Chapter five

Of Truth and Dare and Interesting trips!


Lily Evans was feeling content. Like, really content. For some reason unbeknownst to her, she had, for once, awoken in a good mood. Like, really good mood. The previous night's slumber had been very peaceful. Like, really peaceful. Strange, huh?

Her head was resting comfortably on a pillow. Hmm…a rather comfortable pillow. It gave her, oddly enough, a sense of security as it radiated heat…wait a minute. Pillows aren't supposed to give off heat. And they most definitely aren't supposed to move up and down. And there isn't supposed to be a continuous rhythmic sound as though it's someone's heartbeat either…is there?

Her eyes fluttered open and she yawned. She was about to move when she felt a weight on her stomach. Or rather...someone's weight on her was holding her waist…well, holding her, to be particular. There was something different about it...how to put it? It was possessive, yet protective. As much as she liked it, she was equally freaked out by it too. She tried to move, but the hold only became stronger. She tried to wriggle out of the grasp again, but a voice from behind her made a sound of protest and held her tighter. She looked down and saw an arm around her middle. It felt…good. It shouldn't…but it did.
It did…and that's what freaked her out most.

So, like a calm and rational person, Lily did the first thing that came to her mind.

She elbowed whoever the person behind her was in the stomach.

"Oomph!" came a slightly choked voice from behind her. The grip on her waist relinquished slightly, and she scrambled away from her sleeping bag…well, as much as she could anyways, since her hand was firmly clasped around something.

She heard a groan from behind her and turned quickly.

"I'm so sorry; it's just that-wait a minute…hey! What are you doing here Po-oh? Ah…right, hands still stuck"

"Couldn't have thought of that a minute ago?" James muttered, while massaging his abdomen gingerly.

Lily looked slightly guilty. "I-I'm really sorry. I thought someone was-" she broke off.

James smiled back reassuringly at her. "It's okay, trust me,"

"But what was I supposed to do? I mean…I wake up suddenly and your hand…it just…" she trailed off, cheeks heavily flushed.

James' ears turned pink. "Right…well, it's alright…uh, sorry about that…"

"No don't be sorry!" Lily cut in quickly. On seeing his expression she turned slightly red and continued, "No, I mean…well, it wasn't really your fault…I mean...it wasn't, was it?"

"Of course not!" he said hurriedly.

Lily looked at him skeptically. "No, well…I mean…you were looking uncomfortable so I just turned you around a bit…"

"Oh…well, alright then. And I really am sorry,"

"Nah, don't worry about it. I'm used to your violent side, Lils."

She smirked. He grinned.

"I didn't always get violent, okay!"

He scoffed. "Sure you didn't."

"I didn't!" she protested, though her eyes were twinkling lightly.

"Yes, you did."

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"Did too!"

"No, I didn't!" she continued stubbornly.

"Oh yeah? Then why did I sport a purple-black eye for a week back in fourth year?"

She smirked. "You deserved it."

He looked disbelievingly at her. "All I did was write you a Valentine's poem!"

"More like serenaded in front of the entire school!"

He snickered. "You should have seen your face! It looked as though it was on fire."

She chuckled. "Well, what do you expect, after you proclaim your love for me in front of the entire student body?"

"Just the student body? Professor Dumbledore seemed quite amused too, you know." James said cheekily.

"Yeah, McGonagall seemed fairly amused too, didn't she?"

She winked. He rolled his eyes.

James was about to open her mouth and respond, but they heard someone shuffling down the stairs.

They looked at each other, eyes widening slightly, and got up quickly. Lily waved her wand and the sleeping bags disappeared. Luckily, it was Saturday, so she changed their previous day's clothes into casual, muggle ones.

She changed James' to a sky blue shirt and denim jeans, while she changed hers to a deep green u-neck top with denim capris.

The marauders and the girls stumbled down the staircase. Sirius and Eva were talking loudly about what was better; chocolate frogs or sugar quills.

"Oh come on! Chocolate frogs are the best!" Sirius exclaimed.

"No they're not! Have you even tried a sugar quill? It's just so blood brilliant!" Eva said obviously.

"Whatever! It may be good, but nothing can beat chocolate! Aren't I right, Moony?"

"I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but I have to agree with Padfoot on this one,-" Sirius smiled triumphantly-"Nothing can beat chocolate!"

"That's just because you're boys! Isa likes sugar quills better…don't you Isa?"

