Thanks for all the encouraging reviews! Here it is--edited! (does the happy dance) Let me know how it is!
Ch. 5 And a Second Time
James stretched, his joints cracking- he hadn't gotten much sleep last night, due to the Marauders' excitement at their successful transformations. Then he remembered. Today was the Quidditch game. The Quidditch game that Dumbledore had scheduled on a Monday. The only Quidditch game ever on a Monday. Dumbledore had said that the students needed some fun after all the studying they had done for the past month and a half. James put on his glasses, and checked his watch. He needed to get into the shower. He crawled out of bed, humming loudly out of tune. Remus cringed, "James," he said hoarsely, "Must you hum? It's loud and some of us aren't ready to get up just yet."
"We were only going to sleep for a few more minutes, James," protested Frank sleepily.
"Well, now you all will get a head start on your shower," called back James cheerfully, who had already entered the bathroom.
"He's way too cheerful at this hour in the morning," Remus remarked gruffly.
"One of these days, we should get up extra early, and wake him up," responded Frank. "It'd be good for him to see how it feels."
"Good idea," agreed Remus, smiling for the first time that morning.
"Mmmm?" grunted Lily sleepily, digging her head deeper into her pillow.
"LILY!" shouted Emmeline. "It's time to—"
"Don't even say it," groaned Lily.
"Well, get up," ordered Emmeline. "Alice, Marlene, Dorcas, and I have been up for fifteen minutes already."
"Y'all are unnatural," muttered Lily darkly, rubbing her eyes irritably.
"You'll look unnatural if you don't get up," Alice called back to Lily, over-hearing the "unnatural" remark.
"Oh, bug off," replied Lily, falling out of bed with a "thump," all of her covers twisted around her long legs.
Emmeline surveyed the comical image and chortled amusedly, "You look ridiculous, Lily. Come on," she offered her hand to Lily to help her up. Lily pulled her down too.
"Hehe," giggled Lily, "That's what you get for waking me up."
"What's up first, Lily?" asked Alice, as she reached for a scone.
"Potions," replied Lily brightly.
"Looking forward to outshining us all once again?" laughed Alice, nudging her friend, "Slughorn will be pleased to see you again."
"It's funny how he reacted when I told him I'm a Muggleborn," responded Lily.
Alice, in imitation of the professor, said, "A few good eggs in your lot. Gets me every time. Thought you were Pureblood for sure, Miss Evans."
"No—no!" volunteered Emmeline. "What I'll never forget is how jealous that slimy Snape was when Sluggy told you your potion was the best in the class."
"The git's probably still sore over it," agreed Alice.
"Silly thing to be sore about, really," Lily said lightly, as she noticed a shadow straying over her place.
"You can always reduce him to what I've always suspected he's really made of, grease and dirt. It's just a matter of chemistry." suggested Emmeline, who disliked Snape immensely because of the way he treated Muggleborns such as herself and Lily.
Alice wrinkled her brows in confusion, while Lily smiled in understanding. "Chemistry?"
"Chemistry with Snivellus? I think I've lost my appetite," interrupted James, who had been hovering nearby listening to the girls' breakfast conversation. He possessively put his arm around Lily, who quickly tried to shake it off.
"It's a subject in Muggle school, Potter," replied Lily irritably, not appreciating Potter's arm a least bit. She rectified the situation by completely removeing the offending arm from around her shoulders.
"Maybe you should tutor me in this chemistry class, Evans," James suggested suggestively. "'Cause we definitely got some chemistry going on." Lily narrowed her eyes at him, her lips pressed together.
"Better watch out, Potter," suggested Emmeline warningly, seeing Lily's displeasure. "As it is, she woke up on the wrong side of the bed. You're ego isn't tranquilizing her."
"I think my ego is seductive," James replied, grinning cockily. "I'll catch you later, Evans." He winked and joined the other Marauders.
"Wow. That was the least we've ever done to make him go away," commented Alice skeptically. "I wonder what he's up to."
