DISCLAIMER: Nothing is mine! I hate writing these, but if I don't. so
nothing is mine, except May, and a few other things that you may not
recognize. ( Continue!
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! PRETTY PLEASE! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHAPTER 2: GOING HOME
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Lily woke up with a beam of bright sunlight shining on her pale face. She groaned, and squeezed her eyes tightly shut, wishing for it all to be a dream. If she got up now, that would mean that she had to leave soon.
She could hear somebody in the room running around, probably packing last minute things.
Lily pulled her duvet closer to her slender body, sucking in last minute warmth.
Suddenly the curtain around her bed swung open, and May Delfin's pretty face peaked in.
Her Sleek black hair was now just past her shoulder blades, somewhat like Lily's red hair was, and she had put dark blue highlights in it, which brought out her unusual features. Her big gray eyes were sparkling happily. Lily couldn't help smiling at her happy friend. She was so sweet, well, unless you got on her nerves, or decided to pick on her or Lily, then she could be very, aggressive, and you really, REALLY, don't want to get in her way. She also had a sense of humor, and was more outgoing then Lily ever was. The only thing in common between them was that Lily was sweet to everyone too. Lily was sometimes funny, but only May got to see this. You had to get to know her first, before she was comfortable enough to let it loose. May tended to hold herself with more confidence, but shot most people down if they got to close to her. Lily was the opposite; she didn't hold herself with much confidence at all.
May was basically the way she was, was when she was ten, the year before she had come to Hogwarts her parents had been killed by a dark wizard named Voldemort. Ever since, she's just always been withdrawn, and didn't let people get too close. It had always been like this, since Lily could remember. That's what made them such good friends, they had so much in common, just different personalities.
May was excited because she was going to back home to her grandparents, and she loved them. Ever since her parents had died she was living with her grandparents. She always told Lily never to feel sorry for her because she was happy living with her grandparents, they made her feel needed, and that made her feel good.
The sad thing was that people over looked the two girls. They were classified as outcasts, or people that didn't really matter, and were forgotten, as quickly as they were seen.
"Hey, Lils, come on get up." May said sweetly, almost too sweetly. She sat down on the end of her bed, and began to bounce the mattress. Gently at first, but then when Lily showed no signs of ever leaving the comfort of her bed, she began to bounce a bit more roughly.
Lily propped one eye open, and glared at May.
"Leave me alone. I seriously don't want to get up!" Lily groaned hugging her pillow closer to her head.
May stopped bouncing, and looked at her sympathetically. "I know, but you have to," May frowned. "I'll ask mum if you can come over for a few weeks." She said in singsong voice, in an attempt to lighten Lily's mood.
Lily rolled over in her bed, her sheets swirling around her legs. She stretched, and smiled at her friend. "Thanks, May."
"Now come on and get up!" May said loudly, slapping Lily's foot, and standing up.
"All right.Geesh.give me a minute will you?"
May smirked, and walked to her side of the room, sitting down on her packed trunk. She smiled, watching Lily fling the covers of her and pool onto the floor.
"You know you're going to have to pick that up, right?" May asked her, staring at the comforter lying on the ground.
"Hey, if it wastes time." Lily said unhappily, cringing as the cold stone floor came into contact with her bare feet. She reached for her robe, and then her wand, placing it in the pocket of her robe. "When did the others go down?" She asked referring to the two airheads they were forced to share their dorm with.
May rolled her eyes. " Oh them, they are up and gone, must be prompt and efficient, must say good-bye to everyone we know. You know two months apart is the equivalent of death." She gave a fake shiver for effect.
Lily giggled, and flung the robe over her shoulders before to walking out the door, and into the corridor.
Her dorm mates, Cindy Roads, and Alicia Rodney were beyond a doubt the biggest blonde airheads (no offense to blondes, I had to use it for effect, sorry () in the whole school. They were annoyingly conceited, and had to have everything their way. They didn't know anything beyond guys and nail polish. And to top it all off, they treated May and herself like trash, they were just your everyday, typical bimbos.
In every sense of the word she couldn't stand them. They worshipped the Marauders, though everyone did, didn't they? However, Lily was pleased to see that the Marauders rightly ignored their efforts, and Lily had to give them points for that.
Lily sighed, and pulled open the heavy door to the girl's bathroom. She walked in and shut the door behind her. The blue bathroom was large, with five bathroom stalls, and about 10 shower cubicles lined up back to back.
She noticed that there was no water running, so that meant that there was no one else in there. So she stepped into the first empty stall, and turned up the water to hot. She scrubbed the overnight grim off of her body, enjoying the sensation of the water running over her tired body. She loved her morning showers; it woke her up, and made her feel clean, a fresh start for the day, go figure. She squeezed some of the familiar shampoo into her small hand, and began to rub it through her beautiful red hair, humming quietly to herself. The familiar scent of watermelons reached her nose, and she smiled. She loved the smell of watermelons, which's why she chose that particular scented shampoo. She quickly rinsed it, and turned off the hot water.
She reached out of her stall, until she felt the fluffy material of the robe, and wrapped it around her slim body, tying the belt tightly around her waist. She squeezed the access water out of her long hair, letting it flow to her feet in a steady stream. She stepped out of the stall, and took her wand out of her pocket, and walked to one of the mirrors above the sinks.
It was really a wonder why so many people looked past her. She had bright emerald green eyes, underneath long thick eyelashes. Her face was perfectly framed by long fiery dark red hair that tumbled just to her shoulder blades, and her somewhat pale complexion was flawless.
She didn't see all this though, after all no one really ever complimented her, unless it was her parents or May. She frowned as she brought her wand to her hair. And whispered an incantation her hair instantly dried. She stood and stared at her reflection for a moment. Her eyes looked sad, but more awake. 'Maybe a different look.' She pointed her wand at herself once again, and said whispered another incantation. Her hair began to curl loosely, reaching her desired effect she smiled weakly, and pocketed her wand. 'Well it is different.'