Isa nodded, looking somewhat apologetically at Sirius. Sirius stuck out his tongue in response.

"Oh, alright then! Go and side with the quill eating girl!" Everyone rolled their eyes.

"Ignore him, Isa. He hasn't had his medication today."

Remus smirked. Isa laughed. Sirius huffed. Eva grinned. Mary gave Remus and Isa a knowing look. Peter chuckled.

They reached the common room and turned towards them.

"So…you're awake then?" Eva asked.

"Well done captain obvious," Lily and James said together.

"Ah, so you two have started speaking together also, then? What have we missed, eh?" Sirius asked with a wink.

"I don't know when you'll learn the art of subtlety, Sirius." Lily sighed.

"I would…but would you still love me as much as you do now, LilyFlower?"

James glared pointedly at Sirius, and stepped closer to Lily, just as she turned towards him.

Lily rolled her eyes at Sirius, and turned towards James, just as he moved closer to her.

Their eyes locked, and for a moment, there were only the green and hazel irises that looked at each other.

The rest of the group looked at each other.

Lily looked away from him, and faced the rest of their so-called friends, who were still giving each other knowing looks.

"No need to get worked up Prongs. I was just kidding."

Sirius smirked...only slightly. James reddened...only slightly.

"Well…good morning to you guys too," Lily said dryly.

"Didn't we say that?" Remus asked with a little wink.

"Must have escaped your mind." James said, nodding his head in mock understanding.

Everyone chuckled slightly.

"BREAKFAST!" Sirius yelled suddenly.

Everyone rolled their eyes.

"Remind me to wear earplugs around him from next time," Lily muttered.

"What bugs?" James asked confusedly. 'He looks kind of adorable when he's confused-hey! What are you on about, woman?'Lily mentally reprimanded herself.

"Earplugs, James. They're used to block"- she pointed towards a currently hyperactive Sirius-"external unpleasant noise."

He laughed. She grinned.

"To breakfast now, kids!" Sirius said, jumping slightly.

Lily rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile fondly at him.

"Alright, then. Let's go, big baby." Lily said.

Sirius whooped, took her arm and started dragging her towards the portrait hole, effectively dragging James along as well. The rest of the group also followed behind.

The rest of the students were more or less already in the Great Hall by the time they arrived. Thankfully, no one started whispering or pointing towards the two. Well, most of them didn't anyways. The first years were still openly gawking at them.

They sat down and, at once, Sirius started filling his plate with food. The rest of them followed suit, but at a considerably slower speed.

James was still having trouble with eating. Well, you can't exactly expect a right-handed person, who'd more or less depended on that particular hand for nearly all his life to do all his work, to start using his left one, for something as important as food, suddenly, can you?

Lily, on the other hand, was having a good time watching him struggle with his fork and bacon. Not that she was the only one, but definitely the most subtle out of their group. Sirius, Mary, Eva and Peter were laughing loudly. Remus and Isa were both chuckling.

"It's nice to know what lovely mates I've got here," James said, with sarcasm practically dripping off his voice.

"We're here for you mate!" Sirius said thumping James on the back, causing his spoon, which he'd balanced with quite a bit of an effort mind you, to drop and the porridge to spill on the table.

James groaned. Sirius laughed.

"Just wait, Padfoot!" James growled.

"And what will you do, Prongs old pal? Ask Lily here to avenge you?"

"You want to try it out, Sirius?" Lily asked sweetly…a little too sweetly.

Sirius cowered slightly, but still winked and said, "Well, looks like Prongs has finally found his knight in shining armor!"

"Shut it, Sirius!" James barked.

Everyone sniggered.

"Oh come ooooon, Prongsie!"

"Don't call me that!"

"Alright, Prongsie-pie."

"Don't call me that either!"

"Fine, Jamesie-poo."

"I'm warning you, Padfoot!"

"Well, then what am i supposed to call you Prongsiekins?"

"Right now, Sirius, I'd rather appreciate it if you don't call me anything at all!"

"Come on, don't be like that Prongsy-wongsy!"

There was silence for a moment, until James spoke, in a completely scandalized tone.

"Prongsy-wongsy?"

Everyone burst out laughing.


After having breakfast, the group decided to sit outside, near the lake. For a while, they sat there, simply watching the Giant Squid coming up and then dipping back again into the lake. Occasionally, it'd drag along a kid too. The first years were looking terrified; the older students were looking rather amused.

"We're playing truth and dare!" Sirius declared.

