Chapter 26:
I Don't Want To Be Like My Brother
Tuesday was a much easier day. James and Sirius only had two lessons; Transfiguration and Charms. McGonagall started the morning off with two hours of practicing the Bird-Conjuring Charm and Professor Flitwick had them practicing the Aguamenti Charm. The boys were delighted to find that neither teacher gave them any homework. They quickly went looking for Peter after their last lesson, only to realise that he was in Care of Magical Creatures.
At dinner they asked him if he wanted to play exploding snap with them in the common room and he responded angrily, "I've got a ton of homework and you want to play exploding snap?"
"Sorry man," Sirius frowned.
"We didn't know," James rolled his eyes.
"I've got to research Centaurs before Thursday," Peter added.
"That's plenty of time," Sirius grinned, "come on Pete… it'll be fun."
Peter sighed but found himself agreeing anyway.
James turned his attention to the girls who were sat just slightly further up the table. Alice was telling the others that she had a date with Frank that night.
"Beats what I'm doing," Lily complained, "I've got an essay to write for Arithmancy so I'll be spending yet another evening in the library."
James tuned back into his friends conversation just in time to hear Wormtail invite Remus to join them, "sorry can't, I promised Kate I'd help her with her Bird-Conjuring Spell. She's still really struggling with it."
The other three marauders made their way up to the common room where they played wizarding chess and exploding snap. After an hour or so James grew bored and he noticed that Lily still hadn't returned from the library. Marlene had joined them and was now cuddled up to Sirius. "I'll see you guys in a bit," James left the common room and rushed down to the kitchen. He asked a house elf for some hot chocolate. He said thank you for the thermos of hot chocolate before making his way to the library. He found Lily sat at a table along. "Evans," he whispered.
Lily jumped, "oh it's only you Potter."
James grinned, "sorry love – didn't mean to scare you."
"Stop calling me love – people will start thinking you mean it."
"I don't care what people think," James replied.
"Well I do," Lily smiled.
"No you don't," James laughed, "not really." With that he leant down and kissed her on the cheek.
"What are you doing here," Lily asked irritably.
"I brought you a present," James told her as he held up the thermos. "Fancy a hot chocolate?"
"I'd love one," Lily smiled. James poured her a cup, "just don't let Pince see it."
"Don't worry love," James grinned, "I'll take the blame."
"James, you've got to stop doing that," Lily told him.
"Why?" James played innocent. He put his arm around the back of her chair and started playing with her hair.
"Because I like you," Lily whispered.
James wasn't sure how to respond, "I like you too."
"I know," Lily laughed.
James frowned, "I'm just trying not to rush you… I want us to be friends."
"I know you do… but friends don't call each other love and they don't hold hands or kiss or play with each other's hair," Lily told him.
"Yeah I guess…" James nodded, "but I kind of like holding your hand… and I know you like kissing me," he ran a hand through his hair.
"You arrogant toe-rag," Lily said affectionately.
"Ah… you love me really," James winked. "Have you got much left to do?"
"No… I think I'll call it a night," Lily smiled. "Want to walk me back to the tower?"
"Sounds good to me," James offered Lily his hand. She took it happily and they walked out of the library together.
The following day proved to be much the same as the day before. Herbology proved to be incredibly boring and so James and Lily spent the hour whispering back and forth. In Defence Against the Dark Arts, Professor Lomax was teaching them about a dark branch of magic called Necromancy; "It has never truly been accomplished. Raising the dead so far has proved impossible… The inferi for example are mindless creatures with no soul or intelligence, despite possessing human corpses."
The class were riveted. "Zombies are 'living dead' creatures that dwell in the Southern parts of America. They are able to be identified by their greyish skin and rotten smell not unlike the vampires. These creatures are very different to the Inferi as they are not the result of a spell."
He grinned when he realised that the sixth years had been silent for the entire lesson, "for homework I would like you to complete a table comparing the similarities and differences between Inferi, Zombies and Vampires."
The afternoon went quickly. Transfiguration had them practicing yet another difficult spell, but before they knew it, James had the Gryffindor Quidditch team down on the pitch for a quick practice, "James, why have you added an extra practice into our schedules?" Sirius asked.
"Because we've got to prepare for the final match of the season," James replied. "This coming weekend will leave Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw with their final scores. We've only got a month until our match."
James had them practicing plays well into the evening.
Rebecca and Regulus were sat in the library working on their essays. They barely spoke, except when Rebecca asked Regulus, "Why aren't you on the Quidditch team? I saw you flying the other day… you're really good."
Regulus frowned. He didn't want to tell her the truth. He was scared by how close they had gotten over the past few weeks but he knew that for his plan to work he would have to get closer to her. "I don't want to be like my brother…"
"But you wouldn't be… you're clearly not built to be a beater… you're a seeker."
Regulus smiled, "maybe I'll try out next year."
"I think you'd be good at it," Rebecca smiled back at him.