Lily Potter opened her very tired eyes against the morning light that passed from her window. She blinked several times, trying to allow the brilliant ray of the sun before her eyes.
Her heart sank, remembering that today will be her dreaded day to report in front of a few chosen but very important and strict Ministry officials. She has been spending a lot of time working very hard and going home very late, and now, after all the hard work, everything should be perfect.
She craned her neck a bit and gaze hopefully on the clock hanging on the wall that also shows the date June 29 and –
"Six." Sighing, she closed her eyes and opened them slowly. Oh James, give me enough strength today…
Ever since James Potter has died while saving both Lily and Harry on the night You-Know-Who went after them, Lily becomes different towards everything. She cried over her husband's dead body on his funeral, cursing almost everything that had happened. But after that, all turned out to be very drastic. She no longer the sweetest Lily Potter that everyone adores, she no longer accepts failure and laziness that only James Potter foresee before, she wants everything done right and got aggravated if it does not. She no longer the wife and mother that people assume she would be but someone that her son, Harry Potter, would call it "no time" or "she's busy working".
Harry Potter spent his summer in Godric's Hollow, writing to his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, telling them his unhappy and irksome life and how he hated seeing his mom very worked up and not having long conversations with him but instead, telling him how his attitude never pleased her as he grows up. Lily Potter is an auror and all she does is fight and make a report.
Do you reckon my mum loves me? Because I can't seem to notice and feel that – Harry wrote a hundredth times already from his previous letters to Ron and Hermione and it's always been a hundredth times that they answered back a "yes".
He twirls his quill, thinking of what to write next, but his clock chimed on his bedside table, disrupting his thoughts. Six? Did I spend really that long writing? He asked himself. He started writing at one o' clock, it has always been his daily routine now that he's spending his summer doing nothing but write to his friends.
Shrugging, he stood up, signed his name on the letter and set it aside, thinking of sending it later.
There was a knock on his door and a weary-looking Lily Potter peered inside. "I see you're up. Can you make breakfast for me please? I still need to prepare for work." And she closed the door without waiting for her son's response.
Harry blinked, trying to register what her mum has said.
Ten minutes later, after getting all dressed up, and without bothering to comb his hair, he went hurriedly out of his room to make breakfast, not knowing that his mum was standing just outside of his door.
He bumped very hard into her, causing what Lily was supposed to be carrying very carefully, to topple over and now littered the floor, papers everywhere.
"HARRY!" shrieked Lily. Standing slowly, she massaged her aching buttocks while looking furiously at her son.
"Mum, I…I"
"What do you think you're doing?!" said Lily angrily. "Are you even looking where you're going?! Now look –!" she pointed on the complete mess. "Look what you've done!"
Harry was speechless. He was so shocked. He tried to open his mouth but nothing came. He stared at her for what seems like forever, not knowing what to say.
"Clean this up!" ordered Lily after a few quiet minutes. "And I want that in order!"
"Mum, I'm very sor –"
"Now!" yelled Lily and she stalked off in her bedroom, slumming the door shut behind her.
Harry stared at the door, shaking and feeling as though he's been cursed a thousand times. What have I done?
It took Harry almost an hour arranging the papers in a proper order but his mum hasn't come out yet.
Careful not to let slip the papers again, Harry cautiously knocked on his mum's bedroom. He heard footsteps but didn't open the door.
Very slowly, he turned the knob. There was a commotion inside. Lily was walking, getting everything and throwing things on her bed where a bag stood open. She stopped on her tracks when she saw Harry.
"Are you done?" she asked while holding a cloak. "Did you arrange them properly?"
Harry nodded.
"Good." said Lily. "Put it on the bed."
Harry followed quickly.
"I don't have much time and I need to dash. I can't believe they changed the time to seven-thirty."
Harry checked the clock; it was already fifteen minutes past seven.
"But mum, you haven't eaten anything yet. Surely the Ministry will underst –"
"They will not." said Lily simply.
There was a short silence where they stared at each other for a moment.
Harry bowed his head. He felt guilty and embarrass. "I'm really sorry about what happened earlier."
Continuing to prepare, Lily said, "No need to apologize. It's too late, Harry."
"But it's my fault, if I only slowed down a little bit –"
"Stop it, Harry!" Lily was looking at him intently. "I hope that you very well know that it's done." She emphasizes the last two words. "Now, if you don't have anything important to say, please leave my room." And she turned her back on Harry.
Harry felt pained, he can't move after being humiliated. He looked at her mother for one last time and left the room silently.
When Lily saw the door closed, she burst into tears. She hated herself for doing it. She regretted it.
She stood in front of a mirror where her reflection clearly tells that there's a state of physical tension or something not right. She looked away, not wanting to see anymore the gloomy look on her face.
She fastened her cloak and swung her bag around her shoulder, ready to leave.
Harry was preparing breakfast when Lily appeared in the kitchen. She observed Harry for a moment and said, "Harry –"
"Ouch!" Harry accidentally cut his finger, and the knife fell onto the floor in a clatter. He hadn't expected someone to call him.
Lily rushed towards her son. "Harry, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," said Harry immediately, hiding his hand on his back.
"What happened?" asked Lily. "Are you hurt?" she began examining Harry from head to foot.
"It's nothing."
"Harry, you're bleeding." said Lily when he saw Harry's hand on his back, blood rushing down. "Show me your hand."
Trembling, Harry held out his hand. It was now seriously bleeding nonstop.
"You call this nothing!" Lily asked incredulously at Harry. She grabbed her wand from her pocket and cast a healing charm. The bleeding stopped and the wound closed instantly.
"Don't ever do that again." sad Lily. "Do you understand me, Harry?"
Harry nodded.
"Okay, then. I'll be home at eight tonight." Lily told him. "There'll be a party in our department. Just a little celebration after all the nightmares."
"Party?" Harry could not believe what he's hearing. "You're kidding, right?"
"Kidding? Of course not." said Lily. "Not that I'm aware of."
Harry frowned. "But mum, what about my assembly?"
Lily raised her eyebrows. "Assembly? What assembly?"
"The Parents-Teachers Assembly; to discuss the standings of their students at Hogwarts. Ring a bell?" Harry stared at her skeptically.
Lily thought for a moment then said, "Ah, the parents-teachers assembly. Yes, I remember. And that's –"
"Tonight," Harry finished her words. "Seven o' clock, remember?" Harry couldn't believe that he's having a conversation like this to her mum. He felt as though her mum did it on purpose or maybe not because of her so called "important report".
"Oh honey, I'm so sorry." said Lily miserably. "I shouldn't have said that." She put her hand in her head. "I'm too concentrated on my report and –" she looked on Harry's eyes; sadness was visible even if he tries to hide it. "I'll try to be there, Harry."
Harry didn't express any emotions that he heard what her mum had said. He didn't speak for a moment.
"Harry?"
"Goodluck on your report, mum." Harry smiled a bit. "You'll do great." And he kissed her on the cheek.
Lily smiled and went to the fireplace. "See you later."
Harry nodded briefly; A saddened look still evident on his face.
After shouting, "Ministry of Magic!", she's gone in a whirl of smoke.