Lily Evans flew down the stairs into the Potter's kitchen. This was the day she had been waiting for, and finally it was here. The OWL results had arrived. She had worried to the point of obsession that her results would not find her here at the Potter home, but just minutes ago James had called up the stairs that three owls had just arrived, one for each of the teens. Hands trembling, she reached for her envelope, James and Sirius were already tearing there envelopes open. "Predictable," she thought to herself, "Of course they have nothing to be nervous about, it's not like either of them have ever cared about marks. I doubt they even studied at all for their OWLS." She, Lily, wished she could tear open her own envelope with the same bravado, but unlike James and Sirius, she had worked hard for the past five years to earn good marks on her OWLS, and with the threat of her mother's letter from the previous day looming in her mind, the results seemed to hold even more importance to her future than she could have previously imagined. Yet, this was the moment she had been waiting for, and she would not shy away from it. She took a deep, steadying breath and opened the envelope to read her results.
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS
Pass Grades Fail Grades
OUTSTANDING (O) POOR (P)
EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS (E) DREADFUL (D)
ACCEPTABLE (A) TROLL (T)
Lillian Jane Evans has achieved:
Ancient Runes………………….E
Astronomy………………………O
Care of Magical Creatures………E
Charms…………………………..O
Defense Against the Dark Arts….O
Herbology………………………E
History of Magic………………..A
Potions…………………………O
Transfiguration…………………E
Lily read through her results twice before her breathing returned to normal. She had done well, quite well, in fact, 9 OWLS was the best she could have hoped. She looked up from her parchment smiling in pride.
Mrs. Potter was pretending to be absorbed in making breakfast for the three teens, but in reality she was just as anxious for the three children, as they were for themselves. Therefore, when James tapped her gently on the shoulder, she could barely contain her own excitement to read her son's results.
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS
Pass Grades Fail Grades
OUTSTANDING (O) POOR (P)
EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS (E) DREADFUL (D)
ACCEPTABLE (A) TROLL (T)
James Andrew Potter has achieved:
Arithmancy…..………………….O
Astronomy………………………O
Care of Magical Creatures………O
Charms…………………………..O
Defense Against the Dark Arts….O
Herbology………………………O
History of Magic………………..A
Potions…………………………A
Transfiguration…………………O
"Oh, Jimmy!" cried Jillian Potter. "I am so proud of you! Wait till your father gets home, he will be so proud!" James smiled meekly, slightly embarrassed by his mother's praise. He was not one who usually shied away from praise, however he wished he knew how Lily had done on her OWLS before his mother had proclaimed his to be so wonderful. If Lily had not done as well as she expected, James knew he could expect her temper to surface. It was not that she was a poor sport, quite the opposite. She would gladly rejoice with anyone who had done well, regardless of how she herself had done, if that person had worked hard for their marks. He knew, with the same certainty that she would resent anyone who could do well without lifting a hand to study, especially if that person had interrupted her own studying with his pranks, as he had done the past five years.
Lily watched as James tried in vain to shrug off his mother's praises. She could not understand that, James never hid from praise. She wished she could share her results with her own mother and have a similar moment, but that could not happen. She had not yet responded to her mother's letter, she knew her OWLS would not sway her mother's decision in the slightest. Yet, she still wished in vain that she could share this moment of triumph with her own family, instead of with a family she barely knew. For a moment she felt as if she might allow a single tear to drop from her eyes, but then James was standing in front of her. A hesitant look in his eyes, as he said something to her, with a great effort she pulled herself out of her own thoughts to respond to his unheard words.
"Sorry?" she said clearly confused.
"I said," James said speaking with exaggerated slowness as if speaking to someone with difficulty understanding English, "How did you do, Evans?" Lily rolled her eyes at Potter's sarcasm, before responding.
"Excellent, and you Potter?"
"Fabulous, of course, as if there was any doubt," James said returning to his usual swagger.
"Arrogant as ever, aren't we Potter?" Lily asked with mock surprise.
"It's not arrogance when you can back it up with raw talent, Evans." James said with a smile.
