FOREWORD
Well now, I've finally updated, see? Yes, I've been quite busy, you know, all the usual, dancing, homework, graduation, a meager social life, suicide. JK JK. Anyway, you know what I mean by busy. So, I guess I hope you like this chapter as I worked very hard on it. By the way, some people were maybe wondering the origins of Winnifred Wilkes. Well, she is in Pensieve, a story by Oy! Angelina. You should go and read it as it is very well written.
-Lily
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Every time I see you now it makes me feel so bad Reminds me of the memories I wish I never had Standing in a crowded room too dark for me to see Someone's pushing from behind, just leave me room to breathe
Lily and James skipped down the corridor, arms linked and singing 'I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves' at the top of their lungs, earning many stares from students and teachers alike. After a couple of minutes of this (and taking a detour to avoid the Stair Hall), they made it to the top of the Grand Staircase, which, thankfully, did not move and led into the Entrance Hall. James led Lily over to the banister and lifted her over to sit on it. H pushed her and jumped on behind her, arms wrapped tightly around her waist. they fell to the bottom in a fit of giggles and ran out of the Entrance Hall before the teachers could catch them. Everyone still in the Great Hall eating had a clear view of them and they stared, mouths agape. Dumbledore, however, was beaming at them, his eyes sparkling as he watched them head off down another corridor to the kitchens.
After another minute of running, they came to a portrait of a bowl of fruit. Lily stared at it, wondering what to do next.
"Well?" she prompted. James looked at her.
"Well what?"
"What now?"
"Oh," he said. He turned back to the painting and reached out a hand. He scratch the pear in the painting and an odd chuckling sound emitted, as though it were ticklish. The pear start to morph into a bright gold doorknob. James pulled it open and stepped inside, an amazed Lily trailing behind him wordlessly.
"Come on," he said, taking her hand and leading her to a small group of creatures that were bowing and asking what they would like. James grinned at Lily. "A picnic, please." Some of the creatures hurried off at once to prepare their picnic, leaving Lily time to inspect the creatures some
They were all wearing tea towels and rags which looked as if the Hogwarts Crest had been sloppily sewn on and Lily could not help thinking that anything else would look rather silly on the tiny things. They were rather small, actually, the tallest ones barely reaching Lily's waist, and that was saying something as Lily was short for her age, unlike James, who was somewhere around six feet tall, already. The creatures also had large bat-like ears and tennis ball eyes. If Lily did not know any better, she would say that they quite resembled mini Gollums, from one of Lily's favourite fantasy books, the Lord of the Rings. Lily decided that she would as James what they were later as one of them came back with a small wickerwork basket. James thanked them and they left the kitchens and went outside the castle to the tree they and their friends usually sat under.
"Her, take this," James said, handing her the basket but taking out a red and white checkered tablecloth and spreading it over the spongy grass. He sat down Indian style and tool the basket from Lily and started taking out some fruit, sandwiches, and two small bottles of raspberry ice tea. Lily sat down next to him.
"This is nice," she said. James nodded and handed her half a sandwich, taking the other half for himself. "By the way, what were those things?"
James chuckled and looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"They're house elves," he said. "They're kind of like servants to us wizards. I know, I don't like it either, but they're treated nicer her than...er...other places," he said when he saw her face.
"Oh. Do they have names and stuff? Do you know them?" she asked.
"Oh yeah. Like the one who brought us the basket was named Olive. Her family, well wizard family, disowned her for spilling some of their family secrets and running away periodically. She's different, though, didn't mind doing all that, unlike the other house elves, who go into suicidal mode. Dumbledore takes them in, often times, after stuff like that happens. Anyway, Olive's wizard family was sent to Azkaban. Deatheaters." He grimaced.
"Hmm. Well, Olive seems happy here."
"And she's one of the few." He grew silent for a moment. "Well, would you like to go flying?"
"What?!" Lily panicked.
James looked at her, a serious expression on his face.
"Well, I thought it would help you with your fear of heights. I'm serious!" he said, throwing his hands into the air, a sandwich still in one.
"No, I am," said a voice to their left. Lily and James turned to see Sirius and Remus walking down from the castle. "Hi guys."
Remus waved cheerily.
"You are not serious, Padfoot," James said, frowning at Sirius. Sirius stared.
"What?! Of course I am!"
"No, you're not," James said again. "You aren't at all Sirius, Snuffles."
"Snuffles?" Sirius scoffed.
James shrugged. "Well, you have to have a name, right? Oh well, come join us, Remus, Snuffled." Sirius crossed his arms across his chest and hmphed, plopping down next to James and diagonal to Lily. Remus sat down in between Sirius and Lily.
"So anyway," Sirius said, turning to Lily," What's up, m'dear?" Lily raised an eyebrow.
"Er-nothing, really, just James and I decided to have a picnic, care to join us?" She handed Sirius and Remus sandwiches.
"Thanks," they said, before taking bites.
"Remus, will you hand me that silver glass over there? I'll pour you guys some ice tea." Remus visibly paled. Werewolves were severely--er--allergic to silver. In other words, they died rather suddenly if they touched it, give or take an hour or two, or a couple minutes, depending on how pure the silver. and knowing Hogwarts, which he did, it was probably pretty pure.
"Er, can I not" he asked.
"Why not?" the others asked.
"Because it's silver," he hissed shutting his eyes in frustration and subconsciously clenching his fists in annoyance.
"Oh," Lily said quietly. "S-sorry, Remus." Remus nodded and they continued eating in silence.
"Er," James started, "What do you all want to do later?" Lily, Remus, and Sirius shrugged and continued eating. "Lilsie Wilsie, what about that Muggle game we played yesterday?"
"Okay, I'll go first. Quidditch."
"Snitch."
"What are you doing?" Sirius asked. Lily and James stared at him, Lily's mouth open, as she was in the middle of saying 'Gryffindor'. Without taking his eyes off Sirius, James reached over to tap Lily's mouth closed. She smacked him away, pursed her lips in annoyance, and glared at Sirius.
"What does it look like we're doing?"
"Well I don't know, you tell me," he said, raising and eyebrow. Lily and James exchanged a look.
"It's a--"
"Muggle thing," James said, grinning.
