A/N: Hey Guys, Robin here again! So I was super shocked and surprised that in one day, we got five reviews on Chapter Three! To a lot of people, this may not seem like a lot, but for first time FanFiction Writers like Maddy and I, it's really amazing. For those of you who submitted your characters, we weren't able to fit any of you into this chapter, but you will be coming in the later ones. This story will most likely continue into their Seventh Year at Hogwarts, and from there, we aren't quite sure. Most of you will be added in those chapters, because it's easier to make you students. I hope that's okay with you all! You can still become a character in this story by leaving your name, age, looks, and personality (remember you can make some of it up, esp. your last name and age if you want to stay safe on the internet!). Please, please review, because it makes us post so much faster! Getting those five reviews made me rush here to post the chapter! So, enough of my rambling, go enjoy the chapter! And please, please don't Favorite the story without reviewing.
"I swear, Prongs, if you were anymore in love with Evans then...oh wait, you can't be anymore in love with Evans! That being said, shut the bloody hell up," Sirius says oh-so-kindly while towelling off from his shower. I have been filling him in at everything that's happened between me and her for the past seven hours in the bedroom we share, and I guess my in-depth analysis of her usage of my first name was a little too much for him.
"Back off, Sirius. One day you'll be in love too. Maybe," I retort, pulling a Puddlemere United tee-shirt over my head. At my statement, Sirius pauses in drying himself off and coughs once, not meeting my eyes. I wonder what's causing him to act so suspicious, but disregard it as he returns to his task at hand, a grin on his face.
"Doubt it," he says. "It's gonna take more than one biscuit to satisfy this puppy." I roll my eyes once again and throw my own towel at him, which he catches with agile ease. "Have you ever thought about giving up?" I shoot him a confused glance. "On Evans, I mean. Why not just going for some other bird? It's not like it would be difficult for you, given your talent at Quidditch, irresistible humor, and charming good-looks." He winks at me slyly.
"Did you hear me at all last year? Remember that one day in Charms?" I recall said day this past February, in which I had Lily's new boyfriend as an excuse to brag about me being over her to my friends.
"Actually Prongs, I remember your exact words: 'It's official, I'm totally over Evans now that she's dating that Brennigan bloke. Don't know what she sees in him. I doubt it will last long. She's much too good for him, anyway. But no matter. It's not like I care.' Yeah, sure did a great job of not caring." For a moment, I wonder how he remembered exactly what I said, but shrug it off, knowing it's just a Sirius thing to do.
I sigh. "See, I tried to convince myself that I was over her all the time. Avoiding her helped a bit, and I thought it had worked. But seeing her at camp today, I realized it never worked at all. Try as I might...there'll be no getting over Evans for me anytime soon." Sirius and I sigh together, puzzled over the way my heart works.
"Do you love her?" he asks suddenly. I know just a few minutes ago we were joking about me being in love with Lily, but just then I considered if it was the real thing. Did I really love all the things about her that I claimed to, or was it just infatuation?
"I...I don't know, Sirius. I think I might. ...But if I don't, I'm pretty damn close to loving her."
"That's for sure," he replies sarcastically, and a corner of my mouth tugs up. "Well, while I might not seem like it a lot of the time, I really do hope things for you work out with her. I know she makes you happy, and that's what really matters to me." I pause in combing my hair and look at my friend, ready for him to make it humorous, but he doesn't. He comes to stand next to me and I pat him on the back to show my appreciation.
"Thanks, Paddy. I hope you end up with a girl that makes you happy, too."
"Yeah, well. Frankly, I feel like buttering you up is the least I can do, seeing that I live in your house."
"Something my parents don't mind at all. You know they've always wanted another kid to care for, and we all know you're more than happy to oblige." Sirius chuckles and sits on his bed, picking up a copy of Quidditch Through the Ages.
"It's nice to have real parents for a change," he says with a grin, referring to the way he was treated at his own home before moving in with me last summer. His family always gave him a hard time for being a "blood-traitor" and a Gryffindor, and one day it just got too much for him. So he came here, and he's been an official member of the Potter family ever since.
"Speaking of parents, I'm going to go see Mum needs help with dinner," I tell him, heading to the door of our bedroom as I do so.
