Chapter 13: And So The Story Goes...
The next morning Sophie woke Lily up at the crack of dawn with some coffee and a heated scone. Sophie was already dressed in a set of turquoise robes that made her golden skin glow as she pulled Lily out of the pile of pillows. Sophie dragged Lily over to her own closet so that Lily could try on and borrow a pretty set of bottle green dress robes. After Lily had pulled the robes over her head and started eating her scone, Sophie started brushing Lily's red hair so that it no longer resembled a rats nest from Lily's tossing and turning in bed. By the time Sophie was done with Lily, she actually looked really nice, and not anything like a homeless, wandless and jobless witch.
Once Sophie and Lily finished breakfast, both girls headed out into the wintry wonderland that was London.
"You're a miracle worker Sophie," Lily confirmed when she caught her reflection in the shop windows as they walked past, "I don't know how you do it."
"There's nothing a bit of foundation and some eyeshadow can't hide." Sophie said joyfully as she and Lily made their way down the sidewalk, their shoes sinking into the icy snow.
Sophie could walk to Diagon Alley, she lived close enough to the shopping district. Using Sophie's wand to enter the magical market, the girls headed for their first destination: Ollivanders. Lily had no choice but to try and get her wand fixed because she couldn't rely on her friends' wands forever. Ollivanders wand shop was tucked into a corner of Diagon Alley that happened to be quiet, since it was the end of the school term. Lily and Sophie walked right into the dark shop without having to wait. Ollivanders always had an otherworldly feel to it, even though it's walls were only covered from floor to ceiling in wand boxes. Lily held a bag with her own broken wand bits in it, close to her chest as she approached the desk in the middle of the shop.
Mr. Ollivander was a greying man with frizzy hair and spectacle enlarged eyes. He came out from the back of his shop when the girls rang the bell. He seemed surprised to have visitors so early in the morning, his eyes glanced at an old goblin wrought clock on the counter. When he was done checking the time, his creepy eyes fell back on Lily and Sophie.
"How can I help you?" he asked in his raspy voice.
Lily placed her broken wand on the counter without a word and Ollivander's expression fell in disappointment. Lily and Sophie watched as Ollivander took the two broken pieces and tried to fit them together. The splitters sticking up in each direction made it impossible. Lily could see the wand core, a dragon heartstring, appearing through the fibers. Ollivander lowered the wand and eyed Lily.
"How did this happen?" he asked, "It's a nasty break."
Lily didn't feel like telling the real story so she shrugged and said, "my owl was playing with it."
One of Ollivander's bushy eyebrows rose in disbelief, "An owl broke this?"
Lily nodded, trying not to break her eye-contact, "My owl Scarlet is pretty feisty."
Lily noticed that Sophie was shaking her head in embarrassment at her side. Lily reached through her cloak to pinch Sophie's arm in warning. Sophie stepped away from Lily, rubbing at her arm with a pout in Lily's direction. Lily turned back to Mr. Ollivander as he adjusted his glasses and shook his head.
"I cannot fix it." he said, "The dragon heartstring was ripped in half."
Lily pleaded desperately, "Are you sure you can't do anything?"
"I'm sorry," Ollivander said, "You'll have to purchase a new one."
Lily's hopeful expression dropped. Wands were close to 7 galleons and she didn't even have a sickle to her name. Ollivander seemed to sense Lily's doom and despair before he held a finger up and reached under his desk. Lily watched as Ollivander spell-o-taped the middles of her wand together. He hesitantly passed it over to her, as if he couldn't bring himself to accept the spell-o-taped wand as usable.
"Will it work?" Lily asked as her fist wrapped around the base of her wand.
"I definitely wouldn't do any particularly difficult magic." Ollivander warned, "but that should let you boil some water or levitate anything lighter than a boot for more than a few seconds."
"Great," Lily said sacastly, holding the lopsided wand up to her eye level, "A defective wand."
Ollivander motioned to a wall covered in scarlet boxes on their left, "the wands over there are on clearance."
"No," Lily mumbled, "thank you, this'll be fine until I can get enough money for a wand."
"They're hand carved from cottonwood so they aren't very sturdy, but they're cheaper than buying a premier wand." Ollivander attempted to sell Lily into buying a new wand but she just couldn't think of where to get the money from.
Sophie seemed to read Lily's mind, "Lily, let me buy you a new wand."
"No," Lily shook her head firmly and took Sophie's elbow, "You've done enough for me. I'll get a new wand once I get a job."
Sophie's seemed ready to argue but she still allowed Lily to pull away from the wand shop. Lily's defective wand bent considerably when Lily put it into her robe pockets. Lily wished she'd saved some money during the year instead of buying quidditch tickets and going out with her friends. Still, there as no way Lily could have known that she'd need to buy a wand because Lyra would break it after a series of unfortunate events.
Sophie and Lily continued up the street, leaving the wand shop behind. Peddlers were selling flu tonics and a older woman with brown hair waved at the girls as they made their way through the quiet Diagon alley streets. When they passed Quality Quidditch Supplies, Lily eyes glanced through the windows out of habit. What she saw stopped Lily in her tracks. Anni was at the counter, slowly going through pamphlets and looking very depressed. Lily tugged Sophie back when Sophie tried to keep walking.
"One more stop," Lily pleaded and Sophie followed Lily's gaze, "Anni doesn't know what's happened."
"That's fine," Sophie agreed, "We can check on her, I'm not due on set until later."
