We're getting so close to the end, kiddies! Ohhh, it's exciting!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, but whatever, Trevor. I like it this way.
And a happy late birthday to Katie! I spent all week dreaming up this chapter. For you and only you, my dear.
The feeling of lightness, however, did not remain for long. As the days worn on, Lily could no longer feel happy; seeing James with Elizabeth was like being attacked by a rogue unicorn. A painful, unexpected and simply unimaginable experience, but occurring.
Going through classes, she began to wonder if maybe Sirius's plan wasn't as brilliant as it seemed. James seemed happy with Elizabeth, and Lily had already ruined most of his year. As the clock struck five, Lily walked down to dinner, these thoughts bouncing around in her head.
Lily walked into dinner that evening with her head held high. She was aware that students stopped and stared as she entered, and all heads turned as she surveyed the room, looking for her friends. Hogwarts knew Lily Evans was angry, and no good could come of it. The students watched with bated breath, waiting for the outburst they could only anticipate.
But Lily walked calmly, passing student after student, approaching the end of the table where James sat among his mates and her friends, Elizabeth posed smugly on his lap.
She reached him, and she could feel all eyes on her. Lily, however, refused to give him any notation that what he had done had hurt her deeply and continued on without so much as to a glance in his direction. She could feel the population around her releasing oxygen and looking with confusion toward their friends before returning to conversations.
"I think that went much better than it could have, don't you think?" Aira said, moving so Lily could slip beside her. "You could have slapped him."
"Though, with Sirius's plan," Charlotte said, eyes sparkling, "I don't think that'll be necessary."
"Yeah, Remus mentioned something about that. What'd Sirius say after he followed you out of the dining hall this afternoon?" Ellie pushed her plate aside and leaned toward her. "What's the plan?"
Lily bit her lip and stared at girls, who smiled back her, their expressions prompting her to go into detail.
"I don't know if that's going to happen, girls." Lily said, serving a bit of roast onto her plate as well as some buttery potatoes. "Sirius says James is just depressed, and he needs a push in the right direction to remind him that I don't hate him. I believed him because it made perfectly logical sense. You simply do not move on after loving someone for almost seven years. It takes a healing process and whatnot." She took a bite of food and nodded her head in James's direction. "That, however, is not depression. He's delightfully happy with Elizabeth and I'm not sure if I should disrupt it."
The four looked over to where James sat, his face firmly pressed against Elizabeth's. Staring at them, she felt a pang in her stomach, knowing that had she moved a little quicker, found James a little sooner, looked a little harder, she would be the one sitting on James's lap. She could be devouring his face, not Elizabeth.
Ellie slammed her palm onto the table, the noise removing Lily from her thoughts. "No!" She shouted. A few people turned to stare, and Ellie lowered her voice. "Sirius said that when he suggested maybe you let James have a cooling off period, you refused. What happened to that attitude?"
"He's happy, Elle." Lily swirled the butter through her potatoes. "I've ruined seven years of his life. I should let it go, let him get over me. Sirius was right." She mumbled.
Aira stared at her disbelief. "Did you, Lily Evans, just admit Sirius Black was right, and that you were incorrect? Why, I thought I'd never see the day." She said sarcasm and amusement ringing in her voice.
"It's just… what this is just another thing, another stupid ploy put up by James?" Lily said, a thought dawning on her. "James would revel in nothing more than having me admit I love him. Which was Sirius's entire plan. He wanted me to find a time when James was alone, and then strike. I was supposed to tell him, in a big romantic gesture, to tell James I love him."
Lily opened her mouth to continue, but Aira cut her off.
"Repeat that last bit, please." She requested, her voice rising and a smile spreading across her face.
The others stared at Aira in confusion.
"I said, I was supposed to tell him, in a large romantic gesture, similar to the one's James would put into effect, that I love him." Lily said. "Anyway, that's seems like something James would request, don't you think?" She said, stabbing at a carrot and place it into her mouth.
The others, however, were smiling widely, completely obliviously to her question. After a few moments, Charlotte finally spoke.
"I thought you just fancied him." She whispered, her eyes wide and her face bright. "I didn't realize you loved him."
Lily tucked her red curls behind her ears and could feel the color rising to her face. "I don't love him, Sirius wanted me to tell him that. Since James had been telling me that he loves me for the past six and a half years, you see." She took a sip of her pumpkin juice, hoping the cool liquid would lighten her flaming face.
