Chapter One: Beginning
She let out a slow sigh of contentment.
She spread her hand so her palm was flat against the soft grass beneath it. With her other hand, she felt around blindly until her fingertips touched the stem of a flower. With a swift movement, it was plucked from the ground and tucked behind her ear.
She was lying in her favorite meadow, amidst the supple grass and sweet scented blossoms, staring absently at the baby blue sky. Her red hair was splayed behind her head and her skirt was wrapped around her bent knees like a blanket. Her toes peeked out innocently and her boots sat abandoned a few feet away.
She began humming quietly to herself, twisting her fingers in the grass and looking absently into the nearly-cloudless sky. Then suddenly, as if on a whim, she leapt up from the ground and sprinted away across the field, leaving her boots, forgotten, behind her.
Her feet pounded against the ground with each bounding step, her red hair flying behind her, her eyes sparkling with the simple joy of running.
Then, within 30 feet of the forest, she came to an abrupt halt. There was a figure in the trees. She stared at the person, eyes narrowing as she squinted in the sunlight.
Her face contorted into an odd expression for a fraction of a second before she wheeled around and sprinted in the opposite direction, letting out a shrill scream. The figure darted after her.
Her continuing shriek echoed in the huge meadow as she ran toward her abandoned boots, the figure quickly overtaking her. When he grabbed her waist, she gave a last cry of surprise and they both fell to the ground, cackling with laughter.
When their laughter ceased, she rolled onto her stomach and glared teasingly at him.
"I suppose you've been sent to come fetch me? Surely Father would be wanting me back and doing chores hours ago, which, I'm sure you know, is precisely the reason I'm not home at the moment…"
He laughed loudly and hooked her neck in his elbow, pulling her closer to him. He crunched his free hand into a ball and pressed it to her head, twisting it back and forth.
"Hey! HEY! No noogies Julian!"
He laughed louder, and she struggled against his grip, grunting with effort. After he was sure he had thoroughly mussed her hair, he let her go. She pouted at him, her hair poofing around her face like a fluffy red halo. He flopped onto his stomach in renewed peals of laugher. She shoved him over irritably and he rolled onto his back, still laughing. A grudging smile spread across her face and she slumped forward to lie across his chest, her chin resting on her clasped fingers.
Once he stopped laughing he looked down into her face, tucking an errant tendril of fiery red hair behind her ear.
"I love you Lily." He said seriously, all traces of laughter gone.
She smiled up at him, "I love you too Julian." She lay her head down on his chest, relaxing into the soft, clean cotton of his shirt. She closed her eyes in contentment.
"You two!"
Lily's head snapped back up to look curiously for the source of the voice. Her smile was replaced with a mock grimace when she saw it was her older sister Petunia.
"Hi Tuney."
"Hello Petunia."
"Father sent me out here to get you two, because Julian obviously failed." She nudged his shoulder with her booted toe and chuckled.
Julian chuckled and sat up, letting Lily roll away into the grass where she laid face up, looking at her sister.
"He chased me around," She raised an arm and pointed accusingly at her brother, "It's his fault."
Petunia grinned wickedly and untied the apron from around her waist. She rolled it up and flicked it at Lily like a whip.
"Hey!" Lily squealed, jumping up. Petunia cracked her makeshift whip again with a snigger.
"Come on sister, time to do chores," she chimed, flicking her apron at Lily's behind, as Lily trudged along grudgingly "Come on sissy-AH!"
Julian snuck up behind her and scooped her up, and in one smooth movement, had draped her over his shoulder. Lily plopped onto her behind in the grass, howling with laughter
"Hey!" it was her turn to squeal, as Lily laughed at her, "Put me down Mr. Evans!" she now attempted to flick her apron at Julian's behind, albeit unsuccessfully. He chortled and said, "I should think not Miss Evans!" Petunia begins cursing at him teasingly and Lily jumped up from the grass to follow her beloved siblings, her worn boots swinging from one hand.
