CHAPTER 5-THE FEAST

Lily smiled slightly and clapped as she final student, Malorie Sanders, was sorted into Gryffindor. It was a sorry sight indeed, knowing that that was the last student she would ever see sorted. Lost in a trace of thought, she almost missed Professor Dumbledore's welcome.

'Welcome all of you! I hope this year will be a good one especially for our seventh years who will be leaving us in little under a year. This year is a time to make the most of what you have and to enjoy every moment, and on that note, let the feast begin!' Dumbledore sat down to cheering and clapping.

Flash, gold light filled the room and the plates were soon full of food. The tables creaked under the enormous mounds of cooking as all the students tucked in heartily. Roast chicken was a popular favourite although piles of pork chops and mince were found under many lids. Pans of vegetables were scattered up and down the table and roast potatoes were found in small dishes. Everything and anything you could ever wish for was lurking in a dish somewhere. Hundreds of jugs of gravy were being poured everywhere and the clinking of glasses was heard from the room, toasting hogwarts, Dumbledore, the houses and many other things.

Lily helped herself to slices of roast chicken, roast potatoes, an assortment of vegetables, stuffing, yorkshire puddings and a tonne of gravy. Most people were doing the same and just piling their plates with about twice the amount she had. Apart from Peter Pettigrew, no, he was just helping himself to cookie and toffee flavoured ice cream.

'Aren't you going to eat something else Wormy?' Remus asked, looking at Peter in disgust.

'I don't think so. I'm just in a mood for pudding if you ask me!'

End of conversation.

Lily talked to many people during the feast. About N.E. , James, fashion,make up ideas, James, Marauder pranks, the food, James and head duties. She couldn't stop her mind wandering so in the end, she just decided to shut up completely. She listened to Alice telling her about her date with Frank over the holidays and Marlene's letters with Sirius. She thought guiltily of a message from James that she hadn't opened at the start of summer from when she hated him. Quietly and slowly, she took it out her bag and unfolded it.

Dear Lily,

I hope you've had a good summer, although you probably won't choose to read this until you change your mind, or just get really bored. Don't roll your eyes please, I know you to well Lily.

She gasped sightly, frowning because she had just rolled her eyes.

Yeah, and don't frown either, it's not a good look. I've come up with a really good idea over the summer for communications between us Marauders and you girls. I'm not going to reveal it here but I daresay you'll find out. Were you made head girl by the way? I was made head boy and I think Sirius nearly died of shock (shame he didn't, it would've been much more peaceful!)

Lily burst out laughing, ignoring the stares from around the hall.

You're probably laughing now.

She stopped abruptly.

You've probably stopped now you've read that sentence, oh well, can't say I tried-DON'T ROLL YOUR EYES AGAIN! Anyway, I hope you had a good summer and Petunia didn't annoy you to much. Us lot are going to Marlene's party by the way-apart from Peter, his mother's ill!- SO I'll see you then...I guess...bye!

With love,

James Potter

Lily sighed slightly and gazed at her plate of roast chicken. How did James know about Petunia, she could interrogate Marlene later. But it was like she was a book, he knew exactly what she was going to do even before she knew herself. She stuffed the last of the chicken in her mouth, rolled up the letter and made herself a big bowl of raspberry ripple ice cream, the same as James' (something everybody else but her and James noticed!)

'So guys, I've been thinking over the summer about communication for us guys,' James began. 'Me and Sirius have a mirror but we've come up with a new idea just for seventh year, so make good use of them.' He pulled eight identical red books with the Gryffindor house crest plastered on the front from his bags.

'Basically, what Prongs is trying to say is that we've got books for you all to write in. When one of us writes in the book, it is made to appear to all of us so we can reply.'Sirius nodded, taking half the books from James.

'That's right! You've each got a coloured ink which will show who's written what. I'm emerald green, Sirius here is black, Lily's is orange, Alice's is pink, Mary's is purple, Marlene's is light blue, Remus' is red and Peter's is yellow. Don't worry it's all listed in the front page and only us can see what's written inside.'

