Chapter Four: Fourth Year 1979- 1980

September 3, 1979, by the lake

Mum sent me a Howler this morning at breakfast. It was so embarrassing. I swear...everyone was staring at me and Lily was laughing...it was terrible. I don't even know what I did wrong. Everybody likes to play tricks on Snape it's not like it was life threatening. Yeah...he's still in the hospital wing...and he had to get some of his limbs re- attached but he'll be fine. This is what it said:

JAMES ANTHONY POTTER! How DARE YOU ENDANGER YOUR CLASS MATES WITH ONE OF YOUR STUPID, CHILDISH PRANKS!!! I AM SO ASHAMED OF YOU; IT'S NOT EVEN FUNNY! YOU HAVE BROUGHT THE FAMILY COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISHONOR AND THE MINISTRY IS QUESTIONING YOUR FATHER! THEY SEARCHED MY UNDERWEAR BUREAU FOR SIGNS OF DARK MAGIC!!!!!!!!!! POTTER, YOU BETTER STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT OR ELSE I WILL BRING YOUR JOHN BROWN HIND PARTS STRAIGHT HOME... AND IT WON'T BE PRETTY!!!

Like I said it was embarrassing and totally unnecessary...so I sent one back to her:

CAN YOU SAY THAT A LITTLE LOUDER, MUM? I DON'T THINK THEY HEARD YOU IN SOUTH AFRICA!!!

Do you think that was disrespectful? Not that you have a brain or anything...

October 14, 1979, by the lake

The O.W.L.'s are coming up next year. But Lily had already begun to study for them. And this makes me sad. Because we don't get any alone time because she is studying. This makes me very sad. Is this selfish? Oh...how would you know? You're just a notebook!

I've been practicing my animagus by myself for a while. And I managed to get fur around my neck, wrists, and buttocks area. This, much to my mortification, embarrassment and chagrin, happened in the middle of the common room. I was covered in fur and resembled a giant owl pellet. And everybody pointed and laughed... hysterically. Someone even had the nerve to say 'Don't worry, I'm not laughing at you; I'm laughing with you.' I can never show my face in Gryffindor tower again.

December 1, 1979, common room...waiting for Lily

So...I told her to be ready at 5:00pm sharp...why is it 7:30 and she's not here yet? I'm trying to do something nice for her because she stressed herself into acne-ness studying for these O.W.L.'s. And she can't even be on time!! My thoughts are thus:

1: She's trying to make herself look nice because she's been avoiding me all year.

2: She's studying when she should be getting ready.

3: She's stood me up.

That's it...I'm going in.

Later

Well...I went into the girls' dormitory (guys can get in by jiggling the rail!!) and found Lily in the lavatory bending over the toilet. She was sick and couldn't stop retching long enough to tell me. So I went in there and held her hair back for her. The poor thing looked so embarrassed. This is how our conversation went:

I walked in... "Lily?"

"James? How did you get in here?"

"I have connections...are you ready?"

She came out of the lavatory; a green clad face and tousled hair. She looked awful and...sick?

"No, James, I'm so sorry. I ruined your plans and I've been a horrible girlfriend. It's okay if you are mad at me. I understand."

"Lily...forget about that...are you okay? You look like you don't feel well."

"Thanks."

"Lily."

"Yes?"

"Are you sick?"

nods head

"Then it's a good thing I came up here to look for you."

"But, what about your plans."

"My plans were to be with you. So I am going to nurse you back to health."

"Oh, James. I don't deserve you. I've been avoiding you all year with my studying and I've been absolutely horrid to you."

"Don't worry about it. You can make it up to me when you get better."

suggestively wiggles eyebrows

So we did the whole barfing thing where I had to hold her hair back. Then she asked me to read to her. So I went to the library and borrowed her favorite book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. I don't understand why that's her favorite book but she fell asleep in my arms while I was reading it to her. Then I wondered what it would be like if she fell asleep in my arms for the rest of our lives. It's a nice thought.

March 30, 1980, by the lake

Sorry... I haven't been writing as much as I used to. I've actually been studying for my O.W.L.'s with Lily and the guys. She's really been helping us out with Charms, but I still don't get it. I don't have to get good marks. I can always shine shoes for a living.

We've been getting really far with our animagi. Peter can turn his whole rear end into that of a rat. Sirius has fur all over him, but he doesn't have a snout, tail or paws. It's actually quite funny. And...drum roll please...not that you have a drum...you are a notebook...I can turn myself into a complete and total stag! Like Bambi's dad, only with bigger antlers. And if you're wondering how a wizard like myself knows what Bambi is, I saw it at Lily's house. I'm proud of myself.

June 14, 1980, the train

I find it odd that I've never written in here while riding the train back to Platform 9 ¾. Lily and me have the compartment to ourselves, but she has a headache. She's been getting sick often so instead of going to terrorize the Slytherins with Sirius and Peter, I decided to stay here with Lily. Remus just came in here and conked out on the other seat. He needs sleep because he had a rough transformation last night. His face is all scratched up and he ripped his toenails and fingernails out. Last time he ripped off one of his fingers entirely but Madame Pomfrey was able to put it back on.

July 31, 1980, in my room

I had that dream again. About the baby boy (who was about 10 years old in my dream but I recognized him) with Lily's eyes and my dashing good looks. Ahem...anyways...this time he set a dangerous cobra free in the zoo. This little fat boy then fell into the tank that the cobra was in and couldn't get out. It was quite funny and I woke up laughing. When I turned over to go back to sleep, I saw Lily sitting in my desk chair watching me. And she had tears in her eyes.

"Lily Love...what's wrong?"

"I just realized that (sniffle) I like watching you sleep." Re-he- heally? (a/n: from Ace Ventura When Nature Calls... I think)

"I like watching you sleep too."

(wiggles eyebrows suggestively)

"Oh, stop, Silly."

So, yeah...I think we just deepened our relationship. I feel all warm and fluffy inside.

August 27, 1980, by the lake behind my house

I just got my Hogwarts letter. And it was just a tad bit heavier than it should've been. So I opened it like any future fifth year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry would. And a Prefect badge fell out. And I cried. How am I supposed to prank unsuspecting Slytherins with this awful scrap of tin plastered to my chest?? I am most distraught and must stay locked in my room all day to wallow in my misery.

A/N: Does anybody like that book? 'If You Give a Mouse a Cookie?' That is the cutest book ever!!!!! And now I have to go buy it. You know what to do: REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!

Next chapter: animagi...prefects...and the skating rink?