Chapter 9:
"Welcome everyone to a brand new year at Hogwarts."
The new first years had just been sorted into their houses, and Professor Dumbledore was addressing all the students before the feast was to begin.
"Now before the feast begins I would just like to inform our new students and remind our older students that the forest is out of bounds and no one is to enter it."
At this the Marauders all grinned at one another. Looking at Dumbledore, James could swear that he was looking straight at them as he said this.
"Bad things – terrible things are happening out in the magical world. This is something that many of you here would know about. But you must remember to stand tall and stand beside your friends. It is they who will help you face any challenge that comes your way. And be united. Unite as a year level, as a house and as a school.
"And finally, for those who don't know, our head boy and girl for this year are James Potter and Lily Evans," Dumbledore continued his speech which was interrupted by loud cheering and applause from the Gryffindor table and even from the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. The Slytherins glared instead.
Smiling, Dumbledore concluded, "Now let the feast begin."
When Dumbledore clapped his hands, mountains of food appeared on the tables. The first years, especially those who were new to magic, sat there in shock at the food that just appeared in front of them. The older kids however just dug in.
Sirius stacked food high onto his plate, "Yes finally. I'm starving!" he said as he started stuffing his face.
Lily and Alice just stared at him, both wearing the same expression saying, that is both disgusting and incredible.
Marlene seeing them laughed out loud, "This is a tradition for them," she nods her heads towards the other marauders. Looking at their plates, they are all stacked with food.
"What are their stomachs? Bottomless pits?" Lily joked.
"Yup pretty much. You think what you see everyday is bad? I swear at these feast their aim is to out eat one another."
"I think I'm becoming full just watching them eat. Or at least sick," Alice commented.
At this the marauders finally looked up from their food, "What?" James asked with food stuffed in his mouth.
Lily just rolled her eyes as Alice replied, "Nothing."
Shrugging James went back to his food.
"Hey Alice, where's Frank?" Lily asked, realising she hadn't seen him at all.
"Oh he's just sitting down there," she told Lily, nodding her head to the left.
"Is everything okay between you two?"
"Well, yeah it is. How come you ask?"
"Well you two are usually attached at the hip!" Marlene joined in.
"Plus that really didn't sound convincing," Lily added.
"I know, I know. He's just being a bit distant lately, and I don't know why."
"Have you spoken to him about it?" Marlene asked gently.
"I tried to, but I didn't know how to approach it properly. The subject was changed pretty quickly," Alice told them.
"Well, try again now we're back at school. We'll help you of you need," Lily said.
"Thanks guys. You're the best," Alice told her friends.
"Hey Evans?" a voice cut into their conversation, James.
Looking over at him she replied, "Yeah Potter?"
"Looks like everyone is either heading off or waiting to head off," he nods towards a group of first years.
Realising what he was saying Lily turned to Alice, "Can you take the first years up to the tower?"
"Of course."
"Thanks. So, uh, James. Do you want to leave now?"
"Yeah sure. Do you know where we are going?" he asked her.
"Not really, but I've got the letter with the instructions."
"No need, I think I have a pretty good idea," James told her.
"Umm okay. I'll see you guys tomorrow," she said to Alice and Marlene before walking out of the Great Hall with James.
Their friends watched as they walked out together.
"I give it three weeks," Sirius told the others.
"Give what three weeks?" Peter asked.
"Those two of course! Can't you see it happening!"
"Nah, I give it between two and three," Marlene said, "Lily will see a different James now that they live together."
"Between three and four," Remus added.
"No way. Lily will need time. She's going to be too stubborn to admit any feelings she has for James. I give between four and five weeks," Alice told them.
"A galleon each then?" Sirius asked.
"Yeah that sounds fair," Marlene responded.
"Hey Wormtail? You in?" Remus asked Peter as he realised Peter hadn't put a bet in.
"No, I'm right thanks," he said shortly.
"Well, uh, I should probably lead some of the little ones upstairs. I'll see you all up there," Alice told them standing.
