Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

The next morning Lily stumbled out of bed, and showered, feeling better then she had last night. She had decided to brush the comments off, assuring herself that they were just mad that they had been caught. When she was done, she dashed out of her room, realizing that she had taken way to long in the shower.

James had been up and actually on time for once, waiting for his friends to arrive. He noticed that all the teachers were sitting at the head table, which was odd, since most of them ate breakfast in their rooms. Shrugging he returned to his breakfast, as the hall began to fill up.

Lily came running in, she wanted to be able to eat, and get some last minute studying in before her first class. She cursed herself for being so slow that morning, and almost fell over someone stray bag in the aisle. Finally she came to a halt a few seats away from Marauders. She noticed that people were staring at her, but Lily really did not care.

The hall was abuzz with students talking, and forks clinking, when Dumbledore decided it was time to start. He walked over to the podium, and noticed a few students were looking at him. With a small smile he pointed his wand to his throat and said “sonorus”. “All students are to report to the Great Hall immediately.” He announced, causing a few students to jump, and the hall to fall silent.

“What’s going on?” Remus asked as he picked a few eggs of the center platter.

“Dunno,” James responded not looking at him, instead watching Dumbledore. He was still a little peeved at Remus, though he was unsure why.

“Hey Phoebe,” Lily said when her friend arrived, carting her books. The girl was so tiny it made Lily wonder just how she could support them.

“Hey what’s going on?” Phoebe asked tilting her head in Dumbledore’s direction.

People were filling the hall quickly, the only time it was packed this much was the welcome back feast, and dances. It was starting to get loud once again, and the room was beginning to heat up with all the people stuffing the tables

“No idea,” Lily mumbled as she flipped through her Herbology book, while their other friends arrived.

“Ah it seems like everyone is here so we can start,” Dumbledore said, his voice back to the normal volume. At his words the whole hall fell silent, and everyone gave the Professor their undivided attention.

“I have called you all in here today to tell you something new is happening this year,” Dumbledore said, his voice echoing around the hall. He paused watching a few students look at one another, and whisper before looking back at him. “It has come to attention of myself, Professor Burbage, as well as the Ministry of magic, that your studies in Muggle History have only covered the physical aspects of life, and nothing about the cultural differences.”

At this Lily’s head popped up a bit. Being a muggle born, she was curious exactly what was being planned. Maybe a study of the arts, or coming of age, even family life. She glanced at Phoebe and grinned, whatever was going to be covered, she would know plenty about it. Lily noticed James was looking at her, and he smiled at her, causing her to roll her eyes, and turn her attention back to Dumbledore.

“She is just a prune,” James said exasperated, regarding Lily’s reaction as he shoved a piece of toast in his mouth.

“Hush up, I want to hear what this is all about,” Remus said nudging James in the shoulder.

“You only care because it is just another thing you will be smarter than us about,” Sirius said, flashing James a smirk before turning attentively to Dumbledore.

“That is why we have decided to put on a play,” he paused again, listening to the contrast of groans, and cheers. “It was written by a famous muggle playwright, William Shakespeare, and we have decided on the classic love story, Romeo and Juliet.”

Lily was excited, she loved Shakespeare, she had read most of his plays, and hopefully with magic, it would be more realistic to watch. She had seen it performed a few times at the local high school, since Petunia had been in it, though as an extra.

“What is that about?” James asked Remus, who merely shrugged.

“Hold on,” Dumbledore said wanting the great hall to quiet down. “I have more news. We have also decided that it will be required that all seventh year students are to try out. I know how some of you are not happy about this notion, but since this is your last year hear, we want to immerse you in as much muggle culture as possible.”

Lily nearly choked on her bacon, and stared daggers at Dumbledore. Surely she shouldn’t have to, she was a muggle born after all.

“No way, I am not doing it,” James said with a huff. It seemed as if he wasn’t the only one unhappy. He saw Lily coughing a bit, and looking rather annoyed. He figured she would be the first to want to try out, with her family background and all.

“All this month you will be reading about Shakespeare, learning his plays, and studying Romeo and Juliet. Tryouts will be next month, and the play will be put on in December before holiday break.” Dumbledore finished with a warm smile on his face. He walked away from the podium letting the students ponder all this new information.

