I had always tried to put the past in the past. Forgive and forget, just leave it dead and gone. Right now I couldn’t. I hated Benjy Fenwick at this moment, and I rarely used the word hate, it was too strong to describe someone’s feelings. The only thing before this incident that I hated was James Potter, and for some reason I can’t hate him now. Maybe I can only hate one thing at a time.
It was like all the feelings I had previously had for Potter had reversed and now Benjy was at the butt end of all my sarcastic comments. He deserved them.
He had practically yelled at James saying that I slept with him, stupid bastard. Thank Merlin that so far no one has heard about “the incident.” I saw Marlene walking towards me from the corner of my eye, and I quickly shuffled the page I had been scribbling my notes on to the bottom of my papers when Marlene sat down next to me.
“What’s up darling?” She asked.
“Not much, studying.” I replied trying to keep a steady tone.
“Eww...”She complained, “Lily you study way too much.”
“I take offence to that!” I cried throwing my hands up in the air to emphasize my point.
“Well you should.” Marlene replied grinning from ear to ear. “You should really get out of this library more often, and then you’d know what someone did this morning.”
I tried to keep the grin off my face. “What’d someone do?”
Marlene adjusted her position so that she would be able to talk as fast as possible without being uncomfortable. A position I like to call her “Gossip stature.”
“Well, Fabian Prewett, Sirius Black, Caradoc Dearborn, as well as you know who...and by you know who I mean Benjy Fenwick, were all found dangling by their arses above the Great Hall, on the ceiling!” She laughed. “And they all say that they know nothing about it! It was hilarious watching Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick try to get them down, apparently the permanent sticking charm was used, so they all had to take their pants off in order to get down.”
I laughed out loud thinking about the permanent sticking charm I had found a few months ago. I knew it would come in handy sometime.
“Did you know that Fabian wears pink boxers with hearts on them, and that Sirius wears Quidditch boxers that have beaters flying all over the place. I could not stop laughing for at least an hour. It was the funniest thing I’ve seen all year.” Marlene finished, taking a deep breath before starting up again.
“Everyone was saying it was the Marauders but I don’t think it was, why would they put Sirius up there, I mean, he’s practically their leader. I think that it was either the Slytherin’s or Gossip Witch. I’m personally hoping it’s the Slytherin’s because then we get to watch them get into shit with the Professors.”
I shook my head and smirked a little. “I think it was the Slytherin’s too.”
“But you didn’t even see what happened because you were studying.” She told me using air quotes around the word studying.
I rolled my eyes, “I know, but from what I’ve heard it just has to be the Slytherin’s.”
“Yeah,” Marlene agreed, nodding her head slightly.
I chuckled, “Let me get back to work now.”
“Fine, but I’m not telling you any more gossip I may stumble upon.” She grumbled sticking her nose in the air before getting up.
“Sure you won’t...” I replied cheekily. I watched as Marlene muttered something about my un-great fullness and sped off no doubt in search of a certain Mr. Black.
*-*-*
“Potter!” I shrieked. “What in Merlin’s name do you think you’re doing?” I asked between gritted teeth.
“Why my dear flower, I am just teaching old Snivelly here a much needed lesson.”
I guess things don’t ever change.
“Put-him-down...now!” I spat between deep calming breaths that were more like gasps for air. I promised Alice and Marlene I wouldn’t blow up at him again today, so much for that. “Potter!” I threatened.
“Only if you go out with me! Say you will and I’ll put Snivelly down just for you my Lilkins!” James practically broke out into song.
“Count to ten Lily. Count to ten.” I muttered to myself. “Take a deep breath in Lily and count, 10...9...Stupid prat...8....I wish I could just hex him into oblivion...7....oh screw this! It takes too long!”
“What was that?” James asked, only hearing bits of my mumbling.
“Potter! You are Head Boy for Merlin’s sake. You need to set a freakin example for the younger kids! Now put him down now! Don’t make me give the Head Boy a detention.”
“I would gladly accept detentions every night for the rest of the year as long as you go out with me.” He replied cheekily waggling his eyebrows.
“Potter...” I growled.
He just laughed, “You look so adorable when you’re mad.”
“Detention!” I screamed, “For a week! And 20 points off Gryffindor for this behaviour!”
“Lily!!” He exclaimed running over to me, dropping Snape in the process. “Why would you take points off your own house!”
“Because I needed to.” I explained simply. I was surprised with myself, hexing James Potter didn’t work...but using my Head Girl privileges on him did...I should count to 10 more often, well, at least 7.
“Goodbye Potter.”And with those last words I turned on my heal and headed for the Great Hall. By the time I reached the doors I hadn’t managed to hide the grin on my face. I was positively glowing! I had never once, not in all my years at Hogwarts been able to control my anger like I just did.
I saw Marlene and Alice point in my direction and I rolled my eyes. “Hello ladies,” I greeted and sat next to Marlene.
“Who are you and what have you done with Lily Evans?” Marlene questioned shaking my shoulders.
