Chapter 13 Steps Forward
After the Valentine's Day incident, life at Hogwarts went on more or less as usual.
Sirius and Remus' friendship continued to gradually improve, and so the Marauders spent more time together than they had since the Christmas holidays, playing a few pranks and teasing a few Slytherins, but as a group they still weren't as close as they had been. This was depressing to everyone, especially Sirius, who knew he was responsible for the rift. Peter and James especially constantly attempted to help the situation in the hopes that someday it would be what it had once been.
Frank and Alice continued with the new stage in their relationship that the entire Gryffindor table had watched them begin on Valentine's Day and consequently were much scarcer around the Gryffindor common room than they had been. They were forever disappearing together to "walk round the lake" or "study in the library" and always came back from these sessions rather flustered and mussed up. Naturally the Marauders, Frank's four roommates, teased him endlessly about this, and Alice received her fair share of ribbing from her roommates, but neither of them seemed to care. They were by all appearances deliriously in love and though they were both a bit sheepish that their entire house knew whenever they were snogging, it wasn't enough incentive to stop.
"Studying again, Frank?" Sirius asked innocently one Saturday afternoon as Frank gathered together his bag and books in preparation to leave the dormitory, where the Marauders minus Remus were lounging and eating their way through Sirius' substantial stock of Valentine candy.
"Of course," Frank replied with equal innocence, but his ears were slightly pink, a sure indication that he was not telling the truth.
"Honestly, Frank," James snorted. "Why even bother with the bag and books? Everyone knows where you're going and don't they just get in the way anyway?"
Frank's ears reddened further but he shouldered his bag stubbornly and with a parting "See you lot later" was out the door.
"Where do they go, d'you think?" Peter mused thoughtfully as he unwrapped a heart-shaped toffee. "There can't be many places to snog where they wouldn't get caught."
"There're lots of places," Sirius shrugged as he popped a large chocolate-covered caramel into his mouth.
"Like where?" Peter, ever the voyeur, asked with interest.
"Mmmmumph," Sirius managed around his mouthful of candy.
"I know about the astronomy tower and the greenhouses," Peter ticked the places off on his fingers, "And I once caught Bellatrix and Lestrange in the trophy room - they were really going at it - but other than that - "
Sirius interrupted Peter's monologue by choking quite violently on his chocolate. James very obligingly whacked Sirius on his back until he regained the power of speech and his basic motor functions. His first order to business was to lean over and smack Peter in the head.
"NEVER mention my cousin and 'going at it' in the same sentence again!" Sirius exclaimed, still faintly purple about the face. "I'll never be able to snog in the trophy room ever again thanks to you and your fat mouth!"
"You mean other people - " Peter's query was effectively silenced by Sirius' withering look. "Well I was just asking," Peter said in an injured tone. "And it's not like you don't know that they snog, they must be the most exhibitionist couple in Hogwarts. I remember once during a Ravenclaw- Slytherin match - " Peter hastily broke off again at Sirius' dangerous expression.
"Just because you were once thick enough to fancy that demented bitch I am unfortunate enough to share blood with doesn't mean everybody is sick enough to pay attention to, let alone remember, the little shows they put on," Sirius said in a rather nasty tone.
"So, Quidditch next weekend, eh?" James said hastily as a red-faced Peter opened his mouth. But the other two weren't finished with the current topic.
"I never fancied her!" Peter denied hotly. "I said she was pretty once but it's not like I've thought about her since!"
"Oh please," Sirius dismissed Peter's denial. "You're still taken with her. Don't think we haven't noticed."
"You do - I mean used to - stare at her quite a bit," James said a bit hesitantly - for him.
"Well I like that!" Peter puffed up indignantly.
"Oh cork it, mate," Sirius put an end to it. "'S not like you haven't taken the mickey out of us often enough over our love lives - or lack thereof in Prongsies' case," Sirius grinned.
Peter, apparently deciding that a dignified silence spoke louder than words in this instance, opened a book and proceeded to very pointedly ignore James and Sirius.
Tiring of this after a while, James and Sirius decided, for lack of more enticing options, to go to the library and see who and how many people they could distract before Madam Pince turned them out. This was at least something new to do as they hadn't been to the library in quite some time, over a year in fact.
"Maybe we can study with Frank," James said slyly as he gathered up some books at random. He and Sirius sniggered at the very thought.
