Note of Apology: I'm terribly sorry I didn't post this anytime earlier. I fell terribly ill. No, nothing – NOTHING – to do with any virus around! Believe me, it takes a lot to get me sick. I had some sleeping problems [unidentified: Insomnia???], stress from examination competition [passed with okay marks, flunked Moral], peer pressure [dad and mum are monsters; they don't understand me], psychological and emotional problems [never thought of it, eh?] and a few dizzy encounters with the wall. Also, there's FF.N login system down. So, please forgive me!
Silver-Gold: you can send all the questions to me, you know. And I DO read all the reviews :) really! Of course, it only happens when I get back from tuition… that's rare.
Lynn-chan: um, I wouldn't call myself a great writer, and neither would anyone that I know personally. *laughs nervously* they call me a psycho, really. And thank you for the praise of the plot! ^_^ I don't go to an International School, and believe me, my command of English [ESPECIALLY Grammar] is terrible. Malaysia's nice… if you didn't get sting by a bottle, strolling the beach! :P
Mr.P: I'm not sure about the strategy, but the Marauders generally take things to their own hands {yes, they DO live in one of my worlds} so it'll come in a moment. I'll think about it, though! ^^ no, I'm not Japanese, and it's not my native language, either. My native language is … I don't know. Hokkien, Mandarin, English and Malay? I'm not good in all of those.
Greengoldfish: yep! You can be the secretary treasurer!! ^_^ and… no, I didn't feel better. In fact, I was much worse off. Awesome chapter…? I HATE that chapter! I'm pretty sure that I'd hate this one, too, if it weren't for the certain elements I … uh, sneak in. and I couldn't manage to update soon, because of my current problem [re: Note of Apology]. Well, if I can't talk for a month, I'll purposely annoy people. You know, call them all sorts of things, and they won't even know! Good way of ridding the pressure.
Pschan_88: lol, I read them ALL! ^_^ yep, all the CCS manga! Lovely, the whole thing, and it's even more beautiful with the words; trust me. I just began taking my mandarin lessons again, you know :) yes, Tessie's dead, if you would think it that way.
Y. Kuang: It's too bad that you find And They Live Happily Ever After…? nicer than Masquerade! I'm rather fond of the latter! ^_^ Yes, I'm Chinese, but I have a bad command of my Chinese characters. Really, reading them is a strain since I can barely memorise half my age's vocab! I'm not good at L/J or writing; just happen to have some experiences and dreams ^_^ thank you, anyway!
Smiley: you know, I like Smiley more than Kitty Luver! :P maybe because it's shorter, and it has the word "smile" in it! You're moving? That's too bad… you'd better keep in contact with each other, or you might end up with a bad ending, like me and my old friend. We lost contact, and she wouldn't even call me anymore!
Tap-Chan: there are clues in Y6 and Y5, and I think a very very short and unnoticeable hint in Y4. Lucky you didn't flunk anything! I hate Moral papers… it's not like I don't have a moral if I can't remember those values. I have poor memory! Ah, sorry, pointless rambling! ^^; and yes, Tessie's gone. Are you going to rejoice or cry?
the Angelic Andria: yeah, that's the huge problem, when mummy is a teacher! You are GUARDED. I've always wanted to go to a boarding school, to escape my parents :P then I thought, if mum were one of the teachers, wouldn't it break half my dreams? … maybe that's how Melissa came to be there, anyway. I wasn't planning for her, but oh well. There HAS to be a survivor.
Lady Louisa: You're in luck, then! My detention consists of Civil Service [WHOLE SCHOOL!!!!] and a contract of behaviour [SUSPENSION!!!!] and a few demerit points [NOOO!!!!! My efforts for Sports Day!]. Good thing you're in England! ^_^
~*Crystal Lily*~: I just added those instinctively!!! [*points at the asterisk and the wavy thing*] anyway, my clue isn't really important :) the nice part comes when the Marauders take all the effort to decode it AND Voldemort would just prove that they're just too smart to think a simple answer! ^^ you'll see.
