Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognize from any Harry Potter book. If you don't recognize it: Hey it's mine! The song is "Your Song" by Elton John.
"… Than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." (my title was too long – so there's the end of it. ;))
Hey everyone! *ahem* Yes I know – I didn't update last weekend. You know what I thought as I awoke Saturday morning, knowing I wasn't going to post? "I am not their slave. Oh no – not I. I will update when I want and … yea. When I want." But then I grew lonely from the lack of reviews I got. ;) I'm only kidding.
Saw X-Men 2 yesterday. Oh sweet Jesus it was good. *drools* Really – it was. I think I'm seeing it again sometime this weekend. Who else loves Wolverine? *raises hand* Anywho – got a good chapter this week (I think…), and no it's not extra long cause I had an extra week. I decided to leave it where it was cause… I wanted to. The rest will be for the next chapter. Ok – just read, review if you please, and most of all – enjoy yourself.
Oh yes – the poll. Well, let's just say that Prisoner of Azkaban won by a landslide. Is it any wonder that the story with Sirius and Remus won with readers who enjoy Lily and James' time? Not really. Ok – continue.
* * *
"When will it be over?" Sirius asked early Friday morning, walking back into his dormitory in his boxers. "Not only did she say the word, but I got attacked by pillows when I entered the damn room."
James looked at his best friend. He certainly was angry. Or… was it embarrassment? Sirius was red all over. It was the embarrassment red, not the angry red. Oh yes – James could tell the difference.
"I didn't even say it…" Sirius muttered as he got changed.
James motioned for the other three guys in the dorm to be quiet and watch Sirius roughly get dressed.
"Get out, get out! … blah blah…" He kept muttering, buttoning up his shirt wrong. "What are you doing Sirius? Hitting your friend with my head thank you very much." Sirius finished angrily, tugging at his shirt, trying to figure out was wrong with it, then giving up and letting it stay un-tucked for now. "Not my bloody fault they were changing…"
"Hey!" James blurted, creasing his brow. "You better not have checked Lily out."
Sirius turned to see his friends all hiding their laughter and James awaiting a response. Sirius thought quickly. "No – I didn't – oh Merlin almighty…" He growled as he began leaving his dorm, putting on his tie as he walked down the steps. He had a distinct feeling that his headache wasn't going to leave…
"You better be happy I'm fully changed." Ara said slowly, obviously trying to keep her temper as they met in the Common Room with a happy little bang.
"Same to you." Sirius bit back. "I don't fancy this anymore than you." They both turned on their heels and stalked away to their respective stairs. Sirius was mumbling obscenities, still fussing over his shirt.
"Sirius." Ara called to him.
He turned on the eighth step up and saw her at the bottom of the stairs. He crossed his arms and looked at her with narrowed eyes.
Ara sighed tiredly. "Come here." She said with a loose twitch of her arm, which indicated a wave for him to stand in front of her.
Sirius looked at her for a second before moodily going to her, his headache still in full force. He stopped before her and crossed his arms.
Ara gently uncrossed his arms and Sirius let them fall by his side. With a sigh and small smile, Ara took off his twisted and knotted tie. Sirius' face softened and he raised an eyebrow. Ara casually flipped it over her shoulder and began unbuttoning the top button of Sirius' shirt.
"Ara…" Sirius muttered playfully, "not in the Common Room…"
Ara didn't roll her eyes, but smiled and began matching the buttons one by one. She wasn't about to unbutton them all at the once. No – that wouldn't be smart. When she was done every one, she took the tie off her shoulder and placed it around his neck and under his shirt collar.
After making it even and tying it properly, she stood back and admired her work. Squinting one eye slightly as she looked at him, she moved closer and smoothed out the shoulders. Ara loosened the tie, and then tightened it just a bit.
"How's that?" She asked quietly, straightening it out and laying it down against his chest.
"Perfect." He whispered, gazing down at Ara with a smile. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Ara cleared her throat and stepped back. "I'll see you at breakfast." She turned and began walking away.
"What, you're leaving without a kiss goodbye?" Sirius called after her, unable to suppress the smile on his face. He would not have, even if he could.
Ara turned with a smirk and blew him an over exaggerated kiss before continuing to and up the steps.
Sirius gently caught it, keeping his eyes where she was standing. He shook his head, blinked, and then looked at the few students watching him. 'Damn the early to rise youngsters.' He gave them a wink and trotted back up – a spring in his step.
When Sirius joyfully entered his dorm, his dorm mates were, needless to say, shocked.
Sirius was smiling.
Peter, James, Remus and Dennis all exchanged curious looks.
Sirius was humming.
The boys had been about ready to dig a trench when they last saw Sirius storm out the door.
The bloody idiot was humming and smiling…
James shook his head and turned away, continuing to get his books. He'd never understand Sirius. The others did the same – Sirius now singing. It was, incidentally, the same song he was singing on Wednesday as they all waited for Ara to get down from her dorm. They felt that questioning this would be useless. Someone probably just put a cheering charm on him.
Sirius sung softly to himself as he put his robes on (his shirt now tucked in), completely forgetting anyone else was in the room. "If I was a sculptor" he gave a small laugh, "but then again uh-uh." He suavely took out the 'no' in the lyrics.
"Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show.
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do,
My gift is my song and this one's for you."
Remus and James stood by the door, waiting for their friend. "If Sirius' gift is his song…" Remus muttered sadly with a shake of his head. "Let's head down – he won't notice. Git thinks he's alone already." James agreed and they left.
