Chapter Nine: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

*Lily was slowly walking down the hall to the transfiguration classroom when she noticed three shadows had joined her. Hoping it wasn’t the Slytherin clean up crew again; Lily snuck a curious glance behind her. And then she turned her head back around and gasped silently to herself.

“Eva… er, Lily! Wait up!” One of the people behind her called. She stopped cold in her tracks. And then the three figures were on her like wolves on a kill.

“Hi Lily!”

“I love your hair Lily!”

“Those earrings are awesome Lily!” Their voices cut the air around Lily like a knife, each louder and more obnoxious than the first. What was going on?

“Lily?” One voice stood out amongst the rest. “Lily, are you alright?” Finally Lily was able to break from her reverie. Shaking her head and blinking, she gathered herself and prepared for insults.

“Hello Arabella, Kat, Eva.” She replied coolly. What did they want from her?

“Hi! Lily, walk with us to transfiguration. We never get to talk to you!” Arabella smiled, trying her hardest to forget the horrible rumors that surrounded the girl. But James had said she was alright, and anyone who was friends with James had to be a nice person. As polite as James was to everyone, he was only friends with a very few people. If he was friends with Lily, it meant she was special, more so than they had given her credit for in the past.

“Alright then.” Lily whispered, still unsure of what was going on. Why were these three girls suddenly so sweet to her? She knew James had said Arabella had wanted to meet her, but… she had never expected she really would! It just wasn’t done! To cross social classes like this… it was wrong! It undermined the entire social hierarchy of Hogwarts! Still, it was nice to walk with other people down the dark halls into the dungeons where the transfiguration classroom was…

“What do you think Lily?” Arabella asked suddenly. Lily froze. Arabella was asking her for advice? And she hadn’t even heard the question! Oh no! What was going on?

“About what?”

“Lily!” Arabella laughed. Lily wasn’t as dreadful as she had been made out to be after all! Arabella could see the touch of fear and shock in the girl’s eyes and knew that she really had just been made fun of so much that people believed it. She didn’t believe for one moment that Lily Evans would transfigure anyone into anything now. “Lily, I was asking if you wanted to go to Hogsmead with us next weekend. It’s the first one of the year you know! Everyone is going!”

“I’ve never gone.” Lily wanted to slap her hand over her mouth and run away. Why had she said that? Why had she told a virtual stranger something like that?

“Never gone? Never?” Kat exclaimed.

“No.” Lily gulped.

“Well then. You’ll be coming with us, and that’s that!” Arabella looped her arm with Lily’s.

“ You’ll have so much fun! We’ll go to the Three Broomsticks and get butterbeer, and of course we’ll stop by the Magical Make-ups and Costumes store… it’s the only place to go for decent make-up!” Kat babbled.

“We can even give you a make-over afterwards!” Eva added. She and Kat smiled at each other, but Arabella frowned.

“Lily doesn’t need a make-over, she’s pretty as she is.” She paused, then broke out smiling devilishly. “She just needs to learn to flaunt it!” The three girls laughed and Lily blushed. They thought she was pretty? She was a freak! This wasn’t right!

“I’m sorry, but I’m busy.” Lily replied gruffly. She pulled her arm out from Arabella’s hold and shied away. “Please leave me alone.” And then she hurried away from the three shocked girls.

Arabella watched as Lily left them quickly. What had gone wrong? Logically she knew Lily was just scared to be thrown into the social scene so quickly. It was the same with most other girls Arabella had known over the years. She laughed silently. But then, none of the other girls had ever backed away like Lily had. The others had gone on to become bigger and better, until finally people began to see them for what they really were, trashy girls who were bad tempered, jealous, and greedy. Eva and Kat were much the same in that respect, Arabella knew. But at least they had enough sense to remain quieter than the others. It meant they would last a lot longer in the social limelight. Arabella often sat and wondered how long she herself would remain ‘popular’.

But Lily. Lily was the only one to ever truly refuse to be anything in the social scale. Why? Fear couldn’t be the only reason. What made her dress and act the way she did? Arabella’s mind fluttered with possibilities. Lily was too shy and polite to be a true darkling. Her attitude didn’t fit her style. Arabella sighed. Maybe it was a good thing Lily had refused her. It would keep Lily innocent longer. As long as Lily didn’t have to deal with the jeering crowds of popularity- the mean, caddy, girls and the dumb, power-hungry guys, then she would be ok.

