Cruel Summer
The Halloween Ball was planned for the Saturday coming and it was Wednesday already. Lily was fretting over whether she had chosen the correct colour decorations, or picked out the right candles that would set off the appropriate mood for the Hall. In the last couple of days things had been very hectic and the pressure was definitely affecting her…not that she would admit it of course...
James had graciously offered to help her again, but - with her pride speaking for her - she declined. But now, most of the things had been arranged and the decisions had been made. And Lily couldn't help worrying if her decisions had been the right ones.
`But what if people hate it?' she whined, `I'll be a complete laughing stock.'
Rachel sighed and rolled her eyes for the 5 thousandth time in the Muggle Studies class. Lily had thrown her quill down onto the blank parchment, and was now staring at her friend with a look of pure horror. She had decided that trying to calm this girl was like…
…trying to get Malfoy to date a Hufflepuff…
Lily's eyes dilated as she watched her best friend stifle a loud laugh, `What?!'
`Oh…nothing…' Rachel smiled, thinking of the prospect.
That is so funny!
Seeing Lily turn back to her shopping centre research with a little `hmph!', Rachel looked at her and patted her arm.
`Look…don't worry ok? What you've decided will be fine. Everyone will love it I'm sure!'
The Head Girl sighed. Will it be ok? I hope so. Lily didn't know what she had to prove to people, but it was like a need she had to fulfil. Maybe it was with her obsession for everything to be perfect…maybe that she had to live up to what everyone expected of her…maybe…maybe there was a million reasons.
Rubbing her temples slightly, she looked down at the assignment. The Professor had informed them that in a week they would be going on their first school trip to a real Muggle Shopping Centre. Whereas most of the students - Rachel included - had delighted at the fact of this information, Lily thought the trip would only be just like a normal shopping experience. Although, she did wonder what the uninformed Purebloods would wear to a Muggle shopping centre…that should be amusing.
Picking up her quill again, she started to write down some random notes on the blank sheet. This was the last class of the day, she was thankful of, and just wanted to go and sit in the common room and relax. It wasn't just physical tiredness she felt from the whole `planning the upcoming ball', but mental tiredness as well…the cause of which she didn't know.
Hmm…maybe I'll have a bath…nothing more relaxing than that.
Lily was still staring into space when Rachel nudged her with her elbow. The class had ended and Rachel was packing up her things into her small bag. Following her quickly, the two girls walked out of the classroom and into the corridor. Deciding to meet up at dinner, Lily left her at the stairs and made her way up to the Head Common Room.
The Common Room seemed to be absent of James, as she walked into it and chucked her bag onto the table. She decided it was odd that she felt indifferent at this fact, but soon forgot when she walked into her bedroom and flopped down onto her bed. The soft mattress succumbed to her body, and she melted into the luxury of it.
Sighing after a couple of minutes, she pulled herself away from the mattress and walked over the dividing wall, separating the bathroom. Twisting the knob quietly, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. The bathroom was immaculate as always, and seemed to give an extra kind of sheen than what she was used to in the normal bathrooms around the school. Walking to the large bath - that took up most of the room at the corner - she brought out her wand and tapped on the small mermaid statue twice. The water immediately started to pour out from the urn that she was holding, and it was at the temperature that Lily liked.
`Huh…' she mused, `I wonder how they do that…'
Removing her robes and shoes, Lily stepped into the marble bathtub. She pulled her hair into a chignon, fixed it with her wand and sat down into its depths. The hazy scent of jasmine filled her nostrils as she sat back, and closed her eyes. It was wonderful.
After about 5 minutes of glorious relaxing, a loud rap on the other door made her sit up quickly, and turn her head towards it.
`Lily?'
It was James.
`Lil, are you in there?'
The Head Girl frowned, and snapped back, `Well, who else would it be?'
A pause followed her question, then James spoke, `Sirius…maybe?'
`Sirius knows the Head password?!'
`Erm…anyway Lil…are you decent? Can I come in?'
Lily saw the handle turn, `No!'
`Ok.'
The handle stopped moving and James paused again, `Well…can I talk to you after then?'
Lily sighed, wondering what he wanted to talk about, `Yeah.'
