Mistake 5—Not Stopping Remus From Killing Our Herbology Assignment

Well, Emmeline really doesn't like me. It's official. We all know I didn't like her, but she made it pretty clear in Herbology today when I went to sit next to Selene.

"Oh, sorry, I saved this seat for James," she said, blinking innocently at me.I looked to my mates. Marlene looked disgusted, and Selene looked awkward.

"Maybe we can ask Professor Sprout if we can do groups of five," Marlene said quickly, shooting Emmeline an evil look.

"Professor!" Emmeline said quickly before I could say anything, "Lily doesn't have a group…James is with us this week. You think she should just join Sirius, Remus and Peter?"

She really is evil. Marlene is obviously thinking the same thing because her eyes are wide as saucers, "you can't make her do that!" Marlene hissed.

Emmeline just smiled, "What? Remus is very good at Herbology actually."

She was just trying to get to me. Everyone knew I didn't get along with the Marauders. It wasn't going to work though because I am mature. I can work with them for one measly Herbology assignment, I thought as Professor Sprout instructed me to sit over at the other table since more students were coming shortly. I walked over to the Marauder's usual table and placed my stuff down, not bothering to look at either of my friends. Traitors.

"Er—Evans?" Peter was giving me a funny look as the four of them appeared.

"You have a seat waiting for you," I sneered at James, "Over there," I said pointing at Emmeline. He looked confused.

"Boys, take a seat!" Professor Sprout called, "You're already late!"

James shuffled over, muttering, "I'll talk to you after class."

Hmph. Like hell he will.

We were not on speaking terms at the moment. Not when Emmeline was trying to ruin my life. Okay, so I guess it's only one Herbology class, and it isn't the end of the world…in fact, it probably wouldn't be that bad if I didn't have to sit next to Sirius Black.

"So…what brings you to our side, Evans?" he asks, propping his feet up on the table. Now I couldn't see Professor Sprout properly—I was trying to pay attention!

"Shut up," I muttered.

"Hm," he looked amused, "Not very polite I see."

"Do you want something?" I hissed.

"Well," he smirked, "When you put it that way…"

"Oh bugger off."

"Tsk, tsk, Evans, you're Head Girl. You should be respectful to your fellow peers…may I add that your looking lovely today."

"Can you just pay attention?"

"Don't be such a stick in the mud," he said with a yawn. I threw him a dirty look, "You know, live a little? Have you ever even skived class before? Stayed up past curfew? Skinny dipped in the Black Lake?"

"Are you joking?" I said, wrinkling my nose at the last one. First of all the lake is freezing…secondly—do I really have to even say the second point?

"Padfoot, leave her alone," Remus muttered from my left. Thank you Remus.

"Why? This is much more entertaining than Sprout…right Pete?"

"Mr. Black!" Professor Sprout barked at him. She was really young having started last year after Professor Buckleberry had retired. I liked her, so I really didn't want to get on her bad side just because Black was a complete moron.

I really had been planning on paying attention. I swear I can be a good student. I mean, there's always classes like Transfiguration in which I'll never do good in anyway…

But Herbology is totally manageable. Usually. The only problem was, I kept looking over at my mates who seemed to be having a spiffing time with Emmeline. Okay, so I guess that they were just paying attention to Professor Sprout like everyone else, but I expected at least Marlene to look a little depressed about it.

"Evans?"

Ow. I shoved Sirius away as he poked me with his wand, "Watch where you poke that!" I snapped. He'll end up poking my eye out or something. Sirius didn't seem perturbed.

"Well," he said, looking at me expectantly.

"We've got it," Peter and Remus said, standing and collecting a funny looking plant with large pincers. Oh great. Just what I needed—a dangerous plant…with my luck, I'd get eaten by it…or at least be visiting the Hospital Wing by the end of this lesson.

"What do you know about its fierce-tongued feelers that are mentioned in the book?" Sirius asked, flipping through our Herbology book.

"What plant is it?" I asked tiredly. I knew I should've been listening to Professor Sprout.

"The Octiverde Plant," Peter replied as they brought a plant with eight small feelers sticking out from the top.

I immediately backed away, "Those aren't just fierce-tongued—they're fire-tongued!" I said. Sure enough, beside us we heard a screech from Natalie, one of the Ravenclaws, as it spit out a flame.

"Yeah…I'm not touching this plant," I said, "Professor Sprout failed to mention that we would need protective gear—"

"Quit your whining, Evans…what's the worst that can happen?" Sirius gave me a look that clearly read 'live a little'. Yeah. And end up like him? No thanks.

"Fine, you do it then," I said, crossing my arms.

"Gladly," he put on one of his gloves and grabbed one of its little feelers, pulling off the seeds as he did it, depositing it into the bucket, "Easy."

Carefully, I took one of his gloves and did the same. The plant attempted to scorch me, but Remus had done a funny little charm muttering, "Waddiwasi." Its weird flame tongue seemed to shrink back, and if I wasn't mistaken the plant seemed to be swallowing it.

"Is that supposed to happen?" I asked unsurely.

"No," Peter said, tilting his head, "Moony…I think the plant is choking."

Remus cursed, trying to amend it, but it was too late. Its tethers had quit moving, and it became limp on our table. He coughed awkwardly, "I suppose that spell doesn't work right on plants," he said, giving us apologetic looks.

