Oct 22, 2005

A/N: Wow. It turns out I do have readers after all.

First off, I apologize for not having anonymous reviews enabled. Thanks to Madison for telling me. I'm dedicating this chapter to you, for saving my fragile ego. :D

Secondly, I'm thinking of tuning down the rating of this story, because I realized that there isn't any real need for any mature material. I had originally intended there to be some later on, but it isn't a necessity. Tell me what you think.

Thirdly, thanks to queenliz1 for informing me that Thanksgiving was an American holiday. I was wondering why it was never mentioned. Last week of November, then.

Oh, and thank you to all my other reviewers. Unless something comes up, I won't be discontinuing the story.

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Chapter 5: Perspectives

(Forgive me for the crappy title. I'm never good at making them.)

The next Saturday dawned cool and gloomy but thankfully dry, the only unrainy day that Hogwarts castle had seen in a long time. And, as it was fortunately a Saturday, most of the school had opted to skipping breakfast and venturing outside to enjoy the pleasant change of weather.

Of course, some of the least elated students had insisted stubbornly that breakfast was the most important meal of the day, and so remained in the Great Hall, peaceful now from the lack of people, chatting and eating breakfast in the company of their friends. Among these were Lily, Leah, Salina, and James and Co, as well as a certain pale faced, greasy haired sixth year who was currently eyeing them from across the hall.

He sat, slightly hunched over, at the Slytherin table, absently stabbing at a piece of buttered toast that had long since lost its flavor. He was unremarkable in features, though not downright ugly, and he had about him the look of a sort of quiet intelligence. Sitting relatively alone and frowning slightly, his eyebrows knitted together as his beady eyes settled on James Potter.

His frown deepened. It was a well known fact that he and James had hated each other with a passion since they had set eyes on one another. Of course, James always had the upper hand—talent, charm, girls—and had more than often taken advantage of these elements at the expense of this Slytherin boy, teasing him in the hallways, hexing him with spells that grew increasingly malignant, and once, to his indignation, even hanging his underwear, red polka dots and all, from the tallest Quidditch goal hoop for the whole school to point and laugh at.

But even James couldn't best him at one thing. When it came to being observant, the cocky Gryffindor fell far behind. No one saw as much as this shallow faced Slytherin did.

It was natural, of course, that the boy possessed this quality; owning only one or two transient friends and frequently alone, he had nothing to do but watch as the world turned around him.

Watch as James strutted arrogantly around the school with his 'wind-tossed' hair and Quidditch stories, winning all the girls with naught but a glance.

But he had other reasons to hate James.

James, who had claimed Lily Evans the moment they had met, though neither of them knew it at the moment. James, who would capture her heart one way or another. This he was sure of.

They would inevitably be together though they hated each other now, he knew it, just as he knew who each witch had a crush on, or how Nancy Cardigan got Bobby Garnier to go to the Halloween Ball with her last year. That's what he got for being observant.

The boy sighed in dejection. Lily was the only one who didn't blanch at the sight of him, who didn't cheerfully greet him then giggle at his expense the moment she turned the corner. She was the only one who ever stood up to him, the only one who had objected to his humiliation at the hands of Sirius and James last year by the lake after their OWLs, though he liked to think that he could take care of himself. But she would never be his. That he knew.

He had never entertained the possibility that she would fall in love with him, because it simply wasn't feasible. And so he wasn't too disappointed when he began to see a change in the way Lily and James looked at one another.

He would live it down, just as he had lived down every mock or spiteful word that came his way. He would survive.

But he wouldn't be happy about it.

---

James Potter, on the other hand, was feeling pretty darn good about himself, at the moment, as he toyed around with Sirius at the Gryffindor table across the hall, glancing at Lily every so often to see if she was looking. He reached up to run a hand through his hair, raised an eyebrow, and smiled crookedly, speaking louder than usual in an effort to catch her attention.

She was, after all, just like any other girl that he had ever dated. All he needed to win her heart was a well placed smile, a well formed plan, and a well timed "I love you" and she would be in the palm of his hand.

And then he'd do what he always did: sleep with her and dump her the week after.

So what if she suffered a broken heart? She'd get over it. They all did, sooner or later, and if a few tears, some badly written poetry, and ten extra pounds gained in chocolate were involved, then so be it. It wasn't his problem.

He grinned. He would be a gentleman for a few days, give up his masculine pride for a few days, be the perfect guy for a few days, and it would be easy.

It was always easy.

---

Lily, sitting a few seats down from James and his boisterous group of friends, frowned and tried to concentrate on her bacon. Stupid James. He was seeking attention, just as he always was, the arrogant prick.

She stole a glance at him, was caught looking, and hurridly turned back, blushing slightly and ignoring the gazes of her friends.

Salina had, after all, not spoken a word about the conversation between the guys that had taken place a couple of nights before, though she had shared a hurried and giggly chat with Leah about it the morning after in the bathroom. They had decided, after contemplation, that the best thing to do was to leave Lily to find out for herself what James felt about her; they didn't want to have to deal with the blunt end of her anger, and besides, she wouldn't have believed them anyways.

So now they sat, across from Lily, watching as she frowned into her pumpkin juice, exchanging more than a few glances and giggles. They knew full well what James was up to down the table, and Lily would have to be blind and deaf to not notice.

But then again, she was always blind and deaf when it came to James Potter.

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That night saw much commotion and excitement within the common rooms of each house, as notices had appeared on the bulletin boards announcing the date of the next Hogsmede trip, which was to take place in a month's time.

Plans were hurriedly exchanged, dates made, and kisses blown as third through seventh year students excitedly discussed the first Hogsmede visit of the year.

