I still haven't gotten a total of ten reviews. (Goes over to corner and pouts. Then pulls out a bazooka) REVIEW DAMNIT. And for those few people who have reviewed, (gets down on knees) thank you.
One final note, I just want to say this so I don't get any annoying correction mail (which half the time is sent by idiots who base everything from the movies, but that isn't the point), but in book 5, according to Trelawney Lily and James defied Voldemort thrice, but the flashback with Lily and Voldemort DOSE NOT COUNT! Voldemort did not attack her, and he didn't really know that she was there because he was distracted by Pettigrew (die, peter, diiiieeeee). Oh yeah, and Lily hasn't made the connection that Wormtail is really that little bastard, Peter. If you look back in my story even when the Marauders were coming up the stairs, James, Sirius and Remus called him Peter NOT Wormtail. She has no idea about his real name, and she doesn't figure it out until she is killed, so THERE!
By the way, I will try to stop making my little author's notes in the middle of the story. I know that those annoy some people, but I tend to find them funny, however I will try to stop anyway.
Disclaimer: I don't own jack shit. Not even ten reviews. All is property of J.K Rowling. Anthy and a new character are mine that is all. I am making no profit off of this story. Besides, even if I was paid by the reviews I would still get jack shit because no one has the decency to review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
X
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Students were pouring outside onto the frost bitten grounds of Hogwarts. Because it was a Hogsmead visit all of the students in Year 3 and above were scattering around as fast as they could so that they could reach the village as fast as possible. James was waiting just outside the Entrance Hall for Sirius, Remus and Peter. He began tapping his foot out of sheer annoyance, why the hell do they decide that they wanted to be late on a Hogsmead visit, James thought to himself.
After his fight with Lily that morning James' mood had been somewhat in the dumps, and some one-on-one time with Sirius (NOT that way, Perverts). Sure talking with Remus wouldn't hurt either, but it just wasn't the same when he was with Sirius. They had grown up together, despite the family from hell that Sirius lived with. Luckily for Sirius though, he had finally said enough and stormed out of that hellhole and took up residence with James and his parents, Evelyn and Dominic. That summer was pure bliss because the two best friends were no longer separated and they could pull as many pranks as the two could manage. James smiled inwardly at the memory. Of course Remus had come to stay for several weeks over the summer, as did Peter. The four of them ended up spending their days, and nights, making plans of how to get Snivellus and Bellatrix expelled. The ideas where fun, and somewhat therapeutic, to talk about even if they weren't possible.
James checked his watch, which was powered by magic, and tapped his foot a little bit faster. How he hated waiting. As a matter of fact, waiting was the one thing other than the Dark Arts that James just couldn't stand. However his mind was occupied within seconds; because Lily Evans just walked pass him with Anthy and Dorcas. His mind went back to the fight they had had earlier. Why had she reacted so coldly to him? James couldn't understand it, even Lily Evans didn't just explode on anyone like she did that morning, and he could tell that Lily was hiding something from everyone, even Dorcas and Anthy. When Lily didn't tell her two best friends in the magical and muggle world it was a sure-tell sign that something was wrong. After several more minutes of pondering the subject James saw two figures that were Sirius and Remus approaching him.
"Oi, where is Wormtail? Wasn't he coming too," James inquired.
"He was supposed to come, but he ended up catching a cold and Madam Pomphery was all out of Pepperup potion and asked Lantis to brew another one," Remus said.
"I wouldn't drink anything that that slime ball Lantis would ever give to me," Sirius remarked.
"Neither would I, Padfoot, "replied James.
Professor Ogden Lantis was the Potions Master at Hogwarts and he was loathed by every student. Some said that his favorite phrase was 'I'm not racist, I hate everyone equally', and that just about summed him up. Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw alike all hated him. He reminded all the students of an overgrown mantis (you know, the green bug that is featured in The Next Karate Kid). Lantis was long, slender and lanky, with long curling fingers. His hair was pure grey, despite his young age, 36; his eyes were a piercing ice blue, and his glare could make a the hair stand up on the back of your neck. He treated all of his students like pawns, and at one point he poisoned one of his students and gave them the antidote only after they confessed to setting off a Dungbomb in his class. Naturally none of the other teachers knew about that incident, but Dumbledore had confronted him about it, and was given a clear warning that if he did anything like it again Professor Lantis would lose his job.
