Disclaimer: Characters and settings are property of J.K. Rowling. What you don't recognize is mine. And I wish I owned the Marauders (specifically Sirius and Remus) but most unfortunately, I do not.
X-X-X-X-X
Where were you?" Sirius demanded when James sank into his seat during Charms. Professor Flitwick gave him a reproving look for being late, but mercifully didn't take points off. "I got a detention from Minnie," Sirius added proudly.
"Not exactly something to be proud of, Padfoot," Remus muttered from the table behind them. They turned to face Remus and Peter. "So where were you?" he prompted.
"In the bathroom."
"Through all of lunch?" Peter demanded skeptically.
"Boys, if you don't mind, the notes are to the front…" That was Professor Flitwick, speaking wearily. They all glanced up and grinned cheekily. Somebody sniffed disdainfully from off to the far right; James had a very good idea of who it was. He turned and grinned widely at Lily, who was determinedly staring at the blackboard. He saw her green eyes flick in his direction, and the look of distaste on her face spread a little. Alyssa, sitting next to her, giggled into her hand when James waved at them.
"Mr. Potter…"
"Yes, Professor?"
"Would you mind paying attention while you're in class?"
"Of course not, Professor." James gave him a winning smile.
Professor Flitwick sighed. "Good, good." He turned to the class, his smile now back in place. "Would somebody be so kind as to tell our illustrious trouble-makers what we are to be studying today?" Predictably, Lily's hand shot up, along with several others. "Ah! Miss Evans!"
"The Disillusionment Charm, Professor."
"Correct, correct!" Professor Flitwick clapped his hands. "Now, you've read about it before – it turns you into a Human Chameleon! Very useful, this charm is. Now, the incantation-"
When James was sufficiently certain that Flitwick was no longer paying attention to them, he turned around and said, in a low voice, "I've begun… er… a scientific project."
"Wow," Sirius said softly. James glanced at him. "Scientific. That's a big word. D'you know what it means?" He grinned when James shot him a particularly venomous look.
"Shut up, Padfoot," Remus ordered, and then turned to James with a slightly suspicious look. "Now what's this about some scientific project of yours?"
"Simple, Moony. You see, you told me to observe Lily until I know her better. So… that's what I'm doing."
"I beg your pardon?"
"I'm watching her, and writing down my observations in a di- a notebook!"
Remus's mouth opened and closed several times. He seemed at a loss for what to say. Finally, Peter butted in. "Well, that's nice and all, but what does that have to do with why you were missing lunch?"
James sighed. "I was writing in the notebook, imbecile!"
"For that long?"
"Well… er… no. I was in the bathroom, and… um… Rosier came and thought I was… er… writing in a diary."
Peter's eyebrows rose. "Well, technically, that's what you're doing, isn't it?"
A bit of paper flicked onto the table in front of Remus; all four boys paused and looked down at it. "Maybe it's a bomb," Remus said, smirking, when none of them moved to touch it. James and Sirius peered at him perplexedly. "Muggle humor. Never mind."
Finally, Sirius reached for it and opened it up. Then he broke into a grin. "What? What?" Peter asked, reaching for it, but Sirius snatched it out of his reach.
"PAY ATTENTION! –Lily."
Sirius turned and waved cheekily at Lily, who was giving them a scowl. James reached into his bag and pulled out his red notebook, then dipped his quill into his inkpot and scribbled, "January 4, 1976, 1:17 PM – Subject is big stickler for paying attention in class. Looks very pretty when scowls."
Sirius leaned over and peered at the notebook. "You're mental, you know that?"
"Shut up." James snapped the book shut and slid it back into his bag. Remus was giving him the most peculiar look. "What?"
"When I said 'observe Lily,' that wasn't quite what I meant."
"It works for me."
"But if she ever finds it…"
"Do you honestly think I'm that careless to leave this thing lying around?"
X-X-X-X-X
"Hey! James!" Sirius and James turned as Marlene McKinnon rushed towards them. Sirius gave her a puzzled look.
"Hang on, you don't take Divination with us… aren't you in Arithmancy with Lily, Remus, and Peter?"
"Yes," she said breathlessly, and held out a red notebook. "You left this in the Charms classroom, though, and Lily and I noticed it. We were the last ones leaving…"
James flushed as he took it. "Er… thanks. Did you… er… read it?"
She gave him an appalled look. "Good heavens, no! You don't read another person's diary!"
"It's not a diary," James snapped impatiently. Marlene stared at him. "It's… er… an appointment book?"
"Oh, so you can keep track of which girl you're taking to the Astronomy Tower, and when?" She giggled before James could answer. "Well, I'd best be off to Arithmancy… I'll talk to you all later-"
"Wait!" James called, just as she began to go in the opposite direction. She glanced back at him. "When you found this… er… was Remus there?"
She gave him a strange look. "No, he'd gone ahead with Peter."
James let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God."
She gave him a puzzled look. "You're mental, you know that?"
"Don't worry; I've been telling him that for years," said Sirius with a long-suffering sigh. "In fact, I just told him that this afternoon… but he never seems to get-"
"Come on, Sirius, don't keep the girl from her class." James grabbed his arm and towed him away.
When they were a safe distance away, Sirius grinned and said, "Thought you weren't going to leave it lying around."
"Just shut up."
X-X-X-X-X
"Have fun in Divination?" Lily asked cheerfully as Janine and Alyssa trooped morosely into lunch. "We have a good time in Arithmancy," she added with a smirk.
"You should've dropped it fourth year, like me, and started Muggle Studies," Jen said, pushing her food around her plate.
"Shut up," muttered Alyssa, dropping into a seat. "I swear, if I hear McDougal tell me again that staring into my partner's eyes is going to make me see through the haze surrounding the future, I'll-"
"What are you studying?" interrupted Lily, cutting off what would have been a very long tirade.
"Oh, I don't know. I don't even think it's a method of Divination – I swear McDougal makes it up." Janine studied her nails. "'Look into the eyes of the one across from you… lose yourself in them… free your mind…' Hmph!" She propped her feet up on the spot next to her, not looking at her food. "You know who my partner was? Kenneth Jugson! Like I'm going to get lost in his eyes…"
"Who's Kenneth Jugson?" Perry asked from nearby, his eyes curiously.
"An idiot," Janine groused.
"A Slytherin," Jen added, and Perry nodded, as though that explained everything.
"You're right," he added at Janine. "I don't think losing oneself in the eyes of another is a method of Divination. At least not one that I've heard of."
"Well, that clinches it," Janine muttered moodily. "After all, he knows everything."
"Who did Sirius partner?" Marlene asked.
"James."
At that moment, the subject of their conversation entered with his friends. They dropped into seats further along the table, although both Sirius and James kept sending furtive glances down the table. Remus was raising his eyes to the enchanted ceiling, and Peter was stuffing his face with food.
"Why do they keep looking at us?" Jen asked impatiently.
"That's a stupid question," Marlene replied. "Sirius wants to know if Janine is over her snit, and James is fascinated by Lily like he always is." She turned to Lily. "By the way, couldn't you just go out with him? He'd probably leave us all alone." Lily glowered at her. "Well, come on, be sensible about it."
