"I have sooo much to tell you guys!" Pippa exclaimed, lying down on the four-poster bed she called her own, "I had the most interesting summer ever."
"Really now? Do tell." Caroline spread herself out across the wooden floorboards.
"Well," Pippa began, "you know my step-mom and my dad are Muggles and moved to Paris a few weeks after I got accepted into Hogwarts. They've lived there for like seven years now and all of my sisters speak French along with my parents except for me. But of course guess where I'm supposed to spend my summer holiday? But I digress.
"I got there by taking a plane after going onboard the Hogwarts Express home. Talk about a bloody boring plane ride. The only good thing was that I had my wand on me so I amused myself by sitting in the in-flight bathroom and changing my hair color and face. At one point in time I had hot pink hair and green eyes. I looked hot!" She laughed for a moment, pausing in her story. "Anyways, it took so long to get to Paris but once I did, I'll admit I fell in love with the city. It's such a great place to go. And I was even excited to see my sisters and parents. I mean for Merlin's sake, I did miss them! So I got to the airport and my sisters picked me up and all I heard was French! And I could tell they were talking about me because they were definitely staring at my clothes, which were normal Muggle clothes by then so I have no idea what their problem was.
"Well I got to our apartment in the suburbs of Paris and went into the room I share with my younger sister, Liana. She's almost fifteen and a lot taller and skinnier than me. But I digress. I basically crashed into my bed and slept until 4 the next day! I know, I know, what's wrong with me?
"So the next day, the second day I'm in Paris, I went to the metro station to buy a ticket and I spent the day gazing at the Eiffel Tower. I found this amazing little café where I had a salad but that's the boring bit.
"I went to a strip club with my older sister, Christiana, and it was sooo much fun. I swear, the guys were so gorgeous! Of course they only spoke French and were of no use to me, at all! Anyway, I had such a blast there but the next day I was forced to accompany Christiana to some party. No one bothered to talk to me and I saw this girl who like opened her mouth really wide and I swear I've never seen a bigger jaw in my life! It was absolutely terrifying." Pippa laughed. "Totally awful. But I digress. The party completely bombed and I hated being there so I snuck outside, leaving Christiana a note telling her I'd find my own way home. Well there I am, at one o'clock in the morning sitting on a curb in front of Christiana's friend's apartment when I hear someone call my name. I turned around and guess who I saw!"
"Who?" Caroline asked, getting involved in the story. Lily nodded her head, eager to find out who their friend's benefactor was.
"I turned around a few times to see who it was but they were standing in the shadows. 'Um hello?' I said reallyyy cautiously.
"'Pippa! How've you been?' they answered.
"'Wonderful… I'd be even better if I knew who you were.' I tried turning around again.
"'Merlin Pip, it's me! Charles!' he said, coming out from the shadows.
"It turns out that he was on holiday there for a few days and super excited to see me. He was on Sirius's motorcycle and he took me for a lap around Paris, driving me far, far away! I swear I've never been so happy to see someone in my life! And then we spent the night together, all implications occurring." Pippa smiled serenely at her friends. "Definitely the best night."
"You and Charles?" Lily squealed. "Holy crap!"
"Trust me girls, it was amazing." Pippa winked. "That boy sure knows what he's doing!"
Caroline grinned. "So you're the mystery girl Charles has been mooning over!"
Pippa bowed her head and smiled. "That's me," she said.
"Nicely done, Pip." Lily stood up to give her friend a hug. "Charles is a great guy."
"We're not dating, Lily. We hooked up once… or twice… or half a dozen… or so many I actually lost count!" Pippa giggled.
"Was he your first?" Caroline asked.
Pippa nodded. "Definitely. I was his too. It was a lot of fun. We've been meeting up all summer. He even met my mom and her hubby in the States. After seeing him in Paris, I left when he did. He had to go to some place with his parents and I actually wanted to see my mom and her cluster of brats. Yes, I know that sounds harsh but I did steal one girl's boyfriend because she tried to steal Charles. Charles knew, of course, what I was doing so he definitely wasn't upset with me. Mom and Hubby have eight girls together, did you know that? No boys. Absolutely awful. None are my real sisters, who spoke only in French, and a few are just Hubby's and the rest are Mom and Hubby's together. Sickening."
"So you didn't get pregnant, did you?" Caroline asked again, looking at her friend's teensy waist.
"Nooo, no way! Charles and I were very careful. We both know we're not ready to be parents, much as I like him." Pippa grinned. "We're kind of dating but not quite? I don't know really. It's complicated. We both know we like each other but there's a bit of a problem with what we can and can't do because of the whole you-know…" She trailed off, giving Caroline and Lily a knowing look before shutting up as the door to their five-person bedroom opened.
