Chapter 12: What Are Friends For?
Friday, September 16, 1977

I woke up still wrapped in James's arms.

Thus I had no intention of getting out of bed until I absolutely had to.

In order to fully take advantage of the moment, I cuddled up next to James closer, trying to be careful not to wake him. I felt safe here with him.

I felt his arm tighten around me. "You sleep okay?" he asked me, still sounding sleepy.

"Perfectly, thanks to you," I told him.

"Well, if you ever need protection, you know where I am," he said, kissing my head.

"I'll keep that in mind next time I'm in the dungeons alone."

"That won't happen. No more splitting up, especially in the dungeons," he said sternly. He rolled over towards the clock. "Quarter of seven. I'm getting hungry, what about you?"

"Very much. I'll run upstairs and change. You do your thing, meet you in the common room." I kissed his nose and leapt off the bed before he could grab me again. Then with a wink, I skipped out of the room and down to my room. I found clean robes and put them on, then grabbed my red and gold headband and used that to pull my hair back. Figured I'd wear my hair loose today, since James likes it that way.

I went down to the common room, not expecting what I saw there.

"Morning," Sirius said, laying on the couch with my pineapple tin on his chest. I took out my wand and levitated the tin off his chest and out of his reach. "Hey!" he exclaimed, reaching for the tin. I brought it over to my reach and took the tin.

"I need to find a better hiding place for these," I said, closing the hinged lid. I ran upstairs and hid them in my room in one of my desk drawers, putting a locking spell on the drawer. James was downstairs when I got back to the common room.

"You can't hide them forever," Sirius said, smirking.

"I know but if I found you in my room I'd hex you," I told him, taking James's hand. "Breakfast?"

We headed down to the Great Hall but when we entered we noticed something different.

"Where's Remus and Marlene?" I asked Dorcas when I sat down.

"They said they had something to do and that they'd be right back," she said with a shrug.

The rest of us exchanged glances, I took notice that James raised an eyebrow.

Emmeline noticed, too. "You don't think..." she asked him.

"I don't know," he replied, "but we'll find out shortly." He nodded towards the door. I saw Remus and Marlene walked down, looking accomplished.

"What did you do?" I asked them as they sat with us.

"Nothing," Marlene said, grabbing a muffin. We all stared at them. "Well, not nothing, but nothing to each other. Stop looking at us like that and clean your minds out."

I took a bite of sausage then heard a commotion near the doors. Avery just entered the hall, looking quite agitated. Suddenly something came out of his nose, sprouted wings, and attacked him. He gripped his nose and ran from the hall.

I turned to Marlene, who was sitting low in her seat, hiding. She was laughing. "What did you do?" I asked her, doing my best to hide my amusement in my voice.

"Bat-Bogey Hex," she said, sitting up and continuing her muffin. "Fabian and Gideon Prewett taught me after a Quidditch match last year." I stared at her, my face serious. "Hey, we agreed not to hurt them. We never agreed to avoid humiliating them."

"Well, leave Sev out of it. He wasn't the problem," I told them. I turned to Remus, "I take it you did something, too?"

He shrugged in response as more commotion came from the doors to the hall. I turned and this time I saw Mulciber coming in hitting his ears. He sat at the Slytherin table with Severus. I turned back to Remus and stared at him with my eyebrow raised.

"Twitchy Ears Hex. It will wear off by lunch. Just drive him a little crazy in the meantime," he said nonchalantly, eating his eggs.

I looked around at everyone else. "Do you all have plans for those two?"

"Yup," I got in unison, no one looking up from their breakfasts.

[LE] - How did you do that without Robertson knowing it was you?

[DM] - Because I'm that good.

We share Defense and Potions with Slytherin, so I knew today wouldn't lack amusement. We're only twenty minutes into Defense and Dorcas already nailed Mulciber with Multicorfors, so now his nose has turned a deep shade of violet.

[DM] - What should I paint next. I can give him a black neck. Or green ears. Neon purple hair?

[LE] - You're bound and determined to turn him into an Andy Warhol painting, aren't you?

[DM] - That one dude that painted that one pretty Muggle actress over-and-over in different colors?

[LE] - That's the one.

[DM] - Completely. He will be in Technicolor by Potions.

She was right. By the end of class his neck was orange, his cheeks blue, his fingers green, and his hair had streaks of red. Robertson noticed the changes and acknowledged them with a curious tilt of his head but didn't press the issue.

