Hey Everyone! To be honest, I don't KNOW how I have italics in my stories. But, I would love to help, so let's see, I guess I'll just take you through my posting process? First, I copy and paste the chapter of my story that I want to post into a new Word document. Then, I go to "Save as" but instead of saving it as a normal document, I go to "Save as type:" and change it to "Web site". I then click "save" and post it up on fanfiction using the "upload document". By saving my stories as a website, it keeps it with paragraphs and looking more like a story, and I guess that's how I keep my bolds and italics. I hope that my lame explanation was a little bit helpful!

And how do I post so often, you ask? I just post whenever I have a free ten minutes, or so. Plus, I just love checking on my reviews, so I'm always all excited to check them when I get home from school! Hehe! Thanks for your questions, and I hope that I answered them to your liking!

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Chapter 9

Lily's Bad Day

"Errie! Errrrrie!" Something squeaked. Lily rolled over in her sleep, but again it sounded, "Errie! Errrie!" It sounded almost like a rusty swing, swinging back and forth… or a terrified mouse. Groggily, Lily swatted at whatever it was. She heard a chuckle, and the thing squeaked again.

She opened her eyes to a squint, and saw Sirius hovering over her, holding a bright yellow rubber duck. Again, he put it right next to her ear, and squeezed it, and the duck let out a tired wheeze.

Before Padfoot could realize she was awake, she snatched the duck out of Sirius' hands menacingly.

"Hey! Give that back!" He moaned childishly. "First my marshmallow, now this!"

"What did you think you were doing?" Lily asked tensely. "In case you didn't notice, I was trying to sleep." She said, rubbing her eyes.

"I know." Sirius shrugged innocently. "I was trying to wake you up." He said, pulling back Lily's covers and trying to climb into her bed next to her.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Lily exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

"Come on… you know this is what you've been dreaming of for the past year: You and me in bed together? Yeah… that's what I thought." Sirius chuckled.

"Stop flattering yourself." Lily said, but she didn't bother trying to shove him out, for she knew it would be pointless.

"Can I have Steve back, please?" Sirius asked, batting his eyelashes.

"Er- no." Lily said, clutching the duck tightly. "And, Steve?"

"Yes, well. He's got to have a name, doesn't he? What kind of a sick person wouldn't give his pet a name?" Sirius said happily.

"Pet?" Lily laughed.

"Yeah. You've got your cat, Adrienne, and James has got his owl, Ben. So, I thought to myself, 'Christopher, you ought to find a pet.'" Sirius explained in all seriousness.

"Who's Christopher?"

"It's what I call myself." He replied with a meek grin. "Then along came Steve, and I knew we were soul mates. Isn't that right Steve?"

Lily looked at the pathetic yellow duck in her hands, and gave it a squeak.

"See? He even talks!" Sirius cheered.

"Well, if he wakes me up again, I'll chuck him out the window." Lily threatened, handing Sirius back his rubber duck. "Where is everyone?"

"Everyone? Oh- that's why I was waking you up. You've got ten minutes before classes." Sirius said casually.

"10 minutes!! Oh my gosh!" Lily exclaimed, throwing back her fluffy covers, and shoving Sirius out of the room. "I have to get dressed!"

"Er- okay." Sirius said, as Lily slammed the door in his face.

A few moments later, Lily was flying down the steps to History of Magic class. She fastened her Hogwarts robes and straightened her skirt as she reached the 5th floor. Her striped Gryffindor tie was dangling uselessly around her neck, and her hair was untidy. She hurriedly tried to comb it with her fingers as she skidded into the classroom just as the bell sounded.

Professor Binns, the only ghost professor, glared at her as she smiled in apology and sank into her seat next to Madison and Sirius. She breathed deeply, and Binns glided over to the chalkboard with a chalk pencil and a book in hand.

"Now, then." Binns said in a tired, bored way. "Moving on in our tour of different races in 1502." He replied blandly. "You can get out your notes that we took on Giants of the northwest, and we'll continue with Merpeople."

There was a jumble for books and papers, quills and ink. Suddenly, Lily realized that in her rush, she had left her books in the dormitory.

"Something wrong, Lil?" Sirius asked in a hushed tone.

