Flavor of the Week
Summary: Lily Evans has everything that any girl at Hogwarts could ever want. She had great friends, the best grades in her year, an extraordinary beauty that attracted many, including James Potter. Her life was pretty sweet, even she would admit. But life just couldn't get better when Alexander Whitney asks her out. Little does she know, she is just his 'Flavor of the Week'. Can James help open her eyes?
Author's Note: Thanks to the people who reviewed: Catherine-Anna, Aimee S., shmokey-bear, and taniita, you guys are the best. I could almost shoot myself because it took so long for me to even type up this chapter. I can't believe what a procrastinator I am, and you guys are so great to come back to me (even after 3 or 4 months). I made it extra long to make up for the delay. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: You know the deal. I did not create Harry Potter or any of its characters. Now that that's over with...
Chapter Seven: Holly and Alex
The Three Broomsticks was teeming with people. When James opened the door an almost deafening sound of chatter filled their ears. James pushed through the crowd and followed Sirius and Holly to the Marauders' usual table at the back of the restaurant.
They approached the corner table, where they found Remus sitting, engrossed with an article in the newspaper. "Hey, where were you?" Remus asked, even before he had turned to see who it was.
"Sorry, Moony. We got a little distracted," James said, pulling up the chair beside Remus.
"Hullo, Padfoot," Remus smiled at Sirius. He then eyed Holly who was carefully adjusting her shirt so that it showed just a little more cleavage than before. "Hi, I don't think we've met before. I'm Remus." He stretched out his hand.
"I know. I'm Holly," Holly smiled. Her friends would be so jealous when she told them that she had drinks with not just one Marauder, but three! But she was with Sirius, and that's all that really matter to her.
She giggled gleefully as Sirius pulled out a chair for her across from Remus. "What a gentlemen."
"Well, hello, boys," the young, rather attractive waitress smiled. "The usual?"
"Are we that predictable, Rosie?" chuckled Remus.
She laughed. The boys conversed with Rosie, laughing and joking, until Holly cut in with a coughing fit. She didn't seem to like all the attention that Sirius was giving to Rosie.
Rosie looked up, still smiling, "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there. What can I get for you?"
Holly put her arms around Sirius's neck and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'll just have whatever my Siri-poo is having."
"Are you sure?" Rosie questioned. Holly nodded, and Rosie left to get their drinks.
Holly's arms were still around Sirius's neck when Rosie came back a few minutes later with the drinks. Rosie placed the four mugs filled with a bright, orange liquid and steaming a blue mist onto the table.
Holly grabbed for one of the mugs and quickly took a huge gulp before spraying it across the table. She screeched, "That is the most vile, disgusting drink I've ever tasted in my life!"
Rosie gave a hearty laugh, "I thought you would say that, so I took the liberty of bringing you a butterbeer as well."
"Thank you," she mumbled. Holly drank almost the whole mug of butterbeer in attempt to rid herself of the vile taste. "What in Merlin's name is that!" she asked when she put her mug back down on the table.
"We concocted it ourselves," explained Remus.
James nodded, "Yeah, it has some butterbeer, a sprits of vanilla, ground ginger, a pinch of salt, dragon's breath, the eye of a newt. . ."
"Among other things," said Sirius mysteriously. "But if we told you the rest we'd have to kill you."
Rosie laughed and turned to Holly. "I've tried it too, and it isn't to my liking either."
"It's an acquired taste," James explained.
"Well, if, you boys, need anything else, just give a holler. It was nice meeting you, Holly," and with that Rosie returned to her work.
"Awww, look at Moony! He's smitten!" chortled Sirius. Sirius was making kissing faces and teasing Moony. "Moony and Rosie! Moony and Rosie!"
Remus kicked him from under the table, blushing, "Shut it."
"Ouch!" Sirius cringed in pain, nursing his shin.
"At least Remus doesn't sleep with a certain little teddy bear, like someone else we know," James teased.
"Hey!" pouted Sirius. "That is private information!"
"I think it's adorable, Siri-poo," Holly cooed.
Remus, James, and Sirius then began a lengthy battle of insults, only to be interrupted by Holly a little while later. "Siri-poo?" Holly smiled sweetly. "Will you get me another drink, please?"
Sirius got up, "Sure. Be back in a second."
"Butterbeer, please. Thank you, darling!" she called after him. When he was out of earshot, she turned back to Remus and James, no longer with that sickening smile on her face. "You shouldn't play like that with a man who has so little time left."
Remus and James looked at eachother. "So little time left? What do you mean, Holly?" asked Remus.
She went on to explain, her eyes getting teary. "When I heard of his terminal illness, my heart went out to him, but you. . . you, his own friends! Oh, and the gnomes. . ." she broke down into tears, burying her face in her hands. James patter her back awkwardly, while giving a look to Remus that clearly said 'what-the-hell-is-this-girl-talking-about'.
Remus just played along and said, "Oh. . .that terminal illness! We try to forget about it the best we can. We try to make his last days, the best days of his life by treating him like a normal person. Right, James?"
