Howdy! Well since today is my birthday, I figured it'd be a nice thing to do to treat ya'll to another chapter! Yay! I should be studying instead of doing this. Finals start next week. UGH!
404: Well, I'm glad it doesn't bother you too much. I'd hate for that to happen. I'd be sad. No one ever wants to be sad. Yeah, I get what you mean about the slow stuff, coming to terms with it and all. Sirius is going to be very slow about it all. I mean, technically he never even told James.
Katharina-B: I know. I made them terrible, didn't I? Haha, I'm glad you like Lily and James. There's more of them coming up!
Kute Anime Kitty: HOLY CRAP! They don't have Forth of July either! When do they blow things up? When are they patriotic?
Rockpaperscissor: I'm glad I could make you laugh.
Lil Smartass: Haha, yeah I did manage to get Peter in there some. Go me. Abt them being gay, if we all just sit down and be realistic: the HP books—although getting rather dark—are still sort of for younger readers. And even though they attract an older audience, I really don't think JK wrote the characters intending them to be gay or for people to get so intense about ships. Don't get me wrong, I love defending my ships of choice, but I can deal with Harry dating Ginny or Ron and Hermione having the hots for each other. In reality, I seriously doubt she meant for any of the Marauders to be gay together. But everyone and a while, guys like to pretend they're gay, and that's always funny to write. Haha.
Well, this is the quickest update I've done in a long, long time. Go me. Also, I'm glad everyone liked the little Lily/James bit. Since I don't see the two just suddenly dating over night, even though James already likes Lily, there are going to be bits throughout the rest of the story that involve Lily and James slowly coming together. This chapter includes such a bit. Hazzah! The makings of Harry!
Chapter 15
Sirius was released from the Hospital Wing the next morning, just as expected. James came to meet him before classes, bringing his uniform and books. Sirius changed, and they walked out of the wing together. As soon as they walked into the Charms classroom, Professor Flintwick said, "Mr. Black, the headmaster wishes to see you." Sirius blinked. "Go ahead," the tiny professor prompted. Sirius looked at James, who shrugged. Sirius then turned on his heel and headed back down the hall.
Sirius walked up to the stone gargoyle. "Sherbet Lemons, Sugar Quills, Licorice Wands, Chocolate Frogs—" The gargoyle jumped to the side to reveal the winding staircase leading to the headmaster's office. Most of the teachers had stopped giving Sirius and James the password to the headmaster's office. They figured after so many trips there the boys understood the method behind Dumbledore's password choices. It was a waste of their breath to say anything more on it.
Sirius stepped onto the stairs, and they carried him up to the thick wooden door. Sirius drew in a deep breath and knocked. The door swung open, and Dumbledore was revealed to him. The old headmaster sat at his desk, pouring over some pieces of parchment. Without looking up, he said, "Good morning, Sirius."
"Good morning, sir," Sirius said stepping into the office. Dumbledore motioned to one of the chairs placed before his desk. Sirius dropped his book bag and seated himself. Dumbledore placed one of the parchment sheets to the side and looked up at his student. Sirius had long since wiped his face of emotion.
Dumbledore laced his long fingers together before speaking. "Are you feeling quite well again?" Sirius nodded. "Good, good," he said lightly. "Professor McGonagall was quite concerned about your health for a few days, as was Mr. Potter." Sirius nodded again. He knew James had spent most of the time in the Hospital Wing with him. "I also sent an owl to James's parents informing them of your situation, seeing as you have seemed to relocate yourself there during the winter holiday."
Sirius blinked. Kaelin would be all over this soon. He'd have bottles of potions that would chase him until he took them, scrolls and scrolls expressing her concern over his health and how he shouldn't be pushing his body. She'd fuss for hours when they got back to London. The thought of it made Sirius smile inwardly.
"Sirius," Dumbledore said, "I suspect you are highly tired and irritated with the events unfolding around you." What an understatement. "I understand that these events are bringing unwanted attention your way. I can see how this is very stressful."
Sirius knew the headmaster meant well, but he wished the old man would just get to the point. He wondered if Dumbledore realized he was doing just what he was talking about. "I have been told that you had deprived yourself sleep for several days and refused to see Madam Pomfrey when you were obviously feeling ill. These are not healthy habits, Sirius," the headmaster continued. Sirius held in the comment about falling off towers he had made to James a few days ago.
Sirius sighed. He knew he would not leave this office without offering some form of explanation, but Sirius refused to spill everything. With every passing day Sirius felt more and more guilty that he was keeping such things from people who honestly cared about him, people like Dumbledore, McGonagall, Remus, Peter, and even Lily. But he just couldn't bring himself to say anything. It was still too fresh, too painful. He hadn't even begun to heal yet.