Indeed Sirius didn't notice as he tied his shoes. "And you can tell everybody this is your song,
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words…" Sirius grabbed his bag and left the dorm.
"How wonderful life is while you're in the world." He whistled the rest as he met up with the guys in the Common Room.
Without a mention of this morning's events – the four boys headed down to breakfast, Sirius still whistling.
Upon arrival, Lily looked up and rolled her eyes. "He was singing Elton John again, wasn't he?" She asked, eyeing Sirius as he sat.
"Yes," Peter told her, sitting beside Sirius, "he was."
"Anyone seen Snape this morning?" Sirius asked while buttering a biscuit.
The girls stared at him – except for Ara who just continued eating, a grin on her face.
"What did you do?" Jen asked accusingly, looking at each of the boys, including Gus.
"Oh nothing." Remus replied, continuing to eat normally. "We just wanted to know how he was."
Lily opened her mouth to demand it out of them when Ara spoke up. "I'm sure he's purrrrfectly fine." All the boys lost their façade and burst out laughing.
Lily turned to her brown-eyed friend. "You know?! What'd they – you – do?"
"Oh I did nothing, Head Girl." Ara replied, patting Lily's knee. "Eat your bacon before it gets cold."
"Professor!" The whole hall looked to the doors to see a third year Ravenclaw crying. She ran between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables and to the staff table, clutching something in her arms that left a light trail of smoke.
"Isn't that the young one on Ravenclaws team?" Mel asked the others (mainly Jen, James and Sirius) as they all craned their necks to see the frizzy brown haired girl crying to Flitwick, the Head of Ravenclaw.
"I think so – why is she in her Quidditch uniform? Have they started practicing?" James stood up to see her better. "We're not supposed to start practices until this weekend!"
Lily rolled her eyes (that was tomorrow) and looked around with everyone else as the rest of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team came marching in, all in their blue Quidditch robes, tired from practice. Janna, Captain, didn't stop at their House table to eat like the rest of her team, but kept going up to Sophie who was causing quite a commotion at the front of the Hall.
"Yurt," Sirius called to the Ravenclaw, "practice this morning?"
Piotrek turned around, eyes drooping. "Five am! We had to be at the pitch by five in the bloody morning. And that's not even mentioning the horrific drills we had to do." He turned back around to eat.
"You're not going to do that to us, are you Capt?" JJ Schmitt called to James.
James shook his head and got out from the table to see what was wrong with the poor Ravenclaw chaser. Sirius, expecting it had to do with Quidditch, and Lily thinking it had to do with whatever Sophie had been holding, both stood up and followed James to the sobbing girl.
Janna, freshly showered from the locker rooms, was bent over in front of Sophie, talking soothingly to her. She glared at James and Sirius as she saw them. "Did you do this?" She asked icily. "Did you think it funny to see a little girl cry?" She stood up (ignoring the mumbled "I'm not a little girl" protests from Sophie, who really was quite small) menacingly before James and Sirius as Lily talked to Flitwick and Dumbledore who seemed to be examining something furry. Sirius took a step back.
"I came to see what's happened." James answered her calmly. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"My cat…" Sophie sniffed, drying her brown eyes. "Someone hurt Waffle." James and Sirius looked over to where Lily was. In front of her was a petrified, slightly singed cat.
"How'd you know that was your cat?" Sirius asked disbelievingly, staring wide-eyed at the fat clump of singed fur. "Or a cat in general?"
Janna smacked his arm hard, causing Sirius to hold it in pain. "Don't be cruel. I'm going to find out who did this and kick their ass." Janna put a gentle hand on Sophie's shoulder. "Go up to your dorm and get changed, Soph."
Lily bent down before the third year. "We'll have Waffle in the Hospital Wing, ok? I'll tell you his prognosis tonight at dinner, ok?" Sophie nodded, tears still flowing and began her walk back to her dorm – a few friends in tow.
"Quite the Drama Queen, isn't she?" Sirius commented, turning back to look at the cat.
"You have no idea." Janna said with a roll of her eyes. "But she has talent…"
Just then, Keaira Blair walked up to the staff table (having just gotten in the Hall a minute earlier), looking confused but amused. "Headmaster," she said, obviously trying to contain her mirth, "there's something wrong with the cats of Hogwarts." That got all the teachers and the four student's attentions.
"How so Ms. Blair?" Dumbledore asked patiently, having most likely an idea to the answer. He waved a bit of smoke from his face.
"Well, I spotted more than usual near the dungeons, or making their way there." Keaira continued. James and Sirius kept their laughter deep inside. "And I believe Severus Snape is trapped in the third floor, western corridor's boys loo. Seems as though every cat in Hogwarts has seen it fit to follow him." Lily's eyes inconspicuously darted between Sirius and James. Most of the school had begun to leave for morning classes. "He's taken out a few of the more… inquisitive and adamant ones through the halls while trying to escape them." Keaira finished.
"Snape's hurt them?" Janna asked angrily, green eyes flashing. "I'll kick his -"
"You will do no such thing, Ms. Rosado." Dumbledore said sternly. "Is there an particular reason the cats are following Mr. Snape?"
Here Keaira grinned like only Slytherins could. "He seems to have acquired the scent of catnip."
~ * ~
Snape was not amused. Keaira was amused. James was pleased. Sirius was highly amused to the point of tears. Remus had laughed. Peter had collapsed with laughter. Estacle was furious. McGonagall issued detentions and was cross. Ara was greatly amused. Gus had been congratulatory. Mel had chuckled. Jen had rolled her eyes and laughed.
