Chapter Twenty Two

I Drank till I Stumbled,
I drank till i fell,
When The drunk part was over it hurt me like hell.

'Oh my gosh, he looks terrible!' Evangeline gasped when she noticed Remus as she entered the Hospital Wing with the Maurauders, Sirius' arm placed gently around her waist. She removed his grip and quickly rushed over to the white linen bed where Remus was lying. 'Remy?' she whispered quietly, leaning over and examining his many cuts and bruises, 'You look like you've been through a blender,' she said, tracing her finger along a long crimson scar on his bare arm.

Remus winced at the touch of Evangeline's hand, opened his eyes slightly and mumbled, 'Gee, thanks for the compliment, Evie.' He attempted to heave himself up to a sitting position, but was gently shoved back down again by a pair of soft but stern hands. He expected to see Madame Pomfrey standing before him, but it was just Evangeline.

'Honestly Remus, look at you!' She snapped, 'You don't have any energy whatsoever, lie down.' She said and placed her hands on her hips.

Remus rolled his eyes, 'Yes, Miss Potter,' he retorted mockingly, but obeyed her. 'How was the ball last night? I hope Izzy wasn't too upset . . . I mean, she really wanted to go and -' he trailed off but never noticed Evangeline's blank and sullen expression. Sirius and James glanced at each other. Evangeline tried her best to hide it and concealed it by saying, 'It was great fun, Remy. You would have enjoyed it,' she said, smiling diminutively.

'Did I miss anything spectacular then?' Remus asked quizzically, his eyes flashing between Evangeline and Sirius, his gaze finally resting on Sirius' arm that was resting around Evangeline's shoulders. He glanced up at Sirius and cocked his eyebrow, 'Anything spectacular?'

Sirius grinned enthusiastically, 'Well, if you would say that if Angel and I being together was spectacular. Then, yes,' he said pulling Evangeline closer to him.

Remus broke into a grin, but then his expression turned empty 'About time,' he said bluntly, and began smiling again, 'But still, that's brilliant! I'm happy for the pair of you,' he said, slowly lifting his hand and playfully punching Evangeline on the arm. She winced and quickly jerked her arm away, but managed to smile at his teasing action. 'Are you okay, Evie? Honestly, I didn't mean to punch you hard enough to make you flinch away from me,' Remus said apologetically.

'It's fine, Remy. You just startled me that's all and I've got a cut on my arm that hasn't quite healed yet. I fell out of bed this morning and caught my arm on my bedside table, it's nothing serious, ' Evangeline lied, shoving off any further investigation into how she got the cut.

'What's this I hear about a cut on the arm?' Madam Pomfrey said as she stalked across the Hospital Wing, 'Let me have a look at it Miss Potter. I shall have it mended in no time,' the healer said, striding towards the Evangeline and the Marauders.

'Oh, no, honestly, it's fine Madam Pomfrey. It's just a scratch,' Evangeline said hurriedly, she slowly edged away from the on-coming healer, 'Seriously it's actually nearly healed already,' she smiled hopefully.

'That's not what I heard you tell Mr Lupin, here,' Madame Pomfrey said, motioning towards Remus who was trying not to laugh.

'You shouldn't have been listening in on our conversation; that's called eavesdropping Madame Pomfrey!' Evangeline snapped.

'Trust me, Miss Potter, I have heard far worse in the past. Some things that I do not wish to repeat. Now sit down on that bed,' the healer ordered, pointing to an empty bed opposite the one Remus was lying in. Evangeline resisted, she sat still, staring out Madame Pomfrey. The healer was beginning to get angry, 'NOW!' she screeched.

Evangeline growled and abruptly stood up almost knocking Peter off of his seat, 'Stupid cow,' she muttered huffily. She stomped across the Hospital wing and threw herself onto the bed, an aggravated expression scrawled across her face. She unwillingly held out her arm to the healer, who rolled up Evangeline's sleeve and began to examine the injury.

'Interesting, this seems to be a very unusual cut you have here, Miss Potter,' Madame Pomfrey informed her while she poked and prodded at Evangeline's injury, 'This certainly could not have happened when you fell out of bed this morning.'

