A/N: So I posted a bit earlier than anticipated, but hey! Thank you to my first reviewer! I hope this chapter brings even more, haha.
Who's To Say?
Chapter 2
Lily sat at her desk and stared out of her bedroom window upstairs, not taking in much visually. She was too preoccupied mentally with a few instances that had occurred since she had been at home for the summer. It was the very beginning of July so a significant amount of time had not passed since she had left Hogwarts, but it was enough to make her wish she was back at the castle.
Lily had not spoken to Severus Snape once since they had gotten off the Express and was not exactly dying to. He had not attempted to approach her but that was not to say she had not seen him around their nearby neighborhoods. On one Thursday Lily had gone to a nearby park to merely sit and watch the younger children play (and to perhaps escape Petunia's domineering glare). While she sat on a bench and the light breeze swept through her hair, she noticed a dark figure on the other side of the park sitting as well. She took a moment to adjust her eyes on the person only to realize it was Snape. She had not really noticed him before and wondered how long he had been there; either way, he would look her way occasionally. Lily left the park but minutes later.
The second time she saw him was on a Sunday when she had gone to the river to read and avoid a visit from a very loud, obnoxious uncle. When Lily arrived and sat by the bank, book in hand, she spotted someone sitting in the thicket of bushes hunched over. There was no doubt in her mind who it was but she had no intention of leaving, especially because he had been there first. Even so, as long as he kept his distance there would be no problems, because as far as Lily was concerned he was not there and she had a novel to read.
A tiny part of Lily felt somewhat compelled to speak to him because she knew he must be feeling incredibly lonely, what with having such a tumultuous family life. She had been the one he came to to get away from the dysfunctional relationships of his home, and now he had no one. But the larger part of Lily told her that it was his fault and to stop feeling pity for Severus—he clearly did not feel pity for anyone. She was sure that once the summer ended and school had begun again, where there were separate Houses, he would be the last thought to cross her mind. In the meantime, while she risked seeing him every time she left her front porch, she would do her best to not waste her thoughts or emotions on Severus Snape.
"LILY!" a voice yelled, floating up the stairs and into her room. She snapped out of her reverie and looked back at her door. It was her sister's voice and it did not sound cheerful.
Lily got up from her chair and made for the stairs, not particularly looking forward to the impending meeting. The girls' parents were currently at the market buying food which left their daughters by themselves; both had denied the invitation to accompany Mr. and Mrs. Evans. When Lily reached the last stair she saw her older sister standing by the closed, front door with her arms crossed and an angry expression on her face.
"What is it?" Lily asked.
"You have a visitor." Petunia spat. This was the first time they had spoken since their parents had left. Before her sibling could reply, the blonde turned on her heel, moved left and stormed into the living room. A second later, the television was turned on and the volume of it was noticeably loud.
Lily had not even heard the doorbell ring! With an elevated heart rate and mounting dread, she grabbed the doorknob and pulled it in, not entirely surprised at who was on the other side. After a brief silent period that consisted of staring, she coldly inquired:
"Why are you here?"
Severus shifted on his feet, eyes darting away from a moment. Had those instances where he had seen her given him courage?
"Dunno… momentary insanity," he mumbled. She scoffed and seemed ready to close the door but he hurriedly shouted out:
"Lily, please! I-I'm not asking for your complete forgiveness! I probably don't deserve it—"
"Probably?!" Lily repeated disbelievingly.
"It was the biggest mistake I've made, Lily, so far in my life." Severus noted.
"You've made a lot of mistakes since being at Hogwarts, Severus, all of them too cruel to ignore!"
"I know. But none of those cost me to lose someone who I…"
He trailed off, glancing quickly at her face. She was quiet for a moment and looked down, studying the cement. She had an intense frown and looked bothered.
"We were supposed to have been best friends… you said so yourself. I would have never said something so heartless to you." Lily told him.
