Date: 02/10/09 I wasn't happy with the way I way portraying some of my characters or the pace of the story so I've decided to revamp it. I wanted to develop the family bond between the Weasleys and Potters and explain a lot of their actions more. If you've read this before I really hope you take the time to read the changes because I've made a lot of them. I hope you like the changes. Intended to be read by more mature teens and above because of later chapters.
Thank you: CherryBlossomGirl22, ktpotter93, carrionrockr and lady of the deep for the reviews
Chapter 21: Home for the holidays
Lily's head rested sleepily against Maggie's shoulder as she sat in one of the prefects compartment on the Hogwarts Express shared with her friends and family. The Slytherins and Ravenclaw prefects apart from Jess were in the second compartment. Eoin and Lucy sat at one end with all the Hufflepuff apart from Delia, they had gotten back together after their breakup earlier in the term and Lily chose to ignore them but she had not forgotten about him.
After patrol duty her best friends and herself had eaten a ridiculous amount of chocolate. They'd eaten way too much and that had caused them all to get drowsy. They had soon fallen asleep and Jess started to snore. She was lying across the length of the seat across from Lily. Her cat, Myrrh, an adorable Russian blue, lay curled up at her feet. Delia slept on the floor. She'd fallen at some point and couldn't find the energy to get back up. Lily's cat Padfoot had taken a liking to Delia and curled up in Delia's mass of blonde locks. Lily tilted her head up to look at Maggie, she was sleeping with her head resting against the window. Lily didn't see the point in waking them. They were only an hour or two from London so Lily dropped her cheek back on Maggie shoulder and allowed herself to succumb to sleep. The girls slept until the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station at Kings Cross.
"Call me over the holidays ok. Man, I wish I wasn't going skiing." Jess companied as the four girls unloaded their trunks and other baggage off the train. Jess went skiing with her family every Christmas and every Christmas she complained about.
"You'll have an amazing time Jess and don't worry we'll call you." Maggie assured her, which surprised Lily. It was usually Delia or herself saying that.
Suddenly the image of Maggie fumbling with a mobile phone trying to get it to work flashed through Lily's mind. Maggie wasn't the most technical of people, especially when it came to muggle contraptions. The thought made Lily laugh, "That is if Maggie can remember how to use that mobile telephone thing you gave her." she teased and Maggie stuck her tongue out at Lily. "Oh ha ha, don't act as if you worked out how to use it in the first go. I know you didn't" Maggie retorted.
Lily stopped laughing at once, that was true. Lily did have problems with the phone but she had her father for assistance. he'd grown up with muggle relatives and so, knew how to use a phone. "I took to it better than you…" she bragged sticking out her tongue.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I have to go," Delia said hugging each of them in turn, "There's my mum with Allie." she pointed to an area on the platform where her mother Hannah, the landlady of the Leaky Cauldron, stood with Delia's two year old sister. As they looked over, Professor Longbottom joined his wife and kissed his baby girl in greeting. Frankie was already with them and was waving at Delia to hurry up. "Have a good Holiday." Delia called back at her friends and dragged her trunk towards her family.
"I better get going as well." Jess told Maggie and Lily as she looked towards her parents. They were both muggles and still stood in awe whenever they were in the magical community. Lily thought they were the greatest and she had had many informative conversations with them over the years. "I need to get them out of here before they do something to embarrass me." she laughed and struggled with her school trunk and cat box as she left. Lily had to admit that they did go a bit over the top whenever they were in Diagon Alley or at Platform 9 ¾. They were a little obsessed with magic the way that her grandpa was obsessed with anything muggle. Mr and Mrs Foxely were about to cause a scene when Jess reached them and ushered them through to Kings Cross Station.
Lily laughed. At least her parents weren't that embarrassing although many people did tend to come over and ask to shake her father's hand. That was irritating instead of embarrassing though. Talking of her parents she couldn't seem to find them anywhere. She turned to talk to Maggie and found that Margarita and Duanne had joined them. Margarita had spent the last three weeks acting a bit off with Lily, but this morning she'd changed back into liking Lily mode. It was rather confusing since Lily didn't know the reasons why, but she was Maggie's sister and so Lily put up with it.
"Hi" Lily said to both Margarita and Duanne and they both responded to her in kind. Maggie and Margarita started loading up the trolley they'd acquired whilst Duanne very inconsiderately watched them struggle. Lily notice that he looked as if something was bothering him. She caught his eye and raised a brow questioningly. He turned away from her. Lily frowned, she didn't know what she'd done to deserve being given the cold shoulder.
