The one with the sisters - Year Four [COMPLETED]

Chapter 15 - The one with the rumors

Of course, their plan of keeping the events from last night quiet failed, in the next afternoon, everyone already knew that James Potter had managed, somehow, to save Severus Snape's life.

The theories were varied. Some said he had blocked a hex to get to him. Others swore he had just helped Severus to lie to a teacher and get out of trouble. But either way, everyone was taking some of their time to congratulate him, though, for some reason, he wasn't enjoying all that attention.

"James Potter is losing this perfect opportunity to show off?" Iris mocked as they met that day after all their classes had finished.

"Oh, just... You know... Trying to be a better man..." He tried to smirk at her. If she didn't know him any better, she would've believed it. But no. After almost four years of studying together and annoying each other non-stop, of course she could tell a real smirk from a 'I'm just trying to pretend everything is normal' smirk.

"Right... So are you going to tell me what really happened or I'll have to force the truth out of you?" She sighed, as she dropped her bag beside her as she sat beside them on the floor.

The four boys looked away and Iris frowned. A girl approached them with a quite flirtatious smile but James dismissed her with a wave of his hand. The girl looked over at Sirius, but the black haired boy didn't even lift his eyes from his hands. She turned around, huffing offended and left.

"There's something really, really wrong with you guys." Iris said, suddenly becoming very worried. "What happened last night?"

"Nothing that concerns you." James spat and Iris' eyes widened as she stared at him.

"Don't be a dick, Prongs. She has no fault in that whatsoever." Remus mumbled, before looking over at Iris. Once more, his face was covered with new scars and he seemed tired, ready to fall asleep right then. "Last night we had a rough night, that's all."

That was when it hit her. Last night. It was full moon. Something happened during Remus' transformation. Iris' concern tripled, but she couldn't do anything, because they didn't know she knew. Still, she couldn't stop herself before hearing herself speaking again:

"Are you alright?"

"We're fine, doll." Sirius answered, even if Iris' eyes were fixed on Remus, as he blushed slightly under her stare. "Don't worry that pretty head of yours."

"But what about those rumors about..."

"Don't talk about it." James mumbled, rubbing his forehead. "Please." He added as he noticed Iris' glare.

Iris was about to argue, but noticing Remus' tired sigh, she gave up.

"Fine. I won't bother you anymore." She decided before picking up her bag and getting. "But if you need anything, you know where to find me.'

None of them responded, so she just turned to leave, but before she could take more than a step away from them, James spoke up.

"Iris." He called.

"Yes?" She asked, turning to face him.

"Don't believe in anything anyone tells you about last night."

"Okay."

"And... If you meet Severus... Just tell him I didn't break our deal."

"What do y- Oh, fine." She interrupted herself before her curiosity got the best of her knowing she wouldn't get an answer. "I will."

James lifted his head up and his brown eyes met her green ones. For the first time since the beginning of this conversation, he gave her a genuine smile.

"Thank you, Iris."

She smirked.

"Whatever, James. I'm just doing that for the money."

"I don't pay you."

"Not yet." She giggled as she walked away. "But just you wait and see. I'll charge all these favors."

***

Lily and Snape were walking across the castle courtyard, evidently arguing.

"I thought we were supposed to be friends?" Snape was saying. "Best friends?"

"We are, Sev, but I don't like some of the people you're hanging round with! I'm sorry, but I detest Avery and Mulciber! Mulciber! What do you see in him, Sev, he's creepy! D'you know what he tried to do to Mary the other day?" Lily had reached a pillar and leaned against it, looking up at him.

"That was nothing," said Snape. "It was a laugh, that's all."

"It was Dark Magic, and if you think that's funny..."

"What about the stuff Potter and his mates get up to?" Demanded Snape. His color rose again as he said it, unable, it seemed, to hold in his resentment.

"What's Potter got to do with anything?" Lily asked.

"They sneak out at night. There's something weird about that Lupin. Where does he keep going?"

"He's ill." Lily defended. "They say he's ill."

"Every month at the full moon?" said Snape.

"I know your theory." said Lily, and she sounded cold. "Why are you so obsessed with them anyway? Why do you care what they're doing at night?"

"I'm just trying to show you they're not as wonderful as everyone seems to think they are." The intensity of his gaze made her blush.

"They don't use Dark Magic, though." She dropped her voice. "And you're being really ungrateful. I heard what happened the other night. You went sneaking down that tunnel by the Whomping Willow, and James Potter saved you from whatever's down there..."

Snape's whole face contorted and he spluttered,

"Saved? Saved? You think he was playing the hero? He was saving his neck and his friends' too! You're not going to... I won't let you..."

"Let me? Let me?" Lily's bright green eyes were slits. Snape backtracked at once.

"I didn't mean — I just don't want to see you made a fool of — He fancies you, James Potter fancies you!" The words seemed wrenched from him against his will. "And he's not... Everyone thinks... Big Quidditch hero..." Snape's bitterness and dislike were rendering him incoherent, and Lily's eyebrows were traveling farther and farther up her forehead.

"I know James Potter's an arrogant toerag." She said, cutting across Snape. "I don't need you to tell me that. But Mulciber's and Avery's idea of humor is just evil. Evil, Sev. I don't understand how you can be friends with them."

But Snape hadn't heard the end of Lily's sentence, because the moment she had insulted James Potter, his whole body had relaxed, and as they walked away there was a new spring in Severus' step.