That night, Lily brought all of them to the Slug Club. As she had predicted, Professor Slughorn was profusely excited to see everyone.
"Lily, Lily, so lovely tonight…bringing the new beau, eh?" he said with a wink at James. James just gave him a lopsided grin and swung his arm around Lily, which warmed her right to her toes.
"Of course…Mr. James Potter…Gryffindor Quidditch Captain this year? Several N.E.W.T. classes, excellent. We have Mr. Black, the only one of your kin to have escaped my house, eh?" Slughorn chuckled. S
Sirius gave him an amused look.
"I'm the only one of the Blacks to escape, or the only one of the pureblood twots to escape, Sir?"
Lily noticed that Sirius and James shared a very similar devil-may-care attitude when it came to teachers. Slughorn, luckily, only laughed all the more.
"Language, language, Sirius. Your cousin Andromeda acted like that too, but she was rightly placed in Slytherin. I didn't expect you to be wanting to transfer in either, if it come to that. You are of an opinion that sounds very much like Lily's distressing attitude towards my house. " Sirius just gave him a flippant smile and helped himself to some punch. Slughorn turned to Remus.
"Remus Lupin, hmm…you're in my Potions class. Also in several N.E.W.T. classes, and a prefect to boot. Before he took his brief sabbatical this year, Professor Kettleburn said you were excellent in Care of Magical Creatures. Well done. By the way, have you heard anything from him after that nasty incident with his left foot?"
Remus shook his head because everyone knew that Professor Kettleburn was likely to be off nursing his wounds in the Leaky Cauldron. Slughorn chuckled.
"Can't be helped, I suppose. Nice to see you, lad. Miss McKinnon, another old hand at Potions, and it is lovely to see you. Miss Dorcas Meadows…I've heard an awful lot about your Defense Against the Dark Arts skills from Professor Marsh…she says she can retire in peace after having such a batch of students this year."
After distributing such necessary compliments, Slughorn turned to the student about whom he had heard very of from any teacher.
"And ah, Mister….?"
"Peter Pettigrew, Sir," squeaked Peter, apparently just excited to be at the Slug Club. Professor Slughorn looked a trifle confused for a moment and then smoothed it over with a wide grin.
"Well, nice to meet you, boy. Help yourself to some crisps. Perhaps you'll know the others here?"
Lily looked around. Caradoc and Emmeline were already there, along with the captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team (Lily later discovered that both Caradoc and Emmeline had been invited on their own). Lily waved to Benjy Fenwick, who smiled back. He was with Mafalda Hopkirk, a very pretty Ravenclaw sixth-year who was a shoe-in for the Ministry of Magic. There were several other faces that were not instantly recognizable, but Lily wasn't paying attention as James' breath tickled her ear.
"Want me to nick some pineapple for you?" Lily laughed and pushed James' face away with her palm, feeling his lips grinning against her hand. She could also feel Emmeline's smug smile from across the room, but she didn't care. Nothing was bringing Lily off her good mood now.
Dinner went off without a hitch. Slughorn loved Lily's guests and vowed to send them Slug Club invitations for themselves (Peter Pettigrew blushed over this, although he was alone in the excitement). Emmeline left dinner early, citing "prefect duties" although Caradoc went with her. Several people snickered at this even though Slughorn himself didn't notice.
The evening was actually very nice and for the first time in recent years, Lily found herself not wanting to leave. Slughorn seemed particularly interested in James, who had made it to Head Boy without once being a prefect. Eventually only Lily and James were left, chatting personably with Slughorn (Sirius had been next-to-last to leave, giving James a meaningful wink before excusing himself.). They finally excused themselves at five-past nine. Slughorn jumped up to shake James' hand.
"It was lovely to entertain you, James. Lily, feel free to bring this boy anytime you'd like! In fact, I'd be disappointed to not see him next time."
"Me too," mumbled Lily shyly, putting her hand on James' arm. James gave her an appreciative smile.
"Nice to see you kids. You have such bright futures ahead! Goodnight, goodnight," waved Slughorn as Lily and James exited his office. James was still smiling to himself.
"So, Lily, about patrolling last night…I'm interested in a repeat performance, say, you and me—"
Lily elbowed him.
"That's just like you, James, one kiss and you think you own me. Why is everybody so interested in you and me snogging?" Lily groused, even as she internally warned herself that she was warming to the idea as well.
"Everybody?" James asked incredulously with raised eyebrows. "I didn't know so many people had such time on their hands…I, naturally, have a personal interest, but—"
Lily cut him off once more as they climbed the last flight of stairs to the common room.
