Chapter One: Daisies
Dad was never home these days. Recent arsons across England were keeping him at the Ministry until late at night. I was unimpressed; usually my summer break was when he took his vacation which allowed us to spend time together, something that the school year made almost impossible. He had put in a request with the Minister's office to ask for some time off, only to have the Minister deny it. As impressive as it was to be the son of the best auror in the country, it definitely had its major downsides.
I was so bored; there was very little to do around the Manor. I had tired of the swimming pool, the horses and the endless collection of board games I had in the billiard room. My friends had already returned home from their visit; Sirius was forced to attend some vile Black reunion up in Carlisle, Remus was visiting his grandparents in Brighton and Peter was helping his parents run their family business. I was the only one left with nothing to do.
I longed for fall. Fall meant school and a guaranteed social life; being at Hogwarts meant that I would be able to see a certain girl who I have adored since I was eleven years old - if only she felt the same way about me!
This whole predicament was utterly pathetic. I was hardly lonely; my mother was always home – you can say that it was among the many perks of being an artist. Lately, she had been working on a portrait for Remus' mother; it was a carefully sketched painting of his twin brother who passed away years ago. Normally, people would pay my mother for her services but since it is Mrs. Lupin, she was doing it for free. Merlin knows my family doesn't need any more money.
Only a fortnight before, I would have been chasing Sirius around the Hogwarts forest, my antlers catching on tree branches. Being an illegal animagus had its downsides; I was never allowed to go for a run while at home. The only people who know besides Remus, Sirius, Peter and I are Madame Pomfrey, Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore.
More on that later.
As I was saying, I was bored. The window seat in the billiard room proved to be a comfortable lookout point, the great window held an excellent view of the front walkway and of the stables to the right of the driveway we kept for appearances.
Suddenly, there was a sharp knock on the door which almost sent sideways off the bench. In my attempts to catch myself, I had banged my elbow off the window pane.
"Shit!" I hissed, my right hand cupping my left elbow. Getting up, I walked over to the double doors on the other side of the large room. When I opened the door my eyes met two large brown ones.
"Yes, Dottie?" I asked the house elf.
"Mrs. Potter requests that Mr. James come to the kitchen for his lunch, young sir." The little elf shifted gently from one foot to the other, her age showing through her cataract filled eyes. Dottie had served my family since before my father had been born; my grandparents had gifted her to my parents upon their marriage. She had acted more as a nurse than as a maid during my infancy. I trusted her immensely.
"Thank you, Dot," I responded, smiling down at her; her response was to wiggle her ears contentedly before apparating back to the elves quarters.
If only I could apparate to and fro with such ease! For me, the walk down to the kitchen was lengthy. It involved climbing down the winding front staircase and walking through three rooms.
When I finally made it to the kitchen, my mother was sitting in her chair at the kitchen island, a lunch of ham and potato salad laid out in front of her.
She turned her head towards me, a loving smile on her lips. I guess it's important to inform you that I did not inherit much of my mother's looks. She was barely 5"3, had long dirty blond hair and blue-grey eyes. I took more after my father: I am 6"3 – I am now at least, not quite then - , have messy black hair and hazel eyes. The only features my mother and I shared were our crooked smiles and an odd inability to wink an eye. On this particular day, her long hair was wrapped up in an elaborately plaited twist.
"Hello, sweetheart," she greeted as I walked around the island to my stool.
"Is Dad working late again tonight?"
Mum frowned, "I really wish the Minister would let Charlus see his family for once. You've been home two weeks now and your father has had hardly any time with you. It's disgraceful."
I hummed my agreement.
Mum continued, "Sure, he's their best auror but even he has to have some sleep once in awhile. Merlin, as if he hasn't done enough in the past ten years."
Keep in mind, reader, that my mother was not normally so bitter towards my father's career. Just lately, his constant absence was taking a toll on the both of us. Our large home was too quiet without his booming laughter filling the rooms.
Mum scrunched her eyebrows together in thought and when she spoke again, her former tone had changed.
"Do have any plans for Saturday?" she questioned, spearing some salad onto her fork.
"No…?'" I answered. I was unsure as to what direction this conversation was going in.
"Well, there's a barbeque at the O'Hare's I must attend. There's going to be live music and good food. Besides perhaps some of your schoolmates will be there!"
"So you want me to come with you," I commented, a smirk forming on my lips. Due to my past track record for misbehaving, my mother never brought me with her to her garden parties – at least not since I pushed Xenophilius into the fountain at Wilhelmina Lovegood's garden party when I was twelve.
Mum quirked an eyebrow at me, "I don't see why not. You have matured in the last three years. You're nowhere near as wild as you were."
I snorted before adding, "At least not while I'm at home."
"Thank, Merlin for that! Although I do feel sorry for Albus and Minerva; you and the boys can be absolutely terrible." Yeah, my mother was on a first name basis with both my headmaster and headmistress; however I do need to mention that my parents have been good friends with Dumbledore since before I can remember - as for McGonagall, it was through extensive correspondence over countless instances.
"If I go to this barbeque, do I have to pose for you this summer?"
"We'll see, James."
Saturday was a long time coming, my boredom was actually making me look forward to this humiliating event. My mother woke me early, fussing endlessly over my hopeless mop of hair.
"Just like your father, just like your father." That was her mantra she repeated over and over again, while scraping my scalp to shreds with a comb.
The trip to the O'Hare's estate was slightly nerve-wracking; I loathed side-along apparation more than portkeys because it always left me with an annoying stomach ache.
