Chapter 16: Getting Along

Hermione ran her hands through her bushy, brown hair as she stood in front of the Hogwarts oak doors with the other prefects completely exasperated. The weekend has come and everyone above 3rd year is allowed to go to Hogsmede. Most unusually, many of the students stayed in the castle. The anticipation of freedom had decreased dramatically over the last few months, especially after a few weeks ago when an attacked took place in the village of Hogsmede. After a few dull minutes of waiting for other students going out for the weekend, Hermione and Ron headed towards the common room in silence (which is also unusual). Only 9 students went to Hogsmede, 4 of them there to just buy some quills and parchment, and another 2 to be picked up by their parents. Everyone could feel the dread and tension in the air everywhere they go, you could almost taste it. The students seek the comfort of the castle where they knew they would be safe but some still find the time with their family much more reassuring.

"That was long and fun," Ron said sarcastically as they went up the marble staircase. Ron looked at Hermione.

"You're not changing your mind about not going to Hogsmede?" Ron asked her.

"Nope, I rather stay here since you and Harry need all the help you can to finish that assignment."

"You're an angel, Hermione," Ron said happily. Hermione just grimaced at him. She was not happy about staying in front of the oak doors for nearly an hour waiting for the students to get out of the castle when barely anyone came. It was the worst thing about being a prefect, the boring times she had to cope with. When they reached the common room, however, it was jammed pack. Harry could barely be seen waving behind a crowd of fourth years. It seemed that everyone in Gryffindor stayed in the school (or the Gryffindor common room to be exact).

"Hey, let's get out of these zoo, it's too crowded," Harry panted as he squeezed through the bodies of the Gryffindor students.

The trio went up to the Room of Requirements when they saw that the library was also full of students including a fuming Madam Pince.

Once there, they started pacing 3 times in front of the said place. During that time, Hermione was brooding over the difficult task of being a prefect and wondered who and how the previous heads of students managed to keep the whole school in order. When the door opened, they were revealed a magnificent room that resembled the common room (with warm and cozy couches, a blazing fire and a comfy table for reading and homework). Apart from the usual things in the common room, it also contained a long line of bookshelves, a cabinet that was lined with endless badges that looked all the same with small scrolls next to them, and the best part: a banquet of food.

"Now this is the life!" Ron exclaimed immediately magnet to the table of food.

"Don't tell me you were thinking of food, Ronald," Hermione said sternly while eyeing the bookshelves and cabinet.

Ron's stomach grumbled in return while he shrugged. Harry laughed heartily and sat comfortably in one of the couches.

"Finally, peace and quiet, bring me some food, Ron," Harry called. Hermione meanwhile was examining the badges in the cabinets. She opened one of its glass doors and took 2 badges.

"Watcha' doin' 'Ermy-oh-ne?" Ron asked with a full mouth.

"Look at all these," she replied in a trance. Ron and Harry went towards her, also staring at the gleaming golden badges.

On each of them, names were carved in a distinct cursive writing. Under each name, a heading was written…

"Head Boy and Head Girl badges?" Ron said reading each heading.

"How did they get here? And what are those parchments next to each one?"

"I was thinking about what it takes to be a Head," Hermione muttered. She held the two she had to her face. The names gleamed by the candle light.

Lily Elizabeth Evans

Head Girl

James Henry Potter

Head Boy

Harry took the badges from her hands and looked at them with an unreadable expression.

Ron meanwhile took one of the scrolls on the shelves.

"Hey, these parchments are notes of some sort. Look at this one: 'Trust is the key to good leadership. With a friend and a partner, your magic is unbeatable even during difficult times' Victoria Mary Robinson, Head Girl 1914. And this one's from the head boy," Ron read, fascinated as he picked up another scroll.

"I was thinking to get some advice before I came in. I guess it worked," Hermione replied while she examined Harry's face. In a minute, Ron did the same. He was staring blankly at his parents' badges.

"I wonder how these two manage to keep Hogwarts together when they couldn't even get along," Harry murmured audibly. Hermione was surprised, 'How'd he know that?' she asked herself.

"Well, these could answer you," Ron said passing the parchment neatly rolled next to Harry's parents' badges to Harry.

Harry opened the first one after a second of hesitation. Hermione immediately recognize the handwriting which she read everyday for the past few months.

"Hard work, loyalty, great dedications are needed to be a good Head. Yet co-operation with your colleague is another thing. Trust, friendship, and understanding are needed, something I learned to treasure and do with my partner during my year as Head Girl."

"I think this shows that they get along, right Hermione?" Ron said, smirking at Hermione. "What does the other one say?" she asked ignoring Ron. He was obviously referring to her knowledge since she read Lily's diary.

Harry opened the other one. It showed the heavy, yet neat, handwriting of James Potter.

"Responsibility and the guts to keep yourself from doing anything fun and mischievous. But the most effective: a look of disapproval and a glare from the Head Girl."

Harry laughed at his father's entry. There was a few minutes silence before he spoke.

