Managing Marauders {Chapter Seven}

[Aeryn Brady]

{This is a story that me and Paige have been working on for the last... day or so. xDDDD It's Marauder-esque, and here it is.}



CHAPTER ONE
LILY'S POV

“Lily, dear? Lily, are you awake? Oh, Andrew, she’s fallen asleep again…”

With a little jolt, I opened my green eyes. I found myself in the kitchen of my house, sitting at the small round breakfast table and being closely watched by my brisk mother. One of my arms was laid across the table, which was covered in a blue checked table cloth, and my other was dangling down to the side of my chair. “I’m not asleep,” I muttered, annoyed, lifting my head so that my red hair wasn’t so close to dipping into my cereal.

“That’s good, darling. We have to leave for Diagon Alley in a couple of minutes and you really need to finish your cereal for your strength.” I barely listened to my mother’s quick voice and amused tone. “And besides, I thought you left your falling-asleep-at-breakfast phase behind when you were ten! Sixteen year olds don’t sleep in their cereal.” I snarled something irritable back, and dear mother laughed. “They don’t get ratty when they’re tired, either.”

“Are you taking me to the Alley this time, mother?” I asked with a sigh, picking up my spoon and shovelling more cereal into my mouth.

“Of course I am! Your father isn’t capable of helping you get your robes fitted…” My red-haired mother looked sideways at my black-haired father. “Remember last time he took you and dripped the ice cream everywhere? Oh no, I don’t even want to think about that. Anyway, he’s staying behind to look after Petunia… you know how she gets at the start of your school year… last year was a nightmare…”

After some more rambling, a slightly tearful goodbye to my old Pa and a goodbye from my lovely sister Petunia that almost ended in us scratching each other’s eyes out again, my mother and I set out to Diagon Alley. Finally; after weeks spent at this house of horror for the summer, I’d be free and at school again. Hallelujah.

***

At the Alley, my mother and I idly wandered around for a while, window shopping, before we went to get my new robes fitted. I managed to talk her out of buying me a new wand (she always tries to get me a new one, even though the one I already have, and have had since first year, is working perfectly fine) and then we got my new school books (well, and a couple of fictions for pleasure reading, of course). That racks up quite a cost, and I really don’t know how most families do it.

After we’d got the essentials, my mom took me to get a packet of owl treats, and then insisted on buying me supplies for the train. I did insist that there was a trolley lady, but when Irene Evans gets going there’s really no stopping her.

Then, finally, after much unnecessary faffing about, we set off for the station, and I said goodbye to my mother and disappeared through the Platform 9¾. I was very early (my mother doesn’t approve of being ON TIME, let alone late), so I was around the first person on the train. I knew that there was no was my best friend Beatrix Kingston would be already here, which was kind of lame, but I also knew that James Potter wouldn’t be here, either, which pretty much brightened up my day.

I dragged my heavy trunk onto the empty train, and headed right towards the back, the compartment which I always favoured. It was a little bigger than most of the rest, and with the amount or rubbish my mother made me bring, I certainly needed the maximum amount of space if I was going to travel at all. I realized that I was still in my Muggle clothes and, seen as the train was almost empty, I changed into my school robes right away, attaching my Prefects badge right away.

I decided that I’d wait for Beatrix to arrive, and hear about her holiday, before I went to the Prefects compartment and dealt with all the rubbish that was sure to happen on the journey. Leaning back against the seat, I swirled a curl of my long red hair (which, today, was up in a high ponytail for convenience) around my fingers, and closed my bright eyes.

