Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the songs featured.
A/N: Thank you so much to everyone who reads and reviews, you're keeping this little project going. As requested by mildetryth, ye be warned that there be High School Musical songs in this chapter.
Not Another Very Potter Musical
Chapter Four
Stick To The Status Quo
"You dated James Potter?" Marlene asked when Lily and James had recognized each other. Sure Lily had told her about this guy during the summer holiday, but never in a million years would she have guessed that the James Lily had described was the same James she'd known for seven years.
"You got it on with her?" Sirius asked in disbelief. He didn't know this girl, but she didn't look like someone who would let James do the things he said he'd done to her at all, let one publicly on a beach as she stood there in her white cotton sundress with a floral print and stars in her eyes over seeing James.
The rest of the school was done with their school day and flooded outside to enjoy the weather. Eagerly they watched the scene unfolding by the lake. Everyone was very divided, Quidditch players, Potion Club members and Muggleborn skaters all stuck to each other.
Neither Lily nor James listened much, each trying to get over the fact the other was right there in front of them. At Hogwarts.
"I thought you went to boarding school in France?" James finally said.
"I did sort of, I just transferred from Beauxbatons." Lily knew she should still be angry at him, but she just couldn't stop smiling so even if she had been it wouldn't have looked very convincing.
James had forgotten how naturally beautiful she was "This is amazing!" he said, not noticing the odds look his friends were giving him.
As one of the most popular students at Hogwarts, as well as being Quidditch Captain and Seeker, he had a certain reputation that he liked to uphold. It was getting a little old though and he had liked how much Lily had admired him over the summer when he was acting like someone else.
Sirius shook his head at James "Dude, what are you doing?" he looked like a lovesick puppy and nothing like his best friend. All around them the rest of the students whispered to each other.
Lily looked back and forth between Sirius and James "What's going on?" she wondered. It made her nervous that Marlene gently took her hand "James?"
"That's my name baby, don't wear it out." James cockily said and the Marauders snickered. Violet would've normally laughed, but it worried her that James obviously wasn't who she thought he was. She didn't like things changing.
Trying to ignore everyone around them Lily took James' hand "Why are you acting like this? I know you care for me."
Marlene had a feeling what was coming and tried to pull Lily away, but she stubbornly insisted on getting an answer from James "Well, don't you?"
Just the fact that James hesitated with his answer send Hogwarts into a riot. Frank Longbottom turned to his fellow Quidditch players with an admission.
You can bet,
There's nothing but hoop,
When I am in the zone and on a roll,
But I've got a confession, my own secret obsession,
And it's making me lose control,
The Gryffindor Quidditch team, sans James and Sirius, all waited eagerly "Everybody gather around."
Frank swallowed once "Well if James can tell his secret, then I can tell mine. I bake."
Sirius had heard him from where he stood "What?"
"I love to bake! Strudels, scones, even apple pandowdy." Frank defended himself, trying not to look at Alice, his long term girlfriend who didn't know either.
The Quidditch players took a step back "Not another sound!"
With a loving look at Alice, Frank revealed "Someday I hope to make the perfect crème brulee."
No, no, no, no!
Stick to the stuff you know,
If you wanna be cool,
Follow one simple rule,
Don't mess with the flow, no, no,
Stick to the status quo!
When James saw the reaction his team had to Franks secret passion he knew what to answer Lily "No, I didn't care for you."
Tears sprung in her emerald eyes "You're a fake and a phony and I wish I'd never laid eyes on you!" Lily stormed off with Marlene right behind her.
Sirius clapped James on his shoulder "Chicks man, what are you gonna do?"
Meanwhile more students had been inspired by Frank. Rachel Rollins, a seventh year Ravenclaw and leader of the Potions Club broke the study session with her friends.
Look at me,
And what do you see?
Intelligence beyond compare,
But inside I am stirring,
Something strange is occurring,
It's a secret I need to share
The students in the Potions Club were clever people and believed rational and direct communication was the healthiest for the human species "Open up, dig way down deep!"
"Hip hop is my passion! I love to pop and lock and jam and break."
They did not, however, believe in dancing "Is that even legal?" They all began turning pages in their stacks of books, looking for the answer "Not another peep!"
