Chapter 10:
Author's Note: Hi, everyone! Thank you so much for reviewing my story! All of the wonderful compliments (and, yes, the constructive criticism) really motivate me to write. Again, thank you! It really means a lot to me to know that people are reading this and enjoying! Barbara, lol, sorry that Lily doesn't also like Remus! But, I do concentrate more attention on him later on. Oh, and Piggie, I update much more regularly (and am much further ahead) on the Harry Potter site. pic=18495386&pageOffset=68 But, it's more difficult to do things there I find at times. So, anyway, thank you all so much! Please keep reviewing!
And now, Chapter 10!!!
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"Lily, wait!" James called. Lily pretended to be oblivious to James's voice as she walked at an even faster rate. However, James was soon at her side, matching his strides to her own. "Lily, don't take anything that crazy old hag said to heart. I have the feeling that she's got a few screws loose!" James stated reassuringly. Lily shrugged emotionlessly and stared straight ahead as she made her way towards the common room.
"She was in some sort of trance, James," Lily replied after several moments of silence. "It seemed like a true prediction."
"Lily, of course it wasn't! You saw the woman, she's some sort of archaic gypsy! I wouldn't trust a word that comes out of her mouth!" James declared. Lily nodded her head slightly, then she slowly stopped walking and stood still. James also stopped his vigorous walking and paused at her side. Lily's emerald eyes filled with a deep desperation. The features of her ivory face twisted to portray feelings of apprehension.
"But, James, what if it was true?" Lily asked, biting her lower lip lightly. James put a hand on her shoulder and stared into her intense green eyes.
"Lily, your future will be wonderful. I promise you that," he responded sincerely. Lily looked at his pallid face, his disheveled black hair, and his deep blue eyes, and somehow, she trusted him. Lily's face relaxed as she nodded once again in response.
"Thank you, James." James's face regained its usual boyish grin.
"Sure, Lily. Now, let's get to potions," James replied, rolling his eyes and sighing.
"Potions isn't so bad, James! Professor Dante is harmless enough," Lily proclaimed. "He does seem to favor the Slytherins a bit," she added while thoughtfully furrowing her brow.
"He hates Gryffindors," James muttered resentfully.
"Well, he is the head of Slytherin," Lily pointed out matter-of- factly.
"That's not an excuse. He's supposed to be fair to all students no matter what house they originate from!" James exclaimed. Lily smiled at him mischievously.
"That may be true. However, you might have earned his scorn with some of the pranks you've pulled in his class in the past," Lily mentioned pointedly. "Such as the time when you cursed his chair so that whenever he went to sit down it would scream and scurry across the room on all four legs. Or how about the time when you 'accidentally' spilled your regressing potion on him and he became a four year old and danced around the room while screaming for candy? Don't you think that those incidents could have something to do with his disliking you and the rest of the Marauders?" Lily arched her eyebrows at him as James erupted into uncontrollable laughter.
"Those were especially wonderful and innovative pranks, weren't they?" James responded with fond remembrance.
"Something like that," she responded rolling her eyes. "Anyway, let's go! You'd better not be late with your previous record!" The two turned in the opposite direction and headed off down the hallway once more at a dangerously high speed. Just as Professor Dante was shutting the heavy wrought iron door, James placed his fingers on the handle. "Professor Dante, how smashing to see you! I trust your summer was utterly delightful?" James asked with feigned enthusiasm, a phony smile plastered on his face. Professor Dante frowned deeply at James, his two large bushy eyebrows knitting themselves into one.
"James Potter." He spat the words out as though they were acid in his mouth. "I see you're up to your usual tricks and pranks already?"
"Oh, no, Professor!" James exclaimed looking angelic. "Never! I'm a changed man! Truly! I've turned over a new leaf!" There was an explosion of laughter from within the dungeon classroom at James's last comments. Professor Dante glared sternly at James, he then caught a glimpse of Lily's vivid red hair.
"Ah, Miss Evans, I see you've rejoined his ranks this year. I'm not sure that was such a wise move on your part. I thought perhaps you would come to your senses. They say wisdom comes with age and experience, but apparently you have proved that old saying to be nothing but a mere fabrication." At these stinging words, Lily's emerald eyes gained a look of spitefulness, her cheeks grew rosy and she drew her lips into a tight expression. James's mouth had dropped open. He himself had been insulted to no end by Professor Dante, but he had never said anything condescending to Lily. Every professor always dismissed Lily's involvement with the Marauders as a phase she'd grow out of, but everyone knew that Lily herself would never do anything to hurt anyone in any way. James stepped towards Professor Dante threateningly, tightening his hand into a fist, but Lily spoke up from his side before he had even begun to raise his fist into the air.
