Author's Notes: And we're at the first official Hogsmeade visit! The next chapter will be party planning and the party itself.
This chapter is just fun. At least I hope it is.
In case anyone was curious, the "request" I had from istolethecookiewas for Sirius to walk in on Lily and James, erm, "having a moment." A while ago, LittleMissFizzingWhizbees asked me to have more Remus and Sirius. I've been trying to do that this whole time, since they are two of my favorite characters. And I feel like I have said that before... maybe? I'm leaning more that way than deja-vu. I have another request, this one from WeasleySeeker, and I hope to squeeze that in somewhere very soon. I'll announce what it was the following chapter, like I did this request. If you have a request, I will do my best to include it (as long as it stays with my storyline, of course).
Chapter 24: I Swear, Eight Isn't a Crowd
Saturday, October 22, 1977
"Up! Up! UP!" Marlene exclaimed, jumping on my bed.
I groaned and pulled my blanket over my head. "Remind me to change the password to the portrait hole and not bother to tell any of you tossers," I mumbled from beneath my blanket fort.
"You know you love us and would miss us," Dorcas reminded me. Her voice sounded a little far away. Maybe the door?
"Don't you be so sure of it," I mumbled.
"Come on, Lilypetal!" Marlene whined. She was straddling me now, sitting on her knees over me.
I groaned again. "You know very well I hate that nickname," I informed her, still in the comfort of my fort.
"Marles, do you think she can even attempt get up with you pinning her down like you are currently?" Emmeline said. She sounded close, maybe next to the bed.
"Listen to her, she speaks logic," I said, only letting my arm emerge to the elbow to put up an informative point with my statement. I retreated my arm after making the statement.
Suddenly I felt the blanket pull off from over my head and my hair stand up everywhere from the static, exposing me to the shoulders. Marlene had a firm grip on the blanket with both hands. "I'll keep calling you Lilypetal until you get up. It's Hogsmeade day!" She swung her leg over me, releasing me.
I smoothed my hair down with my hands. "What time is it?" I said through a yawn.
"Eight!" Marlene said with a grin. "Time for breakfast!"
"No, time for shower," I corrected. "I have to wake up. Go entertain the boys or something." I crawled out of bed, grabbed some clothes from my wardrobe, and retreated to my bathroom. I made the shower quick because I knew Marlene would crack any and all locking charms I put on the bathroom door if I didn't. I dried off quickly with my wand and dressed in a pair of thick black tights, a denim miniskirt, and a crimson v-neck jumper with long sleeves. I grabbed my tan suede jacket, just in case. I slipping on a pair of comfortable suede boots and went to the common room to meet everyone.
At least, that was my original plan. I instead turned my attention to the commotion coming from James's room.
When I arrived in the doorway, all I could do was laugh. There was no chance of holding it.
All seven of my friends were in a pile on James's bed. I could just make out James's messy hair sticking out of the bottom. I noticed his glasses on the bedside table. Poor guy didn't even see it coming, I thought to myself, which only made me laugh harder.
Sirius noticed me first. He was about halfway down the pile, but his head was facing me. "Hey! Lily's up! Good job, Marles!"
"Yes, I'm up," I said between laughs, trying to regain my composure. "I think it's safe to assume that's what you're trying to do to James?"
"You'd guess right!" Emmeline replied, a big grin on her face from her spot sitting on the top, perched happily on Dorcas's back. She looked innocent and sweet, her curly dark hair pulled into pigtails. It only made the scene look even more funny.
"Again, this isn't exactly the most productive way," I said, carefully approaching the group. I wasn't about to be pulled into this madness. "Can we be careful and not break my boyfriend?"
"Our weight is distributed, trust me," Remus said. He was closer to the bottom of the pile, so I knew I could take his word for it.
That's when I heard a muffled mumbled from the bottom of the pile. "I think James is trying to talk to you," Peter said, grinning. He was on top of Sirius.
I saw James shift a little, just enough to free his head so he could lift it to speak. "Gerroff me!" he exclaimed.
"You going to get up?" Marlene asked. She was laying next to Remus at the bottom.
"I've been trying. You ever get up with six people laying on top of you?" he replied in a huff.
"Dunno, Prongs. Sounds like my type of party," Sirius said with a smug grin. Emmeline reached down and smacked the back of his head. I started laughing again.
