The one where Ginny hangs out with the Marauders
Lily lay in bed, thinking about what she would have to do. Each day it was harder to suppress her feelings for James, he was being annoyingly wonderful. May I carry your books, Lils? You look really pretty today, Lily. It was frustrating. She wanted nothing more than to give up and tell him how she felt. There was something niggling in the back of her mind.
Formulating a plan, she threw back the covers of her bed. She put on her slippers and walked down to the Common Room. She wished she had James' Cloak. It would be useful if she wanted to avoid running into Filch or Professor Vassus. They were ruthless in their prowling.
Lily made her way to the stone gargoyle. 'Licorice Twists?' It was a long shot, several weeks had past since she had been last there. Unbelievably, it worked and the stairs appeared. Without a second thought, she made her way up to the Headmaster's office.
Professor Dumbledore was sitting in his chair, dressed in a pair of baby blue pajamas.
'I hope you have a reason for waking me, Miss Evans.' He yawned widely.
'Professor, I was just wondering about the future.' She sat down, uninvited. 'In the future, when James and I are dead, what will happen to Harry? In my future, he lives with horrid relatives. Lily doesn't have relatives because I'm make-believe.'
He nodded, rubbing his chin. 'I saw the other day. I saw myself finding a couple that would take in a child. I used a memory charm, not Obliviate, to make the couple believe that Lily Evans did exist and that she was a witch. I presume the couple I found were not very open minded about magic.'
'Why didn't you find someone who was, Professor?' Lily asked.
'Because, if, as you told me a few days ago, the one who will rid the world of Voldemort, then he must not get a big head.'
'I see. I haven't even had this child yet, Headmaster, and yet I want the best for him.' She grinned. 'Thank you. It eases my mind a little to know that you have everything planned. Even if it is "in the event of my death".' Lily said good night to him and went back to Gryffindor Tower, wondering what Harry would be like if he knew about his powers from an early age. It didn't look nice.
Lily sat on a red and gold blanket in the snow, wrapped up in scarves and jackets, reading a book and yet trying to look like she was paying attention to James' crazy dives. He had begged her to come and watch him practice Quidditch, although he was the best damn Seeker Gryffindor had had for years. She smiled slightly and raised her eyes to watch him do a complicated roll.
Remus asked her if he could borrow her spare quill, having split another. She nodded, passing the feather over for him. They were very similar, Lily and Remus. They both wanted to study hard to get good marks and both had secrets that they needed to keep. James and Sirius could be the two pranksters and loudmouths, as long as they could copy Lily and Remus' homework afterward.
It made them pity Peter, the poor little lost Peter. He didn't seem to know how to act. There was not enough room for jokers and troublemakers, the academic side was full and yet he was still in their inner circle of friends because James had taken a shine to him. Lily had never really liked Peter all that much, how could you chat with someone who will have you killed in the future.
James, the new team Captain, blew a whistle, shouting for the end of the practices. He started chasing the balls to put away, having a spot of bother with the Bludgers that kept wanting to knock him off his broom. Sirius zoomed down at a break-neck speed and pulled up quickly. He jumped off the broomstick and took a bottle of Butterbeer that Lily had brought for her four friends.
Remus looked up from his homework. 'Lily, how much have you done of your History of Magic Essay?'
'Two rolls of parchment. I know Professor Binns only asked for one and a half rolls but I found the giants really interesting.'
'If by "really interesting" you mean "really tall" I am on your level.' Sirius said dryly, helping himself to a bit of Lily's cake.
'That had better not be my cake you're eating there, Padfoot.' Peter whined, appearing behind a bush. This fat face was red and sweaty, like he had been running.
'It's not. It's mine.' Lily hit him over the head with her book. The cover flickered and the spell she had been using to mask "The Do's and Don'ts of Becoming and Animagus" stopped working. Sirius grabbed a hold of the book, and held it out of her grasp.
His eyes went wide as he read the title. Sirius sounded vaguely impressed. 'Lily, where did you get this? I thought this book was on the list of contraband.'
'I believe it is.' Her voice was quiet and she casually slipped the book out of his hands. 'You won't tell anyone, will you?'
Sirius rolled his eyes. 'Who do we look like, Snape?'
Lily laughed at this. James finally landed after rounding up the balls, especially the Bludgers that were dead set on avoiding him. He sat down on the blanket next to Lily, looking around at his friends who were quiet. 'Guys, what's up?'
'Lily wants to be an Animagus.' Peter said. He had never been able to with hold information from James.
'Like us?' James asked, then realized that as much as he liked Lily, they had never mentioned it before. It had been something that never been spoken because it was so obvious. Don't tell anyone about being illegal Animagi.