"Professor, I've chosen to associate myself with James and his 'ranks,' as you call them because they are my friends. Like it or not they are respectable, good-natured boys underneath their endless prank pulling and need for amusement," Lily replied scathingly as she slid past him into the cold unwelcoming dungeon. Professor Dante stood speechless in the doorway. Lily Evans never spoke to teachers with such audacity. James shot him a victorious smile as he slipped in the door after Lily. He quickly took an empty seat next to an enraged Remus.
"He'll have to pay for that one, James," Remus whispered as a very flustered Professor Dante took his place at the front of class. James nodded his head knowingly.
"Of course. No one insults our Lily and gets away with it. Only we can do that," James stated. Remus smiled at James's peculiar reasoning. "This prank will have to be carefully thought out and well executed," James added with a devilish grin.
"Do you have anything in mind?" Remus inquired. James nodded his head impishly.
"Class, this year I will be assigning potion partners because of some of last years, err---catastrophes," Professor Dante stated clearing his throat. His eyes drifted towards James and his friends as he spoke these words. "Each Gryffindor student will be assigned a Slytherin student as a partner." The class groaned collectively at this very unwelcome announcement. The Slytherins turned in their seats to glare at the Gryffindors. Dante spent the remainder of the class assigning partners and defending himself against snarling, incensed Slytherin students. By the end of the class, the Marauders were broken up completely, each paired with an even more atrocious Slytherin than the last. James had ended up with Lucius Malfoy, Sirius with Brutus Liren, Remus with Shawn Drexel, Peter with Olivia Polonius, Chloe with Delia Palisk, and Lily with Severus Snape. Class finally came to an end. Everyone immediately commenced complaining about their unfortunate fate except Lily.
"I'm so glad that you're my partner, Severus. Please don't take any offense to this, but I despise practically ever member of Slytherin except you," Lily whispered as she gathered her books from the antiquated wooden table.
"I'm relieved as well, Lily. Nobody from Gryffindor has any regard for me. You're the only one who even speaks civilly with me," Severus replied discreetly, nervously eyeing James and Sirius.
"Severus, don't pay them any attention. Sometimes they get carried away with themselves," Lily responded. Severus nodded in agreement as Sirius approached.
"Sorry about your partner, Lily. What a raw deal," Sirius stated apologetically.
"I'm not sorry at all. I've got the best Slytherin for a partner." Sirius regarded Lily skeptically and then turned to sneer at Severus.
"We'd better get to lunch, Lily," Sirius replied after a moment.
"Bye, Severus," Lily called over her shoulder as she followed Sirius towards the Great Hall. Severus nodded meekly at Lily's retreating figure.
Author's Note: Hi, everyone! Thank you so much for reviewing my story! All of the wonderful compliments (and, yes, the constructive criticism) really motivate me to write. Again, thank you! It really means a lot to me to know that people are reading this and enjoying! Barbara, lol, sorry that Lily doesn't also like Remus! But, I do concentrate more attention on him later on. Oh, and Piggie, I update much more regularly (and am much further ahead) on the Harry Potter site. pic=18495386&pageOffset=68 But, it's more difficult to do things there I find at times. So, anyway, thank you all so much! Please keep reviewing!
And now, Chapter 10!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Lily, wait!" James called. Lily pretended to be oblivious to James's voice as she walked at an even faster rate. However, James was soon at her side, matching his strides to her own. "Lily, don't take anything that crazy old hag said to heart. I have the feeling that she's got a few screws loose!" James stated reassuringly. Lily shrugged emotionlessly and stared straight ahead as she made her way towards the common room.
"She was in some sort of trance, James," Lily replied after several moments of silence. "It seemed like a true prediction."
"Lily, of course it wasn't! You saw the woman, she's some sort of archaic gypsy! I wouldn't trust a word that comes out of her mouth!" James declared. Lily nodded her head slightly, then she slowly stopped walking and stood still. James also stopped his vigorous walking and paused at her side. Lily's emerald eyes filled with a deep desperation. The features of her ivory face twisted to portray feelings of apprehension.
"But, James, what if it was true?" Lily asked, biting her lower lip lightly. James put a hand on her shoulder and stared into her intense green eyes.
"Lily, your future will be wonderful. I promise you that," he responded sincerely. Lily looked at his pallid face, his disheveled black hair, and his deep blue eyes, and somehow, she trusted him. Lily's face relaxed as she nodded once again in response.
"Thank you, James." James's face regained its usual boyish grin.
"Sure, Lily. Now, let's get to potions," James replied, rolling his eyes and sighing.
"Potions isn't so bad, James! Professor Dante is harmless enough," Lily proclaimed. "He does seem to favor the Slytherins a bit," she added while thoughtfully furrowing her brow.
"He hates Gryffindors," James muttered resentfully.
"Well, he is the head of Slytherin," Lily pointed out matter-of- factly.
"That's not an excuse. He's supposed to be fair to all students no matter what house they originate from!" James exclaimed. Lily smiled at him mischievously.