She tapped him on the shoulder and got his attention. He was sulking and she gave him an encouraging smile to ask him why. It worked and he said quietly "I didn't get to see you on the train. Are you avoiding me?"
Lily was amazed that he could think such a thing. She found it rather funny but she stopped herself from laughing in case it reinforced his wrong impression. "Not at all just keeping my brother happy so that the holidays will be bearable. I'm sorry, I should have come in and said hi at some point." she said honestly.
His mood perked up instantaneously and Lily was pleased that she had such an effect on him. "that's ok, I'll see you in a couple of weeks and that's not too far away, maybe we could do something sometime without the others around." He announced and she couldn't prevent the genuine smile that spread across her face. "I'd like that" she replied and he leant towards her and her stomach started tying in knots.
"Mum and Dad are over there with Dorian" Margarita interrupted and pointed towards her family. Duanne was distracted and leant back away from Lily. He looked towards his parents. Lily frowned, she was not pleased with Margarita's poor timing. She followed the gazes of the Zabini children and saw their father Blaise and mother, Sah-Kara. Dorian was their nine year old brother and he was holding his mother's hand as they walked down the platform. Their mother was stunning, a real Egyptian beauty and their father was rather good looking as well. Looking at them, the Zabini children were never going to be plain. "Have a good Christmas" Lily sighed, knowing that they would be leaving now.
"You too" Duanne said and planted a quick kiss on Lily's cheek. Lily's face lit up. A peck on the cheek was definitely better than nothing and she watched Duanne and Margarita walk away. She noticed Mr Zabibi tense when he saw his sons actions. Lily wasn't surprised. On the few occasions that Lily had talked to her best friend's parents she got the feeling that they didn't like her.
It took Lily a few moments to realise that Maggie hadn't left with her brother and sister.
"Write to me ok" Maggie pleaded. They went through the same routine every year. "Of course I will!" Lily assured her and hugged her goodbye. Maggie was slightly reluctant to leave. "Bye then" Maggie sighed and grudgingly ended the hug. She headed to her family looking back at Lily all the while. "Bye" Lily finished and waved the last of her best friends goodbye. She knew Maggie hated the holidays and that was the real reason why she was always stressed out towards the end of term. Her parents have never got over the fact that she was sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin. Lily secretly hoped Dorian would be sorted into Gryffindor next year, then maybe they'd lay off her.
Lily was left alone on the platform. She looked at the crowd of parents being reunited with their children and searched again for her own. No matter how hard she looked she couldn't spot either of her parents welcoming faces. That was unusual, they were usually here waiting an hour before the train was due to arrive. As she examined the faces of the crowd she saw the freckled face of her Uncle Ron. Maybe he would know where her parents were. She took a few steps towards him when she noticed the people next to him. Her cousin's Rose and Hugo were there chatting casually with her brother Albus. Lily hesitated and decided not to join them.
She decided to walk down the other end of the platform in search for her parents. She left her school trunk and Padfoot in his carrier by the platform edge. She searched for several minutes and still couldn't find them. However, a head of Aqua hair in the middle of a group of people was cause for excitement. "Teddy!" Lily yelled excitedly at the top of her lungs. At the sound of his name he looked towards her with a big goofy grin on his face. Several other faces turned to stare at her after her outburst but she only had eyes for him and blocked everyone else out. She raced towards him weaving around the families who didn't have the courtesy to move out of her way. He stepped in front of the crowd with his arms out ready to welcome her. She threw herself into them gladly and wrapped her arms around his neck and they twirled around until they got dizzy.
They held hold of each other's arms for support, Lily knew how clumsy Teddy could be. She looked into his diamond grey eyes and felt at home. "I've missed you." she sighed and hugged him again. She had missed him but it was only seeing him here now that made her realise how much she'd missed him. He crushed her against him in a big bear hug. "Missed you too sis."
He let her go and she took a step backwards so that she could soak in the image of him. He'd lost some weight, too much weight since he'd always been on the skinny side, but on the whole he looked happy and well. "It's so good to see you. How've you been? Have you been eating? How's Victoire? How are the wedding preparations going? Are you nervous?" Lily gushed, bombarding him with questions. He laughed and Lily could feel people around them staring at her. She had the sudden urge to confront them but they were coming from the party Teddy had previously been talking to so she resisted.
