Lily woke up and stared at the ceiling. The same conflict of emotions that had bugged her from when she first got here. She was happy to be home, but sad to be away from Hogwarts. And now she was going back today. She looked around her room which she now wouldn't see for four months, and then her dorm back at the castle and seeing Dorcas, Mary and Sarah again.
She was also looking forward to seeing them all again, wondering how their holidays had gone. Dorcas said she had to go some sort of ball that Potter would have hated. They had sent a letter to each other over the holidays, thanking each other for their presents and finding out about all the gossip.
She got up and looked out of the dark window. The there was a little orange in the distance where the sun was fighting to get up. Lily had seen this scene a hundred times at Hogwarts. Seeing the sun rise over the black lake, and the Quidditch pitch. She never thought she would say this, but she was looking forward to going back to Hogwarts. Her door opened.
"Oh Lily, you're awake." Said Lavender. She walked in and closed the door while pulling her dressing gown around her. She sat down next to Lily who was on her knees looking out of the window.
"Yeah, just watching the sun rise." Said Lily, "It looks beautiful."
"It sure does." Said Lavender, she hugged Lily and inhaled deeply.
"You ok mum?" asked Lily.
"Yes Sweetpea, I'm fine." Said Lavender, "I'm just…sad to see you go again." she said, staring to cry. "It doesn't feel like I've seen you at all."
"I know." Said Lily, "But we've had fun, right?"
"Yeah." Said Lavender kissed her hair.
"Look, Lily." Lavender reached over and pulled something from under her dressing gown. Lily gasped. It was her blanket.
"You gave me this a long time ago because you said you had out grown it." Lavender sighed sadly and held it to her face. "And every time you called me." She shook her head. "I wish I could of given this back to you." She looked up with a sad smile.
"I think it's time it was returned." She handed it to Lily who took it. It was just how she remembered it; its softness, its comforting smell.
"It will always smell of home." Said Lavender, "I want you to keep it, so you at least have a little piece of home with you."
"Thanks mum." Said Lily hugging her. They stayed that way for a while, just hugging each other. Lavender stroked her hair, Lily could feel tears on her forehead.
"I'm so proud of you Lily." said Lavender leaning back to look at her daughter. She smiled tearfully and kissed Lily's forehead again.
"We have to get going."
Lily looked over at the clock, it was true, she had to get going. She looked at her mother and smiled sadly at each other.
"I've missed you." Said Lily.
"But you're having good new adventures." Said Lavender, "And all of us love getting your letters, telling us what you've been doing."
"I wish you could experience it to." Said Lily. "I feel guilty keeping it all to myself."
"It's a gift you'll share with your children." Said Lavender, "I've already given you my knowledge and personality, according to your father." Lily smiled.
"So you keep on going. And remember, I'm only a phone call away." Lavender and Lily stood up.
"I will mum." Said Lily as they walked down the stairs.
The Marauders Proudly Present Lily Evans and James Potter In: The Marauders Year One
Chapter Twenty
The Laundry
Written By Chambers10
Lily walked into kings cross with her mum and looked around at people who she recognised from Hogwarts, from another life. They passed through the doorway between platforms nine and ten. The scarlet engine was there to greet them, along with a lot of other Hogwarts students that Lily knew.
"Well, here we are missus." Said Lavender. She kneeled down and hugged Lily tightly, she went to pull away. But found that Lily wasn't so eager to let go.
"Can I come home for my birthday?" Said Lily. "I don't want to be alone."
"You won't." Said Lavender. "You'll have all your friends there with you."
"But it's not the same." Whispered Lily, "I won't get your bacon sandwiches in the morning, or opening my presents in the living room, or, going to buy a new book."
Lavender's heart broke at those things. The little things that Lily remembered from her childhood, and still would miss.
"I know it won't be the same." Said Lavender. "But this all different." Said Lavender. "It'll be new."
"Maybe I don't want it to be new." Said Lily. Lavender placed her hands on Lily's shoulders. Just like when she was going to school for the first time.
"These are going to be the best time of your life." Said Lavender, "Now." she kissed Lily on the top of her head.
"Now go, and remember I'm not that far away." Lily smiled and walked off towards the train and climbed on board. Lavender waited until the train whistled into life and started to pull away. Lavender watched as it pulled off. It didn't seem that Lily had been home at all. She stopped waving and turned round at the station. She couldn't help but feel jealous. She would have killed for this opportunity at Lily's age.
But with all the letters and phone calls, I did feel like she was living this fantasy as well. Lavender walked back through the doorway, from the magnificent platform nine and three quarters to the dull and dreary nine and ten at kings cross. Lavender walked out of the station, hoping Lily was alright.
