A/N: Second chapter, hello! It's shorter than the last, features bickering (!) and is set entirely on the 1st of Sept… well almost entirely. Lol, I like playing with dates a bit. Anyway, as promised, it's all about the foreshadowed thirty-fourth minute.
Disclaimer: Right, JKR would post on this website .
Chapter 2: Thirty-Fourth Minute
(1st of September, 1976: Morning)
The start of September 1st was quite an unusual one; it began unwonted and remained as such throughout. The morning was saturated with heavy showers that continued ceaselessly for an hour before an abrupt end followed by an equally abrupt appearance of a ferocious Sun.
Lily viewed the morning rain from her bedroom window at 9 a.m. after her mother had dutifully fed her some breakfast and instructed to pack all her belongings (out of unnecessary habit). The redhead of course complied, but stopped to admire the rain for a few minutes before recommencing her task of packing her school trunk.
The downpour had cast the entire neighborhood in a diaphanous blanket of droplets. The windows were slightly fogged adding to the blurriness of the picturesque scene. She breathed a contented sigh and leaned her head against the glass pane, gazing intently.
She wondered how to dodge Severus at the station.
With sheer naivety, the redhead had forgiven him and consented to resume their friendship on an unfortunate—though beautiful—day, and ever since had been trying to obscure herself from him. It worked a for a while; her mother had lied to him that Lily was off to her friend's house, the first two times, then resorted to blaming piles of homework, until after a total of seven times, Severus coaxed her into two pathetic meetings. Really pathetic. She had regarded her decision to befriend him again quite ruefully ever since.
The first one went something like this: Severus began with the topic of Potions homework. Lily acceded to conversing it, because it really seemed like the safest option. Its talk eventually led to a discussion about the class itself and Severus, who really was quite spiteful—as lily concluded that day—begrudgingly recalled that Peter Pettigrew had levitated his ingredients in one particular class. But moreover, that Lily had snickered laughed at Severus's expression (despite her dislike for the Marauders, excluding fellow prefect Remus of course), which really was quite hilarious, and consistently, Lily laughed blatantly when he recounted the day. "Sev you really didn't see yourself then. Believe me, even you would've cracked a smile." But Severus was quite fond of spite—as the redhead had painstakingly learnt—and he grew somber and sullen after Lily's chuckles. Ultimately Lily began to feel nettled at his lack of participation in the conversation and abruptly left—Severus protested—making up the unconvincing excuse that her mother had asked her to return early because of some unfinished chores.
The second one was even briefer and involved far too much bickering. Their topic of conversation had somehow drifted to Voldemort and Death Eaters despite Lily's conviction to avoid it all costs and ultimately led to Severus's defense of his Slytherin mates, whom she openly pronounced as devout followers of Voldemort's agendas without being officially recruited by the wizard. Severus, as always, presented their defense (never once saying they weren't aspiring death eaters, though), so Lily left with a contemptuous remark, "I'm not even sure if you're not one of them." Some external force prevented her from repeating the words of previous May (the lack of reiteration had to catalyze quite an interesting event later).
So really, two inexplicably pathetic meetings.
(King's Cross and later)
"LILY, HERE!"
The voice of Nessa Abbott cut through the thickset of people hording Platform nine and three-quarters. She was beckoning to Lily, from a few paces away, her trunk sitting beside her and her arms flailing before her.
Grinning, Lily returned her ridiculous wave and rushed to greet her earnestly, finding it a bit hard to meander her way through the crowd.
"NESSA! Oh-my-Merlin-your-hair-has-grown-so-much-in-a-month!"
She hugged the brunette (previously having cropped hair for two years, and had last seen Lily a month prior due to vacation in Thailand) whose hair had finally grown out into a bob, and it suited her as perfectly as the sleek crop (her hair always did grow pretty fast though). Nessa's oblong face broke into a smirk and she confessed,
"Yeah Ginge, I wanted the frizzy locks again." Adopting a casual tone she continued, "So, how has was your August? Did you make a regretful decision, murdered someone perhaps?"
Lily laughed. Regretful decision, right—she evaded for now, "No nothing of the sort… well maybe I came close to murdering Petunia for breaking my five year long favorite mug, but nothing else."
The pair picked up their burdensome trunks and began the trudge to the train.
"Ever the boring one. Well, I did almost murder two people in Thailand, quite literally, trying that thing—what do you call it? Caw, Cor… Yes, car! I drove one of those, thanks to my poor Muggle mother's ignorant family and crashed into a guy. He must've been rethinking his decision to walk his dog that day—"
"Please don't tell me the dog was the other almost murder."
