Thank you for reviewing, as always, hermy permy. I should also add, that I like keeping you in suspense. - That way you want to keep reading! Thanks for your comments as well FairiesandDragons911. Hope you guys like this one too. )
"Shit…" The word seemed to spill out of all three mouths.
"Were you bitten? You need to get to the hospital wing!" Lily demanded furiously.
"NO!" Sirius jumped to his feet and grabbed a surprised Lily by the shoulders. "Sorry Lily, it has to be done."
James hurriedly pulled out his wand, ready to cast a memory charm. Sensing this, Lily pulled out her own wand.
"Expelliarmus!" She shouted at the same time James shouted, "Obliviate!"
The two spells hit in mid-air causing the aim to be off slightly. Neither spell made contact. Without missing a beat, Lily cast her spell again, taking hold of James's wand. She glared at Peter and Sirius, warning them not to attack the Head Girl.
"Tell me what is going on." She spoke forcefully.
Sirius scratched his ear, Peter covered his mouth with both hands, and James looked at the roaring fireplace.
"Potter…Tell me what you morons were doing." She demanded once more.
James grinned, "Okay Evans. One condition…go on a date with me, and I will tell you everything about the Marauders you did and didn't want to hear."
Sirius blanched. "You can't promise that!"
"I wouldn't worry, Sirius." Peter shrugged, "He'll never tell because she'll never date him."
"True, true." Sirius laughed.
Lily did not like being mocked, and she certainly did not wish to go on a date with James Potter.
"How about this…" Lily cooed, "You tell me, or I tell Dumbledore you idiots were off in the forest baiting werewolves. I'm sure that he wouldn't be too pleased about that."
James glanced at Sirius nervously. She had them by their throats. Dumbledore didn't know they were animagus, but he certainly knew about Remus being a werewolf. They had been specifically forbidden to be with him on his nights. They could be expelled.. 'Maybe she's bluffing?' James hoped.
"C'mon Evans, one date." He grinned, a glint of fear passed through his hazel eyes.
"You will seriously tell me everything I want to know? With honest answers?"
James hesitated, grimacing as he spoke. "Yes."
"No! No, no!" Sirius jumped in. "Lily, go tell Dumbledore. I'd rather be expelled then having our secrets out!"
"Either way, won't they get out, once Dumbledore knows we are a-"
James tackled Peter onto the couch, silencing his voice. "Yes or no, Evans?"
Lily shook her head, her green eyes staring up at the roof in disbelief. "Fine."
James whooped loudly, but was quickly punched in the gut by Lily. "Keep it down Potter. I don't really want all of Gryffindor seeing me with you and him." She pointed to the half-naked, partially bandaged Sirius. She dropped James's wand on the floor and turned back towards the stairs, brushing her thick red mane with her fingers.
'Oh, gross. What have I just agreed to?"
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'Please don't say anything. Please don't say anything. Please, oh please, don't say anything.'
"Uh, Lily, what's wrong with you?" Mel questioned as they sat in their usual spot at the Gryffindor table. "You look like you'd rather be anywhere else but here."
"Oh…um…nothing." She winced, glancing down the table at James. "Er, Sirius and James are friends again."
"That's not surprising." Mel shrugged, as if it was old news. "Where is Remus, though?"
"He is probably visiting his sick mother. You know how it is." Kat shrugged nonchalantly, picking up a copy of the Daily Prophet.
Lily shrugged, not fully listening to their conversation. She was much too worried that James would say something, and embarrass her. Everyone knew her anti-Potter stance, and it would definitely bring about some questions.
"Hey, Evans." James grinned, bending down beside her ear.
"Go away, Potter." Lily's face flushed, much to the curiosity of her friends.
"I just thought I should remind you, about –!"
Lily had picked up a tea biscuit and stuffed it into James's mouth. That didn't stop the marauder however. After taking his time to chew and swallow, he stood back and grinned.
"I wasn't going to do this Evans, but you deserve it now."
"No! Potter!" Lily pleaded, trying to save her self some embarrassment.
