Boys Never Learn
I'm soooo sorry for the lack of updates. Reality called… again. I actually flunked a bio test and so I've been revising for that every free second I get. Actually, my parents have been making me revise. I'd much rather write more chapters for you guys. :) Thanks to everyone who reviewed… cilverblood, Sweet Sarcasm, Jen Riddle, PoertyOutLoud, FrostQueen4Eva, Accio Flaming Stake, Silverian Rose, born2driveat16, theQuibbleringQuibblerer, Redpixie143, JessiAnne032791, TooSweet4Words, and Nicole and Yoni. You guys rock my socks, thanks for being patient… I know I'm horrible.
Disclaimer (forgot it last time): I'm not J.K. Rowling. All characters except Abby, Cass, Belinda, Oliver, Charlie, err… and everyone else not in the books belong to me. The rest belong to her. :)
Chapter 2: Another Surprise.
Stay away from me tonight
I've made other plans
And you'll just be distracting me
In a good way
She doesn't know
That I love her
Yes I love her
Make a move on me baby
I cant be the one who's
Always taking chances
See me down
So you get down
No you've got me all wrong
I just want to kiss your lips
And you kiss back
- Stay Away, Rooney.
Sirius Black yawned loudly as he swung his legs over the edge of his back and rubbed his back tiredly. It was September 1st, he'd be going back to school with all his friends… and Cassidy Flemmings of course. He moaned slightly as his strong hands found a sore spot on his lower back. His back was still sore from sleeping in a cardboard box for three days that summer, when he was trying to get James to write him a letter.
"Morning, poppet!" James beamed as he stuck his head in Sirius's doorway, his raven black hair disheveled as usual, but his smile taking up a good half of his face.
Sirius raised his eyebrows slightly. "What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing." James replied innocently, his smile only fading slightly.
"Well obviously you've sniffed something. What's it this time? More glue? Paint?" Sirius asked, looking dead serious as he slipped off the bed and walked to his closet, which was empty save for one outfit, which he'd planned on wearing, until he realized –
"Prongs, did your mother replace what I was planning on wearing?" Sirius asked incredulously.
James shrugged casually. He was sitting on the floor of Sirius's room now, by Sirius's trunk, holding a worn envelope in his hand. "She might have. Why?"
"She… she…" Sirius seemed too overcome to speak properly. "She…"
"What, Padfoot?" James asked irritably. He was a bit of a morning person, but it didn't take much to put him in a bad mood. It was, after all, only ten o'clock in the morning.
Sirius remained fazed. "She…"
James, tired of listening to Sirius attempt to speak, stood and joined Sirius at his closet. "What are you on about – oh…"
Sirius nodded grimly. "Any chance she hasn't used her locking spell on my trunk yet?"
James gave his friend a pitying look. "Not at all. You're screwed, mate."
Mrs. Potter's locking spells were infamous in the family. Once she locked something, it wouldn't unlock until it arrived at a certain place or a certain time rolled around. Once she'd locked Mr. Potter's suitcase for work and ended up locking it for a month.
"But this of all things." Sirius complained. "What will people think?"
"Err… that your mother dressed you?" James asked timidly.
Sirius shook his head solemnly. "If my mum had dressed me, I'd have a black shirt that said something along the lines of 'Death Eaters R Us' or 'Voldie for Minister'. Reggie probably has them."
James smirked. "Well, if you want me to be honest…"
"Which I do." Sirius insisted.
James smiled sympathetically. "You'd look better with a 'Yay Voldie'."
Sirius nodded gloomily. "You're probably right."
«×0/0×»
"LILY! WE'RE GOING TO HOGWARTS!" Charlie yelled, for about the seventh time in the past three minutes as the Evans family pilled into their car to head to Kings Cross Station.
Lily nodded slowly, biting her lip to stop herself from blowing up at Charlie. It was much too early for Charlie to be so happy and bouncy. Lily had never been a morning person, and she never would be.
