The Witnesses

Tea Leaves and Tempting Fate

He woke up late on September second. Looking at his wristwatch, James jumped, seeing that he was already ten minutes late to breakfast. He threw on his robes and tried to flatten his hair, knowing it wouldn't work. He rushed downstairs, and finding the common room empty, he grabbed his timetable and rushed off to his first class.

"I'll kill them, not waking me up, what the hell..." James muttered incoherently to himself, rushing out through the portrait hole and to his first class. James reached into his robe pocket for his timetable. "Great," he thought. "Divination."

As James ran through the secret passageway he and his friends always used to get to the North tower, he tried desperately to make his hair look semi decent, resorting to wetting it down with a bit of water he shot out of his wand. He conjured up a mirror, and looked in it. No good. He sighed, rushing down the passageway.

Divination meant one thing for James, Professor Carmina Somnia. She was a strangely positive person, predicting death with a smile on her face, and sending a student into the headmaster's office while laughing. Not that she was sadistic, she was just happy, and a bit bizarre. Since third year, James had been dodging detention and expulsion in her class; he had a reputation as a bit of a trouble maker. And it didn't help that Lily was in his class. Over the past two years, James had dated Lily almost exclusively, with the memorable exception on Cara D'Angelis, but over the summer, James had somehow gotten her extremely angry with him. He wasn't exactly sure what he had said, but it had been a month since Lily had written him, and she hadn't even said hi the day before. Sighing, he made up his mind to start seventh year by apologising. Summoning his nerves, James quietly opened the portrait wall hole that lead out of the passageway and into the North tower where his class was. He looked around to see Lily pausing to search through her bag. Quietly, he crept up behind her, and she flipped her long red hair, brushing it accidentally against his face.

"Hey, Lily, watch the hair!" James said, grinning at the mass of wavy auburn hair which had just blown a rather intoxicating scent across his face. Lily was, of course, in Gryffindor with him, and had been a close friend since first year, but lately he constantly had to struggle not to blush and make a fool of himself in front of her. He smiled at the expression on her face. He knew it looked to Lily like he had appeared out of nowhere, and that was his idea of a good impression. Besides, she should be used to that sort of thing, after seven years of life with the Marauders.

"Sorry." Lily apologized, not sounding like she meant it.

"Late, on your first day?" she said skeptically.

"Not exactly early either, are you, Red?" Lily climbed into the North Tower room on the silvery staircase, James following rolling his eyes at her sarcasm.

Inside the tower, Professor Somnia had already started her lecture.

"Miss Evans, Mr. Potter, you are late to class. As we have already selected partners for tea reading, you two may work together over there." She smiled and turned back to the class. "Now, you pour the tea..." James saw Lily shoot an apologetic look at her friend Celeste Warick, who gave her a look of great pity. Celeste had been dating Sirius Black, James' best friend, since sixth year, and the two of them had the oddest love/hate relationship James had ever seen, fighting or breaking up one minute, and kissing extravagantly the next. James never quite knew how to act towards her, being best friends with Sirius, and not wanting to offend him if the two were fighting.

He laughed to himself. He knew why Celeste was looking like she pitied Lily.

It was common knowledge that partnering with him or one of his friends meant getting in trouble for one reason or another. James walked over to a table in the corner, and sat down. Lily turned back to where James was waiting, and sat down, looking resigned to the fact that she was doomed to be yelled at by Professor Somnia.

"Sorry, Lily. I guess you'll have to put up with me today." He smiled in a very satisfied way, as Lily made an overly dramatic noise of irritation.

James laughed and poured the tea. He drank it in one huge gulp, and peered at the leaves with one eye.

"Here, you read it."

Lily took out her divination book and opened it. She looked into the cup, seeing a perfectly flat row of tea leaves. That meant absolutely nothing.

Lily sighed and looked up at the messy black hair and bright blue eyes looking at her.

"There's nothing in this cup. Proves what I already know, you have no future." James chuckled at the familiar teasing, and watched as Lily took a dainty sip of tea.

"C'mon! Drink faster! This is going to take all day!" He tapped his hand impatiently on the table, and Lily took a huge gulp in imitation of him though not completing the gulp as expertly as James. A large quantity of tea slashed down the front of her robes. James grabbed it out of her hand impatiently, and pretended not to see the indignant look on her face as he examined it. Looking at the tea, James gulped, and turned serious.

