The Flower Grows chp1
Sequal to The Flower's story
"Tolerance is another word for indifference."
-Maugham, W. Somerset
Lines. Long, long, long, lines winding all the way down the corridor and out the door. How could such a simple chore be taking two hours to accomplish? All she needed to do was renew their fires to the floo powder network, and then sign up for apparition classes, why was this taking so long?
Lily Evans was a soon to be 18 year old witch, freshly graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She had flaming red wavy hair that grew down to just below her shoulders. Her skin was a creamy light color that was splashed with freckled across her body. She was short for her age, only 5' 3". But her figure fit her age; she was slender with all the right curves. But the feature that usually drew the people in was the large almond shaped emerald green eyes. They held all her secrets and emotions, and right at that moment if you were to look into them. The main emotion you would see was frustration.
"Next!" the women at the desk called out. Lily breathed a sigh of relief
"Finally" she muttered to herself, sitting down in front of the woman.
"Last name please."
James had told her to just say Potter, it wouldn't be half as confusing for all the old legal papers claimed his house to be the 'Potter' residence.
"Potter" the woman gave Lily the once over and turned back to the form she was filling out.
"Potter?" she repeated. Lily nodded. "I never knew the Potters had a young girl."
"They don't." Lily didn't feel the need to go into all the details. She wasn't here to fill this woman's need for gossip; she had plenty of things to accomplish that day.
"Oh, I see. Preferred name of 'Floo call'?"
"The lion's residence."
At this the woman looked up at Lily again with narrowed eyes. She put down her quill and took off her glasses, staring Lily down.
"Is there a problem?" Lily asked
"How long have you been in residence of the Potter house?"
"I didn't think that was relevant of renewing our floo-network." Lily stared hard back at the woman. Where was she taking this?
"Ms. Excuse my candor but I was an old friend of the potter's, and the only living member of that esteemed family is their young son-"
"James Potter." Lily interrupted. What was this woman accusing her of? Stealing the Potter account of Floo Powder? How could that possibly make sense?
"I'm sorry Ms…"
"Adams." The woman replied curtly
"Ms. Adams, I'm in a huge rush for I have plenty of things to do today. I have just waited on this ridiculously large line to re-register my boyfriend's, James Potter's, floo-network and I am in no mood to be accused of steeling the account of the house in which I live. So If You Please Ms. Adams." She took a deep breath as she felt her temper rising "If you please, continue with the form so I can get out of here."
The woman was slightly taken back by this small girls conviction and ferocity, but she complied by quickly slipping her glasses back on and picking up the quill again.
"So, you wish for the lion's residence as your floo-call, correct?"
Lily nodded smugly as she watched the woman fumble with her quill.
"And how many Wizards and witch's are in residence of the Potter house?" seeing the exasperated look on Lily's face she quickly started up again "It's what it says on the application Ms., I promise."
Lily rolled her eyes and nodded in compliance "Two wizards, and one Witch"
"Names, please?"
"James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Lily Evans. Are we finished yet?"
The woman nodded and flashed a fake smile. "Yes your floo-network should be up and running in about a day or so. Thank you."
Lily stood up, gave the woman a nod, and walked swiftly past the ever-growing line down the corridor. It seemed that ever since Hogwarts she's had to take shit like this from people whenever she mentioned she lived in the ever-esteemed Potter residence.
Lily pulled her hair out of her face and turned a right into the next corridor. She had been in the ministry numerous times over the past three months, applying for jobs, filling out forms. It was just everything that came with getting top NEWT marks and being Head Girl of Hogwarts. She thanked Gryffindor that there was no line to sign up for apparition classes and tests. She paid the fee and took three applications. One for herself, for Remus, and one for James.
Remus Lupin had been Lily's friends ever since they were small children. Remus had saved Lily from receiving a bite from a werewolf, yet in turn received it himself. Now once a month, every full moon he turned into a wild beast. Remus was a fairly tall, slightly muscular young man. He had early grayed, sandy blonde hair a slightly tanned complexion and mysterious grey eyes.
James Potter and Lily had known each other since they're odd meeting on the Hogwart's Express of first year. He was a mischievous spirit that could light a room with even the hint of a smile. He was a tall 6-foot man with playful messy black hair. The playing of his favorite sport, Quiditch, had fine-tuned his body into tight muscles. And those beautiful chocolate brown eyes just drew you in. They were the first things Lily had noticed on James. Not his cocky attitude or his confidence filled demeanor, but those large brown eyes. Lily had been dating James for a few years now. They were even living with each other, along with Remus. But those circumstances were not planned.