* * *
Snape had chosen to spend his Saturday pursuing his own private potion-making projects as opposed to doing homework. He had completed the Transfiguration essay that was due on Monday some time ago and knew that its impending due date would cause the library to be overcrowded. This essay might even drive Potter, Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew to the library Snape had no wish to spend additional time with them, so he was holed up in one of Slytherin House's study rooms, enjoying the solitude.
As he added a bit more essence of mandrake to the potion he was brewing, Snape reflected on the foursome that he considered his enemies. There was something so satisfying in knowing when you'd struck a nerve with someone you dislike, and it was quite clear that the werewolf incident had done just that. It was perfectly apparent to the entire school that that particular clique was no longer spending its requisite amount of time together, a state of affairs that brought Snape the utmost satisfaction. Though the matter had brought him no little bit of inconvenience and had angered and frustrated him to extremes, Snape's lips curled up at the corners at the very thought of what it had cost Potter and Black.
Without warning, the door to the study room swung open and Lestrange strolled in, his expression purposeful. Snape bit back his annoyance. He had put a locking charm on the door but clearly he would have to search for a more effective one.
"Ah, Severus," Lestrange's smile was brief but effective. "I thought I might find you here. I've been wanting a word with you for some time now but you are so very difficult to find at times and Dumbledore's new lack of trust over that minor incident before the holidays has made it rather difficult," Lestrange paused, taking in his surroundings.
Snape waited, saying nothing. This wasn't another trust issue; Lestrange was treating him quite cordially, or cordially for Lestrange at any rate. This must be a message of sorts, which made Snape wary, but he had no choice but to wait it out. Lestrange operated on no one's time table but his own.
"Do you recall, Severus, when we had our little chat about loyalty back in September?" Lestrange inquired. Snape merely nodded, his arms folded across his chest somewhat defensively.
"Well," Lestrange's voice dropped. "You have proven since then that you are worthy of trust. Soon, over the Easter holidays, in fact, it will be time to prove whether or not you are loyal. I have spoken to our leader," Lestrange's gaze caught and held Snape's so that he would realize just how significant this was, "and he thinks it time that you truly became one of us. You gave an excellent account of yourself in the attack against that Mudblood, Severus," Lestrange's tone became slightly congratulatory. "You even managed to evade detection. You are worthy of the honor, Severus, if you choose to accept it. You will receive further details once the holidays are in session and we are no longer surrounded by these tiresome walls." With that, Lestrange exited the room as suddenly as he had entered it.
Snape sank into a chair and covered his face with his hands. Oh, Merlin.
Lestrange's words rang in his ears. Worthy of the honor if he chose to accept it indeed. They both knew he wouldn't be allowed to live if he didn't go through with this.
Impulsively Snape shoved up his sleeve and examined the as yet unmarked skin of his forearm. It would hurt, Snape knew that much for sure. A wizard who enjoyed suffering as much as the Dark Lord did would have it no other way
Snape had known for some time that this test of loyalty would be required of him. He had been taught that it was the highest honor because it showed that you had the Dark Lord's trust. Snape had always known it would be required of him someday, he just hadn't thought it would be so soon. He wasn't ready.
But the fact was that the time was here and he had better get on board because there was no turning back nor was there resignation from the Dark Lord's service that didn't involve a funeral.
* * *
Dorcas shifted restlessly in her seat and consulted her wristwatch. "Alice has been gone for over two hours now," she reported, her lips turning up at the corners.
"Whatever can they be doing for this long?" Morwenna said, slightly irritable.
Dorcas cocked a brow. "Surely you don't need me to spell it out for you?" the three girls giggled but hushed up rather quickly as Madam Pince shot them a look from the reference desk. They were studying in the library for the very important Transfiguration essay that was due on Monday but none of them could seem to concentrate for any length of time.
"Kathleen is studying with Remus and Alice is Merlin knows where with Frank," Lily summed up. "And we're sitting here studying and keeping track of other people's love lives like the three old maids we're well on our way to becoming."
"Speak for yourself," Morwenna teased. "James Potter would be happy to ensure that you don't die a virgin."
Lily gasped and Dorcas burst out laughing, only to earn herself a "Shh!" from Madam Pince.
"I'm sure he would, but as it happens I'm not that desperate to lose it," Lily hissed, aware of Madam Pince's gaze. "Plus there's that pesky little problem of my despising him."
