Chapter 12-'Serious' Trouble
"Tiffany! Wakie wakie Tiffany! We've got Quidditch today." I said in hopes of waking up my friend.
"Grr Hay..." she mumbled while shoving her head under her pillow.
"What?" I asked.
"She said 'go away' I believe." Ashley said walking over to stand next to me.
We both stood at the side of Tiffany's bed watching her sleep like there was no tomorrow.
"If she doesn't hurry and shower she'll miss breakfast all together. James has that thing about the team all eating a good meal before a game. I came to see where she was." I said.
"Yes, well, it's the same every morning isn't it?" Ashley said.
"Has it ever taken this long though? I've been calling to her for thirty minutes now." I said.
"Well, I think we can blame that on large consumptions of alcohol." Leah said walking out of the bathroom and to the vanity to fix her wet hair.
"Can I have a go at her?" Sarah asked after finishing the laces on her shoe.
Ashley and I stepped back motioning for Sarah to take a turn to try and wake Tiffany up.
"Sirius Black! What in Merlin's name do you think you're doing with Tiffany's panties!" Sarah shouted at the top of her lungs.
We watched as Tiffany sprung up out of bed grabbing her wand off the nightstand. She whirrled to the door with her wand outstretched. We all started laughing as comprehension dawned on Tiffany's face that she had just been tricked. She started mumbling a great deal of curses she planned to use on all of us in the near future, as she walked slowly to the bathroom.
"Funny, all we had to do was mention Sirius Black and knickers to get her going." Ashley said.
"Yes, well, it works every time." Sarah said.
Tiffany was still in the bathroom when the rest of us decided to head down to breakfast. I left the vial of hangover potion,( I had gotten it from Sirius last night), on Tiffany's nightstand next to her wand. I wrote a quick note to Tiffany before I followed the three impatient girls standing in the door way.
"Any luck?" James asked as I sat down next to him.
He was reffering to the fact that Tiffany was still MIA(missing in action), as Sirius had called it.
"She'll be right down." I said.
"Good Morning!" I greeted apon seeing Tiffany ten minutes later.
"What's so bloody good about it?" Tiffany murmured.
"Quidditch, Harpor!" James said slapping her on the shoulder.
"Do you bloody well have to shout so loud!" Tiffany whispered.
Sirius snickered.
"What are you snickering about Black?" Tiffany said sitting next to him.
"Nothing love. Look at the sun though, good weather for Quidditch even if it is just a bit nippy, wouldn't you agree?" Sirius said.
"Bloody sunshine." Tiffany whispered holding her head in her hands.
"Tiffany didn't you take the potion I left for you?" I asked.
"What?" Tiffany asked.
"Why don't you just summon it?" Remus said from his seat next to Ashley.
Tiffany put her hand in her robes.
"Bloody hell, I forgot my wand!" Tiffany said standing up slowly.
"No I'll get it for you, I saw where you left it." I said.
"Accio wand! Accio potion!" I said visualizing what I was summoning.
Everyone continued eating as we waited. After about two minutes the objects came whizzing into the Great Hall and straight down the Gryffindor table. Some girls even shrieked as they flew by. I held out both of my hands as the objects landed gracefully into each one.
"Here you go." I said handing the wand and potion over to Tiffany.
Tiffany picked up her wand and pocketed it before grabbing the potion, uncorking it, and swallowing it all at once.
"Thanks Lily." Tiffany said brightly before grabbing a piece of toast.
"Stuff works miracles." Sirius said watching Tiffany as she happily buttered her toast.
"Doesn't it though?" She said nicely.
We all gave her weird looks as she started humming as well. Sirius started laughing and we all looked at him.
"I might have put a bit of pepper up potion in it as well." He said.
"Can you mix them like that?" Lisa Knight asked.
The team watched as Tiffany merrily ate her breakfast.
"Dunno, it was the first time I tried it." Sirius said.
"And to think that half of Gryffindor trusts you to make their hangover potions." Joe said.
"I do believe I remember you buying some from me just last night." Sirius said.
"Good thing it wasn't for me then." Joe said quickly before going back to his eggs.
"Sirius, I know you're absolutely brilliant at potions, but this could have a serious side affect!" I said.
"Why thankyou Lily dear. I never knew you thought so highly of me. Really though, right in front of James? Now I love a scandal as much as the next bloke, but Marauder oath my dear. I have to uphold the Marauder oath. I too think we would look smashing together, but alas I hold the battle scars of my previous assumptions." Sirius said.
James smacked him on the back of the head.
"There's another scar for your assumptions." James said.
Sirius rubbed the back of his head acting as though a large bump was likely to form in any moment. Peter chuckled at Sirius' tactics.