Lily's friendJess: my writing didn't scare you away?? No??? thank you!!!! *hugs* that's the first time anyone has ever said it to me! But how did I bring you back? And… I'm terribly sorry if I leave a bad review [or whatever note I left in your review box!], because I'm a very bad reviewer. Please forgive me!
Leigh Black: you're grounded? Oh great, it'll be my turn to get grounded next week! Dad will, see, because I flunk one subject. Talk about peer pressure. Er. I mean, child abuse.
Elena: I don't get it, really! Is everyone rejoicing that Tessie's gone, or are they just sad? *looks puzzled* oh well!!! You'll have to put up with this weirdness, though. It'll go on for some time, I think, but I can't be too sure!
CherryBlossomz008: I want it to be shorter than 10 chappies because I'm worried that you'll be bored of it! ^_^ truly! Besides, I have a notion that the next few chapters are going to be long. Don't ask me how. Plenty of explanation to make, I think, since I got some questions, and I have to tie a lot of loose ends! I don't want to abandon anyone! I know THAT feeling very well!!! And whilst I didn't write another chapter, I did come up with a new plot :) forgiven?
Milkyweed: wonderful? … *pauses and wonders if she should explain WHY she hates the last chapter* er… *decides not to* I guess everyone has different views! ^_^ I respect opinions!! :P
Hermione2: No one expected Tessie to be Voldie?? That's something. I was afraid that people think like me [observing too many tiny details] and suspect her, what with her entries to the Gryffindor Tower! Amusing! ^^
Glacial Phoenix Mystiara: utter relief that she's a Psychic? *ponders on that* I don't know. Maybe it is, maybe it's not. I haven't written the next chapter yet, so I won't know! You can ask me again once I finish the next chapter! :) then I'd probably reply, "Ask again next week" and that week, I'll repeat that again and again and again UNTIL the story finishes, and you'll know the answer!!! *beams brightly* well, it WOULD work…
Disclaimer: To whomever in question, the Marauders, Hogwarts, all don't belong to bunny chan. In fact, the only thing she owns is just the Marauders [uhm, their personality, at least], Loopy Village [which she doubts exist], minor characters and Adele Varens ^_^ those mage stuff are my conjurations, so don't you DARE mess with them!
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The Marauding Five : Year SevenChapter 3: Quidditch: Phase 2
'YAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!! FIIINNNNNNNAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' Lily shrieked in triumph, shattering windows and injuring all eardrums in the Great Hall.
The witches and wizards stared at their HeadGirl in half amusement, quarter fear and quarter fright. Lily's outburst had been rather… surprising. Very surprising, actually. She was supposed to be mute.
Adele stated that, testily trying to see if her ears are still working. It was fine, except for the small fact that it's vibrating quickly, still rattling from the loud and very forceful wavelength.
'I swear, if I go deaf, I'll MURDER you!' James snapped.
'I got my voice back, I got my voice back,' Lily sang happily (thankfully, in a bearable volume) as she danced and twirl happily on Gryffindor table. The first years were already doubting her sanity. After all, HeadGirl aren't supposed to be so… weird. Right? Um, maybe they are…?
'That's very good, Evans. Now, if you would kindly return to your seat,' McGonagall said, trying to pull Lily down. She succeeded. Lily somersaulted onto the floor neatly and grabbed the professor.
'Minnie!!! I got my voice back! I got my voice back! After ONE BORING DULL MONTH!!!! I can talk!!!!!' Lily cried in ecstasy, shaking McGonagall violently in her excitement.
'Y-yes, Lily, we can tell—now…'
'I CAN TALK!!!!!!'
'Very good, er. Would you kindly be seated now?'
'I can finally finally talk again!! I think my voice misses me, too!'
'Yes, Lily, now…'
'And believe me, I'm—'
'Lily, please!'