Remus' parents were currently in a state of catatonically. The Dark Lord Voldemort, an evil Wizard who currently wished for the extinction of all muggles and muggle-born wizards, had attacked their house. Remus had fortunately been in werewolf transformation, and escaped the attack. After that he had always lived with Lily and her Parents. Yet another unfortunate event took place a few years later. Lily's family had been destroyed by voldemort; he had been looking for her. But she and her older sister Petunia escaped and took refuge at a neighbor's house. James offered his house to Remus and Lily all too happily. And that was how they ended up in that situation.
Being that all the Floo-networks was down, and she didn't yet know how to apparate she had to wait for a bus to get home. James was at work, finally getting a good steady job at the ministry. Remus was currently ill and in bed at home, last night was a full moon. The bus was cramped and uncomfortable, she hadn't ridden one of these for years. She looked over the people sitting on the bus. There was a middle-aged man reading the London
Times. A group of teenagers laughing and snickering at passing faces on the street. Then Lily's eyes glanced towards an old man and woman holding hands and talking with each other.
She sighed and smiled as they glanced her way. They gave a short nod, which she returned, and then turned back to their conversation. That was what Lily wanted with James. To grow old and have a family with someone she cared for. She often caught herself having these odd sentiments, ever since James had unofficially proposed to her. She didn't truly know if he had been completely serious at the time. Being that they had just made up after a huge fight, and he hadn't given her a ring. There was definitely no one else in the world she would rather spend her life with, and he had made his feelings for her quite apparent on many occasions. Eventually they would get married, and have the most wonderful life together, hopefully.
*~*~*~*
"Remus! Remus I'm home!" Lily called as she shrugged her sweater jacket off and threw her purse on the kitchen table.
"Hey love, how was it?" Lily turned around to see James leaning on the couch, with his arms crossed, bearing that mischievous grin that sent shivers down Lily's spine.
"What are you doing home so early?" She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his muscular body, burying her head in his chest and breathing in the sweet cologne he always wore.
James placed his hands in her hair and smoothed it out, bending over to giver her a few kisses on the head. He knew he should have just gone to re-register the floo-network himself, but he didn't feel like dealing with the hassle. So he was selfish, made up an excuse of why he couldn't go and sent Lily to do it for him.
"Well, they had plenty of workers on this case so they sent the amateur home early so he wouldn't get in the way." She looked up at him and grinned happy that she wouldn't have to eat alone tonight again, as Remus wasn't very good company as a werewolf.
"James I thought you wanted to be an auror not an errand boy." James rolled his eyes at her and pulled away running his hand through his hair. He sighed as he collapsed onto the sofa.
"Lils, to become an auror I would have to go to a camp for almost a year with almost no holidays. Is that what you want?"
"James what I want doesn't matter when it comes to your future. You have always said to me how much you want to be like your father and become an auror; this is your chance James. You can't waist it on useless paperwork! Sirius and Tasha have already signed up for the upcoming training season, if you don't sign up now…" Lily bent down in front of him and took his hands "You never will."
He looked at her silently, contemplating the words she always seemed to pound in his head. "Lil, if it doesn't bother you-"
"Of course it doesn't! Besides I've been offered a very high position in the charms department of the ministry."
"That's great Lil-"
"I'm not going to take it." He frowned at her
"Why not? You've always loved charms, and you'd be really happy there."
"I've decided I don't want to work in the ministry. I want to work in St. Mungo's, to be a healer and help people. I'd working in a special office that aided wounded aurors or their missions." She replied quietly
"Their missions?"
"You know. People they've rescued from the death eaters. So I want you to go right this moment and sign up for the auror camp, as I reply to a woman who wished to interview me for the healing job. And then I'll make dinner and we can have a nice quiet evening together."
James grinned at her. She had always been so understanding when it came to his wants and needs, even though sometimes she could disagree quite often. She usually understood.
"James?" She had crept up onto the sofa next to him and was running her hands through his soft hair. "What's the matter?" he took her hand and kissed it gently, taking in the feel of her smooth hands on his skin.
"Nothing's the matter, well. There is one thing…"
"What is it?" worry clouded her eyes. He didn't seem like anything was wrong when she came home.
"Well, it's only that…my lips haven't touched yours since this morning…" He took in the smile that was now forming on her face, and leaned forward with slow movement. He stopped moving once he could feel her warm breath on his lips. He was waiting, testing her, and seeing if she could withstand him or if she would break and cover the distance between them.
She broke.
