Disclaimer I do not own these characters, they belong to JKR
On Friday, the day before the much anticipated Girls Night, Lily went into her Charms lesson excited. Today they were going to be casting a Patronus charm. Lily had been practicing and had managed to produce a fully corporeal Patronus. All the desks and stools had been shoved into one corner, leaving a large space for students to mull about. Lily took her place with the other seventh-year Gryffindors. Flitwick clapped his hands together, calling their attention. "Now now, class. We are practicing the Patronus charm today," he announced. James sniggered from behind her. She glanced at him.
"What are you on about?" James smirked at her but said nothing. She rolled her eyes. Flitwick flicked his eyes to her.
"Ah! Miss Evans, would you care to go first?" Flitwick asked, bouncing on the balls of his small feet. She sighed internally.
"Sure Professor." She moved into the center of the semi-circle that had formed. She pulled her wand out of her sleeve, before saying firmly, "Expecto Patronum!" A brilliant doe burst from her wand, she laughed, having it prance over to Mary. James stared at it, his mouth hanging slightly open. Flitwick clapped, encouraging the other students to do so. Lily waved her wand and the doe disappeared. She gave a small sarcastic bow and returned to her spot.
"Must've been a good memory huh, Red?" Lily colored.
"Piss off." Lily chose to ignore the butterflies that came with the memory. She had thought of the train ride, her friends' laughter, and Sirius's stupid pranks. It made her smile and feel light, despite what had followed. James gave her a curious look while Sirius smirked at her. One by one the others took their turns producing a Patronus. Sirius's was a wolf, Remus's a shaggy dog, Peter's a serpent. Mary had a meerkat, Alice a rabbit, Emmeline a tiger, Dorcas a cheetah, Marlene had a barn owl (which looked exactly like her beloved Shakespeare). When it was James's turn to step up instead of showing off, he went up to Flitwick and talked with him quietly. Flitwick shot Lily a quick glance and nodded to whatever James was saying. Lily nudged James's side. "What was that about?" He shook his head at her. Lily narrowed her eyes. When the class was dismissed, Lily lurked right outside the doorway, waving off her friends to lunch.
James bellowed, "Expecto Patronum!" She watched as a magnificent stag burst from his wand, prancing elegantly around the classroom. Flitwick smiled at him and they conversed quietly. Lily staggered back into her hiding spot. Oh, bloody hell he has a stag Patronus. Stags and does go together, what does that even mean? Why didn't he show that in class? Well, maybe, he didn't want you to see. So go away to lunch you prat. Leave him alone, but why wouldn't he want me to see? Maybe he didn't want to embarrass you, oh look here he comes, your chance to escape just diminished to zero. "Lily? What are you doing here? I thought you'd gone on to lunch," James said, tilting his head at her.
"Oh, uh. I was waiting for you actually," she smiled shakily. He raised his eyebrows at her.
"I see, Evans. You are growing fond of me, you can't resist me anymore, I know the truth now," he told her sternly, lips turning up at the corners. She punched his shoulder, the two starting to walk towards the Great Hall. He laughed at her expression. "Come off it Evans. I was only bloody joking."
"I know, still deserved it," she informed him with a grin. When they entered the Great Hall smiling at each other, half the school looked and started up the rumor mill. They reached their spot and sat.
"You two look chummy." Lily threw a roll at Sirius's head. He pouted. He perked up suddenly. "PETE! Where on earth have you been?" Sirius poked at Peter's chest.
"I was talking to Professor Flitwick about my charms mark," Peter said, sitting and helping himself to food. Lily shared a glance with James, they had not seen Peter anywhere near the Charms classroom.
"I was going to go to the library and do homework before the weekend, Lily, would you like to come? I have some questions about Potions," Remus asked, eating slowly beside Sirius. She nodded.
"Oh, can I come as well? I have questions about DADA Remus," Mary poked in.
"Why don't we all go? Does anyone have any objections?" Alice asked, looking around.
"We have Quidditch tryouts at three, but we can go until then?" Emmeline suggested. James shrugged. Sirius groaned.
"Now we have more Moony's to make us do homework, Prongsie, where did we go wrong?" Sirius cried dramatically. James reached a hand across the table to him.
