A/N: Hey everyone, here i present the next chapter. It serves mostly as a filler, because things need to be explained, but I assure you that the next few will be more action-packed. I hope you enjoy~

Previously: We saw Lily have an argument with Petunia the night before she was to return to Hogwarts. James decided that this year was going to be different. Emmeline Vance was punctual while her friends were not. James revealed his plans to the Marauders. Lily was late to the prefects meeting, and met someone she was supposed to be introduced to. Severus ignored her. During the Hogwarts feast, Samuel sat beside Lily and everyone watched. And Hestia Jones returned to the dormitory unusually late.

Disclaimer: All belongs to JK Rowling.

II

"The Past and Floating Pumpkin Juice"

September 2

8:43 AM

The first day back at Hogwarts was proving to be relatively normal.

There was no scheduled mischief by the Marauders, a surprisingly low level of first-years were hexed, no one had fallen into the lake yet, and it was an unpredictably sunny day for September.

But for Mary Macdonald, something was not right.

"Merlin's sodding trousers."

Without looking up from her toast, Lily asked Mary why she let out this obscenity so early in the morning. Emmeline Vance rolled her eyes while Marlene McKinnon pondered how uncharacteristically tranquil the Great Hall looked in the morning light.

"I have Transfiguration first," Mary grimaced while running over her newly issued class schedule.

"With me." Emmeline added in a sarcastically cheerful voice.

Lily smiled and said, "I've got Herbology in the afternoon. Anyone?"

Marlene's ears perked and she said through a mouthful of oatmeal, "I've got that."

"So do the Marauders." Mary furthered.

And as Lily wondered how Mary had known this information so early on, the said quartet shuffled into the Great Hall. Sirius Black appeared less merry so early in the morning, as his usual smile was replaced by a sluggish frown. James Potter walked alongside him and read over his schedule with a hand in his hair, which assisted the bed head that seemed ever present. Remus Lupin carried his books with a small grin and seemed unfazed by the hour. Peter Pettigrew's left shoe was untied.

"Why is my pumpkin juice floating?"

Perhaps at some other time Emmeline's query could have been answered, because indeed her goblet was suspended a few inches above the table, but right now Hestia Jones got up from her solitary position at Gryffindor table and practically skipped over to a smiling James Potter, who wrapped one arm around her in greeting.

"What is that slag doing fondling Potter?" Marlene's soft voice let out.

"Marlene she's our dorm-mate!" Mary warned.

"Does no one see this?" Emmeline was now moving her hand back and forth beneath her floating juice.

"That doesn't mean anything Macdonald, everyone knows what she is." Marlene said nonchalantly.

Lily chose not to question the strange couple, but while glancing at them felt a strange twinge in the pit of her stomach that she was not decidedly fond of. She chose to investigate the floating pumpkin juice.

"Did anyone here do this?" she questioned while staring at the goblet.

Mary and Marlene were too preoccupied with their argument to hear of course, but Sirius approached.

"Do you like it Emmie?" He asked through a yawn. "With me, you'll never have to lift a finger again, just say 'Drink'."

Emmeline placed her head in her hands. "Sirius why do you find my misery so charming?"

He raised his hand to his chest, "Why Emmeline, my love causes your misery?"

"Ye-"

"Good morning Evans, you look lovely, McKinnon, Macdonald." He nodded before quickly walking to the Marauders (and Hestia) seated a few places away.

"I will murder that idiot." Emmeline seethed.

Sirius' greeting seemed to have stopped the argument between Mary and Marlene, because the former now brought up what had been running through each of their minds.

"So is she really dating him now? It's the first day back, Merlin..."

"It won't last long." Marlene stated with a glance to Lily.

Lily was looking at the couple. Hestia was sitting as close to James as seemed humanly possible, and kept trying to hold onto his hand, which was funny Lily thought, because anyone who knew the man should know that he talked with them almost more than his mouth.

"Anyway, let's just talk about something else, yes?" Lily suggested with a sigh.

"Yes, let's talk about how completely terrible I'm going to be this year in Defense when we have a teacher that's better looking than half of the blokes here." Mary declared with a far off look in her brown eyes.

"Mary you'd be terrible in Defense if our teacher looked like a Mountain Troll." Marlene laughed.

Mary let out a huff of frustration and opened her mouth to say something, but decided to fill it with her toast instead.

Lily chuckled, "It's true Mary, you haven't studied for any of our exams since third year."

"Or done any of your own homework." Emmeline clarified.

Mary looked defeated, "Well, I won't need any of that for what I want to do."

"Which is?" Lily questioned.

"I don't know yet. But when I find out I'll let you all know, but I see Benjy Fenwick over there and I have to go." She smiled, patted her hair and quickly rushed over to the boy.

