Chapter Two: Lily
Ten Years Later
Sydney, Australia
July 31
Abruptly I woke up, remembering my dream—my memory—of the last time I saw Ginny. I felt a heaviness on my chest and looked down. In a small ray of pale yellow sunlight peaking through the curtains, lay Michelle. Her blood red hair cascading over her shoulders and back, she reminded me too much of Ginny. I had told myself that everyday I was with her.
Looking around me at the small bedroom of my Australian flat, I suddenly felt oppressed. I was trapped in a place I didn't want to be. I knew that I loved Ginny more than anything in the world. I asked myself everyday what I was doing in Sydney, Australia, what I was doing with other women.
Why don't I just flee to Ginny?
Be a man, my heart told me.
I searched frantically around me and found a pillow to replace my chest with. I slid it beneath Michelle's face and I sat on the edge of the bed, thinking about my next escape. The time was seven o'clock A.M. I had to act quickly if I was to leave before Michelle woke.
Rushing to my dresser, I pulled out the multiple pairs of underwear, undershirts, boxers, socks. From my closet came all of my Wizard's Robes, and my shoes. After packing everything I had in my trunk (including my brooms), I wrote Michelle a short note. Explaining to her that I didn't love her and that the woman I did love was in England. That's where I was headed. I grabbed my trunk, Hedwig's cage (she was hunting and would surely find me with ease), then Flooed to London and then I Flooed to Hogsmeade. I saw the school and made my way toward it after years and years.
--------------::--------------
One Year Later, After the Second Escape
Hogwarts School
September 1
Looking across the Great Hall, I felt a sense of familiarity, a sense of home, a sense of belonging. It felt great. I was excited to see the new first years that would soon enter the Great Hall, Already, I could see a group of redheads that I had known so long ago. God… the oldest had to be in her seventh year! So much I had missed! I felt so guilty. So very guilty, and I missed Ron, Hermione, and especially Ginny so much.
Pretty soon, McGonagall came marching in the Hall, followed by a nice large group of frightened and awed-looking first years. I was impressed by the number. They all lined up in front of the stool, backs facing the older students. The first name was called, Arnold, Flora. She was the first Gryffindor, and I clapped and cheered and whooped with the other Gryffindor students who cheered for Flora.
Many new students were sorted, and there were already seventeen new Gryffindors by the time the last first year was called up to be sorted. Lily Weasley. The little girl walked up to the stool and sat, McGonagall placing the aging wizard's hat on her head. Much like my sorting, the hat just fell over her line of vision completely. I wasn't at all shocked to hear the hat call out her house as Gryffindor, the girl being a Weasley and all. I was more surprised in her appearance. She of course, resembled her Weasley family members that all sat at her table, but there was something very familiar about her. The way her jaw was set, the thickness of her hair, its shade of red… She was no ordinary Weasley, I could tell. She looked… Well, I just didn't have the answer right then.
McGonagall stood in front of her seat at the table where I remembered Dumbledore sat at. Every eye was on her. Her arms outstretched and she smiled kindly. "Welcome young first years. Welcome to Hogwarts! This will be your new home for the next eight and a half months. I'd like to just go over a few ground rules. Students who are not prefects or the Head Boy or Girl, must be in bed before ten o'clock pm. You are not to share your common room passwords with anyone of another House. You must be inside the castle before seven o'clock pm. Certain magical items are banned and will be confiscated; consult Filch's list in his outside his office. No magic is to be done in the halls between classes. And, lastly, do not go into the forbidden forest, unless you are aided by an adult.
"Now, students, we have a new teacher this year," began the Headmistress.
"Uncle Harry!!!" some random Weasley cheered. It was Bill's son, I could tell. A twinge of guilt gnawed at me, and I had to grip the table to keep from running from the hall.
McGonagall gave an amused glare at William Jr. before pushing her glasses up her nose and continuing without interruption. "Like I was saying, students, we have a new teacher this year. I am proud to introduce him, because he is a dear friend of mine, and a former student. Meet your new Gryffindor Head of House; Defense Against the Dark Arts professor… Professor Potter!" There was a loud applause from the Gryffindor table, more specifically the Weasleys who all knew me when they were just little kids. But if it was not my imagination, I thought I had seen Lily, the last first year to be called up – the strangest Weasley – crying. It confused me. She was not clapping and she just stared down at her hands which were in her lap. Crying. A girl with bushy hair was comforting her, and she, too, was not clapping. I smiled despite that little factor and waved and took my seat quickly. Then McGonagall welcomed the new first years again, and then ordered that the food be served.
In a flash, food appeared magically onto platters. I really missed Hogwarts cooking and dug in the food immediately, stuffing my face. "Some things never change Potter," said the Headmistress, bemused by my ravenous hunger. I smiled at her with a full mouth then continued eating. After the delicious feast, McGonagall sent us all to bed. The teachers were the last to leave, but I left quickly, the first staff member, and retired to my room. I was really tired and nearly fell onto the bed. I was conscious enough only to put on some decent pajamas and to take off my glasses.
When I slept, I dreamt of Ginny's face when I abandoned her, the ways she was crying. Her face turned into Ron's and Hermione's, which were scolding and angry and hurt. The faces became Ginny's once more, quiet and reserved and caring and somehow like Molly Weasley's. Right before I woke up, Ginny's face became Lily's.