Strangers in the Night

A/N: This story was inspired by Frank Sinatra’s “Strangers in the Night.” This is just the first chapter; I only plan on having maybe five- I only had time to write out this beginning. I should have the rest up this weekend sometime. The title will make sense later I PROMISE but for now it seems kind of odd. Promise the fic won’t be too long, for me it’s hard sometimes to read those fifty chapter ones lol (most are REALLY good but mine don’t tend to be). Anyway, tell me what you think, I hope you like it!!

STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT

Strangers in the night exchanging glances-

wond’ring in the night, what were the chances

we’d be sharing love

before the night was through?

Something in your eyes was so inviting.

Something in your smile was so exciting.

Something in my heart

told me I must have you.

Strangers in the night- two lonely people,

we were strangers in the night

up to the moment

when we said our first hello.

Little did we know,

that love was just a glance away,

a warm embracing dance away and-

Ever since that night, we’ve been together-

lovers at first sight, in love forever.

It turned out so right,

for strangers in the night.

-Frank Sinatra

Lily Evans sat in the middle of a long mahogany table, chatting merrily with the three or four girls around her. Beams of golden sunlight shined through the majestic enchanted ceiling, and a swarm of owls suddenly swooped overhead, carrying an assortment of parcels and letters to those down below.

The pretty young witch with the long crimson hair laughed delightfully and gently swept a fiery lock behind her ears. Emerald eyes twinkling, she daintily brushed a hand to her face while continuing her charming giggles. She absent-mindedly glanced down the end of the Gryffindor breakfast table, possibly to see if anyone was watching her, and continued to converse with the boisterous brunette to her right.

Little did she know someone was watching her, just like he did every morning. And yet she never seemed to notice.

“Prongs, you’re pathetic, mate. I mean really really pathetic. Pass the scrambled eggs?”

“He’s been like this for two weeks straight-“

“More like seven years straight. Pass the marmalade?”

“Well it’s never been this bad. And-HEY- that’s not the marmalade that’s my plate! Gimme that, Padfoot, Merlin’s beard.”

“Sorry, ol’ chap, hand must’ve slipped.”

“Yeah and Lily’s madly in love with James.”

“What?” A boy with hazel eyes and jet-black hair snapped his head up at attention, rapidly shaking his head from left to right. His dark tousled locks fell behind his thin bullion frames as James Potter finally came back to reality.

“Thought that might get your attention. NO, Padfoot, that hashbrown is mine,” Remus snapped as Sirius rolled his charcoal eyes in annoyance, rather forcefully dropping said hashbrown in the process.

“Where’s Peter?” James inquired, squinting his eyes as he searched the Great Hall.

“Where’s James, HE hasn’t been here all morning either. Just been poor Moony and me, left with nothing to talk about but our poor lovesick idiot of a friend.”

“That was charming that was.”

“I try.”

“Both of you, please, we have a real issue to discuss- Prongs is losing it. We all know why, and I think it’s about time we do something about it,” Remus said with impatience.

“We are doing something about it. We’re watching him play the part of a lonely lovesick puppy pining over a dame that’s too good for him. It’s quite entertaining really.”

“Really, Padfoot? Really? Are you just trying to get me to hex you within an inch of your life or are you just feeling particularly lucky today?”

“Why, I feel lucky every day, Prongsie. All I have to do is look at you.”

“ARRGGHHH-“

“Wait-” Remus piped up at a very critical moment: James was standing on one leg with Sirius in a headlock, the other leg pinning down Sirius’ lower extremities. Sirius, on the other hand, had a mouth full of toast and pumpkin juice, and looked as though his eyes were about to bulge out of his head.

“Why don’t you take a look at the other end of the table…”

Shifting their heads to the left, James immediately released Sirius’ gasping skull- only for it to smack in to the table with a ‘thud.’ Lily was no longer speaking with her friends, but quietly leaving the Great Hall with none other than Hufflepuff captain and seeker, Benjy Fenwick.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

A/N: This was just James’ side of the story. You’ll get to know Lily’s end in the future. Most of this was just humor, I simply ADORE the marauders and I haven’t written a piece where they have much dialogue. It’s so FUN! I hope you liked it, I would LOVE lots of feedback before posting the remaining chapters. Thanks a ton!! -lilymione1203

A/N: More Marauder fun! This was a blast to write, I really hope you like it.

CHAPTER TWO

“Alright gents, let’s just take a look at the situation, shall we? All hope is not lost, Prongs.”

“Actually it is, but Moony doesn’t want to find your lifeless body hanging from the showerhead in the morning.”

“PADFOOT!?!”

“No, no. He’s right. I can’t take it. I can’t face her tonight. I’m resigning.” James plucked the shining metal HeadBoy badge from his chest and tossed it on the chestnut bureau, shoving his hands in the pockets of his robes and letting out a deep sigh.

“It’s not the end of the world, Prongs, we don’t even know what happened.”

“I bet I know what happened…”

“Padfoot that’s IT, you are NOT helping. Go to the ‘Cretinous Corner.’”

“Are you serious? Blimey, Remus, I’m not sitting on Peter’s ‘Stupid Stool.’ That thing’s got an odor of its own.”

“What’s got an odor of its own?”

At that moment Peter scrambled in the door of the Marauder dormitory and plopped down on a collective pile of dirty clothes, all the while unwrapping a particularly sticky-looking chocolate frog.

“Your Stool of Unintelligence. It’s not a toilet, Wormtail.”

Years ago three of the four Marauders decided one was just a tad…slower…than the rest. Poor Peter lagged quite a bit in whit and skill and sometimes had a hard time keeping up. Lacking in empathy, as many boys do, the trio decided on a punishment for each question, comment, or incredibly lame joke that spurred from Peter’s mouth. Thus, the Stool of Unintelligence was born.

“What do you do, mate, just sit down and let ‘em rip?”

“For heaven sakes, Sirius, we’re not even talking about Wormtail, we’re trying to help Prongs.”

“For the record I was never actually trying-“

“Help Prongs do what?”

“STOOL!” Sirius barked as he pointed to the corner; his lengthy dark hair nearly touching the carpet as his head hung upside down off James’ four-poster.

“Now wait, Padfoot, Peter doesn’t actually know what happened. He wasn’t with us at breakfast, remember?”

“Yeah, Wormy, where were you this morning?” Sirius inquired, not bothering to look up from cleaning the dirt from under his nails.

“I- I was with some friends.” The pudgy boy’s breath became rapid, his chest heaving up and down at an abnormally brisk pace. His small, watery eyes flittered about the room in panic, searching the poster-covered walls.

Remus’ face took on a look of utter perplexity and Sirius burst in to a laughing fit, tumbling over the crimson bed sheets and landing on the cluttered floor with a ‘thunk.’ Even James snapped out of his recession, darting his head to the right and narrowing his eyes, raising his brow in question.

“Wormtail, the three of us were in the Great Hall for breakfast. You must’ve thought you were with us and got confused. Easy mistake. Happens to me all the time,” Sirius said with a roll of his eyes.

“I have other friends!”

“TO THE STOOL!”

“Padfoot, shut up. Wormtail, what other friends?”

“The Troll Pride Parade doesn’t count, Wormy. Neither does the Feminist Witch Council you accidental-”

“PADFOOT, SHUT UP,” Remus spat through gritted teeth, perpetually losing his patience. “Now what were you doing during breakfast, Peter?”

“I was walking down to breakfast and was…waiting,” Peter finished quickly.

“For whom?”

Peter closed his eyes and jerked his chin up in the air, huffily crossing his plump arms over his chest, “I don’t have to tell you if I don’t want. If all you’re going to do is patronize me then-“

“Oh, come off it, Wormtail, it’s all in good fun. Now tell us who you were waiting for before I take this bloody loo of a stool and shove it up your-“

“JUST tell us, please,” Remus interrupted with a pertinent glance to his left, about two seconds away from strangling Sirius with a dirty sock.

“Fine. I was waiting for…” Peter glanced at the bedside table, cluttered with stacked over issues of Quidditch Illustrated and PlayWizard magazine, and finally squeaked, “I was waiting for Gwendolyn. I’m going to ask her to Slughorn’s masquerade.”

The room was deathly silent for a moment, jaws thudding to the carpet and eyes bulging out of sockets. Every year Professor Slughorn held a masquerade for all his potions students, not just those privileged to be a member of his more than exclusive club. The event normally didn’t take place until October, and the remaining Marauders were stunned that Peter would think to get a date so early, let alone at all.

“Gwendolyn Bones? Isn’t she a bit out of your league, Wormtail? I mean, blimey, you’re starting to sound like Prongs.”

At this James released all the air in his lungs and collapsed on his bed, staring with eyes glazed over at the scarlet-painted ceiling.

“Oh, Prongs, get over it. It’s not like they shagged on the table or anything.”

“Who shagged?”

“STOOL!”

“Stop that! He wasn’t there, remember, Padfoot?” Remus was sincerely starting to consider cramming that soiled Quidditch stocking down Sirius’ throat. “Prongs is upset- well, devastated really- that he witnessed Lily leaving the Great Hall with Fenwick.”

“Benjy Fenwick?”

“ST-“ but before the word came out of his mouth Sirius found a considerably pungent undergarment stuffed rather forcedly between his tonsils.

“Yes, Wormtail, Benjy. And now we’re trying to-“

“Oh, yeah, I saw them when I was waiting, er- talking to Gwendolyn.”

“WHAT???” James leapt from his bed like an animal and was on top of Peter in a flash. Faster than lightning, James had his callused hands wrapped around Peter’s thick neck and was shaking the poor boy like a Rottweiler with a newspaper.

“WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SOMETHING?? WHAT WERE THEY DOING?? WHAT DID THEY SAY?? WHAT HAPPENED WORMTAIL, TELL ME!!”

“Prongs, PRONGS! Get off!” There was a quick scramble and Peter’s neck was eventually released, both boys sprawled on the ground and rather light-headed. Remus stood in the middle, his sandy head buried in his left hand and his wand grasped tightly in his right.

“It’s like babysitting, honestly. Now, Wormtail, what happened between Lily and Benjy- I don’t think I can hold off Prongs much longer.”

Peter blinked a few times, still in a daze, and finally spoke up, “I couldn’t hear anything. I think they were just talking. I only remember seeing Fenwick walk away with an angry look on his face.”

“He was angry?” James piped up with glee, his hazel eyes bright with excitement.

“I guess s-“

“HELLO??? Did you all just FORGET about me?? I’ve been over here coughing and sputtering, nearly gagging to death, and all you care about is that Hufflepuff idiot making moves on Lily. And YOU,” Sirius snarled, pointing a hostile finger at a bored-looking Remus, “could’ve KILLED me, you dirty wanker.”

“That was a risk I was willing to take.”

“Unbelievable!” Sirius shouted, throwing his hands up in the air. “Happy, Prongs? Little flower made big Benjy angry. They didn’t shag in a broom cupboard, they didn’t snog next to Wormy and his imaginary friends, they didn’t even flirt! And here you were, moping around like your owl died, and there was nothing to worry about. If anyone’s got problems it’s Moony- he’s turned into a homicidal maniac!”

Remus rolled his eyes and sighed, sitting down on his four-poster and opening a battered copy of Standard Book of Spells, Grade 7. Fingering its ragged pages, Remus replied, “You know, Prongs, Benjy may have seemed angry for a reason. I mean, if Wormtail already thought to ask a girl to Slughorn’s ball, perhaps so did Fenwick…”

“Hey!” Peter voiced as he furrowed his brows, apparently just now realizing the extent of what Remus had said.

“Don’t you have patrols with Lily tonight, Prongs?” said Sirius, massaging his Adam’s apple and staring daggers at Remus.

“Yeah…”

“And don’t they start, oh- about nine or so?” Remus chimed in, raising his brows and glancing sideways at Sirius, trying to conceal a smirk.

“Yeah…”

“And wasn’t that, I don’t know, say- twenty-five minutes ago?” Sirius finished, a boisterous grin plastered on his handsome face.

“Why, what time is i-OW!!! PRONGS?!” Peter yelped as James trampled his portly body, clambering desperately through the door to reach the sure-to-be angry Head Girl waiting at the descent of the stairs. He hastily reached backward toward the bureau, snatching his badge glinting on the corner, and bounded out the open door without a word.

The remaining three watched in silence, Sirius beaming like a madman and Remus already nose-deep in a book. Wincing at his newly obtained injuries, Peter popped his head up and looked quizzically at the sandy-haired boy lost in literature, screwing up his face into a look of concentration.

“Where do you think he went?”

“STOOL!”

A/N: Poor Peter : ) Anyway, sincerely hope you enjoyed! I know I did writing it, hope you do reading it! Lily/James interaction DEFINITELY in the next chapter (I know you’ve been waiting for it). I do love the Marauders, though. Hope you liked them too. I’m thinking this is going to take a few more chapters than I thought- I have the whole plot worked out- just need to fill in the gaps. So more for you to read! Please review, I’d really appreciate it!

A/N: This chapter is a little different than the previous ones. Not near as much humor (sorry!!!), but crucial to the plot of the story. REALLY moves things along in this chapter and gives a little background. Lots of James and Lily interaction though… <3 Hope you enjoy!!

CHAPTER THREE

Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap…..

A dainty foot rapidly continued to strike the hardwood surface of the common room floor. Green eyes filled with aggravation darted for the sixty-seventh time to the luminous silver wristwatch dangling from a rather petite wrist. He was late.

Lily Evans took a deep sigh, arms akimbo, and felt her eyes graze the ceiling in annoyance. Disappointment flocked her lightly freckled face, her pink lips set in a small pout. She turned her gaze to the crackling fire, where her friends were engaged in a heated match of wizard’s chess.

She tilted her head slightly to the left, contemplating on whether or not to simply leave her post and join them, and lifted her slender hand up to stifle a sudden yawn. Realizing she’d been ‘stood up’ somewhat, the poignant redhead slowly reached for the highly-polished banister to her right, feeling the glossy solid oak beneath her fingertips.

She climbed each stair at a snail’s pace, her tiny feet vaguely hovering above each marble step before gradually ascending. Flicking a loose strand of strawberry mane behind her, she nearly reached the top when she unexpectedly lost her footing.

Scarlet tresses whipped in all direction as the Head Girl flew down the spiral staircase, emerald eyes wide with terror. Expecting to tumble repeatedly along the jagged flight, she braced her body for impact and clamped her eyes tightly shut, but soon came to realize she was merely sliding.

She finally hit an obstruction behind her, butting up against it with a soft ‘thud,’ and felt the embrace of two warm, muscled arms around her. James had his foot on the bottom stair.

“You’re late,” she snapped at the perpetrator, quickly flinging his arms away from around her tiny waist.

“Lily, I’m so sorry, time got away from me, I didn’t mean…” James was floundering for an excuse, babbling like an idiot in the process.

“It’s okay, really, thirty minutes isn’t that bad. At least you remembered,” Lily said gently with a smile.

“You’re- you’re not mad?” the Head Boy said in disbelief, slowly ruffling the back of his jet-black hair.

“You know you could’ve just called my name,” she said with a sly smile. And with that she languidly strode off toward the portrait hole.