'You guys are Animagi?' Lily exclaimed as if she had just heard it for the first time.
Sirius was shooting daggers at James. 'Might as well tell you.' He transformed into the huge black dog that Lily had seen in her own time. Sirius changed back and spoke. 'All our "nicknames" came from our Animagus forms. They aren't nicknames, though. They are alter egos.' He seemed rather touchy on the whole nickname thing. He gave her a grin. 'Mister Padfoot at your service.'
Peter changed into a rat and then back again. 'Mister Wormtail.'
James transformed into a stag. His velvety fur looked like it just ached for stroking. Lily stretched out a hand and gingerly caressed the dark hair, loving the way it flowed through her fingers. Before James could get too comfortable, Remus said in a small voice: 'I can't change.'
'Why the Moony, then?' Lily knew he was a werewolf, but it seemed the logical thing to say at a time like this. Her hand still moved back and forwards on the patch of fur.
'He flashes people.' Sirius announced, looking through Lily's book. 'This is a fascinating book, Lils. Have you read it all yet?'
'Yeah. Just re-reading it, trying to build up enough confidence, you know. I'm a bit chicken.' Lily grinned. She suddenly realized that she was still petting James and let her hand fall away. He transformed back, blushing.
'I bet you could do it.' James said, smiling at her.
'Thanks James.'
'Prongs is right. You could. Try it tonight, in front of us. We'll be able to help you.' Sirius said, handing the book back to her.
Lily hesitated before nodding. You only got one shot at life and if she made a horrible mistake, Dumbledore would be to blame. 'Thanks guys.' She paused. 'You guys mean a lot to me.'
'AWW!' Cried Sirius and he put his head in his hands, making huge pretend sobs. 'You're so sweet!'
Lily hit him again.
Lily took a breath, closing her eyes, and held it, focusing on her body. She tried to feel every part of her, from the tip of her hair to the tips of her toes. Once she thought she had every cell memorized, she tried to feel inside for something that didn't belong; something that felt totally different from herself.
She found something in her mind and almost got the shock of her life. Her mind probed it, trying to get a feel for it. Lily let out her breath and took another, forgetting about her human body and plunging into the other. A tingling went through her body and she opened her eyes.
Lily got a sudden urge to preen. Her head went under her wing and she nipped at an annoying feather with her beak. Wing, feathers, beak, had she changed? With a flap of her wings, she flew a bit into someone's chest. Gentle hands held her body and brought her so they could see her face.
Her eyes took in the glasses, the unruly hair and the smile. This was home. Her head brushed his hand. After a few moments, he let her go. Lily hopped on to the floor and found her other self. With another slight tingle, she transformed into Lily Evans.
'Ouch. What kind of bird was I, guys?' She asked, feeling dizzy.
Sirius was excited. 'Lils, you were a phoenix!'
'Yeah, you groomed yourself and then flew over to James.' Peter said. 'I can't wait to see you on a burning day!'
'That would be interesting.' Remus said, grinning. 'Lils, I gotta tell you something.'
James, Sirius and Peter all said at once: 'He's a werewolf.'
The Marauders cracked up laughing. Remus stopped quickly after and looked up at her, worried.
'That's why we became Animagi. We wanted to keep him company on the full moon.' James said, wiping a tear from his eye.
'Oh, and your sick aunt isn't really sick.'
'She isn't really an aunt.' Sirius muttered.
'Well,' She brought them in for a group hug. 'You're still cool, Remus.'
'Cool?' He asked.
'Nothing, just something I picked up in the Muggle world.' Lily said smoothly. 'It's late and Janet always thinks the worst things when I'm with you guys.'
'That's because we seduce ladies like you everyday.' Sirius said in a hideous French accent.
'Or because you've been known to put Stay-Sticky glue on toilet seats at night.' She hugged them again and headed for the girl's dorm.
Author's note: Thanks so much to my reviewers. I hope I'm updating enough.
nametaken rocks so does rufio: Stevie Wonder was a musician or something in the 1970s.
firedragonfly, googoo4you, knot2be, Mystic Queen, Darth Flirt, Hurley Girlie, harrypottermagic32, Flameraven, and nametaken rocks so does rufio Thank you all for you reviews.
Flameraven: I tried looking for Ginny's eye color for ages. I couldn't find it. If you can tell me where you saw it in the books, I'll change part of the story for it. Same about Lily's sisters. Contact me at sunburnt_archer@hotmail.com, please.
And finally...Jennifer, we are all entitled to our opinions, and I'll admit, on first impression it does look gross. But you should read the story. Meh, you won't even read this.