Nightmares, and Owls at four O clock in the morning
The night was crisp and clear, allowing all the stars in the heavens to shine brightly down upon the little red headed girl in her pyjamas, standing in a clearing. Delicate tiny feet, bear of socks and shoes, walked through the dew-covered grass, beneath the twinkling night sky. The child shivered with each hesitant step, as the hem of her nightdress became wet from the dew-covered ground. Every little thing seemed ser-real; the girl noted each blade of grass that her bright green eyes fell on. It all seemed more defined, as did all the other objects in the hallow, that her eyes fell upon. The leaves on the trees twenty feet to her left were seen clearly, as if they lay but an inch from her face, it was like nothing she had ever seen before.
"Serenity"
The girl sighed.
"This is what this place feels like"
Her voice was but a whisper on the wind, soft and bell like.
"I must be dreaming. I've never seen anything quite as lovely as this, so it must be a dream."
The child spoke again to the calm still night. But with every calm, comes a storm, and the child knew this serenity would not last, even in a place as lovely as this. A soft flickering orange glow caught her eye, turning her head to the right she was the small two-story cottage nestled in among the tree line. Not knowing why the child found herself drawn to the cottage, and its flickering flame.
A cool wind began to blow, brushing against Lily's cheeks, as she walked through the Hallow, she has some how came to be in. Bright green eyes remained transfixed on the cottage, which was growing closer with each step. Lily could see a family of three through the big picturesque front window. She stopped her approach once she was five feet from the window, and she watched the happy scene of the small family. The man was handsome; he stood at 6'1 with ebony hair that was sticking up at odd angles. His physical attributes were lanky looking, but he was far from lanky lily noted as he threw of the blue robes he had been wearing. Every inch of him was toned and defined, making lily's pulse quicken. Eyes of shocking blue turned to gaze out the window, searching the night landscape. Lily's breath caught in her throat for this man was undoubtedly staring right at her, yet he gave no sign as to actually seeing her. The man turned from her, as the young woman wrapped her slender arms around him. The two seemed to be sharing a lover's chat, with whispered words. Hurrying over to the window, lily pressed her face against the glass, trying to get a better look at the woman, who for some strange reason was distorted and blurry. Even with the couple one foot away from her, she still could not make out any detail of what this woman looked like, the only thing she had been able to tell was that it was a woman, who was 5'5 in height and slender, but everything else was a blur literally. A cry sounded from the baby, which had been left on the rug by the hearth. Lily's eyes darted over to him and a small smile broke out on her face. He was so cute, and baby like, with his rosy podgy cheeks, tiny hands with dimples in each knuckle and his eyes were a vibrant green. Lily noticed the thick mass of ebony hair, that he had no doubt inherited from the man that now stood with his arm wrapped around the shoulder of the woman, while looking down at the newest addition to his family with unconditional love shining in his eyes. The baby giggled and clapped his tiny hands, before reaching up to his parents. Lily could see the man was now talking to the child by she couldn't hear a word he said, and the baby giggled again. Lily's brow ferruled up in thought.
"How can I hear one, but not the other? It doesn't make any sense."
She whispered, while pondering the reasons for it. Taking her mind off the question, she knew would never be answered, she watch the family go about there night. The child's eyes were dancing with an intense green flame, and laughing while he watched his daddy make a fool of himself in silence. This is what love is, lily had thought, while watching the cheerful baby.
A rustling sound split the silent night to lily's right. Turning in the direction she saw two cloaked figures immerged from the trees they had been hidden behind. Standing as still as possible, she watched them approach the little cottage, they, like the man didn't seem to see her, which helped to relieve some of the tension inside her, at there sudden appearance. They larger of the two figures stopped before the door, and pulled what looked to be a stick, from the pocket of his cloak. Lily watched with unease, as the man and his companion moved closer to the door.
"Are you sure this is where they are?"
A low cold hissing voice asked.
"Of course my lord. I promised to deliver them to you, and I shall. They…they are just beyond this door."
A very high squeaky voice said hurriedly, while cowering in fear.