“Well, you know me, I’ve never exactly been conventional,” James said with a grin as he trotted after the fiery redhead six paces in front.

They reached the dimly lit corridor in front of the Fat Lady and commenced their nightly patrol, leisurely talking and inspecting the shadowy classrooms and cupboards. A year ago this would not have been deemed possible: Lily Evans and James Potter speaking casually, cooperating in such an open and pleasant manner. No one knows how it happened, no one knows why it happened, but it did.

James saw Lily for the first time September 1, 1971, climbing up the metal steps of the scarlet steam engine of the Hogwarts Express. He was immediately drawn to her long ruby ringlets, bouncing against her willowy frame in the breeze. She turned for a moment to wave her parents goodbye, and her beautiful sparkling emeralds took James’ breath away. He was instantly hooked.

From that day on he never thought about another girl. He dated them, of course, but no other flower could compare to his Lily. Unfortunately, James had a ghastly, terrible, horrible, appalling, repulsive, insufferable, incurable condition: arrogance. Lily never succumbed to his advances due to this illness, and informed him she would continue to do so until his disease was overcome.

Their constant battle came to a head after O.W.L’s in fifth year, resulting in the loss of a friendship for Lily and the realization of change for James. Little interaction was had between the pair sixth year- James not wanting to lose his Lily and Lily not wanting to surrender to James.

He stopped asking her out. He stopped sticking his nose in her business. He stopped sending her notes in class. He stopped teasing. He stopped hexing. He stopped pranking (as much, this is a Marauder after all). He stopped stalking her in the library. All he could do was watch from afar.

Seventh year rolled around and interaction was forced. James was Head Boy and Lily Head Girl. This was James’ chance. He had one year left to prove to Lily he had changed, to prove he was the one. Would Lily see this in time? Would she give him a chance? James pondered these words each and every day, staring up at the scarlet-painted ceiling above his four-poster.

“James?”

“Hmmm?” James snapped back to the present and shook the dark untidy strands out of his hazel eyes, blinking all the while. His palms began to sweat profusely and he took a slow, deep breath.

“I said you’ve been acting rather strange tonight, is everything alright?”

“Oh, yeah, sure,” he mumbled as his hand, out of habit, reached up to ruffle his hair.

“Do you always mess up your hair when you get nervous?” Lily taunted with a cheeky grin.

“Nervous? I’m not nervous! What gives you that idea?” James said in a panic, his breathing shallow and his eyes wide.

Lily laughed and lightly swatted his arm, “I was just teasing. I figured you, of all people, could take a joke,” she said with smiling eyes, twinkling in the gloomy corridor.

“Right,” he countered, a small, forced smile planted on his face.

They continued in silence, opening empty classrooms and peering around tall, glinting suits of armor until finally making their way back to the dormitories. The Fat Lady in sight, James abruptly stopped in the center of the damp and chilly corridor, adjusting his wired spectacles and frantically rumpling the onyx locks atop his messy head.

Lily turned back in confusion, jade eyes laden with concern, and delicately tucked a thread of strawberry hair behind her ear. The light from the surrounding torches bounced softly off her face, giving the appearance of an angelic glow. James thought she never looked more beautiful.

“Er-Lily, will you go to the Masquerade with me?” James finally stammered, his hazel eyes locked on her bottle green ones.

He held her dainty hand in his, tenderly tracing circles in her palm. He looked at her with longing eyes, waiting for an answer. Lily flushed and briefly turned away, only to look back at him with green orbs filled with sorrow.

“Oh, James, Benjy’s already asked me…”

James’ face fell with a severity that cannot be described. It was as if his world was crashing down around him, the tiny pieces shattering on the floor below. He began to turn away, his heart bleeding through his robes, but Lily grabbed his arm.

“But I didn’t say yes.”

As quick as it came his sorrow subsided and James felt like all the helium in the world was pumped into his chest, inflating him at an overtly substantial rate. He didn’t need a broomstick to fly.

“But I didn’t say no.”

What?

“Erm, well, what did you say?” James asked in an exasperated tone, his eyes searching the empty corridor in a state of bewilderment.

“I told him I’d go if he caught the Snitch on Saturday. So I guess it looks like he’s got some competition.”

“Wait…so you’ll go with whoever catches the snitch?”

“Whomever, and looks like it, yes,” Lily said matter-of-factly as she turned on her heel, crimson hair fanning out behind her.

“But I haven’t been a seeker in years,” James discerned, his palm anxiously rubbing his forehead, still trying to process the information.

“I guess you’ll have to brush up on your skills then,” she called over her shoulder, leaving a baffled James deserted in the cold and gloomy hallway as she clambered through the portrait hole.

A/N: I know this is a COMPLETELY different tone than the previous chapters, but I promise the humor will come back in chapter four : ) Lily interacting with her friends still to come, I’m not sure when, but they’re nearly as fun as the marauders. This chapter was basically for background purposes, and a crucial element to the story takes place (obviously). Had to take place for the flow of the rest of the story, hope you still enjoyed! Please read and review!!!!!!!

A/N: This chapter is more humorous than the last (yay for those who like it!) Doesn’t move the plot along much but those are the most fun to write. Marauder chapter (my fav kind), but I PROMISE Lily and her friends will get their turn (they are in ch. 4 if you look real close). I try to post a chapter a day. DESPERATE for feedback PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!

CHAPTER FOUR

“You did what???”

“I already told you, I asked her to Slughorn’s masquerade.”

“Were you trying to commit suicide, Prongs? Bloody hell, mate, why didn’t you just fling yourself off the astronomy tower?”

“Might’ve been a bit less painful.”

“Shut up! She didn’t say no.”

“Ha! But she didn’t say yes,” Sirius taunted with a smirk, running a hand through his dark lustrous hair.

“Let’s just go over the facts aga- PADFOOT touch that one more time and I’m going to make you eat it,” Remus snapped, whacking Sirius on the arm with a trowel.

“Touchy! Fine, I’m not doing anything. I know when I’m not wanted. You had just better remember to put my name on it, though. Sprouty knows I do fine work.”

Rain splattered relentlessly against the large transparent window panes, sending a chill over the normally stuffy greenhouses. The N.E.W.T. level Gryffindors, accompanied by the Hufflepuffs, diligently planted amber seeds of fluxweed and gurdyroot, potting and re-potting the soil in preparation.

“I’m quite for certain Professor Sprout actually detests your presence, and is in actuality surprised you managed to weasel your way in to her rather exclusive N.E.W.T. level class.”

“Oh sod off, Moony, nobody asked you,” Sirius said with a snort as he laced his fingers behind his head, tipping his chair back in the process. “’Least I didn’t cover her office in Devil’s Snare.”

“That was actually an accident, and she thinks you did it,” James retorted with a fleeting glance and a shake of his head.

“Who told her ‘I’ did it?? Granted, I probably would’ve taken the credit anyway, but I would have at least liked to have done it of my own accord.”

Remus rolled his eyes, jabbing his spade in the blackened soil before turning his attention to James.

“Anyway, Prongs, Lily didn’t say yes and she didn’t say no. What exactly does that leave then?” Remus inquired with a hand in the dirt and a highly arched brow.

“Look at ’im over there, playing handsey with Bones and Cauldwell, pretending to drop his trowel so he can peek under their skirts. Pathetic, Wormtail. Absolutely disgusting.”

“Padfoot, you’re only jealous because you didn’t think of it first. Now, Prongs, for the third time what happened?”

“Jealous? Jealous?? I’ll have you know I already have several dates for the Slug Ball thank you very much,” he said snapping all four legs back on the ground, “and I can do a hell of a lot better than Gwendolyn Bones.”

“SEVERAL dates? Merlin’s beard, Padfoot, who did you ask?”

“ ’I’ didn’t ask anybody,” he said with a flip of his hair and a cheeky grin, earning longing glances and batted eyelashes from an assembly of surrounding witches. However, who he didn’t seem to notice was one witch in particular, concealing her lustrous look behind a pair of pearly frames.

“You dog you-“

The trio stopped suddenly, erupting with uncontrollable laughter, completely abandoning their lonely pot. They continued for several minutes, receiving a variety of numerous puzzled glances, until Lily caught James’ eye.

The redhead’s cheeks suddenly turned a dashing shade of pink and she quickly turned away, strands of silken scarlet lashing in her wake, apparently realizing she had been caught.

“Told you all hope wasn’t lost,” Remus whispered matter-of-factly, leaning in to James.

“Well it’s about to be,” Sirius added with a smirk.

At that moment Benjy crossed the aisle, offering Lily and her friends a shining golden spade, completely void of any trace of filth, and placed his hand on the small of Lily’s back.

“Prongs, we’re really not going to help you anymore if you don’t tell us what happened.”

“Yeah, mate, are you two just gonna share the poor bird?”

“He’s not you, Padfoot-“

“Technically wouldn’t it be Lily isn’t me?”

“ALRIGHT! If you both shut up I’ll tell you! Fenwick already asked her and she told him if he caught the snitch on Saturday she’d go with him, but now he’s got competition. There. Satisfied?”

The two merely looked at him with blank expressions, trying to decipher what had swiftly tumbled out of James’ mouth.

“So let me get this straight, you are competing against Fenwick in order to escort Lily to the masquerade?”

“She’s playing you like a bloody harp, Prongs!”

“Does Hufflepuff play Gryffindor Saturday?”

“Yes,” James and Sirius echoed in unison.

“Is she assuming you’re going to play the part of seeker?”

“Prongs, you haven’t been seeker since second year!”

“I KNOW THAT,” James hissed, hazel eyes wide with impatience as he clenched his fists, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks.

“Interesting. Very interesting indeed,” Remus replied with a stroke of his chin, his piercing blue eyes suddenly fixed on the dripping panes overhead.

“And what, may I ask, is so very interesting?”

“The fact that you’re going to make a fool of yourself Saturday when you look like an old man searching for his cane on the pit-OW!!! Would everyone stop HITTING ME?”

“Hand slipped.”

“Anyway, Prongs,” Remus continued, ignoring Sirius’ muttering complaints, “the battle is no longer yes or no- all you’ve got to do now is win the match. And not really even that, just catch the snitch before Fenwick does. Your whole family’s made up of seekers and that’s how you made the team in the first place- it’s in your blood, Prongs. Lily’s as good as gotten.”

“Yeah, mate, she basically made a bet with you. If you beat out Benjy, you get the broad. Easy as that.”

“I don’t want her to go with me because she has to-“

“PRONGS, are you mad? A year ago you would’ve soiled your knickers to be in a situation like this, now you don’t want to force her??”

“No, Padfoot, I understand where he’s coming from. But, James, you’ve got to realize, if Lily hadn’t wanted to go with you she simply would’ve said no. She set it up to where she has to accompany either you or Benjy. If she really wanted to go with Fenwick she would’ve simply told him yes right off the bat. Now when has Lily ever not thought things through?”

A slow smile made its way across James’ face, remaining there for the rest of the hour. Remus continued to work alone, his partners being of no help what-so-ever, continually swapping Fenwick’s seeds for Every Flavor Beans.

A/N: No, this chapter wasn’t my best, but a necessary installment nonetheless. Hope you enjoyed anyway! Though, I did leave some badgering questions that have yet to be answered. Who is Sirius escorting to the masquerade? Who was the girl he didn’t notice? Will it be James or Benjy who catches the snitch? Will Remus find a date? What exactly did he find so interesting? Will we ever get to meet Lily’s friends? Dun dun dun……all these questions and more will be answered in the oncoming chapters. Coming soon to a Portkey near you! (P.S.- please read and review, let me know what you think!! : )

A/N: Okay, here’s chapter five- one day off schedule : ( I TRIED to get it done yesterday but I had a HUGE anatomy exam to study for- 206 bones in the human body, people! You wouldn’t want my work to suffer because of haste, would you? Anyway, hope you enjoy, cheers! (P.S.- PLEASE REVIEW!!)

CHAPTER FIVE

“OW!!! Get OFF me! This is an outrage- let me GO!!!”

Fiery tendrils were set ablaze, flashing in all directions as their owner struggled against her foe. Thrashing wildly, the hostage clenched her tiny fists in rage, profusely pummeling the stifling air around her. She flogged her legs aimlessly, exercising every muscle, trying with all her might to strike a piece of her attacker. The petite girl, lost in gravity, suddenly felt the air whoosh around her as she was thrown from her target- landing harshly on the mattress springs below.

“What on EAR-“

“Oh, come off it, Lily, you deserve that and you know it. Keeping things from us like that. For shame…”

Lily stared through enormous emerald eyes at her three aggressors, each wearing an expression of utter disdain, and softly swept the ragged red curtain of curls obstructing her view.

“Well? What do you have to say for yourself?”

Lily’s eyes found the floor, slowly scanning the regal carpet, and finally landed on her paten black Mary Jane’s- feet turned inward and hanging off the edge of her ruffled ruby comforter.

“Look at us, Lily. You did this to yourself, love.”

The redhead sighed and lifted her olive orbs to the ceiling, setting her lips in a slight purse. She fidgeted absent-mindedly with the corner of her bedspread, feeling the satin texture of the wine-colored duvet.

“We’re waiting…” Alice said with the tap of her foot.

“It’s useless, she’s not in the mood to talk about it. You know how Miss Fussypants gets.”

Lily snorted depreciatively but continued to hold her tongue, crossing her slender arms in a rather indignant manner. She fixed her gaze on the leaning stack of parchment at the end of her bed, not daring to look at the accusatory figures to her right.

“Fine, if this is how you want to go about it, then this is how we’ll do it. But I’m going to warn you, Lily, it won’t be pleasant.”

“Shall you start the inquiry, Dorcas, or shall I?”

“Oh, by all means go ahead, I’m still examining my notes.”

“Oh, so I don’t get a say? When I’m the one that brought this to your attention in the first place? No, don’t include Marlene, she-”

“FINE, sorry! For the love of Quidditch, let’s just get this started! Marlene,” Alice gestured broadly to the right, rolling her eyes and sharply tilting her head to the left, indicating for Marlene to begin.

“Erm, well, I don’t know what to say…”

SMACK went Alice’s hand as it came in contact with her crinkled forehead.

“Wait, what time is it?” Marlene asked fervently as she flitted her head about the room, russet locks whipping about her slender face.

“Time for you to stop losing the wristwatches I continually let you borrow…” Alice said through gritted teeth.

Dorcas snapped her head down to her forearm, “I dunno, ‘round three or so, I suppose. Why?” she inquired adjusting her spectacles, skewed atop her button nose.

“Got a- Quidditch!”

And with that the fourth member of their party was skidding around the corner, her hand grasping the door frame for leverage, the tips of her long brown hair visible through the entrance as they lashed in her wake.

“Didn’t she have Quidditch yesterday?”

“Guess Potter’s working them extra hard for Saturday. Bringing us back to our original discussion…”

“To be fair we never actually started it-“

“Well we tried!” Alice said, clearly losing her patience. “Anyway, Lily, Marlene told us the darnedest thing yesterday, didn’t she, Dorcas?”

“Why, yes, would you care to know what we heard?” a small smile played on Dorcas’ lips as she taunted a noncompliant Lily, casting Alice a knowing glance all the while.

