Remembering

The Party: Part One

I pushed open the portrait hole and was greeted with a noise so loud I went deaf for a moment.

When I regained my hearing, I realized that some were still shouting, "WE BEAT THE SNAKES!"

People grabbed at my robes, pulling me into the throng. I felt tugging, people stuffing chips and sweets into my hands, pats on the back.

So this is what it's like to be a hero, I thought. It wasn't much fun, being stuck in the middle of a group of sweaty teenagers.

I left the crowd and attempted to hide away in the corner. But someone found me anyways.

Dorcas threw herself on top of me. "Lily," she slurred, a sloppy grin on her face.

I stared at her. "Dorcas, are you drunk?"

She giggled. "Yep, Lily flower, I'm completely and utterly wasted. Isn't that fun?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "No, it's not. The party started maybe twenty minutes ago!"

She hiccuped. "Marlene, she's outside. She -- she wants to talk to you." She smirked. "Jamesie also wants to see you."

I ignored her comment. Why wasn't she swearing?

"Dorcas, there are first years here. Where the hell did you get that alcohol?!"

She gave me a sly grin and leaned in close. I wrinkled my nose. Her breath smelled awful. "Sirius has a whole stash upstairs," she tried to whisper, swaying on the spot a little.

I rolled my eyes. "I'll go talk to him."

She gave another giggle and repressed a hiccup.

I pushed through the crowd. They gave another loud cheer as James entered the common room. I elbowed my way towards him.

"James! James! Ouch, fuck off -- oh, you're drunk... James! JAMES POTTER!"

He turned and gave me a grin, a bottle of butterbeer in his hand. At least he wasn't doing any heavy drinking. "Hey Lils, you want to give me that kiss?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm looking for Sirius," I half-shouted. Someone bumped into me and I nearly fell.

He shrugged. "Can't help you there." He took a swig from a bottle of firewhiskey that had somehow made its way into his hands. I shook my head in disgust. "Good luck, though."

I sighed and made my way over to the couch. Remus was sitting on it, reading a book.

"Remus! Finally, some sanity..." He turned and grinned at me.

"Hey, Lily," he said, waving.

"Have you seen Sirius?"

He cocked his head to the side. "No. Why do you want to talk to him?"

I gritted my teeth. "I need to kick his ass for bringing firewhiskey."

He smiled. "You're not a prefect; why are you worrying?"

"You're a prefect; why aren't you worrying?" I shot back.

He sighed, closing his book. "Fine. I'll confiscate the alcohol."

I nodded triumphantly, then remembered what Dorcas had said. "Uh, where's Marlene?"

"Oh, uh... I think she went to a broom cupboard with Sirius."

I put my hands on my hips. "Now you know where Sirius is."

He looked around nervously. "Listen, Lily, I gotta go. Nice, er, talk. Bye!"