A pair of bright green eyes blinked in the early morning light. The sun was starting to rise over the eastern hills, casting shadows to dance across her shabby bedroom walls. Quickly pushing her blankets off her body, she stumbled out of bed with a weary yawn. This summer she had unremittingly been waking up nearly everyday at the break of dawn to get to work. Not much of a summer for some, but she loved working with Tom. Something about his quiet humour never failed to reassure her. Quietly she opened her door as not to wake her mum and her client. Her mum hated that. She said that her clients, as she would always delicately put it, wouldn't pay her as much if they saw she had a daughter.

Twenty minutes later, she headed out the door flinging a light sweater over her shoulder for the evening walk home. Quickly walking down the few blocks to the local wizard inn called The Leaky Cauldron, where she had worked like a workhorse all summer.

"Lily, you're late!" The bartender cried from behind the counter with a jolly smile.

"I'm five minutes early Tom," Lily reminded him with a small smile as she hung up her sweater on the back peg of the inn.

"As always. A ne guy in room 11 called down for room service already," Tom said. "Here's the key." Tom threw a set of keys to Lily. Lily bent down and picked up the keys she failed to catch, she had always been clumsy.

"Right," Lily quickly ran up the stairs and knocked on the door with her mop and bucket. "Room service." A grunt of come in came from inside the room. Opening the door it revealed a dishevelled wizard.

"Hi, sorry about how early it is I have an early meeting at the Ministry of Magic," the man said rubbing his eyes. "Could you get me some poppers and a glass of milk?"

"Sure," Lily smiled softly and hurried back down to the kitchen to grab the wizard cereal he ordered. Lily smiled to herself. Poppers was usually a kids cereal, it turned different colours when milk was added and would pop inside your mouth much like the muggle candy. Lily frowned slightly as she put it all on a tray. The man reminded her of someone she had met before. Must be a coincidence, she mused to herself as she walked quickly up the stairs with the breakfast.

Lily knocked on the door trying to balance the tray at the same time; one the downers of being an underage wizard and working at the Leaky Cauldron. She still didn't have the authority to hover the tray up to his room. Knocking on the door again she waited till the wizard opened the door for her. This time he had dress robes on and his hair was lying as flat as she guessed it would, though parts in the back were ruffled up a bit.

"Thank you," He muttered while handing her a galleon for a tip. Lily's eyes widened as he closed the door with a smile. Usually she only got a knut, if that. No one had ever paid her so generously before.

"Thank you," she whispered as she moved away from the door and back to the dinner area to start her morning routine.

As Lily walked back into her house after a long day at work, she was taken aback at discovering her mum sitting at the kitchen table weeping. Lily hung up her sweater and walked over to the table hesitantly, not sure how to take her mum's state. Her mum was never home before she was and the last time she had seen her cry was when her dad left.

"Mum?" Lily asked quietly. Her mum sniffled loudly and handed Lily a letter. Lily took it from her mum's hands and looked at the short scribbled note. It almost looked as if it were a bother just to write it. Skimming the note quickly, Lily felt the air inside her leave as quick as mother turtle leaves her young. Her sister was getting married. On the fourth of August to a man named Vernon Dursley. Lily was shocked to see that the wedding was less then a week away, and they hadn't really received an invitation. The letter only seemed to inform them of the wedding but written in a way that it discouraged them from appearing.

Lily sighed; she remembered when Petunia had promised that one-day when she got married that she'd make Lily her maid of honour. Apparently that had been a lie too.

The morning was crisp and the frost that already tinted the front lawn in early October seemed to promise a hard winter ahead. An older girl, maybe about 10, came tromping in from outside carrying a large load of firewood from the woods that lay behind their house. The only source of heat the family was bound to have all winter if neither of the parents could find work.

"Thanks Petunia, can you wake up you sister? I think we're going to polish shoes this morning," A woman who already had the lines off worry written across her face asked the young girl. "I think dad wants you to help him fix the leaks in the roof before winter truly hits." The girl, Petunia, smiled and brushed away her thick mane of hair from her face and headed to the back of the small house where she shared a room with her younger sister.

"Lily-bear, wake up!" Petunia said, lightly shaking her sister awake. Slowly Lily opened her eyes and let out a tired yawn.

"Morning Petty," Lily said pushing off her blankets.

