Chapter 13

A Night of Patrols

The following Thursday night, Andrea Johnson, Peter's date from Halloween, who was also a prefect, shared first patrolling shift with Christine Wood.

"Christine!" greeted Andrea. "I was so excited to see that we would be working together. You're definitely one of my favorite people to patrol with."

"Thanks Andrea," said Christine, grinning at the Hufflepuff's honesty. "You're definitely one of the best people to work with, too. Plus, now you've got way more experience dueling than me, if we get into trouble."

"Hey, yeah, I guess I have," said Andrea.

"Are you seriously that modest?" asked Christine, slightly awed.

"I mean, all I did was petrify a couple death-eaters," said Andrea.

"That's bloody amazing!" said Christine.

"Not so much. The other ones kept counter-cursing them," said Andrea. "Plus, aim wasn't that much of an issue... At first there were so many if you just fired a curse you were bound to hit something."

"Still, you survived. That in itself is pretty amazing," said Christine.

"Well, thanks. I'm just glad I didn't get Cruciatused," said Andrea. "Lily and Peter both did. And James got this crazy burn across his chest after he managed to snap one of their wands. I got off easy."

"Do you... do you think you're going to join the club Dumbledore's making? Basically the recruitment side of his future army? Deadline is the end of this month, right?" asked Christine.

"Yes. I'm going to join. I've already started the fight. Or rather they did," said Andrea.

"One way to look at it. Do you think a lot of Hufflepuffs will join?" asked Christine.

"A few. Not many, though. I've heard chatter in the common room. Most think the best route is to lay low. They figure Grindelwald got defeated 30 years ago, and dark magic never lasts. Especially the pure-bloods think they can just ride it out," said Andrea. "Are you going to join."

"I think so. First of all, that whole dark magic never lasts thing is bollocks. Some countries, like Yugoslavia and Poland are under Dark Magic tyrannies where only pure-bloods can be educated and muggle-born wizards and witches are killed when they reach ten, as is anyone who tries to stand up to the system," said Christine. "I mean, I've weighed the options, but I think that Dumbledore's got it right, so... I have to fight for him."

"Are you pure-blood?" asked Andrea.

Christine laughed. "Who are you, a death-eater?"

Andrea laughed, too. "I didn't mean it like that. I just wanted to know whether you're fighting for yourself or not."

Christine sighed, "Fair enough. Pure-blood. Which means I'm fighting for my country, not myself. You?"

"Pure-blood as well," said Andrea. It was clear that neither of them were bragging.

"Odd the sorting hat didn't put us in Slytherin." said Christine, sarcastically.

"Yes, well, I do believe I have a second cousin who's a squib. And my great uncle married a muggle," said Andrea.

"Yeah. And the sorting hat must have known I'd have a propensity for snogging muggle-borns. Oooh. Speaking of snogging, think there's any future between you and Peter?" asked Christine.

"No, although I did snog him," said Andrea.

"Why snog if there's no future. Or was there no future because of the snog?" asked Christine.

"The snog was because he leaned up against the Shrieking Shack. He looked pretty cool. But the rest of the day he was pretty boring. He seemed really loyal to his friends, which I can respect, but... not enough to date a guy on," said Andrea.

"Fair enough," said Christine.

"Yeah, so... any cute boys in Ravenclaw I should meet?" asked Andrea.

And so the two currently single girls spent the rest of their shift discussing the most eligible bachelors at Hogwarts.

Chloe and Remus had the second shift that night.

"So, we've never really gotten a chance to discuss it in private," said Remus, "but are you going to join Dumbledore's club?"

Chloe sighed heavily. "Do we really have to discuss this now?"

Remus could hear the strain and the pain in her voice. "No, we don't have to talk about it. We never have to talk about anything you don't want to."

Chloe sighed again, this time in relief, "Actually, I guess you're the best one to talk about this to. If you don't mind my abrupt change of mood."

"No, it's all right. Sirius is always having mood swings. One minute he's bawling in the dormitory bathroom, the next minute he's cursing Slytherins, and he's jolly as can be," said Lupin, without the faintest hint of a smile.

Chloe laughed, and then studied Remus' face, noticing he wasn't laughing at all. "Wait, you're lying, right? About Sirius bawling in the bathroom?"

