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A drop in the ocean, a change in the weather, I was prayin' that you and me might end up together, it's like wishin' for rain as I stand in the desert, and I'm holdin' you closer than most, 'cause you are my heaven. -Ron Pope "Drop in the Ocean"
"Lily!" I heard Marlene's cry from across the hall-she barged in the doors, a letter clutched in her hand, and she bulleted toward me, sliding down on the bench, her cheeks pink from running. Not many people were up this early in the Great Hall for breakfast, but those that were, stared.
"What are you going on about?" I grinned teasingly, her good mood infectious. I spooned another heap of eggs into my mouth, and my earlier pondering over Petunia's letter disappeared from my mind.
"Oh, nothing much," she grinned, obviously fibbing. "Just-this!" She thrusted the letter into my hands that she had run into the Great Hall with.
Dear Marlene, my eyes skimmed over the parchment. The letter was from her parents.
Darling, of course Lily may come this summer to the vacation home in Greece-
I was even surprised myself to learn that Marlene's family had a home in Greece-I knew they were rich, but not that rich-
(If Lily's parents are alright with this, of course.) We have also invited the Potters to come along, and Sirius, as he is now living with them. I do believe another boy is coming, dear me, I don't seem to recall his name-Remmy? So you may bring a few more friends also, if you'd like, as you know, there's plenty of room. Dorcas, Emmy, Alice, and Lily, of course-was I right in picking who you chose?
Lots of love,
Mum and Dad
I looked up from the letter with wide eyes, excitement building in my stomach. "I love your parents!" I concluded. Marlene grinned widely.
"Me too!" She squeaked. "At the moment," she laughed.
"I am this close to screaming with excitement!" I hissed out of my clenched teeth. "Wait-what about Emmy?" I remembered.
"What about her?" Marlene didn't meet my eyes, just continued to push hash browns around on her plate.
"Come on, Marlene. You guys are best friends. You're better friends than to be split up over some dumb guy." Marlene didn't say a word, but I could tell by the way she kept her eyes down that she knew I was right.
I didn't get my final assurance, though, until dinner the next day.
"Emmy," Marlene broke her silence for the first time in almost three weeks. Emmy stared at her, suspicion glinting in her large eyes. "Will you come with me?"
"Sure." Emmy stood up slowly, following Marlene to where the Marauders sat.
"I'm so tempted to spy on them," Dorcas looked over wistfully.
"I'd pay big money to hear what they're saying," Alice agreed, sighing. "If only we had Extendable Ears..."
Thankfully, they weren't too far away, so we did hear a bit of what was going on.
Sirius's mouth was flapping, making it apparent that he was stuttering-Marlene and Emmy stood side by side-
"-friends are more important than...mates before dates...sorry, Sirius." Without realizing it, all three of us had leaned toward the bit of conversation that we were able to hear. They had come to the table enemies, and had come back to the table as best mates again.
"And now," Marlene announced dramatically, re-claiming her seat. She doesn't look upset in the slightest about Sirius, but on the contrary, her eyes were glinting and a smile graced her lips. She wasn't the only one looking particularly happy-those that had been counting days until Sirius was single again-mainly his female fan club-were shooting him looks, winking and batting their eyes. But he was too stunned to catch any of it-it was apparent Sirius Black was not used to rejection. "Lily and I have some news." I snapped my head up, catching her eye with a smile.
"If no one is going to be particularly busy this summer..." she began.
"Too busy for vacationing with your friends in Greece..." I grinned wickedly.
"Than by all means, we invite you to Greece!" Marlene was one decibel away from a shriek.
We talked over each other excitedly until the meal was almost done-
"Is it in a muggle village?" Dorcas asked. "Or will we be with other witches and wizards?"
"It's in a muggle area," Marlene consented.
"I bet that makes it all the more fun to pull pranks," Alice grinned wickedly.
"Ugh, don't tell the Marauders that," I groaned.
"What do you mean?" Emmy asked, confused.
"The Potters have been invited," I told her. "And Sirius is living with the Potters. And Remus is also coming. I don't think Peter is, though," I finished with a look to the boys in question.
