The Marauders – Preparation
"So, Lily, when did you sign up?" Lily and Ara were eating at the Griffindor table, which was strangely empty. Most of the students were too embarrassed to show their faces, and those who did were joking around or trying to figure out who pulled the prank. "How'd you get to it before the banshees?" She smirked, remembering that morning, the female population were all fighting each other to get to the list first.
"I snuck down around midnight."
"And to think, you're the one setting examples for the younger students. I wonder if the Headmaster is aware of this…"
"I'd bet does… he knows everything that goes on around here. Its freaky."
"Yeah, I bet he even knows when the girls are on their periods. Oh my God! Can't you just see him digging through the bathroom trash cans looking for tampons!?"
Lily spit pumpkin juice all over Ara.
"Lillian Marie Evans!"
Lily didn't even flinch at the use of her full name. The mere picture of Dumbledore digging through their trash was imprinted into her mind, and she couldn't help but laugh hysterically.
"Well golly, Red, drink much?"
Lily turned around to face Sirius with a giant grin on her face. "Yeah, I do! But it looks like I could still use some practice!"
Sirius smiled at her and shook his head. "See ya' around Red."
Ara seemed to have forgotten that she was covered in spit and juice because she was grinning madly at her best friend. "You're already changing! Last-Year-Lily would have blushed like a tomato!"
Lily just smiled softly to herself. Suddenly, her eyes got real big and she gasped. "Ara! I have to pick out a song to sing and write one by Friday evening!"
The two girls finished eating quickly and ran back to the Common Room.
%&%&%&%
At noon the next day, Lily and Ara found themselves in a nearly abandoned Common Room, sitting in front of the fire, trying to come up with lyrics.
"We're getting nowhere and fast!" Lily flopped down on the couch and sighed.
"Well, what do you want to sing about? Who cares if it fits their style of music or not, they just want to hear your voice and how you use it."
"I want to sing about… Taking chances… Becoming somebody better… I guess I want to sing about what's going on in my life right now." She moved her head to look at Ara. "Where's Ol' Faithful?"
Ara smiled, "I'll get him."
Lily sat on the arm of the couch, quill hovering over parchment… Just waiting for something to come to her. She looked up and smiled when Ara came bounding down the stairs carrying Ol' Faithful. Her guitar. It was a simple acoustic guitar, not a fancy electric one or anything, but she loved it all the same. It's case was all beat up from years of use. Lily was sure that the only thing holding it together were the duct tape and safety pins covering it. Lily carefully un hinged the case and took her guitar out. She checked to see if it was tuned.
"OK, baby, I'm going to need you to help me out here." She started strumming chords on it, not really playing anything in particular, but searching her mind for something new to create.
Ara loved watching Lily like this. You could tell this is what she loved doing. Her eyes were closed, and her face had a dreamy look on it. Since it was the weekend, they were in Muggle clothing – simple jeans and tank tops – but something about the way Lily looked. Just sitting on the arm of the couch… It made her look surreal. Ara had known that Lily would go into her trance-like state so she had brought her Muggle camera, loaded with black and white film. Her father had a darkroom at home and every Christmas and Summer break Ara would spend days, sometimes weeks on end, just trying to get one picture to come out beautifully. Ara had always wanted to be an artist of some kind. She angled herself, so she was looking up at Lily and took a picture. She knew Lily heard the shutter click when a soft smile danced on her lips, but she made no objection, so Ara just kept taking pictures of her friend.
Lily's strumming gradually became more violent, when it suddenly stopped. She opened her eyes and quickly hunched over her parchment and wrote some words before going back to playing the guitar, humming or singing a word or two every few minutes.
Ara smiled and finished taking her roll of film.
&%&%&%&
It was Thursday and Lily was freaking out. "I still don't know what song I want to sing!"
Ara was confused, "I thought you wrote it last Saturday…"
"Ara!"
"What?"
"The song that I have to pick! The one that I didn't write!"
Ara's eyes got big. "Ohhhh… That one… Well, lets go listen to some of my CD's."
Lily practically dragged Ara into her dorm. "Show me your CD's."
Ara took a CD player she had charmed and her collection of CD's. "Why don't you just look through them? I've got Potion's homework that I have to finish or Cain will have my head."
"Uh huh, whatever." Lily already had the headphones on and was listening to some songs.
&%&%&%&
It was Saturday morning. The 9th. The two best friends were sitting in the Great Hall, eating breakfast. Well, Ara was eating breakfast. Lily felt ready to blow chunks.
"What if they laugh in my face?"
"Then I'll hurt them. At least have some milk and toast, sweetie."
Lily finally relented and then picked up Ol' Faithful and headed for the try out room. She paused in front of the door, dreading what would happen to her if they laughed in her face.
If they laugh in my face… I'll take off house points… Even if it is from my own house.
Then, with itchy fingers, Lily opened the door to her new life.
