Royalty, eh?
Disclaimer: The story is purely written for enjoyment. The recognizable characters probably belong to someone else (Harry Potter, Names of other random people). Most of the other names are purely fictional. The names of muggle places are all situated the Earth. Any historical inaccuracy I may have made about the United Kingdom: please forgive me. The events are written so the plot would make sense.
~ I guess the story is a bit Alternative Universe, not just in the sense that it deters from the enlightenment of OotP.
Historical Notes:
1911 – the House of Lords lost most of it legislative powers, but in this story, let's say they are still as powerful as the House of Commons.
*And of course, those nobilities' names are made up. I didn't go through the records to find the names. ß Another reason why this is A/U ^^
Author Note: I know I have been on hiatus for forever. Due to that, I have lost contact with my betas. Well, I hope this one doesn't have severe tense switches that will impair the ability to understand what is going on. For those who are still following the story, I actually do not have writers' block. I just haven't had time to write much of this . . . anytime soon.
For silver10fire, Dog Stars Crush, harrys girl. The three people who reviewed and whose review alerts (I found as I was cleaning my e-mail) reminded me that I forgot to post this chapter on ff.net. It is on my own website though. ^^
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Chapter Ten: Many Meetings and More to Come?
My first Quidditch match was, all in all, a disaster. The morning began with Bella being too enthusiastic about the upcoming game. She was never a great morning person, but the anticipation for seeing people with brilliant flying skills showing off – pardon me, displaying their skills by flying around a pitch chasing, beating, and seeking round objects.
~*~*~
"Wake up everyone!" Bella shouted while bouncing up and down. Mandy was the first to respond. Her own grogginess was ended at Bella's third thump on the ground.
"Oh Quidditch!" I would have loved to have more girls in my dormitory then. Too bad only three of us made up the Gryffindor girls. With my two roommates being ecstatic rabbits, there was no way for me to sleep in. If there were more people, I probably wouldn't be outnumbered in wanting to sleep in Saturday morning . . . then again, it does concern Quidditch.
"Couldn't you do that in the common room? I am certain there are more people out there who will share your joy than in here," I moaned into my pillow. Waking up to Bella's shrieking after staying up late finishing the weekend's homework was not a good morning call. I would much prefer the aroma of food or the more melodious sound of birds chirping than the cacophony of noises made by my two best friends.
"Of course Lily," Mandy replied dryly. "You ought to be more enthusiastic about Quidditch. Just because your first flying lesson was disastrous doesn't mean you should hate the sport."
"I don't hate it!" I retorted now fully awake. It was an impossible task to sleep through Mandy's lectures or Bella's sermons.
"You're right. Hate is too strong a word," I rolled my eyes at the comment. "Anyhow Lily," Mandy continued, "You ought to give the game a chance. Maybe you'll even like it. Perhaps flying is your hobby, but a sport doesn't have to be enjoyable if you aren't good at it . . ."
"Or maybe Lily is just jealous because Potter is better at flying than she is," Bella added her two cent to the conversation. "She doesn't like the thought of James Potter saving her life at the first lesson."
"Uh-uh," I shook my head. "He didn't save my life. You did, Bella. And you better not forget that little detail." My roommates shook their heads at me. "Now that I am awake, I am taking a shower."
Of course, three people sharing one shower shouldn't be a problem. At least we are less crowded than the seventh year girls. All six of them share one bathroom. But in our room, we fight for the shower. Whenever I suggest that I will go wash myself, one of the other girls, if not the both of them, would rush for the door at the same time.
This time, Mandy ended up in the bathroom before me.
"Let me shower first Mandy," I protested. "I was the one with the idea first."
"Well, I woke up first. Among us."
"You didn't shower right away. Besides, I will take forever to shower if no one is waiting for me. Then we'll be late for breakfast as well as your beloved Quidditch match."
"Who said we would wait for you?" Bella asked with a smirk. Oh she thinks she is going to win this little debate.
