Disclaimer: Nothing you recognize belongs to me. By the way- I'm carrying on with the italics being Lily's thoughts.
"Wandless magic," Professor Minerva began in response to a student's question, "is most often seen amongst underage witches and wizards whose magical abilities build up for a long time before bursting out in a show of great power." She paused to look around the Transfiguration class that she taught to Gryffindors and Slytherins on Tuesday and Thursday. Her gaze settled on Lily Evans, who was sitting alone in a corner of the classroom, staring back at her with an intensity that Minerva had only seen in a young Tom Riddle. "However, some great wizards learn to harness these bursts of magic and apply them to perform specific spells without the use of a wand. Unfortunately, I am unable to give you a demonstration. Sufficient? Back to conjuring quills."
Lily thought back to the beginning of the month when she'd been captured and performed a wandless accio to bring her wand to her hand. She hadn't given that part of her adventure much thought but now her mind was full of possibilities: summoning her wand right back after being disarmed, casting spells in the precious moments it would take to grasp a wand- wandless magic could be her greatest asset. Lily looked down at her notes, her mind filled with a question she couldn't ask: Can you kill a person with wandless magic? Up until then, it hadn't seemed possible that she was responsible for the deaths of five death eaters that past summer, but now… Don't be ridiculous. Magic is so tied to emotions that you would have to be in terrible danger to have another burst of power like that.
After effectively shutting down her ideas, Lily's eyes travelled to an unconscious James who appeared to be drooling on his parchment. She smiled and slunk over to the Marauder table.
"Hello!" Sirius said loudly, effectively waking his best friend.
James started awake, his frantic eyes looking for clues of a prank. He saw Lily and hastily wiped the drool off his chin. "mm hi!"
Fortunately, Lily thought the dopey half asleep James was pretty cute. Well, except for the slime. "Hi guys. How's the conjuring coming?"
Peter stared at Remus helplessly. "Why am I even in this class?" he whined, his eyes pathetic and desperate.
"Because you can do it." Remus replied firmly. "Give it a try." No way is Peter actually as stupid as he seems, Lily thought to herself.
Peter said the incantation incorrectly and stabbed at the air with his wand rather than giving a gentle prod. Nobody was surprised when there was a small explosion and a puff of feathers. Sirius immediately muttered a spell that erased the traces of Peter's attempt so quickly that only those seated at the table noticed. What an incredible friend, Lily thought.
Remus continued trying to show Peter what did incorrectly while at the same time making him feel like he hadn't done anything wrong. It seemed to Lily that it took a lot of effort to have incredible friends.
Work was as challenging and all-consuming as ever, but the little time that she did have off seemed to be filling up with Marauders. They had begun eating meals together and sitting together in class. They went to Hogsmeade together. They instinctively sought one another out. Her opinion of the Marauders had changed drastically. They were captivating. They were extremely clever. They were full of energy. They were making Derek a little jealous.
"I'll just assume you're busy tonight." Derek snapped at Lily as they completed their paperwork following a night of guarding the museum.
She looked up, surprised. "Well… yes."
Derek glowered down at his papers. "Have fun."
That was last week. Lily promised they would spend time together over the weekend but she'd have to cancel her Honeydukes plans with the Marauders. She loved her best friend, but Sirius, Remus and even Peter were beginning to take a very special place in her heart right beside the place that belonged to James and she didn't want to hurt their feelings.
"So," Sirius said, tugging Remus' notes away from him and replicating them with a flick of his wand, "After Honeydukes, I was thinking we should head to the joke shop."
James nodded eagerly. "Yea- I'm out of stink bombs and we're going to need them next Thursday for the-"
James abruptly stopped as a tall shadow grew upon the table.
"For the what?" Professor McGonagall asked coldly.
Remus, who always diffused tense moments with professors, said "Nothing, Professor… It's just a little show for the first years. Off campus, of course."
Professor McGonagall shifted her eyes to Lily. "And you approve of this…show?"
Lily nodded, "Mister Zonko is helping us to plan it." James watched her lie without lowering her gaze, wavering in her voice, or so much as the beat of an eyelash. He was unpleasantly surprised.
"I suppose, if Miss Evans approves…" McGonagall said slowly, "But where are your quills?"
Remus looked helplessly at Peter whose lack of ability had taken up all of Remus' time. Sirius pretended to read his notes. James was watching Lily, who prodded the air with her wand under the table. Suddenly, all five of them had quills in their hands. They raised them simultaneously, trying not to look startled.
"I see." Professor McGonagall said shortly. "Carry on then." She walked away hurriedly.
The Marauders looked at Lily with the same look of surprise, affection and appreciation.
Sirius beamed. "I think I may be in love!" A moment later- "Ow!" James looked down guiltily.
Lily smiled back. "You're welcome." She had even had the forethought to make Peter's quill badly- the edges were singed and it smoked at the nib. "About Zonkos, though, I'm afraid I have to cancel."
James forehead crinkled. Before he had a chance to say it was ok and they'd bring her along next time, Sirius (sensing his best friend's distress) blurted out, "Why?"
She shifted her gaze to his electric blue eyes. "I have plans." James gave the table an angry, wounded glare. "With Derek," she remedied. Unfortunately, that didn't make it any better.
"Well…" James said dejectedly, "Have fun." Lily briefly wondered why James had suddenly turned into a pouting four year old.
Suddenly, there was water streaming from Remus and Sirius' wands to put out the sizeable flame that Peter had set to the table. Professor McGonagall swept over, glaring. "That is enough. Leave my classroom and return when you can be more careful!"
Peter scurried out of the class, leaving his belongings behind. Lily felt terrible for mentally berating him- after all, the professor had just done it in real life. She grabbed his bag and hers and followed him out of the classroom, leaving the other Marauders behind.
Lily caught up to Peter in a second floor corridor. "Peter- wait!" she called. He had already disappeared behind a grand mahogany door. Lily ran to catch up with him. Once behind the door, she sincerely hoped that she'd let him scamper away.