A/N : All recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of JK Rowling, Bloomsbury. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. I'm no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. Alsooo, this is my first ever story, so please tell me what you think. Hope you like it.
Lily Evans awoke to sunlight streaming in through the window of her bedroom, gently caressing her face good morning. She lay in comfortable silence with just her thoughts for company, on the border between waking and dreaming. She could hear a gentle tapping at the window but snuggled deeper into the duvet, relishing these last flashes of summer.
"Lily! Do something about that tapping!"
She emerged from her sleepy thoughts like a diver surfacing in the water. The source of the noise was quickly identified. A handsome tawny owl was floating beside her window. It was about to resume drumming the sill, but she leant over and unfastened the window, letting the bird glide in and deposit its letter. It shook out its feather and quickly dipped its beak into the water beside her bed before taking off once more.
She was suddenly wide awake. The letter bore a familiar crest, with lion, badger, bird and snake entwined. She tried to rip open the letter but it was no use, the parchment was much too thick. Besides, her fumbling hands and stubby nails did nothing to help. Cursing under her breath she fumbled around in the side table drawer before emerging triumphant. She clutched a nail file and stabbed the letter.
"Hah! Gotcha!"
She was finally able to slice open the envelope. Her breathing was shallow and hurried, all she wanted was to be made prefect once again. Prefect was something her parents, being muggles, understood. It meant something to them. As a heavy silver badge slid out onto the covers she let out a sigh of relief. It caught in her throat. This was no prefect's badge. It was bigger, and a funny shape.
She scanned the letter that accompanied it.
Dear Miss Evans,
In light of your contributions to school society in the time you have been at Hogwarts, we would like to award you with Head Girl, with our congratulations. This is an award of highest accolade, and the responsibilities that accompany it are not to be taken lightly. Please meet with myself, and the other Heads of House, on the Hogwarts express, at 1pm sharp, to discuss duties and to meet the Head Boy.
Once again, my warmest congratulations
Yours sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Lily stared at the letter, her mouth slightly open. She, Lily Fiona Evans had been awarded Head Girl. Her thoughts were a jumble. To herself, Lily was nothing special. Average as far as a magical muggle can be. She had a sudden vision of herself finally getting James Potter into detention for a month, and being awarded an Order of Merlin.
"Preferably for something spectacular. . ."She thought "Like rescuing the Minister for Magic from a trio of ravaging dragons. And it will be all Potters fault. Maybe Chinese Fierballs. . . or are Hungarian Horntails more vicious? I should really pay more attention in Care of Magical Creatures. . ."
"Lily Flower! Breakfast!"
"Wha?" Lily was brought back to earth. Then she remembered. She was Head Girl! She raced down stairs to share the good news with her parents.
As she ricocheted into the kitchen both her parents looked up from their Sunday newspapers. She was never usually this bouncy in the morning. She grabbed a piece of toast and plopped into the nearest wooden chair.
"Lily dearest, what's going on? You're all pink, is it a boy?" Her mother posed the question in a way only mothers can. She was simultaneously maternal, caring, and disapproving, and inquisitive. Lily cringed inwardly, for ever since she had invited Amos Diggory home for a week last summer, her mother had her ears on what Lily liked to call 'Male Radar'. Every time Lily received a letter, or a phone call, her mother was there, trying to cultivate any sort of relationship with any boy.
"No, mother, it isn't. I was made Head Girl!"
Her father rose from his stool and enveloped her in a warm hug. He smelt minty and musky, from the study he rarely left. Petunia entered the kitchen, dressed in a pale yellow, cotton dress. Her hair was already immaculate, despite the early time. She could have been pretty; however a sneer was already in place, ruining what little beauty there was.
"What? Head Girl of that school?" The sneer deepened her face contorting as it did. "Where you learn magic?" She said, surrounding the final word with air quotes. "Don't talk to me about that place. Everyone thinks you're strange Lily, they always have. All the girls think you've gone to a physco hospital. To be locked up. They say they expected it, a person like you. You're an outcast. A freak" She spat the words out, her face distorting and twisting, like an angry snake. "And I agree." She tucked her hair behind her ears and adjusted her alice band. With one final glare she left the room, leaving behind a consuming silence, which no one knew how to break.
Lily's previously good mood evaporated. Looking down she realised that she had tightened her hands unconsciously, leaving behind a puddle of crumbs in her outstretched palms, her toast reduced to nothing, like her pride. She rose as her mother did, but instead of turning into her out-stretched arms, she walked stiffly out of the room and up the stairs to be alone. As she plodded up the stairs, a lone tear escaped from her emerald eyes, and plopped on the carpet, leaving a small dark patch, a visual reminder of the pain she felt.