"If you don't wait for me, you wouldn't know if I went to the match or not. But I suppose that is good news," I added after feigning to think about the new piece of persuasion. "I wouldn't have to go to the Quidditch game. Well, Mandy, take your time. I am going back to sleep."
The plan had definitely worked. Mandy shot out of the bathroom with a venomous look that was altogether too friendly to be threatening. It wasn't like how the Slytherins would look at me, but more of a don't-you-even-think-about-it look.
"Get in to the shower right now. You have ten minutes starting in five . . . four . . .three . . . . .."
Victory certainly brightened my morning a bit. Although I had lost thirty minutes of my precious sleep, perhaps the Quidditch match would be interesting. Maybe I would even understand how the game works after watching it. Besides, I had finished all of my homework the night before. Now I could enjoy my weekends without the stress of school even though I am at school.
I finished my shower ten seconds before my time was up. Mandy went into the bathroom and came out in record time. I believe the morning of Quidditch matches will be the only morning where the first year Gryffindor girls would be able to show up at breakfast at an early time.
The meal was delectable was usual but I noticed the older students were either too busy talking or looking sick. I suppose Quidditch is as popular as James and Sirius has been exclaiming. Every single conversation had been about it. Even the academically focused Ari had hurried towards the Gryffindor table proclaiming her fervor and impatience for the game.
"Oh I can't wait! I sure hope my house is going to win. The Slytherins does seem like a mean lot, but skills are the key to the game right?" the enthusiastic grin and rather loud rambling had caught the attention of the Marauders, to my disadvantage. Somehow I got the uneasy feeling that I'll be forced to sit next to them while they explain the logistics of the game, which I pretty much know, and telling me the weaknesses of each players. But of course, I mustn't forget their usual complaints about the rule concerning first years and brooms and Quidditch teams.
"Lily!" James and Sirius yelled rather loudly at the same time. I think they have this little game called Let's Annoy Lily by Yelling at her at Choreographed Times. "Aren't you excited about our first game?"
"Yes," I answered without their enthusiasm.
"Actually, it isn't your game," Ari cut in. Good, that would mean I get to hide for a few moments when they argue with Ari. Unfortunately, this argument lasted a record 1 millisecond. James merely shook him head in those whatever fashion and continued to torture his target, me.
"Anyhow," he said with the chipper voice again. "You are going to sit with Sirius and I. We'll commentate the games for you."
"Yes, we'll be your personal commentator," Sirius amended unnecessarily. Leaning towards me, he added in a softer voice, "Of course, the lady should receive some special treatment." He definitely deserved that glare. How I wished my eyes had the power of my wand. Then Sirius and James would be stunned or have their mouths glued closed whenever I felt like it.
"What of the other Marauders?" I asked hoping to at least get two more people separating the Quidditch-obsessed twins and me. I should clarify, the twins meaning James and Sirius. Having Bella and Ari with me would be heaven compared to the company of the former.
"No worries," Remus added with a smile. "We'll sit next to you, or behind you if there aren't enough seats in a row." If he wasn't a nice person all around, I wouldn't have felt guilty wanting him unconscious at the moment.
I was silent and James and Sirius took that as my chipper answer to their invitation. When breakfast was over, the two practically dragged me towards the Quidditch pitch with the excuse of: we need to get good seats!
Knowing James's mother would have been a much better weapon against the evil twins had the rest of the Marauders and my friends chose not to help them drag me outside. Threatening James with a note to his mother was beaten by the unfortunate fact that I didn't know the other students' mothers.
It's times like these that I wished my noble title would actually be important in the Wizarding World. Maybe then people, especially my fellow Gryffindors and a Ravenclaw would listen to my complaints and leave me alone.
"I forgot my hair tie!" I shouted as the last resort. I love my auburn colored hair, it is special in that the shade is unique, but the texture is torture to care for. Each strand of hair has a "romantic infatuation" (Mandy and Bella named it) with another. If I didn't brush it always or have it up, the strands get tangled and brushing would simply to result in a migraine.
