TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY
Part I
Thrill of the Chase
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the famous characters or the world of Harry Potter. I'm borrowing them from JKR's fabulous writing. I just own the characters you've never heard of and the ideas. ;P
A/N: I'm feeling incredible lazy so I don't think I'll make any changes to the chapters I took off. Well maybe minor ones. Tiny changes and additions. And then we'll see how far I get with that. Hopefully I'll find more time to write and actually be able to write and actually find inspiration because I'm dropping a class in school. So that means more time. Yay.
"What we call human nature in actuality is human habit."
---
Chapter 3 A Living Hell
Lily groaned and rolled over, the early morning sunlight flitting in through the curtains, which in turn were flitting through her hangings, which were blinding her. She blinked and rubbed her eyes, sitting up groggily. It had been over a week since she had gotten the Marauders with the growing charm. She smirked at the mental picture it evoked. It was quiet after that. There were no pranks or snarky comments for over a week. One full, blissful week. Maybe she had won the competition after all.
Lily cheerfully hopped out of her warm bed, ready to face the beautiful Saturday ahead of her. She was ready to hear Latisha groaning and complaining about the sunlight, and having to get up early, but to her surprise, she was not there. Her bed was empty, with the covers thrown hastily over. Lily looked to the side and noticed that Ashlynn's bed was also empty, with the covers thrown neatly over. She then remembered that Latisha and Ashlynn had an early morning Quidditch practice. Julie however, seemed too peaceful in her sleep Lily didn't have the heart to wake her. Shrugging to herself, she quickly showered and scrambled down to the Great Hall for breakfast a little late at 9:20.
Lily was proud that Ashlynn had gone for Quidditch tryouts and made it on the team, much to the persuasion and threats of Latisha. It was a great step for her, seeing that she had given up on Quidditch a long while ago. Lily smiled happily as Julie finally joined her for breakfast, piling some toast on her plate and greeting her at the same time.
A few moments later, the Gryffindor Quidditch team entered, with their new keeper Kyle Reynolds and Ashlynn trailing not too far behind. Latisha plunked herself down beside Lily and reached for some bacon, while Ashlynn sat more gracefully across, her dark eyes deep in concentration.
"How was practice?" Lily asked, shoving a forkful of eggs into her mouth.
"Brutal. Smashing. Rough," came the replies of Latisha. "And it's only the third practice since tryouts!"
"It was pretty difficult," Ashlynn agreed. "James wanted to try me as a beater with Sirius. That was brutal. I got clobbered big time." She rolled up her sleeve, showing a deep purple bruise that was beginning to form. "I don't have much strength as a beater. I can't take much either. In the words of James." She shrugged and sighed. "That's why I tried out as Chaser."
"You're good," Latisha encouraged.
"Yeah, I only dropped the Quaffle a total of seventeen times since the first practice. Only four times though this practice. Sirius was counting." She made a face of loathing as Sirius nodded flirtatiously at her and then turned back to her food.
"James has been pretty quiet with the prank competition thing," Latisha mumbled, taking a swig of her pumpkin juice. "I wonder what he has planned."
Lily shrugged. "He can do whatever he wants. I'll take it. Besides, I'm not wasting a beautiful Saturday worrying about Potter. What do you guys want to do?"
"I actually have to finish that Herbology and Potions essay," Julie moaned in disgust.
Lily smiled sympathetically. It would suck being stuck indoors doing homework on such a nice day. She was glad that she finished it beforehand with Ashlynn. Latisha took a moment before swallowing.
"Yeah, I only have a little bit more on that Potions essay before I'm done."
Lily immediately stopped talking as two pretty girls, by the names of Chloe Martyn and Myriah Kelly, appeared behind Julie. The blonde one of the two, Chloe, leaned forwards, while Myriah swung her dark brown hair over her shoulder and glanced longingly at the Marauders.
"I wonder if James Potter ever notices me," Myriah thought aloud, in a blondish sort of way. Lily snorted into her food. It was all she could do to not burst out laughing.
"You should laugh Lily Evans."
"Anyways, Juls, you're meeting us down by the lake later right?" Chloe asked. "That new girl will be there, forget what her name is."
