Lily sat in the Great Hall the next morning and ate her toast. Solid food did not go well with her stomach, but Lily knew she had to eat something. She glanced up from her plate when she heard the Marauders enter, anyone could have heard them enter. They were talking loudly amongst themselves, well, mainly it was Sirius and James arguing over something. Peter stood at a distance and watched them with a mix of emotions; confusion, fright, and amusement. Remus was staring at the ground, not meeting eyes with anyone and ignoring the feud between his friends. Lily noted that he looked tired and disheveled and wondered where he had gone last night.
"Just leave her alone, James! You know perfectly well that she probably hates your guts, now!" Sirius practically yelled while shoveling food onto his empty plate. James growled.
"I don't know what to do!" James said, resting his head in his hands as if he were giving up. 'Funny, I have a feeling that they're talking about me,' Lily thought. They were. Being invisible to people had their advantages for the boys continued to talk and not notice that Lily was there, listening to every word. But her anger still boiled in her skin and she couldn't stand it anymore. She grabbed her piece of toast and stormed out of the Great Hall. The boys looked up from their argument when they say a fiery, red head rush past them, her cloaks billowing behind her. James sighed in frustration.
"I think she heard you, mates," Peter said, grinning. James pounded his fist into the table, spilling his pumpkin juice in the process.
"James," Sirius started, "If I knew any better, I'd think you fancy Ms. Evans. I mean, the way you're so caught up and…worried about her feelings," he ended, smirking. James frowned. 'Do I fancy Lily? I can't--I barely know her.' James was having an inner battle and Sirius knew that he shouldn't press the matter anymore than he had.
"Remus, you're awfully quiet today, you alright mate?" Sirius asked, changing the subject. Remus nodded and smiled weakly.
"Just a bit tired, that's all," he added to his response.
"Don't worry, Remus, we'll be with you next year, I promise," James said thoughtfully. Peter was biting his lip and Sirius was grinning and nodding.
"You guys are my best friends--I don't know what I'd do without you. Marauders forever," Remus whispered before eating his breakfast. He felt uneasy about the comment he made but he did not understand why. He didn't know what the future held in store for the faithful Marauders, never knowing that the Marauders would not be forever and two would fall and one would betray--never to stand together again. The Marauders would fall. However, the carefree boys had nothing to worry about now and even though Remus still had that darkened feeling looming above him, he dismissed it and laughed at the boys account of their detention.
Lily went to the Gryffindor common room and straight towards the girls' dorm. She knew only one girl was still up there, Ash Lynn, but she didn't mind her as much as Rhenna and the other girls. Lily sighed as she shut the door behind her. Rubbing her eyes of sleep, she looked at the familiar dorm. The dorm she had known for three years. It was, as Professor McGonagall said in their first year, their home. Of course, Lily wasn't invisible at home but she was tormented. Tormented by the students, by her sister…by her own demons. She was too caught up in reminiscing that she didn't notice Ash Lynn walking out of the bathroom, towel in hand.
"You alright, Lily?" Ash Lynn asked. Lily jumped in shock and she could feel her heartbeat pounding fast against her ribcage. She merely nodded and made her way to her bed, before collapsing. She had been up late last night and was physically and emotionally exhausted.
"I'm not as bad as everyone else is, you know," Ash Lynn said quietly, brushing her hair. 'I know' came the muffled reply. Ash Lynn smiled and sat down on Lily's bed beside her. "Did you eat yet?" she questioned. Lily nodded. 'This is more than what most people get from her,' Ash Lynn thought. Maybe she was actually getting through to Lily, more than James ever could. Maybe her ice was slowly melting. Perhaps it was melting and her fiery side was just waiting to be exposed.
"Lily, you have to give people a chance. I know that it seems so hard to trust people but you've got to learn from your mistakes. Not everyone's out to eat you alive, just…relax and enjoy life. It's going to get better, I promise," Ash Lynn said, giving Lily's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before walking out of the dorm, heading to get breakfast.
"Morning!" Sirius called cheerfully to Ash Lynn as she made her way next to him. She smiled politely at him and grabbed a piece of toast.
"Did you see Lily, by any chance?" James questioned.
