Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned below except for Paul Waters, Kye Bradford, Cheryl, Melissa, Jamie, Courtney Brewster and Jessica Leah Andrews.
From the previous chapter…
Paul Waters stopped in his tracks. He heard someone call out his name, but when he turned around and saw only James Potter behind, he knew that it was time again for his ear check-up.
So he continued walking… until James ran and stopped in front of him, panting.
"Didn't you hear me call you?"
"Me? You were calling me?"
"Why are you so surprised?" James raised his eyebrow.
Paul almost rolled his eyes. Surprised? Hell, yeah he was surprised. It wasn't everyday that the school's most popular boy talked to the school nerd.
"Never mind. Is there something you want?" Paul predicted that there was surely something James Potter wanted, or else James wouldn't even think of conversing with him.
"Yes-" at least James was still predictable, Paul thought. "- I need you to…"
Paul's eyes widened with interest. "All right, I'll do it."
James smiled his first smile ever since he found out that Lily had been admitted into the hospital. "Is there anything you want in return?"
Paul actually looked confused. "Huh? No… is there something you want me to want?"
James smiled his second smile, then his third when he found out that he was making some progress in the facial expressions department of his. He also made a mental note to himself to talk to normal people more often, even though they're not as popular as himself. But first of all… he needed to settle the things he had in mind…
Truth And Lies"So? How was it?" James pestered Paul Waters for the umpteenth time in that day. He was anxious to know the results of Paul's investigations.
Paul had gotten so frustrated at one point of time that he half-shouted out, "Please, will you just let me finish my work in peace? Otherwise the results won't be ready until next year!"
Of course, you and I both know that that was a huge exaggeration. In fact, anyone who had a sound mind would know that. Unfortunately, James thought that Paul was so perfectly serious that he backed off for a while.
He asked again 5 minutes later.
Paul, being exasperated with James, blatantly ignored him. Then, after another 15 minutes, Paul really couldn't take it any longer.
"I'm about to get the results. So please, just stop pacing back and forth. It's giving me such a headache." James immediately smiled and Paul smiled inwardly. It wasn't everyday that the famous and popular James Harold Potter listened to a nobody like him. Therefore, at that very moment, Paul Waters was milking every minute for its worth.
"Ok! Done!" Paul held the photograph high up, as if to inspect it further. But James, being so protective of Lily, didn't particularly like the way Paul was staring at the photograph. So he snatched it away from Paul. It was one of the photographs that were pasted on the school's notice board. None of it was left now, after the teachers got wind of this incident. So James was glad that he managed to grab one photograph before they were all disposed. He just hoped that the investigation would bring him closer to the truth. He needed the answer to the question of who harmed his sweet Lily.
"Well? What is it?" James questioned Paul impatiently.
"The good news is I found what did this."
"What?"
Paul suddenly got so excited. "It's the new A380F67 series! The new minute digital camera series that just came out! It has a memory size of about…" Before he could drone on, James stopped him, before he got too excited and forgot what this task was all about.
"The A380F67?"
"Yup!"
James made a mental note to himself about the model of the camera.
"Good. What else did you find out?"
"Well… that was the good news. The bad news is… I can't find out WHO did this."
"What? What do you mean you can't find out?"
"This is just a photograph," Paul explained. "I'll need the negatives to find out when this picture was taken."
For a moment, James didn't know what to say.
"What about the positives?"
(A/N: sweatdrop…)
"Er… there aren't such things, James."
"So how do I get these… negatives then?"
"You can't. Not unless you have the camera. Negatives have to be developed from the camera itself, not from the photographs alone."
"Dammit!" James cursed as he slammed a fist into the wall beside him.
Now what, he thought.
But there was hope after all. James realized that there are certain advantages being with Sirius all the time, no matter how unbelievable it sounded. After all, you're bound to have at least some tricks up your sleeves.
"Are you sure?" Albus Dumbledore peered through his half-moon shaped glasses at the young but fine man sitting in front of him, watching as the determined look on his face remained unchanged the moment he stepped into the office.
"Absolutely, Sir." James replied with such certainty in his voice that Dumbledore couldn't find any possible reason to doubt his words.
'Good. Then let's go, son."
"We have gathered here today because of a very serious matter that has happened here in Hogwarts. I have never encouraged malice amongst students and I do not see why it should start now. I'm sure every one of you, by now, knows about what happened with Miss Lily Evans. I believe this is a very uncomfortable moment and period for all of us, but I do not think that Miss Evans has done anything to deserve such treatment. What happens behind closed doors is purely her business and hers alone. I do not see any reason to disturb that peace and interfere. She is right now, still in the hospital ward, recovering from shock and her friends are still under interrogation from some of the teachers. As I said, I do not think malice is going to help anyone. Also, I think that it will be extremely unfair to her friends if they are not the culprits. Therefore, as I believe, I have always encouraged honesty amongst students, I would like to urge the real culprit of it to see me today, after this, in my office. You'll have one hour to gather up your courage and come to me. After an hour, no matter whether the culprit has turned up, everyone please meet back here in the great hall. Please, my beloved Hogwarts students, do not make me disappointed. That's all I have to say."
James was listening to each and every word that the Headmaster said and he was really impressed. Though he doubt that the culprit would own up. Poor Dumbledore, he thought dejectedly, he was really going to be so disappointed. Then, feeling worse than ever, how was he ever going to find out the truth?
"Court… Please, just own up."
"No! Bitch, are you trying to kill me?" Courtney spat in Jessica's face.
"No… I'm just saying that if you don't own up… then Dumbledore might give you more punishment than he was planning to give in the first place."
"He won't find out. No one will." Courtney glared at Jessica through slit eyes. "That is, unless you decide to spill it."
