DISCLAIMER: (Applies to all chapters/stories I write) I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER. I do not own anything associated with Harry Potter. Everything you can find in JKR's books IS NOT MINE. Anything you don't recognize – Lizzie and Aliya, for example – is mine. I am not making any money off of this piece of work.
I'm really not proud of this chapter :( Hope you enjoy; as always, comments and suggestions will be appreciated and considered.
Lily
January 14
"Oi!" I whispered to Alice as we got out of Charms. We'd been at Hogwarts for a week and she still wasn't talking to me. I felt like I had to do something, since I hadn't even written her over Christmas. Of course, she hadn't written me either, but…
She looked around. "What?" I heard her whisper, like she was imagining it. "Kates, is that you?"
Kates? Who is Kates? And what kind of name is Kates? I asked myself rapidly, before shaking my head. This wasn't the time. "It's Lily," I told her quietly, brushing past her as we headed towards lunch. "Sit with me at lunch today?"
"Oh, hi, Lily," Alice said, sounding like she wasn't too happy about seeing me. Instead of answering, she asked, "Why'd you whisper?"
"So you could reject me without anyone hearing," I grinned at her, and she tentatively smiled back.
"No," she hurried to say, "I'd be pleased to eat lunch with you. Er, just you, or—"
I eyed her, not sure what the right answer was. I'd intended on only eating lunch with Alice, not knowing if having Lizzie and Aliya there would be intimidating, or something, but I couldn't tell now what she would rather. So I went with the truth. "I thought we could eat lunch together, but if you want someone else to be there, that's fine…"
"Oh, no," Alice assured me. She was always so polite, so I didn't know if that was the truth. "I'd like to catch up with you as well. Where are we eating?"
"The Great Hall?" I felt stupid. Where else would we eat?
"Could we sit on the end? I don't fancy having listeners around us." She explained, leading us into the Hall.
That made sense. I didn't exactly want others (cough-POTTER-cough) snickering while I tried to apologize. Speaking of which, he'd taken to sitting near me in most of our classes. I'd thought that was Sirius' doing at first (and I admit I hadn't minded), but when I asked him about it he told me it was all Potter's idea. I couldn't figure out what that was supposed to mean.
We sat down and started eating in silence. Lizzie and Aliya passed us and shot me curious looks, but I gave them 'tell-you-later' looks so they didn't come over. I was thankful for that.
"So, um, Alice, how was Christmas?" I asked awkwardly.
She looked up and smiled. "Brilliant, actually. I spent some time with my cousins and it was great fun. I'm terribly sorry I didn't get you a gift—"
"I didn't get you anything either," I admitted, feeling my cheeks flush red. "I didn't know if you would accept it."
It was her turn to blush. "Look, Lily, about our fight—"
"—I'm sorry, but how am I supposed to know things if you don't tell them to me?" I burst out, unable to hold it in any longer. I didn't mean to interrupt Alice…
…who was starting to look annoyed. "By asking, maybe?"
"So I'm just supposed to come up to you and go, 'Hey, any interesting things going on in your life lately? I haven't seen you lately since you've been avoiding me, but how about we sit down and have a nice chat?'" I asked her angrily. It felt good to say this, to let it all out. I'd pictured this moment so many times in my head that I didn't even stumble over my heated words.
"Well, no," Alice replied sharply, "But I wouldn't have to avoid you if you spent more time around me!"
"So it's all my fault, is it?" I said combatively.
"Hmm, let me see! Yes!" Alice leaned forward, so different from the shy girl I'd thought she was, that it took me a moment to reply.
"Of course it's not!" I hissed back, lowering my voice when I saw a worried looking Aliya raise an eyebrow in my direction and rise as if to come over. I shook my head discretely. Alice would hate me forever if we made a scene.
"Okay, I admit it wasn't all your fault but you could have tried harder!"
"And how, exactly, am I supposed to know you want to talk when you're never around?" I angrily stabbed some chicken and chewed it viciously, waiting for her to respond.
"Well," Alice began animatedly, before she faltered. "Er. You're right. Sorry."
I slumped back in my seat. I couldn't argue with someone who wasn't even upset, and I realized that I hadn't felt much like arguing the whole time. "You're right too," I admitted. "Sorry back at you."
We looked at each other, before a smile tugged at my lips. This was ridiculous. Alice glanced down, like I was going to hex her or something. So I did something impulsive. I held my hand out over the table. Alice blinked, obviously thinking I was about to punch her, so I asked, "Friends?"
She chuckled. "Friends," replied Alice, shaking it firmly.
James
Remus yawned, nearly falling asleep in his salad. How did he eat so healthy? I wondered, before shaking my head and prodding him awake. "Remy!"
"Don' call me that," he slurred, blinking a few times to keep himself awake.
Sirius peered at him. "Why so tired, RemRem?"
"Couldn' sleep las' nigh'," Remus yawned, stretching. He drank a bit of his pumpkin juice. I hadn't been able to sleep either last night. I was devising a particularly great prank on Evans that involved humiliation, the Great Hall, and great buckets of paint. But I hadn't noticed anyone else being awake.
"Me neither," Peter piped up eagerly. I'd almost gotten used to the fact that he hung around us, constantly. I didn't enjoy his company, but I didn't want to strangle him every time he spoke. "The moon was so bright last night! Is that why you couldn't sleep, Remus?"
Remus smiled wryly. "Yes," he said, as if he was in some great joke I had no clue about. "It must have been the moon."
Sirius shrugged. "Want me to get you out of class?" he offered. "We have Potions next, and Merlin knows Sluggy won't care if you miss a class."
I laughed. "Potions is the easiest to skip."
"No, thanks guys," Remus said, shaking his head. "I'll be fine. I have a feeling I might be missing classes for the next couple of days anyway."
"Why?"
He shrugged. "I might fall sick," he admitted. "I'm feeling rather poorly."
"Then you should miss Potions!" I concluded, nudging him with my shoulder. "Come on, Remus, we all know you've probably read ahead and know what we're doing today, and I know you'll get an O for the lesson anyway because the moment you're better you'll be doing extra-credit work. You can skip one day because you're sick."
Sirius nodded, backing me up, and even little Peter squeaked, "Yeah!" in support. If I didn't know better, I'd swear Remus' eyes went a little teary. But that could just be the sickness.
"Okay," he said quietly. "You're on. Just…don't tell anybody."
As if!
Lily
"Where's Remus?" I muttered to Sirius as I brushed pass him on my way to my seat. "He's finally shunned you, then?"
"Very funny," replied Sirius, navigating his way through the Potions tables easily to stand besides me. "He's sick. Would you mind telling Sluggy that?"
Alice and I shared a glance. "What? Why me?"
"Sluggy loves you, m'dear," Sirius said, making his voice go deep like Slughorn's. "And, he would believe you."
Alice shrugged at me. "Go ahead…I'm off to get a table with Kates and her sister, Joane. I promised I would sit with them today, sorry."
I tried not to feel like she just blew me off…with weird named kids. Kates and Joane? "Okay, sure," I told her instead, but when she was gone I muttered "See if I care," under my breath.
"Fighting?" Sirius asked, and I rolled my eyes. Not at him, at the difficulty of Alice. We were friends and all now, and I'd thought she would have the decency to at least sit with me.
"Recently friends again, actually," I answered, carrying my books over to where Lizzie and Aliya had saved me a seat. I dropped into the chair, sighing loudly.
"All good with Alice?" Lizzie asked curiously.
I groaned, very loudly. Slughorn, daft that he is, didn't hear. I wasn't in any mood to talk about Alice. Luckily for me, I had someone who loved to hear his own voice. "Alice there just blew Lils off," Sirius told Lizzie, very, well, seriously.
