"He’s still acting weird!" insisted Kate, pacing back and forth in front of Lily. "What is wrong with him?"
Lily looked at her friend and smiled knowingly, but shrugged angelically.
"What? What is that look?" Kate demanded.
Lily opened her eyes wide, trying to look innocent, but Kate’s gaze was not amused.
"Okay, let’s think about this…" said Lily, enjoying her friend’s confusion. "He’s been acting like this since school started?"
Kate nodded forlornly.
"What about this summer? Did you two write any letters?" asked Lily, her green eyes twinkling brightly.
"Yeah! That's another thing: he barely wrote all summer, and he always sounded so distant...so unlike Sirius!" Kate exclaimed.
"Okay, so we know it's something last year.... hmm....when last year..." She held her forefinger and thumb up to her chin, and tilted her head. Looking at the ceiling she pursed her lips, pretending to think. "Oh!" she exclaimed sweetly, mocking an epiphany, "What about since your birthday...?"
Lily chuckled to herself as her friend's eyes focused inward in concentration.
"Um…yeah, that seems about right," Kate agreed hesitantly.
"Well, what happened that night?" coaxed Lily.
"Umm…" Kate scrunched her forehead in concentration. "Well, normal birthday events I suppose? They had those fireworks, but he was perfectly fine then… LILY EVANS, WHAT ARE YOU SMIRKING ABOUT?”
Lily grinned widely at her friend. Okay…enough playing… "Two truths and a lie."
"What?" Kate snapped demandingly.
Lily pulled Kate down to the couch to sit next to her. "Two truths…and a lie," she repeated gently.
Kate looked at Lily and then, all of a sudden, seemed to look through her, remembering…
Yet shyly keeps her secret sweetly.
"Oh Merlin, I’d nearly forgotten about that," Kate whispered. "Can you believe the sorting hat actually said that about me? Honestly! But you didn’t explain Sirius…"
Lily groaned and fell back. "You’ve got to be kidding me!" she moaned. Kate just stared at her blankly. "He was upset because he likes you, and he became distant because he thinks you like someone else! There is no way you could have honestly not noticed…" Kate wasn’t sure how to accept this explanation, and stared at her hands in her lap silently. "So…what are you going to do about it?" Lily asked cautiously, breaking Kate’s concentration.
"Huh? Oh…well, nothing…I don’t know what to think about that, much less what to do…"
Lily examined her friend carefully and then made a decision: If Kate wouldn’t do anything, it was up to her. But she was going to need help…she sighed in defeat. Yes, it was necessary. She looked at Kate for courage, and as she saw her friend still sadly staring at her hands, determination set in. There was only person conniving enough to pull this off…
* * *
He laughed, "You…are asking me for help…"
She tilted her head and looked at him in frustration; they had been through this enough, and she refused to see him gloat anymore than was necessary.
"You know what, Potter? Come to think of it, maybe I don’t need your help. I’ll do it myself…" She turned and pretended to walk away in a huff.
Wait for it… she thought shrewdly.
Behind her his eyes widened as he realized he was about to miss his chance.
"Wait! Hey, Evans!"
She stopped and smiled slyly to herself. Too easy. Then, replacing the smile with a scowl, she turned to face him.
"Yes?" she asked coolly.
He jogged over to her. "Okay, okay…I’ll help you."
She smiled again, and he was surprised that Lily Evans was capable of looking so mischievous.
"Good," she said. "Let’s get started."
She began to walk down the hall as he stared at her bemused, and then shook his head and caught up to her again. They strolled slowly out to her favorite tree by the lake and, chancing a glance at him, she couldn’t help but feel her grin broaden; even if she had to deal with Potter, this was going to be fun…
* * *
"Lily…slow down! Where are we going again?" Kate breathed as she jogged a few steps, her short legs unable to keep up with Lily’s quick pace.
"I told you! I have a surprise for you; I found this awesome room I just have to show you!" They reached a tapestry and Lily stopped. Kate looked at her expectantly as she walked back and forth three times muttering something under her breath. She started to ask a question, but Lily interrupted her. "Okay, walk back and forth three times thinking, I need a room for Lily’s surprise."
Kate raised her eyebrows and stared at her friend as if she were barmy.
"Just do it!" exclaimed Lily anxiously.
She rolled her eyes as if to say This is ridiculous, but obeyed. Kate gasped as she saw a door appear and looked to Lily for an explanation.
Lily smiled sweetly. "Well go in!" Kate opened the door to see Sirius sitting on a very small couch, (just barely large enough to squeeze in two people sitting very closely) his arms crossed angrily.
Kate blinked at the sight before her and slowly and forebodingly turned to Lily. Her expression changed from confusion to understanding as to her horror, she found James standing next to the red head, both jovially grinning at her. Her usually cool gray eyes flashed in a threatening manner and she mouthed, Don’t you dare! Lily winked and as they closed the door, Kate reached out for it, but wasn’t quick enough. The door vanished before her eyes, and she found herself grasping at a small piece of parchment which had appeared in its place.
Kate,
This is the Room of Requirement. What we require, is for you and Sirius to admit how you feel about each other. When you both say everything you need to say, the door will appear, and you will be free to leave; if you choose to, that is….
Lily and James
P.S. You hate me now, but you’ll thank me later!
She turned, and in horror noticed Sirius was clutching a very similar looking note. He looked up at her, slightly embarrassed and slightly confused, and she smiled shyly.
"Hey…"
* * *
In the hall the two clever con artists beamed as the door closed with a satisfying ‘click’, locking the unsuspecting victims in.
"Not bad for a day’s work, eh Evans?" asked James, nudging her with his elbow.
She laughed good naturedly, "You know, I think it’s actually going to work!"
"Of course it is Evans, I planned it!" Her smile faded and she remembered why she avoided situations like this, standing with Potter in a deserted hallway. And here it comes… she thought grimly.
"Hey Evans…"
"Potter…before you “"
"…want to go out with me?"
She sighed, shaking her head at him disappointedly and then softly laughed disdainfully. "For the slightest moment, I actually thought that we could get along…See you back at the common room, Potter." And with that she turned on her heel and left a stunned James in her wake.
When he could no longer see her retreating form he turned back to the unusual tapestry and sighed miserably. "Again?"
A/N: Hey guys! Ok, this chappie was a little sirius/kate centered, but i enjoyed the interaction between the characters. However... year five is next and things finally start to heat up....yay!!!
Oh, and I wanted to thank my reviewers, it was so exciting having 5 stars or as long as it lasted, but i suppose it couldn't last forever haha...ok, but of course i have to ask you to still leave me a message and i'll post the next chappie even sooner! In the meantime check out some of my other fics!
If you would like to be notified of updates of this story, please send a message to themarauderfanfics@yahoo.com stating the name of the story, and I'll add you to the list!