Disclaimer: Harry Potter and co., funnily, does not belong to me. At all. Not in the slightest degree. Sadly enough.
Love is a Funny Thing, chapter 16
"Lily."
"Hmmm?"
"It's starting."
"No." Lily protested, behind the large sign that declared, "Kissing Booth!". Not particularly original, but then, they didn't have much time for originality, when…well…the crash…
Lily winced a bit (causing Hazel to look at her oddly) and closed her eyes, remembering…)
(flashback)
"You were drunk." James stated blatantly, after the two had gotten (finally!) out of the hospital wing.
"But, I wasn't! All I'd had was a butterbeer, and one bottle doesn't even make elves drunk!" Lily exclaimed indignantly. Sure, maybe she wasn't the world's greatest at holding alcohol (not that she'd tried, or anything…) but she could certainly do better than a house elf.
"You were drunk, Lily. And singing…and dancing at the edge of the magic carpet."
"Oh…so care to explain HOW exactly I became drunk when I'd only had a bottle of butterbeer, hmm? Did you or Sirius force Firewhiskey onto me or something?" she demanded.
"You know I'd never do that."
"Sirius might, though. Anyway, if it wasn't that, then what was it?" Lily asked.
"It was…" James sighed a bit. He hated times like this, when she was mad at him. Lily did have a rather firey temper that ignited easily.
"Yes?" Lily prompted him impatiently.
"Can I…can I tell you the story first?" asked James, sighing inwardly. He knew this would be the furthest thing from easy.
Lily nodded in assent.
"Well…you started dancing on the edge of the carpet. And you were singing, too, some weird muggle song. We were all panicking. I was trying to pull you down, but you kept moving around, in front of Sirius. He couldn't steer, because your legs were in the way…so…"
Lily looked fairly shocked. Had I really DONE that? I'd half hoped it was just a mere dream…
James continued. "So…the magic carpet crashed into a tree."
Lily looked scandalized, but merely nodded.
"And we all came crashing down, one atop another…I guess it wasn't such a high fall, but it was pretty high—maybe twenty-five feet, or something. I guess Sirius was trying to fly lower , you know, in case we crashed. He's not as insensible as he lets on, I guess, in times of crisis.
Anyway, we all came tumbling through the air…it was probably the scariest thing in my life, aside from you on the edge of the carpet, dancing and singing.
Remus carried us all back to the castle…he was in the back, so he was hurt the least. Mitchell and Hazel were also partially awake as well…so they helped drag me, you, Sirius, Amanda, and Michelle back to the castle, into the infirmary."
James said this bitterly, as if he didn't relish being knocked unconscious, unable to help save the day.
Lily nodded slowly, looking as if she was processing the information James had just told to her.
"So…now you said you'd tell me about my butterbeer." Lily said softly, and not as demanding as she'd previously said it.
"Ok. Well…see, the thing is…" James started off uncertainly, looking off at a picture of a large goblin leaping about wildly, as if that would help him in his current situation.
"Did you spike my drink, or did you not?"
"It…well, me and Sirius thought it would be funny…to spike one of the drinks and…see who got it. It was all supposed to be harmless fun, really." James said uncomfortably, like a son who's about to get in trouble from his mother for hitting a baseball through a window.
Surprisingly, the tantrum didn't come. What Lily said next was even worse than a full-blown, kicking and screaming tantrum.
"I could have killed us all."
(end flashback)
So now she and her boyfriend were in a terrible fight (Lily's calm sentence had formed a huge, full-blown argument later on), Sirius was still in the hospital wing, and she was about to be taking part in kissing a whole line of boys that she neither knew or cared about.
Lily sighed (it felt like she was doing this far too often lately) and put her head down on the booth's wooden table. Life was definitely not going her way right now.
"Sirius!" a loud, happy shriek cried from a certain black-haired girl.
Amongst all the chaotic goings-on of the Hogwarts Festival, Sirius was lazily ambling up the grassy slope, where students were milling around, chatting and talking and attending the various booths.