Lily was not amused.
"I can't believe you did that." She scolded the Marauders and Ara (who Lily blamed: guilty by association) in the Common Room after dinner. She was pacing before them, hands on hips. "You know how cats are with catnip – and I know that was your goal. But you also know that Snape walked into this school with more knowledge on cures than most walking out of it." She stopped before the couch she made the five of them squish onto. "And you should have known he'd use one of those to assure they'd leave him alone-"
"How were we supposed to know that?" James asked, trying to keep any anger from his voice. "He had a million and one spells to use – he could have just stunned them!"
"Curses are like a second nature to him - James you know how he is!" She said back. "How he was when you… with the willow incident!" Sirius looked away. "He easily loses his mind where you four are involved!"
James stood. "He wouldn't have known it was us-"
"Oh who the hell else would be so bloody immature?" Lily snapped. The other four, feeling like they were intruding on a lover's spat, started getting up. "Sit back down." Lily growled, her gaze not leaving James'. They sat quickly.
"Lily, what do you expect from me?" James asked quietly. "You know this is how I was when we started dating. Why get angry now?"
Lily took a breath. "I figured that a year older might bring some maturity with it. That and the fact you're Head Boy." She paused and just looked at James, the man she loved, as he watched her. "And I wonder if this will all end when we leave Hogwarts or if I'll wake up in the middle of the night to see you gone to prank Snape." Lily sighed and dropped her crossed arms.
A ghost of a grin went over James' face. Sirius caught the same thing as James and grinned not too unlike the Cheshire cat. "Why, Lily dearest, would you be sharing a bed with James?" Sirius asked, glad to see the shock spread over Lily's features. "Would you like me gone from the flat James and I have spoken about sharing after Hogwarts those nights?"
Lily's face went bright red as she tried to keep her cool and not crawl into a hole and die. Ara was staring at her with wide eyes and an open, smiling mouth. Remus had the decency to cover his mouth with his fist and hold back his laughter. Peter stared in disbelief, and was glad he'd never said anything that embarrassing… even if they were still bothering him about his Herbology partner.
"Um… no… I – I," Lily's voice cracked as she thought desperately of a way to fix things. "Ok, you see-"
"Lily," Sirius shook his head faintly, "when you learn the fine art of digging up and out of the holes you dig yourself into – give us a call."
"I think the scolding is done for tonight." Remus said, getting up and ushering for the others to leave also. "Have fun at your meeting tonight." He added to Lily and James who kept standing and watching each other. Sirius and Remus hadn't waited for Peter to close their dorm door before laughing themselves to the floor. Neither had Ara.
Lily closed her eyes and buried her face into her hands as their laughter floated down to her from the dorms. James took one step to her, pulling her against his chest. But he couldn't stop the smiling-like-it's-Christmas grin from growing.
"I made a fool of myself." Lily murmured, palms of her hands on his chest, her face hidden between her arms.
"It's ok Lily…" James soothed, rubbing her back and resting his cheek on her head.
"Don't laugh at me…" Lily pouted childishly.
"I'm not laughing, love." James said, but his smile grew.
"I can feel you smiling on my head!" James couldn't help but laugh.
"Ok, ok – I'm sorry… but what you said-"
"I don't want to talk about it." Lily said stubbornly, moving her arms to encircle James. "Actually, let's never mention it again…"
"I'll try to remember that." James let go of Lily and offered his hand. "We have a meeting soon. Care to go early so we don't look bad?"
Lily, still red faced and mentally cursing herself, took James' hand and gave him a small smile after checking her watch. "The meeting isn't for another 45 minutes…"
"Well," James said, leading her out of the Portrait hole and going a little pink himself. "I thought we'd scope it out and make sure Peeves didn't trash the place over the summer."
"And then what will we do for the other 44 minutes?" Lily asked him, moving closer to James as they walked.
"Study." James answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Ah…" Lily looked about James. "I see no backpack or books on you."
James smiled at her as they reached their destination – a statue of Wallace the Weird. "Fliberty jiberty." Wallace swaggered away, revealing a passage for them to enter. "Actually, tonight we'll study Lily-ism." He told her, poking her nose with his finger. "She is a rare and beautiful specimen to behold." James' eyes skimmed over the room in record time.
Lily smiled at him and they began their 'studying'.
Half an hour later the Prefects began arriving. Lily and James had, thankfully, been ready to receive them.
With her hair smoothed and clothes unruffled, Lily began the meeting, "Hello everyone and congratulations on making Prefects." She smiled at them and continued. "James and I sent out an owl at the beginning of the week, asking you to ask your peers what they'd want to happen this year in terms of activities, balls, etc."
"Did any of you do it?" James questioned with a raised eyebrow.
Melodie Quirke, Ravenclaw, raised her hand quickly and blushed when James addressed her by her name. Lily suppressed a grin and James politely acted as if he hadn't noticed (but then again he is a guy, and might not have). "Tavon and I asked our entire house…"
James smiled proudly. "Now that's a Ravenclaw. Alright, what suggestions do we have?"
Tavon rolled his eyes when his partner's blush deepened and answered the question for her. "Nearly every girl wanted a ball," here he rolled his eyes, "a few mentioned a trip of sorts… Stonehenge or something."
Lily shook her head. "That would be expensive, hectic, tiring, and an absolute hell keeping track of every student that goes, even if it were to be just fifth years and up."
James nodded. "Yes, some of us are too immature not to take advantage of the vulnerability of everything around us." He grinned at Lily who sent him a small glare and asked Tavon to continue.
