Sirius's Top Ten
I've decided there will be a sequel, so this is the final chapter of Sirius's Top Ten. Thanks to everyone who reviewed over the past few months, I really appreciate it.
Sorry for the delay! But this time it's not my fault. My old computer crashed, so we had to get a new one pats lurvely new computer. You see, my brother was waiting for a friend to email him an mp3, and he got an email with the mp3 title in the subject, but he didn't know the sender. Then of course, he decided to download the attachment anyways (idiot that he is, I can't believe we're related), and it was a virus, which then messed with our computer. So... Here it is.
-------
Chapter 23: Just Friends Then. Again.
"I've been thinking," Lily said thoughtfully as she, Abby, and Cass made their way towards their last Defense Against the Dark Arts class before exams. Abby was pleased to report to anyone who would listen – this turned out only to be Remus – that both Cass and Lily had benefited from Move On and Reminisce Day and had returned to their normal selves, pre-James and Sirius.
"Have you?" Cass asked brightly. "You tend to do that a lot."
Lily snorted. "I'm trying to be serious here, Cass."
"Oh. Sorry." Cass said with an innocent look, though she didn't sound at all sorry.
"So as I was saying, before someone interrupted me... I've been thinking," Lily paused to cover Cass's mouth, which was opening to come up with another sarcastic comment. "About James and I."
Cass groaned. "Not again! Lily, this really isn't healthy."
Abby nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Bear. I thought we were over them."
"I am!" Lily insisted, shifting her bag onto her other shoulder as it became too heavy. "But we've got to put up with them for another year, right?"
"Right." Cass conceded.
"So I figure I should at least be on speaking terms with him, him and Sirius, don't you think?" Lily continued, before looking to her friends for their opinion.
Abby smiled. "That makes a lot of sense. And that's really good of you, Lily."
"You know," Cass said as they turned into the classroom and took their seats in the front row. "I'm surprised you're not stressing about exams, Lily."
Lily's face went white, even paler than it normally was, and her eyes widened considerably. "I... I forgot... Exams..."
Within two seconds Lily had gotten over the shock of forgetting she had exams in two days, had found a spare piece of parchment in her bag, and was designing a study schedule for the next two days, which entailed her studying for about eight hours out of the ten she would be awake.
Abby shook her head in disbelief. "I never thought I'd see a day when Lily Evans forgot we had end of the year exams."
"I never thought I'd see the day when Lily Evans dated James Potter." Cass replied.
Abby nodded. "True, true. The world definitely works in strange ways."
"And you're realizing that now?" Cass said with a laugh. "Next thing you know, we'll be friends with a Slytherin, or one of our friends will become a death eater."
Abby gave a skeptical look. "Never say never Cass, never say never."
-----
After the final day of classes, Lily sat in the Gryffindor Common Room, trying to concentrate on her Arithmancy studying, but finding it increasingly difficult. For some reason, she just couldn't concentrate, which was odd considering how quiet Gryffindor Tower was. In fact, Lily was quite sure she'd never seen the Tower so quiet. The seventh-years were cramming for NEWTs and the fifth-years were studying for their OWLs, and after Frank Longbottom had nearly bitten off a third-year's head for talking too loudly, word had spread among the lower years to keep quiet.
Of course, the only ones who weren't studying were the Marauders, who slipped in through the portrait hole that very moment. Sirius never studied; James had only ever studied when Lily refused to do anything else and he wanted to spend time with her; Remus would study, once they were done any prank planned, and Peter was famous for running about the morning before an exam asking people to explain basic concepts of the subject to him.
'Oh good, James.' Lily thought quietly to herself with a smile, glad to find a reason to procrastinate and take a break from studying. She watched as he slumped down in a seat by the fire, Sirius sitting across from him on the couch, Peter sitting next to him, and Remus walking up the dormitory stairs, probably to get some books. Standing, Lily took a step forward before doing a double take. Peter hadn't been around for a while; it was weird to see all four of them (excluding Remus at the moment) back together again. Gathering her courage, she walked up to the group, where the conversation died instantly.
Sirius had been muttering on about a new idea for a prank, but James had hardly been listening, choosing instead to stare at the fire as if it had all the answers. He looked up only when Sirius cut a sentence short, and found Lily standing there.
"Err... hi." Lily said with an awkward smile, wringing her hands as she spoke. "Could I talk to you for a minute, James?"
Sirius glared at Lily, unforgiving. Of all the times for her to start talking to James, just when Sirius was helping him finally get over her. God women had bad timing. "Now? After two months, you want to talk to him now? Can't you see he's a little busy?"
Ignoring Sirius, James stood. "Sure." His voice was emotionless, but his eyes gave him away. Looking into them, Lily could see the hurt she had caused, and decided it probably would be better for her not to take his hand. Instead, she walked to a quiet corner of the common room, gesturing with her hand for him to follow, which he did obediently.
