Chapter 23: To The Next Generation of Pranksters
Your arms are my castle, your heart is my sky-you wipe away tears that I cry, the good and the bad times we've been through them all, you make me rise when I fall... -Cascada "Every Time We Touch"
"Lily, shh, it's alright," James tried to console me. We threw several bills down on the table, probably at least twice of what the meal called for, but I was too upset to care. I was breathing in deep, sobbing heaves all the way to the car, leaning heavily into James.
"Oh, Lily, I'm so sorry...it was all my fault..."
"N-n-n-o," I gasped, wiping at my tears. "It was th-that horrible man Vernon's fault."
"I'll make it up with him as soon as I see him next, and be the perfect gentleman."
"J-James, you don't have to be the perfect gentleman, just be my gentleman," I sniffed as he helped me into the front seat of the car. We rode in silence all the way until James began to speak-
"Lily, stop, stop. Pull over with all of these other cars in the-what do you call it-"
"Parking lot?" I supplied, giving him a weak smile. My hair was coming out of it's updo, giving me a disheveled appearance.
"Yes, do it now, please, just trust me."
"Yes?" I looked at him as we stopped, eyes still wet.
"Oh, Lily. Come here." James held his arms out and I crawled over to his seat, taking deep breaths as he held me to him. "I can't stand to see you this sad...come on, beautiful. Apparate with me."
"Where are we going?" I sniffed.
"My house-Sirius is there, and so are my parents."
"O-okay." I agreed, putting my hand on his arm. With a crack, we left the car empty, spiralling through what felt like too small of a tube, with James's arm my only lifeline from being sucked away completely.
"Welcome to the Potter house," he said, sweeping his hand out in front of him at the snow-covered lawn, the lights from the house spilling out and creating an extremely Christmas-like effect.
"Potter mansion is more like it, or maybe Potter castle," I teased, spirits lifting slightly as I took his warm hand.
"Mum, I'm home!" He bellowed through the front door. "Now's a great time to meet my parents, even though you already know them. And my dad just got that muggle thing you can talk to people on-telly-phone, so you can tell your parents where you are."
I nodded and quickly called while James continued to search the house.
"Hey, Lily! How did the dinner go? Where are you calling from?" My mom answered on the third ring, speaking enthusiastically into the receiver.
"I'm at James's parents house. And the dinner! It went horribly, Petunia and Vernon absolutely despise James and me."
"Oh, dear. It couldn't have gone that badly, could it have?"
"Mum, I accidentally made a glass of wine explode all over them both, and they stormed out of the restaurant!" I cried.
"Oh, my...well dear, if Vernon doesn't accept you, he doesn't deserve to know you. And if Petunia has turned her back on you unfairly...oh, but I do wish you both would put this silly nonsense behind you and be close sisters again, like you were ten years ago!" I could just picture her throwing her hands up in the air.
"I don't think that's going to happen, mum, we can't be like you and Auntie Odette," I brought up the tight-knit bond between my mother and her own older sister.
"I know, darling," she sighed. "I've got to go, your father's expecting a call from work...when will you be home?"
"I don't know, hang on-James?" I called, covering the receiver with my hand. "James, when will I be home?"
"Well, I've got this all worked out with my mum-would you like to come Christmas shopping at Diagon Alley with the rest of us Potters? It's tradition," he winked.
"I would love that!" I grinned excitedly, momentarily forgetting my row with Petunia. "Mum I won't be coming home until later tomorrow-is that alright?" I asked, grin still on my face.
"Of course, darling. Have a nice time with James, I'll tell your father you said good night."
"Alright, love you both!"
"Love you, and have fun!" I put the phone back with a click on the receiver, smiling.
"Lily, how nice to meet you!" The woman I recognized as James's mother walked down the staircase toward us with his father, both of them smiling. They both looked a lot older than I had last seen them-James's father looked almost sickly, but he managed to smile with heart at the sight of me.
"Ah, there's the lady James has been raving about since first year," he grinned, but it quickly turned into a hacking cough. He bent over slightly, his wife linking arms with him nervously, standing over him protectively. When the fit passed, he stood back up, smiling again, though perhaps slightly paler.
"Just a cough, just a cough," he assured everyone. "It'll blow over soon."
"Oh darling, it's so good to finally see you and our son together, and so happy," her mother agreed. "You're welcome here any time you like, though you should both get to bed soon, we've got a long day tomorrow with shopping!" She promised, clapping her hands. "James, Lily can have the guest bedroom, the purple one, I think she'll like that."