"Well, those were the only two good ones." Tavon finished with a shrug. Melodie nodded beside him.
"Alright, other Houses? Slytherin?" Lily asked, looking at the Prefects across from her.
"Oh yes," James began, giving the female Slytherin a dramatic sorrowful look, "I am sorry about your soon to be untimely death. I heard about it, Petra."
The auburn haired Prefect rolled her brown eyes. "Trelawney is messed up." Petra said. "Who told you?"
"Heard it through the grapevine – but the original was Miss Yale." James informed her.
Petra smirked. "I s'pose I have no aura either… Merlin knows they tell me that often enough-"
"Onto out topic at hand." Lily interrupted. "What did you gather from the other Slytherins?" She gave James a pointed look.
Greyson, the other Prefect, listed them. "Hm – let's see: ball, dance, "party night", ball, Hogsmeade every weekend, hm – a," he gasped, "ball, no more detentions, and last but not least – a "Slytherin rules" day." He finished, putting the list down.
Everyone, with the exception of Petra, stared at him dumbly.
"Well, we could have gone without that-" Lily smacked James' arm, shutting him up.
"I see two Houses up for a ball. What about the Hufflepuffs?" Lily asked, directing her gaze to her right.
Jason Madley sat prim and proper. "Well, first I'd like to say that most of the House also wanted a ball," James sighed in defeat, "but we had another good suggestion."
"Someone came up with the idea of a games day." Alexis continued. "Possibly muggle games and sports for a theme."
Lily smiled and nodded approvingly. "That sounds good, what about us Gryffindors?"
"We got mostly balls, Hogsmeade weekends a plenty, lock Trelawney up in her tower," James laughed until Lily elbowed him, "and put cheering potions in the teacher's breakfast." Ivani told them.
"I, personally," her partner Evan continued, "prefer the latter two."
"I somehow don't think Dumbledore would approve." Lily stated dryly. "One different suggestion I got was a spirit week. Everyday has a different theme, and you dress up accordingly."
"We've never done that." Tavon spoke up. "It's like a mixture of the ball and games day."
"Yea," Greyson continued with a slight drawl, "we can dress up and act stupid."
"Kill two birds with one stone, hm?" Petra said, reclining in her seat. "I like it."
"I don't like the expression." Melodie replied casually, fiddling with her blue and bronze tie. Petra gave her a sarcastic, sympathetic smile.
"Alright – so are we agreeing on a spirit week?" James asked, stopping any spats from breaking out.
"But so many people want a ball…" Alexis whined. "How about a ball at the end of the spirit week?"
"That's too many things together." Ivani countered.
"We'll bring the two ideas up with Dumbledore, see what he thinks is good. If we can, we'll try to get both." Lily told them. "I think we're done – are we done James?"
"I'd think so. Meeting adjourned." He said, hitting his wand on the table before him, causing it to emit a few sparks.
All the Prefects gathered their belongings and left the Prefects room. James held Lily back for a minute.
"Um Lily… have you seen Cupid? He asked uncertainly. "I've been up to send a letter to my father a few times and he's never there…"
Lily raised an eyebrow. "He's been in our dorm a few times visiting Psyche." She told him, leaning on the desk with her arms crossed. "He's brought her some mice and stuff…"
"He has?" James asked, generally confused. "Oh… kay. Thanks." They left the room. "Mind if I pop in for a minute to use my owl?" He asked dryly.
Lily laughed. "Don't talk to me like I stole your bird. He just has an un-daunting love for my bird." She said, holding onto a rail as the staircase changed.
"Oh and your bird had nothing to do with it?" James asked in mock disbelief.
"Exactly." They continued walking down the immobile staircase.
James snorted. "Likely tale. All you women are sex vixens."
Lily's mouth dropped (even though she couldn't stop smiling) and she hit him on the arm. Hard. "Take that back!" She laughed as the started down a corridor, neither paying attention to where they were going.
"No. It's always:" here he heightened his voice to Lily's 'girlish' tone, "'James, kiss me,' 'James let's make use of a broom closet,'" Lily couldn't walk she was laughing too hard, "'James I need some luvin'.' It's quite disgusting actually." Lily was now crouching, with one hand on the cold floor to support herself as she laughed. James took a few steps back and hoisted her up.
Lily wiped her eyes and gave James a brilliant smile that still made his heart skip a beat. "Oh and it's never:" Lily put on a 'macho James' voice, "'Hey Lily I found a new room – care for a snog,' 'Lily love, you're tense. Need a massage?' 'Let's study Lily-ism.' Honestly." Lily and James both burst out laughing. "You know I love you James." Lily sighed with a soft giggle.
"I love you too Lily." He put an arm around her shoulders and kissed the side of her head.
"Where are we?" Lily asked, letting out one last tired laugh and using her sleeve to wipe her eyes and cheeks.
"I think somewhere near the dungeons." James said, looking around in the dimly lit corridor. "It has a certain smell to it…" Lily snorted and James chuckled, both still on a slight laughing high.
"What are you doing here?" Came a sneering voice that would usually wipe a smile off James' face.
Not this time.
"Hey Snape!" James said, turning around and seeing Malfoy was with him. "I heard you sent a few of Hogwarts' cats to the Hospital Wing." He said conversationally.
Malfoy glared and Snape bristled. "Wouldn't know how that came about, would you Potter? Or has the leash mudblood Evans hooked on you finally worked?"
This cleaned James' face of any previous humour. He didn't hear Lily take any points from Slytherin or reprimand the git for saying it. James stepped closer to the dark-haired Slytherin.
