It was a tired and dirty group of teenagers that returned to the Gryffindor common room and dragged their bags up to their dormitories. It didn't take long for the groups to fall back into their normal routines with the exception that the Marauders had to do Mary and Sarah's homework, and Lily was now included in the third year group, much to Allison's disgust.
Mary was seated on a couch by the fire keeping a close eye on Sirius who was grumbling as he completed an astronomy assignment for her.
"This is the life," she grinned happily at Lily who was sitting opposite Sirius on the floor. "I don't know why you didn't take them up on the offer of doing yours as well."
Lily chuckled, "I need to do it myself, and it helps me to remember. Coming from the muggle world there's so much I don't know. I don't know how it is for you, but it constantly feels like I am playing catch up. Speaking of which, I'm going to head to the library to study with Sev."
"I don't know what you see in him," Mary said shaking her head as Lily stood.
Lily shrugged, "He's a friend, he isn't a bad as you make him out to be." Ignoring the looks of disbelief, she got, Lily gathered up her books and headed to the library.
Looking around the room Lily spotted Sev's dark hair at their usual table at the back of the room. She let her books fall onto the desk with a thud announcing her arrival.
He raised his eyes to look at her "You're back!"
"Yep. You didn't go did you?"
He shrugged, "They wouldn't give me permission. I don't actually think any Slytherins went. How was it?"
"Fantastic. Even the second day, where I got lost in the forest and Potter had to come and find me!" Lily launched into an in-depth description of what had happened with the exemption of finding of the key in the cave under the tree. Sev laughed when she told him about the bet and how the Marauders were now paying their dues.
"Sounds like you had fun," he commented.
"I did, it was great, and you know I've realised that the Marauders aren't actually all that bad." Lily didn't notice the messy haired boy standing in between two rows of books behind her.
"Not that bad!" Severus was aghast. "How can you say that? After what they did!"
"Everyone makes mistakes Sev. They were really funny when we got a chance to actually talk." Lily went on to tell the boys antics around the camp fire when she and Mary had tried to teach them how to play charades.
"I can't believe you Lily, you've been taken in by those gits!" Sev huffed.
"Sev! They've changed. Just give them a chance!"
"I won't!"
Lily sighed, if there was one thing Sev was, it was stubborn, so she let it go.
Lily had long since departed the library when Severus gave in to his feelings. He was furious; he couldn't believe that she had actually enjoyed herself with Potter and his gang. He made up his mind, he would have to do something to show her how much of a stuck-up bully James Potter really was. He muttered plans to himself as he threw his books into his bag and departed the library.
A dark-haired boy watched the Slytherin unobserved after the red-haired girl had gone. He was close enough to hear the vitriol that was spewing from the thinner boy's lips. Without a doubt Snape was going to manufacture a situation that would show the Gryffindors in the worst light while portraying himself as the victim.
The watcher witnessed the boy leave and came to sit down at the same table, to process the scene. Lily was clearly warming up to the Marauders, which was a thought that made him smile. However, she was just as obviously still friends with the greasy haired boy, which was something he just couldn't understand. What could she possibly see in Snape? A sick feeling had formed in his stomach while he had been observing them. On one hand Lily had spent the whole time talking about the camp and how much fun it had been, and how she now considered herself friends with the rest of the Gryffindors. On the other, she had told nearly all of it to Snape, and it was this that made him want to hex the smaller boy into oblivion. Not that she had told him any great secrets just that Snape was her confidant.
Deciding that sometimes the best defence was a good offence, James stood pushing back his chair. He made his way out of the library, and quickly found Snape in the corridor. He sent a tripping jinx at the boy chuckling to himself as the boy fell to the floor. Unfortunately, Nerida was walking by, and after helping Snape to his feet, she left to tell Lily what she had witnessed.
Lily sat in a corner of the Room of Requirement, feet tucked up underneath her on the couch as she read. The door opened with a creak and Gideon entered.
"Hey Squirt!"
"Hey Gid," she smiled back at him.
"I think we need to get Flitwick involved in your sessions now."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You duel as good as any of us now, better if I'm honest. So you should be right against any of the Slytherins. I'll talk to Flitwick tomorrow."
"Thanks, Gid, so what are we going to do today then?"
"Well you looked like you were thinking about something."
"I was thinking about Potter." Gideon grinned at her.
"Not like that you git! Just he seemed so nice on the camp, well after the first day. Then we're back for a week and Ned tells me he has been hexing Sev again. I don't understand."
"He might have a reason for hexing Snape," Gid suggested.
"Do you think so?"
"You won't know until you ask."