"Maniac." Marlene let out.

Lily giggled and Emmeline returned to examining her juice, that was still floating.

"I don't understand how I'm supposed to drink thi-"

Unfortunately that was all Emmeline spoke, before the floating juice tipped over rather violently, and spilled all of its contents directly over her face.

A great deal of things happened very quickly after that.

Sirius Black could be heard laughing from his place at Gryffindor table, any students surrounding the area joined him, Lily tried her best to clean and calm the furious and soaked witch without chuckling, Marlene bid the two of them goodbye and ran out of the Great Hall in fits of giggles, and then Emmeline stood up quickly.

She ran a cleaning charm over her face coolly and then cleared her throat.

"SIRIUS BLACK!"

The Marauder was alert now, and in the fastest sprint Lily had ever laid eyes on, ran to the other side of the Great Hall and ducked beneath Ravenclaw table. And just in time too, because Emmeline had begun to shoot several nasty looking hexes his way.

"Emmeline you can't do that here!" Lily begged. She was a prefect, and had to stop this, which she really did not like.

Sirius was on the move now, as several girls had begun screaming or giggling in a line down the table when he passed, and sure enough, when the last girl had been reached he shot out from the end of the table and was out of the Great Hall.

"YOU BETTER RUN BLACK!" Emmeline was now running towards the doors. "I'M SORRY LILY, SEE YOU LATER!" She called, and then was gone.

Lily stood still and tried her best to ignore all of the eyes that were now fixated on her.

"Don't worry, I'll handle them." Remus was now at her side and gave her a small smile before walking briskly out of the hall.

Lily sighed and then James Potter's voice was suddenly near her.

"You handled that quite well."

She knew he was smirking. And she knew that Hestia was probably standing right next to him, because she heard a small and contrived giggle. But Lily did not give James the satisfaction of a glance or retort, because she decided to walk out of the Great Hall then, and go to Arithmancy.

2 Months Earlier

8:00 PM

Several brightly colored figures lit up the Potter's home this evening.

There was a great deal of food in the dining hall that had been artfully prepared by four house-elves, and witches and wizards happily gorged themselves on it. Fast music played in the entry hall, so anyone who entered was immediately immersed into the party. Mr. and Mrs. Potter had been moving about the rooms greeting their guests with warm enthusiasm and tasteful jokes. They had done this before.

James Potter sat in his room with five mini sausage rolls and a borrowed glass of fire whiskey.

At any moment he was expected to actually show his face around his parent's party, and even talk to a few drunken guests. He really hoped that Fabian and Gideon Prewett would be here tonight. They were the only wizards remotely close to his age, and they were a riot.

Several voices drifted up from the party and echoed about his room, gaudy laughter followed.

James downed his glass and tied his bowtie. And in one final moment of solitude, closed his eyes and hoped this night would end soon.

There seemed to be more people at every party James thought while descending the stairs, he greeted the passing guests with a polite smile and made his way around the hall.

"Oh my, I haven't seen you since you were a child!"

"You're so handsome James."

"You look just like your father!"

"How are you my boy?"

The voices floated around him and he answered and greeted each one with a charming demeanor that was always expected. The greetings and proclamations got stranger and more ridiculous as he moved closer to the bar, he noticed.

"Oh Jamie, you look -"

"-quite dashing this evening."

James turned around at the twin voices and stood before the twin brothers that they belonged to.

They were dressed in matching dress robes that were a bright blue, with white shirts and gold ties, their fiery hair was slicked back. They looked glorious. But anyone who knew them personally knew that they never dressed this way on normal circumstances.

James couldn't contain his laughter, a stifled chuckle escaped him, and he gave them a silly bow.

"Good evening gentlemen, might I say that you look quite dashing as well."

"Alright then James we're here to-"

"-rescue you from these stuffy people-"

"-and take you to a place where we can-"

"-get absolutely sloshed."

James laughed as the twins were suddenly on each side of him and they both grabbed an arm, carrying him through a crowd of wizards, where they had hoped to reach the kitchen. But this destination was not met, because while the twins hauled a smiling James they got halfway back through the entry hall, before they bumped into a very tall, very reproachful looking old wizard.

"Oh, excuse us sir-"

"-we're very sorry."

They were still carrying James. He noticed that two witches were standing beside the man, and one of them was in his year, Hestia Jones. So these were her parents. And another glance at the woman to her left's thin smile and the man's condemnatory eyes made this true.

"Hi James." Hestia said with a small smile.

"Oh, er, hello Hestia." James tried to wave with a confined hand.

"Ah, so you're James Potter." the woman that was supposedly Hestia's mother said in a favorable voice.

"Well, see ya James-"

"-you'll know where to find us."

The twins dropped him and apparated away. To the kitchen.