"That may be true. However, you might have earned his scorn with some of the pranks you've pulled in his class in the past," Lily mentioned pointedly. "Such as the time when you cursed his chair so that whenever he went to sit down it would scream and scurry across the room on all four legs. Or how about the time when you 'accidentally' spilled your regressing potion on him and he became a four year old and danced around the room while screaming for candy? Don't you think that those incidents could have something to do with his disliking you and the rest of the Marauders?" Lily arched her eyebrows at him as James erupted into uncontrollable laughter.
"Those were especially wonderful and innovative pranks, weren't they?" James responded with fond remembrance.
"Something like that," she responded rolling her eyes. "Anyway, let's go! You'd better not be late with your previous record!" The two turned in the opposite direction and headed off down the hallway once more at a dangerously high speed. Just as Professor Dante was shutting the heavy wrought iron door, James placed his fingers on the handle. "Professor Dante, how smashing to see you! I trust your summer was utterly delightful?" James asked with feigned enthusiasm, a phony smile plastered on his face. Professor Dante frowned deeply at James, his two large bushy eyebrows knitting themselves into one.
"James Potter." He spat the words out as though they were acid in his mouth. "I see you're up to your usual tricks and pranks already?"
"Oh, no, Professor!" James exclaimed looking angelic. "Never! I'm a changed man! Truly! I've turned over a new leaf!" There was an explosion of laughter from within the dungeon classroom at James's last comments. Professor Dante glared sternly at James, he then caught a glimpse of Lily's vivid red hair.
"Ah, Miss Evans, I see you've rejoined his ranks this year. I'm not sure that was such a wise move on your part. I thought perhaps you would come to your senses. They say wisdom comes with age and experience, but apparently you have proved that old saying to be nothing but a mere fabrication." At these stinging words, Lily's emerald eyes gained a look of spitefulness, her cheeks grew rosy and she drew her lips into a tight expression. James's mouth had dropped open. He himself had been insulted to no end by Professor Dante, but he had never said anything condescending to Lily. Every professor always dismissed Lily's involvement with the Marauders as a phase she'd grow out of, but everyone knew that Lily herself would never do anything to hurt anyone in any way. James stepped towards Professor Dante threateningly, tightening his hand into a fist, but Lily spoke up from his side before he had even begun to raise his fist into the air.
"Professor, I've chosen to associate myself with James and his 'ranks,' as you call them because they are my friends. Like it or not they are respectable, good-natured boys underneath their endless prank pulling and need for amusement," Lily replied scathingly as she slid past him into the cold unwelcoming dungeon. Professor Dante stood speechless in the doorway. Lily Evans never spoke to teachers with such audacity. James shot him a victorious smile as he slipped in the door after Lily. He quickly took an empty seat next to an enraged Remus.
"He'll have to pay for that one, James," Remus whispered as a very flustered Professor Dante took his place at the front of class. James nodded his head knowingly.
"Of course. No one insults our Lily and gets away with it. Only we can do that," James stated. Remus smiled at James's peculiar reasoning. "This prank will have to be carefully thought out and well executed," James added with a devilish grin.
"Do you have anything in mind?" Remus inquired. James nodded his head impishly.
"Class, this year I will be assigning potion partners because of some of last years, err---catastrophes," Professor Dante stated clearing his throat. His eyes drifted towards James and his friends as he spoke these words. "Each Gryffindor student will be assigned a Slytherin student as a partner." The class groaned collectively at this very unwelcome announcement. The Slytherins turned in their seats to glare at the Gryffindors. Dante spent the remainder of the class assigning partners and defending himself against snarling, incensed Slytherin students. By the end of the class, the Marauders were broken up completely, each paired with an even more atrocious Slytherin than the last. James had ended up with Lucius Malfoy, Sirius with Brutus Liren, Remus with Shawn Drexel, Peter with Olivia Polonius, Chloe with Delia Palisk, and Lily with Severus Snape. Class finally came to an end. Everyone immediately commenced complaining about their unfortunate fate except Lily.
"I'm so glad that you're my partner, Severus. Please don't take any offense to this, but I despise practically ever member of Slytherin except you," Lily whispered as she gathered her books from the antiquated wooden table.
"I'm relieved as well, Lily. Nobody from Gryffindor has any regard for me. You're the only one who even speaks civilly with me," Severus replied discreetly, nervously eyeing James and Sirius.
"Severus, don't pay them any attention. Sometimes they get carried away with themselves," Lily responded. Severus nodded in agreement as Sirius approached.
"Sorry about your partner, Lily. What a raw deal," Sirius stated apologetically.
"I'm not sorry at all. I've got the best Slytherin for a partner." Sirius regarded Lily skeptically and then turned to sneer at Severus.
"We'd better get to lunch, Lily," Sirius replied after a moment.
"Bye, Severus," Lily called over her shoulder as she followed Sirius towards the Great Hall. Severus nodded meekly at Lily's retreating figure.