A/N: I changed the Muggleborn to Ted Tonks those of you who read this before I changed it. Ia also added Andromeda Black, b/c I imagine her to be in the Marauder's grade, while Bellatrix is a year ahead, and Narcissa is one year ahead.
EXPLAINING: Those first few chapters were to introduce the characters, but now, Lily and James are on their first day back from the summer, in their fifth year. I'm going to be writing this fic up to the end of the seventh year, then maybe an epilogue w/ baby Harry. Read and review please- it really does encourage me to write more. PhoenixPlume
Thanks for the reviews, MissChievousHP, Blink182rox, sumrandumperson, Aevum, Fiddlegirl, Firefly Phoenix, guy()! Y'all made me want to write sooner!
Ch. 3 Four Years Later
Sun streaked through the windows of the fifth year Gryffindor girls' dorm, but one red bedhead burrowed further into her pillow. Then, she heard someone groan, and climb out of bed. Lily suspected the person was Alice, who was the earliest riser in their dorm. Lily covered her head to keep from hearing the unwelcome noise of the turning on of the shower faucet. She heard another girl, straggle out of bed. 'Must be Marlene. She always tries to hog the other shower."
According to Lily's mind, it was only a few minutes later, when she felt Emmeline, her morning alarm, shaking her to get up. "One more minute," grumbled Lily, who loved her sleep dearly. "There's only 15 minutes until breakfast!" shouted Emmeline, who had the uncanny talent to talk, pardon me, SHOUT, into Lily's ear.
"I'm getting up, k? I don't have to rise at the crack of dawn like you because, unlike you, I took a shower last night," said Lily grouchily.
"Yes, but you know you have to wash your face in the morning. And you have to do your hair. And you have to get dressed and put on makeup. Remember last year; how we didn't get you up in time to do your hair and makeup all pretty? You got MAD, Lils. So RISE AND SHINE!"
"Okay, okay," relented Lily, and dragged herself groggily out of her warm, soft bed. She noticed that all the others had gotten up, and were somewhere along the way in their morning rituals. Lily sighed, and went into the bathroom to wash her face.
Much the same thing was happening in the boy's dorm. James, who was the epitome of the term "morning person," was already dressed and ready to go. As usual, he dumped water on Sirius and blew in Peter's ear (who promptly sat up). Frank and Remus always got up as soon as they heard James start his shower. Unfortunately, that meant they could hear James' atrocious voice making a distorted noise he claimed was music. But they both knew better than to believe that.
Sirius, much like Lily, was not a morning person. He slept through everything, except water. It had taken a long time for James to discover this, but when he had in 2nd year, it had proven a reliable method ever since.
The Great Hall was rowdy and full of wandering students, because everyone wanted to catch up with their friends about their summers. Lily, Alice, and Emmeline, who had remained friends since their first year, sat down at the Gryffindor table, and began discussing their classes.
"What's up first today?" asked Lily, in between sips of orange juice.
"Transfiguration," replied Alice, who seemed to be searching for someone.
"Are you looking for someone, Alice?" asked Emmeline slyly.
"What? Maybe," said Alice with a mischievous smile.
"Why are you looking at the Ravenclaw table?" asked Lily.
"I bet she's looking at a certain Frank Longbottom, who is sitting with his Ravenclaw friends," replied Emmeline, laughing as Alice blushed.
"Well, he's just so nice! And smart," added Alice, "He even offered to help me in Charms."
"That is so obvious, Alice. Like you need tutorials from him when one of your best friends," Emmeline jerked her head toward Lily, "is the best in our year in Charms."
"I think Alice is trying to charm Frank," commented Lily teasingly.
Everyone always noticed when James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter entered the Great Hall. They usually were arguing or laughing loudly- or else they were walking in with devious expressions on their faces. Then not only did everyone notice; they were wary of anything they touched that day.
The Marauders walked towards the Gryffindor table, all-too-aware of the attention being showered upon them by the female population. James, with his trademark, conceited grin, sat down next to Marlene McKinnon, who he had decided seemed sufficiently enamored by him that bright morning. Starstruck, Marlene said, "Good morning, James. How was your summer?"
"I got to see England play Italy. How was yours?" replied James suavely.
"Pretty good. Nothing so interesting as yours. But my real worry is- I'm not exactly ready for Transfiguration, which is first today," she said, sighing heavily in defeat.
"Oh, well, I can help you! Transfiguration is my best subject. I'm the best in our year," he added arrogantly, as he ran his hand through his hair.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Marauders, who had sat next to James, were shoveling food in their mouths like there was no tomorrow. "Transfigewason fuss peerwod," announced Sirius, through a mouth of food.
