A/N: Wow, it's been about 5 months since I last updated, I'm so sorry
about that, my muse seems to have left me. Well, I was reading through and
I would really like to continue this fic, so if I get at least one review,
I'll consider keeping it up. I'm really sorry about the long delay, and I
apologize for this being such a short chapter, but please take the time to
review!
************************************************************************
Wind biting at his already numb face, James fled down the stairs retreating from the castle. He was late; he should have been at The Three Broomsticks nearly five minutes ago, and here he was just leaving the castle. 'What if Lily thinks I stood her up?' the horrified thought entered James' mind, and he picked up his speed, sprinting down into the village. 'Wait, no, slow down! You don't want to be all sweaty,' he abruptly slowed to a casual walk as he entered the frozen village, trying to maintain his cool composure.
Upon reaching the Three Broomsticks, James paused, checking his reflection in the window, then sauntered inside, trying to look flustered, apologetic, and calm all at once; and failing. Glancing around the crowded room, he found the 5 friends sitting around a round table, each one periodically checking their watch. Rushing over, James quickly spilled out his excuse, "Sorry I'm late, but Drake insisted on an extra Quidditch practice, and threatened to kick me off the team if I didn't come, and well...." he trailed off, the other 5 staring at him. "Is something wrong?"
Sirius and Remus rose from the table, smiling at the girls, "We'll get drinks, do the three of you want Butterbeers?" They nodded, "Alright, we'll be right back." The two boys grabbed James' arms and steered him away from the table up to the counter where Madam Rosmerta was busily taking orders. Her frustrated expression brightened when her gaze landed on the three boys. "Ah! My favorite customers! What can I do for you three? The usual?"
"Actually, we'd like six Butterbeers..."
"Six? Don't tell me the infamous trio is here with others!" Sirius' face grew red as he tried to keep his gaze from flicking over to the table of girls.
Following the boys' spastic glances at the girls, Madam Rosmerta giggled and put on a face of mock shock. "Don't tell me you three actually have dates! Well, I expect its time; after all, girls have been coming in here mooning over you three forever." All three of the boys blushed awkwardly under her playful teasing, even though they knew she was mainly talking about the many girls whose hearts Sirius had managed to break. "So, who are the lucky girls?"
Remus cleared his throat, glancing nervously at the other two before calmly answering, "Well, I'm here with Maren Goldberg, Sirius is with Kelly Stevonson, and James is with Lily Evans . . ."
Madam Rosmerta gave a titter of surprise, "Not the crowd I'd ever have pictured you three with. Hopefully those girls will shape you up a bit." She smiled at the blushing boys as she handed them their order, "I've got work to get back to, you three take care, you hear?"
The boys nodded, thanking her for the drinks, and then quickly evacuated the crowded bar, hurrying back to the table where their girlfriends sat. Taking their seats and passing around the Butterbeer, the six launched into an animated conversation about the latest Quidditch game, egging on a play- by-play description by James with commentaries added in by the other two boys.
As the conversation slowly tapered off, James leaned back in his chair, observing his friends as though he were an outsider, not someone who had known them for the past 7 years. Sirius sprawled out in his chair, like one who was kept in a space to small, his dark hair fell over his opaque eyes with a casual elegance. He had booming laughter that filled the room with his mirth, laughter that James had been part of for the greater part of his life. Next to him, Kelly sat primly on the edge of her spindly chair, her golden curls spilling over her straightened shoulders, her bell- like laughter echoing throughout the room. Remus, the quieter one in the group, sat straight in his chair like an eager school boy, his tattered robes clinging to his thin body. But what he was lacking in looks he easily made up with his intelligence. Copper-wire hair rippling as she laughed, Maren sat bent over on the edge of her chair, clinging to every word as though her life depended on it. She was an outgoing girl, James could have seen it without ever having spoken to her, and she brought life to the girls' side of the group. Last of all, there was Lily, her flaming red hair cascading down her shoulders in a shimmering veil as she giggled appreciatively with the other girls. Her incandescent green eyes shone out like two pools of liquid light, smiling upon James. Sitting their, James was so captivated by her beauty that he didn't even notice the lapse in the conversation that the girls seemed to have commandeered.
Sirius nudged James, causing him to choke on his Butterbeer. "What?" He sputtered. But Sirius only tilted his head towards the doorway so as not to alert the chatting girls. Following Sirius' gaze, James' eyes landed on the sneering face at the door. Blood pounded in James' ears, his breathing became harsh and deliberate, and his knuckles were white from the force on which his hand squeezed the glass bottle. "Snape," the name was poison on his tongue. He pushed his back his chair, prepared to fight, but a cold hand shot out and grabbed his wrist.
"James," Remus whispered, "you really think that Lily's going to be glad if you fight? Snape is not worth losing her."
Relaxing his tense muscles, James shook his head as though to clear his thoughts. "Thanks, Remus."
"Anytime."
