"How have you been getting on today?"
"A little better." Said Lily. "It's still really hard."
"I know Sweetpea." Said Lavender. Lily was in McGonagall's office, she was curled up in the chair by the fire watching the flames dance.
"Well tell me about what you've been doing." Said Lavender, "How are potions going? You said you liked that."
"It's good." Said Lily, "It's still the only subject I'm the best in."
"What did you make yesterday then?"
"A potion that reverses the effects of burns." Said Lily, "The professor said it was the best in the class."
"They didn't burn you to test it do they?" asked Lavender apprehensively.
"No." said Lily giggling. "With some potions you can just tell with the colour they end up whether it's been done right or not."
"Look at you, teaching your old mother some new tricks." Said Lavender. "Look Lily…I have to go, your father and I are going to the movies tonight."
"Oh…ok." Said Lily a little crestfallen.
"We'll talk in four days ok." Said Lavender.
"Ok." Said Lily taking a deep breath, "Enjoy the film and say hello to everyone for me."
"Will do." Said Lavender. "Bye Lily."
"Bye Mum." The phone went dead and Lily placed it down and looked at the fire. It had been a nice Sunday. No homework and Dorcas had made Lily talk to some other people round the castle; they had lunch with some people that Dorcas knew from her social circle. They were all really interesting and were very knowledgeable. But Lily couldn't help but feel like a third wheel with them as she couldn't really contribute to the conversation. Dorcas and Sarah tried to get her involved, but really, she would have been better of reading on her own.
She placed the phone back and walked out into the castle. It was very cold and was glad she brought her winter cloak with her as she took the maze of corridors and stairwells to Gryffindor tower.
"Hey Evans." Lily turned round to see Potter, Black and Lupin coming back with rucksacks over their shoulders.
"What are you doing out of bed?" asked Potter in a mock tone of authority. He didn't care really.
"Just went to the library." Said Lily. "What are you three doing?"
"Food." Said Potter opening his rucksack to reveal a container.
"What's inside?"
"Special type of ice cream." Said Potter, "It has hot chocolate fudge in the middle of it and it doesn't melt the ice-cream." Lily licked her lips.
"I'm kinda jealous because I'm not having any of It." said Black.
"Why not?" asked Lily walking with them.
"Getting it for Dorcas." Explained James. "The kitchens only had three tubs left over. That would probably only feed Sirius."
"Shut up."
"True." Said Lupin.
"Why are you getting them?" asked Lily.
"I owe Dorcas and this is what she wanted." Said Potter. "She'll probably share them with you." Lily couldn't help but grin.
"Yeah stand there and smirk." Said Black.
"I'll let you know tomorrow how good it is." Said Lily smiling as they reached the portrait. They let themselves into the common room.
"Ah, there you are!" Dorcas said. They walked over to her.
"There you go your highness." Said Potter dropping his rucksack next to Dorcas.
"As you requested. Are we good?"
"I think so James." Said Dorcas with a triumphant grin. "What are in the other bags?"
"Can't tell you that." Said James, "That would mean you owe me then." Dorcas folded her arms.
"Why don't I trust you?" she asked sceptically.
"Dorcas, I'm hurt." Said Black holding his heart. "You know you can trust us."
"Yeah, to get the rest of us into trouble." Said Isabel. "You know Rotherman's still in the hospital wing.
"Is he? It should have worn of by now." said Potter.
"I did add an extra drop." Said Sirius.
"You to? Ah well, then I'm not surprised."
"What did you do?" asked Lily.
"They gave him laxative coated chocolates." Said Jessica. Lily bit her lip to stop herself from laughing as the three of them smirked.
"That was very cruel." Said Lily, a little too light heartedly.
"Well that's nothing compared to what we have planned for—" Black was cut off by Potter elbowing him.
"Sorry girls. Gotta fly." Said Potter dragging a groaning Black away up the boy's staircase with Lupin in tow. Dorcas shook her head and looked inside the bag.
"Good boy, good boy." She said taking out the containers. She then paused and fished out another two containers. She opened them and squealed.
"What is it?" asked Isabel. Lily jumped thinking they had placed something like a spider inside the tub (It wasn't beyond them; they'd done it to a group of Slytherin girls.)
Dorcas closed the lid and held them close to her chest. "He got cookie dough to." She laughed and shook her head.
"He is good." She said, "I may complain out him but god his is good."
"And that's another perfect potion by Miss Evans!" exclaimed Slughorn. Lily blushed as everyone in the room now looked at her.
