Disclaimer: Not ours. If it were, we'd be swimming in heaps of mullah. Of course, anything you don't recognize belongs to us.
Summary: A James and Lily Story. They both led seemingly perfect lives – appearing like flawless portraits. In 6th year, everything began changing drastically, forcing them to leave childhood, and their perfect images, behind forever. Follows The Marauders Era's 6th year at school.
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"I'm up mom! I'm up! Please! No more singing, I'm up!" groaned Hestia pleadingly, peeking out from her closed bed curtains, looking like the devil.
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"Somebody answer the telephone!" Lily grunted instinctively.
"What's a fellytone?" Kat asked curiously from behind her curtains.
"Isn't that one of those muggle devices you yell at to relieve stress?"
"Forget it."
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"ARGH! Shut up!" yelled Lily viciously before striking the alarm clock to the ground; it ending with a final soft click and lay helpless on the floor. She picked herself up from the bed, weaved a little before letting out a huge yawn.
"Lily, if you hate that thing so much, then why do you still use it?" asked Hestia tiredly.
"Because, my dear Hestia Jones, if I didn't use it, we'd all sleep in and show up for class so late that we'd receive so many detentions and never see the light of day ever again!" argued Lily reasonably.
"Right."
"Right is right," nodded Lily. "Hey, where's Mai?" Lily said suddenly as she noticed that Mai's bed curtains had been drawn and her covers neatly made, but with the Asian girl nowhere in sight.
"Maybe she went down for breakfast already…?" suggested Kat uncertainly.
Hestia looked at Kat as if she had just sprouted three extra heads before shaking her head and replying, "No way, you know Mai would rather use extra time to read rather than eat."
Right that moment; Mai herself came walking in cheerfully, fully prepared for the day. She looked slightly flushed, refreshed and certainly wide-awake, unlike the three other girls with their hair sticking out in odd places and eyes half closed. She gave a amused half-smile at the sight of her tousled dorm mates before plopping herself down on Lily's bed, and looking up at her three friends expectantly.
Hestia stared at her, before inquiring suspiciously, "Wherever you went, certainly made you happy. Too happy. You haven't been sharing someone else's bed have you? Shame on you! No wonder you were up so early! Who's body heat has been keeping you warm!?" Hestia's mock suspicion broke into a giggle and she rolled over laughing uncontrollably.
Mai grinned widely, "Don't be ridiculous. I was in the astronomy tower," she looked over at Kat and Lily who's eyebrows were both raised; Mai chuckled at their expressions and continued on, reading their minds, "No, not to meet someone. I was simply taking an early morning walk. It's a new routine I have; it's good for health as well as a refreshing start for the day."
Lily rolled her eyes teasingly, "Mai, you're much too healthy for your own good. It's about time you had more fun."
Mai laughed merrily, "Lily, you know perfectly well that it's fun that I have too much of. Besides, I really need a solid pinch to be able seize the day."
Suddenly, Hestia finally recovered from her big fit of giggles on the ground and now was looking exceptionally humored as Mai said her last statement. "Speaking of pinching and seizing the day…" Hestia stopped to sneak a look at Mai, who gazed at her strangely, and then finally registering what Hestia was implying, Mai gave her a menacing glower.
Flashback
" It was like France, except… Canadianized! Yeah! And Canadian guys are so cute and sweet… though I still like British boys better… London boys to be exact…" Kat was entertaining the girls with her adventures in Quebec, Canada over the summer, and Mai had been listening pleasantly when she happened to look over at the Ravenclaw table and saw her own boyfriend, Chen Chang, trying to get her attention by waving his arms madly. Chen was a year older than her and they had started dating mid last year; he was the handsome Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain, played keeper and did quite well in school. Mai held up her hand to tell him to linger a moment, and waited to catch ns instant in the lively chatter to excuse herself and inform her friends that she was leaving.
Once the task was done, she eagerly pranced over to where he was sitting and they exchanged hugs of happiness. Her and Chen talked animatedly about their summers for a while, until finally, Mai broke off their reunion to return to her friends. He looked torn and pleaded her to stay longer but she had shrugged him off and insisted that he spend the rest of the feast with his friends.
