Right, i know it this chapter isn't on time, i know it's not particularly long or interesting, i KNOW it wasn't the chapter i've been talking about. But, hey, all you who so call 'love' my story, i don't see it in the ratings. You want to know the truely pathetic number of people that voted for the last chapter? Two! Frickin' two! I'm not saying i write for the votes, far from it, but when i get message after after saying 'when are you updating', it's been ages since you've updated', 'i love your story, when you updating?' it'd be nice if you showed your appreciation once in a while instead of having a hissy fit when a chapter isn't out as soon as you want it to be. I'm not a writing machiene! I write for the joys of writing, not so that you've got something to do!
*breathes deeply*
Right, anyway, here's chapter Twenty-Eight. Enjoy!
When James Potter finally got his Lily Evans, Hogwarts rejoiced, there would be no more annoying quarrels all through the day anymore, sure they wouldn't have their daily morning show were Lily would make a spectacle out of James in one way or another, but the students of Hogwarts could handle that and could go about their day in peace. Though, a considerable amount of the population was inwardly fuming at the fact that one of the most good looking bachelors had now been taken off the market, but they kept this to themselves, they had three more Marauders after all.
But when the students saw Remus Lupin walk into the Great Hall one morning hand in hand with Dakota Spooks, they were gob-smacked to say the least. No one would have put those two together in a million years. This gave the girls of Hogwarts another reason to hate Slytherin, particularly the Ravenclaws. Whilst they were the most studious of students they too had crushes on the Marauders.
Peter Pettigrew was too... lacking for them.
James Potter, besides having already been taken, he was too egotistical.
Sirius Black, well, what girl didn't like him, but most Ravenclaws wanted that little bit more. Sure he was smart, witty, mischievous and devilishly handsome, but they wanted someone who was more into long-term relationships rather than a quick snog here and there.
They wanted someone with strong opinions and enjoyed a good debate over said opinions and had plenty of facts to back them up with. They wanted someone who craved knowledge as much as they did, and was willing to compete for top marks. They wanted someone kind and courteous but with a daring and mischievous side as well, after all, no one can resist a bad boy with morals, and Mr Remus Lupin was exactly this. So you could imagine why girls were inwardly seething when they saw that he too, had been taken.
But, there was still Sirius Black, they reasoned, the boy who could charm the pants off anyone he met, the boy who could make girls swoon with one of those boyish smiles of his, the boy who could stop girls with a flick of his perfect brown locks, and a couple of boys too.
And there was still Peter Pettigrew who was... nice and...well, he was a Marauder.
But recently, the population of Hogwarts has grown furious once again. Sirius Black was in danger of being taken away from them, if he hadn't been already.
He had finished his most recent girlfriend Nina Smith, which wasn't that much of a surprise everyone knew it wouldn't last. So when the girls of Hogwarts heard of this most recent development they, well, the ones with no self-respect and the plain old desperate ones, donned their shortest skirts and tightest shirts. They plastered their faces with unnecessary makeup, that made them look like they belonged in the stands of a Quidditch game and wore their most dazzling smiles in hopes of attracting the number one catch in Hogwarts.
But their hopes were dashed when he turned down girls down left right and centre, no matter who approached him or what they were wearing, he turned them down. They could have been wearing nothing at all, and he would have still turned them down. Many thought that sidetracking him near the broom cupboard, or an empty classroom, would help to tempt him, but their efforts were in vain, in made no difference.
What enraged them even more was the fact that he was paying more attention to that Riddle girl.
He was always by her side, laughing and joking with her, now this was something that the girls of Hogwarts had come accustomed to, she was his friend, a very dear friend, they understood that they were going to be close, but what they didn't understand was all the looks he was giving her.
She never saw them, but everyone else could see them as clear as day.
He would look at her like the sun shined out of her arse, like she was a goddess, his face instantly brightened when she was around.
Every smile she threw him sent him soaring, he would turn down girls with a dazed look in his eyes all day just thinking of that smile. Every smile he sent her was filled with a deep affection, whether he knew it or not was a different story, but it showed how he really felt about her nonetheless.
He was always sitting next to her in classes; he was the first to help her if something went wrong and he was always putting his arms around her and sliding his chair closer to hers, it made the girls in Hogwarts sick.
