Chapter Seven
Optimistic to the Point of Foolishness
"Like this?"
James took the parchment from the first year – what was his name again? John? Jeremy? – and looked it over once more.
He was still fulfilling his detention sentence even long after the Quidditch game against Slytherin had come and gone. On the other hand, his spirits were still buoyed from the effect of his team's win. If James wasn't one of the most popular boys in school before, he sure as hell was at the height of cool now. And Jeremy, for his part, was simply elated that he was getting one-on-one time with a Quidditch star.
"What's this, a turtle?" asked James, turning the diagram he was supposed to be drawing for his homework over on its side as if he were trying to read a very complicated map.
"No…" said Jeremy, his head falling.
James sighed. Damn. This little Hufflepuff may be terrible with Transfiguration, but he was also remarkably… adorable. James was becoming more and more endeared to him by the minute, but he was doing a very, very good job of hiding it because Jeremy was under the impression that this much older, much more sophisticated looking student would rather be chucking cockroach shells than helping him with his homework. Jeremy didn't know that James was fulfilling his detention, so he was already in awe of the fact that he was spending any time with him in the first place. James, for his part, was surprised beyond belief that he didn't hate every minute of it. In fact – and he'd never admit this to McGonagall for fear that she'd find him something more loathsome to do – he was actually really enjoying his tutoring hours. This was nothing like trying to explain stuff to his friends; mostly because the first years, unlike his friends, were rapt with attention every time he opened his mouth.
"I was just trying to draw what it looked like," said Jeremy.
"What what looks like?" asked James. "We're talking theory, it doesn't – oh, hold on," James cut off when he heard a vibration coming from his book bag on the floor by to his feet.
He had charmed the magic mirrors he got for himself and Serious to vibrate when Sirius was trying to call him, so that people wouldn't turn their heads when they heard a voice shouting "James Potter! James Potter!" from inside his bag. From Jeremy's point of view, however, the whole thing was still very strange. He hadn't heard the very subtle vibration, so when the forth year suddenly broke off, opened his book bag, stuck his head inside and asked, "What's up?" Jeremy was more than a little concerned. "What do you mean, you're hungry? No, I can't. I'm busy…. Alright, just sit tight–"
Jeremy gave a little cough. He was beginning to think that the forth year had forgotten he was there.
James looked up from the bag momentarily and furrowed his brow at Jeremy before returning his attention to whoever or whatever was in his bag.
"I'll catch up with you later," he said. He closed his bag and sat back up straight. It seemed that Sirius and the others needed James to help them through one of the steps. It was taking a lot longer than it would have had James been there, and Sirius was getting cranky because he had anticipated being able to eat lunch far before now.
"So, where were we?" asked James. For some reason Jeremy looked slightly afraid of him.
He had met with two other students before this kid, and though it took them a few times to get the concept as well, it was taking Jeremy forever. Nothing that James had tried was making it any clearer in his mind. But that moment of understanding that he had achieved with those other two kids had somehow been so satisfying that he wasn't going to give up until Jeremy got there, too.
"You don't need to draw quite so many pictures, I think," said James.
"I'm just trying to… trying to see it," said Jeremy.
James blinked. See what? Nothing visible came out of the wand when the spell was performed, and they were only working on the theory now, which had nothing to do with vis–
Ahhh, thought James.
He thought about it for a moment.
"Maybe if you thought about it like this," he said, and he began to draw a picture on the parchment, drawing out a curving horizon line and two circles for the sun and moon. When he was done he took out his wand and tapped it on the paper, making the circles come to life, rising and setting. Jeremy stared in wide-eyed awe as the circles moved and the parchment even blacked over with ink when the 'moon' rose, then cleared again when it sank, representing night and day. On a separate piece of parchment he drew a diagram of the earth, sun and moon from a more distant vantage point so that no matter how the planets revolved all three could always be seen. With this he began explaining to Jeremy the transfigurational concept that they were working on, using the solar system as a metaphor to visualize the concept. It seemed so simple to James now that he wondered why he hadn't thought of it before. He just needed a way to literally visualize the theories in order to make sense of them.