Sirius and Remus burst out laughing. Lily and James stared at them in obvious shock.
"What?" they asked.
Sirius wiped away and imaginary tear.
"So when's the big day?" he asked.
What are you talking about?" Lily asked. She was very annoyed now.
Remus and Sirius jumped up and skipped in a circle, arms linked, singing 'Jimmy-boy's in lo-ove! Lilsie is in lo-ove!'
"We are not!" they said, jumping up as well.
"James and Lily, sitting in a tree--"
"You better--"
"--K-I-S-S-I-N-G--"
"--shut up--"
"--first comes love, then comes marriage--"
"--now--"
"--then comes Prongsie Jr. in a baby carriage!" They burst out laughing again and wiped real tears from their eyes. Lily and James were silent as they first watched Sirius and Remus, and then looked at each other.
Lily immediately took a step away from James. James gave her a look, but then stepped back from her as well. They both stared at each other, brows furrowed.
"Er-well--" James started.
"Yes-well--"
"I'll just be--"
"Going--"
"Now--"
"Yes--"
"Er-yeah--"
"Right--"
"Bye!" they said at the same time and took off in opposite directions, leaving Sirius and Remus to, if possible, laugh harder at their expense.
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And go away from me, just go away To another time, another place To another world, another dream Go away from me...
Chelsea walked quietly to the library. She had promised Remus she'd meet him there to work on school work. She did not think they were going to get much work done, though. She had so much she wanted to ask him! She wanted to know everything about him. All his secrets, how he had become a werewolf. Most of all, she wanted to help him.
Chelsea entered the library and went straight to a table at the back. She dropped her books on the floor and plopped down in a chair to wait for Remus. A minute later, he walked in and looked directly at her. She gazed at him with a serious expression, no not Sirius, silly. Remus nodded and took long strides over to her, although it was easy for him to do so because her was taller than James, and that was pretty tall. Remus sat down and gave her an easy grin, brushing his hand through his light, sandy brown hair, a habit he probably acquired from James, Chelsea could not help noticing.
Chelsea leaned over to her bag and brought a large volume she had checked out two months ago. She dropped it on the table and looked at Remus.
"This is how I found out you were a werewolf." Remus smiled fondly at the book and brushed his fingertips gently across the leather cover.
"I was wondering where this got off to. I'm glad it got into the right hands." He looked her in the eye. "I'm assuming that you did not come here to work on school then."
"When and how did you get bitten? How can I help you? Who else knows? How do they help you? How do you live like this? Why didn't you--"
"Slow down. Please," he said and smiled at her again. "I was three and wandering in the woods by my house at night on Halloween You...you can't help me, I'd be too worried. Lily and the Marauders know. Lily only because I needed her help, her magic, to help me," he said, holding up a hand to keep her from asking why Lily knew before her. "I just do live like this, you kind of get used to it."
"Why can't I help?"
Remus studied her face intently.
"You can," he said gravely. "But, if anything happens to you I will never forgive myself. Come on." He stood up and pulled her into an older and dustier row of books. He scanned the titles, his finger wiping a clean line across the bindings and muttering the titles as he went along. He stopped at one dark crimson book and pulled it out. 'Transformus Animagus, it read, by Emily Wicket. Remus walked back to the table, Chelsea following. He set it on the table and opened it to page 632.
"To become an Animagus...."
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Walking down the sidewalk in a crowd that doesn't care Bumping into shoulders every eye is on the street There's a man with tattered clothes who's cursing at the air Everyone is slowing down to catch a little peak
Lily walked quietly up to her dormitory and flopped down on her bed. She sighed, lifting up her pillow and bringing out an emerald green book with a silvery, spidery 'Lily E.' embossed on the cover.
She had gotten it for Christmas that year, from James. Lily flipped to the first page and dug under her pillow again for a Muggle pen with Robin's egg blue ink inside, also from James. She figured it was his favorite color as he wore it a lot, not like she was keeping track.... She thought a moment before writing the headings.
March 26 Dear....
She stopped. Dear what? Diary? Journal? Imaginary friend? She though a moment again before continuing.
Dear James,
Wow. A lot has been going on lately. Voldemort attacked the castle and I even admitted I like, and maybe love you. I know you would be thrilled if I told you. But, the thing is, I don't want to be with you. It is inevitable, as Sirius said. We'd have a pretty messed up relationship if we didn't fall in love, you know? Well, anyway, I think that I was just saying that to spite Voldemort. I mean, I can't like you, can I? I only will be friends with you. Things were so much easier when we hated each other. But, I find myself wanting to be friends with you. Oh, I don't know. I need to talk to you in person.
Sincerely, Lily Evans
Lily put down her pen and shut the journal, stashing it under her pillow. She hopped down the stairs to the commonroom and looked around, in search for James. He was sitting on a couch in front of the fire, scribbling something down on a piece of parchment. Lily walked over and stood in front of him. He looked up and smiled sweetly.
"Hi," he said, indicating that she should sit down.
"Hi."
"What's up?" he asked, turning to look at her worriedly.
"We need to talk."
"What about?"
"The prophecies." She lowered her voice. "Look, let's just be friends, okay? Or we should go back to hating each other." James looked almost hurt.
"Well, if that's what you want. I'd personally rather we were friends." He smiled kindly, but she could not not notice the pain in his beautiful, dizzying amber eyes. This was not the James she knew. This was the older, more mature James. Lily panicked. Hey, what would you do in her situation?
"No, no, friends is fine. Thanks, Jay," she said, putting her hand on his and patting it reassuringly.
"Anytime," he said, shrugging and returning to his work, though he did not move his hand out from under hers.
"I-I--" She was staring at their hands, a look of definite surprise on her face. "I-I-er--" James looked at her and then looked down at their hands as well.
"Oh," he said. "Oh." They both felt themselves lean in. Their faces were centimeters apart....
"BOO!!!"
"AHHHHHH!!!" Lily and James tumbled off the couch, yelling wildly. Sirius stood behind the couch, cackling like an...well, like an idiot. "Sirius!"
Sirius was now on the floor as well, laughing and laughing and laughing.
"You faces-so funny!" he managed between laughs.
"Shut up, Padfoot," James said.
"Ha ha ha!"
"I'm going to go do my homework now. Coming Lily?"
