Lily
"Welcome back, students," the Headmaster began. "This year will be much like the last, with a few minor differences. We've had some changes to our staff, which I'll address shortly, but first—some business. Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that all products from a shop called Zonko's are now banned.
Students who wish to try out for their House Quidditch teams should give their names to their Head of House. We're also looking for new Quidditch commentators."
He paused, his tone shifting slightly.
"Now, we're pleased to welcome a new member to our staff: Professor Gilbert Allenson, who will be teaching Ancient Runes this year."
Light applause filled the Great Hall. Gilbert looked up, red-faced but smiling.
Then, the Headmaster's voice grew solemn.
"As you all know, Tom Riddle and his followers are still at large, and growing stronger. I cannot stress enough the danger of the times we live in, or the importance of vigilance. While the castle's magical protections have been enhanced, each of us—students and staff alike—must remain alert and responsible.
Please follow all security protocols set by your teachers. And most importantly, no one is to be out of bed after hours. If you see anything unusual or suspicious, report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to act with the utmost regard for your safety and the safety of others."
He looked around the hall with warmth, but not everyone shared his mood. Lily, however, still grinned, refusing to let fear eclipse her joy at being back.
"Lily?" Marlene asked quietly. "Why didn't you come back after your meeting?"
Lily glanced at James, who was grinning too.
"I was talking with Potter," she said. She braced herself—her friends were definitely going to overreact.
"Are you guys… dating?!" Mary gasped.
Lily laughed. "The opposite, actually. He promised not to ask me out anymore. We just talked. It was nice—refreshing, even."
"Well, that's boring," Mary said, disappointed.
"Remember when I told you we hung out at one of Slughorn's parties?" Lily added. "He was like that. He's matured a lot this summer, especially with everything going on."
Mary turned to Marlene. "What about you? How's everything at home?"
Marlene's smile didn't reach her eyes. "We're getting by—me, my dad, and my brother. It's been a rough few months, but we'll be okay."
Lily hugged her. "We're here for you, Marls. Anything you need."
"Thanks, guys."
"And have you made up with Sirius yet? He was heartbroken last year," Mary pressed.
"He's clearly over it. Didn't you see him snogging Aster Lockheart on the train?" Marlene scoffed. "But whatever. He can snog whoever the bloody hell he likes."
"He's been through more than you think," Lily said gently.
"Yeah? Well so have I!" Marlene snapped.
"What do you mean?"
Marlene sat on the edge of her chair, hands trembling.
"The night before my mum died, Sirius and I went up to the Astronomy Tower. It was supposed to be just a snog, but… things got out of hand. We slept together." Her voice cracked. "I feel like a tart now."
Her cheeks flushed and she buried her face in her hands, tears slipping through her fingers.
Lily jumped up. "Did he force you? Is that why you're angry?"
"No! No, it wasn't like that at all." Marlene grabbed her hand, urging her to sit. "He was sweet. He even said he fancied me, that he wanted to try this for real. But the next day, Bertha Jorkins told me he was with Mara Greengrass in a broom closet. And then—an hour later—I found out my mum had died."
Marlene broke into sobs.
Lily stood again, her expression darkening. "I'm going to kill Sirius Black."
She spun toward the spot where the Marauders had been sitting, but they were gone.
James
"I've got a good feeling about Quidditch this year," James said as the boys walked through the corridor.
"Back-to-back champs? Too easy," Sirius laughed. "Latronem."
The Fat Lady swung open. "Go on in, boys."
"As if Slytherin could take it from us," James grinned as they climbed inside.
"Oh no—hide!" the Fat Lady gasped. James poked his head back out to see Lily charging toward them.
"What did I do this time?" he muttered.
"Not you," Lily snapped. "It's him I have a bone to pick with!"
She pointed at Sirius, who blinked in shock and pointed to himself. Lily raised her wand. James stepped in front of Sirius.
"Whoa, Evans—let's calm down, yeah?"
"How could you betray Marlene like that? How emotionally manipulative can you get?"
"What? I fancy her!" Sirius said, defensive.
"Apparently you've been saying that to a lot of girls," Lily said, pushing James out of the way.
