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Thanks for all the reviews, people! On with the story...

Fate Fell Short

The tests were difficult. They left the four boys deemed as the Marauders, lying tiredly on the grass near the lake. It was a popular hang out place for the students, especially at this time of the year. The boys stared out to the lake, talking lazily about random subjects. Sirius stretched out on the grass and moaned.

"I hate school work! How anyone can stand it is beyond me!" He whined, closing his eyes and moving uncomfortably on the tough ground. He opened up one lazily when he heard Remus laugh ironically.

"Is that so? Well, then, maybe your girl can fill you in." Sirius sat up and looked across the field to see Drusella romping across the wet grass holding seven large books in one arm, her bag with several more slung over her shoulder and held one open in her other hand, trying to read.

"How the bloody hell is she doing that?" Sirius asked, running a hand through his hair, wildly. James grinned and leaned back against the tree.

"She has the balance of any good Quidditch player-and the strength of a great beater."

Then she tripped over a rock and fell.

"And the grace of a...Sirius." Remus added, scratching the back of his head. Sirius turned around and smacked him, then jumped and ran to her aid, helping her with her books and glaring at the kids who were laughing at her. Soon, both Sirius and Drusella joined the boys.

"Nice one, Cammolie!" Peter said, giving her the thumbs up. Drusella glared at him and he back down. James laughed and shook his head, reached into his pocket of his robes and pulled out a snitch. Drusella eyed it warily as it began to struggle in his grasp.

"The Professor," she said, indicating that she meant the Quidditch Professor, "will kill you if she sees you with that!" James shrugged indifferently.

"I've nicked it countless times." he said, letting it go, watching it begin to zoom away, and taking it back in his grasp.

"What if you were to loose it? I highly doubt your team mates will thank you on a bended knee for that!" Drusella said pointedly.

"I'm a pretty good-" But he never got to finish his sentence because just then Sapphira came rushing towards them, looking absolutely flustered.

"There's been an attack!" she said, out of breath. The boys all stood up, looking alarmed.

"It's dealing with Voldemort! A huge group of muggles and wizards and witches have been killed. It's all over the paper!" Sapphira threw the paper to the floor and the front cover showed millions of people crying.

"Do they have any idea who was attacked?" Remus asked, turning pale at the thought. Sapphira shook her head but looked at James.

"Only a few people are known to have died. I am sorry James, but your parents were involved in the area..." James backed up slowly, looking at the ground and shaking his head.

"Sapphira, when did you find out?" Remus asked, his voice shaking uncontrollably. The brunette Hufflepuff wiped a tear from her honey colored eyes and pointed at the paper.

"Just now. Snapple just delivered my mail...a letter from mum and the Daily Prophet." She said this looking at James. Drusella looked around bewildered and turned to face Sirius when she felt his hand on hers.

She understood immediately. Drusella knew that James' parents were like second parents-good parents-to Sirius. It was like loosing his own family. They had taken him in when no one else would.

James stood there looking at the floor, silent as a mouse. He was shaking all over, gulping and running a hand through his already messy hair.

The two girls just stared as the boys erupted into tears. Sapphira, who had begun to cry, wrapped her arms around Remus, who too was crying. Peter fell to the ground, his face in his hands, and wept. Drusella almost lost her balance as Sirius toppled over her, gripping her tightly in a heavy embrace and sobbing uncontrollably on her shoulder.

Drusella was not one who showed her emotions fairly. She had been locked in her own world and own pain for so long that tears were hard to come by. She was sure the Potters were great people and felt and buzz of remorse for them, but for the life of her, couldn't make herself cry. Dru was dumbstruck, angry and fearful for the attack-but shed no tears.

That night, as the whole school gathered for dinner in the Great Hall, everything was silent. News had spread quickly about the attacks-and one more already had been made. No one was in the mood to laugh or talk, not even the muggle hating students, who, in turn, looked rather shaken up about the whole thing too.

