A/N: Hi guys! After much aggravation, I've finally managed to get this chapter up. A bit of a filler, but I hope you enjoy it anyway. Last chapter for a while but I'll be sure to get writing while I'm away in any free time I have! Also, feel free to leave suggestions in reviews. Thank you again to apoorvam77 and CanonCannon for their reviews :) Remember...reviews=sneak peek!xo
Disclaimer: Anything you recognise belongs to JK Rowling.
Chapter 7: She Called Me James!
As soon as Marlene awoke the next morning she ran into Scarlett's room, knowing that this would be the last morning she would be able to spend with her sister for a while. Mrs. Potter had planned for there to be a lunch with the family, to send Scarlett off and welcome Lily into the home. Lily was arriving at 11 and Mr. Potter and James were flooing over to collect her, ensuring that she arrived safely.
Marlene was horrified to find the door to her sister's bedroom empty, the door wide open. Surely she wouldn't have left without even saying goodbye? Marlene was going to run downstairs to ask Mrs. Potter if she had seen Scarlett when she heard muffled voices from Sirius' room.
"You both blatantly like each other! I don't understand why you two are in so much denial."
"It's because we don't like each other, McKinnon. I don't know where you and Prongs have got this from!"
"Ah ha! So James also sees it. Obviously you reciprocate Marlene's feelings more than you're letting on."
"Mini McKinnon is hot I'll give you that. She obviously takes after her sister," Marlene rolled her eyes. She could just imagine Sirius' suave wink at that point, "But physical attraction is as far as it goes...for both of us."
"But you admit there's physical attraction? Come oooon Black, you two are perfect for each other! You can't seriously be telling me you want some emotional girl who calls you stupid stuff like 'sugarcake' on your arm!"
"I don't want any kind of girl on my arm. I don't like commitment, McKinnon."
"Fine! Be like that," Marlene could hear Scarlett's dramatic sigh, "but I will bet money on you two being together by the end of Hogwarts."
"Get ready to lose your money then."
There was a creak signalling Scarlett standing up. Marlene was about to back away when her sister spoke again.
"Oh and Black?"
"Hmmm?"
"You hurt her in any way AT ALL, prepare to kiss goodbye to that precious face of yours. She's still my little sister."
It was a complicated process to floo Lily in from the Evans household. Firstly, the Evans house had to be added to the floo network. Then, the Potters house (which was very hard to enter by floo) had to be added to a secret network connected to the Evans' house, to prevent intrusion. Marlene didn't really understand the technicalities of it all, just that it was required to keep both parties safe.
Mrs. Potter was waiting anxiously by the fireplace.
"What if Lily doesn't like it here? I do want her to feel welcome!"
"Calm down, Aunt Etta, she'll love it," Marlene promised. Sirius looked at her in disbelief. It was hard to imagine Lily would 'love' anywhere James was. Marlene shrugged.
Suddenly, the fireplace flashed green and James stepped out, shaking the ash from his hair. He was grinning uncontrollably.
"Well, don't you look like the cat that got the cream?" Marlene remarked.
"She called me James!" James whispered, to Marlene and Sirius.
"She was probably just being polite in front of your dad," said Sirius.
James placed a hand over his heart dramatically, "I'm sure it meant something Pads!"
"Shut up you idiot, she'll be coming through in a moment," Marlene rolled her eyes. Sure enough, as soon as Marlene finished her sentence, the fireplace flashed green and out of it emerged Lily, coughing and spluttering. She looked a little worse for wear, considering her hair was filled with ash and her face was blackened with soot. Obviously the 'secret' network wasn't the cleanest.
"Lily!" Marlene squealed, rushing to hug her best friend.
"And in less than a minute, the awesome sister has been forgotten…" Scarlett teased, her voice wistful from the sidelines.
"Hey Marls," Lily laughed, at her friend's enthusiasm. She then turned to Mrs. Potter, "Thank you for letting me stay here with you and your family, Mrs. Potter."
