Chapter One: Stirring

Professor Slughorn was ambling around the desks checking on his students and how their potions were coming around. Since the Gryffindors had double potions with Slytherin, Slughorn had decided to give them an extra complicated and long potion to brew.

The silence in the room was disturbed by shuffling feet and bubbling cauldrons. The light that came through the window was being filtered by the large frayed shade and the only decent light source came from the opened door. It was nearing winter and the holidays. The sky was a bleak grey in the morning and usually a dull purple at night. The school year, so far, seem to pass the seventh years like a quiet breeze.

Lily Evans sat in the front corner of the room with her fiery hair tied into a bun and sleeves pulled up to her elbows. She was looking over the directions and gently stirring the cauldron that has now turned a dark purple shade. Her green emerald eyes didn’t show her determination or concentration, but her composed nature. Her black robe sat on her shoulders on top of the maroon and gold uniform worn by all Gryffindors and her green bag laid at her feet packed with many books checked out from the library.

Two desks behind her, she was stirring one of the Marauder’s mind, unconsciously, of course. His hair was a mess and covered his shining hazel eyes that sat behind circled frames. He liked her since, forever, it seems, although, Padfoot would have beg to differ. It’s more like five years; since their second year at Hogwarts. He never passed up a chance to ask her out and never lost hope every time she said no. They were complete opposites. It was just something about her. Not to mention the chase of not having her that made the game of love ever more fun. He knew that some day, she would say yes to a date or even fall in love with him, for that matter.

Slughorn came around the Gryffindors’ side and glanced into James’s cauldron. He raised a brow at the odd coloring of bright orange and took a whiff of the pungent odor. He glanced up at his student and notice that James wasn’t even looking at what he was mixing let alone, the big man beside him. He gave a soft cough, trying to capture the young man’s attention. It didn’t work.

Sirius noticing this, elbowed his mate in the ribs. James turned to look at him, rubbing his chest and saw the flicker (or reflection) in Sirius’s eyes. He turned once more to face his potions professor. The tall man wore a black robe over a maroon vest and cream shirt. His face was expressing impatience and seriousness. Although, it was a intimidating facade to see, James sensed a light humor and amusement surrounding his professor. James gave him a timid half-smile.

“Mr. Potter, you’ve been slacking off all week now. I see you’re in love, boy, but leave it in the halls,” said Slughorn faintly. “You are a good lad, I wouldn’t want you to fail this course. Maybe you want some help? I can ask Severus to stroll on by.” He gave a little wink and moved on to Sirius’s cauldron. Sirius nudged James slightly, stifling a laugh. Mirth twinkled in his dark brown eyes.

“Ah, that would be a fine brew, Mr. Black, if we indeed were making a Grindylow Love Potion,” Slughorn teased. “Adding the wrong ingredients will get you nowhere. Even if it is the same color. Although, I will admit, it was a nice try.” Hands folded behind his back, he walked up to the next desks in front of them.

James chucked at this last comment and shoved Sirius playfully who gave his mate a sidelong glance and lopsided grin. James’s hazel eyes gazed around until landing on the back of the red head. Slughorn was praising her skills and comparing her to Severus.

“You hear that, mate? Snevellus! She’s way better than that bloody toad!” James commented. He glanced down and decided he couldn’t do anything with his potion; starting over was out of the question, considering he had only ten minutes to the bell. He poured the warm liquid into a vial and stopper it. James started cleaning his area and poured the orange liquid down the drain beneath his feet.

“Yeah, he’s a really nasty shoe horn,” Sirius replied, not paying so much attention to his friend’s comment, but looking sadly at his cauldron. He decided to stopper it in a vial. He didn’t catch the amused, yet puzzled face beside him. He too cleaned his work area, but slowler than usual. Sirius couldn't believe Slughorn figured him out. Although, he admitted, the smell wasn't quite right; it smelled a mix between a rotten banana and pixie dung. Not that he ever smelled either...

It was time for lunch as the bell rang. All the students piled out of the classrooms and headed to the Great Hall or to their common rooms. The Marauders walked behind Lily and her friend Alice; they whispered quietly among themselves until Sirius hollered an insult.

“Oi Snevel-Weavel! Don’t move or else your trouser just might slip!” Everyone stopped to look around for the speaker. Once they saw it was Sirius, they gave a knowing smile. They waited to see what would happen to the greasy-head boy who seemed to be the only one moving about. “That was a very bad choice! You know if you did stop, I would have been so kind this let it go. Oh well! More fun for me.” A blue light shot from the handsome, dark student’s wand.

A loud crack could be heard as it echoed in the silent corridors. Suddenly, laughter and hoots exploded among the students. Severus’s trousers laid at his ankles, his black robe covered his head, and his books on the ground. Another shot of light illuminated from Sirius’s wand and Severus was wearing a pink polka dot knickers and his books started levitating to whack him on the bum.