"Hey, Lil," Sirius came jogging down the hall as James and I went upstairs, hand in hand.
"Hey Sirius," I grinned. "I know exactly what James and I are getting you for Christmas, and you are going to love it," I began to tease. "If only you knew..."
"Hey, I don't even know!" James protested.
"'Course you don't, not yet, you'd tell him straightaway."
"No I wouldn't!" He said innocently as Sirius snorted. "Really, I promise I wouldn't!"
Sirius made a noise of indignation.
"Alright, I'll show you tomorrow," I said, standing on my tiptoes to kiss James. He held me tightly for a second, then let go.
"I love you," he promised, letting go of my hand only when the distance grew to long for our connected arms.
"Love you too. Good night, Sirius."
"What, no good night kiss for me?" He teased, and James rolled his eyes.
"That's what you have Marlene for, remember?" I prodded him. "Good nights, boys," I laughed. As soon as I closed the door, my grin dropped and the backs of my eyes began to sting again, my mind's eye replaying tonight's events. Petunia and Vernon hated us. Hated. It couldn't have gone worse.
"James, I see you behind that barrel!" I called, pointing out to where I saw the top of messy black hair bobbing up and down. I paused, halfway in and halfway out of Gambol and Japes, a joke shop. Snow was falling lightly from the darkened sky, and lights from the shops spilled out onto the blanketed streets. I shook my head, laughing as James slunk out from behind the half-broken barrel.
"Don't you want it to be a surprise?" I chastised, re-tying my scarf around my neck. I was wearing muggle winter clothes-a coat, scarf, and hat.
"I promise I'll still act surprised when I actually get it," he begged as a nice looking couple with several small kids, all sharing their red hair, began to talk animatedly to James's parents down the road slightly. Sirius could be seen ducking into the quidditch supply story, probably off to get something for James.
"No. Bye now," I waved cheekily at James, watching until I could no longer see his back until he disappeared into the owl emporium.
I quickly dashed back into the shop, looking around. Almost immediately, my eyes fell upon a two way mirror-
"Great deal, this is, fifteen galleons for such a marvelous piece of magic!" A stout man came up behind me, scaring me out of my wits.
"It looks interesting. Could I see it out of the box, then?" He nodded and removed it from its packaging-the both of them were completely identical, with no gilding or fancy add-ons-
"Works like a charm. No distance limitations, just say the name of the person who has the other one, and you can both talk."
"So like a telephone, only you can see the other person," I thought aloud.
"What's a felly-tone?" The man looked at me, confused.
"Never mind. I'll take them both, if you have a money converter some where in here, I'm muggleborn, you see..." After the money was exchanged and the mirrors wrapped tightly and hidden in my coat, I ventured back out into the night. I figured James would take one of the mirrors and Sirius the other.
"Lily!" Sirius shouted, face pale. I knew immediately from his tone something was horribly wrong.
"Sirius? Are you alright? Where's James?"
"St. Mungo's-no, no, don't look so horrified, it's not James, it's his dad-he collapsed, had some sort of fit, they're all there now and I stayed behind to tell you, come on, we've got to go!" I grabbed Sirius's arm as we apparated, my heart beating furiously. James's dad had been looking rather sickly lately. "Come on, run, this is as close as I can get," Sirius muttered. We ran down the darkened muggle street, keeping our eyes out for any sign of Death Eaters. Sirius lit his wand, swinging it back and forth in front of us so we wouldn't trip.
We pushed open the doors to what looked to be a regular muggle department store from the outside and strode to the front desk, catching the attention of everyone in the main lobby-a couple of snow-covered teenagers looking paler than ghosts.
"We're here-to see-Mr. Potter," Sirius choked out, tired from the sprint inside.
"I see," the witch said grimly, standing up. "Ella! Take these two up to Mr. Potter, level two." A plump witch came bustling out of the back.
"Identifications," she said in a bored tone. Sirius and I exchanged looks, then stared at her blankly. She gave a deep sigh. "Your wands," she elaborated. "We are living in dark times, you know." We presented our wands, somewhat hesitantly, and she pulled out some sort of scanner and ran them both through. "Evans, Black. Come with me."