"It's just dancing," Rachel shrugged her shoulders and defiantly raised her chin "Sometimes I think it's cooler than homework."
No, no, no, no!
Stick to the stuff you know,
It is better by far,
To keep things as they are,
Don't mess with the flow no no,
Stick to the status quo!
Remus looked from one place to another "What is going on with people?" he asked out loud and both the Marauders and Pink Witches shrugged, while Violet narrowed her brown eyes, not liking what she saw happening around her.
Close by them a Muggleborn boy, Joey Lancaster, who had been skating since he was a kid and introduced it to some students at Hogwarts, left his board alone for a second and spoke up, unusual in their group as conversation wasn't what bonded these guys together.
Listen well,
I'm ready to tell,
About a need that I cannot deny,
Dude, there's no explanation,
For this awesome sensation,
But I'm ready to let it fly
The rest of the skaters casually encouraged him to go on "Speak your mind and you'll be heard."
"Alright if Frank wants to be a baker, I'm coming clean. I play the cello!"
"Awesome!" His best friend Maggie Donner cheered "What is it?"
Joey used his hands to show the movements needed to play the cello.
"A saw?"
He rolled his eyes "No dude, it's like a giant violin."
All of the skaters hid their heads in their hands "Not another word!"
Maggie looked suspicious "Do you have to wear a costume?"
"Coat and tie." Joey proudly revealed.
No, no, no, no!
Stick to the stuff you know,
It is better by far,
To keep things as they are,
Don't mess with the flow no, no,
Stick to the status quo!
Violet was getting more and more annoyed. She craved the attention that was given her because she had worked hard to be popular and for people to know her name. She didn't know what she'd be without that.
This is not what I want,
This is not what I planned,
And I just gotta say,
I do not understand,
Something is really,
Sirius cut in to support her "Something's not right!"
"Really wrong." she agreed.
And we gotta get things,
Back where they belong!
We can do it!
Joey jumped up "Gotta play." But the rest of his friends pulled him back down "Stick with what you know."
Violet and Sirius looked at each other "We can do it!"
Rachel showed off a move "Hip-hop hooray!" The Potions Club planned a mutiny "She has got to go!"
Violet and Sirius looked at each other "We can do it!"
"Créme Brulee?" Frank offered Alice, but the Quidditch team dragged him away "Keep your voice down low."
Marlene and Lily were making their way inside the castle, but news travels fast at Hogwarts and Lily turned to Marlene "Why is everybody staring at you?"
"Not me, you." Marlene pointed out.
"Because of the James thing? I can't have people staring at me, I really can't!" Lily insisted.
No, no, no, no!
Stick to the stuff you know,
If you wanna be cool,
Follow one simple rule,
Don't mess with the flow, no, no,
Stick to the status quo!
Marlene offered to stay with Lily, but she said she'd rather be alone and hurried to her dorm. James being a bastard was one thing, but it had apparently inspired a smaller revolution within the cliques of Hogwarts and now she was the subject of everybody's interest. And while she enjoyed being popular it had to be for the right things. At Beauxbatons she had been idolized because of her looks, wit and overall good girl image.
Here at Hogwarts she was apparently just another notch in James Potter's belt. Marlene had filled her in on who James really was and Lily was appalled to find out she had fallen for a guy exactly like the ones she'd always sworn never to get involved with.
Lily sunk to the floor and let a few tears fall, replaying her entire summer in her head, but she jumped startled when Colette emerged from their bathroom. She'd thought she was alone.
Back on her feet Lily went to her bed, and therefore her side of the room, "Look I don't need any crap from you right now." She warned Colette.
"What's happened?" she had been taking Vanessa to Professor Sprout to help her do some work in the greenhouses and had no idea what had gone on by the lake.
More tears fell as Lily began to explain all about James romancing her, breaking up with her, their chance encounter and her broken heart. In spite of their mutual loathing she somehow still thought Colette would be upset on her behalf.
"Oh Merlin, get a grip!" Colette almost yelled "You think that's having a problem? My parents sent me here to take care of my sister. Do you know why? Death Eaters attacked her and used magic so dark that it left her legs paralyzed and the healers unable to do anything or even just remember her attacker. She's in a wheelchair. She can't even take a shower without my help. And what's even more upsetting about this is that my parents wished it would've happened to me instead of Nessa. There is a war brewing and you're upset over a boy? I always knew you were shallow."