“Relax. It’s me.” I rolled my eyes again.
“Well why are you grinning ear to ear?”Marlene asked.
“There were no tests today, no trip to Hogsmeade...what has got you so happy woman?!” Alice exclaimed throwing her hands up in the air.
“I just took house points of Gryffindor!” I grinned watching as their faces contorted, they were clearly confused at my tactics.
“But Lily,” Marlene whispered, “You do know that Gryffindor is your own house, right?”
I gave her a blank expression. “Of course I do, I was just merely punishing Potter for his stupid behaviour.”
“But really,” Alice complained, “your own house? Why would you sink that low Lily?”
“Potter was hexing Severus again so I took points off and gave him detention for a week.” I answered.
“Can you even do that?” Marlene asked.
I shrugged my shoulders, “I dunno, it worked.”
Just as I went to grab my pumpkin juice I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Lily Evans, long time no see.”
I inwardly groaned “Hello and goodbye Benjy.”
“Aww, but I know how much you love my company, why so hostile?”
I glowered at him as he sat down and made himself comfortable.
Marlene looked between us, and then back down at her plate awkwardly. Thanks, so much for being the blunt out-going best friend you usually are.
“Well....”Marlene started looking extremely uncomfortable.
I gave her a look of desperation.
“I guess I’ll...go now!” She blurted out standing and knocking her juice over.
“I’ll join you.” I growled, glaring at Benjy as I stood up and collected my books.
“I’ll talk to you later Evans!” Benjy called after me.
*-*-*
It was 1:15 am, and I was supposed to be sleeping, supposed to be, being the key words. I was awake, wide awake. I didn’t have a single cup of coffee the entire day, and I still wasn’t tired. I finished my translations for ancient runes, my essay for Transfiguration and I learned how to change my hair colour with a new spell I learned from Witch Weekly.
I adjusted my body and rolled over, sighing in discomfort and mental anguish. Why was Benjy being such a prat, better yet, why hadn’t James hexed him? Wait a second.
I bolted straight up, and knew that an evil smirk was creeping onto my face. What if I got James, shit, I mean Potter to do my dirty work for me, for Gossip Witch too. I could kill two birds with one stone.
I threw the covers off my body and grabbed my cloak. I tip toed across the room, hoping I didn’t wake the girls when I tripped on the rug. I needed to do some research.
*-*-*
I opened the Library door and poked my head out, several books in hand I ran across the open corridor and a more secluded one. I decided I’d start my research in the Astronomy tower; I liked the cool breeze that passed through the half open windows at night.
Once I reached the tower, I dropped the books and caught my breath. I never realized how far the Astronomy tower actually is from the rest of the school. I pulled my cloak closer to my body and leaned against the wall, enjoying the moment of peaceful silence. I closed my eyes, and relaxed, but of course, in the one moment that I feel at peace with the world a loud laugh has to interrupt my alone time.
Another laugh echoed through the grounds and I look out the window to see several nude young ladies running into the Black Lake! Nude! It’s the middle of bloody November! What the hell are they doing skinny dipping! Naked no less! I shake my head and gawk for a few seconds more at the girls jumping around in the water screaming at each other that its “bloody freezing!” No shit Sherlock, the cold temperature outside cold have told you that!
I turn back to my books, with a small grin on my face, Hogwarts, is just Hogwarts, there’s something strange happening all the time.
*-*-*
The next morning at breakfast I see all eight of the sixth year Hufflepuff girls come in together, bags under their eyes and their uniform in disarray. One girl is shivering, while another has a sneezing attack.
My eyes widen as I realize why they were all acting so strange. It was them, they were the ones who went skinny dipping last night! I watch one of them approach James as Sirius and him walk in. She links her arms with his, and looks up, grinning.
Futile attempts. I tell myself. It’s James Potter, he doesn’t care about
sixth year Hufflepuff girls, all he thinks about is Quidditch, me, and pranking Severus.
I go back to eating my eggs, and when I glance back up I have to do a double take. No. Way. He’s....he’s smiling at her? He’s laughing with her? Right in front of me????
I snap my head back down at my eggs, scared to know if anyone saw me staring. “Little slut!” I whisper. I pull out a piece of paper, furious with today’s events and scribble a note. James Potter was mine and no one elses...but I didn’t like him, he was just mine, in a platonic way.
Gossip Witch here with the latest news,
Last night, eight ladies about sixteen years of age were spotted skinny dipping in the Black lake! Their names will not be mentioned, but Hufflepuff, you better reign in your girls as not to lose House Points- apparently, a dare in late November that involves stripping and jumping into the freezing lake isn’t too much to handle for these ladies. Girls, you better stay away from other people’s boyfriend’s or some more secrets may just slip out.
Gossip Witch signing off,
E.A.L.
Please Review! It means a lot! And I am so sorry about the wait!! But I had Uni apps and my muse had died ina giant ball of flames, but it's back and burning bright!
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