"I did. She seemed pretty upset and tired but I think I've gotten her to calm down a bit, she's probably taking a nap, I didn't hear her go to bed last night," Ash Lynn replied, "You look like you haven't slept either Remus." Remus ignored the comment and refused to make eye contact with her. "Are you alright?" she asked him suspiciously. Remus nodded. Ash Lynn shrugged and continued eating her toast.
The weekend passed and Ash Lynn took the time to get to know Lily a little more. Lily seemed apprehensive at first but soon got used to Ash Lynn. Lily enjoyed talking to Ash Lynn more than the Marauders, Ash Lynn was a female and understood Lily a bit more than the boys. Ash Lynn began her long and tiring quest to bring Lily out of her cage.
"Hey Lily, did you finish that horrid Potions essay?" Ash Lynn asked, biting on the tip of her quill while trying to think. Lily nodded.
"But you can't read it," she said, "No copying." Ash Lynn sighed and went back to working. Lily glanced at Ash Lynn and smiled. She was surprised at how easily she got along with Ash Lynn and wondered why she never befriended her before. It was a mystery to the both of them. It was seemed so easy to talk freely with Ash Lynn. Lily didn't have to hide behind her wall, afraid of getting her heart and trust broken. She felt different around her, more open than she could with the Marauders, than with James. But there was a real reason why she couldn't be so open with James. He just--
"Damn it, Lily. How did you finish this revolting essay? I swear, Professor Kirkcaldy is an evil toad!"
Lily smirked and threw the parchment at Ash Lynn's face, "Here, I have to go to detention with Potter. Don't copy it word for word," she said.
Ash Lynn beamed, "Thanks Lils, have fun with James!" Lily groaned and got up from the chair she had been comfortably sitting in for the past hour.
"See you later, I guess."
Lily met Professor Humus by the Transfiguration classroom where Remus stood with Professor McGonagall.
"We're just waiting for Mr. Potter," Professor Humus told McGonagall.
"I swear, that boy and his friends," she said glaring at Remus, "Get more detentions than any student I have ever met." Remus grinned guiltily. James came running down the hall, panting to catch his breath.
"Sorry, I'm late…had…to finish some Potions," he gasped. The professors gave him a threatening glance and brought the trio to a girls lavatory on the third floor.
Professor McGonagall sighed, "Moaning Myrtle has been upset again. We need you three to clean up the mess she made." James looked aghast and Lily laughed at his expression. James shot her icy glare and Lily stopped laughing with much difficulty.
"Here you go," Professor Humus said merrily, handing the group a couple of buckets and mops, before leaving with Professor McGonagall.
"This is great," James muttered.
"Well, it is your fault that we're here!" Lily retorted.
"MY fault? MY fault?! If you hadn't been late, I wouldn't have been talking to you!"
"Since when did you care about when I got to class on time, or not?" Lily practically screamed at him. James was about to make a comment but Remus intervened.
"Do you want to be here all night? Stop bickering and let's clean up. I don't want to be here anymore than you do." Lily nodded glumly and grabbed the nearest mop to clean up the drenched floor.
"I wondered what upset Myrtle now…" Remus asked.
"Everything upsets Myrtle," James said grinning.
"How dare you talk about me behind my back!" Myrtle cried as she flew through the door of one of the cubicles. James gulped.
"He didn't mean to offend you or anything, Myrtle," Lily said quickly.
"Of course he didn't. No one ever does," she sobbed. She floated through James body and he dropped his mop in surprise. His insides felt as if they had been frozen and his skin was like being drenched in a bucket of ice water. He shivered, he only felt this cold that night when Lily found out he had read her diary. He didn't enjoy feeling like this.
When the entire bathroom had been mopped up and cleaned of water, the trio trudged back to the Gryffindor common room, tired and miserable. Lily stopped half way and yawned sleepily.
"I'm so tired," she mumbled, her eyes half shut and tripping over her feet. "Umf..," she said, landing on her butt. James laughed and Remus sighed, grabbing Lily by the waist and pulling her up.
"C'mon Lils, we're almost there," he said. Lily rested her head on Remus' shoulder, his hand still on her waist. James glanced at them, cocking his head to the side. 'Well this was an interesting sight.'
