Chapter Two
When Lisa reached her dormitory she found Lily changing into her night clothes. Lily turned away from Lisa when she entered.
"Lily..."
She said nothing.
"Lily you can't be mad at me because I was hanging out with James. He happens to be really nice when you get to know him. Besides I was just helping Peter with Transfiguration. And Remus and I study together a lot. I mean, I don't really like your other friends give you the silent treatment because of it."
Lily turned around and looked at Lisa, her bright green eyes flashing.
"He is an arrogant jerk who likes to pick on people just because he thinks he's better than them. At least none of my friends are like that!" She snapped. Without another word she flung herself into her bed a closed the hangings.
Lisa sighed. Her and Lily often got in to arguments and disagreements that led to not talking for a few days. She really hoped that this was just another one of those times and that Lily would forgive her in a few days. Hopefully before the term was up, she would hate to have to go home for the summer with Lily mad at her.
She changed into her night clothes and got into her bed. Transfiguration was her only exam tomorrow. She fell asleep and dreamed of turning her examiner into a big red parrot.
She woke early the next morning to find that Lily was already gone from the room. She sighed as she dressed and made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast. When she got there she saw Lily sitting in between all of her other friends. It was clear to Lisa that Lily still didn't want to talk to her. She sighed once again and scanned the table for a place to sit.
James looked up to see her standing there, unsure of where she should sit. He waved to her and called her name.
"Hey Lisa!" He said smiling. "Come sit with us."
She glanced at Lily, who was determined to keep her eyes on her plate, then made her way to the table. When she got to the there Sirius pushed Remus, who was sitting next to him, over then patted the bench in between them.
"There's room for you right here." He said moving over, squishing Peter who was on his other side. He pushed Peter so far over that he fell off the end of the bench they were sitting on. With a disgruntled look he got up off the floor and sat next to James instead.
"Thanks." She said uncertainly, suddenly aware that a few girls were looking at her funny.
"Lily still not talking to you eh?" James asked handing her a plate full of eggs and bacon.
"No." She said. "But I'm hoping she'll come around."
"I'll talk to her if you want." James said eagerly.
"Er, that's very nice of you James but, I don't think that'll help matters." She said.
"No," He said looking crestfallen. "No...I guess not."
"Does she hate me? I can talk to her for you. Or we can have Remus threaten to punish her or something. He needs to learn to abuse his Prefect privileges." Sirius put in cheerfully.
Lisa laughed as Remus rolled his eyes.
"They've been trying to get me to punish anyone who annoys them all year." He sighed.
"Yeah, your so uptight Moony." James said.
Lisa smiled. She was beginning to like being in the company of James and his infamous group. They were not as bad as Lily thinks they are. Lisa wished that she could just convince Lily to spend some time with them as she had. Then she wouldn't hate James so much. But she couldn't be certain that she was truly being accepted by the group. Sirius kept eyeing her and she began to feel uneasy because of it. She wondered why he kept looking at her.
The bell that signaled the start of morning classes sounded and everyone got up from the House tables. Most of the students went to their first class, while those taking the Transfiguration exam were ushered into the near by room to await the start of the exam. Everyone seem to be quite nervous. Many of the students were franticly reviewing notes and trying to cram as much information as they could into their heads from the books they held. Peter was looked so scared it seemed as if he were going to wet his pants. Remus had pulled out his book and was checking definitions in the back. The only ones who didn't look worried were James and Sirius.
"Its going to be a piece of cake!" Sirius said when Lisa asked him and James if they were worried at all about the exam.
Finally the students were called in to the Great Hall. Where the four large house tables had been there were now hundreds of smaller tables. Lisa wandered to a table towards the middle while James and Sirius moved towards the back. Remus ended up a few tables behind her with Peter close behind. When everyone had settled down and were quiet their potions professor, Professor Zimmers, said "You may begin." And turned over the giant hourglass that sat in the front towards the staff table.
With a look at the paper overturned in front of her, Lisa held her breath as she turned it over and read the first question. The only noises heard in the hall were the scratching of quills as everyone started the written part of their Transfiguration exam.
"Five minutes to go!" Professor Zimmers called.
Lisa looked over the answers. The corners of her mouth raised a little. She was certain that she had done well. Rereading her answers she couldn't find anything that she had left out or any mistakes. She put her parchment down and waited out the time. When the last grain of sand fell to the bottom part of the hour glass Professor Zimmers shouted "Times up!", collected their papers and dismissed them.
Standing up she looked at Remus behind her. He smiled but gave her a look as if he thought he didn't do as well as he hoped. She collected her bag and started towards the door. Remus caught up to her.
"I think I might have missed something important." He told her.
"I'm sure you did very well Remus, when we studied yesterday you knew all of the most important definitions."
Lisa passed Lily at one of the end tables near the door. When she saw her she stopped.
"Think you did alright Lily?" She asked, acting as if there was nothing going on between them.
