1Chapter 6

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Lily closed James' trunk with a snap. She hooked the fastenings of his cloak around her shoulders. Using her manly muscles, she picked up each end and proceeded out of the dormitory and down the winding staircase.

"Prongs!" Lily looked up expectantly. Remus went up the stairs two at a time and immediately grabbed the farther end of the trunk.

"Thanks Re-Moony." she blushed. He waved her stutter off with a shake of his head.

"No problem, Lily." he added in a whisper. She smiled. "So," he started out, a bit hesitantly, "Are you going to get it over with?"

"I beg your pardon? Get what over with?"

"Kissing James, of course!" Lily frowned at him.

"Why wont all of you, drop it? James isn't my true love!" Lily whispered back fiercely. Remus sighed and slumped his shoulder's dramatically. When they reached the last step he let his end of the trunk down with a small thud.

"Lil's, you know he is. And I know that you know it." Her expression was baffled.

"Whot? That made absolutely no sense whatsoever."

"You know, you sounded just like James when you said that." Lily's pupil's dilated slightly.

"Well, I should, shouldn't I? I mean, if we both have to pull this charade off don't we?" she said, her eyes a bit misted over, but she shook her head; not unnoticed by Remus though. About half of the Gryffindors were crowding the common room until a voice sounded in the room. It belonged to McGonagall:

"Will all students who are leaving the castle for Christmas Break proceed to the Entrance Hall in an orderly fashion. All those who are staying please, if not already, return to your common room's at once. Thank you." A mad rush erupted from the center of the crowd of students as each individual tried fruitlessly to get out first.

"So much for orderly..." Lily whispered to Sirius. He nodded his agreement then cupped his hands to his mouth.

"HEY, EVERYBODY MOVE!" The crowd parted to find a blushing, yet determined Sirius who strutted in the now open walkway, followed by disbelieving snorts and skeptical looks from his friends as they dragged themself's and their luggage in his wake. Everyone in the common room rolled their eyes and sighed, following the crowd as it tried to organize into a sort of zig-zagged line.

"Why do we always have to do what Sirius Black says?" Lily heard a fourth year say right behind them.

"Because he's so charming..." was his female companions reply. He snorted. Lily smirked.

In no time at all they were in the Entrance Hall with the rest of the Hogwarts population. They left their luggage near the rear of the carriages (that would be holding luggage only) then made their way to the very first carriage, reserved for the head boy and girl. Thankfully, and Lily knew she would have to thank Dumbledore, someone had enlarged their so that the seven of them (Lily, James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Alice, and Frank) could fit comfortably in the ten minute ride to the Hogsmead Station. They boarded the train then found the heads compartment and everyone piled in.

"So...Peter, I didn't know you got an invitation!" Lily asked. Peter, suddenly looking frightened at being addressed to, turned deep scarlet and somehow stuttered,

"Oh..I-I-I..um...just, um, didn't well, I-you know, tell you." he finished lamely. Sirius burst out laughing, contagiously so that everyone followed.

"I can't wait for your party Alice!"

"Same here!"

"I haven't been to a sort of party like this in years!"

"Just wait till you guys see my house. Being the third richest family this side of London does have its perks! The house will look lovely. You will all love it. Oh! I almost forgot; did any of you bring your swim suits?"

"Alice, why on earth would we need those? It's the middle of December!"

"I know Remus." said Alice with mysterious smile, "But my house has an indoor pool and a hot tub the size of a pool outside. And we all know how much Lily enjoys hot tubs." Lily instantly blushed.

"You do?" asked James, whose face had just broken out in a smile, an evil glint in his bright green orbs. Lily stared at her trainers before nodding.

"So Alice, will it be a big party? Will there be anyone else we know attending?"

"Nope. Not as far as I know...unless, of course, you hang out with middle-aged ministry workers who every second you are there telling you 'You look nice.' or 'Your hair is really yellow.' I mean, why on earth would those sick men hit on me? Someone a third of their age. It's really gross." She said leaning her head on Franks shoulder and not noticing his clenched fists and tight jaw.

"Really now?" he asked icily. The rest of the ride was filled with games and laughter and a few accusations of who charmed Snape's robes pink last week (Sirius being the one who confessed, which earned a great big knowing laugh). As they exited the Hogwarts Express, they looked expectantly at Alice.

"My mum and dad are somewhere around—MUM, DAD!" She yelled unexpectedly and rushed over to a man with light brown graying hair and a woman with honey-golden colored hair, just like Alice's. The man had violet eyes just like Alice's but her mom had blue. All in all, they were a very handsome couple.

"Alice darling, we've missed you so much!" said her mum., immediately taking her into a motherly hug. Her dad ruffled her hair then picked her up and swung her in the air.

"Love you dad...oh! Yes, mum, dad, meet my friends." She ushered the marauders, Frank and Lily towards her parents. "Mum, Dad, these are the marauders. James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter." she pointed to each marauder as she said his name, "Lily, my best friend." James smiled shyly. "And...mum, this is Frank, the one I told you about." Mrs. Warrington's eyes sparkled, resembling her daughter's.

"Frank! We've heard so much about you!" her mother gushed and shook his hand. So did her father.

"Ah! And the infamous marauders." said Mr. Warrington, advancing towards them to shake each hand. "I'm sure the rest of London has been dying to meet the four of you. Why, you are all a legend at the ministry!"

"Really, sir?" asked Sirius, a mad glint taking over his eyes. "Interesting..."