James stuttered, "Er, right. That's the way he would've wanted it, anyways."
Remus kept going, "Any mention of it, really, actually upsets him."
Holly dried off her tears and gave a solemn nod of understanding. Sirius came back with a butterbeer in his hand. "Well, here you are." He looked at Holly, who was giving him a look of deep pity and at Remus and James, who were looking at him disapprovingly. "What's wrong with all of you?" He sat down hesitantly.
"Oh Siri-poo!" Holly wrapped her arms around him again and mumbled into his shoulder. "I'm so sorry." When Sirius looked to his two friends, they shrugged their shoulders.
James, Remus, and Sirius continued their conversations about Quidditch and Professor Live's horrible lectures, among other things. Meanwhile, Holly watched silently, sipping her drink and occasionally sniffling.
"Would you excuse me, please. I need to go to the little girl's room,"
Sirius got up to let her pass. She also stood up and wrapped her arms around him. She nibbled his ear and kissed his cheek. "But don't worry, Siri-poo. I'll come back quickly."
"Oh goody," Sirius said, grimly.
The boys watched her leave. Once she was clear out of sight, James and Remus turned back to Sirius, grinning. "So, Siri-poo, is it serious?" Remus said.
"Yeah, I knew that stupidity was a terminal illness, but I didn't know that it was so life-threatening," James said gravely, but his eyes twinkled mischievously.
Sirius had a confused look on his face. "What do you mean?"
James, keeping on with the hoax, said, "Padfoot, you could have told us about your terminal illness. We would have accepted you all the same."
Sirius still looked puzzled, so Remus added, "Yeah, we had to learn the horrible truth from Holly!"
"Oh, you're talking about that terminal illness. Yes, it's called gastrognomitis."
"Right"
"What exactly is it?"
"It's a very rare disorder acquired at birth where a stomach gnome inhabits your body and consumes all of the food first and then all of the organs in your body, possibly leading to death."
"I thought being a werewolf was the worst, but I see now that I was mistaken. Stomach gnomes: that sounds horrible," Remus shuddered.
James leaned back in his chair and said, "Well, I guess that explains your enormous appetite. You're really feeding two: you and your gnome."
Remus then said, in all seriousness, "You know, she really believed you, Padfoot. Why would you tell her something like that? Now she thinks that you could die at any moment."
"I know, I know. That was bad of me," Sirius said hurriedly, glancing around over his shoulder. "If I promise I won't do it again, will you help me get rid of her?"
"You want to get rid of her now?" Remus asked. "You're so insensitive."
"I don't blame him, Moony," James added. "The girl's driving me crazy."
"shhh," whispered Sirius. "Here she comes." Holly came smiling back to the boys' table, her face fresh with newly applied makeup. Sirius got up to let her back into her seat. She adjusted her skirt, pecked Sirius on the lips, and then slid into her chair.
"I hope, you boys, didn't miss me too much," she said sweetly. Sirius gave a half-snort, half-groan sort of noise. "Awww, what's wrong, Siri-poo?" Sirius groaned again, his face contorted with disgust at the pet name. James took this as the signal.
"Ralph must be acting up again," said James knowingly to everyone, but looking at Remus. Sirius gave a questioning look to his friend.
"Who's Ralph?" asked Holly, even more confused that Sirius.
"Why, Ralph is Sirius's stomach gnome, of course. He must be getting hungry," Remus explained.
Sirius finally understood and played along. He reeled over his chair, clutching his stomach and making loud, painful-sounding groans. He pounded the table with his fist for added effect.
"Ohh, my poor, Siri-poo! Shouldn't we do something!" cried Holly.
"It's okay. I'll be alright," Sirius whispered scratchily. Then he again lurched forward, grabbing his stomach and whimpering.
"No, you're not alright," Remus said firmly. "James and I will take you back to Hogwarts and up to the Infirmary for your potion." Remus and James rose. James took Sirius' arm and brought him to his feet.
"I'll go with you," Holly offered. She appeared to be very concerned. She began to stand, but Sirius put his hand up.
"Please, you stay. I'll be alright. I wouldn't want to pain of knowing that you didn't enjoy you're Hogsmeade trip with me on top of the pain Ralph is causing me. You enjoy yourself."
"Siri-poo! How can I possibly enjoy myself, knowing that you are being eaten alive! I'm going with you," Holly insisted. She put on her blazer.
"No!" Sirius almost shouted. "Please. I couldn't bear to let you see me in such pain." Sirius started walking with James and Remus towards the door. "I promise I'll talk to you when I get better!" Holly blew him a kiss as she watched him wave goodbye.
Sirius turned to his friends, when Holly was out of sight, behind a rather large group of goblins. "That was close. Thanks, guys. I owe you," he sighed.
"You bet you do. You owe us, big time. You're just lucky Prongs here cooked that up so quickly," Remus answered.
"Yeah, thanks, mate." Sirius patted James on the back. But James didn't seem to notice. He was watching Lily and Alexander walk in and take a seat at a nearby table.
