9 July 2012
I was on my way to meet The Marauders with Melissa.
'You're going on a date. With James.' she squealed. I sighed. She just didn't get it.
'No. It's not a date. Seeing as it's with all The Marauders. And you're coming.'
'But you like him.'
'When will you get it into your tiny mind? I don't fancy Potter. And since when is he James to you?'
'Lils you totally do. And since I don't actually hate him.'
We turned the corner and literally walked head first into Potter.
'Oh, hey there Evans, Melissa. I see you didn't wimp out. You're showing the makings of true Gryffindors.'
'You're funny Potter.' I told him sarcastically. We walked over to the others and looked at them expectantly. 'So what are we doing?'
Black burst out laughing at that.
'He didn't tell you? And you still agreed to come? And you say you don't like him.'
'Oh get lost Black.'
He gave Potter a mocking look to which Potter returned with a cocky grin.
'Okay then. If that's how it is...' I turned to leave.
'Lily, loosen up. Just have some fun fit a change.' I looked incredulously at Melissa.
'No way. I'm not sticking around if thus is how you're gonna be.'
Potter grabbed my wrist.
'Please Evans. Just stay.' his voice sounded so gentle, as if he actually cared.
I sighed.
'What are we doing?'
'Well first of all we need to get some sustenance.'
The kitchen was amazing. Full of little house elves who practically fell over themselves to serve you. It would have made me feel bad but they were just so happy.
Once we had stuffed ourselves with as much pudding as we could take we left the cheerful elves in high spirits.
'So, who do we want to prank tonight?'
Melissa let out a weird laugh thing.
'So you don't even know what you're doing? When this gets out your reputation is going to be mud.'
'Well if I'm going to be doing this I want to do it properly and full on. Let's get some deatheaters.'
Potter and Black looked at me with a new sort of respect on their eyes. I felt weirdly confident, I think I was getting lost in the rebelliousness.
'Well, Avery and Macnair do need their heads deflating...' Potter mused.
'Oh says you.' I scoffed.
He stuck his tongue out at me and I did the same back at him. I saw Melissa and Black exchange a look at this and realised what they were seeing. I gave Melissa a hard shove.
'Hey, what about Bellatrix Black?' squeaked Pettigrew timidly. It was weird hearing the quiet boy talk.
'You don't have the guts.' challenged Lupin. This caused Pettigrew to puff his chest and stretch to his full height (still tiny).
'You wanna bet?'
I rolled my eyes. Boys. I saw Melissa thinking the same thing but I noticed she was sneakily shooting looks at Black. I raised my eyebrows at her and she grinned sheepishly.
'So...' They really get distracted easily.
'How about we charm them so whenever they say 'mudblood' or 'blood traitor' they go increasingly red and gold striped? A bit at a time so they don't notice at first.'
Black grinned at Melissa at her suggestion.
'That's actually pretty good. I think you'll be a bad influence on us.'
Melissa practically glowed at Black's compliment.
'So what d'ya think Evans? Think you can pull it off?'
I didn't like Black addressing me directly. I was still mad at him for poisoning me but I tried to disguise my distaste.
'Me? Why me?'
'Because you,' said Potter, stepping towards me and twirling a strand of my hair around his finger, 'Are our token geek. Excluding Remus. But you're a guest so you get the honour.'
I shook my head at his obvious flirting.
'I'm pretty sure I can magic something up.' I took a sneaky look at Remus. He was eerily lit up by a waxing almost full moon. He didn't look that great.
'Hey Remus. You all right? You look kind of... pale.'
He looked up at me, startled.
'Oh, er, it's just, um, the light, effect, yes and, I'm er, not much sleep at the moment, yeah I'm fine.'
Okay, he most certainly wasn't fine. And I knew it had something to do with his secret.
Later we were walking down the corridor towards the kitchen again. I was holding a few flasks of a thick, grey potion that, every now and again, would flush magnificent gold or red.
We went into the kitchen and a particularly small and thin elf with a disproportionately large head beamed up at us.
'You have returned. What else may we get you?' she squeaked.
'Oh no Meakey. We don't need anymore food.' replied Remus, despite the fact that Black was now helping himself to sausage rolls, 'We have a potion. It's to give to Miss Bellatrix Black and Misters Avery and Macnair. Master Malfoy as well if there is any spare.'
Meakey didn't question Remus but I gave her an explanation anyway.
'They have all recently been in traumatic situations. Dumbledore wanted us to make sure they got this potion. To soothe their nerves. They wouldn't take it intentionally though, you see they think it's a sign of weakness.'
Meakey just beamed ecstatically up at me. Totally accepting. Okay then.
The next morning Melissa dragged me to sit with The Marauders at breakfast 'to observe my handiwork'. It didn't pass me by that I ended up pressed up against Potter. Not that I was complaining. Oh god, why Potter?
I looked at the Slytherin table to see a slightly sun burnt/jaundiced looking Bellatrix Black was sitting. I wasn't sure because she was in a permanent bad mood but she seemed grumpier than usual.
'Hey Sirius, your cousin's finally showing you some support and Gryffindor solidarity.' laughed Potter. To be honest I didn't really find it all that funny. I wanted to prank someone who it would be funny to prank. Not just because they needed to be put in their place. I gave Potter a sideways glance. Possibly...
'So, James, you figured out what the second task is?' asked Melissa.
It took me a second to realise what she was talking about. The Triwizard Tournament. How did I forget?
'Oh um, I'm not sure yet. I think maybe it's something to do with bogarts or ghouls or something.'
'But it's in two weeks.' It took me a moment to realise it was me who said that. And I sounded panicky. Like I cared way too much.
'Hey Evans. Chill out, I'm working on it.' I said it as if he was making fun of me but I saw him smiling. Along with everyone else. If they knew...
'Lily Evans. You like him don't you? After years of hating his guts you've fallen in love.' We were in our dorm room and Melissa sounded way too amused.
'I'm not in love with James Potter. I just kind of like him a bit.'
She squealed.
'At last. I knew it. This is going to be amazing.'
'Calm down Liss. Anyway, there are three things that are top of my priorities list right now. Romance is not one of them. Especially not with that toe-rag.'
She lay on her tummy across her bed.
'And what are they?'
'Lupin's secret.' She sighed tiredly and rolled her eyes,
'Potter's task.' She raised her eyebrows and grinned evilly,
'And another prank,' she sat up expectantly, 'Potter.'
'Now you're talking.'
'Help me plan?'
'He's a bad influence on you. But yes. Hell yes.'
6. I Need More Ways To Say More Fanfic • Opuss № I