(A/N) Hi everybody! Sorry it's taken so long to update! My dad's grandmother just passed away, so I've been out of town for the past couple days and I forgot to bring my notebook. I feel so bad, it's not even funny! And I just got my high school schedule today! (cringes in fear) Darn that evil thing they call high school! (punching fist in the air) If Spetember rolls around and I just disapear off the face of the earth, then you should know, high school has killed me!
Chaosblazen - FBI?(starts singing the X-Files themesong) Good grammar is wonderful! Please don't hit me with the bad grammar comments! It isn't my fault I haven't posted in a while!
princessdza -I'm melting with happiness! Your compliments really are too much! I'm not even that good! Anyway, I'm glad you like my writing! Thanks for explaining it to me. I'd be honored if you were to do that.
Now, here's what you've all been waiting for! Instead of my rambling, you can read the actual story!
Chapter Four - Non-Studiers
"And it's you and me, and all of the people
Wit nothing to do, nothing to lose
And it's you and me, and all of the people
And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you."
Lifehouse – You and Me
"I can't believe it's only 2 weeks into the school year and we already have three rolls of parchment to write!" Alli whined to weary listeners.
Lily, Julie, James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, and, obviously, Alli were sitting at a table in the common room, studying. Alli had been complaining for the last hour straight. The only person who didn't seem to mind her complaints was Sirius, and that was only because he was complaining along with her.
"I hate Professor Flitwick!" Sirius moaned leaning back in his chair to balance on the back two legs.
"That's nice to know Sirius," said an irritated Remus.
"I can't believe McGonagall wasn't the first one to assign an essay." Lily said dejectedly.
"What, is your idol not meeting your expectations?" Sirius asked. Lily glared.
"No, it's just that she broke the record!" Julie said, answering for Lily. "For the last five years, she's always been the first to assign a major paper like this."
"You girls keep track of this stuff?" James asked, shocked.
"Yes," answered Lily and Julie simultaneously.
"Did Flitwick say when it was due?" Peter asked in between searching his notes from the class.
"The 22nd," this time Remus and Lily answered at the same time.
"Why are you trying to make me work now then?" Sirius yelled. "It's not due for another five days! I could be out having fun!"
"Yeah! Why work now! It looks beautiful outside right now!" Alli pointed out.
"If you get it done now, you won't end up spending the night before its due finishing it because you put it off like you always do." Lily explained with the air of one talking to a five-year-old.
"Why ruin tradition?" Alli and Sirius chorused. When they realized that they'd spoken at the same time, they both blushed.
"Come on James! Why aren't you with me on this?" Sirius asked.
The truth was that James was only working on school work to try to impress Lily and give off the impression that he was a good student, but he couldn't say that in front of her. "Lily's right. I'm getting sick of all the nights you keep me up trying to get things done at the last minute."
Lily looked at him, shocked, but quickly turned away. If he sees that I'm looking at him, I'll only be encouraging his advances, she thought
Sirius, on the other hand, leaned over and whispered in James' ear, "You know you're only trying to impress our little Evans." James elbowed him.
"We should just let them go," said Peter. "Anyway, it's their grades, not ours."
"Yeah, and if they come asking us for help, we should all refuse." Julie added, grinning evilly.
"Brilliant," agreed Lily.
"Fine," said Alli. "We don't need their help, do we Black?"
"Of course not!" Sirius said proudly. "We should go outside and enjoy the weather! They'll all be jealous of us and our non-studying ways!"
With that they both got up and walked to the portrait hole. As they walked through it, Sirius whispered to Alli "We are so screwed."
XXXXXX
It was a sunny September day outside as Alli and Sirius walked out on the grounds.
"So, where to, oh captain?" Sirius asked, saluting her.
Alli laughed. "Um … how about the lake?"
"Right-o."
They walked in silence, before Sirius decided to break the silence again.
"We really are screwed. There's no was this paper's gonna work without Remus' help."
"That's where you're wrong." Alli said happily. Sirius looked confusedly at her. "You're the one who's screwed. I'm fine though, because Charms happens to be one of my best subjects."
"Really?"
"Yes, and I ain't gonna help you!" Alli had to run as soon as these words escaped her lips, because at that point Sirius began to chase her.
"When I catch you, you have to help me!" He called from behind her.
"You wish!" She yelled back, running faster.
"I do, actually," Sirius agreed cockily, also speeding up. He proceeded to chase her around the Quidditch pitch and to their original destination, the lake.
"I can't breathe!" Alli yelled finally, collapsing under a tree and gasping for air. Sirius fell on top of her.
"Gotcha!" He announced happily.
"Urgh! Sirius … get … off … me!" Alli cried, shoving him off her.
"Fine," he said, a little too late, considering that he was already pushed off onto the grass. "I caught you, so you have to help me."
Alli rolled her eyes, then began to laugh when he made a puppy-dog face at her. "Why not."
