Well Deserved
Prologue
"Yes, I understand, Sir. It's only for a year, right?" The young man asked the disembodied head, floating in his fire place, "You know how much I love my work Albus, you know that, don't you?"
The headmaster sighed exasperatedly and rubbed his temples, "Of course I do, Mr. Potter. I'm reminded of that every time I see those horrid purple bags under your eyes, the ones that can only be caused from a simple task like grading papers, which turned into an all night work session.
"James, I have known you since before you were born, and I don't think I have ever met a more dedicated and hard-working individual than yourself. I was astonished that you were a Gryffindor and not a Hufflepuff. But, then again, you possess the finest qualities of every house, and that has made you one of the most amazing people I could ever hope to meet in my life time.
"My boy, you deserve this break, and everything shall be attended to. Severus will take over your Deputy Headmaster duties, and Johan Quirrell will be substituting your Defense Against the Dark Arts position. You're twenty-one James, and you are only young once, believe me I know. Now go, spend time with your friends, go on a vacation, do something. Go find some one, you deserve some one. And any girl will be more than lucky to have you.
"I must leave now, for I am afraid this speech has become much longer then intended and the position in which I am standing is not one of great comfort. Good-bye, James, see you next year. And don't forget, have fun." And with that, Hogwarts' Headmaster disappeared from James Potter fireplace, leaving the young man to think about what he was to do with the vacation that had unwillingly been forced upon him.
Chapter 1
Lily Evans sighed dejectedly as she continued to dust one of the many mismatched lamps in her father's bed and breakfast. Just yesterday they had received a reservation for their small B&B in Laurenn, a tiny city in south Scotland.
"A young man from England," Sean Evans explained to her, "He sounded about your age. After this costumer, love, I think we may be able to afford to get you out of this hell hole forever."
"Hell hole, Father?" Lily asked, "Is that what you think of this beautiful town?" Lily flipped her long red mane and sauntered towards the window, admiring the breath-taking rocky landscape, and the glimmering lake that were so visible from their cabin atop the mountain, "I enjoy my life here, I have you, William, the bed and breakfast, what more could I want?"
"Lily dearest, you know your younger brother and I love you, but you deserve so much more than this. Please, at least consider going to England, or even just to Glasgow, there is nothing left for you here-"
"Except everything, Father, except everything," Lily interjected.
Sean looked at his daughter, and then around the room, until he rested his gaze on the antique grandfather clock, which stood against the far wall. His eyes grew big like saucers; it was already a quarter after eleven, "Lily! Quickly finish up your dusting then head into town; I need you to pick up the noodles for dinner. But make sure you don't come back until after half past, they requested that the living room be empty when he arrived. Strange request, but, the costumer is always right, remember that, Sweetheart."
"Yes, Father." Lily tore her eyes away from the window, grabbed a shawl and headed into town. She ventured down the mountain side and into the minute marketplace of Laurenn. Plastering a sweet smile on her face, she waved to everyone, and quietly entered the grocer's.
"'Lo, Miss Evans, what brings you here today?" The man behind the counter asked.
"Good morning to you, John. My father sent me down to pick up some noodles for supper. Would you mind pointing out the isle for me? You know I have a memory like a sieve." Lily said and they laughed slightly.
"Oh, none of that Lily. Let me grab them for you and then you can be on your merry little way. I hear you have a big tenant coming in, staying for a month, isn't he?" Mr. Fergusson asked as he slipped from out from behind the counter and down to where the noodles were.
"I believe so, yes. Thank-you," she said as he handed her the package of spaghetti noodles, "Just put it on my father's bill, please. I seem to have left my purse at home in my haste."
"Quite alright, Miss, will do. Now go on, maybe this lad will be your ticket out of here!" Lily smiled weakly, and walked out the door, was this whole town trying to get her to leave?
When she returned, she read the wall clock in the front entrance. It was quarter to twelve. She hung up her shawl and walked towards the living room, she could here people talking and laughing jovially, she assumed he had arrived. "More tea, Mr. Potter," she heard her father ask. Potter. where had she heard that name before.
"Yes please, sir. And call me James." She stopped dead in her tracks. There, sitting on her chesterfield, talking with her father and William, was the familiar figure of former Head-boy, James Potter.
