* * *
~ Best Served Cold ~
By: Oy! Angelina
* * *
"So on a scale of one to shagged, how shagged are we?" Sirius demanded as he watched Lily step into the common room. All the other 6th Years turned their heads at her presence as well.
"I'd say quite thoroughly," Lily reported glumly.
As soon as they had arrived back to the Gryffindor dormitories, the 6th Years lingered in the common area to hear what was in store for their brawl in Potions with the Slytherins. About an hour after all the non-injured combatants had been banished by McGonagall, those who had been in the hospital wing reunited with their peers and friends, with the exception of Lily who was summoned, along with Snape, to offer their impressions of what had transpired before punishments were distributed.
With an exhausted sigh, Lily settled next to James on the ledge of the fireplace as he placed a comforting arm around her.
"Well, I don't reckon any of us were expecting Special Services awards for thrashing the Slytherins," James confessed.
"So what happens now, Lily?" Peter pressed.
"Well, we're all under House arrest, save for meals and classes, until the end of January; one hundred points are being taken from the House for our abysmal behavior," Lily began listing wearily.
"Oh Bloody Hell, we'll be MURDERED by the rest of Gryffindor once this gets out!" Gwen McGinnis moaned tragically. Sirius patted her on the head.
"Don't fret, Luv. James will win all the points back for us," Sirius soothed.
"You're such a prat," James glared but laughed at his friend, before turning to Lily. "What else do we have to look forward to?"
"You and Cassidy are banned from the Pitch until February since Captains and starting players are expected to present a better example for their House," Lily reluctantly informed. James cringed and Cassidy Kinkade's face distorted with outrage.
"Is McGonagall mad?" Cassidy growled, "We play Hufflepuff the first week of February! How does she expect us teh win if we're not practicing!"
"Simmer down, girl," James urged, "the rest of the team will just have to practice with the reserves until we can get back on the Pitch. After that, we drill like wizards possessed."
"Yer right." Cassidy relaxed. "Besides, from what I saw of their practices, we'd stand good odds of beating Hufflepuff without our brooms if we had to."
"Not that we're bragging," James grinned.
"Just calling them as I see them, Potter," Cassidy assured jokingly.
"If you two are finished patting one another on the back for being Quidditch Gods, I'd like to know how miserably incarcerated I'll be for the next fortnight or so!" Remus called from the dormitory steps where he was perched with Arabella seated on the step just below him. The petite, curled blonde glanced up at her boyfriend.
"So being around me is misery then?" Arabella accused with a joking pout. Remus smiled sheepishly and put his arms around her.
"You're very pretty," Remus stated as he kissed the top of her head.
"I wouldn't count that as an answer if I were you, Arabella," Lily laughed along with most of the other 6th Years. "But, as for the rest of our penance to be served, McGonagall, Heilsing, and Brewsteem are collaborating on a detention for all of us to serve that they'll announce later. I'd expect it to be this weekend though myself."
Turning to Sirius, Lily had an apologetic expression.
"And it looks like Sirius and myself have been singled out," Lily commented, "I'm on probation as a Prefect since my bludgeoning Macnair wasn't considered to be an appropriate means of handling the situation."
"Oh but that was bloody fab!" Sirius protested with a laugh as he recalled the memory.
"And since you're already confined to the dormitories, McGonagall's demanding you compose three feet of parchment on why fighting never solves anything due to her by Friday," Lily concluded.
"Oh bugger," Sirius grumbled.
The 6th Years sat around the common room in silence as the allowed the consequences of their clash with Slytherin House sink in. Turning to Millicent Meeks, Lily thoughtfully added.
"But this excludes you, Millicent. You had nothing to do with the brawling whatsoever; Severus Snape and I told Professor McGonagall such. She agreed it wasn't fair to hold you accountable for everyone else's actions."
"That's alright," Millicent shook her head with a smile. "I want to help you out in detention since I didn't serve much good in the midst of the fighting."
"It would have freaked me out a bit, Millie, if yeh DID jump in with the rest of us," Cassidy confessed with a chuckle.
"So we're cooped up for fifteen or so days and a detention for good measure," Arabella mused. "I suppose it could have been worse all things considering."
Checking his watch, Peter shrugged to the rest of the group.
"Well, it's about supper time now. We may as well head out to the Great Hall before McGonagall breaks out the locks and chains."
Rising from their various arrangements throughout the room, the Gryffindors made their way out into the corridors with deflated spirits.
"Maybe this is one of those blessing in disguise sort of things," Gwen offered up helpfully. "You know, a chance to do better with our studies since we won't have all that much else to distract us."
"Right, and to polish up our camaraderie as 6th Years since it's not like the rest of Gryffindor will be speaking with us after they find out we put them in third for the House Cup," Sirius sarcastically contributed. He stole a wary glance at Remus who decided to walk on ahead of the group with Arabella.
"Or not," Sirius's hands found the pockets of his robes. Peter patted him on the shoulder.
"He'll come around, mate," He whispered to Sirius so Remus wouldn't overhear.
"Been waiting near a month for him to come around," Sirius reminded in a wounded tone. "Short of turning back time, I'm fresh out of ideas for getting back on Moony's good side."
Listening in on this exchange, Lily and James walked with their hands locked a few paces behind the body of the group.
"Now I'm just starting to suspect Remus is being stubborn," Lily commented to James in a low voice.
"I know," James admitted, "but it's not really our place. I fear mediating would only make things worse. Remus might take it as butting in or ganging up on him and, well, he does have a right to be mad at Sirius."
"It's a pity though," Lily said mournfully.
"Yeah," was the most James could offer in reply.
