CARRY THAT WEIGHT
James didn't think Lily would ever like him. He didn't even care if she fell in love with him, he just wanted her to tolerate him. He did want to know what she was doing and he did want to have a friendly partnership with the git, she just wouldn't give him the time of day.
"Alright, Prongs?" Sirius asked, swinging an arm around the taller boy. James scoffed and shrugged him off, leaving Sirius frowning.
"Alright," James responded.
"Love troubles?" Sirius said mischievously, winking.
"Shut it, Padfoot, and no. Just roommate troubles."
"I was right, then?"
"Bloody hell, Padfoot!"
Sirius laughed and hurried in front of James, turning to walk backwards down the hall. "What happened?"
"She was just brassed off because she did want me to know what she was doing in the dorm and I wouldn't stop asking."
"That's bloody stupid, innit?"
"It is, but she's so damn stubborn sometimes!"
"I have ears, you know," Lily said. She came from behind them, anger creasing her brow. She brushed past him, down the stairs toward Slughorn's classroom, with Elle Plum in tow.
"Oh, Merlin's pants," James swore. He followed them down, ducking to avoid the low ceilings. Sirius wouldn't stop chuckling behind him.
"Good morning, class!" The boisterous professor called. He smiled broadly when Lily arrived. She smiled back, nodding her head.
"Afternoon, Professor," She said.
"Is it that time already?" His tinny voice echoed around the damp dungeon, surprise coating his face.
"Yes, sir. How was your summer?" Lily sat in front, near the professor's desk.
"Mighty fine, thank you. I visited our friends across the pond; Vinnie Harroway was pleased to see me." Vinnie Harroway was a prominent Wizarding philosopher who had travelled to America after World War II.
"That's good to hear."
"And how was your's, Miss Lily?"
"Alright, thank you." Something about Lily seemed closed off when she answered, but James didn't dwell on it. Evans was always closed off.
"Class, class! May I please have your attention?" Professor Slughorn clapped his hands together. When the class, composed of Ravenclaw and Gryffindor Seventh Years, turned forward, Slughorn waved his wand and words appeared on the Chalkboard.
Seventh Year Project the chalkboard read. Slughorn paused, looking expectantly at James.
"Mr. Potter, care to find a seat?" He asked him, raising his eyebrows. James flushed before glancing around the room. There were no seats open besides the one next to Lily. Lily sighed and moved her satchel from the table.
"Thank you," Slughorn said as James scraped the chair back. "This year, you will be expected to complete only one project. The Aluuria Narooroot Project assigns each pair a certain topic to research and eventually experiment with. You must present ten types of potions- five to harm, and five to heal- before the N.E.W.T exams. Each potion will require at least ten ingredients and must be thoroughly researched. Dig deep, students, for this project will not be easy." He looked at Sirius pointedly, as he was flying paper birds around the room, barely moving his wand.
"After you find your potions, you must also create one of your own, using ingredients from the ten potions you have already completed. Each potion will require a full history and a fatality rating. You have eight months, students-"
"Professor, may we choose our partners?" Frankie Merriweather asked, not bothering to raise her hand.
"No, Frankie, your partner will be the one sitting next to you. Here are your rubrics-" Professor Slughorn waved his wand and parchment fluttered from his desk to each desk "-and good luck! You may begin."
James sighed, turning to Lily. Lily had her back to him and she was arguing silently with Elle, who was sitting across the room with Frida Parkinson.
"Uh, Evans? We should probably get started."
"Yes, sorry." She turned back and flicked open the parchment roll. It was at least Four feet long and filled with a scrawling script, hardly legible.
"Christ, does he expect us to read all this?" James asked, furrowing his brow. Lily simply tapped the paper, muttered Duplici, and tapped a fresh sheet of parchment. The words appeared on her paper and Lily proceeded to mark notes in the margins.
"How'd you do that?" James asked, unfamiliar with the spell.
"Duplici."
"Blimey," He whispered, repeating the spell on his paper.
They read carefully, marking notes and highlighting with their wands. Lily used Muggle pens in bright colors instead of the regular quills, which James found odd. She ignored him when he asked why.
"Great, shall we work on our research in the library after supper?" Lily asked when class was over.