"I'm great, she's great, everything great and of course I'm nervous petal. Thanks for reminding me." he laughed. Lily was glad at that answer. She gave him another tight hug. She knew things were going to change soon. After he got married, he would have less time to do things with her such as quidditch and listening her bitch about her brothers or whine about her parent's not giving her enough freedom. He would have other stuff to do, marriage stuff. Lily fought back the tears she felt building up in her eyes so he had no idea of the sudden turmoil she felt. He was just happy to see her and held her.
"So, where's mum and dad?" Lily asked, her voice muffled by Teddy's shoulder. Lily didn't feel funny asking him this. Although Teddy wasn't her real brother, he still referred to her parents as Mum and Dad since his parents died in the war before he had chance to get to know them. Her parents were the only parents he'd known and they treated him like their own. She looked up at him and his aqua brows had risen beyond his hairline. "Bored of me already?" he chuckled unable to actually sound hurt.
She rolled her honey brown eyes and slapped him playfully on the chest like she did whenever he got ridiculous notions into his head. Which was quite often. "No silly, never!" she laughed and beamed up at him shaking her head.
It was his turn to roll his eyes at her and he ruffled her hair fondly. "Dad's here somewhere, probably with Al by now. Mum's with Victoire and the other women getting prepared for the big day". He finished with a sigh and Lily knew that it was the nerves kicking in. She didn't want him to dwell on them so she but on a face of excitement and surprise and squeaked mischievously "What? Christmas?"
The laughter that followed was genuine and infectious. Lily felt a sense of pride that she'd managed to distract him from more serious thoughts. He gave and exaggerated sigh of disbelief "Now who's being silly."
She shot him a Cheshire cat smile and bounced around playfully on the balls of her feet. "Nah, I know. it's just… it's so soon." She cringed at the reference to the Wedding but try might, she didn't want to not talk about it.
"Tell me about it" He grumbled but he didn't seemed to mind talking about it. Lily wanted to know a few things, like how her masterpiece was coming along. "So what's the dress like? Has Lucy made a good job of it?" After she asked the questions she noticed the stress in her voice. This puzzled her, she'd seen Lucy's work and knew how particular she was that everything perfect.
"Relax, I haven't seen it" he chuckled and wrapped his arm around her. Lily frowned, "Why not?" she demanded. He gawked at her as if she'd missed the obvious and replied "Tradition". Lily huffed, of course tradition: Tradition stated that the groom was not to see the dress before the wedding or their marriage would be cursed with bad luck. She scowled since that was the most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard. She huffed again at Teddy and complained playfully"Oh, what use are you?"
Teddy burst out laughing and smirked at her and said with an air of sarcasm: "Aren't you a treasure today."
Lily quickly came up with and excuse for her comment. "Sugar low, too much chocolate on the train. I'm on a downer." She explained and realised that that was a viable reason. She always did get crabby when her blood sugar was low.
"That explains it" Teddy mused and looked away from her. For a moment she thought that he was angry with her but then she saw that he was actually turning to talk with someone in the group next to them. "So I'll see you at the wedding. Your entire family is welcome." he told the other. This caught Lily's interest and she turned to see who Teddy was talking too since she hadn't paid anyone any attention apart from him.
Stood next to Teddy was a tall pale faced man with peroxide blonde hair, receding hair line, pointed chin and cold grey eyes. Lily knew that face and experienced the shiver that went with it. The man currently accepting the invitation was non other than Draco Malfoy.
Lily's jaw dropped as she regarded Mr Malfoy and his son now conversing with Teddy. She couldn't believe it. Of all the people to be invited to Teddy and Victoire's wedding. The Malfoy's? Lily certainly never thought such a thing would happen. "What the-" Lily began but was cut off by a look of caution from Teddy. Mr Malfoy looked offended by her outburst. She needed to get out of there fast, but she couldn't show Teddy up by just running off. "I mean- excuse me for my rudeness. I hope you have a pleasant holiday and I'll see you at the wedding." She told the older Malfoy since she was determined not to look the younger one in the eye. So much for her Malfoy free holiday. She was going to have a herd of Malfoys over. Draco inclined his head at her and she turned back to Teddy. He was looking at her more kindly again. "I need to go get my bags. Will I see you at the car?" she asked. He nodded and Lily turned and walked away as fast as she could without causing a scene.
As Lily arrived at the spot where she'd left her baggage she found her father standing next to them with a concerned expression on his face. He'd found her abandon baggage and had thought the worst. She smiled to herself. What on earth could happen to her on a train platform full of so many witches and wizards. She walked towards him without picking up the pace and called to him. "Hi Daddy."
