Transformations and Transfiguration
By: Jasmine
Chapter 3
"The Dating Game"
James pointed his wand at Lily's overflowing backpack, whispering an incantation. Sirius stared, unaware of anything around him due to the stack of books he was carrying around, half belonging to James and half of his own. "What're you doing that so important I have to hold your books for you, mate?" Seconds later, a shrill shriek could be heard from straight ahead, causing Sirius to drop all the books in surprise, his own bellow of pain adding to the echoing noise in the corridor.
Heads turned in their direction, Lily and Sirius's screams and James's laughter ringing through the halls. Jasmine bent down and began digging Lily out of the huge array of books, parchment, quills, ink, and whatever else, her backpack nowhere in sight. "You all right, Lils?" Jasmine asked, concerned, wiping ink off her shoes and palms.
Lily took Jasmine's outstretched hand and began wiping stray ink off everything else. James and a limping Sirius passed, James's face sheltering an enormous grin, Sirius's a grimace. Every step seemed to be giving him pain, and he bent down to rub his big toe. "Your pack'll be waiting for you in class, Evans." James laughed.
"What was that supposed to mean?" Lily muttered, an eyebrow quirked, her hands on her hips, anger pulsing through her veins.
"Never mind him. Let's just get to class before we're too late." Jasmine replied, taking our her wand and levitating as many things as she could. Lily picked up her quills and stained pieces of parchment before following suit. When they entered the classroom, Jasmine quickly apologized, "Sorry we're late, Professor. We—" Then she paused, noticing no professor in sight.
"Where's Professor Binns?" Lily muttered mostly to herself. She and Jasmine turned to take their seats when they noticed an empty, dark maroon backpack awaiting their arrival. Lily's backpack. "How...?" Lily remembered James's words to her in the hallway. "Potter, you arse!"
"That's my name. Don't wear it out!" James replied smugly. Then, realizing what he'd just said, he corrected, "The 'Potter' part, y'know, not the 'arse' part." A few people snickered. Jasmine rolled her eyes, taking her seat. Lily chose to ignore that last statement, deciding it had been enough of a insult and considering Remus was telling him to shut up. She began replacing her books in her backpack.
Barely two minutes later, Sirius muttered, "Well, I'm bored." He then stood and made his way to the front of the class. All eyes were on him, anticipating what he would do next. Sirius stopped behind Professor Binns's desk, placing himself in the leather chair behind it. He clasped his hands together and began, "Welcome back to Hogwarts, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw Fifth year students. Considering we are not in the presence of those malicious, heartless Slytherins and weak, dainty Hufflepuffs—"
"Hey! My boyfriend's in Hufflepuff!" yelled a blonde-haired girl from the back of the class.
"It shall not last." Sirius replied curtly before continuing, unaware of the glare he'd received. "As I was saying, I have noticed that the male and female populations of our houses have not been interacting among each other. Why is that, if I may ask? After all, the reason we've been placed on this planet is to reproduce and increase the human population. Seeing as we are going nowhere, I have taken the liberty upon myself to pair you all up. Once I've done so, you will be known as an item and must date, and if you don't, I will know." He paused slightly, staring them down, to add emphasis to his words. Everyone gazed incredulously, worrying for his sanity.
Oblivious to the looks he was receiving, Sirius clapped his hands and stood up, making his way to the front of the desk. "Now, let me see who I shall pair up first." He looked around at the class, first at every girl, then every boy.
In his silence, Jasmine spoke up, "Where's Professor Binns? How'd you get him to stay out for so long?" A few people nodded, now noticing the absence of their professor more than ever.
"Told him Dumbledore wanted to speak with him." Sirius answered nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders.
"But Dumbledore's out to see the ministry today." Peter piped up, frowning slightly. However, some people began to laugh at Sirius's wit.
"Exactly." Sirius said, a small smile appearing upon his face. "Now, if everyone is finished rudely interrupting me, I shall commence. Frank Longbottom, I've seen you eyeing a certain someone much more than is natural lately." Frank blushed a light pink. "So, you and Alice there are officially an item." Frank blushed a darker pink but looked pleased all the same, as did Alice as she told the group of girls around her to stop giggling. "Glad I've got two happy customers."
