The final weeks leading up to the Christmas Break were a whirlwind of last-minute studying, extra patrols, and frenzied packing. To much of the 6th Year students' chagrin, this made it nearly impossible to find time for another Game.
This, Lily knew, weighed heavily on her own friends, their attitudes cranky and their tones clipped. Between the mid-year essays, exams and the frigid cold weather that permeated deep through the castle's walls, Lily herself was feeling rather stressed.
The eve of the Hogwarts Express return to London was already upon them and she knew the rest of the group was a bit angered and saddened that they hadn't been able to find a time that worked for another Game. She sighed heavily, idly turning to the next page of her DADA book.
"You ready?"
Lily's eyes were drawn up to Remus's face; he had come to stand beside the couch she was lounging on, where she had been reading over her Transfiguration homework lazily. She glanced up at the clock – half past nine – and released a long sigh. Patrols started soon.
"I suppose," she drawled with a smile, setting her essay and school book down. "Mind watching these for me?" she asked Emmeline.
"Sure," Emmeline smiled. "I'll take it upstairs and put it on your bed when I head up." She looked rather distracted though, seated so close to Danny (who sat on the other side of the couch).
Lily smiled gratefully anyways. "Thanks."
She turned to join Remus, waving goodbye to the rest of her friends as they exited the common room. The rest of the Marauders were near the fire, paying them no mind.
Lily willed it to be a slow night.
Though she'd only be a Prefect for a year and half, she knew that the days leading up to the Christmas Holiday break led to many, many students being out after curfew – mostly couples who were spending the last few clandestine chances to be together before they were going to be parted.
As much of a romantic Lily might have been, it wasn't her favorite part of the job to split up couples as they… said goodbye.
"Marlene told me you were heading home. Your sister's wedding, right?"
"Right." Truthfully, Lily underappreciated the reminder. "The twenty-first."
As if she could forget.
Her mother had owled her earlier in the week, writing to warn her of the additional details that needed to be put together, additional tasks… collect the corsages, bouquets and boutonnieres. Pick up the ceremony programs. Call the cake shop to make sure the ten-tiered cake they ordered would be done in time.
She wasn't even home yet and she had chores to do. It made her the tiniest bit less excited. It was supposed to be Christmas! A time of joy, carefreeness, and love.
Deep in her stomach, it certainly didn't feel that way. Lily tried not to let the mental ominous clouds she felt dampen her spirits. Still, it was a bit overwhelming, thinking that the term was already half–over.
"Galleon for your thoughts?" Remus asked, stooping to check behind a tapestry, falling into their routine rhythm.
"Maybe if I had a kniffler," Lily said with a wan smile. "That way I'd be able to keep it safe."
"Your thoughts? Or the Galleon?"
"Both."
Remus snorted. "Sounds like you do have a lot on your mind."
Lily shrugged. "Just thinking about break starting tomorrow. You aren't going home, are you? I feel like I heard that."
"Can't. Have to stay behind to pay a visit to the Willow."
"Ah," said Lily with a mirthful glint in her eye. "That time of the month. I understand your pain."
"Lily," he groaned in distaste. "Please don't talk about, you know … that. They're nothing alike."
She laughed. "And I thought you were the mature one."
"Right," he scoffed, the high points of his cheeks slightly pink.
She giggled. "Alright, alright. I'll change the subject. Have you gotten anything for your mum?"
He gave an embarrassed shrug. "I haven't figured out what she'd want."
"I'm sure she'd appreciate anything, really," Lily said earnestly. "A scarf. Maybe chocolate?"
He shook his head. "That seems too easy. Too generic."
"Maybe add a special letter? Something more than 'Happy Christmas'?"
Remus turned to her, looking abashed. "A simple 'Happy Christmas' isn't good enough?"
"Remus," she scolded. "This is your mother! Put a little heart into it."
"Well then, what did you get your mum?"
"Well," she hedged. "I guess I still need to do a little shopping myself. My presence there should be enough, shouldn't it?"
"Lily," he said in shock. "You haven't gotten your mother anything?"
"I was looking for ideas," she said defensively.
Remus laughed. "What, like a scarf or some chocolate?"
Her giggle echoed in the empty corridor. "Yes, something like that. Now, what are you getting everyone else? Sirius? James?"
"Easy," he said. "I'm getting Sirius a bunch of records – my mum's sending them. I got James a book on Quidditch. I've got Peter some sweets and a new game set of Gobstones."
