Within the Heart of the Ocean
Chapter One: Poor and Pretty
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the RMS Titanic.
My name is Lily. Lily Claire Evans if you care so much. I am twenty-three, and I'm going to be on the RMS Titanic.
The unsinkable ship. I scoff at that. I mean, no ship is unsinkable. It can be perfectly designed but it can still sink. It is made of iron. It would go straight down.
This is my story.
My family was poor, very poor. We lived in England ever since I was born. I grew up there. But times changed, people passed and soon it was my time to move. My mother, being who she was, wanted us to have a richer life. More like the life she never got to have, what with marrying my father, who was in no way rich. So when a rich man came to offer me his hand in marriage, I said yes. Now, this man was actually one of my best friends. His name is Severus Snape. He is very nice, actually. But he is bitter sometimes. His family is rich. Well, he has more money than that of my own family.
He is rather nice, but not always. Sometimes he is disagreeable and snippy. But he is still my friend.
Friend. Hmm...that's odd. I'm supposed to love someone to marry them. And yet, I can't say I love him. Maybe as a friend...and maybe I care for him a lot. But I certainly don't love him. He's my friend, not my lover... Which makes this whole thing very confusing. I want to please my mother, and make her proud. The only way to do that is to marry Sev. And yet...I never wanted to marry out of duty. I have heard of those girls, the ones who marry for money and not who the person is. I never wanted to be that type of person. Yes, I know Severus. But I don't love him. I don't want to marry him because marriage is for lovers, people who want to be together forever. I might be his best friend...and I want to be forever but not in love. I do not love him, as nice as he is.
So you say that it was my choice whether or not to say yes. That is true...and I didn't reject him. But there is also the fact that my family is poor.
I didn't ever want to marry. So I said yes just to think it over. Even if it does mean I have to stay by his side and be considered his...fiancée.
I don't really care though. I'm hoping that maybe on Titanic I'll find someone. The world is filled with mysteries and I do want to find love.
And I don't want a rich, snobby jerk for a husband. So I'll probably choose someone second-class like myself.
First-class is much too...fanciful. Not my type of lifestyle at all. I do like to be stunning, as any other girl, but still myself. Pretty if you prefer.
I don't want to look like some kind of porcelain doll. I want to look like me, just prettier…and maybe a bit nicer than I usually would be.
But what can I say? I'm just a plain, ordinary girl. Nothing special. I don't have anything particularly appealing about me, or even interesting.
Severus says, and tries to convince me, that he married me because he had to marry someone. He says, "Rather someone I'm friends with than a stranger." And he's right...but that's not the point. My point is that I think he might actually like me. Why, I'll probably never know.
Severus told me to never talk to any of the First-class because they're rude. Even to us Second-classmen, who are nearly as good. Nearly. Apparently that's not good enough for them. But that's not really my issue. They can go and cope with that, however rich people cope with things like that. Probably with a lemon tea or a brandy.
I don't pretend to be royalty or something...but I do know things about First-class. One, they have really high standards, like having to wear corsets. And they do what they want, expect to get what they want, and talk with their money.
Even so, I'm glad to be on the Titanic.
The Titanic is huge. It is a vessel like none I've ever seen. It is jet black, with thousands of windows. There are three pillars that are scarlet and steaming. The deck is white, clean and clear.
I turned to look at the First-class passengers who were getting special settlements. I knew that some of the rooms here were huge, bigger than my own room. Some were like a personal mini-house. Which was usually the size of my house.
" Sev, do you know how many passengers there are?" I asked.
He shrugged. " 2,000. Maybe 2,500."
" You seem so uninterested," I commented.
He rolled his eyes. " It's not that thrilling Lily. I've seen ships before. This one is the only one that they claim is unsinkable."
It was my turn to roll my eyes. "Right. A ship that is unsinkable. Impossible."
"It is true. They say that it can't. It's too big, majestic and it has too much power."
I tossed my hair over my shoulder. " I doubt that. It is made of iron. Being called unsinkable doesn't keep iron from sinking. It isn't impossible for it to sink Sev. It's simple logic."
He stepped on, ignoring what I said. " Sure. Let's go on deck and get settled."
I followed, stepping to the ship carefully, but slipped. I felt hands pull me up by my arms, and waist. I looked up. My green eyes met hazel and I gasped for a moment.
"Thank you, sir," I said standing up. He held out his hand and helped me across to the ship.
"Who is he?" he asked, jerking his head slightly in Severus's direction.
I sighed. " My fiancée."
"I can tell you don't like him," he commented. " I'm James, by the way. James Potter."
"Lily Evans. My fiancée there is Severus Snape. Charming, isn't he?" I said rolling my eyes.
He laughed. "You should keep your name. I like it. Evans. Of course, Potter sounds better," he said grinning.
I let out a giggle. "In your dreams. I'm going to be Lily Snape. That sounds awful...maybe I can keep it Evans."
"Or it could be Potter," he said smirking. "Lily Potter."
I ignored the giggle that bubbled inside me. And the voice telling me it didn't sound so bad. "Well thanks, anyway. I've gotta run. Otherwise my fiancée will probably try to behead you or something."
"I can take him," James joked pulling out an invisible sword.
I laughed shaking my head. "James, go!"