Lily shook her head in frustration. "I left my stuff in my room." She replied, trying to control her temper.

"Here, have my book." Sirius said. "I don't care about detentions. And here's paper… and an extra quill."

"Si, you don't have to-"

"It's kind of my fault you had a lay-in. So there you go." Sirius smiled, passing his History of Magic book to Lily along with parchment and a quill.

"Thank you, Sirius." Lily said in amazement.

"No problem, Lil-a-roo." Sirius said, flashing her a grin.

"Ahem!" Binns cleared his throat crossly. "Your attention, please? Er… you." Binns said, pointing to Sirius. Binns never could remember names. "Where are your things?"

"Had a bit of a blonde day, Professor." Sirius said confidently. Madison looked over in agitation, fingering her blonde hair. "Very sorry. I do, however, have a quill and parchment. So, I would greatly appreciate it if you wouldn't waste my parents tax Galleons by lecturing me on how to be organized, and teach the class about the History of Magic. Thank you very much, sir."

Binns looked astounded for a moment. "Very well, Mr. Brown."

"Black, sir. Sirius Black."

"Yes, yes. Sirius Black. I'll remember that when writing up your detention." Binns snarled. Sirius just shrugged. "Anyway…" Binns said, and he began to drone on about the Merpeople and their habits.

All the students assumed sleepy, dull looks, and occasionally scratched a few notes on their page. Lily took this time to gaze brainlessly around the room.

The classroom was small and compact. There were chairs with small desks attached to the right arm, and the floor was carpeted in red. The walls were covered in wood, and bookshelves of dusty volumes were spread along them. Professor Binns floated at the head of the class where a large fireplace was stationed. His desk was off center, near the corner.

When the bell, at long last, rang, the class scurried out of the classroom as fast as their legs could carry them.

"Ah- Lily?" Binns said. Lily stopped in her tracks, and bit her lip.

"Yes, sir?"

"I saw what that Sirius boy did for you, and I must express that I am disappointed." Binns said calmly. "I honestly thought you were a better student that this, Miss… er, Evens, is it?"

"Evans, sir."

"Yes, yes. Miss. Evans. I had hoped that being Head Girl wouldn't hinder your abilities to be a good student. And I was certain that school came before friends in your case." Binns said softly.

"Sir, Head Girl has positively nothing to do with it, at all!" Lily protested. "And you know as well as anyone that I'm a hard worker, and I won't let something like this occur again."

"Well, I could not be the one to take away your Head privileges. But, if I notice you slacking off in my class again, I will report to… er, you're in Gryffindor correct?" he said, eyeing her untied tie.

"Yes, sir." Lily said, grasping her tie and knotting it quickly.

"You're a bright girl, and I know that you are no… ditz." Binns said tonelessly. "But, to be frank, you really are acting like one. No books, sleeping in, uniform in disarray…" Lily nervously straightened her skirt. "And, I truly am beginning to think that your friends are coming before your work. Perhaps you're just dumbing yourself down for them-- but your brains are in no way at Sirius Black's very low level. Don't do this to yourself, Lily."

"I'll try not to, sir."

"Then I will notify McGonagall if I see you slacking off again. But I trust you won't have this problem again." Binns said. "Now off to lunch with you."

"Er, I still have Care of Magical Creatures, sir." Lily said.

"Oh-- right. Well, where ever then." Binns said, floating over to his desk. Lily sighed and hurried outside to join her class.

Unfortunately, Care of Magical Creatures wasn't much better than History of Magic. The spiddagooks they were looking after seemed to have a fascination with Lily. Although, these creatures weren't exactly what you'd want to be following you around all class-- they were bright orange, small, fuzzy, and their feet were immensely sticky. Lily found herself prying them off her ankles every few minutes to the hollering laughter of the Slytherins.

So, after this fiasco, Lily was relieved to have a break to eat lunch. Sighing, Lily lugged her bag up to the Grand Hall for a short meal.

"Oh, God Lily…" Belle moaned. "Your shoes…"

"Great." Lily said sarcastically. "What about them?"

"They're leaving orange tracks, Lily." Belle said. Lily's eyes widened in anger.

"Are you kidding?!"

"No. Want me to run upstairs and bring you another pair?" Belle asked supportively.