The Head Girl’s face promptly turned the colour of her hair, forcing Lily to bury her head in her hands. A hint of bottle green could be seen poking through her fingers, but was quickly hidden when the aperture snapped tightly shut.

“Well, I heard that a Mister Potter is going to be playing the position of seeker during the Hufflepuff-Gryffindor match. Don’t you find that odd, Dorcas?”

“I find it especially odd considering he’s been a chaser for three or four years, don’t you?”

“Why, I certainly do! Do you find it at all odd, Lily?”

A palpable silence filled the room as Lily felt an invisible pressure squeeze all the air out of her lungs, engulfing her body in translucent flames. Her palms began sweating profusely, dripping languidly down her petite fingertips and soaking the crisp pallid cuffs of her robes. A million scattered thoughts raced through her mind like a cannon, buzzing and flashing to the point of insanity. A cyclone was lumbering through her head, bearing down on her with the tumultuous force of the Hogwarts Express.

“ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT!! I’ll tell you! Itoldpotterhecouldgowithmeifhecaughtthesnitchinsteadofbenjyatthequidditchgameonsaturday. You lot already know, you just had to humiliate me,” Lily finally spat, not meeting her predators’ gaze.

Two witches beamed back at her, eyes gleaming in triumph, exchanging identical looks of pure satisfaction. The pair seated themselves on either side of the frenzied redhead, bouncing jovially on the mattress and doing their best to conceal their caroused grins.

“Now, now, love, that wasn’t so bad- was it?”

“It’s not like we weren’t going to find out anyway, the whole school already knows.”

“The least you could do was tell us yourself-“

“Which we sort of made you do-“

“But we knew wouldn’t divulge-“

“So you really forced us to take action-“

“But we really wanted you to tell us yourself-“

“And you did! Sort of…“

“And we’re very proud of you!”

“Despite the fact that you lost your dignity-“

“Well, some of it remains, but you did drop a few pegs-“

“Just a couple notches-“

“An ounce or two really-“

“A trifl-OOF!!”

“Ha ha ha h-OW!! You don’t have to hit us!”

“I think I recall hearing ‘you know you deserve it. For shame…’” Lily mocked with a grin, satin pillow in hand.

“So, really, Lily, finally decided to give Potter a chance?” Dorcas drawled as she awkwardly pulled herself in to a sitting position, readjusting her opal frames, “The prospect of one gorgeous Quidditch player’s affections not good enough for you anymore?” she added, twisting a strand of flaxen hair around her finger.

“Yeah, you’re life is truly in shambles. If I were you, I’d just up and get myself snuffed.”

“What is the point of living-“

“Oh, shove it, the pair of you. You’re both simply jealous. I can see the traces of envy just oozing out of your eye sockets.”

“Who wouldn’t be jealous? Two Quidditch gods engrossed in a heated battle of skill and lust, bronze muscles gleaming in the blazing sun, sweat dripping gloriously from their sculpted abdominals toward their hard-“

“ALICE?!!?!!”

“Brooms, people, brooms. Honestly, girls, get your minds out of the gutter.”

“Anyway,” Dorcas deferred, shooting a disapproving glance at the bawdy brunette to her left. “Why the sudden change of heart?”

“I don’t know what you’re talki-“

“Merlin, Lily, it’s not like we haven’t noticed you peeking over your potions book at him every night in the common room-“

“Or taking two hours to smear on lip gloss before patrols-“

“You certainly didn’t bother to take the time to curl your hair when you did rounds with Remus-“

“Or borrow my perfume-“

“Or change your clothes-“

“Or hog the mirror-“

“Or change your clothes again-“

“OH, SHUT UP! I do not like him, okay? There is nothing vaguely romantic about mine and Potter’s relationship! It is strictly professional and that is how it is going to stay. You can take this information or leave it, but it is not uncommon for the Head Boy and Girl to accompany one another to a stupid dance, alright?”

“It’s just so ‘damsel-in-distress,’ Lily, I mean you’ve turned yourself in to a bloody trophy!”

“This time last year you wouldn’t have given the poor lad the time of day.”

“Nonsense! Just because now I’d give him the time of day doesn’t mean I’m going to give him my clock,” Lily scoffed, turning her back on the two pairs of rolling eyes behind her.

“Was that supposed to be funny? Some sort of clever euphemism, was it? Bravo, Lily. Well done, love.”

“Oh, sod off.”

“Haven’t you got patrols again tonight?” Dorcas asked Lily with a twisted smile, her chocolate brown eyes alight with laughter.

“Why, it just so happens I do,” the Head Girl snapped, hands planted on hips and chin held high.

“And haven’t you patrolled every night this week?” Alice posed, her pink lips pulling at a smirk.

“I suppose so…yes…” Lily replied, furrowing her delicate brows.

“And don’t you make up the patrol schedule?”

Lily’s face flushed with the intensity of a thousand suns, heat radiating from her violet visage and baking her pallid features. She turned vehemently on her heel and strode toward the door, whipping her head around for one last retort.

“I don’t have to take this anymore, I’m goi-“

“On patrol?”

“UGH!!!”

And with that she haughtily slammed the dormitory entrance behind her, knocking Marlene’s propped broom to the floor in the process.

A/N: And there you have it. Another pointless chapter, but more characters are coming in to the woodwork. More clues and more questions have been laid! (for those paying attention) : ) No, they’re not the marauders, but girls can be funny, too. I PROMISE more marauders in the next chapter, not too much longer to go!! Hope you liked, please review! Thanks a bundle!

A/N: This is the longest chapter yet, I hope you can hang in there!! A LOT of stuff had to go down in this chapter, so be prepared- it’s the one you’ve been waiting for!!! : )

CHAPTER SIX

A fervent sea of black and yellow intermingled with colossal patches of scarlet and gold swarmed a thriving Quidditch pitch, teeming with anticipation at the upcoming match. The excitement was palpable as clouds parted overhead, allowing scores of gleaming sunlight to flood the brimming stadium, alive with roaring cheers and laughter.

While those around her chatted animatedly, talking freely without a care in the world, Lily Evans sat a nervous wreck, watching the contents of the entire castle pour into the stadium with unexpected zeal.

“Why are all these people here,” Lily hissed as she jammed her woolen cap over her eyes, hoping to camouflage her conspicuous red hair.

“Merlin, the whole castle’s here- just look at all the teachers!”

“Well, there’s the usual Heads of Houses- Dorcas, you still on that bet with me?”

“Professor Sprout is married, there’s no way she’s shagging Flitwick!”

“I swear I saw them holding hands just now, look at that glint in her eye- she doesn’t get that look when pruning Mandrakes…”

“Alice!” Dorcas squealed, rather forcefully snatching her omnioculars, “Let me see-“

“Get your own! Frank gave me these-“

“I’m not about to lose a bet without any proof-“

“Would both of you shut up! Who else is here?”

“Well, Dumbledore, of course-“

“To the first match?” Lily yelped in disbelief, jade eyes widening in terror.

“Naturally, and is that Filch?”

“Look, even Madame Pince is here! I didn’t know she knew her way out of the library…”

“Does she even know what Quidditch is?”

“She’s probably read a book on i-“

“SHUT UP! I don’t want to know about all the attendants in the crowd-“

“You told us to tell you!”

“Well I changed my mind,” Lily snapped at the blond to her left, “Why are all these people here???”

“Why do you think? They want to know the outcome of the bet. Why else would so many people come to the first match of the season? There’s more people here now than at last year’s Cup.”

“How do all these people know???”

“You really aren’t as bright as you claim, Lily. Quite thick in the head sometimes, eh, Dorcas? DORCAS??”

“Hmmm?” the fair-haired witch finally replied, snapping her head in Alice’s direction. She had been rather preoccupied with her ‘stolen’ set of omnioculars, standing on tiptoe and searching the muddled crowd, ducking and weaving around the horde of students surrounding her, blond ringlets bobbing in tow.

“What were you do-“

“Anyway,” Lily cut her off, “I don’t see what the big deal is; it’s just a bloody game.”

“Just a bloody game? Lily, the two hottest Quidditch players in the school are fighting over you! It’s bound to be a grotty bloodbath! Who wouldn’t want to see it?”

“Well, I for one, think it’s positively barbaric-“

“That’s what makes it great!”

“But It’s absolutely breathtakingly romantic,” Dorcas added in a dreamy voice, brown eyes glazed over behind her pearly frames.

“Romance takes place between two people- not a blooming crowd!”

“Well, depends on where you’re from and how you swing, that’s just your personal definition-“

“That’s disgusting!”

“Oh, come off it, Lily, why do you think witches even go to Quidditch matches-”

“Yourself included, might I add,” Lily’s open mouth, set to retort, snapped shut in a huff as the Head Girl rolled her eyes.

“To see the deliciously attractive male body operating in perfect form, of course! Except for Marlene, but we’ve always thought she’s been a bit of an uphill gardener…”

“ALICE??!?”

“Well, it’s true! Females just don’t go with Quiddi-“

“I beg to differ,” came a sudden voice from behind.

“Remus! What are you doing here?” Alice shrieked, swatting the Marauder on the arm.

“At the match? Well, I was on my way to Charms and took a few wrong turns. Wound up here- isn’t that odd?”

“Oh, Remus, you cheeky prat! I meant in this particular section. Aren’t you normally pinning Sirius down?”

“Not in a physical sense- I don’t swing that way, love- but his commentary could use a censor.”

“You know what I meant,” Alice drawled to a grinning Remus, accompanied by Peter, who was out of breath and wearing a considerably large cap with a furry black tail.

“What is that?”

“And what’s it doing over here?”

“That’s Peter, he’s a ‘friend’ of ours that likes to hang around- kind of like a puppy, only a tad bit messier. Maybe not quite as bright.”

“NO, Remus, what’s that on his head?”

“Oh, that-“

“It’s a badger, thank you very much,” Peter jeered with his nose stuck in the air, Remus rolling his eyes all the while, “And Gwendolyn wanted me to wear it. Said she’d go with me if I did.”

“Gwendolyn Bones? Edgar’s sister? She actually agreed to-“

“It’s not really relevant, I actually stopped by to check on a different wager, under an amicably larger set of conditions,” the sandy-haired boy said with a smirk, cutting his eyes sharply to the right.

“Oh, Remus, no one wants to talk to you. You either, Peter, you’re not even supporting Gryffindor!”

“So is that who you fancy then, Lily?”

“I never sai-“

“Ah, but you just did,” Remus interjected in the softest of tones, his blue eyes twinkling in the beams of refracted sunlight.

“But-“

“EH-EH-EH- HEM!! LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, BOYS AND GIRLS, HUMANS AND SLYTHERINS-“

“Black!” McGonagall yelled from her usual third row seat in the top box.

“YES, ER- ANYWAY, IT’S TIME FOR A VERY SPECIAL MATCH TODAY ON THE GOOD OL’ HOGWARTS QUIDDITCH PITCH. LET’S JUST SAY MORE THAN THE CUP IS UP FOR GRABS TODAY…” Sirius’ voice boomed over the now silent crowd, soon followed by thunderous applause.

“Oh, what is he doing, Remus? Shouldn’t you be over there??” Lily pleaded with poignant eyes, looking at the Marauder in desperation.

“I think I’ll get just as good of a show from this end of the pitch,” he said with a grin.

“AND HERE THEY COME, FRESH OUT OF THE GATE, OUR NOBLE CAPTAINS (AND WOOERS) MARCH THE FIELD FOR THE SHAKING OF HANDS, AN OMINOUS GLEAM IN THEIR EYES AS THEY DRAW CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER- THE TENSION PALPABLE AS-“

“Black! Just report the game, it’s not a bloody romance novel!”

“I beg to differ,” he said with the flick of his wand, his tone indignant as he whipped his head back to the players below.

“ER- ANYHOW, POTTER AND FENWICK EXCHANGE FRIENDLY GREETINGS, I ASSUME, THOUGH I WASN’T ACTUALLY DOWN THERE. IN ALL PROBABILITY IT WAS LIKELY TO BE A RATHER NASTY EXCHANGE, CONSIDERING THE PAIR IS CURRENTLY FIGHTING OVER A GIRL. AND THAT’S WHAT DAMES’LL DO TO YOU LADS, TURN A PERFECTLY FRIENDLY GAME INTO A BLOO-“

“Oh, for heaven sakes, Black! Am I going to have to take that thing away from you??”

“ERM, NO, PROFESSOR….’S WILL BE COMPETING IN TODAY’S MATCH. STUDENTS ONLY,” the Marauder recovered with rapidly darting eyes.

“Is Sirius high?”

“It’s hard to tell anymore,” Remus droned with his head in his hands, exhaling a deep sigh.

“MOVING ON, MADAME HOOCH IS NOW ON THE FIELD, LOOKING LOVELY TODAY MIGHT I ADD- WHAT? IT WAS JUST A COMPLIMENT? I CAN’T GIVE THE TEACHERS COMPLIMENTS? YOU ALWAYS SEEM TO LIKE IT WHEN I DO IT FOR YO-“

There was a loud squelching noise coming from the top box, causing the entire crowd to cover their ears in fear of losing the ability to hear.

“THE GAME WILL NOW COMMENCE, AND ANYONE LOOKING FOR A GOOD TIME MONDAY NIGHT CAN STOP BY THE TROPHY ROOM WHERE I WILL BE RESIDING, THANKS TO A CERTAIN TRANSFIGURATION PROFESSOR…. BE THAT AS IT MAY, HERE’S OUR STARTING LINE-UP:

“FOR HUFFLEPUFF WE HAVE KEEPER EDGAR BONES, FOLLOWED BY CHASERS EMMELINE VANCE, IRENE DENHOLM, AND KEVIN WHITBY. BEATERS SEAN PEAKES AND GREGORY MACMILLAN CONFIDENTLY FOLLOW SEEKER AND CAPTAIN BENJY FENPRICK- IT SLIPPED, I PROMISE! LOOK AT MY PARCHMENT, THERE’S A TYPE-O!”

A choir of angry voices booed and hissed in unison, clad in all things black and yellow.

“AT ANY RATE, HERE COME THE 1974 HOUSE CUP CHAMPIONS, IN ALL THEIR SPLENDID GLORY! IT’S THE GALLANT AND NOBLE GRYFFINDORS, DRESSED IN REGAL ROBES OF GOLD AND SCARLET, BROOMS GLEAMING IN THE LIGHT OF THE MAGNIFICENT SUN WHICH SHINES DOWN UPON US THIS FINE SEPTEM- OW! DON’T HIT ME! WHERE’D YOU GET THAT NEWSPAPER? I’M GOING, I’M GOING!

“THE IMPENETRABLE LINE-UP READS AS FOLLOWS: THE CANTANKEROUS KEEPER DAVY GUDGEON, PROTECTED BY BILIGERANT BEATERS GIDEON AND FABIAN PREWETT, OUR BOLD AND DARING CHASERS MARLENE MCKINNON, ALBIN ASTRIX, AND CARADOC DEARBORN, REPLACING OUR FEARLESS CAPTAIN AND EXPERT SEEKER- RETURNING AFTER A FIVE YEAR ABSENCE IS NONE OTHER THAN THE ONE, THE ONLY, THE VALIANT AND CHIVALROUS JAAAAAAAAAAAAAMES POTTER!!!!!”