"How is he?" Sirius finally spoke up as we struggled to keep up with the plump little witch-she could sure walk fast. Moans and groans were coming from behind closed doors, and I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. What sort of state would Mr. Potter be in?
"In a coma," she said shortly. "I will have to ask you to stay calm for the family's sake." She pushed open the door, and James immediately stood up, red eyed, coming over to embrace me. He buried his face between my shoulder and neck and I could feel him sobbing. I closed my eyes, rubbing James's back. I felt miserable just seeing him sad-this was the first time I had seen him cry, and I wanted to cry myself. Sirius and Mrs. Potter were talking in low tones, and healers were bustling around the room. I looked over James to see his father in the hospital bed, looking deathly still.
"James, how is he?" I asked as he pulled back. I put my hands on his cheeks, trying to comfort him.
"He's-he's-I don't know, they don't know what happened," he said hoarsely. I pulled him into an embrace once more, my heart breaking.
"He knows you love him, James," I whispered into his hair. "He knows. And he loves you too." He nodded slightly, and his heaving breaths started to slow. I stroked the back of his head, and we both walked over to the bed, him clutching my hand tightly for support. James wrapped his arm around his pale, stunned looking mother's shoulders. She wasn't crying, she was just staring.
"Is it serious?" Sirius asked from behind, where he was massaging her shoulders.
"It could be," Mrs. Potter nodded slowly. "Any progress?" She addressed the healers. James stared, eyes unseeing, at his pale father.
"Not yet, ma'am, but we think we may have found what caused him to collapse. He had a very minor heart attack-he should heal, but there will have to be several precautions to prevent a repeat of this occurrence." She nodded, tight-lipped.
It took several long hours into the night for Mr. Potter to finally wake.
"James, Daisy," he said weakly, smiling for his families. With a great sob Mrs. Potter stumbled forward into her husbands arms, as did James. They healers permitted the family's embrace for several seconds, then forced them back as they fed him potion after potion.
"He should be free to go home in a day or two, it's very good that he woke so fast, otherwise we would have had some trouble," a thin, long-nosed male healer announced to James and his mum.
"James and Sirius and Lily, you three should go home, get some sleep, it's well past midnight. I'm going to stay here with your father." James protested, but his mother silenced it with a tired look, and his dad insisted that he get some sleep-
"You're not doing me any good by starving yourself of sleep," he said sternly, and we turned to go.
"I left my things in Diagon Alley, I'm going to get them, and finish up a few things, I'm not tired," Sirius announced.
"Alright. See you back at home, mate," James announced, sounding exhausted. We put our arms around each other and headed off in the other direction as Sirius, walking silently down to the lobby.
"We've got to get outside to dissaparate, they've got shields," James said. "Sorry you had to see that, anyway. Me bawling my eyes out."
"James, that's nothing to be ashamed of," I said sternly, stopping him once we stepped outside so he was looking at me. "Really now. You were worried about your dad-besides, you've seen me cry at least twice," I said dryly.
"Yeah, but...you're a girl." He grinned devilishly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I cried in mock outrage, scooping up a handful of icy snow and plastering it to his chest-now that James's spirits were lifted, mine mirrored them. He picked up a handful of snow himself and I ran, squealing down the dark road, the muggle streetlights casting an eerie glow on the snow covered cars around them. It was a cloudy night-no stars or moon could be seen. I hid behind a car, laughing to myself as I heard James's footsteps continue running past.
I suddenly heard them stop abruptly, and the smile melted off my face-I suddenly got the feeling someone was watching me. I turned around slowly, gasping as I came face to face with a man in a silver mask.
"James!" I screamed, drawing my wand. "JAMES!"
"Nice try, Lily, but that's not going to get me to step into your ambush!" James called teasingly.
"Lily Evans, we mean neither you or James Potter any harm. We want only to talk."
"Give me one good reason why either of us should talk to the likes of you," I hissed, trying to back up.
"Lily!" James called, and suddenly his voice was suspicious. "Who's that talking?" Several more Death Eaters emerged out of the shadows, all masked and unidentifiable.
James appeared by my side suddenly, and I felt safer with both of our wands out and pointed.
"We only want to talk, we mean no harm, though if you attack us we are free to attack back," one snarled in a low voice.
"What do you want?" James asked wearily, stepping closer to me. Neither of us lowered our wands.
"We want you in our ranks," one Death Eater with a slippery, snaky voice hissed. "By invitation of the Dark Lord himself." I shuddered at this.
