Chapter Five: Tales of a Sunny Friday
At long last, and about one-hundred years from the sunday they had arrived back at Hogwarts, or so it seemed to most of the student body. Friday dawned, without a hint of fog. The fluffy clouds were scudding across a brillant blue sky. Autumnal leaves thrashed and rolled about the air. Tumbling and rolling as the breeze floated across the immaculate lawns causing the; still green, but withering grass, to sway in a singular direction like the waves upon the lake. Ah, the lake. The central feature of the magnificent castles ground. Chilling at this time of year, and yet it called whenever a student would take a moment to peep through the windows before being torn back to lessons. All minds were wayward, just as was the squid as it glided with serene uncaring just below the translucent surface of the massive water feature. One Reubeus Hagrid could be seen from afar stumping blithely along the edge of the very forbidden, Forbidden Forest.
James Potter heaved a heavy sigh and rubbed his right hand frantically through his already mussed hair. Preferably he would have been outside. Hell, he'd even have settled for a room with a view. Instead, he and the Gryffindors as well as, and always, the Slyherins were couped within the Potions Dungeon with... A very blank look came over Potter's face, and the potion he was supposed to be stirring gurgled irately frothing about. Still, Potter stood stock still. Staring into space, or rather at Sirius Black's forehead across the table from him. What was the Professors name? Toadblat, Toadface, Toggle... No it wasn't any of those. And for the life of him he couldn't remember anything. He swayed slightly and managed to croak something out, "Blurdy 'ell" with a further gurgle the infamous Potter toppled over, out cold on the dungeon floor.
Lupin, Black, and Pettigrew all leaned toward Potter each one getting a face full of the noxious fumes imanating from the foaming cauldron. Black leapt back a good foot and a half bumping up against the dungeon wall, which was covered in shelves full of glass jars. Each tinkling in soft complaint from the sudden attack upon their structure. Remus reeled backward lifting an arm and plastering it across his mouth and nose a look of shock causing his sandy brows to arch upward. Peter skittered back similar to Sirius but without nearly shattering a whole wall of floating ooze.
Slughorn who had been profusely praising a certain Gryffindor girl suddenly roused himself from his state of student brought about ecstasy when the whole of the Slytherin students began guffawing loudly. Leveling an odd look at them before he turned to look at what they saw. Spotting the commotion at the Marauder's table Slughorn waddled over his belly shacking like a cauldron full of slimey eyeballs. Toddling 'round the table slightly Slughorn spotted the prone form of Potter. Bending forward slightly he took a sniff, then retrived a handercheif from a pocket and placed it to his nose, "Oh dear, dear ,dear." he wheezed.
Lily having followed him over and placed her arm to her nose using the cloth of her school robe much as the Professor used his handkercheif, "What happened Professor?" she queried. Eyeing the Marauders that had backed away as well as their unconcious fellow.
Slughorn waved a hand toward Black and Lupin, "Come here boys, Hold your breath and get Mr. Potter out of there..."
Anxiously both Lupin and Black took great gulps of air into their lungs before slinking into the miasma and dragging James out by his arms. Once free of the smog that sputtered out their held breaths and gasped down fresh. Slughorn looked at them, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet, "You'd best get Mr. Potter to the hospital wing, M'boys. Go on, you to mister Pettigrew, collect their bags. Thats a good lad, hurry along now."
When the door had closed behind the Marauders, Slughorn turned to the cauldron. Leaning over it with his kercheif clutched to his nose he eyed it, gave it experimentory stirr which set it to popping rather oddly. Leaning back he lifted his wand the remove the offending concoction, this however only seemed to aggrivate the mixture more. With a sound like a gunshot the cauldron belched forth a billowing cloud of smoke causing, with a shriek, the entire class to madly dash; punching, biting, kicking, dragging, clawing, and generally being roudy, toward the door. Slughorn followed as fast as his legs could carry him, gallumphing out the door. If any had cared to notice the first to leave, in a scramble of material grabbing had been the Slytherins. The Gryffindors only a snitch's wing behind.
The entire class had vacated the dungeon at this point, and were now all sitting morosely on the steps to the entrance hall. Slughorn had, after telling them all to stay put and stay quiet, gone off to seek aid from the Headmaster.
