Chapter Four

Sam miserably rested her head against the tree trunk. Sirius's voice echoed in her head. Peter can replace you…

"Bull!" she screamed, her fist colliding with the trunk. A cut sliced her finger, and immediately a bunch of colorful words streamed out of her mouth.

"Hey, watch your mouth, you kiss your mum with that," she heard a voice say. She looked up and met the amber eyes of Remus. She sighed and glared out into the lake.

"Leave me alone, Rem, I'm not in the mood."

"You certainly have lost your touch, Samantha Callista Livingston," Remus said, settling beside her. "Come on, tell me what's wrong."

"Oh nothing," Sam remarked sarcastically. "After all, I wasn't the one who was just kicked out of the group she defended against one of the best friends she once had. I wasn't the one who got hurt with what one stupid Sirius Black said."

"Oh, Sam," Remus said softly, leaning over to wrap his arms around her waist. She couldn't help but bury her face in Remus's shoulder.

"I don't even know why I feel this way! I just feel so… urgh!" she snapped. She met Remus's eyes with her glossy tear-stained ones. "Rem, my head's spinning. I don't know what to think, or what to feel, especially around Sirius."

"There are things we can't understand," Remus said wisely. "That's why we have other people to help us."

Sam just buried her face in his shoulder. "I hate having to understand."

James pushed up his glasses, his hazel eyes reading over the Charms book in front of him. "Okay… um… Finite Incantatem is for… uh… removing spells. Right."

"You're slowly getting the hang of it, Potter," he heard a voice say. Lily walked over and sat beside him. He gave her a weak smile before returning to his book. "I'm proud of you, Jamie."

"What are you proud of?" he asked, meeting her eyes with his hazel ones. Lily grinned and messed up his hair.

"You're studying, Potter. That's not something I see everyday," she commented, crossing her arms. James looked up at her and laughed.

"I just wanna show Flitwick that my tutor did a good job, that's all," he said, winking teasingly at her. Lily rolled her eyes and whacked the back of his head. "Hey! Lily!"

"Sorry, James," she said, smirking at him. "Look, I gotta go. Keep studying, okay?"

"Only for you, dear," he replied. Lily laughed and turned around, not noticing James's eyes following her. "Hey Lily, wait!"

"Yeah?" she asked, turning her head. James blushed as strands of her hair fell into her eyes. "What do you need?"

"D'you know the stuff that's going on with Sam?" he questioned curiously. Lily paused before nodding.

"I told you last night that I knew and that I just couldn't tell you." She raised her eyebrows. "Why'd you ask?"

"Just worried."

"Y'know, she's been ranting more about Sirius than anything." Lily laughed. "I just wonder how those two will act if ever they get together. They've got chemistry."

James paused, a mischievous smile lighting up his features. "Hmm… Lily, you've just given me a brilliant idea."

"And for some reason, why do I not like the sound of that?" Lily asked, glancing his way.

Sirius walked up to the common room in frustration, running a hand through his raven black hair. "Ugh, I hate this. I don't know what the hell I'm feeling right now," he muttered. "Okay, I'm talking to myself. That's one of the first signs of insanity. Shit, so why do I keep talking!"

"Because you ARE going insane," he heard his best friend say. James walked up to Sirius and slung an arm around his shoulder. "So, Siri-boy, what is this you're feeling?"

"I don't know!" Sirius said in frustration. "Okay, so we're all happy tree friends, right?"

"We're not happy tree friends, we don't murder each other. We're happy friends," James said happily. "You were saying…?"

"Okay. We're all happy. Then suddenly Sam and Remus get all cozy—"

"That's it! You're jealous!" James thrust a finger at Sirius. "You like Sam, don't you, Siri-boy? Don't you?"

"Wait, I'm not yet done," Sirius said impatiently. "And then Peter comes along and then suddenly Sam disappears for no apparent reason! It's getting me all confused!"

"Well, for one, you did say something that hurt Sam," they heard another voice say. Remus crossed his arms. "Don't you remember?"

"What'd I say?" Sirius panicked. "Oh my god, did I tell her she was fat? 'Cause if that's the case, I'll apologize—"

"No, you bloody moron!" Remus yelled. "You told her that Peter can replace her!"

"That's bloody absurd," Sirius said angrily. "I would never say that to Sam—"

"What's going on here?" Peter piped up, popping out of nowhere. Remus glared at Sirius before stalking up to the common room. "What'd I say?"

"Peter, please leave," James said tiredly. "Sirius and I need to have a little heart-to-heart."

"Uh, alright." Slightly baffled, Peter trotted up to the common room. James slammed Sirius down on a chair before pacing back and forth.

"Look Sirius, Remus sort of is right. You did say that Peter can replace her."

Sirius scoffed. "Yeah right, you guys know Sam's like my sister; I wouldn't say anything like that."

"Oh, but you did, Sirius Black, remember that. I quote you, 'Then Peter can replace you, Sam,'" James commented, crossing his arms.

"B-but why'd I say that?" Sirius protested. "Oh god, I told her that! I'm doomed, James, doomed for all eternity! I'm gonna live in a life filled with eternal misery and woe! OH WOE IS ME! The anguish, the pain, the suffering…"

"Okay, that's getting a little overboard, Siri-boy," James said. But knowing Sirius, he didn't stop. His eyes widened.

"That means she's never gonna speak to me again! She's gonna become old and gray without me! How can she live!" Sirius panicked.

"And people say I have an ego?" James shook his head. "Sirius, look, I think she's the one who can live. What I think is that you, Sirius Andrew Black, can't live without her."

"That is absolutely ridiculous! Of course I can live without her! I can last a few days without even acknowledging her in the halls," Sirius retorted. James sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Uh, sure, whatever. Just… think it over. Your drama's causing me to have a major headache. I'm heading off into the kitchens." James turned on his heel and left, of course not heading to the kitchens. To the library, where he was to meet the very famous Lily Evans.

Lily's brow furrowed as James told her the story. "God, he's getting overdramatic about everything. It's obvious he's jealous about Sam and Remus!" he said smartly, looking at Lily. Damn, she's pretty, he thought as Lily tucked strands of her hair behind her ear.

"Obviously. This is one tough nut to crack. I've got the perfect reinforcements." Lily smiled evilly.

"That doesn't look so good," James teased, smiling at her. Lily stuck her tongue out immaturely at him.

"Just listen, I've got hell of a plan."

Gee, thanks so much to the following reviewers! I love you all so so so much!

The all mighty and powerful M: LOL, yeah, I love Jamie:)

Tiger17lily: Hello old friend! LOL:) Thanks for the motivation!

Imfeelingthis182: Hello, dear:) Thanks so much for your reviews, they're the best:)

Lucemvicuna: just read on, dearie, you'll find out:)

KawaiiMegami86: LOL, thanks again for your wonderfully long review:huggles: LOL, I love the way Jamie messes up his hair… :)