The girls walked through the door of Quality Quidditch Supplies at the same time. Hot air hit Lily's face as she shook off the cold like it was raindrops on her cloak. Anni looked up from the pamphlets she was snoring at the ringing of the bell. Automatically, Anni's face relaxed when she saw exactly who was walking twords the counter with arms open wide.
"Lily!"
Anni launched over the counter and the girls embraced halfway through the shop. Lily held onto Anni tightly, relishing in a bit of her father, left in the shop. Anni pulled back to look up at Lily with her dark and very confused eyes. Anni's cheeks were flushed as she checked Lily over like a mother would.
Anni noted Lily's red splotched face and grew even more concerned, "What's happened, beautiful?"
Lily's lower lip wobbled and she tried to tell Anni the bad news but nothing came out of her mouth when she opened it. Sophie stepped forward empathetically and placed a hand on Lily's shoulder. Anni turned her eyes on Sophie, clearly trusting the model for answers.
"There was a complication at the ball," Sophie explained and Lily nodded alone as she tried not to ruin Sophie's makeup, "Lily and James kinda swapped wands."
"What!" Anni gasped, "How?"
"Not important," Sophie said and Lily flushed, knowing the exact reason the wands were swapped and it involved a lot of snogging, "All that matters is that Lyra had James' wand because she thought it was Lily's wand. James got his wand back from Lyra and stabbed Lily in the back by having her wand delivered to Lyra."
"Why would he do that?" Anni asked, "Why would he ever give that woman anything that belonged to Lily?"
"I don't know," Sophie seemed genuinely stumped at that question herself, "But Lyra broke Lily's wand."
Anni's eyes glanced at Lily in horror and Lily pulled out the proof. Lily held up her spell-o-taped wand so that the other two could examine it's pathetic wiggling as Lily swished the wood through the air once angrily.
Anni stood up two inches taller and rolled back her wand sleeves, "is Lyra at home? I'm going to go give her a piece of my mind."
Sophie and Lily grabbed Anni's arms before the five foot, retired seeker could go pummel Lyra. Lily wouldn't put it past Anni to stay true to her word and curse Lyra into the next century but Lily didn't want the last piece of her father to be fired from the shop. Anni tried to pull out of Lily's sturdy grip.
"Anni please don't," Lily begged, her voice cracking, "You'll be fired from Quality Quidditch Supplies and then this will have been all for nothing."
Anni seemed unconvinced, "I'll quit, I don't care! Lyra can't just go around breaking people's wands!"
"I'm angry too!" Lily promised Anni, "but if you leave than this shop won't have anybody left from my father's time."
Anni stopped struggling to ogle at Lily, 'What do you mean?"
"Anni, I quit yesterday." Lily explained, the tears in her eyes resurfacing quickly "I ran away from home with a few bags filled with whatever I could carry."
"Oh no," Anni really stopped pulling against Lily's restraint and Lily dropped her hand, "what did Lyra do when you quit?"
Lily, disgruntled, mimicked Lyra's voice, " she said, good riddance."
Anni made an angry noise that reverted deep in her throat before pacing back and forth in front of Sophie and Lily. Anni's eyes were dark and foreboding, filling with a stormy look that threatened trouble.
"Please don't quit," Lily pleaded her friend again, "How bout a bit longer until I can raise enough money to buy the shop on my own."
Anni looked even angrier, "You shouldn't have to buy the shop! Your father should've left you this shop and that damn house!"
Lily smiled weakly, "From what Lyra said, my father was optimistically hopeful we'd be a real family."
"That woman never cared about you." Anni pressed her fingers into Lily's cheek, "I wanted to adopt you, you know, the moment your father died but you were almost of age..."
"Its okay." Lily told her mentor, "You were more a mother to me than Lyra ever was and I'm so grateful for everything you've done for me."
Anni smiled, hugging Lily tightly before pulling back with a deep intake of air. Lily laughed at the tears that streaked quirky down Anni's cherub cheeks that Anni quickly tried to cover up with her hands. Sophie pulled tissues from her pocket and handed them around, always prepared. The bell signaling a customer broke up the crying fest, prompting Sophie to glance at the clock above the doorway.
"Lily," Sophie said apologetically, "We have to go so that I have time to ask about a meeting with the editor."
Anni made sure to press a swift kiss to Lily's cheek before Sophie could take her away. Lily didn't know what she would've done without Anni, who promised to keep a close eye on Quality Quidditch Supplies in Lily's absence. Lily couldn't place her trust in anyone more worthy. Anni wouldn't let Lyra destroy the atmosphere of the shop.
The snow that had fallen overnight was pretty but slick. It seemed to cling to the bottom of robes and the soles of shoes. Lily's feet slid into the snow as Sophie hurried Lily down the road. When they finally made it to Witch Weekly's office station, Lily's toes and legs were frozen. Both girls shivered as they entered the warm office building. The hallway was only a little warmer than the air outside though and Lily rubbed her hands together, jumping up and down a bit to get warm.
Sophie was smart and she used her wand to dry the edges of her robes before working on Lily's. Once their robes were dry to Sophie's high standards, Sophie began using her thumb to wash off some of Lily's running mascara. Lily thanked Sophie with a smile and Sophie smiled playfully in response as she adjusted Lily's hair about her shoulders. Sophie was prepping Lily like a doll and Lily had to appreciate Sophie's attention to detail.
"Got to make a good first impression." Sophie said in response to Lily's giggles, "this is basically a job interview and the first minutes count heavily."
When Lily and Sophie finally entered Witch Weekly's office through a frosted glass door, the open press room was already filled to the brim. Witches and wizards alike were on typewriters or had quills in hand, writing notes and processing articles. Notices zoomed in and out of doorways and down hallways. A girl wearing nice embroidered robes welcomed Sophie from the desk nearest to the door.