"Michelle!" Sirius cried dramatically romantically, running over to Michelle and sweeping her up in his arms passionately. She giggled and wrapped her arms around him, glad to be with her boyfriend again.
The girl she was supposed to be teaching a back kick over to gave Michelle a murderous glare.
"Sorry." Michelle exclaimed to the girl, gingerly dismounting from Sirius's arms.
"I'm running a gymnastics clinic as a non-committal booth thing", Michelle explained apologetically. "You know, in case you want to learn a cartwheel or whatever…"
Three other girls were helping Michelle teach…girls who knew gymnastics as well.
"Well, it just so happens that it's always been my DREAM to learn how to do a cart-whatsit." Sirius exclaimed, putting a hand over his heart. "Could you BEAR to teach me?"
"'Course." Michelle exclaimed, laughing.
"Oh—um, I—" Michelle turned to the girl that she was supposed to be teaching a cartwheel to. She really wanted to spend some time with Sirius; after all, she hadn't seen him in practically two weeks. "Do you—"
"Would you mind, dear, if you'd let Michelle just teach me a cartwheel first?" Sirius asked the third year, in a voice reserved only for girls.
The third year looked as if she was about to melt, and excitedly ran to her friends, presumably to tell them that the mighty Sirius Black had just talked to her.
"Sirius, you can't just go around charming your way through life!" Michelle said half-jokingly, watching the third-year.
"And who says I can't?" Sirius asked, putting a hand on his hip in imitation of the stereotypical girl.
"Ha. Well, are you alright for gymnastics if you're fresh out of the Hospital Wing? Madam Pomfrey would disapprove."
"I'll be fine! I mean, I'm the tough Sirius Black." Sirius said.
Just then Michelle noticed a dark bruise on Sirius's jawbone. She tentatively touched it. "Sirius! Are you alright?" she asked worriedly, concern evident in her coal black eyes.
"It's alright…but I know how you can make it better." Sirius said, smiling down at Michelle.
"How's that?" Michelle asked, also smiling.
"Kiss it to make it better?" asked Sirius in such a puppy-eyed, childish way that it was ridiculously adorable. Michelle laughed.
"Glad to."
And Michelle leaned up on her tip toes to kiss him, they began kissing deeply and fell down, over to the side of the tree, all thoughts of cartwheels and other gymnastics forgotten.
"I", Lily said with certainty to a thoroughly tired Hazel, "have never had such a disgusting kissing experience," she continued, "as I just did now, and about a hundred times over."
Hazel nodded mutely.
The lines had been long. It seemed that all the desperate boys, medium boys, and popular boys just couldn't resist the chance of snogging. It was revolting, really, how many boys showed up.
After a while, Lily had just kind of stopped feeling the kiss. They were all so indistinguishable, anyway.
Well, except for one boy who smelled funny and who, Lily strongly suspected, did not brush his teeth very thoroughly.
At least they had a large pile of sickles, knuts, and galleons in a large cauldron of Lily's.
"Ugh." Hazel began. "I've never been so…ugh."
Lily could quite agree. There was no other word that could be used to describe the situation. It was just…ugh.
Lily couldn't have helped but noticed the other booth, just as successful…James and, after about half an hour of just James manning the booth, Sirius joining him. She had to admit a twinge of jealousy had stirred in her insides as she'd watched many a girl kiss James passionately.
One had been particularly vivid. A notoriously gorgeous and popular Gryffindor sixth year had been in line, and had been kissing James quite passionately. In fact, she'd almost knocked the whole booth-structure over, in her eagerness. There had been quite a line for the boys…after all, who wouldn't want to kiss Sirius or James?
The Festival was winding down now, though. The booths were open, but only a few straggling customers finished each one. Lily and Hazel sat in contentment. Their booth was pretty close to James.
