James, Sirius and Remus walked down the corridor laughing and joking and saw a huge crowd forming. James frowned slightly.
"What is it?" asked Sirius, James nodded over towards the large crowd, Sirius to looked curiously.
"Why does it even matter?" queried Remus. "So there's something going on?"
"Yeah, but we usually have our finger on the pulse for this sort of thing." Said James, he moved closer.
"Christ, must the spotlight be on you?" asked Remus.
"There only one thing that gathers students like this." Said James, "Blood." He walked briskly towards the group. It was mainly made up of second years and first years. He could hear cheering and taunting from inside the centre of the group. James made his way towards the centre, pushing a few people away to see the middle.
Peter Pettigrew was being taunted in the middle of the group by the Slytherin's. James gripped his fist in anger and Gibbs raised his wand towards Pettigrew who whimpered fearfully. James had enough and stormed into the middle.
"Hey Gibbs." The colour drained from his face as James pulled out his wand. He twirled it in his fingers and faced him down in the middle, standing in front of Pettigrew.
"Potter?"
"That is my name." said James, "What are you and your band of merry losers doing."
"Nothing that concerns you Potter." Said Avery.
"Avery, shut up before I make your other eye paraplegic." Said James. Avery didn't have a retort, instead he sort of sulked back.
"Now don't tell me your bullying him." said James, "Because you know as well as I do that won't fly with me."
"Why do you care Potter?" asked Mulciber. "He doesn't hang out with you." Good point, how could he turn it into his advantage? An idea struck him, though he might regret it.
"Haven't you heard?" he said taking a step forward. "Pettigrew's with us."
"What?"
"What!" Sirius's reaction echoed louder round the group than anyone else's. James remained calm.
"Yeah," he said, "We Gryffindor's stick together." He looked down at Pettigrew. "House pride."
"You don't give shit about that runt." Said Gibbs. "Why do you care?"
"Because anyone doing this to someone in my house gets there arse handed to them." said James. Gibbs shook his head.
"You idiot." He said pointing his wand at James "Reducto!"
"Protego." Said James untroubled. The circular shield absorbed Gibbs Reducto. James smirked and then pointed his wand forward. The shield sprang forward and hit Gibbs, sending him sprawling onto the floor. Pettigrew go up gingerly from behind James, he was a head smaller than James and his watery eyes looked on with glee at being saved.
James holstered his wand while Gibbs was helped up by Avery and Mulciber.
"I wouldn't do that again if I were you." Said James, "If I catch you anywhere near him again, you're in for a world of pain. Understand?"
"I give it five minutes before you don't give a shit about him." said Gibbs. "You don't really care about him."
"Pettigrew,"
"Yes Potter?"
"It's James. Let's go." James turned round and began to walk in the opposite direction. Pettigrew looked at Gibbs, then the crowd around him and the scurried off to where James and the others where.
"Thanks." He squeaked out.
"How long have they been doing that?" asked James.
"Since the start of the year." Said Pettigrew.
"Why didn't you tell anyone?" asked Lupin.
"Because…" he trailed off. "Because I wasn't sure if you'd help or not."
"Well we do," said James, "You better stick around with us. You wouldn't want them on your back again." he nodded quickly. Sirius looked over at James with a concerned look on his face as they made their way back to the tower.
The Marauders Proudly Present James Potter In: The Marauders Year One
Chapter Twenty Two
And Then There Were Four
Written By Chambers10
"Why didn't you try to stop them?" asked Lily, "Why did Potter have to intervene to stop them from hurting him."
"It was nothing Lily." said Sev, "He was making a mountain out of a mole hill. Nothing more."
"It wasn't a 'mole hill' according to all the other people where." Said Lily, "Why didn't you try and stop it?"
"What was I supposed to do Lily." said Sev. "There my friends, I can't go against them, I'd look like an outsider." Lily shook her head.
"You should stand up to them because it was the right thing to do." Said Lily, "Regardless of the consequences."
