Usual Disclaimer: All the characters (well almost all of them) are property of J.K. Rowling and I'm merely borrowing her brilliance and her world with no claim to it at all. I'd like to thank the Harry Potter Lexicon in particular since they're help in filling in the holes of Ms. Rowling's world has been invaluable to making this story as authentic as possible. Please look them up sometime.
As for why I chose to focus on the Lily and James era of things? Well the characters aren't so deeply established (for the most part) that I have to worry about stepping over Ms. Rowling's toes and perverting her thoughtful creations beyond necessity. I hope you enjoy and reviews are always appreciated.
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~ Cackle Above, Crackle Below ~
By: Oy! Angelina
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Over the next couple of weeks, Hogwarts had officially become a war zone whenever James Potter and Lily Evans were in proximity of one another.
For the first week, James took every opportunity he could find to undermine Lily's authority and Lily never missed a chance to nail his ass to the wall for it. James had lost fewer points for Gryffindor in an entire TERM at Hogwarts than he had that first week with Lily. Snape, the Slytherin Prefect wasn't much help either as he had officially grown comfortable with his ability to abuse his power. James couldn't get into a simple exchange of insults with Snape anymore without Snape getting in the last word by knocking a few points off Gryffindor's total. To keep the other Gryffindors from lynching him in the night, James worked extra hard to be even more impressive than he usually was in his classes just to make up the difference.
After the second week, Lily realized it wasn't fair to punish the entire House because James was a prat and decided to start meeting him prank for prank. This turned out to be a poor strategy on her part since James was much better at getting under her skin than the other way around. While she had jinxed his hat to flash the poem she had composed on the Hogwarts Express in his honor (which seemed to more than piss James off) he got her back with interest by slipping her a potion that made her voice squeak like it were on helium every time she raised her voice. James spent the entire day instigating fights with her just so he could laugh when she started to yell. He promised to give her the antidote provided she made up a new poem in honor of how clever and handsome he was for the entire school to hear about.
Lily proved to all the Gryffindors just how angry and stubborn she was towards James when she sought out the Slytherins and asked Severus Snape for assistance, which he was uncharacteristically kind enough to provide. Since then, they were frequent partners during Potions class and been seen talking to one another outside of Prefect meetings.
One lazy Saturday, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew were lounging under a large tree out by the lake neighboring Hogwarts. The enjoyed the nice weather while it was last it was lasting with September coming to a close and reflecting on the mania of James, who was not present but was assuredly plotting to do something to Lily who was off under her own tree chatting with Severus Snape.
"My they're certainly chummy as of late." Sirius observed disapprovingly as he glanced over at Lily and Snape.
"I think you're reading into it, a bit." Peter remarked helpfully. "They ARE both Prefects and what with James doing his best to be a bother she's probably just looking for someone to share some frustrations with."
"Bet he's looking to share something more than frustrations." Sirius grumbled. "Do you reckon they'll go on to become a couple now that they have hating James in common?"
Remus rolled his eyes.
"Yes, Sirius, I can see it now: lounging in bed, sipping tea over a Sunday Prophet while playfully arguing about which of them hates James more." Remus replied sarcastically.
"It suddenly sounds more plausible when you say it aloud like that." Sirius laughed, feeling a bit better as he tried to imagine the scenario.
"Speaking of James, you reckon we'll be shipping James off to St. Mungo's for a bit of rest?" Peter smirked at his two sane friends. Remus grinned but shook his head.
"Nah, he seems to be getting back to himself a bit." Remus replied. "He's still quarrelling with Lily, but it seems to be more for sport than whatever grudge those two have going on between them."
"Which we STILL need to get why out of one of them!" Sirius growled. Neither James nor Lily had been very explicit in why they were fighting exactly but the silence and speculation around the topic had more than the Marauders interested.
"I'll wager Moony is right." Peter agreed. "James is just doing all the stuff he used to do to her back in 1st Year lately and I think Lily's putting on a show of being madder than she actually is since it's expected of her to be indignant."