The subject of how much of a git Professor Lantis was lasted them all the way to the outskirts of Hogsmead. There the group of three stopped, faced each other and began deliberating on what they wanted to do in Hogsmead. Both James and Sirius were out of Dungbombs and Filibuster Fireworks so they intended on going to Zonko's, Remus was all out of sweets and his Chocolate Frog Card Collection was beginning to fall short so he wanted to replenish his stalk. All three of them wanted a Butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks and they needed to visit the Post Office because all three of them were obligated to send their parents an Owl during their Hogsmead visits, well all but Sirius, but then again with his family Sirius really didn't give a rat's ass.
They decided that they would meet at the Three Broomsticks in half an hour. Remus took off to the North end of town to Honeydukes and James and Sirius headed off to Zonko's. While they were walking Sirius thought that he would spark off a conversation
"Hey Prongs".
"What is it Padfoot," James replied.
"What has been going on between you and Evans?" Sirius inquired.
"Nothing much really, why?" James said suspiciously. "What is going through your dog mind?"
"Why nothing at all my deer boy (A/N: coughcoughcoughbadpuncough)," Sirius responded. "It is just that you and Evans seem to be getting along worse than usual. She normally waits until you curse her hair green before she starts telling you off," Sirius said.
"Well to tell you the truth, she seems a little more...nervy this year," James said with all sincerity.
"Aww...our widdle Jamesie-poo is all growing up and falling for the ickle miss Head Girl," Sirius said in a mock baby tone, with a grin from ear to ear on his face.
"Sirius do me a favor".
"Sure"
"Bite me"
"Would that be with or without rabies?" Sirius said. James laughed at the comment, and the two of them took off at full speed towards Zonko's.
As usual, Zonko's was packed with Hogwarts students. Both James and Sirius had to push and shove their way into the store, and to the rack to find a brand new shining case of Dungbombs. James quickly checked the price, 4 Sickles, that was easy enough. Sirius also was inspecting the price, and turned to his best friend in the world and gave him a big goofy smile, of course it was nothing in comparison to James, but it was enough to make the surrounding girls swoon. Each grabbing six bags of Dungbombs and once they left the store, their money bags were considerably less than when they had first entered. Checking his watch again James realized that they still had around twenty minutes before they had to meet Remus at The Three Broomsticks.
"Oi Prongs, how about we visit that new shop down the street. From what I have heard it carries Quidditch and Quodpot (see Quidditch through the Ages) supplies," Sirius said enthusiastically.
"Why those American yanks like Quodpot I'll never know," James remarked. He himself had never really gotten Quodpot, and the fact that there was no Snitch or Bludgers was a huge disappointment to him. Sirius on the other hand loved both Quidditch and Quodpot. James had to admit that America did have a knack for good Quidditch teams and the team the Sweetwater All-Stars did remain as one of the best on James' idea of a good Quidditch team. Quodpot on the other hand made no sense to him.
Quodpot consists of two opposing teams that try to get a modified Quaffle or Quod as it is called in America into the other team's 'pot'. The Quod is modified so that it will exploded in the face of the person who is holding it, and when the Quod explodes, not only is the player knocked unconscious they are out of the game. The way to keep the Quod from exploding is to dip it in the 'pot', which holds a potion that will keep the Quod from exploding. Once a Quod had been dipped, a new one is thrown in, and the process starts all over again. It was not a very popular sport in Britain, but some British Witches and Wizards insist that Quodpot is just as good as Quidditch. James has always been faithful to Quidditch.
"American what precisely," came a female voice from behind.
James and Sirius turned around. There facing them was an American Witch. "Who the bloody hell are you," James said.
"I am one of those 'American yanks' you two are talking about," she said coldly. With just one look at her, anyone could have figured out that she was from America. To begin with she wore a long white cloak that had the American flag embroidered on it, as well as an American flag fasten. She was muscularly built as if she worked out. Her hair was a golden brown and curly, which was kept back by a red, white and blue hair piece in a low bun on the other side of her head. Her eyes were a mixture of grey and green, and they swirled together to get some unknown color. Around her neck were a jade dragon pendant and a plain silver chain.
"Well then Miss American, what is someone like you doing in the middle of Hogsmead?" Sirius said flirtatiously. There was no denying that she was American, as well as there was no denying that she was attractive. Hell, even the glasses seemed to frame her eyes and make them seem more beautiful.
