Title: Goodnight, Stars
Chapter: Sweet like Honeyduke's
Author: Cinnamon Sunrise
Rating: PG-13 (kissy-kissy, and as seen in previous chapters, Sirius can swear. So can I.)
Disclaimer: *Yawn* HARRY POTTER AND ALL RELATED CHARACTERS, SETTINGS, THEMES, and EVENTS belong to JOANNE KATHLEEN ROWLING. NOBODY ELSE. (like you ever thought they were mine,…psht!)
A/N: This chapter is the longest yet, but I hope it's not too much.
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Autumn leaves Hogwarts smelling sweet, like pumpkins, cinnamon, and ginger cookies. It was nice, being friends with the Marauders. James stopped his constant requests for me to go out with him, which was a relief. However, he spent much of his time on the Quidditch pitch, so we didn't see much of each other outside of classes and meals. Peter didn't talk much, mostly tried to work up to the standards of the other Marauders. Sirius was content with his many girlfriends, although he was a great guy to hang around with. On days that I was depressed, school work, my other so-called friends, Sirius could always make me laugh. A hug from Sirius brightened any day. Remus and I attended meetings together, joking and laughing as we walked to and from them. The boys weren't nearly as arrogant and egotistical as I thought they were. It was nice, wonderful, to have friends; real friends. Charlotte, and the rest of the Gryffindor girls were constantly backstabbing each other, a girl activity I wanted no part of. The more I got to know the boys, the more I separated myself from the girls. Rumors flew about James and I, of course nothing was true. James had Quidditch, I was constantly studying. Not that I would have minded what they were saying being true; the older I got, and the more I got to know the Marauders, the more James' previous offers were beginning to grow on me. Autumn comes to a close with All Hollow's Eve, one of the most celebrated days in the wizarding world. The Halloween feast at Hogwarts was lovely, and I remember sitting with the Marauders, talking about silly pranks that they'd pulled years past. With our blooming friendship, talk about pranks and broken school rules bothered me less and less. They were a very bad influence on me; I realized why Remus had never deducted a point off of anyone besides a Slytherin. James rambled about his Quidditch team, as any new captain would tend to do. I can remember the first Quidditch match that year, Gryffindor crushed Slytherin.
*~*~*
"And we have James Potter, seeker and captain of Gryffindor!" The stands erupted in applause as James flew onto the field. Girls stood up and cheered, smiling and waving their crimson and gold scarves at the raven haired seeker as he flew around the field. Lily sat in between Sirius and Remus (Peter was finishing a potions paper due ages ago), who were both standing and cheering in mockery.
"James! James! Oh Merlin, Remus! He looked at me!" Sirius said, the two boys laughing hysterically, as James noticed from his position on the field and rolled his eyes. Lily laughed and pulled them both down. They watched as James showed off on his broomstick while looking for the snitch, doing special dives and swoops across the field, impressing all of his many fans.
"Never seen someone with as big of a head as James." Lily said to Remus, who laughed in reply.
"If you think he's bad now, you should hear him talk about girls. Only person that's ever turned him down is you." Sirius said, while Lily blushed scarlet. "Nah, Lily, that was the best thing you could have done, gave his swollen head a nice pop. Don't know how much more talk I could stand from his over inflated head, cause, see, nobody can talk to me about girls-"
"And Gryffindor scores! 30-0!" Charlie White, although a Ravenclaw, announced happily. It was always a happy thought for Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws to see Slytherin defeated. Lily, Sirius, and Remus, along with most of the stands, stood up and cheered. In the midst of the cheering, James did a nose dive and shot back up, holding the glittering snitch. The cheering turned into complete craziness, as the three made their way down to the field. James stood waiting, beaming and looking quite proud of himself. Sirius slapped him on the shoulder, Remus congratulated him, Lily smiled delightfully. As masses of female fans fought their way onto the field, James grabbed Lily and the four of them made their way to the common room to celebrate.