Elizabeth Evans turned in the passenger seat to face her children, smiling patiently at Charlie. "Charlie dear, you can use your inside voice."
"But Mum," Charlie whined, sounding a lot like James. "I'm going to Hogwarts. I'M GOING TO LEARN MAGIC!"
Petunia rolled her eyes. "Please Charlie. You shouldn't be so proud that there's another freak in the family."
"We're not freaks, Petty." Charlie replied coolly, before regaining his immaturity and sticking out his tongue. "You're just jealous."
Petunia snorted. "As if."
Lily sighed peacefully. It was kind of nice that Charlie could argue with Petunia now and she didn't have to bother. Covering her mouth as she yawned, she glanced out the window. It was the ideal day for travel, rain was pouring down and the air was cool. Plus, she was Head Girl.
Lily had always aspired to be Head Girl, ever since she learned of the existence of the position in her first year. She saw it not only as what would be a fun position, but also an opportunity to prove to everyone that she and Charlie belonged. She hadn't told anyone she'd gotten the position, she thought they'd like the surprise. She was slightly curious as to who the Head Boy was though. Probably Remus. Whoever it was, she could only hope James wouldn't be jealous.
«×0/0×»
"Did you tell Lily?" Sirius asked, as he and James stood on Platform 9¾, waiting for their other friends, ignoring the fact that they were both soaking wet already, and James ignoring the people staring at them curiously while Sirius glared at them.
They had no reason to stare at James, who looked relatively the same as he had at the end of sixth year, aside from being taller, his wet hair being matted, and the rest of him soaked through the skin. Most of the curious looks were directed at Sirius, who, instead of being dressed in his usual all-black, wore tight blue jeans and a knitted bright yellow sweater. James shook his head.
"Go away." Sirius muttered harshly at a group of passing first years, who looked at the infamous Sirius Black and stifled back laughter.
"Be nice to the little kids, Black." Cass said frostily as she joined the two boys, holding a light blue umbrella above her head. Her dirty blonde hair was falling in soft, wispy layers, and she was much more tanned than she had been at the beginning of the summer. She was wearing a light blue cashmere sweater that her parents had sent her, and black jeans. She smiled in amusement as she caught sight of Sirius's attire. "Nice outfit, Black."
"I like yours much better." Sirius replied impishly, ignoring the slight tinge of pink appearing on his cheeks.
James blinked. What Sirius Black blushing? It couldn't be.
Cass rolled her ice-blue eyes, but they immediately brightened when they landed on Abby, who was jogging up to the group with Remus, both of them sheltering themselves under Remus's cloak. Both Abby and Remus were tanned from the summer, and Abby had cut her hair to fall in choppy layers to her chin.
"Cass!" Abby squealed, running ahead of Remus to embrace her friend.
Cass grinned and hugged Abby back. "Hey Abs." It had only been about five minutes since Abby had seen Cass, considering Cass lived with the Scott family while her parents were in America, but it was still fun to make a show of it on the platform.
Sirius rolled his eyes, imitating Cass. Peter Pettigrew was the next to join them, catching Cass and Abby's little episode as he waved his mother off. Peter hadn't changed much over the summer, Cass noted. He was still pale and short, with a rat-like face. Sirius, James, and Remus now towered over him. Peter's face was contorted in confusion, as it often was.
"Err Abby… doesn't Cass live with you?" Peter asked timidly.
Both Cass and Abby burst into laughter, leaving Remus to explain to poor clueless Peter. "They're just having fun, Peter."
"Oh." Peter answered simply.
"Oh indeed." Sirius added, with a grin.
"LOOK! IT'S JAMES! AND SIRIUS!" A loud voice roared out over the platform, causing several students and their families to cease conversation and stare in amazement at the two Evans children, Charlie pulling Lily along excitedly by the hand, while Lily dragged the cart behind her, apologizing as she rolled it over people's feet.