She walked leisurely back to where her friends sat, waving and greeting several other acquaintances along the way. Mai was nearly back in her seat when suddenly –
"AAhhh!" She cried loudly, jumping a mile into the air. Someone had grabbed her rear quite firmly, and rather enthusiastically. She swerved around heatedly, to face Sirius Black, mischievously clever eyes lit and grinning roguishly.
"Sorry Mai I couldn't resist. I have this fetish with needing to touch pretty things that come within reaching distance," he said jokingly, at once issuing a flirtatious wink at her.
A glare of pure repulsion was the response to his vulgar advance, as the petite Asian shook with heavy anger. There were some jests that Mai could tolerate; this was not one of them. Regaining composure almost instantly from the initial shock, Mai flipped her hair back impatiently and gave a fierce scowl before whispering forebodingly, "Try that again."
Sirius gave a surprised look before his face twisted into glee. He gave a loud laugh before reaching for her again. Mai watched him come closer, but before he could carry out his set goal, she gave a small smirk of triumph before kneeing him smack in the – well, you get it. Needless to say, Sirius gave a howl of pain. Mai turn on her heel and marched to return to her group of friends. Not once looking back.
End Flashback
"You saw me make a fool of myself?" Wailed the pretty Asian girl, giving a hopeless look after Hestia had finished her telling the other girls about Mai's "attention-grabbing" narrative. She gave a loud groan before burying her face into her pillow.
"What are you talking about? Making a fool of yourself? That was the greatest martial arts Hogwarts has ever seen!" Hestia rendered encouragingly.
"Shut up," Mai shot back, taking her face out from her pillow and throwing it across the room at Hestia's head. "Did everyone see it?"
"No, though they should have. Imagine, petite little Mai, standing up to the notorious bachelor of Hogwarts, the big, bad Sirius Black."
Mai's eyebrows rose, "It was undignified."
"Don't stress, I think I was the only one who even saw it. I was watching you come back from talking to Chen and was going to bring up the amusing little incident right when you sat back down, but I thought I'd let it be for night for it to sink into your inspiring skull and cause you to do what you always do. Feel disgraced over a triumphant feat. Really Mai, you worry too much."
Mai rolled her eyes and grinned at her friend affectionately, "And you worry too little."
Lily, finished from brushing her teeth, had listened to the whole account from the bathroom and had come out smiling amusedly. While Kat, had not even started to get ready, as she had spent the entire time paying attention to Hestia and Mai's story in awe. Finally, she spoke up and pouted, "I wish Sirius would find my arse pretty enough to grab."
There was a tense pause as all turned to stare at her. Hestia's eyebrows were almost raised into her hair, "You have serious problems. Maybe you should check into St. Mungo's."
Kat's eyes took on a dreamy expression before she picked herself up, headed into the bathroom and starting to close the door. But just before it shut completely, it stopped itself and reopened as Kat peered out and said wistfully, "Yeah, I think I do have 'Sirius' problems."
The other three girls groaned simultaneously and went back to preparing themselves for the day.
An hour later, all four girls walked into the Great Hall leisurely. They had hardly taken a seat at the Gryffindor table before James had appeared beside them, a boyish grin on his face. "Good Morning, Ladies," James cooed smoothly. He looked significantly at Lily, his eyes softening, making her turn red under his gaze. His smile lingered idly as he turn to Mai and his tones becoming dynamic as he said, "Quidditch practice tomorrow morning at five am. Be there, or… not be on the team."
Mai's dark orbs widened in shock as her mouth gaped open wordlessly. She stared at him attentively, as if waiting for him to announce his joke. When Mai saw James just look back at her eagerly, she realized that he was serious. "Are you bloody insane, Potter? It's only the second day back! I can't wake up that early!" She exchanged meaningful glances with the other girls as she remembered her words earlier and broke into a sly smile.
"Of course you can, Xie. There has to be some sacrifice if you want to win the cup this year," James pressed sternly.
Mai's eyebrows rose, "We've won the cup for the past 3 years."
James nodded solemnly. "Exactly. Which is why we have to win it again, champions must defend their titles."
Mai just shook and her head and said simply, "You're crazy."
"…about Quidditch," he added encouragingly.
The Asian girl smirked cheekily; "among other things…" she trailed off as she cast suggestive looks between James and Lily. This earned her a flushed Quidditch Captain, and glaring, fiery friend.