"And why do you think we'll do as you say?" Mary asked teasingly.

"Because I'm Sirius!" he said and winked.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Don't you ever get bored of that pun?"

"Of course not!" he said, scandalized. "It's seriously funny!"

She shook her head, but let a chuckle escape anyways.

"Alright then!" Sirius said and conjured a bottle. "Moony? Give the marauder rules."

"Marauder rules?" Eva laughed. "You're such kids."

Sirius glared at her briefly, but otherwise payed no attention to what she said and turned towards Remus expectantly.

Remus sighed. Sirius grinned.

"So, here are the marauder rules for playing truth and dare. Whoever the bottle points at when it stops will either have to answer any question put forward-" Sirius cleared his throat meaningfully "-honestly, or do any dare as suggested by the players. Got it?"

"What's the difference in your so-called marauder rules?" Eva asked.

"Nothing. Padfoot's idea." Remus said simply.

They all nodded in understanding. Sirius rolled his eyes.

"Let's start!"

And so they did. The bottle landed on Remus.

"Truth or dare?" Peter asked.

"Truth," he said.

"Alright, we'll start off easy. Do you like anyone sitting here, you know, that way?"

Remus reddened slight and said, "Yes."

Everyone smirked, except for one person. Said person turning an interesting shade of red.

"On with the game then!" Sirius said.

This time the bottle stopped in front of Eva.

"Truth or dare?" Lily asked with a smirk.

"Dare!" Eva said decidedly.

Sirius scratched his chin thoughtfully, putting on a look of utter concentration, looking so ridiculous that it made him look oddly like Professor Slughorn when he had seen Dominous Belby shove food down his throat during a Slug Club's meeting. Not very attractive, to put it in simple words.

Suddenly he exclaimed, "Got it! Next time you see Slughorn, you'll have to tell him that he looks like an obese, bald old man with absolutely no fashion sense who needs to shave his walrus-like moustache. Oh yeah, you can also add that he needs to stop closing all the buttons on his coat...they seem like they would pop out any second now!"

Eva snickered. "Done!"

"Honestly guys! That's a little hard on him," Lily said. She'd always liked Sluhorn.

"Come on, Lils. It'll be fun!" Sirius said.

"I dunno...I" she said a little uncertainly, though she had already started to smirk slightly.

"And old Sluggy won't mind anyways! You know him," Sirius said.

Lily sighed, "Well...I guess. But nothing more than that!" she added sternly to Eva.

"Cross my heart and swear to the heavens that I'll say nothing more than his immense belly!" Eva winked.

Lily smirked fully now. "You know...you can always add about his stomach usually preceding him when he enters our class..." she said, mocking thoughtfulness.

Everyone burst out laughing. Eva spun the bottle again. It landed in front of Lily.

"Truth or dare?" Isa asked.

"Hmm...well, considering that Sirius is present and knowing fully well the extent to which he could go when it comes to asking questions...I'll say dare."

"Hey!"

James sniggered.

"Okay then, I dare you to speak back to Professor GrumblyFace in our next class." Mary said.

Lily smirked. "I don't mind...he's got it coming anyways. Done!"

"You know Lily...you really aren't like what we-" Remus and James coughed pointedly"-like what I'd thought, honestly, such kids you two are! I'm proud of you!"

"There, Sirius! Something we both agree on!"

She winked. He grinned.

And so they continued. By the time the bottle landed on James, each and every one of them had shared at least one embarrassing moment and agreed to a dare.

"So then, Jamesikins-" said person glared at Sirius who winked back at him"-what do you choose? Truth or dare?

"Why did you always keep on asking Lils out even though you new she'd say no?" Eva asked before James even had a chance to open his mouth.

Almost immediately everyone stopped talking. Sirius and Peter were smirking, Remus and Eva were giving James slightly apologetic looks but at the same time were trying not to laugh, while Peter and Mary were looking genuinely curious.

James and Lily on the other hand, were having a silent competition as to who could turn the deepest shade of red in the least time. James was currently winning...but Lily wasn't too far behind.

Honestly! They could just say anything!

"I didn't choose!" James exclaimed, his ears still pink.

"Uh...didn't you?" Mary asked blinking innocently. "But, well...I've asked already, so you'll just have to-"

"That's against the rules!" James protested. "I pick dare!"

"Hmm...alright then," Sirius said, looking suddenly excited. "Hurl a rock at the Giant Squid! And you have to go near him!"

