Chapter 10
AN:
Come on everyone I have 9707 hits on this story and only 76 reviews. Where is the Love? All you gotta do is press that lil button at the bottom and type a word or two and your done. Finite. Ok. Ciò è frustrazione così maledetta, ma ti amo tutti tuttavia.
Anyhow this chapter is slightly fragmented, so any questions don't hesitate to ask.
Recap:
Sitting next to her friends on the couch Hermione looked between the two grinning figures and frowned at them. She backed away slightly feeling scared as they moved closer, Ginny had a puppy dog look on her face and lily was batting her eyelashes at Hermione.
Hermione knew they were looking for something, since this was Ginny's way of getting her to give in and she must have made lily join as well, Sighing she turned herself completely around so she was face to face with both of them.
"What do you want Ginny." Hermione asked getting annoyed.
"What makes you think I want something sister dear?" Ginny said looking scandalized.
"Yeah Hermione were just being friendly you know." Lily said holding her hand over her hearth in mock hurt.
"Ok, if you're not looking for anything I think I'll go to bed now." Hermione said smiling and standing to leave.
She was forcefully pulled down again by both girls who were looking pleadingly at her for her to stay with them. Groaning in frustration she motioned for them to continue with what they were about to hook her into.
"Spill it."
"Lily wants to become an Animagus." Ginny said
It was early morning and not a soul was awake to wander around the school and over hear the friend's secret plans. Ginny Hermione and Lily were sitting at the Gryffindor table planning out every step to help Lily become an Animagus and keep it from their boyfriends at the same time.
There was no food out on the tables for breakfast would not be served for at least another hour. Not one of the teachers had bothered to enter the great hall yet so they were completely alone for another hour or so. It was six o clock on a Wednesday morning and the trio had defense against the dark arts for their first class with the Slytherins and then double transfiguration with the Ravenclaws. Hermione being Hermione had checked out all the books on animagus transformation at her earliest convenience, but they had a slight advantage seeing as she and Ginny were from the future and knew of a potion to speed up the whole transformation.
Hermione propped a book up against the table reading it carefully as the two girls around her each did the same pulling books out of their schoolbags and placing them on the table. Reading the cover of her book 'Transfiguration Today' Hermione was weaving through the long winding explanation of the transformation process and the information on finding the book for the potion to complete said transformation. Turning to her friends she translated the explanation for Ginny's sake and told them what it basically said.
"The transformation should take a year and a half to master completely; the potion itself will take two months to brew before having to be left for an extra day to stand." Hermione said looking at her saddened friend. "Oh and it only helps to find the animagus form, and not start it."
"Oh no! I'll be graduated well before I have the chance to even make my first transformation." Lily groaned to herself lowering her head to the table with a small bang against the wood.
Both Ginny and Hermione turned to Lily then looked back at each other silently conversing on weather they should just brew the potion they had used, for Lily to get it done and over with in three easy steps. The only problem was that they didn't want to change the future more than they undoubtedly already had by brewing a potion that would not be created for another twenty years or so. The frustrated sigh coming from their sorrowful friend brought them back to the present situation and the task at hand. Nodding to each other they decided, after all they could hardly change the future too much by brewing a potion, after all they were here and that was change enough.
Looking around the hall Ginny noticed that a few early risers had began entering the great hall for their breakfast before classes started for the day. They didn't have much more time to themselves a half hour at most if they were lucky before they would need to put the books away and avoid suspicion. Quickly they scrolled through as many informative books as they could look up all the dangers of the transformation. Lily sighed closing the last of her books and placed it on the table looking around her, finally her eyes rested on the sisters sitting before her, each with a book in hand and a suspicious glint in their eyes.
"Hey Hermione?" Lily said slowly.
"Yes Lily?"
"If you have completed the transformation already why are we looking up the dangers, wouldn't you know them already, it would save us all this reading." Lily inquired.
"Actually Lily we were in the middle of a war as we told you, we never took the time to research the subject, we were simply handed the potion and told what to do by grandfather." Ginny answered a blush creeping up her neck.
