Be Here Now

A/N: Here's chapter two! Enjoy, and as always… please review!

x.o.x.o.x.

"What is it, Lily?" Hilary asks worriedly.

Lily bites her lip, still unsure if this is the best thing to do.

"Lily?" prods Marlene.

"Lily, please tell us. You're worrying us," Alice cries.

Lily takes a deep breath. "There's a secret I've been keeping from you for about four years now," she begins softly.

Hilary's hazel eyes widen but she stays silent. Alice looks surprised, and Marlene's face remains impassive.

"In the summer before fourth year, my parents were killed. They were killed by Lord Voldemort himself. Back then, he wasn't at his height of power as he is now, so of course this didn't cause too big a stir. It wasn't reported in the Daily Prophet or anything, and the Ministry officials paid it almost no mind at all. The only person in the Muggle world that knows the true cause of their deaths is Petunia, my dreadful sister. She despises everything abnormal, and witchcraft and wizardry is extremely abnormal in her mind. After Mum and Dad died, she… she threw me out. Mum and Dad had left her the house because she was older, and naturally she threw me out." Lily pauses to catch her breath. She had spoken all very softly so that her friends had to strain to hear.

Marlene gasps quietly. "Oh, Lily," she says sadly.

"Where did you go?" gasps Hilary.

"If you'd told us, one of us would have brought you home with us," Alice adds.

Lily smiles softly. "I didn't and don't want pity, girls. I just want someone there for me. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to cause extra, unnecessary worry. And to answer your question, Hilary, I went home. Or rather, my new home."

"Where is your new home?" Hilary's voice is fearful.

Lily bites her lip, the smile gone. Alice and Hilary were purebloods, and they had towers of Galleons. They would never have to worry about money in their lives. Marlene was half-blood, and her father was an important figure in the British political world, so she wouldn't have to fuss about money either. They were all very well sheltered, and probably hadn't seen as much of the real world as she had. "A dark, deserted alley," she replies finally.

Three collective gasps fill the compartment.

"Your home is an alley?" whispers Alice.

Lily turns sad emerald eyes on her. "Yes, Alice, my second home is an alley."

"Lily…"

"Hilary, I don't want pity. Please."

Hilary nods and falls silent.

"That's been my home for the past four summers. Petunia and I have lost all contact. Mum and Dad clearly didn't expect to die so early, otherwise they would have left me more. They each left me with one of their possessions, their most prized ones. Mum left me a charm necklace and bracelet set. Dad left me a bejeweled photo album that holds pictures of our family holidays and even photos of both Petunia and I when we left the hospital after being born. Even for food I wouldn't sell them."

"Couldn't you conjure like a bed and even a whole flat out of thin air?" Hilary asks quietly.

Lily smiles a tiny smile. "Magic can't solve everything." Her tone implies that she is done.

The silence hangs in the air, curtaining the compartment in a comfortable yet troubled silence. Each of the girls is worrying for Lily and upset that she had to see the world this way. She had been hit so hard with tragedy so early in life.

"Why so glum?" Sirius' voice floats from the doorway.

"So glum," echoes James teasingly.

Lily stands up abruptly. She was in no mood to deal with either Marauder. "Remus, what time is it?" she questions politely.

Remus glances at her curiously, but replies, "Nearly time for the prefects' meeting."

Lily nods, stepping toward the door. "Does anyone know who is replacing me as seventh year prefect?"

Hilary stands. "Me."

Lily smiles, but her friends can tell that it is forced. "Wonderful. Let's go, then."

x.o.x.o.x.

Lily enters the prefects' compartment ahead of the others. This year, the compartment is decorated in gold and maroon, the Gryffindor colors. Last year, it had been yellow and silver, as the Heads were from Hufflepuff and Slytherin.

"What is the Mudblood doing here early?" sneers Lucius Malfoy.

Lily rolls her eyes at the newcomer. Narcissa Black, Lucius' fiancée, had entered after him. "And the blood traitors. Potter, Potter, and Lupin."

Lily stands. "I will not tolerate your insulting my friends. As I am now Head Girl, I have authority over you, Narcissa. Unless you would enjoy detention with Professor McGonagall, I suggest you and Lucius sit and be quiet until the other prefects arrive." Her tone had adopted a sharp, no-nonsense edge that had never been present before.

Narcissa decides to sit, because McGonagall was notorious in her detentions. Absolutely relentless. Soon, all the prefects had arrived.

Lily stands at the head of the table, her palms pressed flat against the table. "I'm Lily Evans and this year, I am Head Girl."

James stands up beside her. "And I'm Head Boy." He winks at each girl in turn, including Lily.

"You are very lucky that I didn't slap you across the face just then, Potter," snarls Lily under her breath. Raising her voice, she continues, "Being a prefect is a very important responsibility. You will be expected to do patrols certain days of the week, help us Heads out, and keep the school in order. Every Thursday we will hold a prefect meeting. Any questions?"

The prefects all shake their heads.

Lily nods once. "Excellent. Please patrol the train at least once, and report back to us with any trouble. You may go."

The prefects disperse, but Remus and Hilary stay behind. "You did well, Lily," compliments Remus, who had been there for the past two years to witness other beginning-of-term speeches.

Lily smiles gratefully. "Thanks, Remus."

"Oi, Moony! What about me?"

Remus rolls his eyes. "Prongs, Head Boys usually don't wink at female prefects during the meetings and they never wink at the Head Girl."

"And even if they did, I'd appreciate it if you didn't," shudders Lily. "You can keep your share of the girls, Potter. Just leave me alone."

"Aw, c'mon, Evans, you know you loved it," teases James.

Lily mimes puking. "As much as I enjoy eating puke, Potter," she says innocently.

"Ew! Okay, Lils please don't talk about that. Disturbing image," Hilary shudders.

"Exactly," Lily replies triumphantly.

Remus shakes his head. "For Head Girl, Lily, you sure are childish."

Lily mock-glares at him. "Get out of here, Lupin, before I give you a detention with McGonagall and hex you into the next decade."

"It'd be nice to see where we are in a decade," teases Remus.

Lily drops her fake stern manner and bursts into laughter. "I love being with my friends because you guys can make me laugh so easily," she remarks.

Hilary looks at her sadly. All summer long, she had spent time with her beloved and fun cousins and siblings, while her best friend hid away in a dark, deserted, dirty alley all summer in the sweltering heat and humid rains.

Suddenly, the compartment door flies open and reveals the Ravenclaw girl seventh year prefect. "Death Eaters!"