'Listen to me!! I just got my voice back!! As I was saying, I was—'
'Looks like she's very happy,' Sirius mused in fear. 'That's scary. The next thing you know, she might cast a spell to rain sweets and candies.'
'Isn't that good?' Adele pondered.
'No. They're as huge as a sofa!' Remus cried.
'WHAT???? That's MADNESS!'
'Tell us about it,' James nodded. 'And she doesn't look close to shutting up now,' Remus sighed wistfully. 'There goes our nice quiet weekend.'
'Lily Evans!' McGonagall said sharply in frustration, interrupting Lily's pleasant chatter. 'I am very glad that your voice is back. Yes, truthfully. Now, will you PLEASE be seated again?'
'Yep!' Lily chirped, and plopped onto her place between Adele and James again. She was too happy. Finally! Gone with the stupid sheaf of parchments (her muggle notebook ran out of space—big writing) that she has to carry everywhere she goes! And off with that blunt(-ing) quill, too. Her pen had ran out of ink and the tip blunted from writing on the coarse parchments long ago.
And she was too tired of writing already, since she can't use those Blessed-Gift-Called-Psychic because no one else should, technically, know that she's one.
Lily turned to chatter with her friends.
'Tape her up. Someone, please,' James said when he noticed Lily was taking a deep breath. Meaning that there's a long string of talk coming. Lily scowled blackly at him. Just then, McGonagall called her over.
'We don't dare, Jimmy,' Sirius said in a mock trembling voice. 'She'll blast us off; literally.'
'Yeah, why don't you do it? You're her fiancé, after all!' Remus added, grinning wickedly.
'No. Adele can. Alright Adele, you heard me, tape her,' James said, handing the raven-haired girl a spell-o-tape.
'And have SPIDERS in my bed?' Adele screeched. 'No!!! She's been cooking up all sorts of things!'
'We're against Ravenclaw!' Lily declared to James. 'Second game, Minnie say.'
'Oh. That's fun,' James said boringly, waving it off casually. Then his eyes snapped up at Lily. 'RAVENCLAW??'
'What do you think it is, then? Teddy Bear Paws?' Lily said sarcastically. 'Or did you just want me to repeat it, because you miss hearing my voice for a month and two weeks?'
'Hah, you wish. I'd rather the time you lost it! It was a peaceful haven,' Sirius huffed.
'Hey, at least I spoiled Voldemort's plans! Else, James'd be dead by now!' Lily retorted sharply.
'Ravenclaw… Ravenclaw…'
'Really nice,' Adele murmured sentimentally (just a SHOW, of course). 'Girl saving her boyfriend from the evil dark lord.'
'Cut it,' the other girl advised.
'Ravenclaw… Ravenclaw…'
'What's wrong with Ravenclaw, James?' Lily asked curiously. 'It's not as if we hadn't fought them – and defeat them – before.'
'Ravenclaw…'
'Alright, I officially proclaim James Potter stupid,' Remus announced. 'All he can say now's just Ravenclaw! What's the big fuss???'
'Ravenclaw…'
'Maybe- maybe he likes someone from there! And he doesn't want to fight her! Or make her house lose!' Adele exclaimed brightly.
'Watch it, Varens!' James snapped fitfully at her. 'I won't like anyone at all!'
'What about darling Lily?' Remus poked mischievously.
'She can blast you,' Sirius contemplated. 'And you really have to watch out for her daggers… and woe be told to those who hate her!!!' James paled slightly. He knew all about that. What sort of childhood friend would he be if he didn't?
'What are we waiting for, then? Let's get Lily!!' Adele grinned evilly, turning to Lily, who was chatting happily with Tally and Dan about how "terrible" is it to not be able to speak for a month and two weeks and, more specifically, three days and nine hours. 'Oh Li~!!!!'
'Shuddup! Okay, okay, fine, whatever! Just don't tell her!' James hissed, yanking hard at Adele's ponytail.