She began to walk through the deserted corridor back to her dormitory, clutching her robe tightly to her body.
She pushed the door open, and was surprised to see May sitting in the exact position on her bed, looking out the window, between Lily's and her bed.
"What are you still doing up here, May?"
"What do you think? I was waiting for y.." she said all this as she turned to face Lily. She stopped and smiled when she saw her redheaded friend. "Wow, Lils, your hair looks nice!" she smiled brightly.
"Really?" Lily looked unsure.
"Duh, did you look at yourself?"
"I thought I'd go for a different look," she said shrugging.
May nodded. "I like it." She smiled. "Well I suppose I'll leave you to get dressed, I'll wait for you in the common room."
Lily nodded smiling.
"Ok."
May smiled and nodded, before disappearing out the door.
When May reached the bottom of the stairs she looked around the familiar common room. She smiled to see that no body was there, probably all gone to breakfast, and to cry to each other about being apart for more than a day. She rolled her eyes at the thought. Sure she would miss Lily, and only Lily, but honestly! A day apart! She rolled her eyes at the thought. She sat down in a large armchair, and picked up a random magazine on the center table. She cringed when she saw the title. 'Teen Witch' but it was reading material, 'what the hell.' She opened to the first page, and was surprised to actually be interested in what she was reading. So interested in fact that she hadn't noticed the four teenagers all standing behind her. She flipped the page, silently, and bit her bottom lip.
There was a cough behind her, and she nearly jumped clear out of her skin, dropping the magazine onto her lap. She spun around to see Sirius Black, James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew standing in the entrance to the boy's dorms.
She rolled her eyes at them, and diverted them to the magazine she was reading.
"Hey, Your May right?" Sirius asked coming to sit in the chair closest to her.
"Um.yea," she said shortly, trying to hint him into leaving.
"Why aren't you at breakfast?" he asked.
"Is it any of you business?" she asked as she turned a page, her eyes glued to the page in front of her.
"Hey!" Sirius raised his hands above his head, while James and Remus snickered. "I was just trying to be friendly."
She rolled her eyes again. "Yea, friendly, right." She turned her head to look at him, and he was still looking at her, his eyebrows raised in question. "Euck! Fine, if you must know, I'm waiting for Lily." She said looking back to the page she was on. She was trying to concentrate on the article she was reading, but that was getting harder and harder to do.
"Evans?" James asked.
Remus and Sirius rolled their eyes at their friend. May glanced up from the magazine to look at him oddly. "The one and only," she said suspiciously.
Shutting the magazine, she looked at James more closely, sizing him up. She was shocked to see that there was concern there. What could he possibly know? Nothing! So why was he showing concern? She felt the corners of her eyes narrow into slits.
"You're friends with her?" James asked.
"Yes," she said with a hint of edge.
"I didn't know," James smiled. "Is she ok?" his smile fading into a concerned frown.
After the previous night, James had made the decision that he wanted to make friends with Lily Evans. He had seen that she needed one desperately. He wanted her to talk to him about what was bothering her. He had always known her, throughout the years of their schooling, and prefects meetings, and he had always been intrigued. She was a mystery that he wanted to solve. She was always so quiet and withdrawn in prefects meetings, never letting anything of her personality across, or even her ideas. Last night she had given him a small clue, and he was determined to find out more. He wanted to unravel the years of mystery, and sadness that clung to pretty, redheaded Lily Evans.
May's eyes widened. "What..how.."
Just then a noise was heard on the staircase, saving May from answering.
James turned all the way around and looked at the girl's entranceway, where the noise had come from. A small redheaded girl descended the stairs. She was beautiful, he had always known that Lily Evans was pretty, but he never cared to notice before. She had done something with her hair. It curled loosely, tumbling all over her shoulders, and she wasn't wearing robes, just muggle clothing, since today was the day that she was going back to live with the muggles. She had on a somewhat tight green shirt, and hip hugger jeans. Her shirt complimented her eyes and hair. But James was quick to notice that her startlingly green eyes were sad and looking at the ground as she walked. He was desperate, to know why. He felt himself take a step forward. "Hello Lily." Remus said from next to James. He was smiling at her. She looked up and smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Oh, hello," she said quietly.
"Hey, Lily." James said looking at her. "Is everything all right?"
May shot him a look. But Lily just smiled at him.
"Oh I'm fine. Thanks for asking." Though her eyes said differently. His gaze shifted to May, who was looking at Lily in sympathy.
"Come on Lils, let's go down." May said, standing up from her position on the couch.
She walked over to Lily, and walked with her out of the portrait hole.
"Wow, she'd pretty hott, those robes sure hide A LOT!" Sirius whistled as the portrait hole closed after the two girls.
James glared at him, while Remus frowned.
"Don't you dare try anything Si, she's got enough problems I dare say, without you in her life." Remus said sadly.
"What do you take me for? Huh? A heartless git?" Sirius asked, his arms open wide in mock shock.
"Do you really want us to answer that?" James laughed as Sirius pitched a couch cushion at James, which his dodged.
IN GREAT HALL:
"Lils you have to eat something. I don't want you to be this depressed at home, so I can't be there to look after you." May said worriedly.
Lily laughed to lighten the mood, but May didn't laugh.
"May, I'm fine! I'm just not hungry."
"EAT!" May ordered harshly, pushing a strip of bacon toward Lily.
Lily frowned but picked up the piece of bacon and brought it to her lips. She took a small bite.
"Happy?" she asked as she swallowed the small piece of bacon.
"Very." May smiled.
Suddenly a disturbance went through the Great Hall.
Lily looked up to see all of the Slytherins growing beaks, and sprouting feathers. Lily smiled, and couldn't help but let a small giggle escape, which soon evolved into a full-grown laugh, right from the pit of her stomach. This was the most fun she'd had all year. She had temporarily forgotten that she was going home today, and enjoyed the moment. She looked over at May, she was happy to see that May had joined in as well. She looked away from May, and looked toward the doors to the Great Hall. What she saw made her laugh even harder. Professor McGonagall was storming up to the Marauders who had just entered. They were trying to keep the innocent face on, but with much difficulty. Just looking at Peter's terrified face, set him up for guilt.
