Chapter 22: Celebrations
James smiled as he polished his new badge and placed it back on the robes that were folded neatly in his trunk, ever since he got it he had taken it out and polished it once a day just to make sure it hadn't been a dream. He couldn't wait to see the look on Evans' face when he turned up in the prefect carriage with his sparkling new badge. If she was Head-Girl – and it was looking likely, then he was also looking forward to spending the school year, working with her and showing how much he had changed over the past year.
He cast one last glance around his room for anything else that needed to be packed before lifting his trunk and broom and levitating it down the steps to where a black taxi was waiting to take him to the train station.
He poked his head round his father's bedroom door and whispered goodbye to the dark silence. The drapes were closed and the fire had long gone out. James sighed, the death of his mother had really hit his father hard, he hardly ever came out of his room, preferring to eat, sleep and live in his rooms. James had handled his mothers death differently; he had thrown himself into his school work and when school let out had concentrated on his errands for Dumbledore and the Order. He had surrounded himself with his friends. His thoughts drifted back to Lily at the start of the holidays, how she had giggled at everything and how she had kissed him back.
He dropped his trunk at the front door, transfigured his broom into a hockey stick and pulled the front door open only to find the taxi driver trying to peer through his letter box.
He stepped back surprised when the door opened and stumbled down the front steps, he blushed and gestured to the taxi. "Potter?"
James nodded and pointed back inside. "There is a school trunk and a hockey stick in the hall, I'm to be at Kings Cross station for half past ten."
The driver nodded and ducked into the house to grab the trunk and hockey stick before placing them in the taxi. James got in and without another word the driver drove off. James' watched as his childhood home disappeared behind a grove of trees.
"I used to play 'ockey when I was yer age lad." The driver was trying to make conversation.
James didn't know enough about Hockey to reply – he only knew enough to know what instruments they used. To be truthful he thought the game sounded awfully boring, I mean who ever heard of a game with one ball but James couldn't resist showing off. "I'm captain of our team; we've won the championship six years in a row."
"Good for yer, lad, I played fullback back in me day, which school that then?"
Again James didn't have a clue. "Eton." There was a brief paragraph in his Muggle Studies text book regarding muggle education in Britain. It was also the first school that popped into his head.
"Ay should 'ave known by the size of yer 'ouse."
James stayed silent and spent the rest of his journey listening to the driver talk he had considered using a silencio charm but decided it wasn't worth the hour and a half drive to be hauled up in front of a hearing before his last year of school.
The driver found a parking spot and nipped out straight away to get a trolley for James. James nodded curtly and paid the driver in the muggle money he had exchanged at Gringotts the day before.
"Thank ye lad. Most kind, you 'ave a good term and win that championship for the last time yer 'ear?"
James nodded absent-mindedly and pushed his trolley into the busy station, he was early and knew nobody else would turn up for a least another fifteen minutes yet. Taking the barrier to Platform 9¾ at a run he appeared in front of the gleaming scarlet express train, dumped his bag in their usual carriage, changed and waited for his friends to appear.
Remus appeared first, pale and guarded his father waved him off then disappeared almost as soon as he arrived. Peter arrived next, his mother teary eyed that she'd have to go another nine months without seeing him. Peter rolled his eyes as he waved bye to his mother and scurried up to James a huge grin on his face.
"You look so prince-like" he gushed always in awe of the taller man.
James laughed and waved at Sirius who trotted over to them, his trunk perched on his shoulder, James could see some parents and some first years staring at the way he carried his trunk, Peter turned his awe-filled face to Sirius and gasped in admiration. The gasp was replaced by a yelp of pain as James bent down and prodded the young man in the ribs. "It's a lightweight charm."
Sirius rolled his eyes at Peter's antics and jumped on the train. Putting his trunk with the others he turned and sat next to Remus who already had his nose in a book.
"Studying already Moony?" Sirius asked reading the spine of the book. "We've got all year not like we can do much pranking with ol' Jimmy here being a big-head-boy.
James smiled sweetly and spit-shined his new badge. "Will you be joining me in the Prefect's carriage Mr Lupin?"
Remus cracked a smile and watched the over-eager seventeen year old flounce out the carriage billowing his robes dramatically behind him. James stopped in mid-stride and spun around. "Where's Marlene?"
