The Importance of Being. . .Normal?
SUMMARY: Lily and her two best friends, Alex and Ellen are in their fifth year at Hogwarts. What will happen when Lily begins to get to know the Marauders better? Will the Slytherins manage to beat the Griffindors in the House Cup? Will the Marauders be able to win a bet with Alex? Or will they fail miserably?
Chapter 4
Reasonable Reckoning
Late afternoon on the next day, when Ellen and Alex were off pranking the Slytherins with the Marauders, Lily went out to the quidditch pitch to lie on the grass and relax. Ever since she'd told Ellen and Alex about James' little mistake with his kiss, Elle hadn't left her alone about it, despite constantly promising not to tease her.
"Why won't she just get over it?" Lily said aloud, as she looked up at the clouds from where she was lying on her back looking up at the sky. "Why won't they just accept that I don't have to rush to his side like the other girls and just end up getting my heart broken?"
She sighed disheartedly "It'd kinda help if I didn't like him though. But I do. Possibly every female in this whole school likes him for god sakes. But I'm scared. Totally freaked out by the possibility that for once, James Potter could actually be a long term boy friend to someone."
For a while she laid silently, thinking completely confused. Then she started laughing quietly at herself, realising how stupid it must have looked for her to be talking to the sky. Her laughter became harder and more hysterical, as a great relief washed over her.
"Well this is no good," a voice came from somewhere behind her "now you're definitely one of us. Laughing madly constitutes as being as normal as we are."
"Shut up Remus," Lily managed to splutter, still chuckling "aren't you supposed to be off pranking people?"
"Yeah," he said offhandedly, sitting down near her "but we've finished. Elle said you were a bit shirty with her today after Divination, so she sent me to see if you're ok."
"Oh." Lily finally sobered "I hope she isn't mad at me, I really didn't mean to go off like that. . .I've had a lot to think about. And is does act like an idiot sometimes."
"I believe your exact words were 'stupid, ditzy brunette who has no common sense'. It's pretty mild actually. Even Peter can string more mean words together!" Remus exclaimed
"What ever." Lily said, pulling at some grass.
"So. Are you alright?"
"Hmm, yeah I think so. Just had to work out what I'm going to do that's all." Lily said, flopping back down onto the grass
"About James?" Remus laughed at Lily's shocked expression "Yes I do know about that Lily, us guys do talk, just like you and your best friends do. So what are you going to do?"
Lily shrugged "Ignore it until it goes away. I like him and he likes me, but I'm not going out with him until he proves he can act like someone who's not in it for a few quick snogging sessions, if you'll mind my terminology."
"Oh. I thought you'd say that. Don't worry, I have a feeling James is going to be trying real hard not to act like so much of a prat now." Remus stood up and brushed of his robes "Ready to go in yet? It's getting late."
Lily stood up as well and took a glance at the sunset "I just hope I'm doing the right thing. It's not like I can change anything now."
"It'll be ok Lily. Come on or we'll miss out on dinner."
* * * * * * * *
"You're kidding." James said flatly as he paced around the almost empty common room. "How am I supposed to act like someone who will be long term if I don't go out with anyone?"
"Shh-James, she's in the room having a shower. She has ear drums you know," Ellen said hushing him "and I have no idea."
James finally stopped pacing as it was beginning to irritate even him.
"Shove over Sirius," he said, moving to sit down on the couch next to him. Elle was sprawled with her legs over the arm of the armchair, Alex was sitting on the floor drawing up quidditch diagrams, and Remus and Peter were looking up a spell for a prank in the library.
"Fine! I'm going to annoy Alex anyway," he got up and sat down across from Alex on the floor and instantly started teasing her about being a "meek little Chaser".
"So I suppose you're going to be asking me about this now hey," Elle said dryly, noticing James' pointed look. "Alright, well you obviously can't go out with anyone else, that'd just be suicide. She just needs to know she can trust you fully. So that's what you've got to do, gain her complete trust."
"That all hey," James said sarcastically, running a hand through his hair and messing it up even more "and how do you suppose I do that?"