Lily made her way down the corridor, she looked inside the various compartments till she found Sev. She opened the door.
"Hey Sev." She said sliding it shut and plonking herself opposite him.
"Hey Lily." he said.
"How was your Christmas?"
"…ok." He said, "I'm defiantly staying at Hogwarts though next year."
"How comes you went home this year?" asked Lily tentatively.
"Because…"Sev turned his head away from hers. Lily tried to see his expression, but he was covering his face quite well.
"…my mum wanted to see me." Said Snape.
"That's not so bad." Said Lily, a little confused as to why it took him so long to answer.
"It is where I am." Said Sev darkly. Lily smiled weakly and looked outside at the countryside whistling past them.
The wind howled on the Scottish beach. The sky was dark and overcast with thick rain coming down. On the pebbled beach there was a large yellow tent with two people walking out, and then two more walking in.
"Couldn't this guy of died on a Hawaiian Beach?" asked Moody.
"He'd only spoil the view." Said Alec as they opened the flappy door to the tent. A pathologist in white overalls looked up as the two men walked in.
"Potter, Moody." He said standing up after inspecting the corpse. Alec looked down at the body.
No signs of hypothermia, lips aren't blue; muscles show no recent signs of spasming.
He almost looked petrified, but his skin was a ghostly white. He was in thermals and waterproof overalls with a woolly hat on.
"Edwards." Said Alec kneeling down and looking at the body.
"Who's our Vic?" asked Alec.
"Drew Staines." Said Edwards, "Thirty eight years old. Oil rig worker."
Alec pulled out his wand and pulled up the victim's eye lids, pupils weren't fixed and dilated. But like he was normal. Something strange to occur after death. His skin was ice cold to. Alec placed his wand in the guy's mouth. After a couple of seconds he pulled it out.
"Body Temperature?" asked Alec.
"12.4 degrees cilices." Alec cocked his head.
"Explains the overalls." Said Moody. "Guys in good shape."
"Extremely." Said Edwards, "6'2, Sixteen stone. Guys built like a full back."
"So why has he been referred to me?" Asked Alec, still inspecting the body. "I told you I'm about to fly out to Dallas."
"But you told me to look out for anything odd." Said Edwards. Alec used an x-ray charm on him the study the rest of his skin. He was looking for burns, quite high degree ones, at least stage five. And yet he was clean. No more than the usual bumps and scrapes than the average person has. It didn't explain why he would have died.
"What's odd about this?" asked Moody.
"The way he died." Said Edwards.
"How?" asked Alec. His interest piqued
"Natural causes." Said Edwards.
"What's strange about that?" asked Alec.
"The rig he was working on was found burnt out." Said Edwards, "The rest of his friends weren't found."
"So…"
"It's as if he just…dropped dead. He had minor health problems but nothing that would cause him to just keel over like this." Said Edwards.
"From what I can gather there had to be two possible ways he could have died." Said Alec, "Either, Hypothermia from jumping into the water. Or, burn to death on the rig." Alec touched the overalls.
"But he has no tell-tale signs of hypothermia." Said Alec, "And he has no burn marks on his skin."
"That rules out both your theories then." Said Edwards.
"If he had fallen off the rig, he must have been cut off from the survival suits." Said Alec.
"The what?"
"There standard issue on all rigs and fishing boats." Explained Alec. "The suit protects the wearer from contracting hypothermia when there in the ocean."
"So?"
"So if this guy didn't die from hypothermia or burns, how did he die?" asked Edwards.
Moody and Alec exchanged looks.
"I take it you have something in mind?"
"The omega curse." Said Alec, "That explains why the body temp is the normal rate. And how he has seemingly just dropped dead instead of freezing or burning. So it almost…explains…everything?"
But why was there only one. Oil rigs are huge structures that require a lot of man power. So why had they only found one on the boat.
"How many people were working on the rig with him?"
"Twenty four." Said Edwards, "They haven't been found though."
"Something tells me that they met the same fate as this guy." Said Alec. "When did they find the rig?"
"This morning." Said Edwards. "There still looking for the other men." Alec stood up. The omega curse was a favourite of the still few Grindewald loyalists, something the department was still dealing with.
"There is also another piece of information I think you should know as well." Said Edwards. Alec looked at him.
"That is?"
"The rig belonged to Morrison Oils." Said Edwards. "The reason you were called was that the owner could be a person of interest in your investigation."
"And he is?"
"Lenard Burns." Stanford Parks walked into the tent. He closed his umbrella and looked at the body.