Please don't let it be the situation…please…
James turned back away from the door and walked out of his bedroom, into the Common Room. Collapsing onto the soft, red sofa he let out a sigh. A couple minutes passed before he heard Lily's door open and she emerged from it. Swallowing a little, James watched her walk towards the sofa, her arms folded slightly across her chest. She still had her hair up with her wand holding it delicately in place, but now a few strands were free and curling in ringlets across her shoulders.
God…she's so beautiful…
`What did you want to talk about?'
James mentally shook himself free from the thoughts he had, and continued to try and find an answer to her question.
`Oh…right…erm…'
Lily subconsciously took a step back when she watched him stand up from the sofa. The lit fire behind him made him look…kind of ethereal…and it unnerved her a little.
`Erm…you know the Muggle Studies project?' James began, wondering how to phrase it properly, so that she wouldn't pick up the truth, `Well…people have been coming up to me and asking questions you know…'
Lily frowned and shifted on her feet slightly. She had no clue where this was going…and with James she didn't really want to hazard a guess.
`…and some of their questions about Muggles and stuff I can answer…but someone asked me…erm, that you know when you want to buy something…and you have the money and stuff…well, where do you put the money when you want to buy it?'
Lily had to pause and re-run the question through her head, thinking somewhere along the line, something didn't make sense. She looked back at him, surprised to find him looking at her intently, awaiting her answer.
`In a shop?' she finally spoke.
`Yeah.'
`You want to know how to pay for stuff in a shop?'
`Yeah…well, someone does.'
Lily frowned, and then said in exasperation, `James, you came shopping with me!'
`I know that,' he said bitterly.
`Well then…you should know how to do it…we bought enough clothes!'
`So…you're saying that all shops have Muggles who work on tills and stuff?'
`Yes!'
He paused as though pondering the idea, then… `Ok, thanks Lils'
Lily turned quickly to see him walk to his room…something didn't add up…
`James?' she asked, making him stop and look at her, `Who asked you?'
The Head Boy looked at her for a second, and then smiled the nicest smile Lily had ever seen on him, `Oh…just someone I know.'
She frowned as she watched him disappear into his room, closing the door firmly behind him. Lily didn't know what to do…what had she just witnessed there? Was James Potter actually being human? And was Lily seeing him as a human? A gorgeous one at that? That smile…what was that?
Too many questions were flitting through her brain as she walked back to her room, closing the door behind her. And in the Head Boy bedroom, James was making up his own plan to win over the only girl he ever properly wanted.
*****************************
Thursday and Friday passed rapidly and it was Saturday before Lily realised. The blood-pressure of the Head Girl was running extremely high today due to the impending Halloween Ball…or…`would-be-disaster-because-knowing-my-luck-it-bloody-well-will-be'.
She had eaten nothing that morning and was still sitting at the Gryffindor table at 11 o'clock in the morning. She had chosen to sit and review everything that was planned, and had insisted that Dumbledore agreed on starting the assembling of the decorations earlier to make sure everything ran smoothly.
Rachel had wisely chosen to sit at the Slytherin table with a few of the girls today due to Lily's short temper, and thought it best to leave her friend alone in circumstances like this. The only way that she knew of, that may deter her from having a nervous breakdown would be a certain Quidditch Captain. She decided that she would ambush the Ravenclaw Chaser before he disturbed the Head Girl, explain the situation, then maybe he could use his charm to bring her back into the land where people actually ate the food that they were given and pulled their head out of books long enough to do it.
`Hmm,' Rachel thought, looking at the large clock at the end of the hall, `Quidditch practice should be over now…I wonder where he is.'
`What's the matter?'
Rachel turned to the black haired girl sitting across from her, `Oh…nothing…just thought Quidditch practice was over now…I think Matt should talk Lil' out of, you know, passing out from exhaustion before tonight.'
The girl paused, glanced over at Lily, and then looked back to Rachel, a small smile gracing her doll-like features. She noticed that the smile didn't, at all, meet her eyes, and if she'd had thought about it more, it may have been interpreted as a venomous smirk.
`Don't worry,' Amiya spoke gently, lifting the pumpkin juice glass up to her rouged lips, `I'm sure she'll consider everything differently before tonight is over.'
It was then that Matthew Reede chose to walk into the Great Hall, and Rachel - not wanting to miss telling him about Lily - overlooked the comment that the Slytherin girl had said. Getting up from the table quickly and glancing at Lily, who was still deeply engrossed in the notes she had made, she made her way over to the group of Ravenclaw Quidditch players.
