Author's*Note-Hey, guys!! I know I've been gone for a while, but I really did have a valid reason---its in my author profile if anyone wants to know about it. I really don't know if I'm going to continue the sequel to ASFKT—I'm just in a total slump when it comes to that story. Anyway, though—I read OoTp….and I was kind of disheartened at first by the chapter "Snape's Worst Memory". I figured that it might help me a little, though, by writing out a story based on how the MWPP characters acted in that chapter. So, here's my new story—based on how Lily & James (two very different people in OoTp) came to like (and eventually love) each other. So….here we go---hope everyone enjoys! R & R!
Chapter 1: Discussing James Potter
It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon-the kind of day where the sky is such a glorious soft blue that some swear they may never see it that color ever again and the wind is blowing gently, with just enough force to ruffle your hair or lightly caress your skin. As the sun shone brightly from its supreme dwelling among the clouds high up in the sky, a few golden rays filtered through a slightly ajar window in Gryffindor tower and crept across the room until they had managed to light up the entirety of the 6th year boys' dormitory. A lone figure sitting upon his bed sighed and pushed back a wayward strand of hair that had fallen into his eyes, then straightened his back and surveyed his surroundings wearily. His normally painstakingly neat bed was covered by crumpled pieces of parchment, several small bottles of ink, a few scattered quills, and an array of textbooks. Both of his pillows and his rumpled sheets laid in a pathetic mess on the floor. What a miserable way to live.
It was a life that Remus Lupin had become accustomed to these days, however. He had known ever since the day he'd gotten the bite that there were many prejudices against his kind, but after taking last years O.W.L.'s and reading through several career pamphlets, he'd become acutely aware of the amount of intolerance he'd suffer in the workforce. Therefore, he'd studied his arse off the previous year to ensure himself of a place in all the significant N.E.W.T classes. He didn't know exactly what was in store for him once he left Hogwarts, but he was determined to graduate as a very well-rounded individual. You could say that he was trying to make up for his condition by covering it with a blanket of academic excellence. He wanted to be successful, to overcome the limitations of being a werewolf, and reaching that goal required a full effort on his part.
Brushing away thoughts of his disorderly living conditions, Remus perused the mountain of books that surrounded him until he located his copy of Puppets of the Moon: a Study of Werewolves through out History. He picked up the book and leafed through it until he came to a chapter entitled, "Werewolves in the Workplace-Can They Really be Trusted?" For a few minutes, he was able to read in utter silence, allowing him to fully absorb the content of the book. Then, abruptly, he heard a low creak and the rustling of his sheets down on the floor. He ignored the slight interruption, remaining completely indifferent. He failed to notice one of his quills rise slowly off his bed, followed quickly by a small bottle of ink, which the quill dipped itself gracefully into. The ink bottle dropped soundlessly back down onto the bed and a piece of parchment that had been resting beside Remus's leg floated rather precisely down to the floor. Remus hadn't noticed any of this, nor did he notice when words began scratching themselves onto the parchment. Within minutes, the entire piece of parchment was covered with writing. It then lifted itself off the ground and floated upward over Remus's head. A few moments passed before it was thrusted swiftly onto the book that Remus was reading, in his direct line of vision.
Remus eyed the piece of parchment with mild surprise. His expression did, indeed, finally change as his eyes passed over the message that had been scribbled all over it. His lips quirked upward as he held it out into the light in front of him. Written repeatedly across the sheet of parchment in a very familiar style of handwriting was,
Studying is for boring people.
Without warning, Remus flung out his hand to the seemingly empty space beside his bed, groping for an invisible material. Grinning as his hands finally got a hold of the cloak, Remus tugged it forcefully toward himself. A beautiful, intricately designed cloak sank down onto his bed, the smirking figure who had been hiding under it now standing exposed in front of Remus.
"How nice of you to notice me, Moony." A handsome young man with short black hair greeted jokingly.
"Hello, Sirius." Remus's tone suggested mild amusement, but he nevertheless returned to his book.