The girl's exchanged looks. "That's right, Lily. I am sure you don't love him. Anyway, continue."
"That was the end. I think that James told Sirius to feed me that pile of rubbish, and I can't believe I bought. Watch, if I went and actually told James how I felt, James would smirk that god-awful smirk of his and say something cocky and stupid." Lily finished.
"You know something, Lily, considering, even though you don't love James, just fancy him, you really don't give him much slack." Sirius slid past her, pulling Aira into a hug. "By the way, I've decided Aira and I are dating now."
Aira's blue eyes widened in surprise and she gently kissed him, "Did you plan on telling me any time?" She asked, settling against his arm.
Sirius began to play with her hair. "I thought you'd figure it out eventually. And anyway, Lily, I would like to tell you that James and I have not been plotting against you, so you can just put that idea out of your head. He genuinely chose to date 'Lizziebet,' as he calls her, though I can't imagine why. She's duller than a brick."
"Sirius, I believe there was a time when you thought I was duller than a brick." Lily stated, sarcastically. "I think all the girls you have dated –with the exception of Aira, of course- have been duller than bricks."
"In comparison to that girl, you're a circus clown."
"So clever. I don't think I'm going through with your plan, though.
Charlotte, who had not spoken since the boys had taken a seat, was starring at Peter with contempt in her eyes. "I get why Remus and Sirius are here, but why'd you come? You don't have a girlfriend, not that it's surprising."
"Elizabeth and James were snogging and I didn't want to be a part of it. What's going on here?" He asked quizzically, looking around. "I think I missed something large that's happened."
The others stared at him in disbelief for a few minutes before Sirius finally elbowed him in the ribs. "It's alright, Wormy. We don't mind if you're really that thick. It's not your fault, it's just your upbringing."
Aira broke into hearty laughter, and the others quickly followed suit, much to Peter's displeasure.
"I'm not thick, Padfoot" He said, stabbing the treacle tart on his plate. "I just am not up to date on what is happening, unlike the rest of you. And it's not like anyone's offered to tell me what's going on, or answered any of my questions."
"That's because we don't really care what you think, or feel you need to know." Charlotte said, nibbling on a biscuit. "It would have been trivial to tell you."
"Charlotte, do you have a reason for not liking me?" Peter scowled at her. "I think that you don't and I can't seem to understand why you wouldn't, though."
"Where to start?" Charlotte said, tapping her chin. "How pathetic you are, your stupidity or the fact you stole my knickers in third year?"
"You knew about that?" He said, opening his eyes wide and disbelief ringing through his voice. "I didn't think anyone knew about that!"
"Wormtail, everyone in Gryffindor Tower knew about it." Remus said.
"Charlotte was mortified." Ellie reminisced. "She refused to come out of our room for days, if my memory serves me correctly."
"Yes, yes. It was awful and I hate Peter because of it. May we please not relive that experience?" Charlotte said, exasperated. "It had to have been the worst month of my young life."
A chorus of laughter filled the table, and Lily was hit with the painful realization that she had not heard James's deep, musical, baritone laugh in over a week. She suddenly felt the urge to scream and sing at the same time, though she pushed the feeling down, promising herself she would hear James's laugh again soon.
She pushed back from the table and stood, again forcing herself to not look over at James and Elizabeth, though she could see in her peripheral vision that the couple had finally come up for air.
"I've got some studying to do, with N.E.W.T.s coming along and all." Lily said, swallowing a lump in her throat. She could feel her voice shake, but prayed the others did not.
"Lily, exams aren't for another 4 months!" Sirius exclaimed. "Stay, sit. They've just served desert and it looks so delicious."
She gave him a weak smile. "I'm sorry, but I have plans to not only pass, but pass with flying colors. I witnessed a showing for affection in my common room while trying to reach the library last night and I think I vomited a little, so I think I'm going to sleep in your dorm tonight." She turned to Aira, Ellie and Charlotte. "If that's alright, obviously."
"Not a problem!" Aira smiled. "We'd be more than delighted to have you. Your mattress is so lonely looking without the red curls littering the snow white sheets."
"Oh, how funny." Lily rolled her eyes. "I'm heading to get my books before they," she cocked her head to the left, "find they're way to the common room."
Aira laughed. "I might you meet in the library later, but I wouldn't count on it. See you at light's out, probably."
