The Reunion of a Lifetime
Chapter Two: Wizard Fashion Monthly
The chills ran down Lily's back and she flipped around…only to be confronted with a mouthful of pillow. Beside the bed, her alarm clock flashed. The music was loud and annoying in her sleepy ears.
Our cauldron simmering, breakfast for two
Nothing more romantic than me and you
Darling, I'll fly you to Kalamazoo
We'll travel together by broom or by Floo
"And that was the newest warlock sensation, Mage, singing his hit single, 'Breakfast for Two'. Good morning, good morning I'm your E Z listening host Craig Diddles. Time to mix up that foul brew and go to work, it's 7:01. And here is Buenelo Banshee and her latest ballad for the feminist, 'Wizard, Listen to Me!"
Lily opened her eyes that seemed to have glued shut in that brief moment down Knockturn Alley. She found herself tangled in her sheets, covered with sweat, and on the floor of her room.
"It was just a dream," she reassured herself. "It was nothing, just a dream." She crawled out from the sheets and wiped her forehead. "I didn't think getting a note about a reunion would cause such nightmares!" Lily turned the shower on and turned up the radio that was now crooning-
"Love Potion number nye-ee-eye-ee-ine..." Lily smiled as she listened to it- a little while ago, it had been leaked into the muggle air waves and the ministry had been furious! There was a total uproar and the newspapers had talked about almost nothing else for weeks.
Lily shed her nightgown and clambered into the steaming spray of water. Really, the dream meant nothing. She was just being paranoid about seeing everyone again. That was all. Nothing to worry about- she was just going to avoid Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade for the next few days. One should always listen to their guts even if they talk to you in weird ways.
Lily jumped out of the shower and performed a small drying charm on her hair. She slid across the room to her closet where she took out the everyday work robe the teachers donned at Hogwarts. Lily first put on a scarlet dress that fell to her toes and had long sleeves and a collar. As a student, and then a teacher, forced to reconcile with the school uniform and fashion code, it was necessary for her to develop some brand of uniqueness (other than the extra flab). That was how Lily had been wearing her clothes for years. She pulled the black button-up robe on. Lily rolled back the sleeves on the robe so that from elbow to wrist, the scarlet length showed and pulled the collar over the neck of the robe. She buttoned up the tiny brass buttons and put her hair back into a tight bun. Five inches of red material showed underneath the black robe, so it was double layered. As Lily tucked her wand into her pocket, she smiled with inner amusement. Many of the girls at Hogwarts were wearing the same fashion this year. Lily had noticed that after her first two weeks of teaching four years ago, girls had started coming to class wearing similar outfits. It was an ironic joke that the nerdy dork, Lily Evens, of Gryffindor was now setting trends for the whole school.
Lily firmly believed that she was very lucky. Before returning to Hogwarts, her life had stretched unconquerable and incredibly long before her dull eyes. But then, a year after she had left Hogwarts, Professor Flitwick decided to take a long vacation and recommended Lily as a substitute. Lily was overjoyed to be offered a teaching position since she had been working at a dead-end job as a waitress in the Leaky Cauldron and a second job as a caretaker at the House of Odd Pets. She immediately accepted the invitation, so four years ago Hogwarts had two new additions to the staff, Lily Evens and Severus Snape. Severus had taken old Professor Higgins post as the teacher for Potions. Professor Higgins, another Slytherin sympathizer, had decided it was time to retire.
Anyway, when Lily had returned to Hogwarts to teach she was very different from when she had departed. Her mum had died of cancer in her seventh year and her dad fell into a depression. Two months after Lily had left Hogwarts he committed suicide. Lily, who had been a tad over weight at the time, had lost weight quite quickly as she worked 12 hours a day six nights a week, and six hours on the seventh. She was also a bit more quiet and subdued but ruled her classroom firmly. Her students learned quickly and she was always available if they needed help, Lily didn't have much of a life outside of school and Bella. That person who was her in the dream was not HER! Well, maybe it was. She was always more jolly-ish around Bella.
Lily switched off the radio and swept through the hall ways to the grand hall. She took her customary place between Severus Snape and Professor Kingwood (the Arithmacy teacher).
