I do not own Harry Potter or any of the places, people or items mentioned. They all belong to J.K Rowling.
Chapter 2 The Ministry of Magic
"Lily."
"No."
"Lily!"
"Leave me to wallow in my own grief." I say, burying myself further under my duvet, the corners tucked underneath my body, the sound of Marlene's calls falling upon deaf ears. I hear her sigh, before feeling the sudden cold draft of her throwing the duvet off of my bed. "You don't understand Marlene, he will literally suffocate me and I will have no-one to run to!"
Rolling her blue eyes as she looked down upon me; curled up hoping that -as cliché as it sounded- it was all a very mislead and out of control nightmare and that any moment, I'd wake up.
"Lily Evans, you are a strong, independent woman."
I perked up, my head peeping above my retrieved duvet before saying "...I am?"
"Damn right you are. The Lily Evans I once knew would never give up her ground for anyone, let alone a Marauder."
"...No she wouldn't."
"That's right. Now, I want you to go into the ministry of magic, head held high and show that auror office you are not to be messed with—and maybe Potter will follow along suit."
I didn't need telling twice, as I swiftly dragged myself out of the warmth of the Gryffindor tower (fully clothed) ready to board the train to London, which would eventually take me to the grand architecture of the Ministry of Magic, a place I had yet to lay eyes upon.
"I am glad you have arisen Evans, Kings Cross awaits." I heard the joyful tone of Potter, one of the only people who were in the common room at this point in the day, other than a very groggy looking Lupin who didn't look in the mood for conversation.
"If you think we are sitting in the same compartment to London, then you are mistaken." I corrected him, dragging my trunk along the floor. "I'm sitting with Alice."
"Wrong again Evans, we have assigned compartments."
I felt my spirits fall once again to a new low, questioning just how much information he knew and how he always seemed to be ahead of me.
"Tough. Alice is sitting with us."
He shrugged, shaking his head. It was better he knew who was in charge now, than in the ministry where I could possibly make the wrong impression on my fellow colleges.
We ambled down the moving staircases in a small huddle consisting of Potter, Alice and myself; lugging our bags watching them bounce off of every step, squinting at any damage that was on the inside.
"There must be a spell to make this easier!" Alice exasperatedly breathed, her muscles tensing in her arms as we finally reached the bottom.
"Oh there is." Potter added, rummaging around in his trouser pockets, waving his wand valiantly before his own medium sized trunk shrunk down not much further, causing him to frown. He tapped his wand, analyzing it for a moment. "That's odd. Why didn't it work?"
I rolled my eyes, presuming from passed classes I had with him that charms weren't a talent of his. "Maybe you did it wrong. Let me try."
I patted my thighs, hoping to feel the shape of my wand, however there was nothing. The moment my brows furrowed did Alice notice that something wasn't quite right, my hands digging into my pockets a little more frantically than before. Slapping my hand to my forehead, I turned around my eyes automatically counting the amount of stairs I had to climb as it hit me that my wand had to be on my bed. Unfortunately, -and may I be the first to say just how unfortunate- it lay on my bed , which was currently placed in the Gryffindor tower.
"My wand! I-I left it up on my bed!" I exclaimed, dropping my trunk.
"Lily! We are going to be late!" Alice whined, her eyes wide. "I'll come with you to get it."
"No." I stopped her, choosing to be selfless. "You and Potter head on, I'll meet you in the carriage."
"I could summon it?" Potter added, which I immediately frowned down, causing him to lay his head low. Alice winced, deciding whether she should be a dutiful, loyal friend or whether she should cross me and do as I had asked.
"...Are you sure?" She asked again, the pitch in her voice changing leaning towards the idea that I might change my mind. I hadn't.
"Positive." I turned around choosing to leave my trunk at the bottom, heading up the steep steps. "I'm not hearing any walking you two." Almost at an instant I heard the faint footsteps shuffle away, joined with light roll of wheels and I knew that Alice was doing as I had asked, but it was plainly obvious who wasn't.
"Potter, I'll meet you in the compartment. I don't need anyone to hold my hand into our own common room." I sighed, turning 180 degrees to see he hadn't moved an inch.
Pulling out a crumpled piece of paper, he began reading "During the placement (except during sleeping hours) must partners stay together, as loss of one partner cannot be the fault of the Auror Office, but the responsibility of the students to make themselves aware of the team work required by being aware of partners ware bouts."
