Aha! I seem to have gotten back on track after that one month of procrastination.

If I owned Harry Potter, I'd be a millionaire. If I was a millionaire, I would have constructed my own batcave. I don't see a batcave in my vicinity.

Leave it Be

Sirius could hear the silence seeping in.

"What do you mean?" he said, annoyed, "Sirius Black doesn't get jealous."

"And yet," said James with a plaintive sigh.

"Shut up, Potter," said Sirius, looking at the others pleadingly, "I don't get jealous. Not over girls!"

"Sirius," said Remus, as if explaining the non-existence of Santa, "You glared at Robert Berret throughout dinner." James had subsided into a fresh outburst of laughter.

"So? He was stealing my chicken."

"He..." breathed James through his hacking laughter, "was sitting... fifteen seats away."

"I didn't like his face," said Sirius.

"You could have burnt a hole through him," Remus pointed out.

Sirius was not going to accept this. He had come to terms with the fact that he had the upper hand in their relationship, hence someone else paying attention to June was completely unacceptable.

"And what did you expect, anyway? She's a girl. You can't expect her to wait for you to make the move," said Peter, for once the voice of sense.

"Fair point, Wormy," said Remus seriously.

"But... I did kiss her... twice," confessed Sirius.

"And did you act on that?" asked Remus.

Sirius shook his head guiltily.

"You have your answer. She isn't going to wait for you to come to terms with the fact that you actually like her," Remus finished, while James was laughing again.

"I really hate you, Moony," muttered Sirius.

"And I'm absolutely fine with that," said Remus, "Just fix this mess you've made. Lord knows she may already know that you punched Robert Berret today."

June was so annoyed.

She had never been annoyed before, this was entirely new to her. She was too shy to be annoyed. However now, she was positively fuming.

"What happened to you?" asked Mary as she entered the dormitory. Lily and Marlene were out, it seems.

"Ugh," said June, collapsing face down on her bed, "Ugh."

"I see your point, but don't you think you're overreacting?" said Mary good naturedly, flipping a page from the magazine she was reading.

"I hate men," June said to the pillow.

"And you have come to the first stage of 'being a socially functioning female'. Congratulations," said Mary cheerfully.

"They are so idiotic."

"That's the second stage."

"They are so stupid."

"Still the second stage."

"Can't they get their heads straight?"

"And we have the third stage."

"God."

Mary chuckled to see June like this, climbing out of her bed slowly. She shifted June's legs and settled down beside her. "So what happened?" she asked sympathetically.

"Black," said June, "Black happened."

And June related the entirety of her relationship with Sirius Black, because she just wanted to rant. It was so annoying to not have any mates to confess to, and she was annoyed. Everything was annoying. Well, Mary wasn't.

After June was finished, there was a silence among the two girls.

"Dear lord, that's a lot of history for one year," muttered Mary finally.

"Tell me about it," muttered June, shifting about to face the ceiling.

"I wondered why he glowered at Robert Berret, but it seems I have my answer. Robert had been flirting with you all morning, hadn't he?"

"Wait, what?" asked June, "He glared at who? And who had been flirting with me?"

"He – Sirius, glared at Robert the whole night through. Who was flirting with you all day, you know?" said Mary amusedly.

"I didn't know that," muttered June.

"Yep," said Mary cheerfully.

"Good god."

"My reaction exactly."

There was another silence.

"So why was he so annoyed about Robert?" asked June timidly.

"And you say boys are idiotic," said Mary, shaking her head. "He was jealous, darling."

"Sure he was. And I'm a hyena."

"He was."

"Was not."

"Was too."

"Why would he be jealous of a guy?"

"Because the guy happened to be flirting with you."

"No, the guy in question wasn't. And even if he was, that doesn't prove anything."

"Of course the guy was. He bought you a deluxe sugar quill. Even though you stammered throughout. And yes, it proves everything."

"How?"

"Are you blind?" asked Mary finally, "Sirius Black likes you!"

"Are you blind?" asked June, jumping up on her bed, "He's Sirius Black."

"And he likes you!"

"Why would he like me?"

"He's kissed you twice, isn't that proof enough?"

"No, it's really not!"

"What more do you want?"

"I haven't the slightest idea!"

"Why are we yelling?" came the loud voice of Marlene.