"He's a very rich Oil mogul. He has shares in most of oil companies in the Texas. He was a big shareholder in Morrison Oils. Trying a new venture according to the PR people."
"How big?"
"I'm not sure on specifics but a sizeable amount." Said Parks. "But North Sea Oil from this rig was out performing the Texas rigs. It was apparently putting a lot of people out of business in his home state, and with elections coming up."
"How are the shares this morning?" asked Alec.
"Would you believe it. He sold his stake in it four days ago to British Petroleum for an inflated share price. Coincidence?"
"No such thing." Said Alec.
"Well this isn't." said Parks. "Burns has used that money to buy out Galveston shipping. According to them, they specialise in imports from South East Asia, he's now claiming that it will replace the jobs of some of the rig work." Alec frowned at the information.
Why would a Texas oil mogul suddenly decide to go into shipping, and in such a small place as Galveston, why not Boston, or Chicago? And to sell his share in a profitable oil rig days before a fire destroyed it and all personnel on board. Something didn't add up.
"I'll look into it." said Alec. "In the meantime, have this referred to my office." Said Alec, "I want a closer look at this guy." He turned to Moody. "Get Bones to run the works on this guy, full magic analysis and let me know the results ok. He could well end up being a very big piece of evidence"
"Yes Sir." Said Moody.
"Thanks Edwards." Said Alec. "Sir." He curtly nodded at Parks as he got to his feet, they waved goodbye as they exited into the rain.
"What about you?" asked Moody.
"I need to get back to the hunt." Said Alec, "Edwards has given me a lead to start from." he turned to Moody. "A few weeks ago, Parks showed me a picture of a smuggling ring that we thought was Robert Murdoch. I have a feeling he might be involved.
"He has been lying low since London." Said Moody. "Maybe you can find out more there." Alec nodded.
"Katherine said she always wanted to go to America." He said. He looked up at the rain and shuffled his collar. "Weather can't as bad there. And remember to get that body to the office."
"Yes sir." With that Alec apparated away.
"Have a nice time at the Bones Party?"
"Bite me, James."
"That great huh?"
"As I said, bite me." Said Dorcas. "You might not of gone but oh the fun."
"No pool party then."
"You could have at least given me a firework to set off."
"You could have made one from stuff in the kitchen." Said James.
"Excuse me, but I don't own the dangerous book for boys!" said Dorcas. "Did you have a good time here."
"It was alright." Said James, "A bit boring by myself but, you know."
"Maybe you should of come to the party then." Said Dorcas.
"I was fine by my own." Said James. Almost the entire house was back in the common room, they were all catching up after the holidays. James was talking to Dorcas and Isabel along with Sirius and Lupin on the sofas.
"I'm still waiting for something happen in our dorm." Said Sirius. "You can't trust him on his own."
"Thanks." Deadpanned James. "Besides, come on ladies, I have something to show you."
"Which Ladies?"
"These two." Said James patting Sirius and Lupin on their shoulders. Both groaned but went up to the dorm.
"What's this all about?" asked Sirius, "You look like the cat that caught the canary since we got back."
"Yeah." Said Lupin, "You're up to something."
"Guys." Said James kneeling down in front of his bed. "I've been given the greatest present, of all time." said James as he rummaged through his trunk. "Where are you? Ah there you are!" James pulled out the invisibility cloak and showed it to the two boys who looked at each other like James was mad.
"James…it's a cloak." Said Sirius. James laughed.
"Yes, I know that." Said James, "But it's a special type of cloak." Again both Sirius and Lupin looked at each other with growing concern for James. James sighed and then threw the cloak around him. Both Sirius and Lupin gasped at James completely disappeared.
"That's a!" Sirius babbled.
"An Invisibility cloak!" shouted James as he threw it of himself and caught it.
"Who gave you that?" asked Sirius as he picked it up and ran his fingers over the soft material.
"My Dad." said James. "It's the real deal as well. No gimmicks, no false pretences."
"It's amazing." Said Lupin. "I've read about them, there really rare." James threw it over his shoulders.
"The best part is that there's more than enough room for the three of us." Said James, "Which means we can do what I have planned for tonight." Both looked at James.
"I knew you had something planned." Said Sirius. James smirked and pulled out some blue capsules.
"Courtesy of you." Said James, "Incredible itching powder. Lasts forty eight hours after being administered."
"And the plan is put in the girl's laundry?"
"Close." Said James, "I was thinking more of a…hmmm Slytherin Laundry." Sirius's eyes lit up.
"Brilliant idea." He said.
"There's just one problem." Said Lupin.
"And that is?"
