Chapter 11: March 27th
James Potter's birthday was considered by most of the students at Hogwarts to be a school holiday and was usually a joint corroboration between Sirius, Remus and Peter. Now, for the first time, the responsibility extended to Lily, who spearheaded the operation. On the morning of March 27th, Lily and Jean, who was taken on as Lily's chief assistant, woke up as early as legal traveling into Hogsmeade was allowed and, bundled deep inside their coats and snow boots, and waded their way through the snow to the village.
"I'm just happy today's a Sunday and a Hogsmeade weekend," said Lily to Jean as they passed the train station signifying that they had entered Hogsmeade. "Last year the boys had to make a bunch of trips to sneak everything back into the castle without getting caught. For half the party they just sat in the armchairs in the Griffindor Common Room, too tired to move.
Jean laughed light-heartedly at that. "So what's first on the agenda today?" she asked.
Lily pulled out a piece of parchment that when unrolled was the length of her elbow to her wrist and covered with her tiny, immaculate handwriting. "Well," she said, "I think we'd better start at the back of the village and work our way forward so we don't have to carry the cake around."
"That sounds like a smart plan," supplied Jean.
Lily folded up her list and put it back into her pocket. "Okay, then we'll head up to Sprintwitches first so I can pick up James' present."
Hogsmeade Village was a completely different place when populated by students spilling out of every door, their faces pressed to the panes of every window. The sixteen and seventeen year olds strolled lazily up and down the lanes, talking about lunch and classes and debating whether or not it was worth it to trek all the way up to Dervish and Banges or to just lounge in the Three Broomsticks by the fireplace drinking glass after glass of butterbeer. The fourteen and fifteen year olds were throwing snowballs at each other glad to be free of the classrooms and corridors for a moment, every once in a while something sparkling and new catching their eye from inside a shop. The thirteen year olds were running pell-mell like out of control pinballs on bumpers trying to see the places they missed on their last visit. Jean chuckled at the memories from both of the time frames she had lived in. "It's nice to walk around without having to worry about hiding," Jean commented.
"Yeah, it is," Jean laughed. "Sneaking around Hogsmeade was actually James and I's first date.
"Really?" asked Jean.
Lily nodded. "Although, it got really close to failing to launch." Lily laughed lightly for a moment. "I was so mad at him for bringing me to Hogsmeade illegally that I almost turned around and went back through the tunnel in Honeyduke's basement. But, with not small amount of charm mixed with begging, James towed me to Madame Puddifoot's. The place was empty and we sat by the window and ate lunch. We talked. We talked and talked and talked."
"What about?" asked Jean.
"Oh, everything," answered Lily. Lily paused for a moment and looked at Jean in a sideways glance. "Well," she said, "not everything. More like everything James was allowed to talk about. But, something…I don't know, clicked, during that conversation."
"Clicked?"
Lily nodded. "Yeah. I felt…safe…when I was talking with James. I don't think I ever felt like than when talking to someone before. I felt like that I could be honest with James; that I didn't have to cover up or gloss over anything in my life. No baggage was too big for him to carry, and the same for me when James spoke. I felt like, for the first time, I wasn't just hearing words but I was actually listening to them. Does that make any sense?"
"I think so," answered Jean. Jean didn't know if she could articulate it like Lily had done, but she felt like there definitely was something in the conversation she had with Sirius when he brought her up breakfast in the Common Room that was similar to what Lily was describing.
"What happened after that?" asked Jean.
"Well," said Lily. "We got quiet. And then James leaned forward and he kissed me, and I kissed him back, and we've been inseparable ever since."
"Sounds like one for the storybooks," commented Jean.
Lily laughed and rolled her eyes good-naturedly at Jean. "I don't think James and I's love will ever amount to anything put to paper."
Jean shrugged her shoulders. "You never know."
Lily and Jean arrived at Sprintwitches and pushed the door open, a bushel of sliver bells jingling in an off key cacophony overhead. They passed through the uneven shelves filled with tightly folded Quidditch clothing and broomsticks mounted on small pegs jutting out from the wall. They reached the counter by the time the shopkeeper came out of the storeroom.
"Can I help you?" asked the elderly man.
"Hi, yes. My name is Lily Evans. I'm here to pick up an order."
"Evans…" said the shopkeeper, mentally reviewing his backroom stock. "Evans. Ah, yes. One moment please." The shopkeeper retreated into the room he had just vacated leaving Lily and Jean to their own devices. Lily idly drummed her fingers on the countertop while Jean with the tip of her finger turned an issue of Quidditch Unlimited towards her. On the cover was an image of Ludo Bagman, now in the prime of his Quidditch career lounging seductively against his broomstick, which was propped up in the corner of the shot. Every so often he brushed his hair away from his face and gave a crooked smile at his unseen audience. The shopkeeper returned with Lily's order, wrapped in brown paper packaging and tied with strings. "Here you are Miss Evans."
Lily undid the strings and folded back the packing paper to reveal what she had bought for James' birthday. It was an all weather broomstick-riding cloak. On the outside it looked like a rain slicker but on the inside it was fleecy to ward off the cold. The hood and the wrists had drawstrings so they could be pulled flush to the skin. Large black buttons lined the cloak so it could be closed around the rider's chest. Lily was obviously pleased. "Thank you," she said, "it's perfect." Lily reached into her pocket to pay the man.
Armed with their spoils, Lily and Jean jutted across the street to Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment. When the pair passed through the threshold of the store, Jean marveled at how much a tiny, single-story building could hold. Everything was snugly stored on shelving stacked so close together that hardly one person could get down the aisles. Yet, despite the cramped quarters, no one ever left the store without what they came in for. Lily and Jean muscled their way though the throngs of shoppers, Jean's eyes glued to Lily's back and Lily's gaze trained on the labels at the end of each aisle.
"There," said Lily at last, "that next aisle on the right."
