Disclaimer: Everything seen here (minus Aira, Ellie and Charlotte) is property of JK Rowling.
A loud blast blew from the train whistle, signaling that they had reached Hogwarts.
"Oh!" Lily said in surprised. She glanced at her watch. "I hadn't realized so much time had passed. I need to help McGonagall direct students to the proper place. Excuse me."
Waving to her friends, Lily dashed off. She knew that there had been a note about where to go in the letter, but her mind was drawing a blank as to what it had said. Lily moved squeezed her way in and out of students, praying she reached the carriages before McGonagall.
Suddenly, an arm reached out and grabbed hers. Lily was going to shake their arm away and keep going when she realized it was Sirius.
"Black, Wh-" She began before Sirius' barky laugh cut her off.
"Whoa, Miss Head Girl. Where are you rushing off to so quick?" He said, teasingly. "I'm sure James will still want to snog after getting the first years into the boats."
"The boats? Thanks, Black. For once, you actually did something well." She ran off, leaving him standing there with a puzzled look on his face.
Within moments, Lily was at the water edge. She saw James helping some first years and talking with them. Most likely filling their heads with useless facts of Quidditch and the perfect place to go if you wanted to skip class. She walked briskly toward them.
"I'm sorry I'm late, Potter. Now, if you'll please show the innocent first year to a boat." She said firmly.
With a wink and a mock salute, James ushered the boy and a few others standing into a boat, attached a lantern, and kicked it into the water. Once the boys had floated out of earshot, Lily rounded at James.
"You know, Potter, I don't like you polluting the minds of these kids." She spat. "You and the other Marauders may be a lost cause, but that certainly doesn't mean that I can't make perfectly sure that you don't corrupt our youth."
James raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "You honestly think that a little Quidditch is corrupting our youth? It's a team sport. It teaches them togetherness."
"No, it distracts from their learning. How often are you sitting in class, daydreaming about flying round the pitch with Sirius rather than listening?" She snapped, not waiting for an answer. "Exactly. I'm sure you'd be a much better student if you didn't constantly think about practice."
"Lily, you've never even flown a broom before. " James snapped back.
Lily looked away, annoyed. "Let's just get the first years into the boats so we can go to the feast."
"Fine, we can go together. In fact, I'd love to." James said breezily.
"Not at all what I meant." She said through gritted teeth,
Twenty or so minutes later, Hagrid was ready to set out and James and Lily were allowed to go to the castle. Their friends were gone, and only one carriage remained.
James smiled. "Well," He said brightly, "I guess we'll just have to ride in together, then."
Lily merely glared and took the seat opposite him.
During the ride, James moved next to her. "Well, Evans, I, for one, am excited to be working with you. I know that you absolutely despise me, but that's all right. You'll be like Moony. He was weary around Padfoot and me at first, but after a while, he warmed up to us."
"Why do you call them those names?" Lily's voice was stiff with anger as she spoke. "They are not their names. It Remus and Sirius, but for some reason you boys have given each other completely ridiculous nicknames."
James looked about nervously. "Ohh, uhmm. No real reason, I suppose. We just do."
Suddenly, the carriage hit a bump and Lily crashed into James's lap.
Blushing, Lily quickly detangled herself from James's lap. "That was completely an accident, Potter." She said, her voice an octave higher than normal.
"There will be plenty of time for cuddling later, when we have our own dorm and fireplace, Flower." James said, pretending not to have heard her last comment.
Lily just growled and scooted father away from him.
Later that evening, Lily mood had returned to high spirits. Back in the carriage, James had offered to show the first years to Gryffindor Tower, which meant Lily could spend a little time extra time alone with her friends at dinner.
"We discussed astrology. He's very interested in it as well. Actually, he asked me to meet him up at the Astronomy Tower next week." Ellie was telling about her train ride with Remus, when suddenly her eyes widened with panic. "Wait, that's not a date, is it? He couldn't have been asking on me on a date, could he have been? It's so soon, we barely know each other."