Both Peter and Remus had a point. Virtually all last week (the third week of the Potter/Evans debacle), James and Lily had pretty much given up on elaborately pranking one another or subtracting large amounts of points for Gryffindor and their rivalry degraded into juvenile means to getting a rise out of one another. When James major plan of attack consisted of yanking Lily's hair when she wasn't expecting it and taking off down the hall, the students of Hogwarts pretty much assumed that the feud was winding down.
"Well, I hope you two are on to something." Sirius replied. "When we're not getting the 'guilt by association' end of things, Lily's off and about with that grubby Slytherin."
"We just need to come up with a means to make them reconcile their differences." Remus assured. He glanced over Sirius's shoulder as Arabella Figg approached the three Marauders and joined them. The three boys silently hoped she wasn't going to start yet another rousing conversation about cats.
"Going on about Lily and James?" Arabella asked curiously. "How are things on James's end?"
"We'll he's given up that mad cackle he acquired whenever he came up with some new stunt to pull." Peter reported. Arabella giggled.
"Yeah, Lily had one of those too." She informed. "I think she's calming a bit since she's stopped referring to him exclusively as 'that randy prat'."
"Still looking to fix those two up?" Sirius asked with an interested tone.
"What's this about?" Remus shot Padfoot a curious look, showing that this was evidently news to him.
"Oh, I mentioned to Sirius a couple weeks ago that I thought Lily and James fancied one another." Arabella explained to Remus and Peter before turning to Sirius. "No, I've pretty much given up on those two, but I WOULDN'T mind getting them back on good terms." Sirius seemed to smile a bit at this while Remus dawned a thoughtful expression.
"I think most of Hogwarts could agree with you there." Peter sighed. "Well, any brilliant ideas gentlemen?"
"The Hogsmeade trip is next weekend." Sirius recalled. "Maybe if we get them on neutral ground, they'll be a bit more reasonable."
"Maybe what we need to do is get their minds off one another." Arabella suggested with a coy smile.
"Such as?" Remus was almost afraid to ask.
"Well," Arabella blushed slightly. "I find James a bit dashing and I'm sure one of you three can find something to appreciate in Lily."
Peter and Remus's eyes shifted over to Sirius who was officially on the edge of his seat.
"You suggesting we attempt to court them, ' bella?" Sirius confirmed eagerly.
"Only if you're interested." Arabella replied.
"Very!" Sirius smiled broadly. This was the best break he'd had concerning Lily since they all had arrived at Hogwarts.
"Well, I suppose I could put in a good word with Lily if you'd return the favor with James." Arabella winked. Sirius was nodding so fast it looked as though his head would threaten to fall off. Arabella smiled, still blushing a bit. "Alright then, I guess we'll see what we can manage for next weekend. At the least, let's make sure we all meet up at the Three Broomsticks for a round of butterbeers at about two or so."
"Sounds like a date." Sirius agreed as he smiled at his friend. Peter returned a grin but Remus seemed to be forcing his smile a bit. Sirius would have asked him about it but the sound of exploding firecrackers jerked all their heads to where Lily and Snape had been sitting.
* * *
Lily and Snape were on their feet as colorful sparks exploded just a few feet from where they had been seated. Lily's head darted back and forth as she tried to discern where James (Because it HAD TO BE JAMES) threw the Filibuster Fireworks from. A mad cackle from the branches of the tree drew her and Snape's narrowed eyes. James peered down from them, seated on a thick branch with a satisfied grin that broke only to laugh.
"JAMES POTTER COME DOWN HERE SO I CAN RING YOUR NECK PROPERLY!" Lily roared while pointing into the tree. This just prompted James to laugh harder.
"Bollocks to that!" James declared. "You're welcome to come up here, though, if you're that inclined!"
"I'll be confiscating every last one of those firecrackers from you!" Lily promised. James shrugged.
"Guess I better use them all up then." As a half dozen more fireworks fell to the ground and went off around Snape and Lily's feet. Greatly amused with himself, James's laughter practically drowned out the hissing and screeching of the exploding pranks. Fed up with James, Snape removed his wand glowering.