Sirius looked around the class again, and his eyes came to rest on Lily. She stared right back, not blinking, but couldn't keep from feeling slightly nervous. She didn't like anyone at the moment, anyone from her year, at least, so who could Sirius be thinking of setting her up with? She would seen find out, for Sirius began slowly, "Evans. Lily Evans." He paused, staring at her a moment longer before removing his eyes to place them upon James. His smirk was replied with James's eyes widening. He shook his head quickly, but Sirius was already speaking. "I think I know exactly who to set you up with: James Potter. Wouldn't you two make an adorable item?" He imitated the girls' giggles. "But, unfortunately, that would take away from my fun. It's much too amusing watching you two bicker, so I guess I'll leave you be for now." Lily and James sighed a sigh of relief, and the rest of the class laughed.
James, however, left his seat and was next to Sirius in a second. "How about I take over now?" He said.
"A good enough offer. I was getting bored again, anyway. Enjoy." Sirius retook his seat and placed his head in his hands as if wanting nothing more than to hear who James was going to set up, which was probably true.
After a pause, James laughed nervously, suddenly realizing that he was the center of attention, something that he hadn't wanted or expected. All he'd wanted to do was get Sirius out of the way before he decided to change his mind, and when Sirius's mind was set on something, it would happen. He would annoy James from the second his eyes opened in the morning till when they closed at night, and that was certainly not something he wished for. "Well... er..." He looked around, trying to put on the same emotion Sirius had had, but without luck. Then, a thought struck his mind. This time he was the one smirking as he said, "Sirius Black." Sirius grinned in return, giving him a thumbs up. James was taken aback slightly by Siruis's calmness, but went on all the same. "You must go out with... Jasmine Pulchritude."
"WHAT!" Sirius and Jasmine bellowed in unison, both in standing up. The class roared with laughter, all of them aware of Sirius and Jasmine's 'relationship'. Basically, the two fought and argued like there was no tomorrow, comings in second only to Lily and James. It was a wonder they'd never lost their voices in the process. Both were about to make their way to the front of the classroom when Professor Binns materialized from the wall behind Sirius, causing him to jump and swiftly return to his seat after mumbling a hurried apology.
Sirius kept charming bits of rubbish to throw themselves at James the whole class, and Jasmine, who was unable to do anything so physical, glared at him the whole class. James barely seemed to notice, though, because he was busy thinking up a new way to torture Lily. He'd already gotten her twice, once with her backpack, and the other with Jasmine. Now Lily would have to listen to Jasmine complain for quite a while. You sly dog, you. He thought to himself.
"What the hell is Potter's problem!" Jasmine shrieked once in the girls' dorms just before heading out to dinner that evening. She was only half clothed and her shoulder-length silky black hair was knotted in a tight bun on top of her head as she rummaged through her trunks, looking for a pair of socks. "I swear. I'll get him. Setting me up with Black like that. Setting me up with that horrid, insensitive, indecisive—"
"Indecisive!" Lily interrupted Jasmine's ranting, staring at her in confusion.
"Oh, you know what I mean, Lils. He's a prat, anyway, and I don't think I'd like to go out with him." She retorted, waving her hand in the air, her head in her trunk.
"Then don't." Lily replied, going into the bathroom to brush her own waist-length hair before plaiting it. Jasmine froze for a moment before gasping. She jumped up, hitting her head on the lid of her trunk, and beamed at her friend. "No one's going to make you." Lily continued, uselessly of course because she'd already made her point through. She tied the end of her hair, placing a few stray bangs behind her ears, and walked out. "You ready?"
"Yep." Jasmine smiled, realizing that no one was going to make her go out with that wretched Sirius Black. Together, the two of them walked down the girls' dorm's staircase and into the common room.
They were making their way toward the portrait hole when a deep voice bellowed after them. "Oi! Ms. Jasmine Pulchritude, slow down, if you please." They spun around to find Sirius running their way, grinning his knee-weakening smile, putting his fingers through his hair yet again. Jasmine crossed her hands over her chest, waiting for him to continue. He paused, staring at her. Then, realizing she was waiting for an answer, he said, "We're going out, remember?" He grinned sheepishly, his eyebrows slightly raised.
"Says who?" Jasmine replied coldly, not ready to begin civilly speaking with him even let alone date him. Lily stared, knowing Jasmine didn't want her to go anywhere.
"James, actually." Sirius muttered, pointing behind him. Sure enough, James was sitting in an armchair near the fireplace, pretending to be reading a book while actually observing their whole conversation. "You see, he says he—er—do something you really wouldn't like if you didn't go out with me." He stared, giving away that he was oblivious as to what it was. "He says he'll tell the whole school something you don't want anyone to know."