"No, he's got plans already," Marlene elaborated. On that note, the owls came swooping in, the sounds hundreds of beating wings and the prospect of letters stifled even the most important conversation.
My own owl dropped a letter in my lap which I held anxiously. This held the yes or no for Greece.
"Go on, staring at it won't do much, see if you can go!" Dorcas leaned over eagerly.
"Easy for you to say, you haven't asked yet," I moaned. "What if they say no? What if I have to endure a whole summer with...the lovebirds?" I shuddered, a nasty mental picture of Petunia and Vernon kissing around his mustache popping into my head.
"Then we'll kidnap you," Alice laughed decidedly.
"I give you my permission," I nodded solemnly, opening the letter slowly after giving Maverick a bit of my buttered roll.
Dear Lily,
I am so, so sorry for what Petunia said-your father and I hadn't realized she'd actually sent it. She's putting up quite a fit about this-I think she's forgotten that she is not our only daughter. Lily, you will always, always be welcome at your home, don't doubt that. But if you really wish to disappear to Greece for the whole summer...your father and I have talked this over, and we've finally decided that...you're days away from being of age...thus, you are ready to make your own decisions-if only you'll floo home often to visit. We love you, dear.
Now the letter switched to my father's handwriting.
Hey there, Flower! You sure you're going to make it all summer with that Potter boy? Isn't he the one you're always complaining about? I can't believe you're going to Greece, pumpkin...it feels like just yesterday we were all in Diagon Alley, acting like every magical thing would start to do back-flips at any moment. Like your mother says-you must write AND floo often, or we will...what's it called...Apernate over there regardless of wether it's possible or not. Love you,
Mum and Dad
"You guys," I shook my head, trying with every ounce of willpower to look like I'd been rejected. I slumped my shoulders, channeling depressing thoughts. But I couldn't hold that facade for more than a moment. "It's a yes!" My grin spread from ear to ear, mirrored by Marlene.
The weeks seemed to fly by, blending into months-soon, very soon, it was June. And Marlene, Alice and I were ready to leave from Hogwarts to Greece. Emmy and Dorcas had not been allowed to go, unfortunately-Emmy's parents had another vacation planned already, and Dorcas's simply did not want her gone that long. But school wasn't done with us yet, not even close.
"Ahhhh," I smiled in bliss, letting the sun work into my skin, warming me better than a blanket.
"I agree," Marlene said dreamily, wading knee-deep into the luke-warm, crystal waters of the Black Lake.
"Don't get too far out, or the squid will snatch you away," I smiled, opening my eyes and propping myself up on my forearms, bits of newly-greened grass stuck in my snarly waves of red hair.
"Why don't you join me then?" Marlene dips a hand into the water and flings it out at me, giggling as diamond droplets splay out to me. I roll up onto my feet, kicking off my sandals and pulling my mid-back length hair into a messy bun.
"I do think I shall," I dip my first foot in, shivering at the cold.
"It's warm once you're used to it!" Marlene insisted. "Here, I'll help you!" before I can ask what she means she's scooped up a handful, flinging it down at my bare legs, managing to also get my shorts. I let out a cry of indignation, retaliating with taking a few steps into the deeper water and kicking a foot out at her, spraying her up to her shoulders.
"Revenge is sweet," I announced, lifting my arms in the "V" for victory stance.
"Not for long," Marlene calls, venturing deeper into the water, up to her mid-thighs. "Why didn't we bring anything we could properly swim in to Hogwarts?" she said mournfully.
"Not many people usually swim in this lake, courtesy of the giant squid that tends to eat black-haired sixth year girls," I teased.
"I think it's redheads he prefers, Lily," she grinned, slapping her hands down on the water, directing the spray at me. I jumped up in a futile attempt to avoid it, my hand brushing the thin willow branches who's roots were held in the uneven, grassy bank containing the waters of the Great Lake. That triggered a full on water-war-
Laughing with glee, no longer caring if we get soaked, my legs struggled to push themselves through the cool, caressing pressure of the water, as deep as I dared to go into the lake, daring Marlene to follow me. She did, of course. We were Gryffindors. We'd make it across the lake completely before either of us gave in wanting to turn back. Besides, contrary to popular belief, the Great Squid didn't actually eat children. He had actually tossed me back up after Potter pushed me down in first year.