Sirius shrugged. "She was meant to stay at mine last night but, she never turned up.."
"I'll ask Lily if she's seen her according to my duties I have to owl Hogwarts and let the professors know of any students who have missed the train."
Sirius rolled his eyes again; "She's got five minutes." James nodded and turned to flounce out the carriage again. "Prongs?"
"Aye?"
"Don't change too much, it's our last year, lets have a bit of fun."
James raised his eyebrow, "Just what I was thinking and I think we should all opt in for the tutoring scheme."
Remus looked at him surprised whilst Peter and Sirius moaned.
James laughed, "The tutoring of future Marauders that is, someone needs to carry on our legacy and there seems to be some first years with sensible heads."
Lily walked through the train counting heads as she went, she smiled politely at the Slytherins ignoring their glares and introduced herself to the first years. When she reached the Prefect carriage she slipped inside and when she saw James Potter chatting amiably to the new fifth year prefects she nearly turned and walked out again, she must have walked into the wrong carriage by accident.
"No this is the right carriage Evans." James' voice carried over the heads of the prefects.
Lily scowled and stormed up to him, his arrogant tone reminding her exactly what she hated about him.
James saw the angry red head storming towards him and dropped his cocky smile, the prefects around them slowly backed out the way and James held up two empty hands, indicating his wasn't armed. "Congratulations on making Head-Girl I knew you could do it and I thoroughly look forward to working with you this year."
Lily found her anger subsiding just as it did during many Order meetings when she had gotten angry, it only took a few well said words from him and she was thinking normally again. She breathed through her nose and smiled back at him. "I am surprised."
"So was I" James admitted giving a little laugh. "Would you like to do the honours or shall I?" He gestured to the slightly wary group of prefects and Lily nodded for him to continue.
Martyn threw open Marlene's curtains and grinned as she stirred and tried to hide from the sun by burrowing under her duvet. "What a vampire." He chuckled and promptly removed the duvet from the bed and chucked it on the floor. He then raised his wand and muttered: "Aguamenti.
"
Marlene yelped as cold water splashed over her, coughing and spluttering she launched a pillow at the source and sat shivering, glaring. She had been out the night before. She had finished work at ten, then went out celebrating, it was supposed to have been a few drinks in the Leaky Cauldron but it didn't turn out that way. Alice and Frank were celebrating the fact they had both scored enough NEWTs (both achieved all Os) to continue their Auror training, another Auror named John Dawlish was celebrating the fact that he had passed his exams and Marlene was celebrating the end of a successful intern-ship and her birthday. She had arrived home after four in the morning completely forgetting she was meant to be staying at Sirius' that night and that she had told everyone she'd be at the station.
Marlene glared at her brother who just snickered and glanced pointedly at the clock. Marlene groaned it was just after two. "I think you missed the train." He said dryly and quickly dodged another pillow that was aimed for his head, this one however was charmed and only stopped following him when he slipped into the bathroom and slammed the door. He smiled as he heard his sister moving around.
Marlene cursed her brother as she went round drying herself and placing her duvet back on the bed, she also cursed Frank and Alice as it was their fault she went out the night before. Sighing she knocked on the bathroom door and when no-one answered she went in and started the shower. She would just walk to Hogwats.
With her trunk packed and her head a lot clearer Marlene made her way to Hogwarts. She waved frantically at Hagrid who was setting up the carriages and felt a pang of sympathy for James who could now see the Threstrals.
Hagrid waved back, "Yer best make yer self know to Dumbledore, Marl. 'Ed Girl and Boy 'ave already told them yer not on t' train."
Marlene thanked him and carried on up the steps, dumping her trunk by the front door she walked to the staff room, she hoped they would give her the password for Gryffindor Tower so she could go unpack, Marlene smiled slightly as she remembered the last time she had arrived at Hogwarts early. It was the start of fifth year and her parents had dropped her off early and she had been allowed into Gryffindor tower. However she had abused the power and decided to get revenge on the boys who had been pranking her for the previous four years. Sneaking into the room she knew was theirs she had charmed their beds to break as soon as they climbed into them that night. Maybe one of these days she actually tell them it was her.