Lizzie snickered, though I didn't know why. Alice deserting me like that was not a laughing matter. At all. But when I looked up, I saw that she was trading a look with Aliya, before very deliberately glancing at Sirius, then at me. What was she up to? "Poor Lils."
I glared at her, very obviously turning my back on her. Slughorn was trying to calm everybody down, so Sirius quickly whispered, "Remus!" in my ear before he left to sit with Potter.
The things I do…I raised my hand, waving it in the air, and Slughorn's bulbous eyes fell on me. "Miss Evans!" He bellowed, and I winced.
"Er, Professor Slughorn?"
"Yes, m'dear?"
I ignored how calling me 'm'dear' was probably illegal and said, "Remus Lupin is sick today."
"Poor boy," Slughorn sighed, waddling behind his desk. "Such a talent. Thank you for informing me, Miss Evans. Two points to Gryffindor."
I grinned. That was the only good thing about Sluggy liking me. It earned my house points, even though he was the Top Snake.
James
I stormed out of Potions, having successfully blown up my potion. Sirius was acting more normal than usual, but I still hated to see him and Evans behave like the bestest of friends. Hello, that was my job.
I was so intent on getting to Charms that I stumbled right into someone…Sam Oren. Great. Still, even though I hated the prat, I murmured my apologizes and made as if to get away. But he stopped me: "James. Wait."
"Yeah?" I asked.
"We have a team practice on the Friday in two weeks - about thirteen days, I think. Start practicing on your own, warm up a bit. Be at the pitch and don't be late. Spread the word." Sam told me. I smiled. I couldn't wait to go play Quidditch again.
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, starting to walk to Charms. Sam kept up easily, his legs much longer than mine even though he was only a year older.
He looked at me strangely, and I almost blushed. "You're on the team, dimwit."
"Not that you like that very much," I answered, surprised at the insult. He called me dimwit like I called Sirius tosser or wanker. More friendly.
"Yes, well, you still are my fellow Chaser," Sam pointed out. "And between Chasers, communication is key."
"That's it?" I asked, wondering about all our other practices. He hadn't seemed too keen to communicate with me then.
"Well, Matt might have something to do with it," Sam admitted with a laugh. "Just be there. Tell Keisha. I have to go to class."
And like that he was gone, jogging through the stream of normal, walking people. To my disgust, I saw Madelyn – my very own cousin – sigh and whisper animatedly to her friends. "Hey, Sam," she called, and Sam winked at her.
Did Madelyn keep her cool, like a true Potter? No. She blushed bright red and watched him go, her hand over her heart.
This was insanity. I needed some good bloke time.
So, that night, I didn't go right off to sleep like I normally did. I lay there in my bed, listening as Sirius snuffled and snorted before snoring (that was a lot of 'S' words) heavily. Peter gave a few noises before his breathing deepened.
I'd been lying there for about an hour and a half, tossing an old Quaffle up and down silently. Remus would not sleep, and I didn't want to disturb him – normally, I wouldn't exclude my friend, but he was ill and I wasn't cruel enough to make him traipse around a cold, drafty Hogwarts with me and Sirius.
As I listened, I heard Remus whine quietly, almost like a dog. He snuffled and rolled around in his bed. I'd never heard Remus make any noises like that, so I listened closely; he kept the whining up, rustling around as he whimpered. Was he okay? I was about to go over and see if I could help when he made a loud thunk, like he'd flung his hand against one of his bedposts. But why would he do that? Was he having a nightmare?
"Shit," Remus hissed, so out of character that I nearly said something. But I lay still, not wanting him to know I'd heard him having bad dreams – if that was what happened. I still wasn't sure. "Mother of effin' Merlin. Dammit!"
Why was Remus swearing? I decided he must had it hurt his hand or foot during the thump I'd heard. Still, I'd never heard him swear. Not once.
"Focus, Remus," he growled angrily to himself, the sound so strange I shuddered. He sounded like an angry animal, a bear or dog or something similar. What was the matter? "Focus! Time. What time is it?"
I heard him rustle around before he got out of bed, muttering the time – 12:19 AM – out loud. I'd noticed that about Remus; he talked to himself when he was having a problem. But what was the problem now? The nightmare? Was he going to take a shower? That always helped me after I woke up screaming.
"Damn, you're late. Holy Mother of—concentrate, Remus. You can do this. Clothes. You need clothes," Remus said, his voice hoarse and strangled. I lay perfectly still, all too aware of how loud my breath was, and the way my sheets rustled when I exhaled. Remus was scaring me now. "Bag. Okay. Note. Shit, where's the parchment?"
I heard him rustling some more, before he came closer to my bed. I tensed, even though I knew Remus wouldn't hurt me or anything. But what was happening had taken on an unreal feel, almost like I was in a dream, because of the hour. I was tired, even though I had plans for tonight, and in my sleepiness everything seemed much more frightening than usual.
Remus walked over to my bedside, rummaging through my things. "Sorry, James," he muttered regretfully. "But you do owe me."
I tried not to breathe too loudly. I was sure, now, that Remus was leaving again – it must have something to do with his grandmother, or maybe he was really sick – and I was no longer afraid. But I didn't want to let him know that I was eavesdropping.
Remus brushed against my curtains, causing a draft of cold air to drift into my cosy bed. I shivered, the sheets crinkling loudly, and Remus froze. "James?" He called cautiously. "Are you awake?"
"Er, yes," I answered sheepishly, not wanting to lie. How had he heard me move?
Remus pulled back my curtains, and I couldn't help but gasp; in the silvery light of the moon, he seemed more tired and sickly. "Madam Pomfrey says I have some virus," he explained quietly when he saw my shocked face, "which she cannot cure in the Hospital Wing. It makes me more irritable and irrational."
Oh. Now that I could believe. That was why he was acting so weirdly! "So where are you off to, then?"
"St. Mungos," he told me, hiking his bag higher up his shoulder. St. Mungos? What? Why was it so bad that he had to go to St. Mungos?
"It's that bad?" I asked, looking more closely at him. He did look horrible. But he was going all the way to the hospital?
"Not yet, that's why I'm going," Remus said quietly as Sirius snored on. "Madam Pomfrey says I'll be better in a day or two if the medicine works well."
"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, yawning.
He shrugged. "Well, I didn't know until after dinner. I didn't want you to worry."
"Remus. I'm your friend. Of course I'm going to worry if one of my best mates disappears for three days!"
Remus blushed, looking down. "Thanks."
I rolled my eyes. Sometimes Remus could be so ridiculous, always acting like he didn't deserve our friendship. "You don't have to thank me, Remy, but if you feel like it, I do enjoy a big bar of chocolate. Now go."
Remus chuckled. "I'll remember that. Bye, James. See you soon."
I drew my curtains as he left, yawning widely. I had been planning to sneak out with Sirius, but if Remus was leaving, that would mean there were plenty of teachers around. I'd just…close my eyes a bit until the teachers went to bed. Right...
January 15
Lily
The next morning, at breakfast, Alice shyly joined us. Lizzie grinned at her and welcomed her, but Aliya eyed her as she cautiously sat down, looking like she expected us to hex her for being there.
Of course, Lizzie had to launch into her "I'm going to be a big sister!" speech, but after that was done (thank goodness) Alice spoke up.
"So, er, Lily," she said quietly.
"Hmm?" I replied around a bite of toast.
"I, um, noticed you were hanging out with…Sirius Black a lot," Alice rushed out hesitantly. As soon as she said 'Sirius,' Aliya choked on her apple juice and looked up, gasping, with wide eyes.
