When Lily woke up, all that remained of the party were her presents and Sirius. She woke up bright and early, and supposed Sirius wasn't expecting her at all. He was studying.
Not studying subjects he needed to study on, oh no! He was reading up on Animagi. Transfiguration had always been a prime interest of the Marauders (all except Remus, who had a preference for D.A.DA). Arabella, Sirius, Peter and James would always huddle over a stupid Transfiguration book, night and day.
"Whatcha doin'?" She asked quietly, but nonetheless Sirius jumped. A piece of parchment fell to the floor.
"Arabella- Unofficial member, does not receive nickname.. However CAT will be code name, or Crookshanks.. She said she had a preference for bow-legged cats.. Or maybe that's just the fact that her cats in Transfiguration always came out that way... Ronan- Unofficial member, does not receive a nickname, and his incomplete Animagi and his love for astronomy makes him Ronan the centaur. Munguldus.. Unofficial member.. White rabbit (some obsession with Jefferson Airplane, Alice In Wonderland and the tall tale that rabbits symbolize witchcraft or something). Peter- Official Marauder, Wormtail. I think the rat thing is a bit freaky, but okay. James- Official Marauder, Prongs.. Where am I supposed to file this information? The Marauder's Hand Bible? Me- Official Marauder, Padfoot." Lily read to herself, Sirius not even trying to get the parchment away from her. "Interesting.. Arabella's an ugly cat, Peter is a freaky rat, James is a stag and you are a shaggy dog?"
Sirius's jaw graced the floor. "H-h-how did you- What did you- How do you know?"
"Remus told me." She said simply. "We have to get fitted for our uniforms today."
"I don't get that whole uniform thing."
"Do you remember the days of bright orange and green tank tops?"
"Aahh!"
Sirius and Lily went into Hogsmeade to be fitted, and as Sirius put it, they were bored out of their minds.
McGonagall had chosen something simple. The boys' choices were: light-gray/blue sweater (long-sleeved or vest, each with the Hogwarts crest on the upper part of the left side of the chest), a diagonally-striped tie with your two house colors on it, a white oxford shirt (long or short sleeves), a pair of slacks (charcoal gray or navy) with loafers, white, navy, gray or black socks, and, of course, Hogwarts robes, navy blazers with the Hogwarts crest outside of school. Girls had similar choices. First years wore charcoal gray or navy jumpers with either long-sleeved or short-sleeved white oxford blouses (with the ruffle collar), navy or charcoal gray stockings with black Mary Janes, or charcoal gray or navy knee-highs. Their only choice of sweater was the long-sleeved school sweater. The rest of the girls had options similar to the boys, except skirts in either charcoal gray or navy, short or long (though the short ones had to be a certain length) and hosiery had options between socks, stockings, knee-highs or tights in the school colors, no tie nor the blazer. Sirius and Lily selected two of each of their options.
"That had to be the most boring shopping trip I've ever been on." Lily said exasperatedly as they sat down in their new uniforms in Professor Dumbledore's office. Lily's skirt was too-short for the regulation, and she wore short little white bobby socks, her long-sleeved blouse (with the ruffle collar) and her sweater vest, sipping her chocolate shake through a straw. "What does Dumbledore want?"
"He said we're representing the school in options for some sort of casual Friday with a dress code." Sirius drawled as he leaned back in his chair. "Hello, Fawkes."
"Since when has Dumbledore been so uptight about what we wear?" Lily asked before disposing of her chocolate shake (or rather, the container it was in).
"Since half the Hufflepuffs near you in Divination failed their classes on account of a set of rather large distractions that came in a set of two." Sirius said sharply, making Lily laugh. "However, it's the board of directors that wants us in uniform- Says it brings more of a dignified and organized look to the school. They are referring to the fact that we aren't half as disciplined as the Beauxbatons students."
Lily simply scowled.
"So what kind of casual could we go for?" Lily asked, trying to keep a straight face. "Under the dress code, of course."
"Of course. I'm thinking more comfortable shirts for the guys, bag the blazers and the sweaters and the ties and allow clean tennis shoes." Sirius said solemnly, making Lily want to laugh so much more. "You?"
