AN: I usually try not to have an AN at the top, but since I'm not answering reviews individually, I felt the need to answer a couple of questions from reviewers. So, here goes!
pommekitty and Miss Granger want to know if I'm going to turn this into an AU and have Lily die early. Answer: I truly have no idea. I'm letting the story take me where it wants to go, and if it seems to be heading toward Lily dying, then she will. But she might not! :)
Ruby mentioned that none of Lily's other friends have made any appearances. Answer: Lily is ultra-close to Bella and she spends the majority of her time with her. However, the other few of Lily's friends may make a couple of cameos in upcoming chapters.
Miss Granger said that I used a detention given to Ron in the books as a detention for Arabella. Explanation: I knew it sounded familiar when I wrote it, but I couldn't remember where I'd got it from! I don't own the HP books (*pout*), so I didn't get to check.
She also mentioned that she pictured Arabella as being older than Lily. Explanation: I'm a geek who hops on the "Arabella took an Aging Potion" bandwagon.
Another concern of Miss Granger's was that Snape was in the same year as Lily and James and co., and that I had him older just so they could have a mean teacher. Explanation: I didn't do that just so they could have a mean teacher. Depending on how I want the story to end, Snape could play a very pivotal role, and I wanted to make sure that I had a plausible opening in case I needed a safety net to fall back into.
kitten17 asked why I chose for Lily to have a brain tumor. Answer: There was no particular reason. I actually know next to nothing about brain tumors, and so I've been doing a bit of research so I won't seem like a complete goof.
A special thanks goes out to a great girl known as Jenny on FF.net. She got my butt in gear when I really didn't want to write. Thanks, girl!
Now, on with the chapter!
Kiss The Boy (04)
Madam Mae eyed me carefully over the top of her Quidditch book for a long moment before adjusting her thin-rimmed spectacles. She pursed her lips and then asked, "Why do you want to try out for Quidditch now, Miss Evans? You've never demonstrated any love for the sport, nor have you demonstrated any flying skills beyond that of a first year. Even if I were to let you try out for the team, there's no guarantee that you would do well." The young brunette's words weren't very encouraging, but I persisted anyway.
"I thought that this would be a good opportunity for me, Madam Mae," I replied honestly. "While I don't have very extensive flying skills, I can maneuver a broomstick properly and Professor Figg has offered to help both Arabella Figg and me with flying. Just give me the chance, please." I was practically begging, but I didn't really care.
Madam Mae seemed to be processing what I just told her before she let out a small, barely noticeable sigh. "All right, Miss Evans. I'm not going to lie and say that I think you have even the remotest possibility of making the team, but you can try out. Trials are going to be held on October 1 at twelve noon. October 1 is a Saturday during a Hogsmeade weekend, so you'll have to stay behind." She paused, and I nodded my consent. With a shake of her head, Madam Mae informed me of everything I needed to know. "Now, you'll need your own broomstick, unless you'd rather use one of the school's... older, more broken-in models," she said, obviously trying to grasp the right words.
Before she could say anything else, I interrupted her. "Where could I find a broomstick, though?"
"There's a Quidditch supplies store in Hogsmeade, and as this Saturday is a Hogsmeade trip, you can pick up a broom while you're visiting. Some of the models are quite expensive, I must warn you, but they are worth the money. The cheaper models malfunction more often; for that reason, I suggest that you invest in one of the better ones. It's quite beneficial."
The professor and I talked for a few more minutes before I glanced at the Muggle watch on my left wrist. I was due to meet with Headmaster Dumbledore in about fifteen minutes. Smiling at Madam Mae, I stood up. "I've really got to be going, Madam Mae," I said. "Thank you for taking time to meet with me and to answer my questions."
"Of course, Miss Evans," Madam Mae said. Before I turned to walk from her office, the older woman stopped me by placing a hand on my arm. "I'm going to assume that you know next to nothing about the sport of Quidditch, and so I am going to give you a book that will help you understand it a bit more." After digging through a drawer in her desk, Madam Mae finally withdrew a thick, paperback book. It was midnight blue and on the front cover, a young boy on a broom was diving for the Snitch. At the very top, the words "A Beginner's Guide to Quidditch" were written in a fancy gold script. Underneath that, in smaller gold lettering, was a phrase: "or: Quidditch For Dummies". Laughing, I accepted the book graciously.
"Thank you," I said.
"You're very welcome, dear," replied Madam Mae, smiling brightly at me and giving me a wink before I left.
Bella looked at me with disgust. "You are not planning on wearing that to the meeting, are you?" she demanded in a manner that was slightly less than polite. "If you are, you're basically digging your own grave in the fantastic world of dating!"
I stared at Bella for a moment, and then I stared down at my outfit: black Muggle jeans that flared out slightly at the bottom, a white T-shirt, and white tennis shoes. Over that I was wearing a set of black robes that I hadn't buttoned up yet. I could see nothing wrong with what I was wearing; then again, I wasn't a very fashionable person and didn't usually care about what I was wearing. Bella usually always helped me pick out my clothing for trips to Hogsmeade, dances at Hogwarts, and the like, but that morning I had gone ahead and gotten ready without her, as I had scheduled an early meeting with Madam Mae before I was to see Headmaster Dumbledore. Bella had just stepped into my room and had seemed instantly appalled to learn what I was wearing.
Bella sighed. "I know what you're thinking, Lily, but you've been preaching that this year is going to be different and you're going to get a boyfriend and all that jazz, and it's not going to happen unless you start dressing for the occasion," she told me. By this time she was already digging through the mounds of clothes at the bottom of my closet.
Rolling my eyes, I walked to stand beside of my friend. "Bella, the 'occasion' is a meeting with Dumbledore! There's nothing to dress for."
Obviously frustrated, Bella stopped going through my clothes and sat on the floor, looking up at me. "Fine then, Lily. I won't help you, and I'll let you ruin any chance you've ever had with James Potter, who will be attending this particular meeting, no?" she asked.
"Don't patronize me, Bella," I answered quietly.
"I'm not patronizing you. I'm just trying to help!" After a short pause, Bella added, "You're my best friend and I want nothing but the best for you, Lily. Although, I do think you could do much better than dim-witted Potter."
"Who's gay," I said laughingly. Bella nodded, and I burst into full-fledged laughter. When I was able to control my giggles, I said, "Right. You can pick out what I'm wearing to Hogsmeade this weekend, but I'm almost late right now. Is that okay?"
After pouting for a few moments, Bella finally stood up and nodded to me. "All right. But you have to promise that you'll wear whatever I want you to wear."
Despite the fact that I saw a mischevious twinkle in my friend's eye, I conceded, "Okay. As long as you don't make me look like one of James' old girlfriends- you know the type, boobs hanging out of the top, skirt up to the butt."
There was a huge smile on Bella's face that I was sure could light up all of England. "Agreed." She stuck out her pinky and I linked mine through hers. Together, we muttered:
"Pinky promise."
With a few more giggles, I finally slipped out of my room and headed to Dumbledore's office.
AN: Wow, it's been a little while! I'm very sorry, but there were some family problems and I had to go away for a bit. Now I'm back though, and I hope you liked this chapter. It was enjoyable for me to write after such a long break from the world of fanfiction! I'm exhausted right now, so I'm not going to thank everyone individually. If you have a question that you just need answered, e-mail me at dramaqueenliz@yahoo.com and I will get back to you ASAP! Thanks.
Sorry this is short... at least it's another chappie, right?
~drama queen