Jessica didn't say anything at first. Courtney was furious. She slapped Jessica across the face and Jessica nearly reeled from the blow. It wasn't the first time Courtney has hit her and she knew this time definitely wouldn't be the last.
"You bitch. Don't forget how I helped you when you first came to Hogwarts. You were like a lost puppy! It was I! I, Courtney Brewster, that helped you find your place and not feel like the loser that you really are! Don't you dare forget that!"
For a moment, Jessica looked shocked. Courtney was satisfied and smirking, she turned away to decide on the clothes she would wear to see Sirius, just in case she 'accidentally' bumped into James. James obviously needed someone to comfort him now and who would suit the role better than she? But what Courtney didn't see ruined her plans, or whatever that was left of it.
She didn't see the murderous look that flashed across Jessica's face. For just one moment, Jessica almost looked scary. But it was for just one moment. After that, Jessica smiled sweetly at Courtney and pointed out that there was no need to choose her outfit since she'll look good in everything she wore. Courtney beamed and didn't even bother looking Jessica's way when Jessica said that she needed to go to the library for a while.
And she didn't even notice when Jessica slipped a casual hand out of Courtney's bag and fished out the minute digital camera.
"Are you sure what you're saying now is the truth, young lady?"
"Absolutely sure, Sir. It was Courtney Brewster who did it."
"Do you have any evidence, Miss Andrews? Or is this another one of those tactics girls use just to spite one another?" Dumbledore looked at Jessica sternly.
"No. This is the absolute truth and I will swear to it."
"There will not be such a need." By the looks of it, the girl really was telling the truth.
Dumbledore looked at his tiny watch and said, "Then it's time."
One hour was up. Everyone was waiting almost expectantly, to see if Dumbledore would turn up with the culprit. Even Sirius, who didn't usually care about such stuff, craned his neck to get a better view.
Courtney stared at the empty seat beside her and wondered for the hundredth time when Jessica went.
"That idiotic bitch. Leaving me to sit alone like a loser."
Just then, Jessica appeared, seemingly breathless, but nonetheless, she looked rather elated.
"What's up with you?" Courtney snapped.
"Sorry I'm late."
"Yeah well, you should be." Courtney rolled her eyes and stared in front at the row of teachers. All of them had a glum expression on their faces. So she guessed that they didn't know the truth yet. She smirked at that knowledge and knew that she wouldn't get caught for that little act she did to that bitch Lily Evans.
Little did she know she was wrong.
Dumbledore appeared soon and looked at all the faces in front of him. Courtney felt kind of uneasy when his eyes rested on her face. Was it her, or did Dumbledore stare at her for a longer period of time than he did for the rest of the students?
Dumbledore cleared his throat and looked as glum as all the other teachers present. James crossed his fingers behind his back and Sirius was just about to laugh at that childish behaviour when he saw the serious expression on James's face. He seldom saw that expression and to him, it was kind of scary. So he decided to keep his comments to himself at that moment.
"We have found the culprit. This is a very serious case, as all of you should know. The person behind this act has caused distraught amongst students and I did not even hear the confession from the culprit herself."
At this point of time, there was a buzz about the culprit being a girl. Conclusions were made everywhere, all around the Great Hall – some said that it was one of Lily's room-mates; some said that it had to be one of the girls who were jealous of James being with Lily; some even said that it had to be one of those nerdy girls who had nothing better to do. However, the buzz stopped as quickly as it had started, as students watched the expression on Dumbledore's face change from being calm to being angry. Students who have been there for seven years have almost never seen Dumbledore come close to being angry at all. Hence, the commotion stopped all by itself. Dumbledore then continued.
"Therefore, seeing now that the culprit herself does not have any courage to own up, and seeing that she does not seem to feel any regrets about committing that act, I have no choice but to announce her to everyone."
Everyone held their breaths in anticipation. Courtney Brewster was frightened. Oh please, don't let him know, she prayed.
But it was beyond prayers now.
"Courtney Brewster from the Slytherin House, please step forward then."
Courtney was shocked. She was beyond shocked. No, she thought, how could he have known? Then, while fighting back tears of humiliation as every student and teacher of Hogwarts stared at her and shook their heads, she turned and looked at Jessica in the face. Jessica Leah Andrews smiled. "Don't worry. I'll never forget about everything you did for me, Courtney Brewster."
"YOU BITCH!" Courtney shouted and screamed, not caring anymore if the whole world was watching. They were all watching anyway. Her life was ruined now – she'd be expelled from Hogwarts, be the shame of the family and she'll never have her way with James Potter. Everything was taken away from her, even her pride. She lunged at Jessica who swiftly backed away.
The guys from Slytherin quickly grabbed hold of Courtney from both sides and Dumbledore shouted above all the commotion, "THAT'S ENOUGH!" Then in a calmer voice, he said, "bring her to my office now."
And then it was all over.
Lives went on as usual at Hogwarts, except for the fact that Courtney Brewster was expelled. There was shock, obviously. But among the shock were a few people who were truly happy about it all. James, for sure, for he had gotten revenge for his Lily. Remus too was happy, for his Jamie was off the hook for interrogation – it was making her so unhappy that he felt upset too. Sirius was happy too, for he had both his friends back to normal. All of Lily's room-mates – Jamie, Melissa and Cheryl – were all happy for Lily, and themselves.
Then there was Jessica Leah Andrews, who smiled at it all. She couldn't escape from half a year of detention because she, too, had a hand in the matter. But she had confessed in the end and Dumbledore had regarded it as being extremely wise and brave. Yet, even detention for half a year didn't stop the smile from creeping onto Jessica's face. Who could blame her, really? After all, she was finally rid of a nightmare that lasted for so many years of her life.
A/N: nice? Read & review! Thanks guys! )