A/N: I was going to post this chapter last week, but I didn't get around
to it. I was sick before I left, while I wrote this, and it definitely
isn't one of my favorite chapters. Oh well, you might like it. A million
thank yous to my reviewers! I love you all!
Chapter 11- One Father's Wrath
On the drive home, Lily stared out the window, thinking about her new relationship with James. It had all happened so fast, but she remembered every second of it, and entertained herself by playing it over and over in her head. Until her mother interrupted her, that is.
"So how do you know this James?" she asked, glancing at Lily a bit suspiciously
"Oh, he is Head Boy. Traditionally, the Heads work together to plan events at Hogwarts. We became friends in the process." She replied quickly.
"Are you good friends?"
"The best that friends can be." Lily smiled to herself, knowing it was the truth. She wasn't ready to tell her mother that James was her boyfriend though. She might flip out. And then her father would be very protective of her (as if he wasn't enough already). He would probably decide that James was no good and needed disposing of.
The next couple days flew by quickly. She endured the spiteful comments made by her sister, remembering that she would see James very soon.
Lily woke on Christmas day bright and early. Sunlight streamed in her bedroom window, and she gazed at the fresh snow before heading downstairs. Surprisingly, her parents were already there, sipping coffee and waiting for their daughters to arrive. Nonetheless, Petunia took her sweet time coming down.
Lily got some pretty nice things, including a new watch, books, clothes, and some other things. After breakfast, she headed upstairs to get ready. The doorbell rang a few times while she was dressing, and idle chatter could be heard from the living room. Guests were starting to arrive. She was fastening her new watch when someone walked in. Not just any someone, but James himself.
"What are you doing in here? Next time you'd better knock, or you'll be getting in trouble with me!" but she was grinning. It was one of those times that you're so happy, you can't wipe a silly smile off your face whatever you do.
"Oh? And what would you do to me?" he stepped closer.
"Well, this, for starters." She put her arms around his neck, pulled him closer, and kissed him. Deeply. It was getting deeper when he pushed her onto her bed, still not breaking the kiss. The door opened again. It was her mother this time. The two of them frantically broke apart, feigning innocence, but it was far too late.
"Never in my life!" her mother huffed at them. "I came up here to tell you that guests have arrived and you should come greet them. But I see that you are too busy. You're father will hear of this! No more doing anything of that sort in this house again!" she glared at them and turned around, heading out. "Or anywhere else, I should add!"
James groaned. "Your parents hate me already! What have I done?"
"Try not to worry too much about it. We'd better head down before I get in more trouble though." However, she didn't leave the room before stealing another kiss from him.
Their house was full of people. Most were Muggles, of course, but Lily was surprised to see a good amount of wizarding families as well. Where had her parents met them all?
The afternoon was spent laughing, talking, and dancing. It was fun, but she wished that she could be alone with James. That would never happen with her parents around, especially now that they knew. Judging by the looks she was getting from her father, and the ones from her mother that said "well, you deserved it", she had told him. Lily prepared herself for a long lecture. She just hoped that he didn't take the liberty of having a talk with James. Those talks always ended up disastrous, to the point where she had stopped telling them when she dated someone.
"Hello beautiful." Lily felt warm breath on her ear and turned around, facing James. She smiled sweetly and took his hand.
"Let's go out back. It will be quiet out there." Leading them to the backdoor, she clung to his arm, pulling him along. "Oh, come on. My parents already know. They can't possibly get any madder." James mumbled something that sounded an awful lot like, "I'm screwed."
Lily led them over to the hammock in her garden and sprawled out onto it, motioning for James to do the same. He sat next to her. Then he leaned over a moment and reappeared holding something in his hand.
"A lily for a Lily." he extended his hand, which was holding a fresh, smooth white flower.
"Why thank you sir." she laughed as she took it in her hand.
"So..." James was beginning to feel a bit awkward. "What to do, what to do..." She leaned over and kissed him, dropping the flower as she ran her hands through his hair. His hands touched her back lightly, pulling her closer. Neither broke the kiss for a long time. Until...
"STOP! I demand that you stop right this instant! Did you think I wouldn't notice that you had left, Lily? This is just horrible of you, leaving the party to come out and kiss a boy, in my garden! And you! You are a horrible young man! I feel sorry for your parents, having to put up with you! No more! You're not welcome in this house!" Mr. Evans looked positively furious. He wiped spit from the corners of his mouth.
"Daddy! You can't possibly mean all that!" All she had wanted to do was come out here to spend some times with James. They weren't doing anything wrong! "You're just overreacting! James is a very nice guy, if you'd only give him a chance. And don't blame him for this, it was all my idea."
"I don't care what you say! I think you're both to blame! Lily, up to your room, now! And you are coming with me." his face was a dire color of crimson as he pointed his finger at James. James paled. He was in for it now.
