You're More Than a Friend
Chapter 4 Charms and Chocolate Syrup.
James had been at Hogwarts for three months now, and so far it had been cool. Not so different from home, except, now, he was allowed to do magic. He was becoming very frustrated with Lily, though, who was always studying. She would not lighten up. He was going to have to do something about that.
James walked down to breakfast early one Wednesday morning. He was meeting Remus, Sirius, and another boy he'd met, named Peter Pettigrew. James sat down to wait.
He had almost dozed off, sitting there, when Sirius, Remus and Peter walked in. He smiled at them, and indicated that they should pull up a chair.
"So what's so urgent that we had to wake up two hours before class on a Wednesday morning?" Sirius asked, stifling a yawn.
"It's about Lily," James began.
"Oh, her." Peter said. "Should we really have this discussion here then? She could walk in at any time."
"It's ok. She studies in her room of a morning." Remus said. "What?" H asked when everyone stared at him.
"How do you know?" James managed finally.
"She invited me to join her yesterday when I got back from the infirmary. She was studying in the common room coz she'd been kicked out of the dorm."
James shook his head, "Strange girl."
"So, why did you call a meeting of the fearsome four because of Lily?"
"Speaking of that, we need a new name."
"We'll find one. Back to the matter at hand, what's wrong with Lily?" Remus asked.
"She's too serious."
"No she's not, I'm Sirius."
"Not funny."
"Sorry."
"But really, she was never like this at Godric's Hollow. She used to have fun, now she spends all her time studying." James frowned. "I don't know what's gotten into her."
"So what do you suggest we do, oh fearless leader?" Sirius asked.
"I think we should play a trick on her, it might help lighten things up."
"It might also make her mad." Remus pointed out.
"She'll get over it. She shouldn't take herself so seriously." Peter said.
They all stared at him.
"Well she shouldn't." He said defensively.
James just shook his head, "Any ideas?" He asked.
"Let's hide all her homework!" Sirius said.
Remus shook his head, "That would make her mad."
"Ok, let's make her do something really embarrassing, like kiss Malfoy." Peter suggested.
"Uh uh, that's cruel. You know how shy she is."
"I know!" Sirius jumped up.
"What?" They all asked.
"We'll enchant her so she can only say what we want her to for the rest of the day."
James nodded, "That doesn't sound too bad. It's not like we'd make her say anything embarrassing."
Remus got up, "It's decided then, we'll put a lingus totalus (~AN: It's said lin-gwus total-us.~) charm on her. Too bad that it's to b done on Lily; she's really good at charms.
"Yeah." Agreed Sirius.
"Well, Remus you're the best charm caster out of us 4, so you'd better do it." James said.
"Ok then. Should I do it this morning?" Remus asked.
Sirius, James and Peter nodded.
"That seems best." James replied.
Lily arrived, her hair in its customary braids, looking worn out.
"What's the matter Lily?" James asked in concern.
"Coffee." Lily yawned. "I need coffee, lots and lots of coffee."
Remus pushed the pot towards her. She poured herself a cup, and downed to scalding liquid black, with no sugar. After that she seemed to wake up, and glanced around at them all.
"Good Morning!" She said happily and pulled out her transfiguration book, which she proceeded to read whilst shoveling porridge into her mouth. Sirius was looking at her, his mouth open. She looked up from her second bowl and said, "What?"
He shook his head, "How do you do that?"
She looked confused. "Do what?"
"Well 2 things, how do you go from being exhausted to chirpy in less than 2 seconds, and how do you eat porridge so fast?"
Lily grinned, "Oh that's easy. Coffee makes me wake up, I'm totally addicted to the stuff, and my mum used to baby-sit. Have you ever eaten with 12 hungry 5 year olds? You learn to eat fast, or starve." She slammed her book shut. "Well I gotta go, I want to check something out in the library before class. See ya."
As she walked off, Remus got out his wand and muttered a few words. They saw her throat glow purple for a moment, before all traces of the spell disappeared.
As far as James was concerned, today was the best day at Hogwarts so far. Lily spent all Potions humming a song under her breath, which earned her a detention, then she 'accidentally' pronounced the hair-growing charm wrong, causing her hair to go green and grow to enormous proportions. He felt kind of sorry for her by the end of the day, and removed the charm quietly. Unfortunately, not quietly enough. Lily turned around, her eyes flashing. Oh shit. James thought. But she merely smiled and then walked off, her slightly longer braids swinging. James felt relief wash over him. He may not have been so relieved, had he heard the conversation Lily had with her 2 best friends, Molly Mirchant and Lauren Rose.
"Those 4 boys! Argh!" Lily was furious. They had played a trick on her!
Lauren looked up from her potions homework, "Everything ok?"
"No! Those 4 awful boys played a trick on me! They got me detention from Professor Jacons, and I'll bet Pettigrew was the one who stuffed up the hair-growing charm. Imagine! I had green hair in front of the Slytherins!"
