Chapter Six

Standing before the dormitory mirror, Lily straightened her deep blue robes self-consciously and glanced at her reflection, biting her lip nervously. She had applied minimal makeup and yet worried that it was a little too much but then mumbled to herself that her hair, which was tied in an elegant knot, would distract anyone from her face. Typically, Lily was unconcerned with her appearance but the National Society of British Potioneers' ball was an incredibly important event and she was keen to make an excellent impression. She sighed.

'Lil, you could turn up in a fucking binbag and they'd still think you look good.' Marlene informed her through a mouthful of chocolate – she had been binge eating confectionary since Lily had begun choosing an outfit as such an event often proved to be entertaining. She had not been disappointed; Lily had kicked her wardrobe twice before cursing loudly at the pain coursing across her poor foot.

'Thanks.' Lily responded, pinning up a stray strand of hair. 'I'd rather wear the binbag – I feel like a right twat in this.'

'But you don't look anything like one.' Marlene reassured her, ushering her friend to the door. 'Now piss off or you'll be late!'

Lily stepped carefully down the girls' staircase, not trusting her high-heeled feet, and visibly relaxed as she noted that there were relatively few people in the common room. She moved as quietly as she could but then a rather unwanted onlooker broke away from the female they had been kissing to smirk at her, energy dancing in their hazel eyes.

'Going somewhere, Evans?' Potter asked loudly, leaning around his companion, shamelessly moving his hand up her top though admittedly she did not seem to mind and let out a very audible giggle.

'Yes.' Lily replied warily, moving towards the portrait hole.

'Can I ask where?'

'To seduce Dumbledore.' she said, opening the exit with a slight sigh of relief. Lily stepped into the corridor and hurried along as fast as she could to Professor Slughorn's office.

Slughorn beamed at her as she entered and offered her his arm, throwing some floo powder into his fireplace and they watched the flames turn emerald green; then they stepped into the fire and Slughorn boomed out their destination. At once they began to shoot upwards, spinning at an alarming rate, and Lily kept internally chanting to herself to not regurgitate her insides. But luckily they arrived soon and stepped out onto the mat, brushing the soot off their dress robes.

Once they were clean, Professor Slughorn lead the way through a pair of beautifully gilded doors and into a large ballroom which was well lit by the vast chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, glowing like celestial beings and Lily faltered; she had not realised quite how grand the ball would be.

It was easy to be intimidated by the room before her as it was filled with finely dressed ladies and gentlemen either swirling about the dance floor with professional elegance or conversing along the delicately painted walls. The walls themselves were a gigantic mural of the journey to the Fountain of Fair Fortune and seemed to sparkle in the light cast by the chandeliers. By the Fountain itself, a small silver platform had been erected and on it played a live orchestra, their instruments producing a melody that evoked goose bumps up Lily's arms it was so mellifluent.

She stood there looking about her in wonder until Slughorn nudged her gently and began to steer her towards a couple at one of the nearest tables. The witch of the two had dark brown hair, dark eyes and creases about her eyes as she laughed at something her partner had said. Her partner's black hair was streaked with copious amounts of white and grey, but his lined face was merry as he laughed alongside her.

'Fleamont! Euphemia!' Slughorn cried in greeting and they turned to him with wide smiles. 'Lily, this is Fleamont Potter, inventor of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion and owner of three potion production laboratories, and this charming young –' the witch snorted, '– lady is his wife and writer for the Daily Prophet's political column, Euphemia Potter.'

'Lily? As in the Lily Evans?' Mr Potter inquired jovially, shaking Lily's hand enthusiastically, his hazel eyes twinkling merrily.

'I think so…'

'Red hair? Green eyes? You're definitely her.' He grinned. 'My son's in your year – James Potter – you might know him.'

'Y-yes, I know him…' Lily admitted weakly.

'Well, he never shuts up about you when he's home.'

'I – how nice…'

'Oh, leave the poor girl alone!' Mrs Potter scolded her husband as both he and Slughorn chuckled. 'Lily, it's nice to finally meet you. James always speaks so very highly of you.'

'Oh.' was all Lily could utter in response. Mrs Potter beamed at her indulgently.

'And so modest – you needn't be embarrassed, dear.' she told her kindly. 'Possessing both beauty and intelligence is a very powerful thing.'