"None of us know where the laundry room is." Pointed out Lupin. James had that all knowing smirk on his face now.
"Luckily, since I've had this cloak for the last four days. I've been able to find out all sort s about this place. Which brings me onto item number two." James, he opened his bottom draw. The tag from Evans was still there, he paused before pushing it aside and pulling out the map.
He turned round and placed it on the bed. All three hunched round the bed and looked curiously at the parchment.
"And this is?" asked Sirius.
"A map." Said James. Lupin inspected it deeper.
"It only shows the woods…and the..." he folded over a few pieces. "The outskirts of the castle. The inside isn't in here."
"Ah, you see, that's where the fun starts." Said James, "This," he held up the parchment and cloak.
"This is the start of how we'll be able to do what we did to Slughorn, all the time." said James. "A cloak that keeps us invisible, and a map that will show us where everyone in the castle is. It makes us the perfect hunter, seeing, without being seen."
Sirius nodded. "We'll never be caught." He said.
"Exactly." Said James, "The only problem with this." He tapped the parchment with his wand. "Is that it's going to take a while to draw up this map. We need every hidden passageway and every secret in here."
"How do we find that out?"
"Try and testing." Said James, "The entire castle changes, all we have to do is keep up with that change and map it."
"How?"
"We'll find a way." Said James solemnly, "I've already done the outline of the castle, that doesn't change, but the insides are unpredictable at best."
Sirius nodded, "Now, where did you say the laundry was." James smirked and gathered up the map and placed at the foot at his bed.
"Well it'll go like this."
James threw the cloak over him, Sirius and Lupin and together they moved towards the common room.
"Stop standing on my feet!"
"Not my fault you have large feet."
"Well you know what they say." Said Sirius.
"Guys, shut up." Said James as they made their way down to the common room. It was very surreal really, watching everyone go about their business while they were right there, invisible. They quietly made their way to the door and waited till someone opened it, a prefect going on patrol.
The three slipped out and waited as the prefect sulked away.
"Ok, where to?" asked Sirius.
"Down here," said James, "And keep quiet, it can't hide sound." They made their way to the far west of the castle. They stopped at every corner, making sure they weren't caught out by someone doing their patrol.
"Are you sure this is the place James?" asked Lupin, "I've never been down here."
"This is the place." Said James, he emerged from under the cloak and walked round the last corner. All that was there was a huge brick wall. Bot Sirius and Lupin looked at James with nervousness.
"James, stop pulling our leg." Said Sirius, "Really, where is it?"
"Here." Said James running his palm across the wall. "It works like the doorway to Diagon Alley." James tapped the wall.
"Bring the cloak over." Sirius and Lupin came forward and immersed James under the cloak. "I discovered it by accident." Said James, "I was trying to find that room that reveals itself when the user needs it most." James tapped a brick.
"And I mistakenly came across this place." He pulled his wand out. "It was just getting in that was always the trouble. James tapped another brick, the wall started to retract inwards. The bricks then opened up into an archway which revealed an oak door. James smirked and turned to Sirius and Lupin.
"Never doubted you mate." Said Sirius as James grinned and opened the door. What hit them first was the heat. It was stifling. The laundry was a huge hall about the size of a football pitch, along the edge where four large copper vats with steam coming from the top.
"Here we are." Said James as they entered the orange tinted room. Both Sirius and Lupin looked around in amazement at the place.
"So, which ones the Slytherin tank?"
"Just over here." James took the cloak off and they walked to a ladder. They climbed it till they got to a series of steel platforms that went over the vats. The three made their way to one of the vats and James kneeled down and pointed his wand at the bubbling vat below them. He could see a flicker of green on black robes that where at the surface.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" The robe slowly came out of the water, James groaned when he saw it was a Ravenclaw one. He dropped the robe back into the water and the moved to another one. After repeating the process they found the Hufflepuff vat. James moved grumpily to the next one, and finally, it was the Slytherin one. The black robes with the snake and green and sliver badge were, for the only time, a welcoming sight.
"Sirius, capsules please." Sirius handed the blue caps over. James shook them before dropping them into the vat. It hissed for a moment before settling down.
"Is it done?" asked Lupin.
"Yeah." Said James throwing the robe over the side.
"Tomorrow morning, they're going to have one very, very nasty shock." All three laughed as they exited the room again under the cloak.
"I can't wait to see their faces." Said James. "And the best part is that there never going to find out who did it."
"Can you be sure?" asked Lupin.
"Everyone back at the dorm thinks we've gone to bed." said James, "Plus we've all got solid alibis for each other."