"I expect so. I remembered the poem you taught me that described the wand movement needed for the Vanishing Spell." Lily said, being friendly yet aloof.
Lisa was just about to ask her if she remembered the definition for question four when James and Sirius caught up with Remus. Lily looked at Lisa an hurried off before anyone got the chance to say something to her. James watched her go.
"Maybe I should follow her, it seems as if she's ready to make up now." Lisa said.
"Will you sit with us for lunch?" Peter asked her. "I want to go over that spell one more time."
"Sure Peter. See you." She said as she left the hall to catch up with Lily.
Sirius stared at her for a bit as she went, watching her long brown hair swish as she walked. When she turned the corner he suddenly realized that Remus had been asking him a question.
"Wha-- sorry Moony, what did you say?"
"I asked if you think you did well." Remus asked following the spot where Sirius's eyes had been, looking confused.
"Oh. Yeah, yeah...piece of cake." Sirius said.
Remus rolled his eyes and headed out towards the courtyard. The others followed him.
They had a quick break before lunch and then after lunch they had to take the practical part of their examination. Lisa caught up to Lily in the stone courtyard. Lily sat down on a bench and Lisa sat next to her.
"I'm sorry." Lily said to Lisa, "I shouldn't have been so snobbish with you. Its ok if you want to hang out with James and his friends."
She smiled. "Thanks Lils. So what should we do in Hogsmeade this weekend?"
They chatted about their plans for the weekend when the bell sounded for lunch. Lily and Lisa walked back towards the Great Hall. Once inside they made their way to their house table that once again placed in their spots. Lisa saw the guys sitting towards the back of the long table.
"I'm sorry Lily but I promised Peter that I would sit with him and help him with a spell." She said as Lily made her way to join her other friends.
"Oh, ok. I'll see you after the exam then?" She said, smiled, then sat down with her friends. Lisa waved good-bye to her and went to join the guys.
"There she is, 'O master of Transfiguration who will save our poor talent less friend from failing." James said as she sat down.
"Shut up James." She said laughing.
Remus smiled and nodded to James as if say 'Ha! she told you to shut up'. Sirius also marveled at her ease at telling James to shut up. Truth be told Lisa was at first nervous to be hanging out with the group. They were notorious around Hogwarts, the height of cool, and extremely popular. Never being really popular herself, Lisa had been surprised that she was being accepted by this group. She was also extremely surprised that these four were starting to feel like very good friends.
"What was the movement for the Vanishing Spell again?" Peter asked her, moving from Remus's left around to her right.
She showed him the movement and he tried to practice on the salt shaker in front of them.
"This time tomorrow we'll be finished with exams." Remus said. He looked pale and worn. There were circles starting to form under his eyes. He looked very tired.
"What's left, History of Magic?" James asked though not at all really concerned.
"Yes, History of Magic." Lisa said. "I can't believe the term is almost over. Though after these exams I'll be welcoming the holiday."
"Where will you be going home to after? Are you parents wizards or Muggles?" James asked her.
"My mum is a witch, my dad is a Muggle. We live in a Muggle town outside of London."
"Both of my parents are wizards." James said.
"For me, its just my mum. And she's a witch. Though my father was a Muggle." Remus said.
"What about you Sirius?" Lisa asked him, suddenly aware that he was being very quiet.
James looked at him, wondering if he was going to say anything.
"I come from a very ancient line of pure-bloods." Sirius said stiffly.
"Sirius doesn't get along with his family too well. The whole lot of them were in Slytherian and don't think too highly of Sirius because he's in Gryffindor." James added after he was sure Sirius wasn't going to say anymore.
"Saying that they don't get along is putting it very mildly." Remus added.
"Speaking of the holidays. Sirius, my mother has a room already set up for you and is expecting you within a week after term ends."
Sirius beamed gratefully at James.
Above them the bell that signaled the end of lunch rang. It was time for their practical Transfiguration exam. The students piled into the waiting room adjacent to the Great Hall. They waited until their names were called to reenter the hall. Sirius was the first to leave. Lisa then heard Lily's name being called. Remus's left for his turn. Then the call for "Pettigrew! Potter!" came and James and Peter departed. Lisa's name was finally called and she entered the Great Hall. She was sent to a free examiner, an ancient looking witch with a wheezy voice.
"Now if you'll just make this tea cup walk across the table for me."
After performing Vanishing Spells, making a tea pot levitate, and turning an sitting stool into stork. The examiner praised her wand work and excused her with a smile. When she left the Great Hall she felt very confident that she had done well. She found Lily waiting for her and nearby were Remus, Sirius, Peter and James. Lily was trying very hard to ignore the group who were trying to pretend that they weren't waiting for anyone though.
"How'd you do?" Lily asked Lisa.
Lisa replied with a smile. "I'm sure I passed."
