SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1~*~ Life Or Something Like It ~*~

~Plain and simple

~You might call it boring

~But for me, it's just life

~Life or something like it

~A little bit different

~Out of the ordinary

~For anyone else, anyway

~To those on the outside looking in

~But for me

~It's just life or something like it

~You might say it changes

~The way you see the world

~When to me it's nothing at all

~Strange or queer

~Because life is life and when it happens to me

~I like to call it

~Life or something like it

There's somewhat of a code that's developed over the years at Hogwarts. Of course, I suppose every school works the same way - the older kids get the run of the joint and how you get treated depends on which rung of the ladder you're on. Generally it's based on what year you're in; seventh years ruling the roost and the first years continually giving way. On the odd occasion, however, one or two people make what we call the 'transition'. This involves working your way up the ladder to join the ranks of those in a higher year level.

It is quite clear for one to see that James and his friends have made this transition.

Everyone had returned from what was, in my opinion, a very somber Christmas. Not only did I miss seeing my mother, but my friends, too. Of course, the amount of presents, or lack thereof, that I received had nothing to do with it. OK, I lie. It did. But I do understand that sending about fifteen parcels by owl wasn't very convenient, and therefore I tried to act extremely happy with the two presents I did receive from my family (Some books and a sweater. Oh, the excitement).

But to get back to the point, James and his little group of friends were sitting under a beech tree that had a bright vine of bougainvillea growing up it. Because of this, the area was named "Boganville", and people that sat there were respectively called boganvillians. To this day I still wonder whether it was in fact in reference to the plant or if someone was trying to be clever with words while making fun of the people that sat there. But the boys were not at all swayed by the fun that was poked at the place, mainly because they just didn't care all together, but also because everyone secretly found it pretty stupid that the place was constantly made fun of when all in all it was a very nice spot to sit.

When outside, myself and the girls usually sat under the big, droopy, shade-giving willow that hung over the lake, which we nicknamed Gaea. This was roughly fifty metres away from Boganville. This was slightly irritating at times because there was a mixed group of females that liked to wonder from tree to tree trying to catch the boys's attention.

The girls were the main reason that the boys made the transition.

It was simple: girls liked James because he was sporty and smart; girls liked Sirius because he was hot; girls liked Remus because he was caring and sensitive; and girls liked (pretended to like) Peter because he hung around with James, Sirius and Remus.

We liked James because he was funny and supportive, Sirius because he was silly and loyal, Remus because he was understanding, and as for Peter, well... we never really liked him at all. Or correction, no one else really liked him at all. I personally thought Peter was alright it you gave him a chance. But I guess pretty much anyone would look like a loser next to those three guys.

While Sirius was definitely the most popular of the group, James was their ringleader and therefore the most respected. Peter couldn't stand up for himself if his life depended on it, but not many dared to mess with someone that held acquaintance with those boys - James Potter in particular. He stuck up for what he believed in every way possible - even if it meant getting violent.

If I had to label them, James would be the fighter, Sirius the comedian, Remus the dreamer and Peter the follower.

Needless to say, there were quite a few girls that would kill to be us. When I say "us" I of course mean myself, Bella and Hilary. Because we were linked to that group in almost every way possible; the sister, the girlfriend and the best friend. Therefore we weren't the most popular of people with half the female population of Hogwarts.

Today was a good day; just me and Bella and Hilary. Ariel was with the Ravenclaws again (thank god, she was beginning to get slightly annoying) and it was one of those days when you feel like doing absolutely nothing other than snuggling up under a tree in the warm and dozing off. I guess it was the fox in me coming through. Anyway, as those days usually turn out, it wasn't going to happen.

Firstly, there was a bunch of third year girls hovering around nearby, giggling and pointing over at the boys, which was extremely irritating once in a while. Secondly, Bella was on the war path.

'I can't believe him! Boys are the ultimate scum of the earth!' she screeched, her eyes flashing.

Luckily enough for anyone in a twenty metre radius of her, she decided to wander over to the boys's tree and grumble to them instead, since Sirius was the cause of her annoyance. This left me alone with Hilary, who had been less than warm towards me ever since I had decided to ignore everyone a few weeks back. For a moment I thought I would try and talk to her, but it was when I opened my mouth to speak that she got up and drifted off after Bella. I sighed and leaned back against the willow, closing my eyes. Thinking I could finally have my little nap, someone interrupted me.