"Morning Ms. Turner," the receptionist greeted gleefully, "do you need anything this morning?"
"No," Sophie said warmly as she continued pulling Lily farther into the offices, "just showing Lily around."
The receptionist looked at Lily wonderingly but did not question Sophie as Lily followed the confident covergirl diligently. Sophie led Lily to her private dressing room, instead of to a editors office as expected. Lily recognized the window and vanity when Sophie opened the door. Lily sent Sophie a puzzled stare and Sophie explained.
"I'm going to go get you into the editors office without a scheduled meeting." Sophie led Lily over to the vanity, sitting her down there, "Just wait here."
"How are you doing this again?" Lily asked as Sophie checked her reflection in the mirror.
Sophie winked at Lily before she turned away from the mirror, "I can't share my secrets of the trade."
Sophie waltzed out of the room, her chin held high. Stuck, Lily snuggled into the chair, ready to wait. In less than a minute, Lily was yawning from boredom and lack of sleep. Without a wand to play with, Lily fiddled with the golden chain that Sophie had tied around Lily's neck to compliment the borrowed robes she wore. The cloak around Lily's shoulders was feather trimmed and the green down tickled Lily's chin playfully as Lily waited for her friend to return.
Ten minutes later, Sophie reappeared, pushing her door open eagerly. Sophie's face was slightly flushed and she looked annoyed but that face disappeared as soon as Sophie's eyes fell on Lily. Sophie motioned for Lily to follow her quickly and Lily jumped up, bounding across the room in four steps. Lily reached into her pocket and took out the manilla envelope that contained her article. Lily's heart was pounding with anticipation.
This was it.
Lily's future was at a crossroads and the next five minutes could make or break Lily's career.
"Who are we meeting?" Lily asked urgently, not wanting to embarrass herself by not knowing the name of the person who might be able to publish her article.
"Alex Gamp is our general editor." Sophie explained as she guided Lily back down the hallways of Witch Weekly, "He's the one I got the meeting with."
Lily's mouth dropped open, "Did you say Gamp, as in Hattie Gamp?"
Sophie smirked and said with a short roll of her eyes, "One and the same."
"Sophie," Lily tucked herself closer to Sophie in order to whisper, "How did you get Hattie Gamp to help?"
Sophie laughed and avoided Lily's question, "Nothing, it's fine, Mr. Gamp is her uncle."
"Sophie," Lily said again, seriously, "What did you promise Hattie?"
Sophie huffed, realizing Lily wasn't content without a truthful answer, "I gave Hattie January covergirl."
"What!" Lily exclaimed, ripping herself from Sophie's grasp, "Sophie you didn't!"
Lily shook her head at Sophie, disbelief in Sophie's strong dedication to their friendship. Once again, Sophie had shown her resilience and talent at working the social world to get what she wanted but this time it was to benefit Lily. Sophie's blue eyes weren't swimming with tears like Lily expected, instead they were calm and collected.
"And I'd do it again if I had to." Sophie promised Lily.
Lily was flabbergasted by Sophie's selflessness, "Sophie!" she said, "Covergirl is such a big deal!"
"No," Sophie corrected, "I told you, I want to work fashion design one day. Covergirl is a resume booster but I have more to offer the fashion departments besides my face on a magazine every other month."
"But Sophie," Lily protested, "You worked so hard for covergirl, don't do this just because I'm in dire straights."
"You'd do the same for me." Sophie said fiercely, "I know you would."
Lily squeezed Sophie's hand, "I would but Sophie, in a heartbeat, but are you sure you want to give up covergirl to Hattie Gamp?"
"Hattie Gamp is awful." Sophie agreed, tugging Lily forward again, "But her Uncle is the general editor and she's the only one who could get him to make time for a meeting. Don't waste this chance. You've got to go into his office and sell yourself. Don't take no for a answer."
"I won't," Lily squared her shoulders, "you won't regret this Sophie."
Sophie smirked, "I know I won't."
The editors office sat off at the end of a long white paneled hallway covered in cigar scent. The door was closed but it opened for Sophie as soon as she turned the handle. Inside the room was very stuffy. There were no windows and the walls were covered in red brick. An owl was perched in the corner sleeping. Three desks lined the wall but only one was filled. A man who looked suspiciously like Hattie Gamp, but with a bushy mustache, looked up from a magazine print he was reading over. His eyes were clear and dark blue, focused on Lily when she stepped nearer to his desk after a heart push from Sophie.
"Mr. Gamp," Lily said, "Your niece said you'd be available for a meeting?"
"Who are you?" he asked in a monotonous voice, reminding Lily of a bored school professor.
"My name is Lily Evans." Lily cleared her throat to talk a bit louder when Sophie pinched her arm, "I write quidditch articles, Mr. Gamp."
Gamp placed down his magazine to consider Lily even more seriously, "Quidditch Connections is down the main hallway, girl. You won't find any quidditch in this print."
Lily narrowed her eyes and told herself to remain confident, just like Sophie had encouraged, "Actually, sir, I was hoping Witch Weekly would like the chance to publish something new."
The man adjusted his tortoise shell glasses as he responded, "Why would a pop culture magazine catered to teen witches ever consider publishing an article on quidditch when Quidditch Connections can't even market quidditch to the teen witches?"
Lily was taken aback from his blatant sexism. The behavior was atrocious and one of the reasons Lily had entered the quidditch circuit so passionately as a young witch. At Hogwarts, the boys who played quidditch easily outmatched the girls who played quidditch three to one. Lily wanted a future quote where the quidditch fields were evenly mixed with males and females.
