Author Name: DarkForest214
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: "Transforming Thoughts"
Summery: Sequel to "Transforming Thoughts." Follow Lily and James in their new relationship while keeping an eye on their mischievous friends Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters or Hogwarts School. I did not write this to try and make money. I am not stealing from JKR and the publishing companies and whatnot… I own nothing!
Author's Note: This is the last thing I'm posting before shipping off to college. Enjoy (and sorry for the wait!).
Chapter Twenty-Five
"So, tell me about Remus's past experiences with girls," Lily said to Sirius and James as she sat down to breakfast.
Sirius emitted a groan and buried his head in his arms on the table. "It's too early in the morning to get in to something like that," James translated as he stared bleary-eyed into his coffee.
"I'm not asking about his love life," she said, pointing to the hunched over lump that was Sirius Black. "I already know he can't remember the name of his last girlfriend."
"I do to!" Sirius said as indignantly as his energy levels would allow. "Her name was…er… well, she was a Hufflepuff."
"My point exactly," said Lily. She leaned across the table and in a low, cold voice said, "For future reference her name was Ashley and she was a very sweet girl."
"Not a bad snog either…" Sirius mumbled suggestively, looking up long enough to give her a wink.
Disgusted, Lily turned away and looked at James. "What're you looking at me for?"
"In case you haven't noticed, you're one of Remus's friends, do you know anything about him except for…well…you know…?" she said, lowering her voice.
"Really Lils, must we talk about this now?" James groaned, returning his tired eyes to his empty coffee mug.
"Do you want me to refill it for you?" she asked him.
"Regular, please," he nodded. Lily refilled his cup and placed it in his limp hand. "Thanks," he mumbled.
Lily leaned back to take in his appearance. His robe was rumpled, shirt half tucked in, a shoe was untied and his hair was laying in every direction except down. Sirius was in a similar state, but Peter looked fine and was eating hardily. Looking back to James she noticed how he couldn't seem to keep his eyes open. "James, what did you two do?"
"Nothing," both James and Sirius mumbled as one.
"Peter…?" Lily said sternly.
"I don't know," Peter replied quickly. "I went to bed early…"
"James," Lily said, sounding upset. "We have Double Potions this morning for which we have an essay due and we're making—"
"I know, Lils. Look, I'm sorry I was up late last night, but—"
"But what?" Lily interrupted. "Don't get snappish with me when I did nothing but show a little concern for your well being!"
"We'll I'm soooorry. I'm running on two hours of sleep and don't feel like being lectured by my girlfriend," said James, life coming to his eyes. Lily looked at him, her face turning red with anger. James was about to be reminded of her fiery temper.
"I wasn't lecturing you," she said angrily. "I was just trying to find out why you stayed up all night the night before Double bloody Potions!"
"We went to see Remus and helped each other finish the essay, I'm not a genius at potions like you and can't get the damn thing done in less than an hour!" James snapped.
Lily was proud he had finished it, but she wouldn't accept that tone of voice from anyone, especially not from her boyfriend. "You are smart," she said. "If only you would apply yourself—"
"Thanks mother, but I'm doing fine. I've got top marks in all my classes—"
"Except Potions. You can't afford to slip if you want a good job when you're out of school," she said crossly. Sirius no longer had his head buried in his arms, and was watching the exchange with interest.
"When am I ever going to need to know how to make a potion to grow hair on my back?"
"Forget it, James," Lily said standing up. "I try to talk about a friend and you bite my head off. Look Potter, I understand you only got two hours of sleep but you don't have to take it out on me! I won't put up with you when you're like this."
"Like what?" he asked sharply.
"Acting like the total jerk you are," she said hastily.
"If I'm such a jerk then why did you agree to go out with me?" James said icily.
"I don't know, I ask myself that sometimes," she said, her voice low and dangerous. With that she left the Great Hall without looking back.
Sirius looked from the doorway to James, his jaw hanging open. He must be dreaming, there was no way that just happened! Lily and James hadn't fought like that since before they got together.
"What's her problem?" James asked.
"No, what's your problem, mate?" Sirius replied.
"So you're going to take her side on this?" James accused.
