There's a First for Everything

[Evalyn Chambers]

Eva nodded as Lily suggested making a list. "Good idea. We'll definitely need soda, and maybe pizza? Or would hamburgers and hotdogs be better?" Then Remus spoke up. She whipped her head around to look at him. "They found what? That's so cool! I want to go!"

Think of all the things you could do with a passageway like that! Visit the Three Broomsticks whenever you wanted? How cool would that be?

[Lily Evans]

"I vote for pizza, but we might want to have hamburgers or hotdogs, too... just so there are some things to choose from," Lily said, thoughtfully, pulling out her potions notes and searching for a spare piece of parchment to write down a list.

Lily had heard about the secret passageway, too, but she didn't know where it was. She was a little less impressed by the idea than Evalyn was. There was a reason why first and second years were no longer allowed to go on Hogsmeade weekends. In fact, after the attack in Hogsmeade, Lily was amazed that they let any of the students go at all. But she particularly didn't like the idea of James and Sirius going into Hogsmeade without permission, knowing how little they cared about rules and being careful.

She tried to tell herself that it was not that she was worried about James's safety; that she was really worried that some Death Eaters could follow James and Sirius through the secret passageway and into the school. Yes, that was what worried her.

"If you are going to do that, please be careful," she told Remus, knowing at least that he would listen to her and hopefully influence his friends to do the same. "Remember what happened a few months ago... people were killed."

[Remus Lupin]

Actually, it was that very passageway that had saved a lot of students during that attack. James and Sirius had bravely used the passageway to lead students out of the fray. In fact, Remus himself had carried an injured Lily back to the school using it. Lily, of course, didn't remember, because she had been unconscious. James had worried that a lot of students would use the secret passage all the time, but it turned out that most of them had been so freaked out that they forgot where it was.

"We'll be careful," was all he said, though he managed to look properly ashamed.

Yes, sneaking into Hogsmeade alone was a risk. But no one could tell James and Sirius not to do something just because it was dangerous. In fact, the more dangerous something was, the more they wanted to do it. But Remus was also pretty confident in their abilities to take care of themselves, if they needed to. And, really, what were the chances of another violent attack taking place in Hogsmeade?

[Evalyn Chambers]

The conversation turned towards the unpleasant direction of the disastrous Hogsmeade trip. "I was actually sick that day," said Eva. "I was so bitter about not being able to go, but then I find out about everyone being attacked, and, well, I guess I was lucky."

She still wasn't against using the tunnel, but Lily did have a point. Of course, you had to be careful about everything nowadays. Everyone you met was either on edge about it, or pretended like nothing was happening. She tended to be one of the latter. "You do know James and Sirius would use it anyway, though, right?" she said to Lily in a joking voice, though she knew that indeed they would, and Eva hoped that Remus really would make sure they were careful. She found that she was starting to care about the boys and Lily.

[Lily Evans]

Lily gave a half-hearted smile. "Of course they would... I know that. They'd find a way to use it, even if they put a guard on it and made it off limits. I just... I don't want anyone else to get hurt. I just want them to be careful."

It really bothered her that James was so willing to do things that were dangerous or against the rules. A trip to Hogsmeade didn't seem worth the risk in Lily's mind. If he was going to risk his life for something, she wished it was something noble, not silly and frivolous.

She was still young and just a muggleborn, but she knew a little about the war that was brewing. She felt like it concerned her, since the so-called death eaters were against people like herself--people not born into magical families. To them, it didn't matter that she could do magic, that she was smart and talented and a hard worker. They were blinded by prejudice, and driven to unspeakable acts. She admired those who were fighting against them... they risked their lives every day. That was worth the risk and the danger. Not sneaking into Hogsmeade to buy butterbeer and dungbombs.

"Anyway, back to the party," she said brightly, forcing her mind from such dark thoughts. "I have a specially altered record player that runs on magic and not electricity... do you have any records, Eva? I only have a few... but I might be able to write to my sister to see if she can send me some more. She has all the Beach Boys records."

[Remus Lupin]

Remus fell silent again as he listened to Lily talk about her plans for the party. The only reason he had even mentioned the idea of the secret passageway was because he wanted to be of use to Lily in some way. He knew absolutely nothing about throwing a party, and he didn't know any muggle music, either. In fact, Remus thought he really wouldn't be much fun at a party at all. He was still shy most of the time, and even though James and Sirius were able to get him to join in with many of their antics, he still felt that he'd never be as cool and funny as they were.

[Evalyn Chambers]

"Of course they would... I know that. They'd find a way to use it, even if they put a guard on it and made it off limits. I just... I don't want anyone else to get hurt. I just want them to be careful," Lily replied.

Eva nodded and didn't reply. No one wanted any of this to happen. The rumours were only getting worse, not better. Evalyn tried to ignore because she was scared to accept it, but it was really happening. What exactly "it" was had yet to be determined; Eva honestly didn't know a lot about it yet, only that there was some sort of group that called themselves "deatheaters", and they meant bad news. As the silence stretched, Lily finally returned the subject to the party. Eva was actually grateful for the change of subject to something more exciting.

"Wow, that's really cool. I need to get me a player like that. I do have a lot of records, though. Hey Remus, do you have any popular wizard music? I think I might have a couple..."

[Remus Lupin]

Remus unconsciously lowered his eyes at the question. It was just he and his father at home, and they didn't have much money. He was learning not to be so self-conscious about it, but it wasn't easy. He knew, no matter what his father said, that it was at least partially his fault that they had no money. It was difficult for his father to hold down a job because they always had to move when someone started to ask questions about Remus, and the Ministry had blacklisted him because of Remus' condition.

"I don't really have much of a music collection," he said evasively. "James and Sirius both do, though... I can ask them to bring some stuff."