Chapter 2:
Mischief Makers Era | Chapter 2
Disclaimer: We wouldn't be writing fanfiction if we owned these characters.
September 2, 1976
The next day students were buzzing about the latest news that happened in the Great Hall last night. It wasn't everyday that a fist fight would happen in the middle of the ceremony, and while others would like to see the fight turn into a brawl of epic proportions, some would prefer to swoon about the heroic job done by the newest Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, particularly the female demographic.
While it was certainly no good deed and it was merely an act of common sense, that didn't stop the girls from chatting to their friends, gossiping about the "hunky" new teacher, Elias Hawkstern.
"Have you seen his eyes?" Doris Purkiss, the instigator of the fight last night swooned to her acne-ridden friend, Juliet Hawkes.
"They're the deepest shade of blue I have ever seen." She sighed in agreement.
"What I would give to go to that class!"
"You'd be surprised. Considering it's a required subject, I suspect you'll see him. Unless you failed your OWL's" Charlotte Pickes deadpanned to her overly gushing friend.
Lily Evans, unlike the rest was not talking about the dreamy teacher who captured the majority of the female population. While Marlene McKinnon often wondered loudly if he was going to be a major pain in the ass, Lily had other pressing subjects in mind.
"Here" she handed a wrapped ice pack to her friend Mary, "Just to ease the pain a bit."
"You're a saint Lily." Mary said gratefully and took the ice pack from her friend.
"What does Doris Purkiss have against you anyway?" Marlene asked, dropping the Hawkstern subject.
"I really rather not talk about it." Mary whispered, the brunette tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and pressed the cold ice pack against her cheek. She winced at the slight sting and turned to both girls, "At least, not right now."
"Well I think she was a bit of a git" Dorcas Meadowes, a thin, blonde Ravenclaw with a small mole on her cheek interrupted the girls. "I like to think she wouldn't have to embarrass our house by doing that. Normally it's the Gryffindors who start the fight."
"No offense." She added finally, her green eyes travelled over to the house badges sewn on each girl's robes. Mary, Marlene and even Lily rolled their eyes at her blunt remark but paid no heed.
"I like to think not every Gryffindor is a loud mouthed trouble maker, Dorcas." Lily said. Marlene merely crossed her arms over her chest and eyed the Ravenclaw girl with distaste. "Not everyone in our house is looking for trouble."
"Usually trouble finds us." Mary interrupted with a grin.
"Well I like to think Ravenclaws aren't as aggressive as the lions." Dorcas said snootily. Although she would never admit it, Dorcas was always compelled to one-up Lily on everything. Whether it was who gets the better grade in a test, or who answers the teacher's question better; Dorcas Meadowes has a competitive streak in her, and if she's willing to become head girl next year, she would have to beat Lily Evans in every aspect.
"Birds are often squaky anyway." Marlene rolled her eyes.
Mary laughed.
"Hmph!" Dorcas huffed and walked away. Marlene stuck her tongue out at her while her back was turned.
"I never really liked her." Marlene whispered to Mary and Lily.
"You never really liked anyone." Lily deadpanned.
"True." Marlene laughed and the three girls grabbed their things and decided to get a spot of breakfast before they head out to class.
"Guess who got named Captain this year?" James Potter, a boy with remarkably messy hair wearing horn-rimmed glasses asked another boy who was presumably his friend. Tall, well-built with a mischievous grin almost always plastered on his face, James Potter was every bit as handsome as he was confident.
But some say that his confidence can be translated into arrogance. A fact he didn't bother to deny.
"Let me guess." The other boy replied, his lips curled into a slight smile as he wore a leather jacket over his torn up shirt. "Severus Snape?" he raised an eyebrow then bursted into laughter.
James laughed. "Git" he grumbled. "No dummy, it's the arse who's wearing the badge right now." He said proudly, puffing out his chest. Right there, pinned on his chest was a golden batch with the word "Quidditch captain" emblazoned on it.
The other boy let out a low whistle, "Can't say you don't deserve that one." While he didn't have messy hair like James, the other boy was also handsome in his own way. A boy with grey eyes and long hair that fell over his face, accentuating his high cheekbones, the other boy was every bit as handsome (perhaps even more) than James.
"I still can't believe I'm captain this year." James sighed, ruffling up his already messy hair.
"You mean, when you got the badge during summer, that wasn't the amazing part?" Sirius Black gasped. "Ever since you let me stay in your place during the summer, I can vaguely remember a glasses-wearing git anticipating for his pet owl to come back with good news and it wasn't the O.W.L results." he laughed as he munched on some toast.
James grinned, remembering the summer they spent together. While there was a certain tale behind the reason as to why his best friend was now homeless, he would rather not think about that if he could help it. Having Sirius live with him after he ran away from Grimmauld place was like having a new brother he can talk to during the summer. It was one of those things that made James happy, that, and becoming Quidditch captain.
"How did you do on your O.W.L's?" James asked.
"Terrible." Sirius shrugged. "Didn't pass History and Divination, my whole career is now ruined."
"Bollocks." James laughed at the joke. "Well I guess that means we're both failures on that respective field. How the hell am I going to be playing for Puddlemere United now?! What with having a P on History of Magic!" he shook his head and slammed a fist down the table.
