A collection of letters, notes, and private conversations between the Marauders, Lily, and their new American friend Charlotte during first year.
A/N: This chapter doesn't really fit my original plan for the story, but oh well. Thanks to my first reviewer!
Disclaimer: I own everything you don't recognize.
November 16, breakfast
"Morning," Charlotte said cheerfully, sitting down across from Remus Lupin.
"Good Morning," Sirius replied. "How are you today?"
"Oh, I'm wonderful," Charlotte said. Her blue eyes did seem to be glowing brighter than usual.
"What did you do?" Lily asked from a few seats down.
Charlotte glanced at the doors and gave a discreet little cough. The others, including Lily, looked to the doors. Several Slytherins were walking into the Great Hall. All five of them had their hoods pulled up around their faces. They all took their seats at the Slytherin table, looking around at the other house tables nervously. That was when the Gryffindors noticed that the rest of the Slytherins had similar clothing styles: a few girls had on bandannas, more had their hoods up, and a few even had put on muggle hats.
"Where did she go?" Remus asked suddenly. They all began to look around for Charlotte who had disappeared from the table.
"There she is," James said, pointing to the teacher's table. "What's she doing?"
They all stayed quiet as Charlotte talked to Professor McGonagall. After a few minutes, she skipped happily back to the table. Lily began to persistently question Charlotte about what she did, when McGonagall stood up from her seat. She shot sparks from her wand to catch everyone's attention.
"I must remind you that any kind of head wear is not permitted according to our dress code. Please remove any hats, head cloths, and hoods at this time if you have violated the rule," McGonagall announced. She looked everywhere while she was speaking, but looked pointedly at the Slytherin table once she finished.
The whole school followed McGonagall's gaze. Nobody looked away, waiting to see what the Slytherins would do. Finally, still under McGonagall's stare, all the Slytherins pulled off their headgear at the same time. Everybody burst out laughing at what they saw.
Every single Slytherin, down to the last seventh year, had bright scarlet and gold stripes in their hair. On every right cheek was a giant red G. The left cheek was covered with a bright gold lion.
"Damn, Charlotte," Sirius said loudly over the noise that had erupted.
Charlotte pretended to polish her fingernails on her shoulder. "What can I say? I just thought they should change their ways and not be such sore losers when they lose a Quidditch game."
"What did you do? I just heard that they've tried everything to get out the paint. Not even the teachers can remove it," Lily shouted.
"Yea, I know. It was some of my best work," Charlotte called back, smiling smugly.
"Charlotte-ah- you might-look-"
"What, Remus? I can't hear you."
A finger tapped Charlotte on the shoulder. She whipped around to see McGonagall standing there. She looked very angry.
"Miss Halliwell, a word, if you please," she said, then walked away. Charlotte shrugged at her friends, and followed McGonagall into the entrance hall.
The boys and Lily waited a good five minutes before heading out to the entrance hall to see what had become of their friend. They found Charlotte standing just outside the door, watching McGonagall walk back to her office.
"What happened?" Lily asked.
"Detention. For a week," Charlotte said, grinning.
James and Sirius suddenly bowed deeply until they were almost bent double. Remus and Peter Pettigrew followed their friend's examples.
Charlotte and Lily raised their eyebrows at one another. Charlotte made a throat clearing noise.
The boys stood up straight again. "We needed to honor you properly before the competition begins." James said.
"That means that we now consider you an opponent. You win if you get more detentions at the end of seventh year, we win if we get more," Sirius clarified.
"Why haven't I been let in on this before now?" Charlotte asked. She moved closer to the boys to get out of the pathway of some sixth year girls from Ravenclaw.
"Because you needed to have at least fifty detentions to get in," Peter said. "I'm not allowed to participate because I only have fifteen."
"As it should be," Lily said. "I haven't even had one."
"Wow, you really need to get out more, Evans," Charlotte said.
"Evans?" Lily repeated.
"Yes, Evans, you should live a little," James said.
"Let's get to class, shall we boys? I'll see you later, Miss Lily," Charlotte said.
"They must really be getting to her head if she calls me Evans," Lily muttered under her breath.
And with that, Lily went to class.