Selling Lilies Chapter 4: Who Knew?, a harry potter fanfic

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Selling Lilies

Summary: James Potter is a prince that must, apparently find a bride. A suitable bride. But he has a secret, a dark secret. What happens when he meets Lily, a beautiful woman with exactly the same secret but under the protection of a notorious war-lord? Can he be allowed to marry her? Will she even love him back? Will they choose the rules or will they break free?

Disclaimer: All that is mine is De Silva, Granny Lipton, George, Mr Farrow, Jack, Annie, Sara, Fletcher, the Sorceress, her henchmen, and the plot! Every character that you recognise belongs to the wonderful Mrs JK Rowling.

Previously…

"I am Lord Lucius Malfoy, and this fine fellow is Sir Crabbe… Then I can take my beautiful bride back home… oh my, I didn't mean to sound confident… I am a particular friend of his brother…so I have some reason for believing that I will win."

……

She's gorgeous. She's beautiful; she's… she's got her arms around a rather tall fellow…I. look up again to find them out of their embrace, talking. The goddess blushes. Wow, he must be saying something very serious. Is he… is he asking for her hand? He can't be! He just simply can't! He must be… they've embraced again.

If I can't have her then no one can.

I flick through the bidding sheets that were in my hand. Mister Black's was at the end.

"He says that he needs a servant/cleaner… Do you think Lily could do that?"

My dear friend Farrow looks at me "Yes. I think Miss Lily is rather bright for her sex. …But still, if that's all he wants. I thought you didn't want Miss Lily to end up on the street, or in a man's marriage bed. I thought you had a suitor lined up for her in Spain. What happened to that?"

……

"It's time I repaid you somehow. Who is the gentleman that shall care for me?"

Fingers crossed? Check. Ankles crossed? Check. Eyes crossed? Check. Arms crossed? Check. Hopefully it's…

Chapter Four: Who Knew?

Sirius's POV

I strolled out of the house, almost concerned at the night time that was soon approaching. I did all I could. I was absolutely sure of that. But how James would take that answer, I wasn't too sure.

I approached the little field that was stupidly placed in the middle of the square a long time ago, to where Prongs, Moony and Wormtail sat. Moony appeared to be in a deep slumber, Wormtail was eating and dear ol' Prongs was just sat there brooding. Staring at the ground. I assumed that it was about the whole 'marriage thing' and didn't press it.

When they saw me walking towards them, they immediately brightened up.

"How was it Sirius? Did you do it? What happened? What are the girls like? Surely you must've met her? What was she like? Are you going back to tomorrow…Is she as pretty as they say she is? She's definitely worth it then? What was the …"

"Shut the hell up, Wormtail! Bloody hell! My ears haven't stopped ringing with questions!"

Peter then stopped, and looked down. So he should be, acting like a little child who needs to know everything at once. Prongs gave me a weary smile and said "What happened, Padfoot?"

"I don't know the outcome. They said they should've made up a decision by tomorrow at the latest. That Malfoy git was there, but I don't think she liked him." I hope so at least.

"So, what was it like Padfoot? Seeing all your very dear old friends again?" Moony had just woken up, and looked as tired as I felt.

"None of them was in there. I didn't think there would be any women in there, but we got to spend 15 minutes with the girl herself! I didn't think that would happen until you forked over the cash!"

Wormtail perked up with "What did she look like then?"

"I'm not saying. Wormtail, you've got enough women as it is. Four of them are desperate to see a wedding ring on their fingers. If anyone of us is getting this girl, it's James. The rest of us are married, or engaged." Peter opened his mouth to protest but I knew he'd proposed to two of the girls anyway.

"I know Gabrielle Peter; I can't wait till the winter is over. That's when the wedding is going to be, isn't it?"

Peter mumbled something, his way of declaring that the war was over. I nodded. The way it should be. Never once has Peter beaten me in an argument.

We all stood up; with Prongs still staring at the house I had just spent hours in.

"What is it, James? What is the matter? You've been acting weird all day. Tell me. Please"

He turned around to look at me right in the eyes. They held fear, sadness, the look of betrayal, and something else. Whatever could have happened for that time I was away?

"Don't worry Padfoot, I'll tell you when we get back to the castle."