"Oh, it would have saved us an awful amount of time. I really wanted this completed before the year ended." Lily huffed. "I mean Remus has Sirius and James to help and you Hermione have Ginny while I'll be left in the common room the whole night worrying about all of you." She finished resignedly.
"What if we told you there was some sort of futuristic potion that could help us get this done faster disregarding the fact it hasn't been created yet." Ginny asked mischievously. "How would you feel about that?"
"When can we make it?" Lily asked excitedly.
"Well I guess there's our answer." Hermione said smilingly.
Huddled together in a tight group the three girls finished their planning and Hermione assigned Ginny the task of collecting the ingredients they would need in potions today while Hermione had the task of brewing said potion. Lily was left with the task of meditating to clear her mind so the transformation will be easier and for the fact that it will make finding her animagus form so much easier as well, they were all so excited.
Half hour later they began putting the books away, twenty or so students were now sitting at Gryffindor alone and the hall was filling up fast, even the teachers were all there waiting for breakfast which was due any moment. Picking the last book from the table and placing it in her bag, Hermione jumped as the four house tables filled with all types of breakfast foods for the students and staff's enjoyment.
Plucking pieces of everything from the dishes before them they filled their plates and began eating, still talking about the transformation in hushed tones. Hermione kept her hearing peaked and at its best so that she could warn her friends before Remus and the boys would enter, she knew he could hear them perfectly well if he concentrated on them in particular, and seeing them huddled together whispering was definitely suspicious enough for him to warrant an eavesdropping session.
Sitting quietly, they watched the people coming and going from the great hall wondering where the boys were, Hermione had confirmed that they were no where near the great hall at present but they kept their guard up just in case.
Less than twenty minutes later the marauders were heard approaching the great hall and there was no need for Hermione's super hearing the tumultuous thundering of laughter that flooded into the great hall from the marauders and their loyal pack of fans. Turning to face the noise the girls came face to face with the Marauders who were nearly falling over hands on their sides as they laughed. Remus was standing in front of Hermione and leaned down kissing her cheek as Sirius done the exact same to Ginny earning a blush from both girls and death glares from the rest of the female population. Sitting quickly the boys sat beside their respective girlfriends, ever hopeful James beside Lily, all the boys were ignorant to the death glares their girlfriends were giving the hoards of girls crowding them at the table.
Hermione being a werewolf was becoming more agitated than her friends considering her claim over Remus, and growled at the approaching girls making them go wide eyed and scatter. Smirking Hermione turned back to her friends to finish their breakfasts in relative peace. The peace did not last long as the doors to the great hall burst open revealing Severus Snape in a pink Ballerina costume pirouetting over to the Slytherin table with a huge smile plastered on his greasy face.
Seeing this the hall burst into laughter, even some of the teachers were laughing at the young Slytherin's expense. Angry Lily began shouting at James and Sirius to remove the spell they had placed on Severus but they just ducked away and continued laughing much to Lily's disgust.
Hermione and Ginny were sitting across from the boys trying to hide the small chuckles from their friends at the Slytherin's distress. Noticing Lily glared at all her friends and pointing her wand at Severus removing the spell from his person completely, ignoring the calls from her friends she stormed out of the hall forgetting her bag and all plans for her transformation completely.
"I said I was sorry Lily, really I am." James said pleadingly. "How many times do I have to say it?"
"If you were so sorry James Potter you wouldn't have done what you promised you wouldn't do in first year." Lily screamed in frustration.
"What?" Sirius asked confused. "Ouch…what was that…?" Sirius was cut off by an elbow in the side from his ever loving girlfriend.
"Lily flower he was asking for it." James protested loudly ignoring Hermione's groaning and Lily's face turning redder with anger.
"And what exactly did he do to warrant such torture as public humiliation?" Lily asked deadly calm her face reddening to match her wild hair.
"He…he…"
"He what Potter?" Lily spat.
"He called you a mudblood; I was defending your honor, nothing else." He said dejectedly.
"James I …" Lily stuttered deflating.
"Forget it Lily." James said upset. "Just…forget it." He whispered.
Turning on his heal James marched out of the common room and up into the boys dormitories leaving his friends with mouths agape and Lily feeling ashamed of herself. Looking around the common room at the shocked faces Lily hung her head and made to follow him, she was stopped suddenly by a hand on her shoulder and watched him silently as he slammed his door.
