12 September 2012
Im sorry. I took ages. But the next chapter's here. At last. Sorry. Honest.
I wandered through all my lessons that day, lost in my own thoughts. It was alright because we were mainly recapping on what we'd learnt previous years. It was be abuse of my daze that Alice was able to drag me behind a tapestry without me noticing beforehand. 'Lily. I'm worried about Frank. I overheard some Slytherins plotting something to do with the Longbottoms and you're the cleverest person I know. Please will you help?' Poor Alice looked so frantic and, although I barely knew him, I hated to think of kind-hearted Frank Longbottom in any kind of trouble with deatheaters. What must it be like for Alice? Living, knowing her boyfriend was an Auror and in constant danger? If James- No. I stopped myself there. That thought was not a Lily approved thought. Merlin, was I going mad? It certainly sounded like it. 'Yes, of course Alice. You know I would always help. What do you think we should do about it?' 'Well it was Mulciber, Avery and Malfoy I heard talking. I suppose we could use polyjuice potion to find out what they were planning.' Alice chewed her bottom lip nervously. I could tell how much it was bothering her. I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring smile. 'Hey. We can do this. I'm sure The Marauders will steal the ingredients for us without asking to many questions. Or do you want to get them involved?' 'No. I think it would be best if we didn't have to many people on it, make it too obvious. But thanks, Lily. You're the best.' Alice gave me a quick hug then dragged me out from behind the tapestry... Only to find a certain Gryffindor attempting- dismally- to make an escape. 'Hey. Black.' I called after him. 'Yeah, I-' he saw the twin looks we gave him 'sorry. I'll help. Honestly. I won't even get the others involved. The Longbottoms are a good family. I'd hate to see anything happen to them. Please?' Although I'd mainly forgiven Sirius, I still had my reservations about him, but this was Alice's call. 'Okay then Sirius. Thank you.' she smiled but she was obviously still worried about Frank. 'Hey. Let's go eat. We can't do anything just now.' I said. I really loved Alice. She was just do caring and empathetic. I'd only really known her a short while and already she was one of my best friends. Just as I walked in the hall with Alice and Sirius and sat down, Dumbledore stood up, as if he'd been waiting for us. 'I know that to some of you, the idea of a dance seems preposterous.' His statement was greeted by grumbled agreements from those of a similar mindset to me. 'However, it is for the reason of the war we are having it. It is easy to become over stressed in dark times such as these and attendance, for lack of nicer words, is mandatory.' This time the doubters met his words with grumbled outrage. I'm sorry but a dance? Mandatory? I looked at James with wide eyes to display what I thought about the unfairness of the situation, he replied with a tired nod of agreement. 'Well I suppose I'll have to go now. I wasn't planning on going because of Frank. Because he's not here I mean.' Alice almost let slip the Longbottom's situation. 'I suppose you've already got a date, have you Sirius?' asked Alice. 'I haven't actually. But I was going to ask-' 'Melissa. Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Do Remus or Peter have dates?' She was obviously looking for someone who would fit into the only friends and nothing more catagory. 'What about James? He doesn't have a date. He wasn't planning on going and you went with him last year didn't you?' it almost killed me to suggest that but I'd decided... By the way Sirius and Alice were looking at me, they already knew about how I felt. Or maybe they just knew about how he felt. 'Yeah, I'll go ask Remus or Pete.' Sirius raised his eyebrow at me. 'Hey Mel. You wanna go to the dance with me?' he called to her. 'Yeah, sure.' she replied casually, but I knew that inside she was bursting with excitement. I kind of knew James was going to ask me so I left quietly so he could follow me and ask without everyone's commentary. The entrance hall was empty so I saw no need to go any further. 'Lily? Just because we have to? Neither of us really have anyone better.' The way he asked made my heart flutter. He really didn't want (well, ask for) anything romantic. He'd listened to me. And I had half a mind to change my decision. 'Yeah. Why not.' I was almost in tears. I felt so torn and fragile. I threw my arms around him before I could stop myself. He immediately returned my hug. I really loved him. 'Okay then.' I broke away at the sound of Sirius' voice. 'Friends can hug.' I insisted for the millionth time to Melissa. She really was exhausting sometimes. Alice was a lot more laid back. 'Yeah, but you're both more than friends. Even if you're too stubborn to admit it.' 'Yeah right, Liss. If it makes you happy to think that...' Thing is, she was right. It was my stubbornness that was keeping us apart. 'Well, now we need to go shopping.' she sang shrilly. 'What? No, I'll just transfigure the one from last year. I've got homework and-' she thought of Alice, 'stuff to do.' Melissa glared at her. 'You're no fun lately.' she pouted. 'And I wonder why that is?' I said coldly. Her lips formed an 'o' as she realised and tried to backpeddal. 'Save it, Liss. Maybe you should think of something bigger than dances and dresses. There's a war on and you could be doing something to help.' Yes, I felt like a bitch. But I'd grown up and her constant gushing and girliness frustrated me. I got the feeling this war was changing me for the worse.
19. War De Fanfic • Opuss № I