Chapter Four
September soon became October and in turn November barged into view with a flurry of golden brown leaves covering the Hogwarts grounds; Lily usually liked November. The month's earthy undertones were very warm and comforting to behold even if the air became much frostier and the ground was always soggy either due to heavy rain or the ice that would cover the grounds in the mornings.
Artur had settled in nicely and had become firm friends with Kingsley and Frank. He was on friendly terms with the Marauders also, though Potter seemed to hold a permanent grudge against him. Despite this and despite Potter's words on the tour that he would not be holding whole team try-outs, Artur had been named Gryffindor's Keeper and the new team had high hopes for winning the Cup in the summer. It also unfortunately meant that Gryffindor House was incredibly excited for its first match in February and had already decorated the entire Tower with Gryffindor themed banners meaning Lily was constantly remined of a sport she detested. This coupled with the fact that she had thus far walked in on Potter in compromising positions with some female or another at least fifteen times had not exactly made school enjoyable.
Mary seemed to be making progress with Callum Hayes (the two had bumped into one another in Hogsmeade and then shared a butterbeer or two) and Hestia had managed to beat her previous record of how many boys she could sleep with in a single week; of that she had been immensely proud, and Lily had had to listen to her boastings for a whole day.
Marlene, however, appeared by any means to have worsened when around Kingsley, only ever managing to stutter a few words at a time in his presence, and Transfiguration three times a week had become a form of torture for both her and Lily, who had the delightful task of breaking Marlene out of the trances she went into whenever Kingsley flirted with her.
Alice and Frank, although very sweet, were in danger of being screamed at by most people around them for they were rather sickly to watch with their affection for each other. Lily spent a great deal of her time avoiding situations where the couple were together for fear she might vomit all over them.
Remus too had Lily gritting her teeth frustration for he point blank refused to even imply to Sirius that his feelings for him were not platonic. Nevertheless, Lily enjoyed the time she spent with her friends and attacked every day with gusto, hoping that things would improve.
At breakfast on a particularly chilly day in November, Lily's determination was tested for as she sat between Remus and Marlene, piling a few chipolata sausages onto her plate, a rather regal-looking owl landed before her and held out its leg. Slightly bewildered, Lily removed the scroll attached to it and undid the fat velvet ribbon holding the scroll shut. She watched the owl swoop away and then turned her attention to the letter, casting a quick glance either side of her to make sure no one was reading over her shoulder.
What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Lily is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she.
There was no signature beneath the message nor on the back when Lily turned it over. Her whole expression switched from bemusement to revulsion to frustration to unmistakeable anger in a matter of seconds and she stood up abruptly, yanking her bag up along with her.
Striding out of the Great Hall, she felt both Marlene and Remus watching her leave and, imagining their faces, increased her pace. With a quiet noise of disgust, she hurried across the Entrance Hall, barely even noticing Potter having a rather unconventional breakfast with a nameless, faceless girl in 5th year, and made her way up the staircase, heading towards her first lesson of the day: Transfiguration.
It didn't take her long to reach the desired classroom and she knocked softly on the open door as McGonagall already sat at the front marking papers. The professor looked up at her.
'Yes, Miss Evans?'
'Professor, I hope you don't mind but could I sit in here until the bell goes?'
'Are you planning to leave when the bell rings?'
'Well, no, I meant… I…' But Professor McGonagall smiled slightly at her and gestured for her to enter.
'T-thank you, Professor.' Lily stuttered, a little shocked by the smile, and went quickly to her seat and sat down.
She unpacked her things and then held out the scroll before her. Using her wand, she ignited it and then levitated it, relishing in watching the flames lick their way along the offending message. Professor McGonagall watched her student with a shrewd expression, carefully analysing the flicker of emotion that appeared in Lily's eyes as she stared at the burning fire floating before her.
'Miss Evans?' Lily jumped in shock and almost let the scroll drop into the desk, which would have been disastrous. She didn't, however, and the desk was spared from being burnt alive.
'Yes, Professor?' she asked, a little timidly.
'Are you all right?'
'I – yes.' Lily responded firmly, vanishing the scroll and avoiding McGonagall's beady eyes.
'And yet you have decided to sit in my classroom before lessons have even begun.'
'I just wanted some peace and quiet.' Lily answered, still not looking directly at her teacher.
'Is the library not open?'
'Yes, I suppose but –'
'Miss Evans, what was written on the parchment that you burnt?'
'Shakespeare.' Lily shuddered slightly.
'I was unaware that the inventor of a large proportion of the English language had a name that offended you.'
'Oh, no, not the name Shakespeare,' Lily amended hurriedly, her cheeks tinging pink. 'It was a quote from Romeo and Juliet.'
