The Renaissance Project from Hell. That is what my life revolves around at the moment. HELL! Yes, I sometimes want to murder people. So, therefore, this chapter is dedicated to Raz, Melissa, Jen, and Charlie…for giving us the project from Hell.

Chapter Four

Fights and Fluff

A few weeks later, Madison made her way down to the Great Hall for an early breakfast. She assumed the Marauders and her friends would all be sleeping. When she entered the Great Hall, she was mildly surprised to find Remus sitting there eating breakfast and working on some homework. He was so engrossed in his work that he did not see her come up. She walked up behind him and slid her arms around his shoulders. He jumped slightly.

"Oh…hello Madison. You surprised me." Remus said as she sat down. He leaned over and gave her a quick peck on the lips.

"Good morning to you, too." She replied as she helped herself to a few muffins.

"Muffin fan, I see?" Remus asked, chuckling.

"Don't insult the muffins, they will attack if provoked." She said in mock seriousness.

"Of course not, I enjoy the occasional muffin…attacking muffins…" He trailed off. Suddenly, he reached into his bag and pulled out a notebook. He scribbled something in it then put it away and resumed his previous work.

"What was that all about?" Madison asked, noting his strange behavior.

"Prank ideas. What most people don't know is that almost each and every prank was thought up by me." Remus said in a hushed voice, his eyes darting around making sure he was not overheard.

"But, you're the good Marauder! I would have never guessed." Madison responded.

"One of my many secrets, I am a very mysterious person." He said, half-joking.

"Ah yes, terribly mysterious. Would you care to share another one of these 'secrets'?" She asked.

"Yes, but only one." He replied as she leaned in close. "I think you are beautiful." He whispered in her ear. She looked up into his bright blue eyes. Before she could respond he brought his lips down upon hers in a passionate kiss.

"Not at breakfast!" Came the annoyed voice of Sirius Black. Remus and Madison broke away, blushing. They had been oblivious to others' presence. Sirius sat down and began filling his plate.

"You're up early." Remus said.

"I was hungry." Sirius replied through a mouthful of food.

"Black, didn't anyone ever teach you manners?" Madison asked.

"I think so…but I must have forgotten." He replied while putting another mouthful of eggs into his mouth.

"Pig…oh, there's Ryan. I need to ask him something." She said as she got up and walked over to the Ravenclaw and began talking to him. Remus felt a surge of jealousy but he quickly controlled it. They were just talking, probably about homework.

"Good morning, what's new?" James asked as he sat down.

"I caught Moony and Madison snogging at the breakfast table." Sirius replied.

"Now, now, Moony. How many times do I have to tell you 'No snogging at the table'?" James asked in a parental tone. He glared condescendingly at Remus for a moment before he and Sirius both burst out laughing. Remus reached across the table and lightly punched James in the arm.

"Shut up, Prongs. I can remember a time when you were snogging for twenty minutes at breakfast and made all of us lose our appetite." Remus said, averting his gaze back over to Madison who was in the Entrance Hall talking with Ryan Pritchard. Soon, Cara and Lily came and Madison broke away from her conversation and followed them back to the table. Madison sat back down next to Remus and he focused all of his attention on his plate.

"Sorry about that. I had to ask Ryan something about Divination homework." She explained, grabbing a few pieces of bacon. Remus continued to ignore her. "Remus, are you okay?"

"Yeah." He said coldly.

"Are you mad about something?" Madison asked.

"No. Why would I be mad?" He snapped.

"Come with me. We need to talk." She said, standing up. Their friends were trying not to seem obviously watching this exchange.

"Fine." Remus said, getting up and following Madison out of the Great Hall.

"What the hell is going on?" Madison demanded.

"You and Ryan apparently!" Remus snapped back.

"Nothing is going on between us! We are friends. Look, I am going to meet him in the library tonight to work on our Divination homework and I want you to be okay with this." Madison said.

"I don't know. How do I know something won't happen to you?" Remus asked sincerely as he walked up to her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"You can trust me." Madison said as she took his hands off of her shoulders and held them in her own.

"I do trust you. It's him I don't trust." Remus said, pulling his and her hands up and kissing them gently.

"Would you trust me if I were studying with James or Sirius?" Madison asked.

"Well, I know them. I know they wouldn't try anything on you. And plus, they are just friends." Remus explained.