Everyone smirked. They still remembered when a small second year old had thrown a rock at the Giant Squid by mistake...ooh, the Squid hadn't been happy.

"Hey! That's not fair! I'll have to go too! Why should I suffer it's wrath? It's his dare!" Lily said dramatically.

"I'm terribly concerned about you too, Lils." James said dryly.

She smiled cheekily. He rolled his eyes.

"Come on, then. Let's get over with this!" James said.

They got up and started moving towards the lake. Lily was less than enthusiastic to go anywhere near the Squid. She still remembered when he had almost drowned her in their fourth year, and she'd had to stay in the hospital wing for a week. Oh, how she hated it! Madame Strongdrugs, though rather sweet, had an unpleasant knack of keeping anyone with even a slight cold in the hospital wing for hours, or even days on end, until she was satisfied. Lily, as would be obvious by now, hated going anywhere near the place. Her reaction wasn't surprising though; anyone having spent a week in that place with hardly any visitors allowed, and denied to eat chocolate would feel the same way.

They inched nearer to the lake slowly, James picking up a medium sized pebble on the way. They got near enough to the lake, and just when the Giant Squid turned around;

THUMP!

The rock hit the Squid neatly in the back; James wasn't a Chaser for no reason, was he?

The Squid turned around angrily, splashing water on the ground in the process.

Lily and James turned around hurriedly. They could hear little splashes coming from the lake towards them, which they could only assume to be that of the Squid.

They started to run away from their spot, but the Squid had finally reached it's destination and had grabbed Lily by the arm and lifted her, quite literally, off her feet.

Lily screamed. James yelled.

The Giant Squid, who had apparently taken offence to the great rock-throwing incident, had thrown Lily, and effectively James along as well, straight into the lake.

James came up after a moment, panting and gasping for air. As he took a few breaths, he noticed that Lily had not resurfaced yet.

James reacted, like any other normal person, in a completely calm way.

"Lils! Lily? Where are you? Merlin, Lily!" he said, panicking.

She came up at that moment, completely out of breath and gasping for breath. James breathed a sigh of relief.

"Damn Squid! Damn water!" A loose strand of hair came in front of her eyes. "Damn hair!"

James chuckled quietly and brought her near him, not that there was much distance between them to begin with, given their hands' state.

He brought up his free hand to her face and gently moved the red lock aside, his hand hesitating slightly, straying just the tiniest of seconds longer.

Lily froze. After a few moments, she looked up at him to see him gazing at her.

And she didn't know what caused her to do it, but as she saw James' head inch the slightest bit closer to her's, she felt her own face move towards him.

Their eyes locked. Hazel stared at emerald.

SPLASH!

They started choking almost instantly, as they were drenched, once again, in water. Even though it wasn't humanly, or well...creaturishly possible, the Squid donned on his face an expression which could almost be described as smug.

"Bloody fish!" James muttered, extremely cross. The reason behind his bitter mood wasn't much due to the water that had been unceremoniously splashed on them, but rather because the ruddy Squid had just ruined his and Lily's,well...whatever it was that had just happened.

They swum back to the ground, and James stepped out of the lake, helping Lily out along as well.

When they reached back towards their group, they were all howling with laughter.

"Did you-Did you see it's face!" Sirius managed to wheeze out between bouts of laughter.

"And these two! Merlin!" Eva choked.

They all laughed harder.

Gits.


Lily and James were on patrol. Saturday or not, they still had to make sure no students were out of bed, lurking about the corridors.

"Let's check the North Tower. You know its some students' favorite spot."

Lily smirked. James laughed.

"Can't imagine why," he winked. "Though…we could always use a little break, Lils," he added, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

"Don't push it, James." Lily warned with a smirk.

"Yes ma'am."

And so they continued searching for rule-breakers or random people who had decided to make use of one of the broom cupboards to have a nice snogging session.

"Why do we have to bloody patrol the corridors? I mean, even if anyone is up to something sinister...they'd hardly be waiting to invite us for a cup of tea, will they? What's the point!" James said.

"McGonagall, I should say, finds it particularly amusing to force young, innocent-" James snorted "-students to roam about the entire school at night."

They stopped near a broom cupboard, whose door was slightly ajar, with a dim light coming from inside it.

Curious, they went over to the cupboard and opened it, but it was empty. They stepped inside, and Lily immediately started coughing as dust went down her lungs.

"Are you alright?" James asked concernedly.

