Chapter 18: Loopy and Loony

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"Lily, what is happening?" Marlene asked.

Oh my God. Ohmygodohmygodohmygod.

"Lily!"

"Don't freak out, don't freak out," I closed my eyes and decided to get it out as fast as I could, "ImayhaveagreedtogototheBallwithAlekandnottoldyouyet."

"Umm, what?" Alice said.

I took a deep breath, "I may have agreed to go to the Ball with Alek and not told you guys yet."

Mary squealed like an overactive squirrel and just sat there beaming at the pair of Alek and I. But the rest of my friends didn't seem as enthusiastic at the confession. Fine, maybe I hadn't told them the day it happened. Or the 2 weeks after that. But that does not mean that I deserved the unforgiving looks they were giving me – like I'd committed a sin.

"That's great," Remus smiled, but it didn't really meet his eyes.

Alek awkwardly cleared his throat, "Well, I guess I'll leave you guys to it. Oh and Lily, get back to me about the colour stuff." And he proceeded to practically run from the Great Hall.

"Lily," Marlene said, "why didn't you tell me?"

"Whatever do you mean, Marls?"

"Oh, don't play dumb. We're going to have a firm discussion about this, yeah?"

I recoiled, "Yeah, fine."

Sirius, Alice and Peter were still looking at me like I'd grown a pair of antlers. But when I looked at James, he gave me the first real smile I'd seen yet.

"Alek, huh?" he said, "Cool. You'll have fun."

At least one of my friends had his head straight. You know, other than Mary, who was still having conniptions over the fact that Alek and I were going together. Honestly, she seemed happier than I was.

Not that I didn't want to go with him. I did. I really liked Alek. He was smart and gorgeous, thereby filling all the parameters required for one date. But that didn't have me dancing around amongst flowers in my imaginative meadow.

We then finished our dinner like usual – talking loudly over each other. Thankfully, there were no new surprises coming up now, everything was back to normal. Dinner ended with a splendid treacle tart, and all of us started standing up and getting ready to go back to the Tower.

The rest of the group started heading towards the staircases while Sirius said to me earnestly, "Can we talk?"

I nodded and we headed towards the Courtyard.

"So," I started, "What do you want to talk about?"

"A couple of things, actually. Let's walk."

"Let me guess, something to do with Marls and Ed?" I teased, strolling next to him.

He laughed and said, "Ah, Evans, you know me so well. But, not yet. I have to talk about something else first."

"Hmm?"

"Do you think Jennifer is up to something?" He turned to me.

I tensed up. I had had the feeling that the American champion was a bit queer, but had waved it off as a strong competitive spirit. But, apparently, it dug deeper than that.

"How do you mean?" I said, giving him a sideways glance.

"It seems like she's always plotting something. Like everything she does has an ulterior motive. Like, the date in Hogsmeade? It felt as if she was trying to get into our group and find some secrets."

"I don't know, really. I always thought she was just really competitive and liked to get under people's skin, but I guess not. So, do you think she's spying on us?"

"Not exactly spying, just lurking around," he shrugged. "You know what they say, keep your friends close but your enemies closer. I think she's going to try to get to you about the Tournament."

I laughed at that, "Oh, Sirius, she's your girlfriend. You don't need to go about questioning her motives just because she wants to spend time with me! You may not have noticed but I have a very vivacious personality that attracts people, I just can't help that people like me!"

"You're starting to sound like Slughorn, 'vivacious' and whatnot. And no, she's not my girlfriend. We just went on a date."

I looked at him, "So are you telling me you haven't asked her to the Yule Ball?"

He shook his head, "I'm going alone. Can't be tied down, can I?"

"No," I laughed.

"So, what's this about that Alek guy, hmm?"

Whoops, there it is.

"I thought you'd leave the Lily-bashing to Marlene," I sighed.

"Can't have McKinnon have all the fun, can I?"

I moaned, "It's just a ball. Plus, he's hot."

"Just, be careful."

"Yes, Father dearest, I will."

We fell into a comfortable silence, both of us mulling the information we had obtained. At least I was. Was Jennifer trying to get under my skin? Sure, she was weird and stuff, but that didn't scare me off. The only person trying to scare me off the Tournament was Snape, that too without rhyme or reason. And I don't think Jennifer is the kind of person to engage in the Dark Arts like Snape. Perhaps, Sirius is just paranoid; he does have some big brother instincts.

"Lily?" he said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Sirius?" I replied.

"I thought Ed was gay?"

And so, we were back to the Marlene issue.

"Oh, he is. He just needed a date for the Ball and he asked Marls, as friends."

"Oh, okay," his voice took a kind-of happy note.

"Yeah," I smiled.

"And, what about Diggory and McKinnon?"

"Oh, Marlene dumped him," I said, "He was being a complete arse to her, probably in it for the publicity."

"Cool," he said. He was trying to be nonchalant, but was obviously failing.

I smirked at him, "Worried about Marlene, hmm, Black?"

He gave me a sideways glance, "Just wanted to know what all my friends are up to, Lily."

"Are you friends, though? Marlene and you?"

He looked at me earnestly and said, "I think so. And I hope she does, too."