"It's fool proof." Said James. They heard footsteps. They all stopped. James gingerly rummaged forward and looked round the corner to see Evans coming down the corridor. She was holding some books close to her chest and looked like she was wiping away something from her face. James turned back and held his finger to his lips. They watched as Evans took the same turn to the tower. The three boys followed, exchanging looks of curiosity with each other as they went back to the tower.
"Are you ok dear?" asked the fat lady to Evans.
"I'll be ok." Said Evans quietly, "I just…" she said something that James couldn't hear. The fat lady smiled sympathetically and opened the door. The three boys followed. She stopped. She then turned and looked straight at them, almost like she was looking straight at them.
"It was nothing." She told herself. "Just a ghost." She walked forward, "Because there now real apparently." All three made their way back up to the dorm and took the cloak off.
"What was she doing out of bed?" asked James as they walked in.
"I don't know, maybe she needed something from the library." Said Lupin. James looked uneasily at the door.
"James, save it, she's not doing something unsavoury with Snape." Said Sirius as he began to change. James threw the cloak into his trunk and changed to. He climbed into bed and turned off his light.
He lay there thinking of all the plans he had going on now. The map, the cloak, this was just the beginning. This was going to make him famous.
Lily looked up from her breakfast, the sound of raptors laughing from three tables as the Slytherin's were scratching themselves. No one was helping, but to be fair, seeing Avery in some sort of discomforting brought a smile to Lily's face. Finally the teachers went down to try and sort it out, Lily looked at Dorcas who was smiling, but looking at someone else further down the table.
She turned her head to see Potter (who else) Black and Lupin laughing uncontrollably. Potter finally caught Dorcas's eye and winked at her. Dorcas smiled against her will and shook her head.
"Did Potter do that?" asked Lily as the Slytherin's were lead away, some going red from all the itching.
"Would not surprise me." Said Dorcas. "He looks like the cat that caught the canary." It was true, Potter did look very pleased with himself. Lily smirked and finished her toast.
"What's First?"
"dada." Said Mary.
"What?"
"It's an acronym." Said Mary, "For defence against the dark arts. It's too much of a mouthful to say that every time."
"I know what an acronym is." Said Dorcas swinging her bag over her shoulder. "But wouldn't it be datda?"
"Doesn't have the same ring to It." said Lily, "And in language, acronyms you can leave out what are called connecting words like 'the' 'and' 'or'." The group looked at Lily as she got her bag from the floor. She looked around at them.
"What? I Liked English." Said Lily as she walked away.
"And it's another good score by Miss Evans." Professor Heath gave Lily her paper back. Ninety per cent.
"But top of the class with full marks, Mister Potter, again." he handed Potter his paper. Lily huffed and folded her arms as Potter smirked and placed it in his bag.
"And as is customary, you get fifteen points for coming top of the class. Which means you've made up exactly the number of points you lost for this lesson." Said Professor Heath sighing.
"What can I say?" said Potter leaning back in his chair. "I'm just that good." Lily could hear a couple of girls giggle behind her. She just told herself to ignore him. He was just playing big man, nothing more.
"You ok?" asked Dorcas from her side.
"Yeah." Lily lied, "I just can't believe that Potter beat me again." She rested her chin on the table and narrowed her eyes at him. The way he leaned back, to care free, the way his chair was on its hind legs, the way his body was so relaxed.
"Why do you want to beat him so badly?" asked Sarah from the other side.
"Because I've always been the best." Said Lily, "And now, he's in my way, and he doesn't even try."
"Look, don't worry about him, besides, you always beat him in potions, that's something right?" Lily shook her head.
"Now class, I want you to turn to the chapter on defensive spells." Lily did as she was told, but not before looking back at Potter who was laughing with Black.
"It has to be him!" said Sev heatedly; "I know it's him!"
"How?" asked Lily looking up at Sev, "He was in the dorm all night."
"He did it!" said Sev as another pimple started to appear. Lily had to place her book in front of her face to stifle a laugh.
"Sev, whoever did it will get caught." Said Lily, she looked round at the hospital wing that was full of Slytherin students suffering from the effects of someone spiking the laundry. Lily had thought it was Potter, but when she thought about it, it couldn't be, he was up in his dorm all night. If anything, it could have been Peter Pettigrew, he was out for most of the night.
"Like hell." Said Sev as he scratched some more red marks with increasing vigour, "It'll be Potter using his pureblood status to get off Scott free!" Lily rolled her eyes.
"Are you even listening to me!?" asked Sev.
"No." dead panned Lily.
"Why?" asked Sev starching his chest. Lily raise an eyebrow.