"That's easy for you to say." Said Snape, "And it was nothing anyway."
"It was bullying Sev!" said Lily heatedly, all the memories of Wendy coming back to her in a miserable montage.
"I'll never forget what it was like to bullied by someone because they thought themselves better than I was!" he chest was heaving, and she was sure her face was crimson red.
"And for all your bad mouthing him, Potter doesn't stand for it either!" said Lily, "He's taken Peter under his wing and those four are now inseparable!" Sev squirmed uncomfortably.
"Maybe you were wrong about him, maybe his only curse was trying to do what he thought was the right thing, which sometimes comes across as arrogance. But you know what, you were wrong, I do like him, he is my friend." Lily looked at Sev from top to bottom. "A lot more of a friend than you are!" She turned on her heel and stormed away.
"Lily!"
Lily didn't look back, she was just so angry. He'd known about her childhood, he knew that she had been taunted and teased by bullies her entire life, and now he was defending his friends after they had bullied someone from her house. She was angry, how could think that was ok with her. She stomped up the portrait.
"Are you ok dear?" she asked sympathetically.
"Boys are dicks." Lily said in a huff.
"It doesn't get better with age, believe me." Said the fat lady as she swung open. Lily stormed up to her room and opened the door to her room and sat on her bed. Thankfully, she was alone, she ran her fingers through her hair and flopped down on her bed.
"Lily?" Mary came into the room and saw her flopped down on her bed. "What's the matter."
"Boys are dicks!" said Lily, muffled through her pillow.
"Well one certainly didn't cheat you." Said Mary as she sat down. "Who pissed you off."
"Sev."
"What did he do?" Lily looked up.
"When you were growing up." Said Lily, "Where you ever bullied for being magic. I mean, not being able to control it."
"No, not really." Said Mary.
"Well I was." Said Lily, "And now, finding out about Peter makes me so angry." Mary furrowed her brow in confusion.
"So why are you angry with Snape?" asked Mary.
"Because…" Lily looked down, "Because he said it was nothing. I told him everything about me getting bullied and yet he thought I should just brush it off."
"Well he's acting like an idiot." Said Mary, "Look, you can't be in here moping. Why don't we go downstairs, haven't you got a book to read." Mary was right. Lily browsed her book collection and pulled out one her mum had sent her.
"Come on, everyone's downstairs."
"How long has this been going on." Asked James. He was sitting in his desk chair. Peter looked at him restlessly.
"Since the start of the year." Said Peter, "I don't know why."
"Why didn't you just tell us?" asked Sirius.
"I-I don't know." Said Peter.
"Well, this means a big prank is in order." Said Sirius.
"Agreed." Said James.
"Wait-wait." Lupin got up and circled the room. "We can't do this."
"Why not?" asked James.
"It doesn't make us any better than them." said Lupin, "Isn't, living well the greatest revenge?"
"No." said James standing up. "I believe the saying is. Revenge is a dish, best, served, cold." Sirius nodded at James.
"Which means the Slytherin's have to know that they don't mess with us and think that there getting away with It." said James.
"True that." Said Sirius, "What are we thinking?" James smirked.
"Something very messy indeed." Said James. "We have all Easter to prepare for It." said James.
"In the meantime." James continued, "Dorcas is planning a party at her place over Easter."
"Joint birthday?"
"You bet. You in Remus?" Remus nodded. James looked over at Peter. "You in Pete?" Pettigrew looked down.
"I don't know."
"Oh come on, it'll be great." Said James. "Shame you don't have a choice. You're in." He went to protest, but then stopped. "You'll love it Pete, and the best part, no, Slytherin's."
"Ahem, Mr Potter." James looked up at Professor McGonagall. James sighed and walked over towards her.
"We'll wait till everyone has gone." She said looking at Remus, Sirius and Pettigrew who were loitering at the back of the room.
