Disclaimer: I am nowhere near that lucky, unfortunately.
I dare you not to look ahead and see where Lily went until you've read this author's note.
A/N: I was looking through the details of this story today, and I honestly can't believe the feedback that it's gotten! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing, even if some of your reviews were, err, different! Please keep it up!
Enjoy xx
The Hogwarts Express feels lonely when you ride it alone.
It's not a surprise, really, but I can't get my head around the fact that there's no one to talk to, no one to laugh and joke and play Exploding Snap with. The corridors are long, and empty, and silent, and it's eerily cold, so I bundle up in the jumper I stole from the porch, teeth chattering, rubbing my hands together.
I've been on the train for ten minutes before I remember that there will be no one to meet me, so I owl Remus, whose staying at Hogwarts over Christmas asking him to tell Professor McGonagall that I'm coming back, and asking him to meet me at Hogsmeade Station. He answers minutes later, saying of course he will, that he'll see me soon, and that he wants to know what's going on.
I don't owl him back.
Two hours later, I've eaten both chocolate bars that I bought at King's Cross after Effie dropped me off there at six, and drunk the bottle of water I stole from the kitchen this morning. Mrs Potter got upset when I left this morning, which was precisely why I didn't tell James and Sirius where I was going. That, and the fact that I don't think I'd be able look James in the eyes after last night.
A loud whistle sounds as the train rushes into Hogsmeade Station, and I drag my trunk out into the hallway, panting and cursing as I drop it on my foot. "Argh...stupid trunk...honestly...oww!"
Groaning, huffing and puffing, I kick open the carriage door, and pull all of my stuff out of door, swinging my owl's cage out of the window and plopping it ungraciously on the ground. Papilio lets out an indignant squawk, and I roll my eyes.
"Yes, sorry, Papilio, stupid owl...Merlin's beard...oww!" I squeal as Papilio nips me on the finger sharply, obviously annoyed.
"Stupid abusive owl...stupid cumbersome trunk...stupid ogling boyfriends..."
"Got quite a lot on your plate, haven't you?"
I turn around in surprise, and Remus pulls me into a hug.
"How are you, Lily?"
"I'm fine, and you?"
"I'm alright, but you seem upset."
"I do not!" I huff, and he chuckles. "I don't look upset, do I?"
"No, but you do seem to be in need of a prescription for an extra strength chill pill. What's going on?"
"Nothing."
"Yeah, and I'm Merlin's uncle. Why have you come back to Hogwarts?"
"I have Head stuff to do."
"If you did, James would have come with you."
"He didn't fancy it."
"You and I both know that he would've come anyway. Come on, Lily."
"Fine. He doesn't know that I left."
"What?!"
"I kind of left...without telling him."
"Well that was stupid." Remus says bluntly. "Did you argue?"
"No."
"So why did you leave?"
"It wasn't just because of him."
"But some it was, so what happened?"
"We were at this New Year's party thing, and he was just flirting with this other girl, Anne, but you don't want to hear about this, Remus-"
"Lily, it's fine. So he was flirting with this girl Anne, or something?"
"And she was running her hands all over him. And she let him! It was like I wasn't even there!"
"I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it-"
"That's exactly the problem! He didn't seem to think anything was wrong! You should have seen his relatives, they were practically arranging a marriage for him and Anne. I ended up hanging around with Sirius for the whole night."
There was moment of thoughtful and in my case, frustrated silence, and then Remus perks up.
"Speaking of Sirius, I got an owl from him this morning, only a couple of minutes after owled me. He wanted to know why a certain Lilybug wasn't there when he woke up this morning."
"Ok, so what did you tell him?"
"I told him you'd owl him ASAP."
"Remus!"
"What? I didn't know what to tell him."
"You should've made something up!"
"Like what? You grew wings and ran away with the fairies?"
"That sounds better than the alternative. Please may I see the letter? If you still have it, I mean."
"Yeah...I think...here we go..." Remus digs around his pocket, grins as he finds what he's looking for, and hands me a crumpled piece of parchment, covered in a familiar scrawl. Smiling, I unfold it and start to read.
REMUS JOHN LUPIN.
Greetings. It is I, Sirius Black, begging you for your help in this time of woe. This morning, I awoke, and went to find my favourite Lilybug, but she was missing! I asked Mrs P where she was, and she said that Lily-pad had gone back to Hogwarts. Naturally, I declared her insane and went to find Lilykins. Now for the shocking part.
I couldn't find her! She was gone!
At first, I panicked, thinking she'd been kidnapped by Russian pirates, but then I reassured myself that we were not, in fact, in Russia. Prongs was still asleep at this point, so I called upon my favourite house-elf to find out where Tiger-Lily was. It was only THEN that I discovered that Mrs P hadn't gone mental, which was a relief, if I'm being honest, and Red actually had returned to Hogwarts. Then I, being incredibly smart, remembered that our favourite werewolf, aka YOU, was at Hogwarts also.
Now, Lupin, you better make sure that she's okay, or I will break your jaw. And then James will break your neck.
Also, please pass this message onto Lily:
Hola, Lilybug.
Owl me and tell me what the hell is going on before James finds out that you've gone.
Ta ta, Padfoot.
P.S: Remus, can you send some of that treacle tart from the kitchens. I'm having withdrawal symptoms.
P.P.S: Flower, have you seen James' Quidditch jumper? It's not on the hook anymore.
I laugh, and ten minutes later I've scribbled a reply, leaning on my lap.
SIRIUS ORION (nice middle name) BLACK.
Good morning. It is I, Lily Evans, owling you back to ensure that you do not break Remus' jaw, and that James does not break his neck. And Mrs P is not bonkers, insane, mental, or brain cell-challenged. I am currently at Hogsmeade Station.
I am fine.
This is the part where you burst out laughing, because 'duh, Lilybug, you aren't fine, you ran off.'
That is true, I did leave, by the way. I was not kidnapped by any pirates, Russian or otherwise.
I loved the ball last night. Apparently so did James' new best friend, Anne.
And the penny drops.
Remus met me at the station, and I am currently leaning on my lap on a bench, with him reading over my shoulder. He says hello, by the way, and he also says that there's no way that you could break his jaw. I mean, have you seen those arms? They're like spaghetti!
Sorry, Sirius, I will stop dictating what Remus tells me to write (wink, wink).
Be okay, and don't slide down the banisters anymore. Or, if you do, at least remember to do a Cushioning Charm.
Tell James that I love him, and nothing else. And don't let him break anyone's neck.
Wow, that makes him sound violent.
Lots of love and sarcastic eye rolls,
Lilybug x
P.S: Slip a Dungbomb in Anne's bag next time you get the chance, will you? Thanks!
P.P.S: I'm wearing it.
Yes, this was to get Lily to Hogwarts. No, I don't regret making a filler chapter. I quite like it, actually. Did you?
James will return in the next chapter! What do you think his reaction will be like? Happy? Angry? Question mark?
Reviews make my day, and also make me update faster!
Gracias,
She-who-loves-fanfiction xx