The crowd surrounding Lily stood on its feet in wild animosity, cheering and clapping with a deafening roar. Lily’s nerves began to get the best of her as she saw the kickoff from the field, the captains taking off a bit more fervently than the remainder of their respective teams. She tried to hide herself within the crowd, whose collective eyes continually glanced in her direction, followed by smirking whispers and avid giggles.

Alice and Dorcas were not much help, calling the attention of those around them that the Head Girl was in their midst, ‘blushing like a madwoman.’ The players began their tumultuous flight, immersing themselves in a violent and turbulent battle their captains forced them to engage in. Lily couldn’t help but wonder if what she did was wrong, placing herself in the middle of two human beings’ affections.

On the one hand, there’s Benjy- the golden boy with the beautiful ocean blue eyes and wavy chestnut hair, never a stitch out of place. He was a few inches taller than Lily with a nice, toned physique. One Alice would surely be proud of. He was quiet and well-mannered, a prefect for three years running. Most thought he was a shoe-in for Head Boy, but respected him nonetheless for taking Bagman’s post as Hufflepuff Quidditch captain fifth year.

Benjy never fought, never pulled pranks, never did anything juvenile or childish. He was so distinguished and handsome, showing kindness to those clearly inferior to his prowess. His most amicable feature was his dazzling smile, a mouth full of polished white beauty that shone brighter than Jupiter on the clearest of nights. Indeed, many thought him perfect.

On the other hand, however, was James- the cheeky wanker that’s always been up to no good. He had good intentions of course, but hardly acted on them. James was tall and broad shouldered, a once skinny lad that had developed a healthy muscle tone. His hair was the color of darkest night and always seemed untidy, usually of its own accord. He had hazel eyes that sparkled behind golden glinting frames, shining their brightest when Lily came around.

He and Lily bickered like children. He hexed those he thought were deserving. He was sarcastic. He could be arrogant. He got detentions every other day. But he was loyal, and quite intelligent too (hence the arrogance). He had personality that’s for sure. And he loved Lily with all his heart. So who should Lily choose?

Deep down the redhead already knew. She knew what she wanted. She knew who she should choose and she knew who she wanted to choose. Lily was a logical girl, and love was such an illogical thing. So instead of deciding for herself, she left it up to fate. A Quidditch match.

A/N: Hahahaahahaha I know I’m so horrible! I had planned on having the entire match in one chapter, but I had to leave you wanting to come back for more! Yes, it’s terrible but don’t look at me like that! You’ll get your fix in the next installment, I promise. DON’T HATE ME!!!! Hope you enjoyed anyway- please read and review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A/N: Alright ladies and gents, a day or two off schedule but here it is, the “long” awaited chapter seven!!! The REAL chapter you’ve all been waiting for (tee hee). In all honesty I had planned on six and seven being one chapter, but when I started writing it it was over double the length of the others, and a break in the middle was just funny to me : ) Anyway, I hope you enjoy! MAJOR plotlines in this chapter, this is the key to the ending after all. Read and review, please please PLEASE!!!

(p.s.- there is a teensy bit of language in this chapter and I can’t remember what it’s rated, so you HAVE been forewarned…)

CHAPTER SEVEN

There it was. Gleaming in the distance, that familiar golden sparkle that had always drawn him in, like an ardent wave to the beckoning shore. He watched in rooted splendor, lost in the glinting familiarity of his coveted prize. He gazed at the illustrious treasure, longing to close his arms around it- winning the heart of the woman he desired more than any other.

He continued to stare at its graceful form, veiled within a fiery sea of chanting fans. His mind urged him to touch it. To reach out for its shimmering wonder, calling him to catch it. He closed his eyes and reveled in the beauty of its luminous charm, imagining feeling the supple softness beneath his rigid fingertips. It was Lily.

Yes, he should’ve been searching for the snitch, prowling the skies with a razor-sharp stare like that of his formidable counterpart, who was currently sweeping the pitch like a golden arrow- the ‘golden boy.’ But he couldn’t take his mind off the eye-catching redhead cowering in the crowd, surely sporting a flushing shade of scarlet.

James turned his focus back to the game, watching the grueling bloodbath taking place before him. His troops were fighting with fervent vigor for their indomitably noble captain, transforming the normally pleasant pitch into a dark and vicious warzone. He leaned forward on his slender broom, the polished wood pressing firmly back against his coiled fingers.

The Head Boy took off like a cannon, zipping through the air with the force of a gunshot, his black hair rippling in the breeze- causing Benjy to wildly jerk from his careful concentration. James shot a smirk behind him, clearly bluffing at the sighting of the snitch, and felt they were back on an even playing field. But no sooner had James looked behind him, he witnessed Benjy whizzing the opposite direction, hand outstretched and aching to wrap around the fluttering golden ball.

A blanket of silence fell over the crowd like a dense and steamy fog, immersed within its deafening grasp. Hundreds of eyes amplified in eager anticipation watched with baited breath as Benjy lunged frontward in slow motion, reaching desperately for the jewel that would complete his flawless crown. James tore down the field behind him, barely visible to those below- a scarlet blur of furious determination.

A trembling finger lightly brushed the shining surface, aching to capture the winged treasure, slowly clasping around its sparkling edges when it was forcefully released. Two figures had collided mid-air, tangled in a heated struggle, brutally attacking the other in the scuffle for the snitch. One seeker struck the other with his fist, nearly knocking him off his broom in the process.

In retaliation, the injured seeker rammed the sharpness of his wooden handle into the chest of the other, sending him spiraling backward into the motionless stands. The snitch left free for the taking, the boy delicately reached his arm out toward the hovering miniature sphere, his eyes hungry with lust and desire. Closer and closer he stretched, able to see his reflection in its infinitesimal gleaming exterior.

Like a flash of lightning a bronzen hand from nowhere swiftly seized the incandescent floating orb, enclosing the golden snitch in his grasp, feeling the winged beast struggle frantically within the palm of his hand. Leather glove still outreached, but terminally empty, the defeated seeker stared daggers at the victor, feeling his heart crash and burn on the empty ground below. He batted his dark blue eyes in disgust, and cursed Potter’s name under his ragged breath. James had caught the snitch.

“MERLIN’S CROTCH, HE DID IT! THE BLOODY BASTARD DID IT!!! WE WON WE WON WE WON!!!!”

“MISTER BLA-“ but before she could finish, Sirius had McGonagall in a bear-like embrace, giving her a sloppy wet kiss on her shocked crinkled cheek.

The crowd stormed the field like a tribe of wild beasts, running and loping down the bleachered stands and across the majestic pitch. A beaming James could be seen hovering mere inches above the grass, fist held high in splendid triumph. A sea of gold and scarlet immediately surrounded him- cheering and waving, laughing and singing, smiling and dancing- springing eagerly on the balls of their feet.

A short time of celebration passed, the entirety of Gryffindor intoxicated with glee. The man of the hour immensely enjoyed the attention, reveling in the shower of commendable praises and vastly encouraging remarks. But still, the picture was somehow incomplete.

James quickly spotted his fellow marauders, beaming up at him with shining eyes, yet could not help but look for someone else. He finally spotted his target, slowly making her way through the fervent crowd, pulling her collar up around her face and avoiding the eyes of the staring mob. After swimming through a sea of commemorating Gryffindors, she sheepishly stood beside a grinning James, not daring to meet his beaming gaze.

“Alright there, Evans?” James cooed with a cheeky smile, shooting a quick glance at the marauders below.

Lily quietly hung her head, staring blankly at her muddy sneakers, pointing her toes inward and scuffing the hollow ground.

“Why didn’t you just say yes,”

He asked her his question in a mischievous tone, his hazel eyes alight with knowing laughter. His cheeks were a rosy pink from the cool September air, and his wire frames had slid formidably down his elongated nose, enabling him to gaze over the thin golden brims. James looked at his prize with a lop-sided grin, sitting aloft his handsome windswept face. And for once, Lily was glad to be looking at it.

“Alright, Potter,” she straightened up, her voice in a tone that read strictly business, “bottom of the staircase at eight pm. Saturday evening. Don’t be late,” And she whipped her lengthy red hair in the opposite direction, striding off toward the shining castle bathed in afternoon sun.

“She wants you, Prongs.”

“Oh, sod off,” James retorted, whacking Sirius in the back of the head with a scraggly bushel of twigs, courtesy of his manicured broom.

On the outside she was neutral, although hardly congratulating the ‘winner,’ she could not conceal her substantial embarrassment. Lily was losing a battle within herself, the battle to hate James Potter forever- which she solemnly vowed the second day of third year. It had been easy to hate him for a while; arrogance to her was such an appalling turn off. But his arrogance was fading away…

She stood on the stone steps leading up to the castle, watching the remnants of crowd dissolve to the rest of the grounds. James was heading toward the entrance now, walking the long winding path from the near-empty pitch with the marauders in tow. She couldn’t help but think how cute he looked, forgetting to change out of his robes and simply bouncing up the walk like a git.

The foursome made their way to the large mahogany doors, halting abruptly at the sight of Lily apparently guarding them. James’ face broke into an even wider grin as he eyed the Head Girl with a cock of his brow, leaning casually on the broomstick standing upright beside him.

“Not know how to open the doo- OW!!”

“Sorry ‘bout that, m’lady,” James apologized as he threw Sirius a warning look, who was currently rubbing the back of his head.

“Do you know how many times I’ve been hit today, let alone this week?”

“It’s not like you didn’t deserve any of it,” Remus replied with a roll of his eyes.

“Don’t even get me started on YOU, you’ve got issues you need to work out.”

“Tell me about it,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Not that, that’s not a proper excuse-“

“Oh, it isn’t? Well, why don’t you try it then-“

James quickly stepped in front of the argument, hopelessly trying to conceal it behind his back, and looked at Lily with an extremely forced smile, darting his eyes rapidly from left to right. Peter simply watched the events unfold, carefully licking his Shifting Sherbet ice cream, and nearly broke in to tears as a considerably large scoop fell to the ground with a ‘plop.’

“So, er- how’ve you been?”

“Since fifteen minutes ago?”

“Erm, well, yeah?”

“THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN HIT ME ALL THE RUDDY TIME-“

“WELL YOU SHOULD LEARN TO FILTER WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT DIRTY MOUTH OF YOURS-“

James felt his eyes lift upward in desperation, trying to keep the corners of his mouth pulled in to a smile. Lily politely ignored the vociferous conversation behind him, tilting her head slightly to the left and looking James in the eye. His gaze found hers and their eyes briefly locked before Lily flushed and turned away.

“AND YOU NEVER PICK UP AFTER YOURSELF, YOUR BED SMELLS LIKE A BLOODY ZOO-“

“So- er, what are you doing out here?” James asked awkwardly, wishing with all his might that a bolt of lightning would strike either him or the three idiots in his wake.

“Oh, well I just wanted to say congratulations,” she said in embarrassment, quietly walking towards him, “and to give you this.” And Lily did something she thought she’d never do. She leaned forward on the balls of her tiny feet and briskly planted a kiss on James Potter’s cheek.

She turned without a word and entered the silent castle, putting an end to the heated argument that transpired on the near desolate front lawn. Near desolate, however, for a pair of sinister eyes were watching from afar, blending in to the shadows of the neighboring pines. The eyes continued to gaze at the stupor of the four marauders, watching their jaws drop in incredulity as James slowly brought his hand to his dumbfounded face, gently pressing it against the ‘never-to-be-washed-again’ side of his bright blushing cheek.

A/N: Well, there you have it. MUCH more to come (and you thought it was over…) and LOTS more marauder dialogue! Sorry for the wait, but this was another BIGGIE in the chapter dept, had to come out juuuuuust right : ) Anway, sincerely hope you liked it and that it was worth the wait, please read and review I would greatly appreciate any and all feedback!!!! <3

A/N: This installment is very dramatic, the most so far in the series. I promise more humor in the next chapter, though. This is a very important segment, I really hope you like it!!

CHAPTER EIGHT

She clutched her books tightly to her chest, feeling the dampness seep through her thin satin robes billowing softly behind her. She continued down the long and gloomy corridor, barely able to see her hand in front of her face for the lack of proper lighting. A handful of flickering torches lined the stony walls, emitting an incandescent glow that bounced frightfully off the shining knights of armor, looming menacingly around each corner- their weapons raised as if to strike.

Lily walked the familiar path to the dungeons three days a week for potions class and nearly every evening for patrols, but the long and cavernous walk never seemed so sinister when James was with her.

James.

The redhead turned her thoughts to the previous day’s events, a small smile playing on her rosy lips. She was beside herself that James had won, although she knew he would, and recalled seeing his beaming face, his hazel eyes glinting with joy and triumph as he hovered inches from the ground.

That grin was different. Post victory he could usually be seen strutting around the pitch as if he owned it, ruffling his hair and taking all the credit for a ‘team-effort’ achievement. But this time was different. It was…humble. He was genuinely grateful for his win, congratulating his fellow teammates and leaving the Gryffindor celebration early, well before the butterbeers were even served. Nor did he revel in his eminent conquest, taunting the loser or berating his opponent’s apparent lack of skills.

Lily had never seen James behave this way, and she mentally scolded herself for liking it. She told her intruding band of friends the Heads’ relationship was strictly professional; it was natural for James to escort Lily to the masquerade. It isn’t a sin for her to happen to enjoy his company, was it? It wasn’t as if she was falling madly in love with him, they fought like children! Or did they? Lily tried to recall the last argument she and James had actually gotten in to, and had to stop abruptly in the middle of the dungeons to do so- tilting her head slightly upward and placing an index finger beneath her pointed chin.

“So, Potter’s personal prize wasn’t a title well-suited enough for you? Had to turn yourself from a ludicrous metaphor into the actual tainted object itself?” a hollow voice sneered from beneath the ominous shadows.

Lily jumped a foot in the air, green eyes wide with terror as she jerked her head to the left, long ginger tresses in tow, and nearly suffocated herself with the books she held so tightly against her diaphragm.

“Don’t tell me you’ve become the next brainless member of the imprudently estrogen-based organization that worships the very ground he walks on, batting their eyelashes in hopes of an egocentric grin sent their direction,” the mysterious figure continued, greasy locks hanging loosely about his sallow face as he slinked from behind a large woolen tapestry.

“Severus!”

“What brings you to this distinctly remote area of the castle, particularly without your valiant escort for protection,” he drawled, narrowing his coal black eyes at the frightened redhead quivering in his midst.

“I- I was returning these textbooks to Professor Slughorn; he wanted to speak with me about another Slu- er, meeting.”

“For his pathetic society for the less-than-talented? You know, Lily, you wouldn’t even be among the ‘coveted elite’ if it weren’t for our five years of esteemed partnership; let’s face it, a mudblood like yourself with the mediocre skill you possess only remains an affiliate of your dismal ‘Slug Club’ because of your, how shall I put this?- outward appearance. Are you a desirable accolade for Slughorn as well? Going to his office in the middle of the night to ‘pay your dues?’”

