Breaking Out of the Cocoon
Chapter 2: Conversations and Confrontations
This chapter's song is 'Feeling Good' by Muse
"I was expecting you but obviously the feeling isn't mutual eh, Lily?" James said, loudly enough t break the other person in the compartment's reverie.
"What? Oh, yes, sorry. So you were told then? 'Bout me being Head Girl?" Lily still seemed slightly dazed.
"Got a note from McGonagall, didn't you?"
"Probably, though since my Mum and Dad were jumping up and down, we might have lost it," Lily answered truthfully.
"Aha! Well make sure you don't go losing things this year. Like notes. Do not lose your notes," he added in a would-be gruff, domineering voice, if it were not for the fact his face was drawn up in a lightly teasing smile.
"Or friends," Lily sighed. "Do not lose your friends."
James took a moment for the words to fully penetrate him, after which he blinked and moved forward in his seat.
"Didn't you know? My, my not up to your usual Marauder standard; you really must try harder. If you must know, I had a major-minor disagreement with a certain seventh-year Gryffindor female, which left me feeling quite alone, open at the hands of my wretched sister and helpless parents."
"Major-minor? That's new. Where did you get that one from?"
"You know how something is important to you, but no one else seems to care? That's major-minor"
"You're strange, you know that?"
"That's me; I'm not one of those new amateurs you see, trying to be oh-so smart when really people are laughing at them, rather than with."
"You're not talking about me are you?" James tried to feign incredulousness.
"No, it's more Sirius and Peter I'm worried about," Lily replied in a stage whisper.
"Right then we'd better wait for the Prefects to come along, I suppose."
Lily nodded in agreement and they both waited in companionable silence for the other members of the meeting to enter the Head's Compartment. It did not take long for the sixth years to arrive, though most of the stragglers were the newly-appointed fifth years.
"Welcome, both I and the Head Boy, James, would like to congratulate all the new Prefects on being awarded such an important position and hope you enjoy your fifth year. We would like to clarify any points that need addressing and there will be questions at the end," for an opening speech, Lily thought she did quite well. She remembered the daydreams she had been having for the past week, with her, extremely inarticulate and being laughed at by all the prefects, even the new fifth years.
"Yes," James called, adopting a voice that was more mature than usual." I'm coming round with a rota for duties during the year, so if you have any problems contact either myself or Lily as soon as possible to make an amendment. Now that's been sorted out, onto the more interesting issues. Are there any suggestions as to any sort of things to be held this year?"
"Err yes," Charlie Coulter, one of the new Hufflepuff Prefects, sounded mush more timid than usual. "I was wondering, could it be possible to organize some more clubs and societies? All we've got at the moment are the Quidditch teams." His brown eyes seemed slightly worried, as though he thought he did not yet have the authority to ask of something directly. He was relieved when he heard the hearty agreements of most of the others.
"Yes, that's a good idea, although it will need a lot of cooperation and organization from everyone," as Lily said this she noticed James's eyes flicker quickly to the Slytherins. He had good reason to, as it seemed Snape was on the verge of one of his infamous combination of him curling his lip and a comment said with a pronounced sneer.
"Of course you would say that wouldn't you, Evans? Then again, I suppose Mudbloods like you have to stick up for each other. No one else will."
"Snape, yet again you seem to have landed yourself in trouble due to your extremely selective memory. It is not acceptable for you to say such things, especially during term-time," James's loud, clear call sounded as though the black-haired Slytherin's comments were not the only part of Snape's character he found unacceptable.
"Ah, I was waiting for this, Potter. You may be good at Quidditch, but your power on the ground is very low," Snape let out a mixture between a growl and a hiss; his features become more hawk-like.
"If this is your idea of cooperation, Snape, I suggest you use a dictionary," Lily's voice came sharper than she felt, knowing that in part, Snape was right. 'Since nobody appears to have anything useful to add, I think we'll call this meeting to an end. Thank you.'
It had not been the best of starts to the new school year for Lily, nor was it the worst. She felt that she could have improved parts of the day, especially the morning, though it was a sensation she often experienced. She was not what she would call a perfectionist, although if she knew she could do something much better than how she had done it, she made sure everyone around her knew too. Today she had no one to grumble to, as she had just left the Great Hall after eating and was taking out some of her books. After flipping through a Charms book, something she would not be able to do at home when Petunia was prowling outside her bedroom, Lily suddenly remembered that she had some patrolling of her own to do. She left her books scattered on her bed and climbed up a staircase, missing the false step, to reach the floor above her dormitory. It was not long when she heard an all too familiar voice.
"I don't know what you think you can or can't do Lupin, but I assure this year both you and your pathetic little friends are going tohave a taste of your own medicine. I daresay you have experience in that, you filthy little half-breed," not for the first time in her life, Lily was regretting standing up for Snape that day in their fifth year. If this was the sort of treatment Remus Lupin, her fellow seventh year Gryffindor, was receiving she understood why two of his best friends had such a grudge against Snape.
"Why can't you just leave me alone?" Remus replied, his voice very close to wavering uncontrollably. "We agreed with Dumbledore to let this drop. We all did. You included." Lily was surprised at that last comment; she had not realised that the animosity was so great that Dumbledore had to be involved.
"It's strange: I'm always just that stupid, greasy Slytherin object of your 'jokes' as you like to put it, but once I know your stupid little secret of yours we have to let it drop. There's true Gryffindor bravery for you. You're about as brave as a piece of chicken shit"
"Whereas you need a bunch of Dark Arts obsessed freaks so that you can make yourself feel good' Lily stepped forward, not wanting Remus to have to deal with the Slytherin alone. "I don't know what this is about but I have some very good advice for you: go away." Lily brandished her wand in a menacing way, which meant Snape feel obliged to leave, although not quietly,
"Isn't it strange that you always seem to have someone rushing to fight your battles for you? First, Potter and Black and now Evans. Who next: Pettigrew?"
Lily let Snape pass by her, watching him walk off, muttering darkly. She turned to face Remus. "When I said I don't know what's going on I meant it, but I'm not going to ask. Not yet anyway. We can always talk about that later. You really need to go to bed; so do I."
Remus blinked a few times before replying, giving time for Lily to survey him. The collar to his shirt was scrunched and his light brown hair was uncharacteristically messy and bore resemblance to the head of James Potter. "I'm really grateful Lily. For a second there I was worried it was going to be Crouch or another Slytherin. Thank you for not asking just yet, I don't think I have enough energy at the moment. Sometimes I think it's only Sirius, James and Peter who actually cares about me but you proved me wrong so thank you. This probably isn't the best first day back from the holidays you've had is it? Sorry about that"
"There's no need to be so apologetic or grateful you know. I was just trying to be of help. I don't see what you've got be so sorry about either. It's not your fault an extremely annoying Slytherin decided to confront you today, so don't be so hard on yourself. You're starting to sound like me."
"You don't seem to be one a dark, reflective type of person to me. Maybe it's just major-minor." Remus said the last sentence with a smile, if a fairly small one.
"So you heard about that did you?"
"Yes, James seemed to think it was very funny."
"It's nice to think someone finds me amusing."
"At least two of your best friends aren't two of funniest and cleverest at this school."
"If we're going to play 'who has the worst life' I'm sure I'll win. I have one of the most obnoxious sisters anyone could have. I'm not just saying that."
"At least your problem doesn't affect you at school too," Remus muttered, although his words unheard by anyone in his dormitory, all of whom were asleep.
