-1Disclaimer: I'm not JKR, I don't make any money from this, please don't sue me as I don't own anything.
Chapter
Eleven:
Two Fights for the Price of One.
An hour later we waved Sirius and Andromeda off from the front gate. In that time we had caught Sirius up with all the gossip he'd missed, carefully avoiding any that involved Florence, Remus or Severus Snape. Slowly he'd been more like his old self, but his usual bark-like laugh was missing, and the shadow of sadness never completely left his expressive eyes. He seemed haunted.
As Andromeda paid the Knight Buses conductor the boys clapped Sirius on the back and I gave him a farewell hug. We all made him promise he'd eat properly the next day and, in turn, we promised we'd be waiting there for him on Sunday lunchtime.
Then he was gone.
We trudged back up to the school, a worried silence settling between us. Each trapped in our own thoughts of Sirius, individually contemplating the hard days ahead.
Before we realized it we had passed through the huge oak doors and were entering the Great Hall. Briefly I noticed Amy sat with Martin, both of them completely oblivious to everyone else. The sight caused me to smile, and gained me a quizzical glare from James.
For some reason I felt the need to explain myself to him. "Amy and Martin have been attached at the hip since Saturday," I told him while waving my hand in their general direction. "It's rather sweet, especially since she's fancied him for nearly two years."
James raised his eyebrows at me, snorted, and started smiling to himself while gently shaking his head.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing," he answered, amusement thick in his voice. He was still shaking his head with a mysterious smile on his lips.
"What James!"
"Nothing, nothing at all," he said with his now smug smile, as we sat down by Remus. "I'm not saying a word."
"Not saying a word about what Prongs?" asked the sandy haired boy.
"About how Evans thinks Amy's relationship with martin is so sweet, because Amy's fancied him for two years," James answered conversationally while loading mash potato onto his plate.
"Wow, a whole two years. That's a pretty long time," Remus picked up in the same tone as James. "That's, what, a third of six years?"
I now knew where this conversation was going, and desperately wanted to stop it went any further. James and Remus however where on a roll, James slipping straight after Remus with barely a pause, and all in the same light tone.
"Yep, I reckon it is Moony.
"Do you think it would be three times as sweet if someone fancied a person for six years before they'd go out with them?"
"I'd say that was sound Mathematics Prongs. What do you think Lily?"
I looked at both boys who grinned innocently at me. "I think I walked right into that," I said as if discussing the weather. "Pass the bread please Peter."
James and Remus burst into gales of laughter. I gave both of them a disparaging look as I took some of the heavily buttered bread. "Oh grow up you two."
Suddenly, as if someone had flicked a switch, the two of them stopped. Remus squirmed uncomfortably in his seat, fixing his eyes on his dinner, and James took on the mingled look of disgust and loathing he usually saved of Severus. He was sat at the Slytherin table however, although he was staring at out little group with an eager expression plastered on his pale face.
I felt the presence of someone behind me. Assuming this was who had caused the extreme atmosphere change I turned around, and saw no other than Florence Ze Bour. The Hufflepuff beauty was looking directly into James hate filled eyes. Her usual sparkling demeanour gone, leaving tired eyes and a taut face.
"Can we help you Florence?" I asked politely.
"I …I saw yo…you in the gro…grounds with….Siri…." she stammered under James hostile glare. "I…Is he b…back?"
"No, he had a meeting with Professor Dumbledore," I said stiffly. "He'll be back next week."
Sirius' fan club had noticed Florence's presence at the table now. They were slowly gathering around her with furious looks on their faces and dangerous glints in their eyes. The fan club hadn't taken to Florence's betrayal of their beloved very well. They had never liked Florence, as she had the coveted position of being Sirius' girlfriend, the position they all wanted, but had treated her cordially out of respect for Sirius. Now she had betrayed him the fan club had consented to wait for Sirius' return and take their cue from him with regards to Florence, but by entering their territory she had broken the silent agreement. In my mind I screamed at Florence to walk away, before this descended into violence. Florence Ze Bour was never the sharpest knife in the draw though….
"H…He di…didn't look s…so good," she continued. "I…Is he o…okay?"
The fan club pressed in on her, turning the atmosphere from unfriendly to positively threatening. If looks could kill I have no doubt Florence would be stone cold by now. I opened my mouth hoping a calm voice could defuse the growing time bomb.
James got there before me. Standing up, his face twisted in deepest dislike and his voice dripping with contempt. "Why the hell would you care! You certainly didn't when you were sucking face behind the greenhouses."
