Angel Eyes
Chapter Two: Regrets
Lily eyed the four story mansion with amazement as the driver pulled up into the drive way that circled to the huge front doors. She had never been to her best friend's house before in the countryside. She knew that they were quite rich, but not this rich! It had only been a day since she received the letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, inviting her to attend for the next seven years of her life. She tried shut out all the worries about the oncoming month at her new school and what it would be like for the rest of the summer.
She wanted to enjoy the next two weeks of her freedom before she ventured off to a new and strange world on her own. She shuddered at the thought. Even though her mother had been excited about it, Lily could not help but wonder if it was all true. She did not know what to believe. However, if it was true then she would be at the bottom of her class, not knowing anything about magic. She sighed. There is a first for everything.
Petunia ignored Lily after their fight the morning before for the rest of the day. She did not even bother to bid her farewell since it would be another year before they saw one another. Well, Lily sighed, at least I have escaped her tantrums for now. Hopefully she will be better when I get back. Somehow this idea did not seem to be very uplifting.
Lily's thoughts were interrupted when the driver opened her door, and began to remove her two bags from the trunk. Lily didn't know how to act. Having a complete stranger treat her in such a manner was quite new and awkward for her. Suddenly, the great maple doors opened revealing a tall figure of a handsome boy of thirteen with black hair running down the steps.
"Lily, Lily," He said, giving her a big bear hug, "How are you doing?"
"Very well," She giggled, "What about you?"
He set her back on her feet. "It is very very boring here on my own all summer." He blew at a wisp of his bangs that fell in front of his eyes. "Anyway, where are my manners. Come in, come in. Mother is dying to meet you."
Lily followed James through the great doors and into the largest entrance hallway she had ever seen. Two huge staircases, draped in red and gold carpeting, lead up to the upper floors at opposite sides of the room. An enormous chandelier covered in thousands of glittering crystals hung from a chain in the middle of the ceiling. She did not get a chance to marvel at the great beauty of the tiles and various heirlooms in the hall for long as James led her through another door into a sitting area.
A woman with long chestnut hair was sitting on a red velvet chair in the middle of the room. She looked up at the sounds of Lily and James approaching her. A big smile appeared on her oval face when she saw Lily. She has gray eyes, Lily observed, just like James.
"Oh, hello," she said, extending her hand for Lily to shake. "My name is Elizabeth Taylor." She gestured towards the sofa beside her for them to sit. Before Lily could return the greeting Mrs. Taylor continued, "So, you must be the beautiful Lily Figgs whom James talks about nonstop." Lily blushed at this compliment, she did not know whether she felt embarrassed that someone said she was beautiful or that James talks about her. No matter the true reason, Lily's face had gone a scarlet red by the time she was seated.
"How was your trip, dear?" Mrs. Taylor continued further, oblivious to the fact that she had embarrassed her guest. "I do hate long drives, but I despise flying, giving me no choice in that matter."
"It was comfortable and I enjoyed the scenery." Lily said hastily, trying not to show the sickness that she felt in her stomach from the five hour drive.
At that moment, a tall man with gray hair walked into the room carrying a tray that he placed on a glass table in front of Lily and James.
"Would you look sugar or milk with your tea, Ma'am," he asked Lily in a deep voice that hinted at a slight foreign accent fading away. Lily was startled that he was addressing her with such a question, although it was beyond being offensive.
"Yes…umm…both, please." She stared down at her feet embarrassed at her behavior.
He served Lily her tea and handed her the cup while he finished making James and Mrs. Taylor's tea without asking them any questions.
"Thank you, Williams. That will be all." Mrs. Taylor said waving her hand in a would be friendly gesture if it was not for her arrogant tone. Unfortunately, Lily noticed this and began to feel sorry for Williams.
"Anyhow, I heard that you are at the top of your year." Mrs. Taylor said after taking a sip of her tea.
"Yes."
"Have you decided what school to attend for your secondary education."