'Can't you just give me some potion to heal it and have all this over and done with?' Evangeline hissed as the healer continued to poke at her weeping injury.

'Only if you tell me exactly how you got this wound,' Madam Pomfrey said simply.

'That's blackmail! You can't do that!' Evangeline complained.

'Yes, Miss Potter. But I seem to have figured out where exactly you might have got such a curious wound, all I need to do is justify my assertion,' Madame Pomfrey said, glancing briefly over at Remus, who was laughing at along with James and Sirius. Peter sat; confused.

'You can't tell him!' Evangeline spat, 'It'll hurt him if he finds out. He'll not be able to live with himself … he-he'll think that he's a monster and … It's just a scratch, he could have done far worse damage to me,' Evangeline said quietly.

'Finally something that we agree on, Miss Potter. I have no intentions of telling Mr Lupin, for every time he is in the Hospital wing he is moping around saying that he should not be here and whatnot,' Madame Pomfrey said, 'Which is utter nonsense of course.' The healer accidentally squeezed Evangeline's arm a little harder than necessary causing her to squeal in pain. 'Sorry, dear. Hold on one moment til I get that potion,' Madame Pomfrey said, she got up and walked over to her store.

'How's it going over there, Angel?' Sirius called over from the other side of the room, 'Has she fixed you up yet?'

'It's okay, she's away to get the potion now. Hopefully it'll taste better than the one I had to take the last time I was up here,' Evangeline said grimly remembering the revolting taste of the potion she took when she woke up from her 'coma'. Sirius laughed in response.

Madam Pomfrey returned with a phial of bright blue liquid in her hand. Evangeline examined it carefully, 'How much of it do I have to drink?' she asked the healer, who was holding a small green cloth.

'Oh, you don't drink it.'

Evangeline eyed her suspiciously, 'You're going to put that on my cut?' she said as she watched Madam Pomfrey open the phial. The blue liquid hissed and a silver steam erupted from the top of the phial.

'Yes. Now I must warn you, it may sting,' Madam Pomfrey told her as she poured some of the liquid onto the small green cloth.

'Great,' Evangeline sighed and held out her arm. 'ARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH! STING?! THAT HURTS LIKE HELL!' Evangeline yelled at the top of her voice as the cloth touched her open wound. All of the Marauders jumped in surprise and stared in her direction.

'I would appreciate it if you wouldn't burst my eardrums, Miss Potter,' Madame Pomfrey said as Evangeline continued to scream in pain.

'TAKE IT OFF! TAKE IT OFF!' Evangeline roared. Her face was red, and a cold sweat was appearing on her forehead, she was breathing heavily. Sirius and James appeared by her side, 'Madam Pomfrey, why is she screaming like that?' Sirius asked the healer, he grabbed Evangeline's other hand and glanced concernedly at her, her eyes were shut tightly and she was thrashing her body about.

'Obviously because she is in pain, Mr Black. But I am afraid this is the only way to heal her wound,' Madame Pomfrey informed him. She removed the cloth from Evangeline's arm, the cut was no where to be seen.

Evangeline continued to breathe heavily, 'I-Is it done yet?' she asked quietly, her voice quivering slightly. She opened her eyes, 'That was really sore! You said it would only sting!' she shouted at Madame Pomfrey.

'Well, because of certain circumstances, the potion had to be much stronger,' Madam Pomfrey told her, 'But you're alive aren't you? And as far as I can see, you no longer have a large gash on your forearm.'

Evangeline glanced down at her arm where the wound was situated before Madame Pomfrey had dabbed the potion on it; it had disappeared. 'I think I would have preferred to keep the cut rather than go through all that pain, thanks,' Evangeline said shooting a glare at the healer.

'At least now it won't get infected,' Madame Pomfrey smiled.

Evangeline snorted and got off the bed, Sirius and James followed her, 'Honestly, she'd think of anything just to contradict me!' Evangeline complained as she sat down on the empty armchair next to Remus' bed.

