Lily Evans: A History

There was quite a few differences in first year and second year
at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Especially for Lily
Evans. Besides the fact that their school work was growing steadily
harder and their work load steadily increasing. Lily found herself
spending more of her time with Kassie than the four boys that had
dominated her time first year. Which was neither a sore spot or a happy
note with Lily. Because it seemed that the Marauders had more than
just pranks up their sleeve these days.
	Sure, they could still be found standing in a silent line in
front of Professor McGonagall's desk at any given time; being told off
for their childish behavior. ("But we ARE children!" Sirius insisted,
much to their Head of House's disapproval.) And the Slytherins were
always cursing their names more than once. But something else was going
on; something that had to do with the conversation Lily had sort of
over heard that night after their first day of classes.
	When Lily had asked James about it later, he confirmed that
Professor Kittle's little test exam, asking the questions about
werewolves, had tipped Sirius off. That night they had confronted Remus
with his lycanthropy and he confessed. But if Remus was afraid that
James, Sirius and Peter would desert him because of this, he was to be
proven wrong. If anything they seemed to have a tighter bond now than
last year.
	But still there was something else; something that Lily couldn't
quite put her finger on. There was now secrets among the four that
didn't involve her. But this didn't upset Lily much, because her and
Kassie had grown so close.
	The first couple of weeks at school passed by so quickly that it
seemed almost impossible that Halloween was coming up. Of course,
November meant Quidditch and everyone got excited over that. Especially
since Gryffindor's team this year promised to be better than previous.
James canned the spot for new chaser the first try-out. It was plain to
see that the second and third cuts were just for show. A short and
rather skinny third year by the name of Patrick Mundame made seeker,
fourth year Nick Wood was keeper and Mark Johnson, another second year,
made beater.
					*	*

	It was the last Saturday in October and Lily had every intention
of sleeping in. She had finished all her homework the night before
(late the night before, but it was finished nonetheless) and she now
had two completely school work free days ahead of her.
	Unfortunately the fates wouldn't allow a girl such a thing as
beauty sleep. Or rather, a certain black haired girl wouldn't allow it.
Groggily Lily blinked as some one poked her in the arm rapidly. Looking
through hazy eyes, she tried to focus in on Kassie. "Wha'd you want?"
she grumbled without turning over.
	"Get up," Kassie replied, poking her again. "Come on, you're
missing breakfast!"
	"And your point is...?" Lily mumbled, burring her face once more
in her pillow. She tried unsuccessfully to yank her curtains closed
again, but only managed to yank on Kassie's sleeve. "Go 'way."
	"Lily... really, you need to--"
	"No," Lily insisted, turning over. She had no more opened her
mouth to give off a string of perfectly good reasons she should stay in
bed when suddenly someone threw a bucket of ice cold water over her.
	Lily jerked up, spitting and hissing all the way. "Kassie!" she
yelled, slinging water off her face.
	"It wasn't me!" Kassie insisted, giggling, now safely across the
room. "I tried to warn you Lily. But you wouldn't listen!"
	Lily opened her green eyes and seen not Kassie standing over her
bed holding a bucket, but Sirius Black. And the moment her green eyes
meet his he dropped onto Madison's bed in laughter. Not only that, but
he wasn't alone. James, Remus and Peter were all holding their sides as
they burst into fits of giggles.
	The only person who didn't find this funny was Lily as she looked
around at her now thoroughly soaked bed, not to mention herself.
"SIRIUS BLACK!" she shrieked, making a lunge at him. He danced out of
the way, still laughing while pointing at her.
	"Payback, my dear Lily, is so sweet!" he told her, jumping again
out of her reach.
	Lily stopped herself from running after him and picked up her
wand. Sirius gave a quick "Oh crap!" and made for the door; James,
Peter and Remus tailing along behind him.
	"This isn't over," Lily informed Kassie as she stalked past her.
To give her credit, Kassie tried to look as outraged as Lily, but only
managed to nod before drowning in a new wave of giggles.

