Thanks to Miss R.E. Mulvey for the idea and inspiration for this chapter.

Lily, James, and the Marauders

4. Sliding

It was a nice and quiet evening as Lily Evans did her rounds around Hogwarts. For only the second time in her two years so far as prefect, she had caught nobody out of bed. Supposing it had something to do with the pile of homework given for the coming end of the year and the Quiddich match that was played earlier today, it was unlikely many would not want to study for the coming exams or sleep. Lily looked at her watch and grinned in satisfaction: 10:00 P.M. Time to go back to the common room so that she could finish her last two inches of a Transfiguration essay due Monday and some well-earned sleep. Lily had begun to walk up the last flight of stairs when she thought she heard a faint sound of cheering.

"That's odd." Lily mumbled to herself. "Um, excuse me? I need to get into the tower. Phoenix."

The portrait of the Fat lady slowly opened to reveal almost, if not all, the Gryffindor students out of bed. There was music going on in the background and the floor was all wet.

"Lily! Hey! You're sure missing out!" Mary MacDonald said. She was running towards Lily and stopped five feet in front of her. Curiously, she had very little clothing on and was dripping. Continuing to pant, she spit out a few more words. "This is way better than a party! Merlin knows you need to loosen up!" Lily gave a curt nod of thanks. She stepped a few meters forward and looked to her left.

A gasp left Lily's lips. "Oh… my… Merlin…"

There was a line with most of Gryffindor standing one-by-one in a single file line. A rope hung above the first person and was tied atop the girl's staircase. On top were no other than Sirius, Peter, James, and Remus. The fact that they were at the top of the girl's staircase completely eluded her mind as she saw what they were doing.

James was shooting a stream of water from his wand down the girl's staircase, a slide, ending in a pool of water at the bottom.

They had made a waterslide.

To say Lily was ticked off would we an understatement. She stormed over to the girl's staircase and observed a girl in which looked quite like the fifth-year prefect sliding down the water slide. Lily climbed up the rope so she wouldn't have to get wet.

"What is the meaning of this?" Lily roared pointing her finger at James. "You're a prefect! You should be setting a good example for the younger students!"

"It's almost as much fun as a party without the hangover afterwards. I thought that since some would want to study, that drinking wouldn't be a good idea. Since we just won the Quiddich Cup, you know that we would have partied anyways."

"You don't have to bring alcohol to the party or even have one at all!"

"I doubt that. Sirius Black here," James pointed over to Sirius, in which he grinned to in response, "somehow managed to find Firewhisky without even going to Hogsmede. It just isn't in his nature to stop. It isn't for me, either."

"Well, you could have-"

"Evans, nothing would have, nor will ever, stop me from doing what I want to. " Sirius said, striding over with his hands in his pockets. He could audibly hear her huff as she crossed her arms. "Plus, you know it's fun. Wanna try it?"

"No. I will never go down this foolish-"

"Wrong answer, Evans. Have fun!" Sirius proceeded to push Lily down the water slide, fully-clad in shorts, a t-shirt, and shoes.

I hate to admit it, but it was pretty smart of them to think of something like this. Probably Remus.

Lily splashed into the pool of water at the bottom of the stairs. She suppressed a fit of laughter at the silliness of it all; instead, all that came out was a small giggle. A hand quickly covered it, lest a certain James Potter hear about it and she would never leave it down.

Mary came bouncing over to her. "So? What do you think?"

"I think Potter is an arse." Lily stood up from the water and walked over into a corner where the two could speak privately.

"No. I mean, seriously, what do you think about the slide?"

"Alright. Only because I know you won't say anything. I think it's bloody brilliant."

"So do I."

"I mean, how do they get it to stay a slide?"

"Peter and Sirius both stand on the stairs with one foot on a stair and the other on the actual floor. They hold the hand railing for balance."

"And the water with the pool at the bottom?"

"Aguamenti; James transfigured a pool ball that he got from the Room of Requirement into a real, Muggle, blow-up pool. Remus did a few spells to ensure it wouldn't break or overflow."

"Wow."

"I know."

"Still doesn't get them off the hook; McGonagall will be coming to check on the common room in-" Lily looked down at her wrist only to have her eyes start to bulge. "Bloody hell…" Lily took off in a sprint to where the rope was. She pushed through the line and swiftly climbed up the rope.

"Evans! Come to try the slide again?" Sirius asked.

"No. Of course not! But do you know what time it is?"

"Time for you to get a watch!" Peter piped up.

"I have a watch. "To prove her point, Lily showed the four boys her wrist. "It's 10:10, which means McGonagall will be here to check on the Common Room in five minutes."

"So?" Sirius asked.

"So, she'll find out we know how to get up the girl's staircase." Remus responded.

"And then she'll fix it. Come on, guys, let's get this cleaned up! Lily and I can get all the water gone while you guys get everyone to his or her dorms. Sound good?" James said, putting his hands together. The other three boys smiled and nodded in approval. Lily figured that if she didn't deal with this now, she might be reprimanded for it later. "We will not get caught!"

Remus, Sirius, and Peter slid down the rope and started to shoo all of the Gryffindors away into their respective rooms. Lily and James could be heard saying "Evanesco!" over and over again. Lily had just vanished the last puddle of water when the portrait swung open, revealing McGonagall clad in a tartan nightgown.

"I see you two are getting along? More importantly, why are you both sopping wet?"

"You see, Professor-"

"She was just helping me with charms when I accidentally lit something on fire and Lily here suppressed it with water. Her aim is a bit off, though."

"I do believe you are lying, but do not feel the need to press the matter further. Expect a full interrogation tomorrow. Goodnight." With that, McGonagall left the Gryffindor tower.

"Well, that was a close one." James remarked. He flopped down on the sofa at the opposite end of the common room from the dorms. Lily sat in a chair right next to him.

"I'd say. What made you come up with the idea of making this water slide, anyways?"

"Sirius. He was in the pureblood rebellious mode and was hot. That's about all I know or will understand of his explanation."

"I see then. And how exactly did you manage to get up the girl's staircase?"

"Trial and error. Second year."

"How determined. Well, I'm getting tired and am going to get to bed. Goodnight, Potter."

"Night, Lily." Lily stood up from her chair and walked over to the staircase. She waved and walked up the stairs to her dormitory. Once inside, she was being pulled directly onto her friend Mary's bed.

"Silencio. There we go. Now nobody can hear us."

"Mary? What is the point of this?"

"Well, it is the point of you getting nice and cozy with James Potter down there."

"I was just being civil and an honorable prefect."

"Sure you were."

"And how do you know this?"

"Oh, please, I was spying with the rest of the Marauders."

"Mary!"

"Hey, where did you think the Marauders went? To sleep? Was Icle- Lilykins a little distracted?"

"I was not distracted. They merely slipped my mind."

"Yes, they did. Because James."

"This conversation is pointless. Just because he is normal for some of one night doesn't mean that I've fallen in love with him."

"So you admit you like him!"

"I do not! This conversation is pointless! Goodnight, Mary!" Lily went over to her own four-poster, changed into pajamas, and fell into bed.

Maybe he's not an arrogant toe rag. Just a toe rag. That doesn't mean I like him, right? I mean, even if I did, I'd never date him.

And yet, something in the back of her mind, told her that yes, she would not loathe him- never did- and far, far, much more.

I really think that this was one of my favorite (and most fun) chapters to write, ever. Quickest to write, too. Took me less than two hours (with breaks! short- for me). Not sure how soon the next update will be. Just whenever a firework of inspiration hits me. Please drop a review! Thanks!