"Of course," said Remus, and both him and Chloe laughed, imagining the prospect. "You want a hug before we continue this conversation?"

"About places in the castles where Sirius bawls?" asked Chloe jokingly. Then, more seriously, "Yes, please."

They hugged.

"Do you think I'm less of a Gryffindor if I don't join?" asked Chloe.

"You could never be less of a Gryffindor," said Remus. "The hat put you here for a reason. And you're already brave for all you've done already. Plus, there's people in Gryffindor who aren't joining. Don't you eavesdrop in the Common Room, or the dormitories? James and Lily figure maybe nobody who wasn't there on Halloween will join from 7th year."

"Really?" asked Chloe.

"Yeah, that's what they think. And from the chatter I've been hearing, I agree. Even Andrew Longbottom isn't joining, and his brother is an Auror. He says it's because he thinks it'll take away from N.E.W.T. studying time. But it's not. But this isn't about being a Gryffindor, Chloe. This is about being you. What do you think you should do?" asked Remus, sympathetically, sweetly, in a way that Chloe admired dearly.

"I think I shouldn't kill people. I understand that it needs to be done. But I can't do it. And getting into an army sounds like agreeing to kill people, doesn't it?" she asked.

"Well... Sort of. Not joining definitely makes it less likely that you'll kill someone," said Remus.

"I want to be a healer. I think I can be, too. I'm just behind Lily in our year in both Charms and Potions," said Chloe. "I can do it."
"Of course you can, Chloe," said Remus.

"And if you lot are going to go off and join an army, somebody had better be around to heal you," said Chloe.

"Very true," Remus conceded.

"In fact, maybe I'll talk to Dumbledore about being the army's official healer," said Chloe. She seemed happier now. Remus was glad he had helped her get there.

"So, can I ask you an awkward question?" asked Chloe after a pause.

"Er, sure," said Remus, figuring that it would be something about how he was able to be comfortable with killing another human being, or whether doing so brought them down tho their enemies level, or something to that effect.

What he did not expect was for Chloe to say, "Is it terribly hard being a werewolf?"

Remus snorted. "Er... Sorry for the snort, but... I mean, well, yes, it's hard. It's gotten a little... easier, with time, but... It's still no holiday."

"Sorry to ask such a personal question," said Chloe, who was back-tracking and seemed rather embarrassed.

Shit, thought Remus. Time for a joke. He said, "Still, if I were given the choice between being a werewolf and having PMS and menstruating, I would totally choose being a werewolf."

Chloe laughed again, breaking the tension, which was lucky because Remus knew it hadn't been a good joke.

"Sorry," said Chloe, "it was truly a stupid question. I guess what I should have said was, 'I think it's really amazing that you're able to be a student, and a prefect no less, while having that problem.'"

Remus laughed way more heartily than Chloe thought appropriate. Her facial expression must have given this away, because Remus stifled his laughter and said, "I'm sorry. James calls it my 'furry little problem.' But, er... if you don't mind me asking, how did you find out that I was a werewolf? For, er... Obvious reasons, we don't want the information spreading."

"Figured it out on my own. I think Lily knows, but we've never talked about it. But you have to figure one or two people are going to find out if you go missing around every full moon," said Chloe.

"Ah yes," said Lupin with a mocking expression of deep thought. "And you can hardly expect students to miss the fact that the moon has cycles at a school where they teach astronomy."

"Right," said Chloe.

"See, you are brave. You're dating a guy who you know is a werewolf," said Lupin. Then he caught himself, after which he got really awkward. "We, er... are dating, right? I mean, I'm not being too forward, am I? Was last weekend just a fluke?"

"Merlin I hope not," said Chloe. "There were some very pleasant parts to last weekend. Er. Aside from that whole battle thing, which rather sucked. What I mean to say- Have you noticed that we're both very awkward-?"

Remus smiled and said, "Yes, I did."

"Good. What I meant was, I liked the snogging. In fact. Do you think anyone would notice if we were to take a five minute break and find a broom closet quick," asked Chloe.

"Nope," said Remus. "And, ooh, bonus: if somebody's already using the closet, we can take points from their house and kick them out."