Lily watched the situation with interest. Suddenly, James eyes lifted from the angry teacher, and made contact with her. She blushed, as he smiled at her and winked.
She quickly diverted her eyes.
James couldn't describe the happiness that was coarsing through him, at the thought that he had some how gotten Lily Evans to laugh, and be happy. He vowed to do it again.
A few minutes passed, and Lily began to become more and more detached from reality. It was now the time that Lily dreaded most of all. She followed May silently to the awaiting carriages. Their trunks had been already placed on the train. So the girls sat back, and waited for the carriages to move.
Lily was exctied to see her parents, but seeing her parents also meant seeing Petunia, something she could live without. She hated the thought of having to edure her abuse for a whole summer. And worst of all, she had to pretend to actually cared about seeing her, for her parents sake, it made her sick to her stomach.
She vowed now that if she was to ever have children, they would never meet their Aunt Petunia. They rode in away toward the Hogwart's Express station in silence.
When they finally reached the station Lily followed May to the scarlet steam engine. She sighed and climbed on after May.
The corridors were narrow, full, and cramped. The air was stuffy and warm, and immediately Lily began to feel the effects. She felt like she was suffocating. Small crowded, warm areas tended to make her paranoid. She began to feel nauseaous, and her head began to swim.
"May.we need to find a compartment now." It was quickly getting worse, everything around her was becaming a noisy blur.
May looked back at her green friend. She watched as Lily swayed slightly.
"Oh.ok, Hold on Lily, I'll find one," May said soothingly, "just follow me."
Someone shoved into Lily, just as she was nodding her head to May. Her head began to swim dangeroulsy, and she began to fall to the side. Her stomach gave and unpleasant lurch. Her knees began to give out, and she began to feel herself fall. She waited to hit the hard floor, but it never came, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist.
"Get the hell out of my way Mudblood!" Lucius Malfoy spat at her. But she barely heard him. She looked up at the blur in front of her, frowning. She tried to stand, but tripped,and fell back into the arms.
"Get the hell out of here, Malfoy! How is it that you cause devastation with just your presence! Hm.must be your face..now, leave before I'll be forced to dipose of you, in the worst of ways.would you rather have a 36D cup? Or maybe a C?" The person who had caught her spat. His grip tightening on her waist. She tried to stand up again, and made it. She swayed at first, but managed to stand, leaning against the person who had caught her, so she didn't fall again.
Malfoy's eyes widened dangerously, and his lips paled to almost pure white. He took a step forward.
"Nuh huh huh!" The person said in a sing-song voice. "I wounldn't if I were you." A wand came from the person behind her, and he was waving it at Malfoy with a brandish.
Malfoy stepped back, glaring at them, before storming off, and disappearing into the crowd of people.
"God, he is such and arse hole!"
"Oh my God, Lily are you ok?" May cried, genuinly worried.
"Yea. I.I just need to find a compartment," she said distractedly.
"Come on, you can sit with us." Lily looked up, her blur coming into focus 'James.'
"Thank you, James. Sorry for all this," she said.
He put his arm around her waist, so that she could lean on him to get back into his compartment. "Lily! Don't worry about it, there's nothing to be sorry about." He smiled down at her.
She looked down at her feet. " I feel a lot better. I think I can walk fine," she whispered.
He removed his arms from her waist, and walked beside her, with May scurrying behind them.
"Hey guys wait up!"
When they slid the door open, Remus and Sirius stood up from the seat, while Peter looked just looked up.
"We send you out ten minute ago to find the cart lady, and you come back with girls?" Sirius said with a smirk.
"Um..yea." James smiled.
"That's my boy!" Sirius said clapping him on the back.
Remus and May rolled their eyes in synch.
James ignored him, and sat Lily down on the seat nearest the window, his favorite seat in actuallitly, but whatever. She was pale, and sweating. He placed two hands on each of her shoulders, and looked into her eyes.
"Are you ok?"
May stood behind him, biting her lower lip.
"Yes, fine thanks." Lily said embarrassed that James had seen her in one of her weak moments. "I'm sorry."
"Lily! Don't be!" he said shaking his head.
"I know, I'm just..embarassed." She said looking down.
James smiled. "There's nothing to be embarassed about."
Lily looked up, looking for if he was lying, but all she found was sincerity. "Thanks, James."
He nodded, and sat down on the seat to her left.
"What's wrong?" Remus asked, witnessing all this in stride.
"Lily's chlostrophobic. And she had a run in with Malfoy during an attack." James said sitting down next to her.
Remus winced. "Oh, that bloody stinks."
"Yea it does." Sirius piped up.
Lily nodded at the occupants of her room, and turned to the window, resting her forehead on the cool glass, and shutting her eyes, slowly relaxing. The cool glass assuaged the sharp pain of her head ache, and helped her body to unwind a bit.
Sirius and Remus sat back down where they were sitting before.
"Hey, May, come sit down," Sirius said patting the seat between himself and Remus. She rolled her eyes, but she walked over, and sat down.
James reached over, and rubbed Lily's back comfortingly, and felt her tense body begin to relax under his palm. He rubbed small circles into her back, staring worriedly at her.
Lily felt more relaxed, as she breathed deeply, her breath leaving condensation on the window.
"Feeling any better?" Remus asked from across the compartment.
She lifted her head from the window, and sat up straight in her seat to regard the boy. She flushed crimson, and stiffened, when she realized that James's hand was still on her back.
She looked at Remus and smiled. "Much better thanks."
He smiled back. "Good."
"Lily, you want to play exploding snap?" May asked getting up from her position next to Sirius.
Lily looked up and smiled in relief, she had to get away from James's comforting hand.
"Yea." Lily got up, and followed May to the far corner of the compartment near the window.
"So..What did Malfoy say to her?" Sirius asked, leaning forward toward James.