Lily saw a last girl with curly red hair give James a fairly tame kiss and deposit three knuts in the box that served as a collection box.
The sun was waning, casting golden-red rays all over Hogwarts. Most students were happily chatting and talking with their friends on the grassy Hogwarts grounds. Lily checked her watch…only five more minutes to go.
She felt the need to spit, and did, right there on the Hogwarts grass. A unwelcome taste was in her mouth.
Suddenly, a hazel-eyed, muddy brown-haired person appeared a few feet in front of her booth. She'd have run away, or hid at least, but she didn't want to seem a chicken as he was so close. She remained neutral, setting her hands complacently in her lap.
James came up close to her booth. He kneeled in front of her, so their eyes were equal level. His seemed almost as if they had golden flecks, in this late stage of the sunset. His face had a distinct look upon it, but Lily couldn't quite figure out what it was. She tried to keep her racing heart under control.
"Yes?" Lily forced herself to say. Her voice sounded strange, even to her own ears.
"I believe I'm at a kissing booth." James said, reaching for her doll-like hand and placing it on the small plank of wood between them, playing with it.
Lily sighed, and for what seemed the millionth time that day, leaned over the booth and kissed him.
But kissing James was different, Lily realized, as they came deeper into the kiss. Kissing James wasn't demanding, or pressuring…it was passionate and nice and it still gave her the racing heartbeat and the fireworks behind her eyelids, just like the first time they'd kissed at the Three Broomsticks.
James leaped over the booth, to Lily's side of it. He pulled her down onto the grass, and they resumed kissing…laughing and wrestling in the last dying rays of golden sunset.
"James?" Lily asked against his mouth, as they were rolling delightfully about in the grass. She'd got grass in her hair, but at the moment, she couldn't care less?"
"Mmm?" he responded into the kiss.
"Remind me never to kiss anybody but you ever again." She requested, rolling on top of him and kissing his forehead.
"I could do that." James said, grinning, and he put his arms around her.
"My lips," Hazel declared while sitting by the roaring fire in the Gryffindor common room, leaning comfortably against Remus's chest, "will probably never be usable again. Ever."
Amanda and Mitchell, Sirius and Michelle, Hazel and Remus, and James and Lily were sitting in the common (or rather, resting on their respective boyfriends), comfortably chatting about the day's events. All were extremely tired, and relished sitting and having nothing more strenuous to do than perhaps reach over to grab a chocolate frog and stuff it into their mouth.
"I hope not." Remus said, smiling in a gentle but also joking way. Hazel giggled (although her cheeks lit up flame-like), and took his hand.
"Yeah, I'm never listening to your ideas ever again." Lily announced to James.
"Ah, but if you had never listened to my ideas, would we be sitting here like this?"
"….No…." Lily admitted.
"Ah, yes. James Potter prevails again."
"Yes, well, but my lips would be much less sore if I hadn't listened to you!"
"Hmmm, yes, well, you can't have it all, can you?" James said contemplatively.
"My muscles," Michelle said, "are dead."
"Why?" asked Amanda in surprise. Michelle was in shape and never tired of gymnastics.
"This girl kept asking me to show her a round off back handspring combination… over…and over…and over…and over…"
"Aww, sorry, 'Chelle." Hazel said sympathetically.
"Yes, by the twentieth time I grew tired of it and said if she couldn't see it now, she was most likely blind."
"Or perhaps she just needed to…um…fine-tune her second sight!" Lily said in a mysterious voice, widening her eyes and trying to act like a fortune-teller.
"Yes, she could just gaze into a crystal ball or something, and there she'd have it down pat." Michelle answered sarcastically.
"Well, a round-horse back cart-spring thing…what's that?" inquired Sirius.
Michelle burst into giggles. "It's a round-off back handspring," she corrected, still giggling, "and if you can't say it, you probably shouldn't be attempting it any time soon."
"Who's to say I can't have a future career in gymnastics?" asked Sirius, pretending to look hurt.
