I know this chapter is a whole DAY late from my one week promise, but grrrr - HOMEWORK! It consumes me. But I'm up at 3am right now to finish and upload this chapter for y'alls so that it'll be there in the morning (stupid takes forever to load, ugh). That means I haven't gotten to read and re-read every single part. Sorry in advance for any errors. It should be okay, though.
"Cue Perseus"
"So," Lily spoke as the group was leaving breakfast, "what to do first?"
The halls were bustling with action. Students running to and fro, laughing and chattering madly, tiny house elves rushing to deliver orders of hot apple cider, cherry tarts, and chocolate eclairs, and all among the ubiquitous echo of carols.
"Let's go on a sleigh ride!" Marilyn suggested vivaciously. "Want to, Remmy?" she redirected to the boy on her arm.
"Sounds great," he replied automatically. As if anyone expected him to respond differently.
They weaved their way to the glistening white outside where a small crowd of students were waiting for a sleigh to take them away.
"So I guess this is the place," Sirius voiced the obvious.
"But wait," James said, "those sleighs only fit up to six people each. There's eight of us. We can't all fit."
The others looked around to find that he was right.
"We could split up," Cherise shrugged.
"Yeah..." Lily nodded her head. "So who'll go with whom?"
Marilyn took control. "Well you and Sirius, obviously, and then me and Remus, of course, so we'll all go together since we're the couples, then Scarlett, Cherise, James, and Peter will go in the next sleigh. Alright?"
Everyone murmured their agreement. All except Lily, that is.
"But Ja--" she stopped herself. "Wel-- ...yeah...yeah okay," she conceded quietly.
"Grand," Sirius grinned as he placed his arm over her shoulders. "There's an open one now. S'go."
Lily looked over her shoulder as they walked off. James offered a weary smile and a wave. Lily's stomach fluttered faintly as she smiled back.
The countryside surrounding Hogwarts was nothing short of breathtaking during the snowy winter months. Every flake of ice sparkled magnificantly against the midday sun, each competing for the most attention, yet each one lost in the abundance obliviously. The towering pine trees held a light dusting of white - enough to allow a trickle of green to shine through. The shimmering ice of the lake resided ever in the distance, resembling a giant jewel partly buried in the ground.
"Oh, isn't it wonderful," Lily sighed as she gazed dreamily at the scenery.
"Yeah..." Sirius said with apparent awe in his voice. The beauty even penetrated through to him.
Glancing over to Remus and Marilyn, Lily could tell they were not as absorbed in the surroundings as her and Sirius. They seemed fairly content with each other. Remus had his arm around Marilyn, and was twirling her hair playfully while whispering something in her ear. Whatever he was saying, it was very effective at making Marilyn giggle. Not that it was that difficult to accomplish anyway.
Sirius saw this too, and smirked. "Oy Romeo," he nudged Remus's leg. "Something you care to share with the class?"
Remus and Marilyn glared at him irritably.
"Nah, I thought we'd leave our cuddling for later tonight, Padfoot," Remus replied sardonically.
"Padfoot...?" Marilyn queried.
Sirius and Remus looked immediately to each other with identical alarm on their faces.
"Nothing, it's nothing," Sirius covered up quickly. "Remus is just being a wanker. Nothing new," he winked playfully at Remus.
"Oh no you don't," Lily joined in. "I got that same lame excuse from James about these weird names of yours. Now what is this about?"
Sirius and Remus continued to peer at each other uneasily.
"Well...okay," Sirius sighed. "See, they're just these stupid nicknames that we gave each other last year, pertaining to which animal we-- "
"--Most relate to!" Remus interrupted, casting a dangerous look towards Sirius. "It was in this book we found in the library. It told you which animal you most related to and stuff, so we just went from there. And...the names stuck."
"So what're your animals, then?" Lily asked.
"Well I'm Padfoot - a dog," Sirius explained. "James is Prongs - a stag--"
Lily bit her lip.
"--Peter is Wormtail - a rat--"
"Oh that's nice," Marilyn laughed.
"--And Remus here is Moony - a werewolf."
"Ooh!" Marilyn squealed. "A werewolf, huh? How sexy," she purred at him.
Remus gave a goofy smile. "Heh...yeah..."
"I wonder what animal I would be," Lily pondered out loud.
"Yeah, me too," Marilyn endorsed. "Hey, do you think we could find that book again?"
"No!" Sirius and Remus shouted in unison.
Lily and Marilyn shared looks of surprise. "Why not?"
