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The Beginning Of Something Good Chapter Four
Remus Lupin woke up very early the second day of holidays. For lack of anywhere else to be, he was at James' house. He had a letter to write, and didn't need James bugging him about it. Sirius was arriving that day, and Remus knew he'd have no peace then. He had to write to Lily that morning. He was worried about her. Her muggle sister might be giving her trouble. She was a tough kid, but even she couldn't stand being stabbed in the back by her big sister. Just as he picked up his quill to write, a tiny, enthusiastic little owl, no bigger than a snitch flew right through the open window and bashed into Remus' forehead. It was carrying a roll of parchment at least twice its size and, as soon as Remus unrolled it, it was apparent that Lily had sent it.
Dear Remus: How has your holiday been, all two days of it? I hope you've had a better time than I have. My sister brought her boyfriend home for dinner. They both hate me. What's more, my parents are going to the French Riviera for all of August, and unless I can find somewhere else to stay, I'm stuck with Petunia at Aunt Jessie's house. Aunt Jessie sort of took Petunia's side about the witch thing. I'm screwed. My parents would never let me stay with any of you, even if I was invited, they're too concerned about that incident in the common room actually happening. McGonagall told them. I can hear my dad lecturing me already. Aunt Jessie probably won't even let me do my homework while I'm there, let alone owl you guys. But, you're probably sick or hearing me ramble. Seeya soon.
Lily
Remus figured that if Lily was sent to stay with her muggle Aunt, she probably wouldn't make it to Hogwarts that fall. He just couldn't see a way to help her. On the top bunk in his room, James rolled over, and off the bed. He hit the floor with a crack, and began cursing rather loudly. Remus chuckled, and used James' distracted state to hide Lily's letter. "Up yet?" Remus quipped.
James scowled at him, rubbing the back of his neck. "No thanks to you," he muttered. Then, James walked over to his closet, and on top of a pile of hastily tossed shirts, lay Lily's letter. Now it was Remus' turn to curse. "Looks like ickle Reemie has a girlfriend. Maybe you weren't telling the truth on the common room couch." James teased.
"Read it then," challenged Remus. James, his curiosity piqued, looked down at the piece of parchment in his hand, scanned it quickly, then rubbed his eyes and re-read it. "Well, we've only got one thing to do," he said resolutely, but almost regretfully, "get Evans out of there."
*___* *____* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___*
Lily Evans sat at her desk, writing at a furious speed to finish her homework, of which she had a truckload, before going to Aunt Jessie's. "Oh, devilspawn?" called Petunia in a sickly-sweet voice, "Mother says that your attendance is required at dinner, although I can't imagine why."
Lily groaned as she headed down to dinner. "Just don't let Vernon be there," she muttered. The great pork of a sixteen-year-old ate more than the Evans family put together. And people like him almost gave the muggle-hating wizards a good excuse. Thankfully, when she got to the kitchen table, Vernon was nowhere to be seen.
As Lily absently finished her small pile of mashed potatoes, Mrs. Evans said to her husband quietly, "I wonder what's wrong with Lily? She hasn't been herself. She's been about a million miles away, in fact."
"Knowing you, you're not really wondering, and you've got a theory that you're just itching to tell me." Teased Mr. Evans.
"Yes, actually. I realize she's only eleven, but I think she my be rather close to one of those boys at the train station."
"Are you trying to tell me that my eleven year old daughter has a boyfriend?"
"No! I'm just saying that it might be a possibility."
"Okay, that's it, I'm getting to the bottom of this." In a louder voice, Mr. Evans asked "Lillian Magdalene Guenivere Evans, do you have a boyfriend?"
Lily looked at him as though he had two heads, and answered, "No, dad, I do not have a boyfriend. I'm only eleven."
"Twelve next month," piped up her mother. "Speaking of which-" she was cut off by a large snowy owl flapping through an open window, and, oddly, landing in the nearly empty mashed potato bowl.
"Must be for me," said Lily cheerily as she untied the letter attached to the owl's leg, thinking, whoever sent this is going to get smacked the next time I see him. There were two letters, the top one in Remus' neat, slanted script, and the other in a hand she didn't recognize, addressed to her parents. She read Remus' letter first, and it was a good thing she did, too.
