A/N: Hi! Hope all of you have happy holidays! School's opening soon (for me anyways).
I removed chapter one, by the way, all explanations is better in this chapter rather that the first, I feel. (If anyone misses it, (haha, just kidding), I'll put chap one up by the time the story's finished as a bonus.)
Chapter (Used to be Four, but now it's) Three
Lily's POV
Life is getting complicated.
Too complicated to even think about, in fact…
"Can I sit here?" the too familiar voice cannot be mistaken for its owner.
In an attempt to avoid further disastrous meals from the Marauders, I'm sitting in the hallway, minding my own business, still eating my breakfast (thankfully Black has Kreacher eaten the first plate so as to confirm the no-poison status), when Regulus, wearing Muggle clothing, his short black hair tidied up in place, comes in.
"Sure," I reply without looking up at him.
"What're you doing here anyways, Evans?" he asks, "Thought I heard you mumble, 'Marauders,' last night in your sleep?"
Oh Merlin. Have they, of all people, perfected the arts of invading one's mind? Or was I simply too worried about them? "Uh—well, it's a long story," I say, "A bet."
"A bet?" he leans closer, interested, "You made a bet with them?"
Oh no, Regulus, I preferably did not—it was my other crazy twin wandering the Great Hall that morning.
"Yes," the word takes a few second before it escapes my mouth, rather reluctantly, "That I'd stay with them here for seven days in exchange for Potter to stay away from me."
I thought back to my best friend Katrina's reaction.
"WHAT?" she screeches the moment I set foot into the girls' dorms, "ARE YOU ON?"
"Nothing!" Now I'm regretting ever telling her about it. "It's—it's just a stupid bet, I guess, but how harmful can it be?"
"No, no, no," she babbles, "I meant—living with THEM? Merlin, you've got to be kidding me. A summer with four—" her eyebrows stitches up in thought, "—okay, three—of the hottest boys in Hogwarts? I am so jealous, Lily."
Best friends can be so helpful, aren't they?
"Bloody hell, you're one crazy girl!" he exclaims, banging his elbow on his knee, "The Potter boy likes you, you know that," I nod. "Popular, arrogant," he shakes his head, "Just like Sirius."
"Why? What's with Sirius?" Regulus's face turns serious at the sound of my question.
"He's—he's, always getting the girls, being the better brother, more friends, more—I don't know—freedom. I hate him," the sentence is said quickly, followed by another I'd never expected to hear, "No, I—I say it all the time, but I've never told anybody this before, Evans, it's a lie."
Poor guy, overshadowed by his popular brother! "Yet," he says, "Mum and Dad likes me…me, who wants to be like him."
Hmm, conflicted life, I see. "But why are you telling me all this, Reg? You seem—"
"Seems like I'm fine by myself, isn't it? No, it's not like that," the food on his plate remains untouched, Regulus clasps his hands together, "Why you? I don't know. I don't even talk to Sirius about this, but you just look—"
He stops, blushing.
Blushing? Am I seeing this correctly? Regulus Black blushing?
"—friendly to me," the Slytherin finishes, "And you know what with keeping up the family name and those feelings inside me, it feels good to talk once in a while."
"Oh," is all I can say, "Thanks for trusting me, then, Reg, and don't worry, maybe I can help you on this."
Though he's heading to the kitchen to clean out his plate, Regulus turns back, "Don't," he says, then goes away.
I don't understand any of this.
James's POV
Bugger, bugger!
Lily's not here this morning, probably eating somewhere else. Huh, not my fault for poisoning the bloody stew. That Kreacher, wait till I catch him, I'm going to…I'm going to…
"Prongs, can you tell me what it is you're doing, or are you seriously trying to murder your scrambled egg?" Moony's voice pulls me off my thoughts.
Looking down, my main course's already messed up by the fork I'm holding. Oh dear.
"Uh, nothing, Moony," I brusquely answer, "Just thinking, you know, thoughts. I'd better go see where Lily is."
"He's a bit—off, this morning, don't you think?" leaving the room, I hear Padfoot mutter, "Probably because of last night, no doubt," concludes Moony.
"Guys, I heard that!" I poke my head into the room once more, then a rather genius idea appears in my mind, "Hey, Moony, you've got that Divination Quizzes Book of yours, right?"
"Yes, why might you need it, Prongs? I've never thought you were interest—" I cut him off.
"Bring that book with you to the living room in five minutes, and you'll see."
Sneaking to the hallway, I find Lily sitting by herself on a bench.
"Oh look, it's Potter," she turns on me instead, the tone more sarcastic than ever, "What do you want with me this time?"
"Erm," What can I say—sorry for the incident last night if not for you stopping that bloody elf—"You know we kind of, um, gotten to a bad start last night, so Sirius suggests we all play a game—"
"A game?" she says it as if I was asking her out the five thousandth time.
"Come on, Evans," I plead, please, please give me a chance, "It'll be fun. No more disasters, promise."