"Because...uh...because it's in the Restricted Section!" Remus supplied. "And we wouldn't want to get you ladies in trouble now, would we?"
"Oh I wouldn't mind a bit of danger," Marilyn grinned with her tongue between her teeth.
Sirius swallowed hard and thought frantically for a distraction. Brandishing his wand behind his back, he muttered a few choice words under his breath, unknowest to all except Remus, who gave Sirius a calculating look.
"LOOK OUT!" Sirius bellowed as the tree right in front of the sleigh came crashing down.
The girls screamed as the horse guiding the sleigh swerved just in time. Lily and Marilyn fell into their respective men from the jolt and clung on for dear life. The guys didn't seem to mind.
When the ride became smooth and interrupted once more, Lily lifted her face from Sirius's chest and glanced backwards at the pile of tree that lay behind them.
"What happened?" she asked breathlessly.
"The tree fell," Sirius said simply.
"Yeah, um, how?" Marilyn asked shrilly.
"It...fell? I don't know! I'm not some tree scientist!" Sirius defended.
"So was that enough danger for you, doll?" Remus grinned cheekily at her.
Marilyn scowled and crossed her arms. "Prat."
"Really! You two just take what happened back there as some sort of joke?" Lily asked dubiously.
"Well-- ...no...?" Remus scratched the back of his neck nervously.
"We could've been killed!" Lily screeched.
"I wouldn't go that far," Sirius chuckled.
"Oh, so being crushed under a huge pine tree qualifies in the 'harmless scratches' zone?"
"Maybe..." Sirius rationalized weakly.
Lily scowled and crosses her arms in a very similar manner to Marilyn. "Prat."
Remus smiled sympathetically toward his friend. "Welcome to the club."
The group reunited at the steps outside the entrance to the castle. They filled in each other on the adventures of each seperate sleigh. The story of the tree falling definitely attracted the most interest. Though Cherise and Scarlett had a good one about James shoving Peter - a little too forcefully - causing him to topple into the snow. The unanimous agreement was that winter was most definitely a gorgeous time of year.
"Oy, guys," Sirius muttered to James and Peter as the girls made their way inside. "The ladies, er, know about our codenames."
James and Peter's eyes bulged. "What?"
"No, no," Remus assured. He looked around quickly then whispered into each of their ears. When he was finished, both James and Peter looked a lot more at ease.
"Good thing you two are seasoned liars, otherwise we would've been screwed," James said.
"Oh yeah, it's something we take much pride in," Sirius beamed.
"Guys?" Cherise poked her head around the door. "You coming sometime today?"
"Right behind you," James declared.
They traced the girls' footsteps into the castle and found them clustered around a jittery-looking house elf.
"-and I want a plate of butter cookies, the ones with the sugar crystals on the top, and they have to be kind of crunchy, but really soft too-"
"-a mug of hot chocolate, but not too hot, and SEVEN tiny marshmellows-"
"-one of those puffy looking things with the cream inside-"
"-apple pie with vanilla ice cream on the side - NOT TOUCHING -"
The elf was looking from one girl to the next, trying - and failing - to follow all the orders. Finally, with a squeak, it skittered off wildly.
"Hey...I wasn't done!" Marilyn shouted after it indignantly.
"Erm, I think we scared it away," Scarlett said uncomfortably.
"Terrifying poor, innocent house elves, are we?" Sirius accused after witnessing the spectacle.
Lily stood transfixed with her hand over her mouth. "I feel so mean," she uttered.
"Nah, don't worry about it," James consoled, placing his hand on her shoulder. "I've dealt with many a house elf in my day, and trust me - they get spooked easily. I mean, practically everytime we go down to the kitchens--"
"You go down to the kitchens?" Lily scrutinized.
"Well, yeah," James shrugged.
"That's where you get all the food for those parties you guys throw!" she concluded.
"Where'd you think it comes from?"
Lily scrunched up her face in embarrasment from what should have been an obvious inference. "Well I just never knew students could get into the kitchens..."
"You're not alone. That's what makes it an official maraud," he winked.
"So how does one get there anyway?" she asked in what would be an offhand manner, were her eyes not staring so intently at him.
James picked up on this. Grinning slyly, he merely said, "Just ask the pear."
Lily furrowed her eyebrows. "Pear? What does tha--"
"Lily!"
Lily turned around to face Cherise, who had called her name. "Yeah?"
"Come on, we're going ice skating on the lake. The others just left."
"Oh, um, sure," Lily replied. "I'll see you guys out there, okay?"
