Chapter 15- Coming Together
The morning post had just arrived when I seen a familiar barn owl headed my way. It was Euripides. He glided gracefully towards me and dropped the letter in front of me. He nipped my ear affectionately, took a bit of bacon from my plate, and flew away. I looked up and Charlie and Remus were staring at me, Charlie biting his lip. I picked up the letter and put it inside my robe pocket. James was too busy looking at a Quidditch magazine he had gotten to notice me do so, so I told him I forgot my Transfiguration book and started to leave the Great Hall. As I was walking away I could hear James' voice.
"Wait, don't we have potions first thing?" He said.
I sped up my pace to the giant doors.
I walked out onto the grounds and sat next to the lake. I slowly pulled out the envelope and broke the wax seal. I looked around me to make sure I was alone before pulling out the letter and opening it.
My Darling Lily,
It was good to hear from you again. I'm glad you're so well suited at your new school. But enough with the politics, I know you hate them. I was really troubled to hear how you felt about the betrothal. You know I would never do something to make you unhappy. I've spoken to your mother, but she says that the arrangements have been finalized. And I have always been a man of my word. But I did promise you long ago when you were born that I would do everything I could to make you happy. I was going to write to you and tell you to at least give this fellow a chance. But, shortly after I recieved your letter, I recieved another by way of your magical post. It was from a fellow of whom you go to school with. I believe his name was Remus Lupin. Very polite in his letter. And come to think of it, I do know of his family, good people. But this Lupin explained to me of your situation with this boy named James. Apparently it is Mr. Lupin's best friend, and he says that this James and you have strong feelings for each other. Charlie wrote me a similiar letter. And I am so glad to know my daughter has found her happiness. I couldn't bare to make you suffer, so there will be no announcement of the engagement. Am I a lord or aren't I? So I've put my foot down on the matter. However, your mother and I made the agreement that your ex-betrothal will still be present. Your mother is insistant that you at least meet him. It was her wish that you would marry someone that she had picked for you. I can't promise that the engagement is off, but your mother has agreed to postpone everything to at least let you meet him first. (I convinced her that it would look bad on us if the two of you didn't at least act cival to each other.) Your friend Lupin has neglected to give a last name to this fellow James, but if he has a good family status then perhaps you can persuade your mother to his favor. I'm sorry I cannot not do more to help you at this time. I send you my best wishes.
All my love,
Your father.
I let out a deep breath and turned to look toward the castle. Charlie and Remus were standing there, and I ran to hug them both.
"So it's good news?" Charlie asked taking the letter to read it for himself.
"I can't believe you two!" I said.
Remus grinned.
"We had to do something!" He said.
"Wait, father said he knew of your family." I said to Remus.
"Uh, geese look at the time. We better be heading to class. It is potions you know, so you really don't want to be late." Remus said as he sprinted into the castle.
Charlie and I followed him and barely made it in time. James kept trying to catch my eye all through the lesson, probably to ask me what was going on at breakfast. But I kept to my notes. It was when we broke into partners to brew when James asked me.
"What in Merlin's name is going on?" He asked.
"We're making the Draught of the Living Death." I said.
James gave me a hard stare.
"Oh it's nothing really. I recieved a letter from home this morning. That's all. I was nervous about reading it. I don't really get along too well with my mother. I just wanted a quiet place to read it if it was from her." I said.
"Oh. Well was it from her?" James asked as he started to light a fire under our cauldron.
"Uh, no. It was from my father." I said.
"Is everything ok?" He asked.
"I think it will be." I said.
"Well what was going on with Remus and Charlie? They said something about forgetting the house elves had a plot to poison them and that they had to immediatley go to the hospital wing." James said.
"They look fine to me. Probably just up to something." I said casually as I waited for the water in the cauldron to boil.
"Obviously. I'm not an idiot, I know they were up to something. That was one of the most stupid ecscuses I've ever heard. IT would have been believable coming from Sirius, but not those two. Do you know what it is they are being secretive about, or are you in on it too?" James asked me.
