Disclaimer: Erm. Nothing really. You know the drill. Don't own any of the canon characters, yadda yadda yadda.
Chapter Six: La Première Fête
(Chapter's Song: 'Welcome to the Jungle' by Guns n' Roses)
I dropped my head onto my elbows and groaned. "Remus, I can't do this any more. I really can't."
"Come on, you don't have much left to copy. And really, I could've just done a duplicating charm, but you insisted on recopying it yourself," he said, gently shaking my shoulder.
I sighed and sat up properly, rubbing my eyes and barely suppressing a yawn. "I'm sorry, I'm just so tired. I didn't end up going to bed until like way past 4." I shook my head. Luckily I had woken up before anyone would have been in the common room. What would it have looked like if they found me and James sleeping together on the couch, arms and legs tangled? Oh god, I shudder at the thought of what Kate and Georgie would have said…
"Just out of curiosity, why were you up so late?" asked Remus, scribbling something down on an essay of his.
I stared at his notes from yesterday's Transfiguration class and blinked to bring the words into focus. "I don't know. I just couldn't sleep for some reason. I ended up going down to the common room and I actually fell asleep there."
"That's funny…" mumbled Remus to himself.
"What's that?"
"James said that he fell asleep in the common room too," said Remus. He looked up at me and raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Oh," I said lamely. I looked down and avoided his eyes, knowing that he knows that I know that he knows about what happened last night.
"Lily, Professor McGonagall wants to talk to you," said Natalie, a Hufflepuff in our year.
I exhaled, completely relieved that I didn't have to answer Remus's unvoiced question. "Thanks, Nat. Remus, can I just take these with me? I'll give them back to you later," I said, holding up the sheets of parchment.
He leaned back in his chair, balancing on the back two legs. "Sure, go ahead, Lily," he said, eyeing me curiously, his quill in between his teeth.
"Thanks, love."
I raised my fist to knock on the door just as it swung open.
"Okay. Thanks for meeting with me on such short notice, Professor. I really appreciate it," said James, standing with his hand on the doorknob.
"Of course, Mr. Potter. Let me know how everything turns out."
"Okay, will do. Hey Lil," he said, smiling at me as I walked into Professor McGonagall's office.
"Hey," I breathed. James touched my shoulder and then left me with Professor McGonagall, sitting behind her desk and looking over a bunch of essays. "Sorry I'm late, Professor. I was in the library."
"That's quite all right, Miss Evans. Now, you know why we are here this afternoon, yes?" she asked, pushing her square spectacles further up her nose.
I nodded and crossed my legs in a business-like fashion. "I was going over the pamphlets and brochures that you gave me at the end of last year and I've decided that I want to go in a different direction from what we talked about before the summer holidays."
"I see," said McGonagall, writing something down. "Have you thought of a different career that you would like to pursue?" asked McGonagall, making some notes in my file that she pulled out of her desk.
I nodded again. "While I was reading the stuff that you gave me, I realized that being a magical liaison to the Muggle government isn't really something that I could really see myself enjoying. I think that the reason why I chose that in the first place is because it's a career that I'm somewhat familiar with, especially because of my father. So anyway, I was thinking of maybe becoming a part of the Ministry's Intelligence," I finished in a rush and looked up at my Head of House to see her reaction.
"You are aware, Miss Evans, of the dangers that you are putting yourself at risk to, should you choose to pursue this?"
I nodded eagerly, completely relieved that she didn't shoot me down. "I've made a list of pro's and con's for this and I'm completely willing to accept everything that the job would entail."
"Well, Lily, you are one of the brightest students that I have ever had the pleasure to teach," said McGonagall.
I blushed and mumbled a thank you.
"So I think that you will be able to handle Intelligence, even though there are many aspects of it that are quite trying. And as luck would have it, you're already in all of the NEWT level classes that the Intelligence department requires, so there would be no need for a new schedule or anything of the sort. I'll give you some more information about this and I want you to come back and see me in two weeks' time," said McGonagall, handing me a folder filled with pamphlets about my likely future job.