“You disgust me, Snape,” Lily spat with green eyes blazing, her words dripping with venom, “I don’t have to take this from you-“

“Just answer me this, Lily, why did you do it? Now you’re just like every other mindless witch that blindly roams the halls with her head in the clouds and a pile of drool trailing after just at the prospect of a go with that bigheaded imbecile. He’s so arrogant, Lily, surely you can do better. Even Fenwick was a superior choice, albeit he couldn’t find his way out of a paper bag-“

“He is not arrogant! And what’s it any concern of yours who I go out with? We’re the heads of the school, it’s natu-“

“Oh, don’t give me that rubbish, Lily, who do you take me for? You’re only kidding yourself with that dismal excuse, any idiot can see right through it. You’re just as bad as he is for placing yourself in the middle like that- do you get a thrill out of watching others brutally fight for your affections? Perhaps the death eaters could use a mudblood in their poss-“

But he didn’t get to finish.

Lily was furiously standing over a passed out Snape, having been hit squarely in the chest with a body-binding hex, among a variety of others. Needless to say, he wasn’t going anywhere for quite a while. Tears stung the corners of Lily’s blinking emerald jewels, sparkling amidst the crackling flames of the solemn fiery torches.

Her body was rigid, shaking from the events that had just transpired, her mind buzzing with fervor and ready to explode. She raced down the empty corridor, scarlet mane thrashing in her wake as she desperately made her way back to the dormitories, her hand still clenched tightly around her slender wand.

“Hahahaha, Sirius, quit!”

“Get back in th- OI!” Sirius yelled as Lily ran into him full force, knocking the pair to the ground.

A startled-looking witch stared horrified at the brutal collision, smacking her dainty hands to a set of blotchy pink cheeks. The raven-haired girl with striking blue eyes had been exiting a cluttered broom cupboard, followed by a rather cheeky Sirius, after becoming better acquainted with one another when the heartrending redhead came barreling down the corridor.

“Sorry!” Lily squealed as she clambered into a standing position, resuming her sprint down the otherwise desolate hallway while Sirius and his date stared bewilderedly after.

The portrait hole in sight, Lily continued her mad dash to the dorms, streams of sorrow dripping silently down her reddened cheeks as she rounded another corner.

“Lily?” a voice called from beside her, ringing in her ears as she halted to an awkward stop.

The Head Girl turned around slowly with an air of defeat, gradually meeting her predator’s gaze. She felt as though her spirit had been crushed, like a ghost now resided in her soul- a mere memory of who Lily used to be. She longed for nothing more than to crawl in the nearest hole and die, to be free from everything happening around her.

“Can I talk to you?” the young man asked flatly, shoving his hands deeply into the pockets of his trousers and staring down at the regal carpet strewn upon the stony floor.

“Sure, Benjy,” Lily squeaked, her voice barely above a whisper as she tried to hold back her tears.

“I know you like that Potter bloke. We haven’t really gone out in ages, but I did genuinely like you. Did,” he added ardently, not tearing his gaze from the floor, “All you had to do was say ‘no.’ I’ve been turned down before, Lily, it’s not like I couldn’t handle it. But I didn’t expect to have to go through this,” he scoffed, tiny waterfalls pouring down Lily’s poignant face.

“I mean you humiliated me. How could you do that? What did I ever do to you? Other than ask you out, which Potter did every day for six years- I mean, I just don’t understand it. Why did you have to drag me into it? That was a sick game you played Evans, with a stunt like that your Heads’ badge should be revoked,” and with that he strode off in the opposite direction, his footsteps echoing down the isolated corridor leaving a sobbing Lily whimpering in his wake.

A/N: Poor Lily : ( That chapter didn’t have any humor at all! I’m terribly sorry, I didn’t mean for it to pan out that way. But a little drama now gets you a LOT of marauders later! The next chapter more than makes up for this one in the humor dept., a much lighter tone to offset the drama. But it can’t be all fun and games. The end is in sight now, just a few more chapters to go!! Please read and review!! The more feedback I get the quicker I’ll update! ; )

A/N: The long-awaited ninth installment! Mostly dialogue, hope you enjoy!!!

CHAPTER NINE

“Prongs, you’re pathetic, mate. I mean really really pathetic. Pass the jam?”

“He’s been like this for a week straight-“

“More like seven years straight. Pass the bacon?”

“You know, I can’t help but feel we’ve had this conversation befo- PADFOOT, drop that toast, it’s mine,” Remus snapped from behind the latest issue of the Daily Prophet, completely obstructing his view of the opposite side of the table.

“How did you know I was taking anything?” Sirius asked incredulously, shaking his tousled locks and bugging his eyes out at odd angles.

“My unfortunate condition does have its advantages-“

“But not the ability to see through a bloody newspaper!”

“I have very acute senses, I’ll have you know, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out if he’s dining with you he needs to guard his plate with a vengeance.”

Sirius rolled his eyes at this, not caring whether Remus saw him or not, and dropped his head to his shoulder, turning his gaze to a depressed-looking James.

“You gonna eat that, mate? Thanks-“

“Don’t take advantage of him!” Remus scolded, flopping the corner of his newspaper in to his lap, “Prongs, snap out of it. Eat something-“

“I’m trying!”

“Not you,” he countered as he flung a teaspoon of marmalade across the table, splattering his target, “Come on now, Prongs, at least humor us-“

“What the bloody hell is wrong with you?!? You don’t go ‘round launching jelly all over the place! You’re losing it, Moony, you’ve gone completely off your rocker! You need therapy of some sort. I mean, you just gave me an oozing strawberry eye-patch for Merlin’s sake! Tell him, Prongs-“

“He’s not going to tell anybody anything because for the past six days he’s been trudging around the castle like a zombie!” Remus spat, crumpling the Prophet in the process.

“He’s fine- just a bit…lackluster,” Sirius mused, raising his eyes to the ceiling in thought, “Quidditch takes a lot out of a bloke-“

“Oh, nonsense! That’s not the problem and you know it. You just like avoiding the issues-“

“Well, I’m tired of being a blooming therapist all the time! We’re not a bunch of girls. ‘Let’s all talk about our feelings, let’s help Prongs fall in love, stop hitting Peter with things’- next thing you know you’ll have us all painting our nails wearing frilly lingerie.”

Remus let out a sigh of exhaustion, slumping his shoulders in defeat with eyes glued to the swarm of owls overhead. Lips pursed in annoyance, he glanced over at James- staring in to his porridge with his nose hovering centimeters from the bowl, “So, you’re saying he’s fine?”

“Sure! Never better, right ol’ chap?” and Sirius slapped a cheerful hand to James’ back, sending his companion’s face flying into his breakfast with a ‘plop.’ “Er…”

“Get him out of there, he’ll suffocate!”

The pair merely watched in horror as a few gloppy bubbles made their way to the surface, tufts of jet-black hair sticking out the edges of the bowl.

Sirius gently tugged at the scruff of James’ neck, lifting his head ever so slightly as Remus quickly shoved the porridge down the Gryffindor breakfast table, allowing Sirius to lay a sticky wet face back on to its wooden surface, “There we go-“

“Yeah, Padfoot, he’s fine.”

“Well, what are we supposed to do about it! Whatever happened to ‘ignore your problems and they’ll go away?’ Take Wormtail, for example-“ Sirius suggested, craning his neck over Remus to view the noisy Hufflepuff table, where Peter was currently feeding Gwendolyn a mouthful of toast.

“You were the only one that ignored him, other than when you were beating him with things-“

“EXACTLY! I kept hitting him and kept hitting him, and he always came back. But when I began totally disregarding his existence, he went away- just like that! Bloody brilliant!”

“I don’t think that’s how that works…”

“Makes sense to me.”

“So you’re suggesting you want James to go away?” Remus inquired with a raise of his brow.

“No, Moony, but his problems can sure hit the pavement. He seems to have a lot of those-”

“He only has one, and we KNOW what it is! Me, on the other hand…” Remus trailed off, shifting his eyes towards Sirius.

“Do you have a problem with me, Moony? Is that what you’re getting at? Cos we can take this outside-“

“Oh, Padfoot, come off it. Let’s just get Prongs back in his regular state of mind, shall we? You only have to don women’s underwear if you so desire-“

“Cute.”

“Yes, I think you would look rather dashing in a pair of high-rise bikinis. It’s the latest craze in-“

“OH, SHUT UP,” Sirius barked, crossing his arms in a huff and refusing to look at his counterpart, who was currently trying to conceal a lurid grin.

He did not succeed.

“Well, you’re the one that’s always ‘in tune’ with his feelings, what do you suggest?” Sirius mocked, vigorously stabbing his fork in his eggs.

“Have you seen Lily?”

“No sense changing the subject now I’m on board-“

“No!” Remus hissed, burying his head in his hands, “I mean have you noticed she hasn’t spoken to James since the match? I’ve barely even seen her since then.”

“Can’t say that I hav- look, just look at him over there! Acting like she’s his slave, feeding him grapes while his head’s in her lap. Makes me sick, that does.”

“Would you pay attention! Why do you even care what Wormtail is doing, I thought you were glad he’s been too occupied to hang around with us?”

“Well, it’s not fair he gets attention like that and we don’t! What’s his secret? How is the little rat doing it?” Sirius bellowed, knocking over his pumpkin juice with the slam of his fist.

“What are you talking about? You get attention like that all the time-“ Remus said in a state of confusion, furrowing his ashen brows. Just then, a gaggle of witches proceeded to walk past the table, giggling like mad and batting their eyelashes- one so bold as to run a dainty hand through Sirius’ messy hair.

Remus rolled his eyes and threw him a pointed stare, raising his eyebrows as if to say ‘I told you so.’

“Er, well, it’s- uh- not important…” Sirius mumbled, his face suddenly red, “You were saying?” he added quickly, darting his charcoal eyes.

“That’s what I thought. ‘Not fair…’” Remus drawled, shaking his head in disdain. “Back to Prongs-“ whose head was still glued to the long mahogany table, “We need to find out what Lily’s deal is. I mean she kissed him on Saturday, something must’ve changed since then-“

“Maybe she realized what a bumbling git he is-“

“No, someone or something has made her upset. And I doubt this time it was actually James. Any suggestions?”

“Well here comes her posse now,” Sirius said as he jerked his head forward, causing Remus to spin around in his chair. Alice and Dorcas were chatting animatedly as they made their way through the Great Hall, sidling between the crowded Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables.

“Oi! Over here!” Sirius shouted, waving his arms wildly over his dark head of hair.

The pair snapped their heads to the left in unison, Dorcas beaming as she trotted up to the three Marauders in excitement, Alice lumbering in her wake.

“Care to have a sit, love?” Sirius inquired, waggling his eyebrows at the frosty-haired witch.

“I’d be simply delighted,” she gushed, picking up her robes and gracefully landing next to Remus, who was now back to reading his newspaper.

“What do you want, Black,” Alice said flatly, plopping next to Dorcas without an ounce of poise.

“What makes you think I want something? Can’t a lad have breakfast with two lovely dames such as yourselves?”

“Laying it on a bit thick, aren’t you, Padfoot?” Remus droned from behind the Prophet, eight fingers the only visible part of him.

Now, Dorcas was not an unattractive girl by any means, but she wasn’t exactly attractive. Her spectacles were rather large and outdated, with lenses more than an inch thick. The only make-up she wore was lip-gloss, a cranberry shade that clashed with her skin tone, and her hair was a bit on the flat side. Long, blond hair was usually a wizard’s dream, but on Dorcas it just didn’t meet par. Her frame was thin and wiry, concealed beneath excessively large robes, but her chocolate brown eyes sparkled like rhinestones and her smile was just as bright.

“Now I know you want something,” Alice said blankly, helping herself to a bowl of porridge.

“You might not want to eat that, tends to end up all over your face.”

“EXCUSE me?” Alice replied with blue eyes bulging, staring daggers at Sirius.

“Don’t mind him,” Remus said with an ardent stare, wishing he had another sock, “but we do have a few questions for you.”

“If you’re asking about Lily, we don’t know either. Been shut up in our room for days,” Alice finished without looking up from buttering her toast.

“She hasn’t said a word since Sunday, ever since she came back from Slughorn’s,” Dorcas said dreamily, her tiny chin resting in her hand.

“Really? Interesting…” Remus pondered aloud, flicking his paper out rapidly to straighten its crinkled pages.

“You know, I ran into her Sunday, or rather, the other way around. Pass the mash, love?” Sirius asked Dorcas with a wink, to which she quickly obliged.

“When did you run in to her?” Alice asked with a scrunch of her nose, turning her attention to Sirius, “And what happened to him?”

“It’s the porridge, I’m telling you. Dangerous stuff that is-“

“Lily is what’s the matter with him,” Remus interjected, nodding his head toward James, “Hence, the inquiry,” he added, reaching around his paper to grab his tea.

“So, what were you up to Sunday evening then, Black?” Alice asked casually with a raise of her brows, pausing before taking a sip of her pumpkin juice.

“Well, let’s just say I had a meeting in my office-“

“Let me guess- third cupboard, charms corridor?” Remus finished, smirking over the large printed pages.

“That’s the one,” Sirius replied with a grin, lacing his fingers behind his head.

“What kind of meetings?” Dorcas shot, snapping out of her dream-like state as she bolted upright in her chair, blond hair bouncing atop her shoulders.

“Rather hands on, they are. Quite tiring, too, might I add-“

“Well, if you didn’t have so many clients…” Remus cut in, rolling his eyes behind his emaciated barrier.

“Oh!” squeaked the flaxen-haired witch as she jumped up from the table, exiting the Great Hall at a sprint as the remaining members looked after, sporting looks of pure bewilderment.

A/N: Alright, now I know this is an odd place to end it, but the whole thing is WAY longer than all the other chapters. So I split it into two parts! Sorry for the wait, I won’t be able to post the rest until tomorrow : ( I know that’s so mean to you, but I think it’s mildly amusing : ) The conversation picks up where this one leaves off, I’m positive there are atleast TWO more chapters if not three. I’ve already written the epilogue (squee!) so I don’t know if that’s included. So the home stretch is in sight!! Please review!!!

A/N: Alright you lot, here’s part deux to the breakfast conversation. Hope you enjoy!!

CHAPTER TEN

“What’s got her knickers in a twist?” Sirius asked, crinkling his forehead and arching a brow.

“Well, it obviously isn’t you,” Remus said with a fleeting glance to his right.

“Not in a physical sense-“

“Oh, shove it, the pair of you. She’s upset cos she hasn’t got a date to the masquerade, and considering that it’s tomorrow she’s rather touchy about the subject,” Alice snapped between bites of bacon.

“But we didn’t even mention the stupid Slug Ball!”

“Doesn’t matter, Black, you don’t go flaunting how many girls you’ve snogged in front of one that’s single. It’s called courtesy-“

“Well, how was I supposed to know!?”

Remus rolled his eyes and lowered the Prophet, turning his attention to the brunette beside him, “I didn’t know Dorcas was in need of an escort. I would have gladly accompanied her-“

“Oh, she doesn’t want a date-“

“Then why was I reprimanded for reveling in my female rendezvous??” Sirius asked in a disgusted manner.

“He’s hopeless, that one,” Alice mused before continuing, “Sadly, I haven’t got a date either.”

“How is Frank?”

