Chapter 7- Diamond in the Rough

Jonathon Potter glanced back to examine the little girl sitting in the back seat of his car. She hadn't said a word since her tearful departure from her parents. It had been a horrible scene, Lily, Michal, and Rose were understandably upset over Dumbledore's decision, but it was in the girls best interest. The Dark wizards who were responsible for the plane crash would be sure to come after her once they learned she had survived and her Muggle parents had no way to protect her. Dumbledore had promised to work serious protection spells on the Evans household, but until they were complete Lily was safer staying with a wizard family. "Not too much farther." Jonathon called back to his silent passenger. "I'm sure my family will be very pleased to meet you. Angie, my wife, has always wanted a little girl around the house. Our son is a little too rambunctious for her tastes. I'm sure you'll get along just fine though." He let his idle chatter die off as Lily stared angrily out the window, refusing to acknowledge his presence. He sighed, almost wishing that Dumbledore had saddled somebody else with this assignment. He could tell the girl was going to be uncooperative, not that he blamed her of course, she'd been through a lot in the last day. But still, babysitting duty? Jonathon grimaced. He'd hoped he was a little more senior in the Ministry than to be put in charge of babysitting duty. He pulled the long black caravan into a long, curving driveway, waved to the uniformed gatekeeper and continued up past rolling lawns and extensive gardens towards the Potter mansion. Lily feigned disinterest but couldn't keep her jaw from dropping a few centimeters as the house came into view. A huge white structure with Grecian columns and sculpted balconies stood gracefully in front of a huge sparkling fountain and an extravagant reflecting pool. Jonathon hopped out of the car and opened the passenger door for Lily. "Welcome to my home," he murmered as she stepped out. Lily looked up at him suspiciously. The man had seemed friendly enough, his warm gray eyes sparkled beneath his wire rimmed glasses and his messy blond hair fell carelessly over an unlined forehead. But he was partly responsible for separating her from her parents, Lily reminded herself, and therefore was not to be trusted. "Jonathon?" came a voice from the top of the long steep marble staircase. "Is that you darling?" "Yes, Angie, it's me. And I've brought our new guest." Jonathon answered, smiling up at his wife as she gracefully descended. Angela Potter's long straight black hair flowed out behind her, framing her delicate features dramatically. Her skin was alabaster smooth and devoid of makeup. He huge expressive blue eyes sparkled down at Lily with warmth and patience. "Welcome Lily," she said gently, reaching out to clasp Lily's hand in her own. "Come, I'll show you to your room." Angela led Lily slowly up the staircase, leaving Jonathon to carry the bags. Just as the pair reached the top of the stairs as small whirlwind flashed past them, nearly knocking Lily over. She clung at Angela's side to steady herself as she looked back. A boy about her own age had flung himself violently past them, hurtled down the steps and thrown himself at Jonathon Potter. "Dad!" the boy yelled joyfully, flipping back his unruly black hair. "You're home early, you have to come see the fort Sirius and I built out back, it's killer!! You go sit up there and we can.." "Not now James," Jonathon ordered harshly. "I need to help get Lily situated in her room. Maybe I'll go see your yard thing later." With those words Jonathon brushed past his crestfallen son and hurried up the stairs towards his wife and Lily. "It's a fort, not a thing," James muttered. "Mom?" he asked hopefully, "will you come see it?" "Sorry James, but your father and I need to take care of Lily right now, she's going to need a lot of attention to fell welcome in our home." Angela murmered, steering Lily into the house. James scuffed angrily at the driveway with his sneaker, his warm gray eyes flashing behind his glasses. "Don't know why she needs so much stupid attention," he told his shoes. "She's just a girl."