"Nah, I'm going to go to the library. I need to do some research for Charms."
"Always Charms?"
"Yes."
"All right, see you."
"Bye," she said before leaving the commonroom for the library.
James turned back to Sirius, who was watching the exchange quietly.
"Oh, shut up, Padfoot." Sirius shrugged. "Come on. Let's do some homework."
"Prongs, ol' buddy ol' pal, you need to lighten up. It's always homework, homework, homework with you, isn't it? What happened to the old James? The pranking, Marauder, ass-kicking Prongs?"
James looked away and thought for a moment before sighing.
"All right, let's-let's go and prank the Slytherins, or something."
"All right, Jimmy-boy!" Sirius said, jumping up and down and clapping his hands. "Where's Remus?! MOONY!!! We're going to go find Snivellus! Coming?!"
"No, no, you go ahead, Padfoot!" they heard him yell from somewhere in the common room. "I'll just find James and we'll sturdy or something!
"Prongsie is coming with!"
"Oh. Okay then!"
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And go away from me, just go away To another time, another place To another world, another dream Go away from me...
"Now all you gotta do is--"
"Padfoot, I know how to prank the Slytherins."
"Sure could have fooled me. You've been missing many pranks, dear boy."
"Goodness gracious."
"What was that?"
"Nothing, Padfoot."
"Shh. We're getting closer. They'll hear you!"
"Yeah, shut up Padfoot."
"Yeah, shut up Padfoot."
"Oh bother."
"Shh."
"Okay, okay." Sirius shoved his fist in his mouth, stifling laughter. "Shh."
"Hey Prongs."
"What?"
"You're in love," he whispered in James's ear.
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Am not."
"Are not."
"Am too-hey!"
"Shh! We've got to be very quiet. We're hunting wabbits!"
"What?"
"Muggle thing."
"Not you, too!"
"Learned it from Lady Lillian."
"Lady Lillian?"
"Yes, Duke of Earl. Lady Lillian is thine beautiful flower. That which is my life and thou love."
"Thank you, Shakespeare."
"Thouest welcome, Romeo."
"Oh, shut up."
"I didn't say anything."
"Stop with the mind games, Padfoot."
"Then you be serious."
"I am being serious."
"No, I'm Sirius."
"Of course you are. Hey! There's Snivellus!"
"No kidding, Prongs. Yes! Got the bucket?"
"Of course. Wingardium Leviosa!"
SPLASH
"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"Good going, Prongs!"
"It was your brilliant plan!"
"Actually, it was Moony's."
"Thank you, Moony!"
"All right, let's go!"
James and Sirius tiptoed back up to the commonroom, under James's invisibility cloak. It was about nine o'clock now and getting close to curfew so if they were seen out now, they would probably get detention.
They stepped through the portrait hole ten minutes later and collapsed onto the floor in front of the fire, laughing madly. Lily, who was curled up on the couch with a book, looked at them in disgust.
"What did you two do now?"
"Oh, nothing," James said quickly, though he looked rather guilty.
"Snivellus! James, did you see his face?" Sirius said in between laughs. James glared at him.
"Er, sorry, Lils."
"Hmph. I though you had grown up. I am obviously mistaken," she said, turning back to her book and ignoring the two boys.
James's face fell.
"I said, I'm sorry, Lils." She ignored him. Sirius was silent now, watching the two. Poor Prongs, he thought. "Please, Lily? Please?" Lily shook her head.
"No. I thought you were starting to mature a bit, James. If you can't learn to grow up, then I can't be friends with you. Tough luck, but have you noticed that since you changed, it has been easier for me to talk to you without yelling, to get along with you? James, if you want to be friends with me, then you are going to have to grow up. I'm-I'm tempted to just-just let Voldemort win out over us and hope that whoever made that stupid prophecy was wrong. For you sake, I sure hope so." Lily looked like she might start to cry, but she could not let him notice that. Truth be told, she rather thought she was overreacting, though she figured it was normal for her because she did it a lot.
"Ouch," Sirius said. James slapped his arm. Sirius pouted. "Fine. Well, Lily, if you aren't going to be Jimmy-boy's girlfriend, will you go out with me?"
"But, I don't see how you are any diff--" James started.
"Sure, whatever. Hogsmeade tomorrow. I assume you broke up with Kate, then?" Lily asked, purposefully trying to make James feel jealous and guilty. She knew it was wrong.
"It wasn't working," Sirius said. "She had her eye on someone else. Chelsea's brother, I think."
"Good, she can have him. I never really went out with him."
"Okay. Well, I'm going up to bed. Coming, Prongs?"
"Er, yeah."
"Goodnight kiss, Lilsie Wilsie?" Lily narrowed her eyes at him.
"You, mister, will have to wait till tomorrow." Sirius pouted and Lily raised and eyebrow. "Goodnight, then."
"Okay. Come along now, Prongs."
"Right. Yeah. Coming. I think. Maybe I'll stay. No, I'll go. No, I'll stay. Oh! Whatever! I'm coming!" He threw up his hands in defeat and stomped up the stairs after Sirius. Lily tried extremely hard not to laugh, though she would never admit it. She shook her head and went back to her book.
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Every time I wake up and I see myself again Staring in the mirror like a burnt out piece of wood Searching every feature for a single trace of life Couldn't find the answer 'cause the mirror never lies
"I cannot believe you are going out with Sirius Black!" Kate shrieked later.
"Frankly, neither can I!" Chelsea said, brow furrowed. "Why not James?"
"He's an immature prat. Personally, I like Sirius better anyway," Lily said, shrugging.
"I agree with you there," Kate commented. "But, can I really have Andrew?"
"You cannot own my brother--" Chelsea said, but she cut off.
"Sure you can, Kat," Lily said, smiling. Chelsea crossed her arms over her chest and hmphed.
"Well, I'm going to go see Remus. We have some research to get done today. Ta!" she said and stalked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her.
"What's with her?" Lily asked. Kate shrugged.
"She's not telling us something, is what."
"Do you think it has to do with Remus?"
"Yes, but I thought he finally told her he was a werewolf."
"Hmm. She'll tell us when she's ready, though, right?"
"For her sake, I hope so."
"Hmm."