Crashing noises were heard from upstairs in the boy's dormitories followed by silence, Lily being unable to handle the silence any longer made her way up to the girl's dormitories, throwing herself onto the bed miserable.
Lily P.O.V
Everything is so confusing, why am I feeling this way, its not as if I really like James, he's just a mutual friend, but then why did him walking out hurt so bad. I don't like him do I, I have never shown any feeling towards him, have I?
I really need to talk to James and apologize, really was the thought of him defending my honor that terrible and unlike him, he had done so countless times before. Though all those time's James had picked on Severus first, it still didn't warrant such humiliation.
Eugh this is all so confusing, I can't stand this.
Hermione Ginny and the Marauders excluding James made their way to classes, lunch had just ended and they has wasted most of their time trying to get Lily and James to come out of their rooms and talk to each other. The only time the Marauders had seen their friends was in classes and even then they completely avoided each other.
James had let himself out of his room for his first classes and immediately locked himself back up once he knew it was time for lunch.
Lily had done the exact same not once talking to Ginny or Hermione since the incident that morning with Snape. On the other hand Hermione refused to talk to James after his promises of changing and acting mature for Lily, he ruined his chances with the prank.
Ginny had thought that this argument would work to their advantage seeing as how Lily was so upset for hurting James., and would do anything to apologize, once they got over her stubbornness.
The group of friends warily made their way to the potions lab in the dungeons and awaited Professor Slughorn's arrival to start the class. Looking across the room at the Slytherin's, Hermione had felt somebody's eyes on her, when her eyes met Malfoy's head on.
Glaring at Malfoy she turned to face her partner when she heard a low warning growl, turning to Remus with a small smile she looked around the room to make sure nobody had heard anything, and much to her relief they didn't. Smirking at her Lupine Boyfriend she turned her attention to the professor who instructed the class on the brewing of the Draught of Living Death.
Remus smirked roguishly before turning to start his own work he would never get anything done at this rate if he kept staring at her. Shaking his head he realized there was still three weeks until the moon and already he couldn't concentrate when she was around. This was going to be so much harder than expected.
Potions class went by without a hitch, James had paired himself with a quiet girl from Gryffindor that nobody seemed to know and Lily had paired herself with Severus Snape. Hermione and Ginny had paired with Remus and Sirius, so naturally they made plans to get their friends to talk to each other. It had been decided that they would miss their next class, history of magic, and that the girls would grab Lily and the boys James. The large group of friend's was determined to get their other friends talking again; their groups were just not the same without them.
At last the bell rung signaling the end of class, casting a quick cleaning spell over their cauldrons and vanishing the ingredient's from inside, they hurried to over to Lily and James ushering the struggling pair out of the room. When Hermione and Ginny got lily outside the marauders were nowhere n sight but they were close since Hermione could still smell them.
Moving quickly the girls made up excuses for the head girl in the hopes of getting to the common room quicker than they were.
Lily proving to be her difficult self planted her feet on the ground and refused to move as Ginny held her wrist. Pulling again it was no use Lily was going nowhere, Ginny looked over to Hermione who sighed and grabbed hold of Lily's wrist dragging the girl down the hall struggling.
Ginny watched in amusement as Lily tried to put up a fight against Hermione's werewolf strength.
Lily had begun kicking in protest as they moved and Hermione was getting very frustrated with her best friend. Stopping she turned to Lily still holding her wrist and snapped. "If you keep kicking Lily, I will carry you there." She growled and continued walking.
Lily stopped kicking but continued her frivolous struggling against her best friend as they continued to hold her captive.
Finally arriving at the portrait hole they quickly said the password and stumbled in Hermione with Lily's wrist tightly incased in her hand. Looking around the room the found it completely empty except in the centre of the room where Sirius lay relaxing on an armchair, and Remus standing behind the couch that James was on holding his shoulders and keeping the Marauder sitting.
Catching each other's eyes Remus and Hermione smiled, it seemed they were in the same position and werewolf strength was indeed good for something. Sitting Lily down on the chair she done the exact same thing as Remus and held her friend in place.
