Chapter 2: Softball Anyone?

Girls don't like boys

Girls like cars and money.

Boys will laugh at girls

When their not funny.

(Girls and Boys by Good Charlotte)

James and I were in awe as we gawked, opened mouthed, at what lay before us.

"Well," I said after a long moment of silence.

"This has to be as big as the whole Gryffindor Tower!" stated James.

I could only nod. I gazed at the roaring fire, which glowed off of the surrounding furniture. The furniture consisted of a red love seat, a gold and red couch, and two squishy arm chairs. The whole common room was red and gold colors; that symbolized Gryffindor. The ceiling was very cavernous but had a homey touch to it.

I glanced around and saw two other doors. One read 'Lily Evans' in gold cursive, and the other read 'James Potter' in red manuscript. I crossed the carpet with a lion imprinted on it, and entered the room with my name on the door.

Once again, I was stunned. There was my four poster bed; that had lavender, silk sheets. My trunk and an enormous writing desk littered the room. There was a window which danced the night lights around my room. The room was filled with a ton of moving and non moving pictures. One was a time line of Sam, Tay, Em, Kay, Ala, and I. We were about 12 years old and were sitting on the steps of Hogwarts, waving. There was another one of us in 1st year, and we were learning the concepts of magic. Next was one of 5th year when we because friends with the Marauders.

No one will ever forget that fateful day when the Metals and the Marauders spoke civil words to each other.

"Hey L.J.," a voice came from the doorway.

I whirled around my wand at the ready, "God James! You scared the hell out of me!" I yelped.

"Sorry, just wanted to see how your room looked," he said eyeing the wall with the 'time line' on it. He reached out and touched my light purple walls. "You know I would never have guessed in a million years that we would become friends."

"If someone would have told me it would have ended up like this I would have told them to go get a life," I laughed.

"I also would have never believed that I would become Head Boy," breathed James. "I thought Remus would have gotten it. Sirius sure had a go at me when he found out. I can't wait to tell him off, since he got a prefect."

I laughed heartily and sighed flopping down on my soft bed. Then I noticed there was yet another door.

"That must be the bathroom," I thought out loud.

"You've got a much better view of the grounds than my window," complained James glancing out the window into the darkness that now surrounded Hogwarts.

I stood and walked over to my window peering out into the moonlit lake. James appeared at my side.

"The lake is really beautiful when the moon reflects on it," whispered James.

"I know," I sighed, "I'm glad to be back at home finally."

"I couldn't imagine any place other than here I would love to be more," said James as I tilted my head to look at him.

"Well I am going to hit the dreams," said James, he turned around to go.

"James wait," I called before I could stop myself.

"Yeah," he answered turning his head back around, his hazel eyes boring into mine.

"I'm really sorry," I whispered, sitting back down on my bed.

"Why?" he asked curiously.

I wouldn't ever left you get to close to me with out yelling out something very mean and bratty."

"I wasn't any better," explained James taking a seat next to her on her bed. "I would continually tease you and ask you out. Believe me, I wasn't the easiest person to like either."

"Yeah, but I never gave you a chance," I complained.

"It doesn't matter anymore," argued James.

"Look at us, were arguing about arguing," I laughed falling back onto my pillow.

Someone coughed from my door. I sat up suddenly to see Professor Dumbledore smiling.

"We were just talking Professor," stuttered James.

"I believe you," smiled Dumbledore, "I just came to make sure you found your rooms. Looks like you have. Good night."

With that he left. I turned around to find James staring at Dumbledore's retreating back.

"Okay, tell me that didn't just happen," I said.

"I very well did," smiled James.

"Great," I muttered.

"Well, I think its time for me to leave," James said leaving an uncomfortable air between them.

"'Night," I said.

"Night L.J.," whispered James retreating to his room.

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Next Day

I woke up the next morning feeling very refreshed and excited for classes. My alarm clock went off and I jumped out of bed and sprinted to the shower. I took a rather quick shower and soon was dressing in my robes and heading down for breakfast.

