Alright, here's the deal. This has been sitting around since the beginning of the month, and I really don't want to edit it which is why it hasn't been posted yet. So i'm just gonna post it. I know that there might be some misspelled words, but hopefully it's not too bad. Here's chapter 6!

Chapter Six: Week Four

Defense Against the Dark Arts

James woke up early on Sunday morning. Lily had left the night before to go to her mom's funeral. He had offered to go with her, but she asked him to stay at school; she didn't want to burden him. Because of Lily's situation, James felt a strong need to write to his own parents. He grabbed parchment, a quill and a jar of ink and quickly went to the Owerly. This late in November it was idiotic to walk around the castle with no cloke on. James on the other hand was going to the windowless Owerly with no cloke on. He was past the point of idiocy.

After warming up his ink jar between his hands, James quickly wrote a note to his parents, talking about everything that was happening at school. He did mention Lily, but only that she was his friend, not temporary girlfriend. He also informed them that for once, out of his seventeen years of existence, he would not be coming home for the holidays. He also suggested that his parents go on a vacation, "celebrate Christmas and the new year in the sun."

He sent his owl off with his letter and then quickly stopped by the Great Hall to grab a bite to eat and then headed back to the dorm.

James was bored. Even Remus wasn't up and James didn't know what to do with himself. He decided to finish his homework, but since him and Lily had already started it before she left, he was only busy for an hour. It wasn't until Remus got up, mumbled a 'morning' and headed towards the bathroom that James realized how much time he spent with Lily.

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"God, Prongs! You're awfully antsy today," Sirius snapped.

"Sorry. Can't help it."

The guys were sitting in the Common Room playing cards.

"He misses Lily," Peter commented.

"Yeah, so?" James shot back.

"I mean, you miss her, right?" Peter asked with a smirk.

"What? Ew, don't say that. No. I…I just hope she's…well!"

"Oh, I'm sure she's just peachy while staring down at her dead mother's face," Sirius drawled.

"Padfoot," Remus warned.

"Whatever. Just…let's not talk about this," James mumbled.

"Alright, my legs are starting to cramp up," Remus said as he shifted positions.

Sirius let out a bark of laughter and Remus glared at him.

"How long we been playing for?" Peter asked.

"'Bout four hours," Sirius automatically answered.

"Damn. Time for a break," Peter said.

"No!" James cried.

Sirius smiled at him. "Great way to pass the time, eh buddy?"
"No…I just…like this game…a lot."

"Actually. I've got to meet someone in about half an hour," Sirius said as he stood up and stretched.

"And I'm starving," Remus said, following Sirius.

"Fine, leave. I've still got Wormtail!"

"Actually, I'm going with Mooney."

"Fine! Leave me! See if I care!" James growled.

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"Lily! Thank God you're back," Remus said when he ran into Lily around eight that night.

She giggled and gave him a hug. "Why's that?"
"He won't admit it, but James is going insane. He misses you terribly."

"I haven't even been gone for forty-eight hours."

"Yeah, well…to him it's been a life time and then some."

She laughed again. "Alright. I'll go find him. Where is he?"

"Dorm. You can go ahead up there. We don't mind."

"Thanks."

Lily found James lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. She slowly crept over and laid down next to him.

"Lily," he breathed.

"I heard that you misses me," she whispered with a smile.

"A lot," he answered while nuzzling his head into her shoulder. "How was it?" he asked, his voice muffled.

She was quiet for a minute before she answered. "Emotional." She ran her hands through his hair. "Everyone from both sides of my family were there. I think that's what made it so real for me. My mom's mom hates my father and that whole side, yet there she was, sitting boldly at the front without a single tear in sight. I knew that everyone would ask questions, that's why I didn't want you to go with."

"I could have handled it."
"I know. But I didn't want to deal with it. My mother's side is just so, nosy."

James let out a throaty laugh. "My whole family is like that."

Lily chuckled. "I could probably lay like this forever," she commented.

"I don't mind."

"I think my roommates might."

"So?"
"Don't want them to draw any conclusions."

"Eh…"

"James Potter."

"Just sayin'"

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"What do you think we have in store for Defense?" Lily asked the guys while the gang was waiting for the bell to ring, signally class to start.

"I hope something awesome!" Sirius cried.

"Yeah. Awesome!" Peter repeated.

"Dueling. That's what we're working on," the young Professor Rosenthal said as he walked out of his office. "Might as well learn how to properly duel. For today only, I'm going to allow you to work with a partner on different spells that you've learned and then on Wednesday we'll start the competition. I'll partner you based on skill. So the rest of class is yours. Do what you want. Please don't burn down this classroom. You can leave when the bell rings." With a flourish, the professor left the 8th year's alone.

"Wicked. All of class to ourselves!" Sirius said with a smile.

With lack of adult guidance, most of the students spent the time gossiping. Lily and Remus of course, were the exception.

Lily turned around in surprise when someone tapped her on the shoulder. It was Keith.

"If you flick your wrist fast, the spell should work," he suggested.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she snapped.

