Chapter 4: Hogsmede
Lily felt as if she were passing through something icy and cool, but the sensation quickly passed and when she opened her eyes no more than two seconds later, she found herself in a different room. Sirius followed close behind her and when he too reached the other side of the mirror broke Lily's wonderment by saying.
" See, Lily, I told you so! You've really got to learn to be more trusting."
"Oh! that's a rich statement coming from a marauder! Me? Trust you? The same boy who told me in first year that the only way to ensure my magical powers would 'awaken' would be to go into the lake and kiss the giant squid?! Please!" Retorted Lily.
"Touché." replied Sirius simply.
"Well, come on, this is the storage room for the Three Broomsticks and I don't really wanna loose time by getting caught."
And with that, Sirius lead Lily out of the room and into the streets of Hogsemede through a side exit.
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Once they were outside, Lily turned and spoke. "So, we're here in Hogsmede-"
"Gee, you're quick on your feet." cut in Sirius rolling his eyes in a sarcastic tone.
"I'd appreciate it," Lily replied turning and standing in front of Sirius, bringing herself up to her full height. "if you laid off on the sarcasm and at least let me get in a whole sentence or two once in a while because I am doing you and Potter a favor by being here."
"Ooo, feisty and hot…" Sirius shot back, starting to walk again. "too bad Prongs - or James to you- is in love with you (even though he is yet to realize it) or I'd totally ask you out-"
"Wait what?!" Lily blurted out, her voice raising an octave at hearing the words 'James', 'love', and herself used in the same sentence.
"Yeah, I know pitty huh? But Murader rule number one: never fall for previously claimed territory. Sorry, Lily-flower I guess we'll just have to leave what could have been between us to our fantasies."
"Eww! Sirius, that is so gross! First of all never ever call me 'Lily Flower'! Two: if I ever hear that you're even thinking about me in more than a platonic way in any context whatsoever I will once again hex you into oblivion! And three: James Potter is NOT in love with me, nor am I anyone's property!"
"Whatever you say Ms. Evans." Replied Sirius, a knowing smile playing on his face.
Lily decided to forget about what he had just said and changed the subject.
"So, do you know where James is?"
"I have a hunch." Sirius trailed off while pointing to a dark pub right in front of them.
"The Hog's Head?" Lily replied recognizing the place. "But-but, that's supposed to be a really dodgy place isn't it?"
Sirius let out a bark of laughter. "Don't worry princess, I'll protect you."
"Please," Lily scoffed. "With you as my knight in shining armor, I'd stand as much chance of surviving as a snow man in a fireplace."
She left Sirius' side and began walking toward the Hog's Head with much more confidence in her strides than she actually was feeling. She was already at the door and opening it when Sirius caught up.
They entered together and Lily took a look around. She thought it quite peculuar that nearly everyone had their faces hidden. Many of the tables were full of barely visible gambling games through the hazy smoke coming from one or more of the beverages sitting atop the tables.
Sirius spotted James immediately sitting in a corner alone and pulled Lily toward his direction by grabbing her upper arm. "Come on, stop gawking." he grunted.
"I wasn't gawking! And I can walk thanks!" Lily exclaimed in a whisper pulling her arm out of Sirius' grip.
As they neared, Lily heard James say "I'll have one more." in a slurred voice to the bartender motioning to his empty glass.
"That won't be necessary, thanks." cut in Sirius, taking the cup which had magically filled itself once more out of James' hand. He sniffed it and then set it on the bar out of James' reach.
"Padfoot!" James said making to pat Sirius on the shoulder but missing completely. He settled for patting his stomach instead which resulted in Lily having to restrain a giggle.
"It's so sweet of you to come down here and give me some company," James trailed off. As he prattled off, completely oblivious to the fact that Sirius wasn't listening.
"How many glasses of fire whiskey exactly have you poured him since he got here." Sirius hissed at the bar tender.
"Who him?" the bar tender grunted back. "Almost drank me whole bottle." He said holding up the bottle for Sirius to see. "Don't get much request for fire whiskey round here." said the bar man before going back to polishing a mug with his dirty rag at the other end of the bar.
"So, been drowning yourself in Fire Whiskey, James, real smart." Sirius said going back to James.
"I don't know what you're talking about Sirius," replied James pointing a finger at his friend and swaying in his seat. "I only had like two glasses-"
"James!" Lily replied taking the opportunity to intervene. "You're pissed drunk! How could you be stupid enough to do this to yourself?!" she exclaimed.
James looked at Lily bewildered as she scolded him and then turned back to Sirius.
