This will be a multi-chapter sling of inter related stories/oneshots surrounding Lily and James at Hogwarts.
Characters and references will interlace and interrelate. There will be some OC's but I will try and be as canon as I can. Please be patient with that, but must important—Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I am not JK Rowling
Chapter 1- The Untimely Demise of James Potter
Year 3- Early October
At one o'clock in the morning Lily Evans' eyes snapped open and refused to droop shut. She moaned and flopped onto her side. Of all the things that annoyed her most in the world—James Potter, whistling, no chocolate pudding left at dinner – being awake at unholy hours of the morning was at the top of that list. Changing positions again she listened to the heavy breathing of Mary McDonald on the right, Marlene McKinnon's rather loud snores to the left, and Dorcas Meadows dead center. Poor Mary was trying to battle a cold and she was losing. And Marlene's nasal passages would never be the same since Sirius Black "accidentally" wacked her with a beater's bat at the start of the year. Dorcas insisted on continuing a practice of deep breathing exercises as it would help with remains in a deep slumber all night. Alice Fortescue was the only one who was quiet in her sleeping habits. Besides the occasional round of sleep walking. They once awoke to her trying to crawl into bed with Mary insisting it was essential to "snuggle."
Unexpectedly, Lily's stomach gave a small groan. She tried to ignore it knowing for a fact that an entire basket of rolls disappeared at dinner because of her lack of self-control. In her defense, however, the spiced apple butter was divine that evening. There was no way she could be hungry. It was just a protest of the awful subjection she had put her body through; it had to be. Flopping onto her belly, Lily tried to get comfortable. Usually, she had no trouble with falling asleep. Her bed was always the perfect balance of firmness to squishiness. Keeping her eyes closed she attempted to use Marlene's snores as a sort of white noise to lull back to sleep with. Her stomach growled again.
This was ridiculous.
Shoving off her blankets, Lily eased out of bed, her feet hurriedly finding her slippers so they wouldn't have to touch the cold floor. Merlin, the room was freezing. Groping around at the foot of her bed for her robe, Lily pulled it on and crept to the door. Making sure her wand was tucked in her pocket, she glanced back at her roommates to make sure she hadn't disturbed them. After less than a minute, their usual sleep noises commenced unaltered. Alice muttered something about her love of toads, but that was normal.
Slipping down the stairs to the Common Room, Lily hoped there were no other students still awake. Thankfully as she descended the stairs she could hear nothing but the usual night sounds of the castle. Outside the wind bristled sharply. It seemed to mold with the castle as it blew but that didn't stop it from pounding against Gryffindor Tower. Usually the noise wasn't so bad throughout the rest of the year, but the late winter storms tended to be worse. Shivering unconsciously, Lily pulled her robe tighter around her slender frame. The movement caused her hair flopped in her face. Scowling to herself for not grabbing a tie for her hair she entered the Common Room. It was always a bit eerie to see it so empty. Only a few torches were lit, just enough that she could see a few lone books were scattered here and there, an abandoned sock, a quill. Just the usual. Not that she was a frequent visit to the common room late at night, but amazingly enough Gryffindor's were somewhat neat. Though she couldn't see what was stuffed between cushions or stacked on the back tables by the windows.
Settling down on the armchair closest to the fireplace Lily sighed and breathed in the lingering scent of smoke. The other students must have called it an early night, there wasn't a bit of heat coming from the fireplace. Sighing, Lily snuggled into the chair and thought of home. They had a fireplace. A real one. Dad would have to go out and buy wood off someone so they'd have enough when it got cold in the winter. Once they went out as a family to cut down firewood. That was before Hogwarts. Before Lily was different. Her chest constricted painfully in thinking back. She missed those days. It was when Petunia still called her a friend and gave her presents for silly reasons. Now . . .
The thought came with such suddenness that her heart beat painfully in her chest. Usually she could keep these thoughts at bay. Sure, she missed home, but she couldn't stand lingering on the emptiness that it made her feel, so, instead she pushed those thoughts away. It was getting easier now. Petunia had recently learned the art of swearing. And swearing methodically so Mum and Dad didn't get mad at her. It was fine, Lily justified. Petunia was just stubborn.
Her thoughts lazily wandered in and out of her home life, of school, and the random fantasies she had. She almost convinced herself to try and fall asleep in the Common Room when her stomach grumbled again.