Time to wait.[/size]

[paige]

CHAPTER TWO
Beatrix’s POV

“Time to get up, Beatrix!”
Damn morning people, so jolly and bright. Damn my mum, who insisted on getting my up three hours before the train was due to leave. She’s so typical. If dad was still alive I wouldn’t be up right now.
“I’m awake, go away.” I mumbled, my head falling into my pillow. I didn’t make any sense, but it worked because my mum told me to get up in at least ten minutes and went off, mumbling to herself about laziness. I heard my brother getting up in the room next to me and sighed. Both my brother and I were magic. My parents and younger sister, Willow, weren’t, but me and Wyatt both received letters about Hogwarts when we were eleven, and love it. We’re twins, and look quite alike when it comes to hair colour and eye colour, and like the same things, but the gender obviously means we aren’t identical.

I was thirteen when my dad died. Wyatt, Willow and I don’t actually know why he died, my mum does, but she won’t tell anyone in our family the truth, except her fiancé, Alex, who promised her he wouldn’t tell. To be honest, I don’t want to know, but Wyatt does, and so does Willow.

I reluctantly got up, heading downstairs ten minutes later, dressed. I sat down and started to eat my pancakes, glancing at Willow. She was ten, six years younger then me, and she hated not knowing if she was going to Hogwarts or not. Wyatt and I doubted it, seeing as because both our parents were muggle, and the chances that all of their children were magic were extremely slim. We never told Willow though.

“Morning.” I said to Willow, glancing up the stairs and noticing Wyatt, whose eyes were half closed. I laughed at him, but he didn’t seem to hear.

“Okay, we’re leaving in two hours; you have all your stuff, right?” My mum asked for the sixth time in the past two days, and both Wyatt and I nodded, as if on automatic.
“Yes mum, we aren’t Willow’s age!” Wyatt mumbled, earning himself a kick under the table from our lovely (sarcasm is a wonderful thing) sister. Wyatt muttered an apology to her, shovelling cereal in his mouth.

“Sorry, sorry.” Mum said, brightening when Alex ambled down the stairs. Alex went over and greeted my mum, which lasted for several minutes and all three of us at the table turned away disgusted, pulling faces. My mum pulled away and laughed and we rolled our eyes, though me and Willow secretly hid our grins, happy mum found someone she could trust after dad.

**

“Have a good time, okay? I’ll write you letters and you have to reply!” Mum told us, acting as if we were going for two years, not September until July, most probably coming home for holidays, however, both Wyatt and I kissed her on the cheek, hugged Willow, waved (a little awkwardly, seeing as Alex was a muggle and he was a little scared we had wands and stuff) at Alex, saying we’d see them all soon, and boarded the Hogwarts express. I said goodbye to Wyatt for now, telling him I’d catch up with him later, and went to find Lily. A shrill whistle blew and I jumped, causing me to bump into someone, and fall to the floor.

How embarrassing. I hadn’t even been on the train for two minutes.
“I’m so sorry; I wasn’t looking where I was going.” I said, blushing. I grinned up at the boy, taking his hand and letting him pull me up.
“I should be the one apologizing!” He said, and then I realized it was James Potter, one of the infamous marauders.
“It’s okay, I was just- hey, your Lily’s friend! I mean...”
I laughed. “Yes, I am Lily’s best friend, may I say, she has taken quite a fancy to you, though she’d never admit it...” I saw the sparkle in James’ eyes and knew I’d be regretting this later. I said goodbye to him, ignoring his questions, and went off to find Lily, smiling secretly to myself.

I came to Lily’s compartment and entered, putting my trunk down and greeting her with a hug.
“Lily!” I said, smiling.

Lily and I had been close friends since first year. We were inseparable, and everyone knew it. We talked about everything, and she was the only one who knew about all the things I felt about my father and Alex, and all my secrets too, and I knew all of hers, and how she felt about Petunia too.

I waited for a reply, looking out the window and giving one last wave to my family before the train lurched and left the station, and I left them behind. Another year at Hogwarts.

[Aeryn Brady]

{Woot for fast updating! ^_^ THAT NO ONE CARES ABOUT. xDDD}

CHAPTER THREE
Lily’s POV

My pale forehead was pressed against the glass of the window, my lightly freckled nose causing the clear glass to cloud over every time I took a breath, when my best friend Beatrix burst in, her blonde curls flying behind her as she deposited her trunk and rushing to me. I wrapped my arms around her, returning the light hug, and replied cheerfully, "Beatrix!"