Dear Lily: James and I have devised a plan to get you out of your visit with your aunt. If you think it will work, you'd best put it into action immediately. The first step is to give the other letter to your parents, it is from the parents of your very close friend, Lena White. If your parents are willing, they'll drop you off at noon at Kings Cross station on July 29th, where we'll pick you up along with "Lena White" we've worked it out completely, even with James' parents. They love the idea, especially Mrs. Potter. Anyhow, good luck, see you soon. Remus
Lily grinned, but then decided that she'd better look over the letter to make sure it was okay before giving it to her parents. The moment she read the first line, Lily knew that the boys couldn't have written it. Mrs. Potter must have written it for them. Lily carefully weighed the possible outcomes, she didn't like the idea of lying to her parents, but she wouldn't be able to stand a whole month with her aunt and her sister. She decided that she might as well try it, if all else failed, she could always escape anyhow. Lily handed the letter to her father. "My friend Lena's invited me to her house from August until we go back to school. May I go, please?" Lily crossed her fingers behind her back as her parents read the letter and conferred. They dismissed Petunia from the table and fired questions at Lily over the next twenty minutes. Finally, they said she could go, and Lily's mother even gave her some extra money, "to buy Lena's parents a thank-you gift from me". Lily rushed upstairs to owl Remus and James that the letter had worked.
*___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___*
The morning of July 29 was bright and sunny, but rather chilly. Lily was feeling a strange bundle of emotions not unlike those she had felt in the days before her first day at Hogwarts. She was happy that she would be away from Petunia for an extra month, guilty that she was lying to her parents, and, something that hardly surprised her, worried about spending the rest of the summer with a family she didn't really know. Her mother called from downstairs that it was time to go, and Lily heaved her giant trunk, which she hadn't been able to shrink, down to the car. Lily crawled into the back seat of the car and opened a brand-new romance novel. Immersed in her book, Lily didn't even realize that they had gotten to King's Cross until her mother opened the back door and began tearful good- byes.
After assuring her parents that she'd write them as soon as she got to school, Lily waved to her parents and went off to find the boys. Remus, James, and James' parents were standing near platform 9 when Lily found them. Lily dropped her trunk and ran over, squealing, to greet Remus and James as though she hadn't seen them in a year. Then the five portkeyed to the Potter's house to wait for Sirius. One thing that struck Lily was how young and teenager-like the Potters looked. Mrs. Potter couldn't be more than 30, and Mr. Potter wasn't much older. When they got back, James showed Lily her room. It was bright and cheery, with its own bathroom. By this time, it was time to eat and Lily was ravenous. All six of them sat at a small, round table with several large dishes in the center. Lily sat, back straight against the chair while the three boys helped themselves to full plates, and Lily was just wondering how she was going to get any of the food at all when Mrs. Potter stuck her fingers in her mouth and whistled. That got their attention.
"James Potter! I know that you know better manners than that! If there is one thing drummed into your skull it is how you should treat a lady. Especially a lady who is our guest. I am very disappointed in you," Mrs. Potter had a temper about her it seemed. "I'm sorry, Lily, I was raised with 5 brothers, so fighting for dinner comes naturally to me. I forgot that most girls don't have to deal with several boys in order to get their meals. And although I can't say the same for the other two, James should know better than to forget his manners when there is a real young lady present."
"It's really all right, Mrs. Potter, I ate with these three surrounding me three meals a day every day for ten months, I can handle them for a few more days," Lily reassured her.
Wishing to change the subject, Remus immediately suggested that the four children go play quidditch in the back yard.
"Sounds like fun, you guys go on, we'll finish off cleaning up, and then we might join you." Said Mrs. Potter. Lily followed the boys outside, knowing full well that they'd ask her to get on a broomstick, and wondering how she'd get out of it. She didn't know how to fly, and she hated heights.