"She's right," Janine said suddenly. Everyone stared at her. "He hasn't asked you out in weeks, and I have it from a very reliable source that he hasn't dated anybody in weeks, either."
"Who's this reliable source?" Alyssa asked suspiciously.
"Sirius."
"He's reliable?"
"When it comes to James's business and sharing it with the world, he is."
Lily paused for a moment, and then said, "Let me think about it." Her friends exchanged surprised looks, until – "Well, I've thought about it. No."
"Don't be obnoxious, Evans," Janine ordered. "You don't even know James."
"He doesn't know me, and he's convinced he's in love with me." Lily sighed as Janine opened her mouth, and quickly cut her off. "Listen, he… he's arrogant. I can't abide that."
"So?" Jen asked. "Janine is arrogant."
"Well, I can't abide her either, but I can't seem to get rid of her." Janine threw a roll at both Lily and Jen, who dissolved into giggles as they ducked.
"Thanks, guys. It's always nice to know when one is loved." She drummed her fingers on the countertop. "I'm telling you, you just don't know him. And he has changed, the last couple of weeks. Fewer and fewer pranks."
"He saved Snape's life, and he hates Snape," Marlene added. "That's got to count for something."
"He doesn't hex Snape, either. That's mostly Sirius, now…" Alyssa looked thoughtful. "And you know, we knew James when we were kids." She indicated herself, Jen, and Janine. "It's just that he hasn't changed much since then. He's still got a kid's mind."
"Then when he grows up, I'll consider him."
"So if he acts his age, you'll go out with him?" Jen asked.
"I didn't say that. Look," Lily explained hastily, "I'm sure James is – er – a nice guy and all, like you've been saying, but I just don't date guys like him. They're not my type. And if James bothered to get to know me at all, I might have considered it, but he didn't. We spent over three years hating each other, and all of a sudden he decides he's in love with me and asks me out. That doesn't say much to me."
"She has a point," Alyssa mumbled fairly.
"Sure, she does." Janine shrugged. "Listen, he's just… spontaneous. James isn't half as bad as you think he is."
"Fine, I believe you." They all stared at her. "Now, as soon as he proves it to me, I'll consider going out with him."
X-X-X-X-X
"What d'you suppose they're talking about?" James wondered casually.
"Probably nothing to do with us," replied Remus. "Just stop staring, James. And yes, they have noticed." He glanced at Sirius. "You too. She'll come and talk to you when she's good and ready."
"If 'good and ready' doesn't come soon, I'm going off with that seventh-year Ravenclaw from the train," Sirius muttered in response.
"Meredith Watson. She has a name, you know," Remus said mildly, toying with his food. "And if you take that sort of outlook on your relationship, you may as well not bother having one."
"She yells at me a lot, you know," murmured Sirius thoughtfully. They all glanced at him. "Oh, it's not entirely her fault. I yell, too. Like before break, we were arguing about which is better, milk or dark chocolate…"
"That's not much of an argument, Padfoot," James said, grinning. "What was the decision?"
"Well, we never reached one. I kissed her, and she shut up. Although she did try and slap me afterwards, but she wasn't trying very hard, so I know she didn't mean it, but dark chocolate is better."
"I don't get your relationship," Peter mumbled gloomily.
"That makes two of us, Wormtail," added James.
"Three," finished Remus.
Sirius shook his head. "It's not difficult. We're just-"
"I don't want to know, Sirius. I really don't want to know," interrupted Remus, poking at his potatoes. He looked up at James, who was glancing down the table anxiously, raking his hand through his hair. "I told you not to do that," Remus said irritably, then paused and added, "…Didn't I?"
"You might have. I can't remember."
"Of course you can't," Sirius interjected sensibly. "Because everyone tells you not to do it all the time, so how would you know which people have told you and which ones haven't?"
"Did that make sense?"
"Made sense to me."
"That's because you're a bit special, mate," Peter said, waving a spoon in Sirius's direction. "You understand things that the rest of us don't. Like Crumple-Horned Snorkacks, for example."
"Hey!" Sirius looked injured. "There really is one living in the basement of James's mansion, I swear!"
James nodded emphatically. "He's right, you know. I've seen it."
Remus rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me you believe in them, too."
Both Sirius and James managed to look offended. "Believe in them?" Sirius yelped. "They exist, Moony!"
Remus shook his head while Peter busied himself with his food, attempting not to take sides in the age-old argument between Remus and Sirius (although, apparently, James had now joined it).
"Psst – hey!" The four of them glanced up as Jen King leaned over from their end of the table. "Hogsmeade trip on Valentine's Day – pass it on!"
"It's January, Jennie," Sirius told her. "It's too early for Valentine's Day." He cast a mournful look down the table and added, "And anyway, it doesn't look like my date wants to go with me."
"Poor baby," she said, and sniggered. "I'm sure you can find some other girl - cough Meredith Watson cough to help mend your broken heart."
"This broken heart can't be mended," he retorted tragically. "For it is not just broken. It has been stomped on, wrenched, torn to shreds, pierced by the icy tip of her sword-"
"Stop whinging, would you?" Remus interrupted him. "I guarantee, by tomorrow morning, she'll be in a fine mood and your heart will be fixed."
X-X-X-X-X
"Where's Peter? He's going to be late to breakfast," Remus mumbled, hefting his bag higher up on his shoulder. "Sirius, too, don't tell me they're still asleep-"
James coughed, looking at the end of the hall. Sirius was carrying Janine over his shoulder into a nearby classroom, and she was laughing, pounding on his back. Remus blinked as the door slammed shut behind the pair of them.
"Oh. Well, I guess Sirius is going to be late anyway, but at least he's not asleep."
"Ten to one they skip Potions this morning," James offered.
"Probably," Remus said, grabbing James's shirtsleeve. "C'mon. We'll be late for breakfast, and then have to endure waiting until lunch, and I can't stand your moaning all through Potions and Care of Magical Creatures-"
They strode through the doors and flopped into seats at the Gryffindor table, quickly filling up their plates. Just as Peter ran in (shirt untucked, tie not tied, bag slipping off shoulder), the mail arrived. "Post's here," Remus said dully, glancing up. He didn't know why he bothered. There was rarely every anything for him.
James was reading a letter that had arrived with his eagle owl, Maleficium. "From Mum," he explained, passing off the Chocolate Frogs that had arrived with it to Remus and Peter, who eagerly dug into them. "She says to say hello to all of you," he said, folding it up.
"Anything interesting?"
"Nah. Not really."
Most of the owls were flying away, but at that moment, a harassed-looking Barn owl flew in and dropped it in front of James, holding a red envelope in its beak. "A Howler?" he thought, looking startled. "From who?"
"From whom, you mean," Remus mumbled, and then nodded at the envelope, which was now beginning to smoke. "Better open it and get it over with, then."
Looking a slightly green color, James tentatively reached out and slit the envelope open. A pair of furious, male voices erupted, and everyone in the Great Hall swiveled to watch.