'Which was a problem because?'
'It was from the balcony scene an–'
'Who sent it to you?' Professor McGonagall leaned forward with interest, an amused twinkle in her observant eyes.
'I'm not sure.' Lily fiddled with the sleeve of her robes.
'I see.' McGonagall replied primly and shuffled the papers she had marked, producing one with a small neat script covering it. In the corner, written in violet ink, was a large 'E' and a comment printed beside it. 'I think you could use a little good news.'
'Thank you.' Lily mumbled as she was handed the paper.
'An excellent essay, Miss Evans.' Professor McGonagall informed her, sweeping back to the front of the classroom. 'A vast improvement since the start of the year. I am quite certain your aspirations of becoming a Healer are well within reach should you maintain this standard – I hear from your other teachers you are performing just as well in their subjects – or even better in some cases.'
Lily was unsure how to reply and thus remained silent.
'I think your most pressing problem will be passing the entrance exam – Professor Reynolds was a Field Healer before he came to join us here, so I shall ask him to help you.'
'Thank you, Professor.'
'Not at all, Miss Evans.' Professor McGonagall replied dismissively as the bell rang.
It wasn't long before the class began to drip into the room, sidling up to their seats and unpacking their things with great sighs and yawns. Lily sat in her own seat and stiffened ever so slightly as Marlene sat down beside her.
'What've I done?' Marlene demanded, noticing this instantly. But she gained no response as McGonagall began to teach the lesson.
Throughout Transfiguration, Lily's tone of voice was forcibly polite, and Marlene spent most of it trying to pry an explanation out of her frosty friend. She did not succeed and after Kingsley flirted with her was quick to freeze where she sat. Hestia glanced over her shoulder a little later and rolled her eyes upon noticing the glazed expression on Marlene's face; she attempted to catch Lily's eye but was met with a cold look. With a confused shrug, she turned back around and laughed at something Artur pointed out in the textbook – he had been allocated the vacant seat beside her.
Two hours later and Lily slouched after her friends, sans Mary, who had lagged behind at the end of Charms to beg Professor Flitwick to rethink the grade he had awarded her last piece of homework. They wandered through the Entrance Hall and into the courtyard outside, ready to enjoy the precious 20 minutes of break. Taking their usual spot in a corner alcove, Lily plonked herself on the ground and glowered at all of them.
'Oh dear,' Hestia observed, shaking her head soberly and nudging Marlene and Alice. 'Who stroked Tabby's fur the wrong way?'
'You lot actually.' Lily responded moodily and fiddled with the sleeve of her robes.
'And exactly how'd we do that?' Alice asked, watching Lily closely, worry crossing her smiling face.
'I appreciate you probably think you're being helpful,' Lily replied, looking up at them, 'but when I said I didn't want a relationship or any shit like that, I meant it. You lot are my mates! Why can't you just understand that I want to focus on school?'
'Of course we understand!' Alice argued back indignantly, sending Lily an earnest smile and kneeling down beside her. She reached out a hand, but had it batted away almost immediately.
'Then what was that letter for this morning?' Lily retorted.
'What letter?' Alice, Marlene and Hestia all questioned at once, each one looking incredibly baffled.
'The one that quoted Romeo and Juliet.' she said but, upon looking at all their confused faces, felt her fury falter. 'Y-you didn't send it?'
''Course we didn't!' Hestia cried out in frustration.
'B-but that means…' she trailed off, grimacing.
'Someone else must've sent it.' Marlene supplied helpfully and smirked widely as Lily's face fell.
'OH!' Alice gasped excitedly and nodded eagerly. 'Maybe it was Po–'
'Patrick Turner.' Marlene interrupted and looked pointedly at Alice, whose face became briefly apologetic. 'Yeah, he was staring at you at breakfast.'
'What, Tosser Turner?' Hestia shook her head. 'There's no way he's into Lily! He's got a thing for Georgina Foster in 5th year.'
'Who?' the other three asked, looking blankly back at Hestia waving her hand dismissively.
'Three-tits Georgie.' Hestia elaborated and her audience all let out sounds of sudden realisation.
'I've never understood why she's called that.' Lily mused thoughtfully.
''Cos she was b–'
'We're moving away from the subject.' Alice interjected hastily and smiled happily at Lily. 'Now back to Lil's secret admirer…'
'Al, don't enco–'
'Nooo! Lil! A secret admirer!' Marlene cried out dramatically, flailing her arms up towards the heavens. 'WHY? LIL, THIS IS THE END!'
