Began:Sun, Dec 19, 2004
Chapter 1: Proposals with hints of a scheme.
With the exception of Winter Holidays, only about a dozen students remained behind with reasons of their own. Lily's reasons for staying was that she didn't feel like going home to Petunia's ridicule and sneering remarks about her being a witch and by the time it was to leave for Hogwarts, she would have committed suicide from her sister and her new boyfriend, Vernon's baby talk and lovey-dovey nonsense. Of course, Lily wasn't jealous of her sister. She did have boyfriends but their relationships never lasted that long. For all of her relationship problems, she blamed James. Even friendships because a myriad of girls were jealous of Lily and loathed her for James was one of the fittest (as in finest, hottest, etc..) guys in Hogwarts, other then Sirius Black that is. James Potter had fancied her since day one and it had gotten on her nerves. He had made it clear to every bloke within the walls of Hogwarts, even the upper class-men, Lily Evans was his and nobody could have her.
But times have changed and James had become less… lets say protective and obsessive over her but he didn't give up. He still of course fancied her and made sure no bloke had gotten to close to Lily but let her have a few relationships every now and then. He acted like an overprotective friend that wished to shag her long and hard.
Unfortunately, she had picked the worst year to stay during the Winter Holidays because after her decision, she later found out that Potter, Black, Remus and Peter were staying behind. She understood Black's but not Peter, Remus nor Potter's. She had come up with the conclusion of Potter's and that was just to pester her and that he and Black can never part. Lily sometimes thought James and Sirius were having a secret sexual relationship but she scratched that idea because back in their 5th year, she walked in on Sirius close to shagging a girl from Ravenclaw.
Sitting alone in the Great Hall, Lily slowly ate her marmalade on toast as she scratched the quill across the parchment. She had a goal to complete all her assignments by the next few days so she could relax the rest of the winter break. "Lily! Lily!" Called out one of her close friends, Charlotte as she ran down the isle of the divided tables. Looking up, Charlotte was out a breath and a smile upon her lips.
"Hey Charlotte, what's going on?" Lily asked as her quill stopped scratching.
"My parents agreed for me to stay at Hogwarts for the Holidays!" Charlotte blurted out in a loud voice and it echoed through the almost vacant Great Hall.
Lily's jaw dropped as she became excited. "Really?! You're not jesting!?"
Shaking her head, Charlotte replied as she stood proud like a knight, "Jesting I am not!"
She stood up in excitement and threw her arms around her friend. "That's soo great! I won't be stuck here with those prats."
After hugging each other, they sat back down across from each other. "So how were you able to convince your parents to stay?"
"Well," Charlotte said as she reached for toast and covered it with butter, "I told them that I had so much work to do, seeing how its our 7th year and we have be well prepared for our N.E.W.T.S and that there is so much work to get done." She took a bite as Lily nodded along and tried to speak. "And you know how my parents are sympathetic?" Lily's head continued to bob, "I also said that I didn't want to leave my sad friend Lily alone and that her Holidays would be a bummer if she didn't have any friends to stay with to keep her company."
"I sometimes feel bad that you're taking advantage of your parent's."
"Hey, it's not like I'm convincing them to give me loads of money or asking them if I could get the most expensive quills and the most extravagant robes and cloaks that cost a bundle."
"That's true." Lily shrugged it off.
Finishing her toast, Charlotte stood up and dusted the crumbs off her fingers and the corners of her mouth. "Well, I'll see you back up in the tower, I have to go unpack."
With a wave good-bye, she had disappeared into the crowd of students just now departing to the train. Sighing, Lily looked back down at her work. Well, at least I won't be alone with the prats and I'll actually be able to have some fun now that Charlotte is staying… but I know her real reason for staying...
--
Back up in the common room, James was lounging back with a leg over the arm of the couch he was on, Sirius was leaning against the fireplace and Remus was sitting with his feet crossed on the coffee table and a book propped up on his lap. "So…" James said as he pondered and rubbed his chin.
"With Wormtail off at his parents, how shall we deal with it?"
"hmm…" Sirius shifted against the fireplace as he slid his hands into the pockets of his trousers. "We can do what we've done before. Poke it with a long stick or use magic. There are about a dozen students left and they're probably going to be in their dorms."
James shrugged for his reply to Sirius's ideas. "Yeah, to scared to come out because of Filch's cat."
With a grin on his face, Sirius looked over at James. "So.. Prongs…" He said after they come up with a way to solve a little bump in their road.
Shifting his stare from the floor to his companion, he sees Sirius's grinning expression and right away, understood what was on his mind. "What about Evans?" He asked with a copied grin.
"You still after her because I saw Mark From Ravenclaaw hit on her?"
Sliding his leg off the arm of the couch, he leaned back against it and continued to grin. "Well in that case... I'll have to make my move soon.."
Hearing the portrait swing open, they quickly shut their mouths and turned their directions to Charlotte who just walked in. She paused and glanced around the room. Her eyes fell upon Remus and her heart sped up. Charlotte had fancied Remus for some time but never got the courage to ask him out.
