As It Was and You Were
Chapter Four
Hunger Pains
The second day of Hogwarts came and went. A week soon passed during which Lily and James sat, walked, ate and read in uncomfortable silence. Only speaking to ask simple favours 'pass me that quill so I can stab Sirius' or 'move please, me and Alice have to change our feet'. Patrols were filled with a lot of sexual tension and silence, but in their heads it was as noisy, if not, noisier, than a mosh pit full of screaming fans and their screaming friends.
Don't even think about ripping his shirt off! Oh puck it! I just did!
Hmm, I wonder what' for tea. No wait, what's Lily wearing after tea. No wait, that's bad.
OK, pure thoughts. No James. This last week has gone fast. Speaking of last week- No!
My god she's beautiful when she thinks. She's beautiful all the time. Holy dog, I love her.
The next day started as painful as ever. This day however was going to open an entire new world of pain that these two lovers could not bear. So much pain, that if they survived, their love would grow stronger. And they would grow as people and bind… OK, one would get the picture.
Perhaps it was the air. Maybe Hagrid's experiment with Bowtruckles and unicorn dung was wafting on the breeze. Maybe Dumbledore had gone crazy and put a curse on them. Maybe the house elves had gone on a food spiking spree in hope they would kill someone. Maybe it was April Fools Day. But it wasn't because it was October or September (pick one I'm not stopping you). Or maybe it was just teenage hormones struggling to be kept under wraps. The latter seemed more likely than others. And yes, for those who did pick up on it, the house elves did try to spike everyone's food but Dumbledore got wind of it and payed them more.
As was said a week had passed with little happening. Unless you count Peter Pettigrew found at the bottom of the Prefect bathroom pool unconscious something, then nothing happened.
Well this day was different. Somehow. One would hear another remarking about the difference of the day to others. This was true. The hero and heroine of this story both awoke simultaneously, their motions being copied like in some bad, random, romantic comedy. Down to the doors opening and the arrival in the common room. Lily saw James emerge from the stairs looking more manly and hotter than ever, his hand ruffling his hair in an effort to make it look like he just woke up, which was pointless seeing as he actually just did wake up. Lily gasped at his hotness and ran away back up the stairs.
"That was weird," James shrugged and the orchestral music swelling immediately ceased to exist. Lily hadn't been the angry person she normally was since… well you know.
--
"James! My fair friend! How do we fare this fine day?" Sirius grinned.
"I fare… well. I guess," he helped himself to some eggs and toast. Across the hall, Lily entered and automatically searched for James' face in the crowd of students. Then Alice. She joined her friend.
"Alice?"
"Alice is down thataway," The random girl pointed down the table to where Alice was currently engaged in a passionate embrace with Frank Longbottom.
"Oh never mind. Can I sit here anyway? I really don't think I'm needed there," Alice and Frank were now at the point where it was beyond public display. Lily shuddered and looked away.
"Permission granted," The girl smiled. "Scarred for life yet?"
"I was a long time ago," Lily grimaced. "I'm Lily by the way,"
"Yeah I know. I've heard stories… many stories," she snapped out of her trance. "Oh, I'm Rachel,"
"What stories?"
"Just stories. And don't worry, everything will work out just fine," Rachel smiled then she transfigured into a cat, winked at Lily and ran out of the hall. Funnily enough nobody else seemed to notice a girl had just transfigured into a cat and winked. Lily stared incredulously at the cat.
"Why does this keep happening?"
--
"Well class, I hope most of you will next week have mastered the three key fire charms. Although this is one I would not push you to do," Professor Flitwick eyed Peter, who had recently set himself on fire and was now emanating a peculiar smell. "So in two days time you will hand in two feet on the keys and that will be all," the bell ended on his sentence.
"Excellent, potions,"
"Sirius, you can't be… y'know,"
"I can. I am. I was. I will. Something's different,"
"If one more person says its different today I will personally crucify them," James growled. Several girls nearby fainted at the sexiness of his growl.
The potions class assembled outside the classroom. Professor Slughorn came to the door. Now, a lot of people do not know this but during this time, Professor Slughorn was not very fat, but he was a recovering anorexic.
"Alright class, before you go in, I ask you to not engage in any tomfoolery of the violent or frivolous nature. The potion we are brewing today is very dangerous. If used in a certain way," he beckoned them in. They all entered in a subdued manner. The class was set so it was two to a cauldron.
"Now class you do not have to sit just yet. As the NEWT level exams are approaching, I thought it best to test out one of the potions brewed in these. In the actual exam you will be taking this by yourselves. However, I wish to make it slightly easier for you by pairing you up with someone. I know but international magical co-operation is quite a problem at the moment what with the uprising of the Romanian goblin armies. I'm not sure what it has to do with us but it was urged," Slughorn continued setting up. "Now the register is pinned up on the wall and you are to pair up with the person on the opposite end to you. Have fun, if you need help I shall be standing over a bucket," he waddled away.
Lily groaned and joined the line. Her turn came; she counted her name fifth down. She then counted the name fifth up from the bottom…
… oh god no. Oh please no.
"Come on Lily, its not that bad," a random person behind her patted her shoulder.
"I'm sorry I don't recall letting you read my thoughts!" She turned around, "You!"
Rachel was standing there grinning. She turned into the cat again and jumped inside a cauldron. Lily chased after it. She peered inside the cauldron… the cat was GONE! She vowed revenge on that magical cat. If it was the last thing she did. Now back to the problem at hand.
I'm working with James. What the puck did I do in my past life to deserve this? PUCK YOU PAST-LIFE LILY! Yes now back to normal world.
Lily sat herself down at a desk and dumped her belongings under it. James soon joined her. He didn't say a word except glanced at her once before removing his text book from his bag.
"Well. I think its page three twenty-three. I'll go and get the ingredients and stuff?" Lily merely nodded then appeared to gain some strength.
"I guess. I'll just check the book and see if I can modify the potion," James seemed slightly surprised at her reaction. Within a few minutes…
"Look James. I added the crushed rose bud for a pucking reason! Don't go and add the rosemary,"
"What's the difference?"
"It's potent you imbecile!"
"So? Therefore the potion should be working more strongly!"
"Leave it James! Hey! Why did you put it in?"
"Because I'm right!" The potion had now started bubbling. Which wasn't right at this stage. It needed a few more minutes to sit then the fire should have peppermint added to the burning… Yeah. "Uhh… Lily? Should it be doing that?"
"No. I told you not to add the rosemary!"
KABOOM!
The potion exploded, dousing the two in its pearly green contents. Quite disgusting really.