'Whatever?' Sirius echoed innocently. 'Hey! Tinkerbell!' It wasn't loud enough to reach Lily, though. He was intending to torture James to the fullest extent. The face of shock and horror that Potter rarely displayed was pleasant. Besides, how often do you see James Potter blushing???
'Hey! Hey!' James said urgently, also pulling him down. 'Whatever you like, okay?'
'Whatever WE like?? You mean to say you LOATHE her??' Adele exclaimed in horror.
'ALRIGHT! Fine! Anything to do between friends and fiancé! Your wish!' James cried, throwing his arms up.
'ONLY friends?' Remus noted. 'Gee… now that, our parents must certainly know,' he decided.
'Grr!!!' James tried the glare and the Look. It bounced off his friends. 'Okay, listen. Love only, okay? Get it? Topic finite!'
Big mistake to be too detailed. James regretted that instantly. His friends seem to have grown horns and tails.
'Aah… Love?' Remus grinned the Cheshire cat grin. 'Really?'
'Enlighten us, my dear friend. What about love?' Sirius said. James shuddered.
'Like,' he corrected them hastily. 'Only like. As A Friend.'
'We won't tell,' Adele nudged.
'Not now.'
'Yes now.'
'No.'
'Good, we'll find my mum, then,' Sirius said. 'She'll dig it out of him!' He skipped towards the door. Lily saw the rest of the Marauders running after him (and James dragged?).
'Hey! Wait for me!!!!!'
**
'Understand that, Cephie, your "darling baby Tessie" is gone. She was – or is – Voldemort,' Melissa Black's crisp, bored-out voice floated to their ears. There was faint sobbing in the background. Sirius gingerly turned the doorknob.
'YOU!!! YOU MURDER MY DAUGHTER!' a mad hysterical voice greeted the Marauders. They froze. It was Cephie, Neptune's wife. Lily stared blankly back in reply. Well, so much for a warm welcome.
'Who's your daughter?' she asked. 'Tessie? She was adopted! Geez! Some people just don't know where they stand.'
'You- you MURDERER! I- I'll get you placed in Azkaban!' Cephie shrieked, bouncing up and down violently. James wanly compared her to a lunatic.
'Now, Cephie—'
'Good girl, calm down now,' Sirius said soothingly.
'MURDERER!!!!!!!'
'Ah,' Lily said, 'now I have a lunatic after me.'
'What?' Adele said, frowning at Lily. 'Can't you see that she's just too upset!
'No, she's going mad,' James corrected. 'Scary, really. Voldemort sure has his way in dealing with emotions.'
'Why, that cold hearted creep'—('Well YES! What do you expect? He's Voldemort!' Remus pointed out)—'I thought we were taught from the VERY start that brewing potions dealing with human emotions are illegal! What = no, how – on earth did he graduate from Hogwarts in the first place???' Sirius hissed, clenching his fists.
'That's why he's called the dark lord,' Remus said flatly.
'Oh, yes, you're right.'
'GIVE ME BACK MY DAUGHTER!!!!'
'…' Adele stared as Melissa tried to calm the hysterical lady down.
James remembered the reason they were here.
'Uh, hey, since you're busy, we'll just ciao, kay?' James said, sending Sirius a calm smirk. 'Bye bye!!! Have fun… er, calming Cephie.' And he pushed the Marauders out of the room before Melissa could even ask why were they there in the first place.
'Freaky,' Lily noted, referring to Cephie.
'Well, it could've been worse,' Remus said, 'she could be trying to murder you.'
'Good point. She did try to choke me just now, though. Is that a different case?'
'Kind of.'
A disturbingly silent pause echoed past them as the Marauders dragged boringly past the small garden. It's just a boring stout tree that no birds would go near to (because it's been an experimental tree made by some foul potion) and a few littered benches with half a leg or two gone.
They stopped there. Just to take in the scenery. Sort of.
'Why were we there anyway?' Lily asked suddenly.
'Where?' Adele inquired.
