Trials and Tribulations
Summary: Harry Potter knew he was going to get shocked when he visited his parents graves. He knew that'd he'd see family he never met; like grandparents, uncles, and aunts. But one thing he didn't know was that he was going to meet his sister.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I am not making any profit off of this fanfic.
Chapter Twenty-Three: Illness, Rumors, and Eye Covering
Lily climbed out of bed, padding through the room quietly. James was still sleeping, but the other Marauders had gotten up a few minutes beforehand. They were milling about the room, attempting to get ready. She laughed to herself and walked into the lavatory, closing the door behind her. She used the loo and changed into her uniform that was on the back of the door. She was down to one maternity shirt that fit her and a couple pairs of trousers. As she put on her uniform she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Sighing she ran a hand down her protruding stomach. 'I'm so large. Can I get bigger?'
Sighing, Lily left the lavatory. James was just getting up. She sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled on a pair of socks, and then she put on her shoes. When she was finished she looked at James. He was watching her tie her shoes. "Something wrong with my feet?" she asked softly.
James blinked tiredly at her. "They look swollen."
"They feel swollen."
James smiled softly at her and was about to say something when there was a flash and then the lavatory door slammed shut. Everyone looked around the room, and Frank sat up in bed.
Peter walked to the door and listened for a moment. "It sounds like Moony is getting sick."
James cringed and slowly stood up. "Lily, don't wait up for us."
She nodded her head. She finished getting ready for classes by brushing her hair and tying it in a tight bun. She waved goodbye to the Marauders and Frank and then made her way downstairs. Elizabeth and Alice were just leaving the Common Room, and Lily shouted for them and caught up. She walked with them to breakfast.
"Where're the Marauders?" Elizabeth asked, looking over her shoulder.
"Remus is sick so they're staying with him," Lily said, sighing.
"Oh dear. Like a fever sick?"
"He's throwing up. I'm not sure if he's running a fever. Maybe I should have checked?" Lily said, thinking aloud.
"They'll probably take him to Madame Pomfrey. Don't worry about it. Believe it or not…the Marauders actually know how to care for someone! Look what they've done to you." When Lily laughed, Elizabeth and Alice laughed too. They made it to the Great Hall and sat down towards the front of the table. Lily piled everything on her plate and began eating heartily.
"You need calcium," Alice concluded, watching as Lily had oatmeal and cheese. She had a plate of eggs, kippers, and scones with marmalade on them beside the bowl.
"What do you mean?" Lily asked, taking a spoonful of the cheesy mess.
"You're eating a lot of it. There's cream in your oatmeal, cheese in your oatmeal…milk in your goblet," Alice said, pointing at all the food around her. "You might as well eat a bone and call it a day."
Lily scrunched up her face. "That's gross Alice…I don't like eating bones."
"We're so barmy," Elizabeth said, laughing. "Talking about calcium and bones…I think we are the ones that need to see Madame Pomfrey…to get our brains checked!" They all burst out laughing, Lily covering her mouth to try and stifle her laughter.
After they calmed down, Alice gave Lily a serious look. "So Lily," Lily looked up from her breakfast to look at Alice. Alice had one eyebrow arched so high it nearly disappeared into her hair. "I heard that you and Remus were nearly shagging each other in Hogsmeade the other day."
"Oh, that's not what I heard," Elizabeth leaned closer, forgetting about her breakfast. "It is now known that James doesn't know if he's the father of the baby and that he and Remus are going to play a game of quidditch and whoever wins gets to take care of you."
"You bloody scarlet woman," Alice added, trying to push the corners of her lips down. Lily's eyes opened wide and she momentarily forgot about her breakfast.
"What!" she nearly shouted. "We did no such thing. Remus and I--There's nothing there!"
Alice shrugged her shoulders. "Well, there were a lot of people at that shop you went to. A lot of them think you and Remus have a little thing on the side. Friends with benefits kind of thing, except James doesn't know. "
"Some people blame it on your hormones. You just can't get enough Lily!" Elizabeth smiled a small smile. That was when Lily realized they were taking the mickey out of her.
"Is that what they're really saying?"
"Oh…a lot more Lily, and I'm being serious."
"The rumors that they come up with at this school," Elizabeth said. "Weren't you bulimic earlier this school year?"
Lily sunk in her chair, playing with her cheesy oatmeal. "I wish people would just ask me what's going on."
