A/N: Sorry for the wait, people! Ahh! Holiday homework was not fun, and now that it's my last term for the year, I'll be busier. And then there's Pottermore and then there's other fun things to do… But maybe I'll be motivated enough to give you an update in three days if you give me… say three good reviews? XD I'm so shameless. ^^
A/N: Oh, and K-Pop is taking over my BRAIN! AHH! *random panic attack, then starts dancing to Breathe by miss A*
A/N: And yes, the first years in this chapter are acting a little bit younger than 11, but hey! They're excited! It's the week before Christmas! Just go along with it! (Even though they are acting like they're five and James is their dad, or something-.-) Oh, and yes, Eli is swearing. -.- If you're a bit... touchy about swearing (especially when directed towards others [one of my friends is...o.O]), then skip the first few italic sentences of Eli's part! (After the second page break) Yes, there is a bit of a cliché 'Sirius gets girls as often as changing clothes' in this chappie. Hope that's alright for you! :D
A/N: Anyway! Here's another chapter! ^^
Gilderoy, Lucius and Severus gathered in the 'broom closet' that they had successfully managed to wipe from Sirius' mind. At least, that's what they thought. Either way, they had to polish 'the plan'.
"This is proving very difficult," said Gilderoy, flipping his head so that his locks fell into place. He gave a small girlish laugh and plonked on the nearest chair. Lucius looked somewhat disgusted, and Severus looked angry. Perhaps it's because I have better hair than him. I should really give him my hairdresser's address... thought Gilderoy, with a hint of smugness. However, what Severus said next definitely drew every thought about hair jealousy our of Gilderoy's pretty head.
"Do you think this is a joke?" asked Severus quietly. Every syllable was clear, and deadly.
"N-no," replied Gilderoy, a faint quiver in his voice.
"Do you think the Dark Lord is a joke?" asked Severus.
"N-no."
"Do you think that everyone's future will be better and more powerful once all Mudbloods and such filth are rid of this world?"
"Ye-yes."
"Do you see the importance of our task, now?"
"Y-es," said Gilderoy with a gulp at the look on Severus' face. Severus' glare lessened, and he sneered at Gilderoy, who was terrified. Lucius picked at his fingernails behind both, bored to death.
"Can we please get back to the task at hand?" he asked. Gilderoy jumped at the sound of something else besides his own thoughts and Severus' voice. Severus swiftly turned at his heel and marched over to the large desk and sat behind it, saying "Yes. Lucius is right, for once," as he did so. Gilderoy almost slumped to the floor, his face pale. Lucius scoffed at him.
"Call yourself a Slytherin," he drawled, "I call you a wimp - perhaps Hufflepuff house would have suited you better." (A/N: I swear that I can hear my friend saying, "We don't want him, either!" ^^)
Gilderoy gave him a weak glare, and then shakily stood up.
"Severus, you are very scary," said Lucius in a babyish voice, like Bellatrix Black did all the time when mocking her prey.
Severus took no notice of either of them, for he was rummaging in his drawers for plans, orders, a few quills, ink pots and spare rolls of parchment.
"Both of you, sit," he ordered once he had found all of his items. Both glared at each other and sat down at two chairs in front of Severus. Bit by bit, they edged away from each other. Slightly amused, Severus laid down the draft of their current plan and a blank piece of parchment next to it.
Lucius and Gilderoy helped themselves to a quill each, and waited for Severus to say something as the leader of the plan, and the one who got direct orders from Lord Voldemort.
There was silence as Severus pressed his fingertips together, much like Dumbledore. He found it a much better way to think when sitting at a desk such as the one he was sitting at. The old fool was right about something, thought Severus grudgingly.
He stood up, his school robes twirling around his feet much like a Professor.
"Since the current plan we have is an absolute dud, we have to make a new one. Malfoy - " Severus barked, making the boy in question jump, "Have you gathered the observations of her behaviour, especially towards males?"
"Yes," drawled Lucius, rummaging in his bag and pulling out pieces of parchment.
"Good. Gilderoy - " Severus barked again, making the 'wimp' recoil in fear, "Have you thought about Christmas presents?"
"Yes. I've even bought them," he said smugly.
"Such a shame you have to return them," sneered Severus.
"What?" asked Gilderoy, looking panicked.
"I was joking," said Severus coldly, looking as though he had never told or heard a joke in his life, "Either way, good."
Gilderoy nodded and Severus' attention returned to Lucius' observations of the girl.
After a few minutes of pause, Severus murmured something incomprehensible.
"Yes?" asked Gilderoy tentatively.
"Her attraction to you is fading. It needs to be stronger for you to lead her to the Dark Lord."
"Christmas is coming!" cried James joyfully. He skipped down the halls, tinsel in his hands and gingerbread men stuffed in his pockets. Mistletoe hung from his waist and he definitely had the Christmas spirit.
"Yes, Christmas is coming, Christmas is coming!" chorused a group of first years he passed, giggling as they did so. He beamed at them, and started to sing a Christmas carol, the first years joining in and skipping behind him.
Lily looked on bewildered, but amused. Then, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She twirled around and came face to face with Gilderoy.
"Hey there," she said, her tone surprised and uncertain. After all, they drifted apart and she wasn't sure whether or not they were together still.
Gilderoy grasped her gentle hands and bent on one knee, taking her by surprise. A very ridiculous thought sprung into her mind. Is he going to propose? We haven't even kissed! I'm not even sure if we're still dating! She shook her head. She really needed to stop watching those cliché romantic films.
"I know I haven't been the best boyfriend in the world," started Gilderoy, looking earnestly into her eyes, "and I promise to make it up to you, from now on."
