I thought of this idea after one of my friends boyfriends broke his hand, and inspiration hit me. I hope it grows into the story I have imagined for quite some time. I like to change point of views for some chapters, but the majority of this story will be told by Lily. Let me know how you like it xoxox
**Lily's POV**
Opening my letter from Hogwarts, confirming that I was head girl for my final year, was one of the happiest moments of my life. And of course, like many other times, it was ruined by none other than James Potter. He was Head Boy? How is that allowed? I thought someone had to be a prefect for at least a year in order to be considered as Head Boy. But of course, he always got special treatment because all the teachers loved him, with his 'witty charm' some would say (not me). It pisses me off? I and everyone else had to work hard to earn these things. It's not fair, honestly.
I tossed my letter onto the kitchen table and inspected my badge. I scrunched up my lips, contemplating what this meant. I'd have to argue with Potter all year, because no doubt he'd be difficult just for the sake of it. Because he knows it'll tick me off. He'll use it to make me finally go out with him, I bet.
"What's this?" I looked up to see my father, Matthew Evans, inspecting my congratulatory letter. A smile rose upon his face.
"It's nothing really," I said trying to hide a smile.
"You're head girl at Hogwarts this year?" He asked, as his eyes fell to my badge.
"Maybe," I said letting my smile out and laughing as he pulled me up from my chair and into a hug.
"Lily, congratulations! I'm so proud of you. I knew you'd get it, you're the most amazing witch I know," he rushed out, while he squeezed every ounce of breath from my lungs.
I laughed, "I'm the only witch you know!" I said closing my eyes and cherishing this proud and special moment.
Before it was rudely interrupted by my wonderful sister.
"Let's keep it that way. One is already too many," Petunia said, strolling past us in her pink and purple, old lady pyjamas, filling up a cup of water from the tap.
"Petunia," my dad warned.
She rolled her eyes as she took a sip, sitting down the table to look at the newspaper I'd brought in with the mail. Picking up my Hogwarts letters with only her pointer finger and thumb and flicking it away, as if she would catch some sort of disease by touching anything to do with magic.
I picked up all my papers and put them in a pile to take up to my room and noticed one that wasn't in my usual pile I got every year. The piece of paper read:
Healer opportunities offered at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year.
To whomever has received this letter, you have shown outstanding academics and are being given the opportunity to involve yourself in learning about what it takes to be a Healer at St Mungo's.
The more I read, the more I came to understand that, 3 students in their seventh year, would be offered almost a 'work experience' sort of roll at Hogwarts this year. I was up for it? I'd be tossing up between possibly becoming a Healer or an Auror, so it could be a good eye opener in that sense. I'll be sure to go to the meeting being held about it, I am definitely interested.
"What's that Lil?" dad asked.
"Work experience opportunity. I could be working in the hospital wing at school," I answered.
"You going to go for it?" he said smiling and raising his eyebrows, as if to imply I totally should.
"I think I will. I just don't want to take too much on, you know?" I said thinking to myself, about what the consequences might be if I were to spread myself too thin with responsibilities.
"I think, if anyone can handle it, you can Lil. Give it a shot," he encouraged.
I smiled and looked back at the letter. It did sound like a good thing for me to try. Get an idea about what it would be like as a healer.
I shook my head, getting a bit too deep into thought, I had to hurry up. I needed to get ready, Marlene would be here any minute to pick me up.
Every year since meeting Marlene Mckinnon, I have stayed at her house the night before we start the new year. It's become a tradition of ours. Come to think of it, I'm really sad that it'll be out last year doing it. One more year of my favourite place on earth. Favourite place, minus Potter, Black, Pettigrew and well… Severus now. Remus can stay, he's by far the best of the four. Why couldn't they all be like him? Why Remus even hangs out with those tossers, I'll never know.
It wasn't long before Marlene came knocking on my door. I ran down the stairs and flung the door open.
"Lily!" she beamed, opening her arms for me to give her a massive hug.
"Marls, oh my Merlin it's been too long." I said rocking with her back and forth for a second, before we stood back and looked one another up and down.
"You've gotten taller surely. And, oh my Lily aren't we looking… perky," she said winking and shimmying her chest towards me.
"I might've gone up a cup size?" I said confidently. Marlene has always been so confident, it brings out this side of me that I never thought would exist. She taught me not to sweat the little things, live outrageously sometimes. And although for me, that might only be a little comment here and there, she's still made me let loose and have some fun every now and then. Especially when I've been so uptight in the past. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a pretty big rule follower. But as I've been growing older I've regretted not being a little more adventurous and rebellious. I've been taking baby steps.
"Alright, are we ready to head off?" Marlene asked closing the trunk of her dad's car. Her dad being a very successful business man in the wizarding world, had his own driver, I think Adrian is his name if I remember correctly. He's taken us on countless trips to all kinds of places.
"I think so," I said, thinking to myself if I've forgotten anything.
"You're not ready quite yet. Gotta say bye to your old man," Dad said appearing at the front door.
I smiled and jogged over to him, wrapping my arms around his torso, "I'm gonna miss you so much dad."
"You say that every year Lils. You just have yourself a great last year, okay?" He said, rubbing my back and kissing my cheek.
"I will. See you at Christmas time!" I said making my way to the car and sitting in the back seat with Marlene.
"I'll tell your sister you said goodbye," he said raising his eyebrow but smiling.
"Thanks dad. Love you!" I called through the window as we made our way out of the driveway.
"Love you too!" I heard him call, before winding up the window and heading down the street.
