Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters, places, and ideas belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers, not me.
by Auror5
Lily and James slowly strolled, hand in hand, through the Museum of Quidditch.
Pointing at two tall poles topped with baskets, James snorted, "Look at those goal posts."
He enjoyed spending time at the museum and pretending that each visit was his first.
"That's much better, not to mention safer, than having to catch rocks into a cauldron strapped on top of your head. Honestly, what were they thinking back then?"
"Obviously, not at all."
"Jamie, look at this! The wizard who invented the Golden Snitch was from Godric's Hollow. Perhaps he was one of your distant relatives."
"Maybe," he smiled.
Lily stopped and stared up at him.
"What?"
Narrowing her eyes, she responded, "Are you a relative of Bowman Wright?"
"What do you think, Tiger Lily?"
"I don't know. That is the reason I'm asking."
"But you didn't answer my question."
"I did. I said I didn't know."
"Sure you do."
"James," she replied, exasperated.
"Lily," retorted James with mirth in his eyes and a teasing expression on his face.
"I hate it when you do that."
"No, you don't."
"Yes, I do."
"So...can I conclude that you answered your own question?"
Haughtily, Lily stated, "Yes. I reckon someone as woefully inept as yourself couldn't possibly be related to a distinguished and brilliant wizard such as Bowman Wright."
"Ouch! And this from a witch, who just two weeks ago, mind you, opened a jar containing thirty billywigs, imported from Australia, because she felt sorry for them."
Lily's face turned scarlet.
"We're just two inept peas in a pod, aren't we, love?"
She started laughing. "It was a bit funny when Mrs. Pettigrew walked into the kitchen and saw all six of us floating above the table."
"Yes, but it wasn't funny when we were stuck hovering for two days."
"Do you know what I would like?"
"More brains?"
Lily playfully hit James on the arm, and said, "No. I have more than I can handle, thank you very much. More than you, I might add."
"From the girl who releases billywigs to sting her chums no less than five times because she feels sorry for them."
"At least I didn't deliberately not blow my nose for three days while suffering from a head cold to see if a puffskein would become full eating my bogies."
His face red, James exclaimed, "You win."
Lily laughed. "I would like a Snidget. That's what I would like."
"I'll try to find and catch one for you."
***
A day after Lily's seventeenth birthday, she received the following letter.
Dear Miss Evans,
Congratulations!
You have been selected as Hogwarts Head Girl. As Head Girl, you will be responsible for upholding the school code, encouraging and motivating your fellow students to be their best by modelling the appropriate behaviour, and, most important, representing the student body by speaking on its behalf. The primary function of Head Girl is that of leadership.
Each week, on Wednesdays, after your last lesson of the day, you will preside over the Prefect meeting along with the Head Boy, James Potter of Gryffindor. In these meetings, you will discuss various issues pertaining to the school such as ways in which to improve instruction and deportment, and offer ideas to the teaching staff. You will also be responsible for ensuring that the students in your house know the password and that they use it properly. At times, you will be required to work closely with the Headmaster. Your first meeting will be held at 4:15 P.M. on the 12th of September.
Attached is a list of this year's prefects and incoming first years.
Again, congratulations!
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Note: Enclosed is your Head Girl badge. It must be worn in school at all times.
Lily jumped up and down with joy, and then grabbed a quill and parchment to write to James.
***
Lily, feeling apprehensive, sat in the living room with her family and waited for James to arrive. She anxiously wondered whether her parents would like him. Already, she knew her older sister would not.
Just then, Petunia grumbled, "I really don't see why I must be here."
"Petunia, we've already been through this a hundred times," said Wesley. "It will not hurt you to meet Lily's boyfriend."
Petunia mumbled incoherently under her breath.
There was a knock at the front door, and Lily rose to answer it. Through the spy hole, she spotted James. She opened the door wide to welcome him inside. James appeared as nervous as she felt.
"Hullo," Lily said, a bit formally.
"Hi."
"Er, come in."
James stepped across the threshold and into the Evans' residence. Wesley walked over to James and extended his right hand.
Shaking James' hand, Wesley said, "Hello. Welcome to our home. I'm Wesley, Lily's father, of course. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Lily speaks highly of you. Quite often, I might add."
Lily blushed.
