Never All Together

Chapter 10: Friend of Mine

Can you read my mind?
Do you know what it is you do to me?
Wondering why you are
All the wonderful things you are.
You can fly
You belong to the sky
You and I
We belong to each other.
If you need a friend
I'm the one to fly to.
If you need to be loved
Here I am.
Read my mind.

--- Leslie Bricusse (Can You Read My Mind) ---

"Remus, could you please get that bag of valerian roots for me?" Lily asked later in Potions class, pointing to a package a few feet from her.

James sneaked a glance at the clock in the dungeons, noting that the past hour was almost up and that he needed another dose of Polyjuice Potion. His insides clenched unpleasantly at the thought of drinking that disgusting brew all over again. He didn't think he could ever rub its taste off his tongue. Nevertheless, a plan was a plan. He pulled out a small jug from his bag, uncapped it and bravely took the required volume in one large gulp, concentrating with all his strength so he wouldn't spit it out.

"Remus, could you get that bag for me, please?" Lily repeated.

James took no notice of her, still trying to calm the churning sensation in his gut. He gripped the edges of the table for support.

Lily tapped him on the shoulder. "Remus," she said once more.

James looked a bit startled. Why was Lily talking to him?

"You look ill, Remus," she commented, her vivid emerald green eyes looking into his with much more concern than he ever deserved.

"No -- I'm -- I'm fine," James answered lamely, finally remembering that he was supposed to be Remus. He almost felt jealous of the way Lily cared about his friend. "Don't worry about me."

Lily smiled at him and reached for the bag of valerian roots herself. Of the Marauders, it was Remus she best got along with. He didn't talk unnecessarily, unlike James. He didn't strut around thinking he was heaven's gift to women, unlike James. He didn't hex people for the fun of it. Unlike James.

With this last thought, she looked at James, who was working across the room. He seemed very quiet that day, which was so unlike him. Lily watched him as he worked on his own -- and surprisingly, apart from Sirius.

"So, Lily," James began conversationally as they let their solutions simmer for a while. "Has James asked you out lately?"

He almost winced at the disgruntled expression that appeared on Lily's face at the mere mention of his name.

"No, thank Merlin," Lily answered. She leaned back against one of the tables and crossed her arms. "Now, don't tell any of your friends, but I'm actually quite relieved he has not been -- you know -- talking to me. Sometimes, Potter is just too ... much."

James was staggered at her reaction. "He really is a nice guy, Lily," James defended himself. "He just acts stupid around you because he likes you a lot. I hope you give him a chance so you'll see for yourself how he really is."

Lily looked into Remus' blue eyes and gave a tinkling laugh. "I've seen a lot of James Potter, Remus, and I believe I've seen enough. Did he ask you to talk to me about him? Because if he did--"

James was feeling more disheartened by the moment, but he faked a big smile as he shook his head. "No, of course not, Lily. It's just that, well, I thought I'd help James out. With you, I mean," he added softly.

"I don't think you should waste any more effort on me," Lily remarked, glancing at James once more. This time he was talking to that new, brown-haired girl while smiling down at her. Lily swallowed and realised how good-looking he really was. If only he was a little less arrogant, a little more mature...

"What do you mean?"

Lily gestured in their direction. "He seems to be pretty friendly with that new girl already. Regina, I believe?"

James looked daggers at both Remus and Hermione, hoping they would notice. He was grateful for both their help, but did they have to ruin things right now? If Remus liked her, he should not be making his moves while he looked like him!

"You got her name right," James told Lily. "But James is just doing his job as Head Boy, making sure that Regina knows her way around school. You see, he really is responsible. He also felt he should welcome her warmly so she would immediately feel at home." He gritted his teeth as he saw Remus inch closer to Hermione. "James isn't interested in her."

"If you say so. But it really doesn't matter to me what James does." Lily shook her head in amusement. "Boy, you really stick up for each other, don't you?"

James? Not Potter? Did she just call me by my first name? He beamed at her, admiring once more how pretty she was. "That's what brothers do. So what about me -- er -- James, huh? Will you give him a chance?"