The only person that wasn’t laughing was the slim, auburn hair girl. She had turned around to face the marauders leaving Alice to giggle to herself with a horrendous expression. Lily first glanced at James with a disgusted veneer and wrinkled nose, then toward Sirius.

Remus nudge Sirius who was laughing like a drunken madman. He wiped at his eyes where tears glistened on his redden cheeks. As if consciously, everyone dispersed at once including Alice, everyone except the Marauders.

“What? It’s funny, Evans! Get a sense of humor.”

Lily turned back to where Severus was standing. He was still standing there, in an awkward position, trying to get the robe off his head. She muttered an incantation and he was back to normal apart from his red face. He grabbed all his books from the ground and ran. Lily turned back to the boys.

“Forgive me for not being a disgusting twit! Is it only funny because it happens to Snape? You should all grow up! This is a school, not a playground! You shouldn’t be using your magic lightly! And you,” she shouted in a low voice and pointed at James. “You should know better. You could have stopped him at least. I’m taking ten points from Gryffindor.”

All the boys looked shocked, that is, excluding Remus. He seemed quite bemused, laughter twinkled in his dark grey eyes; although he was disappointed at the Head Girl taking points away from their house. He could never disagree with Lily because she was always right and stubborn. If she is somewhat wrong, she’ll always get you on her side anyways. She’s just that good. Remus also liked her self-sufficiency and her temper with the boys. It may not be quite amusing to others meaning the rest of the crew, but it was to him.

Sirius snapped out of his disbelief as the girl turned away and called after her. “Lily, wait! I’m sorry. Don’t take it out on the house. Oh, bloody hell!" He slapped his forehead and mumbled about girls and their mood swings. It was, forunately, unaudible to the girl ahead of him, but a close range that made James flush with annoyance. "C'mon!"

“Too late. This is the only way you will learn.” She didn’t turn back. Lily was going to the Great Hall to eat and talk. She hated herself for taking points away from her own house, but she thought that it was the only way those boys will learn. She tried to reassure herself, but she only felt more dejected and stupid. Was it the right decision?







Author's Note: This is my first HP fanfic and I hope it's good enough. Leave me some reviews whether bad, good, ideas..anything!

Chapter 2: Mind Boggling


I can’t take them anymore. I want to kill them! The only one good to me was that silly girl. But why? She doesn’t know what she’s doing. Just thinks it’s the right thing to do. It’s not. She should just leave me be. Why does she do it anyway? I’m a Slytherin! Wants to make me look bad as well. To show everyone she is superior even if she is a mudblood.


But I can’t help my gratitude. I should be thankful. But that’s a muggle feeling. And I should be outraged! She has defended me before. But why? It's unthinkable. What does she get out of it? I shouldn’t be thankful. A girl standing up for me, that’s shameful, especially a Gryffindor at that. Salazar would think me weak and unfitting. And the Dark Lord...I would be dead.


Severus couldn’t stop thinking about what had happen moments ago. Should he feel grateful and humiliated or embarrassed and humiliated? The red in his cheeks still burned hot red like coals. With his clothes disarrayed, he sat on the sofa in the Slytherin Common Room. He muttered a spell that made the temperature in the basement drop a couple degrees. Maybe the cold air would help his feverish flesh and cool down his jittery and blistering mind.


His books laid scattered on the table. It was lunch time, but he didn’t feel as hungry as he did before. All the students laughed. All of them. Except, Evans. He didn’t understand that girl. Actually, he didn’t understand girls, in general. Severus combed his dark slick hair with his fingers in frustration. The Marauders got him again. “That Black has it coming. I will destroy him. Then torture the rest.” He smirked, pulling back his black sleeve, to see the Dark Mark tattooed on his flesh. His loyalty to the Dark Lord and willingness to kill and torture were reflected on his face and echoed in his thoughts.


The only way, Severus could deal with the humiliation is to be malaciously poised. Walk into the Great Hall and ignore everyone and everything. “Yeah, I’ll go in there. When dinner comes around.” He couldn't help but feel irresolute and insubstantially feeble.


* * *


The Marauders sat as far as they could find seats, away from Lily. Her face was flushed with anger and some confused disappointment. She sat with her friends Alice, Mary, and Winifred. She was telling them what had happen when everyone scattered off like leaves caught in a draft, only faster. Lily told her friends what happened after everyone dispersed thinking that they would be upset at her actions.


To her surprise, the girls weren’t angry. They actually were agreeing with her decision, although they believed the Marauders won’t quit torturing the boy. While Winnie agreed, she wanted to have been there herself when it had occurred and see the pink knickers; she loved a good laugh.


“Poor soul,” Mary called the greasy haired Slytherin. “He hasn’t done anything to them! Only because he’s a Slytherin and possibly, an easy target. Someone should teach those boys!”


“Yeah, Lily should give them a taste of their own medicine,” said Alice. "I do admit, it was quite comical and I pity you, Winnie for not having a spot." Everyone giggled. Always trust your friends to make you feel better.


