Hi guys! So this is my first ever fanfic, and I'm kinda nervous x) I don't know what it's like, so please, flamethrowers- keep it too yourselves (:
Disclaimer: No, I'm not excessively rich or famous, and don't own the four-eyed midget (: Therefore, I am not Jo Rowling, and Harry Potter doesn't belong to me. At all. Period. Though he would be a good Christmas present…..
"Lily! Lily, what are you doing? Stop day-dreaming and serve those customers!" yelled Mrs Patmore.
"Yes, Mrs Patmore! Sorry!" I replied, hurriedly straightening my apron and rushing to the counter.
I had been working at Daisy's café for exactly two and a half weeks now, and as such had gotten used to Mrs Patmore yelling at me all day. That woman sure was crazy- or, she was when there were customers involved. Otherwise she was a very kind, sensitive and intelligent woman who luckily happened to be sympathetic. She must be, or I wouldn't have this job. Don't get me wrong, I'm a hard worker and everything (hello, prefect right here), it's just that this summer has been a bit hard for me. I suppose it has something to do with being kicked out of my own home by my supposed loving sister, and having to live at the Leaky Cauldron. Mum and Dad would never have allowed this to happen, but they're both gone now- no, Lily, don't think about that, you'll just get upset, I told myself. Don't go down that track.
I don't even have any friends to stay with- how pathetic is that? Sure, I have friends, and I'm relatively popular- but I haven't got any close friends like I used to. My best friend Lizzy decided to move back to New Zealand, and my other best friend Mary and I aren't even on speaking terms. I'd lost Severus back in fifth year- another painful topic which I won't get into. I suppose that-
"LILY EVANS, HURRY UP!" Mrs Patmore yelled again, interrupting my flow of thought. She stuck her head round the curtain to the store room where I was hiding. "Honestly, you're away with the fairies today! I'd send you home, if we weren't so busy. Now come on, I need your help."
"Sorry Mrs Patmore, I'm just a bit tired today." I replied guiltily.
"Yes, you look a bit peaky," she said, frowning. "Very pale. Then again, you're pale normally- and that vivid red hair doesn't help. Come on love, just help me through this rush and you can clock off early."
She disappeared around the curtain again, and with a sigh I followed her to the front of the shop. She was right, the café was packed, and there was a huge line that almost lead out the door- so much for clocking off early. We'll be stuck here till Christmas, I thought, and with another sigh started taking orders.
Two hours later, the rush had died down and we were able to have a breather.
"I'm sorry about that dear," said Mrs Patmore, sitting with her feet on a pouffe and sipping a coffee. "Didn't realise we'd get that busy."
"That's all right," I said. "It's to be expected at rush hour in Diagon Alley."
"Hmmm," was all Mrs Patmore replied. After a couple of minutes of silence, in which Mrs Patmore had been scrutinising me closely, she started the conversation again. "How are you Lily?" she asked, in a surprisingly soft tone. "You haven't been sleeping well lately, I can tell. I know things are hard for you at the moment, and well- I just wanted you to know, if you ever need someone to talk to, you know where to find me."
I was shocked at the lump that had suddenly formed in my throat, constricting my voice. Mortified, I realised my eyes had begun to water up, and hastily wiped them. The force of my emotions was tremendous- how could a few words elect this kind of reaction? I was supposed to be tough and hard-to-get-to Lily Evans, not cry-baby Lily Evans. Well, if I was honest with myself, I was often the latter these days.
"Thank you, Mrs Patmore," I managed to choke out. It seemed Mrs Patmore understood, for she stood up and clumsily patted my back. I gave her a watery smile.
"Now, Lily, GO HOME," she said gruffly, suddenly returning to her former self.
"Thanks again," I replied. I hastily went out back to get my stuff and hang up my apron. After a quick look in the mirror, in which I noticed I did look rather pale, I hurried out the back door.