Lily hummed in thought, suddenly debating on whether or not to get them something for Christmas. But what could she give them?
They were friends… but not friend friends. But they did all eat together nearly every day, it seemed. Sirius and James escorted her to class quite often, and she found herself helping Peter out with his Charms homework more times these days than Marlene. Her mind was suddenly flashing with ideas.
"You don't have to get them anything," Remus said, as if reading her thoughts. "Sirius never really wants much, neither does Peter. But I'm sure James would just be happy with a 'Happy Christmas'."
She wasn't looking at him, but Lily could feel Remus's careful eyes on her as he mentioned James. His voice had been tentative, as though he wasn't sure if she'd be mad at his suggestion.
"Oh," said Lily mildly, checking a classrooms' door to see if it was locked. "Well, what about you?"
"What about me?"
"What would you want for Christmas?" she asked patiently.
"A scarf or some chocolate," he answered with a smirk.
Lily reached out and slapped his arm, glaring playfully. "Chocolate it is, then. I know the best shop by home."
"Make sure it has caramel," Remus added.
"Caramel chocolate," she noted, raising her hand to mimic writing it on a list. "Something music related for Sirius, something Quidditch-related for James – obviously, and something… game related for Peter. Does he have any already that I should avoid?"
Remus shook his head no. "Professor Calahan mentioned something in Muggle Studies called, Which Witch? I'm sure he'd get a laugh out of it."
Lily smirked, familiar with the game. "I'll have to see if I still have it lying around. Unless Pet burned it…"
Remus's eyebrows rose. "She must really not like magic."
She felt a bit guilty about painting the ugly picture of her sister. "She just never… understood it properly. It's probably just buried somewhere in the attic or something." Hopefully, she added silently.
"I'm sure if you got him just a plain deck of cards, he'd appreciate it," he said with a shrug. "You know, if she really did burn it."
"I've got a back-up gift then," Lily smiled, checking another classroom door as they passed. Her eyes glanced behind them, curious. "You know, it seems awfully quiet tonight."
"It does," Remus agreed. "It's usually a bit more… crowded, isn't it?"
"From what memory serves, we had caught at least five couples last year, and docked at least 50 points by now. Mostly from Hufflepuff."
"They are a rather passionate bunch, aren't they?"
"You said it, not me," Lily said with a sly smile.
He snorted. "Not that there's anyone around to hear…"
She met Remus's gaze with a twinkle. "I mean, there really isn't that much going on tonight…"
Remus nodded sagely. "Definitely no one around to, you know, tattle on a group of students out after curfew..."
"And all of the professors would be busy packing tonight..."
"Or celebrating in their own private quarters the start of the holiday break."
They smirked at each other.
"Do we dare?" she asked quietly, as they made their way back towards the staircases, the floor clear. "I'd hate to get in trouble the last night before break."
"I think it'd be a great way to start off the break," Remus said diplomatically. "With Peter and I staying behind – and I think Marlene's not going home, is she?"
"She's not," Lily confirmed, following him as he took the steps up to the next floor. She smiled excitedly to herself. "I guess it could be an early Christmas gift."
"And everyone's been so stressed…"
"Alright, alright," she said with a laugh. "You don't have to convince me – I'm already in!"
But there was still half an hour left of patrolling and both Lily and Remus had to forcibly slow down their steps, wanting to rush the rest of their duties. They managed to secure the fourth and fifth floor faster than ever before.
By the time their patrolling was done, they'd only found one other couple ("Told you," Remus said under his breath with a grin, docking ten points from Hufflepuff as the couple scurried out of the broom closet and back towards their common room).
They made it back to the Gryffindor Common Room in record time, both a bit breathless.
"I'll go tell the others," Lily said in a quiet voice, unsurprised to find some 7th Years still lounging.
"We meet at midnight?"
"Of course," Remus confirmed, already heading towards the boys' staircase.
She practically skipped up the steps, nearly tripping in excitement. As suspected, the rest of her friends were lazily milling about; Emmeline was halfway through stages of their packing.
Marlene was idly flipping through a library book, obviously unfocused. Dorcas and Alice were lounging on Lily's bed, chatting quietly.
"Hey," said Lily casually, as she shut the door behind herself.
"Hey," Marlene said lazily from her bed, lying on her stomach. "Catch any action?"