Lily sighed. "Maybe. We'll see," she answered, wanting the conversation about James to end there. "Oh, look, your potion's more bubbly than usual, isn't it? Let me help you fix that..."

* * * * * * *

It was half past eight in the Gryffindor common room that evening when James, looking like his old self once more, returned from his evening security rounds with Lily.

"Goodnight, Lily," James called before she started for the stairs to her dormitory.

Lily did not even bother looking back at him.

Sirius looked at his best friend to see how he was taking it and was surprised to see him still with a grin on his face. "Didn't Lily just ignore you?"

James plunked down on the couch next to Peter. "She's going to be paying a lot of attention to me soon, don't worry."

"Confident, aren't we?" Sirius snickered. "What made you say that?"

"Well, today at Potions, she noticed me -- I mean Remus -- being too friendly with Regina. She noticed me! I think she's somewhat jealous."

The three other Marauders burst out laughing. "Just because of that?" Remus asked.

"Yes!" James exclaimed. "It's a sign, you know. I'm getting to her. And when I asked her if she'd give James -- I mean me -- a chance, she said maybe. That's almost a yes!" He slapped Remus playfully on his shoulders. "By the way, mate, next time you want to score some points with Regina, do it when you're not looking like me. While it's helpful on one hand because I think it makes Lily jealous, I don't want her to think I'm losing interest in her."

Remus frowned. "But I wasn't cozying up to her. I was just..." His voice trailed off. "I was trying to make her feel welcome. I mean, you haven't exactly made her feel that."

James bit his lower lip, remembering what he'd told Lily. "Did you tell her I thanked her? I'm so glad our plan worked. I'm going to ask Lily out tomorrow night."

"Yes, I told Regina you were grateful for her help," Remus replied. "But she didn't think you were sincere."

James shrugged that off. "That's the least of my troubles now, Remus."

"Why didn't you ask Lily out tonight?" Peter asked.

James grinned and raked his fingers through his hair. "Because, Peter, I decided to give her some time to think things over. It just makes sense not to rush her."

Peter looked somewhat doubtful at his friend's twist of logic, as though one night wouldn't make much difference, but he nodded anyway. "I see."

"Well, good luck, James," Remus said. "I do hope you get her to say yes."

"Me too," Sirius piped in, a mischievous smile on his face. "I'd hate to plan Operation Number three hundred and seventy-nine."

James threw a couch pillow at him.

* * * * * * *

"Hi, Lily," James greeted her as she passed by during breakfast the following morning. Lily simply ignored him and walked straight to her usual place beside Alice.

"Doesn't seem like a good sign, mate," Sirius commented, buttering a piece of toast.

James shrugged. "That's just Lily being herself, Padfoot. After all, she needs to keep up her act."

Remus shook his head in incredulity. "I cannot believe how optimistic you are being." What if she says no?

"What if--" Peter tried to voice Remus' doubts, but James sharply cut him off.

"She'll say yes later. You'll see."

Silence descended upon the boys. Remus looked around the Great Hall and saw Hermione several feet away from them, eating alone and scribbling on a spare parchment.

"Regina," he called. She did not look at him. "Regina!" he repeated, louder this time.

Hermione looked at him with a dazed expression on her face, as though shaken out of deep thought. Her cheeks were flushed; it looked like she was caught doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing.

"What is it?"

Remus smiled invitingly at her. "Do you want to join us for breakfast?" he asked, gesturing at his fellow Marauders.

Hermione's eyes widened slightly. She wasn't expecting this question, and she didn't think any of the other boys were either. James was pensively staring at his plate, Sirius was busy catching the eye of a brunette seated at the Ravenclaw table, and Peter was too preoccupied with food to notice anything else. Hermione smiled wryly. "No, thanks," she called back. "I'm almost done, anyway." Besides, I don't think I'll feel any more welcome than I do now.