"June's being an idiot!" said Mary with an ecstatic glint.

"Mary's being weird!" June reciprocated loudly.

"Children!" said Lily, putting down her shopping bags, "Can someone," she eyed June obviously, "Explain why Sirius Black was glaring at Robert Berret through dinner?"

Mary at once pointed at June, ecstasy painted all over her face, and June buried her face into a pillow.

"She's could find out that I hit Robert?" asked Sirius incredulously.

"You hit him in the Entrance Hall mate," James pointed out.

"June, why is our dear friend Mary pointing at you, when the question is wholly concerned with Sirius Black?" asked Marlene sweetly.

June lifted her head from the pillow. "I don't know?" she asked pleadingly.

Lily slapped her palm to her forehead.

"Whatever is going on between you and him?" she asked, her eyes still covered.

"I don't know?" repeated June, a little more audibly.

"This girl is worthless!" proclaimed Marlene.

"Agreed," said Mary.

"Agreed," nodded Lily.

"Agreed," chanted June dully.

"How about you do something useful, for once?" asked Marlene, "Go on a date with Johnathan Night."

"What? No!" said June, at once.

"Why ever not?" asked Lily mischievously.

"Because -" muttered June, "because -"

"Next Saturday then. I'll tell him to meet you at eleven," Marlene rattled off.

June was opening and closing her mouth like a goldfish, trying her best to breathe.

"Isn't she adorable?" asked Mary fondly.

Somehow, somewhere, there was someone who was laughing at this with a sense of glorious purpose. There was absolutely no way all of this was not planned. It was a joke of some sort, a cruel one. The person who was playing it was laughing, June just knew it.

She had been forced again into another evening of primping and preening, with her face being grabbed and gutted, her hair stabbed and slipping, her eyes pinched and proded, and god only knows what else.

Forced into a bathroom with various bathing salts and perfumes, she was told to come out only after she didn't look like a 'golden monkey'. June had discovered that the lovely Marlene McKinnon had a wonderfully creative and verbose sense of insulting. After that rigorous bath (she was sent back thrice), she came out, begged her captors to release her, and really, she said, she looked absolutely fine.

Her pleas were completely ignored, with a crisp, 'darling do you want me to jab this curling iron in your face?' given by the previously mentioned verbose and articulate Marlene McKinnon. June shut up after that.

All too quickly, she was forced into a dress of the most uncomfortable nature: blue, light and girly – with flowers. It fell above her knees in a charming manner, with it's tube cut showing off June's skinny arms. Black belt to go with it, and for some reason, horribly painful black shoes. God, what were women thinking when they wore these nightmares?

However, June didn't have time to think. She was given a nice dark handbag, and told to go at once to her beloved date.

June couldn't stop the mounting nervousness as she crossed the dormitory. Her heart was beating out of her chest, her legs felt weak and wobbly. Unfortunate, it was still early in the morning, and people had still not left for Hogsmede.

This meant crossing the annoying people as they sat in the common room.

June stopped at the staircase, breathing deeply out of nervousness. She couldn't help it. It was scary.

"Here we go, girl," said Lily kindly. She held June's arm comfortingly, and lead her out. "It's going to be alright."

June shook her head, mute in her nervousness.

"I promise: it's going to be fine," said Lily soothingly, "besides, don't you want Sirius to see how gorgeous you look?"

June gulped and took her hand, her palms sweating.

"There we go," said Lily encouragingly, leading June into the common room, where practically everyone stopped to look up at the pretty girl in blue. June shut her eyes and forced her feet to go forward and backward, being lead blindly by Lily.

"Done and done," muttered Lily, as she saw June leave for the Entrance Hall.

"Excellent job, Evans!" came a quiet voice behind her.

Lily turned to see James, and grinned. "Why thank you, Potter. Although, I'm not sure if she noticed Sirius gaping at her."

"How is that possible?!" asked James in mock horror, "His mouth fell open, Evans, open!"

"I know!" declared Lily exasperatedly, "But her eyes were closed!"

"Goddamnit!"

"Exactly!"

"Well, what are you doing now?" asked James.

"Nothing, really," said Lily cheerfully, "You?"

"Nothing," said James just as cheerfully, "Let's do nothing together."

Lily felt her heart swoop at that, and she watched James: his handsome, unkempt face and dark eyes. She suddenly felt very weak at the knees, and would have simply loved it if James had just kissed her.