But Arabella had promised James. She had promised to take Lily under her wing and help her, befriend her. So she would try again. Maybe she should leave Eva and Kat out of it and just go one on one with Lily. It may be slightly easier to get to know her better first before she introduced her to other people. Yes, that was what she would do. And with her mind made up, Arabella began her walk once more to her next class.

As Arabella and her two cronies entered the classroom, Lily sighed heavily. It was over. Never again would she have to deal with anyone like Arabella and her friends.

“Hello Lady Lily. Is this seat taken, or may I sit beside you?”

“James!” Lily looked up in shock. She hadn’t seen him come in, much less expected him to speak to her in public, and so politely on top of it all!

“That’s my name, don’t wear it out!” James smiled a cocky grin and Lily blushed slightly.

“Don’t you want to sit by Sirius or Remus? Or Peter?”

“I’d rather sit by you.”

“Stop it. Go sit by your friends. You don’t want to sit by a freak, now do you? Everyone will start spreading rumors.”

“They already do that.”

“Yes, but you’ve never had any bad rumors spread about you, and you’re sure to get some by sitting next to me. Go away James, go on!”

“Lily?” Arabella’s voice came from behind James.

“Oh no…” Lily moaned softly. James heard her and wondered what was going on.

“Can I sit by you? Or are you going to James?”

“No! By all means Arabella, sit here. Lily, this is Arabella Figg. Bella, this is…”

“We’ve met.” Lily interrupted him coldly. “And no one is sitting by me. Maybe you two should go sit by each other.”

“Lady Lily, I can’t do that! And leave you all alone?”

“I’ve managed on my own since I was ten James. I’ll manage another few days.”

“But you don’t have to.” James lowered his voice and became serious. Arabella watched the scene from a distance. Lily and James seemed to have an unspoken understanding of each other. It was so strange, but it almost seemed as if they had been friends forever and beyond.

“I do. I can’t trust anyone here, not even you.” Lily whispered back, now close to tears. She shut her eyes tight and tried to hide the inner turmoil that streamed through her veins. She wanted friends. Ever since James had first called her Lily she had realized she wanted friends. But she just couldn’t trust them… she was a freak! Why would anyone want to be a freak’s friend unless they were using them to get something? But what could James and Arabella want to use her for? She didn’t know! She just didn’t know!

“Lily, come on! You need friends! You can’t shut everyone out! Otherwise you’ll miss so much.” James told her softly. The class had been forgotten. Everyone else in the room had disappeared. There was no noise. The only sound that they heard was the heavy breathing of the other as they each struggled to come to terms with their minds and hearts.

“What would I miss James? Getting hurt? Being made fun of? Being told I’m a freak? I already know that! Why do I need others to re-affirm it?” Lily whimpered. Arabella gasped. Lily had serious psychological issues… a freak? A sinking feeling entered Arabella’s stomach. So all the years of teasing her had had this deep an effect on Lily? God she felt so guilty… she would make it up to her if it was the last thing she did!

“Lily! So you’ll get a few snide remarks here and there! Everyone gets that! You’ll miss having fun! Being crazy once in a while! You’ll miss dances and parties, you’ll miss having someone to tell your secrets to and falling in love.” James tried to implore her.

“Love doesn’t exist!” Lily cried out. Then she finally opened her eyes. A single tear trailed down her cheek. Forgetting the class and her books, she simply turned and ran out of the room.

“Love doesn’t exist?” James repeated. “How can she think that?” He was torn.

“Class, let’s get started.” Began the Professor. James took Lily’s old seat and looked up to the front of the classroom. But his mind was a thousand miles away, pondering poor Lily’s idea. How could love not exist?

“Professor?”

“Yes Miss Figg?”

“Lily Evans isn’t here. I think she’s sick. May I please be excused to check on her?” Arabella asked.

“Miss Evans?” The Professor looked surprised. “By all means. When my best student isn’t here, something must really be very wrong. Go on ahead.”

“May I go with her?” James suddenly asked.

“Mr. Potter. I don’t think Miss Evans needs a fan club going, and you can’t afford to miss this class.”