"Are you sure you're a Gryffindor? With this ability you really should be a Slytherin." He continued.
"The hat never lies." Said Lily a little sheepishly.
"Well it is a shame; you would be perfect for our house." Slughorn said sighing. "Right everyone, your homework is to write an overview of today's potion with particular references on the alternatives that could be used." The class began to pack their stuff away along with Lily.
"Could I also see Miss Evans, Mr Potter and Mr Snape before you go, thank you."
"What have you done now?" asked Sirius to James.
"I don't know." Said James, "But something tell me it ain't going to be good." He walked from the back of the room to the front as Black and Lupin walked out. James was standing next to Evans with Snape next to her.
"I've gathered you three here because I wish to invite you to a little gathering that I'm having. A little party that the best students attend." James wanted the ground to swallow him whole. He was being asked to join the slug club.
"It's open to you if you are interested." He continued, "There'll be a dinner and mingling with some students both past and present." James looked over at Evans who looked like she was told that Christmas had come early.
"Really, you think I'm good enough?" asked Evans.
"Oh of course my dear." Said Slughorn chuckling, "You three have the highest scores in your whole year. Of course I'd invite you!" Evans began to beam.
"So, can I count on you?" asked Slughorn.
"Definitely Professor." Said Evans nodding.
"Mr Snape?" Snape almost answered imeadietly, If Evans was going, he was going to as well.
"Yes Professor." Said he said.
"Mr Potter?" James rubbed the back of his head.
"What date is it?" he asked. Fully intending to say no. All he needed was an excuse.
"Halloween." Slughorn replied.
"Oh, sorry I can't, I have Quidditch practice that night." Said James.
"But you're a first year; you can't play for your house." Said Slughorn.
"I still train with them." said Potter, "So when I do get on the team next year I'll pan every team." He looked over at Snape. "Slytherin Included." Snape narrowed his eyes at him.
"Oh come on Potter, it'll be fun." Reasoned Slughorn.
"Maybe." Replied, "But Quidditch comes first." he shrugged. "Sorry."
"Oh, well, ok then." Said Slughorn a little gingerly, "Well, I'll see you in your next lesson then."
"That you will." Said James smiling, "Bye Professor." With that he walked out leaving the rest of them staring in his wake.
"I take it you said no then."
"I can't stomach the parties I'm forced to." Said James, "What do you think I'd do for ones I can choose to go to." Sirius nodded.
"Apparently they can open a lot of doors." Said Remus.
"I don't need that though." Said James. "I gonna be an Auror, and my dad can help me on there. See, life plan sorted."
"We could always pull a prank on it." suggested Sirius.
"What did you have in mind?" asked James.
"I brought that recipe for the ultra-thick sludge." James and Sirius smirked.
"I don't know guys." He said uneasily.
"Come on Remus." Said James, "Being friends with us, this is what we do." Remus sighed as they stopped in the middle of the corridor.
"Where do you think they'll set up?" asked Sirius.
"Slughorn said his study." Said James rubbing his chin.
"So we need to make it up. Put it in there, and remote charges to blow when everyone is inside." Said Sirius.
"Agreed." Said James.
"But how?" asked Remus. "What if we get caught?"
"He's right." Said Sirius. "Security round the teacher's studies is tight."
"So we need to cause a diversion." Said James, "One that will give us enough time to do it."
"How?" All three stopped and thought.
"Ok, we'll go over this when we get back to the common room." said James. "We'll have the rest of the day to think it over."
"Told you he was arrogant." Said Sev.
"He thinks his Quidditch is more important." Said Lily, "So what?"
"This just the sort of thing he would do. Relishing in his status."
"What does his status have to do with anything?" said Lily.
"Just because he's a pureblood he thinks he can just waltz in anywhere, not have to work for anything." Said Sev bitterly. Lily looked confused.
"Loads of people in high ranking ministry positions come for these parties." Explained Sev. "If you can get in with any of them then you stand a better chance of getting a good job when you leave here."
"Really?" said Lily.
"Yes." said Sev, "And all Potter can do is be a conceited prick."
"He's dedicated." Said Lily, really wanting to get off the subject, "That's probably why he's so good." Sev huffed, she knew it was the wrong thing to say, but she didn't want to talk about Potter anymore.
"Hey Lily!" Dorcas and Marlene walked beside her.
"What did Slughorn want?" "
"Nothing that concerns you." Said Sev darkly.