"High heels, bag the sweaters and more comfortable blouses and I'm fine." Lily said quickly. "I think we've made reasonable demands.. And if they add uniforms to the extra curriculum (excluding Quidditch), Casual Friday dress will be fine."
"Flying lessons should be tennis shoes, comfortable black pants and a comfortable shirt with the Hogwarts logo on it. Deal?" Sirius said as serious as a business man.
"Deal."
"Quidditch practices, however, should be a little more loose. Whatever you want to wear within the dress code." Lily said simply. "Deal?"
"Deal."
So the two set to work on the dress code, arguing over and over until a piece of parchment emerged (with a lot of cross-outs and blotches of ink) with the dress code.
"So, Lily, Sirius, have you come to an agreement?" Dumbledore asked as he walked in. "We're sending out the requirements and the dress code for the Casual Friday and extra curriculum."
"Yes, excepting for one thing." Sirius stated.
"About all that Quidditch merchandise we sold last year.." Lily began.
"We were just wondering.. Not that you should feel pressured or anything..." Sirius muttered.
"We think that the blazers are a bit much for walking around the school. There should be an option of what sweaters or jackets we wear.. And besides a dress code, walking around in a uniform for just getting dinner is ridiculous." Lily admitted slowly.
Dumbledore stared at the two intensely. "Agreed. Why don't you two go get your homework done.. I know for a fact that you aren't even half-completing some of your assignments."
Sirius and Lily both wore uncomfortable smiles and went back to the tower.
"Does this seem kind of odd to you?" Lily asked uncomfortably as they both sat at the long, empty house table.
"Yes. I'm sitting in uniform next to one of my best friends and this hall isn't as small as it seems when you arrive like a normal person." Sirius snapped. "This whole 'we can't go to London' thing bites."
"So.."
"So.."
"Hmm.."
"Yeah.."
The rumble of carriage wheels and the splashes of little boats outside made Lily and Sirius look up and rejoice. Their friends were back.
Sarah Barnes was quite proud of herself. She was blonde, beautiful, and wearing James's blazer (claiming she was too cold, but honestly, she and James clicked!). He had his arm around her and everything when they got out of the train.
"You want to come and join us in our carriage?" He asked, even though Peter, Ronan, Munguldus and Remus silently (but obviously) objected.
"Sure." Sarah chirped, taking one blonde curl and twisting it around her finger. The four friends of James thought he would be entranced by her then, but he did nothing but stare out the window on the way to the castle.
Waiting for them at the front doors was Sirius. James broke away from Sarah and the group to give Sirius a 'manly' hug.
"Where's Lily, Padfoot?" Ronan asked immediately. This perky Sarah chick was getting on his nerves. He needed pessimism and he needed it now!
"Inside. She finally got Walkman to work." Sirius muttered. At Sarah, Ronan and Remus's confused looks, he simply said, "A Muggle invention that hasn't come out yet that allows you to privately listen to your music on the go. She Charmed it while we were in London and threw it against the wall and it started working. She is probably wowing all the guys with her ability to wear the shortest skirt allowed.. Actually, it isn't really allowed, but since we're part of the dress code enforcement team, she hasn't gotten a detention yet."
Lily came running out of the big doors and into Remus's arms, who spun her around. She whispered in his ear, "I need help on DADA question seventy-four."
He laughed really hard and somebody tapped him on the shoulder. It was James.
"Trojan, at your service, milady." James whispered, grabbing his blazer, which was hanging loosely on Sarah's shoulders.
"Well, now, a lady cannot refuse such an offer." She whispered back with a giggle, slipping into his blazer.
"Trojan?" Sarah asked with a scowl. "Isn't that bit raunchy?"
"No.. Not at all what you might think.. See, a fake gigantic horse was used by the Greeks as a military tactic to confuse the Trojans, so, considering the way those two go at it, whether romantically or angrily, it throws everyone off. I thought it was quite appropriate." Munguldus said all too intelligently. Sarah still scowled.
"So, what's with Barnes?" Lily asked during the Sorting. A cheer that erupted from the Hufflepuff table gave James a little distraction time.
"Nothing.. She's got this weird crush on me and I'm humoring her." He muttered, taking a roll from the basket that sat in Lily's lap. They always got hungry during the Sorting. (A/N: Remind you of Ron?)
