Mum's Mistake –Forgetting my Chocolate Éclairs

"That sucks."

That's all Marlene had to say about my predicament when I joined them for dinner after meeting with McGonagall.

"Emmeline will be a great tutor, Lily," Selene attempted to encourage me.

"Yeah," Marlene took a large bite out of her shepherd's pie and swallowed, "Great." Only I picked up on her sarcasm.

"Oh shut up," I said, poking at my dinner. I had lost my appetite. I sulked for a few minutes just so they knew how awful this was. I mean, it was pretty awful.

I guess she is better than Potter, though. Can you believe McGonagall actually considered it? This faculty really is losing their marbles.

After getting over the whole tutoring issue, the three of us were ready our annual girls night. You see, we always did it after the first night back (the first night we are all too stuffed from the feast).

It's tradition. Selene had the Honeydukes chocolate saved up—she's a weird health nut and can avoid eating all her chocolate in one go unlike the rest of us. Marlene got Remus Lupin to smuggle us butterbeer, and I—well—I usually brought my mum's chocolate éclairs.

The only problem was she forgot to make them. She always sent them the morning of, and then I brought them and shared them with my mates. Perfect addition to a girl's night.

However, I didn't have any chocolate éclairs tonight.

I promised them I'd be right back when Marlene asked me to get out the éclairs. Of course, I had no éclairs.

You're probably wondering why I didn't just tell my friends that I'd forgotten them or better yet, say my mum forgot them.

First of all, Marlene would probably kill me. She really, really likes my mum's éclairs. In fact, she kept bring it up all through dinner—you know, when she had a dozen different dishes in front of her. She just kept rambling on about my mother's éclairs.

They're not that good.

Well, maybe just a little.

"Evans," Potter had to almost jump back as I ran past him after flying down the steps and trying to make my way to the portrait hole, "Where's the fire?" he joked as I hurried through the common room.

"Chocolate éclairs!" I yelled over my shoulder, not bothering to stop and explain as I flew out of the portrait hole. I had to find the kitchens. I just had to. Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks.

James Potter. He knew every inch of this castle—including the kitchens.

Great Mum, I thought bitterly. She's making me fraternize with the enemy. The irritated Fat Lady opened up for me again as I attempted to collect myself and headed towards James who was with sitting with his mates.

"Er—Potter?" I interrupted.

All four of them turned and looked at me, as if shocked that I approached them. I guess they were. I usually avoid them like the plague.

"Can I speak to you?" I asked with the most confidence I could muster (which may have not been very much). He just stared at me. I cleared my throat awkwardly, "Er—just for a moment," I added quickly, feeling embarrassed. I don't know why. There was nothing to be embarrassed about. All I was going to do was ask him where the kitchens were. It wasn't exactly a secret that they knew where to find them.

Of course, it was a secret as to its location. They never told anyone though people had tried to get it out of them numerous times. Perhaps this would be harder than I thought.

"Yeah Evans?" he looked wary, "Listen, I promise I'll be at rounds tomorrow—"

Did he think I was about to yell at him? Huh. Interesting. "This isn't about rounds," I said quickly. He gave me a peculiar look.

"It isn't?"

"No," I said slowly, "Er—I actually had a favor—"

"You? Lily Evans? Are asking me a favor?" he asked incredulously, "As in me? James Potter—?"

"Yes, I think we're each aware of our identities, thank you," I snapped, "Will you help me or not?"

"That depends," he said slowly, smirking widely, "What do you want?"

"I want to know how to get to the kitchens."

James raised his eyebrows, "No," he said simply.

"What? Please? I'll—I'll do anything!" For some reason I hadn't thought that he'd say no. I mean, I guess he sort of hates me still, but I thought we were past that!

"Anything?"

"No," I rolled my eyes, "Not actually anything. I'm not totally stupid," I said, crossing my arms.

"The answer is still no—why do you want to know where the kitchens are? Head Girls shouldn't be doing such things…" he said, looking amused.

"I need chocolate éclairs," I said desperately. Potter just gave me a weird look.

"Okay," he began slowly, "Why do you need chocolate éclairs again?" I gave him a frustrated look before giving him a hurried and very brief explanation at the crisis at hand.

"And you can't just tell Marlene that your mum will send them later because…"

"Are you going to help me or not?" I asked impatiently. That's unusual. I'm usually a patient person. Sometimes. Occasionally. Okay, okay, you caught me. I'm not very patient at all.

"No," he said, shrugging, "Unless…" he turned his head over to his friends who were still sprawled across the chairs, "Oy! Do any of you lot want something from the kitchens?"

"Yeah," Peter said, nodding fervently, "Get me a few of those finger sandwiches I like."

Peter Pettigrew eats finger sandwiches? Potter noticed my weird look and laughed.

"Yeah…I know. Random, right? Okay…so here's the deal with this Evans…I'll get your éclairs," he said, stressing the last word as if it were all a funny joke. It most certainly wasn't. These were my mum's chocolate éclairs. Yum, "But don't think I'll forget about this."

"What does that mean?" I asked immediately. Potter didn't say anything. He just smirked and swaggered out of the portrait hole. Okay. Maybe it wasn't a swagger….but it was definitely a strut.

I don't approve of James Potter strutting. It probably doesn't bode well for me.

Oh well. Potter was back with the éclairs in less than twenty minutes. I squealed excitedly and grabbed them hurriedly and in the midst of it, I almost hugged Potter. Emphasis on the almost. I had the urge to, but even in my excitement, my judgment didn't lapse that much. Give me some credit. I'm not going to go around hugging blokes I loathe. That would just confuse all the parties included.

"You owe me one," he said cheekily.

"Right," I said rolling my eyes. I will never owe James Potter anything. I did give him an awkward wave though before I scurried up to my dorm.