"So, do you like Quidditch?" asked the dark haired good looking boy.

June nodded tightly, looking at her hands.

"Do you follow the teams?" he asked. Poor fellow, he was making such an effort.

June shook her head, twisting her hands in her lap.

He had been so nice to her: a nice restaurant, a nice table, a nice bunch of flowers. However, June couldn't bring herself to talk. He looked away, a little disappointed at her lack of response.

June could feel him slipping away. He probably considered this to be a bad investment, she just knew it. She fiddled with her fingers, making up her mind.

She shut her eyes and began, "I'll – um – I'm just going to sp-speak for a second – before I l-loose all my courage," she said keeping her eyes shut, "I – I'm terrible at conversation. Seriously, I c-can't string two sentences in f-front of people whom I ha-haven't known at all. So, if you could just – just bear with me, because I know it's the worst date you've probably ever been to, and I'm a terrible catch all in all – we'll just have dinner and go home, and there shan't be any other obligations on your side. There, I said it."

She opened her eyes to find him looking at her intently, "I had a date who ate the flowers from the vase," he whispered.

June stared at him for a second before letting out an unwilling giggle, "I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't laugh -"

"No, you should completely laugh. That means I'm getting somewhere, eh?"

June laughed again, "You may have to supply maximum of the conversation."

"That's fine by me," said Jonathan with a smile.

"Padfoot, what are you doing?" asked Remus.

Sirius was sitting in a corner of the restaurant June and Jonathan were having dinner in.

"Nothing," said Sirius with a glower.

"... Right," said Remus, collapsing beside him in the shadowy corner that he was sitting in.

"What is wrong with her?" asked Sirius suddenly, "why would she go out with an idiot like Night? What's so great about him?"

"Well, for one thing, he asked her out. I don't see you doing that."

"Shut up, Moony. I don't want her going out with me."

"Keep telling yourself that."

"You're joking," said Lily with a laugh, "You guys raided a library?"

"It was the only way we could get our hands on the book we needed!" said James defensively.

"A library?"

"Oh, keep quiet, Evans. I don't suppose you would give up an opportunity to raid the largest library on earth."

"I'd go inside and get the book I wanted, Potter. I don't go raiding libraries."

"Hmph. Fine," said James with a pout. They were sitting under a tree near the abandoned Shrieking Shack. Lily looked up to see something crawling through the branches.

"What's that?" she said, squinting.

A tiny green stem began to unfurl steadfastly on the branch, green leaves crawling down slowly and slowly. James also looked up, watching the tendrils curl around the tree branches as they wrapped themselves round and round with purpose. Finally, the plant began to open up, revealing itself to be,

"Mistletoe," breathed James.

There was magic in the air, Lily could feel it. Everything was breathing of a magic she had never felt before, a magic which had always seemed so out of grasp. She could here the twangs of the universe as it sang again and again, and she watched James eye her sheepishly. "An outdated tradition," he murmured, leaning forward to pick up his books.

I was as if everything was in slow motion. He began to lean back, and Lily leaned forward, as if that magic had taken hold of her entire body. "Kiss me," she breathed, as her lips brushed against his. With an agonizing slowness, James Potter kissed Lily Evans, and the universe ceased to exist as you know it.

"Thanks for tonight," said June as Jonathan dropped her to the Entrance Hall. It was late, and most people were returning from their dates. Jonathan smiled at her cheerfully, "I had a great time," he said.

"Oh, now that's a lie," said June good humoredly.

"Oh, obviously," said Jonathan with mock impatience, "Obviously I had an absolutely terrible time. A shy and pretty girl, some nice – although one sided – conversation and an excellent meal. Obviously, it was a disaster of an evening."

June laughed, and leaned forward, kissing him on the cheek. However, Jonathan took advantage of that and kissed her chastely on the lips.

"Stop right there!" came a bellowing voice.

"What -" began Jonathan, confused. June had a premonition that whatever this was, was not going to be good.

And out of nowhere, out of nothing, Sirius Black hurled through the crowd and punched Jonathan square in the face.

Sirius had no idea what happened to him. All he knew was, that Jonathan Night was an idiot of the first order, he really was. And at the moment, all he had wanted to do was punch the fellow in the face, without a thought about the consequences.

