Team: Falmouth Falcons
Position: Chaser 2
Round Prompt: Lavender (as inspired by Lavender Brown): Write about a character who is not able to trust someone they love.
Prompts:
1. (word) influence
3. (dialogue) "I wish you had told me before I… " / "What? Before you what?"
12. (object) toilet paper
Word count: 985
Betas: Flye, Paige, Amy
Summary: Lily and Alice have different approaches of how to spend their time.
Lily twisted her lips in indecision over Alice's suggestion. Leaving James and Sirius in charge of baby Harry and Neville wasn't sitting right with her; especially under the circumstances they were in. "I'm not sure… it'll be safer if we all stay in together."
"Come on, Lils. When was the last time you got out of this house?" Alice asked, scanning her eyes around the cosy cottage.
"Where's Frank?"
"In a meeting."
"What's wrong, Lily-Poo? Don't trust your own husband to look after your son?" Sirius teased walking into the room holding an eleven-month-old Harry.
Lily's eyes widened at the accusation; those weren't the words she'd specifically use. "It's not that," she started, deflecting from what he said. "I just don't want to come back to find that you let the boys go on full-sized brooms by themselves when they can't even walk yet."
"I wish you had told me before I…"
Panic instantly filled Lily as James spoke, walking in the room with Neville. Without hesitation, she took her son from his godfather's arms. "What? Before you what?" she demanded, looking over Harry for any signs of underage flying.
A laugh from James settled her, but only a little, "I'm joking."
"Don't get your wand in a twist; we'll be a great influence on the boys," Sirius said, a smirk on his face.
"I wouldn't go that far," Alice commented as she stepped towards James and kissed Neville. "Behave… and don't let them corrupt you," she whispered fondly.
"I can hear you, you know?" James pointed out, running one hand through his hair with a mock-insulted look.
Alice shot him a sweet smile before walking out of the room. "Come on, Lils!"
Lily looked down at her son before slowly handing him back to his Godfather. With a glance around, making sure everything was in the right place, she followed her friend out.
"I was hoping we could have gone further than around the corner," Alice admitted to her best friend. As much as she didn't mind what they did, she wondered what was making Lily so paranoid about leaving the boys in the capable hands of James and Sirius.
Lily sent her an apologetic look. "Sorry, it's just with everything going on…"
"You're scared," Alice replied, letting out a breath. "I'm terrified… every second of the day and night. Something bad could happen today, tonight, tomorrow… to somebody we love."
"That too…"
Alice burrowed her brows at her friend. "What do you mean?"
Lily turned her attention to her, hesitation on her face. "You have to promise to not say anything." Alice nodded and waited for Lily to continue. "I love James, I do. And I love Sirius like he was my brother… but… I'm worried that they'd be a bad influence on Harry."
Eyes almost bulging, Alice opened her mouth to reply but nothing came out; she had not been expecting that. Lily didn't trust her own husband with their son; it was something she could not fathom.
"That came out wrong. It's just…" she sighed, taking her time to quickly compose herself. "They used to be bullies - they acted as if they were above others when we started school. Purebloods."
"You know they don't care about the their blood-status."
Lily nodded. "I know… they didn't discriminate against Muggleborns. They, however, discriminated against Slytherins - I don't want Harry to learn that behaviour."
Alice wanted to remind Lily that most of the Slytherins had been confirmed to be following Voldemort, including her former friend Severus Snape. Bringing up the point that even those who had once been a dear friend and trusted, wasn't proof. It simply showed that Slytherins all were capable of prejudice thoughts, statements, and actions. After all, it was these actions that broke the friendship up. But, she also understood the point her ginger friend was making. Even as first years, James and Sirius showed a strong dislike to any and all Slytherins without any prior interactions.
"They've grown up," Alice reminded her. "Besides, Harry isn't even one yet."
"That's true. I'm…" she paused, shaking her head with a small laugh and looking down. "I'm worrying about too much, about anything that could possibly happen." She looked up. "We made Sirius Harry's godfather for a reason; I need to stop doubting everything."
"I blame Voldemort. He's got everybody on edge!"
Lily nodded, once again, this time, though, she had a thoughtful look on her face.
Alice wasn't entirely sure what she was thinking about. As she observed her friend, her own thoughts set in. Was she not worrying enough? Should she better prepare for what could happen?
She knew she wanted Neville to grow up happy and loved; that was important to both Frank and herself. But, at what point should she start thinking about added protection?
Being in the Order didn't exactly keep them out of harm's way, and she didn't want her son to ever suffer for the decision she made.
"You're right. Let's go and enjoy the time we have," Lily suddenly declared.
Alice took a few breaths, now wasn't the time to start panicking, not when she had just talked Lily down. "Great, where to?"
There was not an immediate reply. She followed her friend's gaze to the cottage; it was just in view through the bushes. It was definitely understandable for Lily to be hesitant the first time she left her son, though, it wasn't expected that trust issues would arise. Regardless, Alice would not push.
"We could always walk around Godric's Hollow, it's beautiful today."
Lily smiled softly before sheepishly suggesting: "We could also head to the store."
"Sure, what for?"
"Toilet paper."
Alice laughed. The first trip out of the house just the two of them since they both had their first child, and Lily wanted to buy toilet paper; she was also so practical. "Sounds great, maybe there'll be an offer."