Turning to Zinnia, Wesley introduced her to James.
"This is our eldest daughter, Petunia."
Petunia, eighteen, muttered, "Hello," while avoiding eye contact with James. She ignored his outstretched hand.
James, glancing over at Lily, dropped his gesture of friendliness.
Lily glared at Petunia.
Dispelling the awkward moment, Zinnia piped up, "You must be hungry, James. Why don't we head to the table?" Then she added, "Petunia, I need you to help me carry the food out."
Petunia sullenly followed her mother into the kitchen.
Once seated at the table, Wesley said, "Interesting hairstyle you have there."
Reddening slightly, James attempted to smooth his naturally unruly hair.
"No need to try to tidy it up, son. I understand young folks nowadays. Trying to establish your independence by rebelling against convention, eh?"
At that moment, Lily wished that the floor would open up and swallow her.
Zinnia and Petunia briskly entered the room carrying platters of food, which they placed on the table. Once the dishes were arranged and everyone seated, Wesley blessed the table.
Halfway through the main course, Wesley said to James, "What do you plan to do once you're out of school?"
James swallowed. "Er, I'm thinking of working for the Ministry of Magic...."
Petunia distracted them by choking on a piece of steak. Alarmed by Petunia's bright red face and teary eyes, Zinnia leapt from her chair and thumped Petunia on the back. The piece of partially chewed steak flew from Petunia's mouth, and narrowly missed James. Zinnia, with a napkin in hand, bent to pick up the meat from the carpeted floor.
Once recovered, Petunia said, "May I be excused? I lost my appetite."
"All right," Wesley replied with disapproval.
With a quick nasty glance in James' direction, Petunia hurried from the room.
Returning to business, Wesley said, "Where were we? Ah, yes, the Ministry of Magic. What are you planning to do in this Ministry?"
"I'm thinking of working in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, as an Auror."
"What's an Auror?" said Zinnia frowning.
"An Auror is someone who tracks down dark wizards," replied Lily. "They're like detectives."
"Oh. Sounds like a worthy ambition," Wesley commented. "Does it bring in much money?"
"Dad!" Lily wailed, indignantly.
"It's all right," James said to Lily, and then he turned to Wesley. "The pay is decent, if that's what you're asking, sir."
"I need to know. I want my daughter to marry someone respectable, someone who would be able to provide for her."
Lily, face burning, wished that she could disappear.
Wesley continued. "Are you thinking of marrying my daughter?"
Lily and James' faces turned beet red.
"Honey, they are too young to be contemplating marriage," jumped in Zinnia.
"Zin, I just want to know how serious he is about our daughter." He returned to James. "I do hope you have been keeping your hands to yourself, if you catch my train of thought."
Lily slid slightly down in her chair, and groaned. She had never been so humiliated in her life.
Wesley, who seemed unable to stop, proceeded heedlessly on. "I was your age once, son; although, it may not seem like it. Most boys your age are only after one thing."
Clapping her hands to her burning, scarlet face, Lily slid lower in her chair.
"I don't want you pressuring my daughter to do anything she isn't ready for. We've raised her to be a proper young lady, magical or not.
"In other words, I don't want you impregnating my daughter out of wedlock, and then running from your responsibility. I would have to hunt you down and flog you with every inch of your life."
Completely mortified, Lily groaned louder and sank lower in her chair. Only the top of her head could be seen from above the table.
"Do we have an understanding?"
"Yes, sir," replied James, his face scarlet.
"So, you haven't been behaving inappropriately with my daughter? Been keeping your curious hands to yourself? Haven't been pressuring her to engage in any activity that ought to be done only between loving spouses?"
"Er, no, sir."
"Good. All in all, you look like a sensible fellow. I can trust you where my daughter is concerned, eh?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well then. I will hold you to that, Mr. Potter." He then added, "Lily, I'm done. You can sit up in your chair now."
"James, Lily told me that you were made Head Boy," commented Zinnia.
"Aye."
"Sensible and intelligent, that one is," Wesley remarked. "No danger of him ruining our daughter's reputation."
Ignoring Wesley, Zinnia said, "Congratulations to you as well. We're very proud of our daughter." She smiled fondly at Lily.
"I seem to recall meeting you and your father a few years ago," said Wesley. "You were quite a young lad. Weren't you snorting in your pudding?"