"Go on guys." He said, "I won't be long. Will I?" McGonagall shook her head. They slowly sulked out, leaving James and McGonagall alone in the room.
"Whatever it was, it wasn't me." Said James.
"Shame, but you're not in trouble." Said McGonagall, she pulled out a letter and gave it to James.
"You mother thought it prudent to give this to me to pass on to you." She said. James gulped and eyed the letter. That usually meant bad news was imminent. James took it away from her and opened it.
Dear James.
Hello sweetheart, sorry me or your father haven't written to you recently, but we have been very busy with this new mission of ours. Which is in part why we are writing.
James were sorry but we won't be there this year, we know this must be very upsetting for you, but this mission has gone on longer than we had anticipated. We are just as annoyed and frustrated as you, but there is nothing we can do to get out of it, not through lack of trying.
I can only hope that you can forgive us, and Minerva has said that you put your name down to go home for the holidays. You still can, we'll have Daisy come over from the mansion to look after you during the break. You can have Sirius over as well, although you'll probably be doing something with Dorcas considering your birthdays are very close together.
Once again were very sorry to spring this on you, we would of come to visit in person to tell you. But both the muggle and magic ministers are adamant that this mission is seen through. We love you James, no amount of distance can ever change that, or ever will. We wish you a happy birthday, and hope that we'll be able to speak to you soon.
Lots of love
Mum and Dad.
James got up abruptly and ran his fingers through his hair and looked around the room. He sighed as he didn't know where to begin.
"James."
"They're not going to be there." He said, " For my birthday. I expected from my dad but I didn't know my mum would still be out there with him."
"Maybe it's become very important." Said McGonagall.
"I'm going to go home." Said James, "Harriet deserves to see someone on our birthday." McGonagall nodded.
"Ok." She said, "You can go if you wish."
"I will." Said James. With that, James stormed out of the room.
"A party?" said Lily. "I'm not sure?"
"It won't be like Slughorn's." said Dorcas. "This will actually be a fun party, with loads of other wizards and witches our age, you can make some more friends further afield."
Lily and Dorcas were sitting outside in the sun, dipping their feet in the surprisingly warm water of the lake.
"I don't."
"Come on Lily, It's mine and James's joint Birthday party, you have to come!" Lily sighed. They did through her one, she did have to return the favour.
"Ok." She said, "Is Sev coming?" Dorcas sighed and looked away.
"Me and James never really got on with the people from Slytherin." Said Dorcas "We don't really want any hostilities."
"Right, ok." Said Lily. "So, what do I need to wear?"
"Knowing my parents they'll try and make it a formal wear party." Said Dorcas. "Look, get a nice dress, and let your hair down." She wriggled her toes in the water.
"You'll see."
After a couple of hours in the sun they decided to go back to the tower, they got back to the common which was near enough empty, people enjoying the sun. Only the boys were sitting on the sofas.
"Hey guys, where's James?" asked Dorcas. "I need to talk to him about the party."
"Your guess is as good as ours." Said Sirius.
"What?"
"McGonagall wanted to speak to him in private after class and no one's seen him since." Said Sirius. "I have no idea where he is." Lily turned to Dorcas.
"We have to find him, he could of hurt himself." Said Lily.
"Have you checked everywhere?" asked Dorcas. The boys nodded, Dorcas racked her brains. Where would James go after he was upset. The forest? No to many people about today, he would be seen. It suddenly clicked into place.
"I know." Said Dorcas wheeling away.
"Hey, wait! Let us come with you." Protested Sirius.
"Sorry Sirius." Said Dorcas, "This one requires a woman's touch." With that she darted out of the portrait hole.
"Where is she going?" asked Lily. Sirius shrugged his shoulders.
After the tedious climb up the stairs, she found him. He was standing on the ledge of the largest open window of the astronomy tower.
"Hey James." He merely grunted to acknowledge her presence, staring out into the late sun. "Whatcha doin?"
