A/N: Hello! Sorry I haven’t updates in a while. Anyway, in this chapter we find out what happened to Sirius, and things start to get interesting for Lily and James…
Last time…
James glanced at Remus and Peter, then he took a deep breath, and pulled open the curtain. Nothing would have prepared him for the sight on the other side.
Chapter 5 “ Water Fights and Kisses
“Sirius? Is that you?” Remus asked, shocked beyond belief.
“Yes, this is Mr Black. I’m afraid the incident in your Potions class earlier is having some unforeseen side-effects.” Madam Pomfrey ducked into the cubicle, a clipboard in her hand.
“This,” James gestured at the bed, “this is Sirius? My best mate Sirius?”
“I’m afraid so Mr Potter. It is rather unfortunate.”
James looked again at the person sitting on the bed. He looked nothing like Sirius. In fact, it was as if someone had taken all of Sirius’ good qualities and reversed them. Instead of being tall and muscled, he was now short and grotesquely fat. Instead of having thick, black hair, it was grey and straggly and there wasn’t really much of it. His teeth, normally straight and white, were yellowing and crooked. His once perfect nose had elongated and was slightly bent. There were tufts of coarse grey hair protruding from his nostrils and ears. Sirius Black, the ladies-man extraordinaire, noted as being one of the sexiest boys in school was ugly.
“Bloody hell.” James didn’t know what else to say.
“That about sums it up.” Remus said, sounding shocked, and then to Madam Pomfrey, “is there any way to reverse it?”
“I have tried several times to reverse what has happened. Obviously, nothing has been successful, thus far, which is why a specialist is coming from St. Mungo’s. In all my time as a nurse, I’ve never seen anything like this. Never.”
Sirius, who had made no indication that he had been listening to the conversation, looked around wildly at this, and picked up his blackboard and chalk.
Please tell me I’m not going to be stuck like this forever?! I’d rather feed myself to a rampaging Manticore than look like this for the rest of my life!
“I’m sure everything will come right, Mr Black,” Madam Pomfrey said, reassuringly patting his hand, “I’ll leave you alone with your friends.
“So,” James started, unsure of what to say, because whilst he knew this was Sirius, he couldn’t quite believe that it was, “so…I guess you’re not going out with Emmeline tonight then, huh?”
Sirius shot him a withering glance, and then Peter began to giggle. Sirius turned his glare onto his friend.
“Sor-sorry, Si-Sirius!” Peter managed to choke out, between giggles, “but you have to admit, it is kind of funny. I mean “ look at you! You’re hideous!”
It’s not funny, Wormtail! What if they can’t get me back? What if I look like this forever? I was gorgeous! Girls are going to hate me! They’re going to say ‘eurgh look at that Sirius Black, can’t believe I used to fancy him’ I have uncontrollable flatulence, bad body odour AND some things are smaller than they were before. SMALLER!
James tried very hard not to laugh. “And I guess your voice hasn’t come back either?”
No. I’m miserable and ugly.
Just then, Professor McGonagall entered the cubicle, followed by Madam Pomfrey and a tall man with blonde hair, wearing St Mungo’s healer robes.
“Mr Black, this is Healer Robert Granville, he’ll be looking after you. Potter, Lupin, Pettigrew, return to your common room please, you may visit Mr Black tomorrow after your lessons. Oh, and Potter? You’ll report to my office tomorrow night at eight o’ clock for your detention. Could you please inform Miss Evans?”
James nodded, and then they all left the hospital wing, chuckling at Sirius’ condition.
They were still laughing when they reached the common room.
“The look on his face when you asked him if he was still going to meet Emmeline, Prongs!” Peter said as they were approaching the Fat Lady, “Priceless!”
“D’you think they’ll be able to make him look normal again though?” Remus asked.
“Probably. Healers can do practically everything,” James replied, before giving the password, “firewater.”
The portrait swung open, and they went into the crowded common room.
“Even made you forget about the Evans situation, eh Prongs?” Peter joked as they made their way to a sofa near the fire.
James’ face fell a little, “Yeah, I guess. Is she in here?” He peered around the room, looking for the shock of red hair that belonged to Lily.