"Er, yes."
"I hope you have grown past that tendency," Wesley lightly teased.
James grinned. "I have, sir."
"Please, call me Wesley."
"Lily, will you help me with the pudding?"
Lily rose from the table and followed her mother into the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Zinnia said, "I just wanted your father to spend a few minutes alone with James."
"Oh."
"He seems like a nice fellow. I think your father likes him."
Lily gazed at her mother while absently noting a tired, worn look on her face.
"What about you, Mum? Do you like him?"
She sighed. "I don't know, yet. It's just that I'm afraid he's going to take you away from us."
"Mum, no one is going to take me away from you and Dad."
"It really bothers me that you are so wrapped up in that world. I worry about you. I suppose you're going to get a job in that Ministry of Magic when you leave school, correct?"
Lily did not respond.
Zinnia sighed heavily. "I thought so. Lily, I don't know. It's just that I have a bad feeling about all of this, as though something terrible is going to happen. I wish you would reconsider, and find a job in our world. Find and marry a man in our world."
Alarmed, Lily replied, "Mum, why do feel something terrible is going to happen?"
"I don't know. It seems all wrapped up in that magical world. I feel that you are in some kind of danger."
"Mum! I'm fine. I am in no danger."
"What about what happened last year? All those students who were killed? Sweetheart, one of them could have been you!"
"Oh, Mum, please don't worry about me. I'm a big girl now. I can take care of myself. People are killed in this world all the time. The odds of me being killed in this world are about the same as in the magical world. I'll be fine. So, don't worry."
"I just don't know, honey. I have an uneasy feeling about all of this. Perhaps I'm being overprotective. Perhaps I'm unwilling to let you go, yet. I remember vividly, as though it were yesterday, the day you were born, the first time I held you in my arms...." Zinnia quickly turned toward the sink to hide the tears that Lily had already caught.
"Mum," Lily said, a bit sadly.
Then she hugged her mother tightly.
"I'm still your little girl, just a whole lot bigger, that's all. Please promise me that you will not worry about me."
Zinnia wiped the tears from her face. "Honey, that's what parents do: worry about their children. One day, you will see."
Placing her hands on her hips, Lily sternly said, "I want you to stop worrying about me, Mum, especially my future. You can worry when we get to that point. All right?"
Zinnia smiled. "You're such a sweetheart, Lily. I wish...." Then she sighed.
"What, Mum? What do you wish?"
"Never mind. I was about to say something I would later regret."
"Oh," she said, and then hesitated. "Mum, how are you doing? Lately, you seem to tire easily."
"Yes, well, don't worry about it, dear. I probably need more vitamins."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. More exercise wouldn't hurt either."
"Perhaps you should see a doctor. Has Dad noticed?"
"Yes, he's concerned. He believes I should see my doctor."
"Dad's right, Mum. Go see your doctor."
Zinnia patted her daughter softly on the cheek. "All right, you've convinced me, special daughter of mine.
"We better bring these puddings to the table or else your father and James will wonder where we've gotten ourselves to."
Upon exiting the kitchen, they heard a burst of male laughter.
Carrying her favourite chocolate pudding, Lily smiled.
***
Petunia, her best friends Lauren and Kate, and two unfamiliar young men entered the house while Lily dusted the mantle.
Lily stopped cleaning and absently brushed a stray lock of hair from her face.
"Hullo," said the dark haired man while staring at Lily as though he liked what he saw.
"Hello," replied Lily.
The man turned to Petunia. "I didn't know you had a sister. How come you never told me you had a sister?"
"You never asked," Petunia snapped, icily.
He returned his attention to Lily.
"So, what's your name?"
"Lily."
"Lily." He seemed to taste it. "That's pretty."
"Let's head out back," Petunia interrupted. "Come on."
Lauren, Kate, and the blonde haired man proceeded to follow Petunia.
"I'll catch up," shouted the young man standing in front of Lily.
He returned his gaze onto her. "By the way, I'm Ryan. Ryan White."
"Pleased to meet you."
Ryan stared intently at Lily for about a minute, which made her feel very uncomfortable.
"You're so pretty. Your eyes...they're splendid. I've never seen such striking, green eyes."
"Erm, thanks."