"Thank you so much, Professor. I was really worried that you were going to tell me that it was too late to change my mind or something, especially since the school year's already under way," I said, standing up and throwing my bag over my shoulder.
"Nonsense, Miss Evans. Like I said, you're one of the brightest students in this institution and you are more than capable of handling yourself," said McGonagall, offering me a rare smile.
"Well, thanks again," I said, and left her office.
I turned left and began walking, thinking about the types of things that I'll have to do should I get accepted into the Ministry's Intelligence Agency. From research that I've done on my own, I'm going to have to go on dangerous missions to retrieve valuable intel, which is most likely going to be the basis for some major Auror operations. I got a tingle in my stomach and I began to walk faster, my adrenaline levels rising just at the thought of the MIA.
Just when I reached the portrait of Wendolyn the Weird, I realized that I'd gone in the completely wrong direction. Fucking hell. I must be utterly exhausted if I can't even make my way back to the bloody tower.
I spun on my heel and rammed right into what seemed at the time a solid wall. I blinked, something that I've been doing a lot today, and realized that it was just Jared, one of Nate's friends. I mentally rolled my eyes. Of course slamming into Jared would be like walking into a wall. This guy works out like it's his job.
"Hey Lily! I was actually looking for you," he said, smiling warmly.
I smiled back, inwardly shuddering. Jared would have been extremely attractive, had it not been for his horrible teeth. And let me tell you, these teeth are downright atrocious. They're yellow from improper hygiene and his constant smoking and they're not straight and I just want to throw a toothbrush at him and run away. "Really? Why's that?" I asked, continuing on towards the direction of the Tower.
"Well, the 7th years are having a party tonight and we wanted to invite you. It's in the South side of the castle, 4th floor. You won't be able to miss it. It starts at 9 and ends whenever. Oh and I've been told to ask you if you can bring Georgina with you," said Jared.
"Party," I repeated, and grinned. "Yeah, definitely. I'll let Georgie know. See you then."
"Righto. Later, Lil," he said, and walked off.
Excellent. I began walking to the Tower a little faster, pumped with newfound energy from a combination of my new prospects as an Intelligence officer and tonight's party. It's the first official Hogwarts party of the year and with pretty much only 7th years invited, it's not going to be some lame common room party. Not to say that the Gryffindor parties are lame, because they're definitely not, but… Let's just say that you need to tone down some in the presence of the younger children.
I glanced at my watch. Okay, so I've already finished all of my homework and we don't have any more classes today, so I'm pretty much free to do whatever. If I go and have dinner now, then I'll be able to sleep for three hours before the party and then I won't be so tired. And then tomorrow I don't have class until 9, so I can sleep in…
"Boiled cabbages," I said to the Fat Lady, and entered the common room looking for Georgie.
"You know, it's really weird how the two of you are always the only ones who are invited to the 7th year's parties," said Kate.
"What?" I yelled over my wand. I used a spell to make my wand work as a blow dryer and I stood with my hair hanging down in front of me. Frankly, I look like Cousin It, except that you can see my legs.
"She said that it's weird how the two of us are always the only ones invited to parties," bellowed Georgie back.
I flipped my hair over my head, stood up straight and continued to blow dry the ends. "Shut up, G," I said, making a face at her unnecessary volume.
"So Kate, what are you going to do tonight while we're all gone? Lily and I are going to party like it's 1999, Grace has detention and Sophie has to write that Potions essay," said Georgie, putting an earring on.
"Nothing really. Just going to hang out with Seth."
I 'turned off' my wand and began to brush my hair. "Is it weird if I'm jealous of you and your boyfriend if I have one myself?"
"Um, yeah?" said Sophie sarcastically. "And don't gloat over your 'taken' status in front of the single girls, thank you very much. Oh and Lily, you really have to turn the fan on when you shower. My hair pouffed out to oblivion after walking into the bathroom."
"Sorry," I said, smiling sheepishly.
