Chapter 15: Conversations

Hermione crumpled the parchment, threw it and pointed her wand at it. Immediately, the parchment turned into a small dove. Hermione grinned and stuck out her arm. It landed on her arm and crooned softly. Slowly stroking its silky white feathers, Hermione looked at the red book lying next to her. She had just finished reading a few entries. It was her free period that afternoon, and the bushy-haired girl was waiting for her 2 best friend's lessons to finish. The dove took off and flew towards the blazing sun. It was a good thing she was sitting under a large oak tree. A bell from inside the school sounded off, ending the afternoon classes. In a few minutes, she was joined by a disgruntled faced Harry and a troubled looking Ron.

The two sat on either side of Hermione.

"What's wrong?" she asked them tensely. She hoped that it wasn't something serious.

"One of the chasers, Jenny Hawkins, had to go back home. Her dad, who works in the ministry, was attacked and she might not return anytime soon. So, now we're one chaser short. I can't believe this! The next match is just weeks away!"

"It's alright, mate, people line up to get in the team," Ron said. But he still looked troubled.

"Well, we already have Dean Thomas as substitute."

The reason for Ron's expression was revealed. It turned from troubled to annoyance.

"Thomas? He would just exchange "cutie, cutie" looks with Ginny the whole game! There must be someone else."

"Well, we have no other," Harry muttered. Obviously, he didn't like the idea either for some reason. Being captain was not easy as everyone thought. He looked around and spotted Dean and Ginny walking in a far distance. Ron saw this too and glared at them.

"Well, I got to tell him now," Harry said, looking very irritated. Ron just grunted at the couple and turned away.

"She's only 15 and she's flirting with every guy that comes near her," he murmured loudly.

"Give her a break, Ron, she deserves a bit of freedom and she's not flirting with every boy that comes near her," Hermione retorted, rolling her eyes.

"She's too young, Hermione!" Hermione just rolled her eyes in return. The subject suddenly changed.

"Do you think Harry is taking things well?" Ron asked Hermione slowly.

"What things?" But, of course, she knows the answer.

"Well, you know, all of these changes. You-know-who, the deaths and all."

"From what I see, he takes it much better now than before. He seemed more, relax."

"But he's not you know."

There was a long awkward silence. This time, it was Hermione who first spoke up.

"When will it end, Ron?"

"What?"

"All these murders, Harry's hidden anger and frustration. Yes, Ronald, I know that he's angry. He's hiding it all, behind his laughs and Quidditch practices."

"Hermione, it's the You-know-who and Harry Potter we are talking about. These things don't just end."

"Alright, Mr. Wizarding-world-professional, tell me why."

Ron looked at her like she was crazy. Hermione just laughed at him.

"Don't be mental, I have no idea. But I can list tell you some basics about the boy-who-lived and Lord you-know-who. Both are powerful wizards. One of them evil, at large, and showing everyone that he's a demented, powerful sorcerer. The other, teenager, confused, good lad, underage and a powerful wizard though he doesn't know it."

Hermione laughed at him again, but it was a nervous laugh. Even if she tried to deny it, Ron was right. You-know-who and Harry, despite the differences, have similarities as well…and these similarities might lead to Harry's destruction. Powerful wizards. It was true, but if the differences are true as well, it means that the war between the good and the evil had barely begun. Hermione shuddered at the thought of a million deaths, not just wizards but of muggles and other creatures alike.

"What can we do, Ron?" the discussion turned to seriousness.

"I dunno. But no matter how stubborn Harry Potter is, we'll be as stubborn as."

"Your right. That's what we'll do."

"Ha! What are friends for?" Ron and Hermione grinned at each other in agreement. Then they both turned to Harry's direction. He seemed very uncomfortable talking to Ginny and Dean.

"Well, enough about serious matters. Do you think Harry would ever have a steady relationship?" Hermione displayed a curious grin. Could she set him up with someone?

"What made you think that?"

Hermione just shrugged starring at Dean, Ginny and Harry.

"You're a girl. What do you think then?"

"Maybe…if he could be set up by someone he really likes and manages to take his mind away from these dark times. Who do you think will suit him?"

Ron just snorted, "I have no idea." But as he said this, his eyes linger sharply for a minute on his sister and her boyfriend. Ron stood up.