Julie nodded. "Hang on. I'm almost done here." Lily watched as she shoved the remainder of the food into her mouth and stood up, smiling at Lily. "I'll see you later Lils." And before Lily had a chance to reply, she was already trotting out the doors of the Great Hall.
---
James took a moment to take in Lily's features before he left the Great Hall to the sunshine of the outdoors. As he had been doing for the last few days of the week. Or maybe the last few weeks. Right now she was laughing, and he had the sudden urge to be the one making her laugh. Lily Evans was no doubt beautiful. Her red hair complemented her fiery temper and her bright green eyes were piercing. She was completely different to what he was use to. Lily Evans stood firm to her beliefs and she was loyal to her friends. But boy, could she hold a grudge. As she displays to him. Lily Evans always thought things through. But obviously, she had not thought things through before she had rushed to Snape's defense, so she would pay. She had surprised him with her pranks. James smiled slightly as he followed his friends outside. Wait until she saw what else he had in store for her.
It was then that he noticed that Sirius was staring at him as if he was crazy.
"Something funny?" he asked mildly, tilting his head to the side. Sirius must have noticed him smiling out of nowhere.
Almost immediately he heard a bunch of sighs and turned in the direction. Sirius' huge group of admirers were standing there and his fling of the week was also there. Sirius beckoned her over in which she readily flew to him and he placed an arm around her, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. She appeared to have melted in his arms. James wondered briefly how Sirius could always do it. He had a way with girls. Before long though Sirius had sent her away and they continued walking to their favourite spot to hang out. The tree by the lake.
No one really knew how that came to be their favourite hang out spot. Maybe it was the fact that it was the first place they went to in first year, or maybe it was the fact that Lily and her friends liked to hang out not too far from where they were. This was usually the place where they talked and thought up of some more pranks. It was almost like the Marauders owned this area. No one was ever around it. Unless they were looking to be humiliated. This was also where Lily had blown up at James when he and Sirius were pranking Snape. Yes, Lily Evans was still fiery, if not more now so. James didn't know how to react when Lily had shouted at him so much. And then turned him down when he asked her out by saying she would rather date the giant squid. Sirius appeared to be thinking along the same lines.
"Hey Prongsie, remember when Lily - "
"Shut up," James said quickly. "I don't want to hear it."
Sirius grinned, then shrugged, staring across the grounds at a group of girls.
"So what's with the prank competition?" Peter asked curiously, munching on a chocolate frog. "It's been a long while since you played any pranks on her."
James shrugged. Lily had shocked him with that growing charm. It was a pretty good prank now that he thought of it. It sorta made him watch what he ate and how much he ate afterwards.
"Moony, you feeling OK?" Sirius asked, concerned. He was peering at his quiet friend, who seemed paler than usual. His eyes seemed sunken in and appeared to take a more vivid shade of amber than the usual.
Remus smiled. "It's about time."
"Take it easy then," Peter said.
James seemed oblivious to this conversation at the moment.
"I'm moving on to Phase II of the plan," he stated, out of nowhere.
His friends stared at him as if he was loosing his marbles. Which seemed pretty often. James just sat there, a mad smirk plastered on his face.
"Phase II?" Peter asked weakly, afraid to know the answer.
"Of what plan?" Sirius asked sharply. "Don't you know the full moon's - "
"Yes, I know, I heard," James interrupted, waving his hands. "And we'll be there right with him. Nothing's going to change that."
"OK then, so Phase II of what plan?" Sirius repeated.
James smiled gleefully. "I promised Evans two things, didn't I?"
"You did?" Peter asked, confused.
"Yes, I did. I promised her that if she wanted to get involved in our pranks, she would. Phase I of the plan. But now that she hasn't backed down, I have no choice but to result to Phase II of the plan."
Sirius raised his eyebrows as beside him Peter squeaked, "I'm scared."
"And what exactly is Phase II?" Sirius asked again.
James smirked again, seeming to enjoy watching his friends squirm in anticipation of his answer.
"Making her job as prefect a living hell."
---
"C'mon," Latisha encouraged, whipping the Quaffle at Ashlynn.