And with that, we all walked back in companionable silence. I hoped that Miss Evans would be able to sort him out. After all, she was to be the Lady-in-waiting to his aunt. And, James just so happens to really love and look after his aunt. So, she could always become an acquaintance by default. It could happen.

Lily's POV

"We don't know Lily. We really can't choose. We have narrowed it down to two particular gentlemen, but alas, we cannot decide between them! What shall we do, my dear Lily?"

Oh dear, what two have they finished up with? One can only imagine for so long. I think of all the possibilities, before Mr Farrow rudely interrupts my thoughts with "Miss Evans, do you not wish to know which two men your father has chosen?"

Ha! Father! No father would sell his daughter to support a gaggle of whores. It's just not done. Well, looking back at most fairy tales, father's sold or gave away daughters quite frequently. But, still I was not in a fairy tale.

"Oh, I'm dreadfully sorry sir. Which two have you decided Mr De Silva? I would greatly appreciate the names."

Mr De Silva looks at me, and calmly says "Mr Malfoy…" Oh no! Shit! "And a Mr Black". Phew! I was almost tearing up.

Now, that is such a hard decision… I mean it's so hard to decide between the guy who dropped a whole load of hints at the 'marriage bed' and what he would do, or the guy who had an alright sense of humour, and his employer only wants a cleaner. Moving to a new country, or staying here where I might see Jack, Annie, and Sara again. Hmmm…so hard to decide.

Uh oh. Mr De Silva is looking at me, expecting me to reply. He has obviously just said something. Something I entirely missed due to the rant I just had in my head.

"Well Lily, which one do you think is better?"

"Ummm..."

"Yes…dear"

"Well, Mr De Silva, I would find it quite hard to leave this house, let alone the entire country. I was born here, and would very much like to remain here. I also believe that Mr…Black was it? Yes Mr Black would take better care of me while I am in his care." Hopefully he won't see through that one. I just really don't like that Malfoy creep. And it's all true. So, it isn't a lie anyway.

"Yes, of course Lily. This upheaval is already too much for your poor soul to bear. Do not worry my dear child, I will ask them both tomorrow round for luncheon. Then, we may give the name of the man who had won. Are you quite sure that you wish to reside with Mr Black? Once we have chosen, we cannot go back."

"Mr De Silva, I believe I am quite sure of the decision. I wish to remain in my home country."

"Alright my dear. Go off to bed now. Tell Jack he is to go as well. I know Mrs Lipton has him in the kitchen somewhere. Oh, and ask Mrs Lipton to come and see me. I need to discuss kitchen details, food bills and such"

I take my leave of Mr De Silva and Mr Farrow; I think I am grinning rather largely. Thank God I am not to be sold to grope git, or Mr Malfoy.

I run down into the kitchen. I can't wait to tell Jack that I'll be able to visit him after a while. I'm sure Mr Black wouldn't mind.

I run around, trying to find Jack. He doesn't seem to be here. Hmmm… I wonder where he is then?

"Granny Lipton? Jack? Is anyone in here?"

The back door slams open and I see Granny Lipton hurrying to shut the door before I see anything. But, just before it closes I catch a glimpse of a man that looks in his early thirties, and an extremely old looking woman.

Granny Lipton runs to the counter, and starts chopping food, preparing for tomorrow. She looks flustered, as though she's been caught doing something she shouldn't have done.

I slowly approach the counter, my left hand out in front of my body as it is quite dark down here.

"Granny Lipton?"

She looks at me with her most irritated face. I press on though. "Granny Lipton, do you know where Jack is?"

"Yes, you silly girl, I sent him to bed half past the hour."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Ummm…Granny Lipton, Mr De Silva has asked for you in his study. He is expecting you. I think Mr Farrow will still be there as well."

She looks at me, surprised at Mr De Silva's request I think.

"Yes, alright, I'll go now" she says, rubbing her hands on her apron.

"Good night, Granny Lipton"

"Good night, Lily" she says, before practically running off.

I wander back to my room, and fall back onto my bed. Today was awful. I hated most of it. But I saw James again. Something I never thought would happen. I sigh. So, today wasn't so bad after all.

James' POV

As soon as Remus and Peter had departed, and George was no where in sight, Sirius started hounding me with questions. What was the matter with me? Why was acting strange? Who was she?