"I don't know-that's for you to figure out! But just remember, if you mess with her, you mess with me and Alex."
"Alright, alright Mother Hen." James laughed, "I'll be nice. It's not like I want to hurt her or anything."
"That is true." Ellen conceded, "You'll make a great couple."
"If Lily'll let us be."
"Also true."
"Elle?"
"What?"
"Stop agreeing with me."
"Ok-I mean, no." Elle grinned wickedly, ducking as James threw a quill at her head.
* * * * * * * * *
A/N: I was going to leave it there, but I think I can write a bit more.school is such a pain.
* * * * * * * * *
"Blockhead."
"Weakling."
Sirius and Alex's name-calling was getting louder.
"For pity's sake-will you two get over it?" James said, turning away from Ellen for the moment to address his fighting best friend and his cousin.
"Nope!" They both said at the same time, before going back to their argument almost happily.
"Smarmy git." Alex said
"Fairy dust for brains." Sirius shot back.
"Mongulated duck." Alex replied, laughing as soon as the words left her lips.
"What the?" Sirius said before cracking up laughing as well. "Mongulated duck, that's a new one." He managed to say through his laughter.
"Lex, maybe you should ease up on the ink-I think it's sending you a little bit high." Ellen mock scolded her.
"Just say it Elle," Sirius said, grabbing one of her feet that were dangling over the arm of the armchair "it makes you laugh. Come onnnn, say it!"
"Fine, fine. I'm much above all this you do realise." Ellen said pretending to be a snob, but loosing her composure and started laughing before she could almost spit out "Mongulated duck!"
"What on earth is going on in here?" Lily said, coming down the stairs dressed in her pyjamas and her hair still damp.
"They have. . .issues." James said, gesturing to the three hysterical friends now all on the floor, as Ellen had laughed so hard she'd fell off her seat.
"I'm sure they do." Lily said with a raised eyebrow as she took up Ellen's armchair.
"What was the Transfiguration homework?" she asked James, the only coherent one in the room.
"Just summarise chapter three. It's easy."
"Alright then," Lily said dashing back up the stairs to return with her books.
She shook her head, "God they're still at it. Oops. That sounded wrong. . .I mean, God they're still laughing."
James chuckled at her "Yeah they are. Complete nutters the lot of them."
"Yep that'd be about right."
So the night wore on, Lily sitting scratching away with her quill trying to concentrate on her homework despite Sirius, Elle and Alex laughing their heads off at anything anyone said. Once or twice they stopped, but started again instantly when Lily asked them if they were "Normal now or if they were waiting until someone handed them back their sanity on a silver platter."
"Lily,"
She looked up, startled to see James still sitting there, watching her work.
"What?"
"I was just wondering if you'd like to go for a walk for a bit before you go to bed," James said, trying to sound like a friend and not someone who desperately wanted to kiss her at that exact moment.
"Um. . .yeah. Just let me finish this." Lily said, blowing on her last paragraph of drying ink.
"Alright then." James said, trying to sound nonchalant and attempting to hide his smile that would have revealed him as the cat that ate the canary.
"Sirius, and. . .could you please keep it down? I've got to get some beauty sleep around this place you know," a new voice came from the girl's dorm staircase.
"God. Anyone but Chrissie." Lily muttered as she looked up to see the plastic-y looking 7th year enter the common room, swishing her flowing dressing gown artfully as she walked down the stairs.
"Nah, sorry Chrissie-we're having too much fun." Sirius said, finally stopping laughing for longer than five seconds.
"Surely you couldn't be having that much fun with . . .them," Chrissie said, leaning over in front of Sirius where he sat on the floor, her low necked nightgown revealing a fair bit.
Alex stood up, crossing her arms "'Them' have names. Alex O' Flannery and Ellen Rockswell. And believe it or not, talking to people, people as in YOUR FRIENDS and not trying to seduce good looking guys all the time can actually be FUN. So why don't you walk your stupid whore backside back up to your room and get out of our faces."
"But"- Chrissie spluttered, realising that Alex was really annoyed and not one to mess with. Finally. It's not like it took that much brains.