He searched her eyes, for some form of emotion. If it didn't work, he might as well jump off a cliff. It would be more peaceful than the death that would come to him by the hands of his fellow Slytherins.
"I - "
"Lilikins!" cried James, jumping past and grabbing her arm. The first years giggled and cried "Lilikins! Lilikins!"
"Sorry, Gilderoy!" Lily said over her shoulder. By the time she did so, however, Gilderoy had already disappeared. She frowned. James, still grinning cheerfully, noticed this and tried to cheer her up. The first years were still jumping about and giggling behind James and Lily.
"Hey, this is the week before Christmas! You deserve to be happy," he said to her gently. She looked somewhat startled.
"Oh - sorry. I was thinking about something else," said Lily, glancing behind her again.
"Let me guess. Your boyfriend?"
"Y-yeah. I think he's my boyfriend. It's so confusing with him! He's really enthusiastic about us one second, and the next... he doesn't talk to me or even glance at me. Then there's the whole matter with Petunia. Do I get her something? If I do, what? And I can't really be happy. I mean, I should be studying for NEWTs!"
She gave a frustrated sigh.
"Hey," said James, taking her face in his hands tenderly, "It's the week before Christmas. The holidays are here. You've decided to stay, I've decided to stay, our friends have decided to stay - it should be an enjoyable time for you. Just let loose. Forget about Gilderoy. Forget about Petunia. Forget about NEWTs. Just forget about anything making you worry or stress. At least, for a few days. After all, you are Lily Evans. No one tells you what you can and cannot do. But, they can give you advice. It's up to you to take it."
Lily blinked up at him, drinking in his words. After a few moments, her face broke into a tentative smile.
"You're right, James. I should let loose. I should forget about anything making me stress out or worry... in fact... I'll start right now."
Eli watched James and Lily from a recess in the wall. Her fists clenched in anger and jealously. That little muggle-born BITCH! She's not even pretty! She looks like a pig-ugly piece of SHIT! What is she doing, anyway, flirting and batting her eyelids at my man? Why isn't he stopping her? Wait - is she about to kiss him? That little slut!
Eli unclenched her fists and took a few deep breaths. It wouldn't do for her to blow her top again. She almost lost James when she attacked his best friend.
No... it wouldn't do to blow her top... but revenge was just as powerful...
Several hours later, Lily, James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Lionel, Bridget and KayCee were laughing their heads off, enjoying life as it was. They were in the Heads Common Room, and so was Eli. She was leaning on James, scowling.
"James, can we go somewhere else now?" she whined.
"Aw, but we were just getting started!" said James, pouring himself another cup of pumpkin juice with a hint of Firewhiskey. Ahh... The perfect combination. Eli frowned and turned silent once more.
"Sirius, tell us the story about when you tried to pick up Amanda Brei," said Remus, chortling already. Sirius turned bright red, but he couldn't refuse. The girls, minus Eli (who didn't have a clue who Amanda Brei was) immediately sat up straighter, interested.
"Well, my children," started Sirius, acting as though they were five year olds being told a bedtime story, "It starts off like this. I'm sure you all know Amanda Brei, the prettiest Hufflepuff in our year. I, Sirius Black, was tired of getting all the normal girls. So, I set myself a bit higher. Getting prettier and prettier girls every month last year, and finally I tried to get the best prize of them all - "
"It didn't turn out so well," interjected James with a laugh. Sirius shot him with a look that said 'Shut up! It's my story!'
"Anyway," said Sirius firmly, emphasizing the word, "I tried to charm her, like I did with the other girls, but she slapped me and kneed me in the groin. Of course, I yelled, 'What was that for?' and she replied, 'Your stupidity!'. Then with a huff, she turned the corner and I promptly turned into a bowling ball. Then, my so called friends," Sirius shot a playful glare at the rest of the Marauders, "Decided that instead of helping their friend, they would bowl. In our dorm. And I was the main bowling ball. And it hurt. I have sympathy for bowling balls now. But, after the last batch of pins was knocked over, I turned into myself. I swore never to talk to Amanda Brei again, no matter how pretty she is."
Sirius finished with a dramatic hair flick. After that, he heard a few giggles. Then, it turned into full blown laughter. Tears streamed down their faces, the guys adding almost incoherent bits to the story. Well, all except Eli. Her scowl deepened, and she rose, unnoticed by anyone.
Stealthily, she headed towards Lily's room, only to exit five minutes later and come back to James' side, in a much better mood…
Half an hour later was met with Lily gasping at the sight of her room.
It was completely trashed – almost irreversible. It was obvious that the person who had done this was not looking for something.
Her clothes were spread out over her room, some with rips, others with buttons missing or zippers unable to zip up again. Her bottles of nail polish and other beauty items were smashed on the floor and her bed covers were stripped and stuffed in her toilet in the en suite.
Her stuffed animal was thrown in the wardrobe and its stuffing was pouring out of its sides. Books were ripped apart with large amounts of ink sprayed all over them. Several rolls of parchment were completely ruined with water stains and large ink spills. Her curtains had large rips in them.
Lily held back her tears. After she calmed herself, she decided to try and fix it.
It turned out that a few simple 'Reparo' charms were enough. But the thing that Lily was mostly upset about was that someone she knew and let into her home – because that was essentially what the Head's dorm was – was malicious enough to wreck her bedroom.
But… why? thought Lily as she cleaned up her rolls of parchment with a simple charm, why would someone do this? I didn't hurt anybody… I think. Unless…
A sudden thought occurred to her. It was probably Eli. Eli probably didn't like her 'Jamesy Wamesy' spending too much time with his friends. That was probably why she attacked Sirius. She attacked Lily's room because she had opportunity.
A grim thought came into Lily's mind. Who's next?