Chapter 4- James' Revelations
After a boring week of "Family fun" for Lily, where she met up with so many grans, gampa's, aunties and uncles then she cared to remember. And for James and Claire, a week on formal parties, fake smiles and avoiding their father. They were all back of Hogwarts. They arrived back on the Friday, lessons would be starting again on the Monday.
Sirius, Peter and Remus were all very eager to have James back. At dinner that night they dragged him over to the Ravenclaw table (Not that he was complaining!) he sat opposite Lily. Remus next to Andi, then Haley and Crystal either side of Lily and Remus.
And Sirius and Peter either side of James. They chatted and laughed about the antics the school had held whilst Lily and James had been away, then Sirius declared they were having a mini party on Saturday night in the prefects bathroom- provided Lily and James and Lily could get them in there.
Halfway through the discussion, Lily got bored and decided she would play a little footsie with James. She avoided his eyes at all costs, she couldn't help but grin as she kicked his feet softly, and he kicked back.
They continued this until Lily noticed Sirius was grinning at her and winking, it wasn't until then she had realised she had gotten the wrong feet. Sirius had gathered this but decided to play along. The horrified look on Lily's face was priceless. Sirius would have paid Galleons to see it.
James noticed the face too and was concerned as to what was wrong. When he found out later (They had both sneaked out) he laughed until tears came out.
"Serves you right for being such a kinky little devil, then doesn't it!" He joked, she found it less than amusing.
"Maybe I'll play with Sirius more often then!" She threatened.
"Aww, come off it Lil's, You know I would've liked it."
"My name is LILY!" She stormed off back to the Ravenclaw common room. This was their first little fight, over a meaningless inadequate thing and James was beside himself. Later that evening James decided it was time to break the news about Snuffles to Sirius.
"Padfoot... Uh you know that house elf, you, you met over the summer..."
"Yeah Snuffles, he was well groovy, I promised that next time we met he could help me... Why are you looking like that Prongs?"
"Well, it's just, it just seems there won't be a next time. My father gave Snuffles to Narcissa and Malfoy to keep."
"But, but she could've had any of your elves, why... Why him?"
"I don't know?"
"But he was going to help me make a potion to cleans Snapes hair!"
"I know... Listen, it'll be ok. He will be ok. We just have to go on without him." Sirius had only actually met Snuffles on 2 occasions, but both felt they knew the other from James' stories.
They seemed to share a bod. Sirius liked the company of the elf- it was like having a younger brother who you had to correct their grammar and help out.
And the elf felt unaccepted by his own kind, being that he wanted freedom. The way Sirius spoke after that was as though Snuffles was dead and he said that as tribute to him, the other 3 were to call him Snuffles when referring to his dog form. They were freaked out, but still they complied.
The next day went swiftly, Lily was still avoiding James but he couldn't fail to notice that she kept looking at him, when she thought he wasn't looking. Also the seventh year girls who usually said a giggly hello to him, completely blanked him when he passed. He couldn't for the life of him work out why.
Finally it was time for the girls and the boys to meet outside the prefects bathroom. The girls had managed to persuade Lily that she wanted to come (They needed her for their plan to work!) and they all went in. Remus pulled a wizarding wireless out of his robes and put it on, Sirius and James got out some Butter beers and Cherry ale (Lily's favourite) and Peter added some snacks.
They were all set for a fun night. Little did Lily and James know the night would end in their big revelation and allot of exercise for all!
"So now what?" Lily asked.
"Let's play truth or dare!" Andi said. And for once Sirius agreed with her!
"Yeah Peter, you first." Peter chose dare and had to go into the Library wearing a skirt and bra, which Sirius had earlier nicked from the laundry. Peter didn't mind the dare that much until one of the girls recognised her clothes and chased after him, hexing him all the while.
Then it was Crystals turn, she chose truth and ended up revealing to everyone that she wet the bed until she was 10 years old!
"Your turn to choose Crystal." James said.
"Err... Lily! Truth or dare?" Lily thought for a second, then decided that dare was the safer option, because in this magical version of truth or dare you had a very weak truth spell put on you, so you couldn't lie.