"Just go Christina. And if you ever try and be a little feral and seduce one of my friends like that by showing off your chest I swear I'll inflict serious damage to your face." Alex said icily.
Chrissie emitted a funny little sound that sounded a lot like "eep" and dashed back up the stairs, almost tripping on her over sized dressing gown.
"God Alex you didn't have to be like that," Ellen said from where she still sat, half stunned on the floor next to Sirius.
"Yeah I did. She's always like that." Alex muttered, offering a hand to help Sirius up "Stupid whore." She muttered under her breath.
"You think she'd realise she isn't going to get far, what with my own personal protector here," Sirius said offhandedly, "she's been at it since we came here. I'm two years younger than her. . .besides, I like my girls with brains."
Ellen raised an eyebrow "And with a mind of their own?"
"Yeah sure, that's good."
"Sounds a lot like someone I know," Elle said, giving Alex a pointed look.
"No way Elle, you're going to shut up RIGHT NOW." Alex said giving her a venomous look.
"Fine fine, don't get your wand in a bend."
"So," James said, trying to get Lily's attention away from the argument about to unfold "shall we be off before it's way too late?"
"Alright." Lily gathered her dressing gown around her, covering her men's style flannel pyjamas.
~~~!!~~~!!~~~!!~~~!!~~~
A/N: Well there's chapter 4 up and finished! Please review, or guess what, I'll bring out the evil cliffhangers again! Teeheehee! Thanks to all who've reviewed so far, and I hope this chapter has cleared up some things.I'm trying to actually give Lily some sense when it comes to going out with James, so bare with me, cause he's going to have to win her over, not just sweep her off her feet. Read and Review * chants * Read and Review!
Righty-o! From Katherine.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Harry Potter, that's JK Rowling turf! I only own Alexandria (Alex, Lex, or Flannie) O' Flannery, Ellen Rockswell, Proffessor Rickshaw and Christina (Chrissie). I'm also going to say that I take rights for the phrase "mongulated duck". In case you're thinking "what the?!" it's pronounced "Mong-U-lay-ted Duck".
SUMMARY: Lily and her two best friends, Alex and Ellen are in their fifth year at Hogwarts. What will happen when Lily begins to get to know the Marauders better? Will the Slytherins manage to beat the Griffindors in the House Cup? Will the Marauders be able to win a bet with Alex? Or will they fail miserably?
Chapter 4
Reasonable Reckoning
Late afternoon on the next day, when Ellen and Alex were off pranking the Slytherins with the Marauders, Lily went out to the quidditch pitch to lie on the grass and relax. Ever since she'd told Ellen and Alex about James' little mistake with his kiss, Elle hadn't left her alone about it, despite constantly promising not to tease her.
"Why won't she just get over it?" Lily said aloud, as she looked up at the clouds from where she was lying on her back looking up at the sky. "Why won't they just accept that I don't have to rush to his side like the other girls and just end up getting my heart broken?"
She sighed disheartedly "It'd kinda help if I didn't like him though. But I do. Possibly every female in this whole school likes him for god sakes. But I'm scared. Totally freaked out by the possibility that for once, James Potter could actually be a long term boy friend to someone."
For a while she laid silently, thinking completely confused. Then she started laughing quietly at herself, realising how stupid it must have looked for her to be talking to the sky. Her laughter became harder and more hysterical, as a great relief washed over her.
"Well this is no good," a voice came from somewhere behind her "now you're definitely one of us. Laughing madly constitutes as being as normal as we are."
"Shut up Remus," Lily managed to splutter, still chuckling "aren't you supposed to be off pranking people?"
"Yeah," he said offhandedly, sitting down near her "but we've finished. Elle said you were a bit shirty with her today after Divination, so she sent me to see if you're ok."
"Oh." Lily finally sobered "I hope she isn't mad at me, I really didn't mean to go off like that. . .I've had a lot to think about. And is does act like an idiot sometimes."
"I believe your exact words were 'stupid, ditzy brunette who has no common sense'. It's pretty mild actually. Even Peter can string more mean words together!" Remus exclaimed
"What ever." Lily said, pulling at some grass.