"You know, my parents didn't get along when they were at Hogwarts."

Hermione listened intently to what Harry has got to say. "How'd you know, mate?" Ron asked, stuffing a treacle tart into his mouth.

"Last year, during my lesson with Snape, I got into Dumbledore's Pensieve where Snape kept the memories he didn't want me to see. But I saw one of his memories. It was about his time in Hogwarts, with my mother and the Marauders. It wasn't a very nice memory for him. My dad and Sirius decided to make some fun by hanging him upside down in front of a lot of students. My mother, as a prefect, tried to put a stop to it. By the things she said and the looks she threw to him…she hated him. My dad obviously liked her but never got the reaction he wanted." All the time he spoke, he was looking at the badge and the notes.

Hermione bit her lip. So, he knew some stuff. But he didn't know that his parents started getting along on their last year.

"I'm pretty sure they got along, mate, or else you're not born." Ron patted him on the shoulder with a small laugh. He shot Hermione a 'say-something' look before going back to the banquet.

"Sirius said they started going out on their seventh year." It was a casual reply.

Harry carefully placed the golden badges back to their stands together with the notes. Then, he sat back down on the couch and stared at the fire.

Hermione sat on one of the armchairs while Ron offered them some of the deserts.

"I'm sure there are other more pleasant things, Harry. Don't take it too badly," she comforted patting him on the shoulder like Ron did.

"Who said I was taking it badly?" Harry replied with a smile and shrug.

Hermione lay down on her bed and took out the red journal.

'Harry knows what your first half contained. Should I finally show him you?'

It's kind of stupid to talk to an old book, but Hermione couldn't decide.

'I'll think about it, but there's a chance that it'll come sooner.'

April 3

Dear Diary,

Another normal day at Hogwarts…well, maybe not so normal. More bad news came from outside of Hogwarts. More mayhem, trouble, dark magic are being added to the ministry's already full shoulder. It's no surprise Dumbledore is leaving every few days. They probably need his help more than ever. With Dumbledore gone, the tension became greater. From the last month alone, about 8 students left. Out of those 8, only one came back…and she didn't come back happy.

To make matters worse, apart from cleaning up the mess left by April Fool's day, some students (oh, I wonder who) decided to extend April 1 to April 3. I guess those "Marauders" never give up.

"I can't believe you flooded the whole dungeon. That could have easily put you on probation!"

"Lily, relax! Even before I become Head Boy I did even worse stunts. Look at me now, Head Boy and out of trouble!"

Well, no matter how changed he is, he will always be the trouble-maker James Potter: He still has the comments he's famous for.

"What's the matter anyways? You're afraid to lose me as your beloved partner?"

"Don't even try to get in my nerves Potter. We're friends but that doesn't mean I couldn't hurt you."

"Oh, Lily, I'm hurt."

Ever since the beginning of this month there had been exactly 5 conversations like that. It wasn't my fault he suddenly turned childish in just one day (namely April 1, which he stated as 'the day of freedom'). At least he managed to make his friends (thanks to my forceful ways) clean the mess they had created.

"Are you happy now, Lily?" he asked me after a tiring day of drying up the whole dungeon. He shouldn't even complain, he's a wizard; Wizards use magic to clean.

"Hmm, I could've been happier if you didn't even wreck havoc. But I'm contented."

"Aw, you're no fun. Try to have fun once in a while."

"For your information, James, I do have fun once in a while."

"Oh yeah, have you been to the kitchens?"

"No, why would I? It's against the rules, isn't it?"

James gave a dramatic sigh, "As if that gets in the way? Come on, I'll show you. It's great there. You'll have quite an experience. Also, I'm starving."

I couldn't believe I was going to the kitchens. I've always wondered who prepares all those food for us but never tried looking for it but I never thought it was allowed. The place was never mentioned in Hogwarts: A History too. I told that to James.

He snorted, "Please, that book's a load of rubbish. To know Hogwarts, you gotta explore and all. So, you coming or not?"

Well, you can't say I wasn't interested. But I was hesitant.

"No."

"Come on, Lily."

"Well…"

"You could get any kind of pudding there…especially chocolate pudding."

"Ch-chocolate pudding?" How did he know that was my favorite?

"Yeah, the house elves there could make anything!"

"House elves? Anything?"

"Well, since you don't want to so..."

"Darn it, James! Alright, I'll go. But if they don't have any pudding, I'll- I'll make you into a pudding!" Pretty lame comeback, I know.

He led me down flights and flights of stairs before reaching a long corridor. There were paintings on the walls, and we stopped in front of one which consists of a fruit bowl. From how I saw it, he was tickling the pear. It turned into a door knob in an instant. When we entered the kitchen, we were greeted by about a dozen elves. You can say I was stunned.

"Expect full service," James muttered. An elf with a stubby nose stepped out.

"What can we do for sir and miss?" it asked with a bow.

