CHAPTER 9

Sirius sat up smiling, ever since he'd been taking some pills to help him get over his insomnia, he'd wake up feeling great. It was a little early but still and- what the actual hell? There was a boy in the spare bed in their dorm! He was only in pj bottoms but he raced down the stairs, yelled the password for the heads dorm flung open the door and pounced on James!

'Padfoot?' James sat up and rubbed his eyes. 'What's going on?'

'THERE'S A BLOODY BOY IN OUR DORM!'

'Oh yeah that's Connor, he's transferring to Beauxabatons but stopping here for a few days. Oh and he's dating Lily.'

'No!' Sirius looked at James. 'Are you...coping?'

'Yeah Padfoot there's something I didn't mention...'

'What? Holy sheez, did you blow up half the house again from your room?'

James laughed.

'No! I have a girlfriend. I didn't want to tell you because-'

'HOLY MOLY JAMES POTTER HAS A GIRLFRIEND, I REPEAT JAMES POTTER HAS A GIRLFRIEND!'

'No way?!' Marlene poked her head in through the door followed by Lily. 'Whoooo? OMG JAMES HAS A GIRLFRIEND I'M ALREADY PLANNING YOUR WEDDING!'

'I'M GONNA BE THE BEST MAN EVER! CAN YOU IMAGINE MY SPEECH?'

'I'M THE MAID OF HONOR!'

'NO I AM!'

'IT'LL BE BEAUTIFUL, PEOPLE'LL START CRYING!'

'-because you'd make a big deal out of it.' James sighed. 'Guys I don't even know if it's serious yet-'

'Wait! I'm your girlfriend?'

'No douche-bag! He names Hannah, it's been going on for a few months now. We met during summer and started going to see movies and it just moved from there. It's not that big of a deal...it's probably not even gonna last.'

They were all silent for a few minutes.

'Bagsey I catch the boquet Lily!' Marlene yelled.

James facepalmed.

By breakfast, everybody knew about James and Hannah and Lily and Connor and there were all sorts of rumours flying about. Sirius loved all of the rumours and even helped spread some of them. In precisely one hour, Hannah became the most hated girl in the world even though nobody actually knew her.

'For gods sake who's spreading all of these rumours?' James cried over his bacon and eggs. He'd nearly lost it over hearing three girls saying they knew Hannah and she'd miraculously gained several stone over the last morning.

Things were yet worse for Lily and Connor. Many of the girls threw themselves at Connor because not many 'hot foreigners' came to the school according to Marlene. Lily was despised throughout the school by all girls and infact, she had to throw herself at him to get everyone's attention. She was furious by the end of the day and to make matters worse, Connor appeared to be enjoying all of the attention.

Weeks flew by because Connor's train got delayed. Lily lost more and more sleep and lost energy attempting to get Connor's attention. He claimed to only have eyes for her although Sirius and Remus said for certain they had seen him making out with Sandy Hooper behind the greenhouses. They debated whether or not to tell Lily this seeing as she deserved to know. However, they kept quiet because she was already in a mess.

Many girls in the school abandoned all rules and ordered a muggle device called a laptop from a muggle shop called amazon in which they said they would find this 'Hannah'. Over the next few days, all you could hear was 'How does it work?' and 'So it's called the laptop? And on it you can get the internet?' It was rumoured Dumbledore had set up a wifi and it must've been true because muggle studies was so popular over the next few days almost the whole school had signed up for it in order to get lessons on how to use the laptops. James' parents had educated him on all of this stuff because James' best friend had been a muggle at a Primary School, in which he had attended from ages 4 until nine.

One morning, James arrived at breakfast to see around one hundred girls waving laptops at him asking whether or not this was the Hannah he was dating. Screaming NO at the top of his voice, he walked over to Lily and sat down beside her because she was alone.

'Morning Lily!' He yawned.

* snore *

'Lily?' He gently shook her awake.

'Whaaaat? James? Hi I was just erm... I don't even know?'

The bags under her eyes confirmed this and her skin was even a light greyish colour. Lily was not doing well and even James knew at that moment he had to tell her the truth.

'Look I've got to tell you something. Hang on,' he handed her a vial from his bag. 'It's a pick-me-up. Sirius uses them all the time after parties or hangovers.'

Groggily, Lily downed the vial and suddenly began to glow a little. Her skin turned a natural colour rather than grey and she generally looked happier.

'What did you have to tell me?'