The makeshift quidditch pitch in the Potter's backyard was about half the size of a regular one, with shorter hoops. "Lily, you're just in time. For lack of broomsticks, we're doubling up. You're with Remus," James said, as he got onto the broomstick that Sirius was already sitting on. Lily swore under her breath as Remus slid back on the broomstick, giving her room to sit.
"You'd better not go too high, Lupin." Lily said threateningly as Remus reached around her to grab the front of the broom. He nodded, smiling, and kicked off, hard. Lily began swearing very colourfully.
"Don't look down." Remus advised. Lily, of course, did, and nearly fell off the broom. They were hovering about 100 feet above the roof of the Potter house. "Remus, put me down now." Lily said, her face as white as a sheet. Remus, seeing how scared she was, went back down and let her off. Sirius and James, who were watching all of this from a reasonable distance, chuckled at Lily's antics. They too went to the ground.
"Okay, maybe quidditch wasn't my best idea of all time," said Remus.
"It's getting dark anyhow," Lily observed, "Let's just go inside."
* * * * * * *
* * * * *
Lily awoke to a silent, presumably empty house on the morning of August first. She got up, took a shower, and headed downstairs for breakfast. Going down the stairs, Lily was sure that she heard steps behind her, but when she looked, there was nobody there. 'Creepy,' thought Lily. She made her way to the kitchen and opened the door slowly. She had an odd feeling of foreboding, and then-
"SURPRISE!" shouted the three Potters, Sirius and Remus. "Happy Birthday!"
Lily's mouth dropped open, "But I didn't tell you when my birthday was. How'd you know?"
"Well, there was a birthday cake drawn on your calendar on today's square. Dead giveaway," James shrugged.
"Thank you, this is great," said Lily gleefully.
"Presents!" shouted Sirius. Lily got a book from Mr. Potter, a makeup kit from Mrs. Potter, a set of paints from Remus, a collection of joke shop merchandise from Sirius, and a package of canvasses from James. She kissed the three boys each on the cheek. They, along with Mr. Potter blushed furiously, while Mrs. Potter laughed. Lily could safely say that this was her best birthday ever, and it wasn't even ten in the morning yet.
The Beginning Of Something Good Chapter Four
Remus Lupin woke up very early the second day of holidays. For lack of anywhere else to be, he was at James' house. He had a letter to write, and didn't need James bugging him about it. Sirius was arriving that day, and Remus knew he'd have no peace then. He had to write to Lily that morning. He was worried about her. Her muggle sister might be giving her trouble. She was a tough kid, but even she couldn't stand being stabbed in the back by her big sister. Just as he picked up his quill to write, a tiny, enthusiastic little owl, no bigger than a snitch flew right through the open window and bashed into Remus' forehead. It was carrying a roll of parchment at least twice its size and, as soon as Remus unrolled it, it was apparent that Lily had sent it.
Dear Remus: How has your holiday been, all two days of it? I hope you've had a better time than I have. My sister brought her boyfriend home for dinner. They both hate me. What's more, my parents are going to the French Riviera for all of August, and unless I can find somewhere else to stay, I'm stuck with Petunia at Aunt Jessie's house. Aunt Jessie sort of took Petunia's side about the witch thing. I'm screwed. My parents would never let me stay with any of you, even if I was invited, they're too concerned about that incident in the common room actually happening. McGonagall told them. I can hear my dad lecturing me already. Aunt Jessie probably won't even let me do my homework while I'm there, let alone owl you guys. But, you're probably sick or hearing me ramble. Seeya soon.
Lily
Remus figured that if Lily was sent to stay with her muggle Aunt, she probably wouldn't make it to Hogwarts that fall. He just couldn't see a way to help her. On the top bunk in his room, James rolled over, and off the bed. He hit the floor with a crack, and began cursing rather loudly. Remus chuckled, and used James' distracted state to hide Lily's letter. "Up yet?" Remus quipped.
James scowled at him, rubbing the back of his neck. "No thanks to you," he muttered. Then, James walked over to his closet, and on top of a pile of hastily tossed shirts, lay Lily's letter. Now it was Remus' turn to curse. "Looks like ickle Reemie has a girlfriend. Maybe you weren't telling the truth on the common room couch." James teased.
