Chapter 27
"First of all I would like to welcome back our Head Boy and Girl, Mr. Potter and Ms. Evans, commending them on an excellent performance; I'm sure everyone knows what I'm talking about." Professor McGonagall's strict voice had a friendly tone in it as she gently applauded both Lily and James, who had heavy eye bags and both in bitter moods after a sleepless evening.
While Lily kept giving James death stares from her usual seat in the front of Transfiguration with Eva, James gave her questioning looks while raising his eyebrows while whispering to Sirius who was sitting next to him and the two hi-fived each other much to the annoyance of Lily. Brittany who was forced to forever sit with a rather nasty Ravenclaw by McGonagall after a rather nasty incident between her and Black back in 5th year was somewhat concerned for her friend and shared nervous glances with Eva who also noticed Lily's rather sour mood.
"Although celebrations are in order, NEWT level Transfiguration or any other lesson is not to be taken lightly and 2 weeks after your final assignments which for this lesson will be that essay on the Evolution of Transfigurable Items, I am pleased to announce that the annual Halloween Ball will take place" McGonagall continued
Chatter broke throughout the room as the 7th year students took delight at the opportunity to relax from their studies and for a select few, the Ball would allow to take their minds off the threat of the Dark Lord. In particular, 3 of the Marauders grinned…the ball would be the perfect opportunity to 'tie the knot', a perfect romantic opportunity for them to gather their hearts content.
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As they headed to their next lesson, the Marauders were speaking in slight whispers to one another and to hear another girl discussion, Peter strolled away with an annoyed expression on his face, looking as pale and nervous as ever. "So Moony – how're you going to make the move on Eva? I mean I know you're on close terms but the Halloween Ball! Going with her would make it official." Sirius nudged Remus as James snickered when their werewolf friend blushed a deep crimson contrasting nicely with his golden blonde hair.
As Remus composed himself he shot a nasty glance at the other two. "Enough about me…you Padfoot are going to have some thinking to do…no offence but Brittany Davies isn't just going to go into a long lasting loving relationship with you. The girl's more insecure than an old lady on drugs!" Sirius's grin subsided into a thinking frown as he muttered something about old ladies not being able to use drugs.
As Sirius was lost in his own pondering world, Remus's inquisitive air was now directed to James's direction, and his curious glance was making James Potter quite nervous.
"So Prongs…I know something happened last night from the strange mood you were both in. Spill – now. How does it feel? Knowing that Lily Evans might actually be in reach…no offence but none of us really thought you had much of a chance with her…5 years mate!" Remus Lupin's glance said it all – 'tell me what happened between Lily and you last night or face my wrath'.
Now, when James Potter was nervous the most natural, most automatic thing he did was run his hands not once but twice through his messy jet-black hair. Things from then on happened in slow motion, as James's left hand let go of his multiple books to do the infamous deed, they came crashing down onto the floor, one of them crushing his toe causing him to wince quite hard. With a sheepish 'he was okay', all the surrounding people turned their glance and immediately, a swarm of giggling girls were picking up his possessions and cooing over his hurt foot, causing him to nearly trip over again.
Girls were ruffling his hair and touching him in very uncomfortable ways and as he tried to lightly brush them off, he was very annoyed to see the smirking Sirius Black who was actually encouraging the female population by yelling that James Potter had stumbled over and hurt himself…very loudly.
What irked him more was that further ahead, Lily Evans and her 2 friends stood with their arms folded, Brittany had a look of disbelief on her face as girls pushed rapidly passed her, Eva joining Remus to walk ahead, both shaking their heads…but Lily! The nerve of that girl…Lily had the most indescribable expression on her face. James concluded that she was smiling because of his misery with the hoard of girls, annoyed still because of last nights mishaps causing them both to receive no sleep and…jealous?! Yes…James could make out that some of her features depicted annoyance…yes, he knew Lily well enough to conclude that Lily Evans, the girl who despised him was jealous that there were other girls fussing over him. With that last thought, he smiled in glee and knew no more as the ever more arms and legs drowned him.