"Hmm, well in the meantime let's duel," she grinned as she stood and pulled out her wand.
Lily sat on a couch in the common room, she had cooled down from her session with Gid and was now trying to decide if she should confront potter and if she did how exactly she should go about it. After watching him while they were camping she could see that he didn't usually pick on people for no reason, or at least he seemed to have stopped, though from Ned's description that was precisely what he had done to Severus. The boy in question walked into the room.
"Potter," Lily called him over, his eyes lit as he saw who was hailing him.
"Evans," he approached with a smirk. "How may I be of assistance?"
"Why did you trip Sev this afternoon?" He swallowed. How could she have found out!
"I did no such thing!" he tried to sound indignant but failed miserably.
"Really? Nerida was outside the library and saw you." Ah yes, well that would do it. James couldn't imagine the Ravenclaw keeping it to herself.
"Ooooh you meant then, well that was because he is a slimy git," he grinned, trying to brush the incident off with bravado.
"It's not funny Potter, what did he ever do to you?" Potter looked at her surprised at how honestly the question was asked.
"It's not what he did to me, more what he has done and was planning to do to others."
"Explain," it was a command. Hang on! Who was she to demand answers?
The command was denied "No. It's not my story to tell," he said thinking about the two Hufflepuffs.
"Well how can I believe you then?"
"You always believe him anyway so why bother," James snapped and walked off to his dorm leaving a confused Lily behind.
"Argh!" James groaned as he fell lengthwise onto his bed.
"What now?" asked the werewolf without looking up from the book he was reading.
"Evans!"
"Aaaah," Remus smiled knowingly. "And what has our dear Lily done now?"
"We were getting on so well, and then she asks me why I tripped Snivellus!"
"Shock horror, that she should actually want your side of the story for once instead of just yelling at you."
"She what?" James thought for a minute. "She did, didn't she!" It was a revelation.
"And please now tell me that you didn't just totally blow her off?" Remus looked over the top of his book and watched as James grimacing face showed him the answer. Shaking his head, he returned to his book.
"Why do you care anyhow?" Sirius spoke for the first time.
"I don't know," mumbled the messy haired boy. "There's just something about her. I can't explain. When she's there….I just want her to see me."
"You don't like her, do you?" Peter teased.
"No, Maybe, I don't know," James mused.
"Sleep on it," was Sirius' suggestions. "In the morning it will all just seem like a bad dream."
"Do your homework first." Three pillows flew through the air and hit Remus in the face.
"Before that, we need to plan a Valentine's day prank!" James suggested.
"What about a simple sleeping potion added to the pumpkin juice at breakfast. Then everyone can have a nap before class!"
"Simple! I love it!"
"We just need to know where the kitchens are!" reminded Peter.
"I'll bet Gid and Fabe know where they are," Remus supplied.
"If they go out tonight we'll follow them under the cloak," James decided.
Gideon approached the redhead as she sat doing homework leaning forward, her hair making a curtain over her work.
"So?"
She looked up "So what?"
"Did you ask?"
"Yes," Lily frowned "He said it was because he was a slimy git, but then he said that it because of what he had done to other people and it wasn't his place to say."
"Lily," Gideon's voice lowered, showing he was serious. "I've heard rumours that Snape is taking lessons from Malfoy. Now it may be nothing, but like the disappearances it might be something. I know he's your friend, I'm asking you to be careful."
"I understand," Lily bit her bottom lip "but I can't just abandon him."
"And I'm not asking you to. You might just be what keeps him on the lighter side, just be careful."
Doc and Fabe came bounding through the portrait hole.
"Why the long faces?" Doc pulled a face.
"I think they need some cheering up Doc!"
"Indeed, they do Fabe. Should we share our plans, or should we leave it a surprise?"
Fabe pretended to consider this for a moment, and then grinned as the two looked on with amused expressions.
"Let's tell them, it's too good to keep a secret."
"Well go on then spill!" Lily encouraged.
"Right, so for a Valentine's Day prank, we were thinking a simple love potion in the juice so that everyone falls in love with the first person they see."
Doc saw Lily's eyes narrow, "Don't worry, very low-grade potion, it will wear off on its own in an hour or two. Not a restricted one like Amortentia, so if we get caught, we won't get in too much trouble.."
"Oh kind of like a Midsummer Night's Eve!"
"Like what?"
"It's a muggle thing about a fairy called Puck, who ends up making various people fall in love with the wrong people and confusion reigns. You don't think it will be a bit mean, what if people who are dating break up because of it? You know if their partner goes googly eyes at someone else, it could stir up jealousy."