Still fueled by her rage Colette left the dorm before Lily even had a chance to answer her. She wished she had someone to go to. But Vanessa was with her friend in the Hufflepuff common room who was kind enough to help her if it was needed and she didn't want to rely on her sister for company.
She decided to go back to the greenhouse to see if Professor Sprout needed more help.
Back in their dorm, Lily was restless. It annoyed her that she felt sorry for Colette and couldn't just go about not liking her like she was used to. And it annoyed her that she had let James Potter deceive her as long as he had.
Guess mine is not the first heart broken,
My eyes are not the first to cry,
I'm not the first to know,
There's just no getting over you,
She needed an outlet for her frustrations, but didn't know who to write. It would be too awkward telling all of this to her mother and she and Petunia just wasn't close enough anymore. In the end she decided to write her friend at Beauxbatons "Ma chérie Suzon…" but she couldn't get any further. Thinking of what a fool she had been the humiliation was too great to put on paper. Every day at the beach she had met him or waited for him if he was late. Every night he threw pebbles at her window, she came to him.
You know I'm just a fool, who's willing,
To sit around and wait for you,
But baby can't you see,
There's nothing else for me to do,
I'm hopelessly devoted to you,
Tomorrow Transfiguration was on her schedule and those classes Ravenclaw shared with Gryffindor. She would be forced to face him, sit in the same room, unable to flee.
But now there's nowhere to hide,
Since you pushed my love aside,
I'm out of my head,
Hopelessly devoted to you,
Hopelessly devoted to you,
Determined to put her stubbornness to good use she would first of all begin reading her Transfiguration book so she could show off her intellect, but also she would do anything to show him that she was over him. She just didn't know how.
My head is saying "Fool forget him!"
My heart is saying "Don't let go,
Hold on to the end."
And that's what I intend to do,
I'm hopelessly devoted to you
0o0
Sirius had noticed Colette on her way to the greenhouse and followed her. Due to the afternoons excitement he'd nearly forgotten about his bet with Peter, but if the chance offered itself now, why not get it over with?
She didn't even discover him following her, blinded by rage as she often was when he bumped into her.
When Colette reached Greenhouse Three Professor Sprout had already left, but desperately she began pounding the door, calling for her. She had to put her hands to use to distract herself from the thoughts in her head. There was a scratch in the glass that cut her hands and they began dripping blood.
She used it as an excuse to finally cry. Suddenly Sirius was besides her, asking her what was wrong.
"I can't do it anymore." Colette cried tears and snot mingling unattractively "I can't be there for my sister all the time. It's too much!"
"What happened to her?" Sirius hoped he sound concerned enough so she wouldn't remember that she had already told him once and guess that he'd forgotten immediately after.
"Death Eater attack." Colette wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, hoping she didn't smudge blood all over her face. She got her wand from her back pocket and healed her hands herself. Sirius was slightly impressed.
"I'm sorry to hear that." And he meant it. But it also gave him an excuse to give her shoulder a comforting squeeze.
I've seen you twice, in a short time,
Only a day since we started,
It seems to me, for every time,
I'm getting more openhearted,
Your smile and the sound of your voice,
And the way you see through me,
Got a feeling you give me no choice,
And it means a lot to me,
So I wanna know,
"Why are you so concerned about me? What's the benefit for you?" Colette wasn't stupid. With his good looks alone Sirius could get any girl he wanted and she knew she wasn't at the top of anybody's list. Less naïve than Lily Colette impatiently tapped her foot when she waited for Sirius' answer.
What's the name of the game?
Does it mean anything to you?
What's the name of the game?
Can you feel it the way I do?
Tell me please, 'cause I have to know,
I'm a curious child, beginning to grow,
Caught off by her forwardness Sirius missed a beat before answering "You're interesting. I wanna learn more about you."
Narrowing her eyes Colette took a moment to figure out if she thought Sirius was sincere enough "I'm not completely convinced that isn't bullshit. But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. You seem nice enough."