'At Melissa's room! And I was talking,' Lily said solemnly. 'Now she's going to owl my mum, yak some rubbish and maybe make me talk more! About Voldemort, you know.'
'That's your hobby!!' Sirius laughed. The girl glared in reply.
'Oh sure it is, Lily,' James grinned. Mentally, he sent a message: "Lily, we need a good talk about these busybodies!'
Lily raised an eye and replied him mentally: "Oh."
'You really loved talking,' James added lamely. "YES! Herbology greenhouse #2. On the roof."
'It's not a crime!' Lily retorted. "As if being on the roof is going to draw any less spectators…"
"Argh, who cares! See you there."
"Git. Yu didn't even ask for my consent! Some fine fiancé you are."
At this time, James and Lily were mentally throwing insults and physically glaring at each other in the eye. Sirius, Remus and Adele stared at them.
'Hello!! Lovebirds!' Sirius called, hoping to draw their attention. They ignored him and looked quite near to choking each other. Must be the insults.
'Love is deaf,' Remus snickered evilly. Adele coughed.
"Alright, fine! You win!!!" Lily screamed (Mentally).
"That's really kind of you," James beamed. "See you there!"
What idiots, was all Adele mused to herself as Lily and James stormed off without a word to them. The two remaining boys stared after their "leader" and "next leader to Jimbo Potter" and exchanged glances.
'What happened?'
'I don't know. Glares?'
**
'This had better be for a good reason,' Lily muttered, tugging her flapping robes to hug her body. She felt quite close to getting a cold. A bad bout of cold. 'We're having Quidditch practice soon, and we're NOT losing this year. I hope.'
'Yes, yes, but I thought you wanted to know why we met Melissa just now, see?' James said.
'Oh. So, why?'
'Because our good friends wanted to find out about our relationship,' James said, flustered.
Lily couldn't see the point. She sneezed. That was next best to her reply… hopefully.
'And I think.. it's also time to find out how serious we are in this, too,' James said solemnly. 'Is it really for our parents' wishes? What about ours?' Lily just hugged herself, sit on the roof, made herself comfortable, and narrowed her eyes slightly at the choice of subject. James tapped his shoe against the green glass; 'Well?' Lily stared up at him.
'I want to know why you're asking me this,' she said finally, smiling broadly. It scared James for a moment. Could be the smile.
'Why?? There's a HUNDRED different reasons!'
'There's got to be a short version to it, then.'
He fell silent. 'Wait. I'm the one who's asking here! I want your answer, Lily! What_do_you_feel_about_it_all?????' James demanded sharply.
Lily shrugged. 'Dunno.'
'What do you mean you "dunno"? What sort of answer is that?'
'A very helpful one,' Lily suggested. 'Besides,' she went on, 'I'm having a personality crisis here, thanks to our good ol' Dark Lord's Tessie. I'm having loads of trouble balancing things.'
'You could've been more practical with the answer!' James whined. 'Alright—'
'You asked about my feelings on EVERYTHING!' Lily retorted. 'What am I, a psychologist that studies the mind or something? I'm a teenager – like YOU – and it's not like you don't know how it is!'
'Ah…' That makes sense. 'Alright, yep, sorry, I get it. So what do you feel about OUR RELATIONSHIP?' Lily let out a sneeze.
'What should I feel about it?' Lily asked, blowing her nose into her tissue paper. 'You … want to break the engagement or something?'
'Just answer me first, will you?' James breathed, impatient. Lily's getting hard to handle.
'No, you answer me first. Why do you want to know?' Lily asked, stressing the syllables carefully.
'Because I just want to, okay? Now answer me.'
She refused to regard it an answer. 'If you asked me a question, you should know YOUR answer to that question, right? Think of it logically: this isn't some maths equation which you need help with the formula of. So tell me. Or I'm going to tear that barrier in your nice enclosed little mind space.' Lily smiled again. 'And I don't care if I hurt you at all.' The smile turned into a grin.