In English it meant that Potter and I were to be stuck together symbolically like glue and it also meant that I had to be responsible for him and vice versa.
I sighed "Fine, but you are not coming into the girls dormitories, no matter what that arrogant piece of paper states." Stomping my feet a little louder to show him just how much this displeased me, I couldn't help that notice that a smug grin had formed on his faintly stubbly face, that -happy-go-lucky spring in his step wasn't going unnoticed either.
Once we had stated the password for the portraits, we climbed through passing Remus once again, Potter choosing not to explain the situation to his confused pout.
"Now you wait here, I'll only be a minute." With a nod, I headed up the girl's staircase, inching swiftly yet quietly up across the creaky wooden floorboards until I reached the familiar door. I pushed it open; revealing Marlene lying on her bed reading what appeared to be a healer's manual.
"What are you doing back! Aren't you meant to be on a train?" She asked, rather shocked that I had returned.
"Relax." I put up my hands in defence. "I didn't quit, I'm just coming to fetch my wand."
Marlene smirked, tucking a strand of her crazy hair behind her ear before throwing her book on the floor. "Why didn't you just summon it? You know, Accio?" Stated it like it was obvious.
"Look, when you are brought up my muggle's, there are certain things that I forget. Besides, Potter offered, but as you said, I am a strong independent woman."
"Go then." She smiled wafting her hands towards the door as I shoved my wand into my pocket. "And before you ask, yes, the healer experience doesn't start until this afternoon, so don't give me that 'Why are you still here' look."
I smiled, waving goodbye for a second time jogging down the corridor and descending down the stairs with a little more pace. There stood Potter, not even noticing my arrival as he watched the clock intently.
"Bloody hell, how long does it take to get your wand woman?" Potter exclaimed, once he had acknowledged my arrival. "Never-mind, we'd better get going. That train isn't going to wait for us."
We ran arms and legs flailing in all directions as we were out of the castle and on the alternative route, desperately trying to drag my incompetent suitcase along the dirt track.
"I don't see any carts." I breathed, darting my eyes between the trees and Potter. "We've missed it haven't we."
Potter halted, dropping his bags to his feet, ruffling his hair with his fists clenched.
"If you hadn't have gone back we'd be on the train by now!" he growled, face only relaxing once he saw my scowl.
"Well you offered to come with me because that stupid piece of parchment said so."
After an inhospitable silence occurred Potter sighed "...Sorry, that was uncalled for."
"You've got that right." I muttered folding my arms, eyes averting towards the floor.
"Maybe we can go back?" he suggested after a moment, attempting to seek Hogwarts through the trees.
"But our placement?"
"Well? Do you have any better suggestions?"
I shook my head, still choosing not to look him in the eye. I knew full well this was my fault, but hearing him say it was insufferable, making me feel even guiltier.
Suddenly Potter perked up, the crazy glint returning like an old friend.
"How far do you think the Quidditch field is from here?"
I squinted, not wanting to converse about Quidditch. Not really wanting to converse at all.
"I don't care Potter, unless the pitch is going to get that train back."
"It might not get the train back, but...well...how'd you feel about flying to the Ministry?"
"I really, really don't like this." I squealed my arms tightly gripped round his waist, my eyes even more tightly shut.
Even though I couldn't see, I could feel the smirk he pulled.
"I can't say I feel the same."
Automatically I hit him, hanging on even tighter, frightened to lose my balance. I opened one eye just to check that the small bag that I had around my body in which contained mine and Potter's luggage was in fact still around my body, however looking down was a rather large mistake on my part. I could see the River Thames below, as we flew in the clouds getting nearer and nearer to the ground as Potter aimed the broomstick downwards towards the hustling traffic and pollution of London. From here, my stomach flopped.
"This is horrible!" I squealed in his ear, the broom picking us a considerable amount of steam as we finally hit the ground. Rather gentlemanly, Potter let me hop off first, before stuffing the broomstick in the charmed bag that was around my body. I straightened myself out, flattening my hair, turning to Potter, whom might I add was smirking at me once again, hands in his pockets.
"Held on to me quite tightly there Evans. Scared of flying are we?" He inquired, a single eyebrow raised.
"We shall never speak of it." I told him quietly, peering around the corner, trying not to be noticed by a small cluster of muggles with briefcases. "You have the arrogant piece of parchment, so where is the entrance?"
