Chapter Seventeen: Got What?

* Ara stood for a moment, stationary. Then she finally sighed and looked Lily in the eye. “Fine. But only for a little while. Hey Lil?”

“Yes?”

“Did you get the feeling the boys were hiding something from us at the train station?” Ara asked in a low voice.

“Yes, I did. Something with Remus. He didn’t look well. Do you suppose he’s sick?”

“Maybe. I don’t want to pry, but…” Arabella let her sentence drag off.

“I know exactly what you mean, I feel the same.” Lily told her.

“Well, I guess we had better be getting back, they’ll start to worry about us.” Ara giggled, and Lily smiled slightly. “We still need to work on lightening you up. But don’t worry, we have a whole year to do it!”

“Come on Ara, let’s go.” Lily suggested, not wanting to think about another secret James might be keeping from her. He had already told her about his parents… what other things could he be hiding? What else could he be keeping inside? She wanted to know, she wanted him to trust her. And if he didn’t tell someone, it was more than likely that whatever he was hiding would end up wearing him down. She couldn’t let that happen, not to James. As the two girls re-entered the train compartment, silence befell the four boys.

“Lil- Lily?” Peter stuttered.

“Yes? What’s wrong?” She asked, completely unaware of what could be wrong. Was it just her freakishness that was scaring him?

“You’re not wearing the makeup Lily.” Sirius grinned doggishly.

“Lils decided the makeup was too much of a hassle. Got a problem?” Arabella gave Sirius a look. But it wasn’t a look of anger, more one of challenge.

“My only problem is that you are still single while I’m hanging around.” Sirius winked.

“But who would ask me out?” Arabella played coy. The whole compartment, including Sirius, knew exactly where this was going. And according to all of them, it was about time.

“Ara, gorgeous, you and me?” Sirius suggested.

“Sirius,” she paused. “Ask it right.”

“Arabella, will you go out with me?”

“And it will last for longer than a week?” She eyed him skeptically.

“I promise.” Sirius nodded, completely serious for a change.

“Yes.”

“It was that simple?” Sirius scratched his head. “If I had known that, I would have done this last year!” Everyone broke into laughter. Arabella eyed Peter, and the pudgy boy slid over in his seat, leaving room for Arabella to sit beside the guy she was now dating.

“Now look here!” Sirius announced. “Now I have a girlfriend-”

“No, you are dating someone. Dating and girlfriend are two different things.” Arabella interjected. Sirius laughed.

“OK. Now I’m dating, Remus, you’re still going out with Leona Hasda from Ravenclaw, Peter, you’re still with Cynthia Yumi from Hufflepuff, why, the only one who needs a girl is James!”

“I agree. James, you never date, and you have girls falling at your feet. If I were you…” Peter began, but was cut off.

“But you’re not.” James stopped him. He continued.

“If I were you, I would at least pick one!” The envy shining in Peter’s eyes was obvious. The train suddenly came to a jolting stop, and the noise of people in the corridor outside their compartment alerted them to the fact that they had finally reached their destination; Hogwarts.

In the horseless carriages, James and Lily sat with Sirius and Arabella. They laughed and joked the whole way up to the castle, but when all was said and done, the stress from their trip was starting to set in. As they climbed up the entrance stairs to the Hogwarts Castle, Lily yawned and James smiled at her.

“Tired?” He asked.

“Just a little. I want to at least watch the sorting though. And say hello to Andy.”

“Andy? Who is he?” James’ eyes shot up. Lily had a boyfriend? What?

“He? James, you must be more tired than I am. He! Andy as in Andrea White, the girl we tutored last year? Remember?” James flushed crimson. Oh! Her! He felt… dumb.

“Right!” He nodded. “Sorry, I don’t know what came over me. I must be tired.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Lily gave him a small smile. He loved it when she did that. It was like his own, personal smile, one she did just for him. He felt special when she smiled like that, as if she trusted him and only him. God he had to be more tired than he had thought to be thinking like this!