*~*~*
Quite a match, James made the winning catch, as he always did. Wasn't really possible for anyone else to secure the win except James, being the seeker and all. Think that's probably what he liked best about the game, always got the winning cheers. Quidditch matches were rather fun that year, sitting with Moony and Padfoot, and the parties after them, geesh, I'm surprised we weren't all expelled.
*~*~*
Sirius flung open the portrait, and returned to the Gryffindor party with 6 bottles of Firewhiskey in his arms. Lily gasped.
"Sirius! Don't tell me you snuck off of grounds to get that! We're not even allowed to have that-"
"Evans." Sirius said, smiling and shoving her a bottle. "You aren't gonna be a git and ruin the party with your little Prefect badge, are you?" Lily sighed, uncorked the bottle, and took a long sip. Sirius grinned. "Good. Now everyone," Sirius said, increasing the volume of his voice. "I'd like to make a toast. To Gryffindor's wonderful captain and seeker, and world's most arrogant prat! Mr. James Potter!" Everyone, including James, was roaring with laughter as the bottles of Firewhiskey circulated through the crowd.
*~*~*
I really was changing. I don't know if that was necessarily a good or a bad thing, but I don't really think it mattered. I was still responsible; I still worked hard in school, I just, I don't know, it had been so many years of being Lily Evans, the girl who is perfect. I had felt like I was dying from the inside out. I felt trapped, and being around the boys let me free myself. I still got mad at them, it wasn't right for them to tease and torture younger students. Severus Snape; they really could have changed that man's future, I believe. Merlin, I wish it could have been different, he had hardly any friends as it was, and James and Sirius made sure he didn't get anymore. He wasn't friendly, called me a nasty little name a few times, but they were still awful to him. Met up with the wrong crowd, Severus did, and I do believe he is working for Vol-the wrong side now. Aside from that, I loved every minute I spent with the boys, doing homework, writing papers, just hanging out. Life was great back then. I decided to stay at Hogwarts during Christmas Holidays; James, Sirius, and Remus were staying as well, and I'd rather have spent my time with them than my oh-so-friendly sister. It was the first year I'd stayed, and it made me wish I'd stayed every year before.
*~*~*
"Evans! Wake up!" A hand shook Lily gently, as she rolled over in sleep.
"Huh? What time is-"
"It's jolly St. Nick with your present load!" Sirius Black shouted from the foot of her bed. Lily rubbed her eyes open and saw James standing next to her.
"Merry Christmas!" He said grinning. Remus and Sirius were unloading boxes onto Lily's bed.
"Oh, yeah. You guys too." She said sleepily, trying to remember where she had stashed her stack of presents for the boys. Peter was forced to return home for the break, so she had given him his present, a brand new Wizard Chess set, before he left. "Wait a second," Lily exclaimed. "You three aren't allowed to be in here-"
"Nah, don't worry about it. I've been in the girls' dorms loads of times, and I've never gotten in trouble." Sirius said, still grinning.
"Oy, too much information!" Lily said, stretching her arms and looking at the pile of presents. "Wow, you guys, this is too much-"
"Nah, we haven't gotten you anything for 5 years!" Remus grinned. Lily hopped out of bed and went to the closet. She noticed a small stack of gifts by the window, delivered by owl, from a few of her other friends and her family.
"Oh, like I've given you anything! You guys are too sweet, I really feel bad, I didn't get you that much. But, uh," She picked up the small parcels and handed them out. "Here, if you don't like them, they're all from Hogsmede-"
"Oh this is great! I've been out of some of these things for ages!" Sirius said after he had quickly torn the paper off of a box of assorted prank items and a bar of Honeyduke's finest chocolate. "Never thought I'd see the day when Evans was actually giving me this stuff…"
"Don't make me regret it!" Lily joked. "I tried to think of something else, but it was the only gift that made me think Sirius." Remus opened his next. It was a collection of a few muggle books, as Lily knew Remus' passion for reading.