"Just some Hufflepuffs here and there. Nothing more than normal." She was glad they were all still awake. "One might say it was rather perfectly quiet. Could get away with anything…"
"Yeah?" Marlene said, her eyes already dropping back onto the pages in front of her. "Probably made it slow and boring, sounds like."
"Nothing like a couple of games that helped pass time," Lily said with a sly grin.
"What's the point in playing games? You'd get interrupted," Emmeline said, dropping a scarf into her trunk, then grabbing it and placing it back onto her bed, indecisive.
"Well, there are many points to be made about having a game." Lily wriggled her eyebrows.
"Like one could earn in hide and seek."
Emmeline frowned, picking up the same scarf. "Were there many students hiding about? Makes your patrols a bit harder if they're not easy to find."
Marlene snorted. "Of course they'd be hiding – no one wants to get caught."
"Because they'd lose points," Lily interrupted with emphasis. "You know, like the Game?"
Marlene gave her an impatient look. "Alright, I feel like you're trying to say something here, but you're not being very clear."
"I was trying to be inconspicuous," she complained, dropping the charade fast, sitting onto Marlene's bed beside her. "Since there weren't any students out, Remus and I thought we should hold a last minute Game."
This got the rest of the girls' attention.
The book in front of Marlene snapped shut. "Why didn't you just say so?" she said loudly, jumping up from the bed. "Absolutely we should have a Game! No need to be sly about it."
Lily tried to frown, but Marlene's sudden excitement ruined the effect. "I was trying to have fun!"
"When are we meeting? Do the others know?" Dorcas asked.
"Remus is telling them now. Normal time. Midnight."
"That's an hour away," Emmeline gawked, looking slightly overwhelmed, dropping the same scarf into her trunk. It was almost full.
"Then you better finish packing!" said Alice with a laugh, tossing a pillow at the girl's face. "It's not like you aren't going home. You've got clothes there."
Emmeline harrumphed, already bending to rearrange the clothes more neatly.
Lily giggled, glad that she had already packed a light bag for her trip home earlier before patrols. "Since we aren't all here for the hols, I thought this would be the perfect Christmas gift."
"Beating your arse at the Game?" Marlene grinned. "The best I could think of!"
"Hey," Lily warned. "We might still be on the same team!"
Marlene shrugged, leaning against her bedpost. "Competitiveness among your own teammates isn't a bad thing, you know."
"It's true," Emmeline spoke up, her voice slightly muffled behind a mountain height amount of clothes in her arm.
"I am the one on the Quidditch team," continued Marlene with an exaggerated air of importance. "I would know."
Lily laughed, grabbing a pillow from the head of the bed and chucking it at Marlene's head. Her friend caught it easily.
"And being on a team teaches you to give constructive criticism: Lily, you need to work on your throwing arm."
"Hey!" Lily grumbled. "I didn't ask for criticism."
"You don't have to – I give it freely," Marlene grinned, dodging another rogue pillow. "See? Gotta be quicker–" She was cut off as Lily spelled a handful of pillows to attack her, throwing her off balance. "Oi!"
Lily laughed gleefully as the blonde lost her footing, falling back onto one of the beds clumsily.
"That's what you get for giving out unwanted feedback." She raised her wand and another pillow zoomed towards Marlene with brilliant accuracy, smacking her in the face before she could get another word out.
Before Marlene could fully recover, Lily was already up and skipping towards the door.
"I'm going to check if Remus is back downstairs. I'll return soon!" and she left, knowing she'd have to answer to Marlene's wrath when she returned to the dorm.
Still, her steps back down the stairs were light, her heart already beating excitedly from the prospect of the Game.
Yes, this is definitely what they needed.
It wasn't Remus waiting at the bottom of the stairs though. James was sitting in the marauder's normal lounging spot in front of the hearth. It was late enough that the fire in the old hearth had died down, nearly extinguished as its dying flames crackled.
It still gave off heat as Lily approached, warming the exposed parts of her that weren't covered in her uniform. She hovered for just a moment longer, recalling his somewhat cool indifference the past weeks.
It was ironic, she thought. That he had become cool and aloof towards her just as she started considering… that he was a friend.
"Hey," she said quietly, dropping onto the sofa beside him. "Did Remus have a chance to talk to you?"
He glanced up at her with only a fraction of his normal grin. "He did," he confirmed, looking back down at the parchment in his lap.
"The map," she said unnecessarily. She itched to reach out and run her fingers over the ink.