Alice and Elizabeth threw their arms around Lily. "It's alright Lily. Do you know how fun it is teasing the mickey out of you? Just tough it out and laugh a little." Lily smiled and nodded her head.
"Right." She looked up at Elizabeth and then Alice. "I have no idea what I'd do without you two."
xoXoXoXox
It was late in the evening when Lily finally returned to the Common Room. She had to oversee the study group that the sixth year prefects started and she had to do her own homework. She looked out the windows and saw the full moon. She cringed, knowing where James and the other Marauders were. She felt bad for Remus because he had to go through the painful transformations, but she was glad that the Marauders were there making it a bit better.
Lily sat down in an overstuffed armchair and opened her bag. She still had a bit more homework to complete, and then some notes to copy. It seemed like the Marauders had missed the most important day of classes. There had been a huge list of things that Binns went over and was refusing to go over again for a test. McGonagall gave them nearly four pages of notes to copy from the board and they were being tested on it in a few days. Flitwick had done nearly the same thing except he added a review parchment for homework! She remembered that one of her Professors had said this was to ready them for N.E.W.T.'s, but Lily still thought this was a lot of work. Slughorn had given them a writing prompt and demanded that they have a two foot essay on Polyjuice potions the next day!
Lily thought it would be inconsiderate of the Marauders feelings to not help out in some way so she wrote five different essays, the one for Peter being the easiest because he was taking a normal potions class and for Remus she did his Arithmacy and Ancient Runes homework. She had to do her own still, not counting the notes she had to copy for the Marauders as well.
Lily pulled out her quill and began to diligently work on her homework. It was hours later when she finished her homework. She looked at the clock and saw that it was nearing quarter after one. 'Only copying of the notes left.' Lily sighed. This was a tedious process because after she copied the notes, she had to transform them into the Marauders handwriting. Nearly an hour after she began her process, she was finished. Just as she was standing up to go to bed, she sat back down in her chair in a huff. 'I forgot about the Charms review parchment!' Slowly she pulled out her Charms book and the review parchment. It was nearly two and a half feet long and it took her an hour and a half to complete.
Finally, when Lily thought she couldn't hold her quill any longer, she closed her book. She put all her work in her bag and made her way to the boys dormitory. Just as she was passing the third years room, there was a loud bang, shaking the door. Lily spun around quickly and walked into the room, ignoring the common courtesy of knocking.
Lily looked around the room, her mouth agape. It seemed like a carton of fireworks had exploded, and there was a bed on fire and all the boys in the room were huddled in a corner. Lily acted quickly and extinguished the fire. Then she looked at the boys. 'Merlin, why tonight?'
Lily was sure someone was out to get her.
xoXoXoXox
"Evans, you need to get to bed."
It seemed like there was a pajama party, and Lily wasn't invited. She was standing in McGonagall's office, McGonagall in her nightdress, the boys were in their pajamas, and Dumbledore was in his pajamas. Lily was still in her school things.
"We can handle this from here," Dumbledore added politely. "Why don't you get some rest? You're excused from your early morning classes." He gave a look to McGonagall. The only class Lily had the next morning, or rather, later that day, was double Transfiguration. McGonagall nodded her head.
"I'm fine Professor," Lily said. "I've already missed so many classes in the passed few weeks. I'll be fine."
"Goodnight Ms. Evans," Dumbledore said, opening the door. Lily smiled at him and made her way from the office. She walked quickly to the Gryffindor Common Room, trying to stifle her yawns. She had left her bag in the Common Room and she was in dire need of sleep. When she reached the Common Room she whispered the password to the Fat Lady and the portrait swung open. She walked in and was surprised to see the Marauders making there way up the boys dormitory staircase. Lily looked out the window and was surprised to see the sun rising.
"What're you doing up?" James asked, watching Lily as she slowly moved to her things. "You weren't waiting up for us, were you?"
Lily shook her head and tried to swing her bag onto her shoulder, but Sirius rushed to her and took the bag from her. She smiled at him gratefully. "I had homework and then the third year boys set off a carton of fireworks." She looked at the Marauders and wrinkled her nose just slightly. They were absolutely filthy.
"We know, we know," James said, noticing her look. "We're going to take showers, don't worry."
"Good," Lily mumbled. She walked passed them and slowly made her way to the 7th year dormitory. She could smell the distinct smell of smoke and burnt wood, so she stopped at the third years room and cleaned it up. The Marauders waited for her at the doorway. It took a few minutes for Lily to get all the charm work done, and then she opened a window and then left. The Marauders followed her silently as she made her way to the 7th years dorm. When she opened the door she heard a distinct sound of glass breaking, and then a light turned on.