"I don't know if your sister told you, but I have my own band. We call ourselves the Bloodhounds."
"Oh. She never told me."
"Perhaps you should stop by someday to hear us play."
She shrugged. "Erm, all right."
"What school do you go to?"
"Er, Hogwarts."
"Never heard of it. Is it an independent school?"
"Aye."
"Erm...I hope you don't mind me asking, but...do you have a boyfriend?"
"Yes."
Ryan's shoulders slumped with disappointment. "Are you two serious?"
"Yes."
"Blimey, he's so lucky to have you! What's his name? Is he from around here?"
"James. He doesn't live around here."
"What a lucky bloke to have a girl like you!"
He gazed at her briefly, and then said, "If you two ever decide to call it quitsville, please look me up, eh?"
Lily simply smiled.
"I guess I better head out back before Tuna Fish comes looking for me. Nice meeting you, Lily."
***
There were only three days remaining before Lily returned to Hogwarts for her final year. She sat on the bed gently stroking Snowball. Lily decided to leave Snowball behind when she went back to school. The fluffy, white Persian was too feeble, and his arthritis had become progressively worse. The disease severely limited his mobility. Snowball had difficulty reaching his litter box at times, even with the magical mobile settee. Climbing stairs and jumping onto furniture were too much of a challenge for the elderly and infirm cat. Lily had Snowball for fifteen years, and the thought of her being at Hogwarts without him hurt her deeply.
Petunia barged into the room and shattered Lily's thoughts.
"How dare you?" screamed Petunia.
"What are you talking about?"
"What are you talking about?" Petunia cruelly mimicked. "You know exactly what I'm talking about, you abnormal freak!"
Lily gently lifted Snowball from her lap and placed him on the bed.
Petunia's screeching awakened Heidi, who was observing the scene with a decidedly disgruntled air.
"Look, Petunia, please tell me what this is all about or leave my room."
"I'll tell you, you freak! You stole Ryan from me! You knew I liked him, but you wanted him for yourself. You're just greedy and spoiled, always taking what should be mine!"
Thunderstruck, Lily responded, "Have you gone mad? I have no interest in Ryan! I already have a boyfriend, remember?"
"One isn't enough for you, is it, Lily? You've gone and bewitched Ryan somehow. He's written a song all about you, Lily, Emerald Eyes!"
"I had nothing to do with that!"
"Oh really? I'm willing to wager that you placed some sorcery on Ryan, to turn him away from me. One boy simply isn't enough for you. You're just a filthy whore, aren't you, freak?"
Lily slapped Petunia across the face.
Petunia rushed to Lily's armoire and snatched up the Dragon's Lair that James had given to Lily on her fifteenth birthday.
"Put that back, Petunia!"
"I hate you, Lily! I hate you! I've hated you all my life! Do you hear me? I hate you, and I wish you were dead."
Then Petunia forcefully threw the Dragon's Lair to the floor.
"NO!"
A bright, red-orange light flashed briefly when the Dragon's Lair made contact with the floor. All that was left was a thousand shards of tiny glass.
Without pausing to think, Lily ran to her desk and grabbed the wand on top of it. Before Petunia could escape, Lily pointed the wand at her back and screamed, "Segnitia Gastropod."
At that moment, Zinnia arrived on the scene.
"Lily, what's going on here? What are you and Petunia yelling about?"
Shaking with rage and hurt, Lily was temporarily incapable of speech.
"Where's Petunia?"
Teeth clenched, Lily replied, "By your right foot."
"Wh-What?"
Zinnia glanced down at her feet; let out a screech; and leapt backward.
"Lily! What have you done? Turn her back!"
Watching the slug that was her sister, Lily retorted, "I won't. She deserved it."
"Lily!"
Just then, an officious, large owl flew into Lily's room and dropped a letter on her head. After carrying out its duty, it promptly exited the scene through the open window. Heidi followed its progress with large, amber coloured eyes.
Lily unfolded the letter at the same time as a knock was heard downstairs.
Briefly torn between scolding Lily and answering the door, Zinnia decided to find out who was knocking.
Lily read the letter while occasionally pausing to watch Petunia the Slug's slow progress towards the door.
Dear Miss Evans,
We have received intelligence that a transfiguration charm was used at your place of residence this afternoon at twelve minutes past three.