"Uh, Aliya?" I asked, trying to get the attention off of me. Merlin, if she got jealous… "You okay?"
"Just fine," she gasped out, elbowing Lizzie in her stomach. "I told you it was obvious! You owe me twenty sickles!"
"What? You bet on me?" I demanded, mouth dropping open. Aliya nodded gleefully and I glared at her; how dare she?
Lizzie took pity on me. "The bet was if your, er, friendship was obvious to everybody, Lils. Which it is."
"Don't 'Lils' me," I grumbled. "And I don't understand why you're making such a big deal out of it! And anyway, Aliya's the one who fancies him!" Which I found ridiculous. He was sort of cute in a long-hair-mischievous-grin sort of way. And I did enjoy spending time with him – he made me laugh – but I didn't fancy him or anything like that. Honestly, I don't see the point. You're only going to break up. Its not like I'm going to marry my first boyfriend. And like Tuney had told me: 'What do twelve year olds know about relationships, anyway?' Never mind that I'm almost thirteen, and her first relationship was at age four. I knew absolutely nothing about…being somebody's girlfriend. How were you supposed to act?
"Oi, Lils," called Aliya, waving her hand in front of my face. I blinked and shook my head to clear it, not realizing I'd spaced out for nearly five minutes.
I looked up and noticed that Alice was gone. "Where'd Alice go?" I asked lamely, not wanting to comment on my spacy-ness.
"McGonagall asked her to come to her office," Lizzie said, looking at me weirdly. "You're so strange sometimes, Lily."
I stuck my tongue out childishly. "I'm the not the one who fancies Sirius Black," I said, pointedly looking at Aliya. Who didn't even blush!
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Lil' Red," Aliya told me, grinning at my look of outrage at the nickname. She got up, swinging her school bag over her shoulder before leaning in: "It's okay, Lily. I approve." Laughing, she walked out of the Great Hall, leaving me staring after her in complete shock.
What? What did she mean, 'I wouldn't be so sure about that'? Did she think I liked him? And, she approves? So she doesn't like him anymore? But I don't have a crush on him, so why does it matter? Do I act like it? Oh, Merlin! I had to do something about this.
James
What on Earth was Evans doing? She'd looked appalled at breakfast (which I only noticed because Sirius pointed it out) and now she was determinedly heading towards us. What was she doing? Charms was nearly starting, and I was early for once so I could quickly scribble down my homework answers. She was going to ruin it!
I leaned over to Sirius and muttered "Incoming," reasoning that he could deal with it. Then I turned away, but I could still hear what she was saying:
"Uh, Sirius, I need to tell you something," she said, looking shifty. I tried not to eavesdrop, but I honestly couldn't help it. I wasn't listening in, or anything.
"Yeah?" Sirius answered, looking up at her. Her hair was horribly frizzy today, I noticed. And she looked very pale. What was up with her?
"Er…" she glanced at me and I looked back at my paper as she leaned in to Sirius. But I still heard her say: "I can't hang out with you anymore."
Sirius looked at her weirdly. Good for him. Tell her to go boil her head, or something. But instead of saying "Good riddance" he said, "Why?"
She bit her lip. "It's personal," she said, suddenly blushing deeply. "I'll explain in Trans, okay?"
He looked at her.
"Please, Sirius?" Evans begged. "I can't do this here. It's too embarrassing."
Sirius smirked. Was he going to tell her to say it loud, to embarrass her more? Yes! That's my mate! "Okay, tell me later, then."
What?
Was he mental?
Lily
After Charms, we settled into Trans and I separated from my friends slowly. I'd thought about it all of last period, and I'd realized, with a sort of dawning horror, that this...friendship with Sirius was insane. He was friends with Potter, a stupid pranker, one of the four I'd sworn to hate for life. Why was I close enough to him that people accused me of fancying him? I didn't want to do it, but I also felt horrible about being friends with me. I mean, he helped prank Tuney, I was sure. And he was nice and all, but I knew from watching endless breakups and Tuney's rantings about worthless boys, that they could pretend to be - and do - anything for their advantage. I mean, what if Potter and Siriu-Black were planning something, and he was just chumming up to me so it would be easier?
So, after McGonagall started up her lecture, when I felt a wad of paper poking at me, I picked it up and unfolded it. I normally would have ignored it in favor of taking notes (we had a test the next day) but I had to break the news to Sirius that I wasn't going to hang out with him anymore. It said: What's the deal? –S
What? I wrote back, sliding it over.
I'm not stupid, L. You're ignoring me. What's up? -S
I just don't know if we should be...friends anymore. I wrote, sliding it over reluctantly. I watched as he read the note, his eyebrows furrowed, before his face rapidly reddened.
That's completely bull, Lily. Why are you really betraying me? I felt awful as he glared, forgetting to sign his name.
It's my friends. I wrote hesitantly. Did I really want to tell him? They think something is going on. –L And I do too, but I wasn't going to write that.
What would be going on? –S
I blushed deeply. Nothing for you to worry about, S. –L
It is if you want to shun me for it. –S
Look, S, I really don't want to this to get out. You'll just tell Potter. –L
No I won't. –S
Yes you will! He'll do anything to get it out of you. And I'm not telling you, and that's final. –L
I staunchly turned around after sliding the paper back to him. This was wrong, since I did enjoy his company, but I did not fancy him. And I did not want anyone to think that! It was the only way. I'd make up with him after this all blew over, and I figured out if he was just buddying up to me to benefit Pothead.
Sirius passed the paper back after writing: Fine, Evans. –B
We were back to last names? This was tougher then I thought. But then I caught Aliya's eye, and she mouthed what looked like 'Lover's spat?' at me mockingly and my resolve was strengthened. This was ridiculous, and going to end.
James
I'd never seen Sirius so crushed. All through the day he was moody, sulking like nobody's business. He'd only snapped out of it when I told him about last night and Remus, but a few minutes later he fell back into his sulky state.
What had Evans done to him? He wouldn't tell me a thing, so I'd tried to reassure him like a good friend. I'd told him he was better off without Evans, and he'd shouted, "You don't get it, do you?" and stormed upstairs.
I was at a loss. So I turned to Peter, the only person left. He looked just as clueless as I was, but I couldn't really tell since he was staring at his scuffed shoes. "What do you reckon we should do?"
Peter shrugged. "About Sirius?" He asked, too innocently.
"And Evans, yes," I replied, glaring at the Portrait. As soon as that demon child walked in…
"Talk to them," Peter said, fairly reasonably. I gaped, and he hurriedly added, cheeks flushing, "And maybe prank her, too."
I scowled in answer, but not at him. (I don't think he realized as he paled and shot glances towards me). "Damn," I sighed, "That actually sounds like something I should do."
Peter glowed, a huge grin breaking out of his face. "Thanks, James. Er, are you going now?"
I made a face. "I suppose. Do you know where she is?" Peter shook his head, not that I actually expected him to know. "I really wish there was a map of Hogwarts," I grumbled as I exited the Common Room. She wasn't in the girl dorm (which I knew because Sirius, Pete and I had been the first people back from dinner), so where could she be?
I wandered the castle, stopping occasionally to ask people if they knew where a "short, redheaded girl with a pale face" was. Nobody'd seen her, so I sighed in resignation. This would take forever, but I didn't fancy the idea of returning to our dorm with Sirius furious at me.
"Hey, boy," a male voice called out to me. I looked up to see a Gryffindor prefect jogging towards me. His name was…Something Edwards, wasn't it? I frowned as I tried to remember. "Potter, isn't it?"
Even fifth years knew my name! "Yes. Edwards, right?"