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Lily was furiously ranting on the incidents of her revenge plan gone wrong the previous night to her highly amused friends, Brittany almost crying to stop bursts of laughter escaping her and Eva…the usually composed, sensible girl was banging her hands against the wall and giggling hysterically, her breaths coming up quite raggedly.
Lily frowned and pulled Eva's hair causing her to admit defeat and promptly calmed her hysterics while giving Brittany the silent, killer stare also subsiding her blonde friend's predictable reaction.
"C'mon guys! You're supposed to help me here. I won't even embarrass myself telling you how I escaped Potter's grasp…all I'll say is that I had to use my teeth! And Potter won't be too comfortable down there anytime soon, I hope I left teeth marks on 'it'" This statement caused another wave of hysteria to cross her friends as they had a vivid imagery of Lily and James playfully frolicking on the floor…and even Lily found humour in the situation but stopped herself from smiling…too much.
"Oh wow, what a very romantic evening you and James shared…looks like you were destined to share the same Common Room – hmmm I bags being the godmother of your third born child" Eva jokingly stated through bursts of giggles and she had Brittany hi-fived behind Lily's head.
Just when she was about to ask Brittany a better way to get revenge, knowing her and Sirius Black's relationship had plenty of hatred and revenge, her annoyance level went off the charts as seemingly the whole female population of Hogwarts flocked to James who had apparently 'injured himself'. Seeing his hazel eyes and messy jet black hair annoyed her to no end, yet her feelings of despise had changed…it was no longer complete intolerance of an immature, egotistical bully. No, as her mind kept racing back to the feel of James Potter's protective arms around her frame, she couldn't describe the irksome feeling she got when so many girls raced to the handsome Quidditch player. No…she did not comprehend this feeling, it was completely new to her – yet she couldn't draw her eyes away from Potter and his screaming fan club…all she wanted to do was to throttle those girls away from him.
'Okay' Lily concluded as she managed to peel her eyes away from the scene and stalking off to the direction of the Dungeons for her next lesson, her heart was beating very rapidly, pumping a lot of blood to her face. 'I must be losing it…Potter must have messed with my brain last night.' She fumed, her face giving off steam. As she thought back to last night, a new wave of exasperation washed over her and with one last, bitter look at James's crowd now completely engulfing him, only a few strands of his hair visible, Lily decided she needed to keep her distance away from him. Otherwise, she really didn't know what would happen…
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"Lily, as the wonderful student she is has shown the best qualities and I feel the greatest pride to have guided her and taught her these qualities." Professor Slughorn puffed his chest out as for the previous half our, he had been commending Lily Evans on her bravery causing Lily to feel quite embarrassed as the Gryffindor half of the class were staring at her in great admiration and the Slytherins looked like they would enjoy nothing more but to slice her into thin mince.
"Please Professor…don't we have our final assignments coming up" she whispered to the beefy man, causing a few snickers to arise in the class.
"Oh yes Lily darling, you've always been the keenest student I've had…so modest too with all your achievements I thought you would have been at least telling people…well no matter – I'll make sure the whole school knows of your outstanding achievements" he droned on before finally concluding when Lily coughed ever so gently. "Oh and Mr. Potter…you should feel some luck and thank your stars that you were given the opportunity to help Lily in her shining moment" James guffawed inwardly as he leaned back in his chair at the back of the room, but said nothing and merely smiled that charming grin of his, directing it to the back of Lily's head.
"Yes as Lily said" Slughorn smiled sickeningly again at his favourite student "the final assignment is the test of the Love Potion you have all undoubtedly done much preparation for. I'm expecting some high quality performances from the best potion brewers in the class" Slughorn had not taken his glance off Lily through his whole speech.
Finally did the bell signal the end of the class and he shifted his gaze to his students "the test will be scheduled for next lesson so everybody come prepared! Don't forget…the degree of your lovesickness will affect your N.E.W.T result for Potions, and cheaters will be heavily punished" his voice echoed through the emptying Dungeons as his students scampered to leave.