"Sev! Don't be rude." Said Lily, "He invited me, Sev and Potter to a party at Halloween."
"The slug club." said Marlene.
"You know it?" asked Lily.
"My sister was in it." said Marlene, "Are you going?"
"Yeah." Said Lily, "Sev said it was a good place to meet people."
"I take it James declined." Said Dorcas.
"How did you know?" asked Lily.
"He doesn't do parties unless there by a pool." Said Dorcas. "Or he's been forced to."
"He's an arrogant idiot." Said Sev. Dorcas turned on him.
"Lay of it Snape." Said Dorcas, "So he doesn't like formal parties, it's not everyone's cup of tea."
"He didn't have to make it out as though it was meaningless." Said Snape, "This means something to some of us."
"To some people it does, to other's it doesn't." said Dorcas. "What he does shouldn't really concern you anyway."
"I can still have my opinion." Said Sev.
"So can he." Said Dorcas, "And so can I." her eyes narrowed as the two squared up to each other.
"Though everyone knows what his opinion is of you." Said Dorcas.
"Guys, don't fight!" said Lily loudly. They both turned to Lily.
"Frankly, no one gives a damn about whether he'll be there or not." She continued, "Sev, Dorcas is right, it doesn't concern you what he does, because you don't have a nice word to say about him anyway. And my mum always said if can't say anything nice then you shouldn't say anything at all." Snape looked down.
"And Dorcas, please don't fight with Sev." Said Lily, "Can't you just all get along?" both sighed and turned their backs on each other. Lily sighed in exasperation. Why did the word Potter but so many people on edge?
James, Sirius and Lupin where in their dorm. They had a piece of parchment laid out of the dungeons while in animated discussion about how to go about their plan.
"Right, after consulting with people in the higher years that go to the slug club they do hold the party in Slughorn's study." Said Sirius. James frowned, that made it a hell of lot harder.
"According to this." Said Remus holding up a copy of Hogwarts a history, "These rooms have heavy defences against them. To stop what where trying to do."
"Ok." Said James. "What we need to do is then play on the muggle elements of the door."
"Meaning?"
"We to place a wedge in the door that doesn't fully lock It." said James. "So when we use the distraction we will be able to open it fully."
"We need to be there when Slughorn closes the door then." Said Sirius. "On Friday afternoon."
"He'll be teaching the seventh years right after us." Said James. "So. We place a firecracker under one of the cauldrons. When that explodes, Slughorn will have to go to his study to get more equipment. When he closes the door we place this wedge in." he held up an instrument that looked like a hinge.
"Courtesy of my dad, when this is slipped in we can open the door." Said James. "We move in. Place these pockets on the ceiling." He held up some little pouches.
"Another thing courtesy of my dad." said James, "Time release pouches. All you have to do is bewitch them for a certain time to explode." Sirius nodded excitedly.
"And then all we have to do is watch at those suckers walk out with gunk all of them." said Sirius.
"And smell to," said James. "Right, there's the plan." Said James rubbing his hands in glee.
"Ok first years, enjoy the rest of your day." Said Slughorn brightly as the others packed their stuff away. James looked round and placed a firecracker under the logs and lit the extended fuse with his wand. He, Sirius and Remus walked out and instead of going left back up they went right down towards Slughorn's study.
"Ok, got everything?" asked James. Remus opened his bag to reveal it filled with little pouches.
"There set to go off at half nine Sunday." He said. Even he couldn't hide the exhilaration in his voice. They got outside the study and hid in a broom cupboard.
"That better be you belt buckle." Said James.
"Don't flatter yourself." Said Sirius. "When's the cracker supposed to go off."
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1"
KABOOM
There was a commotion from down the hall as the cracker had gone off. The waiting began, about fifteen minutes later; Slughorn came down the corridor wiping black sludge of his robes. James eased the door open a little more as he watched Slughorn disappear into his study. James reached into his rucksack and pulled out the wedge.
Five minutes later he reappeared carrying his supplies and made off towards the classroom again. James threw the wedge along the floor. It skidded and hit the frame of the door. James has his heart in his throat as the door finally closed onto the wedge, leaving it open by the smallest of margins.
"Ok, let's go." Said James. They walked out, looking round for any other people. James walked up to the wedge.
"Open sesame." He said, the wedge, pushed the door open. He grinned and made his way inside.
The study was two rooms. The first room was an office, it had a large wooden desk at the back with a thick leather chair. Behind that on the wall was an array of potion ingredients in glass jars. They all looked green in the glow of the office, there was a couple of chair dotted around the office as well along with an open door.