"Aw, thanks Lily!" Remus said examining the books. James unopened a large box containing F.L. Ibetar's broomstick maintenance kit.
"I know you love that Nimbus 700 of yours, so I thought-"
"This is great, Lily! Absolutely great! Open ours now, eh?" Sirius shoved the sack into her arms as she sat back down on the bed. Remus had given her a book called "The Common Werewolf," and a large bag of sugar quills. Lily giggled and gave Remus a hug. Sirius' gift was a new wand case, which looked expensive, monogrammed "L. Evans" next to a moon and star symbol. He certainly was a charmer, as Lily loved the gift.
"Well do I at least get a kiss for that?" Sirius asked, looking at her like a sad puppy dog. Lily laughed, leaned over, and kissed his cheek.
"Hey!" James shouted, "There's still my present!" Lily giggled as Sirius shot him a look. She picked up the last little box sitting on the bed. It was very light and wrapped in paper that changed from a deep red to green every couple of seconds. Lily carefully removed the paper, revealing a jewelry box containing a golden necklace.
"Oh, my; James, really, this lovely, but it must have cost-" Lily was beaming as she examined the necklace. It was a small golden lion head, filled in with yellow diamonds and rubies, and was on a long gold chain.
James smiled. "It's been in my family for ages, but seeing as it was passed to me, and I'd die before wearing a girl's necklace," he chuckled to himself. "Well, er, do you like it?"
"Like it?" She gasped. "I love it!"
"I knew you would!" James said, helping Lily put it on as Sirius snickered. "Shut up, you great prat!" James said, laughing uncontrollably as he and Sirius began to smack each other with pillows. Lily and Remus stood, laughing and watching the two best friends fight with pillows, feathers flying everywhere.
*~*~*
I got the nicest presents from the boys; they always knew how to put me in the best mood. James' present was amazing. I'm still wearing it. It's absolutely stunning, don't you think? Along with the necklace in the jewelry box, there was a note, saying to meet in the common room at 11:45 for the rest of the present. I wasn't sure who knew about this part, so I kept it to myself all day. The Christmas dinner was amazing, even better than what I was used to at home. We spent most of the day talking about our frustrating families and O.W.L. results. Sirius suggested a snowball fight, so by the time we went back in for supper, we were completely bungled and dripping wet. It was amazing though, and I almost forgot about my late night plans. I did, however, remember instantly, and nervously, when we returned to the common room after supper.
*~*~*
"And then," Sirius said carelessly, taking a swig of butterbeer as they walked through the portrait hole, "right as he was about to stand up, whoops, Snivellus! Did I drop that on you? I'm so sorry! Turned his face blue and wrinkly, it did, hospital week for 4 days. Of course, I didn't get in trouble, accident, or so I said."
"SIRIUS! That's horrible!" Lily said, although laughing.
"Who's up for a game of Exploding Snap?" James said as they all sat on one of the sofas.
"Can't, mate, Mar and I are going on a walk in, oh, about 10 minutes. Better go get, er, ready I suppose," Remus said, slightly pink.
"MOONY! What about tonight? I thought we were taking Evans to-"
*~*~*
I don't know why I had been nervous about it. I guess I just figured it was going to be James and I, alone. Although I wasn't completely wrong…
*~*~*
"Dammit!" Remus exclaimed. It was the first time Lily had heard him swear, and it caused the sides of her mouth to twitch.
"No problem, Moony. You take care of Mar tonight, Sirius is coming though, eh mate?"
"Coming where? I never said I'd go anywhere with you, Potter. I'm a bit busy with a certain Ravenclaw tonight and seeing as how she's the only girl left in her dorm-" Lily giggled and shook her head.
"First of all," She started, "like I said before, too much information! I do not need to know those kind of details! Secondly," She snickered, "I thought Ravenclaws were supposed to be smart!" James and Remus joined in with her laughter, and Sirius rolled his eyes.
