"Did you really think it would be that easy?" The window rattled from the thunder. Its lock was rusted so with each quake of the sky and stones of the castle it loosened. "Did you really believe I meant everything I said? Did you really do all of this in the hope that everything would just fall into place?" An electric thread of lightening split the black quilt of night. "Well what I say now is true. Nothing is ever this easy."
The hall was damp. The moisture from outside had infiltrated the air within and not only did the aroma of rain hang in the air but the words would not fade either. They filled the silence and severed the cords of his feelings. But a Gryffindor never goes completely numb. His wounds still fresh and head pounding he tried to look up.
"You are a fool. I do not trust you. And do you have any idea how important that is? Trust?" The rain softened but with that part of the symphony a bit softer the thunder became loud. "Leave now before they get suspicious. You may be small and utterly forgetable for your boring features but you will be easily found scampering about the halls after dark." With that Severus departed. Peter was left all alone. Suddenly a massive clap of thunder sent the slightest crack through the window's glass. Peter convulsed violently with fear from the abrupt incident and Severus's cold words. In an instant he scampered away, mind nearly numb with the thought that after all he had done he was still no where near close to gaining the one thing he really wanted. But isn't that how it always is? The one thing you would give nearly everything for, change yourself for, is the one thing you shall never have.
Lily woke from the noise. Her eyes fluttered open and though they were still heavy with sleep when she shut them again her mind stayed awake. In frustration she threw off her covers, grabbed the nearest book and set off for the comfort of the Common Room fire. She didn't even bother to grab her robe on the way out. So when she descended the stairs in her nightgown and saw a figure upright in front of the glowing fireplace she felt slightly embarassed by her indecency. But it was too late to turn back. He had seen her.
"Lily?" He turned over his shoulder, away from the light of the fire so his face was in shadow. But she could recognize the low tone of voice anywhere.
"Good evening, Remus. Well, morning I suppose, since it is well past midnight." She approached in surrender and sat down beside him, legs folded beneath her and book on her lap.
"What are you doing still awake?" He asked with a slight smile.
"I was sleeping actually, but the storm woke me and I couldn't manage a wink after that." Her eyes looked down at his set-up of textbooks, parchment and quill, as if to ask him what he was doing up as well.
"Course work, as usual. Being friends with James and Sirius definately has its benefits but downfalls as well. I can rarely manage to keep up with them and my assignments at the same time during the day. Nights are really all I have."
"Just you and the darkness, huh?" She said with a nod. "And I guess the moon on occasision."
He had to force himself to nod in reply, though her casual phrase made his stomach twist. "What book are you reading?" He said before turning back to his essay.
"Oh...You would think me foolish."
"I wouldn't, Lily. What is
it?"
"It is a muggle book. You probably have never even
heard of it." She said, with a hint of eloquence. Remus did not
falter in his expression. His calm eyes revolved from his
introduction paragraph to her. "Alright, alright. Pride and
Prejudice." She narrated, lifting the book from her lap to turn
back the cover fondly. "I've read it four times." She added
in a whisper.
"Miss Austen is very clever. One of the best muggle writers in my opinion. A pity not more witches have read her like you have."
Lily raised an eyebrow. "So you've heard of it?" Remus nodded again. However, before he could go on to say he has actually read it, a shuffling sound entered the Common Room from the direction of the portrait entrance. The two froze, eyes trying to make out who was moving through the shadows towards the stairs. One of the torches on the wall lit up just above it and Remus stood, wand extended, to find Peter's face illuminated. His tiny eyes darted from Remus to Lily, Lily's bare legs and arms, then back at Remus again. A tremble gripped him just before he let out a loud squeek of a sneeze. After blinking a few times to recover he realized he had wasted too much time and most certainly didn't want to give Remus or Lily the chance to ask where he was.
"I w-w-won't say anything to anyone if you won't say anyth-th-thing either." He snuffled. Remus gave a slight nod in agreement but did not move any further until Peter had scampered away to his dorm. Then he turned and exchanged one of those knowing glances with Lily.
Morning came gently in the calm after
the storm. The whole castle remained very quiet and still. It seemed
everyone, students and professors alike, had taken the peaceful time
as chance to regain the sleep lost during the night from the violent
storm. Sirius woke first, rubbing his eyes then jumping to his feet
with unbounding energy. It was too silent for his liking. James lay
still, a pillow and arm over his head to block out the sun, and
Remus's bed was empty and untouched. After dressing quickly and
grabbing his shoes Sirius walked down to find his friend curled up on
the couch in the Common Room.
He sat down, tied his laces, then
began to push all the books into a pile. His fingertips paused atop a
particular book he had never noticed in Remus's collection before.
"Pride and Prejudice." He read before tossing it atop the
others with a growl of amusement. Remus stirred.
"Finally!" Sirius said
loudly, as though he had been waiting hours for Remus to wake up.
"Let's go."
"Where?" Remus said, moving to his
feet.
"The lake, of course."
"But it is probably freezing still. The sun isn't even out full."
"Funny, I only thought it was only the moon you took noticed of on that aspect. But thats the point now isn't it? If we're the first to jump in the frigid waters for a swim, feigning delight in the loveliness of it, then others will soon follow suit."