"Good Morning Severus, good morning Professor Kingwood," Lily said placing a napkin on her lap. Snape looked away as if he hadn't heard but Professor Kingwood answered cheerfully.
"Morning Lily! How many times do I have to tell you to call me Red? We're equals now, your not a student."
Lily blushed. "I know but it was like yesterday that you were my teacher."
"Ah well," Professor Kingwood (or Red) shook his head. "I understand. I still haven't the nerve to call Professor Dumbledore by his first name either and I've been here twenty years."
"I see," Lily looked back to the muffin she was eating. Call Professor Dumbledore Albus? It was sheer blasphemy! Suddenly she wasn't hungry anymore.
"Um, Severus?" she started, attempting to have a conversation with the man on her left side. "Did you get the invitation for the reunion tonight?"
"Yes," Snape answered shortly, he obviously didn't want to continue it.
"Are you going?" Lily pressed on.
"I'm considering it," Snape looked at Lily as if she was getting an honor by him talking to her. "I don't know if I am looking forward to seeing certain people again."
"I know what you mean," Lily said fervently. A gleam in Snape's eye made her wonder if he was remembering Katie Leconte and 'Lily Pat is so fat.' He patted her on the shoulder awkwardly.
"You've changed a lot since when you were a student, Lily," he said pityingly.
"I hope so," Lily said softly fiddling with her spoon. "Maybe I shouldn't go."
"You go and I go," Snape said finally, while having a visible fight with himself. After he finished the sentence he looked as if he was going to be sick, had he really just been nice to a mudblood?
"Okay, I guess," Lily said, wondering why Severus was still talking to her. For the last four years he hadn't had any more than three words for her, 'Pass the butter'. Maybe she really had changed? Lily hoped so.
As it was a Saturday during Easter break, Lily had the day to herself. She decided to call Bella up to see if she wanted to go get their new robes.
Lily entered her room where she threw some Floo powder onto the grate of the fireplace, she called out "Musing Place" and leapt in. She rushed past half a dozen fireplaces and then jerked to a stop. She dusted herself off and climbed out of the fire that was burning.
Arabella Figg was busy typing up horoscopes for Witch Weekly in a corner of a musty, dusty room. Magazines and books were flung every which way all over the floor creating a huge fire hazard, or what would have been a fire hazard had a witch not been living there.
"Bella with all that typing and junk you do, I would think you earn enough money to get a better place than this!" Lily commented as she weaved her way past empty boxes.
"Huh, what?" Bella took off her reading glasses and looked back to where Lily was standing. "Lily! You're here!" she cried ecstatically and she knocked the typewriter over in an effort to get over and hug Lily. It, of course, bounced a couple feet and landed on its side. "Stupid, old thing," Bella said after the greetings were over. "I want to get a new one but I really shouldn't until it breaks. I have a feeling that the witch who had it last spelled it so it would never crash. I've knocked it over at least twice daily. If she did, she's a horrible, nasty, old person that's for sure!"
Lily laughed. "It's so good to see you Bella," she said. "I've been feeling gloomy. I wasn't even going to go to the reunion until Severus and I made a deal that if he went I had to go and if I went he had to go."
Bella choked. "You made a deal with Snape the Snake?" she said gagging.
"Oh, knock it off, Bella," Lily said. "He's not all that bad."
"We are talking about Severus Snape, your colleague?" Bella asked. Lily nodded. "The one who has only said 'Pass the butter' in four years of working with you until, I guess, today?" Lily nodded again. "Just wanted to be sure," Bella said eyeing her friend. "You're not coming down with a fever are you?"
"Bella, be quiet," Lily said, finally losing it. "I am perfectly fine and normal, thank you for caring."
"He said you were cool, didn't he?" Bella said watching Lily like an eagle.
"Okay, okay," Lily gave up. "He said I had changed a lot since I was a student at Hogwarts."
"AH HA!" yelled Bella. "I KNEW it! I just knew it. Anyone can get you to like them through flattery. By the way, 'you've changed' can be interpreted in different ways."
"Are you trying to make me feel bad, Bella?" Lily asked glaring at her friend.
"Who is this room said that this apartment was a trash place?" asked Bella accusingly.
