Rob: Why hullo there. -waves energetically- And welcome to the world of Caila who was bored during chem and this idea hit her like a brick. Well, not like a brick. More like one of those individually wrapped tic tacs that her friend threw at her so she would wake up. And after much thinking, especially while she made up a dance during gym and got out of gym 10 minutes early for being happy, she decided to write said idea up. Thus, this was born.
Okay, yeah. None of this belongs to me. Except for the plot, and maybe a few characters that I create off the top of my head.. Lily and James and Sirius and Remus and the Rat and Dumbledore and Snape and McGonagall and Hogwarts and everyone else belongs to J.K. Rowling. And Bambi belongs to Disney. One of my favorite movies, ever. Besides Singin' in the Rain. Maybe I'll put that in here as well. -ponders- Anyway, on to the fic. It'll be only one chapter, methinks. Maybe two. Yup. So read, and review. This is my first try at a Harry Potter fic, so bear with me xD My forte is writing Tamora Pierce fanfics.Or at least I think so x.x So read and review and let me know if I should continue with the idea to write a full-length L/J…
Oh yeah, okay, teh whole big italics thingummy in the middle is a giant flashback. It was only going to be the first scene of it, and then i just kept writing. So yeah. Enjoy!
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Waking up early was never pleasant. Especially when one was woken up on a Saturday, the one day you thought to sleep in. Especially when it was the middle of winter, a week or so after the Christmas holiday, which to this certain person was very taxing, and the whole of Hogwarts, especially the seventh-year girls dormitory, was freezing cold. Especially when all you could find of your clean pajamas the night before was a t-shirt and shorts. Especially when you were woken up by having your nice, warm, fluffy blankets pulled off of you, followed by someone lying down next to you and bellowing in your ear,
"Wake up, Flower!" The comment made her body stiffen, but in her stupefied state the girl could not remember why.
However, she knew one thing. For all the above mentioned reasons, it was doubly, no, triply, no, a hundred times more unpleasant when the person who was waking you up was James Potter. Especially if you were a certain red-head named Lily Evans. Lily rolled back over after pushing James away from her, but he managed to hold on to the bedposts and avoided falling off the bed.
"Wake up, Flower!" He crowed again, but Lily could barely hear him due to the fact that she had pulled her pillow over her head and was trying to drown him out. After a few moments of that, she seemed to realize that he was really there, and sat up.
"Potter, what are you doing here? And please shut up. I'm sure that you've already woken up-" True to her suspicions, one of her roommates poked her head through the curtains.
"Um, Lily, I was sure I heard a voice…"Mary Parkinson mumbled sleepily.
"You did," Lily said, a hint of anger and detachment present in her voice. "Potter decided that it would be funny to wake me up. I'm trying to find out why. Go back to sleep, dear."
"Alright," Mary nodded, still half asleep. As she mumbled a "Toodles, James," they watched as she stumbled across the room before collapsing in her bed. Lily shook her head before rising and drawing Mary's curtains closed around her, and returned to her bed quickly,pulling the blankets back around herself. Realizing that James was still sitting there with an expectant look on his face, she glared and turned it full force on him.
"Potter, I do believe I asked you what you were doing here. And how did you get up here, anyway? I was sure that Professor McGonagall charmed the stairs after you-"
"Ah, so that's why theyturn into a slide when Siriustrys to come up to see- well, when he trys to come up." He sighed happily, remembering the prank they had played on Lily a year or so ago before the oh so jolly Professor made it much harder. Himself, Sirius, and Remus (well, more like Remus, for he was better at charms than them) had charmed Lily's clothes to fly away from her when she reached for them. It culminated in Lily, clothed in a badly transfigured robe, whacking James over the head with her very heavy advanced charms book. Rubbing his head gingerly, he was brought back to the present when Lily fell back onto her pillows.
"So?" She asked, and he tapped his forehead.
"Ah, my dear Flower Evans, I do have my secrets." Lily snorted.
"Flower Evans?" He grinned.
"Sirius was the one who started it, dearest Lily." She hit him over the head, and rolled back over, intending to go to sleep. James, however, pulled her back to face him and asked,
"Do you want to come outside with us? We're having a snowball fight later. School wide. I'm hoping to get McGonagall to come, and maybe we'll get to hit her with a few-" Lily hit him over the head again, and rolled back over a second time. After a few minutes, James put his head on the pillow next to her and asked,
"What are you doing, Flower?"
"I'm hibernating," Lily managed to mumble, the words coming almost automatically.