"SIRIUS BLACK, YOU KEEP YOUR DIRTY PAWS OFF OUR SISTER!"
"IF YOU EVEN THINK WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU GET AWAY WITH HURTING HER, YOU'RE WRONG!"
"IF WE EVER GET A NOTE HOME FROM HER SAYING YOU'VE BROKEN HER HEART OR HURT HER FEELINGS, WE'LL KILL YOU AND WE PROMISE YOU THAT!"
"DO US ALL A FAVOR AND TOSS YOURSELF IN THE LAKE BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENS TO HER!"
"YOU'VE BEEN WARNED, YOU UNDERSTAND?"
"YOU'D BETTER HOPE WE NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN, BECAUSE IF WE DO, WE'LL BEAT YOU TO A BLOODY PULP! GOT IT?"
"DON'T YOU SMIRK AT THIS HOWLER LIKE THAT, BLACK! WE KNOW YOUR REPUTATION!"
"IF YOU EVEN PUT ONE TOE OUT OF LINE WITH OUR SISTER AND ACT LIKE ANYTHING BUT A PERFECT GENTLEMAN, THEY'LL NEVER FIND YOUR REMAINS!"
"WATCH YOURSELF, BLACK!"
The Howler burst into flames as people burst into laughter. The Barn owl had already taken off. James stared at Remus, who was across from him and stared back.
Finally – "Well," James said, wiping the charred remains of the envelope away, "it's too bad he wasn't here to hear that, isn't it?"
X-X-X-X-X
Time flew by, and talk of the Howler (and the Janine-dating-Sirius-which-meant-he-was-no-longer-available-and-inspired-mass-suicides-among-girls-(kidding) thing) was soon over and forgotten. Everyday, James's notebook filled up with more observations…
January 6, 1976, 9:42 AM –
Subject is very cranky in the morning and has been eating sherbet balls non-stop. Has been seen levitating slightly in classes. Was very angry when offered to help her pick up the quills she had dropped five minutes ago. May be time of the month. Will go ask.
January 6, 1976, 9:46 AM –
Subject has given me black eye. Is definitely time of the month.
…And so on.
The book filled up quickly, despite Sirius's teasing, Remus's tutting, and all the other things that were averse to him writing this down. "You got lucky last time," Remus kept warning him. "How long do you think your luck could possibly last, James?"
James ignored these warnings, however, and continued to write in his diary – "Ahem! It is not a diary, thank you!" - …Right. So anyway…
He continued to write in his di – excuse me, notebook – ("Thank you!") – right down until…
February 8, 1976, 2:12 PM -
Am very angry. Subject has been asked out on Valentine's Day by a certain member of the opposite sex – Andy Cobalt. Me thinks Cobalt is trying to get back at all of us because we are Subject's best friend's friends (a.k.a. Janine's friends) and because she dumped him for Sirius. Am not sure, however.
Gave Cobalt very bad nosebleed. Subject was very angry and gave me nosebleed. Professor M. was very angry. Gave the three of us detention. Also gave Sirius detention for being there, although he didn't do anything. Back to Subject.
Subject does not like Quidditch very much. Got very irked when friends discussed upcoming match against Hufflepuff. Must resolve not to discuss Quidditch much when dating.
"James, what the hell? We've got practice!" Janine threateningly waved her broomstick in his direction, and he jumped aside just in time to miss a swipe from her. "Stop writing in your damned diary and let's go!"
"It's not a diary!"
"Potter, I don't give a shit what it is! Let's GO!"
James ducked another swipe of the broomstick and ran up to his dormitory. Upon entering, he grimaced – it was a wreck. He tossed the book on his bed and began searching for a clean Quidditch jumper. He heard the door open and shouted, "Oy, Sirius! Got a spare jumper?"
"Why, where are yours?" It wasn't Sirius, it was Remus. James pulled his head back from under the bed and looked at his friend, who was loaded down with heavy books. "And put a charm on your glasses, because it's raining."
"Figures," James muttered grouchily, and poked his head back under the bed. "Moony!" he shouted, his voice muffled. "I haven't got a jumper to wear for Quidditch, and if I'm not down in five, Janine will concuss me!"
"Yes, yes, of course. She's just edgy because she's waiting for her copy of Witch Weekly to come in the post."
James muttered something that sounded distinctly like 'girly crap.'
"Yes, I know it is," Remus went on conversationally. "But you have to admit, she's got a right to be excited. She's already made both Sirius and myself swear that we'll pick up our own copies and keep them. You know, the modeling thing?" James started to extract himself from under his bed, dragging something that might have been a jumper, but might not have been. "Look out, by the way. You're going to bump your head." THUMP. "Told you so."
James let out an impressive expletive, his eyes watering as he clutched a ratty blue jumper. He sniffed it, and turned green. "Ugh. Must resolve to let the house-elves do my laundry."
"Here, you can borrow one of mine. It's not a Quidditch one, but it should do all right for the time being." Remus fished a sweater out of his very neat dresser and tossed it to James, who caught it and set about tearing off his school shirt. "Valentine's Day is coming up. Are you going to order roses this year and ask Lily to go out with you on the day of Valentine's Day, just like you do every year?"
"No, I'm going to do something really spectacular," James replied through Remus's jumper. He forced it over his head, knocking his glasses askew.
"Take your glasses off before you change, James," Remus said absently, but he was frowning as James began to hunt for his broomstick. "So what are you planning to do, then?"
"Haven't decided yet," he said thickly, searching under his bed again. When his search proved fruitless, he began to search under Sirius's bed. "Sirius said he'll help me, though."
"Okay, the fact that you wanted to do something 'spectacular' is bad enough. If you get Sirius to help you, she'll never go out with you."
"Nonsense. Look at Sirius – half the girls love him! He must have some good ideas on how to be all romantic and shit."
"First off, if you want Lily to like you, do not say 'romantic and shit.' That's bound to make any girl hate you." Remus paused and said, "So what are Sirius and Janine doing for Valentine's Day?"
"I don't know, shagging under the Whomping Willow, maybe?" James pulled back from Sirius's bed, scowling. "What the hell? Where's my broomstick?"
"Check the bathroom," Remus suggested.
"What?" James demanded, walking towards it. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard, it's not going to be in – oh. Well, then." He stepped out of the bathroom sheepishly, clutching his broomstick. "No idea how it got in there."
"Maybe Sirius used it to scratch his back in the shower," Remus said with a grin.
"Eww, Moony, that is well and truly disgusting. Bad mental image; thanks a lot. Anyway, why are you so interesting in Valentine's Day, haven't you got a – oh. Oh!Sorry, Moony. Alyssa and all that."
Remus shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I'm over her."
"Right." James stared at his friend shrewdly. "So who's she going with?"
Remus gave him a miserable look. "Davy Gudgeon. You know, that Hufflepuff twat who-"
"-Nearly lost his eye to the Whomping Willow, I know. So why don't you ask someone else?"
"I don't know who to."
"How about that fifth-year girl?"
"Joanne Gainsborough? Nah. She's… um… no offense, but a bit too much like Lily."
