Falling, Fallen || Remus Lupin

Chapter Nineteen

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James Potter had a knack for making a fool of himself in public with little to no effort.

Lily wanted nothing more than to absolutely crawl underneath a boulder and hide for how long he was going on about how he could most definitely avoid a fireball incantation without any deflecting spells, just his witt's and quick reaction time.

"That's it, Pete! That's far enough!" James shouted across the courtyard near the edge of the hill where the small shops started to disperse from the main crowd around them.

His shouting echoed far enough that strangers raised some brows and began to form a little audience around the three Gryffindors.

"Are you mad!?" Lily shouted as she watched the dark haired boy stand a little over a yard away from Peter, who had his wand raised at his best mate's direction, hands trembling slightly.

The slight concern in her voice made him feel much more confident, however.

Knowing that the girl always on his mind was worried for him... made him want to do it even more.

"On the count of three, right James?" Peter called back nervously, taking a quick look at the crowd forming behind him.

Not only were the boys bored out of their minds waiting for the others to stop their shopping, but they were so focused on filling in the time that Peter felt like he had no other choice but to put on a good show and do whatever James suggested in the meantime.

Despite his very poor grades in Charms lessons, Peter wanted to impress his peers, no matter the cost.

"Precisely, my friend." James replied, sending Lily a secret glance from the corner of his eye, hoping she was looking in his direction.

"I can't watch." She proclaimed, however, that statement couldn't have been farther from the truth, as she had her sights dead set on James, the idiot who was about to perform the worst idea he ever had.

Peter needed a moment to collect his thoughts, attempt to remember any tips for conjuring a jet of fiery flames towards his best mates direction that he could remember from lessons, without killing him of course.

But he had little faith in himself that he could actually pull it off.

Taking a deep breath, James positioned himself, feet spread apart with his knees bent in case something went wrong.

After a moment of anticipation, Peter found himself actually beginning the charm in front of practically every student in Hogsmeade.

"Incendi-" Peter began, but was cut short with Lily quickly pulling her want out in fear, casting a spell to apparate herself towards James, having enough time to grab him quickly and finish by disapparating them both away from the crowd of spectators, in a completely different part of town.

The force of the tackle was so strong that Lily and James were sent flying down a dark, narrow, cobblestoned street, landing tangled together on the cold ground.

It happened so fast. Peter blinked and James was gone, along with Lily by his side.

He was almost convinced he made them disappear, confused out of his mind.