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Much Ado About Nothing	By : goblet Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 2534 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

by The Goblet

Chapter 11

James headed towards the library. He had had an unpleasant morning
trying to combat the effects of a severe hangover, which had not been
helped by the sunlight streaming in his window at the ungodly time of 3
am.

He had been distraught after discovering that breakfast had been
cancelled: especially after making the effort to relocate from
Gryffindor Tower to the Great Hall.

And he could barely look at Remus without gagging. Moony had gone
completely gaga over Snape. Honestly! Couldn't he wipe that silly grin
off his face? And must they hold hands? People had been trying to eat.

So, after watching Remus squeeze Snivellus' hand for the fifth
time during lunch, James had excused himself from the Great Hall,
refusing to watch his friend make a complete fool of himself over
Snivellus.

James stamped into the library, and headed straight for the
Restricted Section. Transfiguring a bookend into a beanbag, he threw
himself down into the cushioned seat, throwing his rucksack into a
corner. How could Remus act like that? he mused. The Marauders
had spent a great deal of seventh year, and the time they now spent
together, laughing at the silly antics of boys who proclaimed
themselves in love. And now, Remus has turned into one of them.

Two weeks ago, he mused, Moony would have happily come with us on a pub crawl. Now he wants to sit at home and carve a bloody wooden spoon! James seethed, referring to Lupin's Welsh traditions.

Two weeks ago, it was Severus and Snape and Snivellus. Now it's Sev, and Love, and Sweetheart.

Two weeks ago, it was Moony: Marauder and Werewolf. Now it's Remus: the moony-eyed lover.

James almost threw up. He was having no part in it. There was no way that he would ever start acting like Moony. He would never act like a love-struck idiot.

He'd gone out with beautiful women, and yet he didn't act like an
idiot. He'd gone out with wise women, and yet he didn't act like an
idiot. He'd gone out with honest women, and yet he didn't act like an
idiot.

James sat, pondering love-struck idiots. He supposed that maybe, maybe, if he were to find a beautiful, wise, honest woman, he may
begin acting like an idiot. But that didn't explain Remus' recent
behaviour: Snape certainly wasn't beautiful, or wise, or honest. He was
a crooked-nosed, unreasonable Slytherin.

As Potter sprawled on the floor, he began to make a mental list of
all the things he was looking for in a woman. She had to be beautiful,
wise, and honest; preferably a member of the Order, or at the very
least against the Dark Lord. She should be intelligent and bright, and
be able to hold a decent conversation. She would have to be able to
hold her own in a fight and be able to…

James' musings were interrupted a short time later when he heard the
noise of people entering the room. Not wanting to be disturbed, and
definitely not wanting to see Moony fawn over Snivellus, he pulled his
invisibility cloak out of his bag and flung it over his body, hiding
himself from view.

Remus led Minerva, and Sirius into the library. They had decided
that there was no time like the present to encourage James to fall in
love with Lily, so Remus had tracked the errant Marauder through the
castle and into the Library.

"There are some wonderful books on wedding and bonding ceremonies in
this aisle," called Minerva as she pulled the two young men into an
aisle and directed them to the appropriate bay. She began pulling books
off the shelf.

"Is he here?" whispered Sirius, as Minerva handed him book after book.

Remus nodded. "Three aisles down, under his cloak," he murmured, flicking through a book filled with ring designs.

Sirius grinned, "I'll just find us somewhere to sit then," he
announced, walking out to the study area, and dumping his mountain of
books on the desk. The table was close enough to the hidden Auror so
that he could hear them clearly, but far enough away that they were
hidden behind a bookcase.

James inwardly groaned. Of course Minerva and Sirius would help Monsieur Love plan his wedding. And he was most probably stuck here for the duration, considering the table they had decided to work at.

Minerva and Remus made their way to the table and sat down. Minerva
began by opening one of the books. "Let's start with the guest list,"
she began.

"We want to keep it very quiet," replied Remus. "Only our closest friends."

"What about your parents?"

Remus shook his head, "They're in Australia, studying dingos or what not."

"Snape's parents?" asked Sirius.

"His mother's dead. And his father's in Azkaban," Remus said quietly.

"Oh." Sirius blushed.

There was an awkward silence.

"So, um, Minerva," Sirius began hesitantly. He may as well change
the subject now that he'd put his foot in it. "You were telling me
earlier that Lily is in love with James?"

Remus grinned; he had heard James shift under his cloak, as Sirius spoke. "I never thought that she would ever fall in love."

"Neither did I, and she is attracted to James, whom she claims to loathe," Minerva commented.

James was riveted. Lily, in love with him? Did he need his hearing checked?

"I'm not sure what to think of it, she is so confused. She loves him
so passionately that it defies all logical explanations other than…
well, love," Minerva continued.

"Is she faking it?" asked Sirius, winking discreetly at Minerva.

"Faking it? Are you serious? No one could fake that. Not love that strong."

"What proof do you have?" Sirius queried.

Remus shuffled forward in his seat. "Careful, or James will see through the hoax," he murmured.

Minerva drew a blank. She could not think of a single thing to
'prove' that Lily loved James. "What proof…? Why, I'm sure Severus told
you." The deputy headmistress turned towards Remus.

A slight grin spread across the werewolf's face as he thought of his
betrothed. "Yes, he did," he replied, somewhat distractedly.

"Details Moony, details!" Sirius exclaimed. "I mean this is Lily, she who detests love. I thought she was immune to that type of thing."

"I was surprised to find that she had fallen for James, of all
people," Minerva replied solemnly, whilst trying her hardest to stifle
her laughter.