Jean and Lily shifted over in that direction until they finally freed themselves from the main crowd and peeled off into the collection of shelves labeled in curly brass lettering Event Planning.
"What are we looking for?" asked Jean, once they were finally able to turn and look at each other without getting forcibly shuffled along through the shop.
Lily shrugged her shoulders. "Just pick up anything that strikes your fancy." Lily and Jean separated to scour the shelves for a good fifteen minutes before Jean relocated Lily. Jean had grabbed two rolls of wrapping paper and a set of streamers that had little glass jars filled with tiny multicolored fireworks hanging down from the shimmering ribbons. Lily had in her arms a box of candles, which acted like sparklers when lit and a metal can of confetti that levitated back to the ceiling after it hit the ground and would continue its pattern of rising and falling for over eight hours. Lily leaned over to examine boxes of party blowers that shouted things when you blew into them. "'Congratulations,'" Lily murmured, reading the labels aloud, "'It's a girl.' Ah," Lily reached forward and picked up the blue and white box. "'Happy Birthday.'" Lily turned to Jean. "Did you find anything?"
Jean showed Lily the streamers and extended Lily a roll of rainbow striped wrapping paper. "Here," said Jean, "for you to wrap James' cloak."
"Thanks," said Lily. As Lily took the wrapping paper Lily saw that Jean kept a roll of navy wrapping paper spangled with glittering stars for herself. Lily looked up at Jean. "Jean," said Lily, "you didn't have to get James anything."
"Oh, I didn't get him anything," said Jean. "I made him something. Back at my old school I developed quite a talent for knitting."
Lily and Jean navigated their way back to the front of the store, paid for their purchases, and escaped the establishment, breathing in the crisp cool air of the outside world that was not regularly recycled by shoppers. Lily pushed the straps of her bags up to her elbows and pulled out her shopping list. "Where to next?" she said to herself. As Lily looked over the items she needed to buy, Jean turned her head and looked down the lane, The Hog's Head falling into her eyesight. The heavy snow collected in drifts on the roof, the beams almost sagging under the weight. The front steps were also enveloped with snow and from the shudders and windowsills hung collections of icicles, which on any other building in Hogsmeade would look cheerful and decorative, but at The Hog's Head it looked almost foreboding, like mismatched teeth. "What are you looking at Jean?" asked Lily.
"That building over there," Jean pointed at The Hog's Head.
Lily followed Jean's finger. "The Hog's Head? No one ever goes there, Jean."
Jean turned and looked at Lily. "Why?" she asked.
Lily shrugged her shoulders. "Because everyone goes to The Three Broomsticks."
Jean turned her head to look back at The Hog's Head. She didn't know why she had the sudden urge to support Mr. Dumbledore's franchise but, considering how much help The Hog's Head had been for Harry, Ron and herself, especially during the initial founding of the D.A, Jean felt she owed The Hog's Head a little customer loyalty. Jean started walking towards it.
"Where are you going?" Lily called out after her.
Jean motioned for Lily to follow. "Come on Lily. I'm hungry and I don't want to walk all the way to The Three Broomsticks." Seeing that Jean would not be swayed, Lily glanced up skeptically at the building she had barely thought about before she followed her friend.
There was no one inside the pub, excluding the owner and one man who sat hunched over the bar, his cloak drawn up past his neck. Jean, with Lily following closely behind, walked over to a table by the window and sat down. The chairs seemed to grate particularly loudly against the stone floor as they settled themselves due to the fact that there was hardly a soul inside the room. Jean looked out the window and watched the fat flakes freeze themselves to the glass. "This is nice," said Jean.
Lily nodded, her head still on a swivel as she took in her surroundings. "At least we didn't have to fight for a table."
At that moment Aberforth Dumbledore came out from behind the bar and walked over to Lily and Jean's table, pulling out a notepad from his pants pocket and a pen from the top of his ear. "What can I get you?" Aberforth asked, skipping all pleasantries.
"Oh, um…"stuttered Lily, not ready to order.
"I'll have the soup of the day and tea, please," supplied Jean to buy Lily a few seconds.
"Vegi soup…tea," Aberforth muttered under his breath. He glanced up at Lily. "And you?"
"I'll just have the special," said Lily, not knowing what it was, "and I'll take tea as well."
"Beef stew," said Aberforth, "and more tea." Without another word, he shuffled away.
Lily looked up at Jean. "Well, that was pleasant," she said softly in good-natured sarcasm. Jean couldn't help but crack a smile at the corner of her lip. Even though Jean had only seen Aberforth Dumbledore a handful of times, she couldn't see the man equaling his brother's social graces. Jean heard a clattering sound behind her and at that same moment Lily's eyes widened to the size of saucers. Jean turned around to see a small goat wander out from behind the counter, stare at them for a moment and then retreat to where it had come from. Jean heard rather than saw Lily subtly push her bags to the base stand of the table and further barricaded her purchases by pressing her leg against them, sandwiching them between the table's leg and her own.
Aberforth came out a few minutes later with a pot of tea and cups and two bowls containing the beef stew and the vegetable soup respectively. Aberforth set the items down on the table. "Enjoy." And the same as before, he went back to the bar without another word.
As Lily was fussing around to serve Jean and herself some tea, Jean watched Aberforth's back. When Aberforth turned a corner to go back into the storeroom, Jean noticed a large, gilded portrait hanging up on the wall. There was a girl wandering around inside the magical canvas. The teenager brushed her wispy blonde hair away from her face and her twinkling blue eyes followed Aberforth as he passed in front of her. When he disappeared from her sight, her eyes swept the room, locking on Jean's own eyes. A small smile formed on the painted child's face. With one hand she twisted her fingers into a length of her hair and with the other, with a slight wiggling of her digits, she waved at Jean. Jean waved back, and Ariana Dumbledore's smile grew wider.
