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Chapter 7: House Elf Counseling and Fake Picnics

The last few weeks of November, and the first few weeks of December were hell for the teachers of Hogwarts. The "friendship" between the Marauders, Lily, Alice, and Andromeda had been a welcome change. Classes were free of shouting matches, and pranks were not as often. But after that whole arrangement fell apart, the shouting didn't reappear, but the tension between both parties was thick enough to cut with a "Sectumsempra" curse, and a day without a prank was far and in between. The night after that fateful leaf fight was not a happy one…

James stalked up to his dorm. Sirius was in the hospital wing, and Remus was still outside. James let out an angry breath. He knew Lily was probably steaming and completely mad at him. James threw open the door to the boy's dorm, and threw himself on the bed. He was not enjoying the evening. Dinner would be a waste of time, going down to the Great Hall. Lily would be there.

Might as well call her Evans, seeing as she'll be calling me Potter, or git. James thought. James sighed. He screwed up. The pride had taken over, and it had messed everything up. It really wasn't anyone's fault, but James's ego needed someone to blame.

James decided to go down to the kitchen. He could be alone, and still get something to eat.

Pulling on his invisibility cloak, he walked down into the common room, and made his way out the porthole. He didn't notice the walk, stopping only for people and finally, the painting of the fruit.

James reached out, and tickled the pear. After a while, the painting swung open, revealing a bustling kitchen, with elves scurrying about, carrying pots, pans, hot food, and plates. Dinner must have started already… James thought, noticing the extra bustle. James walked straight to a small table, and sighed. He looked around, and only then did he notice the figure sitting next to him.

"Lily?" He gasped. "Uh-I mean-Evans. What are you doing here? Never took you for the rule breaking type." James stuttered, trying the recollect himself. Lily looked over at him with contempt, tired by the question.

"There are no rules that state you can't be in the kitchen, Potter. Not everything you do is somehow breaking the rules." She snapped. Looking over at the house elves, she adopted a warmer tone. "Thank you so much, Nessie. It was wonderful. I have to go." An elderly elf bowed, and squeaked,

"A pleasure Miss Lily! Thank you!" Lily stood up, smiled at Nessie, ignored James, and walked out the door, her red hair swishing. James sighed.

Nessie giggled.

"I am thinking that Master James is in loves. Am I right?" The house elf asked, turning her large eyes on James.

"Yeah. I am. She's not." James hung his head. "I screwed things up today."

"If Master James would allow, Nessie would like to hear the story, and maybes Nessie can help?" Nessie asked. James nodded, and began to tell her the events of the day. Nessie listened with a thoughtful look in her eyes the entire time.

"If you pardon me, but Master James, I is thinking you did 'screw up'." Nessie commented. James nodded miserably.

"We had the best relationship we ever had, and then I messed up."

Nessie walked over to a stove, and began cooking something. She thought for a while.

"Nessie is thinking you should give her some time, to cools off." The elf placed something on a plate, and handed it to James. "Treacle tart, Master James's favorite."

"Yeah. Thanks Nessie! I need to go back up." James ate his food, and hugged the elf, who beamed.

"My pleasure, Master James."


Lily slid into the large tub, and swam over to the taps. She turned on all of them, letting the mist and bubbles and fragrances. She took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. This felt nice. It was a break from the current events in her life.

Lily swam through the bubbles, and picked up a handful, blowing it into the air. It seemed to rain soapy suds.

But the current events kept slipping to the front of her mind. She just didn't get it. James was- Potter was acting normal! He was someone Lily actually enjoyed spending time with! But the leaf fight…Lily was honestly confused. He had just, out of the blue, blown up!

As Lily thought of it though, she probably would have done the same thing. But the logical part of her brain was drowned out by the instinctual blame Potter side.

He had no right to go off like that! The blame Potter side said.

You know you would have done the same thing. Logical side replied.

No I wouldn't. How would you know?

I'm you.

Still…Potter was a douche.

Yes, he has been known for that. But it was pride speaking.

It's always pride speaking!

Exactly! It wasn't him being mean! His best friend just took a rock to the head.

Potter is not worth our time arguing over. Goodbye.

Fine, be immature. Just apologize to him? Maybe he'll apologize as well.

Never! He can apologize. I have nothing to be sorry for.

C'mon. He can't have deserved all of those insults that you've thrown at him over the years, can he?

Yes he can!

I'm sick of you. Fine, just leave me alone.

And thus the Logical side was defeated…


"Ah, Evans is over-reacting." Sirius muttered, from his hospital bed. Remus rolled his eyes.

"Prongs made a complete mess of their relationship. The whole thing, gone! He's completely upset! He's different. Like at the beginning of the year? Even after the Incident happened?" Remus argued, looking at the Daily Prophet on the side table.

"Voldemort rising blah blah blah," Sirius told him. "Moldy Voldy is getting on my nerves."

Remus stifled a laugh. "Moldy Voldy? I like that, Padfoot."

Sirius smiled. "My greatest invention. Anyway, about Prongs. What are you thinking we do?"

"Well…" He bent over to Sirius. To a bystander, only snippets could be heard.

"Kitchens…Nessie…trick…food…Washington DC…"


"Hand in your papers, please! And the empty vials." Professor Slughorn called from the front of the potions room. A few students groaned when they realized, A-they never completed the assignment; B-they lost the assignment; or C- they were just really hungry. (This was Sirius.)

