A/N: Hi all! I totally loved writing that last chapter despite my groans hope you liked reading it…so now I can start writing the Championships which rocks! (I can't wait to get started) but yeah. Thanks to all my reviewers, I love you to bits! Oh and can anyone tell me if I'm allowed to put song lyrics –real ones- in my story or is that not allowed? I've combed the guidelines, kind of, but when I'm reading that kina stuff I don't really take it in but I did do my best! I did pick something up about the Fan Fiction people chucking your story off if you do, I think! So I'm a bit freaked about that…but anyway, I wanted to dedicate this chapter to all my reviewers who made me to write this (if that makes sense!) so here it is…
For all my reviewers (this dedication thing is soo cool! I'm so going to do this all the time…)
Chapter 7: This is Perfection
"Rise and shine baby" whispered a husky voice into James's ear, whilst stroking his bare chest.
"Whoa! Get off me! What the hell? PADFOOT, MOONY, WORMTAIL HELP I'M BEING MOLESTED BY-"screamed James, groping on his bedside cabinet for his glasses. He finally found them and pulled them on, "Sirius" he seethed.
"Well, I tried all the other ways mate" argued Sirius indignantly. "Telling you that Lily just walked past stark naked, the England Quidditch Squad offered to make you their Captain, threatening to stick my underpants in your face, and even getting Peter to sit on you. Prongs … calling you a deep sleeper is a very serious understatement!" said Sirius, counting them off on his fingers.
"Ok, Ok chill out mate" said James lazily, "I'm up, but you freaked the bollocks out of me there Padfoot. I though for a second that I'd accidentally brought Nancy Forager here."
"Well anyway, get dressed quickly if you want to grab some breakfast before your HSC meeting thing" added Sirius throwing James some clothes.
"Oh damn, I'd totally forgotten about the Challenge briefing!" panicked James tugging on a pair of jeans and a shirt. "What's the time?" he asked as Sirius produced a hurricane to mess up James's hair.
"Er…I think its something like 7" shouted Sirius hanging on to one of James's bedposts to not get blown out the window.
"Thanks for the hurricane Padfoot but it's a bit over the top" said James as he countered Sirius's spell.
"Wow, Prongs! How do you know all the counters to my spells?" wondered Sirius with a look of new-found respect on his face.
"Don't worry your non-existent brain over it. See you later" called out James as he ran through the dormitory door leaving Sirius alone in the middle of a chaotic Dorm looking bewildered.
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"Sorry Professor" said James, skidding to a stop at Dumbledore's feet. James smiled apologetically.
"That's fine Mr. Potter. You are not late. Please take your allocated seat." smiled Dumbledore pleasantly.
James grinned back before walking to a chair in front of a Gryffindor Tapestry with his name embroidered on it. He saw that the Slytherin and Ravenclaw Contenders were already in their seats. James hadn't known who they were yesterday as the Contenders were privately told about it. But he could now see that the Ravenclaw Contender was Miranda Simmons. She returned James's nod with a cheery wave. They had briefly dated in Third Year; she was very direct, to put it lightly. Before James could catch a glimpse of the Slytherin Contender who was lurking in the shadows, a boy burst through the Chamber door.
"Hi, Professor. Sorry, if I'm late" panted a tall, lean boy.
"Good Morning Mr. Kent. You're just in time," replied Dumbledore.
James watched the boy with great interest as he collapsed into his seat. The famous Callum Kent from Hufflepuff. Captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team, intelligent and starred weekly alongside James in the 'Guys to Get' column of the Hogwarts Newsletter. Impressive.
However James was distracted from his deep thoughts by Dumbledore's speech.
"Good Morning, once again, to all of you. Congratulations on being chosen to represent your houses in the Hogwarts' Senior Challenge. Firstly I would like to welcome each of our Contenders. Callum Kent, representing Hufflepuff. James Potter, representing Gryffindor. Miranda Simmons, representing Ravenclaw. And Severus Snape, representing Slytherin. The Challenge itself will include three tasks which will be judged by Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Kreizer, Professor Slughorn, Professor Ganghorn and myself. These three tasks will be specifically constructed to test your abilities and skills. They are, of course, an alternative for your NEWT's, so the scores you receive for each task will contribute towards your NEWT marks. The first task will take place on the 22nd of September, in the Quidditch Pitch. The task will require precision and swiftness. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to ask me. Each of you will be given a set of clues which will reveal to you the nature of the task. And … if that is all, you may leave." finished Dumbledore evasively. He waved his wand causing rolls of parchment to appear before each Contender and swept out of the chamber leaving the four students alone in the Chamber.
"Hm. Snivellus. The Sorting Hat must be losing its marbles … choosing you." mocked James.
Snape glanced up at James uneasily as he quickly picked up his bag and attempted to escape out of the Chamber.
"Not so fast, slime ball. Where have your manners gone?" said James, quickly blocking Snape.
"Move out of my way you dirty big-headed-" but before Snape could continue.
"Silencio" barked James coolly. "Now, now Snivellus. How rude of you? Maybe we should teach you Lesson Number 564. Seems like Lesson Number 563 didn't take its effect on you. I'm surprised, I'd have thought hanging out of the Astronomy Tower for a good hour or two would've helped."