					*	*

	It took nearly twenty minutes of flipping through her charms book
for Lily to find a spell to dry her mattress. Kassie sat on her own bed
and watched, amazement on her face as she seen her normally even
tempered best friend plan retaliation.
	"If I can ask," Kassie began uncertainly when they finally headed
down for breakfast. "What did Sirius mean about payback?"
	Lily's face suddenly lit up. "That's right..." she mumbled, just
loud enough that Kassie caught what she said. "Oh, I played a harmless
little prank on them the first day of class. Let off a firework in
their room. And let me tell you how Sirius reacte---"
	"Morning Lily!" someone said from behind the two. Sirius threw
one arm around Lily causally, throwing Kassie a quirky grin. "Now what
ever would you two charming ladies be talking about?"
	He seemed to be challenging Lily to own up to what she was about
to say. It just so happened Lily was more than up to it.
	"Just telling Kassie here about that little prank I played on you
the first day of class. I pulled a firework in their room, and Sirius
here came charging out of his bed--smmwnna...!" Lily was cut off
sharply as Sirius put his hand over her mouth.
	He gave a nervous grin at Kassie and James, Peter and Remus burst
out laughing. Lily fought to get free of Sirius' hand, but to no avail
since he was bigger than her. So she done the first thing that came to
her mind; she bit his hand.
	"OW! Bloody hell!" Sirius swore, yanking his hand away. He glared
at his best friends as they laughed. "That was uncalled for!"
	"So is your screaming in the middle of breakfast," another voice
answered. Sirius' eyes flashed towards the ceiling before he spun
around, putting on his most charming smile.
	Professor McGonagall was standing behind him, her hands on her
hips and a disapproving glare pointed straight at Sirius. The latter
grinned, his expression that of just having his hand caught in the
cookie jar; or, as the case may be, Lily's mouth. "Professor
McGonagall, you look lovely this morning," Sirius said, flashing her
another smile.
	"And you look to be in some trouble," the Professor answered
back, pointing her slender finger towards the double oak doors of the
Great Hall. "March."
	Sirius looked confused for a moment and then suddenly laced his
arm through Professor McGonagall's and began skipping to the door;
albeit rather slowly. All the while they could hear McGonagall
screaming at him to stop or she'd take fifty points from Gryffindor.
	The entire Great Hall was in an uproar of laughter. It took two
blasts like a cannon from the end of Professor Dumbledore's wand for
things to settle down again. "If you'd please continue your breakfast
now," he said calmly, his hands folded before him and unmistakable
laughter on his lips.
	Kassie scooped out a spoonful of eggs and put them on her plate,
giving Lily and sideways glance. "What was you about to say anyways?"
	James, Remus and Peter also looked up. Lily shrugged, giggling a
little. "Perhaps I'll tell you another time. I'd really rather Sirius
be here to hear what I say."
	Kassie shrugged indifferently. "Suite yourself."
	
					*	*

	After breakfast Lily and Kassie roamed out onto the grounds to
enjoy the mild autumn day. It was one of those rare days that seemed
more spring like than winter, with a warm breeze blowing across the
grounds and sending different colored leaves flying through the air.
Around mid-day they made their way down to Hagrid's cabin.
	As soon as they came in the door a large boar hound greeted them,
jumping up and licking their faces.
	"I was beginning ter wonder if you forgot where I lived," Hagrid
teased, setting a pot of tea on the table in front of them. "Rock
cake?" he offered Kassie, who took one politely.
	"Sorry Hagrid," Lily replied, shaking her head as he offered her
a cake. "Watching my figure," she insisted. "Anyways, how are you
doing?"
	"Oh, good good," Hagrid replied, sitting back. Lily nearly spit
out her tea when she noticed Kassie trying to open her mouth and not
being able to because of the cake she had ate. "Yeh should see teh
pumpkins I'm growing for the feast. Looking great, they are."
	Lily half listened to Hagrid describe how he had been taking care
of the pumpkins and school gardens, her eye on a copy of the Daily
Prophet laying on the table. "Eh, Hagrid? What's that the Daily Prophet
is saying about Voldemort?"
	"For crying out loud, Lily, don' say his name!" Hagrid bellowed,
looking scared suddenly. Lily's eyes grew huge, Kassie also looked
startled.
	"Sorry," Lily mumbled, making a grab for the paper. "But what is
going on?"
	Hagrid, looking suspicious about something, tried to move the
papers out of view, but Lily was faster. She grabbed the paper and
opened it up, wishing almost at once that she hadn't.

