Hey guys, I know it's been a while, but I think this chapter will make up for it. I haven't really explained stuff that's canon, like why Lily might not like Sirius and stuff like that. Hope you enjoy the chapter and review! Huge thanks to Sofly170 and Princess Butterscotch for reviewing!
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Remus's Neighborhood, 11 a.m.
Lily loved her new job. Mr. Phelps was a joy to work with. They just meshed together, his strong knowledge of various potions complimenting her dare to experiment. She never had to second-guess herself, every idea was good in Mr. Phelps's eyes. Even if she colored outside the lines, he viewed as it thinking outside the box. He encouraged her and incited in her a creative mindset that presented her with limitless capabilities in potion making.
Currently, they were working on improving the antidote for doxie bites, not exactly a pressing issue, but definitely something that would improve doxies in the minds of the public. Even though these small creatures were only harmful when provoked, many wizards considered them a nuisance and used doxie-repellent, a very strong potion that killed them almost immediately. The unnecessary murder of doxies may not seem very important to the common wizard, but the rights of non-human magical creatures had to be protected as well.
Her work left her feeling worthwhile, happy that she was doing something useful. After some thinking, she had realized that potions work was much more fulfilling than anything the Apothecary or the Chudley Canons could offer. After such a dark time in her life, Lily was glad to find that every cloud did indeed have a silver lining. Though there may be scores of hateful wizards, existing only to push others down, there still existed a few willing to do some good.
These cheerful thoughts buzzed around her head, as she made her way to Remus's awful apartment. He was finally moving out, after a lot of persuasion from his friends as well as Lily.
She knew that James and Sirius had wanted him to move in with them, but Remus decided, ultimately, that living with Lily would be more practical, as her place wasn't as expensive and Lily really needed a trustworthy room mate so that she would have some one to share the rent with. Even after being presented with these sound arguments, James and Sirius had done their very best to convince Remus to move in with them instead. They had claimed that they missed him and wanted it to be like the 'old days'. But, finally, after much negotiation, they had relented and allowed him to share Lily's house.
As she climbed the staircase, she pinched her nose with her fingertips, face scrunching up as the unpleasant smell seeped throughout the building. Lily simply could not understand how Remus could stand to live there. The landlady was a psycho, only interested in her stupid cauldrons. He had no good neighbors either, living on the corner of Knockturn Alley.
For about the millionth time, Lily silently thanked her parents for helping her with the rent before she could support herself. Her parents believed that children were only to be taken care of until they could work. They had instilled a strong importance for self-dependence ever since she had been a young girl. Her father had never borrowed money, even when times were rough. Her Mum worked just as hard to support their family, not content to just be a housewife. The only person in their family who was interested in freebies was Petunia. Her only goal in life seemed to be finding someone to support her.
Coming upon Remus's mildewed, cracked door, Lily hesitantly raised her fist, unwilling to touch the disgusting surface. She knocked quickly, calling out Remus's name. A loud thunk and some swearing followed by heavy footsteps reached her ears. The door swung open to reveal a mop of messy black hair atop a tall, bespectacled figure.
"Lily! Maybe now that you're here, you could convince Remus he does not have to clean the whole place before leaving. Merlin knows it was practically a garbage dump when he moved in," his hazel eyes lit up as they took in Lily.
Seeing James brought back so many memories for Lily. She didn't really know what she was feeling. James Potter had been a huge part of her life for seven years and, now, suddenly, he wasn't.
Although he had been the annoying boy she tried to hate for a long time, in the end, they had developed a tentative friendship around the fact that they shared Heads' duties. James had made it abundantly clear that he fancied her in Fifth year, but the blowout with Severus after the Defense O.W.L had abruptly halted all flirting from his side. Sometimes, she still regretted how harsh she had been.
"James! I missed you!" Lily exclaimed, wrapping her slender arms around his neck.
"Awww… I missed you too Lil!" James chuckled as he placed his hands on her waist.
"Guys, a little help here…my arms are killing me," came a voice from behind. Lily looked past James's shoulder to see Peter trying to hold up the couch from falling onto its side.
"Wormy, just put it down, we'll move it together." James turned his head to look at Peter, giving a chance to study his profile unhindered.
She noticed that he had changed the frames of his glasses to a round one that complimented the sharp angles of his face and gave him a mature look. His eyes were bright swirls of green and gold, promising untold mischief, adorned by his thick soot lashes. His jawline had become more prominent and his cheekbones more pronounced now that he was no longer under the doting care of mother. His hair was as chaotic as ever, silk locks of charcoal falling haphazardly in a way that no stylist could ever recreate.
She had felt from her spontaneous hug that his muscles had turned to hardened steel. Gone were the days of gawky limbs and cute baby fat. His shoulders were so wide that they blocked the doorway. His scent embraced her, a mixture of clean soap and aftershave. She hadn't realized how much she missed him until she had seen him. Being in his presence made her nostalgic, of not just him, but her childhood as a whole. Even though, she liked to pretend that James Potter was a barely tolerated acquaintance, it was moments like this when she decided otherwise.