'She was just trying to help, Evie,' Remus reasoned with her. He hoisted himself up to a sitting position so that he was level with Evangeline, 'Why was it so painful anyway? Was there something wrong with the cut?' he asked her inquisitively.

Evangeline glanced at Sirius who had sat down beside her on the large armchair, 'Madame Pomfrey made the potion stronger to get rid of any infection that might have occurred already, that's all,' Evangeline said. 'So did Madame Pomfrey say when you'll be let out of the Hospital Wing?'

'She said she would let me out later on tonight if I was looking better,' Remus said, 'She said it would be alright as I'm staying in Hogwarts anyway and she could check up on me if needs be.'

'That's good, mate,' Sirius said, an evil smirk playing on his lips, 'Because I managed to get hold of a few bottles of Firewhiskey,' he whispered so that Madame Pomfrey could not hear him, 'You know, for a Christmas party in the common room. Us five will be the only ones there, as far as I know most of Gryffindor tower have left to go home for the holidays.'

'No, Izzy and Lily are staying too,' Evangeline corrected him.

'What – Where did you get it from? The Firewhiskey I mean,' Remus spluttered.

'I have my alliances,' Sirius said, winking.

'We'll play a couple of games of truth or dare and stuff,' James butted in as he sat down on the end of Remus' bed, 'It'll be great!

_-_-_

'Oh, come on, Lily!' Evangeline whined as she tried to drag Lily out of their dormitory, 'It'll be really entertaining! You don't have to drink any of the Firewhiskey. And anyway, it's Christmas Eve, you're meant to enjoy yourself!'

'I really don't want to spend my Christmas Eve with a pile of drunks, Evie!' Lily cried, attempting to resist Evangeline as she pulled her towards the spiral stairs that lead towards the Common room.

'But we won't be drunk, Lily! Just a bit tipsy,' Evangeline grinned broadly, not letting go of Lily, 'Izzy is already down there, you'll be the only person not enjoying themselves!'

'Fine! But I'm not cleaning up the mess and I will be going to bed earlier than than the rest of you will and you cannot stop me, understand?' Lily said, wagging her finger at Evangeline who squealed in delight.

'You won't regret it, Lily. I promise,' Evangeline smiled as the descended down the spiral stairs and into the Common Room to find Izzy, the Marauders, Frank, Alice and Jason from the year above sitting in a circle surrounding the blazing fire. Bottles of Firewhiskey sat, opened and unopened, scattered in the middle.

'LILY!' Sirius shouted, saluting her, then he took a swig of the Firewhiskey he had in his hand.

'Sirius is a little but more tipsy than everyone else,' Evangeline murmured to Lily, who was standing beside her awkwardly. 'Why are you looking so worried? We're your friends.'

'I'm not worried,' Lily snapped, but her expression turned embarrassed, 'It's just I've never drank before. You know, like alcohol. I don't want to go off my head,' she said.

'You won't go off your head, Lily. Your the most responsible out of all of us, you'll be fine,' Evangeline smiled, 'Now go and sit beside my brother, he's looking a little lonely,' she smirked, and winked at Lily who shot her a glance of disgust. 'Oh come on! He's not that bad,' Evangeline said.

'I suppose,' Lily sighed and walked over to where James was sitting. Evangeline watched as Lily sat down beside him and actually began having a proper conversation with him; surprisingly. Evangeline chuckled and sat down beside Sirius, who kissed her on the cheek and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She buried her head in his neck and sighed.

'You know what?' Sirius said, his words slurred slightly.

'What?'

'I love you.'

Evangeline smiled, even when Sirius was drunk he still managed to display his affection towards her, 'I love you too,' she said and lightly kissed his jaw.

For a while everyone just sat in their couples; Alice and Frank were sharing an armchair talking quietly to each other, a bottle of Firewhiskey shared between them. Remus and Izzy were sitting closely on the couch giggling to each other, Remus was reading her an article in a magazine, Izzy's laughter rang out through the Common Room. Lily and James were sitting on the floor, still talking intensely. No arguing. No fighting. Surprisingly Lily was holding the neck of a bottle of Firewhiskey, occasionally sipping from it. Jason and Peter sat in silence, conversing now and again, each of them holding a bottle of their own.