"I never," exclaimed Lily. "Well...not in so many words at least. "
"I'm just teasing you," Bella giggled. "So I'm assuming you're here to go shopping. But first I want to show you something." She led Lily to the doorway, kicking things out of her way as she went. She jumped down the stairs, landing heavily as she went. STOMP, STOMP, STOMP. Presently a voice was heard yelling at them to cut it out.
"I love irritating the old lady downstairs," Bella confessed with a grin. "She is so annoying, always wondering where I am going blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. She's SUCH a busybody. You'd think she would have learned by now that at 6:00 in the morning I am always going to work but no." Bella took a key out of her pocket and inserted it into a door at the end of the hall. "Ta dah," she said with a bow as the door swung open. Inside was a living room, bedroom, kitchen, bath, and balcony all lavishly and lushly decorated. "Welcome to my new and improved living space," Bella laughed.
"My goodness! When did this happen?" Lily looked about in delight.
"Well a raise in my salary coincided with some money left to me by Great-Uncle Joe," Bella said happily. "All you see is mine, all mine. No rent, only taxes!"
"That's wonderful, Bella! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME BEFORE?" Lily demanded.
"Oh," Bella waved a hand. "I had a feeling you'd be coming over soon and I wanted it to be a surprise."
"How lovely," Lily sighed gazing around the room, sane once again. "Although they don't exactly house you in a shack at Hogwarts."
"Enough chit-chat!" commanded Bella. "It is time to shop! So where do we go first, Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley?"
"I was thinking maybe something a little more special," Lily trailed off, not wanting to recollect her dream even with Bella.
"Oh, so we're going all out," Bella asked shivering in delightful anticipation. Shopping sprees with her best friend were few and far between- not to mention the fact that Lily always would skimp and save. There was this delightful little shop that she'd always meant to check out in Drogheda but had never had an excuse to spend so much money…until now, that is.
"Yes," Lily said firmly. "If I am going to see these people again I have to look my best, especially after all those mean jokes. I swear if they ever make another Beluga joke again I'll-" Lily balled her hand into a fist and looked threateningly at the floor.
"Calm down Lily," Bella said comfortingly. "They wouldn't dare to now. Besides, that evil Katie is probably a fat old hag by now."
"She would have had to change a lot in the last five years," Lily said darkly, remembering Katie's large bosom and slender body. In the recesses of her mind, a small portion of her had always envied Katie her way with all the boys. She could have and did have every boy in school including James Potter. But Lily wasn't jealous of her because of that. Of course not! Never. She had never liked James Potter and that was the way it should be. Or she had never SAID she liked James Potter, even to herself.
"We all change," Bella said. "You changed. We will just have to pray that she put on weight around the hips, thigh, stomach, arms, face, feet-"
"Feet?" asked Lily, giggling.
"I have always found pudgy feet to be quite a turn-off," Bella answered with dignity.
"We should get together more often Bella," Lily said happily. "Now do you want to apperate and risk leaving half of ourselves behind or shall we go by Floo?"
"Floo powder is definitely safest," Bella answered smiling. "Shall we go?"
"I think we shall. Whose going to go first?"
"I will," Bella volunteered.
"Be my guest," Lily said with relief. She didn't like going first.
"Okay," Bella tossed some Floo powder into the fireplace. "Prendergast Boulevard!" she yelled walking into the fire. She vanished and Lily quickly followed.
She tumbled out into a sunny walkway paved in uneven cobblestones. The shops that made up the plaza had apparently all cashed in on Ireland's legends, including painting themselves green and using names like "banshee" and "leprechaun" in their titles. Lily shook her head in disgust, tourism! In front of her was a large shop that was painted a brilliant purple. Under the window boxes hung a sign that read "Dame Aylmer's Dynasty of Beauty ." The setting and colors were so perfect and vibrant, Lily felt as if she had walked into a picture.
"Lily, how long does it take for you to read a sign?" asked Bella impatiently as she ran up walk.
"Um, an hour?" Lily tried as she followed Bella to the door.
"I should hope not," giggled Bella. "I'd hate to think what your classes would be like."
"I'll have you know that my classes are the best part of some people's days." Lily exclaimed indignantly.
"Those poor people have no life," whispered Bella in a sad tone.
"Shut-up," grumbled Lily. Bella jerked to a stop.