"Black," said Lily crisply, who was nearby ('unfortunately,' she thought to herself) "The rest of the student body doesn't want to see what's behind your esophagus."
"Whah?" asked Sirius, unaware of what she meant.
"Fine. I'll say it in smaller words that you can understand. DON'T TALK WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL! IT'S DISGUSTING!"
Remus smiled at her wryly, "Thanks for saying what the rest of us wanted to say, Lily." Remus was the only Marauder Lily and her friends was actually on first name basis with.
"HEY!" sputtered Sirius. "I'm not as bad as Peter!" The said person's ears grew red.
Emmeline rolled her eyes, and turned to Lily and Alice. "This is why I don't want a boyfriend, ALICE!" Alice had gone back to searching for Frank.
"Oh, sorry," stammered Alice.
Lily helped her out with, "We'd better start walking over to Transfiguration. It starts in about ten minutes." She got up, and the others, nodding, followed.
Seeing Lily, his favorite target of pranks, James decided to start walking to Transfiguration also, with promises to Marlene to meet her later, with what he called his "charming" smile- which quickly morphed into a devilish smirk.
"GOOD MORNING, EVANS!" he shouted out jovially, purposefully "accidentally" colliding into "Evans."
As the whole school looked on, Lily, not at all non-plused, merely replied sarcastically, "Wotcher, Potter. Wouldn't want you to break something, since you seem so apt at knocking yourself into me." At which, the school tittered.
"I just knew you wouldn't want to miss any physical contact with me, Evans," responded James smoothly, his mouth curling into an exasperating grin. Every boy in the Great Hall started doubling over with laughter at the idea of Lily wanting any contact at all with James. It was a well known fact that disaster ensued every time the two came within speaking distance.
"Oh, silly me! That must be it! Wouldn't want to miss nearly falling flat on my face THIS YEAR!" Lily answered back, her green eyes standing out like emeralds in the fair background of her face.
"You wouldn't fall, well, except for me, of course," triumphed James. This remark also gained him some guffaws from boys, especially the Marauders, who were applauding (except for Remus who knew better than to get on Lily's bad side).
"You may not have noticed this, Potter, because your tiny brain probably rolls around in that swollen head of yours, but- YOU'RE ALMOST A FOOT TALLER THAN I AM! So don't go swaggering into me again. Or you'll find that you're head is going to be deflated faster than you can say 'Crikey.'"
"Getting a little angry are we, Evans?" taunted James, to which Lily, simply said, "Oh, so you noticed that you don't exactly improve my mood, Potter? Congratulations!" and walked off, with her friends running after her, hoping to cool her temper down before class started.
"Today, we will be beginning turning fairly large, inanimate objects," she gestured toward the chairs standing all over the classroom, "into complicated animals, like so. You say the spell, 'Morphium Animalium,' keeping in mind what animal you wish your object to be transfigured into. Try it," Professor McGonagall explained, returning to her desk, but occasionally looking up to see how the students were doing.
True to his words, James was very good at Transfiguration, and was the first to turn his chair into an animal- which in his case was a stag, for some reason. "Show off," muttered Lily under her breath. James smiled patronizingly at her, which he knew would get a rise out of her after all the things he had said to her that day. He was disappointed when she soon turned her chair into an animal also, only hers was a tiger. She then triumphantly said to him, "Tigers eat stags for food."
Not about to be beaten by Lily, James deftly transfigured her tiger into a kitten, which was easier since it had been a tiger before. Lily, who was still quite irritated about what had happened in the Great Hall, turned his stag into a mouse, although she wasn't quite as swift as James had been.
Professor McGonagall, who had been looking on as the two skillfully transfigured their first animals, was seething with fury when she realized, along with the rest of the class, what her two best students were doing. "Mr. Potter! Miss Evans! I have never seen such reckless loss-of-control! Detentions for both of you! TWO, if I see you do ANY more of this nonsense. See me after class."
Lily dazedly replied, "Yes ma'am," feeling quite disgraced. This was her second detention she had ever received all her time at Hogwarts. The other time, she recalled, had also involved Potter. How she despised him- and his gargantuan ego. The really infuriating thing was that all the other girls, excluding herself, Alice, and Emmeline, were drooling at his every glance and word.
James, on the other hand, was quite used to detention, and said, "Quite right, Professor," edging on the side of disrespect. Then he whispered to Lily, "Aren't you thrilled, Evans? More time you get to spend with yours truly."
"Stuff it, Potter," hissed Lily stoically.
"Don't pay attention to him, Lily. You know all he wants is for you to react," said Alice soothingly, while Lily gave James her deathly glare, which even he seemed a bit fazed by, as he suddenly turned towards Remus, who just shook his head.