"Mr. Gamp," Lily felt a muscle in her jaw pop as she snapped, eager to change his mind, "Witches like more than just fashion, makeup and love. Witches want to feel inspired and empowered. Witches want to read about witches that challenge the market and make differences in this world."
"And they will feel more inspired and empowered reading your article on quidditch scores?" Mr. Gamp seemed unconvinced, "Young lady, we have experts who collect data on what witches want. Witches don't want boring quidditch game synopsis, they want to look at pictures of other witches trying new products and fashion."
Lily's unclneched her jaw to argue in her favor, "With all due respect, sir, my article is specifically focused on underdog witches in the professional league! If you want to cater to witches, cater to all witches! Everyone loves an underdog. My articles are sellable."
The man straightened in his seat, "And how do you know that witches want to root for the underdogs in quidditch?" he gestured to Sophie, "why would they care about witches that play quidditch when they have beautiful witches like Sophie to look up too?"
"There's more to me sir," Sophie said boldly before Lily could answer, "than just a pretty face."
Gamp turned his eyes on Sophie, "And do you believe this girl's quidditch articles will entice witches to buy more magazines?"
Lily flashed her article in front of Gamp for prosperity, "Mr. Gamp, I go to all the games. There's probably a whole cornerstone of the market that you're missing because you haven't branched out beyond fashion and product selling."
"Lily's right," Sophie spoke up loyally, "I go to these games too..that's actually how Lily and I became acquainted. There's so many witches who follow the sport. Witch Weekly could definitely benefit if it branches out to reach those unique audiences."
Gamp sighed and took off his glasses to wipe them on his robes, "Girls, I appreciate your enthusiasm for the success of Witch Weekly, but quidditch reporting has never been a marketing focus for this magazine."
"Come on," Lily pleaded, having nothing to lose but everything to gain, "Please, I know this is different from anything Witch Weekly has ever done but you never know, this article might just be your golden snitch. You could manage to steal some of Quidditch Connections readers. You just have to give me-it-a chance."
Gamp was quiet for a moment and then he held out a hand for Lily's papers. Lily jumped forward and placed the article in his hand. When she stepped back, Sophie squeezed Lily's elbow hopefully. Both of them were eager to hear Gamp's final verdict, invested in the success of Lily's article. Gamp read through Lily's article slowly and then he began marking the pages up with his red quill. Lily chewed on her lip and rocked back on her heels as she waited for an answer from the editor.
What seemed like ages later, Gamp put down his quill and took off his glasses again. Lily felt like she was shaking in her shoes. Sophie's nails were digging through Lily's sleeves nervously and teeth marks were permanently dented into Sophie's lower lip. Gamp looked up at the girls, his facial expression never changing from it's stoney and tired exterior. Lily honestly had no idea what the old man was thinking.
"You wrote this by yourself?" he asked finally, gesturing to Lily's article, "All of it?"
"Yes."
"How did you learn to write so professionally?" Gamp stacked her paper together, "Writing like this takes years to accomplish."
Lily shrugged, "I've been following the leagues since I was little, my father owned Quality Quidditch Supplies."
Recognition crossed Gamp in a flash, "What's your last name, again?"
"Evans." Lily replied proudly, "My father was-"
"I knew your father." Gamp said with a hint of fondness in his voice, "We played on the Gryffindor Quidditch team together a very, very long time ago."
Lily perked up, "You played quidditch with my dad?"
"Yes." Gamp smiled, "We were a few years apart but your father taught me how to to a proper swan dive in my second year. How is he?"
Sophie dropped her head so she was staring at her feet, knowing the painful answer that was to come. Lily shifted her weight, nervous from the question that made her wish she'd never spoken.
"Oh," Lily blinked quickly, "I'm so sorry, he's...well...I lost him a few years ago to dragon pox."
Gamp's forhead wrinkled even more, "I'm sorry to hear that, he was a good man."
Lily let a small smile flutter in response to the praise for her father. It had been a long time since she'd hear d anyone other than Anti speak so highly of her father. It was a nice reminder that despite his relationship to Lyra, her father was a good man. It was a comfort to Lily, who had never felt more disconnected from her father before in her life.
Gamp suddenly leaned back in his seat and he pushed Lily's article back to the front of his desk. Lily knelt over the parchment and examined Gamp's writing carefully. The parchment was marked with red curly writing all over the two pages. Some lines were crossed out and some arrows moved sentences around. Lily was reminded of school essays as she read over his notes.
"It mostly needs organization." Gamp explained the markings helpfully, "I think if we could cut it down, mainly the major statistics, it could do well."
Lily head shot up in wonder, "Excuse me?" she stuttered, wondering if she understood Gamp.
Gamp crossed his arms across his chest, "If Witch Weekly features this article, we're going to need to cater not only to the fans but the potential future fans. Can you rewrite this, following my directions and return it to my desk by eight am tomorrow morning?"
Lily was so shocked that when Sophie kicked out at Lily lightly below the desk, Lily actually jumped a bit. Gamp still had his arms crossed and he was observing Lily seriously, as if he hadn't just thrown at curveball at Lily. Sophie was staring at Lily with wide eyes, wondering why Lily had suddenly turned mute. Finally, Lily managed a short nod, pressing her fingers into her hair excitedly before grabbing her article from the desk.
"Yes," Lily said, "Of course I can do that for you Mr. Gamp."
"I want you to try and add more about Marieka Corber's home life in Scotland," he listed, voice never fluctuating any higher or lower, "I've heard she grew up on a farm and that means we can appeal to the small town witches with big city dreams."
