Sirius's Top Ten
J.K. Rowling owns every character, aside from Cassidy, Abby, Oliver, Charlie, and err... think that's it.
I've just noticed how I have quite a few grammatical errors, so I'm looking for an active BETA reader. Please email me if interested.
Thoughts are in italics, unless specified as Abby's handwriting.
Chapter 9: PMS Always Ruins My Fun
"I was stupid. I mean, I really truly was a prat. You beautiful ladies are not material possessions, and I was wrong to even indicate that you were. I can only sincerely apologize, especially to Lily Evans, who got the worst of this mean joke."
James spoke out solemnly across the Great Hall, which was silent. Most faces held blank looks, but many girls gave him admiring smiles, like the kind he used to receive constantly before the 'incident'.
With a brief smile, he gave a quick bow before promptly dropping back down onto the bench. He had been standing on the bench so everyone could see him, after being introduced by Headmaster Dippet, whom he had spoken with earlier.
"Well done, you said every word correctly." Sirius commented quietly, stuffing a piece of parchment in his pocket.
Remus had been nice enough, and dazed enough, to write a very polite and meaningful apology, which James would have been hard-pressed to come up with on his own. Getting Remus to do anything lately was as easy as asking. He had already helped Sirius finish most of his Potions essay. Remus's head was up in the clouds; his only clear thoughts were of Abby. He was completely smitten, and in this state, a complete pushover.
Abby felt the same, although she was a bit less light-headed. She still refused to do Cass's homework, although Cass had asked several times.
"Thank you, Mr. Potter." Dippet said, rising to begin the evening's meal with regular announcements. "I must inform you all that when you return from Christmas Break, that I will no longer be headmaster of Hogwarts. My assistance is needed at the Ministry, and thus, Professor Dumbledore will be retaining my position during the break. It has been a great pleasure to teach and watch after you all, even some of your parents, and I wish you all the best. I have a few quick thank-yous I would like to make…"
"This'll take all night." Sirius moaned.
"Quit complaining, Black, and have some compassion. The man is retiring!" Cass replied with annoyance.
"Doesn't mean he has to thank every bloody wizard alive." Sirius replied coolly, leaning back to get comfortable. "Wouldn't be surprised if he thanked the muggle Prime Minister next."
"Why would he thank the muggle prime minister?" Abby asked, raising her brow.
"Dunno. But at this rate, you can see it happening, no?"
The group fell silent for a moment as Dippet continued to read names off a scroll that had magically appeared in front of him. James looked up from his plate to see Lily watching him. She smiled slightly, before looking back to Dippet. James smiled to himself, a grin spreading across his face.
"I'd like to thank Professor Aavor, for all her kind words and support." Dippet continued.
"If he's doing this in alphabetical order, we'll be here all night." Remus murmured, Peter nodding in agreement.
And indeed they were. After about fifty minutes, however, many students noticed Professor McGonagall putting a charm on Dippet, causing him to race through the D's, E's, and F's all the way through to the Z's in a matter of fifteen seconds. He finished with Orlic Zumi, and then sat down, the plates finally filling with food.
Dinner progressed quickly after that – a lot of students were worried that Dippet would think of more people to thank – and the students were actually quite grateful to head up to bed, as a thick blanket of snow began to fall over Hogwarts.
"You mean you want me to break up Lily and Oliver?" Catherine O'Harty asked with a look of extreme confusion spread across her face freckled face. She was still in shock that James Potter, Sirius Black, and Cassidy Flemmings were actually talking to her. She was a Hufflepuff, and a fourth year, and they… Well, James Potter and Sirius Black were amazing. She wasn't sure about this Cassidy-girl though.
"Yes." Cassidy confirmed briefly, wanting to end the conversation before Lily arrived.
"But, you're her friends… Why would you want her to break up with her boyfriend?"
"Because, we don't think he's any good for her." Sirius offered bluntly. "Besides, my buddy James here would love to have another go – "
"What he means is, Lily and Oliver just aren't meant for one another, and they're to blind to realize this." James added urgently, elbowing Sirius in the side.
"But me? Why me?"
"Because we've seen those looks you give Oliver." Cass replied, getting rather irritated.
"Oliver? I don't like him! I mean, he's handsome, but he'd never…" Catherine began but faltered. She had never told anyone that she actually liked Oliver Field. It was almost like a death-sentence, since everyone thought he was a real duffer, even the Hufflepuffs.
"Yes, you do. And all we need for you to do is kiss him." Cass said urgently, knowing Lily would be in at any moment.
"While Lily's watching." Sirius added.
"I ought to go to class…" Catherine stood, knowing she'd probably be late for Charms.
"Will you do it?" James asked quietly.
"I s'ppose. Not because I like Oliver, only because I thought you and Lily would make a cute couple before you screwed everything up." Catherine replied, gathering her things and marching out of the Transfiguration classroom.
McGonagall marched in only moments later, and took no time in beginning the lesson. Cass frowned as she sat next Sirius, glancing at the door, before sending a worried look to Abby, who was sitting next to Remus. It's not like Lily to be late… Cass ripped a small piece of parchment off her notes, and quickly wrote a note to Abby, which she tossed to her friend as McGonagall read through the textbook.
Why isn't Lily here? Seems a bit weird that she's late.
Abby took no time to reply, and within seconds the wad of parchment was back on her desk, Abby's neat writing following hers.
A little. I'm sure she's fine though.
I'm worried. We didn't see her at breakfast either.
Probably just slept in. We'll go see at break.
Fine.