He was acting like a lovesick schoolgirl. He'd start reciting poetry and serenading her in the corridors whilst handing her a bouquet of red roses next, and if that happened, well, that would be the final straw to say the least.
What did she have that no one else had?
She was unbelievably short; she looked like a third year, fourth year at the most.
She had a pale complexion with stupid little freckles littered across her nose and cheeks.
She had weird turquoise eyes, which seemed almost haunting.
Plus she had no special *ahem* attributes.
She was loud, ate like a pig, had no style, and was hopeless when it came to wearing dresses and heels. Her idea of fun was learning dangerous new hexes, she was always in trouble with teachers and she associated with Slytherins.
What's so good about all that?
No one could figure it out, and it made everybody livid, how that stupid little Riddle girl had reduced the number one Marauder to a lovesick idiot! When they could barely gain a glance from him.
Ebony Riddle would not be on top of people's Christmas Card's list this year, oh no, what she was doing was a sin in their eyes.
"Hey Lily?" I said one morning as I sat down to eat breakfast.
"Hmmmm" she said without looking up from her potions book as she ate her toast.
"Is it me, or are people looking at me as if they'd wish I'd drop dead?" I said as I glanced around the Great Hall, and saw the amount of heated gazes directed my way.
Lily rolled her eyes, still not looking away from her book and said "Oh stop being so dramatic Ebony, it's all in your head".
"Nope," I said as I looked around again, "I'm pretty sure that it's real".
Lily sighed impatiently and looked up saying "No, it's all in your he-" but she stopped as she too looked around.
After a moment she frowned saying, "I wonder why they're all looking at you like that?"
"I don't know," I replied whilst taking my wand out, "but you take the left side, and I'll take the right, go for the strongest first, the weakest are likely to get caught in the crossfire".
Lily rolled her eyes saying, "We are not duelling with the whole of Hogwarts Ebony, that's down right insane!"
"It's all about the tactic's Lily," I said glancing around again, "It's all about the tactics".
She rolled her eyes mumbling to herself, and got back to her potions book.
I shrugged and started to help myself to a hearty breakfast, and as I did, I began to feel the full force of the gazes around me.
I didn't want to look at them but I didn't want to stare at my plate and not look at them either, it'd look like I was unnerved by them, like they were having an effect on me, not a message I wanted to give out, so I bent down and started to rifle through my bag, in hopes of coming across some sort of reading material I could occupy my time with, but alas, I did not. I had parchment, quills, drawing pencils and some Berty Bott's Every Flavour Beans rolling around, everything but books.
I sighed irritably until I spotted I spotted the journal Millie had given me for Christmas and I frowned. I never had wrote in it, and like she had said, writing those dreams down would probably help, although I hadn't had one for a while...
Shrugging, I grabbed the book, and a quill and slammed them on the table, making Lily jump and spill pumpkin juice over her book.
I giggled slightly before quickly stuffing my mouth full of sausage to cover it up, and opened the journal, to a nice clean page.
I ran my hands over the smooth, untouched surface, before picking up my quill, and starting to write.
The day passed rather boringly, even though we went to Hogsmeade.
Remus and James had both decided to whisk away their girlfriends for the day leaving me, once again, with Sirius, as Mira had not so subtly wandered off to be with Andy, not that I blamed her, he was a fun guy and she deserved it.
Peter was nowhere to be seen, so I spent the day trailing around the shops with Sirius at my heels every step of the way.
Now don't get me wrong, I think Sirius is great, and I love the fact that he's staying true to his words, but he's starting to become what James used to be like with Lily, he just wont give me a moments peace! I couldn't concentrate all day with him breathing down my neck, I even forgot to top up my stash at Honeydukes because of him which meant I was going to have to risk my neck sneaking out at night again.
So when we were back at the castle and sitting down to eat another fabulous Hogwarts meal, I sneaked off up to the Common Room to get some peace, and finish off writing in my journal.
Since we both admitted that we liked each other, things between Sirius and I have become a lot more free, more like what it used to be, which I was immensely grateful for, but every day, he's asked me the same question over and over and over and over again! I mean, I'm glad that we've both admitted that we like each other, but I'm not sure that I'm ready to make that leap yet quite yet...
"There you are Ebony!" Came Sirius's voice as he burst through the portrait along with James, Lily and Remus, "We've been looking all over for you, how come you left the Great Hall?"