"Listen, James... I want us to be friends." Lily said quickly, finding that being quick and to the point would be the best.
"Friends?" James asked in disbelief. "Friends, Evans?"
"Don't call me that, James." Lily said evenly.
"Friends? Friends don't ignore each other for two months and then say 'okay, we're friends again'!" James replied angrily, his voice jumping up several octaves as he imitated her.
"It was awkward, James." Lily reasoned, trying not to loose her temper at the way he imitated her. She hated how he could push her buttons like that.
"It's always going to be awkward if we're friends." James groaned.
"Well I think being friends will be better than nothing." Lily replied coolly.
James shook his head in disagreement. "No, being more than friends would be best."
"James..." Lily faltered, looking for the words. "I can't. I just don't understand why you become so..."
"Jealous?" James finished. Lily nodded. "Because I care about you so much I want to spend every minute with you."
Lily blushed slightly, but luckily the weak firelight hid the coloring of her cheeks in its warm glow. "And you just so insecure too, James. You couldn't trust me and – "
"I was insecure because I was madly in love with you." James interrupted. "I was worried that you'd realize that you're too good for me and leave me. And you did."
Despite the lighting, you could easily see Lily's scarlet cheeks by now. "Listen, James... I cared about you too, a lot."
"Cared? As in past-tense?" James asked quietly, his face emotionless.
"No. I do care a lot about you." Lily corrected. "But this whole thing is much too stressful. Can't we just be friends?" she asked, looking hopeful. "For now?"
James's heart leaped up in his chest as Lily added 'for now', and a smile came across his face. "Definitely. We're friends."
Lily smiled and offered a hand, which James took, both ignoring the tingling feeling of each other's touch. "Just friends then."
"Again." James reminded her with a laugh.
Lily chuckled. "Yep. Again."
-------
"Welcome to the final Quidditch match of the season! This year's quidditch final, Gryffindor versus Slytherin!" Ludo Bagman croaked, tears streaming down his face. This would be his last year commentating, and he, as captain of the Hufflepuff team, hadn't made it into the finals. "Here comes Gryffindor, led by Captain James Potter... Black, Potter, Lupin, Bell, Thomas, Patil and Lorver!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, though many were surprised to see the ex-Marauder's Troupe up in the stands with their sign. It was currently flashing 'Let's Kick Some Esche! (Again!)', and beneath the sign stood a happy-looking redhead, a blonde, and a loud brunette. It was most definitely them, and anyone in school who had missed the newly rekindled friendship between James and Lily was now informed.
"And Slytherin, captained by Gregory Esche! Esche, Lestrange, Lestrange, Black, Black, Avery, and Malfoy!"
Aside from the Slytherins, the crowd booed loudly, but the Slytherin team took no notice. Esche looked quite grim in fact, having been hoping that James's roller coaster of a relationship with Lily would affect his game, but as James swooped around him, Gregory realized that James was definitely on top of his game.
"Monsieur Loot releases the bludgers, and the golden snitch... Potter is favored to catch the snitch, so the Slytherin chasers better have a good game... Actually, if you think about it, Slytherin's kinda screwed, considering how well David Thomas has been doing keeping, and Gryffindor's chasers are – "
"Mr. Bagman, the commentary if you please." Professor Dumbledore's kind voice interrupted the boy, mid-rant.
"Oh, sorry sir." Ludo apologized quickly. During his rant on how Slytherin's case was hopeless, the game had commenced, and Remus had already scored. "So, quaffle up, taken by Lupin, passes to Bell, intercepted by Esche, passes to Black, intercepted by Lorver, pass to Lupin, he SCORES!! 10 to nil Gryffindor! Esche takes the quaffle..."
Cass groaned, sitting down on the bench clumsily. She was only half-asleep, as she always was, and considering that she and Sirius still weren't speaking, she had no one to really cheer for.
Abby laughed. "Tired?"
Cass grunted in response. Luckily, Lily and Abby had been awake to a certain extent, and had fixed her bed-head for her.
Lily smiled. "Don't worry, Gryffindor'll will soon."
Cass groaned again. "You always say that."
"AND POTTER DIVES! HE'S SEEN THE SNITCH! MALFOY FOLLOWS BUT HE'S TOO FAR BEHIND... AND POTTER'S GOT THE SNITCH!! GRYFFINDOR WINS THE QUIDDITCH CUP, 160 – 0!!!"
The crowd roared its approval, all members of the school pouring out onto the field to congratulate the team, which was hugging mid-air. Sirius had dropped his beater's bat by accident and it had landed on Severus Snape's head, but even Professor McGonagall was too happy to punish him.