Jasmine froze, glaring over Sirius's shoulder at James, who grinned innocently back and waved a friendly hello. "That evil little..." She mumbled under her breath, narrowing her eyes. Then, she looked up at Sirius, who'd regained some of his dignity. His face once again held his usual smug expression, and Jasmine rolled her eyes before sighing, "Fine, fine. What's it he wants you to do?"
"Oh, nothing really. He just wants us to walk to dinner together."
"Oh, well, that's not too bad." Jasmine said, relieved.
"Er—alone." Jasmine glowered at him, gaping slightly. She looked ready to pounce, so Sirius threw his hands up and quickly said, "Those were his words, not mine." After a moment's pause, Jasmine rolled her eyes again before giving Lily an apologetic look and walking out the portrait hole with Sirius, the happy feeling that has rested in the pit of her stomach now turning to regret.
Lily returned the look and waited a minute or so before following them out. She, however, wasn't alone. James had hastily stood from his seat and run over to her, seeing she was alone. She looked up at him before continuing her pace, ignoring him. About a minute of silence passed before James felt ready to blow, so he said casually, "Alright, Evans?"
Lily looked up at him, readying herself for attack. Only then did she notice the glistening golden specks randomly scattered in James's hazel eyes, making them somewhat glow. She mentally slapped herself for thinking such a thought and replied, "Okay, I guess." They walked on in silence again. James was slightly shocked. He'd expected Lily to rudely snap back at him, not casually answer as if they were nothing more than average acquaintances.
Then, he too mentally slapped himself. It's the charm. She's trying to put it on you again. He thought to himself, and everything seemed to come in place again. She was trying to trick him again, and again he wasn't about to fall for it. He slowed his pace slightly, taking out his wand. "Well, you aren't anymore." He said just as she opened the doors to the Great Hall. With the flick of his wand, Lily's skin began to change, first the texture, then the color.
Lily stared in horror as she began to grow scales and sprout boils all over her arms. She turned to James, tears in her eyes, before running off, her sniffles easily heard over the silence that'd fallen in the hall. "I really don't think she deserved that." said a quiet voice from behind James, making him jump.
He spun around. "Oh, Remus, it's just you." He sighed, grinning slightly at him. "You gave me a fright."
Remus stared before repeating, "I don't think she deserved that." He then turned and walked toward the Gryffindor table. A few eyes followed them, but most hadn't noticed what'd happened. The hall regained its noise again gradually. James questioned what Remus had meant by his previous phrase. Remus replied, "I was a few feet behind you guys. I really didn't see her do anything to you, unless of course she said something incredibly horrible to you, like she insulted your family. Because I really didn't hear her words."
"Yeah!" James defended himself, his brow furrowed. "She was acting totally natural!" He paused, taking in what he'd just said. It sounded completely ridiculous, so he added, "She didn't even yell at me once or insult me. That's very weird. She's up to something."
"So if someone decides to be kind to you, it means they're up to something?" Remus contradicted, seating himself next to Sirius, who was stiffly eating beside an equally stiff Jasmine. James stuttered a reply before quieting down, realizing he had no right to do what he'd just done. All he was doing now was picking on someone for reasons that he came up with himself, and that's not how he'd been raised. He never started fights, but he never left them. He'd either fight to the finish, or stop it if he had the chance.
James rubbed the back of his neck apprehensively as he said, "I guess I'll go apologize." He left the Great Hall, snatching a chicken drumstick from the hand of an unsuspecting Hufflepuff, and made his way to the Hospital Wing, hoping that's where Lily was.
How was that? I like it. It'll get better in a little bit... I know, I know. It doesn't go by standards, and James is actually supposed to be annoying Lily to go out with him. I see all your glares. But, don't worry, that's coming up. I'm just explaining it from the beginning and why he does such a thing, and I've foreshadowed a few reasons already, but I don't think you'll catch it. Anyway, the thing that I was just talking about should be coming up in the next chapter. Until then...
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EDIT
Hey, you guys! Just wanted to say, thanks for the great reviews! No flames! Woohoo! Well, you've got Chapter 3 right here, and Chapter 4 is all ready to go, but I'd like a few more reviews, if you please! Not too many. 7 will do, but 10 would be superb. That's about all. Keep reviewing! XD