Chapter 1
"Who is coming to the kitchen with me?", a loud voice shouted through the common room. "Merlin, James!", Lily jumped in her seat. "We're alone in here, you don't have to scream like that. I'm trying to study!" "Then do it in the library", James replied and shrugged his shoulders.
"Sneaking to the kitchen? I'm in!" Lily sighed as she heard Sirius from their dorm and finally put her quill and parchment away, as she saw Marlene in the doorframe.
"Did someone say kitchen?" "You know guys", she started, "the more are going to the kitchen, the more likely it is for you to get caught." "But where's the fun then?", Sirius smirked and walked over to her.
"It's afternoon", Lily pointed out. "Filch could be everywhere, or Mrs Norris! And you remember the last time what happened, right?" James shook it off. "There's an easy way to avoid detention- don't get caught!", James called out before leaving out of the portrait hole with the others following him. "You know, there's plenty time until the party should start!", she tried to call after them but was getting no answer. "Evening is not even in sight...", she muttered to herself before facing her work again.
It was the 31th October, Halloween and the boys were excited for that day like they weren't in years. The girls were trying to ask some questions but were getting no answers. So Lily hoped that they weren't planning anything too stupid, but knew that she would find the answer in no time.
The next time the portrait hole swung open again, it was Remus. He looked more tired than in the last few days and had two books under his arms. Lily turned around and smiled at him. "Remus! Did you happen to see the others?" Sceptically, he raised an eyebrow. "No, why? Are they doing stupid things?" "I don't hope so", was Lily's answer. "They are trying to bring snacks for the party", she explained to him. "But the party starts in more than five hours!" "You know them...", Lily sighed and they were sitting there in silence, until the hole opened again.
,,We got them!" the boys cheered, the arms full of food. "The house elves are so helpful", Marlene smiled and put all of her things she held on a table. ,,Congratulations on not being caught and spending the evening in detention", Lily said sarcastically. ,,Aw, Evans, after all these years you should know that we are the kings in that", James answered and put his arms around Sirius and Marlene, who grinned proudly.
,,You're idiots", was the only respond, but she helped them to sort by all the snacks and sweets. ,,Now all of this is laying around until it's late enough for the party. What if McGonagall comes in and sees all of this?"
,,Wait, I've got an idea!", James shouted and ran into his dorm. When he came back, he had his invisibility cloak in his hands. "Good idea, dude!", Sirius called out. "I know, I know", James grinned and put the cloak on the table. Lily crossed her arms and watched sceptically. When the cloak layed on the table and covered all of the snacks, other then from the boys expected, nothing happened. The cloak stayed as visible as it was.
"What?", James said worriedly. "Why isn't it working? Is it broken?" He took the cloak and put it on. His body was gone. "No, for me it's working. But why doesn't it cover the food?" Lily sighed again. "Think about it. What is the difference between you and the food?" Clueless faces were the answer. "The cloak only covers alive things!", Lily explained. "Ahhh! So, someone would need to lay next to the snacks to cover all of it. Any volunteers?"
No one said a word. Exhausted, Lily massaged her temples. "You can bring the things in my dorm. McGonagall wouldn't suspect me to hide food under my bed." "Thanks Lily, you're the best!", was the answer and all of them grabbed some things and brought them to the stairs. Marlene went upstairs and accepted the things the boys gave to her, since they couldn't do it by themselves. Lily just stood there and watched. "I know, I know...", she murmured.
Remus was still standing next to her and gave her a look. "I think we should be happy that this is making them happy", he said in a quiet voice. This made Lily smile a little bit. "You're right", she agreed. "We should enjoy this wonderful carefree time as long as it is here." She said and had already her eyes in her book again, clear that she was already worried about their next exam.
Luckily, no one of the party organization team, how she secretly called them, interrupted her homework again. They were all sitting in a corner discussing something. About the party, Lily guessed.
"We just decided then you're finished with homework for today", Sirius announced. Lily raised an eyebrow at him. "Ah yeah, did you?", she asked sarcastically. "Yep, we have to decorate and you're a bit disturbing.", Peter explained. "Disturbing?", Lily repeated. "You're in the way", James added. Lily let out a deep sigh and looked at the clock. Okay, it was an acceptable time to stop homework for today. She stood up really slowly, grabbed her things and put them out of the way. Immediately, the boys placed a fake sceleton on the seat where Lily sat. In life size.
"I think it's better when you go in your dorm and stay there until the party is about to start" James suggested. "I'd be happy about it", she murmured, already on the stairs. "We call you when you can come to see the surprise!", Peter called with visible excitement in his voice which made Lily smile again. "And don't forget to bring the snacks!" In response she just flipped them off. Sirius for who it was meant, laughed. Lily bit her tongue to not smile more and closed the door after her.