Beatrix waved at her family and the train started to move. I grinned, thinking of all the fun we'd had last year at Hogwarts, and began to speak. "I'm sorry I haven't seen you so much over the summer. I've been ridiculously busy, and Petunia's attitude is getting worse. You know how she is. I'm starting to think that she genuinely HATES me." I paused to think. "No, wait... I KNOW she genuinely hates me." I laughed, and continued. "How was your holiday, anyway?"

My best friend began to speak, and I listened carefully. "It was okay, I mean, Wyatt and I played Exploding Snap mostly, and Mum and Alex got drunk, so we snuck out while they were...having fun-" I grimaced at this slightly sickening piece of information, and Beatrix went on regardless.

"-and Willow was asleep, and went to Joe's, he's Wyatt's friend, and he has a sister a year older, so I talked with her. How was your holiday? James write you letters confessing his love?"

I laughed, though even I noticed that the laughter was slightly hollow sounding. "That's one thing I have to be thankful for, I suppose; James didn't write me a single letter this summer. Not like last year." I laughed again, though this was a proper laugh, as I relived the summer of the year before and it's memories. "Do you remember last year? I received, what? Like, forty-seven letters from him? It was pretty funny. Even Sirius wrote, trying to persuade me to write back because James was apparently 'heartbroken and crying all the time'.

"I remember thinking, 'ch'yeah, like James Potter's ego would allow him to shed ONE tear in front of Sirius Black'. I don't think so." I smiled, and began, "I was all, 'you lying'-"

My speaking was cut off, however, but a tune rapped on the compartment door. Before I could even call out for whoever it was to come in, the door was slid roughly open, and James strode in, followed by... well, who else? The Marauders, of course. I barely had time to utter my trademark, "Ugh, YOU again."

"G'day, my Lily, beautiful as ever," he replied, ignoring my obvious rudeness.

"Good day, Potter, pathetic as ever," I shot back dryly, my tone a thousand times colder than his.

"My friends, Sirius and Remus and Peter (you know them, of course you do) would very much like to grace you with our presence."

"Must you?"

"Aye, I'm afraid we must, lovely Lily."

"And there's no one else you'd like to sit with?"

"There's no space anywhere else," Sirius cut in, with a hint of a smile.

"NOT that we'd want to be anywhere else, anyway," James added hastily, taking a seat and sealing the entire matter.

"Fine," I agreed with the frostiest of voices, though it occurred to me that even if I had told them to get the heck out of my sight (not that I would, though, I guess) they would have stayed with us anyway.

"So did you miss me at all, Lils?" he said, breaking the silence as soon as it started. "You know, over the holiday? You must have been so lonely, without me there to... without me there to... to..." He seemed unable to get the right word to fit the end of his sentence, so I finished it for him.

"Annoy me? Oh, yes, I sure did miss that." Did I forget to mention that I am a master of sarcasm? "Of course not. It was good to have a bit of peace and quiet. And it was entirely pleasurable not to turn around and have a James stuck to my face. Oh, entirely pleasurable indeed."

"Ah, I guess what Beatrix said was wrong, then," James continued, flicking his darkened eyes over to the girl sitting beside me. "Whoops!"

My own green gaze turned to her, too, and my round, almond-shaped eyes narrowed dangerously, flicking back to James. "Why? What did she say?" I asked. When I was deprived of a fast answer, I looked back to Beatrix, and emphasized my question. "Why? What did you say to him?" Well, whatever she had said was a lie, right? She didn't know the inside of my mind... right?[/color]

[paige]

CHAPTER FOUR
Beatrix’s POV

I coughed and shifted awkwardly. Damn James. I was going to kill him. He noticed me glaring and winced.
“I said that you … didn’t appreciate him, but you liked him a little…” I mumbled, then started a conversation with Remus to get away from Lily, who got stuck talking to Sirius. I knew I was going to have to pay later.