"Just dandy!" Lily replied sarcastically, which was followed by another bout of coughing.

James patted her back with his free back gently. She looked up and gave him and smiled…only slightly.

BANG!

James and Lily whipped their heads around to see the door of the extremely small broom cupboard being slammed, followed by the sound of someone muttering something. James walked over to the door of the extremely small cupboard and took the handle. It would not budge. Lily took out her wand and muttered "Alohomora", pointing it at the door, but to no avail.

"Alohomora!" No result.

"Alohomora!" Nothing…the door was adamant!

"Aloho-bloody-mora!" she yelled in frustration.

"Ugh! Oh, those six! They're all bloody-"

"How do you know it was them?" James asked.

"Honestly, James! Just how do you pass in class?" James opened his mouth but Lily cut him off swiftly, "What do you think? Who else would lock us here?"

"Well...you've got a point. I mean, who else would lock us in this extremely small, squishy-" Lily growled slightly. His tone was getting more gleeful as he proceeded with his sentence-"broom cupboard with hardly any space?"

"James-"

"And did I mention that there's hardly any space?"

"James!"

"Relax, Lils. They'll come along soon,"

"Oh, I dunno..."

"I mean, they won't starve us!" James said obviously. He waited for a moment and then slowly his eyes grew wide as he stared at Lily.

"You don't think they'll starve us, do you? he asked urgently.

"Honestly, James! What are you-"

"That will not do!"

"Come on, James-"

"They can't do that!"

"Will you listen to me, you stupid-"

"I'm a growing boy! I need my timely nutrition!"

Lily looked at him for a moment.

She burst out laughing. He reddened.

"Alright, I did not just say that! And you most certainly did not hear that!"

She continued laughing.

"Oh shut it," he mumbled, sitting down on a wooden box, trying to fit his legs in the extremely squishy- 'and small!' James thought to himself gleefully- broom cupboard.

She chuckled. "Alright, big boy. No more teasing," she said, sounding as though she was speaking to a five year old.

He rolled his eyes, but smiled slightly anyways and said, "Very funny!"

She grinned. He chuckled.

"And you call me immature!"

"That we do!" she replied as she too, took a seat across from him. They were crammed up in the small cupboard, with their legs touching each other's.

"I can't believe that actually locked us here," he said.

"Can't you? Somehow, I don't find it particularly hard to believe." Lily said dryly.


"Moony! Did you do it?"

"Yes, Padfo-"

"Did they see you?"

"I don't think-"

"Did you put the locking charm?"

"I did-"

"And what about the-"

"Will you let me speak Padfoot!" Remus cut in exasperatedly.

"Merlin!" he massaged his temples. "I dunno why I even agreed to this!"

"Oh loosen up, Moony! It's not like they'd kill us!"

Sirius' sentence was met with a few moments' tense silence.

"You don't think they'll kill us, do you?" Sirius asked frantically.

Mary opened her mouth but Sirius had started again.

"I mean, we're just seventeen! They can't! They won't! They...oh, dammit!"

Eva rolled her eyes. "Not us, mate. But I'm not guaranteeing anything for you!"

"Thanks for the support."

"No problem."

"I really don't think this is a good idea," Isa said anxiously.

"Don't worry Isa. They'll be out in no time!" Mary said.

"They'll only be out when they realize something they never knew about each other!" Isa said.

"Oh, well...yeah. So, it might take a little more than no time..."


"What would you have answered?" Lily asked quietly, breaking the silence.

"Huh?" James blinked.

"Back there, by the lake...when Mary asked you...what would you have replied?" Lily asked tentatively.

James sighed.

"I...I dunno, really. I mean, honestly? It had all just started as a quest. You were the only one who'd ever rejected me. It just became a sort of...competition you know. To make you go out with me-"

Lily opened her mouth, but James cut her off.

"I know, I know okay. I was a git, and I was completely arrogant and whatnot. I know I shouldn't have done that, and if I could change it, trust me I would." He sighed and continued. "Anyways, that was until fifth year. But when we started with our sixth year, and I saw you helping those three first years from those bloody Slytherins, after you'd broken it with Snape...I-I just...saw you in a completely different light, you know?"

Lily raised her eyebrows slightly.

"I mean...you weren't just that one girl who I couldn't have...you were the one girl I knew I shouldn't have."

Again, Lily opened her mouth but he shushed her.

"Not like that, of course. I mean...you want to know why I never chased you after sixth year?"