"Oh for Agrippa's sake," she said under her breath. Sure, she was a thirteen-year-old witch that was having a growth spurt, but being this hungry this early in the morning was ridiculous. Glancing around the room she tried to locate a stray candy or maybe someone had left their bag with a snack inside. No such luck.
She could find the Kitchens. Lily could feel her eyes widen at her own thought.
But it's after curfew.
You don't even know where the Kitchens are.
And it's really dark in the castle. What are you? Five?
Having almost made up her mind to just die of starvation up in her bed a loud scrape caused her to jump. Pulling her knees into her chest, Lily glanced around. You are fine. Calm down. There's probably a bat outside or something. Something scuffled noisily. That was definitely from inside the tower. Perking up Lily did her best to hone in on the sound. Her stomach rumbled again. Quickly the patter of feet ran down the stairs from the boys' dorms. Peaking over the top of the chair Lily couldn't help the audible groan escape her lips.
"Potter."
Yelping in surprise the boy with unruly hair and crooked glasses locked eyes with her.
"Evans?" He whispered loudly.
"No, it's McGonagall," Lily snapped, a scowl seemed permanently forced on her face whenever she was around him. But, curiosity couldn't keep her at bay as to why he was awake. Sitting up on her knees to face him, Lily crossed her arms. "What are you doing?"
"I could ask you the same thing," he responded. He crossed his own arms and glared at her with the same malice she was sure was in her own eyes. The torch just by the stairwell reflected sharply off his glasses, but Lily could catch a small smirk playing on the edge of his lips.
Sighing Lily pulled on an ear lobe. "I couldn't sleep."
"Me neither," he said. His pajamas were mismatched and too small. She caught the pattern of a Quidditch player across his chest and snitches splattered everywhere else charmed to fly around. There was a little skin exposed between the edge of the shirt and the bottoms, which hung at least two inches above his ankles.
They were quiet for a few moments until James cleared his throat. "Sorry about turning your hair blue."
Lily's scowl returned. "If you were sorry you wouldn't even have been aiming your wand at my head in the first place."
"Well," James sputtered, Lily could see color springing up on his cheeks. "You shouldn't be talking with Snivellus."
"His name is Severus and he's my friend," Lily said coldly. "A lot better friend than most Gryffindor's would be."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh just go away Potter."
"Can't," the boy replied, his cheeky arrogance returning as though it had never left. He took a few steps toward the Portrait Hole. "I gotta go find chocolate for Remus."
"Didn't he go home for the weekend?" Lily asked scrunching her nose. She could have sworn she saw Professor McGonagall escorting him from the Common Room earlier that afternoon.
"It's for when he gets back, obviously," James rolled his eyes. His glasses slipped down his nose
Harrumphing, Lily climbed off the chair and walked over to her classmate. He'd gotten taller over the summer and throughout the start of term. Most of his robes hung at least two inches above his ankles, just like his pajamas. He easily stood a head over her. She did not like this new development.
"Where do you plan on finding said chocolate?" She asked trying not to sound hesitant. She couldn't believe that she was going to him for help with her hunger issue. "There's none left sitting out, I-I checked."
He let out a laugh, mirthful and amused. "Wanting to snatch from other's things there Evans? For shame. But, as fun as that would be, there is a lovely place called The Kitchens that would have everything a hungry stomach could want."
"Who said I was hungry?" She almost shrieked. But just then (of course it was then) her stomach let loose another growl that could have given a dragon a run for its money.
Grinning James gestured to the Portrait hole. "After you my fine red-headed accomplice."
"It's after curfew," she reminded him, ignoring the fact that barely ten minutes ago she was about to head out into the castle herself.
James shrugged. "All the more fun." His dark eyes glinted at the prospect.
Don't do it, a voice that sounded a lot like Mary said in the back of her head.
If it means chocolate, Marlene's rational butted in. Plus Potter is decently fit. Even with that bare bit of skin you saw, no fat there. Shut up Marlene. Although technically that was Lily's own consciousness.
"Bah," she said aloud and tossed her hands up. "Fine. But if we get caught, I have a wild imagination and I will pin everything on you."
"That's the Marauder spirit," James grinned a hand running through his hair.
"No."