"Hey, Padfoot, whose that amazingly attractive girl standing behind you?" James asked. "She's almost as gorgeous as Lily. But then again, no one really compares to Lily anyway-"
Lily froze at James' comment. he thinks I'm gorgeous? she thought. No way he's delusional.
"Has he ever mentioned that to you about me before?" Lily asked Sirius through the side of her mouth before mentally kicking herself for wanting to know.
Sirius gave her a knowing smile but didn't tease her for wanting to know.
"No, but I told you he was subconsciously in love with you." he replied just as quietly.
Sirius focused his attention back on James who was still looking quizzically at Lily trying to figure out who she was.
"You idiot!" Sirius replied smacking him upside the head and turning back to their previous conversation. "That's because it is Lily… I brought her with me."
"What?! I don't believe you Sirius, what about Murader rule number one? No going out with previously claimed territory!" James asked obviously and genuinely annoyed.
"But I thought you didn't like Lily, James." Sirius asked playing dumb.
"Of course I do! You're my best friend Sirius, you're supposed to know when I'm pulling things out of thin air!" James replied, still fuming.
"Excuse me!" Lily said making her presence known "I am right here incase you two didn't notice, so stop talking about me as if I wasn't. And how many times do I have to tell you all that I am no ones property!"
" Calm down Prongs." replied Sirius ignoring Lily's outrage. "I'm not going out with Lily. She came down here to help you."
"What are you talking about? I don't need any help!" exclaimed James in a much less fiery tone than before. "You on the other hand Paddy, may wanna consider getting some though, I don't think its normal for there to be two of you." said James laughing and pointing to Sirius' side.
"Ok. He's officially wasted," Sirius whispered to Lily as James continued to laugh. "Just go along with me, ok?"
Lily nodded slightly to let Sirius know that she complied.
"Ha Ha! Silly me!" said Sirius to James forcing a laugh. "Did I say Lily was here to help you? I meant that she came to err, uh- see you. Yeah. She really, really wanted to see you so she uh asked me to show her where you were, right Lils?" Sirius finished looking at Lily for back up.
She shot him a you-so-owe-me look before putting on her best smile and turning to James. "Yup! That's right!" she replied cheerily. Suddenly an idea popped into her head. "Only I really really need to get back to Hogwarts and I don't know how without getting caught." Lily replied imitating a damsel in distress tone. "Do you think you could show me, James?" she asked fluttering her eyelashes and smiling as she touched his arm lightly.
A smile rose onto James' face and he had a look that suggested Christmas may have come early.
"Of course. Anything for you love." he said in a deep voice. He walked over to the bar man and was in the process of paying him when Sirius murmured " I told you to help me get him back into Hogwarts not to come on to him."
"I was NOT coming on to him!" Lily replied just as quietly though not failing to leave the tone of incredulity out of her voice.
"Yeah right! And you just bat your eyes and smile like that at every bloke, or just at those who you deny to be completely head over heels for?" scoffed Sirius.
"If you're implying that I'm in lo-" Lily retorted her whisper growing angrier with every word.
"Well, if the shoe fits," Sirius replied cutting her off and amused tone in his words. " 'Oh James, help me please! I'm just a poor stranded southern girl with no clue what she's doing. I need a SRONG and MANLY man to help me find my way back.' " Sirius replied in a completely satirical imitation worthy of Scarlet O'Hara of Gone With the Wind.
"I do NOT sound anything like that for one, Black," Lily fumed. "And at least my plan's getting him to leave- so what do you care as long as your mate gets back to Hogwarts before anyone finds out he's here?"
Sirius opened his mouth to reply with some cheeky comment, but at that moment James returned, coming toward them clearly having difficulty walking in a straight line.
"Ready?" He asked Lily offering an arm out to her.
Lily had no choice but to take it. She followed James out of the Hog's Head and into the newly wet streets of Hogsmede.
It must have rained a bit while we were inside. Lily thought to herself.
Almost instantly as his feet touched the ground, Lily felt James' hand jerk suddenly away from hers followed by a loud thud as something heavy hit the ground.
Lily and Sirius both swung around coming face to face with James, realizing that he had slipped and fallen.
He grinned up at the two before saying in a slurred voice, "Ok, maybe I do need some help."
A/N: Well, hope you all liked the next chapter. As of right now, I have the ability to update daily…actually, If I get enough reviews, I could even update chapter 5 later on today. The main reason for this is that I have up to chapter 11 written but after then, the updates will be a bit slower.
Anyway, take care all you readers and don't forget to REVIEW!