Their Seventh Year

I’m so glad you guys like Sirius.  I like him too.  A lot.  But you could probably tell that.  The real men just never quite live up to the fictional characters, do they? 

Chapter 31- Valentine’s Day

Lily was in a bad mood, a very bad mood, as they walked to Hogsmeade on Saturday morning.  On Wednesday night James had thrown out the comment that he didn’t want her to have to miss going to Hogsmeade just because he wasn’t allowed to go.  This threw her because she had simply assumed she would skip the Hogsmeade trip.  After all, she had been to Hogsmeade a million times, and she wanted to spend Valentine’s Day with her boyfriend.  Unfortunately, her boyfriend didn’t seem that concerned with it.  She knew he had not forgotten about the day, as beautiful red roses had been delivered to her at breakfast, softening her slightly, but she was still put out.

The fact was that she had to go to Hogsmeade, she had to get to Gladrag’s.  Although she had not told any of her friends, Lily had applied to half a dozen Ministry training programmes, and she would have to go to interviews for them.  She needed dress robes that were nicer than her school robes but not as fancy as her party ones.  Yes, she could probably order them, but pride dictated that if James didn’t care about spending the day with her, she didn’t care about spending the day with him, and pride was what kept her walking in the direction of Hogsmeade rather than turning around.

It was even worse because everyone else in the world seemed to have a date.  Well, actually, in this case “everyone in the world” consisted of Flora and Remus, and they weren’t the kind of couple into nauseating displays of public affection, but among the rest of her friends, everyone else was in as bad a mood as Lily.  According to , Frank was in some critical phase of his Auror training and evidently the Ministry of Magic did not consider “visiting your girlfriend on Valentine’s Day” an excuse worthy of letting him out.  She was mostly sulking and occasionally muttering nasty things about the Ministry under her breath.  Everyone else was just as sulky.  It was not shaping up to be one of the better Hogsmeade days of her Hogwarts years.

======

When James had said Lily should go on to Hogsmeade without him, he hadn’t actually thought she would, he’d just felt like it was something he ought to say.  He supposed that was what he got for fighting, and as it turned out, it was for the best.  As the day went on he realized that setting up the whole romantic scene he had planned was a little more work than he had anticipated.  The flowers at breakfast, which he could tell she had liked despite herself, had been just the beginning.  It had taken several days and several illicit trips to Hogsmeade to manage everything, and he certainly hoped she appreciated it.  Considering all the times he’d screwed up in just the past week, she’d better like it or he would find himself quickly single.  And given it had taken him the better part of three years, thousands of “no’s” and several sharp slaps before she actually agreed to go out with him, he was not going to end up single again that quickly.

At least, not if some very ambitious planning and good bit of gold could prevent it.

======

As far as Sirius could tell, it was either stay in the common room with the first and second years, help James set up his elaborate “seducing Lily” plan (more of a “not getting dumped” plan considering how he had been going), or wandering aimlessly through the Hogwarts corridors.  None of these options really held much promise of being very interesting, but in the end he opted for the last.  Fact was, Sirius had found lots of interesting things without meaning to when wandering through the Hogwarts halls, and he wasn’t so arrogant as to think he knew all the school’s secrets yet.  You never knew where you might come across an interesting room or secret passage.

At any rate, it was better than watching lovesick eleven and twelve-year-olds attempt to put moves on each other in the common room.  He actually didn’t mind being single on Valentine’s Day, in fact, he usually made a point of seeing that it worked out that way.  It wasn’t that he couldn’t be romantic if he wanted to, he just didn’t really see the point.  To put all the effort required of a boyfriend on Valentine’s Day required you had to really like a girl, and while Sirius had “really liked” a lot of girls during his years at Hogwarts, none of them had inspired that kind of desire for something more long-term.  Besides, there was nothing wrong with keeping your options open.  On the other hand, keeping his options open might also land him spending the evening with Peter. 

He was up near the where they had divination, when he had still taken divination, when he walked past a small alcove with a window seat set back into the wall.  Almost entirely hidden from view, he walked right past before he noticed her there and doubled back.  Dressed casually instead of severe black with the Slytherin colors, he almost didn’t recognize her.  She was, predictably, reading.

