The Prophecy
Chapter 1
Shards of Glass
"The Hogwarts Express will be leaving in ten minutes. I repeat; The Hogwarts Express will be leaving in ten minutes."
A loud blast issued from the train. Lily Evans ran breathlessly to the still open doors, her long auburn hair trailing behind her. She did not stop until she was seated in one of the many compartments onboard. She inhaled deeply, thinking how close she had been to missing the train entirely. She hadn't even had the time to go look for any her friends before boarding, as she usually did. If it hadn't been for her blasted sister… Lily stopped. She wasn't about to let that creature they called her sister ruin her first day back. Forcefully turning her thoughts to other topics, she remembered there were people she had yet to see. Her breathing relatively normal, Lily ventured off in search of her friends.
Walking past numerous closed compartments, Lily noticed many hushed conversations. One made her stop entirely.
"Where'd you get those?"
"My uncle gave them to me. No, Wormtail! Be careful!"
Words of caution came to late. An explosion shook the nearest compartments. The movement forced Lily onto the ground where shards of glass flew overhead. She raised her head slightly to see…and smell…the protruding smoke.
"Wormtail! I told you to be careful with that!"
"Sorry, Prongs."
"Oy, Prongs," another voice said; this one nearer than the others. "You might want to come out here."
Lily brushed fragments of glass from her clothes – a combination of fury and disgust on her face – as four heads peeked out of the compartment. She glanced up to see the four people she had been planning on avoiding this school year. They were looking down at her with a mix of concern and guilt, except for a certain seventeen-year-old troublemaker – with unmanageable black hair and thin-framed glasses – who was wearing an unmistakable smirk that played into his hazel eyes.
James Potter, Lily thought with disgust. Oh, and look, his three dipwad friends have decided to join in on the fun once again. She looked closely at the four teenage boys. Potter, like always, was at the center of the group; the 'leader of the gang'; the 'head-honcho.' With his good looks and toned body – not that Lily had looked. Her friends had simply pointed it out to her while they discussed the available 'catches' at Hogwarts. Lily supposed it was from Quidditch – girls swooned at the sight of him, and his best friend Sirius Black. He, like Potter, had black hair, but it wasn't in constant disarray as Potter's was. Black's deep blue eyes were always full of mischief, and he loved getting as much attention from the girls as was physically possible. Standing beside Black was the peacemaker of the group, Remus Lupin. Remus was a bit homely looking with his sandy brown hair and grayish-blue eyes, but he was the one who would stand in-between Potter and Lily whenever things got heated. In other words, Lily liked Remus the most out of the four. Lastly, hiding behind Black, was Peter Pettigrew. He was a pudgy boy, with light colored hair and dark brown, beady little eyes. He wasn't smart or talented in any sense of the words. In fact, Lily didn't know why he hung out with the other three in the first place.
The 'Marauders' – as they called themselves – were the biggest pranksters in the entire school. Since Lily's fifth year, they spent most of their time tormenting her and her friends. You might say, she got sick of it rather quickly. After Potter had embarrassed her in front of the whole school, she returned the favor by recording him in his sleep. Those wizard recorders can pick up some pretty interesting things. "No! I don't wanna use the potty, Mommy…No, Mommy! Don't take Mr. Cuddles away!" The girls had recorded Potter's sleepy ramblings and magnified the sound so every person present in the Great Hall could hear. The moment Potter entered the Hall the laughter was so overwhelming that he couldn't stand it for more than five minutes before he ran out, his pride thoroughly smashed to pieces. After that, Potter had stayed a safe distance away from her. That is, until the school forgot about the whole incident. He insisted on making her school life miserable, and he succeeded. Most times, she couldn't even walk past him without wanting to curse him a hundred times over.
Lily could feel her blood start to boil. Don't blow up, Lily, she told herself. All she could do, at the moment, was stop herself from taking out her wand and hexing him into oblivion like she'd wanted to for the past three years. Until she noticed the smirk had disappeared from Potter's face, and he was looking cautiously at her wrist. She looked down as well. She was grasping her wand so tightly her knuckles were drastically whiter than normal.
She looked at the shattered window once more, and then at the guys. "You fools!" she burst out. "You blew off a Dung Bomb on the train! How stupid could you possibly be?"
"Come on, Evans. Lighten up."
"Lighten up! You're lucky you didn't damage anything more than your own compartment."
She raised her wand, holding it forcefully in front of his face.