"It's not a problem dear! I must say, after James has spoken so fondly of you all these years, it's a pleasure to meet you in person properly!"
"Mummmmm…." James' cheeks turned pink, and his hand automatically went up to mess up his ruffled hair. Lily laughed, and only Marlene could tell it was forced and a little bit uncomfortable. Mr. Potter emerged from the fireplace, a moment after.
"I must say, Lily," he began, "You have the most wonderful parents! Such lovely people. Aren't televisions simply fascinating?"
"They're normal in muggle houses dad," James rolled his eyes.
"Thank you sir," Lily blushed, giving James a pointed look.
"Ah sorry, James, sometimes I forget! And, you can call me, Charlus, Lily."
"And I'm Loretta!" Mrs. Potter smiled, "Marlene, why don't you show Lily to her room? James will bring up the bags, won't you dear?"
"Oh that's fine, I can take them myself-" Lily began.
"No, he insists," Mrs. Potter pushed her son forward, as Sirius and Marlene held back laughter, "Scarlett, dear, can you come and help me with the lunch?"
"What about me?" Sirius pouted.
"Just try not to break anything!" Mrs. Potter breezed out of the room, addressing Sirius in a teasing tone. Scarlett followed her.
"Your bedroom is next to mine," Marlene gushed, as she lead Lily up the stairs, James lagging behind. Lily didn't reply. She had a kind of dazed look about her face.
"You alright Lils?" Marlene poked her arm.
"This house..." Lily stuttered.
"It's amazing isn't it?" Marlene smiled, "Just wait until you see the gardens! Aren't they awesome, James?"
"Yup," James nodded, "Bloody hell Evans, what did you pack in these bags?"
"I can carry them if you want me to Potter," Lily snapped. Apparently it was easier to slip into old ways than she'd thought.
Marlene sighed, "Lily, this is going to get tiresome. Please, try to tolerate James, and James try not to be so…bothersome. James has been my friend for forever, Lily, and he is one of my closest friends. You are my best friend. I just want to spend time with both of you to make this the perfect remainder of the summer holidays. At the moment, you two are the closest thing I have to a family, excluding Scarlett, so don't ruin it…please."
Lily looked a little guilty, "I'm sorry, Marls. I didn't mean to upset you."
"You didn't upset me. I just wish it wasn't too much to ask for you two to get along. Have a normal conversation, like normal human beings." Lily nodded. They reached the right room, and Marlene opened the door.
"And voila!" Marlene said dramatically.
"Wow. This is amazing," Lily walked into the room, decked entirely in champagne gold and cream. There was a king sized four poster beds, a balcony, a huge wardrobe and en suite bathroom. It was similar to Marlene's bedroom, except hers was red and gold.
"I swear the guest rooms are so much better than the actual rooms," James frowned, "They're so much bigger."
"Or maybe they're just so much tidier," Marlene teased, rolling her eyes, "Leave the bags on the bed. Come on, we're going out to the gardens before lunch!" Marlene grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her from the room.
Marlene and Lily spent a while in the gardens, before being called in for lunch by Mrs. Potter. Lily was surprised by the size of the house and gardens. Although she had known that James was rich, she had never imagined everything to be so extravagant.
"There's a lot of houses like this in the wizarding world," Marlene explained, "Black's is similar, but darker than this one. And mine is much the same. Don't you remember the summer before fifth year?"
"But this..." Lily gestured to her surroundings, "This is in a league of its own Marls!"
"Well the Potters are up in there in the top five wealthiest families. Mr. Potter's job pays well."
"Who is the first?" Lily wondered.
"The Blacks. There is loads of them...filthy rich, and they've never worked a day in their life."
"How?"
"Nobody really knows," Marlene shrugged.
"Ah girls, there you are!" Mrs. Potter emerged from the kitchen.
"Sorry to keep you waiting Mrs. Potter," Lily said, politely, "We were just admiring your gardens."
Mrs. Potter smiled warmly, "That's perfectly alright dear! And I've already said, you may call me Loretta. Go on through to the dining room. Marlene will show you the way!"