Sirius looked at her, lying there in the grass under the tree, next to him, and her vivid blue eyes caught his. He found himself smiling at her, and he had absolutely no idea why.
XXXXXX
"I wonder what Alli and Sirius are doing out there," said James to know one in particular, trying to distract his fellow seventh years. Julie and Remus were having a discussion about the Ministry's treatment of non-wizards, like house elves and vampires. Lily was helping Peter with his essay, every once and a while stopping to throw her two cents into the debate. It took an awkward turn when Julie brought up the treatment of werewolves.
Apparently James' attempts at distraction weren't working, because Julie continued.
"Not giving them jobs, just because of something they can't help." She was saying. "It's only because they're afraid of them."
"Exactly," Lily said. "It's that whole concept of people being afraid of what they don't understand."
"Well maybe they should be trying to understand, not shunning them." Julie said animatedly.
Remus, happy as he was that they weren't anti-werewolf, still found the subject quite uncomfortable. He was casting around for something else to talk about when Sirius and Alli burst into the common room, doubled over in laughter, effectively destroying his need for a different topic.
"We were wondering what happened to you guys!" James told them.
"What's so funny?" Julie asked.
"Becca's got a boyfriend," Alli told them in a sing-song voice, before crumpling onto the couch next to them, once again laughing hysterically.
"Boyfriend?" Sirius asked in between laughs. "More like snog partner!" This time everyone else joined in.
"How did you find out?" Lily asked.
"We walked in on 'em!" Sirius told her.
"Luckily they didn't notice us," explained Alli in between giggles. "So we hid, and then Sirius conjured a bucket of water and dumped it right on top of them!"
"You should have seen the looks on their faces!" Sirius gasped, now positively howling in remembrance.
"So did they see you?" James asked curiously.
At that moment they were distracted by Rebecca, who walked into the common room completely soaked.
"Carter! Black!" She shrieked, looking absolutely venomous.
"That answers your question," Remus told James as Sirius and Alli ran off for their separate rooms.
XXXXXX
To Lily, Julie, Peter, Remus, and James's disappointment, Alli did indeed help Sirius with his paper, and they both got good grades to boot.
"Our plan's ruined!" Peter complained to the group. "They were supposed to be punished for not finishing it till the night before!"
It was almost October, and then seven teenagers decided to spend their free afternoon outdoors. They sat out under a tree near the lake, talking. Alli noted that it was the same tree she and Sirius had laid under almost two weeks ago.
"Well, McGonagall may not have been the first to assign a paper, but she was the first to pull a pop quiz." Lily stated.
"I hate it when she does that!" Julie exclaimed. "Then I always spend the next couple days worrying until I get my results. I'm always afraid I'll get bad grades on pop quizzes, without the study time we usually get."
"You always get good grades anyway though," Remus told her, causing her to turn pink.
"I hate McGonagall!" Sirius cried, propping himself up off the ground on his elbows.
"You always say that about any teacher who assigns work you don't want to do." Alli informed him.
"You know me too well," he said, grinning at her.
"Yes, she does Padfoot." James agreed. "Now shut it."
"My, my, my," said Sirius, faking concern. "Look who's grumpy today."
"Whatever," James said irritably. "I just wish quidditch practice would start already!"
"It's only one more week James." Alli said, trying to sound consoling. James glared at her. "What?"
"You're not helping."
"Fine, I won't say anything."
"Fine, be that way."
"Fine, I will."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Shut up!" Both James and Alli jumped when Lily unexpectedly joined the argument.
"Should we really let her talk to us like that, James?" Alli asked.
"Of course not," James agreed, smiling. "She'll have to pay, obviously." And he and Alli proceeded to chase Lily around the lakeside. Remus, Sirius, and Peter joined in cheering for Alli and James, while Julie whooped and yelled for Lily.
Soon Lily was stuck. It was either surrender or fall into the lake behind her.
"You've got no where to go Lils," James said triumphantly.
"Come on," Alli added playfully. "Just give up and we won't hurt you too bad."
"I'll never give up!" Lily announced, with fake courage.
"Well then," said James. "Prepare to meet your doom."
"You tickle her stomach and I'll get her armpits." Alli instructed, and as James nodded, they began to move forward. Lily, panicking at the threat of being tickled, forgot about the lake behind her and began to back up too. She screamed as she tripped and almost fell in, but James grabbed her hand and pulled her back up to a balance.
"Thanks Potter," Lily said, smiling. Her hand was still in his, and James felt his stomach flip-flopping and his face turning red. Then Lily tripped him into the lake.
"Yes! Ha! I can't believe you actually fell for that!" She cried, punching the air in victory. She was distracted from her celebration when James came up, coughing and sputtering.
"Holy shit it's cold!" He yelled, causing everyone within hearing distance to laugh.
(A/N) Well, there you have it. Chapter 5 will be up hopefully very soon! You should know what to do now!