"Now, Evans, don't do anything you know you'll regret."
"Shut up, Potter." She pointed her wand at the broken window. "Reparo." Pieces of glass shot to the broken door's window where they repaired themselves instantly. That thin sheet of glass was now the only thing that stood between Potter and herself. Then, the compartment door slid open; thankfulness etched on the faces revealed.
Lily shot a dirty look at The Four. "Why can't you just grow up? We're in our seventh year! I thought you would at least gain some maturity over the summer."
"Hey, Evans," James put his arm around her. "Why don't you go back to your books? Maybe they can teach you how to loosen up."
"At least I act my age. I would think you were five with all the pranks you pull, if it weren't for that overlarge head sitting on your shoulders telling me otherwise."
Lily turned on her heel and walked rapidly down the corridor. She didn't dare look back; she knew James' face would have its usual smirk firmly in place.
"Oh, Miss Evans," James called. "Are you forgetting something?"
"What would I be forgetting?" Lily replied sharply.
"How about…a little meeting we are supposed to attend in…less than five minutes?"
"There is only one meeting that is held on the train. And there is no way that you would be attending it."
"Oh, but I am. We are. Together."
"What? Did you just say 'we'? No. You couldn't have. There is no possible way that Dumbledore would pick you to be Head Boy."
"But he did. And we will be late, if you don't stop arguing with me."
Lily brushed past James, heading toward the compartment where they were supposed to be meeting. She looked back for a fleeting moment to see James walking just as fast directly behind her.
They marched into the compartment to see the prefects from all four houses already assembled. Anxious faces waited for the duo to begin.
"All right," Lily spoke. "I'll keep this short, since you have already waited far too long for this meeting to start."
Lily began to list off the duties the prefects would have, including patrolling the halls during the night and leading the first years to their house common room their first night.
"And don't forget," James added, much to Lily's surprise. "The passwords will be changed at the beginning of every month. It is your responsibility to check in with us for the new password." He looked over at Lily whose mouth was hung distastefully open in shock. "And if there's nothing else," he said, addressing Lily. She shook her head. "You may all go about your own business."
They watched the prefects leave before exiting themselves. They were approaching James' compartment when he spoke. "I believe that went pretty well. Don't you, Lily darling?"
"What did you just call me?" Lily lashed out, quite content until James had opened his big mouth.
"You don't like it?" James asked in mock sadness. "I thought you would, since it's quite a lot better than what Snivellus calls you."
"Snape is a stupid git, and anyone with an ounce of sense would know that you cannot take anything he says seriously."
"You're just trying to cover up the fact that what he says upsets you. He gets underneath your skin because he knows your weakness."
"Weakness?" She laughed. "How is my family my weakness? They mean the world to me."
"Maybe not your parents, but your sister sure is."
"What do you know about my sister?" Lily asked, her smile completely erased from her face.
"She's a Muggle, calls you a freak at every possible moment, and does not hesitate in making your life miserable." Lily missed the look of concern and sympathy on James' face; her own had grown quite pale. "Not to mention how she physically hurts you, which is how you got that bruise on your arm."
Lily quickly hid the purple mark on her upper arm, as well as masking her evident fear with anger.
"How dare you bring up what you know so little about?" She nearly shouted, while quickening her step. A strong hand forced her to stop. James pinned her between the wall and his own lean body, keeping her from racing down the corridor.
"I think I know plenty well what I'm talking about. And I also think you're foolish to hide it."
"So you can go tell your buddies and make fun of me? You are mistaken." Lily said, loosening James' grip on her arm enough to break away from him.
Lily marched down the corridor, intent on putting as much distance between herself and James Potter as was physically possible. She knew he was right, although she would never admit that to anyone else.
It took a loud shout to knock Lily out of her thoughts. "Lily Marie Evans!" was shouted over what little noise was present in the corridor. She flinched at the sound of her middle name and looked around herself until she noticed a pretty girl with golden blonde hair standing in the opening to a compartment with her hands on her hips.
"Miss Evans," the girl spoke in a stern tone. "Where have you been? We've been waiting for…how long?"
"At least a half an hour," another girl added, poking her head out into the corridor. The latter ran to Lily with a large smile plastered on her face. She held Lily in a tight embrace before whispering in her ear, "Welcome back, Lily. We missed you."
"Thanks Kelly," Lily said as they parted, giving Lily the chance to look carefully at her best friend of six years. Her light brown hair had lengthened considerably, and she had grown an obvious two inches, bringing her and Lily to the same height of 5'5".