“I finished my potions essay last night, I kept putting it off.” I explained, and Remus nodded.
“What was it about?”
“Werewolves.” I said, and I noticed Remus freeze and his eyes glaze over.
“Remus, you okay?” I asked, waving a hand in front of his face, a little worried at his distant expression, but he snapped back to reality.
“Oh, right, interesting...” Was all he said, then started to talk to Peter without another word to me, which upset me, though I tried hard not to show it. I had never exactly got over my crush on Remus from third year, but nobody except Wyatt knew, and that was only because he read my diary (which I hardly ever write in anymore). Not even Lily, because I was scared she’d tell. And I still am.

“Bea, you okay?” I snapped out of my trance and looked up. Peter was talking to me. I didn’t like Peter. He was obsessed with cheese and always laughed at me when I tripped up.
“Yeah, fine.” I mumbled, ending our conversation before it had practically started, but Peter didn’t seem to care.

I stood up, grabbing my diary and pen and excused myself to the toilet, taking my robes too. I changed in the toilet then sat down on the closed toilet seat, opening my diary, that I hadn’t wrote in for two years, but always took with me to Hogwarts, in case I needed to write something down.[/font][/color]

[/size]Dear Diary.
I haven’t written in this book in forever, and now I see why. If someone finds this thing, I would die of embarrassment. I mean, it has everything in here. About Remus, my dad, Alex, James and Lily… I need to lock it. I would ask Lily, but I couldn’t tell her about this diary or she’d find out about Remus, and that would be very bad.

I’m on the way to the Hogwarts express and I really am excited. I mean, I’m away from my family, that’s bad, but I’m back at school with my friends and magic, and at home magic isn’t a subject we talk about, seeing as me and Wyatt (and possibly Willow) are the only magic people in the family and Alex is a bit scared of us, as he’s only just been told (by my mum of course) about what me and Wyatt really are. He finds it hard to find out that his fantasy is real.

Anyways, I better get back to the compartment; Lily is probably dying with the boys in there with her, especially James.
I might write soon,
Bea. [/font][/size][/color]

Bea left the toilets, stifling a laugh at the first year practically red in the face from waiting for her, and headed back to the compartment, packing her diary away when nobody was looking, and started to talk with the marauders and Lily, awaiting another year at Hogwarts.[/font][/color][/size]

[Jason Brady]

CHAPTER FIVE
Lily's POV

"What?!”

The single word left my uncomfortably drip lips in a yelp, after Beatrice spilled what she’d said, looking thoroughly awkward about it as she did so. That wasn’t the most unnerving, though. What was, was that James was grinning in a completely creepy way.

“That’s not all you said-”

I didn’t let him finish. Instead, I snapped, “First of all, not only do I not appreciate you, I can’t stand you, James Potter.”

All I got in reply was a smirk, and then a smarmy, “It’s hot when you use my last name to yell at me.”

“Shut up, I‘m not finished,” I cut in, feeling my head feel as if it was filling up with hot water, like it always did when I got mad. Though, this time, I wasn’t exactly sure WHY I was getting so mad over a mere accusation of liking James a little. It just irked me. But it wasn’t true.

Right? Maybe. Either way, I carried on the little rant that I had going. “And if I liked you a little, don’t you think I’d show it?” I snorted. “I like Remus a little. We get along, We’re friends. Same with Peter. Even with Sirius. But you? Ugh.”

All I got back was that annoying smirk, and that infuriated me even more, if it was possible. James stood up and sat right next to me, and said, “If you didn’t like me just a little… if what your best friend (in the whole world, mind you) said is false… then why do you get so mad when someone mentions it?”

That knocked me, and I didn’t know what to say. I just blinked a him a couple of times, my fluttering green eyes staring at his warmer, hazel ones with just the hint of an annoyed glare.