"To be downright honest, my parents just moved here and I have to transfer to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It wasn't my choice to move, and I hate it here," she said bluntly. That was the problem with Americans, as the British thought, they are too bluntly honest and don't present themselves and ladies and gentlemen. Then again many British, such as the Marauders, didn't present themselves as such either but they didn't have the blunt rudeness than all Americans seemed to be infested with.
"Well miss, us two gents attend Hogwarts and I must say my American chap, it isn't all that bad," Sirius continued to say. His voice suddenly sounded older and more mature.
"Sure, whatever. And just for the record James Potter and Sirius Black I would suggest that you keep your pranks to yourself, and leave this witch alone," she added menacingly.
"How do you know our names?" James asked.
"Well the reputation of the infamous Marauders seems to be so large that even to us American yanks. Since I moved here I have heard your names repeated many times among the village folk," she said.
"So you live in the village?" Sirius said.
"Give the boy a prize. Yes I live in the village. As a matter of fact my family is the ones who opened that shop that sells Quidditch and Quodpot supplies. You can also find magical creature care items. I believe the gamekeeper, Hagrid is it, has already found my family's store useful," she said with a spark in her eyes, that reminded James of Lily. They had the same fire to them that seemed to reflect their every emotion. Her glasses seemed only to flatter her face, and shape it off. It was the opposite of what they looked like on most people.
"Okay I got a new question love, you seem to know our names but we don't seem to know yours. How is it that our connections in Hogsmead didn't report to us that such a gorgeous creature has walked into our midst," Sirius said with a smirk on his face. He was saying it more to James than to the girl in front of them. But it was her to answer it;
"Because I haven't given it to anyone yet, idiot," she said.
"Well, what is it," James asked.
"Amberle H. Adams," she said.
"Weird name for a weird girl," James said with a smile. "What's the H. stand for?"
"Helen. That is all you need to know," she said. With that Amberle walked off without another.
James and Sirius just looked at each other. Americans sure were weird and pushy too. With that, the two of them decided to head down to the Three Broomsticks.
VXV
Across on the other side of Hogsmead Lily, Dorcas and Anthy were exiting Honeydukes with their pockets bulging with sweets. All three of them had been enjoying an enjoyable time away from Hogwarts; as a matter of fact it was the only time away from Hogwarts that Lily enjoyed. They all had been looking forward to the Halloween Hogsmead visit but Lily in particular because she needed to know if Madam Rosmerta would agree to lend out some generous portions of Butterbeer and such things for the graduation dance. Seeing as how that she was the only one in the village who could do that Lily suspected that she would have no problem. But before they went to the Three Broomsticks, Dorcas dragged her friends down to the new store which was owned and run by Amberle and her family. Of course Lily and her friends at the time didn't know Amberle. Just after she had taken her leave from Sirius and James she ended up running into Lily, Dorcas and Anthy when they walked into the store.
Amberle greeted them respectfully and quite unlike how she greeted the two Marauders. Dorcas was on the Gryffindor Quidditch team; she was a beater on the team and the 4th female Beater in the history of Hogwarts. She was the one who convinced Lily and Anthy to go to the store, All Outdoor Sport and Creature Needs. Both Lily and Anthy didn't like to fly, and they much preferred to keep both their feet firmly planted on the ground.
"Where are your Beater supplies located," Dorcas asked.
Amberle pointed to the back of the store, and Dorcas went to inspect their new set of clubs leaving Lily and Anthy to converse with Amberle.
"So I take it that you are from America," Lily said. It was pretty easy to tell with the cloak she was wearing.
"You bet," Amberle said.
"I've never been, but I hear that it is really cool there. I have always wanted to visit New York City or L.A.," Anthy said.
"New York and L.A. are both pretty cool, but I prefer the more humble cities. I have lived in six different states, 11 different cities, but my favorite one was a small town called King, and it in North Carolina. North Carolina was my favorite place to live; out of all the places I have lived, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Missouri, Wisconsin, and North Carolina, good ol' NC was my favorite," she said brightly. "But Texas had the best Quidditch matches, seeing as how the Sweetwater All-Stars are from it. Actually I remember that we kicked both Ireland and Bulgaria's ass in the last few matches," she said.
"Do you live here," said Anthy. She was scratching her arm rather oddly, as if she had been burned and she was trying to subdue the pain.
"Yes. My family just moved my ass all the way across the freaking ocean to live here. Although I love all of the Quidditch, I miss the U.S.A," Amberle complained.