Remus just nodded as Hermione resumed writing. He wondered whether she had made any friends. She didn't seem to need any permanent companion, and seemed content to just hang around by herself and talk to whomever was in the vicinity. Doesn't she get lonely? How is she getting by without anything? Remus both pitied and admired her, wishing he could be her friend -- that the Marauders could be her friends too. Fat chance.

James felt Sirius nudge his foot. He wrinkled his forehead. "What?"

Sirius waggled his eyebrows and his eyes darted to Severus Snape, who was walking rapidly towards the Gryffindor table. "He seems to be heading for Evans."

James instantly swivelled around, his eyes narrowed. "Look at his robes," he observed distastefully, noting how frayed the edges were and how they hung inches above his feet.

"Well, what did you expect?" Sirius asked. "I doubt he can even afford anything to wash his -- ugh -- do you call that hair?"

James clenched his fists as he watched Lily amicably accommodate Snivellus. "How can she stand that slimy git? He called her a Mudblood two years ago!"

"Let me handle it, Prongs," Sirius said, smirking. Both Peter and Remus had also turned their attention to Snape. "I'll teach Evans not to play with fire."

James's eyes widened. "No, wait, Sirius!" he protested. The memory of that horrible night at the Shrieking Shack was still fresh in his mind, and he certainly did not want Sirius to get into trouble again. But Sirius already had his wand aimed at the hem of Severus' robes. After only a split second, in which Sirius must have cast Incendio! inside his head, Severus' uniform caught fire.

Sirius smiled secretively as he slipped his wand back inside his pocket and continued with breakfast. Despite himself, James's eyes glittered dangerously. He sat back in his chair and enjoying the sight of his enemy trying to stamp on his own short robes to put the fire out. Peter was also holding back snickers, pretending to drink so others wouldn't see the smirk on his face. Only Remus wore a somewhat concerned look, but he quickly shrugged off the guilt that ensued and simply looked away.

"Really," James said spitefully. "And I thought he was supposed to be the smartest in Slytherin. All he needs to say is Aguamenti." Severus was still stamping on his clothes and jumping up and down at the same time. "What do you say, Padfoot? Should I award you ten points for Gryffindor?"

Apparently, Lily had enough presence of mind to cast Aguamenti. She turned her wand on Severus and doused him with water, effectively killing the flames. She looked over where the Marauders were sitting and glared at them. She abruptly stood up and marched towards them, her hands on her hips.

"Don't tell me, Evans," Sirius said. "Ten points from Gryffindor for an unprovoked attack on a student!" he whined in a bossy, high-pitched voice that was a mockery of Lily's.

Lily smirked. "Make it twenty points, Black."

Sirius merely raised both his eyebrows in a mock expression of innocence, and then looked back at James, who suddenly had a worried look on his face as he watched Lily walk away. Sirius shrugged. "Next time, I'm using waterproof fire."

* * * * * * *

James's heart was pounding so loudly, he was surprised Lily did not hear it. It was almost nine o' clock. The two of them were heading back to the Gryffindor common room after their nightly security rounds, and still he had not asked her out.

He jammed his clammy hands into his pockets as they continued to walk in silence. He stifled a laugh as he wondered what everybody would say if they knew how nervous he -- the James Potter -- was at that moment. Nobody would have believed it anyway, even if he shouted it in their faces.

"Lily," he started, gently but firmly.

Lily turned to look at him, her eyebrows arched. "What is it this time?" she asked coldly.

Why is she always cross with me? James flashed his most charming smile at her, the one knew drove most girls crazy, in the hope that it would lighten her mood. "The next Hogsmeade weekend's in time for Valentine's."

"So? What if it is?" Lily was frowning now.

"Would you like to go out me?" he asked hopefully, looking straight into her lovely green eyes. I can happily drown in them. "Have lunch or something?"

Lily snorted. "As if, Potter," she retorted and started walking a little faster.

"Hey!" James said, picking up his pace too. "You didn't answer my question."

"Oh, didn't I?" she challenged. "I'll give you one guess."

James's smile widened. "Yes?"

Lily rolled her eyes at him, and even then, James could not help but appreciate what a lively shade of green they were. "Wrong again. The answer's no."