James was floored. Had it been anyone but Minerva speaking, he would
have thought it a hoax. But the information was coming from Minerva. Minerva was the one whom Lily had confided in. He shifted slightly in his beanbag, trying to move a little closer to the trio.

Remus smiled, he had heard James shuffling around on the floor. "He's taken the bait, let's reel him in," he murmured.

"Has she told James?" asked Sirius. "Perhaps he has turned her down?"

"Good Lord no! She is adamant that she never will: hence her distress," Minerva answered.

"It's true: given their history, she feels that she can't tell him that she loves him," added Remus.

Minerva nodded: she was enjoying herself far too much. "Severus says that she writes in her journal every night about him."

"I remember him telling me something about that…" injected Remus, his voice sounding vague and puzzled.

The Head of Gryffindor leant forward, and spoke in a loud whisper.
"She once got so carried away that she wrote down one of her fantasies…
one of those fantasies, if you know what I mean."

Remus beamed, and clapped a hand over his mouth to stop himself from
laughing out loud. "Yes I remember, Severus told me," he added once he
had composed himself again.

Minerva paused to calm herself. "She was so disgusted with herself
that she tore it out of her journal, ripped up the pages into tiny
little pieces, and incinerated them.

"I asked her once why she didn't just tell James that she loved him. And she said that if James were to tell her that he loved her, she wouldn't believe him, so she doesn't expect James to believe her if she were to tell him of her feelings."

"Sev said that when James went missing during the spring, she
wouldn't eat, wouldn't sleep, wouldn't do anything until she knew that
he was safe. She goes into a severe depression when they have fought,"
Remus continued.

"Severus has been scared that she may do something rash…" Minerva
intoned, giving the impression that Lily had considered suicide over
James.

"Should we tell James?" asked Sirius.

"What, so that he can torment her?" Remus demanded.

Sirius grinned, thankful that James couldn't see his face. "How foolish could he be? She's lovely and sweet."

"And wise."

"Except for loving James."

Minerva sighed. "What is wisdom when love comes into play? Love will always win."

"I was wondering why she turned me down last night. I would have
married her in an instant. She was in love with James the entire time.
We have to tell him," said Sirius.

"Do you really think that is wise?" asked Minerva.

Remus shook his head. "She says she will die if James doesn't love
her. She will die if she tells him. And if he was to pursue her, she
would rather die than spar with him."

Sirius sighed. "She's right though. If James found out, he'd never
let it rest. He would take every opportunity to remind her of her
weakness."

"He's a good man," Remus acknowledged.

"And happy."

"And, he too, is wise."

"And witty," Sirius continued, stroking James' ego. "I still think we should find James and tell him about Lily."

"I don't think so," replied Remus. "I'm sure she'll get over it."

"I think she would wear her heart out first," remarked Minerva.

"Well, there's no harm in waiting a little longer. Maybe Lily will
tell him. I love James like a brother, but sometimes I want to strangle
him," Sirius said decidedly, grateful that he hadn't burst out laughing
during his speech.

The three co-conspirators sat quietly, almost overcome by giggles at the thought of Sirius strangling James.

"We should get to dinner," Minerva announced eventually, standing up.

Leaving the books strewn over the table, they left the library. Once
they had reached the first staircase, they burst out laughing. "If he
didn't fall for that, I'll buy you both a large bottle of Ogden's,"
Remus giggled.

Sirius grinned, "I'd rather you bought me one when they do get together. Now it's up to Snape to convince Lily that James loves her. Oh, what fun!"

"Let's send her to call him in for dinner," Minerva said mischief in her eyes.

Meanwhile James was still in the Library. When he was sure that he
was alone, he pulled off the invisibility cloak. It had been getting
hot under there.

He was stunned. It certainly wasn't a trick. The three of them had
been arguing over whether or not to tell him about Lily's feelings.
They seemed to pity her, especially since she had fallen in love with him.

It was certainly true that he would have teased her about her
feelings. This was, of course, the reason why Lily would not admit her
feelings for him.

He never thought that he would ever marry. But now, now that he knew
that Lily was interested… Well happy are those who can see their faults
and change for the better!

They said she was lovely, and sweet and wise. And they speak the
truth. Well, wise in all things but loving me. But that neither counts
in her favour nor works against her.

James sat with a silly grin on his face. He was loved. Would he love
in return? As he sat there he knew that he would be the brunt of many
jokes, particularly since he had fought so hard against love. But he
didn't care. People change.

When I said I would die a bachelor, I didn't think I would live to marry.

At this thought Lily burst into the library. She stopped at the
door, scanning the quiet room, irate at being asked to find James and
drag him to the Great Hall. Once she spotted him sitting in his
beanbag, she marched towards him.

James looked up as she entered. My, she is beautiful. The way her eyes lit up when she saw me – it is obvious that she fancies me something horrid.

"Against my will, I am sent to invite you to dinner," she stated crossly.

"Lily, thank you for your trouble," replied James, clearly smitten with his earlier enemy.

Lily rolled her eyes. Obviously James had been sniffing potions
ingredients… again. "I troubled myself no more than you trouble
yourself to thank me. If it had been troubling, I would have refused to
find you."

James smiled brilliantly. "You were happy to find me?"

"About as happy as you would feel upon losing your wand in a duel."
Lily smirked. "You aren't hungry? Good bye then." Lily spun on her heel
and stormed out of the library.

James remained seated, watching Lily as she left the room. A goofy grin spread across his face.

'Against my will, I am sent to invite you to dinner' there's a double meaning in that, he thought.

'I troubled myself no more than you trouble yourself to thank
me.' In other words: Any trouble that I go to for you is as easy as
thanks.

James' face was overcome by a great magnificent smile.

tbc...

Feedback very welcome!
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Much Ado About Nothing