"Never," James and I said simultaneously. "Besides, this has to be some sort of trick, why would Voldemort want a muggleborn?" I hissed. They chattered angrily at the casual use of their Lord's name.
"No one knows the Dark Lord's reasoning, other than the two of you are powerful witches and wizards. Though if it were up to us, the likes of you wouldn't be fit to scrub the floor we walk on," he sneered down at me, and James shouted-
"Back! All of you!" He swung out in a circle with his wand and the Death Eaters drew their own-it was quickly turning into a stand off.
"You can go back and tell Voldemort that we will die before we join him," I stepped forward, standing tall and pointing my wand in turn at the lot of them.
"That can be arranged, one hissed, and they stepped forward. "Cru-"
"Lily!" James yelled desperately, and grabbed my hand. I gasped at the sudden sensation of being squeezed through a rubber tube, and the scene before us disappeared and another unfolded. We were standing before a medium sized white, snow-covered house in a homey looking neighborhood.
"Quick, quick, inside," James ushered, brushing aside the snow on the welcome rug and pulling out a key. He jiggled it in the doorknob quickly and we both stepped inside the dark house.
"Put your coat here," he whispered, shrugging off his own cloak and hanging it on a peg. We quietly removed our shoes, and I followed James into a living room with a roaring fire. The whole house smelled like vanilla, and was pleasantly warm.
"James, what is this place?" I asked as he motioned me over to the overstuffed couch. He peeked out the dark curtains, closing them just as quickly. He threw a look over his shoulder to the staircase, and sat beside me on the couch wearily, looking at the stockings over the fireplace.
"This is my cousins' house," he began in a whisper. "They're muggles. We're completely on the other end of Britain, near the northern tip. In a little muggle town off of Broadford."
"I thought you were pureblood," I whispered back, taking in the Christmas decorations on the walls and table.
"I am, but my third cousin Jerry's a squib, and he married a muggle. They're my parents age. This is their daughter's house, she's a muggle, but she knows about magic, and so does her husband, also a muggle. They have two kids. They all know about magic. I thought this would be the most inconspicuous place, where they couldn't follow us. We should hide out here for a night or two," he pulled his legs up onto the couch and I wrapped my arms around his waist.
"Do you think they tried to follow us?" I whispered nervously.
"Maybe. But I doubt they'll find us here," he whispered. "They've got some magical protection, that's why I didn't use alohamora on the doorknob, it doesn't work. And Darcy won't mind, and her husband, David, won't mind either. Their kids love me," he grinned, eyes lighting up at their mention. "That's them, above the mantle," he pointed above the fireplace to a portrait of a dark haired couple with two young children, a boy and a girl.
"They look nice, I hope we haven't woken them," I whispered.
"They all sleep like the dead-well, maybe not Donna," he contradicted himself. On cue, we both turned around to a wide-eyed, dark haired little girl who looked about five in a pink robe, appearing from the kitchen.
"James!" She squealed, face lighting up.
"Shhh!" He brought a finger to his lips, picking up and spinning his little cousin. "Hey there, Donnie!" He grinned, bringing her to sit on his lap on the couch. She wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him and giggling until he made a strangled noise.
"Choking-choking, Donnie. Be gentle to Jamesie now, you might break him."
"Who's that?" She pointed at me shyly, noticing me for the first time.
"This is Lily, my girlfriend. Remember the one I told you about?" He grinned at me, and Donna waved shyly.
"James talks about you lots. Are you getting mar-ried?" She pronounced the word carefully. "You're pretty. Can you do magic too?"
"So many questions," James coughed, having suddenly gone red in the face.
"We're not getting married," I whispered, tickling her stomach, to which she giggled. "And yes, I can do magic. Sorry for waking you, sweetie."
"It's alright," she nodded solemnly. "Can I show you my room? Can you show me magic?" She grinned in anticipation.
"Tomorrow, Donna. You've got to go to bed, and so do Lily and I. Want to show us to the sleeping bags? I think I've forgotten where they are!" He said, obviously playing.
"Silly James!" Donna jumped up quietly, tugging both of our hands behind her. "Follow me!"
"I think she likes you," James mouthed to me behind her back as she took us to the closet across the wood floor of the kitchen. I smiled widely, ruffling Donna's hair.
"Heeeeeeeere you go," she said, yawning widely.
"Thanks, Donna," I smiled at the little girl.