“No,” Remus replied, “I thought you were afraid she was going to kill you?”
“I was. I mean I am. Well…sort of. I mean, she’s not that scary, is she?”
“Of course not,” Remus reassured, “and she’s just come down the girls’ staircase, so why don’t you go and talk to her?”
James shot him an alarmed look. “Why would I want to do that?”
“You need to tell her about the detention tomorrow. And you could probably apologise as well.” Remus replied.
“I have nothing to apologise for! I didn’t do anything, remember?” James grumbled, before getting up and making his way over to where Lily had sat down, and was now reading a book entitled The Lord of the Rings.
“Um, hi Evans.”
“Go away Potter,” she said, without looking up from her book.
“Look, I know you’re angry with me for some reason, but McGonagall wants me to pass on a message to you, so just listen, okay?”
She looked up at him, her eyes narrowed, then in an impatient voice, “All right Potter. What is it?”
“We’ve got our detention tomorrow night at eight. Meet at McGonagall’s office.”
James wasn’t sure if he should wait for a reply from Lily, but he did anyway.
“Was there anything else Potter?” she half-shouted exasperatedly.
James was getting fed up with the way she was speaking to him. He hadn’t done anything to her.
“Yes, actually. I want to know what I’ve done to make you so angry at me!”
“Done? You want to know what you’ve done? You’re unbelievable Potter! One of a kind, and that’s not in a good way!”
She slammed her book closed and pushed past James towards the girls’ staircase.
888
The next morning found Lily, Alice and Dorcas eating breakfast with Remus Lupin.
“Where are your little comrades this morning, Remus?” Lily asked, surprised to find Remus sans Potter, Black and Pettigrew.
“Er…they must have overslept,” Remus replied. In actuality, James and Peter were in the hospital wing with Sirius, checking on him before they attended lessons. He hadn’t gone, as he was designated with making excuses to Professor Sprout if they were late.
“How’s Black after what happened in Potions yesterday?” Dorcas asked curiously.
“Um, he’s all right I think.” Sirius had warned them explicitly (well, the best he could with a blackboard), what would happen if he told anyone of his current situation.
“Has his voice come back yet?”
“No.”
“Well that’s something we can thank Merlin for,” Lily said jokingly, “though it would have been better if it had happened to Potter.”
“What exactly went on with you two?” Remus asked, “Why are you angry with him?”
Lily frowned. She didn’t exactly like talking about what James had done.
“He hasn’t told you? I thought that’s what Marauder’s did? Play around with girls’ feelings and then joke about it with their mates.” She bitingly replied.
“He hasn’t said anything. I don’t think he knows what he’s done to upset you.” Remus said, trying to keep the curiosity out of his voice.
“Well if he doesn’t know, I’m not going to tell him. You can pass that on if you like.” She then stood up, and stalked out of the Great Hall.
Remus raised his eyebrows at Alice and Dorcas.
“Don’t worry,” Alice said, and patted Remus’ hand, “she’s been like that a lot lately.”
“Do you know why she’s so down on James lately?”
The girls exchanged a pointed look, and seemed to silently communicate something with each other.
“Yes,” Dorcas replied slowly, “we do know. But we need to respect Lily’s privacy, and if she doesn’t want to tell you, we don’t think we should either.”
“Sorry,” Alice smiled at him.
Remus shook his head. Girls were strange sometimes.
888
“Hey Lils.”
Lily looked up from the book she was reading.
“Oh, hey Alice.”
“Why weren’t you at dinner?” Alice asked, sitting down on the end of Lily’s bed.
“I wasn’t hungry.”
“Lily, you’ve got to make up with James sometime, you know. You can’t keep ignoring-”
“You got an owl,” Lily interrupted her friend, “it looks like Frank’s writing.”
Alice squealed and jumped up from the end of the bed, hurrying over to the desk where an envelope awaited her. She tore open the letter, scanned it quickly, then clutched it to her chest, sighing, before flopping back onto Lily’s bed.
“Hey, watch it! Collapsing on my legs, honestly!” Lily said, jokingly, “Well? What’s he said to make you all lovesick?”