"Yeah." He folded another section over, his eyes grazing over the lines. "Impromptu Game. He mentioned that the corridors seemed coincidentally empty. I was just curious."
"Hardly saw a soul," she confirmed, studying his face carefully while he wasn't looking at her (in what she hoped was an inconspicuous way). This attitude of his was grating.
"Everyone's in their dorms," he mused. "Evening before returning home, I guess."
"If it weren't so convenient, I'd be a little suspicious," Lily admitted aloud. "Everyone must've already said their goodbyes if they're not sneaking out and around."
"Have they?" he asked, glancing back up at her face.
Her brow furrowed and she shrugged. "I'm only guessing."
James nodded, expression neutral as he returned his focus on the map, pressed his wand to it and murmured, "Mischief managed." With deft fingers, he re-folded the map back into a neat rectangle and tucked it into his trouser's pocket.
Though she had asked him before, the last time they were alone, she asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he said, but there was something in his tone.
"It doesn't seem like nothing," she murmured, picking at a loose strand of fabric. "I feel like –"
"What?" he prompted when she broke up.
She looked over at him, finding him watching her. They held gazes. "Like something's wrong," she admitted quietly. Like she had done something to upset him.
He rolled his jaw, opened his mouth to speak, and then seemed to change his mind, as if he thought better of it.
"What?" Lily asked, impatient.
"Nothing," he repeated tensely, the line of his jaw now stiff.
"Fine," she said lightly, standing. "I've got to change. I'll see you all at midnight."
She decided then not to let his standoffish attitude bother – OR distract – her. There was a Game happening tonight, damn it. She wanted to focus on that.
If he wanted to be distant, then that's on him. She'd asked, he didn't answer.
But dammit, how long was he planning to act so cold towards her?
Marlene was prepared for her.
As soon as Lily opened the door to the dormitory, she was pummeled by a series of pillows – most of which Marlene had impressively conjured herself.
"Mercy!" Lily cried with a laugh, covering her head with her arms to fight against the onslaught of feathered pillows. "I surrender!"
The others were laughing at the spectacle and Lily knew they would offer no help. Her hand was already reaching for her wand, sliding it out of the waistband of her skirt. She cowered against another dozen pillows as they knocked against her, forcing her back against the door.
"Take cover!" Dorcas called out in warning, ducking behind her bed as Lily cast a banishing spell on the pillows. They shot off in different directions, flying through the air like missiles. Lily winced at the sound of broken glass, but was unapologetic when she could hear the sounds of distress coming from her friends.
"Truce!" Emmeline cried. "Call truce!"
"Never!" Marlene crowed, cowering behind a useless poster of her bed. Her wand was raised.
"Expelliarmus!" Lily cast, catching her friend's wand as it flew towards her. She aimed.
"Depulso!"
Another wave of pillows were flung at Marlene, who tried to valiantly dodge them as best as she could.
"Alright! Okay!" Marlene said breathlessly, looking rightfully harried. "Stop with the pillows!"
"You started it!" Lily laughed, not yet releasing Marlene's wand. "Call truce and promise you won't start another pillow fight. Only then shall you get your wand back!"
"I promise," Marlene said solemnly, peeking around the wooden post. "No more pillow fights. Truce."
Lily gave her a warning look, before tossing over the wand.
Marlene caught it neatly, grinning happily. "Tonight, at least!"
The redhead guffawed, kicking several of the pillows out of the way to make a path towards her trunk. "I should've known!"
She changed quickly, switching into a warm pair of worn, warm denim jeans and a dark, turtleneck sweater, hoping it would stave off the cold air of the castle. Her hair was twisted messily into a bun atop her head and she hoped it would hold through the night.
Before long, it was time that they headed downstairs to meet the boys. Besides there four of them waiting, Lily was relieved to find the common room empty, the fire in the hearth out.
"Care to explain?" Sirius asked with a cocked eyebrow, watching with interest as Lily helped Marlene levitate over a dozen odd coloured and shaped pillows into the common room.
"Pillow fight," Emmeline provided. "Obviously."
Alice caught one out of the air before the two witches dropped them onto various chairs around the room. "They probably won't stay pillows for much longer." She turned over the bright pink bulky pillow in her hands.
"What do you mean?" Peter asked, releasing one from his grip as if it could burn him.
"They're Lily's socks," Alice answered, tossing it up in the air towards James, who caught it effortlessly. "They'll probably turn back by noon tomorrow."