"There's a shock." Remus said, with a hint of sarcasm, over her shoulder. Sirius appeared close behind him.
"We meeting after dinner to study for History of Magic?" Remus asked her.
"Right."
"See you, then." He said. He turned around to leave but instead bumped headlong into Sirius.
"Padfoot! What's the idea?" Remus cried.
Turning bright red Sirius muttered a "Sorry Moony." And quickly left the entrance hall. Raising a confused eye brow, Remus followed him.
Lily and Lisa made their way towards the common room. Lily sat down on a squishy arm chair and Lisa sat on the couch next to it.
"Is James going to be studying with you and Remus tonight?" Lily asked in a would be casual way.
"I don't think James ever studies." Lisa said, then added lightly, "But I'm sure he would if you were there. Especially if I told him you had a thing for him."
"What?! Me? Have a thing for James? Are you mental?" Lily shirked but averted her eyes.
Lisa laughed and Lily finally sighed and smiled.
"Just don't go telling him anything like that." She said blushing.
"I wouldn't dream of telling a soul." Lisa said crossing her heart.
They talked for a while, enjoying the quiet of the common room. Everyone else seemed to be outside since the day was nice and clear. Lisa enjoyed the time alone with Lily, whom she dearly missed while they were fighting. They talked till it was time for dinner. Getting up from their comfortable spots they took off for the Great Hall and seated themselves with Lily's friends once they got there. Lily's friends, who usually didn't pay much attention to Lisa, were surprisingly talkative with her. Lisa soon found out the reason for this however.
"So Lisa, is Sirius seeing anyone right now?"
"What did you do to get invited to hang out with them?"
James, Peter, Remus and Sirius were what the girls were interested in. Every girl dreamed of dating James or Sirius. They were both very popular crushes among many girls. When Lisa didn't answer their questions they began talking to each other.
"Sirius is so good looking!"
Choosing to ignore this chatter Lisa pulled out her History of Magic book. When she had finished eating she said good bye to Lily and excused herself to the library. Once in the library she made her way to the back where the set of arm chairs were. She chose her favorite and sat down, putting her book and notes on the table in front of her. She had just begun to frown at her notes when Remus plopped down in the chair across from her.
He looked pallid and colorless. If he had looked this way earlier in the day Lisa hadn't noticed. He looked older than his fifteen years. His eyes were tired and droopy but he still managed to give off an array of energy.
He noticed her looking him over, afraid that she was going to bring up how he looked he quickly tried to think of something to say.
"Excited about the exam?" Was what he came up with.
"Excited?" She laughed. "Actually I find myself not caring about this exam. History of Magic is so dull."
"I agree." Remus said.
Soon they were off topic, talking about everything but History of Magic.
Remus was telling her of the time when James put a flobberworm in Sirius's bed when to their surprise Sirius himself showed up. He had his History of Magic book in hand. Remus looked at him like he'd never seen him before.
"Mind if I study with you guys?" Sirius said.
"You?" Remus said disbelievingly. "Study? You never study."
"Well I slept through the class for most of the year so...I thought I'd better a least borrow someone's notes." He said, not looking at Remus but a spot on the chair he was sitting in.
"You're welcome to join us Sirius, but we're not really studying." Lisa said.
"Keeping a Prefect from his studying?" Sirius grinned. "Count me in."
He sat in the armchair next to Lisa.
"So Sirius," She said. "I hear flobberworms aren't very good bed warmers."
Sirius glared at Remus. Remus grinned.
"Wait till you head what I did to get him back!" Sirius said turning to Lisa.
They sat in the library and talked about all the mischievous pranks they've played on each other. Lisa couldn't remember a time when she had laughed so much. Sirius and Remus seemed quiet pleased with themselves at being able to make her laugh at their jokes.
At a quarter to nine Lisa checked her watch.
"Oh wow...its almost curfew. I better get up to the common room before Lily starts to worry. Goodnight Remus, Sirius." She picked up her books and left the library.
Sirius watched her go.
"So are you going to tell her?" Remus asked casually when Lisa was out of earshot.
"Tell her what?"
"Don't be thick Padfoot." Remus said grinning. "I know that you like her. Why else would you want to study? You've never studied a day in you life."
Sirius blushed and looked at the floor.
Remus jumped up from his chair.
"I gotta tell James!" He said and ran out of the library.
"What?! Moony! No!" Sirius said leaping up and going after him.
"NO RUNNING IN THE LIBRARY!" Madame Pince shouted after them.
The History of Magic exam went by in a flash for Lisa. She rushed through it as fast as she could. Finding herself pausing to laugh everything now and then over something that reminded her of something funny Sirius had said.
"Time is up!"
The parchments were collected and with the call of "You may go!" everyone, including Lisa, let out a cheer and left the Great Hall. Through all the smiling faces full of relief she found Lily. They exchanged exasperated smiles and joined the rest of the fifth year students flooding the courtyard.
