James and Lily Potter: Second year

Chapter 9: second year

"Not him again," sighed Lily, staring as Snape hurried over to the Gryffindor table. Her three other friends groaned loudly as well, but the Marauders barely noticed their arch nemesis walk past them.

"Hello Mudblood," he said, sneering down at Lily. For the first time, she was glad that someone called her a Mudblood. Snape must have gotten over that ridiculous infatuation! "I never did like you," whispered Snape, his lips touching her ear. "It turned out that Potter had put some sort of spell on me. No wonder why Evan was looking at me like I was insane," He strolled back to the Slytherin table, shooting daggers at James and his friends.

"Nice prank, wasn't it, Evans?" called James, grinning. "God, too bad it only lasts for a year."

"James Potter, I can't believe you'd do something like that!" shrieked Lily.

"I'm really sorry, Lil, but I got too mad at you last year so I had to get back," admitted James.

Lily froze. He had never called her 'Lil' in her life before. "Well, Jamie-boy, I suppose it'll take a few days for me to forgive you." She gave him a small smile. Now it was James' turn to be shocked. Lily Evans had never called him Jamie-boy before.

"James Potter, that was seriously a really low joke," said Arabella angrily.

James shrugged. "Hey, there needed to be some livening up around here! It's always so- serious."

"Hogwarts is like me?" asked Sirius, leaning over to listen to the conversation.

James rolled his eyes. "That's got to be the lamest joke ever, Siri-boy! The old Sirius to serious trick."

"You mean you were the one who made old Snape fall in love with Lily?" he asked. "By golly Jamie, old boy, you're one genius here!" He started cackling in laughter.

"It wasn't too fair, but it is rather amusing all the same," said Remus, smiling a little.

"Come on Bella, don't hold that grudge of yours forever!" cried Sirius. " Don't you think it's just a little bit funny? I mean, it was so obvious that a Slytherin could never, in a million years, fall for a Gryffindor."

"It's possible," said Jen, shrugging, as she chewed on a chicken leg. "Of course, it's always possible for enemies to fall for each other too. Take those two for example." she pointed to where Lily and James were sitting. "They're getting married anyway."

"Now Jenny, don't talk with your mouth full," reprimanded Remus playfully.

"Yes, Remie."

"Hey, that's my nickname! You stealer!" cried James, jumping up and down in a frenzy.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Oh grow up, Potter."

"I'm not the one talking here! Miss Hermione whatever-her-last-name-was."

"Hermione?" repeated Sirius. "Whos' that?"

"Oh, one of Harry's best friends, I think," said James. "She's exactly like Lily. 'I think that you should be studying for that Potions test, you two. It's not like you guys ever study anyway, so you may as well. And our O.W.L.S are coming up soon!' God, they were still in their fourth year too!" He and Sirius burst out laughing.

"I like the sound of that Ron," remarked Sirius.

"Harry seems to be-well, not like us," said James thoughtfully. "Dumbledore told me that he was brave, loyal, and kind. He also said that Harry broke as many rules as we did, and got even more points taken off... without even meaning to! He said that Harry breaks so many rules just to keep himself alive. And others."

"He sounds like a dream," said Lily softly. "Risking his life for others! I've always wanted to have a child like that. Even if I can't see it happen," she added.

"Enough gloom!" cried Sirius. "I've had enough bad spirits around here. Jamie, old boy, we haven't pulled a prank in weeks! Soon our name will wear off! We must carry on our legendary name of the Marauders!"

"What should we do?" asked James eagerly.

Sirius raised his eyebrows. "Come on, Jamie-boy, you're the ringleader of this gang. What should we do?"

"You're the other ringleader," retorted James.

"You're the main one, though."

"Yeah...well, at least it should be on Snape."

"Definitely!"

"You're pulling a prank on Snape?" asked Lily from across the table. "Can I help?" Sirius looked nervously at James; he and Lily did not see eye to eye. There would probably be another argument in the Great Hall again.

To his surprise, James had replied, "Sure, why not?"

"What about us?" asked Arabella, frowning.

"All right then, all eight of you are helping!" exclaimed James, his hands sweeping over the Marauders and girls. They left the Great Hall for Gryffindor Tower and were one of the first people in the common room. They were plotting the prank on Snape and his gang of Slytherins.

"First, you and Bella have to... I don't know, intimidate them or something," said James, speaking in a low tone, "Then Remus, Jennifer, Violet and Peter, you guys have to distract the rest of Slytherin House and maybe get them all up their dormitories somehow. Sirius and I will make their homework all blank."

"Oh, even Hurst will blow when they don't have their Potions homework!" said Sirius gleefully.

"This plan is brilliant!" whispered Lily hoarsely. "It was all my idea of course... and Sirius," she added, as an afterthought, watching Sirius' face distort in fury.

"Nah it was actually mine, Evans," snapped James. Lily laughed.

"Yeah, I know. It's fun to see boys get so worked up over a simple thing."

"It wasn't simple, it was-"

James however, was cut off by none other than Deanna Jackson, who was holding hands with Kevin Patil. "Hello James," she said generously.

"Hello Deanna," said James, rather coldly. "If you don't mind, we're a bit preoccupied right now."

"So you have made up with Lily?" Her voice was disgustingly sugary.

James glared at her. "What makes you think that?"

"Well, it's obvious, isn't it? You guys are always hanging out with each other...flirting..." she smirked.

"Flirting?" cried Lily, standing up. "We never flirt!"

Deanna shrugged, flashing one of her smiles. "Say whatever you want, but it's true. Come on, Kevin lets go." She and Kevin disappeared to the other side of the common room.

"What was the girl thinking about me and James flirting?" demanded Lily, sitting down again.

"Well, as much as I'm not too fond of Deanna, it's true, Lily," admitted Jennifer.

"Is it?" Lily's face was livid with anger.

"Er-"

"Violet? You're the one who has common sense in this group. What do you think?"

Violet was bright red. "I-I'm not sure," she stumbled.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Oh, forget about it. That Deanna is an idiot, anyway. Well, what are we waiting for, let's go!"