"Who are you waving at Jean?" asked Lily.
Jean put her hand down. "Just that friendly portrait over there," she said, pointing.
Lily turned and looked over her shoulder but the girl had bashfully ducked out of the image, leaving an empty canvas. Lily turned to look back at Jean. "Apparently a shy portrait as well." Lily and Jean both laughed lightly and Lily put a spoonful of stew into her mouth.
Lily held it there, and held it there, and held it there. Her mouth readjusted slightly and her lips tightened to give her a better hold. After a long, pregnant pause Lily pulled the spoon from her still tightened lips with a long drawn out movement. "Jean," said Lily, her spoon resting of the rim of the bowl. "Taste this."
"Why," asked Jean, who was already sipping her own soup. "What's wrong with it?"
"It's the best I have ever eaten." Lily spoke deliberately and her face was one of absolute seriousness.
It was Jean's turn to make a face and Jean dipped her spoon into Lily's bowl and brought it to her mouth. The meat was so soft and pliable it practically melted once it touched her teeth in a miniature explosion of carrots, potatoes and celery flavors. The gravy was warm and thick as it coated her tongue and the back of her throat. Even the gristle was delicious and Jean sucked on it as it clung to her gums. "That's really good," said Jean, trying to savor the spoonful even as she swallowed.
"It's better than Rosemerta's , I think," said Lily.
"That's because Rosemerta has to water everything she cooks down for all the mouths coming in and out of her door all day." Aberforth's voice echoed around the almost empty room. Lily continued to eat and Jean hid her small smile behind the rim of her teacup.
The room settled back into its usual silence with Lily and Jean quietly eating their meal and the lone man at the bar still sitting silently by himself. There wasn't a word spoken until Jean and Lily had finished and were collecting their items to leave.
"Here's your bill, Magnus."
Kinshield uncurled himself from his position on the barstool and dropped a few sickles on the bill before nodding at Aberforth and pushing himself into a standing position.
"Professor Kinshield," said Lily, slightly stunned to see her latest Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in The Hog's Head of all places.
Kinshield walked towards the two girls in a few long strides. "Hello Miss Evans, Miss Granger," he said pleasantly, nodding at each of them. "Out shopping are we?"
"Yes, sir," Jean replied. Lily nodded mutely.
"Well, don't let me keep you." Kinshield opened the door of the pub and let Lily and Jean exit first before he followed them. "Have a nice day," he said, and then he tucked his hands into his pants pockets and strode out into the snowy street.
Lily and Jean watched their professor disappear into the crowd before they too began walking. "I don't think I've ever seen Professor Kinshield in Hogsmeade before," commented Lily as the pair turned a corner back onto High Street, "and the last place I would have expected it was The Hog's Head."
"Maybe he's one of the three people that know The Hog's Head serves great food."
Lily rolled her eyes and nudged Jean's shoulder with her own. "You're probably right. Come on, we'd better hurry. We've still got a few things to pick up and we still need to set up the room."
Jean nodded once. "Where are we going now?"
"Honeydukes."
Jean and Lily walked past Zonko's Joke Shop and into the candy store next door. As usual, Honeydukes was one of the most peopled shops in the hamlet, apart from Zonko's and The Three Broomsticks. Smaller, slighter students weaseled their way past Jean and Lily's bodies to thrust their hands into the giant glass jars holding containers of Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Now that the building was populated the room acted like a giant rotating door, shuffling people in through the front, circling around to the register, collecting what they wanted during the journey, and circled back out. It was in this manner that Lily and Jean traversed through the store until they could reach an open space at the counter. An attendant with a powder blue beehive hairstyle and horn rimmed glasses was there to greet them.
"Hi," said Lily before the lady could open her mouth. "I'm Lily Evans. I'm here to pick up an order."
The woman seemed relieved that Lily was so prompt and to the point, considering that a long and bustling line was once in front of the two witches and was now behind them. "One sec," she said, holding up one finger tipped with a long candy colored nail. "Be right back." In a flash the woman had ducked into the storeroom down in the shop's basement.
Lily and Jean watched her descend the stairs, their hands clamped to the counter to not be towed away by the crowd that moved around and against them. "I'm starting to wish that this wasn't a Hogsmeade weekend," Lily said under her breath as she pressed her body into the glass countertop to let a pack of people pass.
"I'd settle for just being able to use the cellar tunnel," responded Jean.
Mercifully, the attendant reemerged from the basement carrying in one hand a large cardboard ice cream tub, easily the size of her torso, and with the other an equally as large white cake box.
"Here we are," said the woman placing the items on the counter. "Is that everything?"
"Here Jean, take this," said Lily pushing the ice cream carton in Jean's direction. As Jean picked it up she read the Victorian style printing: Bertie Bott's Brand Every Flavor Bean Ice Cream 'A Different Flavor With Every Scoop. While Jean was wrestling with the ice cream tub that was literally the size of her upper body, Lily quickly lifted the lid of the cake box, beaming at what she saw within. "That's everything," said Lily. Lily quickly paid the woman and the pair crusaded their way back across the congested store to the front door.
"Let me get the door for you guys." Jean was incredibly grateful to the disembodied voice just beyond all the things she was carrying, for if it wasn't there Jean would have seriously considered kicking down the door.
"Thanks Dorcas," said Lily as she and Jean shuffled around their ex and current roommate respectively.
"No problem," replied Dorcas. "Is that all for James' party?"
"Yup," Lily popped her lips on the last consonant and readjusted her packaging. "Are you coming tonight?"
Dorcas nodded. "Yeah. I asked Alonzo Kripkett if he wanted to come with me but he said he was busy. So I'm just going in a group with Alice, Marlene and Mary." Dorcas turned in to look at Jean. "Are you bringing anyone Jean?"
Jean shifted from one foot to the other and looked between Dorcas and Lily. "I didn't know I was supposed to bring a date," she finally said.