Lily grabbed his face in her hands and pulled him on top of her, tasting him, touching him. She could never get enough of James and if she ever reached the point where she did get enough, she would take more anyway. James traced his tongue along her bottom lip, begging for entrance to her sweat mouth. She complied without hesitation, nibbling on his lip delving her tongue into his mouth. Her hands were now somewhere under his shirt and her legs were securely wrapped around his waist, making sure he couldn't escape from her. He made sure he was pressed against her hard enough so she could feel what she was doing to him.
"You know." James breathed hard into her neck "Maybe I could sign up for the auror thing tomorrow morning. It wouldn't hurt to wait one more day would it?" He looked in her eyes and saw that her decision was absolute on the matter.
"James." She slid out from underneath him and walked away from the sofa grabbing his cloak and throwing it to him "The sooner you get this over with, the sooner we can continue…" He chuckled at her playfulness.
"All right All right but-" His eyes caught sight of something behind him.
"What? What is it?" Lily turned around and saw that he was just staring at the calendar.
"Lily, it's your birthday today!" he looked at her confused. She turned around and eyed the calendar.
"So it is. I could've sworn that it was tomorrow not today…just goes to show how bloody busy we've been, right?" she went to grin at him but saw that he had a strange look in his eye. "What are you thinking?"
"Well, your eighteen, correct?" she nodded. "OK I'm going to go the office and sign up for training, you are going to wake up Remus and get Molly and Arthur over here. I'll take care of Sirius and Tasha." He went to retrieve his broom.
"James I told you I don't want a large party."
"But Lily, your eighteen…"
"So? Why is that so special?" but he didn't answer. He just gave her a kiss and a wink and was out the door flying away on his broom.
She sighed as his silhouette faded into the setting sun. She was happy that James was going to do what he wanted. Truth is told: she didn't want him going at all. She didn't want him becoming an auror. She hadn't wanted any of her friends to become aurors, but once their minds are set there's no turning back. For any of them.
"Remus." Lily whispered as she slowly opened his door. He was awake, sitting on his bed and reading the daily prophet with a frown. He looked up and smiled at her.
"Hello birthday girl!" he patted the bed for her to sit next to him. She complied gratefully, lying down next to him with a smirk.
"James wants everyone to come downstairs and meet him in the sitting room. I told him I didn't want a party but he kept insisting. You know I forgot it was my birthday today…"
Remus rolled his eyes as a bright red owl swooped in through the window and dropped a letter in front of her.
"Hey J.J., what's this?" Lily took the letter from James Jr. and opened it carefully. There was something very heavy and squishy inside and she didn't exactly feel like getting cursed today.
"Lil, what the bloody hell does J.J. stand for?"
"That's for me to know and you not to, darling. Hey it's from Arthur and Molly." A light shone form within the envelope as a soft mist escaped. Words seemed to form in a wisp of purple air in front of them:
Dear, Lillian Evans, James Potter, and Remus Lupin,
You are cordially invited to
The wedding of:
Molly Turnipe and Arthur Weasley
On the 15th of September
At 5:00pm
R.S.V.P. A.S.A.P.
Location T.B.A.
We hope you shall be able to enjoy us on this special day!
The wisp of smoke disappeared in a flash of light back into the envelope. Remus read the smoke as Lily had been reading a letter she found in the purple envelope.
"Great Wizards Remus!" she shrieked jumping up and down on the bed.
"What? What's wrong? Lily stop jumping your going to break my bloody bed. What does the letter say?" she stopped jumping and shoved the letter into Remus' face.
"She's pregnant! That's why the wedding is next month. Oh lord, this is fantastic!" Remus snickered
"No way is she coming with us tonight, that's for sure."
"Why? I don't understand what's so special about turning eighteen…James laughed at me when I asked him about it. It's pissing me off." Remus snickered again
"Lil, what's legal when you turn eighteen…" she shrugged throwing the letter onto his bedside table and heading towards the door.
"I don't know Remus." Lily exclaimed exasperated. Remus caught up with her as she started to head down the stairs and wait for James to return home.
"Lily, you can't honestly tell me that you have no desire to-"
"Why is this relevant to my turning eighteen hmm?"
"Because my wittle wiwwykins!" Lily shrieked as a muscular tall man picked her up off the stairs and twirled her around.
"Sirius put me down!" he set her on the couch gently and handed her a nicely wrapped bag.
Sirius was James and Remus' best friend. Together the three formed the infamous Hogwarts marauders. Causing trouble at every free interval throughout the seven years they had spent within the Hogwarts walls. Sirius was definitely the most mischievous out of all three men. He was a strapping 6' 3" with shoulder length black hair and deep blue eyes.
Lily was now eyeing the package doubtfully.
"Lily just open it, it's not poison."