*~*~*
…it did end up just being me and James, but it wasn't intentional.
*~*~*
Remus and Sirius had both left, out on dates. It was just Lily and James in the common room, sitting in uncomfortable silence. "So, Evans, you still want to go?" James said, watching Lily pick at the skin around her thumbnail.
"Hm? Sure, I, that sounds fine, but, uh, where is it that we're going?" She looked up, her green eyes sparkling magnificently. James smiled toothily, his hazel eyes glinting mischievously and his right hand running through his hair.
"Oh, you'll see, won't ya? Hang on; I have to go grab something, just a moment." He took off towards the boys' dormitory. Lily used the isolation to finally examine the necklace she was wearing. It was a wonderful replacement for her broken silver locket, and it reminded her of the Gryffindor lion. It was absolutely amazing, it shimmered in every light. "Alright Evans," Lily quickly released the necklace and stood up. "You ready for an adventure?"
*~*~*
I couldn't believe it; he had explained their map before, but I had never seen it in action. Of course James was a master at the layout of the school; he had just brought the map along for my enjoyment. We snuck to the statue of an old witch; Potter whispered "Dissendium" and it moved, revealing a secret passage way. The passage was long and dark, and even "Lumos" didn't light it properly. We walked so far it seemed, I was giggling and holding onto James' arm the whole way; he had taken the map from me and I still didn't know where we'd end up. And then it came to an end, James whispered "Nox," so I couldn't see where we were, and we walked into somewhere I would have never imagined.
*~*~*
"Potter, where have you taken me?!" Lily said as she looked around the dark room.
"Lumos!" James shouted, unveiling stacked boxes on all four sides of the small room. The boxes were all stamped Honeyduke's, but there was no way…
"Merlin, James, are we in Honeyduke's?!" Lily exclaimed, smiling.
"Right you are, Evans. Take whatever you want," he set a few galleons in a jar, "we're all paid up for as much as you can eat!" He smiled and grabbed a chocolate bar, breaking it in two and handing Lily half. "Ifs too bafd Sirius houtdn't come," he said, his mouth full of chocolate. "He fills his pockets and supplies us for ages."
"Hm, yeah, too bad." Lily said, noticing how, behind the thick circular glasses, James really did have stunning brown eyes. James noticed she was staring, and smiled seductively at her.
"Evans, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing…" She said quietly, feeling her checks glow.
"Nothing? Really?" James walked closer. "Because it looked like, well, it looked like you were staring at me."
"Oh, no, just-" Lily had been trying to think of a valid defense when she felt James' lips press against hers. It wasn't as she expected, it felt much nicer. It made her feel warm from the inside out. She shut her eyes just as James pulled away.
"Sorry, I don't know why, Evans, I'm so sorry," He said, looking at his feet. Lily put her arms around his neck, he had done nothing wrong, and in fact it had been one of the best moments of her life. She leaned in closer, so their lips were once again touching. It wasn't a very intense kiss, yet simple and loving. It was perfect. They separated after what seemed like an eternity.
"Mmm," Lily said, smiling. "Your lips are sweet, James. Sweet like Honeyduke's."
*~*~*
The Honeyduke's storage cellar. Dark, damp, and full of chocolate, it wasn't where I'd expected to end up, but it was great. And somehow, in that dark room, alone with James, I realized that he had changed, too.
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A/N: More reviews! Thank you all so much. Reviews really inspire me to write more, so when you review, you make me work.
One more thing…The reason I made James seeker was because of his obsession with the snitch in OotP (Snape's Worst Memory). This confused me, because at a Scholastic conference, J.K. said James was a chaser. Plus, JK supervises the movies, and I believe the trophy said seeker…So maybe she changed her mind…? I guess a chaser might have James' interest in the snitch, but it made more sense for him to be a seeker to me. That's it!
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cinnamonsunrise@hotmail.com