Toy Soldiers

TOY SOLDIERS.

CHAPTER ONE-JEALOUSY

I woke up early with the warm sunshine on my face. It was another gorgeous summer day at Hogwarts.

I yawned and stretched lazily in bed. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up.

The girl’s dorm was nice and cool, not stuffy like the dungeons where their Potions class was taught by Professor Arta.

Lily Evans, my best friend, was also awake and grinning at me from across the dorm.

“You look bright and cheerful,” Lily said the grin not fading from her face.

“Yeah,” I said softly. “It’s just such a wonderful, gorgeous day.”

Lily shook her head and giggled.

We headed down to the Great Hall.

The Hall was noisy with the talk and laughter of fellow students and the tinkling of silverware.

Lily and I headed over to the Gryffindor table and sat down. Oddly, I realized that James wasn’t around.

“Where’s James?” I asked scanning the Hall.

“I don’t know. I’m not his baby-sitter,” Lily said shrugging.

I smiled and blushed slightly. “I know. I was just curious. Ooh, have you met that new girl? Jessica? She’s like a Venus fly trap,”

Lily’s lip twitched. “She’s a bit cold yes, but there are worse Slytherins around,”

I rolled my eyes. “You got that right,”

Lily began helping herself to some pancakes.

My name is Hillary Willis. I’m 15 years old with shoulder length curly dark brown hair and honey/hazel brown eyes. My hair had spiral curls. Most people tell me how beautiful my hair was but it was just hair.

I was dressed in the Gryffindor robe with the uniform underneath. The uniform consisted of a light gray V-necked sweater with the maroon/gold piping along the collar, a gray skirt, pleated, that reached my knees and a white shirt under the vest with the same maroon/gold striped tie.

To finish the uniform off, I had gray knee socks and black Mary Jane shoes.

Lily was dressed in the same way. She had shoulder length light auburn hair and blue eyes.

“Where’s Emmeline?” I asked also helping myself to some eggs.

“Probably with the Prank Brothers,” Lily said.

She meant, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. Peter however was more of a follower than leader. James and Sirius were the leaders. Remus was quiet, shy and more so kept the others in line.

I felt a pang of jealousy. Lily noticed my expression.

“Hillary? What’s wrong?” she asked gently.

I wasn’t sure how I should tell her that I was jealous of Emmeline Vance. She was more of a tomb boy and loved hanging around James, Sirius, Remus and Peter. More so James, Sirius and Remus.

They basically figured her as one of the ‘guys’.

“I just don’t understand why she loves hanging out with them so much. I bet if she went into the men’s room no one would notice,” I muttered picking at my eggs, my appetite suddenly vanishing.

Lily studied me closely. She was sitting beside me.

“You’re jealous of her…aren’t you?” she asked shrewdly.

“No,” I said quickly then sighed. “Yeah.”

“Why?”

“Because…Oh crud I don’t know. All I know is for some reason she just gets under my skin,” I said throwing my hands up in the air.

Lily smiled. “You have a crush on one of them…don’t you? Is it Sirius? Remus?”

Then her voice dropped even lower. “James?”

I hesitated. “Remus,”

“Ah ha!” Lily cried gleefully. “I knew it! That’s the main reason. So why haven’t you spoken to Remus yet?”

“Ssh!” I scolded glancing around the table. “I don’t want anyone else to know about this! Don’t you dare tell anyone!”

“Of course I won’t tell,” Lily said softly.

“Because I haven’t been able to get him alone,” I spat angrily. “That She-He spaz is always hanging around them.”

Lily actually burst out laughing.

I finally caught her laughter and I too, laughed.

But then, I stopped as a sudden pained thought entered my mind.

“Remus doesn’t like anyone…does he?”

That cut Lily’s laughter short too, which I took as a bad sign.

“Well…” Lily’s voice faded off.

“Who is it?” I demanded.

“Jessica Price,” Lily said.

That hit me like a ton of bricks.

“Oh. I see,” I said quietly.

I felt tears forming in my eyes.

Just then, James, Sirius, Remus, Peter and Emmeline entered the Hall and began walking over to the Gryffindor table.

“Excuse me, I’m going back to the common room,” I said abruptly as I gathered my things and stood up.

“Hillary,” Lily said as she too got up and followed me.

