This chapter is in honour of Pineapple, Yum! Or, um, Coconut.

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Chapter Six: Better Than Chocolate

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'Fixated' was a word that Padfoot had started using with alarming frequency. It concerned me, to say the least. He's quite a stupid boy, so when he notices things I know they must be obvious.

He had noticed my fixation with Evans. He didn't have much choice, I was always dragging him into my Plans. The problem was that he didn't like it. I decided to give up on her. It wasn't like it was going anywhere, and I didn't believe in love. So I made up my mind, one rainy Saturday morning, that I was going to find a new fixation; one that Padfoot could take part in.

I sent off a letter, and it came back a week later. Padfoot must have felt the nervous energy pouring off me as I ripped it open, in tune as he is to my moods, because he put down his mug, lowered his newspaper, and said,

"Prongs, if you don't stop twitching your foot against me under the table I'm going to file a statuatory rape claim."

"Sounds fair," Remus said. I sent him a furious glare, to which he shrugged and took a bite of toast.

"Moony! You're supposed to be the smart one here, back me up."

"Since when?"

I thought about that and realized that it was true, I was the smart one. "Padfoot, you're of age, that's not rape."

"Vaffanculo," he said.

"Don't give him any ideas," Remus said with a grin. I decided to ignore them and finish opening my parcel. Pete, good man that he is, took notice.

"Heads, boys," he said. "Prongs got a present."

"Is it from his mom? Does it look like banana bread?" Padfoot asked. Peter picked up the wrapper and looked at the return address.

"Nope. Doesn't sound familiar."

"It's a Muggle candy shop," I told them. "I ordered Lifesavers."

"You did what?"

"Here, try one." I peeled off the wrapper and handed Padfoot a nice red one.

"Mm," he said, taking another and putting it in his mouth. "That's yummy."

"Better than chocolate," I said. "And look how many I got!"

"You aren't planning on making a romantic bath of them for Lily, are you?" Remus asked, eyeing them suspiciously. I laughed.

"WHO?"

They looked at me.

"I mean, ha-ha, of course not. I don't even like her."

Padfoot scratched his nose and then said, "Are you telling me that all that wasted time was for nothing?"

"This is a recent development."

"My statement stands."

"Okay, yes, so obviously our whole thing was unsuccessful. I thought we might just drop it."

Padfoot disappeared behind his newspaper, glowering. Several very awkward minutes later he said, "Does the name Meadowes mean anything to you?"

"There's a Dori in our year," I said, wondering vaguely whether I had dated her or not. I thought I probably had.

"Her family was just killed."

"That's too bad," I said.

"We should send her flowers or something."

"We could send her some of these lifesavers," I said, looking down at the growing mound of empty wrappers and feeling slightly sick. "Say, are you actually reading that paper?"

"What do you think I'm doing, brushing my teeth?"

"I don't know. Is there anything else in there?"

"Sure, lots. Nothing of interest. It says that her parents were found in – ooh, eurgh. Various rooms. I'm surprised this got past the Ministry."

"They must be trying to make a point."

"What, tea and crumpets will result in dismemberment?"

"Is that what it says?"

"There was evidence that they were drinking tea."

"Why on earth would they put that in?"

"Dunno. Look, you read it, this is disgusting."

He passed it to me, and I passed it to Remus. "I'm going to find Dori," I said.

"Don't you think that's a little soon?"

"She probably isn't even here. Her friends'll be handy, though." I bit my lip. "I should talk to Dumbledore."

"He'll be working like mad to do something about this."

"Yeah, well, maybe I can help." I stood up. "I'll be back for lunch."

I went to find Evans. She was one of Dori' best friends. "Hey," I said, jogging up to her in the courtyard.

"Not now, Potter," she snapped. She looked like she was in a hurry. I walked backwards so I could face her while we talked.

"I heard about Dori."

"Yes, I'm sure you did." She looked like she had been crying.

"Can I do anything for her?"

"I can't think what."

"I've got a lot of connections," I said. "If there's anything she needs, say the word."

"Thank you."

"Are you going to see Dumbledore?"

She looked a bit startled. "Not at the moment. I'm actually getting something for Dori, she's waiting for the train."

I nodded. "Where is it?"

"Um… what, sorry?"

