Chapter 8: Lithuanian Lambadas
“So what’s on the timetable today?” a groggy Avia asked Lily.
“Oh, well, we have Herbology with the Hufflepuffs first…then lunch…then we have our first Potions lesson.”
“With the Slytherins?” asked a groggy Emia.
“Of course,” Lily replied. Lily had awoken an hour ago, but the twins were still basically asleep.
“You two sleepyheads better hurry up, breakfast in fifteen minutes.”
Emia awoke with a start; she loved eating, after all, and was never one to miss breakfast. Avia really didn’t care about eating, so she grumbled something about “bloody windows that don’t have dark enough curtains to get the light out of my face” and rolled over onto her side to sleep in for fifteen more minutes.
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“GOOD Morning, Gryffindor Boys 4th Year Dorm, it’s looking very sunny outside, and the temperatures should have a high of about 21 C and it’s going to be a gorgeous day!”
James was booming all of this at the top of his lungs with the Sonorus charm. He was doing it in his best cheesy weatherman/ commentator voice, and it was doing a great job of waking up Sirius, Remus and Peter. But Sirius doesn’t like to be waked up, so he threw a rather large pillow at James’ head and told him to take his commentary somewhere else.
“Fine,” James sniffed (after silencing his voice!), “I’ll take it to the girls’ dorms.”
With an evil cackle and sinister smile, he crept out the door to give the girls the surprise of their lifetimes.
“ANDDDD Good Morning, Gryffindor 4th Year Girls, it’s time to wake up and face the sunshine! It should be a great day, with highs in the-”
But before he could tell them the weather a huge pillow came out and smacked him in the mouth.
“Ugh. Thewe’s a piwwow in my mouwth.” (B/A/N- Yes, it’s spelled that way on purpose.)
James was trying to talk with the pillow in his mouth, and it wasn’t working well. Soon, a pair of green eyes and auburn hair came out the door with the pillow. Well, no, a pair of random green eyes and some hair didn’t walk out, but the hair and eyes was all James saw, especially with the pillow covering most of his field of view.
“Oh, good morning, James. Sorry I threw that out at you…I’ve been up for like an hour though, so I don’t appreciate being woken up again.”
James finally realized he should take the pillow out of his mouth and did so.
“SO, PRINCESS, HOW ARE YOU?!” (B/A/N-Think loud, not emphasized words)
“Dear GOD, James, how loud is your VOICE?!” she asked irritably.
He silenced his voice and apologized.
“Well, as an apology, Princess, let me take you down to breakfast.”
“Fine, deal,” said Lily, and she and James continued down to the Great Hall.
“So James, are you excited…first Potions lesson with the Slytherins today.”
Lily said all of this with a huge smile; she knew how much James hated Slytherins. It was a rather well-known fact.
“Oh, joy. I can’t wait. See my buddy Snape again, you know?”
“Oh,” said Lily, “you know Severus?”
Lily didn’t exactly catch James’ sarcasm when James said “Snape”.
“Oh, that’s disgusting, you’re on a first-name basis with the git?!”
“Well…he was my partner in Potions during first and second year, before I knew the twins. He’s really not that bad, he was always very nice to me.”
“Not a surprise, Lil,” continued James, “he probably likes you. Seems like everybody does these days.”
Lily couldn’t help thinking that he didn’t meet her eyes when he said this.
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Everyone had fun that day in Herbology; they were raising a plant called a Lithuanian Lambada. It took different kinds of music and jumbled them up, they only way you could really be its friend is to be terribly good at “Name That Tune”.
Lily knew plenty of the songs, and won the tournament Professor Marshall put on.
“Good job, Lil,” Sirius congratulated her afterwards. “I only figured out two songs…pity the little guy didn’t play more wizard songs.”
“Don’t worry about it Sirius,” Lily soothed, “I’m sure you did great!”
James ran to catch up with Sirius, Remus, Lily and the twins.
“Hey James,” said Lily, “where ya been?”
“Well, Professor Marshall wanted someone to help her put away the Lambadas, no class uses em for at least a week.”
“Oh,” replied Lily, “that was nice of you, to help.”
She smiled at James a bit, and James felt this weird tingly feeling in his stomach. Maybe he just didn’t eat enough at breakfast.
The group continued to lunch, and proceeded to talk about their classes.
“Well, personally,” said Sirius, “I’m rather fond of the new DADA teacher…she seems nice enough.”
“Uh huh,” replied an ever-cynical James, “I’m sure it was really her PERSONALITY that kept your mouth open in rapt attention during the ENTIRE class…”
The entire group started laughing at this, and Sirius blushed furiously.
Sirius hated being made fun of. Sure, it was all in good fun when somebody else was the butt of the joke, but not when he was. That just was not RIGHT.
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During Potions later that day, Severus Snape made continuous glances back in Lily’s direction. Lily caught his eye and smiled. Severus smiled back, relieved that she wasn’t angry he had been staring. James watched all this, and felt his insides start to burn with fury.
How dare him! Like bloody Snape has a chance with Lily! I mean…I don’t…so Snape certainly shouldn’t… James thought to himself.
Lily noticed James get a bit angry, and asked the twins, “Did he see Severus smile at me?”
The twins both nodded solemnly.
“Ohhh…”said Lily, with sudden understanding.
Later that night, Lily sat unsatisfied in the Great Hall. She was very troubled. The twins had long since left dinner, and so had everybody else, except for three people. Severus Snape, James Potter, and Dumbledore himself were all that remained with Lily. Albus Dumbledore was very intuitive, and could tell something was greatly troubling Lily, just by her expression.
“Please leave and go to bed, Severus, James, I need to talk to Lily,” Dumbledore said.
“But, sir, I needed to talk to her,” protested James.
“You may speak with Miss Evans later, Mister Potter,” replied Dumbledore firmly.
After both of the boys were out of hearing range, Dumbledore turned back to Lily.
“What’s on your mind, Lily dear?” Dumbledore asked.
“Well, sir, I-I’m confused.”
“Boy troubles?” Dumbledore asked.
“Somewhat, yes,” Lily responded.
“Ah…well. Hormonal fluctuations are not my area of expertise…is there anything you normally do when you have trouble with boys?”
“Well…I think it out…sometimes write songs about it, I love singing and playing piano when I’m depressed.”
“Ah, say no more.”
Dumbledore led Lily up staircase after staircase. They went through hidden passageways, behind tapestries, and through a room with a bizarre collection of chamber pots.
“This is my masterpiece, Lily. And I would love for you to use it.”
Lily looked around her, and discovered that she was in a beautifully furnished music room. There were huge books of sheet music, a harpsichord, a harp, a piano, a violin, and many other interesting instruments.
Lily smiled, “Thank you so much, Professor…I daresay this will be a much better help than any advice anyone could have offered.”
“You’re quite welcome…I’m more than happy to share my favorite room with talented and interested students. That piano needs some exercise. I’ll leave you to your music.”
With that, the Professor turned and walked through the door.
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