James and Sirius handed out the correct books to their new owners after checking each ink colour. Each person opened them, abandoning their food, and checked the book. Lily opened hers and was surprised how heavy it was for such a small book.

'Wow! They're amazing James but why are they so heavy?' She asked.

'Well, you see, Remus helped me with a charm which make them look smaller. In actual fact, they're about as big as our N.E.W.T level books but now we can slip them inside a textbook and no one will notice. Remus?' James looked at his friend who nodded.

'That's right. No one will notice and just think you're taking notes. In history of magic for example, just slip it inside your textbook and write to each other. The only other thing you need to know is, when one of us writes a message, the crest on the cover will light up and shoot sparks. The other final thing is, the password,' he lowered his voice and they all bend forwards to hear him. 'Is your patronus animal.'

The all pulled back looking excited and slid the books into their bags before continuing with their pudding. Alice kept looking at the slim, red textbook.

'We've got one for you as well Frank, we're just thinking of a colour for the text!' Remus added quietly.

'What about grey?' Alice piped up.

'Brilliant, we'll sort it tonight and give it to you!' James grinned.

After about ten more minutes, Dumbledore stood up and peered at the all, giving them the impression he was x-raying them.

'I take it you are all fed and watered now but before you leave I wish to say a few things. Firstly, the forbidden forest is strictly forbidden, to younger students and some, well, older students.' He pointedly glanced at the marauders who just smirked.

'Can't possibly think who he could be talking about,' Sirius whispered, a look of innocence on his face, to James, who snorted.

'Also, a list of forbidden items can be found taped to the wall in Mr Filch's office, if anyone wishes to read it. I believe the list has now reached two hundred hundred and eighty one.'

At that moment, Filch came bursting through the doors to the great hall. He stood there, doubled over, panting, before getting up and speaking.

'Sir, I've just had an update. Zonko's has just ordered items known as fanged frisbees! I would like to add them to the list of forbidden items professor.' With that, Filch stormed out of the hall to laughter.

'And so, our list now becomes two hundred and eighty two! If anyone would care to read the additional items from over the holidays. Finally, I would like to congratulate our new head boy and girl, Lily Evans and James Potter!'

The hall clapped and cheered as Lily went bright red and James laughed at the shocked faces staring at him.

'If it wouldn't be trouble, please may they see me in my office straight after dismissal for a talk with me and Professor McGonagall, that is all, have a good sleep!' Everybody cheered and started to file out of the great hall, laughing and chatting.

Lily grabbed James' arm and pulled him to his feet and towards the door. Before he went, he handed Remus the book for Frank before being swept away by the hurrying students.

'This way!' Lily called to him.

'Geez Lily! Bit eager aren't you?' James said earnestly but Lily just shook her head.

They practically ran up seven flights of stairs to Dumbledore's office, where a gargoyle awaited them. James touched it on the head with his index finger and it sprang to life.

'Password?' It asked, eyeing them beadily.

'Erm, did Dumbledore mention a password to you?' James turned to Lily who shrugged.

'Jelly slugs!' James and Lily whipped around to see Professor McGonagall striding up the corridor towards them.

'Certainly, Professor!' The gargoyle jumped to the side to let them through to reveal a golden spiral staircase.

'Are you just going to stand there and gaze at it all day?' Professor McGonagall said in an amused tone, making them jump.

'You first,' James gestured to Lily, who took hold of the golden banister and began to walk, followed by James and Professor McGonagall.

Lily gasped when she entered Professor Dumbledore's office. It was a large circular room with a ceiling like the great hall, bewitched to look like the starry sky outside. There was a large desk in the middle of the room, at which Dumbledore sat. To the side of it, there was a large stand with a beautiful phoenix perched upon it. Behind the desk was a set of stairs leading to a couple of bookcases and a balcony. A cauldron was bubbling merrily away in the corner with an orange potion Lily recognised as strength potion. Several tables were set along the room and were covered with maps and charts. What drew Lily the most was a cabinet though, filled with small vials filled with a silvery mist. A large basin stood below them and was filled with the silvery stuff.

