Chapter Text
Since her childhood, Lily was seen with multiple faces. A smart girl. A gifted witch. An exceptional student. An outcast. A determined girl. A compassionate soul. A monster in her family’s eyes. A know-it-all, resented by some. A mudblood. This last was a shame she carried, a weight she shouldn't have shouldered.
Behind the labels and judgments, Lily was someone entirely different. She was kind, caring, and full of love. Her reputation as an hardworker came from her determination to prove herself at Hogwarts, coming from feeling like she had to earn her place due to her bloodstatus, a notion that a few mean-spirited students often reminded her of. To silence their hurtful words, she pushed herself incredibly hard, showing them she could be as good, even better, than them.
She put intense pressure on herself to excel in all her classes and finish assignments immediately. There was no room for mistakes. Her friends understood her struggle, but they thought she should take it easier on herself. They saw her as smart already. They didn't fully understand what it was like to be taunted with hurtful names like 'mudblood' by some ignorant Slytherins who were just parroting their parents.
In the middle of all her school stuff, Lily had a special break – the book club every Thursday with Remus and Regulus. It was her safe space, where she could truly relax. Unlike other places, she didn't have to show off or prove anything. With these people, she could just be herself, no strings attached. Their friendship was real, without any need for her to work for it.
Lily found Remus already in the library when she arrived, his usual well-worn jumper over his shirt, even if the weather started to get warmer with the arrival of spring. He greeted her with a gentle smile as she settled down beside him.
"Feeling better today?" she inquired, aware that the full moon had passed just two days ago and he had been in the infirmary until yesterday.
"Yeah, don't worry. Sirius got me some chocolate," he replied with a grin.
Her lips curved into a smile. Remus and Sirius were a charming pair, fitting together perfectly. Lily liked to say they were soulmates. Ment to find each other.
One by one, the rest of the group arrived. Lily's favorite thing about this club was how diverse it was. Students from all years and backgrounds, boys and girls, different skin colors – all united by their love for books. There was no judgment here. Everyone came as they were and was accepted just like that.
Regulus arrived last, plopping down next to Lily with a sigh. "Sorry. Potter made it his mission to annoy me today."
Remus struggled to hold back a laugh.
"What's so funny?" Regulus asked.
"Just some inside stuff," Remus teased, "no need for you to know."
"Works for me. Keep that for you, I'm good with not knowing," Regulus said with a grin.
Lily had a great time, chatting about things she enjoyed with her friends. It was a chance for her to forget about classes and homeworks for a while.
Returning to the dorms, Lily felt a sense of contentment. Her mood lifted even more when she heard ABBA playing.
"Voulez-vous? Ah-ah! Take it now or leave it! Ah-ah!" Mary sang, perched on her bed, using a hairbrush as a makeshift microphone.
"Now is all we get! Ah-ah! Nothing promised, no regrets!" Marlene chimed in, also on her bed, her Gryffindor tie wrapped around her head, holding her perfume bottle like a microphone.
Lily couldn’t suppress her laughter at the scene. "You do know the weekend isn't tonight, right? There's still another day of classes ahead."
"Merlin's beard, Lily!" Marls protested. "Do you always have to be such a downer? We were just having fun!"
"Actually, it's something you definitely need," Mary chimed in, putting her hairbrush down and stepping down from her bed. "That's why a Gryffindor party is happening tomorrow, right? To have fun."
"To celebrate what?" Lily queried, making her way to her own bed and dropping her bag at the foot.
"Life! The week's end! The sun coming back!" Marls exclaimed, joining Mary off her bed. “It’ll be fun!”
"That's not a massive blowout," Mary clarified. "Just music, drinks, and snacks. People dancing, talking, unwinding after the week. Nothing wild."
"That's her subtle way of saying you should come," Marls translated, collapsing onto Lily's bed.
"I've got work to catch up on," Lily replied, using it as an excuse.
"Nothing you can't handle on Saturday. You need a break, Lils. Let loose from homework and all that shit."
Lily looked at her friend, arms crossed, leaning against the frame of her four-poster bed. She sighed, giving in.
"Alright, I'll go. But don't expect me to stay up past midnight. I need to catch up on sleep."
Marls stood up, clearly thrilled, bouncing on Lily's bed like a little kid.
The next day, Lily was getting ready with the girls, listening to ABBA to get them in the mood.
"Mary, which skirt should I wear?" Marls asked, pulling two extremely short skirts out of her closet to show Mary.
"It depends. Are you keeping that top?" Mary inquired.
"No, I'm going to wear the one on my bed."
"With that top, you should go for the red leather skirt, not those," Mary advised.