“Yeah. I wonder if she’ll need help this year?” He asked.

“Maybe. Probably, I mean, she’ll have a hard time catching up in all of her classes and all with her constant doctor’s appointments.”

“What?” James stopped, suddenly concerned. “What’s this now?”

“Don’t you know?” Lily asked, shocked. She had assumed Andy had told James.

“Know what?”

“James, didn’t you ever wonder why Andy has so little hair? Why she has dry skin?”

“Well, after a while I got used to it and I didn’t notice it. I try not to base what I think of people on appearance.”

“I know.” Lily gave him a sad smile. “I’m glad, otherwise I wouldn’t have you as a friend.”

“Now Lily, you are…”

“The point was, James, that Andy has been having chemotherapy for cancer. Hair falling out, dry skin, tiredness, all of those are side effects of the treatment.”

“Chemotherapy?” James asked. Lily balked. Of course! That was why Andy hadn’t told James! He was a full-blooded wizard; he wouldn’t understand what chemo was!

“Do you know what radiation is?”

“I’m not dumb Lily.”

“Chemotherapy is a form of radiation used to kill the bad cancer. But it also kills other parts of the body, like the hair. That’s why she’s had a hard time keeping up in her classes, because she has to come and go for the treatment.”

“That’s horrible.”

“But look on the bright side. She told me that she was doing much better, that the cancer is in remission, and that she might not even need the treatment anymore.”

“Remission?”

“The cancer is nearly dead. She’s almost healthy again.”

“That’s great!” James smiled. Lily smiled too. By now they had reached the Great Hall. Sitting at the back of the table, they waited for their friends to fill in the spots around them. Their conversation became light again, neither of them wanting to share the delicate information about their friend with other people.

“Hey look, here come the first years.” Remus smiled weakly.

“They’re so small!” Arabella cooed. Lily side smiled.

“Ahh! Just imagine what we can do to them! The Slytherins are going to wish they had never set foot in this school!” Sirius laughed. James joined him.

“Prank time gentlemen!” He announced. Even Remus perked up at the mention of a new prank.

“Ara, switch seats with me? That way I can sit next to James and plan.” Sirius grinned.

“Ok.” As Arabella stood up, a loud voice rang out through the hall.

“Miss Figg! Sit back down!” The Marauders, Lily, and Ara winced. McGonagall! “Mr. Black, I like you separated from Mr. Potter. We might actually have a peaceful feast for the first time in four years.” A general laugh went up around the room, and the Marauders simply grumbled.

“We get no respect I tell you.” Sirius loudly stated, making the laughter even louder.

“You’ll get the respect when the pranks stop. Besides, I’d like the Slytherin first years to survive this year.” But Lily could see mirth in McGonagall’s eyes as she spoke. She could also see the trembling first years gulp. And then she laughed. A long, loud, clean laugh echoed through the hall.

“Lily!” James grinned. “What’s so funny?” And she continued to laugh. Finally James took the hint and began to laugh with her. Next came Sirius, then Arabella, then Remus and finally Peter. Each of them just laughed. Finally managing to contain their sniggering, they looked up to see a stern McGonagall standing and frowning at them, and the rest of the room gazing in mild shock.

“Miss Evans, is this any way for a seventh year to behave? I’m surprised at you, of all people.”

“I’m sorry Professor.” Lily squeaked, her face still red. She had to duck her head down again; otherwise she would have broken into another fit of laughter.

“Now then, the sorting ceremony will now begin.” And the first years began their trips towards the sorting hat. When all of the first years had been sorted, Dumbledore stood, his eyes twinkling, and a smile playing on his thin lips.

“Well, we’ve certainly gotten off to an exciting start this semester. Just a few small beginning of the term notices, then you can all eat. First, please do not poke the Whomping Willow. It is temperamental for a reason; do not provoke it. Secondly, Let’s try to remember to use the astronomy tower for looking at the stars only. Oh, and last but not least, we have a new caretaker, Mr. Flitch. I hope you’ll all make him feel welcome. Now that all has been said,” He paused and McGonagall whispered something in his ear.