Reaching the common room, and sleepily muttering the password, Remus dragged Lily in, followed by James tagging at their heels. Ash Lynn was waiting for them and stiffled a giggle at the sight of Lily.
"Give her to me," she said smiling. Remus handed Lily to Ash Lynn and watched as she dragged Lily up the stairs to the girls dorm, tucking her into her own bed.
"Just leave her alone, James! You know perfectly well that she probably hates your guts, now!" Sirius practically yelled while shoveling food onto his empty plate. James growled.
"I don't know what to do!" James said, resting his head in his hands as if he were giving up. 'Funny, I have a feeling that they're talking about me,' Lily thought. They were. Being invisible to people had their advantages for the boys continued to talk and not notice that Lily was there, listening to every word. But her anger still boiled in her skin and she couldn't stand it anymore. She grabbed her piece of toast and stormed out of the Great Hall. The boys looked up from their argument when they say a fiery, red head rush past them, her cloaks billowing behind her. James sighed in frustration.
"I think she heard you, mates," Peter said, grinning. James pounded his fist into the table, spilling his pumpkin juice in the process.
"James," Sirius started, "If I knew any better, I'd think you fancy Ms. Evans. I mean, the way you're so caught up and…worried about her feelings," he ended, smirking. James frowned. 'Do I fancy Lily? I can't--I barely know her.' James was having an inner battle and Sirius knew that he shouldn't press the matter anymore than he had.
"Remus, you're awfully quiet today, you alright mate?" Sirius asked, changing the subject. Remus nodded and smiled weakly.
"Just a bit tired, that's all," he added to his response.
"Don't worry, Remus, we'll be with you next year, I promise," James said thoughtfully. Peter was biting his lip and Sirius was grinning and nodding.
"You guys are my best friends--I don't know what I'd do without you. Marauders forever," Remus whispered before eating his breakfast. He felt uneasy about the comment he made but he did not understand why. He didn't know what the future held in store for the faithful Marauders, never knowing that the Marauders would not be forever and two would fall and one would betray--never to stand together again. The Marauders would fall. However, the carefree boys had nothing to worry about now and even though Remus still had that darkened feeling looming above him, he dismissed it and laughed at the boys account of their detention.
Lily went to the Gryffindor common room and straight towards the girls' dorm. She knew only one girl was still up there, Ash Lynn, but she didn't mind her as much as Rhenna and the other girls. Lily sighed as she shut the door behind her. Rubbing her eyes of sleep, she looked at the familiar dorm. The dorm she had known for three years. It was, as Professor McGonagall said in their first year, their home. Of course, Lily wasn't invisible at home but she was tormented. Tormented by the students, by her sister…by her own demons. She was too caught up in reminiscing that she didn't notice Ash Lynn walking out of the bathroom, towel in hand.
"You alright, Lily?" Ash Lynn asked. Lily jumped in shock and she could feel her heartbeat pounding fast against her ribcage. She merely nodded and made her way to her bed, before collapsing. She had been up late last night and was physically and emotionally exhausted.
"I'm not as bad as everyone else is, you know," Ash Lynn said quietly, brushing her hair. 'I know' came the muffled reply. Ash Lynn smiled and sat down on Lily's bed beside her. "Did you eat yet?" she questioned. Lily nodded. 'This is more than what most people get from her,' Ash Lynn thought. Maybe she was actually getting through to Lily, more than James ever could. Maybe her ice was slowly melting. Perhaps it was melting and her fiery side was just waiting to be exposed.
"Lily, you have to give people a chance. I know that it seems so hard to trust people but you've got to learn from your mistakes. Not everyone's out to eat you alive, just…relax and enjoy life. It's going to get better, I promise," Ash Lynn said, giving Lily's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before walking out of the dorm, heading to get breakfast.
"Morning!" Sirius called cheerfully to Ash Lynn as she made her way next to him. She smiled politely at him and grabbed a piece of toast.
"Did you see Lily, by any chance?" James questioned.
"I did. She seemed pretty upset and tired but I think I've gotten her to calm down a bit, she's probably taking a nap, I didn't hear her go to bed last night," Ash Lynn replied, "You look like you haven't slept either Remus." Remus ignored the comment and refused to make eye contact with her. "Are you alright?" she asked him suspiciously. Remus nodded. Ash Lynn shrugged and continued eating her toast.