"Is it me or have we not gotten inside the shop yet, Bella? How long does it take you to read a door?" asked Lily sarcastically. Bella was staring at a newsstand.
"Is that YOU Lily?" she wondered.
"What? WHY am I on the cover of 'Wizard Fashion Monthly'?" said Lily. "I have GOT to be the most out of fashion person their is! And it's me TEACHING! Ugh, what if someone sees?" she groaned.
"Hmmm." Bella reached out and plucked a copy from the stand.
"What does it say?" asked Lily.
"Ummm, let's see," Bella flipped through the pages. " 'Professor Lily P. Evens, the Charms teacher at Hogwarts Academy for Wizards, has created a fashion that female students just can't seem to get enough of'." Bella read.
"Go on, go on," urged Lily looking over her shoulder.
" 'The normal black robe that is customary at Hogwarts doesn't allow student's to express individuality. In the past many girls have tried to change that rule but to no avail. The fashion Professor Evens has been wearing allows many people to promote either their house, or their own creativity while still staying within the rules. When asked Professor Evens stated that she didn't like wearing the same outfit over and over again with no changes so she decided to put together her own version of a black robe that included other colors. It also keeps you very warm. Females everywhere have been catching on quickly, putting this style on demand. The fad hasn't stayed behind Hogwarts thick, stone walls either. Girls at Durmstrang and Beauxbaton have been wearing this fashion and even adults have been spotted sporting the new style. Robe makers have been in a flurry, hurrying to supply the demand.' It's by the awful woman Rita Skitter, Lily."
"I was wondering why she was bugging me while I was chaperoning those kids at Hogsmeade last fall," Lily said. "But this isn't new. I've been wearing it for twelve stinking years!" she looked down in disgust at her outfit.
"It is a rather neat ensemble Lily, you've got to admit that," Bella said.
"Not you too," snorted Lily.
"I'm just glad that you're finally getting some recognition," Bella said, opening the wooden door that looked like it could have belonged on a pub three hundred years ago.
"Hello, my darlings, welcome to Dame Aylmer's Dynasty of Beauty and Splendor," a pretty, plump, blonde walked around the counter that was strewn with fabrics, buttons, and accessories. Her make-up was artfully done and she was wearing an outfit just like Lily's except that it had pink underneath and red on top. Bella nudged Lily in the ribs and they barely restrained giggles. She gasped. "YOU!" she cried pointing at Lily.
"Me?" asked Lily wondering what THIS was about.
"Yes, YOU. I was just reading about you in the magazine," she exclaimed. "How extraordinary it is to meet you, how extraordinary!" she pumped Lily's hand up and down energetically. "It is an honor to have you in my shop, an honor! We have the latest fashions all the time. And many like what you are wearing."
"Oh, um, well, me and Bella are just here to look around," Lily said.
"Look, explore, create another WONDERFUL fashion, do whatever you like!" The crazed woman waved them onward into the depths of the store.
"She makes it sound like we're on a mission," Lily whispered to Bella.
"We ARE on a mission, stupid!" Bella rolled her eyes. "We are on a mission to find the robe that will make me look irresistible to Sirius Black, who I haven't seen in five LONG, TORTEROUS years," She groaned. "It's been sheer AGONY!"
"What if he's married, has a dozen children, waddles, and has a pot belly that hangs down to his knees?" Lily asked remembering her dream. Nightmare, rather.
"LILY!" Bella gasped, smacking her on the arm. "Don't say such things, don't even THINK such things!"
Lily laughed. "Well, let's return to our mission."
Bella picked up a booger green robe, "Does this make me look fat?" she asked in a pinched, nasally voice.
Despite her intentions, Lily's lips curled in disgust. "It almost hurts my eyes!"
"Hmmm, what about this one?" Bella picked up a soft green one with a scooped neck and puffed sleeves that had slashes through them. Underneath was gold fabric. "It's almost like a princess gown."
"You'd look like a tree, sweetheart," Lily said fingering fabrics.
"Well thank you Lily," Bella made a big sniff and broke out sneezing. "Okay, I won't do that again. And I meant for YOU, darling." She fluttered her eyelashes in imitation of the shopkeeper.
