Ch. 3 - Brother's Lounge
The beautiful thing about being a seventh year, Lily mused, was that she actually had free periods
The beautiful thing about being a seventh year, Lily mused, was that she actually had free periods. She used to be crazy studious, intent on proving that a Muggleborn could rise to the top. Having already proved herself, she was simply taking the necessary classes she would need to work in the Department of Mysteries. Transfiguration, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions and Ancient Runes were all she needed. Which meant she had more time than ever. Mainly to go to the kitchens and eat strawberry cupcakes.
Humming softly, she tickled the cute little pear. With a soft giggle, the portrait swung open. She was quickly spotted by a house elf, and after giving her order, went to find somewhere to sit. Plopping down at the lone table, she pulled out a cigarette, and with a flick of her lighter, took a long drag. It was a good day. She had two long hours before her next class, and it was a beautiful day, and who was that boy opening the door? She and Agnes were the only ones who knew about the kitchens. She blew smoke out in annoyance. Which was, frankly, a little embarrassing when the boy looked over and grinned. Sirius bloody Black. Sweet Merlin. Maybe he would just get his food and leave her alone, she thought hopefully, flicking her ash.
No such luck. She should've knocked on wood, Lily thought ruefully, as the boy sat down across her and smirked.
"Evans. Smoking kills."
Oh. So he was her mother, then?
"I know," she replied, taking another drag. After a pause, she held it out. He raised an eyebrow, and reached for the cigarette, smoothly inhaling. His eyes coolly appraised her, but he said nothing, handing it back to her.
The silence was killing her. What was that song? "Silence like a cancer grows." This was her life. She shifted in her seat and fought the nervous urge to whistle, instead focusing on the strawberry cupcakes in front of her. She would feel uncomfortable stuffing her face with him looking at her like that. And they had such pretty red sprinkles. She took a last drag, before stubbing out the cigarette on her plate.
She glanced a look at him. He appeared amused at her obvious discomfort, his hair falling elegantly across his forehead. She hated him.
"What?" She bit out.
"Observing."
"And what have you discovered?" She enquired, half curious.
"I make you nervous." He smirked.
Damn. Damn him and his deductive reasoning. She looked at him now, wanting to make an observation about him as well. She scanned his chiseled face, noticing for the first time that he had a rather large cut across his jawbone. It looked fresh. Lily softened.
Cocking her head to the side, she asked, "What happened to your face?"
Sirius visibly stiffened.
"You don't want to know."
Lily shrugged. He was right. It probably involved pranking adorable little first years.
"Let me fix it. I used to assist Madam Fretwell, when I wanted to be a Healer."
Sirius gave no reply, simply looking at her with an unreadable expression.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Lily rose to her feet and walked over to him. She gingerly touched the cut, trying to think of the correct spell. Whispering softly, she pointed her wand at Sirius' handsome face, and a warm blue light trickled out. It was healed.
"Thanks Evans," Sirius said, the first act of kindness she had seen from him.
A small smile graced her face as she looked down, his grey eyes locked on hers.
For the first time, she realized why he was such a heartbreaker.
For the rest of the week, Lily avoided the marauders. James was an arsehole, Sirius was confusing, and she hadn't even met the other two yet. No. She was staying away. They were dangerous.
As part of her plan, she avoided her oh-so-lovely head rooms in favor of the common room, only going back late at night to sleep.
By the end of the week, she was exhausted. And, therefore, ready to have some fun. Newly of age in the wizarding world, Agnes and her planned to sneak out to Hogsmeade. Which explained Agnes' current insane behavior.
"Blue? Red? Turquoise with a hint of yellow? Thoughts?" Agnes questioned, throwing dresses onto her bed as she rummaged through her trunk.
"Err… no. Not really. And, frankly, not caring," Lily said, sniffing a dress suspiciously before shrugging it over her head. Slipping on a pair of heels, Lily stood up.
"Ready?" she enquired brightly.
Agnes glowered. "We can't all get ready in three minutes, Lilikins."
The party at The Brother's Lounge was out of control. Grabbing their coke and rums, Lily made her way to Agnes, handing her a drink.
They surveyed the scene.
"Best options?"
"Beard boy by the door, blazer boy at three o'clock, and… well, that's pretty much it. Bad night," Agnes added, scrunching her nose as an old man gave her a suggestive wink.
Lily let a laugh. When she received a fierce glare, she put in her thoughts.
"Ok, then you take beard boy, and I'll get blazer boy. Meet you on the dance floor in five?"
After a quick nod, the girls split up, and Lily felt herself moving towards an attractive boy. Her heart was beating a little fast, but she was otherwise calm. She was always more comfortable around strangers than she was around people she knew. After a little short talk from blazer boy, whose real name she didn't bother to discover, she was led to the dance floor. Feeling free, a result of her drink and the boy's hands on her, she lost herself in the music. And with a significant smile from Agnes, she knew her friend was doing just as well.
Hours later, the two girls were still with their original partners. The group of four sat in a secluded table, laughing hysterically for a reason Lily couldn't quite remember. Not that it mattered. She leaned further into blazer boy's shoulder, smiling to herself at how her double vision made Agnes and beard boy, Dave, seem to merge into the same person. She was about to voice how extraordinarily funny this was, when blazer boy whispered into her ear. She couldn't quite understand him. Did he want to dance again? Or get another drink? She didn't care.
"Alright," she whispered with a smile.
He got up, stumbling a bit and trying to help Lily, who could hardly hold her head up. They were walking, Lily knew, though where? Where were they going? Lily smelled rain. Ahh. They were outside. To smoke? She desperately wanted a cigarette. He leaned down to her, pressing his lips to hers. Not that she could feel it. Her lips were all numb. She decided it didn't matter, and responded, giving in to the moment. He pushed her gently backwards, and Lily felt rough brick along her open back. As minutes passed, Lily became increasingly annoyed. He was being a little grabby. And she didn't even know his name. This was suddenly important. She tried to pull away. He pulled her closer. She tried again, thinking that he obviously didn't understand her wishes. He was drunk, too, after all. No go. Lily was a little panicked. What was she supposed to do? Tears escaped her eyes, running down her face and throat. No, no, no. This wasn't going to happen to her. No. She would fight. Yes. She tried a few feeble attempts. The fact that she couldn't really stand on her own wasn't helping. She was trapped. The boy pulled down her thong.
As she lifted her tear stained eyes upward in a last ditch prayer to the muggle God she had been raised to believe in, she felt blazer boy release her. She fell in a small heap. She heard screaming, and yelling. It sounded painful. She opened her eyes. There were flashes of light. And Agnes. Her face. It looked concerned.
"Thank God," she whispered, before blacking out.
Bloody hell. Her head hurt. Rolling over, she made to get out of bed. And promptly fell. Standing up, Lily made her way to the kitchen. She needed a bleeding cuppa coffee. And a really good hangover potion. Downing the dreaded stuff as quickly as possible, she shuddered.
Hearing footsteps, she glanced up. Of course. It was poo-poo boy, as she had taken to calling him in her head. His voice registered no emotion.
"Are you feeling better this morning? Because you look like hell."
Ohh. She looked down, embarrassed to be caught in her pj's and clearly hung-over. But what she saw were cuts. And bruises. What the hell had she done last night? Well, she wasn't about to ask Potter. She looked up, suddenly cold.
"I don't want to know."