Frank sat up slowly in bed. "Be quiet please," he whispered.
Lily looked around the room. It seemed like there had been absolute chaos in there while she had been in classes. There were dishes all over the floor and parchment. There must have been a cup behind the door, because Lily saw shattered class.
The Marauders exchanged sheepish looks. They knew they were in trouble now.
Lily sighed. She felt too exhausted to scold them. She just stepped around all the junk on the floor and sat on James bed. She kicked off her shoes and began to undress, ignoring the rest of the Marauders.
James, realizing that Lily was probably out of it, cleared his throat and made the Marauders do their own thing and ignore Lily. He stood in front of Lily and lifted her chin. Her shirt was about halfway open. "Lily, you're getting undressed in front of the guys."
Her only response was, "Oh." James was sure she didn't quiet comprehend what he said, so he stood in front of her and she undressed, slipping her nightdress on. James took her clothes and folded them neatly, unsure if she were going to do anything to them. Lily just crawled into bed and almost instantly fell asleep. James covered her up and then grabbed his own pajamas, walking to the bathroom.
James was definitely relieved that the boys dormitory had more than one shower stall.
xoXoXoXox
Lily's eyes fluttered open when she heard the alarm clock. At first she had to fight to keep her eyes open, and then she managed to sit up. She saw that the room was a mess and the Marauders were gone. 'They must be hiding from me.' She looked and saw that Frank was gone. She slowly crawled out of bed and grabbed her only maternity shirt, a skirt, knickers, and a bra. She made her way to the bathroom, where she took a quick shower.
Her hair was still soaking wet as she left the Gryffindor Common Room and made her way to the Great Hall, her bag slung over her shoulder. She walked quickly, her stomach was growling quite impatiently. Halfway to the Great Hall she stopped; she had a stitch in her side from walking so fast. After taking several deep breaths she carefully made her way to the Great Hall. When she got there she noticed that Frank and the Marauders were sitting and eating quietly, all looking sullen. Elizabeth and Alice were not at the Gryffindor table. They were eating with the Ravenclaws. 'They must think I'm going to chew them out.' Lily got a little satisfaction from them thinking they were in trouble. She walked to the Gryffindor table and she saw Frank motion to the Marauders, then he moved away.
Lily sat down beside James. "Morning," she said, covering her mouth as she yawned. She hated only getting a few hours of sleep.
"Morning," the Marauders mumbled back.
Lily reached inside her bag and began pulling out parchments. "We have loads of homework last night-" All the Marauders groaned in protest. "So I managed to squeeze in time in my schedule to do it for you." Lily looked at the Marauders as their mouths fell open. Peter even had food in his mouth. Lily rolled her eyes at this and continued to pull out homework. "We had Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Remus had Ancient Runes and Arithmacy…and lots and lots of notes." She distributed the parchments to their rightful owners.
"Oh my…Merlin…I think- Lily, I think I might love you," Sirius said, looking at all the homework that was in his own handwriting.
"Wow," Remus whispered. "You stayed up all night doing this…for us?" he asked.
Lily nodded her head. "You guys deserved a bit of a break…what with-"
"Remus's furry little problem," James said. The Marauders laughed, but Lily shook her head.
"Whatever," she murmured, putting her bag on the floor. She began dishing up her breakfast when James stilled her movements. She looked up at him and he kissed her.
Sirius gasped. "There's children up and about!" He looked around the table and saw two first year boys sitting a bench over. "You! Cover your eyes!"
xoXoXoXox
BB/N: Guess who wrote the Epilogue to Trails and Tribulations today!
I've been writing the ending for a bit now, like a week, and I cut out a few chapters. 2-3, I can't really remember. One of them was absolutely pointless to have as a chapter by itself, and the other one…I managed to tie it into a short chapter. So that means…If I have it correct and my computer doesn't explode anytime soon…This fanfic should be updated and completed in two weeks! Let's not say that…in roughly two weeks! I'll updated as much as I can, but I have a lot of after school activities, and I also have finals this week. :(
I hate finals.
Well, I have to go. Thanks for the reviews! I'm almost back on track!
Love,
Bob Bennit
P.S. Does anyone else have problems with homonyms? I hate them almost as much as finals.