"Dare!" Crystals eyes lit up.
"I dare you to kiss Sirius!" This was just what they had planned, it was bound to make James jealous! Lily stood up with a quick side glance at James, their fight forgotten. She hadn't REALLY wanted to do anything with Sirius, she was just bluffing!
She closed her eyes and moved her lips towards Sirius' cheek, he turned his head and clamped his lips firmly over Lily's and started kissing her passionately.
Remus noted how Lily's eyes flung wide open, where as James' narrowed menacingly and he began to clench his fists, he thought Sirius was a brave man. James looked ready to kill.
"SIRIUS!" James got up shouting. Sirius quickly pulled away, a devilish glint in her eyes.
"What's wrong Pronsie?" He asked, "You don't like me kissing Lily?"
"Your dam right I do..." He suddenly stopped, realising what he was about to say. Lily glanced at him nervously.
"Lily's turn to choose." Andi announced, breaking the ice. It took Lily a few seconds to get over the kiss Sirius had just enforced on her.
Then she randomly said.
"Remus, truth or dare?"
"Dare." he replied sharply.
" I dare YOU to kiss Sirius!"
"What? NOWAY!"
"May I remind you what happens when you refuse a dare?" Everyone knew in this game refusal of a dare, resulted in red, green and purple boils covering your body. Sirius got to his feet once more.
"Come on moony, I'm a good kisser! Aren't I Lil's!" Sirius winked at her as Lily blushed. Sirius and Remus kissed (though not as passionately) Remus pulled away quickly, then after wiping his mouth said;
"James truth or dare?"
"Truth." James replied, remembering the last dare Remus had made him do. He had, had to kiss Mcgonnagal. The boys had very sick minds. Haley handed James a small bottle of a weak truth potion which he gulped down in one mouthful.
"So..." Remus began. Carefully thinking of how to word his question perfectly.
"How long exactly have you been dating Lily?" James looked stunned.
"How did you know...when...huh?" he stuttered, normally he would have denied such an obvious accusation but under the potion he had drunk he couldn't.
"Just answer my question, lover boy!"
"Urm... about 9 months." Remus looked shocked he had expected James to say a couple of months perhaps but over half a year? He had never had a relationship lasting longer then a month before.
Aware that everyone was watching her, Lily smiled at James, as he sat down next to her and took her hand. It seemed that their previous fight had been long forgotten. Boy were they in for a long night, with all the questions they were going to be asked.
"So when and how did you get together?" Haley demanded.
"It was in April after Dumbledore's ball. I was going to ask Lily if she would go with me...but it seemed I went around it the wrong way."
"Yeah he asked me who I wanted to go with!" The other girls groaned.
"I still don't see how that was bad?" James defended himself.
"Well, girls... especially shy girls, will never tell the guy they like, that they like them- their too scared of rejection." Crystal supplied. "I take it that's what happened?"
"Yep, I told him I liked Sirius."
"Yeah, so me being the dunderhead, I am, actually set her up with Sirius!"
"Hey, I wasn't THAT bad was I Lil's?" Sirius said in a mock hurt tone.
"No you were wonderful. It's just I had fallen for your best mate." James smiled at her, pulled her onto his lap and kissed her on the cheek.
"Anyway after I ran out of the hall, when Romeo here was defending me, Sirius mad me see sense and told me that James liked me as much as I liked him."
"It was obvious, I mean in that year alone, he had tutored you, taught you Quidditch, raised a Heffalump with you, sent you a valentine, had his sister make you up, bought you a dress and shouted at the entire school to defend you! I mean after all that, you'd figure he liked you!" Lily's face lit up with a huge smile,
"You sent me that valentine?"
"Who else would've?" He grinned.
She slapped him playfully on the arm, then he pinned her down tiggling her.
*cough* came from Sirius. Lily straightened herself out embarrassed, but James seemed quite proud.
"Yeah.. so after Sirius had straightened me out, I told James and we started dating. We didn't tell you guys cause I didn't want to be mobbed by all those girls from the dance." Lily finished, half covering the real reason for James' sake.
