AN: This will probably just be a one-shot. I absolutely couldn't help myself, after reading all the JL I could. I actually started five JL fics (so far), and this is the one that I think is most postable, even though it's all rather confused…so, tell me if I should leave it up or delete it.
Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, that character would not have died until book seven, if at all. It happened, ergo, HP is not mine, nor are any of the characters in this fic.
"Lily, can we ask you a question?"
Lily turned to look at her friend Remus, with his friend Sirius Black beside him. The common room was otherwise empty, not unusual for an evening when the Head Girl was in a temper.
"What is it?" she asked wearily, hoping it was a question about their homework.
No such luck. "Why do you treat James the way you do?"
She raised one eyebrow, somewhat annoyed. "Did he put you up to this?"
They exchanged serious glances. "No," Remus answered slowly. "And he won't hear about this from us, either. So will you answer the question?"
She sighed and set aside her textbook. In truth, it might feel good to let it out. "Are you sure you want to hear this? Well, then, he's arrogant. He cares about nobody but himself. He expects people to fall at his feet in worship when he passes by. He hexes people when he's in a foul mood. He never has to work for his classes like the rest of us. The teachers love him even though he's a trouble-maker. He takes all praise and admiration like it's his due. I doubt he's ever had to struggle for anything in his life. He treats life like a joke. He's disrespectful. He plays with people's hearts. He disregards the rules and the fact that there're there for a reason. And I just find it so unfair that I have to work twice as hard to prove myself, because I'm muggleborn and he's a pureblood. People expect him to succeed and me to fail, even though I've worked harder! And I hate that I worked so hard to become Head Girl and then he just got Head Boy handed to him like so much else!"
"Do you think that's his fault? Or that he's any happier about that than you?" Remus asked steadily.
"What do you mean?" she asked, taken aback.
"Once he got over his shock, he came to me. And he told me it should have been mine. He apologized and said he'd write to Dumbledore. He honestly felt that the badge should be rights have gone to me. I told him to keep it, because he's a natural leader and the students will listen to him."
"But he's a terrible role model!"
"And he also knows most of the ways to break the rules, so no one's going to be able to get away with much," Sirius pointed out. "And he's resolved to take the post seriously, if you hadn't noticed."
The two of them took a seat across from her. "Alright, let's address these points one by one," Remus said reasonably. Sirius nodded, looking not at all as he usually did.
"You said he's arrogant. Well, that's partly true, but it's half his fault and half others. The way the students treat him—excepting your fair and lovely self—did give him something of an ego," Sirius explained. "Coming to Hogwarts and suddenly being loved can do that to you, with no one to teach you better."
Lily raised an eyebrow again. "Does that apply to you as well, Mr. Black?"
Remus chuckled. "It does. Now, as for him not caring about others…both of us can attest to the falsity of that. He has risked everything for me on a regular basis."
"He doesn't expect people to worship him, either," Sirius explained. "That's me, silly flower. He hopes for it, and enjoys it, but he doesn't expect it."
Lily opened her mouth to protest that that was no better, but Sirius held up a hand. "There's a difference, believe me, and you aren't to interrupt! Don't you like it when teachers praise you? It's much the same."
"He used to hex people for no good reason," Remus admitted reluctantly. "But he stopped late last year, and has since found different ways of taking out his anger."
Sirius shook his head. "That poor wall," he said mournfully.
"And it's true that he has a natural intelligence, but so do you. And he does do work—we've seen him. But the fact that he catches on quickly is hardly his fault," Remus continued with a quelling look for Sirius.
"Again with the praise…he enjoys it because it's something that was new to him when he arrived at school," Sirius explained. "As for teachers loving him…they don't love him as much as they love you. And we think they need a little humor in their daily lives. It's good for them."
"I can personally guarantee that he has struggled for things. He spent three years struggling to master one skill, for example. And perhaps he doesn't have to work for the tangible things, but his life is no easier to live than yours or mine," Remus said soberly, his eyes shadowed.
Lily looked at him with some consternation, since she knew he was a werewolf. How could James' life compare to lycanthropy?
Remus saw her question and gave a sad little smile. "Just take my word for that one."