"Anyway," said Kate shrugging, "aren't you planning on breaking up with Nate soon anyway?"
"You know, I'm not really sure. I think that I'll see how it goes in the next week, but if nothing really happens, then yeah, we're definitely over. Kinda sad though, because he is hot."
"Wouldn't mind a piece of that pie," muttered Georgie.
"Have a threesome," said Kate as she turned the page of her magazine.
"Um, ew? Did not need that image… or whatever," I said. I put on the last touches of mascara and stood up straight. "Alright Georgie. On y va."
"So where's this party again?"
"Bloody fuck. Could they have chosen a more fucking random spot?" asked Georgie.
I climbed one more step and then collapsed, panting on the staircase with Georgie plopping down next to me. I shrugged and shook my hair out of my face. "We just have like, two or three more corridors to go. But fuck, I know what you mean. I don't think I'll be able to make it there."
"You know what? I know just what we need," said Georgie, taking out her wand. She muttered an incantation, sucked on the tip of her wand and closed her eyes. Keeping her eyes closed, Georgie rolled her neck and then passed her wand to me.
I whispered the magic words and sucked on the tip of her wand, immediately being shot with energy. My mind's eye exploded with color and a tingling feeling began to spread throughout my body, starting at the tips of my toes.
"Okay, let's go," said Georgie breathlessly. She got up and then heaved me up with her.
"Gee, mister. You're strong," I said, giggling and stumbling after Georgie.
Within what seemed like minutes and swirls of color later, loud obnoxious music reached our ears and even more obnoxious people danced into our line of vision.
"Lily," someone growled into my ear. I was spun around and immediately felt a body pressed up against mine, grinding to the beat.
"Natie!" I squealed, tilting my head up to find his mouth.
"Let's get a drink, shall we?" said Nate, leading me away to a table laden with every alcoholic beverage you'd ever dream of.
We made our way through the crowd of about 100 people all jammed into a sparsely lit abandoned classroom, charmed to be soundproof. It's about 1,000 degrees in here and it's impossible to move without touching someone.
Nate handed me a plastic cup filled with what looked like Absinthe and took a cup for himself. I pulled my wand out of my pocket and stirred my drink with it before bringing my wand to my lips. I closed my eyes and sucked on it before shaking my head and downing some of my drink.
The combination of the spell and the alcohol was incredible. I felt as light as a feather, happy and giddy and excited about anything and everything. Everything has a halo of color surrounding it, Billy Idol wasn't so obnoxiously loud and most importantly, I felt free. I was free from the worries of a Prefect, free from the worries of a 6th year choosing what she wanted to do for the rest of her life, free from the insecurities of a 16 year old girl and free from the perfect preppy straight laced image that I have to uphold.
"You okay, Lily?" yelled Nate into my ear.
I nodded and reached up to pull his face down to mine. I can never get enough of his kisses. When he touches me, I feel an explosion erupting from his fingertips. His very presence sends tingles up and down my spine. No, I can't break up with him. Nate's just too good to be true.
We broke apart and I'm pretty sure I had stars in my eyes.
"You're incredible, Lil. I don't want you to ever forget that," said Nate, his forehead pressed against mine.
I smiled and kissed him on the lips as a slow song came on. "I don't want you to leave this year," I said and buried my face in his neck, pulling him closer to me as if it would keep him from graduating in June.
"Oh, love. I promise I'll visit you as often as I can. And then after you graduate, you can move in with me. My parents told me that they're going to get me a flat as my graduation gift and so far I don't have a roommate."
My stomach dropped. I lifted my head off of his chest and looked straight up into his eyes, green and deep and full of hope. I stared at him. I stared and I stared and I stared. This boy, this perfect boy wants me to move in with him in after we've both graduated from school. He wants to continue a relationship with me even though there will definitely be tons of girls throwing themselves at him during our year apart. "That sounds fantastic," I said breathlessly.
Someone tapped Nate on the shoulder and we stepped apart from each other as much as we could in the tiny space to see who came to talk.
James.