"Alright then, I'm game," Mai grinned and nodded receptively. "Only…how's Sirius doing? After I… er... injured him…" her raven head twisted to look down the table, where she found Mr. Pinch-and-Flinch himself, already staring wrathfully at her. She frowned and spoke gravely, "He will be able to play though, won't he?"
James' hazel eyes lit with hilarity while his face bent in a mimic sorrow, "The poor boy, he's still quite shaken and delirious. After all, his manhood was almost … kicked from him; but yes, fortunately for you, he will still be able to play. You should be very ashamed of yourself, Miss Xie; contrary to popular belief, guys have feelings too. Which reminds me, I must go comfort his unfortunate being." And with this, he held his hand over his heart and started to walk back towards the Marauders.
Mai gave Sirius one last glimpse, finding him still continuing to glower at her; she shook her raven head and turned back toward her friends, mumbling softly under her breath, "Hopeless cases…"
"Hey Mai? Can I come to you Quidditch practice tomorrow?" Kat asked as she twisted around in her seat and gained a glare from Lily who was trying to pay attention to Professor Flitwick's lesson on Replicating Charms.
"To do a Replicating Charm, you must wave your arm once in the air and then turn it in a circle, counter-clockwise before saying Replicato, and whatever object you are pointing up, will replicate itself." The tiny Professor said as he demonstrated with a sugar quill.
"But you don't know anything about Quidditch." Mai whispered after Flitwick finished talking.
"Sure I do, I think it's totally awesome." Kat said grinning, "I especially love watching Chasers go after Bludgers and hit the Snitches with their bats. I've watched Sirius do it so skillfully so many times that I could hop on a broom and perform it perfectly myself. "
Hestia rolled her eyes and snorted.
"Is there something you would like to share with the class Miss Edwards?" Kat heard Flitwick ask.
She whipped her head around and smiled sheepishly, "Well no, unless you think asking for some parchment to copy down notes about Replicating Charms is something worthwhile for sharing." She said, making Flitwick beam.
"No, of course not. Good for you Miss Edwards, five points for Gryffindor." He said before going back to the lesson.
"Please Mai." Kat whispered desperately, turning around again.
"Fine, do what you want, and if you can wake up that early. But please take the consideration of bringing Hestia or Lily with you so you don't disgrace yourself." She hissed back.
"And now, I want you to try Replicating your quills for now, and if you're successful we'll try something more difficult tomorrow," Flitwick said and hopped off his desk and headed towards Lily and Kat's spot.
"Miss Evans, Miss Edwards I would like to see you try the Replicating Charm."
Kat gulped since she hadn't pay attention throughout the entire lesson. Lily took her wand and after swishing the wand expertly, she had two perfect quills lying delicately side-by-side. "Excellent, ten points for Gryffindor, Miss Edwards how about you?"
"Sure, Umm…Replicato," Kat said after waving her arm around stupidly, but nothing happened.
"Not quite. Look at your wand; you haven't cleaned it at the end of last year as you were instructed. Just jab your wand lightly in the air and it should clean itself, then maybe your charm will work." Flitwick explained patiently.
Kat did as she was told, but her for some reason her wand just wouldn't work. "Rubbish!" she yelled making a few people look strangely at her as she jabbed the air with her wand angrily.
After a few more wand jabs, the wand finally cleaned itself, but then a spark emitted from its head and shot across the room. On it's flight, the spark managed to singe someone's hair before hitting a tapestry behind the person, and igniting it on fire. "Wieroxfosis!" Lily and Flitwick's voices cried and a fountain of water and mist protruded from both wands to calm the blaze.
The smoking head twisted around and Kat gasped when she saw it belonged to Sirius Black. His glare shot around the room before settling it intensely on her pale face, wand outstretched that was held in a shaking hand. His eyes narrowed and Kat quickly looked down on her parchment, which she did until class ended forty-five minutes later. When the bell rang, she jumped hurriedly out of her seat and walked hastily to Sirius and the rest of the Marauders, while Lily and Mai followed her.
"Sirius?" she asked timidly as she stopped right behind him.
He whipped around suddenly and bought his face close to hers. "What?" he growled menacingly.
Even James, Remus, and Peter looked taken back at this and wouldn't have been surprised if Kat hadn't just run out of the room.
"I wanted to apologize for accidentally singing your hair. I didn't mean to, my wand wasn't working with me and I tried to clean it and I don't know what happened. I promise it'll never happen again, and I'm really, really sorry," She blabbered desperately.