"Want something Donny?" Asked James as he watched her stare at Remus for a few seconds.
She flinched and swiftly changed to gaze from Remus to James. "No and its Donatella ."
"We thought you would be on the train heading home." Sirius said as he pushed himself off the fireplace.
Her head turned towards his direction and shook it. "No, I get to stay." Her body slowly turned to face him and she stuck her hip out. "Got a problem with that Black?"
Shrugging his shoulders, he slid his hands back into his pockets and gave her a sassy grin. "Not at all Donny. Not at all.."
"But why are you staying? We've heard you have such a loving family and a great home that you would always want to go back at any chance you get."
"I'm staying because Lily would be alone here." Half lied.
"Hey, she won't be alone," James said from the chair as he hung his arm over the back of the chair. "She has us."
"Like I said, not to leave her alone." With a smile, Charlotte turned towards the stairs but as she passed by, her eyes fell upon Remus once again and found him staring at her. A different smile appeared on her lips as she slightly blushed and turned her gaze to watch were she was stepping.
They watched her disappear and waited until they heard the door to her dorm shut. Sirius made his way over to the couch and sat down beside Remus. "Moony, she fancies you and you know it." He said.
"hmm.. sure.." Remus replied without looking up from his book.
"Come on Moony, you have to close to some lass some time and why not let it be Donny?" James pried.
"Because I'd rather not deal with keeping a secret from her." There was a moment of silence before the sound of a heavy book being closed. "Besides, it's just a big hassle having a relationship and it takes to much time and effort." Remus continued as he set the book on the coffee table and sat up. "And now, if you will excuse me... " He said while standing. "If I am not mistaken, breakfast is still being served and I need something to eat." He continued and exited.
Sirius and James watched their friend leave. They sat in silence until they saw from the Marauder's map that Remus was far away enough for them to speak. Damn that hearing of his. "We've got to set him and Donatella up." James spoke up after glancing up from the map. "Yeah but-" Sirius looked up and grinned once more. "Evans is coming up. We can get her to help."
"Oi, you're right. She holds Donny's secrets within that beautiful mind of hers." James replied.
Knowing that Charlotte could overhear their conversation if she were to step out of her dorm. Rolling up the map, they stood up and headed out the portrait to meet Lily down the hall, well away from both Remus and Charlotte.
Oh no… Lily thought as she tried to look past James and Sirius after spotting them head towards her. Maybe if… no no… that won't work… they'll stop me anyways..
With grins on their faces, James and Sirius stopped in front of Lily, blocking her path. Letting out a sigh she looked up at them and glared. "oh bloody hell…" she mumbled just loud enough for them to hear. "What do you want?" She asked in an aggravated voice.
"We have a proposition for you…" Sirius said.
Lily shook her head knowing whatever they had planned was going to get her into trouble. "No thanks, I don't want anything to do with you guys."
"Aww come on, you haven't even heard anything about our proposal." James
"Proposal? Hah! " She laughed. If it had been somebody other then James and Sirius to ask, then she would have considered it. Lily knew their proposals involved sneaking out late at night and running away from Filch and his cat, Mrs. Norris or any professor roaming about. "More like scheme!"
"Please Evans, just hear us out." Sirius sighed out with a plead.
"Please?" James and Sirius said in unison.
"Alright, fine!" She said in aggravation after letting out a huff.
"Come with us." Turning Lily around, they each hung an arm over her shoulders and she hugged her book close to chest. "You know Evans…" Sirius said as they turned the corner into a hallway Lily had never been before.
"We are worried about our dear friend Moony." James continued for his friend.
"And we know that Donny... I mean… Charlotte…" Lily blinked. This was the first time she had ever heard either of them call Charlotte by her first name and not a nick from her surname. They had always called Lily and her close friends by their surnames and they returned the favor.
"…Fancies Remus…" They caught her by surprise again and began to listen knowing they were serious. "… and we know that Remus fancies Charlotte.." Sirius finished as the headed down another hall.
"and… you would like my help to set them up during the Winter Holidays." Lily concluded for them.
"That's right Evans! You catch on pretty fast." Sirius complemented.
Lily stopped dead in her tracks and turned around to face them. "No way. Give me one reason why I shouldn't stop this little scheme of yours." She demanded.
"As you know, Remus is our dear friend and we don't want him hurt" James started.
"Just like Charlotte is a dear friend of yours and you don't want her hurt." Sirius finished.
"And they both fancy each other… so why not?"
James had a point. Lily had gotten to know Remus better during their 5th year because they both had become prefects. She had no reason to doubt Remus other then he had never really gotten all that close to anybody except James, Sirius and Peter. He had a few girls fancy him but nothing really developed from those feelings and he couldn't return them. Caving in, Lily let out a sigh. "Alright fine."
"Yes!" Sirius and James cheered together.
"What can I do to help?"