"The one we found the recipe for won't override any pre-existing emotions, and it's not a lust potion either so there'll be no random snogging at the breakfast table. Just people making doe eyes at each other and maybe some awkward flirting. Anyway, if you're dating someone shouldn't you be sitting with them at breakfast on Valentine's Day? So, they should be the first person you see anyhow. It will be all the others that will be fun to watch."
"How do we get around it then?"
"We either skip breakfast or eat in the kitchens. Can you make the potion Lily?"
"Do you have the instructions?" Doc pulled a book from behind his back.
"Alright come with me." Lily led them out of the common room and into the seventh-floor cell, after a brief chat with The Courtier.
"Wow Lily! Even we didn't even know this was here?"
"I stayed here for a bit last year." The boys exchanged dark glances as she reached into the concealed hole in the wall and withdrew her extra potion ingredients. Then with a wave of her wand she revealed the two spare cauldrons she had hidden in the room. Placing the book on the floor in front of her she began preparing ingredients.
"How long will it take Lils?" Gideon asked.
"Mmm," she didn't look up from her work. "It's pretty simple so I should be able to finish it tonight, though it might mean heading back to the common room after curfew."
"Well, I'll go and get the charms assignment that I need to work on, then I'll swing past the kitchens and grab some snacks," Fabe suggested.
"I'd love some treacle tart if there's any left, please," Lily requested, continuing to finely chopping the asphodel root. Fabe acknowledged her with a nod and then left.
The boys slipped down the stairs to the common room, with practiced easy and glanced around the common room. The red-headed boys they were seeking were nowhere to be seen.
"Do we head out or go back?" whispered Peter. They all paused in indecision.
"They could be in the library," Remus suggested. The huddle made its way to the portrait hole only to be stopped as the younger of the Prewetts entered the room. They watched, hidden by the cloak as he took the steps two at a time and entered his dormitory, returning quickly and moving passed the Fat Lady.
"Quick," hissed Sirius. "This might be our only chance." The group quickly followed the boy, trailing him down the staircases, past the Great Hall and round the corner, down another staircase and into a brightly lit wide stone lined corridor.
"We have to be close," muttered Peter softly. "Look at all these paintings of food."
Ahead of them Fabian had stopped facing a still life; he glanced back up the corridor before reaching out a hand and tickling the pear. Quickly turning the door handle he ducked inside.
"Do we wait for him to come back out?"
"What if it just leads to another corridor? We'll lose him." Remus' comment decided them, and they began moving forward, only to see the door open again and Fabian reappear in front of them, arms laden with snacks. He whistled as he walked away.
"Must be having a party," Peter commented.
"We can worry about crashing it later, let's go." The boys whipped off the cloak, which James tucked hastily into a pocket, and moved towards the door. Sirius repeated Fabians earlier action and grasped the door handle.
"Wow!" exclaimed Peter. Sirius looked around wide-eyed.
"This is the best!"
"May I help yous?" a short house elf wearing a tea towel with the Hogwarts insignia on it asked.
"Yes, may we have some treacle tart please?" James asked. The house elf looked despondent.
"Sorry young Master, but last Master just took last piece. If Masters wait, Binky can make some more?"
"Oh, we wouldn't want to put you out," Remus said.
Sirius looked at him "Remus, this is what they do, it isn't putting them out." He turned to the house elf "Please Binky would you make us some treacle tart, and I'll have some chocolate cake, what about you Pete?"
"Chocolate eclairs, please," the smallest of the boys addressed the elf.
"In that case, could I also have some chocolate cake please?" Remus asked. The elf bowed as she backed away and busily began preparing the food.
"Shall we sit? The treacle tart might take a while," suggested James pointing to the table and chairs by the fire.
"So the house elves seem nice," noted Remus. "Do you think that they'll put our potion in the pumpkin juice?"
Sirius and James grinned as Binky returned with a several plates filled with cake and eclairs, in a moment their mouths were too full for words.
"I fink dis tastes be'er then at dinner," commented Peter, eclair flying from his mouth.
"Eww Pete," grimaced the others.
"You up to making the sleeping draught?" James asked Peter who shrugged.
"Should be easy enough, we did it in class last year after all, it's just the volume that we need that might be the problem. At worst it won't quite be enough for everyone to get a full dose and they won't sleep for quite as long."
They turned back to their food.
"Lily!" a voice echoed down the nearly empty corridor. The red-headed girl turned and smiled as she saw the two girls approaching her.
"Yes Mary," Lily addressed the dark-haired girl.
"You know how you showed me and Beth that spell?"
"Yes," Lily smiled. "Did it help?"
"U-huh," Mary nodded. "I wanted to know if you knew another spell?"
