Chapter Three: “The Moves” (Hint Hint, Wink Wink, Etc)

           

            Lily sighed as the carriage bumped its slow, invisible horse-drawn way up to the school.  Avia and Emia were in the carriage with her, along with another Gryffindor fourth year by the name of Peter Pettigrew.  Peter tended to fidget; it was obvious that he was very uncomfortable around girls. 

“So,” said Lily loudly, pretending to clear her throat, “Peter.  How do you like it here at Hogwarts?”

Peter looked at the floor, and sighed, “I just wish the next three years would hurry up and get over with…I don’t really have many friends.”

“Oh,” said Lily uncomfortably, “I know what you mean. Back in second year, before I had my Av and Em, I was pretty much alone. Nobody really even wanted to know me.”

Peter looked up and smiled, feeling a lot better that he wasn’t alone. Lily returned the grin, and told Peter that she would definitely be his friend.

            This considerably perked Peter up, and he happily chatted about Quidditch and such for the rest of the ride.  Lily introduced Peter to Avia and Emia, and the girls began to wonder how much of their house they didn’t know.  So far, four boys, Sirius and James were the most popular boys of their year too. Honestly, what other surprises would the day hold for Lily?

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

Back in the boys’ carriage, Sirius was teasing James.

“Man, I saw your jaw drop when you looked at those girls!!”

James lost his calm composure and panicked a bit, replying with, “Uh…Uh…Like you didn’t, I know you’re into those twins, man!”

Sirius laughed with his smirking smile, and replied, “Yeah…so what do you think…I take Avia and you get Emia?”

“Why do I get Emia?!”

“‘Cause ‘Avia’ is closer to ‘Black’ in the alphabet.”

“What the hell is that logic?!”

“Look, what bloody difference does it make, we can’t tell ‘em apart anyway!”

“Ah. Point taken.”

After that, the Marauder’s carriage was somewhat uneventful until all of the carriages arrived at Hogwarts.

Professor Minerva McGonagall threw open the doors somewhat pompously.  “Good day, now by now you should all know the drill.”

Before she could continue in her endless before-feast behavior speech, James and Sirius shouted, “Oi! Time for the feast!”

McGonagall continued, a bit miffed, with “Find a spot at your house’s table and be well mannered. Honestly, I shouldn’t even have to give you this speech anymore! Anyway. Be very quiet when the sorting goes on, it adds to the air of anticipation. Thank you. Now you may proceed to the Great Hall.”

James and Sirius sighed with relief that she was finally done (their mouths got tired from forming the words along with her, after all. They knew the speech so well that they could recite it by now.) James, Sirius and Remus sat at the far end of the Gryffindor table, the end nearest the High Table.  The Marauders were the first of the Gryffindors into the Great Hall, and had their pick of seats. 

The seats were being snatched up quick at the Gryffindor table.

“Have there always been this many Gryffindors?!” Lily wondered aloud. 

“Oh yes, always,” replied Peter, with a somewhat surprised look.

Lily began to look around for somewhere to sit. “Lils! Oi! Lils!” Lily felt herself grow angry…how she despised being called “Lils”!! Where was that stupid Potter? He was going to get it this time. She spotted him and all the Marauders.  Sirius was eagerly pointing to some seats saved next to him. 

Oh, well, that was nice of them, Lily thought to herself.

“So, uh…Avia…did I tell you what an asset I am to the Quidditch team?” Sirius said with a sly smile. 

“Ahem. First. I’m Emia. Secondly, yes. You told me. Three times I believe so far, right Lil?”

“Oh yes, I believe it was three. Or was it four?”

Sirius and James had been “putting the moves” (hint hint wink wink etc.) on Emia and Avia all night, desperate to have a quartet of best friend pairs. (B/A/N-I know you’ve been here…when two best friend girls date two best friends guys just because they like the idea…sigh I’ve seen it way too often.) So far, throughout the feast, Emia and Avia had been rapidly “shooting down” “the moves” (hint hint wink wink etc) and leaving “the moves” (hint hint wink wink etc) out in the dust.

“So, Sirius, Remus, James, this is Peter. He sat with us on the carriage ride,” Lily said, desperate to help the nice boy make some friends. She gave the Marauders a pleading look *so Peter couldn’t see that is* that plainly begged them to help Peter.

“Oh, well, hello,” said James, taking the cue, “Peter…Peter Pettigrew, right? I do remember you. You liked that prank I pulled on Snape a couple years back right?”

At this, Peter nodded his head so vigorously that Lily thought it might fall off. Peter excitedly replied, “That joke with the peroxide in his shampoo…sheer genius!” Peter was perhaps a bit too excited, but he was very determined and desperate to make some friends.

“Well, Peter, you don’t have any fangs, and you’ve managed to sit through a whole feast without insulting any of us Marauders, so you’re alright by me,” said Remus, shaking Peter’s hand.

Peter felt so happy. He belonged. He had friends! James and Sirius quickly followed suit, and shook Peter’s hand. Remus was a very trusting person, but James and Sirius were not quite sure whether to trust Peter yet… he needed some sort of initiation first…