"I know! And that's what makes it…," Snape's countenance then changed as he was thinking and became twisted with anger, "If Potter and his brainless band of followers hadn't decided!—"
At this, her countenance changed as well and she appeared irreversibly frustrated and fed up.
"No more—no more Severus!," she shouted, cutting him off, "No more making excuses, me or you! No more incessant talks of James POTTER! I don't care!" He looked utterly shocked.
"You know, you need to reexamine who you are as a person! Until that day comes, make sure this is the last time you come to my doorstep!"
Lily then slammed the door in her former friend's face, locking it, and zoomed up the stairs to her room at a runner's speed. Petunia peeped her head out at the sound of the door slamming. She looked curiously at the door and then craned her neck to peer up the stairs.
The Evans family sat around their kitchen table later that evening eating their dinner together. Soft music came from the radio on the counter and could not be heard unless there was total silence.
"Oh, Petunia, darling. Before we left I checked the post and you've got a letter from the university. I'll give it to you right afterward," her mother, Janice, remarked.
Petunia's face lit up. She was starting her first year at a university in London in September and was very excited. She was going to be living on campus which meant that both of the Evans girls were going to be living away from home in a few months. The oldest child nodded, smiling.
"Did you girls do much while we were out?" Mr. Evans, Oliver, inquired.
"Oh, of course Dad! We managed to climb Kilimanjaro and held a three ring circus in the backyard!" Lily quipped good naturedly. Her father chuckled appreciatively while her mother smiled. Petunia looked at both of her parents before focusing on Lily.
"Actually, Lily's friend came over for a bit," she announced. The red head stopped mid-bite, fork frozen in the air, and stared at her sister.
"Did he? Severus, sweetheart?" replied Janice. Lily glanced at Mrs. Evans.
"It was a short visit," she mumbled, putting her fork down.
"He hasn't been round at all so far! How is he?" Oliver pondered.
"I don't really know." Lily stated, grimacing slightly.
"Really? I thought you two were the closest of mates! Inseparable!" Petunia commented in a sweet yet condescending tone. A pair of green eyes found Petunia's and the owner's face was far from pleasant.
"Things change." Lily bluntly noted. It was clear she did not want to discuss it.
"That quickly? Did something happen at your dear Hogwarts? I never thought I'd see the day when—"
"We're not friends anymore, all right?! Leave it at that!" the witch exclaimed loudly, cutting her sister off. She then got up from the table without excusing herself and left the room.
"Oh dear, I wonder what happened!," Janice said, looking concerned, "That was unlike Lily!"
"Petunia, maybe you should go check on her in a bit…" Mr. Evans suggested, a small amount of worry in his voice. His oldest daughter looked down at her plate, somberness playing about her features.
Fifteen minutes later, a weak knock rapped on Lily's closed bedroom door. She lay on her bed facing the window, which displayed a setting sun.
"Yes?" she called, sighing. Her door creaked open but Lily had no desire to turn around and see the person whom had knocked.
"Mum and Dad sent me to… to see if you're okay." Petunia reported, standing in the doorway.
"I'm fine, thanks." Lily answered.
"They want to know if you are going to finish eating."
"I'm not hungry anymore."
"So you're just going to stay in here?" the blonde wondered a little impatiently.
"Yes," she admitted icily.
"Look, Lily," Petunia began in an exasperated voice, still talking to her sister's back, "I didn't mean… I didn't know there was actually a… problem, with you two."
"And you didn't bother to ask, either." Lily said.
"Well…" There was a moment of silence in which both waited for the other to say something.
"So, it's really done?" Petunia asked.
"Yes," the red head stated. She thought about leaving her answer at that but for some reason felt she should elaborate a bit more, "He's… not who I thought he was, or who he used to be."
"At least you finally saw it," the blonde remarked after a little more silence. She then moved from the doorway and closed the door before anything else could be said.