James stopped pacing, and allowed the wind to whip his robes and displace his hair. He studied her. Lily had a point. And from that tone in her voice, she'd do whatever she said. She… didn't seem much like Lily, but she is Lily, or else she wouldn't be Lily…. But she's a little changed.
'Well?' Lily challenged confidently.
'You asked me, right?' James said slowly, deciding to lay his cards out carefully. 'So, you must also have your answer after I'd answer.'
'Right, it's a deal.'
The sun was slowly rising towards its normal place; it's twelve o' clock noon throne, right in the middle of the sky. James wondered dryly if he should invite her again when there's a full moon in the sky. Oh no, wait, there's the animagi business at that same time. Ouch.
'I'm waaaaiiiiting,' Lily trilled.
'Um, what was the question again?' James said with a weak grin.
'What do you feel about our engagement. And why you ask me that, too.'
James raised his eyes suspiciously. 'Are you sure the last bit's in the deal?' She nodded firmly.
'I don't really want to be baked here, you know. Hurry up! And we've got Quidditch practise, too!'
One thing James learnt (and was VERY SURE OF) in his life: confessions are hard. Especially the ones about emotions and all. To make matters worse, he'd been really accustomed to lie about it. That last bit would make everything five million times harder. Maybe ten million. Whatever. It's hard.
'Well… I'm okay with it – the engagement thing,' he started. His throat felt dry and parched.
'Why?' Lily asked.
'I'm thirsty,' James blurted. Lily rolled her eyes.
'Oh, you agreed to it because you're feeling thirsty? The fact, my dear James, is undeniably intelligent,' Lily said sarcastically.
'Um, no, actually, I meant…!!! …! …!!!! …!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' She almost laughed at James's facial expression.
'See; you can't answer!' Lily beamed broadly. She stood up and sighed inwardly in relief. 'C'mon, Jam, let's just leave the question here. And we'll get you some water, too,' she said pleasantly.
James, seeing nothing to it, dragged his feet after her as she skilfully hopped off the roof, ankle-length red hair waving after her teasingly.
-*-
'ARGH!!!! Drat!!! Just a BIG more!' the figure hissed, snapping fingers in disappointment. The black robed had been spying the couple for an hour or so already, and was rather hoping that something would happen.
Which didn't.
'Have to rid Lily off her brains first,' the figure muttered thoughtfully, 'then get James Potter. This is going to be so perfect!' Silent cackle followed as the figure blended into the dark corner and then ran off.
-*-
'Alright people, we're against Ravenclaw this time!' James said, banging his broomstick mercilessly on the ground. 'And—'
'Don't treat your broom that way!' Remus snapped.
'Okay, so what am I to do?' James asked sarcastically, cradling his broom; 'Oh darling sweetheart purple fragrances…???' The Gryffindor Quidditch team burst out laughing.
The team this term consists of Captain James Potter (Chaser), Lily Evans (Chaser), Amanda Witt (Chaser, 3rd Year), Sirius Black (Beater), Pattempt Thore (Beater, 3rd Year), Remus Lupin (Keeper), and Jeremiah Chase (Seeker, 5th Year).
'As I was saying, we're against Ravenclaw,' James repeated firmly when the laughing ceased.
'We know,' Sirius said, rolling his eyes. James glared at him.
'So NO DIRTY TRICKS from them, hopefully,' Lily sniffed.
'That's from the Slytherins, I thought,' Jeremiah frowned. 'And Hufflepuffs—sometimes.'
'Which was why I added hopefully.'
'Their house – the Raven – might be airborne, but hey, no one says that lions can't fly!' James said, giving them a confident grin and a wink.
'Griffins not included,' Adele muttered.
'So let's all win this match!!!!!'
'YEAH!!!! The Quidditch Cup!!!' Pattempt cried eagerly. Him entering the team had, quite frankly speaking, horrified the four Marauders. He spent more time worshipping James and Remus and Sirius than fending the team members from the Bludgers.