James rubbed his eyes under his glasses,and looked at Sirius. He leaned forward, with his arms resting on his parted knees.
"He called her a mudblood. I don't think she heard it though."
He watched as Sirius's and Remus's faces filled with fury.
"I know, I know, I wanted to kill him. But I was trying to hold lily up right at the time, so.."
Sirius made a violent motion in the air, probably demonstrationg what he wanted to do to Malfoy.
As an hour past, the girls fell asleep curled up next to each other, on the floor.
"I'm going to go get some food." Peter said, as he stood up,and stretched.
"Ok, can you also find out how much time we have left til we get there." Remus said tiredly.
"Yea." And he was gone.
There was small noise was heard from the corner of the compartment, and the attention of the three boys was turned toward the noise. Lily had woken up, and was stretching. She looked up at them ,and jumped.
"Oh.er.Hello, I totally forgot that I was in your compartment." Lily said as she yawned. " Do you know when we get there?"
"I'm gonna say soon." James replied. Lily's face fell heavily, and she looked out the window at the passing scenery.
The door slid open, and a pale face boy, with white blonde hair, and cold eyes entered. Lily looked up at the noise, before flushing and looking down. James stood up blocking Lily. He couldn't do anything then, but he could do something now. Malfoy, however, had already spotted her.
"So.What is the famous James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin doing with a couple of ugly losers? One's a mudblood, and the other is just plain mud."
James pulled out his wand and pointed it at him, while Sirius and Remus stood up and glared daggers at him.
"Oh, F- You Malfoy! Is that the best you can come up with? You must really want breasts to come back here and cause more trouble!" James yelled at him. He raised his wand higher, only to feel a small hand on his arm, he looked down to see Lily's pale hand push his wand down.
"Let him do his worst you unloved, freakish mudblood." James raised his wand again glaring at him. Sirius joined him with his wand, pointing it right at his chest.
"She'll be loved more than you ever will." James spat"
"Oh really?" He leaned around Jame's arm to look at Lily. "why don't you go home during the holidays to your perfect Muggle family?"
Lily's face became red with fury. "That's none of your business," she said angrily.
He laughed cooly. "Is it because your not wanted at home? Unloved I dare say?"
That was it he'd pinched a nerve, she flew at him, and punched him right in the nose, breaking it instantly. Blood splattered down his pale, pointed face. His nose was at an odd angle, and he backed up, and his hands flew to his face.
"Damn it mudblood!"
She raised her hands to smack him across his face, but James held her hand back, and stepped in front of her.
"You'd better go, or I'll let her go at you." He said seriously.
Malfoy gave one last glare before disappearing as quickly as he had come, clutching his bleeding nose.
James, Sirius, and Remus all stared at the fuming Lily. This was the first time that they'd seen this side of her, and it was, well, amazing. Quiet Lily Evans had just broken Malfoy's nose. Priceless!
They watched as Lily's emerald green eyes filled with angry tears.
"Lily." James said stunned.
"Excuse me," Lily squeaked, and rushed past them out of the compartment.
She didn't know where to go. 'Oh now I've done it,' how was she to explain herself. To top it off, she was ten minutes from the station to go home. She slid to the floor next to her compartment, and gave a huge sigh. Gulping air hungrily into her lungs.
The compartment door opened, and she looked up just in time to watch Remus Lupin trip over her legs. He fell over her legs onto the floor with and embarrassing thump.
"Oh, bloody hell!" he shrieked messaging his knee.
"Oh my God! I am sooo sorry!" Lily scurried over on her knees to where he was sitting. "Seriously, I'm really sorry."
"S'ok, You know Evan's your dangerous, first you clock Malfoy, break his nose non the less, and then trip me. Remind me never to mess with you ever again." He smiled at the distraught look on her face.
"I am truly sorry."
He chuckled. "It's ok, I promise!"
The train pulled into the station,and stopped.
"I guess I don't need to find Pete to see when we are going to get to the station," Remus said as he looked at Lily, who had considerably paled. "What's wrong?"
The door to the compartment opened, and James came out, when he saw his friend Remus Lupin sitting on the floor, with a pale Lily kneeling next to him, he was curious.
"What's going on here?" James asked, as he made his way over to help the pale Lily into standing position.
"Oh, nothing James, Lily here just found it funny to trip me." Remus smiled at her, with an expression showing her that he was joking. He stood up, and dusted off his robes.
James broke into laughter.
"That's good," he laughted, "times we'll remember." He held up his hand for lily to give him a high five, which she did She Smiled weakly,and put his arm around her. She immediately stiffened, her emerald eyes growing wide. "This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," he said, his eyes dancing with laughter.
Lily looked at him frghtened. 'He didn't mean that did he? Why would he want to be friends with her?' She tried to move desperately out of his grasp, but he tightened his hold on her shoulders. She began to feel extremely uncomfortable.
Remus followed them out of the train.
"Lily.Wait up!" Lily turned around and waited for May to catch up with her. 'Good timing May!' Lily thought.
James took his arm away from her. She sighed with relief, relaxing slightly. " Have a good vacation Lily!" he said with a wave as he disappeared into the crowd.
When May finally reached Lily, she smirked.
"So, I heard what happened on the train while I was sleeping. You broke his nose?" she asked breaking into contagious laughter.
Lily giggled slightly.
"He got me angry."
"I guess so." May smiled at her.
"Lily! Lily!" A voice sounded close by, she instantly recognized it as her mother.
"Oh no!"
May smiled weakly. "You'll be fine. Write me ok?"
"Of course, what else will keep me sane?" Lily asked.
May laughed, and pulled Lily into a tight hug.
"Bye Lils, see ya soon."
"Bye" Lily said miserably.
She turned to her mother, and was immediately engolfed in a hug. She could smell her mom's perfume, and instantly felt better. She hugged her back, and smiled, maybe it wouldn't be as bad as she thought. Then she caught a glimpse of Petunia. She was glaring at her with hatred in her eyes. She cringed, and hugged her mother tighter. Maybe not.