As you know, underage wizards are not permitted to perform spells outside school, and further spellwork on your part may lead to expulsion from said school (Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875, Paragraph C).
We should also ask you to remember that any magical activity that risks notice by members of the non-magical community (Muggles) is a serious offence under section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlock's Statute of Secrecy.
Enjoy your holidays!
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Mafalda Hopkirk,
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic1
Zinnia returned to the bedroom with two men, who were obviously wizards, in tow.
"Oh, I see you've received the letter. Very good," commented the oldest of the two wizards. "I'm Zylvin Peabody with the Improper Use of Magic Office. This is Arthur Weasley with the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Department. Arthur is undergoing training on how to handle situations in which Muggles unwittingly encounter magic. This explains his presence here."
Unimpressed and unrepentant, Lily looked at both wizards with an eyebrow raised.
"Er, we were alerted that a transfiguration charm was used here," said the wizard with flaming red hair.
Still seething, Lily scathingly exclaimed, "Aye. I turned my rotten sister into a slug. If you don't watch your step, Mr. Weasley, you're going to mush her...as though I really care."
"Lily!" Zinnia responded in shock.
"Never mind, Mrs. Evans. We'll handle this," said Peabody.
Weasley returned Petunia to her proper form, which greatly disappointed Lily who had hoped that she would remain a slug for a week.
Trembling and with tears streaming down her face, Petunia slowly backed from the room.
"Mrs. Evans, we would like to speak briefly with you and your daughter," said Peabody.
"Er, sure," Zinnia replied. "Why don't we go downstairs? Come, Petunia."
Curious, Lily followed the group downstairs.
Downstairs, in the living room, Peabody and Weasley pulled out their wands, one pointing at Zinnia and the other at Petunia.
"Now, don't be frightened," said Weasley in a soothing voice. "Everything will be fine."
"Mother!" Petunia grabbed Zinnia and attempted to use her as a shield.
Lily shouted, "What are you doing?"
Ignoring her, Peabody and Weasley said, "Obliviate!"
"I better go check on dinner," Zinnia said distractedly while heading towards the kitchen.
Petunia walked upstairs muttering about a blouse.
"You placed a Memory Charm on them!"
"Yes, we did, Miss," replied Peabody. "They will be fine. Don't worry."
Frowning and recalcitrant, Lily exclaimed, "I wanted Petunia to remember what it was like being a slug!"
Peabody and Weasley glanced at each other.
"We must be going," said Weasley.
Without further word, they disapparated.
***
"Buenos días!"
With the exception of Lily and her friends, the class stared uncomprehendingly at the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor.
"Lo siento! I'm sorry. I forget sometimes and lapse into Spanish. I am Profesora, Professor, Catalina Pilar Francisco de Alvarez or simply Professor Alvarez. I am from San Luis Potosí, Mexico. En realidad, actually, I have been residing in the United Kingdom for a year now. I am on sabbatical for four years, and have three remaining. When I finish my three-year term here, I will return to El Instituto de la Magia. I hope that we will be able to learn from each other. I apologise in advance for my occasional lapses into Spanish, and do hope that you will forgive me for them. By the way, do any of you know Spanish?"
Lily, James, Fiona, Sirius, Remus, Samantha, and Peter raised their hands.
She clapped her hands. "Bueno! Good!"
"Now on to the lesson. During the next tres, three, months each of you will learn how to perform the Unforgivable Curses."
Noting the astonished expressions on the students' faces, she added, "Not to worry. The Ministry and Headmaster have granted approval. You will perform the curses on inconsequential creatures, not on each other...."
***
In Foreign Tongues, Professor Lengua informed the students that they would learn Irish, Norwegian, Lithuanian, Greek, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, Arabic, Yiddish, Swahili, Mermish, and Troll.
"Good," remarked James. "We'll have the opportunity to grunt at each other."
Several of his peers laughed.
"I assure you, Mr. Potter, that the Troll language is much more than grunts, as you put it," replied Professor Lengua a bit ruffled. "Troll is rich in subtle nuances and meaning."
"Yes, Mr. Potter," said Sirius. "Note the distinction." Then he grunted a few times.
The students laughed louder.
Professor Lengua glared at Sirius. "That will be five points from Gryffindor for your cheek, Mr. Black."