When James was through explaining the concept in that fashion to the best of his ability, it was time for Jeremy to go to his next class, so James didn't have a chance to find out if his help had really amounted to anything. Still, as he packed up his things to leave the library he felt pretty good about himself.
That is, until he ran into Lily on his way back to the common room.
He had heard her voice from around the corner. We'll, he'd heard her laughter.
"But who are you going to go with?" said another voice.
James stopped just around the corner to listen.
"I don't see why I have to go with anybody," said Lily.
"Because that Snape kid will be going, too, no doubt. And if you both go stag together people will want to say you're… you know… dating! It is a Valentine's Day party, after all."
"Why would that be such a horrible thing?" asked Lily after a pause.
James made a face from where he stood unseen and told himself not to vomit.
"Why would it be a horrible thing to…? Ugh, I can't believe these words are coming out of my mouth in this order," said Denise.
Here here, thought James.
"Wait a minute," she continued, and suddenly her tone was serious. "You two aren't dating, are you?"
"What? Oh God no! Don't be silly!" said Lily, her tone conveying how ridiculous she found the idea before she could check herself. Severus was a friend, not a… oh, it was just too weird to even think about him in that way. She had only questioned Denise because she didn't like the tone of condemnation she was using against him.
"Ok, just checking."
"If you're so concerned for my well-being, why don't you come?"
"Because I have an actual date with someone that night," said Denise, and James could actually hear her beaming. "We're going to Madame Puddifoot's – you know, that adorable little tea place in Hogsmeade."
"Yeah, I know it," said Lily, the corners of her mouth twitching upwards. Madame Puddifoot's wouldn't exactly have been her choice for a first date, or any date, for that matter. She wouldn't even bother asking Denise who her mystery lover was – more than likely he'd be old news by next Tuesday.
"You know, you could just skip Slug's party if you found yourself a date. We could double!"
"That sounds lovely," said Lily, though she would rather do a number of unpleasant things before going on a double date with Denise. "But Slughorn hinted he'd be introducing me to a colleague of his at the Ministry. He keeps handing me pamphlets about how they need more potioneers. I'm actually kind of excited," she added, and Denise rolled her eyes.
"Suit yourself. Are you off to the library, then?"
"Yeah, I've got tutoring."
"How long do you have to do this before McGonagall thinks you've done enough detention?"
"It's not for detention," said Lily "I finished up my sentence a while ago. But after hexing Avery I figured I should show some extra initiative if I still want to be considered for prefect next year."
"Still don't know why you want that position," said Denise. "And I had no idea you'd already finished serving detention. I heard Potter was still serving his."
"I might have Potter to thank for my service not being as long, actually," said Lily, and inwardly James smiled.
"Oooh, you should invite him! You two seem to get along together, and you went with him to one of Slug's parties last year."
"Potter and me? Get along? Since when, exactly? When have you ever heard us have a conversation that wasn't a competition or an argument?"
"Oh, I don't know. I suppose there's just something about they way you argue… at the very least it'll be entertaining for everyone else."
"Oh, well in that case I'll go and ask him straight away," said Lily, laughing. "See you later!"
James realized that Lily was walking down the corridor towards him, but he waited before rounding it to meet her lest it look like he'd been just around the corner when they'd been talking. He timed it perfectly so that he nearly bumped right into her as she passed.
"Evans," said James, sounding casual. "Nice running into you, as usual," he joked.
"Oh, stop, my stomach hurts I'm laughing so hard," said Lily with an eye roll. Though she had initially given a start, she thought she had successfully managed to hide her shock as she saw none other than Potter mere seconds after joking about inviting him to Slughorn's Valentine's Day party.
"Careful, Evans," said James. "You'll start a rainstorm with that dreary attitude."
Lily's only response was another eye roll.