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! PRETTY PLEASE! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHAPTER 2: GOING HOME
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lily woke up with a beam of bright sunlight shining on her pale face. She groaned, and squeezed her eyes tightly shut, wishing for it all to be a dream. If she got up now, that would mean that she had to leave soon.
She could hear somebody in the room running around, probably packing last minute things.
Lily pulled her duvet closer to her slender body, sucking in last minute warmth.
Suddenly the curtain around her bed swung open, and May Delfin's pretty face peaked in.
Her Sleek black hair was now just past her shoulder blades, somewhat like Lily's red hair was, and she had put dark blue highlights in it, which brought out her unusual features. Her big gray eyes were sparkling happily. Lily couldn't help smiling at her happy friend. She was so sweet, well, unless you got on her nerves, or decided to pick on her or Lily, then she could be very, aggressive, and you really, REALLY, don't want to get in her way. She also had a sense of humor, and was more outgoing then Lily ever was. The only thing in common between them was that Lily was sweet to everyone too. Lily was sometimes funny, but only May got to see this. You had to get to know her first, before she was comfortable enough to let it loose. May tended to hold herself with more confidence, but shot most people down if they got to close to her. Lily was the opposite; she didn't hold herself with much confidence at all.
May was basically the way she was, was when she was ten, the year before she had come to Hogwarts her parents had been killed by a dark wizard named Voldemort. Ever since, she's just always been withdrawn, and didn't let people get too close. It had always been like this, since Lily could remember. That's what made them such good friends, they had so much in common, just different personalities.
May was excited because she was going to back home to her grandparents, and she loved them. Ever since her parents had died she was living with her grandparents. She always told Lily never to feel sorry for her because she was happy living with her grandparents, they made her feel needed, and that made her feel good.
The sad thing was that people over looked the two girls. They were classified as outcasts, or people that didn't really matter, and were forgotten, as quickly as they were seen.
"Hey, Lils, come on get up." May said sweetly, almost too sweetly. She sat down on the end of her bed, and began to bounce the mattress. Gently at first, but then when Lily showed no signs of ever leaving the comfort of her bed, she began to bounce a bit more roughly.
Lily propped one eye open, and glared at May.
"Leave me alone. I seriously don't want to get up!" Lily groaned hugging her pillow closer to her head.
May stopped bouncing, and looked at her sympathetically. "I know, but you have to," May frowned. "I'll ask mum if you can come over for a few weeks." She said in singsong voice, in an attempt to lighten Lily's mood.
Lily rolled over in her bed, her sheets swirling around her legs. She stretched, and smiled at her friend. "Thanks, May."
"Now come on and get up!" May said loudly, slapping Lily's foot, and standing up.
"All right.Geesh.give me a minute will you?"
May smirked, and walked to her side of the room, sitting down on her packed trunk. She smiled, watching Lily fling the covers of her and pool onto the floor.
"You know you're going to have to pick that up, right?" May asked her, staring at the comforter lying on the ground.
"Hey, if it wastes time." Lily said unhappily, cringing as the cold stone floor came into contact with her bare feet. She reached for her robe, and then her wand, placing it in the pocket of her robe. "When did the others go down?" She asked referring to the two airheads they were forced to share their dorm with.
May rolled her eyes. " Oh them, they are up and gone, must be prompt and efficient, must say good-bye to everyone we know. You know two months apart is the equivalent of death." She gave a fake shiver for effect.
Lily giggled, and flung the robe over her shoulders before to walking out the door, and into the corridor.
Her dorm mates, Cindy Roads, and Alicia Rodney were beyond a doubt the biggest blonde airheads (no offense to blondes, I had to use it for effect, sorry () in the whole school. They were annoyingly conceited, and had to have everything their way. They didn't know anything beyond guys and nail polish. And to top it all off, they treated May and herself like trash, they were just your everyday, typical bimbos.
In every sense of the word she couldn't stand them. They worshipped the Marauders, though everyone did, didn't they? However, Lily was pleased to see that the Marauders rightly ignored their efforts, and Lily had to give them points for that.
Lily sighed, and pulled open the heavy door to the girl's bathroom. She walked in and shut the door behind her. The blue bathroom was large, with five bathroom stalls, and about 10 shower cubicles lined up back to back.
She noticed that there was no water running, so that meant that there was no one else in there. So she stepped into the first empty stall, and turned up the water to hot. She scrubbed the overnight grim off of her body, enjoying the sensation of the water running over her tired body. She loved her morning showers; it woke her up, and made her feel clean, a fresh start for the day, go figure. She squeezed some of the familiar shampoo into her small hand, and began to rub it through her beautiful red hair, humming quietly to herself. The familiar scent of watermelons reached her nose, and she smiled. She loved the smell of watermelons, which's why she chose that particular scented shampoo. She quickly rinsed it, and turned off the hot water.
She reached out of her stall, until she felt the fluffy material of the robe, and wrapped it around her slim body, tying the belt tightly around her waist. She squeezed the access water out of her long hair, letting it flow to her feet in a steady stream. She stepped out of the stall, and took her wand out of her pocket, and walked to one of the mirrors above the sinks.
It was really a wonder why so many people looked past her. She had bright emerald green eyes, underneath long thick eyelashes. Her face was perfectly framed by long fiery dark red hair that tumbled just to her shoulder blades, and her somewhat pale complexion was flawless.
She didn't see all this though, after all no one really ever complimented her, unless it was her parents or May. She frowned as she brought her wand to her hair. And whispered an incantation her hair instantly dried. She stood and stared at her reflection for a moment. Her eyes looked sad, but more awake. 'Maybe a different look.' She pointed her wand at herself once again, and said whispered another incantation. Her hair began to curl loosely, reaching her desired effect she smiled weakly, and pocketed her wand. 'Well it is different.'
She began to walk through the deserted corridor back to her dormitory, clutching her robe tightly to her body.