'Hello.'

'Hi,' I replied, not opening my eyes. It was James, and he wasn't worth lifting my lids to let in that blinding sun.

'What are you up to?'

I sighed and gave in; opening my eyes lazily.

'Dozing,' I replied, giving him a pointed look.

'Oh. Sorry,' he grinned, sitting down next to me. We sat in silence for a minute, then he spoke.

'Sirius told me about you being a Fury.'

My eyes opened fully at the mention of that, and I think my whole body tensed up.

'He did?' I asked.

'Why didn't you?'

'I forgot about it,' I said, frowning.

'Have you used your powers?'

Gosh. Why so serious?

'Yes. But only without thinking. I can't control it -'

'Well you have to learn how.'

'James, what's up with you? Why so serious?'

He just looked at me sharply.

'Because it is serious, Lily. The more you use them, the stronger they will grow.'

'What's wrong with that?'

'You want to make people miserable?' he asked, not looking at me. He was staring of into the distance.

'No, but -'

'If they grow too strong, you'll be consumed by it, Lily.'

'James, I'm not going to go evil just by looking at people,' I said lightly.

'You don't get it,' he snapped, frustrated. He looked at me now, something burning fiercely in his eyes. I couldn't identify it.

'Do you know how many people have said that, then lost themselves to the power? Good people?'

He sighed and his gaze softened a little.

'Ever wondered where Dementors come from?'

Dementors? Oh lord...

I had never met a Dementor, and for that I was quite glad. I knew enough about them to know that it wasn't something I'd like to come across. And it made sense about the whole fury thing, too... from what we'd learnt in DADA, Dementors struck fear into most, forcing them to recall their most terrifying encounters. Feeding people fear, sadness, loneliness...

'Dementors are Furies?' I asked shakily, drawing my knees up and hugging them.

'Were Furies,' James corrected, and the way he said it made me shiver. 'Look at me.'

I did.

'No, look at me.'

'James, I don't want to...'

'Just do it,' he said firmly, glaring at me.

'I can't do that to you,' I whispered.

'No, you can't. You're a coward, Lily. You can do it to people like Malfoy but you're shaking when someone asks you to do it to a friend.'

'It's because you're my friend that I don't want to,' I snap, glaring at him without thinking.

The glare leaves his face and I realise he was doing it to get me angry. So that I would glare at him. Much like with Sirius, I became annoyed and held his gaze. It served him right.

But James surprised me by looking away.

I looked at him in shock as he turned his eyes back to mine.

'I mustn't have been angry enough,' I said, slightly satisfied that he still hadn't got me to glare at him. Besides, just a minute ago he had been telling me to control it!

'No, you were angry enough. Your eyes flashed,' he said, a troubled look on his face.

'But you -'

'- looked away,' he finished.

I nodded dumbly.

'How?'

'I didn't hear anything, either,' he said, shrugging.

'That doesn't make sense,' I frowned. 'No one is immune to a Fury, are they? Not unless you're completely innocent, and I highly doubt -'

'- that I'm completely innocent. No, I'm definitely not. I have a soul full of guilt,' he sighed. 'And besides, I've heard before...'

'From me?'

'No,' was all he said.

I was extremely confused. How come my eyes had no effect on him?

Just then, a leaf fell from the tree and drifted slowly towards the ground, fluttering on the wind. James and I both watched it.

'Do you have Quidditch Practice today?'

'No. The match is on Sunday, so KP booked the pitch for Friday and Saturday.'

I nodded.

'Isn't the first Quidditch match usually before Christmas?'

'Normally. I don't know what happened this year. The whole schedule is totally messed up.'

'How am I supposed to control it?' I asked, pulling hair from my face.

'With practice. When you glare at someone you have to focus on only glaring, not punishing them. It's an automatic response when you're mad at someone to think that way, but unfortunately for you, wishful thinking comes true.'

'Do you think I'm weird?' I sighed. It had been bothering me for a long time.

James looked at me in surprise.

'For being a Fury? No. You can't help it. It is interesting, though. Kind of ironic, having people give you a hard time for being a muggle born, when really you're a half blood. A really powerful one at that.' He looked at the ground, then back up at my face. 'Do you reckon your dad went to Hogwarts?'