"I don't think so," Lily said. "I always seem to be wearing green."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," clucked Bella. "That's because it looks so nice with your eyes."
"You sound like a chicken," muttered Lily sullenly. Bella snapped her with a scarf that handily happened to be near by. Lily jumped and glared at her friend.
"Fine, we'll look for a different color," said Bella. She rummaged around the small shop. It was disorganized with mounds of flashy colored robes piled on top of each other. The beads that dangled from the ceiling had a habit of whacking Lily on the head. Lily fumed as she sorted through a jumble of silky something's.
"Ah ha!" Bella finally exclaimed. She tossed her brown curls over a shoulder and held up a light lavender robe made of satin and ivory lace. "What about this?" It was button down like the black one Lily was wearing. It, too, had puffy slashed sleeves and a scooped neck. And it was very similar to the outfit Lily was wearing because on the bottom was a second layer in darker purple and embroidered with pink flowers. Lily hadn't realized how popular her once "unique" style was becoming.
"It's perfect," she squealed with delight.
"So Lily," Bella said casually as she handed over the dress, "are you trying to impress anyone in particular?"
"No, why?" Lily's voice sounded muffled as it came through the dressing room door.
"I was just wondering," Bella drew a design on the floor with a toe. Then she frowned at her foot- her black boots had been scuffed. Well, she was going to have to do something about that soon! Then she pondered her best friend. She had never had a boyfriend before and she had never confessed a crush on anyone except for James Potter. Arabella hadn't even heard about that one until that morning! Maybe she just hadn't been putting two and two together….
"Um, Lily?"
"Yes?"
"Do you like, well what I mean to say is… er...uh... do you like guys, Lily?"
"What?" cried Lily. There was a loud thump from behind the dressing room door as if she had suddenly fallen down.
"Now don't get uptight, Lily. Many people have trouble coming out of the closet. What I mean is...do you like GIRLS? Because its great if you do, I mean, I just wanted to know...that is to say...," Bella was lost for words. "I'd support you and all."
"Yes, Bella. My secret is out," Lily said in a low, seductive voice. "I don't like guys." she giggled throatily. "I like," she whispered huskily, "I like women."
"There now, was that so hard, Lily?" asked Bella nervously wondering if Lily had a thing for HER.
"Oh my gosh!" Lily yelped, stumbling from where she'd been changing into the fancy robes. "You should have heard yourself Bella. 'Now don't get uptight, Lily. Many people have trouble coming out of the closet'. It was positively hilarious!" She sprawled over the floor laughing helplessly.
"It's not funny, Lily. I was serious." Bella said. Two red roses were blossoming on her cheeks.
"No, dear, the boy you like is Sirius. You're Bella," Lily let out another peal of laughter.
"Oh, sod off Lily. I can't believe you did that to me."
"I couldn't help it. It was so comical the way you were asking if I liked girls. And I promise, Bella, that if I ever decide that I like the same sex I will you know first."
"Good, I'm...I'm glad to hear that Lily," Bella said uncomfortably. This provoked Lily into further hysterics.
"Shut-up or I'll kick you," Bella threatened.
Lily gulped down her laughter and managed to stand up before falling back down to the floor laughing, again. She was laughing so hard that tears were running down her face.
"I am just going to ignore you until you have your feelings under control," growled Bella, turning to look for a robe for herself.
"I'm okay now, really I am," panted Lily, who made a serious effort to control herself. "Sorry 'bout that Bella." She stood up and smoothed out the robe she was wearing.
"It's perfect Lily!" exclaimed Bella. "It makes you look one hundred percent more gorgeous than Katie Leconte. It's cut just right."
"Bella," said Lily grimly, placing her hands on Bella's shoulders and looking her straight in the eye. "Are you a lesbian? It's okay if you are, I'll understand. After all, we're best friends. Nothing could change that!"
"What?" cried Bella. She was going through severe shock. "No! Whatever gave you that idea?"
"Hee hee!" crowed Lily. "Got you on that one."
"LILY," shouted Bella. "I am going through a very difficult time right now and I need the support of my best friend. Unfortunately, she happens to be in hysterics. You are not helping me at all."
"I'm sorry Bella," Lily said covering her face with her hands. "I'll be good, truly I will be."