"What?"
"Don't you dare call me a Marauder, or your accomplice, or fine for that matter."
Pouting James made a pleading motion. "Just for tonight, our little secret."
"No." She said again. "I will change my mind about coming with you."
Her stomach did not agree with that announcement.
"You're going to wake up half the castle unless you eat, geez Evans," he grinned cheekily.
Pulling her wand on him, Lily glared him down. "I will use this."
He pushed his glasses up his nose and gestured for the Portrait. "C'mon, or else Sirius will get up, see I'm gone, and try to come with us. Than we really will get caught."
Pulling at her bathrobe Lily gave a look over her shoulder back at the staircase that led up to her nice warm bed. Another feeling of doubt came over her. James made an annoyed sound and practically stomped his foot. He would never let her forget if she didn't go with him. Tying her robe closed (oh Merlin it was her ratty old one with singes all over it after a mishap last summer involving Petunia, muggle garden gnomes, sparklers, and an innocent by standing cat). With as much dignity as she could muster, Lily marched in front of James and out of the Common Room.
It was strange seeing the corridor like this; void of students milling about and very few torches to light the way. Lily felt a bit of awe at this new perspective of the castle. When the Fat Lady swung shut behind her Lily turned to face Potter. He had a look of expectancy about him. That or he'd just realized he needed to use the loo.
"Well?" Lily asked crossing her arms.
"Well, what?" James scrunched his nose confused.
"The Kitchens!" Lily hissed. It took all her effort not to scream at him.
His eyes widened and he bobbed his head a few times. Lily started a list in her head of how she could kill him, or get him expelled. "Ah, yes. Evans, I don't know how to tell you this, but I lied to you about knowing where the Kitchens are."
She stared at him blankly. He scratched his nose. Pursing her lips, Lily got to number ten on her list (less than a minute, that had to be a record). It was especially special seeing as it would both kill him and get him expelled. Alas, she had no way of getting a chainsaw into Hogwarts. They stayed like that for a few moments longer until Lily punched his shoulder as hard as she could. He squawked in surprise leaping to the side.
"Careful Potter or you'll wake up the whole castle," she mimicked looking up to the Fat Lady . . . who was noticeably absent from her portrait. For the love of Gryffindor.
"Oh dear, that's terribly awkward," James said mildly. He didn't sound the least bit concerned about the predicament, nor very keen to find a solution.
Trembling with a mix of rage and annoyance Lily rounded on him. She felt like she could burst into tears at his stupidity. Never mind hers. It was his fault. He had dragged her into this. "Fix it."
"Unfortunately there's not much to do," James shrugged. He pulled his wand from his pajamas pocket and cast Lumos. "May as well explore, shan't we?"
Shaking her head quickly, and rather violently, Lily's hands balled into fists. "I am not going anywhere with you, you, you pigheaded toerag!"
Her goads only caused a grin to spread across his face. In the light of his wand the expression was frightening; in the sense that it looked impish and overly pleased at the situation. Before he can say anything, a noise sounded down the corridor and the undeniable yowl of a cat.
"Please tell me that was Elvendork," James said frantically waving his wand around.
"Who in the world is Elvendork?" Lily asked as she tried prying on the Portrait Hole praying to whoever would listen that it would open.
"Your cat."
"My cat's name is not Elvendork. Besides that's a name for a male cat, mine's a girl."
"Elvendork is a perfectly unisex name."
"Potter."
"C'mon, if that was Mrs. Norris, Filch'll be just behind her." Without waiting for a response, James grabbed Lily's hand and pulled down the corridor and through a hallway she wasn't familiar with. Losing track of the turns and stairwells they took, Lily felt as though her lungs would explode. Finally, James came to a stop. Dropping her hand, he glanced around the new corridor they found themselves in. Doubling over Lily gasped for breath clutching her midsection. Running on an empty stomach was not a good idea.
"Where are we?" she asked him as soon as a bit of air returned to her lungs. Not answering, James held his wand up and examined the corridor, there were many pictures clamoring about despite the late hour, even fewer torches graced the walls, and a distinct cold draft made Lily regret not putting socks on with her slippers.
