Lily Evans was not a rule breaker. Or, she wasn't until she had be initiated into the Marauders, against her will.
It had started with Remus. She'd been friends with him from the beginning. Then Peter, because she didn't mind him so much. James and Sirius were a package deal; once she started becoming friends with James, she began to see that Sirius wasn't so bad, either. She just had to put up with his quirky ways.
And, of course, she'd been initiated as an official member when she found out that Remus was a werewolf, and, of course, they'd given her a nickname.
"James Harold Potter!" she whispered violently. "This better not be another stupid prank on Severus that you're trying to drag me into!"
He turned his innocent-looking, hazel-brown eyes on her. "Relax, Sparks. It's not."
Yes, Sparks was their nickname for her. And she knew better then to believe that innocent grin. "Besides," he continued, "We don't play that many jokes on Sn- Severus anymore. You asked us not to."
"And I quite respect that you don't." Lily smiled. "Now, where on earth are we going, Prongs?"
He smiled at the use of his Marauder name. "Nowhere. It's a secret. You'll see."
"So you know where you're going?" Lily said, doubtfully. James pulled a wounded expression. "Sparks, I know every part of this castle. You doubt me?"
"Oh, no." she pulled away from him, releasing his hand. She'd spotted the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy and his ballet-dancing trolls. "No, no."
"We're not going in there, Sparks." James replied, grabbing her hand and pulling her farther, smiling at her reaction to the room.
"Oh, good." She'd always hated the room of requirement for some reason... probably because that was where Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs did their best planning. Even after she became friends with them, she still disapproved of their pranking.
"Here." James pushed open the door. "I have no idea how long this has been here. Probably a long time. It's ancient. Look at the carvings on the top."
Lily moved closer to the mirror. "You brought me here for an old mirror?" but she couldn't seem to look away. "It is quite beautiful." she murmured.
"And not just an ordinary mirror." James smiled. "It shows- never mind. Just-" he gave her a little shove, "-look at it." he finished.
She stumbled and caught herself, then looked at the mirror.
The reflection was different.
Impossible.
It showed a falling Lily Evans, except this time, a James Potter caught her. She smiled up at him and he leaned down and they kissed... and she didn't shove him away.
"Potter, what have you done with this mirror!?!" Lily exclaimed.
James grinned, the picture of casualty. "what do you mean?"
"It's all... wrong." Lily gestured. "It doesn't show my reflection."
James looked at her expectantly. "What does it show, then?"
"Me, and you, and you're kissing me." Lily stated blandly, growing more furious to see an even wider grin spread across his face. "James Potter, you cut that out right now!"
He spun her back around to face the mirror. "Read the lettering on the top."
"Erised stra ehru oytube cafru oyt on wohsi." she read out loud. "And..."
"Now, read it backwards." James stepped back, suddenly nervous for her reaction.
She read slowly. "I... show... no- not... your... fac- face... but your...hearts... desire." The words sank in. Her mouth formed into an "o" of surprise.
"Lily?" James approached her cautiously. "Sparks?"
"Prongs?" she replied.
He was surprised she was taking this so calmly. "what?"
"What do you see when you look in the mirror?"
"Probably the same thing that you see, Sparks." He replied, wondering if she was going to slap him. If she was, he hoped she would do it soon.
She finally turned her head so her fiery green eyes met his, and they were so bright he had to look away. She moved towards him, but stumbled. He caught her, but not in the same way as the mirror James had. He caught her and carefully stood her back up.
"James?"
"Yes?"
"Do you love me?" she asked. Her pixie face, usually full of anger or laughter, was completely serious. There was a tiny crease in the marble expanse of her forehead; he smoothed it out with his thumb. He didn't even have to think twice before he responded. "Yes."
And for once, Lily believed him.