His emerald eyes widened in relief as he saw her. "Come here Lily, how've you been?" he asked and pulled her into a hug. It wasn't as an enthusiastic a hug as the one she gave Teddy but that was only because of her mood. She was no longer happy because her holiday had already been ruined by the knowledge that Malfoy's presence was going to be forced upon her. As if she didn't have enough of him to deal with at school. She hoped that when she got home and was able to reflect on the situation she'd be able to enjoy the days that were Malfoy free. "I'll be glad when we get home." she sighed and didn't let go of her father when he pulled back and hooked his arm around her shoulders. "Are we going straight to the Burrow?"
"Yes, your mother is there now." he told her and she released him. He levitated her baggage onto a trolley and pushed it in front of him while Lily walked next to him. "Daddy?" she asked to get his attention and looked imploringly at him.
He stopped the trolley and looked at her, "Yes dear" he replied and smiled down at her waiting for her to continue.
Lily wondered how she should word her question since she didn't want to be too abrupt. "Why are the Malfoy's invited to the Wedding? I thought it was just family and friends."
Harry regarded her for a few moments, "Narcissa Malfoy is Andromeda Tonks sister?" he confessed.
That surprised her. She didn't know that Teddy was related to the Malfoy's. "Really? Teddy and Malfoy are cousins?" she asked in amazement and her father nodded as confirmation. She wondered why Teddy hadn't told her before now: If he'd been so opposed to recognising them as relations then why were they invited to the wedding, It must mean that Teddy was ok with that family but had chosen to keep the information from her. "How unfortunate." she grumbled.
This seemed to annoy her father but he knew how much she hated the Malfoy boy. She was constantly in detention because of him. Why was he surprised that she reacted that way. Did he honestly think that her thoughts about him had changed because they were forced to work together during detentions. Hell would freeze over before the day she stopped loathing him. "Now dear, you'll be on your best behaviour for Teddy and Victoire's big day. Wont you?" he said in a scolding tone.
She couldn't believed he'd just asked her that. Of course she was going to behave herself. She wouldn't do anything to spoilt their big day. However, for only the reason of winding up her father up she heaved a heavy sigh "Urgh, if I have to." After all, it wasn't just her he had to worry about. James and Albus were not going to react kindly when they were enlightened to that little piece of news.
Lily's thoughts were interrupted by her father's sharp tone. "The Malfoy's aren't as bad as everyone thinks you know. They were a great help to the Aurors when rounding up the last of the death eaters." Lily gaped at her father. She circled him and started prodding the fleshy parts of his face. He looked confused and batted her hands away repeatedly. "What are you doing?" he finally demanded in a fatherly tone.
Lily frowned, it was her father alright. "Just checking it's you and not someone taking polyjuice potion. You haven't happened to have been hit by a confundus charm by any chance have you?" she asked seriously. It was not possible that Teddy and her father had been enrolled on to Team Malfoy.
He laughed at her and her frown grew deeper. He wasn't taking her seriously. "Honesty Lily, I think you pay too much attention to your Uncles on that point. They don't seem to realise that they have changed. I hope you are not harbouring the prejudices of the past."
"No I don't hate Malfoy because of his family. I hate him because he's a pretentious, blood obsessed, prig." she replied in an indignant tone at the accusation. She was perfectly capable of forming a hatred of him by himself and Malfoy was capable of making enemies without the need of his father's murky past. It did help though. Lily thought her father was a little too forgiving at times, especially when it involved someone other than his own children.
He sighed sensing she was a lost cause and any other convincing he did would fall on deaf ears. He looked down at his watch and checked the time. "Hmmm, Let's go and find Al."
Lily was glad of the change of subject to a lighter one. "Oh we can leave him here, we don't need to take them home with us." she teased.
He tutted at her and sighed "Come on." he pushed the trolley while she quietly followed. They found her brother by the car. Teddy had met up with Albus after he'd finished talking to the Malfoy's. Lily tried to go the rest of the journey without talking to him but he kept making her laugh by morphing the shape of his face. Lily gave up. Being mad at Teddy was impossible and anyway, there was no point in being angry with him for who his blood relatives were. After a several hour drive they pulled up at the Burrow and were Lily was greeted by their grandparents and the rest of her large family.
I'd really like to know what you guys think of this, I'm open to suggestions of how to improve each chapter