"I'll come with you," Remus stood and with Alice walked to a group of first years, who stood and followed them.
~~~/~~~
Walking along the sixth floor, James led Lily through the corridors that would lead to their new dorm room.
"So how do you know where we are going?" Lily asked James, curiosity filling her voice.
"I'm a Marauder," he answered, smiling as if that would explain everything to her.
She looked over at him, "You know that really doesn't answer my question."
"Oh, but it does."
"How?"
"That I can't say," James told her, but when he saw the look on her face he continued, "but maybe one day I'll show you."
"I'll hold you to that."
They continued walking down an empty corridor which had no classrooms and only some paintings on the walls. All of a sudden James stopped. Turning to the left, he faced the wall. In front of him was large painting of an owl.
"Aperiamus extremo," James said.
As he did so, the owl swivelled and portrait swung open, revealing a doorway.
Turning to Lily he said, "We can change the password whenever we want, and watch this."
Pulling out his wand he tapped the owl and added, "When Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Alice Prewitt and Marlene McKinnon come looking for us, become a doorway. But do not allow them in unless we allow it."
Turning to Lily he then said, "This way they can actually visit us, and if they can't get in they have a door or something to knock on so we can know they are out here."
"Sounds good. I may have seen this all before but, I really do love magic," Lily commented.
Laughing, James said, "Ladies first," as he put out his arm indicating for Lily to move before him.
"Thanks," Lily smiled up at him as she walked past him.
She walked down a small corridor, when she got to the other opening she stopped short. James ran into the back of her, "Wha-Oh."
In front of them was their new common room. It was similar to the Gryffindor common room with both colours and layout. There was seating around a fireplace and a larger table. On either side of the room, there was a door, which both Lily and James figured led to each of their rooms. Similar to the Gryffindor common room, James and Lily knew which one belonged to who.
"This is so cool!" James exclaimed as he walked past Lily in to the common room. The room glowed in the firelight and the warmth hit him as soon as he entered.
"Definitely," Lily agreed.
James moved to the couch in front of the fire and sat himself down, leaning against the arm. Lily had remained in the doorway just staring before her.
"Are you just going to stand there, or...?" James asked Lily. As he did, he made room on the couch, indicating that if she wanted, she could sit next to him.
Noticing this, she moved hesitantly towards him and sat down. She sat cross legged, facing him.
"So," she said breaking the silence, "Um how were the rest of the holidays for you after... Well after we saw each other," she asked him.
"They weren't too bad. My parents weren't kidding when they said Padfoot and I would be locked up inside. Every time we tried to get out... Well let's just say we failed a lot..."
"Yeah trust me, I know the feeling. I got home after Marlene's with bruises and a limp. My parents were extremely worried, so I had to tell them. They were even worried about me going and buy my school books."
"Really? Well that is understandable. Annoying yes. But understandable."
"Yeah, I know."
As they were talking, they had both turned to face each other, but to also make themselves more comfortable. Lily had curled up into a ball and leant against the back while James leant against the arm of the chair having his legs stretched out.
~~~/~~~
"No way! You like the Beatles?" Lily exclaimed. It was past midnight and James and Lily were still on the couch talking. They had gone through different topics and were now onto favourite music.
James laughed at Lily's reaction, "Yeah, I do. And ABBA too."
"No way! How do you even know muggle music? Most people don't."
"Uh well, I blame my mum for this."
"Your mum?" Lily was genuinely curious.
"Yeah well. My mum, although being very traditional, believes that witches and wizards need to understand some muggle things as well. So from a young age I was introduced to both muggle music and books."
Lily laughed at this. It was something she never thought she would hear from James Potter.
"What?" James asked, raising his eyebrow at her laughter. He wasn't offended just shocked at her reaction.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I just wasn't expecting that. What books do you read?"
"Umm I like Dickens, Tolkein and Shakespeare," he told her.
"I like them too! But I love Jane Austin as well. Actually over the holidays I read Oliver Twist."
"That's probably my favourite of his."
"Mine too," she told him. She actually couldn't believe it. They had something in common.