"Well if I were, then I couldn't tell you could I?" I said smirking.
James grinned.
"That's ok. I'll get to the bottom of all this." James said smiling.
And he would. I knew it was only a matter of time before James found out everything. The question was, how would he find out? Could I gather the courage to tell him the truth? That I had been lying to him all along. Well, not really lying, but when you don't tell the whole truth isn't that lying? I really need a break from all of this thinking. I can't wait for the weekend.
Now that quidditch practice is pretty much over, I have my evenings free until patrol. I was making my way to the Gryffindor Common Room for an investigation with one, Tiffany Harpor, when all of a sudden Sirius Black jumped from the corner of the hall and shoved me in a classroom.
"Sirius? What are you doing?" I asked.
"Sit." He instructed as he pushed me down in a chair.
"I know that you know." Sirius said.
Well this sounds familiar. It's like daja vu.
"What?" I said.
"James told me your on our team." Sirius said.
"Huh?" I said. Has he finally lost his mind? Of course I'm on his team, I've been on the Gryffindor team all season!
"You know, you're helping with the mission." Sirius tried to explain.
"Mission? What mission?" I asked.
Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Operation Black Harp. Sound familiar?" He asked.
"No. Is it supposed to?" I asked.
Sirius sighed in frustration.
"You're helping me to get in Harpors good graces!" He said.
"Oh! You mean because you like Tiffany-" Sirius cut me off by putting his hand over my mouth.
"Shhh! What if we're overheard?" He said looking around the very dark and dusty room.
Not likely. This time I rolled my eyes as Sirius removed his hand from my mouth.
"Speak in code only." He instructed.
"Yes sir." I said saluting him.
Sirius got all serious like, puffing out his chest.
"Now, status report." He said.
"I was just about to commence operation Black Harp in the tactical division Srgt. Black, sir." I said soldier like.
"And your tactics are?" He asked.
"To speak with said target sir, of emotions, sir." I said.
"Good, commence operations private." He said.
"Yes sir, Srgt. Black, sir." I said saluting him again.
"At ease soldier, and you are dissmissed." Sirius said.
I chuckled as I got up but Black kept the straightest face. Sometimes these boys take their games way too seriously. Or maybe just too Siriusly? I continued on my original quest for the Gryffindor Common Rooms. Wait a second, did I just say my original quest? Merlin, I've been around the Marauders for too long. So, I headed to the Gryffindor Commons. There, that was better.
Once inside the Common Room I seen Tiffany sitting in an armchair next to the fireplace. James and Peter were in a game of Wizards chess, and by the flustered look on Peter's face I could tell he was already losing. Leah and Charlie were at a table together across the room with their books spread out. I waved as I walked over to the couch where Remus was reading and Ashley was braiding Sarah's hair.
"Hey Tiffany, do you have last week's copy of Quidditch Weekly? I wanted to check something but I can't seem to find my copy. Wouldn't be surprised if Charlie had it or something. But who wants to interupt that?" I said pointing in the direction of Charlie who sat holding Leah's hand and whispering stuff to make her giggle every couple of seconds.
Tiffany laughed.
"Yeah, sure. I think it's upstairs in my trunk. But don't laugh at them too much, you and James went through the same thing." She said standing up and setting down her book, Quidditch Throughout the Ages.
"Oy! I don't think we ever did that in front of everyone." James said pointing at the couple again.
We looked in their direction before quickly snapping our heads back around.
"Ok, maybe not quite that bad." Tiffany said.
"Aren't they just so cute though?" Ashley said referring to the make out session going on between Charlie and Leah.
We all looked at her curiously.
"What? They are!" She said going back to Sarah's braid.
Tiffany and I shrugged before heading to the stairs of the girls dormitories, making sure to steer our gazes away from the left side of the room.
She rummaged through her trunk and pulled out the magazine I had asked for.
"Ah, knew it was in here somewhere." She said handing me the magazine.
"Thanks." I said.
"So have you started on the potions assignment yet?" Tiffany asked.
"I just finished it." I said.
"How long was yours?" She asked.
"Thirty six inches." I said.
