December 1977
The Marauders were in session once again.
"New news!" James announced. "Evans finally agreed to go out with me. Pay up, Sirius!"
Sirius groaned and dug into his pocket. He produced three galleons. "I was sure Evans would never fall for you," he grumbled.
"Well, she has," Remus smirked. "And not only that, I asked out Emma."
"What'd she say?" Wormtail asked.
Remus rolled his eyes. "You actually think she turned me down?"
Wormtail laughed and high-fived Remus. They all turned to look at Sirius. Even Wormtail was dating the object of his affections. However long that relationship would last is anyone's guess, however he was happy for now.
Sirius sighed. "I snogged Genevieve in the fourth floor broom closet yesterday," he offered.
"Poor Sirius," James said, shaking his head. "Can't even get a date from the girl he's fancied for three months.
"Says you," Sirius retorted. "You've been after Evans since fourth year!"
"But she gave in," James reminded him.
"It's only been three months!" Sirius exclaimed.
"You expect to chase Margaret for three and a half years before she actually gives in?" Remus asked, incredulously.
"Of course not, you git," Sirius snapped. "I'm just saying that I'm in no rush, is all."
"Suuure," Peter whistled. "Loser," he coughed.
Sirius narrowed his eyes at Peter. "If you hadn't opened your mouth, you rat, they wouldn't be bothering me right now. So let's make this very clear when I say: I blame you!"
Peter, Remus, and James all exchanged looks before bursting in laughter.
Sirius sulked.
Meanwhile, in the girl's door room, Margaret was fishing for details since both Lily and Emma were vague in their description of how they fell for their significant other.
"Come on!" Margaret whined. "Tell me. I'm dying here!"
Lily sighed deeply as though inconvenienced and put down her Teen Witch Weekly. "If you must know," she stressed. "Potter and I had to discuss a few things for our Head duties. He asked me out and I just felt like saying yes. So I did."
"Gee, thanks," Margaret deadpanned. She turned to Emma. "How about you? You must have something terribly romantic to say."
Emma put down her hair brush and put her hair into a pony-tail. "Well, Remus and I were patrolling the corridors last night and talking about what we wanted to do after Hogwarts. I asked him what the first thing he wanted to do after he received his diploma. He said he wanted to kiss me," Emma flushed slightly.
"Aaaw," Margaret squealed. "Keep going, keep going."
"So I said it was a date," Emma continued. "And he said that perhaps we should have one sooner to practice. I said sure."
Margaret turned to Lily triumphantly. "See? Emma likes to give details."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Oh, big deal. Besides, I don't see you very forthcoming with details about your love life."
Margaret sighed and flopped on her back on her bed. "That's because, Lily darling, I have no love life. Every time I think Sirius is close to asking me out, somebody or something interrupts."
"I'm sorry," Lily said sincerely.
"It's okay. I just-," Margaret broke off. "Let's not talk of such things. Tell me, what are you wearing on your dates?"
Lily and Emma looked at each other before pulling themselves off their beds to find something to wear.
19 years and 11 months later
Hermione winced when she heard Ron's foot fall to the ground loudly. They were in the process of sneaking into the Great Hall under Harry's cloak. However, it wasn't as easy maneuvering in the cloak since Ron and Harry refused to stop growing!
"Ron, if you step on my foot one more time," Hermione warned.
"Sorry."
Finally they arrived in front of the doors to the Great Hall. Harry pushed them open and the three stood in the doorway staring at the vastness of the hall without students in it.
"Which wall do you want to use?" Harry asked a moment later.
Hermione paused, and then pointed at the wall to the left. "Right there. Everyone will see it."
"Let's get started!" Ron exclaimed.
The next morning, Ron, Harry, and Hermione exchanged glances and let out little laughs before finally heading down to the great hall. They found the student body along with the staff staring at the mural they'd made the night before.
It was a swirl of color and in the middle of it were Ron, Harry, and Hermione. Harry was on his broom; Ron was playing chess, and Hermione reading a book. Below the painting was the moniker, "The Golden Trio" in fire.
The hall was buzzing and Hermione checked the face of McGonagall to gauge her reaction. McGonagall wasn't smiling, but she didn't look angry either, so Hermione took that to be a good response.
"What do you think? Are we expelled?" Ron leaned over to whisper to Hermione.
"I think we're safe," Hermione told him.
Ron grinned. "Good, because I rather like it.
Harry looked over at the two of them. "You know? I rather like it too."
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