"Mum wants you to go and polish shoes today, maybe we can get some warm soup for supper," Petunia said pulling her sister out of bed. Lily quickly grabbed a sweater and pulled it over her head to keep out the chill. The sleeves though were a bit short and there were a few holes around the bottom of it.

"Is there breakfast?" Lily asked as she pulled on her shoes.

"No, you know how hard it is for all of us, we're doing the best we can." Lily nodded and raced out of her room.

"Mummy, I'm ready now," Lily piped up with a large grin. "Morning Daddy!" Lily said and jumped into his arms and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey little tyke, what're you up to this morning?"

"I'm going to go clean shoes with mommy!" Lily said brightly. The man with caring green eyes smiled down at her. He loved his little Lily; she always seemed to wear a smile on her face no matter how down the rest of the family was. She almost seemed oblivious to the tough times their family had fallen into.

Lily beamed up at her father, Petunia always told her to be happy. No matter what happened, Petunia would say, we have each other and for that we should be happy.

"See you tonight, David," Lily's mum said and gave her husband a quick kiss on the lips. Lily was used to seeing her parents show signs of affection for each other. They loved each other so much, and as long as they did Lily knew everything would be fine.

"Be careful Sharon, I love you," With a final kiss goodbye, mum and daughter headed out to the street. First they had to go to the corner street to rent some cheap shoe polish. They had brought some older rags from home.

The rest of the day Lily and her mum sat on a side corner polishing shoes in silence. Lily quietly hummed to herself as the day wore on into night. By the time Sharon called it a day it was really quite late but the corner street was open and they were able to buy their dinner.

"Lily, can you set the table?" Sharon asked when they had gotten home. Lily grabbed the dishes from her mum and carefully set the table.

"Lily come here, I wanna show you something." Petunia said from the doorway. Lily finished putting the plates and spoons down and then quickly dashed over to Petunia. Petunia led Lily outside and to the mailboxes down the street. She pointed to the notice board beside the square, metal boxes.

"What's it say Petty?" Lily asked looking at the notice, but unable to read it.

"Mary and Peter are getting married in a month!" Petunia exclaimed. "Isn't that romantic? I saw them in the supermarket just a few weeks ago. They looked head over heels in love." Petunia carried a dreamy look across her face. "When I get married, that's how I'm going to be, crazy in love and not afraid to show it! And you'll be my maid of honor because your the bestest little sister in the world." Lily beamed.

"You promise?" Lily asked.

"Of course, wouldn't' want it any other way," Petunia swept Lily into her arms. "And we'll dance all night long under the stars. Me in my ivory white dress and you in a sweet pink outfit."

"You'll have it on a beach, won't you Petty, so that the entire world can see," Lily said happily.

"I should be there, a daughter needs her mothers advice at a time like this," her mum said, her voice hoarse from crying. Lily remained quiet. She didn't know what to say, this was one of those rare occasions that her mum actually talked to her. Lily somehow thought that it was because she looked so much like her father that maybe her mum couldn't bare to look at her.

"Lily, we should go, it's your sister's wedding and I bet she'll need both of us, do you think you can get the time off work?"

"Yes, I'm sure I can."

"Great, so we'll leave in a couple days then, I think I have enough money to get us there and back, and maybe a little bit for a motel." Lily nodded and for the first time in years gave her mum an awkward hug.

"It'll be fine mum." Sharon nodded, stood up and straightened her dress.

"Well, Bill will be expecting me at work tonight, but I'll tell him I need a few days off after."

Sharon quickly headed toward her vanity table to remove the traces of redness in her eyes.

Lily sat in the back of the taxicab with her mum; her heart was beating unusually fast against her rib cage. She hadn't seen, or heard from her dad and sister since she was six years old, about ten years ago. Sometimes Lily wondered what had happened, she used to be so close to her dad, but when he left, it seemed as if he had instantly forgotten her. She tried asking her mum about it, but her mum just hushed her up and told her to never talk about her father, or sister for that matter, again.

Lily tightened her ponytail and smoothed her worn, pale green skirt. They should be there within the hour. Her mum had refused to call her ex husband and informing him that they were coming. She had said that he would have tried everything in his power to keep her away. Lily wasn't sure how their sudden appearance would be taken. For all they knew they wouldn't be allowed to the wedding and they would've come all this way for nothing. She shuddered at the thought wouldn't that be awful, she mused, being rejected to my own sisters wedding.

