Chapter Nine

The meeting was a disaster.

For one, when Lily arrived at the prefects' lounge, it was completely dark and cold. The house elves had somehow forgotten the meeting, and Lily had to light the sconces and start the fire herself, silently irritated that James had not arrived to help. Outside, the wind howled and beat at the windows, threatening to dump buckets of cold rain on the dull, grey castle.

James didn't arrive until the last minute, and he was irritable from the start, nodding curtly at her to begin the meeting. They had pretty much avoided one another since Halloween. Lily felt like he was ignoring her, though she was the one who looked away every time she saw him after Quidditch practice with Cynthia. It made her sad to think that their friendship had turned into something more, when her own fragile relationship with James was filled with constant tension.

Once the meeting started, it seemed every prefect had something to ask, complain, or otherwise drag on about. When they weren't interrupting, they were studying, gossiping, or even arguing with one another. Jackson Robertson and Carin O'Connell had their hands all over each other, and Alan Diggory actually fell asleep, which earned him a quick jinx from James, who was frowning at the Hufflepuff as if personally offended.

Lily doggedly carried on, determined to finish the meeting. When Mitchell Bradley and Regulus Black began bickering in the back, however, James stood up, raised his wand, and sent a flash of sparks toward the ceiling. Everyone stopped and stared at him.

"The meeting's over," he declared. "You lot are pathetic tonight. You've all got your assignments, so go sleep, snog, and snap at each other somewhere else.

At first, everyone just gaped at him, then turned to Lily. She shrugged, mortified to be the one they were looking at to confirm his rash actions. Slowly they started to gather their things and leave, muttering quietly to one another.

James sat in his seat and watched them go, a distant look on his face. When Remus came up and talked to him, James seemed to shake himself out of a trance. He stood and cast one quick but powerful spell that put every chair back in its place immediately. Even Remus looked surprised.

Lily exchanged a look with Mark, who had stayed behind to help her. "What's going on?" he murmured.

James whirled on them, his face dark. "It was a sodding waste of time. I'm not going to sit here and watch half of them grope each other and the other half count mooncalves."

Mark stayed silent, but Lily frowned. "You had no right to just dismiss them like that. We need to go over the train ride back to London next month."

James rolled his eyes. "I'll owl them," he replied sarcastically. "Maybe they'll actually pay attention then."

"What's got your Snitch in a twist?" Lily asked, eyebrows raised.

"Nothing that can't be fixed by leaving," he said, and he turned to go.

"Fall off the wrong side of your broom? You're in a right foul mood tonight." She challenged him, wanting to know what was wrong, but also longing for some kind of interaction with him. She saw the warning look cross Remus's face—he even shook his head—but it was too late: when James snapped, she snapped back.

"No thanks to you," he threw back over his shoulder. Next to her, she felt Mark tense, and touched his arm to show him it was okay. She was used to these exchanges; it was how they communicated more often than not.

"What did I do?" she asked. "I was trying to run a meeting while you sat there like a horklump."

"You were barely holding it together," he replied disdainfully, turning back to her. "I've got better things to do."

"Like Anastasia Harrison?" she said, hearing the nastiness in her voice and not really liking it—or caring. "Or Cynthia Morris now?" Mark gave her a confused look, like he didn't understand why she was even bringing it up. Then again, he hadn't seen James and Anastasia after the last meeting, or James and Cynthia in the Gryffindor common room on Halloween.

"I told you, Harrison's a troll," James snapped. "And Cynthia's just a friend. Stop acting as if you care and go get off with your boyfriend in the Restricted Section."

Lily flushed, and Mark stepped forward. "That's enough, Potter," he said, frowning. Remus put a hand on his friend's shoulder; James shook him off and took a deep breath.

"Sorry, Whitby, but your girlfriend gets under my skin," he said, looking away.

"I've noticed," Mark murmured, eyeing her again, and Lily couldn't read the expression on his face.

Remus stepped forward. "Let's go, James. Leave them to it."

"Right." James stormed away, and Remus followed with an apologetic shrug. Lily sighed, drained by yet another verbal sparring match, but she turned to Mark with a sheepish smile, ready to apologize.

"What?" she said instead, when she noticed him still studying her. "What's wrong?"

"I think he gets under your skin, too," Mark said, the look on his face enigmatic.

"Of course he does," Lily said, gathering her things. "I told you before, he's a cocky prat. Sometimes I can't stand working with him."

Mark nodded slowly. "Sometimes?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" she snapped, irritated that he was pressing the issue. No, James didn't bother her all the time, but the fleeting moments where they actually got along never seemed to last long enough to turn into anything more than another missed opportunity. The constant roller coaster of living and working with him was draining.

Mark was quiet at first, then shook his head as he scratched at his temple. "Nothing. Are you ready?"