The rest of the day had swept by in a dull and uneventful sort of way. A whirl of colors and words and flying rumors. Frankly, though Lily. If they embelished the story any farther James will have killed a giant, two dragons, and a horde of Dark Wizards and then and only then passed out.
Which was very true. The story of James Potter having been knocked out in potions had spread like wild fire on a prairie. The greater part of the female population of Hogwarts had refused to hear of their Hero being thwarted by a mere Potion and thus had embelished and embued the story with greater meaning, power, and heroisms. It was giving those who knew the truth a right headache. Lily in particular was having trouble coping.
It seemed, at this point, that only the people that had been there knew the whole truth. The potion's reaction hadn't even been James' fault. It had been something that had been put into his cauldron, probably while he was collecting ingredients or something. The Gryffindors were favoring the Slytherins nastier than ever. In fact, it appeared that it was the same item which had made it revolt against Slughorns cleaning charm. Which, had essentially put all of the class in danger! To say the least the Headmaster had been livid.
As she thought about it all, Lily was sauntering down the fairly empty corridors. She had only past a few people going here or there, since classes were out after all. Most were outside enjoying the last of the days sun or studying in the library or their respective common rooms. She had just come around the corner to the hall in which the Portrait of the Fat Lady was hung where she found Sirius cornered, yes cornered, by Nikki Bloslatch. Of course at the time Lily hadn't thought of it as Black being cornered. She had heard all the rumors about his promescuity and really didn't doubt them.
"Oh come oooooon!" Nikki whined. "Siri.. Come on." Her face contorted into a sheer pout as she sauntered a step closer to him.
Black was already backed into the wall. He had been playing with her head a bit. However, that seemed to translate into her beleiveing he wanted her as a girlfriend. Siris fought down the need to wretch. "No. Bloody Hell no. Get away from me!" he barked.
Lily paused upon hearing Sirius' harsh command. Slightly confused at what was going on. However, as Head Girl she wasn't going to allow anything to happen while she was there! Picking up he pace she hurried down the hall in time to here Nikki cry out in indignation. "I thought you wanted me to be your girlfriend. Isn't that why you've been talking to me!"
Black caught sight of the on-comming Lily Evans and made a dash for it. Darting passed Nikki and hiding behind Lily, who was a good head or so shorter than he. Lily found herself wanting to laugh but the moment called for some amount of seriousness. Black, bent partially in double, a hand on either of Lily's shoulders snarled at the blonde. "No! I do not!" then whining to the red-head he was attempting, rather unsuccessfully, to conceal himself behind. "Lillums, She's scary make her leave me alone!"
Now at that Lily couldn't help but giggle slightly. She found it funny that brave Siris Black, all bravado, would find a brainless twit like Nikki Bloslatch to be scarey. After she had herself under control she patted one of Sirius' hands. "Take it easy, Black." she said, hardly controlling her hilarity at his positon. Turning her emerald eyes on the problem she placed her hands on her hips and eyed Nikki. With a sharp tone she confronted the girl, "You heard him Nikki. He's not interested. Go shake your over-sized cleavage else where!"
The blonde went read in the face, Lily would have likened the color to her own hair if she'd been worried about that. Just then a bit of terror set in. She had the oddest feeling the girl was going to attack her. One hand strayed toward her wand slowly. Nikki grabbed out her wand and began to bear down on then eyes a-fire. However, the silently watching Sirius stepped in on the matter in one swift, graceful motion. Stepping right around Lily and standing in front of her, wand drawn. Nikki stopped, blinking.
Black's grey eyes narrowed sharply, borring into the the girl's blue eyes. When he spoke, his lips barely moved. "I suggest you don't. I can only imagine he would be exceptionally angry to hear that you had, even if you barely singed a hair on her head. Besides, Bloslatch, I am not and never will be interested as you in such a way." he narrowed his eyes further, leaving them barely open but for slits. "Get lost!"
The blonde squeaked, turned and scampered. Disappearing down the stairs toward the Entrance Hall. Lily let out a bit of a breath. "Thanks, Black." she said softly, beaming at him.
He flapped a hand at her. Giving her a bit of a smile, "Don't worry about it. I'd rather face that scarey stalker than a peeved Prongs." he said with a chuckle. Without another word he strolled off and clambered, after saying the password, through the portrait hole.