"Anything you want in here, I'd be happy to add it." Lily was beaming from ear to ear, "Thank you sir, I'll get started on it right now! Thank you!"
Lily turned to face Sophie and they immediately squealed as the realization hit Lily: she was going to be published! Sophie jumped like a rabbit into Lily's arms. Both girls were practically bouncing out of their shoes with excitement. Lily stood there in Sophie's arms, finally crying for a good reason. Gamp cleared his throat and the girls ripped apart, glancing at Gamp guiltily.
"Please take your high-pitched celebrating elsewhere." he asked in his monotonous voice.
"Sorry Mr. Gamp," Sophie giggled into her hand, tugging Lily out.
"Oh, and Ms. Evans?" Gamp called after Lily's retreating back.
"Yes?" Lily turned, her heart racing from all the adrenaline shooting through hr bloodstream.
"Your father would be very proud of you."
Lily couldn't stop beaming. Suddenly, even with her defect wand and homeless situation, Lily felt as if she'd found her footing and she was no longer falling. Outside the editors office, Lily held onto Sophie tightly, her shoulders shaking. Sophie rocked them back and forth gaily, her excitement turning her punch drunk.
"He liked it!" Sophie sang to Lily, "Lily! That was an amazing pitch!"
Lily laughed as she pulled back from Sophie's arms, "I can't believe he listened to me!"
"You were so boss!" Sophie shook Lily's shoulders in a playful dance, "I mean, if writing quidditch doesn't work out you ought to try a career in relations! You were so good in there, he couldn't say no!"
The girls stumbled back to Sophie's little dressing room where Sophie sat Lily down at the vanity with a fresh pen and parchment. Sophie promised to come back to keep Lily company once she was done going over a few touch ups for the December magazine. Apparently some of her pictures hadn't come out right and she had to retake the cover photo. Sophie dot dressed around Lily, only bothering Lily to get help zipping up her gown.
With Sophie gone getting her photo taken a hundred times in a different room, Lily started editing bits of her article about Marieka Corber. Lily took out the parts Mr. Gamp didn't want and added in what information she could remember learning about Marieka's early life in Scotland. Lily recalled there was a book in Quality Quidditch Supplies with autobiographies of new quidditch players and Lily wondered if she could find anything on Marieka. Luckily, Sophie came back around noon and they both raced to tell Anni the great news. Anni was so happy for Lily that she started crying (again) and refused to let go of Lily for the whole lunch hour.
Lily found a book that had a short article on Marieka Corber's early farm years flying broomsticks around the cow pastures. Lily continued writing through the rest of Sophie's photo checks later that afternoon. Finally, around three thirty that afternoon, Sophie was finally released to go home and they walked together as a fresh layer of snow fell to the already icy ground. Lily had the papers tucked into a snow proof bag and Sophie was listing off things they could eat for dinner.
Laughter followed Sophie and Lily the rest of the night, even when Sophie burned the chicken and they had to order out food. Lily spent her night wrapped up in blankets on Sophie's sofa, continuously editing her article until it was perfect. Sophie was also keeping busy, her own fingers flying across a parchment littered with numbers and sketches for a pretty new dress robe that she was designing. Lily fell asleep halfway through her fifth draft and only woke up around three in the morning because Sophie complained loudly from the mattress that Lily was going to get a hunchback if she continued sleeping at the table.
"I'm sure you didn't have to stay up all night." Sophie teased relentlessly the next morning as she attempted to hide the circles under Lily's eyes with make up.
"I'm a perfectionist." Lily bemoaned, "I always rewrite essays like ten times before I turn them in."
Back at Witch Weekly, Lily handed her finished copy of the Marieka Corber article to Gamp. It only took Gamp ten minutes to approve Lily's edits and sign the bottom of the parchment. He passed the paper back to Lily with orders to get it to the columnists working on finishing the December issue.
"It's going to be in the December issue?" Lily whispered in awe.
"I want it on the same page as the Silver Star advertisements." Gamp ordered gruffly, "if your little article gets enough feedback I am going to have you interview Marieka Corber for the January issue."
When Lily left his office she had to stand along in the hallway for several long minutes, unable to do anything but pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Mr. Gamp liked her writing and even more, he thought it might do well enough for a follow up with the actual Marieka Corber. Lily felt a little sick to her stomach, it was so unbelievable as she handed off her article for print. She was so excited to watch the process of her parchment being typed up magically by a magical typewriter that Lily almost missed lunch with Anni at Quality Quidditch Supplies.
Two days later, Sophie and Lily raced to work, having heard through the grapevine that the first few copies of December's Witch Weekly were fresh off the press. Sophie almost tripped over Lily as they jumped up the steps to the second floor of the building. Both of them were laughing loudly as they entered the offices, red faced. It seemed everyone was eager for the December issue because the printing room was packed to the brim. Lily leaned over a large desk, in between two shorter assistant editors who were just about Lily's height. Mr. Gamp bought everyone hot chocolate and they were all rewarded with a first look at the magazine.
The cover page was Sophie, wrapped in red silks from head to toe, looking absolutely gorgeous. Sophie flushed under all the praise for her cover photo, looking embarrassed by all the attention. Lily waited with bated breath as they flipped through pages, waiting for the Silver Star advertisements. Finally, the magazine was open to a page where three witches sat in festive robes on top of the new Silver Star broomstick models. Below the photo of the witches was an prompt to purchase the Slver Stars from Quality Quidditch Supplies, but the mention of her father's old shop wasn't what made Lily fall silent.
