Opposites by Nethwen
Summary: How two do complete opposites fall in love? When Lily and James have to work together in Seventh Year will their feelings change? The marauder era with L/J and of course the legendary Marauders!
A/N: Thanks to my reviewers:
Aspiring Shieldmaiden- For being a great friend, brilliant reviewer and inspiring author. Keep reading!
Demented Hamster- Thanks for the review!
padfootedmoony- You'll find out what's wrong with James in this chappie! Please R/R.
Lady Taliesin- Thanks for the long review! Keep reading : )
I really appreciate reviews and they make my day so R/R! Please?
Chapter 3 – DADA Lessons and Plans
A couple of days past and Lily was having a hard time. Alice wasn't talking to her at all. When she mentioned Remus' name, her friend blushed and ignored Lily, telling her to 'mind your own business'. Lily couldn't understand her friend's odd behaviour for the girls were usually very close and told their secrets and feelings to one another all the time.
Not only was Lily worried about Alice, she also had to stay up half the night completing essays wearily next to the warm fireplace in the empty common room. She had receiving a large amount of homework which didn't lift her spirits.
On Thursday night, Lily sat in the common room sitting on a comfortable beanbag reading her Potions essay through carefully, making sure she hadn't made a mistake.
"Hi Lily."
The red-head looked up and saw James sitting on the sofa nearby smiling at her.
"Hi James," she replied, "Do you want to discuss the New Year celebrations in the Heads Room? I'm sick of doing my homework."
"Sure. I'll just get the key."
The tall boy ran up to the Boys Dorm and returned with the gold key in his hand. The pair left the common room and unlocked the wide door on the other side.
As they entered the pair were amazed.
It was a huge room with pictures of smiling former Head Boys and Girls on the stone walls waving at them. There were red and golden tapestries on the walls and small candles hovering in mid-air illuminating the room. A chandelier hung in the centre of the ceiling. There was a long desk in the centre of the room and a sofa next to a roaring fireplace in the corner.
"Wow," James said, "This is impressive."
"You're right," agreed Lily laying her parchment on the mahogany table and having a seat.
James took a seat next to her and watched as she wrote;
New Year Plans on a clean sheet of parchment.
"Right. So what are we going to do for New Year?" asked Lily going right into the subject, pen poised in hand.
"Well… we could have a party?" suggested James, looking at the red-head in concentration.
"Yes, we could have a meal then a fireworks display," murmured Lily scribbling, "We'll have to organise food, music, decorations, firework arrangements, what time it will start, the location…"
"Whoa!" laughed James, "What a list. How about we write each aim and tackle it separately?"
"Good idea," said Lily approvingly, "So first, time."
"How about 7:00pm?" asked James, "Not too early but not to late to start."
"Yep," replied Lily, writing furiously, "How about for music we get a popular band to play for us like Bewitched?"
The Heads worked on the plan for half an hour before calling it a day.
Lily stood up and gathered pieces of parchment together. James lounged on the sofa lazily, yawning.
Lily had a seat when she had finished and gazed at James. She had been meaning to ask him a question about him and Sirius ever since they had quarreled and if he was well.
"Are you OK, James?" she questioned, wanting to find out what was wrong.
"Umm…Yes," replied James slowly, staring at the fire.
"I was just wondering because of you and Sirius," Lily said trying to sound casual.
"What about me and Sirius?"
"You know, you two arguing," said Lily quietly, "He was just being a prat. Alice and I …"
"This isn't about you or Sirius," James interrupted, his voice lower.
"Well, you two should be friends again," advised Lily quickly, "Ever since I've known both of you, you've been in-separable."
"It's not Sirius," James said loudly.
Lily regretted what she had said. James was looking at her frowning now, his hazel eyes cold and stern.
"Do you really want to know what's wrong?" James almost yelled.
Lily said nothing watching the angry Head Boy.
"My closest uncle passed away on Monday evening thanks to cancer. Happy?"
James' lip was trembling and his eyes were watery. He sat there staring into the fire, remembering his lost relative.
Lily was speechless. She couldn't believe James so upset and her own stupidity in hurting him with ridiculous questions.
A few moments of silence followed.
Lily thought it was minutes and felt so awkward. James came out of his trance, discreetly wiping away a tear in the corner of his eye.
Taking a deep breath, he turned to face Lily.
"Sorry for yelling at you Lily," he apologised quietly.
"It should be me saying sorry," replied Lily weakly, "I am very sorry about your uncle."
"There was always a risk when he was diagnosed with cancer," whispered James, "You're right about Sirius, Lily. I shouldn't have yelled at him like that."
"Don't blame yourself," said Lily, "You've been really upset recently. Why not tell Sirius what has happened so he understands? Be friends again."
"OK," said James rising from his seat.
"I better go too," said Lily, following James out of the comfortable room.
They both entered the common room which was now deserted and climbed the stairs to the Dorms. Before he entered, James called, "Lily."
"Yes James?"
"Thanks."
The next morning, Lily saw James at the Dining Table sitting next to Sirius talking as if they had never argued in their lives. Lily noticed James' face was lit up and was smiling much more compared to the last couple of days. Pleased he had his best friend back, she sat down and began eating her porridge.
That day, Lily didn't see Alice much except in classes now and then. She missed her friend immensely and Alice seemed to be avoiding her.
Before lunch, Lily had Defense Against the Dark Arts, one of her weaker subjects. She dismally entered the classroom and had her usual seat next to Alice at the front.
When all the class had settled, their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Mr. Quentin Dillon, began to speak. He was a middle aged man, quite tall with greying hair and had striking green eyes and wore a long, sweeping emerald cloak which trailed on the floor.