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"It's a nightmare" James said despairingly as he picked at his roast ham, groaning in disgust as he watched Sirius pile in mashed potato like water. Peter also matched Sirius's eating ability, one hand dipping his chicken drumstick in gravy and the other hand smashing bread rolls into his face, crumbs framing his mouth.
"What is?" Remus asked as he looked while slowing down his eating as he felt disgusted watching Sirius and Peter eat food like pigs. James sighed and as he looked around the Great Hall full of chattering and laughter, sharing the normal routine for dinner, he wondered if he could ever return to the carefree, pranking rebel he was for the past 6 years. Yet deep down he knew he couldn't – none of the Marauders could…they had all grown up, matured in unique ways and now they were men ready to face the wizarding world and its challenges.
Okay, something was seriously wrong with him…something had happened to him this year that had changed his immature ways. Maybe Lily was right…maybe he had been just a toe-rag for the past 5 years – but what she didn't know was that all of that had been to impress her. So much for that…well that was behind them now. As he looked over to her bobbing red head as she sipped her Pumpkin juice chatting with her friends, he gazed in wonder, lost in a trance. However, over the side of the Great Hall, Lily seemed to feel the pair of hazel eyes on her, it shouldn't have surprised her, she could always tell when James Potter was staring at her and it had annoyed her to no end. Yet this time, as she looked back at him with furrowed eyebrows and a frown on her face, she found his expression humorous…and the little blush on his cheeks as he hastily returned back to his ham, well that made her heart do a little butterfly dance.
"Attention" Dumbledore raised his tall form while Professor McGonagall tapped the glass goblet, causing a hush to fall over the Great Hall.
"As you have all been aware, the Halloween Ball has been a tradition at Hogwarts School for many years, and this year it is my pleasure to once again invite you all to attend. It is undoubtedly a chance for all of us to enjoy a sensational evening full of dance and magic. I have decided that even though they have been through much traumatic experiences, Ms. Evans and Mr. Potter will be organizing this event…I hope the process will go successfully and troublefree" He finally emphasized raising his eyebrows pointedly at the Marauders causing Sirius to salute sheepishly.
With full stomachs and tired eyes, the school proceeded to the Dormitories and after helping up a stumbling Hufflepuff second year who had tripped over his shoes and telling him to be careful, James decided to call it a day. Unbeknownst to him, Severus Snape watched him ascending the stairs to the Heads Common Room and charmingly bidding the Damsel in Distress a lovely evening. Snape watched James Potter with utter hatred that was possibly imaginable – the black haired, muscular, hazel eyed legend was everything he was not, everything he could never be. The glory and worship that he receieved, Snape wanted revenge, he needed it.
'Smile all you want Potter' Snape whispered to nobody in particular. 'For soon you will learn that nobody in the world can have everything. Not even you…' sliding back into the shadows and holding a strand of his greasy hair between his forefinger and thumb, Snape gnarled. His eyes glinting under the moonlight, he swore that James Potter would never have Lily Evans…and he would see to it.
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A/N: Okay, another seemingly 'bits and pieces' chapter…just trying to tie some loose ends, convey changing emotions and relationships…and hopefully entice you to eagerly await the next chapter!!! D
I think my writer's block is over…I've got a pretty clear idea for what's going to happen next and writing the past few chapters have been pretty easy i.e. the ideas have flowed on etc.
To:
WhiteCamellia: Thanks for all your support – you've been with the story since birth and I appreciate all your encouragement and feedback. Hmmmm…yes as for some of the random problems I have with the plot etc it was probably because I was tired and not thinking . so please forgive me…and I hope it didn't ruin it for you! Keep reviewing it's been really great!
GiddyGirlie: Thanks must also go to you! Your long reviews and constructive feedback have made me double check my grammar and if I can be bothered, I'll redo the previous chapters kekekekee. I really do hope it's been enjoyable because I've certainly enjoyed writing!
Thanks to everyone who's read – and if you guys can be bothered, a few words of feedback would be really encouraging!! So yes…please REVIEW so you can tell me what you think!!!
Much love,
Purebliss90