Sirius seeing his friends were subdued for now stood with Ginny, as they both cast spells on the dormitories door locking and warding them. Next Sirius summoned their wands so they would not be able to use magic against each other. Lastly Ginny sealed every exit in the room she knew of except the portrait hole.
"Now do you know why you two are here?" Hermione asked finally letting go of Lily.
"No." James and Lily said together.
"We are here to make you two talk to each other and work this out." Sirius said arms folded across his chest.
"And what if we don't want to talk?" James said dejectedly.
"We have nothing to say to each other." Lily snapped.
"I don't care, your going to sit here and talk weather you like it or not, and when your done we will come back for you. Please don't try to escape all exits will be sealed." Ginny said dangerously letting her red head temper shine through.
"Oh before we go here are some drinks, you never know when you might get thirsty and with no wands and no escape you will dehydrate." Hermione said calmly eyes twinkling.
Saying goodbye to their friends Hermione Remus Ginny and Sirius all exited the common room leaving their two perturbed friends behind to sort things out, hopefully they will be together by the time they came back to let them out. Just as they were about to turn a corner Ginny ran back to the Portrait hole and whispered something to the fat lady earning a small nod and a giggle.
Quickly running back to her friends they made their way to the room of requirement, there was no point in heading to class now, it was nearly over and they would need to be close enough to let James and Lily out of the common room when class was over.
"Ginny what did you say to the fat lady." Remus asked curiously.
"Oh I just asked her make sure nobody but us could enter the common room until
We came back." Ginny said mischievously.
"And how did you convince said fat lady to do such a deed." Sirius asked.
"Compliments go a long way my dear man, a long way." Ginny said laughing.
"Speaking of little plans, what exactly was in those drinks Hermione?" Sirius asked suspiciously.
"We a little of my own creation really, something like Veritasirum(?) really." Hermione said.
"Hermione tell me you didn't." Ginny said smiling gleefully.
"Oh but I did Gin."
"What are you two talking about?" Remus asked getting annoyed.
"The potion Hermione used, she had created during the war, when the drinker is asked a question they don't merely tell the truth they must tell their deepest feelings for the other person and say exactly what they think of them." Ginny said.
"I also added a hint of calming draught; we all know what Lily's temper is like." Hermione said amusedly.
"Wow, you created that all by yourself Hermione?"
"Yes Sirius, well I did want to be a potions Mistress."
"And why would you need a potion like that in a war." Remus asked amused.
"We didn't, but it was very useful for playing pranks on unsuspecting order member at headquarters', and there were a few unexpected couples as the result."
"LikeyouandRemus." Ginny muttered causing a glare from Hermione.
"Like Hermione and I." asked Remus confused.
"Oh yes, you two had a short stint." Ginny said grinning.
"In the future, but I thought he was your professor?" Sirius asked smiling evilly.
"He was." Said Hermione, causing her friends to laugh at her and Hermione to cringe.
"I was twenty years you're senior then, and your professor." Remus said bewildered.
"Well I always had a thing for older men." Hermione said slyly running a hand down his chest.
"Got yourself a vixen there Moony." Sirius said merrily slapping his friend on the back.
"Hey. Ginny shouted "That's my name."
Back in the common room the two had not moved from their places, they sat staring at each other and nothing else. The fire was still going strong having been lit by the house elves moments ago creating a warm glow around the room. The room was becoming warmer and both Lily and James had already made use of the drinks Hermione had provided them to keep their throats wet and moist.
Lily had a thoughtful look on her face as she stared deep into the flames of the fire, contemplating weather she should just apologize or wait.
The silence in the room was unbearable; the only sound visible to human ears was the merry crackling of the fire. Feeling eyes on her, Lily turned and came face to face with James, he was looking sad but determined.
"Why Lily? Everything I do everything I say, you just shoot me down. Why?" He asked softly.
"James I, I really am sorry about earlier. I thought you had just attacked him again for your own selfish amusement. I…" she started.
"Apology accepted, but that still doesn't answer my question." He said determinedly.
"You're always hexing and cursing people James, what did they ever do to you. Do you really have that strong of a desire to hurt people? Because I have been on the receiving end of many of your pranks and let me tell you it hurts."