"Good Morning class," he said, "Today we are going to start a new task which involves you listening." He looked at the Marauders who were talking to each other at the back of the class.
"For the next two weeks, I am giving you a homework task which you have to work in pairs," explained the Professor, "You have to work together to come up with a display of spells you've learned throughout fifth, sixth and seventh year. You will receive an important grade depending on your co-operation, performance and quality of work. I'll be putting you into pairs, boy-girl, and you have the rest of the lesson to discuss what you'll be doing. To practice your displays, you're allowed to use my classroom during lunch times and in the evening in one hour sessions but need to ask my permission first. Any questions?"
His class only reacted with a few groans and was anticipating what their partners would be.
Mr. Dillon picked up a roll of parchment and began reading the pairs out.
"Miss Alice Pullman, Mr. Sirius Black."
Alice glared at Sirius as he winked, grinning at her. She rolled her eyes and slouched in her seat, arms folded.
"Stupid prick," she said darkly.
"Miss Rosalind Woodlow, Mr. Remus Lupin."
"Miss Celia Wilson, Mr. Jack Witherspoon."
"Miss Lillian Evans, Mr. James Potter."
Lily moaned.
Its bad enough having to work with Potter as Heads never mind DADA lessons as well.
"Just my luck," she muttered.
"-And finally, Miss Jacqueline Smith and Mr. Kevin Crossbow."
"Now sort yourselves into pairs and start work," finished the Professor sitting down.
Reluctantly, Lily rose from her seat and headed to the back of the class.
"So Lily, what have you and Jamesie been up to, eh?" Sirius remarked as she sat down, "Snogging perhaps?"
"Shut up Sirius," Lily moaned sitting next to James.
"Prongs said you two had a nice time," he grinned, raising his eyebrows.
"Here's your partner, Padfoot," James said changing the subject before Lily lost her temper.
Alice sat near Sirius' desk frowning, leaning her head on her hand.
"Hi Alice. Still considering that date?" winked Sirius.
"Piss off," she hissed, "Now are we going to do this or what?"
"Harsh words from such a beautiful girl," Sirius said sarcastically, opening his DADA book, "Why can't you lighten up?"
"Don't tell me to lighten up, Black," scorned Alice, "I'm not one of your fan club which ogle at you every time you walk past."
"You know you fancy me really Pullman," replied Sirius.
"That'll be the day," muttered Alice, "Now let's get on."
"Yes Sir," mocked her partner.
Lily and James flicked through a book on counter curses. James was absorbed in his work, it was obvious Defense Against the Dark Arts was his favourite subject.
James' quill scratched at the parchment as he started planning the display carefully. Lily was contented in just watching as the boy worked, for DADA wasn't her speciality.
"Of course I can produce a Patronus! What do you think I am? A first year?" complained Alice slamming her quill on the desk.
"Calm down!" laughed Sirius, "What form is it? A cobra?"
"I know yours is a black dog," smirked Alice.
"You're supposed to keep that a secret, remember?" Sirius whispered cautiously, almost threatening, peering around to see if she had any listeners.
"Remember Black. Lily and I know of your night antics in fourth year when we saw you. Leave me alone and I'll not say anymore," Alice added, pleased to Sirius' face look frightened.
"Cow," whispered Sirius annoyed, "That's what your Patronus is."
Lily watched as James finished writing.
He looked up and smiled.
"You're very quiet."
"I thought I'd leave you to it because you know what you're doing."
Merlin. Did that sound…flirtatious? Please, NO.
James was quite taken back by the tone of his partners voice. His hazel eyes went a little wide.
"Right, how about we book an hour in Dillon's classroom next Friday?" he said hesitantly with a hint of a smile.
"Great," Lily replied shortly, colour creeping to her cheeks.
James walked up to the Professor, had a few words then returned.
"Friday it is," he grinned.
Two minutes later, the bell rang. Alice, relieved, quickly packed up and left with one last Look at Sirius.
"Goodbye sweetness," he called as she stormed off.
"Give her a break, Sirius," said Lily as she went to the Dining Hall.
Lily ate lunch on her own. She searched the Dining Hall for Alice as she ate her sandwich absent-mindedly.Then she saw the familiar figure with long, brown hair sitting on the corner of the Gryffindor table drinking out of her goblet.
When she had finished lunch, Lily walked towards her friend nervously. Smiling to seem approachable, she came closer.
Suddenly she noticed Alice's usually pale face was red and tears were dropping down her cheeks. She was sniffing and had her head down facing the table.
Shocked, Lily hurried over.
"What's wrong Alice?" she asked concerned kneeling down.
"Lily?"
Alice looked up and the moment she saw her friend, she hugged her.
"I am so sorry for being such a cow."
"It's OK, Alice" Lily said warmly, "But tell me what's wrong?"
"It…It's Remus," whispered Alice, her eyes red and swollen, "An-And Sirius."
"What about them?" Lily asked gently.
"Well that note you received in Potions was from Remus," began Alice shaking.
"Yes?"
"And Remus was in the library," continued Alice.
"I remember."
"Well, he was talking to me in the corridor after Defense Against the Dark Arts," stammered Alice.
"He asked me how I was and started to talk."
"Alice. Please just tell me," said Lily softly to her friend.
"Lily," said Alice, "Remus loves me."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed that chapter! It took me a while to update because I've had loads of homework from my flippin French teacher. I'll try and update as fast as I can. I'm working on Chapter 2 of The Diaries of Prongs and Evans right now. Let me know what you think, constructive criticism and suggestions welcome.
Bye! : )