Playing the Part
By: Shrk-bait
Chapter 3: Utterly Exasperating
When love is suppressed, hate takes its place. -- Havelock Ellis
"Can anyone show me how to do a bubble-head charm?" Professor Flitwick asked, in an almost pleading voice.
Recent news concerning the play had turned the classroom into a feeding-ground for the latest gossip. To say the least, this meant that few people were actually paying attention to the tiny Professor's lesson.
To Flitwick's surprise, a hand rose slightly over the heads of all the whispering students. He sighed, finally someone knew the answer.
"I can, Professor. Would you like me to perform the charm?" Lily asked as she rose from her seat.
"Please do, Miss Evans." He replied squeakily, gesturing for her to continue.
She brandished her wand, pointed to herself, and recited the correct words in an almost effortless tone.
Flitwick immediately broke into applause and beamed, thankful that at least one student had not been too swept up in the play to forget about education.
"Wonderful, Miss Evans. Five points to Gryffindor. Since it is obvious that you are all quite distracted with current developments concerning Professor Harris' production, I propose that we cut lessons short for today. Good luck for all those of you who intend to audition for the play." He declared in his shrill voice, right before the classroom exploded with noise.
"I can, Professor." James mimicked in a high-pitched voice. "As if being top of the class in every other class wasn't enough, she insists on being Flitwick's favorite student as well."
"Actually, Potter. I'm not top of the class in every class." Lily stated, scowling at James' imitation of her.
"Oh, go ahead and bury yourself in the ground. You're not the best Hogwarts has to offer. Your life is over now, am I correct?"
"You disgust me."
"Good to know. Now if you would please, Evans. My friends and I were trying to have an intelligent conversation before you rudely butted in."
"Ha! A conversation, perhaps . . . but intelligent? Highly dubious. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that we need to tell the Prefects to take down names of people who intend to audition for the play."
"So?" he asked drawlingly.
She glared icily at him. Typical Potter, she thought.
"So . . . you are Head Boy. It's your job and I'm not going to do this alone." She muttered through clenched teeth.
"Fine, if it bothers you that much, I will." He agreed grudgingly. "But don't expect me to be this gentlemanly all the time."
"You're joking. God, Potter, you better be joking."
"And if I'm not?"
Lily sent him an icy stare, loaded with implications of annoyance to answer his question.
He glared angrily at her retreating back, right before he felt a hard shove from behind him.
"What did you do now, Potter?" Kira exclaimed, blue orbs flashing dangerously at James.
"Nothing! I did nothing! I agreed to help out, and she just glares at me. Evans is completely mental." He muttered, angrily. "She cannot be pleased."
"You have no idea what Lily's all about, so don't even think you can go ahead and judge her. I'm sure she had reason for being mad. Maybe it's the mere fact that 'you exist'." Kira barked, bumping roughly into his shoulder as she strode past.
"Sorry, Potter, but Kira is right. You don't even really know Lily. She's really easily upset, especially when she feels she's losing control of things. You've known her for nearly 7 years, but in those 7 years, have you ever taken the time to really get to know her?" Charlotte gave James a slightly comforting look and hurriedly rushed out the door. "Maybe you should try that."
"What is the problem? What did I do?" James mumbled, ruffling his hair confusedly.
"Maybe it's the way you agreed. I mean, yes, you agreed, but perhaps it's the comment you made afterwards. She gets overwhelmed with things quite quickly. I suggest learning a bit of tact." Remus asked, as James pretended not to listen.
"Whatever, Moony. I just don't think that I should have to do everything she asks of me with a smile on my face. I have a right to express my opinion, as long as the job gets done." James insisted, stalking out of the classroom. "If that's a crime, go ahead and send me straight to Azkaban."
"If you say so . . ." Sirius muttered, unable to keep up with James' quick pace.
He and Remus watched James push past students and round the corner, throwing up his hands exasperatingly and muttering crazily to himself.
"Oy, Moony. About Evans. You don't think him . . . and her . . ." Sirius asked, gesturing with his hands to the opposite directions in which they had left.
"You bet, Padfoot. It's just a matter of time, I think." Remus cut him off, knowing fully well what Sirius was thinking.
"That's exactly what I was thinking." He muttered to himself. "Can you imagine it, though? The two most temperamental people at Hogwarts. Wonder what kind of psycho their child would turn out to be . . ."
They laughed heartily and headed for the Great Hall to meet up with Peter, who had not received the marks to get into the challenging N.E.W.T Charms class. Unlike the other three Marauders, who had managed to take over three N.E.W.T classes each, Peter's scores were barely enough to allow him to take even one advanced class.
"The kid would have to be decent looking, definitely. It would probably have a massive ego, due to James, of course. At least it'd be a spectacular Quidditch player. Probably a child prodigy, you know. Incredibly intelligent, talented, good-looking, and the like. It would be a miracle to get them together, but bloody hell, would their child be one hell of a kid." Sirius chortled, joking.