"No, I'm not taking anyone's side on this, but if you're going to bite my head off too then I'm gone," said Sirius. James glared across the table at his friend. "The world is not out to get you today, James. You'll be in a better mood once you get some sleep."
"I'll be in a better mood when Lily stops asking about Remus's love life," said James moodily.
"It's not like she's going to leave you for him," said Sirius. "She's just trying to help him not screw things up with Julie."
"It's Riley."
"That's what I said, he doesn't want to screw things up with Riley," said Sirius, shrugging off his mistake as if he hadn't noticed.
James stared at his plate of food, lacking the energy to actually eat anything. After a minute or so of silence James let out a sigh. "I should probably go find her and apologize…"
"Maybe you should wait until you're awake so you don't make things worse," said Sirius.
"No, I'm fine…that argument woke me up…" he muttered.
"Good luck," said Sirius as James stood.
"Thanks, I'll need it," James replied before walking away.
James checked the library first but he didn't find her there, so he moved on to the common room. He enlisted the help of a third year girl to go up and see if she was hiding in her room, but once again she was not there. Then it came to him; Remus. In the past she would go to Remus whenever James was being an insufferably annoying git, maybe that's where she was now.
"Remus, hey Rem!" James called as he headed toward the curtained off area. When he rounded the corner he found Remus holding Lily as she cried. Remus looked up and held out a hand. James had to fight to keep down the jealous rage that threatened to cause him to explode.
"Lils," Remus said softly, his hand rubbing her back in small circles, "there's someone here to see you…"
"If it's that great prat, Potter tell him to bugger off because I don't want to be yelled at for worrying about him again," Lily said without lifting her head from Remus's shoulder.
Remus exchanged a look with James as he came closer and sat on the bed next to Lily. He took up her hand and kissed it gently. "Lily, please let me apologize," said James sincerely. "I'm sorry, I'm tired and snapped at you when I shouldn't have."
Lily lifted her head and dried her eyes. She wasn't crying out of sadness, she was crying out of frustration. Frustration brought on by James inconsistencies in emotion; one minute he could be as sweet as can be and the next, well…he could be a complete ass.
"Please, Lils it was a rough night and I shouldn't have taken it out on you," said James.
"No, you shouldn't have," said Lily crossly. Then after a pause she said, "Do you really think that I lecture you all the time?"
"No," he said seriously, "well, not all the time…" he added teasingly. Lily glared at him, reminding him she was in no mood for jokes. "Sorry…" he muttered.
"I just don't understand you James," said Lily with a sigh. "It bothers me that you can be so sweet and nice to me one minute and someone completely opposite the next."
"I never really thought about it before," said James. "But I know I would never even think of treating you like Snivelly."
"I should hope not," said Lily. "I like my hair the color it is, thank you."
"The day he washes his hair is the day we leave him alone," said James in his defense.
"You're more complicated than a woman," Lily said with a snort. Her mood lightened despite her efforts to remain cross.
"Oh, and you aren't?" James asked, eyebrow raised. "Come on, let's go back to the Great Hall and I'll tell you what you wanted to know."
Lily nodded and looked to Remus. "Thank you," she said. "I know you don't like it when I rant about James."
"It's no problem," said Remus. "Someone has to listen about how insufferable James can be. Who better to complain then someone who knows first hand?"
"Hey!"
"Well…" Remus shrugged, "Who knows you better than Sirius and I?"
"He does have a point you know," said Lily.
"Yes, but must you make it so painfully obvious?" James asked.
Lily and Remus exchanged a look and both said "Yes," before bursting out with laughter.
"I see how it is," said James, trying to sound hurt. "Just call me names and tell me how annoying I am. Oh hey and while you're at it, you might as well blame me for everything…"
"Okay," Remus said with a shrug.
"Will do," said Lilly, kissing James on the cheek before she headed towards the exit. "Later, Rem."
"Bye, Lils. James, behave…" said Remus.
"Oh, I'll try," said James with a wink before following Lily to the door.
"Those two are nuts," Remus said out loud to himself. Then again, all of his friends were a little mental, but he wouldn't exchange them for the entire world.