'Announce it to the whole courtyard, will you?' Lily snapped with a playful glare and her friends laughed as they watched her apprehensively glance around to see if any unwanted ears were turned in their direction. They weren't. 'You won't te–' she broke off as her eyes fell on a certain brown-haired female hurrying towards them looking considerably upset.
Lily nodded her head in Mary's direction.
'Bloody Mary's on the warpath.' Hestia observed.
'I don't think so.' Lily mumbled, biting her lip worriedly and standing up, pulling Alice up with her. 'You okay, Mary?' she asked anxiously as Mary reached them.
They watched as Mary attempted to nod but then dissolved into tears before them. At once, the four of them rushed forwards and enveloped her in a group hug.
'Oh, Mary, love, what is it?' Alice crooned after they had let go.
'Don't worry about your essay. It's still two years before you fail your exam.' Hestia joked and then looked at the floor when Lily sent her a warning look.
'Hestia, shut your mug or I'll do it for you.' Marlene growled, and Lily swiftly stepped between them.
'Mary?' she murmured tentatively, producing a packet of tissues from her pocket. Offering one to the blubbering Mary, who was crying to hard to notice, she began to dab her friend's face in motherly fashion. Alice put her arms comfortingly around Mary's shaking shoulders. 'Mary, what's wrong?'
Whatever Mary replied was incomprehensible and her friends all looked at each other with identical expressions of apprehensive bemusement. Lily continued to dab at Mary's face soothingly.
'It's all right.' she tried to reassure her sobbing friend.
'I'm sure we can sort out whatever it is.' Alice added softly, smiling kindly at Mary and squeezing her shoulders.
'Y-you can't!' Mary wailed, looking up at the four of them with tears pouring out of her slightly bloodshot eyes. 'I'm – I'm a f-failure!'
'Says who?'
'M-McGonagall.' sobbed Mary. Lily mouthed something at Marlene, her eyes urgent; Marlene looked blankly back. With a sigh, Lily tried again and jerked her head towards a good-looking boy with strawberry blond curls, who was just entering the courtyard. Her eyes widening, Marlene nodded and hurried in the direction of the boy
'I'm sure that's not true.' Alice said, attempting to calm Mary.
'It is true!' Mary wept and blew her nose on the tissue Lily had been using to dab her eyes. 'She c-came in when I w-w-was talking to Flitwick and started telling me I wasn't putting enough e-effort into my work a-and that if I keep it up I'll f-f-fail!'
'You can always be a bricklayer.' Hestia encouraged and was immediately elbowed by Lily as Alice looked at her in exasperation.
'I don't want to be a bricklayer!' Mary howled and began to weep louder.
Lily let out a sound of relief as Marlene returned, dragging Callum Hayes behind her; the poor boy looked slightly baffled – Marlene had evidently grabbed him without explanation. He was thrust unceremoniously at Mary and, luckily, he noticed she was crying almost at once and put his arms around her. Lily gestured at Alice, Marlene and Hestia to step away and they did so, all wearing identical smirks.
'Lil, I think you could be a professional matchmaker.' Alice said while they observed from afar as Callum stroked Mary's hair benevolently and murmured words of comfort to her.
'Just cheering her up.' Lily defended with a grin.
'So Frank's anniversary present.' Alice brought up as her eyes fell on her boyfriend walking into the courtyard and the other three groaned.
'Not that fucking thing again!' Marlene complained. 'Yo–' but she broke off; behind Frank came Artur and Kingsley, who was knocked into by a little girl in first year as he stepped through the threshold. The first year fell backwards but Kingsley caught her hand expertly and pulled her upright. She blushed crimson and rushed inside. Lily, Marlene, Alice and Hestia all applauded quietly, sighing dreamily.
'Ah, Kingsley, what a babe…' they said in unison as he winked at them. Lily felt something fall with a thud against her.
'Oh no, Marlie!' She shook Marlene's shoulders. 'Shit. She's passed out.'
A few days later and Lily was leaving the library just as it closed for the night. She enjoyed walking through the castle in the evenings and often found amusement in observing other students hurrying back to their common rooms as their curfews neared; there was a definite benefit to being a Prefect as Filch had yet to bother learning the patrol router and could be easily sent on his way with a claim to be on duty.
But more than anything, Lily loved the strange sense of peace one gained from a walk and in the summer she would sometimes wander about the grounds, making the most of the longer days and shorter nights. However, the sweet scent of the summer air was a distant memory as Lily glanced at one of the mullioned windows she passed. Sleet spattered the panes of glass and foretold of the cruelly cold December that would eventually follow.
Lily turned the corner and moved slowly past a large tapestry portraying a shepherd and his flock of sheep.