"Okay, okay," I said, sighing. "The sooner you lot free James, the sooner we can eat. The sooner we eat, the sooner-"
"-We can go to Hogsmeade!" Marlene finished excitedly. "Get off! Get off!" she exclaimed to Dorcas, Sirius, Emmeline, and Peter while attempting to squirm out from under them. The shift caused Emmeline to lose her balance and she started rolling off the top of the pile. Luckily she rolled right onto the foot of James's bed.
"That could have been bad," she laughed when she landed.
"Serves you lot right," I told them, trying to sound authoritative. "Out!" I said, shooing them all from the room. They all groaned, and Sirius acted as if gravity suddenly multiplied under him, but I eventually was able to push them all from the room and shut the door with a low chuckle. I turned back to look at James's bed, and he was still laying there. He was awake, though, and on his back. He also had his glasses on.
"Did you get a similar wake up call?" he groaned. "I feel like they squeezed all my energy out with that sneak attack."
"Just Marlene," I chuckled, sitting down on the bed next to him. "I think they think they'd break me if they all did it."
"Lucky," he said, not moving.
"One of the few times I'm proud of being on the smaller size," I grinned. I wasn't short like Emmeline, but I was shorter than the rest of them. "Now you need to get up and ready for breakfast," I told him, patting my hand on his chest.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me down to him, my face inches from his. "Can I have a proper wake up call?"
"Is it a proper wake up call, or is it just you wanting me to kiss it and make it better?" I teased, hovering just above his lips.
"A little of both," he said, putting his hand behind my neck to pull me into the kiss. We were interrupted a few moments later by a knock on the door.
"James Potter! You better be getting up in there and not snogging Lily!" Marlene's exclaimed. "You have five minutes before we come in there!"
"She will break the door down," I told James, still hovering above his lips. I gave him one quick kiss and pulled him up by his wrists. "Go dress, I'll go keep the peanut gallery at bay."
James sighed. "Fine, but we will continue this later."
"I'll look forward to that," I told him, smiling. I snuck out the door, only to find Marlene leaning on the wall opposite the door, the rest of them each on their own step going down the stairs and all leaning against the wall.
"Well?" Marlene asked.
"He's going to get dressed now. I was coaxing him out of bed, you guys gave him no reason to move," I told them, walking past them all with a smug smile on my face. I could feel each of them watch me as I passed. "Are you guys going to wait there all day?" I asked when I reached the bottom.
"I think they are making sure I'm ready to go," James said, emerging from the room in jeans and a black jumper, his jacket over one arm. "Breakfast?"
That's when I had to jump out of the way to dodge the stampede to the portrait hole. James and I stayed to the back, where it was safe.
After a very crazy breakfast, we split up in the carriages. They only fit six, so James and I held back, again. We let the rest of them take one carriage and we climbed in the next, closely followed by a group of four Hufflepuff fifth years. A lot more relaxing than sharing with any of our friends, that was for sure. I took advantage of the peace and quiet (outside of the chatter from the Hufflepuffs, but it doesn't take much to be considered "quiet" compared to our friends) and rested my head on James's shoulder.
"I think I'll sleep well, tonight," I said softly. "Those loons are going to wear me out today."
"I concur," James said with a laugh, resting his head on mine. "If our wake up calls are any sign of what the day may bring, it's going to be an interesting one."
I lowered my voice and moved so I was closer to his ear. "I have a question about tomorrow."
"What's that?" he asked in reply, keeping his voice low to match mine.
"You all will need the map to get to the kitchens without issue, right?"
"Yes, of course."
"How are Em and I supposed to get in and out of the passageway without getting caught?" I grinned up at him.
"Oh," he said, thinking. I waited silently for him to think of something. "I'll lend you the cloak."
"Are you sure?" I asked him. "It's suppose to be secret."
"I trust Em," he assured me. "And I know Moony does, too, seeing how she's one of Marlene's closest friends. And I know Padfoot is okay with her, obviously. Wormtail goes along with the rest of us. It will be fine." He smiled down at me.
I looked outside the carriage at the orange and red trees, the leaves swirling in the wind. I could see Hogsmeade coming closer. "We're about there," I told him.
He took a deep breath. "Ready for the onslaught?"
I laughed. "They mean well, they just have more energy than usual. But that's one of the things I love about them."
"You're right, but it doesn't make them less exhausting," he added. Our carriage approached Hogsmeade and we exited. It was easy to find the group.
Follow the loudest strain of laughter.
"Where have you two been?" Sirius asked us as soon as we walked up.
