#redevxns

A guy can dream.  

He missed her, and there was simply no denying that. Severus presumed that Lily would be pleased to hear about his social progress. Merlin, he was no social butterfly, but Severus most certainly had emerged from his metaphorical cocoon, and he was beginning to appreciate many of the people around him whom he had once overlooked. Many of those individuals caused him to reconsider a long grudge that he had held against Gryffindors. He still believed a majority of them to be babbling and irresponsible baboons, but how could he think so when ironically, the majority of the people whom he could loosely consider his friends belonged to the house of the brave? Molly Prewett was the first acquaintance. He appreciated the quiet and kindness of her presence. She was wholesomely humble and gentle, and Severus did not have to fear for his own safety around her. She was protective too, in a sense. Then there was Rolanda, a person whom he had always been curious about because someone who only focused on Quidditch had to have something more deeply confined, right? Severus had been correct in his analysis, and was pleased that he had already made plans to go to Hogsmeade with the girl. But there was an undeniable loneliness creeping into his heart because he had gone a longer amount of time without spending time with Lily than he found tolerable. Only Lily could fill that void of loneliness in the pit of his chest. Only Lily could make him smile; only Lily's gentle laughter could fill his heart with incomparable glee and contentment. For that reason, Severus prepared an owl, and sent her a message. He asked for her to meet him near the Black Lake, his favorite solitary location, to spend some time together. He described how much he had missed her in the note, and concluded the message saying that he hoped that she was well, and requesting that she reply, should she find that option preferable. Severus sent the message off feeling a light happiness in his chest, hoping that he might hear from the beloved flower soon.

Eleven-year-old Mary MacDonald didn’t speak the entire train ride from Kings Cross Station to Hogsmede, avoided eye contact with just about everyone as a fleet of self-steering boats skimmed slowly across the Black Lake, and tangled her hands together as she joined her fellow Gryffindors in the Great Hall for the very first time. The nerves in her stomach were bundled so tightly that she hardly ate anything that night, and ascended the many moving staircases into the Gryffindor common room only to curl up in an armchair by the fire, watching as everyone else talked in excited hums about classes and quidditch tryouts. It was then that a rush of red hair enveloped her entirely, arms thrown around her neck so tightly that she nearly keeled over and elbows pinned to her sides so that she couldn’t react even if she’d wanted to. The girl, whoever she was, spoke very quickly, conversation starting with how absolutely thrilled she was to have so many girls in her year and moving to a debate as to whether she would able to magically pierce her own ears, should she want to. She pulled back, her green eyes sparkling with unrivaled excitement, and Mary couldn’t help but break into a smile, knowing that whoever this girl was, she would be by her side for seven whole years. 

“Right,” she called, striding over to Lily’s bedside and dumping the assortment of packaged cauldron cakes, treacle tarts, and pumpkin pasties onto the patterned sheets, tossing the common room pillows against the footboard. Reaching to her own bed, she grabbed a fistful of white sheet and pulled it swiftly from beneath her quilts. “You. And. I. Have. Matters. To. Discuss!” Each word was emphasized by an attempt to pitch her sheet over the bedposts, a task difficult for, though practiced determinedly by, Mary’s short frame. As the sheet finally was slung lazily to create a haphazard roof, Mary kicked off her shoes and climbed into Lily’s bed with an expectant grin, drawing the curtains shut behind her. Hugging her knees to her chest, she raised an eyebrow, dark eyes sparkling.

Gently and with shaking fingers James brushed Lily's red hair to reveal her sweet face. For a few moments he watched her breathe as she slept in his arms. leaning down to kiss the stark porcelain skin of Lily's forehead, James thought of how greatfull he was for the sleeping angel beside him. "Good Morning Beautiful." He whispered softly.

Completely satisfied with himself and his comrades, James left the bustling Great Hall. He was introspective as he headed to have a few moments to himself in the common room before it too was crowded with angry Gryffindors who wanted his hide. This was the first successfully prank pulled off this year and James was feeling the elation fill his body as he reached the portrait hole. He politely mumbled the password to The Fat Lady before claiming inside to the empty common room. It was a sight for sore eyes, finally he would have a moment to himself without anyone interogating him about the recent prank and ongoing aftermath. Instantly, he fell into a soft maroon armchair. Out of his peripheral vision James spotted a flash red hair. Lily Evans. His heart stopped, his blood drained from his face, and his skin went cold.