First off I would just like to say that I am madly in love Sirius Black, and adore the Marauders.
I also totaly love my baby Daniel Radcliffe/Harry Potter.
Secondly I would just like to say this is my first fan fic… ever… so I'm sorry if it's a bit rough around the edges! But please review cause I want to know how it is… if it's okay and stuff, cause if I don't get any reviews, or if they're bad, I'm sorry and I'm not going to add anymore to the story.
Oh and Thirdly, I just want to say that Pupparoux is my total hero for James and Lily fluff! Oh, and sorry about using Molly again, but I couldn't help it, it's just too cute.
Chapter One: Desired Affections
The fire was roaring in the seat across from him and nothing seemed to be wrong with the world, except that a certain girl refused to go out with him. He thought about what must have been his one-millionth time asking her out, and his latest rejection: "Maybe if you got a clue and weren't so damn shallow" was the latest reply. How was he shallow? I mean sure he could be stupid, and love torturing the Slytherins, especially little Snivellus, but he was not shallow. He decided they just needed to get to know each other better, that's all, because there was really nothing else to be done about it.
He sat there thinking of that lovely long red hair, those deep green eyes that seemed to bore their way into your very soul. Ahh…if only Lily saw him the same way… that oh-so-pretty Lily. Maybe he could give her some of her favorite flowers to impress her… but what were they? Hmm, she'd have to like Lilies, after all it was her name. But when could he give them to her? Maybe right after –
"Oi, Prongsie what are you doing down here all alone during the middle of the night?"
James turned around to see Sirius standing by the staircase in his boxer shorts and t-shirt trying to rub the sleep from his eyes. What the bloody hell was he doing up in the middle of night James thought back to himself, interrupting his daydreams about Lily, and making him forget his clever plans to get Lily to fall for him? Although it probably wasn't that clever, seeing as how none of the other plans had worked, he thought to himself.
"Couldn't sleep," James retorted back, "Came down here to think…and stuff."
"About her?" Sirius asked back with caution, hoping not to set off the rambling, bambling idiot James became when he started thinking to hard about something, especially Lily. James' silence and deep sigh answered the question for him. "Come on mate, you need to get over her, move on with your life! You can't be a slave to that one forever."
"Shove off," James replied, though with none of his usual intensity. "If it was that easy that I would have done it years ago? You think I like having everything remind me of her, and how I'll never have her, how I'll always be alone." He turned his glance back to the fire, the dancing flames reminding of her flowing hair. He automatically ran his hand through his hair, roughing it up even more, as though he were flying on his broom.
"Aww, but you'll always your Padfoot." Sirius said teasingly. "C'mon lets go get our robes on and we can be the first one's down to the great hall for breakfast, then we can turn Snivellus' hair green or something. That'll cheer you up mate."
James smiled. Padfoot always could cheer him up. He ran upstairs and threw on his robes. Then he and Sirius headed down for breakfast just as some of the other girls were waking up, and coming down into the common room, still dressed in their pajamas. They all sighed as the two of them walked past and Sirius gave his gorgeous smile, making them all go weak in the knees.
"I love my smile mate," he whispered to James as they left the common room. "Though I still don't get why it puts them on their knees."
They entered the Great Hall, and it was virtually empty as they had indeed predicted, except for a few people from each house. They noticed that the 'greasy git' Severus, or Snivellus as they liked to call him, was already finished most of the food on his plate. They had no interest in him today however and continued scanning the room.
Remus was already sitting at their table talking to some brunette, and both seemed deeply immersed in some conversation about something they were reading in a book. Remus looked up as they approached and nodded.
"Hey guys, this is Jamie," he said indicating the girl sitting next to him, "she's been helping me with some of my Herbology studies.
"Since when did you need help in… well, anything?" James asked totaly puzzled. Usually Remus was the genius they were all copying from.
Sirius smiled, realizing what was going on, or what he thought was going on. James could be so thick sometimes he thought to himself, being so wrapped up in that red-haired chick certainly had it's disadvantages. "Eh, anyone know where Peter's gotten off to?" he asked, breaking the awkward silence.
"Probably still sleeping. If he weren't so tired all the time, he'd be the first one down here, scoffing down all the food you know." James replied taking a seat across from them and piling his plate with bacon, eggs, toast, French toast, pretty much anything and everything around him. Sirius did the same.