"Off to bed, squirt," James said, squatting down to her eye-level. "Eskimo kiss," he proclaimed and they bumped noses, Donna laughing hysterically. "See you in the morning, kiddo," he promised.
"Good night, James! Good night, Lily!" She threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my waist-that was all the further the could reach.
"Night, Donna," I whispered and she scampered off to her room, James wincing at the noise. However, no one seemed to wake. She opened the first door in the hallway off of the kitchen, turning and waving one more time.
"I didn't know you were so good with kids," I teased, accepting the sleeping bag and pillow he handed to me. "And I didn't know you talked about me to your cousins," I laughed, socking him lightly on the shoulder.
"Well...maybe a little," he grinned. "I may have showed her my Lily-shrine once or twice," I rolled my eyes, stifling a laugh. We quietly made our way back to the living room, moving the coffee table out of the way.
"Take the couch," James whispered, spreading out his bag. "I'll take the floor."
"You sure?" I paused, secretly glad for his offer. He had really changed from previous years.
"Yeah," he nodded, pulling me into a hug after I set my sleeping bag down. "I'm glad we got away," he whispered.
"Me, too. I was shocked they'd want a muggleborn in their group," I admitted. "Maybe it was a trap."
"You're powerful," James said, swaying slightly. "We're both top of our year...I think he honestly wanted us."
"Never," I scoffed. "He's stupid, to think that."
"That he is," James agreed, kissing me softly. "Night, Lily."
"Night James," I whispered, climbing into the sleeping bag. "I love you."
"I love you too," he whispered, and we fell asleep holding hands.
"Whoa!" I gasped, practically falling off the couch when I opened my eyes, shocked when I was met with another pair, bright blue, staring back at me.
"Gween!" He gasped, pointing to my eyes. He looked about two-light was spilling in from the windows, and laughing and talking were coming from the kitchen.
"Hey, buddy," I said, picking myself up from the floor and untangling myself from my sleeping bag. James was gone from his, but I heard his laugh coming from the kitchen.
"Oh Cooper, I told you not to wake her up!" A young woman in her late twenties said, opening the door to the kitchen. "Hello Lily, I'm Darcy," she grinned warmly, walking over and scooping up her son. "Sorry about Cooper-he just doesn't understand what no means! Do you, honey?" She bounced a giggling Cooper on her hip. She was slightly taller than me, and crow's feet lined the edges of her eyes that were hazel and mischievous-the signature Potter eyes, it seemed. "Lily, right? I've heard a lot about you," she grinned. "Do you like pancakes, dear?"
"I love them," I smiled, following her into the kitchen. James, what must have been Darcy's husband, and Donna sat around a round wooden table, a large tower of pancakes being quickly devoured.
"Morning, Lily!" James greeted me, and Donna turned around-"Lily!" She exclaimed from her father's lap.
"Lily, this is David," James introduced me to a man who looked several years older than his wife, with sandy brown hair and an athletic build.
"Hey there, Lily. James told me all about your-ah, situation," he cocked his head slightly toward his daughter in his lap, the message clear-not in front of the kids. I nodded slightly. I sat down and was immediately served with several large pancakes, and my eyes grew wide-I was starving. My stomach growled its consent. By the time I had scarfed down the first two, Darcy had bacon sizzling on the stove and the two kids were getting dressed and brushing their teeth.
"Alright," Darcy said in a low voice, closing the door. "Now tell me more about what's happening. You both practically scared me out of my wits when I came in and heard you talking in your sleep, Lily," she said in a motherly voice.
"Sorry," I blushed. "Do you know who Voldemort is?" I began.
"They know everything about the wizarding world," James intercepted.
"Right. Well, we were approached by him last night, and...he wanted us to join him," I paused, looking to James.
"When we were coming back from St. Mungo's. Dad's there, by the way-"
"What's happened? Is he alright?" David asked, worried.
"He's fine now, he just had a mini heart attack and passed out in Diagon Alley. Speaking of which, I need your help with a present for Lily," he shot a sideways grin at me.
"Oh, good," Darcy clapped her hands, returning to her bacon. "I love helping with presents. And I'm glad he's is okay, honey," she slid the bacon onto a plate, and put it in front of us.
"If either of you ever need it, our house is always open, alright?" David took a swig of orange juice and James and I nodded thankfully.
Donna came in at that moment, stopping our conversation about Voldemort and turning it toward Darcy explaining that polka dots and plaid did not, in fact, go together.
