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CHAPTER 9 – IN THE COMMON ROOM AND AFTER
The OWL year started with the usual lecture of 'you have to work hard this year' and 'you don't have time to relax and joke around any more' from all their teachers. They were piled with lots of homework and it gave them less time to enjoy. Remus and Lily were taking it more seriously than the others.
*~*
"I cannot go on anymore! Seriously! It has been 2 days since I even spoke to Monica!" groaned Sirius as he set down his quill.
"Come on Sirius… just the conclusion and we will be done."
"No! this is killing me!"
"You think it is killing you? Mate, it is near full moon and I am as tired as anyone can get."
"I am sorry Remus, I dint realize that." Remus looked tired and sad. James noticed this.
"Sirius, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure James." James pulled Sirius away from his friends into a corner of the common room.
"Mate, I am worried about Remus. I think his condition is making him feel really left out and sad."
"I know… I noticed it too. This might be why he doesn't want to tell anyone who he likes."
"Good point. We have to do something about it."
"Yes. But what?"
"I don't – wait a minute… we were writing the essay on werewolves right now, weren't we?"
"What exactly..?"
"Werewolves do not hurt fellow werewolves or other animals as they hurt human beings."
"I am thoroughly confused now."
"I was thinking… he might feel better if he knew that he had friends to back him up and to be with him during his difficult times. And as humans we can't do that… but we can do that as animals."
"You mean… we become animals?" asked Sirius scratching his head and thinking that James had seriously gone mad.
"Animagus." Sirius' face broke into a huge grin as he took in the full meaning of what James said.
"Wicked. I like that." James grinned back. They were heading back to their friends when they were stopped by Monica.
"Hi Sirius!" she said sounding as tired as he felt.
"Monica!" he exclaimed happily and kissed her hard. James slipped away quietly during that time. He looked over to where Lily was sitting with Erica. Alice was sitting beside Frank Longbottom who seemed to be explaining something to her. But by the looks of it she was not interested in what he was explaining as much as she was in looking at him. Frank noticed that she was staring at him and blushed red. James had known about Frank's crush on Alice for a long time and was glad that Alice was finally reciprocating.
Everyone has their luck, except me, he thought looking at Lily with longing. She was twirling her long red hair with her index finger and stifled a yawn. She looked up and rubbed her eyes. She leaned against the couch and closed her eyes. Her hair frames her face in an adorable way that made James want to caress it immediately. He looked at Remus finishing his essay looking wretched. I guess that makes two of us, he sighed.
*~*
"I missed you Mon!" groaned Sirius as he pulled her down on the floor next to him.
"I've missed you too Sirius. You can't believe how much of a torture it is to be so near and yet unable to snog you."
"I know Mon, I know!" they stayed in the content of each others arms for a while without speaking.
"Monica?"
"Mmm..?" she said against his chest.
"Do you know something?"
"What?" she asked not moving.
"I love you."
She pulled back stunned. Her black eyes sought Sirius' blue ones. She could not believe what she had just heard. He held her tenderly and met her gaze fully.
"What?" she repeated once she had found her voice. Sirius leaned forward till their faces were just inches away from each other. Her heart started racing madly.
"I love you, Monica" he repeated. She felt tingly all over as she gazed deeply into Sirius' eyes. He seemed to mean exactly what he was saying. As she looked into his sparkling blue eyes, she knew that she had no doubts.
"I love you too." She whispered before kissing him.
*~*
The marauders along with Lily and her friends were coming out of Potions.
"Hey, tomorrow is Hogsmeade weekend! I completely forgot in all this study rush…"
"I remember James. But this time you guys will have to go ahead without me and Monica. I have something special planned for her." Monica blushed sweetly.
"I have detention with professor McGonagall this weekend as I dint finish yesterday's homework so I cant make it either." said Peter in his usually shrill voice.
"Oh and I am going on a date with Amos so sorry guys, I can't come with you either."
"Amos?" asked Remus.
"Amos Diggory."
"Oh!" he sighed, "I want to do some research in the library tomorrow. So count me out too James."
"Come on Remus! You have been working yourself out to much lately. You need a break."
"I am fine James, really. You go ahead." James continued to frown at Remus who looked away.
"So I guess it is just you and me Evans." He said hoping not to sound too enthusiastic.
*~*
"Hi Lily!" he said as she came down the stairs wearing an emerald green dress which brought out the color of her eyes. God she looks gorgeous, he thought as she approached him.
"Hey James!" They left towards Hogsmeade.
"When is the next Quidditch match?"
"Next week. Between Gryffindor and Slytherin… we are hoping to squash them."
"Have you been practicing enough for that?"
