Author's Note: Yay! I finally sat down and wrote more on this story! (Bless the summer and FREE TIME!) Now, the beginning of this chapter is italic for a reason - since this was originally a oneshot, there wasn't much backstory, so now I have to put it in, so that the story will make sense. The best way to do that is simply narrative about the past. And there you go. :)
Chapter 4: Butterflies, Balls, and Bad Hair Days
Seventh year was a turbulent time for Hogwarts students. They were busy learning everything they needed to know and studying for NEWTs, while at the same time they were coming to terms with the fact that this was their last year – that, a mere nine months from now, they would be done with their education and move into the real world. The thought of their impending entrance into adulthood was a lead weight in the stomachs of many, whether they were busy sending owls with applications to Wizarding universities, applying for ministry training, or finding a good solid job where they could start working right away. Responsibility rested heavily on their shoulders.
One certain Gryffindor boy, however, didn't seem to notice. All those who knew Sirius Black swore he hadn't matured one bit since the first time he walked through the portrait hole into Gryffindor common room. If anything, they said, he'd only gotten worse. This observation wasn't entirely fair, however. While the thought of adulthood seemed to be the last thing on Sirius' mind, he had, in fact, made two important steps towards reality. First, he had noticed his friends' increasing anxiety. Even James Potter, his ever-present partner in crime, could be spotted poring over pamphlets about auror training, consulting teachers about letters of recommendation, and even – gasp – studying! When his mind wasn't filled with these irritatingly adult things, he could be found staring out the window, deep in thought about crazy, deep things Sirius didn't like to think about – the future, the impending threat of the dark wizard Voldemort, and a certain gorgeous redhead. All this maturity from his best friend forced Sirius to do some thinking of his own, and he came to the conclusion that maybe, it was time for him to make some decisions about his own future.
The second happened during the first week of term, and James nearly fell out of his chair Sirius confided in him with a surprising amount of maturity. Now, Sirius was known for being a ladies man… he could charm any girl off her feet, and did so with alarming frequency, changing girlfriends nearly every week. But two days into the term, Sirius was waiting in the library – having been dragged there by Remus, who needed a certain book – when he noticed a certain Chloe Patterson, braniac extraordinaire and best friend of the one-and-only Lily Evans. Sirius had sat behind her in second year transfiguration, and teased her so much that McGonagall gave him detention. But now the pale, scrawny geek of a girl had transformed into a dazzling beauty, and Sirius found himself staring.
Surprisingly, he didn't act in the infamous Sirius manner.
"I feel different about her," he confided to James with a confused look on his face. "Like, she's too good for me, and I'd only make an idiot out of myself when I try to talk to her."
James, blown away by such a profound statement from Sirius – the king of pranks, player to the extreme – could only nod bemusedly. He was coming to the realization that his approach in winning Lily was somewhat misguided – too direct – and could relate to Sirius' concern all too well.
With all this seventh year angst in the air, Gryffindor tower felt incredibly gloomy and cheerless. Even members of other houses remarked at the tensions that hung around the red-and-gold members of Hogwarts. And so the one and only Lily Evans, ever the leader, decided to take matters into her own hands.
She started small – the occasional noisemaker that magically popped out of someone's bag, the flocks of shimmering butterflies that suddenly began to inhabit the common room. When she met with nothing but groans and annoyed grimaces, she stepped it up a notch. Soon, every piece of furniture burst into song once it was occupied, suits of armor bowed and offered people chocolate, and everyone who stepped through the portrait hole into Gryffindor Tower was showered in sparkling confetti. However, unbelievable as it may have seemed, this only served to annoy people MORE, and soon everyone was avoiding the common room altogether.
It was then that Lily decided her approach was all wrong. And, after returning the common room to normal, (though the butterflies remained – she liked them too much to get rid of them) she went to see several of her professors. Her first stop was her strict but ever-supportive head-of-house, Professor McGonagall.
Lily knocked tentatively on the oak door. Even though, as a prefect, she'd been here many times, visiting the professor still somewhat intimidated her. McGonagall had a regal air about her that quieted any room instantly and made everyone think about their most recent misdeeds.
"Come in," the Transfiguration mistress' voice called, and Lily stepped through the door. "Ah, Miss Evans – is something the matter?"
Lily bit her lip. Now that she was here, her flamboyant attempts at cheer seemed absurd. "Well, professor," she started, then laughed nervously. "I noticed how a lot of the seventh years are a little, well, put-out lately, and I was wondering… could something be done to, um, you know… spread a little cheer?"
McGonagall smiled at the redhead. "Sit down, Miss Evans." Lily took the offered chair gratefully. "Would you like a biscuit?"
Deciding it was impolite to decline, Lily accepted a ginger snap.
"Now, what did you have in mind?"
"Um, well…." Now that she was here, the idea seemed really absurd to Lily. "You know how Halloween is coming up, and I thought maybe we could…." How should she say this intelligently? "Maybe, it would be possible to have a… a Halloween party of some sort?" She winced. McGonagall's expression didn't change, and she waited several agonizing moments. Finally, the Transfiguration teacher smiled faintly.
"I appreciate your concern for the welfare of your fellow students, Miss Evans," she said. "You have shown a great amount of maturity recently."
Lily thought wryly that the Professor had obviously been nowhere near the Gryffindor common room. "Um… thank you, Professor?"
"Approving such a large event is, obviously, out of my control, but I shall speak with Professor Dumbledore about it."
Relief swept through Lily, who had assumed that the compliments were merely a means of softening the impending denial. She smiled brightly. "Thank you, Professor!"
Soon afterwards, a colorful poster went up on the message board in the Gryffindor common room. For the first time in over a month, Lily felt successful. Except when Chloe displayed open signs of disdain at the very idea of a party.
When Lily awoke the next morning, Chloe's bed was empty and the girl had already left the dormitory. She sighed, stretching out for a moment before getting up. Going through her morning routine of getting ready, she felt unexplainably apprehensive, as though something big, something really bad had happened. Don't be stupid, Lily, she told herself, studying her tired-looking face and severe case of bed head in the mirror. It's just all the stress, and the fight with Chloe. Everything will work itself out.
"You're a bit pale, dear," the mirror declared in a sympathetic voice. "And please do something about that hair. It doesn't suit you at all like that."
"Oh shut up!"