"But if you live here, where do you go to school? Or have you already graduated," questioned Lily. It looked as if Dorcas wouldn't be coming back any time soon; she had moved on from the shiny new Bludgers and Clubs and was now inspecting the new Silver Arrow 44 that had just come in.
"I am supposed to enroll in Hogwarts in around two weeks. But I miss my old school, not to mention we weren't required to wear uniforms," Amberle continued.
"Your store has some awesome supplies. It almost out beats Quality Quidditch Supplies because they don't carry Quodpot equipment," Dorcas said as she came back to the front of the store.
"Thanks. I am a huge fan of Quodpot, but I still like Quidditch better. It is true that here many people prefer Quidditch, but you wouldn't believe our Quodpot sales," the American said, but her attention was caught by a brown haired man that looked like her father. He had called her to the back of the store. With that, Amberle said her goodbyes and disappeared to the back of the store. Lily, Dorcas and Anthy all left after that. Satisfied the three of them made their way to the Three Broomsticks.
When they opened the door all three of them were greeted by Madam Rosmerta. They took a seat at the table next to a window that out looked on the village of Hogsmead. Lily went up to order three Butterbeers and also questioned Rosmerta about the drinks for the ball. Just as Lily had suspected, Madam Rosmerta would be more than happy to comply. When Lily had paid for their drinks she sat back down with Dorcas and Anthy. Together the three friends chatted about school, their current boyfriend situation (both Dorcas and Anthy were single like Lily, which she was glad to hear), the threat of Voldemort, and how to get revenge of the Marauders for sneaking the Bubotuber puss into the water Lily was using at the time. So far all they could think of was to curse James' Transfiguration book to bite his face whenever he was reading. It was something that Lily and her friends had done in the past, but to Sirius and not James.
Lily hadn't told either Dorcas or Anthy of her encounters with Potter; the one during the Prefect Meeting and the other in the common room that morning. Both times Lily felt an odd feeling in her belly, that wasn't her usual hatred of James and that thought seemed to scare her. What feelings could she have of him other than utter and pure loathing? He had done about every prank in the book on her since her first year, so why was she feeling like this? Lily just couldn't understand, for the first time in her life Lily Evans didn't understand.
"Shit. Why do they have to be here?" Dorcas complained as James and Sirius entered the building. Lily turned around and saw them order their drinks and sit with Remus. Apparently they hadn't noticed Lily's presence, for which she was very thankful. But just when the three girls began to resume their conversation James, Sirius and Remus got up and sat at the three vacant seats with the girls. All three of them gave them looks of utter hatred. 'Them' meaning James and Sirius, Remus hadn't done anything to their knowledge to earn their malice.
"So how are you three babes doing," Sirius said.
"Pretty good until you three showed up," said Anthy in a low voice.
"So Lils, did you take care of the food situation yet for the ball," James asked, wanting to make a nice conversation with Lily for once.
"Fine Potter. I arranged everything with Madam Rosmerta today. How about the music, do you have anyone in mind?" Lily replied. She too was in no mood to start a quarrel with James, and that feeling in her stomach had returned. It was as if she had a whole heard of butterflies in her stomach, and it had never happened until that damn Prefect Meeting, when she had had her first civil conversation with James. Potter she reminded herself, since when did she start calling him by his first name? Had that bastard put some kind of spell on her? Lily doubted it, but was sick of the feeling.
"What ball? What are you two talking about," Remus said. No one had told him of any ball. Sirius, Dorcas and Anthy also had the same quizzical look like they had no idea what they were talking about. More likely the fact that Lily Evans and James Potter are having a civil conversation is what causing them to look like that, Remus said to himself.
"The graduating class of this year is going to have a ball, and Potter and I are in charge. We split the two main duties among each other. Potter has to take care of the music, while I am on food duty," Lily explained.
"So far I only have found out a band called Orion, and they seem to be quite eager to do it. I haven't heard them play yet, but from what I have heard other people tell me they are really good," James said.
"I've heard of Orion! They played their music on the WWN, during their Thursday Newbie hour. I would most definitely go for Orion," Anthy said as she took a swing from her Butterbeer.
"Well as long as they sound good, I don't care if they are not a big name," Lily said.
"I agree with Anthy, I too have heard them. They are pretty good, "Remus added.
"Way to go Potter. It looks like you do know how to do some work, "Lily said with a smirk.
"Wow that is the first time I have spoken to you Evans, and I haven't been insulted. This must be a new record for me," said James with a goofy grin on his face.