Lily blinked after him, "What does Potter have to do with this!" she cried belatedly. After a moments longer pause she ran after Black, snapped the password, and darted in.
James had awoken in the Hospital wing, remembering little about what had occured in potions. He had been told, he had groaned, he had whined, and he had imagined the embarressment about three seconds before it hit him. It made him want to curl up and stay there. Imagine, passing out in front of the whole class. No, No, forget that... Imagine! He'd passed out in front of Lily Evans... Yet another groan escaped him as the middle aged nurse, Madam Pomphrey, shooed him out of the door. It was well into the late hours, almost curfew, and he was perfectly fine now. Dejectedly Potter shuffled down the halls toward Gryffindor Tower.
When he reached the Fat Lady he didn't notice until she spoke, "Something got you down, Potter?" she asked peering down at him. To which he mumbled the password. Instead of opening she responded. "Its not good to be so downcast, you'll make it rain again! Think of all the other poor blokes and birds!"
This time he yelled the password, getting a very nasty look from the Fat Lady as she swung open. With about as much grace as a duck on land, James Potter flopped through the portrait hole. It was pretty much empty. Actually, he thought it was empty. He couldn't have been more wrong. A soft voice broke through his mind as he stared across the floor his face had just met. A voice he truely didn't want to hear, "James, are you ok?" a befuddled Lily Evans asked.
Lifting his head Potter winced as he looked at her legs. She was standing a short distance away. A very perverted thought came through his head and he immediately was glad that she couldn't read his mind, and also that it was dim enough that she couldn't see the flush that was coming to his cheeks. If I were farther over there I might be able to see up her--Oh JUST SMITE ME NOW! he thought loudly. He seemed to think that if he demanded it loudly enough it'd happen. However, no smiting came and the next moment he was dragged to his feet by his arms. Lifting his head, his glasses sitting lopsidedly on his face, he found himself being held up by Remus and Sirius.
Remus lifted a brow, and Sirius gave him one of his wolfish grins. The two dragged him across to the fire and deposited him onto the couch where he lay staring upward on his back. Black and Lupin situated themselves in a couple of over-stuffed arm-shairs nearby. Lily, stood shaking her head. With silent movement she walked over and looked down at James standing behind his head. Reaching out she plucked off his glasses from their lopsided position. "Good lord, Potter, Your a mess!" she said in disbelief. She cast a look aty Black and Lupin as though accusing them of sneaking him something odd. The two just shrugged. Lifting the glasses up she looked through them, a moments pause passed and then she exclaimed. "You really are blind as a bat!"
Potter's eyes which he had closed previous to her abduction of his specs snapped open. The room was now fuzzy and a massive blurr, after a moment someone appeared to lean over him. Squinting his hazel eyes he could make out a pair of green eyes hovering above him, a face framed in red hair. After a moment he said, rather ironically, "Well... I am now."
Lily rolled her eyes, but he could see(just barely mind you) her lips quivering with a supressed smile. He could also hear Sirius and Remus howling with laughter somewhere out of his line of vision. Lily's hand came into view offering him his glasses back whilst she said in a rather dry voice, "Obviously..."
Reaching up to regain his glasses Potter started chuckling. Lily stepped away, crossing her arms over her chest and watching the three. James slowly sat up and put his glasses back on. His laughter beginning to get louder as he joined his friends in their mirth. Lily herself couldn't stop a grin splitting her face. Before one could say 'Quaffle' the four of them were in tears from it all. Lily, have dropped into a chair needing the support, attempted to speak through her hilarity.
"Di-did you lot put.. Put a.. Put a charm on me or something?" she inquired wiping tears from her emerald eyes.
Sirius barked out a particularly loud peel of laughter at that. James ended up the one who answered, "Oh don't bloody fool yourself, Lily." he managed out. Chuckling the whole time. "We can't do charms with worth an arse..."
Remus nodded sagely, "He's right ya'know. We're not as good as you are... Though Sirius could have done something without us knowing. I wouldn't put it passed him."
Black shot up and turned to look at Remus, "Heeeeey!" he wined. "Moony thats not nice!"