		         Another Threat on the School
		       Causes Concern in the Ministry

			Confirmed today by Barty Crouch, head of
		The Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the
		Ministry had received another letter of warning
		that You-Know-Who's next target is Hogwarts
		School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Crouch stated
		in his interview that he was, "...Not overly concerned
		by the safety of the young witches and wizards in
		training....Albus Dumbledore is the only wizard
		alive that You-Know-Who is known to fear."
			Whether Albus Dumbledore and the Ministry
		is concerned or not, the school governors are very
		much concerned and have publicly spoke of
		closing the school after the first term. There is
		heated discussions over this, as most parents who
		know Dumbledore are in agreement with him. The
		governors will vote at Thursday's meeting on the
		future of the school...

	Lily stopped reading, her mind abuzz. Hagrid got to his feet,
pacing the small hut and covering it's length in two strides. "Yeh
shouldn't have seen that. The kids ain't suppose to know what's going
on, afraid it'll take yeh mind off yer work."
	"Are they really going to close the school?" Kassie asked in a
small voice, glancing over the article again.
	"They want to. And I reckon if they get seven votes, then it'll
happen."
	"But they can't do that!" Lily suddenly shouted, pounding her
fist in her thigh. "Don't we have a say in what happens?"
	Hagrid laughed bitterly, sitting again. "Naw, it's up to teh
grown witches an' wizards. Rubbish, if you ask me. But there yeh have
it."
	The remainder of the visit, short as it was, was plentiful of
tension. Lily was quietly seething over the injustice of the school
possibly closing and Kassie, not knowing Hagrid that well, stayed
silent in light of Lily's rage. Hagrid tried to cheer them up by
showing them the huge pumpkins he was growing for Halloween, but it was
clear neither of the girls were interested.
	As they made their way back up to the Great Hall for lunch they
ran into Peter, James, Remus and Sirius coming out of a broom closet in
the library corridor. Lily, having been lost in her thoughts so
completely, stopped and looked again.
	Sirius closed the closet door behind him, sniggering to himself
as he turned around. Lily put her hand out to stop Kassie from walking
and nodded towards the four boys. Grinning identical evil smiles, the
girls walked over to block their path.
	"Evening gentlemen," Lily said, grinning. "Having a little
private time, are we?"
	To her amusement all four of their faces turned blood red. Sirius
was the first to break out of his embarrassed trance. He flashed them a
grin that said all too well that they were caught red handed; and knew
it. "No, actually. We were thinking of charming the brooms and mops to
help out the caretaker. Right boys?"
	James, Peter and Remus all nodded like puppets.
	"And how did that go?" Kassie asked, glancing into the closet.
"Did you accidentally make them all disappear instead?"
	Lily looked and then a giant grin broke out on her face. The
closet was empty, save for a box of magical mess remover and a bucket.
	James spread his hands wide as Sirius stumbled over his words for
a moment. "Ok, we'll come clean. We were having crazy, lustful gay
sex."
	"James!" Remus and Peter said together, backing up.
	Sirius' eyes grew large as he, too, moved away from James. "You
promised not to tell!"
	Lily and Kassie's mouths dropped at the exact same moment as the
four boys, now laughing hysterically, passed them and started down the
hall.
	Kassie and Lily looked at the broom closet, at each other, and
then Kassie said what they were both thinking: "That was just WRONG."
	"No kidding," Lily mumbled.
	They started down the hall again, and up the steps towards
Gryffindor tower, Kassie still muttering to herself as they went. "That
was WRONG. So very, very WRONG."
	"And it'll teach us not to corner them like that again, no?" Lily
retorted when Kassie repeated her phrase for the umpteenth time.
	"True." Just before they came to the portrait hole, Kassie tilted