“Yes sir.” James slumped in his chair.

“Don’t worry James. I’ll let you know what happens later.” Arabella whispered as she grabbed hers and Lily’s things. James nodded, but her words didn’t help the knot that had twisted itself in his stomach- or the lump that had formed in the throat.

>>>)(<<<

Where could she have gone? Not knowing Lily well enough, Arabella was at a loss at where to find the girl. She had already checked all of the Gryffindor dorm rooms, the common room, and the Great Hall.

Slowing down, she finally stopped altogether and sighed. Well then, it was time to look at the situation objectively. Lily was a quiet girl who prided herself on being smart. Arabella knew that Lily often watched people from the shadows, always observing and never joining. Lily had a strong work ethic and always turned in her homework on time… that was it! Lily had to be in the library! And once again Arabella took off down the halls.

When she entered the library, the silence intimidated her more than anything. Of course Arabella had been in the library before, but never had she been in it alone. Peeking in all of the massive rows of books and tables, Arabella searched hard, her eyes on the look out for a one Lily Evans. But soon she gave up, not able to find Lily anywhere. But she was sure that Evans had to be hidden somewhere.

Where else in the library could she be hiding? The only other place left to look was the restricted section, but Lily was too innocent to ever think about… It was a soul torturing experience, to walk the rows of restricted books, knowing that most of them were enchanted and probably had minds of their own. But soon Arabella’s keen sense of hearing picked up on a muffled noise, and as she turned the corner, she finally found Lily.

“Lily?”

“Get away!” Lily tried to sound mean, but it only came out as a whisper.

“Lily, I only wanted to…”

“Get away or I’ll curse you!” Lily threatened. Arabella sighed. What to do? Fine. If she had to, she had to. She approached Lily and sat in the floor beside her. Then she tentatively put an arm around Lily’s shaking shoulders and gave her a short squeeze.

“James is cute, don’t you think?” Lily looked up at Arabella’s words. “Of course, Sirius is ten times better looking, but…” And Lily had to burst out with a short laugh. Wiping away her tears, she tried to frown again.

“Didn’t I say I was going to curse you?”

“Yeah, but no one ever believes those Slytherin rumors anyway. I mean, why would you trust people like Snape and Malfoy when they have so much grease on their heads that it looks like an oil spill?” Lily laughed again. Why was Arabella doing this? She didn’t even know her, but she was still here, trying to cheer her up. Why would such a popular girl like Arabella want to be friends with such a freakish clod like herself?

“You’re missing class.” Lily stated coldly, trying to forget how pleasant Arabella was being. This had to be a joke or prank. Watch, she’d see. Tomorrow everything would be back to normal, and Arabella would be making fun of her for anything she had said. Maybe if she was mean to her, she would go away and leave her alone.

“I don’t much like transfiguration anyway. I’m not a genius at the subject like you are. Heck, I’m not half as smart as you in any subject. School is not my strong point.”

“But you get perfect marks!” Lily asked in awe, forgetting her plan.

“Yeah right! I’ve never gotten perfect marks in m life. An outstanding grade every once in a while when I put a ton of effort in, but for the most part I’m average.”

“That isn’t right.” Lily mussed under her breath. “You’re perfect! You’re supposed to have perfect grades, perfect hair, perfect robes, and a perfect personality!”

“I’m no where near perfect. Hey Lily, I thought you liked to observe people? How come you didn’t notice before? I mean, I’m in the common room every other night asking for help on homework.”

“I didn’t think you were serious when you said you needed help. I just thought… I don’t know.” Lily paused. “Wait! Who says I like to observe people?”

“I don’t know. Everyone. I mean, you’re always watching us in the common room, but you never join us. You know, you really should have a little bit of fun in your life. It’s good for the soul, don’t you know!” Arabella smiled and giggled. Lily gave a half smile.

“I don’t want to join. Besides, you guys don’t need a freak like me to drag you down.”*

~~~Just a little thing: I know a lot of people say that James is supposed to be good in transfiguration and Lily at charms, but that was never really specified in the books. That means I have freedom to change it for my fanfic as I see fit. I don’t believe in disclaimers… I think that’s taking these fanfics too seriously- they’re all in good fun! REVIEW! Much love, Vixen~~~