Neither of them had brought up their last argument since it had happened. James was still perplexed by Lily's response to a comment of his that he couldn't even fully remember, and Lily was embarrassed that she had taken it so seriously herself. The next day James had simply gone back to treating Lily the way he normally would, as if nothing had happened, preferring this to avoiding her. And Lily usually wasn't one to hold a grudge or create drama where it needn't be made; and, though it seemed rather silly, it was nice to be able to have a certainty in her life. Something she could count on that would never change. If that thing happened to be a competitive relationship with James Potter, then so be it. Between her sister becoming more estranged from her, Severus flip-flopping about his loyalties to his Slytherin housemates, and her up-in-the-air chances at becoming a prefect next year, she supposed she should be grateful for the ever-bothersome James Potter. That said, the idea of changing the thoroughly grounded nature of their weird relationship by inviting him to attend a party as her date did not strike her as the best plan , no matter how much she entertained the idea in her head.
"I assume you're off to the library," said James, noting her books. Careful not to let the little first years get too attached to you," said James, as Lily continued on her way. "They tend to get clingy. Last thing you want is for one of them to expect an invitation from you to one of Slug's parties or something."
James mentally slapped himself. Was he being too obvious?
"I'll be sure to keep that in mind," said Lily suspiciously.
"Although, you and that Thompson fellow might do well together. You're about the same height."
To this, Lily finally turned around.
"He's tall for his age," she said, a bit cross. "And I'm average height."
"So they did lower the national average! I thought I felt taller," said James. Well, it may not have been the nicest thing to say, but it did get her to turn around. Though he wasn't sure exactly what he meant to say to her once she did.
"I'm sure I'd feel taller too if my head were twice it's normal size," said Lily.
"Big brains like mine need a lot of room," said James. "So I suppose you are going to Slughorn's thing, then," he added, getting back to the topic he most wanted to discuss.
"What thing?" said Lily, pretending to be unawares.
James's eyes narrowed for a moment, but he quickly recovered.
"Slughorn's having a Valentine's Day party or something. Normally I wouldn't care, but he was really adamant about wanting me there. Something about me being a Quidditch star, I don't know…" he trailed off, raking his hand through his hair and glancing at Lily to look for any sign that she was impressed. If he wasn't mistaken, she was rolling her eyes again.
"I'm serious, Evans – one of these days your eye will roll straight out of your head and onto the floor. Anyway," he went on, "I was pretty surprised that he wanted me – Slug, I mean – seeing as it was his own house we won against."
"He's not as prejudiced as some people," said Lily, continuing her way to the library. "So I'm assuming that means you're not going?"
"What, me? No way. Wouldn't catch me dead." What are you doing? he thought to himself. "Do you really like what it's all about? Seemed awfully stuffy from what I saw."
"Well, unlike some people it's the only opportunity I get to do network with wizards outside the school."
James was silent for a moment. He hadn't considered that perhaps he took the whole affair for granted, having been introduced to that sort of lifestyle from birth.
"Alright, you have me there," he said, as bit more softly. He almost added a sorry, but apologizing wasn't really his strong suit.
They were now just outside the library doors.
"I thought you had your sessions at a different time," said Lily, thinking that the only reason James would have walked with her this far was because he, too, was on his way to the library.
"I don't just come to the library because I have detention," said James a bit defensively.
Lily raised an eyebrow.
"I don't," James asserted. "I probably know the library better than you do. Did you know there's a passageway behind–"
"Behind the third bookcase, second row down of the Biographical section? No, I had no idea until you graciously indulged me with your infinite knowledge, thank you so much."
James blinked in surprise, but then his face broke into a genuine smile, and Lily, despite herself, felt quite pleased.
"And how did you come to discover that?" he asked.
"Same way you did, I expect," she said. "Hiding from Filch when I found myself out past curfew."
"Close. Mrs. Norris."
"You were hiding from a cat?"
"That thing is not a cat," declared James.
"What is she, then?" asked Lily.
"The devil incarnate?" he suggested.
