The Londoner Marauder☆Jily AU

《ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ #09》

13th February 1977, Beauxbatons, France

To say that Marlene McKinnon was happy would be a huge understatement.

She was bouncing-on-the-balls-of-her-feet-giggling-like-third-years-heart-soaring-spirits-rising sort of happy, if you know what I mean. She was always laughing, always giggling and enjoying the day.

Love has that sort of effect on people, you see. She spent her classes by staring out of the windows, smiling dreamily and thinking of Sirius, her boyfriend. She almost could not believe it. She, Marlene Ashley McKinnon, was dating Sirius Black.

Sirius fucking Black.

"Blackhead!" announced Lily, punching Marlene's arm as they sipped coffee near the lake.

"Huh?" Marlene said, startled.

"I said," Lily rolled her eyes, "if thinking about James makes me Potterhead then you are Blackhead."

"Which probably makes Mary Lupinhead?" Marlene snorted.

"And Emmeline Meadoweshead!" Lily laughed.

"Prewetthead is Frank," giggled Marlene.

Their laughter rang through the valley. The bare trees swayed in the wind, as though laughing along with them. The birds provided them with seatherney, and the home-y nature of the Beauxbatons gave them serependity.

How bad it would feel to leave this place, eh? But I guess not everything happens according to your desires, but again, everything which happens proves good in one way or another. You may not understand what I mean right now, but you will understand. Perhaps tomorrow, or after days, decades..but you'll understand, patience rewards.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

14th February 1976, Hogwarts, Scotland

"Say no to cigarettes!" Sirius's voice yelled cheerfully at the passing third year, who looked flabbergasted at this hypocritical act.

"Say no to distractions!" James's voice squealed.

"What the fuck?" Real-James growled, glaring at the portrait of himself with narrowed eyes.

"WHO SAID NO TO CIGARETTES?" Real-Sirius demanded.

"Study is everything!" Portrait-Dorcas squeaked.

"Think about your future kids!" Portrait-Emmeline said with a sage-like nod.

Real-Dorcas lunged forward, attempting to pull off her portrait from the wall, but she failed (obviously).

"Aw, how thoughtful of you guys!" Fiona Chadwick, a second year, gushed.

"Fuck off, Chadwick!" Emmeline growled dangerously. Fiona waddled away, there was no other way to describe her movements, as she was rather over-weighted.

Eyes narrowed, Sirius turned to his friends, scowling dangerously. "Who the fuck came up with this prank? Ali and Scar?"

"More like Kate and Dory."

"Of course it was you two!" James exclaimed, glaring at Isadora and Katherine, who were smirking in a rather Sirius-ish way. Isadora had one arm propped up on Kate's shoulder, while the other rested sassily at her hip. Kate's hands were folded. They looked like a deadly pair of street performers, if street performers wore robes.

"Yeah, thanks. We know we're awesome." Isadora raised her nose in the air snobbishly.

"Oh yes," smiled Kate, sneaking a glance (read: love-struck stare) at Isadora.

"How do we remove it?" wailed Dorcas in despair, slamming her fists childishly against the wall under her portrait.

"Mhm, we can do that," hummed Kate, casually checking out her nails.

"How?" demanded Emmeline.

"There's a charm," said Isadora sweetly.

"Only we know it," added Kate.

"And its fucking wonderful," sighed Isadora.

"We are just so clever," drawled Kate smugly.

"And we won't tell you-"

"About the spell-"

"Because-"

"It will-

"Ruin the fun!" they cried out together.

Sirius's right eye twitched violently. He turned to the portraits and waved his wand with a hopeful "Finite Incantem!" but nothing happened. Portrait-James, being the evil little git he was (not that the real one was any different), laughed cruelly and Portrait-Sirius joined him.

"Hahahaha!" squeaked Portrait-Dorcas.

"My voice is not like that!" Real-Dorcas shrieked shrilly.

"Bitch, shut up!" snarled Portrait-Emmeline.

"The fuck is wrong with you!" Emmeline leapt at her portrait, wildly scraping her nails against the canvas. Her portrait screamed and wailed, all sounds full of pain and anger. James and Sirius grabbed her arms and pulled her off her feet. They raised her high between them as Isadora grabbed her hands, Emmeline continued kicking her feet though.

"Christ!" wailed Portrait-Emmeline, burying her mutilated face in her hands as she sobbed and weeped and cursed real-Emmeline. "My face! My beautiful face! In the name of Christ, Father and The Holy Spirit!"

"Merlin!"

"Excellent timing!" muttered Kate sarcastically as Professor Redhorn, the Arithmancy teacher, hurried towards them, all wide eyes and messed up hair.

"Merlin!" Redhorn gasped again, looking from the portraits to the sixth years. "What do you think you all are doing, in the name of Merlin?"

Kate and Isadora exchanged a look which shouted WHY US? Together, they grabbed hands and, just as Redhorn turned towards the portraits, ran like hell towards their dormitory, laughing wildly.

"Oi!" James's voice yelled after them. "You little traitor!"

"Guess we didn't cheat, but we're still traitors!" giggled Isadora.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

15th February 1976, Beauxbatons, France

Rain had a strange sort of effect on Lily. The moment she heard the gentle tinkling of raindrops, her inner pluviophile would come to life and she would be running outside, spinning, dancing and laughing in the rain.

But the after-effects of rain were something too. The petrichor after it, the raindrops glittering on the bare trees, the magically enchanted boughs near the waterfall weighing down from water, and the fresh river running deep inside the valley, everything looked extra-aesthetic is the rain.

Is it odd that James and Lily both were pluviophiles? Nah, I do not think it is odd. It's deep, soulmate stuff and people like you and me do not know the feeling of being in love. Remember when I said that they were very different? Months ago from today? Well, they are like two puzzle pieces. Each beautiful, unique and with its own importance. But when they are put together, they make a beautiful picture which radiates love, happiness and hope.

A/N: Yes I'm extremely happy with this chapter. Extremely. Very. Omg. Take care and stay safe.

Love,
~Aurora♡