-James-
We got back into our normal routine at school. Padfoot, Violet, and I spent most of our time at the pitch, Lily and Moony spent their time in the library and when we all met up, I encouraged Lily to go on a date with me. So far, Gryffindor had won every game this season, so the Prewitt brothers didn't feel the need to have us practice every waking moment.
"Ah, yes," Violet said, throwing herself onto our favourite couch in the common room. "Free time. This is glorious."
"And what do you know," I said, pushing her legs up so I could sit at the end of the couch. "My homework is all done and I can just not do anything."
"What a wonder this is," Padfoot said, laying on the floor so he paralleled Violet. We all took an exaggerated breath.
"My god," Lily said, stepping through the portrait with Moony and Wormtail in tow. "You lot are so dramatic."
"Oi, what's this," I said. "You've stolen my marauders now?"
"You took my best friend, I had no other choice," Lily said, sitting in one of the arm chairs across from us.
"Excuse you," I said, a hand over my heart in mock-offense. "I believe I had her first, seeing as she and I shared a womb."
"Should've absorbed you," Violet said. I smacked the bottom of her shoe.
"So," Padfoot said over us. "Moony, have you asked our dear, sweet, strikingly beautiful friend Lily about Halloween?"
Moony raised his eyebrows. "Are you asking me this in front of her so then she wonders why I haven't asked her, which would force me to ask her now?"
"Yes."
Moony let out a dramatic sigh. "Lily, Sirius and James would like me to ask you to ignore your prefect duties on the night of Halloween to allow them to throw a big party without fear that you'll report them to McGonagall."
"Oh, they would, now?" Lily asked, looking at us with the eyebrow arched.
"Please, Lily," I begged. "Pretty please, we won't let it get out of control."
Lily laughed. "Oh, sure, and I'm supposed to believe that?"
"Pleeeeeease," Padfoot and I said together. Lily rolled her eyes.
"Okay, fine, whatever," She said, flipping her hand as if she were brushing us off. "I don't care, but if McGonagall catches you, I'm pretending I had no idea."
-Lily-
I'd agreed to one glass of something Sirius had called "Dragon Juice". Really, it just tasted like nail polish with a hint of berries. But I thought I deserved to go a bit crazy: I'd just gotten the highest grade on Coldworth's last essay. I was celebrating.
Much to my surprise, the boys were managing the party fairly well. They didn't let anyone below fourth year drink and they made sure that anyone getting a little too wild stayed in the common room and didn't stumble out of the portrait hole. Remus had just come back from walking a blurry eyed Hufflepuff girl back to her common room.
Peter sat next to me near the fireplace where I'd been observing the party. He was such an awkward boy, but perfectly harmless. Everyone thought that it was odd that James and Sirius would hang around someone like Peter, but it made sense to me. James and Sirius, for all their annoying qualities, liked to protect people. And Peter definitely needed protecting. I remember when we first got to school and Sirius had overheard some older boys cracking jokes about Peter's shabby robes. The older boys found worms in their pumpkin juice later and somehow, Peter ended up with a new set of robes.
"You enjoying the party?" Peter asked.
"I'm enjoying it as long as I'm not getting in trouble for it," I said. I offered him a sip of my drink. He shook his head.
"Oh, no, I don't drink," He said. That surprised me. I would've thought he'd do anything to fit in with his Marauders. Even Remus drank once in a while. "I'm clumsy enough as it is," Peter explained with a slight smirk that suggested he was attempting to make a joke. I politely laughed.
"That's probably best," I said, trying to stand up. Peter scrambled to his feet to help me up. "I'm feeling a bit dizzy myself."
When we'd first met, Peter was even shorter than me, but in the last year or two he'd sprung up. He still look impossibly small next to the other Marauders, but at least they'd stopped teasing him for being smaller than Violet.
"I think I'm just gonna go get some air," I said, heading towards the portrait hole. Peter followed close behind me.