"—poor soul… Oh no no, I'd never hurt anyone who's not an actual human. Do you take me for a savage Ginge?"
"Only before 10 a.m."
"Oh well, I suppose then I am. Anyway, my second almost murder was the shopkeeper who refused to tell me where the chocolate stand was, and Lily, let me tell you, even in that tiny hole he called a shop, locating chocolates was an absolute pain—"
"Your hair must've been blocking your stellar vision," quipped Lily as they hauled their trunks on the train and entered inside.
"Oi, don't make me regret it now. And no, it wasn't the hair, it was because the chocolates were on a completely obscured-from-human-vision, bottom most shelf of the sweets stand. So, I bickered, the shopkeeper retorted, I may have told him he was a prick for not telling me where the chocolates were, he told me I was a clumsy bint for toppling his jam bottles, oh don't look at me like that I apologized, and thus I was about to even break the statute of secrecy and use some unforgivable curse, but my mother interfered and thus, I was spared jail time and stand before you instead."
"Are you sure your hair wasn't the cause though because you did hit the jam bottles, then missed the chocolates as well etc etc.?" asked Lily.
"Never."
The travelled the length of the corridor and in the third carriage, found an empty compartment, anticipating the arrival of their roommates: Marlene McKinnon and Mary MacDonald and slid their trunks beneath their seats.
"On a more depressing note, my parents are getting a divorce," announced Nessa, sitting down.
"What?"
The shock shook Lily, despite the knowledge of their constant altercations. It was hard to believe that they would actually get divorced.
"Yeah, love. There was a huge brawl a day after we returned from Thailand, Mum was furious, Dad was murderous, some china was broken and some kids locked in their rooms in case we get too scarred, even though we could hear every word from inside. And at last, the decision was made," explained Nessa wrapping her arms around herself and growing slightly sorrowful.
Lily got up from her seat and went to sit beside her friend to place a consolatory hand on her shoulder.
"I'm so sorry Nes, is there anything you need? Anything at all?"
"Sugar quills perhaps," replied Nessa dolefully earning a laugh from the redhead.
"Good thing we have sweets on the train then."
Nessa sighed and leaned back in her seat. Lily, satisfied that her fellow Gryffindor was better returned to hers.
"Well, I suppose it's about time I tell you something too then."
"So you did do something murderous then?"
Lily chuckled: "No dear, I cherish freedom far too much. It's about Severus—"
"Alright stop there. You told him that you're finished, right?" asked Nessa hopefully.
"…No."
"Damn it Lily, where does your brain go in moments like these?" questioned the brunette petulantly.
"Look, it was raining for the first time in almost a year, and he just came out while I was in the park, enjoying it and it just sort of happened. I assure you though, I've regretted every moment afterwards."
"Oh, very reassuring," replied a sarcastic Nessa.
"I've been avoiding him so far, you know," placated Lily.
"I rep—"
The door to their compartment however, slid open and Nessa was interrupted. The aforementioned roommates Marlene McKinnon and Mary Macdonald entered, with agitated countenances.
"You two couldn't just wait on the platform, could you?" voiced Marlene.
"We were looking all over for you, and then I bumped into Grossald Boyes, that arse. I'm pretty sure he must've felt me up when I was trying to escape from him," added Mary, and the pair settled down.
"You should've just kicked him while leaving," supplied Nessa.
"Believe me, I wanted to," acquiesced Mary.
Like Nessa, Mary MacDonald was a brunette, but unlike Nessa her personality was the type you find in the average sixteen old girl. She joked less and whined more, though not always unreasonably, and she had a very pretty sort of face with large round, chestnut eyes, a button nose and an elegant smile, all of which she liked to ornament with skillfully applied makeup. Mary MacDonald liked gossip and loved dresses.
Marlene on the other hand, was equally—as she liked to put it herself—unbothered by such matters. Her round face had grown slightly tan over the summer, and her blue eyes were ever alight with an observant glint. She was a t-shirt sort of person, if you know what I mean, though she didn't mind an occasional dress.
Marlene and Mary were best friends. They epitomized every female friendship and were very proud of the fact too. More importantly, they were wonderful friends of Lily.
The blonde sighed: "So, how's compartment 3H doing then?"
"Fantastic. Bloody wonderful, aren't we Lily?" asked Nessa sarcastically, turning towards Lily, evidently bothered by the information regarding Snape.
"Yes, we are fantastic, thank you," replied Lily warningly.