“Ah yes, one more thing. Please do not use dung bombs in any of the bathrooms. It really is quite unpleasant to have that smell throughout the castle.” A few snickers were heard. “Now then, almaginkadiva!” And food appeared on the tables before the hungry students.

And then a loud wail went up from the front of the Gryffindor table. The Marauders and company shot their heads up, wondering what had made their housemates groan. The groan that had started at the top of the table with the first years began to make its way down the table, and soon nearly the whole table was in tears. James stood and pulled Lily with him. They stepped away from the table just as Sirius and Arabella broke into tears. Then Remus, and finally Peter caved and began crying.

“What is going on?” Lily whispered.

“Tear charm.” James whispered.

“The tear charm? I don’t see the blue gas…”

“An invisibility charm must have been placed over it.” James’ ears perked up and his eyes fell onto the Slytherin table, where the entire house was snickering in delight. He nudged Lily, whose eyes fell upon the same scene. Then their laughing grew louder, and finally it was blaring.

“Really?” She whispered under her breath. “We’ll see how funny you think it is.” She groused. Silently she took hold of her wand and swished it, murmuring a few small words. Suddenly, the Slytherins’ laughter got loud, and their faces panicked. They began rolling on the floors, tears streaming down their faces, but none of them could stop.

“What is going on here?” McGonagall asked confused. It had been obvious the Slytherins, though she didn’t know which ones in particular, had placed a tear charm on the Gryffindor. But now the Slytherins were laughing uncontrollably? Even James Potter, one of the biggest troublemakers and one of the only Gryffindors not affected by the tear charm, looked confused. A charm for a charm? This was not going to be a quiet year… she already had a migraine.

“Well. We certainly have a range of emotions tonight, don’t we?” Dumbledore looked amused, but slightly annoyed. He waved his wand at the Gryffindor table, then at the Slytherin table, and finally the laughing and crying stopped. Lily and James sat back down, and Lily patted Ara on the back as she tried to collect herself.

“I’ve never been so sad before.” She told Lily. “ I thought my heart was going to break.”

“Well, it’s all over now. Besides. Those slimly Slytherin got their just desserts.”

“Lily!” Sirius gasped. “That was you?”

“No one messes with my friends. I don’t have a lot to spare, so I’ll protect them all I can.” Lily announced quietly.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves an honorary Marauder! Miss Lily Evans!” Sirius announced and grinned goofily. James just stared thoughtfully at Lily while everyone else clapped.

“Lily?” He asked when everyone had gone back to their food. “Why?”

“I told you. I’ll protect my friends.”

“That was so uncharacteristic though.”

“That I would want to protect my friends?” She frowned.

“No. Just the laugh attack, then the prank, I don’t know.”

“Is that bad?” James frowned when he saw Lily looking downcast.

“Never Lil.” He lifted her chin with his hand. “Laugh more often Lily. I love seeing you happy.”

“I’ll try James.”

“But what did you find so amusing earlier?” He mussed.

“The fact that McGonagall was lecturing you all on not frightening the first years, but she herself scared them even by mentioning it. If you had seen the looks on some of their faces… it was hilarious.”

“Lily, you’re amazing.”

“What?” She blushed. James was looking at her strangely. “I’m just me, just the same freakish me I’ve always been.”

“Oh Lily.”

“Oh James.” They smiled, and turned back to their meals.

When they had all had their fill, they exited the Great Hall together, all heading for the Gryffindor Common room so they could go to their dorms to sleep. The conversation was kept light, and they laughed a majority of the time in-between yawns. When they finally got to the doors separating the boys and girls dorms, they stopped to say goodnight. Remus and Peter simply left waving, while Sirius pulled Arabella aside. James and Lily looked at each other.

“Hey James?” Lily asked.

“Yes Lady Lily?”

“Do you trust me?” His eyebrows shot up. What had brought on this doubt?

“Of course Lily. I trust you as much as I trust Remus and Sirius, my two best friends.”