Lily grinned. For the moment, she had actually forgotten that she had a second year student waiting for her in the library.
"Strange to think of you hiding from Filch," said James.
"Well, I would hate to think my character's been sullied in your eyes," said Lily.
"Not at all. I like a little mischief in a person. It's healthy."
"Not in excess," said Lily, thinking of James's less restrained penchant for troublemaking.
"Ah, I was wondering where the criticism would come in," said James.
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Lily, taken aback.
"Nothing at all," said James. "What do you mean by 'excess'?"
"Nothing, I don't know," said Lily, wondering how their conversation had yet again turned on its head so suddenly. "Why do you have to be so argumentative all the time?"
"I'm not like this all the time," said James. "You just bring it out in me."
"Oh," said Lily, her turn to be defensive. "Well I'm so sorry to be so terrible to get along with!"
Truthfully, Lily was hurt by his last comment. She had certainly been more than confused about the nature of her relationship with James for the past few months; at times it was hard to tell whether their usual banter arose out of simple academic rivalry, as it had in the past, or if there was something more to it. More than once she'd caught herself being nearly flirtatious, but only at times when his behavior seemed to suggest the same. It wasn't until their argument after leaving McGonagall's office that Lily even considered the idea that the reason why James argued with her so much was because he actually found her disagreeable. She had dismissed the thought at first, but now here he was, telling her once again that he had a serious problem with her.
"That's not what I'm saying," said James, exasperated. Why does this keep happening? One second he was having a halfway normal conversation with Lily, and before he knew what had happened they were in the middle of yet another argument.
"Oh, of course! You meant that I bring out all your worst qualities in a nice way."
"'Worst qualities?'"
"Yes – even the great James Potter isn't completely flawless. I'm sorry to be the one to inform you."
"What do you mean 'wors–"
"Hey, Lily, I almost forgot to ask… you… uhhhmm… Hi," stuttered Denise, who had turned around to find Lily at the library when she realized she'd forgotten to ask for her Herbology notes earlier.
Lily turned around, her face a bit red, which piqued Denise's interest.
"Everything… ship shape?" she asked.
"Yes, just peachy. You forgot to ask me what?" said Lily, accidently speaking as sharply to Denise as she had been to Potter.
Denise paused before she answered, looking from Lily to James.
Lily caught this, turned her head over her shoulder, gave James a curt once over and asked in a somewhat hostile tone,
"Was there something else you needed, Potter?"
Surprisingly, James spoke right away. But not to Lily.
"Denny, are you going to the Saint Mungo's Trustee Ball over holiday?" he asked her, all politeness. James knew that her aunt was on the board. He had his hands draped casually in his pockets and he looked remarkably at ease for having been arguing with Lily just a moment ago.
"Oh, I don't know," said Denise, twirling a finger in her hair and batting her eyelashes a bit more than necessary. "Why, are you going?"
"Of course. My dad was on the board for years."
"Oh, well then I'll definitely go! I mean – that is – I can see if I'm possibly able to maybe come for a little while," she shrugged coquettishly, suddenly trying to act aloof.
"Great. It's a date," said James, and Lily, surprised by how incensed she was by this, spoke out at once.
"I thought you were already seeing someone, Den?" she asked her, finding herself hoping that Denise would cancel her 'date' with Potter once she was reminded of this fact.
Denise shrugged it off.
"Oh, that'll be over in a week or two. Well before the party!"
"Wonderful, then I'll see you there," said James with a smile. And without a single glance at Lily he turned on his heel and walked off.
Later in the common room Sirius is telling James that he heard from Sydney that James had asked Denise to, in his words, "a freaking ball."
"I was just asking if I'd see her there, is all," said James.
"Syd said you'd said it was a date," said Sirius, confused.
"Ah, yeah, well, that was… I was sort of…" he trailed off, not quite sure how to say, I only did that to spite someone else, without sounding like a complete prick. "Why are you interested anyway?"
"Just didn't think you liked her, is all. Thought you had – er – other preferences."