"Ms. Flemmings, would you like to inform the class about what you find so important that you must pass notes to discuss it?" Professor McGonagall asked sharply, looking up from the textbook.
"Err… No, Prof – "
"She's worried about Lily Evans, Professor, we haven't seen her all day!" Abby interjected, surprising both her friend and boyfriend.
"You may be excused then… to go check on her." Professor McGonagall offered, in a rare glimpse of kindness. "Both you and Ms. Scott… No, Mr. Potter, you may not accompany them." She added, as James's mouth opened in protest.
Cass offered a smug grin to James, just to annoy him, before gathering her things and shuffling out of the classroom with Abby.
The girls travelled back to Gryffindor Tower quickly, and much to their relief, discovered Lily, sobbing on her bed, clutching her old teddy bear and a picture of her little brother, Charlie.
"Tig? What's wrong?" Cass asked, filled with concern, dropping her stuff on the floor and rushing to her side, Abby following suit.
"I can't believe it…" Lily stuttered, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Can't believe what?" Abby coaxed, a hand patting Lily's shoulder reassuringly.
"She's… She's not…" Lily began, before burying her face in her teddy bear.
"Who's not?" Cass asked with a sympathetic and patient smile.
"You've got to tell us if you want us to help." Abby added, brushing Lily's curls from her face.
"Petunia… She's not inviting me." Lily said through bursts of sobs. "I don't get to go to her wedding."
Cass's face contorted in a mixture of disgust, anger, and amusement. "You mean she's marrying that barmy old codger?" Despite Lily's obvious feelings of sadness, Cass couldn't help but stifle a laugh.
"You mean Vernon?" Abby offered with a disapproving look. Lily look absolutely amazed, convinced that Cass had gone off the wall.
Cass laughed. "Yeah, him. I mean, you've gotta find it somewhat funny. She's marrying some pathetic fat man who is just as grumpy as she is."
"I'm lost on how this is funny." Lily replied with a confused frown.
"As am I." Abby agreed.
"They can be grumpy gits together!" Cass sang happily, obviously in hysterics. A small smile crept up on Lily's face, and she felt ever so thankful that she had such great mates, even if they were insane.
"I'm not sure you're the one I should be worried about." Abby murmured with a smile as they watched Cass dance wildly about the dormitory, muttering to herself.
"Cass, is something wrong?" Lily asked timidly.
"NO! Why would you think that? Aside from the fact that Potter's in love with you and I've forgiven him because really he only got caught up in competition like any ordinary male would do, that I'm jealous of Abby and Remus and the way James stares at you, that I'm scared we're all growing up too fast, that I think I might fancy Sirius Black, I borrowed Lily's purple shirt and ripped it and got stains on it, I think I'm going to fail Charms this year, and I – "
"Did you just say you fancy Sirius Black?" Lily interrupted, a look of amazement combined with a sly grin spreading across her face.
Cass flushed a deep crimson, regretting having let her mouth ramble on like that.
"I s'ppose I do. But that's not my main problem. I mean, with Charms – "
"I can help with that." Lily offered.
"Potter…" Cass began.
"Lily will work on that." Abby offered."The whole couples bit…"
"Sirius can help with that." Lily said with a sly grin.
"Lily's shirt…"
"It was an old one." Lily replied.
"And the grass stains were from when I borrowed it." Abby said with a smile.
"So now, your only problem is that you've got feelings for Hogwarts's most infamous bachelor." Lily concluded.
"At least I'm not oblivious to the fact that there's a lad who's absolutely in love with me!" Cass retorted, somewhat angry at the way Lily had phrased her conclusion.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lily asked incredulously.
"James is in love with you, and you love him, but you refuse to act on this! Why?!?" Cass could hardly contain herself.
"I don't know if I can trust him again." Lily replied, looking quite hurt by Cassidy's words.
Cass's anger broke, and she quickly leapt onto the bed to console her friend.
"I'm so sorry, Tig, that was totally out of line…"
"No, you're right. And I was out of line too." Lily replied softly. "I do still have feelings for James, but…"
"I know. I was just being green, wishing Sirius looked at me the way James looks at you… Green that you had it and you weren't reciprocating…"
"Green?" Abby asked, confused.
"Jealous." Lily explained, wiping tears from her face.
"Oh." Abby said thoughtfully. "I can see why you'd be green."
"Blimey our lives are fucked up." Cass commented, causing her two friends to laugh.
James yawned as he entered the Transfiguration classroom late one night, the last of CARIO to arrive for their meeting.
"You're late, James, and we have to figure out a dance routine for Easter." Cass complained.
"Well, now that Dippet's gone do we really have to worry?" James asked with a sly grin.
"Good point, Jimbo!" Sirius said with a screech of glee. "Can we go and play in the snow, pretty pretty please?!?!" Sirius whined, whimpering softly at James's feet.
"Go ahead. I want to talk with Lily."
"Don't bother." Cass replied irritably, having been in a bad mood all day. "She fancies you, but she doesn't think she can trust you."
"Cass…" Abby began, but faltered.
"What? It's true. I, personally, wouldn't want a romantic relationship with a guy who dated me just for a contest." Cass replied coldly.
"What's pulling your strings, Cass?" Remus asked quietly.
"Nothing, Lupin. Fuck off."
Cass turned angrily and left the room, leaving her friends flabbergasted.
"No to playing in the snow, then?" Sirius asked, breaking the silence amid the friends.
"I don't think so." James replied quietly.
"Damn. PMS always ruins my fun."
Coming up next...
- What DID Lily first say about James?
- What's up with Cass?
- How will the group celebrate Christmas?