James hadn't come down for dinner, or Lily, who decided to keep an eye on James and be sure he didn't harm himself in any way. He didn't mind her company-even if she was in the other room. He, however, insisted that his friends go down for the meal and that he would speak to them later.

Remus wasn't so sure about all of it. He loved the Potter's dearly-after all, they were like family. So far, this year had only brought trouble for James-even if he finally had Lily. It was hard to watch his best friend suffer through all this personal loss and depression.

He looked over at Sirius who was stirring his soup quietly, not really paying attention. Remus couldn't blame him-everyone wasn't paying attention at the moment.

His eyes scanned the room and landed on Sapphira, who looked ever distraught and kept wiping her eyes, as if knowing the tears would come. She looked so pretty there, looking worried sick and scared at the same time. Remus sighed and felt a push in his stomach. He had no idea what he would do if she were attacked. Nor what would happen if it were one of the Marauders. He wanted to protect them forever. But how?

Remus wasn't a depressed fellow, so he decided to think about something happy. His pranks with his friends, their good natured relationship, and time spent with Sapphira...the way she kissed. He couldn't help but grin a little bit at that. After all, he was, in fact, a teenage boy. The first time he'd ever kissed Sapphira was a few days after Prongs woke up. It was sudden, almost spontaneous-but he had just leaned in and kissed her.

"Mate, I'm going to turn in." Remus turned to see Sirius stand up and stretch. He nodded and told Padfoot that he would be up soon. And without another word, Moony watched his fellow dog-like friend tired away from the table and out the huge mahogany doors. He smiled slightly when he saw another figure race after Sirius, and Remus turned back to his meal.

James sighed as he lied in bed, running his hands over his face in a tired fashion. This year had only been down hill for him, with an exception of finally getting Lily. He wasn't very close with his parents, less then he realized, but he still missed them. Even if his father was a pusher towards his only son, and his mother was too happy and then too worried, they were still his family and he at least owed them mourning.

James closed his eyes and tried to drift off to sleep. Sleep was what he needed-anything to get his mind off the problem he was currently facing. Just when he thought he had not a single reason to ever want to harm himself, this happened. But he wouldn't cut himself because he was feeling sorry for himself-but because it was a pain killer. It would take his mind off of the situation, and dear as his family was, James couldn't handle all the pain.

He heard someone walk into his room quietly, and knew it was Lily. He felt her eyes on him as they searched him worriedly and sadly. She took a seat on his bed, and placed some kind of drink on his bedside table. Then he felt her reach up over him and wipe a few strands of his unkempt jet black hair away from his eyes.

Lily was beside herself in pain. She couldn't believe how unfair James Potter's life was-how painful it must be to walk in his shoes. It wasn't, as so many people, including herself, believed, where he led an exceptional and wonderful life. Lily couldn't imagine her parents pushing her to be more then she was not-nor could she imagine how she would take their death. She didn't know how she could deal with loving someone when they, obviously, hated her back. Even with Petunia's cold, seething attitude towards her, Lily understood that her problems were miniscule against some others. Including James Potter.

Looking down at him, she felt a pang in her heart. He was so cute, so masculine and yet boyish. The mischief and playfulness still showed off, despite his closed eyes which usually were alive with mischief. She slid her hand down from his face, which was still screwed up in a peaceful trouble, and laid it near his.

This was Potter, the guy she despised for several years. The guy who was arrogant and deceitful and a playboy jerk who thought he was the best thing since sliced bread. And yet, Lily didn't see that anymore. She saw deeper then the 'shallow' and cold hearted marauder, and found someone she loved dearly. A boy-a man that she could find herself in too. Her sweet, romantic, lovable boyfriend was in pain and there was nothing she could do about it.

Oh, how she hated not being able to do anything when she wanted to. She hated watching people suffer while she just sat there, knowing fully well that there was nothing to do but watch and maybe pray for the best. She didn't like just being a spectator; she wished she could steal his pain away.

