A/N: Voila! It's the ninth chapter! Filled with James' denial, Sirius' smirks, and Remus' unmatched anger. This is last chapter I'm going to post before I leave for vacation. Never fear, I will be returning on Thursday. Anyway, read on.
Disclaimer: Don't own it.
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Chapter 9: Hiding From Reason
James was nervous at breakfast, as it was his first day of being nice. He had had an epiphany that night, and realized that being nice to Lily wouldn't suffice, and that being nice in general would win her heart. It was a sacrifice he would make only for her. Though James drew the line at treating the Slytherins with respect.
"No more pranks," James had told Sirius, who had looked at him skeptically. "Well, maybe one or two, but attack only when provoked is my new rule." Sirius had shrugged and wandered off, but James was convinced. Lily might be with Remus, and then again might not be, he didn't know, but even so, he would get her. He was James effing Potter for Merlin's sake!
Now he ate toast next to Sirius and Peter, facing the doors to the entrance hall so he could see her when she came in. On the other side of the doors, however, there were two people not as desperate to enter the full hall.
"I just know they're all still talking about potions yesterday, they're all going to stare at us," the young woman whispered to the tall teen next to her. He sighed and whispered back,
"Just act like nothing ever happened." He took her hand and gave it a squeeze before dropping it quickly. "I've got more to worry about than you, I can't sit with the boys, and I don't know what James will do when he sees me."
"You can sit with me and Amy, she knows about us and won't make a scene." He nodded, tapping his foot nervously. "Are you sure we can't tell anyone? About us, I mean?"
"Yes, I don't want James to go after you, he won't stop torturing you and I until you agree to go out with him. It's best if we keep this a secret, at least for now."
"I guess you're right," she said, and then turned to face the foreboding doors. "I'll go first and you can come sit next to me." He gulped as she walked through the doors and shut them quickly behind her. Remus could hear the clatter that drifted through the doors stop as he imagined everyone turning to look at her. He began to count down in his head, pacing back and forth, glad and depressed at the same time that the whole school was on the other side of the wall. 5… 4… 3… 2… 1
Chill Remus, relax, you didn't snog Lily Evans twice yesterday. Damn it, stop swaggering! He thought, walking down the isle between the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables. He could feel everyone looking at him as he tired to look nonchalant, but it was harder than it looked. For once he was happy, nervous and a little scared perhaps, but still happy. He was about to sit down next to Lily, who scooted over to make room for him, but a voice cut through the silence like a knife.
"Moony, come sit over here!" called James, and hundred pairs of eyes turned to stare at him, as did Remus and Lily. He smiled warmly at the couple, and Remus looked down at her. She nodded and he took that to mean, "go ahead." So he walked further down the rows and sat across from the trio. Sirius continued to shovel down toast and Peter, who was oblivious to everything, poured heaps of syrup onto some pancakes. "What's up Moony?" James asked casually, being careful not to imply anything.
"Not much," Remus responded, pulling a plate of French toast toward him. The hall became full of whispers and gossip as James examined his friend. He was nervous, seemed embarrassed, and wasn't looking him in the eye. He tried to ignore the suspicious behavior.
"I didn't see you in the dorm last night, I was worried." Sirius did his best not to snort into his foot.
"I stayed in the room of requirement." James continued to eat, as his two best friends looked at him curiously. "I wasn't with Lily," he added. He nodded and pulled some bacon towards him, his unruly hair falling into his eyes.
"I believe you, if you say nothing's happening, then nothing's happening. Right, Padfoot?" Sirius just stared at Remus.
"Sure Prongs, sure."
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Lily and Remus avoided each other most of the day, so as to not raise any suspicion. They didn't talk much at all, other than saying, "Please pass the billywig sting," during potions. James was fooled by there display and went back to trusting Remus completely, as well as continuing with his "Happiness for all" plan, which Lily hardly noticed. Sirius continued to stifle snickers and Peter continued acting jumpy and nervous. Amy stayed by Lily's side, guessing correctly what had happened. Lunch turned to dinner and soon Remus was reminded of the night when it had all started. Feeling his gaze on her back, she turned around and looked directly into his eyes. He didn't look away, and she mouthed something.
"Meet me in the library." He nodded in return. She packed her things in her book bag.
"I'm going to work in the library, tell James and Sirius when they get back from practice, okay?" he told a lost looking Peter, who was tearing through a charms textbook. Remus gathered his parchment and slid his work into his bag, then left it beside Wormtail on the couch. Lily left the common room and he dawdled, lacing up his trainers. With a last look around to check that no one was watching, he climbed out of the portrait hole after her. She had already turned the corner when he entered the empty corridor, so he walked alone down to the library.
What does she want to do? he thought nervously, as he wandered through the many bookshelves, searching for the fire red hair. He dimly thought of the Yule Ball, which Dumbledore had announced over dinner. Could he ask her? If they went together James would defiantly notice, and yet they were, in a weird way, boyfriend/girlfriend. James was planning on asking her, if he hadn't already. He had told his fellow Marauders of how he would sweep her off her feet under the mistletoe. In fact, he had been so excited that he missed the sympathetic glances Sirius had given Remus. Now that Remus thought of it, he was almost certain that James had already asked her. Remus had not seen him after dinner, as he had gone to the astronomy classroom to see his professor about a class he would miss on the full moon, which was only a week away. James could have cornered her between the meal and his randomly late quidditch practice, to try and ensure that he was her first suitor. It was something he would do.
Lily was perusing the transfiguration section when he found her. She was sitting on the floor, idly skimming a book about turning inanimate objects into living creatures, which looked quite boring to him actually. He could tell she was distracted by something; her hair was pulled into a messy rushed ponytail that hardly served its purpose. She noticed him almost immediately, snapping her head up from her book before patting the ground beside her. He settled down next to her as she slid the book into her bag.
"What's wrong Lils?" he asked cautiously as she laid her head on his shoulder. When she didn't answer he assumed the worst. "What did James do now?"
"He asked me to the ball. I said no of course, but he still looked pretty cocky." He sighed and folded his hands in his lap. "He's up to something, I know it."
"What ever it is he'll probably tell me about it and we can find a way around it." She snuggled closer to him and he slid an arm around her waist.
"He's just Potter after all. What can he do?" she added uneasily, her words floating around them.
"I don't know Lils, but it will be okay."
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A/N: The next chapter things get pretty sad for both Lily and Remus. More irony, some new truths, disturbing dreams, and a fateful palm reading will all be included. ; D But you have a week before you need to worry about it. Teaser?
"I can tell you anything, Lils, right?"
More:
"Damn it Remus, what is it you're not telling me?"
More:
"I think he's got a secret girlfriend."
More:
"Just be careful Prongs. Don't do anything stupid." "I won't Padfoot, I'm not going to let Evans go."
Well, see you! And REVIEW!