Lily
"Miss Evans, dear girl, your Sleeping Draught was excellent today," Professor Slughorn beamed. "Say, I'm having a little gathering later in my classroom—you should join us."
Tufts of his thinning brown hair floated in the draft from the dungeons, and Lily couldn't help noticing the orange stain on his collar. The longer she looked, the more stains she found: green, blue, red. It was like a color-coded map of misfired potions. His warm smile was both disarming and deliberate—far sharper than the bluster in his voice suggested. She had heard all about Slughorn's parties—usually reserved for his favorites: the famous, the well-connected, the exceptional.
The way he looked at her now made one thing clear: she had arrived. She wondered what the price would be.
"I'd love to, Professor," Lily said, offering a smile. Severus would be there, no doubt. He always said Slughorn's parties were fun—and he rarely had fun without her.
"Splendid! Seven o'clock sharp," Slughorn said, already waddling off, likely in search of his next recruit.
"Thanks loads, Professor!" Lily called after him, grinning.
"You'll never guess what Slughorn asked me!" Lily said breathlessly as she joined Marlene and Mary in the Common Room. Marlene kicked her legs off the back of a cushy red and gold armchair and motioned for Lily to sit.
"Let me guess," Mary said flatly. "Sluggie invited you to the Slug Club."
Lily's excitement dimmed. "What's wrong, Mary?"
Mary's grip on her quill tightened. "He only chooses the talented or the well-known kids. The purebloods with good parents."
"I—"
"Don't argue, Lily. You're bloody perfect compared to the rest of us."
Lily frowned. "What's going on?" She turned to Marlene, but she just shrugged. "Really Mary, what is it?"
Mary's voice cracked. "It's that bloody prat Mulciber. He cornered me outside the loo—tried to hex me. Used Dark Magic."
"What?" Lily's eyes widened. "What did he do?"
"James and Sirius turned the corner just in time. I don't even want to think about what would've happened if they hadn't." Mary's voice shook as Lily pulled her into a hug.
"What did he want?"
"He kept calling me a filthy Mudblood. Said it wasn't over." Mary trembled against Lily's shoulder. The Common Room continued around them, oblivious.
"Don't listen to him," Marlene said firmly. "He's just jealous."
"Of me?"
"Of course. He's been taught people like us don't belong. But we do. You do. And when he saw how good you are—how wrong he's been—he lashed out," Lily added.
"I'm hardly talented. Not like you. You make them feel stupid just by existing."
Lily squeezed her hand. "Don't compare us. We're better together and I'm on your side. Always."
Mary gave a weak, grateful noise in the back of her throat.
"Hey!" Marlene said brightly, "Let's help Lily get ready for her dinner!"
Lily laughed—but the dread set in quickly. Mary and Marlene were getting her ready for a party. One that didn't seem as fun anymore.
She tried to back out, more times than she could count, but they insisted. They also insisted she wear a dress too low cut for her liking and heels slightly too high, but that was neither here nor there. When they were finished with her, she arrived at Slughorn's room at 5 to 7. Lily wasn't one to be tardy. The room was full of unfamiliar faces except one.
The room was packed with unfamiliar faces—except one.
"Severus!" she called, making her way through the crowd.
He turned, cheeks pink. The older Slytherin he'd been speaking with had vanished.
"I didn't know you were coming," he said. His voice was steady, careful. He spaced his words out as if he chose them carefully.
"Slughorn asked me after class. Recognized all my hard work," she said with a smirk.
Sev smiled at that, their shared joke hitting home and it was like they were transporting back to Cokesworth. She's been trying to separate the version of Severus that is her friend from the one that is friends with the likes of Mulciber. Mary's tears don't fall far from her thoughts, but Sev's smile, Sev's every act of kindness has always neutralized his poor choice in friends. She's never seen Remus in a lower light from loving the Marauders the way he does. She knew it was different, but Sev was so easy. So easy.
They stood shoulder to shoulder as Slughorn made his rounds, boasting about their brilliance. "Potions prodigies!" he declared to anyone who'd listen, and they shared a sheepish smile.
They both knew the only reason they were so good is because they corrected all the potions in Severus' copy of Advanced Potion Making over the summer. Honestly it seemed like all potion makers are incompetent, because not a single recipe was right all the way. So the two of them rewrote one of their textbooks. James would have a fit if he knew about that. She wasn't sure if he'd laugh at her nerdy tendencies or get mad that she hung out with Severus.
Then, the door burst open as if he knew he had crossed Lily's mind.
"Ah, Mr. Potter! How nice of you to join us," Slughorn boomed.
"My father always says, better late than never, Professor."
Slughorn chuckled. "Wise man, and a gifted potioneer. Come in, come in."
Sev stiffened. "Potter? Really?"
James ignored him and slid into the seat beside Lily. She glanced at him, thinking of Mary—of what he'd done for her.
"I heard what you did," she said softly.
He looked over, surprised. "It's what anyone would've done."
"Well, it's good to know someone's watching out for us."
"Not that you need it," James said, grinning.
"Of course I'd hex you if you suggested otherwise, Potter."
"Oh I'm Potter now, am I?"
"You're lucky that's all you are," she teased. "How'd you even get in here?"
"My dad," James shrugged like it was normal. "Figured I should stop blowing off Sluggie's invites at some point."
"He was in Gryffindor, right?" Lily asked, lifting an invisible sword in the air, mimicking when they had first met.
