Chapter 13 "Underneath it all" by marauderyears
Disclaimer: Contrary to popular belief, I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to it, J.K Rowling does.
Note: Sorry for the long wait. Thanks to my betas! BY THE WAY, GO BACK AND REREAD THE VERY END OF CHAPTER 7. I changed the ending so that they didn't kiss. I thought it was too early and didn't go in with the chapter. I also fixed Chapter 9; Lily DOES have her shirt on when she's hanging around.
Lily's POV
Why is everyone staring at me and then when they think I'm not looking, start to frantically whisper things? I mean, I'm used to people staring at me, because I guess I'm kind of noticeable. I mean how many people have vibrant red hair and bright green eyes? But that doesn't give an excuse for the girls to stare at me.
Opps! Those darn staring people distracted me. I mean look, I just dropped my Trans. book! Before I had time to bend down and pick it up, Lena practically pounced on me causing me to drop my Ancient Runes book too.
"Oh my goodness, Lily, did you hear?" She said, while hopping around me. She knows that irritates me, why does she still do it?!
I sighed, and said tiredly, "Hear about what?" I was expecting for her to tell me about another sale that Fantabulous, the currently popular witch clothing line, was having. But what I was not expecting for her to say was:
"James Potter and Remus Lupin got in a fight! I mean not fist-fight, but like a verbal fight, you know the kind with big words and raised voices. I even heard that Sirius Black- Merlin he's cute- had to drag them out! No one knows what happened afterwards but it reminds me of this time that Fabian and Gideon- you know the Prewitt brothers- got into a fight over a girl. Which is kind of funny because it's not like she was pretty? I mean sure she was blonde, but she was a Hufflepuff. Which fits I guess, because they're Hufflepuffs..."
James Potter and Remus Lupin got into a fight?! I felt my Potions book slip from by grasp along with a whole bunch of quills. That was unbelievable. In fact, I don't believe it. That's almost as crazy as...James Potter and Sirius Black getting into a fight. I mean come on, things like that just DON'T happen.
Needless to say after quite a few classes, I started to notice that the four boys were no longer four. They were two and two. Peter and Sirius alternated between sitting with James and Remus. Wow. Well, I hate to see what broke that friendship!
James' POV
Apologizing for me is a lot more difficult than you think. I can't just walk up to Remus and say "Sorry for acting like an ass-hole". It just doesn't work like that. First of all, I guess I wouldn't blame him if he didn't forgive me right away. Although I wasn't the only one who said some pretty mean things. He said Lily doesn't even like me. Sure she doesn't like me like I like her, but she will talk to me. At least she did. Now I'm not so sure she will. I don't know for sure if she's heard about me and Remus' fight because she left the Great Hall before we starting fighting, but I'm sure- no positive- that Lena filled her in on it. And if Lena didn't, than someone else sure as heck did.
What in the bloody hell is Professor Binns talking about? I mean come on, is any one actually paying attention? Besides Lily and Remus- they always pay attention. I guess I could see why Lily likes Remus (if she in fact does). They have so much in common.
What do I have in common with Lily? Sirius said we're both stubborn prats. I guess that's something. Though I don't think it's a good idea to tell Lily, "Hey look, we DO have something in common. We're both stubborn prats!" I don't think that'd go over so well with her. Although she'd agree that I am. Heck I know I am.
It's so cute how Lily always twirls her hair on her middle finger. Most people do it on their index finger. Or maybe she's flipping me off? But then she'd be flipping off the entire class, including the teacher.
Lily also has this habit of cracking her neck. She'll tilt it to the left, then right. Never right then left. Most people crack their knuckles, but then again Lily isn't like most people. That's what makes her so special. I wonder if anyone else notices these things about Lily. Maybe Remus does? I looked across the room to see Remus patiently taking notes and occasionally poking Peter to wake him up.
I'm not sure how I should apologize to Remus, but I know that although I don't want to, I'm going to just have to come out and say it. Maybe I should ask Sirius what he thinks...wait, he doesn't think. Finally, the bell! Praise the bell! I watch as everyone exits the room, except for Lily. She's usually the last person to exit classes.