"You have them in a pony tail," Mandy observed dryly. I think she was getting sick of my excuses and complaints. If I try harder, she might just reason with the others . . . or not. It would most likely end up with a mouth-binding charm and me get reacquainted. Bella's quite good at those.
"Fine, I want my brush!" The look Bella sent me was magical enough to have me willingly glue my lips together, or rather close them. I was silent for the rest of the walk to the pitch, and the first half of the game. The second half was marked by Ravenclaw "picking up their game" as Ari said, so I was obligated to cheer. Besides, getting involved in a game where four girls can easily beat four boys was fun. I ended the afternoon happily with James and Sirius complaining of an earache.
Grandma wouldn't have been proud of me. She never liked loud noises too much, but what she doesn't know won't hurt – a lovely philosophy I learned from James.
Dear Diary – I think you are a diary . . . I think James Potter is a bad influence.
A really bad influence. Which is why I should try my best to get away from him.
As far away as possible.
Especially before the next Quidditch game . . .
It will be Gryffindor against Hufflepuff.
~*~*~
Christmas season approached far too quickly for my liking. I am not too thrilled about the upcoming ball with stuffy men and politics, even though the event is said to be all fun, no work. Surely adults must understand that children can easily see through such lies. The many occasions where five minutes became an hour is enough to show that the grown-ups are too attached to their work.
I suppose the only good thing is the absence of Quidditch. I wouldn't have to hear about it every few minutes. Hogwarts was a lot more peaceful before the season began. James and Sirius hadn't been silent since then. Even if a long gap divided a game from the next, they would discuss the progress of the professional teams. Most people would say it was their business, but then again, "most people" aren't the target the discussions are directed to.
Since the first Quidditch match, James and Sirius had moved the Marauder dinning area right next to where my friends and I eat our meals. Every meal, James and Sirius would turn to speak to me. Class work was a topic, but since James get to the Daily Prophet, the professional Quidditch results ended up being the discussion focus at breakfast. Every morning, I would awake with the sound of people fighting for the shower. At breakfast, I would be welcomed to the hall by having a newspaper thrown in my face.
Seriously, I think James and Sirius have this secret pact-thing going on between Bella and Mandy. Aside from annoying me before breakfast, the meal would be unpleasantly filled with James and Sirius arguing over Quidditch. What's really annoying is that I would always be the referee. Remus announced he wanted a break. Peter said James and Sirius could easily hurt him. They both told me to deal with it.
"It's a phase they are going through."
Yeah right, I think sarcasm suits me rather well. See? Bad influence Eviden-001: turning Lily into a sarcastic person. Must make sure I stop doing that when I get back; otherwise I would get so many eyebrow raises from my family, and Maria, and all the people working around the house.
Well Remus, your have had over two months worth of breaks. I am leaving early so you'll be stuck with the job again. And when I come back, you are not going to get any relief. I don't care if there is still snow, I will eat by the lake. If not, I will just skip breakfast. That or have Betsy mail me cereal or oatmeal. I am certain I can make oatmeal without burning down the entire Gryffindor Tower. Possibly the common room, but not the entire tower. There might be a staircase safe.
The last week of term for me were filled with my grounded – earthly, I mean – friends giving me tips on how to deal with snobby aristocrats. Somehow Bella had gotten some of the Zonko's items that James and Sirius usually uses for their pranks (I thinks she bribed them) for me to use if the upper class becomes too unbearable. Sometimes I wonder how they put up with me since I am of the same social class that they seem to dislike so much.
"It's different with you Lily," Mandy had tried to explain. "You are more down to earth than others. You do not act snobbish and you don't flank your ranks to get whatever you want.
"The last school I went was one of those rich and exclusive public schools that had high tuition. My scholarship was able to pay for most the fees, but my parents still had to scramble for the rest. My classmates all had flaunted their wealth and the poorer students were made to feel ashamed of their family's financial shortcomings."