She didn't want either Marlene, or Mary to know about Severus just yet; at least until she could avoid it. However, thankfully neither Gryffindor noticed Nessa's tone, and Lily hastily changed the topic,
"So Marlene, how's er-Julian?"
"Wonderful as ever. Before looking for you lot I was with him. It was er-great," she replied.
"Yes, it was. As great as any two people making out should be," added Mary.
A faint blush crept over the blonde as Mary voiced her comment.
"Uh yeah," she said smiling slightly.
"Ah! The joys of a perfect love life." remarked Nessa placing a hand on her chest for emphasis.
"Indeed," acquiesced Lily.
"Anyway where's the trolley lady? I need some sugar quills."
The train engine rumbled to life and they set off for Hogwarts.
Lily having her duties, left with a wave, leaving Nessa uninformed of why she befriended Severus again, announcing, "And I have a prefect meeting."
(Arrival)
The prefects according to consigned duties, all went to gather the first years and check compartments as the train arrived at Hogsmeade station. The sky had transformed to a murky black, and the moon cast a dim glow over the area. The number in the train was slowly dwindling and Lily swept an eye over the compartments a final time, partnered with Remus Lupin—her fellow Gryffindor prefect.
"Empty… empty…empty…"
"I think it's enough Lily, they've all clearly left," suggested Remus.
"There's no harm in rechecking Remus," replied Lily absently, her attention focused on the task at hand as they maneuvered through the corridors.
Remus reluctantly acquiesced: "Alright then, I suppose we can never trust the Slytherins anyway."
"Yes that too," returned Lily with a smirk.
"So, you didn't stop after the meeting. How was your summer?"
Lily had a certain Slytherin in mind for Remus's complaint.
She slid a compartment door shut. "Utterly drab, except for the rain. You?"
"Oh it was alright. I was mostly at Prongs's with the boys," he replied.
"Prongs?" inquired Lily curiously.
"Oh, um—James. I see not everyone is aware of the new nick names."
"Oh right, the Marauders."
Shutting the last door, Lily turned to Remus and admitted her satisfaction at the completion of her task.
"Better be off then."
The crowd at the train exit had visibly thinned and only a few people remained as the pair approached it. Lily turned to Remus. "I suppose you'll be looking for the boys?"
"Yeah… outside though. I saw Sirius and Peter leaving and James would be off by now too so let's leave first."
"What do you mean by now?" asked Lily suspiciously, aware of the Marauder' antics.
"Oh y'know, every compartment is empty so he must've gotten off."
"But why did you say by now? Was he staying on purpose?" she reiterated.
"No, I only said it because I hadn't seen him with the other two. You're being way too suspicious about this," he supplied, smiling.
"Yes because you lot don't compel us to be suspicious at all," she remarked sarcastically.
Remus broke into a chuckle. "Alright I concede in that case."
Lily suddenly halted as she caught Severus's eye, who was awaiting her at the exit (wicked fate).
"Remus you go ahead," she directed to Remus. The prefect followed her gaze and stiffened.
"Lily I know about your fight, I can stay if you need me too."
"No there's no need. You better go actually."
"Lily."
"Really, it's fine. We sort of made up anyway," the redhead confessed.
"Ohh. I—er, in that case, bye. See you in school then."
Remus went ahead and left the train and Lily feigned checking compartments, hoping that Severus would leave, but unavailingly. He remained firmly in his position.
If only she'd left the train as suddenly as she had left the prefect meeting.
They were the two last people remaining and Severus finally called out, "There's really no one left Lily."
Giving up and readying herself for the confrontation, she went ahead to greet him, "Hullo Severus, how are you?"
"I'm fine, you?"
"Smashing…Shall we get off then?" she asked coolly.
She grew a little aloof and it didn't go amiss by the Slytherin.
"Lily are you okay?" he questioned.
"Perfect, why what happened?"
"Uh, you're just acting a little weird that's all."
"Really? I didn't notice." She gestured to the step marking the exit. "Can't we leave already?"
"Sure, yeah… "
Following Lily's request Severus disembarked from the scarlet engine and Lily imitated the action. The proceeded forward, on a path that led straight to the carriage containing Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew—presumably waiting for their fellow Marauders—while Lily wrung her hands and tucked her hair behind the ears several times.
Severus noticing her strange behavior, turned to the redhead, and asked skeptically, "Lily are you avoiding me or something?"
Alright, she needed to act better.
"No not at all, why do you say so?" she replied confidently, reducing her fidgeting.
"You just—are you sure you're okay then?"
"Yes absolutely. Severus are you okay?"