I shrugged not really paying attention and said as my hand flew across the parchment in my journal "Dunno...not really that hungry I s'pose..."
"What are you writing about?" Sirius said as he plopped down on the sofa beside me and reached for my journal.
I quickly snapped it shut and moved it away from his grasp saying "Nothing. Now, what were you saying?"
Sirius grinned saying, "Is it your diary?"
I scoffed saying "As if I'd have a diary, I don't have the patience for one".
"So what is it then?" he said frowning.
"It's nothing!" I said irritably, "Merlin Sirius, you don't need to know every single little thing, can't I have some privacy?"
Sirius looked away, and leaned away from me saying quietly "Yeah, you're right, sorry".
I turned to look at Lily who sat on the sofa opposite and gave her look as if to say 'what do I do now?'
Lily noticed my look and cleared her throat making everybody look at her and she said thoughtfully "Has anyone seen Peter today?"
I answered her first, eager to get the attention off me, but as I did, I actually became curious about Peter myself "No, not since this morning at breakfast, in fact, I don't even remember him eating anything".
"That's because you weren't paying attention Ebony," James said grinning but then frowned as he said "But you're right, the last I saw of him was when he sat down at breakfast. What about you Sirius?"
Sirius shrugged saying "To be honest mate, I can't remember seeing him at all".
Remus shook his head at his friend; he's to caught up in chasing after Ebony that he's not even paying attention to what's going on around him anymore.
Remus leant forward saying "I saw him leave the Great Hall, but when I questioned him he said he was feeling a bit ill, so I assumed he wasn't coming to Hogsmeade that's why I've not asked about him all day".
James frowned and grabbed a little first year boy's robes as he walked past and said "You wouldn't happen to know if Peter was in the boys dormitory at any point today, would you?"
The boy's startled look at being grabbed slowly faded as he thought and finally he shook his head saying "No, I was in here this morning when everyone was at breakfast, he came in then, went up to the dormitory and came back down again minutes later carrying something under his jumper, he seemed to be in quite a hurry, and a little nervous too if you want my opinion".
James frowned and let the boy go saying thanks and turned back to us and Lily said frowning "He was carrying something under his jumper? What does he need to hide that's in the dormitory?"
"And why would he lie about feeling ill?" Remus said frowning.
Sirius narrowed his eyes saying, "Something doesn't smell right here, and I'm not talking about James feet either".
James made a noise of protest but I ignored him as I said looking round at them all "Wait a minute, your all talking as if he's up to some crime or something, this is Peter we're talking about here, sweet little Wormtail who couldn't hurt a fly".
Sirius gave me a weird look saying, "What are you talking about? Given the chance and the incentive, he would gladly harm a 'fly', you obviously don't know him as well as you think".
"Oh and you do?" I said raising an eyebrow.
He scoffed saying "Yeah, course I do".
"Ha! You hardly even pay attention to him! 'To be honest mate, I can't remember seeing him at all'" I imitated Sirius, putting on the deepest voice I could.
Sirius attempted to glare at me, but I could see the corner of his lips twitching, but it didn't make my frustration with him disappear and Lily could see this and said, "Well, first of all, let's figure out what he could have been hiding under his jumper".
I shrugged and sat back. I didn't have a clue; I tried to stay clear of their dormitory.
"The Marauders Map?" Sirius said.
James shook his head and said as he patted his pant pocket, "Nah, I've got that, never leave without it anymore" he finished looking at me pointedly.
I gave him an innocent look and turned to Sirius as he said grinning, "Maybe it was food".
I rolled my eyes saying "Why would he sneak out of the Great Hall at breakfast to run back up to the dormitory to sneak out some food? Let's be serious here".
"I am Sirius," he said grinning cheekily.
I shook my head at him and turned away, it would be best to just ignore him.
"The cloak!" Remus said in realisation.
James eyes widened and he quickly got up and ran up the boy's dormitory stairs.
I glanced at Lily and saw her frowning in confusion; did she even know about the cloak?
James came running back down minutes later shaking his head and said, "It's gone, he must have taken it, there's only us and Ebony who know where it is".
"Where what is?" Lily said.
"My invisibility cloak" James said distractedly.
Lily's eyes widened and she gasped, "You have an invisibility cloak? But...how?"