* * *
Informed of virtually the same list of repercussions for their conduct in Potions, the Slytherin 6th Years were just as sullen as their Gryffindor counterparts. The rest of Slytherin pretty much refused to even acknowledge the members of the Year for their gratuitous loss of House points and setting Professor Heilsing off on a rampage for the rest of them to contend with. Perhaps there would have been a little less hostility if they had utterly defeated the Gryffindors but there was little honor in a draw within Slytherin.
At their House table, the 6th Years quietly discussed their confrontation from that afternoon and the aftermath of it.
"And we have no indication of when this detention is supposed to be or what it will entail?" Mary Tudor probed Snape.
"Not that was implied, no," Snape replied.
"Don't you find it unreasonable that Florence and I are expected to serve detention as well?" Winifred Wilkes questioned aloofly. "It's not as though we did anything."
"You attacked a Prefect," Snape dryly reminded.
"I did no such thing," Winifred countered in a wounded voice, "I just left her open for Nott."
A round of snickering rose after this comment.
"How could I forget?" Snape's tone was icy while his black eyes burned into Winifred.
"Anyway, that's not what I had intended to happen, Severus," recognizing that this was a touchy subject, Winifred avoided her cousin's glare and returned her attention to her dinner.
"Speaking of which, Serpen, I imagine Heilsing will be making an example out of you for your helping Evans off the ceiling," Aaron Lestrange wagered with something of a smirk.
A few Slytherin outside of their Year had to begrudgingly admit it was near worth Serpen Nott's 60 point loss in House points for how he dropped the Gryffindor Prefect, Lily Evans, flat on her face.
"Of course," Nott confirmed bitterly. "She has the most monotonous punishments in mind. I have to copy our entire Defense Against the Dark Arts tome word for bloody word like some common scribe for an hour everyday. Then the crone said she's going to assign me a different corridor each day and inspect every last stone for cracks to repair!"
"So was it worth it?" Regius Avery inquired dully.
"Dropping that Mudblood bitch on her prissy arse? More so now, I'd say. I swear you'd think she actually did break her neck with the way everyone's acting," Nott sneered as he glared over at the Gryffindors. "I mean, she's right as rain over there and dangling off Potter's arm like some gaudy trinket as we speak!"
Finishing his meal in silence as his housemates talked around him, Snape left the table without a word once his plate was cleared. The other 6th Years took note of his absence but only Winifred appeared to be slightly bothered by it.
"I certainly don't envy you, Serpen," Walden Macnair chuckled while dishing himself out second helpings of boiled potatoes and rare cooked roast.
"Pardon?" Nott turned to the beastly Slytherin.
"I'm just saying that if Potter, Black, or one of those other Gryffindor don't get around to thrashing you, Severus is going to finish you off," Macnair reported as though it was somehow amusing. "I'd start checking my meals for poison content if I were you."
"What are you talking about?" Nott demanded obliviously, "Because he got detention with the lot of us? That's just Heilsing being a pain as usual."
"No, you thick headed git," Tudor rolled her eyes, "what you did to Evans."
"Why would he care?" Nott scoffed.
"Because he fancies her, you dolt," Lestrange groaned. "You've seen him about with her, pairing up in Potions, escorting her to the Ball. Can you possibly be this stupid?"
"I thought we were just teasing him! You know, having some sport with the boy!" Nott insisted shrilly. "And all that other stuff, well, I just assumed it was because they were both Prefects or he was just getting at Potter."
"Why would you be that naïve?" Florence Copia scowled disappointed.
"Because he's a sodding Slytherin!" Nott hissed. "We're supposed to run these sorts of games!"
"Well now you're playing on Severus's terms and that's not a position I'd care to be in," Lestrange shrugged. "It's possible he may hate you more than Black presently and you saw the vicious curse he threw at him."
"Oh come on!" Nott glowered, but was starting to look more that panicked. "If Severus was something to worry about you and Mary wouldn't antagonize him nearly as much as you do."
"The difference between myself and Aaron and you, Serpen, is that we aren't afraid of Severus because we're as well versed in magic as he is," Tudor corrected with a thin grin. "We posses the ability to discern when we push someone down: Who will lie there, who will get up, and who will push us back. THAT is what it means to be a Slytherin."
Nott appeared to pale slightly at the prospect of not only having to deal with Professors Heilsing and McGonagall, as well as the Gryffindors for his slight against Lily Evans, but now he had people in his own House to worry about.
* * *
"Excuse me, Professor McGonagall? James spoke as he entered the Transfiguration instructor's office a little after dinner. Looking up from the parchments she had been grading, McGonagall did not appear pleased to see him.
"Considering I just gave you full marks on your essay, Potter, I'd like to assume you don't require me to explain what it means to be confined to Gryffindor Tower," Professor McGonagall said dismissively.
Hesitantly stepping in to the room, James felt his hand run through his mess of black hair.
"I know. And I have every intention of heading their straight away; however, I had a question about the conditions of our punishment," James awkwardly pushed the conversation along.
Placing her quill down, McGonagall folded her hands.
"I suppose you're here to argue on behalf of the Gryffindor House Quidditch team and its dire need of its Captain and Beater getting in practice at the Pitch?" Professor McGonagall peered over her spectacles at the boy.
"Er, no," James shook his head.
As though suddenly curious by why he was in her office, McGonagall cocked her head slightly and waited for James to continue on.
"I realize we're supposed to be punished and aren't permitted to leave the dorms outside of the times you specified, but, you see, Lily's birthday is tomorrow and I was wondering if it was okay for me to go ahead with the party I planned," James stumbled through his sentences. "You see I thought about this and it's not really a violation of any of your rules presently so long as we kept it in the tower."