"I can't, I mean, oh - " Ashlynn gave a groan of frustration as she fumbled the Quaffle and it dropped out of her hands. "This is useless, I might as well resign before I do anymore damage."
"I believe this is yours," a voice said. Both girls turned to see Sirius Black joining them on his own broom. The bright red Quaffle was in his hands.
"Actually, yeah," Latisha said. "We're trying to practice a bit more before practice. But seeing I don't have any coaching or leadership skills - "
"This is pointless," Ashlynn replied scornfully. "I don't have the talent for this."
"Yes you do." Sirius smiled. "Look, I've seen a lot of people try out, and I've seen a lot of Quidditch players and I know a good Quidditch player when I see one. You can tell, just by the way they move, the way they fly, the way they look. You have the potential talent buried down there somewhere. If my guesses are correct, you're just nervous, which accounts for all your fumbles and your lack of concentration."
Latisha gave Sirius a weird look. "You're being nice."
"It's my job as a fellow Quidditch player to encourage those also on the team," Sirius replied. He smiled one of his charming smiles again. "I would love to help you out."
"That would be great," Latisha answered for Ashlynn. "I mean, you're so much better at this coaching thing and leadership thing than I am." She turned to Ashlynn, who had her mouth slightly open. "He's really good. He can really help you out."
"Yeah, I can even show you a few moves. Quidditch moves that is," he added hastily. Duh.
Latisha smiled. "Then it's settled."
"It is?" Ashlynn asked, finally able to find her voice.
"Yes. Sirius will help you."
---
James had not put Phase II of his plan into action just yet. It wasn't that he didn't know what to do, it was just he enjoyed seeing Lily gloat and apparently think that she had won. But after a few more days of her I-know-I-won-and-you-didn't smirks, he decided it would be a good time to start. Oh, if only she knew...
He looked around and smiled at the commotion he was going to cause. He could not wait to see the look on Lily Evan's face when she came into the common room.
Lily Evans gathered her things from the library and headed towards Gryffindor tower, her arms full and her mind a million miles away. She was wondering if Jade would ever come back. Jade Mitchell. Jade was one of Lily's close friends, but something had happened to her over the summer. While Latisha was the more outgoing and spontaneous one, Jade was more of the advice giver and the one who was usually logical. When Lily was busy, she didn't get much time to think, but times like these she realized how much she missed Jade. Lily really did love her friends, Julie and Latisha, Ashlynn and Jade. They were all her close friends, but Julie and Ashlynn were her best friends. She couldn't wait to get back to her dorm. Take a nice long bath, grab a book and read peacefully in the common room without any distractions...
She stepped through the common room, looking down at the load of things she was carrying in her arms and not noticing the scene in front of her at first. She looked up when a ball of puff collided into her already throbbing head and her mouth dropped in shock.
There were animals. Everywhere. There were owls upon owls perched upon the curtains, hooting loudly, frogs all over the furniture, croaking madly, cats streaking under chairs and ripping apart furniture, hissing angrily. There were rats sitting on tables. There were droppings and wrecked furniture everywhere. It seemed like a madhouse. A zoo on the loose.
Lily continued staring, her mouth still dropped. Her arms let go of the heavy load and all her parchment and quills scattered across the floor. Her ink bottles smashed, spraying the liquid everywhere. What was she suppose to do? What did the Prefects manual say about situations like this? Where was Remus?
Lily closed her eyes, trying to picture the Prefects manual. A first year girl went flying past her, screaming bloody murder as owls sat on her head. Another second year boy went streaking past her, a horde of cats hot on his trail.
In situations consisting of:
Charmed objects - mutter the counter spell (well duh) see page 76 for list of counter spells
Windows that will not close - get a stronger person to help you or make sure that the window is not charmed to stay open, once again, see page 76 for list of counter spells
Fight Among Students - proceed to break up fight cautiously, if not able to contact Head Boy or Girl, contact Head of House
Uncontrollable Fire - put out fire, see page 89 for list of useful spells, or contact house elf administration for fires. (where the hell do you contact a house elf?) If all else fails, contact Head of House
Indoor Rain - grab an umbrella, or mutter a counter spell, see page 76
'Of course,' Lily thought dully. 'Leave it to me to memorize the useless or whacked out weird ones. Indoor rain? What the heck was indoor rain? What's one for wild animals on the loose?'