"Not completely…" Sirius snickered
"Shut up Sirius." Tasha Harris smacked her boyfriends arm, and went to sit next to Lily. Tasha had been Lily's best girlfriend since first year in Hogwarts, along with Molly. She was the perfect match for sirius, equally loud and rambunctious as he. She also had midnight black curly hair the fell to the middle of her back. Her skin was a warm mocha color. And her eyes had the same evil grin in them as Sirius'. Except they were brown.
Lily grinned at Tasha and stuck her hand into the parcel. She felt some sort of heavy glass bottle within the shimmery bag. Giving Sirius one last wary glance she pulled the bottle out and closed her eyes waiting for the explosion.
"Oh stop being such a prat! It's just champagne." Remus took the bottle from lily's hand and walked into the kitchen
"Half a moment!" Lily stood up facing Tasha and Sirius who were now grinning like mad at Lily "Everybody's big plan for my eighteenth birthday was to get me drunk? Is that it?"
They nodded meekly.
"You've all gone bonkers." Tasha groaned at Lily's resistance
"Oh come on Lil, it's just a few drinks…please? For me?" she gave her her best pouty face.
"Fine just one. But I shall never drink any of Sirius's concoctions. James has woken up with many a head ache after a night with you sir and I will not have it!"
Sirius bowed in compliance.
"Whatever the lady wishes."
Lily was about to go and fetch a glass from Remus when she felt two strong-arms wrap around her mid-drift. She smiled and leaned back into James' warm body.
"Hello, love."
"Hello." He kissed her neck tenderly, discreetly nibbling on a small stretch of skin.
"So, going to get me drunk were you."
"Yes I was. Easier to get you in the sack that way." She pulled away in mock shock.
"James! Why you dirty git, you!"
"Oh come on James, you know Lily doesn't have to guts to down a glass of the dreaded 'alcohol'. "
"What?"
"That's right, you don't have the clout for it." Sirius grinned, knowing where Tasha was going with this little game.
"You want to place a bet on that, mate?" Lily asked, her game face on
"What's your play, mate?"
"I bet that I can down anything you put in front of me. You win; I'm your slave for the day. I win…Sirius is my slave for a day."
"Hey!" Sirius protested
"And, he has to wear a lovely pink too-too, with fishnet stockings, a wig, and heels."
James and Remus snorted into their glasses.
"Deal!" Tasha and Lily proudly shook on it.
Lily was about to take a swig of the martini glass that Tasha had been holding out to her, when the doorbell rang. Sirius threw his hands in the air and looked to the ceiling.
"Thank you! Thank you…"
"Oh don't get your hopes up yet Sirius, we shall continue this once you return!"
Sirius stuck his tongue out at his girlfriend as he retreated to the large front doors. He pretty much figured that it was the paper boy or some form of muggle worker, for if a wizard or witch wanted to contact or talk to them, they used floo powder or apparated. But of course, being that Sirius' mind was on the hope that he wouldn't be wearing a too-too and a wig all day tomorrow, he forgot that the floo-networks weren't in service. So when he opened the door to find a gruff, gray-haired man staring at Sirius with a wand pointed straight at him, he was caught off guard.
"You James Potter?" the man practically grunted out. His voice was so course that Sirius had a hard time understanding him.
"Pardon me?" Sirius squeaked out
"Are-you-James-Potter? It's not a very hard question boy."
"Well I have question for you!" Sirius answered aggressively "Who are-"
"I am Moody, Mr. Potters head officer at the training camp for new upcoming aurors, and if you don't tell me where he is in a few seconds I promise you boy." He extended his wand towards Sirius' sensitive area "you'll wish you had."
Sirius quickly stepped to the side of the door and pointed towards the sitting room. Moody gave him one last glare and walked in the direction of the glowing fire and laughter. This was the worst part of being an auror. You saw the people you trained; you saw them either retreat from this lifestyle to have a real job and a family. Or, become their trainers. Loners with special powers who only have the strange comfort of the job for support. Moody saw the strange boy who answered the door walk past him and nod towards the tall boy with glasses. He had his arm around a skinny redhead. Dumbledore had told Moody of these two…and their special circumstances.
"That's James. Now if you're here to recruit him for the Auror training season. Your too late since he's already signed up."
"I know." He said gruffly sizing up the young man. "I'm here to take him and two others to training camp."
"Who are the others?" Sirius already knew the answer but he could help asking
"Sirius Black, and Tasha Harris. They both enlisted along with Potter."
"Well I'm Black sir." Sirius stuck out his hand for Moody to shake. He took it willingly. "And the girl with the black hair is Harris." Moody nodded
"Well I suggest you go tell them to pack their things and come join me in the entrance hall." Moody started off towards a bench in the hallway to sit down, but Sirius grabbed his arm.