"How rude." The woman now spoke in a reproving tone.

"Oh yes, I'm James, and don't mind them, these parties can be terribly boring for the young."

The man raised his eyebrows and James realized he was being 'tactless' as his mother called it.

"Oh, well, I mean, I just meant... Can I get you a drink Hestia?" James was at a loss.

"I hope you mean, non-alcoholic, young man." The man was watching him closely.

"Yes! oh yes, of course, er, we have punch." James wanted to burst into flames.

Hestia laughed, "I'll go with you James, we can talk." She was watching him with a strange smile that James could not recognize, but right now he just wanted to get away. "Oh, these are my parents, by the way."

The old couple smiled now, "Yes, yes, I guessed that." James said hastily "Very nice to meet you both."

Hestia's mother whispered something before Hestia walked beside James. He didn't want to know, really.

So now they had finally made their way out of the entry hall and were walking towards the punch bowl placed in the lavish dining hall.

"James, do you think we could talk, somewhere, privately?" Hestia looked at James with pleading eyes.

James stopped serving punch. Hestia was eyeing the few wizards that remained in the room. How much more private did she want? No one around here is sober enough to hear, or care about anything she would have to say.

"We could go outside?"

"Okay."

So James quietly led her through several more dazzling rooms full of witches and wizards that were dancing, laughing, drinking and not conscious enough to notice the two youngest of the party, sneaking about to get outside.

They were almost to the garden's large double doors, when Hestia realized that the doors were glass, and that maybe this was not the best idea for her plans. She looked left and noticed a small closet.

James was about to open the garden doors, when suddenly he realized that he was no longer leading, that instead he was being pushed into the gardening closet to his left.

The closet door closed behind them.

"Hestia, what are you doi- meerffgh"

Hestia Jones was a pretty girl James thought. Her parents were nuts. And she could be a bit strange at times. But she was a pretty girl.

And she was kissing him. in the gardening closet at his house during a party, he realized. Because there was a gardening shovel that was pressing painfully into his rib cage.

But wasn't Hestia friends with Lily?

He pulled away. "Hestia, listen, I appreciate the snog, but for Merlin's sake what is going on?"

James Potter was a brilliant kisser Hestia concluded, and superbly handsome in dress robes.

Hestia was fidgeting and she spoke very quickly.

"I like you James. And so do my parents. That sounds weird but you saw them, I can't properly date anyone without their consent. Pureblood values, you know how that goes. And I wanted to talk to you about it, but this seemed, better. "

James stared at her. So she liked him. And wanted to date him. She was down for a snog at approximately anytime. Her dress was raised a few inches higher than it should have been. She was a pretty girl. And she was not Lily Evans. And perhaps in James' opinion, exactly what he needed.

"Okay."

And then he was kissing her again. Gideon and Fabian could wait.

Present Day

11:03 AM

Potions class was not the same.

Lily sat next to Severus and thought while Slughorn went over his usual first day speech.

Severus had entered the classroom and glanced about the room before choosing his seat. Lily believed for one cold moment that he would not sit with her, but after seeing none of his Slytherin friends, he took the seat beside hers.

He didn't greet her, and she didn't greet him. It was a silent three minutes before Slughorn had begun speaking.

And when it was time to make a Sleeping Draught potion, they began their normal routine. They worked silently, but efficiently.

There was one moment when Lily almost added one too many counts of lavender. Wordlessly, gently, Severus stopped her hand from adding it to the steaming cauldron.

"Oh, sorry." Lily looked at him.

Severus gave a small half smile.

By the end of class they had made the most effective potion.

Slughorn was the only one who celebrated.

And then class was over.

24 Hours Earlier

The Marauders had charmed Filch's closet to run away.

When anyone approached, it ran along the wall at an inconceivable pace, making it impossible to access for their favorite staff member.

After several hilarious bouts of testing they heard their lovely janitor approaching, so they took off and rounded the corner before stopping and waiting around the wall.

"Hey! WHAT THE! COME BACK HEEEEERE!"

Filch could be heard stomping and running down the hall.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY! EXCUSE ME! STOP THAT DOOR!"

Several students were laughing and being shoved aside by a deranged looking Filch.

"Hold on, I want to get a look at his face." Sirius smiled and rounded back around the corner.

The other Marauders followed to mix in with the crowd of students, but James was suddenly pulled back by a familiar hand.

Hestia Jones pulled him around the corner, and James suddenly realized that they were in a very dimly lit corridor.

Hestia had shoulder length auburn hair and very dreamy blue eyes. She was very small and very thin. But this did not subtract from her attractiveness, because she carried herself very well.

And when she found herself kissing James again, he did not mind.

She pulled away and looked him in the eye, "So we're doing this? Actually dating? No more closets at your house?"