"Listen, James, I like you. I have to admit it now, 'I-told-you-so' and all. But we haven't even dated yet, so what exactly are you expecting? Hinkypunk."
"A pash every night or so?" James suggested, winking at the Fat Lady as they climbed through the portrait hole. "Wait a minute, did you just say that you like—"
"I'll think about it," she interrupted loftily. Lily still wasn't quite ready to discuss her feelings about James Potter with, well…James Potter.
"What's to think about, Lily?" asked James earnestly, his smile renewed several times over. Lily noticed that she and James were attracting fascinated looks as they crossed the common room together. "Or will I need to seduce you again—" A mortified Lily clapped her hand over his mouth just as Marlene jumped out of an armchair and hurried over, a chuckling Emmeline in tow.
"Oh, Lily! You don't know what just happened! Well it really happened about an hour ago, but—wait a tick, where were you two?"
Lily said "Slughorn's" just as Emmeline announced "Astronomy Tower." Lily scowled at her friend as James laughed.
"If only, Vance, if only. I like the way you think…"
Lily rolled her eyes.
"Shut it, James. Now, Marlene, what is it?"
Marlene wrung her hands.
"I…er…" They were cut off as Sirius, Remus, and Peter sauntered over; Remus holding a bit of parchment. Marlene went red.
"Oh, it's…nothing. I'll tell you—"
"Tell who what?" inquired Sirius lazily, flipping his hair back. Marlene's cheeks looked almost purple. Remus handed the parchment to James.
"This is yours, Prongs, I found it like…"
James nodded. Marlene blustered on.
"Er…Lily…me…I was going to tell Lily something about Hogsmeade—"
"Yes, Marlene?" said Lily kindly. Marlene struggled with her words.
"I was…erm, sort of ambushed…on the way back from Slughorn's…outside…Travers just sort of swooped out of the shadows and asked me to Hogsmeade!" she blurted, determinedly facing only Lily.
"I nearly screamed at first and then I told him no and he asked why and I said because I was going with someone else—"
"—and now Marley's in a flap because that's not true," finished Emmeline, who apparently found this to be funny. "I offered her to go along with Caradoc and me, somehow she declined…"
"What about Dorcas?" Lily proposed.
"Dorcas is meeting Prewett there," yawned Emmeline. "He's taking a day off…"
"Dorcas is dating who?" asked a surprised James.
"Fabian Prewett," supplied Lily. "Now then—"
"You girls certainly get around," muttered James, moving possessively closer to Lily.
"I have an idea," said Sirius loudly, taking charge of several conversations at once. "Since Marlene needs someone to go with to weasel out of a Slytherin's greasy clutches, I suggest us."
"Us who?" asked Remus a bit shrilly. Sirius gestured to include himself, Remus, and Peter.
"She'd be a nice replacement Prongs, as I assume he'll be up to…er, other things. What say, Marlene? You'll trust us to fight for your honor against those reptilian ba—"
"That sounds lovely," confirmed Emmeline. Marlene blanched, looking both flattered and awkward.
"Brilliant, then it's settled," James proclaimed with finality. He looked as though he had an agenda to accomplish; his eyes darted to Lily and then the entrance to the common room. Lily suddenly realized exactly what he was probably thinking…and why not? Don't pretend you didn't like—
"Lily and I must be off now, things to discuss you know." He took Lily by the arm and tugged her towards the portrait hole. Sirius laughed. Lily protested, trying to smother the warmth rising in her chest.
"James, I—"
James pushed her gently through the opening. Lily stumbled and turned around, hands on her hips.
"What was that all about? I ought to—" James covered her lips with his. Lily found herself melting into him without hesitation. Caution to the wind Lily, this is what you wanted… She kissed him hungrily back and a few moments later they broke apart to a loud "Ahem!" from the Fat Lady.
"Pardon," said James, taking Lily down the hall. Lily absently unwrapped a small candy from her pocket and popped it into her mouth, allowing James to steer her as he would.
"Sherbet lemon?' she offered. What was that all about? Hmm…no time to be shy though, I'd say it went fairly well…He really is quite—
James stopped walking. He stared at her and laughed aloud at the candy in her hand.
"What?" demanded Lily defensively. "Just thought you may want a candy, Potter. No personal offense—"
"You!" said James, managing to look bewildered and delighted and charming all at once. I didn't really just think that, did I? Oh yes, well, I suppose I did…it's fine now though, we are together…
He was actually pointing his finger at her and shaking his head. Lily didn't see what was so odd.
"What about me?"
"You know Lily, I can't understand you. I just can't. I've been asking you out since fourth year, and only now you come round! And in a few days too! After hating me for all that time?"
