A/N: Wooooooww.
so it seems after my a/n in the last chapter (which i hope you all enjoyed) people seem to definitely agree with the idea of keeping the plot the same and just splitting the story up which is fine, now i just have a LOT of writing to do!
i must thank all my reviewers/favouriters you guys are immense - Yune - The Ravenclaw Writer, joanvindiesel (who gave one of the most epic reviews ever), FezzesRCool125, CelticCrossings, MissCharlieWeasley, Lady Alba, Lost In The Rain and the mysterious anon reviewers :) aaannnddd as always Mercy'sFoundaWayForMe's worked her magic on the chapter and made it actually readable (seriously, read one of the first chapters then read this, you'll laugh) so much love should be sent her way for being such an awesome beta :)
warning: this chapter does contain hints at a teeny tiny bit of slash, it's nothing to freak out about and it's not something that's going to progress in the story - what i'm trying to say is that, if you don't like it, just skip it but it's only mentioned in conversation (plus i wanted to put it in to really annoy FezzesRCool125 haha, love ya really heinz ;))
also, i'm aware that some people have been waiting for this chapter a long time . . . please don't be disappointed!
1st Nov
Day After no.3
4:30am
Craaaaaap.
7:30am
To say I am tired would be an understatement. An extreme one. I can't actually remember much of the party last night and what I do remember is hazy - all I know is that I was rudely awoken at 4 o'clock in the morning and dragged off the Common Room couch and up into my "real bed". Damn Lily, she has her heart in the right place but she could have just let me sleep, right? Aside from that I can remember getting changed and ready for the party and the first few hours, after that . . . nothing.
I must say, all us Marauders (and Lily) looked damn good! James and I decided through notes during Arithmacy that we were going to go as a "grown up" tweedle dum and tweedle dee – James was dum, for obvious reasons. We found bright yellow, slightly baggy shirts and inked the words DUM and DEE on them in a bold black scribble. With them we wore a pair of tight bright red skinny jeans, a red cap and to top it all off an oversized blue bow tie. It was Lily's idea to draw freckles on our cheeks with an eye liner pencil, James objected at first but soon came round (because it was Lily) and we looked pretty cool, if I say so myself. Lily went as a sexy vampire, with huge fiery backcombed hair and bottles full of fake blood spread all over her body.
I was ready by the time she was halfway through doing her makeup so I offered to help her.
"No, no it's ok," She grinned revealing a sharp pair of fake fangs, "Too many cooks spoil the broth, I'd go down and check on your brother – I swear I heard inane amounts of laughter on my way up and I want to know what they're up to!" I laughed before racing down the stairway and into the Boys' Dorm.
"ARGH BILLIE!" A half naked Remus cried when I opened the door.
"Sorry!" I hovered outside for a few minutes before knocking and asking if everyone was decent. When the general mumbles of consent were heard I slipped in through the door, identical grins spreading across mine and James' faces as we clocked the other. "Looking good Jamesie!" I told him, ruffling his hair up and flopping onto his bed. Muffled from behind the thick curtains that were drawn around Remus' bed we heard:
"Are you ready to see it . . .?" The curtains flew open and something blue and Remus-shaped dived out, a heroic red cape flapping behind.
"Hahaha!" Came my brother's reaction, "Moony, that's excellent!"
Remus had somehow managed to be persuaded into donning a rather tight lycra superhero suit, a large silver letter M had been stitched onto the front and he had a red eye mask tied around his head in a ninja-turtle-like way.
"I'm SUPPERRR MOOONNNYY – at your service!" He bowed, the back of his cape flicking up and over his head. I laughed as he righted himself.
"So, who persuaded you into it?" I asked, laughing once more at all the odd angles his body made in the costume. Super Moony grinned,
"Your brother. You both look great by the way – where are Wormtail and Padfoot?"
"Padfoot's hogging the bathroom and Wormy's sulking because of the dare." James and Remus shared a knowing grin.
"What dare?" I asked. Flicking my eyes between the two boys until one of them gave something away. There was a sharp swish as Pete threw open his curtains murderously, revealing himself and his costume. My first reaction was shock, then confusion, and then, when the penny finally dropped I burst out laughing.
"They've dared me to go as a CHUFFING STUFFED OLIVE!" Wormy mustered up a dark look and threw it at Remus and James, his face even redder as he flushed under the orange face paint that had carelessly been dabbed on. "And they said that if I don't they'll stop me from copying their homework!" I laughed even more.
"That's cruel guys!"