"You don't have to," supplied Lily. "Usually once everyone is there, people start dancing all night. Some people like to come as couples."
"Oh," said Jean. "Well, I guess it's probably a good think I'm not going with anyone. I'll be too busy helping Lily play host."
Dorcas smiled. "Yeah, Lily's going to need all the help she can get." Dorcas casually shrugged her shoulders. "I just figured you'd be going with Sirius. But then he'll probably have his hands full if Matilda Maybelle comes and smothers him all night." Dorcas laughed lightly. "Well, I've got some shopping left to do and you two obviously have your hands full so I'll se you tonight. "Bye Lily, bye Jean."
"See you later Dorcas," answered Lily, and Dorcas ducked back into Honeydukes.
"Well," said Lily, when it was just she and Jean again, "On to The Three Broomsticks."
Lily and Jean walked down the street for a little while, quieter than they had been all day. "Lily," said Jean softly, almost not breaking the silence at all. "How often does Matilda come to James' parties?"
"Umm," said Lily, thinking, "since she and Sirius first started dating, so around fourth year I think…wait…oh." Jean turned and looked at Lily. "Now I get it."
"What?" asked Jean.
"You," said Lily, "are jealous."
Jean let out an exasperated sigh. "No I'm not."
"Yes you are Jean Granger. You are jealous. You don't want Matilda anywhere near the party because you don't want Matilda anywhere near Sirius."
"Alright, now you're just being silly."
"Am I?" pressed Lily.
"Look," said Jean, "can be just grab what we need from The Three Broomsticks and get back to Hogwarts? My arms are falling off."
Lily huffed, but also noticed the weight in her own hands. "Okay," she said. Lily and Jean walked into The Three Broomsticks.
Because it was after the lunch hour the pub was less crowded than it had been, but it was never the less still peopled with patrons. Lily and Jean weaved through the tables and chairs until they reached the bar. Madame Rosemerta was standing there cleaning the thick and clouded glasses. Rosemerta looked up and when she saw the pair she smiled and put down her dishcloth.
"Hello dearies," she said as the two witches stopped in front of the counter.
Lily heaved her packages up to the wooden platform to rest her arms. "Hi, Madame Rosemerta. I ordered six cases of butterbeer."
"Six cases?" said Madame Rosemerta. "All that's for you? Whatever could you need it all for?"
"It's James' birthday,"
"I see," said Rosemerta. She paused for a beat. "Good luck with that." Jean wasn't sure if Madame Rosemerta meant good luck throwing the party or good luck getting though it.
"Thank you," said Lily as Rosemerta ducked down underneath the bar and pulled up one wooden case of butterbeer after another until all six were sitting in front of Jean and Lily. Lily reached through the boxes to pay the bartender.
"How are we going to carry all this?" asked Jean, staring wide-eyed at the cases.
"Magically," said Lily. The red head whipped out her wand and pointed it at the cases. "Wingardium Leviosa." The six cases rearranged themselves into a small pyramid before they levitated off the bar. With Lily holding her wand at an awkward angle the formation of cases came to float beside her. "Back to the castle," said Lily, her voice showing how tired she was of their trek through the village.
"Thank Merlin," said an equally exhausted Jean. Together, the pair lugged their haul out of The Three Broomsticks and out of Hogsmeade back up to Hogwarts.
"Don't think," panted Lily as she and Jean walked along the forested road that lead to the castle gate, "that you've escaped our talk about Matilda."
"What else is there to talk about?" asked Jean. "Matilda is obviously attracted to Sirius, and I haven't seen anything that says Sirius doesn't like her back."
"Yeah, but Sirius is like that with every girl."
Jean rolled her eyes. "Not helping, Lily."
"Except with you," added Lily.
"Really not helping," answered Jean.
"You misunderstand me," Lily amended. "It's like with James and I. Before we started dating James was exactly like Sirius and flirted with every girl in the school. But, he always treated me different, treated me like I was special. It's the same with you and Sirius, I promise. You've just never seen it and Sirius doesn't know how to say it."
Jean looked over at Lily. "Are you saying Sirius doesn't know how to express his feelings?"
"I'm saying that Sirius wears a mask. He shows what he wants people to see and hides behind his armor what he doesn't. In all the years I've known them, I don't think Matilda has made a chink in it. You take pieces off every time you talk to him. You're the only person he lets his mask drop in front of. When I see him with you, I feel like, for the first time, he's comfortable in his own skin, all of it."
Jean didn't answer Lily immediately. Her mind drifted back to the conversations she had had with Sirius, and how genuine he seemed to be. Jean had convinced herself that she was thinking her conversations with Sirius were deeper and more intimate than he had with others because she was in fact falling for him, but in actuality there was no difference. But, now Lily was pointing out there was, and that more than one person had noticed, as shown by Dorcas' comment that she assumed Jean and Sirius would be going together to James' party. But then, Matilda was Matilda Maybelle, arguably the belle of the school, who, in most cases, would have the story book ending and live happily ever after with the handsome Black family heir and it would be the most natural thing in the world, while Jean was simply Jean Granger.
"Lily," said Jean as they passed through Hogwarts' gates. "Be honest."
"Okay," said Lily.
"When were Matilda and Sirius last together, or talking about getting together?"
"Oh, I was hopping you wouldn't ask me that," moaned Lily.
"Why?"
"Because," began Lily, "they were talking about getting back together over the holiday. James said that Sirius was writing to her and it seemed to everyone that once term began they would start dating again. But then…" Lily trailed off.
"Then?" prompted Jean.
"Then you came along," answered Lily, "and threw everything for a loop."
Jean chuckled. "Yeah, that's me," she said, "the wrench in the chain."
Lily laughed a little at Jean's self-criticizing comment. "You know," Lily said after a beat. "From one muggle-born to another, wrenches aren't all that bad. They fix things, tighten things together, and make things work better than ever before."