James's eyebrows jumped. "No?" he echoed. Did she just say no again to him -- the Head Boy, Quidditch Captain, and Seeker Extraordinaire? "Did I hear that right?"

"Let me spell it out for you, Potter. N-O. No."

The stunned expression remained on his face. "But you said -- you said you'd give me a chance!"

I did? Lily narrowed her eyes at him. Of course. Remus must have told him. Never, ever trust a Marauder. "You lost it when you hexed Severus this morning," she answered tartly.

James blinked. "Severus?" he repeated stupidly. Oh, right. He had forgotten that slimy git's proper first name, having called him Snivellus for most of his life. "I had nothing to do with it!" he protested. "Honest!"

"It doesn't matter," she answered skeptically. "I'm sure one of the Marauders was responsible for it. And even if it wasn't you, I doubt you regret having one of your immature friends set fire to his robes."

He frowned at her. "Why should I feel sorry for him? He's nothing but a greasy slimeball with a large, hooked nose for a horn!"

"And you're the world's biggest, most obnoxious prat!" Lily snapped back, her voice rising.

"I cannot believe this! You're actually standing up for him!"

"I'd rather go out with him too, if you want to know the truth," Lily replied nastily, although she almost gagged at the mental image of being alone with Severus. She had not forgotten the time he had called her a Mudblood even after she had defended him against the Marauders, but she treated him civilly only because she did not want to sink to his level. It was what the Marauders kept doing, and it annoyed her.

Lily did not expect the laugh that escaped his lips. She slightly drew in her shoulders as a light shiver coursed through her. His laugh was deep, throaty, and masculine; if it wasn't full of amusement directed at her, she would have thought him attractive. Almost.

James shook his head in disbelief and ran a hand through his already messy hair. "Come on, Lily. Both of us know you're lying," he answered smugly. "Every other girl in school wants to go out with me and would probably die on the spot if I asked them out."

Blood rushed straight to her head at his words. This was exactly what she hated about Potter. He was never sincere. He showered her with his attention only because she never showed any sign of wanting any of it.

"I am not any other girl, Potter."

James broke into one of his infuriating, know-it-all grins. "Of course I know that, Lily. In fact, you're quite extraordinary. It's why I like you, and why I keep asking you out. If you'd just say yes, I'd stop bugging you." He was tapping one foot on the floor and was wearing a contented look on his face, like he was confident she was going to say yes any moment now.

Damn her if she would.

Lily turned on her heels and sped towards the portrait of the Fat Lady. She heard his quick footsteps behind her.

"Lily--"

She whirled around one last time to face him, her eyes shooting off sparks. James cowered somewhat and stepped back.

"For the last time, idiot, I said no. Now leave me alone," she whispered steely. She couldn't have sounded more alarming if she had shouted.

"House Cup," Lily sharply told the Fat Lady afterwards.

The portrait swung open to admit her, and she stomped her way inside. James trailed behind, still looking petrified at how awry things had gone. Once he was inside, James closed the door weakly behind him, his distraught hazel eyes following Lily as she marched to the stairs leading to her dormitory. His fellow Marauders, who were lounging about near the fire, looked up at the sudden change in the air. Hermione, who was comfortably curled up on a couch and reading a book she had borrowed from Remus, need not look at Lily's stormy expression to sense the hostility she and James had brought into the room.

They all listened to Lily's disappearing footsteps, glancing at each other warily and at James, who remained standing by the door. It was like waiting for a time bomb to explode. Only when they heard an upstairs door slam did Sirius breathe an audible sigh of relief. The bang shook James out of his stupefied silence. He dragged his feet to the couch, slumped on an empty spot next to Remus, and stared sullenly into the fire.

"Don't tell me," Sirius said. "She said no?"

Remus scowled at him and looked carefully at James. "What happened, mate?" he asked offhandedly.

"You heard him," James replied shortly.

"She said no?"

James threw Peter an exasperated glance before retorting, "If she said otherwise, would I be sitting here, grumpily answering your stupid questions?"