"Hmm... you've got a nice squishy lump of tea... that means that someone is missing you." James looked at her with a manic glint in his eyes, trying to mask the nerves he was feeling. In response, he saw Lily deftly raise an eyebrow. He continued, with a tinge of nervousness in his usually calm baritone voice. "Yeah...he feels like a jerk, and is miserable, and is very, very sorry."

"Oh really?" said Lily, in a neutral voice. She looked at James, and he panicked internally, not really being able to read her expression. He tried to look charming as he spoke, putting the cup back down on the table.

"Lily, please. Just listen to me. I'll admit I'm a little confused over why exactly you were upset with me, but this has been the longest, most horrible summer of my life. I truly am sorry, whatever it is, will you just please reconsider?" Abandoning caution, James continued, looking Lily straight into her emerald eyes.

"I read your tea leaves, and after all, they did say you would take me back, I think it might be illegal to change the future when you time travel, so shouldn't it be illegal to change the possible future?" James kicked himself mentally. He knew that speech had some out desperate and confusing, not in the least the impression he was going for. He was trying to think of a way to disappear, when he finally saw Lily smile.

"Shall I tempt fate a bit, then?" he said, cautiously, and Lily nodded. He pulled her close to him, and after a moment of just looking at those brilliant green eyes, he kissed her. Timidly at first, then, sensing no negative reaction from Lily, more passionately. It was his best kiss yet, he thought through a cloud of pleasure, and that was quite a statement coming from James Potter. It was the end of a horrible summer, and somehow the culmination of two years of love, tied into a passionate, forgiving kiss.

James was in heaven. He broke the embrace after a goodish while, and turned around, only to see a very amused Professor Somnia standing over him, and to hear the normally chattering class in complete silence. James gulped, aware of everyone's eyes on him.

"It's nice to see you children have been enjoying my class." The rest of the class laughed, and a couple of boys hooted and cheered. James ran a hand through his hair and blushed, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Well, we were reading our tea leaves, and the cup predicted it..." James tried to justify his actions. The class laughed and Somnia smiled good-naturedly.

"I think we should separate the lovebirds for now, Miss Evans, I assume you will concentrate on the assignment better with Miss Warick. And Mr. Potter, can you refrain from kissing Mr. Black if I pair you two?" The class hooted with laughter, and James turned even redder. Sirius Black was howling with laughter over in his corner where he had been working with Celeste. James and Lily smiled at each other one last time, and Lily gathered her books, passing Sirius on the way to sit with Celeste. Sirius tried to keep from laughing as he sat down next to James.

"Lily Potter, hmm. Has a nice ring to it. I must say, Prongs, it's good to see you two snogging again. It seemed, unnatural for you two not to be joined at the mouth on eth train today." James punched him in the arm, and got a reproving look from Professor Somnia. The class went quickly as the two boys joked over the cups of tea, making fun of their eccentric teacher.

Occasionally James heard a remark about the "development in the school love scene." Unfortunately, Sirius' bad timing kicked in as he imitated Professor Somnia as she stood right in back of him. James tried to signal him to shut up, with no success.

"Mr. Black, I would like a word with you. Mr. Potter, you may leave. Class dismissed!"

James rushed outside ahead of Lily, as the rest of the class filed by. She was the last to leave, beside Sirius and Celeste, who he assumed waited for her boyfriend upstairs. Lily walked down the ladder, and turned to find James waiting for her on the landing.

"Hey, you're not mad at me, are you, Lily?" James tried his best to look serious, and the attempt just didn't cut it. Lily stifled a smile.

"You got me in trouble!"

"I, well..." He tried to read her expression, wondering whether she was serious or not.

"Hey, I'm just kidding. James, I was still mad because of Cara, if you must know." James spluttered, entirely confused.

"What? I broke up with her before exams last year!" Lily blushed, and looked at the ground.

"I know, but I guess I was still upset, you know, it was hard for me, when you were dating her." She fell silent, and James squirmed guiltily. He hadn't particularly enjoyed his time with Cara, but he had also not really considered Lily at the time.

