They reached McGonagall's office, both slightly out of breath.
"Phew! That took long. There really are too many staircases!" James said.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Happy realization, Potter."
James knocked…there was no response. He knocked again…no sound.
He rapped the door again; once, twice, thrice…
"Oh for Merlin's sake, Potter! You were supposed to knock once, not make a bloody melody!" Lily whispered frantically.
He smiled cheekily and said, "But one knock is boooring!"
Lily shook her head, and despite herself, she smiled…only slightly.
She looked at him and caught his gaze. Their eyes locked for a moment when suddenly-
BOOM!
The door banged open to reveal an irate looking Professor McGonagall.
"Evening Professor!" James said cheerfully.
"Good evening, Mr. Potter. I think it would be pointless to ask if you were the one kind enough to announce your presence by producing a symphony." McGonagall said, giving her infamous stern look.
James smiled charmingly, "Knew you'd like it Professor!"
McGonagall massaged her temples wearily and said, "Please come in."
They entered and James shot Lily a smug look, wagging his eyebrows, both at the same time.
Lily almost burst out laughing. Almost.
They sat down and looked at McGonagall expectantly. She started speaking briskly.
"Good evening to both of you. Now, Professor Dumbledore has asked me to inform you, that this year we will be holding a Winter Ball, precisely a week from today-" She was cut off by James.
"A Ball…? Why?" He asked dumbly.
"Professor Dumbledore thinks it would be a good idea to, as he says, 'brighten up' the atmosphere", she replied shortly. "Coming back to the topic, you two will be responsible for arranging this Ball. Notices should be put up today. Also, as Heads the two of you will be expected to open the Ball-" This time she was cut off by Lily.
"Open the Ball? You mean, with a dance?"
McGonagall nodded, looking somewhat amused. "Yes Miss Evans, with a dance."
"Honestly, Professor! I-"
"No buts Miss Evans. You will do as you are expected."
"But Professor! I can't dance! I can't dance! I can't dance!" James said frantically.
McGonagall looked quite amused now. One could even go as far as saying that she was rather enjoying this. She raised an eyebrow, smiling slightly, causing James' ears to turn pink.
"I'm sorry-" though she did not look sorry in the slightest- "but this is final. You shall do as Professor Dumbledore has proposed. Arrange and open the Ball."
Lily and James looked at each other.
"Moony! This is it! I've found it! It's the perfect spell!" Sirius said excitedly.
The marauders and the girls had been in the library, searching for a book with the required spell that would assist them with their-um-'plan of action', for the past two hours.
Remus walked over to Sirius, took the book from his hand and started reading over the passage that Sirius had been pointing at.
After a minute Remus looked up and despite himself, he grinned.
"That's actually just what we needed Padfoot. Wow, you've done two smart things in a day! You're outdoing yourself, mate!"
Sirius stuck out his tongue childishly.
"Now, if you people are done making fun of my-handsome-self-" everyone rolled their eyes- "I think we should get started! What about the spell Moony?"
"Well…it is a complex one…but I suppose we can manage it." He replied, reading over the incantation.
Sirius grinned. "Great! Now all we need to do is get those two here!"
"Um…why do we need to get them here?" Eva asked.
"Because LilyFlower won't be able to yell at me in the library." Sirius said simply.
Mary rolled her eyes and said, "I'll get those two. You be ready with the spell."
James and Lily exited McGonagall's office, thoroughly exhausted and tired.
They started walking towards the common room.
"I don't like to slow dance! And now, not only am I forced to do it, but do it in front of the whole school! Great!" Lily said sullenly.
"You don't like to slow dance. I don't knowhow to bloody slow dance." James replied, cross.
But then he smirked and said slyly, "But of course, you could always teach me…"
"Don't push it Potter!" Lily warned, though a ghost of a smile was starting to creep up on her face.
James grinned, and they started walking towards the common room in silence.
It wasn't an uncomfortable silence.
They had reached about half the way when Mary came rushing towards them, panting.
"Hey guys! How was your meeting?" she asked as she fell into step with them.
"Nothing great…just the usual. What've you guys been doing?" Lily asked.
"Oh, we've been in the library."
James arched an eyebrow, "Sirius too?"
Mary smirked, "Yes, Sirius too. Uh-Remus and Isa had to look up for some information for their Herbology assignment, and since we didn't have anything else to do, we joined them."
"Everyone still there?" Lily asked.
"Yea, I came to get you guys." Mary replied easily.
"Oh, okay then." James said, and he and Lily started following Mary towards the library.
Mary smirked inwardly. 'That was smooth. They don't suspect a thing yet!' she thought.
"Moony!" Sirius whispered, "Have you got it yet?"
"Well,I think…I mean, I cando it, but I'm not sure how well…" Remus said doubtfully.
"You'll do it Moony!" Peter said encouragingly.
Remus still looked slightly apprehensive.
"Don't worry, Remus. You're the best in Charms among us, after Lily that is, but she's not here right now, and anyways, we have to do the spell on her only so… You'll do it! I'm sure." Isa reassured him, smiling.
Remus looked at her and smiled, "Thanks."
She smiled back, a little shyly, "No problem."