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And go away from me, just go away To another time, another place To another world, another dream Go away from me...
Chelsea stomped into the library and looked to a table in the back corner. The shadows of the book shelves hung over the table, but Chelsea could see the outline of the person she was looking for watching her quietly. She walked over and sat down.
He leaned over and kissed her cheek swiftly. Chelsea smiled and looked at the books in front of him, raising an eyebrow.
"A month until the potion is complete. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
"Of course I do. I have to help you in all the ways I can. Remus, I don't care if it kills me, but I've got to help you."
She could sense his expression darkening.
"If you don't care if you die, I'm not going to give you the potion. I care if you die, okay, so don't say that."
"I'm sorry. I know you care, Remus." She could tell he was starting to relax now. "Come on, let's get some work done."
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And go away from me, just go away To another time, another place To another world, another dream Go away from me...
Lily and Sirius walked up the main street of Hogsmeade in silence, just comfortable walking side by side. Lily shrugged as Sirius pointed to the Three Broomsticks, the old wizard pub in Hogsmeade. They bought Butterbeer and resumed their walk around the town. they decided to sit down on a bench in the middle of the street and sipped their Butterbeer.
"So, Lily," Sirius said as they walked back up to the castle and hour late. They had also gone to Zonko's Joke Shop, of course, and Honeyduke's Sweet Shop and had bought birthday presents for their friends. They had spent most of the time in a comfortable silence, but still enjoyed themselves immensely.
"So, er," he said again as they had now reached the entrance Hall.
"Yeah, thanks for taking me on that-er-date, I guess? I had fun."
"Thanks, yes, you welcome, and me too, do you want to do it again sometime?"
"Okay. As another "date"?"
"Of course," he said nonchalantly.
"So, we're "together", then."
"I-I guess so."
"So-er-yeah." She was feeling slightly awkward now.
"Yep. Um," he started, but Lily stood on tiptoe and kissed him swiftly before turning and skipping off to the library. She looked back briefly, smiled sweetly and waggled her fingers at him. He grinned and waved.
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Walking down the sidewalk in a crowd that doesn't care Bumping into shoulders every eye is on the street There's a man with tattered clothes who's cursing at the air Everyone is slowing down to catch a little peak
James smirked as he saw Lily run into the classroom, muttering a hurried apology to Professor McGonagal for being late and sitting in the only open seat in the classroom, next to him and Sirius. Lily glared at him and hurried to her seat, throwing her books down and dropping daintily in her seat.
'Why were you late?' James wrote on a corner of parchment. he ripped it off and slid it over to Lily. She looked down at the note, then up at his face before bending over the snippet of parchment and scribbling a reply.
'Why do you care?' He let out a low chuckle.
'Because, you are my friend and I care where my friends go, Lils.' She glared at the parchment.
'Uh! You are so immature, you know that? Walking around, pranking people and the like. I'm only your friend because, at the moment, I don't loath you, okay? One wrong move and it's back to Potter for you.' James stared at the note. She's right, I mean, the nerve of her. He he, he thought. He raised an eyebrow.
'I know I am. I'll changer if you go out with me.' He heard Lily's sharp intake of breath.
'What? Are you nuts?! If you don't remember clearly, I'm going out with your best friend!
'Ooo, harsh. I love you, you know that?
'What the hell?
'Not that way! I mean--' She ripped the note out of his hand and tossed it over her shoulder. It hit Kate on the forehead and she whispered a 'Hey!', though apparently, Lily did not hear her. 'What was that for?
'I had the feeling you were going to say something pricky. think of it as a favor. I'm helping you deflate you big, fat head.' She saw him shrug next to her, but just then, McGonagal swooped down upon them.
"What are you doing Potter, Miss Evans? I'd like for you to explain to me what you find more important than my class?
"Quid--" but Lily elbowed him under the table.
"We-we were just--" She searched for an excuse.
"Talking about what she missed when she was late for class and--"
"Mr. Potter, I do not wish to hear you lame excuses today," McGonagal said, sighing. She waved a hand. "Just pay attention now." She turned back and resumed teaching the class.
Lily was busy copying down the notes magicked onto a blackboard in the front of the classroom when another note was slid onto her desk. She unfolded it and read.
'That was a close one, hmm?' She glared at James who was innocently twirling his quill between two fingers.
'Shut up. I do not want to get in detention today.
'Sorry, can't help it. I like to gossip!
'If you hadn't kissed me, what, three times, I would seriously say that you were gay.
'Point well taken, just don't call me gay again.
'Gay Jay.
'Shut up.
'Hmph.
'Is that all you have to say for yourself?
'Er, yes?
"Mr. Potter! Mis Evans! Up here, now!" Lily and James resignedly stood up and walked up to the fuming professor. "I would like it very much if you two would pay attention during my class!"
Lily and James looked at each other, trying very hard not to laugh.
"Detention, the both of you. Please come by my office at seven thirty on the dot. Five points from Gryffindor and you may leave now, as class is over." McGonagal sounded rather weary, but the two brushed it off as they walked outside the classroom to be met by the worried faces of their four friends. Lily and James looked around at their friends and then at each other before bursting out laughing. Sirius, Remus, Kate, Chelsea, and PEter watched them laugh with amused looks on their faces.
"Well, this is interesting," Sirius said. "Guys, we'll see you at lunch, once you, er, once you've collected yourselves," Sirius said, raising his eyebrows at James and Lily. Lily nodded in between laughs and bent over to catch her breath. If possible, this made her laugh even harder. "Well, it wasn't that funny!"
"Oh you're so silly!" she said when she had stopped laughing and straightened up. She slid her hand into his and stood on tiptoe to kiss him lightly. "Come one, let's go to lunch."
James stared at the retreating backs of his friends, a sad look on his face. Yep, Lily is definitely over me, he thought. He shrugged and followed after them.
And go away from me, just go away To another time, another place To another world, another dream Go away from me...
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AFTERWORD
Well, another okay chapter, hmm? I had fun writing this one, but it did take forever, well, and I was quite lazy. The lyrics (in italics, as always) are by Oingo Boingo, again, and the song is Go Away. Figures, doesn't it?
-Lily
Until next time!!!
