Ch. 14- Boys Are Confusing
A/N: Alrighty, here is chapter 13...don't worry I have some really good stuff coming up (at least I think it's good) in the next few chapters and I'm actually already starting to think the sequel to this story...yes, there will be a sequel, that much I know. But there's still at least ten more chapters left to this one, so it's still a ways off...anyways, on to the new chapter! ;P
She is the prom queen I'm in the marching band
She is a cheerleader I'm sittin in the stands
She gets the top bunk I'm sleepin on the floor
She's Miss America and I'm just the girl next door
Girl Next Door- Saving Jane
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The rest of the year flew by and the next thing I knew I was on the train home for summer holidays. Dad was still in Australia doing stuff for the Order of the Phoenix, which was the group Dumbledore formed to fight Voldemort. So, I was staying at James' again, with Sirius and Remus. We would pretty much have the place to ourselves, seeing as James' and Remus' parents were all in the Order as well.
"Okay, so what should we do this summer?" Sirius asked, as we played exploding snap.
"Well, I think we should throw a party." James said, and I smacked him over the head. "What?"
"That letter your mother sent you said, and I quote, "absolutely, positively, NO parties while we're away!" Anyways, we have to plan for our last year. We want to go out with a big bang, right?" I said, shaking my head at him.
"Yeah, right." He said, nodding, excitedly.
"Okay, planning's fine, but notesting. At least not on me." Remus said. "Honestly, if I wake up some morning and I find my room rigged, I will hex you guys into oblivion!"
"Lighten up, Moony, that was one time." Sirius said, as James and I laughed.
"Yeah, and I think I still have the scars from it." He replied, sourly.
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When we got to the Potters', we immediately unpacked and raided the kitchen. Or, I should say, Remus and I ravaged what was left of the food after James and Sirius had blown through. The first couple of days we did the usual- Qudditch, swimming, and just messing around. We went to the wizarding flea market a couple of times to see what kind of things people had thrown out. Remus and I took James and Sirius into London and gave them a crash course on muggle shopping. It was quite interesting, to say the least.
"So, my mum said I could have a small "get together" and invite a few friends." James said, one day as we sat by the pool. An owl had just swooped in and dropped off a couple of letters.
"Wicked, who're we going to invite?" Sirius asked, not moving from his place on the float he was currently occupying.
"Lily for sure." I said, rolling onto my back. "I need some feminine reinforcement and I'm sure Prongs won't mind, will you Prongs?" I added, looking over at him.
"Of course not!" He said, quickly. "Um, Peter for sure- that is if he'll ever respond to our letters. There's the girl Moony has a crush on," James said, thoughtfully.
"WHAT!" Remus exclaimed, sitting up. "Who are you talking about?"
"Oh, c'mon, Moony, don't deny it. The pretty Ravenclaw girl that you're always tutoring." Sirius said, laughing.
"I do not! She really is dreadful at DADA!" He said, indignantly. James and Sirius just laughed.
"They're just joking." I said, biting back the laugh itching to come out of my mouth.
"Yeah, yeah…bloody buggers…" He muttered and I laughed and shook my head.
"Okay, so I'll work on the guest list and contacting, Padfoot can do food, and Moony and Sunshine can take care of decorations. I'm thinking pool party with a barbecue. Spot knows how to grill a mean burger." James said. Spot was one the house elves- actually he'd been there the longest.
"Okay, sounds good to me." I said, as Remus nodded and Sirius started snoring.
The party was set for a week later and we had a lot to do. We had to get music and lights and transform the back pool area into party worthy. Lily came a couple of days early so that we could hang out. She was also my moral support when I was driving myself half insane trying to explain why it was improper to leave a decorated urn in the backyard and why they had to clean up at least the bottom part of the house. Honestly, James and Sirius were positively primitive at times.
"Okay, so now that the house doesn't look like a cave and that ridiculous urn is out of the backyard, I think we're ready to set up." I said, cheerfully. Sirius and James just grumbled, while Lily and Remus sniggered.
"So, Moony, you do the wand work and I'll dictate the spells." I continued, ignoring James and Sirius.
