Chapter 92: Just Resting

"So what are we going to do??" Sirius asked the group. They had all gathered at the Gryffindor common room after the major meeting with Dumbledore.

"For our safety, we should stay. But our families-"

"I know, we can't possibly get all of them in either."

"What would be the best plan for this??"

"Get rid of Voldemort."

"Easier to say than doing it."

"I believe the time has yet to come for his defeat. Afterall he's growing stronger by the day."

"I really can't take it when everyone out there is expose to the danger, while we, protected by Dumbledore."

"No use getting all worked up either. We are too powerless to do anything."

"There must be something, something we can do."

"The main problem is that we haven't figure out what is that 'something'."

"Guys, no use arguing now. It doesn't help either. We're all anxious and everything, but there's really nothing wise we can do. I suggest we listen to Dumbledore and stay in Hogwarts for this break, this is probably the last time we all would be staying here together, protected from the cruel reality."

"Bell is right, we're going to graduate next year and then out to face Voldemort."

"So the final decision is we're all staying till the school semester starts."

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"Yes, we all decided to stay." James repeated. After weighing out the pros and cons, they finally decided to stay in Hogwarts until the next school year.

"I guess I can make all the necessary arrangements." Professor McGonagall said approvingly.

"That shall be it then." Dumbledore gave them a wink behind his half-moon spectacles.

"Thank you Professors."

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"I can't believe we're going to be stuck here for three months."

"You're not using the right word, Padfoot. You agreed to stay here voluntarily when we had our discussion."

"I'm just kidding. Have you lost your sense of humor when you were having your prefect fever a few weeks back??"

"Oh Padfoot, that's such a funny joke." Remus said jokingly.

"I know I'm a funny guy."

"I guess you didn't catch my joke."

"Huh??"

"Sirius can be so dense sometimes."

"Me dense??"

"Yeah, you??"

"Me what??"

"Dense??"

"What dense??"

"You're dense??"

"I'm dense??"

"That's right??"

"What's right??'

"You're right saying you're dense??"

"Who's not right saying I'm dense??'

"Oh, never mind."

"I mind."

"I don't"

"Spare me."

"Why should I??"

"Why shouldn't you??"

"Shouldn't me what??'

"You should spare me."

"But you said I shouldn't."

"I said spare me."

"No, you said shouldn't."

"Someone save me."

"No one gonna save you."

"Lils??"

"Lils, don't save her."

"Stef."

"Be a good girl Stef."

"What??"

"Save me from his lame conversation."

"Only I can save you."

"Yeah, right."

"What's right??"

"I'm not saying you're right."

"I know I'm always right."

"Ahh!! I can't take it!!"

"Yes, you can."

"No, I can't."

"What can't you??"

"I can't take your lame conversation anymore."

"I know you're loving it."

"Very funny."

"You already said I'm funny."

"No, you said you're funny yourself."

"No, you just said I'm funny again."

"Don't put words into my mouth."

"You let words out from your mouth."

"That's because you put them into mine."

"How do I put words into your mouth??"

"You said it."

"I didn't say anything."

"I'm not going to continue this lame conversation."

"You'll continue it." Sirius said definitely. The other four just sat by the side watching Sirius and Arabella doing their usual bickering, feeling a sense of déjà vu.

"Bell, how can you lose to Sirius??"

"I didn't. He's just being lame."

"You two are very entertaining, please continue." Remus added encouragingly.

"No thanks, Remus, you can take my place."

"It won't be as entertaining if I'm in your place, for Sirius can never beat an argument with me."

"Moony, I never had any argument with you."

"You did."

"Did I??"

"Remember that potion??"

"Ooh, I nearly forgot."

"You already forgot."

"Padfoot, this doesn't work on me."

"The Black's charm works on everyone." All of them responded with a loud 'argh' and started laughing at their own synchrony.

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"It's like so fast we're in the middle of our break." Lily commented. The three girls were staying at their sixth year dormitory, and Arabella was back at her original position.

"This few weeks here are probably the best time ever since I left Hogwarts."

"Do you know the guilt of me causing you to leave Hogwarts had never left me??"

"Oh, Lils. Don't think that way. All these are predestined."

"I know, but I just can't help feeling guilty over it."

"That's a normal feeling but don't brood over it too much. It will just tire you out mentally."

"That's right. And you guys need to be in tip-top condition. The magical community needs you."

"Easier said than done."

"Been so many years and we have barely any idea how to get rid of him."

"We can't give up."

"I know, but just that it's like something we ought to do but can't do."

"This can be quite frustrating."

"I guess we better have a good rest than to think about all these, at least for now."

"We're like a bunch of sheltered kids, protected away from all dangers out there by the walls of Hogwarts."

"We'll be out there facing Voldemort soon enough. One year isn't that long."

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"Tell us what did you and Bell doing during the supposedly detention??" James sat on Sirius' stomach and pinned him down on the floor.

"Prongs stop acting so immature by sitting on my eight packs." Sirius commented.

"Who's the immature one here??"

"You, six packs??"

"Eight packs."

"Don't think we don't know."

"One.. Two.. I count for you but our dear old love-struck Prongsie Jamesie is blocking them."

"Paddy-footy, once you answer my question I'll get up."

"But what if I don't??"

"Then I'll just sit forever."

"I know you too well, you won't sit forever."

"He rather spend his forever with Lily than to sit on your ahem packs."

"What ahem packs??"

"It's just an unknown figure."

"Ahem doesn't mean anything. I just told you I've eight packs, saw them in the mirror this morning."

"Moony, did Bell did something to his mind when she left Hogwarts the last time??"

"I don't know but I felt that she must have done something."

"Same sentiments exactly."

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"This is my brilliant creation."

"You haven't even taste it, how do you know that it's brilliant??"

"Just look at it and you know it's going to taste great!!" James was holding his plate of stir-fried food, which consisted of some mixture of meat and veggies.

"Eh, it looks colorful." Lily commented at the blended green, yellow, orange, red and brown in the plate.

"It has variety." Remus raised his brows. There was broccoli and leafy veggies as well as some meat protruding outwards messily.

"Hmm, looks a little like your hairstyle." Sirius added. The food was roughly stirred and mixed together and it looked oddly out of style on the silver plate.

"I take all of that as compliments, regardless whether are they meant to be."

"They can be criticisms too."

"Constructive ones definitely."

"At least our potter prince finally learned to step into the kitchen to cook, to put it mildly."

"I know I have the talent in cooking hidden somewhere."

"Why don't we just give it a try??" The rest helped with a piece of meat and veggie from James' creation.

"Hmm.."

"How is it??"

"It taste.. ok??" Lily raised her eyebrows as she chewed the food.

"Too salty."

"Not too bad."

"Too bland."

"Alright."

"So is it too salty or too bland??"

"A bit of both."

"How to be salty and bland at the same time."

"Guess you didn't mix them properly."

"Try it yourself." James took a big spoonful of his own creation. "Hmm.. I think it tastes great!!"

"Yeah, that's a consolation to yourself because you cooked it."

"I really think it's not too bad."

"Actually it's ok, still have room for improvement, of course."

"So from now, I guess I cook a dish a day."

"I thought you've always been cooking a dish a day??"

"But that time the girls helped me with most of the stuffs, I did this single-handedly."

"Shall we give our Prongsie a round of applause??" Sirius started clapping loudly. The house-elves who were in the kitchens started clapping too.

"Thank you everyone for your support!!" James gave several bows.

"James' ego is inflating again."

"The guys' ego seems to be constantly enlarging and never deflating."