Mulciber approached me at the end of the class. "What is the meaning of this, Mudblood?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I answered, gathering up my belongings. "You have a little something on your nose, by the way."

He slammed his hand down on the desk. "You did this," he accused.

"No, I didn't," I answered truthfully.

He pointed his wand at me, "You did, Mudblood, and now you'll pay."

Suddenly Mulciber was suspended by his ankles. I turned around and saw Remus standing there with his wand outstretched. "I think you've done enough threatening towards Lily for today," he told him.

"Liberacorpus." Severus was standing behind Mulciber when he muttered the counter-jinx. Mulciber was lowered gently to his feet.

I waved my wand at Mulciber, restoring him to his usual pale tone. "I will not stoop to your level," I told him, turning away. He shoved past me. I was walking to the door with Remus to meet the rest of the group when I heard my name.

I turned to the source of the voice and Severus was standing there. "You swear it wasn't you?"

I nodded. "It wasn't me but my friends know what happened last night," I told him. "You're safe, though. They know you didn't threaten me. Honestly, I think they're just getting warmed up."

"I'm sorry for last night," he said. I could hear the sincerity in his voice.

"Don't stress over it. I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself," I told him. "My friends are just being my friends. I asked them not to but they'd only agree to not cause pain or anything like that. And they are waiting for me, so..."

"Right," he says, shifting a little in his place. "I will see you at Slug Club?"

"Yeah," I said. "See you."

I met up with my friends outside. "What he want?" Marlene asked.

"Just to make sure it wasn't me," I assured her. I looked around, and noticed a couple missing faces. "Oh, no," I moaned. "Where did James and Sirius go?"

"No where," Marlene answered, quickly. Too quickly, and her shifting eyes didn't support her words, either. She has never been a good liar.

"Marles..." I warned.

"They went ahead of us," Emmeline answered.

Great.

We arrived at Potions to find James and Sirius sitting at their desks, looking proud of themselves.

There was no sign of Avery or Mulciber.

I gave them a warning glance. "What did you do?" I asked.

"Nothing," James said, grinning.

"Well, nothing major," Sirius added. He glanced at James, which caused James's grin to grow.

I groaned. That's when Sev walked in and directly up to me.

"Okay, that's enough. They made their point," he directed to me.

"What happened this time?" I asked, not hiding the tone to my voice that I was getting quite tired of this.

"Avery has antlers and Mulciber has feelers and compound eyes. They're in the hospital wing."

I noticed Sirius and James give each other a low five below the desk. I rolled my eyes. "I'll put an end to it," I told Sev.

"You better," he said, leaving to take his seat.

I rounded on my friends. "That's enough, guys," I said sternly. "Let me guess. 'Anteoulatia' was James. 'Entomorphis' was Sirius. Am I right?"

Sirius tapped his nose. "Both were fabulous examples of the use of each hex," he said with pride.

"No more, you're done," I told them. I was getting more and more angry, and it wasn't even lunch yet.

"But we didn't get a turn!" Emmeline said. "I practice 'Steleus' just for this! I wanted to see Avery sneeze his brains out!"

"That wouldn't take long," Dorcas mumbled.

"And I mastered 'Densaugeo,'" Peter moped. "Mulciber wouldn't have been able to say anything stupid with teeth the size of tombstones."

"I don't care. You've made your point. Done." With that I sat at my table, not speaking to any of them. I just wanted to focus on my Wit-Sharpening Potion.

I didn't say much to my friends for the rest of the day, not through lunch, Runes, or Transfiguration. I noticed in Transfiguration that my roses I was making from weeds were extra thorny. Matched my mood, although I did prick my finger.

Now I was in my room, changing for dinner with the Slug Club. I felt like I was dragging my feet through cement. I put on a black cocktail dress and braided my hair over my shoulder. I slipped on a pair of simple flats and headed downstairs. James was laying on the couch, resting before dinner.

"You still mad?" he asked me.

"Nah," I replied. "Well, a little irritated but you did leave them alone the rest of the day like I asked. So I can let it slide."

"And you did get attacked by your roses in Transfiguration," he added.

"Saw that, huh?"

"Yes, and I heard you cast Episkey. And I heard a few other choice words come from you as well."