'Well-' James saw Connor walking down with Marlene towards them, 'you know, it can wait.'

'Hey babe?' Connor pulled Lily up by her hands, winking at Marlene over her shoulder. 'By the way Mars, you smell great, orange and grapefruit is a great combo!'

'How does he know what bodywash I use?' Marlene murmured. 'Seriously, what is he doing? He's gonna end up in biiiiiig trouble the ways he's going. He was flirting with me earlier did you know? I hope Lily dumps him soon.'

'But she won't' James butted in. 'Because she's desperate.'

'You don't know that,' Sirius added. 'She probably just likes him a lot more than he likes her.'

'I know the feeling!' Marlene shrugged pointedly. 'In those situations, you just ignore it because you don't want it to be the truth!'

'Yes but also. Look at the oods here. I mean, what did all of her friends do over the summer? Alice went on dates with Frank, told Lily about them. Mary's been out with Remus loads because she has a huge crush on him and she told Lily. Marlene, you've been on holiday where you wrote a letter to everyone saying about the boys there, also, your little crush now.'

Marlene blushed crimson.

'Let's face it. All Lily has done is listen to people gone on about their love lives over them summer. Her parents flew to the caribbean and she didn't object because they've been saving up for years and years. She's been stuck in the house with Petunia all summer and listen to her love life with Vernon. Also, she's been receiving letters about you guys and your dates.'

'And then,' Sirius added. 'How great it should be that a single, scottish, attractive boy turns up at this school. Even if it's only for a few days and he's clearly not interested in her. Which begs the question; why did he ask her out in the first place?'

They all thought for a moment.

'Because she's desperate.' Marlene sighed. 'He knew that the way to becoming popular and known in this school and to get himself a reputation was to date somebody. Someone like Lily. He could obviously tell she was desperate so he asked her. Lied that he felt a connection, now, he's got girls trailing around after him like bees near honey.'

'I hope she breaks up with him soon. Or the other way around from the looks of it,' announced Sirius. 'Look!'

He pointed to Connor who was shaking hands with Dumbledore and the stepping into a carrige outside. It was obvious from the smirk on his face he'd finished everything, forgotten and moved on. Lily was nowhere in sight and Connor's stay here had come to an end.

'At least he's gone now,' Marlene added nervously.

'But what about Lily?' Sirius asked. 'She never was great after a break-up...'

The all thought back for a moment.

It was two years ago and Lily had been dating Ren Turner from Ravenclaw. He had announced he was moving to Durmstrang and that long distance wouldn't work. Awkwardly, he had just sort of, well, shuffled off and there was nothing to be done. Lily had camped out in an unknown place for two weeks, crying. The next few days were like stepping on eggshells, afraid she would crack at any moment.

'How much do you wanna bet she's hidden again?' Marlene asked. 'Me and Sirius will go and check the map.'

'But that won't work if she's outside of the castle. Us marauders are still perfecting the surrounding grounds so we haven't yet drawn them on.'

'Well done!'

'Don't be sarcastic, it's not easy!'

'I'm not complaining!'

James was unable to listen to them bicker.

'I'll go and check outside in the grounds. It'll take a while but just tell McGonagall that I'm in the hospital wing or something and that Lily's ill.'

'Wait- why are we going back to class?' Marlene butted in. 'We might as well help you.'

'No.' Replied James. 'I'm going to use the invisibility cloak because Madam Hooch is training straight after breakfast and it will only fit one of us under.'

'Plus,' added Sirius. 'it will be more believeable if only one of us is missing from class. Teachers are regulary patrolling the corridors and if you're with your bestfriends, they're going to question you.'

'Fine.' Sighed Marlene. 'Me and Sirius are off to check the map, just remember to search everywhere. Knowing Lily, she's staying up atree in the forbidden forest.'

They all burst out laughing before leaving.

Sirius and Marlene sat on Sirius' bed, pondering over the map. Students were now beginning to move around the castle so it was becoming harder to track anybody. They'd looked everywhere but still couldnt find her.

'Well I don't think she's on here.' Sirius concluded, folding it up. 'I wonder if James has had much luck.'

'It's unlikely, Lily spends most of her time in the library or outside. She gets claustrophobic inside which is why she was so happy to get her own room in the heads dorm. She'll definitely be outside.'

'Let's go to class then,' Sirius said glumly. 'But, on the bright side, we're doing animaugus in transfigoration which is so easy.'