“Always with the books.”  He remarked.  “Bit of a nerd, aren’t you?”

She jumped, absorbed enough that she had not heard him approaching.

“That’s the second time I’ve snuck up on you.”  He continued.  “I’d think, living in Slytherin, you’d want to be a little more alert.  You know, for when your house-mates try to kill you in your bed and all.”

“What are you doing here?” 

“Walking around.”

“Thank you, Captain Obvious.  I meant, why are you not in Hogsmeade with everyone else?”

“Ah, well, that would be a result of my “absolutely appalling behavior and inability to conduct myself in way that reflects appropriately on the school.”  At least that’s what McGonagall said.  I think it’s all part of a vast conspiracy.  I suppose I could ask you the same thing.”

“Same story.  At least, I’m assuming that little speech translates to you got caught hexing someone.”

He couldn’t keep a wide grin off his face.  “You hexed someone?  Who?  Why?”

“Adrian Travers.  And I had my reasons.”

“What hex did you use?”

“Rather not say, then it will be more of a surprise when I use it on you.”

“I look forward to finding out.”  He almost meant that.  She was nothing if not surprising.    He hesitated, wondering if he should ask something that had been on his mind for a few weeks.  Not that it really mattered, not that he cared, but….”Can I ask you something?”

She arched an eyebrow.  “I’m not stopping you.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets.  “In the owlery, when you said my brother would be a Death Eater in a few years, were you just guessing, since it’s not all that hard to guess, or did you actually hear, or see, something about him?”

Whatever she had been expecting, it was not that.  She paused a moment before asking a question of her own.  “Your brother doesn’t go to Hogwarts, does he?”

He shook his head.  “After I went so bad, my parents decided they didn’t approve of Dumbledore or the curriculum, he goes to Durmstrang.”

She nodded slightly.  “To answer your question, no, I haven’t heard, or seen, anything about him specifically, I just heard the name last summer as someone who was friends with a group who are nearly all Death Eaters or headed that way.”

“Right.”  That was pretty much what he expected.  “Thanks.”

“If I may ask, why do you care?”

“You shouldn’t have to ask that.  You have a brother.”

She smirked.  “Yes, one who I hate.”

She sounded so convinced of it herself that he might have believed her, did he not remember a scene at the train station.  “No you don’t.  You might want to, but you don’t.”

======

Her shopping accomplished, Lily had bought a set of very nice dark blue dress robes that managed to look serious and still stylish.  With that done, she had little idea what to do with herself except go with everyone else to have a drink in the Three Broomsticks.  If she had hoped for this to improve her mood, it had the opposite effect.  Nothing like being surrounded by happy couples on Valentine’s Day when your own boyfriend is a complete prat.  She sighed, and then jumped as slammed down her butterbeer so hard Lily was surprised the bottle didn’t break.

“Lily, for Merlin’s sake, go back to school!”

“What?”

“Well, you’re so clearly pissed that you’re doing exactly what James told you to do.  So go back to Hogwarts already and deal with it and stop letting something as stupid as pride stop you from being with your boyfriend today when that’s so clearly what you want.  And I have a feeling when you get back to school you’re going to feel bad for all the nasty things you’re thinking about him, because he probably just got rid of you so he could plan some sort of elaborate set-up.”

Lily narrowed her eyes.  “Do you know something?”

“No, except that I’ve seen James Potter in action for over six years and he would never do something simple and tasteful when he can do something big and potentially destructive.  So go already, no one will think less of you.”

was, as usual, right.  Lily only hesitated a moment before grabbing her bags and saying “See you later.”

raised her butterbeer in a half salute.  “Without me, they’d all be single.”

======

“Er, Remus, I know this is the popular place and all, but….it’s a little nauseating, don’t you think?”  Flora muttered under her breath.

He could not help but give a sigh of relief.  He did, in fact, think Madam Puddifoot’s tea shop, with it’s frills and bows and cherubs, was extremely nauseating, but he had thought perhaps she liked it.  After all, you could never guess what girls might find appealing, and it was the popular place for “couples” to spend a Hogsmeade afternoon.  He was delighted to hear she felt the same way.