As I entered the Great Hall, my Gryffindor Table was already filled with lively people.

"Hey Metals!" I said cheerfully as I sat next to Emily.

"What's got you in such a cheery mood, this early in the morning?" asked Tay stifling a yawn.

"Nothing really, just happy to be going back to classes," I said. "But guess what!"

"What?" they all asked in unison.

"Guess," I pleaded.

"You secretly love Snivellus."

"Hippogriffs can fly!"

"James kissed you."

"A Ball!?"

"Sam, hippogriffs were made to fly," I pointed out.

"So!" she retorted.

"Answer the other questions!" pleaded Ali.

"Defiantly no, no, and yes!" I cried.

"Damn," muttered Sam.

"Twinny dear," cooed Tay. "I think you owe me some galleons."

"Alright, alright," said Sam.

"You two betted on me!" I shouted. "For what?"

"That James would finally save us the misery and kiss you," said Emily.

"Why the hell did you do that?" I demanded.

"Why else," said Mac. "There's no one else to bet on."

"True, but Sam you almost made some galleons," I whispered.

"No bloody way!" exclaimed Sam.

"You almost kissed him?" pondered Tay.

"Almost, I bet he would have tried to if Dumbledore didn't come into my room," I said laughing.

"James was in your room," Em said incredulously.

"We were talking and Dumbledore walked in to make sure we had found our rooms alright. It was actually quite funny," I said. "What?" I asked as everyone was staring at me.

"God, why didn't you kiss him? You cost me 5 galleons!" cried Sam.

"Anyways," said Ali interrupting Sam's rant. "What about the ball?"

"Well there is going to be this talent show with singing and dancing. It sounds like an awesome idea. People dress up and sing to their favorite bands or singers. They the boy and girl winners do a concert at the Christmas Ball," I explained.

"Wicked!" said Mac.

"Look, here are our timetables," said Emily taking the papers out of a 5th years hand.

"Great, Monday looks like the worst day on here," I muttered.

"I thought you loved Charms?" wondered Ali.

"I do, just not potions, CoMC, or Herbology," I said.

"We all have the same schedule mostly," said Emily.

"Except, only Tay, Emily, and Lily have Ancient Runes and Astronomy," said Mac.

"Red alert here come the Marauders," whispered Tay.

We went back to our breakfasts as the boys sat down one either side of us.

"Hey gals," said Remus sitting down to an empty seat next to Taylor.

We just smiled and continued eating.

"Here are you timetables," I said handing the four boys their pieces of parchment.

"Anyway, L.J., tell us more about the Ball," pleaded Ali.

"I already told you," I said.

"We are so in!" yelled Emily.

"Count me out," said Tay.

"But Tay you will miss all the fun," pleaded her twin.

"Get over it," she said. "I'm not singing, I hate it, and you now that."

"Okay," said Mac. "I have some really good ideas."

"Let's hear them," stated Sam.

"Ok ..."

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The month of September flew by very quickly, and now we were ending the third week of October.

The Ball was going to take place at the end of the week and everyone in Hogwarts was in a tizzy. One day you would see Elvis Presley walking down the hallway, next there would be Britney Spears. There was a lot of singing going on too. I was walking down the hall one day and I swore somebody was singing 'Addicted'. Well, the week was going to drag by for some people.

My gang already knew what we were going to do for the Ball. We also have been working on our choreography to our song we are singing.

Dumbledore decided that they were going to be judged on their singing and dancing abilities.

At around 8 o'clock, I awoke. Then my brain kicking in, forgot that today was Saturday. Since I was already up I decided to go curl up in front of the fire for a while. My door creaked slightly but not loud enough to wake James up. I bounded down the short flight of stairs into the common room. I flew across the room pretending to be figure skater. My dance stopped in front of the couch where I found a heap of read blankets. The unmistakable black hair was able to been seen. The blankets shifted and I took a look upon a sleeping James.