'Welcome to my office Mr Potter and Miss Evans. I congratulate you again on becoming heads. It is a long time since we've had two heads from the same house I believe. In fact, I think it was your parents James!' Dumbledore pressed his fingers together and surveyed them over his half moon glasses balanced on the end of his crooked nose.

'Indeed it was Professor,' Professor McGonagall cut in. 'They were heads before the year I was!'

'As you must already know, the duties are reasonably simple. McGonagall will hand out the timetables for rounds tomorrow at breakfast to the prefects. Apart from that it is simple.'

Both Lily and James nodded but Lily couldn't look at James. She knew her heads job would be a lot harder because of what she felt for James. Truth be told, she actually wasn't sure what she felt. Maybe she liked him. NO! That was ridiculous! Herself, Lily Maria Evans could not possibly like James Potter. It was impossible!

'I must remind you two of the ever lasting war and my sources have told me that Voldemort must be recruiting from Hogwarts. I ask you about and suspicious information to be told to either me or Professor McGonagall and to look out for younger students. Now Professor McGonagall will show you to your rooms.'

'Erm Professor?' Lily asked. 'Please can I have a word with you.'

'Of course and questions James?'

'Why was I made head boy?' He muttered quietly. This time though, it was not Dumbledore but McGonagall that spoke.

'Mr Potter. Why do you doubt yourself? Over the years you have matured and shown the true Gryffindor inside you. Although some of your pranks may have been funny, I am excluding Black's of course,' James burst out laughing. He could remember quite clearly Sirius' proposal to McGonagall on valentines day for a joke. 'You have reduced the number and grown up. We are all proud of you James and I am sure you will go on to do great things!'

James smiled slightly at Lily who's stomach writhed nervously. McGonagall beckoned James from the room so Dumbledore could speak to Lily and they made there way down to the heads common room and dorm.

'Wow!' Lily gasped, having just joined Professor McGonagall and James inside the heads room. It had a scarlet couch and two armchairs around a fireplace with a bookshelves lining the walls. Two staircases lead up from the back leading the way to their individual rooms. McGonagall strode up the first staircase and opened Lily's door for them to see.

There was a four poster bed made from ebony and matching furniture. A desk and a bookcase were present and a fluffy red rug filled the floor.

'Wow! This is how I've always imagined my dream room to be!' Lily gasped happily.

'The room changes to how you want it to be but it has certain limits.' Professor McGonagall said.

'So it's sort of like a mini room of requirement right?' James asked.

'How do you know about the room of requirement?' Professor McGonagall asked, shocked.

'Marauders honour,' James replied solemnly, putting a hand over his heart.

'Right, you each have your own bathrooms through that door and I doubt I need to show you to your room James!'

'Are you sure Minnie?' James asked in a voice of false concern. 'Quite sure I won't blow up the heads dorm by walking to my room?'

'If you do you wont have a head,' McGonagall muttered under her breath. 'Nope, I'm quite sure. Enjoy this room you two, bye!' Professor walked out of the room, down the stairs and out into the corridor leaving Lily and James speechless.

'You know, I think that's the weirdest conversation I've ever had with ol' Minnie.' Lily punched him playfully on the arm.

'You shouldn't say that...but it's true!'

'I can hear you you know!' McGonagall's voice shouted from somewhere.

'What the-' Lily breathed.

'I only went to check everything was ok outside plus I was checking you didn't blow up the heads dorm on the way to your room!'

'Oops, now Minnie's a stalker as well as insane!' James stage whispered.

'I HEARD THAT! TEN POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR MR POTTER!'

'You did kind of deserve that!' Lily said guiltily.

'I know,' James laughed. 'But it was worth it!'

Authors Note: Please Read and Review, thanks you! ;) :) :* xoxoxo