"I don't know," the black-haired miscreant murmured. He continued muttering under his breath, examined the portraits and pressed his nose up against a window to get a view outside. "Ah. Fourth floor it seems. North end, I do believe the Hufflepuff Common Room is somewhere around here. Interesting. I didn't know this hall existed. Evans, do you have bit of parchment?"
Still breathing heavily (which was an utter embarrassment seeing as he was doing just fine) Lily glared at him in a way that she hoped would emulate the effects of a Rash Growing Hex.
"And maybe a quill?" He ignored her heated glare and continued to look about, memorizing the corridor.
"I do not have any of those items I'm afraid," Lily said combing her hair back as best she could. "And you are mistaken as to where we are, Hufflepuff's Common Room is down near the first floor and dungeons."
James' eagerness fell. "Oh. But—I thought. . . Oh well. That's disappointing. I heard their Common Room is right next to the Kitchens."
Yanking her hands free of her bedhead hair Lily gave James a pointed look. "You heard the Hufflepuff Common Room is right next to the Kitchens?"
"Yes, that's what I just—oh, I see," James nodded slowly and rubbed his chin. "Well, as long as that's sorted out, can we check out this corridor a bit more?"
"I hate boys." The redhead stated as emphatically as possible while pacing in front of a dreadful depiction of Salazar Slytherin (a Gryffindor probably had a good time with that one). "No Potter we will not check out the corridor! Filch or Slughorn or McGonagall- McGonagall. Oh Merlin she will expel us for sure."
"Relax Evans," James drawled as he peaked around a statue. "We just tell her you were hungry. She can't be mad at you for that. Aren't you the one who is always saying that being honest is the best quality one can have?"
"Yes, I'm sure McGonagall we take you seriously and believe you were helping me find the Kitchens," Lily muttered under her breath. James had already lost interest with her worrying and seemed intent on memorizing the layout of the corridor and where they were in relation to the ground. "Potter! Can we focus on the one task at hand and get me some food?"
"I need to focus?" He yelled incredulously. Ignoring Lily's screech to "shut-up before someone hears," and brilliantly dodging her swats, James shook a finger at her. "Which do you want Evans? Food or to not be caught?"
"You are insufferable."
"I do try," he said with a wink.
Lily blanched. Holy hippogriff I need to get out of here. Deciding that it would be better to fend for herself in the dark castle, even if she still got lost rather easily while navigating around, Lily turned on her heel and headed back in the direction they came from.
"Not that way!" James hissed lunging for her just at the same time another voice broke out at the opposite end of the corridor.
"Minerva I'm telling you, there are students out of bed," the wheezened voice of Filch echoed down the hall.
"I've just come down this way not fifteen minutes ago," McGonagall's crisp voice came shortly after, and it was growing closer.
Lily didn't need James to pull her back, she was already scrambling that way, yanking on the collar of his shirt. They collided roughly with a pillar, but neither made a sound, they only waited anxiously as the footsteps of the Professor and Caretaker came closer. When James tried to speak, Lily shushed him angrily.
"At least wait until after Halloween feast to kill me," he was leaning to close into her as they tried to be as small as possible, "it's always the best."
It didn't merit a response. Lily instead continued her list on possible death accidents that could occur in the castle. If that draft would just stop chilling her to the bones. Her thoughts stopped. James continued lamenting the loss of sweets and turkey he would miss out on if she killed him that night.
Smothering him with a hand Lily pressed her lips against his ear. "There's a draft, it has to be a secret passageway."
Immediately the boy leaped forward, slightly amazed at how quiet he was, Lily could only watch him lean against the wall, tapping it gently with his wand. With her heart pounding in her chest Lily couldn't bring herself to move. With her luck that would be what McGonagall would notice and it would be the factor that would get her expelled. A sudden rush of air caught her attention.
"Evans, get over here," James whispered. Not needing to be told twice Lily spun around and had only enough time to realize that James Potter had managed to open a towering entry way in the corridor without much more that a huge gust of air.
"What?" Lily squeaked out.
"Admire my handiwork later, get in!" James responded pushing Lily into the secret passage. Stumbling forward Lily plunged into the darkness. Behind her James muttered a spell and the stone wall closed soundlessly.
Neither said anything, neither moved. After a moment, Lily realized she was holding her breath and very slowly released it. Stale air greeted her lungs on the inhale and it took all her effort not to break out in fits of coughs with the dust that coated the inside of her mouth. It was nasty, even worse than when she had to help clean out her aunt's attic after she died.