Lily and Abby pushed their way through the crowd to find the boys, Abby flinging herself on Remus and Lily giving James a friendly hug.
"Congratulations." Lily said with a smile, giving James a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks, Lils." James beamed, before being pulled away by Sirius towards the castle.
------
The party had been going for several hours by the time Cass arrived in the common room, her face so pale it was almost ghost-like. Lily sought her out immediately, leading the shell-shocked girl to a chair by the fire.
"Cass? You alright?"
Cass only nodded, as if in a trance.
"Cass!" Lily repeated, before giving her friend a good slap across the face when she got the same reaction.
"Bloody hell Lily!" Cass yelled, clutching her cheek with both hands. "That bloody hurt!"
"You were zoned out." Lily explained, as if her action had been reasonable.
"I need to talk to Abby." Cass said determinedly.
"Oh." Lily replied, slightly upset that Cass couldn't or wouldn't talk to her. "I'll go find her."
Lily was able to search the crowd and find Abby quite quickly, pulling her away from Remus, who she was protecting from a hoard of fans, and bringing her to Cass, before leaving them to talk. She could see Cass talking, and Abby's face turning a similar ghostly shade. Obviously something had them both worried.
-----
"We're going to have to get over personal issues to sort through this." Abby said as calmly as possible, addressing the blank and horrified faces in front of her. James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter sat before each other. Cass sat behind Abby with a smug look.
"You're kidding, right?" James said finally.
"No, actually. I'm not." Cass replied irritably. "Dumbledore talked to me after the match and wants to know when CARIO will perform. Since Dippet didn't tell him, he only found out about it from the clubs list he was going over for next year."
"So he wants us to do the tap number we've been 'practicing' all year tonight?" Sirius asked in disbelief.
Cass smirked. "Yup."
"Don't look so pleased with yourself, Flemmings." Sirius replied heatedly. "You have to do it too."
Cass opened her mouth, ready to retort, but James began humming the tune Sirius had given to his 'Cassidy Flemmings loves me' song, and they both remained silent.
"Abby's right. We need to put personal issues aside. We have six hours to come up with a good tap number." James announced.
"Right." Remus agreed. "So, who's actually seen a tap number?"
------
"I don't see why you're so nervous, you guys have been doing this dance thing since November, haven't you?" Lily asked happily as she literally skipped down to dinner that night.
"Uh... yeah." Cass concurred. "Course."
Abby grimaced.
They reached the Great Hall much too quickly for Cass and Abby's liking, and while Lily sat at the Gryffindor table with a bemused expression, Cass and Abby made their way up to the staff table, where a stage had been set up and the Marauders were waiting.
Sirius shook his head. "This will be the end of me. I'll never get another date."
"You've had enough dates to last a lifetime." Cass replied.
Sirius stuck his tongue out at Cass, but James interrupted a possible argument by sighing loudly. "The things we do for girls, eh mate?"
Sirius nodded in agreement. "Don't know why we bother."
At this point, Dumbledore stood up, and the Hall fell silent. "Another year is gone, and tomorrow you will return to your homes, hopefully knowing a bit more than you did last year. Before dinner, the CARIO club, or Coalition of Appreciators of River music, Irish dance, and Outlets for creativity, would like to perform for you a tap number they've been practicing all year."
Several students sniggered as the six took the stage, the Slytherins daring to laugh out loud. Professor McGonagall gave them a stern look, and the Hall went silent as the music started.
The tap number was only about four minutes long, and each member of CARIO had his or her own solo, as well as about thirty seconds of tapping in unison. James, one of the few to have actually seen a tap routine, did several hops and leaps, making a unique sound on the stage. Sirius just jumped about randomly, sticking his arms and legs out in various directions for effect. Remus did a combination between river dancing and tap, Abby did a combination of Irish dance with tap, and Cass tapped as best she could, tapping out 'All You Need is Love' with her feet.
The Hall was silent as they finished and bowed, and Dumbledore had to start the applause and continue on his own for a few seconds before the rest of the school joined in. Lily laughed loudly as they took their seats around her.
"That was fabulous! Absolutely fabulous! I think I'll take up tap!"
"Oh god, I don't think I'll ever live that down." Abby muttered, helping herself to some dinner.
"I still love you, Abs." Remus replied, smiling at her. Abby grinned back, ignoring Sirius as he made several catcalls and suggestive comments.
"I can't believe the year's over. It's been a pretty interesting one." Lily remarked, the entire group nodding in agreement.
"Let's make a toast." Abby suggested, lifting her goblet of pumpkin juice.
"Toasts are cheesy, Abby." Sirius protested, though he too raised his glass.
"To new friends, like Abby." Cass said loudly, ignoring Sirius, as the group had decided they would do more often.
"To new and old relationships." Abby added.
"To our final year at Hogwarts next year." Remus put in.
