Lily's Description: Welcome to Hogwarts everyone, a place filled with attention seekers and popularity contests. A place where your status can define you, "Move it Evans!" and I was right at the bottom.
Third Person Description: Lily hates the four boys known as the Marauders, and they hate her too, or so it seems. However, they all have very different feelings towards her, contrary to outward appearances.
Hello Everyone! This is my new story called Flickering Lights. The idea just sort of popped into my head, so it's not fully formed, so if you have any ideas let me know. I hope you enjoy it, and please let me know if i should continued or if you like it. Review! Thanks!
Flickering Lights
Chapter One: Who's Lights are Shining?
Hogwarts. It's the same as any other high school around the world. It's a place where teens are sent to take up time learning useless facts, have to endure social tribulations, and be hidden to the dangers of the world. We are coddled and protected to such an extent that when we are finally released into the world, we aren't equipped to handle it. Sure, we learn all those useless facts, procedures, names, dates, spells, theory; but in the end they all prove to be what they are described as; useless.
In high school, students create wars and feuds between them, may it be over grades, significant others, friends, popularity, etc. However what these individuals do not realize, is that their feuds are insignificant in the world. When they leave their little cocoon when they graduate, they step out into a war; a real war which threatens innocent lives.
"Move it, Evans!" someone yelled as they smashed against me, knocking my books out of my hand. Ah yes, and then there's that; the rude singling out and harassment of less liked students, namely myself. It's pointless, and I've learned to live with it.
I bent down to pick up my books and placed them in my bag, unlike before; I find it pointless to use my bag seeing as I'll just have to take the books back out moments after I put them in; useless. It seems to be a theme in high school; uselessness.
I arrived at my last class of the day; transfiguration, the class I dreaded the most. Why would that be, you may ask? One word for you: Marauders. This is the one class where those four moronic boys become insufferable. Why? Because it's the one class they could kick my arse at, and them being the arrogant pricks they are, get satisfaction out of that.
"Hi there Lily," the voice to my right said as I slid into my usual seat. Alice Prewitt, probably the nicest person at Hogwarts, and one of my only friends; okay I wouldn't exactly call her a friend, but close enough.
"Hey Alice, how's Frank doing?" I asked politely, questioning her about her long term boyfriend Frank Longbottom. This usually sent her into a long rant about him, depending on how they were doing, which lasted for about 10 minutes, but that was fine with me; I preferred to listen then to talk. She was just in the middle about telling me about their date, when we were so rudely interrupted.
"Evans! Pleasure as always!" came the unwanted voice of James Potter. James Potter; He was the height of cool and popular at Hogwarts; every girl wanted him; every guy wanted to be him. He had unruly black hair, hazel eyes framed by glasses, and was tall muscular from all the Quidditch he played. I had to admit he was incredibly good looking; anyone with eyes could see that. I however, was usually preying I didn't have to have any sort of interaction with the arrogant bastard, but I was usually unlucky as I was his favorite target.
"Potter," I said coolly. I heard him and his buddies snigger and he casually fell into the seat in front of me. He held his hand to his heart and mock sighed.
"Oh Evans, you wound me. Why must you be so cold, especially to a kind man like myself?" He said with an undertone of sarcasm.
I raised my eyebrow at him and snorted, "Man? Yeah right," I muttered, but that was all I said. With Potter, usually less is more.
Potter was about to say something else, but thank god McGonagall came in. Though McGonagall was one of my favorite teachers, and many other people's, you didn't cross her in class. Usually I hated that, but in this case, I was glad for it.
"Good afternoon class—Mr. Black please get your buttocks off the desk and onto a chair," McGonagall said. Sirius Black, Potter's partner in crime who was as much as an idiot as he was sitting next to Potter on the desk trying to get a look at the girl in front of him, Jamie Brownstein; well more like trying to look down her top is more like it. Not like she was doing much to stop it seeing as her robes and shirt were undone so much it was like easy access.
Charming, isn't it?
Sirius Black has black hair casually falling over his eyes, and steel gray eyes filled with mischief. He was known as somewhat of a bad boy, which is why girls like Jamie usually threw themselves all over him.
Pathetic.
Black replied to McGonagall with some crude immature response as per usual and then finally sat in his seat where he and Potter began scheming and whatnot. I couldn't pay attention to McGonagall (which I should have because as previously mentioned, I suck at transfiguration), seeing as Potter and Black kept glancing at him and sniggering.
Great.
I'll probably end up with a bed filled with toads or my hair permanently dyed green. That's usually what happened when they started scheming like that. Aren't they just wonderful people? Can't you see why I love them so dearly?
Note my sarcasm.
McGonagall assigned us a task and I set out to do it. However I found it very difficult to concentrate with the constant, "Pss, hey Evans!" coming from in front of me. Merlin those two were the most insufferable people I've ever met.
"Hey Evans! You require any assistance? I mean I'm always happy to help a less talented student who's struggling," Potter mocked. This is what I was telling you about before; the making my life hell, especially during this dreadful class.