I took my wand out of my pocket and sucked on it and closed my eyes. When I opened them again, he still stood there. His hair looked windblown and he wore jeans and a light blue button down, carelessly unbuttoned at the top and sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
"May I cut in?" he asked Nate.
"Potter! Uh, yeah. Sure, why not?" said Nate, rather uncomfortably. I noticed that he had a rather large… bulge in his pants. "Find me after," said Nate, after kissing me.
I nodded and sucked at the tip of my wand again and looked at James, waiting for him to do or say anything. He didn't.
"What are you doing here? I thought only 7th years were invited," I said, swaying slightly in my shoes. Contrary to what I felt an hour ago, the volume of the room escalated exponentially and the halos of color became splashes of neon green and yellow.
"I was about to ask the same thing," said James, raising an eyebrow. He stepped closer to me and put his hands around my waist.
I looked straight into his eyes and began to move my hips to the tribal music that had been playing and dared him to keep up. If there's one thing that I pride myself with apart from my academic abilities, it's that I can dance. I can dance all night long and not get tired. It's something that I've been doing since I was like 3 years old. Always dancing.
James held my gaze and followed my movements, but quickly establishing his dominance. The halos began to swell and merge as we moved as one and the beating of the drums and my heart pounded in my ears. I shut my eyes and just concentrated on the movements of the person clutching my hips.
I tore myself away from James's grasp gasping and immediately the intense pounding died down in my ears. I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't bear to hold on to James any longer. Some time after the song ended, I was hit with a jolt of electricity that went through my entire body when he pulled me close to him. I pushed him away and stumbled through the crowd, looking for the tall blonde boy with sea green eyes.
I somehow found Nate amongst the throng of people, pounding shots with Jared and some girl who looked vaguely familiar.
"All right, Lily?" asked Jared, noting my presence.
Nate put down his glass and took in my disheveled appearance. "Let's get you home, hm?" he said, and began to guide me out of the room.
I felt my chest tightening and I clutched his hand as I continuously took in deep breaths, trying to regain my lost air.
Once outside, Nate sat me down on a flight of stairs and held my face in his hands. "How many spells did you take, love?"
I tried to focus my eyes on his, but whenever I blinked, they'd get all clouded over again. I shook my head and looked down. "I don't know. Maybe 4 or 5?"
"Lily," said Nate softly, pleadingly. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "And what'd you drink?"
"I'm not quite sure. All I remember is that Absinthe that you got me in the beginning of the party and I think a cup of firewhiskey, but I'm not sure."
"Do you have your inhaler with you?"
I shook my head. "I didn't think I'd need it."
"Lily, you have to slow down or else you'll kill yourself," said Nate, standing up and gathering me in his arms, despite my protests. "After all of that, I don't trust you to be able to walk on your own. Especially in those shoes of yours."
"What's wrong with my shoes?" I asked, raising my leg and pulling up my trouser leg to admire my pointy toe, high heel bright green shoes. "I like my shoes," I said, pouting.
"Your shoes, my darling, will cause you to fall and break your ankle. Now, let's get you to bed."
…..
Welcome to the jungle
We take it day by day
If you want it you're gonna bleed
But it's the price you pay
…..
A/n: As you may have noticed, there were some drug references earlier and it's a magical drug that just popped into my mind. You have to understand that they're 16/17 in the 80's, so there's bound to be drug use. Even nowadays there're drugs in parties, so whatever. No big.
Now, let me explain my time frame. So I'm going by how old Harry is in the books and saying that right now, Harry's 16 (basing it on book 6), so he was born in 1988. Then Lily was born in 1964 and James in late 1963, so therefore they were 24 when they had Harry. And therefore they'd be 40 if they were still alive. My way of thinking is that since they won't be going to college or anything, they'll start 'real life' earlier than people normally would, aka starting at 18 instead of like 26. So that's why they had Harry early. I know that JKR had it so that Harry was born in 1980, but it's easier clothing- and music-wise if Lily and James's time was during an era that I'm more familiar with.