"Hullo girls! Missed you loads!" Adele Thompson sang out, placing her bags upon her bed. "Summer's were brilliant, I assume?"
"Absolutely." Lily grinned at her. She adored Adele's cheerfulness and semi-flighty personality. "How was yours?"
Adele shrugged. "The same old. Only thing different is that I had to go flat searching. If any of you are looking for a roommate for after graduation, talk to me! I found the perfect flat but the rent I can't afford on my own." She sighed for a moment. "It's lovely though."
"Where's it at?" Pippa asked, looking at her. "I might need a place after graduation."
"It's in Hogsmeade! I wanted to be near the magical world since I plan on opening a shop." Adele smiled widely. "It'll be a dress shop!"
"That sounds bloody brilliant. I'm considering opening a tavern. We could open them together!" Pippa lent against her pillows. "I can't believe we're almost eighteen," she said quietly.
"Neither can I. It feels like just yesterday we were teensy eleven year-olds. Have you seen them lately? They're tiny!" Lily sighed. "It's so strange to be so old."
"You're telling me?" Caroline rolled her eyes. "I've already moved in with Sirius and things are, pardon the pun, getting extremely serious. I mean, we're talking house and kids!"
"Wow." Adele shook her short blonde bob. "I can't believe it."
"I know." Lily bit her lip for the eighth time that day before changing the subject. "Has anyone seen Charlotte?"
"She's off with Liam. She's completely mad about him!" Adele explained. "I spent a few weeks this summer with the two and it's so sickening! They're love-sick!"
Lily laughed and prodded Caroline. "How do you think she and Sirius are?"
"What about Lily and James?" Caroline retorted.
"Woah. Lily and James?" Adele's pretty blue eyes widened in shock. "No way."
"Exactly, no way!" Lily glared at Caroline. "I'm not dating him!"
"Who said anything about dating, Lily? I just said you two were love-sick." Caroline replied.
"Um no. We're not. We're JUST friends."
"Sure. Yeah. Okay." As Caroline rolled her eyes, Lily flipped over on her bed and pulled close the hangings. There was no sense in losing sleep over Caroline's silly ideas, was there?
The following morning the five girls (Charlotte had finally come in near dawn) walked downstairs in their black Gryffindor robes with their pointed black hats and innocent smiles. Lily had her Head Girl badge pinned to the front of her robe.
"Good morning ladies!" Sirius called out while wrapping Caroline in a tight hug.
"Good morning," all but Caroline chorused back, sitting down upon the benches that stood alongside huge tables filled to the brim with food.
"I love Hogwarts at breakfast." Sirius said after he finished his hug. He grabbed a muffin off of a plate and began to chow down. He sat in between Caroline and Lily, without his Marauding friends.
"Where are James and Remus?" Pippa asked, taking a sip of orange juice.
Sirius chewed for a moment before replying. "Remus woke up late and James went off with some girl around the time we made it to the Great Hall. Works fast, that one." He muttered.
Lily's stomach did a little flip-flop. Some girl? What had happened to the pining he had confessed to the day before?
Caroline rolled her eyes at Sirius. "You, my love," she began, "never get anything right. James did not go off with i some girl /i but in fact with his mother's best friend's daughter, Evelina, a FIRST YEAR for crying out loud."
Sirius shrugged. "Perhaps you're right?" He said before shoving a piece of toast into his mouth. "Mhmm delicious!" He cried with his mouth full.
Caroline didn't bother to reply, opting instead to grab the schedule Professor McGonagall held before her. "Double Transfiguration at ten? We've got to hurry!" She said, standing up quickly. "I need to go over my notes from last year. Merlin knows I've forgotten nearly everything!"
"You'll be fine, Caro." Sirius said soothingly. "Don't worry."
Caroline rolled her eyes again. "Trust me, I need to worry. I am a complete dunce at Transfiguration!"
"Then go study, silly!" Sirius teased before sobering up. "Listen Caro, you'll be fine. Go review your notes if it'll make you feel better but I really believe you'll be amazing, like always."
Caroline gave him a quick peck on the cheek for his inspirational speech and left the table with Adele, who wanted to review, and Charlotte, who wanted to find her boyfriend.
Pippa exited too, a few moments after them, in search of Charles. Of course she didn't admit to that, merely stating she had some things she had to do before class.
"Lily, I've been meaning to talk to you." Sirius said gravely.
"About what and since when?" She replied.
"A best mate of mine and since last night." He looked down at his plate. "Prongs and I had a talk about you yesterday and your conversation. I think you shouldn't date him, Lily."
"Why not?" She asked curiously. "He's your best mate, isn't he?"