With a heavy sigh, Professor McGonagall had a slightly sympathetic look to her sharp green eyes as she stared at James.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible, Mr. Potter," she notified.
"But Professor," James pleaded, "it's not all of the 6th Year Gryffindors you're punishing here. It's just Lily. It's not right to single her out like this. I mean, everyone else has a party in some fashion or another in our House, probably not as much an event as I was putting into it, but still! Even if it was just a small affair, what would be the harm?"
"And do you suppose the Slytherins will be having any celebrations anytime soon? How would it be fair for ALL the students if I start making exceptions to the rule because your girlfriend's birthday had the bad luck to follow the day you all participated in a fight?" McGonagall replied somewhat crossly, before her expression softened. "I'm sorry, James. I am."
It was evident that James was growing irritated with how this discussion was going. Regrouping his thoughts, James opened his mouth to attempt some other appeal, but the Head of his House raised a hand to silence him.
"I'm not forbidding you or any of Lily's friends from giving her presents or wishing her well, but a party is simply out of the question," Professor McGonagall firmly stated. "It's not like Lily won't have plenty of other birthdays for you to make an unofficial holiday of, James."
"You're just putting me in a sore spot is all," James muttered almost apologetically. "But I suppose you'll tell me I should have thought about that before I tussled with the Slytherins, hm?"
"It appears you don't need me to," McGonagall observed, "now, head straight back to the dorms. I don't want to hear about you wandering about from anyone."
"Yes ma'am." James nodded as he left her office.
Picking up her quill, McGonagall sighed once more before returning to her papers. A large part of her wanted to go along with James's reasoning and find no harm in a small get together for her students, but what lesson would be taught through that?
As rewarding as her occupation was, Minerva McGonagall couldn't help but resent the responsibilities of an educator at times.
* * *
After lights out, the Marauders, with the exception of James, were in their rooms preparing for bed as they listened to him recite his conversation with McGonagall earlier. James noted his friends shared his disappointment as he adjusted his Invisibility Cloak around him.
"This really isn't at all fair to Lily," Peter shook his head unhappily as he fought with the buttons on his pajamas.
"Well I still have every intention of throwing her a party with or without Professor McGonagall's consent," James declared. "With all the work she puts in as a Prefect, student, and being an all around decent human being, Lily deserves a proper celebration in her honor."
"That's boyfriend bias talking there," Sirius reported from his bed, "but I'll confirm everything you just said as an impartial judge. Lily does deserve a little fun and festivities."
"Especially after what Nott did to her today," Peter added with his eyes narrowed, "I could have wrung his neck!"
"No you wouldn't have," James corrected glowering, "because I would have already been at it if all those Professors weren't present."
"Well there are more than enough dark hallways for Nott to walk up, mate," Sirius assured, sharing his friend's insult. "He'd best take to looking over his shoulder because I have a mind show him I'm every bit the loony git he's been claiming me to be."
"Are you looking to get yourself expelled, Sirius? Because I assure you if you keep on pranking and fighting like this few people are going to care to keep your wand from being snapped in two," Remus glared from his side of the room. James wagered that this was a marriage of Remus's anger at Sirius and concern for his impulsive friend.
Turning to James, Remus added.
"And I'd recommend you take my advice as well, James. I understand how you'd be tempted to get a little retribution by pummeling Nott, but it's only going to hurt things long before it helps them."
"Oh, and I suppose your planning on turning the other cheek on Avery shoving Arabella about after he patted her on the bum?" Sirius interjected boldly.
The room fell silent. This was the first time since New Years Sirius had uttered a word against Remus. Peter and James exchanged quick glanced between themselves as they awaited Remus's reaction.
"Pardon?" Remus eyed Sirius.
"Why do you think I hauled off and gave Avery's matching black eyes?" Sirius crossed his arms. "There is a method to my bloody madness, you know."
"I only saw - " Remus paused. Arabella hadn't gone into detail about what Avery had done to help incite the fight in class, but he suspected it wasn't in anyway proper for a man to treat a woman. Doubting Sirius would make something like that up, Remus said nothing further as he crawled into bed.
"So James, what are you going to do about Nott?" Peter asked as James prepared to leave.
"I don't know," James scowled, "but I can't imagine he'll like it very much.
* * *
Lily's seventeenth birthday was a somber event.
Although all her friends were making a big show of wishing her a happy birthday and provided her with generous and thoughtful gifts throughout the day, Lily knew there was no party for her later on account of the fight yesterday. Lily attempted to keep her spirits up by telling herself that cake, decorations, and a room full of people laughing meant very little overall, but there was still a hollow feeling that nagged at her all through classes and their meals.
After all, it was a depressing thing to think everyone gets to have a party but you.
Following supper, McGonagall made her presence known in the common room and prevented the 6th Years from retreating anywhere else in the tower en masse out of suspicion they'd have a party regardless of what she had decreed. James appeared particularly soured by all this as Lily guessed that was what he had had every intention of doing until McGonagall arrived. Keeping their discussions low and light, everyone attempted to pretend things were just as fun as a party, but their inability to meet Lily's eyes throughout the night told her they were upset they couldn't do more.
Around eight-thirty, Lily couldn't take the false cheer any longer and excused herself from her friends, claiming she had some parchment work that she had to give to the Head Boy and Head Girl by the end of the week. Sad she was leaving but realizing they had little to entice her to stay, the rest of the 6th Years wished her a Happy Birthday again with a few hugs added in for emphasis. Shutting her bedroom door, Lily flopped on her bed with her History of Magic book and sighed.
