Disclaimer- Wouldn't it be cool if there was this parallel universe where it actual was ALL mine? Wow...
Authoress' Note- Hope you can forgive the lack of updating! School and everything has been so hectic and I've been making creditable advances on my Azalea book when I have some free time, but now the next installament of Seven Years of Marauding is done! Hope you get the slight pun for the chapter title! Review! Hope school's not a total nightmare for ya'll! Cheers! E.D.J.
I've got a lovely bunch of reviews! (du du du du du) There they are a-standing in a row!
Romulan Empress- Yeah a new person who I'm on author's alert for-loud cheer- I'm so glad you love the story! Also I love your name! I assume it has to do with the legend of Romulus and Remus (not our Remus obviously) and the foundation of Rome etc...? Let me know!
blinkgurl017-Yes you are wonderfully awesome reviewer! You can ten million...? What do want that can be invisible and sent through review thank yous? Something shiny? That's always good. Yes Madam Pomfrey is great and so is the word abso-bloody-lutely. Though I don't talk British-like to my friends because A) They won't understand me and B) They'll think I'm crazier than I already am. You know! You're a Crazy Chats reader! Hee hee.
skysong- I am so sorry that I've deprived you of something that will allow you to get a break from school for so long! So glad you like the story!
Ryder-Yes I think the creativeness comes from an over-active imagination and too much pent up crazyiness. I don't mind though. It makes my writing cool!
Ch. 17- To Dumbledore's Office We Go
Lily was curled up on the sofa, listening to records when she heard the sound of the post being slipped through the door. She got up and padded over to where the small pile of envelopes sat on the rug. Lily flipped through the letters and noticed a letter addressed to her in emerald green ink. She slit it open and read:
Dear Miss Evans,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We have detected magic in you and wish to have you attend our school, which runs from September to June respectively. Since you are of non-magical birth, you know none of the ways of wizards though you most likely have shown signs of magic since you were small. On July the seventh, an employee of our school will arrive at your home to discuss this matter, and to escort you to London to buy your school supplies. This is, however, if you should choose to attend our school. Enclosed is a list of your necessary books and equipment needed for this year. Please send us your reply via our employee.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy HeadmistressLily dropped the letter and shrieked, "MUM!"
Her mother thundered down the stairs. Her younger daughter had never sounded so terrified. "Lily? What's the matter? Are you hurt?"
Lily shook her head and just pointed to the letter lying on the rug. Mrs. Evans picked it up, read it, her face getting paler all the while. "HENRY!" she shrieked, dropping the letter to the floor once again.
Mr. Evans came out of the kitchen, carrying a half-eaten sandwich. Mrs. Evans thrust the letter at him and he read it while he finished his sandwich. "So," he said, "is Lily going to this magic school or what?"
"Magic?" moaned Lily. "How in the bloody world am I a witch?"
"Don't swear, Lily," scolded Mrs. Evans. "Henry, how do we know this isn't some hoax?"
Mr. Evans shrugged. "We'll wait till the seventh and see if anyone shows up. If not, it's a hoax."
Lily and her mother readily agreed. Lily went back to the couch and stared at her letter. "You most likely have shown signs of magic since you were small." What did that mean? Maybe all those unexplained things that always seem to happen around her? Turning the class snob's hair green? Somehow unlocking caretaker's cupboards to hide when she was embarrassed at school? Could any other students do that? She didn't think so.
"Wow, magic," Lily breathed, feeling excitement well up inside her.
Just then, her fifteen-year-old sister Petunia walked in the front door. Lily jumped up and waved the letter in front of her sister's face. Petunia sighed and glanced at the letter. Her eyes widened and she grabbed the letter out of Lily's hands. Her face grew even paler then Mrs. Evans's had been. She thrust the letter back at Lily, and her face was furious-looking.
"Isn't it amazing?" Lily shrieked happily, hugging Petunia who stood stiffly until she released her.
"You aren't going." Petunia's mouth was set in a determined line.
"What? But I want to-" began Lily.
"Your school already thinks you're enough of a freak already! All those weird things you do? Setting desks on fire? Throwing erasers at your maths teacher without even touching them? I will not have my little sister being an even bigger freak by being able to do magic! People will talk."
Petunia's words stung, but now Lily was angry. "I will too go and I'll be the best witch this school has ever had!"
"No one related to me is going to be an abnormal little girl turning people into toads and riding around on broomsticks! Oh what will my friends think?"
"I don't care about your stupid friends!" shouted Lily. "I want to go, so I'm going!"
"Lily, you are so insufferable! I hate you!"
Lily was startled, but she held her ground. "Well, I hate you too! And the only freak around here is you."
Petunia rolled her eyes and stormed out with a last whisper of 'freak'.
"I am not," Lily muttered, feeling tears fall down her cheeks. "I..."
-
"Wake up! Evans! Lily!" came a loud voice and Lily opened her eyes to find herself being shaken by James Potter.
She shook him off and quickly wiped her eyes on her sleeve, so he wouldn't see her tears.
"You were having a nightmare," said James softly. "Yelling things like 'freak' and 'I hate you'. At first I thought you were talking to me, but then I saw you were still asleep."
"Ha, don't flatter yourself," muttered Lily. "Why would I be yelling at you in my sleep?"
"Maybe because you were dreaming about me?" said James smugly. "Not that I want that, of course. But, I've been told that many girls are charmed by my natural charisma and good looks."
Lily snorted. "Fortunately, I don't happen to be one of them."
"Yes, fortunately," James echoed. He stared at Lily for a moment before clearing his throat and saying, "We have to go see Dumbledore in an hour. Madam Pomfrey says we can leave the Hospital Wing now and go get breakfast."