"'Kay. But don't keep Sirius waiting - if you know what I mean." She gave Lily a crooked smile and walked out the door.
Lily turned back to James. "So what were you saying? About the pear-- "
"We should get going, don't you think?" James cut her off with a wily grin. He began to walk off, so Lily hopped after him and smacked him lightly on the shoulder.
"James Potter, you are impossible."
"Oh, but anything is possible, don't you know?"
Lily's smile faltered for but a moment as the words hit her.
"Come on," James smiled and took her by the arm. "They'll be waiting."
The crystal lake was speckled with students. Flashes of scarlet, green, gold, and navy twirling and swooshing past. Lily and James caught up with the rest as they were putting on their ice skates.
"You pokey little puppies," Scarlett tutted as Lily and James grabbed some skates from the pile.
"Yeah, what kept you?" Sirius questioned from where he was bent over tying the laces.
"Just James's stubborn vagueness," Lily answered.
"And the little shove you gave me into that pile of snow," James added with a pointed tone.
"Which wasafter you dropped that snowball down my shirt," she countered, clearly surpressing laughter.
"You asked me to!" James said in a shrill voice, noticeably amused as well.
"I was kidding!"
James smiled boyishly and gave her the But-how-was-I-supposed-to- know? look.
"If you two are finished-" Sirius cut in, "I'd like to get some some skating in with my gal today."
"Oh, yeah, sure," Lily said distractedly. She bent down and laced up her skates quickly, then stood back up to face James. "But you started it," she stuck her tongue out at him playfully before heading to the ice with Sirius.
"You know...I'm not that great of a skater," Lily admitted to Sirius as she placed one foot tentatively on the frosty ice.
"You're in luck. I just so happen to be good enough for two," he stated.
"Are you this conceited in everything you do?" she bantered.
"Just about," he replied with his classic smirk.
Lily stepped her other foot onto the ice, discovering just how "not great" she really was. After not even five seconds of standing, she slipped backwards - perfectly into Sirius's arms. She looked up at him bashfully.
"Told you so," she offered a weak smile.
"Sirius Black, at your service," he mocked as he helped her upright again - this time making sure to hold onto her waist.
"Here, let's take it slow for now." Holding her waist from behind, Sirius and Lily moved gradually forward. Other students zipped past, including a dewy-eyed Marilyn and Remus, and James with Cherise on his back. Cherise was howling with laughter and screaming at his every turn. Lily fought off a strange knawing in her stomach at this display, and tightened her grip on Sirius's hands.
"Okay, I think I can take it from here," Lily spoke over her shoulder after a small chunk of time had passed.
"'Kay," he replied as he skated around to her front, taking both her hands and guiding her on while skating backwards. Lily eyed him with a sort of puzzlement.
"I just said I could do it alone."
Sirius shrugged. "I know. I just want to make completely sure you don't fall down again. Wouldn't want my sweet thang getting hurt."
Lily smiled and shook her head in amusement.
"Plus, this way I get to look into your beautiful eyes all I want," he added sincerely.
The way he had expressed the words sent a single shiver through Lily's body. Sirius rarely made such ardent comments, let alone with a serious demeanor. His face demonstrated no cheeky grin, no Yeah-I-know-I'm- fabulous smirk. It was, in all seriousness, Sirius. (hahaha...)
Lily could feel the semblance of a smile creeping to her cheeks. "If you put it that way..."
He led her on slowly, keeping a smooth, comfortable pace. He started going a bit faster, even passing up some other people - which Lily couldn't deny that she was enjoying.
Then he stopped. Abruptly.
Lily bumped right into his chest with an oof!. She lifted her head to look up at him when he wrapped his arms around her and laid a kiss on her.
All part of the brilliant mind of Sirius Black.
After lunch, the group was wandering the decorative halls of the school in hopes of something to amuse them. They ended up passing the hospital wing, which brought a subject to Lily's mind.
"So how's your grandmother doing, Remus?"
Remus furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
"Your grandmother," James cut in rather forcefully. "You know...the one that was sick a week ago that you had to go visit?"
Remus's face lit up with realization. "Oh! Of course! Granny...yeah, she's...doing...better..."
Lily raised an eyebrow. "That's good then, I suppose..." she trailed off uncertainly.
"Anyway!" Sirius intervened. "Who's up for a little Pin the Tail on the Dumbledore?"
Cherise raised her eyebrows in amusement. "Sorry Sirius, don't think they have that game booth up this time around."
Sirius feigned shock. "No Dumbledore tailing! And they call this a festival..."