“Besides… I’ve also heard that you’ve taken ‘quite fancy to me’…”

And that got me roaring mad again. I spun my head past James to look dangerously at Beatrix, who was chatting in an anxious sort of way to Peter, but she was up and out the door within seconds. Probably going to the toilet, I supposed, but she must have been trying to get away from one of us.

I stood up, and walked, hips swishing lightly as they always did, to the compartment door. I pulled it open and peered curiously out, wondering where my friend had gone. She was usually the only thing that kept me somewhat sane when we had to manage the Marauders, but today… today, she, James and her blabber-mouth words were the things driving me insane.

Beatrix was nowhere to be seen, though, and I sighed, and turned. I was met with the smiling face of… who else? Mr. Potter.

Laughing somewhat nervously, I muttered, “I have to go to the Prefect’s compartment, okay?” I glanced to Remus, who must have been the most reliable Marauder of them all, and said, “Tell Beatrix where I’ve gone when I come back, alright?”

I hesitated, wondering whether to add on the end, ‘before I lose my mind’, before deciding otherwise, and darting out the door and down the corridor.

Phew. Fresh air.

[paige]

CHAPTER SIX
Beatrix's POV

As I re-entered the compartment I noticed Lily was gone.
“Where’s-”
“She went to Prefect Duty.” James replied automatically, and I nodded, sitting down in silence. The compartment was silent, until Bea suddenly though of an idea.
“James, I’m going to help you get Lily.”

There was a stunned silence from all the marauders when Bea declared that.
“But-but you’re her best friend and she hates me…”
“Yes, but you’re perfect for each other, and she does like you a little, she’s in denial. But you can’t repeat anything I say to her, and can’t tell her I’m helping you, okay?”
James nodded; his mouth slightly open. Sirius was in shock too, and Remus just looked confused, but neither said anything.
“First, stop asking her out so much. And don’t flirt with her that much either. First, work on being her friend.”
James opened his mouth to protest, then shut it again and nodded.
“Then, when your friends, casually ask her out as friends, nothing more, and she should say yes, and if she asks me what to do, I’ll tell her to agree as friends.”
Another nod.
“Next, when the time is right, ask her out on a date, and then work things out from there. Also, stop being such a jerk around her too, she hates that.” I finished, and James stopped to think.
“This isn’t a trick, is it?” He asked, unsure.
“James, get over yourself.” I said, shaking my head, then I started talking with Remus and started up a game of chess, which I lost. Remus started gloating to Sirius so I looked out of the window, wondering how long it would be until we got to Hogwarts.

We arrived half an hour later and Lily returned twenty minutes before that. I stood up, grabbing my trunk and heading outside, loosing Lily in the progress.

I headed to a carriage and sat down, waiting for them to find me. The marauders piled in with Lily around a minute later, and started a discussion on Quiddich, and I talked with Lily, apologizing for what I said to James, when none of the marauders were listening.

Lily sighed, and replied, "That's fine." She looked at me sideways, and added, "You know it's not true, though, right? It's not like I've taken a fancy to James. James Potter? Nope. I don't think so. He's annoying. Don't you think he's annoying? I do."

I laughed, knowing she was trying to hide something, but didn’t push her anymore, and nodded. We arrived at the castle minutes later, and everyone hopped out, leaving their trunks behind, as we were told they would be bought to our dorms and would be there after the feast, which was fine with me.

As we entered the castle we noticed the first years stepping out of the boats. I grinned, remembering my time as a first year. We were ushered into the Great Hall, and had to wait forever until the First Years come out, looking petrified. I just wanted food, and waited impatiently at the Gryffindor Table next to Lily.

[Aeryn Brady]

CHAPTER SEVEN
Lily's POV

The Great Feast passed as it always did, with amazing food, intelligent conversation (or in James' case, not so intelligent) and the annual warnings from teachers and the Headmaster. It was better than last year, when some of the, well... more 'solid' ghosts had decided that spraying some unpleasant smelling liquid over everyone would be hilariously funny.

