Disclaimer: Own Roz...I suppose
A/n: WOW! I'm back...after THE longest writers block in recorded history. I feel like a poophead for not updating like I should. But, here is the long awaited chapter 6. Just realize, it was many months in the making...and if it's not good, tell me, and I'll try to get back into the groove of things. Also, I have three stories on under the s/n Sexysuitcase. If you want to read those, feel free wink wink
Chapter 6: Lost
Roz stumbled in her attempt to keep up with the boys. Her hands were stuffed deep into the wool pockets of her coat, and her eyes were barely open. Prickling snow flakes were slamming into her cheeks and eyes every other second. Not to mention that the thick pair of socks on her feet, under her shoes, had become frozen since she decided to jump in that puddle, just to splash her brother. (who in return gave her a punch in the shoulder)
So, now she was bruised, wet, and cold. Not to mention, Roz could almost hear the manical laughter of the flu right around the corner. "Could you wait?" She shouted to the boys, but Remus ignored her. That is, until James said something that Roz couldn't make out. Remus gave him a glare, stopped suddenly, and let her catch up. "Thank you."
"Your welcome." Remus muttered, making Roz glare.
"I was talking to James." She beamed and began walking again, so they were now following her. Though, it had taken them quite awhile to get to the London streets, Roz was nearly jumping for joy as she saw the familiar sight of the muggle stores. She had always liked them more, finding the muggle contraptions a tad fascinating. As she quicked her pace to press her face against a toy-store window, Roz ushered the boys over to where she stood.
"Look! It's a...well, I don't know what it is!" She was pointing to large box. The front glass showed a moving picture depicting a cowboy racing across the desert on the back of his wild mustang. All around the box was random paraphenalia that coincided with the picture show.
James pressed his shoulder next to hers and laughed. "It's called a Television. I've seen them before."
"I want one." Roz said wistfully, her breath fogging the window and hindering her sight.
"Would you please tear your face away from that window?" The back of her thick coat was jerked, making her stumble back and face her brother. He ignored her and continued walking, conversing with Sirius and Peter over Christmas presents. Instead of following like Remus comanded earlier, Rosalyn looked up and back down the streetway before crossing to the other side. The only person to witness this was James, who immediately glanced at Remus.
"Roz!" He hissed, not loud enough to cause a scene.
From the other side of the street, the girl gave an innocent shrug and turned down a completely new street, disappearing around the corner. James didn't waste time in shouting for her. He stepped off the curb and jogged after her, craning his neck to see the top of her head, with her swinging pony tail. He could definately relate to Remus in one way. This girl was a hastle!
As James crossed the street once more to catch up with Roz, he reached out and snatched her elbow, turning her slightly. "You do realize that you got us lost, don't you?"
Her eyes widened in surprise and mock innocence. Her breath came out in puffs as she exhaled her gasp. "Me? Oh, dear! What have I done now? C'mon, Potter. You make me sound like I would actually obey my big brodder." She pronounced the words like she were a baby uttering them for the first time. James glanced down, shaking his head. He caught sight of her hardening gaze as they sped toward a part of town James wasn't familiar with. Roz, however seemed to know exactly where to go.
They turned a corner, and by the looks of the rundown buildings, James could tell they weren't in the nice, safe, crowded streets. "Shouldn't we be back with more people? You know, so somebody doesn't jump out and attack us from behind?" He whirled around once, making sure they weren't being followed.
"Oh, get real! You call yourself a Gryffindor, honestly. James, be truthful about something. If you were in a tunnel, and two ways were blocked by a raging lions, starved for a year and a five-hundred foot waterfall, what would you do?" Roz asked, her pace picking up once more. As she did so, she turned her head to look up at him, smiling softly. "Curl up like a baby and suck your thumb?" James glared and crossed his arms across his chest.
"Of course not. I'd throw my shoe at the lion then dive off of the waterfall, hoping the water was deep and not cold enough to give me a heart attack." At this answer, Roz stopped in her trek through uncharted London and turned to face her companion. Her arched eyebrow was raised, and her lips parted. Small amounts of steam puffed out of her mouth. James studied it for a second then looked into her eyes.
