Lily yawned as she descended the stairs into the common room to re-read her Arithmancy notes before breakfast. Running her hand through her red hair, she groaned in exhaustion. Annabelle and Gwen had been up gossiping about Owen all night. Gwendolyn's giggles were shockingly loud. As she reached her normal spot on the couch, she saw something strangely familiar. She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head in confusion. Suddenly she realized what the thick black mass was.
"OH MERLIN!" She screamed, her eyes wide. "Someone's killed Potter. His head…."
Lily screamed even louder when James' entire body appeared as he jumped from the couch. Wearing a tattered gray tee-shirt, underpants, and mismatched socks, James looked so ridiculous that Lily almost laughed out loud.
"Shut up, I'm fine," he said, rubbing his disoriented face and seemingly unaware of his rather inappropriate attire. "Where're my glasses?"
Lily saw them on the red Persian rug next to the couch and kneeled to pick them up. He had gone for them a few seconds later. Grabbing the glasses, Lily began to stand. The contact of her head against James' chin sent her back down.
"Damn," she muttered, rubbing her head. James groaned, "Sorry Evans."
"You really should keep your glasses in a familiar place," she muttered, glaring up at him. He put a hand out to help her up. She took it reluctantly and stood, sighing.
"Thanks for helping," he muttered, taking his glasses and putting them on. Then, suddenly aware of his clothing, he snatched the silvery material on the couch and threw it around himself. Immediately he disappeared except for his head.
"What is that thing?" Lily whispered, a look of horror mingled with surprise on her face.
"Invisibility Cloak," he said quickly. "Dad gave it to me."
"Oh," she nodded. "I've heard of those."
An awkward silence filled the air and Lily blushed again. James looked sheepishly at the red sock on his left foot and then at the yellow and purple striped one on his right.
"Uh…" he said, without looking up. "I'd better go up. Thanks for my glasses."
She nodded. He turned quickly and waddled to the stairs as fast as he could with the cloak wrapped around him like a towel.
"Wait," Lily said.
He turned his head.
"You forgot these," she held up his jumper and trousers.
"Thanks," he muttered as she brought them over to him. As she handed them to him, their eyes met. For a few seconds they stood there, at the bottom of the stairs, each holding onto his clothes, green meeting hazel. Then Lily looked down.
"I don't know why you're sleeping down here, Potter," she said, avoiding his glance. "But it's awfully selfish."
James smiled a little; sure he had seen her blush when she had looked away. "Sorry Evans."
Remus returned from the shack three days after that night and when James told him what had happened, he was furious with Sirius. No one had ever seen Remus angry at all. He had yelled and screamed, cursing Sirius' complete disregard for his feelings, his future.
"I can't believe he would pull something like that," he said through his teeth as he paced the dormitory. Sirius refused to be in a room with James since the incident and was off somewhere that afternoon, probably with a girl.
James shrugged from his spot on his bed. "I know. I mean, I guess it was sort of my fault…"
"No it wasn't," Remus spat, still pacing. "Just because you were worried about Lily doesn't give him cause to pull that. Plus you saved us all from his stupidity. Then he goes and blames you. Gods, he's such a twot."
James smirked at Remus' use of that word. Peter chuckled.
"You hurt his ego and he turns into a fucking baby. I mean, honestly, he thinks he's bloody invincible."
"Honestly," Peter agreed, nodding almost violently from his bed. "He should be in here on his knees begging for forgiveness."
"Relax Remus," James sighed, leaning back on his elbows. "I think he's not going to be so big-headed after his punishment."
"What does he have to do?" Remus asked, turning to James.
James looked at his hands. "He is basically McGonagall's slave boy for the rest of the year. He'll be spending all of his time outside of class with her. Plus he has to be in the common room by 6 o'clock every night. If he's caught out after that, Dumbledore will expel him."
"Serves him right," Peter nodded at James, looking completely confident about the plan. "For betraying both of you."
"So, that's where he's been," Remus sat down on his bed, his shoulders falling. "I wish he would just apologize."
James laughed mirthlessly. "Sirius apologize?"
"With that ego?" Peter added.
"I know," Remus shrugged.
"I'm sorry," James rubbed his head. "If that helps."
"Me too," Peter said quickly.
"Thanks," he said, smiling small. "Thanks for everything."
"Hey," James said. "What are mates for?"
"Well Sirius is a mate, isn't he?"
"I sure thought so," said Peter sarcastically.
James exhaled. "I know he didn't want you to get in trouble, Moony. Sirius is just, well you know, he doesn't think when he's angry. He just reacts. He is your mate. Otherwise, he wouldn't have held me back in January."