"And he does not treat life like a joke," Sirius said flatly. "He just acts that way, trying to get others to lighten up. Or maybe it's a way of rebelling against his parents…it wouldn't surprise me. As for playing with people's hearts…he never has. He does not lead girls on or let them think he feels something he doesn't. Most girls only want to go out with him for the reputation, anyway. He's too hung up on you to make a good boyfriend."
Lily snorted her disbelief of that, but otherwise kept silent.
"And yes, we break the rules. But we usually know which rules are safe to break and which are not," Sirius stated calmly.
"As for the muggle-born-pureblood debate, you should realize that anyone who knows you has only the highest regard for your skills, muggle-born or not. Nor is it fair to resent him for something he has never been able to change, which is his birth," Remus pointed out rationally.
"Did we miss anything?" Sirius asked, with a smirk on his face.
Lily stared at him for a moment, trying to get her voice to work. "I…I'm not sure I believe a word you just said."
They both shrugged. "Think on it, at least," Remus advised. "Oh, and one other thing…"
"Yes?" she asked warily.
"I would ask that you open your eyes. Stop seeing what you expect to see, stop seeing what you used to see, and stop seeing what you want to see," Remus requested. "That's all. You'll have to draw your own conclusions from there."
The two of them stood and headed for the boy's dormitory. At the foot of the steps, Sirius stopped and looked back. "Oh, and Lily?"
"What?"
"If you should see Snape sporting blue hair tomorrow…I did it. I don't think it'd be fair if you blew up at James twice in a row for my actions." He bounded up the stairs without waiting for a reply.
The Head Girl stared after them for a moment. Then, feeling daring and bold, she crept to the staircase and climbed up quickly, stopping outside the door that said "seventh year." The door was open just a crack, and she leaned close to listen.
"…doing in the common room at this hour?" Ja—Potter asked.
"Just had a question for Lily about our Arithmancy assignment," Remus lied smoothly.
"And you, Padfoot? You don't take Arithmancy."
"I was bothering your flower."
"She's not mine Padfoot, and I doubt she ever will be. She hates me, remember?"
"Oh yeah."
"And why do you bother her? She'll just take it out on me."
"At least you'll have some interaction, even if she is shouting at you."
"That's true…" mused James. "You'd think I'd have outgrown that thinking by now, though."
"You might have. I haven't," Sirius replied cheerfully. "We have any butterbeer left?"
"Yeah, under your bed," Remus replied. "Did you finish what you needed to, Prongs?"
She heard him sigh. "Yeah, or as close to finished as I'm going to get. She'll probably just change it all, anyway. So…full moon tomorrow night?"
"Yeah."
"Excellent," Sirius exclaimed.
"Maybe for you. You'll be there?"
"Of course. I don't even have practice, so barring any unexpected detentions, we'll be there before you transform."
Lily frowned. What was this?
"Good. And Lily doesn't expect you for a meeting?"
"We're meeting during our afternoon break instead. I don't know what I'll do if she ever wants to meet in the evening…I don't want to let either of you down."
"You still thinking about that, Prongs?" demanded Sirius. "Mate, you gotta stop. None of it was your fault. And we'll tell you until you believe it."
"I know. Let's just go to bed. Moony needs his sleep. Where's Wormtail?"
Someone snorted. "Kitchens, probably. He'll be back. Hopefully Lily doesn't bite his head off when he returns. He hasn't got the cloak."
Someone sighed. "Now you've done it, Padfoot. He's off in Lily-land."
"Me and my big mouth. Oy, Padfoot to Prongs! You're supposed to dream while lying down, mate."
"Can I miss something I never had?" James asked, sounding slightly confused.
"Dunno mate. Suppose so. But you know, you could have it," Sirius replied.
James laughed bitterly. "That attitude is what got me in trouble in the first place, remember?"
"Why does the conversation always turn to Lily?" Sirius asked dramatically.
"You started it," pointed out Remus dryly.
Well, that's it. We all know where it ends up, and I'm not that great a writer for relationships. I took a few liberties (obviously), but I hope it was believable. Please let me know what you think via that purple button in the corner down there. Even if it's "I hate it." :Offers virtual cookie and makes puppy eyes: Please?