A few minutes later, the hall began to fill up. James' head however rapidly began to empty of all thoughts save one. Lily was walking by with her friend Molly. Remus and Sirius prepared themselves for James' daily ritual, as he tilted his to the side, and his completely blank expression washing over his face, as she approached.
"Three, two, one," Sirius and Remus mouthed to each other.
"Oi, Evans," Potter said at exactly that moment.
"Lads way to predictable you know," Sirius whispered to Remus and Jamie. They nodded back in unison, and began listening to yet another rejection of Lily's that sure to come.
Her and Molly stopped walking and stood right behind them, "What is it this time Potter?" she responded, clearly bored.
"I was thinking that maybe you'd like to sit next to me today, and we could get to know each other better," he said, "I'm not asking you out… yet. It's just that this way we could get to know each other, then I could ask you out and I would not be shallow."
"And you think one breakfast is going to allow you to get to know me better? So much so that I would fall madly in love with you, and you would magically become completely un-shallow? Is that it." She answered sarcastically.
"Well that was the idea. And I guess seeing as how we both know magic, I guess we could somehow find a spell that would make me become un-shallow." Remus, Sirius and Jamie all burst out laughing at this. "But I still don't know how I was that shallow to begin with." He continued, ignoring the hysterical laughing of his friends.
"Urggghhh!" Lily loudly sighed.
"You know what Potter, we will sit by you today, but consider yourself lucky that I was nice enough to help you, just this once. But if you say anything offend us, we are gone faster than you can say Quiditch" said Molly.
"Are you mad?" whispered Lily into Molly's ear, "Us, sit by these mongrels? Me next to Potter?"
"Relax, I only said we'd sit by him." Molly said.
"Ohhh…" replied Lily, and the two of them took a seat next to Sirius, leaving James alone, on his other side. But he didn't care, he was sitting closer to Lily than he had in a week, so far it was turning out o be a pretty good day for him. The two girls began piling food on to their plates, as James began staring intently at Lily.
Oh god, here we go, thought Sirius, now he can drool at her, and she'll actually be close enough to see, not that you couldn't spot him from space. He was however quite grateful to Molly for helping out his little Prongsie, and the fact that now they wouldn't have to listen to James babble on about her at breakfast was a bonus. He turned to thank her when his mouth went dry and his throat seized up. Had he not managed to close his mouth in time, a goggling sound would probably have come out. She was gorgeous, and not having the chance to properly look at her while she was standing there, being to busy laughing at James, he hadn't noticed how incredibly pretty she looked.
He also didn't recognize her as any of the girls from Hogwarts. He took great pride in knowing every beautiful girl at his school, in all the houses, fifth years and up. He may not have known their names, even some of the ones he was going out with, but he could certainly recognized their faces.
"Uhhh…" was all he managed to say, totally shocked at what was happening to him. This was Sirius, girls froze up at the sight of him, not the other way around!
"What?" she asked politely, then noticing the odd expression on his face, she asked "Why are you staring at me?" becoming slightly more self-conscious.
"Ohh," he said snapping out of it, "I was just wondering how long you've been going to Hogwarts, seeing as how I didn't recognize you as being from Hogwarts."
"You have a very keen eye," she remarked, blushing ever so slightly. That was more like it thought Sirius.
"She's just transferred here from Beaubatons a few days ago," replied Lily casually, being sure not to look at James. "I've been showing her around."
'Thought so,' Sirius said to himself. Remus looked over and guessed what was going on. Who else but Sirius would immediately know if a decent looking girl went to Hogwarts or not? He turned back to his own plate however and began discussing the effects of Gillyweed with Jamie again.
"So, Evans, are you staying here for Christmas break?" James threw in.
"Sadly, yes. My parents are going on vacation, and my grandmother is out of town for a while, though I don't know why. But if you're getting any funny ideas, you can forget them right now."
"I wasn't thinking anything, but I was wondering if maybe you would… if you wanted to… well if you'd come with me to – "
"Hey guys sorry I'm late, I overslept a little." They all turned to see Peter Pettigrew taking a seat across from them next to Remus and Jamie. Damn it thought James, this guy has the worst timing ever, although he probably did save me an embarrassment.
"Overslept? When you're not sleeping, you're eating," the rest of the marauders said, as Peter piled an enormous quantity of food on to his plate, and began inhaling his food.
