CHAPTER 8

'How are house elves such good cooks?' Marlene groaned grumpily. 'I'm completely stuffed and dessert is their speciality tonight, home-made apple pie with cream.'

'Did somebody say cream?' Almost immediately, Sirius made himself part of the conversation. 'Are you planning on eating that pineapple Marly?'

'Don't call me that! And no, you can have it.' She might as well not bothered, it was gone before she could finish her sentence.

Everybody was talking excitedly because Dumbledore had just announced the Halloween feast. The whole castle seemed sort of, happier in general. Apart from the Slytherins of course, but then, when were they ever happy?

'So,' James shuffled up the bench further. 'Dumbledore asked me and Lily to organise a different kind of party.'

'Ooooh, please please please can there be ice cream?' Marlene practically begged as James shrugged, then nodded. 'He's much nicer than you Lily,' she pointed her fork at Lily accusingly.

'It's going to be masquerade, fifth years and above I think,' Lily said. 'We don't want younger years there, Black!' She slapped his hand away, about to steal one of her roast potatoes.

'Either way,' James grinned. 'And I know you won't like it, we will do this party marauder style and get all of you guys to help us.'

'Yes!' Sirius high fived James and Lupin grinned at me. Marlene, Alice and Frank were already discussing ideas.

'As a matter of fact, I think doing this party marauder style would be a good idea.' Lily announced as all four of the marauders jaws practically dropped off.

'Lilypad, you are joking right?' Sirius questioned.

'Of course not. But there would have to be some limits, like no strong alcohol-'

'But-'

'Fine.' James cut off Sirius. 'But when you say strong alcohol right you mean like strong, butterbeer and firewhisky are allowed right, at least for the seventh years?'

'Yes, those two only, for the top year but nothing strong Black, I am talking to you!' He looked up innocently. 'You heard me.'

'Fine.'

The ringing of a glass could be heard suddenly, and everybody turned to look at Professor McGonagall.

'Students of Hogwarts, can anybody tell me what day it is today?'

'Wednesday,' called out James.

She rolled her eyes.

'A bit more?'

'Wednesday the 2nd?' That was Black.

She frowned.

'WEDNESDAY THE 2ND OF OCTOBER?' They both called out.

It could've been Lily's hearing, but she could've sworn McGonagall muttered 'dumbass'.

'No! Well yes and-JUST SHUT UP okay? Today is Professor Dumbledore's birthday, 1,2,3,4 and,'

'Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday dear Dumbledore,

Happy birthday to you!'

'Thank you everybody, thank you,' Dumbledore stood up. 'Some of you have sent me presents and no doubt they will be very useful, so thank you. Pudding is now served!'

'Indeed it will be useful,' James sniggered. 'But not all for the same reasons.'

'You got Dumbledore a present?' Lily said, raising an eyebrow. 'What an earth did you get him?'

'Socks.'

'Socks?'

'Every person needs a good quality pair of socks, and I've got some which are made from a very special material.'

'Like what?'

'Can't tell you.'

'OH!' Black called out. 'I know what you- OW!' James stamped on his toe, hard. 'No need to attack me.'

'In actual fact there might be a need Black.' Professor McGonagall appeared behind him. 'I'm starting to think you might be onto something James. Oh and by the way, Professor Dumbledore thanks you for the socks,' James looked up at Dumbledore who winked and tapped the side of his nose.

'Black and Potter this way please,' they both stood up. 'I'd like to speak to you privately in my office.'

They exchanged glances.

'BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!' Marlene toppled off her seat backwards.

'What?' Lily rounded on her.

Sirius winked at her and she blushed scarlet and burst out laughing again.

James and Sirius walked away with McGonagall Lily turned around, accusingly.

'What's so funny?'

'Nothing!'

While they were having this argument, Alice was staring thoughtfully at Marlene.

'She's not finding anything funny.'

'Thank you Alice-'

'Because somebody's in denial.'

'What?' Marlene's voice rose to a speak and she focused all her concentration on her bowl of raspberry ice cream. 'No...'

'You soooooo do!' Lily grinned, abandoning her toffee fudge brownie. She pointed her spoon at Marlene.