"You're such a deviant," said Chloe, and smacked Remus' butt.

James and Lily had the third shift that night.

"So, James," said Lily. "How do you imagine things would change if we were officially boyfriend and girlfriend?"

James paused for a moment before answering, in an attempt to make it seem like this was not a question that he thought about constantly. "Well, one thing that would change would be that I'd know you like me as much as I like you. Which would be a relief. 'Cause let me tell you something from experience, unrequited love is about as pleasant as getting a burn across your chest."

"I do like you," said Lily. "But how am I ever supposed to know whether I love you enough? As much as you love me?"

"I think you love me enough. I can see it in your eyes when we kiss... Sometimes even if we're just looking at each other over a couple bowls of cereal. But you have to get to that conclusion on your own. And if the way you do that is counting points up to 200, then that's fine by me. It's actually kind of fun. I like games," said James.

"Well, I'm considering abandoning the game," said Lily.

"Why? I'm so close. 115! Over halfway there!" James calmed down. "I mean, it's totally up to you, and all. Does this mean we're back to just being friends?" James was obviously highly disappointed by the idea.

"Just hold on a moment James, and stop being so dramatic, would you? What else would change if we were boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"Well, I'd buy you flowers, oooh, and candy... and candy that looks like flowers!" said James, as if he had just had a major revelation.

"All right, calm down there James," said Lily. "Those are all just good things for me. What about good things for you, or for both of us?"

"We could go up to the Astronomy Tower in my invisibility cloak and snog," said James.

"Why couldn't we do that tomorrow night? If we were dating? Or friends who kiss? Or whatever we are?" asked Lily skeptically.

"'Cause it's only something that I'd do with my girlfriend. Which brings up a whole number of categories of increased physical contact. More hand-holding, more comforting bear-hugs, more soft kisses, and more forceful ones," James had recovered from his fear that he might be a bad kisser after his snogging session with Lily under the hill had lasted half an hour. "Oh, and spooning. If you ever get up the Gryffindor courage to sneak up to the boys dorm."

Lily stuck out her tongue and sarcastically said, "You're such a charmer."

"You're so cute," said James. "Like, so cute that I'd snog you right now if weren't having a serious conversation. About snogging."

"We can pause on the conversation," said Lily, puckering her lips.

James leaned in and gave her a soft, brief kiss.

"Ooooh, that was good," said Lily. "Left me all hungry for more. And... wait, yes... I've got goosebumps."

James smiled. "See. More of those. I promise."

"Of which?" asked Lily. "The kisses or the goosebumps? Ah, toss it, I'll take either."

"Or both," corrected James. "Also, we'd have to come up with nicknames for each other."

"Wait, really?" asked Lily.

"Well, mine for you would just be 'my lovely Lily,'" said James.

"Hmm, does it have to include alliteration? What about Jammin' James?" said Lily.

James shook his head.

"Jamesy-poo?" she asked.

"Haha, come on... can we give me something masculine?" asked James.
"Could we wait 'til later to come up with yours?" said Lily.

"Sure. I don't see it being urgent," said James.

"You're right. But we do have some points to tally. On Sunday things got hectic, so you stayed at 115. Well. You get 10 for that kiss. And 10 for getting that damn Cruciatus curse off me. So that's 135. You get 10 points for calming me down that night in the common room when I was up late thinking about the people we saw die. That's 145. On Monday, you passed me the butter at breakfast. That gets you to 150. You get another 5 for passing the biscuits at dinner last night, and 10 for letting me have the last egg at breakfast this morning. So you were at 165 before you came out here with me tonight. You get 15 points for having put up with me for the past two months since I told you I might love you-"

"I wasn't putting up with anything... It's been a brilliant two months with you, really," said James.

"And twenty for talking me through my doubts. We're at 200 James. Do you, er... still want to be my boyfriend?"
"Yes!" exclaimed James, and there were years of pent up waiting released in that yell.

A/N: If you liked this chapter, or the story to this point, I ask you to review here, even if there are more chapters already up (you can always review again later!). Something else that I encourage, of course, is taking 5 minutes of your time, going to freerice dot com, playing the game for five minutes, and letting me know in a review how much rice you win. Thanks!