Hey! Wow, it's been so long since I last updated! I'm so sorry! Well, to make it fair, I'l start the second chapter right away. Okay, there's something else I should say. READ CHAPTER 4 AGAIN BEFORE YOU READ THIS CHAPTER! I changed that one and it'll make more sense before you read this. Please, or I'll be getting flames all over the place lol. Oh, and my baby brother is in the hospital! He's three and had to have surgery. I'll be in the hospital with him all day, but I promise to be thinking of how to write the next chapter while I'm there.
I apologize for the delay. It's been, what, a month and a half? I'm so sorry! I'll never wai that long again lol. Okay, I've made you guys wait long enough. Thanks to:
Nerdysunny—Me? Stop writing? Ha! Surely you jest? Lol no, I know how I said how I might HAVE to stop writing, but that's not for another six weeks. Until then, I'll be writing as fast as I can. I might never know when I might have to stop. Thanks for reviewing!
Hydraspit—Guess what?! You're my 100th reviewer!! THANK YOU! But, I think I've taken all the time I need. It's time to get back on track. I haven't updated any stories for awhile and I have to say, I've missed it!
SlippersRfuzzy—Ahh I'm so sorry for making
Libyanauthor—That's not a stupid title! I look forward to reading it. Thanks for letting me know. You're other stories were amazing, this one will probably be the best yet, (Just hurry up and write it! I'll be waiting for it)
Randomfizzhead—Yup. Their all friends again. For the moment.
Sappjody—Thanks, I', glad you like it!
Blood Emerald—Okay, okay, I'll feel horrible for telling you this. James isn't on the Imperius curse anymore. But he was! Now I want to see if you can guess what part he was under the curse. So, at the moment, he isn't under anything, but Lily doesn't know that. Anyways, how was the concert?? Was it fun? gasp I still get a ten?? Aww how sweet! Thanks! Love ya lots!
Starlitestarbritelilsis—Ha! I could never stop writing! Especially with awesome people like you telling me not to. I'd be scared to see your reaction if I ever told you I stopped writing.
Well, there ya go! Hope to see more reviews! Enjoy.
Chapter 25 A secret slipped
James hit his head against the wall one more time. Things were just starting to get back to normal, then this? Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall had stopped talking. James looked over at Lily, about to ask her how they could get such a crazy idea in their head, when she stood up quickly.
Head held high, she walked quickly down the corridor, not once looking back to see if he was still following her. Confused, he stood up and began to follow her. He caught up to her quite easily.
"What are they playing at? They think I'm under the Imperius Curse! Their bloody insane! I mean, I would know if I were under the curse and I know for a fact that I'm not! Honestly, Lily, I trust Dumbledore, but if he thinks for one second that I would let anyone touch me with a curse, well, then he's bloody insane! Oi, I bet they'll make me spend another week in the Hospital Wing......Lily? Lily, are you listening?"
Lily didn't look at him, didn't acknowledge he was even there, all she did was hold her head up and made her pace a little fast.
"Lily?" James asked, confused. He reached out his hand and touched her shoulder. He quickly found out this was a mistake.
She jumped pretty badly and wrenched away from his grip. She spun around and looked up at him with terrified eyes.
"What's wrong?" he asked, completely nonplussed.
Just a moment ago they had been fine and now she was looking at him as if he would curse her any minute. He didn't understand the sudden change of mood.
"What's wrong?" he repeated.
Lily sighed and closed her eyes. She shivered a bit too. Now, James began to grow worried. He gripped his hands on her lower arms and looked at her in the eyes.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
She turned her eyes downcast. Taking a huge breath, she sighed.
"B-back there....McGonagall said you could still be under the curse." Lily said quietly.
"Right," James said slowly, "But let's not forget I might not even be under a curse. I would have felt it—"
James suddenly froze. He suddenly remembered something.....How long ago was their last Quidditch Practice? Something in his mind clicked and he felt his blood run cold. He remembered feeling peaceful when he shouldn't have. That was when it hit him. He remembered a time when he could've been under the curse.
James mentally shook it off and looked at Lily. He made a small smile. "I'm not under the Imperius Curse."
Lily looked at him and he noticed her terrified eyes were filled with tears.
"Lily?" he asked uncertainly.
She looked at her shoes. "I-I know I'm over reacting, James. But I guess I'm scared. D-do you remember the fight we got in with the Death Eaters on Christmas Day?" she choked out.