Jean glanced over at Lily and leaned her shoulder into hers. "Lily," said Jean, "from muggle-born to muggle-born, your metaphorical pep talks are really appreciated."
Lily smiled at Jean. "You're welcome."
At long last, they arrived at the Head's dormitory for the party was going to be held in the Common Room. "Finally," said Lily, dropping her load on the sofa, Jean doing the same seconds later. "If only the room could fix itself." Lily began to unpack. Jean, on the other hand was preoccupied with the newest addition to the room. It looked like a jukebox, but it was unlike any jukebox she had ever seen. It was at least three times the size of a normal jukebox and had eight speakers jutting out from it that looked like the horns of megaphones the size of basketballs. "Jean." Jean turned around to look at Lily, who was already scattering confetti around, the moment it hit the floor starting to rise towards the ceiling. "The records for that are up in my room if you want to go grab them."
Jean nodded. "Sure." Jean jogged up the small staircase to Lily's room. It was half the size of a Griffindor dormitory, but Lily had it all to herself. The bed sheets and curtains were Griffindor crimson and she had a mahogany wardrobe and dresser that framed her personal fireplace. On top of the dresser were pictures of Lily and her friends, as well as Lily and James. The moving picture of the couple waved at her from their place in what looked like a muggle park as they sat, Lily in James' lap, in a swing. Every so often James wrapped his arm around Lily's waist and planted a kiss on her cheek. Jean smiled at that, briefly wondering if this photo had made it into Harry's album that was given to him by Hagrid at the end of their first year. She hoped so. Underneath the windowsill that was just to the left Lily's bathroom, was a record player and a bright pink record box. Jean bent down and grabbed the box of records and returned to the Common Room.
Lily had finished with the confetti and was currently magiking up the streamers, making the room look like a sparking snowstorm accompanied by the northern lights. "I found them," said Jean as she descended the stairs.
"Great," said Lily. "Just take them out of the box and put them on the couch."
Jean sat down on the sofa and began pulling records out of the box for Lily to put into the jukebox, reading the covers as she did so: The Hobgoblins, The Rhythmic Runes, Spellbound, and…"
Jean held up the record and glanced up at Lily, who was finishing with the streamers, an incredulous eyebrow raised. "Really?" Jean said.
Lily looked at Jean and gave her a mischievous grin when she saw what record Jean was holding. "What?" she asked. "Am I not allowed to enjoy muggle music too?"
Jean slipped the record out of its sleeve and held the black vinyl out towards Lily. "Can we?" Jean asked.
Lily pulled the record from Jean's fingers and guided it into the machine. Lily twirled her wand and held it like it was a microphone. In a few seconds the sounds of Queen began streaming out of the speakers.
Is this just real life?
Is this just fantasy?
Lily grabbed Jean and pulled her up from the couch, Jean laughing all the while, she too turning her wand to hold it like a microphone to sing along with Lily.
Caught in a landslide
No escape from reality
Remus entered the room to the sounds of "thunderbolts of lightning" and Lily and Jean belting into the ends of their wands, swinging themselves around the jukebox, hair whipping through the air as they banged their heads.
"Uh, Lily?" said Remus. "Sorry for interrupting you ad Jean's karaoke practice, but where do you want all this?"
Lily danced her way over to Remus, still singing into her wand.
Nothing really matters
Anyone can see
Nothing really matters
To me
Remus nodded. "Alright then. I'll just put it on the table."
Lily laughed as the song clicked itself off. "Thanks, Remus."
Remus followed Lily into the room. Behind him was a long train of levitating plates laden with enough food to feed the entirety of Hogwarts. Peter brought up the rear of the procession, kicking the door shut behind him. "Complements of the house elves," said Remus when Lily and Remus reached the long table pushed up against a wall. Jean, Lily, Remus and Peter began arranging the plates on the table until there was only one space left to be filled. Lily picked up the tub of ice cream and put it on the end of the table. Lily popped the lid off the ice cream carton and stuck four scoops into the desert as well as slid the cake out of its cardboard container.
Jean looked at the cake shocked and somewhat horrified. The cake was a rectangle with gold frosting trimmed with red icing along the edges. In the middle of the cake there was another rectangle made of red icing, and in the middle of that rectangle was another one. It was the strangest birthday cake that Jean had ever seen. There wasn't even any lettering on it.
"Lily," said Jean, trying to sound casual. "Is this cake supposed to look like this?"
Lily looked over Jean's shoulder at James' cake and nodded. "Yeah," she said. "It's like that to be portable." Lily pulled out her wand. "Watch." Lily tapped her wand on the middle of the innermost rectangle. Jean watched as a second tier rose out of the first and a third rose out of the second all covered in golden frosting with a crimson trim. 'Happy Birthday James' was written on the tiers. When the cake had finished its ascension, Lily placed the sparkler candles into the cake. Lily took a small step back and everyone looked at the confection, satisfied.
"Where's Sirius?" Remus asked.
Lily whirled around towards Remus, now her turn to be alarmed. "He's not with you?"
Remus shook his head. "I've been overseeing this in the kitchens all day," said Remus gesturing to the spread.
"Jean and I have been at Hogsmeade." Both Lily and Remus fell silent. Not knowing where the most rambunctious Marauder was located on his best friend's birthday was not necessarily a good thing.
"I saw him today," Peter piped up.
Lily and Remus both looked up at Peter. "Where and when and with anything I should be worrying about?" asked Lily.
Peter shook his head. "I saw him with James this afternoon. They were going out to play Quidditch."
Jean who was the closest to the window squinted through the panes to make out what she could of the Quidditch pitch way off in the distance. "I can't really see anything," Jean said, "but that doesn't mean they're not there."
Lily ran a hand through her hair. "I can't worry about Sirius right now," she said mildly flustered. "I have to set up the rest of the room."
