Chapter 3- Surprises
Last Time: Her eyes widened for a spilt second; it was Severus Snape her childhood friend from her Hogwarts days they were no longer friends after he had called he that horrible M word. Snape of course as usual had a sneer on his face as he looked at little Harry who was starting to sob. Lily quickly turned on her heel with tears now forming in her eyes too.
Lily was walking as quickly as her legs would take her. Harry was now sobbing in pain because of the graze on his arm and she had tears in her eyes from seeing her childhood friend. She needed to see Madam Pomfrey to fix Harry's arm then straight to Minerva otherwise she would run out of time. She rounded the last corner before the Infirmary. She pushed the large oak doors open and yelled for Pomfrey who came bustling out quickly. Lily now had tears streaming down her face not because of the graze on Harry's arm from when she ha tripped but from seeing Snape. She did care that Harry had hurt himself and was quite upset but she was more shocked to see Snape help her up.
Ever since Severus Snape had called her that horrible word in their fifth year he had started calling him Snape. She didn't want to associate herself with people that were prejudice over something as silly as that.
Madam Pomfrey fixed Harry's arm with a quick spell, she gave him a small child size Chocolate Frog which wasn't as sugary as a normal Chocolate Frog. Harry was quite happy now. Madam Pomfrey turned to Lily and softly asked, "Lily dear, are you alright you came in crying." "I'm quite alright thank-you, I ran into Snape earlier you know I haven't seen him since fifth year after he called me that foul word." "Ah yes, he hasn't changed much since then either, if you need anything though dear you know where to find me." Poppy Pomfrey had always been kind to her ever since her first day at Hogwarts. When her parents had been killed Poppy had been there for her through everything. "Well Harry and I must be off; we were on our way to see Minerva before we came here because of Harry's arm." "Okay well if you have time come and pay me a visit if you have time before you leave." "Will do Poppy if we have time." Lily said smiling. Lily walked out of the Hospital Wing in a better mood with a happy Harry in her arms. She was on her way to see Minerva for the second time hopefully she and Harry would make it there in one piece.
Lunch was on in the Great Hall so very few students were in the halls only a few late stragglers. She hoped Minerva wouldn't be in the Great Hall having lunch with the rest of the staff, so she decided to take a peek in when she went passed to see if she was in there. Luckily she wasn't. However, Lily did see Dumbledore, James, Sirius and Remus sitting up on the staff table where Snape was shooting them all dirty looks. She was happy to see that all three of them were ignoring him and being the bigger person. She knew inside that they all wanted to hex him, maybe not Remus though. "Dada!" Harry cried happily as he saw his father, luckily for Lily who didn't want to stop Harry's voice was drowned out by the general chatter of the students. Lily smiled at Harry but kept moving towards Minerva's office. She hadn't seen Minerva in quite some time probably since Harry was about 6 months old that was 10 months ago. She and Minerva had been good friends ever since she had finished school; she enjoyed speaking to Minerva especially hearing funny stories about James from when he was a young boy before Hogwarts. Minerva was a family friend of the Potters. So she had seen James often before his Hogwarts years. She had always had a soft spot for him and the rest of the Marauders minus Peter; she had never liked him.
Lily arrived at Minerva's office and knocked twice before the door opened to reveal Minerva sitting on her desk in her animangus form. Harry giggled at seeing the cat sitting there. Minerva transformed at the sight of Lily and Harry. Harry stopped giggling for a few seconds staring in awe at the form that use to be a cat. Despite Harry having seen his father and Sirius in their animangus forms he was still shocked in awe every time he saw someone transform.
"Hello Lily and Harry, my Harry you've grown a lot since I last saw you." Minerva said smiling at Harry who was smiling back. Lily laughed in agreement. "Lily he is so much like James when he was about this age too expect he has your eyes." "Yes it's quite frightening how a like they are even down to the things they enjoy like using the floo network." Lily said remembering the trip to Hogwarts from earlier today. "Come in and sit down, I'll order some sandwiches and tea." Minerva said directing towards the three seats and a small table and called for an house elf.
10 minutes later they were all sitting around the small table including Harry in a child sized chair, enjoying their sandwiches. "So Lily what do I owe the pleasure of yours and Harry's company today." Lily looked up smiling and said "Well as you know James's birthday is coming up soon and I was thinking about having a party." Minerva nodded every so often in understanding. "I know that James hates surprises but I though just to change things up this year how about a small surprise party with some family and friends?"
"Oh Lily I think that is a wonderful idea!" Minerva said clapping her hands together which Harry copied making everyone laugh. "Where should we hold the party?" Minerva said with obvious excitement, "I was thinking of making it seem like everyone had forgotten about it, I don't think that we can tell Sirius because of his big mouth and we can hold it in our backyard." "Yes I think that is a great idea!" "We definitely wouldn't be able to tell Sirius because knowing him he would 'accidently' tell James". "That goes for you too Harry no telling your Dada about his party okay" Lily lightly scolded jokingly. Harry moved his little chubby hand up to his face to make an be quiet gesture.
"Well lunch will be finishing soon so Harry and I will make our way back up to the Great Hall to meet James, Sirius and Remus." Minerva nodded "Thank-you for lunch Minerva, we will have to organise something next Hogsmeade weekend." "Yes Lily we should, I'll owl you the Hogsmeade dates." Lily nodded and smiled. "Well see-you Minerva, Harry say good-bye." Harry waved and attempted to say God-bye all that came out was "Goooo." Minerva laughed as did Lily. "Yes good-bye both of you."