James, Sirius and Remus made their way through the open door and into the study quarters of the room. It was a large circular room with the same greenish twinge of the office, the walls where covered in books with a large table in the middle of the room.
"Here." Said James. Remus took his rucksack off and pulled out some pouches. James threw them up and they stuck to the celling. He Sirius and Remus where throwing them in every part they could find, even placing some behind the books for maximum coverage.
"I knew I'd forgotten something." The three of them froze, that was Slughorn. Both Sirius and. Remus looked at James who pointed to the table, he held up the cloth as they all scrambled inside.
James looked out through a small gap where the cloth and the floor where. He saw the feet of Slughorn.
"Now why is this open?" he asked. His feet only millimetres by James's eyes. He looked back at Remus and Sirius and placed his finger to his lips. James reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ball. He rolled it over along the floor and into the office. Slughorn turned round and walked back out.
All three let out a chorused sigh of relief. They heard the door from the other room close. All three got out from underneath the table. James and Sirius began to laugh.
"That was to close." Said Lupin uneasily. James and Sirius slowly began to regain composure.
"Yeah, but it was fun right?" said Sirius. Lupin chuckled.
"Yeah it was."
"Seeing everyone covered in this will really get your motor running." Said James throwing the last pouch onto the celling.
"Right." He said picking up his own bag. "Let's go before someone else turns up." All three made their way out of the office. James looked either side of the doorway and removed the wedge before closing the door.
"Right." Said James, "All we need to do is wait." James grinned as they made their way back up to the castle.
"A party?" said Lavender.
"Yeah." Said Lily, "According to Sev it could open a lot of doors for me. Since I don't know anyone here, it would be good to get friends in high places."
"Do you have anything to wear?" Asked Lavender, "A good first impression is always good." Lily bit her lip.
"I don't." she said, "I didn't pack anything like that; I didn't know I'd need anything like that!"
"Calm down Lily." said Lavender. "We didn't know, but…we can adapt." Lily took a deep breath.
"Ok, what are we going to do?" asked Lily.
"Well." Said Lavender, "You trust me, don't you?"
"Yes."
"You trust me to pick out something for you?"
"Yes." said Lily, "I've trusted you this far." She could hear her mother laugh from the other end.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Said Lavender. Lily smiled and curled up on the chair again.
"Well Petunia and me are going to Sheffield to pick out a dress for her dance as well." Said Lavender.
"Has she got a date?" asked Lily.
"She has young lady." Said Lavender, "And no sniggering."
"I wasn't." said Lily playfully.
"You didn't need to." Said Lavender. "Speaking of which." Lily took a deep breath.
"What about you? Have you got a date?"
"No." said Lily.
"What about that boy?" said Lavender. "Why don't you ask him?"
"He was invited." Said Lily.
"Oh, so you'll see him there then."
"He didn't want to go." Said Lily sadly.
"I'm sorry Lily." said Lavender.
"He wanted to go and play Quidditch instead." Said Lily.
"That's the…"
"The sport that they play here." Reminded Lily. "What is it about boys and sports?"
"They like it." said Lavender. "So do you have anyone else you want to go with?"
"I'm going with Sev." Said Lily, "He was invited to." She could hear the disappointment in her mother's voice.
"Ok Lily." she said. "I'll find you something nice."
"Thanks mum."
The great hall wasn't busy on Saturday morning. Everyone was still in bed, but Lily was down having breakfast. According to her mum her dress was coming today and she wanted to try it on. She waited anxiously for the post to arrive, she pattered her fingers on the table impatiently.
"What are you waiting for?" Dorcas and Sarah sat down opposite her.
"The post." Said Lily quickly.
"Why?" asked Sarah.
"My mum's sending me a dress for tomorrow." Said Lily. "I can't wait." She looked up at Dorcas who was looking over at Potter, Black and Lupin who had just walked in.
"They've looked like that cats that caught the canary." She said. "There up to something."
"Maybe." Said Sarah.
"Who cares! When is the post getting here?" said Lily looking up at the sky. Just as she finished the owls came streaming in. Lily looked out and saw a big package. She was almost jumping out of her chair as the owl planted it in front of her.
"I wonder what it looks like?" wondered Lily.
"Let's take it upstairs and see." Said Dorcas.