"Oh, Sirius. When your parents found out you were staying here, they sent this." Alice's father held out a black envelope with the Black family crest on it. His expression was grim, and Sirius had a pretty good idea what the letter stated. Nevertheless, he slipped it into his pocket and, with a curt nod to Mr. Warrington, the thought of the letter was dismissed and he smiled along with everybody. James resolved in his mind that he was going to talk to Sirius later, in the safety of a silence charmed private room. However, he gave Sirius a reassuring smile then turned back to his conversation with Frank about his long-time passion to become and auror.

"Mrs. Warrington?" Lily asked.

"Yes, James?"

"How are we getting to your house?"

"By portkey, since the whole lot of you has come." She said, throwing her head back with a tinkling laugh; the same way Alice did. Lily smiled.

"I've—um...I mean, it's been a while since I last used a portkey." Lily lied. In fact, she had never in her life used a portkey, She had only read and heard about them. Alice's mother gave Lily a knowing look.

"My, my...Nathaniel Potter's own son...what is this world coming to?" she joked. Lily faintly blushed, but tried to hide it. James gave her a warning glance out of the corner of his green eyes. Lily cleared her throat.

"On second thought...I'm sure I'll be fine. Let's go!" She pulled James' trunk closer to her body and, trying to be absolutely obvious, saw everyone crowd around something Mrs. Warrington had pulled out of a pocket in her robe. It was an old, but very valuable looking Japanese fan.

"Mother..." Alice said disapprovingly. Her mom shrugged.

"It was the nearest thing we could find dear...and we were already late! Anyway, everyone get ready." Everyone, and Lily after a second's hesitation, put a finger on the fan. "One, two, three!" she waved her wand and Lily felt something tug her forward around her naval into a whirling mass of colors. She instantly became dizzy, but the feeling only lasted a few seconds longer, then, extremely unceremoniously, everyone fell, luggage and all, in a heap on the ground. People disentangled their limbs from each other then stood up and took int heir surroundings. They were standing on the front lawn, that was at least an acre wide and filled with scattered bushes, flowers, and fruit trees, in front of an enormous mansion. Lily subconsciously counted thirty-four windows, two adjacent in every group, meaning, there was at least seventeen rooms in the front of the house. The house was situated on a low hill, and the only surroundings was the ocean and a town that looked like a little speck.

"I enjoy my privacy." Alice's mother said. "Having a home shielded by mountains, hills, and the ocean, had always been my dream. Come his way." she said, leading the group as if she were their tour guide, and started naming statues, rooms and their stories. While looking out a window in the sitting lounge, Lily noticed the mountains she must have missed before. They were ragged and the peaks were non-visible in early morning light as they were being hid by the fluffy white clouds.

"No...Everyone is going to be assigned a room. They are all color coated so...lets see...Alice dear, of course you will occupy your bedroom which is the sky blue one...Remus will have orange...James navy...Lily the forest green one...Peter the red...Sirius the gray one...and Frank the yellow. Is that alright with everyone?" the group of teenagers all nodded their heads, except Alice, who was looking murderous. Lily regarded her with curiosity.

"Mother, I wish to speak to you alone."

"I see she has seen through our plans." Her mother whispered to her father, though loud enough for everyone to hear. "Very well dear, the study if you please."

"Make yourself's at home. I'm afraid you'll have to find your rooms on your own seeing as I'll have to sort out this mess." said Alice's father, pointing his thumb over his shoulder at the two retreating blonds. "Just follow the blue carpet to the stairs." and he promptly disappeared down the corridor after his wife and daughter.

"Wonder what that was all about..." stated Frank as the group made their way along the carpet.

"I have a fleeting suspicion I know what it is." said Lily, hauling her trunk up the first step. When they had all settled into their rooms, Lily knew instantly her suspicions were correct. But before she could explain, Alcie came running red-faced and full of rage, up the stairs.

"Mum and Dad wont budge!" Frank put his arm around her waist.

"What is it, Alice?"

"Mum put you in the last room of the house! The farthest away from me! I had an feeling they would pull a stunt like this...they probably think we're going to do something..."

"Then they were right." he said and kissed her.

"I think the rest of us will bow out gracefully..." said Lily retreating to her room. The boys followed suit, but James followed Lily into her room.

"You know..." James started hesitantly, "Tomorrow we change back into ourselves for the day..."

"Yes, I know."

"Well?"

"Well what?" he made a frustrated noise.

"Are you going to kiss me or not?" he asked irritably. Lily was surprised.

"Oh...I suppose–...oh, I forgot all about that..."

"You sound revolted."

"Glad you noticed."

"You know, it's not that horrible kissing me...you might actually find it pleasurable." He said positively. Lily burst out laughing.

"You are so cocky and conceited. So what if I'm disgusted to have to kiss a pompous jerk like you? Should I be wrong? Should I fall at your feet or, better yet, should I just faint at your mere presence?" She spat. "You sicken me! I regret ever walking into that Charms classroom, with the fear of something like his happening...I had a feeling something wrong was going to happen and it did! You came walking in a second later!" She jumped us from the bed she had been sitting on and stormed out of the room. James gave a very frustrated and feminine shriek and flopped head-first into the soft velvet comforter, right where she had previously been sitting. Her words and insults kept running through his head...he couldn't stand her...and yet...he couldn't stand to be away from her...ARGH! What was wrong with him! Why couldn't he stop thinking about the infuriating girl? Why was it so completely difficult and positively impossible to get her away from his every thought...his imagination...every fiber of his being?

The last thing he did was bang his tiny fists on the bed before walking over to the windowsill and falling asleep looking at the clouds.

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ze end of ze 6th chaptar! Haha...guess what? I got rubber bands on my braces and they hurt...aww...yes, It hurts very much so...anyways, review please! I'm sorry this chapter took so long to update...and yes, it is a bit short...DEAL WITH IT!