Disclaimer: It's not mine no matter how much I wish. 'Course this disclaimer probably isn't either. This picks up after the Goblet of Fire. Yes, I've read all the books. I just choose to disregard certain deaths.
Birthday BashLily groaned as her shoulder was shaken. It was with a certain sense of déjà vu that she cracked open sleep encrusted eyes. However, this time her vision wasn't blurry. It was with perfectly clear eyes that she could look around her new room for the first time. She blinked her eyes in confusion. It was almost if she were still in her room from the last two weeks, but someone just made everything bigger. As she yawned again, she decided that they probably just adjusted the colors to make her feel more at home. She sat up and stretched, looking about to see who else was there. Two of her new attendants were waiting near the bedroom door. Seeing her attention on them, they quickly bowed. One of the girls, a slender blonde, stepped forward. She was holding a crystal potion vial.
"Your bath is ready, your majesty," she said, smiling. The other girl, a brunette stepped forward afterwards.
"Is there anything else you'll need after we lay out your clothes?"
Lily yawned and stood up slowly before asking, "Is Xiel waiting for me?"
"Yes, your majesty," said the blonde. "Madame Merinia said to tell you that the Hogwarts potions master left a potion for you to help with the after effects from the ceremony last night. Both she and Healer Oyma approved it." She scurried over to Lily and held the vial out to her. Lily thanked her before knocking back the potion, expecting it to be disgusting as most of Severus Snape's other potions. It seemed to have been flavored with vanilla, almost but not quite masking what Lily believed was probably a hideous flavor. She briefly wondered if the potions master had always been capable of flavoring his potions and merely made them nasty to discourage students from going to the hospital wing outside of emergencies.
"Please pass my thanks along to Madame Merinia for me," said Lily as she made her way into the bathroom. It was with great relief that she lowered herself into the hot soapy water. She used her time in the tub to inspect herself for any changes. She was quite chagrined to discover that most of what had made her male before the ceremony had disappeared without anything new developing, except her now slightly longer hair. But as she thought about her morning so far she realized that she had already been thinking of herself as female the whole time.
Lily shook herself from her reverie and rinsed off the soapy water with the jug of clean water beside her before getting out of the tub. As she dried herself off with the towels left for her, she considered what was planned out for her that day. She pulled the dressing gown that she found hanging on the wall and tied the sash about her waist before heading out to see what her attendants had laid out for her. It was with great embarrassment that she found herself being dressed by the two attendants. She withheld any complaints, unlike last time, when she realized that there would be no way that she knew what the different feminine articles were, much less how to go about putting them on. She soon found herself seated in a low backed armchair with one attendant behind her doing something or other with her hair and the other in front of her putting slippers on her feet and affixing several bits of jewelry here and there.
In a surprisingly short amount of time she found herself standing up when the attendants stepped back from their chores. Lily quickly thanked them, making the girls blush and reminding herself what her grandmother had said about thanking servants for doing their jobs, and made her way to where she assumed the sitting room was. She stood at the entrance for a few minutes, ignoring Xiel, to take in the differences between her old sitting room and this one. Here there were several more doors along the walls and a much larger room. The other differences were subtler. The desk was a bit larger and there were more chairs. This time the walls were hung with portraits that she actually recognized. There was one of her grandmother and another of Sirius and herself, as Harry, which must have been just made the other day. One portrait in particular brought a tear to her eye. Apparently someone had gotten hold of her photo album from Hagrid and made a still portrait of her parents.
"Your majesty, we wanted you to be able to sleep in so we've got a quick breakfast ready for you in the throne room for the first part of the Presentation of the Gifts," Xiel said quickly, having seen her reaction to the portrait, to get her attention away from it. Lily nodded absent-mindedly and took a deep breath. There would be time enough later to immerse herself in the past. She forced herself into a more relaxed state and headed for the door.
"I'm glad you're back with me, Xiel," she said, smiling at her new advisor as he stepped forward to open the door for her. "I'm glad that through this all, there's one thing that hasn't changed." As they started walking down the hall, the palace guards tagging along, Xiel replied.