Lily awoke the next morning feeling a little comforted in the fact that she and Petunia had had a small reconciliation of sorts the previous night… or at least she thought. Perhaps with Snape out of the picture, the two sisters could begin to rebuild their relationship; Petunia had always disliked him.
After Lily had showered and gotten dressed for the day she prepared to go downstairs to eat breakfast. She could smell enticing aromas that her mother was, no doubt, the creator of. As she put her left foot into her slipper and was about to leave her room, she heard tapping on her window. Lily looked and saw an owl peering at her through the glass, parchment on its leg.
"Beatrice!" she noted happily, recognizing the gray and white bird at once. She opened the window and Dorcas Meadowes' owl flew in, landing on the foot post of the bed. Beatrice hooted as Lily gently removed the letter from her and then pet her.
"If you want something to nibble I'll have to go get it," she stated. The owl ruffled her feathers, gave a small coo and then hopped onto Lily's made bed, settling down. She took this to mean Beatrice was okay without any food….
Lily pulled out her chair and sat in it, starting the letter. It was the second one Dorcas had sent so far in the summer.
Lily—
So I've asked my parents about allowing you and Marlene to visit and they said it was no problem! You can come over the start of next week on any day you like—just write me back and let me know when. We'll meet in Diagon Alley at noon on that day so all you have to do is get to London, which I know won't be a problem for you. Oh! Maybe you can take the Knight Bus! You've never been on it and it's definitely a wicked ride worth taking! Well, I think so anyway.
Send your reply back with Beatrice. I can't wait to see you! I feel like such a good friend, whisking you away from your horribly drab life!
Dorcas
Lily smirked at the last line, thinking it was such a Dorcas comment, but her spirits had risen greatly. She could now get away from her home and see her friends, be in the magical world once again that she had come to love. It would be a relief. She got up from the desk and left her room for the kitchen, Dorcas' letter in hand. When she arrived with a smile on her face, her mother was standing in front of the stove stirring something.
"Mum, may I go?" Lily pondered quickly, standing near the stove as well.
"Er, hello dear! May you… go? G-Go where?" Janice responded. Petunia, who was at the table, looked up at the other two.
"You remember Dorcas?"
"Of course."
"And me mentioning possibly visiting her during the holiday?" added Lily.
"Yes." Mrs. Evans said.
"Well I've just gotten a letter from her officially inviting me for next week. May I go?"
"I see no reason why not."
"Thanks, Mum!" she answered.
"Here- eat." Janice told her, handing her a plate of food that had been sitting on one of the burners. Lily took it and sat down at the table.
"What are you doing today, Petunia?" she wondered. The older girl pursued her lips slightly at this inquiry, perhaps unable to take the cheerfulness that accompanied it.
"I'm spending the day with Felicia," she remarked airily. Felicia was Petunia's best friend from secondary school.
"Here?" Lily trepidly inquired. Her sister and her best friend were too much to handle when they were together, for they were too much alike.
"What for?," Petunia replied, with some outrage in her voice, "No, we're going to the beach with her family!"
Mr. Evans then walked into his kitchen, clapping his hands once.
"Well I'm off to work then! My lovely wife, daughters—have a great day. Petunia, have a wonderful time at the water, and Lily, keep your mum occupied."
"Goodbye, Oliver." Janice stated as they finished a small kiss. He waved farewell to his girls and departed.
"Yes Lily, what would you like to do today?" her mother pondered, turning to her.
After she had eaten, Lily went back to her room and wrote a short reply to Dorcas' inquiry.
Dorcas—
Thank you! Your letter couldn't have come at a better time! I've been pretty bored, having no one to talk to, and not that much time has even passed yet. Anyway, the Knight Bus sounds like a good option and it would mean I wouldn't have to ask my parents for any help. I'll come on Tuesday, shall I? I'll see you then at noon in Diagon Alley—can't wait!
Lily
"Beatrice." Lily said, turning to her bed. The owl had been napping and hooted, fluffing herself out.
