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Lily stood at the edge of the room, the soft hum of conversation filling the air, punctuated by bursts of laughter from the center where the professional Quidditch players held court with the Hogwarts students. She swirled the champagne in her glass, watching the bubbles rise, trying to muster some excitement for the night, but the reality was sinking in hard.
Her 17th birthday would be nothing special.
The blue dress robes, which had seemed so perfect when she’d first tried them on, now felt like an ill-fitting costume, something she was pretending to be rather than truly was. They’d been a gift from her mother, who had sent them along with a note filled with warm wishes that Lily had read with a hopeful smile. She’d imagined wearing them for a secret date to Hogsmeade with her boyfriend, James—not for a dull Slug Club party she’d only attended because Slughorn had practically begged her to come.
Across the room, Slughorn’s voice boomed, a jovial exclamation about some Quidditch match she couldn’t care less about. The Slug Club, usually a place where she felt like she belonged to something special, had felt more and more isolating since the war outside of Hogwarts had started creeping in. She wasn’t part of the crowd around the pro players—most of them were Slytherins, and not just any Slytherins, but the ones who were notorious for their bullying.
James wasn’t here because of those assholes. Instead, he was in the hospital wing with poor Remus, who had taken a curse to the chest that morning in the courtyard. The thought of James and Remus made her heart ache. She would have much rather been with them, offering comfort and company, than standing here in a room full of people who barely noticed her.
The only person who kept glancing her way was Severus Snape, but that just made Lily’s skin crawl. She made a point of avoiding his gaze, and any time he tried to approach, she would turn her shoulder sharply, making it clear she wanted nothing to do with him.
She wished James were there.
With a deep breath, Lily set down her glass, the soft clink of crystal barely audible over the hum of the party. She smoothed out the creases in her robes, casting one last look at the room full of people who didn’t even notice her leaving. The warmth and laughter of the Slug Club faded behind her as she stepped into the cool hallway, where the torchlight flickered against the stone walls, casting long, dancing shadows.
Seventeen would come and go, slipping past like a whisper in the night. Tonight was just another stretch of time, another lonely walk through the dark corridors of a castle that no longer felt like the safe haven it once had been.
Lily paused, her hand brushing against the cold stone wall as the weight of it all settled on her shoulders. She should have just stayed with the rest of her house in the common room or gone with James to keep Remus company. She was silly to have thought Slughorn would remember her birthday, let alone surprise her with anything.
The silence of the corridor was broken by a familiar voice. “There you are, I’ve been looking for you.”
Lily lifted her gaze from her black sequined shoes, surprised to see James Potter standing halfway down the hallway. He was leaning casually against the wall, as if he’d been waiting there for some time. His freshly pressed dress robes caught the flickering torchlight, the deep midnight blue standing out against the dark stone walls. But it was the bright smile on his face that truly captured her attention. It was the kind of smile that seemed to warm the cold corridor, or maybe she just warmed up everytime she was bathed in it.
“James?” she said, her voice soft. “What are you doing here?”
“I was going to this party, obviously,” James replied, his tone light, but the sincerity in his eyes made Lily feel like crying of happiness. He took a few steps closer, narrowing the space between them. “I know you asked me to stay with Remus, but he had some choice words for me. Said I wasn’t much of a boyfriend if I let you suffer through that Slug Club mess with the Slytherins on your own.”
Lily stared at the gift, a lump forming in her throat. She hadn’t expected James to leave Remus, especially after what those Slytherins had done to him—the very ones she’d just walked away from in the other room.
“You didn’t have to…” she began, but James shook his head, cutting her off gently.
“I wanted to,” he said, his voice steady. “Remus is fine, really. He’s just in the hospital wing for observation, and Madame Kingston’s practically spoiling him. He insisted I come find you.”
The thoughtfulness of it all—the fact that James had left Remus to be with her—made her chest tighten with unexpected emotion. Her shoulders relaxed as James leaned in and placed a firm kiss on her forehead, grounding her in the moment.
“Let’s just go back to the common room,” Lily urged, feeling a surge of relief at the idea. “That party is stupid anyway.”
James scoffed playfully, taking her free hand and twirling her so that her skirts flared around her ankles. “If you think I’m letting you waste these deliciously gorgeous dress robes on a common room birthday party, you’re mad,” he teased, his grin widening. “No, we’re going back in there, and I’m dancing with you until you can’t see straight.”
