Disclaimer: Ditto as ever.
Wolfe: Does anyone know if I have to carry on these disclaimers? I'm getting sick of writing them. I am doing exams at the moment which is why it is taking so long between chapters but in a couple of months I will have all the time in the WORLD to write about Lily and her friends (oh and does anyone think I should write separate stories of her separate years?) I don't know if Tom was at Hogwarts at the same time as Lily but he is going to be in my story eventually. I just thought I'd warn you! Oh well enough of me, on with the story!
Chapter Nine: The Kitchens
It was the middle of the night, Lily was tying a piece of parchment to Sherbet's (otherwise known as Herby) leg. The parchment was in fact a letter, destined for Lily's father.
It read:
Dear Daddy,
I am writing to tell you of my plans. My plans to give James…my invisibility cloak.
I'm sure you will understand because, well, James will get a lot more use out of it than I have. I am fine by the way I am having a great time although Lucius Malfoy isn't exactly as pleasant as he seems. Please keep Herby over night, and make sure to give him an owl treat from me. I hope mummy and Petunia are okay.
Yours,
Lily.
Herby got ready to fly out of the window, "WAIT!" she whispered slightly too loudly.
"Huh…what, Lily? Lily is that you?" Chloe murmured half asleep.
"Yes," she hissed, "now go back to sleep!" and she turned back to Herby stuffing another piece of parchment in his beak. "Drop this off at James, and if there is a reply bring it back before you take the letter, okay?" He nipped her wrist gently and soared into the night.
This letter had said:
James,
Tomorrow, at the Quidditch pitch, bring a bag or something. This is a present that you have to keep a secret. If you want to reply Herby will wait for you.
Hope I woke you,
Lily.
"Lil's?" Chloe whispered, "What was that about?"
"Never mind Chloe, go back to sleep,"
"No, tell me,"
"Okay, fine, if you really must know it was a letter to my father,"
"And…"
"And a note, to James," she blushed.
"What about?" Chloe leapt onto Lily's bed, there was only one other girl in their dorm, Jennifer Fellows, she slept like a log so there was no chance of waking her.
"About his present, and how I am going to give him it tomorrow that's all,"
"WHAT!"
"What do you mean WHAT?"
"What is the present," she stared at Lily, who stared at her trunk, bent down and pulled out the invisibility cloak, "No! Can you imagine the trouble he'll cause?"
"Precisely," she grinned, "I help where I can!"
"Yes you do," and with that both the girls went back to bed.
* * * * * * * *
The night before Lily had lain awake waiting in case there was a reply from James, she waited for five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen, half an hour, there was no reply.
It was early, 4:00am in fact, but Lily couldn't sleep, she got dressed and went down the stone steps towards the common room, at the door to the first year boys' dormitory she paused. Suppose they were awake in there, the only people who slept in the room was the marauders, no one else, it wouldn't hurt. She knocked on the door, no answer; she turned the door handle and slowly opened the door.
"James?" she looked around the room, Sirius, Peter, Remus, all asleep in their bed, but no James.
"James?" she checked the room once more and walked over to his empty bed, she was about to leave when she heard a noise, she crawled over the bed. On the floor was James lying curled on the floor in his duvet he was fast asleep.
"Lily?" she spun around falling backwards on the bed, "What are you doing in here?"
"Remus! You frightened me I thought you were asleep. I was just seeing if any of you were awake, I can't sleep."
"Me neither, I wasn't really asleep I was just lying there, thought I'd see what you were up to. James? James?" he mimicked. His stomach grumbled, "Gawd I'm hungry."
"Do you know where the kitchens are?" Lily smiled mischievously.
"Might do, why?" Remus beamed.
"Would you show me?" Remus chuckled.
"You must be joking; we'll be seen by some snotty nosed prefect,"
"Not if I can help it, get dressed and meet me in the common room, I have to get something," and she scuttled off to her room.
* * * * * * * *
"What does she thinks she's up to?" thought Remus as he skulked around in the Gryffindor common room. It was 4:15am and he was ravenous. He was just sitting down on one of the sofas when,
"Argh Lupin, watch where you sit,"
"What? Lily? Where are you," Lily's head appeared in mid air.
"I'm here!" she smiled, "now would you mind getting off me because you not exactly light!"
"Oh, of course," he blushed, jumping quickly of the sofa, "Sorry Lil's!" he scratched the back of his head nervously and smiled,
"Never mind!" she replied cheerily throwing her arms around his shoulders and covering him with the cloak, "Of to the kitchens," she whispered.
* * * * * * * *
Remus and Lily were now outside a portrait of a bowl of fruit.
"So where are the kitchens?" she asked.
"Ah," he whispered with a mysterious look in his eyes, (well I can only guess because they are invisible after all) his hand poked out of the cloak and Lily, being cautious, promptly pulled it back under the cloak.
"What do you think your doing?" she hissed,
"Trust me, besides do you see anybody about?" he laughed,
"Do you see us?"
"Ah, I get your point! We'll just have to risk it." He reached out again and tickled the pear in the picture. It kind of shivered and turned into a handle, "VOILA!"
Lily peered into the dimly lit little kitchen. Running around all over the place were tiny little creatures,
"What are they," Lily whispered,
"They...are house elves," Remus answered.
"Wow they are so cute," Lily beamed. Remus couldn't understand how anyone could find the strange looking creatures cute but that was the least of his worries. As they pulled of the cloak, both Lily and Remus turned to look at the huge person stood in front of them.
"Ello!" he said through a mouthful of iced bun, "Just getting' a little early mornin' snack!"
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Wolfe: Ooh, who on earth could it be?
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