"What's the Marauder oath?" Leah asked.
"Never go after another Marauder's girl." Remus said.
"Too True." Charlie said nodding at the Marauders.
Sarah spit her orange juice into her lap in surprise.
"You took an oath over that!" Sarah asked.
"Well, not just that. There are others." Sirius said looking at his fellow Marauder's and grinning.
"Oh really? Care to explain them to..." Sarah trailed off.
Siruis, seeing Sarah stare past his shoulder, turned around to see a blonde Hufflepuff standing behind him biting her lip.
"Er, Sirius? Could I have a quick word?" She asked.
Sirius looked her up and down and then gave her one of his charming smiles.
"Of course, it's Leslie isn't it?" Sirius asked standing up.
The girl, Leslie, smiled at Sirius. In my oppinion, she looked like she was about to start crying in any second.
James snickered into his juice. I turned to him quickly.
"What's so funny?" I asked.
James immediatley stopped laughing and looked at me as though he was frightened.
"Er, it's just, well guy stuff really. You wouldn't want to be bothered with it." James dissmissed.
I knew he was trying to change the subject, but when I saw the dissapproving look Remus sent to James, my curiosity was at an all time high.
"Go on James, try me." I said.
James bit his lip and sent a pleading look to Remus.
"Hey Lily, isn't there a charm you can use to reverse the side effects of the pepper up potion?" Remus asked me.
I knew it was meant for a distraction.
"Yes actually, but Charlie knows it. You were saying James?" I said.
"Well, if you must know, 'Leslie' is actually Lauren Jameson. She's a sixth year Hufflepuff." James said.
"Oh. So what's so funny then?" I asked.
"Uh, lets just say good ol' Padfoot just so happened to, how do you say it Moony? Um, steal her innocence? Except he didn't steal it, she more than willingly gave it to him." James said.
"What? When did they start dating?" I asked.
"They weren't." Remus said.
"And he 'stole her innocence' without remembering her name? That's horrible!" I said.
"Yes, well, considering he only stole it last night...but that's Padfoot for you." Remus said.
There were no words to describe how angry or surprised or disgusted I was at Sirius Black.
"I knew you wouldn't like to hear it." James said.
"I never knew Sirius, well, did that." I said.
"Since sixth year actually. The first of us all." Peter said.
I so badly wanted to ask if James had once been like Sirius. Would I like the answer though? Either way, it wasn't something I could ask at breakfast in front of everyone. I think James had an idea of what I was thinking. He ate slower and kept glancing at me.
"Well, Sirius can do as he pleases. He's the one to face the reprecussions." I said.
Everyone was quiet as Sirius rejoined us. Tiffany, having the pepper up potion effects removed by Charlie, glared at Sirius. If it was for the extra in her hangover potion or the whole Leslie/Lauren thing, I couldn't tell you. Sirius didn't seem to notice our behavior and went back to his breakfast.
"Lils, goodluck today. I can't wait to see exactly what Quidditch is like." Charlie said.
Of course, he was trying to clear the air and get my mind off of sex and irresponsible teenagers. Did I mention that I love Charlie? He knows just what I need. I smiled at him and mouthed a silent thankyou.
"Oh you'll love it Charlie! There's nothing in this world like Quidditch." Sirius said.
"That was a very Jamesish comment from you Sirius." Ashley said.
"Is Jamesish even a word?" Sarah asked.
"Hey, anyone can love Quidditch. I just don't make it life or death, if anyone would care to remember James in our third year." Sirius said.
"What happened?" Charlie asked.
"The lunatic jumped off his broom to catch the snitch before that Ravenclaw seventh year did." Leah said.
"Well, if I recall, you didn't think he was that much of a lunatic back in third year." Sarah said.
"Shutting up now." Leah said quickly and going red in the face.
James stopped mid bite so that his mouth was open and his fork was still in the air.
"Oh yeah." He said before taking his bite.
"Woah, what happened exactly?" I asked confused.
"Well Lily, what exactly happened was that James fell fifty feet to the ground, was hospitalized for a week, dated Leah because she thought he was daring, and Padfoot will have to clarify this but I think when he came to in the hospital wing the first thing he said was asked if they had won the match." Remus said.
"Well, that's..." I didn't know what to say. It made sense really. I had already known that James had dated Leah before, so I wasn't as bothered by the retelling as she seemed to be.
"Daring?" I finished.
The group laughed as James stood and announced the team to follow. It was time to go down to the pitch.
There was another victory party after we defeated Hufflepuff 300-70. I cast another silencing charm and made sure that I stayed well away from any suspicious drinks. Two parties in a row, and I was getting bored of them. When it started to get late James, Sirius, and I all headed to the Head dorms. Though I don't know exactly why Sirius was coming. We were walking silently for the most part when all of a sudden the five butterbeers I drank started to catch up to me.