My eye widened is disbelieving amazement as Florence physically changed before our eyes. Where before she had seemed intimidated and scared, her pleasant features were now contorted in anger, but they didn't stop there. Her nose grew into a sharp beak, looking more like Severus' than her own, her eyes narrowed and yellowed, and her hair seemed to be becoming almost feather like. The gaze from her now hawk like eyes looked at James like she had focused on her prey.
"Funny how it's always the woman who gets blamed. I wasn't there alone, you know," she spat. "Or have you conveniently forgotten who was with me?"
James withdrew his wand and pointed it at Florence's furious figure.
"No-man would have a chance against your in-human charms, Veela." James said coldly. "Tell me, did it have to be one of his best friends, or would anyone in trousers have done?"
Florence retrieved her wand now. The two stood staring at each other, wards extended. The fan club stepped a little closer, all of them pointing their wands at the Hufflepuff. Each of their faces daring Florence to give them a reason. I knew the next words uttered would be a curse.
"That's enough," I said in the lowest most intimidating voice I could. "You lot go sit down." Every member of the fan club sat down, having more sense than to argue with me, leaving James and Florence with their wands pointed menacingly at each other, both face distorted in hate. I could see Professor McGonagall heading towards us. "Florence, I think it would be best if you went back to your own table."
My tone left no room for argument. Florence sent James one last fury filled glare, sheaved her own wand, and walked away.
"Put your wand away Potter," I commanded.
He did just that as McGonagall reached us. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion having just seen everyone suddenly disperse and James hide away his wand. He was still standing and it was obvious he was seething, staring hatefully as he was, at Sirius' ex.
"Everything alright Miss Evans?" McGonagall asked sceptically.
"Yes Professor," I said smoothly. "There was a minor disagreement but it's sorted now."
"Very well Miss Evans," she said, turning to leave the Great Hall. "Don't forget to hand your essay to me on your way to detention Mr Lupin."
She swept from the table, and I sighed heavily. Looking towards Remus I saw he had slumped down and turned a brilliant shade of crimson. Peter looked fearfully at James as if expecting him to blow up at any second.
"I'm going back to the Common Room," I said picking up my bag. "Are you guys coming?"
"Only to pick up McGonagalls essay," Remus said standing up, and silently we left the Great Hall, with Peter and James following.
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We entered Gryffindor Tower and I flopped onto my favourite sofa. Remus ran upstairs for his essay and Peter scurried after him without explanation. Remus reappeared moments later and left with a quick "Bye guys."
"Bye Remus," I called after him.
Looking up I saw James stood over me, shaking with anger, his hands balled into fists.
"James," I said placatingly. "Ignore her, she's nothing…"
"WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO STICK YOUR NOSE IN, EVANS?" He roared at me.
"I wasn't aware I was…." I started but he cut me off again.
"Oh, no, never," he said sarcastically. "You wouldn't think of interfering.
"You can't help yourself can you? Ever since the first year you've meddled in our business."
I stood up now, anger coursing through me. I could feel a full-on Evans hissy fit coming, and I wasn't doing anything to stop it. James was well out of line.
"Maybe I wouldn't have to 'meddle' if you had one iota of common sense in your big head," I said scathingly.
"THAT'S JUST IT ISN'T IT EVANS. MISS PERFECT EVANS, ALWAYS RIGHT, ALWAYS KNOWS BEST. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO OPINIONS AS WELL, YOU KNOW."
A crowd was gathering around us now. Our row obviously more interesting than anything else that evening.
"OH, SO YOU'D PREFER ANOUTHER DETENTION THIS WEEK WOULD YOU? AND I'M SURE SIRIUS WILL BE THANKFUL YOU BROUGHT UP THE REASON FOR HIS ESTRANGEMENT FROM FLORENCE TWO DAYS BEFORE HE RETURNS. JUST GIVE THE WHOLE SCHOOL A LITTLE REMINDER WHY DON'T YOU. GREAT MOVE POTTER!" I yelled.
"AT LEAST I WAS STICKING UP FOR MY FRIENDS. I DIDN'T SEE YOU DEFENDING THEM."
"THEY WOULDN'T HAVE NEEDED DEFENDING IF YOU HADN'T BROUGHT UP WHAT SHE'D DONE." I screamed.
"OH, SO THIS IS MY FAULT," he hollered back.
"YOU KNOW WHAT POTTER," I shrieked. "I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT. I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING MORE TO YOU, SOMETHING DEEPER. I WAS WRONG! YOU ARE JUST AN ARROGANT BULLYING TOERAG AND YOU STILL MAKE ME SICK."