"James, honestly, can you show some modesty?" Jillian Potter said in a stern tone, one of the few times Lily had heard Mrs. Potter use such a tone on her only son. "Is he always this arrogant?" she asked turning towards Lily.
"Oh, he's worse, much worse." Lily said in a serious tone, though she had trouble keeping the smile off her face. She loved making Potter squirm.
"Hark, whose talking Miss Priss the Prefect!" James said with a smile at Lily.
"I am not a priss! Just because I follow the rules, does not mean I am prissy!" Lily said in anger.
"You're so beautiful when you're angry." James said in a blatantly flirtatious tone. This was his favorite part of his and Evans' exchanges. He loved getting her riled up and then saying something to knock her off balance. He loved to watch her blush in embarrassment at his words.
"Grow up, Potter." Lily said as she turned and marched out of the kitchen and outside to the Potter's backyard, where she sat on the patio by the pool.
"James, really, it's no wonder to me now why Lily spurns all your advances, if this is how you act in her presence. I know I taught my Jimmy to be a better gentleman than that!" Jillian addressed her son.
"I have a theory about that Mrs. P!" said Sirius with a smile in his voice.
"Oh not another theory!" said James with a mock tone of annoyance.
"Oh hush, James. I love Sirius Black theories. They are always so entertaining."
"Easy for you to say, they're not about you!" James said.
"You heard the woman, Prongs. Hush! Listen to the wise and all knowing Sirius Black as he shares his theory on the relationship of one James Potter and one Lily Evans. I believe that said Mr. Potter likes to upset said Miss Evans because it unleashes her fury on him. You see, Mrs. P, the lovely Evans is a very passionate young woman. It helps James imagine what she'd be like as a shag…"
"Ewwww Sirius please, first you tell me your theory on James's sexual energy and now you you're telling me about his imagined shagging of Lily! You're going to cause me nightmares!" Jillian Potter said with laughter in her voice. Perhaps it was that she was an older parent, perhaps it was her love of comedic moments in life, but she honestly was not bothered by her son and her adoptive son's frank honesty with her. She enjoyed it and the many laughs it provided.
"Dude! Padfoot seriously can you stop telling my mother about how I imagine shagging Evans!"
"Excuse me?" James felt his face flush as he turned around. Of course she was there; of course she had heard what he had said. He turned slowly to face her and hoped that the blush had left his face.
"If you'd like Evans, I could enlighten you about exactly what I imagine if you care to accompany me…" He got no further in his statement before Lily had drawn her wand and pointed directly at him.
"Go ahead, finish that offer Potter, I dare you. I warn you though, I am very good at shrinking charms." Lily's initial shock at Potter's words had vanished. She had handled Potter's overt sexual statements many times over the past years, and she could hold her own.
"Mum, aren't you going to save your son and your dreams of grandchildren?" James yelped, glancing at his mother.
"Oh, no Jimmy, don't come running to mummy now that you need help. You talked yourself into this; I'd like to see you talk yourself out. Lily dear, go right ahead I'd love to see him explain this at St. Mungo's"
"Mother," James said looking clearly outraged, "must you always take her side?"
"Thank you, Mrs. Potter," Lily said with a huge grin on her face, "I find it quite amusing Potter that your own mother doesn't want you to be able to reproduce."
"She knows she can get better looking grandkids from me, right Mrs. P?" Sirius said with a smile. He found this whole situation to be quite funny.
"Absolutely," said Jillian Potter with a laugh.
"I think that I will not finish that statement." James said.
"Good choice, Potter." Lily said with a knowing look. She had won this battle against Potter, and though she knew it would not be the last, she could manage hormonal teenage boys, especially Potter and Black.
Lily Evans sat at the desk in James Potter's room looking at the letter from her mother. She had still not opened the letter that had accompanied it; the first one had been so bad she was unsure she could face another one. Now, she could not put it off any longer. She had to read it, and respond to both. It had already been two days since they had arrived. Lily opened the second letter with a feeling of great trepidation.