"Yeah—er, nevermi—"
But Severus was unable to complete his sentence because suddenly a cracking sound reverberated through the entire station, originating from the Hogwarts Express itself, and all heads turned in its direction, with a collective wave of gasps—some incredulous, some astounded—escaping most lips, for the seemingly vacant train was now bursting with a multitude of iridescent sparks as a result of detonating fireworks.
The time was exactly seven thirty-four.
And from the imploding train stepped out the form of a smirking James Potter, while the last recess of the train exploded to neon behind him, and a single firework escaped the vehicle restraining it, shot upwards, and showered the sky with maroon and gold specks, while the Gryffindor strutted towards the carriage bearing his comrades—straight to Lily and Severus.
Not a single window or compartment suffered even the slightest damage.
"Bloody hell," muttered Lily and she wasn't the only one doing so.
But another happening was to occur, and it was so swift, and so dexterous that it was over before Lily could even discern it fully; for Severus huffed at the spectacle and took a step forward but was suddenly toppled over by an extended foot. The Slytherin hadn't even straightened however, when his robes were targeted and they were tugged at by the assailant, who used them to shove Severus aside and make way for himself.
Before continuing on his path; James Potter sent a final, well aimed tripping jinx Severus's way, without even turning to see where he was firing.
What.
Lily could not retort nor help Severus to his feet, due to the briskness of the entire proceeding; the latter she managed at last, once James was a few paces away, and cast the counter curse for tripping.
"That—"
Lily cut Severus off immediately, and uttering a hasty apology and an abomination against doing anything stupid, sprinted towards the Marauder who had caused the assault.
The compartments were empty.
"POTTER!"
James however, didn't turn around or even stop and arrived at the carriage where two of the Marauders—Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew—were seated.
"POTTER!" she shouted once more and finally caught up with him as he ascended the phaeton.
"Sorry? Did you say something?" returned James, at last.
"Yes—"
However, she was interrupted by the arrival of Sirius Black, who almost got on the carriage too, until Lily tugged on his robes and prevented it.
"Oh no Black you're not getting on this one," she shot.
"I always get on whatever I like, Evans—and hullo to you too."
With that, he ascended the carriage—succeeding this time, though Lily's remain was still strong on him and he was unable to sit, hindering the thestrals from proceeding as well.
"Whoops," uttered Sirius due to his success, smirking.
"Black, I am telling you once more. Get off right now," she warned.
"You're not the boss of me Evans," replied the Marauder. "And leave the clothing, it's new."
"Black." The redhead gave her most threatening stare.
"Evans," echoed Sirius with contrasting amusement.
James interjected, "Evans, this carriage is already booked you see, and I'd rather not have a feisty ginger replace my best mate."
"And can I just say that—"
Lily began but was cut off by Sirius who was growing tired of his inability to sit due to her hold, "Alright Evans you say the golden words and I'm off."
Lily pondered for a moment before submitting, "Fine. Please."
"Nope, wrong words."
"Will you please get off Black?"
"Hmm, you're gonna have to try a few more times," Sirius instructed with mock concentration. "Try something along the lines of, 'The esteemed Sirius Black' or better, 'Most charming man Hogwarts has ever seen'."
"That's me Padfoot," interposed James casually.
"Yeah you bespectacled—oi there's no need for a wand Evans." Lily's had retrieved her wand and was pointing it threateningly at Sirius. "Alright, alright. I'll get off." He took a step forward but paused. "You still need to admit I'm the most—"
Lily jabbed the wand at his robes.
"—alright fine."
At last Sirius got off and the redhead replaced him. The carriage began to gallop forward.
"Bye, second most charming man of Hogwarts," shouted James with a grin plastered across his face, as Sirius trudged away.
Black halted and turned to the speaker, "Denial is what you are suffering from, mate."
"And delusion is what you're suffering from—"
"Oh sod off already," interrupted Lily.
With a final bow, Sirius changed direction and Lily turned to James who commented, "Yes Evans, I believe you were delayed."
At last, with a question encompassing all that had transpired in the past ten minutes, Lily voiced, "What the hell was that?" and turning to Remus, eyeing him with a withering stare, "...Oh my God that's why you said 'James must've left by now'."
"Well…I—alright, but you've got to admit it was bloody fantastic."
"Fantastic? Fantastic? Remus Lupin you call vandalism fantastic?" questioned Lily incredulously.
"Hey now Evans, you don't think we're that irresponsible," answered James.
"Yes, Lily they're damage-free ones," explained Peter.
"Even then!" exclaimed Lily, but dropped the topic.
Finally, to James, for the intended purpose of her current position, she asked: "And you Potter! WHAT THE BLOODY HELL WAS THAT?"
