A/N: Updated as of 1/22/14. This chapter as of this update is still my important. I wrote this the night after a party where my friend had completely embarrassed herself. But also in that time, she showed me how she really felt, how depressed she had become. At the end of this chapter is a paragraph that I wrote for anyone who needs to reminded the importance of life.
Disclaimer: Once upon a time, I believe The Harry Potter series saved my life. I had escaped into JK Rowling's books in order to escape from reality, and perhaps that is not healthy, but I am here today. Without JK Rowling, I would've never found this small escape from reality that lasts me maybe an hour. Thank you JK and for all who read this.
Y6: Midnight Memories
It was Halloween and classes were over. The sixth year Gryffindor girls raced about in their room preparing for the festivities that awaited them down in the Common room. Face paint and clothing was thrown about as the girls giggled in excitement. Every one of them had received chocolates from home; wrappers to those laid about on the floors and beds. Lily Evans sat in front of the mirror fussing with her hair.
"Hair up?" she held it high on top her head then released it, "Or down?"
"Down," Marlene said tickling her, "much sexier."
Lily batted her away, "Up it is then."
The girls laughed and Lily tied her hair neatly in a bun on top of her head. She slid her red head band attached with pointy little horns on. She pulled over Emmeline's batch of red face paint frowning at it.
"Should I go all out and paint myself red?" Lily pondered to them.
They gave her a sour face and shook their heads.
Mary giggled, "With all that hair, you're red enough!"
Lily laughed too and set the face paint aside.
Mary had dressed as a skeleton wearing a black suit with skeleton bones printed on it; and applied a sickly white foundation and darkened her eyes with black eye shadow. Emmeline had dressed as Death from some wizard child story wearing a long black hooded cape and painted her face with grays and blacks. Marlene was dressed like a vampire; it was a corny costume so she chose the corny Dracula look and trailed red face paint down from her lip. And Dori was a zombie wearing torn Muggle clothing and used most of Emmeline's gray face paint.
Lily was copying Mary's eye makeup but doing it with red eye shadow when Marlene hurried them, "C'mon! Let's go, let's go!"
Lily hurried up and stood with the other girls. Marlene opened the door and took a step out.
"Introducing the very sexy, very scary, Sixth year girls!"
One by one the girls left the room. Lily was last and smiled as if she was in a pageant. When she looked down at the party downstairs, she noticed no one had even cared to look up at them; she chuckled to herself softly.
The Common Room was packed and quickly the girls split up without meaning to. Lily found herself talking to two seventh year girls when she realized the others had left her side. She bid good bye and went to look for her friends. Music was blaring and Lily pushed herself through a sea of people. She was nearing the fireplace when someone stepped on her toes.
"Ouch!" Lily cried out and the boy zapped around.
An almost unrecognizable James Potter painted completely red looked down apologetically but walked away quickly not wanting to speak with her.
APPOLOGISE! Lily shouted to herself but almost let him out of her sight. Before she knew it, she was following him yelling his name, "Potter! Potter, wait!"
He couldn't hear her whether it was due to the music or the fact that he chose not to. He broke free of the crowd before she did and when she came tumbling out, she could no longer find him.
Lily sighed heavily and rolled her eyes in frustration.
"Lily!" Mary came traipsing over to her, "I thought we'd lost you! – are you okay?"
"Yes, Mary," Lily snapped her, "I'm fine."
Mary flinched at her tone, "Alright then, I'll leave you to your thoughts."
Mary walked away and though Lily hadn't meant to sound harsh, she didn't go after her. Lily walked out of the Common Room pushing open the Fat Lady's Door. She tripped over her boots and came tumbling out of the door way. Quickly, she brushed herself off hoping no one saw that. She shut the door of the Fat Lady as the portrait glared at her.
Lily was about to take a walk when she saw someone in the corner of her eye. James Potter, of course, wearing that smile of his.
He nodded to Lily, "Yeah, don't think you got away with that Evans."
"I-I" Lily blushed, "whatever, Potter."
He smiled, "I actually have to talk to you. I know you probably don't care but I want you to know that I'm sorry about yesterday."
Lily frowned at him, "What have you to be sorry for?"
James shrugged, "There was no need to yell. You were obviously upset and I just- I was just being the arse I always am. There was no reason for me to snap at you like I did."
Lily laughed, "Did you forget, Potter, that you saved my arse the other week? I mean I should've treated you nicer after that!"
"I know, I know I did; but look, I didn't have to yell."
"Potter! In the name of Merlin, I don't even get why you're apologizing!"
"Bloody hell, Evans," James ruffled his hair trying to contain his frustration, "why is everything an argument with you?"
Lily glared at him, "I was just trying to say that you weren't in the wrong! I should be apologizing!"
"What are you apologizing for?" James yelled, "I was the rude one!"