"Er..," Lily bit her lip. This was a question that she was dreading someone was going to ask her. One thing that she did not expect was that she would be under the pressure of this question so soon, and it would have to come from James's mother.
James who had been very quiet, suddenly interrupted the conservation by saying, "Mother, don't you see that Lily is very tired from the trip. She should get some rest before dinner." Mrs. Taylor's quizzical eyes went from Lily to her son while her facial features softened.
"Yes, James. How could I have been so inconsiderate? Could you show her room, please. And…" Her eyes went back to Lily as she smiled, "It's nice to have met you dear. Have a good rest." At that James motioned for Lily to stand up and she followed him up the left staircase in silence. They finally stopped walking when they reached a door at the end of the corridor on the second floor. Thank goodness my room is not on the fourth floor, Lily thought.
Before James opened the door, he looked at Lily. "Why are you so quiet?" He asked with concern in his voice.
Lily was puzzled at the question and what she heard in his voice. "I am just tired." She shrugged.
James then opened the door to reveal a room that was radiating a violet color into the corridor where they stood. Lily gasped as she entered the room. Not only was this room was the biggest one she had ever seen with a four poster bed, sofa, several chairs, tables, and so on, but every article of furniture was covered in different shades of violet.
She turned around to face James. "How could you…"
"I know that violet is your favorite color," he interrupted, "I wanted to make your room that way." Before Lily had a chance to stutter out an answer to this statement, he turned around and left. What on earth is wrong with him? Lily thought, he is not his usual teasing and annoying self. Actually, James was acting mature. Of all things, mature. She took a deep breath as she flopped down on the bed remembering how they had met when she was seven years old and James was nine.
Petunia made sure that no girl in the entire school that they both attended would be friends with her younger sister. Lily hated school more than anything, and dreaded the mornings when she awoke to school days. One day Petunia's bullying was too much for Lily to bare, she ran off into the fields that were out of bounds and started sobbing behind a tree. Her crying was cut short when she heard voices laughing.
She stood up and rain for fear that she would be caught and get an even more severe punishment being found not only playing hooky, but in the out of bounds area. She was too observed in her own little world to notice a boy's figure standing in her path when she ran into him.
"Hey, hey. Slow down there." He said as he caught her shoulder before she retreated.
"What are you running from?" The second boy with blonde hair asked her.
"I'm..er..I'm" She glanced up at both boys and noticed that they were probably only a few years older than herself. I might as well no lie, she sighed. "I ditched school, and I was afraid that I got caught."
To Lily's surprise, both boys began to laugh. The dark haired boy looked down at her when he explained, "So, are we. And turning you in would be the last thing that we ever down." He extended out his hand. "By the way I am James Taylor, and this here is my friend Tobias Andrews."
Lily shook both of their hands. "I am Lily Figgs."
"Where do you go to school?" Tobias asked.
"Over there," Lily replied pointing in the direction of her school that was barely visible behind the trees. "What about you?"
"We go to an all boy's boarding school about a quarter of a mile away from her," James snickered, "We couldn't bother with classes today so we snuck out."
"Since you can't go back to school right now," Tobias eyed Lily, "How would you like to come with us to play our occasional trick on Mr. Dover over there." He pointed at a red brick house that was not far off at the end of the forest.
Lily hesitated. She was going to be in enough trouble already, and winding up Mr. Dover was not going to make her any less innocent.
"Of course she'll come." James grabbed her arm and started pulling her in the direction of the house before she could answer.
"But…but," She stammered.
"Come on Lily, we'll have loads of fun." She reluctantly gave in, partly because she was curious at what the joke would be, and she wanted to have friends. From that day onwards, Lily would always be with James and his friend whenever they could sneak out of the school, playing various sorts of pranks and getting into trouble occasionally.
Lily fell asleep fully dressed recollecting the scene with Mr. Dover. She smiled to herself, I am glad I ditched school and met James. She fell into a deep sleep with that thought.