"No good," answered Emmeline, a wry smile appearing on her face.
"He's an arse," stated Lily. "Maybe we should reduce him to what he's made of—one swollen ego and indestructable stomach."
The girls laughed as they got up and made their way to the Potions classroom.
Professor Slughorn was best described as short and round. He loved a fine meal, and valued even finer company. Ever since he had come to Hogwarts to teach (it was his alma mater), he had taken a great interest in students he thought would one day reach the top. Although head of Slytherin house, he was not particularly prejudiced and claimed a wide variety of students from different houses for his own special members of what the students fondly or jealously referred to as "Sluggy's Club." Slughorn favored the students connected to the well-known, as well as the students especially capable and talented at academics (namely, his own subject) and Quidditch, or the unusually charming. Therefore, when he had met Lily Evans, he had discovered that Lily not only was a very talented witch, but she was also very witty and charming. Her quick wit and intelligence made her a natural teacher's pet in Potions.
"Today we'll be making Pepper-Up potion—something I thought would be useful to you fifth years, considering the fact that your O.W.L.'s are coming up soon. Can anyone tell me what Pepper-Up potion does?"
Lily's, Remus', and Snape's hands shot up. "Yes, Miss Evans?" asked Professor Slughorn, with an encouraging smile.
"It increases your alertness and energy, and also cures the common cold."
"Good. Ten points to Gryffindor." Severus Snape could be seen grinding his teeth and nastily sneering at Lily. James, eyeing the "slimeball" in disgust, turned to Remus. Not usually very adept at Potions, James was surprised that Remus knew what Pepper-Up potion was.
He asked, "How did you know that, Moony? Pepper-Up potion isn't even in the book." Lily, hearing Potter's question, grew curious and she slightly turned her head to listen.
"I live by the stuff," responded Remus, "You know, with my condition."
"Oh right," replied Sirius, also listening in, as if a light-bulb had gone off in his head (which it would have had he known what a light-bulb is).
"What condition?" hissed a greasy-haired boy, with a sallow complexion.
"Keep your oily nose out of other people's business, Snivellus," sneered James, recalling to Lily's mind a carnivorous animal that had sensed its prey. She didn't like Snape any more than the next person, but she didn't need glasses to see that he wasn't as privileged as James was, and hadn't grown up among the kind of people who would influence him to be a better person. But she realized that she needed to stop listening and pay attention because Professor Slughorn was giving instructions, and potions was a class Lily knew she needed to do well in order to be an auror. She knew because she had done the research.
What Lily didn't hear was, "Make me, Potter," from the sallow boy.
"You know we will," growled Sirius menacingly.
"Meet me after Potions then," challenged the boy, his lip curling antagonistically.
"Make sure you show," snarled James fiercely.
"Potter! Black! Snape! Get to work on your potion!" ordered Professor Slughorn briskly.
"You two go on to the library," Lily told her friends. "I need to ask Professor Slughorn a question.
"We don't mind waiting, Lily," responded Alice loyally.
"Nah- I'll be fine. You two need to finish your Care of Magical Creatures reading before the class, which is today," smiled Lily, knowing her two friends weren't nearly as high-strung about getting homework done the day before as she was.
"Okay," agreed Emmeline grudgingly. "See you in a few minutes, Lils."
"I'll be there," replied Lily, as her two friends headed towards the library. She went up to Professor Slughorn and asked, "Do you think I could have some extra of the Armadillo bile? It's not in the student potion ingredients storage room."
Professor Slughorn beamed at her, "Of course, Miss Evans. I'm so glad you want to make your own potions."
"I thought it would be good practice for my future career." Lily explained.
"What is it you want to do?" Professor Slughorn inquired with interest. "An intelligent witch like yourself could go far."
"I want to be an Auror."
"Ah, yes, I see. Let me go get it." A few minutes later, the professor returned, and handed Lily a cloth bag with the desired ingredient enclosed.