"There you are Lily," Selene said happily.

"We thought you'd died," Marlene commented loftily as she painted her toenails.

"Or at least had gotten lost," Selene agreed.

Marlene, however, had now looked up and spotted the éclairs in my hand. She jumped up, ignoring the fact that she'd just painted her toes, "Oooh! Éclairs!"

"Here you go," I said, passing them to her and taking a seat on Selene's bed.

"Isn't it weird that this will be our last year doing this," Selene spoke out loud.

"Don't remind me," I moaned. I wasn't quite ready to have this discussion yet. We still had an entire year before I had to think about that. Well, for the most part.

"These éclairs taste funny," Marlene said as she began her second one, "They're not bad or anything," she added quickly when Selene threw her a sharp look, "Did your mum do something different?"

"Er—she didn't say," I muttered, looking away. Marlene could always tell when I was fibbing, so not making eye contact was necessary for me to fool her. Luckily, Marlene changed the subject—turning it to her favorite subject—boys. While I liked blokes and all, I always hated these conversations. Marlene would go on about the latest boy she'd set her eyes on. Selene would moon over Sirius Black, and I…well, I would sit there, nodding along until the inevitable question came along.

"So…Lils," Marlene smirked, "Who do you fancy?"

"No one," I said dully. They both gave me doubtful looks.

"That's not normal, is it Mar?" Selene asked, "She hasn't fancied anyone in…what? Two year? Even then it was hopeless because Frank Longbottom had been madly in love with Alice forever."

Oh. Right. I'd forgotten about him. He'd graduated last year—he was Head Boy and everything. I was a bit smitten with him in my fifth year. Neither James nor Severus had been too happy with that, I recall. Poor Frank. He never knew who'd been hexing him when he'd turn the corridors. Weird—I just realized James and Severus had something in common…probably the only thing they'll ever have in common.

"Yeah, we have to find you a boy, Lily," Marlene said, nodding, reaching for the last éclair. However, as she picked it up, a strange look came over her face, "These are the Hogwarts platters?" she said, realizing the gold tray had the Hogwarts crest on it.

Oh dear.

"Er—"

"I knew they tasted different!" Marlene said, pointing at me accusingly, "They weren't your mum's!"

"What does it matter?" Selene asked exasperatedly, "Marlene, sit down!"

"No! she lied—" Marlene cut herself off, obviously thinking, "How did you find the kitchens?"

"What?" I asked. How did she know they were from the kitchens? Well, besides being Hogwarts plates…ah damn.

"No one knows where the kitchens are. How did you—oh," a grin fell over her face, "Did Mr. Lupin help you?"

Marlene has always had this crazy notion that I fancy Remus Lupin. It's never been true. Ever. I'll never ever fancy a Marauder—not even Remus Lupin. (Though he is rather attractive).

"No," I said waspishly, "Potter helped me."

They both looked surprised. Selene's eyebrows were raised as she said, "You talked to James…willingly?"

"Without yelling or hexing him?" Marlene added.

"Oh come on, I'm not that bad," I said exasperatedly. They just gave me blank looks. Was I really? Argh, "What does it matter? I just felt bad that I forgot to remind my mum to send the éclairs…"

"So…you and James, huh," Marlene asked, "He went and got éclairs for you…" she teased, "I think he still likes you."

"Oh please," I said scowling, "He has a girlfriend, remember?" Whose name is Emmeline Vance and who also happens to be much prettier, more popular and manages to control her temper unlike myself…why would he fancy me over Emmeline? Seriously, Marlene doesn't think these things through sometimes, I swear.

"She's nothing serious," Selene said, waving it away. Er—wasn't she friends with Emmeline? Why was she encouraging this? "James has always liked girls with more…" she looked at Marlene.

"Spunk," Marlene said nodding.

"Spunk?" Selene and I echoed.

"Yeah, you're…er…full of that stuff…oh I don't know. Honestly, I always thought his attraction for you was odd…but opposites attract, right?"

"No," I said, beginning to wish I had never asked Potter for help. Marlene continued to go on about how Potter and I were actually suited for each other. Eventually, I shut her up with a pillow. It led to a typical pillow fight (in which Mary had attempted to come upstairs and got caught in the crossfire).

Once we were tired out, we both collapsed at the edge of her bed, "Well," Marlene concluded, "My prediction for this year—Benjy and I will be Hogwarts' hottest couple—sorry Selene, I know you think Black is more attractive. Selene will finally talk to Sirius…"

"I've spoken to him!" Selene argued, turning red.

"And Lily will finally give into James pathetic attempts to woo her."

"Excuse me?" I said. Was she kidding? Besides, he no longer is trying to woo me. Girlfriend! Remember?

"You heard me, Lils," Marlene smirked, "My predictions almost always come true."

Marlene made ridiculous predictions every year. Sometimes they were more realistic then others—this was one of her more outrageous ones.

"What about the one where you said Peter Pettigrew was going to be eaten by the Giant squid?" Selene asked, "Or the time that you thought Lily would turn Petunia into a bat for being so horrid? Or when you said that Snape would…" Selene trailed off as Marlene glared at her.

"Okay, so they haven't come true a handful of times, but don't worry…this year," she smirked, "I will be right. I can just tell." They both looked at me and burst into laughter.

"Right," I said sourly, giving them glares before I shut my curtains. They just continued laughing.

This would never have happened if Mum had just sent the damned éclairs because then I wouldn't have had to speak with Potter, and Marlene wouldn't have brought up that ridiculous notion about him fancying me.

Mum should be expecting a strongly worded letter tomorrow morning, that's all I have to say.

A/N: I don't know how I felt about this chapter. It wasn't my favorite. R/R.