Lily couldn’t help but smile, the weight of the night lifting as James’s infectious energy pulled her along. The party that had felt so dismal just moments ago now seemed to hold a spark of promise. Anytime James Potter was a part of something, it was never dull.
James led Lily back down the corridor, his hand warm and reassuring in hers. The closer they got to the party, the more she could hear the muffled sounds of laughter and conversation. Her free hand dug into her skirts, her nerves taking over again.
James paused for a moment, offering her a reassuring smile. “Ready?”
Lily took a deep breath and nodded. “Ready.”
With that, he pushed the door open, and they stepped back into the brightly lit room. The atmosphere was just as it had been before—people still clustered around the Quidditch players, and a few couples kissed lazily on the outskirts of the dance floor—but with James by her side, everything felt different.
Their presence together was a statement, a defiant declaration: a pureblood and a Muggle-born, hand in hand. Lily knew that every time James stepped out with her, he was taking a risk. People were being tortured for less these days outside the safe confines of Hogwarts. But neither of them cared; all they wanted was to be together, no matter what the rest of society thought.
As they walked further into the room, Lily could feel the sharp, hostile stares of the Slytherins. The tension in the air was almost tangible, and she could sense the silent fury radiating from the group that had tormented Remus earlier. Their eyes tracked every step Lily and James took, but James remained completely unbothered, his focus entirely on her.
"Don’t mind them,” James whispered, leaning in close so that only she could hear. “They’re just jealous.”
Lily couldn’t help but smirk. “Well, I do have the hottest Quidditch player in the room on my arm.”
“That’s my girl,” he replied with a grin.
Without missing a beat, James guided her toward the center of the dance floor, completely ignoring the whispered comments and glares from the purebloods. As they reached the middle, he spun her around, the motion catching the attention of a few of the professional Quidditch players nearby, who watched with curious smiles. James caught her mouth for a tempting kiss, letting his tongue taste her upper lip without a second thought.
“James,” Lily murmured, her voice betraying a hint of embarrassment.
“Merlin, sorry, I just love when your cheeks turn red,” he replied with a mischievous grin.
He pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her waist as the music shifted to a slower, more melodic tune. Lily could feel the weight of the room’s attention on them, but with James’s steady presence, it felt more like a spotlight than a burden. The purebloods might have been glaring daggers at them, but they were nothing more than background noise now—unimportant and easily ignored.
As they began to dance, James moved with effortless grace, his confidence infectious. Lily found herself relaxing into the rhythm, letting the moment carry her away. The world around them seemed to fade into a blur, leaving only the two of them, moving together in perfect harmony with the music. The weight that had been pressing on Lily’s chest earlier had long since lifted.
James spun Lily around once more, her skirts flaring out in a graceful arc. She couldn’t help but laugh, the sound light and genuine, a reflection of the joy bubbling up inside her. James laughed too, his eyes crinkling at the edges as he pulled her back into his arms. The warmth of his embrace, the easy rhythm of their movements, made everything else fade away. As she wrapped her arms around his neck, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against his neck—a quiet, tender gesture of thanks, a moment just for him.
“See?” James murmured, his voice filled with affection as he spoke softly in her ear. “This is how your birthday should be.”
Lily looked up at him, her heart swelling with gratitude. Without thinking, the words slipped out, barely a whisper over the music. “I love you, James.”
The moment the words left her lips, she felt a jolt of panic. She winced internally, realizing too late what she’d said. It was too soon for that—for those three words that carried so much weight. They had only been officially seeing each other for a couple of months, and she hadn’t meant to blurt it out like that. She braced herself, waiting for his reaction, her heart pounding in her chest.
But instead of pulling away or looking surprised, James grinned, his eyes shining with that familiar, playful glint. He didn’t miss a beat, slowing their spinning to a gentle stop as he held her close. “Now that’s not fair,” he teased, his voice low and warm.
“What’s not?” she asked, her voice barely steady.
“I was supposed to say ‘I love you’ first,” he replied, nuzzling his nose against hers, the closeness making her heart flutter all over again
And with that, James dipped Lily low, causing a ripple of gasps and murmurs to spread through the crowd. But all Lily could do was laugh, the sound ringing out clear and bright. James pulled her back up and spun her around, and that’s when she noticed the scene unfolding at the door.
To her surprise, what seemed to be the entirety of Gryffindor house was now pouring into the room. Peter and Sirius were leading the charge, grinning widely as they carried banners that read “Happy Birthday,” while Hannah Killarny struggled to balance a cake that looked like it had been decorated by a child.