"Aw come on, don't be shy, I can see you need help, there's no need to even ask," he taunted. I remained unfazed. I refused to even look in his direction; usually the best thing to do with Potter and Black was to just ignore their existence, and eventually they'd usually go away.
However in this case, they seemed to be pretty persistent, seeing as they just started flicking pieces of parchment in my face.
Aren't they mature?
Seriously, what kind of sixteen year old boys chuck parchment at a girl's face?
Black and Potter, that's who. I personally believe that they are their own species, because there is no way in hell that I believe that I am under the same species category as those two.
Well, I guess I could just say guys are a different species; I think I could find plenty of girls at Hogwarts who agree with me wholeheartedly.
I heard a chair in front of me scrape against the ground. Moments later, the face of James Potter appeared right under my nose. That little git was leaning his elbows on the table, his face mere inches from my own. I had to admit that it was incredibly uncomfortable.
And a little nauseating.
"How's it going there Evans?" He asked.
I sighed, realizing if I didn't respond soon, he'd just keep going. I don't think I could handle that.
"Fine, Potter. I'm doing just fine," I snapped at him.
A small smirk began to appear on his face and I had to resist the urge to slap him. That cheeky bastard was just waiting for me to explode. But I wouldn't; not in transfiguration. "Oh really?" He asked skeptically.
"Yes Potter."
He raised an eyebrow at me. "Are you positive you don't require any assistance?"
I swear I could feel a vein throbbing in my forehead. "Positive," I said through gritted teeth.
He smirk grew, and he breathed out heavily; I could feel his breath tickling my face. He was obviously trying to get some sort of rise out of me; he knew I hated him anywhere near him, and he must have known that him breathing down my neck was pissing me off. So just to let him know he wasn't getting to me, I gave him my best smile. That threw him off; he wasn't used to me giving him anything except a glare.
"Well, that's good to hear then Evans," he said, and with one last breath, he brought his chair back to his desk, and I'm positive he and Sirius continued their scheming.
Lovely.
Hogwarts students are like lights; always looking for their chance to shine. One minute they're dim, waiting for their chance, then moments later, others can make them light up a room. Some shine brighter than others, no matter what they do. Okay, I know, crappy metaphor, but it's entirely true, and I couldn't find another way to phrase it. I'm not a poet, sue me. All the students here care about is getting noticed, even if it's in a completely demeaning demoralizing way.
Why just the other day, Penelope Clairfield, who had previously been a girl that no one at Hogwarts had even heard of, had stood up on the table in the great hall during dinner, and flashed the entire school.
That earned her about ten Hogsmede dates, and about fifty other requests.
However, a few days later, she'd lost them all, because Vanessa Dausset did something just has sickening and everyone forgot about poor Penelope.
I don't really feel too sorry for her.
Because I know how it feels to be her, and I think she's better off being out of the limelight.
I'm ashamed of the fact that I used to be like them. I'm ashamed that I used to compete to be noticed and most liked. I know the feeling of wanting to be noticed, and wanting my 'light' to shine brighter then everyone else's.
But the difference between Penelope and me was that while she wanted her's to shine brighter, mine always did. I outshined people by miles.
My light shined so bright that it was even brighter than some of the Marauders. Which meant that we crossed paths quite often in a more then acquaintances manor. As well, I also had quite a number of friends; however my best were still those boys I now hate more than anyone.
So to sum this up; I used to be best friends with those idiotic Marauders, and when we severed our ties, I lost all my friends.
Make sense?
I'm actually quite disgusted with myself for that period in my life. I used to doll myself up, run around with the marauders, flirt shamelessly with random disgusting guys as well as frequently snogging them as well.
Please don't judge me, I've changed. I've seen the light—the real light—where I realized how idiotic and pathetic I was, and how all those people still are. It's embarrassing really, and I try never to bring it up in conversation.
However, occasionally, people like to just slip it in there, just to see my reaction. For example, last Sunday in Gryffindor tower.
"Hey Evans!" Seventh year Joshua Quinn yelled over to me, for the entire common room to hear. "Remember that time we snogged?"
"Which time?" Sirius Black yelled back. "I recall her snogging you like ten times mate! I swear you two went at it like rabbits!"
At which they all laughed. I however, remained unfazed and unamused.
Then there was two weeks ago, during the Christmas holidays; Gryffindor was having a Christmas party, to which I briefly attended for a total of five minutes in order to get from my dormitory to the portrait hole. However my presence didn't go unnoticed.
"Evans! I didn't know you still knew how to have fun!" James Potter yelled, slugging his arm around my shoulder, a cup of alcohol in his hand.
"I'm just trying to get out of here Potter," I snapped. "So if you wouldn't mind moving your big head…" I said, trying to shrug him off, but he was persistent, as always.
"Hey, remember last Christmas party? You were so drunk! You were dancing on tables and singing Christmas songs and snogging every guy in the room," he said smirking.