Well now, I've finally updated, see? Yes, I've been quite busy, you know, all the usual, dancing, homework, graduation, a meager social life, suicide. JK JK. Anyway, you know what I mean by busy. So, I guess I hope you like this chapter as I worked very hard on it. By the way, some people were maybe wondering the origins of Winnifred Wilkes. Well, she is in Pensieve, a story by Oy! Angelina. You should go and read it as it is very well written.
-Lily
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Every time I see you now it makes me feel so bad Reminds me of the memories I wish I never had Standing in a crowded room too dark for me to see Someone's pushing from behind, just leave me room to breathe
Lily and James skipped down the corridor, arms linked and singing 'I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves' at the top of their lungs, earning many stares from students and teachers alike. After a couple of minutes of this (and taking a detour to avoid the Stair Hall), they made it to the top of the Grand Staircase, which, thankfully, did not move and led into the Entrance Hall. James led Lily over to the banister and lifted her over to sit on it. H pushed her and jumped on behind her, arms wrapped tightly around her waist. they fell to the bottom in a fit of giggles and ran out of the Entrance Hall before the teachers could catch them. Everyone still in the Great Hall eating had a clear view of them and they stared, mouths agape. Dumbledore, however, was beaming at them, his eyes sparkling as he watched them head off down another corridor to the kitchens.
After another minute of running, they came to a portrait of a bowl of fruit. Lily stared at it, wondering what to do next.
"Well?" she prompted. James looked at her.
"Well what?"
"What now?"
"Oh," he said. He turned back to the painting and reached out a hand. He scratch the pear in the painting and an odd chuckling sound emitted, as though it were ticklish. The pear start to morph into a bright gold doorknob. James pulled it open and stepped inside, an amazed Lily trailing behind him wordlessly.
"Come on," he said, taking her hand and leading her to a small group of creatures that were bowing and asking what they would like. James grinned at Lily. "A picnic, please." Some of the creatures hurried off at once to prepare their picnic, leaving Lily time to inspect the creatures some
They were all wearing tea towels and rags which looked as if the Hogwarts Crest had been sloppily sewn on and Lily could not help thinking that anything else would look rather silly on the tiny things. They were rather small, actually, the tallest ones barely reaching Lily's waist, and that was saying something as Lily was short for her age, unlike James, who was somewhere around six feet tall, already. The creatures also had large bat-like ears and tennis ball eyes. If Lily did not know any better, she would say that they quite resembled mini Gollums, from one of Lily's favourite fantasy books, the Lord of the Rings. Lily decided that she would as James what they were later as one of them came back with a small wickerwork basket. James thanked them and they left the kitchens and went outside the castle to the tree they and their friends usually sat under.
"Her, take this," James said, handing her the basket but taking out a red and white checkered tablecloth and spreading it over the spongy grass. He sat down Indian style and tool the basket from Lily and started taking out some fruit, sandwiches, and two small bottles of raspberry ice tea. Lily sat down next to him.
"This is nice," she said. James nodded and handed her half a sandwich, taking the other half for himself. "By the way, what were those things?"
James chuckled and looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"They're house elves," he said. "They're kind of like servants to us wizards. I know, I don't like it either, but they're treated nicer her than...er...other places," he said when he saw her face.
"Oh. Do they have names and stuff? Do you know them?" she asked.
"Oh yeah. Like the one who brought us the basket was named Olive. Her family, well wizard family, disowned her for spilling some of their family secrets and running away periodically. She's different, though, didn't mind doing all that, unlike the other house elves, who go into suicidal mode. Dumbledore takes them in, often times, after stuff like that happens. Anyway, Olive's wizard family was sent to Azkaban. Deatheaters." He grimaced.
"Hmm. Well, Olive seems happy here."
"And she's one of the few." He grew silent for a moment. "Well, would you like to go flying?"
"What?!" Lily panicked.
James looked at her, a serious expression on his face.
"Well, I thought it would help you with your fear of heights. I'm serious!" he said, throwing his hands into the air, a sandwich still in one.
"No, I am," said a voice to their left. Lily and James turned to see Sirius and Remus walking down from the castle. "Hi guys."
Remus waved cheerily.
"You are not serious, Padfoot," James said, frowning at Sirius. Sirius stared.
"What?! Of course I am!"
"No, you're not," James said again. "You aren't at all Sirius, Snuffles."
"Snuffles?" Sirius scoffed.
James shrugged. "Well, you have to have a name, right? Oh well, come join us, Remus, Snuffled." Sirius crossed his arms across his chest and hmphed, plopping down next to James and diagonal to Lily. Remus sat down in between Sirius and Lily.
"So anyway," Sirius said, turning to Lily," What's up, m'dear?" Lily raised an eyebrow.
"Er-nothing, really, just James and I decided to have a picnic, care to join us?" She handed Sirius and Remus sandwiches.
"Thanks," they said, before taking bites.
"Remus, will you hand me that silver glass over there? I'll pour you guys some ice tea." Remus visibly paled. Werewolves were severely--er--allergic to silver. In other words, they died rather suddenly if they touched it, give or take an hour or two, or a couple minutes, depending on how pure the silver. and knowing Hogwarts, which he did, it was probably pretty pure.
"Er, can I not" he asked.
"Why not?" the others asked.
"Because it's silver," he hissed shutting his eyes in frustration and subconsciously clenching his fists in annoyance.
"Oh," Lily said quietly. "S-sorry, Remus." Remus nodded and they continued eating in silence.
"Er," James started, "What do you all want to do later?" Lily, Remus, and Sirius shrugged and continued eating. "Lilsie Wilsie, what about that Muggle game we played yesterday?"
"Okay, I'll go first. Quidditch."
"Snitch."
"What are you doing?" Sirius asked. Lily and James stared at him, Lily's mouth open, as she was in the middle of saying 'Gryffindor'. Without taking his eyes off Sirius, James reached over to tap Lily's mouth closed. She smacked him away, pursed her lips in annoyance, and glared at Sirius.
"What does it look like we're doing?"
"Well I don't know, you tell me," he said, raising and eyebrow. Lily and James exchanged a look.
"It's a--"
"Muggle thing," James said, grinning.
Sirius and Remus burst out laughing. Lily and James stared at them in obvious shock.
"What?" they asked.