"Don't like those stubborn birds, eh? But no, I meant the other one. The one who blushes ever since she saw you with your shirt off during that memorable Poker game on the ride back."
"Alexia Walsh?" Remus looked thoughtful. "Yeah, I guess I could."
"There you go! Don't let Comforts see you all mopey and depressed on Valentine's Day – look happy, and she'll know what she's missing and come crawling back to you!"
"Doubtful. Gudgeon gave her a mammoth pearl necklace for Christmas – Marlene told me. Although she said she thinks it's hideous and gaudy, but I think she only said that to make me feel better."
"Y'know, I've been wondering where those pearls she's always wearing came from…" James caught the despondent look on Remus's face and hastily added, "But she's right, they are hideous and I'll bet she only wears them so she doesn't hurt Gudgeon's feelings…"
"You don't have to say that," Remus said with a shrug. "I mean, we started dating when we were fourteen, right? It hardly matters now… it wasn't like we were going to be together forever, I mean nobody sticks around with their school sweetheart forever…" Remus drew himself up, looking determined. "I'm really not going to let this get to me. I'm going to go ask Alexia to go with me to Hogsmeade right now." He glanced at James. "You'd better get to practice. And James?"
James was already halfway out the door, having grabbed his shin guards on the way. "Hmm?"
"…Don't embarrass Lily too much on Valentine's Day, okay?" James grinned and loped out the door.
Remus started to lay his books out on his bed, and paused. "Bugger. He forgot the water-repelling charm…"
X-X-X-X-X
James swiped irritably at his glasses. "This is ridiculous!" he snapped at Damien Garnet, who was fiercely beating a Bludger in Sirius's direction. "I can't see a bloody thing!"
"Then put a charm on your glasses, idiot!" Janine howled against the wind, flying by. "The match is tomorrow and we have to be ready!"
James glowered after her. "Oh, thanks a lot," he grumbled. "If I knew what the charm was, don't you think I'd already have put it on?"
"Impervius." James swiveled around and found himself face to face with Jen King, who had her wand pointed at him. He was already finding it easier to see.
"Hey, thanks."
"No problem." She smiled. "So you going to send roses to Lily this year? Because I remember last year's spectacle, where she threw them out the window, declaring for all the world to hear that she hated you…"
"Thanks for reminding me," he grumbled, making a face. "No, seriously. I'm going to do something really great this year. She'll love it, I guarantee."
"Potter, King, you two are not on the team to bloody sit and chat all day." Damien Garnet was bearing down on them, glowering. Then he sighed wearily and waved his Beater's bat, shouting, "All right, that's good 'nuff for today! Let's turn in, team!"
Exhausted and dripping wet, the Gryffindor team trooped into the locker room. Damien sat on a bench, running a hand through his sopping hair. "Good practice – although a little more focus wouldn't hurt…" He glowered at James here, who glowered back. "We should be all right for the Hufflepuff match – not that it was ever going to be difficult to begin with… but Ravenclaw's going to be really strong this year, so I wanted to start practicing for that one early, and-"
"Don't be a twit," Janine interrupted, peeling off her jumper to reveal a soaked sports bra. By now, everyone was far too used to this to bother averting her eyes. She headed for the showers after tossing her jumper on the ground, adding, "The match isn't until June. We have plenty of time." Within two minutes, they all heard a shower running. Damien rolled his eyes.
"Anyway, good job, all of you. All right, so I figure after the game tomorrow, we'll take a week or two off, and then we're going to start again, and I really want to get going on those Reverse passes, and-"
"Damien, we really don't need to hear the whole season's training schedule," Cassie interrupted, wringing her hair out, creating a puddle on the floor. "Let's just concentrate on the upcoming match, and damn all the rest until it's over, all right?"
There were murmurs of agreement. Damien sighed. "I'm the only one who's really serious about this," he moaned mournfully, and then disappeared into the captain's office. Sirius glanced at his best friend.
"Did you see him hit all those Bludgers at me? You'd think I was a Slytherin, or something."
"Yeah, well, he's just tetchy about Janine," Jen said, standing up and stretching. "You know, I think I'll go take a shower upstairs. I'll see you all later." She waved casually, and the rest of the team dispersed.
X-X-X-X-X
"And here comes the Gryffindor team!" The wind whipped Alyssa's words away again, but thankfully, it wasn't raining, although there were distinct rolls of thunder to be heard. "Widely known as the best team to ever pass through Hogwarts, we have Beater and Captain Garnet, Beater Black, Chaser Garnet, Chaser Potter, Chaser Rennet, Keeper King, and Seeker Barrington. Now on the Hufflepuff side-"
"I can barely hear her," Lily said, straining to catch her friend's words.
"Ah, so what? We're not out here to listen to the commentary, we want to watch the match – geez, it's a good thing that snow let up a few weeks back-"
"The rain melted most of it, anyway," came a voice behind them. They turned, to see Alexia Walsh and Joanne Gainsborough settling in behind them. "Hi," Alexia added. "D'you mind if we sit here?"
"No, it gives us someone to talk to during the match," Lily said with a smile. "I haven't talk to the pair of you in a while – so how are you?"
"Oh, great!" Alexia's face was flushed. "Remus Lupin asked me out for Valentine's Day!"
Lily and Marlene exchanged looks – neither Jen nor Alyssa would be thrilled about that. "Well, er – that's good," said Marlene finally, with an encouraging smile. "Yeah. Good."
"I know – I'm so excited!" She calmed down a bit, adding, "I mean, it's only one date, but still – he's so cute, don't you think?"
"Oh – er, yeah, cute," Lily said, while Marlene covered a cough that sounded suspiciously like 'obsessed.' Lily trod on her foot, hard. "Be nice," she hissed in a low tone, and turned to Jo. "So what about you? Are you going with someone?"
Joanne shrugged. "Greg Martine, from Ravenclaw. We've been going steady for a few months, although I think we're starting to get bored – one last Valentine's Day, and I imagine that's it for us. I heard you're going with Andy Cobalt, though," she added in Lily's direction.
"That's the plan, yeah. But I'm a bit worried about James Potter – you know what an awful prat he can be-"
"Yes, well, no wonder." Jo looked irritable. "After all, he's such good friends with her, isn't he?" Lily was mystified for a few moments, trying to figure out who 'her' was, and then it clicked.
"You really haven't forgiven her for that? Really, Janine's just a bit… er… well…"
"Contemptuous of anyone beneath her," Jo supplied. "That's all right. I suppose, if I had all that money and those clothes and Sirius Black, I'd act like that too."
"I don't know why girls go after him," Lily said with a shrug. "I mean, I suppose he's funny – well, he's good-looking, too – all right, he's smart – and I suppose he's good at Quidditch, although I don't know why that should mean anything, and – well, he's a bit of a flirt, don't you think? And he's a commitment-phobe."
"Male slut is what you're going for, actually," Marlene said with a smirk, and Lily smacked her.
"Don't be mean!"
"Don't kill the messenger, Lily!" Marlene held up her hands, still smirking. "I speak the truth."
"She does," Jo agreed. "But that doesn't stop him from being-"
"Sexy as hell," Marlene supplied with a grin.