"Will we make awful, screechy noises to each other like mermaids?" said Peter.
The class erupted in guffaws.
Noting Professor Lengua's angry, beady eyes focused on him, Peter exclaimed in an injured tone, "Professor, I'm serious! I'm not trying to be funny. I really do wish to know."
Professor Lengua ignored him and coldly said to the class, "Open your textbooks and answer the fifty questions on page thirty-two, before you leave this room."
***
After the first Prefect meeting of the year, Lily and James walked towards the castle doors to visit Hagrid. Sirius headed in the opposite direction.
"I'll see you two at dinner," Sirius exclaimed on his way to meet Fiona.
Striding down the corridor, holding hands, Lily and James arrived upon Evan Rosier and Damien Wilkes walking in their direction.
Rosier loudly remarked, "I tell you, Damien, Hogwarts is doing to the dogs for allowing Mudbloods and Mudblood-lovers to occupy prestigious roles such as Head Boy and Head Girl."
James let go of Lily's hand, rushed up to Rosier, and slammed him against the wall. "You better watch what you say, you filthy prat," James growled in Rosier's face.
"And you better get your filthy, Mudblood-loving paws off me chum," remarked Wilkes acidly.
"That's fifty points from Slytherin," said Lily coldly, "fifty points each."
Glaring contemptuously at Lily, Wilkes opened his mouth to speak. Before he could do so, Lily cut him off.
"Konrad is no longer here to defend you," she said, scathingly. "Have you forgotten? The nasty coward ran, did he not?"
Wilkes glowered at her menacingly.
"Be thankful I didn't remove more points from your house."
James roughly let go of Rosier. "Go on," he said to Rosier and Wilkes. "Get out of here before I remove another one hundred points from Slytherin."
Throwing hostile glances at Lily and James, Rosier and Wilkes skulked away.
Lily and James proceeded on to Hagrid's house.
***
"Hullo, James, Lily. C'min!"
They stepped inside.
"I've gotta bone ter pick with yeh two."
Puzzled, Lily and James glanced at each other.
"Er, what did we do?" ventured James.
"Yeh didn't show up last Saturday after I invited yeh two over ter celebrate becoming Head Boy and Head Girl, that's what!"
"What?" Lily and James shouted in surprise.
"We didn't get any invitation," replied James indignantly.
"What?" thundered Hagrid. "I sent yeh two a letter by owl last Friday morning!"
"Hagrid, we didn't get it," said Lily adamantly, "otherwise, we would've shown up. We wouldn't have ignored you!"
Hagrid frowned ponderously. "That's awful odd, I tell yeh. Yeh should have gotten it."
"Sounds like a mystery," commented James. "Did you see the owl fly toward the castle?"
"Yep. Saw it fly inside the castle with me own eyes."
"That would mean someone intercepted it before it made it into the Great Hall...But who would do such a thing and why?" Lily wondered.
James shook his head slowly. "I don't know."
"Well, never mind. Yeh two are here now. I'm real glad that yeh were made Head Boy and Head Girl. Not a boy or girl is more deserving." He beamed at them for a moment. "Here, why don't I make yeh some tea. Take a treacle tart, too. They were jus' baked this morning."
Lily and James, to be polite, took the offered tart.
Lily's teeth promptly became glued together with her first bite. Attempting not to show that she was struggling with the sweet, she smiled and nodded at Hagrid.
James made a noise as though he were enjoying his piece, also.
Hagrid smiled broadly. "I'm glad yeh like it!"
He rose to prepare tea.
Lily and James, mouths temporarily cemented shut, gazed at each other with amusement.
Very shortly, Lily and James were slightly startled by a soft ruffling sound coming from one corner of the room. Lily spotted a florescent pink bird staring balefully at them from a perch near a window.
Wrenching her jaws apart, Lily exclaimed, "Hagrid, where did you get that fwooper?"
"More important, does it have a Silencer?" said James. "I have no desire to go stark, raving mad like Uric the Oddball."
"Now, don't yeh two worry. It can't harm yeh." Then he added smugly, "Fer yer information, James, a Silencer Charm has been placed on it. I jus' have ter reinforce it once a month."
Lily narrowed her eyes. "How?"
"Eh?"
"How, Hagrid? You aren't allowed to perform magic!"