"They'll be sorely surprised then."
"Indeed." Sirius started for the door. Remus sighed but a smile somehow found its way onto his face. Whether it was from Sirius's genius or the way he had spent his night he wasn't sure.
A smile spread across James' face
before he even opened his eyes. Stretching his already long body his
first thought was of Lily. He had to see her today...about his robes,
his wand. By the time he was dressed and in the Great Hall for
breakfast word had got around about the strange night. The few
students that showed up for breakfast whispered with excitement about
the broken tree branches and muddied paths. But the sun was out, a
good sign and hopeful prospect. So on hope alone groups of seventh
years, sixth years and the occasional fifth years filtered outdoors.
James had been sitting for at least an hour when Lily actually
showed up. While he had slept soundly, his magnificent dreams
undisturbed, it appeared Lily had not faired the night as well as he.
She was alone, her companions already gathered on the grounds in some
activity, but she did not appear lost. In the least, she appeared
very determined, so much so that she didn't even notice James address
her as she sat down across from him at the table. On the third
pronunciation of her first name he gave up and resorted to boldly
declaring "Evans!" She dropped her fork.
"I've something to ask you." He reached for her wrist, which she withdrew as reaction and caution.
"Well get on with it. I have to leave." She forced.
"Where to?" He asked, biding his time and leaning back a bit in the situation with a sense of suave ladies play.
"I plan on spending the afternoon in the forrest, not sitting here while you question me for your pleasure."
"The forrest? Well what calls you off the grounds? Perhaps it is best you let someone know your mission in case you don't return."
She was loosing her patience fast but she was not about to be the one to give up in his game of ask and tell. Any Gryffindor likes a challenge."I have a specific potion to boil tomorrow and the one ingredient I need I don't have, but the forrest does."
"Great. I'll take you in then, I'm very familiar with it. And you shouldn't be going into it alone."
Her eyes narrowed. "For your information, I go in all the time by myself and get out fine, thank you." She said, stood quickly, turned on her heel then headed out the doors. James followed, smirking. She thought she had been alone all those times, sitting pleasantly reading aloud to herself and meandering through in adventurous enjoyment, but she wasn't. He excused her comment though. He couldn't blame her for not recognizing him amongst the brush or the one time in the clearing where she dared to reach out and brush his neck lightly with her slender fingers. He was, after all, not his normal self then. Antlers aren't considered traits of his appearance to most.
He had it all planned out, measured and calculated. It was just like creating a potion - he had the ingredients in just amounts, the directions which he himself perfected, and the proper variables by which to boil the elements. His dark hair blew stiffly in the breeze. The sunlight filtered through the trees, displaying every leaf with a golden outline and magnifying the forest's hue. The whole scene was a bit too bright for his taste but he managed it well enough. Gathering his materials triumphantly he set off for the castle. It was barely afternoon and already he had accomplished so much. It was, after all, just as he had intended. Severus couldn't hold back the smile that greased across his face like a smudge that didn't belong. But just as he neared that last clearing before the edge of the forrest he heard a voice. Instinctively he flattened himself against a tree tunk, holding his breath.
Just around the upright wood and Severus' taught figure a tall boy led Lily in. He had a look of satisfaction on his face but he seemed more natural in his movement and speech. Though relaxed there was some change about him, something very vague that made him seem as though he were not acting for once but being more himself. Severus subtly caught a glimpse of the two students. He froze, new thoughts suddenly flooding into his cold mind.
"Are you mad?" A voiced echoed smoothly across the surface of the water. "You'll catch something swimming about in there!"
Sirius went under and with all the strength he could muster paddled to the opposite shore of the lake. Remus was not far behind, his strokes more calm. Teeth chattering both started off on a run towards the forrest once they reached land again. But it was not humiliation that made Sirius seek the shelter of the trees - it was from curiosity. His swim served distraction for most of the students outdoors but it did not keep him from noticing James guiding Lily into the forrest. Remus continued to follow him faithfully but slowed down after a few minutes of truding through the underbrush and shivering from chill. The cool air intensified the cool water that clung to his cloths and dripped from his body.
"For Merlin's sake, Sirius!" He grumbled but Sirius was nowhere in sight. He spun round in a circle, eyes darting to find his companion. It was too quiet and his senses began to indicate something was out of place. But Sirius had found first what was wrong.
A bug black dog threw himself down upon Remus immediately. Remus grunted from the impact but the dog kept his position firm until his acute hearing asured it was safe.
"Ironic that it is you protecting me now from another when it is always you protecting me from myself on typical occasion." The dog placed his paw over Remus' mouth and licked his forehead.
Then through the undergrowth Remus spied a figure in all black pressed against a tree across the nearby clearing. Sirius moved off him and bounded into the open area. Remus' eyes followed then set upon the standing James and Lily. Sirius began to bark ferociously, undertoned with a snarl, facing the opposite side of the tree where Severus hid. However, he was gone by the time James recognized his friend's warning at something. Sirius took off in the direction Severus would have gone to get back to the castle, leaving Lily in confusion with James and Remus to gather himself from the ground and slip away unnoticed. Everyone may have been happy, with the afternoon warmer than it had been since summer and the sun showing its bright beauty for once, but there were still more clouds upon the horizon.