"I'm going to go to the lavantry." I said.
"Do you want me to wait for you?" James asked.
"No, I'll just meet you in the dorm." I said.
"Really?" James said raising his eyebows suggestively.
I blushed realizing what I might have implied.
"Merlin! You two haven't had sex yet have you?" Sirius said standing up from his slouch against the wall.
James started to glare at Sirius.
"This must be some type of record for you Prongs! James Potter hasn't been shagged in months!" Sirius shouted almost drunkenly.
I didn't know what to say, I was so shocked. I just stood there while James glanced at me. James just looked at Sirius for a couple of seconds before he started to walk away.
"Oy! Prongs I was just having a laugh!" Sirius said walking to catch up with James.
James turned around swiftly.
"Sometimes Sirius, you're not funny. I don't give a damn about what you say about me, but don't ever pressure Lily like that!" James muttered, but I still heard him.
Sirius turned around and looked at me and cringed like he'd seen my body after being hit by a train.
"Prongs I'm-" Sirius started to say.
"Tactless?" James finished.
Sirius slumped his shoulders and looked at his feet. James walked away without saying another word and left me in the empty hall with Sirius.
"Lily, I... Fuck, I didn't mean it like that. I was just, being stupid I guess. I never meant to make it look like you were some wench that won't put out when James does everything for you." Sirius said.
My eyes got wide with shock. I hadn't thought about it that way. Damn, it does seem that way doesn't it?
"I just made it worse didn't I? I can tell by your reaction that you hadn't even thought that." Sirius said rubbing the back of his neck.
Suddenly I felt angry. I don't owe anyone anything and damn Sirius for making me feel like I do.
"You're probably right though. I am just a wench who won't give out. What the hell was James thinking getting involved with a prude like me right?" I screamed at him.
Sirius backed up quickly into the wall and looked shocked.
"You know what Sirius, fuck off." I said calmly as I walked past him to the Heads dorms to find James.
I don't know what came over me, but I felt bad for yelling at Sirius afterwards. He had this really hurt look on his face... What am I thinking? He deserved it didn't he?...But, why do I feel so horrible? He was trying to apologize afterall.
I looked around from my thoughts and realized I had wondered into some deserted hall that I wasn't familiar with. I hadn't been paying attention, so I figured I'd have to back track until I recognized where I was. I was about to turn around when I felt something poke hard into my back.
"Do yourself a favor and get out of here now." A harsh voice whispered from behind me.
"I'm Head Girl and I'll be anywhere I want to be." I turned around and came face to face with Severous Snape who had his wand in my face.
"Were you following me?" I asked him.
"Evans." Snape growled. "Can't you recognized a warning? Now get out of here. You don't have much time." He said.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"Severous? Ah, what have we here? Our precious mudblood Head Girl I see." Said a voice coming from somewhere down the hall behind Severous.
"Great Evans. Too good for advice, now look what you've got yourself into." Snape muttered.
Bellatrix Black came forward and stood next to Snape.
"So Severous, I see you've met our little Gryffindor who thinks she can make me look like a fool." Bellatrix said.
"You never needed my help." I said bravely.
Snape shot me a warning look from behind Bellatrix. Was he, helping me? Going against Bellatrix Black, who seemed to be the leader of the Slytherins?
"Are you scared mudblood?" Black asked me.
"Scared of you? Now why would I have a reason to be scared of you?" I said.
"You're outnumbered." She said cruelly.
I said nothing.
"What do you think Severous? How should we teach this little mudblood a lesson?" Bellatrix asked him sweetly.
"Is that a threat?" I asked her.
Bellatrix smiled at me and it was sickening how she enjoyed trying to make me fear her.
"It's a promise." She said.
"Bellatrix, this is the head girl. We can't do anything, Dumbledore will have us out of here in seconds. And, we need to be here, if you recall." Snape said.
"Of course I recall Severous." Bellatrix said.
She looked back to me with a disappointed face.
"Don't think this is over yet mudblood. I'll see you soon, when you least expect it. I'm going to bring you down." She whispered to me.
I stood as straight as I could.
"Come Severous." Bellatrix said before she started walking up the hall.
"You'll want to go that way." Snape said pointing me down a hall and turning to follow Bellatrix, who was already out of sight.
"Severous." I said.
He turned around again and looked rather annoyed with me.
"Thankyou." I said.