"Out of here you ridiculous girl!"
Lily squealed when the broom came into contact with her skirt-covered bum, and she skipped quickly out the front door, an empty basket bouncing after her. Petunia shut the door before Lily could reenter and gave a short laugh.
Lily heard her call through the door, "Now go to the village and buy some food. There's money in the basket." The sound of her footsteps grew quiet as she walked back into the house.
Lily bent down to the aged basket and peered inside. Sure enough, there was a small brown pouch tied to the handle that jingled slightly when she touched it. Lily picked the basket up and walked towards the village, but not without making a silly face at the door behind which her sister had vanished.
Drawing her olive green shawl tighter around her shoulders to guard her from the slight end-of-summer chill in the air, Lily made her way to the village. As she walked, she admired the bright green leaves on the trees and the fluffy clouds floating across the sky. The sun beat down on her face and warmed her hair.
Upon reaching the edge of the bustling marketplace Lily suddenly stopped dead and slipped as close as she could to the nearest shadowy wall.
She had seen the tall, burly form of a man she would rather not speak to; Lucius Malfoy. He had been pursuing Lily's affections for a long time and unfortunately for him, she was not at all interested. He was rude, uncouth and conceited, and Lily was very happy to stay away from him.
Upon seeing him in the square, a brainless, hero-worshiping girl hanging on each arm, Lily slipped into the shadows and snuck along the wall towards her favorite bookstore hoping to hide there until Lucius had gone.
She slipped in the door as quick as possible, and the small bell above the door jingled quietly. A voice immediately called from the back, "Welcome to Flourish and Blotts! I'll be with you in a moment!"
With a little sigh, Lily sat down amidst the piles of books in one of the mismatched armchairs and waited.
Within moments, an old man with long white hair and sparking eyes under half-moon spectacles stepped out from between the tall bookshelves. He was wearing an odd purple robe and his white beard was so long, Lily was sure he could tuck it into his belt, should he feel the need.
He smiled serenely at her, "Oh, Miss Evans! What brings you to my humble bookshop this lovely day?"
"Oh, I'm trying to hide from Lucius Malfoy," Lily confessed, sinking down in her chair slightly and gesturing towards the window, "I like this shop too I suppose, I mean, uh—"
"It's alright Miss Evans," he smiled at her again, his eyes twinkling behind his spectacles, "You were feeling uncomfortable in the presence of Mr. Malfoy and you seek refuge in the safety of the books."
"Yes!" said, relieved, "Exactly Mr. Dumbledore—"
"Oh, do call me Albus."
Lily grinned, "Only if you call me Lily," she quipped.
"As you wish my dear," he smiled placidly and gave her a small bow. She giggled shyly when he took her hand and kissed it delicately.
"Would you like a cup of tea Lily?" he asked, gesturing toward the back of the shop.
"Yes please!" Lily exclaimed, jumping up from her seat and clasping her hands in front of her.
Albus gave her another of his serene smiles, said, "Please stay here, I will be back in just a moment," and stepped between the towering bookshelves. Lily blushed and plopped back into her seat.
While she waited for him to return, she decided to have a good look around the off bookshop. The shelves nearest her were crammed with books of all colors and sizes; some looked newly bound while others looked old and seemed they were falling apart at the seams.
Lily reached up and pulled down an especially decrepit looking book from the shelf. She looked at curiously for a moment, trying to find its title before deciding that it simply didn't have one. It had an air of mystery that gave Lily a feeling that this book wasn't supposed to be out here; this was something she wasn't supposed to read….
She hooked her right pinky under the edge of the cover and—
"How do you take your tea Lily?"
She gave a sudden jerking movement and stuffed the book behind her back, her heart thumping a little in her chest.
Albus turned around and looked at her, "Sugar? Lemon?"
"Oh," Lily said, trying to be as nonchalant as possible, "Two scoops of sugar please."