"Thank you! Those'll be handed back in a week. Until then, dream of crystalized pineapple! Now turn to page 347, we'll be making the Draught of Peace! You need practice in more advanced potions, and with exams coming at the end of the year, we are going to need a lot in the hospital wing!" Slughorn chuckled at his jokes.

Lily, Alice, and Andromeda decided to sit away from the Marauders. Alice was not particularly adept at potions, so Lily usually helped her.

"So I add the lavender after I stir clockwise?" Alice asked. Lily nodded, looking over her own potion. It was a very watery consistency, like the book said it should be, but the color was more blue than purple. It needed more aconite.

Lily was feeling quite happy with her results by the time Slughorn called time. The potion was a peaceful blue, and had a good sheen to it. Lily looked over at Alice's. It was very good for Alice. It was still navy blue, but it was the right consistency, and the silvery shine was good. Lily smiled at shot her friend a thumbs up. Alice grinned.

Slughorn was making his way around the cauldrons. "Good, eh…nice effort, maybe study a bit more, Adams…" He muttered advice as he made his way around. Lily's table was his last stop.

"Good work, Ms. Black, and oh ho! Ms. Fortescue…very good compared to your usual." He smiled when he got to Lily's.

"Why do I bother anymore, Ms. Evans? Perfect. I think this goes into my store cupboard." He scooped up some of her potion. "And I do congratulate you on successfully working with Mr. Black." Lily smiled weakly.

"Thank you, Professor."


"Hey Fortescue!" Sirius called through the Library. Madam Pince shushed him, he just rolled his eyes. Alice looked up, and then seeing whom it was, kept reading. Andromeda came out from the bookshelf, a large book in hand.

"What, Black?" She asked, holding the book threateningly.

"We need your help, Black." He told her. She laughed.

"Why? I thought the great Sirius was too mighty for help. And we don't want to help you." Remus stepped up.

"I think you will once you've heard the plan. It's for Lily and James. They've both been upset the most. Maybe James a bit more, but Lily must have been upset as well." Alice had a little bit of curiosity in her eyes. Andromeda raised her eyebrow.

"I'd like to hear the plan." Alice said. Andromeda coughed.

"What?" Alice asked.

"Are you going to help Marauders?" She said. Alice shrugged.

"I'm just going to listen to the plan. Lily has been down lately. Maybe it'll help." Alice's argument won Andromeda over.

"Fine. You played the sad best friend card. Well done." She grudgingly put the heavy book down, and let Sirius continue.

"So, what we do is…"


Sirius sneaked down to the painting of the fruit. Tickling the pear, he stepped inside the kitchens.

"Nessie?" He called. A second later, an old house elf appeared.

"Yes, Master Sirius?" She bowed deeply.

"I was wondering if you would be willing too…well, y'know that James and Lily have been fighting?"

Nessie nodded.

"We have this plan…" Sirius bent down to explain. "kitchens…counseling…trick…pic-nic…"

"Would you be willing to council?" Sirius asked. Nessie's big saucer eyes filled with tears.

"Nessie would be honored, Master Sirius!"

"Thanks, Nessie!"


"Hey Lils!" Andromeda called to Lily, who was finishing a Charms essay. "We've got a surprise for you!" Lily's head came up.

"Yeah?" She asked. "What is it, 'Dromeda?"

"A sleep-over! And a picnic." Alice cried. Lily grinned.

"I hope we're not picnicking outside, it's nine o-clock." Alice and Andromeda shook their heads. "Nah, we're being lazy and going to the kitchens." Lily laughed.

The three students were careful not to get caught, as it was already late. Tickling the pear, and stepping into the bustling room, they inhaled whiffs of breakfast, as the house-elves were already preparing. Alice and Andromeda led Lily to a cleared off side of the room.

It had two plush chairs, and a rug. A small cushion lay in between the chairs, and a small house-elf sat cross-legged upon it. Lily was thoroughly confused. Why were there only two chairs?

Alice and Andromeda smirked. The other guests had arrived. Sirius and Remus led James to the rug and chairs as well. He blanched when he saw Lily there. Lily's first instinct was that James planned this, but he looked as confused as she.

"Sit down, James." Remus said.

"You too, Lily." Andromeda told her friend. Lily flopped into the seat, unsure about what was going to happen, and whether to be mad at her friends for setting this up.

Soon, only Lily, James, and Nessie were left in the small area. Nessie cleared her throat.

"Hello, Ms. Lily, Master James."

"Hey Nessie." They both said.

"I was told to help you figures out your problems." The house elf adjusted her pillow-case.

"So, tells me what happened."

Lily started talking. "We were having a leaf fight, and a rock accidentaly hit Sirius. He blew up, and so did James, for no reason. It was an accident!" She said. James hung his head.

"Hmm… Master James, is that trues?" James nodded.

"I'm really sorry Lily. It was dumb, and I want to apologize. I really liked being friends. Could we maybe start over?" James pleaded. Lily was shocked by the small amount of time that it took for James to apologize, and let alone form a genuine, well put together sorry. Lily almost wanted to forgive him.

"Please? I really, really want a second chance." Darn him and those eyes. Lily stood up and walked over to him.

She stuck out her hand. "Hi! My names' Lily Evans. What's yours?"

James grinned. "I'm James Potter. Nice to meet you."

What do you think? Was it horrible? It was hard to write. Chapter 8 will be fun, I promise. And it'll be up super soon. New chapter for Legend up by Friday! Please review!

Love you guys!