"By Merlin, you'd think you were fourteen, not a Professor at Hogwarts." Bella said as she irritably flipped through the piles of clothing.
Lily sighed and dutifully took her place beside Bella. "Hmm, what kind of dress (ROBE- interrupted Bella) would look the best on you. Not silver, not orange, you'd look like a pumpkin, red you'd look like a tomato, yellow you'd look like a piece of corn. You know, I think I'm hungry after all that giggling."
"You couldn't tell," Bella said mockingly. "I suppose....I suppose my question WAS sort of, kind of, in an awkward way… funny."
"You're telling me," Lily answered but she miraculously managed to remain calm. "I've got it!" She pulled out a long blue, silk robe. It was sleeveless and went up into a mock, turtle neck collar that clipped with gold braid. In fact, all the way down the bodice were gold braids that glittered and shown. It actually looked rather like those oriental styled shirts that had become a rage in the Muggle world. The under skirt was a lighter blue and had a checkered border across the edge.
"I like it," Bella said. "I like it a lot. But I want something to wrap around me, spring is cold." She wandered around the accessories section before pulling out a silver wrap around. "This?" she asked.
"Definitely not!" exclaimed Lily. "You have gold trim, not silver. You'd look absolutely dreadful."
"Fine, fine," Bella grumbled putting it back on the wrack. "What about this?" She held out a thin, lacy shawl that made the dress look killing.
"Maybe," Lily said walking around her. She tapped her forefinger on her chin and screwed up her face in concentration. Finally she said, "I like it. Yes, I like it a lot."
"I'm so glad you do, o' wise one." Bella muttered. "Because, of course, you are the most couture fashion consultant in the world."
"I heard that," said Lily, who had changed back into her normal robes. "And you're going to look like some wizard socialite while I'm going to look like a throwback to the medieval times. I think I'll have the girl up front do something with sleeves. Wouldn't want the 'trend' setter looking like the dork she really is."
"Sometimes, Lily," said Bella groaning in exaggeration, "you take self-pity way too far."
"Go dunk your head in Snape's brew," Lily said marching up front. "Excuse me?" she called ringing the bell. "Excuse me?" The blond woman who had been up there earlier hurried out to help them.
"Ah, have you finished making you selections?" she asked with an engaging grin.
"Almost," Lily answered. "I was wondering if perhaps you could make any alterations to these sleeves? Is that possible?"
The woman hummed thoughtfully as she looked at the dress with intense consideration. "Yes, I am sure I could alter the dress. What would you like instead?"
"Well actually, the problem is I don't know quite what to do with it. I want to look rather sleek and sophisticated, you see. There's someone I need to impress," Lily admitted.
"I knew it!" Arabella hissed smugly under her breath.
"Ah, now I see," the blonde tapped her forefinger on her chin the way Lily had earlier. "I got it!" she snapped her finger. "First I'll rip out the sleeves here, then I'll sew it up into two straps that tie together. It will work marvelous! You'll see. Gezella know."
"Oh, yes. Naturally," Lily stammered. Bella coughed behind her. "And my friend would like to purchase these," she gestured to Bella who was waiting behind her while Lily could finished arranging for alterations.
The girl (Gezella) wrote down the math in glittering green ink on a creamy pad. "That will be three galleons, five sickles, and two knuts," she said all business. Bella counted out the money into Gezella's waiting hand.
"When will my robe be ready?" Lily asked as Gezella escorted them to the door.
"Two hours tops," Gezella said. "We are zee the best unlike those disgusting American department wizard stores." She sniffed with disapproval.
"Thank you for all your help," Bella said politely, the door chiming between the two friends as they entered the street. Gezella waved good-bye before going back inside, muttering about "the nasty American wizard merchants that know nothing about good quality."
"I'm hungry," Lily complained, hopping on tip-toe from one cobblestone to the next, in an elaborate game of don't step on the cracks.
"Well, for information, darling dearest," Bella said. "I don't happen to go here that often."