"How'd you all find out?" James said looking pointedly at Sirius. He held up his hands in defence.
"I didn't tell them!" Remus looked at him a little confused.
"Well actually I kinda sneaked after you, to find out what you were up to."
"Yeah Moony was curious as to where you kept going, Prongs."
"I suppose I was out quite allot." James grinned sheepishly, for once actually blushing.
"Well poor moony it seems walked into some rather exrated scenes." Sirius exaggerated.
"WHAT?" James asked eyebrows furrowed.
"Well, not quite exrated, but Lily was sitting in your lap and you were kissing. And Lily was like (he put on a high girly voice.) What... if ... another... prefect... comes... in? And James said, (he put on a deep manly voice.) Don't... worry... none... will... come... in! And I was all like, Oh my God!" Remus said proudly.
"And then we decided to play with you." Sirius finished with a cheeky grin and a wink at Lily who blushed.
Just then they heard a voice and a door creak.
"He said they would be in here..." It was filch. Peter was so startled he fell into the pool sized bath they were all sitting round.
"Run!" James whispered. And they all ran out of the other door. "Split up!" James said when they were all out. He grabbed Lily's hand and ran towards the kitchens. Everyone else ran in different directions.
"Look they must have been here, there is a wireless on, banned none the less. And look a watery trail." He followed Peter's trail of water. Unfortunately, Andi had gone the same direction as Peter, but was not quite as fast as him. He had developed his rats fastness and had scurried into safety. But Filch was gaining easily on Andi and just as she had almost lost hope, Sirius came out a secret passage behind Filch and saw what was about to happen. He quickly made a diversion.
"OI, SIR!" he shouted making Filch turn round, but he had already slipped back through the secret passage and appeared out behind Andi, pulling her down the tunnel.
"What..." he put his hand over her mouth to silence her.
"Shh..." They heard Filch's footsteps pass over them and a distinct;
"DRAT!" sounded. Then they knew the coast was clear.
"Thank you so much, Sirius!" Andi said looking into his eyes.
"No problem. Doesn't mean I like you now though!" He grinned, breaking the awkward silence.
"I didn't expect you to, you arrogant pr@t!" She chuckled. He led her back to the Ravenclaw common room, via all the secret tunnels he knew. Remus was stood at the entrance pacing nervously.
"Aww good Filch didn't get you." He said relieved. They then kissed and he and Sirius bid her a good night and left for Griffindor tower. James appeared 50 minutes later for under his invisibility cloak. What a night and they only needed one guess as to who had tipped Filch off, of where they would be- Snape. But no worries they always got there revenge.
Things carried on in Hogwarts as they normally did, well as normal as they could get. Lily and James carried on their relationship more easily as they no longer needed to make excuses to their friends. Remus and Andi were still going strong. Sirius hadn't given up on his path for Claire and Peter still had a thing for Crystal.
The castle decorated in pink and red only meant one thing... Valentines day had fallen. In the great hall at breakfast, the students chatted away merrily. At the Ravenclaw table a group of girls were talking animatedly as to who they would like valentines from. Lily was amidst these girls, but far from interested. After all she already had her man.
"I quite like James Potter." A seventh year announced. Lily turned round to the group, surveying the girl.
"Oh he's well out of bounds." Another said. Lily was little worried, had their secret spilled?
"Why?" The first girl asked.
"Didn't you hear?" She replied, "He's gay!" Lily spat he pumpkin juice across the table and was almost crying in hysterics.
"James Potter is not gay!" She said rather loudly, after she had composed herself.
"And how do you know that?"
"Well.. err... you see... he's too much of a player to err be gay!" She replied coolly.
"Really? How many girls has he been with this year then? I can't think of one!" I can! Lily thought, but she couldn't say that!
"Well, that's no proof, maybe he is having a break and erm, concentrating on his studies."
"Well, Gillian Franscal, that really pretty seventh year tried it on with him at his sisters wedding and he wouldn't have none of it. I mean what boy in their right mind wouldn't say yes to her?" Thankfully Lily was saved from answering as the hall had filled with owls. A few envelopes dropped in front of her, but she discarded all but one.