"I know lots of other spells Mary. What were you looking for?"
"Well when they attacked me they lifted me into the air, and I want a spell that stops that."
Lily thought for a moment "Do you know what the spell was that lifted you up?"
Mary shook her head "I never heard it before."
"Mmm, can you tell me what happened?" Lily sat down on a bench the two smaller girls next to her.
"Well, the dark haired boy he said –Le…lebi…no….levi….. Levicorpus, that was it, and I flew up in the air and then the boy with the blonde hair used that curse on me." Seeing Lily's horrified expression the smaller girl quickly reassured her, "It's ok. They ran away when James, Remus, Sirius and Peter came."
"Who was the boy with the dark hair?" Lily frowned remembering -It's not what he has done to me. It couldn't possibly be Severus, could it?
"I don't know, he's in Slytherin 'cause he was wearing a green tie and he has a big nose and dark hair."
It certainly sounded like Sev. Lily sighed "Levicorpus was the spell he used?"
Mary nodded.
"I haven't heard of it before either, but I'll ask around and see what I can find."
"Thanks Lily, and I have another friend who needs to know the one you taught me, can you teach her too."
"Of course. I'll be in the library all afternoon."
A group of five Hufflepuff first years clustered around the table; in the midst a slightly taller red-haired Gryffindor was praising them.
"It looks like you've all got it. You guys are doing great; you just need to practice now. Put it on as you leave class each time and after meals. The more you practice the better you'll get at it."
"Lily?" Mary tugged at the older girl's sleeve. Lily was surprised to see the younger girl was shaking slightly.
"Yes Mary, what's the matter?"
"It was that boy!" Mary indicated to a boy just entering the library.
"Hmmm," Lily frowned. "Well I might just talk to him about it. You guys had better head back to your common room now. See you later."
The group cheerfully chorused their farewell and skirting around the newcomer exited the library.
"Lily!" Severus greeted a faint smile on his lips. Lily had noticed that even though she could see some of his emotions in his eyes, his face seemed much less expressive then it used to; She wondered if he had to practice to get it to do that.
"Sev," she nodded her voice slightly cold. "Have you heard of a spell called Levicorpus?"
"Yes, I created it," he replied with a tinge of pride in his voice.
"Have you taught it to anyone else?" Lily looked into his eyes, the only window she had left to view his emotions. "Or did you use it on Mary?"
"Mary?" he raised an eyebrow in query.
"One of the Hufflepuff first years, she told me she was attacked by a boy who cast levicorpus on her then Malfoy cursed her."
Severus' face paled ever so slightly, "I didn't know he was going to do that! We just wanted to see if my spell would work. I thought it would be funny, you know being held up in the air, but then he….."
"Sev that boy is horrid, I wish you wouldn't follow him around so. Mary's been terrified since. A first year is not the appropriate person to test a spell on. It's un-ethical!" her voice was becoming raised.
"I knew it wouldn't hurt her," he defended quickly. "Besides you tested yours."
"Yes, but I tested it on me!" she hissed. "And I knew what the consequences were if the spell failed! What if yours had failed half way through and she had been dropped onto her head!" Madam Pince was glaring in their direction.
"Sorry Lily I didn't think," Severus managed to look contrite.
"You should go apologise to her! Did you make a counter spell, or do you have to just wait around all day to fall down again?" Lily asked.
"Liberacorpus," he whispered not meeting her eyes.
"Next time you make up a spell, promise me you'll test it on someone older first and ask their permission, heck I'll even volunteer," she pleaded with him.
"I will, I promise," he agreed before changing the topic to their studies grateful that he had successfully deflected the inquisition.
The group of four had crept to the kitchens in the early hours of the morning and spoken with a House elf called Hickory, whom they had enticed into adding their potion to all the morning's drinks. They had then proceeded to the Great Hall and were sitting in the middle of the table, conversing in whispers.
"So, first of all I think that we need a slight addition to add some flare to this prank," the girl grinned at her male companions.
"Do go on, Fair Maiden," said the dark haired one.
"Don't worry I've already taken care of it," the grin never left her face.
"Then to drink or not to drink?" he proposed.
"That is the question," affirmed the eldest.
"Listen to you boys quoting Shakespeare," they could tell she was impressed.
"I don't see how we can get away with not," Gideon considered. "What symptoms are we expecting?"
"Not as bad as amortentia, just general gushing, boys will boast when in the girl's presence, similar to being under a Veela's allure. Girls will blush and flirt, that sort of thing," Lily waved her hand dismissively, now that she had read the recipe. "Nothing too harmful. Though it will enhance feelings that are already there. So Gid be careful if you look at Marly and we need to make sure that Alice and Frank look at each other, it could well just give them the kick along they need."