I pushed my hands in the water, sending a thick wave of light green water at her to which she put her hands up, laughing maniacally as water droplets coated her hair, glinting off the sunlight. She pushed water back but I ducked under, submerging, all sound disappearing before she had the satisfaction of drenching me herself.
All sound disappeared and I opened my eyes underwater, the dark floor outlined blurrily against my vision. I pushed myself back up, t-shirt and shorts plastered to my body. Marlene dunked herself as well, and, pale legs glinting underwater, she launched herself at my waist, pushing me back into the waters, lurching, as I unsuccessfully tried to hold my ground. She released her grip on me, and we both tread water, realizing at the same time how far we'd come from shore.
"Ahhhh!" Marlene let out a shrill scream, piercing the peaceful air. "Something-it touched my leg!" Her eyes were wide and she was half-laughing, half-scared.
"That was my toe, Mar, not the squid!" I laughed hysterically, wrapping my arms around my stomach as I kick my feet to stay afloat.
"Oh-oh!" She turned red, splashing me feebly with one hand.
"Oi!" We turned towards shore, eyes glancing over the sight of two familiar boys. "Ever heard of the squid that lives in this lake?"
"We've made friends with it!" I yelled back to Potter, pushing wet hair out of my face and smoothing it down in the back of my head. Marlene and I edged closer to the shore, closer to Sirius and James, until our toes squashed with sand again.
"Thought you'd be skinny dipping," Black smirked.
"Sorry to disappoint, Black. If you want to peep at girls, there's a whole castle of them back there," Marlene pointed toward Hogwarts. I snorted in agreement, but to my surprise James doesn't add his consent, but jokingly punches Sirius in the shoulder. "Sirius!" he mock gasped, feigning shock. "And here you had me thinking you were a gentleman!" We all laughed at that, while Black lunged at Potter and they playfully wrestle.
"I can't believe Potter didn't agree with him," Marlene said to me in awe as we crouched to stay submerged in the water, because now the temperatures were flipped-the water felt warmer than the air above us, although the sun was still working at its job, slowly warming the air.
"Mind if we join you?" Potter threw over his shoulder as Black rammed into him.
"It's a free lake!" I surprised myself by saying that. Marlene looked at me in shock.
"What?" I shrugged. "It is!" Potter and Black dropped their black robes on the grass, revealing summer muggle clothes underneath. Thankfully, Potter stopped Black from removing those as well. So even Potter had limits, I realize with amazement. Although they did remove their shirts-and I had to say, years of Quidditch had paid off for Potter, and so had whatever Sirius had been doing to develop similar muscles as well. I tore my eyes away from Potter's abdomen up to his face, where he was removing his glasses.
"If you step on these, I will murder you," Potter said calmly to Black, holding them up before tossing them on top of his robes.
"I'll do my best," Sirius grinned devilishly, and he and James raced into the waters, not hesitating at the temperature. Sirius dove smoothly, leaving James out in the open, a perfect target to be splashed by Marlene and I. Which we did, of course.
"Hey, hey!" He put his hands up, but soon scooped water back at us, and then Sirius resurfaced. He joined James, and we battled them, spraying and splashing until they were just as soaked as us. Marlene kicked up her legs as the splashing came to a lull, floating in the water, closing her eyes peacefully.
"How do you do that?" I asked her wistfully.
"What?" She opened one eye at me, squinting it against the harsh rays of the sun.
"Float!" I exclaimed.
"You've got to be kidding me, Evans," Potter snickered. "You can't float?"
"No, I cannot," I held myself up tall, anxious to defend myself. "But I'll have you know I could swim to the other side of the lake and back before you manage to even pass that tree!" I pointed at another willow tree around fifty meters down. He raised an eyebrow.
"Do I hear a challenge, Padfoot?" He turned his head back in the waist-deep water to Sirius, who had also adapted a floating position in the water.
"If you both want to get pulled under by the squid, I may not hear you scream from this far back," he shrugged nonchalantly, lazily tracing fingers in the water.
"Here, look." I flopped down, kicking myself up onto my back. The water managed to support me for a few seconds before my legs sunk down, leaving only my face up above the water, and by then my heels were already in the sand.