"What do you wanna do that for?"
The words, "All us flowers-" had escaped her mouth before she realized why the statement James had made before had made her stiffen. Her mind traveled back to a memory of three Christmases ago, the last one she had spent at home…
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Snow fell gently against the window, and Lily grinned at the sight of it. Her muggle friends would be up for a snowball fight later, after presents, and it was just the thing to get Petunia off her back. Giggling, for Mary, one of her best friends at Hogwarts, had given Petunia the nickname 'Tuna', a fish that Lily couldn't stand, she almost didn't notice the door creak open. But she did, for the hinges needed to be oiled, and she quickly pulled the blankets over her head again. Someone pulled the blankets away from her feet, and tickled the sole of one foot energetically. Stiffiling her laughter, she heard her mother bellow,
"Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, Flower!"
"Is it spring yet?" She asked, continuing with their Christmas tradition of quoting Lily's favorite childhood movie, Bambi.
"Nope, Winter's just started." Her mother replied cheerfully as she pulled the blankets off of Lily. "What-cha doing? Hibernating?"
"Uh huh." Lily murmured, pretending to fall back asleep.
"What-cha want to do that for?"
"All us flowers sleep in winter. Well, good night." After that statement, Lily yawned and pulled the blankets over her head. Her mother, not to be duped, sat on Lily's feet. However, she said quite seriously,
"Those who don't wake up don't get their presents…" Lily was up like a rocket, almost knocking her mother off the bed. She started jumping up and down on the bed, grinning as her mother joined her. After jumping a few more times, shouting "It's Christmas! It's Christmas!", they slid off the bed and sat in the windowsill. Lily's mother, Margaret, produced a small dark red velvet jewelry box, and handed it carefully to her.
"Mother-"
"We, your father and I, decided to get you something special. We know Petunia's been hard on you," She ignored Lily's snort at this understatement. "And we wanted you to know we appreciate you, well, not hexing her. And we didn't want her to get jealous over this. So," She gestured for Lily to open the box, and Lily gasped as what was in the box sparkled in the half-light provided by the light snow-storm.
Nestled in the cranberry silk lay a silver chain necklace, on which hung a small silver lily, covered with small scattered diamonds. Placed underneath it were a pair of pearl-drop earrings that Lily recognized as her grandmother's, who had given them to Margaret before she died. They were her mother's favorites, and Lily threw herself at the woman, hugging her tightly.
"Thank you so much, mum!" She managed to say, before she buried her face in her mother's hair. "Thank you!" Lily murmured again, and Margaret laughed.
"Now put them on, and show the nice people." Lily quickly complied, rushing over to her mirror and carefully pushing the drops into her pierced ears before lifting her hair and asking her mother to put the necklace on her. She grinned at her reflection, looking much older than her fourteen years, and kissed her mother on the cheek before scrambling downstairs, promising to herself that she would never miss a Christmas at her house, even when she was married. Lily shuddered for a second, for both Ash and Sirius, along with the rest of them,predicted that Lily and James would get married within five years of leaving Hogwarts, but pushed the thought away. James would be at the back of her mind today, and she sat happily in front of the tree with its presents underneath it, watching the colored lights twinkle, reflecting off the glass balls merrily.
But Lily did not keep her promise to herself. Yes, the next holiday she did show up, but it ended in a huge row about Petunia's treatment of Lily, after which Lily stormed out of the house due to the fact that her parents (well, mainly her father) expressed the thought that Petunia may be right, the day before Christmas Eve. Quite accidentally calling the Knight Bus to her aid, Lily managed to yell, "I won't come back next year!", before she was escorted to a small bunk and informed that a bunk would cost her seven sickles, and a toothbrush would be two. Ordering a cup of hot chocolate (one sickle, three knuts), she curled up on the bed and eventually cried herself to sleep. Upon her arrival at Hogwarts, she had brushed past the waiting Marauders, informed them that if they played a prank on her they would die a slow and painful death, and carefully took off the lily necklace and the earrings, placing them in a secret draw in her nightstand, planning to not take them out again.
And with that in mind, Lily Evans told herself that she wouldn't return. She spent the summer at Mary's house, along with a week with Remus. And when school started, she promised herself that she would stay at Hogwarts for Christmas. And she kept the promise, that year, going to Ash's for the holiday this time, and spending a few weeks with Cai and Stephanie. But next year, seventh year, when the holiday arrived, she found herself missing her mother more and more. Not as much her father, for they had grown apart since she left for Hogwarts, but she missed her mother terribly. And it was with the mindset that she would sort things out with her parents that Lily asked the Marauders to sneak her out of Hogwarts on Christmas Eve to meet the Knight Bus. But her hope was short-lived, as when she arrived at her home all was left was a pile of smoldering rubble. Lily stood there dumbstruck, until a neighbor caught a glimpse of her through the window and walked outside.
