Tada! It's done! Please enjoy. In this chapter we find ourselves with a competition that goes horribly wrong. Or horribly right, depending how you look at it…
Lily knocked on the door to James and Sirius's dormitory.
"Jamsie? Jamsie Poodle?" She knocked rapidly on the door until it swung open to reveal James; his hair disheveled, clothes wrinkled, and glasses askew.
"Geez James, what were you doing in there?" Lily asked, pushing past him to sit on the closest bed to the door. She plopped onto it and felt something wriggle beneath her. She screamed and hid behind James.
"Lily? What are you doing in here?" Sirius's look of confusion turned into a grin. "There's enough room for both of us in here if you really want to," he said, pulling back his covers. Lily snorted.
"As if," she said, settling herself on a different bed (but not before smacking Sirius rightly on the head of course).
"So Lily, what do you need that is so important that you had to disturb our sleep?" James asked, coming over to sit next to Lily on the empty bed.
"You were sleeping? James, you do know that it's only eight thirty, right?"
"You woke me up to tell me what time it is?"
"No, I woke you up to tell you that in a spirit of-" Lily stopped to find the right word. "Borededness, Ari and I, the grand masters of plans, have decided to throw a party and we need food for all of Gryffindor."
"Right," James said nodding his head. "And what do I have to do with all of this?"
"James mi petite idiot, you will of course be assisting me and Sirius in bringing back food to the dorm."
James sighed.
"Alright," he said. He stood up from the bed. "Coming Sirius?"
"Yup!" Sirius leapt up from his bed, still in his pajamas, and the three left together. When Sirius appeared at the top of the stairs in his boxer shorts and tank top (a manly one though, of course) he received many hollers and whistles. He waved to the crowd.
"You look strangely like the queen when you do that," Lily said, head cocked in thought. Sirius made a face.
"Eww…" He stopped waving and started off down the stairs with James (who was receiving many loud shouts of "Take it off!" as he had the good sense to put a robe on).
"Ahem."
The two boys turned to look at Lily.
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
"Like biscuits?" Sirius asked, looking hopeful. Lily shook her head.
"Like something that could cover all three of us without being seen?" she asked. James ran back into the dorm while Lily shook her head.
"Someday he will land himself in a sticky situation and he will not have his cloak and he will have detention and I will not and I will laugh at him."
"Sticky situation…Great idea Lils!" Sirius said.
"Do I even want to know what you're thinking of?" Lily asked.
"Probably not. Want me to tell you anyways?"
"Um, no thanks."
"Suit yourself." James reappeared then, invisibility cloak under one arm. He checked to make sure no one was watching before slipping it on over them.
It got amazingly cold at Hogwarts during the night. This particular night was no different. As the trio wandered the halls of Hogwarts looking for the kitchens, Lily was wondering why her feet were so cold. She looked down and groaned.
"Guys, I'm not wearing any shoes."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm not wearing any shoes."
"Why not?"
"If I knew that than I'd be wearing them."
"What?"
"Never mind. Are we almost there? I think my feet have gone numb."
"We should be there in a few minutes I think."
They walked in silence for a few moments.
"We're here!" Sirius tickled the pear on the painting and the handle appeared. He pulled open the door and the three entered the kitchens.
"Mmm…It smells so good in here," Lily said, throwing off the cloak. She jumped and gave a little scream when six elves ran up to her.
"Good evening sirs and madam! What can Twinkle do for you?" asked one elf.
"We need enough food to feed an entire house," Sirius told the little creature. All six elves ran back and appeared seconds later with bagfuls of food.
"Thanks and oh, do you have any biscuits?" Sirius asked before leaving.
"Pippy put some in a bag for you sir!" answered one before bowing.
"Thank you for all this food, it's very kind," Lily said turning to leave. The three left the kitchen and started to walk back to the tower.
"Guys can we PLEASE walk faster? I think my feet have gone numb," Lily groaned.
"Would you like to wear my slippers?" James asked with a sigh.
"Wait a moment, is James Potter really being nice to Lily Evans?" Sirius asked, with mock shock.
"Anything to make her quit whining," James said, rolling his eyes. "Do you want them or not?" Lily nodded.
"Yes please." He handed them to her. "Aww… They're so cute. Wait a sec, what is that? Is that a pig? James, do you wear piggy slippers?"
"They were on sale. Plus I think they look manly," James said, trying to look dignified.
They walked on.
"Alright now my feet are cold." Sirius groaned.
"For the love of Merlin, James do you have a sock with you?"
"I really don't see how that's relevant-"
"Do you or not?"
"Erm, yes."
"Give it to me." James handed his friend the sock. Sirius took out his wand and waved it at the sock. The sock turned into a pair of bright pink fuzzy slippers.
"There you go. Happy now?" Sirius asked. James nodded his head and the three of them ran back to the tower, suddenly aware of how very long they were taking.
When they arrived at the tower, they were greeted by all of Gryffindor who had already gathered in the common room and were dancing about to music. Sirius took a bite out of a biscuit and put the bags on a table. Lily made her way across to the room to Ari.
"Hey Ari. Guess what? I was walking to the kitchens and-What's wrong?" Lily asked when she saw the look on her face.