I hadn't noticed people were that horrendous about their privileges. Mother had used to say we all should be happy with what we have. Also, the most important items in life are the ones that wealth and influence cannot buy: friendship, family, and all the good emotions. Anything that is earned should also we cherished, hence why I wonder why I was accepted into Hogwarts. I had done nothing. While most children had eccentric happenings in their lives at dramatic situations, I had none. Quite frankly, spending time with Bella and Mandy and getting constantly tormented by James and his friends has shown me that my previous life was boring. Now that I must be on the train back to that life, for the very first time, I feel regret. Not the same regret I felt when Mother died, she had told me people had times of when their life should end. She had done everything she wanted, besides watching me grow to a "beautiful lady", but even that, she said, she could do after living. Her spirit would always be with me wherever I go as cliché as it may sound. The regret was missing the normal life. I am still not used to magic and my old sanctuary was demolished by me "unveiling."
"Well, hope you have fun at the social gathering!" Bella exclaimed with a smirk. Just because she doesn't have to – I quote – be showcased or attend the stuffy balls, she was now gloating at my bad luck. Considering I had never been to such grand and boring events (according to Bella), I am quite curious of how my very first will feel like. Perhaps I should bring a book as Bella suggested. I need ask Grandma about the etiquette correctness of the action.
"Bye!" I called out to my two friends. "You still have classes left, go back and study!"
"We will!" Mandy shouted as I got farther away. "Enjoy and write to us. Burma needs exercise." I had laughed at that statement. The hyperactive-ness of my owl had caused some complaints. James had suggested for me to go ask the Care of Magical Creatures professor about my pet. I had gone and the professor diagnosed Burma with the owlish form of Attention Deficit Hyperactive-ness Disorder. He also warned that Burma should not be sent on long trip unless I want my mail to be lost or undelivered.
"Wait!" Bella called. "Were the finals easy?" That had earned Bella a poke in the ribs, curtsey of Mandy. Her earlier eagerness for looking at books dissipated as the term approached to an end.
"Easy if you study!" I yelled back. The speed of the carriage had increased magically, so I wasn't sure whether or not Bella had heard me. Either way, she'll do well on the tests. The finals were as difficult as I had expected. They had covered everything we learned, and considering all the previous tests were accumulative, we definitely knew everything.
~*~*~
I was welcomed home by Maria. The return was to be inconspicuous so Father and my grandparents were to wait for me at home. Kings Cross Station was not as crowded as it was on September 11th, but there were enough people to make Maria cross.
"So much people. It is quite disgusting. Look at the dirt, the dust, and the trash. The management must not know how to maintain good health and cleanliness." I had to look at Maria funny with that comment. Certainly she demands that the estate be spotless, but this is a public station. Even if the management had been organized, the amount of traffic must still make everything dirty. I had subconsciously directed my head at my traveling boots. The snow from the short trek from Hogwarts to the carriage stop had melted on the train. Any mess I probably have made was safely hidden on the Hogwarts Express, away from the finicky sight of Maria. I must remember to wipe my boots clean before I enter the house else I get Maria grumbling at me for the rest of the day.
I know I have definitely changed personality wise. There were a few, fine quite a lot of new habits that I have formed that Maria would disapprove of, such as my dorm organizing skills. The fast pace at Hogwarts have made me quite a messy person, not that I am blaming Hogwarts. I have formed the habit of throwing my books on my bed before rushing to my next class.
The vice began when I was running a bit short on time and I had left my Defense Against Dark Arts books back at the Gryffindor tower. Mandy had told me to hurry so I threw my Charms books down on my bed and grabbed the DADA book. Similar to what always happens with a bad habit, I had just continually thrown my books on my bed. The mini bookshelf my dorm was half empty with the rest of the book scattered about my bed.
"How was school?" Maria asked.
"Absolutely wonderful" I exclaimed. "We had learned so much. I learned how to change button to beetles, make things shrink, and I now know how to defend myself against some horrible plants." My mother figure looked at me skeptical of my correctness of the mind.
"Will you demonstrate when we get back to the estate?" Maria asked finally. I suppose I could, none of the professors told me to not to use magic. They all smiled and said "good work" when I got my marks. I could just do the spells that I know I can do well, and I'll leave the more difficult ones out.