"Oh do calm down, Potter." Malfoy drawled, looking Lily over. "It's not like it's any news to us…"
"Don't ever call her that again." James looked Snape over once, and then returned his deep blue eyes to Snape's black ones. "I bet you'd rather it'd be you on the end of that leash, eh Snape?" He said quietly so Lily, who was watching with a hand on her wand, wouldn't hear. "We were just on our way actually." He said loudly, stepping back and taking Lily's hand.
"I suggest you two get back to your dormitories before curfew." Lily said coolly, not enjoying the way Malfoy was looking at her. It looked like… triumph? Mixed with normal smugness and scrutiny.
Lily led James away before either Slytherin could utter a retort. Once they were nearly at the Tower, James spoke tiredly.
"Now do you see why I hate them both?" Lily didn't answer, but entered the Common Room ahead of James and went straight to her dorm. James watched her until she was out of sight, than shrugged to all his friends who were seated near the fireplace, and sat with them. "Where's Peter?" he asked.
"Said something about running to the library quickly." Remus told him, resting his chin on Jen's shoulder from behind as she leaned on his chest.
"He seemed… anxious." Jen said. "More than usual. Maybe he has an overdue book. Remember the last time he brought one back late?"
Everyone laughed. "Yea. Fourth year I think. Madam Pince nearly made him cry." Sirius said.
Just then Peter entered and only glanced at his friends for a second before mumbling something about going to bed early, and doing just that.
"Ok…" Mel said slowly. "Well at least he's back."
"And what?" Ara asked with a sarcastic grin. "Not in the claws of Pince? Oh the terror…"
James smiled and headed up to his dorm to get the letter he wanted to send his father a couple of days earlier. He saw Peter already in bed, grabbed the letter and left. James went up the girl's staircase (ignoring the gibes thrown at him by his friends) and knocked on the seventh year dorm door.
"Lily?" He called. When she didn't answer he opened the door slowly and peeked in. "Lily?" He called again. Psyche made a small sound from atop Lily's bed and Cupid looked down at him from beside his mate.
Lily walked out from the bathroom in her pyjamas, her eyes slightly pink.
James' shoulders sagged faintly. "What's wrong Lily?" He asked softly, closing the door behind him and walking to her. He put his hands on her shoulders, looking her in the eyes.
"I just feel so… worthless right now." Lily said, unable to find any better words. "The look Malfoy was giving me. It was like he knew something, something about me, and it made me feel so little, you know?"
James brought Lily into a hug and rubbed her back. "You know you're not worthless, Lily. You mean a lot to everyone here, you really do."
"I know… but he made me start to think about Voldemort." She paused and took a breath, stepping away from James and sitting on the edge of her bed. James sat down beside her and let Lily rest her head on his shoulder. "I wonder what he's doing now. He seemed pretty adamant about me before – and to just stop… it makes me wonder what he's up to, who he's after. I don't want it to be me again, but I just think he has bigger plans on his hands. Plans that will inevitably hurt everyone, muggles and wizards alike, more." Lily looked up at James who had a contemplative look. "I'm sorry if I ruined your mood-"
"No, no it's alright." He assured her quickly. "I just never really thought about it like that… there really isn't much we can do about him, as much as I hate saying it. The best thing for us is to do our best and hope that what we learn here will aid us in the fight against Voldemort when we graduate."
Lily sighed deeply and rested her head back on James' shoulder. "I hate Voldemort, James."
James closed his eyes. "Me too, Lily." They sat there for a few minutes before James remembered another reason when he was there. He shifted and saw that Lily had fallen asleep. Smiling to himself, he laid her down and pulled her blankets over her sleeping form.
James then walked around her bed, stood on the corner of the mattress and put an arm out for Cupid to climb on. He saw Psyche roosting and a few freshly caught mice by her side. With a grimace, James stepped down, put the letter on Cupids leg and set him out the window.
~ * ~
"Sirius, get your lazy ass out of bed." James said tiredly, stifling a yawn. "We have to hold Quidditch tryouts in-" he glanced at his watch, "half an hour." Sirius didn't budge. "Sirius, get up!" James whined.
"Shut up Prongs…" Remus grumbled from his bed. "Just pull the bastard our like he does us."
James smiled and looked over to Remus' close curtained bed. "Such language, Moony." But Remus didn't respond, as he was already asleep. James took the sleeping werewolf's advice and grabbed a hold of Sirius' arm and hauled him off the bed.
Sirius hit the cold stone floor with a thud and growl. "I hate you Thongs…" he moaned, not making an attempt to get up.
"Come on, before I hex you." James threatened. Sirius was asleep. James let out an angry sigh. So what if it was 7 am on a Sunday? Holding Sirius' wrist, James dragged him over to the bathroom and into the shower stall, making sure Sirius' head hit the wall.
Sirius opened one bleary eye. "Where the devil am I?" The eye followed James' hand and watched it as it moved to some knobbly looking thing. "Oh dear Merlin boy!" He screamed, attempting to get up.
Too late.
James turned on the shower. Cold.
"Nooooo!!" Sirius yelled, trying to scramble out, but James held the sliding door closed. After a minute of Sirius banging and cursing, James let go and Sirius charged out. He stood on the tiled floor of the bathroom, dripping and shivering, realization slowly dawned on his face. "James – ask me if my name is Cecil."
James stared at Sirius dumbly, wondering what spell could have been placed on the showerhead or potion in the water. "Uh…" he began uncertainly, "is your name Cecil?"
