The Competition

'Welcome to today's episode of...GRYFFINDOR GIRLS' GOSSIP!' Lily Evans said in her best announcer voice. She and her friends Marlene McKinnon, Emmeline Vance, Mary MacDonald and Alice Davis were sat on their beds in their dorm in their pyjamas. It was the last week of their second term back at Hogwarts. 'Today's topic...'

'Boys!' Emmeline said.

'Ugh. Why? Most of the boys we know are complete and utter assholes,' Lily pointed out. 'Well, with the exceptions of Severus and Remus.'

'C'mon, Lils. Anyway, I think I have some juicy gossip to share about this topic,' Marlene said.

'Fine. Hey, a few days ago, I was doing my werewolf essay with Remus in the library. The thing was, he seemed to know a lot about werewolves, like an unusual amount. He even described what a transformation felt like in extreme detail. His exact words were: "It feels like every single one of your bones in your body are being broken. Every cell in your body is converted as your DNA is rewritten and, slowly and painfully, you lose control of your own mind." Am I the only one who finds it kinda suspicious how he knows so much about it?' Lily asked.

'Lily, you of all people know he's a nerd. A DADA nerd, none the less. Of course he'd know a lot about it, he's probably read five books about werewolves,' Emmeline said. 'And, anyway, that's not what we mean by talking about boys. You know what we really mean.'

'Speaking of Remus,' Marlene said. 'I know who has a crush on him...and they're in this room right now.'

'Really?!' Alice said, leaning forward, intrigued. 'Who?'

'Well, they're name begins with M,' Marlene replied.

'It's you!' Emmeline guessed.

'Please, we all know she has a thing for Black,' Lily said. 'I have no idea why, though.'

Alice had a grin on her face. 'Mary! I should've known.'

Mary had flushed so much that she looked like a tomato. She then proceeded to lift her duvet up and over her head. 'I...think I've had enough of this conversation.'

'Hey, Mary, don't be embarrassed,' Lily said. 'There's far worse you could do. Just look at Marlene! Black, of all people!'

'I can't help I like bad boys,' Marlene shrugged. 'Anyway, you're one to talk.'

'What do you mean?' Lily asked.

'James Potter.'

'What?! You know I fucking hate Potter!'

'Language,' Alice warned.

'What was that word you taught me? You said it was a Japanese term... Oh, yeah! Tsundere. You are a tsundere,' Marlene said.

'I am not a- '

Lily was interrupted by a loud tapping on the window. Her brown owl, Frisk, was stood on the ledge, a letter tied to her ankle. Lily stood, went up to the window and opened it. After Lily untied the letter, Frisk took off and flew to the owlery. Lily sat on her bed.

'Who's it from?' Mary asked, having risen from the covers.

'My parents,' Lily said, opening the letter.

'Read it aloud,' Emmeline said.

Dear Lily,

Enclosed in this envelope is a newspaper article. We thought you'd really want to see it. Try not to get too excited, though.

Good luck,

Mum and Dad

'Good luck? Good luck with what?' Alice asked.

'I don't know,' Lily replied, 'but I guess the article will say.'

She pulled out the article from the envelope and read it over. Then again. And again.

'Oh. My. Fucking. God,' she gasped.

'What is it?' Marlene asked.

'Well...uh, you ever heard of Willy Wonka?' Lily asked. The other four shook their heads. 'Well, he owns a chocolate factory in my town, which is the largest chocolate factory in the entire world! Not only that but he the greatest chocolatier to ever live! He's a muggle, yet he's created things that seem like they'd belong in Honeydukes. Like ice cream that never melts, bubble gum you can blow to enormous sizes, mini chocolate eggs that hatch into a little chocolate birds (which are alive by the way) when put in your mouth and sweets that allow you to spit in seven different colours.'

'A muggle did that?' Mary asked.

'Yeah,' Lily confirmed. 'But, according to stories I've heard, spies working for other chocolate brands were sent to work there and steal Wonka's secrets. As a result, he closed the factory. It was meant to be forever but, one day, the chimneys on the factory roof were billowing smoke, everything was running again. However, since then, no one has ever entered or left the factory. No one knows who's working there, no one knows what's inside it but I have always wanted to find out! And now, according to this newspaper, Wonka's opening up his factory for the first time in years!'

'Woah, cool!' Emmeline said.

'However, the factory's only opening to five people. To go on the tour, you have to win one of five golden tickets hidden under the wrappers of Wonka Bars,' Lily said.

'Merlin's beard, those are low odds,' Marlene said.

'I know,' Lily agreed, yawning. She looked over at Mary and Emmeline, who had just fallen asleep. 'I'm going to sleep. See you in the morning, Marley.'

'G'night, Lils,' Marlene replied.

Lily led back and pulled her duvet over her. She closed her eyes and entered the worlds of her dreams.