There, in condensed black print, Lily's first published article seemed to glow under the lights.
Sophie reached over the desk to point at the glossy page in excitement, "Lily! That's your article!"
Lily, wonderstruck, reached out with her fingers to delicately brush against the printed words. Below the title, her name was in bold ink, naming her the author of the biography. Lily chewed her lower lip as her fingers tased the ink before pulling back as Lily met Sophie's overwhelmed gaze. Everyone started congratulating Lily, even people she didn't know. Lily was beaming so much, that her face actually hurt once the preview was over.
Gamp stuck his hand out to Lily as he passed by her desk on his way to another table, "Nice job, Ms. Evans."
Lily breathed thankfully, "I can't believe this is real."
Gamp didn't smile but he did offer her some more good news, "I just got permission to give you your gratuity. A sickle per paragraph." he handed Lily a small envelope and she stared at it happily as he continued, "It's not much since your an independent writer but I've asked if I can hire you on as an assistant columnist."
Lily almost fell over the table and Sophie grabbed Lily's arm excitedly, her blue eyes shining with celebration.
"Lil!" Sophie squealed, "A job!"
"A job." Lily repeated dumbly.
Gamp even had to crack a smile at Lily's behavior.
"If you'd rather write for Witch Weekly for a few sickles," Gamp said with a raised brow, "I can always tell them you prefer being an independent writer."
"No!" Lily shook her head in a panic, clutching the seven sickles to her chest gleefully, "No, please, I can't tell you how much I would love a job at Witch Weekly."
"Very well," Gamp nodded and shoved his hands into his pockets before continuing over to Hattie Gamp and her fellow model friends.
"Sir!" Lily called and Gamp turned to gaze at her, his mustache quivering, "Why do you want me at Witch Weekly even though I'm openly quidditch writer?"
Mr. Gamp adjusted his glasses with one hand, "You made a good point Ms. Evans. If we get a solid market in quidditch, Witch Weekly might just beat those assholes at Quidditch Connections for magazine of the year."
"Oh," Lily was surprised at his blatant dislike for Quidditch Connections, but she kinda of liked to know Gamp had a sense of competitiveness.
"Besides," Gamp counted as he turned away, "you must be something special if Sophie willingly gave up covergirl for you."
Sophie, who had been listening, popped her head up in surprise, "Who told you?"
"Who do you think?" Gamp muttered exasperatedly and Hattie, his bitchy niece, sneered from where she was perched on a nearby desk.
Sophie and Lily shared exasperated looks but didn't dare roll their eyes. Everyone started congratulating Hattie for getting January covergirl but Lily noticed more than a few of the models privately told Sophie how much they wish it was still Sophie's title. The printing party last until noon, at which time, Gamp finally ordered everyone to take the rest of the day off in celebration.
Sophie had set a time to meet Marlene for lunch at the Leaky Cauldron so Lily was practically dancing along the roads. She couldn't wait to tell marlene the good news. It was about time Lily hd good news to share. On the way to lunch though, Lily couldn't help but notice how jumpy Sophie seemed. Her mittened hands were fighting in the front of her cloak, playing with the cloak buttons as they walked briskly through the snow. Sophie's cheeks were bright red as Lily knocked shoulders with her friend questioningly.
"What's wrong?" Lily asked her friend, "You should be excited! The cover looked great! You're going to be gracing everyone's mail for the next week!"
Sophie was still fidgeting with her cloak clasps, "Yeah." she said, not entirely clearly.
"You looked good Sophie," Lily promised her friend, "you should be as excited as I am!"
"I'm not worried about the cover." Sophie mumbled irritably and Lily cocked her eyebrow.
Sophie was hardly ever irritable, a sure tell sign that something was wrong. Lily came to a sudden halt and that made Sophie stumble a bit as she tried to continue forward through the snow. Sophie shot Lily a annoyed stare, her russet hair falling into her eyes.
"Why are you being so moody all of a sudden?" Lily asked her friend suspiciously, "You were fine back at Witch Weekly."
Sophie rolled her eyes, "Nothing."
Sophie really was a horrible liar.
She was definitely worse than Lily.
"Let's go or we're gonna be late for lunch."
Sophie tried tugging Lily forward so that she had to take a few steps but Lily dug her heels into the snow and didn't budge. Sophie looked about ready to sink into the snow and disappear, her face was bright red. A change to Sophie's normal confident disposition. Lily tried to guess why her friend was acting so weird after they both had just spent the last two hours on top of the world.
"Are you upset because you lost covergirl for January?"
"No!" Sophie exclaimed and now she stood closer to Lily, her soft russet hair blowing in the wind, "I'm fine, I'm just-"
"Jumpy?" Lily offered, "suspicious?"
Sophie smacked Lily's arm impolitely and Lily winced as Sophie snapped, "No, I'm not suspicious. I'm nervous, if you must know."
Lily cocked her head, "Nervous about what?"
Lily had never seen Sophie nervous about anything, ever. Lily wondered what piece of the puzzle she was missing. Sophie seemed to be arguing with herself. Sophie's cheek twitched and she was shifting from one foot to the other, a sure-tell sign that something was bothering her. Lily had known Sophie long enough now that she'd caught onto most of Sophie's behavioral habits.
"What in the bloody Hell are you two idiots standing outside for? It's freezing!"
Sophie froze at the voice cutting through the wind and Lily looked over Sophie's shoulder to spot a familiar figure. Marlene McKinnon was waving heartily from the doorway of the Leaky Cauldron, clearly annoyed for having been kept waiting. A lightbulb went off in Lily's head and she turned her gaze back onto Sophie, who had her blue eyes turned up to eh grey sky as if praying for guidance.