"You mean you're leading her on?" Lily translated simply, taking a bite of her roll.
"I have no intention of leading her on. Perhaps she'll be my first girlfriend since, well, you." James whispered, buttering his roll under the table.
"Correction: She'll be your first girlfriend since you got back from Hogwarts. We were never officially dating." Lily half-hissed.
"Whatever." James said off-handedly. "She's nice, I guess."
"You guess? She tried to curse my nose off." Lily muttered, raising her voice a bit.
"That must have been interesting." James said with a hidden laugh.
"No, it was excruciatingly painful." Lily snapped in a low voice. "What now, Prongs, do you have to look up the word excruciatingly along with your follow-up reports on Animagi?"
James's confused face must have ticked her off, because she no longer pretended to be watching the Sorting.
"No, no, no.. I didn't think you meant it. She tried to curse your nose off?" James whispered worriedly. "Are you okay?"
"My nose doesn't look like Barbara Streisand's, does it?" Lily asked as a Sid Tyson was sorted into Gryffindor. Lily and James had the least enthusiastic (or real-looking) cheers.
"Okay, okay.. I get it, you're fine. What is your problem?" He asked as Sid's twin Bob was sorted into Ravenclaw.
"Maybe it's Sarah- You know- brainy, built, blonde, beautiful, hates my guts.. Or maybe it's the fact you showed up with her glued to your side and the fact that she was wearing your blazer and it's not even cold outside!" Lily hissed a little louder.
"How was I supposed to know she wasn't cold?" James asked helplessly, his voice climbing. "Why do you care what I do with Sarah?"
"Maybe the fact that its ninety-three degrees outside might help!" Lily snapped, standing up. "She's not good enough for you, I don't want you ruining a rep you haven't started!"
He stood up to face her. "What is your problem.. Hold on.. Wait.. You care about me. Lily Evans cares about me!"
He looked a little cocky. "Let the world know: LILY EVANS CARES ABOUT ME!!!"
Lily sat down in a huff. "Or how about the entire population of Hogwarts?" She muttered, rubbing her temples.
"If you wouldn't mind, Mr. Potter, Ms. Evans, could you please continue your little self-inflicted melodrama after tonight's feast?" Professor Vector snapped at them from her table. James sat down in a huff and the two slouched in their chairs, their arms crossed.
The entire Gryffindor table was in tears of laughter, and at the Ravenclaw table, Sarah Barnes and David Morales were in states similar to Lily and James's.
"I have an announcement to make! All of the male Gryffindor sixth years, will you please stay in the Common Room! The rest of you must clear out: This is a special, exclusive meeting!" Sirius yelled over all the noise. "You first years should be going to bed anyway!"
"But, but, but, but.. Wunka Sewyous.. It, it, it, it's still light out!" Lily whined in a baby voice, dragging her feet all the way up the stairs to her room. "Wunka Sewyous mean!"
"So, what's up?" Tad Lowe asked, pulling up a chair as soon as Lily left.
"Lily has a crush on somebody." Remus said evilly.
"So?" Ronan asked, bored.
"On somebody in this room." Munguldus finished.
"It's James. Duh." Ronan replied.
"That's what I though--.." James began, but Sirius interrupted.
"Besides her crew. We would have known. And James is on an ego-trip sent from hell." Sirius said, waving off James's protests.
"Again.. So?" Ronan asked, getting more bored by the moment.
"Get out, Ronan, you have a girlfriend." Remus demanded, impatient.
"Okay, okay, I'll shut up. What's the point of being here?" Ronan demanded in an equally impatient voice.
"Are you the most obtuse specimen of male humanity?" Munguldus roared. "We have to find out who and set her up!"
"Oh, no, no, no." Sirius began. "She has a rule about in-house dating."
"Then why are we here, Padfoot?" James asked.
"It was Remus's bright idea." Sirius snapped sarcastically.
"Why don't we all get some sleep?" Tad asked.
"Good idea."
"Couldn't agree more."
"Which dormitory am I in this year?"
"Dunno."
And the thirteen boys climbed the stairs to their rooms and everyone began to snooze off into dreamland.