"I didn't know that," Lily said sharply, glaring at Marlene. "No wonder that starred blue one looked familiar!"
Marlene gave her a cheeky grin. "All's fair in love and war!"
Lily raised her wand threateningly, "I'll have to rush to gather them all in the morning!"
"Ah, ah! Truce's go both ways! No more pillow fights."
"Today," Lily stressed, still holding her wand up.
"Enough of the cat fights," Sirius said impatiently. "The clock is ticking!"
The Gryffindors left the room in single-lined fashion, and despite her and Remus's early conclusion of the lack of students exploring the halls, she shifted uneasily, checking back over her shoulder for any signs of movement. Though she was sure she could trust James and the map, that wouldn't mean they could be reckless.
"Sh," she heard Remus say to Peter, whose footsteps were a bit too loud. She was grateful.
The nine students arrived at the Entrance Hall, breathless and excited.
"Alright," Remus said in a whisper, adding to the ambiance of the empty room. It felt colder than normal, probably due to the snow falling just beyond the doors to the outside. It made the air of the castle feel even more revered.
Lily shivered.
Remus conjured and passed out the straws without being asked.
Marlene, Alice and herself were on a team, with Dorcas partnered up with Remus and Emmeline, leaving Sirius, Peter, and James as the last pairing.
She tried to catch James's eye to tease him, but he either didn't notice or purposely ignored her.
"Why, hello," Lily said wryly, trying to cover her hurt as she sidled up to Marlene's side. "Seems that we are on the same team. Up for a little criticism?"
"No pillows here to practice with," Marlene said with regret and a sharp grin.
"What's the plan?" Alice interjected. "I don't think we're going to start allowing pillows in the Game."
Lily snorted. "That would certainly be a different type of tag."
"I say, let's see where the night takes us." Marlene glanced around them.
"Right," she agreed, glad her friend was having the same thoughts. "Do we want to try to meet up in an hour?"
"The trophy room?" Alice suggested quietly.
Marlene and Lily gave quick nods of agreement. They waited impatiently for the others to finish speaking, before the group came back together. Lily made quick work of the spell, casting the words over her friend's arms quietly, before resuming her spot beside Marlene.
She looked about the oddly shaped circle, taking in her friend's various stages of battle-readiness. "This will be the last Game of the year," she said with sudden realization.
"How about we make this count then?" Sirius said with a wolfish grin.
"Aye," Dorcas said with a similar smile, her wand at the ready. The rest of them followed suit, sharing similar sounds of agreement – and for a brief moment, Lily felt quite putoff that no one else seemed to want to relish this moment.
"Shall we?" Marlene asked, giving Lily a look of askance.
Lily nodded, silently giving her friend permission to take over the Game's countdown.
10...9...8…
As was tradition, Lily's eyes glanced around the group, feeling the same sense of deja vu that had fallen over her whenever the group would stand in the same circle.
7...6… 5…
In an unexpected way, her eye's met James from across the small assembly. Unlike the smiles he had given her before during the games, the smile he gave her now felt shallow, disingenuous. It made her stomach turn and she tried her best not to glare in annoyance.
4… 3… 2… 1… GO! Marlene ordered.
The group of students burst apart, scattering into different directions.
Lily did her best to keep aware as she started her escape from the larger group – Dorcas, Emmeline, and Remus seemed to stick together, heading into the Great Hall (as long as they didn't camp, Lily could make her way back and go through the hall to the Trophy Room).
Sirius, James, and Peter seemed to have the same idea as her own group did – she soon lost track of which way they headed, and instead focused on her own path, glancing down at her arm to remain mindful of the five minute head-start.
Lily's plan though, was to remain near the Great Hall, and since she needn't worry about rogue Slytherins, she decided to head towards the lower levels and the dungeons of the castle.
Huge mistake, she thought not too much later, when the five minute warning was up and the Game was in play.
If she hadn't believed in James's word that the boys did not use the map during the Game, she would've been mighty suspicious regardless when Sirius had found her hiding spot.
"Cesso!" his voice shouted, the noise shocking Lily and startling her out of her defensive stance.
"Bloody Hell!" she gasped, stumbling awkwardly into the corridor wall to avoid his aim. "Cesso!" she cast back, seeing his silhouette outlined in the dark at the end of the hall.
Her spell missed him, but gave her enough time to scramble back to her feet and make a run for it.