"What's going on?" Padfoot's echoing voice was heard from the bathroom, he laughed manically when James explained that Pete was doing the dare. Now that I had seen how all the other boy's looked I was dying to see what Padfoot was doing to himself in the bathroom. I knocked on the door. "Yeah?"
"Are you decent?"
"Yeah."
"Are you sure you're decent?"
"Yes!"
Knowing full well that he'd tell me to come in even if he was butt naked I pushed the bathroom door open and shut it behind me. Luckily the only item of clothing he seemed to be missing was his top. Sirius turned and looked me over, winking and telling me that I looked good. Vaguely, I wondered if he'd say the same thing to James.
"What are you- HOLY MERLIN!" I cried out, running over to inspect the bleeding hole in the side of Sirius' head, which was round, dark and ghastly. Little flecks of blood were splattered across the side of his face. I reached out to touch it but Padfoot moved out of my way.
"Whoa! Don't touch, you'll ruin it, took me hours to work out the spell too!" He gestured to the huge pile of books on the floor which somehow I hadn't noticed – how?
"Won't it get ruined when you put your top on?" I couldn't take my eyes off that glamour, it just looked so real, but at least it stopped me from staring at his chest. Sirius barked a laugh.
"Probably, but I like looking at my chest so much . . . Maybe I should just not put a top on." He stood up to admire his muscles in the mirror and I laughed at his vanity.
"You should definitely wear a top."
He smirked.
"Worried you won't be able to keep your hands to yourself?" A deliberate step was taken towards me, his eyebrows raised challengingly.
"Actually, I'm worried you won't be able to keep your hands away from yourself."
He burst out laughing and wrapped me in a strong hug before I could worm my way out of it.
After I forced him to put a shirt on and he donned his black leather jacket he looked pretty damn good – obviously not as good as me though . . . After a quick flick through the books I transfigured a spare sock into a cowboy hat for him, that way he could lift it up and freak people out with his head wound the way he had me-
"Billie, if you want some breakfast you'd better get moving now!" The warm voice of Alice just leaving the dorm, I suppose she's right. But I think I should down some sobriety potion first . . . my head hurts.
11:00am
I NEED HEADACHE POTION. NOW!
. . . Ok, we're good.
Wow, I have had one eventful morning!
After the sobriety potion kicked in, Lily had brewed me some – what a lifesaver – I was able to get myself down to breakfast pretty quickly and I spotted the familiar messy head of my brother as soon as I walked through the door. I grinned at Peter and his fourth year mates as I moved along the table, noticing that everybody seemed too distracted by things at their own table to notice me which I have to admit, I was grateful for. Suddenly though, I was stopped in my tracks by a rather angry looking Amos Diggory. His eyes were dark and livid, if looks could kill I think I'd have been murdered, and I noticed a purpling bruise growing around his left eye.
"Where's Lily?" He demanded not bothering to keep his voice down. Well, I wasn't scared one bit, let's be real here, we were stood in the middle of Great Hall with all eyes on us what could he do?
"How did you get your black eye?" I asked innocently, pointing at it just in case he didn't know it was there. A ripple of nervous laughter came from the Gryffindor table and a few of the braver Ravenclaws. Diggory looked fuming.
"Don't try and play games with me where is she?" The laughter grew and I chose to ignore him again, I didn't know what people were laughing at but now I see the irony in my choice of words.
"Seriously, how?"
"OH, you're funny, yeah very funny – where's Lily?" He took an angry step towards me and I heard an intake of breath from everyone watching. His fists were clenched and his face was turning an unpleasant shade of maroon, clashing horribly with that mysterious shiner.
"OI! Diggory!" Sirius called out. Really, I was surprised that none of the teachers had told us to shut up and sit down yet but a glance up to the Staff Table told me quite the opposite, they all looked quite amused. "She obviously doesn't know where Evans is so why don't you leave her alone now?" He didn't speak menacingly, more like he was talking to a young child. Still, I saw something apprehensive flicker in Diggory's eyes. "Because, you know, if you like the purple so much I know quite a few people who'd be happy to oblige to do the other eye . . . ?" Padfoot had a pathetic 'glare' shot his way and his deep bark-laugh reached my ears. Diggory stormed out of the Great Hall to the sound of various jeers – then we were told to settle down.
"Care to explain?" I asked the smirking boys as I sat down. Sirius and James frowned,
"What, you can't remember?" My brother asked, concerned. I shook my head. "What? Not ANY of it?" I shook my head again, mouth full of toast. "Merlin! How much did you drink?"