Before Lily could fully process what was happening, she was swallowed by the crowd, pulled from James’s arms into a flurry of hugs and cheek kisses. The energy in the room shifted from tense to jubilant in an instant, and Lily found herself smiling so widely that her cheeks hurt.
Amid the whirlwind of well-wishers, Lily spun around, searching for James. She finally spotted him standing nearby, watching her with proud, affectionate eyes. “Did you do this?” she demanded, raising her voice over the cheerful chaos.
James shrugged, a playful smirk on his lips as he slipped his hands into his pockets. “This part was actually Sirius’s idea,” he called back.
As if on cue, Sirius appeared beside her, wrapping his arms around her neck and squeezing her tightly. “Happy birthday, Lily!” he exclaimed, his gray eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Thank you,” she replied, laughing as she took in the wild scene around her. “This is crazy! Slughorn is going to kill you for wrecking his party.”
Sirius ruffled her curls, completely unfazed. “Please, old Sluggy adores me.”
“Black!” Slughorn’s voice boomed through the crowd, cutting through the noise like a knife. “This is a private Slug Club party!”
“Ah, shit,” Sirius muttered with a wink at Lily. “You didn’t see me.”
With a playful kiss to her cheek, Sirius ducked out of sight, leaving Lily laughing as James slipped back to her side. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close for another kiss just as the Gryffindors began to sing “Happy Birthday” at the top of their lungs. Overhead, magical fireworks burst into vibrant colors, filling the room with light and casting dancing shadows on the walls.
The joyful chaos around them was intoxicating, and Lily felt her heart swell with happiness. Even as Slughorn tried to regain control, bustling through the crowd and threatening detentions in a vain attempt to restore order, Lily couldn’t stop smiling. His stern words were lost in the whirlwind of joy as everyone continued to celebrate, ignoring his protests.
As the party spilled out into the corridors, Sirius, James, Peter, and a few others led the charge, marching down the halls and waking up every portrait they passed, singing “Happy Birthday” to Lily at the top of their voices. Their exuberance was infectious, and Lily found herself swept along, laughing as she tried to keep up with their antics.
Someone passed Lily the plate of cake, hastily cut and without a fork. The frosting stuck to her fingers as she took a bit for a bite, the sweetness mingling with the laughter bubbling up inside her. She looked around at the other Gryffindors, their faces lit with delight, and felt a deep sense of belonging. Home wasn’t a place, it was the people in it.
But there was just one person missing.
As the group made their way back through the common room, Lily caught James’s hand, pulling him aside as the others continued their raucous celebration. “Come on,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Let’s bring some cake to Remus.”
James’s grin widened, and he nodded eagerly. “Absolutely. He deserves to be part of this too.”
James called out to Sirius and Peter, who immediately caught on to the plan. Together, they all slipped away from the group, sneaking through the quieter corridors of the castle with the smuggled cake. The castle was eerily silent compared to the noise of the party, the only sound the soft echo of their footsteps on the stone floors. They moved quickly, careful not to attract the attention of any patrolling professors or prefects.
When they reached the hospital wing, the door creaked softly as they pushed it open. The room was dimly lit, and Remus was lying in one of the beds, looking surprised but pleased to see them. His face lit up even more when he saw the cake in Lily’s hand.
“Please tell me that’s for me,” Remus said, grinning as Sirius jumped onto the bed beside him.
Peter followed suit, crawling onto the bed with Remus. “Just a warning—it was James who baked it, so it might be hazardous to your health.”
“Hey!” James cried in mock defense, hands on his hips. “I’ll have you know, my cake baking skills are top-notch!”
Lily laughed as she held out the cake to Remus. “Don’t listen to them. It’s perfectly good—I already tried some. Besides, you deserve something sweet.”
Remus accepted the cake with a warm smile, his eyes full of gratitude. “Thanks, Lil. And happy birthday.”
Sirius slung an arm around Remus’s shoulders, ruffling his hair affectionately. “We couldn’t let you miss out on all the fun, mate.”
Lily looked around at her friends, her heart swelling with warmth. “Thank you, all of you,” she said softly. “You’re always the first to look out for me, to make sure I’m okay. No one’s ever done anything like this for me before, ever. You’re truly my best friends in the whole world.”