"Read it then," challenged Remus. James, his curiosity piqued, looked down at the piece of parchment in his hand, scanned it quickly, then rubbed his eyes and re-read it. "Well, we've only got one thing to do," he said resolutely, but almost regretfully, "get Evans out of there."
*___* *____* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___*
Lily Evans sat at her desk, writing at a furious speed to finish her homework, of which she had a truckload, before going to Aunt Jessie's. "Oh, devilspawn?" called Petunia in a sickly-sweet voice, "Mother says that your attendance is required at dinner, although I can't imagine why."
Lily groaned as she headed down to dinner. "Just don't let Vernon be there," she muttered. The great pork of a sixteen-year-old ate more than the Evans family put together. And people like him almost gave the muggle-hating wizards a good excuse. Thankfully, when she got to the kitchen table, Vernon was nowhere to be seen.
As Lily absently finished her small pile of mashed potatoes, Mrs. Evans said to her husband quietly, "I wonder what's wrong with Lily? She hasn't been herself. She's been about a million miles away, in fact."
"Knowing you, you're not really wondering, and you've got a theory that you're just itching to tell me." Teased Mr. Evans.
"Yes, actually. I realize she's only eleven, but I think she my be rather close to one of those boys at the train station."
"Are you trying to tell me that my eleven year old daughter has a boyfriend?"
"No! I'm just saying that it might be a possibility."
"Okay, that's it, I'm getting to the bottom of this." In a louder voice, Mr. Evans asked "Lillian Magdalene Guenivere Evans, do you have a boyfriend?"
Lily looked at him as though he had two heads, and answered, "No, dad, I do not have a boyfriend. I'm only eleven."
"Twelve next month," piped up her mother. "Speaking of which-" she was cut off by a large snowy owl flapping through an open window, and, oddly, landing in the nearly empty mashed potato bowl.
"Must be for me," said Lily cheerily as she untied the letter attached to the owl's leg, thinking, whoever sent this is going to get smacked the next time I see him. There were two letters, the top one in Remus' neat, slanted script, and the other in a hand she didn't recognize, addressed to her parents. She read Remus' letter first, and it was a good thing she did, too.
Dear Lily: James and I have devised a plan to get you out of your visit with your aunt. If you think it will work, you'd best put it into action immediately. The first step is to give the other letter to your parents, it is from the parents of your very close friend, Lena White. If your parents are willing, they'll drop you off at noon at Kings Cross station on July 29th, where we'll pick you up along with "Lena White" we've worked it out completely, even with James' parents. They love the idea, especially Mrs. Potter. Anyhow, good luck, see you soon. Remus
Lily grinned, but then decided that she'd better look over the letter to make sure it was okay before giving it to her parents. The moment she read the first line, Lily knew that the boys couldn't have written it. Mrs. Potter must have written it for them. Lily carefully weighed the possible outcomes, she didn't like the idea of lying to her parents, but she wouldn't be able to stand a whole month with her aunt and her sister. She decided that she might as well try it, if all else failed, she could always escape anyhow. Lily handed the letter to her father. "My friend Lena's invited me to her house from August until we go back to school. May I go, please?" Lily crossed her fingers behind her back as her parents read the letter and conferred. They dismissed Petunia from the table and fired questions at Lily over the next twenty minutes. Finally, they said she could go, and Lily's mother even gave her some extra money, "to buy Lena's parents a thank-you gift from me". Lily rushed upstairs to owl Remus and James that the letter had worked.
*___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___* *___*
The morning of July 29 was bright and sunny, but rather chilly. Lily was feeling a strange bundle of emotions not unlike those she had felt in the days before her first day at Hogwarts. She was happy that she would be away from Petunia for an extra month, guilty that she was lying to her parents, and, something that hardly surprised her, worried about spending the rest of the summer with a family she didn't really know. Her mother called from downstairs that it was time to go, and Lily heaved her giant trunk, which she hadn't been able to shrink, down to the car. Lily crawled into the back seat of the car and opened a brand-new romance novel. Immersed in her book, Lily didn't even realize that they had gotten to King's Cross until her mother opened the back door and began tearful good- byes.
