The Marauders' Tale

4

James gathered his things as the bell rang, signaling the end of class. He looked up at Lily in the front of the room. She was putting her notes in her bag when she looked up at him.

James smiled broadly and strode over to her. "Hey," he said in what he hoped was a smooth voice. "So do you mind if we talk?"

Lily shook her head politely, pulling her bag onto her back. "As long as I'm not late for Charms."

The two walked out of the Arithmancy classroom in silence, but soon James said, "So. Lily."

"Yeah?" she asked tentatively.

James was surprised to sense the lack of animosity generating from her. "Wow. I seem to have caught you on a good day. No 'bugger off's yet!"

Lily laughed and said, "Well, not yet at least. You haven't said anything that deserves a good smack so far."

"Right," James said smiling, as they walked down a corridor leading to a set of stairs. "So. What's your other OWL course?" he asked, knowing perfectly well what it was.

"Ancient Runes."

"Yeah? How's that?"

"It's brilliant. But I think I like Arithmancy more."

"What do you learn in that class?" James said, taking the opportunity for an actually conversation.

"Well, we look at Egyptian symbols and inscriptions from the farthest back generations. There are variations from and Germanic symbols. Why?"

"Just wondering about the other courses I could have chosen. I had no clue what I was picking at the end of second year. I can't believe they made us choose so early."

"Yeah, it does seem a bit too soon," Lily said, pausing for a moment. He's actually being civil to me, she thought. I might as well return the favour. "What's your other class?"

"Care of Magical Creatures," James answered with a grin. "My mates and I decided that we'd take one class together, and our other choice would be somewhat of a private adventure."

Lily laughed. "Typical of you four."

"What?" James said in a playful tone as the two descended a staircase. "Is it such a crime to crave adventure?"

Lily slapped James' arm. "I meant that you four--aaah!"

James looked down to see that Lily's leg appeared to be trapped knee-deep in the stairs; she had forgotten to hop over the sinking step.

"Peter always forgets to jump that step," James said with a hint of laughter in his voice. Usually he and Sirius could just pull Peter out from under his arms, but James figured he could use this to his advantage. "Here, give me your arm."

"Ouch!" she exclaimed, as the step began to swallow her thigh. "I'm sinking!"

"Just relax and give me your arm." She stuck out her arm and he wrapped it around his neck. All too aware that her lips were barely an inch from his earlobe, James strained against the stairs, his feet planted on the steps beside her, until he had finally pulled Lily's leg out.

She let out a sigh of relief, and James couldn't help noticing the rush of breath near his ear, making him shudder. Stick to the plan, Prongs, he thought, momentarily paralyzed by the freckle on her cheekbone. Friends first.

The two seemed to realize that her arm was still around him at the same time, and they both withdrew rather quickly.

"Well--we should--get to Charms," James stuttered, diverting his eyes from her cheek.

"Oh--yeah!" Lily said distractedly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear nervously. "We haven't even gotten our books yet!"

The pair set off down the staircase, through a tapestry, and down yet another corridor to the entrance to the Gryffindor common room.

"Password?" the Fat Lady droned.

"Pickled mandrakes!" Lily practically yelled, jumping through the portrait hole and running up the girls' staircase two steps at a time.

Smiling at the thought of Lily, James strolled to the foot of the boys' staircase, took out his Arithmancy things, pointed his wand at them and said, "Deletrius." Watching his books zoom up the staircase, James held his wand steady and said, "Accio Charms Textbook," thinking very clearly about the position of his book in his room. In a minute's time, he was standing near the entrance to the common room with his books, and Lily was running down the steps with her Charms book in her hands.

"You were fast," she said, out of breath.

James grinned, opening the portrait from behind. He stepped back for Lily to get out first. "Shall we?"

*

"What are you so happy about?" Sirius asked James at dinner.

James looked at his friend, unaware that he had just been grinning foolishly. "What?" he said in his own defense. "A bloke can't be happy around here?"

Sirius grunted into his shepherd's pie.

"Why, what's the matter with you?" James asked, deciding to put his thoughts about Lily to the back of his mind.

"Detention!" Sirius practically shouted. "Three nights of polishing crystal balls!"

Peter looked up from his plate. "What did you do now?"

"What does it matter what I did! What matters is three more nights this week I have to spend in that bloody tower! And I have to miss quidditch practice! "

"Come on, Padfoot, it's not like you haven't missed it before," James said. "What did you do?"

"I fell asleep in class," Sirius said, sitting back in his chair.

Remus and James burst into laughter.

Sirius grinned in spite of himself. "Think I'm funny, do you?"

"Well--yeah, actually," James said, laughing.

"Out with it then, Prongs," Sirius said. "Why were you late for Charms today?"

"I wasn't late!" James said defensively.

Remus threw a crumpled up napkin at James. "You were only a little late. But you were with Lily Evans," Remus said, waggling his eyebrows. "And she's never late."

"What happened?" Peter asked eagerly.

"Nothing!" James said firmly. "We just talked. I'm taking a different approach at this, is all."