"That's why, Lily. Nothing against you but I think that you'd date him out of pity or to just be done with it. He really likes you and for you to date and drop him, well, it'd probably break him. So I can't tell you I think you two should date if it wouldn't be a serious relationship. He can't take it, Lily. It'd break his heart." Sirius looked at her without a smile. It was the first time she'd ever seen him that serious. It was also the first time she was truly speechless.
Glancing at Lily's face, Sirius smiled faintly and continued. "Lily, you're a great girl and I think the world of you. You're Caroline's best friend and my best mate obviously thinks you're amazing so I know you are. I just can't see James hurt like that. If and when you date him, I need your word, no not that—it's too light… I need your oath that you will truly be with him not out of pity but because of love or like or whatever."
Lily nodded silently.
"I don't want you to hate me for this…" Sirius trailed off for a moment. "I just think it needed to be said. I'm sorry if it's hurting your feelings, Lils."
Lily gained her voice back. "You're an amazing friend, Sirius." She said quietly. "James and Caroline are lucky."
"You're my friend too, Lily. One of my best."
"Likewise, Sirius." She smiled at him, appreciating the complexities that created him. He had his share of hardships with his purist family.
Sirius finished his meal quickly after their talk. "I'll see you in class, Lily." He said, smiling at her.
She sat alone in the middle of the table, surrounded by people laughing and complaining over schedules. She looked around and saw all sorts of people beckoning her over to sit with them, from the over-eager first years who had met her the night before to the cool and collected sixth years who were secretly thrilled at the idea of sitting with her. A few of the braver had tried to sit by her but she smiled and gently waved them away. She enjoyed her silence, her calm. It allowed her to think while sipping her usual mug of caramel coffee. Instead of having to entertain someone, she could entertain her thoughts and she had many of them. First and foremost was a sense of dread at the words Sirius had spoken, the amount of attachment James actually had towards her. Then there was another little grain of fear in her stomach for her seventh year, the year she completely grew up. She didn't know what to expect. The only career she even had in mind was to be an Auror but it was a hard field for anyone, especially a woman. If she wanted to have any children, which she definitely did, she'd have to find a proper balance. And of course there was the matter of a father for her children. Her two best friends were in love while she was alone, lacking a boyfriend or even a good old-fashioned crush. When she stopped to think about it, which she rarely did, her only crush as of late was a certain Head Boy named James Potter; but of course, she never thought of it.
James Potter sat outside beneath the Whomping Willow, which had taken to him ages ago from all the times he had crawled beneath her to enter a hideaway. He hid in the branches, watching other students mill by.
"Have you seen James Potter yet?" He heard one girl ask.
"I wish!" Another replied.
"Merlin, I know. He's so cute, Stacey. I've got such a crush on him!"
"Me too! But I hear he still fancies that Evans girl… Lily?" Stacey replied. "So unfortunately for us, Kat, we've got no luck."
James heard Kat sigh. "I know. And what sucks is that she's so gorgeous and nice I can't even hate her! I wish he fancied someone hate-able, like Marvis Caly. She's nice and hate-able."
James tuned out the rest of the girls' exchange, choosing instead to think about the girl they were jealous of, Lily Evans.
He wasn't sure what it was he liked so much about her. It wasn't that she was hard to get, there were plenty of girls who played hard to get and even better than she did. And it wasn't that she was so stunning. He'd seen girls prettier than her, smarter than her. He didn't know what about Lily caused his heart to beat faster or make him sound like a lovesick poet but whatever it was, it was strong. It pulled him in, sucking him into a vortex of baffling emotions that were further confused by her inability to hate him anymore. Each time he thought about her lack of hatred for him, he felt his spirits soar. Anything was possible.
Sirius was seated beside Caroline in the Transfiguration classroom. He wrote diligently upon a scrap of paper, trying to get the words right.
Caroline,
Whose name my lips pronounce with pride
Who would have thought you would be mine?
I think of the future with joy inside
My heart so eagerly
You're the reason I laugh and smile
You're the girl who tamed the wild "me"
You're the one who knows how my feelings to rile
And yet without you I cannot imagine my life
And by the gods I'd be pleased to call you my wife
Consider this my wedding proposal, love
And send me your answer by winged dove.
I love you something furious,
Your beloved Sirius
He sighed. His poem was the best he could do, for now. Maybe it'd be best to consult Remus later?
Pippa glanced over at Charles, where he sat with his friends. Her hand subconsciously flew to her stomach, covering it slightly. He looked over at her and smiled, giving her a little wink and her heart flipped a little bit. Merlin he was so amazing.
James and Lily were beside each other, neither looking at the other. For Lily to look at James was the material of nightmares. For James to look at Lily was heartbreaking reality. Both stared pointedly ahead for the entire two hour class.