"Well, Ryan is just my friend. He won't try anything on me. I promise." Madison said, softly.

"Alright, fine. Just promise you will set boundaries and make sure he knows the punishment of crossing them. The wrath of the Marauders can be very frightening." Remus said sternly.

"Okay, I promise. Don't worry." Madison said softly. Remus smiled slightly and bent down to kiss her.

That night, Madison met Ryan in the library. She set her books down and took a seat across from him.

"Hello Madison." He said cheerfully.

"Hi Ryan. Okay, let's get started." She said, opening her book.

"Alright, what are you having trouble with?" Ryan asked as they began to work. An hour later, Madison made her way back to the Gryffindor Common Room. When she walked in, she saw Remus sitting on a couch working on his Transfiguration essay. He looked up when she walked in and smiled as he made a place for her on the couch.

"How did it go?" Remus asked as she sat down.

"Just fine. And don't worry, nothing happened. Just predicting the future." She replied. Remus set his books down and put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"That's good. Well, on a more gossipy note, how do you think the whole Lily/James soap opera is going?" Remus asked.

"It is so obvious she likes him. She just has to admit it." Madison said.

"Well, at least she hasn't hexed him…yet." Remus added.

"They do seem to be becoming friends…" Madison trailed off.

MEANWHILE:

"POTTER! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE MY BOOKS ALONE!" Lily screamed as she chased James around the room.

"But, I let Padfoot borrow mine!" He shouted back at her as he ran through his room and into the bathroom. Lily waved her wand and the door to her room flew shut and James slammed into it. He fell onto the floor like a plank of wood.

"Are you alright, Potter?" Lily asked coldly. James didn't move. "Potter, stop messing around." He still didn't move. Now Lily was getting nervous. She walked over to where he was. "James, can you hear me?" She leaned down and suddenly…

"BOO!" James shouted suddenly coming to life. Lily screamed and jumped back. James doubled over in laughter.

"POTTER! THAT WAS NOT FUNNY!" Lily shouted at him.

"Yes…it was." James said, nearly choking on laughter. Then the pain in his nose began to set in. "Bugger, Lily. This really hurts!" He said holding is nose.

"Well, don't take my things without asking." She said, opening the door to her room and going in. James followed.

"If I had asked, would you have said yes?" James asked.

"I answer yes to any favor if it is within my power and asked politely." Lily responded. James smirked.

"Will you please go out with me?" James asked.

"No bloody way." Lily snapped.

"But, you said you would always say yes."

"I said if it was in my power."

"Are you incapable of dating?"

"Incapable of dating an egotistical, self-absorbed, ass like yourself!" Lily shouted. James's face fell and he looked truly hurt. He turned and silently went to his room. He slammed the door then locked it. Lily felt instant regret. She should not have been so harsh. She left her room and went to the Common Room. Lily approached James's door to find it unlocked. He had only locked the door to the bathroom. Slowly, she opened his door and went in. He was lying on his bed with his eyes closed. Silently, she crept over to his bed and sat down. He felt her sit down but ignored her presence.

"James?" Lily said softly. He just turned over so his back was facing her. "James, look at me." Slowly he turned his head. "I'm sorry." She whispered.

"No you're not. If you were sorry you would have never said it." James snapped.

"I didn't mean it. I don't know why I said it…yes I do. You just make me so mad sometimes. I am sorry. It shouldn't have come out that way. Can you forgive me?" Lily asked.

"Perhaps in time. But, Lily, I really do care for you. I know you think I am full of shit, but I'm not." James said sincerely.

"Why? Why did you date all those girls, shag them, and then leave them?" Lily asked.

"Because, I didn't love them. I was trying to get my mind…off of you." James said. He felt his stomach drop. He had practically told her that he loved her. Did he mean it? Yes, he did love her. James Potter loved Lily Evans.

"Did you just say you…love me?" Lily asked cautiously. She could have sworn he said love. But, if she was wrong, embarrassment and disappointment would overwhelm her.

"Yes, I did say that." James replied.

"Did you mean it?" Lily asked.

"Yes." James said as he brought his lips closer…and closer…until…

Oh don't you just hate me right now? I love cliff-hangers. The next chapter is amazing…so don't you worry. It will blow your mind…I love it. I will try to get it out as soon as possible. The faster you review, the happier I am…and the faster I type.