`Reede?'
The 7 boys turned to the feminine voice behind them, grinning lewdly at the Gryffindor girl they saw. Rachel narrowed her blue eyes and folded her arms across her chest. She had no problem telling people where they stand, and wasn't going to start now.
`When you've quite finished and put your tongues back into your mouths,' Rachel snapped, `I would like to speak to you, Matt…in private.'
Choosing to ignore their stupid comments, Rachel waited for Matthew to detach himself from the group of idiots long enough to explain the `Lily-situation'. She told him to try and persuade her…nicely…to give the planning a break for at least an hour, and then go back to it later. While this was a good plan in theory, she was dubious about whether it would work…but, conveniently, forgot to mention this to the Chaser.
However, after watching the long persuasion of the Ravenclaw to the Head Girl, she finally relented and they left the Great Hall together, leaving the planning books discarded until later on the Gryffindor table.
*****************************
James was having a bad day. In fact he was having a bad week. He knew that he had to make an appearance at the Halloween Ball being Head Boy…yada yada yada…but he didn't understand why he had to.
Especially when Lily's gonna be there with him!
He had tried to find a girl all week to go with; so it looked like he didn't need her…but James overlooked one fact…he did need her. He needed her so much that that was the reason he didn't have a date.
He was…subconsciously of course…comparing all the girls to her!
And if they didn't meet up to the standard, well…lets just say…they didn't get very far with him.
God damn! Why am I so stupid?!
Pacing around the castle had led him outside to the courtyard without really knowing it. He didn't know what he was going to do. His plan had seemed a good idea at the time when he had first thought about it. But now…ugh…
I mean…what is she gonna say? `Oh thank you so much, I must have you now!' No way! It's just going to be awkward and embarrassing.
James sat down on one of the benches and rested his head in his hands. He must have been sitting out there for at least 15 minutes before the rest of the Marauders found him.
`Prongs?'
The Head Boy looked up into the faces of his three best friends, and mumbled what Sirius thought to be a greeting of some sort.
`What are you doing out here?' he heard Remus ask.
For some reason the question annoyed him and he snapped his response, `What does it look like Moony? I'm knitting a sweater!'
Sirius, Remus and Peter exchanged glances that could only be a mixture of hesitance, regret in asking the question, and a dollop of anger that they were helping him without his knowledge of it.
`What's wrong?' Sirius asked.
The Marauder just shrugged at his question, not really wanting to talk to them about it or his feelings. The only thing he could talk to them about was…
`We are so gonna beat Ravenclaw in the next Quidditch match!' James spat, `I think I'm gonna call everyone out for extra practices so we can kick their fuckin' asses.'
This in turn caused the rest of the Marauders again to look at each other in uncertainty. Sirius raised his eyebrows to them then turned back to James and patted his shoulder.
`Erm…whatever you want mate.'
James didn't answer and a silence swept over the conversation, until…
`…yeah, I know you want me to stop for a while, but I've got to head back to the Hall…'
The four Marauders looked up to Lily and Matthew walking together, in the direction of the Great Hall. She was obviously having withdrawal symptoms about not thinking about the plans, and Reede was trying to convince her to stay with him.
`Come on Lil', you can go back to that in a sec.'
James fists constricted into tight balls as he watched the Ravenclaw take Lily's wrist and pull her towards him. When Matthew started to kiss the side of her face and near her ear, James had to avert his eyes quickly…otherwise Matthew might not have made it past the `ear-nibbling' stage.
Raw and cutting jealousy ripped through his chest and constricted his lungs, causing him to have to concentrate on breathing steadily and not in a rasping and jagged manner.
Sirius felt his best friend tense up beside him, and was once again glad that `Plan Sabotage' was going ahead. Sirius looked over to Remus, catching the other boys gaze and grinning mischievously. Moony's returning response was a subtle roll of the eyes, but he felt also now that what Sirius had decided was the right way to go.
James got up from the bench, not wanting to be around his friends and the awkward silences, at the moment. But what he had decided, during the time of jealousy that he felt, that he would go ahead with his what he decided…
…he was going to get Lily…
…and Reede was going down!
*********************************
The Great Hall was magnificent.