"Pepper-up Potion is a good place to start if you want to be an Auror. You do know why, do you not, Miss Evans?"
"Aurors need to know healing potions, and Pepper-Up makes the user more alert. So if I were to be tired when on a mission, Pepper-Up could save my life."
"Well said," Slughorn beamed approvingly. "If you need any advice on other potions to practice brewing on your own, you need only ask."
"Thank you professor," replied Lily gratefully, although in her mind, Lily knew she would do her best to get other ingredients from the student supply and other classmates, so as not to arouse more jealousy from people like Snape.
"Any time," replied Slughorn kindly.
As Lily started down the corridor and turned, she heard some banging and shouting.
"TARANTELLEGRA!" Lily swiveled around, and to her horror, she saw Severus Snape doing a crazy dance, but not as if he were enjoying it. She saw that he was mouthing a spell, with his wand pointed wildly at "POTTER! I DON'T BELIEVE YOU! LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Lily commanded, not at all amused by this display of violence.
The two dueling boys paid no attention. Snape yelled, "RICTUSEMPRA!" causing James to go into convulsive laughter and squirming. Lily glared at both, as she pointed her wand at James, and said, "Finite Incantem." Then she pointed at Snape and ended his dance.
"You two should be ashamed of yourselves!" Lily began, but she didn't get to finish because Narcissa Black, a fourth year, and her horrible boyfriend, Lucius Malfoy, hexed her with the stunning curse from behind her back, before she realized they were there.
Before Narcissa and Lucius had arrived, Sirius, Remus, and Peter had stood honorably aside as James and Snape dueled, although Sirius had needed to be restrained by both Remus and Peter to keep him from joining the fight. But after Lily had been stunned unfairly, they jumped into the fray, with the exception of Peter, who was slowly backing away. Remus first ennervated Lily, who was forced to recover quickly when Narcissa began attacking her.
"Incarcerous!" Lily commanded at Narcissa, thick ropes entwining the blonde witch's body, causing her to trip, and fall flat on her face. Unfortunately for Narcissa, one seemed to notice. Lily stared as the others continued to fight.
"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" James shouted at Malfoy, enraged that anyone would harm Lily, especially while her back was turned and she wasn't even fighting.
Sirius, meanwhile, had been fighting Snape, whom he had promptly banished. Snape was now sprinting furiously back to Sirius, a murderous glint in his cold, black eyes. "Serpensortia!" Everyone suddenly stopped what they were doing, frozen in fear by the gigantic snake. To their surprise, Lily alone didn't lose her head, and forcefully said the incantation, "Evanesco!" The serpent disappeared. They were turning back to their opponent when: "I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A FLAGRANT DISREGARD FOR THE RULES!" exclaimed Professor McGonagall, with Professor Slughorn standing next to her with disapproval written all over his face also.
"To Professor Dumbledore's office. Immediately," Professor McGonagall finished icily, furious at the offending students.
The eight students trekked after the two teachers, each with different expressions on his or her faces. Lily felt like someone at the peak of a mountain who was sliding down, uncontrollably. She glanced over at the others. Remus looked angry, but in his quiet, un-showy way. Peter looked scared. Sirius looked wild and defiant. James was frowning, and looking like he had just missed out on something he enjoyed. She snorted at his expression. Always so juvenile. Did he not realize what the consequences could be? Or maybe he thought nothing could happen to him. Snape's lip was curled nastily, and Narcissa's visage held a detached expression, as if this mayhem had nothing to do with her. Lucius was sneering coldly in the Marauders' and Lily's direction, mouthing "Mud-blood," at Lily. Lily simply held her head high and continued to follow the professors, who were now leading the disgraced students to a gargoyle that leaped aside, revealing a door. The group stepped onto an ascending, spiraling staircase that brought them to another door, presumably to the headmaster's office. Professor Slughorn knocked, and a voice said, "Come in."