For a moment there's a brief silence, and I turn back, giving up.
Lily sighs. "Fine, I'll go, but keep your words," she rushes into the living room.
My heart follows her in faster than I do.
"So," I begin, "We, the Marauders, and Lily Evans, are here today—"
"—And you'd think he's going to say, 'to witness the marriage of'—" Padfoot's whispering to Moony, who chuckles. Yeah, right.
"To take some interesting personality quizzes," I continue, beaming at Lily, "Now who wants to read the quizzes out?"
"Not me," says Pads, flashing me his toothy smile, "Got to save my voice for the ladies."
Scowling at Pads mockingly, I turn to Moony, but he refuses ("I'd rather be the listener today, thanks."), so, when all hope's lost. James Potter, aka Mr. Prongs, is here to save the day.
"Very well, I'll read them," I open the thick book, fingers sliding down the index, "Hmm, let's see what we have here. Ok, we'll begin with a quiz on 'lurve,' Evans, 'lurve,' or what I feel about you." She gives me a look.
"Firstly," I begin, "Evans's going to take it, won't you, so I can know—"
A punch hits me in the arm. "Ow, but you'll take it, right?" she nods. "Grab your parchment and quill, and write all your answers."
"Number one: If the end of the world is coming, and you can only save one kind of animal—would you rather pick: Rabbit, Sheep, Horse, or Deer?" I wink suggestively. Save me, haha.
"Shame there's no dogs," Pads adds, "They're most vital."
"Oh, in what?" retorts Moony, "Creating chaos, perhaps?"
Pads scowls, but ol' Moony returns him a grin.
"Rabbits are small and annoying, even though they're kind of cute," says Lily, "And sheep, well, I've never really had an interest in sheep. I think I'd rather go with—deer, they're elegant and pretty."
Ah hem, I rise up proudly, Pads rolling his eyes, "Yep, that's me! The deer!"
"What were you saying?" Lily looks up, surprised.
"Oh, nothing—never mind. Next question: If you had to be an animal, which one would you choose: Dog, Cat, Horse, or Snake."
"First of all I have no intentions whatsoever of becoming a filthy, disgusting symbol of Slytherin Snake, or the horse, because I just don't like it. And cats are so—so full of themselves. I'll be a dog."
It's Pads' turn to cheer, but I smile. "You would make such a perfect girlfriend, Evans."
"Not ever to you," she scoffs. Aw.
"Number Three:" Cough, cough. "If one of the animals could speak, which one would you prefer it to be: Sheep, Horse, Rabbit, Bird."
"Bird," is her one word answer that makes my heart swell—yes, Lily, I would love to—
"What, Potter, why are you looking at me, going all gooey and bloody chirpy?"
Oops.
"'Cause the quiz says something about him and you getting together," suggests Pads, whom Lily rewards with a nudge in the elbow.
"Number Four: If you could tame all animals, which would be your pet: Leopard, Polar Bears, White Tiger, or Dinosaur?"
"Ah, Dinosaur sounds interesting," Please not, please no! "But they're gone, so what's the use?" Phew. "Polar Bears are cuddly, but I think it's for kids, so white tiger's best."
She's so going to get married to me, world.
"What, Prongs, did you get the one about her being married to you for eternity?" teases Pads.
"Close, Pads, close," I say, "Now, Number—whoo, last one—six: If you could be an animal for five minutes, what would you be: Cat, Lion, Horse, or Pigeon?"
"Ew, cats, no way!" she mumbles, quietly writing her answer down. "Well? Done? Dazzle me, Potter."
"Number one: saving the deer—me—" I say under my breath, "Means that you are attracted to someone elegant and well-mannered, like me."
"Not you," Lily, Moony, Padfoot all say at the same time.
What?
"Number two: your choice represents the impression you would like to give to your partner, which is: dog—faithful and loyal."
"Awww," coos Pads, "I always knew that's me."
"Oh really?" Moony raises his eyebrows, "Let me ask the girls you've gone out with, then."
"Number three: Bird, means you wish to have a long, lasting relationship. I'll make that happen, of course, the day you say yes."
"I trust you would, Potter," her tone's a direct imitation of Moony's, unfortunately.
"Number four: White tiger means you think marriage is something precious that you'll treasure it and your partner very much. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink!"
She does her 'you-just-wait-and-see' smile, the Lily smile.
"Oh that's why you were off to dream land for a few seconds, Prongs," Wormtail speaks up for the first time this morning.
"Last number: what's your answer, anyways, I didn't look at it," I pick up her parchment, but she slaps (ouch) my hand. "Let me read it myself."
"Ok, Pigeon, now what does that mean?"
Wow, though she may not look it, this girl is serious about love. "You think of love as commitment for both parties," I answer.
Lily nods.
Uh-oh, James Potter, love isn't going to be easy this time—
A/N: I tried my best. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did in writing!
Reviews, suggestions, and ideas are always welcome and appreciated!
Your ever humble fanfic writer :).