"There were no feelings there, I assure you. She was criminally insane, Red!

And trust me, there wasn't even anything....you know, we didn't..." Lily smiled at Jame's embarassment.

"It's okay, I know you're over her. I think I always knew...I just needed some time to think." She looked at him, silently for a moment.

"I love you James, don't forget it. I'm sorry I didn't apologise sooner, and I hope you fogive me." In response, James kissed her again, lightly on her forehead. He sighed. It was amazing how he had forgotten how good it felt to kiss Lily in those few months apart. breathed again, and there was a bit of an awkward silence, and the two looked at the ground.

"So, what does this make us?" James looked right in her eyes.

"Um, I'm not sure." She was picking her words carefully.

"Can we be a couple?" He didn't even bother to hide the hopeful look he knew was on his face, it was a lost cause.

"I would like that." James smiled in what he correctly guessed was a rather stupid way, but he didn't care, he was happy beyond belief. He looked at Lily, content just to stand on the landing for quite a while longer, just him and Lily. But the fates were against that plan, as the trap door opened overhead and a very bemused looking Celeste dropped down.

"Really Sirius, it's your first class of the year, and you get a detention? Honestly, that's pretty bad, even for you." Celeste scowled at the calm look on her boyfriend's face.

"Don't you care at all?"

"No." Sirius smiled happily, and Celeste threw up her hands in disgust.

"C'mon Lily. We'll be late for potions." Celeste grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her away from James.

"See you in potions, then?" James called after her.

"Um, yeah...bye!" Lily turned back to Celeste and the two girls walked down the corridor. After looking somewhat in a trance after Lily, James turned back to his friend.

"Detention, already?" James looked impressed that anyone could be so stupid as to get detention on the first day of school. Sirius laughed it off.

"Yeah. I have to wash tea cups tonight. I made plans with Celeste, that's what's got her..." James sighed and pulled out his wand, tapping a portrait on the wall.

"Abreis." The portrait swung open, and James and Sirius disappeared into the hole.

"Damnit Sirius, I thought this one didn't change direction!" Much to the irritation of James, the secret passage no longer seemed to lead to the potions dungeon, but rather to an empty room James had never seen before. Sirius and James had given up, and were following the passage back to the tower, where the two could safely get back to the dungeon, where they had the next class. Sirius frowned.

"So did I, where are we?"

"How should I know? We're in the middle of a Goddamn wall, genius."

"Calm down! We have ten minutes! What's wrong with you?" James relaxed.

"I don't know..." he said.

"Just breathe!" Sirius inspected the wall.

"Here it is." James looked where Sirius was pointing, and sure enough, there was the outline of the portrait hole. He tapped his wand on it again, coming back into the North Tower.

"Come on, we have a ways to go!" James broke off at a run, down staircases, through trick doors, and finally entering the potions room.

***

Professor Veneno was a kindly, enthusiastic man of about 40. His potions class was a favorite among students, and coached school Quidditch as well as a summer Quidditch league in Dover. He smiled at the students entering the class, and walked to the front of the room behind the podium. As usual, Sirius and James were nowhere to be seen. Some things never changed. He raised his voice to the chattering Gryffindors and Ravenclaws.

"One minute until I start marking you late!" There was a bit of a scramble for the seats as the last people filed into the room. Just as Professor Veneno raised his wand to mark the beginning of class, Sirius and James rushed in and sat down. How typical.

"Ah, good of you to join us, Mr. Potter, Mr., Black."

"Well, we aren't late, are we?" Sirius protested, expecting another detention.

"No, technically not. And I'm in a good mood today, so we'll leave it at that. Welcome to another year at Hogwarts, hopefully an interesting one.

Today, We're going to start relatively simple, and mix a flying potion. It's fun stuff, and easier to carry around than a broomstick. Have a look."

Professor Veneno reached into his robes and pulled out a small crystal jar with a bubbling bluish silver liquid in it. " Here are the recipes, I'll be up here if you need help." With a flick of his wand, everyone in the classroom was holding a parchment with a list of ingredients on it.

The class went to work quickly. In one corner of the room, Lily, Celeste, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter Pettigrew were busily working on the potion.

"Hey, where were you, Remus? You missed a very, uh, interesting lesson."