"Sure!"
~*~*~
It felt strange to be in the car while Father, Grandfather, and Grandma was on the doorstep waiting for me. While I had usually sat there to welcome them, our roles had switched. My grandparents gave me a hug and a kiss, and Father gave a hug first and carried me to the inside of the house. A large welcome home banner was placed above the ceiling.
"Wow Father!" I exclaimed. Quite frankly, I am still shell-shocked about the switching of roles. In a little over three months, my life has changed in so many ways. I am no longer the anonymous daughter of the Duke of York neither do I get hidden from the rest of the world by staying within the boundaries of the estate.
"My growing girl needs her celebration," Father replied with a smile. But there was a hint of sadness to it. "Let's get you settled back in your room."
"What is wrong Daddy?" I asked quietly when I had reached by room. Maria and Bertha were helping me put my clothing back. Father was next to me placing my multiple volumes of books on my half empty bookshelf.
"Nothing my dear," Father replied. He was obviously choked up about something, as Bella would say. "We must hurry. I believe this is the first in many years my mother had decided to venture into the kitchen. She wanted to cook a marvelous dinner for your return." I looked skeptically at Father. Grandma cooks? "Don't worry sweets. I believe Grandmother makes wonderful éclairs."
"Can I get cooking lessons?" I asked with a pleading smile. This is mostly improbable considering the cook had deemed me the devil's advocate when it comes to cooking. When I was three, I had gotten flour all over the kitchen. Since Mother had just passed away recently, I wasn't punished. Everyone thought I needed time to vent my emotions. I had begged the cook to let me help with baking my cake for my sixth birthday. That ended up being messy considering the frosting liked my mouth and fingers too much. And just a little while ago, when I was ten and three months, I nearly burned down the kitchen attempting to make cookies. All the helpers of the house lectured me, Father wasn't very please, and my tutor had gotten mad at me for not paying attention to the lectures. Of course I didn't, I had cookie in the oven to worry about!
Father merely smiled and patted my head before going down stairs.
"When you are done, come down stairs. There are quite a few things you need to learn before the party." Father must have noticed my dubious reaction since he chuckled. So perhaps Bella's warnings did scare me a bit. How was I supposed to learn 50 names in two weeks as well as knowing who these people are and their family backgrounds?
"Miss Lily," Maria called. "You ought to change before eating dinner. I doubt you would like to wear your traveling clothes all day long."
My old life was back, sort of. I now had Maria once again to help me choose my daily attire. She would go to my closet, sort through the wardrobe, and take out a dress that is usually green as that's my favorite color. Like always, Maria chose a dress that had a main color of green.
~*~*~
Dinner was wonderful. It was the four of us again. The intimacy was nice. Although I always had my meals at Hogwarts with Bella and Mandy with occasional appearance of James and his friends, the large hall did lack intimacy. Anything said could be heard by someone else as that was how the four pranking boys by the name of the Marauders had found out I was leaving school early. Sirius had the joy of bothering for the last few days to get information about the final exams. James had looked just as apologetic as Bella when it came to my going to a social gala.
"Ooh! Food!" I exclaimed happily. "My last real meal was breakfast. The rest were all candy my friends had decided to give for the train ride back." Grandma tsk-tsked when she heard I had no nutrition besides sugar for the past ten hours.
"Eat all you need Lily," Grandma said as she passed me plate after plate of food. Grandfather had chose to look annoyed at his spouse's actions as he always did and puffed on his pipe to wait for his turn with the food.
I had been stuffed with more food than I had eaten myself at the Hogwarts Welcoming Feast. There wasn't as much food available, but Grandma certainly remembered how to stuff food down my throat.
"Here Lily, eat this. Are you sure you are eating enough at school? You look a little thin. I might need to send a letter to your headmaster about giving you more healthy snacks. It seems you are eating too much sweets." Now I was certainly confused. Grandma had said I looked thin, but now she is suggesting that I ate too much candy. Don't eating lots of candy mean getting fatter?
