𝐀𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐑𝐀 | 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬

✧ chapter 8 ✧

1976

The breakfast tables in the Great Hall were uncharacteristically quiet the next day. It was tradition on the first night back at school to see who could stay up the latest. Naturally the crazy eight, as they had come to be known amongst their peers, were determined to not only outdo the other houses, but also each other. This resulted in none of them getting any sleep at all. Peter and Mary had both drifted off around 6:30AM and managed a half hour nap, but the rest of them hadn't slept a wink. The teachers all smirked knowingly at the students, revelling in the annual first day peace and quiet which they had come to know so well over the years. The particularly sadistic teachers appeared almost eager for the day ahead where all students would be required to remain conscious through each and every one of their classes or face severe punishment.

Lily generously distributed small, single serve sachets of her favourite instant coffee from back home and the crazy eight all silently mixed the grounds into their pumpkin juice. Remus used his wand to lightly heat the liquid in the cups and they all quickly gulped the mixture down, grimacing at the taste. Lily explained that coffee is usually served with milk or cream, hot water and sugar and insisted that it tastes good. James just shot her a disbelieving glare while Sirius used a napkin to furiously rub the taste off his tongue.

"You'll thank me later when the caffeine kicks in." She huffed, sipping at her newly refilled goblet of pumpkin juice.

"Or we could just use a 'pep in your step' potion?" Marlene retorted, scrunching her nose up at the lingering taste off lukewarm pumpkin flavoured coffee.

"Or we could use these." Aurora added, pulling a small plastic bag from her robes revealing eight small blue pills. Lily's eyes widened and she snatched the bag, quickly hiding it in her robes and looking around to make sure no one had seen them.

"Are you crazy?!" She hissed, widening her eyes to emphasize the 'crazy' part.

"The word has come up in conversation once or twice when discussing my mental state, yes." Aurora replied nonchalantly, casually leaning back and sipping her pumpkin juice.

"Are they the ones we had at New Year's?" Sirius asked, eyeballing the bag.

"Yep." Aurora responded, popping the 'p'.

"I'm in." James added, making a grab for the pills.

"You will do no such thing!" Lily almost shrieked, pulling the bag out of James' reach. Once she noticed the attention her outburst had drawn, Lily took a moment to recompose herself.

"Relax Lils, they're half strength. Just a little pick me up to keep everyone awake until dinner time. No hallucinogens I promise."

"You said that last time and we all remember what happened."

Everyone bar Lily snickered at the memory of the redhead hanging out of a taxi window and lifting her top over her head, while singing 'We Are the Champions' by a muggle band called Queen at the top of her lungs.

"That pink brassiere was rather flattering on you, Evans." Sirius snickered, earning a light-hearted jab in the ribs from James.

Lily turned the same shade as her hair and sank low in her seat, chucking the bag back to Aurora.

"Fine, do whatever you want, but do not in any way involve me in the shenanigans."

"Oh but Lilypad, I thought you loved our shenanigans." James batted his eyelashes, earning a sneer from the redhead.

Aurora opened the bag and placed one pill in each outstretched hand, Lily being the only one to pass. Those with the pills quickly knocked them back with a swig of pumpkin juice then sat around and waited. Usually, muggle uppers take forty-five minutes to an hour to kick in, but Aurora's homemade concoctions kicked in almost immediately. Seven of the eight Gryffindor's all shot up in their seats, sitting rigid as boards. Their pupils grew to the size of knuts and their eyes darted around the room, adjusting to their new heightened senses.

Lily rolled her eyes and slowly finished her breakfast, ignoring the rest of her friends who resembled startled meerkats. It was going to be a long day.

✧✧✧

By lunchtime seven of the eight were practically pinging off the walls. Aurora, Sirius and James could hardly sit still, and wrestled all the way to the Great Hall. They managed to hoover down their food in record time. If the others didn't know better, they would have thought the three unhinged their jaws and swallowed their meals whole like cobras. As soon as their plates were empty they resumed their wrestling match, all three commentating their own moves as if it were a real life Quidditch match. The objective of the game, as far as any onlookers were concerned, was to steal the other player's wands. The wizard or witch with all players' wands at the end was the winner.

Remus was sat at the table, his plate on his lap and a book in each hand. He was speedily scanning each word from the books before simultaneously turning the pages of both. Marlene and Mary were animatedly chattering away at a speed no one else could keep up with, and Lily was fairly sure they were both discussing completely different things. Finally, Peter was nibbling on anything he could get his hands on to stop himself from grinding his teeth together or chewing through his own cheeks. For a split-second Lily wished she had joined them all on their high, they all seemed so happy, but she decided she had made the best choice in the long run, and drank her eighth cup of lukewarm pumpkin flavoured instant coffee for the day.