Everyone fell quiet, and the only sound that could be heard in the room came from the crackling of the flames. James reached out and tossed a piece of wood into the fire.

"Was it really that bad?" Remus inquired.

James laughed derisively as he leaned back again. "I didn't think she disliked me that much, or even that seriously."

"Were you arrogant with her again?" Remus asked once more.

"What do you mean?" James replied irritably. He was in no mood to be interrogated.

Remus sighed and said wryly, "Did you, by any chance, say anything about her refusal to go out with you being her loss?" There was a time not too long ago that James ended up being slapped hard on the face after telling Lily exactly that. Remus doubted his friend had yet learned his lesson.

"No, of course not!" James reacted violently. "Why would I do that?"

"How about mentioning the many other girls who would want to go out you?" Remus asked.

James was about to deny the allegation a second time, but his words suddenly came back to him. His eyes widened in realisation, and his shoulders hunched in defeat. "Uh -- yes. I think I might have said that," he admitted, mentally slapping himself. Wrong move again, Potter.

Sirius snickered. No wonder Lily had been so angry.

"Hey, it just came out," James added defensively. "After she said she would rather go out with Snape. That was some bombshell she threw at me."

"She's crazy," Peter said scornfully. "Who would want to go out with Snape?"

Remus groaned. "James, how many times have I told you that she's just trying to rile you each time she does that? You didn't have to call her bluff."

"You do it then, if you're so smart," James muttered. "It's not as if she's the easiest girl to get along with."

Sirius smirked. "I think you should draw up a list of the things James must not say in front of Evans, Moony. Have him memorize a script or something."

James glowered at him. "That's downright pathetic. I don't need that."

"There's no point blaming Prongs," Peter interjected firmly before either Sirius or Remus could say anything that could incite James further. "What's done is done."

Quiet followed Peter's words, and for some time the four of them just gazed broodingly at the fire. Hermione watched them from behind the book she was supposedly reading, intrigued by the varying brands of friendship that existed among the four. Sirius was obviously James's best friend, which was why he had the liberty of teasing him openly without hurting his feelings. Remus was the more prudent one, careful with his words and actions. And Peter, he undoubtedly looked up so much to James, that it pained Hermione to know he was going to betray him later on.

"Well, do we have Operation Number three hundred and seventy-nine?" Sirius asked, grinning cheekily.

James turned to glare at his so-called best friend, but ended up laughing the night's troubles away. Sirius' flippancy always cheered him up. "It was my fault, I guess," he said sheepishly.

"No, it was Lily's fault," Peter declared with utmost certainty. His three friends looked at him curiously. "I mean, James is a great guy. If she doesn't see that--"

James gave another laugh and patted Peter on the shoulder. "It's fine with me now, mate. I can always try again."

"Next time you should show her just how great a guy you are," Hermione butted in, unable to keep silent any longer. "If you really are, I mean," she added hastily, colouring faintly.

"Nobody asked for your opinion." Sirius was quick on her case once more, as usual.

Hermione merely shrugged off Sirius' rudeness as though she was completely used to it. "You needed a girl's perspective, so I gave you one," she told James. "You don't have to take my word for it." Odd as it was for her to keep on trying to help James get together with Lily when she wanted the man for herself, those were the only times he really ever looked at her. She wasn't about to pass up small opportunities such as those, and would rather take everything she could get, in the hope that maybe -- just maybe -- he would finally notice her in a different way. In that way.

It was almost comical, really, bending time to her will just to be with him. Only she seemed to have chosen a time when he didn't want to be with her. Never the time and place and the loved one, all together. But even so, Hermione did not feel any need to rush things, or to give up and flip the Time-Turner nineteen times forward to return to her own time. She wouldn't despair that easily. She had to hold out. Just in case.

Just in case Lily Evans decided to break James Potter into pieces, she had to be there to catch them.

"I have no problem getting girls to come on to me," Sirius said, his casual voice an attempt at humility. "My difficulties usually lie with fighting them off when they get a little too demanding."