"NO!" Sirius yelled happily, then waited for something to occur with wide, happy eyes. He let out a loud thankful laugh. "Oh sweet Merlin, no it's not!" Sirius, still soaking wet, grabbed James into a hug and danced around. "Oh I could kiss you right now Prongs!"
James looked horrified by that idea and pushed the overly happy and wet man off of him.
Remus appeared in the bathroom doorway, glared and asked tiredly, "What the hell is wrong with you, Padfoot?"
Sirius ran to Remus and hugged him too, lifting the confused but too tired to care Remus into the air. "My name's not Cecil!" Sirius yelled again, even happier this time, and set his friend down.
Remus blinked a few times and looked to James for help. "It's not." James responded with a shrug and smile.
With a nod and many blinks, Remus slowly turned around. He ignored the wetness covering the front of his shirt and slowly shuffled back to bed and crawled in. "It's just a dream… some stupid, crazy dream…"
* * *
Ooooh! Aren't we happy? I'm happy, Sirius is happy, James is humoured, and Remus… is uncaring at the moment. How nice of him. Onto my Chapter 6 thank you's!
She shoots, She scores: Ah – you were the first. Hm… I hope you liked this chapter as well. (Getting it earlier than everyone else cause you'd be gone. Lucky fool. ;)) Anywho… I'll talk to you online. ;) Thanks for the review! (and it starts…)
TheSilverLady: *ahem* Hello. We will not make Remus a drug dealer, ok? After a bit of contemplation, I've decided to… keep him humble and cute. Drug dealers aren't humble. (Not that I know any of course…) Anywho – thanks for the review!
LizMaurder4eva: Hm… I see you subtly threw a certain name of 'Liz' in there to be Sirius' girlfriend. I must say that you'll have to fight off nearly everyone else. Sorry ;);) I have a plan (sort of) and a character or two that I'm already deciding for him, if I do give him another girlfriend. Don't know if I will. *shrugs* I guess we'll find out, hm? Hope you liked this chapter! Thanks!
Star: So you bought CoS before you saw it in theatres? *shakes head* I'd have at least rented it first. I liked PS (SS) the movie – it was pretty good. The acting for the kids could have been a tad better, but hey – they were like 10 and 11. I'll give them slack. But yea – I completely agree with you on CoS. It's eye candy, and funny – but the amount of stuff I had to explain, and how Tom Riddle became human… jeez. If you didn't read the books, you'd barely get it. I never expected Moody and know what? I actually cried while Barty Crouch Jr. was being sentenced. I felt sooo bad. But when I found out who Moody was… oh my swearing was worse than a drunken sailor… I was right pissed. Your review was very flattering, thank you very much. I do plan on writing a book/novel/series sometime in the future… but not yet. Not yet. Thanks again!
Melu: Yes, thank you for pointing out the 'no' during breakfast. I fixed it. :) And as for the Herbology partner… you'll have to just wait and see. *evil grin* Thanks for the review and pointing the stuff out! Finally I won't have to look for that…
LadySiri: *lol* Good on you with your IM message. Sock puppets rule. You know what… when I read "Sirius and Remus in the shack…" maybe it's just my sick mind – but I couldn't help to think bad thoughts. I'm sorry – I just couldn't. *laughs some more* Oh I'm incorrigible. Anywho – thanks!
penpunk: "…but we can always expect one every saturday, can't we." No we can't my friend, no we can't. Muahahaha!! I feel so evil – and I love it! *lol* By the time all the books are out (if she gets 6 and 7 out yearly), I'll be… 20, 21 or so. And the movies? Let's just say I'll be mid to late 20's. Oh my God I'll be old… Thanks for the review! It was long and fun!
everblue3: Oh of course I don't mind the long reviews! I think I might just be sour about needing to wait and build up stories to tell you! I have so many… We actually didn't go to the jazz club place. :( Couldn't get a ride there, and I'm not spending 2 hours bussing on our crazy bus system to get there. Ok – you've had two weeks of stories to build up. Spill. Now – do it! I actually think Elton John was 'hip' in the 70's! I mean – he was in The Who's Tommy! With crazy lady there… Tina Turner! I mean – he sang Pinball Wizard! You have to be cool in order to do all that. *clears throat* Actually – I think you read the part with Remus and Jen wrong. She didn't have her head in his lap. She was sitting on his lap with her head on his shoulder. I suggest you go over that. :P And I thank you for all your wonderful comments on my characters and how interwoven their friendships are. Ok, I'll be honest – I just wanted to use a big word. Nice, eh? *lol* Actually – I took all their stories from MS from my friends and any characters that I added. Like, a reader that I put in the story was in the class, so I e-mailed her to see if she had any funny stories. Hence the trampoline and breaking of limbs. I wrote to them both. But yea – most of the others I got from my best friend. Funny how she never told me ANY of them! The highlighter on the face, telephone poll climbing, and maybe one more were all hers. The zebra was my other friend's. And no – I never ate worms. I'd touch them, but soon grew into the "Eww!" stage. About Peter's girlfriend – I don't know what to make of this Herbology partner. Maybe she has nothing to do with anything… who knows. I just threw that in for kicks. I guess I'll have to make someone, eh? Damn. And with Lily and Sirius' casual 'flirting'… I can say that it's never a conscious effort on my part to do that. I guess… I don't know. Sirius and Lily just play off each other well when 'flirting', I guess. Right then - I am done. See you in your review! *ahem* By the by – you never did my poll. You of all people I expected to go forever about one of the books and what made it great! I would have… but I was shocked you didn't? Slip your mind, hm? Well, I expect one now. Chop chop.