She sighed, taking a deep breath to calm herself. Mark was right, James did get under her skin. She didn't want to think about it, though. So she took Mark's hand, forgetting the look on James's face once more.

"Prongs, wait up!"

James did not particularly feel like waiting for Remus, but he stopped. He did not turn around and did not look at him when he caught up. He just kept going. He wasn't even sure why he was so annoyed, but he was fairly certain he'd snap at just about anything Remus said.

Except for what he did say.

"It's your dad, isn't it?" Remus asked softly. "Sirius said you had an owl. Is everything okay?"

James blew out his breath and nodded. "Yes, everything's okay. He's just not feeling well. Again."

"Again?" asked Remus.

"He can't seem to shake the illness he's had since his last owl." James shrugged. "He'll be all right, I think."

"But you're worried," Remus pointed out.

"Yeah," James murmured. "I'm worried."

"And that's why you snapped at the prefects," Remus continued.

"They were a load of duffers," James pointed out.

"And Lily as well?"

"She was...more annoying than usual tonight."

Remus gave James a pointed look. "That doesn't excuse what you said to her."

James dug his hands into his pockets and sighed again. "Yeah, well she just gets to me."

"I've noticed." Remus didn't say anything else, and James was silent as well. Finally he turned to Remus and gave him a small smile.

"Look, I appreciate your concern, but would you mind if I took the long way back to Gryffindor? Alone? I'd like to just cool down a bit."

Remus nodded, his face sad. "Of course. But I'll send a search party if you're not back by curfew."

"I'll be fine. I don't need a bodyguard." Remus rolled his eyes but left him, and James continued down the corridors, roaming freely, wherever his feet led him. The castle was quiet, and though he seemed to find himself alone more and more, he also found he enjoyed it more and more. It gave him time to think about all the things in his life that didn't seem to be going right.

In spite of any hopes that it wouldn't be, his friendship with Cynthia was awkward anywhere outside of Quidditch practice. The owl from his dad only made him more worried about his father's continued ill health. There were still N.E.W.T.s and the match the following weekend to prepare for. And Lily...well, Lily continued to drive him mad.

As he considered going to the owlery to send another letter to his father, James passed a large window on the first floor, not far from the entrance to the Slytherin dungeons. Two bodies were pressed closely together, their hands roaming freely as they groped one another in the semi-private window well. James snorted, wondering why they didn't at least look for an empty classroom, then did a double take when he realized who it was.

Anastasia Harrison...and Dante Avery.

He couldn't help it: it bothered him. After the last meeting she had cornered him, and now she was entangled with Avery. Never mind that she was a loose bint and that Avery was a complete wanker; never mind that James couldn't care less who the two of them shagged. He was irritated with the meeting and with Lily and with Remus—and now with Harrison and Avery.

"Should have waited, Harrison," he tossed over his shoulder as he passed the couple. Avery looked up with a smirk.

"You're obviously not worth waiting for, Potter," he said, running his hand through Anastasia's long dark hair. "Who'd want to shag a skinny Gryffindor like you?"

The remark burned, because all he could think of was someone else who had moved on and hadn't even given him a chance.

"Better than a slimy snake like you," he snapped back.

Avery just sneered at him as he wrapped an arm around Anastasia's waist and squeezed tight. "She's a Ravenclaw. She knows what she wants and snakes know how to please."

He turned back to Anastasia, who seemed slightly unsure of herself after Avery's rough embrace. In spite of her seductive overtones, James felt a little bit sorry for her. She looked nervous now—like she wanted to get away from Avery before anything got out of hand. Knowing the Slytherin, James couldn't blame her.

Taking a deep breath, James willed himself not to get more involved than he already was. "Have at it then, but find someplace else. And don't forget curfew." He turned and walked away, but he could feel Avery's eyes on his back and moved his hand toward his wand. He silently wished the Slytherin would jinx him, just so he could turn around and hex him back. Shaking his head of such irrational thoughts, he turned the corner and continued until he heard a rough grunt and Anastasia calling out, "Stop it!"

He knew he should go back; even Anastasia Harrison didn't deserve the likes of Dante Avery pawing at her if she was telling him not to. He stopped, listening carefully, then quickly turned around when he heard her cry out again, her voice growing more desperate.

Dashing around the corner, he found Avery pressing her forcefully against the wall, his hand reaching under her skirt as he tried to kiss her. She was obviously trying to escape his grasp, twisting her head back and forth to avoid him, and when she saw James, her eyes begged for help.

"I think she said no," James said. He gripped his wand in his pocket again, knowing he would likely need it.

"Back off, Potter. This isn't a peep show." Avery stopped and glared at him. "Besides, she started it."