“So cliché!” Winifred cried. They laughed again. “I think I got a plan. But I don’t think you’ll like it, Lily. I’ll tell you gals in the dorms. Let me think more on it.”


The subject of their conversation quickly slipped onto other things such as their plans for the Holidays and gift ideas. Everyone except Winnie was going to go home to have Christmas with their families. She, on the other hand, was staying at Hogwarts for she wasn’t too fond of her cousins who was coming over during Holiday.


“They aren’t going to be that bad, Winnie!” exclaimed Lily. Her face, framed by her loose auburn hair, showed skepticism. Like herself, Winifred was a muggle-borned witch. They had many things in common except for their morals and manners.


Winifred Hughes was lazy and carefree, opposite of the uptight Lily; she didn’t worry about homework or class, but still made sure she was passing. She was more of a gothic kind of girl. On the weekends, she dressed in black and chains with heavy black make-up, and her one-time blond locks were dyed a crow’s black and trimmed to her neck. Despite all the black, she looked beautiful. She always said her inner color was black, as if that ever made sense.


Lily was the mature one in her family and in her gang of friends. Her older sister, Petunia was always wearing loads of make-up and going out with different blokes each week. As for her friends, they were as girly as girls can get. And, when Lily was with them, she gets caught up in their giggles. She always thought of Alice Green and Mary Prewett as sisters because they were so alike except Mary was raised in a larger family with boys. She and her older sister Molly were the only girls in the family. They both were kindhearted, bubbly, worry-warts, and can be outspoken when the need arise. Plus, they both sometimes dress alike.


As for their features, Mary had brownish-red hair and warm brown eyes; she's of average height and somewhat plump. Alice, on the other hand, has dark brown hair and clear gray eyes. Her face and gracefulness charmed many boys in the past years. When confronted about her appearance and the boys longing after her in the corridors, she says, "Can't help it. My face is an ongoing thing."


* * *


Sirius was still upset about losing points after dinner, when they were in the common room and James also distraught over Lily, who was upstairs doing homework. Peter wasn’t paying attention and didn’t care much about the Lily part. Remus, however, was sympathetic and amused. He, like the girls, agreed with Lily. Even though he knows he should stick with his mates, he couldn’t help but be a little more conservative considering what happened the last time.



Remus and James got into loads of trouble when Sirius tricked his friend into a prank. Although, Proffessor Dumbledore didn’t mind being one of the victims of an Easter bunny egg bomb, the other proffessors did. Sirius was found by Dumbledore, muffling his laughter by the Fat lady Portrait. He was given an amused talking to, and though, he wasn’t entirely in trouble, James and Remus did put a Luring Lies spell on him the next morning. Sirius day consisted of many girls and many slaps on the face while James and Remus received two weeks detention cleaning out the Owlery.


“You only agree because you’re a Prefect,” argued Sirius. “Wait! You’re a Prefect!” Sirius brown eyes blazed. Everyone knew what he was thinking.


“Sirius, don’t joke. I’m not adding points back. I can’t. I can’t award you for nothing. Earn it back and don’t do anything else to Snape. And if you are, deal with the consequences. But I think if you do lose anymore points, the House is going to bash you until your head looks like a bludger.”


“Bloody, what’s up with you mate? Time of the month?” Sirius howled with laughter. His friends gave slight grins and saw that people around them started to stare. The people turned back around shaking their heads, they knew Sirius was either up to something or up to something.


“We are still going through with the plan, right?” Sirius asked after calming himself down. “We got too!”


“I don’t know anymore. Lily will definitely kill us,” commented James dejectedly.


“Aww, Prongs! Forget about what she said. You never had a chance with her anyway. Although, that very diminutive, minuscule, microscopic infinitesimal percentage you did have, is lost now. But, never mind that! C’mon, mate. Wolfy?”


“Don’t call me that. I don’t mind if we lose points, but James is hurting. Let’s wait. Peter will watch for Lily. We'll concoct it after we get the supplies. And everything should go as plan. ”


“Why? Why, Remus? You’re a Prefect! You should know better!” mocked Sirius in a higher pitch voice.


Remus rolled his eyes and went back to reading. James’s head was lowering closer to the parchment he was writing for History of Magic. Peter was curled up on the floor by the fire with his Potions book lying over his face; short and soft snores erupted from him every so minutes. Sirius was also writing his assignment for class and noticed James sinking head. He rolled up a newspaper laying on the table and swatted James upside the head.


James cursed when his nose hit the table. “Oi, Sirius. What was that for?”


“Well, your head was sinking down slowly so, and I thought, I would I help you, you know. What are mates for, eh?”


“I’m going to kick your arse!” James’s chairs scooted back rubbing nosily against the stone floor while Sirius’s fell to the floor when he jumped out of it. Peter was awoken by the clamor and Remus was laughing gently to himself. The rest of Gryffindors scattered up the tower as to not be accidently stepped on or hexed by the two Marauders.