"Do you now? I notice that you didn't throw his roses out the window this year," Morwenna returned. Every year since third year James had sent Lily an enormous bouquet of red roses on Valentine's Day and every year Lily had made a grand production of tossing them out the window. This year, however, the roses sat on the windowsill, much to the shock of four of the room's inhabitants.
Lily reddened further at Morwenna's latest comment. "All right, I admit it, it's distantly possible that I don't hate Potter quite as much as I used to," she said loftily, picking up her quill again. "Recent events have shown me that perhaps he is capable of rational behavior."
"And what events are those?" Dorcas was curious.
"I can't tell you," Lily said seriously. "I promised I wouldn't."
"It must've been quite something to make you not loathe Potter anymore, " Morwenna observed.
"You're carrying this entirely too far," Lily protested. "It's not that I don't loathe him. I just probably wouldn't dance on his grave if I had the chance."
* * *
"It's just as big as I remember," Sirius said in a loud whisper. He and James were standing in the library for the first time in over a year.
"Of course it is, you git," James whispered back. Madam Pince was watching them like a hawk.
"See we're not the only ones absorbing knowledge on this fine afternoon," Sirius inclined his head inconspicuously toward Lily, Morwenna, and Dorcas' table.
James' hand shot automatically through his hair. "Let's go say hi. I need to talk to Dorcas about Quidditch practice tomorrow night anyway," he said in what he believed to be a casual tone.
Sirius cocked a brow and folded his arms, then winced. "I think you dislodged something with your pounding earlier," he complained. "And I'm sure the reason you want to go and talk to - er - Dorcas is strictly Quidditch-driven."
"Oh, shut it or I'll dislodge something else," James snapped, cornered. With that, he ran his hand through his hair one last time and headed toward the girls' table. Silenced for the moment, Sirius sauntered along in James' wake.
"All right, Morwenna? Meadows? Evans?" James gave the girls his trademark grin. Lily had to restrain herself from clobbering him with her book. Why did he insist on doing that ridiculous thing with his hair?
"Fancy seeing you here," Dorcas drawled.
"Yeah, don't think I've seen you two in here since the term started up again," Morwenna chimed in.
"You haven't," James answered promptly. "Sirius and I were banned from the library for a year and the time was only up in January."
"What on earth did you do to get yourselves banned for an entire year, or do I want to know?" Morwenna was curious.
Sirius grinned suggestively at her before answering: "We - er - accidentally set fire to part of the restricted section."
"How'd you manage that?" Dorcas cocked a brow.
James shrugged. "It WAS an accident. We were looking for something and - well - who knew some of those books were so flammable? You'd think they'd have spells or something."
"We put out most of the fire before Filch got here though," Sirius put in. "It could've been a lot worse, really, if we hadn't had so much experience with fires."
"So Evans, did you get my flowers?" James' grin was, though it pained Lily to admit it, rather charming. Seductive and arrogant and little-boy eager all at the same time. Lily's resulting disturbance over having noticed that his grin was charming at all made it easier for her to be brisk with him.
"Yes I did, just like I did all of the other ones," she said stiffly, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Morwenna and Dorcas were suppressing their laughter and seemed about ready to pop. Lily sincerely hoped they wet themselves.
"So," James leaned on the table, bringing his face mere inches from hers. "D'you want to go out with me next weekend after the match?"
"Nope, sorry Potter. Hell hasn't frozen over yet," Lily quipped. It was something she had said to him many times when he asked her out, but James couldn't help but notice that the way she said it this time was slightly different. Her tone lacked its usual suppressed rage and there was the barest trace of amusement in her eyes, almost as though she were enjoying the game. James' heart soared.
"Crushed again," he sighed in mock resignation. "However, I shall persevere. Until next time then," James turned to go. "Oh, and by the way, Meadows, practice is at six tomorrow instead of six-thirty. That is if I haven't succumbed and expired from my broken heart by then," James chanced a glance at Lily.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head, but there was definitely a trace of - was it anticipation? - in her brilliant green eyes.
Whether she was willing to admit it or not, Lily didn't exactly hate him anymore, nor did she want him to give up on her.
* * *
Author's Note: *pops champagne cork* Wow, I've hit the 100 review mark! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed my story, I appreciate it more than I can say. Thanks to juliet's rose, LeiaQuartermain, James Potter09, LavenderBrwon, and Ronald's Girl for their reviews of the last chapter. Keep the reviews coming and I'll keep the chapters coming. Again, thanks everyone!