"If Marlene has an issue with me dating other girls now, then she can tell me herself!" Sirius exclaimed. Lily put her wand up to Sirius' throat. He flinched.
"I'm talking about cheating on Marlene!"
"I'd never!"
"Somehow I find that hard to believe..."
"I don't know what the hell has got into you or why you'd think I cheated on Marlene, but you better get your bloody wand away from my neck before I make you!" Sirius demanded.
"Don't threaten me!"
"Don't give me a reason to," he sneered.
"Tell me what happened with Mara Greengrass the day Marlene's mum died?" Lily questioned, lowering her wand only slightly.
"Nothing happened, as if I'd snog her. Besides, Marlene and I haven't done a thing since the night before that."
"What happened the day before?" James asked, not sure if he wanted the answer. Marlene was like a sister to him, seeing as he'd known her since they were babies. So he didn't exactly want to know about how Sirius and Marlene had shacked up together.
"I told her I fancied her and the next day she hated me," Sirius said.
"Of course you haven't touched her since the day before because she knew you were with Mara," Lily said.
"That's a lie! I'd never hurt Marlene like that. I'll take Veritaserum, I swear!" Sirius said. There was truth in his voice, plain as day.
James frowned. "Wait… that was the day of the Ministry attack, wasn't it?"
They both nodded.
"After class, we went to Hogsmeade, remember?"
"Exactly!" Sirius said. "We weren't even near the castle!"
"Of course you'd agree, Black!"
"Don't you use my surname!"
"Don't cheat on my best friend!"
"You-"
"STOP!" James yelled. "Evans, I promise Padfoot was with me in Hogsmeade. And if you need proof, ask Dumbledore."
"Why would Dumbledore give you permission to go?" Lily asked, lowering her wand slightly.
"We were delivering a message," James said. "To Aberforth. About the Order."
"What are you, an owl?" Lily asked dryly.
"Owls can be intercepted. It was sensitive information."
"What about and who to?" Lily asked, her wand completely fallen. Concern is the form of pinched brows overtook her anger.
"The Order of the Phoenix," James added cautiously, he looked around. "A secret group fighting Voldemort. But you can't– you can't tell anyone, alright?"
Lily nodded. "I won't." Her expression softened.
"You really didn't cheat?"
"I swear on my life. I'd never do that to Marlene."
"But Bertha said—"
"Bertha Jorkins is a bloody liar!" Sirius said, cursing under his breath. At that moment, Marlene walked into the Common Room with Mary, Emmeline, and Dorcas.
Lily turned to her. "I think you and Sirius need to talk."
Marlene looked to Lily, trying to get a read on her even toned face. She gave Marlene an encouraging nod, but nothing further. James was sure her head was spinning.
"Hey," James whispered to Lily. "Walk with me?"
"Sure. Library?"
"Why not."
They strolled forward, about to exit the Common Room which was starting to reignite after their rainstorm of a conversation. James let Lily exit first, but she paused fast, her head whipping around like she forgot her wand or something.
"Sirius," she called out. Marlene and Sirius still stood in silence, awkward and exposed, "I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that."
Sirius just nodded once, slowly. Lily nodded back and kept walking.
They reached the Library in total silence. His hand itched to take hers, but he stayed rigid and close.
"Are you guys in it?" she asked. James knew this line of questioning was imminent.
"No we wanted to be once we found out, but Dumbledore insisted that you had to be of age to join."
"How did you find out about it? It hardly seems like something Dumbledore would just go telling students about," Lily pointed out.
"Yeah he wouldn't, but his brother did. We were in Hogsmeade one night, hanging out in Hogs Head. And Aberforth had a few too many drinks himself and he started getting all these owls from Dumbledore. Naturally, we had questions, and drunken Aberforth wasn't terribly good at keeping secrets," James explained. He hoped that she wouldn't reprimand them for sneaking out to drink in Hogsmeade.
Lily made a contemplative noise in the back of her throat, sitting on the information.
"Okay that was your question, now mine." Lily looked up in protest, clearly with more questions to ask, but James didn't have much more information he was willing to give. "So tell me, Evans, why do you dislike me so much? And give me the real version."