I loved walking through Diagon Alley at this time. The sun was just beginning to sink low, and it gave the narrow cobbled streets a nice orange glow- it was picturesque. There were still a few people out- it was summer, after all- and I breathed in a sigh of happiness. This is the only time of day where I feel that anything could happen. It fills me with a kind of hope that I hardly ever get these days.
"Hiya, Lily!" I spun about at hearing my name, and smiled when I saw who was calling. Jeff, who ran one of the restaurants, and who also happened to be drop dead gorgeous, was beckoning me over. "Come and have dinner Lils!"
"Sorry Jeff can't tonight," I said, walking over.
"Aw why not honey? You're here, aren't you?"
"True," I said, laughing. "But I'm really tired tonight, sorry. We had a long day at work today, and I was already functioning on little sleep."
"Oh, you poor thing," he said, pouting. "I hope you're not feeling too bad? And yes, I saw the line from your little shop- just about reached out of Diagon Alley itself!"
"Well, that's the price you have to pay for serving good food around here- long lines and long hours," I said, smiling again. Already I'd smiled more around Jeff than I had at any other point today. He has the ability to make me laugh no matter how I'm feeling and he's quite easy on the eye too. Pity he's gay.
"Oh, I know the feeling darling," he said, winking. He then paused and studied me more closely. "You know dear," he said, "you are looking quite pale. Or maybe it's just the red hair."
"You know, you're the second person around here to tell me that today," I said tersely.
"Oh hun, I meant no offence- I'd die to have your beautiful locks! But anyway Lily," he said, suddenly serious. "You're here, you're hungry, and I have a free meal waiting for you at your favourite table over there."
"Oh, go on then," I said, grinning. I never was one to turn down a free meal, no matter how tired.
"Brilliant!" Cried Jeff, and suddenly he propelled me to my seat. "And I have another thing that might cheer you up," he said, looking mischievous.
"What is it?" I said uncertainly. Jeff was prone to the more crazy plans- rather like the Marauders at Hogwarts- but I'm getting ahead of myself.
"Right; his names Antonio, he's from Italy, he's rather easy on the eye-if you know what I mean" Jeff said wagging his eyebrows. "He also happens to be recently single and I know he's into redheads. He's very nice, quite a catch, I'd say."
"NO! No, no, no, no, no. You are not setting me up with anybody, no matter who they are or how nice they are or whatever. I am going to eat my dinner in peace, thank you kindly, then go home and sleep. That's it," I added forcefully, because Jeff looked like he was about to interrupt.
"Well, if that's what you want," said Jeff sulkily.
"Thank you, Jeff," I said, softer this time. "It's not that I don't appreciate it, I really do. I just don't have any room in my life for a boy at the moment, and I'm very tired."
"That's ok hun, I understand," he said, sympathetic now. "Maybe I should have a go with him?"
"Of course, he'll love you!" I said, laughing now. Jeff smiled at me.
"Bon appetit," he said, and with a dramatic bow, flounced off to go serve a customer. I laughed again, and promptly tucked into my delicious Spaghetti Bolognese. Jeff was one of the many friends I had picked up in Diagon Alley over the past few weeks, and I was going to miss him the most when I returned to Hogwarts. Of course we would write each other, but it wouldn't be the same. We would eventually drift apart, as I do with most my friends, and never speak to each other again. People say to me that I'm blessed with the ability to make friends easily- they don't realise how hard I find it to keep them.
I finished my Spaghetti Bolognese and left a large tip on the table. I looked for Jeff to say goodbye, when I saw him chatting happily to a handsome boy with dark hair- Antonio, I presume. Smiling, I walked home- or, the closest thing I had to it.
When I finally got to my room in the Leaky Cauldron, I collapsed onto my bed, knowing that tomorrow would be exactly the same as today.
So, what did ya think? Good? Bad? Terrible? Nothing? Reviews are candy canes at Christmas (:
-roflshvuakomail (rolling on the floor laughing so hard voldemort used avada kedavra on me and I lived) x