“Want to get out of here?”

“Oh yes, let’s.”  She gasped in relief. 

They paid and left quickly, and opted just to walk along and look in the shops.  It was a nice day, and unseasonably warm for February, and so far the whole day had just been…pleasant.  For a girl who Remus had always considered very different from him in personality, he found that he and Flora were often on the same wavelength, and that that was comfortable.

Of course, whenever he started to get too pleased with his life she would always remember the small detail about himself that he hadn’t told her.  If he was logical, and he usually was, he knew James was right- the longer he waited the worse it was going to be.  The thing was, he had never actually told anyone.  The faculty who needed to know had been informed by Dumbledore, and James and Sirius and Peter had worked it out on their own.  The only other person who knew, as far as he knew, was Snape, who had found out through Sirius’s sheer idiocy in fifth year.

It wasn’t that he had never dated before, but nothing that had suggested it might go beyond a date for a dance or a single Hogsmeade week-end, certainly nothing that would have required that kind of disclosure.  He wasn’t even sure how he would go about saying it.  So, lovely weather we’re having, did I mention I’m a werewolf?  Not exactly.

“What are you shaking your head at?”  She broke into his thoughts.

“Nothing.  Just thinking.”

“About what?”

“You know Flora, a smart girl wouldn’t ask so many questions and risk spoiling any surprises that might be planned for Valentine’s Day.”  And with that, he successfully avoided lying or telling the truth.

======

Lily came slamming into the boys dormitory to find Sirius Black alone and…reading a book?!  As strange as that was, she decided not to worry about it.

“Where’s James?”

He raised an eyebrow.  “Don’t bother to knock Lily.  I could have been naked you know.  Or is that what you were hoping for?”

She ignored this.  “Sirius, try to focus.  James?”

“I don’t know.”  He said promptly.

“You’re not even attempting to lie well.”

“No, it didn’t seem worth the effort, you wouldn’t believe me anyway.  But even though I am lying, I’m not going to tell you where he is.”

“Fine, I’ll just wait here.”  She sat, and crossed her arms.  He stared at her.

“Bloody hell, you’re serious.”

She didn’t even bother with the over-used pun on his name.

======

James came into the common room to find Sirius on the couch, reading a book. He frowned.

"What are you doing?"

"We call it reading?"

"Why?"

"I need a reason?"

"You? Yes."

"Do you really want to discuss this, because it seems to me you might be more interested in the fact that Lily is waiting for you in our room."

James blinked, his eyes popping slightly. "Wha-?"

"Don't look so shocked, it's not like she's reclining naked on your bed. At least, she wasn't when I left. She might be now. You should go check."

James shook his head to clear it of that distracting, though not unappealing by any means, image. "Did she seem mad?"

"A bit, but that might be just because I asked if she wanted to see me naked."

"Sirius!"

"She's waiting James."

He looked torn between pummeling Sirius or dealing with Lily.

"I'll take care of you later." He warned.

"I look forward to it." Sirius called after him as he hurried up the stairs.

======

James didn’t look surprised to see her there, so she guessed Sirius had told him, and she could only imagine the suggestive spin Black would put on “Lily is waiting in your room.”

“You’re back early.”  He said nervously.

She nodded.  “There wasn’t much to do in Hogsmeade.  Besides, I wanted to spend the day with you.”

“I’m glad you came back.”  He bit his lip.  “I had a surprise for you, but…”  He shrugged, then held out a hand.  “Come on, I’ll show you.”

She accepted, remembering what had said: “he would never do something simple and tasteful when he can do something big and potentially destructive”, and wondered what he was up to.  James determinedly ignored Sirius’s “Well that didn’t take long” on their way out of the common room, and closed the portrait hole firmly behind them.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

It occurred to her that she wasn’t at all angry at him anymore, and she was wondering if this was going to be a pattern in their relationship, that she’d be furious with him until she saw him.  She noticed now that they were definitely going up, and when she saw they were at the bottom of a well-known set of stone steps, she paused.