"Lily," Remus interjected. "The rest of the room is set up."
"Oh," said Lily seemingly taking in her surroundings for the first time: the confetti, the streamers, the party favors, the food, the cake, all perfectly in their place, "so it is. Well, Jean. I guess you and I can go wrap our presents."
Jean went up to Griffindor Tower to both change into a coral colored A-line tea length dress with a pair of strappy tan heels for the party and to wrap James' present. When she returned to the Head's dormitory she brought Alice, Marlene, Mary and Dorcas along with her. Students were already filtering into the room and were milling around chatting, nibbling at the feast on display and listening to the jukebox, including the guest of honor who had his hands wrapped around Lily's waist and was kissing her soundly, his new riding cloak draped over his arm. "I take it he liked your gift," Jean commented as she approached her friends.
Both James and Lily laughed, breaking their kiss. "You could say that," said Lily.
Jean extended her wrapped present to James. "Happy Birthday," she said beaming.
"Aww," said James taking the package, "thank you Jean. You didn't have to." James' fingers tore at the wrapping paper, and out of it unrolled a long knitted scarlet scarf. On one end, just before the tassels there was a dark brown antlered stag standing majestically with his head turned as if he was overseeing some unseen landscape. James lightly ran his fingers over his Animagus form. "Jean," said James, touched, "this is wonderful. Thank you so much." James pulled Jean into a hug.
"You're welcome," said Jean, still smiling.
After Jean's gift, James unwrapped Remus' present, which was something akin to a flashlight to go on the handle of a broomstick, and Peter's gift, a poster of James' favorite Quidditch team, the Falmouth Falcons, their motto 'Let us win, but if we cannot win, let us break a few heads,' written in steely silver beneath the team. James attempted to run the items up to his bedroom but was stopped mid-step.
"Hi James," said Matilda, "Happy Birthday." Matilda, with her ever perfectly formed curls, swished up to James and gave him a quick hug. The sequins sewn to her skintight black dress rippled as she moved making her look like a rainbow colored disco ball. Through her black peep toed shoes topped with large ruffled bows, Jean could spy dark red toe nail polish.
"Thanks, Matilda," said James once she released him. "And thanks for coming. You wouldn't happen to know where Sirius is do you?"
"I haven't seen him all day," said Matilda looking visibly deflated at the fact that Sirius wasn't already there, but she perked up a second later, "but if I see him I'll point him in your direction."
James nodded his thanks. "Excuse me," and James ducked away to put his things in his room.
Once James left, Matilda turned and smiled at Lily, Remus, Peter and Jean who were all left standing there before she turned and skipped away to seek out her Ravenclaw friends.
Lily subtly leaned closer to Remus, her lips still spread from the smile she put on for Matilda. "Should we be worried?" Lily asked through her teeth.
Remus' eyes were roaming around in his head, looking for pockets of dungbombs or other pranks that may have escaped his notice. "I'm not sure yet," said Remus, still searching.
Sirius was still a no show even after all the guests had arrived, even after James had blown out his candles and people started passing around slices of cake. But just as everyone started chattering again the door banged open. Sirius stood in the entranceway, blue jeans, leather jacket, and motorcycle boots. "I," said Sirius dramatically, "have arrived, and I come bearing gifts." Jean noticed that Sirius was carrying not one but four cases of Fire Whiskey.
Lily noticed what Sirius had brought as well and her jaw dropped. "Sirius Black," she whispered, stunned.
Remus walked up to Lily as Sirius dropped the bottles of Fire Whiskey onto the coffee table and the crowd converged on it. Remus glanced at Lily who had her face in her hand, her thumb and forefinger rubbing her temples. "Lily," said Remus, "do you want some advice?"
"Yes," said Lily, her voice muffled through her palm.
"My advice is, that once you have ascertained that whatever Sirius is up to does not involve arson, property damage, or student endangerment, the best thing you can do is just go with it."
"Spoken like a true Marauder," said Lily, lifting her face up. "How?"
Remus passed Lily a glass of Fire Whiskey and kept a glass for himself. "Have a drink."
Sirius' arrival was like the cue that everyone was waiting for. The music was cranked up to the point that the liquid within the glasses were vibrating against the surfaces they sat on and everyone grouped together on the impromptu dance floor in a semisolid mass of gyrations and sweat. The continually falling confetti clung to their hair and stuck to their skin, reflecting the lights from the miniature fireworks, unknowingly passing them to the other as they moved against each other. Jean thought it was quite a sight to see.
Jean spent most of the evening since the dancing started dancing around with her roommates or admiring the general splendor from the fringes. Jean did dance with Remus for a while, laughing a little at his expense as he tried to balance his drink on the tips of his fingers every so often taking long sips from it even as people jostled against them. But, when Jean had gone to get herself a drink, she saw that a pretty blonde haired girl had started dancing with Remus and the two seemed to be enjoying it so much she didn't want to cut in.
Jean leaned up against one of the wing-backed chairs, cradling her glass in her cupped hand. Jean's eyes gravitated to the red of Lily's hair and how it almost turned various shades of purple when certain fireworks flashed, like a rare exotic bird. James was running his fingers through her hair, pushing it away from her shoulder and ghosting his fingers across her skin. Lily smiled up at him, her thumb dipping into his pants pocket to pull him closer. Jean smiled too. She was glad her friends were having fun. Even Peter seemed to be having a good time. He was over by the large snack table, grazing, his head bobbing around to the music as he talked to a couple of Hufflepuff boys that looked a few of years younger than him.