After the Valentine's Day incident, life at Hogwarts went on more or less as usual.
Sirius and Remus' friendship continued to gradually improve, and so the Marauders spent more time together than they had since the Christmas holidays, playing a few pranks and teasing a few Slytherins, but as a group they still weren't as close as they had been. This was depressing to everyone, especially Sirius, who knew he was responsible for the rift. Peter and James especially constantly attempted to help the situation in the hopes that someday it would be what it had once been.
Frank and Alice continued with the new stage in their relationship that the entire Gryffindor table had watched them begin on Valentine's Day and consequently were much scarcer around the Gryffindor common room than they had been. They were forever disappearing together to "walk round the lake" or "study in the library" and always came back from these sessions rather flustered and mussed up. Naturally the Marauders, Frank's four roommates, teased him endlessly about this, and Alice received her fair share of ribbing from her roommates, but neither of them seemed to care. They were by all appearances deliriously in love and though they were both a bit sheepish that their entire house knew whenever they were snogging, it wasn't enough incentive to stop.
"Studying again, Frank?" Sirius asked innocently one Saturday afternoon as Frank gathered together his bag and books in preparation to leave the dormitory, where the Marauders minus Remus were lounging and eating their way through Sirius' substantial stock of Valentine candy.
"Of course," Frank replied with equal innocence, but his ears were slightly pink, a sure indication that he was not telling the truth.
"Honestly, Frank," James snorted. "Why even bother with the bag and books? Everyone knows where you're going and don't they just get in the way anyway?"
Frank's ears reddened further but he shouldered his bag stubbornly and with a parting "See you lot later" was out the door.
"Where do they go, d'you think?" Peter mused thoughtfully as he unwrapped a heart-shaped toffee. "There can't be many places to snog where they wouldn't get caught."
"There're lots of places," Sirius shrugged as he popped a large chocolate-covered caramel into his mouth.
"Like where?" Peter, ever the voyeur, asked with interest.
"Mmmmumph," Sirius managed around his mouthful of candy.
"I know about the astronomy tower and the greenhouses," Peter ticked the places off on his fingers, "And I once caught Bellatrix and Lestrange in the trophy room - they were really going at it - but other than that - "
Sirius interrupted Peter's monologue by choking quite violently on his chocolate. James very obligingly whacked Sirius on his back until he regained the power of speech and his basic motor functions. His first order to business was to lean over and smack Peter in the head.
"NEVER mention my cousin and 'going at it' in the same sentence again!" Sirius exclaimed, still faintly purple about the face. "I'll never be able to snog in the trophy room ever again thanks to you and your fat mouth!"
"You mean other people - " Peter's query was effectively silenced by Sirius' withering look. "Well I was just asking," Peter said in an injured tone. "And it's not like you don't know that they snog, they must be the most exhibitionist couple in Hogwarts. I remember once during a Ravenclaw- Slytherin match - " Peter hastily broke off again at Sirius' dangerous expression.
"Just because you were once thick enough to fancy that demented bitch I am unfortunate enough to share blood with doesn't mean everybody is sick enough to pay attention to, let alone remember, the little shows they put on," Sirius said in a rather nasty tone.
"So, Quidditch next weekend, eh?" James said hastily as a red-faced Peter opened his mouth. But the other two weren't finished with the current topic.
"I never fancied her!" Peter denied hotly. "I said she was pretty once but it's not like I've thought about her since!"
"Oh please," Sirius dismissed Peter's denial. "You're still taken with her. Don't think we haven't noticed."
"You do - I mean used to - stare at her quite a bit," James said a bit hesitantly - for him.
"Well I like that!" Peter puffed up indignantly.
"Oh cork it, mate," Sirius put an end to it. "'S not like you haven't taken the mickey out of us often enough over our love lives - or lack thereof in Prongsies' case," Sirius grinned.
Peter, apparently deciding that a dignified silence spoke louder than words in this instance, opened a book and proceeded to very pointedly ignore James and Sirius.
Tiring of this after a while, James and Sirius decided, for lack of more enticing options, to go to the library and see who and how many people they could distract before Madam Pince turned them out. This was at least something new to do as they hadn't been to the library in quite some time, over a year in fact.
"Maybe we can study with Frank," James said slyly as he gathered up some books at random. He and Sirius sniggered at the very thought.