Perhaps if she had caught him in a better mood, when his state was… healthier, he might have grudgingly accepted her babbled and stuttered apology; but because Mr. Black was still in a situation of "serious" pain, he was not so tolerant.
"Sorry?! You nearly set my whole head on fire and all you can say is 'SORRY!'" He bellowed out, and caused Professor Flitwick who was still in the room, to topple over and fall out of sight. Hestia, who had been picking up extra pieces of parchment, dropped them and ran to help him back up. "You're a walking disaster. You're like one of those…those…Hurpicanes! In fact," Sirius stopped shouting for one second to grin, "I think I shall call you Hurpicane Kat from now on."
Kat had never cried a day in her life since her grandmother had passed away in Second Year. After she had sobbed stormily in their dormitory, she declared that she would go on with her life and cease to cry. She had since kept her word, but at this particular moment, she was as closest to tears a she'd ever be.
"Padfoot?"
"What is it Wormtail?"
"It's Hurricane."
"What?"
"It's Hurricane, not Hurpicane."
"Oh, thanks Wormtail." Sirius smiled, "Hurricane Kat, I like the sound of that, and it suits you just fine."
"You know Black, if it weren't for the fact that we have our first Quidditch match in a month and a half, I would give you another, much stronger kick." Mai snarled, threateningly squaring her shoulders.
Sirius just laughed at that, "You wouldn't dare to, Miss Little Prude Princess."
At that, Mai stepped forward, slapped him hard on the face, grabbed Kat's arm and led her furiously away, followed closely by Hestia who had finally found Professor Flitwick stuck between a pile of books.
During the fight, Lily had remained silent, but at the moment, she was fuming. Her eyes bulged out of her head, her cheeks were the same color as her hair, and James thought that even though she looked as if she was about to murder, and she never looked prettier.
"Padfoot," he said evenly, "Kat told you she was sorry."
"I don't care," said Sirius plainly.
"I can't believe this," Lily growled and fought the urge to jump on Sirius Black and kill him barehanded.
"Can't believe what Lily darling? That even though it now looks like I have split ends from the Hurricane, I am still dead sexy?" Now that Sirius had blown up at someone, he was in a pleasant mood.
"Keep dreaming, Black!" Lily shrieked and Professor Flitwick was once again lost himself in a pile of books, this time, Remus went to help him. Lily spun around started to head out of the classroom with her fists clenched in rage.
Before she managed to reach the door, Sirius called back after her, "Evans, I am the Dream!" Remus got the rest of the Marauders to leave the class before Sirius said anything that would make Professor Flitwick fall again. Once in the hall, the three Marauders chose to confront Sirius again.
"Padfoot what were you thinking?" cried Remus frustrated as he paced briskly down the hall.
"Moony, whatever do you mean?" Sirius asked huffily, half jogging to keep up.
"I mean that you began insulting Kat like that for no suitable reason. She didn't intentionally try to send sparks at you and she apologized!"
"But Moony, she always does brainless things like that!" whined Sirius, sounding very much like a child.
"No she doesn't, she only happens to do things like that when you're around because whenever she is in close proximity with you, she gets extremely tense."
"Huh?"
"She likes you, you git!" Peter piped up.
"Pffft… you didn't have to tell me that. Almost every girl in the school likes me."
"That's not the point. The point is, you were rude to her even after she apologized to you."
"So what do you fancy me to do Moony?"
"Apologizing would be a nice start."
"NO WAY!" Sirius yelled immediately, causing many first year students to jump out there pants, "I am not going to apologize to her, and especially not to Miss Prude Princess."
"Just because she nearly rendered you sterile," James offered jovially after silently listening to their argument for some time.
"Whose side are you on Prongs?"
"Theirs."
"But I thought you were my best friend."
"I am your best friend."
"Then why are you taking their side over mine?"
"Because best friends don't let their best friends do stupid things. I think you acted like a prat and I say you apologize to them."
"Oh well I don't care what you say, I'm not going to apologize to them and that's final."
"You're a hopeless case, Padfoot," James said blandly and continued to walk.
And with that, the subject was closed. It was only a few minutes later that James realized they were ten minutes late for Transfiguration.
That's all for now folks! Remember to be a Responsible Reader… REVIEW! Thanks muchly!