"Nope, sorry Padfoot, but I think I know something else that might spark your interest," Remus hinted. Sirius got the message and grinned mischievously.
As the group moved on, Sirius grabbed Lily's arm and hung back a little ways. He led her to the other side of the hall, then motioned his head upwards. Lily followed his meaning and felt a crimson blush creeping over her features as she discovered what it was he was talking about.
"Mistletoe," she smiled bashfully.
Sirius raised his eyebrows innocently. "I simply have no choice but to--..." and he gave her a hearty - legitimate - kiss.
"Professor!" Sirius greeted to a stern-faced McGonagall as he broke away from Lily. He pointed upwards earnestly before she could say anything. "We are perfectly within our rights!"
McGonagall rolled her eyes and said, "It was Dumbledore's idea. He insisted we hang that blasted plant all over the school. Well, if it were up to me..." she trailed off and gave the couple a quick up-and-down glance before puttering off.
"She's just bitter that she never gets none," Sirius grinned evilly.
Lily gave him a scandalous look. "You randy prat!" she laughed in spite of herself.
Sirius grinned nonchalantly and shrugged. "So...where were we?"
Finally - dinner arrived. Meaning the dance was to begin. After probably the shortest dinner in Hogwarts history (due to the speed in which students inhaled the food), there was a mad rush for the dormitories to freshen up and change into formal wear.
The guys emerged in their tuxes (a/n: yeah I know, supposed to be robes, but idn't it so much funner imagining them in sexy secret agents suits? I rest my case) and slick hair, while the girls presented themselves in a more colorful variety of dresses: Lily in emerald, Cherise in vivid red, Marilyn in pale pink, and Scarlett in midnight blue.
They each found the arm of their respective dates (or lack thereof) and strutted on down to the entrance hall. Walking outside was a chilly experience, but the promise of a heated dancefloor brought hope. They walked leisurely down the carved out path lined with glimmering twinkle lights, until they found themselves face to face with the site of the dance.
Lily gasped.
"Look at it..."
The dancefloor, made to look like crystal clear ice, was lightly steaming with deliciously warm air. A delicate snow was descending from an unknown above. Luminous balls of soft light dotted the atmosphere; when one looked close enough they were found to be fairies, no bigger than the palm of your hand. Quaint metal wire tables fit for two lined the outskirts, along with matching chairs.
And all with a backdrop of moon-glistened snow and daintily winking stars. It was enough to make any of the girls cry from just the dreamishness of it all.
"Yeah - FOOD!" the guys whooped simultaneously before clambering for the dessert table near the back.
The girls bestowed identical looks.
"Good to know tarts and pie comes before us," Marilyn said with pursed lips.
"Yeah, but...can you blame them?" Scarlett countered, eyeing the chocolate mousse with more than a little appreciation.
Marilyn smacked Scarlett with her purse. "Prat! Who's side are you on, anyway?"
"Scarlett's," Lily and Cherise answered offhandedly as they left for the food table, leaving a very huffy Marilyn.
"Mm...oh fine!" she grumbled to herself and followed the others with reluctance.
"Hem guws," Sirius greeted the appearance of Lily, Cherise, Scarlett, and Marilyn through a mouthful of...something-er-other. Or possibly several somethings. They believed his words roughly translated into, 'hey girls'.
Marilyn positioned herself next to Remus, leaning forward over the table in what would be a seductive manner - were she not crushing several cookies under her arms.
"So...nice music, huh?" she mused.
Remus nodded.
"Don't those couples look so happy out there..."
Remus nodded.
"The dancefloor is lovely, isn't it?"
Remus nodded.
James elbowed Remus harshly in the side. "Dance with her, wanker," he hissed.
Remus's eyes bulged. He looked quickly to Marilyn. "Uh...would you like to dance?"
"Oh sweetie! What an enchanting idea! I'd love to," she answered with extra relish, slipping her arm through his and hauling him to the dancefloor. She placed Remus's hands in all the right places and got herself comfortable in his arms, gradually falling into the sway of the melody.
Lily smiled to herself at how cute Remus and Marilyn acted when around each other...despite Marilyn's rather, er, assertive mannerisms. She sighed at the way Remus was smiling over Marilyn's shoulder at that moment. It was a secret smile, unknowest to Marilyn who had her head resting on his chest, and it spoke more clearly than any words could express. It shone of... contentment. Lily wanted that smile.
She turned to Sirius. "Let's dance," she requested with an eager smile.
"Sure thing, doll."
