"All that I'm saying', she said uncrossing and recrossing her legs, 'is that I just don't think that he's mature enough. I mean, seriously, they skipped potions to draw a little kiddie's map. That's something muggles would do!"
Roxanne peered above her magazine and looked at Lily who was now braiding a tiny amount of hair very messily. "Look, for someone who hates them, you talk about them an awful lot. Especially James".
Lily blushed and flustered about undoing the braid. "Well, they just annoy me a lot, that's all…"
"Sure Lily, because I believe that".
Lily huffed and glared at Roxanne who automatically turned back to her magazine. 'There's no pleasing some people' she thought, getting up to check the time – half an hour till dinner. Half an hour of useless time in which she could either sit and watch Roxanne read a boring magazine or walk around the castle searching for something, anything.
The castle it was.
"Hey Lily".
Lily looked up at the kind voice to the right of her to see a tall slim boy in dark robes and a green tie. "Oh, hey Severus".
"What're you doing?"
Lily contemplated what she was doing, because, when she really thought about it, she had no idea. 'Hoping to bump into the marauders, and, more to the point, James'. "Just walking".
"Why?"
They came to a stop by the entrance to one of the many courtyards and sat down on the worn bench. "Because I am, Severus".
Severus looked down at his hands, deciding to come up with a way to get her to secretly tell him, but by the time he looked up, Lily had left and was standing on the opposite side of the courtyard with three very popular boys and a dumpy one. He didn't count.
"So how does it work?" she asked peering cautiously at the map before her.
"Well,' James began, sneakily looking at Sirius and Remus, 'you have to have certain, let's say, qualities to be able to make a map like this. Things like being popular, and amazingly handsome, and - "
"Big headed"
"-Big headed, and… seriously Remus! You just had to spoil it!"
Remus shrugged, smiled apologetically at Lily and leaned in close to her ear, "It's true, though".
She laughed, switching her eyes back to James who blushed slightly under her gaze. "So I hear that you're the quidditch captain now".
"Of course I am, no less. I mean, some people thought I should've been captain as soon as I'd started Hogwarts".
"Hmmm, I absolutely agree" Lily teased, gently smiling, "And I suppose that there's a game soon?"
"Er, yes! Um, well, actually, are you going? Because if not, I suppose I'm inviting you, and if you are, I'm inviting you anyway".
Sirius rolled his eyes dramatically at James and mouthed the words 'That was pathetic'.
"I'll think about it".
"So that's a yes?"
"Erm, no-"
"Great! I look forward to seeing you there!"
"But –"
"See you later Lil's!"
"Don't –"
"It's a date!"
Lily looked around to see girls glaring at her. Who knew how the marauders managed to be so popular? Sighing once again she walked to dinner where the ceiling rained on her.
A/N: There, just a short preview. I've realised that this has kind of gotten worse as you read more and more. Definately thinking that I'll redo this and reupload ti again later before going on to chapter two :')
