Chapter 56- Vengeance
Lily came out of her room the next morning to find James asleep on the couch. His messy hair was softly resting against his brow and his supreme look of innocence overwhelmed her. She knew he cared, but for once she wished he were not so protective of her.
She got on the couch as well and rested on him, feeling his rhythmic beating against her head. She grinned; this was the way things were supposed to be. No troubles, no fights, no drama, just good relaxation and enjoyment of one another's company.
She felt him stir and flipped around so her head faced his. He opened his eyes and smiled.
"Are you still mad at me?" he asked her.
"A little. I can understand where you're coming from. I just want you to know that I can take care of myself. I love you, not anyone else," she said. She kissed his lips daintily and rested her head on his chest.
"We've been through so much, Lils. Trouble seems to just follow us. I don't know why this should be any different," James figured.
"He's a friend, James. I feel like I can reach out to him and help. I've struggled at Hogwarts and if I had someone to confide in, things would have been a lot smoother," she said.
"There's just something I don't trust. Did you know he went with Grace to visit Venus in Azkaban?" James asked.
"What?" Lily asked, sitting up and looking at James. "How do you know?"
James couldn't tell her that Snape had told him. She would be upset. So, he covered up for it with a lie.
"Grace told me," he covered, his lie burning a hole in his heart.
"Why would he want to go visit Venus Adams?" she asked.
"That's what I would like to know. Two suspicious characters meeting in the dark wizard prison. Doesn't sound like a spot of tea to me," James said.
"Why are you so suspicious of Cole? Grace, in case you have forgotten, is the spawn of that evil bitch," Lily said.
"She warned me, Lily. She warned me about him. I think we should go to Dumbledore," James declared.
"No, that's not necessary. Let me talk to him. He trusts me," Lily insisted, her face furrowing into a look of confusion. It was all too odd.
"I don't want you to get hurt," James said.
"Why would I get hurt?" Lily asked. She skipped off, out of the Heads room, in order to go consult her friends for advice.
"What have you gotten us into, Lily?" he asked himself.
Lily entered the Gryffindor Common Room and looked for her two best friends. She saw Remus and Peter playing chess over in the corner. She spotted Halle and Sirius cuddling on the couch. She looked and looked for Katy. She walked over to Halle and Sirius, who looked up at her in confusion.
"Have you guys seen Katy?" she asked them.
Halle shook her head.
"What do you need her for?" Halle questioned.
"I wanted to talk to the both of you," Lily said.
"Oh, I am pretty sure she left this morning for the library. I'm here to talk though," Halle said. She ignored the whimper of neglect from Sirius, who didn't want her to go.
"So, how've you been?" Halle asked.
"Confused. You know that kid I've been tutoring?" Lily inquired.
Sirius' ears perked at the topic of conversation.
"Cole?" he asked her. Lily nodded.
"James seems to feel that this kid has come in the way of our relationship. We've had a huge fight over it and I don't know whether I'm doing the right thing. I just thought that being Head girl gave me these types of responsibilities," she said.
Halle nodded, taking in Lily's words.
"I've got it," she said finally. "You're Head Girl, correct? Surely, you have important matters such as looking after the school. Cole would have to understand if you stopped tutoring him."
"I know that. I just wanted to help him," Lily said.
"I've answered that as well," she announced proudly. "Prefects are able to tutor students as well. Why don't you get Katy or Remus to tutor him?"
"That's a great idea. Remus is right there, I could ask him. Thanks Hal," she said, walking over to Remus and Peter.
"You're such a genius, babe," Sirius said, kissing her cheek.
"It's truly amazing, isn't it?" Halle asked, laughing to herself. She and Sirius resumed kissing and
canoodling on the couch.
"Remus, how would you feel about tutoring a less able student in Charms three or four times a week? You wouldn't have to patrol as much if you did," Lily offered.
Remus looked up and grinned.
"Did James put you up to this?" he asked her.
"No, Halle did," Lily said.
"I'll have to thank her later," Remus said sarcastically.
"You'd be a great tutor. I am sure he would look up to you," Lily said.
"I'll do it. But I'm not doing this for the kid, I'm doing it for you and James," he assured
her.
Cole returned from Azkaban earlier that day, tired and plotting. He had done what Venus had asked, keeping the girl hidden well. He only had his little sessions with Lily to look forward to. He sat for her in the library, patiently awaiting her presence. It was unlike her to be late.
He was surprised to see a frazzled boy dash in and sit down at his table. Remus Lupin looked up, apologetic.
"I'm sorry I'm late. I just found out about the times from Lily," Remus breathed hastily.
"What are you doing here?" Cole asked, disgusted. His caramel eyes were looking Remus up and down intensely.
"Tutoring you, of course. Lily's been a little busy lately and asked if I could take over," Remus explained.
Cole groaned to himself, pulling out his books. Remus Lupin did not know how much harder he was making things for
himself.
Lily walked out of the Gryffindor Common Room, heading towards the Heads Room to see James. She heard rushed footsteps and the pounding of feet against the ground.
She turned around and saw Cole, looking anxious and distressed.
"Cole, what's wrong?" Lily asked. "How did the tutoring session go with Remus?"
"Fine, fine," Cole said. "Lily, you have to come help. I found someone in the halls. She was tied up and hurt. I need your help. I put her in the Room of Requirement so the creep doesn't come back to finish her off."
"Lead me to it," Lily said, nervously. She hoped the girl was ok.
Cole grinned inwardly. He knew that Venus had been right. In order to achieve his goals, he had to hurt the ones he loved. He had to bring Lily in order to bring Potter. He knew Potter was waiting for his chance and he knew the boy was going to take it.
What he didn't know was that James had been watching the Marauders Map for some time and had realized that Cole had Katy Jones. Cole did not expect James Potter to already be waiting for him when he reached the Room of Requirement.
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