"Fine," said Lily flatly. "Go away."
"Why?" James retorted.
To his surprise, Lily's face turned red, and she murmured something indistinguishable.
"Sorry didn't catch that," said James with a smirk.
"I HAVE TO GET DRESSED, YOU PERVERT!" shouted Lily. "GET OUT!"
"Oh yeah..." said James, feeling his ears go red and he rushed out of the room.
Ten minutes later, James was sitting outside the room, still waiting. He sighed and tapped his foot impatiently.
Lily finally finished and raised an eyebrow at the sight of James sitting outside. "You know, you could have just gone to breakfast. I actually would have preferred that."
"And miss a chance to annoy you?" James said, smirking. He shifted from foot to foot knowing Sirius was probably getting impatient.
Lily just rolled her eyes and started down the corridor toward the Great Hall. James followed, eager for some food.
"So, Evans, think Dumbledore will kill us?" he asked. "Some students never reappear out of his office you know."
Lily said nothing.
"Scared you, eh Evans?"
"Actually I stopped listening after 'So'. Do I really care about what you said? No."
"Touché."
"Thank you."
Lily smirked up at the ceiling and noticed a large cauldron of water floating right above her. She saw it begin to tip and did some quick thinking. She pushed James underneath it and jumped out of the way.
James yelped as cold water hit him and poured down the back of his robes. He wiped his glasses on his robes and saw Lily grinning at him.
"Nice try, Potter." She walked away, looking significantly happier.
James sighed and shook his head, spraying water in every direction. "Sirius!" he shouted.
Mutters of "Oops" "Sorry, Jamesie" and "At least it was just water" came from his right.
"I'm going to kill you."
Sirius's voice came out of thin air. "That's why I'm gladI have the Invisibility Cloak."
"Which is mine by the way!"
"Not my problem. Goodbye."
"GET BACK HERE, YOU COWARD!" James shouted just as a large group of sixth year Hufflepuffs passed by. They looked at him strangely. He shrugged and muttered, "Peeves."
They nodded knowingly and walked away.
James proceeded to the Great Hall and threw himself into a chair next to Remus and Peter. His robes quickly became dry with Remus's help. James still hadn't learned that drying spell yet. Sirius was nowhere in sight. The bloody coward. Once he'd wolfed down a stack of toast he glanced around for Lily.
She was chatting with one of the seventh year prefect, Marlene McKinnon and, when she caught him looking at her, she glared angrily. How in Merlin's name did his friends think he fancied that?
James readied himself for a torrent of insults and strode over to Lily. "We have to go see the Headmaster."
Lily nodded and walked out of the Great Hall without even looking back to see if he was coming. James followed and put on a burst of speed to catch up with her.
Lily sighed and asked, "You know where his office is I suppose?"
"Of course. I've been there many times this year."
"I'm not sure that's something to be proud of, Potter."
They stopped in front of a stone gargoyle and James muttered, "Jelly slugs."
The gargoyle moved aside and the two students stood quietly while the stairs slowly carried them upward. James knocked on the door and it opened with a creak. Lily and James stepped in and Lily gaped at the massive round room filled with shiny silver instruments, none of which, she knew the uses of.
Professor Dumbledore was at his desk and he said softly, "Sit down, please."
They sat.
"Now, Professor Dearborn has sent you here because you were fighting, correct?"
They nodded.
"And you used magic in this fight?"
They nodded again.
"Even though you knew it was clearly against the rules?"
More nods.
Dumbledore's sighed, but his eyes twinkled slightly. "And what are the reasons for this little spat?"
Lily opened her mouth, but then closed it again.
"Yes, Miss Evans?"
"Because he's an arrogant prat and I hate him."
"Yes, I can tell that's quite true-"
"Professor!"
"Mr. Potter, I must ask you to remain silent until I have finished speaking with Miss Evans." Dumbledore turned back to Lily. "Now, what in particular was Mr. Potter doing that annoyed you so much in your Defense Against the Dark Arts class yesterday?"
"He was mocking me."
"Mr. Potter, were you indeed mocking Miss Evans?"
James wilted under Dumbledore's gaze. "Yes."
"And for what reason did you feel the need to mock her?"
"Over Christmas break, she stole my wand." James shot an angry glare at Lily.
"It was for two minutes!" protested Lily. "And that was only because he pranked my roommates and me on Christmas, sir."
"And Mr. Potter, why did you prank these girls?"
James shrugged, embarrassed. "For a laugh."
"Ah," said Dumbledore, peering at them over this half-moon spectacles. "So, we could say this all originated from Mr. Potter?"
"No!" protested James.
"Let me finish, James," said Dumbledore gently and James fell silent. "The point is that it is both your faults. One of you should have stopped it before it went so far. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Professor."
"Then you may go. Have a splendid day." Dumbledore smiled at them.
"You aren't going to punish us?" asked Lily.
"No. I believe jinxing each other enough to end up in the Hospital Wing overnight is a good enough punishment," said Dumbledore, the corners of his mouth twitching. "I think being thrown against a wall must have been particularly painful for you, Mr. Potter."
Lily hid a grin and nodded.
She and James exited Dumbledore's office and stopped when they reached the corridor.
"This doesn't change anything you know," said Lily.
"I know."
"I still hate you."
"I can't say I'm too fond of you either, Evans."
"Then we agree? We're still known enemies?"
"Of course. I can hardly imagine what life would be like without Lily Evans to battle against."
Oh James. If only you knew! Enough Lily/James to fill the void of Lilyness that the fic became a few chapters back? I believe so. Your thoughts? Review and let me know! E.D.J.