"Lily," the old lady said gently, but Lily pushed her aside and walked up to what remained of the front steps. She crouched down and touched the cement gently, and smiled softly as she saw where she and Petunia had etched their names, when she was nine and Petunia was eleven,when their father, Tom, had poured fresh cement onto the walk.
"Lily, dear, I'm so sorry," The woman said again, but Lily wasn't listening. As the woman went on to explain that it had just happened hours ago, and that no one was in the neighborhood when the fire had occurred, Lily got up from her position on the ground and walked around the remains to what remained of her backyard. Luckily, the fire had not damaged the small little play-house that stood on the edge of the woods and her backyard, and Lily carefully pushed open the small door and knelt to look inside.
She smiled as she caught glimpses of her stuffed animals. One of her first times she had used her magic was when she made her stuffed deer prance around, and she gladly reached for the animal.
"Prongs…" Lily whispered, and hugged the deer tightly before emerging and walking towards the woman, who had kept a respectful distance.
"Lily, darling, your parents…" At that she sniffed, and Lily felt her world crumble.
"My parents? My parents what? And what about Petunia?"
The woman, whom Lily now recognized as Mrs. Brown, her older Spanish neighbor, caught Lily up in a hug.
"Petunia wasn't home. And your parents- Lo siento, Lily."
But Lily broke away. "They're dead? No. They can't be. They'll be here, and I can apologize for not coming last Christmas, because I came back. They can't be gone. They just can't." She sat on the ground, unmoving, until a flash of light caught her eye. Both Lily and Mrs. Brown watched as a dark green mark flared through the sky, followed by another flash of light.
"Carmen," She heard a familiar voice say, and she recognized him as Professor Dumbledore.
"Yes Albus?" Lily was a bit shocked to hear her neighbor say Professor Dumbledore's first name, but she tuned out the rest of their conversation as they continued.
"Was it-" He broke off as she nodded glumly.
"The sister survived, Albus. Should I go watch her? I trust Lily in your care." The Headmaster gestured to Lily, who was weeping on the cold ground and clutching the deer to her.
"Did anything of hers survive?" The woman shook her head slightly, but then gestured to the backyard.
"Whatever was in that playhouse. But I think it was only stuffed animals. I put a charm on it when Lily was young to keep mold away." He frowned slightly. "Albus, I know she left on bad terms. She'll be hurting for a long time." He nodded, and clasped her shoulder.
"Thank you for watching her, Carmen. If you could inform-"
"The Ministry? Of course. I was waiting for you to show up. Take care of her, por favor."
"Gracias, Carmen.I hope to speak with you when all of this is finished.
"Albus, please tell her I'm sorry. I was visiting my son and grandchildren, and-"
"It's not your fault. But I will tell her that, if you wish. Do you have an extra cloak? She looks cold." Carmen nodded and walked into her own home, emerging a few minutes later with a cloak and a heavy blanket, along with a few sickles. As she handed them to Albus, she said,
"She'll need a hot chocolate, Albus. And-" She broke off as Dumbledore raised his hand.
"I know, I know. It's so hard a such a young age. Carmen, will you inform the Ministry at this time? I'll take Miss Evans back to Hogwarts, now. Oh, and tell Alastor that I'll contact him tomorrow." The woman nodded in response, and clasped Dumbledore's outstretched hand, murmuring,
"Adios, Albus," before apparating to the Ministry.
Dumbledore knelt next to Lily, and patted her shoulder comfortingly.
"Miss Evans-" He was interrupted by Lily standing and wiping her eyes.
"Professor," She said, after she blew her nose, "I would appreciate it if you told no one about this. I do not want, nor deserve their pity." Dumbledore nodded slowly, and motioned for Lily to follow him. She complied, still clutching the stuffed deer, grabbed her overnight bag from its spot on the blackened front walk, and sat on the curb as he stuck out his wand arm, calling for the Knight Bus. The driver recognized both of them, and ushered them towards a more secluded set of bunks in the back of the bus, and on the third story.
"We'll just add this to the bill then, Professor. And it's good to see you again, Miss Lily. Did you find what you were looking for?"