James slouched back in his seat, now may not be the time, but Snape could not evade James' wrath forever. The sniveling pallid boy had physically and mentally tormented James, he had made of fool of the highly respected Quidditch star, and James was not about to let that go unnoticed. Sooner or later, James would get his revenge.
************************************************************************
************************************************************************
Wind biting at his already numb face, James fled down the stairs retreating from the castle. He was late; he should have been at The Three Broomsticks nearly five minutes ago, and here he was just leaving the castle. 'What if Lily thinks I stood her up?' the horrified thought entered James' mind, and he picked up his speed, sprinting down into the village. 'Wait, no, slow down! You don't want to be all sweaty,' he abruptly slowed to a casual walk as he entered the frozen village, trying to maintain his cool composure.
Upon reaching the Three Broomsticks, James paused, checking his reflection in the window, then sauntered inside, trying to look flustered, apologetic, and calm all at once; and failing. Glancing around the crowded room, he found the 5 friends sitting around a round table, each one periodically checking their watch. Rushing over, James quickly spilled out his excuse, "Sorry I'm late, but Drake insisted on an extra Quidditch practice, and threatened to kick me off the team if I didn't come, and well...." he trailed off, the other 5 staring at him. "Is something wrong?"
Sirius and Remus rose from the table, smiling at the girls, "We'll get drinks, do the three of you want Butterbeers?" They nodded, "Alright, we'll be right back." The two boys grabbed James' arms and steered him away from the table up to the counter where Madam Rosmerta was busily taking orders. Her frustrated expression brightened when her gaze landed on the three boys. "Ah! My favorite customers! What can I do for you three? The usual?"
"Actually, we'd like six Butterbeers..."
"Six? Don't tell me the infamous trio is here with others!" Sirius' face grew red as he tried to keep his gaze from flicking over to the table of girls.
Following the boys' spastic glances at the girls, Madam Rosmerta giggled and put on a face of mock shock. "Don't tell me you three actually have dates! Well, I expect its time; after all, girls have been coming in here mooning over you three forever." All three of the boys blushed awkwardly under her playful teasing, even though they knew she was mainly talking about the many girls whose hearts Sirius had managed to break. "So, who are the lucky girls?"
Remus cleared his throat, glancing nervously at the other two before calmly answering, "Well, I'm here with Maren Goldberg, Sirius is with Kelly Stevonson, and James is with Lily Evans . . ."
Madam Rosmerta gave a titter of surprise, "Not the crowd I'd ever have pictured you three with. Hopefully those girls will shape you up a bit." She smiled at the blushing boys as she handed them their order, "I've got work to get back to, you three take care, you hear?"
The boys nodded, thanking her for the drinks, and then quickly evacuated the crowded bar, hurrying back to the table where their girlfriends sat. Taking their seats and passing around the Butterbeer, the six launched into an animated conversation about the latest Quidditch game, egging on a play- by-play description by James with commentaries added in by the other two boys.
As the conversation slowly tapered off, James leaned back in his chair, observing his friends as though he were an outsider, not someone who had known them for the past 7 years. Sirius sprawled out in his chair, like one who was kept in a space to small, his dark hair fell over his opaque eyes with a casual elegance. He had booming laughter that filled the room with his mirth, laughter that James had been part of for the greater part of his life. Next to him, Kelly sat primly on the edge of her spindly chair, her golden curls spilling over her straightened shoulders, her bell- like laughter echoing throughout the room. Remus, the quieter one in the group, sat straight in his chair like an eager school boy, his tattered robes clinging to his thin body. But what he was lacking in looks he easily made up with his intelligence. Copper-wire hair rippling as she laughed, Maren sat bent over on the edge of her chair, clinging to every word as though her life depended on it. She was an outgoing girl, James could have seen it without ever having spoken to her, and she brought life to the girls' side of the group. Last of all, there was Lily, her flaming red hair cascading down her shoulders in a shimmering veil as she giggled appreciatively with the other girls. Her incandescent green eyes shone out like two pools of liquid light, smiling upon James. Sitting their, James was so captivated by her beauty that he didn't even notice the lapse in the conversation that the girls seemed to have commandeered.
Sirius nudged James, causing him to choke on his Butterbeer. "What?" He sputtered. But Sirius only tilted his head towards the doorway so as not to alert the chatting girls. Following Sirius' gaze, James' eyes landed on the sneering face at the door. Blood pounded in James' ears, his breathing became harsh and deliberate, and his knuckles were white from the force on which his hand squeezed the glass bottle. "Snape," the name was poison on his tongue. He pushed his back his chair, prepared to fight, but a cold hand shot out and grabbed his wrist.
"James," Remus whispered, "you really think that Lily's going to be glad if you fight? Snape is not worth losing her."
Relaxing his tense muscles, James shook his head as though to clear his thoughts. "Thanks, Remus."
"Anytime."
James slouched back in his seat, now may not be the time, but Snape could not evade James' wrath forever. The sniveling pallid boy had physically and mentally tormented James, he had made of fool of the highly respected Quidditch star, and James was not about to let that go unnoticed. Sooner or later, James would get his revenge.
************************************************************************