"A lot." Remus answered for me from behind the Daily Prophet, Sirius laughed again.
"Oh, that's rich coming from Captain Spandex over there! But seriously Billie, you've missed loads!" Remus flushed as Sirius elbowed him and I decided I didn't really want to know.
"Fill me in then?" I suggested, taking a swig of pumpkin juice. Wormtail sighed. "What's up Wormy?" I asked, feeling a little guilty at the incredulous expression he was wearing because someone was actually asking where he was.
"Do we really have to re-live last night?" He looked so downtrodden I couldn't help but laugh. Of course, he had done that stupid dare hadn't he?
"Yes! I want to know what happened! Did the dare not work out for you?" Various snickers broke out from my brother, Padfoot and Moony.
"No. Hey shut up guys! At least I did my dare!" He gave Padfoot a very pointed look to which he turned a little red. James and Remus laughed harder. "People kept tripping me up because my suit was so round that when I was on the floor I couldn't get back up . . ." Peter told me in explanation, I did feel a little sorry for him.
"Guys! That's well harsh, you shouldn't laugh at him it's cruel!" My bubble of righteousness was soon popped when James told me between laughs:
"Billie . . . You, you were the one . . . You were the one doing the tripping!" The three boys burst into fresh peels of laughter and I blushed.
"Sorry Wormtail." But he was laughing too so it looks like I've been forgiven. "So what was the deal with Diggory?"
"Padfoot socked him-"
"-He deserved it-"
"-Because he tried to crash our party-"
"-And take Lily-"
"-I asked him nicely to leave-"
"-As nicely as a drunken Padfoot can-"
"-But he wouldn't listen and Lily didn't want to go so I punched him . . ."
I took a deep breath to try and find the words I wanted, my eyes sore after flicking between Remus, James and Sirius' faces.
"He also has a new nickname!" James told me before I could say anything. I sighed and gestured for them to share it. "Amost Dickory!" I received four wary looks from the boys, who were all waiting for my reaction. There was a long, tense pause before I burst out laughing.
"Who came up with that?" I questioned and Padfoot raised a hand, grinning.
"I was drunk!"
A content silence fell upon the group as we all set about finishing our breakfasts. Remus once again took an interest in the newspaper, occasionally tutting at something he read and then swatting Sirius away who tried to read it over his shoulder. I scanned the Gryffindor table for anything unusual that might have been a result from last night's party. Alice and Frank were sat at the top of the table, there seemed to be nothing wrong up there, further down I saw Peter Goldsburg and his friends but they were all underage so surely the party couldn't have been that exciting for them, then there was Martin and Emmeline the latter of which was telling Martin a story and (as usual) was getting quite excited about it all.
"Merlin's balls!" I thought aloud as my eyes fell on something that was definitely, definitely different. Sirius' eyes found mine, confusion evident in them. "When did that happen?" I gestured up the table and a grin spread across Padfoot's face.
"Last night, we played spin the bottle and Lily dared them to kiss – well, they go out now . . ."
"I can see that!"
I dared myself to look back up the table, thankful to see that Sammie had released Stony from her lustful death grip and they were now just sharing little heated looks. It was strange, I'd known them both so long and known that somehow they would always end up together but now it's happened and it'll probably mean a big change. I just hope that nothing changes Quidditch-wise . . .
Apparently, apart from that, there was nothing much else to report – I'm sure there actually was loads more things but they just didn't matter as much to the boys as they would to me . . . I need to talk to Lily but I haven't properly seen her all morning, only once when she came over and gave me a morning hug, but she was with Dickory so I didn't really have time to talk to her then. Why can't she just break up with him?
1:00pm
Dumbledore completely crashed our Care of Magical Creatures lesson to tell Sirius and I that our particularly nasty detention is on Monday night. I'm nervous, I really am. He says it's with Hagrid and that we need to dress warm and wear sensible footwear. Well, we all know that that means only one thing – that we're going in the forbidden forest. And that's why I'm nervous, I don't like the forest as it is, Sirius is fine, he's not scared of much but it'll be dark, wet and cold and there's so many things in there! Is it even safe for us to go in there? Well, if I die, I'm sure Pads will sue.