"She's a smart girl, she knows when to end it." James pulled out his wand, but kept it pointed toward the floor. "Leave her alone."

"Do you always go around saving people?" asked Avery. He dropped his hands and turned toward James, his wand out. Anastasia scrambled away, straightening her skirt and hair.

"Just from scum like you and your brother." As soon as he said it, James knew it was a mistake. Avery's nostrils flared and he cast a Stinging Hex, but James was prepared and blocked it. He was also irritated and ready to fight back, whether he should or not.

"Don't you know any other spells, toad face?" he asked.

Avery leered and cast a Bat Bogey Hex. "Probably more than you."

James blocked it easily. "I can do that one, too." He cast a far more powerful Bat Bogey Hex at Avery, who barely parried it to the side. "See? Try again."

"How about this, Pothead?" he snarled, and he cast a much more focused Hurling Hex. James threw up a Shield Charm, but stumbled backward, reeling slightly as the force field burst against his face. He grinned almost maniacally as his pent up energy finally found its outlet in the duel.

"Good one," he almost laughed. "I've never been called that before." He threw a Leg-Locker Curse at Avery, who staggered slightly as he caught the edge of it jumping aside.

"I can think of worse," Avery panted, straightening himself.

"Try it," said James. "I dare you."

Avery raised an eyebrow, gave a mocking half-bow, and lifted his wand. And then he promptly fell over backwards, stiff as a board, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling.

James whirled, livid at whomever had cast the Full-Body Bind Curse. Expecting Remus, he was surprised and even more furious to discover it was Sirius instead.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he snapped, lowering his wand.

Sirius held up a piece of parchment and grinned. "Saw you had dismissed your bodyguard."

"I told you I don't need one," James muttered. "I was handling it."

"You were," Sirius acknowledged. "And I may not be a prefect, but I do believe that dueling in the corridors is against school rules. At least it was last time I tried."

James huffed past his friend without giving Avery a second glance. "It's not like I have to dock myself points. I'm Head Boy."

Sirius frowned as James walked by, but James ignored him. He also ignored Anastasia Harrison calling his name, until he felt her grab his hand.

"Thank, James," she said, and instead of appearing sly and seductive, for once her small smile seemed genuine. "I'm sorry about what happened back there."

James glanced down at their hands. "You don't have to apologize. I'm just glad I could help." Really, he'd done it to help her as much as to have a go at Avery. He pulled away, but she stayed with him. James could practically feel Sirius smirking behind them.

"He was wrong, you know," she said softly. "I would have waited."

"For what?" James asked, completely lost.

"For you." A spark of her old confidence returned as she gave him a sideways look. "Only I heard you were taken."

"Taken?" James repeated, stopping to stare at her.

"You and Morris," she replied, and now she was running her index finger up and down his arm, giving him gooseflesh. She gazed up at him through dark lashes, a coy smile on her face. "Or is that just a rumor? Should I wait a bit longer?"

James looked down at her in utter amazement. After getting caught in a compromising and potentially dangerous situation with Avery, she was once again flirting outrageously with him. And even worse, after all the confusion of the past two weeks, he was actually tempted to give in and snog her senseless.

Until he saw Sirius shake his head ever so slightly behind her. James pulled his hand away, shaking himself out of the spell.

"You'll have to wait for someone else," he said as he walked away. "Just don't bother with creeps like Avery next time."

Anastasia did not follow him, and he was glad, because he probably couldn't say no a third time. He felt rather than heard Sirius come up next to him. They were silent for several minutes.

"You okay?" Sirius finally asked. James didn't answer, because he honestly didn't have one.

"So what were you really doing tonight?" he asked instead. "You're awfully close to Slytherin."

It was Sirius's turn to stay quiet. "Why the mystery?" asked James, weary of his friend's secrets. "Who is she?"

"It's a long story," murmured Sirius, glancing away with a slightly pained look. "Besides, I'm not the only one not talking about things much these days."

James looked at his friend and realized that he and Sirius had not talked—really talked—in a long time. James had been caught up in school, in his duties, his game—and Sirius had been sneaking around with whomever he was sneaking around with. James was suddenly sad about it.

"Care for a run?" he asked casually. "In the forest?"

Sirius glanced out the nearest window. "It's raining, you know."

"Then we'll get wet."

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "Dueling andsneaking out in one night? Some Head Boy you are."

"Don't remind me," James murmured. He did usually feel like he was doing a terrible job of it. Sometimes he wondered if he shouldn't turn in his badge to Dumbledore. It would be one less thing to worry about, but he knew his father would be disappointed if he quit, and so he stumbled on, as best as he could.

Sirius clapped him on the shoulder. "You're doing fine, Prongs. Let's go. I think we could both use the fresh air tonight."

End Notes:

Thank you, alpha-beta Lea! You are the best!