Disclaimer: "THIS IS THE DISCLAIMER!" (there u go… my tribute to all you "Atom and His Package" fans… lmao) Yeah, you know the drill. Honestly, I luv writing disclaimers cuz they're usually funny. I'm not really… Wait… Disclaimer… RIGHTY! I don't own HP or anything to do with it blah blah and more blah dee blahness…
::AN:: This one goes out to Gryffindors-Phoenix, who is probably my most faithful reviewer yet! (Well, besides randomblinx, but she doesn't count, as she's my sister… and never actually reviews, just looks over at me and goes, "It's good!" …I'm beginning to doubt whether she actually thinks that, though, as that's all she ever says about my work… lol) Anyway, though, thanks for reviewing! Much luff from me! (yay) And thanks to everyone else! Reviews keep me going! lol
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Faylinn skipped happily down the stairs, brushing her fingers along the banister as she went and humming giddily to herself. She grinned when she spotted two raven-headed boys, a sandy-haired boy, and a short, plump boy walking ahead of her.
"Hey!" She called and waved, walking faster as they paused and looked around at her. Removing her hand from the banister, she unwittingly jumped over three steps and landed off-balance, causing her to fall forward and roll down the last seven flights of stairs.
"Agh!" She cried as she continued to fall, rolling forward in painful tumbles and somersaults. "Oh. Ow." She said into the floor as she came to a halt at the bottom of the stairs.
Feeling a strong tug on her arm, she struggled to stand, only to trip on her tangled robes and fall forward once more. "Oh, that's rotten luck…" She muttered, rolling onto her back slowly, blowing her hair out of her eyes as if she couldn't be bothered with shifting her fringe aside with her hands.
She groaned loudly as laughter erupted around her. Squeezing her eyes shut she sighed bitterly. "Today is not my day." She whispered to herself.
"No, it's not." She heard come from her ear. She froze. She opened one eye and squinted, to see Sirius kneeling beside her. He grinned, making her stomach lurch in an extremely unpleasant way, and placed his hand forward, offering to help her stand up.
Faylinn seized his hand boldly and leaned against him as he helped her to stand. "You are, by far, the clumsiest girl in all of Hogwarts." She heard Remus laugh out, holding his stomach and grinning like a madman.
She rolled her eyes and looked up at Sirius, becoming aware that her whole body was leaning on him for support. She straightened awkwardly, feeling an uncomfortable blush spread across her cheeks. Before pulling away completely, she caught his eye and wrinkled her brow when she discovered that the expression on his face paralleled what she imagined hers to be.
"So," She said dizzily, stepping backwards and turning to James. "I talked to Lily!"
His face sobered and he stepped closer to her, pushing Sirius aside. "And?!" He asked frantically.
Faylinn grinned wickedly. "She hates you like mad."
James groaned, turning away and covering his face with his hands. The others chuckled quietly to themselves as they followed the distraught boy into the Great Hall. "I hate to say 'I told you so,'" Sirius said with a chortle as he swung his leg over the bench, "But, well mate, I did tell you-" He paused when James glared deadly at him.
"I did come up with a bit of a plan, though." Faylinn said several minutes later, taking her regular seat in between Remus and Peter. She smiled warmly when James looked up eagerly from his plate. "I've made her promise to tag along with me while we go play quidditch today."
"But we're not-" Peter began, puzzled.
"Yes we are!" James interrupted with a grateful grin to Faylinn before she stood up.
"Where are you going?" Sirius asked.
She smiled and tugged on Remus's sleeve. "I've got to go look for something. Don't worry, Remus is coming with me." She tugged harder on Remus's sleeve as he looked up at her in bewilderment. "Come on!" She urged, holding onto his robes until he reluctantly slid off the bench and stood beside her, waiting for further instructions.
"You're not going to eat?" Sirius asked, looking from Faylinn to Remus, wide-eyed.
Faylinn gazed forlornly at her bacon. "Save me some bacon, will you?" She asked Peter. She hugged him perfunctorily before turning to Remus and pulling him out of the Hall, only stopping briefly to apologize to Lily and some of her gossiping friends about not being able to sit with them for breakfast.
"What are we doing?" Remus whined after they were safely out of the Great Hall.
Faylinn ushered him into an empty classroom, shutting the door quietly behind her before turning to face him. "We're going to plot, silly!" She said flightily.
Her grin widened when he raised an eyebrow at her. "Plot what, exactly?" He asked.
"Love!" She exclaimed, clasping her hands together and twirling around merrily. She calmed slightly and took hold of one of Remus's hands. "I've decided that since I'm not much of a thinker… I need help in this whole Lily-James-love-tryst plan!"