"I better accompany Harry. From where I see it, he needs reinforcements."

Hermione just grinned. She looked down at the red book lying next to her. Could life really be as interesting as Lily Evan's diary?

March 21

Dear Diary,

Another day in Hogwarts. The holidays are nearing and so are the dreaded NEWTS. I can't believe this. What if I fail most of them? How am I to get a job?

"Yeah right, Lily. If you fail even half of your NEWTS, I'll be eaten whole by a flubberworm." That was what Wilma said to me when I told her of my theory. Sam just snorted.

They just never know. Maybe someday those boring creatures would suddenly sprout out ten rows of sharp teeth and grow a million times their size. With all these dark events outside Hogwarts, anything could happen. I didn't say that to Wilma and Sam, don't worry.

There's one thing I'm aware of though: Dark, dreadful times lay ahead the OWL and NEWT takers. It's unbearable!

Well, the wizarding world is not at all bright as well. Even muggles are affected. Whoever this "Dark Lord" is, he is causing a great trouble for the ministry. I just hoped he wouldn't get worse. I was hoping to be an Auror, or just work at the ministry after Hogwarts.. But if the Ministry attracts more distress and complains, I might even consider a herbologist. I'm not too shabby at Herbology anyways (though Alice Jones remains the best that's Neville's mother

But I'm not going to tell you about the dark happenings outside the safe walls of my dear Hogwarts (or more about Herbology). Apart from nastily, exhausting studying, I had Head Girl duties to attend to. I think I actually lost half my weight since the beginning the year!

Once again, I had to patrol the corridors with Potter, lead the Prefects with Potter, organize school activities with the Prefects and Potter, and at last I had to wrap up my project with Potter. Yes, you're right. For the past few months, I finally noticed how much time I spent with that annoying twit. Well, ok, I should say James now. I shouldn't even call him a twit. It's kind of weird, but it's true that I'm calling him James. It wasn't a long story, so I'll tell you anyways.

It all started in the Prefects meeting hall, which Po- James and I were using to get away from all the commotion in the Gryffindor common room. I even surprised myself in remembering all the words in that conversation.

"How in the world did you figure out all these nonsense, Evans?" he said exasperatedly. His hands were ruffling through his very unruly black hair (like it needs to be messed up more) in frustration. He had just finished comparing my Ancient Runes notes with his. It was a homework session. James had managed to persuade me to lend him my Ancient Runes notes. I read his homework and laughed.

"I thought you got an E for Ancient Runes in your OWLs. This assignment is barely NEWT level, Potter. Look, you got this whole sentence mixed up and written this whole paragraph upside down. Are you really this stressed?" You should have seen his Runes, they were hilarious.

James nodded in reply and took them back from me. Then, he stared at his own work. He started muttering to himself in which I managed to catch a few words, "stupid subject" and "bloody confusing nonsense" or "I hate this". I studied him for a few seconds. I don't want to write it down but when I observed him, he looked slightly attractive when he is thinking. Well with his messy hair, frustrated hazel eyes and the grimace displayed on his face how could you not find that amusing?

Alright, enough about that…

"Why did you take that lesson anyways when you hate it so much?" I asked him.

"I didn't have a choice. My dad is amazing at it and so as the others before him. He expected me to take it as well…sort of a Potter tradition. But my mother hates it. It was the only OWL she failed. I probably got my talent for it from her."

I couldn't help but laugh. It must really be good to be a pure-blood. But I guess the Potters are only one of the few Pure-blood families that actually have decent members. Well, James Potter is an exception…or maybe not.

"First time I actually heard a genuine laugh from you in my presence, Evans," James told me with a slightly surprise and pleased expression.

"Don't expect it too much," I retorted. I didn't make it too rude however. Then suddenly, a thought struck me. "Er, I haven't really thank you for that, er, gift you gave me a few days ago."

"Don't worry about it. It's just a small present." There was an awkward silence after that. Thank goodness he spoke first.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"What?"

"How is it like being a muggle born?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Just curious. I never really got to know any, you know."

Now I thought about it, he was right.

"It's more or less the same as you, except that I kind of live in a muggle way when with my parents. Also, I couldn't discuss any happenings with them much without any questions like what is this and what is that," I explained to him without looking up from my work until I finished my explanation.