Sirius and Eva exchanged knowing looks.
The door of the library opened to reveal Mary, Lily and James.
Sirius waved frantically at Remus, who still had his eyes locked with Isa's.
"Oi, lovebirds! They're here! Hurry up!" Sirius whispered urgently, though he smirked when he saw both their faces heat up.
Remus turned to glare at Sirius, but his eyes widened when he saw Lily and James, along with Mary, making their way towards them. Thankfully, they hadn't noticed them yet.
All five of them ducked and walked over to hide themselves behind a shelf at their right.
"Oh, damn. I think I forgot my wand back their in the left wing. I'll just be back." Mary said and rushed out of sight.
James sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Where are they?" he asked Lily.
"I dunno. Somewhere about, maybe…" she trailed off.
Remus raised his wand towards the pair, and Sirius gave him a 'thumbs up', nodding his head vigorously. Remus smiled amusedly before turning, once again towards James and Lily.
He pointed his wand from behind the shelf, took a deep breath and said, "Haerent induo!"
A beam of red light shot out from the tip of his wand, straight at the pair.
Lily and James fell back from the sheer force of the spell and groaned.
They both had a very good idea as to who was behind this.
"Alright guys, prank's over! Come out you lot!" James said sourly.
Lily groaned. She was already tired and this hadn't helped at all. Oh, these six will be dead!
James was rubbing his back sorely, but Lily was getting more annoyed by the second and made to get up, but was yanked down as her hand was attached to something. Something warm, calloused, and-
"Potter! Get your hand off of mine!" Lily said angrily.
James looked down at their intertwined hands confusedly.
"Lily, I'm not holding onto your hand. Not that I mind or anything…" he trailed off.
Lily growled at him, and made to get up. He followed suit.
They got up with a bit of difficulty. Once they were in a standing position, Lily tried once again, to yank her hand away from his, but to no avail.
"Potter, this is not funny! Let me go, now!" Lily said dangerously.
"Calm down Lily. I'm not doing anything! Okay wait,, so you try and pull your hand in your direction and I'll do in mine. Ready? One, two-"
They pulled again. No use, their hands were still clasped firmly in each others'.
"Alright Potter, out with it! You asked your friends to do this, didn't you?"
He stared at her disbelievingly," Honestly Lily! You still think I'm behind this? I was with you all evening-" She opened her mouth but he cut her off-"And in case you didn't notice, your friends are on this too! Mary was the one who brought us here."
Lily shut her mouth and grudgingly agreed with him.
Her eyes flashed dangerously as she looked around.
"Out!" she hollered.
"Shh!" reprimanded the librarian with narrowed eyes, clutching a book to her chest and making her way towards the left wing.
Both James and Lily rolled their eyes.
"Aw, look guys! They've started to act together! It's definitely working!" came Sirius' voice.
The marauders and the girls slowly came out from behind the shelf, and a sheepish looking Mary came from somewhere on their left. Lily stared daggers at them.
"Alright people, you've had your fun. Remove this spell…now!" Lily said murderously.
Sirius smirked inwardly and put on an innocent face.
Remus spoke. "Well-Lily-you see, the thing is that we don't exactly know the counter curse…yet!" he added hurriedly at the look of horror on Lily's face.
"Come on Lils! It's for you own good. You'll see." Eva said, but cowered under Lily's piercing glare.
James was finding it difficult to stop the grin that was desperately trying to from on his face.
"So…you guys mean to say that we're stuck together, and you don't know the counter-spell, and it could take hours, days, weeks, and months-"
"Shut it, Potter!" Lily barked.
Sirius and the rest of them smirked.
They reached the common room which was, thankfully, empty.
Lily sighed with relief. What would people say when they saw her and Potter suddenly holding hands!
Sirius made a big show yawning, and then stretching out he said,
"Well, I'm tired. Come on guys, off to bed!"
Lily rolled her eyes. So much for being subtle.
Everyone, excluding James and Lily that is, made their way to their dormitories…or pretended to anyways.
Lily and James were standing awkwardly, still in the same position.
James cleared his throat, "Looks like we'll have to sleep down here…"
Lily groaned. James sighed.
"Um…Lily, would you mind conjuring sleeping bags, my wand hand is kind of attached to your wonderful, soft one-"
"Potter!" Lily warned.
He help up his hands in surrender…well, one anyways.
She sighed and muttered a spell that made two sleeping bags appear right in front of the fire.
They walked there quietly, both too tired of speak, and got in their sleeping bags.
As they lay down, James cleared his throat awkwardly and said, "Well, good night Lily."
"Night, Potter"
"It's James"
"What?"
"Well, it is my name, and if we're going to be stuck together, you might as well use it yea?"
She rolled her eyes, but smiled slightly.
"G'night James"
She sighed. He smiled.
Sirius was the last one to reach his dormitory. Just before entering, he cast one last look towards the now sleeping pair.
"Good night, Mr. and Mrs. Prongs."
So...here's the second chapter! Like it? Hate it?
Let me know! Review! :D
Cheers,
RainHolly
P.s. The "Butterbeer for all those who review" offer's still on... ;)