"I think you'd better stick to quidditch, Sirius." Mitchell advised.
"So, how was your business at the booth?" Lily (out of nowhere, really) inquired of Sirius and her boyfriend.
"Lot of customers, none of whom I want to kiss." James replied through a mouthful of partially chewed chocolate frog.
"Is there a different girl who you want to kiss?" Lily asked sharply, tightening her grip on James's strong wrist. James grimaced.
"No…the only girl I want to kiss is sitting on top of me now, about to break my wrist."
Lily grinned sheepishly and let go a bit. The group laughed appreciatively.
"Yeah…urgh, when Tina Alexander came, it was a nightmare, she gave me a bloody lip!" Sirius said.
"And Tom Higgins smelled. A lot. I don't think he brushes his teeth." commented Hazel.
"Neither does Snape." Lily added, playing with a lock of her fire-red hair.
James sharply jolted, the chocolate frog wrapper falling forgotten to the red-carpeted floor. He grabbed Lily protectively, his strong arms encircling her tightly. "Snivellus visited your booth?" he asked murderously.
"Yes, it was revolting." Lily replied. "And would you ease up with the grip a little? It would be helpful if my circulation remained intact, thanks."
James didn't let go. "And you kissed him?" asked James, still looking quite murderous, an angry glint clearly visible in his hazel eyes.
"James, it was a kissing booth, for goodness sakes! I couldn't just say, 'Oh, yes, you and you and you and you I can kiss, but not you, because you smell bad!" said Lily, exasperated.
"And are a git." James muttered under his breath, still protectively holding Lily.
"Undoubtedly. But, you kissed Ophelia Lucas, didn't you?" Lily said in that same voiced she used in class when she was trying to prove a point.
"Well, yeah…I didn't have a choice."
"You didn't say, 'Oh, no, I'm not going to kiss you because you're blond and ditzy and has probably started a secret James Potter fan club?'" said Lily.
"Well—no, but—" James replied, realizing he'd been beaten.
"Just let it go." Advised Remus.
"Yes…and could you please loosen up the grip here? I don't want to suffocate!" Lily requested.
"Ha, now you're in my place whenever you cut off the circulation in my hand!" said James triumphantly, but he did loosen his arms a bit again his girlfriend.
"That reminds me!" exclaimed Hazel, sitting up a little straighter on Remus's lap. "We never counted the money we made!"
"Oh my gosh, you're right…we didn't!" cried Lily. "That was what this whole fiasco was about!"
"Yeah…but it's not about that any more." James said.
"You're right. But still, just for fun…wouldn't you like to know who won?" asked Lily.
"Promise I can still talk to you for this month?" inquired James.
"Depends," Lily said thoughtfully, "does talking include snogging?"
"Yes, I think it does." James replied. "It most definitely includes snogging."
"Most definitely?" asked Lily again.
"Yes, most definitely. I'm certain." Said James.
"Ah, well, if you're sure."
"I am."
"Good."
"Also I might shrivel up and die if I hadn't snogged for a month." James exclaimed. "Really, it's for the best of our health."
"Yeah, sure." Lily said, rolling her eyes jokingly. "Well…do you guys want to get the profits now?"
"Sure, why not." Sirius said. "C'mon, Michelle, d'you think your muscles can stand a trip to the dormitories to get the profits?"
"Yes, they'll do just fine." Michelle affirmed as Sirius pulled her to her feet, and they started journeying to the steps to the boys' dormitory. They were still holding hands.
"Awww, aren't they adorable?" cooed Amanda, watching the couple exit up the stairs.
"I never would have believed that Sirius could stay with a girl for…how long has it been, Remus?"
"Four months, I think."
"Four months! What is this world coming to?" asked James, throwing his hands up .
The six remaining friends continued to talk about random and little-mattering things for another half hour. Sirius and Michelle still hadn't returned.
"Gosh, how long can they snog for?" asked Amanda exasperatedly.