her head and looked at Lily seriously. "Do you really think
they'll close the school?"
	"Close the school?" someone repeated behind them. They turned to
see James and Remus coming up the staircase. Sirius and Peter were no
where to be found. "How'd you hear about that?"
	"I--" Lily started, then realized how James asked that. "You
knew?"
	"Well--yeah," James replied. "My dad told me about it after
Sirius and I read that paper the day we left for school."
	Lily's face lightened with comprehension and suddenly she grabbed
the sleeve of James' robes and yanked him back down the stairs, Remus
and Kassie following. They made their way into the empty charms
classroom and Lily shut the door. "Tell me everything you know."
	James' left eyebrow rose behind his round glasses. "Well, two
plus two is four, unless you just put the numbers side by side; then
they made twenty-two--" Lily gave James a warning look that he
proceeded to ignore. "Sirius is a git and is obsessed with showering--"
	"James! That's not what I meant."
	Remus chuckled. "That is very true, he takes at least two showers
a day. But in light of other information, you'll have to be more
precise, Lily."
	"What do you know about the school closing?" she asked, clearly
not amused.
	James sighed and slipped behind a desk to sit down. He shrugged,
glancing up at the three in front of him. "Dad said that Voldemort has
made it quite known that he wants to take over this school. It's my
belief that that Malfoy git -- who is a new school governor -- is
really a Death Eater and wants to see Dumbledore out of this place so
bad he can't stand it, but that's me. And my dad, he thinks it, too."
	"Who's Malfoy?" Kassie asked, clearly confused.
	"Lucius Malfoy," Remus supplied, taking a seat next to James.
"He's some rich bloke who has evil written all of his face, graduated
top of his class last year. Straight from the depths of hell--" Remus
gave a fake cough. "I mean, Slytherin."
	"Why do you think he's a Death Eater, though?"
	"Lily, isn't all Slytherins nothing but pawns to do Voldemort's
bidding?" James asked, though Lily was sure he didn't mean for her to
answer, because he continued. "Just some of his past dealings, for lack
of better evidence. Oh, he gives a respectable face in public, but has
been hanging around Knockturn Alley a little too much."
	"So You-Know-Who has just made it known he wants this school and
suddenly they are going to up and close it?" Kassie mumbled, sitting on
top of a desk opposite the two boys. Lily joined her, swinging her feet
back and forth while in thought. "But I thought You-Know-Who feared
Dumbledore? Surely he won't try to take over with him here?"
	"I don't see how he could. Dumbledore is much too strong," Remus
nodded his agreement, still looking worried nonetheless. "But if Malfoy
is indeed a Death Eater, then that means Voldemort has connections on
the inside through the school governors."
	"But why shut the school down?" Lily wondered aloud, not looking
up. "Stupid, really. If he wants to take over, and there's no kids
here, what's the point?"
	"There's more than that here," James replied. "Voldemort is
suppose to be Salazar Slytherin's heir--imagine the secrets that could
be lurking around here; the Chamber of Secrets for starters."
	"The chamber of what?" Kassie said.
	Lily gave an exasperated look at her friend. "Didn't you read 
Hogwarts, a History?"
	"No, why?" Kassie replied, undaunted.
	"The Chamber of Secrets is supposedly this.... well, chamber
somewhere in the school that holds a monster only the heir of Slytherin
can control. It's purely myth though," Lily said matter of factly.
	James shook his head. "I don't think so. It's true the school has
been searched for it, but if they weren't Slytherin's heir--"
	"--they wouldn't find it," Remus finished. "But other than that,
who knows what is lurking around here? Everything changes so often it'd
be hard to know. Stair cases changing, doors appearing and
disappearing..."
	"Anyway, do you think they'll close the school?" Lily asked,
looking up.
	"No," James replied, getting up and thus putting an end to the
conversation.