"Because for someone who is quite smart your talking out your arse." Said Lily, "You instantly blame Potter for this when every student in the castle has access to that room."
Lily shook her head. "Sometime you let your dislike for him cloud your judgement, remember that race at the start of the year. You'd never do anything like that, as soon as he's involved, it's like you're a completely different person."
"Am not." Sev Sulked.
Lily shook her head and went back to her book.
"So how long do they think you'll all be in here?" asked Lily.
"A few Days." Said Sev. Scratching his arms, "Just until this damn rash goes away!"
Lily looked back at him and smiled. "It isn't funny." Said Sev. Lily regained composure and shook her head.
"No, no of course not." She said, showing some restraint. "I need to go to the library." Said Lily, "I'll see you before breakfast, yeah?" Sev didn't say anything as she walked out. Lily was walking towards the library when the corridor to McGonagall's office came into view. She stopped and looked down the way.
She bit her lip and looked towards the library. And then back towards the office. In the end, she knew it was never a choice.
"Miss Evans?" Lily was standing before McGonagall.
"I want to speak to my mum." Said Lily.
James watched curiously as Evans came into the common room. She was smiling and walked briskly through the common room.
"Evening Potter." She said smiling before walking up the stairs to the girl's dorm. James turned his head to watch her skip up the spiral staircase.
"Hey mate." Sirius came into the room and sat down next to him. "Whatcha looking at?"
"Where does she go at night?" asked James. Sirius looked confused.
"Who?"
"Evans." Said James, "I noticed it before Christmas, she always comes back after curfew."
"So?" James looked at him with a questioning gaze.
"Aren't you curious as to where she goes."
"Where who goes?" Dorcas sat down next to James.
"Evans," said James, "She comes back after curfew on some nights." His face scrunched up in thought. "Where does she go?"
"The library…" said Dorcas. "She goes to library for extra research." James frowned more. He didn't buy it.
"James, don't push it." said Dorcas. James looked over at Dorcas and smirked.
"I won't." he said, thinking about the cloak. Dorcas looked uneasily back at James and then at Sirius who shrugged.
January 28th
It had happened almost four times a week since they had arrived back, give or take. Evans would come back from curfew late. Some days happy, other times sad. James needed to know why. What was she doing? He decided to follow her, he asked Sirius to come along, but was told he had better things to do than follow her around. Maybe he might not like what he saw.
James waited patiently for her to leave, it took longer than he wanted, but soon she slipped out of the common room. She looked back to see if anyone saw her, satisfied no one did, she made her way out, James slipping out to.
She took a deep breath and set off. James had taken off his shoes so they didn't echo on the floor. Though one thing was sure, wherever she was going, it wasn't the library. James followed silently as he could. He was doing a good job to, she wasn't suspecting a thing, until banged his foot on the corner of of a corridor.
Lily span round as James was about to turn a corner, instinct told him to hide round it. He waited for a minute before he heard the echo of her shoes again, he followed her. After a while they stopped outside McGonagall's office. Evans looked round and opened the door. James walked quickly and slipped into the office behind Evans. He held his breath, wondering what on earth she was doing in here. She walked round to the back of the desk and opened a draw. James looked on curiously as she pulled out a telephone.
She sat with it in front of the fire and then punched in some numbers in sequence. She pushed her hair over one shoulder so it acted like a pillow on the high back chair. She pulled up her legs and waited. James looked around the room, waiting for a teacher to come in, but no one did.
"Hi mum…it's me." James turned back to Evans who was now talking.
"Look, I know it's earlier than we agreed." Said Evans. She paused and waited for a response, she bit her lip waiting for a reply.
"I just really miss you." Her eyes started to water, "And with my birthday coming as well…"
"I will be alone." Said Evans, "Mum, no one knows me. They won't care or give a damn."
"I know them." James looked down at his feet, she was lonely…no…she was homesick. Small town girl, in this new big wide world, taking a train to go on a new adventure. James slowly sat down on the floor and watched the ensuing conversation.
"I asked and they said no mum." Said Evans more tearfully. "I just want to see you on my birthday, is that too much?"
"…yeah." She pulled herself closer, so she was almost a tiny ball. She shook her head to loosen a stray piece of hair.
"I'm caught in this place mum, it's…I like being home, and I miss school, I like being at school, but I miss home to."
"You know I do." Said Evans sadly.
"How is everyone at home?" she asked. Slowly a grin formed on her face as she started to twiddle the phone cord round her finger.
"Really." She said. She then burst out laughing, something evidently tickled her.
"I wish I was there." She said, her voice then trailed off. She looked very sad and lonely in the chair.