"Have a safe flight back to Dorcas, all right?" The red head instructed as she attached the letter to Beatrice's leg. She then stroked the bird a few times before it spread its wings and flew out of the window. The sixteen year old witch watched Beatrice go with a slight smile on her face. Soon she would be able to leave as well.
The remaining days before Lily went to the Meadowes' home passed without much excitement. She spent time with her parents and occasionally her sister, though it was never for very long. This was a significant improvement from the recent past, however; back then, Petunia would not have willingly been in the same room as her younger sister. Lily saw no sign of Severus during any of her outings in those days and wondered if he was truly going to leave her alone.
When Tuesday morning came, Lily had most of her things already packed and ready to go. She bitterly wished she were 17 so she could magically shrink all of her belongings and make things that much simpler, but she had half a year to go before that could come true. Mrs. Evans cooked her daughter breakfast but was clearly concerned Lily was getting to her destination completely on her own.
"You don't need me for anything?" Janice questioned.
"No, Mum," Lily responded, smiling, "It's not that challenging, and I'm 16! I'm not a child."
"I know, sweetheart, but a mother always worries, no matter the age of her children."
Some time later Lily stood in front of her front door with her one suitcase by her side. Her wand was secure in one of the front pockets and she had practiced retrieving it efficiently in under three seconds.
"I'm going to walk to the end of the street and catch the bus, Mum," she noted.
"Yes. Be careful Lily and have a wonderful time. Keep some contact with us!"
"I will. I'll get a hold of a telephone at some point! Bye, Mum, love you. Tell Dad I said goodbye." Lily kissed her mother on the cheek and then called into the house:
"See you, Petunia!" There was a brief period of silence before it was answered.
"Right, then," came Petunia's voice.
"Take care, love." Janice stated as Lily shook her head and rolled her eyes in a good natured way.
The red head heard the door close behind her as she grabbed her luggage and walked towards the end of her street. She had decided to wait and hail the bus when her neighborhood was almost absolutely deserted, and the only person who she could see out was a ten year old playing in his front yard.
Lily stopped at the corner of Autumn and Whitmore and waited, her green eyes on the boy. She felt a little foolish and knew that if anyone happened to see her they would wonder why exactly she was simply standing there. She had to suppress a snort of laughter as she thought about how her sister would react to this, perhaps horrified to know she was standing eerily on the corner like "a freak."
"Stanley!" a woman's voice shouted. The child in his yard stopped what he was doing and looked ahead. Lily heard him groan and then he got up and walked straight to his front door. At this, she quickly stepped off the curb and threw out her arm, thumb ready.
Lily jumped right back onto the pavement as a large, purple, triple decker bus came flying into view and screeched to a halt a little ahead of her. Somewhat alarmed, she tentatively strode up to the open doors of the bus and saw a wizard in a uniform standing on the stairs.
"Welcome aboard the Knight Bus! We'll take you wherever you'd like to go!," he proclaimed to the sky. He then looked down at Lily and grinned, "Where to, love?"
"Diagon Alley, please," she replied.
"No worry! Here, let me take that for you."
The wizard took her suitcase from her hand as Lily ascended the steps and the doors closed.
"Thank you," she said.
"Of course! I'm Jude and the driver is Ern." She looked at the small, old wizard sitting behind the wheel.
"It'll be five Knuts, miss," Jude informed as he began to walk, "Where would you like to sit?"
"Oh. Er… first floor, I suppose," she responded, following him and retrieving her wizarding money from her bag. They moved towards the back of the bus near a green recliner chair that had a small wooden coffee table in front of it. Jude put her suitcase in a storage compartment and then, pointing at the chair, said:
"Matches your eyes."
"T-Thanks." Lily muttered, blushing a bit and giving him the Knuts. He smiled at her and then went back up to the front of the bus.
"Off with her, Ern!" he called. As she prepared to sit down, the bus suddenly shot forward with an enormous amount of noise and Lily was thrown into her seat.