"Her Majesty felt that you should have some familiar faces after the ceremony. She had planned on releasing me from… from my other duties in a couple more weeks but she felt that this would be better timing. Especially considering all the other changes you'll be going through." He grinned at her, remembering her previous chagrin at the thought of becoming female.
"It has been an odd experience so far. In some ways I feel more… right, while in others it feels like there's an odd unsettled feeling about me."
"That's probably the magic in the potions working that causes the first part. The potions made you magically female instantly and your body is working to catch up. As time goes on you'll probably keep feeling more and more right. The unsettled feeling is probably just your body adjusting to the constant changing." Lily just nodded at his explanation as she considered it.
"You're probably right. Oh, in case I forget by the time I see him, remind me to thank Professor Snape for the potion he left for me," she asked suddenly, not wanting to forget and make him irritated with her new form as well as her old.
"Of course, your majesty," said Xiel as he opened the door before them and followed her into the throne room. All the humiliation of the changes and I still won't see my godfather free and Voldemort gone anytime sooner, thought Lily morosely. She shook her head to clear her mood and smiled as she saw who waited on them. At least he was safe and free here. In the room waiting on her were all of her guests and her grandmother. She immediately made her way over to where her grandmother and Sirius were standing together talking. She embraced first her grandmother and then Sirius, grinning at them. Sirius was staring at her, wide-eyed.
"I had no idea you would start changing so quickly," he said, stepping back and taking in her new appearance. She laughed and slowly spun around for him to give him a complete view.
"Blimey, Harry, you're really a girl," said Ron, making the entire room erupt in giggles and chuckles. Hermione quickly smacked him on the back of the head.
"Honestly Ron, you knew it was going to happen," she said, exasperated with her last remaining best male friend.
"Besides, I'm Lily now. Harry is officially gone," said Lily, reminding him of the painfully obvious. In that vein Dumbledore was quick to speak up.
"May I be the first to offer my condolences of Harry Potter, such the shame that he didn't make it through his entire fifteenth birthday. And I would also like to wish the Princess Lily a very happy first birthday and wish her many more." Dumbledore smiled over at Lily before handing her a large present wrapped in bright purple paper. She quickly thanked him and looked for some place to sit, immediately discarding the idea to sit in the newly placed and ornately decorated chair beside the throne. Someone quickly took the hint and conjured up some extra chairs so that they could all sit around together. Just as quickly, Xiel was directing one of the palace staff to place a small table beside her chair that, just as quickly, a breakfast tray was placed on. Lily smiled at him in thanks as she sat in her chair, still holding the present. She took a quick bite of what looked like a piece of egg that was oddly speckled before making quick work of the wrapping paper.
It was with a grunt of surprise that she noticed that the present had apparently had a weight charm on it to lighten it. Inside the box was a small, but filled, pensieve. She looked up at her headmaster curiously.
"Those are all memories of your parents, and what few we could obtain of your grandparents. We collected memories from everyone that we could find," he said happily, smiling kindly at Lily.
"Thank you so much. This means a lot to me," said Lily with a tear in her eye. She ran a finger around the rim of the pensieve before looking over at her grandmother. "You're welcome to look at it too, grandmother, if you wish." Alanna nodded and thanked her. Lily carefully placed the box with the pensieve on the floor beside her where it was quickly picked up and handed off to one of the palace servants to be brought to her room. Lily looked closely and noticed several more palace staff hovering around the door for that very purpose.
Alanna cleared her throat and nodded towards one of the doors that lead into the throne room. Lily watched as a palace servant hurried into the room carrying a basket with some sort of fuzzy lining. Alanna turned to Lily as the servant handed her the basket.
"With the wards around the island, I felt it prudent to gift you a… familiar that could breach them." There was obvious disdain in her voice at the word familiar. Nonetheless she continued, smiling at Lily. "Even once the wards are dropped eventually, it should also prove to be a good friend and a status symbol in the days to come," her grandmother stepped forward and handed Lily the basket. Lily reached inside and pulled the blanket back. Her eyes widened at the egg inside. Alanna nodded and explained, "It's a phoenix egg. I've been assured that it should hatch in the next few days. You just need to keep it warm until then."