"I didn't hate you during all of—" James however, was on a roll and could not be stopped. He didn't seem angry though, which Lily thought was a good sign.
"And now that we've snogged, you still go about just like ordinary except you're nicer to me, and how can you expect me to—"
"Shh," whispered Lily dreamily, placing her finger on his lips. "It's enough to know I like you, okay? Isn't it? Everything's a bit complex right now, so—"
"Aha!" cried James, in accusatory triumph. Lily almost laughed at James' slightly maniacal expression. "So you do like—"
"Yes," Lily affirmed. "I've given in. I do like you, and I am happy to go to Hogsmeade with you. Sometimes you just get me wound up, but I'm trying to get a hold on that. And now we're early for patrols and are you going to kiss me or not?"
James stared back at her stupidly, trying to work out if this was a trick or not. Lily harrumphed.
"Come on Potter, I know you can—very well, I'll do it." Lily moved in very close to James and did something she had been thinking about all summer. She took his face in her hands and kissed him fiercely, her sherbet lemon nearly sliding out of her mouth and then making move to choke her. James, to his credit, was not long on the uptake and had his arms around her fairly soon. Lily smiled into his mouth before nipping lightly at his lips. James chuckled and held her back at arms' length just to get a look at her.
Lily was beaming right up at him with those beautiful, beautiful eyes. James could still taste that explosion of citrus. So she liked him, finally. That was good. She was also enthusiastic about their physical relationship, another plus. Even though James could hardly understand what had brought about Lily's change of attitude, he decided to leave that for later.
"You're a nutter, you know that kiddo?"
Lily bit her lip expectantly, making James wince as his temperature rose.
"James, are you saying it's time for patrolling?"
James smiled.
"No, that's not what I'm saying. I—"
"Well, I'm saying it is!" announced Lily loudly, anchoring herself to James side with her arm around his waist. "Let's start now. We'll get done faster."
Lily found herself to be in a decisively chipper mood. If she was not careful, she might actually aggravate herself. Lily could certainly get used to this situation with James, if she didn't berate herself later for being forward…but who could ever say she'd been forward when it came to James Potter—
"You're a good snog, Lily," commented James evenly. Lily chuckled and nudged him playfully. She's not annoyed at me, she enjoyed kissing me, is this—
"Why thank you, Potter. You're not so bad either."
"Obviously," mumbled James almost to himself. Lily was delightfully amused at the fact that she and James had practically reached a relationship agreement, stability, like…
"Lily, what are sherbet lemons?" he asked out of the blue.
"They're a Muggle candy. I'm positively mad for them. I bring a bunch with me every term," she admitted.
"I'm starting to like them too," said James with a slanting look at Lily. He leaned over openmouthed. Lily let him kiss her softly until he gently began to probe her mouth.
"Patrols, James," she pointed out. James groaned.
"But Lily…"
Lily raised her eyebrows and James inwardly swore. She's just stringing me along then, isn't she? Two can play there…
"Fine, in that case, hang on a minute." Lily watched him curiously as James pulled something out of his pocket and consulted it. A wide grin split his face.
"C'mon, we need to get to the Charms corridor." James hurried along.
"James, what are you—"
"You say you want to patrol, eh? Well here's our chance, we can take points and everything."
Lily followed as James led her through two tapestries and Nearly Headless Nick before coming to a halt.
"Quiet," he whispered, inching forward. "Just follow my lead…" Lily listened wordlessly for a moment and heard voices, more than one. James straightened up, looking a touch like the arrogant James of old, and strode around the corner.
I wasn't really too fond of this chapter and I kind of feel like I muddled around here but if you agree then rest assured that things will get better, points and werewolves and Hogsmeade and all. This was a weird type of chapter I just couldn't avoid…definitely not my favorite. Now for some shtuff…
I always found that Lily just seems to be surrounded by random girls that pair off with the Marauders and that I skip over most of her friends' lines, so I tried to make Marlene and the rest more likeable.
I didn't invent any of these characters because every name or description of unknown person (e.g. blond Slytherin prefect) is from the books. As far as Dorcas, Emmeline, and Marlene go, I felt kind of bad about doing a traditional "Lily-and-her-three-friends" thing but I liked having all of them together. I saw Lily as a popular girl who nonetheless doesn't have many close pals. Even Marlene, her best friend, is kind of in the dark sometimes. I wanted to make it so that Lily is closer with Marlene than Dorcas and Emmeline so it doesn't seem like I'm setting up the dream team with James' friends.
(Mirax Myra Terrik. donkeykong27)
THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO READS AND REVIEWS