A/N: Hello, all! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, those of you who celebrated. I just want to address something a reviewer said...
Headoverheels14: I can definitely see how demanding reviews in return for chapters could be annoying and come across as arrogant. I didn't really think about that. So, I'm very sorry and promise not to do it anymore! (Like you said, story alerts etc. without reviews are sad.) However, I wasn't actually going to hold off posting until I got my requested amount of reviews, I have just been very busy with Christmas and family and the like. (Not that anyone could know that!) Also, thank you for reviewing despite your annoyance with me. (And a very helpful review, for that matter.) Anyway, thank you to all who reviewed despite my annoying-ness.
Also, on the subject of Americanisms...I try to avoid the obvious ones, at least, but it seems I'm failing. I had no idea about the pancakes! What's the best way to check? Just google..?
I had a bit of trouble writing this chapter and I feel like the dialogue doesn't flow very well. I think I'm writing all dialogue (something I usually don't do) and I'm having a hard time fixing it! I'm also in the process of getting a Beta Reader, so soon my story will be beta'd. (Yay!) And, of course, Beta'd is better! :)
Extremely long, bothersome author note over.
"What are Wizarding weddings like?" I wondered aloud. Petunia had just finished committing her life to a human walrus and to celebrate that momentous occasion, James and I had taken to the dance floor.
James took a quick step to the left, dragging me along with him, to avoid a slightly intoxicated couple stumbling around aimlessly. "Uh, not much different," he answered, twirling me teasingly. I tripped.
"Stop that," I complained. "Not all of us are as coordinated as you are."
He smirked. "Are you saying I'm a good dancer?"
"I'm saying I've had more champagne than you," I retorted. James danced wonderfully, but he didn't need me to tell him that. "You didn't really answer my question about wizard weddings."
He grinned at my abrupt change of subject. "Well, instead of a priest, there's usually an officiating wizard," he explained, turning us in a slow circle. "And a thing where they bind the couple's wands together...I don't really know. I mean, I've been to quite a few weddings, but I don't pay attention to the details."
"Of course." I rolled my eyes.
"Hey," he protested. "I'll pay attention at my friends' weddings. And at my own."
"I would hope so. Your wife might kill you if you zoned out and forgot to say 'I do.'"
"Probably," he agreed.
"Do you want to get married?" I asked suddenly, trying to picture James settling down.
"I do," he chuckled.
"Bad pun," I said, rolling my eyes. "And this highly unlucky girl, what does she look like?" I could've sworn I saw a flash of hurt in his hazel eyes, but dismissed the notion a moment later.
"In first year," he answered. "I wasn't going to get married. Girls were yucky, although I enjoyed the various prank opportunities their long hair gave. Second year, Sirius decided that the fairer sex could be pleasant company, but I wasn't quite convinced. Third year, a fifth year asked me to Hogsmeade. It scarred me.
"However, later that same year, I began to notice a very pretty redheaded Gryffindor with a terrible temper I enjoyed rousing. That year, my future wife had very red hair, bright green eyes, and a spattering of freckles across her charming little nose, although I would rather have jumped off the Astronomy Tower than admit it to my friends."
I flushed and wondered if this could turn awkward.
"Fourth year," he continued, "I was determined to ask this girl to go out with me. I asked, and she refused. She told me she would never go out with a prat such as myself. Her jab didn't particularly bother me, so I kept asking. She kept refusing. Fifth year arrived, and our pattern continued.
"After OWLs, though, Sirius and I were entertaining ourselves..."
I squirmed slightly, knowing what was coming. James' joking demeanor from earlier had gone.
"...bullying someone who represented the things we both hated the most. Snape was a Slytherin, and morbidly fascinated with the dark arts,. His unfortunate demeanor only encouraged our bullying habits. Most of all, I didn't like him because he was your friend. You wouldn't give me the time of day, but Severus, a slimy, greasy, Slytherin, was your best friend. After the OWLs incident, you gave me a thorough tongue thrashing, which, of course, I deserved."
"I'd like to think I grew up a lot that summer after fifth year. It was the summer Sirius ran away from home and came to live with us, the summer You-Know-Who became even more powerful, and the summer I realized that I couldn't be a immature, arrogant prat forever, because there were larger and more important things out there. I wanted in on those things, but first I had to act like the near-adult I was. And so I decided I would. When I went back to school for sixth year, I quit hexing first years who annoyed me, restrained myself from jinxing most Slytherins, even if they deserved it, and quit bugging you about going out with me."
"Somewhere along the line, your imaginary wife disappeared," I laughed, stepping closer to him a slower song came on. I looped my arms around his neck and rested my head on his chest. "But anyway, I like adult James much better. I can be friends with adult James without wanting to hex him."
"I digressed," he acknowledged, chuckling. "I'm glad you like adult James, though. I quite like being friends with you...you're a refreshing break from Sirius."
I laughed. "Glad I could help. Do you want to go get some cake?"
"May I cut in?"
"You're foiling my sugar consumption plans!" I protested as James relinquished his position and my Dad took my hand and waist.
"All yours, Mr. Evans," James answered my father cheerfully. "I'm going to find the cake. Bye, Lily!"
I rolled my eyes at his retreating back.
"How goes it, Lils?" My father asked, taking my hand.
"It's actually not been too unpleasant. James is entertaining," I shrugged. "I've almost forgotten why I'm here."
He put on a stern face. "Petunia is your sister, Lily. Today is very important to her."
"Which is exactly why I'm saying this to you and not her," I pointed out.
He sighed wearily. "I think you two take sibling rivalry a bit far, sweetheart."