He nodded. "So, Potter, what are you doing out of the Common Room so close to curfew?
"Looking for someone," I said, an idea forming. Prefects were supposed to know people in their house, so this Edwards might know Evans. "Do you know where a redheaded girl named Lily Evans is, by any chance? She has green eyes."
"Hmm…" the prefect though, forgetting about maybe deducting house points. "Lily? I remember her. She's real pretty, isn't she?"
"She's twelve," I said flatly. What was wrong with this school? She must've put a charm on everybody. Actually, make that a hex. How is she on first name basis with everybody?
"She's your girl?" Edwards said, grinning at me. I shook my head vigorously and he patted my shoulder. "I hear you. Your Lily's practicing her, er, throw—" What? "—in an unused classroom. Go up a flight of stairs, turn left, and you'll surely see her. Tell her hello from me."
I scowled, before remembering this was a prefect. "I will. Thank you."
He winked at me. "Go on. And tell her it's nearly curfew, and I'll be forced to dock points. So don't stay up too late snogging."
I watched him go, my eyes wide and my mouth hanging open. One word: EWWWWWWWWW! As if I would snog Evans. I walked up the stairs and turned left, hearing crashing noises coming from down the hall.
What in Merlin's name was she doing?
I peeked cautiously in and immediately whipped my head back as another clatter sounded. Shaking my head – she wouldn't hurt me, would she? Oh, wait. She would – I looked in again. Evans was standing in the middle of the room, glaring, looking angry as hell. Her red hair was in a messy ponytail, but little strands were poking out. Her green eyes were flashing, I noticed as she turned around, and for a second I was reminded of the first day I met her, when I longed to see the angry spark light up her expression. Forget that. She was scary like this, in Muggle jeans and t-shirt, her hand clenched tightly around her wand.
But what she was going was the frightening part. She had a whole stack of china plates behind her, and she was fiercely using the Levitation charm we learned last year to hurl them as hard as she could against the wall. The stack wasn't running out, though; instead, the plates were rearing themselves and floating back to pile themselves near her feet. Had she gotten a house elf's help?
I flinched as she threw aside her wand and manually picked up a plate and threw it as hard as she could against the wall. I mentally took back everything I'd said about her being weak. Damn, this girl could throw.
"Er, Evans, not to be rude, or anything…but what the hell are you doing?" I asked, regretting it as I dodged a plate that exploded near my head.
"Who—" Evans started angrily, before she turned and saw me. Instead of looking madder, she just looked…resigned, I think the word was. "Potter. Of course. Of-freaking-course. This is just what I need, isn't it?" As I watched, gaping, she threw her head up to the ceiling. "Why me?"
The words were out of mouth before I could stop them. "I don't know, but you're looking a little crazy."
"I'm not in the mood, Potter. What do you want?" she asked, scowling.
"To know what you did to Sirius to make him so upset!" I hissed, stepping forward.
Evans looked taken aback, before her shoulders slumped. "Tell Sirius I'm sorry, okay? It's not my fault—"
"Hell it's not," I growled, watching in satisfaction as her eyes widened at the curse word.
"Don't use language like that," she scolded, obviously trying to get the attention off Sirius. But I wasn't having it.
"Don't change the subject," I said smugly.
But she continued like she hadn't heard (how dare she just dismiss me like that?). "I mean, I know it must make you feel special, and oh-so-rebellious, but it's quite ridiculous—"
"What the hell, Evans? I knew you were crazy—" I tried, desperately, not liking where this was going.
"—and it makes you sound like a wannabe, like you're just copying your older brother or something—" Evans continued.
The girl was completely off-track. It had nothing to do with Liam!
"Oh, and it also might have something to do with your parents…I'm sure you feel like such a bad boy, using curse words like you're that cool—"
"Evans!" I yelled, silencing her for once, "Don't change the subject."
Her eyes narrowed. "I'm leaving, Potter."
"Hell you're not!" I yelled, and she drew back, looking prissy as anything with her nose firmly stuck up in the air. Argh. Sirius owed me big time for dealing with her.
Lily
Lizzie is such a traitor. I was very pointedly avoiding Aliya – she was being so annoying, honestly – and I'd told Liz this. What did she do? Immediately dragged Alice off to go do 'homework', leaving me with Aliya.
Who immediately brought up Sirius: "What are you going to do about Sirius?" Aliya asked me as we walked to the Den.
"Nothing," I answered, rolling my eyes. "We're not even friends, Aliya."
She looked at me curiously. "Sure you are," she said happily, dismissing what I'd just said. "You two are always together, practically."
I sighed. "Listen, Aliya, we're only partners—"
She continued like I hadn't said anything. "I swear, you two would be the sweetest couple! And he's thirteen, right? And you're nearly thirteen…it's perfect!"
"Aliya, let me remind you that you're closer to his age!" I snapped. "And why do you keep bringing this up? Sirius and I aren't friends, and we sure aren't going out. And anyway, you fancy him!"
Aliya shook her head. "Ah, Lils, but that's where you're wrong," she said airly, turning right. I followed her. "I fancy another person – and you aren't getting anything out of me. And anyway, I think you and Sirius should be together."
"Well, I don't," I said angrily, completely fed up with it all. I wasn't going to fancy Sirius, no matter how many times Aliya suggested it! Why couldn't they just accept that? This was why I told Sirius to stay away…it may sound stupid, but I didn't want to have to deal with everyone – coughAliyacough – constantly going on about us. Even though there wasn't an 'us'. Was it such a crime that I didn't want to 'go out' with anyone? And anyway, how did nobody realize there could be an evil plan going on right now? But when I tried to warn Aliya, she just laughed it aside.
"But Lily!" Aliya persisted now, blind to the fact I was steadily getting angrier and angrier. "Think about it."
I breathed out slowly, getting mad she wasn't even listening to me! "Listen, Aliya, I. Do. Not. Want. To. Go. Out. With. Sirius. I don't fancy him. We're not even friends! Can't you just leave me alone?"
Aliya looked offended. "Sheesh, Lily, I was just telling you what I think. You don't have to get all upset." She turned around and left me standing in the middle of the hall, feeling like I should be mad at her, but feeling guilty all the same.
I stormed away, telling myself firmly that she was wrong. If she'd just listen to me, she'd understand! I should be mad. She should be guilty. As I angrily walked in some random direction, I worked myself more and more up until I was positively seething at Aliya.
"Where are you going, so upset?" A voice interrupted my internal ranting. I whirled around, an upset "What?" on my lips, but I swallowed it down when I noticed the prefect's badge.
"My friend," I said grumpily. I continued, even though I don't usually share my life details to random strangers. But I was so upset, and desperate for somebody to listen to me, that I didn't care. "She thinks I like this boy, who I don't, and won't shut up about it."
The prefect winced, though he tried to hide a smile. "Third year," he said, shaking his head. "So dramatic."
"Second, actually," I said, feeling rather pleased that he'd mistaken me for a thirteen year old. Tuney always told me I still looked ten.
"Really? You look thirteen! But Merlin, drama already? I'm sorry," the prefect said, with feeling. He winked at me. "Anything I can do to help?"
"Well, I need to cool down enough so I don't hex my friend when I go back to the Den," I said sarcastically, not appeased by his joking manner. "Any suggestions? What's your name, anyway?"
I probably shouldn't have been as abrupt with a prefect, but he laughed. "Must have been some fight. I'm Jonathon, but most people call me Jon. Jon Edwards. And you are?"
"Lily, Lily Evans," I said, hoping he wouldn't take points.
"Well, Lily, you want to hear how I get rid of anger?" Jon asked me kindly.
"How?"
He winked again. "Smash plates."