Sirius wiped away and imaginary tear.
"So when's the big day?" he asked.
What are you talking about?" Lily asked. She was very annoyed now.
Remus and Sirius jumped up and skipped in a circle, arms linked, singing 'Jimmy-boy's in lo-ove! Lilsie is in lo-ove!'
"We are not!" they said, jumping up as well.
"James and Lily, sitting in a tree--"
"You better--"
"--K-I-S-S-I-N-G--"
"--shut up--"
"--first comes love, then comes marriage--"
"--now--"
"--then comes Prongsie Jr. in a baby carriage!" They burst out laughing again and wiped real tears from their eyes. Lily and James were silent as they first watched Sirius and Remus, and then looked at each other.
Lily immediately took a step away from James. James gave her a look, but then stepped back from her as well. They both stared at each other, brows furrowed.
"Er-well--" James started.
"Yes-well--"
"I'll just be--"
"Going--"
"Now--"
"Yes--"
"Er-yeah--"
"Right--"
"Bye!" they said at the same time and took off in opposite directions, leaving Sirius and Remus to, if possible, laugh harder at their expense.
---------------------------------------------
And go away from me, just go away To another time, another place To another world, another dream Go away from me...
Chelsea walked quietly to the library. She had promised Remus she'd meet him there to work on school work. She did not think they were going to get much work done, though. She had so much she wanted to ask him! She wanted to know everything about him. All his secrets, how he had become a werewolf. Most of all, she wanted to help him.
Chelsea entered the library and went straight to a table at the back. She dropped her books on the floor and plopped down in a chair to wait for Remus. A minute later, he walked in and looked directly at her. She gazed at him with a serious expression, no not Sirius, silly. Remus nodded and took long strides over to her, although it was easy for him to do so because her was taller than James, and that was pretty tall. Remus sat down and gave her an easy grin, brushing his hand through his light, sandy brown hair, a habit he probably acquired from James, Chelsea could not help noticing.
Chelsea leaned over to her bag and brought a large volume she had checked out two months ago. She dropped it on the table and looked at Remus.
"This is how I found out you were a werewolf." Remus smiled fondly at the book and brushed his fingertips gently across the leather cover.
"I was wondering where this got off to. I'm glad it got into the right hands." He looked her in the eye. "I'm assuming that you did not come here to work on school then."
"When and how did you get bitten? How can I help you? Who else knows? How do they help you? How do you live like this? Why didn't you--"
"Slow down. Please," he said and smiled at her again. "I was three and wandering in the woods by my house at night on Halloween You...you can't help me, I'd be too worried. Lily and the Marauders know. Lily only because I needed her help, her magic, to help me," he said, holding up a hand to keep her from asking why Lily knew before her. "I just do live like this, you kind of get used to it."
"Why can't I help?"
Remus studied her face intently.
"You can," he said gravely. "But, if anything happens to you I will never forgive myself. Come on." He stood up and pulled her into an older and dustier row of books. He scanned the titles, his finger wiping a clean line across the bindings and muttering the titles as he went along. He stopped at one dark crimson book and pulled it out. 'Transformus Animagus, it read, by Emily Wicket. Remus walked back to the table, Chelsea following. He set it on the table and opened it to page 632.
"To become an Animagus...."
---------------------------------------------------------
Walking down the sidewalk in a crowd that doesn't care Bumping into shoulders every eye is on the street There's a man with tattered clothes who's cursing at the air Everyone is slowing down to catch a little peak
Lily walked quietly up to her dormitory and flopped down on her bed. She sighed, lifting up her pillow and bringing out an emerald green book with a silvery, spidery 'Lily E.' embossed on the cover.
She had gotten it for Christmas that year, from James. Lily flipped to the first page and dug under her pillow again for a Muggle pen with Robin's egg blue ink inside, also from James. She figured it was his favorite color as he wore it a lot, not like she was keeping track.... She thought a moment before writing the headings.
March 26 Dear....
She stopped. Dear what? Diary? Journal? Imaginary friend? She though a moment again before continuing.
Dear James,
Wow. A lot has been going on lately. Voldemort attacked the castle and I even admitted I like, and maybe love you. I know you would be thrilled if I told you. But, the thing is, I don't want to be with you. It is inevitable, as Sirius said. We'd have a pretty messed up relationship if we didn't fall in love, you know? Well, anyway, I think that I was just saying that to spite Voldemort. I mean, I can't like you, can I? I only will be friends with you. Things were so much easier when we hated each other. But, I find myself wanting to be friends with you. Oh, I don't know. I need to talk to you in person.
Sincerely, Lily Evans
Lily put down her pen and shut the journal, stashing it under her pillow. She hopped down the stairs to the commonroom and looked around, in search for James. He was sitting on a couch in front of the fire, scribbling something down on a piece of parchment. Lily walked over and stood in front of him. He looked up and smiled sweetly.
"Hi," he said, indicating that she should sit down.
"Hi."
"What's up?" he asked, turning to look at her worriedly.
"We need to talk."
"What about?"
"The prophecies." She lowered her voice. "Look, let's just be friends, okay? Or we should go back to hating each other." James looked almost hurt.
"Well, if that's what you want. I'd personally rather we were friends." He smiled kindly, but she could not not notice the pain in his beautiful, dizzying amber eyes. This was not the James she knew. This was the older, more mature James. Lily panicked. Hey, what would you do in her situation?
"No, no, friends is fine. Thanks, Jay," she said, putting her hand on his and patting it reassuringly.
"Anytime," he said, shrugging and returning to his work, though he did not move his hand out from under hers.
"I-I--" She was staring at their hands, a look of definite surprise on her face. "I-I-er--" James looked at her and then looked down at their hands as well.
"Oh," he said. "Oh." They both felt themselves lean in. Their faces were centimeters apart....
"BOO!!!"
"AHHHHHH!!!" Lily and James tumbled off the couch, yelling wildly. Sirius stood behind the couch, cackling like an...well, like an idiot. "Sirius!"
Sirius was now on the floor as well, laughing and laughing and laughing.
"You faces-so funny!" he managed between laughs.
"Shut up, Padfoot," James said.
"Ha ha ha!"
"I'm going to go do my homework now. Coming Lily?"