"Filibuster's no-damage fireworks," replied James casually.
"No you imbecile, the stunt you pulled with Severus!" she said furiously, her vexation peaking.
"Oh that wonderful thing you mean. Well it's simple: You two kids were hogging my way and I was afraid you were gonna kiss so I had to do something, didn't I?" elaborated the Marauder, running a hand through his hair.
"Because asking someone is so much more ridiculous and there was clearly no space on the entire station for you to walk on." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. "I'm James Potter, I can't reach a place without shoving everyone in my path."
"Alright firstly, I would never say anything like that, I would do it. Secondly, you really call that a shove Evans? And I didn't shove you, did I?" he retorted at length.
"Yes that was a shove if you're so unaware. And no, the only person worthy of your assaults is Severus so there was no need to do anything to me, was there?"
"Oh no, Snivellus is not worthy of my anything. He was just obstructing the way." After a pause he asked, "And didn't you two fight or something?"
Before Lily could reply, Remus clarified, "They made up."
Without realizing what she was saying: "Sort of."
James cocked an eyebrow.
"None of your business Potter," she tried to cover.
"You were the one who said sort of."
"So forget it. It shouldn't be hard for you anyway; you suffer from quite enough cognitive disability as it is."
"Really? I thought that was your forte, since you so easily forgot that Snivellus called you a—a—well, a you-know-what," the Marauder retorted.
Once more, with forgotten rationality, Lily shot back, "It's not like I am very keen on befriending him again."
Oh Merlin.
"Right, forget that too," she demanded.
"But I'm too amused to forget it now." James was fully smirking now. "You look ridiculous clarifying yourself."
She took her wand out and pointed it at James. "And now I can tell Nessa I did murder someone."
Peter chuckled at her action and Remus shook his head amusingly.
"You really want to do it with witnesses Lily?" inquired the werewolf.
"Let alone two of his best mates," added Peter.
"You're all quite insufferable, aren't you?" She averted her face and put down the wand. After a moment Lily turned to James again, green eyes narrowing: "And how on earth were you still in the train even though I checked and rechecked each and every compartment?"
"Using something called magic," he replied with an enigmatic smile.
"Exactly Potter, what sort—Oh!" Her retort immediately changed to a relieved sigh, for at last Hogwarts came into view and she eyed it with mingled awe and nostalgia; Remus and Peter followed her gaze.
Eyes still glinting with amusement, lips twitching and hand in hair, James observed her reaction, and remarked, "I see you have strong feelings about a castle."
"Because it's beautiful." This she uttered with immense admiration and realized that her anger had ebbed away entirely at the sight of the edifice.
"It is," echoed James quietly, before tuning to behold it himself.
And at last, the carriage halted.
The Great Hall, was aglow under the floating candles and the enchanted ceiling was reflecting the cirrocumulus clouds, creating a drab gloom over the expansive room. Lily and her room mates were seated at the far end of the Gryffindor table; the Marauders a few places from them, and Nessa was furiously whispering in Lily's ear, repercussions for abandoning her mates at Hogsmeade Station barely giving Lily time to elucidate
Dumbledore—headmaster of Hogwarts—who was standing in the center, began, "Welcome all of you to another year at Hogwarts! I have been informed that your arrival at Hogsmeade Station today was quite a… what shall I call it—ah yes, a cracking one."
Dumbledore eyed James Potter with twinkling eyes for a second before continuing, "Let us begin the Sorting."
The Sorting Hat was brought to its designated stool by Professor McGonagall and the crevice in its fabric parted for the year's song:
"All you younglings, don't appear shocked
I am what you all sought.
The decider of your mind, I will be
Your houses from today, I will decree
"You could've at least told me you weren't gonna sit with us."
Four, they are, the founders thought
Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw
Brave old Godric takes all those strong
While benevolent Helga takes the kind
The ambitious and cunning, Salazar wants
"We waited fifteen minutes before conceding."
And those with wits, Rowena finds
Your minds I see, and look what's inside
This sorting, an honor, I will preside"
One by one, the congregation of first years dwindled and after pronouncements of each student into their respected houses and the ceremony came to a close. Dumbledore resumed his speech, "Now, to more internal matters; please allow me to introduce this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Noctienn Nott." The Professor, a surprisingly young man who could be no more than twenty-seven, nodded his head at the mention. "The list of prohibited items has been updated once more, and can be viewed in our caretaker, Mr. Filch's office." He eyed the Marauders at that. "There are no more announcements for today—you all may indulge in the Feast now. Chop chop!"
