Disclaimer:This is starting to annoy me. I'm NOT Ms.Rowling, of course!I mean,there's always the possibility of Polyjuice potion, but how would I have gotten a bit of her hair?
Author's Note:My Thanksgiving break is almost over, so I won't be updating as often. I'll probably put up a new chapter each weekend until my Christmas break begins-the updates will likely be more frequent then. THANK YOU to all my reviewers-especially the regulars!So...this is mostly dialogue-I adore writing conversation between Lily and the Marauders. I hope you enjoy! Please review and feel free to offer corrections, advice, ideas, etc.

Chapter5

I stared down on my essay on the Animagus process and scowled. I needed ten more inches. Ten.My hand cramped suddenly and I dropped my quill in disgust, glancing at James across the table. The boy leaned over his parchment, scribbling away furiously, the firelight reflecting in the lenses of his glasses. "How many inches do you have?" I asked dully.

James looked up at me and back down at his essay. "Twenty five," he said finally.

I stared at him. "Pardon?" I got up and walked around to examine his essay. "But your writing's tiny."

He shrugged. "I like Transfiguration. It helps that it comes naturally," he added.

I rolled my eyes. "No need to remind me of your natural brilliance," I said dryly. "You can, however, inform me just how I can get ten more inches of of the animagus process during our first patrol."

He jumped up, rubbing at the massive ink stain blackening his right hand. "Patrol, right." He grabbed his wand off the table beside his books and parchment and looked at me. "Ready?"

"When you are," I replied, and we crossed the common room and crawled out the portrait hole.

"So," he said as we started walking down the hall, "do we just walk around for a bit, try to catch troublemakers?"

"You would know."

"I wouldn't, actually."

"Oh, really?"

"I was never caught, see."

I laughed along with him as we continued our leisurely stroll down the dim corridors of Hogwarts. When we reached a broom closet hidden in a alcove I stopped. "I hate this part of the job," I muttered, reaching out and seizing the door handle. With a yank, it fell open. The cupboard was mercifully empty. James looked relieved.

"Isn't that a bit awkward, er, disturbing them?" He asked.

"Awkward," I agreed, "but required."

"Ever seen anything really scarring?" he inquired with a slight shudder.

"Well, one time Sirius-"

He cringed. "Please don't finish that sentence."

I quirked a questioning eyebrow at him. "Inever caught you, but from what I hear, you were a bit of a broom closet Casanova yourself."

"Who?"

"Muggle thing. Never mind."

"Oh."

"So," I started moments later, "what do you want to do after school?"

"Fight," he answered immediately.

"The Auror Academy, then?"

He hesitated for barely a moment. "Yes, I suppose. Although I'd feel useless for a while-they don't send auror trainees into the field for the first year and a half."

"Because they're not ready?"

He shrugged. "Maybe. Doesn't change that you waste over a year."

I frowned slightly.

"What about you?" he asked.

"Oh," I said, feeling my cheeks redden, "I want to go into auror training, too. I used to want to be a healer...but now...I don't know, it just seems that, as a muggleborn, I should be fighting, you know?"

He nodded gravely. "I see."

"What do your parents do?" I asked curiously.

"They were aurors," he replied. "My mum's retired now, but my dad trains aurors at the Academy."

"Any siblings?" I asked. When I thought about it, it was rather odd how little I knew about James.

"Just Sirius," he answered, smiling. "My parents are older-they weren't even expecting me."

"Sirius lives with you? Because of his family?"

He nodded slowly. "Last summer he couldn't take it anymore. My parents don't mind, he spent all his daylight hours at our house anyway."

"I miss Marlene and Alice," I confessed randomly. "I'm the only one in my dorm, did you know?"

He looked surprised. "Wow. I guess that's right...you are the only Gryffindor seventh year girl. You have a private dorm, practically!"

"It's lonely," I said.

Comprehension dawned on his face. "Is that why you were in the common room this morning?"

I felt myself flush, embarrassed. "Maybe," I mumbled.

"They would probably move you in with the sixth year girls if you asked," he suggested.

"I'll get used to it," I shrugged. "Just missing my best friends, I suppose."

"As girly as it is," he said ruefully, "I don't know what I would do without Sirius."

I whacked him in the arm. "That's not girly! He's practically your brother. Boys are such idiots when it comes to brotherly love."

He grinned. "Maybe so."

I sighed. "About that transfiguration essay..."

He grinned. "Right then. Animagi are so fascinating..."

After breakfast the next morning, James, Sirius, Remus, and I headed to Potions. Peter had dropped Potions in sixth year since his career choice didn't require the class. James, Sirius, and I took it as it was required for aurors. Remus took it because he could.

"Good morning, class," Professor Slughorn said cheerfully. "Today we will be starting a new project. Before I explain, if you would partner up, please."