It took us about fifteen minutes in all to get the backyard ready. I'd found a book of spells entitled: Turn Your Drab Party into Fab! Corny, I know, but there were actually some goods spells in there. We conjured fairies out of the lights Lily had brought and stuck them in the trees and bushes. We enchanted the water to change colors on regular intervals, as well as the torches that were spread around the backyard; we were planning for an evening party, so it made the most sense. We got James' parents radio and put on the coolest wizarding music and then we waited for people to arrive.
James and Sirius had invited the Qudditch team and a few of the elite from the other houses. It was mostly boys, but there a few girls from Gryffindor there as well.
"Hey, Sunshine, can you see if Spot has the food ready?" James called, from the pool. I nodded and went inside.
I was just about to go into the kitchen when the doorbell rang. I frowned- I thought everyone was here. Shrugging to myself, I made my way to the front door. When I opened it, I stood there staring. There was a gorgeous platinum blonde girl standing there. I knew her- well, I mean, she was one of the girls always giving me crap because I was so close to Sirius. She was a fifth year Ravenclaw and her name was Lisa something or another. She was in a bikini with a skirt on covering the bottoms. Big ice blue eyes and a petite figure, as well as an aristocratic air, made her any boy's dream girl.
"Yeah, is the James Potter's house?" She asked, disdain evident in her voice as she looked me up and down.
"What? Oh, yes it is." I manage to stutter out. She gave me a scornful look before pushing her way past me into the house. I stood there for a second in disbelief and then I closed the door and followed her.
"So, I hear that you're staying here. Is that because your family's so poor that they can't afford to take care of you?" She asked, looking around the foyer. I clenched my fists, but refrained from punching her pretty little face in. I could fight fire with fire without getting physical.
"Actually, my father is off fighting Voldemort and his supporters." I replied, sweetly, and smirking when she flinched at the sound of his name. "Is it true that you're parents are too scared to fight and are hiding in cowardice?" I added, and without waiting for a response, walked past her towards the kitchen. "By the way, the party's this way out through the back."
I went and got the food and brought it out. When I got there, I saw that Lisa had wasted no time in throwing herself all over Sirius. I rolled my eyes, put the food on the picnic table, and joined Lily at the edge of the pool.
"Well, looks like that little tramp knows how to get to business fast." Lily said, and I smiled.
"You're telling me. Why would James and Sirius invite her?" I asked.
"James didn't know she was coming, actually." She replied, glaring at Lisa. "You should've heard him. He asked her what she was doing here and when she said Sirius invited her, he laughed. I have to admit, it was funny, just the way he wrote her off. But then, Sirius cut in and said he had sent a last minute invitation and had forgotten to tell James. So, she's staying and she's going to steal your guy form you."
"Lily!" I hissed, elbowing her in the ribs. "He's not my guy, I have no claim on him."
"Yeah, well, if you were smart you would have told him ages ago how you felt." She said, matter-of-factly. "Honestly, I hate seeing you have to gothrough this. I mean, Sirius would be damn lucky to have a chance with a girl like you."
"Lily, what part of 'he's my best friend' have not understood?" I asked, shaking my head. "If he doesn't feel the same way about me then that'll ruin our friendship."
"Yes, well, believe me when I tell you I'm pretty sure he feels the same way about you." She replied, confidently.
"Oh really?" I said, looking at her. "And how would you know this?"
"It's only totally and completely obvious." She said, with an exasperated sigh. "I mean, he's always trying to protect you, he kicked Jon's ass for you, and he genuinely cares about you. And trust me, it isn't friend for friend caring, either. Have you ever seen how he looks at you?"
"He doesn't look at me in any special way." I said, dismissing the thought.
"Oh please! Of course he does." Lily exclaimed. "I mean, that was something that always got to Susan when she was going out with him. She always complained about how he never looked at her like he looked at you. She was always so pissed about the fact that he would hang out with you over her."
"Yeah, well, I don't blame him. I wouldn't want to hang out with her either." I said and she laughed.
"She wasn't that bad." She said, and then paused for a second. "Okay, yeah, she actually was."
"Finally you see the light." I said, throwing my arms in the air, pretending to praise God.
Later in the evening after most everyone had left, we were just hanging around the pool. The sun had gone down and we had lit the torches that surrounded the deck area. It was nice and everything was perfect. Everything except the fact that Lisa was still there.