"What?" I asked, sure I heard him wrong.
Jon looked pleased with himself. "Yup. This is what you do. Find an empty spot with a nice, clear wall, and go, 'I summon Kali.' Then a house elf will appear, and ask her for 'Jon's Treatment.' She'll do the rest; all you have to do is throw the shit out of those plates."
I looked at him weirdly, even though the thought of hurling plates against a wall was strangely appealing. "What a waste of plates."
Jon laughed. "It's called magic! Reparo spell. Fourth year."
I smiled at the prefect, who saluted me. "You have about an hour before you should start heading back. Go enjoy it, Lily. And don't hex your friend, or I'll have to take off points."
"Yes, sir," I said sarcastically. He shrugged, as if to say, 'What can I say?' and walked off. I turned around and continued walking, peering around for an empty classroom, my mental dialogue against Aliya starting without pause. I finally found a nice, abandoned classroom with bare walls and no desks and walked in.
Feeling stupid, I stood in the middle of the room and went, "I summon Kali?" hesitantly. What was a house elf—Oh my God!
A…a creature was standing in the middle of the classroom, bowing. It was all wrinkly, and wearing a towel, like a toga or something, and it had these huge ears that looked like elephant ears of something!
"What do you want?" I cried, pointing my wand at the creature.
"I is Kali," the creature said. It spoke! It spoke English! "I is summoned. What is it that yous be needing, Miss?"
I shook my head. This was the house elf. It looked nothing like the elves I'd grown up hearing about, with their pointy hats and curled-toe shoes. Or were those dwarves?
That wasn't important. I remembered what the prefect had told me, and I hesitantly asked for "Jon's treatment."
Kali rolled her bulbous eyes. Like around and around. It was so creepy. "Jon haves too much anger, Miss. I is fetching it." She disappeared before my eyes. Wow. This was insane.
Wondering what 'it' was, I frowned at the wall, wanting to draw a bullseye or something on it. But that was ridiculous. As I waited, I starting thinking of things that made me upset…and I had this huge list. I never knew I had so many things to be upset about. Maybe this 'Treatment' would help me get rid of them.
Kali popped back in (it didn't scare me this time) with a huge stack of breakable plates. "I has made sure the plates will not run out," she said and disappeared again. I picked up a plate, eyed the wall, and thought, 'Please, don't let me get into trouble for this,' and half-heartedly Frisbee-threw it towards the wall. It didn't shatter.
My eyes narrowed. I picked up another plate, and said out loud, "This is for you, Aliya," and threw it as hard as I could against the wall.
It shattered with this glorious crash. A smile curved my lips as I picked up another and and another, throwing them, hurling them, Frisbee-ing them, naming something that made me upset with each crash.
It was fabulous. I felt amazing, so in control but not at the same time, like I was lighter and lighter with each piece of destroyed plate. I was getting into it, feeling like nobody could hurt me anymore, I was so powerful. Soon, my arms tired and I picked up my wand, lifting the next plate with a simple swish and flick, and how could Petunia call me a freak for feeling this, this magic, flowing through me when it felt so right? I was a witch, and the plates were smashing, and I was completely overwhelmed, and my wand hand was moving without pause, and I was losing control, bending down to manually pick up a plate and throw it, completely and utterly—
"Er, Evans, not to be rude, or anything…but what the hell are you doing?"
I almost jumped at the interruption, embarrassed that someone had witnessed me lose control, my wand hand slashing before I could stop it, the plate smashing near the person's head.
I was torn between saying "Who is it?" and "Who dares to interrupt me?" so the only thing that came out of my mouth was a lame, "Who?" I turned, midsentence, my face falling, then hardening. It was James I-Stick-My-Nose-In-Everything Potter. "Potter. Of course," I said, laughing bitterly. "Of-freaking-course. This is just what I need, isn't it?" I groaned, looking hopelessly up at the ceiling like somebody up there – heck, I wasn't being picky – could explain this. "Why me?"
Potter snorted. "I don't know, but you're looking a little crazy."
Thanks for the input, Potter! I really needed that! "I'm not in the mood, Potter," I said as viciously as I could. Hopefully he would just go off himself and leave me alone. I had been enjoying myself. "What do you want?"
Of all the things to say, I'd never had expected him to bring up Sirius. Actually, I had. This was further proof of a conspiracy (that was the word, right?) against me. "To know what you did to Sirius to make him so upset!" Potter said heatedly, and I gaped at him. Why was everyone so obsessed with that boy?
Even though I knew it was hopeless, I tried to appeal to Potter. "Tell Sirius I'm sorry, okay?" I tried. Sirius was furious at me, but maybe if Potter told him I didn't mean it… "It's not my fault—"
"Hell it's not," he said angrily. How dare he interrupt me? And of course he wouldn't help me. Why would he? Potter loved to torture me.
"Don't use language like that," I scolded half-heartedly. I didn't expect it to work, but I prayed Potter would have enough tact to let me change the subject. I didn't even care about the language, and I knew Potter knew that. So maybe he'd take pity on me.
I had no such luck. "Don't change the subject," he practically attacked me.
I rolled my eyes, but continued, hoping he'd pick up on the hint that I didn't want to talk about Sirius. So I started to rant about his language (lame, I know, but I had nothing else to say). "I mean, I know it must make you feel special, and oh-so-rebellious, but it's quite ridiculous," I said, in my best smart-aleck voice, wishing that he'd tire of the analyzing and leave.
Turns out I was right about what I'd just made up about his use of language, which was made clear when he protested: "What the hell, Evans? I knew you were crazy—" in this horribly desperate voice. Maybe I was better at this than I thought. I continued trying to piss him off:
"—and it makes you sound like a wannabe, like you're just copying your older brother or something—" Potter turned bright red, and I felt quite pleased with myself. I was good at this. Dad always said I could 'read people' well, whatever that meant. So I went on. "Oh, and it also might have something to do with your parents…I'm sure you feel like such a bad boy, using curse words like you're that cool—"
"Evans!" Potter bellowed, making me shut up. Please say he was going to leave—nope. "Don't change the subject."
If he wasn't going to leave… "I'm leaving, Potter."
"Hell you're not!" Potter said rudely, and I resisted the urge to throw another plate at him, instead putting my nose up like I was too good to deal with him.
"It's sad, really, how you think you can control me," I said airily, walking right past him and out the door. I checked my watch and realized I'd spent more time throwing plates than I'd thought; it was nearly nine.
"Don't just walk away!" Potter yelled after me, running to catch up.
"I suppose this is where you say, 'We need to talk about this?'" I cracked, grinning to myself. That's what would happen in one of Tuney's romance books or films at the cinemas. But then again, the heroine (enter me) would usually kiss the prat trying to get her to listen...ew. Nevermind, then.
Potter didn't get the cliché, thankfully. I didn't want him to think I fancied him, as well as Sirius (I wouldn't be surprised if Aliya said that next. Like I had to fancy someone, or my life wasn't complete). "Yes, actually. So you do have a brain; I was starting to worry."
I whirled around and leveled my wand on him. "Potter. Leave me alone."
He drew his own wand. "Not until you tell me what you did to Sirius."
I Petrificus Totalused the heck out of him, making him drop to the floor with a thud. Then I stood over him, watching his eyes flick around wildly before settling on his face. I was sure he was furious, so I was planning on high-tailing it out of there. First, though, there was something I had to say.
"Whatever Sirius thought I did wasn't my fault," I said clearly, speaking to the idiot like he was a baby. "All I told him was the truth. We aren't close friends. We are Trans partners, and nothing more. Understand?"
Potter blinked furiously at me.