"Me too, Sirius," I gave him half a hug, "me too."

We then started our ascent to the Gryffindor Common Room and walked in silence. We ran into a couple of 2nd years trying to smuggle some Fanged Frisbees into Filch's office. I decided to turn a blind eye to that, Filch can be a total pain in the arse.

"Lily!" someone called as soon as Sirius and I entered the Common Room.

"Hey, Lily!" somebody else shouted.

Before I could see who was calling, Marlene came stomping towards me, effectively blocking my view of the Common Room.

"Hey, what's up?"

"What's up?" Marlene snapped, "What's up? When was I going to learn about this Alek shit, hmm?"

I cringed, "Umm… soon?"

"Soon!" It seemed like she would start hyperventilating soon.

"McKinnon," Sirius intervened, "breath."

She gave him a withering glare, enough to send a couple Slytherins back to their dingy dungeons, but it had no effect on Sirius. So instead she said in a dangerously calm voice, "Just stay out of this, Black."

"What if I don't?" He said, taking a step towards her.

She too took a step towards him, the tips of their shoes touching, forehead to forehead. "I will positively strangle you, and bury you amongst trolls."

The sexual tension was so obvious and yet, there they were, arguing again instead of snogging each other's faces off..

"Lily." Someone said from behind me.

I turned to see Remus, so it was him calling me earlier.

"Remus, what's up?" I smiled.

The nearby row was growing in intensity and Remus pulled me aside, "Uh, the Heads have been going easy on you, you know, with the Tournament and stuff, but we haven't done rounds in ages. And turns out they want us to do them tonight."

My mouth formed an 'o' as realization struck. Right, I was a Prefect. And Prefects have responsibilities. That I've been forgetting. I knew Alice should have been made Prefect instead of me.

"Damnit, I knew I'd been forgetting something. What time is it?"

"It's half six right now, which means you have forty-five minutes to finish appeasing Marlene before we leave."

Well, shit. Marlene was sure as hell going to give me a long lecture about how disappointed she was with me for my deliberate delay in telling her about Alek. But, I really had no opportunity to do it. The week after he asked me had been a complete mess and I was really tired all through. Also, I didn't think my actions, or rather Alek's actions would have such consequences! I hadn't even done much, just said 'yes' to a date.

"Lily!" Marlene called again.

I gave Remus a resigned look, "Looks like the brawl is over. It's my turn now."

He gave me a sympathetic smile and reminded me to be ready at 7:15 before turning around and joining his friends near the window. I followed his progress so as to delay Marlene's lamentation as long as I could.

Sirius seemed to have joined them, he looked obviously angry, his jaw giving it away. Peter sat eating chocolate frogs and had probably been watching the fight. James was staring strangely before he noticed that I was watching him when his mouth twisted into a smile. I smiled back, took a deep breath and walked over to Marlene.

"Finally," she said, pulling me down next to her on the sofa in front of the fireplace.

"What are you going to do to me?"

"Nothing, nothing," she said, crossing her hands over her chest. "I'm just going to sit here and look at you the way people look at their dogs when they poop on their owner's favourite rug – with disappointment."

"Really?" I said, dubiously, "No disparaging my poor life choices? No murderous glares? No throat-slitting? Nothing?"

She just shook her head, tightened her hold around her arms and did exactly what she said she would do. For forty-five minutes. She just watched me reproachfully. It made me feel like I'd done something drastic, like burn all her romance novels. Or worse, tear off her Quidditch posters.

But this silent treatment made me squirm guiltily. I couldn't meet her stern gaze at all. Maybe that's why she decided not to scream, because she knew that this made me feel infinitely worse about the situation.

At the mark of 7:15, I cleared my throat uneasily, "Umm, Marlene?"

She responded with a raised eyebrow.

"I have to meet Remus for rounds now."

She nodded, "Right. Okay, you can go. But know that I am very, very disappointed in you."

"Yes, I know," I said, standing up.

"Oh, and yes," she said, suddenly smiling, "We have to talk about your dress robes for the ball, so don't sneak off to the Kitchens after rounds!"

"Yes, Mum."

I waved her goodbye before starting towards Remus and the boys. At least that was over and done with. Sirius – check, Marlene – check. I only had to endure some James, Remus and Alice before I was completely guilt-free. Or so I hope.

"Hey, guys," I approached the group.

"Hi," Peter said.

"Lils," James nodded, smiling.

"James," I bobbed my head to him, too. "Remus, you ready?"

"Yeah," he said, "come on."

We managed to manoeuvre the 6th and the 7th floor in silence. See, that's the thing with Remus – he can read situations in a way no one else can, and so knows what conversation needs to take place and if one is even required. He's a really private person, usually keeps to himself. I don't think even James or Sirius or Peter know half his secrets, and they're his best friends.

He's the kind of person who doesn't need too many friends, or acquaintances. Remus is content with a few close friends – and I consider myself one of them, hopefully he does too.

Not one for small talk, he abruptly said somewhere around the 5th floor, "So, Alexander the Durmstrang Guy, hm?"