"We just killed the plant," I said rather frantically, "Does this mean we fail? I've never failed anything before!" I cried. Well…until recently anyway. Damn Transfiguration.

This better not be a becoming a trend.

"It's okay," Peter said, frowning. He tried to fix it upright, "Maybe we can pass it off as okay…" he trailed off as its tethers shriveled and began smoking.

"Oh no…hide the smoke before Professor Sprout sees!" I said hurriedly. The three of them just stared at me, so I quickly unfastened my cloak and threw it over the plant.

"What good is that going to do?" Remus asked in exasperation.

"It gives us time," I snapped, ignoring the smoking corners of my cloak, "What do you suggest we do?"

"We're going to have to tell her—" Remus began.

"Oy, I'm with Evans…can we say it ran away or something?" Sirius asked.

"Plants just don't run away," I said, frowning at Sirius. Then I paused, "Well, this plant doesn't anyway. The point is we have to say something believable…like…"

"Peter ate it?" SIriius suggested.

"Lily said believable," Remus reminded.

"I'd believe it," Sirius said with a shrug.

"I'm sure we can just tell her what happened, and she'll understand…."

"I can't risk that!" I hissed, "Okay…this is what I'll do…I'll bring the plant with me," I said, "And we'll dispose of it later. There's plenty of these…and we've got seeds to turn in…she won't realize that a plant went missing."

"I don't know…" Remus began.

"Sounds brilliant," Sirius said, clasping his hands together, "Let me take care of the seeds, and you just hurry off with our plant baby."

I stared at him, "Plant baby?"

He didn't respond but took our container and sauntered up to the front, announcing all of the seeds he'd handpicked.

I quickly ducked out once Professor Sprout's attention (while exasperated) was fully focused on Sirius.

He did know how to be the center of attention, I suppose.

I walked towards the lake, trying to think of what we should just do with the plant. Burn it? Toss into the Forbidden Forest? Leave it to float to the bottom of the lake…

"What's that you've got there, Evans?"

I was so startled, I almost dropped the plant that was still wrapped in my cloak, "My baby," I said immediately when I turned to see James standing there bemused. Plant Baby. That's what I meant. Why did Sirius ever even say that? Now my mind was all addled.

James scratched his head uncertainly, "Er—right…"

"It's not actually a baby," I corrected hurriedly, "It's…er…just a joke," I finished lamely, "Never mind."

James laughed, "Okay," he shrugged, "So what are you doing out here? Dipping out of Herbology early?"

"I was just…um…claustrophobic…the greenhouses get a bit stuffy sometimes…"

"What's in the cloak?" he asked, ignoring my pathetic excuse. Goodness. Is this the Spanish Inquisition?

"Hm?"

"Right there," he said, pointing at the bundle in my arms. I blinked and quickly tossed it into the lake.

"What cloak?" I asked innocently. James gave me an expression that probably meant he thought I was mildly crazy. Well. He's the one who stalked me all those years ago. Well—last year…it really wasn't that long ago now that I think about it.

"Sirius will tell me whatever you were up to anyway…I'm not stupid. Sirius doesn't normally go around bragging about how many Octiverde seeds he's managed to pluck."

"It wasn't my fault!" I said, crossing my arms, "It was all Remus!"

"What was?"

"Our plant died," I said before I could stop myself. I don't know why I was expecting a reprimand. I guess maybe because I'm Head Girl, I feel that people expect more of me. They certainly don't expect me to be tossing my Herbology plants into the Black Lake. James just gives me a look as if to say 'That's all?'.

"Oh…that's okay. After you left, some of the Hufflepuffs killed theirs too. Professor Sprout told us not to worry because after being plucked they only survive for another twenty four hours anyway."

"Oh." Why didn't I know that? I swear I'd read all about the Octiverde plant. James was now laughing at me.

"Did you think you were going to get in trouble?"

"Yes! I didn't stop Remus from killing it…and then I told him we shouldn't tell Professor Sprout…"

"Ah, so you were the mastermind behind the operation," he noted, smirking at me. I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not. Either way, I decided to ignore him and start back towards the castle.

I mean, just because I'm supposed to be civil doesn't mean I have to be friendly. Right?

"Lily," James said, catching up with me, "Where are you going anyway? Want some company?"

I wanted to say no, but then I felt something that must've been guilt. You know, the little squeamish feeling in your stomach, "I'm going to the library," I said, "I have to study…I don't know if you really…er…do that," I finished lamely. Ah. Well, maybe the library will throw him off.

"Well, it's been known to happen on occasion…do we have any homework in anything yet though?"

"Yes," I frowned, "But I'm just going to get in some extra Transfiguration practice—"

"Perfect, I can help you!" he said eagerly.

Uh. What?

"Oh, that's okay," I said quickly, "Emmeline has been tutoring me actually…you know, if you remember..." Yeah…he still is dating Emmeline. Why do people keep forgetting that? Including Potter himself…

"Oh…" he seemed to be recalling her at my mention of her name, "I suppose…" he sighed, "Well, I'm glad that Transfiguration is going better…are you sure you don't need help?"

Why was he being so nice?

I just shook my head, "No thanks."

For once, I know I'm doing something right. Even if we did kill our plant today. Then why is that I feel a little disappointed when Potter takes off in the other direction?

A/N: I know not too much happened in this chapter, but it was pretty funny (I thought) . Lily can be a bit dramatic sometimes...haha. :)