After assuring her parents that she'd write them as soon as she got to school, Lily waved to her parents and went off to find the boys. Remus, James, and James' parents were standing near platform 9 when Lily found them. Lily dropped her trunk and ran over, squealing, to greet Remus and James as though she hadn't seen them in a year. Then the five portkeyed to the Potter's house to wait for Sirius. One thing that struck Lily was how young and teenager-like the Potters looked. Mrs. Potter couldn't be more than 30, and Mr. Potter wasn't much older. When they got back, James showed Lily her room. It was bright and cheery, with its own bathroom. By this time, it was time to eat and Lily was ravenous. All six of them sat at a small, round table with several large dishes in the center. Lily sat, back straight against the chair while the three boys helped themselves to full plates, and Lily was just wondering how she was going to get any of the food at all when Mrs. Potter stuck her fingers in her mouth and whistled. That got their attention.
"James Potter! I know that you know better manners than that! If there is one thing drummed into your skull it is how you should treat a lady. Especially a lady who is our guest. I am very disappointed in you," Mrs. Potter had a temper about her it seemed. "I'm sorry, Lily, I was raised with 5 brothers, so fighting for dinner comes naturally to me. I forgot that most girls don't have to deal with several boys in order to get their meals. And although I can't say the same for the other two, James should know better than to forget his manners when there is a real young lady present."
"It's really all right, Mrs. Potter, I ate with these three surrounding me three meals a day every day for ten months, I can handle them for a few more days," Lily reassured her.
Wishing to change the subject, Remus immediately suggested that the four children go play quidditch in the back yard.
"Sounds like fun, you guys go on, we'll finish off cleaning up, and then we might join you." Said Mrs. Potter. Lily followed the boys outside, knowing full well that they'd ask her to get on a broomstick, and wondering how she'd get out of it. She didn't know how to fly, and she hated heights.
The makeshift quidditch pitch in the Potter's backyard was about half the size of a regular one, with shorter hoops. "Lily, you're just in time. For lack of broomsticks, we're doubling up. You're with Remus," James said, as he got onto the broomstick that Sirius was already sitting on. Lily swore under her breath as Remus slid back on the broomstick, giving her room to sit.
"You'd better not go too high, Lupin." Lily said threateningly as Remus reached around her to grab the front of the broom. He nodded, smiling, and kicked off, hard. Lily began swearing very colourfully.
"Don't look down." Remus advised. Lily, of course, did, and nearly fell off the broom. They were hovering about 100 feet above the roof of the Potter house. "Remus, put me down now." Lily said, her face as white as a sheet. Remus, seeing how scared she was, went back down and let her off. Sirius and James, who were watching all of this from a reasonable distance, chuckled at Lily's antics. They too went to the ground.
"Okay, maybe quidditch wasn't my best idea of all time," said Remus.
"It's getting dark anyhow," Lily observed, "Let's just go inside."
* * * * * * *
* * * * *
Lily awoke to a silent, presumably empty house on the morning of August first. She got up, took a shower, and headed downstairs for breakfast. Going down the stairs, Lily was sure that she heard steps behind her, but when she looked, there was nobody there. 'Creepy,' thought Lily. She made her way to the kitchen and opened the door slowly. She had an odd feeling of foreboding, and then-
"SURPRISE!" shouted the three Potters, Sirius and Remus. "Happy Birthday!"
Lily's mouth dropped open, "But I didn't tell you when my birthday was. How'd you know?"
"Well, there was a birthday cake drawn on your calendar on today's square. Dead giveaway," James shrugged.
"Thank you, this is great," said Lily gleefully.
"Presents!" shouted Sirius. Lily got a book from Mr. Potter, a makeup kit from Mrs. Potter, a set of paints from Remus, a collection of joke shop merchandise from Sirius, and a package of canvasses from James. She kissed the three boys each on the cheek. They, along with Mr. Potter blushed furiously, while Mrs. Potter laughed. Lily could safely say that this was her best birthday ever, and it wasn't even ten in the morning yet.