As Lily clambered through the portrait hole and headed up towards the 7th Year Girls' Dorm, she heard quite a ruckus drifting down. She looked around the Common Room, and most of the others around were ignoring the noise, only sneaking quick glances at the staircase every now and again.
Hesitantly, Lily climbed the stairs, just wanting to go to sleep after an emotionally tiring day. The noise was getting louder, and she finally opened the door to her dorm only to see Brooklyn Glocke throwing Yvonne Joy's hair appliances at Hannah Wilcox. Yvonne was nowhere to be seen. Probably escaped right as the whole thing kicked off.
"You filthy, dirty, SLUT, Hannah! I hate you! God dammit! Why would you do that to me? You bloody bitch!" Brooklyn was still screaming profanities and insults at Hannah, but the physical assault had momentarily stopped while she searched around for more things to throw. Apparently Yvonne's hair collection was not extensive enough to cover her need.
By silently scooting along the edge of the room and quietly pulling herself onto the same bed she had slept on for 6 years, Lily was able to enter the room without detection. Well, mostly. Alice Prewett, easily one of the more popular girls in Gryffindor, poked her in the arm and whispered, "Hey, just in time," as Lily got settled into the mattress. Alice was sat on the floor in between Lily's bed and her own, practicing a Locomotion Charm on her ancient teddy bear, getting it to fetch her books and clothes and then put them back again.
"What exactly has happened here?" Lily asked, because it's not like it was completely apparent, and she was a naturally curious person.
Alice put on an obviously fake look of excitement at sharing the gossip, and in a tone mocking the other girls in the room, began recounting. "Oh, right, well, as it turns out, Hannah stayed round Brooklyn"s house at the summer, like usual, and Henry came to see B. You know Henry? Big, tough Hufflepuff beater in the year above? Brooklyn"s boyfriend?" Lily nodded. She knew of him. "Right, well, he came to see her, but she got distracted because she realised that they were out of something or other, I don't remember, so she popped out to the shops or something, and she was gone for quite a while, and when she came back, she had no idea that Henry and Hannah had just, like, done it on her bed. Hannah's just told her now because she doesn't want her finding out any other way. Isn't that just the most wonderfully delicious news of the summer?" The sarcasm was practically dripping off her tongue. Alice was popular enough that this kind of petty drama was below her. She began to laugh. Lily couldn't help but join in.
"Yeah, I suppose it is." After they both stopped laughing, they just kind of sat there smiling as Brooklyn continued her barrage on Hannah in the middle of the room.
"What are you taking for NEWTS, then?" The question was unexpected, and Lily turned to Alice, surprised that she was still talking to her.
"Oh, um. You know, the standard-"
"Let me guess. Everything?" Alice smirked.
"Er.. Yeah, pretty much," replied Lily sheepishly.
Alice barked out a laugh, although not unkindly. "You're kinda cool, kiddo. We should hang out." Lily face betrayed her surprise at this. Alice laughed again, and proceeded. "I know, I know, Alice Prewett wants to hang out with Lily Evans. Seems weird, right? Because I'm so 'popular'?" She paused as a tube of lipstick flew past her face and hit the wall. "I've actually only got a few friends, it's just that I've got a lot of acquaintances. Anyway, let's eat breakfast together tomorrow. I could use someone on my side of the dramatic bullshit in this room, and besides, it never hurts to be less anti-social. Well, goodnight, Lily."
Before Lily could formulate a response, the Alice was in her bed, curtains drawn, and Lily was alone. She followed her roommate's example and pulled her own sound-muffling curtains around her four-poster and prepared for sleep.
The next morning at breakfast, after sitting with Alice for a while out of convenience more than anything, a letter landed in front of Lily, delivered by a school owl.
To Miss Lily Delphine Evans
I would greatly appreciate it if you would grant my request of your presence this morning. I have asked Mr Potter for his attendance as well. The meeting is regarding you Head duties and your special privileges. Please report to the statue of the gargoyle in the Headmaster's Tower at 8:05.
I enjoy Liquorice Wands. Do you?
Professor A.P.W.
Headmaster
She wasn't entirely sure what the thing about liquorice meant, and she certainly wasn't happy that she had to spend time with James- Potter! POTTER, not James - today, but she supposed it couldn't be helped. She checked the time: She had 10 minutes. Not very long when you have to cross the entire school. She gulped down the rest of her breakfast, said goodbye to Alice, and all but ran from the Hall. James was leaning casually against a suit of armour just outside, as though he was waiting for her.
"Evans, hey. Thought we'd go together?"
He's such a snarky git. How does he even have friends? Stupid git.
Lily didn't say anything, but she didn't run away either. She just kept walking in the direction of Dumbledore's office. James fell in step beside her, easily making up for her fast moving feet simply by having long legs that covered three of her strides in one of his.
"I know a shortcut, you know." Lily ignored him, and she was doing an expert job at it. "Ooh, the cold shoulder, nice one, Evans. Really good, that."
Stupid bastard thinks he's so charming. What if I shove his wand where the sun don't shine, we'll see who's charming then.
The entire way to their meeting point, James kept trying to initiate conversation, and Lily kept ignoring him. She was glad when they reached the gargoyle, but hadn't a clue as to how to proceed.
Turning to her, James asked, "You don't know what he meant by that Liquorice Wands think, do you?"
Upon hearing this, the stone gargoyle stepped sideways, out of sight, revealing a staircase. "It was the bloody password. Of course," said James. He wasted no time jumping up the stairs towards the Headmaster. Much as she hated to, Lily followed him, preparing herself for a truly agonising half hour with James Potter.