"Oh, would you?" Lily said in appreciation. But then she changed her mind. "No- I can't ask you to do that…"

"You're not. I'm offering." Belle said shortly. "Come on, I'll go and come straight back. I'm fast…"

"It's not that." Lily groaned. "Never mind. I'll just go; it's no big deal."

At that moment, a large barn owl flew through one of the windows, and swooped around the high ceiling before gliding down to Lily. She took the letter off its leg, and it took off again up to the owlery.

"Fine, Belle. Just go, before I get a massive headache." Lily sighed, sitting down with her short letter out before her.

My Darling Lily,

            I'm sorry to write to you again in such a hurry. You didn't write back, and I was worried that I scared you away with my, er, confession.

            Honestly, I don't know what to say. All I know is how I feel- and I love you. I want to be with you- to marry you!

            Oh God, Lily! I don't know what to say. I've never felt this way about anyone before, and it surprised me so much. But now, I have no doubts: I love you, Lily Evans. I love you. 

            I know that if you'd give me a chance, you'd see that we'd be very compatible together. I just know that if you gave it some thought, you see things my way. Please give me a chance, Lily.

All of my love, forever and ever-

Amos Diggory   

"Hey, Lily. What's up?" James said, sitting down at the table next to her. "Oh God- those spiddagooks were the funniest thing I've ever seen! I've never, ever, heard of them acting like that!" He laughed, but then he paused. "Is everything okay, Lily?"

"What?" Lily said, looking away from her letter and realizing for the first time that her eyes were wet.

"Is everything all right? You look horrible…" James replied softly.

"Yes, I just… can't deal with this right now." Lily said angrily.  "God, he's obsessed!" She quickly stood up, leaving a confused look on James' face.

"Lily-?" James began, but she was already out the door, heading up the stairs as fast as she could go and still be walking. "Lily!" He repeated.

"Just leave me alone! Please!" Lily shouted over her shoulder. Amos's letter was still clutched in her quivering hand. He loved her!- Why did he love her? What was wrong with him? She was a freak… Petunia had always told her that- why couldn't he agree? At this point, Lily hadn't even realized that James was walking right next to her.

"Tell me what's wrong, Lily. Maybe I can help." James said sympathetically.

Lily stopped in her tracks, and faced him. Her vision was fogging with tears. "WHY do you always want to help?!" She hollered. "There's nothing you can do! Just go away. Please." Lily said. She stared at James' face for a second… but then turned in a whoosh of her robes.

She hurried up the stairs. Then she noticed the tapestry that led up two floors. She knew that James wouldn't know about it. She glanced quickly over her shoulder, pulled back the cloth, revealing a long, thin staircase.

Lily dashed up the steps. James was only a few feet behind her. But, in her rush, she forgot all about the trick step. She didn't jump it, and her foot was sucked into it. James was pelting up the steps.

"Thank God you stopped." He sighed, approaching the trick step. Apparently, he didn't realize it wasn't really a step.

"James, don't come any closer, or you'll-"

"Come on, Lily! Why won't you just talk to me? What's wrong?" James said. Three steps away from getting stuck…

"Can you help me out of this?" Lily asked, gesturing to her feet.

"I told you I would try." James said.

"No—you don't get it-- stop!" Lily warned. But it was too late. James' foot disappeared into the step.

"Oooooh!" James cried in understanding. "Trick step!"

"Yes, trick step, you thick-headed idiot." Lily said angrily. "And now we're stuck until someone comes to pull us out." She moaned, trying to yank her foot out. But it was no use; her foot only sunk deeper into the stair.

"I never knew about this passage." James replied casually. "Where does it lead?"

"Fifth floor. The top is concealed too." Lily said shortly, giving another sharp tug on her leg, but her foot didn't wrench free.

"Hm. Crazy." James replied casually. "Where did you find out about it?"

"McGonagall. 4 years ago." Lily said, giving her leg another pull. This only shoved her foot deeper into the step, until she was up to her left knee in stair, so she was forced to sit down.

"4 years ago? Wow." James said, sitting down himself. "I wonder why I never knew about it."

"Probably never took the time to notice it." Lily sighed. "We're going to be so late for class!"

"Aw, who cares? It's only Transfiguration after all." James shrugged.