"Ah Ms. McKinnon come on in, Mr. Potter did say you weren't on the train, slept in I presume?" Professor Dumbledore asked as he answered her knock on the staff room door.
Marlene blushed and accepted the invitation to sit with the professors.
"So I heard you spent the Summer in Soho." Professor Flitwick squeaked from his chair of books. "How was it?"
"Oh it's wonderful down there, living in the city is so different then living up here, different air as well, it was a real eye-opener."
Professor Dumbledore smiled, "I prefer Brighton myself but London does have it's perks."
Marlene raised a sceptical eyebrow but didn't question, somehow she couldn't picture Dumbledore eating ice cream on the beach or raving it up in a nightclub. She cracked a small smile at the thought of Dumbledore in his robes and hat covered in neon paint.
"Did you go to any of the Muggle Museums?" Marlene looked at the speaker he was a small man with blonde hair and pale blue eyes.
She nodded, "Yes we went to The National History Museum and The Science Museum."
"Do you take Muggle Studies?"
Marlene shook her head realising this must be the new Muggle Studies Professor, "No I took it up until 5th year, but I had a full schedule and couldn't keep it up."
The new Professor nodded understandingly, "Muggle Studies usually gets neglected for the more challenging subjects, why even I thought to drop it as it might have clashed with Defence Against the Dark Arts but the kind professors were willing to change the time table so I could take both. I'm Professor Quirrell by the way."
"Marlene McKinnon."
"Any relation to Martyn?"
Marlene rolled her eyes, any person that knew her brother by his first name spelled trouble.
"He's my brother." She suddenly realised why she was in the Staff Room. "Professor McGonagal is there any chance I could take my trunk upstairs?"
The Transfiguration Professor nodded; "Password is Fiddlesticks."
Marlene nodded, said her goodbyes and went out into the entrance hall to collect her trunk.
Lily had spent the entire train journey in James' carriage and hadn't lost her temper once, the prospect of working closely with James for the next nine months made her annoyed, however when she thought back over the past year and how much, he had actually changed and the fact that she had tolerated him a lot more – she even slept in the same room as him and shared a drunken kiss. She smiled at that memory, tolerating him had been one task but could she actually like him? Lily looked over at where he was laughing at a joke Remus had told him. She took note of his boyish charm, his irritation hair that never seemed to stay flat, the hazel eyes that were full of Gryffindor spirit - loyal and brave and came to a conclusion. Yes she could learn to like him.
The castle was the same as always and Lily felt a tiny tinge of sadness as the thought that this was her last year crept up, determined to enjoy this year she walked into the great hall and sighed with relief. Sirius who was beside her gave a small yelp of surprise and rushed to the Gryffindor table, where a small brunette was reading a book and keeping five free spaces at the top of the table.
"Marlene!" Sirius cried almost jumping on her. She looked up surprised and smiled, "Where were you last night?"
Marlene blushed and James laughed. "Judging by the dark circles under her eyes and the fact she would never intentionally forget she was staying over at Sirius' I'd say she got dragged out to a couple of nightclubs last night."
Marlene blushed even more and muttered something along the lines of: "Frank, Alice and Aurors."
The sorting soon began and James surprised everyone by jotting down the names of all the new Gryffindors.
Lily smiled, "Good for you." She whispered and James blushed, he was only doing it so him and the boys could scope out potential Marauders.
The feast was over and Dumbledore stood up spreading his arms wide he welcomed everyone back. "A new year at Hogwarts and one that is bound to be more exciting than the last. First some staffing changes, as many of you know Professor Bloggs has given up his teaching career to pursue his lifelong dream in the breeding of Flobberworms so can we all give a huge Hogwartian welcome to Professor Quirrell our new Muggle Studies Professor." Once the cheering had died down, Professor Dumbledore continued; "Also it is with great regret that Professor Livingston has had to take an early retirement to look after his wife who has been struck down with a mystery illness, therefore the new Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher will be Professor Edgeworth." There was another cheer this one a little less hearty than the one before.
Sirius lent over the table to address everyone. "I wonder what happened there? Dumbledore mention what's-his-face came and asked for a job remember but Dumbledore turned him down. Also Remus overheard Martyn tell Slughorn that there wasn't a position going for Defence yet here we are."
