Summary: Lily is a big girl and she is slowly but steadily leaving the Evans for good, as she falls in love, gets engaged, moves out and gets married!

Pairing: James/Lily

Warning OC! Newly reformetted

Meet the Evans

by shyangell

CHAPTER 2: Tell them about it

Lily felt the blush creep up to her cheeks. She unsuccessfully tried to snatch it from her friend's grasp, who sensibly kept it well out of reach. Her face aflame she tried to compose an angry look but was too busy being embarrassed to manage it.

"So, spill the beans!" Maggie said cheerfull.

Lily harrumphed.

"Lily Evans has got a boyfriend!" she said in a singsong voice "Dear Lily… Have I already told you how much I love you and how I do miss you?"

"Stop it Maggie!" she blurted out while she finally managed to get her letter back and stuff it back between the potions book's pages.

"So who's this James guy?"

"He's my boyfriend."

"Liiiiiiily… dear I do already know that! I do want the juicy details! How did you meet? How was your first date? Is he hot?… meh I doubt it, you love bookworms…"

"And what's wrong with bookworms?" she exclaimed offended.

"Don't try to change the topic! It doesn't work." she stated pointing her finger accusatorily at Lily.

"He's the Head Boy, a classmate, you don't know him anyways!"

"Aaah, but I do intend to!" Maggie stated cheekily. "Head Boy? Bet he's boring as hell… Guess you and Petunia had to have something in common…"

"Stop it! And no, Maggie, you don't!"

"Won't you tell me anything else?" she pouts.

"No!" she adamantly states and proceeds to resume her unpacking.

"So…" she changed the topic for peace's sake "have you told your parent's about this party on New Year's." At Lily's guilty face she exclaimed indignant "and when were you exactly planning to do so? You. Have. To. Go."

"I guess that tonight." Lily sighed.

»»»»»»««««««

Maggie stayed that evening at the Evans for dinner. It was not an unusual case given the girls' relationship. And now, with Petunia off with her brand new fat husband, Mr and Mrs Evans felt the compelling need to fill the vacancy with a family friend as often as possible.

Mrs Evans was a petite middle-aged blonde woman. He was bird-like in her complexion, and had a discreet way of moving around. She also had a sweet air about her. She mostly stayed at home except for the occasional shopping trip with some friends. Her cooking was the most emblematic feature of the evenings at the Evans'.

She often stayed in the kitchen all day, baking and generally bustling around hovering over pots and kettles as often as possible. She had tried to pass her skills to both her daughters with varying grades of success. Petunia was more than skilled to it, but she had to admit lacked imagination. Lily, far more creative, although competent, often tended to get distracted. And as much as she complained, Mrs Evans adamantly refused to let her magic things around her kitchen; arguing that doing things the easy way it's always noticeable.

That evening though, Lily seemed intent upon her task with the roast-beef, and was being a great help. In the meantime Maggie entertained Mr Evans talking enthusiastically about the Manchester United last match.

Mr Evans ran an insurance business, a subsidiary from a larger firm back in London. His great passion though, was soccer. He was a tall very thin man, with a shock of auburn hair who wore glasses. In a way, he resembled much more his elder daughter (for except maybe the hair) than his youngest.

What Lily was really intent on was neither the roast beef nor the dinner itself. In fact, she was looking for a tactful way of telling her parents about James.

When Lily returned back to Earth, Mrs Evans was animatedly chattering about a friend's son, and how it would be lovely for Lily to meet him.

"So Lily, what do you think, dear?" Mrs Evans asked animatedly.

Lily glanced at his father, who had a rather amused look about the whole situation. Then, she looked over at Maggie, who looked at her questioningly. Then, Lily set down her fork slowly, and with a determined look she said:

"I'm sure he's a very nice boy, mum; but I don't think so." Mrs Evans looked rather baffled. "I do have to tell you something."

"Something happened?" asked her father "You've been out most of the dinner…"

"Oh, no! Don't worry dad. You see… the thing is…" she took a deep breath "I've got a boyfriend."

The reaction from both her parents was rather peculiar.

Mrs Evans looked in that moment as if she had been just given an early Christmas present, obviously pleased.

"Really?"

Mr Evans looked as if he had chocked on a mouthful f roast beef, brow furrowed and lips thinly pressed.

"Since when exactly…?" he managed to choke out.

But as he was admonishingly kicked under the table by his wife, as a sharp reminder of what things he wasn't supposed to do under any circumstances. The scene had been somewhat different with Petunia. And he shut his mouth for the time being.

"Two months, dad," she answered sweetly. "since October I think…"

"Who is he? Do we know him?" asked Mrs Evans excitedly.

"No, mum, you don't…" she chuckled at her mother's antics. "He is the Head Boy, his name is James. Well, James Potter." she added as an afterthought.

Everyone stared at her. Her mother trying to remember exactly where she had heard his name, his best friend in utter astonishment and his father as if he was going to burst.

"That guy?" he spluttered "the one who harassed you…"

It was quite clear that if he had James in front of him he would have strangled him for daring to touch her little Lily.

"Dad! He didn't harass me!" she exclaimed. "he was just very insistent!"

"But you said he was a bully!" Maggie said.

"Well, I guess you were being a bit hard honey…" Mrs Evans said cheekily.

"He has changed mum." Lily said sweetly and dreamily "He's Head Boy now… In fact I may very well have misjudged him. I was a bit too harsh… But he can be so stubborn sometimes…"

"Says the pot to the kettle" she commented affectionately to her daughter, who turned all red on the face.

"So he is being earnest about you." said his father with a tint of suspicion about him. And Lily made a quite out of character giggle.

"You can bet, dad. You can bet." she sobered. "He is good to me dad."

And It was settled that Lily would go to that party. Her mother as enthused as if she herself was the one about to go to her first party with her first boyfriend.

»»»»»»««««««

Later that night Maggie and Lily were seated in the porch swing on the back of the house, murmuring in hushed voices.

"You know Lily, I still can't believe it. You, prim-and-proper-Lily-Evans have a boyfriend. I thought boys were a contagious species…"

"Don't be so dramatic…"

"Except when they come from Spinner's End and are so ugly it hurts to look at them…"

"You are never going to forgive me that, are you? And he never was a boyfriend."

"Luckily. Otherwise it would've been necessary to send you to a madhouse."

Lilly just rolled her eyes. Her friend, by now, a bit sleepy talked again:

"I can't believe it Lily! Potter!" and she started singing rather off-key "Oh, THE POWER OF LOOOOOVE! Haha…"

Lily then, had to suggest her to go home, because the late hour was clearly affecting her brain cells, to stop them from functioning properly.