I moved over to a comfy armchair and sat down. The book I was reading was one of the Little House books. Ever since I was younger I loved Laura Ingalls Wilder books. My mum actually hooked me on them one time when I was sick. I continued from the point where I left off last time.

After a half an hour, I could have sworn that I heard a groan come from James' room. But to my knowledge, James was sleeping on the couch in front of me. I think I am going insane, oh well. Speaking of the devil, James stirred on the couch.

"Hey," he said in a high sweet voice.

His voice made me double take and make sure I was seeing James.

"Uh hi," I muttered not looking up from my book.

"What's up Lilykins?" asked James.

Okay something was up; no one ever calls me that. Not even my parents call me that.

"Okay, who are you and what have you done with James?" I asked half seriously and half joking.

"What do you mean?" he said sweetly, sitting up.

"Never mind, I'll be right back," I said.

Maybe it's just me or am I not getting something here. Well the detective inside me started to take over and I went over to James' door. I tried to open the door but, what do ya know, it was locked!

"Damn!" I muttered under my breath. "Ah duh, I'm a witch."

I pulled my wand out from my pocket and pointed it at the door and muttered, "Alohamora."

The door clicked open and displayed James' room. Even though he has seen my room I never have seen his. His sheets were a dark emerald and his walls were plastered with picture after picture. Joyous faces were smiling down upon me. I would have to guess that most of these were of his family and the Marauders. I saw a couple of the Metals just last year. I kept scanning the room for a sign of anything to get what was going on.

When I grow up I really want to be an Auror and this is testing my ability for finding clues. I saw that his bathroom door was slightly open so I carefully walked over to the door and pushed it open. There was yet another James, but this one was lying on the floor with duct tape on his mouth and his hands bound by ropes. He looked like he was out cold and when I felt his head he was as cold as a glacier.

"James," I whispered. "Wake up. Please, wake up! Ennervate."

James' eyes suddenly opened and his breathing became normal from its hard breathing pace.

"Hey," he whispered.

"Hey yourself," I said helping him up.

"What am I doing here?" asked James.

"You don't remember what happened?" I asked him.

"No, but I feel like someone dropped me off the Astronomy Tower," he said quietly leaning against the wall for support.

"Wait how do I know you are the real James Potter?" I asked.

"Huh?"

"Well someone out there is either pretending to be you or you are the fake," I said examining him. "Okay, you are the only one that would know this answer, because you are the only that I told about this. What do I want to do when I grow up?"

"Become an Auror," he answered confidently.

"Thank Merlin," I sighed. "Alright, now someone out there is pretending to be you. What do you suggest we do?"

"Play with his mind," he said mischievously.

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Common Room

"Babe," the other James said. (I am going to call the fake Wilfred!)

"Mmm hmm," I said taking my seat back.

"Where did you go?" asked Wilfred.

"To talk to James," I said bringing my book up to my nose to cover up my laughter.

"But I am James," said Wilfred.

"Okay, let's just play a little game then," I said. "If you can't answer any questions that means you either are as daft as a board or aren't James Potter at all."

"'Kay."

"First question is 'who is your cousin that is one of my best friends?'" I asked him.

"Uh, Amber Horn?" he said stupidly.

"Wrong," I sighed. "Emily Nova Richard, a.k.a. Emmy."

"Oh."

"One down two to go," I said. "Next, 'have we ever kissed?'"

"Of course, plenty of times," he smirked.

"Wrong again," I giggled. "James and I are mutual friends and haven't laid one hand on each other since our fighting days."

I felt like a bloody sports reporter or something, reporting things that have gone on in my life. "Final question. This one with truly prove if you are James Potter. James is the only one that I have ever said this too. Okay, 'what do I want to do when I grow up?'"

"Become a charms teacher," he said triumphantly pounding his fist into the air.

I snorted. "Wrong again. So that leaves you with 3 wrong and 0 right. Sorry buckoo but you loose. Now who the heck are you?"