“Nothing much. Just stuff about Auror training, and how hard it is, that sort of thing.”
“And…?”
“And nothing!” Alice looked up at Lily, who was trying hard not to smile, “Oh all right! Lots of stuff about how much he loves me, and how he can’t wait until I’ve left Hogwarts so we can move in together!”
“You’re going to move in together?” Lily asked, sounding shocked, “Seriously? When did you decide this?”
“Well, we’ve been thinking about it for a while, but nothing was really decided until last Hogsmeade weekend, when we met up. It’s going to be great, Lils, honestly, oh…I’m so happy!” When Lily didn’t say anything, Alice looked at her friend, who was frowning at the bed clothes. “Lily, you’re not angry or anything are you? I mean, I know, when we were younger we talked about getting a flat together, me, you and Dorcas, but…well, I’m with Frank, and we really, really want to live together, and you understand right? It’s just that I love him so much, and well-”
“Alice!” Lily interrupted suddenly, “Alice, stop! I’m not angry, honest. I’m just a bit…well, jealous, I guess. You and Frank, you’re perfect together, and it makes me feel like I’m never going to find anyone to be like that with.”
“You will,” Alice said, taking Lily’s hand and squeezing it gently, “and, hey, once you’ve patched things up with James, maybe I’ll be the one getting jealous.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “Forget about it Alice, James and me? Never going to happen, I’ve worked that much out. And if I ever got together with Potter, which I won’t by the way, why would you be jealous?”
Alice grinned, “Well, he is super rich isn’t he?”
Lily stared incredulously at her friend, before throwing her pillow at her, and then they both collapsed onto the bed in fits of giggles.
888
James trudged down the corridor towards McGonagall’s office. He was not looking forward to the detention.
He could see that Lily was already there, she was leaning on the wall opposite the door, she hadn’t seemed to notice his approach.
He reached the office, and glanced across at Lily. She made no sign that she knew he was standing there. James opened his mouth to say something, but changed his mind halfway. He sighed, then leant on the wall opposite her.
After five minutes of uncomfortable silence, the door to McGonagall’s office opened, and she stepped out, looking between her two head students.
“Mr Filch has informed me that the trophy room is in need of a good cleaning. You’ll find buckets and cloths waiting for you. No magic. Mr Filch will relieve you from your duty at midnight.”
James nodded, and set off towards the trophy room, aware that Lily had followed him. He didn’t know what he had done wrong, but he did know that four hours alone in the trophy room with the red-head would surely be an interesting experience.
888
Lily’s back was aching, and she’d only been in detention for an hour. She hated cleaning. It was so boring and repetitive: cloth in bucket, rinse, wipe, cloth in bucket, rinse, wipe. And the silence was so oppressive. James hadn’t said one word to her in the whole time they’d been there.
Okay, so she hadn’t said anything to him either, but that was because he was being a prat and deserved it.
All of a sudden, a loud sigh broke the silence, and she looked out the corner of her eye to see James staring at her, looking lost. She turned resolutely back to her bucket, and the piece of floor she was cleaning. Cloth in bucket, rinse, wipe, cloth in bucket, rinse, wipe. She was not going to feel sorry for him!
Come on, Lily, she scolded herself, he’s the one who’s in the wrong, not you!
And she continued with her cleaning.
888
Two hours had passed. And still, she hadn’t said a single word to him. The only noises in the room were the rhythmic sounds of water being rinsed from damp cloths.
It was killing him. James hated silence. If only there was some way he could get her to talk to him. Try and find out why she was angry with him.
Just then, James heard a squelching noise, followed by a splashing noise, and then Lily’s angry voice. He looked up from his bucket of dirty water, and saw her standing on the other side of the room, dripping wet. Hovering above her was Peeves, cackling in glee.
“Peeves! Get out of here!” Lily shouted at the crowing poltergeist, who stuck his tongue out at her, before zooming out of the room.
James stared at Lily, unsure of what would happen now. She looked furious.
“What are you staring at Potter?” she asked scathingly.