"James said I'm not supposed to let anyone leave the common room," He said. I rolled my eyes.
"Peter, do you really think James would get mad at me?" I asked. Peter thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"No, I suppose not," He said.
"Okay, so I don't think you'll get in any trouble," I said, patting his shoulder and handing him my goblet. "I'll just be right outside for a few minutes."
Peter watched me walk out the portrait hole with a worried look on his pudgy face. He was just worried that James would get angry with him for letting me leave.
I leaned over the edge of the stone bannister, looking down at the staircases as they changed periodically.
"Mmm, well, what do we have here?" The Fat Lady said, looking out at me from her painting. She and I had an odd relationship. Apparently, I looked very much like someone she used to know and so she liked to keep a close eye on me.
"Hello, ma'am," I greeted, turning over so I leaned my back against the bannister.
"Please don't tell me that you've been participating in the festivities tonight, Miss Prefect," The Fat Lady said, crossing her arms.
"I've been doing no such thing," I lied.
"Mhm," The Fat Lady said, obviously not believing me. "You're losing your touch, Lily."
"I'm not losing anything," I said. "It's like I'm undercover."
"Whatever you say," The Fat Lady said. "Now, where's that tall, dark, and handsome Potter boy?"
I blushed a bit. "How should I know?"
"Well, you are around him a lot now," The Fat Lady said. When I didn't respond she huffed. "For Merlin's sake, I sit out here all day, you don't think I see you running about with him and his mates? Hmm?"
"Well-," I started but I was cut off by the portrait swinging open. The certain Potter boy swaggered out, not as intoxicated as I thought he'd be by this time.
"Ah, Peter wasn't lying," James said. "You did escape."
"Don't you have a party to chaperone?" I asked, crossing my arms and making a big show of being annoyed for the Fat Lady. She didn't seem to be buying it.
"Well, Lily Flower," James said, coming to lean on the banister with me. "I must look after all the party goers and seeing as you are the prettiest one, I thought I might keep an especially close eye on you."
"What a brave sacrifice," I said, adding an eye roll for good measure.
"I try, Lily, really, I try," James said with a wink. He turned to the Fat Lady. "And how are you this evening, Madame?"
"I'm just fine, Mr. Potter," The Fat Lady said, a smile playing at her lips.
"You know, I can see why they made you a painting," James said. "They couldn't let all that beauty go to waste."
The Fat Lady giggled and blushed. This time my eye roll was genuine. James had that sort of charming attitude that awakened the giddy, teenage girl in every woman. Including hundred year old paintings.
"Jealous?" James asked me in a hushed tone so the Fat Lady couldn't hear.
"You wish, Potter."
"Mr. Potter, Miss Evans," James and I both jumped at the gentle voice of our headmaster. "What are we doing out here?"
Dumbledore approached us, giving a nod to the Fat Lady, who curtsied back.
"Professor Dumbledore, I- I," I started, my heart beating fast. I had no excuse for being out this late. My rounds ended more than an hour ago. And just behind the painting were a bunch of drunk students.
"Isn't it a bit late for a stroll, Professor?" James asked. I looked at him as if he'd suddenly grown a new head.
But Dumbledore merely chuckled. "You may be right, James. But an old man like me has to fit in a few late night walks. There's an entire eternity to sleep."
"Right you are," James said. "But we should be getting back inside. Right, Lily?"
I nodded. Dumbledore gave us a small smile and continued on his way. As soon as he was out of sight, James gave me a big grin. I smacked his arm.
"I can't believe you would talk to a teacher like that, James!"
"What's the big deal?" James laughed. "It's Dumbledore. I don't think anyone's actually ever gotten in trouble with him before."
"He's still the headmaster," I defended, my heart still pounding. How bad would it look if everyone found out I got in trouble for being out past curfew with James Potter?
"Are you really afraid of Dumbledore?"
"No, of course not," I said. "He's just a sweet old man that loves socks. But I am afraid of getting in trouble."
