tell her from everyone else. After all, she had the same face physique, and all he had to do was imagine her auburn hair and emerald eyes to see the real Lily. His costume was one of the Musketeers, and with the blue and gold cross emblazoned across his front, the large fancy blue plumed hat, and a thin sword in its sheath by his hip, the whole outfit looked like something from out of a book.
The two swayed along the dance floor awkwardly at first, working to match each other's steps until they found their rhythm and began sailing about the floor seamlessly. James gazed down at Lily, who was still an inch shorter than him, even with her 3 inch heels on. She blushed slightly when he caught her eye, and he smiled wider. She was beautiful when she blushed like that. Well, she was beautiful all the time, but even more so when she smiled.
"Something 'bout the way you look tonight, something 'bout the way that I can't take my eyes off you," He sang softly to her.
"There's something about the way your lips invite, maybe it's the way that I get nervous when you're around," Lily smiled and sang back to him.
"And I want you to be mine, and if you need a reason why, it's in the way that you move me," James looked into her now electric blue eyes and imagined her usual green eyes.
"And the way that you tease me," She grinned as well.
"The way that I want you tonight," he sang quietly.
"It's in the way that you hold me," Lily thought about how much she loved being safe in his arms.
"And the way that you know me," James sighed. If there was anyone in the world that knew him like Remus or Sirius, it was Lily. She knew everything that make him tick- what he liked, what he disliked, and everything in between.
"When I can't find the right words to say, you feel it in the way, you feel it in the way, and you feel it in the way..." she sang back, her eyes sparkling with a mix of laughter and affection.
--
A few feet away, Meredith and Remus were dancing, or, more like swaying, to the song. Remus was dressed in a costume almost identical to the other two Marauders, except he had attached a fake mustache just underneath his nose. Meredith, dressed as the medieval "femme musketeer" she always was deep down, she wore a pair of subdued leathery brown colored riding pants and boots, with a white blouse and sword hanging in its holster at her side. Her caramel russet hair was completely let down about her shoulders, leaving just her black eye mask.
"Meredith," Remus began, looking into her eyes, "I want to tell you something."
She looked up at him and cocked her head, silently asking "what?"
"Well, I, I'll tell you later," he said, trying not to sound too nervous about it. She smiled faintly, and he pulled her closer, so that the two of them were swaying cheek to cheek. Remus wanted this natural high feeling he always got around Meredith to last as long as possible, and if he told her too soon, then it would be gone, possibly forever.
"There's something in the way you stay on my mind," he sang in a whisper into her ear.
Meredith gazed up into his eyes and blushed, and then she sang back to him, in an equally soft tone,
"There's something bout the way that, I whisper your name when I'm asleep, Oh,"
"Maybe it's the look in your eyes, Oh baby it's the way that makes me feel to see you smile." Remus' light brown eyes reflected a mixture of subtle anxiety over telling Meredith his secret and ecstasy from just being with her tonight. Meredith's also sparkled with anticipation, wondering what on earth it was that Remus had to tell her.
"And the reasons they may change, but what I'm feeling stays the same," she sang.
"It's in the way that you move me," He whispered into her ear.
"And the way that you tease me," Meredith giggled as she sang; Remus never teased her. Well, not in a mean way.
"The way that I want to be with you tonight,"
"It's in the way that you hold me, and the way that you know me," She sang, smiling at how she got so lucky as to have found Remus. Wonderful, caring, smart, handsome, Remus. She had never really had a good past with guys; they were all just focused on themselves and what they wanted.
"When I can't find the right words to say, you feel it in the way; you feel it in the way."
Remus lead Meredith out of the great hall and into the foyer, down the castle steps and into the garden lit by thousands of fairies, giggling and watching the couple make their way towards the fountain positioned in the middle. The garden was a special thing that the teachers fixed up for balls, and since this was a masquerade ball the statues in the middle of the fountain were of a girl and boy, dressed up and grinning. The girl had her mask on and was seemingly running away from the boy, while he had her hand and was following close behind.
As the two walked along the magically conjured stone walkway, Meredith's riding boots clicked in synchrony with Remus'. They walked along closely, hands interlocked. He kept looking over at her, gazing at her face and how the flittering light illuminated all the distinct features like her cherry lips and chocolate-caramel eyes. The lighting was even more effective with her cute tomboyish costume, characterizing her perfectly.
"I can't put my fingers on, just what it is that makes me love you, you baby." Meredith finally sang after the silent walking. For a moment, Remus froze. 'What makes me love you'? Did she really love him? And if she did, then would that change once he had revealed to her his deep dark secret? Remus looked at her and she just smiled reassuringly, put her arms around his neck and they started dancing to the music in their minds.
"So don't ask me to describe, I get all choked up inside; Just thinking bout the way." He let his voice carry out, pulling her slowly from their dancing position to a kiss.