"Oi Squirt, what do you mean, be careful if I look at Marly?" His three companions laughed.
"Here comes the rush. So, we are all agreed we drink?" the group nodded.
Four boys sauntered into the room, gazing around at the tables. They had arrived early after a trip to the kitchens and knew it wouldn't be long before they witnessed the effects of their prank. Binky had been asked to put the potion into the pumpkin juice so they knew they could drink the orange juice in safety.
The Great Hall was becoming crowded as couples entered to make the most of Valentine's Day before classes. When the benches were nearly full a loud bang resounded through the hall made many jump and turn to the head table where a burst of fireworks like colour and sparkles crackled and drifted away in multicoloured smoke to reveal a banner
Who could refrain that had a heart to love and in that heart courage to make love known.
Shakespeare
"Did you do that?" James whispered across the table to Remus who shook his head silently.
"Who's Shakespeare?" asked Peter.
Then they heard it, the first sound of someone's head falling to the table, clunk. All four looked around and saw that not far from them Lily, Gid, Fabe and Doc, were all fast-asleep heads on the table. Peter started to giggle as he reached for his orange juice. At the top table both Professor Sprout and Professor McGonagall had succumbed to the potion and were also asleep, Dumbledore was looking on eyes twinkling.
"Well bottoms up, boys!" James raised his glass and sipping from it as his eyes roamed the room. Sirius, Remus and Peter followed suit.
"You know, these uniforms really bring out your eyes James," Peter said as he gazed at his messy haired friend.
"And you have the cutest button nose Pete," James simpered.
"I'm really clever you know Sirius I could help you with your homework," offered Remus. While Sirius reached over and took Remus' hand.
"I could show you how to fly."
"I'd love that, but we have class first." The two couples took hold of each other's hands and walked out of the hall.
It started slowly at first not causing too much trouble with some melodramatic displays from those whose partners had consumed the pumpkin juice and fallen asleep. As predicted those people already dating looked at each other first, and the enhanced effects of the potion on their emotions lead to some rather more physical amorous displays then had been expected, from those couples where both were still awake, which had to be broken up by the teachers once Dumbledore had cured them of the effects of the prank. He only did this after Professor Kettleburn had knelt down and confessed his undying love for Professor Sprout and Flitwick had stood on the table and announced to the hall that he was willing to duel for McGonagall's hand in marriage.
Half an hour later Lily, Doc Gideon and Fabian raised their heads the boys all looking at Lily and Lily looking first upon Fabian.
"Oh Fabe," she fluttered her eyelashes. "I do love so love watching you play Quidditch, perhaps you could give me private lessons."
"Lily, I fly better then Fabe! How can you bare to look at him?" Gideon interjected.
"No, I fly the best!" Doc leant across the table to grab her hand.
"I propose a contest!" Fabe said raising one arm into the air.
"No Fabe my heart is yours alone," Lily gushed.
"Never fear my sweet I will not let you down," he had taken hold of her other hand.
"After the morning classes then, a flying contest." The boys agreed and walked their fair maid to her class.
Indeed, many girls found themselves accompanied to class that morning, and some of the boys too. James was sitting in potions holding hands with Peter under the table when the potion wore off.
"Argh," James pulled his hand out of Peter's sweaty grip. "What the….."
He looked around the classroom, Lily was dreamily stirring her potion, Snape was gazing longingly across the table at Stephanie Zambini who was making eyes at Evan Rosier. At his own desk, Remus was gently rubbing Sirius' back, and Sirius had his hand on Remus' knee. James blinked and looked around, watching people returning to themselves, Lily blushed, and he wondered what she had been thinking about. Beside him Sirius let out a high-pitched shriek and Remus jumped back, falling off his chair. From the front of the room Slughorn watched on with an amused expression, he had been late to breakfast that morning and Dumbledore had pulled him aside to check the drinks.
"Well, I think that was a good demonstration of why we should never use love potions, nor should we mix them with sleeping draughts!"
The students all took their places for lunch, when with a series of multicoloured explosions another sign appeared above the teachers table.
If we shadows have offended, think but this and all is mended; That you have but slumbered here, while these visions did appear.
Shakespeare
This apparition was followed by a voice calling across the tables.
"Black, Lupin, Pettigrew and Potter you'll be having detention with me this evening!"
"But Professor we never…." James started to complain.
"Are you meaning to tell me that you didn't have a potion placed in the juice this morning," Professor Slughorn looked at them sternly and they couldn't deny it.