After a few more random conversations on nothing in particuliar, and James resisted the urge to make a fool out of himself, they all left to go to their first class: Potions. The marauders turned down the hallway towards the dungeons and entered their first class of the day. Potions was the most hated part of school for the marauders, and it was made no easier by the fact that they had to take it with Slytherin. And there was always that 'greasy-haired git' who loved to show off his potions skills.
They all took their seats and pulled out their books and pieces of parchment. The marauders immediately cast spells on their parchment so they could have their usual four-way conversation notes during class. Lily and Molly took the paired seats on the left side of the class beside James and Sirius' paired desks down the center row, with Jamie and Remus sitting right behind them. Peter sat behind Lily and Molly with another Gryffindor.
The Marauders began writing their four-way notes to each other:
Padfoot: Hey look, grease ball is sitting in the front row again. What a teachers pet!
Prongs: God, I wish the kid could get over himself for like one day, just 'cause he thinks he's all that in potions…
Padfoot: Yah, tell me about it, so what were you going to ask Lily at breakfast before Peter so rudly interrupted?
Wormtail: Shut-up Padfoot.
Prongs: Well I was going to ask her if maybe she wanted to help me to with some of my potions lessons, seeing as how I'm really not that great at brewing potions and all, as you've might have guessed at.
Moony: I think we've all noticed that Prongs.
Padfoot: Give the guy a break, besides you're the one getting 'tutoring' in a subject you have no problem with… so how's that going anyway, gotten to any snogging yet? Hun, hun? You know yah wanna.
Moony: Leave it be Padfoot! No, we haven't done anything you surely would have done, but actually it's not going to badly. She's really quite nice, and very smart.
Prongs: phff the bookish type? So that's what that was all about.
Padfoot: Prongsie, you know I love you, but you are so damn THICK sometimes!
Wormtail: Can't blame him, all wrapped up in his love affair with Lily.
Prongs: Shut-up Wormtail.
Moony: Tell you what Prongs, try for once not asking Lily out, and try talking to her without that in mind. You might be able to actually have a decent conversation. Who knows maybe if you go one day without trying to ask her out, she actually be nice back.
Padfoot: And then she might actually consider being with you if you were 'the last guy on the planet.' Is that it Moony?
Prongs: Shove off Padfoot. Besides, we all know you're far too interested in Molly right now.
Padfoot: Why I have no idea what you're talking, well actually writing about, my dear Prongsie.
"Alright and you can begin brewing your Crocoa Menarding potions now. Be sure to follow the instructions very carefully." said Proffessor Slughorn, interrupting their note and James' chance for a slightly evil comeback.
The marauders began on their potions brewing along with the rest of the class. Sirius and James began cutting up each other's ingredients. James was cutting up all the roots, and Sirius slicing up all the pig kidneys. Severus was running all across the room like a madman, to the cupboard, back to his potion, over to the cabinets, now to the store cupboard, back to his cauldron, scribbling random notes all through his textbook. "Madman, he is," James whispered to Sirius, nodding in the direction of Snivellus.
Professor Slughorn began walking up and down the aisles. "Well done Miss. Evans, very good indeed." "Ahh… Mr. Snape adding more unidentified ingredients to your potion I see? What have I told you about that? It may become unstable, and please try to refrain from scratching out all the instructions in your textbook."
At that James and Sirius let out a sly laugh, along with most of the rest of the class.
"What are you laughing at Black?" Severus retorted. "At least I am worth something and my parents love me! At least I could brew a potion to save my life, or at least that of the filthy mudblood you're friends so desperately in love with!" Severus still hated the marauders for everything they had done to him in the past, even though they had been significantly nicer to him since their fifth year together.
James clenched his fists in anger. How dare he insult his friends like that! And his dear Lily, for no reason at all! Insult him if you will but how dare he insult Lily like that! And to take a shot on Sirius family like that was just not right. She was at least as good at brewing potions as he was! The nerve of him. "How dare you say that about her? She is a t least as good in potions as you if not better! And Sirius has a family that loves more than yours ever will!" he yelled, an intense fury building within him.
"What family, I thought his own mother threw him out." Said the pale faced git.
"You don't need to be blood to be family!" yelled James, referring to the fact that Sirius now lived with him, ever since he ran away during his fifth year at Hogwarts. Sirius smiled at him. "And dare you bring Lily into this! She has never done anything but be sweet and nice to you the whole time you've known each other! You've never done a thing to deserve her kindness you slimy git!"