Prologue
"Yes, I understand, Sir. It's only for a year, right?" The young man asked the disembodied head, floating in his fire place, "You know how much I love my work Albus, you know that, don't you?"
The headmaster sighed exasperatedly and rubbed his temples, "Of course I do, Mr. Potter. I'm reminded of that every time I see those horrid purple bags under your eyes, the ones that can only be caused from a simple task like grading papers, which turned into an all night work session.
"James, I have known you since before you were born, and I don't think I have ever met a more dedicated and hard-working individual than yourself. I was astonished that you were a Gryffindor and not a Hufflepuff. But, then again, you possess the finest qualities of every house, and that has made you one of the most amazing people I could ever hope to meet in my life time.
"My boy, you deserve this break, and everything shall be attended to. Severus will take over your Deputy Headmaster duties, and Johan Quirrell will be substituting your Defense Against the Dark Arts position. You're twenty-one James, and you are only young once, believe me I know. Now go, spend time with your friends, go on a vacation, do something. Go find some one, you deserve some one. And any girl will be more than lucky to have you.
"I must leave now, for I am afraid this speech has become much longer then intended and the position in which I am standing is not one of great comfort. Good-bye, James, see you next year. And don't forget, have fun." And with that, Hogwarts' Headmaster disappeared from James Potter fireplace, leaving the young man to think about what he was to do with the vacation that had unwillingly been forced upon him.
Chapter 1
Lily Evans sighed dejectedly as she continued to dust one of the many mismatched lamps in her father's bed and breakfast. Just yesterday they had received a reservation for their small B&B in Laurenn, a tiny city in south Scotland.
"A young man from England," Sean Evans explained to her, "He sounded about your age. After this costumer, love, I think we may be able to afford to get you out of this hell hole forever."
"Hell hole, Father?" Lily asked, "Is that what you think of this beautiful town?" Lily flipped her long red mane and sauntered towards the window, admiring the breath-taking rocky landscape, and the glimmering lake that were so visible from their cabin atop the mountain, "I enjoy my life here, I have you, William, the bed and breakfast, what more could I want?"
"Lily dearest, you know your younger brother and I love you, but you deserve so much more than this. Please, at least consider going to England, or even just to Glasgow, there is nothing left for you here-"
"Except everything, Father, except everything," Lily interjected.
Sean looked at his daughter, and then around the room, until he rested his gaze on the antique grandfather clock, which stood against the far wall. His eyes grew big like saucers; it was already a quarter after eleven, "Lily! Quickly finish up your dusting then head into town; I need you to pick up the noodles for dinner. But make sure you don't come back until after half past, they requested that the living room be empty when he arrived. Strange request, but, the costumer is always right, remember that, Sweetheart."
"Yes, Father." Lily tore her eyes away from the window, grabbed a shawl and headed into town. She ventured down the mountain side and into the minute marketplace of Laurenn. Plastering a sweet smile on her face, she waved to everyone, and quietly entered the grocer's.
"'Lo, Miss Evans, what brings you here today?" The man behind the counter asked.
"Good morning to you, John. My father sent me down to pick up some noodles for supper. Would you mind pointing out the isle for me? You know I have a memory like a sieve." Lily said and they laughed slightly.
"Oh, none of that Lily. Let me grab them for you and then you can be on your merry little way. I hear you have a big tenant coming in, staying for a month, isn't he?" Mr. Fergusson asked as he slipped from out from behind the counter and down to where the noodles were.
"I believe so, yes. Thank-you," she said as he handed her the package of spaghetti noodles, "Just put it on my father's bill, please. I seem to have left my purse at home in my haste."
"Quite alright, Miss, will do. Now go on, maybe this lad will be your ticket out of here!" Lily smiled weakly, and walked out the door, was this whole town trying to get her to leave?
When she returned, she read the wall clock in the front entrance. It was quarter to twelve. She hung up her shawl and walked towards the living room, she could here people talking and laughing jovially, she assumed he had arrived. "More tea, Mr. Potter," she heard her father ask. Potter. where had she heard that name before.
"Yes please, sir. And call me James." She stopped dead in her tracks. There, sitting on her chesterfield, talking with her father and William, was the familiar figure of former Head-boy, James Potter.