Sirius crossed his arms, looking truly puzzled. "Moony, did you not understand my message?"
"I understood it perfectly."
Sirius continued to stare at him, his eyes now gaining a worried quality. He stepped forward and pressed his palm urgently to Remus's forehead. "Are you………ill?"
Remus swatted away his hand and answered, "Nah."
There was a brief silence, which was followed by a downright outburst.
"OK, then, WHO HEXED YOU?! The 6 dozen packs of Filibuster Fireworks that I ordered a few weeks ago just came in this morning. YOU JUST GIVE ME A NAME AND I'LL--."
"Sirius, nothing is wrong with me. I just…want to study."
"Is it a girl?"
"No, Padfoot." Remus answered calmly.
Sirius's eyes widened dramatically. "Remus, I swear I didn't know you fancied Adalia! It wasn't even my idea—I mean I was j-just walking along the corridor and the girl j-just jumped me, ya know? She j-just pulled me into..into..a classroom and before I knew it, she was ALL OVER ME! I HAD TO SNOG HER—you know, she may seem tame to most, but that girl is downright CRAZY--."
"Sirius-."
"-when there's something or someone she wants. She was like the predator—and I was, you know, like the prey. I-I-I didn't even enjoy it—well, OK. I enjoyed it a little, but she..um..she made me! I mean-."
"Padfoot-."
"-you know, I'm really a soft guy at heart. I can be very sensitive sometimes and-."
"Siri—wait, what? You—sensitive?!"
"I am, Remus, I am!"
"OK, just STOP!" Remus bellowed loudly.
Sirius shut up immediately and eyed his friend obediently.
"First of all, I don't fancy Adalia (Sirius sighed in relief). Second, you are the worst liar on the face of the Earth. Third, I'm studying because—because it's important. It's a..a major priority of mine."
"Well, sure, mate. It's a major priority of mine, too. It comes right after pranks---well, no, after pranks is girls. It comes directly after girls. Wait—well, then there's Quidditch-."
"You don't play Quidditch."
"Oh, yes, I know, but that doesn't mean that team could get through a single game or practice without my strong moral support and jolly spirit. OK, so it's pranks, girls, Quidditch, then stud—actually no. After Quidditch would have to be my frequent trips into Hogsmeade. SO, it goes pranks, girls, Quidditch, Hogsmeade, and then st--. Oh, damn, I messed up again. I forgot about my looks. They have to be at least 2nd on the list and…being annoying! I completely forgot about teasing and annoying people. Listen, now—I think I've got it. It goes pranks, looks, girls, Quidditch, teasing and annoying people, Hogsmeade, and then studying comes in as a strong seventh. There, that's it!" Sirius grinned jovially, looking extremely proud.
"Yes, Padfoot, your dedication to your schoolwork is very evident." Remus quipped.
Sirius slumped down onto Remus's bed.
"So, have you seen James around?"
"Last I heard of him, he was eating breakfast with Wormtail. If you're looking for him, though, I'd advise you to listen for screams. It works roughly…er….70% of the time." Remus answered matter-of-factly.
"Sounds like a plan. I suppose you can go back to reading. If things are nice and quiet, I'll be able to hear screaming much easier."
"Gotcha."
Remus returned his eyes to his book, picking up right where he left off.
"One thing first, though, Moony."
"What's that, Padfoot?"
"If…er…it ever comes up in casual conversation, I did not just now and have never encouraged you to read."
"Right."
Sirius got up off Remus's bed and crossed the room to where his own bed was. Sighing happily, he dropped down onto it, folded his arms across his chest, and closed his eyes. The two boys sat in silence for at least a quarter of an hour before any sign of James was heard.
Finally, a set of shrill screams sounded from the Gryffindor common room and not long after, the boys could hear the rough footsteps of someone bounding up the stairs.
Moments later, a young man with jet black hair that stuck up in every direction burst through the door, his hazel eyes twinkling.
"If anyone asks, I've been in here since breakfast."
"Anyone? You mean, like a Prefect?" Remus questioned, his voice dripping with sarcasm as his eyes darted back and forth between James and the scarlet and gold badge that was pinned to his robes.