"So, Lisa, how's your summer been so far?" Remus asked, attempting to be polite. I hadn't said a word to her since the foyer incident.
"Oh my god! You wouldn't believe it! My parents and I have spent the last month and a half vacationing in France, Italy, and Spain." She said, sitting up a little straighter and using her hands to help her talk. "I mean, it was totally lucky that Sirius owled me when he did. We were just getting ready to leave for the Bahamas, but now we're not leaving until tomorrow."
"Wow, that is, um, lucky." James said, looking at her with a sort of amazed look on his face. It was evident that he was wondering how many brain cells he was losing by sitting there, listening to her talk.
"So, you know who would make, like, a totally cute couple?" She said, and we all just kind of looked at her. "Remus and Joie!" She exclaimed, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Remus and I looked at each other for a second, before we burst out laughing. Lily and James were laughing as well.
"What? Why is that so funny?" Lisa demanded, sounding highly offended.
"Remus and me?" I gasped, tears rolling down my cheeks. "You've got to be bloody joking!"
"Honestly, I mean, Sunshine, do you remember when we tried that whole thing?" He asked, laughing just as hard as me.
"How could I forget?" I replied, clutching my side.
"Wait, tried what?" James asked, looking confused.
"Well, the summer after third year we tried going out." I said, as soon as my breathing had returned and I could talk. "I mean, we had known each other so long, and we weresuch good friends, we thought that it made sense."
"Yeah, and it was really awkward." Remus added, wiping the tears away from his eyes. "I mean, we tried kissing and everything."
"Needless to say, it didn't really work out." I said, taking a deep breath. "We decided to just pretend that it never happened."
"Wow, I never even suspected." James said, shaking his head.
"Yeah, I mean, seriously, what happened to never keeping secrets between us?" Sirius said, his tone not quite as playful as it should have been.
"Honestly, it's not like anything big happened. I mean, we didn't even snog." Remus said, looking at Sirius with a slight frown.
"Yeah, but still, you went out." He said, and I could sense his temper rising ever so slightly.
"Padfoot, what's wrong with you?" James asked, looking surprised.
"Prongs, they lied to us!" He said, his voice now getting louder.
"Not exactly, Padfoot." Remus said. "You never asked if Sunshine and I went out."
"I shouldn't have had to!" He yelled, standing up and glaring at Remus. "What happened to the Marauder's code, Moony?" He asked, saying the last word like it was poison in his mouth.
"Hey, Sirius, can I talk to you inside for a second?" I said, and without waiting for a reply I grabbed him by the arm and led him into the kitchen. "What the bloody hell is your problem?"
"Oh I have a problem now?" He asked, giving a bitter laugh. "You're the one dates people behind my back!" He said, and then he immediately shut his mouth. He looked as shocked as I felt.
"The last time I checked, Mr. Black, it wasn't any of your concern who I dated." I said, icily. "What do you care anyways?"
"I don't." He said, quickly. "It's just that you guys could've told us."
"It was awkward enough without everyone knowing. Besides, nothing really happened. Apart from the fact that I know that Moony and I will never get married." I replied.
"Okay, I'm sorry I flipped out. I've just been going through some stuff lately…" His voice trailed off and he looked away from me. "Look, it's really nothing. I guess I just kinda took my frustrations out on you."
"Okay." I said slowly, looking at him. He was acting very strange and I didn't like it.
"Well, we better get back out there, huh?" He said, and I nodded.
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The rest of the summer was relatively uneventful. I stayed with Lily for about a week and she showed me all the muggle shops and restaurants. Her sister was a narrow minded horse faced coward and I took pleasure in tormenting her. Lily didn't seem to mind in the least.
But, before I knew it, we were all at King's Cross getting ready to head back for our seventh year. It was finally starting to sink in that this was going to be my last year at Hogwarts and then I would be in the real world. Auror training was the only thing that really appealed to me and I didn't know what I would do if I didn't get into the program.
"So, this is the last time we'll ever be on the train for start of term." James said, as we sat down in a compartment. "It's actually kind of depressing."
"Thank you, Prongs, that's a lovely note to start the school year off with." Sirius said, sarcastically.
"But think about it this way, we're on top this year. Nothing can stop us." I said, smiling. "I mean, they threaten us with expulsion sure, but we're seventh years, we're almost done."