--
Back in the Great Hall on the dance floor, sailing about effortlessly, Lily smiled and blushed girlishly ever time that she and James made eye contact. They had been together for a while, even still, she found that every time she looked into his eyes there was something there that made her face feel hot and red.
"It's in the way that you move me, the way that you tease me," Lily's soft soprano voice traveled just far enough to reach James' ear.
"The way that I want to be with you tonight, it's in the way that you hold me," He sang back to her, making her blush even redder, if at all possible. He always knew what to say when, and when to be there, when to leave her alone. It was amazing! One year James went from being "Potter" the arrogant best friend of Sirius, Peter and Remus, who were constantly around Meredith because of her prankster attitude; to being the sensitive, compassionate James that she felt increasingly in love with. Initially, Lily had never understood the five of them, simply because her credo was "Rules are there for a reason", and the others seemed to adapt the "Rules are meant to be broken" maxim.
"And the way that you know me, when I can't find the right words to say," She returned from her reverie, singing out.
"You feel it in the way; you feel it in the way, it's in the way that you move me," James grinned his nearly trademarked grin, one that showed all his emotions in one. The trick was finding out which of them he was attempting to display. Complicated as it may have been, Lily was well trained in the art of 'James Reading'. She could basically tell what was going on behind those hazel eyes of his by just looking into their depths. Lily looked up into them and smiled too; his beam was simply infectious, and while maintaining her grin, she sang back to him.
"And the way that you tease me,"
"You feel it in the way; you feel it in the way." He sang in response.
"Something bout the way, you look tonight," Lily sang, eyeing his very fitting Musketeer costume.
"Nothing more to say than, I feel it in the way." James' voice rang as the song ended, leaving him to bow in thanks for the dance. Lily just giggled and blushed with her white gloved hand covering her mouth, curtsying.
"James, I love you." Lily ventured, stepping closer to him.
"My God Lily, I love you too." He returned and simultaneously they embraced, forgetting the world around them.
--
Out in the garden, Meredith and Remus had finished dancing and kissing, and now they were seated on a park bench type seat near the bushes. Remus took a deep breath and cleared his mind except for what he had to tell her.
"Meredith," he said as calmly as possible, holding her hands in his, "I need to tell you something but you have to swear to me your secrecy."
"Sure, anything Remus," she answered hesitantly, her eyes trying to read his expression.
"I-," he whispered, "Wait, come here."
She leaned toward him and he whispered into her ear the secret that had plagued him ever since his youth. Almost as far back as he could remember he had had this problem. Now telling someone for the first time in six years was almost as difficult as telling his best friends the first time ever.
Meredith leaned back with her leather gloved hand covering her mouth in shock. He dropped his gaze into his hands.
She hates me. Watch, she's going to stand up, turn around and run away. It's simple, I'm a werewolf, and now that she knows, shes-
Remus' thought was interrupted by Meredith wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
"What?" he asked as she nearly cut off his air supply. "Didn't you hear what I just said?"
"Oh Remus, that, well" she hesitated for a moment. She liked Remus a lot, hell, maybe even loved him, but to have something like that sprung upon you is not that easy to take. She took a calming breath.
"That doesn't matter to me! I, I just. Oh Remus Lupin, I think I'm beginning to love you." Her eyes locked with his as she let go of him and repeated, "I think I'm beginning to love you."
"Meredith LaBelle, beautiful, brilliant, and occasionally trouble making Meredith, I know I love you." His heart poured out before his mind could object. Remus was so full of emotion that he just stood and grabbed her around the waist, using the strength many thought him not to have had, lifting her high into the air and setting her back down on the ground lightly. She smiled, and he grinned back.
Everything was as it should have been.
--
A/N: aw… Sigh, I liked that chapter, did y'all? I hope so, because I loved writing the descriptions of their costumes. And I know you were wondering, WHERE'S PETER? Well, first of all, he SHOULD be dead!!! Sigh, but one can't be that lucky... He's just… gone or something… I don't know! I hate him, so he should just be gone! ;) haha anyways, this is sad! It's the last chapter! :( so sad… anyways, here are the reviews!
REVIEWS!!!
Daniel-Radcliffe's-girl: Here it is!!
Allie: Thanks, I love it too!
Sally: I know! And for anyone who has not seen Moulin Rouge, GO SEE IT! It's so sad, and I cried at the end, but still, its one of the best movies of all time!! :-D I want a Wesley! Lol!
Ourlittlesecret7: aw poor, poor Northeasterners… but you guys have mad, mad Lacrosse playing skills! I envy that man, I totally envy that! And you might notice that (gasp!) Sirius' gal is named Skye! Woah! Special little thing for you there! :-D
LJ4EVER: Love the name, honestly I do. But yeah, Miss Independent is an awesome song! Go Kelly! And alas, Chapter ten is not Notice Me… :'( sorry.
Okay guys, stay tuned for the new sequel!!!
Emerald
