~ You realize that life goes fast, it's hard to make the good things last

You realize the sun doesn't go down, it's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round. ~

***

Felicity knew the instant Remus had told her of the plan cooked up by his friends that she was in for a great deal of trouble. Because apparently dating a Marauder could land anyone in the school's hot list. 

The remaining school year proved to be a constant torture to her, with everyone gossiping about her and Remus. Sometimes, she mentally slapped herself for taking up Rem's offer and sometimes she even felt she should go and tell James the truth and ask him to stop by confirming to the whole of the school that it was all a stupid joke.

But then she did enjoy the occasional trips to Hogsmeade with Remus. There was something in Remus Lupin which made her feel like herself. In his presence, she didn't have to bother about what he would think about her. Because despite all, both of them surprisingly understood each other well.

But even then, she considered him just as a close friend and he did the same; a fact which was very disappointing to her friend Alicia Knight.

Thankfully, in the last few months of school term, the gossips stopped as the OWLs were right ahead and every one in their year was freaking out. Felicity had gone to Professor Sinistra to report James's minute progress in Astronomy and also to ask her to minimize the tutoring hours so she could focus on her lessons too.

It was hopefully her last tutoring lesson with Potter for that year. She was in the library waiting for him and noticed that he was only three minutes late, a big development since he would always be roughly around ten to fifteen minutes late either caught up in some prank or some argument with his nemesis, Severus Snape.

She knew that they had only got to do the star chart and after that, she would be free of any sort of tutor duties; a fact which made her feel much relieved. Throughout the lesson she observed that Potter might really have been taking the OWLs seriously because he did remember the constellation names including Eridanus, Monoceros and Camelopardalis; the three names he could barely even pronounce in the starting months of the fifth year.

After the scheduled two hours lapsed, when he was about to leave she stopped him, "wait a second, Potter, I might have something to tell you."

Rather surprised, James sat back down facing her with utter amazement written on his face, "okay...?"

"You have improved a lot, I must admit," she resumed, "and no that doesn't mean you get to boast about it now. All I'm saying is that I hope you do well in the exams."

He nodded, "that's very well but can I know the reason why you're being so civil to an annoying and pathetically ignorant toadstool like me?"

Her face reddened slightly at that remark, she remembered she had called him that once but she had obviously not expected he would know what it meant as she had made that remark in Italian.

"Are you secretly taking Italian classes as well? Because if you are, I'm highly curious how you could manage that along with the tough OWLs schedule."

He shrugged, "well, when you called me that fungo something..."

"Fungo pateticamente fastidioso?" she interjected.

"Yeah, that. Thanks for reminding me again, Sirius understood what you were saying and he didn't hesitate to translate that for me," he finished.

Felicity looked at him clearly surprised, "he can speak Italian? I'm just speechless, Potter, I thought he was a bloody moron but then it turns out he's pretty good in studies and I thought he wouldn't get what I just said back then and turns out he knows Italian as well?"

"If you're complimenting him, I would gladly let him know," James immediately replied with the same annoying smirk on his face, "he would be downright pleased to hear that."

She shook her head, "I'm not complimenting him. I'm just wondering if there's anything that I think he can't do and am right about it. Or is he secretly a Jack of all trades?"

James looked thoughtful as if pondering on her words, an expression which was seen very seldom on his face, "now that I think about it, he's good at Astronomy and speaking different languages because it's kinda a family thing for him. An attribute of being born into the Blacks. But yes, there is one thing he can't do and your judgement regarding that is fairly correct."

Her eyes widened, "okay, so what is that?"

"Behaving well in front of you," he remarked skeptically raising an eyebrow though the mischief was very much visible in his eyes, "you know very well that he can't do that, right?"

Despite herself, a small smile took over her features, "you are in some mood today, Potter."

"We aim to make people happy and judging by that smile, I think I accomplished that," he stated smiling back as well.

Realizing that she had almost forgot what she had to tell him, she spoke, "since you're not getting on my nerves today, I thought I would do you a favor."

He widened his eyes ironically, "a favor done by Miss Latvia? Am I dreaming...?"

"Stop being so cheeky because it won't take long for me to change my mind," she remarked.

"Oh... Right. So what favor am I being bestowed with?"

She took a deep breath but resumed shortly afterwards, "I cleared everything up with Lily. She knows we are not dating and you are completely available for her. So you can stop worrying about your chances being ruined with Lily Evans."

He was silent for a while but then spoke up, "thank you oh dear considerate lady, I will be forever debted to you for that kindness."

She laughed, "your dramatics never seem to end, do they?"

"Well that's technically impossible since I had been programmed to be this way," he remarked, "also you shouldn't have had the need to clear it up with her since the whole school knows you're dating Rem not me."

"Now, Potter, you can't play that game with me," she replied and he was a bit taken aback to see the much unfamiliar mischievous spark in her blue eyes, "you know me and Remus are not dating. And I knew about your plan and was just keeping up with the act so that he would be spared the trouble you guys put him through."

A while passed in which nothing came out of James's mouth as he was attempting to take it all in, "so... You cleared everything with Lily before we put our plan into action?"

"Yes, I did. Because I would hate that anyone thought that I would ever decide to date a deficiente like you."

He shrugged in response to that, "okay... Deficiente... Another possible insult in Italian that I'll have to ask Sirius to kindly translate for me."

"Ah no need," she waved aside his remark, "it simply means a moron; mentally deficient."

"Yeah right, thank you. One moment you're remarking that I have improved and he next you're back at the insults. But to get things straight, you and Lily cleared everything up long ago and all the hell we had been through with our plan was for nothing?" he repeated.

"Absolutely nothing."

"And Remus knew about that?" he raised his eyebrow quizzically.

She shrugged, "perhaps?"

He slammed his hand on his forehead, dragging it down as if mightily annoyed, "alright, I get it. You win."

"I win? What is that supposed to mean?" she was thoroughly surprised at his comment.

He nodded, "it means that I promise not to even think of trying any of my tricks on you because apparently you are always a few steps ahead."

She shook her head in a low nod as well, "appreciate the compliment."

"Now if you would please excuse me, I have to go and somehow figure out a way to start my preparation for OWLs."

"You're excused," she replied seeing him get up and make his way out of the library, "and best of luck." She could tell that despite all her pessimistic assumptions, the last lesson had been truly phenomenal.

There was one thing that was on Felicity's mind at that moment. Remus had been right. She only detested the remaining three Marauders because she didn't know them well. And by seeing the different shade exhibited in James Potter, she kinda had a feeling that he wasn't as bad as she had initially thought he would be.

In spite of all, the boy had a pure heart. And Lily truly was lucky to be consistently adored by someone like him.

***