First Hogsmeade Trip
Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Harry Potter.
Sometimes she loved being thirteen. Thirteen was the age of invincibility, where the responsible child was finally deemed a teenager. Oh the things one could do at thirteen: stay up past nine, borrow more than five books, and visit the local village. Yes, Lily Evans was finally allowed into Hogsmeade, the overtly romanticised, rose-tinted village solely reserved for those age thirteen and up. However, sometimes thirteen was the pits. After all, thirteen was a diabolical time of spots, and adolescent development that was no longer hidden by her summer robes. Unfortunately, those pains were the least of her thirteen year old woes.
The weather was miserable, hardly the thirty degree day she envisioned for her first Hogsmeade vision. Still, nothing could wipe the goofy grin of Lily Evans cherubic face, as she linked arms with her best friends Ariadne Pendragon and Aisha Cahn. Today was going to be brilliant, they had decided, nothing could go wrong. As they walked behind a gaggle of thirteen year old Hufflepuffs, they verbally created an itinerary.
"I'm telling you, we have to go to the Three Broomsticks. Butterbeer will rock your world Evans."
"Hush Ariadne, we'll get your drinks later, we simply must visit the post office."
"The post office?" Lily and Ariadne asked together, with equal looks of distaste.
"Oh yes. The undeliverable mail is up for keeps, I can use it for my Romance novel!" Aisha sighed wistfully, "Just imagine the war-time love letters that remain. I wish someone would write me a love letter."
"We'll let Peter Pettigrew know you're interested." Ariadne teased. The three cried out in mock horror, deciding to let their feet lead them around.
Of course, Honeydukes ended up being the first destination for every third year student. Who could resist the walls covered in sugary sweets? Lily ran around, her eyes struggling to take in everything: ice mice, floating chocoballs, sugar quills and so much more. She felt like she was in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, minus the oompa loompas. After what felt like hours of testing sweets and purchasing an unhealthy amount of lollies, Lily and her friends wandered into the three Broomsticks, hungry for real food.
"My brother says that Rosmerta makes the best chips." Ariadne boasted, dragging them forward.
"Oh my, look how crowded it is, maybe we should come back?" Aisha asked taking in the packed pub. It was dreadfully busy, with everyone crammed inside trying to avoid the storm. Wizards were conjuring their own chairs, witches hollering for service, as the poor, stunning barmaid tried her best. Ariadne was adamant that they stay, and rather than suffer her wrath, Lily and Aisha complied. In a mixture of both good and bad fortune, the Gryffindor's spotted a few empty seats... next to the Marauders.
"I'd rather leave." Lily stated, making eye contact with James Potter. He was currently challenging Sirius to a 'chugging' contest, spilling more Butterbeer than he managed to actually drink.
"Oh no you don't Evans. Use that magic hair of yours and con James into ordering for us." Ariadne winked, forcing the others forward. When they reached the table, a prime position considering the state of the pub, James had already pushed Remus to the side, clearing a space.
"You can sit next to me if you want Evans, Remus doesn't mind." James chimed, running his hands through his hair. Sirius coughed out a "smooth one Casanova", which lead to an elbow in the ribs.
"You've got froth on your face Potter." Lily scoffed, allowing Ariadne to slide into the seat first. James rolled his eyes and subtly wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. The six made awkward conversation, talking casually of Zonkos, the Beatles and the horrid weather.
"Last summer was so brilliant, don't you think? Remember how hot it was?" Aisha asked
"Ay," Remus agreed between sips of butterbeer, "It was on a Tuesday wasn't it." They all howled with laughter, throwing back their heads in a typical thirteen year old fashion. Oh to be young and carefree. Eventually, Peter returned to the table, arms laden with trays of fish & chips, pretzels and salt & vinegar crisps. The perfect feast. In a completely unsubtle effort of subterfuge, Lily and Ariadne insisted that Peter sit next to Aisha, much to the blondes chagrin.
"So Petey, can I call you Petey? What's your opinion of letters?" Lily teased
Later, once the Gryffindors had had their fill, Lily proposed that they separate, stating she had to visit Severus Snape.
James frowned. Snivellus. He couldn't understand why she wanted to hang out with him? Snape was mates with Mulciber, and Snape never washed his hair and...and... James was honestly trying to be friends with her. Why didn't Lily like him? He liked her well enough, when she wasn't stomping about, did she even consider him at all? James really didn't want Lily to go near Snape, yet he remained uncharacteristically quiet on the matter. He'd rather hide under his invisibility cloak, trailing her like an invisible shadow, rather than asking her not to go.
She met up with Sev at the Shrieking Shack, the wind carrying her hair behind her. The decrepit building was awe-inspiring, ravished by the years of inhabitation. To Lily it was beautiful, to others scary, to poor Remus Lupin – a dreadful reality.
"Y'know", she whispered mischievously, "If Christopher Reeve where here, I'd be doing some shrieking of my own."
"Ew, Lily that's disgusting" Snape frowned, "I don't know why you're talking like that. You sound like a child, or worse, a Marauder."
She frowned, staring down at her waterlogged boots. "Right, yeah, sorry. Just a joke."
The silence surrounding them grew thicker, swirling and choking the air. Yet Lily was resilient, she would turn this around anyway. This would be The Best Hogsmeade Trip Ever!
"Do you dare me to break in?" She asked, already climbing the gate.
"Don't even think about it Lil, it's supposed to be haunted!"
"Sev, we go to a school filled with ghosts." She chuckled walking closer and closer still. His protests were drowned out by the sound of her heart beating in her chest. She'd always been a fan of the Boo Radley game when there was another person to hold her hand, like Petunia, but for Merlin's sake, she was thirteen! If she couldn't do this now, she never would. Her hand inched closer to the door handle, and she began to turn it.
"Shit!" Remus exclaimed, standing by James as they watched Lily struggle with the door. "I left my journal in there. Shit, James she's going to know I'm a werewolf. What if she tells someone? What if – where are you goi-?"
James had already sprinted, still wearing the cloak up to the shack. A million questions whirred through his mind: how would he stop her? What would she think? Why hadn't he teased Remus for having a journal? Yet none of that seemed to matter, he just had to get there in time.
Just as Lily had managed to force the door open, an invisible James pulled her back.
"What on Earth?" She muttered.
"uh, I'm a ghost, boo"
"Nice try Potter, I can see your ridiculous red shoelaces. Get out of the way, I'm going in." Lily smirked. So much for anonymity.
James' protests were ignored, so he did the only thing he could think of. He tugged Lily by the arm (careful not to pull it from its socket), smashed her body up against his own, and pressed a sloppy, untrained kiss to her lips.
For a mere moment, he could've sworn she kissed him back. That fleeting instant was crushed by the right hook that hit him in the eye.
"My new glasses"
"You. Kissed. Me. Ugh, you're a jerk James Potter." Lily stalked off, walking over to a glaring Snivellus. They proclaimed that Hogsmeade was so overrated.
Lily decided that she officially hated being thirteen, and James Potter.
A/N
Sorry, I know that you all hate authors notes as much as I do, so I'll make this brief. This isn't my favourite chapter, but I felt it was somewhat necessary before we dove into the story. Next update (which I hope is significantly better) should be out by Wednesday. Review, if you feel like it.