Very mature. Hermione resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him. "This isn't about you, Sirius. Besides, I notice you don't seem to have any trouble warding off Lily Evans."

Sirius started to say he didn't care much about Evans anyway, but James held up one hand to stop him.

"Go on, then," James told Hermione patiently, playing along with her. "What do you propose I do?"

Hermione sat up a little straighter, a little surprised at James's reaction. She shrugged again, momentarily at a loss for words. "Just be yourself," she ended up saying vaguely.

James looked taken aback at her suggestion. "I am myself around her, thank you very much."

"No, you're not," Remus answered quietly. "You show off so she'll notice you, and in the process end up looking more obnoxious than you really are. Come to think of it, you don't really need to do that, because you already stand out just the way you are. Regina's right. You are a great guy, but it wouldn't matter if she can't see that. So you have to make her see that."

Sirius snorted. "You're really good at playing the shrink, Moony. How's Prongs supposed to do that? Be nice? As in Moony-nice?"

Remus smiled slightly at his analogy. "Somewhat, yeah."

"But if I try to be Moony-nice," James said, "then that's just like not being myself." He grinned. "Especially since Moony is quite a tough act to follow."

Peter turned to look intently at James. "But you are nice, James. You always help me with schoolwork. With everything."

Sirius frowned as James laughed, although a little uneasily, at Peter's words. When is he going to outgrow buttering up to Prongs? If this doesn't stop soon, he'll be starting a James Potter fan club. Creepy.

"I understand what you're saying, Remus," James said, returning to the topic at hand. "But we already tried that, albeit indirectly. Operation Number three hundred and seventy-eight, which we put into action just yesterday, remember? In a way, I was Moony-nice for one day because you were me that day. But that didn't make Lily warm up to me. Not enough to say yes, anyway."

"I would have thought it was obvious why," Hermione said impatiently. "It didn't work because it was fake! You weren't sincere!"

"And if I try to be Moony-nice, to be caring and warm and compassionate towards everybody, would I be real? Would that make me sincere?" James's voice had grown louder and more forceful.

Hermione bit her lower lip. "It could, if you would just mean it," Hermione answered quietly. "I know you know how."

A thoughtful silence fell over the group. James was staring at Hermione as though he had never seen anybody like her. Does she really think I'm that ... good inside? He was so used to being called an egotistic jerk by most people who did not really know him; it was bizarre that she, whom he really knew only by name and for a mere couple of days, thought of him that way. Maybe she's just like Moony and Dumbledore, always ready to believe the best in people.

James sighed and ran his hand through his hair, somewhat calming down. "So how long do I have to keep up the act?"

Hermione smiled, which surprised everybody. She knew she had won. I can see through him. "Call it an act, if you will," she told him, a maddening, knowing twinkle in her eyes, "but you have to keep it up for at least a couple of weeks."

"Two weeks?" James repeated, nonplussed. "That long?"

"I believe you'll find it comes easier with practice," Hermione quipped, still smiling. "If it isn't already innate in you."

"I think it's actually just right, James," Remus contributed. "A fortnight is enough to come across as convincing. Hopefully."

Sirius was getting more annoyed with each passing second, but he struggled to keep his mouth closed. It seemed like more than one romantic match was being designed at the moment. Of course he agrees with Regina. He always does.

Hermione smiled gratefully at Remus as their eyes met. Thanks for sticking up for me.

Remus smiled back at her, getting the message and noticing the dimple on her left cheek. You're welcome.

James stifled a smirk at the subtle exchange between the two. "So what am I going to do after two weeks?"

"That's easy," Hermione answered brightly. "Once you think you've got Lily convinced, ask her again. Go all out. You know the works -- flowers, chocolates, a teddy bear, maybe even some romantic music..."

James looked horrified. "I am not a sap!"

"Of course you're not," Hermione replied amusedly. "But you'd do anything to win Lily over, wouldn't you?"

