Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own poor verses.
Author's Note:
This is a return to one of my older works-in-progress which has been sitting in my documents folder for far too long. I'm going to make a bold attempt to actually finish this soon to be multi-chapter fic, but I will warn you that updates may be few and far between. Another warning, I did start writing this four-ish years ago back when I was still in high school, so beware! HAHAHAHA
Thank you so much for reading and please let me know how you liked it./p
~Prologue~
The stiflingly hot afternoon was broken only by the breeze that swept up off the Black Lake and over the group of girls seated by its shore. The heat kept most of the party safely ensconced under a small group of trees, but two girls braved the sun and were standing knee deep in the cool waters of the lake.
In sharp contrast to the relative quiet of the day, a boisterous laugh came from the group as one of the girls in the lake slipped and fell only to reemerge drenched. Her wet hair lank around her laughing face as she covered her chest (whether out of modesty or cold was unclear), she shivered slightly as another breeze blew over the water from the far shore. Another wave of bright laughter followed her quip about slippery footing as the two in the lake moved to rejoin their party on shore.
Cold and covered with goosebumps, the unfortunately drenched girl called out, "Would one of you fools mind handing me my robe?"
A moment later something large and dark struck her square in the face. She quickly pulled a thin piece of wood from a hidden pocket, muttered something indistinct, and pointed it at herself. Her clothes suddenly began steaming as the water evaporated and left her dry. As she sat down next to the rest of her friends she twisted her still damp hair up, stuck her wand in it for safe keeping, and listened to the conversation.
"- was just horrible. I knew I'd do badly, but now I know for certain I won't have to take Defense for my N.E.W.T.S." The girl paused to look around emphatically at the group. "I mean, really, do they honestly think that I would be able to remember all that first year rubbish about what defines a hex compared to a jinx and the different classes of curses? I memorized the spells, isn't that enough?" She slumped back against a tree and glared at the dirt.
The girl with the wet hair sighed and narrowed her eyes at her friend, "Honestly, are we still on about how Mary failed her Defense O.W.L.? We still have the practical, I don't understand what you're so worked up over. Can't we enjoy one afternoon without studying or practicing or anything school related?"
Lily just because you passed all your exams doesn't mean we did!" cried Mary.
Lily immediately jumped up to knock her fist on a tree, "You can't say things like that, you'll jinx me!" but there was no malice in her voice and she winked as she returned to her seat.
The girl next to Mary looked up from her nails and smirked at Lily. "It's hopeless pretending otherwise, we all know you passed with flying colors. If I didn't know you so well I'd swear you flirted the examiners into all your O's."
Scoffing, Lily turned to the girl who had been wading in the lake with her... who avoided Lily's gaze with practiced ease.
"Don't look at me like that Evans. You know perfectly well that-" She stopped abruptly, her eyes focusing on something a little while down the bank, then continued in an undertone, "Lily you're attracting attention- No don't look!"
Lily stopped mid-turn and sat back down on her heels as Alice said, "It's your favorite admirer. He's been stealing glances over here all afternoon."
Lily's head snapped to the front and the corners of her mouth now had the slightest taste of a frown skirting around them. She heaved a great sigh and fell onto her back. "I wish-" she began, and when she could think of nothing helpful, settled for a strangled moan.
All the girls sent each-other sympathetic looks and said "I know," at the same time in varying degrees of irritation. Their mental eye-rolls were so loud Lily looked up, huffed in indignation, and lay back again. The conversation started up again and soon the group was involved in a passionate discussion about the Quidditch World Cup. Marlene was giving an impassioned defense of the Holyhead Harpies' chance at making it to the final when the sounds of an argument from down the bank reached their ears.
The girls turned to look and saw the commotion was coming from the same group of people Alice had pointed out. They exchanged a quick look, carefully avoiding the eyes of their damp-haired companion. From her spot on the grass, Lily closed her eyes and sighed "If that's those third years again, I'm not taking care of it. Alice, it's your turn." When none of the others replied, she opened one eye to peer at them. "Well? What is it then? You all seem positively riveted."
There was a little pause before the fifth girl bit her lip and turned to Lily. "It's not the third years..." she trailed off uncomfortably as if bracing for impact.
"Oh honestly!" Lily sat up and finally got a look at where the argument was coming from. There was a second where nothing happened and then she went rigid. In one vicious movement, she straightened and pulled her wand from her hair, her pale face now stark with small angry blotches blooming on her cheeks. She turned to her friends and said "Give me a moment" before whipping her head around and stalking off.
The girls all stared after Lily as she headed towards the sounds of an argument before Mary said lightly, "I don't envy them in the least; did you see her ears? Already bright red. That always the worst."
"Yeah, somehow I don't think she'll be back." sighed Alice as she turned resolutely away from the retreating form of her friend, "Make sure one of you lot grab her bag."