James seized my right arm and Remus my left. "I call Lily," they said simultaneously.

I grinned. "I know I'm brilliant, but really, there's no need to fight over me..."

Sirius rolled his eyes and seized me around the waist, carrying me over to his cauldron. "I call Lily," he corrected.

"Sorry boys," I teased, "looks like Sirius will be the one passing Potions this year."

James and Remus grumbled a bit but partnered up nonetheless.

"Listen up, everyone!" called Slughorn, failing to notice the minor altercation that had just taken place. "Today we'll start brewing Veritserum. This potion is advanced and difficult. Also, should any of you be caught trying to sneak a sample, the consequences could include expulsion..."

He trailed on for a bit about the use of truth potion and assigned an essay on why it was not more widely used.

I gathered the required ingredients and began to chop, grind, and juice while Sirius helped me. Potions was to me as Transfiguration was to James and Sirius-it came naturally and that only added to my enjoyment of it.

"So Lily," Sirius began casually, "going to Hogsmeade with anyone this weekend?"

For a frightening moment, I thought he might actually be asking me out. "Er-no."

"Do you want to come with us, then?"

I frowned. "You, James, Peter, and Remus?"

"The same."

"Don't any of you have dates?" I wondered out loud.

He shook his head. "It's a marauder tradition. No dates the first Hogsmeade weekend-we go together."

"I'm not a marauder," I pointed out, shaking the contents of my chopping-board into the cauldron.

"But you're also not a date. So you're welcome to join us, but you don't have to, if you have other plans."

My other plans involved moping around my empty dorm missing Marlene and possibly writing my potions essay. "Okay," I agreed. "I'll go with you. You can give me the whole marauder experience."

He leaned back in his chair and smiled that swoon-worthy grin of his. "Great. The boys will be delighted."

"I had no idea you lot enjoyed the the stuffy head girl's company so much."

He cocked his head and examined me with a glint in his eyes. "You're not half bad, really," he said. "You're much less annoying and straight-laced this year. I'm afraid we're rubbing off on you."

"Or maybe you lot are just more straight-laced," I suggested.

He looked horrified at the idea.

"You haven't even pulled a prank yet."

He grinned wickedly.

Oh no.

I changed the subject rapidly. As Head Girl, I did not need to know about any impending pranks. "I, uh, think we need more St. John's Wort."

Still grinning, he headed for the supply cabinet.

"Ever brewed any illegal potions?" he asked upon his return, handing me the herb.

I tried my best to hide the guilt I was sure was written plainly on my face.

His eyes widened as he read obviously saw through my expression. "You have? Merlin, I'd like to hear that story."

"You'd need this Veritserum to get it out of me," I replied primly, stirring the potion clockwise three times. I thought back to the time Marlene and I had brewed Polyjuice potion in fifth year. The plan had been rather immature, of course, but still rather amusing. I decided to go ahead and torture Sirius with the story. "Marlene and I made Polyjuice potion," I whispered. "Do you remember the rumours about you and James snogging those boys in fifth year?"

He gaped at me. "No..."

I couldn't wipe the small triumphant smile off my face. "Oh, yes."

Our first Hogsmeade weekend dawned sunny and only a tad bit chilly. After four years of weekend visits to the tiny village, the charm had worn off a little, but the chance to get out of the castle, get a butterbeer, or go on a date was too good for most seventh years to pass up.

I met the boys in the common room late in the morning wearing a my Gryffindor scarf, a light jacket over my jumper, and jeans. Many students just wore their school robes, but I generally felt the need to break up the monotony of a school uniform.

We set off to Hogsmeade cheerily. After an entire summer without, I was dying for a butterbeer.

"Where to first?" asked Remus, who looked more well rested and healthier than I had seen him in a few weeks. The full moon must have been a few weeks away.

"I need to get a quill," put in Peter. "Some dogchewed up all my new ones," he said accusingly, glaring at Sirius.

"Alright," said Sirius agreeably, grinning. "Scrivenshafts, then."

"I didn't think dogs were allowed in the castle," I said suspiciously.

"They're not," answered James carelessly. "C'mon, then, I want to go to Honeydukes' after."

Rather confused, I shrugged it off and followed the boys down High Street.

After Peter had gotten quill satisfaction, James sugar quill satisfaction, Remus chocolate satisfaction, and Sirius dungbomb satisfaction (while the Head Girl and Boy turned a blind eye), I was determined to get my butterbeer satisfaction.

"The Three Broomsticks, now," I declared imperiously.

We ducked into the noisy, crowded, welcoming pub and managed to find a booth for three. I ended up squeezed between James and Sirius while Remus leaned against the wall and Peter perched dangerously on the edge of the booth.