A smell drifted through the air, filled with the smell of sunny-warm, wild strawberries, and juicy blueberries with the added plus of a doughy scent. Lily closed her eyes and used her nose like a compass, it guided her to the shop across the street. "Haughburgh's Café," she said. Through the windows she could see an assortment of wizards, witches, and ghouls sitting in the cheery atmosphere. Outside there were tables set up with umbrellas where a hag was sitting eating raw liver while reading a book that said "HOW TO GET RID OF YOUR WARTS" and a woman who looked suspiciously like a banshee sat sipping a chocolate milk shake through a veil.
"Jumping jelly beans! Now that's my kind of place," Lily exclaimed, completely forgetting about her 'Don't Step on the Cracks' game. She fumbled through her pockets, came up with a few knuts and sickles, and took off for Haughburgh's.
"Wait Lily!" called Bella, lugging her shopping bag after her. Lily stopped in front of the café until Bella reached her, panting like a dog left too long in the hot sun.
"Come on," mumbled Lily, tugging on Bella's arm.
"Might I remind you that you are twenty-three, Lily Evens, and a Professor at Hogwarts," Bella said. "What would your students think?"
"They would thinking I'd gone mad," Lily said unrepentantly, with her nose in the air twitching like a rabbit's. "They'd also think that their poor professor was wasting away from hunger. But they aren't here! Come on, I'm hungry!"
"Alright, good gog, I don't know why I put up with you sometimes," Bella said.
"Because you love me," answered Lily as she stood in line. "I think I'll have a raspberry tart and a lemon custard with a cup of tea. How about you?"
"Well, unlike you," Bella said, "I am not in the mood for fruit so I think I'll have a slice chocolate-fudge cake and a cup of coffee."
"Lemon's aren't fruit...are they?" Lily asked.
"Sweetie, honey, darling, sugar pie" Bella said clapping a hand on Lily's shoulder. "Does citrus FRUIT, mean anything to you?"
"Oh, yes," said Lily as they walked out to the patio to eat their purchases. Flakes of pastry dotted her chin and robes and soon her hands were pretty sticky too. Somehow, Bella managed to stay clean. They wandered around, exploring little shops until Bella managed to look at her watch.
"Uh oh," she said. "Lily-billy, we're going to be late."
"For what?" asked Lily. "Oh my goodness! My dress!" They raced around in circles and up and down alleys until they finally managed to make their way back to the boutique.
"Okay, so we're only fifteen minutes late," Bella decided, as they walked into the door. "I thought we were going to be even later with all those twists and turns you took us on, Lily."
"Hey, twists and turns are good," protested Lily. "Of course," she added as an after thought, "in the right place and time."
"For once in my life, I couldn't agree with you more," Bella commentated. "Ouch! That hurt."
"Serves you right," Lily said.
Gezella flung open the staff room door as Bella reached for the bell. "It's done, It's done!" she proclaimed happily. She led them through the store to where Lily's dress was hanging up. Lily had to admit, though she hadn't been sure at first, that the dress was looking perfectly now. Instead of the puffed sleeves, Gezelle had made wide bands of lavender that tied together over the shoulder. "Wonderful, is it not?" she asked.
"Perfect," Lily breathed. A thought popped into her head that made her giggle, what if she and Bella were the only girls not wearing replicas of Lily's original style? Now that would be amusing even though the idea seemed to be conceited.
"It needs a shawl too," Bella said looking at it from different angles.
" I couldn't agree more," said Lily.
She ended up buying a dark violet shawl with pink flowers embroidered on the end so that it matched the dress.
Bella and Lily reviewed their purchases as they threw the floo powder into the grate.
"Let's go to my rooms to get ready," Lily said. "That way we don't get mussed when we leave for the reunion. All we have to do is manage to walk down the corridor."
"That sounds right," Bella said. "As long as you stop giggling about that question I asked earlier today."
"I can't help it, Bell," Lily snickered. "It was just so amusing!"
"Do try, Lily," Bella said dryly. "Do try."
"We'd better go before the powder dries up," Lily said. "You go first."
"Alright," Bella said gripping her packages. "Hogwarts" she yelled, jumping through the grate. Lily quickly followed.
Author's Note:
That was the second chapter I've re-edited. Of course, unless you're a first time reader, no one else will be reading this. Hee hee. If you are, bless you and you have my everlasting adoration! I want to see if I can revamp the rest of the story by the end of vacation but I'm an astoundingly lazy person. So we'll see…! Happy reading.