He stared at her full lips, thinking about how much he'd like to kiss her. There were not many people in the library, the lights were dim, and she looked as beautiful as ever. Maybe that was a mistake to ask. He wondered if this was ripe to blow back up in his face.
"I thought it was self-explanatory: you tended to be an arrogant plonker," Lily said matter-of-factly, not really looking him in the eyes.
"Tended?"
"Well we've only been back a day," she teased.
"Hypothetically speaking, say that I did mature and stop being an 'arrogant prick', would that change how you feel about me?" James asked. They were so close together, their bodies almost touching.
"I thought you were done asking me out?" Lily said, but she didn't move away.
"I am. But we're trying to be friends now, right?" James asked and she nodded. "So what if I asked you to go to Hogsmeade with me?"
"Friends don't go on dates, Potter."
"True, but it wouldn't be a date. I know you don't want to date me and now that we are friends, we have 5 years of missed friendship to make up. So what do you say?" James said smiling. He could see her internal struggle play out.
"Fine," Lily said reluctantly. James slung his arm around her shoulder, which she promptly pushed off.
"We'll have fun, no one's ever called me a bad time. But we should probably start getting to know each other. It's your turn for a question now," he urged.
"Not about the Order, I'm assuming?" she asked and he nodded with a grin, "Ok fine, favourite class?"
"Easily Defence Against the Dark Arts. There's nothing like learning real techniques, training. The rush of a duel is incredible. It's like replaying scoring the Quaffle over and over."
Lily smiled at his enthusiasm. "Do you find yourself dueling a lot?"
"I feel like I'll find myself duelling a lot more in the coming months," he said with a hint of grimness. Her face fell in the same way.
"Alright, nevermind that. What's your favourite sweet?" he asked.
"Kit-Kats," Lily said. "That's easy."
"The bloody hell is that?"
"A muggle sweet. They are brilliant, I'm telling you."
"I'll take your word for it. Mine is Chocolate Frogs. I've got all of the cards too. Collected 'em," James told her proudly.
"Even Merlin?" He nodded. "Impressive, Potter. Favourite colour?"
"The colour of your eyes," James said softly. He towered over her just the right amount. To lean down and kiss her would be so easy. So easy.
"Would you mind not flirting with me?" Lily said. A First Year with a bumbling stack of books stared at them with wide eyes. James shot them a wink.
"Sorry, force of habit," he said grinning. "What's yours? I won't be offended if it's not the colour of my eyes."
"Yellow, a pastel yellow."
"Pastel yellow doesn't really go with my skin tone but I'm willing to make sacrifices."
"You're unbearable," Lily said, shaking her head with a smile.
"I don't see you running off," James counters.
"I wouldn't want to offend you."
"That never used to stop you."
"That's because you were truly and wholeheartedly despicable," Lily told him. "A true git."
"And you a no-fun, two-faced, judgmental witch," he teased, recalling the names they call each other. There was a plentiful word bank to choose from.
"The Giant Squid is still better," she laughed.
James jumped backwards. "You wound me," he said, "I guess after a blow like that, my head can fit inside now. Would you say?"
She giggled. James Potter made Lily Evans giggle! What has the world come to?
"See you think I'm funny, humble, and handsome!" he cheered.
"I wouldn't say handsome or humble. As for funny, you have your moments," she shot back.
"Well I remember a time when I very heroically saved a certain red head who, in her endless gratitude, complimented my physique," James said, "I believe the exact words were 'You have such strong arms' and 'What a nice face'. A bit blunt, but I'll take whatever I can get."
Lily blushed furiously.
"I was delirious! That– that doesn't count!" Lily defended.
"I'm only joking, Evans." James said not wanting to push her too far. "In case you forgot, I told you that you had a nice face too. Which still stands."
He leaned on a bookcase very close to Lily. He could feel the tension, once again he wanted to kiss her. He thought for a moment that she wanted to as well, but she jumped back.
"We should probably head back to the Common Room."
"I don't want to walk in on Marlene and Padfoot shagging!" James complained.
Their moment was over, he just hoped they would get another chance.
"Let's go Potter."