“All I know is that he’s working closely with Dumbledore, some secret society he refuses tell me anything about. The mere fact that I even know there’s a secret society is far too much information, apparently. Be that as it may, I could really care less about finding someone to escort me, but it is the last masquerade of our Hogwarts career and I didn’t particularly want to go stag.”

“Some of us don’t mind it too much,” Sirius cut in with a cheeky smile, jabbing his elbow into James’ ribs rather forcefully, knocking the Head Boy to the floor, “Er-“

“Is he going to be alright?”

“Who, him? Oh, this is just a James replica we made in Divination one day, rather boring in there, you know- and we like to take it ‘round with us and mess with people’s heads. Peter likes to sleep with it, quite odd actually-“

“Padfoot!” Remus snarled through gritted teeth, wrinkling the edges of his paper in tightly clenched hands before returning his attention to Alice, “I’m sure he’ll be fine,” he said gently with eyes narrowed at the wanker across from him, “and if you need someone to accompany you tomorrow, I’d be more than happy to do it. We’ve been friends since our diaper days, Frank isn’t likely to be jealous.”

“OH, Remus, you would?” the plump brunette gushed as she sprung across the table, enveloping the wizard in a very painful hug.

“It would be my pleasure,” he wheezed as all the air was deflated from his lungs.

“OH, simply brilliant! You’re ace, Remus, just ace! I don’t know what’ I’d do without you!”

“Eat a pint of shifting sherbet in your room tomorrow night while lounging ‘round in your dressing gow-OOF!”

“Sorry, Black, hand must’ve gotten away from me, there.”

“Quite alright, love,” Sirius choked out, slowly teetering back and forth like a slinky.

“I’m going to go owl Frank, I know he won’t mind! I’m just not sure if he’ll even get my letter, many of them come back unopened.”

“There’s dangerous things going on out there, Alice, and Frank’s probably in the middle of it. I’ve been reading every paper I can get my hands on and not a one says that anything is other than normal, which we know is definitely not the case. There’s a war brewing outside these walls, and come mid-June we’re going to be facing it.”

“Oh, Remus…”

“But, I’m sure Frank’s peaches! He’s an intelligent bloke, little on the slow side, but bright enough, yeah?”

“That was so helpful, Padfoot, I’m sure you really made her feel better. The therapist in you is just coming out more and more all the time-“

“Well, at least I’m not scaring her with all this dark and sinister war rubbish! If the Prophet says it’s fine, it’s fine. No need to worry your pretty little head about it,” Sirius finished with a wink as he stealthily reached for Alice’s plate.

“You can have it, I’ve lost my appetite. I’ve got to run anyway, thanks again, Remus,” she added with the quick blow of a kiss in his direction, “See you in charms,” and she strode off the opposite direction, swiftly making her leave.

Alice raced up the winding path to Gryffindor, her black robes billowing ferociously as she picked up speed. Scaring a clan of first years as she fervently rounded another corner, she nearly tore a hole through the fat lady before stomping up the spiral staircase, brown locks swinging wildly about her pudgy face.

“NOW, WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON HERE??” the brunette bellowed as she slammed open the dormitory door, the mahogany aperture quaking violently against the patterned wall. Two witches bolted upright in their beds, eyes wide with fear as they stared bewildered at the sudden intruder, standing with arms akimbo in the entrance to the seventh year girls’ dormitory.

“Has everyone here gone mad? YOU-“ she turned her attention to the frozen redhead on her left, pointing a stubby finger, ”have a boy pining over you downstairs that’s lost all function of his body, and quite possibly the will to live because you won’t give him the bleeding time of day. No one cares how you all got together, Lily; Gryffindor won the bloody match and you made it a tad bit more interesting in the process, get OVER it! As for you, Meadowes, I don’t know if it’s just your time of the month or what but you can’t just bury your head in your hands and high-tail it the other direction every time someone mentions they’ve had a go with someone other than you. So, you don’t have a date, big blooming bloody DEAL! No one gives a rat’s arse, Dorcas, just go with it! Now where in Merlin’s name is Marlene??” Alice finished, releasing all the air from her lungs. Her face was bright red and the witch was nearly doubled over, the adrenaline once surging through her body screeching to a halt.

“We haven’t seen Marlene all morning, at least I haven’t,” Lily mumbled from beneath her pillow.

“Well, that’s just perfect,” Alice spat as she flopped on to her four-poster, panting heavily as her hand clutched her stomach.

“Everyone’s life can’t be as perfect as yours is, Alice,” Dorcas jeered from her corner, her brown eyes glinting with malice beneath her opal frames.

“Yes, Dorcas, my life’s perfect. Wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s perfect hanging around a depressed lot of females that never think of anyone but themselves. It’s perfect not ever knowing where my boyfriend is, doing Merlin knows what while I’m stuck here in this glorified prison. It’s perfect waiting every day to hear from him, only to find my owl come back empty-handed. It’s perfect being the heifer seen walking around the bustling corridors with the skinniest witches of Hogwarts. It’s perfect going to the masquerade with my old friend instead of the love of my life-“

“At least someone asked you!” Dorcas shot from the other side of the room.

“Well, I’ll have you know he asked for your hand first. I was merely an afterthought.”

“He did?” Dorcas squeaked, slowly bringing a petite hand to graze her blushing cheek.

“Yes,” she snapped, turning over her crumpled comforter plastered with turquoise appliqués, “and it’s too late now, I’m going with Remus and you can’t stop me. And as for you, Lily, you’d better get out of whatever funk you’re in by eight p.m. tomorrow- that boy won a bet and you made yourself his prize. Now whether your relationship remains ‘ strictly professional’ or not is entirely up to you, but if you think people are talking about you now it will only get worse if you stand him up.”

Lily pondered these words carefully, her long, straight hair flowing gently over her shoulders, spilling on to the pillow she so tightly held to her chest. Her feet scrunched underneath her, settling under her buttocks as Lily pulled the crumpled sheets around her shivering frame. She eased back onto her headboard, slowly shifting her gaze to the circle-top window, staring at the pane rather than the grounds below. Transfixed on the glass, the Head Girl missed the lean figure slinking towards the entrance, auburn locks rippling in the breeze as another graciously opened the large, wooden doors.

A/N: Two more chapters to go!!! Are we excited? Not much to move the plot along there, but several things had to take transpire for everything to fall into place in the end. Seems like everyone’s depressed, besides Peter, and that’s no good! James really hasn’t had much to say these past two chapters, but I guarantee he’ll be back in on the action in Ch. 11. This is his story after all (in part). Anyway, hope you enjoyed it, I want lots of reviews!!! : )

A/N: This was a gas to write, hadn’t had a chapter like this in a bit. Anyways, hope you enjoy, PLEASE REVIEW!!!!

CHAPTER ELEVEN

He felt the frigid water pierce his skin, raining fiery needles against his muscled physique as countless tiny waterfalls flowed freely down his unclothed form, only to splatter relentlessly against the stone basin below.

James stood defeated in his icy shower, letting the water hit him with a vengeance as he stared blankly at the rippling curtain, his mind a thousand miles away- or rather, a spiraling staircase over.

He finished his bathe and rumpled his hair- long, dripping locks of darkest night that hung loosely about his hazel eyes. He looked up at his reflection, delicately placing his bullion frames atop his lengthy nose, and sighed at the doleful face that stared blankly back.

It was Saturday evening, 7:45 p.m., and he had not heard one word from Lily in exactly seven days.

He hadn’t gotten one look, one stare, one glance, one eye-roll, one sigh, one purse of the lips, one anything. He was desperate for any kind of attention, whether it was positive or not. It was as if he had vanished from the face of the earth, and the only being that could revive his dying soul was her.

He reached to the table setting to his right, knocking aside the tangled toothbrushes knotted within a lump of dental floss, and wrapped his callused hands around an ancient piece of parchment, the corners tinged with ashes from a prehistoric flame.

He gently opened the deepened creases, smoothing it out gently on the marble sink, and looked for that familiar tiny dot his eyes had always searched for- ‘Lily Evans’, Gryffindor dormitory, west staircase, seventh floor.

He softly ran his finger over the blackened speck, slowly shutting his eyes before carefully re-folding the parchment and tossing it aside, landing with a ‘clunk’ among the disorganized array of miscellaneous toiletries.

James shuffled down the stairs dressed in his finest scarlet robes, embroidered with eminent traces of gold about the cuffs and collar. Every witch in the bustling common room swooned at his appearance, collectively thinking he had never looked more dashing. His hair was windswept in the most appealing manner, beckoning to have a dainty hand run through its darkened tresses. Indeed, he was undeniably handsome, but the sparkle that had once vacated his twinkling hazel eyes was anywhere but present.

“That’s a boy, James! Well done, old man,” Sirius beamed, clapping a hand to his back.

Remus faked a planted smile, glad to see James out of bed, but worried about his date’s appearance. He wore robes of ocean blue, tiny stripes of earthy sky visible along the ample seams. Sirius donned a wicked grin beside him, wearing fitted charcoal robes, offset with a lining of magenta.

“You know, Padfoot, you’re really not that many steps away from wearing frilly lingerie…”

“What are you getting at, Moony?” Sirius scoffed, looking Remus up and down with tightly furrowed brows.

“Your robes. You are aware you’re sporting pink?”

“It’s not pink, it’s magenta,” Sirius retorted, drawling out each syllable.

“Yes, magenta- a shade of pink.”

“It is not!” Sirius dignified, wildly searching his robes, “The woman at the shop said it was magenta!”

“That’s correct, but it’s all in the pink family-“

“No, it isn’t!”

“How would you know, Padfoot, you’re colorblind,” James spoke up for the first time in days, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Well, we all had to make sacrifices for somebody,” Sirius hissed, rounding towards Remus, “Being a dog isn’t all kibbles and bits, you know.”

“You gave up the ability to decipher colors for me, how touching…” Remus lamented as he dramatically placed a hand to his chest, raising his eyes to the ceiling and pretending to wipe a tear.

“Oh, SOD OFF,” Sirius spat, crossing his arms in a huff to conceal the flaming pink. “The shop lady said I looked absolutely dashing, the most strikingly handsome thing she’s ever seen. And I’d have to say I agree,” he finished hotly, sticking his nose up in the air.

“Well, maybe ‘absolutely dashing’ for a girl…”

“SHUT UP, Moony, no one cares what you think. And besides, it’s not up to you, it’s up to the ladies,” Sirius drawled, shaking his head quickly back and forth.

“Whatever floats your boat, I suppose. Which I’m assuming would be men-“

“ARRRRRGH-“

“Eh- eh- eh- hem,” a female voice echoed from the top of the stairs, causing Sirius to freeze his fist in mid-air as the trio below snapped their heads to the right.

Alice was wearing a tea-length dress of sparking periwinkle, showing off her dainty ankles. The color was perfect for her eyes, bringing out the dazzling glossy irises that shone through to the ceiling. Her light-brown hair was short and sleek, bouncing about her chin as she bolstered down the stairs.

“Wow, Macmillan, you clean up pretty good for an eleph- OOF!”

“You look smashing, Alice,” Remus grimaced as he removed his elbow from Sirius’ gut.

“Thanks, Remus, wouldn’t be here without you,” she gushed as her eyes crinkled with glee. “Shall we go, then?”

“Well, er, I dunno…” Remus mumbled as he threw a pertinent glance to his left, watching James fiddle nervously with his robes.

“And where’s your date, Black?” Alice shot with hands on hips, staring pointedly at the wizard in pink. Sorry, magenta.

“My dates are currently waiting on tenterhooks for my debonair prowess to waltz elegantly through the majestic front doors.”

“So, you’re meeting the harlots downstairs,” she said flatly, drooping her eyelids with disgust.

“If that helps you,” Sirius sneered, trying to conceal a smirk.

“Well lets not keep the little witches waiting,” Alice intoned, turning on her heel to exit the common room.

At that moment Peter came tumbling down the boys’ staircase, donning oversized robes of mustard yellow. He awkwardly clambered down the stairs, fastening several maroon buttons as he nearly tripped over his stubby feet.

“What the hell are you wearing? It looks like you mugged a bloody canary!”

“I could say the same thing to you, Padfoot- is it gender bender day?”

With the swift flick of a wand Sirius turned Peter’s face a vibrant shade of eggplant, complementing his colorful robes but clashing horribly with his buttons.

The group at the bottom of the stairs stood shock-still with eyes wide-open, mouths agape at the events that had just transpired before them.

“The color’s not that bad, is it? Oh well- doesn’t matter, I’m going to be late for Gwendolyn!” Peter squeaked as his portly body scuttled out the portrait hole.

“Padfoot, what did you do?!” Remus hissed as his eyes bulged out like a goldfish.

“Well, he shouldn’t have pushed my buttons like that! Stupid git deserves what he got. ‘Snot my fault he didn’t notice.”

Remus smacked a hand to his face, exhaling deeply with a roll of his piercing blue eyes, “Let’s just get on with it then. Far be it from me to ruin the lad’s time- after all, if anyone should tell him it should be you,” Remus added, narrowing his eyes at a puffed-up Sirius.

“I’m not telling him anything. Gwendolyn seemed to like him the way he was before, for reasons still unknown- if anything I improved his appearance.”

“You’re unbelievable, you know that?”

“I do, Moony, I do- but typically I hear that after a meeting in a broom cupboard rather than an the bottom of a staircase. First time for everything, I suppose-“

“Well, with that outfit I know it’s not the first time you’ve heard it from a man-“

“I hate you, Moony-“ Sirius said with venom, turning his gaze to his patent black shoes.

“No you don’t, chap,” Remus returned with a grin and a wink, “Let’s not keep ‘em waiting! Come on, Prongs, I’m sure Lily will be along. Right, Alice?” he goaded, offering her a nervous smile.

“Oh, right- yes! Um, she’ll be down in a bit, no worries, love,” she replied quickly, not meeting James’ eyes.

“It’s alright. It’s not like I didn’t expect this. Let’s just go,” James said with a forced smile, deflating his chest and avoiding everyone’s gaze.

“Brilliant! I’ve got three brunettes, two blonds, and a redhead to attend to- not the one you’re thinking of, Prongs- let’s hit it!” Sirius proclaimed with a smack of his hands as he strode off with a sophisticated air, a hint of magenta billowing in his wake.

A/N: Okay, there you have it! I’m quite proud of this chapter- really fun to write it was. The grand masquerade is next chapter, you’ll have to wait and see : ) I sincerely hoped you liked it, I’ll have the next chapter up VERY soon, it’s all coming together!!

A/N: I know I haven’t updated at my normal pace, so here’s two chapters for the price of one! They fit together quite nicely, I believe- I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

CHAPTER TWELVE

Countless scores of flickering candles floated above a magnificent ballroom, swirling with an ocean of regal gowns and costumes. Sparkling chandeliers twinkled in the moonlight that spilled from the enchanted ceiling, casting beautifully eerie shadows on the occupants below. Masks of every color obscured each dark visage, adding an air of mystique to the grand festivity underway. Haunted tones of merriment blasted from the splendid walls- a puppet master to the throng of gliding guests among the dance floor.