Sirius's cackle echoed behind her and she shivered, trying to keep her cool.
Luckily, she had chosen her spot smartly – it was easy enough to make her escape. While she hadn't travelled down the hallway far enough to find cover, she was able to flee around the corner she had just come, returning back towards the Entrance Hall.
The sound of Sirius's footsteps followed her though, raising her anxiety. Lily pushed herself harder.
"Cesso!" his voice echoed, and she felt the heat of the spell graze past her head and winced internally. She knew what type of headache would befall her if his aim had hit its intended mark.
But she had already started to get used to Sirius's style of 'fighting' – he would attack on the fly, relying more on luck and quick spellwork than strategy. And this, Lily knew, would be his downfall.
She nearly laughed as the plan formed in her brain, already passing by the portrait that opened to the kitchens. She had passed it early, glanced in, satisfied to see the house elves must have retired to their sleeping quarters for the night. Her fingers make quick work to tickle the pear, the portrait unhitching itself from the wall easily.
Instead of jumping in though, Lily left the portrait door ajar, leaving it behind her as she made it further down the corridor.
She was immensely pleased to find the distance she had gained in front of Sirius. Instead of rounding the corridor that would lead back up to the main level, she paused, hiding herself around the corner just in time for Sirius to skid to a halt at the end of the corridor.
His face lit up with a mischievous grin, eyes catching sight of the kitchen's portrait door swaying just slightly.
"Ah, don't think you can hide in there!" he crowed, reaching forward and pulling the portrait open all the way. When there was no immediate attack, his brows furrowed, and he peered in through the doorway.
"Evs?" he said, his upper body disappearing through the portrait hole as he leaned in.
"Ha!" Lily exclaimed, appearing and using her booted toe to push him the rest of the way in.
He pitched forward clumsily, letting out a shriek of dismay, catching himself just in time before his face met the ground. "Oi!" he shouted. "What the bloody –"
"Cesso!" she casted, the spell hitting him in the back before he had a chance to fully turn around. "Sorry, Black, but I am a little offended you thought I'd be daft enough to let myself get caught!"
She refrained from releasing a gleeful cackle, shutting the portrait door behind her with a loud snap. Though no one was around to see it, she dusted her hands off as if she had just tossed out the garbage.
"Cesso!" another boy's voice shouted from the way Sirius had just come. Peter.
The spell ricocheted off of the portrait in front of her, nearly catching her in the face. He must be working on his aim, Lily thought, slightly impressed.
She wouldn't give him another chance to get another shot off.
"Cesso," she spelled, somewhat regrettably hitting Peter right in the stomach. "Sorry, Peter!"
She turned on her heel and hightailed it out of there – if Sirius and Peter were together, James wouldn't be too far behind.
By her calculation, she was positive Sirius's frozen time was almost up – and he'd be back with a vengeance.
This last-minute plan relied on one of them (or preferably all of them) following her. She rounded the corner when she heard James's voice call out, "Peter!" in a surprised tone.
Her footsteps slowed when the sound of the kitchen's portrait slammed open, and she refrained from going back to peer around the corner.
"Where'd she go?!" Sirius's voice demanded.
"I didn't see anyone come this way – was it Evans?" James asked.
"Obviously," Sirius snapped, and the annoyance in his tone made Lily smile pleased. It also prompted her to continue to move her feet, now walking backwards to try and focus on their words. Maybe they'd give away a plan?
Peter's groan could've probably been heard through the whole lower floors of the castle. "I think she hit me right in the kidney."
She could hear a scuffle and imagined James helping Peter up.
"Those are in your back, Wormtail," James's voice pointed out in amusement.
"Come on," Sirius cut in. "She can't have gone far!"
With a small squeak she was sure they probably heard, Lily spun on her heel and her walk quickly turned into an all-out sprint. The sound of their footsteps could be heard, and she was sure all three of them were giving chase.
But, she only needed to get back to the Entrance Hall. She was almost there, taking the small set of stairs up to the main floor.
And here, she was going to make a risky move.
She knew that this plan really banked on Dorcas, Remus, and Emmeline continuing to scout out the Great Hall and the trophy room attached – and theoretically the passage that led to the other floors from that room.
She sent a small little prayer as she used a lot of her control to pull open one of the Great Hall doors, trying her best to will them to remain silent.