Lupin shook his head, "You'll live, Paddy." he said. "Then again maybe you won't.." his face contorted into a feigned mask of sadness.
With a growl Blakc lept for Remus. Lupin let out a yep, jumped up and tore off. Potter sat there on the couch watching the two. Giving his head a shake he stood up. Somewhere in the background a loud thump could be heard as Sirius tackled the young werewolf.
Potter stretched, yawned, and announced, "I think I'll nip off to get something to eat..." without a further word, knowing his comrades in crime, fellows in felony, companions in chaos, and all that other rubbish hadn't heard him at all.
Lily stood, "Where are you going, Potter?" she asked sharply.
Turning slightly James gave her a bit of a lopsided grin. Lily's face remained stoicly blank toward it, "Just to the kitchens to get something to eat, Lily."
She watched him stride toward the portrait hole, "But its after hours! What about your duty. Your supposed to be a role model! she cried in outrage.
He paused, shrugged, and sighed, "Look, Lily, I'm hungry. I haven't eaten since breakfast. Give it a break for once!"
"Oohhh..FINE! I'm coming with you though!" he was already out of the portrait hole and she followed with due speed.
The last thing either heard from common room as the Fat Lady closed behind them, was Remus Shouting something along the lines of "No! Don't- DON'T LICK MEEEE!"
It had been fairly easy for the two of them to make their way through the halls. Has Lily had known James Potter was an expert sneak. Even without his little Marauding tools. Though she didn't particularly know about those. They where now walking down the hall to where the kitchen lay. Lily had been there once or twice when her friends had cajoled her into going. Apparently they'd managed to get the way out of Remus at some point in time. He was walking along silently beside her. Hands stuffed into his pocket. It had been fairly silent and she had been obvserving him for no particular reason when he broke that easily constructed silence, "Why'd you come?" he asked lightly.
She sniffed slightly. "Because that way I can make sure you don't get up to something.. Marauder-ish." she declared.
He chuckled at her words. Pausing before the portrait of the bowl of fruit he looked at her lifting one brow in question, "Such as?" he asked. He was slightly amused by her answer.
She eyed him for a moment then shrugged, "Revenge on the Slytherins for making your potion go all wonky or something. I don't know. I can't fathom your mind."
He outright laughed at that. He gave her an easy smile and reached up, lightly tickling the pear on the portrait and then pulling it open. Before he walked in he gave her a lopsided grin, "Don't worry, Lily. I'm going to be good this year. Just for you." he winked at her, then bowed in a formal manner. "Ladies first?"
Lily was about to say something like 'I Never!' and start up an arguement with him, when it all just fled from her. She had taken a moment this time, to consider what he'd said. In a truthfulness she decided it wasn't worth coming off as immature to scold him, not to mention it really was sweet. The next moment, the wink, the bow, and all brought a slight flush to her cheeks. She really didn't know what was coming over her! She simply gave him a smile, did a small curtsey in return, "Why thank you!" before walking in ahead of him.
They had left some time after wards and returned to the common room to find it empty. Lupin and Black having obviously retreated to their dormitory for the night. Potter paused near the center of the room causing Lily to nearly run into his back. He turned and she looked at him questioningly. He simply reached out, placing a hand on her right cheek, and for a moment she wsa readying herself to slap him if he tried to kiss her. Instead he simply planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "Goodnight, Lily." he said, then turned, and disappeared up the Boy's staircase.
Lily Evans stood there in utter shock. James Potter was a very forward person in his advances toward her, yet he'd never been foreward in that manner. That sort of forewardness was a sweet, and kind sort of one. Not at all his usual style. Yet, in the same time, that little kiss had been platonic, something friends could exchange. Though she knew there was probably more meaning than that to it. All in all she could see it, as though it were playing on a screen before her, that this year was going to be horrifying. Yet, somewhere in her, a giddy little voice announced that it was going to be the most amazing year yet. A small smile crept onto her lips as she hurried to the stairs to her own dorm with the other girls. Despite the fact that he'd been a prat in the past, maybe, just maybe, there was a likeable guy beneath all the pomp and circumstance.
Chapter Five: Fin
Authors Note: Ok, sorry that took so long to post... My muse likes to leave me at odd times. Huzzah for that. Anyway... it was fun... It was fluffy... Leave a review?