"Step back, Evans." Snape cautioned as he put a hand on Lily's shoulder, pulling her back with him.
"ABRUMPERE!" Snape cast at the branch James was sitting on. James abruptly stopped laughing as he heard a loud snap as the limb of the tree broke a the base, sending him crashing nearly twenty feet to the ground, sprawled across the branch. Lily gapped at him with her hands over her mouth.
"James!" She gasped. "Are you hurt?"
James peeled himself partially off the branch so he was in a seated position and rubbed his shoulder.
"I've fallen from twice that height in Quidditch and was able to walk off the pitch." James groaned as Lily nodded, processing the information. He shot a hateful look in Snape's direction that Snape was more than happy to return. "I could have landed on my head, you git!"
"Come now, Potter. You say that as though it would have harmed something important." Snape hissed.
"I'm glad you're fine." Lily stated with a relieved sigh. "Now I can mangle you in clear conscious!" With that, Lily lunged at James.
"Oh, bugger me!" James cried as he scrambled off the branch and took off into a field with Lily right on his heels. James would have started laughing if he didn't need every last gasp of breath to keep out of Lily's reach. Snape might of pursued them if he didn't have every confidence Lily was more than capable of handling herself against Potter.
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From where the Marauders and Arabella Figg were watching, they had a good view of Lily flinging herself at James, tackling him to the ground by the waist. It took her little time after that to crawl on top of him and start pummeling and James could be heard laughing while struggling to get her off the top of him
The four couldn't help but erupt into laughter themselves at the sight of their Prefect bludgeoning Prongs.
"He's got that mad cackle again!" Peter observed.
"Don't you think we should break them up?" Remus asked between chuckles.
"We could." Sirius nodded. "Or I could put a galleon on her bloodying his nose."
"You're betting AGAINST your own best friend?" Remus laughed harder as he toppled into the grass.
"I've got two thinking Prongs pins her in ten." Peter chimed in on James's behalf.
"Put me down for a galleon on Lily." Arabella reached into her robe pockets.
* * *
As Lily struggled on top of James growling, the more he giggled at her the more she wanted to shut him up. Right now she had the advantage since all of her weight (though not all that much of it) was on him, keeping him to the ground. But, as she half expected, James six foot something frame, which was more than toned from his years as a Quidditch Chaser, managed to flip her to the ground. Pinned beneath James, Lily fought against James's grip as he panted and laughed. Finally, Lily relented realizing she wasn't getting anywhere.
"Let me up." Lily ordered.
James pretended to think about this. Lily snorted through her nose, growing tired of his childish behavior.
"That wasn't a request, Potter." Lily informed. "That was a command from your PREFECT."
"You're damn bossy considering you're the one on your back!" James smirked. She was positively adorable when she stared at him with that pout over her face. He released his hold on Lily but didn't remove himself from atop her.
"James." Lily had an edge of warning to her voice. She didn't know what he was playing at but she was starting to become aware of the looks from all the eyes watching them, and more importantly, the one in James's
"Fine, I'll let you up." James promised in a hushed voice. "If you ask me nicely."
"PLEASE. There, satisfied?" Lily agreed quickly. James smiled.
".and let me kiss you." James finished. James watched Lily's face changed from genuinely stunned. He knew it was at best a long shot and wasn't sure what possessed him to say it, but he held his breath anyway wondering if she would actually let him.
For her part, Lily couldn't believe James had actually said that to her. Considering the way they had been going at one another for nearly a month, Lily had been almost positive that anything that may have happened between her and James Potter was now lost to a petty grudge. Lily was almost inclined to believe he was sincere but then she realized it would be just like James to try and extort some sort of confession from her that he would just use to tease her with more.
James watched Lily's expression contort in anger as brought her fist up to sock James in the jaw. With a groan he rolled off Lily as she hurried to her feet and glowered down at him.
"I hope THAT will contribute something valuable to your learning curve!" Lily hissed. James stared up at her smiling from the ground while holding his cheek.
"Certainly did." James agreed. "I won't bother ASKING next time!"