The one she knew was from James. She was a little mad at James for not telling her about Gillian, but at the same time she was pleased he had turned down one of the prettiest girls Hogwarts had to offer, because of her. This meant that he did actually care for her enough to want to stay with her.
Dear Lily,
When I look into your gorgeous emerald eyes, I see more than just green. I see a beautiful girl with a beautiful mind. I see a girl who can do anything she puts her heart into. I will always have faith that you can achieve something big in your life. And I am extremely proud that your with me.
Happy Valentines day!
Your secret admirer xxx
Also with the card was a set of earrings shaped like lilies. The stem was green and made of emeralds and the flower was made of pure white diamonds. All the girls around were awed and kept pestering Lily as to who they were from. But alas to no avail.
James however was a little disappointed. Normally, he like Sirius got a big stack of valentines card. But this year he had just the 3. (It seemed news had spread fast about his new found sexuality!) The first card was from Lily;
Dear James,
I can't believe 10 months have passed between us! But you know what they say, Time flies when your having fun, and I have had the time of my life being in your arms! Thank you for everything you have done or given me. You are truly my knight in shinning armour!
Signed Anonymous xxx
The second was a little confusing to James, it read;
Dear James,
Congratulations in coming out. I am like you and if someone as popular as you can keep your reputation, maybe I could to. You are a true inspiration. Maybe one day we could meet up.
From Mystery man!
"Sirius you idiot!" James said whacking Sirius. "Why'd you send me this?" he asked thrusting the parchment into his mates hand. This HAD to be a joke and only Sirius was sick enough to carry it out. Sirius read it, confusion dawning on his face.
"Dude, why didn't you tell me? ... Does Lily know?" James frowned.
"SIRIUS! I'm not (his voice reduced to a whisper) gay! This is some kind of sick joke! You pulled it right?"
"Nope sorry mate not me!" James decided to push the letter out of his mind. He moved onto his last letter, which was by far the worst. It had one simple poem on it;
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I know ALL about,
The Mudblood and you!
The tiny neat writing was full of malice and hatred. Who ever wrote it, did so to make James panic, they obviously knew what effect it would have over him.
Later on that day after their lessons, they decided to sit out in the courtyard talking. It was the first day of the year it had been warm and dry enough to do so.
James was explaining about his weird letter from "Mystery man".
"There's a rumour going round," Lily started, "Apparently, some girl came on to you at your sisters wedding." Her voice was harsh and accusing.
"Yeah, Gillian Franscal. But I turned her down!" James stated defensively.
"I know, still it would've been nice to know! (So I could've gone and hexed the living daylights out of her! She thought.) But she seems to think that just because you didn't want her, you must be gay! So she spread it around."
"SHE WHAT?" James bellowed. Lily noted that Peter started edging away from James all throughout the conversation.
"Peter! My boyfriend is NOT gay!" She said, in what sounded like a slightly angry slightly bemused voice.
"What can I do?" James asked pleadingly.
"Well, we can come out in the open about us.. that's all really?"
"Are you sure there's nothing else?"
"You could make out with some random girl!" Haley suggested. Everyone looked at her not believing she had seriously suggested that.
"Looks like there is NOTHING you can do then!" Lily said forcefully, looking at Haley all the while.
"It was just a suggestion, no need to bite my head off!" Haley said. In the end they decided to tell everyone who asked that he wasn't and to avoid acting overly "gay".
As the boys went back up to the Griffindor tower, Claire Potter appeared out of nowhere, whacking Sirius upside the head.
"Ah Claire my love, what can we do for you?" he grinned
"You know very well why I'm here! I just wanted to thank you for the 60 red roses delivered to me in EVERY lesson. Oh and the dwarf which came into my last lesson singing "I will always love you" to me!" her voice was angry and Sharpe.
"Grr! James sort your friend out!" And she stormed off. James turned to Sirius who looked a little apprehensive.
"Dude. You know your my best mate and all, but seriously, don't EVER hit on my sister! Believe me she is more than you can handle. And for heavens sake, never call her your love in front of me again- that's just sick!" James had always been very over protective with his sister, almost trying to act as the father neither of them had.