Evangeline giggled, clearly the Firewhiskey had taken it's toll on her, 'That wasn't fair. You cheated!' she accused Sirius, prodding him on the chest. A green tinted bottle held in her other hand, she took a large swig.

'I did not cheat. It was my turn,' Sirius replied, leaning in to kiss Evangeline on the lips but she moved away and stuck her tongue out at him. 'I wish you would stop doing that. Do you not know that you are irresistible?'

Evangeline giggled, crawled away from him and winked seductively at him. 'Stop it!' Sirius moaned and followed her across the floor. He took a swig of Firewhiskey and began to walk on his hands and knees towards Evangeline who had moved beside James. 'AHAHAHA, I am a lion stalking my prey!' Sirius said, his words slurred immaculately.

James who had not yet reached the stage where he was totally out of his mind, rolled his eyes at Sirius' actions and called out to everyone else, 'Anyone up for truth or dare?'

'ME!' yelled Sirius who jumped up from his hands and knees, 'I love truth or dare!' Evangeline giggled at him, he noticed her sitting on the floor and plunked himself down beside her, 'But not as much as Angel,' he smiled.

Evangeline smiled back and stared into those stormy grey eyes that sparkled in the light. Behind the drunken exterior, his feelings were sober. There was a seriousness that could not be ignored.

James coughed intentionally, 'Are you two ready to play?' he asked.

'Yes we are actually, James,' Evangeline replied and made herself comfortable by leaning against Sirius.

'Okay, I'll spin the bottle first and whoever it lands on has to choose truth or dare,' James explained. He gave the green tinted bottle a twirl and it spun around, eventually pointing towards Peter. 'Okay Peter; truth or dare?'

'Uh … truth.'

'Have you ever kissed anyone?'

'And your mum doesn't count!' laughed Sirius.

'Uh … no.'

'You're a FRIGID?!' Sirius yelled in disbelief, but then his expression changed, 'Actually I can believe that.'

'Right Peter, spin the bottle,' James ordered. Peter spun the bottle unsuccessfully and it landed on Jason who was sitting beside him.

'Uh, truth or dare, Jason?' Peter asked the sixth year.

'Dare,' Jason smirked.

'Uh, do an imitation of a gorilla,' Peter said.

'That isn't very daring!' Jason moaned, 'I suppose I'll have to do it anyway.' Jason got up off the floor and began to jump around like a madman, thumping his chest and grunting. Everyone laughed at his attempt. When he returned to his seat he spun the bottle and it landed on Evangeline, Jason smirked evilly, 'Truth or dare, Evangeline?' he asked her.

'Dare!' Evangeline shouted a bit louder than necessary.

'I dare you to strip to your underwear and run down the hall singing 'I'm too sexy for my shirt' very loudly,' Jason laughed.

Sirius who had been drinking from a bottle of Firewhiskey choked on the mouthful he had been drinking, he coughed and spluttered and eventually managed to yell, 'WHAT?!'

'Oh calm down, Sirius. It's only a dare,' Evangeline said as she got up from the floor. She pulled off her superman t-shirt to reveal a leopard print bra. 'Anyway, we'll never remember what happened tomorrow morning!' she said brightly and slipped off her trousers. 'Okay, Which corridor?'

'The one past Transfiguration,' Jason replied.

In the Transfiguration Corridor ….

'It's absolutely freezing!' Evangeline shivered as she walked barefooted down the stone corridor. 'Okay, I'm going to do it now – And don't take any photos!' she warned her friends. 'Urgh, here goes,' Evangeline muttered to herself.

'I'M TOO SEXY FOR MY SHIRT, TOO SEXY FOR MY SHIRT, SO SEXY IT HURTS!' Evangeline sang loudly, skipping for the added effect. She had nearly reached the end of the corridor when someone's voice startled her.

'Who on earth is making all that noise! Curfew ended four hours ago!' the Scottish voice screeched.