From what Lily had been stressing over that it wouldn't be up to everyone's standard…she was indeed extremely wrong. The Hall ceiling, naturally see-though to see the weather outside, was now an ebony cloak with shattered shards of starlight existing for an eternity. The soft, flickering light of the candles created gentle shadows that caressed the atmosphere and added to the ambience, and the room had been decorated with beautiful drapes, from each house, hanging from the walls. Lily had also asked Professor Dumbledore if he would ask the Faeries to provide some of their decorations, and they had come up with charming the air so that it sparkled slightly and had a hazy scent, like the one that appeared in the Head Bathroom a couple of days ago. The Faeries had also decided that they wanted to stay for the Ball, and Lily had thought it quite appropriate that they did.
The music was gentle and formal, and gazing at the final result, Lily decided that her hard work had definitely paid off. Apart from the necessary input of the Professors here and there, she had done it all herself…and it was one of the proudest moments of her life.
Everything was perfect.
`Lil!' a voice called behind her.
She turned around to see her best friend walking swiftly towards her, and she smiled. Rachel's face was full of awe…she was gazing wide-eyed around the hall, and pointing out certain effects or features that she liked.
`Oh my god Lil! It's gorgeous! Oh everyone will love it!'
`Really?' she beamed, glad that her best friend approved.
`Yes, Miss Evans,' Dumbledore's voice, `It is, indeed, a spectacle…one of the best displays I've seen in my years at Hogwarts.'
Lily's beam widened at the compliment and Rachel hugged her best friend and kissed her cheek.
`Well done Lil'.'
James watched from outside the Great Hall entrance door. He couldn't help admiring her, as she smiled at the shower of praise she was receiving. She really had done a good job, and he agreed with Rachel when she said everyone would love it.
He loved it.
He loved her.
***********************************
It was half past six as Lily made her way back up to the Head Common Room. Rachel had left her to get changed and ready, in the Gryffindor Dormitories, which had excited the blonde immensely. There was nothing better than dressing up, to Rachel, and she thought that it was the best part of the night. Lily smiled gently thinking of her friend.
What would I do without her?
Walking up the wide stairs, Lily absently thought about what she should wear. Her mother had given her a lilac chiffon styled dress with an embroidered hem bit, and she had decided that she would wear that. It was very pretty and it fit nicely as well. Lily wondered what Matthew might wear, and grinned to herself at the prospect.
I bet he looks gorgeous…I guess he'll be the pretty one in the couple.
Reaching the Veela portrait, and saying the password to her, Lily walked through the passageway and into the Common Room. The fire was still burning fervently and the room was gloriously warm. Removing her Muggle jumper, and tossing it onto the table - where most of the things went when she entered the room - she walked to her bedroom. The previously unmade bed was now neat and tidy and her things were all arranged in order.
Bless the house-elves.
Making sure the shared bathroom was unoccupied, she decided to try out the shower and it was surprisingly good. The same jasmine scent floated over her and Lily came to think that the water must be charmed to smell like that…she wasn't complaining.
She kept imagining everyone in the school getting ready and wondering what, and how, they would expect the hall to be. She smiled to herself as she stepped out of the marble shower and wrapped a large towel around herself. Grabbing a smaller towel, she towel dried her hair a little, and walked into the room to get her `Young Witch's Guide to Hair and Beauty' book. Finding the right hairstyle that she wanted, she located her wand and spoke the spell clearly. Her hair dried immediately and then her natural curls seemed to accent themselves more. The vibrant auburn shade shimmered under the light and she inspected it carefully for any mistakes.
Everything seemed to be fine, and the Head Girl moved towards her bed, unravelling the towel.
A gentle knock on the door startled her and made her grab for the towel again, `Yes?!'
`Lil'?'
`Yeah, what's the matter?'
`What are you wearing?' James asked after a pause.
Lily frowned, wondering why he wanted to know that. She finally answered, `A towel.'
On the other side of the door, James melted, a thousand images flitting through his active mind. His mouth suddenly going dry he tried to think of what he previously wanted to say.
`Well…' he started, `can I just talk to you a second?'
`Now?'
`Please,' he answered firmly, and hearing her sigh.
`Ok.'
James walked back towards the sofa, resting on the back of it and waiting for her. Lily opened the door to her room, grasping the towel around her and wondering what the hell she was doing. Walking into the Common Room, something felt different…
Have the lights dimmed or something?