"Who?" Alexia had finally re-entered the conversation. "Remus?"
The three other girls groaned. Jo seemed about to reply, when a sharp whistle was blown. They all turned to see fourteen people on broomsticks rise, just as the Quaffle was thrown up into the air. Janine seized it.
X-X-X-X-X
"James!" Janine hollered at the top of her lungs. James nodded as he sped past her, and she threw it with all her strength at him. Doing a roll, he caught it while upside down, flashing her a grin. She rolled her eyes. Show-off.
She swerved to avoid a Bludger, swooping below Benedict, who now had the Quaffle, he pulled his arm back to launch it in the direction of the hoops, and then dropped it. She caught it and threw it through the left hoop.
"10-ZIP! GRYFFINDOR SCORES!"
Grinning, Janine flew by the Gryffindor stands, giving them all a thumbs-up. There were whistles and cheers, although she could see Lily distinctly roll her eyes. Janine flashed her a wide grin and then did a loop around Brooke Myers, a Hufflepuff Chaser.
X-X-X-X-X
"This is so bad," Marlene groaned. "The Slytherin match was so much more interesting."
"Really? Because I sort of remember you saying somewhere that you wanted to take a nap during it…"
"C'mon, look at the score! It's 90-40. Who the hell do you think is going to win?"
"I s'pose s- oh! Oh, look, Cassie's going into a dive!" Lily and Marlene both leapt to their feet, Alexia and Jo only a moment behind, all four of them screaming for the fourth-year to fly faster – not that it mattered. She was miles ahead of the Hufflepuff Seeker anyway.
"AND SHE CATCHES THE SNITCH! Well, that was a rather pathetic match by Hufflepuff – yes, I'm sorry, Professor, I didn't mean it, no, give me the megaphone back…!" Her voice was steadily trailing away as McGonagall tugged the megaphone away. Not that it would have mattered. It was hard to hear over all the laughter.
"C'mon, let's go down to the field and congratulate them!" Marlene cried, already leaping up and hurrying down the stairs. The others followed her.
The moment they were on the field, Marlene and Lily launched themselves at Janine and Jen, hugging them fiercely. James and Sirius were cheering loudly, hoisting Cassie onto their shoulders. "Only one more to go!" Janine whooped.
Alexia rushed over and offered her congratulations to Janine and Jen, both of whom accepted it the way they always did – with smirks and, "Yeah, we are great, aren't we?" And then Janine found herself face to face with Jo.
It was a tense moment. Jo broke the silence first, saying stiffly, "Well. Nice match." Both seemed unaware that everyone – even James, Sirius, and Cassie – had turned to watch.
Janine did seem to realize this after a moment, and offered a genuine smile. "Yeah, thanks. It was pretty good." There was still a tense silence, however, and she added, "Of course, with all the support from our Gryffindors, how could we not win?" And they group erupted into cheers again.
Sirius grabbed Janine, kissing her soundly, pulling back and shouting out, "And that's the prize for the best Chaser!" James snorted.
"Ugh, Padfoot, I don't swing that way," he said, pretending to fend his friend off. Sirius smirked and grabbed James around the next, dropping a loud kiss with a smacking noise onto his cheek. Everyone erupted into laughter.
"PARTY IN THE COMMON ROOM!" Jen shouted loudly. "LAST ONE THERE IS A NINCOMPOOP!"
And they all ran for it.
X-X-X-X-X
"Great, wasn't it?" Janine said, holding up a Butterbeer as if toasting herself. "I can't help but wonder how those two get all this stuff every time, you know," she added thoughtfully.
"Chances are, we don't want to know," replied Lily, holding up her own Butterbeer bottle and clinking it again Janine's. "I'm proud of you, though. You were nice to Jo."
She shrugged. "Couldn't have a full-scale fight erupting on the pitch right after the win, could we? I don't think she likes me much, though."
"That's because you can be a right little bitch when you want to be," interjected Sirius, pushing Lily out of the way as he swung an arm around Janine. "But it all adds to your deliciousness."
"Oh, that's a great way to romance a girl," Lily drawled. "Deliciousness? What sort of word is that?"
"Hey, Evans, you get the opposite sex your way, I get them my way." He grinned at her. "But no getting drunk this time, all right, Evans?" Lily flushed, remembering what had happened at the last Gryffindor party. Then she remembered what had happened after it, and, apparently, so did Sirius, because his grin faded. "Um… let's not talk about that," he suggested hastily.
"Fair enough," said Janine, knocking back a long swig of Butterbeer. Her eyes roved over the partying Gryffindors. "So tell me. How d'you get all this stuff?"
"What can I say? Madam Rosie loves me so much that she sends me food periodically." Sirius sighed dramatically. "'Tis a pity, though, for our sordid affair must be kept in secrecy, for your poor heart, else you'd be desolate if I left you for another woman…"
"No, not really. Did you know that Benedict asked me out after the match this afternoon?"
"You said no, I presume."
"I told him I'd think about it." Sirius gaped at her as she waved across the room to Benedict Rennet, who waved back. "Seeing as no one else has asked me…"
"Hey! What about me?"
"You didn't ask, idiot!" Janine grinned at him, but Sirius actually looked irritated.
"It's a given!"
"It's not a bloody given, Sirius!" Janine looked annoyed now. "No girl likes to be taken for granted!"
"I'm not taking you for granted! I just assumed, seeing as we're, you know, DATING, and all, that we'd be going together!"
"Well, next time, don't assume things!" Lily carefully began to edge away, heading for where Marlene, Fabian, Jen, and Alyssa were all listening to the ensuing argument very carefully.
"Blimey, they do argue a lot, don't they?" said Fabian wonderingly. He grinned at Marlene. "Not like us."
"No, not like us," agreed Marlene. "But tell me, do you miss her?"
"She's a nice girl, but she's too high-maintenance. But if Black can handle that, more power to him." Fabian glanced back at the pair – they were storming off in different directions. "My bet is they'll have made up by the time this party is over."
"Probably," agreed Lily, shrugging. She watched Janine throw herself into a chair and snap moodily at Peter when he seemed to offer her a pumpkin pasty. "Or maybe not," she added after a pause.
X-X-X-X-X
"…Bloody insane!" Sirius threw his arms up in the air. "Women! I tell you, Moony, you're lucky you're not attached to a girl anymore!"
Remus picked up an empty Butterbeer bottle, wrinkling his nose, and said, "Well, I did ask Alexia Walsh to Hogsmeade."
"Moony! You have to spend the day with me, or I'll be all alone!"
"Why? She didn't say yes to Benedict, you know. She only said she'd think about it."
"Honestly, you're awfully stupid," Peter said sleepily, helping James put the couch upright (a group of overenthusiastic fourth years had toppled it over). "She's trying to make you ask her out properly. She doesn't have any intention of going with Rennet, you know."
"How would you know?" Sirius demanded rudely, just as James interjected suddenly, "That's stupid. Why couldn't she just come out and say that she wanted Sirius to ask her properly?"