"Thinking."
"About what."
"Why does work come before me?" asked James.
"What do you mean?" James sighed.
"My parents wrote to me." Said James, "There fine." Sensing Dorcas's oncoming question. "But…but, a, they're not coming home for my Birthday."
"Oh James. But why are you up here?" asked Dorcas.
"I'm wondering if I jumped off would anyone miss me between now and when I hit the bottom." Said James. "Personally, I don't think so."
"You wouldn't jump." Said Dorcas. James turned to her a raised an eyebrow. Dorcas rolled her eyes.
"One: you have too much to live for. Two: if you were serious you would have jumped by now. And three." She sat down on the floor with her back against the ledge.
"You're too vain to jump to your death without a crowd to see you." James laughed.
"I know." He said. "But it just makes me wonder why?"
"James, please sit down before I'm tempted to kick you off." James sat down on the ledge. "Look on the bright side, we have our party in a week." She said. "Think about it, the food, the beer and the pool."
"It is a pool party then." Said James.
"It was always going to be one whether I said yes or no." said Dorcas. James cracked a smile. "I know it won't be the same." She said. "But we'll make do." James nodded.
"Fancy getting some food." He asked. Dorcas pulled a strained face. "What?"
"I really don't want to walk all the way down there again just yet." said Dorcas, "My feet hurt." James sprang to his feet and jumped onto the stone floor.
"Luckily." He said, "I know a short cut." Dorcas eyed him suspiciously as he moved to the pillar in the centre of the room. He placed his palm on the stone. After a few carful jabs, the panel slid in, then up the reveal a slide. Dorcas walked over to a smiling James. She took one look and stared at him.
"No."
"Stop being a pansy." Said James. "Besides." He pushed her down, she screamed. "Ladies first." he said jumping down to.
"Look, I'm sorry." Said Sev chasing after Lily.
"It's not me you should be apologising to." Said Lily, "According to James, Peter was very shaken by your friends attack."
"James," he scoffed, "So you two are on a first name basis now." Lily glared at him and walked on, Sev trying to keep up her.
"I'm sorry Lily!" he said, "Look what can I do to make it up to you?" Lily stopped, she turned to Sev.
"You have to apologise to Peter." Said Lily, Sev grinned and was about to walk away . "In public."
"WHAT!" Lily stood her ground, and folded her arms across her chest.
"You heard perfectly well." Said Lily, "You have to Apologise to him."
"But-"
"But nothing." Said Lily, "You want to be in my good books, that's what you have to do. Got it." Severus nodded limply.
"You know what to do." Said Lily. "So, quick march." Sev made his way towards the great hall where Potter and his friends where. Sev walked over there stiffly. As he got closer he looked back at Lily who nodded encouragement. He then turned to the foursome and cleared his throat
"No need to announce yourself Snivellus." Said Potter, not looking up from the book he was reading. "I could smell you a mile away." that promoted laughs from them. Sev turned his nose up.
"Amusing." He said. "Actually, I'm not here to indulge you in your vanity Potter. I'm here to talk to Pettigrew."
"Peter." Said Black, "His name is Peter."
"Sure…Peter." Said Sev. Lily pinched the bridge of her nose, he wasn't really helping himself.
"I'm here to apologise on behalf of my friends for the way we have treated you." Said Sev, not daring to look at the foursome, who were trying not to laugh at him. Sev closed his eyes.
"I'm sorry." He said through gritted teeth. Lily smiled while the four where trying their best not to laugh. Black failing miserably. Before they could answer Sev walked away quickly and walked straight past Lily.
"You finally have your boyfriend whipped Evans." Said Potter. He made a whip cracking sound. Lily rolled her eyes.
"He's not my boyfriend." She said turning and going after him.
"That was so humiliating." Said Sev sulking away.
"Well I'm proud of you." Said Lily. "It takes a man to admit when he's wrong." Sev smiled weakly as Lily threaded her arm in the crook of his elbow.