"I have Quidditch practice," James said, rolling up his parchment.
"I'll leave the parchment on the table, you can look over some of the information."
"Alright, see you-" But Lily was gone.
"Blasted git," James muttered, hurrying up the stairs.
After classes, James made his way down to the Quidditch Pitch, dragging Remus by his ear.
"I don't have to watch every one of your practices!" Remus complained. He shoved James off weakly.
"Don't you want to watch Dorcas play, Moony?" James teased.
"Bugger off!" Remus said harshly. He looked pale and scrawny, like he hadn't eaten in weeks. His hair was limp and hung past his ears, the tawny brown losing its shine. Three new scars had appeared over his neck. James was concerned, but Remus had always insisted that the Marauders not spend the summers worrying over him.
"Just sit in the stands and work on homework!" Really, James just wanted to keep an eye on him; he had had an even rougher summer, for he wasn't able to see the boys at all.
"Fine, you prat," Remus stumbled over to the stands and James, satisfied, headed towards the locker room.
"Potter, Potter, Potter!" The boys chanted when he entered the locker room, his Nimbus 1500 slung over his shoulder. He took a few bows for sport before calming them.
"Alright, alright. We haven't won yet, lads," He said, smirking. "Carry on."
The boys cheered all the way out onto the field. James, finally tired of hearing his name, hushed them as he conferred with Dorcas, his Second-In-Command this year.
"Let's get trials out of the way before we decide what flavor of punch we're drinking for the Beginning of the Season Party, alright, Dork?"
"Potter, if you call me that, I swear on Merlin's holy underpants that I will-"
"Alright, Marcus Theregone, you're up first for Keeper!" James shouted, straddling his broom.
"I hate you, Potter!" Dorcas yelled.
"That's Captain to you, Dork!"
The team eventually consisted of Hestia Jones for Seeker, Arabella Darly for the other Chaser, young Charlie Weasley and Darnell McLaggen for Beaters, and, of course, Dorcas for Keeper.
The team boisterously made their way back towards the lockers, the failed athletes lagging behind them. Firewhiskey was passed by charms through the boys' locker room as James told everyone to meet in the Head's House for a party in thirty minutes.
James sprinted back towards the castle, stopping at the Gryffindor Dormitory for liquor and to visit one moaning Sirius Black. Sirius had been banned from the Quidditch Team last year for whacking Fredrick Flint, captain of the Slytherin team, on the head with a Beater club more than an acceptable amount.
"Padfoot?" James asked as he entered the Seventh Year Dormitory.
"Yes?" Sirius sobbed. He was lying on the ground, arm spread over his face. Peter sat on his bed, eating sweets and keeping a watchful eye on the older boy.
"Did Paddy stub his toe?" James asked mockingly, laughing at Sirius's distraught state.
"Don't mock me!" Sirius said sharply, glaring at the Head Boy.
"I would never!" James had the nerve to look offended. "I'm looking for liquor, where did you hide your stash this year?"
"I had to move it because that insufferable prat Filch found it. Nearly reported me, but I told him where I hid Mrs. Norris, so he let me go." He raised his heel and brought it down on the edge of a floorboard. The floorboard popped up, revealing a cavern of space filled with booze.
"You stole Mrs. Norris?" Peter asked, astounded.
"Yes, I did. I was very proud of that one. Can I come, Prongs?"
"To the party? No, you aren't a Quidditch player."
"But please? I'll be good! I'll only chat up Arabella. And maybe Helena, but she'll never give me the time of day."
"No, you may not come. I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast." James scooped up a few bottles of something or another, wrapped it in his invisibility cloak, and headed towards the door, tossing Peter a piece of liquor-filled candy.
"You don't own me!" Sirius shouted from his place on the ground. James left the dormitory.
Hey! I don't know if I've given credit to J.K. Rowling, so here goes: All characters and settings belong to J.K. Rowling!
If you find this on AO3 or Wattpad or anything, it's not mine. Somebody probably stole it and that wouldn't be good, so let me know! Thank you!
One more thing, I am NOT British so sorry for any misspellings, bad grammar, or if ya'll use different words like chips for fries! These are unintentional!
-LilyoftheValley