After James and Lily had received a sound lecture and information on where to report to detention from Professor McGonagall, Lily and James walked in opposite directions (purposefully on Lily's part) with their waiting friends.
"You shouldn't get her so mad, you know, James," Remus reprimanded.
"It's a jolly good time, though," beamed James, like he had just had the best time of his life. "No one has such biting comebacks and flashing eyes. She's my challenge every day- gets my blood pumping."
"She's your death wish," said Sirius deeply. "I've seen her jinx Bellatrix, and it's not a pretty sight."
"And we all know what Bellatrix is like," added Remus darkly.
"She can actually take on Bellatrix?" asked Peter incredulously, as he was still trying to transfigure his chair. Alas, he was not succeeding.
"I wouldn't burn bridges, James," warned Remus, "You never know when you might actually want to be on good terms with Lily."
"Ha! Why would I need to be on good terms with her?" asked James with an amused expression.
"In case you haven't noticed, Jamesie, what the rest of the male population has- Lily Evans is absolutely, drop-dead gorgeous. You seem to be attracted to her as it is."
"BECAUSE SHE'S FUN TO ANNOY!" rebutted James. "She's not bad," he added more lightly. "Her hair looks like it's on fire though."
"That is so first year, James," responded Sirius, with his bark-like laugh.
"Where we going next, Remus?" asked Peter nervously.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts," said Remus, "And we're going the wrong way."
The boys turned hurriedly back in the direction Lily, Alice, and Emmeline had taken earlier.
The rest of the morning flew by, and before they knew it, it was lunchtime. Lily, Alice, and Emmeline ate quickly, since they were going to the library to read. And, in Lily's mind, hopefully escape James.
"You know, Lily," suggested Alice, "Maybe you should try ignoring him one day- like tonight for example- in detention."
"That might make him stop bugging you," agreed Emmeline. "I wonder why he likes to bother you so much…"
"You're right. I just can't deal with not getting the last word, I guess," smiled Lily. "He's such a prat."
They entered the library, and walked towards some couches in the back where they could rest comfortably while reading. It was too late when they realized some of their least favorite people were sitting there: the Slytherins. Slytherins, not usually very social, often came to the library to read and study during lunch. But the three Gryffindor girls had forgotten.
"Well, look whose here," drawled a black-haired girl with icy-blue eyes, thickly fringed with black lashes to match. "The two Mud-bloods and our most celebrated Mud-blood lover."
"Shut your trap, Bellatrix," responded Emmeline coldly, straightening her majestic frame in defiance to the slighting word "Mud-blood"- the most insulting term one could call a muggle-born witch or wizard.
"Make me," replied Bellatrix in a baby voice.
"They're not even worth speaking to, Trixie," said a tall, harsh-looking Slytherin boy, named Rodolphus Lestrange.
"Oh- that's why you're talking to us, and in front of us," said Lily, tapping her head as if making fun of their lack of thought. "The mere acquiescence of our existence shows that you consider us equals. The only reason you really insult us is because you feel the need to belittle someone to feel yourself sufficient."
"You better shut up, Evans, or you'll realize just how much we hate your kind," responded an angry Lestrange.
"Oh, I think we'll survive," Lily hissed, "Let's go, girls. I really want to do something that's actually worthwhile during my free time."
"And if you ever, EVER, call my friends Mud-bloods again, you unworthy pieces of dung, you will be sorry you ever opened your mouths," warned Alice, who hardly ever got mad. The Slytherins were so aghast that sweet, inperturbable Alice had just threatened them. The girls turned, and went to the other side of the library, "I can't believe what you just did to those two over there, Alice," Lily said, astonished.
"If they ever do that again, they're the ones who're not going to believe what I'm going to do," replied Alice firmly.
"That's the first time I've ever seen anyone make a Slytherin shut their trap," breathed Emmeline. "Oh, great. Just what we don't need- Fathead is studying with our roommate over on our sofa there."
"Ugh," Lily let out in frustration, "Why does my first day back at school have to stink so much?"
After dinner, during which James had felt he had to remind "Evans" of their detention together, the exhausted fifth year Gryffindors trudged towards the portrait of the Fat Lady. After muttering the password (Flitterbloom), they all sat down resignedly to do a backload of homework.
"I have so much to do!" complained Lily to Emmeline. "And detention! Thanks to bloody Potter!"
"Relax, Lily. We have an essay in Transfiguration- which won't be hard for you, since you've mastered the spell, from the display you and Potter put on today, and an essay in Defense against the Dark Arts. What else can you have?"
"I have to read about Celtic runes in Ancient Runes, and- that's it."
"Lily! That's not that bad. Calm down," said Alice steadily.