The sound of James' shuffling feet made her turn, though the passage was a smothering sort of black that Lily didn't think her eyes would ever be able to see again.
"McGonagall's yelling at Filch for getting her out of bed for no reason, it's fantastic," James sniggered from beside her. "Well, hope you aren't scared of the dark Evans."
"Lumos."
"Ah, yes." Even though it was dark and he couldn't see her, Lily still rolled her eyes. Sometimes she was sure he just acted like the giant squid to get attention. Thought, the giant squid knew how to keep its tentacles to itself and behave. Well, at least better than Potter. Most times.
In silence Lily led the way down the passage. It was a good thing her mouth was so full of dust and other disgusting tastes otherwise she would have hexed him then and there. They were silent as they walked. The light from Lily's wand was enough so they could avoid tripping in cracks and large rocks in the way. James remained several steps behind examining the passage as they went. He muttered under his breath but Lily was never able to catch any of it.
As they walked Lily could see changes in the structure of the walls, there were parts that seemed quite old, especially as they traveled farther down. Most of the rock and stone used in the construction was different than that of the rest of the castle. Granted the were walking inside the walls. How had she not known this existed? It was a magical castle founded by witches and wizards.
Suddenly, James began chuckling to himself. Pointing her wand in his direction, Lily raised an eyebrow. "What? Did you come up with another pun to make out of the naming of the planets? Or better yet another cruel name to call Dorcas?"
"Technically, Sirius was the mastermind behind both of those items," James said quickly ducking out of the glow of her wand. "I'm not that cruel."
"I beg to differ," Lily muttered so quietly she wasn't sure he even heard. Clearing her throat, she cast her gaze forward. "Then what is so amusing?"
A hand immediately went into his hair, both continuing to scruff it up and shaking out mounds of dust that he'd collected on their journey. "I just never thought I would be able to get the Great Lily Evans to break the rules."
"Oh, I'm not breaking the rules," Lily replied. "I have a perfectly good reason to be out of bed. It is completely unethical to starve a student; therefore, I should be allowed to find food in a desperate situation. There's an exception that allows the rule breaking."
Yawning loudly, and not at all convincingly, James cut her off. "All I heard is, "I am Lily Evans, I know the difference between brewing a Pepper-Up potion and a Sleeping Draught. Therefore, I can do whatever I want.'"
"I do not sound like that," Lily scowled at him. "And that is not what I think about myself."
"Whatever you say Evans," he shrugged. "Besides, there is a flaw to your plan; if caught you would be caught with me, and no one would believe your innocence then. I am the anti-alibi."
He seemed so proud of himself for the reputation he'd received, that Lily almost wanted to admit defeat. Almost. "Well, of course I've taken that into consideration. I would just throw you under the bus."
"What?" Rather confused at the phrase James looked head on into the light emanating from Lily's wand. "Gah!"
Pleased on both accounts of his outburst, Lily chuckled and lowered her wand. Only a little. "It's a colloquialism Potter, a phrase. Like, "throw you to the wolves." Just that I'd let you take the blame."
"Throw me to the wolves all you like," replied the young man with a smirk. "I'd fair rather well."
There was deeper meaning to that, Lily was sure, but she wasn't sure she actually wanted to know what he meant. "Anyway, as you said, no one actually believes you would be innocent in anything mischievous. Thus, if we were to be caught, I would merely be seen as an innocent bystander."
"You know," James said as they followed a bend in the old corridor. "It seems to me a miracle that those girls spend time with you. Is this how you treat everyone suck the fun out of them like a dementor?"
The words hit her with such a force that Lily had to stop walking. A shudder rippled through her body and she felt it clamp down on her heart, squeezing it like a wet rag. He didn't know it, but it that moment all Lily could see was her sister Petunia standing in the kitchen only setting three placemats on the table, telling Lily that a freak like her was sure to suck the life out of the room. It happened the night before she left for school, and she hadn't wanted to cry about it, until now.
Potter had made it a decent ways down the corridor before he was about to leave the light of the wand. After he realized that Lily was no longer walking behind him, the young boy glanced around and finally saw her standing back, a deep frown etched on her face, her wand arm lowering bit by bit, as well as the light. Without saying anything, she narrowed her eyes at him and turned on her heel.