Snape looked rather flustered for a second before he walked away without saying anything. I went down the hall he pointed at and found myself in a familiar hall that I knew you could take on your way to the Gryffindor dormitories. A little ways ahead of me I seen Sirius walking with his hands in his pockets, his back to me so he didn't know I was there. I had half the mind to go and apologize to him. I got only a few steps toward him before a broom closet I was passing opened and I was pulled inside, but not without screaming my bloody lungs off first. A body pressed against mine forecfully and I tried pushing it away.
"Don't fight it Lily. Let it happen." I recognized that egotistical voice, it was Amos Diggory.
Diggory put a silencing charm on me as I struggled and he ripped at my clothes. Memories came rushing to me and I blacked out.
"Lily! Lily are you ok?"
I opened my eyes and Sirius was hovering over me. I quickly looked around. I was in the hall floor, just outside the broom closet and I caught site of an unconscious Diggory bloodied up and laying a few feet away from me. Seeing him made me jump away and into Sirius. He pulled me into him and put his arms around me while wrapping his cloak around me. I realized then that when Diggory pulled my shirt he ripped the buttons off so that it was open. My skirt too didn't fit properly from being pulled.
"I'm taking you to the hospital wing." Sirius muttered.
"No!" I shouted quickly scooting back into the wall.
I didn't want to go back there.
"I mean, would you just take me to the Head dorms? Please?" I asked.
Sirius nodded. He helped me up and took off his robes, putting them on me. With all that has happened, I wasn't even nervous around Sirius or embarrassed.
"I think you've seen more of me than James." I said trying to make light of things.
"Merlin's blessed me." He said joking.
I know it might seem like 'how could we be joking after what just happened?' But, it was awkward, and our light play just helped the both of us to get over it. It doesn't do to dwell on those types of things. Of course I'm going to go straight to the headmaster and report him tomorrow, he could be doing that to other girls!
"Sorry I told you to fuck off." I muttered along our walk.
"Sorry for earlier." He said.
"Thanks for rescuing me." I said.
"What can I say? I have to look out for our little Lilykins." Sirius said, draping his arm around me.
I stopped abruptly. Sirius looked at me confused.
"We left Diggory in that hall!" I had remembered.
"So? He tried to, well...he'll unfortunately survive." Sirius said.
"We can't just leave him there!" I said.
"You're right! We should have stripped him and put on a sticking charm." Sirius said.
"Sirius!" I scolded.
"What? He would deserve it. Besides, what kind of auror is going to curse deatheaters and then make sure they are healed up nicely?" He said giving me the scolding look.
I thought about his words for a moment.
"Are you sure he won't die?" I asked.
Sirius grinned at me.
"Lily!"
I turned around and Charlie was running at me top speed.
"What happened?" He panted as he skidded to a halt and pulled me into his arms. I hugged him fiercly. All the emotion that I was trying to hold back by my playful banter with Sirius came rushing in full force as Charlie squeezed me tightly. His embrace made me feel safe. It's like getting a burn and it not even hurting until your father comes over cooing at you, understanding your pain. You can't help but cry and tell him just how much it hurts.
"It was Diggory." Sirius said.
My back was to Sirius as Charlie faced him. They must have been having a silent conversation because I could feel Charlie's jaw repeatedly coming softly down on the top of my head. I pulled away and wiped a few stray tears. Sirius was holding a mirror in his hand and nodding his head at Charlie. Charlie rubbed my back and asked where Diggory was. I was about to say something when we heard nosie from up the hall. I turned and seen James coming. Charlie stepped back as James pulled me into his arms as he first had. I could feel the hot tears coming again as James muttered how sorry he was. Charlie watched us for a moment before nodding at James.
"Take care of her? Don't worry about Diggory, we'll handle him." Charlie said walking off with Sirius.
"Sirius!" James said.
Sirius turned around and the two boys looked at each other before Sirius nodded and followed after Charlie.
"Let's get you to sleep." James said gently and walking with me to the Head dorms.
"I'm not letting you go anywhere by yourself anymore." James said opening the portrait.
I wasn't about to tell him about Severous and Bellatrix.
"James I don't always need you with me." I said.
"But I do." He said leading me up to my room.
I came out of the bathroom after changing into something to sleep in, and seen James fixing my bed so it would be comfortable for me. I smiled.
"Climb in." He said holding the blankets for me. I got in and when he started to pull the blankets up I stopped him.
"I changed my mind." I said.
"What?" He asked.
"Would you stay with me?" I asked quietly.
James nodded slowly, stripped to his boxers and slid in beside me. He took me in his arms and held me close to him.
"I love you Lily. I'll protect you." He whispered.
"I know." I said.
I kissed him softly.
"I love you." I said shifting even closer to cause him to tighten his arms.
I realized then that I had to tell James about everything. My family, the betrothal, and worstly...Drumstang. I knew I could trust him, though I hadn't even told Charlie about Drumstrang. At least, not fully.