"Good. Now leave me alone, Potter, or I'll do something worse. And trust me, you do not want to make me mad." I smiled.
James
Oh. Merlin. She did not petrify me! I glared up at her, hoping she understood how badly I was going to get her for this. She leaned over me, a curl of red hair falling in her face, and she absently pushed it behind her ear. She looked…nice-ish, I noticed. Not as hag-like as normal.
"…understand?" Evans finished her little rant off. I blinked at her, not willing to admit I hadn't listened. Then I realized I couldn't reply. Oh, well. "Good. Now leave me alone, Potter, or I'll do something worse. And trust me, you do not want to make me mad," she said threateningly, a smile on her lips.
She looked both glorious and freakin-terrifying.
But she was a girl! I couldn't be scared of a girl. Honestly. I needed to prank her, bad, so she'd understand that she should be scared of me.
I don't know how long I lay there, but some prefect stumbled upon me (literally. Ow.) lying there and cast Finite, asking what happened. I just said somebody hexed me, and I couldn't see them. (I didn't want to lose house points!) He wrote it up but didn't deduct any points, since it wasn't my fault I was out after curfew. Then he walked me back to the Den so I wouldn't get in anymore trouble.
When I got back, Sirius was waiting for me resignedly. He kept sneaking glances at Evans, who was doing her homework in the corner of the room. I wondered why she wasn't giggling about hexing me with Aliya or Lizzie, who were sitting on the complete opposite side of the room, glaring occasionally in her direction. Had they fought? Not that I cared. She probably deserved it.
"Hey, James," Sirius said moodily as I flopped down next to you. "Where were you?"
"Lying on a floor in some random corridor," I sighed, stretching my arms. Merlin, I was sore.
Sirius eyed me. "..why?"
"Because Evans hexed me," I said, realizing too late that I'd promised myself earlier not to bring up Evans.
Sirius winced. "Sounds like something she would do."
I felt horrible. This is exactly what I wanted from Sirius; finally he hated Evans like she deserved. But I couldn't enjoy it because he looked so damn miserable. "I might have deserved it," I offered.
He laughed bitterly. "James, I'm not her friend anymore. You don't have to lie."
I made this big production of wiping my forehead in relief, but he only chuckled quietly. He was still looking at her. "Thank Merlin," I said with feeling, trying to distract him. "I was getting tired of lying. I think we need to prank her for whatever she did to you."
Sirius grinned, but he didn't look happy. "I agree."
"Or we could prank Snivelly? Or both?" I said, desperately trying to make him smile. He only grunted. I wished Remus was here. He would know what to say. But then again, I should know what to say. Sirius was my best friend. I eyed him and started, "Sirius—"
"I'm going to bed," Sirius said abruptly, standing up. "See you tomorrow."
"…okay," I answered belatedly, feeling like I'd just let down my best friend.
January 16
Lily
This was awful. I'd thought I would have to ignore Aliya for the message to set in, but she evidently was more hurt than I'd thought. She was ignoring me too, and had even turned Lizzie against me. So the next morning, I scanned the Gryffindor Table, not wanting to sit alone, but at the same time not wanting to admit defeat and sit with them.
Luckily, my eyes made out a head of dark brown hair, along with a grinning face that was looking at me. Madelyn. I sighed in relief, hurrying along the table – past Aliya's accusing eyes – and slid next to my third year friend and all of her mates.
"Lila!" Madelyn said delightedly. "I was starting to think you'd forgotten me."
I flushed, embarrassed I hadn't really talked to her for weeks. "Sorry, Mad. I've been really busy."
"It's okay!" Madelyn said cheerfully, piling some green beans on my plate. I rolled my eyes at her – for breakfast? – but she stuck her tongue out back at me. "Eat your greens, Lils."
"Yes, mum," I grumbled, before looking around her silent friends with a shy smile. "Hi." I could barely remember their names.
The one I remember as being nice to me smiled. "I'm Katie, if you've forgotten."
I flushed. "Er, sorry. I'm rubbish with names."
Madelyn shrugged. "I'm rubbish at anything that involves memorizing. This is Jess, that's Bella, that's Charlotte. And you haven't met Mary before, have you?"
I smiled at Mary, who grinned back at me. "Hey, Lily," she said. "I hear you're fantastic at Charms."
Mary, who was a normal looking girl with straight brown hair and brown eyes, seemed friendly enough. "I wouldn't go that far," I admitted, shooting a glance at Madelyn.
"Ah, don't be modest, Lila. So, why aren't you eating with your friends? Not that I don't love your company," Madelyn asked curiously.
I rolled my eyes again, but not at Maddy. "They've gone insane," I confided to the third year girls, who all leaned in. "They think I fancy Sirius Black."
'Jess', who was a bit cool towards me, actually smiled. "Honey, I've been there. Madelyn over there seems to think every guy friend should be a boyfriend."
"Exactly!" I exclaimed, glad somebody was getting it.
Bella, a mischievous looking blonde, looked thoughtful. "Sirius Black…he's that good looking boy, isn't he? Friend of your cousin, Mads?"
"That's him! No offense, Maddy, but your cousin's a git," I said to Madelyn, who laughed.
"I know, Lils, I know. Heard you hexed him yesterday, left him lying on the floor for a prefect to find."
I blushed as all the eyes turned back to me. "Lily!" Mary admonished. "That was mean."
"He deserved it," I said, smiling at Mary. I quite liked her, actually.
"Boys always do," nodded the girl I thought was Charlotte, but I wasn't too sure. "Especially the attractive ones."
Jessica (I assumed that was her real name) wrinkled her nose. "Ew, he's twelve, Char," she said disgustedly. "No offense, Lily, but that's a whole year younger than I am!"
"Thirteen, actually," I told them. "Remember his party in October?"
"See!" Bella said, nudging her friend. "He's barely six months younger than I am. That's perfectly acceptable."
I laughed. "Yes, well, we're partners in Trans. And we were actually becoming friends, but Aliya – she's my friend – had to go and ruin it."
Maddy winced. "So he's too embarrassed to be friends?"
"No, I ended it," I told them. I expected them to completely not understand, but Mary and Bella exchanged a look before the former said, "Been there, done that, Lily."
Bella continued: "You're only a second year, anyhow. You don't need a boyfriend until third. I mean, where do you go on dates?"
"Exactly!" I cried, feeling suddenly more charitable towards everybody I was sitting with. They got it. They understood. What did my own friends do? Ignore me.
Katie laughed, made a comment, and the conversation changed to Bella's first ever boyfriend – which, get this, she only got a few months ago. See? I couldn't help thinking with a vindictive glare at my ex-friends. The world won't end if I wait a bit. Or a lot.
And I have to say, I enjoyed myself thoroughly that morning, talking and teasing them like we'd always been friends. It was awkward at times, and I felt out of it when they referred to guys in code names I didn't understand, but I still had a lot of fun. And I didn't feel nauseous talking about boys, either. I didn't feel panicked, like I was moving way too fast. I felt comfortable knowing I had a whole year before a boyfriend was expected (though, they assured me, you weren't weird or anything if you wanted to wait a bit more), and grateful that they accepted me.
Take that, Aliya.
January 23
James
It was a week after The Incident when we finally got Evans.
And boy, did we get her good.
Peter, of all people, came up with the idea (well, with Remus' help). We were sitting in the dorm with Remus, who recovered in three days (thank Merlin, it could've been much, much worse), doing his homework. Sirius and I were coming up with prank ideas, and Peter was doing…something. I hadn't really been paying any attention to him.
Sirius had said we had to do something bad to Evans, but something that made sense (like the rat). So Peter said, "Well, she's being cold to you, right?"