Snuffle 55: :):):) Yes, Sirius did indeed talk to you. I think everyone loves Sirius. And by everyone, I include some men. Actually – literally that would be all men, but let's not go there. You're welcome for the story entry! I enjoy writing new characters :) Anywho – thanks for the review!
kerry: And I f*ckin love you too. ;););) I put you in again. ;) You're the Slytherin who laughs at her own house. Fun, eh? *sniffs* I'm happy I just make you proud. Rawk on. :) Lots of smiles in this thank you, eh?
Clearbrook: *lol* Happy you found Mr. Bubbles funny. I also like him. Great fun, eh? And I'll never explain the entire story. I can't delve into the mind of a young boy that easily. Thanks!
Beaver Buddy: Ok – so I made your character needy for attention, ok? She's the spoiled one. Hehehe… don't be upset. ;) Happy you like my humour! Thanks for the review!
ferahgo: Don't worry – I won't make you kill 'mudbloods'. If some die – I just won't say it was you. ;););) Joking. But yea – thanks for the review!
Kari: *LMAO* Oh that's too funny… Aw – thanks. I don't know if my humour is the work of an evil genius… but maybe a genius. Maybe. I guess I'm really that funny. You are quite lucky to become my wife/husband. I applaud you. Anywho – thanks for the review – I laughed so hard when I read it!
shortydork: You haven't reviewed for a while! Your last name is Wood and your first name is Jen? I know someone with the same name! She's a year older than me… I remember her from elementary and briefly in HS. Weird, eh? Small world… Anywho – I'd be a beater. I tend to like hitting things (volleyball and tennis being my best sports) hard. You have a S/A flag? Funny… I have a Remus flag. Anywho – thanks for reviewing this chapter!
~sundust~: *lol* Funniest, eh? Yea – that's what I said at the beginning. I was in a pure humour mood every time I went to write! So you just handed me the fountain? Couldn't be too big, eh? Not heavy? Or was there some sort of weight charm on it? Anywho – thanks for the review – like always!
Princess pixie ice: Hm… so you've been waiting for someone to allow Sirius to run around with no pants on? How interesting… *questioning look* I won't tell anyone. I have my days planned out already. Funny thing is I thought of it back while I was thinking of writing a fanfic. Odd that it's taken so long to get in the damn story, eh? Anywho – thanks for the review!
blackpanther13: Ok… *trying to think* You got grounded cause you didn't want to get up!? I've never been grounded in my life… that's insane of your parents. Anywho – thanks! Hope you liked this chapter!
running-out-of-ink: *lol* Yea, don't know what I was going for with the Slytherins… just some characters to add, I guess. Not all Slytherins are bad in my books. Just poorly represented. Hm… I just proof read the last chapter last night, eh? Nice and slow of me… and yea – didn't have a chapter ready for you when you returned! Ha! I was going to apologize… but then decided not to. Oh – I'm a rebel without a cause!! Thanks for the review!
Lily Smith: I might give them a ball… might not though. You can tell by this chapter that I wasn't sure. When I'm not sure – my characters aren't. Like all that discussion on whether Carl and Ara should break up? Every time it was mentioned – that was me thinking: 'should I or shouldn't I…?' The characters just gave me reasons to list them. ;) *lol* Thanks for the review!
Narwen: Curse is done now. Easier for me. Every chapter had one of them saying 'no' and I'd have to go back and change it. I'm happy it's over. *lol* Frig Carl, eh? I like Carl. Anywho… thanks for the review!
blinky86: *rolls eyes* Why is everyone happy Sirius and Genie broke up? Thanks! I enjoyed Muggle Studies too… wish I had a teacher like that… thanks for the review!
Amanda: No I don't think you've reviewed before… *LMAO* A closet HP fanfic reader! Oh – pleased to meet you!! Happy you guys find Hearth so funny! A guy named Morgan asked our biology teacher that during math (he taught both subjects) and we died with laughter. Anywho – thanks for reviewing and reading!
MandaB: Oooh! Two Amanda's in a row! Seems as though everyone liked the sock puppets part! Anywho – do the highlights look good, though? I can't remember if you said it looked good. Hm… ah well! Thanks for the review!
blueskywillow555: *lol* You dreamt of sock puppets?! That's hilarious… I wouldn't hold my breath for Ara and Sirius. ;) Thanks for the review!
Lady Arwen: Yea, I wonder what the introduction of new Slytherins may be foreshadowing, too… *lmao* I'm sure I'll think of something. ;) Aw – thanks for the fun review! ;) Hope you liked this chapter as much!
Amethyst: Oh… my… God. You… you're more obsessed than me!! (not like I have posters or anything, or a website… but I have lots of knowledge!) *shakes hand* Good to know I've met someone worse than me!! (in the best possible way, of course) Thanks for the review!
Agent AAA: The Ara punching Sirius thing was preluded to on Ara and Carl's date in the first chapter. I don't know if anyone remembered that… Anywho – thanks for the reviews!
Feyla: *lol* I'm glad you love my humour so. ;) I don't know where it comes from… I guess I'm just that funny. (Modesty left me a long time ago… once I started getting reviews. ;);)) Anywho – thanks for the review!
Rei: Ooo – is your name from NGE, or something else? *rolls eyes* Suuuuure you knew Sirius was innocent. And yea, I see you are a Remus fan. He is fun, yes? Anywho – thanks for the review!
mystikalolo: I won't get bored of your reviews! Lol – happy you wrote me a review to make me feel happy. Hm… didn't give chapter 7 asap, did I? :P:P I am a rebel. Thanks for the review!