Lily finally turned her face in Nessa's direction, "Yes dear, I abandoned you very mercilessly but hear me out now before my ears become incapable of hearing because of your unnecessary reprimands."
"Yes, what do you have to say for yourself?"
"First, that you're far too overprotective—"
"Only because of Snape," elaborated Nessa.
"Shh, be a little quiet." Mary and Marlene were dutifully busy in conversation and once again Lily was spared divulging about her resumed friendship to them. "And really Nessa, I'm quite capable of defending myself from Severus. Now back to the station, I didn't look for your carriage because I was with the Marauders—"
"You what now?" interrupted a shockingly amused Nessa, taking a bite of roast chicken. "Lily maybe the candy lady spiked your every flavor beans."
"Relax, the trolley lady did no such thing. I was there to argue with Potter."
Nessa chuckled and remarked, "Ah, of course. And why did it have to be done this time, please enlighten me."
Lily took a sip of pumpkin juice and continued, "Because I was with Severus—yeah he cornered me—and then Potter set off the fireworks, and later since we were so disrespectfully blocking his way, he came up and tripped Sev—"
"Not entirely unfair, to be honest. Traitorous best friend and all y'know."
"Yes, but for that I should've been doing the shoving and jinxing. Anyway, so I went to tell Potter to sod off, and thus I ended up in their carriage and not yours. Are you satisfied now?"
"About the abandonment, yes. I still need to know why you so kindly decided to allow Snape in your life again," said Nessa solemnly.
"Right, that. Well—"
"And also why I didn't find out until today."
"All in good time, love. Why I decided to forgive Snape and become his friend again was simply because I am utterly stupid."
"Rightly concluded."
"Yeah well, rain is a weird thing, especially after a drought," mused Lily.
"Lily you can't entirely blame the weather, you know," reasoned Nessa.
"I know, I know. I really had been missing him Nes. I'd be lying if I say otherwise. The rain just sort of catalyzed it all," admitted Lily.
"You can't always follow your feelings, Ginge. He was a complete arse to you, sooner or later you have to end it anyway."
Lily sighed, "Yes, I know. I'll talk to him when I can."
"No you'll talk to him tomorrow and tell him to sod off like you did with Potter."
The main course was replaced with desserts as Nessa uttered the words. Lily chose a treacle tart, and Nessa some vanilla ice cream.
"Well, Potter had it coming."
"Alright, now tell me why I was blissfully unaware of it," demanded Nessa, eating a spoonful.
"Because there wasn't much to be said on the matter." The brunette raised her eyebrows. "Honest dear, I met him only twice after we made up and avoided him the other what must've been at least fifteen times."
"Bloody hell, how'd you even come up with fifteen excuses?"
"Oh, I just came up with you most of the time," quipped Lily, smirking, causing Nessa to laugh.
"Well, at least I'm good for something."
"You're good for multiple reasons, actually. You know, like coaxing Flitwick into giving us less homework, or getting medicine from the hospital wing when I'm too tired, or sneaking food from the Kitchens too."
"Gotta give credit to Black for that one. Oi, Black!" shouted Nessa. Lily tried to hush her failingly.
Sirius leaned forward in his chair on hearing his name. "What do you want, Crop?"
"My hair's back, you can stop with that one now. And Lily wants to thank you for telling me about the Kitchens."
"Alright, Bob. My pleasure, Evans. And never, ever interrupt me while eating again or you'll face canine wrath," he ordered, earning a hearty laugh from the rest of the Marauders, for Merlin knew what ridiculous reason, and returned to his dessert.
Nessa however, could not be quietened so easily, "But dogs are harmless!"
The Marauders erupted into even more raucous laughter at that and Sirius exaggerated looking offended.
"Not an angry one, Bob."
This apparently satisfied Nessa and she didn't pursue the topic any further.
"There really was no need for that, Nes."
"I like Bob," mused Nessa as if Lily hadn't spoken at all. "What do you think Mar?"
"Sorry what?" Marlene averted her attention from Mary.
"Bob? Do you like the nick name?"
"Excellent," returned Marlene. Turning to Mary again she agreed, "You're right Mare, she looks hideous."
"Who looks hideous?" inquired Lily, putting down her bowl on finishing the treacle tart.
"Charity Burbage," supplied Mary.
"She's not so terrible Mary, be kind," reprimanded the redhead.
"Oh she's alright otherwise. It's the new dye, Lils."
Lily upon receiving the information scanned the Hufflepuff table for the girl in question and after a moment located her; her eyebrows shot up.
"Oh dear," said Lily incredulously.