"Well, let's see," replied Remus, pretending to look thoughtful. "I believe her exact words were, 'It's not a bloody given, Sirius; no girl likes to be taken for granted,' and then she said, 'Next time, don't assume things.' It doesn't get all that much clearer than that." He tossed another bottle into his trash bag. "Explain to me. Why do we have to clean up, and why is nobody else helping?"
"Because everyone else is lazy, and we're good souls," James replied smartly. There was a snort from the direction of the stairs. They glanced up to see Lily, in her dressing gown, hair pinned up, wearing a frown.
"It's nice to see you boys doing something useful." She gave Sirius a mildly disdainful look. "Janine also asked me to pass along a message."
Sirius looked as though he weren't sure whether or not this was a good thing. "Yeah? What's that?"
"She said, 'wank off, jerk.' And I quote."
Sirius's shoulders slumped, although he looked mutinous. "Fine. I'll just go with someone else to Hogsmeade, then."
"Will you? Try actually asking them, then. I'll let Janine know. She can go with Benedict." She turned to James, frowning. "And I highly doubt that there are many lazier than you." She walked back into her dorm.
Sirius glanced casually at James. "What? No entries for the diary? You usually have something to write after every confrontation with her."
"It's not a diary!" James chucked a bottle at Sirius, who ducked. The bottle shattered against a portrait, which yelled, "Watch it, buddy!"
"James, this diary nonsense has gone on long enough," Remus said sternly, straightening up. "You really need to take up a hobby."
"He has lots of hobbies," pointed out Sirius. "Quidditch, stalking Evans, Transfiguration, stalking Evans, pranking Snivellus, stalking Evans…"
"You've said 'stalking Evans' three times already, Padfoot," interjected Peter.
"Well, it's his main hobby, isn't it?"
"I don't stalk her," James said irritably.
"You're right, you don't. In fifth year you used to follow her to every class and-"
"Padfoot, in fifth year, we all took the exact same classes!"
Pause. "Not true. You take Divinination and Muggle Studies, and she takes Arithmancy and Ancient Runes."
"I was waiting for Remus!"
"Which is why you waited long after Remus had gone past until she came out of the room so you could ask her out, right?"
James ignored that and said, "So anyway. Valentine's Day is really soon… about our… 'thing'…"
"Right, right," Sirius said, and he straightened up. "It should be good, actually. I can just see Evans swooning after your amazing declaration of love in front of all of-"
"Shut up; you'll ruin the surprise!" Sirius closed his mouth and guiltily looked at his trash bag. James carefully avoided Remus's shrewd looks. "What?" he finally demanded, exasperated.
"I just want to know what you're going to do at Hogsmeade, that's all. So I can warn you ahead of time that it's stupid."
"Well, since you already know it's stupid, and you've told me so, I consider myself warned ahead of time. Can we drop the subject now?"
"James, she's not going to like you any more if you embarrass her in front of a lot of people."
"What I'm doing isn't embarrassing!" James retorted hotly. "It's sweet!" He paused. "Merlin, did I actually say 'sweet'?"
"Yes," affirmed Sirius. "I may have to kill you. We can't have you saying things like 'sweet.' It's an insult to masculinity."
"Don't be silly, I've heard girls say they like a sensitive fellow," Peter said cheerfully, waving his wand. The banner lining the wall above the fireplace flew across the room and fell into a heap. He frowned.
Remus took out his own wand and muttered something, and the banner neatly folded itself. Peter gave it an offended look. "You were waving your wand about, Wormtail," Remus explained. "It's more of a flick."
"Oh." Peter tried it on another banner. This seemed to work better; it sort of flew over itself into a messy fold.
"Better. Keep practicing, Peter."
"So anyway," Sirius continued, "who should I ask to Valentine's Day? Now that Janine's decided not to go with me, and all."
"I firmly believe that the best way to resolve this little matter is to go up to her and ask her to Hogsmeade formally, in front of lots of people, Sirius." Remus was frowning. "It'll please her, and it'll show that she matters more than the rest. You've always assumed that your flavor of the week is going to go with you. The thing is," he continued wisely, "she's a bit more than a flavor of the week, seeing as you've been dating since early December, or something like that."
"We have our on and off stages. Right now, I think we're off." He shrugged. "I think she hooked up with some Ravenclaw back at the end of January, but I can't remember."
"Doesn't matter. She's still your girlfriend. So you had a fight. Everyone has fights." Remus shrugged. "But you do what you want. Far be it from me to tell you what to do…"
"Exactly. Don't tell me what to do." Sirius shrugged. "I'll just have to go and size up every girl tomorrow, and then ask one…"
X-X-X-X-X
But Sirius didn't get to do that.
Mostly because every girl in all of Hogwarts was fawning over Witch Weekly and was too occupied to pay attention to one Mr. Sirius "Padfoot" O. Black.
"Oh my gosh, did you see those gorgeous pink dresses? I've got to get over there-"
"Can you believe it? All Gryffindor girls, too! They're so lucky-"
"There's an ad, too, asking for models – I swear, I'm going to send in my application right now-"
"Oh my god, they're practically famous – they must have guys all over them-"
"And they look so gorgeous in those dresses – and Janine in that green one-"
"Did you see the peach one Lily was wearing? I want that outfit-"
"That white one, with Marlene? She looked so good – I'm going to get a haircut like hers in Hogsmeade next week-"
"Forget the white one, did you see the red? That color is stunning-"
And so the conversations wore on…
But that wasn't the half of it.
"Hey, Lily, will you go to Hogsmeade with me?"
"Janine, you looked fantastic in Witch Weekly – by the way, are you busy this Saturday?"
"Hey, Alyssa… got a date for Valentine's?"
"You know, Jen, if I could rearrange the letters of the alphabet, I'd put U and I together…"
"Are you going to Hogsmeade this Saturday, Marlene?"
"Hey, Lily, wait up…"
"Janine, got a sec…?"
"Alyssa, can I have a word?"
"Let me walk you to class, Jen…"
"Need some help with your books, Marlene?"
"Lily…"
"Janine…"
"Alyssa…"
"Jen…"
"Marlene…"
And so on.
Needless to say, the four Marauders – well, actually, it was only three, because Peter didn't seem to mind it so much – were in a very bad mood by the time classes were over. "I swear to God," Sirius groused, "if I hear one more arse ask if Janine and I have really broken up and if she's available to go to Hogsmeade with him, I'm going to be dealing out some serious hurt. No pun intended."
"Merlin, it's like they came out of nowhere," Remus mumbled. "Alyssa's had so many offers – and it's like all these fellows are intent on rubbing it in my face that I've lost my chance…"
"The next person who asks Lily out dies," finished James angrily.
"I don't understand why you care," Peter cheerfully said, reaching for James's plate of untouched food (having already finished his own). "I mean, it's not like any of you were going with any of them." He kicked Sirius under the table. "Anyway, rumor has it that Janine's still available. I bet you ten galleons if you asked her, she'd say yes."
"Yeah, right. She'll tell me what she told the others – 'I'll think about it' – or she'll say no. Have you seen the way she's been gloating at me all day? She's still mad."