Lily made a disgusted noise, leaving James laughing like the loon he was in the field by himself.
She couldn't figure out what the hell James was up to, but her heart was pounding furiously and she didn't know if it had everything to do with her brawling with James. Finally, Lily decided that only a true prat would joke about kissing a girl like that and marched back to where Snape was waiting for her.
"If you're going to lecture me on how undignified it was for a Prefect to behave as I just did, I am more than aware." Lily assured as she took a seat under the tree panting.
"Actually, I was going to compliment you on that left jab to Potter's face." Snape contradicted with a thin smile. Lily had to laugh.
"I was particularly proud of that one myself." Lily agreed.
"By the way, I'm subtracting ten points from Gryffindor for Potter attacking a Prefect." Snape informed Lily.
"That's alright, I was planning on taking the same off of Slytherin for destroying school property." Lily shrugged with a grin. Snape glared at her as though he intended to crossly respond, but decided to grin instead.
"Fair enough, then." Snape relented.
"Now the question is what should happen to me for pummeling James Potter?" Lily inquired.
"Nothing short of an Award for Special Services displayed in the trophy room." Snape decided. Lily laughed some more.
* * *
Finally getting off his back, James went to go meet up with his friends, swaggered over to the group, blood smeared at the corner of his mouth and glasses completely askew. He was attempting to brush off stray grass, but was laughing too hard to do a very thorough job of it. James hadn't looked or felt this much like his old self in weeks.
Peter groaned as he gave back the coins Arabella and Sirius had just passed him since their wager was something of a draw.
"For a man who just got his arse kicked by a girl, you look pretty damn proud of yourself." Remus observed as he handed James a handkerchief to wipe the blood and sweat from his face. James accepted it as he threw himself down on the ground.
"Oh come on!" James grinned. "The look on her face when she caught me in that tree. . .MORE than worth it!"
"I thought it was funny." Arabella quickly complemented. James nodded at her.
"Which is why you have taste." James assured, prompting Arabella to blush.
"Just how long were you in that tree?" Peter asked with a hint of awe in his voice. He always had a hero worship of James and was impressed even a little more by his friend's relentlessness.
"I don't know, I reckon about an hour." James shrugged.
"How could you have POSSIBLY known they would sit under it?" Remus remarked in disbelief. Arabella smiled shyly.
"James, er, asked me to suggest it to them." Arabella admitted. James tried to look innocent and the Marauders laugh. Arabella shoved James playfully. "Of course I NEVER would have done so if I knew you were going to rain explosives on Lily's head!"
After the laughter had died down, Sirius turned to Arabella knowingly.
"So we're on for Hogsmeade then?" Sirius winked at Arabella. James looked quizzically at them.
"You guys meeting up or something?" James asked hopefully. He wondered if Sirius had unconsciously elected to make his life simpler by given up on Lily for Arabella.
"Something like that." Peter snorted.
"We're going to meet up with ' bella and Lily at the Three Broomsticks." Sirius explained. "Provided you can promise not to do anything thing to earn her ire before hand."
James smiled at this.
"I think I can manage." James promised. If Sirius was off his crusade for Lily than maybe he'd have a shot at setting things right with Lily without having to worry about mucking things up. James couldn't keep from grinning at the thought that in a weeks time they'd all be at Hogsmeade and possibly putting these past few sordid weeks behind them.
James smiled at Remus but was a little bit put off to see that he didn't appear as happy as the rest of them.
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Dizzy
By the Goo Goo Dolls
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You're cynical and beautiful You always make a scene You're monochrome delirious You're nothing that you seem I'm drowning in your vanity You're laugh is a disease You're dirty and you're sweet You know you're everything to me
Everything you are Falls from the sky like a star Everything you are Whatever ever you are
I wanna kick at the machine That made you piss away your dreams And tear at your defenses Till there's nothing there but me You're angry when your beautiful Your love is such tease I'm drowning in your dizzy noise I wanna feel you scream
Everything you are Falls from the sky like a star Everything you are Whatever ever you are