Lauren pulled a sympathetic face. "So that's why you grew green hair. I wondered."
"But I can't believe they played a trick on me. I thought I was their friend." Tears prickled in her eyes.
Lauren tugged on one black curl; her blue eyes full of concern "Don't cry Lily. You have been very preoccupied lately with schoolwork. And it's because you're their friend that they did this. They could have done something really embarrassing."
"This could have been embarrassing! I'll bet it was the lingus totalus charm. They could have made me say anything!"
Molly came skipping in, fiery hair streaming and brown eyes shining. She stopped immediately when she saw Lily was crying. "Lily, what's wrong?"
Lily simply cried harder.
"The Fearsome Four played a rotten trick on her which caused her to get detention, and personally I agree with Lily, it probably was Pettigrew who stuffed up the lengthostea charm and caused her hair to literally 'grow green.'" Lauren said, her eyes burning.
Molly stood up, her eyes flashing. "Well I'm not going to stand for it! Those 4 are about to meet their match!"
Lily looked up, her eyes wide and wet. "What are you going to do Molly? Don't get into trouble on my account."
Molly started to pace. "It's not just for you Lily, although you're the catalyst. Those 4 have been playing pranks on all of us, but I honestly thought you'd be safe, being their friend and all." She stalked out of the room.
James looked up when he heard Molly's footsteps. He wondered who the victim of thee temperamental redhead's wrath would be this time. For such a short, sweet looking girl, she sure has a fierce temper. He thought idly. He watched as she gazed around the room, dismissing the usual people. Her gaze had almost gone in a full circle when she finally found James and his gang. James looked into those flashing eyes, and resisted the urge to run.
She came storming over. "James Potter this is the last straw!" She yelled.
All four boys cowered under her eyes. "Ye," James cleared his throat, as his voice squeaked. "Yes Molly?"
"I don't care if three of you boys are the hottest smartest funniest boys in Gryffindor! You had no right, you know how sensitive, Argh!! How dare you play such a cruel trick on Lily! She's helped you all with your Charms and Potions homework more times than I can count! And she thought you were her best friend, James! Her best friend! How could you do that to her?"
"What do ya mean Molly?" Sirius asked, in what he thought was his most innocent voice. She walked right up to him, and pushed him in the chest, so that he fell into the seat.
"That poor girl is upstairs crying. I get sick for one day and you guys hurt her feelings."
She said more, but James didn't hear her. He'd hurt her. He'd hurt his best friend of over 7 years. He was jerked out of his thoughts by a stinging slap across his cheek. He couldn't believe it. Molly had hit him! She never hit anybody. She got squeamish about cutting the dead caterpillars heads of in Potions. He knew he was in trouble. He shrank down in his seat as she advanced on him.
"Now you listen to me, James Potter, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew." She hissed. "You are all going to go upstairs to the Girl's Dorm, and you are going to apologise."
"Why should we." Peter said defiantly. Molly walked over, and Peter moved slightly so he was behind Sirius. Molly grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back.
"You know, I've never liked you." She breathed. "And I've always thought the Slytherins were right to call you a mama's boy. Here's your chance to prove to me that you aren't a little coward. Now I warn you, I'm as good at Potions as Lily, and if you aren't careful I might b carrying around, oh, I don't know, a Love Potion. And I might 'accidentally' trip when I'm walking past you 4. So if I were you, I'd watch my step from now on."
She would have continued, but a 2nd year named Arthur Weasley, one of James's friends, came over and started talking to her about Mrs. Norris.
Meanwhile, Lily had calmed down enough to think rationally. She turned to Lauren, a glint in her eye that Lauren had never seen before.
"Lily," She said warningly, "What are you thinking?"
Lily spun around, braids flying. "I was thinking of getting them back."
"What? How? They're the best. They'd see a trick from a mile away."
"Aah," Lily tapped her nose. "That's where you're wrong. They're all pureblood wizards. When they play a trick on someone, it's always dependent on magic. Mine would be mostly a muggle one."
"Whaddya mean?"
"Well last year I watched a movie called Parent Trap at the Cinema. I think we should do something like they did in the movie." Lily said.
"What's a Cinema?"
She rolled her eyes, Sometimes I wonder about purebloods. "I'll tell you later. Now here's what we have to do."
While Lily was having a meeting with Lauren, James was having one with his friends.
"We have to apologise." James said.
"For what? It's not out fault she's so touchy." Peter exclaimed.
"I'd forgotten how sensitive she is. She's so at ease with us and the rest of the Gryffindors." James explained.
"I agree with James." Remus said.
"Me too!" Chimed in Sirius.
James nodded. "It's settled then, 3 against 1. When?"
"Tomorrow morning at breakfast. If she's anything like my little sister, she'll need some time to cool off." Sirius said.
