t w o i s a c r o w d
summary… James is two years older than Lily. They are good friends during their time in Hogwarts through being prefects, but find themselves losing touch after James graduates.
disclaimer…Whatever sounds familiar isn't mine. What doesn't is….=)
a long authors note…
just a couple of things I want to say. I don't really make lengthy A/N's but I want to clarify something.
In my opinion, Petunia, despite Rowling's portrayal of her as a bitch, is really a very loving sister. As this chapter will dwell further, I see no reason why she ill treated Lily from the beginning. Her anger towards her sister stemmed from her inability to comprehend Lily's transition from muggle to magical, or in her opinion, normal to freakiness. It could have been interpreted as jealousy, as most siblings would, but in the end, it was just plain confusion that the sister she knew those years before isn't the sister she sees now. I believe if her hatred was that deep, she would never had taken Harry in for so many years, even after all those blowing-up-of-aunt incidents, or the boa-constrictor incidents.
Mrs. Evans sees this transition and struggles to hold her family together. Her love for her girls is so great that she doesn't want to favor one to the other.
What does everyone think about this? Some feedback on this would be really good, as it not only concerns my ff, but the whole HP series in general.
Also, I am going away for about three weeks for a holiday, so I wont be updating…(Going shopping in Hong Kong!!!!) However, I will get as much as I can down on paper, and will type it up when I get home. So don't check back until three weeks time… See you guys then!!!
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Chapter 3:
Lily and Petunia glared at each other angrily.
"What's going on, Pet?" Vernon's voice came from behind. He stopped when he saw who was there.
"I thought you moved out." Vernon scorned at Lily.
"This is more my house than it will ever be yours." Lily retorted angrily.
"Excuse me." Petunia said, putting her hands on her hips. "But Vernon is more part of this family than YOU will ever be. At least he is normal."
Lily fumed. "What's your definition of normal, Petunia? You? If that's the case, then mum and dad don't exactly belong here."
"What's going on here?" A voice came from behind Lily. It was James. He heard the racket from the living room and came to investigate. When he saw Petunia and Vernon staring angrily at Lily, he came round and stood beside her.
"Who is this?" Petunia said rudely at James. "two weeks away, and you already have a boyfriend."
"This is James Potter. Who he is to me is non of your business." Lily replied.
"Girls!" Mrs. Evans shrieked from behind. She was carrying a tray of muffins on one hand and a pot of tea in another. James turned around and immediately took the pot of tea off her.
"Thank you, James. That was very kind." Mrs. Evans beamed. She was very impressed with his politeness and courtesy.
"You want me to take it to the living room for you?" James asked, already headed towards there.
"Yes, if you could. Here, Vernon take these muffins into the living room as well." Mrs. Evans said, passing the tray to a very disgruntled Vernon. "Girls, come with me to get the cups and saucers."
Mrs. Evans turned around and headed to the kitchens, with two very angry girls behind her. They gathered the 5 cups and saucers in silence from the cupboards.
Meanwhile, in the living room, the boys had placed the trays onto the table and sat down, trying hard not to give the other any indication that they were staring at each other.
"So, you little Lily's boyfriend?" sneered Vernon.
James who had just spotted the telephone and made a mental note of asking Lily about it, turned to look at Vernon.
"There is nothing little about her as far as I'm concerned." James muttered.
"So, I suppose you went to the same clown school as she did."
"I have been there for 7 years, and I don't remember seeing any clowns."
"Strange. I thought that was why Lily was a freak."
"Pity. If you think clowns are freaks then I cant even imagine what kind of troubled childhood you had."
"What does that mean …"
That moment, the girls arrived, with a very jovial Mrs. Evans at the lead. Lily and Petunia poured the tea out, then sat next to their respective partners.
"Sorry." Lily leaned over, and whispered to James. James gave her a reassuring smile.
"So, Lily, you said you stay with James and his friends, whereabouts?" Mrs. Evans said.
"Umm…you cant see it from here…"
"Probably because it must be some dump." Petunia mumbled. Lily starred at her angrily. She was about to say something when James placed his hand onto hers to stop her.
"Well, actually, its because most homes owned by the magical community are unplottable on a muggle map."
"Muggle!" Mrs. Evans exclaimed excitedly. "That's what you guys call us, don't you? Lily told me. Its sounds so cute."
James smiled. "That's right, Mrs. Evans."
"James' house is a small manor not far from that street I buy all my school supplies from. Do you remember mum? The one you loved so much you didn't want to leave."
Mrs. Evans thought about it. "Dia….Diagon Alley. Yes I remember. Pet, it was so exciting. There were owls, pointy hats, and all these amazing people and creatures."
Petunia gave her mother a look that showed she plainly didn't care. She was not only unhappy that her sister was back, but was even more angry that her mother was showing so much interest with her and James.
"So, James, what are you doing these days?" Mrs. Evans asked.
"Actually, I am working, and studying. I work as an Auror…and I am studying for my unspeakable trials."
Mrs. Evans looked at him confused.
"That's kinda like the FBI or the KGB in our world mum."
"Bit dangerous isn't it, James?" Mrs. Evans asked, concerned.
"Well, yes, but we just need to keep the magical community in check. Besides, I am more geared towards my unspeakable certification. That allows me to just do research and not so much practical work. My Auror work just gets gives me some experience."
"I see, I see." Mrs. Evans said, clearly impressed with James attitude. Lily, not wanting to miss an opportunity to upstage her sister turned to Vernon.
"So, how's the drill company, Vernon? Still…er…drilling hard?" Lily asked with a sly smile.
