Vivacious

Hogwarts | 1975 (5th year)

Why did Hogwarts have to suck so much?  Well, maybe it wasn’t Hogwarts.  Perhaps it was simply his age and the fact that he didn’t “fit in” that made it feel like it sucked.  

Potions was by far the worst class.  It wasn’t that he hated it, it was that it made him feel inept and stupid.  He couldn’t grasp the concepts and despite help from both Slughorn and other students, he simply couldn’t do it.  This made him the butt of jokes and made the bullying that much worse.

What kind of Ravenclaw didn’t excel at his classes?  What kind of Prefect couldn’t master something as simple as Potions?!  After getting another barely passing grade, he made his way slowly out of the Potions classroom.

On his way down the corridor, another student knocked his potion book and his exam paper out of his hands.  He stood there for a few moments, taking a deep breath.  Don’t give in, Eli.  He told himself over and over again.  Don’t give in to them getting a rise out of you.  Just bend down, pick up your books and keep walking.

Lily had been making her way to office hours with Slughorn when she spotted Eli. She didn’t know him well, outside of a few patrols they’d been on, but she liked him well enough. He’s always been kind to her, and the way the other students pick on him has always bothered her. She watches as someone knocks his books out of his hand, feeling heated at the sight of it. 

“Hey! Knock it off.” She calls out firmly, glaring at the bullies. “Get lost before I dock points for your behavior.” She knew people said she had a way of ruining other’s fun, but if fun came at the expense of someone else it was hardly fun at all. 

Craving Attention | 7th year (1976)

Sirius sat in the back of the class. His chair leaning on it’s back two legs as he twirled his wand around his fingers. After McGonagall had decided to separate all of the marauders from each other, Sirius had found himself bored and itching for some form of attention; be it from the whole class, or from the person next to him.

The front to legs of the chair made a light thud as his leaned forward and said, “Well, I guess we’re partners for this assignment now.”

Lily was normally a front of the classroom sort of gal, but today she’d been almost late and didn’t have her normal pick of the seats. So she’d been towards the back, right near Sirius Black. She hadn’t spoken to him much of class beyond a warm hello. They were on better terms now, sure, but she still had a bad habit of being far too serious during class time. 

Fire Starter || November 1975

Rather than start her daunting History of Magic paper on the Troll Wars of the 1500s, Dorcas had folded herself into an armchair by the fireplace and taken to staring into the flames while absently flicking the flint wheel of her Muggle lighter with one thumb and biting at the nail of the other. 

She was restless but the bustling activity of the Gryffindor common room around her did not hold her interest at all, instead turning her restlessness into a deep melancholy. At one point, she had considered sneaking up to the Astronomy Tower, but still she sat, transfixed by the flames, a tiny flame of her own flickering on and off in her peripheral. Her eyes narrow slightly as she senses a presence come up behind her. 

“May I help you?” She holds her thumb down on the lighter so the flame lasts. Only to make a point, nothing more. 

That is, unless provoked.

Lily had spotted Doe as soon as she walked in, and had grown a bit concerned over that thousand-yard stare plus the lighter in her hand. Lily approached, figuring that she would snap the other girl out of her thoughts and maybe they could talk about whatever was on her mind. At Doe’s tone, Lily pauses and questions whether or not this is the best idea she’s ever had. 

“Well who am I to turn down an offer like that?” She walks with Lily to the Three Broomsticks, appreciative of moments like these where she is able to be pulled from the vastness of her own thoughts into something more productive. Like guiding Lily. She opens the door for Lily and in a mater of moments they are seated, perusing menus. “So tell me, what’s been going on?”

Lily sets down the menu and reaches into her bag, pulling out her folder dedicated to the healer’s application. “Well, I thought about what you said and, believe it or not, decided to take your advice.” She puts the folder on the table and pushes it towards Amelia so she can see for herself. “I’m applying to become a healer. I should know their decision by next month.” She can’t keep the pride out of her voice as she says it. She knows Amelia may be disappointed if she hears about how Lily and Peter went after Ibis anyway -- but at least there’s this. 

Lily didn’t know what to think really when Moody invited her out to his place for training. She was excited, sure, but it was all because of a dangerous mission Dumbledore was sending them on. She’d sent him an owl, as instructed, and eagerly awaited his reply. Once they had a time set in stone -- just before she’d have to meet Peter -- Lily mentally prepared herself for the task it’ll surely be to train with Alastor Moody. 

On the day of, she’d said goodbye to James and taken her leave, wondering just how difficult it was to put up the suggested wards around their flat. She already had some of the suggestions -- no one could apparate directly into the flat and they weren’t connected to the floo, but she hadn’t stopped giving people her direct address. She wondered if she should, or if that would just be giving into the paranoia she tried so hard to avoid. 

Lily ducked around the corner before apparating to their agreed meeting place. She was early, as she always was, bundled up appropriately as she waited for him to appear. Once she spotted him she smiled, small but genuine. She was nervous, truth be told. “Good afternoon. I hope you’ve had a good day.” She sticks her hands in the pockets of her jacket and patiently waits for him to show her the way to his flat. 