"Lily, we're here," her mum's voice broke into her thoughts. Lily looked out the window; sure enough they had entered the town of Surrey. "Just a few minutes now." Lily noted how strained her mum's voice was. Whose wouldn't be, after ten years without even speaking to each other, except when she finalized the divorce papers, how couldn't you be petrified?

The taxicab came to a stop in front of a average sized house. Sitting in front of the house was the old battered car that Lily had last seen her dad drive away in. Her heart sped up, if that was even possible, as she took a step out of the cab and hauled out a small bag after her. She almost wanted to dive back in the taxi and tell her mum what a horrible idea this had really been. Or at least wait until the wedding to show their faces. But with one look at her mum's determined frown, Lily knew that there was no way out of this.

"C'mon Lily dear, best not keep them waiting,"

Lily was shocked at the bitter tone that had entered her mum's voice. Sharon walked briskly up the steps to the house and knocked heavily on the door. Lily heard the shuffle of feet from the inside the entryway, her heart jumped into her throat. This was it. The door opened and a friendly looking woman with caring blue eyes opened the door.

"Can I help you?" She chirped her face was round and cheeks red with mirth. Sharon seemed to be taken aback, she certainly had not expected another woman to open the door.

"Is this David Evans home?" Sharon asked politely while sizing up the woman in front of her.

"You've come to the right place, I assume your here because of Petunia's wedding?" Sharon nodded, "Well come right in, Dave said some guest would come. I didn't know it would be so soon, but no matter I will have one of the guest rooms made up for you two."

"Is David here, I'd really like to speak with him," Sharon said as she was lead into the house.

"Oh no, he's at work. Won't be home for a couple more hours, but it'll be fine that you're here. Just make yourself at home. I'm Linda by the way," Linda said.

"Right, Linda, you don't have to show us the room, if we could just sit in the parlor and wait that would be great." Linda looked startled for a moment, but nodded.

"Have it your way then, follow me." Linda led them into a cozy room off to the right.

"Here we are, and who might you two be?" Linda finally asked.

"I'm Sharon and this is my daughter Lily," Linda looked taken aback for a moment but her bright smiled covered her moment of surprise.

"Okay then, well, I'll just bring out some tea shall I?" After Linda left, Sharon let out a loud sigh. Lily remained silent. She was still scared at her father's reaction to all of this. And a few hours didn't seem to come fast enough.

Linda had come back with some tea; she sat down and chatted with the guests for a few hours.

As Lily sat listening Linda as she chatted about how Petunia met Vernon, Lily reflected on how different Petunia's romance had turned out to be. Instead of a fiery romance she had dreamed of, it seemed as if she had safe and steadfast relationship with a dull man. Lily frowned at how many things had turned out different then what was expected. She couldn't imagine her Petty changing that radically. From a girl who always dreamed of adventure to- Lily stopped, she didn't know what her sister had had changed into.

Lily then heard the outside door open and the faint rustle of someone removing their shoes drifted down the hallway. She felt her heart jump into her throat.

"Linda?" Lily felt her mum stiffen beside her at his voice. Lily recognized his voice too, but it sounded more tired and drawn then before.

"In here Dave," Linda gave them a reassuring smile and stood up.

"Has Petunia gotten home yet?" He asked as he walked into the parlor. But his question never got answered. His eyes had landed on the two intruders on his couch. His body visibly tensed and Lily recognized the slight bulge in his neck that indicated his restrained anger.

"Hi David," Sharon was the first to speak. To an outsider her voice sounded calm and ready, but Lily could detect a slight tremble. Lily's father just stood there and stared at them. It was as if he didn't believe they were actually there and if he ignored them they would just disappear. The tension in the room thickened as silence reigned.

"Sharon," David finally acknowledged. "What are you doing here?" His voice was hard and controlled. Lily shivered as he raised his arm to ruffle his graying red hair.

"She's my daughter too David, you didn't actually think I'd stay away," Sharon said. Her voice had resigned from staying calm to a clip that matched David's.

"We don't want you here," Lily shuddered at his tone; she couldn't believe how much hatred laced his voice after so many years apart. She took a chance to glance at her mum. Her fists were clenched so stiffly by her sides that her knuckles where turning a pasty white. Lily felt herself closing her eyes, something she always did to try and block out something she didn't want to become caught up in. A coping mechanism she had figured at one point in her life.

Feeling her eyes start to burn from the hot tears welling up inside her eyelids she couldn't hold them back any longer and they slowly seeped down her face. Quickly she brushed them away before anyone noticed. But she need not worry about that, the two adults where too focused on each other.