After a boring week of "Family fun" for Lily, where she met up with so many grans, gampa's, aunties and uncles then she cared to remember. And for James and Claire, a week on formal parties, fake smiles and avoiding their father. They were all back of Hogwarts. They arrived back on the Friday, lessons would be starting again on the Monday.
Sirius, Peter and Remus were all very eager to have James back. At dinner that night they dragged him over to the Ravenclaw table (Not that he was complaining!) he sat opposite Lily. Remus next to Andi, then Haley and Crystal either side of Lily and Remus.
And Sirius and Peter either side of James. They chatted and laughed about the antics the school had held whilst Lily and James had been away, then Sirius declared they were having a mini party on Saturday night in the prefects bathroom- provided Lily and James and Lily could get them in there.
Halfway through the discussion, Lily got bored and decided she would play a little footsie with James. She avoided his eyes at all costs, she couldn't help but grin as she kicked his feet softly, and he kicked back.
They continued this until Lily noticed Sirius was grinning at her and winking, it wasn't until then she had realised she had gotten the wrong feet. Sirius had gathered this but decided to play along. The horrified look on Lily's face was priceless. Sirius would have paid Galleons to see it.
James noticed the face too and was concerned as to what was wrong. When he found out later (They had both sneaked out) he laughed until tears came out.
"Serves you right for being such a kinky little devil, then doesn't it!" He joked, she found it less than amusing.
"Maybe I'll play with Sirius more often then!" She threatened.
"Aww, come off it Lil's, You know I would've liked it."
"My name is LILY!" She stormed off back to the Ravenclaw common room. This was their first little fight, over a meaningless inadequate thing and James was beside himself. Later that evening James decided it was time to break the news about Snuffles to Sirius.
"Padfoot... Uh you know that house elf, you, you met over the summer..."
"Yeah Snuffles, he was well groovy, I promised that next time we met he could help me... Why are you looking like that Prongs?"
"Well, it's just, it just seems there won't be a next time. My father gave Snuffles to Narcissa and Malfoy to keep."
"But, but she could've had any of your elves, why... Why him?"
"I don't know?"
"But he was going to help me make a potion to cleans Snapes hair!"
"I know... Listen, it'll be ok. He will be ok. We just have to go on without him." Sirius had only actually met Snuffles on 2 occasions, but both felt they knew the other from James' stories.
They seemed to share a bod. Sirius liked the company of the elf- it was like having a younger brother who you had to correct their grammar and help out.
And the elf felt unaccepted by his own kind, being that he wanted freedom. The way Sirius spoke after that was as though Snuffles was dead and he said that as tribute to him, the other 3 were to call him Snuffles when referring to his dog form. They were freaked out, but still they complied.
The next day went swiftly, Lily was still avoiding James but he couldn't fail to notice that she kept looking at him, when she thought he wasn't looking. Also the seventh year girls who usually said a giggly hello to him, completely blanked him when he passed. He couldn't for the life of him work out why.
Finally it was time for the girls and the boys to meet outside the prefects bathroom. The girls had managed to persuade Lily that she wanted to come (They needed her for their plan to work!) and they all went in. Remus pulled a wizarding wireless out of his robes and put it on, Sirius and James got out some Butter beers and Cherry ale (Lily's favourite) and Peter added some snacks.
They were all set for a fun night. Little did Lily and James know the night would end in their big revelation and allot of exercise for all!
"So now what?" Lily asked.
"Let's play truth or dare!" Andi said. And for once Sirius agreed with her!
"Yeah Peter, you first." Peter chose dare and had to go into the Library wearing a skirt and bra, which Sirius had earlier nicked from the laundry. Peter didn't mind the dare that much until one of the girls recognised her clothes and chased after him, hexing him all the while.
Then it was Crystals turn, she chose truth and ended up revealing to everyone that she wet the bed until she was 10 years old!
"Your turn to choose Crystal." James said.
"Err... Lily! Truth or dare?" Lily thought for a second, then decided that dare was the safer option, because in this magical version of truth or dare you had a very weak truth spell put on you, so you couldn't lie.