At the last one, I can feel the shame of my reaction seeping through my facial features, and Sirius obviously caught on.

"Ah ha, T'is a girl. Well, well, well, Prongs is worrying about a girl. Who is she James?" He says with a smirk.

"No one Sirius." He can obviously see through my blatant lie, and the fact that I've started to blush.

"No one my arse. Just tell me James, I might know her."

"Alright, but this doesn't go out of this room. I met…I met a…a…a girl at the auction." Sirius opens his mouth to say something, but I hold my hand up and cut him off.

"I know what sort of girls where present, Sirius. I'm not stupid. But, she just couldn't be like that. She didn't look like any of them. They were all made up, and had elaborate designs on their dresses. Her's was plain."

Sirius is studying me as I say this, and after I finish, he says "What's her name?"

"I don't know!" I almost shout. That was the fact that annoys me the most. That she didn't tell me her name. Well, her real name.

"Well, she said to remember her as Flower or something like that. But I think that we all know that that isn't the case."

"James, I hate to say it, but isn't it a bit coincidental that a girl in a place like that just so happened to give you a name that isn't hers, exactly like the prostitutes do. They always have names like Angelique, or Precious. Flower sounds a bit like that."

"But, she just can't be one."

But, as I say this I think back to some of the first words she said to me.

: Flashback :

"Excuse me sir, but can I possibly sit here for a moment. I wish to get rid of one outrageously behaved man, and this corner is quite dark. May I?" she spoke at last to me. I couldn't take in the words she was saying, just opening drooling in her direction. She was beautiful.

: End of Flashback :

"Oh, complete and utter bollocks, Sirius. I really liked her. Even though I only spoke to her for a few minutes. What now?"

"What did she look like? I might know her. I could tell you if she is or not."

"Alright then. She was wearing a purple dress, kind of lighter than royal purple. It's much lighter… like umm…lavender! That's it. Lavender. And it was rather plain, no sort of embroidery or embellishment. And I couldn't see her shoes… if she had any anyway and…"

Sirius interrupts me "No, not what she was wearing, what she, herself, looked like… you complete pleb!"

"Honestly Sirius! No need to call me a plebeian! I happen to be one of your only friends who isn't one. But, alright, I get your point. She was rather petite, had flowing red hair, than ran all the way down her back, and almond shaped eyes, the colour of the forest tree leaves in the middle of summer. Perfectly green! Well, what do you think? Do you know her? Is she one of them?"

Sirius then put a great big grin on his face.

"As a matter of fact, I happened to meet her quite recently. Her name is Lily. And no she isn't. Which will please you, of that I have no doubt." When he says the last sentence, he drops into a mock formal bow. But I can pay no attention.

Her name is Lily. Wow…so close. Lily is a flower. So technically, she wasn't a liar, her name was a flower!

Oh yes! I feel great now!

I feel like doing a victory dance, but I'll wait until Sirius leaves.

Lily.

Sirius's POV

No way. No way in hell. It can't be. It mustn't. It is. Ha! It really is. The girl he's mooning (ha! Mooning like Moony…I'll have to tell Old Remus that one) over is none other than Miss Lily Evans, Ward to the Warlord that is Mr Diego De Silva. The very same Miss Lily Evans that James is intending to buy.

Well, that's a turnout for the books. James looked at me weirdly. I must've shown my glee on my face or something.

"As a matter of fact, I happened to meet her quite recently. Her name is Lily. And no she isn't. Which will please you, of that I have no doubt." I said to him. Well I needed to appease him with some information. I wasn't going to tell him about Lily yet, as it would be a bitter disappointment if he doesn't win.

However, I couldn't wait for the two of them to actually meet, both knowing their social statuses. That was sure to be fun.

I then turned and left, knowing that James wanted time to go all goo-goo eyed over her. The last time he like a girl, he was 13. Now, he's a man.

I knew then that the events that came next would be great to watch.

And I was right.

Lily's POV

I wait until I know everyone had gone to bed. I hear Mr Farrow leave, and then Mr De Silva talking, mumbling to himself as he climbed the stairs to his chamber. I also hear Granny Lipton go to bed. Granny Lipton. Just who were the people she was talking to at the back door? And why did the old woman's face strike fear into my soul? I feel as if I knew her, in a past life maybe? But, I'd never seen her before in my life…I think.