"Nothing," Ari said.
"Ari, seriously, what's wrong?"
"I told you, it's nothing. Oh, did you guys bring food?" Lily watched as her friend walked away from her.
"What's up Lily Billy?" asked Sirius, as he bunny hopped over to her. Lily sighed.
"Sirius, how is it that you always seem to show up at the worst time possible?"
"It's one of my many talents."
"Mmm. Sure."
"No, really though. You looked upset, what's wrong?" Lily sighed again and rubbed her forehead.
"Nothing. Well not nothing. Well nothing but something."
"Thanks for clearing that up for me."
"It's Ari. She says there's nothing wrong but I know that there is and she won't tell me and I don't know what to do because I don't want her to feel like I'm overstepping my boundaries and I don't know what to do and now my head hurts," Lily said in one breath.
Lily watched her friend as he thought. When he finally decided he couldn't think of anything, he threw his arms around Lily in a tight hug.
"What was that for?" Lily asked when he released her. Sirius shrugged.
"I couldn't think of the right thing to say so I decided just to hug you."
"Sirius, you know sometimes you're not the complete idiot that you always act like," Lily said affectionately.
"So, what do you say we put all this Ari stuff to the side and go enjoy the party?" Sirius asked. Lily gave a small smile and the two set off for the snack table where the rest of their friends were.
"This party is against school rules and I will have to shut it down," said Remus as he tossed a popcorn kernel up into the air and tried to catch it in his mouth. His friends turned to look at him.
"As a prefect I have to say that," he said to them as they stared.
"I propose a toast!" said Sirius suddenly, raising his butterbeer. The others all raised their butterbeers along with him.
"To parties, butterbeer, and friends!" Remus said.
"Cheers!" the eight butterbeers gave a satisfyingly loud clank.
"Say…What do you think of having a drinking contest?" Sirius asked with a grin.
"No, definitely not," said Gia, shaking her head.
"Sirius that's stupid," Lily said with a sigh.
"I'm in," James said.
"Me too," said Ari.
"Are you sure Lily?" Sirius asked, batting his eyelashes at her.
"Yes. I would never take place in something so idiotic."
"You're just afraid James will beat you."
"Hell no! I'm in."
"Me too," Lucy said, taking the cap off of another butterbeer.
"Gia?"
"Well alright," she said, adjusting her sweater nervously.
"I'll keep score," Peter said as he picked up a piece of parchment and messily wrote their names at the top.
"And…GO!"
The eight of them downed butterbeers continuously, stopping for nothing.
"Stop! Time's up!" yelled Peter exactly one hour later. Lily giggled.
"Butterbeer is sooo good," she said, still giggling.
"Alright. In third place we have Lucy Hill!" the group applauded and Lucy bowed, falling over.
"Whoops!" she giggled.
"And in second place, James Potter!"
"YEAH! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT!" James said, highfiving Sirius.
"And in first place is the beautiful, charming, and very short, Lily Evans!"
"Hooray!" she yelled, jumping up and down. She ran around giving hugs to people.
"And a hug for Ari, and a hug for Lulu, and a hug for Sirius, and a hug for Jamesie!" she yelled as she flung her arms around James's neck. James started choking and Lily released him.
"Oh my gosh! My poor baby!" She yelled. "What's wrong? Are you sick? Will a kiss make it better?" She kissed his cheek and giggled.
"James did I ever tell you how adorably CUTE you are? Because you are! You are soooo cute! I just love your hair! It's so messy! And you're glasses! Hehe! They're so funny!" She kissed his cheek again and put his glasses on her face.
"My name is James Potter and I have piggy slippers," she said, trying to imitate the way he talked.
"Lily, give me back my glasses," James said.
"I think they're a good look for me," she said. James started to move towards her. Lily made a run for it. He chased her around the common room for awhile, crashing into the occasional student and pole (he couldn't really see) while Lily giggled. He finally caught up to her (she was surprisingly fast) and tackled her to the ground. He sat on top of her and pulled his glasses off of her face.
"I'll just be taking these-"
"Hey! I liked those glasses." He put them on his own face. Lily giggled again.
"Jamesie you're so cute." And she pulled his face down to hers, giving him a kiss on the lips. She passed out mid-kiss.
"James, what did you do to her?" Sirius asked, rushing over with the rest of their friends.
"Did she actually pass out?" Gia asked. James nodded.
"I think I'll take her up to the dorm," he said as he picked her up. He carried her through the common room and up the stairs and laid her softly on her bed. She came to a little when he set her down.
"Jamesie?"
"Yes?" he asked with a smile.
"You can have your slippers back." And then she fell asleep.
Wooo!! The end! I know, nothing was resolved but I dunno, I kinda liked it. Well, if you review maybe something will happen in the next chapter.
Now a few things to say---
1.The next chapter (if you review, that is) will feature another time jump! A much shorter one this time though.
2.I was wrong in saying that Ari's depression wouldn't last long. It actually looks like it's going to. Sorry, it's the way the characters are making it for me.
And that's all. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go decorate a Christmas tree!!
Toodaloo!
Love always,
Molly
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