I looked at Father for support. He looked just as confused and even a little wary of Grandma's actions. Suddenly, she turned from the aristocratic grandparent to the overprotective mother hen type of grandmother. She had probably traveled much when Father was little, so maybe that's why Father was surprised at the bout of motherly-ness.
Grandfather had been the one to stop Grandma from clucking on and on. Using the tact of debating in the House of Lords, Grandma's attention was redirected to getting me some lovely dresses for the upcoming gala. That didn't really stop her from chattering.
"Oh, we shall go shopping. You probably need two ball dresses and two sun dresses for the tea party . . ." at least Grandma had stopped fussing around me. Three months was definitely too long to be apart from Grandma. The usually quiet and solitary woman turned into the type of Bella and Mandy (and James and Sirius) had warned me about: the grandmother that pinches cheeks too often and gushes about their grandchildren endlessly.
Noticing a desperate need for a conversation change, I decided to strike the conversation about Daria and Petunia.
"When will they be here?" I asked during one of Grandma's pauses. She gave a sharp look, and instead of chastising me about interrupting, she corrected my grammar.
"Who are 'they'?"
"When will Daria and Petunia be here?" I repeated. Perhaps the conversation was the wrong topic as I noticed everyone stiffen. "Or not . . ." I mumbled quietly but winced moments later. That comment had been uncalled for and thank goodness no one heard, or at least bothered to correct me about it.
"They will join us at the ball," Father replied in a tone that suggested he was trying to suffocate himself.
Suddenly the meal wasn't too pleasant.
~*~*~
I got more dresses for the gala . . .
I don't get it. The party is only one night. I don't need three dresses. Well, fine. Counting the tea party, that will be two different occasions where the dress code is different. Two doesn't mean three. I still don't see why I need three more dresses. There are more in my wardrobe.
Once again, I was hauled off to the limousine with the rest of my family. Thankfully no reporters were in front of our gate. In fact, I didn't catch anyone near the house. No surprises through my window. Grandfather said the media gets bored easily. With my long-term absence, the media couldn't get any more stories out. Certainly there were some that made stories about my absence or rather they had called it a disappearance. One tabloid said I was abducted by aliens. That guess would have been correct if they said I had been abducted by two boys with names beginning with a J and an S.
My happiness at the lack of media was quickly destroyed when I noticed the party entrance being covered with cameras and reporters. They looked more crowded than the bees near a beehive.
"Lady Lily, I am quite surprised to see you after so long," one reporter began while sticking a microphone in my face. "Could you tell us where you were?"
I was sure Grandma twitched at the man's horrendous grammar mistake; not to mention it wasn't polite. Of course I could explain why whereabouts, but I would chose to guard my privacy.
Although I know the story concocted by the household and my family, everyone thought it was better to have Father explain my absence. It would be less likely for the media to doubt him than me. I was told Father had a reputation of being willful in the media.
"She was traveling throughout Europe." That was based on a story from a more respectable tabloid stating how I was sighted in Wales then in France a day later. The short answer had been enough. The rest of the questions were taken care of by a mere "no comment."
I have always wondered why they don't ask anything of good news quality. Father had said there was a silent agreement between the media and the Commons and Lords, as well as the royal family to not discuss public policy until the members of parliament debate about it publicly.
I suppose that is why they like the odd tidbits of famous people. Not that I am famous, but Father and my grandparents certainly are. Everyone just thinks I am strange because Father suddenly decides to make my life public. At least I hope so. That just didn't work too well with my acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Actually, any media coverage doesn't work well with Hogwarts.
Entering the main ballroom was a repeat of my unveiling party, although I didn't have to get trapped staring at a behind wrapped in tight, elastic fabric. This time, there were maid who had the job of welcoming guest and taking their coat. Once our coats were no longer with us, another set of servants led us to the place of activity.
The place of activity was the ballroom. Next question is, do I have to dance? Or more importantly, do I still remember how to dance?
~*~ to be continued ~*~