"So…am I forgiven?" asked Sev.
"Maybe." Said Lily smirking. Sev didn't know what to do.
"Hey come on!" said Lily, "We have all Easter to look forward to now." Sev smiled and they walked off into the sun.
"I'm staying here." Said Sev.
"Why?" Sev looked away darkly.
"You know why." He said quietly.
"You're coming?"
"Why does that surprise you?"
"Well?"
"Has it never happened with another girl before?"
"It has, I'm just still always surprised when they do."
"So it's happened often?"
"More than you think."
"Are you sure you're not faking this to make me feel better?"
"Oh Potter, why would I do that?" asked Lily. She was sitting in his compartment with Dorcas, Mary, Remus and Sirius.
"They have to be doing this on purpose." Said Sirius giggling, "It's just too perfect." Dorcas elbowed him in the stomach.
"Sirius, stop it." James looked over at him.
"What are they laughing at?" asked Lily.
"If it's Sirius, then we probably said an innuendo." Said James.
"In your end o!" Sirius barked out laughter while Dorcas rolled her eyes at him.
"What did I say?"
"Nothing." Said James. The train groaned as it grounded into the station. After grabbing there things they made it onto the platform. Lily could see her parents, but no Petunia, while her friends went off to their parents, curiously though she saw Potter go to someone else altogether.
It wasn't a person, Lily could see that much. If she had to hazard a guess, she would of said that it was an elf. If it was next to her, she'd have to say that it was only the height of a child. It had huge yellow eyes and huge bat-wing like ears and leathery looking skin. Lily didn't get a chance to gawp too long at the creature, after it and Potter exchanged pleasantries, they apparated away.
"Lily? Earth to Lily?" Lily looked up at her mum. She shook her head and smiled and gave both her mum and dad a big hug.
"Sorry." She said, "I just felt a little distracted." She smiled and disembraced. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Dorcas and what she could only assume to be her parents coming over.
"Excuse me, Mr and Mrs Evans." All three looked up at the intrusion.
"Hi, my name is Courtney Meadows." The woman said, "I'm Dorcas's mother."
"Oh, hello." Said Lavender shaking her hand.
"As I'm sure Lily has told you, Dorcas has her birthday party over the holiday and we were hoping to discuss travel arrangements."
"Yes, Lily did mention it." said Lavender.
"Well it's on the first of April, and we were going to pick Lily up at seven, since, you're both Muggle born and have no way of transporting her there." Said Mrs Meadows.
"Ok, sounds good." Said Lavender lamely.
"Perfect, we'll see you then." They Lily said goodbye to Dorcas as they walked away back into the muggle word. It hit Lily like a tonne of bricks being back home. But she was going to see her friends over the holiday, which could only be good.
"Daisy is pleased to see you again Master James." Said Daisy as they walked to the farmhouse. "Daisy has missed Master James since the master and mistress don't stay at the mansion anymore."
"You know why Daisy," said James, "We did want you to come to."
"Oh no, no." said Daisy. "My place is at the mansion. Though you don't spend so much time there." James sighed as Daisy opened the door to the house and James walked in. He scrubbed his feet and took of his shoes.
"Dinner will be at seven Master James."
"That's good." Said James. "I'll be up in my room."
"OK Master James." James walked up the stairs and went into his room. He threw himself onto his bed and looked at the posters around his room. It was nice to be home, but it would have been better if his parents were around.
"I don't really appreciate the weather here this time of year, but then again." The Californian accent made James turn to the door. "I don't exactly pine for Manhattan either." Leanne was standing in the doorway with her cocked hips. She was wearing a blue summer dress that cut off at her knees while she had her long wavy blonde hair down.
"Hey you." Said James. He sat up on his bed. "What are you doing here?"
"Well my cousin decided to come home for Easter." Said Leanne sitting on the bed next to James. She flipped her hair back to reveal her bright blue eyes and her hair fell over her shoulders and down her front.