"As wonderful as I imagined it would be," Lily muttered to herself sarcastically and attempted to read her book to free her mind of the disappointment weighing on it.
Just after nine, a knocking on her bedroom door drew Lily's attention as she was silently studying on top her bed.
"Come in," She invited as her eyes watched the door expectantly. Stepping into the room while balancing a cake then shutting the door behind him, James smiled.
"Happy birthday," He wished as he brought the cake over to Lily as she sat up grinning.
"James, you didn't have to do all this," Lily insisted, although she didn't sound particularly upset that he had.
"I had planned on a lot more before McGonagall put her foot down," James admitted. "Next time we break a few dozen school rules we'll do so around Sirius's birthday. He's spoiled enough."
Displaying the cake to her, Lily noted how beautiful the frosting was decorated and watched seventeen shimmering orbs dance over the top of it.
"What am I going to do with all this cake, James?" Lily giggled helplessly.
"Eat some and hopefully share," James urged beaming. "Go on now, make a wish."
Smiling at James and how he managed to turn the smallest of gestures into the grandest of efforts. In a steady puff of breath that dimmed and extinguished all the enchanted lights over the cake, Lily decided she would wish never to know a life without the James Potter she had come to adore in it.
"There you are, wish granted," James set the cake on her nightstand still smiling.
"You don't even know what I wished for," Lily smirked.
"Well I imagine it was something to the effect of you being unable to go on without me, but I'm an egotistical prat like that." James chuckled, causing Lily to burst out laughing at the sheer irony of James's unwitting comment. Shaking her head, Lily grinned broadly at James as he sat next to her on the bed and kissed her lightly on the lips.
"Feel older? James inquired.
"Dreadfully, yes," Lily joked.
"Well, you don't look a day over sixteen years and eleven months to me," James assured as he produced a small, wrapped box from his pocket and passed it to Lily.
"Now THIS you didn't need to do," Lily marveled as she examined the gift.
"Of course I did, it's your birthday," James argued. "Open it, the suspense is killing me."
"KILLING YOU?" Lily laughed as she tugged at the ribbon around it. Removing the section of colored parchment, Lily uncovered a small jewelry box. Stopping to steal a glance at James, Lily hoped it wasn't anything too extravagant that she would positively love but could in no way accept. Holding her breath, Lily pushed up the lid and found a gold locket with the Gryffindor crest emblem etched into the face of it.
"Oh it's lovely, James!" Lily breathed.
"I know we have a dress code and everything but you could wear it tucked under your shirt and no one would really know," James was suddenly awkward, but was evidently pleased Lily really liked it. "Turn it about; I enchanted an inscription on it."
Obeying, Lily flipped the pendent and read it aloud.
"To Lily Evans; Prefect, train riding poet, and gazer of stars ~ Officially and unofficially yours, James Potter"
"I adore it," Lily couldn't stop smiling as she leaned over and kissed James. Taking her face in his hands, James would have liked to deepen the kiss a bit more but the fact neither of them could stop grinning made it impossible to keep their mouths locked for too long. Finally giving up for the time being, James brushed the hair off around her neck.
"Here, I'll put it on you," James offered as he took the necklace into his hands and began to fasten it around her neck.
"I think my favorite part is what you wrote on the back," Lily felt James fingers linger and trace around her neck and collar even after the locket was on.
"It flashes 'Property of James Potter' if another man touches you," James added through a breath on her ear.
"You're joking," Lily turned with her jaw slightly slack at the fair possibility he wasn't.
"Yes," James eased his voice and hands around Lily, "but I need to say something to get you to turn around without smiling so I could kiss you properly."
Fighting back a fresh grin, Lily closed her eyes as she allowed James to do just that in addition to all the other things he had given her for her birthday.
* * *
Although it was only a few days after the free-for-all in Potions, the Slytherin and Gryffindor 6th Years were suffering under the stress of their House Heads and the stifling effects of cabin fever. Both Houses had enough sense to not antagonize one another in the open since neither side could afford getting into more trouble than they already were, they decided to adjust their rivalry by attempting to win House points out from under one another during lessons. Severus Snape, Mary Tudor, and Aaron Lestrange were leading the way for Slytherin while James Potter, Lily Evans, and Remus Lupin were pulling most of the weight for Gryffindor.
Everyone else was expected to help as they could or, at the least, not do anything that would warrant any more points to be taken off.
Friday was a break from all the point snatching and even the confinement of their dorms as the Slytherins and Gryffindors were permitted to visit the library after lunch for one hour. Several of their classes required additional materials for essays due the following Monday. Advised to avoid one another as best they could, the Gryffindors and Slytherins restrained themselves from otherwise complicating their lives needlessly and drifted up and down the stacks of the library for their reading.
Finding adequate resources for his report on rare plants and the even more rare potions they create for Herbology and a composition for the History of Magic paralleling the Muggles methods during their Inquisition against the Ministry of Magic's own policies on dealing with dark sorcerers, Snape became distracted by the sound of Winifred giggling somewhere in a neighboring row of books. Guessing she was up to something that might have the lot of them thrown out of the library, Snape attempted to follow her voice with a nagging reservation about witnessing whatever scene was providing her with such amusement.
Snape was reasonably surprised to discover her talking and chuckling with Lily Evans. Cautiously he approached the two girls.
"Hello there, Severus!" Winifred smiled at his presence.
"Hello," Lily joined in, "I never knew you and Winifred were related."
"What are you doing?" Snape skipped the usual reflexive pleasantries to suspiciously eye Winifred.
"Oh, I was apologizing to Evans," Winifred explained, still smiling. "I felt dreadful about what Serpen Nott had done to her and had to admit my part in it."
