The arrival at Hogwarts was an awkward one. The girls usually sat together and the Marauders as well. But this year, their very last year at the magical school, Remus and Lily were isolated, feeling completely alone, huddled together at the end of the table with the terrified new Gryffindor first years. They had no idea why James had so coldly greeted Remus when he had approached him by the carriages. But everyone else knew. The rest of their house had apparently heard of what had occurred on the train….well, the misunderstood version. It was obvious as the Gryffindors were all shooting looks of pure hatred, disgusted, or unbelieving looks. How could the two perfectionists of Hogwarts CHEAT? Sure, it wasn't on a test or whatnot, but how could Lily do that to her best friend? How could Remus do that to his girl friend of over two years, the girl he has had a humongous crush on since he first talked to her in Diagon Alley first year? It was flabbergasting, absolutely unbelievable.
Of course everyone knew about Remus and Lily(except them of course), but why was Sirius all alone as well? Actually, where was Sirius PERIOD? He wasn't there, Lily realized as she scanned the sea of faces. Why wasn't he with James? Wait-did HE believe this story of Remus and Lily's secret affair? Lily pushed the thoughts of Sirius from her mind and concentrated on pushing her shepherds pie around her plate….she wasn't eating, or saying anything. How could she? Her heart had just been broken, not in two, which could possibly be repaired, but into millions of little shards, impossible to put back together once more. How had James done it all these years? Living? Surely it must have been pretty bad for him, being denied by his love every single solitary day. Sure he laughed it off, but Lily could always detect the pain in his eyes. His depthless hazel eyes………She glanced at him dejectedly, wishing she was over there, by his side, laughing and talking….but he looked just as upset!! He, too, was pushing his food around, while Peter Pettigrew, his little servant/lap-dog "friend" was next to him, looking like he'd rather be anywhere but with this surly James.
The food disappeared, only to be replaced with the puddings and ice creams and custards, cakes, and pies, none of which the three depressed teenagers took a bite out of. The feast finally ended, and Lily just wanted to get up to her dorm, where she may have to deal with the 7th year Gryffindors, but at least she would be able to close her hangings and ignore the rude comments and sour looks. But of course before she could make her escape, Dumbledore had to have his two cents, reminding everyone of the various rules and such, ending with:
"I bid you all happy dreams, that you may wake bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for classes bright and early tomorrow morning! Prefects, please lead your first years to the dormitory, and as for the Heads, congratulations to James Potter of Gryffindor, and also Lily Evans of Gryffindor!!"-a meager applause broke out of the tired students-"and may I please speak to you two before you retire. Thank you"
Everyone stood at once, pushing back the wooden benches, making an awful scraping sound. Students of all houses-Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Slytherin-rushed to the monstrous double doors, eager to get to their warm, cozy, four-poster beds. Lily and James both fought through the stream of people going the opposite way as they made their way to Dumbledore, who was still seated, merrily sipping his beverage out of a amethyst-encrusted goblet.
The two heads stood stiffly side-by-side, uncomfortable with being so close to the reason their heart stopped beating.
"Once again, congratulations" Dumbledore greeted the pair. " I trust you've had a superb summer?" Without waiting for a reply, he stood suddenly, unusually graceful for a man that appeared so old. "If you will follow me, I will show you to your dormitory." At the questioning looks on the Heads faces, he continued. "Of course you two get your own dormitory!! I think you deserve it, yes? This way, you'll have a quiet place to concentrate on your studies and duties as heads. This way" He turned down corridor after corridor, until they came upon a tapestry of Nancy the Negligent, the witch who had forgotten multiple ingredients in a potion, resulting in a rather odd concoction that had never before been made, one that produced foam and turquoise bubbles that, when popped, revealed various odds and ends such as kazoos, fuzzy pink blankets, and statues of overweight cows. It was known as the
Bauble Brew, but was never re-created, as the many bubbles could reveal something rather large, as it had with Nancy the Negligent, who was crushed when one of the bubbles revealed a Giant's crystal ball, which fell right on top of her and killed her.
Dumbledore pulled back the tapestry, revealing a long tunnel. He led them down it, and turned a corner to reveal a blank wall with nothing but a little peep hole in the door, about knee-height. Dumbledore knocked on the wall, and Lily, who had her attention on the peep hole, noticed that it went dark, as if someone had peered through it. Then the door swung open! And standing there, in the doorway, was a house elf. It was dressed in the uniform of Hogwarts elves, a vivid purple toga with a Hogwarts crest broach holding it on at the left shoulder. The elf bowed low, and smiled widely at the trio.
"Good evening, sirs and miss. I be Mitzi the House Elf. I is to be helper of Heads, I is?" She bowed once again, her pointy nose touching the floor, her wispy black hair falling into her face.
"It's very nice to meet you, Mitzi!" exclaimed Lily. She had heard of House Elves, but had never actually MET one before!!
James just ignored the Elf, not looking at her or Lily.
"I trust your more than capable, Mitzi dear. I leave our two extraordinary heads in your hands." He smiled at her and his eyes twinkled, she blushed and bowed even lower than before, shutting the Headmaster out and turning to the two students who were gazing around in wonder, completely oblivious to each other for once.
"Ummm…..If it pleases the masters, I be showing you to your rooms now?" It appeared the House Elf only spoke in question form, and she was extremely nervous and jittery.
"That would be great Mitzi. This place is AMAZING! Where are we exactly?"
"Seventh Floor, miss?" she whispered. "If that pleases you?"
