Tiger Lily

The news of Sirius’ and Lily’s break-up spread faster than a wildfire. Everyone was shocked at the news, most of all James. He was sitting in the Gryffindor commons when Rita Finnigan burst in, her eyes happily ablaze with excitement. She cackled slightly when she saw James sitting in front of the fire, and scurried over to sit next to him.

"Hi James," she cooed delightedly. James groaned under his breath. What does she want? He asked himself. HE turned around to face the girl.

"Hello Rita," he replied, scooting over slightly. "May I help you?"

"No…not really. " she paused a moment. "Have you heard the news?" James rolled his eyes.

"No…what news?’ he asked.

"Sirius and Lily broke up! Can you believe it? I sure can’t, I mean, they’ve been together for like…ages and ages and ages! In truth though…." James stopped hearing her. His brain seemed to have stopped working. Sirius and Lily broke up. Oh my god, Sirius and Lily broke up. He was jerked quite suddenly out of his thoughts when Rita began cackling again, right in his ear. "And Sirius had better watch out, ‘cause this hot mama is after him!" she finished, hopping off of the sofa. "I just can’t wait to tell everyone else!" she squealed. "Ta, James, there are more to enlighten!" she called, heading up the spiral staircase.

James took several deep breaths, and tried to clear his head of the fog that had miraculously materialized at Rita’s words. Can’t think straight…must find- "Lily!" he looked up as the lovely redhead appeared in his liner of vision. Be sensitive James, he cautioned himself. This must have been very hard for her. "Is everything alright?"

Lily looked up at him. "Um…I guess," she replied- her voice rather uncertain. James took a moment to survey her face. Her cheeks were red, presumably from the cold. Her eyes were red as well and had lost a little of their luster; she looked as though she’d just had a good cry. Her hair was wind-tossed and slightly frizzy.

"Are you sure? Do you want to talk about anything?’ he asked, settling himself comfortably on the sofa.

"Well…I just broke up with Sirius," she said, beginning to sniffle. James pulled out a wad of parchment from his pocket and transformed it into tissue, handing her several sheets. She smiled and dabbed at her eyes. "Thanks James…such a gentleman." She paused a moment, and her voice returned to normal. "I guess its time to move on…it’s just that…well, we’d been together for so long." She turned her fiercely green gaze to James. "James, did I do the right thing?" she asked, begging him with her emerald orbs to say yes. "Remus said to follow my heart…but did I do the right thing?"

James paused a moment before answering. "Does it feel, truly and totally on the inside that you did the right thing Lily?" he asked finally.

Lily looked doubtful. "I don’t know James…" she murmured, her chin resting on her chest, her eyes on her feet. "I think so…" she looked up at him and tried to smile. "Feels weird though…" she said.

James was relieved to see her smiling. "What does?" he asked.

"Feels weird to be so free," Lily’s face was slowly but surely brightening.

James grinned. "Free how?" he asked.

"Free to do whatever I want. Free to flirt," she answered, giggling and giving James the once over with her eyes. "Free to kiss," she said, pecking him on the cheek. "Just plain fancy free," she smiled a beautiful smile.

"Free to ask someone out." James' voice was low and unsure.

Lily glanced at him through the corners of her eyes. For a moment neither of the m spoke, and James was afraid he’d pushed her too hard too fast. Then Lily nodded and giggled again, standing up and relocating herself to James’s lap. "Good sir," she asked, laughing. "Are you free this coming Friday?" she asked.

James paused a moment, mischief sparking in his dark eyes. "Why my Lady," he answered. "I’m afraid I don’t know. Perhaps I should check my calendar." He stood, gathering Lily in his arms.

Lily socked him lightly n the arm. "For shame James, just say yes!" she whined.

James smiled. "Alright then…yes. I am free on Friday." Lily’s face shone like the sun.

"Oh goody! James, oh my gosh James," she laughed. "I don’t know what to say! Um…thanks?" she asked.

James laughed. "How about ‘Pick you up at seven’?" he suggested.

"Alright then. Seven it is," Lily replied.

"Okay then. I’ll see you then," James said, setting her down.

"Not if I see you first," Lily countered.

James laughed, shooing her away. Lily paused at the foot of the stairs, turned and waved, then disappeared. James sat back down on the couch, a feeling of cheerfulness washing over him.