"Are you two going to sit down any time soon?" another girl spoke from inside the compartment.
"We're coming, Amy." Kelly said. "Come on, Lil. You'll have to tell me all about your summer, and why it took you so long to find us."
Kelly led Lily into the compartment, where two other girls were sitting patiently.
"Hey Katie," Lily said, looking at the blonde who had shouted her name for the whole train to hear. "I thought you would have quieted down over the summer. Guess I was wrong."
The girls laughed, and Lily had the chance to take a closer look at her other two friends. Kathleen O'Hara, known as Katie by her closest friends, was sitting nearest to Lily. She was wearing her golden blonde hair in a ponytail at the back of her head, and her green eyes sparkled as they usually did. Katie was the outgoing one of the group, known for her risky relationship with Sirius Black. With this special link to the Marauders, she was the only one out of the other three girls who dared to try to get Lily and James to talk to each other.
"So, Lily," Amy said. "What took you so long? You're usually the first one in the compartment, either that or you wait for us beside the tracks."
Amy was sitting beside Katie. Her curly brown hair reached her shoulders and her brown eyes hid behind silver framed glasses. She was a bit better off than the rest of the girls and her brand new robes each year showed it, as did her well-known last name. Amelia Claireborne, Amy for short, was responsible for a few of the nightly excursions the girls went on during the past six years, especially those in which revenge was planned on the prankster Marauders.
"It wasn't my fault. Petunia had taken the car out last night and forgot where she put the keys. Mum and I were searching for at least an hour. After nearly tearing the house apart, Petunia dug her hand into her pockets, and would you guess what she found? The prat had the keys with her the entire time."
"At least she didn't lock you in your room like she did last time," Katie murmured.
"Oh, but she did. And I would've unlocked it myself if it weren't for the fact that her and Dursley were probably snogging downstairs. And I really don't want to see that." Besides, you can't do magic outside of school without getting in big trouble.
"Well, you're back with us now. And we are going to make this the best year yet." Kelly added.
Lily let out a sarcastic little laugh. "Not if they can help it, we won't."
"What are you talking about, Lily?" Amy asked.
"The Marauders are up to something once again. And it's only our first day back."
"What'd they do now?"
"They just blew off a Dung Bomb in the middle of their compartment. The glass door was completely shattered. Had to fix it myself. And then Potter starts making comments about how I should lighten up. The nerve. If they don't act more responsible this year, I'll report them to Dumbledore. And it's not just a threat this year; I'll actually report them."
"Lil. Let me ask you something." Katie said. "Do you seriously think they would let off a Dung Bomb in the middle of their own compartment?"
"Who knows with those four? You never know if it was on purpose or if it was an accident, which it usually never is."
"You're not thinking right, Lil." Kelly stated. "Why would they waste a perfectly good Dung Bomb on their compartment? Wouldn't they save it and blow it off by some Slytherins?"
"Why are you covering for them, Kel? They're maniacs; you know it."
"They're just a little playful, that's all. They haven't done any real harm." Katie said. "That is, unless your wounded pride counts as harm."
"Playful? They're not puppies, Katie."
"Come on, Lily. It's not like they've pulled any pranks on you yet." Amy stated.
"Thank God," Lily muttered under her breath.
This did not go unheard of by the rest of the girls, and they started laughing, ceasing the tension that had appeared in the room at the mention of James Potter.
--- --- ---
The usual glint had faded from James' eyes as he watched Lily stomp off down the train corridor.
"Do you always have to pester her like that?" Remus asked.
"What d'ya talking about, Moony?" James said solemnly. They had obviously not heard what Lily and he had been talking about.
"Come on, Prongs. You know exactly what I'm talking about."
"And I thought you were smart," James teased, shaking his head in mock disapproval – as well as trying to rid his thoughts of Lily be thrown around by her bully of a sister.
"Why do you do it, James?" asked Peter.
"It's just so amusing." James stated simply. Although, at this moment, he felt no amusement whatsoever.
"Yeah, right, Prongs. You just like having a looker like Lily Evans at arms distance, even though we all know that she could hex you clear into next week. You want to ask her out, but you're too scared." Sirius said.
James laughed loud and hard. "James Potter does not get scared." Except whenever Lily would stomp away, threatening never to speak to him again.