He looked really curious then. "So how was it when you found out you're a witch? Was it a shock for your family?"

"Of course it was! Imagine finally knowing why you can do all those funny actions. When I found out it took me days to recover. My parents were highly appreciative though, which was a good thing. But…" Could I tell him about my stupid sister? I didn't have to.

"Your sister hates you."

"How'd you know that?"

"Sirius told me. Wilma told him about it," he added when I looked confused.

"Oh, alright. Anyways, our relationship developed a very deep crack. We were never really close ever since. She called me a freak and she was ashamed of me, just because I can turn pots into turkeys." Just telling him that made me miserable. I love Petunia, she's my only sister, but she didn't love me back anymore. I guess she's really not worth being a good older sister. So, even if I love her, I dislike her mere shadow.

"And now she's engage with her long term boyfriend who probably doesn't like me either. How happy can life be?"

I looked up to him and caught him looking at me sympathetically.

"You don't have to look at me that way," I scolded.

He just shrugged and continued rewriting his runes.

"I would love a younger brother though." I said that without thinking but I still haven't forgotten his cute younger brother.

He snorted, "Younger brother? Well, you need to be really patient. Michael's a cool lad, but could get really annoying as well."

"But he's really cute."

"Really? Must have got it from his older brother."

"Don't be so full of yourself, Potter."

That was when I recalled something.

"Speaking of your family, your parents seemed such nice people."

"Oh, you remember them don't you?" James replied absent mindedly.

"Yes, and they seemed very pleased to meet me too." James Potter froze in his seat. Now, it's time to beat the truth out of people.

"Well, they just wanted to meet the head girl."

"Yes, as I recalled that's exactly what your father told me. Now, what have you been telling them about me?"

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, trying hard to avoid my eyes.

"Nothing. I just, well, er, told them you're Head Girl."

"Was that all?"

I was mean enough to keep him in that uncomfortable situation, yet I had no idea what the reason for that behavior might be.

Finally, he looked up. "Why? What else would I tell them?"

"I don't know. That's why I'm asking you."

"Could we continue this conversation some other time?" I couldn't help laughing at his hopeful expression. What had he been hiding from me? I let it go.

"Alright, but I will know Potter, mark my words." In relief, he went back to his homework.

After another few minutes of silence, he looked up once again with an ecstatic face.

"Did you realize what just happened?"

"What just happened?"

"We just had our very first, long decent conversation."

I stared at him for a few seconds, registering what he just expounded to me.

"Oh, so?"

"Nothing, I just find it slightly amazing. You usually bite my head off when I try talking to you."

"Oh." I was speechless. Was I that mean? James put down his quill.

"I didn't mean what you're thinking," he added quickly. "I just meant, well, we're not as friendly before—"

"And you are trying to say?"

He hesitated for a second and squirmed nervously in his chair. I just smirked. I don't know why I love making him look uncomfortable all of a sudden!

"Well, maybe we could start over. Anyways, we need to work together a lot. The Head duties and our project. What do you say? Are we friends? Colleagues?"

I thought about it for a while, a LONG while. I came to the conclusion that he was right. James Potter was more different than before. Is it because he changed his attitude? Or was it because I knew him more? Besides, we need to work well if we want to get maximum NEWTS in our Transfiguration (even if it was an easy topic).

"Alright, let's start over."

"So we're friends?"

I sighed, "Yeah, friends." I've never seen him looked so happy in my entire life…well maybe except when his friends and he turned the Slytherin common room and dorms into a swamp and succeeded in turning every Slytherins' hair pink (and Snape's in different shades) without getting caught.

"Great." He stood up and stuck his hand out to me. "I'm James Potter of Gryffindor House, how do you do?"

For the last time that night, I laughed at his efforts. I stood up too giggling slightly.

I clasped his hand in mine. "I'm Lily Evans of Gryffindor House, nice to meet you …James." That made him happier still.

"Nice to meet you too, Lily."

So now, we are in first-name terms and we're friends. Can you believe those happened all in one night?

Lily

NOTE: Another chapter done…hope you like it…if it needs improvement or you want to comment, just review. Sorry for the slow update, but I'll update more, I promise….