Jean's smile took a misstep however when she saw Sirius and Matilda grinding up against him. The corners of her lips pulled themselves farther and farther downward as she watched Sirius' hand brush over her hips and lean around her body to whisper something into her ear. Sirius pulled away from Matilda and wandered through the crowd, pausing momentarily to slap James on the shoulder and speak a word or two to him. Once Sirius was free from the dancing he poured himself another drink and leaned against the table taking large gulps from it and talked to Peter and his small group. It wasn't even a few minutes until Matilda's sparkling form emerged from the crowd as well. Matilda smiled sweetly at Sirius and he returned it. The pair went back to dancing, Sirius towed by the ends of his fingers.
"What are you doing over here?" Lily's appeared beside Jean so suddenly that Jean almost sloshed her drink all over Lily.
"Nothing," said Jean, swallowing some of her drink that had come so dangerously close to the rim. "Just being a wallflower."
Lily stared at Jean for a long time before she took her own glass, tossed her head back, and drained its contents before slamming it down on the end table. "Come on," shouted Lily through the noise. Lily grabbed Jean's wrist and was practically pulling her to the middle of the room.
"What are you doing?" asked Jean, struggling not to trip over her own heels.
"Take a leaf out of Remus' book," answered Lily.
"And that is?"
Lily and Jean reached the center of the dancers and Lily spun Jean around and started dancing with her. "Just roll with it."
Lily and Jean danced together for a while and Jean could feel her dissatisfaction at seeing Sirius and Matilda together melting away. Jean noticed that Lily's eyes were constantly fluttering around as if she were trying to see past Jean, or around her. Finally, Lily honed in on something and her emerald eyes lit up. "Sirius," Lily waved her hand to get his attention. Sirius approached the pair alone. Lily began shuffling Jean towards Sirius. "Dance with Jean for a while. "I'm going to get a drink."
Sirius cocked an eyebrow and smiled broadly. "Alright."
Like a baton being passed in a race, Jean was transferred between Lily and Sirius. Lily never came back. Lily made a wide circuit around the dance floor and Jean could see that Lily was dancing with James again. Jean thought she saw Lily wink at her through the throngs of moving people.
But after that moment, Jean was completely focused on Sirius and the fact that his body began moving against her own. "You having fun?" Sirius asked.
Jean nodded and smiled. "Yeah."
Sirius returned the grin she gave him. "I'm glad."
If Jean was asked how long she and Sirius danced, she could not tell you. But, after a while, Jean felt Sirius' hand drop slowly, almost casually, if she was not aware of every move he was making. Sirius' hand cupped the wing of her hip and the other was beginning to creep its way across her ribs on the underside of her breasts. Jean felt the tip of Sirius' nose brush against her curls as his hands drew her closer and closer to his body. If Jean barely reclined her head, it would have been resting on his chest. Jean moved her neck and felt his jacket against her scalp. She loved the smell of Sirius' jacket, of Sirius. Right now it smelled predominantly of alcohol, but underneath that it smelled like the Forbidden Forest, like freshly cut grass, and whenever Sirius leaned around her shoulder to speak to her, Jean caught the faint scent of spearmint toothpaste. Jean, emboldened, laid her hand down on Sirius' hand that was resting on her hip. Almost instantly, Sirius turned his hand and laced their fingers together.
It was not long after that curfew came and the thought of detention or loss of House points was enough to push most people to the door, including Matilda. Since their were only a few people left, Sirius got it into his head that they should play a game with what was left of his birthday present to James. Sirius made James run up to his room and get all of the Chocolate Frog cards that he had. "The rules are," said Sirius, determinedly trying to shuffle a deck of cards that wasn't designed to be shuffled, "without looking, you pick a card a stick it to your forehead. We answer questions about who you are and if you guess wrong you take a drink. If you guess right, everyone else takes a drink."
Everyone was enthused with the idea, but after several rounds, even the dedicated stragglers departed for their dormitories, leaving only the Marauders. However, it was only Jean, James, Lily and Sirius who were still actively playing anymore. Remus had his head leaned against the wall, the image of Albus Dumbledore looking on bemused at the firework display in the streamers. Remus on the other hand looked unnaturally mesmerized by them, his mouth drooping slightly and his eyes blinking slowly, completely unaware that Peter was asleep up against him, his own Chocolate Frog card crushed into Remus' shoulder.
Jean looked at the remaining competitors, fairly certain that the person on her head was Armando Dippett. Jean formulated a question to hopefully guess correctly and win the round. "Am I a predecessor to Headmaster Dumbledore?" Jean asked.
"You're a pretty lady." Jean looked over as at Sirius, humorously exasperated. "Sirius, you told me I was a man."
Sirius propped his head up on his hand, his elbow teetering unsteadily on the floor. "You're a very pretty lady," Sirius repeated.
"Yes," said Lily, speaking over Sirius. "You are Dumbledore's predecessor."
"You're a pretty Lily too, lady." James was swaying back and fourth like he was on the deck of a ship, the image of Rowena Ravenclaw plastered to his forehead looking seasick.
Lily looked at Jean. "I think they're done," she said.
Jean nodded once in agreement. "Yeah."
"But…" James protested. "No. It's my birthday."
Lily looked at James and peeled the card off his forehead. "It's three in the morning, James. Your birthday is well and truly over."
James stuck out his lower lip, but his upper lip soon followed, completing the purse to his mouth, begging to be kissed. Lily gave James a half smile before cupping his chin and kissing him. "Happy Birthday," she whispered.
"Thank you," said James, his lips still pressed to Lily's.
Lily and James broke apart and Lily surveyed the scene. "Well, we're not getting these three back to Gryffindor Tower, that's for certain. James, put Remus and Peter in your bed, you can crash out here with Sirius on the couches, and Lily can sleep with me."
"No," said Jean. "James is worse off than me. I'll stay out here with Sirius and make sure he doesn't smother himself on a pillow or something."
Lily nodded once. "Okay."
James perked up, giving Lily a devilish look. "So does that mean—"
"No," said Lily, glaring daggers at her boyfriend.
"But—"
"Your bed can fit three people perfectly fine James."