"Come on, Prongs. Let's go." Sirius and Remus both guided him out the door. James turned back to look one last time, fuming when he saw Lily giggle and blush at something that Alexander had said.
Lily still couldn't believe that she was on a date with the Alexander Whitney. They had had a great time that day, strolling the streets of Hogsmeade. They had gone into Remy D's Potion Lotions, where Alexander had taken almost an hour asking the owner's advice on what to do with his drying cuticles and lengthening hair, even though Lily thought he looked absolutely perfect. He spent another half an hour telling the pretty clerk about his modelling potential and another half an hour staring at his reflection in the mirror. Lily didn't mind. She was just grateful to be in his presence, let alone on a date with him. Then the two dropped off at the Quidditch Store, where Alexander had gathered a crowd of devouted girls (and some guys), which listened with rapture about his great feats on the Quidditch field. Lily finally got him to go into Durvish and Banges, but only for a moment before Alexander pulled her out to go to Honeydukes, where he bought her a big box of chocolate bunnies with a little, stuffed bunny attached to it. They then decided to satisfy their appetites at the Three Broomsticks.
They entered the bustling restaurant and took the first table they say. "Here you are, milady," Alexander said debonairly, gesturing her to sit down in the seat he pulled out for her.
"Why, thank you, milord," she giggled, sitting and then placing her stuffed bunny in the seat next to her. Just out of the corner of her eye, she saw James and his gang of buffoons leaving the building. But she didn't let the sight of him interfere with her date with Alexander.
"So, what can I get for you two lovebirds?" Rosie asked, pulling out her notepad.
Alexander scratched his chin, "We'll have two butterbeers. Thanks, sugar," he winked. "So, Lily, tell me about yourself?"
Being the strong, independent woman she is, it bothered Lily that Alexander had order her drink without asking her, but seeing how it was Alexander she let it slide. "What exactly do you want to know?"
"Anything. Everything," replied Alexander. The rest of the time went in a blur. Lily talked for a bit. Alexander talked a lot…a lot about himself, but Lily didn't mind. They were both having a good time with eachother. It had been a perfectly lovely date, a date any girl could ever want.
Dawn quickly turned to dusk, and students started to return to the school after their day off at Hogsmeade. The temperature rapidly decreased as the sun set and the skies grew to brilliant shades of red and purple. When they saw that people were beginning to go home leaving the once crowded streets of Hogsmeade now desolate, Lily and Alexander decided it was finally time to head back towards Hogwarts. They walked close together along the marked path, but not touching. The wind was starting to pick up, and Lily shivered ever-so-slightly from the cool gust of wind. She pulled her cardigan closer wishing she had brought her cloak instead and feeling grateful that she didn't put on that skirt Grave had told her to put on.
"Are you cold?" Alexander asked, interrupting another fascinating story, when he saw Lily rub her hands together to try and produce some sort of heat. It was hard to believe that it was so warm earlier in the day. Now, it was so cold that she half expected snow to start falling any second. But she didn't say so.
"No," she chattered. Alexander shrugged and was about to continue when she said, "Okay, well. . .maybe, just a little."
Alexander shook his head a little. "Yeah, it's a little nippy, but don't you worry," he comforted. "We'll be back at the castle before you know it," he said, putting his arm around her shoulder, but wrapping his own heavy jacket tighter.
Lily smiled at his touch. "You're right, I guess. I can see Hogwarts now." Even though she saw it, the castle was quite a distance aways for the two. She stared at the castle longingly thinking of the warm fire waiting for her in the Gryffindor common room, while Alexander resumed with his story. She was only half listening to Alexander talk about how he saved his whole family from a group of attacking gnomes who had found their way into his home. Lily was too fixated on Alexander's arm on her shoulder.
Alexander and Lily walked the rest of the way to the castle in silence occasionally glancing and smiling at each other. When they came through the big wooden doors, Lily was only too glad to get out of the cold and into Hogwarts. At the point where they were to go their separate ways to their common rooms, they stopped. It was a few seconds before either said anything. But then Alexander opened his mouth, "I never did tell you how good you looked today."
He looked her up and down. Lily blushed under his gaze and at the compliment. "Thanks," she said bashfully. There was a long pause in which Alexander looked around at the empty halls and Lily shuffled her feet. "Well, I had a wonderful time with you today."
"So did I," Alexander replied. Then there was another awkward pause. "I'd best be going. It's getting late."
"Yeah," Lily looked at her watch to see just how late it was, and without warning, Alexander gave her a quick kiss on the lips. She was in a dream! Alexander Whitney just kissed her!
"Bye," he whispered, and then began for the Hufflepuff room. Lily watched him leave in kind of a daze. Then, just as Lily turned away, he turned and yelled, "Lily?"
"Hmm?"
"Eat breakfast with me tomorrow? Nine o'clock."
"I would love to," she answered.
"Great!" He flashed her a big grin that could make her knees weak. Leaving her to walk up to her room in a daze.
Question: Would you rather go on a date with a person like Holly or with a person like Alexander (personality-wise)? Don't forget to answer when you review!