I flushed guiltily under his gaze. "Sorry, dad. I'll try to be a better sister, I promise."
"I know Petunia makes it hard, Lily, and I'm sorry for that. But let's just try to be happy for her today. Even if her new husband isa miserable clod."
I snorted, glancing over at Vernon and Petunia, who were making googly-eyes at each other over their cake. "What a complimentary description of your brand-new son-in-law."
He smiled ruefully. "Let's not share it?"
"I won't," I assured him, grinning and stepping on his foot.
He sighed. "You, my dear, are a terrible dancer. Now run off and have some cake with James. My toes can't take anymore abuse."
A few weeks after Petunia's wedding, I was walking to class when I dropped my schoolbag.
"Er, Lily?"
I frowned and glanced over my should to find the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, Everett Gilchrist, standing behind me. He fidgeted uncomfortably.
"Yes?" I answered distractedly, turning back to the scattered school supplies.
He knelt beside me and began helping to shove books, quill and ink pots back into the frayed cotton bag.
"Did you need something?" I asked, trying to straighten out the crushed feathers of my best quill.
"Well," he said, sounding nervous, "I was wondering...I mean...would you like to go Hogsmeade with me Saturday? You know, on a date."
"Oh," I said, surprised. I did some quick thinking. Everett was a good student, athletic, polite, and mildly attractive. I hadn't set up any Hogsmeade plans with the Marauders yet, so I was free. And while I did not need a boyfriend distracting me from my schoolwork, a date didn't automatically mean he wanted a relationship. "Sure," I replied after a brief pause.
A look of such strong relief came over his face I had to struggle not to laugh. "Great," he grinned broadly. "Meet you outside the Gryffindor common room at half past eleven? We can get lunch."
"Sounds good," I said cheerfully. A date was beginning to sound better and better.
"See you later then, Lily!" He jogged down the hall and I turned and continued on my way to Arithimancy.
"What's the wand movement for a vanishing charm?" Peter asked me, sounding confused.
"Swish and flick, like the levitation charm," I answered, staring hopelessly at my transfiguration homework. It was Friday night and Peter, Remus, and I were struggling through the massive pile of homework that the teachers had given us that week. James and Sirius had disappeared to the kitchens a few minutes earlier, promising to bring back food for the rest of us.
"What about an disillusionment charm?"
I blinked and forced my growing annoyance towards Peter, who had been asking me questions for the past hour, to go away. I glanced him quickly and immediately felt sorry for him. He had a look of utter confusion in his pale blue eyes.
Peter had never quite fit in with the Marauders. He possessed neither the natural brilliance, outgoing nature, and athleticism of James and Sirius, nor Remus' quiet intelligence, humour, and kind personality.
His looks were average-shorter than most boys his age, mousy hair, nondescript features, his face retaining traces of his baby fat. He was neither smart nor stupid; he did well in all his classes, obviously with help from his friends, as I was discovering. He tended to be quiet and insecure, often vying for James' and Sirius' favor. He seemed to be a loyal friend, though, and I decided then to be friendlier and kinder toward the boy.
"Here, Peter." I scooted over, closer to him. "I'll help you with your charms-I need a break from Transfiguration, anyway."
He smiled ruefully. "Thanks, Lily. I'm completely lost."
A half an hour later, James and Sirius returned, arms full of cookies and bottles of butterbeer.
"To NEWTs," cried Sirius, popping open his bottle and holding it aloft.
"I refuse to echo that toast," I grumbled, reaching for my own butterbeer and a cookie.
"I agree with Lily," Remus said. "It's only October and the teachers are already killing us with homework."
"Killing," agreed Peter.
"What are we doing for Hogsmeade tomorrow?" James asked. "Or are we even going?"
"I want out of this bloody castle," Sirius declared. "So I'm going. Don't have a date, though. Hog's Head?"
"Lily wouldn't like it," Peter protested. I smiled at him.
"I have a date, anyway," I said. "So go to Hog's Head if you like."
"A date?" Sirius inquired.
"A date." I yawned and leaned back on the couch. "And so I am going to bed to get my beauty sleep."
Sirius snorted. "Right. Not before you tell us who your date's with."
"Everett Gilchrist." What harm could telling them do? James and Sirius were beyond their days of hexing anyone who asked me to Hogsmeade.
"Ravenclaw quidditch captain?" Sirius asked.
"That's him," I agreed.
"Crushed James' skull in last year's Quidditch Final," Sirius said with distaste.
"He didn't personally," Remus disagreed. "The Ravenclaw beater did. And it was an accident, anyway. I was commentating."
I glanced over at James, who hadn't spoken since I had mentioned my date. He looked up and met my eyes. "Just tell him to behave or the Marauders will give him a hexing he'll never forget."
I raised one eyebrow at his serious tone.
"Yeah, tell him that," agreed Sirius.
"You are ridiculous," I informed them.
Sirius grabbed me and squeezed me in a bear hug. "You're my adopted sister, I have a right to be insanely overprotective."
I wiggled out of his grasp. "And since you're my adopted brother, I can track you down and hex you if you ruin my date." I stood up and stretched. "Goodnight, boys. I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow."
When I reached the top of the stairs, I looked back down at the Marauders, who were still lounging by the fire. The only face I could see was James', and for some reason, he looked completely depressed.
I decided that tomorrow, after my date, I would cheer him up.
Thank you for reading! Lily's date is next chapter. I'm also going to try to develop Remus' character (and his friendship with Lily) in the next couple of chapters. Next update should be sometime this week, hopefully.