She looks up at me and tosses her book bag over her shoulder and heads out of the room. I follow her.
"Hey Lily, wait up!" She turns around, looking tired. How much sleep does that girl get? Probably spends her sleeping time, studying. That's my girl.
"Hi James, can we walk and talk, I'm going to be late to my Ancient Runes class. And I know you have Muggle Studies next, which isn't too far away."
Even though she's walking fast, with those short little legs of hers (VERY NICE legs, they are) she is still walking my normal pace. I glanced down at her to see her staring at her feet as she walks. She doesn't normally stare at her feet; she usually walks with confidence in every step. The only time she stares at her feet is when she's upset.
"You shouldn't stare at your feet when you walk."
"Oh and why not?" She asked, clearly affronted. I didn't mean to sound accusing.
"No, I didn't mean it like that. Is something wrong, normally you walk with your head held up high?"
"And normally you walk with your head up your-"
I smiled at her to continue, but she stopped. She NEVER cusses. She calls me names, but never down right says any swear words. (A/N: If I've ever made her swear in the past, I'm sorry.)
"Go on."
She pursed her lips together and shook her head. Aw, she's so cute when she's pouting. Heck, she's cute ALL the time.
"I've never heard you swear."
"And you never will."
"We'll see about that. So is something wrong?"
She sighed, "What makes you think that something is wrong?"
I shrugged and stared at a wall. "Whenever you're upset you stare at your feet and your eyes turn darker. They lose their brightness." She looked at me and I felt my cheeks getting hot.
"How do you know that?"
"I don't know, I just noticed it."
"Oh." She turned along a corridor but I stopped her and she gave me a questioning look.
I pointed to our left, "It's faster this way." She looked like she doubted me. "Just trust me."
"Oh that's comforting." I gave her a hurt look. It really did hurt my feelings, I can admit that. Does she not trust me?
I looked her in the eye. "Do you trust me?" She just shrugged, not looking me in the eye. Nevertheless, she went in the direction I pointed to her.
I caught up with her. She seemed to be thinking hard, because she had that pensive look about her. When she frowns and her eyebrows furrow together. Sometimes she'll stick her tongue out a little, like she's chewing on it. (A/N: I totally do that, lol.)
Let's just say it's really cute. She surprised me by speaking voluntarily to me.
"I trust you I guess. About certain things..."
I looked down at her in surprise. I'm glad she trusts me.
"Like what kind of things?" I knew I was going to be late to Muggle Studies, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Well for me at least.
"Well, you ask me out a lot, but I know your not going to...try anything on me or take advantage of me..." She turned red.
"I would never." I said with so much sincerity in my voice that she glanced up at me.
"It's not like I'm some horrible rapist serial killer." To this she laughed. Her laugh made me want to smile, so I did. We stopped in front of her classroom.
"I heard you and Remus aren't on speaking terms."
I grimaced and nodded. I hope she hadn't heard why.
She studied me for a second, and I think I blushed under her close scrutiny.
"It's none of my business, and I don't know who started it or what it's about, but you should apologize. You two are too good of friends, to let a relationship like that go. If he isn't going to apologize first than you should be the bigger person and apologize first."
She smiled at me and walked into her classroom as the bell rang. She's right, I should apologize first. I guess it takes the girl of my dreams to convince me to, but I will.
It took me a minute to realize that I was very late to Muggle Studies considered I had passed by it about 10 minutes ago.
Lily's POV
'Guess what?'
'What?' I wrote back. Frank and I were currently writing notes to each other in Ancient Runes.
'I figured out why James and Remus are fighting. I asked Sirius. He got a little snippy with me though, when I asked.'
I wasn't really interested in why they were fighting, but a little bit of curiosity overtook me.
'Turns out it was over some girl. I can't believe a girl could do that to them. Must be some girl.'
'Remus wouldn't fight over a girl. He doesn't let his testosterone control him like James and Sirius sometimes do.' I take that back. James doesn't act hormonal like he did in fifth year. He's grown up. Even Sirius has. Whoa, I can't believe I just said that.
'It seems that James has finally gotten over you!' Frank passed me the parchment.