He felt himself begin to stand up, but felt a firm grip on his shoulder. "We'll get him later mate! I promise, but Slughorn's right there." Said Sirius quietly enough so only James could hear what he was saying.
Class was almost over. James sat back down and glanced back at Lily. She had a distinct paleness of face, and although she was not crying, for she would never show herself to cry or be perceived as weak in public, he could tell she was clearly hurt by Snape's words. No matter how many good things you do for someone, I guess you can't stop them from being the jerks they really are, James thought to himself. She didn't deserve that, to be humiliated in front of everyone like that.
He sat there, slowly getting angrier and angrier. He began mixing his potion way to fast and the mixture turned from the intended light blue to a waxy orange. He hated Snape, and the way he treated everyone. He unknowingly added two of the ingredients too soon and in the incorrect order.
"James watch out for your potion," warned Sirius, but it was too late.
The orange and now purple paste splattered upwards and all over the desk and on the front of James' robes.
"Careful, or you'll end up like your pal Sirius there," sneered Severus, as he handed his potions sample to the professor and strut out of the room.
"Mr. Potter, you will need to meet me here after dinner for a make-up lesson. And I highly suggest you find yourself a tutor, one who might help you keep your potions from exploding." The Professor said as James began emptying his cauldron and cleaning off his desk.
Everyone left the class, and soon the only people left were James, Lily and Molly.
"Go on," whispered Molly into Lily's ear, "Trust me, I have a good intuition on these things. You won't regret it."
"Oh, I highly doubt that," said Lily as Molly left the classroom, and turned out into the hallway. Sirius ran over to meet up with her.
"Oi, Molly. How about you and I go down to Hogsmead this afternoon together, and get a butterbear together or something?" Sirius said putting on that gorgeous smile of his.
Molly showed no notice of any change, and the smile didn't seem to affect her at all. Sirius became amazed by her resilience to his charm. Hmmm, this is rare, and she's so gorgeous too, now I really hope she says yes, Sirius thought to himself.
"Sorry, but I promised Lily I'd spend some time with her tonight. See you around." She said running off toward the common rooms.
He'd been turned down. The Great Handsome Sirius Black had been turned down. He stood frozen in the hallway, completely at a loss for words, or even thought. How could she resist him? Everybody loved him! He'd never been turned before in his life. He did find it strangely attractive though. He had to have her now, not only to keep his record clean but also to, well, he wasn't exactly sure, but there was something else there, he could feel it. He finally felt as though he could relate to his old pal Prongsie, but that couldn't be a good thing he was sure.
James had finally finished cleaning up his potion disaster, gathered his textbook and turned to leave the classroom. As he did, he collided into Lily, and sent her books flying, landing all over the floor.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Eva – Lily, I didn't mean to run into you there, didn't see you," he said, bending down to collect her books for her.
"Umm, James, thanks for uhh… well… for standing up for me in class today. It was really nice of you, though you didn't need to."
"Hey, no problem, nobody deserves to be spoken to like that. Especially you. You're really sweet, and you've been so nice to him. It was really uncalled for." He said looking into her lovely green eyes.
He saw her start a smile, but quickly repress it, but it was there nonetheless. Was Lily warming up to him?
"Well, I was thinking, since you've actually been nice to me all day, and not been a total git to anyone…" she paused. Now she was beginning to tense up pretty badly.
Whatever it was, she was now having second doubts about continuing. They sat kneeling on the floor, one arm clutching all her books and holding them tight against her side, and the other hand supporting herself on floor. James made up his mind, he needed to relax her if he was ever going to figure out the rest of that sentence. He ever so gently placed his hand on top of hers. It was warm, whether because she was nervous, or it was supporting her weight he couldn't tell. He looked her in the eyes urging her to go on, their faces not too far apart.
He began to get really nervous himself though, fearing she might pull away from him. But for some reason, this time the gesture seemed to have its intended effect of relaxing her, as oppose to making her want to pull away even more.
"I was thinking maybe, sometime we could, umm…"
This was it. Was what he had been hoping for so long was about to come true?
Was she about to ask him what he thought she was?
Kay, sorry it's not the best ever, but it is my very first fanfic, and I promise it will get way more interesting, and hopefully funnier too.
I know it's kinda boring but please give some reviews, and some ideas on how I can make it better! Thanks a ton guys!
Please Review.
Until next,
Sprocket