James laughed again. "You worry way too much."
"I worry the perfect amount," I said. "I've never once had a detention and I don't plan on starting now."
James was just about to give me one of his famous Potter come ons when the portrait pushed open once again. Peter stood in the opening, but instead of the normal party commotion, we could hear a chant of "Fight! Fight! Fight!"
"Prongs, you've gotta come stop them!" Peter said, nearly purple in his breathlessness.
"Stop who?" James asked.
"Moony and Padfoot."
-Sirius-
Violet finally convinced me to let her have a couple shots of fire whiskey. I told her as long as she didn't tell Prongs I did. He never let her drink. I'd actually seen him physically knock a glass out of her hand. Sometimes his brother-ing got a little out of control.
It wasn't enough to actually drunk, just a little buzzed. I was actually taking it easy tonight, mostly so I could help keep an eye on everything.
Violet sat on my lap, watching the party go on. "I should find Lily," She said.
"I'm sure she's fine, Vi," I assured her.
"She actually drank that rank juice you gave her! I should check on her," Violet said, moving to get up. I wrapped my arm around her waist to stop her.
"Wormy," I called, getting the attention of my small friend.
"Yeah, Padfoot?" He said, excited to have something to do besides just watch girls and pretend like he'd actually go talk to them.
"Can you go check on Lily for me?" I asked. He nodded dutifully and hurried off. "There, better?"
Violet gave me a look. "You just don't want me to leave because you want a shag."
"Well, of course I do," I said. "It's been ages."
"We've been busy with practice," Violet defended.
"Vi, I don't care why we haven't been doing it," I said. "I just miss doing it."
"Then show me how much you've missed it," Violet said with a mischievous grin.
I didn't need any further prompting; I sat her up on her feet, grabbed her hand and pulled her through the crowd, up the boys' stairs. Normally, we found a broom cupboard to do our business, but I didn't necessarily feel like bumping into Prongs on the way out and explaining to him that I was just leaving to give his sister a right good seeing to.
We hurried into the dormitory. As soon as the door was shut behind us, Violet was pulling me into a kiss. Apparently, she missed it, too.
I pushed her onto my bed, pulling the curtain closed around us. She pulled me onto the bed with her, getting on top of me and straddling my lap.
Violet laughed a little, looking around the room. "God, I haven't been in here in ages."
I brought her down to kiss me again. "What are you talking about?" I laughed.
"Oh, we're playing like that, are we?" Violet asked, kissing my neck. Now, I was confused. I pushed her back slightly.
"I've never brought you up here," I said. She laughed again. If she hadn't been drinking, she probably would have noted my uneasiness.
"Yeah, not you," Violet laughed, going to kiss me again, but I pulled away. I lifted her so I could sit up under her.
"Were you up here with Killen?" I asked. Violet finally got that we went both in on the joke. The look on her face seemed to say that she'd made a big mistake.
"Remus said you walked in," Violet said. Her eyes got wider and she climbed off of me. "Oh, fuck, he didn't tell you it was me."
"Remus? Remus Lupin?" I asked, feeling my chest tighten. "Werewolf Nerd, Remus Lupin? My best friend, Remus Lupin? You were up here with Remus?"
"Sirius, I swear I thought he'd told you," Violet said.
"It was you," I said. "You and him. On New Year's."
"It didn't mean anything, Sirius," Violet defended, putting her hand on my arm. "I was drunk and upset about you and stupid Donna West and Remus had a few too many."
"That's why he wouldn't tell me who it was," I said, mostly ignoring what Violet had said. "That's why he wouldn't let me tell James."
"It meant nothing, I swear," Violet said. "Remus is like my brother."
I stood up angrily. "Really, Violet?" I asked, sarcastically. "Because I don't think you'd be doing that kind of shit with your brother."
"Sirius, please-," Violet said.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked.
"I thought he'd told you!" She said, standing up to meet me. "He told me you two had talked about it, I thought that meant you knew!"