Potter put a hand up, stopping me from continuing even if I had wanted to. "I don't need paper to tell me where to go Evans."
He walked up the the side of a blocked graffiti covered building, in which stood a very rusty telephone box with a sign that said 'Out of order'. Walking cautiously behind him, I could help my childish attitude as I mimicked his speech silently, hoping he wouldn't turn round so I could flush out my annoyance with speed. "There, should be ready."
Stepping into the box, I peered over his shoulder watching him dial the numbers 64224 M-A-G-I-C and in almost an instant, a sickly sweet -clearly recorded-witch's voice echoed throughout the box, making both Potter and I jump.
"Hello and Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Would the visitor please state their name and business."
Potter and I glanced at one another, myself shrugging leaving it to him, which I knew I'd regret later.
"Lily Evans, Hottie." Potter half-laughed-half spoke in a high pitched voice, attempting to sound female. I punched him in the arm, utterly shocked when a silver card came shooting from the money slot in the telephone with my name and the exact title Potter had given me. He grabbed it and stuck in on himself, laughing like a hyena.
Being civil, of course the only way I could retaliate was to play him at his own immature and un-respectful way. "James Potter, Dunderhead."
Potter stopped laughing his mouth forming a perfect circle as the card shot out, and I placed it on my jumper, bold as day.
"Dunderhead?"
"Hottie?"
Before another argument could progress, gravity defied my stomach sending both myself and Potter sideways, crashing into the walls of the telephone box as it plummeted downwards. By the time it had stopped we were in a crumpled heap, as I tried pushing him off of me, failing.
"Get-off-of-me!" I strained, pushing him hard.
"Dunderhead." He stated, smirking.
"Hottie?" I exclaimed angrily, however blushing as a very confused older wizard appeared to be alarmed at our heap inside the box, so as expected we both promptly got up and strutted out into the Atrium. As soon as I lay eyes on the grand architecture -that I had read so many times in books- my heart started beating. My eyes flew over the flawless black marble in which stood fireplaces upon fireplaces of wizards and witches of all shapes and sizes popping in and out through the thick green flames going upon their business for the day, stoned faces. I smiled at the golden statue that resembled equality in the centre watching the glowing face of the minister of magic wave to all of his employees; probably there as an indicator of hope.
"Hello?" A small podgy woman with electric red hair held out a hand smiling at both of us. We both shook her hand, smiling. "Amelia Littlemore...And you are?" Her eyes browsed our name tags, Potter immediately swapping ours, mine now reading 'Hottie' for all to see. A glowing blush crept up upon my cheeks.
"Lily Evans." I said, raising my head. "These aren't real." I pointed to my tag in which Amelia nodded, clearly her sense of humour escaping her.
"And you?"
Potter ruffled his hair and gave her his award-winning smile. "James Potter."
A sudden recognition flickered in Amelia's eyes, her face lighting up. "Ah, another Potter. Welcome." I frowned at hearing her say this, not knowing how she knew Potter at all, but not getting time to ask questions." I take it you are hear for the Work Experience placement. But weren't you-"
"We had a little mishap." Potter explained as Amelia led us to the lifts, pressing floor two. The same mechanical voice returned as we stepped inside the lift stating;
"Level two: Magical Law enforcement."
With a creak and another bolt, we were upon level 2, following Amelia down the marble corridor, dodging several other witches and wizards until we came upon a door way in which boomed a rather elegant but macho voice. The door swung open to reveal seats of a few students (one of them who was Alice, her face lighting up as soon as she saw us) and a man who was reading from a book. He slowly stopped speaking, coming to notice that we were at the door.
As soon as I saw him I recognised him, that itching feeling where I couldn't quite put my finger on it who it was whom he reminded me of.
"Hello Sir, I've got two latecomers whom said they had a..." Amelia looked between Potter and I "...mishap getting here."
She gently pushed us in, shutting the door quietly.
"So what have you got to say for yourselves?" The man perched himself upon the desk, pushing his deep shade of chestnut hair with a dusting of grey from of his eyes, marking his placement in the book, eyes darted between the two of us creating another strong yet shameful blush upon my cheeks.
However while Potter did look ashamed and wasn't standing with as much arrogance, he was still smiling, one eyebrow raised. "...Hey Dad."