"Yeah…yeah he did notice them." she said. "Yeah he came up and thanked me."
"I asked his friend and he said those where his favourites." She said, "He was going to be all alone at Christmas mum." James's ears pricked up, she was talking about him.
"No! I didn't ask him out, for god's sake how many do I have to say I don't fancy him. He was going to be all alone, no one should be alone at Christmas, I gave him them as a cheer-me-up."
"Yes, he was grateful." She said, she was smiling now, James was very intrigued to know what she thought about him.
"Well…"
"Mum, can we please not talk about him." James's heart dropped. "With Sev blaming him for spiking the laundry and you convinced I love him-"
"Yeah, someone spiked the laundry."
"Forty eight hour itching powder."
"It was funny though, ask dad and granddad and they'll laugh."
"It could have been him, that's all I'm saying, he does have the means."
"People are saying he's the one who set off those sludge bombs at that party I went to." Said Lily, he could see the smile prying at her lips.
"I don't know mum." Said Lily. There was a significance silence from her.
"Oh…ok." She said lightly. "I'll speak to you on my birthday then."
"Bye mum." She placed the phone down and looked into the fire. Did she really think no one would care about her since she was here. James felt a twinge of guilt, maybe only now he was realising just how lonely her existence had been. She got off her chair, straightened her clothes and opened the door to go out. James slipped out as well and made his way back to the common room to.
Knowing a couple of shortcuts he got there before her.
"What are you doing out?" asked the fat lady suspiciously.
"Uhm…research?" said James. The painting narrowed its eyes before opening. James slipped in quietly and made his way up the stairs to his dorm.
"There you are." Said Sirius sitting up in his bed. "So? Did you find out where she goes?" Lupin looked up at James who wasn't looking back at either of them. Should he tell them what her overheard. That she really goes to phone her mum because she's homesick, and feels excluded from them.
"…The library." Said James. "Just as Dorcas said." James changed into pyjamas and got into bed. Sirius grunted in acceptance and got back into bed. James looked up at the ceiling and thought about Evans, hopefully something he wouldn't much in the future, about how he could help her.
A range of ideas went through his head, none of which were particularly helpful. Plus the fact the school wouldn't let her go home for her birthday. She couldn't see her parents, her friends, or have a party.
…
James sat up in his bed. He had a brain wave. He needed to see Dorcas in the morning, or maybe, they needed to see McGonagall first.
"How did you find that out?" asked Dorcas.
"That's not important." Said James, "Look, are you in. Everyone else is."
"You haven't asked anyone else." Said Dorcas, "You need me to organise it, don't you?" James pulled a face.
"Say it."
"…you're right." He mumbled. Dorcas smiled triumphantly and pecked him on the cheek.
"I'm in." said Dorcas, "But we need to move fast, and we need permission first." James nodded.
"Leave that to me." He said, "You just get everyone rounded up."
"Oh no, I'm coming to see McGonagall with you." She said, "You'll need back up to pull this one off."
"Fine," conceded James. "But I'm going now if you want in." Dorcas smiled that all knowing smile and went with him to the office. James knocked on the door. A moment later McGonagall was standing at the door.
"Mr Potter." She looked over at Dorcas. "Miss Meadows. What can I do for you?"
"We need to ask you a favour." Said James.
"Is there a chance I'll say yes?"
"Depends when you'll hear It." said James.
"Well you two better come in." said McGonagall. They walked in and McGonagall sat behind the desk.
"Ok Potter, what is so damn important that it can't wait?"
"Well Professor…." Said James, "We were wondering whether we could have a party in the great hall?" McGonagall laughed. She looked at the two of them and laughed again. Both Dorcas and James looked over at each other nervously.
"Oh…" she said, now looking serious. "You two aren't joking."
"Professor." Said Dorcas, "Maybe James didn't say why we want it. Tact was never his thing." James almost looked disgusted by the remark.
"It's Lily's Birthday on the thirty first." explained Dorcas. "And she's far away from home, and doesn't really know anyone. We thought maybe this would be a good chance for her to get to know us all better."
McGonagall leaned back in her chair. James could see her thinking it over in her head. She looked between the two of them, her eyes flickering.
"So, what you're suggesting is that if I allow this, then Evans won't be thinking about home?"
"Exactly." Said James. "So she can at least have good time." McGonagall was thinking again.
"She's very lucky to have you two looking out for her." said McGonagall. "Your request is granted on one condition."
Dorcas and James looked at each other.
"And that is?" asked Dorcas looking back.