'Thank you…'

'I think it's quite sweet to see how he dotes on you really.' she mused, and Lily shifted her standing position slightly. 'His father and I always tease him about you but I'm glad that the girl he has feelings for is actually as lovely as he describes. I think you'd be very good for him – he's wild and he needs someone who can match him without being reckless. I sense that you're quite practical, Lily, dear. Am I correct?'

'I suppose so…' Lily replied, her eyes strange.

'I thought so.' Mrs Potter nodded, smiling at her. 'You look like practical person.'

'Lily,' Mr Potter interrupted their conversation and made the two females jump at the new voice. He grinned at them, winking at his wife, and then seemingly plucked a bespectacled young man with rather large front teeth out of the air. 'This handsome young man is Damocles Belby; he heads one of my research teams.'

Mrs Potter raised an eyebrow at her husband.

'Really?' Lily eyes quickly lost their strange quality and lit up in a way that usually had most of the male population of Hogwarts keeling over as she walked by. Damocles pushed his glasses up his nose apprehensively. 'What're you working on at the moment?'

'We're looking into – I mean, working on – sorry – a potion that reduces the effects of w-werewolf trans-transformations…'

'Wow.' Lily breathed, her face filled with interest and excitement. 'How much have you done so far?'

'W-well, we're still in the selection phase – tha-that's when we decide on ingredients,' He gulped, suddenly worried he was patronising his intently listening audience. '– and with that we end up with about f-fifty ingredients which we have to narrow and – sorry, narrow down – and then use our final ingredients to create a potion…'

'How long does that usually take?'

'A year…'

'Well, it's an incredible potion you're trying to make anyway.' Lily informed him with a brilliant smile. He pushed his glasses up his nose once more and eyed her apprehensively. 'I haven't even attempted to do anything that useful.'

'Y-you haven't left school yet s-so you've got plenty of time.' Damocles said, flashing her with what he clearly felt was a becoming smile, though the effect was slightly ruined by the nervous sound (that resembled a snort and whimper colliding together) he made alongside it.

'That's true.' Lily agreed but she sighed. 'I wish I could do something that worthwhile.'

'I think I should remind you young people that this is a ball.' Mr Potter injected into their conversation and Mrs Potter rolled her eyes.

'Y-yes, Mr Potter.' Damocles stammered. 'Lily, would – would you like to dance?'

'Of course.' Lily replied politely and smiled kindly at him as he nervously offered his hand. She accepted it and tried not to focus on its sweaty quality. Glancing back at the Potters momentarily, she saw Mrs Potter mutter something to her husband, who grinned and whispered something in her ear that caused her eyebrows to escalate up her forehead.

Scanning the rest of the guests' faces as they reached the dance floor, Lily spotted Professor Slughorn speaking with a few acquaintances, all of them holding large glasses of wine. She chuckled inwardly and then began to dance with Damocles as a new tune was struck up by the orchestra.

All in all, Lily was very grateful to re-enter Gryffindor common room a few hours later. She took in a deep breath of relief as the portrait hole closed behind her. The room was dark, the fire slowly dying in the grate, and devoid of any people except for someone sitting in one of the comfy armchairs by the fire. James Potter.

The strange look from earlier returned to her as his head turned in her direction.

'Evans?' he said softly.

'Your mum said I'd be good for you…' she told him blankly. Lily looked as if she had been deflated and electrocuted at the same time, her body a mixture between limp and static.

'Are – are you all right?' Potter asked concernedly as she moved slightly forwards.

'No…' Lily replied with pathetic undertones and then drifted past him and up the girls' staircase, leaving Potter staring after her, his forehead creased.

The night wore on and Lily tossed and turned restlessly in her bed, unable to coax sleep into hitting her. She stared at the canopy of her four-poster bed, counting the particles of dust in the air above that reflected the moonlight creeping in through the gap in her hangings. Her eyes pricked with sudden tears, which she blinked back furiously and then sat up. Lily jumped out of bed, pulled her dressing gown around her, placed her wand in one of the pockets and crept out of her dormitory. She needed food – specifically something with chocolate in – and she needed it fast.