Lily looked sceptical, "When Martyn applied for the post, Professor Livingston's wife wasn't ill, Dumbledore said 'mystery illness' anyway would you want a Death Eater as a Defence Professor?" She cast Marlene an apologetic look who just shrugged.
Dumbledore was speaking again. "... Lily Evans and James Potter both of Gryffindor will be available if you have any questions or queries throughout the school year." A loud gasp of surprise was echoed around the tables when James' name got called for being head-boy. He blushed and waved politely.
"Welcome to the annual, 'Welcome Back to Hogwarts slash Marlene's Birthday Celebration'." James announced to the room at large. "This tradition - held every year, is a way to get to know the people you'll be spending the next nine months with. Before we start the celebrations however I would like to give a small speech..."
"Can we celebrate first then hear the speech?" James scowled at Sirius who took a leaf out of Marlene's book and smiled innocently. "It's very long winded and boring if we get some celebrating out the way now, we can fall asleep during his speech and the evening won't have been a complete waste." Sirius added in a whisper to Marlene and Lily.
"Fine." James seemed disappointed but gestured to the food and drinks all the same, "Help yourselves for those of you who don't know Marlene is the very small seventh year and she's 18 so next time we're down the pub, drinks are on her!"
The room laughed and someone turned the radio on and some giggling second years started dancing. A tall first year walked up to the group of seventh years, he was nervous and by looks alone should've been in Slytherin. "I'm Mason." He said holding out his hand, "Mason Goldsmyth. Happy Birthday, it was my birthday yesterday."
Sirius laughed, "Aw bless here we have the youngest student in the school and the eldest..." he suddenly gazed up at the first year and grinned slightly. "Hey Marl? Can you stand up a minute babes?"
Marlene gave him a look but stood up all the same, the meaning of Sirius request came clear when students watching with interest all burst out laughing. The youngest student was taller than the oldest student.
Marlene frowned at Sirius but smiled at Mason, "Happy Birthday for yesterday."
Mason smiled, "Thanks." He nodded at the seventh years and James took note at the way he handled the situation.
"You'd make a pretty good Beater." James commented.
Mason beamed; "Thanks Mr Head-Boy, Sir." (James felt his head inflate.) "My dad said exactly the same thing and if I got on the team in second year he'll buy me a broom."
"Good for you mate." Sirius said slapping the first year on the back, Mason grinned and ran off to find his new found friends.
Marlene dropped her smile and sat down pouting. "I'm not that small." She muttered. "Least I'm still taller that Wormy."
Sirius took that as a challenge. "Stand up then, back to back."
Marlene rolled her eyes and stood back to back with Peter, she groaned when Remus announced Peter was taller by five inches. She pouted again as she slumped down ignoring the peals off laughter from her friends.
"Don't worry babes," Sirius whispered in her ear, "The best things come in small packages." Marlene blushed and hit him playfully on the leg.
James stood up, "Can I make my speech now?" Sirius nodded resignedly and James cleared his throat. "Now that we are fed and watered..."
"He sounds like Dumbledore." Lily whispered to Marlene who giggled. However fifteen minutes later they weren't laughing.
"...therefore to fully achieve what we hope to achieve we must achieve...."
Marlene noticed Mary and Rebecca sneak of up to the girls dormitory, she nudged Lily who nodded they should do the same. Giving Sirius a small kiss goodnight the two friends managed to sneak away upstairs leaving the rest of their house-mates and friends to enjoy the rest of the speech.
A/N: According to a web cast with J.K Professor Quirrell was in fact a Muggle Studies teacher before Defence, he doesn't really have that big a part in the story I just felt like adding him in (actually I was meant to add him for 6th but completely forgot and called in Prof Bloggs instead. Professor Edgeworth I was playing Ace Attorney Investigations whilst writing this (coz I'm a girl and can multi-task :D) and I just love Miles Edgeworth. Also I came to the conclusion that old mouldywart would have applied for the post around this time and so I added it in now, hope it all makes sense. Also I'm not bashing small people, I'm small and it is possible for someone of Marlene's height (5 foot) to have eleven year old as tall as her... trust me I work with kids :D. Any way please Review. :D