I felt my stomach drop a little. I ignored it and smiled over at Frank. That's great. James should like someone else who actually likes him back. I wonder who she is. She must be wonderful for James AND Remus to like. She's probably beautiful.
Finally I'm done with my classes today and it's Friday! It's a Hogsmeade weekend, so I can finally get a Copy Quill. I need one real bad for Prefect meetings. I'm not quite sure where to find one though. I've seen that Remus has one, I'll ask him.
I ran up to Remus who was walking with Peter Pettigrew.
"Hey Remus, are you going to Hogsmeade the weekend?" He looked down at me with a small frown on his face. Why was he frowning?
"Um yeah. Why?" I stared at my trainers. My shoelace was coming untied.
"I w-was just wondering where, where you get your Copy Quills because I need one..." My voice was getting high. It usually does that when I'm either nervous or feel stupid. Right now it's because I feel stupid.
Remus seemed relieved and smiled, "Oh, I get them at Quills and More. It's a specialty store for Quills if you can believe it. They even have Sugar Quills there."
I was quiet for a second. How come I've never heard of this store? As if reading my mind, he answered.
"It's a small store behind Zonko's."
"Oh. Maybe you could go with me this weekend and help me find it. I've never been in or behind Zonko's before."
Remus looked passed me and his eyes fixed on something, but I pretended not to notice. Remus shook his head.
"Look I'm sorry Lily, but I don't think I should be the one to show you Zonko's but maybe-"
"Oh I don't need to go in Zonko's, just behind it-"
"I think James would show you inside and behind Zonko's if you asked him."
"Oh, I don't know where he is plus-"
"Well here's your chance." What? I turned around to see James walking down the hall with Lena and his eyes were on me and Remus. But Remus just smiled at James and Lena as he walked away. Saying that James looks guilty is an understatement. Why does he look guilty? Lena smiled at James and said bye. I tried to smile at her, but she didn't at me. She stared at the ground, blushing.
James looked down at me and smiled. A guilty smile. Why is he acting weird?
"Are you going to Hogsmeade this weekend James?" James' eyes widened. And he looked at me, surprised. Nevertheless, he nodded.
"Oh well, I was wondering if maybe- because I need a Copy Quill and apparently you can get them at Quills and More which is behind Zonko's and seeing as I've never been there- maybe you could come with me and show me where it is?" Surprised is an understatement. There was a long silence after what I said. Did he hear me? I guess I kind of blabbered a little...
"Oh I'm really, really sorry Lily, but I just said I'd go with Lena." He rubbed the back of his neck, turning red. I stared at my trainers. The shoelace had become fully untied.
Oh no. I felt like it hit me with a ton of bricks. Lena. Lena was the girl that he and Remus were fighting over. That's why Remus just smiled at her? And why James just asked Lena to Hogsmeade. Oh no. I feel so stupid. And embarrassed. James seemed to be waiting for something because he was kind of nervously shifting his feet. Probably for me to leave, I'm such a loser.
"I'm really, really sorry Lily. I really am. If I weren't going with her I could-" I couldn't take anymore humiliation.
"Oh no James, it's perfectly fine. Well I'll see you later." Why is my voice all high and squeaky again? I turned around and was about to head back to the Common Room and skip dinner (Merlin knows I'd be too embarrassed to see James and Lena together) when I spun back around to face James.
"Have you apologized to Remus yet? You too really shouldn't be fighting over Lena, she wouldn't like that." I walked passed him, leaving him.
I need to make it to my dormitory. Why are my eyes burning? It's not like I'm going to cry? Why would I cry? I mean it's not like I've been nice to James all these years that he's asked me out. He probably just realized that I'm a waste of time and that Lena is prettier; why not go out with her? It'd be selfish of me to think that I'm the only girl he'd ever go out with. Now I'm being self-centered! I just hope he and Lena have a good time. I wish Lena had told me that she liked James though.
A/N: Thanks reviewers; misakichi1Pranks Are So Siriusly Padfootevil-pillowmilkywaypnay37MaRoNcOoL, and Charm12. Please continue to review, it ain't hard. I guess it is if your computers slow though. But do it anyways, lol.