'It's not!' Marlene protested. 'Today is the lesson we have to attempt it infront of McGonagall. I still can't do it. Why do you find it so easy?'

'I guess I'm just a natural.' Sirius smirked, flicking hair ot of his eyes.

'You're not telling me the truth!'

'Now now McKinnon, if I told you all my secrets the whole school would know them!'

'You havem't told me any of your secrets!'

'Not my problem! Race you to McGonagalls class!'

'You're on but you won't win!'

He did.

James wasn't having much luck outside either. He had searched the owlery, Hagrid's hut, the lake with the masked mermaids. He wasn't sure why they were wearing masks. Oh s***! The masquerade and the halloween party. In two days it was the halloween feast and also the masquerade was only a few months away. James had completely forgotten. He couldn't do it without lily anyway!

He pulled the invisibility cloak further around him and ran towards the greenhouses. It was warmer round here because of the shelter and he began to shift sheets covering plants and pots. He somehow doubted she would be in here but it was a last option. Where else could she be? He'd checked the close grounds, the whomping willow, the quiddich practise field, even ventured into Hogsmede using the secret passages. The kitchens, broomshed and forbidden forest outskirts had all be searched and she was nowhere.

There must be somewhere he hadn't checked.

Yes but where? He thought. Snow was beginning to fall lightly and he knew that there would soon become a point when he couldn't search any more. He pulled the cloak off to shake some of the snow off and because it was dragging through it.

'Potter!'

Oh dear. He turned around to see the stern face of Minerva McGonagall.

'Yes Minnie?'

'James what are you doing out here? You should be in my transfigoration class. I came out here because Black and McKinnon admitted that you were wondering about outisde.'

They are so dead.

'Can I ask why Potter?'

'I've been meaning to erm...' he looked around for inspiration. 'Ask Madam Hooch about training. For quiddich' he added.

'About what?' The professors brow was furrowed as she tried to see through his lies. Professor McGonagall was known for wheedling things out of students.

'Erm...' James was failing miserably. Sirius had drilled stuff like this into him. If you get caught, deny everything and use the things around you to make up a detailed backstory. However, James was getting nothing and the fact he was standing there shuffling he feet was giving him away.

'Potter?!'

'Fine! Evans has gone somewhere and we can't find her anywhere.'

'We?'

'Me, Sirius and Marlene.'

'And why has she disappeared.'

'Hide and seek.'

McGonagalls face was confused.

'What? It's a classic and very, very good game. Evans is good at games!'

'But surely,' Minnie's tone was icy. 'You'd've found her with that Marauders Map of yours by now. Oh don't ask me how I know. You've left it in your homework several times and failed to notice I've been delivering it back to you which, by the way, here it is.'

She handed him the map which read:

Good Afternoon Minnie from Prongs, Padfoot, Moony and Wormtail. Prongs would like to say what a lovely colour your robes are and Mr Padfoot would like to add that they match your eyes perfectly. Moony says he likes transfigoration very much and Wormtail asks for less homework please because it is very day professor and may you have fun teaching!

James tried not to laugh.

'Oh and the map doesn't have the grounds on it yet, we haven't finished perfecting the drawings.'

'Honestly Potter! I suppose I'll let you off just this once, just make sure you find Evans quickly and tell her that hide and seek might work better if she sticks a time limit on it.'

McGonagall strode off towards the charms classroom as James began to look around. He didn't want to go back to McGonagall without Lily and he was fairly sure there was nobody on the quiddich pitch so he might as well do some flying practise, they were chosing the team captain soon and announcing it after the holidays, which was in about ten days.

Quiddich Captain was something James had always wanted. He'd been flying on a broom since he could walk and the first thing he'd said after watching a match was, "I'm going to be team Captain at Hogwarts.'

dSirius was also on the team as well as McKinnon because they were the two beaters. Marlene had only been one for two years but James had been let on in his first year as the seeker because that was the only free place. He'd flickered between chaser and seeker and even once played beater but since the new arrivals, he'd secured his place as a chaser. A young girl called Catherine Finnigan who had played on an Irish Quiddich Team finished the Gryffindor team. Neither Remus or Peter was any good on a broom. They weren't confident, and the key to playing well was confidence. Thinking about, a lot of seventh years had applied for the team this year. Most of them girls who probably just wanted to be around Sirius or to be in the photo. James was in charge of putting together the yearbook with Lily. There would be quite a few pages on Quiddich teams.