"Ohmygodyou'renervousaboutMarlene!" Lily hissed quickly, stepping closer to Sophie so that their voices wouldn't carry to Marlene.
Sophie looked like she really wanted the snow to swallow her up whole, "I haven't spoken to her since she said she liked me."
"So?"
"So I feel terrible." Sophie squeaked, her blue eyes wide and glassy, "Marley probably thinks that I hate her because I didn't say anything when she told me,I just sort of laughed it off!"
"It'll be fine." Lily encouraged Sophie, hooking their arms so Lily turned Sophie in Marlene's direction.
"What are you both doing?" Marlene called from the doorway, shoving in her light sweater, "Get inside, I can't feel my fingers!"
"Coming Marles!" Lily called cheerfully before Lily hissed in Sophie's ear as they shuffled over to Marlene in the doorway, "If you like her too, just tell her."
"But why does she like, me?" Sophie whispered urgently and Lily laughed, reminded in that moment just how alike she and Sophie were.
Lily had said something similar about James Potter not too long ago.
"Breathe." Lily said to Sophie, "Everything's going to work out. Somehow."
Marlene hugged them both when they finally reached the warmth of the bar but Lily noticed Marlene's arms weren't as tight around Sophie's waist as they'd been around Lily's. Marlene and Sophie kept Lily in between them as they sat down. Lily wondered how long the girls could keep it painfully obvious. Even still, when they sat down at a table Sophie managed to share smiles with Marley over Lily's head. Marlene winked boldly at Sophie and suddenly Lily felt somehow like she'd interrupted a conversation she wasn't a part of.
Some of Sophie's fellow models joined them at their table and soon it had become a very festive lunch with drinking and plenty of salted chips. The Leaky Cauldron was playing Christmas music from an old radio and a barmaid was hanging tinsel on several decorative trees festively. By the fifth Christmas song, Lily was on her third drink and starting to feel the buzz often accompanied with fire whiskey. Lily and Sophie were laughing into their mugs as Marlene recounted the story of how one of the house elves accidently dropped a vial of rotten doxy eggs in the Gryffindor common rooms. Lily remembered it clearly, the dorms smelled putrid for three days and she'd slept with a few other Gryffindors in the Astronomy tower just to escape the smell.
Marlene recounted, "I think I stayed in Hufflepuff the most, they were right next to the kitchens and Bertha knew the elves well enough to get me free snickerdoodles."
Suddenly, the music changed to a hearty rendition of 'God Bless Ye Merry Hippogryffs' and the conversation was quickly dropped as the girls joined in on the chorus gaily. Lily, who had felt like shite for the last few weeks, finally felt a bit like her old self again as she sang out christmas lyrics at the top of her lungs.
She was wand-less but her life didn't lack the magic she so loved.
She wasn't going to be jobless much longer thanks to her father's memory, looking out for her.
The girls were all so busy laughing that Lily hardly noticed when someone familiar walked up to the table in any black dress robes and thick black frames. Lily only caught the newcomers intense gaze after Sophie had stumbled over her words, thrown off her groove mid-sentence. Marlene didn't recognize the guest at first but once she did, her face soured instantly. Lily finally turned, even though she had a feeling she knew who was eliciting such reactions from her friends.
She turned despite knowing the risk to her heart if she acknowledged him. Hello was all James Potter had to say. That's when lightening shot through Lily's bloodstream. His hurricane swept hair reminded her of when he took her hand and spun her around glorious marble ballroom. Sh felt as if she were swaying in her seat, underneath the stare of his notorious hazel eyes. A devastating blow to her stomach made it's appearance as Lily remembered the broken wand in her pocket, proof of James' hatred for her.
Lily forced her tone into a poisonous hiss, "I bet your pleased with the ending to this story."
James caught her mirroring to his own words in the shed, "Not entirely."
Lily forced a laugh, bitterly shutting him a look, "How'd you know where to find me?"
"I didn't know you'd be here." he actually sounded honest, "I came for a much needed drink."
Sophie had a hold on Lily's elbow. Lily wondered if this was the first time Sophie had seen James since September. Lily had to say, Sophie was handling his appearance better than she was. Lily's fingers were shaking as they reached for her cup so she could take another swing of her fire whiskey. Sophie stood up suddenly, her blue eyes ablaze with a protective glare as she came around the table to meet James head on.
"Beat it, Potter." Sophie warned James, "Or I'll serve you a drink on the head."
"You serve empty threats," James waved his hand absentmindedly at Sophie, his eyes trapped on Lily who had reached for another flask, aimed at drinking herself into a coma now, "Evans, while you're here, I want to talk to you."
"No." Lily said.
"You owe me at least five minutes."
"She doesn't owe you shite." Sophie said venomously, "not after everything you did to her."
"I'm not here to talk to you, Turner." James snapped at Sophie.
"Yeah Turner, especially since you were a heavy player in this fucking mess." a voice joined in and Lily grew angrier at the sight of Sirius Black joining the party wearing a leather jacket and vacant expression, as if he hadn't left Lily hanging when she'd needed him most.
"Leave Sophie out of this." Lily said heatedly, slamming her borrowed flask on the table as he glared up at James determinedly, "She's just being a good friend, unlike some people."
Sophie seemed less than enthralled at Sirius' timely appearance, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm one-half the Potter protection detail." Sirius reminded Sophie, "Where he goes, I go."
Lily glared at Sirius, "You can follow him back out the door then."
"Yikes," Sirius stole a chip, "someone's fiesta today, good luck James."