James grinned. "Ah, Moony, have I mentioned yet how spiffy you look today?"
"Only twice." Remus answered dryly.
"Well, you know what they say—third time's the charm."
"Did you serve your detention for McGonagall yet?"
James grinned even wider. "Oh, no need. You see the girl whose hair I charmed purple..she told McGonagall to let me off."
"..and why would she do that?"
"Apparently because I have such dreamy eyes."
Remus snorted. It was then that the person who had been silent throughout this whole exchange chose to clear his throat and speak up.
"Exactly what have you been doing all this time without me?" Sirius questioned accusingly, sitting up taller in his bed.
James smirked, his eyes lighting up. "I left out some chocolates in the common room, that's all."
Remus raised his eyebrows. "What kind of chocolates?"
"One's I had charmed to turn into spiders once you'd taken your first bite. They turned out to be rather…er…popular with the 3rd and 4th year girls."
Remus sighed disapprovingly. "Prongs, what happened to your vow to get on Lily's good side this year?"
James's face flushed slightly, but luckily for him Sirius came to his aid.
"Relax, Moony, it's only 5 weeks into term. He's got the whole year to show her how brilliant he is. Isn't that right, Prongs?"
"Very right, indeed, Padfoot." James agreed confidently, thought Remus noticed a slight look of regret in his eyes.
"You know, I think you've grown on her a little." Sirius added. Obviously, he had seen the look, too.
"You think so?" James perked up a little bit.
"Actually," Sirius enthused, "I doubt the girl still thinks even a few negative thoughts about you!"
James smiled at this idea and let the boys carry the conversation off into a different direction.
*
"Oh, I could KILL HIM!" Lily Evans seethed angrily as she stormed into the 6th year girls' dormitory. Her emerald eyes seemed darker due to her frustration. She pulled her thick red hair into a ponytail as she stamped across the room to her bed and sat down upon it in a huff.
"I'd ask 'who', but I suspect it'd be rather pointless." Cecilia Konstanze mused thoughtfully.
Lily's eyes narrowed as she hissed, "Potter."
"What'd he do now, Lil?" Lola Sommers, a pretty black girl, inquired as she leafed through the pages of Quidditch Through The Ages.
"Oh, he only traumatized a whole group of girls down in the common room!"
Lola sighed and shook her head. "Brilliant at Quidditch, something of an idiot when it comes to social skills."
"A very cute idiot." Leila Rosetti corrected, sweeping her long black curls off her shoulders.
Lily raised her eyebrows. "That better not have been aimed toward me, Lei."
Rolling her eyes pointedly at her, Leila responded, "Oh, honestly, Lily."
"Come off it already, Lei!"
"Come off what?" Lola asked curiously.
"Don't you dare." Lily pointed a threatening finger at Leila.
"Lily just can't stand it that James fancies her and we haven't a clue as to why!" Cecilia answered for her.
Lola chuckled. "Oh, like that's news to me! Of course she does, and of course he does, and of course you do!"
Cecilia gave her a blank look. "Huh?"
Lola laughed again. "Oh, never mind."
"If it were me who James Potter fancied…well, I'd be just beyond flattered." Leila commented matter-of-factly.
"I agree! I have no idea how you could hate him the way you do!" Cecilia remarked.
"Oh, now, I wouldn't go that far!" Lola disagreed.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I'm sure Lily doesn't hate him."
Both Cecilia and Leila shot her unconvinced looks.
"Tell them, Lily!"
"Hate's a strong word…but…" Lily mused tentatively.
"Oh, come on now, Lily! I don't think you could hate anyone or anything! You're just not like that!" Lola protested.
Looking defeated, Lily answered, "Well, I suppose I don't. I do strongly dislike him, though."
Cecilia looked appalled. "What's to dislike?"
"Cecilia, he's a prat." Lily answered simply.
"You don't think he's funny?"
"I don't think his actions are."
"You don't think he's cute?"