The three of them took the package to the common room and into the dorm. They gathered round Lily's bed as she ripped the packaging. They all gasped. Lily picked up the dress. It was purple and floor length, Lily picked it up and held it up.
"Lily…it looks."
"It looks great!" said Lily excitedly. She twirled on the spot and looked at the dress in the mirror.
"That is the prettiest thing I've ever seen." Said Dorcas, "I'm jealous."
"Makes two." Said Sarah. "Lily you're going to look great."
Lily beamed and looked down the dress and then back into the mirror.
"Who are you going with again?"
"She's going with Snape." Said Dorcas.
"Oh he's going to be following you like a love sick puppy." Lily wasn't listening.
"Well go on, try it on!"
"You don't have any make up?" said Isabel as she inspected Lily's dressing table.
"I, Er…don't…use it." said Lily sheepishly.
"Then I envy your skin." said Isabel.
"I don't really want to wear any though." Said Lily.
"Only a little." Said Isabel. "Look Lily if you want to stand out from the crowd you need to." She gestured with her hands in a flirtatious pose. "Stand out."
"She's right." Said Dorcas sitting next to Lily on the bench of her dressing table.
"Where not talking loads. Just a little to, you know, heighten your features."
"I wouldn't Lily." said Jess.
"Don't listen to her." said Dorcas, "Look, where not going to plaster you in loads. Just a little."
"Ok." Said Lily taking a deep breath. "Let's do it."
"Ok. Try not to fidget." Said Dorcas.
James pulled on his arm guards and placed his goggles above on his forehead and walked out of the dorm and into the common room. He was wearing his England robes which where shrunk so it was streamlined against him.
He walked into the common room where Sirius and Remus where playing chess. He sat down next to them.
"Excited?"
"Yeah, I'll meet you guys there after practice." Said James stretching. "Should be a blast, I can't wait to see what Snivellus will look like with all that gunk on him."
"Hey boys." Dorcas leaned over the sofa. "You doing anything?"
"Where playing chess." Said Sirius.
"And I'm about to go to practice." Said James, "Why?"
"Well." She cleared her throat. "We need to do an experiment on a group of boys and you fit all the criteria." All three exchanged uneasy looks.
"No, you'll like it. Trust me." Said Dorcas. "Introducing, Lily, Potter pay attention! Evans!" James looked up as Evans came down the staircase. His mouth hit the floor. She did look amazing.
She was blushing furiously and looked shyly at the group of boys who were gaping at her. Through his side vision he could see Sirius and Lupin had done the same.
"See." Said Dorcas to her, "It has the desired effect. Right boys?" All three stared dumbly at her.
"Say something?"
"Wow." Said James, finally finding his voice, "You, look, amazing." Evans looked down at herself.
"Really?"
"Defiantly." Said James, "Where are you going?"
"To Slughorn's party." Said Evans. "I'm meeting Sev in the entrance hall soon."
"Why don't I walk you down there." Said James springing to his feet. "I've got to go to the field anyway."
"Ok." Said Evans cheerfully. James looked round at Sirius who looked dumbfounded as he walked out with her, James taking time to wink over his shoulder.
"She looked good." Said Sirius. "She looked knock out."
"Why don't you ever say things like that about me?" asked Dorcas.
"Dress like that and I will." Said Sirius.
James closed the door behind him and Evans. He held out arm and she looked gingerly at it. "I don't bite. Besides, I'm escorting you." Evans laughed and blushed.
"You can be such an idiot." She said threading her arm through his and they began to walk down to the entrance.
"Did you really bring that dress with you?" asked James.
"No, I didn't." said Evans. "My Mum bought it for me."
"It looks nice." Said James, finding that dress more distracting than he was willing to admit.
"Thanks." Said Lily, "Those are nice robes."
"My Quidditch robes." Said James looking down at his own robes. "England ones."
"With your name and number on the back." Said Evans. "You only get numbers on football shirts."
"I have an England football shirt to." Said James, "Number 6."
"Bobby Moore." Said Lily.
"Yeah." Said James impressed. "Clearly you're more than just a pretty face." Evans laughed.
"You never thought that anyway."
"Maybe it's time to start thinking again." Evans hit James in the arm laughing again.
"You look pretty." Said James quietly.
"Thank you." Said Evans. "You really should of come."
"I wouldn't want to be a third wheel." Said James.
"You wouldn't though." Said Evans, "You and Sev could finally get to know each other."
"As I said, I'd be a third wheel." Said James. Evans looked away.