Winifred turned to Lily again with an apologetic expression.
"Again, when I hoisted you up on the ceiling I had just meant it to be funny. I know my poor taste in humor really isn't an excuse but I hadn't intended for you to get hurt."
"It's all right. Really," Lily assured. "What would an education in magic be without the occasional mishap?"
Winifred turned to Snape, her black eyes shinning.
"Such an understanding, mature young lady!" Winifred praised. "I can see why you seek out her company."
Snape could have strangled Winifred to silence her insinuating tongue, but he suspected that might somehow seem suspicious.
"Well, I suppose I better make sure the rest of my House is using their time better than me," Lily excused herself. "I'll see you both later then."
"That would be nice," Winifred waved Lily off as the Gryffindor Prefect strode up the stacks. Looming over his cousin, Snape waited until he was relatively sure they were alone before speaking.
"What. Are. You. Doing?" Snape repeated in a seething tone.
"Apologizing to Evans," Winifred shrugged.
"Who put you up to it?" Snape demanded. "Tudor?"
"Oh now I don't think Mary is really sorry about what happened to Lily, do you?" Winifred observed. "I mean, after the leeches. . ."
"That's not what I meant," Snape found her coyness infuriating. "Do you expect me to believe you are suddenly capable of emotions like remorse? What game are you planning to run off of Evans's forgiving nature?"
"It's not like that," Winifred said sharply. "I'll admit, Evans forgiving me wasn't my entire motivation for apologizing to her. I didn't want you cross with me anymore so I set things right by her with owning up to my part in all this. And since she isn't holding a grudge I don't find it very particularly fair for you to then."
Winifred's reasoning was so cunning and odd it disturbed Snape slightly. He clung to his resentment of having her use Lily to manipulate him as a sobering element.
"Even if Evans changes her opinion that in no way requires me to alter mine," Snape darkly informed.
"Severus, I wish you'd reconsider your foul mood," Winifred pouted. "It wasn't right of me to tease you by putting Evans on the ceiling the other day and - "
"Did you TELL HER that's why you did it?" Snape growled grabbing Winifred by the shoulder to force her to meet his gaze somewhat.
"Of course not! I think I'm better about maneuvering a conversation than that!" Winifred sounded almost as insulted as Snape. "The point of all this is, you and I are family as well as Slytherin. We shouldn't be quarreling when we could be helping one another."
"If I necessitated or desired your help, Winifred, I would have asked for it," Snape replied harshly.
"No you wouldn't," Winifred noted her cousin's usual behavior all too well. "Severus Snape would sooner have everything catch fire around him before admit he's not in control of every tiny aspect of his life."
"Just be kindly enough not to meddle in my affairs," Snape didn't bother to deny what Winifred had said.
"I thought I was helping," Winifred stated.
"How is confusing my relationship with Evans in front of her a help to me?" Snape questioned.
Both the Slytherins emitted audible exhales from their mouths. Pushing her thin, dark hair over her shoulders, Winifred stared at Snape.
"How come you don't get nearly as upset when Mary or Aaron become inquisitive about your love life?" Winifred asked in a more curious than confrontational manner. "Is it because I know you too well, Severus?"
"It's because you're family, Winifred. You should know better," was all Snape would reply.
"So do you forgive me yet?" Winifred pressed softly.
"If I say yes will it end this discussion?" Snape raised an eyebrow.
"If you mean it, then it will," Winifred stipulated.
"You're forgiven," Snape said quickly. "Now gather your things, we'll be leaving shortly."
"Fine," Winifred agreed as she strode off.
Snape's pragmatic nature refused to believe this would be the last time he'd catch Winifred associating with Lily. Winifred's notion of helping was queered at best since it was almost always self-serving on some level. Still, Snape tolerated no one investigating his private life and he couldn't afford to have Winifred get too curious by it. Once her interest was peeked, Winifred would manage her way into every purposefully dark corner of his life, leaving no stone unturned. Her talent for complicating things was an aggravation he could do without. And, as he did with most of the women in their family, Snape had a great fear of her shrewd, unblinking eye.
Family meant inherent intimacy.
It also meant a lack of secrets.
* * *
Serpen Nott had made the fatal mistake of wandering into the back stacks of the library on his own.
That's where James found him.
That's where James grabbed the long-haired boy by the front of his uniform and forced him against the wall.
That's where James pinned Nott by the throat with his forearm.
Panicked and furious all at once, Nott kept his eyes on James.
James would have burnt a hole through Nott with his if he could.
"Not a good place to rough me up, Potter," Nott advised. "Pince hears pins drop in here."
"Don't worry, Nott, I have no intention of getting a cheap shot off you like you did with my girlfriend." James hissed through his bared teeth.
"Then what they hell are you doing?" Nott's eyes were wide.
"Challenging you," James spat. "When everyone's heading off to supper, you better be making your way out to the Quidditch Pitch with your wand. We're going to duel."
"We can't!" Nott protested. "Think Potter! Our Heads are watching us like hawks, there's no way we'll be able to meet out there without someone noticing! And even if we did, how are we supposed to explain one of us lying dazed on the Pitch after the duels decided?"
"I suppose we could always say one of us fell from the ceiling," James replied sarcastically, promoting Nott to cringe a bit. "Consider this, Nott. I. DON'T. CARE. I don't care how you get out on the Pitch, I don't care if it's all covered up. I don't care if I spend now until graduation under McGonagall's thumb for it. All I do care about is that you're there at six sharp."
Nott looked as though he had every intention of arguing more, until James jarred him silent with a quick shove into the wall behind them.