"You just go on believing that, Prongs. Believe it all you want. But we know how you have this little desire to have Lily swoon over you like the rest of the female population," Remus commented.
"My dear Moony, the last thing I want to do is get tangled up with Lily Evans."
"Oh, I'm pretty sure you would love to get 'tangled up' with Lily." Sirius nudged James suggestively. "If you know what I mean?"
"Padfoot, get your head out of the gutter. Don't you ever think about anything more than snogging some pretty girl in the corner of a dark room while everyone else in either asleep or committed to something other than disturbing you?"
"Well, Prongs, it seems like you thought that one through pretty thoroughly."
"Like I told you before. I'm not interested."
"Liar, liar, pants on fire," Sirius said in a singsong voice.
Remus and Peter laughed as Sirius started to do a jig in the middle of the compartment. James did not join in as his thoughts were on a fiery-eyed redhead with a tongue as sharp as her wits.
--- --- ---
"Hey Lil. Lily!" Kelly said sternly, shaking Lily out of a troubled sleep. "We're almost to school. You still need to get your robes on."
"What?" Lily questioned. "We're almost there? Why didn't you wake me earlier?"
Lily jumped out of her seat, hurrying through the clothes piled in her trunk in order to find her school robes. "Well, if you hadn't come on the train with those large bags under your eyes, we wouldn't have let you sleep as long. It's just that…you looked like you really needed the sleep," Amy added, ducking as a sweater flew towards her head.
"Thanks for thinking of me, but now – if I don't stop talking to you guys first – I'll never get changed in time. Give me five minutes."
"I'm timing you, Lil." Katie said, looking down at her watch.
Lily rushed down the corridor and changed in record time. She sat down a few minutes before the train pulled into Hogsmeade station. The train issued one loud blast from its horn as it came to a leisurely stop. Students of all sizes poured out of the train. First years were pulled aside for their trip across the lake, while everyone else was prompted toward the horseless carriages. The four girls hopped inside one, and – once they were seated – the carriage gave a great lurch.
Lily gazed out the window of the slowly moving carriage to see a brightly lit Hogwarts coming into view. Her thoughts moved to the first time she had seen that castle. She had been petrified to take the traditional trip across the lake. Kelly had told her how a giant squid resided in its murky depths, and she had a strange fear of anything slimy that had more than four limbs. But her fears dissipated when her eyes glanced up at the large castle coming ever so close. She had felt a sense of security at the sight of it, and that feeling returned each new year. It was the safest place she had ever known.
Kelly looked out the window next to her and murmured, "Welcome home, Lily," into her ear.
Kelly was right. She had left one home behind, only to have another in her wake.
--- --- ---
James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter exited their carriage once it came to a lurching stop in front of the castle. They grimaced as a piercing scream shot through the night. James recognized the owner of that voice, for she had yelled at him plenty of times during his stay at Hogwarts.
McGonagall rushed to the doors the students were calmly waiting at. Her face was flushed but her tight bun was still firmly in place.
"Sorry, I'm late. Peeves decided to chain the doors to the Great Hall shut and keep the key with him. He had me running down corridor after corridor…But you don't want to hear about that. If you'll walk through these doors I will escort you to the Great Hall, which has become successfully unchained."
The students filed themselves behind McGonagall as she led them through the corridors to the Great Hall. The older students had no trouble following the fast-paced Transfiguration teachers, but the younger ones found it difficult to keep up with the brisk pace.
Within moments, the large double doors of the Great Hall came into sight. "Well, here we are. I will be leaving you now. You may seat yourselves at your respectable tables and wait patiently for the first years to come."
"So, Prongs," Sirius said as they took a seat at the Gryffindor table. "What are you going to do to get Lily to go out with you?"
Stop bringing up sensitive subjects that she doesn't wish to dwell on. "Nothing. I will do absolutely nothing. I'll just wait for her to come to me."
"You know that won't work, Prongs. It hasn't worked before; it won't work now."
"Just watch, Moony. I'll win her over. Besides, who could resist the charm of James Potter?"
Remus rolled his eyes and turned his attention toward the main doors. McGonagall had pushed them open and was leading the first years toward the front of the room. An old hat sat on a stool in front of the staff table. The first years grouped curiously around it. A few students jumped as a slit opened in the hat, and it began to sing of the founding fathers and the qualities each wizard deemed acknowledgeable for their house. It was after this background information that the students were invited to sit upon the stool and put the hat atop their head. Each student was then placed into their respectable houses. Once the Sorting was finished, Dumbledore stood to make his opening speech.