****************

Dispiritedly he wandered off again, this time towards the library. So this is what it feels like to be single, he thought. Now I’ll just be one of those guys in the library all the time, getting straight A’s because I’ve got nothing better to do than study. Deciding that this was his fate he strode forward with new determination. Hell, I’ll even beat James this quarter! He thought happily. Wait…. His spirits plunged down even farther than they’d been before. James. He was the one whom Lily chose over me.

"Back into that lost-my-girlfriend phase again, Black?" The greasy voice belonged to someone with even greasier hair. Sirius looked up and saw Snape standing there. "Poor dear," he said unsympathetically. "But it’s for the best you know. Lucky Lucius hasn’t found out. He tease you mercilessly if he did." Sirius had a sudden, desperate urge to fight someone.

"Well, I go tell him myself," Sirius said, grinning broadly and stepping forward, all thoughts of the trip to the library forgotten. Snape stared at him.

"Are you mental?" he snapped, grabbing Sirius’ arm. But Sirius wasn’t having it.

"Snape, let go of me. I have the need to bash something. If it can’t be a Bludger, it might as well be a blonde bimbo. (AN: Not that I have anything against blondes….)" He shook Snape off. "Where’s is Lucy anyway?" he asked, peering along the corridor as if Lucius and his cronies might be lurking in some dark corner, waiting for him. Snape sighed.

"I’m not telling you. We’re beating Gryffindor in the House Cup in the first time since…. Well, since a LONG time, and I want to keep it that way," Snape said stubbornly, planting himself firmly and solidly so as Sirius could not pull him along. The taller boy stopped and stared.

"Come on Snape!" Sirius snapped. "I don’t have all day. Where is Malfoy?"

But Snape was like a statue. He neither spoke nor moved, his face impassive and quite rock-like. Sirius rolled his eyes, and decided to give up on the Lets-get-Lucius scheme…for now.

"Alright Snapey," Sirius relented, grabbing the younger boy’s elbow. "We’ll go to the library instead." Snape became human again and together they walked off down the hallway.

***********

Lily brushed her auburn hair till it shone, carefully applied a few makeup charms, and then decided to head don to the commons. She was startled to find James already waiting there, smiling and holding a bouquet of flowers. Blushing he thrust them into her hands.

"Here," he said, his face cherry red. Lily smiled and pecked him on the cheek.

"Thank you James, they’re beautiful," she replied. "Do you have our passes to go down to Hogsmeade?"

James pulled the sheets of parchment out and held them up for her inspection. Lily smiled up at him. "Alright then. Lets go!" she said, heading over to the portrait hole. James beat her to it, and in a gentlemanly fashion held it open for her.

The walk down to the village was quiet and peaceful. Neither felt obliged to say anything, so they walked in silence, hand in hand. At last they reached Hogsmeade.

The village was alive with people bustling about, large bags in hands, or dates on their arms. James led Lily to a small restaurant just off of the main street that glistened with icicles and magicked lights. Entering, Lily found herself serenaded by the birds in the potted trees, placed near each table. She allowed James to pull her chair out for her, and sat herself down while he busied himself with taking his coat off. When that was done, he sat down as well and picked up a menu.

‘What would you like," he asked, peering at her through his round glasses.

Lily frowned slightly. She hadn’t been out on a date with anyone but Sirius for a very long time, and she found James’ company rather hard to get used after Sirius, who’d kept her laughing and on her toes by taking her to unusual and informal places. The restaurant they were in made Lily feel like she as in a glass cage. However, since James seemed at home, she said nothing.

They ordered and the food came shortly. James made light and relatively boring conversation all throughout dinner, and Lily butted in occasionally with her own comments. James paid, and the two left, bundled heavily. He hailed a carriage and helped Lily in, arranging a blanket across hr lap and pulling out of thin air two mugs and a bottle of butterbeers. Lily smiled, for it reminded her vaguely of Sirius.

James grinned sheepishly and poured her a glass, getting more of the drink on her than in the cup due to the horse’s unsteady and uneven gait. Lily didn’t mind though, and took the cup, toasting she and James’ first date and hoping that there would be plenty more after.

**********

Remus sat in the Gryffindor common room, flipping through a copy of Lily’s Teen Witch Weekly in a bored way and humming an off-key Beatles song. The room was toasty and comfortable, but Remus wished he were elsewhere, presumably with a girlfriend or other such acquaintance. He wondered where Sirius as, and if his best friend would mind if he, Remus, joined him at whatever activity he was doing. Then Remus dismissed the idea…Sirius had been a bundle of emotions when he’d seen his friend last, and Remus didn’t want to tap into that source again. He didn’t look up when Lily and James waltzed through the door, red-cheeked from the cold and looking as though they’d had a nice time. They came over and collapsed next to Remus on either side, Lily reclaiming her magazine and James trying to start up a conversation. Remus was a no go though, refusing to reply for the most part, then turning to talk to Lily. James got the picture and rose to leave. Neither Lily nor Remus stopped him.