Lily nodded slightly. He sighed.

"It was because I didn't deserve you. You...you were just perfect Lils! And not just your looks, though they most certainly are a contributing factor-"

She chuckled lightly.

"-it was the way you were. The way you'd always stand up for what's right. The way you'd always put others' concern before yours. I just...I knew that you were completely justified in hating me-"

Here Lily cut him quietly.

"I didn't hate you."

"What? Y-ou didn't?" he asked uncertainly.

"Of course I didn't." she answered simply.

"But I thought-"

"You really should stop doing that. Dangerous things happen when you think." Lily said, lightening the mood.

He chuckled. "So I've been told."

She smiled slightly and continued.

"I never hated you. Strongly despised for some time, yes. But hate? That's too strong. I could never hate you. True, you did stupid things, showed off, and were an arrogant git-"

"Geez! Thanks Lils!"

She chuckled before continuing,"-but I could never really hate you, you know. One minute you'd be this complete toerag...and then the ext minute you'd be off helping first years from those two Slytherin gangsters!"

"How do you know about that?" he asked curiously.

"I saw it while returning form the library. I know that you don't like to show off, James. You never once bragged about that incident, or any other for that matter. You'd only do that when I was around...and that was what set me off most of the times."

James sighed. "It's just that...whenever I was around you...my brain seemed to stop functioning. So many guys were after you...I didn't know how to make you notice me. And then I started showing off, hoping that you'd notice me. But that just ticked you off. All those arguments we had...it was the only way to make to talk to me. I know it's completely wrong...and believe me, I never really meant it to happen that way."

Lily looked at him and smiled...only slightly.

"You didn't need to act that way," she said quietly.

James opened his mouth in surprise, but whatever he was about to say was cut off by a loud bang.

They both whipped aroung to see the door of the broom cupboard open.

They looked at each other in confusion, before Lily got up, with James following suit, and stepped out.

"Well...that was strange." Lily said at length. James nodded.

They set off down the corridor again; there was still half an hour left for them to patrol.

They were just crossing the girls bathroom on the second floor when they heard someone wailing. They looked at each other, Lily nodded slightly, and stepped inside the lavitory.

"Who's there?" James asked cautiously.

"Oh, why would you care? Why don't you just leave me here alone, crying and wailing?" came a voice from behind them.

Lily groaned. "Bloody hell! How could I forget? This is that bathroom!" she slapped her hand to her head.

"Uh...what are you talking about Lily?"

"This is Moaning Myrtle's bathroom," she said simply.

"Who's Moaning Myrtle?" James asked dubiously.

"I'M MOANING MYRTLE!" shouted a voice, right behind them, hysterically.

James nearly jumped out of his skin. Lily spoke quite almly.

"Hello, Myrtle."

"Ah...so it's you again?" she said, coming into view for the first time.

James gawked at her, until Lily stepped forcefully on his foot, snapping him from his revive.

He cleared his throat, "Well, it's good you see you, Moani-" Lily stepped on his foot again, "-Ow, woman! Uh, I mean, good to see you, Mrytle."

"No, no...go on and call me Moaning Myrtle. Everyone else does."

"I didn't-" James started but was swiftly cut off.

"Of course you didn't!" she thundered, almost crazily. "Neither do all those other students who come in here, look at me, and then laugh at me."

James looked at Lily for some sort of help, but she just shrugged her shoulders apologetically. Myrtle swept towards the door, bolted it and came back, glaring at the two.

"Oh, how they poke fun at me. Here I am, minding my own business and they come alomg and laugh at poor crying, moping, Moaning Myrtle!" she weeped.

"It's not like that, Myrtle." Lilu started hastily, coming to poor James' rescue.

James grinned at her. She smiled back at him.

Suddenly, Myrtle gave a very girlish giggle, sounding, according to Lily anyways, rather pathetic.

"You gave a nice smile." Myrtle said, battling her eyelashes at James.

James shifted uncomfortably.

"Uh...thanks?"

"How nice of you to come and see me," she went on, her previous manner changing completely.

"We just came to see if everything was alright." Lily said, glaring at Myrtle.

James hid a smile. Lily continued,

"You see, we heard a strange sound coming from the bathroom, and as Head students we were supposed to check if everything was alright. You needn't have bothered with us, since we most certainly didn't mean to disturb you, you know. It's not that we tumbled here on purpose or anything." she finsihed in a single breath.