"Welcome to yet another year at Hogwarts. I am pleased to see so many recognizable faces and so many new ones. I can sense great talent within this group. I know you will all excel in whatever you choose to do beyond your time here.
"I have just a few announcements before we begin our feast. As always, the Forbidden Forest is just that; forbidden. Each student must be in their common rooms by the time the clock chimes nine o'clock. May I remind you that – if any student is caught disobeying any of the school rules – that student will be punished. Dark times are fast approaching, and we must take all necessary precautions to stay safe. You are well guarded within the walls of this castle, but – once you exit them – we cannot promise you your safety. Therefore, those who decide to leave the castle grounds will face expulsion from Hogwarts.
"Now that I have nearly sent you off to sleep, I might end with a few extra words. Welcome back, have a great year, and tuck in."
The plates before the students filled with every food imaginable; pies and Yorkshire pudding, innumerable varieties of meat, and enough pumpkin juice to quench the thirst of all the children in a third world country.
"Do you know the first thing I wanted to do when I got back here?" James asked.
"What would that be?" replied Sirius.
"Get on that broom of mine and circle around the Quidditch pitch until I feel like I'm gonna hurl." James smiled as he pictured himself flying over the open pitch.
"You have never been so right, Prongs. I just wonder who'll replace Frank as Chaser. Me and Derek can't do it by ourselves."
"I'm sure they'll find someone. You have to have three Chasers on a team, you know that."
"I just hope it's someone good."
"The only thing you're worried about is being overshadowed by this new guy," Remus stated.
"Who says it's going to be a guy? It could be a girl for all we know. And if it is, she's gotta live up to Frank's reputation."
"It sounds like you'd rather not have it be a girl."
"Girls are too much trouble."
"What about Brooke? She hasn't made the team any worse. Actually, she's made it better. We would've won the Cup with her on the team if those rotten Slytherins hadn't sent that Bludger at her. That was a pretty nasty fall she took."
"Brooke is the best person on our team. You've got to admit that Remus and I are right, Padfoot." James commented.
"Well, she is pretty good. And she has made some pretty amazing saves." Sirius thought out loud. "I guess it wouldn't be too bad to have another girl on the team. She'd keep Brooke company."
"And maybe you'd have better luck with the newcomer than you did with her."
"Now let's not go bringing that up again."
"I couldn't resist."
"So, Padfoot," Peter said, spitting food all over his friends. "Aside from the hopeful newcomer, which girls are you planning on going out with this year?"
Sirius smiled suspiciously. "You'll just have to wait and see, won't you, Wormtail?"
Peter rolled his eyes, turning his attention to a pretty Hufflepuff sitting nearby at the next table.
"What about you, Moony?" James asked. "Eyeing up any girls this year?"
"You'll be the first to know if I do. Unlike you, I actually let a girl know that I like her, instead of just pissing her off until she wants to send me to the hospital wing."
"My dear, Moony," James said, speaking in a tone of fake sincerity. "I am like you, in that aspect, since I would tell you if I was crushing on someone."
"Oh, believe me, Prongs. We already know. You just won't admit it."
"Give me a break. Why would I like someone who spits fire at me whenever I'm within five feet of her? Hmm?"
"Because you enjoy it; all the attention she gives you. Even if you have to make her mad in order to get it."
"Lay off it, Moony. You know you'll never get him to admit to it. He's as stubborn as an ass." Sirius commented, earning a dirty look from James. "Let's just eat before all the food gets cold."
"Thanks, Padfoot." James said. Although, he had completely lost his appetite and played with his food while the rest of his friends ate, glancing every once in a while towards a certain redhead who was obviously ignoring him and his lovely group of friends.
--- --- ---
"Gryffindor's, follow me, please!" the newest prefect shouted over the milling students.
"He's kinda cute, don'tcha think?" murmured Katie, looking dreamily at the prefect.
"I guess, if you're into the strict, law abiding, authority-loving type of guy," said Kelly sarcastically.
"Oh, what would you know," Katie said, brushing Kelly's comment aside. "We all know you've got your eyes on Sirius." And he's anything but law abiding.
"WHAT?" Kelly shouted. Heads turned toward her, and she blushed furiously.
"She's right, Kel," Lily said. "You have had a thing for him since fifth year."
"Well, what about you, Lil?" Kelly added, turning the girls attention toward Lily instead of herself. "You would never admit to liking James; although, we know you do."