					*	*

	Unfortunately, Lily didn't share James' confidence that the
school was not going to close. By Monday morning when classes started
up again there was even more reason to worry. Just as everyone was
preparing to go down to breakfast, the portrait door to the Gryffindor
common room opened and Professor McGonagall entered.
	Just because McGonagall was head of Gryffindor house, didn't
mean she spent much time there. In fact, Lily couldn't say she could
every remember their Head of House visiting the common room. She looked
slightly flustered as she quickly came to the center of the room. "If
all students could come down here, please. I have an announcement."
	Curiously students from all seven years came down the stair case
and crowded into the circular room. Lily, looking confused and slightly
worried, joined Kassie and Alexis near the fire. The Marauders, looking
rather sleepy, stumbled down the stairs last and sat on a table,
yawning audibly.
	Satisfied that her entire house was present, McGonagall pulled
out a piece of parchment. "Until further notice the following rules
will be put into effect for all students except Head Boy, Head Girl and
House Prefects. You will go straight to class and to the Great Hall for
meals and nowhere else. Do not travel the halls alone. If you see
anything suspicious going on with anyone or anything, contact myself or
another Professor immediately."
	She stopped, staring around at the students gravely. "Some of you
may know this, and to others it will come as a shock. Hogwarts has been
targeted by Voldemort. There are serious talks among the governors
about closing Hogwarts for the remainder of this year. These rules have
been put into effect by the governors for your safety."
	A small mummer of talk broke out among the students, but was
stifled quickly as McGonagall raised her hand. "We believe there to be
someone inside this school who may be working for that side, and
through this person.... well, you can most likely speculate on this
point. The decision will be made on Thursday by the governors if term
will proceed. In the mean time, I advise all to use extreme caution."
	And with those parting words, she left.
	Lily and Kassie looked at each other, the former’s gaze traveling
quickly over to James, but he was nowhere to be found.
	"Oh my gosh, can you believe it?" Alexis mumbled next to them,
anxiously twirling a piece of her brown hair around her finger. "Do you
think the school will really close?"
	Lily shrugged, feeling a blanket of depression drape over her.
Alexis didn't seem to mind that Lily nor Kassie answered. "Come on,
let's all go down to breakfast together, shall we?" she finally
mumbled. "I'll go fetch the others."
	A few minutes later the six Gryffindor second year girls left the
common room together and headed down to the Great Hall. Even under the
best of circumstances it was a fifteen minute walk from Gryffindor
Tower. That seemed extremely fast though, compared to how much longer
it took now. Groups of students clumped together in the halls blocked
their way, though amazingly enough the Marauders made it to the Great
Hall before anyone else in their house.
	The Great Hall was alive with speculations on what would happen
to the school. Just before the bell rang, fourth year Mundungus
Fletcher came tearing into the Hall, slid into a seat and started
grabbing food for his plate.
	"Where've you been?" Lance Prewett, another Gryffindor fourth
year and House Quidditch keeper, asked while Mundungus shoveled food in
his mouth.
	"Arguing with McGonagall," he replied, not swallowing before
talking.
	"About what?" James asked, suddenly looking interested.
	"She wanted to cancel the Quidditch game!" Emily Tankard
exclaimed, also sitting down at the table. Unlike Mundungus, she didn't
start eating. Emily was another fourth year who played chaser, was the
only girl on the Gryffindor team, and had been moved to Captain this
year.
	"They can't do that!" James and Sirius said together, getting the
attention of nearly every Gryffindor at the table, not to mention half
the Hufflepuffs next to them.
	"That's what I said," Emily replied. "She said with everything
that was going on, it would only be just to postpone Quidditch. But I
think we argued our point rather well: Every teacher in this school,
all seven years etc. will be on the pitch. Anything happens and we're
more than protected."
	James and Sirius, of course, nodded their agreement. But Lily
felt a slight fear grip her. What if something >did happen? She
didn't know any useful curses, hexes or for that matter, practical
magic. Suddenly that thought made way for others to follow. She was a
witch, right? She had just as much business learning magic to defend
herself as everyone else.
	She stood up abruptly. Kassie nearly choked on her pumpkin juice
when Lily hit her arm. "I'm going to the library," she announced.
	Kassie forced herself to swallow. "Now? But we only have fifteen
minutes before Herbology!"
	Lily pushed herself away from the table and gathered her bag.
"Don't worry, I won't be late."
	She exited the hall by herself, passing a clump of Ravenclaw
first years as she went. She suddenly wished she hadn't went alone,
especially with McGonagall's warning repeating in her head.
	All the more reason for what I'm doing, she thought,
pushing her way into the library and going for the section on hexes and
defense charms. She wasn't the only one, either. There seem to be a
shortage on defense books and the line to check out what was left
extended nearly into the restriction section. Lily waited in line
patiently, worrying that she would indeed be late for Herbology, and
mentally made up her excuses.