She pushed the door open, and was surprised to see May sitting in the exact position on her bed, looking out the window, between Lily's and her bed.
"What are you still doing up here, May?"
"What do you think? I was waiting for y.." she said all this as she turned to face Lily. She stopped and smiled when she saw her redheaded friend. "Wow, Lils, your hair looks nice!" she smiled brightly.
"Really?" Lily looked unsure.
"Duh, did you look at yourself?"
"I thought I'd go for a different look," she said shrugging.
May nodded. "I like it." She smiled. "Well I suppose I'll leave you to get dressed, I'll wait for you in the common room."
Lily nodded smiling.
"Ok."
May smiled and nodded, before disappearing out the door.
When May reached the bottom of the stairs she looked around the familiar common room. She smiled to see that no body was there, probably all gone to breakfast, and to cry to each other about being apart for more than a day. She rolled her eyes at the thought. Sure she would miss Lily, and only Lily, but honestly! A day apart! She rolled her eyes at the thought. She sat down in a large armchair, and picked up a random magazine on the center table. She cringed when she saw the title. 'Teen Witch' but it was reading material, 'what the hell.' She opened to the first page, and was surprised to actually be interested in what she was reading. So interested in fact that she hadn't noticed the four teenagers all standing behind her. She flipped the page, silently, and bit her bottom lip.
There was a cough behind her, and she nearly jumped clear out of her skin, dropping the magazine onto her lap. She spun around to see Sirius Black, James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew standing in the entrance to the boy's dorms.
She rolled her eyes at them, and diverted them to the magazine she was reading.
"Hey, Your May right?" Sirius asked coming to sit in the chair closest to her.
"Um.yea," she said shortly, trying to hint him into leaving.
"Why aren't you at breakfast?" he asked.
"Is it any of you business?" she asked as she turned a page, her eyes glued to the page in front of her.
"Hey!" Sirius raised his hands above his head, while James and Remus snickered. "I was just trying to be friendly."
She rolled her eyes again. "Yea, friendly, right." She turned her head to look at him, and he was still looking at her, his eyebrows raised in question. "Euck! Fine, if you must know, I'm waiting for Lily." She said looking back to the page she was on. She was trying to concentrate on the article she was reading, but that was getting harder and harder to do.
"Evans?" James asked.
Remus and Sirius rolled their eyes at their friend. May glanced up from the magazine to look at him oddly. "The one and only," she said suspiciously.
Shutting the magazine, she looked at James more closely, sizing him up. She was shocked to see that there was concern there. What could he possibly know? Nothing! So why was he showing concern? She felt the corners of her eyes narrow into slits.
"You're friends with her?" James asked.
"Yes," she said with a hint of edge.
"I didn't know," James smiled. "Is she ok?" his smile fading into a concerned frown.
After the previous night, James had made the decision that he wanted to make friends with Lily Evans. He had seen that she needed one desperately. He wanted her to talk to him about what was bothering her. He had always known her, throughout the years of their schooling, and prefects meetings, and he had always been intrigued. She was a mystery that he wanted to solve. She was always so quiet and withdrawn in prefects meetings, never letting anything of her personality across, or even her ideas. Last night she had given him a small clue, and he was determined to find out more. He wanted to unravel the years of mystery, and sadness that clung to pretty, redheaded Lily Evans.
May's eyes widened. "What..how.."
Just then a noise was heard on the staircase, saving May from answering.
James turned all the way around and looked at the girl's entranceway, where the noise had come from. A small redheaded girl descended the stairs. She was beautiful, he had always known that Lily Evans was pretty, but he never cared to notice before. She had done something with her hair. It curled loosely, tumbling all over her shoulders, and she wasn't wearing robes, just muggle clothing, since today was the day that she was going back to live with the muggles. She had on a somewhat tight green shirt, and hip hugger jeans. Her shirt complimented her eyes and hair. But James was quick to notice that her startlingly green eyes were sad and looking at the ground as she walked. He was desperate, to know why. He felt himself take a step forward. "Hello Lily." Remus said from next to James. He was smiling at her. She looked up and smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Oh, hello," she said quietly.
"Hey, Lily." James said looking at her. "Is everything all right?"
May shot him a look. But Lily just smiled at him.
"Oh I'm fine. Thanks for asking." Though her eyes said differently. His gaze shifted to May, who was looking at Lily in sympathy.
"Come on Lils, let's go down." May said, standing up from her position on the couch.
She walked over to Lily, and walked with her out of the portrait hole.
"Wow, she'd pretty hott, those robes sure hide A LOT!" Sirius whistled as the portrait hole closed after the two girls.
James glared at him, while Remus frowned.
"Don't you dare try anything Si, she's got enough problems I dare say, without you in her life." Remus said sadly.
"What do you take me for? Huh? A heartless git?" Sirius asked, his arms open wide in mock shock.
"Do you really want us to answer that?" James laughed as Sirius pitched a couch cushion at James, which his dodged.
IN GREAT HALL:
"Lils you have to eat something. I don't want you to be this depressed at home, so I can't be there to look after you." May said worriedly.
Lily laughed to lighten the mood, but May didn't laugh.
"May, I'm fine! I'm just not hungry."
"EAT!" May ordered harshly, pushing a strip of bacon toward Lily.
Lily frowned but picked up the piece of bacon and brought it to her lips. She took a small bite.
"Happy?" she asked as she swallowed the small piece of bacon.
"Very." May smiled.
Suddenly a disturbance went through the Great Hall.
Lily looked up to see all of the Slytherins growing beaks, and sprouting feathers. Lily smiled, and couldn't help but let a small giggle escape, which soon evolved into a full-grown laugh, right from the pit of her stomach. This was the most fun she'd had all year. She had temporarily forgotten that she was going home today, and enjoyed the moment. She looked over at May, she was happy to see that May had joined in as well. She looked away from May, and looked toward the doors to the Great Hall. What she saw made her laugh even harder. Professor McGonagall was storming up to the Marauders who had just entered. They were trying to keep the innocent face on, but with much difficulty. Just looking at Peter's terrified face, set him up for guilt.