Lily closed her eyes again, trying to remember any other situations out of the Prefects Manual. She knew she should've memorized it. Nothing came, except for the ones that she thought sounded particularly funny and didn't help at all. She didn't want to contact Professor McGonagall just yet, she wanted to seem like she was perfectly in control and could calmly handle situations. There goes her idea of a nice, relaxing bath and reading a book in a peaceful common room...
"Having some difficulties, Evans?" A voice called out. Lily's eyes flew open. Potter.
"Did you do this?" Lily asked angrily.
James shrugged.
"You did, didn't you?" She ducked as another owl swooped by her. "I can't believe you, Potter. Of all nerves - "
She started advancing on him. She didn't have proof that he did it of course. But wild animals all of a sudden appearing loose in the common room, how could that not be the doings of James Potter? She disliked everything about him right now (more so). The way he was standing there, with his cocky grin, the way he was running his hands through his hair because he thought it was smug and sexy... Sexy, what?!
She didn't know what she was going to do when she reached him. Punch him maybe? Wipe that stupid grin off his face. Or maybe push him? She doubted she could even budge him, he was much taller and probably stronger than her. She didn't have to worry that much because at that precise moment a gray cat streaked in front of her and she tripped (being the clumsy person that she is) right into... James arms. His reflexes were excellent and his grip was strong.
Blushing madly, she regain her composure and pushed him with all the strength she could muster. He stumbled backwards slightly (only slightly) with the cockiest smirk she had ever seen plastered on his face (if it was possible).
"Falling for me, Evans?"
"You wish," she snapped. "Get rid of these animals."
"I. Don't. Know. How," James said, pretending to go all dramatic. "Oh, woes me."
"I'm serious Potter." (Haha no I'm Sirius. Sorry. Must. Resist. Urge.)
"I'm not the Prefect, am I?" James shot back.
"Well your friend is and I don't see him around. Just get rid of this mess!"
"Sorry, but I got matters to attend to." With that, James stomped off towards the staircase to the boys dormitories.
"James Potter! Stop this instant!"
James stopped, one foot on the stair. "Go on, Evans, beg me. I will if - "
"NO!" Lily screamed. "No, I will not."
"Suit yourself." Lily watched, exasperated, as he disappeared up the stairs.
She closed her eyes as the racket in the common room continued. She felt like her head was going to explode. It could not get any worse.
"Miss Evans! What in the name of Merlin is going on here?"
It just got worse. Lily froze. She knew that voice. McGonagall. And to make matter worse she was standing right in the middle of the common room, probably making it look like she had done it. Slowly, Lily turned around.
Remus was beside the Professor, an amused look apparent on his face as he held back a grin that was threatening to escape. McGonagall however, looked shocked and appalled as an owl swooped down to perch itself upon her head. She waved it off, still staring intently at Lily.
"Explain the situation at hand."
"I, well, I - " Lily faltered. What was she suppose to say? Potter did it ma'am, even though he's not here and I have no proof, I know he did it? Now THAT, made her sound responsible.
"Perhaps we ought to cage the animals and get the students of Gryffindor tower to claim their pets?" Remus suggested. "It would be much better than to leave them loose here, wouldn't it?"
Lily glared at Remus. How could he make her look like an inexperienced fool. Why hadn't she thought of caging the animals? When she looked up again, McGonagall was gone.
'Way to go Lily,' she thought to herself. 'Didn't you make the grandest impression of Prefect?'
"Are you going to help me Lily?" Remus asked politely. "I'm pretty sure it would go much quicker if we both did this. And then I can rouse up the boys in their dorms to claim their pets and you can do the same in the girls dorms."
Lily didn't say anything, just nodded. Was it possible to dislike anybody more than Potter himself? Lily decided it wasn't, and continued conjuring up cages alongside Remus.
'So much for my relaxing bath and peaceful reading.'
---
A/N: Yeah, the manual isn't ACTUALLY the manual. It's a fake one from no other than you know who. Well not exactly you-know-who but you know who I mean. (In case you didn't get that, it starts with marau- and ends with -ders ;P)