I started, surprised at the sudden dialogue. Nodding slightly, I said, "Yeah, I guess."

"Cool, cool." He looked sideways at me and broke into a cryptic smile.

I sighed, knowing he knew something that I didn't. "What is it now, Lupin?"

"Nothing, nothing," he continued smiling.

"Come on, I know you know something about me that I am yet to realize, can you please tell me what it is?"

"Mhmm-hm," he shook his head, "Nope. I want you to realize it, and when you do, I will see it on your face."

I scoffed, "You're turning loopy, Remus. You're Loopy Lupin from now on."

"Oh, and this is coming from Loony Lily?"

I just laughed, and we entered one of our comfortable silences somewhere on the 3rd floor again. Rounds after that were uneventful until we stumbled across a snogging couple in one of the empty broom closets on the 2nd floor.

"Seriously, guys? A broom closet?" I said to Zac and Alex of Ravenclaw.

Remus nodded, "I mean, come on, you couldn't even sneak into either of your dorms?"

Unashamed, Zac and Alex of Ravenclaw acquiesced to their 4 o'clock detention the next day, and giggled their way back to their dormitories, probably in raptures over the prospect spending several un-supervised hours together in a Potions classroom.

"So, Remus," I said after another bout of silence.

"Yes, Lily?"

"What's been up with you?"

"The same that's been up with you, I guess."

"Have your best friends been reprimanding you over your delay in telling them about your Yule Ball date, too?"

He snorted, "Um, no, I don't have such a complicated life, you see?"

"Hmm, then how have the same things been up with the both of us?"

"You know, school, Prefect duty, et cetera, et cetera."

"Right. How's your mum been do-"

"Remus!"

We turned to around to the source of the shriek. Yes, it was a literal shriek. It turned out to be Amanda Finch from Ravenclaw. We'd shared plenty classes since First Year so I know her quite well. She had long raven-black hair that was pulled into a loose ponytail. The tall girl stood against a wall catching her breath. It seemed like she'd run all the way from the 7th floor to the basement to reach us.

"Amanda?" I said to the Ravenclaw.

"Hey," she said, "sorry for the high-pitched whale noise, I was just trying to get your attention."

"Of course," Remus said, "is something wrong?"

"Oh, no, no. It's just that I was up in the Common Room and Alex and Zac showed up much earlier than I'd expected them to and they told me that they'd bumped into you and I really had to talk to you and I could've just spoken to you tomorrow, you know, when you're not on rounds or sleep deprived but – whoops, I'm rambling again, I'm sorry. I should just go, sorry."

"Hey, Amanda," Remus interrupted before she could leave, "It's alright, we can talk now."

This feels like a moment that I should intrude on. I smoothly said, "Hey, I'm just going to – uh, do something on the other side of the basement, yeah? Yeah. Alright, see you."

"No, Lily -" Remus called, but I turned off my hearing senses, prodding him to talk to a pretty girl.

That's not a bad thing to do, is it? It's actually the good thing to do, the boy needs to get out into the dating world. And after all, what are friends for, hmm? Yes, they're for pushing people into uncomfortable situations that will eventually turn out to be glorious situations. And I really do think talking to a pretty girl around midnight down in the basement is what Remus needs right now, what with his genetically bad immunity.

So, I went around checking under several staircases and inside broom closets and spare rooms until I ultimately reached the Hufflepuff Common Room. And we all know what's near the Hufflepuff Common Room, don't we? And yes, I know Marlene told me not to, and I know too much chocolate gives me a headache but I don't know how long Remus and Amanda are going to take and I'm only a teenage girl and heaven knows us teenage girls need our dose of chocolate here and there.

So, I sat on the Gryffindor-equivalent table and ate the standard amount of chocolate soufflé that is expected of a teenage girl until Remus showed up half an hour later, panting. Seems like he'd run all the way here.

"I knew you'd be here, gobbling down one of those chocolate pies," he smiled emphatically.

"You know me so well. But actually, it's a soufflé, they don't have pie today."

He came over and sat next to me, digging a spoon into my dessert. I could see the upward quirk of his lips, waiting to break into a full-on grin.

"So, Loopy Lupin, why so smiley?"

"I'm not smiley," he said, showing me his perfected poker face.

"Oh, please. Don't think I missed that happy-go-lucky smile. I know I may not be the most perceptive person, but I'm not that thick."

He took another bite. "Could've fooled me."

I shoved him in the stomach.

"Hey!"

"Tell me what happened!" I prodded.

"It was nothing."

"Running all the way from Ravenclaw Tower down to the dungeons to talk to someone in the middle of the night is not nothing."

"Yes, it is," he took another bite.

"And running all the way across the floor because adrenalin is rushing through you because of your recent conversation is not nothing either."

"Fine. It wasn't nothing. Amanda may have asked me to the Yule Ball," he said passively.

"And?" I squealed.

"And, I may have said yes."

"Ha! I knew you had it in you, Loopy Lupin."

"Thanks for having so much faith in me, Loony Lily."

We headed back to the Gryffindor Common Room, talking animatedly through our sugar high, getting shushed by several portraits.

Sirius – check.

Marlene – check.

Remus – check.