"I'm sorry, but you have to accept that we'll never see eye to eye." said James. Evans shrugged.
"Can't say I tried." She said. They got to the top of the staircase going to the entrance hall. Evans stopped and looked over at James.
"Nervous?" Lily nodded.
"Have you ever been to something like this?"
"Yes." said James.
"How do you act?"
"Excuse me?"
"You went to bloody finishing school." Said Evans, "Don't they teach you this sought of stuff?"
"Yes."
"And you passed?"
"Urgh."
"You did pass didn't you?" asked Lily.
"I said I went." Said James.
"But you never passed?"
"My dad bribed me through."
"What! Why did he need to do that?"
"I blew up the food table during the final exam." Said James, Evans looked wide eyed at him. "It was boring." Said James, "Trust me, something you never want to go through." Lily went wide eyed to laughing.
"You were bribed through."
"Yes." Evans was still laughing, she finally calmed down long enough to smile at him.
"I have no chance."
"Yes, you do." Said James, "Look, it's easy. All you have to do is be yourself."
"I can't do that." Said Evans.
"Yes, you can." Said James, "Just act like we are now and they'll like you because you're a breath of fresh air."
Evans nodded. "Ok." She said breathing deeply.
"You'll be great."
They walked down the staircase. Snape was waiting for her, James couldn't help but grin as they walked in.
"Hey Sev!" she called excitedly. Snape turned round. And like James, Sirius and Remus before him. His mouth touched the floor to.
"Please pick up your mouth Snape." Said James. "Your drooling all over the floor." Snape glared but did what he was told.
"You'll be ok here?" asked James.
"Yeah. I'll be good." Said Evans.
"I should hope so." Replied James. "Have her back by eleven and ah…" he looked at them head to toe.
"No funny business, ok."
"Urgh, grow up Potter." Snape scowled. Evans was biting her lip.
"Right, I have to go." Said Potter, "See you later." He turned round to walk out.
"Are you sure don't want to come?" asked Evans. James stopped. Should he tell her about the prank? It would be a shame to get sludge all over that dress. But the devil side of him won over and he smirked to himself.
"No, you go have a good time. I'm sure it'll be a blast." Said James as he walked out. He couldn't help but laugh to himself.
"You two were laughing about something." said Sev.
"So, no hello, how are you?" said Lily a little hurt.
"What where you laughing about.?"
"Nothing Sev, Jesus." Said Lily, "Come on, let's go." They walked off towards the dungeons. Sev was walking with his face forward and hadn't paid her a compliment about how she looked at all. They walked past the classroom they usually go in and down towards the Slughorn's study. They arrived in front of a set of huge double doors. Sev knocked on it and after what seemed like an eternity Slughorn opened the door.
"My Word!" Slughorn exclaimed, "Miss Evans, is that you?"
"Uhm…yes, Professor." Said Lily, feeling herself go red.
"Well don't stand there. Please come in." Slughorn showed them into the office. It was full of people who all turned to see Lily and Sev walk in.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce two of best students from our first year, Miss Lily Evans and Mister Severus Snape."
"Two of the best?" asked someone, "Why isn't Potter's kid in there?"
Lily swore she could here Severus grunt in frustration. Obviously Potter was a name held in high regard around here. Maybe she should of asked whether she could throw his name around a bit.
"He can't make it." said Slughorn. "He's very busy with Quidditch training." He turned to Lily and Sev.
"Why don't you take a drink and mingle. Dinner is being served at in half an hour." He then ghosted away to talk to someone else.
"So what do we do?" asked Lily. "Shouldn't we go and make friends."
"I don't know anyone." Said Sev. Lily looked around and saw Alice, the prefect.
"Here, I know her!" said Lily grabbing Sev's wrist and dragging him over towards her.
"Alice! Hey Alice!" she turned round and saw Lily and smiled.
"Hey you." She said, "Oh my, you look so pretty." She turned to Sev. "You're very lucky young man, you look after her." Sev mumbled something along the lines of that he would.
"What exactly do we do round here?" asked Lily.
"Oh, you meet people." Said Alice, "What are your interes—"
"Alice, darling!" Lily looked round to see a women come up to Alice, she was in a long black dress. "How are you? We must go through your portfolio, I loved it."
"Thanks Martha." Said Alice, "Here, I want you to meet a friend of mine." A friend, was Lily really a friend to her.
"Meet Lily Evans, she's one of the smartest students in the first year." Martha turned round. Lily smiled and waved.