"Why you gotta be so mean to me, water?" I chastised it, bringing my hands down on the surface, ripples moving out. James was shaking with laughter, and I pulled my head up, glaring at him.
"I would say let's see you do better, Potter, but then-" I stopped myself, an idea forming in my mind. "Yeah, let's see you do better."
"Easy," he rolled his eyes, kicking himself up until he was floating. "See, Evans? Now this is how you flo-splurgh!" I snuck over to him, willing the rippling water not to give me away, and pushed down his hard stomach. He flailed around for a moment, eyes wide in shock.
"EVANS!" he roared, jumping after me. Giggling loudly I leapt back and his arms circled around pure air, the force of his momentum sending him staggering, almost face-down, into the lake. "Impressive," he resurfaced, looking at me. "That was a good move."
"The one where I completely silenced your arrogant bragging or jumped away?" I grinned, letting him know I was teasing. By now Marlene and Sirius were turning flips and doing handstands in the water, trying to out-do each other.
"Both," he admitted, shrugging. "Now, will you go out with me?" I glared at him through dripping hair.
"What do you think I'm going to say, Potter?"
"How do you know you don't secretly, subconsciously want to go out with me?" he winked, already back to his normal arrogant self.
"Because, Potter," I snapped, a bit disappointed but not sure why. "Even my secret, subconscious self thinks you're an annoying prat."
"It's alright, Flower," he begins to grin, and I begin to get scared. "Want to know why?"
"Not particularly."
"Because," he plows on anyway. "Because this year, I have all summer to ask you out, love," I let myself fall back into the water, going under and screaming my heart out.
The Next Day, In Class
I was about to fall asleep. No lie. If History of Magic was not such an important class to know about, I would not have picked it. I looked wistfully out the open window toward the lake-several students on free hour seemed to have gotten the same idea Marlene and I had yesterday, and were splashing gleefully in the Black Lake. However, we were too far up to hear their joy-fulled screams, which was probably for the better. That would be just too tempting to simply not levitate myself out the window while Binns's back was turned.
Five more days, five more days, everything seemed to hum. I bounced my leg impatiently, staring at our ghost professor-maybe if I stared at him with enough intensity he would stop talking. Or evaporate in the heat.
No such luck. He continued to drone on about Oslo and Frezzie, the two first-recorded half human, half giant. They reminded me of Hagrid, and I felt a pang of guiltiness-I hadn't been to see him in a while, but I was swamped with homework. With the year coming to a close you'd think the Professors would go easy on the truckload of essays and reports, but no-it was the exact opposite, especially Binns and McGonagall. The episode at the lake yesterday was sheer luck that I had finished my homework in my free hour before. I rested my head in my hand, wondering if it was possible to fall asleep with your eyes open.
By the end of the class, I concluded that it wasn't. With three classes until the end of the day-Transfiguration, charms, and potions, my attention span was at an all-time low-now that I had got the idea of visiting Hagrid, it was all I could think about. At least in Charms, when Sirius plunked down in the chair next to me, we could get away with passing notes. That was one of the perks of sitting next to one of the best pranksters in school-they could pass a Hippogriff around the whole class thrice before the teacher could catch on.
You look just a bit bored.
Just a bit? That's all? I rolled my eyes at Sirius's first statement.
Maybe a medium-sized amount. Do you think the girls are sexy in Greece?
Do you think the boys are?
Point taken. Besides, Prongs would hex anyone before they could look twice at you.
I winced-Sirius had unknowingly reminded me about Snape. Yeah, yeah. You ever been to Greece?
Are you kidding? The woman who called herself my mother before disowning me would sooner give her right hand than bring me somewhere half-way enjoyable!
Your Mum disowned you? Is that why you live with Potter? Sorry...don't answer that if you don't want to.
It's fine, I honestly don't give a rat's arse. Yeah, that's why. Good riddance, I say. I like Potter's Mum better.
Isn't she a bit old for you?
Aw, stuff it, Evans.
You don't seem that upset about being disowned.
I was hoping she'd do it for years, the only thing I'm upset about it her not doing it sooner! You know she once enchanted her giant cookbook to follow me around, repeatedly trying to close my head in it. The book was bigger than any of our textbooks.