Lily watched the situation with interest. Suddenly, James eyes lifted from the angry teacher, and made contact with her. She blushed, as he smiled at her and winked.
She quickly diverted her eyes.
James couldn't describe the happiness that was coarsing through him, at the thought that he had some how gotten Lily Evans to laugh, and be happy. He vowed to do it again.
A few minutes passed, and Lily began to become more and more detached from reality. It was now the time that Lily dreaded most of all. She followed May silently to the awaiting carriages. Their trunks had been already placed on the train. So the girls sat back, and waited for the carriages to move.
Lily was exctied to see her parents, but seeing her parents also meant seeing Petunia, something she could live without. She hated the thought of having to edure her abuse for a whole summer. And worst of all, she had to pretend to actually cared about seeing her, for her parents sake, it made her sick to her stomach.
She vowed now that if she was to ever have children, they would never meet their Aunt Petunia. They rode in away toward the Hogwart's Express station in silence.
When they finally reached the station Lily followed May to the scarlet steam engine. She sighed and climbed on after May.
The corridors were narrow, full, and cramped. The air was stuffy and warm, and immediately Lily began to feel the effects. She felt like she was suffocating. Small crowded, warm areas tended to make her paranoid. She began to feel nauseaous, and her head began to swim.
"May.we need to find a compartment now." It was quickly getting worse, everything around her was becaming a noisy blur.
May looked back at her green friend. She watched as Lily swayed slightly.
"Oh.ok, Hold on Lily, I'll find one," May said soothingly, "just follow me."
Someone shoved into Lily, just as she was nodding her head to May. Her head began to swim dangeroulsy, and she began to fall to the side. Her stomach gave and unpleasant lurch. Her knees began to give out, and she began to feel herself fall. She waited to hit the hard floor, but it never came, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist.
"Get the hell out of my way Mudblood!" Lucius Malfoy spat at her. But she barely heard him. She looked up at the blur in front of her, frowning. She tried to stand, but tripped,and fell back into the arms.
"Get the hell out of here, Malfoy! How is it that you cause devastation with just your presence! Hm.must be your face..now, leave before I'll be forced to dipose of you, in the worst of ways.would you rather have a 36D cup? Or maybe a C?" The person who had caught her spat. His grip tightening on her waist. She tried to stand up again, and made it. She swayed at first, but managed to stand, leaning against the person who had caught her, so she didn't fall again.
Malfoy's eyes widened dangerously, and his lips paled to almost pure white. He took a step forward.
"Nuh huh huh!" The person said in a sing-song voice. "I wounldn't if I were you." A wand came from the person behind her, and he was waving it at Malfoy with a brandish.
Malfoy stepped back, glaring at them, before storming off, and disappearing into the crowd of people.
"God, he is such and arse hole!"
"Oh my God, Lily are you ok?" May cried, genuinly worried.
"Yea. I.I just need to find a compartment," she said distractedly.
"Come on, you can sit with us." Lily looked up, her blur coming into focus 'James.'
"Thank you, James. Sorry for all this," she said.
He put his arm around her waist, so that she could lean on him to get back into his compartment. "Lily! Don't worry about it, there's nothing to be sorry about." He smiled down at her.
She looked down at her feet. " I feel a lot better. I think I can walk fine," she whispered.
He removed his arms from her waist, and walked beside her, with May scurrying behind them.
"Hey guys wait up!"
When they slid the door open, Remus and Sirius stood up from the seat, while Peter looked just looked up.
"We send you out ten minute ago to find the cart lady, and you come back with girls?" Sirius said with a smirk.
"Um..yea." James smiled.
"That's my boy!" Sirius said clapping him on the back.
Remus and May rolled their eyes in synch.
James ignored him, and sat Lily down on the seat nearest the window, his favorite seat in actuallitly, but whatever. She was pale, and sweating. He placed two hands on each of her shoulders, and looked into her eyes.
"Are you ok?"
May stood behind him, biting her lower lip.
"Yes, fine thanks." Lily said embarrassed that James had seen her in one of her weak moments. "I'm sorry."
"Lily! Don't be!" he said shaking his head.
"I know, I'm just..embarassed." She said looking down.
James smiled. "There's nothing to be embarassed about."
Lily looked up, looking for if he was lying, but all she found was sincerity. "Thanks, James."
He nodded, and sat down on the seat to her left.
"What's wrong?" Remus asked, witnessing all this in stride.
"Lily's chlostrophobic. And she had a run in with Malfoy during an attack." James said sitting down next to her.
Remus winced. "Oh, that bloody stinks."
"Yea it does." Sirius piped up.
Lily nodded at the occupants of her room, and turned to the window, resting her forehead on the cool glass, and shutting her eyes, slowly relaxing. The cool glass assuaged the sharp pain of her head ache, and helped her body to unwind a bit.
Sirius and Remus sat back down where they were sitting before.
"Hey, May, come sit down," Sirius said patting the seat between himself and Remus. She rolled her eyes, but she walked over, and sat down.
James reached over, and rubbed Lily's back comfortingly, and felt her tense body begin to relax under his palm. He rubbed small circles into her back, staring worriedly at her.
Lily felt more relaxed, as she breathed deeply, her breath leaving condensation on the window.
"Feeling any better?" Remus asked from across the compartment.
She lifted her head from the window, and sat up straight in her seat to regard the boy. She flushed crimson, and stiffened, when she realized that James's hand was still on her back.
She looked at Remus and smiled. "Much better thanks."
He smiled back. "Good."
"Lily, you want to play exploding snap?" May asked getting up from her position next to Sirius.
Lily looked up and smiled in relief, she had to get away from James's comforting hand.
"Yea." Lily got up, and followed May to the far corner of the compartment near the window.
"So..What did Malfoy say to her?" Sirius asked, leaning forward toward James.
