Semele Perdita

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Semele Perdita

Chapter 7: The Anticipation of Consequences

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

-Lily-

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The staircase up to Dumbledore’s office really should be longer. Laila and I had followed silently up the staircase after and now we were waiting just outside the door to the office. The door swung open quite suddenly, surprising me.

motioned for us to follow her into the room, and we both followed. Instead of looking at the rather magnificent desk in the center of the room, my eyes were focused mainly on the lovely floor tiles because they seemed like an interesting thing to stare at, at the time.

They sparkled with a kind of surreal light and seemed to be a mirror to the night sky. I was almost certain if I stared at the tiles long enough it would turn out to be some kind of chart of an unknown galaxy or something. I wasn’t in the mood to actually decide if it was the hidden galaxy or just the crazy invention of an old coot. Actually, if I tilted my head to the right a little, it almost looked like…

“Ahem.” I was startled from my pondering by a cleared throat and ’s pointed look at me. I looked up wincingly at the now occupied desk. I hadn’t even heard Dumbledore enter. He was watching Laila and me intensely, but curiously. A thing he had the annoying tendency to do, mix two polar emotions together and expect us to deal with them.

“Miss Geer, Miss Evans, would you care to explain yourselves?” he asked after a long moment of silence.

“Well, you see sir…” I began to speak.

“She attacked me, Professor Dumbledore, for no reason at all...” Laila cut me off. I shot her a rather nasty glare before retorting.

“She threw my book into the fire! Just because it was Muggle! She doesn’t understand what the book meant to me, it was—“ I stopped myself before I blurted anything personal out. I didn’t want to bare my soul to anyone in this room at the moment, especially not that piece of it. I felt a slight tint of heat creep onto my cheeks as I slammed the brakes on my mouth. Laila threw a sneer my way, and then plastered a confused look on her face. Never before had anyone made me want to inflict more physical pain to him or her than this girl sitting only inches away from me.

“Let me make myself clearer: one of you tell the story the way you experienced it and then the other may relate their details. Ms. Geer, why don’t you begin?” Dumbledore looked slightly amused. I realized a moment later the most probable reason why, we were bickering like 11-year-olds over who took whose new eyeshadow.

“Well, Violet and I, walked into our dormitory and Evans was in there. We needed to discuss something slightly private so I asked kindly if she would please leave. She refused. I then noticed she was reading a book and I was curious to know what she was reading. So she let me see the book real quick to check it out. Then, I accidentally dropped it on the hearth when my foot slipped on the tiles and well; it got pushed in when I slipped. After that, everything is kind of blurry. But I remember Evans pouncing on me and almost clawing my face to death,” Laila spoke in a remorseful tone. Her eyes were downcast and hands wringing in her lap. What a liar, the tramp. I felt my own face twist in disgust for Laila, how could anyone lie so openly and without any regret? It was sickening.

“Very well, Ms. Geer. Ms. Dare, will you please escort Ms. Geer back up to her dormitory and then you are free to retire as you will.” Dumbledore gave a small nod to and motioned them out the door. Silently, followed his request and led Laila from his office, leaving me with the old professor.

“Now Ms. Evans,” he steepled his fingers, looking at me in thought, “would you care to tell me your side of the story?”

“Er—yes sir,” I swallowed. “ You see, I was reading a book in the dorms when Laila and Violet came in and Laila demanded I get out. I refused, on the grounds that I had been there first, you see. She got really mad and then asked what I was reading. When I ignored her, she grabbed the book from hands. After reading the title, she seemed to realize it was a muggle book and got really angry. She threw it in the fire and then…I lost my temper and well…’clawed her face’ up a bit. Honestly though, sir, almost everything she said was a lie and I know you shouldn’t believe a word I say and I have no evidence but—“

Dumbledore raised a spindly hand to stop my ramblings. The second time that night my mouth snapped closed in a hurry.

“I quite understand Ms. Evans, but I am curious, what was so special about this book that provoked your attack on Ms. Geer?” It was unmistakable now. The faint sparkle of amusement in Dumbledore’s eyes had grown to dance around in the icy blue orbs.

I took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. My eyes focused again on the floor tiles. Almost unconsciously, I ran a hand through my thick hair, pulling it away from my face.

“It—it was my mum’s last birthday present to me before she…before she—er—died last summer,” I said, almost inaudible to my own ears.

“Ah, I believe I understand now. Sometimes things given to us by a most intimate relation lose all face value but stay dear in our hearts long after the relation is severed. Your actions are understandable, ms. Evans, but cannot go unpunished. You still attacked Ms. Geer and you will receive a detention for your actions,” Dumbledore smiled at me.

To say the truth, I was quite relieved. I had expected worse for almost mauling someone.

