Chapter One - Friendship Trouble

Lily Evans had started her fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Almost since she had arrived, she had met her two best friends: Marlene McKinnon and Alice Grahams. They were all Gryffindors. Though the last four years had changed Lily's life entirely, nothing out of normal (by Wizarding standards) had happened to her.

Also, since her second year, she had met that annoying James Potter. He had had an instant crush on her and immediately had let her know. Ever since, she had been struggling to get him out of her way, without succeeding.

One day, Lily was writing a letter to her beloved sister, Petunia.

Dear Petty:
How are you? I'm having a hard time here at Hogwarts. Last week, one of my best friends, Marlene, got mad at me because I embarrassed her at class. I hadn't meant to. It all happened because the Charms Professor, Flitwick, had asked us for a memory so we could complete the lesson about Pensieves (that's a magical object in which you place the memories you want). I got mistaken and showed the class a memory in which Marlene was making Alice and me laugh our heads off. However, it was personal and now she won't talk to me.
I'm very confused. I hope this time you will answer my letters. My owl has specific instructions of getting to your school at midnight and dropping the letter on your bed, so none of your roommates will see it. I really expect your reply.
Until then, I'll ask for advice to my other friend, Alice.
Love, Lily.

Lily walked out of the Owlery. Why do I even bother, she asked herself. Petunia never even OPENS my letters.

She got to the Gryffindor Common Room, and after saying "Rumpelstinskin" to the Fat Lady, she entered it.

"Lily, I was waiting for you!"

At the comfortable-looking red couch was sitting her friend, Alice Grahams.

"Were you able to speak to her, Alice?" asked Lily in a worried voice.

"No. She wouldn't let me. She told me I was on your side, so I wasn't on hers. I tried to explain I wasn't taking sides at all, but she just walked out."

"This is going so bad! Why did I even have to show that stupid memory?" asked Lily about to cry.

"It was an accident. A stupid accident, though."

Lily was about to tell Alice she wasn't helping, but then she remembered she wasn't taking sides and was just being objective.

"What can I do, Alice?"

"You should do something that calls her attention," said Alice. "Something so notorious and so heart-getting, that she just remembers how much she loves you".

"Like what?" asked Lily. That seemed as a good idea.

"Listen. One of Slughorn's parties is this weekend and both of us are invited. As we're allowed to invite someone else over, I'll try to invite Marlene. Then, you should ask for a break and tell everyone how you're sorry and how much you love her. She's not gonna be able to resist that."

"That sound awesome, but, what if she doesn't want to go with you?"

"That could be a problem, but we won't know until we try." Alice was suddenly some kind of friendship expert.

"We could do it on Flitwick's class instead. There, I could also show all the good times we spent together on the Pensieve."

"That's a good idea too, but it's too simple. It might not work... Anyways, we have only one chance. We cannot waste it. It's your choice. If it doesn't work, you might never be friends with Marlene again. So, what do you choose?"

It was the morning before next Flitwick's class. Marlene was sitting. She was very depressed. She still loved Lily and Alice as friends but she felt betrayed.

She was taking her breakfast when a familiar fluttering sound made her raise her sight. Owl mail!

A light brown owl landed next to her. It was carrying a letter on its beak and a little bag on one of its paws. Marlene took them. As she opened the letter, her father's owl set its flight again.

The letter said:
Dear Marlene:
How is Hogwarts doing? I hope it's alright. In that little bag you shall find a little something I found while I made an inspection at the Department of Mysteries... well, I think I did. As I didn't find any abnormalities, I got my memory modified. It's a Ministry standard. However, I found this in my pocket later on. It doesn't seem harmful. I believe it belonged to some Unspeakable. If it had been a Mystery, I wouldn't have been able to carry it out. I know we don't see each other often, so keep it as something special from me to you.
Love,
Daddy

Marlene put the letter back on its envelope and pocketed it. Then, she opened the little bag and found an ancient coin. It had some weird scripts on it, and the image of who seemed to be Julius Caesar. She grinned at it and pocketed it as well.

Lily's maple eyes scanned Flitwick's room with anxiety. She was sure about what she had to do.

At last, Marlene arrived to the room. Lily's heart started beating fast. She was nervous, but still determined.

Flitwick arrived to class punctually. Before he could even start speaking, Lily stood up and walked towards him. She whispered something on his ear. When she had finished, Flitwick said, "Very well, Miss Evans, do it."

Flitwick sat on one of his piles of books and Lily cleared her throat.

"Well, hi everyone. As you may know well, the other day my friend, Marlene McKinnon and I had a fight". Marlene rose her head. "I really couldn't find another way to tell her I'm sorry." Marlene turned scarlet. "Otherwise, she wouldn't listen. Marlene: I'm really sorry I embarrased you the other day. It was an accident. I couldn't even think on doing such a mean thing to you. Not to my best friend."

Marlene felt like if she was falling to pieces.

"Marlene, I'm sorry. Could we be friends again?"

Marlene legs lifted her up automatically. She rushed to Lily's standing place, opened her arms and hugged her. Lily knew there was no need to use the Pensieve at all. They were reconciliated.

Somewhere in the back of the classroom, Sirius Black got a message from his friend James Potter.

Tonight we shall meet at the Hitting Tree to solve our friend's little furry problem. We'll finish the transformation. Today the moon is big.
James

When the class was over, James and Sirius exited the clasroom. They had decided to meet at midnight to finish their Animagi lessons at the Whomping Willow.

James saw Lily, Alice and Marlene walking and chatting animatedly together.

Then, both Sirius and James heard someone saying:

"Does she have it?"

"We shall find out at midnight."

Both Sirius and James turned to look, but there was nobody. He had gone.

They shared glances. They could go and investigate who they were talking about and what they were trying to get. It seemed like fun, but that would mean missing the last Animagi meeting. What would they do?