She eyes her bag speculatively. “Can I ask?” Curiosity getting the better of her, she was hoping that Lily had taken much of what they had said in their last conversation to heart. She’d been thinking of her more often recently. “I’ve just been doing some of the more banal part of my paperwork– you know, the day to day auror stuff that takes up my time.” 

“Yes you can, but I insist you do it over a good meal and some butterbeer.” Lily grins. “I was just on my way to the Three Broomsticks for lunch. Care to join me? It feels like forever since we last had a proper chat.” Lily likes Amelia’s company, even though conversations often push Lily to unexpected places. Perhaps that’s what she likes about Amelia; she needs someone to keep her on her toes. 

Alastor feels a pang in his gut. How long would this lassie last? With no one but wee Peter to help her? The thought alone was enough to make him nervous for her. They were children, dressing up in adult’s clothing, making decisions that were life or death. Even as a young Auror (as a child of Aurors), Moody never would have taken on missions that these kids were going on. For that alone, he felt as though he should try to help. He wanted to know what they knew. 

“Listen…” He paused, scratching his beard. How much more could he possibly take on? Maybe he just wouldn’t fucking sleep anymore. “How about you come round to mine one day this week? When does your mission start? I could teach you a couple of pointers. I cannae have you in the Auror offices, would be too suspicious.”   

Lily’s shock is clear as day on her face at his suggestion. “You want me to come to your place so you can teach me?” There was no question in her mind that there was much she could learn from him. He’s an accomplished auror and Lily was hardly out of school. He did have a point -- she was taking on a lot more than she was prepared to handle. Not that she’d stop herself from trying; Dumbledore had asked and Lily can’t imagine saying no to the old man. 

“I would love that. Thank you. We leave on Saturday.” Lily had needed to take the time off work, which took a bit of arranging to get done. 

“Lily!” Amelia can’t stop the broad smile that reaches her face when she bumps into the girl. She shifts the messenger bag filled with files to her back– every now and then she liked to use the outside world as a place to engage while still getting her files handled. 

“How have you been? I feel as though I haven’t seen you in ages.” 

“Amelia! What a pleasant surprise!” Lily’s apologetic look brightens into a grin as she realizes just who she bumped into. “It’s been a little while. I’m good -- great actually. I was just popping by for a bite to eat and to work on something.” She gestured to her own bag, stuffed with study materials for the healer’s entrance exam, along with her application. She’d always worried over grades, and it seemed the habit hadn’t faded even though she was done with school. 

“What are you up to?” 

Unlike Lily, James’ day hadn’t been as productive; but that was the case when he was inbetween missions. From where he had been folding laundry in the living room moments ago, he had been able to catch a glimpse of her walking towards the building’s entrance. A smile grew on his face.Even though he fully expected her to arrive home, the sound of the door unlocking and opening still made him jump slightly. He discarded the shirt he had been folding back into the pile of clothes waiting to be folded. 

“Living room!” He called out in response, standing up. He walked towards the kitchen. Leaning against the counter he responded, “I think we might have some leftovers over from the other night in there.”

Lily spotted them and pulled them out with a grin. “Found ‘em!” She set them on the counter before walking over to him and placing a sweet kiss to his cheek. “How was your day?” She feels a little less tired around James, that easy smile of his putting her at ease. She takes a step back from him and grabs her wand, putting it back into her back pocket. She turns and grabs two plates from the cabinet, setting them out on the counter. It’s leftover pasta, so just a tap with her wand to warm it up and it should be good. 

“The apothecary was madness but -- I did have time to finish my application for the healer’s program at St. Mungo’s.” She gives him a grin over her shoulder before separating out the leftovers. She gets halfway through before realizing she hadn’t even asked him if he was hungry. Lily pauses and turns to him, a sheepish smile on her face. “Sorry -- I just assumed you were as hungry as I am.” 

“Wee Evans,” he began sternly. “You were good at what in school? Maybe Charms? Defense Against the Dark Arts? Perhaps… Potions? Care of Magical Creatures? Whatever it was, it doesnae stand to educate you on how to go up against a Dark Wizard. D’ye know what counter-spell there is for the Avada Kedavra? There isnae one. D’ye know how to throw off an Imperius Curse?” He sighs, eying her wearily. “My life might look sad t’ye, but I’m still alive. In a fight, I might trust… two people? Maybe three?” He thinks of his Aurors, of Amelia, and Kingsley who he would trust with his life. “Loving someone and trusting them to do battle w’ye—a battle for your lives, mind—is a different story. Ye’d do best to remember that.” 

Lily can’t help but feel like she’s being scolded by her uncle, the way Moody’s talking to her. She swallows down the urge to bite back, to defend her friends against his words. She trusts them with her life, and she’s already had enough reasons to doubt herself thanks to Amelia’s words -- she doesn’t need this too. Maybe later, when she’s got more time to process it she’ll heed his words. Lily doesn’t really know what to say or how to respond to any of this. 

“Thank you for your advice,” is what she eventually settles on. She does mean it, except it comes out a little colder than she would’ve liked. He’s rubbed her the wrong way this time around, she can’t help it. “I’ll... keep it in mind. I’ll think on it.” There’s a promise in her words, however faint.