His eyes quickly darted over to an umbrella by the door. "I have help," he muttered.
A quirky grin spread across James face. "Now, now, Hagrid, you know you aren't supposed to do any magic."
"Do me a favour, yeh two. Don't mention this ter anyone, all right?"
"All right, Hagrid," replied Lily. "But as long as you remember to silence it each month."
The brightly plumed bird smacked its beak a few times.
***
Fiona awakened Lily and Samantha one night in late October by slamming the door behind her as she entered the bedroom.
"I'm through with him," she screamed.
"Wh-What's wrong, Fi?" Lily said sleepily while pulling back the curtains enclosing her bed.
"SIRIUS!"
"Blimey, Fiona, you're going to wake the entire dormitory!" rebuked Samantha crossly. "Besides, you say you're through with him practically every fortnight."
"This time I'm serious!"
Lily yawned. "What did he do?"
"While we were snogging, he just stops and says that he has to meet James. Then he just left without a backwards glance."
"Oh," replied Samantha unconcerned, and closed the curtains to her bed.
Lily sighed. "Perhaps he had to meet James about something important."
"He cares more about JAMES than about ME!"
"Please, Fi, you're going to wake the rest of the girls."
"He doesn't love me. He loves James. If I were you, Lily, I would keep a tight hold on him." Then she added, nastily. "It's no telling what sort of design Sirius has on him."
"Oh come now, Fiona! You don't really believe that, do you?"
"I don't know what to believe, Lily," she snapped.
"I'm going back to sleep." Lily felt that it would be pointless to try to reason with Fiona in her present irrational state.
"I hate him," Fiona choked. Then she threw herself across the bed and sobbed noisily.
By the end of the following week, Lily and Samantha conceded that Fiona had terminated her stormy relationship with Sirius. Lily wondered how long the separation would last.
***
In mid-November, at the prefects' table, Heidi landed in front of Lily with a letter in her beak.
"Hullo, Heidi, love."
Heidi hooted softly after dropping the letter on Lily's plate.
Trying not to stain the paper with any more food than necessary, Lily carefully separated it from her breakfast.
"Here," she said to Heidi, and gave the bird a kipper.
The owl gulped down the morsel, nipped Lily affectionately, and then flew off towards the Owlery.
Lily unfolded the letter.
Dear Lily,
I'm so sorry to have to tell you this, honey. Sweetheart, Snowball died last night. There wasn't much we could do for him. Dr. Ames put him to sleep so he wouldn't have to suffer needlessly. Lily, I'm so sorry.
Love,
Mum
Lily burst into tears.
"Lily, what's wrong?" James exclaimed in alarm.
"Oh, Jamie, Snowball is dead!"
James placed his arms tightly around her as she sobbed into his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Tiger Lily," he said, softly.
Sirius watched them with a sorrowful expression on his face while a number of the prefects at the table looked uncomfortably over at Lily and James.
Snape, diagonally across from Lily, stared at James with intense loathing.
***
By the time of the Yule Ball, Lily had nearly recovered from her grief over Snowball's passing. It seemed unreal that she would actually attend the Ball with James. Lily kept expecting something to prevent her and James from arriving to the affair as a couple. Unfortunate events over the past several years conspired to keep them apart.
Although Fiona claimed that she was quite happy without Sirius, she did not behave so during the evening of the Ball. She was attending on the arms of Anthony Zephyr, a Ravenclaw, who had been smitten with her for quite some time.
"Really, I can't imagine what he could possibly see in a fourth year," said Fiona grumpily, speaking of Sirius, of course. "She's too young for him! He's a seventh year. In May, he will be eighteen."
"Why should you care, Fiona?" replied Samantha bored with Fiona's ceaseless criticisms of Sirius. Toby Brentwood, of Hufflepuff, asked her to the Yule Ball and she accepted.
"I don't. I was just making a point."
"I better go now," said Lily hastily. "See you two in a bit."
Lily walked downstairs to meet James. In the nearly empty common room, she quietly approached James, whose back was presented to her.
James turned and caught his breath.
"What?" Lily said, eying him strangely.
"Merlin's beard, you're beautiful." He gaped at Lily as though he was seeing her for the first time.
Lily's pink-tinted cheeks deepened to rosy red. Feeling awkward at the way James was gazing at her, she shyly responded, "Thank you."