"I decided to tag along to." She said pushing her hair over her shoulders. "I thought you'd like me round for your birthday."
"I would." Said James. "Glad someone wants to spend it with me?"
"What do you mean?"
"My parents aren't going to be around." Said James, "There somewhere on a mission."
"What, both of them?" James nodded.
"Oh James." She hugged him, pulling him into her chest, which caught James by surprise. "You poor thing."
"Listen. Dorcas is throwing a party for us both in a couple of days." Said James pulling himself away. "Do you want to come."
"What? As in go as your date?" asked Leanne playfully.
"Call it what you will." Said James. "I would just like you there."
"Ok James." Leanne leaned over and kissed him. James went wide eyed and pushed her back.
"James?" said Leanne.
"What are you doing?" asked James.
"Kissing you." Said Leanne as it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Yeah but."
"Weren't you enjoying it?"
"Well yeah." said James.
"Then lie down." She gently pushed him down onto his bed and then straddled his hips so he was sat against his head board.
"Why are you?"
"Oh, like you haven't thought about it either." Said Leanne as she leaned in closer. James's eyes fluttered closed as Leanne pressed her lips to his. James's hands gripped his sheets quite forcefully.
"Uhm." Leanne leaned back.
"Why don't we…" she picked up James's hands and placed them on her waist. "Put those there, where they might be a little more comfortable." James laughed softly and brought himself closer to her.
"Mmmmm, someone's keen?" she said teasingly.
"You started it." said James.
"I know I did." Said Leanne. James could feel her lips turn up as James moved his hands up into her hair and pulled her closer.
"Do you want to stay for dinner?" asked James.
"Let's see if I'm still hungry after this."
"What about this?"
"To girly." Said Lily. Lavender mumbled something and looked through the dresses.
"I still don't see why you just wear that dress I got you for that party at school?" said Lavender.
"This is different." Said Lily now flicking through the dresses. "This is a birthday party."
"You never really cared about your appearance before." Said Lavender.
"You said first impressions always count." Said Lily lamely.
"But you know these people Lily." said Lavender.
"Well then I want to stand out from the crowd." said Lily. "Make them see me…"
"In a different light?"
"Yeah, let's go with that." Said Lily.
"You're hiding something."
"No I'm not." Said Lily quickly.
"Do you still have that crush?"
"MUM!"
"Ok, ok." Said Lavender, "Touchy, touchy." Lily scowled, mainly because her mum had hit the nail firmly on the head. Though she wouldn't want to admit it, she wanted to look nice for a boy, was that so hard to understand. So why couldn't she tell her mother that?
"Ok…what about this." Lavender held up a yellow dress that Lily instantly fell in love with. Would Potter like that. Would that get her noticed.
"Judging by your face, I think this the one." said Lavender, "Really, you should do shopping more often, then you'll get the hang of it."
"I don't really like it." said Lily. "I can see why dad needs a drink after he takes Petunia."
Lavender had to bite back a laugh as Lily walked over and took the dress and took it from her hands. She was tired and this was the best dress she had seen, and the party was tomorrow.
"Ok, let's take that." Said Lily.
"We'll have to get you some shoes to go with that dress." Said Lavender.
"Shoes!" said Lily, "Oh for-" she held her anger and said nothing.
"Ok." She said slowly, "Shoes it is."
After being dragged what felt like a million more shops Lily was finally in her room. She was reading her book and listening to a record her mum had brought her while she was away.
"You went shopping without me!" Lily picked her ears up and listened in.
"Lily needed a dress for her party tomorrow." Reasoned Lavender. "And I haven't exactly gone shopping with her in the last year."
"So!"
"So? Petunia, listen to yourself." Said Lavender, "She's your sister, she deserves the same amount of time and love as you do."
"Yeah." Petunia scoffed, "I'm only the filler till your favourite daughter comes home!"