That explains a lot! I covered a snicker as I gave him this note
Ha-ha, Evans. No brain damage, though-I warded it off with one of her favorite portraits.
Clever.
I often wonder why I'm not in Ravenclaw.
Charms ended with tiny Professor Flitwick yelling, red-faced and angrily, at Lucius Malfoy and a few of his Slytherin friends for bewitching Frank Longbottom's quill to shout embarrassing things about its owner.
Finally at the end of the day, I was able to make it to Hagrid's, with Alice along. We practically flew down the hill to his hut, relieved the long day was over. The cool evening air was like heaven, the rock steps crunching as we stepped on each one. We technically weren't supposed to be out on the grounds this late, but since we were going to see a teacher-well, sort of-we figured it was alright.
We rapped on the door a few times, stepping back to give room to whatever new 'pet' Hagrid was housing currently that might come bolting out the door.
"Jus' a minute!" he called from inside. Scuffling and scraping from inside the house sounded through the door, and Alice and I took another step back. Hagrid finally threw the door open, flowery apron and bright scarlet oven mitts giving hint that he was in chef mode.
"Ah, Lily, Alice!" he beamed. "Come righ' in, no miniature dragons this time, Lily, they're covered ou' back," he chuckled, noticing we were standing a few steps away from his door. "Only a few Jobberknolls I found back in the forres', and they won' hurt anyone! They're harmless creatures!"
Hagrid's definition of "harmless creatures" was slightly different than most peoples', though, so I wasn't that assured.
"Sorry we haven't been to see you lately, Hagrid!" Alice begun, and we both took a seat in his over-large kitchen chairs as he fiddled around with whatever was in the oven.
"Quie' alright, I suspect your professors aren' lettin' up now just cause the term's almost over," he said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"No, definitely not," I choked after making the mistake of trying Hagrid's mug of-something, a silent dare from Alice.
"Yeh all righ' there, Lily?" Hagrid turned to me, concerned.
"Yeah, just-just went down the wrong pipe," I coughed, eyes watering as I tried to get the taste of burnt sock out of my mouth. Hagrid turned back to his rock-hard cakes, completely burnt.
"Oh no, my cakes!" Hagrid waved his gloves over them to clear the smoke rolling off of the black, rock-looking chunks.
"It's alright, Hagrid, we've just had dinner anyway," Alice reassured him quickly.
"Oh, alrigh'. I'll have the recipe perfected for my rock-cakes by the time yer' children are here in Hogwarts, see if I don't!" With that vow he chucked them out the window, each landing with a hard thump on the ground.
"Why do you have Jobberknolls, Hagrid?" Alice piped up, noticing bright blue-speckled birds. "Those are the Jobberknolls, aren't they?"
They were silent, not making any noise except when they took flight from one side of the room to another. And even that was only the swooshing of their wings.
"Have 'em because they're dead useful, they are. Their feathers, at least. They're in a lo'of potions, an' they molt'em like crazy. They're silen' until the minu' they die. Then they make a right awful noise-all o' the sounds they ever heard, backward-mixed into one shriek. Scares away any intruders, tha's for sure," he chuckled deeply.
"I don't think I've ever heard of them," I surreptitiously drained some of the mug with my wand while his back was turned, not wanting to hurt his feelings. Alice did the same.
"Righ' sure you don'. Mighty under-appreciated those birds are," he said a bit grumpily. I was glad, at least, that they were definitely the tamest species Hagrid had ever allowed into his hut. Unless they could magically transform into face-eating vultures. (That was Hagrid's last species of birds-they first looked like canaries, and I had made the mistake of getting too close.)
The Next Evening
The next day's classes were exactly the same as yesterday-dull at best, and not spent learning anything exciting but rather spent massaging out writers' cramps from particularly long essays. No matter what the weather said, school was not, in fact, over yet.
Even the sunset that blazed over the ground and shone through the windows was extra spectacular-even Marcus had commented on it when we had first begun patrol. Now it had been washed away, re-painted by the inky blackness of night and scattered with stars like some heavenly being had taken a stroll along the sky and scattered shards of diamond behind them.