Lily nodded her head stiffly, and sat on her assigned bed, not saying a word. Dumbledore watched her closely, but did not speak, as she stared at the English countryside passing quickly by, all the while petting the deer.
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Lily was jolted back to the present as James shook her.
"Flower? Evans, snap out of it." As Lily turned to face him, he noticed the presence of tears on her cheeks and his annoyed tone disappeared. "Flower? What's wrong?" Wiping off her cheeks, she pushed him away and jumped off the bed, opening her nightstand drawer and taking out the necklace. James let out a small gasp as the light hit the diamonds, but Lily ignored him and after she had put on the necklace she reached for the stuffed deer. He grinned, and asked,
"What's it called?" When she didn't respond, he said, "Well, it would be really funny if it's name was Prongs. Hillarious, even."
"Why would it be funny?" She asked stiffly, her voice cracking.
He looked at her strangely. "Is it named that?"
"Why would it be funny?" She repeated. After he didn't respond, she shook her head and wrapped a robe around herself. Grabbing her wand she pointed it at James, who was now standing in front of the door. "Move. Please." He shook his head. "Now. Ja- Potter. Please move." He hesitated for a second before looking her in the eye, and then stepped to the side to let her out. James followed her down the hallway, but when he moved his foot onto the top step the entire staircase turned into a slide. Lily shrieked as James fell into her, and they landed in a tangled heap of arms and legs at the foot of the stairs.
"Well isn't this interesting," They heard Sirius say. "I sent you up to find her, and you managed to bring Lily down here with only minor injury to yourself. Bravo Pr- James, bravo." He applauded, but James could only see a fuzzy outline of him. James put his hand to his face, grimaced as he realized his glasses were, in fact, knocked off, and reached around for them, accidentally placing his hand on Lily's face.
"Mmph!" She yelled, and he quickly removed his hand.
"Sorry, sorry," He said loudly as he plunked his glasses back on his head. After standing, he offered Lily a hand up, which she ignored. As she got up, Sirius bounded over to her and asked,
"So are you coming to the snowball fight, Flower?" Lily gasped, but quickly composed herself. They had just started calling her 'Flower' before the holidays, and its memory was one of the reasons why she had gone back to her home. And with Lily hiding in her dormitory most of the week, the Marauders hadn't gotten the chance to call her it. But this sudden influx of memories was overpowering her composure. She lifted her head, and looked Sirius in the eye before replying coldly,
"No Black. I do not think I will." She could have sworn he looked crestfallen, but she moved on to James. "And Potter, if you even attempt to ask me out, I will hex you to infinity and beyond. You would think that after getting rejected six hundred and seventy three times you would cease and desist." Lily turned to leave, but James held onto her arm.
"Where are you going, Flower?"
"And stop calling me that ridiculous name. I hate- hate-" She broke off, and then stomped over to the portrait hole, dragging James with her. "Let go of my arm!"
"Not until you tell me where you're going, Fl- Lily." She shook him off of her before saying,
"The Head's Rooms. You know, the place we're supposed to share. The place that i haven't bothered going to much since the beginning of school. But I don't want to see any of you in there today. At all." Opening the portrait, she stepped outside with as much dignity as one can muster, jumping over a foot high bit of wall. James quickly walked towards her, and stuck his head out of the portrait hole.
"Hey Lily!" She stopped, but didn't turn towards him. Spying a few pieces of paper on the floor, he transfigured two of them into a pair of slippers. He sent them towards Lily, and she finally turned towards him. After looking him in the eyes for a few seconds, she nodded and murmured,
"Thank you James." He grinned, and she pulled on the slippers before continuing towards their Common Room. In a semi-daze, he turned and walked back into the Gryffindor Common Room, where Sirius was standing there dejectedly.
"What did you do to her, Prongs? You made her cry! I thought that we were never supposed to make her cry-"
"I didn't make her cry, Padfoot. She just started on her own, and then left. But-"
"But what, Jamesie-poo?"
"Don't call me that. But did you realize? She remembered how many times I asked her out! That shows something!"
Sirius clapped him on the shoulder. "Prongs, mate, she rejected you every time."
"But still! And she called me James! It's an improvement!" Sirius shook his head sadly and then sighed.
"James… you're crazy. And I guess we're going to need to find someone else to charm the snowballs to go after Snivellus and Minnie."
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And there you go. The first chapter. It was only going to be one chapter, but this was getting to be too long. There'll be two chapters xD Go and review!
On careful inspection i've decided there'll probably be more than two chapters xD Heh. But i can't update until like, tomorrow..