"Yeah, it's a nice feeling." Remus said, leaning back in his seat.
"And where is the lovely Miss Evans?" James asked, all of sudden, looking around as if she might be hiding.
"She had to go to the heads compartment." I said, shaking my head at him. "She got Head Girl, you know."
"Head Girl, eh? Well, that's not very shocking." Sirius said. James jumped up all of sudden.
"Bloody hell! I was suppose to be down there!" He said, smacking his forehead.
"What're you on about?" Remus asked, looking at him as if he were crazy.
"Oh, I must've forgotten to tell you," He said, looking at us and smacking his forehead again. "I'm Head Boy." He added, pulling out the badge as proof.
"No bloody way!" Sirius exclaimed, laughing.
"Yeah, honestly, who would make you Head Boy?" I asked, laughing as well.
"Dumbledore, apparently." James replied, sticking his tongue out at both of us. "Anyways, I completely forgot until just now."
"Hey, I'll go with you." Remus said, standing up. "I need to go down for prefect duty anyways."
They left, which meant it was just Sirius and I in the compartment. We sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, both of us just looking out the window.
"Have you ever wanted someone that you can't have?" He asked me suddenly. I looked at him for a second, wondering what brought on this question.
"Yeah, I have." I said, quietly.
"You know what totally sucks about it?" He asked and I shook my head. "They never know that you want them because you know that you can't have them."
I didn't know what to say to that, so I just resumed staring out the window. If only he knew how much I was in love with him. He didn't have a clue as to how perfect he was for me. He had no idea that he was my everything and that he completed me.
We got to Hogwarts, went to the feast, heard the same thing we'd heard every other year, ate until we couldn't eat anymore, and went off to bed. The big shock of the night for everyone was that Lily was actually being civil to James. I'd even go as far as to say that she was being friendly towards him.
"Hey Joie, can I ask you something?" Lily said, as we got ready for bed that night. Everyone else was already asleep. "And you have to be completely honest, okay?"
"Okay." I said, slowly. I didn't know where this was going.
"Is Remus a werewolf?" She asked, and I looked at her.
"What?" I asked, shocked that she could even have an idea about Remus.
"You heard me." She replied, calmly. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone or be all weird or anything. I just want to know."
"Yeah, he is." I said, quietly. "How did you know?"
"Well after that outburst in fifth year, I was interested to know why you so upset about what we had said about Remus." She said, with a half smile. "And so I watched him for a while and I started to notice little things. Like how tired he always looked and the scratches he always had. And then I started noticing bigger things. Such as how he only disappeared once a month and I would always hear horrible howls during the nights following the days that he would be absent. Then it all clicked. I watched him for a couple of more months and found that he was always gone on the full moons. I've suspected it for ages, I just didn't want to say anything in case I was wrong."
"Lily, you are bloody brilliant." I said, shaking my head at her.
"I try." She replied, with a laugh.
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The next morning I was the first one to wake up, which was fairly unusual. But, seeing as I wasn't going to be able to go back to sleep, I got up and got dressed. When I went down to the Great Hall, I found Remus sitting there eating and reading a book.
"Morning." I said, sitting down next to him.
"Morning." He said, glancing up at me. I helped myself to some toast and oatmeal. I knew I had to tell him Lily knew, I just didn't know how he would react.
"So, what if someone outside the Marauders knew about your furry little problem?" I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.
"What do you mean?" He asked, looking at me. "We all vowed never to tell anyone."
"Yeah, I know, but what if someone else knew? Would you be mad?" I pressed on.
"Depends on the person you told." He said, giving a piercing look.
"Well, I didn't exactly tell her, I mean, she had already pretty much figured it out." I said, looking away form him.
"Who?"
"Lily."
"Oh." He said, after a moment. "Well, it doesn't really surprise me that she figured it out."
"So, you're okay with it?" I asked, and he smiled at me.
"Yeah, I'm okay with it."
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and now please review...it's been a tad disappointing lately, I haven't gotten many reviews... :( honestly, guys, it takes like two seconds to punch the review button and say 'hey, this chapter was great' or 'hey, this story sucks, what are you thinking?' preferably the first one, but hey, whatever you think, I want to know! thanks...