Chapter 1: Change is Necessary
Lily Evans' sister didn't always feel hostility towards magic. In fact, she adored the idea of having a witch in the family. But then Petunia began dropping in popularity; and she blames Lily.
Students and teachers alike loved Lily. She wasn't as popular as cheerleaders, but she wasn't obscure either. She got straight A's, but she wasn't a nerd. The Evans sisters didn't rule the campus, but they weren't nobod-ies either. Lily was everybody's friend, confidante, and comforter. Everybody loved Lily, and that definitely boosted her sister's image. But then she had to go to Hogwarts.
It started out nicely enough; everybody treated her like they have always treated her. But by the end of the school year, with no Lily to back her up every now and again; no Lily to run to whenever something goes wrong; no Lily to talk to on empty evenings. Everything changed, and the school changed along with it. Everything just kept on changing until Lily and Petunia felt so far apart, that Petunia decided that Lily wasn't her sister anymore.
It wasn't just Petunia who changed; perhaps Lily changed more than she did. She changed from the organized, cheerful, and on-the-go woman, to a girl who wears laid-back street clothes underneath her school robes. One might say that the switch from the English countryside to "her Aunt Claire's estate" affected her more than the rest of the family. But little by little, she's learning to cope.
The Gryffindor dormitory she shared with her friend Natalie and a few others served as a haven for her weary mind. Natalie had just gotten to the peak of her story when Jessica barged in on their conversation. She threw her book bag on to her bed and heaved a huige sigh as she faced the two others in the room. Nat and Lily looked at one another, each saying quite plainly: 'what's going on?' Whatever doubts they had were soon clarified.
"That new Herbology teacher, Sprout, really blew me up!" Jess (as she liked to be called) cried.
Jess got detention earlier that day from the new teacher, Professor Sprout, for hurling a dungbomb at Brandon Scoffield; something she was framed for. Everyone assumed Jess did it because she and Bray (Brandon) were arguing that morning. It also didn't help that the dungbomb came from her direction. No one noticed that the Marauders behind Jess were all trying to hide their laughter.
She was sent to brush and polish half of the awards population in the trophy room (without magic!) on the third floor after class. Detention wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't from the fact that she was framed- up.
Lily and Nat prepared themselves for what was coming. They would listen to their friend talk and give their opinion if necessary. Jess has always been the type to calm down after she had let her feelings out and they guessed that she would always be. It was almost a ritual with the three; Jess would get upset, Nat and Lily would be there for her.
When Jess finally calmed down, which took 2 hours; dinner at the Great Hall was nearing its end. She received a week's worth of detentions scrubbing the bedpans in the hospital wing without magic because of 'attending class smelling like a dog that just rolled in something smelly'. She smelled like this because the Marauders, Hogwarts' resident prankers, chose her as target for dungbomb dropping on the halls. Jess wanted so much to clean up, but had no time to change because she was already late for Transfiguration. Jessica isn't a girl who likes detentions. Why she continuously gets dumped with it, is another thing. Another issue would probably her being so close to breaking the record by doing nothing at all.
"I hate those guys! I hate them so much! Just wait until I get even! They won't be staying long at Hogwarts if it were up to me! And why do they keep getting away with their eveil deeds? I hate it how they are the school favorites while everybody hates me! Everybody knows its them pulling those stupid pranks! Why can't they just- " She said.
" Ok, ok! Enough, Jess!" Lily's outburst had never been preceded, even after five years at Hogwarts. Nat and Jess looked at her incredulously, as though she was out of her mind.
"Look, I'm tired, I'm hungry, and I still have a headache from that Ancient Runes essay! Now, let's just go get some dinner, and then plot your revenge." Nat and Jess don't looked too convinced. "Besides, I think McGonnagal's downstairs. Do something rash now, and you'll end up in even more trouble than before."
"Nah! She probably left already." Lily looked deflated, so she added, "But revenge can wait. Come on! Let's go get something to eat, I'm starving!"
Jess still had plans to get revenge for what the Marauders did, but detention had been stealing her time. Jess may be funny, open-minded, outgoing, and loving but she isn't a person to mess with. Sure she loves to joke, but when things get a wee bit out of the line, she can turn into a tiger and just get even with you. It depends on your case if she should just punch you, or shout nasty things at you, or if you really done it, she gets more than even and she then plays on the offensive line rather than defensive.
And so it was that Jessica's fists found their way in the 5th year boys' dormitories door, on the end of her last detention. Lily and Nat knew that they couldn't do anything to stop Jess from murdering James Potter and Sirius Black who were responsible for the dungbomb incident. So, they just followed Jess and covered their ears as Jess pounded in the door shouting for the boys inside to open the door.
"POTTER! BLACK! Open the door! Open it! NOW! OPEN THE DAMN DOOR OR I SWEAR I WILL -" Jess shouted, not caring whether she disturbed anyone. But she was cut off as the head of Gryffindor house, Professor McGonagal walked out of the door. The four marauders were sniggering in the background; something which irritated the girls more.
"I believe, Miss Lair, that there is a school rule that states no girls are allowed in the boys dormitory? It is not becoming and ladylike to disturb other people's rest for no important reason at all. I was expecting that from the boys, but not from you. Really, Miss Lair. I'm surprised." She said sternly, her lips pursed. "And you, Miss Evans. I thought you would know better than to engage in something like this." she continues noticing Lily and added a great sigh after which.
"But professor! The boys! It's their fault! Its-" Jess defended them.
"I don't want any excuse from you. Your behavior tonight is enough. Now come with me to my office, all three of you. And boys, we will discuss some matters tomorrow in my office at 9:00 a.m, sharp. Good night!" McGonagal cut her off. Jess groaned. She earned another set of detentions; all because of the Marauders.
"I swear I will kill you next time!" Those were the words Jess mouthed as they left. It is such a pity that the boys didn't look a bit scared. Maybe they were sure that perfect prefect Lily and her little friend Nat would always be there to check on Jess.
"This is going to be a long night." Nat sighed as they entered McGonagal's office. She had no idea how right she was just then.
A/N: I know that I've left this story pretty much to the care of history for the past several months- no, years actually. But now I'm going to bring it back to life! With enhanced grammar, better style, and brighter ideas, this story will, hopefully, receive more reviews than the last version! That is, if you guys review. So, please review! I've already written chapters 2 and 3; I'm just waiting for your reviews before I update. Thanks for reading, and thanks for those who reviewed the first version of this story; you guys contributed a lot to the improvement of this fic. Thanks!