"You're acting like some lovesick puppy," James snapped testily. "Just go ask her out, dammit!"
Sirius glowered at him. "You're in a crappy mood," he snapped back. "Why don't you just go ask Evans out? Scared you'll get rejected for the millionth time? At least I have a chance with my girl!"
"She's not your girl anymore," Remus pointed out moodily. He turned to James. "Not that Lily's your girl, either, or that she ever was. And I wouldn't advise asking her out. It'll make her angry."
As if on cue, the five girls trooped in, all bright-eyed and flushed after class. Lily looks pretty… I wonder if she said yes to any of her admirers?
"Are you planning on spending Valentine's Day by yourself, or are you actually going to say yes to one of your little fan club?" Marlene asked Janine, grinning.
"Oh, do shut up. And anyway, it's not like you haven't got your own fan club…"
"I never really imagined that that silly little modeling job for Auntie Cecilia would have gotten this much of a response," Alyssa said with a grin. "It's like we're goddesses."
"I like the attention," Jen said with a smirk.
"I don't. It's horribly annoying – I've been late to three classes today, and McGonagall already yelled at me. Even though it wasn't my fault." Lily sighed, flicking a strand of red hair from her face as she sat at the table. The others followed her example.
"Well, you've been polite to all the boys so far," said Alyssa encouragingly. "Turning them down nicely; that's you."
"I've already said yes to Andy Cobalt."
"I think James may have scared him off," Janine said, waving her fork. "And anyway, I don't think I'll go to Hogsmeade on Saturday." Her friends stared at her. "I mean, it's just a silly Hogsmeade trip. There'll be more."
Her friends were still staring at her with shocked expressions.
"I'm going to just hang about and do my homework, I think." She pushed her plate away. "Anyway, Cetearyl assigned us that essay, and I'm going to go do it now. I'm not that hungry." She picked up her bag and strode out.
"Blimey," Marlene finally said. "Either somebody's taken Polyjuice potion, turned into her, and tied the real Janine up in a closet, or Janine is really depressed about Sirius."
"Um, Lily…?" The four remaining girls turned to see a shy Hufflepuff fifth year standing there. "I know you've been getting this all day, but are you busy for Valentine's Day…?"
"Oh, I'm sorry." Lily plastered a smile on her face, albeit a fairly fake one. This was getting out of hand. "But I'm going with Andy Cobalt. It's sweet of you to ask, though." He nodded, mumbling something incoherent, and slunk away. Lily shook her head, partly irritated, partly bemused, and returned to her conversation with her friends, blissfully unaware that James Potter, further down the table, was staring wrathfully at the shy Hufflepuff.
She was also unaware that someone, far, far away, was paying closer attention to the magazine ad than anyone at Hogwarts…
X-X-X-X-X
A/N: There you have it… Chapter 19. Uber-long, huh? I know the Quidditch match was a pitiful example of my writing, but this chapter is damned long enough, as far as I'm concerned. Now, a few important notes…
Note #1 – Uh, I don't know if you'd consider that a cliffie, but if it is, I'm sorry. But you'll find out why the modeling thing was so important next chapter…
Note #2 – Yes, I hate to say it, but school has started for me. Just last Tuesday, the 30th. It sucks. Believe me, I know. It doesn't just suck, it royally BLOWS. But the thing is, I'm stuck with it. And this year is proving to be far harder than last year. You know what that means, right? Less time to write. Never fear, I won't give up. Updates will just be slow… REALLY slow.
Note #3 – I'm a little pissed off, actually, but not at you guys. At myself. This story is starting to annoy me – it's not sticking true to the way I wanted it to be. James is becoming less prat-ish chapter by chapter (with the obvious exception of the diary-thing) and Lily is turning into a right little bitch, and this story is becoming more and more about Janine and Sirius than it is about Lily and James. I'm going to try to change that from now on. I don't want Lily to be a bitch, so I'm going to attempt to come up with an explanation for why she's the way she is. The thing is, I haven't written the first five years of their Hogwarts or, more importantly, the first four, the ones where Lily's loathing of James is more or less returned. Old habits die hard, and James is still as much of an arrogant prick as he always was. I don't know how to go back and fix the earlier chapters and make him the way I wanted him to be… I mean, it's not like I literally CAN'T, it's more like I can't figure out how to change the storyline without completely rewriting the chapters. Moreover, I'm especially unhappy with the Whomping Willow incident… I'm not sure I should have put James there when Sirius told Snape about the Whomping Willow. The thing is, with the way James is, it FELT right at the time. Now I'm not so sure. Anyway, I'm going to try and make it seem like James really hasn't changed as much as we'd all like to think he has… he's as much of a prat as he ever was, it's just that we don't see too many incidents of it anymore. I'm going to try and bring the story more back to Lily and James from now on… but I can't say whether or not I'll succeed. Wish me luck.
Note #4 – This is a happier note. Major props to Nikki and Lizzabeth Turner, my betas. I 3 you guys! You guys rock my sox! Muah! 3
Note #5 – REVIEWERS! Oh my gosh, thanks to ALL of you! Here goes – this is going to be long, so just scroll down and find your name…
Pokie4389 – Thanks for reviewing; I'm glad you liked the chapter! I thought it sucked, but hey, there you go… I'll update ASAP, but I can't promise when that will be…
MWPP Fanatic – Yeah, I totally think Remus deserves a girlfriend. It's about time, don't you think? Too bad Alexia's just a LITTLE obsessed… yeah, Regulus is a little berk. But I can't help it, his character is going to be fun to develop, especially since we know next to NOTHING about him… as for James's manliness… yes, it IS at stake. He must find some way to salvage it. Unfortunately for him, his manliness will be brought into question again next chapter… but I'm not saying anymore about it!
cilverblood – Thanks for reviewing! Yeah, I know Lily's been a bit of a bitch as of late. I REALLY have got to change that. I'm going to start writing more chapters that focus more on Lily, so we can see why she's that way… and don't worry about the Sirius/Lily pairing. It was a one time thing, and it's over. Never going to happen. Never ever ever. LJ Forever!
TigerLily – I'm really glad you thought the chapter was funny! I'll update ASAP…
Admiral Lily – OMG, that was like my favorite line too! I had so much fun writing that part! And yeah, I'm feeling way better… thanks!
alenchic – Thanks for the review – I'll update so long as you keep reviewing!
Spikora – I'm thrilled that you thought the chapter was funny! I was worried about that… except for the parts from James's diary. I was like, SOMEBODY'S got to think that's funny, after the great time I had writing it… keep on reading, I'll keep updating!
Invisible2u – How dare you take my Snape plushie! …No, I'm just kidding. Take it, go ahead. I'm glad that somebody in the world agrees with me – fun is a TOTAL priority! Now all I've got to do is convince my teachers and parents of the same…
californiagurl – Hmm… I never thought of her friends as pushy… interesting. I'll have to take that into account when I write the next chapter. Thanks for pointing it out to me, I'd never have noticed otherwise!
AnG3L1c diVa-chan – I'm going as fast as I can – I'm sorry it took so long! I hope you liked this chapter, too!