* * *
Snape had chosen to spend his Saturday pursuing his own private potion-making projects as opposed to doing homework. He had completed the Transfiguration essay that was due on Monday some time ago and knew that its impending due date would cause the library to be overcrowded. This essay might even drive Potter, Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew to the library Snape had no wish to spend additional time with them, so he was holed up in one of Slytherin House's study rooms, enjoying the solitude.
As he added a bit more essence of mandrake to the potion he was brewing, Snape reflected on the foursome that he considered his enemies. There was something so satisfying in knowing when you'd struck a nerve with someone you dislike, and it was quite clear that the werewolf incident had done just that. It was perfectly apparent to the entire school that that particular clique was no longer spending its requisite amount of time together, a state of affairs that brought Snape the utmost satisfaction. Though the matter had brought him no little bit of inconvenience and had angered and frustrated him to extremes, Snape's lips curled up at the corners at the very thought of what it had cost Potter and Black.
Without warning, the door to the study room swung open and Lestrange strolled in, his expression purposeful. Snape bit back his annoyance. He had put a locking charm on the door but clearly he would have to search for a more effective one.
"Ah, Severus," Lestrange's smile was brief but effective. "I thought I might find you here. I've been wanting a word with you for some time now but you are so very difficult to find at times and Dumbledore's new lack of trust over that minor incident before the holidays has made it rather difficult," Lestrange paused, taking in his surroundings.
Snape waited, saying nothing. This wasn't another trust issue; Lestrange was treating him quite cordially, or cordially for Lestrange at any rate. This must be a message of sorts, which made Snape wary, but he had no choice but to wait it out. Lestrange operated on no one's time table but his own.
"Do you recall, Severus, when we had our little chat about loyalty back in September?" Lestrange inquired. Snape merely nodded, his arms folded across his chest somewhat defensively.
"Well," Lestrange's voice dropped. "You have proven since then that you are worthy of trust. Soon, over the Easter holidays, in fact, it will be time to prove whether or not you are loyal. I have spoken to our leader," Lestrange's gaze caught and held Snape's so that he would realize just how significant this was, "and he thinks it time that you truly became one of us. You gave an excellent account of yourself in the attack against that Mudblood, Severus," Lestrange's tone became slightly congratulatory. "You even managed to evade detection. You are worthy of the honor, Severus, if you choose to accept it. You will receive further details once the holidays are in session and we are no longer surrounded by these tiresome walls." With that, Lestrange exited the room as suddenly as he had entered it.
Snape sank into a chair and covered his face with his hands. Oh, Merlin.
Lestrange's words rang in his ears. Worthy of the honor if he chose to accept it indeed. They both knew he wouldn't be allowed to live if he didn't go through with this.
Impulsively Snape shoved up his sleeve and examined the as yet unmarked skin of his forearm. It would hurt, Snape knew that much for sure. A wizard who enjoyed suffering as much as the Dark Lord did would have it no other way
Snape had known for some time that this test of loyalty would be required of him. He had been taught that it was the highest honor because it showed that you had the Dark Lord's trust. Snape had always known it would be required of him someday, he just hadn't thought it would be so soon. He wasn't ready.
But the fact was that the time was here and he had better get on board because there was no turning back nor was there resignation from the Dark Lord's service that didn't involve a funeral.
* * *
Dorcas shifted restlessly in her seat and consulted her wristwatch. "Alice has been gone for over two hours now," she reported, her lips turning up at the corners.
"Whatever can they be doing for this long?" Morwenna said, slightly irritable.
Dorcas cocked a brow. "Surely you don't need me to spell it out for you?" the three girls giggled but hushed up rather quickly as Madam Pince shot them a look from the reference desk. They were studying in the library for the very important Transfiguration essay that was due on Monday but none of them could seem to concentrate for any length of time.
"Kathleen is studying with Remus and Alice is Merlin knows where with Frank," Lily summed up. "And we're sitting here studying and keeping track of other people's love lives like the three old maids we're well on our way to becoming."
"Speak for yourself," Morwenna teased. "James Potter would be happy to ensure that you don't die a virgin."
Lily gasped and Dorcas burst out laughing, only to earn herself a "Shh!" from Madam Pince.
"I'm sure he would, but as it happens I'm not that desperate to lose it," Lily hissed, aware of Madam Pince's gaze. "Plus there's that pesky little problem of my despising him."