Sirius snorted in reply. "That's an understatement," he said viciously. He'd stopped sulking, and instead was out for revenge.
I nudged him to cheer him up, turning back to Peter after he gave an unwilling smile. "What're you suggesting, Pete?"
Peter flushed happily. "Turn her into something cold…like ice!"
Sirius immediately dismissed the idea. He still didn't like Peter. Peter had grown on me, though; he was acting more and more Mauraderish. "She'd freeze to death. I don't want to kill Li—Evans."
"He has a point, though," I said. "We could do something like that. Think about it – nobody would go near her."
"Her friends don't go near her anyway," Sirius pointed out. That was true. They were fighting about something, and it looked nasty.
Remus looked up. "That happened when I was gone, didn't it?"
I sighed and nodded. "Yeah. But Rem, you have any ideas?"
Remus' forehead crinkled as he thought. While we waited, Sirius restlessly banged his foot against the foot of his bed, causing Peter to flinch with each thud. I gave him a 'stop it' look and he rolled his eyes at me, but he did stop.
"Well…" Remus started, running his tongue along his top teeth. "Remember that reading we did in History of Magic?"
Why would I ever remember any reading? Especially in History of Magic. I wasn't dumb, the opposite in fact, but I didn't obsessively remember everything I read. I was pretty good at memorizing things when I needed to. I opened my mouth, but Sirius beat me to it: "Of course not, Remus."
"That would ruin our reputation," I continued, not to be outdone.
Peter giggled (like a girl. Honestly) and even Remus looked amused. "Oh, you mean the reputation of failing every class?"
"We do not fail any class," I protested. Sirius agreed, crossing his arms as he fake-glared at Remus.
"Everybody else don't know that," Remus said truthfully. I stuck my tongue out at him, and he winced. "When was the last time you brushed your teeth?"
I thought about it. Was it last night…or maybe yesterday morning? I just used my Teeth Whitening spray. "When was the last time you brushed your…face?" I responded childishly.
"When was the last time you had a good comeback?" Sirius laughed. I shoved him and he shoved back.
"Want to hear my idea or not?" Remus urged. We stopped wrestling and glared at each other, before I shook his hand. "This isn't over, Black," I growled.
"As if, Potter," Sirius said threateningly back.
Remus ignored us. "So back during the Witch Burnings, witches would cast a Flame Freeze charm, I think it was, to keep themselves from burning. In the footnotes, it said there was a companion spell to keep one from freezing to death.."
"So?"
Peter's face lit up and he bounced excitedly on his bed. "If you cast that, you could, like, put big ice cubes on her all day, and she wouldn't be able to do anything about it!"
Sirius considered this. "Big ice cubes?" he thought out loud. "They'd melt."
Remus said, "I know a solution to that."
He explained his idea to us, and we leaned in. I'd never heard of a Statis charm, but this was brilliant. This was great. This would show Evans.
Lily
I was having the worst morning, honestly.
I'd slept past my alarm, and neither Aliya nor Lizzie bothered to wake me. Finally, Alice shook me awake after the other two had left for breakfast, which effectively ensured I had to pick between taking a shower, and having food.
I picked food. I was starving, and I thought I'd just take a shower during fourth period free period. So I pulled on my uniform, pulled my hair back into a messy ponytail, quickly splashed water on my face, and ran downstairs. Too late, I remembered I'd forgotten my books, so I had to immediately run back up, gasping, and fetch them. By the time I was out the Portrait Hole, it was nearly time for classes. I only would have enough time to grab some toast and juice, before running to DADA.
I ran as fast as I could along the corridor towards breakfast, taking the stairs two at a time, panting and cursing the fact that Hogwarts didn't have elevators. I took a rarely used shortcut, my feet thudding against the dusty stone as I gasped for breath. I stopped at the corner to take a breather, wishing I was more in shape.
Then, a blue spell whizzed towards me, but I ducked it. My wand was out before I knew it and I fired a Petrificus Totalus in the direction of the spell; unfortunately, I missed, and this time the blue hex hit me squarely in my stomach. Little blue-red lines shimmered up and down my body before disappearing. I groaned loudly; just what I needed. But I didn't feel any different, only a bit warmer.
I took a step forward to look for my attacker, and I didn't notice the dusty brown string until it caught around my foot. Too late, I looked up automatically and saw a bright yellow bucket teetering. I tried to move out of the way, but it spilled over and million of crystal looking object fell on me in a shower.
It hurt.
It felt like shards of ice cutting into my skin, and I gasped, shutting my eyes as the downfall stopped. When I opened my eyes, my vision was blurry and I raised a hand to wipe away the tears – and gasped. My hand was covered in what looked like a solid mask of ice, that curved and bended along the lines of my hand and arm. I looked down at my entire body and groaned; I looked like a walking iceman or a snow man! But the funny thing was, I felt warm as anything.
What happened?
Just as I tentatively took a step forward (it was stiff, like I was the tin man in The Wizard of Oz), four figures snuck past me. I squinted after them, but I couldn't tell who they were. So I awkwardly started running after them, even though I couldn't exactly bend my knees very well.
I made it to the main corridor just in time for everyone to spill out of the Great Hall. I was immediately noticed, and laughter started as I battled tears from my eyes. This wasn't fair. I was hungry, tired, unshowered and grumpy, my best friends were ignoring me, and the ice was pressing into my skin. To top it off, I saw Aliya and Lizzie in the corner, snickering at me.
They're horrible friends, I thought bitterly, scowling at them. I'm better off without them.
The taunts started, and I flinched as people yelled things like "Ice girl" and "Cold Hearted" at me. Then, one voice rose above the rest: "EVANS!"
I looked, and my heart sank. It was Potter. James Potter. Laughing at me, with his horrible I Got You Bad smirk, and who was at his side, looking at me just as gleefully/hatefully? You got it. The cause of all this mess, Sirius Orion Black.
"What do you want, Potter?" I growled, but the effect was ruined; when I spoke, little puffs of ice formed in the air, causing the onlookers to howl with laughter.
Potter laughed. "So cold, Evans," he said mockingly. "But that doesn't surprise me – you're cold to everyone, especially your…friends."
So this was about Sirius. I hadn't been sure that the culprits were Potter and Black (and, I noticed, Remus and Peter) but now I was certain. So I willed back the tears and hissed, "You'll pay for this, Potter."
"Ooh, I'm so scared now, Evans," Potter snickered. I tried to curl my hands into fists, but the ice didn't allow me too. So I settled on fixing my glare right on him, as staring hard at something kept me from crying. "Too bad you deserved it, so you have no right to make us 'pay' for it. After all, aren't you just a cold, frigid—"
"James Andrew Potter!" A harsh voice yelled over all the commotion. Potter flinched and turned around, turning suddenly pale, and the crowd parted as one very angry Madelyn Potter stomped up to where we both stood.
Merlin and God Almighty, I loved that girl.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Madelyn screeched as her friends formed a protective layer around us. That's right, they included me. I glanced over to where I knew Aliya and Lizzie stood, and was strangely pleased to find them staring, completely shocked, as a group of third year girls stood up for me.
Little Peter Pettigrew piped up bravely (maybe he was a Gryffindor after all), "Evans here deserved it—"
Madelyn leveled her wand on him and, with a squeak, he promptly shut up (or not). Then, she turned her wand on Remus. "Do you have anything to say?"
Remus looked torn, glancing between a stony Sirius and Potter, and me. His gaze flickered back and forth, before it settled on his friends. I laughed bitterly to myself as he said, "I agree with Peter." I tried not to feel hurt. They were his friends, and I could respect that. But, it still felt awful when he resolutely turned his eyes away.