"I know you're used to skiving off- but I, however, have never missed a class in all my seven years at Hogwarts." Lily said harshly.

"Impressive." James lied. "And, just so you know: Transfiguration happens to be my favorite class."

"Oh is it? Well, congratulations." Lily snapped. Then, she realized she was still holding Amos' letter. She quickly stuffed it into the folds of her robes.

"Hey- what's that?"

"Nothing." Lily said. "Why would you care, anyway?" She said.

"It's from Amos, isn't it?" James said, as a grin broke over his face. "It is! I knew it!" He said, laughing.

"No, it is not." Lily lied.

"Let me see it, then." James replied, pushing his glasses up the bridge of that perfect nose…

"I'd rather you didn't." Lily said softly.

"I let you see the letter from my mum… and it can't be more embarrassing than that one, now can I see it?" James chuckled.

"Look, James, I said no." Lily snapped again.

"Okay, okay." He sighed. "Oh, and speaking of letters, my parents wrote me back and said that they were fine. They did take the Muggle Underground, but they're fine."

"Wonderful."

"We're in a bad mood, now aren't we?"

"Today just hasn't been that magnificent." Lily muttered. "Do you know what Binns told me? He said that if I started to flake off, he would cut me from my Head Girl privileges! In other words- I won't BE a Head anymore! And… I've worked so hard… it's just not fair." Lily said starting to sound hysterical, tears forming at her eyes once more.

"No way- he didn't!" James said. "He can't do that!"

"He said he'd inform McGonagall that I couldn't do my duties and my school work if I kept up whatever it is I'm doing wrong." Lily moaned. "One bad day, and this is what I get."

"Everyone has crappy days sometimes." James said, trying to cheer her up. "The full moon's coming up- Professor Trelawny says that that can effect the rest of your week." He joked.

"The full moon?" Lily repeated in astonishment. "You blame my bad day on the full moon? I'm no werewolf, here, James-" She joked, but his face hardened a little.

"I- I'm sorry. I didn't mean that… Remus-" Lily began, realizing her mistake.

"-Remus." James repeated, cutting her off. "I know."

"Really, James. I love Remus, you know that. He's great…" Lily apologized. "I'm sure you get that a lot though, don't you?"

"All the time. I mean, not that many people know… but it's so hard." James said. "What if I had been thick and said that 'full moon' crack in front of him? We always have to watch our step."

"But I'm sure he just wants to be ordinary…" Lily said. "Doesn't he?"

"Of course!" James exclaimed. "But, even though we don't say it, it's not possible."

"He's so wonderful, though." Lily replied. "I never would have guessed he was a werewolf, to be honest."

"No one would- and nobody has guessed." James sighed. "Well, except you, kind of…" He said, his blue eyes twinkling from behind his glasses. Did she detect a hint of shyness? But James Potter being shy was impossible…

"Well, I didn't guess. I was stupid, and almost got myself killed because of it. But I think it's great that you all have been able to keep this so… under wraps."

"Yeah it is." James replied. He smiled. "But, Remus is the type of guy who would just shrug it off if it got out, anyways."

"You're right." Lily nodded, her face breaking into the first real smile of the day. "He probably would."

Suddenly, the bell for classes sounded. It rang throughout the halls, and pounded in Lily's ears. She winced, thinking of the punishments that would lie ahead.

Unexpectedly, two figures came stomping down the stairs. It was Sirius and Remus.

"Oh thank God!" Lily cried.

"Hey, guys… can you help a brother out?" James joked, putting up his hand so they could yank him out of the stairs.

"Hey, what's shakin'?" Sirius said. Then he stopped. At first, Lily thought he was going to help James, but as he stuck out a helpful hand, he quickly withdrew it to run his fingers through his hair. "Sorry, chaps! We're running a smidge late… no time for idle chit-chat!"

He grinned at Remus who pretended to tip his hat. "Excuse me, Lily, dear…" Remus said, shoving past James and Lily's tangle of legs.

"Guys?!" Lily moaned. "Help us!"

"We'll pass, thanks." Remus chuckled.

"Adios amigos!" Sirius said, saluting the two stair-prisoners, and disappearing behind the tapestry.

Lily was awestruck, but James seemed to find the whole thing very funny, for he was laughing out loud, clutching his stomach.