"I do not," Lily sputtered, turning away to hide her visibly red face.
"You do too. You know what? There's a word for what you're in right now. But what is it? Oh, yes…DENIAL!"
"I am not."
"Are too."
"Are not."
"Are too."
"Not."
"Too."
"NOT!"
"TOO!"
"GIRLS!" Amy shouted above Lily and Kelly. "You are both in denial. Now can you stop bickering long enough until we're well hidden inside our dorms?"
"Fine," they said in unison.
--- --- ---
"So, what do you think they're fighting about?" James said, overhearing the last part of Lily and Kelly's ranting.
"Probably over who's going to take me to the ball at the end of this year," Sirius commented.
"Padfoot!" James scolded lightly. "No one is supposed to know about that."
"Know about what, Prongs?" Remus asked.
"The ball! No one is supposed to know. Not even you three. I told you to keep it hushed."
"All right, Prongs. No need to get your fur in a knot. I'll never speak of it again. If I do, you can refrain from giving me my flea medication the next time we hang out under the full moon."
"Deal," James said, shaking hands firmly with Sirius. "So what do you really think the girls were arguing about?" James looked toward the four girls, who were entering the portrait hole.
"No clue," said Remus. "Probably who gets the bathroom first in the morning."
The Four laughed as they each pictured the girls wrestling over the bathroom. Each depicted it a little differently. Skimpy pj's, torn clothing, and the four wrestling in a large pit of mud were the dirtiest ideas. Remus was the only one with anything respectable on his mind; a mad dash to the bathroom door and angry looks on the faces of those who had not made it in first.
The boys smiled as they followed the rest of the Gryffindor house into their spacious common room. It was a welcoming sight. The fires had all been lit earlier, and the room was toasty warm. Most students decided to stay in the common room either talking or lounging casually on the numerous pieces of furniture. Others thought it best to retire early and ventured off to their rooms. Those who did discovered that their luggage had been brought up to their dorms and was sitting nicely beside their beds.
"How long do you think it'll take before this floor is completely buried underneath loads of clothing?" Remus asked, looking around the pristine dormitory.
"A day, at least." James said, taking out posters of his favorite Quidditch players and plastering them to the walls.
"I wonder what the girls' dorms look like." Sirius mumbled.
"They're probably ten times cleaner than ours…A thousand times cleaner before half the term is over with." Remus said, flopping down onto his bed. Laughter joined the sound of the mattress crumpling under his weight.
--- --- ---
"Lily! Would you hurry up?" Kelly yelled, pounding furiously on the bathroom door. "You're not the only one who has to shower, you know that?"
"All done," Lily said smiling. As she opened to door, the other three pushed past her, determined to be the next one to use the bathroom.
"Geez, Lil. You took over a half an hour in there. I wouldn't be surprised if you used up all the hot water," said Katie sarcastically.
"You're exaggerating. Besides, you guys don't take that long of showers any way."
"That's not the point, Lily. You cannot take that much time in the bathroom. There are four other girls in this room besides you." Katie raised her voice at the start of each statement. "What were you doing in there anyway?"
"Just washing up, like any normal person does in the bathroom," Lily said, casually walking away from Katie and an endless round of questioning.
"Oh no you don't. Come back here right now, missy, and tell me whatever you are hiding under that false smile of yours."
Who ever said that smile was false? Lily's mind questioned.
"NEXT!" Kelly yelled. Amy ran past her and locked the door. "I'm surprised at you, Katie," she said. Although, Katie's attention did not waver. Her eyes were still on Lily. "I thought you and Amy would have been fighting over who got in next."
"Nope. There are more important things that need to be done." Katie replied, eyeing Lily suspiciously. "Besides, Amy takes quick showers. She'll be done in…three…two…"
"Done." Amy pronounced letting the steam from the bathroom filter out.
"I will figure out what you're hiding," Katie whispered in Lily's ear as she walked toward the bathroom door.
Lily just smiled nonchalantly, ignoring the looks her other two friends were giving her.
"What is she talking about, Lil?" Amy asked.
"Nothing."
"Lily – Marie – Evans," Kelly spoke, enunciating each word.
Eww…The middle name. I hate the middle name. You know she means business when she brings out the middle name.
"Yes, my dear," said Lily.
"What in the world are you hiding?"
"I told you before, and I will tell you again, I – am – not – hiding – anything."