Chapter Two: Regrets
Lily eyed the four story mansion with amazement as the driver pulled up into the drive way that circled to the huge front doors. She had never been to her best friend's house before in the countryside. She knew that they were quite rich, but not this rich! It had only been a day since she received the letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, inviting her to attend for the next seven years of her life. She tried shut out all the worries about the oncoming month at her new school and what it would be like for the rest of the summer.
She wanted to enjoy the next two weeks of her freedom before she ventured off to a new and strange world on her own. She shuddered at the thought. Even though her mother had been excited about it, Lily could not help but wonder if it was all true. She did not know what to believe. However, if it was true then she would be at the bottom of her class, not knowing anything about magic. She sighed. There is a first for everything.
Petunia ignored Lily after their fight the morning before for the rest of the day. She did not even bother to bid her farewell since it would be another year before they saw one another. Well, Lily sighed, at least I have escaped her tantrums for now. Hopefully she will be better when I get back. Somehow this idea did not seem to be very uplifting.
Lily's thoughts were interrupted when the driver opened her door, and began to remove her two bags from the trunk. Lily didn't know how to act. Having a complete stranger treat her in such a manner was quite new and awkward for her. Suddenly, the great maple doors opened revealing a tall figure of a handsome boy of thirteen with black hair running down the steps.
"Lily, Lily," He said, giving her a big bear hug, "How are you doing?"
"Very well," She giggled, "What about you?"
He set her back on her feet. "It is very very boring here on my own all summer." He blew at a wisp of his bangs that fell in front of his eyes. "Anyway, where are my manners. Come in, come in. Mother is dying to meet you."
Lily followed James through the great doors and into the largest entrance hallway she had ever seen. Two huge staircases, draped in red and gold carpeting, lead up to the upper floors at opposite sides of the room. An enormous chandelier covered in thousands of glittering crystals hung from a chain in the middle of the ceiling. She did not get a chance to marvel at the great beauty of the tiles and various heirlooms in the hall for long as James led her through another door into a sitting area.
A woman with long chestnut hair was sitting on a red velvet chair in the middle of the room. She looked up at the sounds of Lily and James approaching her. A big smile appeared on her oval face when she saw Lily. She has gray eyes, Lily observed, just like James.
"Oh, hello," she said, extending her hand for Lily to shake. "My name is Elizabeth Taylor." She gestured towards the sofa beside her for them to sit. Before Lily could return the greeting Mrs. Taylor continued, "So, you must be the beautiful Lily Figgs whom James talks about nonstop." Lily blushed at this compliment, she did not know whether she felt embarrassed that someone said she was beautiful or that James talks about her. No matter the true reason, Lily's face had gone a scarlet red by the time she was seated.
"How was your trip, dear?" Mrs. Taylor continued further, oblivious to the fact that she had embarrassed her guest. "I do hate long drives, but I despise flying, giving me no choice in that matter."
"It was comfortable and I enjoyed the scenery." Lily said hastily, trying not to show the sickness that she felt in her stomach from the five hour drive.
At that moment, a tall man with gray hair walked into the room carrying a tray that he placed on a glass table in front of Lily and James.
"Would you look sugar or milk with your tea, Ma'am," he asked Lily in a deep voice that hinted at a slight foreign accent fading away. Lily was startled that he was addressing her with such a question, although it was beyond being offensive.
"Yes…umm…both, please." She stared down at her feet embarrassed at her behavior.
He served Lily her tea and handed her the cup while he finished making James and Mrs. Taylor's tea without asking them any questions.
"Thank you, Williams. That will be all." Mrs. Taylor said waving her hand in a would be friendly gesture if it was not for her arrogant tone. Unfortunately, Lily noticed this and began to feel sorry for Williams.
"Anyhow, I heard that you are at the top of your year." Mrs. Taylor said after taking a sip of her tea.
"Yes."
"Have you decided what school to attend for your secondary education."