They entered a beautiful round room that contained many curious and rather random intruments. But the most noticeable of these was a majestic phoenix, singing a melodious song, that stopped when Professor Dumbledore said, "Well; five fifth year Gryffindors, two fourth year Slytherins, and one fifth year Slytherin. Would you like to explain, Minerva, what it is they are here for?" He looked somewhat amused at the mussed up crowd of students, who weren't looking their prime after the brawl.
"I found these students dueling outside the dungeons," she replied lividly. "She," she pointed at Narcissa, "Was bound with ropes. And the others were all looking on as Miss Evans vanished a huge serpent that Mr. Snape conjured."
"Miss Evans, would you care to fill us in on what occurred?" questioned Professor Dumbledore, his blue eyes twinkling in spite of the situation.
"Well, Professor," began Lily, trying to convey how she had felt at the precise moment she had tied up Narcissa, adequately, "I saw Potter and Snape dueling in the hallway. So, I told them to stop, but they didn't of course, as you can probably tell…But anyways, I used "finite incantem" and made them stop, when suddenly, I was unconscious. I don't know what happened while I was unconscious, but when Remus revived me, I had to start protecting myself against Narcissa, so I used 'incarcerous' on her. The others were still fighting, when Snape conjured a snake, which made everyone freak out. So, I vanished it. And then, you know the rest."
"I see," Dumbledore said coolly, "And why were you, Mr. Potter and Mr. Snape, dueling in the corridor?
"Potter provoked me, Professor," replied Snape unemotionally.
"Sni- Snape also provoked me," answered James defensively.
"I'm sure you provoked each other," was Dumbledore's reply, as his mouth curved into a small smile at the two boys' responses. "I would also like to know who stunned Miss Evans, and why."
"Malfoy! The slimy coward stunned Ev- Lily from behind!" Sirius exclaimed angrily. "And all she had been trying to do was stop the fighting!"
"I see. What do you have to say for yourself, Mr. Malfoy?" asked Dumbledore, with all amusement drained from his voice.
"I didn't know she wasn't fighting. All I saw was one Slytherin surrounded by five Gryffindors."
"That will do," ended Dumbledore. "You will all receive two weeks of detention each, with the exception of Miss Evans, and have thirty points taken from your houses. Please go to wherever you are supposed to be."
"Excuse me, Professor Dumbledore. But more of them were fighting than us," Narcissa said in a saccharin voice, the sweetness of which did not reach her cold, blue eyes.
"Miss Black! The headmaster has his reasons! Who are you to question him?" rebuked McGonagall, who felt she needed to step in at such insolence.
"No, let me explain to Miss Black. It is a perfectly valid question," Dumbledore to Narcissa, "Mr. Malfoy did an extremely dishonorable thing by stunning Miss Evans from behind, and only four of the Gryffindors were actually fighting out of choice."
"Oh," Narcissa said, failing to look sweet at all, as she narrowed her eyes in Lily's direction.
"I believe that it's time for lunch," added Dumbledore as the students departed the headmaster's office.
"Ugh! I can't believe I just wasted a whole period on the Slytherins!" Lily said to the Marauders as they made their way towards the Great Hall. "And it's all your fault, Potter!"
"What? My fault?" asked James, "It was Snivelly's fault for being such a slimeball and having the nerve to duel me! I'm the best at Defense against the Dark Arts in our year!"
"Oh, really?" asked Lily, her green eyes glinting dangerously, "You're just so brilliant and talented, Potter, that you think you're unbeatable?"
"I know I'm unbeatable, Evans," replied James, an arrogant grin plastered on his face, "As you shall see for yourself after the game today."
"I'm not so sure if I'm going to the game," hissed Lily, "Because I don't think I want to have to see your swollen head give you a concussion when your broom can't support the weight of it." Lily stalked off, furious that Potter was so careless of what his actions could bring about. Today was a prime example. She was so absorbed in her silent rants against James that she nearly collided into Alice.