He snorted and walked towards a few dusty desks. "Maybe you've been misinformed, Faylinn, but Lily Evans has stated clearly, on more than one occasion, that she hates James totally and completely."
"She thinks he's handsome, though." Faylinn said airily, sitting cross-legged on a desk. "That's a start." She grinned. "Now, help me PLAN!"
Remus turned towards her, dumbfounded. "Why in the world would you ask me to help you? You should be talking to James about these things! Or at least Sirius, he's had tons of experience, and-"
Faylinn wrinkled her nose at the thought of Sirius's "experiences" and shook her head, trying to cease Remus's words. "No, no, no!" She declared, smiling. "First of all! I can't talk to James about any of this because of the more obvious reasons… Like, I'm trying to get him together with Lily. He wouldn't be much help, blundering around aimlessly, trying to snag the girl of his dreams! And as for Sirius… no." She shrugged. "And I figured Peter would probably blab accidentally to James about anything. So, all that's left is you! Not that that's a bad thing, you understand. You are pretty smart. Besides, I feel a lot more comfortable around you than the others, so…"
Remus frowned. "What do you mean?"
She frowned back. "Isn't it obvious?" She giggled when he just stared at her blankly. "Because you're… well… Because you're a werewolf." She half-whispered.
"Again, what do you mean?"
"Well, not to be rude, Remus, but being a werewolf isn't exactly a normal thing. To be completely honest, I'd have to say that I probably feel more comfortable around you because you're not normal. It makes you almost similar to me, you know?"
He shrugged. "I suppose I understand."
"Good." She said happily, jumping down from the desk. "Now, we must come up with something quickly, before we have to play quidditch!"
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"Think she fancies him?" Sirius spat into his plate as he tossed his eggs from one side of his dish to the other.
Peter sighed. "I think so."
"Or maybe she's teasing him." James added before he took a large, slobbery bite out of an apple.
"How do you mean?" Peter asked, his gaze shifting from Sirius to James.
"I mean, maybe she's taunting him." James explained. "You know, because of…" He raised his eyebrows a few times and made a low growl in his throat, obviously referring to Remus's being a werewolf. "I'm pretty sure that's why she was all over him before."
Sirius rolled his eyes. "She wouldn't do that!" He hissed. "Just say it, 'Faylinn fancies Remus.'"
James shrugged. "We don't know that." He nudged Sirius's side. "And what if she does fancy him, eh Sirius? I thought you didn't fancy her, huh?"
Sirius shot a nasty look at his best friend. "I don't." He grumbled. "I was just saying: I think she fancies Remus." He smirked. "It'd be about time he got a girlfriend, too, huh?"
Peter nodded vigorously in agreement, while James eyed the shaggy-haired boy next to him. "Sure." He mumbled after awhile, still studying the other boy out of the corner of his eye. "I guess so, Sirius."
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Lily clutched onto Faylinn's arm for support. Not physical support, no. For moral support. "Remind me what I'm doing here, again." She whispered to the slightly shorter girl next to her.
Faylinn grinned as she pulled Lily along the grass with her, following the four boys ahead of them. "We're going to watch the guys goof off a bit." She giggled. "And you're going to like it!"
Lily rolled her eyes. "I don't like Quidditch." She mumbled grumpily, turning to Faylinn. "You said I don't have to talk to any of them, though, right?"
Faylinn shrugged. "Well, you don't have to… But wouldn't that be rude? I mean, who knows how long we'll be out here? And you're just gonna stand there all snobbish and not talk?"
Lily pinched the flesh on her friend's arm. "You're horrible." She whispered as they caught up to the boys, who had stopped just before reaching the Quidditch field. "One come-on," she added hastily. "And I mean one, from James Potter and I'm gone."
Faylinn giggled as they stopped walking when they reached the boys. She turned solemnly to them. "Well," she started, "who's playing and who's not?"
Sirius nodded his head at James. "Just us." He mumbled. He shrugged when Peter looked around expectantly. "Oh. And Peter, too, I guess."
Faylinn nodded. "Right."
As Sirius and Peter mounted their brooms and sped off, James lingered for a short moment, shuffling his feet. "Um…" He began, but was silenced by a wide-eyed 'don't-say-anything' look from Faylinn. "Alright…" He sighed, mounting his broom and racing away to join Sirius and Peter.
After Faylinn, Lily, and Remus had settled themselves on the stands, Faylinn turned to Remus, giggling into his ear so that Faylinn wouldn't hear. "Operation 'Get Lily to notice James' is in motion."
Remus rolled his eyes, pulling out a book. But Faylinn was reassured when she saw a slight smile play on his lips. It was then that she acknowledged Lily, who had decided to sit on her other side, apart from Remus.