The staff still didn't find out which troublesome group of students it had been that supplied the ghosts with whatever they threw on us, but I had some ideas... the Marauders had suspiciously been missing from the Hall that year.

Gryffindor gained a few new members, the first years, and it amused me to see that they all sat in a little 'first year' bunch at the end of the table, as I had when I first attended Hogwarts, and how many of my ancestors probably had long before me and everyone else.

After the food, Beatrix and I bid goodnight to the Marauders (I was even civil to James, would you believe?) and headed up to our dorm. I wasn't so tired, so when I reached my bed and trunk, I didn't change into my pyjamas right away. I just took my ponytail out and let my dark red hair fall around my shoulders. I shook it out, and ran a hand through it, dropping the bobble onto the bed.

"Hey, Lils?"

I glanced up as Beatrix spoke from the bed next to mine, turning to face me. "Yeah?"

"I've just remembered; I wrote a letter to you in the summer. There's probably not much in it, but it's in my trunk over there anyway, if you want to take a look." She walked to the dorm door. "I'm just going to the toilets, okay? Read it while I'm gone." She smiled, and disappeared into the hallway beyond.

I pulled open the heavy trunk lid and peered inside. The letter was underneath some clothes, atop a diary type book, and I raised my eyebrows. I didn't know that Beatrice wrote in a diary... I took both, the diary and letter, and shut the trunk top. I stood, and walked downstairs to the common room, plopping onto the sofa in front of the fire and popping open the seal on the letter.

Like Bea had said, it didn't contain much, just bits about the summer holiday that I already knew. I read it anyway, before sliding it back into it's envelope. Then I picked up the diary, and gently pulled open the front cover.

I knew what I was doing was wrong, reading my best friend's secret thoughts, but I couldn't help myself. I only got as far as the date and, 'Dear Diary, today was...' before I heard Beatrix calling my name from upstairs. Panicking, I let the diary drop back onto the seat of the sofa and left it, rushing upstairs.

***

Little did Lily know that, as she slid underneath the covers of her bed, a certain raven-haired, hazel-eyed Marauder was picking up that diary, scanning his eyes through it and chuckling. "Well, well... how very interesting indeed."

[paige]

CHAPTER EIGHT
Beatrix's POV

Beatrix came back from the toilet and noticed Lily asleep. She sighed, heading downstairs, and coming face to face with James and a very embarrassed looking Remus. Bea frowned, looking at the book they had, and noticed it was her diary. Her mouth dropped. No way. She ran up, snatching it from James’ grasp.
“HOW DID YOU GET THIS?” She yelled, clutching the diary to her, afraid it would fly out of her hands.
“It was already down here, Bea. And besides, I think you’re the one with the explaining to do. You never said your father-”
“SHUT UP!” Bea screamed, noticing both the guys looked guilty.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean-”
“Didn’t mean to what, James? Look through my personal stuff?” Bea whispered, giving up with shouting. “You can forget about helping you get Lily, if that’s the way you want to find out more about me.” Bea added, causing a crestfallen James to go up to his dorm, leaving Remus and Bea. Remus looked at Bea, not saying a word. Bea stood there, crying. Remus stepped toward her, and before Bea could walk off he pulled her into a hug, and for the first time since her dad died, she cried, and told someone everything, with the exception of Lily. About her dad, Alex, her mum. And for the first time, someone understood, other then Lily.

After she had confessed everything, Bea wiped her tears away, wondering if Remus knew about her crush. He hadn’t said anything about it but Bea didn’t want to ask him. She smiled at him.
“I think I’ll go to bed now, but thanks.” She whispered, and stood up, but Remus stopped her. He didn’t say anything though, he just looked at her, then pulled her into another hug and then left, going up the stairs and leaving Bea, smiling, as she headed for her bed.

[[Very short, Sorry!]][/color][/size]