"Do you now? I notice that you didn't throw his roses out the window this year," Morwenna returned. Every year since third year James had sent Lily an enormous bouquet of red roses on Valentine's Day and every year Lily had made a grand production of tossing them out the window. This year, however, the roses sat on the windowsill, much to the shock of four of the room's inhabitants.
Lily reddened further at Morwenna's latest comment. "All right, I admit it, it's distantly possible that I don't hate Potter quite as much as I used to," she said loftily, picking up her quill again. "Recent events have shown me that perhaps he is capable of rational behavior."
"And what events are those?" Dorcas was curious.
"I can't tell you," Lily said seriously. "I promised I wouldn't."
"It must've been quite something to make you not loathe Potter anymore, " Morwenna observed.
"You're carrying this entirely too far," Lily protested. "It's not that I don't loathe him. I just probably wouldn't dance on his grave if I had the chance."
* * *
"It's just as big as I remember," Sirius said in a loud whisper. He and James were standing in the library for the first time in over a year.
"Of course it is, you git," James whispered back. Madam Pince was watching them like a hawk.
"See we're not the only ones absorbing knowledge on this fine afternoon," Sirius inclined his head inconspicuously toward Lily, Morwenna, and Dorcas' table.
James' hand shot automatically through his hair. "Let's go say hi. I need to talk to Dorcas about Quidditch practice tomorrow night anyway," he said in what he believed to be a casual tone.
Sirius cocked a brow and folded his arms, then winced. "I think you dislodged something with your pounding earlier," he complained. "And I'm sure the reason you want to go and talk to - er - Dorcas is strictly Quidditch-driven."
"Oh, shut it or I'll dislodge something else," James snapped, cornered. With that, he ran his hand through his hair one last time and headed toward the girls' table. Silenced for the moment, Sirius sauntered along in James' wake.
"All right, Morwenna? Meadows? Evans?" James gave the girls his trademark grin. Lily had to restrain herself from clobbering him with her book. Why did he insist on doing that ridiculous thing with his hair?
"Fancy seeing you here," Dorcas drawled.
"Yeah, don't think I've seen you two in here since the term started up again," Morwenna chimed in.
"You haven't," James answered promptly. "Sirius and I were banned from the library for a year and the time was only up in January."
"What on earth did you do to get yourselves banned for an entire year, or do I want to know?" Morwenna was curious.
Sirius grinned suggestively at her before answering: "We - er - accidentally set fire to part of the restricted section."
"How'd you manage that?" Dorcas cocked a brow.
James shrugged. "It WAS an accident. We were looking for something and - well - who knew some of those books were so flammable? You'd think they'd have spells or something."
"We put out most of the fire before Filch got here though," Sirius put in. "It could've been a lot worse, really, if we hadn't had so much experience with fires."
"So Evans, did you get my flowers?" James' grin was, though it pained Lily to admit it, rather charming. Seductive and arrogant and little-boy eager all at the same time. Lily's resulting disturbance over having noticed that his grin was charming at all made it easier for her to be brisk with him.
"Yes I did, just like I did all of the other ones," she said stiffly, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Morwenna and Dorcas were suppressing their laughter and seemed about ready to pop. Lily sincerely hoped they wet themselves.
"So," James leaned on the table, bringing his face mere inches from hers. "D'you want to go out with me next weekend after the match?"
"Nope, sorry Potter. Hell hasn't frozen over yet," Lily quipped. It was something she had said to him many times when he asked her out, but James couldn't help but notice that the way she said it this time was slightly different. Her tone lacked its usual suppressed rage and there was the barest trace of amusement in her eyes, almost as though she were enjoying the game. James' heart soared.
"Crushed again," he sighed in mock resignation. "However, I shall persevere. Until next time then," James turned to go. "Oh, and by the way, Meadows, practice is at six tomorrow instead of six-thirty. That is if I haven't succumbed and expired from my broken heart by then," James chanced a glance at Lily.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head, but there was definitely a trace of - was it anticipation? - in her brilliant green eyes.
Whether she was willing to admit it or not, Lily didn't exactly hate him anymore, nor did she want him to give up on her.
* * *
Author's Note: *pops champagne cork* Wow, I've hit the 100 review mark! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed my story, I appreciate it more than I can say. Thanks to juliet's rose, LeiaQuartermain, James Potter09, LavenderBrwon, and Ronald's Girl for their reviews of the last chapter. Keep the reviews coming and I'll keep the chapters coming. Again, thanks everyone!