Snape's eyes narrowed and he aimlessly tried to push past James. However James was much stronger and taller than Snape. Snape finally pulled out his wand.
"Expelliarmus" shouted James and deftly caught Snape's wand. "So, Snivellus … how far would you go to get this back? How about a little bit of-"
"Give me my wand right now Potter" spat Snape, who seemed to have regained the ability to speak, his voice resonated with cold fury.
"Ordering me? You greasy, filthy-" smirked James but before he could finish speaking Snape had dived onto him. Snape snatched his wand from James's fingers and was about to jinx him when James impulsively balled up his left fist and punched Snape right in the face. However before they could cause anymore damage Callum wisely intervened.
"Break it up guys. Break it up." he shouted firmly, struggling to hold the boys apart. "Mir- Miranda" he gasped, clearly becoming overpowered, "Help me out."
"Erm- Yeah." mumbled Miranda breaking out of her momentary paralysis, quickly pulling Snape back. But Snape shrugged her off with a dark look and picked his bag back up. He cast another dark look in James's direction before exiting the Chamber angrily.
James burst out of Callum's grip swearing at Snape vehemently. "Greasy haired bastard!" he roared furiously before leaving the Chamber in a similar way to Snape.
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James stormed over to his friend sitting at the Gryffindor Table. The Great Hall was crowded with students, all eating there lunch. He threw himself into a seat and began to savagely tear into a chicken leg.
"James?" said Remus confusedly. "Calm down. What's up?"
James drained Sirius's goblet of Pumpkin Juice before recounting the day's events to the three boys, who listened intently.
"Snivellus" growled Sirius in a disgusted tone. "Don't worry, we'll get him later. But stop stealing my pumpkin juice and eat normally." James made a noise of assent before turning back to his food less violently.
Soon the bell sounded calling the students back to their lessons. The Marauders split up as they entered the Entrance Hall. Peter went to Divination, Remus left for Ancient Runes and the last two proceeded to Care of Magical Creatures. The two boys slipped into the group of students standing outside Hagrid's cabin. They waved at Hagrid, who was planting pumpkins for Halloween, friendlily as Professor Ganghorn, the Care of Magical Creatures teacher, called for them to join him at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. As they trundled over to Ganghorn Alyssa joined the two boys.
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Lily and Kaytlin were softly chatting whilst charming their tables to become transparent.
"I knew there was something going on between you two, but I had no idea you were-" whispered Lily in a surprised voice.
"Well, we aren't really official or anything. But we both know how we feel. I'd been flirting with him before and all, you know. Then I'd just been doing some homework in the Library. I was on my way back when he suddenly popped up and he asked me to walk with him. So, we were just talking and walking outside when he suddenly says I really like you. I had no idea what to say-". Lilly coughed warningly as Flitwick appeared at Kayt's elbow.
"Excellent, Miss. Evans" he applauded happily.
"Good try Miss. Edgar but the legs are still the same" he squeaked, "Maybe Miss. Evans could give you a hand".
Lily corrected Kayt's gesture before inconspicuously murmuring, "Go on,"
"Yeah, so I just stared at him. Then it started to rain madly. He looks even hotter when he's soaked to the skin, but anyway … he turned to me and looked deeply into my eyes".
Lily let out an excited squeak before pretending to sneeze and sort out Kayt's pronunciation.
Kayt smiled before continuing, "When he looked into my eyes it felt like he truly knew me, like he genuinely cared. If it weren't for his contradictory reputation I would swear that it seemed like he loved me. Sirius slowly brought his face towards mine and we were going to kiss when the lightning hit me and …yeah."
Lily sighed and shook her head. "Well, you two really suit each other." she smiled teasingly.
"Enough about me! What about you and James!" replied Kayt mischievously.
"Oh … that." Lily's face fell and she had a far-away look in her eyes. As Kayt touched her shoulder concernedly, Lily blinked back tears and smiled.
"Well, while you and Sirius were getting comfy out there, I thought that I should probably apologise for what I'd done, you know. But James wasn't there so I was asking Remus when he turned up. And Britney was with him, it was quite obvious that they'd been making out." Kaytlin made a sympathetic sound. "I tried to pretend it didn't matter but I just couldn't stand it. So I ran out, I didn't want him to see me crying. But anyway I'll tell you the rest tonight, lessons over."
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James lay awake in his four-poster bed. He could hear Peter snoring loudly and he was certain Sirius and Remus were asleep. James opened the curtain that surrounded his bed and reached into his robes that were on the floor and pulled out the scroll from the briefing that morning. He closed the curtain and sat down on his bed. James muttered 'Lumos' and unrolled the scroll.
I know not Death, for Life retrieves me,
I heed not pain, my sorrow revives thee,
I burn like a fire though I'm meek as a mouse,
I may seem to be weak but I could easily lift house,
My birthright is what you come to claim,
Take it wrongly and I'll blaze in flame,
Take it rightly and no harm will be,
In my nature I'll reveal the next to thee.
James frowned at it thoughtfully. Out of habit, he scratched his chin as he thought. He eventually gave up tiredly and decided to deal with it the next day. James slumped into his bed and fell asleep straight away.
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A/N: So folks, lets see of you can work out what the task is. I'll dedicate the next chapter to whoever's the closest. Although Rachna, my superb editor, has already worked it out. Have fun. Love you all loads.
Suba