"They had better be, for I would hate to think of the pain you will feel if they are not."
The voice hissed, yet to Lily's ears this man didn't seem, or sound like he hated anything, he actually sounded pleased by the thought of someone being in pain.
"They are my lord, they are. Ta…take them, you've waited so long for this, and now there's no need to wait any longer."
The squeaky said again. Was that regret, lily had heard etched in his voice, as he handed over this family. Lily jumped at the sound of wood splintering, and the piercing wail of a baby who had been frightened. Now lily could here shouting from within the cottage, along with the baby's cries. Not knowing why all this horror was happening lily came to a quick decision, and moved towards the front door, she would do everything she possible could to help these people. As she tried to run, she noticed that her legs were weighted down, and each step she took seemed to be slower then the last. Lily was aware that she could now make out some of the words being shouted from within the cottage.
"TAKE HARRY AND RUN. I'LL HOLD HIM OFF."
Lily had only caught the last of the man's desperate cry, before an eerie green light filled the first floor of the cottage, and the surrounding area. Lily tried to move faster, at the sound of a body hitting the ground as the green light faded away, but she just couldn't get her legs to move any faster.
The sensation of falling filled her being, as the ground rushed up to meet her. Throwing her hands out in front of her she tried to stop her self from falling, but she never came in contact with the ground. Looking around in bewilderment, she found herself inside a small room, and she knew immediately that the room was inside the small white cottage. The woman who she still could not make out was standing in a corner with the infant in her arms. Lily knew she was whispering to him soothingly for she could just make out a soft low murmur, but she couldn't make out the actual words. All parties within the room jumped at the sound of the door flying open, and the horrible figure of the taller man seemed to float into the room instead of walk. Lily shivered at the cruelty in his voice as he yelled at the woman.
"STEP A SIDE YOU SILLY GIRL."
Lily fell to the ground, at the sound of the woman's voice, for now she could make out what she was saying, or rather screaming with fear laced in her young voice.
"NO NOT HARRY, PLEASE NOT HARRY. TAKE ME INSTEAD."
"YOU SILLY, SILLY GIRL, STEP A SIDE."
"NO, NO PLEASE NOT HIM. NOT HARRY."
The man raised his wand, and uttered two words under his breath, before the room was filled with that horrible green light once more. Lily felt herself scream as the woman fell to the floor. She tried desperately to make her body move as the man loomed over the child, but her body seemed to be tied down to the flooring. Struggling madly she fought with all the strength she had to free herself, but it was just no good. Closing her eyes she let the tears fall for what was about to happen. Time was slowing down, for she had not heard a word from the man, chancing a quick glance, she found herself staring at the ceiling of her own bedroom.
Breathing harshly, she noted the sheets completely tangled around her small form, tying her down and constricting her movements. A cold sweat coated her body and her heart was beating furiously with the remains of the terror she had felt inside her dream. Looking around the room in fear, she waited for that horrible man to burst through her door, and fill her room with that green light, which she knew would kill her. Lily wondered what had made her wake form the dream, but she was grateful for it. She just didn't want to know what happened to the little boy Harry, so what ever had woken her from her terror filled slumber, she was grateful for.
TAP TAP TAP
Lily jumped at the sound that filled her room. She knew without a doubt that something was trying to get into her room. Emerald green eyes looked around the room wildly trying to find the source of the tapping.
TAP TAP TAP TAP
Turning her head to the left she looked at her window, with fear laced in her eyes. Whatever was making that noise was just on the other side of the thin pane of glass. She wondered briefly if it could possible be the man from her dream, before she shook her head of that thought. If it was him, he wouldn't go tapping on her window, he'd just blow it apart. Untangling herself from her sheets she slipped from bed, and hurried to the window, and pulled the curtains open.
