The dark stone steps trailed down to the dewy green grass from the entrance, and James trotted down those stairs to meet Channing.
"Hello," greeted Channing, her eyes bright with happiness at seeing James. She smoothed down her dress and made sure her hair was in place.
James grinned back at her, mussing his hair with his hand. "Hullo."
He clasped her hand into his, and she smiled up at him once again.
"You look lovely today," he told her, taking in the Ravenclaw blue blouse and dark navy skirt she wore, and how her brown hair flipped neatly at the ends.
"You do too," she whispered into his ear, slightly shyly. James felt tickled as her breath hit his skin.
He looked down at his wrinkled Pride of Portee shirt and trousers.
"Are you sure about that?" he asked as his feet hit the gray pavement leading into Hogsmeade.
She laughed, chortling. "Would you rather I say you look despicable?"
"Yeah, tell me I look awful, then, if you really think I do," he replied. "But you know, I can only take so much before I'd need someone to nurse, mind you." He winked roguishly and Channing grinned back at him, but not before the horrid imagine of Madam Pomfrey attempting to shove a potion down his throat popped unwillingly into his head.
James opened the door of the Three Broomsticks for Channing and guided her to the usual booth in the back, where a coat hanger blocked the main view. It was a perfect place for privacy, unless you had the Marauders for friends, of course.
As soon as the couple had slid into the seat, Channing still clutching James's hand, Sirius and Peter had bee lined over to them.
"D'you know that too much snogging can result in Snogititis?" smirked Sirius.
"No, but I do know that being bothered can result in a nasty hoof in the arse," James replied under his breath, just loud enough so that Sirius could hear.
Sirius, hands over the bottom of his jumper, scampered out of the Three Broomsticks.
"Eek!" squeaked Peter a moment later, realizing the intent of James's message and he quickly scuttled out of the Inn after Sirius.
"Get yourselves out of here," shooed Madame Rosmerta, trying to frown but failing miserably at the ruckus the Marauders seemed to always create.
The bell on the oak door emitted a loud 'clang' and left James alone from his friends, with Channing, in the dark, private corner.
"So, what shall we do?" he asked, eyeing her lips interestedly.
A few tables away, a dark-haired Ravenclaw noticed the exchange of affection.
"I never knew that Potter and West even fancied each other," Davies wondered out loud.
Lily looked over and realized what her date was referring to.
"Is that really James?" she asked, surprised. There was no doubt that it was indeed James Potter. The hand in the hair, ruffling it up as usual left no other possibility.
Honestly, why is he playing with his hair while he is snogging, out of all things?, Lily wondered to herself.
Lily surprised herself further as she realized that for once and maybe even forever, his attention wouldn't be on her. Lily had been with Davies since the end of last year, but she wasn't the one passionately wrapped up in a booth, was she?
Elsewhere, wandering amidst the crowds of Hogsmeade were Remus and Marlene. They seemed to be going nowhere particular,
but Remus knew they were heading towards his favorite place in Hogsmeade- Honeydukes.
They had been quiet, as though the footsteps of the crowds scuffled around them and people chatting to one another could carry out more than their words might. It was their first date, together or with anyone else. Both had never took romance as one of their priorities, and in that pushing away one of the most fulfilling - and heartbreaking - parts of life until now, awkward, short conversations resulted.
Lily. Lily could be described in `P's', Marlene thought sadly. Pretty, popular, perfect Lily. And I'm anything but a `P' sort of person. I'm an `M'- Marvelously morose mystery.
Meanwhile, Remus had similar thoughts of his own. James, Sirius, and Peter are so easy to get along with, it is no wonder that I cannot find a thing to say to Marlene. What could I say- `I like chocolate'? I'm a miserable social failure- that's what I am.
"Honeydukes chocolate is very good," Remus said out loud, wincing when Marlene cast him a quizzical look. "Do you want to go get some?"
Marlene nodded. "Oh, I really like the Honeydukes chocolate, too. It makes me feel warm inside."
"Isn't that funny," Remus replied. "It does the same to me too, but James, Peter, and Sirius have all told me I'm off my rocker." He turned a deeper shade of red as he mentally slapped himself for what he had said. Don't make fun of yourself! That's the one thing you are never suppose to do!
"That's simply awful! You're nothing like that. I think you're very nice to talk to and nothing close to senile." Marlene couldn't help but speak in a matter-of-fact tone.
How nice it is to find words on my tongue, words that can fly out so easily without care! Remus thought happily, as they entered Honeydukes.
Remus and Marlene made their way to the chocolate piled slab upon slab, on top of a bright green painted table. Remus shook his head at how gaudy the table looked in such a ridiculous colour, and Marlene quickly agreed. They smiled at each other, paid for their chocolates, and were quickly on their way out.
They had their hands full of chocolate and eyes full of each other. Sirius, who was hidden behind the door with Peter, smirked. He elbowed Peter. "Look at this."
Sirius stealthily stuck his foot outand and was already laughing as Marlene fell.
She curved forward until she met the ground, and there Marlene crumpled into a slump.
Remus slipped down to where Marlene lay.
"Sirius, you git! She hit her head on the cobblestone!" Remus growled, as he frantically tried to revive her.
Lily, with Davies in tow, rushed out of the Three Broomsticks at the sound of the commotion. "Let me through! I'm her friend!"
"What happened to Marlene?" she cried, shoving past Sirius, who stood gaping at his damage.
Remus looked up at her worry eminent in his eyes. "Please tell me you know how to revive someone."
"We're learning that next week, in Charms," Lily moaned, frowning as she racked her mind for anything that could help her best friend.
"Help! What's a reviving spell?" he asked the curious crowd that had gathered around.
Clunk. Clunk. A caped man made his way through the throng of people. "Move! Out of my way!"
He looked old to Lily, with grey, hoary hair that lay a bit above shoulder length. The part of his face that was not covered by his wild hair was scarred and slightly weathered looking. One of his eyes was patched, with a faded felt triangle over placed over the eye. On alternating strides, a hollow `Clunk' was emitted from one of his feet.
Upon reaching the center of the circle, the man fixed his unpatched eye on Marlene's still body, then turned his head to look at Lily and Remus.
"What happened?" he asked gruffly as he leaned down.
"She was tripped and hit her head on one of the stones," Remus replied. "Do you know how to revive people?"
The man growled at Remus. "Revive people? Why don't you know? You need to know these things. What have you been learning at Hogwarts all of this time? And why did she let someone trip her? It's called CONSTANT VILIGANCE!"
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