"We're going to be here for the wedding David, you can't keep us away," Sharon finished saying before she grabbed her bag and headed out the parlor doors. Lily barely had time to scamper after her. With one glance at her father she didn't see an ounce of love for her that he used to have.

The wedding dawned a bright morning, everything opposite of how Lily was feeling inside. Somehow she felt that this storm cloud inside her was only going to get worse as the day wore on. Her mum had dressed in her best dress, which was a faded pale purple sundress.

Lily watched as her mum applied her daily make-up almost cringing when she puckered up to put on her ruby red lipstick. Lily sighed and turned away from the full-length mirror in their room at the hotel. Her mum still looked like she was just in her early thirties. Lily hated what her mum did to herself; she never used to be that way. She used to always hold Lily on her lap and say that it was the inner beauty that really counted. But after the divorce her mum spent all their money on beauty products and had even spent more then half their spending on some cosmic surgery. Money Lily had never known they had.

"Lily can you grab my perfume from the bag?" Sharon asked sweetly, Lily complied and handed her mum the cheap drugstore perfume. "Well, I think I'm ready, how about you?" Lily nodded and slipped into her flip-flops.

The ride to the wedding, which they learned was being held in a church a good fifteen minutes away, was a silent ride. Lily fiddled with her fingers, she still hadn't seen her sister, and was scared stiff, especially after her father's reaction. Lily nervously glanced out the window and watched the people slip by, none of them seemingly having a care in the world as they stopped for some tea, or the newspaper.

When the taxi came to a stop, Lily looked at the church. It was a rather large church made of all bricks and it had a huge bell in the steeple. Lily set her foot on the almost daunting stairwell and started up, going towards the huge oak doors. Lily had never seen a place look quite so beautiful, except for, of course, Hogwarts.

"Excuse me miss, can we have your name?" Lily looked at the doormen; he was undoubtedly here to make sure you were on the guest list and not just some random person hoping for a free meal at the end.

"I'm the mum of Petunia Evans, I'm Sharon Gordan and this is her sister Lily Evans," Sharon stated. The doorman looked at the list for a second before looking at them both quickly. "We're going in now." Sharon took Lily by the arm and pushed them in without giving the man time to speak.

Lily let herself get led in by her mum's quick pace, though she would've liked looking around a little inside the church. Her mum on the other hand had other ideas. Marching straight into the sanctuary Sharon took a seat right in the front. The spot reserved for immediate family only.

"Mum, do we have to make this such a big deal?" Lily whispered.

"It's my daughters wedding, I'm not about to go and sit in the back where I can barely see what's going on," Sharon stated sternly. Lily sighed and only hoped that her father wouldn't make a scene like she knew was prone to happen whenever he didn't get his way.

Sooner than she was ready Lily heard the organ start up and she knew without even having to look that the processional had started. It would only be a few more minutes before her father would see them sitting here. Lily followed her mum's example and didn't look back, she didn't want to see her fathers bulging vein in his neck, or have to see his eyes turn to stone at the sight of them.

Closing her eyes tightly, Lily imagined herself away from this nightmare she was going to face. When a few minutes of silence passed and the brides march started, Lily reopened her eyes to see Linda sitting beside her mum. Lily met Linda's eye and Linda beamed at Lily. Lily tentatively smiled back and looked down the aisle.

It felt as if something had got caught in the back of her throat. There was her sister; it almost looked as if she were gliding down the aisle. Swallowing hard Lily couldn't help but notice how different she looked. Her brown hair had been cut short so it framed her long, oval face. Her blue eyes were coated with a shimmery blue makeup that seemed to make them 'pop' out. Her lips were covered with a soft pink lipstick that made them look fuller then the thin line Lily knew they were.

Just then Petunia seemed to notice that Lily was sitting there and their eyes locked for a second. The look of shock registering in Petunia's eyes was indisputable, and Lily watched as Petunia faltered, only to have her father lug her up. Lily was the first to look away she couldn't stand it. Instead of watching her sister, Lily looked to the front to seek out the man who stole her sister's heart.

He stood in the front with a handsome tux on, with a silver bow tie tied around his thick neck. He didn't look like anything her sister used to dream off. Did she let all her dreams go to waste? Or did they change as the years passed?