"That it's kept as a surprise." Said McGonagall. "I'll inform the kitchens to prepare for Sunday." She walked out, leaving James and Dorcas alone.
"We did it." said James.
"We sure did." Said Dorcas. "I can't wait to see Lily's face."
"I told you they wouldn't." said Lily.
"They all said happy birthday though." Said Lavender, "That's what counts, the thought."
"I know, I know." Said Lily, "but… I miss all the things we used to do at home though."
"As do I Lily." said Lavender, "But do you like your new book?"
"I love it." said Lily, "I think I'll read that later."
"Your sister sends her love to." Said Lavender.
"Can I speak to her?" asked Lily. There was a long silence from the other end of the phone.
"…she's not here right now?" said Lavender. Lily sighed.
"Ok…mum I have to go."
"Ok Lily, stay safe…and happy birthday."
"Thank you." Said Lily, "bye."
"Bye." Lily placed the phone down. She sighed and made her way out.
"Lily! Lily!" She turned her head to see Dorcas running towards her, Lily froze, what if she had heard her in the office? No, no, she was just running towards her. Lily relaxed at this thought, only to be replaced as to why Dorcas was running towards her.
"Lily! there you are!" said Dorcas. "Come on, McGonagall wants us to show us something in the common room."
"What is it?" Asked Lily following her.
"There was an announcement." Said Dorcas, "What were you doing?" Lily didn't say anything, but followed her all the same back towards the common. Lily turned and waited for Dorcas to catch up.
"Well go in." said Dorcas looking at the door. Lily opened the door, the room was pitch black. She didn't like it. She'd never seen the common room this dark.
"Dorcas?" she asked timidly. "Is this some sort of joke?" without warning the lights came on.
"SURPRISE!" Lily pulled out her wand when the lights came on.
There one in the middle of the room. It was full of food with everyone from her house standing round it. Lily lowered her wand and looked up at the banner that was floating above them.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILY!
Lily lowered her wand slowly and looked around her, and felt like bursting into tears. They did care.
"Happy birthday Lily." said Dorcas placing her hand on her shoulder. Lily turned round to her.
"What? You honestly didn't think you could keep a secret from here?" Said Dorcas walking her towards to the table.
"But…I." Lily laughed softly as she sat down and looked around.
"How did you all…" she gestured with her hand.
"Quite simple really." Lily looked over at Potter. "We all gathered to throw you a party." He said.
"You have had a party haven't you?" asked Potter. Lily nodded.
"Just…not like this." Said Lily.
"Come on Evans." Black handed her a butterbeer.
"This is quite literally, your party. Remus, hit the music." Lily took the beer and laughed as her radio sprang into life. Lily turned to Dorcas.
"Did you?"
"It was mainly James's idea." Lily looked over at Potter who was laughing with Isabel.
"He did this?" said Lily.
"Any excuse for a party in his eyes." said Dorcas. "I'm half surprised he hasn't conjured up a swimming pool." Lily laughed and looked over at him again.
"Come on Lily. You have to try these sandwiches."
Lily smiled as she watched everyone having a goodtime around her. She thought herself very lucky to have such good friends, why couldn't it be like this back home? Why couldn't they all just accept her? Why did she have to come to the other end of the country to be accepted? When she thought about it more, maybe because after everything they've gone through individually, at the end of the day, all wizards and witches have is each other when comes to accepting each other.
Lily wondered what the childhood of her housemates where. With them knowing that they were witches and wizards did they know how to control their power? Maybe they all knew each other, in fact they did, and Potter said he'd known Dorcas, Black and Isabel since they were small. Maybe in time, she would be accepted into that group as well. She hoped so, it had been nice to have friends for the first three months, and she did miss them all while the holidays where on.
"Sitting down at your own party?" Potter sat down next to her and grabbed a butterbeer. "That's not what you should do."
"Did manner school teach you that?" teased Lily. Potter scoffed.
"Wish they hadn't told you that." He said taking a sip. "But come on, you can't be on the side-lines all your life."
"I've never really had a party like this." Said Lily, "I never had enough friends to have a party." She sighed. "Or go to one." She shouldn't feel sorry for herself, not now, she should be enjoying herself.
"It's a whole new world you live in Evans." Said Potter, "A whole new place, with a completely different attitude." He stood up and held his hand out. Lily looked at it and then back to Potter who was smiling at her.
"Which means you enjoy parties instead of sitting in the corner." He didn't wait for an answer and pulled her up with a small shriek of laughter. He pulled her onto the dance floor with the rest of the house. Potter started to talk to Dorcas, Lily bit her lip slightly and smiled at him.
Maybe…just maybe, he wasn't so bad.