"What am I apologizing for? Oh I don't know, Potter, how about for being an over emotional prat to you!"
"Are you kidding me, Evans?! You're a girl, you're allowed to—"
"—to be a bitch? You know what, Potter, that's a really sexist thing to say!"
"Sexist?!" James fired at her, "I'm TRYING TO SAY SORRY!"
"Stop apologizing!" Lily screamed at him, "It's my fault! Stop trying to take away the blame!"
"IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT!"
"I AM A STRONG, INDEPENDENT WOMAN WHO CAN ADMIT WHEN SHE'S WRONG!"
"Well that is just spectacular, Evans," James said sarcastically, "but you weren't wrong, I WAS!"
"Honestly I am so tired of arguing with you! Why can't you just act decent for once in your life, Potter!"
"THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO!"
"Well, it sure as hell is not working!"
"You know what I feel like I'm talking to a wall! You can be such a—" James stopped himself.
"What? Such a what, Potter?" Lily said coaxing him, "A bitch? Say it. What am I? Please tell me. WHAT. AM. I?!"
"Just accept my apology, DAMN IT!" James yelled into her face.
"No," she said simply.
He spun frustrated, "Why are you so stubborn?!"
"Stubborn? You're the one who is completely ignoring my side of everything! I don't see why you have to be such a bloody little g—" Lily cut off her yelling and started to laugh almost psychotically, "You know what? I don't even know why we're arguing?"
James stared at her blankly, "I honestly don't know either."
"Well," Lily said through her laughter, "I think I've embarrassed myself enough for one night."
James joined into her laughter chuckling under his breath, "I'd be embarrassed too, but I can't stop laughing now."
Lily laughed harder and James smiled.
"Are you going back in?" James tilted his head casually to the door.
"Yeah, I think I'm just going to head up to bed."
"Bed? Are you kidding me, Evans?"
Lily blushed again feeling the embarrassment, "The party's almost over anyway—"
"The real party hasn't even started yet!" James laughed.
"Oh, no, I never go to the after parties for holidays."
James looked at her shocked, "Are you kidding?! Oh, Evans, you miss all the fun."
"Well," she shrugged, "getting drunk and making bad choices aren't exactly fun."
James' laugh echoed against the walls and scared Lily a bit being so loud, "Get off it! Bad choices are the best memories!"
"Wait," Lily paused looking him up and down and then to his pitch fork, "are-are you… the devil?"
James looked at her questioningly, "Yes, is that a problem?"
Quickly, she said, "No."
"What are you anyway?" James said taking in her red leggings and red sweatshirt.
"Devil, duh!" Lily laughed pointing to her devil horns.
James laughed again, "Merlin, leave it to us—"
"Two people who can't even have a civil conversation with each other but managed to think of the same damn costume," Lily shook her head at the irony.
"Oh, I don't know, Evans. We're doing alright now," James smiled.
"Need I remind you of four minutes ago?" Lily raised her eyebrow.
"Alright, I guess not," James laughed it off, "back to the party?"
Lily nodded her head saying to the Fat Lady, "Trick or treat."
The portrait door swung open and James followed her in. The door shut behind them and one hell of a night went from there.
…
"If you really want my heart then don't give me no potion!" Lily sung at the top of her lungs, "Grab me just like in the movies and kiss me in slow motion!"
"Oh, boy, BoooOOOOOooooy! KiiiiIIIIiisss MeeeEE IN SLOOOOW MOOOOTIOOOOON!" James riffed cracking on every note and downing another cup of Magnus Optimum's Magic Mix alcohol.
Lily sipped on her own cup as she swayed like a ditz and losing her footing. When she landed on her butt, she burst out laughing. She was so drunk she couldn't get back up. When Mary saw her, she went rushing over to her friend.
"Oh my goodness, Lily, are you alright?" Mary said helping her friend up but when she smelt the alcohol, she froze, "ARE YOU DRUNK?!"
Lily put her finger to Mary's lips, "I only had two drinks….. I think."
"Oh God, you are drunk! Let's get you to bed." Mary tried to usher her away.
"Whoa! The party- irt- it's not even over yeeet! Look at ALL MY FRIENDS," Lily cheered throwing out her arms and spilling her drink.
"C'mon, Lils, let's just—"
"No! No!" she pushed Mary away, "I like to have fun too."
"Lily, you need to stop!" Mary said firmly.
"You know what Mary just go! GO!" Lily shouted.
"I'm not just going to leave you like—"
"I said GO!" Lily glared at her friend.
Mary shook her head and spun on her heels going straight to the dormitory.
"Evs, there you are," James said traipsing back to Lily's side.
"POTTER!" Lily squealed and hugged him tightly, "you know, you are the best!"