"Well?" asked Alice, a little testy that Lily had never followed them to the library.
"You won't believe what I just witnessed," Lily fumed, "And did."
"Go on," urged Emmeline, whose irritation switched to concern at Lily's face.
After the "Potter-Snape Fight," as all the school gossips were calling it, the day passed uneventfully, excluding the pre-Quidditch game excitement everyone shared, apart from Lily, who was having trouble deciding whether to fulfill her threat to James, or do what she wanted to do, which was to support her house. She wound up choosing the latter, after much cajoling from her two friends, who after hearing her story, told that if she wanted to illustrate to Potter that he didn't get to her, she would have to show up.
The Quidditch pitch was flamboyantly decorated with blue and scarlet, the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor colors. James was revved up and excited to display his prowess at chasing. And afterwards, he would ask Evans, who would surely be enthralled by his skill.
"This is it! This is the game we've all been waiting for! Been practicing our arses off for!" Gryffindor's seventh year captain beamed, his blood pumping at the thought of beating the Ravenclaws. "They're good, but where they're good- we're better! THIS IS OUR TIME! THIS IS OUR GAME!"
"THIS IS OUR LIFE!" added Sirius cheekily, receiving a glare from the captain.
"Alright. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO, TEAM?" shouted the captain.
"WE'RE GONNA KICK SOME ARSE AND WIN!" answered the team. They all cheered and sprinted onto the field, carrying their brooms. Madame Hooch made the captains shake hands, although the shake was more of a "who can squeeze harder" contest. On the count of three, both teams shot into the air.
Lily, Emmeline, and Alice sat on the Gryffindor side of the stadium, watching breathlessly.
The score was 30 to 20, Gryffindor in the lead. "Chaser James Potter in possession of the quaffle, passes to Dorcas Meadowes, back to Potter, and he SCORES! Ah, Ravenclaw keeper Florence Bradley blocked that next shot. What a shame…and now Ted Tonks is in possession, ouch! That must have hurt! A bludger sent his way by none other than beater, Sirius Black, known to be quite the lady's man, he's given me quite a few tips…"
"BAGMAN! STAY ON TASK!" yelled McGonagall, who had been monitoring him on his first time of commentating.
"Right, Professor. Gryffindor chaser James Potter in possession of the quaffle, nice backwards pass to Finnigan and Finnigan—scores. The score is now 50 to 20 Gryffindor! And Ravenclaw is in possession again—Tonks scores! What? What is it I see? Has the snitch been sighted?"
Lily searched the skies for the snitch, which would be the real deciding factor of the game. Then, she noticed that James was flying past her more slowly than he should have been. As she studied this strange event, she realized he was staring at her, with a smirk on his face, "OY! EVANS! COULDN'T KEEP YOURSELF AWAY FROM ME?" He sped off in the direction of the quaffle, looking back to see her glaring daggers at him and at the obnoxiously laughing people around her. Nearly hit with a bludger, James decided to concentrate on the game. "Goals now, girls later," he muttered to himself with a devilish smile. But before he could do anymore, he heard an audible silence throughout the stadium, and looked around wildly, to see the two seekers on both teams in hot pursuit of the elusive snitch. It was a tight victory, but the Gryffindor seeker's hand grasped the Golden Snitch triumphantly. The game was over. "GRYFFINDOR WINS!" announced Ludo Bagman.
"I knew Gryffindor would win!" Alice said happily, "Now we can go to the party and I can talk to Frank!"
"I think you should come with me and Lily to the library so we can finish our homework in peace," Emmeline replied sternly, although a teasing smile threatened to appear on her face anyway.
"What do you think, Lily?" appealed Alice. But as Lily tried to answer, James came swooping down upon them.
"What are you doing, Potter?" demanded Lily, her face etched with exasperation and confusion.
As James hovered just above her, he replied, full of himself, "So, Evans, you came after all. Didn't want to miss me score, did you now?"