"You think I wouldn't have said anything about it if I knew?"
"I don't know, Sirius!" She yelled, almost desperately. "I don't think there's a protocol for this shit."
"There is!" I shouted back. "It's called don't fuck the girl your best friend fancies."
"We didn't have sex," Violet defended.
"Might as well have," I said, turning and going for the door. Violet followed me out, but I was much faster than her. I only paused for a moment at the bottom of the stairs to search for the werewolf. I spotted him with a pod of Ravenclaws he was friendly with.
"Fuck, Remus!" Violet called out as a warning. Moony turned towards me just as I put my fist into his stomach, causing him to double over.
The other kids backed away from us and the crowd's conversations hurtled to a stop. I stood above Moony, looking down as he tried to catch his breath.
Violet tugged on my arm with all her might, trying to pull me away, but I wouldn't budge. Moony looked up at me.
"What the fuck, Padfoot?" He choked out. I pulled him to his feet roughly and crouched slightly so we were eye to eye.
"It was Violet, wasn't it?" I asked him in a whisper, barely an inch from his face. I could hear Violet say my name behind me, but I ignored her.
"What was Violet, you twat?" Moony said, still holding his stomach.
"New Year's," was my only answer. Moony's face went paler than normal and he looked as if the air had been knocked out of him again.
"Sirius, listen-," I cut him off with a hit so hard to the face he landed on his back. I got on top of him, pinning his arms to the ground with my knees. I was probably heavy enough to crush his chest if I wanted to.
The crowd around us egged me on with chants of "Fight". Though, Moony wasn't doing much fighting.
"Expelliarmus!"
I was thrown off of Moony by an invisible force, landing with my back against the wall. I looked up to see Lily with her wand out, and Prongs looking confused next to her, like he couldn't possibly piece together what was going on.
"Everyone, up to bed," Lily said, sternly. When the crowd remained still she yelled a little louder, "Now!"
I don't think I've ever seen the common room clear out so fast. All that was left were the other Marauders, Lily, and Violet.
I remained sitting against the wall where I had landed. Prongs pulled his crying sister into a hug and looked at me, hoping for an answer. Lily righted Moony's face and helped him up to his feet. She'd always been good at healing spells.
"What the fuck is going on?" Prongs finally asked.
"Ask him," I said, pointing a finger at Moony as I stood up.
"I'd rather ask you," Prongs said. "Seeing as you were the one just trying to cave his face in."
"No, it's fine," Moony said. Lily looked at him as if he'd gone crazy. "Just a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding?" Prongs said.
"Go on," I urged, stepping closer to Moony. "Tell Prongs about our misunderstanding."
"Sirius," Moony warned.
"No, no, tell him," I said. "Or are you afraid Lily will have to throw him off you too?"
"What the Hell are you two on about?" Prongs asked, finally taking his arm from around Violet.
"I'm not the only one that's gotten in your sister's knickers, Prongs," I said, not taking my eyes off of Moony.
"That's what this is about?" Lily asked, looking at Moony. "Jesus, Sirius, that was a year ago."
"You knew about it, too?" I asked, throwing my hands up.
"Of course, I did, Violet's my best mate," Lily said. A look crossed her face and she realized what was happening. "Oh my God, you didn't know?"
"No, I didn't fucking know!" I yelled. Violet was timidly looked from me to her brother.
"And neither do I!" Prongs said, still looking puzzled. "Someone, please, clue me the fuck in."
"Vi, I thought you said Sirius knew?" Lily asked, ignoring Prongs plea.
"I thought Remus had told him," Violet said, helplessly.
"Dammit, knew what?" Prongs yelled.
"Moony fucked your sister, mate," I said, much more calmly than I felt.
"I didn't fuck her!" Moony defended.
Prongs looked between us, a smile crossed his face and he laughed. This is not the reaction I had thought I would get from this news.