"Madelyn," I said quietly, just forget it."
She opened her mouth to answer back, but a stern voice cut over the mess. "What are all of you doing? Class starts in five minutes. Get to it!"
McGonagall. I shot a panicked look at Madelyn, not wanting to be seen like this, and she quickly hustled me into a broom closet. She bent like she was tying her trainers and McGonagall walked right past her. Then, she hissed, "Just go tell on the prats, Lily!"
"I will," I whispered back, "Just not in front of everyone. If I go to privately, then she'll believe me, I think."
Madelyn paused, standing up and opening the door. "Want me to take you?"
"Thanks, but I'll just go straight down to her office," I replied, not wanting her to get into trouble. I looked down at my icy self and sighed. Walking all the way up to McGonagall's office like this would be torture. But I'd already gotten Madelyn involved too much. "Thank you so much for your help," I repeated gratefully, "But I think I got it."
Madelyn smiled at me. "I'd hug you, but that would mean I'd get wet. When you're cured, come up to my dorm and we'll plan revenge."
I felt so grateful my heart could burst. "Thanks, Maddy."
"No prob, Lila," Madelyn teased. "Now, I'm out. I have Slughorn next. I'll just say I was with his darling Lily."
"Shut up,"I grumbled, easing myself out of the closet with some difficulty. I waved a creaky, icy goodbye to Madelyn and started hobbling towards the third floor. I finally made it in about fifteen minutes. This was ridiculous.
I knocked on the door urgently, but there was no reply. I leaned against the wall, and let the events of the morning catch up on me.
Potter had pranked me. Sirius had agreed. It had hurt like anything; and they hadn't cared. Why? Why me? How on Earth was this fair?
I shivered as I stood there. The charm that kept me warm was wearing off, and I was steadily getting colder and colder. It felt like I was buried under miles of ice,
"Miss Evans, why are you out of class?" McGonagall demanded. "Besides, well…"
"Besides the obvious thing?" I replied, before I realized how disrespectful that was. I looked down, blushing. "Sorry, Professor."
McGonagall's lips twitched and she walked past me, tapping her wand on her door and leaning in close. She whispered a password and the door swung open. I followed her in and sat awkwardly on a hard chair, hoping I wouldn't melt all over my Professor's furniture. That would be embarrassing. But, I didn't think I would melt anytime soon. I was cold, so cold it wasn't funny, my fingers were hurting and I was shivering nonstop.
"So, Miss Evans," my teacher started, "Please have a ginger snap."
What? I gaped at her, and this time she definitely smiled, pushing a tin of ginger snaps at me. I took one and nibbled it hesitantly, trying to still my hand, which was moving slightly because I was so cold. Thankfully, the ginger snap warmed my mouth a little.
"Now, how did you get this way?" she asked, but I was no longer paying attention. Little black dots were crowding around my vision, and I was scared. Professor McGonagall was looking down to her desk, so I didn't think she noticed anything was off. But I was freezing, every part of my body glacially cold, my lips certainly blue, and the whole office looked blurry, and I could barely believe. I'm so cold, so cold, so cold, I kept repeating in my head as all my body heat dropped and disappeared. It was happening so fast, I was terrified, I could barely say anything, my heat dropping faster and faster it was unnatural.
I swallowed and wiped my mouth, sitting straighter. I was sure my lips were turning blue, and my shivering turned to full out shaking. "P-potter," I said, and saw McGonagall leap out of her chair. I doubted she even heard what I said – but then again, I wasn't sure if I'd said anything. I was so cold, cold, cold, I couldn't think anything else.
I think I fainted then, but I'm not sure. I remember hearing McGonagall going, "Miss Evans? Miss Evans?" but I'm not entirely confident this happened. The next thing I could actually remember enough to know I wasn't dreaming, is waking up in the Hospital Wing.
James
Madelyn is such an interfering brat! I added her to the 'revenge' list and put that back in my bag, leaning over to whisper to Sirius. We were planning a way to get out of Transfiguration so we could go renew that spell on Evans. Who, by the way, wasn't in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Hepburn was lecturing us on how to capture a hinkygriff or something stupid like that. I wasn't paying any attention. I had two things on my mind: 1) how to infuriate Minnie enough that she let us out of Trans and 2) where was Evans, and how was I to renew the spell if she didn't come close?
I bet she was ratting to someone. That would be the type of thing Evans would do. But that would require her missing a class – the horror! I snickered to myself at the thought of her expression when she realized she missed DADA. That would be priceless.
"…and so you see, Hinkygriffs are quite dangerous creatures, similarly to the more-commonly known Hinkypunks, their cousins, so to speak. They are only vanquished by fire. Can anyone tell me a which spell from your reading last night that one would use?"
I tried to remember, in case he called on me. It was the Sparkius charm or something like that. I shrugged and resumed sketching the Trans classroom (we were planning to flood the bottom). Professor Hepburn never called on me. He was young, blond, and rather sarcastic, but he seemed to like me. I never misbehaved in DADA because I heard Hepburn made you write more essays on subjects like, "Why I Shouldn't Doze Off In Class." I could deal with scrubbing the Charms classroom, but I didn't want to write any more essays.
"Mr. Potter!" Professor Hepburn cried cheerfully. "Glad to see your hand up, for once!"
I glanced at my hands, one of which was holding my parchment in place as the other drew. Then, I looked up at Hepburn like he was insane. But he only smiled jovially at me and waited expectantly.
"Um." I started, unsure of what the question was. "I was, er, contemplating…something to do with Hinkypuffs, Professor. Could you repeat the question?"
Remus rolled his eyes, coughing a muffled "Hinkypunks," in my ear, and I blushed while I waited for Hepburn's reply.
"You know of Hinkypuffs, Mr. Potter?" Professor Hepburn commented drily. "Do tell."
Uhhh... "They're, erm, cousins of the Hinkypunk," I said, trying to sound like I knew what I was talking about. "Some say Helga Hufflepuff wanted the Hufflepuff icon to be a Hinkypuff, but instead made it her family's crest animal." I was warming up to this topic, feeling more confident as Hepburn's eyebrows rose and he looked faintly impressed. "They are loyal, but fearful, the opposite of their cousins. They are extinct now, and have been, er, said to be a mythical creature, but some people disagree."
I looked up at Professor Hepburn anxiously, hoping I hadn't just won myself an essay on "Why I Shouldn't Bullshit About Creatures I Made Up Because I Wasn't Listening" (I hid a smile as I imagined Evans screeching "Language!" in my ear, and me telling her it was an assignment). Instead of taking away points, he smirked in a positively Slytherin way. "Ten points to Gryffindor for thinking on your feet, Mr. Potter, and coming up with a plausible excuse."
Remus grumbled something under his breath, and I beamed. Ha! Never say Potters can't do anything, especially this Potter! Hahaha!
Of course, it was at that moment when the door burst open and an enraged McGonagall stood in the doorway, panting heavily, the look on her face out to kill. I slumped in my seat, all glow from winning points gone. Bollocks.
"Mr. Potter," she hissed angrily, striding over to my desk and pulling me up by my ear. "You will come with me."
"Why, Professor?" Sirius piped up, but he shrunk back when she glared at him.
"You too, Black. And that means you two too, Pettigrew, Lupin," she said murderously.
I didn't even snigger when she said what sounded like 'tutu.' I was too busy gulping and feeling quite a lot of dread.
A/N: Poor Lily. She just doesn't get it easy, does she?
Hoped you enjoyed! Thanks for all the reviews. I honestly get a little - okay, huge - spark of joy every time I open my fanfiction email inbox and a review is lying in wait for me to read!