There, she had done it. She'd gotten away from Kelly and her dirty use of the middle name.
--- --- ---
A little less than a half an hour later, the four girls entered the Great Hall. Delicious smells greeted them as the doors swung open, along with it came the shouts of a familiar little girl with brown hair – at least it was that color today.
"Hello, Tonks," Lily said.
"Oh, Lily," she said dreamily. "If only I could be your age. I would enjoy my time her so much more."
"Tonks, you are not making any sense," Katie stated.
"You have so many better looking boys." Tonks spoke, gazing in the direction of the Marauders. Letting out a disappointed sigh, she left the girls to take their seats at the table.
"You know what?" Katie asked, getting the attention of the other girls. "For a twelve-year-old, that Tonks makes a lot of sense. She is quite right about the guys in our year. Although, why she's thinking about guys at her age is beyond me."
The four laughed. "You are absolutely right. Tonks is a pretty cool kid. Besides the fact that she's related to Sirius."
"Come on, Lily. Sirius isn't that bad." Kelly contradicted.
"Sorry, Kel, but I can't believe that. Your opinion is pretty biased since you fancy him."
"Lily! Stop right this instant! We've already discussed this and do not need to continue it," Amy pointed out.
"All right," Lily backed off. "Besides, Professor McGonagall is coming with our schedules."
"I hope we don't have Transfiguration with Hufflepuff," Amy said. The past year her hair had been turned into snakes.
"And we better not have Potions with Slytherin." Katie added, who found Lucius Malfoy and his cronies absolutely horrid.
"Too bad girls," Kelly said, looking at the schedule McGonagall had just handed her. "Both of your fears have come true."
"You have got to be kidding me!" Katie shouted as she looked over her own schedule, confirming what Kelly had told her.
"At least you have Potions together," Lily muttered sadly.
"What are you talking about Lily?" Amy asked, being the first to realize Lily had spoken at all.
"I had forgotten that McGonagall signed me up for Advanced Potions."
"Why would she do that, Lil?" asked Kelly.
"Because I told her to," Lily said. "Don't you remember what I want to become?"
"Sorry, Lily. It slipped my memory," Katie apologized.
"And you've changed your mind so many times before. You've wanted to work at the Three Broomsticks, become part of the Daily Prophet staff, and in our fifth year you wanted to become a Hogwarts teacher." Amy listed.
"And just last year you wanted to become an Auror, but you figured out that you were severely lacking skill in the Transfiguration area. No, wait, it wasn't you that figured that out. It was us. It became evident when you turned James' nose into a duck bill."
"A healer!" She screamed, ignoring Kelly's comment. "I want to become a healer! You need no less than an 'E' in Potions for them to even consider you. McGonagall thought it would be best if I signed up for Advanced Potions."
"Do you even know anyone who's in that class?" Kelly asked.
"A bunch of Ravenclaws, no doubt. Other than that? I have no clue."
At the far end of the table, the Marauders were following the same topic of conversation.
"These schedules are awful!" Sirius fumed. "I can't believe they're making me take Muggle Studies."
"You were told fifth year that you would have to have at least a year of that class if you wanted to become an Auror. Besides, you'll be in my class. It won't be as bad as you're thinking" James replied.
"Not as bad as I'm thinking? What about Advanced Transfiguration? And Advanced Potions! What was McGonagall thinking?" Sirius shouted, earning confused looks from the Hufflepuff table.
"Calm down, Padfoot," Remus advised. "The three of use have Advanced Potions together. We'll make it worthwhile."
"As long as we don't have class with Snivellus." Sirius murmured.
"Do you really think he would be accepted into an advanced class?" James pointed out. "He's not all that bright."
"But Professor Zinser would do anything to help out a Slytherin." Sirius stated angrily.
The four fell into a disgruntled silence, broken only by the flutter of wings as the owls arrived with the morning post. Owls of various sizes and colors swooped down on the students, sending food flying in all directions. A large barn owl passed over Remus' head, landing in the middle of a plate of bacon.
"Bloody hell!" James shouted, earning more stares from occupants at nearby tables. "Geez, Lancelot! Were you aiming to take off someone's head?" He turned to face his friends. "I swear! This bird needs to learn how to land. It's bad enough that he nearly takes off a finger when showing appreciation, but his crash landings are really starting to get on my last nerve." Lancelot started tenderly nipping at James' wrist. "Would you quit it!"
"Hey, Prongs?"