"What… stupid, thick, jerks!" Lily said in aggravation. "Can you believe it?!"

"Yes, actually I can." James said. "Although, I thought they would help you…"

"And leave you here to find the wrath of Filch?"

"You mean Filch the caretaker? But of course! We always do this kind of stuff to each other!" James laughed. "What's so ironic and funny about it, is that there was no way they could have known we were here." He sighed. "Damn, their good."

"You are so dumb." Lily laughed.

"Who sent you the letter?" James asked quickly, hoping to catch Lily off guard and trick her into answering.

Lily, however, was not fooled. "I'm not going to tell you." She said flatly.

"Please?" James pouted. "For your precious, innocent, Prongs?" He said, using his own nickname.

"Firstly, you're not precious, you're not innocent, and I'm NOT going to show you." Lily laughed. "The more you ask, the more I'll refuse."

"I guess I can't argue with that…" James shrugged. He waited a few moments, and then continued to beg. "Pretty please? With cherries on top?"

"No, James." Lily said crisply.

"We're going to be here for awhile. At least it would give us something to talk about…" James argued.

"You just want one more thing to make fun of me with." Lily said.

"Um… basically, yeah." James nodded. "But seriously, why not?"

"It's private." Lily said shortly.

"I'll tickle you…" He threatened.

"You wouldn't dare!" Lily said, smiling nervously and scooting away. But, since the stairs were so skinny, it did no use, and James was barely seven inches from her face.

"Oh, wouldn't I?" James smirked.

"You stay away from me, James Potter…"

"Hmm… I dunno…" James replied. "I'm thinking that letter is worth reading…"

"Well, it's not." Lily said as seriously as she could manage, with James almost on top of her.

"Are you sure?" James said, scooting a little closer… or at least as close his leg would allow. She grabbed his arms to ensure that he couldn't tickle her.

"You get on back to your part of the step, Potter. I'll hex you!" Lily warned. Even though she was acting tough, her smile gave her away.

"That's what I was planning on…"

"So you want me to hex you?" Lily asked, grasping his arms firmer. "I'll get out my wand, and you'll get what you're asking for…"

"Yeah, yeah. That's what they all say!" James joked, but he did wrench his arms out of her grasp and move back to his corner of the stair. "All talk, no action."

"You think I'm no action?" Lily asked in amazement. "So, last year, when I ran into the Forbidden Forest without permission, without my wand… without thinking- that was no action?"

"Well… okay, so sometimes." James confessed.

"So, how is that Marauder's Map coming?" Lily asked, trying to change the subject. She carefully put the letter in her pocket so James wouldn't see.

"Eh, pretty good, I guess." James shrugged. "I mean, we've got some key passages down. You know, like the ones that lead to Hogsmeade, and some passages like this one. There's one that we found that leads up above the owlery; great view up there, but no mischief purpose at all."

"So then, the map is for mischief purposes alone?"

"Of course Lily! They don't call us marauders for nothing!" James scoffed.

"You call yourselves marauders." Lily said, sticking her tongue out.

Suddenly, there was movement at the base of the stairs, and the drapery was flung open, and McGonagall was peering up the stairs at them. Sirius and Remus peeped out from the other side, and Lily could see the rest of their class behind them.

"We… er… got stuck." James said pathetically, motioning to his leg, which was wedged deeply in the step.

"I see." McGonagall replied curtly. "If you could kindly get yourselves out- we've wasted half of our class trying to locate the two of you."

"We, er, tried… but both of us are stuck." Lily said, pulling back her robes to show that her knee was the only thing visible above the step.

"Hm." The professor said, her lips pursed. "Black, Lupin- get them out, please."

Without a second's pause, Remus and Sirius were up the stairs, pulling Lily and James out of the stairs. Lily felt her foot sort of pop out of the stair, and it immediately felt tingly as though it had been asleep for hours.

"What are you all standing around for?!" McGonagall demanded of her class. "Back to the classroom! We have a whole lesson to go over still. Lily, James: 10 points from Gryffindor."

"10? For getting stuck in a stupid trick step?"

"Each." McGonagall corrected. "10 each. Back to class, everyone."

Lily and James exchanged looks, but had to look away quickly, for they were bound to break into laughter.