"To new pranks and honorary marauders!" Sirius yelled, swinging an arm across Lily's shoulders and pulling her into his armpit.
"To us!" Lily finished. The group clinked glasses, before Sirius mentioned how old they were acting and pointed out they still had a year left, causing all maturity to fly out the window.
------
The train to Hogwarts went by quickly, and in no time everyone was hugging and saying goodbye on Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Having hugged Remus, Sirius, and Peter, promised Cass and Abby to write, the only person left was James. Lily made her way up to him with a warm smile, and hugged him tightly.
"Have a good summer James."
"You too, Lily. You'll write, right?" James asked softly.
"Of course!" Lily replied dazzlingly. "I'll need to make sure you and Sirius aren't driving your mum insane."
"I'm glad we're friends, Lily."
"I'm glad too."
Lily made her way through the barrier into the muggle world, dragging her trunk and swinging her bag, until she saw her mum and dad, who she enveloped in a hug as soon as she got to them. "Mum! Dad! It's so nice to see you!" Lily cried earnestly.
Mrs. Evans's eyes were wet as she embraced her daughter, and smiled happily, pushing hair from Lily's face. "How was school, dearie?"
"It was... okay, Mum." Lily answered honestly.
"Oh? Where's James?" Mrs. Evans asked curiously, her eyes scanning the crowd for that familiar mop of messy black hair.
"He... We're just friends." Lily answered awkwardly, missing the pleased look on her father's face.
"Oh?" Mrs. Evans said quizzically.
"Yeah."
"Do you still like him?"
"Of course I like him, Mum. We're friends." Lily answered innocently.
"I meant do you still love him." Mrs. Evans corrected.
"Don't you think love is a strong word, for a sixteen year old?" Mr. Evans interrupted, not liking where the conversation was going.
"I was in love with you when I was sixteen." Mrs. Evans reminded, smiling fondly at her husband. "Lily?"
"I think I do Mum."
"But?"
"But I don't know. You never know though. Maybe next year..."
Mrs. Evans nodded fondly. "Alright, sweetheart. Ready to go?"
Lily nodded. She could always be honest with her mum. And of course, you never do know, and absence makes the heart grow fonder.
------
Review, review, or I won't write the sequel! Snippets from the sequel, Boys Never Learn:
"I'll bet you that I can get Flemmings to go out with me before you can get Evans back." Sirius said with a spirited grin.
"Padfoot, you're already my slave for next year, you don't want to loose again, do you?" James asked with a smirk.
"I won't loose. And that's the point. I need to cancel that out." Sirius replied knowledgably.
-------
"You're Head Boy?" Lily demanded, looking beyond shocked. "How could you be Head Boy?!?"
"Lily! You're supposed to be my friend!" James cried in exasperation. "You're supposed to be supportive!"
Lily grinned evilly. "Was Sirius supportive?"
"Err... No." James admitted.
"Then I don't have to be supportive either." Lily replied smugly.
"That's not fair!"
------
Sirius leaned in, his eyes closed, and kissed Cass firmly on the lips. Cass's eyes widened, and she pushed him off, standing up and backing away.
"Black! Get away from me!"
"Get away from you?" Sirius repeated. "You and I both want this!"
"Says who?!" Cass replied furiously.
"You and I did when we kissed last year!" Sirius replied incredulously.
"Yes, Black. Last year!"
"And this year!"
"No, Black. Things change! This summer, I..." Cass trailed off, unsure of where to start or how to tell Sirius.
"This summer you what?" Sirius demanded impatiently.
"I have a boyfriend."
------
"A dark lord has risen. He will cause many deaths, and he will probably affect everyone of you, directly or indirectly." Dumbledore announced gravely. "He has already claimed the lives of two members of one of the most prestigious Wizarding families, we offer our condolences to the Potter family."
------
"My god. I didn't think it would be possible." Lily muttered quietly to herself, staring at the page in disbelief.
"What's wrong?" Cass asked curiously.
Lily only shook her head stubbornly. "You don't want to know."
"Try us." Abby persisted.
"Petunia... she might be..." Lily gulped, as if trying to swallow the concept herself. "Pregnant."
There was a loud thump, and both Abby and Cass dropped down on the floor, out cold. Lily winced. "I told them they didn't want to know."
--------
"Lily... I tried to stop, but I can't." James said softly, gently brushing a loose ringlet from Lily's face. They were less than six inches apart now. "I love you, and being friends is too hard. Give me a chance, and I'll be better, I promise. I trust you, I truly do. Either we're not friends, or more than that, it's your decision, but – "
Lily interrupted him, kissing him forcefully on the lips, but James pushed away, holding her close to him, but looking for answers.
"Does this mean?" he asked cautiously, causing Lily to smile.
"Yep. You're stuck with me again."