Professor Jubential was a bit off with us today. Probably because we skived two hours of him yesterday to prepare for a party that I can't even remember. He nearly gave Sirius a detention when he asked whether Sir was just in a bad mood because he wasn't invited. I tell you, Padfoot and Sir are too alike: they both get a right mood on for no apparent reason and then take it out on everyone else! Seriously! He couldn't even managed a smile when he was telling me that my vampire essay got an O. They should start a grumpy old men club. Even worse, he's refusing to even tell us what the lessons were about that we missed, something like:
"If you can't be bothered to turn up to lesson then why should I be bothered to waste my time teaching you? If you didn't want to learn yesterday then what's changed today?"
The he started on James and Remus, Merlin I'm glad I'm not a prefect. I don't know what was up with him today. Fortunately, he hasn't forbidden anyone else from telling us what they learnt – he loves us too much to leave us completely in the dark. He does love us, really.
My head hurts again.
8:00pm
Lily's mad at Sirius. Not scary mad, just mad because at dinner the idiot decided to stand on his bench and insult all the Slytherins.
"Excuse me!" He called out and because it was him talking the whole school stopped their conversations to listen, "As you're all aware it was Halloween yesterday, thanks to all those that came to our party it was a good night, yes? I would just like to clear something up that, members of the Slytherin house, it is ok to take your masks off now – the first years have been frightened quite enough." At that point the Hall burst into appreciative laughter that one of us had insulted the Slytherins because after all, it has been a while since anything interesting has happened between us. Slughorn looked furious and Sirius got a MNDL but miraculously no detention. Remus pulled him back down into his seat before announcing just loudly enough for the Gryffindor table to hear that:
"Maybe you should put your mask back on Sirius, like you said the first years have been scared quite enough."
On our table people started laughing again, a few people clapped and a few people (or it could have just been Emmeline) called out "Go Remus!"
Lily said nothing during all of this, just glaring at Sirius – she'll probably have a big rant about his immaturity and arrogant behaviour to me later, I'll look forward to it.
10:00pm
I love the Common Room at this time of night. All the younger students have usually carried themselves off to bed bar the few rebels that hide in the shadows hoping Lily won't notice they're still up when she gets back off patrol. James, Remus and Lily are all on patrol leaving all their lesson notes behind for me to copy . . . I did not just admit to that. When I'm lucky, like tonight, Sirius and Peter will bugger off somewhere – I don't know where, I dare not ask – and that means I can just chill out and do whatever I like and talk to the people I want to. Speaking of which-
- You know when you find out a little bit too much information?
Sammie and John have just come storming in, a laughing Martin following them. They all took a seat around the table I was writing at, Martin wiping away tears of mirth and Sammie and John both looking very pink.
"Alright lovebirds?" I asked as innocently as I could manage. Sammie grinned and John shuffled a little, Martin was still laughing.
"You heard? People have been saying you couldn't remember a thing from last night so we presumed you didn't . . ." Stony asked me, elbowing Martin to get him to shut up.
"Saw actually, that was a lovely display at breakfast – put me right off my toast."
"Hey, Billie, if you thought that was bad," Martin ignored the others' hisses of protest and began to laugh again, "You should have seen what me and your bro saw a couple of minutes ago! Let's just say the nickname 'Stony'-"
"NO!" I cried out covering my ears, "Too much information!" Sammie blushed and giggled a little and even John managed to smirk.
"So you don't remember anything of last night?" Sammie asked, half reading my Potions essay. I shook my head.
"Blimey Billie, how much did you drink?" Martin asked astonished.
"Not that much!" All three of them gave me disbelieving looks, "Well I don't know I can't remember!"
"You missed a lot." John was talking to me but looking at Sammie, he was going to have to stop doing that.
"Thanks for reminding me." I half glared in his direction then shared a shrug with Martin when I saw he was no longer paying anyone but Sammie attention. Martin kicked him and told me loudly and cheerfully,
"Don't worry Billie, we'll fill you in!" He sighed loudly, "Won't. We. Guys?" Even word was followed by a kick to John's leg. Still, there was no response. "He's deliberately ignoring me," A smile touched John's lips, "I'll tell you what happened by myself shall I?"
"That'd be lovely." I grinned.
"Well, the start of the party was pretty dull as always. Loved your pumpkin by the way but really, how do you get an owl to look that shady? Then McGonagall came and sent all the underage students back to their dorms, seriously there were hundreds and hundreds of them!" Martin stopped as the portrait hole swung open and Sammie and I gasped as we saw what came through.
"Sweet Merlin!" Sammie cursed aloud therefore receiving a dirty look from Professor McGonagall who had her hands on the shoulders of a small first year and was guiding him up to his dorm.
"Have you not seen them all yet?" John asked Sammie and I, smirking and sharing a look with Martin. We both shook our heads and continued to watch the poor, many legged boy attempt the staircase.
"What happened?" I asked, unable to stop but feeling rather sick as I saw him slip back down to the bottom of the stairs, his eight legs waving about pathetically.
"There's loads of 'em," Martin explained, "But I suppose they'll have been in the hospital wing all day – they're first and second years that tried to drink the firewhiskey last night."
"James said that Remus had created consequences for them if they tried to drink." John told me emotionlessly.
"I was trying for ages to get Peter to drink some after I saw what happened . . ." Martin grinned to himself.
Now I know why Sirius and Remus have been walking down the corridors humming the Spiderman theme tune as loudly as possible whenever first years were around. Now I know why the muggleborns and half-bloods looked so scared.
After Sammie and I had admonished Martin for being so mean to his incredible little brother he continued telling me about the party.
"Yeah, after all the little kids went it got much better. Diggory tried to crash the party just before we were about to play spin the bottle, oh my days it was an EPIC game!"
"Tell me about Diggory first!"
"Well, the Fat Lady wouldn't let him in, due to strict orders from James – plus he wasn't invited, so he just stood outside screaming and yelling a load of crap about us all so James went to see him off but we all kind of followed because we wanted to see what was happening. Diggory was pretty drunk - he and the other Hufflepuff rejects must have snaffled some contraband too – and he was snarling and yelling at everyone so James told him he wasn't invited and to shove off. Then he saw Lily, Merlin he was bawling at her and James and Sirius were having none of that! No siree! James tried to be amicable but Diggory wasn't having any of it so Sirius sloughed him. Maaaan, he should be a beater!"
I took a moment to process all this.
"So what was I doing?"
The other three shared a thoughtful and confused look.
"Actually, I think that was the only time during the entire night that you were quiet . . ." Sammie told me, having read my potions essay and moving on to my Transfiguration one I was halfway through. A wave of relief washed through me. "Why does Lily even go out with him? She's supposed to be a role model!" I shrugged and we all shared a collective sigh.
"What happened when Diggory cleared off then?" I asked, immediately all their faces lit up.
"We went back to our game of spin the bottle!" John grinned properly for the first time. He's not so bad when he smiles.
"What like, truth or dare?"
"Nooo," Martin jumped back in to the conversation, "Like proper spin the bottle, kissing." I think that was the point when my heart sunk down somewhere near my bladder – I may have peed out my heart.
"Crap." I admitted, they all laughed at me. "Who was unlucky enough to kiss me?" Deep down I knew it couldn't have been Pads because he'd have been talking about it all day . . . But that didn't stop me from praying it wasn't him. Martin coughed.
"Me, actually."
I let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew, did I enjoy it?" I know it was a potentially very awkward question, but it's Martin, he loves smashing down awkwardness.
"Of course you did, I'm an amazing kisser!" We all burst out laughing, which was how Lily and the rest of the Marauders found us a few seconds later.
"How did you do with these?" Lily asked, half pushing me of my seat as she sat down and beginning to look through my essays. She knows her job does that girl.
"Pretty good." I choked out, beginning to laugh at Martin again as he winked at me. "You guys had a good patrol?"
"Well once we kicked all the rabble out of the broom cupboards," James playfully flicked Stony on the head, "And erased all the mental images it was ok . . ." There came plenty of throat clearing from Padfoot.
"What?" I asked him bluntly. He grinned and sat down on the other side of the chair that really-wasn't-made-for-two-people-so-definitely-shouldn't-have-three-people-sat-on-it.
"Aren't you going to ask how my night was?"
"No, but I do want to know . . . who did you kiss last night?" Nervous laughter broke out from James, Lily and Martin so I gave then each a questioning look. Moony started whistling. "Remus? What?"
"He doesn't want to admit it," Remus explained a slight pink tinge to his cheeks and a mischievous glint in his eyes, "But I rocked his world."
Now I know why Sirius and Remus have been walking down the corridors humming the Spiderman theme tune as loudly as possible with linked arms. Now I know why everyone looked so scared.
11:30pm
I'm tired.
I need some more headache potion.
The sound of my quill against the paper is deafening me.
I think . . .
I think I should really drink a lot less at the next party.
A/N: See, that wasn't so bad was it? . . . was it? You know how to let me know :)
dare i set myself an update deadline? no. haha, i'll update whenever i can (when i've finished the chapter after the next chapter - it's all so unnecessarily confusing!) but you know, reviews? . . . they're good for the soul.