the marauders: prongs, a jily fanfiction

chapter 24

disclaimer: you know this

. . . . .

James POV:

I watched as the shock sank into Lily's face and she stood up firmly, insisting that we try anything to save Teresa. 

Sirius looked over at his charred flesh disgustedly as Lily peered at it closer, gently touching his wound with Marlene helping, looking horrified. I felt something clench in my heart. I turned away quickly and watched Adelaide clean up the mess with her wand, and pouring what was left of the potion into another flask. She caught me watching her and looked up, smiling sadly. 

Adelaide shook her head at me and whispered, "Still waiting?" I rolled my eyes but shrugged.

"I can see bits of what's changed, you know," she started, "For one, you're not as arrogant. Sure, you're annoying now and then but you don't get on her nerves as much. And you've dialed down your bullying and hexing thing, along with hitting all the time on Lily."

I shook my head and smiled. 

Adelaide threw her head back and laughed quietly so that Lily and Sirius and Marlene wouldn't hear. 

"You've changed her too, you know," Adelaide said. "Really?" I asked skeptically. 

"Yes," she stated, "James, I feel like you're actually good for her. Sure, you've got your faults, but you're mostly a good person. With you at her side, you become more mature, and she laughs more. It's archaic but it works amazingly. You should see the 2 of you together."

She looked down at her fingernails, from which the blush pale rose nail polish was chipping off of. 

I smiled at that but I could feel a sad ache in the words. 

Adelaide looked up at me as if she somehow understood that I now figured it out. She smiled wistfully. 

"I know you've experienced love. Ever since you've met her," Adelaide stated, tilting her head towards Lily. I nodded wordlessly. She sighed.

"Have you experienced love?" I blurted out, whispering.

She looked at me.

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Remus?"

She laughed.

"No. Remus is a good friend and although I feel attracted to him, I'm not in love with him. I was once though."

"Would you tell the story?"

"It's just another failed love story, but first I need to try to figure out my theory."

"Theory?"

"I've been working on solving this entire mess out."

"Ah."

"As for Teresa, many people saw her and Remus as an ideal relationship, but that really wasn't it. First of all, I'm thinking that she smelled him in school, not sure what he was, but definitely thinking of him suspicious. That's why she put up the cover of liking him. And also, Teresa was fighting with the professor..saying about how 'that wasn't his real name' and how 'he had to stop lying'."

"You don't think?"

"Yes."

"The male? Professor Brie?"

"Absolutely." 

"You might be right. I did see someone else there, and he did turn into a bat.."