Chasing Dreams (A Harry Potter Marauder fanfiction)

Hogsmeade with Jared

The last days of February slipped by so quickly I didn't even notice it was March until Lily shook me awake one sunny Saturday morning, with my owl, Kayn, squawking in the corner. "Skye! Skye! Wake up, you heaving sleeping tosser!" "Excuse you Lil-" I'm cut off by the covers twisting around me, and I'm thrown onto the floor, out of bed wether I like it or not. "Merlin's Beard, Lily!" I exclaim. "Just because I'm going to Hogsmeade with Jared does not mean I have to be up at the crack of dawn!" "Yes, but the carriages leave in half an hour. And you still need to eat." "Eh. I'm not hungry." I shrug as I rummage through my wardrobe, discarding a horrible purple top. "Ugh, why didn't I do this last night?" I groan to myself. "Because you were in Potter's room till eleven. And then you went to the kitchens for an hour with Remus and Pettigrew." Lily tells me with a matter-of-fact voice. "Oh yeah. That. Oh well." I smile. "What about.. This?" I ask, holding clothes up against myself. Lily turns to me, putting down her hair brush. "If you want Jared to run a mile in the opposite direction, then yes, be my guest." She smiles smugly. I roll my eyes and toss the top to the floor, twirling it on its hanger. "My clothes are the most pathetic collection of fabric I've ever seen." "That's because it's all muddy!" Lily laughs. "You wear all your good clothes running around outside, and keep no good clothes for things like this." "Yeah, yeah, I know. Hey!" I shout suddenly, picking up an outfit on a hanger. "What about this?" I ask her, flicking my eyebrows upwards. Lily smirks, looking seductive. "Perfect."

*********
"You look wonderful." Jared tells me as I hop down from my carriage, standing exactly where we agreed to meet. "Please, don't waste your time boring me with flattery." I reply haughtily. Jared nods with a smile, taking my hand. "Where to?" "You pick." "I really don't mind." He tells me. "No, honestly, Jared. You pick." "Ugh, fine. Um.. Three Broomsticks?" "Sounds good to me." I nod as we walk towards the pub. Jared glances at my hand every now and again, slowly reaching out. Eventually, he takes my hand gently, pacing his fingers with mine. "So, how are you feeling?" He asks. "Fine, apart from that godforsaken potion I have to take every night." He snorts. "It's disgusting! Honestly, it's like.. Murky, brown, slimy.. Goo that someone managed to chuck into a bottle." "Brilliant." Jared laughs as we walk in, him holding the door open for me. The warm air hits me strongly, like a blanket or relief from the chilly, crisp air. We took a seat as Jared went to get butterbeer's for us both. His smile was broad as he came back an lifted his glass. "Cheers?" He asked me, raising his glass and his eyebrows. I smile back at him, my eyes lighting up. "Cheers."