"Sir, I know you could probably care less, but can we, or at least James wait until tomorrow to leave. You see it's his girlfriends birthday tonight and-"
"Black, it's not my fault or my responsibility that there is a war going on. So I suggest you hurry on over there and bid goodbye to your little friends."
"But sir-"
"Now!" sirius knew the conversation was over as Moody strided off to wait by the door for them. He knew they didn't have long for good-byes, so he hurried off to the sitting room to ruin what would have been a good night.
"Hey love, who was at the door?" Tasha asked smiling from a joke James had just told them. She looked so beautiful; Sirius took in the sight of her radiance. But only for a moment.
"Love, that was Moody. Our…trainer for the auror camp." Tasha's smile vanished as her eyes darted to Lily and James, back to Sirius
"They said they'd be coming to get us but not this soon Sirius. Not on her birthday. We probably won't see her again for a long time" Tasha tried to beg Sirius, as if it was his decision to make.
"We have no choice love. Go pack some things as I tell James all right?" Tasha nodded grimly, a tear running down her cheek. She turned to go but had impulse she needed to fill. She gave Sirius a kiss and ran to Lily to give her a big hug. Lily smiled at Tasha's back in wonder at the odd traits of her friend. But once she saw the melancholy look on Sirius' face, she knew that it wasn't an oddity that founded Tasha's actions tonight.
"Who was at the door Sirius?" James asked not catching the change in mood
"James can I talk to you-"
"Whatever you need to say to him you can say in front of all of us, Sirius" Lily said monotonously
Sirus sighed and ran his hand through his hair sadly. "James, Moody's here from the auror camp to take you, me, and Tasha to training…now"
"What?" Remus asked, shocked.
"But they said they'd be coming to get us within the week, not the day."
James and Sirius continued to argue about the subject. Not noticing Lily slip out of the warm room and into the hallway to take a good look at the man who was taking her boyfriend away from her. He was older than them, and seemed lonely. But he looked as if he's had enough experience to know what he was doing. Lily walked over and sat next to him. They sat in silence for awhile until Lily turned to him and took his hand. Moody looked at the peculiar girl with interest.
"May ask what you doing, Miss?"
"I'm examining your hands." Lily replied slowly turning them over
"May I ask why?" this was quite a strange encounter. Usually the family of the trainees threw tantrums or broke down crying. But this girl held a steady wall up against her emotions.
"Because if I'm to place my family in them, I'm making sure they are quite strong enough." Her eyes met his, and a calm understanding swept between them.
Moody nodded in admiration as Lily got up and walked back to the room where James and Sirius were saying goodbye to Remus. They each embraced eachother in a brotherly fashion then acted manly as if it hadn't happened. Lily wondered at the emotional span of men towards men.
"Hey padfoot." Lily called to sirius "You better take good care of my boyfriend. And if ANY girl comes on to him, I expect their hair to be changing colors within the hour, understood?" Sirius grinned at Lily's courage. He hugged her tightly and whispered good bye. She winked at him as Tasha tackled lily.
"Lil I wish you were coming with us!" Tasha sniffed through the massive hug she was giving Lily.
"I can't, who would take care of Remus?"
"Hey! I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you." Remus pulled Tasha away from Lily and hugged her tightly
Lily felt someone dragging her out through the hall and into the study. The look on James' face was one to remember. It was a mixture of frustration, and confusion, but most of all sadness.
"I'm sorry Lil." He whispered as they melted into a kiss. She never tired of his kisses. No matter how different or how alike they were, every time her lips just grazed his, a new wonderful sensation fluttered through her whirling body.
"Just tell me you love me." She shuddered as he pulled her face up to his for another kiss.
"I love you."
"James!" sirius called from the hallway "We have to go."
"Half a moment." James turned to Lily to kiss her again but she pulled away from him, giving him a strangled smile.
"Go." She muttered, turning away from him
"Lil-"
"Go damnit just go all ready…" James sighed and walked to her one last time for who knew how long. He turned her around and planted one final thrill on her lips then walked away and out the door.
Lily heard Remus' steady footsteps come towards her after a few moments of silence. He walked around and held her. For with one look from him, lily broke down…and cried.
AN: tada!!!!! Hurah hurah hurah. The sequal has begun, I can't believe I actually started a sequal when I have like two other stories going at the same time that are in serious needs of updating. Ok so I hope your satisfied with the chapter beginnings. Please review. Thanks so much!
Disclaimer: I own none of the JKR created places, people, or things.