Remus rolled his eyes. "Sorry about that, by the way."
James shrugged and laughed at the tension of it all. "Yesterday's news. I'm fighting with Sirius now, remember?"
Remus laughed in response. "Only two Marauders can hate each other at a time. We should make that a rule. Put it in the code."
James smiled weakly then put his head in his hands. "I just hope he gets over this fast."
"I know you do," Remus said. Then, as a joke, he added. "He's still got the map."
Peter laughed.
James looked up at him, not amused.
"Sorry..."
Lily shifted her heavy book bag to her other shoulder as she climbed the stairs out of the dungeons. She was on her way to Charms. In front of her, Dorcas was silent. She had been that way since the day Lily had found Potter in the common room about a week and a half ago. Lily hadn't exactly been dying to spill the beans about the embarrassing morning discovery, but when Dorcas didn't ask about Potter, she noticed. When she had asked her about it in Transfiguration, Dorcas had muttered that it really didn't matter anymore and gone on with her spellwork.
They entered the main corridor and meshed with the other students hurrying to their next classes. Dorcas bumped into a second-year Ravenclaw who backed away in fear. She kept walking. Lily apologized for her.
As they neared the Charms classroom, Lily noticed Sirius walking towards them. He was uncharacteristically without Potter and the others. Well, it had been characteristic for awhile now. That must be why Potter had been sleeping in the common room that night. They had had a row. A big row.
She saw that he had an angry look on his face and wasn't looking where he was going. People moved out of his way. He was still Sirius Black after all, even without James Potter. The three neared the Charms door at the same time; Lily the only one aware of the meeting. She was about to acknowledge Sirius when Dorcas looked down at her feet and her head smashed straight into Sirius' chest. Instinctively, he put his hands on her shoulders and they both looked each other in the eyes. His hands fell to his sides as if he had been burnt.
"Sorry," Dorcas muttered, turning into the classroom so fast Lily almost missed it. Sirius stood there for a second, his gray eyes ice cold and an angry scowl crossing his face. Then he turned his head, aware of Lily's stare. He scoffed, roughly ran his hand through his hair, and entered the room.
Lily followed him and watched as he made his way to the empty desk at the very back of the classroom instead of the one he usually took next to Potter. He glared at Dorcas as he passed her. She stared at the wood of her desk.
Lily took the seat next to Dorcas, leaned over and asked, "What happened that night, Dorcas?"
Dorcas looked up at her. She was trying desperately not to show any emotion, but the attempt was obvious. She shrugged.
"I know they had a row," Lily whispered.
"All I know is that it was about something Sirius did to Snape."
"Why is Sirius mad at you?"
"I told James that he was after Snape." She looked down at the notes she had started. Her eyes were not moving.
If she was only going to give short answers, Lily was just going to ask more questions.
"What did they do to Snape?"
"I have no idea."
"Dorcas..?" Lily looked at her.
"I don't." she said shortly.
"That's all you know?" Lily asked suspiciously.
She nodded.
Unconvinced, Lily leaned back in her chair and turned around. She saw a sullen Potter sitting alone and twirling that damn snitch. In front of him, Remus looked similarly dejected. Lily turned back around. She would solve this mystery.
Lily's next Arithmancy class was two days later. Determined to find the story of that night from Remus, she came early. Sitting in her desk as the rest of the class filed in, she had her parchment and quill ready. When Remus smiled and sat down next to her, she began writing.
What happened that night?
She passed it to him. He took it and read, frowning and then sticking out his tongue in thought. He scribbled something back.
Sirius let Snape into the shack to get back at him for the whole love-potion incident.
Lily gasped aloud when she read this. The entire class looked at her.
"I've lost a quill," she shrugged. When everyone had turned, Remus glared at her. She smiled apologetically and then wrote back.
And he and Potter fought about it?
Remus took the note discreetly and read it, nodding. He smiled a little as he wrote it.
James pulled Snape out. He risked his life and saved us all. Sirius is being unbelievably thick.
The look on Lily's face when she read this note could only be described as shocked. She gripped the parchment tightly but was otherwise completely still, her mouth gaping open.
"Miss Evans..." Professor Vector had a concerned look on her face. "Are you alright?"
Lily shook herself, snapping out of her shock. "Yes, Professor," she said in a small voice. "I'm fine."
"Alright," Professor Vector did not look convinced but went on with the lesson.
Lily looked at Remus and moved her mouth as if she wanted to say something. He smiled and wrote a note on another piece of parchment.
I told you he was a stand-up bloke.