"Evans, c'mon!" James called after her. He fumbled for his own wand and tried to light his way, stubbing his toe on an uprooted tile, he cursed and swore as he tried to catch up to the other Gryffindor. "You aren't seriously mad?"
Lily whirled around to face him with such force, the boy had to scramble back to be clear of smacking into her. "What does it look like Potter?"
"You are mad," he said quietly.
It was in that moment Lily realized that he had never actually had anyone be mad at him before. Sure, she would see and his mates have scuffles, but nothing like the way Lily projecting towards him in this moment. In a way, she could pity him. But the way he oozed confidence even now in the full fury of her angry gaze drove that thought right out of her head just as soon as she thought it.
"Yes, I am. You called me a dementor! I don't know how thing usually work in your fancy little pureblood world, but calling people names like that is rude and doesn't do well to make friends. And yes, I am mad. Mad enough to say that you belong in Slytherin."
They both stared at each other for a long time. Lily's chest rose and fell and the fury built up within her, she could feel her fingers tighten with rage around her wand. Potter scowled at her, his lips twitching as he tried to think of something to say.
Shoving his glasses up his nose he crossed his arms. "You create an interesting paradox there, Evans. Based on the way you value friendship, if I were in Slytherin, you and I would be quite chummy wouldn't we?"
Deciding that his comment didn't merit a response, Lily turned away from him with such fury that she almost lost her balance.
"Evans," Potter tried again. "The corridor ends just up here, I promise. C'mon."
It took a moment before Lily turned around and slowly made her way to where he was. She passed him without glancing his way. "Don't you dare speak to me again."
He made no response, but Lily heard him shuffling behind her. True to his word after a few dozen steps, they came to the end of the corridor. Stepping forward, the young Marauder placed his wand against the stonework, a moment passed before the stone began moving in a slow way, silently easing open to a decent sized crack they would easily be able to pass through.
Lily passed through first and stepped out into what certainly looked like it was near the dungeons. The torches were always larger and closer together in the dungeons. There was always more of a distinct draft.
"Excellent," James said coming up behind Lily. "I know just where we are."
Pointing her wand and the newly formed escape route, Lily closed the way off and glanced down the hall. "Which way?"
"I thought we weren't speaking to each other?" James replied mildly as he took his glasses of and buffed them on his shirt. "Seeing as how I am a Slytherin."
Unable to look at him, whether out of guilt or annoyance, Lily wasn't sure. She pointed down one way and decided to take the shot. "Seeing as how you've been little to no help tonight."
"I literally opened a wall and saved us from Filch and McGonagall. All without throwing you under a bus as you say it."
"Yes, you've been so helpful," Lily said as she began walking. While they weren't in the complete bowels of the dungeons, Lily still felt unease as they walked. It was always down here that she'd had bad experiences with Slytherin's, and it was down here she highly doubted any professor would show mercy for students being out of bed. Even if they were hungry.
"You're being sarcastic," James scowled from beside her.
"You've finally understood the meaning of the red hair." Lily laughed dryly. She shook her head, lips pursed as she considered what to say. "Honestly Potter, you got me locked out of Gryffindor Tower, dragged me around the castle on the run from Filch. And you haven't delivered on your promise of getting me food."
"I didn't coerce you to do anything," James reminded her. "You left the Tower of your own free will."
"You still haven't gotten me any food."
James laughed running a hand up to his hair. Rolling her eyes Lily wondered why he always did that. She hadn't noticed it until the start of this year really.
"If my sense of direction is correct, which it is, we should be nearing the kitchens on the left." James finally took off down the corridor leaving Lily to sprint after him. Her feet were too loud for her liking upon the cold stone floors.
"What are we looking for?" She asked when she reached him again. James gave her a side look, eyebrow quirked. "Oh please, it's Hogwarts, there's got to be a strange magical way to get into the kitchens."
James snorted, shaking his head muttering something under his breathe, Lily caught something along the lines of "too damn smart." Aloud he acknowledges her observation. "Right you are my dear—" he dodged a swat from her, "rumor has it that there is a portrait we are looking for."
"What kind of portrait?" she asked. There were plenty lining the walls, many of figures she didn't recognize, most were asleep.