Lily smiled and walked away, basking in the warmth of friendship. Sometimes, she couldn't believe how understanding they were. When Lily was hurt by James's actions, her friends were instantly by her side, even though she had been in the wrong. Even people she had never considered close were there, telling her they cared. Pausing at the doorway, she turned, wondering if maybe she should skip the studying and return to the table. The group was sitting in a tight huddle, deep in the conversation. She leaned against the frame, she wondered what they were talking about. She took a step forward, but saw that James was ambling toward the table, a smirk on his face and Elizabeth tagging along at his heels.
Shaking her head, Lily hurried out the door and to her room to grab her books.
Lily had lost track of time in her books, homework and lessons. She would have stayed in the library all night, lost in Ancient Runes, but Madame Pince's nasally coughs and candle extinguishing brought her from her reverie. She was shocked to find it was almost eleven in the evening.
She wandered through the halls, making a short trip around the school. She had heard students whispering and running through the hallways, but when she heard a girl's high pitched, squeal of laughter, she discarded the idea. She had a feeling that it might be James and Elizabeth, and she didn't know if she could stomach the sight.
After a few rounds, she made her way across the school. She was turning toward the Gryffindor Tower when she tripped on an unseen obstacle and her books -and person- went sprawling.
She could feel her face go as red as her hair and thanked her lucky stars that no one, especially James, was there to witness it. She reached down to gather her lost belongings when a black, fluffy creature appeared from nowhere and hurtled into her side, sending her books flying again and her sliding into a closet. Suddenly the door closed with a snap and a loud click! sealed her in.
Lily stood, her eyes opening in fear. "Excuse me?" She said, pounding on the door. "Excuse me, but if you can hear me, I would appreciate it if you would please unlock the door."
There was no answer. After minutes of pleading, Lily could feel panic rising in her chest.
Grabbing her wand from her blazer pocket, she illuminated the small room which she now occupied. Nothing more than a few brooms and a few cleaning supplies, Lily could tell this was likely a unused cupboard and the chance of someone finding her were low.
Remembering her wand, she tapped the lock and whispered, "Alohomora!" before turning the knob again. However, the door would not budge.
Sighing, Lily collapsed against the shelves lining the back wall and took in her situation. Someone, though Lily hadn't the faintest idea who, had locked her in a closet. It easily could have been because she had given them a detention or taken away a privilege.
She looked onto the objects surrounding her. Even if she did know how to pick a lock, nothing in the room could have sufficed.
She sat in silence for a few moments, breathing heavily, and blinking her eyes. Lumos lit the room like sunlight, but she couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling she attained from being alone and locked in a cold, shadowy space.
Wrapping her arms around her knees, she hit her elbow against the door a few more times, before giving up all together. It was late, and most students were in bed. Aira, Charlotte, and Ellie might assume that she decided to stay in her room, so unless Sirius was out of bed, which she was hoping for, there was a chance she wouldn't be found until morning.
The door crashed open, a Lily jumped up. However, instead of moving forward, another body slammed into herself and sent her reeling back onto the wall and another click! guaranteed that they were, again, locked in.
Her wand had fallen from her hand after the collision. She reached for it, and shone the light onto her closet mate's face.
She almost dropped her wand when she saw the untidy raven hair, the eyes filled with flecks of green, gray, gold and blue, and the glasses, sitting askew upon his nose.
I am very glad I got to use the phrase 'raven hair.' JK often uses it to describe Harry's hair, which in inherits from his father. Which means James has raven hair, and I can use it to describe James!
To be perfectly frank, I just really do not like Peter. The fact that everyone ignores him was kind of faint and unestablished. It's because I don't like him, but I had to find a reason. So, in third year, he stole Charlotte's underwear, because he'd never seen a girl's underwear before. Not that it's surprising. I doubt Peter would ever get to see a females undergarments. Especially not on a girl.
Happy birthday, Katie! I love you and I hope you loved the chapter. I know it's a bit late, but happy birthday!
And yes, if you get the 'attacked by a rouge unicorn' reference in the very first paragraph, it was from a Flight of the Concords song. It's in the video before they song think about it, where Bret is explaining his imaginary children would get attacked by a rouge unicorn, since they are imaginary. It's a very humorous song. You should go and listen to it.
Anyway, I love all the reviews I am getting. It's simply amazing who much feedback I have gotten from this story! You are all wonderful, and I can't thank you enough. Reviews keep me going, so keep them coming!
When I said we were getting close to the end, I meant it! One more chapter, I think, a short epilogue that wraps up the 'lessons' plot and then, no more!
I really wanted to get to 3000 words, so I had to make this note really long.