"Dare!" Crystals eyes lit up.
"I dare you to kiss Sirius!" This was just what they had planned, it was bound to make James jealous! Lily stood up with a quick side glance at James, their fight forgotten. She hadn't REALLY wanted to do anything with Sirius, she was just bluffing!
She closed her eyes and moved her lips towards Sirius' cheek, he turned his head and clamped his lips firmly over Lily's and started kissing her passionately.
Remus noted how Lily's eyes flung wide open, where as James' narrowed menacingly and he began to clench his fists, he thought Sirius was a brave man. James looked ready to kill.
"SIRIUS!" James got up shouting. Sirius quickly pulled away, a devilish glint in her eyes.
"What's wrong Pronsie?" He asked, "You don't like me kissing Lily?"
"Your dam right I do..." He suddenly stopped, realising what he was about to say. Lily glanced at him nervously.
"Lily's turn to choose." Andi announced, breaking the ice. It took Lily a few seconds to get over the kiss Sirius had just enforced on her.
Then she randomly said.
"Remus, truth or dare?"
"Dare." he replied sharply.
" I dare YOU to kiss Sirius!"
"What? NOWAY!"
"May I remind you what happens when you refuse a dare?" Everyone knew in this game refusal of a dare, resulted in red, green and purple boils covering your body. Sirius got to his feet once more.
"Come on moony, I'm a good kisser! Aren't I Lil's!" Sirius winked at her as Lily blushed. Sirius and Remus kissed (though not as passionately) Remus pulled away quickly, then after wiping his mouth said;
"James truth or dare?"
"Truth." James replied, remembering the last dare Remus had made him do. He had, had to kiss Mcgonnagal. The boys had very sick minds. Haley handed James a small bottle of a weak truth potion which he gulped down in one mouthful.
"So..." Remus began. Carefully thinking of how to word his question perfectly.
"How long exactly have you been dating Lily?" James looked stunned.
"How did you know...when...huh?" he stuttered, normally he would have denied such an obvious accusation but under the potion he had drunk he couldn't.
"Just answer my question, lover boy!"
"Urm... about 9 months." Remus looked shocked he had expected James to say a couple of months perhaps but over half a year? He had never had a relationship lasting longer then a month before.
Aware that everyone was watching her, Lily smiled at James, as he sat down next to her and took her hand. It seemed that their previous fight had been long forgotten. Boy were they in for a long night, with all the questions they were going to be asked.
"So when and how did you get together?" Haley demanded.
"It was in April after Dumbledore's ball. I was going to ask Lily if she would go with me...but it seemed I went around it the wrong way."
"Yeah he asked me who I wanted to go with!" The other girls groaned.
"I still don't see how that was bad?" James defended himself.
"Well, girls... especially shy girls, will never tell the guy they like, that they like them- their too scared of rejection." Crystal supplied. "I take it that's what happened?"
"Yep, I told him I liked Sirius."
"Yeah, so me being the dunderhead, I am, actually set her up with Sirius!"
"Hey, I wasn't THAT bad was I Lil's?" Sirius said in a mock hurt tone.
"No you were wonderful. It's just I had fallen for your best mate." James smiled at her, pulled her onto his lap and kissed her on the cheek.
"Anyway after I ran out of the hall, when Romeo here was defending me, Sirius mad me see sense and told me that James liked me as much as I liked him."
"It was obvious, I mean in that year alone, he had tutored you, taught you Quidditch, raised a Heffalump with you, sent you a valentine, had his sister make you up, bought you a dress and shouted at the entire school to defend you! I mean after all that, you'd figure he liked you!" Lily's face lit up with a huge smile,
"You sent me that valentine?"
"Who else would've?" He grinned.
She slapped him playfully on the arm, then he pinned her down tiggling her.
*cough* came from Sirius. Lily straightened herself out embarrassed, but James seemed quite proud.
"Yeah.. so after Sirius had straightened me out, I told James and we started dating. We didn't tell you guys cause I didn't want to be mobbed by all those girls from the dance." Lily finished, half covering the real reason for James' sake.
"How'd you all find out?" James said looking pointedly at Sirius. He held up his hands in defence.