The weekend passed and Ash Lynn took the time to get to know Lily a little more. Lily seemed apprehensive at first but soon got used to Ash Lynn. Lily enjoyed talking to Ash Lynn more than the Marauders, Ash Lynn was a female and understood Lily a bit more than the boys. Ash Lynn began her long and tiring quest to bring Lily out of her cage.
"Hey Lily, did you finish that horrid Potions essay?" Ash Lynn asked, biting on the tip of her quill while trying to think. Lily nodded.
"But you can't read it," she said, "No copying." Ash Lynn sighed and went back to working. Lily glanced at Ash Lynn and smiled. She was surprised at how easily she got along with Ash Lynn and wondered why she never befriended her before. It was a mystery to the both of them. It was seemed so easy to talk freely with Ash Lynn. Lily didn't have to hide behind her wall, afraid of getting her heart and trust broken. She felt different around her, more open than she could with the Marauders, than with James. But there was a real reason why she couldn't be so open with James. He just--
"Damn it, Lily. How did you finish this revolting essay? I swear, Professor Kirkcaldy is an evil toad!"
Lily smirked and threw the parchment at Ash Lynn's face, "Here, I have to go to detention with Potter. Don't copy it word for word," she said.
Ash Lynn beamed, "Thanks Lils, have fun with James!" Lily groaned and got up from the chair she had been comfortably sitting in for the past hour.
"See you later, I guess."
Lily met Professor Humus by the Transfiguration classroom where Remus stood with Professor McGonagall.
"We're just waiting for Mr. Potter," Professor Humus told McGonagall.
"I swear, that boy and his friends," she said glaring at Remus, "Get more detentions than any student I have ever met." Remus grinned guiltily. James came running down the hall, panting to catch his breath.
"Sorry, I'm late…had…to finish some Potions," he gasped. The professors gave him a threatening glance and brought the trio to a girls lavatory on the third floor.
Professor McGonagall sighed, "Moaning Myrtle has been upset again. We need you three to clean up the mess she made." James looked aghast and Lily laughed at his expression. James shot her icy glare and Lily stopped laughing with much difficulty.
"Here you go," Professor Humus said merrily, handing the group a couple of buckets and mops, before leaving with Professor McGonagall.
"This is great," James muttered.
"Well, it is your fault that we're here!" Lily retorted.
"MY fault? MY fault?! If you hadn't been late, I wouldn't have been talking to you!"
"Since when did you care about when I got to class on time, or not?" Lily practically screamed at him. James was about to make a comment but Remus intervened.
"Do you want to be here all night? Stop bickering and let's clean up. I don't want to be here anymore than you do." Lily nodded glumly and grabbed the nearest mop to clean up the drenched floor.
"I wondered what upset Myrtle now…" Remus asked.
"Everything upsets Myrtle," James said grinning.
"How dare you talk about me behind my back!" Myrtle cried as she flew through the door of one of the cubicles. James gulped.
"He didn't mean to offend you or anything, Myrtle," Lily said quickly.
"Of course he didn't. No one ever does," she sobbed. She floated through James body and he dropped his mop in surprise. His insides felt as if they had been frozen and his skin was like being drenched in a bucket of ice water. He shivered, he only felt this cold that night when Lily found out he had read her diary. He didn't enjoy feeling like this.
When the entire bathroom had been mopped up and cleaned of water, the trio trudged back to the Gryffindor common room, tired and miserable. Lily stopped half way and yawned sleepily.
"I'm so tired," she mumbled, her eyes half shut and tripping over her feet. "Umf..," she said, landing on her butt. James laughed and Remus sighed, grabbing Lily by the waist and pulling her up.
"C'mon Lils, we're almost there," he said. Lily rested her head on Remus' shoulder, his hand still on her waist. James glanced at them, cocking his head to the side. 'Well this was an interesting sight.'
Reaching the common room, and sleepily muttering the password, Remus dragged Lily in, followed by James tagging at their heels. Ash Lynn was waiting for them and stiffled a giggle at the sight of Lily.
"Give her to me," she said smiling. Remus handed Lily to Ash Lynn and watched as she dragged Lily up the stairs to the girls dorm, tucking her into her own bed.