"No. Petunia!" Petunia stomped down the hall and slammed her door. Lily turned the corner in her book and went downstairs. She pulled on her trainers and got the football from outside and went to the garage where her father was looking at the bonnet of the car.
"Dad." John turned round and wiped his hands on some cloth.
"Yes."
"…can we go and play football?" asked Lily. John threw the cloth away and closed the bonnet.
"Sure thing." He said taking her hand and walking out of the garage.
Lily kicked the ball, John saved it and threw it back. Lily watched as it sailed over her head and land behind her.
"Lily?" John looked at her blank expression and moved towards her. "Come on you." He said rubbing her shoulder. "You're the one who wanted to play, we've only been here for an hour."
Lily looked up at her dad. She had never asked her dad for advice before, maybe he could help her. How did he get mum to like him.
"Dad?"
"Yeah."
"How do you get a boy to like you?" she asked. John frowned.
"What's this about?" he asked slowly. Lily instantly regretted asking him. He was going to be mad, he was going to tell her to stop worrying about boys and concentrate on school.
"You do have a crush." He said. Lily nodded, not daring to look up at him. "It was bound to happen eventually."
"Was it?" said Lily surprised.
"You're of the age were you do start to notice boys." Said John, "I must admit you held out longer than your sister," Lily smiled, and to her surprise her dad did to.
"Really, I'd say you just have to be yourself." Said John, "Boys like a girl who's as sharp as they are."
"Really?" said Lily.
"Lily, you'd be catch for anyone." Said John, "If you want him, go get him, if the electricity's there then you'll be fine."
"Is that the truth?"
"Bare faced I'm afraid." Said John, "Your mother and I met at your age."
"Did you know you wanted to be with her then?" asked Lily. John smiled.
"Yes." he said, "I wanted her to be mine." He ruffling Lily's hair.
"Dad!" Lily whined as she tried to straighten it.
"Stop being such a girl." Said John. Lily smiled as she straightened her hair. "See, that smile will make whoever you have your eye on crumble."
"Ok, don't do anything I wouldn't do." Said Lavender as Lily picked her dress up. "And enjoy yourself."
"Oh she will." Said Dorcas, helping Lily with her things. Lavender looked at the two questioningly while Lily glared at Dorcas.
"Is there some deeper meaning I'm not picking up?" asked Lavender. John rustled his paper and looked away.
"Maybe." Said Dorcas, "You just might have delve in deeper." Dorcas looked round the living and saw Petunia looking at her from the top of the stairs. Dorcas leaned closer to Lily.
"Who's that?" asked Dorcas.
"My sister." Said Lily looking up at Petunia glaring at them.
"Why doesn't she say hello?" asked Dorcas.
"She doesn't exactly like magic." Said Lily. "Probably doesn't like the fact that I have friends."
"So Dorcas, what do you think about Lily's dress?" asked Lavender, trying to steer the conversation away from Petunia.
"Looks very nice." Said Dorcas admiring it. "I think James will gaup at you wearing this as well."
"DORCAS!"
"James?"
"Friend of Lily's." said Dorcas, "One that she so happens to have a cr-"
"Utter one more syllable and I'll kill you!" said Lily.
"And I think that's my dad. Come on Lily!" Dorcas pulled Lily from the living room. "Bye Mr and Mrs Evans!" Lavender stood dumbfounded as Lily disappeared from the room. She turned to John who looked over his newspaper.
"James?"
"I believe that's what that Dorcas said his name was." Said John.
"She does have a crush then."
"You knew, it's just been confirmed, so why are you so surprised?"
"I just." Lavender thought for a moment. "It's just she was never really into boys." Said Lavender.
"Well going away from home she's obviously made friends with a couple." Said John, "Maybe this James has shown her that there not all that she made them out to be."
"I always thought she liked that Snape boy anyway." Said John.
"Oh god I hope not." Said Lavender. "He's weedy, and sickly, and I'm sorry John but Lily could a million times better than him."