James stood among them, hands in pockets and face properly veiled, donning a small golden mask that covered the rims of his glossy eyes of hazel, lost in trepidation. His gaze was unfocused, transfixed on the luxurious empty staircase- looming menacingly in the hollow distance. An opaque figure repeatedly trotted down the marble steps until vanishing out of sight- only to reappear at the ascending balustrade to start the process over again.

The sea of shrouded faces enveloped James like a heavy fog, twirling about his motionless form as the breeze dances through the leaves. He stood like a solemn effigy, hidden within the bobbing waves- a flock of mysterious creatures waltzing about his statuesque composure. They glided up and down in a rhythmic trance, a fluid stream of elegance guided by a ghostly melody. James stood alone on his island, separated from the fervent crowd by unrequited want and longing, forever staring at the staircase that would reveal his eternal love.

“Oh, look at him, Remus, somebody ought to go get him.”

“I agree, he can’t stay out there all night- he’d wait there past dawn.”

“Nah, he’s fine! Dancin’ it up out there! He’s having the time of his life, leave ‘im alone,” Sirius discerned with the wave of his hand, leaning back in his wired chair to wink at a witch in plum robes.

“Wow, you’re perceptive,” Alice shot with a roll of her eyes, resting her elbow on the table.

“Not perceptive enough- you’re wearing a ladies’ mask, Padfoot.”

“Crikey!” Sirius shrieked as he yanked off his feathery covering, tossing it at the back of a Ravenclaw’s head.

“You know, I’m really starting to wonder about you…”

“Oh, sod off, Moony, it was a bloody accident! I wondered why that Hufflepuff broad looked at me like I was some sort of swamp-thing.”

“That’s because you are,” Alice sneered, crinkling her eyes with malice.

Alice, Sirius, and Remus were sitting at a small round table, one of many strewn about the palatial Hall. Each was covered in a silken tablecloth of gold or silver, trimmed in one of the four house colors- sapphire, crimson, emerald, or amber.

“I don’t see what the big deal is, Macmillan- ‘least my friend didn’t stand yours up-“

“Oh, so you think it’s my fault, Black,” she said with great distaste, his name spurring off her tongue like the plague, “I tried to knock some sense in to her, quite literally might I add, but nobody listens to me. I don’t know where anyone I dwell with is.”

“That’s odd…” Remus countered, furrowing his brows as he continued to watch James.

“Well, some friend you are then. ‘Least we got our bloke to show u-“

“Speaking of that, where are all these dates of yours, Black? I thought you had an army to choose from?” Alice interrupted, sending Sirius a haughty glare.

“Clearly, you don’t know how this works. Macmillan, my dear, I have several dates, yeah? Now, I can’t be seen waltzing in here with a gorgeous witch on my arm in front of all the others, can I? Ends in jealousy, it does. Then they all come marching up to me telling me ‘I’m Sirius’ date- no, I’m Sirius’ date,’ and the whole lot starts hexing each other and ripping their clothes off, and- wait, why was this a bad idea?”

“And you think Prongs is pathetic,” Remus droned with a pertinent glance to his left, feeling his eyes graze the majestic ceiling in irritation.

“You’re sick, Black. No wonder you can’t keep a steady girl. Who’d want to be on the arm of a barmy git like you-“

“Anyway-“ Sirius interjected, charcoal eyes fixed in a stony glare, “I set up…appointments, if you will, starting about half an hour after the shindig’s already started. This gives me time to survey my respective escorts’ locations on the dance floor, which is usually swarming by now. I wait ‘til they’re far enough apart and spend a few numbers with each bird ‘til they’ve all had their go, and the best ones get accompanied-eh, hem- elsewhere.”

“How disgusting! I can’t believe you’ve gotten away with that for seven years and not a one has jinxed your privates off,” Alice said in disbelief, turning to Remus with bulging eyes.

“Yes, I’ve witnessed this for quite some time. Let’s just say, with the caliber of women he so delicately chooses, I’m honestly not surprised.”

“So they’re all duffers. Well I already knew that- you’d have to be to ask the git out in the first place-“

“I don’t have to take this- I see a very saucy-looking Miss Fawcett simply aching to have my attention. Be back in a jiff,” Sirius said with a wink as he gracefully rolled out of his chair, striding toward the dance floor in an utmost sophisticated manner.

“He needs help, that one,” Alice intoned as she laid her pudgy cheek in her hand, her elbow propped up on the sumptuous silver tablecloth.

“I’ve been saying that for years,” Remus mused with a smirk, turning his attention to the brunette on his left, “So, you don’t know where any of your lot is? Lily wasn’t still in her bed?”

“None of them were; I dunno if they all went to some pity-party in the dungeons or what. I don’t even know if Marlene still lives wi- Marlene?!?”

Directly across from their quiet table, a laughing couple twirled across the regal floor- a long, silver dress opening its petals like a flower in bloom, swishing elegantly along the patterned ground. Glossy auburn locks were piled atop a slender face, blushing as a blond figure spun her on the spot.

“MARLENE?”

“Oh- hi, Alice!” she gushed, rushing over to the tiny table.

“You came? I didn’t think grand parties were really your thing?”

“Well, they weren’t, but Edgar’s been teaching me how to dance,” Marlene said sheepishly, fixing her eyes on her glassy shoes.

“Edgar? Edgar Bones?” Alice stammered in incredulity, gaping at the pair standing before her, “You’ve been gone twenty-three hours a day learning how to dance with Edgar?”

“Well, you gave Lily such a hard time about James! I knew you wouldn’t take it easy on me,” Marlene spat, shaking her head so feverishly a brown tendril sprung out of place, lodging itself in her sparkling mask, “We’ve been dating nearly six months.”

“Six months?? Merlin, Marlene, were you not ever going to tell us? We bound and gagged Lily for lesser crimes, there’s no telling what’s going to come of this.”

“I really don’t think they’ll mind, seems they already know…”

“Already know?”

“Well, I- er, told them.”

“WHAT? How come you didn’t tell me?” Alice raved, clutching a plump hand to her chest.

“Well, last year you were always off with Frank, and Edgar and I sort of realized we fancied one another, and it’s not like I didn’t want to tell you, you just weren’t ever…there,” she finished softly, glancing up at Alice with eyes full of regret.

“I see…”

“Don’t take it personally! I suppose I was rather secretive about it, and I do apologize,” she added with blinking eyes, fluttering for forgiveness, “Forgive me, love?”

“Oh, I can’t stay mad at you, dearest,” Alice finally replied, softening her gaze, “I guess I’m more surprised than anything.”

“I knew you’d understand! Well, we’re off to the rose garden; Slughorn’s really fixed it up this year- they say there’s over a thousand twinkling pixies!” and with that Edgar gently took Marlene’s hand and whisked her back on to the dance floor, giving her one last twirl before exiting the royal ballroom.

Remus, having stayed considerably quiet during this encounter, chanced a look at his dismal date, only to find her looking even more melancholy than before.

“Well, that’s just perfect.”

“Oh, it’s not so bad. I’ve had my suspicions for a while, but I figured you’d know more about the situation than I.”

“No, it’s not that- I mean, other than her violating my trust and all- it just really makes me miss Frank. I didn’t realize I missed out on so much by being with him. But I feel like I’m missing out on even more by being away…”

“Well, why don’t you turn around, then?”

A/N: Mwahahahaha! Terrible place to end it, I know- but the other chapter’s already up, so no worries, mates! Picks up right where this one leaves off. I like to keep the chapters at similar lengths, and the whole thing is just TOO long for one. I know you’re waiting for some L/J, hold on just a bit longer- it’ll be worth it in the end <3

A/N: Episode II of Slughorn’s Masquerade. A lot of stuff is gonna be going down in the next two chapters, so be prepared…

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“FRANK!”

Alice bolted out of her chair and wrapped her portly arms around the strapping man behind her, wearing robes of midnight blue and the broadest grin you’ve ever seen.

“What are you doing here? Why, how-“

Frank put a finger to her lips and softly kissed her forehead, winking at a beaming Remus sitting proudly at the table, “Dumbledore gave me direct permission. I’ve got the night off tonight,” he finished with a smile, gazing intently on her twinkling icy pools.

“Oh, Frank…”

“Drooble’s?” he asked, holding out a tiny pink cube in his upturned palm, “They say it’s the best,” he added awkwardly.

Alice laughed and popped it in her mouth, tucking the wrapper in the folds of her dress, “You remembered,” she whispered, blue eyes brimming with tears.

“Our first date, I’ll never forget it. Dorcas told me you liked bubblegum- I think I bought every piece that Honeyduke’s had.”

Remus watched the pair pop bright pink bubbles as they made their way across the dance floor, giggling like mad in one another’s arms. Smiling to himself while his thoughts wandered about, he was suddenly jolted back to reality when a figure plopped down in the seat beside him, nearly knocking the tiny table off its legs.

“Merlin, Padfoot, you nearly gave me a heart attack!”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll return the favor next full moon,” he countered with a cheeky grin, sweat pouring profusely down his brow.

“Fawcett wear you out?”

“And Cauldwell, and Vance, and Abbott, and-“

“Meadowes?”

“Yeeek, not- MEADOWES?!”

Sirius and Remus both stared at the ascent of the marble entrance, eyes glued to a dazzling witch simply beaming by the wooden banister. She wore sleek black robes that fitted every curve, sparkling in the glow of the candlelight. The bust of her flowing gown was trimmed in electric pink, matching the feathered mask that complemented her pallid features. Her hair was a shiny platinum blond, trailing her back as she drifted down the magnificent flight of winding stairs.

She languidly reached the bottom, greeted by a horde of wizards with fervently outstretched hands. The Prewett boys took either arm and elegantly led her to the dance floor, both grinning like crazy with blue eyes twinkling. Indeed, Dorcas had made quite an entrance.

“Wow, she looks fantastic,” Remus mused from his chair, slowly turning towards his counterpart.

“Meadowes?”

“Yes, I believe we established that.”

“Look at all those codgers buzzing around her like idiots. I’m surprised Wormtail’s not over there with his mouth open, a fat little plum bobbing around on a twinkie.”

“You never fixed that?”

“Nah, Bones didn’t seem to notice.”

“What’s a twinkie?”

“Aren’t you in muggle studies? That’s all they eat, Moony- twinkies and moonpies. It’s great!”

“Some how I don’t think so…”

“Anyway- I don’t see how she can just dance with any smarmy old bloke that waltzes up to her. Honestly, have some taste-“

“Well, aren’t you the kettle calling the cauldron black- no pun intended,” Remus finished with a smirk.

“No- I’m just looking out for the poor bird. After all, I know how it fee-“

“I think you’re jealous,” Remus interjected, his lips pulling in to a wicked grin.

“Ugh, jealous- absurd!” Sirius scoffed, not meeting Remus’ gaze as he scooted back his chair, crossing his arms and glaring at the dance floor.

“Of course not,” Remus said with a hint of sarcasm, blue eyes twinkling with laughter, “I mean, after all- you probably just know her better than any of those lads do. You’re a brotherly-type figure in her life, that’s all. With Lily and I being prefects patrolling the corridors and Alice off with Frank, and Marlene and James at Quidditch- and the fact that you’ve always hated Peter,” Remus added indignantly, mentally scolding himself for acknowledging it, “I suspect you’ve probably spent many an evening alone in the common room with Miss Meadowes. In fact, I’ll bet you know her quite a bit better than those other blokes.”

“I know, right?” Sirius said in a shrill voice, missing Remus’ ulterior motives, “I mean, if anybody should be dancing with her, it’s me!” he shouted, slamming his hands on the table and standing up in a huff.

“Well, go get her, mate!” Remus beamed, eyes dancing with delight as he swooped his head toward the thriving mass of merrymakers.

Sirius took off at an angry march toward the center of the dance floor, barreling through the gaggle of lustful wizards in his wake. He stormed up to a giggling Dorcas, encompassed in the arms of none other than Benjy Fenwick, wearing robes of striking gold and staring daggers at the Marauder ahead.

“Alright, Fenprick, hand her over-”

“I don’t believe you have a say in who she dances with- as I recall, you have a variety of wenches to pick from, Meadowes is a bit out of your league.”

“Yeah, like Evans was for you,” Sirius sneered, his charcoal eyes glinting like hardened steel.

A flash of anger passed through Benjy’s ocean orbs, causing him to release a startled Dorcas and meet Sirius’ glare, “I don’t think that’s any of your business, Black,” he finished coolly, briefly glancing at the small crowd that began to gather.

“Well, if you weren’t such a puss at Quidditch maybe you could’ve bought yourself a date with her, but seeing as how you lost out to James for Head Boy and Lily Evans- I think we all know who the superior choice is.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Benjy shot, furrowing his brows as patches of red seeped up his robes.

“Merely stating your track record, Fenprick- so, I believe if anyone is out of Meadowes’ league, it’s you.”

“And what’s on yours, Black? ‘Arrogant goof-off that’s shagged the most witches Hogwarts has to offer?”

“Oooh, the ‘golden boy’s’ got a mouth on him, does he? Not very ‘golden’ of you-“

“Shove it, Black, and go back to whatever whore you came in here with-“

“Not bloody likely! I’ll have yo-“

“Save it for someone who cares, Black, Doris and I are-“

“It’s Dorcas,” a stern voice corrected, brown eyes blazing from behind a feathered mask.

“Er- right, well-“

“You bumbling git, you didn’t even know her name!” Sirius cried, his eyes lighting up with a familiar spark of mischief.

“It’s not like it matters, they’re all the sa-“ but he didn’t get to finish.

Sirius had him pinned to the ground with a single blow, knocking the glinting mask right off his handsome face. Suddenly remembering he had a wand, Sirius threw a hex at Benjy so fast he didn’t have time to think. Knocked out cold, Sirius daintily stepped over the masculine torso lying in the floor- brushing Dorcas off to the side while the crowd dispersed to the remainder of the dance floor.

“Care for a dance, m’lady?”

“Do you have an appointment?” Dorcas asked flatly, staring at Sirius with arms akimbo.

“Well, erm- no, but-“

“Then I can’t help you then. Try looking up my office hours-“

“C’mon, Meadowes, I just saved your life!”

“Hardly. Fenwick is every witch’s dream- who cares if he didn’t know my name? Neither do you-“

“Now, Dorcas, I’ve always known your name-“

“HA! Really? I’ve been ‘Meadowes’ since you first acknowledged my presence- which was fifth year, might I add. We’ve been in the same house for seven-“

“Well, yeah, but-“

“And you wouldn’t have given me a second glance tonight if I didn’t look like this,” she spurned, throwing a hip out to the left as she gracefully laid her hand upon it.

“But-“

“Do you realize I have been trying to get your attention for years, and you wouldn’t even give me the bloody time of day ‘til we were stuck in a common room together with no one else to talk to? It took you seven bleeding years to give me the look I’ve always longed for, and I’ve come to realize you don’t deserve it!” Dorcas added with a stamp of her foot, crossing her slender arms and turning the opposite direction.

Sirius’ eyes flitted about in a panic, his hand rubbing the side of his face in agony. He felt his breathing become shallow and his heart palpitate as his brain searched for answers, gyrating uncontrollably within his thick skull.