The drive to Marlene's wasn't too far, a thirty-minute drive maybe? As soon as we pulled up to her house, I gave a small sigh of relief. Sometimes long car rides give me a bit of anxiety. Walking into Marlene's house was always breathtaking. Not only because it was huge, but because her mother had designed it to have the most gorgeous rugs, furniture, paintings, the lot. But this year it wasn't any of those things that took my breath away. It was Hestia and Alice jumping up from behind the couch yelling "Surprise!"
"Oh my-what?! You guys! What're you doing here!" I said running over and hugging the two of them and looking back at Marlene as she smiled at us.
"We thought, it being our last year and all, that we'd start it off together, as early as possible!" Alice said, still in my embrace.
"Yep, so we're gonna have a girl's night in. We're gonna paint our nails and do girly things, have an early night, and be up bright and early tomorrow. Ready to start our last year together." Hestia said, pulling away and displaying a nice range of nail colours, hair curlers and popcorn.
Later in the night we were all up in Marlene's room, lounging lazily in a circle on her enormous bed playing snog, marry, avoid. A favourite of Marlene's in particular.
"Alright. Amos Diggory, Frank Longbottom and Remus Lupin, go." Hestia said.
"Oh my Merlin, snog Amos because um, duh. Marry Remus because he's a sweetheart and avoid Frank because he's Alice's," I said, waiting for Alice to tell me off.
"Lily!" She was far too predictable. "We're just friends! Will you stop teasing me," she said throwing a piece of popcorn at me.
"When he stops oogling at you, I'll stop teasing you about it," I said throwing the popcorn back at her.
"Alright then, I've got one." Alice said, matter of factly.
"Severus Snape, Peter Pettigrew aaaand," she drew out. "James Potter."
All the girls started laughing as my jaw dropped, my eyes glaring at Alice.
"Well, I know what I'd pick," Hestia said giggling profusely.
"I'd avoid them all," I said rolling my eyes and grabbing a pillow to hold in my lap.
"Nope, you can't say that. You have to pick," Alice said raising her eyebrows at me.
"Fine, I'd snog Sev because at least I'd still never have to speak or see him again, and what a send-off that would be. I'd marry Peter, because I'm never in my life going to marry James Potter. You've forced my hand, I would marry Peter Pettigrew and avoid James Potter," I said shrugging my shoulders and sighing.
Everyone just sat there trying to hold in their laughter.
"Lily Pettigrew!" Marlene finally burst out first, causing the rest of them to explode in fits of laughter.
"Oh shut it," I said throwing my pillow at her.
"Lily, you cannot be serious. Those other two blokes are so gross and James Potter is soooo, gorgeous you're just being impossible," Hestia said, in between giggles.
"He is the absolute worst. Without a doubt," I said shaking my head and laughing along with her.
"Well, personally I'd marry James, snog Peter and avoid Severus," Alice said with a smug look as if to say, 'we all know you would too'.
"Vomit," I said, faking a gag reflex.
"Well you might want to re-evaluate your feelings when it comes to James, if you want to have even the slightest amount of fun this year. He is the other Head with you is he not?" Marlene asked.
"Yeah because Dumbledore is a mad man. Why on Earth would he think James is a good candidate for being head of school?" I asked screwing up my face in disgust.
"Maybe because he's a leader, a nice guy and has matured a lot since fifth year?" Hestia said. I raised my eyebrows in disbelief, no way.
"He has, Lily. And don't forget he's been captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team for two years now. I think Mcgonagall put in a good word for him with Dumbledore. Probably why he was chosen," Alice said.
"Well cheers Minerva, really appreciate it," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes.
A collective groan came from the group and I scowled throwing up my hands as if to say 'whaaat?'
"Whatever, Lily. There's no convincing you that James has changed. You've had your mind made up since first year." Marlene complained.
"Yeah, because James has never done anything childish and mean since then. Like hmm, I don't know? Levitate Severus and make a fool out of him in fifth year?" I spat.
"He only did that because Severus called you that disgusting word. James was just standing up for you?" Hestia defended.
"I didn't need to be stood up for? And how is that the right thing to do, even if Sev did say that horrible thing." The girls all had a look of 'yeah you're right' on their face, but I continued. "Look, can we just drop it. I want to have a good night, and bringing this up isn't exactly what I would call fun."
"Alright, alright Lil we're sorry," Hestia said, on behalf of everyone.
"Thank you," I said as the tension dropped.
The rest of the night went be so quickly,and not long after our silly girly sleepover games, we decided to jump into bed. Marlene and I in her bed and Hestia and Alice in the spare room across the hall. Laying there, thinking about starting back at Hogwarts for the final time, I wondered about what would come of this year. Last year was not the greatest for me. I'm just lucky I had such incredible friends that took care of me and helped me through the tough things that happened half way through fifth year, up until about now. I had healed, I was ready to move forward and just be happy.
Would I be able to do that though? Bloody, James Potter is Head Boy. Really thinking about it, I can see where the girls are coming from. And why Dumbledore chose him, but come on? If he doesn't really step up this year, I'm going to let him know. I've worked too hard and gone through too much for him to come in and ruin what I have earned over six long years. I really just hope he can respect that and at least give me a decent amount of effort. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
That is my first chapter, done and dusted. If there's anything you guys want more of, or anything I can improve on, please let me know. I'd love the feedback, even if it isn't positive. Really excited for where this story will be going, and I hope you stay along with me for the ride.
-Kels xo