Just thinking about the woman's face, I automatically move to my special ledge. Underneath this, I kept something very secret in here.

It was a pair of gloves I had knitted myself and pieces of wood. Every shape and size. You see, I'm a tiny bit different. I have this little power. It's nothing special, it's just that I can make wood carve and shape itself. I can move trees, and change the shape of the branches. I don't know how I can do it, but it just happens. I found out when my parents were alive. I can also bend the wind, or slow it down. I know, you think I'm utterly mad, but I've tested it again and again. And every time, anything I want it to do something, it just happens. Now, try and tell me I'm mad.

All I do is place my hand above the piece of wood, and whatever I'm thinking of, the wood will carve itself into it.

I place my hand just above a little piece of wood that I took from the fire the other day. It was not very big, about 6 inches long and 3 inches wide. I think of love, and the image of love. The magic from my hand carved away the wood until it was shaped like heart, and inside the heart, was an image of two tiny pixies or faeries dancing with each other. You see, I told you I could do it.

The magic (if you can call it that), was given to me by a family friend when I was a tiny baby. However, it was this gift that killed so many people. No one is supposed to have powers such as I have. It is against all reason, it is against God. I hide it with all my might, as I know I will be branded a heretic, or a witch, and then who knows what will happen to me. I cannot tell anyone this, as you can never truly trust another living person.

It was because of this 'gift' that my parents were killed.

James POV

I am just setting down for breakfast when I happen to notice a message has been brought to the entrance of the palace. Intrigued as I, I simply had to find out what it was about. So, I run until I reach the entrance and find that the message has gone. Damn! I wanted to see what it was. Maybe it's for Sirius. Hopefully he'll have won that wretched girl, and then I could hold marriage until I met someone I actually liked. As we are so close to having the protection of the War Lord De Silva, who had a lot of contacts, my father had laid off about the marriage thing. He didn't ask me once to ride straight back to Princess Kathleen's palace, unlike the others, whom he almost had me kidnapped back to their countries. So, if the girl does stay here, then he will not press the matter again. I mean, if we, as a country, suddenly gain friends and contacts like De Silva, we become powerful, and as a result, instead of me having to go to the girls, the girls will all beg their distant relatives to let them stay and then introduce in court, therefore they come to me. Good plan, yes? I jolly well thought so.

I reach the dining room just in time for the royal unveiling of the toast. It's the best part of breakfast. Tradition demands that every morning, all the royals must attend the official royal unveiling of the toast. This country's monarchs have been doing this since the King Gurgi III, in 1099. It's tradition. And we must stick to tradition. No matter what.

As soon as the toast has been unveiled, I turn to look at Sirius. But, Sirius just shakes his tell, and mouths tell you later.

Maybe it's about the auction! How thick am I for not thinking of it before! It must be that! I want to know the outcome of the auction. How glad will I be when this auction is over! No more worrying and pondering?

There's banging on the doors, and then some very pushy looking big men come barging through. What's happening now?

OMG!!! (I find that I say that an awful lot!) Wow!

First of all, I would like to declare my undying love, gratitude and thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! I was going to be mean at first, saying that I would only post this chapter after I received double the number of reviews than I got for the first two, as it was twice as long. But, all the reviews were so nice, I couldn't wait anymore!

Second of all, a BIG HUGE WARM LOVING HUG to EVERYONE who added this to their story alerts/favourites! It means a lot. However, if you have added it, then you obviously liked it. I would love feedback on my story, so if you did, just a quick note on what you liked! Please!

Third of all: If you did enjoy this, please check out my other stories! I just posted the newest story I've decided to give to the public to ask for their scrutiny, and it's called Title Unknown. Thrilling, isn't it? It's James/Lily again (for that is all that I write for some reason), but focuses on Snape and Lily's relationship at the beginning. Please also check out my One-Shot called Ghosts, and of course my other AU baby, Seven Deadly Sins, Five Evils (btw if you do read that, big thrilling chapter coming up very soon. YAY!). I thank you! gracious bow

Please, Please, (I'm on my knees, begging you please) review!

Thanks

-Elle-