'I - I don't know...' I said, avoiding his eyes. 'Probably not. I mean, wouldn't someone recognise the surname?'

'I suppose.'

I leaned back a little more and closed my eyes. A few seconds later a leaf fluttered onto my face.

I blew it off.

'This is going to sound really sappy, but...' James trailed off.

'What?' I asked him.

'I really admire you, Lily. It seems like everything possible happens to you, but you take everything that comes your way and keep moving. I know I act like I've got it hard, but I do see what you're going through, and I do understand that my life is nothing compared to the shit that gets thrown your way.'

I opened my eyes. I had never heard James swear in front of me.

'You should watch your language, Mr Potter,' I grinned.

'Sorry,' he said, looking slightly embarrassed. 'I don't usually talk like that around you.'

'Why?'

'Because you're a girl,' he replied, and I laughed. He joined in.

'And you think girls don't swear?'

'Well? Do you?' he asked.

'No.'

We both laughed again.

'I asked Cirstie out today.'

'Oh?' I said. He was referring to a third year Ravenclaw.

'She said no.'

I took one look at the blunt expression on his face and burst out laughing.

'What's the matter, Jamsie? Your first rejection?'

'Actually, yeah.'

'Ha ha. Point laugh James,' I grinned, jabbing him with my finger.

'Dude, that's not very nice,' he replied, also grinning.

'Dude, huh?'

'Yep.

'Wouldn't "dudette" be more fitting?'

'Lily, no, OK? Dude is the word,' he teased. 'Dude is the only word.'

'Fine,' I laughed. 'Dude is the word.'

'Indeed it is.'

* * *

Around the side of the castle, on the way to the greenhouses, there is a gutter. This gutter is known to most students as the Green Mile; not because anyone has ever died there but mostly because it's about a mile long (not really, but it is long), it's full of green leaves and if you fell in it while it was full the smell would probably be bad enough to kill you.

It is an extremely wide gutter - about a metre in width. Quite often it is filled with leaves and mud and rubbish, and therefore is not a very pleasant thing to be around most of the time. When it has recently rained or snowed, however, it is even more unappetising.

It's for the benefit of the younger students of the school that it is cleaned, because with the Green Mile of course comes an age old tradition. This one is rather simple: the older kids get priority when it comes to the narrow path that is between the wall of the castle and the gutter. Younger kids have to walk along the gutter. Of course there's always the odd student who's pretty sure of himself that decides to plough their way along the path amongst his elders, but said student risks getting pushed roughly into the gutter. In general it's usually much easier to wait for the older kids to get off the path to avoid going in the gutter at all. But this would require common sense and I'm afraid to admit that it is hard to come by at Hogwarts.

As you have probably guessed, James and his group are amongst those that "walk the Green Mile" along the path and have never used the gutter once in their life, as far as I know. This is all very well for them, but I don't like the chance of being shoved into a channel full of god-knows-what.

James used to find amusement in "standing guard" over the gutter and making sure everyone got to use the path. He liked to enforce this by threatening to set Firregaze (in his tiger form, of course) on them. It usually worked well, but no one wants to stand by a gutter all day, and the fun in it wore off pretty quick.

I'm on my way to Herbology now. Luckily we're the only group heading down there so we get to use the path. Unfortunately, Gray thinks it's funny to push people in the gutter anyway. He's never done it to me, but he has tried it once or twice on Bella, and once to Ariel. She had been rather shocked, but to everyone's surprise, laughed. I didn't mind, either, because I got to accompany her back up to the castle to get cleaned up, which got me out of a class for a little bit.

Hilary was talking to me, but pretty stiffly. She was still annoyed with me and quite frankly I didn't blame her.

'Lily, Lily, Lily,' Gray tutted, jumping from side to side of the gutter.

'What?' I asked.

'Always so slow and careful,' he said as if it were disgraceful, jumping of the gutter onto the path behind me.

'Gray, Gray, Gray,' I mocked. 'Always so fast and reckless.'

'And proud of it,' he grinned, jabbing me in the back.

'Last one to Herbology is a rotten egg!' Geoff said, pushing past me.

Giving a little squeal, I flattened myself along the wall so they could get past without me overbalancing.