"Drilling company?" James asked. "What's that?"
"They…sell…drills." Petunia said sarcastically. James looked at Lily with a blank look.
"You don't know what a drill is, James?" Vernon asked in a happy voice.
"I don't know much about muggle objects, but I am very fascinated by it. Which reminds me, Lily, what's that?" James said, pointing at telephone that was on the side table.
Petunia and Vernon laughed. Mrs. Evans and Lily shot them a dark look.
"That is a telephone." Lily said to James. "You can talk to anyone who has a telephone, no matter where they are, as long as there is a cable from one end to another."
"So, if you had a phone, and I had a phone, and there is a cable…"
"cable provided by the telephone company."
"…yeah, then we can talk to each other."
Lily nodded with a smile.
"Right then, that's interesting."
"Yes," Petunia muttered sarcastically. "Amazing, isn't it James."
"Oh please, Petunia, don't spice yourself up TOO much, its too glaring for the rest of us."
"You are just jealous of the life I have, Lily."
"Jealous?" Lily said with a raised voice.
"Girls…" Mrs. Evans said warningly. She could see that Lily was getting angrier.
"Lils…" James said, shocked by how the timid girl he knew could get so angry.
"How could I be jealous of someone who was so mean to others, only care about themselves for so many years, then find themselves a boyfriend that matches all these characteristics." Lily got up and cowered over her sister. "I can take your snide comments and taunts of how abnormal I am, but there is no way I am going to sit around and see you do the same to my friends. You have never changed, and will never change."
"Lily." Mrs. Evans cried. "Sit down."
"I'm sorry mum," Lily said to her mother. "You guys continue, I have stuff I need to pack."
Then rubbing a tear from her eye, she ran up the stairs, into her room, and slammed the door. She leaned against the door to catch her breath.
Suddenly, the door opened, and knocked Lily in the back.
"Oops, sorry, Lils." James said from behind the door. "Can I come in?"
"Sure…" she backed away, and James came in, closing the door behind him. He looked at her sympathetically.
"I can understand why you moved out." He said.
Lily sighed, and brushed her tear away. "Look." She said angrily, pointing at Vernon's stuff sprawled on her bedroom floor. "He's already moved in. She just has no consideration for my feelings, non whatsoever."
James walked over and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"How about we get your stuff out as soon as possible so that you don't have to see all this. Shall we?" James said softly to her.
"Ok." Lily mumbled, and began stuffing her boxes with the rest of her clothes, books, photos, etc.
"What can I do to help?" James said, rolling his sleeves.
"There's sellotape over there." Lily said, pointing towards the desk. James walked over and picked it up, examining it all over.
"Works just like spellotape?" He asked.
"Yup. Except no magic." Lily said.
So Lily filled up the boxes, and James sealed it up. Soon, three boxes were filled up.
"How are we going to carry all this to your place?" Lily asked.
"We'll manage." James replied, surveying the boxes.
"Thanks James. I am really grateful." Lily said. James, who was estimating the weight of each box, turned to Lily and smiled.
"No problem, Evans. I understand." Then he saw Lily scanning her room.
"I'm going to miss this place." She said sadly, trying to take in her room for the last time.
"Yeah," James said, nodding understandingly. "that's how I felt when we left Hogwarts. Hogwarts was my home as much as this was yours."
Lily turned to James. "really, I thought you always went home for the holidays."
James grimaced. "That's because my father made me. I don't get much of a choice at that time."
"Do you still?"
"What?"
"Still have a choice…"
James was going to say yes, but knowing how smart Lily was, she would see right through him. He shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, you should. You are a big boy now." Lily said, sitting down on her bed. James sat next to her.
"I guess, but with my father being the minister of magic, its kind of hard."
"I'm sure your job wont be any easier even if your father WASN'T the minister of magic."
"True." sighed James. "I guess we both have homes we rather not come back to huh?"
"But I love my home. I love my parents. Its just Petunia. She just…doesn't understand." Lily argued.
"She's a muggle, Lily." James said. "Muggles tend to be imprudent when they don't understand something."
"But my mum and dad…"
"Well, they are your mother and father. They are different, though. They are fascinated by who you are. They can never be ashamed or afraid of you."
Lily smiled. "you seem to know a lot about the inner thoughts of muggles."
"Well," James said sheepishly. "I came first in Muggle Studies in Hogwarts."
"And you don't know what a telephone is?" Lily said, grinning.
"well, miss valedictorian doesn't know how to travel with floo powder either." James said sarcastically.
"That is different." Lily exclaimed. "I explained before…"
"…same with me. Ask me what a Postman is and I know. But not this. Out of school, I live in the magical world." James mimicked Lily in her meek voice. Lily cracked up laughing. James looked at her and began to smile as well. They stopped when there was a knock at the door.
"Lily…can I come in?" Mrs. Evans cried from the outside of her room.
"Sure, mum." Lily said as she and James tried to contain their giggles. Mrs. Evans opened the door.
"What's the joke?" she asked with a smile.
"Nothing mum." Lily said, shaking her head and returning to her non laughing self. Mrs. Evans smile disappeared when she saw all the boxes on the floor.
"You really leaving us, aren't you?" she said somberly to her daughter. James looked her sad face and got up, taking the boxes with him.
"I'll see you downstairs, Lily. Its nice to meet you Mrs. Evans."
Mrs. Evans looked at James and a smile spread on her face.
"The pleasure is all mine, James." James gave a comforting smile to Lily and closed the door behind him.
"I remember when you girls used to share this room, when grandma used to sleep next door." Mrs. