I count the steps from where I am
To where I started
I tap my feet
-Andrew Belle-
"Come on Lily!" Marlene called, "I need to pop by a few shops to get a birthday present for my brother! Like …you know, this year."
Lily snorted and yelled, "I'll be down in a tick!"
"Well hurry up! I want to actually get there before my fortieth birthday!"
"I thought you said James's neighbors were coming with us." Lily questioned, slipping her scandals on.
"Casilda and Esmee are meeting us there." Marlene informed her.
Lily furrowed her eyebrows together thoughtfully. "Okay so are they twins?"
"No. They have a brother Everett that is the same age, but they are all seperately adopted actually. Casilda was adopted from Texas, Esmee was adopted from South Korea and Everett I think is from Morocco."
"Interesting. I wonder why get three kids the same age. That sounds like a lot at once."
Marlene shrugged, playing with the end of her braid. "My twin sisters are a year older than me and my parents had three kids before that. You work with what you get."
"What brings them to Hogwarts?"
"Mr. Cooper, their dad, got the new Defense job."
Lily scoffed, tossing her bag over her shoulder. "Well he'll need some good luck with that. I reckon the job is cursed. Every position in the school is always filled, but that one."
"Maybe the Dark Lord had something to do with it." Marlene mocked dryly.
"You shouldn't joke about him. He's been going on a killing spree across half of the U.K."
"I think we should take it seriously, but come on. If we let ourselves become afraid of him then he will use that fear to control us. It's basic bullying mentality."
Lily smirked at her, "You sound like Dorcas."
"Well when you spend seven years with someone some things tend to stick."
"Well then, let's go. What are you going to get your sister?"
Marlene groaned, pouting as she linked her arm around Lily's. "Oh I dunno. Hopefully we can find something; cheap enough to be thoughtful."
"ALRIGHT LADS…and Commander and Prewett," James added nodding at Dorcas and Alice, "What we have here is an old fashioned BATTLE!" He smirked, pacing in front of Remus, Sirius, Dorcas, Alice Prewett and Everett Cooper. "Now we will pick team captains, split up into three teams and fight for this majestic cup-"
"Am I mad," Everett started with a thick French accent, "Or is he holding up an actual cup?"
"You aren't, he's mad." Alice reassured him casually, before turning back to look at James.
"Anyway," James glared at them. "It should come to no surprise that I will volunteer myself as a captain-"
"Napoleon complex," Remus muttered to Dorcas, making her snort with laughter.
James scowled and threw up his hands. "No respect. Absolutely no respect."
"Oh go on with your big speech, you big git." Sirius told him.
"No…No it's fine," James said bitterly. "I'm just standing here."
"Christ," Dorcas laughed, stepping forward. "Potter, Black and I are captains-"
"Hold it, why are you a captain?" Sirius questioned gesturing to her.
She gave him a dirty look. "I'm going to need you to dial your misogyny back a bit there Black…What are you scared I'm going to kick your arse?"
"Definitely fear lingering in your eyes there," Everett interjected to Sirius with bright smirk.
"Shut it Cooper," James nudged him. "Alright so we have to do this evenly. Dorcas pick a boy."
Dorcas pointed to Everett's tall broad form. "I'll take Cooper."
Remus's eyebrows shot up. "Oh?"
Dorcas charged over to him, grabbed him by the collar and pressed her lips against his hotly, putting all of her energy into it. When she pulled away, she gave him a smirk. "Understood?"
He snatched her back for another kiss, but then let her go. "Fine."
"Now, I have Everett. Who are you two picking?"
Sirius looked at Alice, "Are you still engaged to Frank?"
Alice looked repulsed by him and what he could mean by the question. "Yes."
"Then I want Moony," Sirius declared boldly, wrapping his arm around Remus's shoulders, "Could use some bloke time."
"Then I would be honored to get the future Mrs. Longbottom-" James began.
Alice blushed, "As much as I appreciate the title, I haven't earned it yet, and I would prefer to go by my own name."
"Yeah Potter." Dorcas agreed ruefully. "It's a new world. Women are separate from their romantic life now and can be referred to as their own person not someone else's object."
James raised his hands innocently and backed away slowly. "Far enough, far enough."
"Dorcas invited me for a picnic and some games…What about these games then?" Alice asked fixing her short pixie cut brown hair.
"Commander, here," James said, "was telling me about how fun muggle games are and how it would be fun to make the whole thing a competition. So we are having a three-legged race, a weelbarrel race-"
"Its wheel-barrow," Dorcas corrected him.
He waved her off, "and we are going to have a great time. So let's get with our teams, come up with team names and team chants."
"So that way when we beat you," Dorcas spun around to face Sirius, her eyes narrowed and her stance antagonistic. "Which we will. Then we have something to chant at you as you bawl your big pretty eyes out."
Sirius took a step forward competitively, "Bring it on midget."
"Yeah, go ahead underestimate me because of my size. I will BRING-YOU-dooowwwn."
James nudged Alice to get her attention. "I feel like they are just going to end up arm wrestling."
"Five knuts on Dora." Alice grinned.
"Damnit that was who I was going to bet on."
Marlene and Dorcas were set to meet Casilda and Esmee by a restaurant Marlene planned for them to have lunch in after shopping, but they arrived early. Lily was game for whatever, but she still had one nagging concern that was in the back of her mind that she wanted to address and since they had the time to spare.
"So Mar." Lily started, "Sirius was acting weird for a bit there, and he did this thing, and you might recognize it, because you just did it. Where you flinch when I mention the other persons name."
Marlene let out a very loud and heavy sigh. Laying her head back on the brick building. "Lily…really?"
"Well, has anything happened that I've missed?"
"…I may have slapped him the other day."
"No you didn't!" Lily gasped.
Marlene grinned proudly. "Yes. I did and I don't feel bad about it either…" Her smile faltered as she added, "He told me he didn't love me and though I know he does. I think I've finally just have given up on him. Maybe I'm just supposed to be alone you know?"
Lily didn't know what to say, Marlene's voice wasn't shaking and she wasn't crying. She clearly didn't want to be coddled. This was just how she felt. Lily understood how it felt to think you'd be alone for the rest of her life, but considering how James was completely in love with her it but a damper on her case.
"I know." Lily muttered, with a low sigh.
"I mean, I think being single is good for me." Marlene said firmly, "I don't want to date anyone and honestly I'm kind of over feelings for a while, but they just hurts too much.."
"Being alone?"
"No. Not that…More like falling for the wrong person again…" Marlene furrowed her eyebrows, her face pinched together in thought. "It wasn't like this with Remus…I was mostly just upset that he never tried. I knew at the end of the day we weren't right together and I knew I'd get over it, but …but with Sirius I know we aren't right for each other. I mean he could never commit to a relationship and I couldn't be in an open relationship. It's ridiculous really that we even thought we could try, but I still feel differently about it… More stupidly hopeful you know?" Marlene groaned, "What's wrong with me?"
"Maybe because you love Sirius more than you loved Remus." Lily acknowledged gently.
"I don't know why I felt anything for either one of them." Marlene diverted bitterly, "Remus was never going to love me back and I knew that going into it, but I somehow convinced myself that I could save him, that he needed me….Stupid right?" She swiped the side of her face.
Lily twisted her hair between her fingers thoughtfully, "But you never tried to fix or save Sirius though."
"Save? Maybe, but that's only when the situation called for it…I guess I just always knew Sirius could save himself and was never going to change... I really didn't want him to."
"You ever think to tell him that?"
"There's no point." Marlene said flatly, watching the people walk by. "I hesitated in leaving Remus, because I thought he might rethink it, but I knew even if Sirius did feel more for me than he was letting on…he's too scared to admit it…That's the trick with Sirius. You get too close he either never lets you go or he pretends you weren't close at all….I looked right at him Lily and I could see he was in love with me and still he acted as though I meant nothing to him."
Lily grabbed her hand and held it tightly. What could be worse than looking at the person you love, knowing they love you and watch them do everything in their power to fight it? At least if they don't love you, you can let it go and put it off as a loss and eventually heal. But Lily couldn't imagine Marlene's pain. Eventually Sirius and her would grow to tolerate each other, but what they had was shattered, which was really a shame, because for a while there they really had something.
Frowning, Lily thought about that in connection to Sirius's relationships and saw that Marlene had a general point. Sirius was just not the type of person to stick with one person. It was too much of a risk. He'd take a risk in every other area, but not there. It was then it occurred to Lily that Marlene would be forced to be in the same house with Sirius for a week in just over a month. It surely would be difficult on both of them, but Lily didn't see how Marlene could stand it.
"What are you going to do about the cabin then? I mean Sirius will be there."
"I just won't talk to him…I'm not worried about it. By then it will be easier.
Marlene released Lily's hand and Lily couldn't but see some of Marlene's natural warmth fade. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because," She said, "It has to be."
"OOOH EOOOOOOOOH DOOOOREET! OOOH EEEOOOH DOOORET!" Dorcas and Everett chanted loudly, slapping their knees and chest bumping despite the large height and weight difference.
Sirius scowled and looked at Remus. "We can't let them win again. I swear if Meadowes wins, I will murder myself."
"You mean kill yourself," Remus corrected him dryly.
"No," Sirius said sharply, "I mean, I will mur-der myself…Francesko Francesco would have smoked them already if he was here."
"When did you come up with Francesco Francesko?" Remus wanted to know. "You name drop this imaginary character all the damn time."
Sirius smirked impishly. "Charms."
"Figures, while the rest of us were learning tools for the future," Remus interjected giving Sirius a dark look. "You were coming up with a ridiculous alter ego."
"Some of us like to stay entertained."
James and Alice, who were in second, snickered amongst themselves and Dorcas and Everett's display of team spirit.
"I forgot how competitive she gets," Alice blushed in embarrassment.
"If she played Quidditch, she'd be unstoppable." James noted.
"She's terrified of heights," Alice informed him with another laugh, "first year we were on the pitch and her face...It was priceless. We were all bawling with laughter, because she's always been so fearless… Mar, Lily and…" She paused a sadness creeping onto her face. "And…Mary."
James put a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. "You must miss her."
"It's like I'm missing a limb."
"She'd be proud of you though…Not that I knew her well, because I'm pretty sure she despised all of The Marauder's…but she always seemed really... together. And I think any good friend would be proud of you for carrying on."
Her eyes wet, she sniffled, "Thanks James."
"You are welcome. Now, you know what will liven the jump rope competition up? If we don't even try to compete and just try to ruin Sirius's chances to win."
Alice glanced over at the irritation on Sirius's face and giggled. "Why is he so upset?"
"He hates losing. I mean I'm usually a sore loser, but Sirius literally can't stand it. It sucks his soul dry…So why don't we make things a little harder on him?" James smirked impishly.
"You are a wonderful best friend." She laughed sarcastically.
"A good friend supports you entirely, but also deliberately thwarts you."
"I'll have to remember that one."
He ruffled her hair. "Come on Prewett! Let's do this!" James adjusted his glasses and put his hand palm down in front of her. "Come on, McGonagall's Lover's on three-"
"Whaaat?"
"Dumbledore's knickers-"
"No."
He shook with delirious laughter at himself and then sighed, "Fine, Protter on three?"
"One…two…three…PROTTER!"
After waiting around for a half hour, the two girls in question came into view. Casilda stepped up first, while Esmee glared at the general public. Lily wasn't sure if that was just her face or if she genuinely hated every single person on the planet, but either way she was willing to roll with it for an afternoon.
"Lily this is Casilda-" Marlene began clearly.
"For the love god no," The tall brunette said, placing and hand on her curvy hip, "Call me Cas. My parents are horrible for naming me that."
Esmee rolled her pitch black eyes, "You are so overdramatic."
"What? Your name is somewhat normal."
"Thank you for inviting us out," Esmee interjected, pushing her sister out of the conversation. "Other than hanging out at the Potter's we haven't had much social interaction and we really appreciate it."
"No problem," Marlene told her warmly. "Have you guys thought what houses you want to be in?"
"Definitely Slytherin from what I've heard." Cas declared, "Color's are green and silver, their house symbol is a rattle snake-"
Esmee interrupted, "It's just an ordinary snake Cas."
"-and the traits of the house seem to fit me perf-ect-ly. Cunning? Resourceful? Ambitious? Check, check, check."
Marlene winced.
Cas looked at her questioningly, "What? What was with that face? You made a face," Cas turned her hazel eyes on Lily, "she made a face."
Lily giggled, covering her face with her hand. "Yes, she did."
"What's wrong with Slytherin?" Esmee wondered adjusting her multi-colored scarf.
"What's with your scarf?" Marlene changed the subject, "Are you aware that it is hot out and the dead middle of the summer?"
Esmee's round face lit up with pure excitement, "It's new! It's from the muggle show Doctor Who."
Lily looked confused. "I don't think I've caught that one."
In a flat second Esmee went from a sweet looking girl with a band t-shirt and oddly short shorts, to a wide eyed fanatic mess. "YOU ARE BRITISH! HOW HAVE YOU NEVER SEEN DOCTOR WHO?!"
Taking a step back, Lily raised her hands defensively. "Woah, I didn't say I wouldn't be willing to watch."
"YOU MUST! We can have a marathon! It is this show about this time lord and his companions. They go on missions and save the world-"
"HOLD ON!" Cas interrupted, flicking her long wavy hair back off her shoulders to her back, "Let's get back on topic here. What's wrong with Slytherin?"
"I mean nothing is wrong with the actual house," Lily said reasonably, "It just has a tendency to get students who are racist. One of my favorite teachers was in Slytherin though, so I'm sure they're not all bad. It's just as a Gryffindor, we have a bit of rivalry with them…So it's hard to be impartial."
Cas gave a strong nod as the four of them moved into a shop. "Who are these people racist against?"
"Muggleborn's, blood traitors and half-bloods." Marlene replied coolly, as she sorted through the various dresses on the rack.
Esmee let out a low note of disapproval.
"I agree," Cas said, scowling. "What about the other houses?"
"The other three are fine. What in particular do you want to know?" Lily questioned her.
Cas shrugged, "Where are the houses? What are they known for?"
"Ravenclaw is pretty studious and probably are the first I would ask for directions. Er …Hufflepuff's are hardworking and usually nice." Lily paused, "And Gryffindors are well... us I suppose."
"So James, Sirius," Cas paused when she saw Marlene tense but she didn't say anything. Instead she continued on, "Dorcas and that scrawny tall boy are all Gryffindors with you?"
"Me, Mar, James, Sirius, Remus, Dorcas and Peter are all Gryffindor. Along with a bunch of people you'll meet eventually." Lily clarified.
"Peter?" Esmee asked, "You mean the chubbier fellow?"
Marlene nodded, "That would be Peter."
"He's in Gryffindor?"
"Believe me, it surprised me too." Marlene admitted, "I love him, but he's never really shown much of a back bone. Though I have seen moments from him when he is really is a Gryffindor."
Lily thought she disagreed with Marlene, but then she thought about and realized that Marlene was right. If Peter looked for it, he could find courage inside himself, but he was too used to being friends with people more capable and willing to do it for him.
"Yeah," Lily murmured dimly, "He is."
"WE WON!" Dorcas declared victorious, leaping onto Everett's back and thumping her fist into the air. "WE WON! WEEEE WOOOON! SUCK IT BLACK!"
Sirius scowled, and twisted around to face James, "I'm going to go drown myself in the shower."
"Go ahead," James clapped a hand on his shoulder supportively, "but know that Dorcas is going to bring this up …Oh, forever."
"You are great at comforting people mate," Remus cackled at James.
"Right git you both are," Sirius muttered bitterly. "And what are you smiling about Moony? You lost to that bat crazy little monkey."
Remus smiled wider, "Yes, but look how happy that bat crazy little monkey is."
"Fuck, people in love are so gross," Sirius feigned vomiting. "I'll be in the house maturely sulking if anyone needs me."
"That was an oxymoron!" Remus yelled at Sirius's retreating figure.
James shook his head. "So young to be defeated so swiftly."
"Well thanks for having me over James." Alice said awkwardly, biting the side of her lip and stepping in front of them.
"You are always welcome over Prewett." James told her kindly. "Don't let Sirius's attitude say anything to the contrary."
Alice waved him off. "Oh I know he's just a grump, but I'm headed off. I'll see you guys later okay?"
"Bye Alice." Remus hugged her lightly.
James saw Dorcas and Everett creating a very extravagant looking victory dance, and he shook his head with a wild laugh. "Here I'll walk you out Alice. Remus…if you could make sure they aren't having seizures…"
Remus looked over and nearly doubled over with laughter before nodding in agreement.
They'd been walking for a few minutes before James could think of something to ask her. "So what do you have planned for the rest of the day?"
"Just going to spend some time with my family. Maybe go hang out with some Ravenclaws." She said quietly as they hiked through the outrageously tall blades of grass.
"Thanks again James. I had a good time." Alice said with a yawn, tapping him on the shoulder, before stepping over the edge of the Potter property and apparating away.
James glanced around the grounds; the thick, winding woods, the tall bright grass and the endless yard that would all be his one-day. In the distance he saw Everett and Remus chasing Dorcas around the yard and he snorted at the scene. It was a beautiful day; the sun was high with a light wind that occasionally brushed through his wayward hair just the way he liked it. It occurred to him that this would be perfect flying weather and if everyone was game they could always have a play scrimmage. Just as he was about to head back he felt an unnatural tug in the back of his chest.
He halted for a second, nothing was wrong. It was the perfect day really, but something felt …off all of a sudden. James frowned, his eyes focused in concern, though he didn't know the source of it. Shaking his head, James ignored the feeling and jogged back over to the rest of them. Everything was fine, he was just paranoid and looking for trouble.
The group headed into a restaurant after two hours of shopping. Marlene, after careful inspection, found her sister a bracelet with heart charms and a matching necklace. The four of them were starving and were immensely relieved when they were seated immediately.
"Hey isn't that Peter over there?" Lily wondered aloud.
Marlene beamed, "Why yes it is! I haven't seen him a week! PETE!"
As Marlene ran over to greet him and bring him and Heather over, Cas looked at Lily. "Is that his girlfriend?"
"Yep."
"...Interesting."
Before Lily could respond, she was standing and hugging Heather and rather sheepish Peter. "Nice to see you!"
"I've been a little occupied," Peter admitted sitting down in the chairs Cas had kindly asked the table next to them if they could borrow. "What are you all doing?"
"Shopping," Marlene replied merrily, "Heather, this is Cas and Esmee. They moved in next door to James and they are being dragged to the Cabin next month."
Cas laughed loudly, "You act like it's involuntary. We agreed to go."
"Yes, but that was before you had any idea what you were getting yourself into." Marlene told her.
"Do you see Amelia and Fabian over there?" Peter mentioned softly.
"What are you talking about?" Marlene frowned looking around the restaurant. Her eyes scanned the high tables, booth's and even the tables by the window lined walls and she saw nothing.
Lily let out a noise of amusement as she saw them. "You see the couple snogging each other's faces off by the window Mar?"
Marlene nodded, craning her neck. "Yeah."
"That's them." Heather laughed, her straight blonde hair swaying slightly as she did.
"Well I guess they stayed together after Hogwarts." Marlene mused.
"So what's new with you Heather?" Lily asked politely trying to remember what she knew about Heather.
Lily knew Heather; like horses and often went riding over the summer, was a natural blond, was often teased for her uneven nose, always had color coded conservative clothes, was a muggleborn, had trouble with Slughorn and was completely in love with Peter.
The last one always confused her. Peter was a nice guy and he had helped Lily out when she had needed him to most, but she just couldn't see what he would bring to an actual relationship. Maybe she just couldn't see it because she wasn't interested in him, but maybe it was simpler than that. Maybe it was just how Peter looked at Heather like even though she wasn't thin or a knock out beauty she would always be the most beautiful person to him.
And the beauty in that simple look caught Lily off guard. She'd seen people in love before obviously, especially since it was about the time all the kids their age did so, but it had been a long time since she had seen it shown it such a uncomplicated straight-forward way. It was nice.
Another thing that was nice and equally as surprising to Lily was Cas and Esmee. With most people it took Lily some time to warm to them. It wasn't quite that she didn't like them, but more she just always worried they might not like her once they got to know her. Cas and Esmee didn't seem to be like that. Esmee was passionate and spoke her mind vigorously and Cas didn't seem to hate anybody really. They were both so easy to get along with and fit in with that she forgot that she had only met them a few hours earlier. It felt like they had been there the whole time.
"Oh come on, take the teasing in stride." Marlene told Cas, as Cas wiped the massive amounts of ketchup off her own face, "You are new. We've all known each other for years. You are a novelty. We must fling condiments at you."
"That does sound like a written law," Esmee smirked.
"Yeah yeah yeah. Well-"
Her voice was caught off, but not by another voice or person, but by a bright, blinding like and then a thunderous blast. A blast that cut through the street, smashed through the shops, shattered all the windows on the walls of the restaurant and knocked them all to the ground.
There was a ringing in her ears, and Lily saw glass on the floor around her. Blood was dripping from the fresh cut on her shoulder to the floor, but she couldn't feel it. She was completely numb and could hear the people the restaurant screaming. Women, children, everyone was screaming. Dust was circling in the air like fog and none of them could see anything at first, but then it began to clear.
Lily's emerald eyes lifted and she saw masked, hooded Death Eater's, a row of at least 12 or so marching through the streets, and her heart fell.
They were coming. They were coming to kill them.