Lily,
I know mother has written to you and is telling you to come home. This may surprise you, seeing as how we last ended things, but I agree. I have told you for years that the world you have insisted on living in is not the world for you. It is not for people like us. Perhaps it is the right world for people like that Snape, who have no future in the real world, but please Lily think of the types of people who you have been associating with. If you came home now, think of the life you could have! We could be best friends again, like we were before! I really have missed you, Lily, and the way things used to be. Please, see reason. When you come home in a few days, I know you will feel odd. It is only natural seeing as you have lived out of society for the past 5 years. Never fear, dear sister, I will help you make the transition. I have looked in to some correspondence classes for you that you can take from home to get your high school diploma in record time! Then you can come take classes part time with me at the University. Right now, for example, I am taking a secretarial course! Of course, once Vernon and I are married, there won't be any need for me to work, but it will still be nice to know that I can work if I have too. I realize it might be difficult for you to hear about Vernon and me. I hate to think I might be being insensitive to the fact that you must be hurting over the fact that you must say goodbye to that Potter boy. I could sense you two were growing quite close. Although really Lily, staying with him in his home without a chaperone from your own family! It is a good thing no one will know about that, what a scandal it would be! Don't worry darling, Vernon has many friends who I think would be just ideal for you! I can't wait for you to be home!
With Love,
Petunia
Lily looked at the page and half in front of her and did not know whether to be angry or sad. She too wished things could be the way they had been before, but not the way Petunia wanted them to be now. Did her sister know her at all? As if it was the pain of saying goodbye to James Potter that was keeping her in the magical world. "Please," she thought in frustration, "that could be a plus of any situation!" And even more infuriating was her sister's belief that any of that pig Dursley's friends could be "ideal" for her! "Yes rude and arrogant are just ideal for me!" she thought in a huff. Did no one in her family understand that she was a witch, that it was not something she could just give up like a bad hobby, it was who she was! No, this would end here! She pulled out a sheet of parchment and began to write, first the letter to her mother and then the letter to her sister.
Mother,
I know this letter is not the reply you want and for that I am sorry, but this is the only response I can give you. I am a witch. A very talented witch at that, I can charm objects to do things such as fly with just a wave of my wand, and I can brew potions and antidotes that you can't even begin to imagine. The magical world is not some temporary period in my life. I thought you understood that. I am a witch. I can do nothing to change that, and you should not ask me too. I cannot and will not give up magic as you wish. It is who I am. I am sorry that this causes you pain, but my response is no.
As for the war that is currently taking place in my world, I did not tell you because I did not want to worry you. Leaving Hogwarts does not put me in less danger; in fact it puts us all at a greater risk. It is imperative now more than ever that I know how to defend myself. I will not put you and daddy, and Petunia at risk by returning home and pretending to be a muggle. I love you very much and I am sorry this is not the response you hoped for.
Love Always and Forever,
Lily
She hoped she had been firm enough with her mother, because she could not bring herself to be harsh to her mother. As much as her mother's letter had wounded her, she could not bring the same pain to her mother. She took a deep breath and began her second letter.
Petunia,
You have no idea how much your letter meant to me. I have missed you so much and hope that my refusal to leave the magical world will not change your mind about us being close again. You are my sister and I love you so much! Surely though you can see it is the magical world that I belong too. I never fit in your world, you know that. I was always odd. I am where I belong now, and I will not leave. Please do not let this affect the desires you expressed in your letter. I love you so much and want to still be a family!
Lovingly yours,
Lily
She hoped beyond reason that her sister would not detract the feelings expressed in the letter, but she was not foolish. She knew most of Petunia's feelings were based off the belief she would be coming home. Now, that she was not coming home, nothing had changed. There was still one person connected with the letter from her mother with whom she still had to speak. She could no longer put off this most difficult confrontation and so she made her way downstairs to the study where Mr. and Mrs. Potter were both reading and James and Sirius were playing a game of wizard's chess.
"May I use your Floo? I need to see Andromeda, I'll only be gone for a few minutes." Lily said as she stepped in to the room.