"You should come, too," said James, pretending that he hadn't heard Sirius. "I promised my parents I'd go and it'd be more fun with you there. I wasn't really planning on spending the whole time with Denise."
"You're a model of gentlemanly behavior, you are," said Sirius.
"So you come and help keep her off my – I mean, keep her company, too. I hate being stuck at those things by myself."
"Don't you usually entertain yourself by… what did you do last year again? Blow up the punch bowl? Tell naughty jokes to the Home Secretary's wife?"
"My, you've an interesting memory. It was nothing that dramatic. I just joked around with some of the more well-humored board members was all. And I didn't blow up the punchbowl, I spiked it," he explained, as if this was a great improvement to the other story. "I doubt this year will be at all the same, though, given all that's happened to Saint Mungo's in the past year."
"I'm surprised they're even having a benefit ball this year."
"I'm not. What with all that's going on, it isn't a wonder Nostrum wants to make it all look like business as usual. That's what mum says, at least. She's even more upset about the changes there than dad is. Dad's hinted that he's worried she'll start something at the ball – rile up someone important or something."
"I wouldn't be surprised. I like that about mum; never afraid to speak her mind."
"What did you just say?"
"What? I meant that as a compliment!"
"No, I just – it sounded like you called her… never mind," James trailed off.
Sirius, embarrassed because he realized exactly the mistake he had just made and why, quickly changed the subject.
"Err, so, err… So, while I'm off 'entertaining' Denise in some dark, romantic corner of the–"
"Knowing you, you're probably referring to a closet."
"Room – shut up – who will you be enjoying the evening with? The ever-elusive Lily Evans, perhaps?" Sirius batted his eyelashes mockingly.
Of course, it was at that moment that Lily walked through the passage into the Gryffindor Common Room after finishing up her last tutoring session and grabbing something to eat from the Great Hall. And is was this response that she heard from where she stood unseen on her way up to the girls dorm:
"Yeah, right," said James, still resentful of the way things had ended yet again with Lily and eager to let off steam even if it came out in the form of lies. "We wouldn't be caught dead at a party together." James, of course, was referring to the fact that Lily would probably never agree to go out with him, but Lily took this declaration, and the bitterness behind it, in exactly the opposite way. She continued on her way to the girl's dorm, careful to remain unseen – not because she didn't want Potter to know that she'd heard him, but because she was too proud to let anyone see her cry.
The next morning, at breakfast, James was less concerned about what had happened yesterday between him and Lily. He, of course, didn't know that she has overheard the comment he had made to Sirius last night. He knew that he'd probably completely sabotaged any chance at going to Slughorn's party with Lily, but it seemed that he simply enjoyed torturing himself because he kept thinking back to their time together at last year's party. Though they had only gone together for Machiavellian reasons, he had actually really enjoyed being around her. She had danced without giving a care in the world to what she looked like, she wasn't afraid to be silly when the mood turned a little too drab for her liking, and she went out of her way to make sure the people around her felt comfortable and were having a good time. James truly admired Lily for all that she was and that fact that she rarely seemed to give a thought to herself or what anyone thought of her.
Having drifted deeper and deeper into thoughts of her, James was unaware that he had settled his gaze directly on Lily, who was nibbling on some toast a ways down the Gryffindor table. Sirius did notice, and couldn't resist commenting.
"Merlin's sake, just ask her already!"
"What?" said James, snapping out of his reverie.
"Evans, duh," said Sirius, thoroughly frustrated. "It's obvious you fancy her."
"I – wha – no! I don't – what are you–" James spluttered.
"Oh, come off it," Sirius cut him off. To hell with what James had said last night. He was thoroughly lost as to why his best mate, who was normally so straightforward and unabashed, would be embarrassed about a school crush. If he knew that James thought Lily wasn't actually interested in him, the whole thing might have made more sense; he would then quickly inform James that he was blind if he didn't see that she liked him, and that would be that. Unfortunately, he had no reason to believe that James was actually afraid of being officially rejected by Lily, so he had no constructive advise to offer his friend. "Oy, Evans!" Sirius shouted over the table.
