James and Lily Potter : Sixth year

Chapter 13: sixth year

"It's all Lily's fault," said Sirius after a while of silence.

"Huh?" mumbled James incoherently. "What are you on about?"

"It's Lily's fault, not yours, mate. She's the one who's too blind to see the fact that she's in love with you, too. Oh, why do relationships have to be so complicated?"

"Well," began James, "I think that you're going a little too far as to say that it's actually someone's fault..."

"Oh, shut it, James!" his best friend cried.

Frank stared at the pair. "Look, James has a point, Sirius."

"You need to control that temper of yours, Padfoot," said Remus sternly. "You can't just go blowing off the top to everyone like that."

Sirius glared but did not answer.

"Hey, Siri," cooed Arabella, jumping onto her boyfriend.

The rest of the boys snickered loudly while Sirius flushed crimson.

"Hey, Bella," he mumbled.

"How come you can get into our dormitory?" demanded James, "but we can't get into yours?"

"That's because the Founders thought that boys were more untrustworthy than girls," she replied smugly.

"Does Lily like Snape?" asked Sirius suddenly.

Arabella raised an eyebrow. "Where did you get that idea?"

"'Cause she's always standing up for Snape and stuff. I mean, Snape doesn't like her anymore, but if she fancies him..."

She burst out laughing. "Oh Merlin, you have to be the thickest person alive, Sirius! Of course, Lily doesn't like Snape!"

"Does she hate me?" asked James, looking forlorn.

Arabella blinked in surprise. "No. Why do you ask? Lily adores you, but she won't admit it. Give her some time, James. I have to admit, though, that she does take advantage of you. She just doesn't realise how lucky she is to have someone like you to care for her, James."

"Amen to that!" cried Sirius.

"Do you hate Lily or something now?" asked Remus, rolling his eyes.

"As a matter of fact, I'm not feeling too chummy with our dear female friend Lily at this point."

"Sirius!" exclaimed Arabella, staring at him. "You don't mean that."

"Indeed, I do."

"Should I leave?" queried Frank uncertainty, looking from Sirius to Arabella. "I don't mean to impose..."

"Nonsense!" snapped Arabella, waving her hand. "You're welcome to stay, Frank, if you want. You'd understand our problem, after all, since you have a steady girlfriend who returns the feelings you have for her. Now, why do you think Sirius hates Lily?"

"I don't—" objected Sirius.

"I think that Sirius is just stressed out with everything, that's all," said Frank serenely. "He's almost a seventh year, and that causes stress for all of you. And he has to deal with certain issues that I don't think you want to know about." He winked at the boy, who flushed in response. "You should respect his feelings, Arabella. After all, with his best friend having unrequited feelings returned, you would feel some tension between his best friend's object of affection."

"You speak so eloquently," she said dreamily. "How do you do it, Frank?"

"Hey!" said Sirius jealously. "Don't talk to Frank like that; I'm your boyfriend, remember?"

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes.

Frank looked highly amused at the couple's exchange of "words". "It's from experience, I guess. I never knew that I spoke so 'eloquently', as you phrased it. But when you're a seventh year, about to propose to your girlfriend and start a new life, you get a bit wiser."

James looked up from the Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland. "You're proposing?"

"Yes," said Frank loftily. "And if she agrees, you'll be the best man, James."

"I will? But what about Juan and Sturges—?"

"Oh, them." He waved the question off to the side. "Juan is turning out to be a player and a complete and utter jerk, and as for Sturges, he did break Alice's heart, though I'm secretly thanking him on a bent knee for it."

Sirius, Remus, Peter, and Arabella laughed, while James grinned. "Thanks, Frankie. That means a lot to me."

"Hey, no problem, James."

"Who's the maid-of-honor, then?" pushed Sirius.

"One of Alice's friends, no doubt."

"Yeah, probably," replied Frank distractedly.

"Well, I'd better go." Arabella stood up and kissed Sirius, ignoring the catcalls that followed. "See you later, guys."

"Isn't she amazing?" said Sirius, watching his girlfriend dreamily as her footsteps diminished.

The other boys snickered at Sirius, shaking their heads mournfully at the thought of their friend, "Siriusly in love".