James chuckled. "Didn't know you were cheeky, Evans."
"What does he do, anyway?"
"Sleekeazy's Hair Potion. Among other things"
"That's your dad? He's brilliant! Didn't he win an award here?"
"Fleamont Potter. 1946. I've had to polish that trophy loads of times in detention."
"Charming."
James leaned in, his expression suddenly serious. "Just so you know—for future reference—my favorite place for detention is the Trophy Room actually. Nice and private."
Lily nearly choked on her drink. "Future reference?"
"Well, you're bound to give me detentions. I figured we should set expectations."
"The second your toe crosses the line—"
"I'll have your undivided attention? Excellent."
She punched him in the arm, laughing. "I could say the same to you."
"Real mature," he said, mock-offended. "Assaulting fellow students and mocking them? Sounds like another detention to me. Repeat after me: I love James Potter."
"As if."
From the corner of her eye, she saw Severus, face dark, watching. He looked away every time James made her laugh.
And Lily knew she should be annoyed. But it was just too easy with James. As natural as breathing.
James
"Goodnight, Lily Evans," James said as she reached the staircase to her dormitory.
She turned back with a smile—the same one she'd given Remus the other day—and James' heart practically melted.
"Goodnight, James Potter," she replied.
She paused on the first step, not climbing yet, just hovering.
"I had fun tonight. With you," he said, almost surprised by his own honesty.
"I did too, surprisingly. Who would've thought? Us, getting along."
His heart was basically a puddle on the floor. Irrecoverable. He was in too deep—even if this barely counted as friendship.
If he were braver, he might've kissed her right then. But that would've ruined everything and he knew it.
"Well, sleep tight, Evans."
"Don't let the bed bugs bite, Potter," she called, grinning as she dashed up the stairs.
James opened his mouth to call after her, but she was already gone. And he couldn't follow her up—not with the girls' staircase charmed against him.
Still, he wished he had just a few moments more. He turned and headed for the boys' dormitory, his mind swimming, footsteps light. When he opened the door, his three best mates were waiting.
"How was the Slug Club, Prongs?" Sirius asked, popping a Chocolate Frog into his mouth.
"Great," James said, though his mind was a million miles away—still stuck on Lily Evans and that little dress she wore.
He flopped onto his bed, not even bothering to kick off his shoes.
"Did you and Lily Evans kiss?" Peter asked, far too enthusiastically.
"Me and Evans? Snogging? Don't be daft," James replied, trying to sound disgusted, but the protest was weak.
Sirius sat up and gave him a look. "Come on, Prongs. Why d'you think we spent so long getting you into that damn Slug Club? Everyone knows you fancy her. Honestly, if she weren't so damn infuriating, I might've had a go myself."
"You'd never," James muttered, shooting him a half-hearted glare.
"Relax. I said "might've."
"Do close your mouth, Prongs. Or at least give us the real story," Remus added, flopping onto Sirius' bed like they were at a sleepover. All they needed now was someone to start braiding hair.
"If you nosy gits must know, nothing happened," James said. "We just talked. No fighting. That's all."
"Bloody hell," Sirius grinned. "That is something. A big step up from her wanting to murder you."
"Shut it, Padfoot." James laughed despite himself.
After a beat, something occurred to him. "Hey Moony, when's the next full moon?"
"Day after next," Remus said quietly. His smile faded.
"Lovely," Sirius muttered. "Helping James with his tragic love life is getting dull anyway."
He stretched with his shirt riding up, then added with a grin, "Y'know, I'd bet my life we're the youngest Animagi in history."
"Probably because it's highly illegal to become one before seventeen," Remus replied.
"We should celebrate," James announced suddenly. "Trip to the Three Broomsticks?"
"But it's already eleven," Peter whined. "Bit late for a Hogsmeade run, innit?"
"Oh, come off it, Wormtail. We never properly celebrated mastering the transformations," Sirius said, already halfway convinced. "Plus, I wouldn't mind seeing Madam Rosmerta again."
The others groaned. Sirius had been obsessed with her for years.
"She's old enough to be your mum."
"Maybe I've got a thing for hot older women," he shot back with a grin.
Everyone laughed.
"I'd love to, but Lily and I have Prefect duty tonight. In the library," Remus said.
Sirius and James exchanged a look. Buzzkill.
"Alright, but you better make us a hangover draught," James said, pointing at Remus. "Because we are getting pissed, and we'll need to be somewhat alive for your transformation."
"You really shouldn't come," Remus said, his voice serious now. "It's bad enough you became Animagi. What if I bite one of you? What if it doesn't work like the books say?"
They'd been through this before. Since third year when the idea started.
"We'll be fine, Moony. We're doing this for you," Peter said, placing a hand on Remus' arm. "Becomin' Animagi was the hard part anyway."
"Yeah, and we researched it for ages, haven't we?" Sirius chimed in.
"But still—" Remus started.
"Keep mum about it, Moony," Peter interrupted with unusual conviction. "We're here for you. That's that."
James nodded and clapped Peter on the back.
"Alright, enough heartfelt nonsense. We need to get going before Filch shows up."
He pulled the Marauder's Map from his trunk and spread it out.
"We'll take the secret passage to the Shrieking Shack," James said, tracing a path with his finger. "Honeydukes'll be shut and we don't need another close call like last time."
"Brilliant," Peter said, already pulling on his cloak.
"Let's go," Sirius added.
And with that, the Marauders were off—four shadows slipping into the night.