"In a carriage," I replied flatly. "We came straight here!"
"Where to?" Emmeline asked.
"Zonkos," replied Sirius, James, Peter, Remus, Marlene, and Dorcas. Emmeline and I laughed and shook our heads. Emmeline and I exchanged a glance, as if to say, That was a stupid question. Then we followed them to Zonko's Joke Shop.
I walked around, looking at the wares. I ended up buying a bunch of Sugar Quills, while the guys got Dungbombs and Hiccough Sweets. Dorcas bought a Nose-Biting Teacup. If she tries to slip that to me in Divination I may have to hex her. As we were leaving, I pointed to Honeydukes. Everyone nodded and followed, and we all left with our favorite sweets.
After going in and out of several stores (Tomes and Scrolls, Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment, Sprintwitches, and Scrivenshafts), we realized something.
We're short two.
"Um, guys?" I asked the group, looking around. "Isn't it a little... quiet?"
The rest of what was left of the group looked around, noticing what I said was true.
"You're right, it's too quiet," James observed. "Where's Sirius?"
"From the look of our group here," Dorcas said, looking around, "I'd put my money on 'with Emmeline.' She's gone, too." A smile crept across her face.
"Dorcas, don't even think-"
Marlene couldn't even finish her sentence before Dorcas took off in search of some drama.
"Great," I sighed. "Em's Dorcas's 'voice of reason.' Without her, things can, and I think will, get difficult."
"Lets go," Marlene groaned. She turned to Remus and the guys, "If you all want to meet us in the Three Broomsticks, you can."
"I have a feeling you'll need help," he replied. "We know Dorcas and how stubborn she is."
"He has a point, Marles," I said to her.
She nodded and we all went off after Dorcas, calling her name. She was weaving around the crowds of students flooding High Street, which is much easier when you're alone. Not in a group of five.
After a chase that lasted a good five or ten minutes, we saw her leaning up against the side of Dogweed and Deathcap.
"Dorcas!" Marlene hollered. Dorcas immediately put a finger to her lips to tell her to be quiet. She was grinning ear-to-ear.
"What's going on?" I whispered. She was peering into the alleyway between Dogweed and Deathcap and Potage's Cauldron Shop. She looked at me, her smile getting bigger, and silently pointed around the corner.
We all crept closer and peered around the corner. Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing in the Muggle or Wizarding worlds, could have prepared me for what I saw.
Emmeline and Sirius.
Snogging.
Putting even me and James to shame.
I had to cover my mouth in order to not laugh out loud at what I saw before retreating back in front of the shop.
"So much for 'sweet little Emmeline,' then," Remus said quietly. This didn't help my laughter. Tears were streaming from my eyes as I sat on the ground in front of Dogween and Deathcap.
"Guys, we're going to get caught!" Marlene whispered harshly, joining the floor next to me. I could tell she was trying to fight the shock-induced laughter battle that I had already lost.
Nevermind. One look at me holding back laughter, tears streaming down my face, made her lose the battle, too. We were both covering our mouths tightly, trying not to blow our friends cover.
They were all still gaping at the two.
"Oh, shit," Peter said, suddenly, causing Marlene and I to stop laughing. Then he and the rest of the spies turned around and ran down High Street, right past us. I could hear Sirius cursing from the alley. Marlene and I made quick eye contact and retreated into the Herbology shop we've been sitting in front of for the past few minutes, hiding behind some shrubbery in an area where we could still see out the front window.
Sirius suddenly ran by, not looking into our obvious choice of hiding locations. Emmeline came out shortly after, face flushed, lips swollen, and her hair only slightly disheveled due to her choice of wearing pigtails today. She didn't look upset or anything, just a little embarrassed.
If anything, she looked happy.
I looked at Marlene. "I think it's safe," I told her.
She nodded. "Lets go. We'll walk with Em to the Three Broomsticks."
She and I exited the shop, stopping next to Emmeline. She blushed even darker when she saw us. "So you found us out, huh?" she asked casually, but her tone told us that she already knew our answer.
"Yeah," I told her. "We realized that it was suddenly quiet in the group, which is how we noticed Sirius was gone. Then Dorcas mentioned you were gone, too, and she took off. The rest is history."
She laughed. "I had a feeling we'd be found, but Sirius wanted a moment, anyway."
"You're not mad at us?" Marlene asked.
"No," she assured us with a smile. "Like I said, I had a feeling you'd realize we were missing and then track us down. Can't say the same for Sirius, though. He took off."
