Chapter 78: Truce??
"So Lily de-" James started. "I mean Lily, so is your anger appeased yet??" James asked in his slightly high-pitched feminine voice. It had been about five days since the Marauders became female overnight and the potion power was starting to wear off.
"Alright, alright." Lily replied. "I'm pretty satisfied with the outcome." The two sixth-year Gryffindor prefects were doing their night patrol around the corridors.
"You should be disappointed that all the credits went to the Slytherins."
"It's alright actually. I mean they admitted that it was their prank after all."
"Cunning Slytherins, how could they take your credits??"
"Seriously I don't mind, neither do the rest of the accomplices mind either."
"If it's us, we'll admit before people get to assume they do it."
"I know."
"So how're you going to spend your Christmas??"
"I don't know." Lily looked down. "Maybe I might go to my new home, or perhaps I might stay with Stef at her home. But definitely we'll meet up with Bell. Afterall her birthday falls on Christmas day and we just can't skip celebrating her birthday."
"We all celebrated, have you forgotten??"
"I didn't forget. I mean the actual day is yet to come. Celebrate, yes. But still, make it a chance to meet up with her."
"Then we can have a mini party over at my place. I'm sure my mum won't mind."
"I've a question."
"What??"
"Do you all have any news of Fion??"
"I don't think so. Been receiving owls from Mum now and then, but they were just about the usual stuffs."
"Ooh. I hope she's fine."
"No news could mean good news."
"I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her too."
"Yeah." The two walked in silence since both party were unsure how to continue the conversation.
"So-" Both started at the exactly same time.
"You say first." James offered. His gentlemanly gestures were returning slowly while his lady-like manners slowly slipped off unknowingly as the potion wore off.
"Ok." Lily replied. "What is Sirius going to do during this break then??"
"I believe he would come with me. Given Sirius character, I think he would definitely not want to return to his home in Grimmauld Place. I mean, who would??"
"You've got a point. Looks like the both he and I have similar sentiments about home."
"That's because you didn't grow up there, that's why there's no sense of belonging."
"Yeah, pretty much out of a fairytale as well."
"I thought you girls like fairytales??"
"What makes you think so??"
"I had a wee bit of fantasy fairytale dreams a few nights ago. I supposed one of you actually like those sort of stuffs."
"Yeah, that's me."
"Fairytales are fake."
"I know."
"Then??"
"I like fantasy. The real world is too dark and evil."
"But we've to be realistic."
"Don't argue about this topic at this time of the night. I'm too tired to debate."
"Alright, we've about one hour more before off duty."
"Argh. I'm getting sleepy."
"I'll keep you entertained."
"Thanks but no thanks."
"You don't like my sense of humour??"
"Not that. Anyway never mind. So what was the thing you wanted to say??"
"I-"
"Oh my god!!" Stefanie whispered rather loudly as she followed Lily from the entrance of their dormitory into the bathroom.
"Calm down. That guy only ask me to Hogsmeade and you're so excited over that."
"That's so cool!! Finally you two are working things out."
"Nothing is working. It's just a date. I know I would marry him someday and have a son name Harry. But please, skip the torture."
"It's not supposed to be torture. It's love."
"Yeah, he's not exactly the kind of Prince Charming I'm expecting."
"He's good enough. Don't get your expectations too high."
"I know you think really highly of Remus. But James isn't the same."
"I know what you mean. Anyway what I really want to say is that I'm glad that both of you start going out."
"We're not going out. It's just a casual date." Lily tried to defend herself but Stefanie had already left the bathroom, not listening to her explanation.
"Prongsie, bravo!!" Sirius gave James a pat on his back. He had just told the three other Marauders that he had asked Lily out on the last weekend before the Christmas break.
"I'm surprised that Lily actually agreed so easily." James admitted.
"I'm surprised too. She's quite headstrong." Remus raised his brows in astonishment.
"Miracles do happen." James said in an unusual happy tone.
"Yeah, with Lily around, you see miracles." Remus commented in a teasing tone.
"She's a miracle to start with." James said and climbed into his bed and drew the curtains.
"That guy is love struck." Peter commented.
"Definitely." Sirius agreed.
"Lily is definitely not as simple as he thinks." Remus said with a smile. Sirius and Peter caught his wink and understood.
"Aren't you excited??" Samantha asked Lily on Saturday morning.
"Excited over what??" Lily gave Samantha a I-know-what-you-are-thinking-of look.
"What do you think??"
"I don't know what to think."
"Wear something better??"
"What's wrong with my white tee and jeans??"
"Try skirt??"
"Please, spare me. I hate skirts."
"You look pretty in them."
"Thanks but no thanks. Don't keep suggesting, okay?? Otherwise you gonna be late for your date."
"Ooh. Don't worry, I'm ready to leave any minute."
"Sam, you forgot your wallet." Lily called out, as Samantha was about to leave the dormitory.
"Jeez, thanks." Samantha thanked Lily and with a quick bye, left the three girls dressing up in the dormitory.
"Gotta go." Joey said cheerfully as she walked grabbed her black sling bag and wore her boots.
"See ya tonight."
"Bye."
"Lils, don't keep James waiting." Stefanie reminded.
"I'm always the one waiting." Lily said nonchalantly.
"You never know." Stefanie gave Lily a wink.
"Oh please." Lily said exasperatedly. "I'm ready."
"Looks good." Stefanie praised Lily who was dressed in a simple white round-necked tee shirt and blue body hugging jeans with a flare at the bottom, which flattered her legs.
"Are you referring to yourself??" Lily said teasingly. Stefanie did take the effort to dress up. She was wearing a white blouse and knee length brown skirt and with matching low heels.
"I mean you."
"I look no different from the way I normally look."
"Whatever you say. Are you ready to go??"
"Yeah, let's go."