Albus gave a little chuckle, and turned again to spoon sugar into her teacup. When he finished he handed it to her and she took a sip.
"Hmmm…" she sighed happily. The tea warmed her down to the very tips of her toes.
After an hour or so of chatting with Albus and drinking the wonderful tea, Lily slowly rose to her feet.
"I'm afraid I have to be going Albus," Lily sighed and drained the dregs of her tea from her teacup, "I was supposed to be buying some things for Petunia in the market…"
"Oh, by all means Lily, please go whenever you are ready. You are always welcome here." He smiled at her and she smiled back.
"Thank you very much Albus. You are welcome at my home anytime as well." She grinned and extended a hand. He took it and kissed it in farewell. She blushed.
When Albus turned his back, Lily slipped the ancient book into her basket. She didn't see his sly smile as she left the little bookshop.
Lily walked slowly through the little town market, selecting various fruits and baked goods and placing them in her basket and dropping coins into the vendor's hands.
After she had paid for the last of her food and started the walk out of the village, a calloused hand suddenly cupped the side of her neck.
"Where do you think you're going without saying hello to me, blossom?"
Lily groaned.
"Hello Lucius," she mumbled and started to walk away from him. His grip tightened.
"All I get is a 'hello Lucius'? Now that's not very nice…"
"I'm in a hurry Lucius."
"It didn't seem like you were in such a hurry when you were in the bookshop with that batty old codger."
Lily gasped incredulously, "He is not batty! He's a genius! And he's very kind."
Ignoring her comment, he leaned down very close to her face and said, in what was clearly meant to be a seductive voice, "You look luscious today you know Blossom." He licked his upper lip. Lily made a little noise of disgust and shoved him away.
"No thank you." She swung around and stepped briskly in the opposite direction. Lucius clamped down on her hand with an iron fist and halted her progress.
"Wait." His eyes were hungry and were straying away from her face. She shivered involuntarily as they passed over her chest.
Lily looked him directly in the eye. "Good day Lucius." She spat venomously, yanking her hand out of his and without looking back, she sped back to her home, leaving Lucius standing angrily in the middle of the road.
Her pounding heartbeat slowed as Lucius left her sight and she paused to pull the mysterious book from the bookshop out of her basket. She looked at it for a moment, hesitating before slipping it back inside the basket and continuing on her way.
When Lily finally reached her home, she was greeted by the sight of her father busily chopping logs and adding them to the ever growing pile beside their little cottage.
"Hello Papa!" she sang happily as she approached him. Pausing in his woodcutting, he hugged her and she pecked him softly on the cheek.
"Hello Lily," he said softly as he released her, "How's my baby girl?"
"Just fine Papa," Lily replied, "It's starting to get colder outside, isn't it?"
"Yes it is. Winter is certainly on it's way…." His voice trailed away as they both looked up into the sky.
He kissed her cheek again and said, "You better get inside and give your siblings that food." Lily nodded and complied.
When she stepped inside she found her sister working busily at the loom and her brother tending the pot over the fire. Julian looked up when she came in.
"Oh good, Lily, you're back," he said, "Just put the food on the table ok?" Lily set the basket on their little dining table and began emptying it of its contents. When she grabbed the old book, she hid it behind her back and slipped into her room.
Passing Petunia's bed and perching lightly on the edge of her own, Lily set the old book in her lap, peering at it curiously. Just as she was about to open it…
"Lily! Come here! I've made you something!"
Lily jumped at the sound of her sister's voice. She quickly slipped off the bed and onto her hands and knees. She reached under her bed, wrenched open the loose floorboard, and stuffed the book inside. Then she leapt to her feet and dashed out of the room, to where her sister was waiting for her at the loom.
Author's Note: Hey all! I'm just revamping a bit, and hoping to continue the story a bit more. I just had a great brainstorming session and the mysteries of the plot are starting to come together! :) Thanks for reading!