My thought processes were obviously much quicker than hers. "I can get there faster than you. What's she looking for?"

"Her… cloak." Evans looked at me sideways. "Her winter cloak, it's blue. But it's in the girls' dorms –"

"Gotcha," I said, and sprinted off. I made it to the tower in record time and scaled the banister to the girls' dorms, the fastest foolproof method of getting up. Dori's bed was right at the back of the room, and the cloak was caught in one of her drawers. I hauled it open and was ready to clear out when something caught my eye.

It looked like it was from a pamphlet, and it was scrawled over with notes, and names; the message was written clearly across the top in bold letters: The Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore's Stand Against the Rise of Lord Voldemort.

I recognized it; Dumbledore had mentioned something about a group I should join after Hogwarts, but I hadn't paid too much attention. I shook my head, trying to grasp the careless stupidity of it. Dori had left an incriminating list of names out in the open. This kind of thing was the reason her family was dead.

I picked it up and shoved it in my pocket, then went to tell Evans to meet me in the library when she got back.

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Evans was still upset when she met me later.

"Lily, I found something in Dori's dresser that probably shouldn't have been there."

She squinted at me out of bloodshot eyes. "Were you snooping through her things?"

"I was getting her cloak," I corrected, "and it was right there. She shouldn't leave stuff out in the open like that."

"It was in her private quarters, Potter," she snapped.

"And her parents were killed in their private home."

She sniffled. I rested my elbows on the table. "But you know about this?"

She nodded.

"Are you a part of it?"

She wiggled her head like she wasn't quite sure. "Dori wants me to be."

"I don't blame her, it sounds fabulous. Aside from the mortality rate, I'm sure people are flocking in. And speaking of people, do you know what was written on that paper?"

"Names," she whispered, catching on at last. "She can't be doing that."

"No, she really can't."

"You know how to handle this stuff, you sneak around. You should tell her – no, you're tactless. I have to tell her to be more careful. I'll write her right now. No, I can't write it, that would defeat the purpose." She sat back down and looked at me. "What do I do?"

"Go to Dumbledore. You can always Floo. She won't even be in London yet, though. What's she doing once she gets there?"

"Tracking down –"

I clamped a hand over her mouth. "You don't trust me and you're going to tell me this? You're as bad as she is."

She peeled my fingers away. "I trust you."

"Why?"

"Jesus, Potter, I don't want to talk about this. The Meadowes are dead and –"

"Why do you trust me?"

She didn't quite meet my eye. "I don't have any reason not to."

"That's no reason."

"You're – I don't know, why are you asking this?"

"It's something you need to start thinking about," I said. "Especially if you're going to prattle off inside information from the Order."

"I do not –"

"I'm not trying to start a fight, I'm just saying think before you speak."

She shifted in her seat. "Real hot advice, Potter, now can I tell you what you're asking?"

"If you think it's a good idea."

"She's going to track down the Death Eaters who killed her family."

"How is she going to go about that?"

"I don't know. I couldn't talk her out of it." She pressed her palms against her eyes. "Can you do something?"

"Sure, I'll send someone around and see if they can't talk some sense into her. At least figure out a plan. Have you got her address?"

"Uh-huh." She scribbled it onto a piece of parchment and handed it to me. "Thanks, Potter," she said, touching my arm as I passed.

So much for Lifesavers.

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That night I sent Sirius to London to look for Dori. He wasn't too adverse to the idea once he understood what I wanted him to do.

"Look," I shouted, trying to make myself heard over his girlish squeals. "Sirius!"

"Ack! don't wanna!"

"This isn't an option, I'm telling you. Now is your chance to rectify Evans' opinion of me."

"What the hell do I care? I lead a busy life, Prongs, I don't have time to run your errands."

"Just seduce the girl, how hard can it be?"

He stopped. "Dori, right?"

"Yes. Very misguided, needs a helping hand."

"The brunette next to you in Herbology?"

"She loved the honking daisies. Although now might not be the time to regail her with flowers."

"That, my friend," he said, already putting on his cloak, "is why it's me, and not you, that gets laid."

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A/N: Well that wasn't nearly as happy as I expected. I'm not even in a bad mood, either. Oh, well, looks like the plot is on the move again. Happy days!