"Thank you, grandmother," said Lily wholeheartedly as she brushed her fingers over the warm surface of the egg. She turned to Xiel, "Could you please have someone take it up to my room and put it by the fire. Oh, and have someone let me know when it looks close to hatching." Xiel nodded as he took the basket from her, only to hand it off to someone else after a whispered conversation. Her approaching adopted father quickly grabbed Lily's attention.
Sirius grinned at Lily, "I didn't exactly have much money available when I was preparing for your birthday, but I felt you would enjoy this anyway. Technically, I should call it a joint present from Remus and I since it was equally his, but it was my idea." He handed her a book sized present wrapped in a royal blue wrapping paper with golden snitches darting over it. Lily grinned at him as she opened it to find a ragged looking homemade book. It was with careful attention that she opened it to find notes written in several different handwriting and pictures held to the pages with spellotape. Lily giggled at the first picture of the Slytherin house table all with red hair and gold robes.
Remus peeked over her shoulder and laughed, "I remember that. That's the Marauders old… logbook I guess you could call it. We kept track of all pranks, spells, potions, and afterwards we put in pictures that we took of the after effects. Some of the ones that nearly backfired on us I think we wrote notes about that on them also." Lily grinned as she started flipping through the pages, ignoring Professor Snape's glare that rested on the two remaining marauders.
Remus laughed at one of the pictures of himself and quickly interrupted her by handing her his own present, "As enjoyable as reading about my own embarrassment would be, I think we need to move on with things. Here you go, dear." Lily took the present from him, thanking him. Once again, it was book sized, but this time wrapped in a simple red wrapping paper. As she suspected, it was a book. It was A Potter's Guide to the Defense of the Home by Arthur F. Potter.
Lily looked up in surprise and asked, "Is this…"
Remus nodded and said, "Your great great grandfather, I believe, but I'm not positive. It was supposed to be handed down the Potter line, but right before he went under the Fidelius your father lent it to me. He felt that there wasn't anything else he could learn from it and he wanted me taken care of, in case the tides turned against the werewolves." He smiled sadly as he was remembering those old days. Lily quickly stood up to give him a hug and thanks. He just hugged her back and nodded, holding back his own tears. She ran her hand along the cover, taking in the texture of what countless relatives of hers must have also touched and felt before her. She sadly handed the book over to Xiel who nodded pointedly at her breakfast tray. She laughed as she picked up a piece of toast to eat as she watched McGonagall make her way over.
Professor McGonagall looked Lily over before handing her another book sized wrapped present and smiled at her. "I do not want to hear about you attempting this without supervision," she said sternly. Lily quirked her eyebrows in surprise at her teacher before tearing open the wrapping paper. There inside was a book on the animagus transformation, along with a step-by-step guide.
"With two marauders and my own mage-craft tutor, I daresay I'll have plenty of supervision. Thank you, Professor," she said, putting the book down. She smiled back at the severe transfiguration professor as she reached over to eat some more of her breakfast. She grinned as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stepped forward.
Arthur glanced over at his wife before turning to Lily. "This is really more of a statement than a gift." He handed her a small urn. "It's floo powder to show you that you will always have a home with us should you ever require it."
"Thank you," Lily said, touched by the kind gesture. To the surprise of everyone Professor Snape stepped forward uncomfortably. Lily couldn't help but wonder if he brought a gift because he thought it would be expected or if he had truly wanted to. WIthout a word he handed her the book shaped package and stepped back immediately. She opened the package and was surprised to see a potions book authored by the man himself.
"A princess should not be behind on her studies of the arts of potion making," he said gruffly and waving off her thanks. She nodded, understanding his unspoken meaning. She would study hard to be worthy of his real gift, the gift of a fresh start.
"I do want to thank you for your potion this morning. It really helped," she said suddenly, causing the man to look up at her in surprise. She really has no idea what the potion was for but imagined that she would probably be feeling worse this afternoon if she hadn't had it. Snape stared at her for a moment before nodding at her, accepting her thanks.