We began walking toward them.

Remus was laughing at James. Sirius, Peter and Emmeline were also hanging around James for some reason.

As we approached, Remus, James, Sirius, Peter and Emmeline looked up.

“Hi Hillary,” Remus said gently and softly.

“Hey, Lily,” James said giving Lily a goofy grin.

Lily narrowed her eyes at James. “Where have you been you crazy wok?”

“Oh. Just on the grounds telling jokes,” James replied throwing his arm around Lily’s shoulders and giving her a squeeze.

Lily looked appalled, but yet she was grinning. Her grin faded when she remembered me.

“Are you okay?” Remus asked peering at me carefully. “You look upset.”

“Did Sirius poop in your shoes again?” James asked grinning at me.

“Maybe she saw you coming,” Emmeline joked.

It took all my strength not to punch Emmeline. I knew I was acting childish, but I just couldn’t help it. She has long blond hair and blue eyes. She was actually very pretty though.

And now knowing that my chances with Remus was down the toilet for all eternity, didn’t help it any.

I really liked him too. He was kind, caring and thoughtful. Also very patient. I’ve had a boyfriend before but he was the opposite of Remus. He was crude, arrogant, and not so patient. He actually ended up beating me up a few times. This was 2 years ago. Eric Fisher was his name He was suspended from Hogwarts and not ever allowed back.

“Um,” I began my voice wobbly. I was afraid I would burst into tears right then and there. “Yeah. I banged my knee getting up from the table.”

I lied. I didn’t want to reveal my true feelings in front of Emmeline. Sirius and James would tease me, but they would be supportive as well. Emmeline has a bit of a reputation of being a gossip artist. I didn’t want my feelings all over school faster than a plague.

Remus was still studying me with his blue eyes. He has short dark brown hair and blue eyes. The boys wore slacks instead of the gray skirt. They all had the same robe and uniform on.

I think Remus could sense there was more troubling me but he didn’t pressure me.

“Aww, Hillary got a boo-boo,” Emmeline cracked.

Oh yeah. She was also a smart ass as well.

James laughed and Peter, but Sirius and Remus didn’t.

“Shut up Emmeline,” Sirius growled.

Emmeline always listened to Sirius. Maybe she had a crush on him.

“We’re heading to the common room,” Lily said. “Want to come along?”

“We’re starving,” James said. “We’ll meet you later.”

“Actually,” I said thinking quickly. “I’m going to the library. I want to check up on the Sadronis potion that I was having trouble with.”

Emmeline snickered. “The Sadronis Potion? That was so easy,”

“Maybe for you,” Remus said suddenly. “But there are some people that would have trouble with it. No one is a Potions whiz like you.”

I felt a rush of gratitude toward Remus. Sirius and James grinned. Emmeline bristled but said nothing.

“Then I’ll stay with them, okay?” Lily said coming up beside me and giving me a hug. “It will be okay.”

She whispered the last part in my ear.

I smiled and then began walking past Remus.

“See you later,” I heard him call to my retreating back.

I turned and waved a good-bye before leaving the Great Hall.

Once inside the library, I found the quiet peaceful and calming. All anger seemed to have left me. I still felt a bit upset about Remus liking Jessica. She was a transfer student from Beuxbatons. She was cold and snooty, at times just like Emmeline.

But she was gorgeous. Long flowing black hair and almond shaped eyes. She had angelic features like she could probably have been a model witch and perfect lips…perfect body.

What a perfect snot, I thought bitterly as I grabbed the book on potions called “Potions: Made Easy”.

I settled down at a table and began reading.

A few minutes later, I heard giggling. I looked up. Jessica and Ted Tonks of Ravenclaw walked in holding hands. Jessica was also put into Ravenclaw.

What on earth? I wondered.

I watched them carefully as they stood in front of one of the shelves next to me. I could hear them clearly.

“Are you going to the Christmas dance?” Ted grinned.

“Absolutely…with you,” she cooed.

“I heard Remus Lupin likes you,” Ted continued.

I sat with rapt attention listening to their conversation.

“Remus? Please, he and I are just friends,” Jessica scoffed. “He hangs out with James Potter and his friends. Not exactly my social class.”