"Nah, I'm going to go to the library. I need to do some research for Charms."
"Always Charms?"
"Yes."
"All right, see you."
"Bye," she said before leaving the commonroom for the library.
James turned back to Sirius, who was watching the exchange quietly.
"Oh, shut up, Padfoot." Sirius shrugged. "Come on. Let's do some homework."
"Prongs, ol' buddy ol' pal, you need to lighten up. It's always homework, homework, homework with you, isn't it? What happened to the old James? The pranking, Marauder, ass-kicking Prongs?"
James looked away and thought for a moment before sighing.
"All right, let's-let's go and prank the Slytherins, or something."
"All right, Jimmy-boy!" Sirius said, jumping up and down and clapping his hands. "Where's Remus?! MOONY!!! We're going to go find Snivellus! Coming?!"
"No, no, you go ahead, Padfoot!" they heard him yell from somewhere in the common room. "I'll just find James and we'll sturdy or something!
"Prongsie is coming with!"
"Oh. Okay then!"
------------------------------------------------
And go away from me, just go away To another time, another place To another world, another dream Go away from me...
"Now all you gotta do is--"
"Padfoot, I know how to prank the Slytherins."
"Sure could have fooled me. You've been missing many pranks, dear boy."
"Goodness gracious."
"What was that?"
"Nothing, Padfoot."
"Shh. We're getting closer. They'll hear you!"
"Yeah, shut up Padfoot."
"Yeah, shut up Padfoot."
"Oh bother."
"Shh."
"Okay, okay." Sirius shoved his fist in his mouth, stifling laughter. "Shh."
"Hey Prongs."
"What?"
"You're in love," he whispered in James's ear.
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Am not."
"Are not."
"Am too-hey!"
"Shh! We've got to be very quiet. We're hunting wabbits!"
"What?"
"Muggle thing."
"Not you, too!"
"Learned it from Lady Lillian."
"Lady Lillian?"
"Yes, Duke of Earl. Lady Lillian is thine beautiful flower. That which is my life and thou love."
"Thank you, Shakespeare."
"Thouest welcome, Romeo."
"Oh, shut up."
"I didn't say anything."
"Stop with the mind games, Padfoot."
"Then you be serious."
"I am being serious."
"No, I'm Sirius."
"Of course you are. Hey! There's Snivellus!"
"No kidding, Prongs. Yes! Got the bucket?"
"Of course. Wingardium Leviosa!"
SPLASH
"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"Good going, Prongs!"
"It was your brilliant plan!"
"Actually, it was Moony's."
"Thank you, Moony!"
"All right, let's go!"
James and Sirius tiptoed back up to the commonroom, under James's invisibility cloak. It was about nine o'clock now and getting close to curfew so if they were seen out now, they would probably get detention.
They stepped through the portrait hole ten minutes later and collapsed onto the floor in front of the fire, laughing madly. Lily, who was curled up on the couch with a book, looked at them in disgust.
"What did you two do now?"
"Oh, nothing," James said quickly, though he looked rather guilty.
"Snivellus! James, did you see his face?" Sirius said in between laughs. James glared at him.
"Er, sorry, Lils."
"Hmph. I though you had grown up. I am obviously mistaken," she said, turning back to her book and ignoring the two boys.
James's face fell.
"I said, I'm sorry, Lils." She ignored him. Sirius was silent now, watching the two. Poor Prongs, he thought. "Please, Lily? Please?" Lily shook her head.
"No. I thought you were starting to mature a bit, James. If you can't learn to grow up, then I can't be friends with you. Tough luck, but have you noticed that since you changed, it has been easier for me to talk to you without yelling, to get along with you? James, if you want to be friends with me, then you are going to have to grow up. I'm-I'm tempted to just-just let Voldemort win out over us and hope that whoever made that stupid prophecy was wrong. For you sake, I sure hope so." Lily looked like she might start to cry, but she could not let him notice that. Truth be told, she rather thought she was overreacting, though she figured it was normal for her because she did it a lot.
"Ouch," Sirius said. James slapped his arm. Sirius pouted. "Fine. Well, Lily, if you aren't going to be Jimmy-boy's girlfriend, will you go out with me?"
"But, I don't see how you are any diff--" James started.
"Sure, whatever. Hogsmeade tomorrow. I assume you broke up with Kate, then?" Lily asked, purposefully trying to make James feel jealous and guilty. She knew it was wrong.
"It wasn't working," Sirius said. "She had her eye on someone else. Chelsea's brother, I think."
"Good, she can have him. I never really went out with him."
"Okay. Well, I'm going up to bed. Coming, Prongs?"
"Er, yeah."
"Goodnight kiss, Lilsie Wilsie?" Lily narrowed her eyes at him.
"You, mister, will have to wait till tomorrow." Sirius pouted and Lily raised and eyebrow. "Goodnight, then."
"Okay. Come along now, Prongs."
"Right. Yeah. Coming. I think. Maybe I'll stay. No, I'll go. No, I'll stay. Oh! Whatever! I'm coming!" He threw up his hands in defeat and stomped up the stairs after Sirius. Lily tried extremely hard not to laugh, though she would never admit it. She shook her head and went back to her book.
--------------------------------------
Every time I wake up and I see myself again Staring in the mirror like a burnt out piece of wood Searching every feature for a single trace of life Couldn't find the answer 'cause the mirror never lies
"I cannot believe you are going out with Sirius Black!" Kate shrieked later.
"Frankly, neither can I!" Chelsea said, brow furrowed. "Why not James?"
"He's an immature prat. Personally, I like Sirius better anyway," Lily said, shrugging.
"I agree with you there," Kate commented. "But, can I really have Andrew?"
"You cannot own my brother--" Chelsea said, but she cut off.
"Sure you can, Kat," Lily said, smiling. Chelsea crossed her arms over her chest and hmphed.
"Well, I'm going to go see Remus. We have some research to get done today. Ta!" she said and stalked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind her.
"What's with her?" Lily asked. Kate shrugged.
"She's not telling us something, is what."
"Do you think it has to do with Remus?"
"Yes, but I thought he finally told her he was a werewolf."
"Hmm. She'll tell us when she's ready, though, right?"
"For her sake, I hope so."
"Hmm."