James wasn't listening. He jumped onto the large table, accidentally knocking over the sausage platter. Peter scooped the loose sausages into his mouth, while all Gryffindor heads turned towards the teen on the table. Several people from other houses started to point at James, and soon the entire great hall crowd was watching.
"Lily Evans is going out me!" James shouted, oblivious to the death-glare he was recieving.
Sirius whooped loudly, just because, while Professor McGonagall rushed over to James and pulled him off the table, muttering something about dirty feet and germs. Kat's mouth dropped in shock as Lily scrambled, ready to flee from the great hall. Melody grabbed the tomato-faced Lily by the arm.
"Is this true?" she asked excitedly.
"NO! I mean, well kind of…" Lily winced. "It's only one date, and not really even a date. I'm doing it because I want information. He blackmailed me into it! Honest."
Kat shook her head, laughing. "Oh, Lily. If you want information, you beat it out of someone, not date them."
"See you in class." Lily murmured, leaving the great hall.
James laughed with his friends as he watched the head of red he loved so much, storm off.
"I'll believe it when I see it." Kat laughed, "There is no way that girl is going out with you James."
"Now Kitty," Sirius cooed, "Just because you are unwilling to change your ways, doesn't mean all females are that way."
"Besides," Mel added, "It's only one date. It's not like they're getting married. I think she'll live."
"Remind me to ask Evans to marry me the next time I see her!" James grinned winking at Melody. "I'm on a roll! She agreed to date me, who knows, maybe she'll marry me."
The table evolved into laughter, no one noticing the third year Ravenclaw girl rush past, tears streaming down her face with a crumpled letter in her fist.
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"Remus is away again?" Professor Bean shook his head solemly.
The three remaining marauders nodded their heads. Once the lanky man turned back to his demonstration on how to properly handle a fanged germanium, Sirius poked Peter sharply. They were all pointing at a piece of parchment. Lily strained her neck to see over their shoulders, but James glanced back at her and winked.
"On our date, my lady, you shall get the answers you seek."
"Oh, how poetic you are, Progsie." Sirius sang.
"My inspiration comes from you, Padfoot darling."
"Potter, Black, please pay attention. I don't want to see anyone getting bitten today."
Lily rolled her eyes, and returned to taking down the class notes. However, her mind couldn't seem to stop coming back to the marauder's nicknames, Remus's absence, and the werewolf attack. 'I guess I can ask James these things. I would like to figure it out for myself, though. Then I wouldn't have to force myself to date…him. Padfoot, Prongs, Wormtail, Moony…what do they mean? I bet it has to do with what Sirius said. "I'm sorry I bit you on the leg." Curious…' Lily's thoughts were quickly interrupted by a sharp jab in her side from Kat.
"Anyone know the answer?" Professor Bean sighed in frustration. "You are a NEWT class. Please keep up on your readings. I would like a one-page report on the proper techniques of handling fanged flowers. You will also need to include in your report, how to distinguish between each species of flower."
The entire class groaned. Teachers seemed to think that piling on the homework would be the best way to prepare the students for an exam that happened to be many months away. 'Maybe with all this homework, I won't have time to go on a date with Potter' Lily smiled to herself as she packed up her books.
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Lily woke up stiff. She groaned as she pulled her transfiguration text book from underneath her. 'I fell asleep on the common room couch? What time is it?' It was late, that was for sure. There was no one left in the common room and the windows showed only darkness. Lily yawned loudly, stretching her petite arms. Suddenly she heard two familiar voices.
"Hey, I'm going for a run. Wanna come?"
"I don't get why you love running so much. I'd rather sleep."
"Suit yourself."
Lily slumped back onto the couch, pretending to be asleep. James was sneaking out, alone. Lily was determined to stop him, or at least find out where he was going. She had her suspicions that he was up to something. Why else would he go for a run in the middle of the night? Soon, Lily heard the familiar sound of the Fat Lady portrait being shut. She stood up and crept out, following the familiar head of black hair.