"And you had best show up, Nott, because if I have to come and get you - " James added with venom.
"You'll what?" Nott countered, slightly bold. "What's the Professor's pet going to do?"
"That's just the point, Nott," a manic smile crept over James's lips that gave Nott a moment of pause. "Who would ever believe James Potter, Quidditch team Captain, top of his Year, possible Head Boy, trusted and popular student from a long line of well respected and beloved Wizards could ever be capable of vicious, unspeakable things? What could you possibly say to convince Dumbledore and all the others that I was responsible for whatever horrible fate that might befall you if you DON'T MEET ME ON THAT PITCH?"
"I - " Nott couldn't think of a decent reply.
"Take my advice. Be. There." James leaned so close to Nott their noses almost touched. "Because if you don't face this like a man, I'll hunt you down like an animal."
Slamming Nott into the wall once more for good measure, James released the Slytherin with a dreadful sneer and stalked into the main body of the Library leaving him to consider his options. Catching sight of Lily, James immediately discarded his menacing disposition and slid an arm around her shoulders.
"Where have you been?" Lily smiled. "I'm in dire need of your help and you're off hiding."
"Pardon?" James laughed at her flamboyant desperation.
"I'm too bloody short to get half the books I need!" Lily laughed as well. "Gwen has Cassidy to help her, Arabella's leading Remus about, and Sirius is doing something constructive with his time so I don't have the heart to disturb him."
"Okay, just point them out to me then," James hugged Lily a bit. "What good am I to you if I'm not looking out for you?"
"Well I'd like to think a fair amount," Lily put he arm across James's back. "Otherwise I could just replace you with a step-ladder couldn't I?"
* * *
In the attic of Gryffindor Tower, Remus and Arabella lounged with their recently acquired library books between them. They had attempted to study down in the commons with everyone else, but Sirius, Gwen, and James made it all but impossible to properly concentrate as they were entertaining everyone. Arabella didn't really mind the distraction all that much but since she had asked Remus to help her with her Defense Against the Dark Arts essay on explaining the psychology of Vampires and their habits she thought it would be good to give him her attention. Arabella was particularly worried about this assignment since Professor Heilsing's previous job was tracking such creatures and would probably be a tough grader on this.
"Have you ever thought of vampirism as a form of cannibalism?" Arabella wondered aloud to Remus who peered from over his book.
"Well I do now," Remus made a disgusted face before he became thoughtful about the concept. "Try to work it into the essay if you can though. That's a pretty novel perspective."
"Do you think?" Arabella was a bit impressed with herself. She typically considered herself to be an average witch so praise from one of her Year's top students was a big deal.
Particularly because it was Remus.
"Certainly," Remus nodded his head with a smile. "You don't give yourself enough credit, Pet."
Arabella smiled happily at Remus as she applied fresh ink to her quill.
"You're always so understanding with me," Arabella felt her grin droop a bit as she added carefully. "That's why I just don't get how you're still holding a grudge against Sirius."
"I - " Remus was caught a bit off guard by all this. "I haven't entirely forgiven him yet."
"It's just - he's been trying so desperately to win you over, Luv," Arabella informed gently. "I believe he's sincerely trying to make amends with you but you just brush him off at every turn. He's been at it for three weeks, Remus! Is your stubbornness worth your friendship?"
Sighing, Remus closed his book before looking at Arabella.
"I get where you're going on with this Arabella, but it's just not fair to ask," Remus explained a bit helplessly. "You don't know the circumstances around it all."
Slamming her own book shut, Arabella's face twisted into a truly cross expression Remus had no desire to be on the receiving end of.
"Well of course I don't understand!" Arabella snapped. "I've been walking on bloody eggshells around you pretty much ever since we started going out because you're angry with Sirius for reasons unspecified to me!"
"Yes, but - " Remus attempted.
"When he's not bending over backwards for you, Sirius is fighting on your behalf when he could very well get himself in more trouble than WHATEVER it is he has already landed himself in!" Arabella pushed on.
"Arabella - "
"And I'm sure what he did must have been right horrible for you, YOU OF ALL PEOPLE, to get bent out of shape over it, but since no one will bother to tell me what warrants you to be such a wanker about all this I'll have to insist you stop being such a ruddy child and make up with your friend!" Arabella finished as she stared at her boyfriend.
Taking a deep breath, Remus refused to allow himself to reciprocate Arabella's frustrations and anger. After all, she had a right to be upset. Since she was ignorant of his condition and how Sirius had exploited it and his trust, it would appear that he was being the stubborn, unreasonable one in all this. Still, as much of a prospective revealing his state as a werewolf would contribute to his feud with Sirius, Remus knew that wasn't what he and Arabella would be discussing after a bombshell like that.
"You're positively correct, Arabella," Remus soothed patiently, "it is unfair of me to place you in the middle of all this and I greatly apologize for how much this has to be wearing on you. However, I'm not ready to talk about what going on between myself and Sirius and I'm not ready to forgive him yet either."
"Ah," Arabella's look soured more than Remus could have thought possible as she climbed to her feet, gathering up her books.
"Arabella, please don't run off mad," Remus climbed to his own feet.
"As convenient as my sitting about and holding my tongue may be for you, Remus, I'm afraid three weeks about tops my limit," Arabella informed. "And now I'm going to be on my way before my newly liberated dialogue bites you in the arse!"
With a bratty pout, Arabella stomped over toward the door before spinning on her heel to face Remus again.
"And seeing as I'M good enough to keep YOU in the loop, this is our first fight!" Arabella added.
"But how can that be?" Remus said in a perplexed tone. "I'm not fighting with you!"
"It's not a democracy Remus!" Arabella hissed.