"Er..," Lily bit her lip. This was a question that she was dreading someone was going to ask her. One thing that she did not expect was that she would be under the pressure of this question so soon, and it would have to come from James's mother.
James who had been very quiet, suddenly interrupted the conservation by saying, "Mother, don't you see that Lily is very tired from the trip. She should get some rest before dinner." Mrs. Taylor's quizzical eyes went from Lily to her son while her facial features softened.
"Yes, James. How could I have been so inconsiderate? Could you show her room, please. And…" Her eyes went back to Lily as she smiled, "It's nice to have met you dear. Have a good rest." At that James motioned for Lily to stand up and she followed him up the left staircase in silence. They finally stopped walking when they reached a door at the end of the corridor on the second floor. Thank goodness my room is not on the fourth floor, Lily thought.
Before James opened the door, he looked at Lily. "Why are you so quiet?" He asked with concern in his voice.
Lily was puzzled at the question and what she heard in his voice. "I am just tired." She shrugged.
James then opened the door to reveal a room that was radiating a violet color into the corridor where they stood. Lily gasped as she entered the room. Not only was this room was the biggest one she had ever seen with a four poster bed, sofa, several chairs, tables, and so on, but every article of furniture was covered in different shades of violet.
She turned around to face James. "How could you…"
"I know that violet is your favorite color," he interrupted, "I wanted to make your room that way." Before Lily had a chance to stutter out an answer to this statement, he turned around and left. What on earth is wrong with him? Lily thought, he is not his usual teasing and annoying self. Actually, James was acting mature. Of all things, mature. She took a deep breath as she flopped down on the bed remembering how they had met when she was seven years old and James was nine.
Petunia made sure that no girl in the entire school that they both attended would be friends with her younger sister. Lily hated school more than anything, and dreaded the mornings when she awoke to school days. One day Petunia's bullying was too much for Lily to bare, she ran off into the fields that were out of bounds and started sobbing behind a tree. Her crying was cut short when she heard voices laughing.
She stood up and rain for fear that she would be caught and get an even more severe punishment being found not only playing hooky, but in the out of bounds area. She was too observed in her own little world to notice a boy's figure standing in her path when she ran into him.
"Hey, hey. Slow down there." He said as he caught her shoulder before she retreated.
"What are you running from?" The second boy with blonde hair asked her.
"I'm..er..I'm" She glanced up at both boys and noticed that they were probably only a few years older than herself. I might as well no lie, she sighed. "I ditched school, and I was afraid that I got caught."
To Lily's surprise, both boys began to laugh. The dark haired boy looked down at her when he explained, "So, are we. And turning you in would be the last thing that we ever down." He extended out his hand. "By the way I am James Taylor, and this here is my friend Tobias Andrews."
Lily shook both of their hands. "I am Lily Figgs."
"Where do you go to school?" Tobias asked.
"Over there," Lily replied pointing in the direction of her school that was barely visible behind the trees. "What about you?"
"We go to an all boy's boarding school about a quarter of a mile away from her," James snickered, "We couldn't bother with classes today so we snuck out."
"Since you can't go back to school right now," Tobias eyed Lily, "How would you like to come with us to play our occasional trick on Mr. Dover over there." He pointed at a red brick house that was not far off at the end of the forest.
Lily hesitated. She was going to be in enough trouble already, and winding up Mr. Dover was not going to make her any less innocent.
"Of course she'll come." James grabbed her arm and started pulling her in the direction of the house before she could answer.
"But…but," She stammered.
"Come on Lily, we'll have loads of fun." She reluctantly gave in, partly because she was curious at what the joke would be, and she wanted to have friends. From that day onwards, Lily would always be with James and his friend whenever they could sneak out of the school, playing various sorts of pranks and getting into trouble occasionally.
Lily fell asleep fully dressed recollecting the scene with Mr. Dover. She smiled to herself, I am glad I ditched school and met James. She fell into a deep sleep with that thought.