She winced when the door hinge let out a great creak, but she continued pulling it open further. And rather than dart into the Great Hall itself, Lily kept a hand on the door's handle and pulled it all the way back, her heart in her throat as she could hear the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs.
With seconds to spare, Lily pulled the door all the way open, fitting herself between the door and the wall behind her and making a hiding spot for herself.
Really, she was just recycling the same trick she played on Sirius just moments ago, and she really hoped he was still just as gullible.
"The Great Hall!" his voice rang out, and Lily could imagine the look of intense fury on his face as he pointed with this wand. "Hurry!"
Her eyes squeezed shut on their own accord, as she listened to their hurried footsteps pass through the doorway, the sound nearly lost against the loud rush of blood in her ears.
And then, just as she had hoped, she heard a voice shout, "Cesso!" It was Emmeline's.
"Ambush!" Sirius shouted, as Lily imagined him ducking for cover.
"Move, Peter!" James ordered, not unkindly, before Emmeline's voice shouted, "Cesso!" once more.
There was a sound, as if someone fell against the wood, and Lily winced, hoping it wasn't Peter.
Using all of her strength, Lily pushed the door away from her, using a leg to give herself leverage and therefore, more speed to the door's movement.
"No!" James's voice shouted, just as the door slammed shut. They'd been trapped inside with the other team.
Without waiting another heartbeat, Lily left the Entrance Hall behind, cackling with glee as they had fallen for her plan. While it may not have been her own team that was earning the points – it at least meant her own team wasn't losing any.
Lily always had thought being on the offense meant winning, but maybe she'd have to consider the defensive position could help win her team the game.
She giggled again, already short on breath as she raced up the stairs.
It was only Emmeline's voice she had heard, and so she couldn't be too careful. Remus clearly knew of the passageway from the Trophy room, and so he could be anywhere. Dorcas was a wild card, who Lily knew she could never assume what her plans were.
Flipping a mental coin, she decided to split off at the fourth floor, not wanting to separate too far from the Entrance Hall if she were to meet up with her friends. Her hope had been that clashing the two opposing teams in the Great Hall would forcibly clear it out, making way for her, Alice, and Marlene to hopefully meet up without incident.
Lily paced at Binn's office, looped around the corridor that led into the library, twice, before venturing back towards the staircases. She tugged at the fabric of her sweater, trying to get the fabric to breathe at her collarbone. Despite the chilled air, a little bit of sweat gathered at her temples.
Using slow and cautious steps, she crept forward at a crouch against the wall, searching for any type of movement on the landing of the stairs.
There was nothing.
Taking small footsteps forward, Lily pressed on with baited breath. Her senses were on high alert as she focused on keeping her breathing even.
When neither Sirius or James popped out from around the corner, Lily unconsciously straightened herself, feeling rather disappointed. So much for taking a defensive position.
She moved forward cautiously, peering both up and down the staircase, still searching for any sign of movement. When safe, she crept out onto the landing, taking controlled steps till she made it to the third floor, until she became impatient and skipped the rest of the way down to the next staircase's landing.
She slowed, taking a moment to glance back up the way she came for any movement.
Her stomach slipped into her throat when her next step was air.
She screamed as she fell, barely having enough time to twist and reach out to grab onto the base of the railing.
The staircase to the next floor had been shifting – and whether it was her own fault for not listening, or because of the blood rushing in her ears, she'd made this fatal error.
Her body dangled freely in the open air, and she struggled to get a grip, her wand in her right hand preventing her from grabbing onto the baluster properly.
"Help!" she cried out desperately.
Risking it, she raised her occupied hand and tossed her wand away, trying to get a better hold.
Though Lily had fallen on the stairs many times before, this was like nothing else. There was no foothold for her to use, there was no floor to land on, even if she were to somehow pendulum swing herself onto it.
"Come on!" she demanded of herself, trying to use non-existent muscles to pull herself up.
The stairs, whether it was because they sensed an obstruction in their path or because they were bloody evil, they remained locked in place, halfway across the open air. For a breath-stealing moment, she waited, thinking someone would appear at the landing from across the way.
No one materialized.
Her fingers, already raw from the stone floor, were beginning to slip. "Help!" she tried again, readjusting her grip. With all her might, she tried to lift herself up, but failed, her arms too weak.
Lily glanced back down, her stomach dropping. It was at least two stories down – and the ground below looked very, very far down.