“Then James? Just know that if you ever want to tell me something, I’m willing to listen.”

“I want to tell you you’re not a freak.” He grinned.

“You’re doing it again.” She told him pointedly.

“Hiding behind humor?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry Lily.” He sighed. “I trust you. Just… give me some time, ok?”

“I’ll always be ready when you are.” She told him softly. “Good night James.” Then she turned around.

“Hey Lily?”

“Yes?” She turned back around to face him.

“You’re beautiful. Good night!” She blushed, smiled a small smile that made James’ heart jump, and then walked through the door, following Arabella’s misty figure.

“James my boy.” Sirius clapped his friend’s shoulder. “You’ve got it bad.”

“Got what?”

“You like her!” He shoved James and laughed.

“I what?” James went very still. “No! I don’t like her! I mean, I like her, but I don’t like her! Lily is my friend Si! You’re such a sicko! You think everything has to be about sex and kissing and love! Lily doesn’t even believe in love!”

“She doesn’t, huh?”

“No!”

“Then why don’t you change her mind?”

“What?” James stuttered.

“Think about it. Night Prongs!” And Sirius left, laughing and leaving a confused James as he went. James didn’t know what to think. No, it wasn’t possible. Lily was just his good friend. He would say best friend, but Si and Re were already tied for that position. Was it possible for him to have a third best friend? A very beautiful, very sweet, third best friend? Oh jeez… James suddenly wasn’t tired anymore. In fact, he wanted to get out; he needed fresh air.

Going to his dorm room, James broke open his trunk and pulled out his two most prized items: a blank piece of parchment and a heavy cloak. The first had been made with his three best friends as a symbol for everything they stood for. The second, it had been a present from his father only a week before he had died.

Hugging the two items close to him, he wrapped the cloak around him and saw his body disappear beneath it as he became invisible. Then he murmured a few quiet words to the piece of paper and a map shimmered into sight. Checking it, he nodded, then whispered a few more words and rolled the map up and shoved it into his pocket. Ready to go, he covered his head and watched his step as he snuck out of the dorm room. Careful not to get caught by the new caretaker, Flitch, James snuck outside and through the courtyard of the castle. He kept going until he made it to a familiar looking hobble with a garden visible behind it.

He knocked on the door, and when it opened and a large man stood into the doorway, James snuck through and as the man closed the door thinking it had been his imagination, James unwrapped the cloak.

“James!” The large man yelped and jumped, grabbing his chest near where his heart would be.

“Sorry Hagrid. Did I scare you?”

“Don’t do that to me boy! I hate that cloak! If you ever give that your son, I’ll feel sorry for the poor sap who he sneaks up on.”

“How was your summer Hagrid?” James asked, smiling. He threw the cloak over a chair and plopped down in another, closer to the fire. Hagrid followed in suit.

“It was boring! Never much to do around here without kids! Now then, tell me how yours went.”

“Boring. I stayed with Sirius and his family.”

“How was that then?”

“Fine.”

“And did you do anything?” Hagrid asked.

“We didn’t do much, fly around and play quidditch and things. I didn’t do anything… oh wait! I went to a wedding.”

“Wedding? Who do you know that got married?” Hagrid scratched his beard.

“Lily’s sister.” James said mechanically, wanting to see Hagrid’s response.

“You went and saw that!” Hagrid boomed. “Now that had to have been interesting. How’d it go?”

“Well I suppose. Lily owled me and asked for help. Apparently Vernon, the groom, had a cousin who was supposed to have been in the wedding, but he got sick. Lily asked me to fill in. So I showed up and was in the wedding.”

“Was that guy nice? Lily was worried about him being-”

“He was horrible!” James spat out before Hagrid could finish. Hagrid sat back and just watched James go at it. “He was a sick, deranged man who didn’t deserve to be anywhere near Lily! She was too good for him! Hell, she’s too good for her whole family!”

“Is that so?” Hagrid’s eyebrows rose. This would be interesting. *