Lily chose her words carefully. "I think he could stand to think he was a little less cute."
"He's not as arrogant as he used to be. He has changed for the better." Lola defended him. This didn't surprise Lily, given that Lola was one of the Gryffindor chasers and James was next in line for captain.
"He could do with a lot more change."
There was a moment of silence.
"What would you do if he asked you to go into Hogsmeade with him?" Leila asked.
"Oh, I wouldn't mind going in with him."
A bright smile appeared on Leila's face. "See? You-."
"But, once we got there, I can assure you he'd be quite alone."
"Well, would you talk to him?"
Lily shrugged. "I talk to him all the time. We have classes together and we're in the same House. I'm forced to."
"Then you wouldn't mind going to talk to him right now?"
"Leila, why would I go and talk to him right now?"
"To..er…confront him! Confront him about what he did down in the common room!"
"Well, I planned on doing that. I'd never say a bad thing about Remus Lupin, but he tends to let more than a few things slide when it comes to his friends."
"Then, go!"
"Why are you so eager to get me to talk to him?"
"I think that if you talked to him more, you'd like him more."
"I think that if I talked to him more, I'd be forced to strangle him."
"Oh, come on, Lily! Just go talk to him…and be civil!"
"Why, Leila?"
"Because…er…because….oh, fine! Do you want to know the truth?"
All three other girls nodded.
"Chrysanthea Pearlstone fancies him…and..err…I don't like her much." Leila turned her nose up, as if just saying her name was distasteful.
"Well, of course you don't! That twit has inhaled too much nail varnish over the years, if you know what I mean!" Lola, too, looked disgusted.
"Well, she plans on asking him to Hogsmeade and…and… I'd just love it if he turned her down!" Leila finished off her sentence very quickly.
"He's not going to turn her down, Lei." Lily commented, "James likes twits."
"Oh, then, I suppose you consider yourself a twit?" Leila shot back.
"He only likes me because he can't have me." Lily clarified.
"You don't know that for sure!" Leila argued.
Lily got up off her bed and strode toward the door.
"I'm going to go talk to him now before he's off to only Merlin knows where!"
"Lil, it really wouldn't hurt to give him a chance." Lola reasoned.
"Listen, this goes for all of you—I don't care if Chrysanthea Pearlstone takes James into Hogsmeade and snogs the pants off him. I just don't care. Now, I'm going to give him detention..and that's…that's all there is to it."
"Um…why don't you give him detention for..er…next Saturday?" Leila suggested, hoping she wasn't too conspicuous.
"Why, would that happen to be our first Hogsmeade weekend?"
"Oh, Lily, just go then!"
Lily stepped out of the dormitory, closing the door shut behind her. She then sighed softly and leaned her head back against it, enjoying the sudden silence. She tried her best to clear her mind and actually managed to successfully calm herself down.
Her eyes widened, however, when she spotted a 3rd year girl sitting down on one of the armchairs in the common room, just about to pop a small piece of chocolate in her mouth.
"STOP!" She shouted, rushing quickly down the stairs.
The girl, along with several other people in the common room, turned to give Lily inquisitive looks.
When Lily reached the bottom floor, she headed straight for the girl, who sank back into her chair, obviously thinking that she was in trouble.
"Throw away that chocolate! Trust me—you'll regret it if you eat it!"
The girl gave her a bewildered look. "I-I don't understand what you mean."
"That chocolate is tainted." She warned.
"M-my mum sent it to me, though." The girl replied meekly.
The serious look on Lily's face faltered for a moment. "You mean, you um..you didn't get it from--."
The girl looked around her, as if waiting for someone to pop out of thin air and clue her into Lily's strange behavior. Then, at last, she questioned, "From who?"
Lily let out a long sigh, shaking her head. "Never mind."
She turned away from the girl and headed towards the boys' dormitories, feeling very frustrated with herself.
She just couldn't understand how, despite how much she pushed him away, James Potter always managed to sneak his way back into her thoughts.
Review-------pleeeaaaaaaaaaaase???
Thanks for reading!
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