Frank Longbottom and Anne Marsh, who had quickly booked a midnight boat ride and a secluded table at Madam Puddifoot's instantly became the subject of jealousy of many a Gryffindor witch, as every one of them who had boyfriends of their own turned to the unlucky wizards and demanded equal treatment.

The common room had become very cacophonous indeed as people milled about, interrogating one another and flirting outrageously, and so it was that, by ten o'clock, it had grown so unbearable that Lily, who had been trying to study Potions and their Uses (Third Edition), had finally thrown her hands up in defeat and made for the dormitory.

It was mercifully quiet in the empty dorm room, and despite her growing tiredness she spent the next half hour simply gazing out the window at the stars and the vast expanse of lawn. By the time the clock had striked eleven, however, she was beginning to feel her eyelids droop, and decided to call it a night.

She was awoken some time later by heavy clattering and the sound of someone tripping over a trunk in the darkness.

"Dammit," that someone whispered, and Lily, whose arm had been halfway to her wand by that time, recognized Salina's voice and pulled back the curtains around her bed.

In the darkness she could just about make out the vague outline of her friend as she stood in the middle of the round room, rubbing her foot and cursing Leah, who's trunk it had apparently been that tripped her over. The curtains about each of her other friends' beds were still drawn shut; Lily had been the only one to awaken.

"Salina!" she whispered loudly and angrily, realizing the moment her words left her mouth that her friend was still dressed in her school robes. "Salina, what're you doing? It's"—she glanced on the clock on her dresser—"two in the morning!"

Salina started, surprised, then calmed down as she saw her friend across the room. "Dammit," she said again, "You scared me half to death."

Lily ignored this remark. "Why aren't you in bed?"

Salina pulled back the curtains around her own bed, next to Lily's, and replied in a whisper. "I had something else to do."

"At two A.M?"

"Yes, well, it couldn't exactly be done some other time."

Lily felt cold stabs of worry beginning to settle about her. "What couldn't be done some other time?" she cajoled gently, sitting up and pulling her blankets closer about her.

"Do you have any water, Lily? I'm rather thirsty."

Lily pointed to the pitcher on her dresser. "Salina," she said, letting a note of annoyance creep into her voice.

Her friend sighed in defeat. "Jeeze Lily," she exclaimed, "I swear sometimes you remind me of my mother. If you must know, I was with Sirius." Her voice dropped slightly as she spoke his name, but otherwise remained steady.

"Oh." Lily sighed in relief. After all, that Sirius and Salina were now together was no mystery, as well as the fact that the former had dumped his old girlfriend, Morgan, a few days ago and she had promptly spent three whole hours sobbing in the girls bathroom.

Then Lily started again suddenly, and sat up straighter. "Wait," she said slowly, "Salina, you mean, you were with Sirius…" she paused, "…in his bed?"

"Where else?"

"Salina!" Lily cried in shock and anger, about to leap out from her bed and run to her friend's.

"Shh! Lily, calm down, you'll wake the whole school."

Lily took a deep breath, which succeed in calming her nerves only marginally. "What the hell were you thinking!"

Salina pulled on her pajamas and shrugged. "I wasn't thinking anything, Lily. Don't act so surprised. It happens. I'm sixteen."

"Yes, but with Sirius?"

"What's wrong with Sirius?"

"Well I dunno, maybe the fact that he has a reputation for sleeping with girls and then breaking their hearts."

Salina sighed in frustration. "We've already been through this. Don't worry about me, I can handle him."

Lily scoffed. "And what if you can't?"

"I'll live."

"Dammit, Salina, why do you always have to be so stubborn?"

"I'm not stupid. I know what I'm doing."

"But…Sirius?"

Salina groaned. "Come on, Lily, he's not so bad once you get to know him."

"That's what they all say."

"They, obviously, didn't know how to deal with a guy like him."

"Right, and you do?"

"I can take care of myself."

Lily settled back into her bed. "You always say that," she sighed.

"Yes, well, I was never wrong, was I? Goodnight Lily."

For a few moments all that could be heard was the methodic breathing of their dorm mates, as they luxuriated, no doubt, in the safety of their dreams. Somewhere under their feet there was the clink of chains and a ghostly moan. The Bloody Baron was obviously in a bad mood tonight.

Lily lay awake in the darkness, looking up at the ceiling. After an inner struggle, she spoke again.

"Salina?"

To her right, her friend gave a sleepy moan. "Hmm?"

Lily chose her words carefully. "When you were, er, in Sirius's Dormitory, did you happen to notice if…if there was…a girl…with James…in his bed?"

Salina turned onto her back. "I don't think so," she mumbled sleepily, "Why?"

"Nothing. Good night Salina."

As the girls fell asleep at last, the rain that the bloated clouds had managed to hold in all day finally descended, drenching the already moist grounds with water and washing away the newly muddy hoof prints of a stag on a midnight walk.

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A/N: The 'Slytherin boy', of course, was Severus. I wanted to include him somehow.

And I was too lazy to go back to flip though all 800 pages of Goblet of Fire to figure out Anne Longbottom's maiden name. Or maybe her name wasn't even Anne. I forget. If any of you know, do enlighten me. ) Or just list some of the names of real characters back in the Marauder's era so I wouldn't have to make up names? I'd appreciate it.

From here on, the action will be picking up from the terrible slowness that it has currently been. Before I settle into the actual 'bulk' of the story, is there anything else that anyone would like me to add? Maybe a midnight romp for the marauders, a Quidditch match, something along those lines? Suggestions are welcomed.