“You will get the details of your detention tomorrow from Professor Flitwick. I trust you will be able to find the way back to your dormitory sufficiently enough. Good night, Ms. Evans.”

I nodded and stood from my chair, feeling almost numb. I walked towards the entrance and was almost to the steps when Dumbledore called after me.

“Oh and Ms. Evans? Please try to keep your records up and not fall into too many detentions this year, we wouldn’t want to jeopardize your spot for Head Girl next year now would we?” he smiled once more at me and then made a dismissing move with his hand.

Once down the steps and into the main corridor once again, I let out a breath I hadn’t been aware I was holding. My spot as Head Girl next year? Did that mean he had already chosen who he wanted to be the Heads? I took a few deep breaths before walking towards my dormitory. Despite my feelings of grief and anger, I allowed myself to crack a small smile. I hadn’t smiled genuinely in weeks and it felt nice to smile again. Almost like before anything bad had happened and my world was still perfect.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

-James-

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The effects of our short visit to Dumbledore’s office hadn’t worn off just yet on Sirius. He was still had a tilted grin on his face and looked smugly proud.

“You know what this means, right, Prongs?” Sirius asked suddenly. His grin had now seized his whole face. “This puts me 4 detentions ahead of you for the record.”

“Does it?” I asked bemused. Of course Sirius would remember something like that. Only someone like him could remember he currently had 420-something detentions on record.

Though, he probably only remembered because of our bet we had made back in 2^nd year. Sirius never forgot when someone made a deal with him. I had bet him 20 galleons that by the time we graduated I would have more detentions than him. Somewhere lost in my trunk was a piece of paper signed by both of us on the deal and attached to it was a piece of paper charmed to record each of our detentions (by copying them from Filch’s files.) Our last day of Hogwarts, I’m sure we’ll have to dig it out of the bottom of the trunk.

“Of course, I’m keeping count. I don’t trust you enough,” Sirius laughed. “You might distort the charts a bit just to get a few galleons next year.”

“Me? I think you’re mistaking my personality for your own, Padfoot,” I said in response.

“I would never dream of it, Prongsy Boy.”

I snorted in disbelief, but chose not to answer that comment. We walked down the hall in silence, both too tired to think of much more banter to throw at the other.

After about a five-minute walk, we reached the . I yawned loudly, by now ready to let my head hit the pillow.

“Bit tired there, Jamsie-poo?” Sirius commented mockingly.

“Oh, shove it,” I muttered.

As we reached the Fat Lady, Sirius mumbled our password (“Sparkle.”) I smiled slightly at the password. Obviously Vikki Thompson, Gryffindor’s female Prefect, had chosen this password. Either that or Moony had lost his mind.

We both trudged up to the dorms, as no one stopped us in the common room. Seeming as no one was actually in the common room except for two seventh years, this wasn’t difficult.

Peter was already asleep when we got there and Moony was still in the Hospital Wing, prepping for tomorrow night. Tomorrow night…it would be first full moon at Hogwarts since we came back. It would only be our third time to go out with Remus, as we had only mastered the talent of Animagi transformation last year. Late last year, as it was.

It took 4 long years for Sirius and me to figure it out for Remus. Of course, he hadn’t known we had been doing until his birthday last year. We didn’t want to get his hopes up in case it didn’t work.

As I finally fell asleep, my mouth curved in a smile of anticipation. Tomorrow would be a good day. I was sure of it.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Don’t ask why it took so long, I’m not sure myself, anyways its here now, really short, but here…umm next chapter expect some ‘midnight escapades’ and a detention that contains a few too many soap suds, its already half way written, so really soon guys not 2weeks to a month this time!

Holly – lets see you do better, at least I don’t write my story in my English journal…

Ren – glad to here you liked it! I hope you enjoyed this chapter just as much

ljstagflower4e – thanks:-D lily and laila’s little fight may cause a few problems in the future between them…and about books, I love it when their used, I’m not sure why, I just like the feel of old book stores, like they hold a bunch of secrets in them. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, its kind of just a filler…but oh well

bondariana – wow…where to start…I do love tom felton, but am not as bad as I used to be, I won’t go into any psycho wanderings about him because I know way to much about him and it might freak people out…okay, next I am already planning more L/J fics but this fic hasn’t even reached its climax yet, so I’m not worrying about anything else right now, lol. Now then what’s all this about barbequing me? I’ve had death threats before and all but…lmao j/k, and what evil bat-like creatures are you speaking of? Thanks for reviewing; I look forward to hearing from you again!

Anonymous, Eschiva, mercedes1327, Draddle, Anonymous, and Shortcake: thanks for reviewing, y’all! I really appreciate it

Now everyone review again! Lol.

Adios til next time ~~~ Julie