“I’m a shallow lowlife dirty rotter, alright! I admit it!” Sirius cried with his hands in his hair, tufts of matted coal sticking out between his fingers, “Those dames I snog on occasion may have all the bells and whistles, but they don’t hold a candle to you, Dorcas. I really did notice you before fifth year, maybe not in the way you would’ve liked, but I took my lessons on women from James- and you see how well that turned out,” he added sheepishly, his cheeks turning uncharacteristically red, “I’ve- I’ve really enjoyed the times we’ve spent together, honest- and I’ve really never seen a pair of eyes as pretty as your own. Even behind your glasses- they just, I dunno, do something for me…”

And Dorcas lunged at Sirius with every fiber in her tiny body, planting her mouth on his with all her might. Sirius grabbed her up in his arms and whirled her about the flourishing dance floor, never parting sanctioned lips as they spun in unexpected bliss.

James watched this from his rooted spot, a sad smile playing on his lips as he gazed through glinting frames. They were merely meters away, spinning to a halt when Sirius caught James’ eye.

“Alright, Prongs?” he called with a caroused grin, blond tresses whipping about his blotchy face.

“Yeah…”

Suddenly the room grew deathly quiet, a soft collective gasp rising from a chorus of masked affairs, staring at the flight above. James quickly turned his gaze back to the regal staircase, his eyes landing on a shadowy figure surfacing in the candlelight.

A/N: One more chappie to go!!! (plus the epilogue) I know you absolutely hate me for ending it there, but it more than makes up for it in the end!!! I realize there has not been much L/J interaction these past few chapters, but next chapter is IT. It’s THE ONE. The one this WHOLE story was based on, and I guarantee it will make up for anything you find dissatisfactory. This story is basically told from an outside point of view, the main characters deciding what to do based on the suggestions and motives of other characters. So, I hope you enjoyed the banter between Sirius and Remus/ Alice and Dorcas- along with Peter and Marlene on occasion. I really enjoyed writing for them and I think they made the L/J story a bit more colorful. Plus, they were present during the Maruader era- dunno if it was exactly like ‘I’ portrayed it, but I digress. Please read and review- the best is yet to come!! : )

A/N: Here it is, the LONG-awaited conclusion to “Strangers in the Night.” When I wrote this I listened to the piano cover of Frank Sinatra’s classic (lyrics below [which I do not own]) that I found on YouTube. If you really want to get in the mood you can listen to that while you read, (not advertising- I did not post it) but that was what inspired me to write this fic in the first place. I sincerely hope you enjoy. I’ll miss writing for this : (

STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT

Strangers in the night exchanging glances
Wondring in the night
What were the chances wed be sharing love
Before the night was through.

Something in your eyes was so inviting,
Something in you smile was so exciting,
Something in my heart,
Told me I must have you.

Strangers in the night, two lonely people
We were strangers in the night
Up to the moment
When we said our first hello.
Little did we know
Love was just a glance away,
A warm embracing dance away and -

Ever since that night weve been together.
Lovers at first sight, in love forever.
It turned out so right,
For strangers in the night.

-Frank Sinatra

The crowd stood deathly still, frozen in time like a broken hourglass. The world seemed to have stopped turning for a fleeting moment, all eyes turned to the woman on the stairs. No one dared to take a breath as the sea of masked imposters parted the crowded floor, leaving an open isle to reveal a man waiting at the other end- his hand gracefully extended as if inviting her to dance.

A long, elegant gown flowed gently down the regal staircase, emerald jewels twinkling in the glowing incandescence floating high above. All was quiet as she reached the splendid balustrade, pausing to take in her mysterious surroundings. A beautiful feathered mask of onyx obscured her lovely face, a hint of peacock rising from its plumed edge. Bright green eyes blinked softly behind the partition, locking on the hazel ones directly across the way.

She faintly gathered the luscious silken material in her hands, jade crystals sparkling beneath her supple fingertips. Curls of crimson shined elegantly in the moonlight, carefully arranged above her slender form. Tiny footsteps echoed throughout the stylish ballroom, drawing nearer to their target with each passing moment.

The events unfolded as if in slow motion. Time stood still as two lost souls found one another, searching beneath an ocean of darkness pricked with twinkling stars, bathed in dancing candlelight and beams of a crescent moon. Closer and closer the two figures became, hearts racing as a dainty hand found his- fingers gently coiling around a delicate palm.

“You’re late.”

“Time must’ve gotten away from me.”

“I knew that excuse would come back to bite me in the arse,” James said with a small smile, his eyes locked with Lily’s as they waltzed across the flourishing dance floor.

They danced in eerie silence, orange shadows bouncing off their masked visages as they twirled about the room. His eyes were so close to hers she could see tiny jade flecks muddled within the toffee brown. Swirls of chestnut swam around the pricks of gold, a tiny amber ring softly circling the glinting green.

“I didn’t think you’d show.”

“Well, I lost a bet didn’t I?”

“I like to look at it as I won a bet,” he said with a smile, turning her in a circle to see the sheath of sparkling emeralds fan out around her fitted form.

“Either way, my hand was forced.”

“Is that the only reason you came, then?” James inquired as the music slowed, bringing Lily in very close. He held her hand up to his chest as they swayed underneath a magnificent chandelier, the light reflecting off Lily’s placid olive orbs.

Their breathing became deep and shallow, two breaths becoming one as the haunted melody rang throughout the exquisite Hall. Disheveled locks fell softly into James’ eyes as he continued to gaze at his companion, searching her perfect face for an answer.

Lily quickly turned away, breaking the entrancing stare that had captivated her minutes before. A million feelings imprisoned within her suddenly exploded, gushing throughout her body like the bursting of a dam. Heat radiated from the inside of her cheeks and swarmed her milky complexion- burning needles singeing every ounce of her fragile physique.

“You haven’t spoken to me for a week, what did I do?”

“James, I- it’s just-“

“Tell me, Lily,” he whispered in her ear, cupping her tiny chin in his hand as he lifted her gaze to meet his own. Her glossy eyes slowly opened, raising poignantly to meet her accuser’s, revealing traces of pain and sorrow with every passing blink.

“I don’t know what to tell you, James! I don’t! I don’t know what to think and I don’t know what to feel, okay? I hurt a lot of people with what I did- God, it was so stupid! I toyed with things that were none of my concern, and I did it all to save what’s left of my dignity-“

“What are you talking about?”

“I can’t like you, James, I just can’t! I swore I’d never fall for your childish advances, Merlin knows I can do better. I don’t KNOW what I feel inside- I should be with someone else, I should want someone else! Someone absolutely bloody perfect asked me to this dance and I- I – I just couldn’t say yes. I should have said yes. Why? Because he’s flawless! He’s charming, he’s smart, he’s sweet, he’s serious- he’s, he’s everything I should want. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. You know why? ‘Cos you were dancing around in the back of my mind. I should want Benjy, I should BE with Benjy! But I’m not. I’m not because even though I should want him, I don’t. I want more than that. I want unpredictability and sarcasm and cheekiness and flaws and mischief and-“

“Then be with me, Lily. You have no idea how long I’ve wanted-“

“I can’t!”

“Why??”

“Because I just- I just… I feel….I should want perfect! What the hell is wrong with me? I should want to be with the ‘golden boy’ and have the perfect life- the gleaming trophy on his faultless shelf! But the only gold I find myself wanting is the gold that sparkles in your eyes- the hazel orbs that haunt my very existence! I’ve always wanted perfect and I never dreamed I’d fall for someone this far from it. The truth is- is- I, I don’t want a perfect life. I don’t want to be with Benjy. I don’t even like Benjy! I don’t like you, I can’t like you, I- I don’t like you because…because, James Potter, I love you-“

As the music hit its grand crescendo James pulled Lily’s glittering frame into his own, pressing his warm lips onto her velvet pink ones. She felt the tenderness of his kiss, closing her eyes to soak in the moment as beams of golden sunlight bursted from within her beating heart, inches from another doing the very same.

Her hands felt the temperate satin slide beneath her fingertips as she worked her way to his windswept hair, massaging the untidy strands of midnight bliss. An uncontrollable heat surged through her body, flushing her cheeks with hidden pleasure.

James deepened their union with a flick of his tongue, feeling the moist warmth radiating from her opened mouth. He stroked the small of her back, sweeping the delicate curves of her feminine physique as he closed his eyes in forbidden ecstasy. The articulate waves surrounding the once-graven statue now swirled around a harmonious one, now flooding the room with streams of romantic delight- two strangers sharing love in the melodious starry night.

Far away a beaming clan of onlookers watched in splendid glee as James picked up his prize and carried her to the marble stairs, the pair gazing longingly in to one another’s eyes as they ascended the winding breach.

Back at the table a small purple face furrowed its brows and sported a frown, turning to the others around him as he blinked his watery eyes.

“Where do you think they went?”

“STOOL!”

A/N: I hope you liked it!! It’s not quite over yet- the epilogue still to come- but there’s no dialogue like in the previous chapters. It’s merely information you might find interesting. I greatly enjoyed writing this fic and I truly wish that you found it somewhat entertaining. I’ve got plenty more L/J fic ideas for the future, so don’t be upset ; ) Thanks for reading.

Cheers, lilymione1203

A/N: This was a very difficult piece to write. All questions will be answered, and if not I will be happy to answer any in reviews. This epilogue only reaches to 1980, for obvious reasons. After that you know what happens : ) Read, enjoy, and review <3

EPILOGUE

James asked Lily for her hand in marriage the evening after graduation. It was a tranquil evening in the quiet town of Hogsmeade as crickets chirped and the dew sparkled on the grass, swaying underfoot as he kneeled beneath a blooming oak. Lily immediately accepted and the pair was soon congratulated by the band of friends in hiding at the tavern across the road.

No sooner had they graduated Hogwarts, many of the class of 1978 was invited to join the prestigious Order of the Phoenix, fighting the stealthy war against the evil Dark Lord. All names mentioned in the tale above immersed themselves in this tragic battle- each sacrificing their lives for a greater cause- every one losing their lives to it in turn.

Alice and Frank married June 25, 1978- a mere two weeks after her Hogwarts commencement. Alice’s older brother, Trevor, gave her away, and Dorcas was the maid of honor- Lily and Marlene bridesmaids respectively. They bought a flat in London and fought relentlessly in the crusade for light, becoming one of the Order’s most skilled teams in combat.

Lily and James were wed September 1, 1978, on the beautiful Potter estate south of Ottery St. Catchpole, unable to wait any longer for the rapidly rising power of the Dark Lord. James had been in love with Lily Evans seven years to the day, and thought no other date more perfect to make her his blushing bride. The marauders stood proudly beside a beaming James, Sirius as best man and grinning just as broadly. Petunia was the matron of honor- Alice, Dorcas, and Marlene the boisterous bridesmaids. She stepped into a ray of shining sun, lighting up her placid features, as Mr. Evans walked his daughter down the aisle, the entire wizarding community weeping tears of joy.

They softly exchanged their eloquent vows, not tearing their gaze away from the other’s as the rings were placed upon trembling fingers. A beautiful kiss was shared to melt the hearts of those around them and Marlene caught the bouquet, only to announce her engagement to fiancée Edgar Bones. The crowd below waved joyful farewells as the couple boarded James’ broomstick, flying off in to the night as Lily’s gown of arctic white billowed in the breeze behind them.

Three weeks after their blissful matrimony, Lily’s parents were in a car crash, neither surviving the accident. It is unknown whether the collision was war-related or not, but after the incident Petunia and Lily never spoke again. Many friends were lost that autumn due to the imminent conflict, among them Caradoc Dearborn, Gideon Prewett, and even Benjy Fenwick. The Order mourned the loss of each gallant soldier and honored their loyal services.

Marlene and Edgar resided at the Order Headquarters, the McKinnon family no longer among the living. The pair set to elope after a mission on St. Valentine’s Day, 1979, patrolling King’s Cross until dawn. However, the platform was attacked by a swarm of death eaters in the early hours of the morning, and Marlene and Edgar never caught their train. They died in one another’s arms behind an abandoned barrier- forever knowing love’s true embrace.

Edgar’s sister, Gwendolyn, never actually dated Peter Pettigrew. On the morning of his absence from breakfast, Peter was meeting with a group of Slytherins in something called “Dark Youth.” Predecessors to the ‘elite’ death eaters association, Peter met with Avery, Knott, Mulciber, and a handful of others who wished to recruit him to their cause. Peter timidly agreed, but only if they would get him a date to the upcoming dance: long-time crush Gwendolyn Bones.

Gwendolyn was confunded for a vast majority of the school year, having no recollection of her sixth year of Hogwarts at all. She did not, in fact, make Peter wear an embarrassing badger hat to the Quidditch match; death eaters hazed Peter and informed him it would be a more convincing charade if he wore it. Gwendolyn was returned to her normal state after Peter graduated, and none of the Marauders were ever the wiser of their fictitious relationship.

Gwendolyn went on to marry Gregory Macmillan (Alice’s cousin) shortly after the war, and bore a son, Ernie Macmillan, on August 16, 1980.

Sirius stayed faithful to Dorcas, his wandering eyes glued to the witch he grew to love. They dated for the rest of seventh year and the duration of their time with the Order, paired up on frequent occasion for the most dangerous of missions. On Christmas Eve, 1979, Sirius planned to propose, his grandmother’s wedding ring with the crest of the noble and most ancient House of Black seared into the antique gold.

He waited on tenterhooks at Lily and James’, during the festive holiday party they held at the Potter estate. He waited and waited, but Dorcas never came. The flaxen-haired beauty was flogged by Voldemort supporters upon her arrival, and was never able to become Mrs. Sirius Black. She never got to hear the joyful news the Potters were ecstatic to give- the birth of their awaited son.

July 30, 1980, Alice and Frank welcomed their only child into the world, Neville Algie Longbottom. The couple continued to work for the Order, fighting side by side until their ‘retirement’ from the noble organization one year later. The remainder of their lives was spent in St. Mungo’s Hospital of Magical Maladies and Injuries- having passed the ultimate test of love for their son and for each other.

Lily gave birth to Harry James Potter on July 31, 1980, the boy who would one day become the savior of all wizard and mugglekind. James was overcome with joy as he gazed into his son’s green eyes, an exact replica of the pair he had lost himself in so many years ago. Sirius was immediately made godfather, putting a sparkle back in the muddled gray that had dulled seven months before.

Remus’ tale is a formidably sad one- staying romantically unattached by busying himself with the Order, submerged in werewolf recruitment. He sought the love and friendship he desired in the old schoolmates that had always been there for him, and the witches they came to love. He found hope in tiny Harry’s eyes, the very same that Lily had, and knew that this was all worth something. After all, as members of the Order of the Phoenix, sworn to secrecy and forever in hiding, in the end, they were all just strangers in the night.

A/N: I KNOW this was terribly sad in places, but it only gets worse from here : ( But you had your happy ending in the last chapter!! No novel is great without sacrifice (not that mine is great, but you get the point) I hope you enjoyed it anyway- it was tearfully happy in some places and deafeningly sad in others. Oh, the ups and downs of it all! Thanks for taking the time to read- I immensely enjoyed writing it and have plenty more where this came from. Review much appreciated!! : )

Much love, lilymione1203