Her eyes nearly fell out of her head, at the sight that greeted her. On the sill of her window sat a big brown barn owl that seemed to be looking at her with annoyance, if she didn't know better, Lily would have sworn that the owl wasn't too happy with her. Cocking her head to the side, the owl mimicked her movement, then let loose an irritated hoot. Lifting a defined eyebrow Lily looked at it queerly, while her mind tried to come up with a reasonable explanation for the birds strange behaviour and presence. Unable to come up with a plausible reason for the owl, Lily lifted the latch, and opened the window to shoo the owl away. Giving a startled scream Lily jumped back, which resulted in her falling over one of her many books, as the owl sprang forward threw the window. Lily watched in astonishment as it flew around her head in circles. Not daring to move an inch she sat there, as the defiant sound of two doors being thrown open, followed by three sets of pounding feet reached her ears. The sudden loud noise coming from the hallway seemed to frighten the owl, and it quickly came to rest on top of Lily's bent knee, just as her bedroom door came flying open.
"LILY! MY GOD, WHAT IS IT? IS IT A BURGLER?"
Mr. Evans shouted franticly while his eyes searched all the shadows in the room for any sign of an intruder.
"Richard dear, PLEASE. She's probably had a nightmare."
Mrs. Evans said nervously, as she let her eyes search the room as well.
"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! LILY! WHAT IS THAT ON YOUR LEG?"
Petunia's shrill scream brought Mr. And Mrs. Evans attention back to their daughter, who was sitting in the middle of the floor. Their eyes widened at the sight that lay before them. Lily rolled her eyes at the whole scene that was going to play out in the next few minutes.
"Well Petunia let me see, its got a beak, feathers, two clawed feet, wings, oh and it only comes out at night, oh my so it must be a monster, quick run and hide."
Sarcasm was laced with every word, her sister was such a lame brain sometimes, wait no cancel that, she was a lame brain all of the time, and her grades proved it.
"I know what it is you witch."
Petunia said coldly.
"No Petunia, its not a witch. Its an owl you moron."
"NOW, NOW GIRLS. Enough of this excessive squabbling, what your mother and I would like to know is why you have an owl perched on your knee."
"It was perched on the sill, and it was tapping on the window, so I opened the window thinking it would be frightened away, but instead it considered the open window as an invite of sorts."
Lily rushed, hoping it would keep Petunia from opening her mouth again.
"WHAT'S THAT ATTACHED TO ITS LEG?"
Petunia screamed once more, while the owl fluffed up its feathers from all the attention it was being given.
"Lily dear, is that a letter?"
Lily's mum asked with awe.
Lily's eyes fell to the letter tied to one of its clawed feet. She hadn't noticed it before. Reaching a slightly shaking hand out, she untied the letter and read the address on the envelope.
Miss. L EvansThe smallest room upstairs
17 Spruce Ave.
Redding, Berkshire
"Its for me."
Lily whispered.
"Its for you! Sense when do owls deliver letters to you Lily, your even freakier than I thought."
"Bit your tongue Petunia, how many times do I have to tell you to keep your comments to yourself?"
Mr. Evans spat. For the last three years it had been nothing but a fight between Petunia's attitude towards Lily, and her argument over their favouritism towards their youngest daughter, which wasn't the case at all, for they loved both their daughters equally.
"Daddy, it's written on strange paper, oh and look the green ink seems to be shining and flashing without me even moving it."
Mr. Evans kneeled beside his daughter, while he looked at the letter in her hands. He did notice the strange flashing of the ink, but he thought it must be a new type of pen on the market.
"Its written on parchment I believe Lily, now go on and open it sweetheart, it is addressed to you."
"Owl post! Who would have thought, a letter could be sent by owl. Its kind of strange don't you think Richard?"
"Oh don't be silly Christine. It looks quite safe as far as looks go. I think she should open it."
"Of course you think that Richard, you want to know what its all about, and don't go trying to tell me other wise, I know you better than you know your self."
Mrs. Evans huffed at her husband. Chuckling to himself, he stood and went to his wife to give her a hug. Wrapping her in his arms, he kissed the top of her head, then looked at Lily and winked. Lily knew it was the signal to open the letter, and that's exactly what she did.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and WizardryHeadmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc, Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Miss. Evans
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place
at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry.