I spun on my heal and started to move towards the sanctuary of my Dorm when he yelled again. "I'M ARROGANT! TALK ABOUT THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK. AT LEAST I DON'T THINK I'M QUEEN OF THE UNIVERSE."
"NO," I retorted, turning to slightly to face him. "JUST THE KING!
"GROW UP POTTER."
I stepped onto the stairs as he yelled "COW!". I paused, stiffening visibly, before continuing towards the sixth year Dorm. I can't explain why but I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. When I reached the room I shared with three other girls I threw myself down on the bed and punched the pillow a few times to try and relieve some of the built up tension in my limbs. When that didn't work I hurled the pillow across the room, narrowly missing Amy as she came through the door.
"What did the pillow do to you?" she asked calmly while retrieving it from the floor.
"Nothing," I said angrily. "I was just pretending it was that prat, Potter."
"Oh," she said knowingly, as she sat on my bed. "I caught the tale end of that dispute."
"What is it with him?" I raged. "Why does he have to be such a MORON. Doesn't he realise I'm only trying to help. Doesn't he…." but at this point my voice broke and I tried to stop myself from dissolving into tears.
Amy wrapped her arms around me to comfort me. I gave up fighting myself and let the sobs wrack my body. Salty tears fell freely down my face as my best friend stroked my hair.
"He didn't mean it Lily," she said as if comforting a distraught child. "He was angry at that Ze Bour girl and you just got in the way."
"I… don't… care," I forced out between sobs. "I… don't… give… a… damn… what… that… ASS… thinks."
"you know that's not true Lily," she countered soothingly. "if it were you wouldn't be so upset now." She lifted me away from her. Holding my shoulders she looked deeply into my eyes, now red and swollen from crying. Her own hypnotic blue eyes held a sad sympathy. "You're falling for him, aren't you?"
It wasn't really a question, more of a statement. I nodded in response as a fresh wave of tears tore through me.
Amy pulled me into an embrace again and resumed stroking my hair. She started rocking me slightly whispering, "It'll be okay," over and over again.
I don't know how long we sat like that, but eventually I cried myself to sleep.
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I awoke a while later to a soft tapping at the window, and felt Amy rise silently from beside me and open the window. A hushed rustle of feathers entered the room and left again with a gentle 'whoosh'.
Amy let out a quite chuckle as she read the letter. I sat up and rubbed my still swollen eyes self-consciously.
"Interesting?" I asked.
She looked up, obviously surprised to find me awake, and let a wicked grin creep onto her face.
"It's from Martin. Want to know what it says?" she asked, barely containing her amusement.
"Save me from the soppiness," I cried with exasperation and fell back on the bed.
"You might enjoy this," she said sitting next to me.
"Fine," I conceded, rolling my eyes. "Read me your sickening love letter."
Amy giggled and cleared her throat. "Dear Snuggles," she read and I groaned in mock disgust. Amy ignored me, although she did turn a fantastic shade of magenta, and continued. "I thought you, and your friend Lily, might be interested in what happened in the Common Room after you left.
"Turns out Potter wasn't content with yelling at Lily, and started randomly cursing first years that passed by his chair." Amy paused while I used a very un-ladylike term to describe James. "Well, the fifth year prefect, I think her names Daimler, took exception to this and told him to stop being a prat.
"Potter didn't like this very much, as I'm sure you can imagine, so he cursed her. Hit her with a jelly-legs jinx, causing her to fall over.
"He started to leave and turned his back on her. As it turns out Daimler is a bit of a firecracker. She put Potter in a full-body bind before ending the curse on her own legs. Then she walks over to him, calm as you like, and crouches down beside him. She says 'That was silly wasn't it Potter. I won't give you detention, but I think we'll leave you like this for a little while. Give the first years a bit of a break.' He's still led there like it now, with people walking around him like this is normal.
"See ya later, love Martin."
Amy looked at me as I looked at her and we both burst into uncontrollable giggles.
"That," I laughed. "Is brilliant. Remind me to thank Daimler."
"You can get in line behind me," Amy guffawed before we both doubled over in hysterics.
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A/N: Thanks go to my ever wonderful reviewers: Wah-Keetcha, Scarlet dreamer, FrostyAKF, paige-rossi-black and Prongs. You all get melty chocolate cookies.
Any reviews are welcome so please take a minute to give me feedback. Constructive criticism is the only way I'll improve so please let me know what you think. Pretty please. With a cherry on top…..