The school was silent, and Lily's bare feet made no noise as she walked along the stone corridors. She ducked into a patch of shadow as Peeves the Poltergeist came into view and waited until he had whizzed safely out of sight before reappearing in the moonlight. Eventually, Lily reached the kitchens and tickled the pear to allow her entrance. It was almost as if the house-elves had been waiting for her for the moment she entered they scurried off, only to appear moments later with an entire chocolate cake and a mug of warm milk. With many bows and curtsies, they led her to one of the tables and she thanked them before helping herself to a slice of cake.

It was delicious, and Lily felt her craving instantly satisfied. Her eyes closed contentedly while she savoured its chocolatey goodness. There was a soft creaking of the kitchen door and her head turned quickly in its direction, her body tensing suddenly. Then her eyes took in Peter Pettigrew, dressed in tartan dressing gown and black slippers, and she relaxed instantly.

'Couldn't sleep?' she asked him, smiling slightly.

'How d'you guess?' Peter joked in response and made his way towards her as she chuckled. Lily gestured for him to sit and he plonked himself down opposite her.

'You should have some of this cake. It's good and I can't finish it all on my own.' As if the elves had been waiting for these words, they scurried forwards with a tray carrying an extra fork and another mug of milk. Peter accepted the tray, a little bemused.

'Don't mind if I do.' He eagerly put a forkful of cake into his mouth and let out a sound of pleasure. 'That is good…' he murmured after swallowing it and Lily grinned. For a moment they sat in silence and simply chewed another mouthful.

'So,' Lily began once she had washed down the cake with a gulp of milk, 'what kept you up?'

'James.' Peter replied, brushing some crumbs off his lap. 'I was asleep and at some point he came up to the dormitory and knocked into everything on his way to his bed. Obviously, he woke everyone in the dormitory up with his crashing around and when we looked at him he was weird,' Lily frowned slightly '– like, his eyes were really glazed and he hardly even noticed us. It took us half an hour to get him into his bed and well after that I couldn't really get to sleep so I lay around for a while and then came down here.' he added in response to her furrowed brow.

'He wasn't drunk, was he?'

'I don't think so.'

'Strange…'

'Well, what can I say? One of my best mates is a nutter.'

'I don't know…' Lily reasoned quietly. 'We're all a bit weird in our own way.' Peter snorted, and she laughed lightly.

'That was beyond weird.'

'I suppose… But you can turn into a rat at will – how many people can do that?'

'He can turn into a stag!'

'Look at us,' Lily chortled, 'arguing about whether Potter's weird or not; of course he is! He's Potter!'

'Hear, hear.' Peter said, chinking his mug against Lily's. 'But it's usually a good weird.'

'A good weird.' Lily agreed with a laugh and they both took a sip of milk.

'How about you, then?' Peter asked curiously. 'What got you sneaking down to the kitchens?'

'Oh, you know, it was just one of those nights…' Lily answered vaguely, choosing to help herself to more cake rather than look at her companion. 'Did you do the Care of Magical Creatures essay? I couldn't find a lot of stuff on Hippogriff breeding.'

'Trust Kettleburn to set us 3 rolls on breeding Hippogriffs.'

'He should rename himself Kettlebore or something.' Lily suggested darkly and then let out a snort. 'Wow, I sounded like a bloody third year.'

'Nothing like revisiting our 13-year-old selves.'

'That was three years ago. Fuck, we're old!' She groaned into her hands while Peter laughed. 'And you know what's worse?'

'What?'

'I found a grey hair the other day!' Lily announced dramatically, though her eyes twinkled with mirth. 'It's not fair! I'm only 16!' Peter grinned. 'My days are numbered! Peter, I leave you all my cooking and baking books, my collection of Elton John records – you're the only one who appreciates them – and that fluffy blanket I bought in Hogsmeade last year.'

'I'm honoured.'

'Remus can have all my other books, my chocolate, my black winter coat and my woolly jumpers. Sirius can have all the alcohol under my bed and the rest of my strawberries and cream lollies. Marlene gets all of my shoes and jewellery and Alice, Mary and Hestia can split my clothes and makeup between them.' Lily concluded.

'You have a lot of stuff to leave people.'

'In my long life I've gathered a lot of possessions.' Lily explained sombrely and then they both began to laugh into their helpings of cake.