"Oh, yes Mitzi, I'm just hoping I can find my way back again!" Lily jokingly stated, smiling warmly at the elf, who returned it tentatively.
"The rooms be this way?" Mitzi led them past purple couches spotted with silvery stars, the ceiling was a replica of the Great Hall's, reflecting the sky outside, which was a midnight black with glistening stars winking at them. Past two desks which winged the bottom of an elaborate staircase, they climbed it to find it branched off in two directions.
"This way be the miss's room, if you will?" She turned to the right, and both Heads followed. At the top, a purple door stood, with a plaque that read "Lily Evans. Head Girl, President of Charms Club, Vice President of Potions Club, Secretary of Transfiguration Club, Head of Pep-squad, Soloist of Hogwarts Chorus, Member of Cleaning Committee, Historian of Honors Society"
The door opened, allowing the Elf and the girl to enter, but a magical barricade stopped James at the threshold. The room was enormous, a King-sized canopy bed lay in the center of the far wall. A pair of double doors opened up to a balcony, a dresser that could fit all of the Gryffindor 7th years cloths stood against a wall, and there was a closet as well. Her Trunk stood at the foot of the bed, and pictures from her own bedroom at home were all over the place, as well as posters of The Weird Sisters and every pro Quidditch team. It had a window seat in both of the windows that flanked the balcony doors. There was a desk as well, right next to a bookshelf filled with books that all appeared to interest her-magical and muggle both! The room was done in a deep green, her favorite color, and decorated with white Lily flowers, which sure, everything having to do with her name did get old, but it was so breathtaking she would have had it no other way.
Lily grinned, her own room? At Hogwarts? That was just-wow! "This is great Mitzi!! Did you do all of this yourself?"
"Um….yes, miss. I be in charge of the Decorating Crew. We's helps with all the decorating of common rooms, classrooms, and offices, and we assist Sir Hagrid at the holidays times, miss?" Mitzi mumbled humbly.
"Well you did a great job, Mitzi," Lily complimented her politely. "Lets go check out James's"-she barely was able to choke out the name-"room."
"Yes miss."
They proceeded to climb back down the stairs, turning left at the landing and climbing the short staircase to James's room. The plaque on his room stated "James Potter. Head Boy, Quidditch captain, Quidditch seeker, Prongs the Marauder"
Lily wondered briefly how whoever made the plaques, probably Mitzi, knew that he was Prongs the Marauder. Sure, Lily over heard them calling each other Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, but why? And their little group was called the Marauders, and they were the mischief makers of the school. But why the funky names? Lily pushed this thought out of her mind as Mitzi opened the door and bowed low, allowing the two to enter the room. Lily wasn't surprised she was allowed in his room. Ancient magic allowed the girls to go into the boys dormitory, but not vice-versa. If a boy tried to enter a girls dorm, the stone stairs to turn into a slippery slide, causing them to slip and fall, sometimes banging their heads. Serves 'um right! Apparently girls are more trustworthy than boys-shocker. James's room was decked out in the colors of his favorite team, the Sumbawanga Sunrays(from Tanzania), which colors were gold and crimson, coincidently also the Gryffindor colors! Posters of the team and also of all six Gryffindor teams James had been on, from first year to six year, the poster for seventh year blank(probably until the team was decided) lined the walls, nearly covering every inch. The bed was king sized also, with a velvety scarlet comforter. The furnishings reflected hers, only the decorations and pictures of friends and family and Quidditch teams were different.
"I guess I'll just be going to sleep now," James muttered coldly, looking pointedly at the two.
"Oh, erm, night James." Lily said, a touch of pain in her voice, and showing clearly in her emerald eyes. Mitzi frantically bowed and scurried out of the room, holding the door open for Lily.
"Sleep well, Mitzi. Thanks for the lovely accommodations." Lily stated formally, remembering her manners.
"Is there anything I may get the miss? If you need anything all you needs to do is to call me name and I will comes." Mitzi bowed low, and with a snap of her fingers she disappeared.
Sniffling quietly, Lily went to her room and shut the door, realizing she didn't know where the bathroom was. Noticing a door beside the entrance, she opened it and found a hallway. She proceeded cautiously, turning right and going down a set of stairs. At the bottom she came upon an immense bathroom, with a swimming pool sized tub and a Jacuzzi! Not to mention a shower and two sinks and two doors that led to two separate toilets. Lily wondered why there was only one tub, were they to share? Hmm…..awkward!! She climbed in anyway, turning various knobs similar to the ones in the Prefects bathroom. She settled for the Grapefruit scented orange foam and soaked. She had barely been in there a minute when a door opened. Startled, she turned towards the sound, careful to keep herself shielded with the foam.
It was James. He blushed when he saw her, and looked away awkwardly.
"Erm, sorry Evans, I didn't know-"He muttered, embarrassed. "I'll just go now."
He left and Lily couldn't help but be confused. Why wasn't there a charm keeping him out, at least when she was in? She would have to work something out with him, maybe a schedule? But that would include talking to him! She decided from now on he probably would have the common sense to knock before entering from now on, and she would do the same.
Her relaxed mood washed away by the thoughts of James, she climbed out and dried herself, putting on a baggy t-shirt, her usual choice of pajamas. Slipping on her sea foam green fuzzy slippers, she shuffled wearily to her room, the citrus-y scent of Grapefruits following her. She climbed into her bed, the folds of the silky green comforter with it's elegant floral pattern engulfed her, and she fell asleep quickly in the depths of her tangled cocoon of blankets, dreams of James and her, simply laughing or talking, friends, for once. How she wished this dream would come true….