Chapter 41- Naked
I'm trying to remember
Why I was afraid
To be myself and let the
Covers fall away
I guess I never had someone like you
To help me, to help me fit
In my spirit
I never felt like this before
I'm naked
Around you
Does it show?
You see right through me
And I can't hide
I'm naked
Around you
And it feels so right
The crescent moon was shining overhead, reflecting it's soft glowing embers upon the lake. The weather was warm, a slight breeze flowed through the leaves of the trees.
Lily was sitting peacefully with James in the Astronomy tower, enjoying the serene environment in which surrounded them.
"Sirius has officially cracked," Lily sighed.
"I'm afraid so," James replied. "What was all that rubbish about a period? I swear, since Addison has died, he's just gone so far off his rocker that he can't seem to get up."
"Remus just sort of chuckled to himself when Sirius read that so called 'novel'. I think we shouldn't
be so worried. It's not as if Sirius hasn't done weird things like this before," Lily reflected. "We
should let him carry on with it. It's not as if it's dangerous."
.X.
"Sirius Black, that is dangerous!" Lily bellowed.
Sirius was leading a pack of first years on the roof of Hogwarts.
"Now, don't listen to her, young ones," Sirius advised. "She's just a mean girl who has no sense of mischief."
"She's the Head Girl," one of the first years pointed out.
"And where has that taken her?" Sirius asked. "Anyone? Anyone know where it has taken her? She isn't the one on the roof of Hogwarts, is she? No, she's yelling at us. Now, if anyone wants to be the one yelling, leave now."
None of the first years dared speak. Some of the younger girls were swooning at the sight of Sirius Black. They were obviously on the waiting list to join the Sirius Black Fan Club.
"That's what I want to hear," Sirius gleefully squealed, seeing no objections to his latest dangerous escapade.
"Mr. Black?" one of the first years asked.
"Yes, young man," Sirius voiced with great authority.
"What are we doing up here?" the child asked.
"We are daring to bend all rules set down by our forefathers. We are going to be put down in the books as the first ones to do jumping jacks upon the roof of Hogwarts," Sirius explained.
"Sirius Black, I'm getting McGonagall if you don't levitate those children down here," Lily screamed.
"She is such a spoilsport," Sirius muttered.
"You bring McGonagall!" Sirius shouted back. "We will not leave until we do our jumping jacks!"
"What an idiot," Lily mumbled to James. "Your friend has gone insane."
"This is a shock to you?" Peter asked her.
"No," Lily answered. "Go get McGonagall, Peter."
"There is something wrong with him, Prongs," Remus declared.
"I know," James said. "Jumping jacks? Is he out of his mind? I mean, cartwheels would be more appropriate. People would rather hear about the Climatic Cartwheel Charade than the Jumping Jack Jamboree. Don't you think?"
"Lunatics," Lily said. "This place is going to the dogs. I am surrounded by lunatics."
"No, no, Lily," Remus whispered. "There is still part of my sanity here. It's at risk, but it's still here."
"Thank you, Remus," Lily replied. "It's good to know someone hasn't become a blazing fiend."
"Fiend?" Sirius shouted. "Lily, I wrote about you being a fiend in my novel. It's those drugs you use."
"Lily Evans is on drugs?" Mary, the new president of the SBFC whispered. "No way."
"Now look what you've done," Lily bellowed to him.
"It's all in the line of duty, m'dear," Sirius called.
He turned to face the future prospectors of mischief.
"Are we ready?" he asked them.
They all looked rather nervous about getting in trouble. Yet, the gleam in Sirius' eyes convinced them. He was, after all, most of their role models.
"A one, a two, a three," Sirius huffed, doing his energetic jumping jacks.
"Mr. Black, get down here," Professor McGonagall screamed.
"Minerva love," Sirius said, in-between breaths. "How darling of you to join us."
"Now, Mr. Black," McGonagall bellowed. "The Headmaster may be hearing about this."
A cackling laugh could be heard behind Sirius. He turned and grinned.
"Peeves, absolutely spiffing, ol' boy," Sirius greeted. "The lot's here. We've got Peeves, first years, and McGonagall. The essentials for a right old party. We could always ask Lily for her drugs to liven things up."
"Miss Evans?" Professor McGonagall asked, appalled. "Drugs?"
"No, Professor," Lily mumbled, her face turning red. "There are no drugs. If anything, Sirius would be the ones taking them. Yet, I seem to think that this is an action of his own accord."
"Does he realize how much danger he's putting those children in?" Professor McGonagall inquired, frustrated with the never ending antics of Sirius Black.
"I think he does," Remus said. "He's recruiting."
"R-recruiting?" McGonagall stammered.
"Future Marauders," James explained.
McGonagall's face turned instantly horrified.
"More?" she whispered.
"Oh yes," James insisted. "You didn't honestly think that once we were gone, we wouldn't have left our mark."
"Sirius Black is a punishment all in himself," McGonagall reminisced.
"I love you too, McGonagall," Sirius called. "One hundred. I did it, I did it. Whose Sirius? I'm Sirius. Oh yeah, oh yeah."
"How many times has Sirius slammed his head on that bunk he sleeps in?" Lily asked.
"Every day since first year," Remus recalled.
"That's apparent," Lily mumbled.
.X.
"You've got to love him," James said.
"Well, what would Hogwarts be without Sirius?" Lily asked.
"Extremely prude and rule abiding," James answered.
"Like me?" Lily teased.
"Yes, darling," James said. "Just like you."
The two of them were patrolling, hand in hand, making sure Sirius wasn't on the prowl, prone to cause mischief.
James had a feeling that he and Peeves were plotting something.
"I really am glad it was you who was Head Boy," Lily said, smiling.
"Well, so am I," James answered truthfully.
"Still an arrogant little berk," Lily laughed.
"No, well, yes. But, not this time. I'm happy I was Head Boy because the Head Girl to my Head Boy is simply amazing," James said.
Lily started blushing.
"It's a wonder how you still can make me shy," she quietly spoke.
"I just want to know something, Lily," James said.
"Anything," Lily whispered.
"What made you change your mind?" he asked.
"Well, you're you, James. James Potter, man of my nightmares," Lily laughed. "That's how it used to feel. But, eventually, you dug your way in and I got to know you. You stopped bragging as much, you stopped hexing people as much, you treated me well. What made you ask that? I thought it was obvious."
"Well, I don't need to question our relationship anymore," James thoughtfully countered. "I just know why I like you so much, and I often wonder why you like me."
"You just have a way of making me smile," she blushed. "When I thought about it, we just fit. We are normal, regular people who have their little arguments here and there. We find it impossible to stay mad at one another. The thought of me without you doesn't occur to me anymore. You just make me feel special."
"You are," he insisted. "You're a special person in every way. I'm lucky to have you."
"I feel bad for Sirius every single day," Lily said. "He lost someone he loves. If that ever happened to me, I suppose I'd go a little crazy as well. It's horrible to see him hiding his pain. Every morning over breakfast, I can tell he tries to cover it up, lighten the mood. He still misses her."
"We all do," said James earnestly.
"I love you so much," Lily said. "I don't know if I could handle doing jumping jacks on the roof of the school, so don't go anywhere."
"I don't intend to," James grinned, wrapping her into a kiss.