"I had reasons for it, sir," he said. "I won't—can't say those reasons, but they were there."
"You understand, Sirius, that many of us here are very concerned for you," Dumbledore asked. Sirius nodded. "If this conversation is not to go further, I daresay you've missed enough classes this term." Sirius nodded and turned to leave the room, heart filling even heavier with guilt.
Later that afternoon, Sirius sat in the library with Lily, once again making up for time out of lessons. He rubbed his eyes, and Lily immediately asked, "Are you too tired? We can stop."
Sirius smiled at her. Her protective, worrying manner was a bit irritating, but she was just concerned. "No, Lils," he said.
"Are you sure," she asked. "This isn't much work, you know. You can always finish it later."
Sirius laughed, "Since when has Lily Evans ever condoned putting off school work?"
Lily frowned and before she could stop herself, half yelled, "I'm serious!" Lily clamped her hands over her mouth as soon as the words escaped her lips. Sirius roared with laughter. "That's not funny," she hissed, throwing a nervous glance over her shoulder. Madame Prince was glaring at them harshly. "You'll get us kicked out again!"
Sirius flashed her his famous grin. "Come on, Lily," he said. "That phrase has been taboo here for how long?" Lily frowned, but her eyes were sparkling. She shook her head and returned to her notes, shoving a handful toward Sirius to copy. He rolled his eyes and began writing.
Lily watched him, scrunching her nose at his miniscule script. "I don't see how you can read what you write," she said. Her own handwriting was rather large and loopy, very girl like.
"Better than James's chicken scratch," he retorted. Lily's smile suddenly dropped. Sirius blinked in confusion. That was odd. If Lily ever let the mentioning of James bring down her good mood, she would be huffing about some arrogant thing he had done lately. She was blushing and had diverted her eyes away.
Sirius then smirked. He leaned forward on his elbows. "Lily," he said in a sing song voice. Her blush was nearing the color of her hair now, and she was biting her bottom lip. "Lily, do you have something you'd like to share with me?" She shook her head wildly.
Sirius grinned and moved to try to meet her eyes. She turned away. "Lily," he said grabbing her chair and turning it to him. She looked rather like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. He let out a bark of laughter at her face and scratched the back of his head, looking at her expectantly.
"What," she squeaked. Sirius just raised a brow. "It's nothing!"
Sirius leaned his arms on his knees. "If it was nothing, you wouldn't be acting like this," he said. She narrowed her emerald eyes at him. "No death glares, dear Lily," Sirius laughed.
"Then stop looking at me like that," Lily countered.
"Well, what do you want me to do," Sirius asked. "The only times James makes you this red is when you've been screaming for ten minutes straight. Admit it, this is weird behavior coming from you."
Lily opened her mouth to speak but a loud shout from the library entrance stopped her. "Padfoot!" James came running in dragging Remus, who was looking at Madame Prince fearfully. The other boy paid the overly strict librarian no mind as he raced up to his fellow Gryffindors, nearly colliding with the table. Sirius raised a brow at his best friend before sparing a glance at Lily. She had retreated and was hiding behind a book, only the top of her bright hair visible.
Sirius rolled his eyes and turned back to James. "What, Prongs," he asked.
"I've just had the best idea of me life," the messy haired boy exclaimed. Remus attempted to shush him as Madame Prince stomped over, wand held dangerously in her hand. "Come on, mate," James cried. He grabbed Sirius's sleeve and hauled him up. "You can study later. Wormtail's waiting in the Great Hall." James then dragged both his roommates out of the library, just missing Madame Prince and leaving Lily to collect Sirius's things.
Later that night, the boys sat in their respective beds, laughing about their latest prank. "Didn't I tell you it was rich," James howled.
"We are going to be in so much trouble," Remus said, a twinkle in his amber eyes.
"They can't catch us," James said.
"Yeah," Sirius confirmed. "We're on a mission from God!"
Remus and Peter laughed. "Lily Evans heard you talking about it though," Peter noted. "Remus, you said she was there when you two got Sirius, right?" Remus nodded. Peter continued, "So she knows. She'll rat us out in seconds!"
"Look who's talking about rats," James said slyly. Peter sent him a mock frown. James shrugged as he said, "We're always the reason for trouble around here. So what if Evans heard us talking, we'll get the blame either way."
"Speaking of Evans, Prongs," Remus asked, "when was the last time she yelled at you? I haven't seen an argument between you two for a while now. It's got to be a record of sorts."