I felt a pang of relief, but also anger. How dare she compare herself to other people? Was she so high and mighty above everyone else?

Ted was silent for a moment. “Okay, I gotcha,”

“Besides, you and I are a lot more,” Jessica cooed.

Shortly after that, they were kissing.

I didn’t even realize that someone was standing in front of me.

“Hillary? How’s the potion coming along?”

It was Remus.

I jumped a mile from being startled and let out a little squeal. I ended up knocking the book onto the floor with a loud ‘thud’.

“Ssh,” Madam Pince hissed putting a finger to her lips.

Jessica and Ted appeared.

“Oh. Hi Remus,” Jessica smiled.

“Hi,” Remus said beaming.

“Are you planning on going to the Christmas party next week?” she asked sweetly.

“I think so. If I have someone to go with,” Remus replied.

“I’m going with Ted,” Jessica continued grinning. “We’re going out. Isn’t that wonderful? Hi Hillary.”

I thought that was a bit harsh and abrupt of her to just blab that out like that, but take it where it comes from.

“Hi,” I said forcing a smile.

“Well, we’ve got to go,” Jessica said as she and Ted left the library.

Remus seemed momentarily stunned, then he shook his head and sat down across from me.

“I thought you were in the Great Hall with James, Sirius, Peter, Emmeline and Lily?” I asked as I bent down to pick up the book off the floor.

“Sorry I scared you,” he said softly. “I was, but I knew something was bothering you so I decided to come and check on you.”

How sweet and caring, I thought.

“I’m fine,” I grumbled. “What did Emmeline say when you told her you were coming to check on me?”

Remus’ lip twitched. “She said that you weren’t going to die from a bumped knee. I told her to put a sock in it and stuff her face with pancakes,”

I grinned and lowered my eyes to the book.

“If you want, I could help you,” Remus offered leaning forward. His hands were inches from the book where mine were resting.

I smiled. “Thanks, I think I’ve got it now,”

He nodded and smiled.

I decided to be nonchalant.

“So, have a crush on anyone?” I asked forcing a grin.

Remus blushed a bit.

“I did, but I see that there’s no point in pursuing anything. She’s with someone,”

“Who was it?” I asked reaching into my bag for a quill and parchment.

“Jessica,” Remus said.

“Ah,” I said as I finally found the quill and parchment and began copying down what the book said about the potion.

Christmas was next week. Headmaster Dumbledore was letting us have a Christmas party next week. It was supposed to be really fun.

Remus was silent for a moment.

“What about you, Hillary? Got anyone in mind for the party?”

“Neh,” I said. “No has asked me.”

Remus looked shocked.

“Why?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t think I’ll be going anyhow,”

“Neither will I,” he added.

There was silence again.

Just then, I looked up. Emmeline was entering the library.

I sighed.

“There you are,” Emmeline said putting her arm around Remus’ shoulders. “Is she okay now?”

That wasn’t meant as a concerned question. It was more sarcastic.

“She’s fine,” Remus said narrowing his eyes.

I don’t think he liked her very much. I wonder if he just puts up with her because she likes hanging out with James and Sirius so much.

Emmeline turned her eyes onto me.

“Finally understand the potion?” she asked sweetly.

Again, there was a meaning behind her words.

“Yeah actually,” I said stiffly.

“That’s great,” Emmeline said beaming. “Too bad there isn’t a potion to take to enhance people’s IQ’s.”

She laughed after that as if she said the most funniest thing.

Was she insinuating that I was stupid?

I tilted my head to one side.

“Yeah. You would be the first test subject. What an honor,” I said coldly.

I saw Remus’ eyes twinkling.

I didn’t take my eyes off of Remus. I felt a smile forming.

“Oh. I see what’s going on here,” Emmeline cooed. “You’re in love with Remus aren’t you?”

Hello!

My eyes snapped to her. “What?” I asked in a low voice.

“You’re in love with him,” she said gleefully and joyfully.

LILY! I will kill you! I thought angrily.

I was hurt and angry at the fact that Lily told her. How else would she have known?

“That’s so cute,” Emmeline continued. “But really…someone like you?”

I was starting to shake. Remus’ eyes stopped twinkling and now anger filled them.

I stood up, and clenched my fist. I stood in front of Emmeline, drew back my arm and punched her right in the face.