"What are you doing?" hissed James, trying and failing to grab Sirius's waving arm from across the table.
Lily stopped laughing at what Denise's impression of Paul Bloom's somewhat inappropriate reaction to the cheering charms they were practicing the day before. She peered over at Sirius, who continued to talk to her over the entire table.
"Heard you were looking to upgrade your date to Slug's party," he said. "Bet you wouldn't mind going with Gryffindor's star Quidditch player, wouldn't you?"
While across from her Denise's eyes grew round with surprise, Lily suddenly felt her ears turning red and hot. It wasn't enough that James had made a fool out of her last night – but now he was actually involving his friends in the joke. And now Black was going to involve the whole of Gryffindor tower! They were actually making a joke of asking her out. Ok, fine, she thought. Two can play at this game.
"Oh, well yes," she began innocently, and for one brief moment James was flabbergasted. "But I think Martha already has a date."
This got quite a few laughs from around the table. James, afraid of being caught in a vulnerable situation, laughed along to make it seem like he could care less about what was happening. This, of course, only confirmed Lily's suspicion that he and Black were having a laugh at her expense.
"Tragic," said Sirius. "But I was actually referring to our center chaser."
"I thought you said I should be looking for an improvement," said Lily coolly, too incensed to care that she was falling below her standard of tactfulness.
To this, several people Ooooo-ed, though they were still thoroughly enjoying the show.
James would, of course, have to speak up for himself now.
"Leave her alone, Sirius," he said, and for a second Lily was both surprised by and thankful for his intervention. But then he continued. "She would hate for anyone to find out that she actually enjoys my company. Tell you what, Evans – I'll do you a favor. I will let you go out with me. Just once, mind you! Don't get greedy! I know you've been wishing it would happen and I'm finally taking pity."
Several more people were laughing now.
James knew he wasn't exactly improving things with Lily, but at the moment he couldn't think of a better way to save face in front of the whole school other than by pretending that the whole thing was a big joke between them.
Un-fucking-believable, thought Lily.
"Oh, thanks so much for your concern, Potter," Lily said. "Tell you what? How about tonight you come up to the Astronomy tower," (this earned her several catcalls from the crowd), "and I'll meet you at the bottom."
"Ouch," said Sirius as the table Ooooo-ed once more.
"I'm know I'm a catch, Evans, but there's no need to throw yourself off a tower for me!" retorted James, but Lily was already getting up from the table with Denise and Mary, the latter girls too taken aback by the whole exchange to comment. Lily didn't look back at James as she left the Great Hall, but Denise wiggled her fingers at him over her shoulder as she followed her.
"Merlin," said Sirius, sitting down. "Did not see that coming, mate. Really sorry. What's wrong with you?" he added.
"Gee, I dunno," retorted James under his breath. "Maybe the fact that you just made an arse out of me at eight in the morning."
"Not you – you," said Sirius, nodding at Remus, who was looking down at his toast and didn't appear to have been the least bit amused by what had just happened.
"Nothing, just…" he turned to James with an apologetic look on his face. "I was gonna tell you… I didn't think… if I'd known…"
"For Godric's sake, what?" said James impatiently.
"Lily and I are going to Slughorn's party together," said Remus.
James, having had a lot of practice over the years at deceiving people in order to get out of trouble, and not wanting to hurt one of his closest friends, hid how unsavory he found this information from Remus.
"Why are you looking at me like that's a bad thing?" said James. "Good. I'm glad. Since when?" he couldn't help but add.
"We ran into each other last night. We figured it would be fun–"
"If a Slug Club party is your idea of a good time then we need to take you out more often," said James. "But honestly, you're looking at me like you've just accidently killed somebody. If your eyes get any rounder someone might mistake you for an owl."
"I wonder why she didn't mention it, though," said Remus after a pause, cutting into his eggs rather dejectedly.