"I don't need to practice… I am a natural at goal scoring. Like I was saying at the world cup…"
"Forget I ever asked Potter." said Lily. James grinned down at her and ran his hands though his hair. She caught herself staring at it and actually thinking he looked handsome. James saw her looking at him out of the corner of his eye. Yess!!!
"So where do you want to go first Lily?" he asked her, making his voice more mature and deep. She was taken aback and she looked away guiltily.
"I…umm…a…" she stammered.
"How about Zonko's? I have been wanting to go there for long." Without waiting for a reply he dragged her inside the shop. They went through an array of tricks and jokes and James was telling Lily what device they used to play which trick on whom. She found the stories amusing and for once did not lecture him. James found a couple of things he wanted to buy. As he made his way to the counter he saw Snape approaching him. He did not want to upset Lily on their sort-of-unasked-unofficial-date.
"Why don't you wait outside for me Evans? It is a bit crowded in here." She seemed thankful for a reason to leave and waited against a tree outside the shop. His eyes followed her without being able to help it.
"Buying tricks potter?" said a familiar nasty voice from next to him.
"Snivellus."
"On a date Potter? Not the most romantic place."
"Shut your trap Snivelly and mind your own business." James Paid for his items and turned to face Snape.
"We will flatten you in the next Quidditch match Snivelly and let us see where you can keep your face after that."
"That reminds me Potter. Does your girlfriend know that you like her?" James looked at Snape startled. Snape smirked evilly. James realized what he was getting at. He clenched his fist around the tiny ball he was holding. A black sticky liquid came out if it and splashed onto Snape. James did not foresee it but started laughing at the sight of Snape covered in a multicolored sticky liquid. Several other onlookers laughed too. Snape pulled out his wand and cleaned himself. James walked away towards Lily.
"Potter that was…" she started to comment on what had just happened. She shut her mouth as soon as she saw Snape standing behind James. James followed her eyes to a fuming Snape.
"Did you tell her yet Potter?" he asked in a sickly smooth voice indicating to Lily. James' eyes narrowed as he realized what he was referring to.
"Shut it Snape." He said in a low, threatening voice.
"Tell me what?" asked Lily confused.
"Finally remembered my name did you? Did he not tell you?" he said turning to Lily.
"What?"
"Severus get away." Shouted James pulling out his wand.
"Shut up James. I want to know what he is talking about." Said Lily grabbing him from the back and pulling his wand away from him.
"You don't need to know Lily."
"Why not? Are you scared that the mudblood will say no?"
"What are you talking about?" asked Lily slightly apprehensive.
"I don't believe potter did not tell you this…"
"Lily forget it okay. You don't have to know now."
"Shut up James. I want to know."
"…Potter likes you." Said Snape triumphantly looking at Lily. Lily thought that she did not hear him properly.
"What?"
"Potter Likes you." Repeated Snape. James slapped his hand against his forehead and took in a deep breath.
"Meet you at the castle Potter." mocked Snape looking in between the staring Lily and the angry James.
"I will get you for this Snivelly."
"Oh no potter! I was about to bargain this little secret of yours for the Quidditch match. But now I have an even better bargain." Snape continued after an evil pause, "You have the Quidditch match on one hand and your girlfriend's safety in the other. And you have to choose. Soon and fast." James caught hold of Snape's collar.
"Don't you dare!" Snape pulled free of James' grip looking smug.
"Choose Potter."
"If you touch one hair on her head…" he said in a low voice. Snape looked at him square in the eye and knew that he had won. He caste a mocking glance at Lily.
"Choose." Saying this Snape walked away leaving both Lily and James staring after him.
"James?" said Lily quietly from behind him. James realized that he had to answer to Lily. He walked towards Lily and ran his hand nervously through his hair. She looked at him with her eyes full of unasked questions. He groaned and hit his hand against the tree.
"Lily…" he started but trailed off as he did not know what to say.
"Is it true?" she asked quietly after a long pause between them. He met her gaze and knew that he could not bring himself to lie to her face about this.
"Yes." He said quietly. She clasped her hands to her mouth, dropping James' wand onto the ground. James picked it up and stuffed it into his robes. He looked back at the confused Lily waiting for her to reply. Her mind was racing and she did not know what to say. She looked up at James who was watching her and waiting for her to reply. She opened her mouth once or twice to say something but closed it as she did not know the right thing to say.
"Lily..? Are you ok?" he asked when she did not say anything for 5 whole minutes. She did not trust herself to speak and just nodded. In mutual understanding both of them walked towards the castle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~how do u luv the new twist???????????????
temme how it is and if u still guess who remus likes
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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