Tiffany just shook her head as I sat down on Sarah's bed. Tiffany, recognizing my gesture to talk, sat on her own bed opposite from me.
"So? How are you and James?" She asked.
"Oh, we're good. James is his usual crazy self. We're having fun." I said.
"That's good. Is he still beating you at your little patrol game?" She asked.
I smiled.
"He told you?" I asked.
"Nah, I overheard him telling Sirius." She said.
We both laughed.
"Just so you know it was his idea from the beginning." I said.
"Of course it was." She said not believing me and laughing.
I chucked a pillow at her which she caught and held in her lap.
"I'm glad you're both happy. I know you've done wonders for James. Not that you haven't heard this before, but he really did sort of grow up for you. I mean, yeah he's still crazy James, but he's more mature now. Guess that's what some people will do for love." She said.
I smiled.
"I think we both sort of helped each other grow up. But what about you? Any love in the air for you? Or at least some new prospects?" I asked.
"Ha, yeah right. I think I've dated almost everyone." Tiffany said joking.
"Oh that's not true. What about Sirius?" I slipped in.
"What about him? He's a womanizing jerk." She said.
"Well, he did sort of prove you wrong." I said.
"Huh?" She said.
"You said he couldn't go two weeks without dating someone, and I know he hasn't been with anyone since the Lauren Jameson incident." I said.
"Good, maybe he learned that us girls are actual human beings and have feelings." She said.
"I think you did a pretty good job making sure he learned." I said.
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
"That you've been ignoring him and giving him the cold shoulder ever since. And it's really gotten to him." I said.
"No it hasn't." Tiffany said.
"But you admit trying to punish him?" I asked smiling.
"Somebody needs to." She said.
"Well, Sirius wouldn't be Sirius if he didn't do his normal stupid stuff. I admit he crossed the line with Jameson, but I really think he knows that. And it really bothers him that you don't talk to him anymore." I said.
"It only bothers him because he always wants to be the center of attention. He wouldn't be able to stand it if anyone gave him the cold shoulder." Tiffany said.
"That's not true. You guys used to joke around all the time. Even when you were fighting, it was only in jest. Most of the time. (Tiffany chuckled) You were good friends or something like that." I said.
Tiffany looked up quickly.
"What's that mean?" She asked.
"Well, you might have been something more?" I asked.
Tiffany laughed.
"No." She said.
"Well you could have been. That wouldn't have been so bad would it?" I asked.
"He doesn't think of me like that." Tiffany said.
'If you only knew.' I thought to myself.
"Well, he's acting like he did when James and him were fighting. He was mad at James, but you could tell he was just miserable because of it." I said.
"Yeah, you know it's only because he's too stubborn to apologize for overreacting or admiting he's wrong." She said.
"Yeah, but he eventually comes around and apologizes. Maybe he's trying to apologize to you. And from what Remus says, he rarely apologizes to anyone. So you know he really cares about you." I said.
"Then why does he do stupid stuff like that thing with Jameson?" She said.
Bingo. I think we are on to something here. I think she's starting to admit that she has feelings for Sirius.
"I dunno, maybe he was trying to get your attention? Guys always go about that stuff the wrong way." I said shaking my head.
Tiffany laughed.
"Yeah, that's true." She said smiling.
"LILS!" James shouted from the bottom of the stairs.
"IT"S ALMOST TIME FOR PATROL!" He shouted again.
I looked down at my watch. He was right, I only had five minutes until patrol began.
"Well, I better get going before James forgets to breathe without me." I said joking.
Tiffany laughed.
"So you'll talk with Sirius?" I said as I stood up.
"Sure." She said.
"Great." I said as I headed for the door.
"Oh Lily, you forgot the magazine." She said grinning.
So, she knew I only wanted to get her alone. I smiled back.
"It's ok, I remembered what it was I wanted to look at. So there's no need anymore. Thanks anyway!" I said waving as I left the room.
When I got down the stairs James was waiting for me.
"I'm glad you've come Lily! I couldn't remember to breathe without you!" James said dramatically.