"You're trying to break this glass, right," he asked, ignoring her tone and pointing to the glass sitting in front of her.

"More or less."

"Your movement is too slow then. Like this," he said as he slashed his arm down and flicked his wrist. The glass cup broke neatly in half. Keith muttered a "repario" and the glass fixed itself.

"Thanks," she said dryly. Remus watched Keith carefully.

Keith cleared his throat. "Well, I hope I don't battle you in the finals," Keith commented.

"Why's that, Fox? "'Fraid you gonna loose to a girl?" James asked, joining in on the conversation.

"No. I would just feel obligated to letting you win," he answered, addressing Lily.

"Well, not it's on Fox. See you in the finals."

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"You know, this is kind of…kinky," Sandy murmured as he kissed her neck.

"Yeah? Why's that?"

"Anyone could walk in. That Ravenclaw prefect Sam Godly or even a teacher like Rosenthal. He's pretty sexy."
The guy let out a low growl.

"Not better than you; don't worry," Sand said, letting out a low chuckle.

"Good, because I take this seriously."
"I do too."

"Then why can't we tell anyone. My friends don't even know."

"You were the one who wanted to keep this a secret. You didn't want to hurt h-"

"Then let's go on a date. A real one, next weekend on the Hogsmeade trip.

"Are you sure?"

"As sure as I'm tired of sneaking around all the time, trying to hid this."

"Then it's a date," Sandy finalized.

"Cool. A real date," Sirius said as he leaned in to give Sandy a kiss fully on the lips.

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"Hey, Lils!"

"Lily looked up from her very large textbook, into the smiling face of Keith. She was in the library looking for some quiet, homework time with Christmas break starting next week. Ever student was putting their homework off until Thursday, if they could, every student accept Lily.

"Hey, Keith. What's up?" she asked while trying to locate her lost place in her book.

"Just, ya know, wandering around," he answered with a shrug.

"Wandering in the library?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Eh, it's something I'm not too familiar with."

Lily burst out laughing at that, and then quickly covered her mouth. Keith chuckled and then sat down next to her.

"Are you actually doing homework?" he asked her after she stopped laughing.

"Yes, because now, Thursday night when everyone is scrambling around to get their homework done, I won't have any of it.

"Who ya' gonna hang out with?"
Lily frowned at him.

This time Keith laughed out loud while clasping Lily on the back with his much too large hand.

"I'm just messing with you, babe."

Lily's frown deepened when she heard the pet name he let slip.

"Where's Potter?" he asked, though it sounded as if he could care less.

"James is hanging with the guys tonight."

"Well, obviously. He never goes anywhere with his cronies. I meant, why isn't he with you?"

"Why does he have to be with me all the time?" Lily snapped.

"Well, a girl as pretty as you could be getting seduced by some other sleeze bag who wants a go at her," Keith said quietly while leaning towards her.

"Are you a sleeze bag trying to seduce me, Keith?" Lily asked, equally as quiet, but not moving towards him.

"Nope." He moved a couple more inches forward.

"You're not trying to seduce me?"

"Yes."
"But you just said-"

"I'm not a sleeze bag trying to seduce you."

"Oh," Lily breathed.

"Mr. Fox! Miss Evans! The library is for homework, research and reading. Not sickening make-out sessions. Mr. Fox, out!" a very young Madam Prince scowled.

Lily jumped away from Keith with a blush.

Keith's bright blue eyes held a glint in them. Lust? Love? Want? A combination of the three? Is that possible? Lily didn't know, but as soon as she noticed it, the glint had vanished and Keith was walking away. Lily let out a breath that she was unaware of holding in. She took a couple of deep breaths to let the hammering of her heart subside and then she went back to her work, pushing herself harder so her thoughts wouldn't slip back to those of a certain ex-boyfriend.

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The defense class started their competition on Wednesday, quickly weeding out those who lacked in their defense skills. Professor Rosenthal just walked around with a clipboard, writing things down every once in a while. Luckily at the beginning, Lily and the Marauder's had not faced each other, but when it came down to it; Peter lost to Sirius, Sirius lost to Lily, Lily lost to Remus and Remus lost to James. Inevitably James and Keith were going to face off Thursday.

"Alright, can our winners from bracket one and bracket two step forward please," Rosenthal asked.

James and Keith stepped onto the large stage that was laid out in the center of the classroom. On one side of the stage, two rows of chairs were laid out. On the other side of the stage were the empty desks.

"There you go. Position yourselves across from each other…good. I want you to follow the normal duel procedures. I'm in need of a good show today.

"The rules are simple. You may use any spell you can think of besides the Unforgivable curses. No one from the audience can help you; don't' mutilate each other.

The class chuckled at Rosenthal's comment. James pushed his glasses up against his nose.

"Please bow. Thank you; wands at the ready. On my count off. Three…two…one…"

"Protego!" James cried while Keith shouted "Stupefy!" Keith's spell hit James' shield and ricocheted off into the audience. The class ducked and let the charm hit the wall.

"Flagrate!" James shot, Keith ducking out of the way of the line of fire heading towards him.

"Avis," Keith muttered before putting out the fire.