"So we're fighting by default?" Remus gawked. Although he had never been in a relationship this involved prior to Arabella Figg, Remus thought he would have heard something about this.
"Are you making light of all this?" Arabella accused with a flare to her blue eyes that caused Remus to be suddenly very scared of his five-foot girlfriend.
"No," was all Remus could manage without the nervousness in his voice betraying him.
"Because I'd hate to think on top of keep secrets from me, putting me in the middle of your squabbling with friends, and all around being a git as of late you haven't decided to mock me as well!" Arabella's voice had a dangerous sort of note to it.
"Is there anything I can say that won't get you more cross with me?" Remus asked desperately.
"I'll give you a hint," Arabella frowned as she stepped through the door, slamming it behind her. Remus listened to her stomp down the stairs until the sound completely faded.
"So no. . ." Remus muttered to himself as he collected his own things.
Heading down to his own room, Remus glowered as he stepped inside. James, Peter, and Sirius stopped in mid conversation as they noticed his surly presence, uncertain of what to say. Tossing his books on the bed, Remus turned to address his roommates.
"So are all women this mad or did I just manage to get together with the daffiest of the lot?" Remus demanded rhetorically.
"What happened with Arabella?" James's brow furrowed in worry.
"Nothing other than everything coming to a head!" Remus responded. "Since we haven't reached that phase in a relationship where I'm obligated to mention how I'm an accursed creature of the night, she's upset because I'm hiding things from her."
The three other boys exchanged glances as none of them wanted to be the first to volunteer the obvious solution to all this. More frustrated than actually angry, Remus felt as though his life was tiling off balance and there was nothing he could do to force it back on track. Continuing to rant on, Remus was only half aware of what he was saying and meant even less.
"Then she started making up things as she went along!" Remus vented. "Something mad about how we can be fighting by default if she's cross with me, never mind that I'm not cross with her! Well, I wasn't cross with her anyway!"
Turning suddenly to James, Remus pulled at his graying sandy hair in frustration.
"Why is it there is nothing, NOTHING, you can say to a woman that will not be utterly wrong and stupid when they're upset?"
"I, well, I can't say," James stuttered. "The most experience I have is through Lily and well, she always had a right to be cross with me usually."
"Don't ask me, please," Peter requested pathetically. "Sirius probably has the most knowledge of this out of all of us."
"Well, is this standard or should I take this and Arabella's obsession with cats as a sign of some deep-rooted dementia?" Remus jerked his head toward Sirius.
Sirius appeared as though he could have done a back flip over Remus deliberately acknowledging him.
"Nah, this is normal," Sirius shrugged. "Girls run with this foggy sort of logic when they're angry that makes them think they sound normal while we're left to decipher their insane speak."
"I was TRYING to apologize to her but she kept cutting me off and twisting my words!" Remus fumed.
"Oh, that's a rookie mistake!" Sirius snorted a laugh. "You got to let her wear herself out before you even attempt to smooth things over, otherwise you're just giving her more things to get riled about."
"I should have chased after her when she stormed off," Remus groaned.
"Nope," Sirius shook his head. "That's just a bid for attention. If you play that game, mate, it's like reinforcing their bad behavior and it just makes round 2 right back on their terms! You got to let her be off and pouting long enough for her to realize she's acting like a loon. That way she'll feel pretty foolish and will be quick to accept your apology. If not then the last thing you need is some stubborn girl making you feel guilty all the time."
James felt his jaw drop as he turned to Sirius.
"And this warped mindset is what you take in with you when courting a woman?" James marveled at his best friend. "Moony will die alone if he takes HALF of this seriously, Padfoot!"
"Oh I think Remus has enough sense to know that entrusting his romantic future entirely to the perpetual bachelor would be a poor move!" Sirius grinned.
The four boys burst out laughing at Sirius and his commitment phobic advice for a few solid moments before they straightened themselves out.
"Alright, I think I'm done being your average angst-ridden teen for the time being," Remus finished chuckling.
"What was the fight about anyway?" Peter asked, wiping a tear from his eye.
"Well it - " Remus started before stealing a glance at Sirius.
And being in the room, the four of them laughing and joking with one another like it had been for six years, as though nothing had ever been wrong between them.
Even though he was almost always playing it by ear…
. . .Even though he made half of it up as he went along…
. . .Even if it was traditionally all just for a laugh…
. . .Sirius still tried to be there for each and every one of his friends when they need him most.
Always in his own way.
And just as it had once seemed impossible to forgive him, Remus found it impossible to stay angry with Sirius any longer.
"I guess it's a moot point," Remus finished his sentence while throwing a remorseful smile at Sirius, who returned a broad and friendly one right back at his friend. Extending his hand to Sirius, Remus was happier than he had been in weeks when he accepted and shook it warmly.
"Sorry," Remus mumbled sincerely.
"Not your place to be, mate," Sirius shook his head dismissively before a smile landed on his face. "I think we should hug."
"I think I need to apologize to my girlfriend!" Remus replied with a laugh.
"Nah, just a quick one."
Sirius dragged Remus reluctantly into a brotherly embrace, causing everyone to start laughing again. Pulling out of Sirius's grip, Remus made his way out of the room.
"See you all at dinner," Remus promised as he shut the door behind him.
Peter and James turned to Sirius who was beaming.
"I think I need to invent some sort of jig to express how fantastically thrilled I am at the moment!" Sirius announced to his remaining friends. "I could kiss Arabella for getting Remus to forget he wasn't speaking to me long enough to realize he MISSED speaking with me!"