Sirius kept a straight face "Because I am. Tell me more about your sister."
Colette explained the accident and how it had even affected Vanessa's memory of the day, how she used to love ballet, but hadn't want to see a single one since losing the use of her legs and how Colette still considered Vanessa the best of them.
And you make me talk,
And you make me feel,
And you make me show,
What I'm trying to conceal,
If I trust in you, would you let me down?
Would you laugh at me, if I said I care for you?
Could you feel the same way too?
I wanna know,
The name of the game,
Looking at his watch Sirius squeezed her shoulder again "I have to go or I'll be late for Quidditch practice. But I'll see you around. Tell your sister hi from me." He left with his hands in his pockets and Colette wishing she wasn't so easily charmed by this guy.
I have no friends, no one to see,
And I am never invited,
Now I am here, talking to you,
No wonder I get excited …
What's the name of the game?
Standing in the middle of the Quidditch Pitch James was starting the first practice of the year "The name of the game is Quidditch! And this is my last year, my last chance. I want you all at your very best. Okay here's what we are going to do …"
Sirius had heard enough of James' passionate speeches to last him a life-time, this particular one James had practiced for an hour last night in their dorm, so he sauntered off to the side where Peter and Remus was.
Remus was studying and Peter was pretending to.
"Listen Pete, can we forget about that bet we made on the train? Frenchie told me about her sister and it doesn't feel right." Sirius casually mentioned, not wanting them to think he'd gone soft.
"Smart choice." Remus approved without even looking up from his book.
"So the great Sirius Black can't get with a homely looking French girl?" Peter taunted Sirius' ego and got a secret thrill out of his surprised look. It was rare that he stood up to anybody, but especially Sirius.
"Of course I can." Sirius insisted, fierce about protecting his ego.
"Sirius Black get your ass over here this instant! We're discussing the maneuvers for the Chasers." James, red in the face from raising his voice so much already, yelled.
"Yeah James, I'm Beater, remember?" Sirius pointed out, but didn't dare make another joke when he saw James' look. Quidditch was no joke to him.
"Okay Mullen, you're in as Seeker first practice round. I'll be watching you all from down here." James explained, parchment and quill in hand so he could take notes.
Sirius smirked "Aye aye Captain." and took off from the ground. The rest of the team followed and they began a practice game.
Coach said to fake right,
And break left,
Watch out for the snitch,
And keep an eye on defense,
Gotta run the give and go,
And take the ball to the hole,
But don't be afraid,
To shoot the outside 'J',
Down on the pitch James was pointing in every direction, shouting orders no one could hear.
Just keep ya head in the game,
You gotta
Get'cha, get'cha, head in the game,
We gotta,
Get our, get our, get our, get our head in the game
James finally got on his own broom and joined the game as Captain, referee, coach and cheerleader all in one. A crowd of Gryffindors were coming to watch them and it gave him an adrenaline rush.
Let's make sure,
That we get the rebound,
'Cause when we get it,
Then the crowd will go wild,
A second chance,
Gotta grab it and go,
Maybe this time,
We'll hit the right notes,
When James noticed the Pink Witches amongst the crowd he instantly looked for Lily as well, but chided himself. Quidditch should come first and he really shouldn't expect her to talk to him again.
Wait a minute,
It's not the time or the place,
Wait a minute,
Get my head in the game,
Wait a minute,
Get my head in the game,
Wait a minute,
"James!" Sirius called "Longbottom completely missed that shot. Why aren't you telling him off?"
Why am I feeling so wrong,
My head's in the game,
But my heart's with her,
She makes me feel so lame.
Shaking his head as if to get free of thoughts of Lily, James told Frank what to do and pulled Mullen out to play Seeker himself. Tomorrow the planning of the Marauder's first prank of the year would begin and there was more in the world than redheads with emerald eyes.
A/N: The songs I used in this chapter are Stick To The Status Quo from High School Musical, Hopelessly Devoted To You from Grease, The Name Of The Game from Mamma Mia! And Get'cha Head In The Game from High School Musical. As I've mentioned some songs are altered a little, and some are shortened. My goal with the songs are either having them describe what's going on or at least underline it. I would really like to know what you all think of the concept? So I hoped you enjoy and please review.