Lily gave her dad a look that was full of anger and hurt. Then she ran into the house, slamming the door behind her. He was so overprotective! Why, for once, couldn't he let her be happy? She reached her room, realizing that she was crying. What a bad party. So this was why her parents never entertained.
*******************************
Now I'm sure you're wondering what happened to James. Well, after Lily ran away, Mr. Evans turned to him with a look of death in his eye.
"Follow me." He barked roughly, turning to walk away. James did as he was told, and Mr. Evans led them straight to his study, where he shut the door behind them.
"I'm not sure what to do with you quite yet. I would beat you to a pulp, but that would be a bad idea, as your parents are here. I suppose I could tell them what you've done."
James, meanwhile, was gaining some of his courage back. "And just what is that, Mr. Evans? What did I do? Fall in love with your daughter?" he paused to take a deep breath. "Is that such a crime, sir? It was bound to happen, you know. If not me, then someone else. She is beautiful, smart, funny, and love her!"
"You can't love her! You're only seventeen! And nobody is allowed to love my daughter. She's my little girl." Mr. Evans was beginning to realize that he was overreacting a little. But Lily is too young! I have just gone through this with Petunia and that Vernon guy. But at least Petunia is twenty! Lily is only seventeen, after all! Wait a minute, where are Petunia and Vernon? Ugh! When I'm finished here I'll have to go find them! Damn it!
"Seventeen! She isn't a little girl anymore! She's of age, and so am I. We have every right in the world to be in love. I'm going to find her!" he didn't care what Mr. Evans said now, seeing as Lily's parents already hated him.
Mr. Evans made a move as if to stop him, but decided he had to go find Petunia and would deal with James Potter later.
****************************************
"I'm sorry, James. My father has always done this. He'll never stop pretending that I'm his baby girl." They were sitting on her bed holding hands. James felt horrible for yelling at Mr. Evans, but he loved Lily and nobody had the right to say otherwise! "And my mother is almost as bad. She agrees with him, most of the time. I'll be happy when winter vacation is over. There are no parents at Hogwarts!"
He laughed softly in agreement. "Hey, you know, we've only been going out for a few days and I've already met your parents." he grinned playfully. "This is getting serious!" She giggled and gave him a quick kiss. Then she became somber.
"It was always serious, though, James."
A/N: I'll be working on the next chapter; it should be up soon. In the meantime, I wouldn't say no to some reviews! But who would? Anyway, I hope everybody's Spring Break was excellent, as mine was. Ugh, but tomorrow is back to school! Noooo! ;)
Until next chapter,
~Emily~
Chapter 11- One Father's Wrath
On the drive home, Lily stared out the window, thinking about her new relationship with James. It had all happened so fast, but she remembered every second of it, and entertained herself by playing it over and over in her head. Until her mother interrupted her, that is.
"So how do you know this James?" she asked, glancing at Lily a bit suspiciously
"Oh, he is Head Boy. Traditionally, the Heads work together to plan events at Hogwarts. We became friends in the process." She replied quickly.
"Are you good friends?"
"The best that friends can be." Lily smiled to herself, knowing it was the truth. She wasn't ready to tell her mother that James was her boyfriend though. She might flip out. And then her father would be very protective of her (as if he wasn't enough already). He would probably decide that James was no good and needed disposing of.
The next couple days flew by quickly. She endured the spiteful comments made by her sister, remembering that she would see James very soon.
Lily woke on Christmas day bright and early. Sunlight streamed in her bedroom window, and she gazed at the fresh snow before heading downstairs. Surprisingly, her parents were already there, sipping coffee and waiting for their daughters to arrive. Nonetheless, Petunia took her sweet time coming down.
Lily got some pretty nice things, including a new watch, books, clothes, and some other things. After breakfast, she headed upstairs to get ready. The doorbell rang a few times while she was dressing, and idle chatter could be heard from the living room. Guests were starting to arrive. She was fastening her new watch when someone walked in. Not just any someone, but James himself.
"What are you doing in here? Next time you'd better knock, or you'll be getting in trouble with me!" but she was grinning. It was one of those times that you're so happy, you can't wipe a silly smile off your face whatever you do.
"Oh? And what would you do to me?" he stepped closer.
"Well, this, for starters." She put her arms around his neck, pulled him closer, and kissed him. Deeply. It was getting deeper when he pushed her onto her bed, still not breaking the kiss. The door opened again. It was her mother this time. The two of them frantically broke apart, feigning innocence, but it was far too late.
"Never in my life!" her mother huffed at them. "I came up here to tell you that guests have arrived and you should come greet them. But I see that you are too busy. You're father will hear of this! No more doing anything of that sort in this house again!" she glared at them and turned around, heading out. "Or anywhere else, I should add!"
James groaned. "Your parents hate me already! What have I done?"
"Try not to worry too much about it. We'd better head down before I get in more trouble though." However, she didn't leave the room before stealing another kiss from him.