"A long time, apparently." Lily replied.
"Yeah… I just hope they're not on my bed." Remus said, wrinkling his nose in disgust.
"Why on your bed?" asked Hazel interestedly.
"Mine's the neatest out of the dormitory, which isn't saying a whole lot." Remus answered.
The six continued to chat for another fifteen minutes. Sirius and Michelle then reappeared—Sirius holding the large black cauldron filled with money, and Michelle tugging a little at her robes.
Both Michelle's and Sirius's hair were exceptionally mussed, and Michelle's cheek were a bright shade of pink. "You guys are so obvious." exclaimed James.
"Shut up, Jamesy Wamesy." Sirius countered good naturedly.
"I'll go get our cauldron of money, shall I?" asked Michelle, neatly avoiding James's accusation. She zipped up the stairs and out of sight. A minute she returned with the cauldron filled to the brim with coins, struggling a little under its heavy weight. Sirius ran to take it from her, and she threw him a grateful smile.
"We shall count!" Sirius announced. "And…the best kissing booth team shall win!"
A/N: I'm terribly sorry if that was horrible, didn't meet your expectations for the famed "kissing booth chapter", or anything else. I really hoped you all liked it...!
Yeah…so obviously there will be more chapters. I don't know how many, however. We ARE nearing the end…but there WILL be MORE chapters to come and all…so do not fear.
Even though that is probably not a reason for you to fear. At least, I sincerely hope not.
Ok, well…as always…reviews are humungously appreciated! They are awesome and encourage me soooooooooooo much. So please…review! (And there are my lovely imaginary cupcakes, with the imaginary vanilla or chocolate icing and, of course, sprinkles…)
Ok…to my lovely reviewers! I really couldn't write this without you guys!
Thanks to: Miss Lady Maurauder: Sorry about the whole cliffy! Really, I am…! But I hope you liked this chapter as much as the last, too, shadowy dreamer: I'm glad that you like the story, Steelo: As you see, nothing hugely major came out of it…just a little crisis in paradise. Or, is it trouble in paradise? Sorry, I'm horrible with expressions. And you were partially right with your guess as to who spiked Lily's drink, JadeGreen14: Really? Did you put it up yet, Insane clutz 4 eva, SweetSouthernGal: Thanks, charmingly-holly: Thanks for your wonderful review; it was hilarious! It sounds like a funny situation…I'm sorry you've never lived it down. I hope I never get drunk because I have practically the worst singing voice the world's ever heard! And I hope you like this chapter, too., taniita: Yeah…that was the point of the whole thing, basically, Vanessa-Black and Zabini, Queen Tigress: I like your put-the-cupcake-into-the-hard-drive analysis, but I've got to kind of shrink the imaginary cupcakes. So, they're cute little mini cupcakes, but at least you've got them (or not, since they're imaginary, but whatever…). Oh, and I'm glad you liked the past chapter…I hope you like this one too, actingenius204, amiken: Yes…the intentions of the spiked drink weren't to how the whole fiasco turned out, HarryluvsMoaningMyrtle: Yeah I know, urgh I hate wine, Ashley, crazy turtle: Aww, thanks for all the lovely compliments! And thanks about the age compliment thing, too. Oh, and you don't have to write a story to get an account. I'm not precisely sure when the story will end…I guess you'll just have to wait and see! (grins), Lady Knight 1512: Haha, we have those liquor chocolates too! Except they have this disgusting cherry liquor filling! Anyway…I hope I updated soon enough., hi, Gred and Forge Weasley: I really like your pen name…and I'm glad you like my story., dancer girl: Thanks a lot, Shining Star of Valinor: I'm glad you liked the crisis! And you'll be happy to note that they did, indeed, survive…yay., MaDAnDCrZy, some random person: Awww, thanks, Lauzjamin: Aww, thanks, I'm glad you liked the fic, Sunny: Yeah, I know, it was a bit…unpredictable., dancerf girl