"Damn right I'm angry, Sirius." Lily said furiously, looking between James and Sirius.
"I've known you since you were a tiny ginger with knobby knees." Sirius said, grabbing one of the tankers and taking a swing before adding, "You never stay angry at me for long."
"Well I'm about to test that theory." Lily said, "Because you'll never be able to fix my wand."
"What wand?" Sirius asked, suddenly appearing truthfully puzzled.
"This wand?" Lily said coolly, pulling her spell-o-taped wand from her pocket to show it to him.
"Remus said-but Peter said-" James' face broke and that face, the same one he'd given her in the garden shed, made her heart jump to double time.
She didn't want his bold looks.
She didn't want his apologies.
The only thing she wanted right now as to be as far away from James as possible.
"Lily." James' voice, so soft, broke her even more, "What happened?"
Lily felt her face heat up and she was aware that everyone within a ten foot radius had gone silent when people realized who James was...and who he was speaking too. Lily didn't need the humiliation, not when she had just started to breathe normally again after all the heartbreak. Lily wiggled her way out of the booth, right over Marlene's lap.
Lily threw three of her sickles on the table and turned to the door that would lead her away from James. Whispers were moving across the table, everyone was confused. Sophie's blue eyes were fluttering back and forth between them, her mouth open slightly. She was over analyzing everything, Lily could tell by the look on her face. Sirius could see Lily's fight or flight reactions kicking in. He reacted quickly.
"Listen," Sirius begged, grabbing Lily's hand so she couldn't go anywhere, "I don't know what's going on but I promise I will personally murder whoever did that."
"Then you might want to start planning your boss' funeral." Sophie said, blue eyes flickering dangerously in James' direction.
"Back off Sophie!" James shouted at her, ears red in frustration, "I didn't do that!"
"Like Hell you didn't!" Sophie's hand pointedly grabbed at James' shoulder and Lily felt the color drain from her face as Sophie told James off, "Your head's so far up your own arse that you can't see that Lily's been trying to apologize to you since she met you! Everything Lily did was for her friends and you don't even care because you just want to use her as a punching bag for your own insecurities!"
"Don't pretend to care about Lily, Turner!" Sirius exclaimed, "We all know you only became her friend because you thought she might take away your chance at becoming Mrs. Sophie Potter."
"I do care about Lily!" Sophie argued, "She's my best friend!"
"What? No!" Sirius barked, "She's my best friend. I was there when her dad died. I was there when she had her heart broken by her first boyfriend. I was the one who read all her quidditch articles, the one who made sure she was eating when she was having her bad days! Not you!"
"Then where have you been the last three months!" Sophie looked furious and Sirius winced at Sophie's low blow, "I didn't see you comforting her when she didn't get her article published a few weeks ago! I haven't seen you around the shops at lunch time! I especially don't remember seeing you wiping away her tears in the middle of the night when Lily had to run away from home because of what your stupid boss did!"
"You ran away from home?"
James' shocked voice cut through Sirius and Sophie's arguing. All eyes shifted back to James. Sirius grip on Lily's arm loosened and Lily ripped her arm back to her chest, backing away from the crowd of old and new friends, all fighting because of her mistakes. Lily shook her head, tears streaking down her cheeks as she kept eye contact with James who appeared worried. James was looking at Lily as if he cared about what happened to her. His hazel eyes were filled with a static electricity that reminded Lily of when she'd danced with him at the masquerade.
James was looking at Lily as if he hadn't broken her heart in the same moment that her wand was snapped in half.
Lily couldn't handle it, not his pity. She didn't want it, she hated him and she couldn't look away at the same time. So she kept backing away under her backside hit a chair and she almost fell to the floor. Her friends and James started forward so she turned away and started for the door.
"Wait, Lily!"
His voice seemed like it was tried but Lily didn't dare to look at him, not now.
Sophie's voice joined James' in protest. They were pleading at her to wait. Someone shouted that she'd been drinking and her wand was faulty. Another voice called for someone to stun her. James' voice was the loudest and he was begging for her forgiveness. That almost made her turn back around but Lily knew she could never forgive James for what he'd done. She didn't know how he could ever forgive her for putting a mask on and she didn't know how she'd ever be able to forgive him for breaking her wand in retaliation.
Lily broke James' heart with a lie on a broomstick and like a bludger to the gut, James broke Lily's heart in return.
Lily pushed one of the many doors to the outside world open swiftly. Snow was falling thickly and the cold air hit her wet cheeks, freezing them. Someone caught her hand and she turned her cheek. Green eyes met hazel. Lily felt a sob burst from her throat, and the entire bar watched as she ripped her hands from his and started running.
It was, after all, the only thing Lily could manage to do when it came to James Potter.
Next Time:
"Actually," it wasn't Sophie's soprano voice that answered, "I was rather hoping you'd let me do a bit of talking for the both of us."
Lily looked around to find James Potter staring back at her, glasses fogged up as he closed the door to Sophie's flat behind him. He was wearing a cloak but he took it off, revealing dark blue robes underneath that were trimmed with green. The color brought out the red in his cheeks as he placed his cloak on the hook by the door. Lily dropped the blanket she was holding in her lap and she immediately jumped up from the seat, brushing down her robes awkwardly as she struggled to make herself look busy and not nervous.
"Stop fretting, I promise I'm not here to yell at you."
His voice was the same silky tone he'd used at the masquerade. Lily's eyes shot up to look at his face and she saw he looked rather sheepish. His left hands was buried in his curls as he met her stare.
"In fact, you have permission to yell at me for the rest of my bloody life."