"Come on, come on, come on," she whispered to herself, taking a deep breath, and then trying once more to pull herself up. Come on, come on, come on.
Unbidden, an image flashed before her; James laying motionless in the Entrance Hall, eyes closed and chest frozen.
The muscles in her arms gave out and she squeaked as she lost what little progress she had made.
"Please, please, please," she rasped, willing the burning in her fingers to stop. She really didn't want to fall. She thought of her friends finding her in the same way she'd found James – hurt, not breathing. Tears sprang in her eyes.
Except no one was around.
She hooked her elbow back over the top of the landing, wincing as it caught on the rough stone.
"Evans?"
She let out a noise of fright, caught by surprise.
"James?" she asked, a bit worried her imagination was running away with her.
He had just turned the corner, catching sight of her dangling dangerously at the edge of the space, struggling to pull herself up.
He sprinted forward and slid to grab onto her hands, hauling her up in one smooth motion over the landing's edge. It seemed effortless to him, pulling her body weight.
Exhausted and sore, she collapsed on top of him on the landing, letting her head drop onto his chest, a relieved sob escaping her as she processed she was back on solid ground.
"What happened?" James's voice asked from above her.
She suddenly realized his hands were still wrapped around her waist, that her full weight was on top of him. The fingers clawed in his sweater tightened – briefly – before she forced herself to roll over onto her back, quickly wiping away the tears.
"The stairs," she waved towards them. "I was a bloody idiot and didn't look before stepping."
He chuckled, pulling himself up into a seated position, hands resting on his knees as he looked down at her. "I'd say you're lucky."
Her heartbeat was still fast and she felt a little lightheaded. Her body felt warm, still, the imprint of his fingers at her hips still burning. "I wouldn't say that," she murmured, forcing herself up onto her elbows. "I'm just glad I didn't… fall to my death. Not a great way to lose the Game."
James snorted, jumping up and dusting his trousers off. "Sounds like you just wanted to one-up my last stunt."
The snort came from her this time, accepting the hand he offered to help her stand. "As if I could ever," she disagreed, dusting herself off. "With none of you being CPR certified?"
"I could learn," he retorted with a straight face, eyes shining.
She laughed. "That'd be smart," she admitted, looking away from him to search the ground for her wand. "I'd imagine Sirius will probably need it at least once this year."
James snorted, stooping to collect her wand that had rolled to the edge of the railing. "He'd love that," he said wryly. "Not only for the attention, too."
She laughed, reaching to accept her wand from him. "He would, wouldn't he?" Lily glanced away as the stairs reconnected with the landing, the stone grinding. "Well, that's convenient."
"It is," James agreed and his tone was playful – so close to how it had been before, before from when he had been friendly. "Convenient for me, that is," he said.
"What?" she asked, turning back towards him.
His wand was raised. "Sorry, Evans. Ces–"
"Don't you dare!"
"– so," he cast, the spell striking her in the stomach. "See you around!" he said with his grin.
That bastard, she thought with an involuntary smile (good thing she was frozen).
She listened as his footsteps receded down the stairs, taking him two at a time (she was sure). Lily counted down the seconds with impatient anxiety, nearly stumbling forward when she was released from the spell.
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
"We won!" Sirius crowed in the Entrance Hall as Lily cast to show the scoreboard.
"We won?" Peter repeated with surprise.
"It was bound to happen some time, Wormy!" Sirius said happily. "Happy Christmas to me – to us, that is!"
"That was a dirty trick," Lily said with a wry smile as she came to stand beside James. "But congratulations."
He scoffed, staring down at her with a pleased grin. "Me? How was I to know you weren't playing damsel to set a trap?"
"Oh, yes," she commented dryly. "Waited specifically for the stairs to move, flung myself over to hang from my fingertips, and hoped that you'd be the one to come and save me."
"Did you?"
"Did I set that up?" she asked incredulously.
"Did you want it to be me to rescue you?"
He was staring at her. She could hear the chatter of her friends in the background, but was suddenly caught in the intent stare that James had locked onto her.
"Lily – what the hell happened?" Marlene complained, coming nearer. "We were supposed to win!"
Lily glanced up at James: his expression had shuttered and he turned away to re–join his own friends.
"I don't know," she admitted. "I guess I got distracted."
Marlene scoffed. "We'll have to work on that, then."
Lily glanced over her shoulder back at James, who'd caught her looking.
"Come on," Marlene griped. "Let's get back before I throw a fit."