Sirius grinned and nudged her knee with his foot. “You’re our best friend too, Lily. We’ve already decided that if you and James ever break up, we’re keeping you in the divorce.”
“I’ve already told you,” James exclaimed, pulling Lily closer until she was nearly sitting on his lap, “if she even thinks about breaking up with me, you guys have to slip her that love potion we talked about.”
Lily playfully smacked him in the chest. “Are you seriously encouraging them to commit a felony if I break up with you?”
“They commit a felony every full moon, Lily,” Remus pointed out with a grin. “Brewing a love potion is nothing compared to the whole illegal Animagus business they’ve got going on with a certain werewolf.”
“The werewolf is infinitely more fun,” Sirius chimed in, casually licking frosting off his fingers.
“Maybe for you,” Remus retorted, giving Sirius a light shove.
“Love potions aren’t exactly a felony,” James reasoned, “they’re just… strongly discouraged. Besides, I love you so much, I’d break at least a hundred laws for you.”
“Hold onto that thought, babe,” Lily snorted, crossing her legs as she reached for another piece of cake. “Because if you ever dare to break up with me, who knows—I might slip you a little love potion myself.”
“And land yourself in Azkaban?” James quipped, raising an eyebrow. “That seems a bit beneath you, don’t you think?”
“Even if it’s handcuffed, I’m not leaving Hogwarts without you,” Lily shot back with a smirk.
James purred, his eyes gleaming with mischief, “I just have a question about the placement of those handcuffs.”
“Get a room,” Peter groaned.
Lily turned to the blond Marauder and flashed him a playful grin. “Yours?”
Peter's face twisted in exaggerated horror. “Ugh, gross, never mind!” he exclaimed, recoiling as if the very idea had physically repulsed him.
Lily laughed, leaning into James. “You really walked right into that one, Wormtail.”
James rocked her in his arms suddenly, “I love when you use our nicknames.”
“Speaking of nicknames,” Sirius chimed in, his eyes glinting with mischief, “we don’t have a nickname for you, Evans.”
Lily arched a brow at him, her lips curling into a half-smile. “Who said I wanted one of your ridiculous nicknames, Sirius?”
Sirius feigned a look of deep offense, placing a hand over his heart. “Ridiculous? These are badges of honor, Evans. Every Marauder’s got one.”
Lily rolled her eyes playfully. “Well, I’m perfectly happy with just being Lily, thanks.”
“Come on,” Sirius pressed, undeterred. “You’ve been hanging out with us long enough. You’re practically one of us now. You deserve a proper nickname.”
James grinned, his arm tightening around Lily’s waist. “Don’t worry, Lily. If Sirius gives you a nickname, I’ll make sure it’s one you can actually live with.”
Lily shot him a teasing glance. “Oh, I’m sure you will. But if it’s something ridiculous, like Snuffles, I’m holding you responsible.”
"No, not Snuffles." Sirius leaned in, eyes narrowing as if deep in thought. “We’ll have to come up with something fitting... something that captures your essence.”
“Or you could just call me ‘Lily,’” she suggested, deadpan.
Peter, having recovered from his earlier disgust, quickly chimed in, “I think ‘Lily’ works just fine.”
Lily tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and added, “I don’t even shapeshift like the rest of you. I don’t need a nickname—I’m just... Lily.”
“You’re more than just Lily,” James murmured, kissing her just behind her ear as he pressed his chest to her back. “You’re an amazing friend, the best dueler in this school, the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen, a terrible Quidditch player, and quite possibly the only person who can beat Sirius in chess.”
“Now that’s a true badge of honor,” Remus said with a smirk, and the group dissolved into laughter, the lighthearted banter easing the mood even further.
Sirius let out an exaggerated sigh. “Fine, fine. But mark my words, Evans—you’ll get a nickname someday. And it’ll be brilliant.”
“Can’t wait,” Lily replied with a smirk. “But future nickname or not, you’re my Marauders, my constants, my best mates. That’s what really matters.”
The five of them stayed huddled on the bed until two in the morning, sharing the cake and swapping stories, their laughter echoing softly through the dimly lit room. It was a small, intimate gathering—a world apart from the wild party in the common room or the underwhelming Slug Club event. But for Lily, it was exactly what she needed.
As she sat there, surrounded by the people who mattered most, Lily realized that this was what truly counted—not the big parties or the flashy celebrations, but the quiet, meaningful moments spent with those she loved. This was the best kind of birthday—one filled with love, laughter, and the comforting presence of true friends.