Liv: Aw, I hope you had fun with your Easter activities at home! Happy to see the family again? *lol* You know you are the most impatient person I know? (ff wise) Really – quite impatient. I was typing these up as I got your reviews! Well, thanks for all 3!
Kat: Hey, thanks! Happy to see people beginning to review after reading for a while! Thanks!
Karrottop: *sniffs* It wasn't just a filler for you? Oh that's so sweet… *lol* I love all the Divination parts too. Actually – the funniest character, to me, in PoA is McGonagall. She has such dry humour… and when she's with or talking about Trelawney!? It's absolutely hilarious!!! I love it. Anywho – thanks for the review!
nerdypurdy: *lol* All those reviews… *shakes head* You went crazy, didn't you? I haven't gotten an e-mail back yet, though. Hope you liked this one, though! Thanks!
Evil Goldfish: Aw, thanks! A new person! Woo! Yea, I didn't put one up last week… but yea – just didn't want to. ;);) Thanks!
Flying Kitties: Write more often!? It takes a whole week to write out one chapter! *sniff* If I'm not satisfactory enough for you… but anyways – I always thank everyone! :) Can't leave anyone out – that'd just be cruel. Thanks for the review!
Gryfyndor Girl: *lol* Dude's piercing would be a nipple piercing. Thought that was obvious ;);) Yea, I don't think Peter joined Voldemort either… but I … just felt like making him a bastard now. His character would have been boring and flat. Ah well – thanks for the review!
SJAngel: *Lol* Aw I'm blushing… thanks! I love it when people think I'm funny! Thanks for the review!
Frankie: *smirks* If I had Sirius hitting on me, I'd take his offer. I mean, what's not to want!? Anywho – thanks for the review!
BrAiNsOtHeR48: Dammit you for having an annoying name to type!! ;);) You're brother liked Elton John? I have a friend who likes him. I think she needs serious help. But don't we all say that about our friends? Thanks for the fun review!
GreenEyedPickle: You know… if I hadn't already promised to marry a different reviewer… I might ask you to marry me. You are just too funny sometimes. Um… I have not read Plugs and Outlets by Alphie… but I have a feeling what the 'plugs and outlets' thing is. Hm… maybe the mermen's messed up skin and screechy voices are a result of all the pollution Hogwarts is pouring into the lake? Well, you're welcome. Glad I'm here to save you from all them annoying relatives. Thanks for making me laugh!
Braney: *lol* Yes the 'no' wears off! I'd love to sacrifice Peter to the mermen… oh it'd be my glory. But I'm staying as canon as I can here… damn. I've already resolved to kill off Petunia if I went un-canon. ;) Thanks!
Fluffy The Teddy Bear Slayer: I think if James had been an albino, I'd have died of laughter. Really. Died. Laughter. Died of it. ;) *snorts* Imagine that though, eh? I think the scene with the Mirror of Erised would have been much different. Funny, even. Thanks for the review!
Mr. Bubbles: Must you have a different name every time? It's hard to remember dammit! You flung butter at the ceiling? *blank stare* Who the hell does that!? (Thanks for the review!)
Vega Black: *lol* I did skip a week, didn't I? Yes I am bad. A rebel is what I'm going as now. Call me a rebel – yep that's me! Glad you had fun! Thanks!
luvshoes: Aw, thanks for all the compliments! There's some romance for Lily and James for ya! And a prank – hey! It's almost like I was thinking of you while I wrote! (I was… *looks back and forth* Really…) Thanks!
Alej: Aw… I'm canonically accurate? Holy shit! That is a word! Word didn't even underline it in the red squiggles!! Wow! We learned a new word today!! :D:D:D *lol* I'm with you on the messed up info with HP. After so many ff's – it's hard to know what's real. Thanks for the review!
kitty228806: *lol* Happy I can add another notch to my 'Reviewers whose families think they're nuts for laughing too much' tally. Know what's fun? The fact that you put no periods in your review! Not one – made me laugh. Happy you agree with me on James' stag colour! Woo! Thanks for the review!
chanzo654: :):) You're welcome! Happy you liked Muggle Studies – hoped you enjoyed this chapter!
starborn: Aw thanks! Happy you think I followed up Carl well… Did that sentence make sense!? Right… anywho – thanks for the review!
And for other chapters? I believe there are some… : Male Volent (my dad's busted many a things on and in the cars. Sad thing. *lol* I have to give you a new one, eh?), hottsummerAK47 (updating today:)), WeaselSlayer (*lol* thanks!), say aneri (just wait until you get here!), Arabella Figg (love the name!), Braney (Hey! What're you doing in this section?), iloverogerdavies (who's Roger Davies? Name sounds familiar… thanks!), LovinLupin (GREAT name. I love Remus too, and thanks for reviewing and reading! Hope you find this as you read IJTL…).
Jeez people – so many wondered whether the 'no' curse was going to wear off. I believe I made a mention of it around 3 times while and after Lisa put it on them. *shakes head* You need to pay attention people! *lol* Anywho – thanks for reading and hopefully reviewing! And for those of you who can't enough of me – (psht, yea right) – I have another short L&J fic up, that I meant to update last Sunday… but alas – I went on a picnic that took up my whole day! Then inspiration left me… but hey – I have some of chapter 2 ready. Just some, though. Give it a read – it's different than this, by far.
And thanks, again, for reading! Adios!