"It was my dad's" James said glancing at her momentarily, and then said as he turned back us "Where do you think he's gone with it?"
"I don't know," Remus said frowning, "But he's been a bit quiet lately, and have you noticed that he won't go near Mira or Dakota?"
Sirius nodded saying "Your right, the other week, he practically tripped over his own feet to get out of the kitchen when he heard Mira and Dakota where to come coming".
I looked round in disbelief and shouted "It's Peter! He's not doing anything bad! What's gotten into you all?"
Lily sighed, and James, Sirius and Remus looked at me for a moment before turning to each other as Sirius said "So what do you think he wants it for?"
My jaw dropped, they're just ignoring me! It's just Peter for Merlin's sake, I mean, he's hardly the brains of any operation so I doubt he's up to anything, he probably wanted to get away from this lot for a while, all they ever do is ignore him and take him for granted.
I glared round at them all and folded my arms as I listened to them all talk about how 'suspicious' Peter has been lately.
I was just about to hit James for his comment about Peter going off with the Slytherins, like that would ever happen, when the portrait door opened and Peter shuffled in.
I smiled slightly but that disappeared when James stood up saying "Oi, Wormtail! Where's my cloak?"
"James! Don't speak to Peter like that," Lily said sternly.
Peter's eyes widened and he took the cloak from beneath his jumper and held it out to James saying, "Here, sorry I didn't ask before borrowing it".
James snatched the cloak from him and Sirius said narrowing his eyes "What have you been up to, eh?"
Peter stepped back slightly and said nervously "I-I've been in the Room of Requirement...studying".
"Studying?" Remus said raising a sceptical eyebrow.
Peter reluctantly nodded saying quietly "Yeah...McGonagal said that she's going to have to have a serious rethink if my marks don't improve dramatically..."
"See!" I shouted standing up and walking beside Peter, "He's been in the castle working all day, so just give him a break!" I said glaring round at James, Sirius and Remus.
Lily nodded coming to stand in front of James saying "Ebony's right, just leave him alone, he's done nothing wrong. Come on, it's let's all just head to bed now..."
Remus nodded saying "You're right. Sorry Pete, I can help you study if you like?"
Peter hesitated for a moment before saying "I don't want to waste your time Moony..."
"Nonsense," Sirius said as he headed towards the stairs, "if Remus wants to help, let him help".
I smiled and hugged Peter goodnight saying "Night, night Pete".
Peter hugged me back uncomfortably and I smiled softly before walking over to the stairs with Lily, making sure to glare at James and Sirius as I did so, those two are such idiots, at least Remus is man enough to admit he was wrong!
As if Peter was capable of doing anything seriously wrong.
Men!
No time to dilly, and no time to dally! Now, off to the results with you for a sneak peak, you privileged person you! ^_^
*Sneak Peak!*
I sighed as the cold water hit my hot clammy skin and after I'd finished, I put my hands on the sides of the sink and kept my head lowered, just thinking things over.
It was just a dream, I told myself, not even a horrible dream just...strange. It was like the others I'd had; though in this one, nothing particularly horrific happened, in fact, nothing at all happened, it was just full of those feelings again, of familiarity, everything just seemed so abnormally real.
And those children, I thought, they were what made me really think, I felt like I knew them, or I should know them at least. The boy was so familiar, his hair, his smile, his nose and his mannerisms, I knew them all, I know I did, but the more I thought about him and who I know that was like him, those emerald green eyes would suddenly pop up, and I realised I was wrong. I only knew one person with those eyes, and that was Lily, and she was definitely not a young boy.
But the girl, she had...turquoise eyes, I thought frowning. In the other dreams I've had, the baby, or woman, has always had turquoise eyes. Surely that isn't purely a coincidence... is it? Could she be the baby girl from my other dreams? I mean, the place were they were playing in this dream, I'm sure I've seen that as well, in another dream...
I scoffed, splashing more water on my face, and shook my head as I looked up again and stared at my reflection once more. I was being ridiculous; they were dreams, just dreams of random people my brain was conjuring up, nothing more. I bet they all looked so familiar because I was picking out features I see everyday, like my eyes, Lily's eyes, and just moulding them all into people. Yes, that was it.
...to be continued
Right, another chapter over and done with, do let me know what you thought of it!
Oh, and i'm sorry for the memo, i'm just a bit...well, i dunno really lol.
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