"Good morning." Remus Lupin greeted his two best mates and sat down across from the two. "I see you're both up early." He yawned.
"Cheers Moony." Sirius grinned and shoved a plate of sausages to his friend. "Prongs and I always wake up early, what with training and all that."
"You're training already?" another boy interrupted the conversation and sat down near Remus. "Hey guys." He squeaked and poured a glass of pumpkin juice for himself.
"Of course we are Peter." James nudged Sirius. "With the Potter training program, we're going to win the cup and if having to train everyday to win the cup is what it takes to win it, then we're in it."
"Oh right." Sirius rolled his eyes. "Let's not forget that using the Levicorpus on someone while they're sleeping works too."
Remus and Peter laughed.
"Who needs an alarm clock when you got James Potter?" James said smugly.
"No one" Sirius, Remus and Peter deadpanned.
"What's our first class?" Marlene asked with her mouth full as she munched on her bowl of cereal.
"Defense against the Dark Arts" Mary said, reading the tiny slip of paper Professor McGonagall was handing out to the students in the Gryffindor table.
"What's the name of that Professor again?" Lily asked, helping herself to some pancakes and pumpkin juice.
"Professor Elias Hawkstern." Marlene answered in a heartbeat. Mary giggled and Lily grinned.
"Funny how you remembered his name Marls." Mary teased and nudged her gorgeous friend.
"Oh shut it, it's an easy name to remember!" Marlene said rather defensively.
"Well I think-" Lily was about to interrupt and give her two cents on the subject but paused when she noticed Mary and Marlene's smile dropped from their faces.
"Hello Lily." A familiar voice called out and Lily turned around in her seat.
"Oh hello Severus." she replied in a neutral tone.
"May I have a word?" he asked.
"Uhm…" Lily paused and turned to see her friends Mary and Marlene who were both giving her the look that plainly said she shouldn't waste her time.
"Please?" Severus asked.
"Alright" she said and stood up from her seat. She grabbed her things and told Mary and Marlene to go ahead to class.
She frowned as she followed Severus outside the Great Hall. Years ago, she wouldn't have minded Severus and her talking, after all, they were best friends once and they used to go to class together for Merlin's sake! But times change, people change, and Lily wondered if she changed or maybe Severus changed.
Severus stopped in his tracks and Lily followed suit. They were in a deserted hallway at this point.
"Lily, I wanted to say…" he started.
"That you're sorry." Lily crossed her arms over her chest. "And what for, Severus?" she asked, willing herself not to say "Sev" like she always did. She looked away from his pleading eyes and willed herself to stay strong.
"I am sorry Lily." He urged. "I'm sorry…that train…when Avery…and then Mulciber…they…"
"Don't say they made you do it." Lily frowned, narrowing her green eyes at him. "You had a choice to say no while you were at it"
"Lily, you're not being fair."
"How is about to get hexed by your once best friend fair in all of this?!" she demanded, willing herself not to cry. Sev made his choice, and he went with it. They weren't friends anymore. Nothing he could say could change the fact that the people he hung around with hated her, and people like her. Severus himself would get involved in those types of "fun", as far as Lily was concerned, she was not being "unfair."
"You don't understand…I wasn't going to hex you." Severus said.
"Of course not, not after Potter slammed your hand in!" Lily fumed, refusing to believe that Severus wouldn't do something like that.
"Potter?!" Severus narrowed his eyes. "What does Potter have to do with anything?"
"Ask him!" Lily wheeled around and stomped away from her former friend. She knew she was being harsh and she knew Severus was trying his best to make amends, but a part of her told her that it was done for. Their friendship was over.
Times change and people change.
Severus made his choice.
It was time she made hers.
"Lily! Lily wait!"
Not noticing where she was going, she bumped unto someone and dropped her things.
"Sorry." She said hastily and crouched down to pick up her things.
"Merlin Evans, are you overthinking again?!" James Potter chuckled as he bent down and tried to lend a helping hand.
"Maybe you should watch where you're going Potter!" Snape sneered. Lily froze in her spot for a moment, not realizing that Severus was following her.
James raised an eyebrow and straightened up. Lily noticed that he was not alone. Sirius, Remus and Peter were with him and it looks like there was going to be another nasty confrontation between the two.
"No one asked you, Snape." James shot back.
"I was just talking to Lily, before you so rudely interrupted." Severus whispered coldly, already pulling out his wand and pointing band of Marauders.
James and Sirius pulled out their own wands as well. Remus frowned as he watched the scene unfold before him, Peter; on the other hand, was watching the fight intensely, as if about to prepare himself for a match of the century.
"Now hold on just one second!" Lily glowered over to them.
"Stay out of this Evans." James ordered.
Lily was about to open her mouth and protest but James immediately stepped in front of her and blocked the hex Snape was aiming at him.
"At ease, Snivellus." He laughed. "Guess your aim's as bad as your crooked nose. No worries, you were born to be shitty."
Sirius and Peter laughed loudly. Remus, like Lily was did not laugh.
"Stop that right now, Potter." She hissed.
"I think you owe me another apology Evans." James said, not taking his eyes off Snape.
"Lower your wands." A deep voice interrupted and every one of them turned around to find that the newest Defense against the Dark Arts teacher was the one who spoke.