Chapter Three –Group Dynamics
This chapter's song is 'Meantime' by the Futureheads
Although Lily had not forgotten the events of the previous night, she had not been expecting to be tapped on the shoulder by Sirius Black. He sat next to her and began to eat some bacon casually. Eventually, he spoke.
"I heard about what you did last night and I'd just like to say thank you. I know you never really, well…respected me or James but it is nice to know that you'll stick up for Remus at least."
Lily sighed, glanced up into Sirius's face and started blankly at her plate. "It's not that I don't respect you, it's more the things you do to some people. Nearly everyone in this room agrees that Snape's a nasty piece of work, but it doesn't mean you have to try to hex him into the next century. It just makes him bitterer. I guess it's like tickling a sleeping dragon." They both smiled at her last comment, then sat began to eat in silence for a few minutes.
"As to your detective work about Remus," Sirius said, getting up. "I wouldn't try it if I were you. You're best off not knowing," and with that, he left, leaving Lily eating her breakfast alone. She sat there for a while, thinking about hardly anything in a lethargic manner. Without fully acknowledging where it had come from, Lily found a timetable in front of her. Her first lesson was Defence Against the Dark Arts, a subject she found quite interesting.
Lily found herself in the correct classroom, taking a seat next to Peter Pettigrew. They were revising the Patronus Charm, extremely important since Lord Voldemort's ever-increasing army contained Dementors. Lily found it hard to think of a thought that could produce more than just a silvery wisp. Suddenly it struck her. The letter she had received telling her she was a witch! She had not believed it at first, but when a messenger had come to explain to her and her parents that it was not a hoax, she was overjoyed. She concentrated and a silver butterfly came out of her wand. She looked around the class and saw the others producing their Patronuses; most were animals but James's was a nose-biting teacup. Before Lily had time to ponder where his peculiar Patronus came from, the bell rang. Homework 'a two feet on the history, technique and use of the Patronus charm,' was set. The class suddenly realised they had entered the infamous NEWT year.
… …
The rest of the morning's lessons had passed uneventfully; in Charms they had mastered a complex spell, which meant another long essay. Mutterings of discontent from the seventh years could be heard on all four House tables that lunchtime.
Lily did not really mind. In fact, she had been feeling quite apathetic all day, although she was not sure why. She knew it was not because term had just started, as last year she was full of optimism compared to her rather jaded state. It was only when James, Sirius, Remus and Peter, all looking quite exercised, entered the Hall that she realised what was bothering her. She was lonely. She was about to pick up some more food off her plate when she saw that there was none left. She then hurried up to Gryffindor Tower, muttered the password 'trinket' to the Fat Lady and walked up the stairs to the seventh year girl's dormitory, all the while trying to remain casual.
"Lily! There you are. You've been wandering about in that dreamy state of yours," a girl with shoulder-length warm brown hair of average height was staring at Lily, smiling good-naturedly.
"Oh! Hello Sarah. Sorry about this morning, I was just getting settled. So, how was your holiday…" the two girls had the conversation they should have had the previous night that lunchtime, neither of them talking about anything important or vaguely interesting. It was as if they had met for the first time in ten years. Although it was nothing very obvious, Lily could tell that Sarah Edgecombe, her friend from second year had changed slightly during the summer months, in the same way Lily herself had. Light jokes were made and laughter sounded, more out of friendliness than humour. Both girls were inwardly relieved when Sarah said she had to meet someone in the Library, a story neither of them believed.
… …
The first week back from what Lily realised would be her last summer holiday passed quickly, which was exactly what Lily had wanted. She had attended all her lessons, yet felt detached from the class. Her essays, while sound lacked some of the originality that had given her good grades in the past. She had had many conversations, the most fruitful she could remember was discussing with James what sort of clubs they should start. He had left her, most probably to join his friends, leaving her next to the fire in the Gryffindor Common Room to contemplate the four most prominent boys in her year.
They were one body and yet so different; four chambers to the same heart. Sirius had a sort of worldliness about him James tried to emulate and Peter wondered about. Remus's subtle, teasing jokes were a contrast to James's outlandish humour. Peter's willingness to be loyal opposed Sirius's general wariness to trust and yet there they were, unflinchingly themselves, whether they were together or apart. Rather than envy them, Lily smiled wistfully thinking about it. Their friendship was not meant to impress; it was there because they needed it. 'Just like I do,' she thought. She put 'Having Meaningful Interactions with Others' on her mental to-do list and went to bed.
(A/N: So what did you think? Good, bad or ugly? I was talking to my friend from my old school today and I showed her a snippet from my original fiction and she said she'd 'read better written by 7 yr olds.' I personally think that work is better than this. So, is she telling the truth or just being sarcastic (I never could tell with her)?
Also, I found it really heard saying that Lily's Patronus was a butterfly. It makes me sound a though I want her to be a Mary-Sue. If you want to know the reason tell me and I'll post it either at the end of the next chapter or on my Live Journal ('wwcotherguy'). It'll also help if you want to know the origins of the title name.
This is probably a good time to tell you that there will be slash in later chapters (way later) if that's not your thing and that this story will end at the end of their 7th year but I hope to write a sequel 'A Butterfly's Flight' to chronicle the rest of her life.)