"So where you wanna go??" James asked Lily. The Marauders were finally back to their normal masculine self.
"Hmm.. Zonkos??" Lily suggested after awhile.
"Since when are you interested in joke shop??"
"Ever since I did the world's funniest prank on the world's biggest prankster."
"That's a development."
"You bet." The two went into Zonkos and started browsing around. There were several Hogwarts students inside as well, purchasing stuffs like dungbombs and fireworks.
"These stuffs aren't fascinating anymore."
"That's because you know enough advanced magic to improve them."
"Sometimes we make them as well."
"I noticed. So what's your next prank??"
"Do I look like I'm going to discuss about that in the heart of Hogsmeade?? What happen if there are paparazzi around??"
"You aren't famous enough to have them following you, yet."
"I think I'm famous enough."
"Apparently your head is still rather bulky."
"Huh??"
"Never mind."
"You done with the browsing??"
"Guess so, nothing interesting actually."
"Honeydukes??"
"Great. I miss the sweets there."
"I thought you always complain toothache??"
"Not always, once in a blue moon."
"Don't eat too much sweets."
"I don't eat a lot of sweets. I prefer chocolates."
"Don't eat too much sweet stuffs."
"Alright, naggy."
"Just being concern."
"Thanks."
"Are you thirsty??"
"Now that you mention it."
"Let's go to the Three Broomsticks after you're done with your purchases."
"Sure." Lily went to make her payment for some chocolates she took from the shelves. "Let's go." Both of them left Honeydukes and headed over to Three Broomsticks.
"Hey look." Remus pointed at something.
"What??" Stefanie was trying to catch a glimpse of the vast number of heads at where Remus was pointing. The two were inside the bookstore when Remus caught sight of a messy-haired and redhead walking past.
"Wanna follow them??" Remus gave a mischievous grin.
"I don't see why not." Stefanie replied with the same grin plastered on her face.
"The idea for Christmas sounds really great." Lily said excitedly.
"Well, it would be a simple gathering for all of us. We can invite Dumbledore and McGonagall for the dinner but they can skip the later part.
"Then we can go partying at night."
"Muggle partying??"
"Not necessary. We can just hang around waiting for Santa."
"Do you seriously believe Santa exists??"
"Not exactly. But no harm believing."
"Anyway that's not the point, right??"
"Duh. Anyway we can decide that after the Christmas dinner."
"Maybe one of those days we can go to your underwater city and explore."
"The last incident left me fears."
"This time I'll make sure nothing will happen to you."
"Ok. We can discuss together. Afterall we're going to return back to London tomorrow."
"Finished packing??"
"Sort of. Nothing much to bring anyway. Just some clothes and necessities. How about you??"
"Nothing to pack actually. I've stuffs at home as well."
"That's true. Oh, by the way is there anything else we can buy for Bell??"
"You've got the sweets, what else do you want to get her??"
"I don't know. Besides chocolates I really don't know what to get for her. She doesn't really eat sweets."
"Books??"
"I don't think so. She still keeps those books we used last time."
"Butterbeers??"
"We can make it at my place. I doubt it will taste like what we're drinking now, but not much difference."
"You guys getting her another birthday present??"
"Not really, but Stef and I are going to get her an ice cream cake for her birthday."
"Sounds cool."
"Of course, it's our idea."
"I'm kinda looking forward for the break. We had a tiring beginning."
"I know what you mean. Let's hope there're more peace for the next few months in school."
"I don't think so."
"Why not??"
"I heard from our Headboy that they're suggesting a Valentine Ball."
"Sounds fun."
"Nothing decided though. It's just our Heads idea, I don't think Dumbledore and Maggie had approved yet."
"McGonagall knows about the nick you guys gave her??"
"You can be assured that she knows and she likes it."
"Are you kidding??"
"Not kidding. Sirius and I had attempted in addressing her Maggie and sometimes she do reply to our callings."
"I'm sure her response is very different from how she would reply if you call her Professor."
"That's for sure. But we strongly believed that she is secretly happy about that little nick we gave her."
"They're finally leaving after an hour of drinking butterbeers." Stefanie commented. The couple was sitting several tables away from Lily and James, making sure both of them had not spotted their existence in Three Broomsticks.
"Well, I'm sure they've lots to say to each other."
"If they just want to come all the way here just to talk. They might as well as stay in Gryffindor tower."
"I thought you girls dig all these romance and sorts??"
"How did you know??" Stefanie asked before she suddenly remembered. "How could I forget?? You guys were women for a week, obviously you know."
"That's why, the memories are still so fresh and vivid in my mind."
"Most of your feminine attributes are from Lily."
"I didn't know she is that feminine."
"Well, she can be."
"I still prefer your femininity."
"Jeez, that doesn't sound convincing."
"How can I ever convince you??"
"I don't know. Another drink perhaps??"
"How about a trip to the Shack??"
"Sounds good." Remus and Stefanie left the Three Broomsticks shortly after Lily and James, heading at the opposite direction from one another.
"Thanks, I had a great time today." Lily said appreciatively as she started heading towards the girls' dormitory staircase.
"Me too." James replied. Should I ask her now?? "Hey Lils."
"Huh??" Lily turned back to face James. "Yes??" Several younger students in the Gryffindor common room turned to watch.
"Er, just want to ask - if you borrowed my cloak the other time." James said, giving himself a mental slap.
"Huh?? Er, yes, I did. But I returned it to you already. You mean you can't find it??" Lily frowned slightly.
"No worries. It's there. I'm just asking."
"Oh, I see. Now I know that if you want to be a great prankster, you need a great weapon."
"Haha, yes. True true."
"Anything else??"
"No."
"Good night then."
"Good night." Lily headed upstairs while James looked at her retreating figure for a while before heading up to his dormitory.