Chapter 24: Accepting that they aren't coming back
Lily:
"Lily?" asked Madame Pomfrey. I pretended to be asleep because when I
was asleep, no one was there to remind me that my parents were dead. "Lily?
Lily Evans, don't play that with me. I know for a fact you aren't asleep. Get up
Lily. Professor Dumbledore wants to see you now. God Lord Lily, you've been in
here all vacation! Get out for one day, I'd better get Mr. Black, he'd know how to
cheer you up, but I know it would be fatal to your health. Come on Lily, just get
out of bed," she pleaded. "Lily Evans if you don't get out of bed right now I'm
going to dump you in the lake, now up. You've been in bed to long. I'm too young
for this, Lily out of bed now! (A/N, she sounds kind of like my mom in the
morning, hehe). Alright missy, you asked for it." She picked me up and my eyes
flew open immediately.
"I'm up, I'm up," I said. "I'm up, you don't have to throw me in the lake.
Though if you did, I'd be here a lot longer. I changed my mind, you can dump me
in the lake if you want to."
"Lily, it's the last day of the holidays. You should be out having a snowball
fight, or drinking hot cocoa by the fire. You do whatever you want, just don't stay
cooped up here. It's been a week since your parents died. I think you should
come to terms with it now," said Madame Pomfrey. "Go to your dorm, change
your robes and go to the Headmaster's office. It's the stone gargoyle. The
password is, 'Candy Cane'. Out, I'm locking the door behind you!" She shoved
me out the door and I heard a click as she locked the door.
"Madame Pomfrey you are so mean!" I shouted to the closed door. There I
was, standing in dirty pajamas outside the imfirmary. I wanted to get back into
bed, and I could in my dorm, but somehow I thought that would be hard to do. I
sighed and trudged up the stairs to the Common Room. I got to the Fat Lady,
who was snoozing. "Kollegewidgwok," I said grumpily.
"That's incorrect dear. They changed the password a few weeks ago," she
said.
"But you know me, you know I'm a Gryffindor," I pleaded.
"You need to have the password to get into the tower. I tell you what," she
said, kindness in her eyes. "I'll go to a painting in there and see if someone you
know is there. Describe a friend of yours deary."
"Well, his name is James Potter. He had a lot of messy black hair and blue
eyes. He's semi tall and he's usually around another boy that looks just like him
and a boy with sandy brown hair and light brown eyes," I said. The Fat Lady
disappeared and I sat down to wait.
"Lily?" I looked behind me and saw Cat.
"Hey Cat," I said.
"Lily, you look awful, I mean, it's good to see you and all, but you have to
do something about the way you look. Even Sirius wouldn't come out of his room
looking like that," said Cat.
"Thanks Cat," I said. "It's good to see you too, seeing as how you haven't
been by the Hospital Wing in four days."
"I've been busy," said Cat. "Where's the Fat Lady?"
"She wouldn't let me in because they changed the password and nobody
told me," I said with a meaningful look at her. "So I described James, Sirius and
Remus for her and she went to see if they were in there."
"They aren't," said Cat. "Last time I saw them, they were stuffing their
faces with food."
"Sorry dear, they aren't there. Password?"
"Treacle fudge," said Cat. The portrait hole swung open.
"SURPRISE!" shouted the first years.
"What?" I asked, grumpily. I turned to Cat and she was grinning like a
Cheshire cat.
"We knew you were feeling down, so we threw a party for you," said Cat.
"I'm not in the mood," I said. "You guys have the party. I have to clean up
and see the headmaster."
"Well then," said James. "We'll just have to get you in the mood then."
"No," I said. "You won't." I bounded up the stairs to the girls dormitory two
at a time and slammed the door. I looked in the mirror and nearly screamed. My
hair was sticking out at odd angles and my pajamas were rumpled. My face was
dirty and I had an icky taste in my mouth. I took a quick shower, changed into
some fresh robes and brushed my hair. I pulled my wet hair back into a bun so it
wouldn't drip down my back. I trudged downstairs. No one noticed me because
they were too busy talking. I sidled out of the room and to the Headmaster's
office.
"Candy cane," I said. The gargoyle stepped aside and revealed a moving
spiraling staircase. I stepped on and it took me to a big wooden door. I knocked
and Professor Dumbledore answered.
"Come in, Miss Evans," said Professor Dumbledore. He opened the door
and sitting in front of his desk was Petunia. I gulped.
"Hello Petunia," I said nervously. Knowing Petunia, she'd blame it on me,
and it was my fault, but I didn't want to think that it was. She just stared at me.
"I was just talking to your sister about arrangements for where you are to
live at the end of the school year," said Dumbledore. "Since Petunia is five years
older than you are, you will eventually be able to live with her. Until then, you will
live with your Aunt Sara. She doesn't blame you in the least, Lily, if that's what
you're worried about."
"Which 'she' are you talking about?" I asked. "Aunt Sara or Petunia."
"I know your Aunt Sara doesn't blame you, she's upset, but is happy you
both are still alive," said Dumbledore. "Petunia, I don't know about. You'll have to
talk it over with her. You're free to go, both of you." I looked at Petunia and she
nodded. She got up and we went to the door. "Oh, Miss Evans?"
"Yes," I said.
"No going back to bed. You have to enjoy at least one day of your
holidays. Show your sister around, she has to go back to school tomorrow," said
Dumbledore. We left Dumbledore's office and were walking in the halls, when I
had to break the silence.
"So Petunia," I said. "Where did you sleep?"
"I slept in your bed," she said. "For a freak's bed, it was quite comfortable."
"What did you do to pass the time?" I asked. "I hope my friends didn't
bother you."
"One kid did, his name began with an S, I told him to go away. I was
surprised when he listened. I expected him to pull out his wand and curse me. I
read a few of the books you brought," said Petunia.
"Is there anything you want to see?" I asked.
"No," said Petunia. "I'm just going to get another one of your books, curl
up and do some reading."
"Well, I need my charms book to do some homework," I said. "But you can
use any others if you're interested."
"I meant the normal books you brought, not those freak books," said
Petunia. She scowled and I just shrugged. If she was going to be that way, fine. I
only had to see her over the summer anyway.
"Okay, but before you start, you have to meet my friends," I said. "And do
try to be civil." I walked up to the Fat Lady.
"Password?"
"Treacle Fudge." The portrait swung open and my friends were still in a
huddle, talking. "Hey guys," I said. "I want you to meet my sister. Petunia, this is
Caitlin Buckley, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and James Potter. Guys, this is my
sister, Petunia."
"Hello Petunia," said Sirius, bowing. "How splendid to meet you." I hit him
round the head. "Ow, what's that for?"
"Being an idiot," I said. "Ignore him, Petunia. He's just weird."
"You mean, more so than normal?" asked Petunia with a sneer.
"Petunia, don't," I warned. "Sirius and James have happy wands."
"Do not," said James.
"Do to," said Cat. "Remember what you did to Snape? Your excuse was
that he was ugly. I'm not condemning you for cursing him, but that was a lame
excuse."
"So it was a lame excuse, sue us," said Sirius. "But he does look good
with neon pink hair, doesn't he?"
"Better than his regular greasy mop," said Remus and went back to
reading.
"Lily," said Petunia. "Where do you keep your copy of Great
Expectations?"
"It should be at the bottom of my trunk," I said. "With the rest of my Muggle
books."
"What books?" asked Petunia.
"Never mind," I said.
A/N: that was kind of pointless, but it bridges into another part which i am too lazy to discuss.
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