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Lily filed into her muggle studies class, with the group of marauders in tow. She grabbed her seat near the front, and waited patiently for the teacher to walk in, she had a few questions for her, and hope she would like what she heard.

“No way,” James said once again throwing his book down on the table.

“It can’t be that bad,” Peter offered, then backed out when James glared at him.

“Everyone listen up I am sure you have a lot of questions,” the professor said as she walked in with a triumphant look on her face. She had been trying to get this idea passed for years, and it finally had been accepted.

“I have one!” Lily said her hand shooting up instantly.

“Yes Miss. Evans?” The professor asked as she wrote Romeo and Juliet on the board.

“If you are a muggle-born are you required to try out?” Lily asked calmly.

“Why of course Miss. Evans. You are infact a Seventh Year correct?”

James and Sirius let out a snicker at the look of disappointment on her face, but stopped when Lily turned around and stared them down.

“You have been here learning since you were eleven so you never had the proper teachings of plays, so yes all muggle-borns must try out,” Professor Burbage said before looking at the rest of the class. “Any more questions? No? Good, then let’s learn just what Romeo and Juliet is about.”

Once the lecture was over, James had a new perspective about the play. “It doesn’t sound so bad anymore.” He said throwing his bag over his shoulder.

“Yeah, especially if you are Romeo,” Sirius said with a smirk as he pushed open the door. “Though Evans looks upset.”

“She’s just mad that it will take away from her precious study time,” James joked. Of course Lily had to be trying to get past the group at this point and heard everything he had just said. “Uh Evans…sorry.”

“Piss off Potter,” Lily snapped before going down the hall.

“You are such a twit,” Remus said before breaking off to go follow Lily.

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“Stop trying to stick up for him Remus,” Lily said with an angry huff as she walked down the hall.

“I’m not, I’m just trying to keep you from killing him is all,” Remus said half joking, half serious. He knew just how much James pushed her buttons.

“Well you’re not doing a very good job,” Lily replied as she kept up her pace.

“He is just immature is all, just ignore him,” Remus replied a bit flustered as he walked quickly to keep up with her.

“Well apparently he isn’t the only one who thinks I am uptight, and always worried about my grades. Apparently the whole school thinks it. I am uptight, ugly, and lonely according to everyone but you,” Lily said tears stinging her eyes. “Why don’t you think that?” She asked him, her voice accusing.

“Because I’m your friend Lily,” Remus said as if it wasn’t blatantly obvious.

“Well don’t feel like you have to be. No one wants to be friends with nerdy Lily,” she spat turning the corner, and going into the girl’s bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

“Wait…what?” Remus asked utterly confused. He had no idea why she was going off on him. Before he could say another word, the door slammed in his face.

Lily closed herself in the bathroom, and grabbed the stall in the back, shutting it rather hard as well, and locking the door forcefully. No one ever came into this bathroom since it was inhabited by moaning myrtle. Lucky for Lily she had befriended the sad ghost, and Myrtle left her alone whenever she came in.

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“You’ve done it this time,” Remus said when he made it into the Gryffindor common room, taking a seat on the couch across from the other marauders.

“What now?” James asked as he flipped through his book not looking up.

“Lily. She’s gone and locked herself in the girl’s bathroom on the second floor,” Remus replied pulling out a piece of parchment to work on his homework.

“Why?” Sirius asked looking up from a game of wizard’s chest he was playing with Peter.

“She thinks everyone hates her. Lily has very few friends, and is very insecure about herself. Any little thing will set her off. She thinks I am only friends with her out of sympathy,” Remus replied pulling out his charms book.

“No one hates her. She is just so edgy about everything. You always find her with her nose buried in a book, or working on homework,” James said

“Because she has no one to hang out with. Have you ever tried having a civil conversation with her besides hitting on her, or making fun of her?” Remus asked, his eyes narrowing a bit. “I didn’t think so,” he said when no one responded. “She is always keeping herself busy with school because no one ever tried to talk with her.

“That’s awful,” James finally said, truly sympathetic.

“I know. Now she won’t even talk to me. It’s amazing how harsh someone’s word can be,” Remus said quietly, not looking up as he began working on his homework.