Please find inclosed a list of all necessary books, equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We a wait your owl no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Lily's hands were shaking as she read the letter a second time, it couldn't possible be real, could it? How could she be a witch, when they didn't exist, or did they? Magic existed so why wouldn't people who actually possessed it exist. Her mind was turning these thoughts over and over inside her head, that she forgot her mum; dad and sister were still in the room. Lily came out of her thoughts at the sound of her mother's soft gentle voice, which was full of concern and worry.
"Lily, are you alright sweetheart? What did the letter say?"
"I'm a witch!"
Lily barely even whispered these words to her family.
"WELL OF COURSE YOU ARE LILY. I'VE TOLD YOU THAT FOR YEARS AND YOU ONLY GET IT NOW, ARE YOU DAFT OR SOMETHING?"
"Petunia please, there's no need to raise your voice when talking to your sister, and she is not a witch. What have I told you about this Petunia?"
Mr. Evans half yelled, at his daughter. Lily smiled widely at all of them before breaking down and laughing hysterically. It was rather ironic if you thought about it, because Petunia always said she was strange and different, plus the whole witch calling thing. It was the funniest thing Lily had ever heard.
"Not that kind of witch Petunia! I'm a real witch."
"A what?"
"You know, a real witch, with magic powers and stuff."
"THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MAGIC LILY, THIS WITCH BUSINESS IS A TRICK. TELL HER MUM, DAD!"
Mr. And Mrs. Evans remained silent as they sat down on Lily's bed in utter shock at what their baby had just said. There little girl was a witch, but how was it even possible?
"Of course there's such thing as magic Petunia. We witness it everyday."
"No we don't"
"Yes we do."
"NO WE DON'T"
"R-e-a-d m-y l-i-p-s, Y-E-S W-E D-O. It's in the east, when the sun rises and a new day breaks. It's in the stars that twinkle in the heavens above. It's in the waves that lap against the shore. Its in everything that makes life breathtakingly beautiful, and mysterious, and its in everyone who has ever believed in something."
"ITS NOTHING BUT FAIRYTALES AND MAKE BELIEVE. YOU'LL FIND OUT THE HARD WAY LILY EVANS, SO YOU CAN TAKE YOUR WITCH LETTER, ALONG WITH YOUR WITCHY LIFE AND DIE FOR ALL I CARE. YOUR NOTHING BUT A FREAK, A MISFIT THAT HAD NO RIGHT TO BE BORN."
With that said Petunia ran from the room in anger, but that anger would soon eat away at her and it would continue to do so for the rest of her life. Perhaps if she was too look at her anger she would see that it wasn't anger she was feeling but something close to it, something that would make her ugly inside and out.
"Lily my heart."
"Yes mum"
"Don't listen to your sisters hateful words, she doesn't mean any of it. It's just the shock that's effected all of us tonight."
"It's late mum, maybe we should all go back to bed, and then in the morning we can discuses what I plan to do."
"Sweetheart…"
"Dad please, I'm really tired. I just want to get some sleep."
"Of course dear, come on Richard lets go back to bed as well. The decision will wait until tomorrow, when we've all had time to absorb the news."
"Alright dear lets go to bed. Goodnight sweetheart, I love you very much."
"I love you too Lily dear."
"I love you mum, dad."
They left the room shutting the door quietly behind them, but Lily didn't go back to bed. She remained on the ground; fighting the lump that had formed in her throat the moment Petunia had yelled those words. What had she ever done to warrant the hate Petunia felt for her. Sighing she sat back, bracing her back against her bed, and stroked the owl that had brought news of the most amazing sort. The sun would rise soon, bringing with it a decision that would change Lily Evans young life forever.
A/N well I'm finally done, and I'm so sorry for the delay but it was the holiday season, and I was busy, plus I just got a new job so I'm busy. I wont have time to write much during the week so it'll be weekends that you guys all get updates, in less I don't sleep cause I have something that needs to be posted right away. Also Hermione's evil twin, thank for the e-mail, and I know it's been forever, I promise that wont happen again so no worries. I hope you like the chapter and I hope it was worth the wait. I don't think it was, but then I'm never happy with my chapters so let me know what you think. Bye for now and happy new year everybody.