He led her to the center of the misty floor, twirling her once before settling her into his arms. Lily giggled at the unnecessary flourish.
"Thank you, Fred Astaire."
"Who?"
"Nevermind..." she smiled mysteriously.
Meanwhile, James and Cherise kept each other company on the dancefloor, while Peter loitered around the dessert table, and Scarlett migrated from boy to boy. The minutes wiled away unnoticed, as everyone was too pleasantly wrapped up in the perfectness of it all.
"Sirius..." Lily spoke into the former silence between the two as they danced.
"Hm?"
She bit her lip and concentrated on Sirius's tie. "I... well, I feel awkward saying this, but... but I've never really told you before, so..." she moved her gaze into his satiny eyes. "I really like you. I mean... more than that. I'm just so incredibly lucky to even have you look at me, let alone...y'know...this...and it just... it means the world to me," she finished tenderly.
For the second time that day, nay - ever, Sirius declined to offer his winsome grin. Instead, his eyes wandered off to an unknown somewhere, a contemplative expression covering his face. The faintest of smiles graced the corner of his mouth.
Rather than speak Sirius out of his reverie, Lily chose to place her lips on his, sweetly. Sirius barely kissed back, only contributing the smallest brushes of his lips against hers. Somehow, this only seemed to heighten the romantic effect.
Lily pulled back first. She looked to his eyes, but could not read them. There was a cloud there...something in the way.
"There's something else..." she breathed, scared to continue.
"What is it?"
"S-something Cherise told me..." she looked away. Of all times - why did she have to choosenow to bring this up? Because it was impossible to fight off anymore. "She said--"
"Lily! Mind if I cut in?" Scarlett interrupted in quite a bouncy manner.
"Well, actually--"
"Great!" she giggled and stepped in Lily's place. Sirius looked pretty much lost at what was happening, but went with it anyway.
"--it isn't such a good time," Lily finished to only herself. She let out a sigh of frustration and wandered over to one of the tables. She sat with her chin resting on her hands, angry with herself for letting another moment slip by - even if it wasn't technically her fault. But why was it so important to ask him anyway? The incident was weeks ago, and Sirius definitely seemed sincere now, if not then. So, okay, it's not the smartest idea to let something like that slip unnoticed, but she was so happy in the current situation that she didn't want it to be ruined. She truly believed her and Sirius had something special. There were those few moments when she looked into Sirius's eyes and could see something...a different something...and it sent warm tingles down her spine. But then it went away. Like a flame, it shone bright for but a moment, then flickered away. Nevertheless - it was there. The question was...what exactly did it mean?
"Hey Lily," Sirius, obviously finished dancing with Scarlett, said.
She smiled in response.
"I've got to visit the little wizard's room. Be back in a jiff." He turned and walked off toward the castle.
Lily sighed and dropped her chin back to her hand. She watched the other couples that were swaying in time to the music. Off to the side she spotted Remus and Marilyn, still entangled in the other's arms, with their foreheads pressed together. They were both staring into each other's eyes with a far-off look, as if they were staring into something much deeper. Slowly, Remus leaned down to meet Marilyn's lips with his own. He didn't pull away any time soon.
"Someone's looking lonely," a familiar voice chanted, drawing her from her zone.
Lily's face lit up when she saw who it was. "Hello James."
He sat on the chair across the table. "What're you doing here all by your lonesome?"
Lily shrugged. "Just waiting for Sirius. He went to the bathroom."
"Well in that case..." he glanced to the dancefloor and back at Lily, throwing her a crooked smile. "Care to?" he motioned towards the people dancing.
"...I'd love to," she answered after an elapsed moment.
She smiled graciously as she took the arm he offered her. They claimed a spot in an unintrusive corner, away from most of the chatter and associated noise.
"So how have you been enjoying yourself today?" James asked conversationally.
"I've been having a wonderful time," she replied dreamily. "If only we could do this every weekend."
"Yeah, but that would take the specialness out of it, don't you think?"
"I suppose...but it's all so grand and exhilerating and...amazing. I can't imagine anything better."
"Sometimes it's the small pleasures in life that really take your breath away," he said with a small smile.
As he spoke these words, Lily became very conscious of the wonderful warmth his touch was sending all over her body. She shivered in spite of it. Or perhaps because of it.
She looked away from his face and searched for another focal point - any other one. Her eyes caught on a illustrious, icy blue fairy holding a twig of mistletoe. It was fluttering overhead, every so often hovering itself over specific couples. This ceremonially brought blushes and giggles, often getting the results it intended. Sometimes even ending in a slap.