"That's the direction they went in. We were sitting here," I pointed to the floor where we were sitting, "when we heard Peter swear. They ran off and we retreated inside," I said, thumbing towards the shop.
"Guess we should find them, make sure Sirius doesn't kill them," Emmeline said, pulling out her pendant. She pointed her wand at it, and then we started down High Street in the direction they all ran off in.
It wasn't long before our pendants heated up. Emmeline's was still hanging free (mine and Marlene's were under our shirts and jackets) and she read it quickly. "They're outside the Three Broomsticks. Lets go."
"Prepare for the worst," I mumbled.
Marlene laughed. "And hope for the best," she added.
We arrived, seeing Sirius have Peter in a headlock. The rest of them were sitting on a stone wall that was in front of the Three Broomsticks.
Sirius was laughing. That's a good sign.
James looked up and saw us coming, and when he made eye contact with me he suddenly smiled. "Where did you two duck off to?" he asked.
"We were sitting outside a shop, James," I reminded him. "We merely walked through a door." I wrapped my arm around his elbow. "Can we get lunch, please? I'm starving!"
Emmeline knocked Sirius's arm lightly so he'd release Peter, and with that we went off to lunch.
"Have I mentioned how they will be the death of me?" I asked James once we were back in our common room. We told the rest that we wanted peace and quiet, so we kicked them out.
"At least ten times," he replied, smiling. "And I concur."
He was sprawled out in one of the plush armchairs, while my five-foot-four frame was taking up the entire couch.
"They wore me out," I moaned. We've been back for a hour already, but I just yet to remove my jacket and boots. I just collapsed on the couch.
Lunch at the Three Broomsticks was calm, since we were all eating, but as soon as we were done we walked towards the Shrieking Shack. There's a clearing there, and next thing I knew Sirius pushed me into a large pile of leaves.
Which turned into a two hour long session of leaf-diving, -wrestling, and -fights.
I spent the ride back to Hogwards pulling leaves out of James's hair, and he pulled them out of mine.
I was snapped back to the present by a slight tug at my feet. I looked down to see James pulling my boots off. "Take off your coat and get comfortable. I'm going to run down to the kitchens and get some sandwiches and crisps. Peaceful dinner for two in here," he said with a smile.
"I love you," I said to him as thanks in the form of an exhausted groan. He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead before escaping through the portrait hole.
I sat up (too fast, mind you, I got a little discombobulated), and took my jacket off. After laying it over the back of the chair, I leaned back on the back of the couch.
It's been a month. Well, just over.
Just over a month since I started dating James Potter.
And Merlin have things changed for me. I haven't been happier, I've broken rules without a care in the world, and I've made new friends in the Marauders.
Life was good.
I folded a bird out of a piece of scrap parchment I found in my satchel (that was still by the study table) and charmed it so I could fly it wherever I pleased around the common room. Watching the bird fly around, I couldn't help but feel like that was a symbol of my new life.
I was free.
The origami bird distracted me so much that I didn't notice James come in with a tray of food.
Well, that could have been because he was still wearing his invisibility cloak, but I digress.
"Dinner is served," he said, draping his cloak over the armchair. We took seats on the floor by the coffee table.
I looked at the tray. "Which is mine?" I asked him, pointing at the sandwiches.
"That one," he said pointing. "I recall you picking that sandwich a lot at lunch so I figured you enjoyed it.
I looked at it. Chicken breast, onion, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise on sourdough. I picked up one of the pieces of bread and noticed oregano and black pepper. My favorite down to the hidden spices. "Thank you!" I said happily. "It's my favorite, all the way down to the oregano and black pepper." I kissed his cheek, then noticed the other item on the tray besides the potato crisps. "What are those."
He smiled at me. "Pumpkin Cupcakes."
With that I tackled him to the floor in a tight hug.
"You're too good to me," I told him.
"I like making you happy," he replied, smiling. "Now eat. We have another long day with the lot tomorrow and so we need to be well-rested."
I nodded and ate my sandwich and crisps happily. "We can take the cupcakes upstairs. Eat them in bed."
"Yours or mine?"
"Yours. Mine's overthrown with pillows, remember? You won't fit."
He laughed. "Finish your dinner so we can retire, my love."
I sighed happily.
It's only October. It has only been just over a month.
And it will only get sweeter from here.
Author's Note Part 2: Wow, that was longer than I anticipated. Oh, well! Until the next chapter!