The large Elizabethan farm house sat on a slight hill, a large rose garden surrounding the side lawn and patio. A tent had been set up in the event of a typical English rain shower. Witches and wizards were chatting amongst each other, some carrying drinks and plates of food.
"Please behave yourself, James." Mum was standing beside me as we watched our fellow party guests mingle on the patio.
"I will, Mum." She looked me square in the eye for a few minutes.
"Now let's go find our hostesses."
As we wondered around searching for Mrs. O'Hare, my mother kept a firm hold on my arm. I was man enough not to be embarrassed by that; I felt slightly bad for the mothers who looked at their sons wistfully at the sight of my mother and I.
We gave up after a circle around the party, and took shelter underneath a large willow tree.
"Why isn't it James Potter," a voice said in greeting, causing any exposed skin to break out in goose bumps.
Tilting my head downward, my hazel eyes were met with brilliant emerald orbs. Mum watched the exchange, a curious smile on her lips.
"Ah, Miss Lily Evans, what a wonderful surprise." I greeted, running a hand through my already messy hair. I decided to turn on the Potter politeness for once to the delight of my mother and surprise of Lily. I was feeling very confident today.
"Oh, so you're the Lily my son is constantly talking about," my mother interrupted cheerfully, and completely embarrassing me in the process.
My glorious Lily blushed. Today she looked absolutely angelic; her long red hair was straightened and held back by two hairclips that were decorated with daisies.
"I guess I am," Lily stammered, she held out a slender hand to shake my mother's. "How do you do, Mrs. Potter?"
My mother clasped her hand warmly, a big smile turning the corners of her mouth, "Please, call me Dorea, dear. 'Mrs. Potter' makes me sound positively ancient."
I watched in silence as the two of them exchanged pleasantries, all the while imagining it was the first time my mother would meet her future daughter-in-law. I was determined that Lily would be mine… the alternative was just too painful to even fathom. Really, I had no reason to worry about timing for the moment; I was only fifteen and Lily, fourteen.
"Lily, what brings you here?"
"Well, Magenta's daughter Diana is a close friend of mine from school and, er… I'm the musical entertainment." My mother grinned at my shocked expression; I had no idea Lily had any musical talent.
"Do you play?" my mother asked.
Lily's emerald eyes sparkled as she answered my mother's questions about her music… music that I had absolutely no knowledge of existing to begin with.
"Yes, I play piano and guitar. I sing too."
"Oh, how I've longed to have musical talent!" Mum gushed in her overdramatic way, her upbringing shining through. My mother came from an upper crust pureblood family in London; her mother had made her attend summer finishing school – during the fall-spring months she was at Hogwarts - and participate in societal functions. My maternal grandparents were displeased by my mother's choice of marrying my father right out of school.
Lily smiled, "I've heard about your paintings and they are quite impressive."
Mum waved her hand, "I am hardly a master. My main subjects are my family."
"I write songs about people who mean the most to me. There's no shame in that," Lily ensured her, her small hand on my mother's arm.
From across the patio, a tall woman in pale blue robes strode purposefully towards us.
"Dorea, darling, it is a joy to see you!" Magenta O'Hare's short white blond hair bounced as she hugged my mother. I couldn't stand my mother's uptight friends; I could never understand why Mum would associate with them – she was much more grounded and genuine.
Magenta pulled away from my mother to look at me, "Oh and you've brought your son."
I ran my hand through my hair and turned my attention towards Lily who was gazing off to the road.
"I didn't know you wrote songs," I commented. Magenta and my mother were chatting about my mother's latest project.
"You never asked," she replied coolly.
Great - so we were back to the I-loathe-Potter tone.
"Look, Evans, I'm really trying to make an effort here. I promised my mother I'd behave myself."
Lily snorted, "If only you made the same effort at school."
"Hogwarts would be a boring place without me, and you know it," I concluded, with a wink.
A blush climbed its way up her neck, and Lily looked down at her feet.
"Merlin's beard! Do I see Evans blushing?"
"No you don't," she reasoned, "it's just really warm outside."
"Well, then, let's go find something to drink." I suggested, placing my hand on her elbow. From behind me, someone cleared their throat.
"That won't be necessary, Potter." Disgust climbed its way from my toes, up my spine and settled right at the back of my head.
Only one person had this effect on me: Severus Snape.
Lily's face lit up, and she dove behind me to throw her arms around Snivellus – this was a petname created by Sirius and me in first year. Jealousy joined disgust as I watched their heartfelt reunion. Snape was clearly in love with Lily while she thought of him as a best friend… or at least that is what I hoped.
Snape closed his eyes as he obviously savoured the moment. His uniform of dark robes contrasted starkly with the light colours everyone was wearing.
"Sev, I didn't think you could come," Lily said once she pulled away. The two started towards the refreshment table, leaving me standing near my mother and Mrs. O'Hare.
Diana O'Hare strolled towards me, stopping next to me.
"He's positively vile. I can't believe he's at my house," she complained.
"He's her best friend. Merlin knows why," I reasoned. Although I despised Severus Snape's greasy black head, there was something about him that made Lily happy.
"Yeah, you're right, I suppose," Diana agreed, shaking her white blond plait.
I smiled at her and offered her my arm.
"Would you care for a drink, Miss O'Hare?" I asked, making my best impression of her overly polite father which earned a smile. Both of us despised our mothers' social circle and often took refuge together when we were forced to participate.
"You are most kind, Mr. Potter."