James rubbed his eyes under his glasses,and looked at Sirius. He leaned forward, with his arms resting on his parted knees.
"He called her a mudblood. I don't think she heard it though."
He watched as Sirius's and Remus's faces filled with fury.
"I know, I know, I wanted to kill him. But I was trying to hold lily up right at the time, so.."
Sirius made a violent motion in the air, probably demonstrationg what he wanted to do to Malfoy.
As an hour past, the girls fell asleep curled up next to each other, on the floor.
"I'm going to go get some food." Peter said, as he stood up,and stretched.
"Ok, can you also find out how much time we have left til we get there." Remus said tiredly.
"Yea." And he was gone.
There was small noise was heard from the corner of the compartment, and the attention of the three boys was turned toward the noise. Lily had woken up, and was stretching. She looked up at them ,and jumped.
"Oh.er.Hello, I totally forgot that I was in your compartment." Lily said as she yawned. " Do you know when we get there?"
"I'm gonna say soon." James replied. Lily's face fell heavily, and she looked out the window at the passing scenery.
The door slid open, and a pale face boy, with white blonde hair, and cold eyes entered. Lily looked up at the noise, before flushing and looking down. James stood up blocking Lily. He couldn't do anything then, but he could do something now. Malfoy, however, had already spotted her.
"So.What is the famous James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin doing with a couple of ugly losers? One's a mudblood, and the other is just plain mud."
James pulled out his wand and pointed it at him, while Sirius and Remus stood up and glared daggers at him.
"Oh, F- You Malfoy! Is that the best you can come up with? You must really want breasts to come back here and cause more trouble!" James yelled at him. He raised his wand higher, only to feel a small hand on his arm, he looked down to see Lily's pale hand push his wand down.
"Let him do his worst you unloved, freakish mudblood." James raised his wand again glaring at him. Sirius joined him with his wand, pointing it right at his chest.
"She'll be loved more than you ever will." James spat"
"Oh really?" He leaned around Jame's arm to look at Lily. "why don't you go home during the holidays to your perfect Muggle family?"
Lily's face became red with fury. "That's none of your business," she said angrily.
He laughed cooly. "Is it because your not wanted at home? Unloved I dare say?"
That was it he'd pinched a nerve, she flew at him, and punched him right in the nose, breaking it instantly. Blood splattered down his pale, pointed face. His nose was at an odd angle, and he backed up, and his hands flew to his face.
"Damn it mudblood!"
She raised her hands to smack him across his face, but James held her hand back, and stepped in front of her.
"You'd better go, or I'll let her go at you." He said seriously.
Malfoy gave one last glare before disappearing as quickly as he had come, clutching his bleeding nose.
James, Sirius, and Remus all stared at the fuming Lily. This was the first time that they'd seen this side of her, and it was, well, amazing. Quiet Lily Evans had just broken Malfoy's nose. Priceless!
They watched as Lily's emerald green eyes filled with angry tears.
"Lily." James said stunned.
"Excuse me," Lily squeaked, and rushed past them out of the compartment.
She didn't know where to go. 'Oh now I've done it,' how was she to explain herself. To top it off, she was ten minutes from the station to go home. She slid to the floor next to her compartment, and gave a huge sigh. Gulping air hungrily into her lungs.
The compartment door opened, and she looked up just in time to watch Remus Lupin trip over her legs. He fell over her legs onto the floor with and embarrassing thump.
"Oh, bloody hell!" he shrieked messaging his knee.
"Oh my God! I am sooo sorry!" Lily scurried over on her knees to where he was sitting. "Seriously, I'm really sorry."
"S'ok, You know Evan's your dangerous, first you clock Malfoy, break his nose non the less, and then trip me. Remind me never to mess with you ever again." He smiled at the distraught look on her face.
"I am truly sorry."
He chuckled. "It's ok, I promise!"
The train pulled into the station,and stopped.
"I guess I don't need to find Pete to see when we are going to get to the station," Remus said as he looked at Lily, who had considerably paled. "What's wrong?"
The door to the compartment opened, and James came out, when he saw his friend Remus Lupin sitting on the floor, with a pale Lily kneeling next to him, he was curious.
"What's going on here?" James asked, as he made his way over to help the pale Lily into standing position.
"Oh, nothing James, Lily here just found it funny to trip me." Remus smiled at her, with an expression showing her that he was joking. He stood up, and dusted off his robes.
James broke into laughter.
"That's good," he laughted, "times we'll remember." He held up his hand for lily to give him a high five, which she did She Smiled weakly,and put his arm around her. She immediately stiffened, her emerald eyes growing wide. "This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," he said, his eyes dancing with laughter.
Lily looked at him frghtened. 'He didn't mean that did he? Why would he want to be friends with her?' She tried to move desperately out of his grasp, but he tightened his hold on her shoulders. She began to feel extremely uncomfortable.
Remus followed them out of the train.
"Lily.Wait up!" Lily turned around and waited for May to catch up with her. 'Good timing May!' Lily thought.
James took his arm away from her. She sighed with relief, relaxing slightly. " Have a good vacation Lily!" he said with a wave as he disappeared into the crowd.
When May finally reached Lily, she smirked.
"So, I heard what happened on the train while I was sleeping. You broke his nose?" she asked breaking into contagious laughter.
Lily giggled slightly.
"He got me angry."
"I guess so." May smiled at her.
"Lily! Lily!" A voice sounded close by, she instantly recognized it as her mother.
"Oh no!"
May smiled weakly. "You'll be fine. Write me ok?"
"Of course, what else will keep me sane?" Lily asked.
May laughed, and pulled Lily into a tight hug.
"Bye Lils, see ya soon."
"Bye" Lily said miserably.
She turned to her mother, and was immediately engolfed in a hug. She could smell her mom's perfume, and instantly felt better. She hugged her back, and smiled, maybe it wouldn't be as bad as she thought. Then she caught a glimpse of Petunia. She was glaring at her with hatred in her eyes. She cringed, and hugged her mother tighter. Maybe not.