James couldn’t help it. She was glaring daggers at him, but the menacing effect was slightly undermined by her appearance. Her long red hair was sticking flat against her head, and as James watched, a drop of water slid down her nose. He just couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s not funny!” she pouted. James paid no heed, laughing at her predicament, when suddenly, he felt something wet land on his head. He stopped laughing and looked at Lily, as the damp cloth slid off him and onto the floor.
Lily looked like she was trying hard not to smile.
All right Evans, he thought, if that’s what you want…
He picked up the cloth from the floor, dipped it in his bucket of water, and threw it back.
It landed on the front of her T-shirt, before flopping to the floor, leaving a wet, soapy mark on her chest.
Soon, there were soapy cloths flying back and forth, and within no time, James was soaked. But he didn’t mind. Okay, so this wasn’t talking, but it was enough for now.
888
Lily was a bit confused over how this had actually started, this strange water fight, but she wasn’t complaining. It was rather fun. In fact, she was actually laughing as she tried to dodge James’ very well-aimed waterlogged cloths, laughing as she threw hers back, usually missing by several feet.
After a while, she saw James grin evilly, and he picked up a bucket of water and began to walk over to where she was standing.
Uh-oh.
She should probably move.
He’s going to tip that bucket all over me.
She really ought to move.
And I’m going to get even more wet than I am right now. Why aren’t I moving? Run away Lily!
She didn’t though. There was something mesmerising about the way James was walking towards her, his eyes fixed on hers. She felt like a deer trapped in headlights. She couldn’t help but notice how his wet T-Shirt was sticking to his chest.
His very sexy chest, she thought, remembering the incident in the common room the other day, no! Don’t think about that!
James was still advancing on her, grinning, the bucket of water in her hands. She couldn’t understand why she hadn’t moved, hadn’t thrown something at him to impede his progress.
Lily closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable to happen. After a few seconds, and no water had been dumped on her head, she opened them again, to find James standing right in front of her.
She glanced at his face, to see him looking at her with a strange expression. She glanced down again, only to find she was now eye-level with his chest.
Damned sexy chest.
Heart pounding, she looked up again. James was still staring at her, that unreadable expression on his face. Their eyes locked together, and she shifted uncomfortably. She needed to say something, something to break the tension that gripped the room.
“Aren’t,” she began, finding her voice strangely scratchy, “aren’t you going to pour that water all over me?”
“Not if you don’t want me to,” he said slowly, his eyes never leaving hers.
“I don’t,” Lily whispered, barely loud enough to hear.
“All right then.” He put the bucket down on the floor. The clang it made as he set it down resonated in the silence.
Lily swallowed. Despite her clothes being completely soaked, and despite the chill in the room, she felt uncomfortably warm.
“I wanted to apologise,” James said softly, “for whatever it was that I did to upset you.”
“I-” Lily began, but stopped abruptly. What was she supposed to say? Her brain was trying to formulate a response, when suddenly, she felt James’ lips on her own.
Shock and surprise flashed through her mind, before she began to kiss him back. She wound her arms around his neck, and felt his hands move to her waist. Her lips tingled with the intensity of the kiss, she tangled one of her hands into James’ messy, black hair, the other moving to rest on his lower back.
When the kiss ended, she closed her eyes, not wanting to look at James. She felt him take both her hands in his.
“Lily?” he ventured, “are you all right with this? I mean-”
She opened her eyes. “I’m fine. That was…that was…” she trailed off, unable to find the words to describe how she felt. She was surprised at how intense it had been, the last time she had kissed James she hadn’t felt half of what she was feeling now.
“I know what you mean,” he replied, “it was…well…wow.”
“It was.”
Lily chanced a look at his face. He was smiling, his eyes alight with happiness, and she felt herself begin to smile back.
“Although,” James started, “that’s not really how I’d imagined our first kiss would go. For one, we weren’t both covered in dirty cleaning-water!” He chuckled.
Lily began to laugh along with him, until she realised what exactly it was that he’d said.
“Wait,” she said, frowning, “did you just say ‘our first kiss’?”
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A/N: And so ends chapter 5. I hope you enjoyed that “ for me, I had the most fun writing this chapter. And I hope what I did to Sirius was satisfactory enough for you! Next chapter will be the last…but will there be a happy ending? Thanks for reading, and please review!