" What?" She asked when she saw Lily give her a weird look.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Never mind." She whispered and gave her an I'll-tell-you-later look.
"So," Faylinn said loudly. "Quidditch. With three players. And no opposing team." She leaned back, putting her hands behind her head and closing her eyes. "Let me know if anything happens." She listened to the far-away calls of James and Sirius as they tossed the quaffle back and forth from one another. Wondering how long this was going to take, she rolled over onto her side, lying uncomfortably on the bleachers.
"Faylinn! Faylinn!"
"I'm telling you, she won't budge."
"Maybe someone should just carry her back."
"Oh, great idea, Potter. She's not exactly a feather. What if she gets dropped?!"
"Well, Evans, have you got a better idea?"
"Oh would you two stop arguing for two seconds and do something to wake her up?"
"I can carry her back."
"No, Sirius, you are not carrying Faylinn all the way back to the castle."
"It's no trouble-"
"I said no!"
"It's not really up to you, Evans!"
"Potter! Shut up!"
Faylinn opened one eye slowly. She smirked when she saw that no one was even bothering to pay attention to her as Lily and James argued like mad and the other three boys watched on. She closed her eye, pretending to still be asleep, curious of what they would do if she didn't 'wake up' for a bit longer.
"Why don't we just have someone carry her back? She's small, so she can't be that heavy."
"Sure, Remus. How about you pick up your little friend and carry her back?"
"What's that supposed to mean, Sirius?"
"What's what supposed to mean?"
"I don't like the way you said that comment."
"Oh, get over it, the both of you! And Potter, if I have to tell you again to shut up-"
"Me?! Get over yourself Evans!"
"Um, what?"
"You heard me!"
"Ooh, this looks like it's just about to get good, eh Rem? Peter?"
"Sirius! SHUT UP!"
Faylinn struggled to contain her giggles, but couldn't help herself as one emitted through her throat. She opened one eye. "You people are so funny." She said sleepily.
"Faylinn!" Lily exclaimed, rushing forwards and shoving James aside. "Finally! I thought you were half-dead or something!"
The pink-haired girl shrugged, sitting up. "Well, well, well," She said, looking around at the boys next to her. "Who's going to carry me back?"
Remus smirked, pulling out his book. "Funny, Faylinn." He said. "Let's go you guys, dinner should be starting soon."
On their way back to the castle, Lily pulled Faylinn aside. "Why would you just fall asleep like that? I was practically forced to watch them play quidditch!"
Faylinn sighed but didn't say anything, deciding to catch up with the boys so they could walk back to the castle together. "So," She said. "Who won?"
"Well, we didn't play a real game, as there's only three of us," Sirius began.
Faylinn ignored him happily, grabbing onto Remus's arm with one hand and Peter's with the other, causing them to stop walking. She motioned for Sirius to stop as well, before throwing her hands in the air nonchalantly and sighing loudly. "Oh, drat! I seem to have forgotten my scarf at the field!" She turned to Lily and James. "You two go ahead, we'll only slow you down."
"No, I'll-" Lily started.
"It's fine!" Faylinn hissed. "You two can go!"
James shrugged, a small smirk on his face. "Come on, Evans, I don't bite."
Faylinn grinned to the other three boys as they made their way back to the Quidditch field. She turned to Remus, not even bothering to whisper, since they were already out of earshot of Lily and James. "Operation 'Leave them alone' is in motion!"
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"Just don't talk to me and it'll all be fine."
James shrugged. "I don't see why you hate me so much, Evans. It's not like I've ever done anything to you."
Lily rolled her eyes, walking faster now. "Right!" She said sarcastically. She smirked then. "On the bright side… At least you haven't done anything since last year."
"All I ever did was ask you to be my girlfriend." He argued quietly.
She scoffed. "All you ever did? James, that was every day."
"You just called me James." He smiled.
"That is your name."
"Yeah, but I haven't heard you say it in a long time."
"Sure."
He sighed. "You know, maybe I've mellowed out a bit over the summer." He suggested. "I'm not as pig-headed as I used to be."
"Sure, Potter."
"Ah, so now we're back to Potter!"
Lily stopped on the large stone steps of the castle. She turned to face him, a small smile on his face. "And I thought we might actually have a decent conversation for once!"
"You mean, no arguing?" He asked, raising an eyebrow and stepping on the step next to her, his head bowed over hers.
She nodded. "Maybe."
"Well, maybe we could."
"Not today, obviously." She rolled her eyes. "You really are one daft boy, Potter-"
"So we'll get together." He suggested.
Lily blinked slowly at him. "Potter…" She began, looking around. "Are you that thick? I've told you 'no' a thousand times!"