James laughed and lost his footing falling on to a chair dragging the more than just tipsy Lily with him. She landed right next to him and she laughed loudly. He looked at her and smiled at her laugh. His heart fluttered and he couldn't help but kiss her. And when he went to pull away, he found that Lily's lips followed his and so he pressed them back to her.
"Bloody hell," Gideon Prewett said looking at the two, "Is that—that can't be James and… and oh my God that is LILY EVANS!"
The entire party knew of the two within the next five minutes.
"Over by the fireplace, Potter has finally won over Evans!"
"What?" Sirius said looking about the room unable to locate the two.
"I reckon that's not all he'll be winning tonight." Benjy Fenwick said winking.
"Bet you three sickles, Potter will bed her," Fabian Prewett offered.
"Ten says it'll be within the next five minutes," Benjy laughed.
"Oh no way! They'll stay down here for awhile longer!" Fabian said.
"Take the bet?" Benjy put out his hand.
Fabian scrunched his face but took the hand.
Sirius was still looking for them, "I'm going closer, I can't see them!"
Sirius and the other two pushed past the other drunkard partiers. They passed Remus who was in a corner with Emmeline Vance and Marlene who was on top of some seventh year nobody. When Sirius got to the fireplace, he paused as he watched his best friend on top of the girl.
"ALRIGHT PRONGS!" he bellowed and the surrounding people cheered with him.
He watched as Lily and James stood still kissing.
"Are they- oh shit-," Sirius started.
"I WIN!" Benjy yelled, "Ten sickles mate!"
Everyone was in complete shock as they watched James and Lily climb the staircase and tumble in to the boys' dormitory.
Sirius turned back to the other two and Gideon who joined them.
"Alright, well can someone turn up the music?!" Sirius yelled and someone blasted the music with a flick of their wand.
Mary came storming back out of her dormitory glaring at the party below her. The music was loud enough, who honestly needed it louder. She jogged down the steps and glared at all the people. She headed towards the fireplace and lifted her wand to turn down the music when Sirius stopped her.
"Don't do it!" Sirius warned.
"Oh shut it Black!" Mary glared.
"You know what, I don't think I've ever seen you mad," Sirius said surprised.
"Well, I'm not pretty when I am!" She spat at him and began to turn it down.
He pushed her wand away, "I think you look very sexy when you're angry."
Mary rolled her eyes as Sirius tried to make a move, "Get off!"
"Oh c'mon, Diven, let loose. Merlin's sake all your other friends are letting loose! Did you see, Evans?"
Mary took a quick look around, "No, where did she go?"
He came close and whispered in her ear, "Let's just say, she may possibly be being deflowered at this moment?"
"What?" Mary looked confused, "wh-who?"
"James Potter," Sirius smiled.
"J-James Potter?!" Mary shrieked and ran from Sirius.
She pushed her way through the crowd of people and headed up the boys' staircase in a sprint. At the sixth door, she tossed it open. There she found Lily and James tangled on the bed.
Mary rose her wand, "Stop. It."
The two looked up confused.
"Mary?" Lily said confused.
"Lily, get up and go to your room," Mary ordered.
"You're not my mother!" Lily complained childishly.
"But I'm trying to be a good friend!" Mary glared at James who was to out of it to even focus.
"Why do you-," Lily began hyperventilating.
Mary ran over to her friend and picked her up. She supported her out of the room slamming the door behind her. She took Lily down the boys' staircase ignoring the eyes on her and took her back to their dormitory.
Lily had started crying as Mary laid her down on to her bed, "It's alright, Lils. Get some sleep."
Her body heaved up and down, "I thought she was dead. I- I- I thought we lost her. And I hated you guys. You, no one—You didn't tell me! I found out through the Prophet. And I-I-"
"Shhh, Lily, everything is okay," Mary patted Lily's head.
"But I miss her. I try not to cry, but I do because I miss her. And I miss my parents," Lily cried louder, "Everyone I love dies. Or grow to hate me!"
"I don't hate you," Mary said softly.
"Please don't, don't ever hate me."
"I won't, Lils, not ever."
"And- and don't die."
"Not anytime soon," Mary smiled wiping her friend's hair from her face.
"I'm just so—so tired," Lily whispered.
"Get some rest then," Mary said standing.
"No," Mary could barely hear Lily's whispers, "that's not what I meant."
But Lily did fall asleep shortly after that whether she met that or not. And Mary slept in her own bed. And the other girls trailed in one by one throughout the night.
James had been knocked out. Remus and Peter went up to the room together. Sirius was one of the last to leave the party. And he too slept well that night.
Mistakes had been made that night… and so had memories. And people promised things, and everything was alright. But tomorrow would be different. Tomorrow things would change and people would cry and argue and friendships would be severed while others would be created. But tomorrow wouldn't be until they woke up and sometimes you wish you can sleep forever; but you can't, you just can't. Tomorrow, you have to get up and you have to move on because that is life. And life is beautiful even when life is ugly.