James felt s shiver go up his spine. Ignoring it, he replied, "I can't forget it. What does that have to do with anything?"
"Do you remember a Death Eater used the Cruciatus Curse on me?" she choked, so quietly he barely heard her.
James had to think back quite a bit until the memory came to him.
Flaskback.......
"LILY!" Emma screamed, trying desperately to get free of the person holding her. Lily raised up her wand and opened her mouth to shout a spell, but never finished. The Death Eater shouted theirs first.
"Crucio!"
"Noo!!" Emma cried. Lily let out a blood curdling scream and fell to the ground. James, Sirius watched in horror. James felt his blood boil. He never felt so angry...
Flashback ended.......
James felt the same anger he felt the day the Death Eater attacked Lily. He would never forget the look on her face when she was hit with that curse.
Realization suddenly hit James. He let go of Lily and looked at her sadly.
"You're scared of me." James stated. It wasn't a question.
Lily looked up at him. "James, no! Not of you. I'm just.....well, you heard what McGonagall said! You could still be under the curse. And it's just like Remus said. You-Know-Who knows us, James. He's bound to come and get us." Lily said urgently.
James grabbed Lily by the shoulders and looked at her in the eyes. "Lily," he tried to keep his voice even, tried not to sound hurt, "I would never, ever do anything to put you in danger. If I even got the slightest hint that You-Know-Who was using me to hurt you—I would get out of here as fast as I could until I figured out how to break the curse. I would never hurt you. You know that. And well, I can promise you that I'm not under the curse. Just the bullying toe rag—James Potter." James gave a weak smile.
Lily laughed, but James could tell it was forced.
"Do you trust me?" he asked her, seriously.
For a moment she studied him and James idly remembered her giving him that look before. She finally sighed and smiled at him.
"Of course." She breathed. She grinned and hugged him. James felt his heart do a back flip as he hugged her back. This was what he had wanted—to get Lily Evans to fall for him. James thought happily that not everything had changed for the worse.
"You've changed so much." She whispered in his ear.
James looked at her, surprised. "Is that good?" he asked uncertainly.
Lily giggled. She opened her mouth to answer, but another voice spoke that wasn't her own.
"There you two are! We've been waiting for you two to show up! What happened?" Sirius yelled at the end of the corridor, his voice feigned with anger.
"Prongs, how could you stand us up like that?" Sirius cried, mimicking the same girl that had told him the same thing when he failed to show up for a date. "Do you realize how long I've been waiting?"
"Not long enough." James grinned.
"Don't cheek me!" Sirius said, hitting James on the arm.
James laughed and held his arm. "You hit like a girl!"
Sirius smirked. He stopped trying to sound like a girl. He took out his wand.
"Yeah? Well, do I hex like a girl too?" Sirius asked good naturedly, aiming the Jelly leg curse at James, who quickly deflected it.
"Just about." James laughed.
"What's wrong with that? There are many great witches you know!" Emma spoke up indignantly. She put her hands on her hips and was looking at the two boys expectantly, with Remus, Peter, and Lily behind her.
Sirius gave her a flirtatious grin. "Care to prove me wrong?" he asked, holding his wand out.
Smirking, Emma slowly drew out her own wand. "Gladly."
"Sirius!" James shouted in mock horror. "How dare you! Younever attack a young lady!"
"A beautiful lady at that." Sirius winked.
For a moment, Emma looked speechless. Cheeks turning red, she stuffed her wand back into her robes. Lily giggled while the rest of the Marauders laughed.
'This is how it should be.' James thought.
Remus suddenly stood up, looking at the group apologetically. "Well, I hate to leave, but I have to go. James, Sirius, Peter, would you like to see me off?" Remus asked.
"See you off?" James asked, puzzled.
Remus nodded and looked out the window. "I'm leaving for a few days since my mother is sick. She asked if I could go and see her." Remus explained, giving James a pointed look.
James glanced at his clock. It was only eight o'clock. He looked at the window where the sun already went down. Sirius came up and grabbed James arm, leading him down the corridor with Remus and Peter right behind them.
"Well, it was nice seeing you! We'll see you lovely ladies tomorrow! Good night!" Sirius called over his shoulder, winking at Lily and Emma.
Slightly confused, the two girls walked the other direction, talking in whispers.