Lily, Charlotte and Aira exchanged glances. Ellie was shy, but very pretty. She hand long, dark hair, bright blue eyes, and creamy white skin. While she was asked on many dates, she rarely said yes. She had been an on grand total of 3 dates in her lifetime.
"No, it's not a date…" Aira lied, playing with her hair. "He just wants to look at stars and now he'll have someone to do it with."
"Oh, good. I got worried for a moment." Ellie breathed a sigh of relief and took a bite of her treacle tart.
"Anyway, Aira, Ellie and I really need to get unpacked, and I'm sure you do to, Lils. Come and find us after you get finished so we can see that every so famous Heads' dormitory. Bye, deary."
Lily watched her friends leave and felt a pang on sadness. They would never again share a dormitory. She wouldn't have Ellie waking her at two AM because she wanted someone to look at the stars with. Aira would no longer beg Lily to let her copy an essay because she'd put it off until the very last second. Charlotte wouldn't brush Lily curls and coo about how lovely they were.
As she walked to her dorm, she thought about all of these things. By the time she had reached the 4th floor, left corridor, she gone as far as to think that, because she wouldn't spend every single moment of the day with them, Aira, Charlotte and Ellie would abandon her.
"Gillyweed," she muttered. The tapestry, which bared the Hogwarts coat of arms, slid aside and revealed a short hallway with the door at the end. However, as she got closer, Lily began to hear the faints sounds of laughter.
"Jelly Whizzbees." She whispered to the door. There was a faint click and Lily gently pushed the door open.
The room that surrounded her was beautiful and perfectly set to both hers and James' wishes. There was the Gryffindor Coat of Arms. Bookshelves and plush reading chairs filled a corner. A closet held James' broom and Quidditch robes. There were two doors, which presumably lead to the bedrooms. A large fireplace took up most of the east wall, and the couches that surrounded it were filled with four laughing boys.
"Evans! You decided to join the party, I see." Sirius said, "Come on, sit down! There's plenty of room by Prongs." He pointed to the plush loveseat where James was currently sitting.
"Well, as much as I'd love to sit and watch the infamous Marauders plan to permanently destroy the school, I need to unpack." She said, sarcasm ringing in her voice. "Also, could you please get out or go somewhere? Aira, Charlotte and Ellie want to see the room."
"Ellie's coming?" Remus quietly asked. "I…. I'd rather not leave, then."
"I'm sorry, Remus. It's just I don't want to snap at my friends. And Potter always seems to bring out the worst in me." Lily replied, looking directly at James. Instead of looking embarrassed, though, James merely smirked at her.
"Come on Lily! The more the merrier, you know that. They don't have to leave. In fact, I think they should stay." Aira's voice filled the room. Lily turned, surprised to see her friends standing in the doorway.
"Bloody hell, Lils. You always have the best of luck, don't you? The room is gorgeous." Charlotte said, her eyes dancing over the walls and floors.
"H-h-hi Remus." Was all Ellie could get out.
"Well, it's decided then! Peter and me will go nick some food from the kitchens and we'll have ourselves a right little party." Sirius said, pulling Peter toward the door with him.
"Stop it! POTTER!" Lily shouted "You're Head Boy, please do something!"
"Oh, clam yourself, Flower." James said. "Be sure to get some butterbeers, too." Lily glared at him. "What? It's not after hours, the house elves are happy to do it, we'll make sure everyone is in their dorm before lights out, don't worry. Just relax. It'll be fine."
Lily considered fighting with him, but just groaned. "Alright, fine. But if we get in trouble, it's on you." She then collapsed into the seat that Sirius had just vacated. But as she watched her friends mingle and laugh with the Marauders, she realized she wouldn't lose them. They would still wake her to watch stars, brush her hair, and beg her for help. It just wouldn't happen in the dorm room. It would occur here, or at breakfast or in class.
I'm not sure how good this is, but I'm pretty proud of myself for updating every single day so far. Since there is usually at least 3 days or so between update, I think I'm on a roll. All criticism is wanted and loved, as always, but I would simply adore having you post a review, not matter what. Please and thank you!