"So. Are you alright?"
"Hmm, yeah I think so. Just had to work out what I'm going to do that's all." Lily said, flopping back down onto the grass
"About James?" Remus laughed at Lily's shocked expression "Yes I do know about that Lily, us guys do talk, just like you and your best friends do. So what are you going to do?"
Lily shrugged "Ignore it until it goes away. I like him and he likes me, but I'm not going out with him until he proves he can act like someone who's not in it for a few quick snogging sessions, if you'll mind my terminology."
"Oh. I thought you'd say that. Don't worry, I have a feeling James is going to be trying real hard not to act like so much of a prat now." Remus stood up and brushed of his robes "Ready to go in yet? It's getting late."
Lily stood up as well and took a glance at the sunset "I just hope I'm doing the right thing. It's not like I can change anything now."
"It'll be ok Lily. Come on or we'll miss out on dinner."
* * * * * * * *
"You're kidding." James said flatly as he paced around the almost empty common room. "How am I supposed to act like someone who will be long term if I don't go out with anyone?"
"Shh-James, she's in the room having a shower. She has ear drums you know," Ellen said hushing him "and I have no idea."
James finally stopped pacing as it was beginning to irritate even him.
"Shove over Sirius," he said, moving to sit down on the couch next to him. Elle was sprawled with her legs over the arm of the armchair, Alex was sitting on the floor drawing up quidditch diagrams, and Remus and Peter were looking up a spell for a prank in the library.
"Fine! I'm going to annoy Alex anyway," he got up and sat down across from Alex on the floor and instantly started teasing her about being a "meek little Chaser".
"So I suppose you're going to be asking me about this now hey," Elle said dryly, noticing James' pointed look. "Alright, well you obviously can't go out with anyone else, that'd just be suicide. She just needs to know she can trust you fully. So that's what you've got to do, gain her complete trust."
"That all hey," James said sarcastically, running a hand through his hair and messing it up even more "and how do you suppose I do that?"
"I don't know-that's for you to figure out! But just remember, if you mess with her, you mess with me and Alex."
"Alright, alright Mother Hen." James laughed, "I'll be nice. It's not like I want to hurt her or anything."
"That is true." Ellen conceded, "You'll make a great couple."
"If Lily'll let us be."
"Also true."
"Elle?"
"What?"
"Stop agreeing with me."
"Ok-I mean, no." Elle grinned wickedly, ducking as James threw a quill at her head.
* * * * * * * * *
A/N: I was going to leave it there, but I think I can write a bit more.school is such a pain.
* * * * * * * * *
"Blockhead."
"Weakling."
Sirius and Alex's name-calling was getting louder.
"For pity's sake-will you two get over it?" James said, turning away from Ellen for the moment to address his fighting best friend and his cousin.
"Nope!" They both said at the same time, before going back to their argument almost happily.
"Smarmy git." Alex said
"Fairy dust for brains." Sirius shot back.
"Mongulated duck." Alex replied, laughing as soon as the words left her lips.
"What the?" Sirius said before cracking up laughing as well. "Mongulated duck, that's a new one." He managed to say through his laughter.
"Lex, maybe you should ease up on the ink-I think it's sending you a little bit high." Ellen mock scolded her.
"Just say it Elle," Sirius said, grabbing one of her feet that were dangling over the arm of the armchair "it makes you laugh. Come onnnn, say it!"
"Fine, fine. I'm much above all this you do realise." Ellen said pretending to be a snob, but loosing her composure and started laughing before she could almost spit out "Mongulated duck!"
"What on earth is going on in here?" Lily said, coming down the stairs dressed in her pyjamas and her hair still damp.
"They have. . .issues." James said, gesturing to the three hysterical friends now all on the floor, as Ellen had laughed so hard she'd fell off her seat.
"I'm sure they do." Lily said with a raised eyebrow as she took up Ellen's armchair.
"What was the Transfiguration homework?" she asked James, the only coherent one in the room.
"Just summarise chapter three. It's easy."
"Alright then," Lily said dashing back up the stairs to return with her books.