"Why hello Lily, oh my!" she held her hand to her chest and looked like she about to faint. "My god! You look wonderful darling!" she exclaimed inspecting Lily. "Did you design your portfolio around her Alice darling!?"
"Uhm, no I didn't." said Alice.
"She looks perfect for it!" she exclaimed, "She has the face." She grabbed Lily's cheeks and smushed them together. Lily went wide eyed.
"And the figure, oh darling you do look after yourself!"
"Uhm…thanks?" said Lily.
"Oh, you two must come down to my studio." Martha said lighting a cigarette. "We'll be making magic before you know it!"
"Would you like to do that Lily?" asked Alice, "Do a fashion shoot?"
"A fashion shoot!" said Lily, "Oh god yes."
"Perfect darling!" Martha said clapping her hands together. "Although I'd leave this thing at home." She said patting Sev's head, "You might just catch something. Ah Horace!" Martha ghosted away to someone else.
"Who was that?" asked Lily.
"Martha Owens." Said Alice, "She's a fashion designer. Professor Slughorn introduced me to her and we've been designing fashion together."
"Really." Said Lily.
"See, this is why you have to mingle." Said Alice, "See, you've already been asked to a fashion shoot and you've only talked to one person."
"It seems so weird." Said Lily.
"You like books?" said Alice.
"Love them." said Lily.
"Did you like a history of magic?"
"I loved it, it was really interesting." Said Lily.
"Here, there's someone you have to meet." Alice grabbed her hand and yanked her of. She forgot all about Sev as the two made off. They weaved in and out of people till they got another group of people
"Excuse me, Bathilda?" An old women turned round. Lily's mouth hit the floor, it couldn't be, that was…
"Yes, Alice?" She said turning round.
"I have a fan of yours." Alice said placing a hand round Lily's shoulder. "Lily, this is."
"Bathilda Bagshot!" said Lily, "I love a history of magic, it's my favourite book."
"Oh you are modest young miss." She said kindly, "But it's not what it's all cracked up to be." She turned back round.
"But it was really interesting." Implored Lily. "I mean, I knew nothing about this world before I came here, and your book didn't make me feel like such an idiot when I got here." The old women turned back and looked down at Lily.
"Are you Muggle born?" she asked.
"Yes." said Lily, "I really helped me for when I got here." Bagshot smiled.
"Well, I mean I never thought about that when I was writing It." she said.
"How old are you? I've never seen you here before."
"Oh, I'm new." Said Lily.
"You must be really good at potions for Horace to invite you."
"Horace?" asked Lily confused.
"Oh, Professor Slughorn to you." Said Bagshot. "So you like to read then?"
"I love to." Said Lily, "I go through three books a week." Bagshot nodded.
"Impressive." She said.
"Not really." Said Lily.
"Stop being modest dear." She said.
"Everyone!" Lily and Bagshot turned their heads to see Professor Slughorn by a set of large double doors.
"If you don't mind we'll come through for dinner." Everyone started to file into another room.
"Why don't you sit next to me and we'll talk books." Said Bagshot.
"Sure." Said Lily.
The next room was large and circular, it had Halloween decorations dangling from the ceiling with a large table in the middle. Lily sat down next to Bagshot.
"Now, tell me." She began. "Being Muggle born you must of read a lot of books that we don't get here."
"It's nothing compared to what we get here." Said Lily.
"Ah, you see." Said Bagshot, "One person interesting is another person's boring. See, I hate a history of magic while you love it. So come on, what's your favourite muggle book?"
"Casino Royale." Said Lily, she picked up a napkin and placed it on her lap, following what other people were doing.
"Who's the Author?"
"Ian Fleming."
"And what's the book about?"
"It's about a spy." Said Lily, "He has to stop this evil terrorist by beating him in a game of poker."
"Sounds interesting." Said Bagshot.
"I have a copy if you want to borrow it?" said Lily. Bagshot looked over and smiled.
"I'd like that." She said.
"What's your favourite book?" asked Lily.
Lily looked over at the clock, quarter past nine. She was still talking to Bathilda Bagshot, she was such an interesting person.
"Bathilda!" Lily looked up to see Professor Slughorn walking towards them. "SO nice to see you again."
"Like wise Horace." Said Bathilda.
"Ah, I see you've met my new potions prodigy." He said placing a hand on Lily's shoulder. "Top of her class in the subject." He said proudly.
"Well Lily's certainly got a thing for books as well." Said Bathilda.