Ron quickly stepped forward to lighten the mood. He handed a hastily wrapped tube to Lily and told her, quite ashamedly, that it wasn't much. Lily just smiled at him and unwrapped the present just as happily as her other ones. It was a simple Quidditch poster, but she was just as profuse in her thanks as she was with the most meaningful gifts.
Hermione just rolled her eyes and stepped forward with her own gift to Lily. Naturally, it was another book, but this one was the latest edition of an encyclopedia of notable aurors. She had left some bookmarks marking specific pages, which Lily was quick to check out. There smiling pictures of her father, Sirius, and surprisingly enough her mother. Lily's eyes widened as she quickly read over the highlights in the biography.
"My mum was an unspeakable," she whispered, amazed. Sirius and Remus glanced at each other, thinking back on times when Lily was inexplicably missing at odd times. Sirius was the first to say anything, speaking what pretty much everyone else was thinking.
"I had no idea, but it makes an odd sort of sense," he said thoughtfully.
"Thanks, Hermione," Lily said to her friend. "I'll have loads of fun looking through this later." Hermione just grinned before she was shoved aside by the twins.
Fred and George were quick to hand over to Lily an unwrapped white cardboard box. Lily eyed them before opening the lid carefully. She just took a moment to peek inside the box before slamming the lid back on and pushed it aside.
"I can't believe you two," she said, rolling her eyes. "I don't even want to know how you did that on such short notice." They just grinned at her before flouncing their way back to their own seats. Ginny also rolled her eyes at them before nervously handing Lily her present. Ginny wouldn't meet Lily's eyes.
Lily just smiled at her as she opened Ginny's gift. It was a simple braided bracelet of red and gold leather cords. Ginny blushed as she explained that she had been learning how to make them this summer. Lily was barely able to thank her before the shy girl had hurried back to her own seat.
Bill shook his head at his little sister before stepping up to Lily handing her an instantly recognizable package. Lily grinned up at him and started unwrapping it slowly.
She turned to her grandmother and impertinently asked, "So… do royalty fly on broomsticks?" Alanna frowned at her and watched as the broomstick was released from the paper.
Bill told Lily, "It's the newest model of the Nimbus. I know your Firebolt is still a really good model, but I thought you might like the new one. Knowing what I know now it's probably a good thing. Everyone knows that Harry Potter had a Firebolt." It was obvious that several of the others in the room hadn't taken the time to realize how many changes that Lily would have to make coming to Hogwarts after Harry leaving.
Charlie just snorted at his brother and stepped forward and handed Lily several brown wrapped packages. "I had just gotten these from the tailor near the preserve when the portkey went off so I didn't have time to wrap them or anything, but I wanted you to have them regardless." Lily blinked at the stack of packages and glanced at Charlie curiously. She didn't even know him that well, even considering the two occasions that she had met him.
Lily started to unwrap the packages, finding a complete dragon hide outfit. As she unwrapped the last package she found that Charlie had given her everything from dragon hide boots to jerkin to gloves.
"Wow, Charlie. I'm not quite sure what to say," she said, stunned at the extent to the gifts from the dragon lover. Charlie just shrugged.
"Really, it's a gift from the preserve to Harry Potter. The dragon that those things came from was a Hungarian Horntail," Charlie said nervously.
Lily blinked at him in surprise before asking, "My Hungarian Horntail?" Charlie grinned at her.
"The very one. She died recently. Took on a bad infection that we couldn't cure in time. You wouldn't believe how long it can take to get a dragon in a position where we can actually treat it. Since she was your dragon in the tournament they all thought you might like to have use of the hide. I traded the left over pieces with the local tailor in exchange for him to fix them up into a set for you. I dare say you'll have to have someone adjust them now." Realizing that he was babbling Charlie stopped and blushed. Lily just stood up and gave him a big hug.
"Thank you, Charlie. This means a lot to me," she said, grinning at him and ignoring the oddly bright blush he had. Now that all gifts had been given everyone grouped together to have their own conversations. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny drifted over to Lily's chair.
"So, Lily," started Hermione. "What house do you think you'll be in when you're resorted?" Ron looked over at Hermione, astounded.
"Of course he… she'll be in Gryffindor," he exclaimed. Ginny rolled her eyes and spoke up before Hermione could go off on him again.