"Of course, Lily what's ours is yours!" Mr. Potter said with a jovial smile. "James go show Lily where we keep the powder, and which fireplace is connected to the network!" James rose immediately from his chair, ignoring that Sirius' queen had just chopped one of his knights in half. He did not speak until they were in the other room that contained both the fireplace and the floo powder.
"Are you crazy?" he asked. "Why are going to see Andromeda? Don't you remember the things she said to you, to all of us the last time we were there?"
"How can I forget, Potter! It's not every day your friend accuses you of being responsible for her child's death! I need to speak to Andromeda, its none of your business why! I can take care of myself."
"I have no doubt of that, Evans. I've been on the receiving end of your wand." James said with a wry smile.
"Then hand me the floo powder so I can get on my way and get back!" Lily said. She wanted to get this over with before she lost her nerve and Potter was not helping matters.
"Let me go with you," James said suddenly earnest.
"I don't need a chaperone, Potter. I appreciate the offer, but no thank you."
"Now you're just trying to get rid of me," James said laughing at Lily's sudden switch to a conciliatory tone.
"You know me so well, Potter" Lily said with a wry smile. "Honestly James, I appreciate your concern, but this is something I need to do by myself." James shook his head in understanding and handed Lily the jar containing the floo powder. She threw it into the fireplace, stepped in herself, shouted her destination and was whooshed away to the home of Ted and Andromeda Tonks.
Lily stepped out of the fireplace and took a deep breath; this was going to be difficult. Part of her wished she had allowed Potter to come with her, he could have helped to keep her calm, but she had told him the truth, she had to do this by herself. Ted Tonks came rushing into the room, he had heard her arrive.
"Lily? What are you doing here? Is everything alright?" Ted asked looking alarmed at the sight of Lily.
"Everyone is fine, don't worry. I need to speak to Andromeda." Lily said her voice shook slightly but she would not back down.
"I'm not so sure if that's a good idea, Lily. You saw how she acted the last time you were here. I'm afraid she has not changed her views on anyone. The only people she spends any time with are me and Dora."
"I realize that Ted, but I need to speak to her." Lily heard the authority in her voice.
"Ted, you don't have to worry. I will speak to Lily if she needs to speak with me. I have been expecting her." Andromeda had entered the room silently and was now standing just a few feet from Lily. Ted still looked anxious but he nodded his head once and left the two former friends alone.
"It took you longer than I thought it would," Andromeda said with a faint smile.
"I thought it wise to calm down before I came," Lily said.
"Where's Potter? I'm surprised he let you out of his sight for even a second."
"I'm not James' charge. He doesn't have to keep an eye on me and I'm not here to talk about him anyway. How could you go to my family?"
"I know what it's like to lose a child. I knew you had told them nothing of the war. Your mother has a right to know that you are putting yourself in danger."
"Bullshit Andromeda! You know as well as I do that Hogwarts is the safest place anyone could be. You did it because you're angry with me, don't lie."
"I'm not that vindictive Lily Evans! Although I will say this, I wish you had stayed in the muggle world this summer. If you had you would have never gotten in my way and my child would still be alive."
"Andromeda, you know I never did anything to endanger your child. I know you're hurt and I know you're mad, but do not blame me for the death of your child."
"You are so selfish. 'It's not my fault Andromeda!'," Andromeda mimicked, "Grow up, Lily! Go Home! Go back to your muggle home and your muggle world and get out of mine! You mark my words Lily Evans, stay in this world at your own peril!"
"Are you threatening me?"
"Not at all, I'm merely warning you. I know the dark side; I'm related to half of them. I saw the insanity in my sister's eyes. It will get bad and it will get bad fast. James and Sirius will fall in the fight, I'm sure of that. If you continue on your path, you will too." Andromeda said.
"Last time I checked you got a T in Divination, but thanks for the warning. Leave my family out of this from now on, Andromeda."
"Goodbye, Lily Evans. Please do not return to my house again." Andromeda said as she watched Lily step back into the fireplace and floo away to the home of the Potter's.