I went to sleep the night before the day back to school with dreams of Elvis. James had got me a (magically) miniaturized record player that could fit in my pocket with mini Elvis records to match, all of it charmed to work even in Hogwarts, where the amount of magic usually rendered electronics useless. He had loved the two-way mirror I had gotten him and Sirius, and they were already planning to use it when they were in separate detentions to coordinate an escape. James and I had actually gone and got Sirius a muggle motorcycle-with one small alteration. The thing could fly. It scared me half to death the first time I rode on it, but after that I couldn't stop screaming with joy-all of the Marauders had taken to wearing earplugs whenever I came along on the contraption. Petunia had spent Christmas with Vernon, but my parents and I still had what turned out to be the best Christmas yet.
I had almost forgotten about being approached by Voldemort in the face of Christmas lights and a decorated tree, snowball fights, presents and family and turkey dinners.
Almost.
Months Later, The Day Before Graduation-James
"What d'you mean, what are we going to do with the Marauder's map? We're going to keep it, aren't we?" James poked his head out of his trunk, looking up at Sirius, Remus, and Peter.
"Well, it's not going to be much use to us after we graduate, is it?" Remus concluded logically. James thought hard, trying to find a reasonable counter-example. They had made the map, had it for years-it didn't feel right to let it go. It was as much a part of him as his wand.
"Hey, I've got it!" Sirius broke the silence after several moments of thinking. "Why don't we leave it here?"
"But-but a professor might get a hold of it!" Peter pointed out.
"No, no, Wormy," Sirius rolled his eyes, perching on his bedpost. "Well, yes. We leave it out for Filch to find it, not on Map-mode, mind you. So when he or the other professors try to open it, it just insults them, y'know? So he'll probably confiscate it, won't he?" He beamed, but none of the other boys were following his train of thought.
"And why would we want our useful map locked up in Filch's office for all eternity?" James cried, clutching said map to his chest protectively.
"No, no. See-James, you remember our first detention? We decided to go through the confiscated items cabinet-that's how we found those finger-eating gloves, remember?" James nodded slowly. "So, if someday, there are ever any great pranksters that are willing to take over the post for us...well, if they're pranky enough to go through Filch's office, won't they deserve the map?"
"Brilliant!" Remus clapped, standing up. "One problem-how would they know what to say when they saw it? Otherwise it would just insult them."
"You're the brilliant one, Moony," Peter pointed out.
"Hm..." Remus thought hard, beginning to pace, his sandy hair falling in his eyes.
"How about..." James began slowly. If they weren't going to keep the map, this, at least, was the second best option. He could live with this. "How about once the map is in the right hands, we could charm it to show them how to open and close it?"
"How's the map going to know when it's in the right hands?" Sirius asked sceptically.
"The same way it knows to insult anyone who tries to open it!" Remus said eagerly, catching James's train of thought. "That'll be easy! Give it here, James. Everyone ready to say goodbye to the Marauder's map? As soon as I charm it, we'll leave it out by the One-Eyed witch statue. Filch will get it, blah blah blah...as soon as worthy pranksters get their hands on it, the map will tell them how to open it. Everyone alright?"
"Let's do it!" Sirius clapped.
"Sounds good," Peter said.
"To the next generation of pranksters," James said, albeit a little reluctantly.
NEWTS had passed in a blur of stress and studying.
Before any of us knew it, we were graduating.
"Alice, will you hand me those robes?" Emmy yelled from inside the bathroom.
"Sure! Here!" Alice hollered back.
"Thanks!" Emmy shouted.
"Is this-is this happening?" I asked. Marlene was scrutinizing me along with Dorcas.
"Yup," Dorcas nodded solemnly, snapping in front of my eyes. "Miss Evans, I do believe you are in shock."
"Very extreme case. The only way for this to be treated would be either to hang her out the window by her ankles," Marlene said completely seriously, ticking the idea off on her fingers. "OR...to get Peter Pettigrew up and threaten to snog her."
"Ah!" I shouted, jumping on the bed. "Just the thought of that..." I shuddered, dispelling the nasty image out of my mind. "Ugh, don't talk about that."
"See, she's fine," Dorcas grinned, tugging at my elaborately done-up hair. "Other than being completely lopsided-that hairstyle looks completely odd with your pajamas and slippers, Lily-we proclaim you cured."