Lily yawned, which made James smile, "Getting a bit tired?" he asked her.
"Yeah I am a bit," she said as she looked at her watch, "woah it's nearly one! We've been talking for hours."
"Time flies hey?" he said smiling.
"Yeah, I guess it does. I might head to bed now," she said standing and moving towards her door, "Goodnight Potter."
"Night Evans," she heard from behind her as she shut her door.
"Woah," Lily said as she looked around her room. Since she and James had been talking from when they had entered their common room, she hadn't actually seen her room yet.
Her new room was brilliant. A large bed was before her, covered in Gryffindor colours, and a desk that allowed her to look out the window. This is absolutely perfect, she thought.
~~~/~~~
"OI GET UP! PRONGS, GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE AND LET US IN!"
Lily rolled over in her bed as she heard the screaming coming from outside her room. Annoyed that she got woken up, she left her room and marched straight to the door to tell Sirius to shut up.
"Will you be quiet! Some people are trying to sleep here!" she exclaimed as she opened the door. Standing in front of her were the other three marauders. Sirius was no longer yelling, but all three were staring at her.
She was puzzled to why they were staring at her, and wanted to do or say something to make things less awkward for herself as she was starting to feel very self conscious.
"I'm assuming you three actually want to come in?" she asked moving aside for them to walk in. Walking back into her common room, with the three trailing behind her, she banged against James' door, "Potter! You have visitors!"
As she said this, there was more knocking from the other side of the common room door. She knew it had to be Alice and Marlene. The Marauders must have told them where to go.
Again opening the door she said, "Hey guys."
There in front of her were her two best friends, dress in their robes ready to go to breakfast.
"Hey Lily!" they both said.
"Woah, you aren't ready yet! This is new!" Marlene commented.
"Shut up," Lily grumbled, "I only woke up a few minutes ago and that was because a few certain people wouldn't shut up outside this door."
From down the hall they heard Sirius' voice, "Prongs this place is awesome! I think I might move in!"
"No you won't!" Lily yelled before saying softer to her friends, "Come on in."
The Marauders had been laughing as they walked up the corridor but as soon a Lily walked in they stopped immediately. Well James did and just stared intently at her.
Lily felt the heat in her cheeks, but instead of letting it be obvious, she asked, "Why the hell do you guys keep shutting up as soon as I walk into a room?"
From behind her Alice and Marlene laughed.
"What?" she spun, glaring at her friends.
"Lils, you might want to look at what you are wearing," Marlene smirked.
Looking down at herself she saw that she was still in her pyjamas, which consisted of black shorts that showed the majority of her leg and a purple singlet top with a low cut. She realised that because she was annoyed at Sirius and wanted to tell him to shut up, she forgot to put her robe on.
"Oh. I'm just - uh I'll be back," she mumbled before running to her room.
When she returned a few minutes later, the others were all waiting for her. James it seemed had also gone and gotten changed.
"We thought we would wait for you and all walk down to breakfast together," James told her as he saw her come out of her room.
"Yeah, it's a good thing today is first day and classes start later since they have to sort out the students. Or else you two would have definitely slept through the morning," Alice added.
"No we wouldn't have!" Lily said stubbornly.
"Yeah sure, whatever you say Lils," Marlene commented sarcastically, "why were you two still in bed anyway. You're usually a morning person Lily."
"Stay up later than usual last night Lily-flower?" Sirius asked suggestively as he wagged he eyebrows.
"Shut up Padfoot," James said as he slapped Sirius across the back is his head.
When they arrived in the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall hurried over to them, "It's about time you lot got here!"
"Sorry miss we were held up by our Heads," Marlene said nodding her head towards Lily and James.
"Yes, well, let's get all your timetables sorted," McGonagall said with a twitch of a smile.
One by one the seven of them sorted out their subjects for the year. All of them had managed to be able to study Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions and Transfiguration. Although, Peter had only just managed to scrape through. The mixture of subject they were doing together were Charms, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy and Herbology. For Peter he had chosen Care of Magical Creatures and Divination.