"Well, maybe I deserved it." I sat on the edge of the couch next to him. "I will admit, though, that I'm sad I didn't get to see Avery and Mulciber after you and Sirius got done with them."

He laughed and pulled me on top of him. "Do you really have to go to Slug Club?"

"Yes," I told him. "I want to stay but Slughorn caught me in class. He's expecting me."

"Let me convince you otherwise," he told me, pulling me close and covering my mouth with his. His kiss was deep but gentle.

I broke it off reluctantly. "As tempting as your offer is, I really have to go. Besides, you have rounds at eight."

"Compromise?"

"Oh? What did you have in mind?"

"Sleep in my room again tonight." I raised my eyebrow. "Innocently."

"I'll think about it at the party. I'll be back before you. Maybe I'll be there when you get back," I said with a wink, getting up and walking out of the portrait hole without another word.

I think I've been standing here outside the room for the Slug Club for a full ten minutes.

Okay, maybe it was just a minute but it feels like longer.

With a deep breath, I entered the room.

I was one of a few Gryffindors but I was the only one in my year. There was a couple of fifth-years and a sixth-year girl but I didn't recognize them. I just took a glass of cider and stood to the side, hoping for the evening to get over quickly.

Slughorn approached me shortly before dinner. "Yes, my Lovely Lily. You doing fine this evening?"

"As well as can be expected," I said, forcing a smile. I used to really enjoy Slug Club meetings. Made me feel special. Now I just know that Friday nights are usually fun nights with the group and would rather be with my friends, especially being my last year at Hogwarts.

"Ah, good, good. Come and sit down, then," he tells me, waving to the table. "Have a seat next to Severus here."

Ugh. Just my luck.

I took my seat next to Sev, giving him a polite smile. The house elves brought around our first course, a pumpkin soup.

Okay, so maybe the night won't be all bad.

"I'm glad you all could come tonight," Slughorn began. "My special students. We have a few new people today..."

He went on and on. I didn't pay attention. I was thinking about what I could be doing tonight. Wizard chess, laughing, harmless teasing, cuddling, snogging...

"...Has anyone anything new to report?" Slughorn asked. I snapped back into the conversation. This is when people ask me questions.

Everyone took turns saying things about the year. I tried to stay silent as long as possible.

"Lily, dear, our Head Girl!" Slughorn said, turning to me. Shit. "You told me last night you mastered a difficult new charm.

I was wrong. This night was going to be long. No pumpkin soup will help my cause at this point. I felt Sev tense up next to me.

"I learned a new charm, Professor. All I told you was I performed it," I said, making sure not to go into the details of why I performed it last night. I felt Sev relax a little when I didn't go into the events further. "I haven't mastered it, yet. It still wears me out."

"Performed what?" a fifth-year Hufflepuff asked as soup bowls disappeared and the house elves brought around our dinner of roasted lamb and vegetables.

"A Patronus!" Slughorn boasted. I felt my cheeks grow hot. This is why I was dreading tonight. I hate being put on a pedestal like this. "Full corporeal, I believe?"

"Yes," Sev answered for me. "It was quite impressive. I saw it."

I just stared into my plate, poking my lamb chop.

"What form did it take, may I ask?" Slughorn prodded.

"Doe," I said quietly, still prodding my lamb.

"That's an interesting form," he continued. Please stop, I wished. "Wonder why it chose that one."

I shrugged. I wasn't about to go into it.

"Where did you learn that? They don't teach it on grounds," a seventh-year Ravenclaw said in awe.

"My friends taught my friends and me," I said. I wasn't about to give names but I could feel Regulus glaring at me. Lets just add to the discomfort.

"Why would you cast something that on grounds? Why would you have to?" Regulus asked. Ugh, I hate that boy. "There's nothing here that you would have to protect yourself from." I could hear the hatred in his voice. Or maybe it was jealousy. Who knows? "And why would Severus see you do it?"

Think fast, Lily. Don't take the bait to start drama. "I was on rounds last night with Remus, and we were in the dungeons when it came up in casual conversation that I was learning it for something extra to do. We ran into Severus on his way to the common room and he overheard me. He wanted to see." Yeah, that works. Sev nodded in agreement. I ate my lamb so I wouldn't have to say any more.

"Impressive, I must say," Slughorn said. Then he moved to the next victim, a new second-year Hufflepuff.

Sev tapped my leg under the table to get my attention. I glanced over to see him mouth the words "thank you." I gave him a slight nod in return.