On Monday, Lily lingered behind in Charms to ask Professor Flitwick about their homework from that lesson. It took longer than she expected so by the time he was finished, and she had stowed away all her things, the only person left was James Potter, who had taken a surprisingly long amount of time to pack up his own things; long enough for his friends to have lost patience and left without him.

She reluctantly followed him from the classroom – they both had Transfiguration next – but made sure to keep her distance. Unfortunately, Potter doubled back so that he walked in step beside her.

'Mind if I walk with you?' he asked.

'No, no.' Lily replied, fiddling with the sleeve of her robes.

They fell into silence. While they walked, Lily watched the portraits they passed, willing them to reach their destination faster. Potter, however, kept glancing at her and then at the floor; she didn't notice. He cleared his throat.

'So, Evans,' he began, and she turned her head sharply to face him, almost managing to disguise her start from when he'd spoken. 'If you could cast a Patronus – a corporeal Patronus – what d'you reckon it would be?'

'That's a random question.' Lily mused, frowning at him.

'I'm just curious.' Potter raised his hands in surrender.

'Is this something you ask everyone you walk to Transfiguration with or am I special?'

'Evans, when it comes to you, you'll always be special.' he answered smoothly and then smirked widely as she snorted.

'I'm honoured.' she said dryly, and he winked at her.

'Well, go on then; enlighten me.'

'I think I'd like it to be a panda.' Lily confessed thoughtfully and met his eyes defiantly as he looked at her incredulously.

'A panda?'

'Why not? We both share the wish to continually eat and I think eating around 12 kg a day sounds aspirational – especially if I want to end up being a fat old lady.'

'Right…'

'So, what about you, Potter?' she asked, her stance a little defensive. 'What would your Patronus be?'

'A stag.' he answered smugly.

'Because you're scared by bright lights?' she inquired, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

'No!' Potter replied, puffing up his chest in protest.

'Then what? You've got a pair of antlers you're not telling anyone about?'

'Obviously.' he said, and she smiled slightly. 'I actually reckon my personality resembles a stag.'

'Go on.'

'I'm strong, muscular, brave, clever, majestic and –'

'And humble.' Lily added, and he smirked wider. 'You know my favourite thing about you, Potter?'

'What?' A faint look of bewilderment crossed his smug face.

'You always find a way to remind me why I don't like you.' Potter laughed loudly, and she smiled before striding into their Transfiguration classroom, relishing in the fact that Professor McGonagall did not scold her for her tardiness but then promptly began admonishing Potter for entering the classroom two seconds later. She dropped down into her seat and caught Marlene's eye. The two of them chuckled quietly while Lily unpacked her things.

'In today's lesson,' McGonagall began as Potter slouched towards his seat, 'you will be pairing with someone different, so you can compare your work with someone else. If you swap within groups of four. Swap with the person opposite you.' Lily sucked in her breath and glanced at Marlene, who was already beginning to freeze where she sat. Professor McGonagall caught this, and her eyes flickered with amusement. 'Diagonally opposite you.' she amended. 'Now swap.'

Lily got out of her seat and collected her things. She and Potter swapped seats. Kingsley nodded at her with a grin, but Lily only responded with a curt nod of her own. He looked slightly taken aback; he and Lily had always got on reasonably well, enough to be on a first name basis. But today she barely acknowledged him.

They sat side by side and listened to McGonagall's lecture, taking notes. When she later instructed them to practice the Gemino spell non-verbally, Lily did not so much as look at him, choosing to regard Marlene and Potter in front of her. Marlene was muttering to him and though she could not hear what she was saying, her tone of voice certainly seemed irate. Potter bit back sounding defensive and his partner let out a frustrated growl.

'Did I do something wrong?' Kingsley asked, and Lily jumped slightly before turning to face him.

'When are you asking out Marlene?' she hissed.

'What d'you mean?' Kingsley smiled nervously. 'Marlene and I are just mates.'

'Is this just a joke to you?' Lily snapped, making sure to keep her voice down. 'Are you having a laugh leading her on?'

'I'm not leading her on!'

'Either ask her out or stop flirting with her and fuck off!'

'I…'

'Because if you don't, you'll find out just how good at duelling I really am.'

'Lily –'

'She's one of my best mates, Kingsley, and I won't let you hurt her more than you already have.'

And with that, they fell into silence, Kingsley staring at the back of Marlene's head.

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