"See, with that sort of intellect she should be in Slytherin, no?" Bathilda chuckled.
"I wouldn't be so sure." She said with a wry smile. "Young Lily does display Gryffindor traits."
"Yes, well, I hope you're enjoying yourself." Said Slughorn moving on to another person.
"Lily!" Alice came up next to her.
"I see you two have been hitting it off." Said Alice.
"Very much so." Said Bathilda. "She's almost as smart as you Alice."
"Oh I don't deny that." Said Alice, "Listen, there's a group photo at half nine, so shall we all go get ready?"
"Of course." Said Bagshot.
The trio made their way the second room. The table had been removed and everyone was gathered in the room.
"Come on everyone." Said Slughorn. "Let's get this done quickly." Lily was ushered to the front where she was with some of the younger years. She noticed Sev a few spaces down who looked a little miffed. Lily then looked over at the clock. 9:29.
Lily adjusted her hair and began to smile, waiting for the photo. Slughorn fiddled with the camera before walking round the to the back.
"OK People, on three, one, two, three."
BOOM!
The entire room exploded in a hurricane of thick green sludge. Lily wasn't the only one who screamed. The whole room did. Lily finally opened her eyes, she brought her hands up to wipe the sludge from her face, on to see them coated in the same slime. She looked round to see green blobs moving on a green background. Lily looked down at her dress and could hear girls screaming about the state of their own. Lily then looked at her hair and then down at the floor.
"Lily? Are you ok?" Lily looked up and saw Sev in-front of her. She could feel the anger welling up inside her. She was going to find however did this and kill them.
The Marauders Proudly Present James Potter and Lily Evans In: The Marauders Year One
Chapter Sixteen
The Slug Club and The Potions Prodigy
Written By Chambers10
Ministry of Magic.
Alec knocked on the oak door and waited for the reply. He never liked it when he was summoned by the head of the department at the dead of night. It usually meant packing his bag and going to a god forsaken country.
Katherine didn't like him going away either, but maybe she would go with him this time now she was unretired to. He wondered what it was going to be today, reconnaissance, field work, an assassination? He didn't know, but it would involve getting his hands dirty.
"Come in." Alec opened the door to the office; it reminded him of M's office in the James Bond films James was fond off. The leather chairs and leather bound books, with the smell of rich mahogany from the furnishings.
"Ah, Potter." Said Stanford Parks. "Sorry about the ungodly hour but we need to go over this urgently." Parks showed Alec a seat which he sat down in.
"Of course." Said Alec, "So what was so damn important that it couldn't wait for the morning?" Parks walked back round to the back of his chair and gripped the back of it.
"The muggle secret service carried out a raid on suspected human trafficking ring." began Parks. "They were successful in the raid, but…they found a troubling matter that what was brought to our attention."
"What was that?" asked Alec. Parks sat behind his desk and pulled out a wand and threw it across the desk to Alec. Alec picked the wand up and began to inspect it.
"A burner wand." Said Parks. "Eleven inches. Chameleon tail."
"How many?" Asked Alec.
"Ten Million."
"Who had them?" asked Alec, "Did they know what they were?" Parks shook his head and took the wand back.
"South Korean smugglers." Said Parks. "But they were only the runners, not the owners."
"Did they know who owned them?" asked Alec. Parks shook his head.
"There aren't faces for transactions like this." Said Parks. "They were told to drop them off inside an abandoned building on the nightelms docks."
"This is why I've brought you in now." Alec looked up.
"They were able to give us something useful though."
"And that was?"
Parks pulled a picture from his coat pocket and slid it over towards Alec. Alec turned it round and inspected it. The photo was of a smuggling operation, but there was something that was very familiar. The man overseeing the operation.
"That looks like…" he looked up at Parks who nodded.
"I need you to find if it's Murdoch that is moving this amount of burner wands." Said Parks. "This could end up being a very big problem if left unchecked."
"I understand." Said Alec. "Do we have any leads?"
"Only the smugglers themselves." Said Parks. "So you have to act quickly if you want to get this done."
"I'll leave now." said Alec getting up from the chair.
"Good luck."
Alec walked out of the room and felt a buzz in his pocket. He pulled out a pocket mirror and saw McGonagall's face staring back at him.
"Minnie?" He asked surprised, "What is it?"
"I need to speak to you." Alec sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Looks like your son needs you." Said McGonagall
"Why is he now my son?" asked Alec.
"Because he's in trouble." Said McGonagall. "Very, big, trouble."