"I know, Charlie. Please quiet down." Lily said patiently.
"JAMES!" Charlie Evans broke free to run up to James Potter and tackle the unsuspecting sixteen-year-old to the ground, getting both boys (if it were possible) even more wet.
"Bear!" Abby rushed over and flung herself on Lily, squeezing her friend tightly. Cass was next for a hug, followed by Remus and Sirius. Lily offered a handshake to Peter, before realizing that James was still sitting on the wet pavement of the platform, as Charlie animatedly described the broom Lily had promised to buy him for his thirteenth birthday.
"It's called… a… Nimbus… and Lily said she'd buy it for me for my thirteenth birthday! So I could play for Gryffindor!" Charlie said excitedly, sitting on the wet pavement next to James, oblivious to how wet he was.
James nodded kindly. "That's great Charlie."
"Charlie, get up." Lily said exhaustedly, grabbing her little brother's hand and pulling him up. "You go find yourself a compartment. Sirius will put your trunk away and I'll come see you in a bit."
Charlie nodded eagerly and skipped off down the platform.
"Can I help you up, Mr. Potter?" Lily asked with a twinkle in her green eyes, extending her hand to James.
"I'd appreciate that greatly, Miss Evans." James said with a smile, grabbing her hand and allowing her to help him up. The result was their faces very close together, and James was instantly reminded of when they'd stood in the rain before Petunia's wedding, making up after a fight and kissing. James had to use every ounce of restraint in his hormonal teenage body not to kiss her senseless right that moment. If Cass was in, and the girls were in with the contest, Sirius couldn't know he and Lily were together. Lily smiled at him awkwardly for a moment, before giving him a warm hug.
"Hey you." She whispered softly in his ear, standing on her toes to do so.
James grinned at her as they separated, his eyes never moving from hers.
Abby gasped. "Lily! You're Head Girl!" Abby was pointing an accusing finger at Lily's chest, where sure enough, pinned on her coat was a silver badge reading 'Head Girl'. "Congratulations!"
Lily turned away from James to smile at her friend and smile proudly. Cass engulfed her friend in another hug. "I knew you'd do it, Tig! Congrats!"
Sirius groaned. "Not more hugs! We're all bloody saps."
Abby beamed. "Fine then, Sirius. Cass won't hug you."
Sirius's face went white, causing the rest of the group to laugh and Cass to scowl.
"Seriously though, we should get out of the rain." Remus noted. The group nodded in agreement, and Peter led the way into the nearest carriage, followed by Cass, Sirius, Remus, and Abby.
"Congratulations Lils, I knew you'd do it." James said proudly, wrapping an arm around her waist. Lily pushed his arm off her.
"James, remember the contest." Lily warned.
"Yeah, well Sirius can't see us now, can he?" James replied, with a playful twinkle in his hazel eyes.
Lily smiled. "We can't, silly. Other people can see, and if other people catch me snogging your brains out, it'll get back to Sirius."
James's eyebrows rose. "Who's being arrogant now?"
Lily frowned. "How was I being arrogant?"
"If people catch me snogging your brains out," James imitated Lily, prancing about with his hands and bringing his voice up a pitch before reclaiming his normal stance. "Please, Lily Marie Cordelia Evans. You're being arrogant by saying that you can snog my brains out… When clearly it is the other way around."
Lily smirked and playfully shoved James in the chest, surprised to feel something hard. "What's in your pocket?"
James smiled naively. "Err…"
"James." Lily warned sternly.
"This." James replied quietly, holding out a silver Head Boy badge, similar to Lily's. Lily's face broke into unrestrained shock.
"When did you get this?" she asked slowly.
"This summer. When I visited you in Spain."
"And you're sure that it wasn't sent to you by mistake?" Lily asked desperately.
James nodded patiently. He hadn't seen it coming either. He was a Marauder. It was common knowledge that he and his friends had little respect for the school rules, let alone some of the teachers and certain students. His parents had even laughed when he told them, thinking it was a joke, as had Sirius.