Nessa snorted at her reaction. "Yes Lily, you can be unkind here. And I completely agree Mary, she does look hideous."
"Hope she finds a date after this," supplied Marlene.
"Oh that's never happening now," said Nessa laughing.
With that the tables were cleared, and the students rose to return to their respective duties. Lily, as prefect, escorted the first years to the common rooms, and provided the passwords (Antimony). Marlene told the girls to proceed without her, in order to meet with her boyfriend, Julian.
(Harmless Eavesdropping)
Lily was a very short way from the Gryffindor Tower, when she overheard McGonagall engaged in hollering at James from a classroom nearby, presumably about the partial vandalism of the Hogwarts Express. Lily stopped to listen for a bit, putting her ear next to the classroom's door and readying herself for immediate recession, if someone approached.
"…absolutely irresponsible and careless of you to set off fireworks in the train. If there was any student left inside, do you know what the consequences could've been?"
"Professor—"
"No, I will hear nothing on this matter. You are to receive detentions every Saturday for as long as I deem it necessary and fifty points will be deducted from Gryffindor as well. To think that my own House's student was responsible for such a ruckus."
Fifty? Leave it to Potter to lose points before term even started. He never did fail to disappoint.
"Really Professor, no one died."
"QUIET! Or I'll deduct more points. Now return straight to your common room—I will not tolerate any more rule-breaking after this," the Head of Gryffindor sounded positively livid.
"Technically no Hogwarts ordinances were broken and the term hasn't even started—"
"Enough." McGonagall's voice was shaking now. "Common Room, now!"
"Night Professor!" This, he said a little solemnly. And after a pause, with a cheery tone, he added, "It's wonderful to see you again," and began to walk towards the door briskly.
The Marauder's jog compelled Lily to carry on with her journey to the Gryffindor Tower while pretending to never have heard of what happened. However, she was only few steps ahead when James's voice called out her name. She didn't stop to reply and James caught up with her hurried pace in a moment.
"Hullo Evans, fancy seeing you here," he said by way of greeting.
"Your presence is more questionable than mine," she shot back.
"I'm a Marauder, Evans. My presence is questionable nowhere," he said obviously. "So, did eavesdropping bring you here?"
"I'm a prefect Potter—patrols bring me here," she covered.
"Yes, but you stopped to listen," he remarked with a smirk.
Lily raised her eyebrows, even though he was right. "And what makes you say that?"
"Because I'm omniscient," he returned enigmatically.
They reached the Gryffindor tower.
Lily snorted. "Yeah right—Antimony."
The Fat Lady's portrait swung open and the two Gryffindors entered. The Common room was dotted with mostly older students.
"Potter, why are you still here?" asked Lily, growing annoyed and not wanting to mention that she had overheard anything despite her failing defense.
"Because it's the Common Room."
"No, why are you still next to me?" Lily was growing agitated.
"I could ask you the same thing, Evans," he retorted. "And don't say I joined you on your way back because you were clearly the one who stopped to eavesdrop."
She folded her arms and huffed sarcastically, "Oh yes, you would obviously be right. Hey, I have a suggestion, how about you leave?"
Lily truly wanted to ask him if he felt even the slightest remorse for losing fifty points but didn't submit to the desire, just because it seemed senseless and futile at the moment.
"Really Evans, the Common Room is for all the Gryffindors. Plus, you stopped so you sort of invited me, no?"
Calmly: "I was on patrol." And because he wasn't going to leave any time soon, Lily chose to direct herself to the girl's dormitories, rendering James unable to continue the debate.
She still heard him call out, "All lies."
Ascending the stairs, Lily reached the entrance to the sixth year dormitories. Her arrival inside was marked by the announcement, "Potter lost us 50 bloody points."
Her roommates responded by sighing, shaking the head, and clapping a hand over the mouth—Nessa, Marlene and Mary respectively—but her fourth roommate initiated a diatribe:
"James Potter is an entirely irresponsible student, we have lost fifty points already. How are we going to win the Cup this time? We've been losing for the past two years already, and most of the time because of Potter and his friends. I will not let them ruin our chances this time."
This fifth roommate, named Shawna Marchbanks, was in simple words—a vain girl. She believed that her way of approaching life was the most appropriate one, and if anyone interfered in matters that were not entirely in her control, she chose to put herself forward in the most unbearable ways. Moreover, she liked to hurl unnecessary information to prove her academic superiority too, for she was a girl of excellent grades. Teachers adored her, everyone else loathed her, and people who knew her, were aware that she was an entitled sort of person.
And they were partly right.