"Really, Ron. People do change as they get older, you know," she said, looking at him pointedly, obviously referring to something that was only known between the two of them. Ron blushed and said.
"Of course. Terribly sorry, Lily. So what house do you reckon you'll be in?" Hermione looked between Ron and his little sister, curious as to what had been left unsaid.
"I'd like to think I would be in Gryffindor, but really there's no telling. For all I know the politics involved may have me thinking more like a Slytherin." Lily ignored Ron's spluttering and continued, "Or maybe an intense loyalty to my people might put me in Hufflepuff. The only one I can't see would be Ravenclaw. I don't like studying that much." Lily paused for a moment before whispering, "I wonder…" She frowned for a second and called over to the headmaster.
"Sir, when would I be sorted?" she asked.
Dumbledore thought for a moment before responding, "I would think that at the feast, right after the first years would be a good time. Why do you ask, my dear?" Lily considered it a moment before answering.
"I was just curious. It's just that… Would I… Do you think that the sorting hat will recognize me?"
"I'm not sure, to be truthful. We've never had this sort of situation come up before, at least, not without a previous headmaster or professor knowing about it."
"But what if it does notice and says something out loud?" she asked, worried. Dumbledore's features took on a kind tone as he tried to soothe her worries.
"That's easily taken care of. I'll have a word with him ahead of time."
"Thank you, professor," said Lily, relieved that her secrets would be kept. Alanna stood, gathering the entire group's attention.
"Lily, I believe it's time to get on with the rest of the planned events today." After Lily stood up and made her way to sit on the chair beside the throne Alanna turned to the others and informed them of her plans for them, "I do believe that Elra has made arrangements with some of Lily's tutors to help you to better understand our customs and traditions. So if you would go with him." She gestured to where Elra was standing by the door, waiting. As they all started to leave the headmaster turned one last time and made short work of the extra chairs that apparently he had created. Alanna nodded to him in acknowledgement before turning to sit in the chair beside the throne. "Now," she said to Lily, "Do you know what is about to happen?"
Lily shook her head, "Not really beyond the fact that you called this the presentation of the gifts."
"Really, the morning was part of this if we want to consider your friends as part of Atlantis. What will happen is that, one by one, different dignitaries and sometimes the commoners will be introduced and they will present their gift to you. Generally, only masters of the crafts, the mayors of the islands, and the leaders of the militia will come. Though on occasion there will be others. Don't worry about remembering who gives what. That will be the job of your aides. They will also compose appropriate thank you notes that you will merely have to sign." Lily nodded, wide eyed at the implications of this occasion. Alanna moved forward to sit down in her own throne beside Lily and watched her for her reactions.
"This is a fair bit more important than I was thinking, apparently," Lily said nervously. Alanna leaned over and patted her hand as she nodded to the guards at the doors to proceed.
"Not to worry, dear. I'll be here to help you out if you need. It really is straightforward. It's extremely important for these people to get to know you, however. They will be bringing news of you to their own islands, islands that you may not be able to get to visit for several months. And you will be their queen, never fear that. The sword proved that the first time we visited the coronation chamber. What happened this morning is merely a delay." Lily just swallowed as she noticed that outside the large doors was a long line of people.
"This is going to take a while, isn't it," she whispered to Alanna while trying to calm herself and project an image of happiness and benevolence.
"You won't notice after a while," Alanna assured her as the first of the mayors were introduced. It wasn't long until everything became a routine as each new mayor and assorted companions were introduced. The only change in the monotony was when Mayor Elric strode in with his family. There was no sign of the teasing elder gentleman this time as he presented a gift of their finest glass vases. It was a relief for Lily when all fifteen mayors had been shown in and departed. To her, the master craftsmen were much more interesting as they had brought the best of their handiwork as gifts.
She realized that the population had been apparently informed about her leaving to go back to Hogwarts when the master woodcrafter had brought a large trunk that was expertly crafted and bore the seal of Atlantis on it with a stylized L burned into the wood underneath it. The master diver had presented her with the largest pearl she had ever seen, evidently the largest pearl of the past year's harvest. The master glass crafter had given her several pouches that contained a glass figurine, each of the different native animals found around the island.