'Idiots,' Hilary muttered, passing me while I was still against the wall.

'Boys,' Bella grumbled, falling into step behind me as I began to walk again.

'Yeah,' I grinned, just as two Ravenclaw boys began dashing along the gutter like Gray had. One of them lost their footing and went tumbling in.

We all giggled.

'Had that have been Sirius, he would not have fallen in,' Bella said proudly.

'Probably not accidentally, no. But to be an idiot and get out of class? I wouldn't put it past him.'

'Lily, you have a point.'

'Don't I always?' I grinned.

'No,' she said stubbornly. 'You're awful with them. Half the time they just sound way too smart and nobody has a clue what you are on about, except for James and Sirius, who won't tell anyone else. So even when you probably do have a good point, nobody gets it.'

'Shut up,' I said, pretending to be offended.

'Li-ly,' Ian teased from up ahead, drawing out my name.

I sighed.

It was going to be a long day.

* * *

Somewhere nearby, yet so far away, a small red fox was tripping across the snow. It's nose was raised in an indication of it's process of seeking out food; its ears were pricked. The animal was on alert.

It's normally fiery red coat was streaked with the shaggy brown of its winter pelt. Amber eyes shone furiously from behind a blank stare as it listened. But as it stood, its small feet sinking into the snow, the only sound to be heard was the howling of the wind...

I sat up straight in bed, my breathing heavy. A small questioning mew brought me back to reality - I was in my dormitory. For a moment I had thought my friend had returned, but then I realised the sound had come from Storm Shadow. I sighed. Firregaze was gone, and there wasn't much I could do about it.

I had been having those odd dreams a lot lately. All of them about a fox, alone and lost. It didn't take a genius to figure out what they were about. But none of them told me where Firregaze was.

Sighing, I pulled on my dressing gown and slipped out of the dormitories, downstairs. The fire had burned to small embers, and I was surprised to find James and Sirius up, leaning over something.

'What are you up to?' I asked softly.

Their heads snapped around, and Sirius hurriedly gathered some papers and slid them into a book.

'Nothing much,' said James.

I was suspicious, but too tired to probe any further.

'Why are you up?' he asked, standing from his chair and walking over to sit on a sofa instead.

'Can't sleep,' I muttered, tucking hair behind my ears. 'You?'

'Same. We've been plotting to do away with Snape,' Sirius grinned.

I rolled my eyes.

'Seriously, what has he ever done to offend you?'

'Breathed,' was James's blunt reply.

'It's unexplainable; much like the sky being blue,' Sirius added.

'Ah. I see.'

'And the day Snape gives up being a ridiculous low life -' James began.

'Is the day dear Jamsie stops sleeping around,' Sirius finished.

'I don't sleep with girls,' James protested.

'You mean to tell me you sleep with guys?' I laughed.

He scowled.

'Yuck.'

Sirius and I laughed.

Yawning and pulling my gown more tightly around me, I took a seat next to James.

KP had hauled all of the Gryffindor Quidditch team off to practice that evening and James was still in his Quidditch robes. They reeked of BO.

'You smell,' I commented.

'So kiss me,' he replied, rolling his eyes.

'Not while you're still wearing those,' I told him, wrinkling my nose.

'But you would if he got changed?' Sirius asked with interest.

'Sirius?'

'Yes?'

'Shut up,' I said, poking my tongue out at him.

'Fine,' he said sulkily. 'I know when I'm not wanted.'

'Good,' James replied. 'Then go away.'

'Oh, yes. Jamsie wants dear Lilian all to himself,' Sirius retorted, making kissing motions with his lips.

'She's all mine,' James agreed, slinging an arm over my shoulder.

'I'm not anybody's,' I told him, raising my eyebrows coolly.

'But if you were anybody's, you'd be mine.'

'Of course,' I said, rolling my eyes.

'Get a room,' Sirius said loudly, covering his eyes.

'No one's forcing you to be here. Geez, you can go upstairs and miss me and Lily having a snogfest if you want.'

'Scary mental image,' Sirius groaned.

'Oh!' James said suddenly.

'What?' I said, just as loudly, to mock.

'Tomorrow, when you go down to breakfast, in the big corridor, you have to look for this galleon.'