*

Later that night, the four boys were sitting by the fire in the common room, finishing off their homework.

"I just can't focus!" James said, running his hand through his hair. "Dawson's mad to have set this paper. Four feet on Dizzying Drafts!"

Remus looked up at James and raised his eyebrows. "Prongs, there are more than twenty ingredients in that potion, just elaborate on the effects of each. It's simple."

"So that's what you do!" Peter said to himself, crossing out an entire section on his parchment.

Remus looked back down at his book and tried to continue reading. He had been staring at the same page for over thirty minutes and had not digested any information. Remus decided that this night was not a night he could possibly concentrate so he put his book down and leaned back against the stone fireplace.

He looked around the common room for a minute, finally resting his eyes on Jennifer Atlas sitting in an armchair, her legs swung over the side, with a sketchbook in her hand. He stared at her for a moment, watching the way her forehead furrowed in concentration as she sketched away. Just then, Jennifer looked up and made eye contact with Remus, who quickly ducked his head, pretending to be fascinated by his knees. But curiosity got the better of him and he looked back at her, surprised to find Jennifer smiling at him. Remus gave her a little wave and she raised her hand, gesturing for him to walk over.

He stood up and strode over to her, leaving his friends by the fire, and dug his hands in his pockets as he approached.

"Hey Remus," she said with a smile.

"How's it going?"

"Fine, thanks." She gestured to the armchair beside her. "Sit! You're making me nervous standing over me like that."

Remus took a seat in the squashy armchair. "What are you doing?"

"Just doodling. It's a new sketch I'm working on..." Jennifer answered. "Want to see?"

Remus nodded, reaching out for the sketchbook, trying not to shiver when their fingers made brief contact. He looked down at the page and was taken aback by the unfinished drawing of a boy's face.

"This is amazing," he said breathlessly, intrigued by the eyes of the seemingly lost boy.

"Really?" Jennifer asked. "It's not even finished, I was just working on the eyes."

Remus nodded in approval. "That's the best part. My dad always told me the most important part of a portrait is the eyes," Remus said, reminiscing his father's lectures. "He said they are the gateway to the tone of the painting. I'll never forget that..." he finished, drifting off.

"Did something happen to him?" Jennifer asked uncertainly. "Your father."

Remus looked into Jennifer's eyes. "He died--just after my first year at Hogwarts."

Jennifer covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh Remus, I'm so sorry!"

"It's alright," Remus said, surprised at how much information this girl could get out of him without even trying. "The shock of it is over. But, you know..." Remus broke off, unable to continue.

"Remus, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked," Jennifer said, taking his shaking hand and grasping it in hers. Remus shook his head.

"It's okay--really," he said, looking at his knees, aware of every point of contact between their hands.

Several moments passed while Remus held onto her hand, looking back at the drawing of the boy on the page. His eyes were so real, so intense. He looked utterly lost but somehow wise, as if he'd experienced more than he should have in his life.

Jennifer watched Remus' eyes run over the drawing of the boy. I wonder if he can tell...? She thought. But he looked up, gave her a small smile, and handed back the sketchbook without comment.

"Well," Remus said, heaving a great sigh. "I better get back to my mates. It's very rare that we're all actually working."

"You should go take advantage of the opportunity then," Jennifer said with a smile.

"Okay, well," he said, reluctantly letting go of her hand and standing up. "See you tomorrow, then."

Jennifer nodded. "'Night, Remus."

*

"Where'd you go?" Sirius asked suspiciously, looking up from his essay when Remus stepped over James to get to his Herbology textbook.

"Just talking to Jennifer," Remus said simply, picking up a textbook beside Peter.

"Atlas?" James asked, sprawled on the floor.

"Yeah, I guess," Remus said, trying to sound casual.

Sirius laughed and said, "Don't give us that, Moony! Yeah, I guess. Admit it, you want her!"

"Shut up, Sirius," Remus snapped. "She's in Herbology with me and asked about the lesson."

"Is that what they call it these days?" Sirius asked James and Peter, who chuckled.

"Hey!" Remus said loudly. "Just because you guys had a fling or whatever doesn't mean I'm doing the same. Beats me why you care so much, seeing as how you broke it off with her."

At that, Remus flopped into an empty seat, opened his book and began to read.

James gave Sirius a warning look, and mouthed, Let him be.

Sirius shrugged and the fours boys worked on in silence.

Jennifer watched Remus as he sat in his chair. His knees were drawn up to his chest and he was clenching his textbook in a grip so stiff, she could just make out his white knuckles.

She looked down at her paper, shading in a few areas around the eyes, and darkening the pupils.

She imagined his face as she continued to draw the rest of the picture. Jennifer sketched for the next half hour, occasionally looking up at him for inspiration.

When she had finished, she pulled her head back and looked at it critically.

Something's missing, she thought, wondering what it was. She stared at the parchment for a minute, when it suddenly hit her.

She brought her pencil to the page and slowly drew a thin, long scar, running from the top of the ear down to the boy's neck.

Perfect.