June glared at Sirius, very, very annoyed. She helped Jonathan up, still glaring at Sirius. Jonathan took the support of her arm and thanked her. She nodded and said simply, "let me handle this idiot."

Everyone was staring at them. At the wound up Sirius and the glaring June.

"What do you mean by this?" she asked in a tone dead voice.

Sirius glared at her openly, "I mean nothing. He's an idiot. It's not for your sake, don't flatter yourself."

"Goddamnit, Sirius!" said June stomping her foot on the ground, "why are you finding it so effing necessary to indulge in every aspect of my life?"

"What do you mean 'indulge in every aspect of your life'?" said Sirius angrily, "I don't like the fellow, so I punched him. That is how males work."

"And I suppose the stunt you pulled on Christmas was also not a thing where you decided to indulge in my life?" she asked, her anger simmering.

"'Stunt'?" questioned Sirius incredulously, stepping forward to glower her down, "I saved your life!"

They had an audience now.

"You had absolutely no right!" she said, furious, "What do you think will happen when I go home? Do you expect it to be all nice and dandy? You made it wonderfully worse! It's going to be painful. It's going to be your fault!"

Everyone was watching them with a deathly silence. Lily looked like she was about to intervene, but Marlene stopped her. Mary was watching, horrified.

"Then why do you insist on doing this stupid 'sacrifice myself' thing? What do you think you are? Some sort of saint, who goes around fixing people? You, Miss June Leto are just a girl. Go and take your preachings elsewhere!" Sirius yelled.

"Sirius -" began Remus, trying his hardest to stop the impending doom.

"Oh, so that's what it is?" said June bitterly, folding her arms and staring at him angrily, "Some martyr, you call me? Do you even know what it means to live in that? To live with yourself? Things come easily for you, Sirius Black. Best friends, family to support you, good grades. It never ends. It doesn't come easily for us, I'll have you know."

"And what was so damn hard about talking to people?" asked Sirius through gritted teeth.

"Don't think I haven't known boys like you," she said, burning up inside, "All those idiots who would throw stones at me until I bled, and all those girls who pulled my hair until I was blind with pain. I know a bully when I see one. Your stupid hexing anyone who comes near you, punching people who threaten you. Is it so goddamn hard to leave a person alone? Is it wrong for me to just ask for some freaking peace? Everything I know about everyone, and yet people find it in themselves to make it a living hell around here!"

Somehow, she had finally gotten through to him. Everyone watched, fidgeting. There was guilt in all of them, June could tell. She began to walk away, wanting the stupid night to end.

"What do you mean?" whispered Sirius hoarsely.

She turned around to face him, her head held high.

"What do you mean 'everything you know about everyone'?" he asked her darkly.

"Oh, wouldn't you like to know!" said June with a cynical laugh. Lily was looking around, panicking. "I know Smith and Francis are secretly dating. I know Meadows likes Fenwick, and Fenwick used to like her in third year. What's more, he's beginning to like her again," June rattled off.

Rhonda Smith and Carter Francis went immensely red on her words, and lowered their eyes instantly. Dorcas went bright pink. Benjamin went pale white and stared at June as if she was some sort of bomb that may go off.

Except June had already gone off.

"I know who isn't getting good grades, who's grandparents are in the hospital and who might be leaving next year," she said breathing heavily, "I know who set fire to the Gregorian tapestry. I know who sent the anonymous letters to Sammy Brown. I know everything."

Everyone was watching her now, as if she was an alien from some other world. Marlene looked so proud of June, she smiled at her. Lily was watching everyone furtively.

"And I know everything about you four," she added, pointing at Sirius, and by extension, the Marauders.

"So leave me alone," she said angrily.

Remus put a hand on Sirius' shoulder, "Leave it be, Sirius."

Sirius was watching June in part horror and part awe.

June left the scene, climbing the stairs to the top.

"I'm sorry," Sirius called after her.

June shut her eyes, and walked on. Leave it be, June, she thought to herself, leave it be.

DONE. I'm going to give you guys a fair warning: my exams are coming. The updates are going to be slightly less frequent, more in a ten day period. I have a big break after my psychology exam, so hopefully I shall fit one chapter there. Rest, we shall have to see.

Also, it's going to become funny after this, I promise. All this angst and drama is getting to me. Only funny chapters forward :D