Normally, James would have brought his invisibility cloak, but he had checked the map, and the route to outside had been clear. Filch was away in the fourth tower and Mrs. Norris was lurking in the trophy room. The two prefects on hallway watch were currently checking through the library, and the only teacher moving about was Professor Vector, the arithmancy teacher. 'I love being an animagus.' He mused to himself happily. 'I can explore the forest freely without being attacked by some monster.' Normally James would wait until entering the forest before shifting his appearance. It was merely a safety precaution in case someone happened to be glancing out their window at that exact moment; namely, any Professors.
He crossed the grounds, going a full sprint, his mind too full of thoughts to notice the bright red hair trailing him from a distance. He neared the edge of the forbidden forest, slowing to a walk. He slinked between the trees, happily absorbing the crisp autumn air.
"Potter, stop right there!"
'Lily?' James was not in the mood for explaining. He picked up his fast run again, deliberately trying to lose her from his trail. As soon as James was sure he was out of her sight of vision, he changed into stag form, and slipped silently into the bushes. Lily brushed passed in a flurry. 'Where is he going? I have to stop him.' She ran forward, not sure of which direction to go. It was much too dark to see anything anymore, so she pulled out her wand. Light flooded in her immediate area, but she found no sign of the boy. Pausing, she listened to the forest. In the distance she could hear some rustling. 'I really hope that is James, otherwise I may be eaten. And it will be his entire fault! Leading me in here like this…' She pushed her way through the thick brush, to reveal the offender ahead of her.
It wasn't James.
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Tap. Tap. Tap. Melody rolled over, covering her ears with a pillow. 'What is that annoying sound?' she groaned, miserably. Defeated by her inability to sleep, she sat up. A dark figure loomed in the window. She jumped in surprise, but quickly realized what it was.
"Rudy?" She mumbled. "Why are you here? And why so late?"
Rushing over the closed window, the dark haired girl did not notice the empty bed beside her. Instead she reached out her hand and slowly slid the window open. A large grey owl stepped onto her chubby arm, a letter was tied to its left foot. The bird was a combined gift to Melody, from Lily and Kat for her fifteenth birthday. She had always wanted an owl of her own, but her parents were muggles and didn't really understand the whole mail system and why she needed one.
Cautiously, Melody untied the string and read the letter.
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Sirius snorted loudly, causing a near-asleep Peter to jump fully awake. It was unusual for him not being able to sleep. However, his mind was plagued with something he could not tell his friends. It was about his friends.
While the others were heading down for lunch, Peter had dashed to the loo. When he came out, he was surrounded by four hooded figures; Slytherins. Their wands were pointed at his chest, and Peter could not move fast enough to get his own. Nervously, he glanced up and down the halls
"Pettigrew!" One of them cackled. "You are the weak link in the Marauders. You will be our 'in' to the Potter boy."
"No way!" Peter had whimpered.
A blade was drawn. It was no ordinary knife. A wizard's knife was the most deadly knife in the entire world. They were rare, only sold to those who could pay a hefty price. Blood red jewels lined the handle, and the silver curve neck was pressed sharply against Peter's throat.
"You're not like them Pettigrew. Not brave, noble, smart, or handsome. You have no charisma, nearly a squib. Don't you question why they are friends with you? They are using you Pettigrew."
"You can redeem yourself."
"In the eyes of our master, you can redeem yourself."
"You will no longer be useless. Not a floundering idiot. No. Peter Pettigrew, you can make something of yourself."
The words hissed through his mind. He desperately wanted to flee, but they spoke truth; truths that Peter, had always known about himself, but refused to believe.
"I won't. He struggled against the blade as it pressed harder against his flesh. A droplet of blood slipped from his neck.
"We'll kill you, then." The one holding the knife laughed.
Peter gasped. "No. Please, don't kill me."
"We'll kill you if you do not listen. We'll kill you if you tell anyone."
"Peter Pettigrew, you will be our rat."
Peter sobbed quietly into his pillow. He hated betraying his friends, but he had a long life to live. He would be their rat; he would tell them everything they wanted. He would save his own life. It was an ironic twist of fate for him. 'I am a rat.' He thought bitterly as he rolled onto his side.