Just as the words left my mouth there was an utter transformation taking place in Wilfred. I put my hand to my mouth to keep from either screaming out of pure insanity, or just trying not to laugh. Emerging from the picture in front of me was, Gilderoy Lockhart.

"How, why, when, what?" I cried. "Get the hell out of my sight!"

With those words he fled from the scene and whizzed out the portrait hole. James emerged from his room doubled over in laughter.

"That slime ball made polyjuice potion," I said still enraged.

"I don't think he is smart enough to make a simple needle turn into a cup," said James smiling.

"I know, but, whatever," I sighed slipping onto the couch.

"What to do know?" asked James.

"I've got an idea," I said grinning.

'Sam,' I thought.

'What?' she thought back.

'Get all the 7th years in the common room now! I wanna play some ball!'

'Right on! Hurry up and get your sorry arse over here.'

'Tootles.'

'Mwah,' she said then blocked me out.

I laughed to myself.

"Uh, Lily?" asked James, giving me an odd look.

"Yep."

"What did you just do?" he wondered.

"Talked with Sam," I said simply, standing.

"You... your telepathic?" he stuttered.

"Yes," I said boringly, "now let's go. We are going to go do something useful on this glorious Saturday."

"What study?" he joked.

"You butt!" I slapped him playfully. "Come on, let's just go now!"

We exited the Head's room and worked our way to Gryffindor Tower. The gangs, along with Ryan Matel, Isaac Little, Amber Horn, and Morgan Tiller, were there waiting for us. The two girls are terribly in love with the Marauders. Sometimes it is sickening to listen to what they want to do to them.

"Took you long enough," complained Sirius. "Now what are we doing?"

"Hold your pants on," snapped Mac.

"Snippy, snippy," muttered Sirius.

Alright, since were all here," I said, "we will explain what we are going to do."

"Finally," sighed Sirius.

Sam shot him a look before she began. "Okay, in the muggle world there is this really fun sport called softball. It is a game played with a wooden bat, a softball, and four bases. Also there are nine players on the field at once."

"The softball is smaller than a quaffle, but bigger than a snitch," Tay continued. "Conjure one up L.J."

I swished my wand and the nearest piece of parchment became a yellow softball. "Accio softball."

"Everyone up!" shouted Lana. "Were going outside to play!"

Mac and I are both muggleborn so we know what softball is. I actually played softball very competitively since I was about ten. Mac only played for a rec team.

Lana and I walked out front and were followed by many confused people. We ambled down the staircases until we were at the bottom. Once at the bottom we filed outside into the mid October grounds. Tay and Sam also know what softball is, Ala and Emily know now because we taught them back in 2nd year.

We were walking towards an open area by the lake when I saw my sister and her friends.

"Yo Lo!" I called to her.

She turned her head at the sound of her name and said, "What are you guys up to?"

"Were going to play some softball," said Em. "Care to join us?"

Lo looked at her two girlfriends and the three guys then nodded her head.

"Alright, let's get rockin'," she said.

Since Ala was really good at Transfiguration she transfigured a simple rock into an awesome softball field.

Amber and Morgan decided they wanted to be 'cheerleaders' for reasons of their own. So to the addition of Lo, Naomi, and Blair, we had a full team of nine. The boys were the same way, Jason, Mikey, and Tyler made their team nine too.

The boys were verse the girls, and we took the field first because we already knew how to play the field. Tay took first, Em second, Ali shortstop, Mac third, Sam took catcher, I took pitcher, and the little girls took the outfield. On my way out to the mound Lo stopped and asked, "Can I pitch later?"

"Ah duh!" I said as my sister raced to the outfield.