He shrugged, tapping her nose gently with his finger. She froze, clearly shocked by his innocent-seeming touch. "There's always tomorrow." He whispered.
She started. "Is that a threat?"
Grinning, he leaned closer to her. "Call it what you will, Evans."
She shivered when she felt his breath on her mouth, watching his face come closer through her half-closed eyelids. "What are you…" She whispered, unable to finish her sentence, as she suddenly became aware of the fact that James Potter was about to kiss her.
She screamed and pushed him away angrily. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" She shrieked.
She watched as he pulled himself up from the ground, brushing dirt off of his trousers. "Bye, Evans." He said quietly, turning away and walking briskly inside the castle.
Lily stood there, dumbfounded. A few moments later she silently reprimanded herself for standing there like an idiot with her finger on her mouth. She shook her head, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
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"Faylinn!" Lily cried, running towards the four figures as they slowly made their way back to the castle.
Faylinn smiled warmly at her red-haired friend. "Lily!" She exclaimed in mock-surprise.
Lily, barely acknowledging the boys, grabbed hold of the other girl's arm and pulled her away. "I have to talk to you." She said, dragging her away.
Faylinn glanced back at Remus, Peter, and Sirius. "I guess I'll see you guys – Um, ow, Lily! You think I might need my arm later?! Anyway, I'll see you guys – MY GOSH LILY! That's attached, you know?!"
"Come on!" Lily urged, jerking her along.
Once they had reached the safe confines of their dorm room, Lily glared at Faylinn in a highly menacing and frightening way. "Heh… Hi, Lils…" Faylinn mumbled, backing away from the enraged girl. "Nice Lily…"
"Do you have… any… idea?" Lily said breathlessly, so full of anger that she couldn't breathe properly.
Faylinn, deciding that Lily wouldn't actually cause her any physical harm, leaned back on her bed and rolled her eyes. "No, Lily, I have no idea. But I have a funny feeling you're going to tell me anyway."
"HE TRIED TO-" Lily yelled, then stopped herself, dropping her voice to a bitter whisper. "He tried to kiss me!"
Faylinn's eyes lit up, a wide grin on her face. "Lily! That is so sweet! How was it? Was there-" She paused. "Wait." She said slowly. "What do you mean tried to kiss you?"
Lily nodded, pulling off her robe and kicking her shoes across the room angrily. "You heard me. James Potter. He was all close and breathy." She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "It was revolting!"
Faylinn rolled her eyes and tossed a pillow at Lily. "I doubt that! I doubt that, SO MUCH!" She sniggered. "I bet you were all 'Ooh, James! James! Kiss me James! I'm madly in love with you, James!'"
Lily threw the pillow back at Faylinn, this time violently. "No, thank you very much. I shoved him away and then he left."
Faylinn paused, her smile fading. "You mean he just left? As in, he left you there, standing like an idiot?"
Lily shrugged. "Better he left than if he had stayed, right?"
Faylinn grinned once more. "Lily, can I ask you a question? And you have to be honest!"
"Fine!"
"After James… tried to kiss you… Did you…?"
"Did I what?"
"Did you touch your mouth?"
Lily froze. Her whole face became contorted in what could only be horror.
"I am so mad at you right now!" She hissed.
Faylinn giggled. "You did! You did, you did, you did!" She clapped her hands together happily. "YES! All is right in the world! Lily Evans loves James Potter!"
"I do not love him!" Lily protested, scowling. "I hate him!"
Faylinn rolled her eyes, still grinning. She stood up and skipped over to the door. "Excuse me while I go celebrate with Remus and some food. Hopefully there will be bacon involved."
Lily seized the pink-haired girl's shoulder. "Wait!" She ordered.
Faylinn paused. "Um, what?"
"You like Remus Lupin."
"We've been over this part, Lily. I don't-"
"Yes! Yes, you do!"
"No! No, I don't!"
Lily shrugged and released the girl's shoulder. "Sure, whatever. But don't expect me to let this one slide by. I'm gonna get you back for this, Faylinn."
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::AN:: blah…
Please Review! I'm sorry it's kind of late, too. I was doing all good with updating every day and then… like, two or three days passed by… lol. And would you people PLEASE be patient about where Faylinn's from?! You're gonna make such a big deal out of it that when I actually say, you're gonna be all, "Oh, that's lame."
Muahaha. I love you all just the same, though.
Oh yes, and what I meant by "suggestion" in my past chapter… I meant suggestions on my writing, yes… But I also meant suggestions on WHAT I SHOULD DO NEXT! That's, like, why this chapter took me so long… I was having horrible writer's block. I need ideas! Please help me! lol And please review!