"Hmm, how about 2 warm bottles of butterbeer, a chocolate pudding and a slice of sponge cake? You think you guys could handle it?" I was dumbstruck at the orders he placed on the elves. But when I looked around, there were about 6 dozens of them…or more!

"Coming right up, sir!" the elf said happily. Together with its friends, it bounded towards the appliances lined up against the room (probably magical ones).

"Don't be too surprise, that's little compared to what Sirius and I ask them. Let's sit right there."

When we sat down, 2 elves hurried forward and handed us the butterbeer bottles. They seemed overly cheerful.

"Thank you," I said. They bowed down and went to help the others.

"Do they really bow down and all? And why are they so glad we're here?"

"That's why house elves live. They're only purpose in life is to serve their masters…willingly. There's a bond only a master can break between him and his house elf. It's their joy, so don't take too much pity on them."

"So, how do you free one?"

"Give them clothes. But don't think about trying it, they'll probably bite your head off."

It was a strange thing to know. I've never seen or learn about house elves before. It was kind of interesting that there were creatures who wanted to be enslaved.

"Do you have a house elf?"

"Of course, I've known Dippy since I was a baby. But her name is kind of a misnomer, she's really smart and trust worthy."

"All pure blood families have house elves?"

"Well, usually, those who could, er, afford one." I've never seen him look uncomfortable about something I thought he'd be boasting about. I know Luscious Malfoy had boasted about having all the things only pureblood families would have in a booming voice. I was so glad when he graduated from Hogwarts last year.

After a few minutes, the house elves returned with a lovely bowl of pudding and a slice of sponge cake.

"All that you asks, miss and sir. Is there anything else?" one squeaky elf asked.

"I think thiat is all, thanks!" They bowed down once again before running away merrily.

I had never tasted pudding so great in my life. It was completely delicious that I couldn't help asking one of the nearby elves for some more. When we finally got out of the kitchen, I had 3 bottles of butterbeer and 4 plates of pudding. I could barely walk back to the common room.

"I told you it would be great. We should come back another time." Imagine, he drunk 5 bottles of butterbeer, and a whole, large sponge cake.

On the way up there, we managed to meet the person you wouldn't want to see in your life. That despicable little rat with a slime ball for a head! I guess you can consider him as James' archenemy or something: Severus Snape.

"Why, what a nice lovely stroll our dear Head Girl and Head Boy are having. So, Potter, already managed to get your tongue in a mudblood's mouth?"

The nerve of that twit! Even if I found myself trying to stop James and Sirius from cursing him to oblivion many times before, I still despised him. It took me a huge amount of self control not to curse him at that moment.

It seemed that James didn't care about self control. He immediately whipped his wand out and pointed it at his face. Snape did the same thing.

"Watch your mouth, Snivellus, someday something undesirable might crawl up in it and close it for good." I could see James eyes blazing with hate. Anyone could hate this git.

"Oh, why so spiteful? You should show an example to your beloved mudblood." The same amount of hate was reflected in Snape's eyes.

"Don't you dare call her that! You don't even have a quarter of the talent she has."

I was a bit astonished by his comment: astonished but slightly glad. Even if I want the world to be rid of Snape, I stepped forward between them just in case.

"Stop it! You don't want to get in trouble again, James. Just get the heck out of here Snape and go back to your cozy common room fire."

"Oh, I certainly am wondering why a mudblood is talking to me?"

"Impedimenta!"

"Sectumsempra!" (or something like that)

"PROTEGO!"

James said the spell so fast that I didn't know Snape would react quickly enough. But their reflexes were amazingly simultaneous. It was a good thing I wasn't slow. My shield charm was so strong it overwhelmed me slightly. It caused both boys to stumble backward. But it got me really annoyed.

"ENOUGH! Go back to your own business Snivellus! James Potter, let's go!" With that, I pulled James by his arm and left Snape glaring daggers at us. When we reached the common room, I somehow pushed Potter into a couch.

"I think your hands had left a permanent mark on my arm, Lily," he said examining the part where I gripped it.

"You should thank me that I stopped you. Do you have any idea how much mess you could have left?" Scolding someone is always a relief after a bad confrontation.

"Even if I prefer cursing Snivelly, I do thank you." He bowed down mockingly. " I admire your charm work. I've never seen any shield charm that strong before."

I sat myself heavily on the couch, not at all calm. "Thank you," I muttered. There was an awkward silence after that.

"Thank you, for standing up for me, anyways." It escaped before I can stop myself. Now I thought about it, I've never thank James Potter for standing up for me every time someone calls me a 'mudblood'. Come to think of it, he always stood up for me.

It seemed to have shocked James too. "Your welcome." I was more than thankful that he didn't say anything more. So, I told him that I'm tired and went straight to bed. Well, that's my interesting day scribed down.

Lily

NOTE: Sorry again for the long post. I'll update soon, I promise. The next chapter would be a bit more interesting than this one. I took a long time since I didn't know what to write. Cheers and Happy New Year!