Sirius smirked at Lily and James, who blushed, avoiding each other's eyes.

"I'm not taking Divination, I'm in Arithmancy this year, told you that a hundred times. What did I miss?"

"Oh nothing, just James and Lily here got caught snogging in class." James kicked Sirius in the shin, and he grimaced in pain.

"It's about time. I was wondering when you two were going to make up." Remus smiled at James and then turned back to his cauldron, completely unphased by the new coupling at Hogwarts.

"Hmm. Mine's a bit on the green side, you suppose that's a problem?" Peter scratched his head as Lily bent over his cauldron to get a better look.

"I don't think so, just add some more leechweed and it should be fine."

"Lily, is it done?" Celeste was starting at her cauldron, a bit confused.

Lily glanced at the cauldron, which was shimmering blue and silver.

"I think so." She ladled out a bit into a porcelain mug.

"Cheers!" Lily raised the cup, and drank, making a horrible face.

"Ugh, it's very sour.." James watched as she trailed off her sentence and her feet left the ground. He picked up the mug and drank it. Lily was right, the potion was disgusting.

"Nice job Miss Evans! Anyone else done?" Celeste began to float up to the ceiling also, following James. Soon the whole classroom was full of people floating up near the stone ceiling of the dungeon. Professor Veneno floated up to join them, and shot a large amount of green sparks from his wand to get attention.

'Class is almost over, so I'll be sending you down now. Why don't you each keep a bottle of this stuff? Have some fun with it. It only lasts for a half hour, so you should be floating down..." A Ravenclaw squeaked as she started to fall to the ground. "Now. When you hit the floor, you're dismissed to lunch. Gryffindors who want to play Quidditch for your house, or who are currently on the house team, stay after for a few minutes, please. Have a nice day!" Most of the students filed out. Lily, James, and Sirius stayed behind.

Professor Veneno looked disappointed.

"No one new trying out? I hope we have good first years..." James spoke up.

"What did you want, Professor?"

"Well, I wanted new recruits, but you three will have to do." Professor Veneno laughed. "Eh, you guys are good. All right. Our first game is against Ravenclaw, and they're a damn good team. We need new recruits though. You guys will have to train hard this next week. James, you'll know the new Chaser as soon as tryouts are over. As for the beater, Sirius, you'll pick a new beater at tryouts, obviously. Oh, and please try not to be so enthusiastic this year. You hit the bludgers with the bats, not the other team with the bats! Sirius smiled a bit sheepishly.

"That's just Slytherin I hit ..."

"Whatever, Sirius. Just concentrate a bit more, please! Get the tryouts over as soon as possible, we only have two weeks to get ready, and we need to win. It's been six year Gryffindor house cup, so let's stay with that record, okay?"

"Professor Veneno?" Lily raised her voice a bit.

"Yes Miss Evans?"

"What about the team captain?" Professor Veneno pondered quietly for a moment, looking at each team member and sizing them up.

"I'll get back to you on that one, Miss Evans. I'll have a decision by tonight, okay?"

There was a murmur of assent.

"Good. You all can go eat now." The remnants of the Gryffindor team voiced their agreement, and walked out of the potions room, talking excitedly.

"I'll bet Tom Kildare makes the team." Sirius seemed very confidant about that.

"Who's that?" asked Lily. James tried not to stare at her too much as he replied.

"He's a fourth year, damn good beater. I saw him playing with some other fourth years, there are a lot of good people in that year."

"Well, we need the talent. Three is a lot of graduates, not to mention we need substitutes." Lily looked a bit nervous.

"And all this in two weeks...on top of everything else we have going on." said James, catching Sirius' eye secretly. He noticed a confused look on Lily's face.

"What else?"

"Oh, nothing. Well, you for one!" James rolled his eyes and pretended to be annoyed with Lily, making her laugh.

"Just what I need, a girlfriend again!" Lily laughed and walked over to James, giving him a playful shove.

"Hey, I was your idea."

"You could have said no!"

"But I didn't." James looked at Lily again, and out of nowhere, she kissed him quickly on the cheek, much to the amusement of Sirius.

"Save it for the wedding! And hurry up! I'm starved!" The trio walked towards the great hall, laughing and joking.