The heavy gate door swung open to the wide Quidditch Pitch. Solan Trift, Ravenclaw, was the commentator still. The crowds cheered.
'And the Gryffindor losers are out!!!' he called out, in spite of himself, taking sides for his house. Professor McGonagall gave him a sharp warning, which he quickly acknowledge with a hasty remark. Adele, standing nearby, nearly charred the sixth year Ravenclaw. 'Ahem. I- I mean, the mighty Gryffindors are out! Yeah! Really!! Captain James Potter, Chaser Evans, Chaser Witt, Beater Black, Beater Thore, Keeper Lupin aaaaaaand the lousy – EH!!!! Sorry, I mean COOL – Seeker Chase!!! The four –cough- infamous Marauders are in the team with a match against the EVEN MIGHTIER RAVENCLAW!!!'
Cheers and boos (from certain houses, which are self-explanatory) erupted from the audiences as the Ravenclaw team filed out on their brooms.
'Introducing Captain Minty Lite, Chaser Brown, Chaser Tanner, Chaser Hallton, Beater Philt, Beater de Gard aaaaaaand – GIVE A BIG CHEER, FOLKS! – the great Seeker, Gloves!!!!! Ravenclaw's the best team ever! Woohoo!!!!'
'Takes sides again,' Adele muttered, cringing slightly. The little spot on her forehead was getting quite warm from the pent up anger. She pushed her attention towards the game. The captains had shook hands and the game had begun.
'Potter makes a quick dash for the Quaffle, but Brown got hold of it first! – Yeah, go Selene! – she passes it to Tanner, who's at the scoring area… and…!?!?! DAMN YOU LUPIN!!!!!!!!!'
McGonagall's crisp voice yelled over the microphone.
'CIVILISE YOURSELF, TRIFT!'
'Yes Professor, sorry Professor, aye aye Professor! Back on the game! Evans now takes possession of the Quaffle! She hands it to Witt, who shoots it towards Potter – hey, not a bad throw! Potter's about to send it into the basket… MINTY!!!!!! MINTY, STOP THAT BLOODY QUAFFLE!!! ARGH! NO!!!! GRYFFINDOR SCORES?!?!?!?! MINTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You could've been a bloody better—!'
'TRIFT!!!!!' Professor McGonagall's voice boomed dangerously.
'Um… sorry…'
Adele muttered under her breath wishing furiously that she could place a spell on him. It was forbidden, though. She dismissed the thought with a sigh and stared as Sirius fended the Bludger from Pattempt, who was still flying aimlessly.
'Watch out, will you?' Sirius hissed. 'I can't save a whole Quidditch team from TWO Bludgers!'
'Whoops,' Pattempt grinned apologeticly. Jeremiah was looking for the snitch above them, when his face brightened and he began swerving towards the referee for this match, Madam Hooch. Gloves (of Ravenclaw) trailed after him at an amazing speed.
'Why's Jeremiah so slow?' James wondered, frowning, as he sent the Quaffle to Lily, who scored it … quite accidentally. She'd just turned over to face James's remark on the Seeker, and her broom happened to sent the red ball into one of the hoops. 30-30.
Something caught James's eye. A bludger was coming towards Jeremiah and the two Beaters were just too far. James grited his teeth and dashed off.
'James! Hey, James!!! Oy, POTTER!!!!!' Amanda yelled for his attention, grasping the Quaffle Lily had just thrown.
James ignored her.
Lily stared silently, a sombre look creasing her features as Jeremiah grasped the little winged snitch gleefully. James was heading towards Jeremiah's side, when the bludger smashed him forcefully on the nose, knocking the Gryffindor team captain off his broom.
There wasn't time for wands. Or for a yell of warning or a shove. There wasn't time for magic. There wasn't even enough time to think.
James Potter fell to the ground, unconscious, just as Solan Trift, in a disgruntled voice, announced Gryffindor winner, 180-30.
**
There was a low chuckle of amusement.
