Journey to Love

Journey to Love

Lily / James

This is the first chapter of many more to come. Again, this is based on a lovely movie, DDLJ. Hope you like it!!!!! Tell me in a review . . . please???!! Usual disclaimers apply.

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Lily Evans leaned back in her seat, sighing with happiness. Life was just perfect. She was warm, content, sitting in the Evans' car, on her way home. Traces of sadness lingered in her mind, because she was leaving behind Hogwarts - seven years of wonder and magic.

Lily was unsure about what she was going to do with her future. As Head Girl of Hogwarts, she had the highest scores, along with James Potter, the Head Boy. She was well known for being one of the smartest, most fun, mischievous, and prettiest girls at Hogwarts. She was rather striking, with her dark red hair and cucumber green eyes that were always sparkling with mischief.

Now, it was time to go home.

* * *

Dinner at the Evans' household was a formal, yet fun affair. There was a lot of chatter, even though there were only four chatterers. Today was no exception, Lily thought. She was buzzing here and there, telling everyone about her last year at Hogwarts. Her parents were pretty supportive of her magical blood, so she had no problems with that.

"Lily darling, we received a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Cooke last week," said Mr. Evans, opening the conversation. The table fell silent, and Lily noticed her mom looking away.

"Cooke?" she asked, puzzled. "I don't remember anyone by that name, Daddy."

Her father chuckled, and put an arm around her shoulders. "Brent Cooke is one of my best childhood friends. He has one son, David. You are going to be engaged to him."

Lily looked up, shocked. Her eyes were wide open, and the table had a hushed air around it. She gulped.

"E-engaged, Daddy? I'm only 17!" she stammered out. Her father chuckled again.

"Yes, Lily. You are going to be engaged next year. The Cookes have invited us to spend a month at their house in East Hamstead. We were planning to go in December. I will tell you all about it tomorrow," he said.

Lily nodded, her eyes downcast. Everyone at the table looked back at their plates.

"M-may I be excused, please? I don't feel very well," Lily lied, and after seeing her father nod, rushed out of the room.

* * *

"Lily?" Mrs. Evans whispered, as she came into the room. Lily was sitting on her bed, eyes red, tearing pages out of her diary.

"Sweetheart, what are you doing?" her mother asked, sitting down on the bed.

"Mom," Lily whispered. "How could Dad do this to me? How could he make my life's decision for me? I don't even know who David Cooke is . . . how can I be engaged to him, mom? How can I marry someone I don't love?" she choked out, burying her head in her mom's arms.

Her mom patted her hair, stopping her own tears.

"Lily, darling, your father gave Mr. Cooke his word long ago. And your father's word is his life. I know it is not fair . . . it is not right. But there is nothing we can do, Lily. It's all up to your father."

Lily nodded, tears flowing freely down her face.

* * *

"Lily, the paper says something about a tour in Europe through the Eurail, for a month. I thought it might be a good chance for you to see different places before you settle down," said Mr. Evans, the next afternoon.

Lily had been quiet all day, still thinking about the night's incidents, and her future.

"Hmmm?" she asked, looking up from a book she was pretending to read. Mr. Evans repeated what he said.

"Do you want to go? It's next month, so you will have enough time before we go to the Cookes' place," he said.

Lily was about to refuse, when an idea struck her. One month. One month of freedom before I'm forced to leave everything behind. Who knows what can happen in a month? Images of Paris and Rome flitted through her mind.

"Sure, Daddy. Should I sign up today?" she said, a new spark of happiness lighting up inside her.

One month of freedom. That's it.

* * *

"Uhhhhh" Lily said to herself, tugging at her hat, which was slipping off. She dropped her two travelling bags beside her, and took off her hat, stuffing it in her bag. She scanned the timetable in front of her. "Eurail, 10:45" she read out. She glanced at her watch, picked up her bags, and ran to platform 6.

When she reached the platform, she found it empty, and the train almost ready to close. In front of her, she saw a boy with messy black hair running towards the train. She ran, hoping she wouldn't miss the train. The boy saw her running, and extended his hand as he got into the train. Lily ran harder, and grasped his hand firmly, as he pulled her inside the train. The doors shut behind them.

Panting, she dropped her bags and leaned against the wall of the compartment. She looked up to say "thanks . . ." to the boy, but stopped when she saw him.

"James Potter?" she said, weakly. He smiled in response.

* * *

What do you think??? Tell me in a review, pleeeeease. It's a long series, ending in Lily and James being together. If you review, I'll write the next part. If not . . . . . .

Luv, Green Eyes