Lily continued studying him; he had slicked back light brown hair and Lily noted that his eyes seemed a little too small for his head size. He wasn't fat, Lily thought, but defiantly not very fit and he leaned more towards the chubby side of things. He had an air of seriousness about him that Lily didn't like and the way he stood seemed to scream of his low self-esteem.

Petunia had reached the front by now and he took a step forward to acquire her from her father. Lily closed her eyes again trying to block out everything. Everyone had seemed to change, and their dreams didn't seem to matter anymore. Lily hated it, hated that her sister and father seemed to cut her out of their life. That they seemed well off and that her and her mum scrapped to get by each and everyday. Lily shook her head in annoyance, it was just hard for her to accept, and maybe she was just jealous- jealous that her sister didn't have to see the things she wished she never had to see.

Before she knew it, the wedding was over, and Petunia Evans was now known as Mrs. Vernon Dursley. Lily looked up to where her sister was smiling at the pulpit with this Vernon guy holding onto her hand. Lily felt her throat tighten again and she did all she could to not to let the threatening tears find their way down her cheeks.


I want to go home, Lily pleaded inside her mind. She didn't want to see this anymore; it was ripping her apart inside. She was currently sitting beside her mum during the reception dinner. They had found a seat in the far corner but Lily still had a clear view of her father. He didn't look like the happy man Lily knew he would have been if they never shown up. His rigid stance was enough to tell that he was tense with anger.

"These chicken wings are quite delicious Lily, have you tried some?" Sharon asked putting another chicken wing in her mouth. Lily rolled her eyes in annoyance. How could her mum be so calm? Here they were ruining her sister's wedding by just being here and her mum was sitting there as if everything was just peachy. "Something wrong Lily?"

Lily rose clumsily, knocking her chair over in the process. Without even looking over at her sister again, Lily made her way out of the hall hastily. Maybe they'd be happier without her, it was obvious that was the case, she didn't want to be a burden.

"Lily!" A shrill voice rang out. Lily nearly stopped dead in her tracks, she knew that voice, it had matured since the last time she heard it, but not in a million years would she ever forget it. Her last promise to her would always remain with her. "Lily-" Lily turned around to face the woman who stopped her, her sister. The two sisters stared at each other for a few moments, neither being able to think of a thing to say.

"What happened Petunia? When I look at all this, this isn't who you were, this isn't what you always dreamed you'd have," Lily said spitting the first thing that came to mind. Petunia looked taken aback at Lily's outburst.

"Lily, that was years ago, people change; dreams change," Petunia said softly, her eyes flickering. Lily looked shocked.
"And what about you, you don't look like the sweet Lily flower anymore." Petunia shot out defensively. Lily ignored her comment.

"I'm sorry, it's just that everything is so different, it's hard to take in." Petunia sighed while rubbing here eyes.

"Those dreams were childish Lily, I had to let them go. Vernon is a good man, he's like a rock, he may not look it, but he is. I do love him and I know he will always be there for me." Petunia said with conviction.

"Petunia darling, Vernon is getting worried," Lily looked over to where her father suddenly appeared to notify Petunia. His eyes refused to meet hers.

"Okay daddy, I'll be right in," Petunia said. David nodded and left the two alone again. Lily looked over at Petunia awkwardly; this would probably be the last time she ever got the chance to talk to her sister. They stood in silence again for a few moments, Lily pulled on the end of her long, curly red hair.

"Why didn't you come back?" Lily asked with an unsettled voice. Petunia looked taken aback at the question. "I waited, everyday I waited."

"It wasn't that easy Lily," Petunia started quietly. Her voice was husky with emotion, "I- I couldn't just come and get you."

"And why not Petunia? You have no idea- I needed help. It was so hard – " Lily stopped suddenly, her throat tightening up she could barely keep the tears from coming. She couldn't believe how self-pitying she sounded, but all this pent up anger she held inside herself was finally bursting forth and she felt like she was in a whirlwind and only going down faster and faster.

"Lily- there was so much more to what happened then you knew. You were too young to understand it," Petunia said, but her voice, Lily noticed, had started getting a slight clip to it. She wanted to understand though.

"Then what? Maybe that'll help me understand why you guys left and I never seen either one of you again." Petunia started shaking her head making her short hair loosely flare around her.

"I have to go," Petunia said sharply before turning around and rushing back into the dinning hall. Lily watched as her sister, maybe for the last time, walked out of her life this time though, she didn't look back.

Authors Note: Hello all, i hope you enjoyed this edition, please let me know your thoughts about it and how it can be improved. cheers.