James blinked curiously at his werewolf friend. "Hey, that's right. She hasn't yelled at me in a while! She must be realizing her feelings for me! I should go talk to her." James attempted to jump up from the bed, but in his overexcitement, he tripped over his sheets. He landed hard on the floor, and the other three boys roared with laughter. "Shut it, you asses," James muttered from the floor.
"You should just stay in here, Prongs," Sirius said. "Evans won't take kindly to you falling on her. In fact, she'd likely give you those lovely sores again."
James winced at the memory. "That wasn't fair, what she did," he protested. "She's a walking Charms encyclopedia! I could never have a chance against that."
Remus smiled. "And you could have just as easily turned her into a slug. Besides, Prongs, you were harassing her. She's technically got the right to get rid of you however she wants if you take it too far."
"I didn't take anything to far," James tried to defend himself. "I was just offering to carry her bag for her!"
"Yet you ended up grabbing her chest," Sirius pointed out, his trademark smirk forming on his face.
James turned red. "It was an accident! I was reaching for the shoulder strap." The others laughed at his miserable face.
Sirius smirked as he tossed a miniature Quaffle in the air and caught it. "Don't sweat it, Prongs," he said. "Just keep after her. She's sure to give you a chance if you pester her enough."
James blinked up at Sirius. "Really?" Sirius usually was the most relentless in teasing James about his crush on Lily and her apparent lack of interest. Remus and Peter were giving Sirius odd looks as well.
"Why not," Sirius asked as he snatched the ball from the air. "I hear her almost call you James the other day."
James stared at Sirius for a few seconds, his eyes slowly narrowing. "Oy!" he yelled. "You were supposed to have been sleeping, you creep." Sirius grinned and wiggled his brows. "Bloody supposed to be recovering in the Hospital Wing and listening in on people's conversations," James ranted.
"No law against it," Sirius said nonchalantly. James reached up on his desk and grabbed the actual Quaffle he had stolen to add to his collection of Hogwarts Quidditch balls. He chunked the ball at Sirius, who caught it laughing. "You're lucky this ball isn't soft enough to swat back at you. I'd have broken your extra eyes."
"You are a very, very tricky little bastard, Sirius Black," James said as he climbed back onto his bed. Sirius shrugged and leaned back on his pillows.
"Yes, I am," Sirius said. "I take it as a compliment."
The boys sat in silence for a few seconds before James burst, "So you really think she'll go out with me? I mean, if I keep asking her will she really give me a chance?" Sirius just smirked and closed his eyes. James turned hopefully to Remus. "She talk to you, Moony?"
Remus raised a brow. "Lily? About you?" James nodded his head violently. Remus crinkled his nose. "No, I only really talk to her about assignments and the like, no social stuff, really."
James slowly turned his head back to James. "Padfoot." Sirius made no indication he had heard a thing. "Padfoot, talk to me," James said. Sirius made a little humming noise. "Damn it, Padfoot, she said something to you, didn't she? That's why you're acting all bloody secretive!"
Sirius let out a bark of laughter. "She never said a word to me," he answered truthfully. He rolled over onto his side to face the other boys. "I just read people, you know that. I think she's staring to like you, or she's at least playing with the idea of liking you."
James practically flew onto his friend's bed. Sirius bounced and looked at James oddly. The taller boy was nearly in his face. "What happened? Tell me! Tell me everything!"
"Back off, you wanker," Sirius said pushing James away, laughing. "You're acting like a bloody female, you are. One of those giggling blondes."
"The ones you date," Remus noted.
"I don't date," Sirius corrected. "I merely take what I want out of the relationship before she gets clingy and demanding."
"So you're a man whore," Remus clarified with a grin. Peter laughed.
"Excuse me," James broke in. "There are more important matters to be discussed than Sirius's bi-weekly one night stands! This is Lily Evans, the love of my life, my destiny!"
Sirius gasped and grabbed at his heart. "You're breaking up with me, James? And for another woman!" He broke into hysterical tears. The other three boys howled with laughter.
Suddenly there was a loud banging on the door. "Potter! Sirius! Tone it down, the whole tower can hear you in there!" Lily's shrill voice came muffled through the door.
The boys stared wide eyed at the door until Sirius pursed his lips and stuck his hands on his hips, saying, "Uh-uh, I know that bitch isn't comin' in here to steal my man!"
He had obviously spoken loud enough because the door cracked open and Lily stuck her head in. Her bright hair was pilled on top of her head in curlers, and she was wearing oversized pajamas. "Steal your man," she asked, her face screwed up in disgusted confusion.
Sirius smirked and flashed his eyes over to James. Lily's green eyes widened, and her face immediately turned the color of her hair. She let out a tiny squeal and tore from the room, door slamming behind her. The other boys stared at the door, Sirius rolling on his bed with laughter.