"’Night then Lily," James said into the awkward silence.

Lily looked up. "Goodnight James, thank you for this evening," she replied.

"Hey, anytime," James answered. They watched each other for a long moment. "Well then, I guess I’ll go to bed." He laughed a little, and headed up the staircase, pausing at one last moment to wave to Lily. She waved back, then turned her attention to Remus who was glowering at James’ retreating back.

"Remus, what’s the matter?" Lily asked worriedly. "Are you mad at me?" The sandy haired boy turned his intense hazel-ly eyes towards her and shrugged.

"Not really. I mean, I told you what you should do and you listened to me. That part is my fault." He paused a moment. "But James kissed you. He kissed you while you were with Sirius, and if there is anything you don’t do to your best friend’s girl, you don’t kiss her. Not even his ex if you can help it." Remus sighed, and Lily’s heart went out to him.

"I can kind of understand that," she said softly. "But we did hat we had to do…me and Sirius I mean." Remus nodded and sat up.

"So how was your date?" he asked.

Lily frowned slightly. "It was okay…I mean, not as good as Sirius and my first date…. But not bad." She sighed. "It was remarkably formal though…I ish James would just be himself. I mean, fancy restaurants and all that are nice, but…I’m still young. When I’m older I’ll appreciate that kind of man more I suppose." She shrugged and looked at her watch- the watch Sirius has given her last Christmas. Her eyes grew sad as she read the words on it- "To my darling Lily, my love forever, no matter what." "I’m going to head up Remus," she said, her voice slightly shaky and her eyes slightly red. "I’ve had a long night." Remus nodded.

"See you in the morning Lily "he replied, gathering up his things. Shortly after she’d gone up, he too decided to turn in for the night.

**********

Sirius woke early the next morning and went James-hunting. He had spent nearly all of the previous night in the library, reading up on what Peter had told him about Remus, and had reached a startling discovery.

The portrait gateway was firmly shut, and no matter how hard Sirius tried, he could not get it to open. Frustrated, he banged on it, and awoke the rather large lady in the picture.

"The outrage!" she declared. "It’s not even sunrise yet and here comes this young fellow rapping on me. Fie on you sir, FIE!" she said grumpily.

"I’m not leaving until you let me in," Sirius said stubbornly. The Fat Lady glared at him. Sirius got ready to do some damage. At last the portrait relented and swung open, leaving Sirius free to roam about Gryffindor Tower.

Once upon a time, when he and Lily had still been together, he’d have jumped at the chance to be in here at such an early hour, watching her as she slept, or curling up on the window seat in the Girls’ dorm and sitting there until she woke up. Now he didn’t even glance at the stairway leading to her, making a beeline for the boys’ dorm.

James was fast asleep, as were Remus and the other three boys they shared a room with. Sirius didn’t know their names. Cautiously he crept over to James and shook him awake, gesturing for him to be quiet. He knew better than to tell him to shut up because of Remus, for that boy slept through pretty much everything, but the other two boys Sirius wasn’t as sure about. James, an unusual morning person woke without trouble, grabbed his robe and followed Sirius down the stairs yawning wildly and stretching his tired limbs.

"What’d’you want Sirius?" he asked, dropping down onto a couch.

Sirius showed him the books and notes he’d taken from the library. James read them all wide-eyed.

"Sirius, do you honestly think this is true?" James asked, looking at his friend gravely.

"James, I may play a joke from time to time, but I mean, this? Come on now. The facts are all there. Remus leaves every full moon does he not? Going to visit family members…ha! I knew that wasn’t true. Had to get help from Peter…" Sirius shook his head.

"Peter?" James asked. "You could have asked me."

Sirius shook his head. "You’re too old for Remus to believe that your questions were just little kid curiosity. Peter is right at that stage where Remus will tell him anything just to get him to shut up."

James nodded distractedly, then looked up. "So what do you want to do about this?" he asked

Sirius looked sheepish. "That’s why I’m here…I want your help." James grinned.

"No problem," he replied. "Have a seat…we’ll figure this out." Sirius plopped down beside him and the two began to plan their confrontation with Remus.

**********