"Are you sure? You haven't told anyone, have you?" Lily asked quickly. "I mean, it could be a mistake and you wouldn't want to be saying you're Head Boy when you're not…"
"I've told everyone but you. And I checked with Dumbledore, there was no mistake." There was a slight bit of hurt in James's voice, and he was loosing his patience. Was it that hard to believe?
"So you're Head Boy?" Lily demanded, still looking beyond shocked. "How could you be Head Boy?!?"
'Obviously so.' James mused. "Lily! You're supposed to be my friend!" James cried in exasperation. "You're supposed to be supportive!"
The stunned look faded from her face, and 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!"
"Why not?" Lily asked innocently.
"Because you're my girlfriend." James replied quietly, as if that were a valid excuse.
Lily smiled back at her boyfriend. "You're right." She said through clenched teeth. "But no one but Cass, you and me knows that."
James shrugged. "Good point."
«×0/0×»
It took quite a while for Lily and James to find their friends, and after finding a rather tense compartment, as Sirius had apparently said something inappropriate to Cass, who was now quite angry with him, they decided it would be best to go to the Prefect's Compartment to announce that there would be a meeting at school.
"I'm Lily Evans, Head Girl for this year, and this James, he's Head Boy." Lily announced confidently to the group of prefects, standing behind a rather high desk with James at her side.
"Hello!" James called out brightly to the assembled prefects, causing several of the girls to giggle and wave shyly.
"How did Potter get to be Head Boy?" Severus Snape, a Slytherin, sneered from the back row, where he sat with Bellatrix Black, Sirius's cousin.
"Obviously Dumbledore favours him." Bellatrix decided aloud.
Lawrence Avery, another seventh-year Slytherin chuckled in agreement. "Either that, or Dumbledore's off his rocker. Hell, I'd be a better Head Boy."
Lily took James's hand behind the table and squeezed it gently. "I don't think that matters, Severus." Lily replied evenly. "And Avery, James is Head Boy whether you like it or not, so fuck off and give him some respect. There must be some reason Dumbledore chose James over you."
James had another strong urging to kiss Lily, or do something to express not only his gratitude but also that he just plain loved her. God she was amazing. The room was silent, most people too shocked at the idea that Lily Evans had sworn to show any emotion, although many Slytherins shot Lily looks of deep loathing, which she ignoring dutifully.
Lily gave the group a false, bright smile. "So, on to patrolling schedules, eh?"
«×0/0×»
"Cass, you know Sirius is an arse," Abby said pleadingly, "you know he never means what he says."
"You do realize that I'm still here, Scott, right?" Sirius piped up from his corner of the compartment.
Remus grinned from behind his book, and Peter chuckled, but Abby ignored him.
"Come on Cassy! Don't be mad." Abby pouted.
Cass smiled. "You might be able to get anything you want from Remus with a look like that, but not from me. I'm only mad at Black anyways."
"True, true." Remus agreed, putting his book down to join the conversation.
Abby rolled her eyes. "Come on Cass, Sirius and you need to make up."
"You and Sirius, dearie." Remus corrected gently.
Abby smiled through clenched teeth. "Dearie, shut up."
Sirius groaned loudly. "You two act like such a married couple. You're worse than Lily and James were."
Remus scoffed. "Doubt that."
Abby nodded in agreement. "Now those two were insufferable."
"You shouldn't be talking, Abs, you and Remus are a close second." Cass said with a smile.
Sirius beamed. "Look! Flemmings and I agree on something!"
Cass tried to hide a smile at this, which caused her face to scrunch up slightly in the process, but Sirius still couldn't keep his eyes off her. God she was amazing.
«×0/0×»
Nice fluffy-bits! If you haven't realized, Lily's a bit saucier this year, you'll learn why later. :) Keep smilin' and review!