"Oh of course, Potter! How did you ever guess!" Lily responded sarcastically.
"I'm good at things like that. I'm good at a lot of things. Like impressing you, for example," he added smugly.
"The most impressive thing about you, besides the extremity of your big-head is your self-centeredness, Potter."
"Self-centered? I'm here for you, Evans. Will you go with me to Hogsmeade?" he asked, thinking she was playing hard to get.
"You're selfish too," she added angrily, "If I weren't so bound by my morals, I would pull you off your broom right now and—"
"Snog me senseless?" finished James cockily, messing his already messed up hair even more.
"Don't be so—so ludicrous! The idea is revolting!"
"So, is it yes?"
"What do you think, Potter? Surely you're smart enough to figure that one out," Lily retorted, turning towards her impatient friends.
"Yes!" he answered, and he suddenly grabbed her and pulled her onto his broom, taking off before Lily had time to react. But react she did.
"POTTER! PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT! OR I WILL HEX YOU INTO THE NEXT MILLENNIUM! NOW!" screamed Lily, outraged beyond care or thought, but holding tightly to James, since she was afraid she would fall otherwise.
"Enjoying yourself? Didn't I tell you this morning that I would 'catch you later?'" he asked, delighted that she had her arms around him.
"IF YOU DON'T LET ME GO-- I'LL DO IT! I DON'T NEED ANY EXCUSES NOW!"
"Okay, fine. If you want down, down you'll get," he said, with an evil grin on his face, as they dived down toward the ground, much too fast for Lily's comfort, who could only hang onto James for dear life, something she really didn't like at all.
When they were back on the ground, the first thing James felt was Lily slapping him about one, two, three, four…he lost count—times.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU, POTTER! YOU THINK THAT THAT WILL MAKE ME WANT TO GO OUT WITH YOU? You are the most arrogant, selfish, ego-centric maniac I have ever had the immense displeasure of knowing. If you know what's good for you, you will leave me alone!" Lily cried, near to tears at what James had just done to her. Not only had it been discomfiting, it had been humiliating.
"One of these days- you're going to realize that I am perfect for you, Evans!" responded James confidently, but rubbing his stinging face.
"Well, I have news for you, Potter. You have just proven my point about how self-centered you are! 'I am perfect for you, EVANS!' You don't even know me; you can't even call me by my first name! 'One of these days' is equal to never."
"I know that I like you," he offered, smiling charmingly at her, hoping to make her anger subside with his trademark comment he had prepared for the hard-to-get girls, a species he had never encountered before Lily.
"Potter, if you don't get out of my sight this instant, bad things are going to happen!"
"Um, mate," Sirius looked warily at Lily as he continued to James, "She's not playing hard to get. I think she means it."
"I realize that, Sirius!" James hissed, "Now that I've asked her out—officially, and have been refused, all there is left to do is continue asking her out until she changes her mind."
"WHICH WILL NEVER HAPPEN!" Lily shouted, as she stomped off, screaming in frustration.
Remus and Peter joined Sirius and James. "I can't understand why you thought Lily would go out with you after what you just did!" Remus, was pulling out his hair, as he looked at James hopelessly.
"Couldn't you tell she meant it when she said no?" he demanded again.
"Well, I thought she was playing hard to get!" James responded defensively.
"Hard to get MY ARSE!" snorted Sirius, "I told you she was your death wish."
"She's scary," remarked Peter, looking back in the direction Lily had gone, "Choose one of those girls who swoons whenever you walk by. Not as exciting, but much less dangerous."
"I like her. And I want to go out with her. She's the only girl who is even close to being my equal in anything. She just doesn't realize how lucky she is!" James said, taking off on his broom.
"I have to wonder whether he's going to come down again, considering the fact that the sky is the only place Evans can't curse him into nothingness. And I'll bet she could still find a way," Sirius stated, as if he believed anything was possible. And it was, with Lily Evans.
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