"Yeah well...don't push it," Lily said. She really couldn't think of anything wittier than that.
For the next hour or so the arch rival groups of the Marauders and Lily Evans and co. talked in peace and not a single fight had broken out; a new Hogwarts record. Several of the girls sitting around threw Lily, Dorcas and Anthy looks of the uttermost loathing because they got the ultimate honor of talking with the Marauders without busting their asses.
The six students were in the middle of an intense conversation about how much they hated Snape and his gang. As it turned out, Sirius Black's brother, Regulus Black, had started Hogwarts that year along with another of his cousins, Nymphadora Black. As usual, Regulus landed himself in Slytherin but Nymphadora was in Ravenclaw; she was the second Black, following Sirius, which had not been placed in Slytherin. Sirius and his cousin were actually on pretty good terms with each other because they both equally hated all the 'pure-blood' mania that came along with the Black name, and both loathed the dark arts that their family was so absorbed in. however it was then when Murphy's Law took affect because Severus Snape, Bellatrix Black, Rodulphos Lestrange and Theodore Nott entered the Three Broomsticks.
The Marauders along with Lily and her friends left the building once Snape's group had entered. It was the last thing any of them wanted to do; start a fight right smack dab in the middle of the Three Broomsticks with a bunch of feature Death Eaters.
James, Sirius and Remus decided to go back up to the castle, but Lily, Dorcas and Anthy went to the post office. Lily wanted to send an Owl to her parents, and Anthy needed to send one to her father, who was in Greece.
The post office was only a few blocks away from the Three Broomsticks, so they reached it in now time. A grumpy looking wizard was at the front desk. "Yes?" he said.
"I need an Owl to deliver a letter to Surrey," Lily said politely.
"And I need one that will deliver a letter to Greece," Anthy explained.
"For the letter to Surrey, that will be 4 Galleons, and to send a letter to Greece will be 15 Galleons and 6 Sickles," the man grumbled out.
Both Lily and Dorcas pulled out their money bags and paid the man accordingly. Then he signaled to hand them the letters, which they did. With that the three girls left the store and began making their way back up to the castle. There wasn't any other reason for them to say, and they had a two foot essay from Professor Bins on Vampire Revolts to finish.
"Hey Lily, did you do that essay for Bins yet?" Dorcas asked.
"Yup. I did it the day he gave it out. Better to get it done early," Lily replied. "And before you even ask, yes you can copy my essay, just not word for word or Professor Bins will figure out you two copied off of me".
"Thanks Lils, you're a life saver," Dorcas burst.
"Lily, what is going on between you and Potter? Today you had a civilized conversation with him and Sirius and you didn't throw out a single insult," Anthy questioned.
"Simple, on the night of the Prefect meeting..." Lily began but was cut off by Dorcas
"Let me guess, you finally admitted to James that you have fancied him ever since your first year," said Lily's best friend.
"Sorry to disappoint you but 1) I don't fancy Potter and 2) to continue my story; we both came to a mutual agreement to 'set aside our differences and work together' because I am Head Girl and him, Head Boy," Lily said simply. That was it. There wasn't anything else to tell.
"Damn Lily, you take all the fun out of life," Anthy said.
"And with pride too," Lily said with a smirk on her face.
The three friends laughed and ran back to Hogwarts as the sun began to set on the horizon.
XVIVX
END CHAPTER. Well that is it for this chapter. This story is coming along much better than I had originally hoped, despite my lack of reviews. Hell, I will even accept flames at this point.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (in a singsong voice) three cheers for the red white and blue...
Okay, enough of that. Happy Independence Day everyone. Unfortunately there isn't any Law and Order marathon going on like their usual is. Shit. Out of sheer boredom last night I went as saw Spider Man 2. Holy shit did that movie SUCK!!!!!! Half the movie was Kristin Dunst screaming her head off in the rain not wearing a bra. Ughh... I DON"T WANT TO SEE HER NIPPLES! They paid more attention to that then the CGI images, which sucked. And when a villain dies, STAY DEAD DAMNIT. If you have seen the ending you know what I mean. I will never see another Spider Man movie EVER again. People, don't waist your money on that stupid piece of shit movie. For all of you who liked the movie, I mean you no offence, but that was two hours of my life that I will never get back.
You know the drill, more reviewsmore chapters. Hell, more flamesmore chapters. Bye. I will try to have 6 out A.S.A.P.
Narya of the fire.