"Merlin, Lils! Just how much can you speak at once!" James said, a small chuckle escaping his lips.

"Ah, there! You also start!" She glared accusingly at James James before turning towards Myrtle.

"I'm so sick of all the people telling me that I talk a lot! I mean, everyone says I talk a lot! See, practically, you speak a lot when you've got a lot of things riled up inside of you, right? And you just burst out saying everything that you've kept inside of you at the same time to one poor, unsuspecting person. So, how in Merlin's name can they say that I talk a lot? I mean, I don't keep anything riled up inside of me. I'm a very...how do I put it...spontaneous of person. Impulsive. I want to say something, I just say it. I mean, obviously if it's not too insulting or embarassing or indecent. But you get the gist right? So, practically I speak at...well, regular intervals, when I feel like saying something. And that's a human right! Honestly, it gets so frustrating after a while! 'You really talke a lot, Lils,' or 'Just how much do you talk Lily?' Ugh! And what's wrong with talking anyways? You have to exercise your tongue! I mean... there are other exercises too, but talking...different, isn't it? You tell me Myrtle, do you think I possibly talk a lot?"

Silence was what met her speech. James and Myrtle both stared at her.

After a moment, Myrtle swept towards the door, held it open and, in a slightly terrified tone, "You may go."

"Thank you!" Lily said brightly, and she dragged James behind her.

James didn't burst out laughing until they had reached the third floor.

"Merlin Lils! You're-" he managed to choke between bouts of laughter,"-completely crazy!"

Lily chuckled. "So I've been told,"

She winked. He laughed.

"Did you see her face? Merlin! I bet she isn't even used to anyone talking at all, the poor weeping thing. And then you come along, blabbering. Where do you get this from?"

"Excuse me? I don't get it from anyone! It's natural. We all posess it."

"We all, as in?" he asked, smirking slightly.

"All of us from my land." she winked.

"Oh really? Which land do you come from then?" he laughed.

"Crazyland!" she said, beaming proudly. "And don't worry! Considering the way you are...you'll be allowed entry for sure!"

He laughed and shook his head. They started making their way back towards the common room, their patrol time having completed approximately an hour ago. As they were walking...they realized just how worn out they were right now.

They reached the common room, thoroughly exhausted and tired.

Lily conjured two sleeping backs quietly and they moved over to them, too tired to speak.

As Lily go into her sleeping bag; James having just fallen on his, not bothering to get inside; and as his head hit the pillow, James promptly closed his eyes and sighed.

After a minute or two, Lily heard someone snoring quietly, and turned around to see James, mouth open slightly, sleeping away to glory.

He sighed, causing her to sigh. He looked so...peaceful.

She tried facing the opposite side, but before she could so much as turn around, his right hand caught hold of her left arm and yanked her towards him. Lily stiffened, before gently, trying to untangle her from him. Not that she was successful. James, unconciously of course, tightened his hold on her, neatly tucking her under his arm. She tried to wriggle out, but he held her, unknowingly, possessisevly against him.

He sighed. He wasn't alone.

Her mind drifted back to Myrtle's face, cooing at James. Something churned inside of her, and she had no idea why. She tried to think as to why she'd been behaving oddly lately, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't for the world of her fanthom why she felt something inside of her boiling at she thought of Myrtle's obvious flirting.

'She's a ghost for Merlin's sake!' she thought incredulously.

She wondered vaguely if she was on drugs...

He snuggled her to him, burying his face in the crook of her neck. They were lying, with his left arm around her, holding her tightly against him, and their hands still interlaced between them.

She couldn't possibly explain what had caused her to do what she did next.

Gently, she placed her left hand on his chest, listening to the regular and rhythmic heartbeat, enjoying the heat and comfort it was giving her, and closed her eyes.

She smiled. She wasn't alone.


A/N: Alright, so I have no idea if you guys liked the fifth chapter or not. It's my longest update yet, and believe me, the most difficult one too. School's catching up, and very conveniently, my parents nearly banned me from writing. So I've pretty much been doing this work, hiding from my parents. Not that easy! ;)

Anyways...It'd been a little long so...here it is!
ALL reviewers get BUTTERBEER! Don't forget that!

It might take you about a minute or two, typing out how you felt the chapter was, but it's rather encouraging for me, considering that I'm a new writer!
And the Butterbeer, o'course! ;)

Cheers,
RainHolly

P.s. I wonder if the reviewers want some cookies along with the Butterbeer too...? ;)