Jily; Hogwarts: A Love Story (First in Marauder's Trilogy)

05

As Lily lay in her bed, pretending to be sick, she couldn't help but smile when she was thinking about her evening with Potter. The thrill from her little rebellious act was still extant in her heart. Lily took a risk and got up to do a little victory dance in her pajamas and just as she was hitting the dance moves, Alice Fortescue and Marlene McKinnon, her two best friends entered and as soon as they looked at Lily, frozen in the middle of a shuffle, expressions of confusion and then of 'we're worried about your mental health' gracefully showed up on their faces.

"Are you spending too much time with Potter lately? Looks like you've gone a little—", Alice said as she furrowed her brow thinking of a perfect word.

"Wonky?" Marlene supplied, "Much like James." she added thoughtfully causing the three girls to burst into laughter. "Please tell me you're actually sick?" Marlene asked after the three of them were seated on Lily's four-poster.

"I'm telling you and you have to promise not to tell ANYONE.", Lily demanded, surveying their expressions for answers. After she got nods she continued, "I ditched school and went to Hogsmede with James.", she finally said and to protect herself from the effect of the bombshell she jumped up off her bed as her two best friends jumped up and down in glee and confusion.

"James Potter! James! Potter! NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS DID I THINK IT WOULD BE JAMES POTTER!", Marlene exclaimed in disbelief.

"I had thought Severus or maybe Minsk, but never in a million years did I dream that Lily Evans would break the school RULES FOR JAMES POTTER!", Alice followed

"Oh shut up! I don't have a crush on Potter!" Lily yelled, defending herself by chucking a pillow at Alice' face causing more eruptions of giggles.

"Why are we giggling like 5 year olds", Alice finally asked. "I honestly don't know.", Lily sighed.

After that, it was time to slide into the covers and fall asleep. Lily however, just couldn't sleep. She was feeling sleepy as a result of all the hassle today evening but her mind wouldn't allow her to sleep. As soon as she closed her eyes they flew open. Finally, she got up and from her bedside table retrieved the letter which had been her constant nightmare during the day and night. Who had thought that a letter from their sister could hurt this bad, in a horrible way. She was almost on the edge of tears and sobbing in the dormitory would definitely wake everyone up, so she went to the common room to sit in one of the armchairs. But, when she stepped out, she found a person who she had never thought would be in the common room, at night, sitting near the fire and staring into it. Sirius Black.

"Hi Sirius.", Lily whispered as she picked an armchair to sit on and opened the letter, yet again.

"Hi Evans", Sirius whispered back and after a while questioned, "So, what brings you here tonight?"

"Well, it is a common room for Gryffindors you know.", She answered sarcastically.

"It really does sound like you spent time with James today. If you don't wanna get caught, I suggest you turn the sarcasm down and go back to your boring self.", Sirius countered.

"Fine! If you must know, My muggle sister has owled me a letter, probably the first and last time of using magical means, just to tell me that I'm a 'Freak' and don't deserve to live for another second," Lily answered, she saw a lone tear falling from her face onto the carpet, she quickly wiped it away, she wasn't going to cry because of Petunia. She went to the fireplace to sit by Sirius. "Why are you here?", she asked when both of them were comfortably seated.

"Well, I'm thinking of running away into freedom. I'll be on my own, away from my mother and father and perfect brother, although Regulus has a little gryffindor in him", Sirius said, not for a second looking away from the fire. "James and I decided that it would be best if I stayed at the Potters. It has become my home more than my damp gray walls. I got a letter from home, my mother wrote it." He handed her a piece of paper, as he finally shifted his gaze from the fire.

"I know I can't say anything that'll make you feel better about it or something you don't know already," she said after reading the letter. "But I can say that it sucks." she added looking at Sirius and giving him the letter.

"You're a lot better at this than James is.", he joked.

"Are you going to write back?"

"Are you?", Sirius asked as he chucked the piece of paper in the fire, smiling at the sounds of it burning as if he had been imagining it for a very long time. "Don't let it bother you. Your real family is here" he said as he walked away.

"No I won't" Lily replied, not thinking of her sister, but herself. For the first time, not wanting to write back. She threw the letter into the fire, smiling as the white paper dissolved among the fiery amber flames and went back to her dormitory.