Lily's eyes widened when she felt a hand over hers, and watched as James entwined her finger with his, with his eyes still closed. She smiled softly as he squeezed her hand, and brought her other one to his face, gently caressing his tear stricken skin.

"Are you doing alright?" she asked in a hushed tone. James opened one hazel eye, and grinned the ever popular, heart throbbing, girl melting, Potter grin.

"I'm better, at least." Lily looked down at their hands as their finger tapped each other, and danced around playfully.

"Don't look so upset...trust me, you've given me that upset look enough in my life to not have the need to do it again." Lily laughed, holding back a sob.

"I think the look went a little more like this, Potter." she said, switching her face into an angry scowl with every feeling of dislike. James' free hand flew to his face, covering his eyes dramatically.

"Okay, yeah-that's the scary one." Lily laughed as he shivered. "Don't do that again."

"I'm sorry this year has only been increasingly growing worse and worse for you, James. I have no clue how you deal with it all." James sat up slowly, and took both her hands in his, looked deep into her eyes and said, very seriously,

"It's called cancellation. You have all the bad things in your life, yes, but you lighten them up by remembering the good things. Like with me and the cutting, it's horrible but can be canceled out by me knowing that you're finally here-trust me, it's a great thing. With my parents gone, it feels like I am an orphan, who I probably am-but I still have family. Sure, we're not biologically related, but what with you, Padfoot, Moony and Wormtail, I know I'm not family-less."

"Cancellation..." Lily said, echoing him. She had never thought about something like that. Canceling out the majority of the pain by looking on the Brightside. But...

"James, what if there isn't a Brightside-I mean, there can't be a Brightside to everything."

"Then look for one-even if it isn't completely relevant. Like your sister for example-' Lily raised a brow at hearing him mention her sister.

"She's your only sister, your only sibling, and she treats you like dirt because she's afraid of what you really are. Well, think about what you've learned from the experience. You've been taught a lesson.''

"Huh? And what lesson is that?" James grinned.

"That obviously you're the better daughter." Lily smacked him playfully, and he raised his hands in defense.

"Okay, okay, the lesson you learn is very important. You've learned that not everyone is going to like you for who you truly are-even if you change a tiny bit, people who might have claimed to love you will find fault-and you've got to learn to ignore it. You need to know defiance against the stubbornness of other people who can't deal with difference. And with your sister acting the way she does for so long, despite how much it hurts, you've learned to turn the other cheek and deal with it in a healthy, good fashioned way. You aren't dumb like James Potter who was so insecure that he had to resort to cutting himself."

Lily smiled and brushed another strand of his hair away from his eyes.

"If you're insecure then that must make me desperate."

"Better be desperate then insecure."

"Ah, so popular Potter does admit a weakness!"

"Well, you've been a weakness for the past five years!"

"And your friends? Aren't they weaknesses?"

"In different ways."

"You're silly, Potter. Now, here," she handed him the tankard of butter beer. "Drink up, it will help, I promise."

James took the cup from her and took a sip, then looked up at Lily.

"Do you think you could get me a firewiskey?" Lily looked outraged.

"I don't think so, mister! Insuming alcohol when under a lot of pressure isn't any good. You'll get nowhere but insanity by trying to drink the pain away." James groaned.

"So I can't drink and I can't cut myself. What's a respectable pain killer then?"

"Cancellation."

"Shut up."

"Hey, you made it up, not me. I'm just going by how you said-" But James didn't wait for her to finish her sentence, instead he leaned in and kissed her.

"Ha, I made you shut up." He said, grinning down at her breathless expression. Lily narrowed her eyes and smacked his arm.

"Looser."

"But I'm your looser." he said innocently. Lily laughed and kissed him.

Sirius heard someone's footstep behind him, and he stopped, turning around abruptly to see who it might be. Drusella jumped up, surprised, and her usually dull grey eyes widened.