'No I don't!'

'Alice,'

'You like him.'

'Burn! If Alice says it then it's true.'

'Not always,' Marlene protested, blushing. 'Anyway, you like James!'

'Do not!'

'Do!'

'Do not!'

'Do!'

'AAAHHHHH!' Lily full on pounced on Marlene.

'FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!' The whole school chanted.

Dumbledore was even laughing.

'Reducto!' Alice blasted the two apart and they each soared backwards, hitting the walls.

'Evans and McKinnon in my office please,' Dumbledore said, but he didn't sound stern.

Lily and Marlene sat silently in Dumbledore's office, watching Dumbledore search through a large cabinet. Lily had two black eyes and a bit mark on her arm. Marlene had a cut lip, a bruised underneath her eyebrow and a huge scratch down her leg which was bandaged up.

'I'm sorry I bit you.' Marlene muttered.

'I'm sorry I smashed a plate over your head.' Lily said.

'Right girls,' Dumbledore turned around. 'Here's a potion to heal your injuries, put it on before bed tonight and they should be gone it the morning.' He tossed them a small bottle of potion. 'I'm just warning you, don't fight again please, luckily you weren't using magic. What were you fighting about anyway?'

'Errrmmmm,'

'Just stuff,'

'Random things'

'Y'know'

'Like food,'

'And water!'

'And...wait water did you say?'

'Yeah everybody fights about water!' Marlene hissed.

'No they don't!'

'Girls, girls! Just make sure it doesn't happen again ok?'

'Yes SIR!' Lily shouted on sir which caused Dumbledore to dismiss them giving them funny looks.

They were halfway down the stairs when they heard a laugh from Professor McGonagall and a snigger from a man. Lily and Marlene looked at each other and then jumped on the banister, sliding down towards the sounds. They stopped halfway down the second one and Lily pulled Marlene behind a suit of armour so they wouldn't be seen.

There was professor McGonagall standing next to a transfer student who was g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s. He had light blue eyes and highlighted blonde-brown hair gelled up.

'So Connor,' McGonagall said. 'I hope you have a great stay here.'

'Thank you Professor,' he replied.

Holy cow he's scottish. Lily practically died inside.

'I'll send you off to the Gryffindor common room as soon as I can get someone to take you.'

Marlene jumped out from behind Lily into the corridor and pulled her along.

'SO Lily it was sooo funny because Sirius just fell straight off his broom!' Marlene stamped on her toe.

'Ahahahahha!' Lily burst into the worst fake laughter.

'Ah McKinnon, Evans. This is Connor, he's a transfer student from Scotland who will be joining Gryffindor until he leaves soon. I can trust you to take him to the common room and find him a bed?'

'Of course Professor!' Lily grinned. She turned around to wink at Marlene. 'Come on Connor!'

They made their way along the corridor until they passed Flitwicks classroom.

'Hey Lils, I've got to drop in something for Professor Flitwick so go on without me okay?'

Lily nodded and they carried on.

'Hey Lily?' Connor stopped in the corridor. 'Can I ask you something crazy?'

'Sure!'

'Will you go out with me?'

'YES! I mean, errr, huh? I guess.'

He looked amused.

'It's just I feel that there's some kind of connection between us y'know? Do you think I'm crazy?'

'No! I feel it too, it's definitely something special if you know what I mean?' Truthfully, Lily didn't feel anything but she liked this boy so she lied. 'Definitely a spark!'

'Great!' Connor grinned. she pointed to his dorm and smiled.

'See you tomorrow!'

'Yep!' He walked up the stairs and Lily smiled to myself, this felt strange.

Hi guys! So this chapter was, erm, different...? But I just wanted to add in a little bit of drama to pass the time and create something else to go on. It will be more Lily X James once I can introduce another part of the plot so I hope that for now, you enjoy this eighth chapter! I'm running out of pre written chapters which I'd been perfecting over the holidays and I also start school on Thursday so I will have to write a few more, then post them. Also, I am now running a beauty blog which you can check out by PMing me (it won't let me link!) There's no fanfiction on there though but for the meantime, don't forget to favourite, follow and review because it inspires me to write more! ;)