“James…”  She began.  Those were the steps up to the astronomy tower.  Lily was no fool, she knew what the Hogwarts astronomy tower was known for and it had nothing to do with astronomy.

“Oh!”  He correctly interpreted her hesitation.  “No, I wasn’t trying to imply anything, really!  It’s just…well…come on!”

She gave in and followed him up the narrow curving staircase.

“There!”  He opened the door, with a definite note of pride.

“Oooh!”  A sound escaped Lily that was dangerously near squealing.  Late afternoon sunlight was filtering into the tower, which was decorated with floating candles (still unlit) and red and white flowers.  Across the stone floor, a white blanket was spread, on which a picnic was set up, with every detail down to silver candlesticks.  James was watching her nervously.

“See, it would have worked better at night, because, you know, the stars and everything…”  he explained quickly.

“Oh no, it’s perfect!”  She insisted.

He grinned, running a hand through his hair.  “Good.”

======

was angry.  Oh, she had insisted over and over again she wasn’t, and she understood, but the small, illogical, and childish part of her mind insisted it wasn’t fair.  Everyone else got to see their boyfriend on Valentine’s Day.  That was why she exploded at Lily for being so ridiculous.  James might not get everything right, but he was trying, and Lily got to see him every day.  While she found herself left with Peter Pettigrew.

She didn’t really like or dislike him, although she was willing to admit that was because she didn’t really know him.  He seemed the odd one out on that little group, all the others had such strong personalities, and she couldn’t tell where he fit in.  They seemed to give him a hard time, but he didn’t seem to mind, maybe that was the dynamic.

“So, Peter, how are you?”

He looked a little surprised at being addressed so directly.

“Uh, fine.”

“You seem a little lost without the rest of them.”

He shrugged.  “They always have better things to do lately.”

“Well, we’re graduating soon, then we’ll all have better things to do.”

He sighed.  “Exactly.”

======

She could not help but be impressed by the thought and effort James had obviously put into this.  Everything from the food to the flowers to the music was perfect.  The timing turned out nicely, since they got to see a lovely sunset, at which point James produced a chilled bottle.

“Champagne?  Are you trying to get me drunk James?”

He raised an eyebrow.  “Would that work?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never been drunk.”

“Really?”

She cocked her head to look at him.  “Have you?”

“Er…”

“I’ll take that was a yes.”

It was beginning to get dark, and she realized everyone would be getting back from Hogsmeade soon, if they hadn’t already.

“I’m glad I came back early.”

“Me too.”

“I was getting pretty bored actually, was depressed too, and Flora and Remus went off.”

“They seem to be getting on pretty well, don’t you think?”

She nodded.  “Yes, but when do you think he’s going to tell her he’s a werewolf?”

She wondered if it wasn’t just a little bit cruel that she got so much amusement out of making him speechless.

“How…how did you know about that?”

“I actually figured it out a couple months ago.  There was obviously something weird going on, and then I realized he was always “sick” so regularly, and always on the full moon.  It doesn’t take a genius.”

“You haven’t told anyone?”

She shook her head.  “Of course not.  It’s not my secret to tell, and I can understand why he’d prefer to have less people know.  I assume Sirius and Peter know?”

“And the teachers.”

“He should tell her.  She can handle that he’s a werewolf, she won’t be okay with him lying to her.”

======

James seemed to think she would be mad when he explained the real reason why they had become Animagi, and what they were really up to every full moon, and in a way she wanted to be.  It was very, very dangerous, werewolves could kill people.  But then, she was also impressed with the extent he would go to for his friend.  That said something about him.

They had agreed to stay up in the astronomy tower until the stars came out, so as to use it for James’s original purpose.  It was winter, and it got dark early, but even after the stars had come out neither of them felt any inclination to leave.  As they watched the sky, clouds began to roll over, and eventually, rain started to fall.  James sighed.

“I just can’t catch a break today.  I’m sorry.”

She smiled.  “I don’t expect you to control the weather James.  I think it’s been a good day.”

And later, when Lily fell asleep with her head on his shoulder, he had to agree.