"Everywhere Pads, we went wrong everywhere," James said sagely. He patted Sirius's hand and shoveled food into his mouth.
"Honestly, do you have any manners at all?" Dorcas asked, leaning around Lily to see him properly.
"You are one to talk, woman," he pointed out. Dorcas smiled predatorily.
"I just want one day, one day, without all of you guys' shit," Lily said, watching as Marlene flicked peas into Peter's hair. The group laughed, gathering their stuff and beginning the trek to the library.
"Lily," Severus said, standing off to the side of the corridor.
"No. I don't care," Lily spat out, glaring and hurrying off. The group followed, choosing not to poke at the angry ginger.
After Emmeline, Marlene, Sirius, and James left to go prepare for Quidditch tryouts, the rest of the group decided to pack up as well. "Come onnnnn, let's go support our friends, it's nice for them to know that they are amazing," Alice stated, trying to hurry everyone on.
"You just want to see Frank, don't even lie," Mary laughed. Alice blushed but did not deny it. Quidditch tryouts were cold, but fun to watch. The group cheered on their friends, Dorcas being the loudest. Frank Longbottom, Alice's longtime sweetheart, came and sat with them. Lily engaged him and Remus in a conversation about Charms, passing most of their time. After dinner, everyone came into the Head Students common room. The group had been in the rooms before but not all as one. They went to their own devices simply soaking up the presence of other people and the fire.
"Prongsie, I'm just saying, we haven't had a party yet, and that's just sad," Sirius was saying as he came in the portrait hole, followed by James, Emmeline, and Marlene. They all looked tired but excited at the promise of a new Quidditch season.
"I know, I've had Head duties. Soon alright?" Pacified for the time being Sirius bounced off to Remus, flopping on top of him ungracefully. Remus let out a long-suffering sigh, his book now underneath his energetic friend. Sirius cuddled up to him, nosing at his neck. Remus yelped at the feeling of a cold nose pressed into his skin. James rolled his eyes, "Hey, where's Pete? I thought he was with you at tryouts."
"He was, but he wasn't at dinner," Mary said, turning back to her chess game with Frank.
"Maybe he has a secret girlfriend," Alice suggested, curling into Frank's side. Everyone shrugged. Lily kicked the group out ten minutes before curfew, citing her need to sleep. James laughed at her antics. She huffed a goodnight at him, curling up in bed and drifting into blissful sleep.
A loud noise and her door slamming open woke her the next morning. "LILY! Guess what?" Marlene bounced onto her bed.
"Fucking what, Marls, I was sleeping," Lily growled ducking underneath the covers.
"Oi, stop being so rude, Miss Grumpy Pants, it is lunchtime, which means start to girls' night," Marlene explained, burrowing underneath the blanket and meeting Lily's eyes sternly.
"You are not a morning person I see." Lily shot up in bed, glaring. James smirked at her. "Nice pajamas." Lily ducked her head down to see the thin fabric of her camisole. She tugged the blankets up to her neck.
"What do you want?" she huffed.
"Blimey woman, your bedhead rivals Remmy's," Sirius informed her, coming up behind James's shoulder. She threw a pillow at him.
"Everyone out! This is not Kings Cross Station," she yelled, glaring at everyone. Marlene didn't move from under the covers, Lily slightly suspected she fell asleep. Her mattress was deceptively comfortable. Lily laid back down as Remus dragged the boys out by their ears and shut the door with an apologetic smile. Marlene blinked her eyes open and smiled.
"I did actually let you sleep in so you can't possibly be mad at me," Marlene stated.
"I'm not, I can't believe I actually miss waking up like that. Not being in the same dorm as you are is weird," Lily said with a sad smile.
"Oh don't get sad on us Lils, we miss you too," Dorcas said, before flopping directly onto Lily's back. Lily let out a soft 'oof'. She didn't even growl when Dorcas tugged on her hair. Emmeline scooted into the bed next to Lily, throwing an arm over Dorcas to keep her from falling. Alice slid into the open space between Lily and Marlene and Mary flopped across all their legs. Lily laughed, missing the sound of a camera. James smiled to himself, slipping out of the room once more, camera in hand.