As Lily watched the vibrant fairy, she was alerted to see it head straight for her and James - and stop there. James glimpsed the fairy as well, though he seemed quite amused, as Lily was frantic.
"Er...I don't think...maybe...the fairy--" Lily stammered stupidly.
James grinned valiently. "Don't worry. I'm not about to cross any lines."
Then he kneeled down, took her hand and kissed the back of it gently, as any perfect gentlemen in a top hat and tailcoat would have done.
"But then again," he said once he stood back up, "I'm not about to break the code of mistletoe, either."
Lily, thoroughly relieved, smiled at his sweet gesture. "Thank you, James." She pulled herself to him, arms around his neck, and rested her head on his shoulder.
And like this they danced.
Unknowest to her... she had gotten that smile she wanted.
The time glided away inconspicuously. It wasn't until four or five songs later that Lily or James even took notice that they were still in reality.
"Is Sirius back?" Lily wondered out loud as she gave her surroundings a quick scan.
James stole a look too. "Hm...doesn't seem like it. What could be taking him so long?"
"I hope he's okay!" Lily fretted.
"I'm sure he is," James reassured. "He's probably lost or something. Wouldn't put it past that guy."
Lily could only produce a hollow smile in reply to James's humor. She had a knawing feeling in her gut that was draining all mirth out of her.
"Will you come look for him with me?" she entreated James.
"Of course."
After grabbing Lily's purse, they walked together off the dancefloor and onto the path leading to the school. Lily walked briskly and rigidly, looking for any sign of her date. James had to trot a bit to keep up.
Entering the grand entrance hall of the school brought a wave of warmth washing over the pair. Though it somewhat eased James's tensions, it only seemed to increase the sense of foreboding hanging over Lily.
They turned down the first hallway they encountered, slowly their pace just a bit.
"He has to be here somewhere..." Lily said to no one inparticular, except maybe her own thoughts.
"Maybe he went back to the Great Hall for--"
But whatever it was that James suspected Sirius wanted in the Great Hall - Lily never found out. But she did find out where Sirius had been.
He wasn't hurt.
He wasn't lost.
And he wasn't alone.
A mere 5 feet from the boys bathroom stood Sirius...and Samantha Creevy...kissing.
Rather passionately, might I add.
Lily blinked once. Twice. A third time. Yet it still didn't hit her. The fact that the boy she had spilled her heart to an hour ago, whose arms had held her near and dear, whose eyes she was so sure had held a certain love for her, whose lips had caressed hers so many times - that boy - was kissing another girl right in front of her eyes. The one thing Cherise had warned Lily about so long ago, yet she had chosen to trust him instead. Here it was - for all to see. Or Lily and James, at least.
Yeah,then it hit her.
She dropped her purse with a clatter, let out an uncontrollable sob, turned and ran desperately the other way.
Sirius broke apart from Samantha in an instant. His face turned an unnatural white. "Oh f---"
Two male voices broke the heavy air. "LILY!"
James and Sirius snapped their necks to see the other source for the voice. Not wasting another second, James sprinted after Lily. Sirius stayed where he was, too paralyzed to move. He just kept running his hand through his hair, making colorful exclamations.
"Lily!" James shouted after her again. He saw her at the base of the stairs, clinging to the banister as her only form of support. She was fully immersed in tears now.
Finally reaching her, James laid a hand on her arm. "Lily...God, I amso sorry tha--"
She ripped her arm from his touch.
"Get away from me!" she shouted through her sobbing.
James took the words like a slap in the face. "Lily--" he pleaded.
"No!" she snapped. "You-You're just like h-h-him." She ignored the hurt written over James's features. "You don't ca-care about me..."
"Lily that isnot true! I care about you more than you'll ever know-- "
"Just stop! I don't want to hear it." She paused to take a deep breath, then continued in a hoarse whisper. "...It was all a lie."
She broke into sobs again and ran away up the stairs. James remained rooted to his spot, Lily's forgotten purse in his hand.
"...You're wrong."
Well wasn't this a chapter full of fickle pickles? And no, Lily and James didn't kiss. Aw poo. Cuz I know that was what you were all expecting. Or, er, what I was expecting you were expecting. ...Anywho. CUE ANGST! Hee Hee. Yay! My favorite!
And I know you all probably hate Sirius right now. Which you should. But come on, he's SIRIUS. We can't hate him. That's why Cindy has a few tricks up her sleeve. Stay tuned.