(A/N: I'm more sorry than ever that this took so long. However, I had a complete brain freeze on what to do for this story, but now I'm forcing myself to sit down and write it.
Disclaimer: Everything and everyone mentioned in the books belong to J. K. Rowling, the rest is all mine.)
The Hardest Thing
Chapter 6: Birthdays, Balloons, and Bathing suits
Lily sighed as she walked along the edge of the lake. She knew her friends were only trying to cheer her up, but it wasn't helping. She thought about her slipping grades and the gaining distance between her and the boys, and she knew that if this kept up she had the chance of not only losing her friends, but being expelled too. Lily sighed and kicked a tuft of grass as a single tear slid down her cheek, but within that tear held all the pain of her parents divorce, her sister's cruelty, and being thrust into a place she didn't belong, yet not belonging anywhere else.
"Lily?" Sirius called from a place further along the lake.
"Hmm?"
"This way." Lily sighed and followed Sirius. She had been woken early that morning to find the only presents at the foot of her bed were the ones from her parents. Nevertheless, what was to be expected? She had told nobody it was her birthday, but now she wished she had. Shortly after Sirius had barged in and told her to meet him down by the lake at noon with her swimsuit, and as quickly as he had barged in, he was gone.
It was noon now, and Lily was already half frozen and wished she had never followed Sirius' command, but something about the way he'd said it made her believe that he was up to something other than his usual pranks.
"Right around this grove." Sirius had stopped and waited for her to catch up and he gently took her hand and led her through the grove of trees.
"SURPRISE!" James and Remus jumped out in front of the couple and balloons appeared along with a banner reading: HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILY! She was ecstatic to say the least.
"You guys shouldn't have."
"I know, but we did." Sirius grinned; hugging Lily; James and Remus soon followed suit.
"I take it you plan to get me in the lake in late October.'
"It was Sirius' idea."
"He wouldn't shut up."
"And they gave in." Sirius grinned broader and took off his shirt, "Anyone care to join me in a swim?" He gave a meaningful look at James.
"We might as well." James sighed and removed his shirt too, "Coming Lil?" He and Sirius were removing their shoes, and Sirius looked like he was having a bit of trouble.
"Yeah, one sec." Lily took off her shirt and carefully placed it on a bush where it wouldn't get dirty, then did likewise with her pants. She then placed her Shoes next to her clothes and looked at Remus, 'Coming in?"
"Yeah, I was just wondering if we should write a note saying it was all Sirius' idea for when the drag our cold, dead, frozen bodies out of the water." Lily laughed. Remus was right, unless the Giant Squid provided himself and the merpeople with a heated pool; they would most likely freeze to death.
~*~*~*~
Lily climbed out of the water, surprisingly warm for December. "James what did you do to the water?"
"Nothing. It's always this warm."
"Maybe I should come swimming more often then, its actually quite refreshing." Lily grinned.
"Maybe."
"What about presents?" Sirius had begun whining almost as soon as he had stepped out of the lake.
"You know, if I didn't know this was my birthday, I'd swear its yours."
"It isn't? Oh well, you'll just remember all this for mine won't you?"
"Maybe I will, maybe I won't." Lily grinned and pulled the towel tighter around her shoulders. If only her parents were together, and Sara and Courtney hadn't stopped talking to her over some petty trinket… then today would be perfect. But, Lily sighed, today wasn't perfect. It never would be.
"Why is my Lily-Lily sighing?" Sirius moved a bit closer in case Lily needed him.
"I'm just thinking. Nothing to call Professor Brummand about." Lily giggled. Professor Brummand was the Hogwarts Nurse who not only loved handing out bandages for everything, weather a scratch was present or not, but she also loved to give unneeded medicine to anyone who stood still long enough to swallow it.
"Alright as long as my flower is ok." Lily couldn't help but be amused at the slight jealous twinge coming into James' eyes. In fact, she quite enjoyed it.
"Open my present first." A girl's voice came from behind Lily, but although she recognized the voice she couldn't remember who it was.
"Or you could open mine." Came another voice, this one she recognized.
"Sara!" Lily spun around and embraced the two girls. "Courtney! I can't believe you guys."
"I can't believe we ever believed you took those necklaces!"
"Can you ever forgive us?" Lily's silent response was nodding, she knew that now everything would be alright.
"Thank you." She whispered, "Thank you so much."