"Yeah, Moony."
"I think he wants you to remove the letter," Remus stated simply.
"Oh…Right."
James quickly removed the parcel from Lancelot's leg. He nipped his hand affectionately before flying off.
"What'd you get, Prongs?" Peter asked, curiosity getting the better of him as he stared at the roll of papers.
"A letter from Mum. And a copy of the Daily Prophet."
"Could I take a look at that?" Sirius asked, pointing at the rolled up wizard newspaper.
"Yeah, sure." James muttered; his mind thoroughly fixed on the letter in front of his nose.
"Hey, Prongs. You should really take a look at this," Remus said, drawing James' attention away from his letter.
James looked at the top most title. "Muggle Prankster Caught. Why in the world would I care about some guy who decided to blow up Muggle statues and landed himself in front of the Ministry of Magic?"
"Wrong one," Sirius stated, nearly beaming. "Look down."
"Longbottom Recruited for Quidditch Team." James glanced up in disbelief.
"Keep reading," Remus urged.
"Frank Longbottom, a student at Hogwarts up until last year, has been signed onto the Chudley Canons as a Chaser. Longbottom seemed quite eager about the new position and accepted without a moments thought.
"'It's a dream come true,' says Longbottom. 'I never thought I would be playing for my favorite team.'
"Whether he'll keep with that team is decided by how well he plays. Although, it does look as if Longbottom is in for a long stay."
"Our Frankie. A famous Quidditch player." Sirius said, pride clearly showing on his face. "Think he'll sign my broom for me."
The boys erupted in an elated chorus of laughter, not ceasing until all were nearly out of breath.
"I didn't think they'd really sign him." James murmured. "He was telling me about wanting to play for them after our last game of last year, but I never would have thought that he would."
"None of us did. I mean, no one from Hogwarts has been signed onto a professional Quidditch team since Ludo Bagman," added Sirius. "Think that means I have a shot?"
James looked at Sirius, questioning whether he was sincere. He then burst into a fit of laughter, joined soon after by the rest of his friends.
--- --- ---
Lily looked down the length of the table at James and the rest of the four, who were all laughing hysterically like a group of wild hyenas.
"What are they doing down there?" Kelly asked. "I've never seen someone laugh that much since they hung Snape upside down during our fifth year."
"You think they were doing something equally evil and embarrassing?" Lily muttered.
Amy shook her head. "They wouldn't do something like that again." She stood, finished with her meal. "At least… James wouldn't."
"What do you mean 'James wouldn't'?" Lily asked, following the girls out the large double doors. "He would do anything the rest of them would."
"Haven't you noticed how much less demeaning their pranks have been these past two years?"
"Not really."
"Then you haven't been paying close attention, have you?"
"Amy, you might want to explain." Katie advised. "Lily doesn't have a clue what you're talking about. And, frankly, neither do I."
"What was the last prank the Marauders did?" Amy asked.
"Turning the Slytherin robes orange on the last day. So?"
"And before that?" Amy prompted.
"Switching all the ingredients on Malfoy's Potions table, making their potions overflow and let out an awful smell. I still don't understand where you're going with this, Amy."
"They have not done anything as serious and socially devastating as hanging someone upside down for the whole school to see his underwear. And can you tell me why this is?"
"Not a clue. Sorry, Amy."
"It's all because of you, Lily."
"Me?"
"Yes, you. I cannot believe you hadn't figured that out. You compared James with Snape, which seriously wounded his already fragile ego. Didn't you see the look on his face?" Lily shook her head. "He was in complete shock. He looked as if his whole world had just crashed down in front of him. You made him see that those pranks of his could really hurt someone. He has never done anything like that since."
They had reached the staircase where Lily would watch Kelly, Katie, and Amy go to Astronomy while she walked down to the dungeon for Advanced Potions. She was utterly lost in her thoughts and did not hear her name being yelled down the corridor. All she was aware of was the doorway and the handle. She opened the door to be thrown on her back; her mind fogged and darkness took over her body.
--- --- ---
To be continued…
--- --- ---
A/N: So…did you like it? I sure hope so. I've been working on this chapter for a long time now, while also working on 'Year of the Dark Lord.' (Believe me, you will have chapter five soon.) But now I'll be able to focus more of my energy on this one since my bf Angels Touch is helping me out with the other. Well, I hope you enjoyed it, and there'll be more where that came from. I've done my job and now it's time for you to do yours. REVIEW!