---------------------------------------
And go away from me, just go away To another time, another place To another world, another dream Go away from me...
Chelsea stomped into the library and looked to a table in the back corner. The shadows of the book shelves hung over the table, but Chelsea could see the outline of the person she was looking for watching her quietly. She walked over and sat down.
He leaned over and kissed her cheek swiftly. Chelsea smiled and looked at the books in front of him, raising an eyebrow.
"A month until the potion is complete. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
"Of course I do. I have to help you in all the ways I can. Remus, I don't care if it kills me, but I've got to help you."
She could sense his expression darkening.
"If you don't care if you die, I'm not going to give you the potion. I care if you die, okay, so don't say that."
"I'm sorry. I know you care, Remus." She could tell he was starting to relax now. "Come on, let's get some work done."
--------------------------------------
And go away from me, just go away To another time, another place To another world, another dream Go away from me...
Lily and Sirius walked up the main street of Hogsmeade in silence, just comfortable walking side by side. Lily shrugged as Sirius pointed to the Three Broomsticks, the old wizard pub in Hogsmeade. They bought Butterbeer and resumed their walk around the town. they decided to sit down on a bench in the middle of the street and sipped their Butterbeer.
"So, Lily," Sirius said as they walked back up to the castle and hour late. They had also gone to Zonko's Joke Shop, of course, and Honeyduke's Sweet Shop and had bought birthday presents for their friends. They had spent most of the time in a comfortable silence, but still enjoyed themselves immensely.
"So, er," he said again as they had now reached the entrance Hall.
"Yeah, thanks for taking me on that-er-date, I guess? I had fun."
"Thanks, yes, you welcome, and me too, do you want to do it again sometime?"
"Okay. As another "date"?"
"Of course," he said nonchalantly.
"So, we're "together", then."
"I-I guess so."
"So-er-yeah." She was feeling slightly awkward now.
"Yep. Um," he started, but Lily stood on tiptoe and kissed him swiftly before turning and skipping off to the library. She looked back briefly, smiled sweetly and waggled her fingers at him. He grinned and waved.
------------------------------------------------
Walking down the sidewalk in a crowd that doesn't care Bumping into shoulders every eye is on the street There's a man with tattered clothes who's cursing at the air Everyone is slowing down to catch a little peak
James smirked as he saw Lily run into the classroom, muttering a hurried apology to Professor McGonagal for being late and sitting in the only open seat in the classroom, next to him and Sirius. Lily glared at him and hurried to her seat, throwing her books down and dropping daintily in her seat.
'Why were you late?' James wrote on a corner of parchment. he ripped it off and slid it over to Lily. She looked down at the note, then up at his face before bending over the snippet of parchment and scribbling a reply.
'Why do you care?' He let out a low chuckle.
'Because, you are my friend and I care where my friends go, Lils.' She glared at the parchment.
'Uh! You are so immature, you know that? Walking around, pranking people and the like. I'm only your friend because, at the moment, I don't loath you, okay? One wrong move and it's back to Potter for you.' James stared at the note. She's right, I mean, the nerve of her. He he, he thought. He raised an eyebrow.
'I know I am. I'll changer if you go out with me.' He heard Lily's sharp intake of breath.
'What? Are you nuts?! If you don't remember clearly, I'm going out with your best friend!
'Ooo, harsh. I love you, you know that?
'What the hell?
'Not that way! I mean--' She ripped the note out of his hand and tossed it over her shoulder. It hit Kate on the forehead and she whispered a 'Hey!', though apparently, Lily did not hear her. 'What was that for?
'I had the feeling you were going to say something pricky. think of it as a favor. I'm helping you deflate you big, fat head.' She saw him shrug next to her, but just then, McGonagal swooped down upon them.
"What are you doing Potter, Miss Evans? I'd like for you to explain to me what you find more important than my class?
"Quid--" but Lily elbowed him under the table.
"We-we were just--" She searched for an excuse.
"Talking about what she missed when she was late for class and--"
"Mr. Potter, I do not wish to hear you lame excuses today," McGonagal said, sighing. She waved a hand. "Just pay attention now." She turned back and resumed teaching the class.
Lily was busy copying down the notes magicked onto a blackboard in the front of the classroom when another note was slid onto her desk. She unfolded it and read.
'That was a close one, hmm?' She glared at James who was innocently twirling his quill between two fingers.
'Shut up. I do not want to get in detention today.
'Sorry, can't help it. I like to gossip!
'If you hadn't kissed me, what, three times, I would seriously say that you were gay.
'Point well taken, just don't call me gay again.
'Gay Jay.
'Shut up.
'Hmph.
'Is that all you have to say for yourself?
'Er, yes?
"Mr. Potter! Mis Evans! Up here, now!" Lily and James resignedly stood up and walked up to the fuming professor. "I would like it very much if you two would pay attention during my class!"
Lily and James looked at each other, trying very hard not to laugh.
"Detention, the both of you. Please come by my office at seven thirty on the dot. Five points from Gryffindor and you may leave now, as class is over." McGonagal sounded rather weary, but the two brushed it off as they walked outside the classroom to be met by the worried faces of their four friends. Lily and James looked around at their friends and then at each other before bursting out laughing. Sirius, Remus, Kate, Chelsea, and PEter watched them laugh with amused looks on their faces.
"Well, this is interesting," Sirius said. "Guys, we'll see you at lunch, once you, er, once you've collected yourselves," Sirius said, raising his eyebrows at James and Lily. Lily nodded in between laughs and bent over to catch her breath. If possible, this made her laugh even harder. "Well, it wasn't that funny!"
"Oh you're so silly!" she said when she had stopped laughing and straightened up. She slid her hand into his and stood on tiptoe to kiss him lightly. "Come one, let's go to lunch."
James stared at the retreating backs of his friends, a sad look on his face. Yep, Lily is definitely over me, he thought. He shrugged and followed after them.
And go away from me, just go away To another time, another place To another world, another dream Go away from me...
--------------------------------
AFTERWORD
Well, another okay chapter, hmm? I had fun writing this one, but it did take forever, well, and I was quite lazy. The lyrics (in italics, as always) are by Oingo Boingo, again, and the song is Go Away. Figures, doesn't it?
-Lily
Until next time!!!