James looked at Sirius for help, but even he seemed to mulling over Hermione's suggestion. "For once, I'm going to agree with you," he told Hermione, grinning. "She's right, mate. Girls do dig flowers, chocolate, the whole lot. It would be the perfect ending to the perfect plan."

"Not really," Peter said. "The perfect ending would be Lily's yes."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Do you really always strive to be politically correct?"

"Sirius, that's enough," James said, cutting their petty squabble short. He turned to Hermione and sighed. "Fine. I'll go along with your plan."

"Wait a moment, Prongs. I feel it's my duty as your best friend to warn you that you are running the risk of ruining your reputation." Sirius smirked at him.

"Never mind that. After all, you're really the one with an image to take care of," James said. "So, do you have any more instructions I should remember?" he asked Hermione.

Hermione tilted her head to one side and pursed her lips. "There's one more thing." She restrained herself from grinning, knowing that what she was about to say was going to cause an uproar. "No pranks should be played for the whole of two weeks -- and yes, that includes pointing your wands in directions other than Snape's."

Cries of protest, as expected, were heard from Sirius, James and Peter, while Remus only smiled in response. Only he saw it coming.

"That's rubbish!" Sirius exclaimed. He turned to James. "Prongs, surely you agree things are going way too far?"

"Bollocks! How can you suggest that we keep ourselves from our favorite form of entertainment?" Peter whined. "That's too much to ask! And all for a girl!"

That's nothing compared to what I did to be with a man. "Find alternative ways of amusing yourselves, then," Hermione answered. "You need your friends' cooperation in this, James. All four of you are always held responsible for whatever each one of you does."

James smiled ruefully. "She's right, you know," he said, earning wintry looks of disapproval from his friends. "Remember when I said I asked Lily if she would give me a chance, and she said maybe? I reminded her of that a while ago when she refused me once more, but she said I lost my chance when I hexed Snape this morning." He glanced sideways at Sirius. "And I certainly didn't curse Snivellus."

Sirius exhaled noisily. "All right, stop the guilt trip," he conceded gruffly. "Two weeks, mate. Only for two weeks."

"There's no guarantee Snape wouldn't hex us, especially with our backs turned," Peter argued. "If that happens, we are so allowed to jinx him senseless, whether you agree or not."

Hermione tossed one hand carelessly in the air. "It's your call," she told Peter nonchalantly. She closed Remus' book with a snap, stood up and handed it back to him. "Here, thanks for letting me borrow it."

Remus' wolf-sharp olfactory senses caught a waft of the vanilla scent she wore, and he had to resist inhaling more deeply. Instead, he gave her another warm smile. "Don't mention it."

"I'm turning in," Hermione announced, concealing a yawn with the palm of her hand. "Good night." She flashed one quick smile at the Marauders before sauntering off to the stairs to her dormitory. Things are looking up.

"Hey, Regina," James called after her.

She turned and waited expectantly for him to say something.

"Thank you," he said genially, smiling at her.

Hermione smiled softly, treasuring the moment. It was, after all, the first real smile he had given her in his time. She merely nodded in acknowledgement and resumed walking towards the stairs. Things are definitely looking up.

Sirius waited for Hermione to be out of earshot before speaking. "What a know-it-all." Remus opened his mouth to speak in Hermione's defence, but Sirius immediately added, "I know you think she's incredible, Moony. We don't have to agree."

Remus flushed. "She has a good head on her shoulders, doesn't she? I'm glad she was able to share some of her sense with you," he told James.

"Right. It was her fabulously rational savvy that attracted you," Sirius said skeptically.

That, and her fiery coffee-coloured eyes, and the dimple that appears whenever she smiles... A small smile curved his lips, but Remus did not bother saying the words aloud.

Sirius pondered Remus for one more moment and then grinned. "Well, mate, you know what to do. Chocolate, flowers, teddy bear, and maybe romantic music -- you know the works." He winked.

Remus laughed and shook his head. Sirius was just impossible sometimes. He glanced at James, who was staring at the fire once more, his features lit up with renewed hope. He smiled and leaned back against the couch, a feeling of serenity sweeping over him.

Thank you, Regina.