Jessie xxx – It's always way cool to hear from one of my most faithful reviewers :D – Glad you're still with us, and I'll get the next update out ASAP!
Dreammergurl2007 – Another faithful reviewer, yeah! I'm sorry if you've been freaking out… I'm trying my best, I swear! Oh my gosh, I feel your pain… going to school on MONDAY… I know classes only started Tuesday for me, but I had to be in school for REGISTRATION… it was awful… kudos to the pair of us who have to go to school a week earlier than almost everyone else! Keep reviewing, 'kay? And good luck with school!
Granger-gurl-rox – Hmm… James having Lily's picture pinned up… good idea! I'm going to keep that in mind! Thanks! And as for Lily finding James's diary… definitely! I can't wait to write her reaction! And I hope you like the Valentine's treat, which is coming in the next chapter…
Hollow Headed Hamster – yeah, no worries about James writing in his diary. Even with all of Remus's warnings, our favorite Marauder (well, I don't know if I can say that, 'cause I love Remus and Sirius too) IS a stubborn ass, and we all know he's not going to listen. Hopefully, they'll keep getting funnier as we go along, right?
Oliverwoodschic – You know, I never got the chance to tell you this, but I LOVE your pen name. It's so perfect! Anyway, yes, I agree, Sirius and Janine need a snog scene… unfortunately, this is not the end of all their problems… drama, drama, drama! I can't help but write it! All my friends at school are like, 'you're such a drama queen,' and it's like, 'I know, it's awful,' but for once it's coming in handy writing all these scenes! As for Janine's other brothers… well, Perry's not going to get over-protective, seeing as he must have known about it all along, right? I mean, he does know everything… :D… anyway, seeing as her other brothers are out of school, it was kinda hard to find some way for them to be overprotective, and then I was like, dude, a HOWLER! And so there we have it. And just as an added bonus, because you're a great reviewer, I'll tell you a secret… I was gonna give Janine a twin brother, too, but then I was like, hang on, it's like, the four marauders Janine's brother, and then I was like, he could be in a DIFFERENT house, but then I was like, no, that's not going to work… so he got cut out. :( …But his name was Ben, if you want to know. Anyway… I'll update ASAP! (Wow, that was a long response to a review, huh?)
Horny-Cotter – Glad to hear you're sticking with me 'til the end! Because this fic is definitely going to go on 'til the end, and then some!
Nebulia – nice to know my story's a fav! Keep reading, k?
Katmiester – You're totally right – it is our duty to torture our leading characters! As for Lily finding the diary… well, of course! I mean, what would be the point of James keeping a diary if Lily never FINDS it? And I promise, you're going to LOVE her reaction… I'm glad you thought the chapter wasn't a waste of space… because I spent forever one it and then I was like, "oh my gosh, what if it sucks and they all hate it?" It's nice to know you guys don't!
lilynjamesAAF – I'm glad you like this chapter (and the whole story, too), and I'm waiting for your next review!
SwTnDrEaMyPnAy03 – I know, 18 chapter's and Lily's still being stubborn and bitchy about James… but there really ARE reasons for it… but anyway, they'll get together in the end, right? And I hope you like my DHr story, for all that it hasn't been updated in, like, FOREVER…
YamiClara – I'm updating as fast as I can, I swear! Keep reading, okay?
SparkyPandas – I know you reviewed Chapter 12, so I hope you got this far! Yeah, I found out about that Ron-prefect thing after I wrote those chapters and all… but thanks for telling me anyway! I know, I'm so sick of the sixth year too. I've got all these great ideas for seventh year, but I can't WRITE any of them because we're not even through the sixth! But I hope I can speed up the rest of the year now so I can get to the REALLY fun part of the story…
WoW-Girl – Glad you're likin' the story! Keep reading it, okay?
BeCkY6 - :-) to you too! I hope you like the story!
Raven – You have no idea how thrilled I am that you're loving this fic! I'll update ASAP, okay?
Libby Bird – Glad to have you with us, and I hope you make it all the way up to this chapter!
milky way bar – Glad you liked the chapter! Okay, now on to why Janine was so mean to Jo… I was actually hoping this question would come up, so I'd have a chance to explain it. See, the thing about Janine is, she's a pureblood, and not only that, she's the only girl in a family of five kids, right? Not to mention her dad totally dotes on her, and, well, let's face it, she's pretty and she's rich. So she's really used to people liking her, and as a result, she's sort of a snob. Think female James, but a bit snobbier and more stuck-up. She considers Jo beneath her, just like Jo says in this chapter. And – this is giving you a HUGE hint for what's to come – I don't know if you've ever read those Archie comics, but think of Janine as a sort of Veronica, and Jo as a sort of Betty! Except that Janine can be a great person, but as far as she's concerned, Jo's just an annoying little fifth year. I didn't want Janine to become a Mary Sue, and I have the sneaking suspicious that she was kinda turning into one… I mean, she's smart, dating the sexiest guy in the school, is pretty, and is rich… I had to give her SOME faults, right? Anyway, I hope that answers your question…
DobbyGrl – I'm glad you're liking this story! Read on!
Padfootz – I LOVE your name! It's so cool! And I'm glad you're liking the story – aww, thanks for telling me I'm talented, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside… just like Padfoot! Sorry, couldn't resist. Anyway, read and review on!
Celina K2 – Welcome to the fic! I'm so totally thrilled that you found this story, even by accident… and I'm even more thrilled that you're loving it! And don't worry, I will NOT abandon this story! As for getting Snape a girlfriend… I can't promise you that one, but we'll see. And yes, Lily does need to lighten up. Like everyone's been saying… she's been a bit of a bitch as of late. I'm working on that aspect of her character… thanks for the review!
Shadowrayne – Thanks for the review! I know, I wish I could update faster, but school is taking up SOOOO much time… I'm trying my best, really! I'll try and pump the updates out faster, though, by writing a whole lot more on the weekend if at all possible…
LILYANNEASHLEYPOTTER – Hey, thanks for the review! I'm glad you love the fic – if you've gotten here by now, you know who the guy is, and I hope you're pleased with the choice. Keep reading!
Wow… 32 Reviewers! (I think, I suck at math and counting…) Thanks so much, guys, I love you all! I know it seems like I was just saying the same things over again, but I swear, it was all totally sincere – I absolute ADORE you guys for all these reviews! More reviews make me happy, and happy people write, right? So review and I'll keep writing! Love you all XOXO
Note #6 – Last thing, I think. UPCOMING IN THE NEXT CHAPTER – Valentine's Day fiasco, we find a very introspective Lily and learn why she's been such a bitch lately, we get to see more of James's prat-ish-ness, Andy Cobalt gets tied to a lamppost in Hogsmeade (guess who did THAT), we do some delving into the past to get a bigger picture on our nine favorite Gryffindors, and we learn exactly WHO is so interested in our five Gryffindor girls and why he/she has been looking at their modeling pics! (Of course, this is assuming I can fit in everything I want to, which I hope I can…) Be on the lookout for the next update, guys!
Signing off for now… Peaches