Trail Of Flowers
(One-Shot)
Disclaimers: I don't own anything apart from some DVD's/books for this series.
AN: This is a short mini drabble special prompt for 'The Houses Competition" Round 7/8 (I'm doing this for Round 7).
House: Gryffindor
Class: Herbology
Category: Mini Drabble
Prompt(s): (Character) Lily Evans
Word count: 500 according to AO3 (1 page)
Summary: Lily finds a trail of flowers.
It was a cold Christmas at Hogwarts. People hurried from one large fire to the next, dressed warmly against the bitter cold wind. Everyone was excited for the big day as they talked of nothing other than presents.
Lily Evans had been told by James Potter that he had something special planned for her. They were just starting to get along now. They had been fighting for most of their school years but now, in Year Seven, both seemed to have grown up a little. A sort of casual acquaintance had started up between them.
James had said no more on the subject of her gift other than what he had to show her was a secret. Recently, Lily had received a rather strange note from one of the Marauders. Peter had given it to her the day before. All he said was that it won't open until Christmas Day.
When morning came, the first thing Lily did was pick up the letter. It opened in her hands to reveal a sort of map. A tiny poinsettia marked each place she was supposed to go to.
She went to the first one down in the Common Room. There was a white lily under the table where Sirius was reading. The next mark was on the fourth floor. Lily dressed up a little more warmly before going out into the cold hallways. She found a bluebell behind a statue. Next mark was in the Grand Entrance where Lily eventually discovered a yellow hyacinth.
Now, she had to go outside. Grabbing her scarf, she went out to find a brown-eyed Susan behind a boar statue. An orange carrot flower was found on the Viaduct. The next flower, a bright red snapdragon was located close to the Whomping Willow.
All six flowers were dried, perfectly preserved for a long-lasting bouquet.
The final mark showed a path under the dangerous tree that led to the Shrieking Shack. By now, Lily knew what Remus was, so she stood for a moment, wondering why she was being led to his den. It was the middle of the day, so he was certainly not in his wolf form at the moment.
Lily slipped under the tree.
After following the path up into the old shack, Lily climbed up the stairs to find, of all things, a large Stag standing in the room with a fresh red rose in his mouth. Lily stared at him.
The Stag grinned sheepishly before stretching his neck out to give the flower to her. Once she took it, Prongs disappeared to reveal James Potter instead. Lily dropped all her flowers. She never knew about THIS!
"I do it for Remus," James shrugged. "But only my friends know. You're my friend now, so, uh, well, now you know."
"Remus sure is a lucky wolf," Lily smiled as she gathered up all her flowers.
"Say, do you want to go get a butterbeer, since we're here?" James asked.
"Sure," Lily answered.
~the end