Chapter 615 - The First Harvest Moon (1/2)
With O.W.L.'s and quidditch practices as a trainer to keep him busy, James to his utter astonishment found that time had passed quickly by nearly mid-October. Most of the students were excited as the following weekend would be the first Hogsmeade trip of the year. To his own surprise, he had even gained the courage to ask, Lily to go on a date during the next Hogsmeade trip. To his utter disbelief, she had quietly accepted his first request.
It had been a painful bittersweet moment for James as his Lily would have never so easily accepted. A part of him was delighted to be near Lily, but another part of him seemed adamant about rejecting her. It was so utterly confusing, but at the same time, it was not. And with a sickening feeling he was coming to realize that even though a part of him would always love HIS LILY, he may never come to grow to love the Lily standing right in front of him.
Trying to busy himself, James threw himself into his schoolwork and with some measure of pride found himself studying over past subjects. Halfway through his homework while studying in the library, James hears the familiar sound of someone silently sitting across from him. Without even glancing up, he says, ”And how was your day, Prince?” He still could not bring himself to call her by her first name, but he was getting better at interacting with her.
”Fine,” Rowan bitterly grumbled as she pulled out her things from her schoolbag.
”Well, I certainly don't envy any of your position as Prefect's this year,” James candidly admitted with relief. His experience as Head Boy in his seventh year had been a little too eye-opening for comfort.
”Mm,” Rowan grunted and pulled out her quill as she began to write an essay for Transfiguration. It was regarding the Inanimatus Conjuring Spell. It was a spell designed to conjure inanimate objects. One would think the spell would be simple considering she was not changing the existence of an object into another, but apparently, it was not. And as much as she hated to admit it, but she was just terrible to the point that Professor McGonagall had even assigned her extra homework. (And truth be told, Transfiguration was her worst and most difficult subject. Also, admittedly her most hated subject of all.)
Lost in thought after some time, Rowan glances up from her roll of parchment and says, ”That reminds me, Potter, it's the full moon tonight. Sirius wanted me to remind you that the Marauder's full moon tradition was still in effect. And if you could not recall said tradition, I was to explain.”
”We still go on full moon runs?” James blurted out, before wincing to himself about his stupidity. Of course, they did, they were all animagus' at this point in time. And they were friends.... of sorts that at this point that it would not be so uncomfortable as to participate in such a friendly outing.
”Yes, Potter, you all still do,” Rowan rolled her eyes before she glanced back down at her essay. ”And don't forget to wear your blasted cloak this time.”
James visibly startles at the revelation and simply studies the Slytherin, but Prince never glances up and merely remains on task. Unsure of what to make of the sudden admission, he pretends to read until some minutes have gone by, before properly excusing himself. Prince does not even react except for waving her hand at him remaining solely focused on her essay.
The rest of the evening is a blur including dinner, before James finds the figures of Sirius, Remus, and Peter all eagerly, but cautiously gazing at him in their shared dorm room. ”Er, you ready, James?” Sirius keenly asked, but nervously flipped his hair back. A telling habit of his.
”I am,” James truthfully acknowledged as Remus let us out a sigh of relief, and Peter's shoulders relax. Considering their height and size now, the Invisible clock of James could barely cover three of them much less four. As a result, Peter always transformed into his rat form and was typically carried on one of their shoulders.
”Well, then let's go,” Sirius excitedly said flashing a glistening smile. Shaking his head ruefully, Remus rolls his eyes, while Peter transforms into his rat form, Wormtail. The figure of Wormtail is that of a healthy sleek rat that squeaks to Remus, who gently picks him up and carries him in his arms. With all four of them grown now, it was a very tight squeeze for three of them to fit under the invisible cloak, and night impossible for all four of them. As such, Peter tended to take one for the team for the invisible cloak to cover them all.
It was something that James had never truly considered before and filled him with a bitter sense of bitterness. There was so much he had not seen back then. He had been so very blind, and now it was too late. But he still had a chance to make things right here, it was the least bit that he could do in this lifetime.
”James?” Remus quietly asked with concern startling James out of his inner thoughts.
”Sorry, I just got distracted for a bit, Remy,” James sincerely said, while Remus arches his brow in disbelief, and Sirius begins to chew on his lip in worry. Perchance, this had not been such a good idea after all.
Before Remus or Sirius can change their minds about that evening, James grabs the clock and says, ”Let's go.” Seeing the resolute face of their friend, Remus and Sirius decide to comply while Wormtail quietly studies James from the crook of Remus's shoulder.