James smiled, "Yes. But I think the broom closets here are a bit more accommodating."

Hestia laughed.

"That's true. Shall we test them?"

And before James could say anything in opposition, because the other Marauders would certainly wonder where he had gotten off to, Hestia was pulling him in the direction of the nearest broom closet.

Where they remained until no one else was circling about the corridors, and most of the student population had drifted to sleep.

They walked silently back to the common room, and she kissed his cheek before returning to the girl's dormitory.

James did not know if he loved Hestia, but he knew that after spending a few weeks with her in the summer, that she was a fun companion. She didn't understand all of his jokes and she was too picky most of the time. But she was a simple girl. And maybe James, thought, he was a simple boy.

He returned to the dormitory where Sirius, Remus, Peter and even Benjy Fenwick were waiting for him.

"And where in the bloody hell were you?" Sirius got up from his position on the floor.

"Well, mother, I was actually out having a nice shag if you must know."

This quieted Sirius, and would have quieted the rest of the boys if they had been speaking.

"The first night back at Hogwarts?" Benjy asked excitedly.

James smiled and gave a small nod.

"Well who is the lucky witch?" Sirius was back on the floor laughing.

"Shove off Sirius, she's a nice girl." James defended

Remus choked back a laugh. And Sirius was doing his best to stifle the rest of his and Peter's laughter with his hands.

"Well, it's Hestia Jones, and you lot are going to have to get used to it because we're dating, and have been for two months."

This stopped the giggling. And all four of the boys now looked at James with wide eyes. He crossed the room and laid in his bed.

Sirius got up and faced him, "So, when you say dating, you mean seriously, girlfriend-boyfriend dating. Ball and chain?"

James was annoyed, "Yes Sirius. No one else. We're together."

Remus now crossed the room and sat at the edge of his bed, "So, is this what you meant on the train, when you said you were 'over her'?"

James was extremely irritated now. They couldn't accept that he was dating someone without their consent, and now they were bringing up Lily. And why did he get such a tight feeling in his chest whenever she was brought up?

"Yes, Remus, yes everyone. I already told you that I was done with all of that. and now if you don't mind I'm going to go to sleep." He stripped off his shirt and got beneath his blankets.

No one said anything more. Benjy got into his bed and thought that maybe this was for the best. Peter wondered which girl Hestia was. Remus looked at Sirius before going to his bed, and Sirius shook his head before returning to his.

This was not right.

Present Day

4:32 PM

Professor Doge was not only very handsome, but also a brilliantly insightful teacher.

They were covering the basics of complex blocking spells and Lily had never heard so much laughter in a classroom. She also never felt more assured of herself, he explained things simply and everyone understood. This was going to be a good year.

Suddenly Lily's thoughts were interrupted by a ball of parchment that had been tossed onto her desk. It unfolded, and written in a neat cursive was:

Hey Red,

Are you going to drool over this professor as much as everyone else is?

Or can I still watch you from afar without cringing?

P.S.- It looks as if a small pond has formed on Mary's desk.

The message was not signed, and it didn't need to be, because one glance upward told Lily that Samuel Jacobs had written this letter, because he was indeed watching her from two desks ahead and he gave a small wave.

Lily smiled and waved back. She also looked at Mary and chuckled because she was actually drooling. Actually.

James Potter heard a small giggle and turned to see Lily Evans laughing to herself.

He almost accepted this as another one of her quirks, but then realized that she was scrawling notes with someone. He glanced around the room to see who it was and sure enough, when Lily was done writing she charmed the note to turn into a small bird that gracefully flew unseen, to Samuel Jacobs' desk.

It was enough of a scene to vomit, really James thought. Who charms their notes to do that? And of course when Samuel returned his, it turned into a flower that floated gently towards Lily. Vomit forming, now.

Except Lily must have felt his eyes upon her because she turned and gave a questioning look toward James.

James looked at her and then to Samuel and back with a nauseous-looking face.

Lily smiled and then nodded her head in the same manner to the area beside James, or person rather.

And this was bad because James had just realized that the person sitting next to him was Hestia Jones, his girlfriend, and she had been sitting with him the entire time. And he hadn't been paying much attention to her. Because he had been staring at Lily. Who was not his girlfriend.

And Hestia had probably noticed, because she looked at James from the side of her eye and her lip tightened before she returned her attention to Professor Doge's example of blocking several hexes at once.

James decided to shift his attention to Doge also.

Lily had seen the exchange, and almost felt bad for James, but another note from Samuel had flown onto her desk and she decided that it wasn't going to bother her, because she was having a good year so far.

A/N: So there you have it. Tell me what you're thinking. I don't like Hestia very much.

Reviews are what makes you some of my favorite people in the world,

xx Kaytlin