"Don't you dare! Not when he's just decided to stop hating you!" Peter looked as though he were relieved enough to cry. The tension in the group had been grating on him for weeks. "Supper's going to be great tonight with the four of us all getting along famously again!"
"I think that will have to wait until breakfast tomorrow," James interjected with a sigh, "I'm dueling Nott when we're supposed to be at dinner tonight."
"What?" Peter's eyes went wide.
"You need a Second?" Sirius offered up eagerly.
"No, it's just me and him," James shook his head.
"I don't know," Sirius frowned, "after what that bastard did to Lily I wouldn't be counting on a fair fight."
James considered this.
"Still, even if you were just there to watch my back, I think it would come off as dishonorable," James mused. "I'll go under my Invisibility Cloak. Make sure he's there alone before I face him."
"If he shows up," Peter scoffed. "Nott's a git but even he can't be thick enough to assume he has a snowman's chance against Sirius with you."
"Damn straight!" Sirius laughed manically as he recalled his brawl with the enchanted Snowman at the Yule Ball.
"He'd better show up or Slytherin will be Owling him flowers in the hospital wing," James's eyes narrowed. "Just be a pair of mates and cover for me at dinner, will you? And not a WORD to Lily. I don't know how she'll take me bloodying up Nott."
"Sure," Sirius and Peter agreed in unison and James pulled on his heirloom to leave for the pitch.
* * *
After dinner, Sirius made his way up the corridor back to the Gryffindor dorms alone. Peter had hurried through the meal to get back to the dorms and find out how James's duel went. Having made up from their spat, Remus and Arabella were being affectionate to the point of being obnoxious and were lingering in the Great Hall. Without James, Lily spent most of dinner chatting with the other 6th Year girls about various things that Sirius enjoyed listening in on. Always a useful thing to know how the female mind worked and in spite of his three older sisters and popularity with the ladies, Sirius was always finding himself learning something new.
Jumping at a phantom tap on his shoulder, Sirius's clear eyes darted around.
"James?" He spoke under his breath.
Stepping out from behind a pillar while tucking his invisibility cloak under his work robes, James had a dark expression.
"Nott stood me up," James seethed.
"Figured that coward would," Sirius sneered. "Don't worry, I'm sure karma will pay him a visit soon enough."
"Oh I'm certain of that!" James chuckled humorlessly.
It was ironic then that a panicked cry came from the next hall over. Breaking into a sprint, Sirius and James rounded the corner and saw Lily with the other 6th Year girls and a few other members of Gryffindor standing around the top of the bank of stairs leading to the dungeons.
"Run ahead and tell Madam Pomfrey what happened!" Lily commanded some 4th Years as she took control of the situation. Turning to the a couple 3rd Years, Lily gestured them off. "Hurry back to the Great Hall and see if there are any teachers still there and bring them back here!"
"What happened?" James demanded.
"It's Nott. Somehow he tumbled down the entire flight of stairs," Lily informed with a troubled expression. "Some Ravenclaws are looking after him. He's unconscious and fairly battered."
James and Sirius peered down the stairs to see two boys crouched next to Serpen Nott. The position of his arm and leg suggested they were broken and a slight amount of blood oozed off his brow.
"Do you reckon he just happened to trip?" Sirius questioned, though he didn't sound all that certain himself.
"I - I couldn't say," Lily shook her head, distraught a bit. She had no love of Nott, but she wouldn't have wished this pathetic, broken state he currently was in on anyone. James put his arm around Lily to comfort her.
"Perhaps Mr. Nott will be able to say," Millicent commented hopefully through both her hands which were covering her mouth. "I'd hate to think some anonymous person was walking amongst us and capable of this."
"What will he say?" Lily mumbled slightly dazed.
She turned to James and Sirius who weren't entirely sure the question had been meant rhetorically.
* * *
* * * * * *
* * *
Wait and Bleed
By: Slipknot
* * *
I felt the hate rise up in me
Kneel you down and clear the stone of leaves
I wonder out where you can't see
Inside my shell I wait and bleed
I felt the hate rise up in me
Kneel you down and clear the stone of leaves
I wonder out where you can't see
Inside my shell I wait and bleed
GOODBYE!!
I wipe it off the tile, the light is brighter this time
Everything is 3-D blasphemy
My eyes are red and gold, the hair is standing straight up
This is not the way I pictured me
I can't control my shakes!
How the hell did I get here?
Something about this, so very wrong
I have to laugh out loud, I wish I didn't like this
Is it a dream or a memory?
I felt the hate rise up in me
Kneel you down and clear the stone of leaves
I wander out where you can't see
Inside my shell I wait and bleed
GOODBYE!!
GET OUTTA MY HEAD CUZ I DON'T NEED THIS!
Why didn't I see this?
I'm a victim--Manchurian Candidate
I-HAVE-SINNED-BY-JUST
Makin' my mind up and takin' your breath away
I've felt the hate rise up in me
Kneel you down and clear the stone of leaves
I wonder out where you can't see
Inside my shell I wait and bleed
I've felt the hate rise up in me
Kneel you down and clear the stone of leaves
I wonder out where you can't see
Inside my shell I wait and bleed
GOODBYYYYYYE!!!!!!!
You haven't learned a thing
I haven't changed a thing
The flesh was in my bones
The pain is always free
You haven't learned a thing
I haven't changed a thing
The flesh was in my bones
The pain is always free
I've felt the hate rise up in me
Kneel you down and clear the stone of leaves
I wonder out where you can't see
Inside my shell I wait and bleed
I've felt the hate rise up in me
Kneel you down and clear the stone of leaves
I wonder out where you can't see
Inside my shell I wait and bleed
AND IT WAITS FOR YOU!!!!!!!