Evangeline skidded to a stop, her heart thumped so hard she thought it might jump out of her chest. She spun round on the spot and legged it towards Gryffindor tower after Izzy, Lily, Jason and the Marauders. When she reached the portrait of the Fat Lady she muttered the password and the portrait swung open to reveal seven teenagers doubling over with laughter.

'That was the funniest thing I have ever seen!' Izzy giggled, tears of mirth streaming down her cheeks, 'You should have seen your face when you heard McGonagall; priceless!'

'That is why I am Queen of dares,' Evangeline smiled, 'I always make the audience laugh!'

James had sat down beside the fire again, 'Who's turn is it now?' he asked.

'I need to spin the bottle,' Evangeline informed him. She picked up the bottle that was strewn on the floor, she set it down in front of her and spun it effectively. It landed on Izzy.

'My dizzy Izzy; truth or dare?' Evangeline asked.

'Truth.'

'Hmm... Who was your first love?'

'My teddy bear; Sooty. But if you want a real person, it would be … Remus.'

Choruses of 'Aw' and 'That's cute' rang out in the Common Room. Remus and Izzy had gone bright red, so red that they were nearly blended into the furniture. James laughed at their expressions, 'Okay Izzy, you can spin the bottle now,' he said.

Izzy spun the bottle, coincidentally it landed on James, 'Truth or dare, James?'

'Dare, obviously!'

'I dare you to kiss Lily,' Izzy said with no hesitation whatsoever.

'What? W-What did you just say?' James asked her.

'Your dare is to kiss Lily.'

'But she'll kill me!'

'She still hasn't flipped her lid about the dare yet, James.'

'What do you mean?'

'She should be screaming and yelling by now,' Evangeline cut in.

James glanced at Lily who was sitting innocently in the corner, giggling to herself. She made eye contact with him, 'Who would have thought that the 'Infamous James Potter' would be nervous about kissing someone!' Lily cackled.

James walked over to the armchair that Lily was nestled in, he slowly bent down and gently kissed her on the lips. She didn't struggle, resist or even refuse. She truly is a strange human being, James thought to himself. Lily smiled sweetly at him as they broke apart, maybe she didn't hate him any more.

Evangeline coughed, 'Somebody's smitten,' she said in a mocking voice before yawning loudly.

'Shut up, Evie!' Lily and James said simultaneously. Everyone laughed.

'Right, it's my turn to spin the bottle!' James shouted over the laughter. He grabbed the bottle, gave it and almighty spin, after a while it stopped pointing directly at Sirius. 'My dear, Padfoot; truth or dare?' James asked his best friend, who grinned maniacally.

'DARE!' Sirius shouted.

'Once Sirius does his dare, I think I'll go to bed,' Evangeline informed them, 'What?' she asked the confused faces surrounding her, 'I want to be able to get up early tomorrow morning!'

James laughed triumphantly, 'I HAVE THE PERFECT DARE FOR YOU!' he yelled and began jumping up and down. 'But, but it won't be completed now, he has to get the timing right,' James said, 'Pads, come here.' James motioned for Sirius to go over to him. He whispered in Sirius' ear, the pair of them grinning from ear to ear.

'That's brilliant!' Sirius laughed. James nodded emphatically in agreement.

'Are you doing your dare now, Sirius?' Evangeline asked him. She yawned yet again. 'I think I'll just go to bed now anyway.'

'I'll walk you to the stairs, okay pet?' Sirius said, putting his hand on the square of her back as she walked in front of him. He caught up with her and put his arm around her shoulders, 'I want to speak to you anyway,' Sirius said as they disappeared behind the wall that lead to the stairs. Everyone in the Common Room waited in silence...

'YOU'RE GAY?!?'

James collapsed onto the sofa, overcome with fits of laughter he was unable to control. Of course only he knew why this was so funny.

GAH!! It's been ages since I last updated … I'M SO SORRY!!! Anyway, REVIEWS as always, that thing called constructive criticism and stuff (: I loved writing that chapter, I hope you enjoyed reading it! Tori xo