The dinner plates disappeared after Slughorn was done embarrassing the second-year Gryffindor and the elves brought around sundaes for dessert. It was a beautiful sight, even if it just meant it was almost over.

"Quidditch auditions this weekend for all houses, correct?" Slughorn asked. There were some scattered answers around the table. "I dare not ask who everyone thinks will win the cup this year. I believe Ravenclaw received the honor last year?" The Ravenclaws nodded proudly. "So, Lily, I hear you're dating the Gryffindor captain?"

Great.

I nodded. "I'm not trying out, though, if that's where you're going with it," I said. I was not in the mood for drama. Stop it before it starts.

"No, my dear. I remember you mentioning that you're not interested in joining the House team. Just making sure we'll see you at the matches."

"Of course," I told him. "I want to support my team." I gave him a look that he'll hopefully translate correctly. I was not in any mood to bring up my relationship with James again in front of Sev. Or the rest of the Slug Club for that matter.

"You sure can pick them. Head Boy and captain of the Gryffindor team?"

"Please, Professor," I said sternly. "I would appreciate my personal life not be laid out on the table in front of people I barely know."

"Apologies, my dear," he said. "Just trying to keep up the small talk, learn about my favorite students."

"Some things I would like to be left unsaid, thank you. I don't want to be the center of attention all evening," I told him. I could feel my temper flaring.

"Apologies, again," Slughorn repeated. The rest of the evening was spent talking about other students present and other classes.

I didn't join in on any of the conversations. I just wanted to go back to my room.

As soon as the sundae goblets disappeared, I was on my feet.

"Well, you all must be heading back to your common rooms. It's nearly ten-thirty! My, my, how time flies."

It was the longest four-and-a-half hours of my life.

When I exited into the hallway I heard my name. I turned and found Sev walking towards me.

"Look, Lily. I'm sorry about Slughorn tonight," he began.

"Don't worry about it. I'm just tired of him doting on my all the time."

"I just wanted to thank you. For not saying exactly what happened last night. I feel guilty since I didn't do much to stop it."

"It's fine, Sev. I told you earlier. No harm, no foul, right? It wasn't any of their business, anyway. I'm just glad Slug didn't correct me. He knows what happened."

"I know. He gave Avery and Mulciber detention all next week."

"And between that and what my friends did and were planning, they will get their just desserts."

"Why did you do it?" he finally asked.

"Do what?"

"Tell him I wasn't involved."

"Because you weren't. I didn't feel that you deserved more punishment."

"But not stopping it is just as bad as doing it," he said, looking guilty.

"Just accept my kindness. Your guilt is obviously punishment enough," I said, a small grin.

Regulus suddenly appeared behind Sev. "You coming, Snape?" Then he saw me and scoffed. "Don't think I don't know who taught you to perform a Patronus," he sneered.

"So? I don't care if you know," I admitted. I turned to Sev, "Get back to your common room. James is on rounds tonight. He knows you're in Slug Club but he is very upset about last night and doesn't see you as an innocent bystander as I do."

Sev turned to Regulus first, "I'll meet you there," he said, then turned to me. "One last question," he said.

"If it's about me and James and my safety, I know about everything. No secrets, and I don't feel the need to explain myself."

"No, it's not that. You mentioned what your friends 'were planning.' What did you mean?"

"They each wanted a turn. Emmeline and Peter were planning a hex each. Em perfected the Steleus Hex to use on Avery and Peter was working on the Densaugeo for Mulciber. I told them they were done and not to perform them."

"I see," he said. "Not bad. Between you and me, they deserved it."

I smiled. I was seeing the old Sev show through. "Goodnight, Sev," I said softly.

"Goodnight, Lily."

With that I went back upstairs, heading for the seventh floor.

I was right, I beat James. I also didn't run into him at all on my return to the seventh floor. I went straight to my room and showered away off the negative feelings from dinner.

Hopefully Slug finds a new target for his affections next time, or I may just have to leave dinner early.

I slipped into my pajamas and gave Magnolia a treat. Then I went upstairs to James's room, knowing he wouldn't be back yet. The time is about quarter-past eleven, and we usually return from rounds closer to midnight. Especially Fridays when there are many more students sneaking around. I climbed into his bed to wait for him.

From all the stress of the day, I was asleep before he returned. Although I think I may have felt him gently kiss my forehead.