"Jeez, Prongs, you had me thinking you forgot in was a full moon." Sirius told him, smiling slightly.
James smiled weakly, deciding not to tell them that they did. "Okay," James started, "Sirius, take Remus to the hospital Wing then meet us in front of the Oak Doors. Peter and I will—"
"Actually," Peter interrupted, "How about I go with Remus and Sirius, James? I can go into my mouse form and help out Remus while youtwo get the Invisibility Cloak."
James nodded. "Okay, I guess I'm on my own. Sirius, see you in a minute."
With that, James turned around and walked toward the Gryffindor Tower to grab the Marauders Map and Cloak.
Sirius walked through the dungeons, trying to make his way to the Oak doors to meet James. He was tracing his wand with his fingers, turned the corner, and ran right into somebody.
Sirius stumbled but managed to keep himself upright, while the other person fell onto their back.
"Sorry," Sirius said, offering his hand to the other person.
"Get your filthy hands away from me!" Snape shouted, smacking Sirius's hand away.
Sirius quickly withdrew his hand, glaring at the boy in front of him. "I see you finally found a place that suited you." Sirius snarled. "In the dirt where you belong."
Snape gave out a cold laugh. "I don't even know where to place you and Potter, Black. You basically cause Mrs. Potter to be captured on Christmas—"
"What?" Sirius asked quickly.
"Oh, but of course, I applaud you, Black. Of all the people to bring down the Potters, who would've thought it was going to be you and their own son?" Snape sneered.
Sirius suddenly felt angry. He didn't think he felt this angry in a long time.
"After all the Potters did for you. They took you in and this is how you repay them?" Snape asked, smirking.
Sirius let out a sound of rage and shoved Snape against the wall.
"Shut up, Snivellus!" Sirius shouted.
"What, Black? Afraid to hear the truth?" Snape whispered dangerously. "Once a Black, always a Black."
Sirius was angry, he jus let the anger take control of him.
"And what about Lupin?" Snape asked. "Where does he go once a month? Off somewhere dangerous too, I expect? Maybe he also got someone else kill—"
Something in Sirius's mind clicked. A werewolf. Remus. Snape. Sirius had no control of what he said next.
"You want to know where Remus goes once a month, do you?" Sirius asked, giving Snape a cold smirk.
Snape looked at Sirius warily. "Yes."
Sirius let out a cold laugh also and got close to Snape. "Go to the Whomping Willow. Grab the largest stick you can find and poke the knot and the very bottom of the trunk. When you do, walk forward and follow the tunnel. There, you'll find what Remus does when he leaves." Sirius whispered, dare written all over his words.
'And hopefully you'll meet a werewolf. Maybe he'll shut you up.' Sirius thought angrily.
He let go of Snape and let him fall to the floor. Snape got up and smirked.
"Black, I don't think you've ever been so useful." Snape said. With that, he disappeared around the corner, no doubt heading toward the Whomping Willow.
Sirius stood there for a moment, the anger still pumping through his veins. When he had calmed down, he glared at the spot Snape had stood moments before.
'Ha! I hope Moony does bite him! That'll teach him to mess with—'
But something else in Siruis's mind clicked. 'Moony! Moony would never forgive himself if he bit Snape! But then again....how would he know? It could have been someone else! But no! He's the only werewolf in the whole school.'
Sirius tried to reason with himself. Then, a rule he had read while studying werewolves a few years back crossed his mind.
If a werewolf is to kill or bite anyone, he will take the risk of being executed himself.
Sirius felt his blood run cold. Horror began to show on his once happy and care free features. 'Moony....
'They'll take him away. We'll never see him again. It'll be all my fault.'
Sirius ran to the window. He could already see the full moon. He suddenly heard a long, loud howl. There was only one person it could be.
Sirius stepped away from the window, horror-struck at what he had just done.
Doing the only thing he could think of, Sirius turned and ran. He knew wherever he went, there was no way to out run the problem he had just caused.
'Moony....I'm sorry.'
A/n. Okay, there you go! I know this was short and I think you know where it's going. I hope you read chapter four before you read this one though. Anyways, I'm really, really sorry for taking so long to update. My little brother is in the hospital now. He'll be there all week. I'm starting the next chapter already. I'm a bit busy but I promise to make time in my schedule to update as long as people are still reading it. ï