She wore a rich rosy brown dress robe with puffed sleeves and a low, unrevealing, neckline. The bottom half of her robe was bedecked with an elaborate flounce. A large bow was tied in back. Lily's hair was softly pulled from her face, with the back in loose, large curls. To top off the effect, a gold tiara with red stones adorned her head. She also wore the necklace that James had given to her for her sixteenth birthday.
James wore a deep red and gold dress robe with a high neck.
Lily stepped up to James, stood on her toes, and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "And you are dashingly handsome, my Prince Charming."
He grinned down at her and offered his arm. "Let's go, shall we?"
She slipped her hand through his arm, and together they headed for the Great Hall.
***
After everyone had eaten, Professor Dumbledore instructed students and professors alike to rise. With a wave his wand, the tables collapsed against the walls and a raised stage appeared complete with musical instruments.
"Please welcome, Portree!"
Amid cheers and whistles, a band consisting of four wizards and one witch strolled out onto the floor and mounted the stairs leading to the platform. All of the members wore identical clingy, black robes with thin white stripes on the bottom halves. Their robes only had one sleeve, and they wore a brimless wizard hat with a long, silk, white scarf dangling from the top of it.
"According to tradition, the dance is led by the Head Boy and Head Girl."
Smiling, Dumbledore beckoned Lily and James. "Come, Mr. Potter and Miss Evans."
Lily and James, with a brief glance at each other, strolled hand in hand towards the centre of the Great Hall.
Portree started to play. A melodic harp-like sound of water flowing gently over smooth rocks washed over the Great Hall.
Lily, gazing into James' eyes, placed her hands on his shoulders as James put his on her waist.
Anya of Portree sang a question in a slow, halting sweet voice.
James and Lily began a slow, tentative dance.
The music slowly built and the tempo quickened.
They pulled apart, but continued to hold hands. Standing side by side with eyes only for each other, Lily and James moved gracefully in synch with the haunting beat. As one, the pair swirled and stepped in fluid motion.
Lily's back now to him, James pulled her in close with his arms tightly around her waist. She gently clasped his hands.
Locked into a magical capsule of eternity, where time was theirs and they only for each other, James and Lily were oblivious to the fact that no one had joined them on the floor. Not wishing to disturb the dreamlike aura surrounding the pair, most of the students and professors watched in awe.
Snape dropped Tara Yolke's hand, and stalked hurriedly from the Great Hall with an exceedingly sour and resentful expression on his face. He did not return. Hurt and with tears stinging her eyes, Yolke watched him go.
They parted again, the music demanding it. In a traditional courtship ritual, Lily and James, with intricate steps, followed each other in turn.
James swept her into his arms, and then let Lily go, but maintained a hold of one of her hands. He twirled her around so that her back was to him. Once again, pulling her tightly to him, they swayed to the music as one. Then James bent his head towards Lily and kissed her quickly on the exposed flesh at the base of her neck. A pink flush rose from below Lily's neckline and filled her face.
A number of boys in the Great Hall hooted and whistled.
Returning to face one another, they held on tightly and gazed deeply into each other's eyes.
The music ended.
Everyone cheered and clapped raucously.
Still within the world that was solely theirs, Lily stared into James' eyes. Suddenly, she felt her heart burst wide open and a barrier topple.
"I love you, James Godric Potter."
James smiled sweetly into her upturned face. "Forever and always, I will love you."
She closed her eyes as their lips met. Drowning in each other's love, they kissed deeply.
The cheering in the Great Hall climbed to a roar.
Smiling with eyes twinkling, Headmaster Dumbledore turned to Professor McGonagall and raised his goblet. "A toast, Minerva?"
---------
1Rowling, J.K., Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, (Scholastic Press, 1999), pages 21-22.
Note: You can lean about Bowman Wright (page 14) and earlier forms of Quidditch (pages 3-6) in Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling as Kennilworthy Whisp (Scholastic Press, 2001).
Billiwigs (page 4) and fwoopers (page 18) can be found in Fantastic Beasts & Where To find Them by J.K. Rowling as Newt Scamander (Scholastic Press, 2001).
The Golden Snidget (pages 10-15) appears in Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling as Kennilworthy Whisp (Scholastic Press, 2001).