It had been easy to do the seventh year timetables as most of them were continuing their subjects from the previous year.
As they ate breakfast, James remained quiet. Truly, since he had seen Lily that morning, he had been quiet. She had no idea what she could do to him. He thought she was absolutely beautiful all the time. She was so smart and kind. He wished that she could see who he really was and didn't just think of him as an arrogant toerag. Earlier when he saw her, his mind went into overdrive. To him she was stunning, even with her messy bed hair. She might have just been woken up by his annoying friends, but she hadn't looked like it at all. At least not to him. Things had been different between them lately and he thought that they were moving forward. At least they didn't yell at each other anymore. Thinking about their conversation the previous night also made him smile. They had stayed up late having a normal conversation and even discovering they had things in common.
"James you ready?" he heard someone say, bringing him out of his thoughts.
Looking around he saw he and Remus were the only ones left. The others had already headed off to their classes. Looking down at his timetable he had Transfiguration and Charms first, luckily it meant it was two classes with all his friends. Why didn't they wait for us then?
"Padfoot and Wormtail went to save us seats and the girls went back to your dorm. Lily forgot something," Remus told him as of reading her mind.
"How did you know that's what I was wondering?"
Remus laughed, "Your face expression. You were really out of it just then. Thinking about a certain red head who stunned the four of us this morning?"
"Shut up Moony," James said giving him a small shove. By this time they were walking to their first 7th year class.
~~~/~~~
"Merlin, it was so embarrassing! Why didn't you tell me?" Lily accused her friends and they were moving their way through the corridors quickly.
"We thought you knew!"
"Do you really think I would walk around like that?"
Lily was really self-conscious about her body. She knew she wasn't fat at all. She actually liked her weight, it was just her body image itself. If there was one, well maybe two things she could change about herself it would be her thighs and her stomach. She was comfortable wearing what she was this morning, but only in the company of few, like her family and Alice and Marlene, but definitely not in front of the Marauders. And definitely not in front of James. He had looked at her like no one had before. It was so intense and something she hadn't experienced before.
"Lily! Don't you dare think negatively about your body image! You are gorgeous!" Marlene practically shook her.
"No, I'm not okay! I mean look at me compared to the two of you!"
Alice, the ever so reasonable one thought so should try a different approach, "Lily. You
can't compare yourself to us. Just like Mar said. You are gorgeous. I know you don't like your stomach, but no one notices that! Plus there's always something about ourselves that
we hate. Anyway, did you actually see the boys reactions this morning?"
"Yeah all of them were staring at you. Seriously girl, you looked hot this morning. Messy bed hair and everything."
They had arrived the portrait hole to the heads common room, "Aperiamus extremo, "
Lily said before the portrait swung open. Running in, she quickly grabbed what she needed and together with Alice and Marlene hurried to transfiguration.
When they arrived, they found that the Marauders had saved them seats. They sat so it was James and Sirius together, Remus and Peter, Alice and Marlene then Lily had a table by herself, but was soon after joined by Perrie Lynch. Before Lily could start talking to Perrie, Professor McGonagall swept into the classroom.
"Welcome all of you to your last year at Hogwarts. After this, you will all be going your separate ways. Now I will not lie to you, this subject will be extremely hard this year, and I expect a lot from you all."
With that, the class started and ended quickly. To most of the group it had felt like no time had passed at all as they had listened to McGonagall talk about transformations at a large extent. After the class had finished, they packed up and walked to charms together.
To Lily it, felt normal hanging out with all the Marauders within and out of classes. Though to her it was strange at the same time, since she had spent so long hating them.
At the end of the day Lily was glad to go back to her common room. Alice and Marlene, along with Sirius, Peter and Remus had joined her and James. There they talked and mucked around, remaining there until James, to Lily's surprise, kicked them out as it was nearly curfew.
Here we go, another chapter!
I am so sorry about the terrible ending to this one. I couldn't think of anything but I didn't want to sit on it for too long.. Otherwise, I hope you liked it :)
Black-lightningrunes-13 xx