					*	*

	That night after dinner everyone returned to the common room. The
main topic of discussion, of course, was Voldemort and what might
possibly be said at the governors meeting the following Thursday.
Surprisingly, most of the Gryffindors were in favor of staying at
Hogwarts under the watchful eye of Dumbledore. Lily listened to them
debate on what the future may bring, waiting impatiently for everyone
to go to bed so she could read up on curses.
	At ten thirty the only people left in the common room was two
fifth years that were having a very stressful game of chess in the
corner. Lily sat down on the couch in front of the fire and pulled out
a rather interesting book called Darkness Rising--How to be Prepared.
	At a little past twelve the two fifth years headed upstairs,
leaving Lily alone. She scribbled a curse down that looked like it
would be useful and yawned, stretching.
	"Studying?" a voice suddenly said behind her.
	Lily started, slammed the book shut and looked behind her. Peter
smiled slightly and walked around the sofa to sit in an arm chair near
her. "Didn't mean to startle you," he said.
	Lily gave a nervous shiver and picked her book up again. "It's
ok, I guess we're all a little jumpy, no?"
	"I suppose," Peter replied, pushing a stray piece of blonde hair
away from his eyes. He pointed at the book Lily held. "What are you
studying?"
	"Oh, this?" Lily said passingly, shifting the book aside. "Oh,
nothing really."
	"Darkness Rising--How to be Prepared," Peter read and Lily
felt like slapping herself for adjusting the book to where he had a
clear view of the title.
	"I was just... well, with what--"
	"Oh, it's ok," Peter assured her, looking decidedly serious as
compared to the joking face he usually wore with his other three
friends. "I don't blame you. I'm scared, though I'd never say that in
front of Sirius or James or Remus. They aren't scared."
	"Sure they are," Lily replied, as if that was the silliest thing
she had ever heard.
	"No," Peter said, very seriously. "They aren't. James' dad, he's
an Auror right? So was Sirius' dad. So they both know a lot of defense
spells. And Remus, he's really smart, so he learns them quickly. But
me, I'm nearly a squib."
	Lily looked puzzled at this new term, but Peter didn't seem to
notice. "So what do you do then? I'm just not as brave or as smart as
they are, so I'm scared. But I can't say anything, I don't want them to
think bad of me."
	"That's not fair," Lily suddenly blurted, though she hadn't
intended to say anything on the matter. "They would be your friends no
matter what," she added, thinking of Remus. Too bad she couldn't use
that as an example, since the only one who knew she even knew Remus was
a werewolf was James.
	Peter shrugged, looking at the book with interest again. "Hey
Lily, you wouldn't help me learn some curses would you? Or just some
good hexes, really."
	Since Lily really didn't want anyone knowing she was studying
defense, she was sure it was only pity for Peter that made her shake
her head yes. His face lit up in a smile and he stood up, moving closer
to her. "Is that a list of what you think is good?" he asked.
	Feeling a little embarrassed herself, Lily showed Peter the list.
She pointed to a couple of them that she found most interesting. "This
one is a leg locker curse. And this one is a total body bind, I think
it should be well worth learning. There is also some defense things I
found, like shields against spells and disarming."
	At one o'clock, and when Lily felt that she would be permanently
yawning, they made arrangements to meet in the charms classroom the
next night to practice some of the spells. Feeling a little better
about her self-defense lessons (after all, how would you know if you
managed a spell if you didn't have someone to test it on?) Lily went up
to bed. Never realizing that their entire conversation had been
witnessed.