'That foolish boy. I had always known that he had that sort of thing in him. And now, with two of the main obstacles down, the three minor ones are next.' The nail kinked on the wood, annoyed.
'Well, well. I had never expected that little twerp to unfold my plans THIS early. But it doesn't matter. The second round of the moon shall mark them well.' A low laugh sounded, the horrendously high tone echoed in the stonewall, as creepy crawlies dashed out of the old manor in fright, a thought in them.
--There's a psycho in there.
**
The strong smell of stinking, disgusting boiled herbs wafted into his nose, instantly awaking his senses almost at once. The brown eyes shot open, red filling its usual whites, as he yelled "GET THAT DISGUSTING SMELL OFF ME!!!'
'Gee, okay, okay! At least Lily wasn't kidding when she said that you'll be cranky when you get up,' Adele's voice giggled. The was a shuffle of long robes as the smell wafted off, leaving only pleasant … what's this smell? Peach?
'Hey Potter, are you okay? Sorry, I didn't notice that Bludger,' Jeremiah's quiet tone muttered. 'Got too caught up in catching the snitch, see.'
'We'd won, though!' Remus's voice trilled happily. James stared on. For some unclear reason to him, his ears seem to twitch at every sound, as if they were catching every wavelength. And the smell was still… strong, although it's not medicine.
'How…? Where are all of you? Why's it so dark anyway? It is night, or maybe it's just a game you're playing?' James demanded crossly.
'Look at him! Poor Prongs ol' boy. Stupid, you're not wearing your glasses!' Sirius chided. He handed James his black round glasses. James just stared on stupidly. Huffing, Sirius pushed it into his hands. The boy placed it on his nose.
And he blinked.
'BLEHH!!!' Adele shrieked, sticking her tongue out at him. Then she laughed. 'Scared?'
'Are you sure you aren't playing a joke? Who painted my lenses???' James demanded again, 'cause it's NOT funny at all.'
'Hey…?' Remus said slowly, holding his hand in front of his friend's face. James's dark brown eyes stared right on, not the least bit disturbed.
'Where's Lily?' James asked abruptly, realising that Lily wasn't anywhere near.
'Evans?' Amanda echoed. 'Well, she went back to her dorm.'
'Yeah, said something about Divination or something.' Pattempt piped confidently, 'Lily's sure to know what's happened!'
'If she doesn't, it's the end of the world,' James muttered.
The doorknob turned and a girl with a high ponytail stepped in.
'James,' Lily said quietly, 'nice try with the bravery thing, but your sight would be… disturbed. About a few weeks though, if you're unlucky. If you're lucky – I mean, if Sirius can manage it PATIENTLY – you might have it in a week.'
So much for Lily's idea of drama, was James's subconscious thought when his lips yelled 'WHAAAAAAAAAT???'
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AN: I made another random try at the ending ^^;; then again, I can't complain on how my brain INSISTED that it should be really confusing. It's my head anyway. Been arguing with myself too much. Anyway, I did okay for my mid-year exam… so I'm not grounded from the computer!!!! Huzzah! Huzzah!! Huzzah!!! Being the top ten in class has loads of advantages!! *grins broadly*
I'll make this short, and probably add some… stuff in my notes. My notebook has been FLOODING with my little doodles of manga characters and all these TMF notes! Scary, really.
Do my poor head a favour, please, and tell me what you think of this chapter…? *puppy eyes* pleaaaase? hehe ^_^
Oh, and people. Much as I want to say "I WANT 20 REVIEWS FOR THIS CHAPTER OR NO CHAPTER 5!!!!!" and a lot more exclamation marks, I won't. see? I'm such a nice person! *sniffles* but anyway, the reason why I wanted to say it was because nearly everyone else I know seem to say it! :P lol!
hip hop hip hop hip hop—plop!! Argh, how'd that stone get in the way of a rabbit's path???? ~bunny chan [from one of my many doodles in my chemistry book]