Then her breath caught in her throat as she looked upon the boy before her. Time stood still for a couple of seconds as they looked at each other. James was dressed in a black suit with a white shirt that was slightly undone underneath. He was…gorgeous…
His hair, although still messy, was set off by the black clothes, and his hair looked…right…that way anyway. He was holding something in his left hand, a bag. A large bag. She stepped further towards him, acutely aware that she was naked under the towel.
Suddenly, her voice found her again, `You scrub up nicely.'
`Thanks,' he smiled, his blue eyes flashing with the grin.
James' mind was on overload; knowing that the towel was the only thing covering her. Her hair seemed to glitter under the soft light and he longed to run his fingers through it, maybe kissing her as he did it…
`So…'she began, swallowing slightly, `what did you want to talk about this time?'
The Head Boy smiled again and held up the large bag. Lily frowned, not thinking that he would spend his money on her.
`For me?' she asked, frowning.
He nodded, watching as she walked up to him. He could see she was having trouble thinking about what it was that he would have bought her, and he caught her sneaking glances at him in confusion.
`James, you shouldn't have bought me anything.'
`I wanted to…as a peace offering I guess,' he said, giving her the bag.
`But still…'
Taking the bag reluctantly, she walked to the oak table with James following her. Removing the plastic, she pulled out a large cardboard box and laid it on the table. Strangely she didn't want to open it; scared of what she would find. On the box, in the centre, was a `W' surrounded by a heart. Again, her brow furrowed, and then she felt James nudge her back.
`Open it.'
Lily looked at him, the firelight dancing across his dark features. She was sure she was dreaming and would wake up at any moment, but the feel of James when he nudged her was still burning on that spot. Turning back to the box, she reached for the lid and gently pulled it away from the base. The soft texture of gift-wrapped paper met her eyes, and instantly she realised that this wasn't something in wizardry. This was a Muggle item.
Her curiosity now intensified, she reached for the paper, being careful not to tear it for some reason. She felt James' hand on her back as she removed the paper, and what met her eyes made her gasp loudly with unbelievable amazement.
`Oh my god!'
It was The Dress!
She pulled her hand away as though it had scorched her, and placed it over her mouth, the shock still coursing through her.
Oh. My. God!
Lily turned and looked at James, a gentle smile on his face. She couldn't believe it. A million questions were going through her mind, most of them beginning with the word `Why?'
She couldn't tear her eyes away from him, and finally she got out, `Why?'
James paused, his fingers idly playing with a lock of curls on her shoulder, `Because, I wanted to…I knew how much you liked it.'
`But…the money…'
`…isn't a problem,' he finished for her, `I thought you could wear it tonight.'
Lily couldn't believe he'd done this, it was so…unbelievable…there was no words to describe it. Somewhere in the chaos of her mind, she realised a few tears were tumbling down her cheeks. She'd never been so overwhelmed in her life, and she didn't know what to do. James wiped the tears away from her face and smiled at her bewilderment.
She turned and looked back at The Dress sitting neatly in the presentation box, and reached out slowly to touch the material. It flowed across her fingertips like water, just like it had in the shop, and the gorgeous emerald satin dazzled under the light. Lily saw other colours in the material when it moved, and still she couldn't comprehend just what was happening.
`This is unbelievable James…' she said softly, gazing at The Dress, `it's so beautiful, I…I don't know what to say…'
`Say that you'll at least try it on,' he smirked.
Lily hadn't realised she had grasped his arm in the shock and was still holding it tightly, as though if she didn't her legs might give way. But the Head Boy wasn't complaining at all, any contact he had with her was a god send.
`When I bought it, the sales-woman advised that I got the accessories that went with it…so…'
Lily looked at him wide-eyed, `James, you didn't!'
He shrugged, pointing at the box, `Everything's in there…anything you don't want, don't use.'
The Head Girl looked back at The Dress, let go of James and reached for it. Before she touched it she asked, `Can I?'
`Of course,' he laughed, watching as she lifted The Dress from the box, carefully.
Lily held the dress against herself, marvelling in that it was hers. Looking at the tag, she realised he had even gotten her size right, and glanced at him quickly. What caught her attention though were the accessories at the bottom of the box. All matching The Dress, was a pretty wrap that had small embroidered flowers in one corner, a pair of green satin mules, and a pair of green jewelled earrings with a matching hair slide and necklace.