With a sigh, she pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment and began to rip it with great relish; since the first love letter she had received one each day and Lily privately hoped that whoever was writing would run out of Shakespearean verses soon. Unfortunately for Lily, the English playwright had penned quite a few plays that had references to romantic affection in them and thus she could look forward to perhaps years of correspondence from her mysterious letter writer.
'Y'know, Evans,' a voice said loudly from behind her, 'it's very dangerous for a young lady such as yourself to be walking alone at night.'
Lily spun around and was met with the sight of a handsome boy with longish black hair stepping out from behind the tapestry she had passed a few seconds earlier.
'Merlin, Sirius!' Lily cursed, a relieved smile appearing in her face. 'You nearly gave me a heart attack!'
Sirius bowed and then caught up with her, looping an arm around her extravagantly.
'I'm just looking out for the safety of my dear friend.'
'I'm flattered.' Lily responded and then eyed him suspiciously. 'What're you doing here? I know the passage behind that tapestry goes to near Filch's office.'
'Aren't you clever, Evans?' Sirius remarked, pinching her cheek roguishly. 'Fine.' he then added with a groan as Lily maintained her narrowed eyes. 'I was just paying a visit to our favourite caretaker's private rooms.'
'That sounds like a euphemism.'
'Evans!' he gasped, pretending to be scandalised. 'What a dirty mind you have!'
'Well it does.' Lily shrugged, grinning slightly. 'I never realised you had a thing for Filch – that explains your love of detentions. I guess those freshy oiled manacles must be a great turn-on.'
'Obviously.'
There was a scream of rage from some nearby wing of the castle and Lily raised her eyebrow at Sirius.
'You didn't.'
The sound of someone cursing and the smell of raw sewage moved towards them, bursting rudely into their senses. Lily's nose wrinkled with disgust.
'Oh, I did.' Sirius smirked and then grabbed her hand.
They ran down the corridor as fast as they could, trying to escape both the acrid stench of sewage and the incessant yells of rage that burst from the caretaker's foul-tongued mouth. As they pelted towards the sanctuary of Gryffindor Tower, Lily contemplated how much easier it would have been for her to run at break-neck speed had she been in the habit of doing regular exercise.
Once they were safely two floors above Filch, they stopped rocketing along the stone floor and Lily collapsed against a wall, breathing heavily. As she gasped for air, Sirius plonked down beside her, out of breath but too busy chuckling at her tomato red cheeks to be bothered by his body's own pleas for oxygen. Lily had a stitch and she clutched at it whilst still taking steadying gulps of air.
'By the way,' Sirius said, and Lily looked at him, continuing to inhale any air she could. 'I have news for you.'
'Have you r-really?' she asked curiously but struggled to form the words to express this.
'Oh, yeah,' he replied evasively and smirked widely.
'Do I really want to know what it is?'
'Probably.' Lily folded her arms and raised an eyebrow sceptically.
'Well, go on then – spill the beans.'
'I heard rumour that a certain Miss Evans has been receiving love letters.' He looked pointedly at her.
'Wow, I had no idea!'
'Excuse me,' Sirius pouted, 'I haven't finished yet.'
'Sorry.'
'Thank you.' He let out an exaggerated huff and she laughed. 'Anyway, I may or may not have found out who's sending them.'
'Is it Filch? Is that why you filled his 'private rooms' with sewage?' Lily asked, mirth sparkling in her eyes.
'No, of course not!'
'What a shame.' They both laughed. 'So, are you going to tell me who it is?'
'Nope.' He smirked smugly at her. 'Not until you help me anyway.'
'Help you with what?' Lily inquired suspiciously, her eyes wary.
'With a few things.' he told her nonchalantly. 'The first being Remus' Christmas present.'
'What? No! Why me? Can't you get Potter to help you?' Lily exclaimed, and Sirius shook his head solemnly. 'But I'm shit at buying presents!'
'Well, I didn't want it to be too easy for you.' Sirius explained. 'And besides, you're the only one who knows I like him anyway.'
'I think the only person who doesn't know you fancy him is Remus.' Lily muttered darkly but Sirius didn't hear her.
'Pleeeease, Evans! And I promise I'll tell you who's sending the letters once you've helped me with this – and a few other things,' he added sweetly.
'All right. But only because I want to punch whoever's writing those fucking things in the face.'
'That's my girl!' Sirius thumped her on the back.
'And if you swear you'll never say that again.' She shuddered slightly.
'Anything for my favourite red-head.'
'Venomous Tentacular.' Lily said grumpily to the Fat Lady as they reached the entrance to Gryffindor Tower. She ushered Sirius through the portrait hole and then headed up to the girls' dormitory muttering to herself.
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