I actually didn't remember that Christmas party too well, seeing as Potter mentioned, I was drunk. I never even found out who I snogged; probably Potter and Black and about ten others. Eurg I just got the urge to wash my mouth out with soap.
I was young and naïve; well that's the excuse I'm telling myself, and I quite like it here in denial land.
"Lily, come sit with us!" Alice called me over in the great hall for dinner that night; I had been late to dinner once again. She was sitting with her boyfriend Frank, and two other girls, Jean Cameron and Penelope Clairfield.
Yes. That Penelope Clairfield.
I reluctantly made my way over to them, with a small forced smile on my face. I usually preferred to sit on my own, but occasionally Alice would invite me over and I'd feel obligated to sit there.
"Hello," I said sitting down across from Penelope. Ever since she lost all her dates, she's been looking very gloomy.
"So we were just talking about the spring ball," Alice informed me.
I, of course, didn't even know we were having a spring ball. Dances were just a horrible excuse for girls to dress up as slutty as possible, guys to hit on multiple girls and feel them all up, and for people to dance inappropriately.
"What ball?" I asked.
"Dumbledore just announced it," Jean told me. "It's in April, and it's like super formal."
Great, I'm super excited already.
If you haven't already noticed, I enjoy sarcasm.
"Isn't April like three months from now?" I asked. "Why would you need to discuss it now?"
Jean and Penelope exchanged shocked glanced before turning towards me. "Well first off, you need to find the Perfect Date—"
"Which could take at least a month."
"—then you need to get the perfect dress—"
"Which could also take at least a month."
"—and you need to emotionally prepare yourself—"
"Which takes quite a while."
"—so you seriously need to start preparing at least three months early."
Okay, does anyone else get confused when they talk like that—all interrupting each other and whatnot? I didn't even realize you could be that synchronized while speaking. I had to admit that in a sick pathetic way, it was quite talented.
Alice smiled and defended her friends, "They just get excited over these things. I don't have to seeing as I already have a boyfriend who's taking me."
Alice and Frank smiled at each other all lovey dovey and kissed briefly. I had to admit, they were super cute. Alice flicked his nose playfully before turning back to me. "So, any idea who you're going to go with?"
I almost laughed. I had to love Alice because she was so behind on the times; she didn't realize that I was pretty far down on the social latter these days, and that someone going with me to a dance would be like social suicide. Jean and Penelope knew this though, because heard them each let out a little snicker.
Did I mention I really didn't like those two very much?
Speaking of people I didn't like. "Who would want to go with Evans?"
Just when you think you're safe, they come back to haunt you. Well I should have known, you're never safe from the Marauders.
Alice frowned at them. "That's not very nice Sirius; I think tons of people would want to go with Lily."
I nearly smacked myself in the forehead; that girl sometimes. She meant well, but sometimes she just dug herself—and others—into a deeper hole.
"Right, and I look like a baboons backside," Sirius tried to make a witty comment sarcastically. How unfortunate his wording was, because my defenses came up the moment I first heard his voice, and I was ready to retaliate.
"Oh, who told you? We just were joking around about how you were getting a little hairy these days…" I said trailing off. If there was one thing I knew Black valued, it was his good looks.
He narrowed his eyes. "You think you're so cleaver, don't you Evans?"
I smirked at him. "I like to think so, and I'm also told so quite often," I said.
I could practically hear him growling. He was about to retaliate, but someone put their hand on his shoulder, calming him down. "Down Padfoot, she's not worth it," Potter said.
Sirius glared at me a moment longer, before turning back to Potter, "You're right, let's get out of here," he spat, storming away, Potter right on his heels.
I was grateful that they were gone; I always valued my Black and Potter free time. However there was one thing about that last confrontation that left me a little confused. There was something different than usual.
Potter didn't encourage Black. He actually told him not to argue with me. Maybe that was because of what he said, 'I'm not worth it', but that's such a un-Potter move. Potter would usually jump at the opportunity to make fun of me and argue with me, so why would he stop it?
I don't think I've ever been more confused by James Potter in my life.
I was wrong about Hogwarts in a sense. I used to believe that all things Hogwarts were completely predictable; nothing ever changed. The people, the routines, the thoughts, everything. I used to believe that you could probably predict any day, from where I would have a confrontation with Black and Potter, to what I'd eat for lunch or where I'd sit.
However, I suddenly doubted that was true. I thought back on my time at Hogwarts, and I think I was just making myself think that it was predictable, because it was easier that way.
I was always prepared for everything and anything that came my way because of that predictability, and it helped me stabilize myself into my new role at Hogwarts; the less appreciated student. Therefore when I suddenly realized that I may be wrong about that, I was thrown into a bit of frenzy.
Which was when things really began to change at Hogwarts.
Okay, so there's the first chapter, please let me know what you think, and if you have any ideas, concerns, comments, etc. As well, should i continue? Thanks a ton!
NOTE: I also just wanted to let everyone know, that for all my stories, i have begun posting previews for new chapters on my profile, and a little before they are finished sections will be posted, so watch out for that.