"Lily I don't intend t hurt people it was just a joke, I just thought if I was the centre of attention then you would notice me. Gods Lily I have wanted you for so long and you have never spared me as much as a glance."
"James your too arrogant, your selfish and pigheaded, nothing that doesn't involve the marauders matters to you."
"Your wrong Lily, they are not the only people who matter to me, you matter to me, I…I….I love you Lily."
"No you don't James you no nothing about me; this is just an infatuation your going through it will pass."
"Since first year Lily, I doubt it." James said, then seeing her face set in disbelief he sighed.
"Fine I will prove it to you, your favorite color is lavender, favorite food is spaghetti, and favorite bands The Beetles and the Weird Sisters. Favorite classes are potions and charms. You're top of all your classes behind none, head girl after being prefect for previous two years. Your favorite place to sit is under the huge oak by the lake. Your favorite book is Hogwarts a History. You love talking to the Giant squid even though you think it's weird. You're an amazing singer and love studying and drawing. Your current best friends are Hermione and Ginny your previous best friend was Alice Prewett until she left last year. You're an all round friendly girl loved by all. Your muggleborn, have one sister named petunia who hates anything to do with magic. Your mother and Father's names are Rose and Henry Evans who both work for the muggle ministry."
"James…" she started
"When your really angry your face turns a charming shade of red to match your hair, you love the fact that you have red hair because it makes you stand out from the crowd, You had a crush on our third year defense professor for three months, your always confident in everything you do, and are never ashamed when looked down upon because of your muggle heritage. When you're nervous or tired your always fidgeting with something, when you're anxious you chew on your bottom lip.
You have never lied to a teacher or cheated on a test; when you lie you usually stutter as if you have troubles talking. When you're making a decision or deep in thought you furrow your eyebrows with a determined look in your eyes. Like now." James finished with a small smile.
"James, I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything, just believe me when I say I love you Lily."
"I…I do believe you, really James I do. I suppose now is as good a time as any for a confession." She said smiling. "I really like you James, and I know it's not love, but I have liked you for a long time now, it was always your ego and arrogance that kept me away, I could never be with someone that self absorbed."
"So it's agreed we both have feelings for each other." James asked cautiously.
"Yes it seems so."
James was no sitting beside Lily instead of across from hr, during their confessions they seemed to move closer to each other with every revelation without noticing. The fire was still roaring and dusk was approaching, the common room seemed to get darker. Staring into each other's eyes they tried to find the truth in the words just spoken some sign that this was all a lie some dream created by the subconscious. There was nothing only truth shining in each other's eyes, looking away blushing Lily stared into the deep flames, turning back to the boy no man before her with a serious expression.
"Will you ever forgive me for doubting you?" Lily asked softly tears threatening to fall.
"Already forgiven." He said wiping her tears, but once again she looked at him doubtfully. "How about this, Lily will you be my girlfriend, no strings attached no jokes just me and you, we will take this slowly." He asked.
"Yes James I will." She said throwing her arms around his neck.
She felt freed, like some huge weight on her shoulders had been lifted. She had never been so happy in her entire life, except when she got her Hogwarts letter. Snuggling into James Chest she felt him place a soft kiss on her forehead and she sighed.
Minutes later they were both snuggled up on the couch waiting for their friends to come back and let them out, James realized that lily was asleep when he felt her breathing become even. Shifting carefully he moved them into a more comfortable position with Lily tight in his embrace.
Sighing he looked out the window at the moon, 'Is this what its like to finally have Lily in my arms.' He thought. 'I feel freed, weightless, like some part of me has been unlocked and opened up for the world to see. I finally have the girl of my Dreams, my best friends are all in serious relationships, what more could a man ask for.' He thought.
With one last look out the window, he settled down with Lily closing his eyes and drifting off to a peaceful slumber with the girl of his dreams in his arms. No longer was she fiction but reality, she would be happy and that was all that mattered to him.
AN: That is the end of chapter 10, and I won't be posting for a while until I get more reviews, the more reviews the quicker the update.
Thanks again Mrs.T.Felton xXxXxXx