After cuddling in bed for a while, the girls pressed a sandwich into Lily's hands. She ate quickly and dressed in a jumper and trousers, sliding trainers onto her feet. The girls set out to gather their supplies. They separated into groups of three. Marlene, Dorcas, and Mary went to the dorms to get pajamas, magazines, sweets, and chocolates. Lily, Alice, and Emmeline went to the kitchens to get junk food, their actual dinner of fish and chips ( a girls' night special), and some soda pop. Everyone was carrying a basket when they returned to Lily's dorm room. James took another picture of them huddling around their baskets. He laughed to himself and went back into his room with his three best friends and Frank, who was a close friend but not a Marauder. The girls set stasis charms on the food baskets, setting everything else out. They changed into old shirts and shorts. This was their seven-year-long ritual of girls' nights. Lily climbed onto the bed behind Alice. She carded her fingers through Alice's dark brown hair, fluffing it out a bit. The girls caught each other up on meaningless gossip from the Hogwarts Rumor Mill. "Lily." Lily hummed, focusing on braiding Alice's hair elaborately. "What's going on with you and James?" Lily frowned looking up into Dorcas's brown eyes.
"I don't understand," Lily told her, focusing back on the braid.
"Don't be daft Lily," Marlene stated flippantly, her golden hair trailing down her back as she turned her head to look at the mirror. Lily stuck her tongue out at her.
"We are friends. He has been acting perfectly mature and kind. I see no reason to be rude when he is not acting the same," Lily said, not even looking up this time. She missed the looks exchanged between the other five girls in the room.
"So you just laugh at his jokes now, and don't think we forgot about the cuddling on the train," Mary asked, raising one black eyebrow at her.
"He's funny when he isn't poking fun at others. He is very affectionate. Alice if you move your head one more time I will have to hex you." Alice rolled her eyes.
"You wouldn't have let him do any of that, not before," Marlene pointed out.
"Before what?" Lily finished the braid, pulling it through the ponytail tightly.
"Before the train ride, before whatever happened to make you like him," Marlene said, shooing Alice out of the spot in front of Lily. Marlene crossed her legs happily.
"I don't like him. Not how you are implying anyway." Lily tugged at Marlene's hair.
"I wasn't implying anything, was I Dee?"
"Oh hush, Marls. You were too. You sure you don't Lils? If you do it is perfectly okay, he is quite attractive," Dorcas stated, coloring strands of her hair wild. Lily blushed, he is very handsome, something we both agree on, Merlin. "You don't disagree. Now tell me is it true what they say?"
"And what would that be?"
"That he is absolutely ripped, don't go all frowny. There is no way he isn't. I mean Quidditch must take strength, doesn't it Em?" Emmeline nodded, trying and failing to tame Mary's hair. Lily didn't reply, her brain supplying her with the image of James in her room after his shower, the smell of him, the way his cheek felt against her lips. I think I can admit I might fancy him a little bit, but I think I'd rather be friends, than just some chase. "You've seen him shirtless haven't you!" Lily didn't immediately deny it.
"You are so very lucky. You have been blessed by the Ab Gods," Mary said, pretending to pray. The girls laughed. "Now, stop beating around the bush and tell us everything." So Lily did, the story flowing out of her. She told them how he had matured and how soft his lips were and how warm his arms were.
"So, you fancy the hell out of him because you realized what all of us already knew," Emmeline said, giving up on Mary's hair. Mary smiled before waving her wand and setting her hair in a simple braid, her baby hairs framing her face gently. Emmeline pouted at her.
"I think, maybe, I do." Marlene actually gasped in shock.
"I can't believe you actually admitted it, color me impressed," Marlene laughed. Lily smiled at her, grabbing a pillow and knocking her over. "Bloody hell woman! Why do you abuse me so?" Marlene asked from her sideways position. "DEEEEEEE, Lily hit me!"
"I'm sure you deserved it darling," Dorcas told her, her wild hair now streaked with neon colors.
"Dorcas, have I told you how much I love you," Lily asked smiling.
"It is always nice to hear," Dorcas said. Lily laughed and had Emmeline come over and braid her hair. Once all the gossip and they had eaten their dinner, they started to cast ridiculous makeup spells on each other. When they had run out of soda pop, Lily was nominated to go get more, as she looked the most ridiculous, with blue lipstick, silver swirls on each cheek, and bright pink eyeshadow. She snuck off to the kitchens, smiling at them when they didn't even question her looks. The house-elfs filled the basket with soda pop and bid her goodnight. She set off back towards her dorms when a hand caught her elbow and jerked her back.