"I didn't tell them!" Remus looked at him a little confused.
"Well actually I kinda sneaked after you, to find out what you were up to."
"Yeah Moony was curious as to where you kept going, Prongs."
"I suppose I was out quite allot." James grinned sheepishly, for once actually blushing.
"Well poor moony it seems walked into some rather exrated scenes." Sirius exaggerated.
"WHAT?" James asked eyebrows furrowed.
"Well, not quite exrated, but Lily was sitting in your lap and you were kissing. And Lily was like (he put on a high girly voice.) What... if ... another... prefect... comes... in? And James said, (he put on a deep manly voice.) Don't... worry... none... will... come... in! And I was all like, Oh my God!" Remus said proudly.
"And then we decided to play with you." Sirius finished with a cheeky grin and a wink at Lily who blushed.
Just then they heard a voice and a door creak.
"He said they would be in here..." It was filch. Peter was so startled he fell into the pool sized bath they were all sitting round.
"Run!" James whispered. And they all ran out of the other door. "Split up!" James said when they were all out. He grabbed Lily's hand and ran towards the kitchens. Everyone else ran in different directions.
"Look they must have been here, there is a wireless on, banned none the less. And look a watery trail." He followed Peter's trail of water. Unfortunately, Andi had gone the same direction as Peter, but was not quite as fast as him. He had developed his rats fastness and had scurried into safety. But Filch was gaining easily on Andi and just as she had almost lost hope, Sirius came out a secret passage behind Filch and saw what was about to happen. He quickly made a diversion.
"OI, SIR!" he shouted making Filch turn round, but he had already slipped back through the secret passage and appeared out behind Andi, pulling her down the tunnel.
"What..." he put his hand over her mouth to silence her.
"Shh..." They heard Filch's footsteps pass over them and a distinct;
"DRAT!" sounded. Then they knew the coast was clear.
"Thank you so much, Sirius!" Andi said looking into his eyes.
"No problem. Doesn't mean I like you now though!" He grinned, breaking the awkward silence.
"I didn't expect you to, you arrogant pr@t!" She chuckled. He led her back to the Ravenclaw common room, via all the secret tunnels he knew. Remus was stood at the entrance pacing nervously.
"Aww good Filch didn't get you." He said relieved. They then kissed and he and Sirius bid her a good night and left for Griffindor tower. James appeared 50 minutes later for under his invisibility cloak. What a night and they only needed one guess as to who had tipped Filch off, of where they would be- Snape. But no worries they always got there revenge.
Things carried on in Hogwarts as they normally did, well as normal as they could get. Lily and James carried on their relationship more easily as they no longer needed to make excuses to their friends. Remus and Andi were still going strong. Sirius hadn't given up on his path for Claire and Peter still had a thing for Crystal.
The castle decorated in pink and red only meant one thing... Valentines day had fallen. In the great hall at breakfast, the students chatted away merrily. At the Ravenclaw table a group of girls were talking animatedly as to who they would like valentines from. Lily was amidst these girls, but far from interested. After all she already had her man.
"I quite like James Potter." A seventh year announced. Lily turned round to the group, surveying the girl.
"Oh he's well out of bounds." Another said. Lily was little worried, had their secret spilled?
"Why?" The first girl asked.
"Didn't you hear?" She replied, "He's gay!" Lily spat he pumpkin juice across the table and was almost crying in hysterics.
"James Potter is not gay!" She said rather loudly, after she had composed herself.
"And how do you know that?"
"Well.. err... you see... he's too much of a player to err be gay!" She replied coolly.
"Really? How many girls has he been with this year then? I can't think of one!" I can! Lily thought, but she couldn't say that!
"Well, that's no proof, maybe he is having a break and erm, concentrating on his studies."
"Well, Gillian Franscal, that really pretty seventh year tried it on with him at his sisters wedding and he wouldn't have none of it. I mean what boy in their right mind wouldn't say yes to her?" Thankfully Lily was saved from answering as the hall had filled with owls. A few envelopes dropped in front of her, but she discarded all but one.