James went into the changing rooms and rummaged around until he found a broom. He'd broken his over the summer and had been borrowing various friends. He walked out onto the pitch and climbed on, still thinking about team captain situation.

Sirius also wanted team captain and he was just as good as James. He had more skill with a bat and he'd been playing for only a year less. McGonagall had said he was a natural with true talent and was made to be a beater. To be honest though, the only reason Sirius was as good as he was was because he and James practised everyday on the Potter's Quiddich pitch. The manor had a field out back which Mr and Mrs Potter had put up quiddich hoops and marked stuff in.

Sirius had been living with for almost four years now. Ever since his parents had kicked him out for being in Gryffindor, he'd stayed with James. Mr and Mrs Potter were happy to adopt and buy him food and clothes and all that. Sometimes, James wondered what he was going to do with his life. When he'd been in his first year, he'd been certain he would become an auror, marry some girl and play a lot of quiddich. However, as he grew up, he realised this couldn't be possible. Auror's had to train in many different areas for many years and achieve several newts which he could only dream of. James wasn't stupid, but the marks were exceptionally of a high standard. Even Lily would've had to of worked hard to achieve those marks.

James looped through the goalpost.

Speaking of Lily where was she? After a relationship which was quite obviously one sided, she'd not taken it too well. James had known from the moment he'd met Lily that he would end up with her. For five and a half years he'd asked her out every single day. Not dared to go in a relationship incase things started to get better. But they never did. On day, after the easter holidays, James stopped asking her out. This shocked everyone but he knew that he'd better get his act together. Slowly, him and Lily got closer, became friends and, however cheesy it sounds, made peace. It just sort of clicked, Lily Evans was never going to go out with him because he simply wasn't good enough, so why try? This didn't mean he didn't still like her, oh no, but he gave up asking her to return his feelings.

During the summer holidays, James started his first relationship in a while. Hannah was a local muggle who was pretty, nice and worked at the corner shop. She'd asked him out after they went to see a movie together. Truthfully, he knew she wasn't what he was looking for, but he just wanted to get away from everything and this was perfect. In actual fact, James had gone through and awkward lunch with Hannah just before he came back to school. He knew that it wouldn't work with him at Hogwarts and her starting uni but he didn't want to tell anyone.

The bell rang for charms but James ignored it. Madam Hooch didn't have a lesson until after lunch on Wednesdays and flying made him feel free. Lily was still missing but James honestly didn't know where to look any more. He flew around the stands on the pitch and weaved in and out of the goalposts. All of a sudden, he noticed a small shadow from behind the benches. It was of a person. The snow was falling lightly, but it was slightly too blurred for him to be able to see clearly. He made his way over there and peered into the stands.

'Lily?'

A face poked out from underneath a fluffy scarf and hat.

'James? What are you doing here?'

'I could ask you the same question!'

There was a sigh and a lot of shuffling.

'It's just life. It can be so unfair sometimes!' Her voice was tired, complaining.

'Believe me, I know. But you've got to think about all the good things in life as well as the bad.'

'Like what?' She laughed icily.

'Well,' James shifted on his broom the cursed as his glasses tumbled off and blew away with the swirling flakes of snow. Everything was now harder to focus on. 'You've got family,' she snorted under her breath. 'A nice house, a good education, lots of friends!'

'I suppose but I just want a guarantee everything will turn out alright, that it's going to be okay! I don't even know what I want to do after school. It's alright for you with your rich wizarding family! I don't know if I want to go back to a muggle life, get a wizarding job, alternate between the two.'

You don't need to. There's plenty of time before that and anyway, you could get whatever job you wanted.'

She sighs, her teeth chattering.

'Please come inside Lily, you don't have to go back to lessons now. We can got to the heads dorm and I'll get the house elves to make some hot chocolate.'

'Fine!' She folded her arms. 'Just let me redo my scarf and find my wand, I know it's around here somewhere.' James nodded and stood up to help her. He stepped off the broom onto where his eyesight had made the stand appear but, in actual fact, was thin air. There was a sickening crunch, and then everything went black.


Hiiiii guys! So this chapter was different. I literally just finished writing chapters 11, 12 and 13 and they're kind of, well, very cliche-ey. There's some Lily/Sirius bonding which wasn't intended but it was fun to write so you know and James ends up getting injured himself again. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and if you did, don't forget to favourite, follow or review. Or all three! I'd be happy with just one of them, and remember, if you want anything in particular to happen, don't forget to review or PM me so I can make it happen. Bye for now! ;) :) :*