Their house was full of people. Most were Muggles, of course, but Lily was surprised to see a good amount of wizarding families as well. Where had her parents met them all?
The afternoon was spent laughing, talking, and dancing. It was fun, but she wished that she could be alone with James. That would never happen with her parents around, especially now that they knew. Judging by the looks she was getting from her father, and the ones from her mother that said "well, you deserved it", she had told him. Lily prepared herself for a long lecture. She just hoped that he didn't take the liberty of having a talk with James. Those talks always ended up disastrous, to the point where she had stopped telling them when she dated someone.
"Hello beautiful." Lily felt warm breath on her ear and turned around, facing James. She smiled sweetly and took his hand.
"Let's go out back. It will be quiet out there." Leading them to the backdoor, she clung to his arm, pulling him along. "Oh, come on. My parents already know. They can't possibly get any madder." James mumbled something that sounded an awful lot like, "I'm screwed."
Lily led them over to the hammock in her garden and sprawled out onto it, motioning for James to do the same. He sat next to her. Then he leaned over a moment and reappeared holding something in his hand.
"A lily for a Lily." he extended his hand, which was holding a fresh, smooth white flower.
"Why thank you sir." she laughed as she took it in her hand.
"So..." James was beginning to feel a bit awkward. "What to do, what to do..." She leaned over and kissed him, dropping the flower as she ran her hands through his hair. His hands touched her back lightly, pulling her closer. Neither broke the kiss for a long time. Until...
"STOP! I demand that you stop right this instant! Did you think I wouldn't notice that you had left, Lily? This is just horrible of you, leaving the party to come out and kiss a boy, in my garden! And you! You are a horrible young man! I feel sorry for your parents, having to put up with you! No more! You're not welcome in this house!" Mr. Evans looked positively furious. He wiped spit from the corners of his mouth.
"Daddy! You can't possibly mean all that!" All she had wanted to do was come out here to spend some times with James. They weren't doing anything wrong! "You're just overreacting! James is a very nice guy, if you'd only give him a chance. And don't blame him for this, it was all my idea."
"I don't care what you say! I think you're both to blame! Lily, up to your room, now! And you are coming with me." his face was a dire color of crimson as he pointed his finger at James. James paled. He was in for it now.
Lily gave her dad a look that was full of anger and hurt. Then she ran into the house, slamming the door behind her. He was so overprotective! Why, for once, couldn't he let her be happy? She reached her room, realizing that she was crying. What a bad party. So this was why her parents never entertained.
*******************************
Now I'm sure you're wondering what happened to James. Well, after Lily ran away, Mr. Evans turned to him with a look of death in his eye.
"Follow me." He barked roughly, turning to walk away. James did as he was told, and Mr. Evans led them straight to his study, where he shut the door behind them.
"I'm not sure what to do with you quite yet. I would beat you to a pulp, but that would be a bad idea, as your parents are here. I suppose I could tell them what you've done."
James, meanwhile, was gaining some of his courage back. "And just what is that, Mr. Evans? What did I do? Fall in love with your daughter?" he paused to take a deep breath. "Is that such a crime, sir? It was bound to happen, you know. If not me, then someone else. She is beautiful, smart, funny, and love her!"
"You can't love her! You're only seventeen! And nobody is allowed to love my daughter. She's my little girl." Mr. Evans was beginning to realize that he was overreacting a little. But Lily is too young! I have just gone through this with Petunia and that Vernon guy. But at least Petunia is twenty! Lily is only seventeen, after all! Wait a minute, where are Petunia and Vernon? Ugh! When I'm finished here I'll have to go find them! Damn it!
"Seventeen! She isn't a little girl anymore! She's of age, and so am I. We have every right in the world to be in love. I'm going to find her!" he didn't care what Mr. Evans said now, seeing as Lily's parents already hated him.
Mr. Evans made a move as if to stop him, but decided he had to go find Petunia and would deal with James Potter later.
****************************************
"I'm sorry, James. My father has always done this. He'll never stop pretending that I'm his baby girl." They were sitting on her bed holding hands. James felt horrible for yelling at Mr. Evans, but he loved Lily and nobody had the right to say otherwise! "And my mother is almost as bad. She agrees with him, most of the time. I'll be happy when winter vacation is over. There are no parents at Hogwarts!"
He laughed softly in agreement. "Hey, you know, we've only been going out for a few days and I've already met your parents." he grinned playfully. "This is getting serious!" She giggled and gave him a quick kiss. Then she became somber.
"It was always serious, though, James."
A/N: I'll be working on the next chapter; it should be up soon. In the meantime, I wouldn't say no to some reviews! But who would? Anyway, I hope everybody's Spring Break was excellent, as mine was. Ugh, but tomorrow is back to school! Noooo! ;)
Until next chapter,
~Emily~