The best surprise to her was when Master Blacksmith Oir walked in with a little child beside him, apparently his orphaned niece Anya. Inwardly, Lily decided that this was the child she had seen peeking from behind a door when she rode through the town.
"Master Oir, it is good to see you again," greeted Lily, careful to keep her tone low lest the others outside think that he had more favor with her than they.
"Princess," he said simply as he bowed and held out a small but simple wooden trunk bound in thin strips of iron. One of her aides stepped forward to accept the gift for her and brought it forward, opening it for her to see its contents. Lily sat forward and reached into the trunk; inside were several fist sized animals crafted from what was obviously metal, most likely iron. In their detail, they were more elaborate than even the glass crafter's figurines. Lily gasped as she looked at the different ones in the trunk. There was a dog, a wolf, a stag, and a delicate looking lily. She looked up at Oir in surprise.
She shook herself out of her reverie as she told him, "These are quite lovely, Master Oir. Just what I knew you would be capable of. Thank you." Underneath the dark skin a faint hint of pink could be seen as he bowed and turned to leave. His niece refused to go and insisted on walking up to Lily. Lily smiled and got up from her throne and crouched to in front of the little girl.
"And what is your name, dear?" Lily asked as kindly as she could.
"Anya, your majesty," she said. She blinked shyly as she held up a box that she had somehow kept hidden. "I wanted to give you this. Happy Birthday." Lily blinked in surprise and glanced over to her grandmother who wasn't helpful in the least. Lily took the box and lifted the lid carefully. Inside, curled up was an obviously much beloved kitten. Lily looked at the little girl and the gobsmacked expression on Master Oir's face. That told her everything she needed.
"This is a lovely kitten, Anya," Lily said gently. "I'm afraid I don't have time to take care of a little kitten right now though, especially when I go back to school in about a month." Anya's face fell as she thought her gift was being rejected. "I have an idea. Would you be willing to take care of her for me?" The girl's face shown with joy and Lily smiled at her. It was obvious to her that Anya was ecstatic to keep her kitten and be able to give her beloved princess a gift at the same time. Oir looked like he wanted to say something, but was concerned about speaking up. Lily just nodded to him, showing him that it was okay. As the two made their way out of the room Lily sat back down in her throne.
Alanna leaned over and proudly whispered, "Well done." Lily smiled over at her grandmother. Perhaps her error from a couple weeks ago really had been forgiven. The good feelings in her heart at that moment made her feel more prepared to deal with the other half of the presentation.
Lily yawned as she left Bremat in the gardens and made her way up to her grandmother's receiving room. She was exhausted. Bremat had decided that she was capable enough with her knives to start doing mock fights with him. He had been brutal. Apparently he had decided that having a group of his most highly trained soldiers as personal guards wasn't enough to slack off on her physical training.
She was also hungry. Alanna had decided that because of their late start that lunch could be taken during her history and customs lesson which apparently had delighted her tutor no end and she decided that it was time to teach Lily the Atlantean version of table manners. Not that she had actually been allowed to eat all that much. She wondered for a bit where her friends had disappeared to. She hadn't seen any of her guests since the first part of the presentation of gifts.
"Lily!" came a voice from behind her. Lily turned to see her grandmother heading her way with her advisors following behind her. "I'm glad I caught up with you. You need to get changed. Your clothes should already be laid out for you, but your attendants should be there anyway. I need you to meet me in my receiving room afterwards."
"What's going on?"
"We're just running a bit late with things. My receiving room opens out onto the balcony that overlooks the Palace courtyard. We'll be presenting you to the people from there." Lily quirked an eyebrow at her grandmother.
"I remember someone telling me that royalty is never late, everyone is just early," she quoted airily before turning on her heel and following Xiel and the guard back to her rooms. She didn't miss her grandmother's hearty laugh.
It was just a bare thirty minutes of hasty work on the part of her attendants that Lily found herself standing next to her grandmother on the balcony waving at the crowd before. There was no talking between the two as they were both too choked up with emotion to speak.
That and the crowd was cheering too loudly to hear anyone say anything.