'I doubt it will still be there tomorrow,' I said dryly.

'Oh, but it will!' Sirius said gleefully. 'We used a super-glue charm on it. And there's a shielding charm on it, too, so no one can get it off. We're going to go down early and see how many people try to pick it up.'

I shook my head in amusement.

'You guys never cease to amuse me, honestly. You always leave me wondering what on earth you're going to think of next.'

'You should be scared,' Sirius said, nodding his head.

I sighed and rested my head on James's shoulder.

'Don't fall asleep on my shoulder,' he warned.

'I won't,' I replied.

'Sooooooooooooooooo,' Sirius said after a moment's silence.

'So what?' I asked.

'You know Sirius, Lily. He can't stand silence.'

'Oh,' I sighed. 'Sirius, it's nighttime. Quiet time.'

'We're night people,' he defended.

'I'm a night animal,' I grinned. 'But you don't see me up all night.'

'How come you're not in bed now, then?'

'Can't sleep,' I repeated distantly, thinking of Firregaze.

'No sh - bull,' James corrected, looking at me.

I rolled my eyes.

'Dude, I'm sure Lily has heard the "s" word before,' Sirius said.

'It's not just her,' James explained. 'We're not allowed to swear at home, so I'm used to correcting myself like that.'

'Sure-sure,' I grinned teasingly.

After another quiet moment, I let out another yawn.

'Well, I think I'll go back up to bed.'

'OK,' Sirius said. 'Goodnight.'

'Night,' James said, stretching out on the couch once I had gotten up.

'Night.'

Upstairs, everyone was still sleeping peacefully, so I quietly took off my dressing gown and slipped into bed.

Not even an hour later, I was woken up again.

'Getting some beauty rest, Evans?' cackled Peeves loudly.

Peeves?

'S'matter?' mumbled Hilary from the next bed.

'Peeves. Go back to bed,' I said thickly.

'Ooh, she does get grouchy when she hasn't had her sleep! Not that it does her any good!' Peeves cackled at his own joke, then performed a loop-the-loop, deliberately knocking my bedside lamp over. Bella sat up in bed and yanked her curtains open. As usual, she was very much awake.

'Wha's he doing in the dormit'ry?' Hilary complained, also pulling back her curtains.

'Beats me,' I replied vehemently. Peeves had only ever visited Gryffindor Tower once, and although it was most likely that this wasn't allowed, he seemed to believe that rules were made for the express purpose of being broken.

'I had a secret to tell you, I did,' he said in an innocently offended voice.

Bella groaned.

'A secret?' Hilary asked groggily, rubbing her eyes. I was surprised she wasn't mad at being so rudely awoken.

'What is it, then?'

This was most likely a mistake, because the poltergeist rushed over to her and hung mid-air, near her ear. The annoying little man cupped his hands near his mouth as if to whisper something, but instead made an extremely rude noise, right in Hilary's left ear. She clapped her hands over her ears.

'GET LOST!' she yelled savagely. Kelsey and Reilly began to stir.

'Peeves knows when he's not wanted,' the poltergeist sighed.

'Obviously not, you're still here,' muttered Bella, but Peeves must have heard her because he flew angrily through her before fading into the wall. Bella shivered, and I didn't blame her. Having a ghost fly through you wasn't the nicest feeling, especially at one o'clock in the morning.

'What the hell was he doing in here?' Hilary whined, rubbing her eyes again.

'Not the faintest idea,' Bella sighed.

'Well I'm going back to sleep, so don't you two start talking and giggling,' she warned, running a hand through her hair before pulling her hangings back around her bed.

* * *

It turned out that Peeves had visited every single Gryffindor dormitory that night. Rumour had it that it was because McGonagall, head of Gryffindor, had punished him for something, causing him to seek revenge. Needless to say, quite a few people were still a bit sleepy the next morning.

I personally had gotten less sleep than most, and it being a certain time of month and all, I was feeling a little snappish. So when Paige come up to me to give me a hard time about James, she received a bit of a shock.

'You just don't get it, do you?' I exclaimed loudly. 'I am not after James, OK? If he wants to go out with a bitch like you, it's up to him!'

'Oh, Evans, you flatter me,' she said sarcastically.

'Spare me the sarcasm, Paige. I'm not in the mood.'