"Hey Lily! How have you been surviving without my gorgeous self these past few months? Hope you haven't given in to depression yet." Sirius drawled, pushing James aside with a smirk.
Sirius was yet another constant character in her childhood. He had long, ebony hair and piercing yet playful grey eyes that drew girls to him like bees to a pot of honey. He reveled in the attention, never one to shy away from the spotlight. Still, as superficial as he seemed, he was fiercely loyal and endured thick and thin with those he considered dear to his heart; namely the other Marauders.
Somehow, she had ended up counting him as one of her friends during her last days at Hogwarts, leaving the bad blood between them in the past.
"Somehow, I've survived till now," Lily replied, sarcasm dripping through her words. She had discovered that when it cam to Sirius, it was best to agree without actually agreeing; an art that came to only few.
"Well, now that Sirius's ego has been sufficiently stroked, can we get back to the issue of cleaning this god damned house?" Remus implored in a weary tone.
If Remus was already in such bad mood, then something must have happened.
"What did you guys do that annoyed Remus so much?" Lily asked with an amused smile.
"Well…we might have locked him in the loo…"James smiled sheepishly.
Lily's eyebrows went up in shock. "What? Why?" she questioned.
"Actually, he locked poor Prongsie in the loo last time, so Moony should have expected it." Sirius explained earnestly, his face mockingly serious.
"Why did he… Never mind, I'm not even going to try," Lily sighed with exasperation.
"Well that was only because you tried to steal all my stuff!" Remus retorted, still sore about the incident.
"No, I did not! I was tryingto help you escape this awful place. Obviously it wasn't appreciated." James replied with a frown marring his face.
"Trying being the key word here. Moony is too alert for idiots like you to pull the wool over his eyes," Sirius jumped in eagerly.
"Stop guys, I really don't understand what is going on here…" Peter trailed of in confusion.
"Neither do I, Peter. Neither do I." Lily offered, with her cheek resting on her palm. She was always amused when the Marauders started their silly banter, even when she couldn't understand a word of what they were arguing about. It really brought their group dynamics in sharp relief, and showcased the intricacy of their friendship.
She had a feeling that today was going to be interesting, seeing how these colorful characters seem to clash at first, but if you tilt your head and squint, they really compliment each other well.
Lily's Flat, 4 p.m.
"Finally, we're done. I can't believe Remus made us clean the whole place." James complained, wiping the sweat off with a cloth. He collapsed on the couch and spread his arms out with a groan.
"Lily, your couch is literally a gift of God. You have to come here and sit down."
"I will. I just have to put the sheets on Remus's mattress and I'm done," Lily replied and started down the hallway.
"Peter you'll sit down right?"
James, Lily and Peter were the only ones in Lily's flat. Sirius and Remus were still in Remus's flat doing a final check.
"Sure…" Peter flopped onto the couch and sighed with contentment. "Lily, your couch really is heaven on earth…"
"I know. That's why I bought it." Lily's voice echoed from down the hallway.
Lily was putting the final touches in Remus's new bedroom. His twin bed was covered in dark blue sheets and white pillows. The other boys had lugged his cherry wood dresser and desk set in earlier. Two boxes brimming with his meager possessions sat in the corner.
Lily surveyed the room and smiled to herself. She was really looking forward to Remus moving. Finally, she had gotten a paying job and now with a roommate, her financial standings were looking up.
"Lily! Stop organizing and come sit here." James's voice brought her out her thoughts.
Walking to the living room, Lily sat down on the couch beside James. She noticed that Peter was no longer on the couch, but rummaging through the kitchen. Immediately, he brought his arm around her. Lily settled in, with a small smile at his characteristic gesture.
"So Lily, do you want go out for tea sometime?" James asked with forced nonchalance.
"Are you asking me to go out with you?" Lily looked up at him from his should with mild surprise. Even though this had been an almost daily occurrence in Fifth Year, a long time had passed since then. Even in Seventh Year, when she had finally warmed up to him, his girlfriend had put a damper on potential flirting from either of them.
"Yes?" It sounded more like a question rather than an affirmation.
"I thought you were still dating Melody?" she asked lightly, not wanting to sound forward.
"We broke in the summer, when we realized that our visions for the future were very different from one another."
"Oh." Lily said noncommittal voice. But inwardly, her thoughts were racing. Did this mean he wanted to date her now? Or was his offer a tea just casual? Should she say yes to some one she once considered a bitter enemy?
"So is that a yes?" he asked nervously, his eyes wide with hope. His arms gripped her more tightly against him.
She looked into his beautiful hazel eyes and saw something that put her doubts to rest.
"Sure, why not."
James's answering smile filled her with happiness and warmth.
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