"Oh thanks, that makes me feel loads better," I teased, rolling my eyes and standing up. "But just to check, is this really happening? I'm not hallucinating or dreaming, am I?" I half-joked. I really couldn't believe it-it felt like just yesterday the Sorting Hat was being placed on my head, shouting "GRYFFINDOR!"
"My stomach's all in knots," Alice bounded next to us, jumping on the bed. "I think I'm going to throw up."
"You're not the one who has to make a head girl speech!" I cried, looking at her in disbelief. "Oh no-Merlin's pants!" I whisper-screamed. "I've lost my note cards again!"
"In here, Lily! By the shower!" Emmy called around her toothbrush, waving her hands vaguely as she talked.
"Oh, right. Thanks," I sighed with relief as I levitated them out, making absolute sure they were in the correct order for the fiftieth time.
"My shoe!" Marlene's hands flew to her mouth. "I can't-"
"Underwear drawer," Dorcas pointed calmly.
"I don't know what we would do without you," Marlene cried dramatically, kissing the top of her head, sending us into peals of laughter.
"At least Doe keeps her head, unlike the rest of us," I admitted, laughing at the funny expression on her face. A knock on the door sounded-
"Don't come in!" I shrieked, hurrying to pull my dress on.
"I'm changing!" Alice shrieked as well, pulling her graduation robe on over her dress.
"Calm down, I'm waiting!" Frank answered calmly.
"Hurry up, ladies! Going to be late to your own graduation!" James yelled as well.
"I still haven't got it figured out how you boys manage to get up here," Emmy called through the door, straightening out her robes over her silky blue dress. Her curly brown hair was twisted back into a fancy bun, and the blue of her dress made her grey eyes sparkle. Marlene had a black, knee-length dress with white flowers, her sleek dark hair down and hanging in a silky straight curtain around her face. Alice was tugging on a bright red dress that complimented her auburn hair beautifully, and matched the red heels she was pulling on to add a few inches to her petite height. Dorcas looked like some sort of ice queen, with her big blue eyes and white-blonde hair pulled back and curled, and white dress swishing around her ankles. I had a green dress that flowed out around my knees from the embroidered waist.
"Alright, come in," I admitted the boys, and a flood that contained Frank, Sirius, James, Peter, and Remus came in.
"You look lovely," Sirius said, twirling Marlene around by her hand as she blushed.
"Beautiful," James proclaimed, kissing my cheek and picking me up, spinning me around with a huge grin on his face.
"Wait just there-you've got something up your sleeve, haven't you?" I narrowed my eyes, putting my hands on my hips playfully. To my surprise, James blushed a deep red and Remus passed off a laugh as a cough as he talked to Emmy and Peter.
"What? Why would you think that? Perfectly ridiculous!" James stammered, and Frank coughed-"Liar!"
"Shush," James coughed back.
"You know, I can actually understand you," I said sarcastically.
"You know us too well," James grinned, taking my hands and swaying in a jaunty dance. "Got your speech all worked out?" I jumped about a foot in the air-
"I just had them, I'm sure of it!" I gasped, looking around frantically.
"Right here," Dorcas handed them to me.
"Oh, thank you," I let out a sigh of relief. "What would I do without you?"
"Not make it to graduation in one piece, that's for sure," she teased.
"Seventh years!" McGonagall's voice floated from down in the common room. "You all have twenty minutes to get into the Great Hall!"
"Come on, we've got to go!" Peter barrelled out of the room, Emmy and Dorcas on his heels.
"Race?" James knocked Sirius on the shoulder, grinning devilishly.
"You're on!" Sirius nodded, bumping his shoulder. "C'mon, Marlene, on my back-"
"Ahh!" She squealed as she accepted Sirius's piggy-back ride and I did the same to James, locking my arms around his chest.
"We're going to die!" I cried, excited.
"Ready, set, go!" We set off screaming and laughing, with Remus following in front of us, shaking his head and chuckling, pointing his wand at the stairs and muttering something so the boys would be able to descend before the stairs turned into a slide.
"We're going to beat you!" I called behind us to Sirius and Marlene as we jumped out of the Fat Lady's portrait. I could barely speak because I was laughing so hard-
"In your dreams!" Marlene laughed as they came neck and neck with us.
We skidded around corridor corners and avoided running through ghosts, beating Sirius and Marlene by mere seconds into the Great Hall.
Time to graduate.