Rosmerta, the barmaid, a pretty young woman in her early twenties, hurried over. "Hey, boys," she greeted, her black curls bouncing. "Who's the pretty ginger?" She grinned and winked at me.

"Lily Evans," James said.

I squeezed my arm out from where it had been pinned against Sirius' side and offered my hand. "Pleased to meet you," I said politely.

Rosmerta's cheery grin widened almost mischievously. "TheLily Evans?" she asked, taking my hand briefly.

I must've looked confused, for she shrugged it off and took our orders-firewhiskey for Sirius, butterbeer for everyone else.

"Hey," I realized a moment later,"They're not supposed to serve firewhiskey to students..."

"We have an understanding," Sirius grinned.

"Rosmerta enjoys you flirting with her, you mean," Peter said, rolling his eyes.

"What can I say? I'm a charming bastard."

"A bastard, maybe..." Remus put in, grinning.

I laughed and took a sip of my newly arrived butterbeer. Life was good. I was surrounded by friends and drinking the most delicious liquid in the entire world, wizarding or otherwise.

"Butterbeer sure puts you in a good mood," James observed three-quarters of the way through my mug.

I felt flushed and a bit dizzy, a random sense of euphoria coursing through my veins. "I love butterbeer," I gushed. "It's so yummy! This butterbeer tastes a little different though...and it usually doesn't make me this dizzy."

Sirius was obviously holding back laughter. James shot him a withering look. "You spiked her drink, didn't you, Padfoot?"

"I never saw him," I protested happily.

James rolled his eyes at me. "He's rather good at not getting caught, in case you hadn't noticed."

Sirius shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe she got tipsy off of that! I barely touched it."

I scowled. "I'm not tipsy." To prove this, I scrambled over James and started to walk away. I tripped and was about to get intimate with the ground when someone caught me.

Sirius pulled me upright and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Sorry, Lily," he said. "I really wasn't trying to get you drunk."

I blinked at him. "Why're there two of you?" I slurred confusedly.

James groaned suddenly. "How're we going to get her up to the castle?"

Peter frowned. "What do you mean?"

"We don't want anyone to notice that the Head Girl's drunk," muttered Remus. "Really, Sirius?"

"It's not my fault I didn't realize she couldn't hold her alcohol!" Sirius said defensively. "But I still feel bad about getting you drunk," he added to me.

I groaned and watched the my spotty vision grow darker until everything went black.

"Seriously, the girl must have some kind of alcohol intolerance!" a familiar voice broke through the darkness.

"Yeah," agreed another voice. "But she's going to mad anyway...I don't envy you, Padfoot."

"I have to agree with Wormtail," came yet another voice. "You'll be lucky if you only have detention for a month."

There was a loud groan. "I really do feel bad! She was just starting to like me, too!" Then, "Man, I'm glad she's tiny." Someone shifted my body in their arms. I moaned.

"Ah! She's awake!" declared voice number three.

"Lily!" James' voice came. "Do you feel okay?"

If feeling like a Hippogriff just ran over your head qualifies as okay..."Sobering potion?" I managed to get out.

The person carrying me stifled a laugh. "Hold on a second," James answered. "We've got some in our dorm. We're almost to the castle...Hey, Remus, check the map, will you?"

"All clear, Prongs. We can get out now."

Moments later, the boys were climbing out of the passage through a statue. Sirius, who had been the one carrying me, handed me up to James and climbed out, closing the passage. We managed to get back to the common room without being spotted and, shooing the curious first and second years away, they carried me up to the dorm. Someone handed me a vial filled with purple potion, which I gulped down gratefully. Moments later, the dorm came into focus and I sat up.

"Sirius Black," I said indignantly, "You are in so much trouble!"

The boy in question blanched and pleaded, "Please, Lily! I really am sorry! I even carried you all the way back..."

Suddenly, I laughed and fell back on the bed, still giggling. "This is so ridiculous," I gasped out.

All four boys were looking at me as if I'd gone mad. "Do you think the potion messed with her?" whispered Peter.

I rolled my eyes. "The Head Girl just got wasted over a spiked butterbeer and was carried back to the castle through a secret passage way by the biggest troublemakers in the school," I explained. "Doesn't that strike you as funny?"

"Aren't you angry?" asked Remus doubtfully.

I glanced at Sirius. "Detention tonight," I said firmly. "And you get to finish my essay on Animagi. And if you ever, ever spike my drink again..." I trailed off suggestively.

He slumped in relief. "Never again," he agreed.

The rest of our companions, obviously expecting a loud, long lecture and numerous punishments for all involved, looked relieved too.

I glanced about at them. "But I want to hear all about this passageway and the map."

They exchanged glances, looking nervous.

"Er, well," began James. "We made this map in fourth year..."

More annoying author note-ness. Review! :)

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