"What are your plans for this summer?" Marcus asked as we wondered down the Charms corridor, chatting easily.
"I'm actually going to Greece with Marlene's family, they have a vacation house there," I smiled a bit at the thought. "And Alice, and the Marauders are coming too, minus Peter," I sighed, my perfect summer scenario now being ravaged by the thought of the boys' pranks. But I had to admit, I wasn't dreading that last bit as much as I thought it would. I had almost grown used to the boys' pranks.
Almost.
"You don't sound happy with the Marauders going," he had a smile in his voice.
"No, I-" I stopped myself, surprised at the fact that it was true-I actually wouldn't mind them. Remus was actually my friend, and Black and Potter weren't exactly as horrible as they could had been in previous years. "I don't mind, actually, I think I've even gotten used to their pranks," I admitted grudgingly. "If Potter stopped asking me out every few seconds, he could actually, maybe, be a nice guy. Maybe," I smiled at him, and he had a thoughtful look in his eye.
"So what are you doing this summer?" I questioned him.
"Nothing much, actually," he shrugged. "I have a brother who lives in South Africa, he studies the magical animals that live in the rainforests," he told me a bit proudly. "And I think I'll be visiting him a lot."
"That sounds fun! You should owl me some pictures, if you'd like. I've never seen South America," I wondered what it would be like, hunting down magical animals in rainforests. One big adventure, I concluded. "What kind of animals does he go after?"
"Anything, really-ah, Lily?" he looked at me, almost seeming at conflict with himself. I had known it before, but I really saw it now-Marcus was not bad looking. With his shaggy blond hair, tall build and dark brown eyes, I was surprised he didn't have a girlfriend.
I realized with a start we had both stopped walking, and were standing in the middle of the hallway, staring at each other. I also realized, with a tangled feeling of excitement and nerves and-something else-almost-guilt? all jumbled up where no one could feel them but me-what was going to happen next.
"Yes?" I breathed.
"Can I kiss you?" I was taken aback. No guy I had ever dated-or liked well enough to kiss-had asked me permission before. But did I like Marcus well enough to kiss?
The silence was getting too long, thick and heavy between us, like the air had turned to sap-
-Think, Lily, think-
But I couldn't, I couldn't wrap my mind around the situation, something was stopping me...Marcus leaned in, and I realized asking was just a formality. He was going to kiss me anyway. I stood, rooted to the ground, eyes wide, a billion thoughts racing through my head at once. He took my face in his hands, got even closer-
"Petrificus Totalus!" A disembodied arm with a wand is all that was visible of Marcus's attacker as he fell, stiff as a board, to the floor. I marched over, furious, yanking off what I know knew to be an invisibility cloak.
"Potter!?" I practically screamed. "This is worse than the Amortentia! Which, by the way, they should have given you and Black more than a week's worth of detention for! What makes you think you can go around hexing whoever you please?!" My eyes were burning with anger. "And really, an invisibility cloak? How did you even get that? What were you doing out here, Potter? Spying on me?" I fired off questions at him.
"No, I was most certainly not spying on you!" He protested. "I was-well, I was-uh, why do you need to know?" He demands rudely.
"At the lake, I thought maybe, just maybe, you were starting to change," I began, quietly furious. "Even just a tiny, tiny bit. I was willing to allow myself to wonder if you were even when you asked me out for the thousandth time that week. But no! You're still the hot-headed bully I've known since first year and why should I have expected you to change?"
Potter stared at me. For once, he was speechless. And I truly didn't care. Fuming, I wondered if he would ever get it through his thick skull that he could not go around hexing whomever he pleases. My conclusion was, no.
I left him there, gaping after me as I preformed the counter curse on Marcus. And I continued walking. Marcus would understand my need to get away.
"Lily!" Potter shouted, and I heard him began to come after me. But I started running, and didn't look back.
"Lily, I am changing!" He shouted after me.
Just this once, I really wished he was. I really did. But I couldn't believe that seconds after he hexed a boy for trying to kiss me. I'd never been so disappointed in James Potter in my life. I felt sick to my stomach, not even sure why.
A\N 20 reviews in two chapters, you guys rock! Happy Halloween, review please!