He laughed and turned, nearly running into my fiancée.
"Who are you? Never mind, can't you get your own fiancée?" Severus snapped.
James gave me a grin, an easy look, and didn't even flinch. "I actually do have a fiancée," he said.
"Then why are you ogling at my girl? Go back to your own wife!" Severus snapped.
James sighed. "I would. But you're woman here is so much prettier," he said as though it really hurt.
I laughed. Severus glared and James's eyes twinkled with mischief. "And my woman is boring. Lily is so much more fun, and she's actually worth looking at."
I went pink, trying to hide my blush.
"Get out of here or I'll call security," Severus threatened.
"Ah. You see I really wish I didn't have to do this. But you my good sir, are in no position to make threats," James said, with the same ease and relaxed style.
"What do you mean you nosy little pest?" Severus spat.
"Stop it, Severus, you don't even know him. He wasn't bothering me, I was talking to him," I hissed.
Severus turned to me, black eyes glinting. "You were?" he asked his voice dangerously soft.
"Yes," I replied, acting unafraid.
"Oh, and what did he have to say?"
"None of your business now is it Severus? I believe I can have a conversation with another man without being in danger," I said cooly.
"Alright. I'll see you in our cabin no later than six. We mustn't be late for dinner," he replied icily and walked off.
James snorted. "What got under his skin?"
I sighed. " Overprotective males."
"Aren't you going to ask if I really have a fiancée?" James asked.
I shook my head. " Why should I? Who you flirt with and who you marry isn't my business."
"Well I do have a fiancée. And I'm twenty-three. I'm First-class, but I don't really always take it seriously," he stated.
"You're First-class?" I asked in astonishment.
"I thought you were too," he said.
I shook my head. " I'm only Second-class. I probably look Third don't I?"
He stepped back to survey me. I blushed, and concentrated on anything but his scrutinizing hazel eyes. "No, you could pass for First. You don't look like Third-class."
"Are you kidding? I'm not even pretty!" I exclaimed.
He tilted his head. "You're beautiful. And you aren't like those First-class ladies who need to cake on a whole bunch of powder. You're just you, Lily. That's what I like about you."
I chewed my lip but didn't reply.
He pulled out his watch and glanced at it. " It's nearly five-thirty, are you hungry?"
I shrugged. "Not really."
"Great, I'll show you the kitchens. And just watch," he said, taking my hand again and pulling me after him.
I followed him down so many corridors I promptly forgot.
Then he turned so sharply to the left that I narrowly avoided colliding with the corner.
"We're here, now just stand there, smile, look pretty, and let me do the talking."
I went pink and watched.
"Can I get some tea and cake?" James asked.
I blinked, startled. Within ten seconds he had gone from relaxed, easy and calm to stiff and professional. I blinked again. He wasn't smiling in that easy, lopsided grin of his. Instead, he was smiling in a closed-mouth smile, which seemed tense and stressed. His eyes had changed too. Before they had been a calm soothing hazel. Now, they were hard and cold. For a second I thought I saw something close to annoyance flicker. And as soon as I had taken all this in, I was scared. Either he was a really good actor or he was really like this. Either was frightening.
"Of course, sir. You're name, please?" one of the cooks asked.
"Mr. Potter," he replied tensely.
"Right away, Mr. Potter, sir," the cook said. "And anything for the lady?"
"She's with me," James replied so coldly I was surprised he was the same person.
As soon as they went to work he turned and flashed me a grin, which slightly relaxed me.
He then pulled me out, and we both instantly relaxed.
"What was that?" I asked.
"What was what?" he asked.
"That! You looked so...I don't know!"
"First-class?" he asked.
I nodded. "It was kind of scary."
"It took years of practice."
"It's insane how well you can just do that," I said.
He grinned and rolled his eyes. "I do it all the time. It's like second nature."
"So, you're saying that you right now is you. And the professional you is just a mask, a cover?" I asked. I was amazed at how quickly he could change.
He nodded. "Pretty much."
"That's crazy," I muttered.
I heard the click of the waitress. At once James sat up and turned his eyes to the window.
"Enjoy your tea sir," she said politely.
I pulled out a dime and tipped her. " Thank you ma'am," she said and walked out.
"Why did you do that?" James asked, nodding to the hand that had held the coin.
"If you get to act like a rich boy, I get tip someone," I replied, taking a tea and mixing in crème and sugar.
"I'm not a rich boy," he complained.
I giggled. " You are too. You've managed First-class haven't you? That makes you rich," I said.
"Then you can be a rich girl, I already said you could pass for a rich girl."
"That's not the same," I argued. " You are a rich boy. I'm not actually rich. My family is actually really poor. And that's partly why I am engaged to Severus..." I murmured the last part, sipping my tea.
"Why would you marry him? Why not wait to find a guy who you actually like, and one who loves you?" James asked.
I shrugged. "I don't know anyone else who would marry me. You have to remember, James, I'm not rich like you. Who wants to marry a poor girl? Despite my looks, it isn't enough in this society. You have to have the money to prove your worth," I replied.
"I would marry you."
Silence, and then I got up.
"Thanks for the tea. I have to go to meet up with Severus. I'll see you?" I asked.
He nodded. "I'm sure you'll see me around."