"Because we were only joking," asserted James. So who exactly are you lying to now? a voice inside of his head asked.
"So it's just gonna be a running joke with you two now?" asked Sirius, thoroughly confused. "'Oy, Evans, wanna go out?' 'Ew, no way! Cooties!'" he mocked, doing his best (which consequently was a very poor) impression of James and Lily, respectively. "Yeah, sounds hilarious. You two should perform stand-up, you're a riot," he said, sarcasm dripping from every word.
The most mature response James could think of was to throw a piece of toast at Sirius's forehead.
"Oof – ok, cut it out!" said Sirius when a second object fell on his head.
"That wasn't me," said James. "You've got a letter."
"Sure enough, Sirius looked up to see a vaguely familiar owl soaring away from his head after having just dropped a letter onto it.
"It's from Andy," he said, after reading the front. He eagerly tore open the envelope. It wasn't often that Sirius got mail from anyone besides James's parents and Wizard Rock magazine.
As he was reading the letter a look of disgust suddenly appeared on his face.
"What?" Peter asked, having just shown up at the table to greet them.
"Nymphadora?" Sirius said to himself.
"Nymphawhat?" repeated James.
"Ok, so the good news is that Andy finally had her baby and now she's not fat as a bloated banshee," said Sirius, looking up.
"She was pregnant, Sirius" said Remus.
"Her words, not mine," said Sirius. "The bad news is that she named the poor girl Nymphadora."
"Why?" asked Peter, sounding as if he were asking why someone had decided to put down their pet.
"Says she always wanted to name her first kid after one of the Black family's most infamous blood traitors," said Sirius. He sighed, folding up the letter. "I tell you, it's like my family enjoys giving their kids the most stupid names."
"You don't say?" said James sarcastically, still feeling some residual resentment for Sirius's ill-conceived attempt to get he and Lily on a date together.
"Yeah," sighed Sirius, missing the taunt completely. "Oh, almost forgot. She wants a visit sometime."
"Yeah?" said James, suddenly feeling a bit more cheery.
"Yeah," said Sirius. "She says she wants to know now Narcissa's doing."
"She's her sister," said Peter.
"Yeah, but she's been shunned from the family, and I haven't yet," explained Sirius.
"Are you planning on it?" asked Remus.
"Well, I mean it's not like I've set a date, but of course you're all invited to the party when the day comes."
"Why Narcissa specifically?" asked James.
"Dunno, do I?" shrugged Sirius. "Not that I'd know anything to begin with."
Fortunately, this seemed to be enough to appease their curiosity, for Sirius was lying. He knew exactly why Andromeda would be wondering how her younger sister was doing, though she hadn't said anything specific herself. He felt the same way about Regulus. He never had the courage to show it, but despite the distance he felt between him and his brother, he couldn't help but feel like a failure for not being strong enough to steer him away from the brainwashing doctrine of their family. Inwardly he was debating whether or not to tell Andromeda that Narcissa was dating Lucius Malfoy, who was said to have a pretty firm footing in the rumored Dark Rising.
He found his gaze drifting over to the Slytherin table, searching for Regulus among the crowd. He didn't see him, and he was more than a little surprised when he found himself disappointed by this. But then an idea occurred to him.
"You know," he said to James, "We haven't used that cloak of yours in a while."
"What are you thinking?" asked James eagerly, knowing exactly which cloak Sirius was referring to.
"I'm thinking that, coincidentally, we also haven't pulled a prank on the Slytherins in a while, either."
"You're serious?" asked Remus. "James is still serving detention for the last fight he got into with them!"
"And I am just dying to get back at them for that," said James, and Remus rolled his eyes.
Just then, however, Professor Slughorn was making his way past the Gryffindor table on his way out of the Great Hall.
"Well talk it through tonight, after supper," said Sirius in an undertone. "I'm thinking we'll kill two birds with one stone."
"What do you mean?" asked Peter.
"You'll see," was all he said.