"Oy! Evans! If you need any help with Transfiguration, you know I'm the most proficient on the subject and am willing to give you a little time," said James conceitedly, running his hand through his hair. Something that annoyed Lily more than a little.
"James is quite a good teacher," chirruped Marlene sycophantically.
"I'm sure," Lily said sarcastically, "But I'm doing just fine in Transfiguration."
"Well, you got detention today," jumped in Sirius, his brown eyes twinkling mischievously.
"I'm not in the mood, Black," dismissed Lily shortly.
"Is someone having a bad day?" entreated Sirius in an "awww, poor baby" voice, as he put his arm around her.
This seemed to have gotten James' attention. "Lay off, Sirius. Your arm isn't making her any better. And I need her to be in fine form tonight," he added.
Remus, who was scribbling furiously at his Defense essay, looked up and he and Sirius exchanged knowing looks. Remus coughed something that sounded suspiciously like, "burning bridges…"
Emmeline fiercely removed Sirius' heavy arm, which was quite muscular because of his position as beater on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
"Ouch," Sirius flinched as she flung his arm off of Lily, "It's not like I was harming her. I was trying to make her feel better," he sniffed, although he really had wanted to see what James' reaction would be. It was his personal opinion that James was in denial about having a thing for Lily, although Lily obviously couldn't stand him.
"You weren't doing a very good job," retorted Emmeline.
Slowly, the Gryffindor common room drained of students, until Lily's and James' friends bid them farewell and good luck in detention. Lily stood up, stretching her weary limbs. She glanced back at James, whose eyes she felt boring into her neck. "Stop trying to bore a hole through my neck," she snapped.
"Oh, sorry," he muttered hastily, for the first time she had ever seen him, truly embarrassed. "Let's go, Filch will penalize us more if we're late," sighed James, standing up agilely.
The two Gryffindors traipsed along toward Filch's office, one dreading the detention more than the other.
When they got there, Filch was tapping his foot impatiently, and a nasty sneer appeared on his face when he saw the two adolescents walking in his direction. "Here, are you, you delinquents?" Lily was strongly reminded of what Petunia told her (Petunia's) friends back at home about her (Lily.) Petunia had told all of them that she went to a school for junior delinquents, and her friends were dense enough to believe what she said.
"Well, come on then, you'll be polishing the medals and awards in the Trophy Room," he informed them happily, "Without magic." He didn't see James smile in the shadows at a looming object fluttering in the air in the distance.
Just then, there was a loud "bang," and cackle, and Filch began running at a break neck speed toward "PEEVES! I'LL GET YOU THIS TIME, PEEVES!" He turned toward the two students for a split-second, "Go on, and polish the trophies, I'll examine them to see if they're spotless. The polish and cloths are there already." With that, Filch ran after Peeves, shaking his fist in fury.
"Well, that was odd," commented Lily. "Maybe now, we can just do it by magic."
"My exact thoughts, Evans," agreed Potter. "But we'll have to stay for at least 30 minutes to look like we've worked."
"Right," acquiesced Lily, and strode resolutely toward the Trophy Room.
They quickly gave the trophies a much-needed polish, and sat down: they were both quite tired from their first day back.
"I guess this is your second detention ever? Right?" asked James, smiling amusedly at Lily's annoyed expression.
"And I have you to thank for both of them, Potter. I can't believe I'm having a detention on my first day back at school," she responded miserably.
"Yeah, it's got to be a record, Miss Perfect," James said sarcastically.
"I don't even want to think about it. So just bug off. You've made this day bad enough, Potter."
"Wow. I'm honored that I hold so much sway over how your day goes, Evans," remarked James, his eyes gleaming.
"Don't be so ego-centric, Potter. You weren't the only contributor to this unfathomable terrible day."
"Who else was there?" asked James, actually quite curious.
"Why should you care? It's not like you're my friend or anything," she replied tartly.
"I- because there's nothing else to talk about- and we're stuck here," he responded triumphantly.
"The Slytherins decided to—" Lily began.
"Be their usual, wonderful selves?" completed James knowingly.
"Yeah- you could say that. Well, Filch isn't back yet, and I'm tired. So let's just go," suggested Lily tiredly.
"Sure. But before we go, we need to take a little of the polish, and" he wiped it onto an old, ugly handkerchief that looked like its key purpose to existence was to serve as what James had just used it for, "put a little polish on both the rags. There," he said, rubbing his hands together.
"Okay—" said a surprised Lily, "Good idea. Let's go."
They turned off the light, and returned to the common room, where the fire was down to its last embers. Each went up the stairs to his or her dormitory and fell into bed, utterly spent. It had been a most demanding day.