"Whoa!" she uttered to herself.
Needless to say, the ride was not a smooth one. The bus was precarious, swerved far too much, and was jerky. She wondered why no one had ever told her how dodgy the Knight Bus was as she gripped the arms of the chair and slid to the right. Severus never mentioned anything…. Snape had been the first one to inform Lily what the Knight Bus was, along with so many other things; it had been during their second year on a windy day as they walked the grounds. Lily realized she was thinking about Severus Snape and put an instant stop to it, determined to diminish his part in her life. As an alternative, she chose to survey the bus and inspect the other passengers. There were not a lot of witches and wizards occupying the bus—six that she could count on all three levels. She caught the eye of a middle aged witch in robes sitting on the first floor and half-smiled. The woman smiled back.
"Hogwarts, dear?" she wondered.
"Yes." Lily answered.
"Lovely," the witch nodded, "Where are you headed?"
"To Diagon Alley, to meet a friend."
"I'm going to London as well, but to the Ministry of Magic. I've got business to handle but don't expect much to happen. They can be pretty incompetent over there, you know!"
Lily did not actually know but nodded all the same.
"It's a true shame Albus Dumbledore refuses to take anything up, especially Minister. Now there's a powerful, capable wizard if I've ever seen one! A force to reckon with," the woman explained.
"Oh, absolutely. He's a wonderful headmaster!" Lily added, glad to have a topic that was so agreeable.
"I'm sure. Extraordinary man! Though, his… weakness for Muggles could be less pronounced. It takes away from his reputation ever so slightly."
The good feeling the red head had had upon Dumbledore being brought into the conversation rapidly vanished. This seemingly warm witch was prejudiced; how would she react if she knew Lily was a Muggleborn? I don't even want to give her that chance. Lily threw the woman a forced smile before reaching into her bag and pulling out a book.
"Excuse me," she stated, opening it. The older woman's mouth was faintly ajar and she appeared momentarily taken aback, but she regained her composure a second later and briskly turned the other way.
When Lily's destination was the next spot the Knight Bus arrived to, the Gryffindor girl was relieved to get off. Jude retrieved her suitcase and saw her down the stairs.
"Glad to be of service to you miss!" he told her.
"Thank you Jude," she remarked.
"Hope to see you on the Knight Bus again! Soon!"
Jude waved eagerly as the doors shut and the loud bang resounded, indicating its departure.
"Not if I can help it!" Lily mumbled in the same, cheery tone, bending down to get her wand. She faced the brick wall, tapped the necessary bricks and watched as they transformed themselves. She thought about maybe going into the Leaky Cauldron for a minute in order to get a butterbeer, but abandoned this notion when Diagon Alley appeared before her eyes.
Lily smiled and walked inside, familiarity seeping into her body. There was a good amount of wizards walking around visiting the shops and she could see that most of them were young, school aged; they were spending time here while their parents worked. Lily checked her watch and saw that it was a quarter to noon. She was early and so decided to replace that butterbeer with an ice cream sundae while she waited for Dorcas to arrive. She walked to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor but found a surprise outside before she could even walk into the building.
"Marlene!" she exclaimed, seeing her friend sitting at one of the tables with a large bowl of pink ice cream.
"Oy, Lily!" Marlene replied, her face brightening up. She dropped her spoon and stood up as Lily put her luggage near a chair and hugged her.
"Perfect! I don't have to wait alone now!" Marlene noted, smiling.
"How long have you been here?" Lily asked.
"Since half past 11. I was with my dad at the Ministry but I left because I got bored." (Mr. McKinnon was a member of the Wizengamot).
"So how has your summer been?" Lily questioned as the two sat down at the table.
"Oh, pretty enjoyable! Would you like some of my sundae, by the way? There's loads as you can see! Anyway, Mitchell's been dying to get back to the castle so he can use magic again!..."
A/N: Second chapter next Thursday. 'Til then!
