Chapter 11: More Owl Post and a New Lily

            James lay in his bed awake, staring contentedly at the ceiling.  He sighed with a smile, and heard a tapping.  Where was that coming from?  James looked around, until his gaze focused on the window.  There was a beautiful owl carrying a letter, anxious to get into the warm room.  “Oh, hey there,” James said absentmindedly. James Blake Potter said the front of the envelope.  Well, only his parents and Lily knew his middle name. He really hoped that this letter was from Lily. It read:

Dear James,

            Hi there, and thank you for an amazing night. (James looked up and smiled, this was most DEFINITELY from Lily.) I was wondering if you might want to get to know one another better.  I just realized that I really don’t know that much about you.  Would you like to write back and forth? I’d certainly love getting letters from you. *James blushed* Since it’s the weekend tomorrow, would you like to hang out with us in the common room? We plan on being down there until dawn at least…by the way, would you guys happen to have some sweets? We’re dying for some butterbeer or sugar, but we really don’t have a way of getting it.  Also…tomorrow, are you busy? It’s Saturday, and I was wondering if tomorrow night you might want to explore with that great cloak of yours.  I’m dying to see the school; I really don’t know that much about it. Hope to see you and the guys (sorry, Emie and Avie want something to do) down in the common room in a couple minutes.

-Your Princess

James smiled furiously as he looked up from his letter.

“Oi, guys, get up!”

“Not BLOODY AGAIN!” screamed Sirius, falling out of his bed onto the floor in annoyance.

“What is it this time?” sighed Remus.

“Read this letter,” James said excitedly to Remus.

“Oh, awesome…that means Avia will be there, I have to change!” Remus smiled.

Remus got up and took a very quick shower.  Peter stayed asleep.

“Do you want to go down with us, Peter?”

 “Nah, but thanks anyways,” replied a groggy Peter.

“Sirius?”

“Go where?” Sirius asked, now that he was pretty much awake.

“Down to the common room, Emia, Avia and Lil are down there. They want us to bring sweets and wait up the dawn with em.”

“Awesome…I think I’ve got like a huge jug of butterbeer under my bed,” said Sirius, eagerly reaching under his bed.

“I’ve got plenty of candy,” said Remus.

“Good, I’ll write Lil back and say we’ll be there,” James said happily.

James took out a piece of parchment and some blue ink and hastily scrawled-

Dear Princess,

            We’ll be down there, at least Sirius, me and Remus.  Peter doesn’t really want to go, but that’s okay.  We’ve got plenty of sweets and butterbeer, but bring glasses for each of you! See you there, Lil!

-JBP

James hastily sent the letter off with Hermia, and smiled back at the boys. 

“Uh, Sirius, you should take a shower…you really…stink.”

“Oh, thanks,” Sirius said, pretending to be offended. Then he darted for the shower.

“Should we wait for him?” Remus asked.

“Yeah, I guess….ah hell; he’ll be in there for DAYS, let’s just go down and bring the food.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

            Meanwhile in the girls’ dorm, they were busy primping for the boys.  Lily didn’t really care much for makeup, but the twins insisted that she look her best.  Avia was doing Lily’s hair and makeup, and Emia was giving her advice.  “The time after kissing is crucial,” Emia spoke from experience, “it can determine whether you will be a couple or just friends with benefits.” Lily nodded quickly, and looked in the mirror.  “God, Avie, I look like a clown!!”  Lily actually looked quite beautiful, but all the same, she reached for a tissue to wipe it off.  “Don’t,” said Avia, stopping Lily, “you have to leave it on, just for tonight.  If the boys don’t like it, then I’ll never do it again.”

“And if they like it?”

“Then you’ll just have to get up an hour earlier every morning to have me do it.”

“Nooooo!”

Lily made a mental note to tell James not to like it, if he ever wanted to get kissed again.  Lily did NOT like waking up early.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

            James and Remus had been in the common room for maybe ten minutes, snacking and talking, Sirius hurriedly arrived. “Where are they?” he asked stupidly.  “In their rooms, and your shirt is buttoned wrong, pants unzipped, and shoes untied, and have you even COMBED your HAIR?” James said critically.

“Damnit, be down in a bit, I guess,” and with that Sirius went back up to the boys’ dorms to dress properly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

            Lily was done.  She looked absolutely magnificent.  Her auburn hair hung down in loose curls, and her makeup showed off her natural beauty.  She insisted on wearing pajamas, because she feared that a nice outfit would definitely be trying too hard.  The twins, of course, looked amazing.  They always did.  Emia’s blonde hair hung down in ringlets, and she was wearing a pair of jeans and sweater, because all of the girls agreed to look their most casual.  Avia combed her hair repeatedly, and in doing so got the effect she wanted, a mane that was sleek, straight and shiny.  Avie was wearing pajama pants and a sweater.  Then they heard a tapping on the window.

“Hermia’s back!” said Lily, excitedly.

“Lemme read it first!” the twins fought angrily over the letter, and then Lily stepped in between them and snatched it.

She read it to herself and smiled.  “They’re all down there, except Peter, and they’ve got food. Let’s go!”

They rushed out the door, and tiptoed down the stairs so as not to wake the other dorms.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

In the common room, James had just finished telling Remus for the THIRD time all that happened with Lily that night. 

“Sorry I wasn’t very enthusiastic before, man,” Remus smiled, “I’m really happy for you.” 

“Thanks…oh wow, here they come!”

Lily swept in first, in pink and blue plaid pajamas, looking a bit chilly but very beautiful.  James drew in a breath when he saw her, and smiled.  “You look amazing, Lil,” he complimented.

Lily blushed, “Thanks, but just so I don’t have to look like this everyday, say something negative.”

James looked very thoughtful, and said, so the whole room could hear, “Your socks don’t match.”

Lily gasped in pretended shock, “WHAT? You don’t like my outfit!?”

James nodded sadly, and then he and Lily burst into laughter.

“Was that enough of an insult, Avie? I don’t want to get up early for the next eternity to look like this!” Lily laughed.

Avia pretended to be insulted and replied, “Well, fine, if you don’t like my work.”

            Then Sirius swept down the corridor with a more magnificent entrance than the girls’.  He stopped to pose against all of the statues and furnishings of the common room, putting on a cheesy smile the whole while.  “Auditioning for any agencies anytime soon Sirius?” Remus asked with a smile.

“You know it,” Sirius replied, winking at Emia, who blushed and burst into a bright red rash.

“So,” said James, “are you girls ready for a party!?”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*