Chapter Two – Pretty Green Eyes
Pretty green eyes, so full of wonder and despair.
It's all right to cry, for I'll be there to wipe your tears.
And in your arms, together we're in paradise.
It's so nice; you'll never have to be alone.
McGonagall cleared her throat and stood up. The fourth year students fell silent, except for Sirius, who was (still) stuffing his face.
"This year," she said in a sharp voice, demanding attention. "We will have a new fourth year student."
Many of the Great Hall's occupants began to whisper. It was most unusual to have a student come in at any time other than first year, in fact, there wasn't even an exchange program at Hogwarts.
"Her name is Lily Evans. Before she comes in to be sorted, there is some very important rules concerning Ms. Evans, and I want you all to pay attention." More whispers filled the hall.
"Ms. Evans is a very…special girl. Because of her…err…disability you will NOT treat her anydifferently to what you would your normal classmates. You will NOT ridicule her because of her blood or what has happened to her. She has had a very hard time." She said, eyeing the Slytherin table as she spoke. By now, of course, everybody was dying to find out who this Lily Evans was and what made her so different and special.
"Ms Evans will now be sorted." McGonagall strode over to the side door to the great hall and opened it.
A stunningly pretty girl walked through the door. She was petite, with a slim, porcelain – like figure and had beautiful, long auburn hair cascading down to her waist covering one side of her face.
She did not walk like any other girl. She shuffled slowly along the side of the wall, as far away from the tables as possible, keeping her head down, as if afraid of her peers.
She extended one pale hand and lifted up the sorting hat and sat down on the stool. It was only a few seconds before the hat cried "GRYFFINDOR!" and for the first time, she looked up. James immediately wished he hadn't been looking.
One side of her face was beautiful, with nice smooth skin and bright green eyes. The other side of her face was horrible. It was red raw, twisted and scarred, as if some terrible accident had happened (which it had). The students could not help but gasp.
McGonagall gave them all death glares, but Lily's face remained expressionless.
She got up from the stool and walked over to the Gryffindor table, who were still too stunned to cheer. Although she had said nothing, people (or at least the male population) could not help but be mesmerized by her beauty when her hair covered the right side of her face. She took a seat next to James, who was on the end, shrinking as far away from him as possible. James could sense her discomfort as she sat down, feeling everybody's eyes on her.
"Hey Lily, want some food?" asked, offering her a bread roll from his plate to break the silence.
Lily slowly turned her head to look at him. She said nothing, didn't even shake her head before looking back down at her lap again.
"Students, you may now leave."
The scuffling of shoes on the polished floor could be heard as students made their hasty exits, feeling disturbed by Lily's presence. Almost all the students had left, but Lily still hadn't moved from her position at the table. James looked at her and felt really bad for her, so he said
"C'mon Lily, we'll show you to the common room." He said, offering her his arm, but not really expecting her to take it.
The reaction that James got was not what he expected. Lily slowly extended her hand and latched it tightly around his wrist, as if afraid to let go. James could see McGonagall nodding with approval in the background, but he didn't really care. He wasn't doing it for McGonagall.
~*~In the Gryffindor Common Room~*~
Lily had gone straight to bed upon reaching the common room, still not having said anything. Cindy Butrose, one of the most popular girls in fourth year (i.e. the one who knew the most gossip) had most of the Gryffindors listening in on her very loud conversation with her friends.
"I read about her in a muggle newspaper," she was saying.
"Yeah," one girl said. "what did it say?"
"That somebody threw acid on her face when she was about to start first year, or finish muggle primary school."
The entire year was shocked.
"Who was it?" another girl said in awe.
"Her father,"
Cindy waited a nice long time to let it sink in before she continued.
"So, after all that stuff, she stopped talking. Didn't even nod or shake her head. She wasn't making any progress, so they decided to send her to school to see if she would talk again. Her face will never be any better: nobody can afford the cost of repairing it. Of course, I didn't know it was Hogwarts she was going to."
James was shocked beyond comprehension. He would make this Lily Evans talk again, he vowed, and make her life worth living.
A/N: All reviewers will be thanked in a new chapter at the end of the story.
You like? Hope its different to what you were expecting.
The song used at the beginning is Pretty Green Eyes by Ultrabeat