Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 for all disclaimers
Chapter 6
"JAMES ANTHONY POTTER! How dare you? How dare you?" Lily didn't appear to notice that James towered over her and could probably knock her out with one punch. Her fury was so complete that she didn't even have her wand. Luckily for her, neither did he.
James was very confused. Lily Evans had just run up to him – looking practically edible, but that was beside the point – yelling incomprehensibly and jabbing him in the chest. If she would just say what he'd done then he could talk himself out of it and all would be right with the world. But Noooooooo, that would be too simple. And, even worse, she was starting to draw a crowd. James had a very vulnerable ego – what was left of it, anyway, after all of their fights – and this could just damage it beyond repair.
Lily's temper finally diffused enough to help her regain the ability of speaking so that the listener could actually understand what she was saying. ""It was bad enough when you were stealing my underwear and I had to nick it back from under your pillow," James paled and all the listeners snickered, "but my nightwear? For Merlin's sake Potter, I thought you had at least a little bit of sense? NOW" Lily had returned to bellowing. She seemed to have decided this would make James tell her quickest. "WHERE THE HELL ARE MY CLOTHES! I AM ABSO-BLOODY-LUTELY FED UP OF THIS! JUST GIVE ME THE NIGHTIE OR AT LEAST TELL ME WHERE IT IS, OR YOU WILL REGRET IT!"
At this point Sirius Black ran round the corner. It must be said at this point that Sirius wasn't really paying attention to anyone but James. That was one of the biggest mistakes he ever made. "Oy, Jamsie-boy, look what I've got." Dangling from his hand was Lily missing nightdress.
But, unfortunately for Lily, she had found the wrong one missing. This one was one she'd been given by a bizarre aunt of hers and which had been owled to school – what kind of aunt gives their 17-year-old niece what can only be described as a Thomas the Tank Engine nightshirt for her birthday? – and forgotten to Owl home. This was not good.
The rather large crowd watching – which Sirius and Lily had just noticed – all snickered for two reasons. One, that nightshirt was really ridiculous, and two, Sirius was going to suffer. Lily was infamous for her temper, and Sirius was an infamous prankster who Lily'd never really liked. James shrank into the crowd. Whoever it was up there that did this to him, he was eternally grateful. He spotted his date for the evening and hurried to the Great Hall with her. He wasn't getting hit by any stray curses this time. Nuh-uh.
Lily turned to Sirius and growled, "You". Sirius swallowed heavily. This wasn't good. "I'm … going … to … KILL YOU!" This was really, really not good. "COME HERE!" Now was the time to run.
Sirius dropped the nightshirt and ran for his life. So much for Gryffindor being the house of bravery. All the more thankful that his date was a Hufflepuff, he legged it to their Common Room. Picking up his brunette date took less time than he thought and they got to the Great Hall in record time.
It took Lily about three seconds after Sirius ran to realise what she'd done. Getting into the nearest girls bathroom didn't take long. Luckily for her, she hadn't messed up any of her hair or make-up. Taking a deep breath, Lily went out into the hallway and headed towards where she was meeting Sev. At least she had a date, she thought, as she passed the statue of the one-eyed witch. That thing had always fascinated her.
Sev (sooooooo much quicker to write than Severus) was anxious. Lily was supposed to meet him five minutes ago and she was usually so punctual. He really hoped this wasn't just some really elaborate practical joke. That would RUIN him. Before he could think any more Lily came round the corner looking stunning. His jaw dropped, but he didn't notice until Lily poked it back up again. "You'll get flies if you leave it open," she smiled.
They entered the hall and their breaths caught in their throats. It was beautiful.