"Ok. Tomorrow at breakfast. Now let's go to Hogsmeade." Remus agreed.
James got out his invisibility cloak, and they hurried off.
Lily was furious. Where were they? She needed them to be asleep, before she and Lauren could carry out the plan. She heard James's wonderful, Wonderful? Where did that come from? Familiar voice. She quickly lit her candle, and then moved it behind the desk divider, so the light couldn't be seen. The 4 boys came in, laughing and falling over things. She felt her anger boil up, and opened her mouth to speak.
"Out a little late aren't we?"
James felt his heart miss a beat, Who's there? He wondered.
"It's only, I don't know, 3 hours past curfew. I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will understand when I tell him that you 4 were out marauding at this hour."
"That's the perfect name for us!" Sirius exclaimed. "The Marauders!"
"I don't think you'll have to worry about names now, Black."
The speaker picked up a candle and walked over. James felt a lurch of apprehension, relief, and something that he couldn't identify in the pit of his stomach.
"What do you mean Lily?" Sirius asked.
"For heavens sake, Black!" She snapped. "It's 1 in the morning. Do you have any idea how serious this is?"
"Of course I do! I'm Sirius."
"Not funny." Lily said, her green eyes shooting sparks.
"Look Lily," James began, throwing caution to the winds. "We're really sorry about that prank. We forgot how sensitive and shy you were."
"Oh, that." Lily dismissed it with a wave of her hand. "I'm not angry or upset anymore. You of all people should know that I stop being mad after about ½ an hour. Besides," She continued, "I wanted longer hair, and I didn't let Madam Pomfrey cut it all off. But I think I like it red, thanks anyway. And I'll have company in detention, judging by how late you were to lunch."
"Told you we needn't say sorry." Peter muttered.
James was astonished; he couldn't believe how sweet Lily was. "Thanks Lily."
"For what? No reason to thank me." She said.
"But if you aren't angry about the prank, why are you angry?" Sirius asked.
"Have you any idea how grave this situation is? You could have been expelled! And all for a few bottles of –what's it called again? Oh yes, –Butterbeer!"
James felt his mouth drop open. When he looked around, he saw that all the others had their mouths open too. "Ho, how did you know?" He asked.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Grow a brain James, you were seen. Lauren's big sister's best friend, Minnie McGonagall (AN: Yes, Minerva, future teacher.) saw you in the Three Broomsticks. She only didn't tell anyone because she doesn't want Gryffindor to lose points anymore than we do. Now, if you'll excuse me, tomorrow's the full moon, and I'm exhausted." She stretched and then strolled out.
James looked around at his friends, "C'mon, let's go to bed."
Lily watched as they headed to bed, stifling a giggle. She had loved the look on Remus's face when she had mentioned the full moon. She had figured out that Remus was a werewolf after the second time. She had been reading about werewolves in her DADA book, and had recognised the symptoms. She waited 10 minutes, then went upstairs to get Lauren and their equipment.
She crept with Lauren into the 1st Year Boy's Dormitory. Giggling softly, they spread honey all through their sheets, and put shaving cream in every pair of shoes they owned.
"Be careful not to put any in their room-mate's shoes." Lily whispered.
"No, we wouldn't want to embarrass someone innocent, would we." Lauren giggled.
Lily smiled back. She pointed her wand at the shoes. "Pedus Squelchus." She whispered. The shoes glowed electric blue for a moment, and the shaving cream disappeared. She dipped her index finger in, and it came out covered in the mint-scented cream. She grinned. "Perfect."
"What did you do, Lily?" Lauren asked quietly.
"I put a charm on their shoes. The shaving cream won't come out for 24 hours, then it'll vanish without a trace. I've also ensured that their feet will squelch all day."
Lauren giggled again. (AN: She's a very giggly person, ok. Hmm… Reminds me of someone I know.) "Great. Which side should I rig the chocolate syrup up to?"
Lily thought for a moment, "The right. They're all right handed, so put the buckets on the right side."
Lauren and Lily quickly finished, and then went back to their dorm.
The next morning Lily sat reading an Agatha Christie novel called Mrs. McGinty's dead. She looked up for a minute, and thanked whoever wrote their timetable that they still had an hour before Charms that morning. She heard the crash of a bucket hitting the floor, and then,
"LILY EVANS!!"
She looked up, just as James came storming down the stairs. He was covered in honey, chocolate syrup and shaving cream. "Why James!" She said in a shocked voice. "Why one earth are you covered in food and shaving cream? Were you hungry? You're not old enough to shave, are you?"
"You should know!" He yelled.
She smirked. "You're right, I do know. Don't prank me again. I suggest you shower and change before Charms. See you at breakfast." She walked out with Lauren, both of them giggling.
James felt a grudging respect. Good call, Lily. He thought.
Disclaimer: I own nothing bar Lauren, her big sis and Prof. Jacon.