"Did you not even listen to what I said? I clearly said two ways. What I would have done FIRST, was look for another way out...Then, if there were none, I'd have to ask myself why the hell would a lion be in a tunnel, in England?" Before she could finish, James shrugged, his cheeks blushing from cold and slight embarassment.
"I don't know, a zoo?"
"Finally, before even thinking of DIVING, you look and see if there's either some rocky way down, or a ladder at least." James narrowed his eyes, obviously thinking of the possibilities of it all happening. As he became flustered, he threw his hands up in the air and stared at the 15 year old before him. "What was this even about?"
"To prove that Gryffindors are not brave, just rash in the face of danger. Whereas a Ravenclaw would find each possibility before turning their fear, into impulsiveness. Besides, a lion wouldn't be able to survive a year without eating." She pursed her chapped lips and smiled softly. "Am I right?"
"Please don't tell me you have a tunnel somewhere, with a lion and a five-hundred foot waterfall, just to test my abilities." He whined, dropping his hands limply to his side. Instead of answering, Roz turned down another side street and stopped at the fence that blocked off an exit. Sighing, Roz stuffed her hands into her pockets and looked back. James shuddered nervously and stepped closer to Roz. "Where are we?"
"Actually...I don't know. I was trying to find the Leaky Cauldron. They're usually busy around this time of year, and we could probably snatch a bottle of firewhisky without anyone seeing." Roz sighed and ran a hand over her hair. The boy beside her scoffed slightly and looked around the dingy side street. Trash cans were over turned spilling their contents of rotten banana peels, and other foods out on the streets. James raked a hand over his face and peeked through his fingers at Roz. She was counting on her fingers and looking as if she were trying to think if she mis-calculated her way.
"Are we lost?"
Roz opened her mouth to answer him, but she was abruptly cut off. "ROSALYN!" A voice barked from behind them. James spun around and groaned as he saw Remus' red, anxiety filled face. The girl answered his groaning with a sigh of annoyance as her brother, followed by Sirius and Peter, stomped up to them. "Where the hell have you been?"
"You know, for someone who brags about not caring about his sister, you sure do worry about me alot."
Remus grabbed her by the elbow, jerking her back toward the main street. "I don't worry about you. I worry about what Mum would do to me if you were lost...or killed."
"Like you care." Roz mumbled, jerking her arm out of his grasp. Before she could get very far, Remus grabbed her again, spinning her around. They both opened their mouth to shout curses at each other, but was stopped. Sirius jumped in between them and held Remus back with one hand while he held Roz with the other. His hand was gripping her jacket, with his knuckles grazing against her flesh.
Roz felt her stomach tighten at his touch, but brushed it aside and focused her anger toward the boy across from her.
"Stop it! Both of you stop fighting. It's Christmas time. You know, time to be jolly, loving, and be near your family. NOT tear each other apart." Sirius released his viselike grip from her jacket and sighed heavily. "We're sick and tired of the sibling rivalry, ok? If you can't say anything nice, don't say it at all!"
Despite the death glare that passed between Remus and Rozalyn, James clapped enthusiastically. He clapped Sirius on the back and wiped a fake tear from his eye. "That was beautiful, mate. I'm sure the children have learned their lesson." He pulled Sirius and Remus by the collar, heading back toward the main street. Before Peter passed Roz by to catch up with the other boys, she saw James turn to give her a reasuring smile. She returned it as best as she could, meaning she barely lifted her lip, before falling in step behind them.
Which is where she stayed for nearly an hour, following the boys into shops and stores, trying to make herself look as invisible as she could. And in the time she spent being silent as a mouse, she thought of how scared Remus looked when he came charging toward her in the allyway. 'Maybe he doesn't hate me so much...' She looked up at Remus from over the top of a shelf. Her fingers toyed with the little trinkets as she watched him laugh along with what Sirius was saying. Her gaze hardened into a glare. 'Yeah, if he didn't hate me, he'd actually let me be a part of his life...I'm nothing more than a fifth wheel, an annoying little fly buzzing around to bother him.'
An: Well, there it is...REVIEW please...if there are anymore of the readers left. Anyway, due to the new rule, I can't thank my readers anymore glare...so I'll just say...THANKS! and that goes to everyone who reads, reviews, and has put up with my lack of updates...Thanks again!