"So why is she friends with him then?" asked John.
"Because he's a freak, just like her!" both looked up to see Petunia stalk away and slam her door shut. Both looked at each other uneasily. Petunia had been very quiet since Lily had come home, most of the time she was either locked up in her room, or out with new friends from her school.
"I think he's more keen on her." said John. "But I'm with you on this." John placed his paper down.
"Let's just hope that this Potter doesn't break her heart, otherwise she could well end up in that Snape boys arms."
"I always wondered what this would be like?" said Leanne, she was lying on James bed with him, looking at the late afternoon shine into his room.
"What were you wondering?" asked James.
"You know…"
"You were enjoying my company." Said James.
"Maybe." Said Leanne getting up. James watched her as she got up and moved to his wardrobe.
"But now I'm wondering why a boy so boisterous as you has a walk in wardrobe?" She said.
"It came with the room." said James. "I wasn't about to throw it out." Leanne rolled her eyes and walked in.
"And it's not as if you have anything worth keeping in here." She said. James groaned and got off his bed, he ruffled his hair and walked to the wardrobe, he could see Leanne flicking through the clothes hung up on the rails.
"There all Quidditch shirts." She said disapprovingly.
"Well that and t-shirts." Said James as he walked in.
"Where's all your nice things though?" said Leanne. "You really do need to where something nice tonight."
"It'll just end up getting wet." Said James.
"Wet or not, you have to look nice on your birthday." Said Leanne. "I mean, why do you need a Newcastle Newt shirt? There not even in the Premiership?"
"It's a rarity." Said James snatching it away from her. "And I've seen your wardrobe, why do you need all those dresses?"
"…There different." She said quickly.
"Are not." Said James.
"Here." Leanne picked out a black long sleeved shirt and held it against him. "Wear that with jeans, you'll be fine." James took it and started to walk out of the wardrobe. He then turned back to see Leanne still looking through his clothes.
"Jesus woman, give it a rest will you." Said James, "It's my wardrobe and I put in their whatever I damn well please."
"It's still a waste." Said Leanne walking out. She picked up her dress from the desk chair and turned to James.
"Is this good?"
"It looks fine." Said James uninterested. He heard Leanne grunt and went about the task of changing.
"Where do your family think you've gone?"
"Excuse me?"
"Where do your Aunt and Uncle think you are? And more to the point, who brings you here."
"There house elf." Said Leanne sliding off her dress, it hit the floor with a gentle thud as she then unzipped her dress protector.
"As for where I am." She admired herself in the mirror, James looked at her with keen interest.
"I've not divulged that." She held her dress against her body. "But if my cousin is that party then…" She winked in the mirror, as she noticed James admiring her.
"Well. I'll have some explaining to do as to why I turned up with you." Said Leanne.
"Shouldn't be too hard to worm out of." Said James.
"Oh yeah, someone's going to think we spiked the punch with that non-stop vomiting potion like we did at my cousin's party."
"We did that to the Slytherin's." said James as he watched Leanne pull the dress over herself. She began to giggle.
"Did you ever get caught?" James nodded.
"Tut, tut." She said, "You're losing your touch." James scowled at her. "And with Sirius to. I expected better."
"Oh yeah, and what pranks have you pulled out in the sticks?"
"We call them the states James."
"You're a colonial; everywhere to us are the sticks." Leanne now scowled at him as James buttoned up his shirt.
"See, haven't you missed this?"
"Telling me that my country is still controlled by yours? No, I haven't."
"Pulling pranks then."
"That I have." Said Leanne. "No one in my school has a sense of humour, I think it's beaten out of you."
"Shame." Said James. Leanne zipped herself up and hid it behind her blonde hair. James did have to concede, she did look very pretty. He was glad he could at least show up with her on his arm.
"So, shall we?" Leanne smiled and took his arm.
"Lead the way Mr Potter."