Jean raised both her eyebrows but quickly beat them back down. "I'll get Sirius on the couch then."
James went up his set of stairs with Remus on one shoulder and Peter on the other, Lily jutting up to her own room as well. Jean looked down at Sirius who was sitting cross-legged on the floor. Jean grabbed Sirius by his forearms and unfolded him from his sitting position. In Sirius' act of standing up and simultaneously falling down, Jean managed to land Sirius on one of the sofas and dragged him across the cushions the rest of the way. "Merlin," said Jean under her breath. "When you're dead weight you're a ton. Jean at last got Sirius situated just time for both Lily and James to return with the comforters from each of their beds.
"Here," said Lily, both she and James giving Jean their crimson comforters. "Are you sure you want to stay on the sofa. James can always sleep here, or me."
"I'm fine," said Jean, "really."
"Alright," answered Lily. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Jean reached up and enveloped Lily in a hug. "Thanks for everything."
Jean felt Lily's arms tighten around her. "You're welcome."
Jean watched James and Lily leave the Common Room. "Alright, if you promise to stay on the absolute opposite side…" But then the couple was too far away and Jean could no longer make out what Lily was saying.
Jean once again turned her attention to Sirius. She unfolded the comforter and threw it over Sirius. But Sirius' arms whipped out from underneath the fabric and before Jean could pull away, his arms wrapped around her waist. With a small yelp, Jean was pulled on top of Sirius. "Sirius?!" said Jean when she felt her legs settling between Sirius' "What are you—"
"I want to ask you something." Sirius' eyes were out of focus and his voice was gruff and garbled but his hands held her tightly.
Jean felt a blush creep up her neck more red than the bed covers that were between them. "Okay," said Jean slowly.
"Why did you not dance with me all night?"
Jean blinked, confused. "Sirius," she said gently, "don't you remember? I did dance with you all night."
"No," retorted Sirius. "You danced with me for the rest of the night, after you stopped dancing with Lily." He paused for a beat. "I saw you dancing with Remus while I was left to play keep away with Matilda."
Jean tilted her head sideways. "But I thought you liked Matilda," said Jean, "really liked her. I heard that you wanted to date her."
Sirius' eyes suddenly became over bright, like the moon wasn't shining from the window onto his eyes, but rather the moon was shining out from within them. Sirius slowly shook his head. "No," he said, almost in a whisper. "I don't want to date Matilda. I don't want to date anyone like Matilda."
"Why?" asked Jean.
Sirius sighed. "I'm tired of everybody who says they care about me never seeing past," one of Sirius' hand released Jean's waist and he vaguely gestured around his face, "this."
"I don't understand."
"Matilda doesn't see past what I allow everyone to see," said Sirius with surprising lucidity. "She doesn't want to see." Sirius' pointer finger idly ran up and down the ridges in Jean's spine. "Your different. I've told you things that I've never told anyone, not even James, my best friend in the whole world." Sirius brought up his free hand and cupped the side of Jean's face. "And you don't just accept them. You want to know." The silence between them was tangible and it lasted the length of an eternity. "I have another secret." Jean felt Sirius gently pulling her face toward his. A breath caught within her and her lungs wouldn't let it go. Jean was so close to Sirius' eyes that in the vast expanse of grey she could detect the tiniest flecks of blue. "I think I kind of like you."
The blush that was creeping up Jean's neck had reached her cheeks and she let out the air her lungs were holding in one long breath. Jean glanced down and nervously fiddled with the zipper on Sirius' jacket. Jean was sure that that her heart was trying to hammer itself out of her chest. Jean closed her eyes and leaned a little into Sirius' hand that was still resting on the side of her face. Jean reached up and covered Sirius' hand with her own. Jean took one long steadying breath. "Sirius I…" But when Jean opened her eyes and saw that Sirius' were closed and his face was relaxed around them she realized that Sirius had fallen asleep.
Jean laughed shortly and smiled a bittersweet smile. Gently, Jean moved Sirius' hand off her face and settled it on his chest, but left the arm that was looped around her waist where it was for the moment. With her fingernail, Jean pushed part of Sirius' hair away from his face and let her hand linger there, dropping down and tracing the underside of his jaw, feeling the slight bristle of stubble underneath her touch. She could kiss him, she could kiss him and he would never be the wiser. His lips were a hair's breath away. Jean leaned down past Sirius' lips, past his cheekbone, the breath from her lips warming the shell of his ear. "I think I kind of like you too."
Sirius didn't move until eleven o'clock in the afternoon, and even then Sirius could be considered an early riser because, other than Jean, no one else had made a sound, much less come out of their rooms. Sirius shifted and turned over, peeling his eyes open only to snap them shut with a groan. "Jean," Sirius moaned burying his head into the sofa. "Could you be the most wonderful witch in the world and turn off the sun?"
Jean chuckled and placed her Daily Prophet on the coffee table and went over to the window where the midmorning sun shone though the glass. Jean pulled the curtains shut, bringing the room into a state of semidarkness.
"Thank you," said Sirius, uncurling himself and turning over to look at Jean. When he sat up, Sirius wrapped a hand over his eyes, leaning his head back over the arm of the couch. "Oh, my head," he said, "everything's all fuzzy."
Jean extended Sirius a glass of orange juice. "Do you remember anything?" she asked casually.
Sirius shook his head. "Not really." Sirius was about to take a drink of orange juice but stopped before it reached his lips. "Why?" he asked, looking up at Jean as she sat back down and picked up her paper. "I didn't do anything too terrible did I?"
Jean shook her head. "No," she said smiling at him as she opened the pages of her paper again, "not a thing."
Hey everyone! Happy New Year and Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you like this chapter, especially Lily's taste in music. I've decided to upgrade the rating of this story to M just for safety's sake.
Also, I finished this chapter on my sister's birthday so I decided to dedicate this chapter to her. Happy 18th Birthday!