`James…' she breathed, lost in a world that she was sure she would wake up at any moment in.
The Head Boy reached for the box and took her arm, guiding her towards her bedroom.
`Go and try it on first,' he said, pushing her into her room.
Shutting the door firmly behind her, James turned around and ran a hand through his messy hair. With her making all those breathy moans, he had had to get rid of her quickly before she thought his intentions weren't honourable.
God…what does she do to me…
She had looked so delighted, and he loved to see her like that…she was so vulnerable then, he just wanted to take her in his arms and hold her. Hold her forever…
It was about 15 minutes before she immerged from her room again. James turned to look at the girl of his dreams, and nearly liquefied from the sheer beauty of her.
The satin sleeveless gown clung to her curvy body so deliciously and the wrap around her arms heightened the elegance of the mirage she made. The jewellery sparkled outstandingly, and it seemed to enhance her deep emerald eyes.
When she stepped forward, he noticed the shoes that matched the dress. Everything looked so stunning. She looked so stunning. There was just no way to describe the sheerness of it.
`Well…is it ok?'
Understatement of the century!
`You look…so…beautiful.'
The smile that grew across her pretty face was as gorgeous as the rest of her, and James couldn't quite believe how he was not standing there with a situation in his trousers. Lily walked towards him and stopped a couple of feet in front.
`Thank you…so much,' she said softly, `I don't know what else to say…there's nothing that could compare…'
James kept silent, thinking about how, before, he had thought how this might be awkward and embarrassing…but there was nothing he would have rather done…it was perfect.
`In the past…' she began, looking at the floor, `we haven't really gotten along…and I know…that sometimes we did certain things irrationally…'
Lily looked back into his face, `…things we regret…I'm sorry for things that can't be changed…but I'm not sorry for how it ended out…what you've done is so unreal and I still can't believe it's true…thank you James.'
Then she moved into him, causing his mind to start to unravel and his heart start to race. Lily looked up at him as she moved her arms up and around his neck. James, caught in a moment of oblivion, moved his arms around her back pulling her into him more. She rested her head on the curve of his shoulder, and he brought one hand up and into her hair. It was a simple embrace…between friends?
`Thank you.'
James moved his face down and kissed her hair, it was intoxicating, her scent, her touch, everything about her was soaking into him. Making him hunger it.
`Anytime Lils,' he whispered softly.
God, I love you so much.
Lily pulled away gently, smiling up at him. His eyes were burning into her, undressing her. Why did she feel bad about it? Did she want it too? Was this too complicated?
Looking at the Wizard clock on the side of the room, Lily stood away from him and smoothed the dress from tiny creases.
`It's time to go,' she spoke, `are you going with anyone?'
James flushed in embarrassment, `Erm…does Sirius, Remus and Peter count?'
Lily laughed, `Of course…but…I can't believe you're not going with anyone.'
The Head Boy shrugged and Lily decided to drop the subject quickly. Still, she wondered why…James was attractive…and with his Marauder thing, she thought he could get most girls.
`I can't wait to see Matt's face when I walk down the stairs wearing this…he'll be so surprised.'
Fuck, Fuck, Fuck!
`Yeah,' he ground out, `why wouldn't he be?'
Lily paused for a second, and then spoke, `Anyway, I'll see you in the Great Hall right?'
`Yeah,' he muttered, hands in pockets.
She frowned slightly, and then moved towards him. Placing her hand on his chest, she leaned up and pressed her lips against his cheek softly. The moment caused James a great deal of shock and he felt his arousal stir. He gripped her arm, holding her in place, and causing the kiss to linger. Lily's emerald eyes shifted up and rested on his, and she slid her hand up to his cheek, moving his face around slightly. Her eyes fluttering closed, she pressed her soft lips to his, and felt James grip her back.
Lily pulled away suddenly, looking at the floor. James shifted his hand up to touch her face, but she pulled out of his arms quickly. He didn't understand…what was wrong? What happened?
Lily moved towards the portrait, `I'm sorry…I'm with Matt…'
James frowned in anger as she walked out of the Common Room quickly, the door closing sharply behind her.
What the hell was that? She made the first move! Not me!
Pinching the bridge of his nose slightly from the stress of the rapid fluctuating emotions, James looked towards the door that she exited from quickly. Walking towards it himself, he made his way to Gryffindor Common Room.
I need Sirius' help with this.
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