"Are you stalking me?" Sirius asked slowly, unsure what she was doing, sneaking up behind him. Dru snapped out of her shock quickly, and glared hard at him.

"You're one to talk! No, I wasn't stalking you, Mr. Black, I just came to make sure you were alright." she said coldly. Sirius ran a hand through his hair and sighed tiredly.

"I'm perfectly fine, just rather tired." he said half truthfully. The girl arched a brow and turned her head, nodding quickly.

"Right, of course. You best be off to bed then, Good Night, Sirius." she said. Sirius nodded and began to walk away when he suddenly, he felt a strong hand turn him forcefully around. Before he knew what he was doing, he was kissing his girlfriend passionately.

His hands moved to hold her possessively, one hand on the back of her head, the other at the small of her back. Her hands slipped around his neck, and he titled her back, dipping her in a sense to get better access to her mouth. She pulled away quickly and stumbled backwards.

"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have done that! Oh no, what have I done!" she muttered, looking horribly embarrassed.

"What? Don't be worried, Drusella! I don't mind-"

She looked up at him red as a beat, her dark and white hair curtaining her face. She shook her head fiercely and wrapped her arms around herself looking quite mortified.

"G-goodnight, Sirius." she muttered, before rushing past him and taking to the stairs like a prisoner on the run. Sirius spun around and looked at her fleeing figure strangely.

"What was all that about?" A voice asked from the Great Hall doors. Sirius turned to see Moony and Wormtail looking at him and the girl interestedly. Sirius sighed and shrugged.

"No idea, mate. Not a single, ruddy idea."

James burst out laughing all while Sirius glared at him. Prongs could be so insensitive sometimes. Really, he found nothing humorous about what had happened. Not a single thing.

"She kissed you and then ran away? Oh my lord, that's hilarious!" He broke out into fits of laughter again, this time joined in by Remus and Peter. Sirius growled and looked around the room in a very ill-tempered mood.

"Sorry, mate!" Remus said, still laughing and clutching his sides. "But you have to admit...it's pretty funny." With that, the three boys burst into fits of laughter again. Sirus jumped from his seat, glared hard at his friends, and walked out the portrait, huffing all the way back to the Gryffindor dormitory.

Remus, James and Peter exchanged confused glances, and Moony stood up bitting his lip.

"Well, then...we better be going too..." he said uneasily. Peter coughed, nodded and stood, heading towards the portrait that exited the Head's dorm. James nodded.

"I guess we offended him." he muttered. Peter sighed and crossed his arms over his chest.

"We shouldn't have laughed at him. I mean, we shouldn't have made fun of Drusella and him..."

"Yeah, well, too late. We'll go apologize." Remus said softly. And with that said, the two left looking rather shameful.

James sighed and ran his hands through his hair. Padfoot never got that angry over a joke. Even after all his girls, whenever they'd joke about her, Padfoot would laugh along. He'd never freak out like he just did. But then again, James thought smiling softly that was exactly how he reacted with Lily.

"Oh, James, that was really cruel!" James jumped and saw Lily stalking towards him. She had a mixed look of irritation and humor on her lovely face.

"It was a joke!" he cried defensively. Lily placed her hands on her hips and glared at him.

"She's such a sweet girl and Sirius is mad for her, and you rub it in his face that they're having problems? Really, I thought you were better then that!"

James laughed. "I am, really! Trust me; those two will turn out alright. Though, it still shocks me whenever I see them together. Really, Drusella and Sirius Black. And it just sounds weird."

"Oh and Lily and James Potter sounds perfect." Lily said sarcastically. James shot her his infamous lopsided grin.

"But of course!"

"Then what name would sound right for your best friend?"

James shrugged and leaned back in his seat on the couch, looking into the fireplace which was searing with flames.

"She's alright, I'll grant you that much. And the cool part is, if Sirius breaks her heart, she'll break him!"

Well...sorry it took forever, but I have ideas. It's going to get really interesting soon. We'll see if you can guess what's going to happen. Please review!