'No, you listen to me. The truth is, you don't give one little inch about James, do you? I don't know what you want with him, but you're up to something and it's not just because you want to be his friend!'

'That's rubbish and you know it! I care about James as much as you do! No wait, more! Don't you even try to tell me that, or him. Ever since we became friends you've been trying to find faults in me! And do you know what I think, Paige Appleton? I think you're jealous!'

'And why would I be jealous of you?' she asked coldly.

'Because you know that I'm closer to him than you'll ever be,' I returned, just as icily.

This time, when she glared at me, I remembered what James had said, and tried to control my stare. I was happy to see Paige had no trouble looking away, because she lowered her head before tossing it up to throw her hair over her shoulder. It was then that I noticed half the people in the Hall were watching us. Looking around, I took a deep breath.

'Pleasant morning, isn't it?' I asked loudly, before walking out of the hall, both extremely irritated yet ecstatic at the same time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG - but it is longer than usual. :D Just a little pointless chapter to give you a little look see at life at Hogwarts. :d Hope it wasn't too tedious.

Oh yeah...

GOOD CHARLOTTE KICKS ASS! And Joel is mine! *breaks down and cries* No wait you can have Joel and I shall have Benj. *looks happy and decided* All is now good.

Val: OK, I started high school this year and I was freaking scared out of my mind but all is well now (you might even say I have more control over the school than half the year twelve and staff body) because I'm just generally an intimidating person and I don't take shit from no one. I don't know where you are, val (coz American high schools just generally look a lot scarier than others if you ask me) but here in oz it's a pushover as long as you stand strong! DUDE! If a yr 12 shoves you, shove 'em back! *pushes Tony into the gutter where he starts crying* Yeah. *looks smugly at Tony's sobbing figure* And tell them that they suck while you're at it. *tells this to Tony and rolls eyes at his pitiful response* Dude how mean am I. I'm sorry Tony. *offers Tony a hand to help him up only to let go at the last minute and let him fall right back into the gutter* God I'm evil. *laughs hysterically at him* See, even big yr 12 Tony is put in his place by a little yr 8 Sarah if Sarah tries hard enough. (Not that Tony has ever pushed me, but if he did I would certainly push him back) By the way Tony is my friend. I'll bet you're wondering worriedly how I treat people I DON'T like. *cackles evilly, only causing Tony to cry harder*

I'll stop now since you'll probably be afraid of finding people like ME at your school. Quite frankly I think it is the older kids who should be afraid, because from what I've seen we're the worst of the lot.

As for form or whatever you call it *checks review* home room, all the people in mine are pretty much all people i hang around with so I can't help you there. *thinks really hard* I like walking up to people and saying "Hi! OMG! I haven't talked to you in ages," and see if they go along with it so they don't look stupid. It's pretty funny. Or throw them a random comment. This is my fave: *clears throat* "No, insert name of cool person here, I don't want to hear about what you were thinking about in bed last night, OK?" It's pretty funny. *sighs*

Oh yeah and on orientation day I made no friends. I also felt like a social outcast because everyone else was wearing their uniform except me. (I had only just gotten back from a trip to Melbourne the night before so I wasn't at school when we were told to wear uniform). All the people I was already friends with were in different houses, so I was a  loner. Then I felt like, well, these people don't know me so I can practically do what I want and they probably don't care. So I did. And I found this dude I had met at the pool a couple of weeks ago too. AND - he lives up the street from me! Plus this girl who also got a scholarship (like me) I met her when we had photos done and it turns out she's in my form (home room) and I sit next to her and now we're really good friends! I've also met heaps of people and our "group" has about tripled in size! Even the not-so-popular people have a pretty big group but at our school there's not really popular and unpopular. There's just three main groups; the bitchy skanky people, the general all round nice people (the group that I belong to that is full of weird, psychotic, loud, crazy and sometimes really mean people like me lol but everyone loves everyone) and then there's the leftovers. Some people drift between groups. Our groupies are collectively called the Boganvilleans (haha sound familiar?) And we were once two groups of people from two schools that joined as one. In case you were wondering, there's a gutter near the library. And it's known as the Green Mile...

Oh well, I've babbled enough and I should go now. *checks watch*

Yep. Toodles.

:D

SezZie