Marls' face lit up as she tossed aside the two skirts and picked out the red leather one. "Mary, you're a genius!"
This little scene brought a smile to Lily's face. Mary was the undisputed queen of fashion advice within their group. Unsure which top would go best with those jeans or what accessories could make your outfit perfect? No problem, just ask Mary. What made it even better was that she knew each of her friends' styles and always nailed it when picking an outfit for them. It was one of those things that made their friendship special and lasting.
"And what about you, Lily?" Mary asked, approaching her while she did her makeup at the desk, which doubled as her vanity.
"I'm not sure. Something comfortable, probably jeans," Lily replied, closing one eye as she applied amethyst eyeshadow.
"Do you want me to help you find an outfit?" Mary offered.
"You don't have to worry about me; I can handle it."
"And spend ten minutes grumbling in front of your closet?"
"Mary, you should be focusing on your outfit."
"It's settled. I'll be ready in five minutes, so don't stress about me."
Lily sighed, closing her other eye to apply eyeshadow. "Alright."
Mary went through Lily's closet, carefully selecting the perfect outfit for the night. She chose a white shirt and a light pink cardigan, paired with classic Levi's 501 jeans.
"This will work. Cute and comfortable. And, of course, your Converse," Mary said with a smile.
Lily thanked her and finished her makeup before getting dressed. And just before they were ready to head out, she slipped into her Converse and added a touch of cute pink gloss to her lips. Yeah, she was ready to have fun.
As they headed down to the common room, the energetic beat of "Cherry Bomb" filled the air. A few Gryffindor students had already gathered, with more expected to join.
When James spotted them, his face lit up. "Hey, girls! Ready for some fun?"
"Of course!" Marls replied, scanning the room. "Where can we grab drinks?"
"Over there," James said, pointing to a table on the other side of the room.
He organized everything with his friends. The rumor was that they organized the best parties. Lily couln’t know much about that: she never went to parties.
Marls turned to her friends. "What's everyone drinking?"
"I'll go with you," Mary said.
Lily chimed in, "I'll take an apple juice, please."
"Sure thing."
Her friends went to fetch their drinks, leaving Lily with James. She was feeling a little bit awkward.
"I didn't think I'd see you here," he mentioned.
"Well, it wasn't in the plan. But Mary convinced me."
He chuckled. "I can see how that happened."
Lily looked around, searching for her friends. Marls and Mary were chatting while pouring drinks at the table. Not far away, by the snack table, Remus and Sirius were deep in conversation, standing so close that their arms brushed against each other. Sirius had a wide grin on his face, Remus a small smirk. And Peter was engaged in a separate chat with friends from the Botany Club.
"I just hope you won't report us to McGonagall," James remarked, taking a sip from his cup.
"James, seriously, have I ever reported you? Whether it's a prank or a party?"
"Nah, you're right, but you never know. You’re a prefect."
Lily rolled her eyes, not wanting this conversation to ruin her night. She decided to let it slide as Marls and Mary returned with her drink.
"Thanks," she said, accepting the red cup from her friend.
More and more students began to arrive, both Gryffindors and members of other houses.
Lily and the girls sat on a couch, and James joined them, engaging in conversation as an ABBA song played in the background.
When "Dancing Queen" started to play, Marlene sprang up. "That's my jam!" she shouted, rushing to the center of the common room. "Come on, guys!"
Mary quickly joined Marlene.
"Lils, you coming?" Marlene called out.
"I'm good here," Lily replied, watching James get up to dance with the others. "Y'all go ahead."
As Marlene, Mary, and James hit the dance floor, Lily stayed back, sipping her apple juice and tapping her foot to the beat.
Remus, having parted ways with Sirius—who had joined Mary, Marlene, and James on the dance floor—sat down beside her. "Why aren't you dancing? You always loved this song."
"I'm just chilling," Lily said.
Remus chuckled. "You can't fool me. 'Dancing Queen' is your anthem."
"Why aren't you dancing, you?" Lily asked.
"You know deeply that I can’t dance," Remus reminded her, his face pointing his knee. "But I'm enjoying the vibe here."
Lily pondered for a moment. "Maybe I'll give it a shot. But the song is almost over."
"You should," Remus encouraged, flashing a grin. "Everyone's having a blast. And don’t worry, I’ll put it back."
Feeling a nudge from Remus's words, Lily decided to join in. "Alright, count me in."
Rejoining her friends, Lily was met with cheers, especially from Mary. After a hesitant start, the rhythm of the song and the energy of her friends got her moving. Remus kept his words and started the song back as soon as it finished.
Lily was genuinely enjoying herself. Taking Remus and Mary's advice had paid off. It felt good to set aside her worries and simply let go to have a good time.