AN: I really wasn't planning on updating today but what can I say… you guys inspired me! Thanks for the awesome reviews – much love!
Lily was sitting in the Great Hall at dinner, twiddling her fork and looking nervous. James, Sirius and Remus were late. For dinner. They had said something about helping Peter move his things into the dorm – he'd arrived late and had to take the Night Bus to Hogwarts. But still. They were three growing boys. Two of whom played quidditch. Merlin knew, they needed their food and – this was the Hogwarts first day of school feast. There was only one reason James and Black wouldn't be sitting at the head of the Gryffindor table, banging on their plates with their spoons demanding to be fed. They were Up To Something.
"This seat taken?" Lily looked up to see a familiar smirk. She knew that smirk. That was his " I'm innocent" smirk. Sirius Black was with him, whistling almost too casually, while Remus twirled his wand. Lily fixed her gaze on Peter Pettigrew, who had already planted himself on his usual seat, swallowing nervously.
'So, Peter… what took you boys so long?' Lily knew that of all the boys, Peter was probably the only one who was going to crack.
"He needed to owl his mother to let her know he got here OK… you know the night bus" James flashed his charming smile before moving to sit across from her, next to Sirius. 'Prat' she thought sourly as she looked at her empty plate. He just had to have an answer for everything, didn't he? She wouldn't even have needed to use the death glare on Peter – he would have quaked with one mini frown.
'I'm starving' Dorcas smiled winningly at Remus sitting across from her. The girls' lengthy girl talk session before dinner had concluded in a Fabulous Plan. She was going to try to find some common interests to talk to Remus about. And who, really, didn't like food? 'Where's dinner, anyway? They never keep us waiting this long'
Remus seemed to be hiding a smile as he answered, "Oh I'm sure it'll be here… Dumbledore looks like he has an announcement to make anyway."
Sure enough, the headmaster stood up from his table and made his way to the clinked his glass, demanding the attention of the room.
"Attention, students. I trust you have had a fruitful and eventful first day at Hogwarts" he seemed to break off and look meaningfully at four boys sitting at the head of the Gryffindor table, smiling slightly as he continued, "before we begin this feast, I would like to announce that we have an exchange student for this year. She is a seventh year from Beauxbaton Academy, and has just been sorted into Gryffindor – " Professor Dumbledore was cut off by the loud cheers from the Gryffindor table. When the students had calmed down slightly, he continued, "I hope you will make her feel welcome here. Please welcome Dominique Gauthier."
A tall teenager with white blonde hair and ice blue eyes cast a speculative look at the Gryffindor table, before homing in on the Marauders. Judging by the scowls on Dorcas and Emmeline's faces, she assumed Sirius and Remus were taken. The short one on the end was inconsequential… but the black haired one with the glasses and the smile… he had potential. He seemed confident, and there was something about him that seemed to tell her that when he spoke, people listened. Her eyes zeroed in on the shiny badges pinned to his robe – Head Boy… and Quidditch Captain too. Interesting. Putting on her best smile and giving her hair her best toss, Dominique Gauthier slid into the empty seat beside James Potter, sickening Lily slightly as she touched his arm and drew him into a conversation about quidditch.
'Dumbledore just declared the feast open' Lily hissed, trying (unconsciously) to distract James. It worked – James, Sirius, Remus and Peter snapped to attention, looking intently at the teacher's table with speculative smirks.
"Should we be worried right about now?" Emmeline turned to Lily, her voice low.
'Worry? Vhy you worry? James here is paying utmost attention to the teachers, just like a Head Boy should' Sirius and Remus stifled their snorts as James turned towards the new student with a smile.
"Of course… see Evans, someone here has faith in me… incidentally Dominique what's your opinion on Muggle music?"
'Muggle… music? It is very good. I very much like to dance to it' Dominique smiled, certain that the Head Boy was about to ask her out on a date. She didn't notice the death glare she was receiving from the opposite side of the table. Emmeline, however, was trying to calm her friend down before she hexed someone and lost her badge.
"Look, Lils… the food! They're bringing the turkey out…"
'That thing is huge!' Dorcas was still trying to talk to Remus about food. He certainly seemed to be paying a lot of attention to the bloody turkey.
'It is, isn't it?' Something in Sirius' voice seemed to indicate that he was trying to fight a smile. James, too, was trying to control his twitching lip as he watched the turkey. Dominique was perplexed; this was the first time a boy had ignored an opportunity to ask her out. Maybe he really liked turkey?
Professor Slughorn let out a shout as the teacher's glasses started to fizz, releasing dry ice. Sparks seemed to fly from the candlesticks as a spotlight appeared on the turkey. To everyone's surprise and the students' delight, the turkey then got up and grabbed the knife Professor Dumbledore was going to use to carve it. Knife in hand, it walked up to Professor Mcgonagall and started to sing. Loudly.
Girl, you really got me now, you got me so I don't know what I'm doing…
Lily gave up trying to control her laughter when the turkey started to strum the knife like a guitar and waddle suggestively in front of their shocked teacher. Emmeline was wiping tears from her eyes as the Marauders howled with laughter.
Girl… you really got me now…. You got me so I can't sleep at night…
The Marauders were now on their feet, each grabbing a girl. Lily noted with satisfaction that Remus had immediately pulled Dorcas to dance with him. Emmeline was laughing as Sirius spun her around the room. When she felt James' hand on her shoulder, she found herself enjoying being expertly twirled as the turkey continued singing.
Girl… you really got me now… you got me so I don't know where I'm going
By this time, almost all the fifth, sixth and seventh years in the room, with the exception of the sulking Slytherins, were on the floor dancing. The chandelier in the hall had been transfigured into a huge disco ball and Professor Mcgonagall was looking as if she wanted to send the whole school (even the troublemaking turkey) to detention.
Lily's eyes widened when James, Sirius, Remus and Peter (yes, even Peter had managed to find a partner) left their dance partners and marched up the stage to their irate professor, kneeling and singing back up for the turkey.
You really got me
You really got me
You really got me
At the last You really got me, the disco ball turned into a huge pile of red and gold confetti, charmed to spell out the words, "Welcome to Hogwarts!"
Silence reigned in the room as the turkey walked back to Dumbledore's plate and lay flat, apparently dead once again.