"I was only joking!" I said.
"Nah, it's true." He said smiling and putting his arm around my waist.
I started to roll my eyes but decided against it and walked ahead of him to the portrait hole. I've really been getting bad with the whole eye rolling thing.
James caught up to me and opened the portrait hole for me. He then proceeded to put his arm around my waist.
"So it sounded like it went well?" He asked.
"Affirmative." I said in acting tones like I had used with Sirius in the classroom.
James gave me a strange look, but it only caused me to laugh.
"Nevermind." I said.
We continued our patrol in our normal routine. After patrols we headed back to the Gryffindor Common Room to get James' homework back from Peter.
"Really James, can't you just collect it at breakfast?" I asked tiredly.
"I offered to take you back to our dorms first you know. You insisted on coming, so don't complain." He said.
"I don't mean to complain, I just don't see why you have to have it tonight." I said.
"I need to make sure Pete didn't sabbotage it or something." He said.
"Why would he do that?" I asked.
"Well, I don't think he doesn't it on purpose, but have you seen his assignments before? Hands them in wrinkled, ripped, food stains on them. Stuff that would drive you mad." He said.
"Are you suggesting that I'm a perfectionist?" I asked.
James chuckled as he said the password to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"Sugar Quill." He said as the fat lady complained about students always disturbing her at ungodly hours.
I walked ahead of James into the portrait hole and stopped abruptly causing him to collide in to me.
"Lily why did you just stop in the-" I think he must have realized why I stopped.
Tiffany and Sirius were alone in the common room and snogging on the couches.
James coughed loudly and they quickly broke apart.
"Er, goodnight." Sirius said grinning like there was no tomorrow.
"Goodnight." Tiffany said.
Sirius walked up the boy's staircase and James followed him. Tiffany made to leave for the girls staircase, but I stopped her.
"Hold it right there Harpor." I said strictly.
Tiffany froze. She slowly turned around and stared at me. I pointed to the couch and we both silently sat down. I stared at her for a bit as she looked at her hands.
"So- I guess the talk went well?" I asked.
Tiffany's face turned a little red as she grinned.
"I guess you could say that." She said.
We both started laughing.
"So what happened?" I asked.
"Well, I came down stairs after you left and Sirius came down from the dormitories. Anyways, he played a game of chess with Peter before everyone started to head off to bed. Well, as everyone was leaving I asked him if I could have a word. We waited until everyone was out of the common room and I talked to him about Jameson. I told him that it really made me mad that he treated girls like that. Anyways, he said that he felt really bad about what had happened. That it was a drunken mistake. Somehow we started talking about the fact that I thought he always had to try and prove me wrong. That insued an argument and I told him that I couldn't stand him. Next thing I know we are kissing on the couch. Then of course, you guys came in." She said.
"Well, that's-interesting." I said.
"I don't even understand it." She said.
"So how was it?" I asked.
Tiffany smiled.
"I thought so." I said.
We heard footsteps on the boys staircase as James came into the room mumbling.
"Bloody wanker, fell asleep copying my homework. Drool all over it. Disgusting!" He mumbled.
Tiffany and I laughed.
"Well, I best be off to bed. Talk to you tomorrow Lily." Tiffany said.
James and I both said goodnight as she walked up the girls staircase.
"So? What did she say? I couldn't get a word out of Sirius. He just sat there grinning like a mad man and starring off into space." James said as we were walking out of the portrait hole.
I laughed and told him everything Tiffany had said. James started laughing too.
"Do you want to know what the best part of all this is?" I asked.
"What? That they finally got to together?" He asked.
"No, that I was the first one who seen them. Do you know how many points I have now?" I said.
James rolled his eyes.
"What's the matter James? Mad that I'm beating you at your own game?" I teased.
"Hardly. I wouldn't say you were beating me. Maybe a bit closer than you were before but you definately don't have as many points as I do." He said.
I shook my head and yawned. I couldn't wait to get to sleep. And now that Sirius and Tiffany are together and the engagement is at least postponed, it seems like everything is coming together.