"Lily you should've scolded him for it. Losing fifty points already. Even my extra Charms research will not cover for it. In fact, I am going to go talk to Potter right now—"
"Shut up, will you?" said Nessa, frustratingly trying to comb her hair. "You know, longer hair are a complete menace to handle."
"Not that long," said Marlene.
Meanwhile, Shawna put down the copy she was making notes from her Transfiguration book and made to get up from the bed until Marlene rushed to her and pushed her down.
"Shawna dear, there's really no need for that. Potter is not going to magically replenish the points just because you go and scold him. Please sit down."
Shawna protested, "No Marlene, someone needs to tell him to do something sensible for once—"
"Yes but it doesn't have to be you," Marlene instructed.
"She's right, the sudden inspiration to rebuke him off won't do anything," voiced Lily turning over her quilt.
"Yes dear, listen to them," came the sound of Mary from the washroom, who was busy removing makeup.
Shawna conceded at last. "Alright. But only because you lot are not letting me. If he loses more, I'm going straight to him."
"Yes, yes you can do that," acquiesced Marlene, visibly relieved.
After setting the bed, Lily requested Mary to vacate the washroom in order to change into her night clothes. Mary soon complied and Lily took a long shower and by the time she returned, her room mates were asleep.
Getting into her four-poster, Lily concluded that it wasn't a terrible start to the year—excluding Gryffindor's loss of fifty points, of course.
(A bit in the Common Room)
Lily stalked away and James gazed at her back for a moment before turning to his unofficially designated armchair by the fire. He didn't want to stay the night here of course; he just felt the need for solitude for a while. He had lost fifty points, after all. Normally, the Marauders' antics began a week into the year. But this time sudden inspiration compelled him to create a spectacle in Hogsmeade (well he and Padfoot had to do it together but Johanna Parks's coquettish person distracted him).
He ran a hand through his hair, recalling the occasion. He often ran a hand through his hair. It made him feel like he had gotten off a broom, disheveled and pumping with energy. The birds were a bonus too.
Lily had never liked it though.
His mind wandered to her again, as it often did. He never intended it, it was just one of those things that happened, like when one listens to a song and closes their eyes to relish its feeling, or particularly for James—when listening to the wind whistle in his ears—strengthening the hold on his broom, to reach unbridled speed. Like a reflex.
It wasn't that he hadn't tried to stop it. Ever since the incident at the Lake, it was all he had been really trying to do. It worked too—for the most part—until that evening.
Lily had fought with Snape—all of Hogwarts was cognizant of it—yet she was there, conversing with him at the station—that's when the first time his mind wandered to her today. And really, after that it wasn't even his fault. She had hopped into their carriage herself, much later she stopped by the classroom herself—the moment she didn't turn around at the sound of the opening door, he knew she had stopped on purpose.
They had after all conversed twice today and before leaving just now, she even sounded civil; so his mind wandered to her again—like a reflex.
He wished it didn't (not that it meant anything).
But his mind did its wandering anyway and he wondered why he received no reprimand for losing fifty points from the redhead in question.
He decided he needed a night-time stroll.
(The meeting, a few days before 1st of September)
The walls of the living room were paneled with ebony tiles bordered by silver. The room was spacious and could easily seat a hundred. It was dotted with couches and chaises, with an occasional armchair, and a central oak table adorned with a large vase. Seated in this room were three people: A father, a mother and a son.
The son had been summoned by the parents for a particular task. The date was 26th of August, and quite a number of advancements had occurred in the past month, hence it was time for the task to be assigned. For most, it may be considered a vile one, abominable and abysmal—something to be shunned. But each member currently present in this room disagreed to such an extent that their belief was the opposite.
This task needed to be done.
The father began, "You must be aware as to why you have been called here, I believe?"
The son—a young man—waited a moment before replying, "I have my guesses."
"I hope these guesses are in accordance with our instructions?"
"Could be." His voice was solemn and attentive.
It was time for the instructions to be delivered and the father gestured to his wife to do the honor: "You are aware, son, that we have certain… connections. Certain duties, with our recent… position in the new regime. You must know that a spy of sorts will be needed at Hogwarts. Someone who can do our master's bidding and provide valuable information. Maybe even recruit, someday and you have been chosen due to our favorable circumstances."
The son stayed quiet for a few seconds, entwined his hands and looked up straight into his parents' eyes.
"I agree."
Not that he had a choice.
A/N: Oi, plot.
Natasha, Padfoot360. I truly love you both.
Other readers, I present my plea for reviews, lol. Do it, yeah? Anyway, that's all for this chapter.
For now, I give you my love.