The one she knew was from James. She was a little mad at James for not telling her about Gillian, but at the same time she was pleased he had turned down one of the prettiest girls Hogwarts had to offer, because of her. This meant that he did actually care for her enough to want to stay with her.
Dear Lily,
When I look into your gorgeous emerald eyes, I see more than just green. I see a beautiful girl with a beautiful mind. I see a girl who can do anything she puts her heart into. I will always have faith that you can achieve something big in your life. And I am extremely proud that your with me.
Happy Valentines day!
Your secret admirer xxx
Also with the card was a set of earrings shaped like lilies. The stem was green and made of emeralds and the flower was made of pure white diamonds. All the girls around were awed and kept pestering Lily as to who they were from. But alas to no avail.
James however was a little disappointed. Normally, he like Sirius got a big stack of valentines card. But this year he had just the 3. (It seemed news had spread fast about his new found sexuality!) The first card was from Lily;
Dear James,
I can't believe 10 months have passed between us! But you know what they say, Time flies when your having fun, and I have had the time of my life being in your arms! Thank you for everything you have done or given me. You are truly my knight in shinning armour!
Signed Anonymous xxx
The second was a little confusing to James, it read;
Dear James,
Congratulations in coming out. I am like you and if someone as popular as you can keep your reputation, maybe I could to. You are a true inspiration. Maybe one day we could meet up.
From Mystery man!
"Sirius you idiot!" James said whacking Sirius. "Why'd you send me this?" he asked thrusting the parchment into his mates hand. This HAD to be a joke and only Sirius was sick enough to carry it out. Sirius read it, confusion dawning on his face.
"Dude, why didn't you tell me? ... Does Lily know?" James frowned.
"SIRIUS! I'm not (his voice reduced to a whisper) gay! This is some kind of sick joke! You pulled it right?"
"Nope sorry mate not me!" James decided to push the letter out of his mind. He moved onto his last letter, which was by far the worst. It had one simple poem on it;
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I know ALL about,
The Mudblood and you!
The tiny neat writing was full of malice and hatred. Who ever wrote it, did so to make James panic, they obviously knew what effect it would have over him.
Later on that day after their lessons, they decided to sit out in the courtyard talking. It was the first day of the year it had been warm and dry enough to do so.
James was explaining about his weird letter from "Mystery man".
"There's a rumour going round," Lily started, "Apparently, some girl came on to you at your sisters wedding." Her voice was harsh and accusing.
"Yeah, Gillian Franscal. But I turned her down!" James stated defensively.
"I know, still it would've been nice to know! (So I could've gone and hexed the living daylights out of her! She thought.) But she seems to think that just because you didn't want her, you must be gay! So she spread it around."
"SHE WHAT?" James bellowed. Lily noted that Peter started edging away from James all throughout the conversation.
"Peter! My boyfriend is NOT gay!" She said, in what sounded like a slightly angry slightly bemused voice.
"What can I do?" James asked pleadingly.
"Well, we can come out in the open about us.. that's all really?"
"Are you sure there's nothing else?"
"You could make out with some random girl!" Haley suggested. Everyone looked at her not believing she had seriously suggested that.
"Looks like there is NOTHING you can do then!" Lily said forcefully, looking at Haley all the while.
"It was just a suggestion, no need to bite my head off!" Haley said. In the end they decided to tell everyone who asked that he wasn't and to avoid acting overly "gay".
As the boys went back up to the Griffindor tower, Claire Potter appeared out of nowhere, whacking Sirius upside the head.
"Ah Claire my love, what can we do for you?" he grinned
"You know very well why I'm here! I just wanted to thank you for the 60 red roses delivered to me in EVERY lesson. Oh and the dwarf which came into my last lesson singing "I will always love you" to me!" her voice was angry and Sharpe.
"Grr! James sort your friend out!" And she stormed off. James turned to Sirius who looked a little apprehensive.
"Dude. You know your my best mate and all, but seriously, don't EVER hit on my sister! Believe me she is more than you can handle. And for heavens sake, never call her your love in front of me again- that's just sick!" James had always been very over protective with his sister, almost trying to act as the father neither of them had.