"It's the Kitchens, take a wild guess."
"See, this is why no one likes you," Lily muttered looking down a corridor that branched off. She expected to see Filch teetering down at any minute wagging a craggily old finger at them.
"Oi!" James squawked offended. "There are plenty of people who like me."
"Oh yes, your mother, of course." They were coming up on a large painting, stretching at least twelve feet up the wall. It was a giant fruit basket. Lily stopped and stared at it, slightly amused. It couldn't be could it?
"I think we have a winner," James announced standing beside her. He aimed his wand at the portrait, nothing. "Oh come on then!"
Lily's stomach grumbled. Scowling at James she tapped a foot. "Well Mister High Adventurer?"
"Get your stomach under wraps, Evans." James returned the scowl. "I don't see you helping out."
"You assured me that that you could get me food, so I assume you can figure this out on your own," Lily tucked her hair over one shoulder, her fingers catching in some knots.
"I take that as a compliment."
"How on earth is that a compliment?"
"You said I could figure out how to break into a top-secret lair. Blimey Evans, it's like being called Merlin himself."
"I would hardly call the kitchens a top-secret lair, and that in no way relates to being Merlin or anything else of higher power. You're a pigmy puff in comparison."
"Hey!"
"Shush!" Lily pointed a finger at him, glaring menacingly. "Hurry up we've been out here—"
There suddenly came the high-pitched yowl of a cat. James and Lily froze glanced at one another and then down the corridor. Sitting beneath a torch was a cat. A rather fat cat.
"Elvendork really needs to go on a diet Evans," James whispered, though Lily could hear a twitch in his voice.
"For the last time, my cat's name is not Elvendork," Lily snapped back. Her heart beat out of her chest with great anxiety. "And that is not my cat."
"STUDENTS OUT OF BED! STUDENTS OUT OF BED!" Peeves the Poltergeist came swinging down the corridor screaming at the top of his . . . lungs? He technically wasn't a ghost, nor was he alive so he couldn't have lungs, could he? Lily was shaken by her small reviere as James pulled her down the hall.
"Now's not the time to day dream Evans!"
"I wasn't," she began to argue back, but lost her words as James took her hand tightly in his own to guide her through the castle.
Peeves, somewhere behind them continued to make a ruckus, Mrs. Norris meowed again, too close for Lily's comfort. Losing track of where they were, James finally came to a stop in front of a wall that somehow looked familiar.
Waving his wand, James breathed heavily as the wall moved reveling a doorway. "This'll take you back to where McGonagall and Filch nearly had us. They're going to be coming down here any minute so you should have a clear shot to the Common Room."
"Lumos, what are you going to do?" Lily asked. It wasn't as though she wasn't entirely concerned for his safety or well-being, but she really didn't want to slink through the walls of the castle on her own.
"Remus really likes chocolate," James winked in the flickering torch like and pushed Lily into the secret passageway. Right behind her the wall quickly replaced itself.
"I'm still hungry!" She shouted even if he wouldn't hear her. Bloody Potter. Oh she would murder him. She thought of her list from earlier as she began walking. Without realizing it, she was talking to herself. "Oh yes, perhaps a sledgehammer. Combined with the giant squid that'd work wonderfully."
Moving quickly Lily found herself at the other end of the passage in no time. Carefully she eased out of the wall glancing around to be sure Filch wasn't standing guard. When she felt sure the way was clear Lily stepped out into the corridor tapping the wall with her wand. Silently, the passage disappeared.
With no idea where she was, Lily held her wand in her palm. "Point me."
Thank Merlin she paid attention in Charms. As loud as she dared, Lily ran through the castle, stopping only twice to catch her breath, and mutter a curse at Potter. Hopefully he got caught, maybe they'd make him have detention in the Forbidden Forest. No, he'd probably like that. Or perhaps something involving flobberworms. Yes. That was better.
Finally reaching Gryffindor Tower Lily gasped out the password to the Fat Lady (thankfully she'd returned). Either to sleepy or surprised, the Fat Lady said nothing as she swung open. Relief flood through Lily as she clambered through the portrait and made a mad dash to the Girl's Dormitory.
Once in her room Lily finally seemed able to breathe. Shuffling through the dark, Lily found her bedside table, in the moonlight she saw that it was nearly three. Moaning, Lily added a possibility of disembowelment to her list. She'd decided to call it The Unfortunate Demise of James Potter. It had a nice ring to it.