James battled at the birds pecking at his head, but Keith wasn't playing fair and so he muttered out, "Jelbeama," causing James' legs to go into spasms.

The classroom erupted in laugher as James tried to control himself.

"Look at you now, Potter. You look fantastic in front of your girlfriend," Keith taunted with a smirk as he walked towards James.

"Yeah, not as stupid as your large ego!" James cried as he swished his wand around. Keith's head started to swell up like a balloon. "Finite Incantatem," James said as he took the enchantment off his legs.

"Is that all you got, Potter?" Keith spat. "Incendio!" he said, throwing a wad of fire at James. James sidestepped and the fire hit the desk. The desk erupted in flames.

"Mobiliarus," James said as his charm hit the now flaming desk. He sent it hurtling towards Keith. Keith tried to block it but his shield repelled charms, not objects so the desk broke the shield and slammed into Keith.

"Take that, bastard," James muttered.

The desk exploded, sending wood and fire everywhere. Keith stormed over to James. He stood in front of him, breathing heavily.

The whole classroom was silent.

Keith sent a right hook, and hit James square in the jaw.

"You mother-" James cried as he lunged towards Keith. The other boy was not expecting that and so he went down with James on top. James was taking swings and punches while Keith was violently swearing and struggling to get the other man off of him.

"Enough…enough! ENOUGH!" Professor Rosenthal cried as he blasted the two boys away from each other.

While it looked like James had been scratched by Keith, the ladder had it worse. His nose was swollen and bleeding and a bruise surrounding his eye was quickly darkening. James stood up for another go.

"Whatever issue with each other the two of you have, has nothing-"

A green flowed from Keith's wand and hit James squarely in the chest. He doubled over, clenching his stomach. James made some reaching noises and out came a slug.

The class groaned in disgust and cheered in delight.

"Wandless magic. Impressive. Mr. Fox is our winner."

Keith got up and walked over to James.

"Lily let's you kiss her with that mouth. Revolting." Having said the final word, Keith stalked off the stage and over to his friends. James let up another five slugs.

"Um…class is dismissed. Potter please clean your friends off the stage. Thanks." Professor Rosenthal got up and walked into his office, closing the door behind him. Sirius, Remus, Peter and Lily ran onto the stage.

"Bloody fantastic, Prongs!" Sirius cried while clasping James on the shoulder.

"That was actually a brilliant idea," Remus murmured.

"And really gross," Peter said, eyeing the distasteful slug.

"I'll look for a bucket," Lily said as she searched around the classroom.

The three friends helped James into a standing position.

"Here. I don't know how clean it is but…"

James retched some more slugs into the bucket Lily was holding. The four moved James onto one of the chairs off the stage and then Lily and Remus went back on to put the slugs into James' bucket, while Peter and Sirius reenacted the duel they had just witnessed.

"And then…Potter! Look out!" Peter cried as Sirius doubled over and pretended to start vomiting. Peter and Sirius started howling with laugher as James threw up another slug in time with Sirius.

"Hey, there," Lily said as she sat down next to James. She gently placed her hand on her back.

James ducked his head in the bucket.

"Look at me. Don't be ashamed," Lily said as she tilted his head towards her.

James growled in anger. "If-I…I lost! I lost to Fox!"

"They do say that fox's are sly," Lily said, trying to lighten up the mood.

"I lost to a Slytherin."
"You made the crow laugh…"

"At me."
"Trust me, James. No one will think any less of you."

"That's not even it. I looked so pathetic."

"I didn't think you were pathetic. You and Keith did some crazy things and that was so difficult, trying to block a spell rather than challenge it. It was genius.

"James! Ya' done barfing up nasties?" Sirius teased.

"You haven't for five minutes," Lily pointed out with a smile.

"Yeah. Let's leave the bucket for stupid Rosenthal to find," James muttered as he slammed the bucket down.

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Sirius pulled Sandy into a hidden alcove and started kissing her neck.

"Filtch is such a creeper," she murmured.

"I know," Sirius said in between nips.

Sandy grabbed his head and looked him in the eye.

"How do you get your hair so soft? I like it. It's sexy," she said as she ruffled it.

"It's all apart of my good looks and excellent genes."

Sandy ran her fingers through it again.

"It's so much softer than-"

"Sirius?"

Sirius and Sandy froze. Thinking quickly, he rubbed his face and neck really hard and then stepped out.

"Prongs? Did you see Filtch?"

"Is that why you were in the alcove?" James asked, his face twisted in confusion.

"Yeah. I was…getting food…not thinking my loud noises-"

"Okay. You have to come back with me! Lily and her friends challenged us in the game "Battle of the Sexes!" We can't loose!" James cried with a smile.

"Um…alright, I think that I dropped…something," Sirius lied.

"Here. How 'bout some light Lumous!" James said as Sirius cried "No!"

When the two looked in, no one was there. Only a lone piece of paper lay in the now lighted alcove.

James bent down, picked up the blank sheet of paper and then handed it to Sirius with a puzzled look.

Sirius gave a nervous laugh. "Made ya' look."

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