"You're taking the piss, right?" Prongs said, looking around at all of us. Moony looked down at his feet and Violet shifted uncomfortably away from her brother. "Right?" He asked again. "He's fucking with me right?"
Again, no one said anything. Prongs looked about to vomit but, finally, he announced, "What the fuck?"
"We were really drunk," Moony supplied.
"She's the girl you had in your bed on New Year's?" Prongs asked.
"You told James?" Violet asked, her voice high.
"Obviously fucking not, Violet," Moony said. "Sirius told him."
"I thought Sirius didn't know?" Lily asked.
"Fucking Hell," I said, rolling my eyes. "Moony and Violet fooled around last New Year's and I saw them, but I didn't realize it was Violet. When I asked Moony about it, he asked me not to tell anyone, but didn't let me know who it was. Violet obviously took this as I knew and I didn't care because I hadn't said anything about it. I accidently told Prongs about it, but still didn't know it was Violet. And Violet just told me because she thought I knew. All up to fucking speed?"
The group exchanged looks. It was so silent I thought I could hear the Giant Squid splash outside.
So suddenly that no one had time to react, Prongs stepped up to Moony, hitting him square in the face. "What the fuck?" Prongs yelled as Lily, Violet, and Wormtail pushed him back.
Moony held his re-bloodied nose. "Will everyone please quit punching me?"
"Oi, I got a couple, too," I said.
"Is Wormtail the only one that hasn't been with my little sister?" Prongs asked, turning on Wormtail. "Or have you got something to tell me, as well?" Wormtail shook his head furiously.
Lily healed Moony's face again. "Violet can make her own choices, James, you don't need to hit everyone."
"Oi, I let her make her choices," Prongs said. "But I'd prefer it if my friends didn't sleep with my sister behind my back. Or you know, not at all."
"This is all just ridiculous," Violet said. "It happened nearly a year ago."
"Well, I've only just found out," Prongs half-yelled.
"Doesn't matter!" Violet yelled back.
"Lily, can you take Violet to bed?" I asked, rubbing my hand over my face. I was mostly just tired. And a bit pissed.
"Are you kidding?" Lily asked. "If I leave you alone, I'll be pulling Remus out of the lake later."
"We won't lay a finger on him, on my honour," I said, making an X over my heart. Lily raised an eyebrow.
"You expect me to trust your 'honour'?" Lily asked.
"Just go, wouldya?" I said. The girls gave a look to Moony, but he just waved them off.
"Are you going to throw me in the lake?" Moony asked as soon as they disappeared up the girls' staircase.
"No, we're not going to throw you in the fucking lake," I snapped.
"It's not a far off assumption," Moony said. "Seeing as you just tried to give me an impromptu brain exam."
"You fucking deserved it," I said. "You fucked around with my girlfriend."
"She wasn't your girlfriend then!" Moony defended.
"Yeah, but you knew I fancied her," I said. "That's like the number one rule of friendship, don't make a move on the girl your mate likes."
"Pretty sure the number one rule is don't fuck about with your best mate's sister," Prongs near-mumbled.
"Prongs, we've been over this," I said to him. "And at least I told you I shagged your sister."
"That literally changes nothing, you fuck!" He said. "You still fucking shagged my sister."
"And you didn't tell him, twat," Moony argued. "He caught you fucking her in a cupboard."
"I think you're all being ridiculous," We all whipped our heads around to Wormtail. He never weighed in on our more serious conversations. He usually just let us fight and work it out. Even Wormtail looked a little shocked that he'd said anything.
"Excuse me?" Prongs asked.
"Well," Wormtail coughed. "It's just a little dumb that you would be fighting about this. Moony knew he did something wrong, he's probably punished himself enough. Padfoot, even if Moony did break a 'rule', so did you. And you got your revenge, you hit him. And Prongs, maybe it's time to stop being so overprotective."
We all blinked at him for a moment.
"When did you get balls, Wormtail?" I finally asked. He shrugged.
"I just didn't want to have to pick sides."