Now I am a rather good pitcher. I have pitched since I was about seven years old. My mum was a really good softball player when she was younger and taught me how to play. Well it turned out I was a natural and my parents signed me up for a really good to called the Natural's. The Natural's were a team of individuals picked out to be the best in the London and surrounding area. I haven't been able to play a whole season since I have been to Hogwarts. Every summer I go home though, my team is always in a couple tournaments that I am able to participate in. Our team is actually the best in Europe. We go to National's ever year and just last year we took the 1st place trophy. I was excited that I would pitch the championship game. Softball is what I am, I love it!

Anyways, we were in the bottom of the 5th, one out, and Emmy on 3rd and Tay on 2nd. The score was 3 - 1, the girls were winning. Sam is at the plate right now. James is pitching, Sirius catching, Remus at 1st, Peter 2nd, Ryan at shortstop, and Isaac at 3rd. The younger three were in the outfield.

"Come on Sami! Show 'em how a real softball player bats!" shouted Mac trying to fire Sam up.

"Let's cheer," suggested Ali.

"How about," I pondered, "'Hey my name is...'. I'll start."

"Okay."

"Hey my name is Lily and you know what I got?"

"What do you got?"

"I gotta team that's hotter than hot!"

"How hot is that?"

"Batman and Superman!"

"Uh-huh, uh-huh!"

"Can't hit the ball like Sami can!"

"Oh... yeah!"

"Come on Samerz!" cried Mac. Just as Mac yelled, Sam swung and lined the ball over everyone's heads. Em and Tay ran in and Sam ended up with a triple.

"And that my friends is how you play softball," said Sam doubling over with laughter at third base.

"Woohoo Sam!" Emmy called punching her fist in the air.

"Show off," mumbled Sirius from behind the plate.

"Alright L.J.!" yelled Emmy. "It's your turn."

The first pitch was outside.

"G double- O; whoo, G double -O-D-E-Y-E, good eye clap, clap, clap, clap good eye clap, clap, clap, clap. Now kiss that ball good bye! Mwah!" the girls shouted.

James pitched the next one right down the middle. I bunted it a little to the left, and I am verily quick so I made it to first base. Sam stayed at 3rd because the boys were watching her closely.

Two hours later and the girls won, 5 - 2. We dominated! Plus, it was the boys first time playing but they got the hang of it.

"Good game guys," we said to the boys after clearing up the field.

"Yeah, yeah," muttered Sirius.

"Someone's not a very good loser," mocked Sam.

"Stuff it Sam," said Sirius playfully.

"You wanna go," she said pretending to punch him.

"Bring it on!" shouted Sirius, circling Sam like they were wrestling.

"Can it you two!" shrieked Ala.

"Yeah, you two bicker like an old married couple," stated Emmy.

"But we would be a young couple," corrected Sirius.

"You wish," snorted Sam.

"Let's just head back up to the castle," suggested Remus.

"Oh yeah," started James, "Em and Sam Quidditch practice this week, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

"Were starting this early?" whined Em.

"If you wanna win the Cup this year, hell yeah!" James said.

"Whatever," mumbled Sam.

The group trudged back up to the castle. Inside the main entrance there was a horde of people surrounding the bulletin board.

"Hogsmeade this weekend," stated Mac standing on her tip toes glancing at the board.

"And auditions for the Ball are all next week," said Tay.

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Later that Day

"Lily!" called James.

I looked up from my charms essay.

"There you are," he said jogging over to me.

"Here I am," I giggled. "Do you need something?"

"No," he began, "I was just wondering if you want to hang at Hogsmeade with me?"

He looked very flustered and I thought for a moment. "Of course."

James looked like he had just won the Quidditch Cup, "Awesome, see you later for patrols!"

I found myself smiling at his retreating back. James walked over to the corner of the common room where the other three Marauders were hunched in the shadows. Then Isaac came walking up to me.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked quietly.

I didn't even look up but said, "Okay."

Sorry if it took so long to update! I am having typing phobia. I will try to type the next chapter as quick as I can. R&R!!!

Questions to Ponder

What does Isaac want?

Upcoming

Meetings and Ideas

Lily and James fight

Later Dayz,

sam