"I'm sorry Lily, why won't you listen? I am so very sorry. I didn't mean what I said," Severus apologized. She yanked her arm away from him.
"Sorry doesn't cut it anymore Severus. I don't want to hear your stupid apologies. You wouldn't want your friends to hear you talk to a filthy mudblood like me," Lily seethed.
"Lily! I never meant to call you that, I didn't mean it. Lily, I know you, I know you will forgive me. I know you hate Potter, stop being so stubborn," Severus insisted.
"You don't know shit about me, Severus. You did too mean it. If you didn't mean it you wouldn't have said it. Now piss off Sev. I don't want any more meaningless apologies," Lily snapped, turning on her heel.
"Fine. Fine, but don't come crawling to me once Potter uses you like some cheap mudblood whore. He only wants the chase, you give in, then he'll use you like the useless mudblood you are," Severus stormed off. Lily held herself together long enough to hide behind a tapestry. She sank onto the floor, pulling her knees to her chest and feeling like a scared child. Lily put her head on her knees, sobbing silently. She lost track of time, only coming back to the world when the smell of pine hit her and warm arms enveloped her.
"Lily, oh dear lily-flower. You had me so worried," James told her. He had sat on the floor and pulled her into his lap. She cried harder, a small sound coming out of her mouth. He didn't ask her to explain, merely holding her and rubbing her back. Lily, wanting to be closer to the source of warmth, straddled his lap and pressed her face into his neck. James huffed a laugh, pressed a kiss to her hair, and told her a ridiculous story of one of the many pranks he pulled this summer. When she laughed in response to his story he shifted. "Ready to join the living?" She nodded but didn't pull away. This is very comfortable and we shall stay here forever. Hear, Hear. "Evans? You gonna get up?" She shook her head. He laughed. "Well hold on tight then." He stood, hands coming to rest on the backs of her thighs. She tightened her legs around his waist. He pulled back slightly and waved his wand. Lily felt the makeup come off her face and she smiled at him. He laughed loudly when she then stuck her face back to its hiding spot. She levitated the picnic basket behind them, not even looking up. When they made it back to the dorms he tried to put her down on the couch and she merely held on tighter. "Bloody hell Lils." He took her up to his room, ignoring all the concerned looks from the now three other occupants. He placed her on the bed gently and only then did she let go. "Pads, get the girls, we'll stay in here tonight, all of us." Lily looked up at him, sniffing slightly. She giggled at the wet spot on his shirt.
"I'm sorry about your shirt," she whispered, not looking very sorry at all. He smiled at her, grateful his Lily was coming back to him now.
"LILY JANE! DON'T YOU EVER SCARE ME LIKE THAT AGAIN!" Marlene yelled bursting into the room followed closely by four other angry women and a terrifying male. Sirius simply glared at her.
"I'm sorry, Marls. I didn't mean to," Lily spoke softly. Marlene's anger faded away. The girls had a group hug, surrounding Lily on all sides. Lily laughed at their ridiculousness.
"Red! I demand a braid as elaborate as possible to make up for the stress on my poor heart," Sirius demanded, shoving his way into the hug. Lily smiled at him and shooed everyone off.
"Come here then." Once Sirius had got his beloved braid, he pulled out two bottles of Firewhiskey. He poured everyone a shot. Everyone took one then settled in on James's bed. Alice sat in Frank's lap leaning against a bedpost. Dorcas and Marlene sat side by side leaning into the bedpost in between them. Emmeline flopped onto her back laying her head in Mary's lap, Mary leaning against the headboard. Sirius and Remus sat against the headboard as well, Sirius basically in Remus's lap. James sat to the left of the boys, in between Mary and Sirius. Lily immediately went into his lap, surprising all but one. He tucked her head underneath his chin.
"Truth or dare, ladies and gents?" Sirius asked, wiggling his eyebrows. The group agreed, taking shots in between turns. Soon the room was filled with drunken teenage laughter.
Longest chapter so far! I just started school again this week, and let me tell you it is already stressing me tf out. Anyway! Enjoy the chapter!
Love
M