Setting her wand aside, Lily didn't bother to take off her robe and got into bed, and was only slightly surprised to find another inhabitant snuggled among her quilts. Chuckling softly, Lily pulled her blankets gently over to her side. Alice made a small protest of "snuggling is mandatory," before breathing deeply. Still chuckling to herself, Lily's eyes drooped shut as she, indeed, snuggled up to her friend. Only as she was on the cusp of dreams did she think; did James get caught?
.*.*.
Giggling like a maniac, James Potter dashed among suits of armor, a small sack of fudge clutched to his chest. Behind him he heard the haggard gasps of Filch trying to keep up. Peeves wasn't making things any easier, but at least McGonagall was nowhere to be found.
As James ducked into another passage, Peeves was right there cackling madly. "It's a mouse! It's a mouse!"
"C'mon Peeves, help me out!" James pleaded between pants. The poltergeist made no response besides a howl of glee swooping about.
Groaning, James didn't dare stop to catch his breath as he stumbled down another corridor. He had spent the better part of an hour running through the dungeons, dodging Filch and cursing Peeves. By a miracle he'd managed to make it to the fourth floor, but now he was trapped. Well, not trapped per say, but he couldn't remember where there was a passage to duck into or not. Maybe he shouldn't have gotten rid of Evans. Nah. She'd have made this at least ten times worse.
Did he dare tuck away into a broom closet? Perhaps an old classroom. He was too turned around to know for sure where he was.
A left. A right. Two more lefts and he was at a stairwell.
"Merciful Merlin," he whispered. Without another hesitation James began scrambling up, only stopping when he heard Filch at the bottom. Thankfully there was a bend in the stairs that kept James from view, his shadow was scarce in the torches. Filch muttered something under his breath but he made no effort to climb the stairs. A long breath left James' puckered lips. "Merciful Merlin."
He stayed where he was though. No reason to underestimate Filch. Not now. Even Peeves lost interest in the chase, giving one last raspberry to no one in particular, the Poltergeist darted off. When he was sure he was alone, James came down the stair he'd climbed up and hurried to find another way to Gryffindor Tower.
As he rounded a corner and came within sights of the Fat Lady, James was finally able to breath proper when a cat gave a, affronted meow. Cursing, James spun about twice before his eyes landed on a tabby cat sitting in a window sill. It looked vaguely familiar that James figured it had to be Lily's.
"Elvendork," James said cheerily, still a bit breathless. The cat gave him a pointed look as though it were questioning him on why he was out at this hour. "Oh don't give me that." He hefted the bag of fudge. "I needed to get something for Remus when he gets back."
Plucking out a square, James chewed thoughtfully as the fudge melted in his mouth. Elvendork made a noise, nudging James with a paw.
"I went through a lot of trouble, I deserve at least one square," James defended himself. "I'd offer you a piece, but I don't think Lily would appreciate me feeding her cat fudge."
The cat made no sound but seemed to glare at James with tired eyes. Blinking, the young man popped the last bit of fudge in his mouth and chewed quickly. The cat was creepy, just a bit.
"Well, don't do anything I wouldn't do." James said hurrying away from Elevendork. He would swear later that the cat laughed as he woke the Fat Lady up to enter the common room. If he'd paid closer attention though, he would have noticed that the cat was not Lily's dear "Elvendork." He would have noticed that this cat had distinct square markings around its eyes.
Safe in his dorm, James fell into his bed, pleased at the adventure he'd had and already thinking of the paths he had taken and where the secret passages lay. As his eyes drifted shut he wondered what would happen if Lily Evans knew he'd been lying. He'd known the whole time where the Kitchens were and how exactly to get into them. A small smile crossed his lips as sleep over came him. It was the longest they'd ever spent together without her hexing him.
"Progress Sirius, progress," he muttered sleepily.
"Don't wanna know," came a muffled reply.
.*.*.*
Holy cow. Y'all have no idea how long it took me to write this. Embarrassingly long. Drop a review letting me know how you liked the story and what I can improve on! If there's a scene or idea in Hogwarts canon you'd like to see, let me know! Or AU prompts, I'm open to too!
.mw