"You see, Prongs, this is partially why I moved in with you. You treat house-elves right, not even making Kimmy cook dinner, and in return she's the kindest creatures this side of Great Britain. We had Kreacher, and wasn't he a joy..." I have heard more about Kreacher, the Black family house-elf, more than I ever really wanted to, so I pat Sirius on the head sympathetically and walk into the corridor. What Sirius said was true: my mum happens to be a very big house-elf sympathizer, so she always treats our elf fairly, but she's always a huge fan of cooking.
I really do love my mum, more than other blokes my age would be willing to admit. I've always been nothing but gentlemanly towards her, even though I'm not always like that around my peers or other adults. Okay, I'm very rarely like that towards other people. Take Lily, for example. Ever since fourth year I've been constantly asking her out, trying to find new ways to get under her skin. Nor was I very kind towards other girls, having a habit of picking up a new one every month in some cases.
But during sixth year I had changed. I only had one girlfriend the whole year, a fifth-year named Amanda Hartrdige in Ravenclaw. She was really nice, pretty, and fun to be with, but the whole time I was dating her, I felt like there was this part missing, like a void I kept trying to fill with her that never did become filled. Come to think of it, I had felt this void ever since fifth year, when Lily had lashed out at me for taunting Snape after the Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL.
"What're you making, Mum?" I ask my mother as I enter the kitchen, where she is pounding a chicken breast with a wooden mallet. She smiles brightly at me and tucks a loose piece of light brown hair behind her ear.
"Chicken piccata. Now that you're all cleaned off, I can ask how your first day of Quidditch camp was," she responds. I shrug.
"Pretty fun, actually. All of the kids are really nice, and one of them...you remember hearing about Lily Evans, right?" I ask, easily noticing the curious glimmer in her eye.
"Yes, although I can't say I've heard of her for quite some time. You still like her?"
"That's unimportant, Mum," I say quickly, dodging the question. "Well, despite the fact that she's seventeen, she's one of my students. In the beginner class. She's not really loving having to start at the beginning, but she says she needs to learn how to fly in order to become an Auror."
My mother nods, seemingly impressed by my words, and I see a mischievous glint in her eye. "You know, this could be a chance to redeem yourself. Maybe by showing her that you're truly a wonderful teacher and good with children you'll be able to win her heart." I open my mouth to protest, but she cuts me off before I have a chance. "I know you still care for her, Jamie. I can tell. Why not give it a shot? You've never let anything stop you before."
I sigh, slightly irritated that my mother can read me so easily. "Well, there is something stopping me this time. Something more important. See, there's a very strict rule at camp between student-teacher relationships. George Craver got fired as a coach last year because of it," I say, quoting Sirius.
"That's right, I forgot. Well, I'm sorry about that. Maybe instead of trying to win her heart, just trying winning her friendship. That way something might be able to develop after camp is over. If not...well, then you'll have gained a friend. And Merlin knows we all could use more friends than enemies during this time," she says, adding a sigh as she refers to the ongoing Wizarding War between Lord Voldemort and everyone who chooses to oppose him.
Me, my family, and friends being in the latter group.
"Will Dad be home for dinner tonight?" I ask her, desperate to change the subject from my love-life. My mother sighs and pauses in her task of breading the chicken breasts.
"He's working late tonight. Apparently there's some case about unregistered Animagi assisting a werewolf or something." My breath catches in my throat and I feel my palms start sweating as I glance at my mother, wondering if she knows. I'm an unregistered Animagus, along with two of my closest friends, and every full moon we help our werewolf friend, Remus Lupin. During second year, around the time we had discovered what Remus was, we learned that werewolves can't hurt animals-only humans. Thus began the three-year-long journey in the attempt to become Animagi. And we succeeded.
Once a month I run around in the woods with my friends during the night. As a stag.
Mum seems completely unaffected by this bit of information and resumes cooking, leading me to assume that she doesn't know anything about that whole thing. No one does, outside of me and my fellow Marauders. And it should most definitely stay that way.
REVIEWS MAKE US POST FASTER! REVIEWS MAKE LILY AND JAMES REALIZE THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER! I know you guys are out there... *Stares at you trying to make you feel guilty* Come on, just click that little review button and make our day... 405 hits on this story and 9 reviews... let's get that number up! We'd LOVE to hear what you think about it, love or hate, or what could be improved. Oh, and I'm sick today, so maybee I'll update twice in one day...