The Marauders Unite (III)

The Prefects' Bathroom

December 1, 1975

LILY: Felix felicis.

The door to the Prefects' bathroom opens and LILY quietly slips in. The huge swimming pool-sized bath is empty except for ALICE, who sits with her feet in the water staring into its depths.

LILY: Hey, Alice.

ALICE: (turning around) Oh, Lily. You startled me.

LILY: Sorry. Can I join you?

ALICE: Of course, sit down.

LILY takes off her slippers and sits down next to ALICE, placing her feet in the soapy water.

ALICE: I always loved this bathroom. I usually come late at night like this to think things over.

LILY: Yeah, it's nice to have a private bathroom.

ALICE: I'm surprised a good girl like you is out this late.

LILY: Oh, well- we have this essay for Slughorn due at the end of term, and I just spent about five straight hours on it.

ALICE: And you thought you'd come here for a midnight bath?

LILY: (smiling) Or maybe take a leaf out of your book and "think things over".

ALICE: Yeah. There's too much to think about, nowadays.

LILY: What's on your mind?

ALICE: It's just- we're almost done with our seventh year, Frank and I, and- and I feel like once we leave the Castle, we'll be- unsafe. In danger. Is that crazy?

LILY: Of course not. No one can deny the rumors, anymore. What with the Minister fully supporting the Order of the Phoenix, now. It's going to be a battlefield out there.

ALICE: I might have to go live with my parents, in the country for a little bit. I wouldn't feel comfortable in the city.

LILY: What does Frank think?

ALICE: (hesitating) He wants to join the Order. Immediately. He turns seventeen in March, and he won't hesitate to become an Auror.

LILY: (cautiously) And that's not what you want?

ALICE: I just want to be safe. From it all. But I suppose no one can be safe, anymore.

LILY: Becoming an Auror might be the best thing for you. It'll prepare you for what's out there.

ALICE: It'll also make us targets. For You-Know-Who and his followers. I don't know, I just have to consider my options.

LILY: I understand. Everything's going to be okay, you know. (She takes ALICE'S hand in her own).

ALICE: Thanks, Lily. (She lifts her feet in and out of the water) Just think- years from now, our children will be in this same spot, living in a better world.

LILY: (laughing) Maybe. Maybe.