She shook her head, "God they're still at it. Oops. That sounded wrong. . .I mean, God they're still laughing."
James chuckled at her "Yeah they are. Complete nutters the lot of them."
"Yep that'd be about right."
So the night wore on, Lily sitting scratching away with her quill trying to concentrate on her homework despite Sirius, Elle and Alex laughing their heads off at anything anyone said. Once or twice they stopped, but started again instantly when Lily asked them if they were "Normal now or if they were waiting until someone handed them back their sanity on a silver platter."
"Lily,"
She looked up, startled to see James still sitting there, watching her work.
"What?"
"I was just wondering if you'd like to go for a walk for a bit before you go to bed," James said, trying to sound like a friend and not someone who desperately wanted to kiss her at that exact moment.
"Um. . .yeah. Just let me finish this." Lily said, blowing on her last paragraph of drying ink.
"Alright then." James said, trying to sound nonchalant and attempting to hide his smile that would have revealed him as the cat that ate the canary.
"Sirius, and. . .could you please keep it down? I've got to get some beauty sleep around this place you know," a new voice came from the girl's dorm staircase.
"God. Anyone but Chrissie." Lily muttered as she looked up to see the plastic-y looking 7th year enter the common room, swishing her flowing dressing gown artfully as she walked down the stairs.
"Nah, sorry Chrissie-we're having too much fun." Sirius said, finally stopping laughing for longer than five seconds.
"Surely you couldn't be having that much fun with . . .them," Chrissie said, leaning over in front of Sirius where he sat on the floor, her low necked nightgown revealing a fair bit.
Alex stood up, crossing her arms "'Them' have names. Alex O' Flannery and Ellen Rockswell. And believe it or not, talking to people, people as in YOUR FRIENDS and not trying to seduce good looking guys all the time can actually be FUN. So why don't you walk your stupid whore backside back up to your room and get out of our faces."
"But"- Chrissie spluttered, realising that Alex was really annoyed and not one to mess with. Finally. It's not like it took that much brains.
"Just go Christina. And if you ever try and be a little feral and seduce one of my friends like that by showing off your chest I swear I'll inflict serious damage to your face." Alex said icily.
Chrissie emitted a funny little sound that sounded a lot like "eep" and dashed back up the stairs, almost tripping on her over sized dressing gown.
"God Alex you didn't have to be like that," Ellen said from where she still sat, half stunned on the floor next to Sirius.
"Yeah I did. She's always like that." Alex muttered, offering a hand to help Sirius up "Stupid whore." She muttered under her breath.
"You think she'd realise she isn't going to get far, what with my own personal protector here," Sirius said offhandedly, "she's been at it since we came here. I'm two years younger than her. . .besides, I like my girls with brains."
Ellen raised an eyebrow "And with a mind of their own?"
"Yeah sure, that's good."
"Sounds a lot like someone I know," Elle said, giving Alex a pointed look.
"No way Elle, you're going to shut up RIGHT NOW." Alex said giving her a venomous look.
"Fine fine, don't get your wand in a bend."
"So," James said, trying to get Lily's attention away from the argument about to unfold "shall we be off before it's way too late?"
"Alright." Lily gathered her dressing gown around her, covering her men's style flannel pyjamas.
~~~!!~~~!!~~~!!~~~!!~~~
A/N: Well there's chapter 4 up and finished! Please review, or guess what, I'll bring out the evil cliffhangers again! Teeheehee! Thanks to all who've reviewed so far, and I hope this chapter has cleared up some things.I'm trying to actually give Lily some sense when it comes to going out with James, so bare with me, cause he's going to have to win her over, not just sweep her off her feet. Read and Review * chants * Read and Review!
Righty-o! From Katherine.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Harry Potter, that's JK Rowling turf! I only own Alexandria (Alex, Lex, or Flannie) O' Flannery, Ellen Rockswell, Proffessor Rickshaw and Christina (Chrissie). I'm also going to say that I take rights for the phrase "mongulated duck". In case you're thinking "what the?!" it's pronounced "Mong-U-lay-ted Duck".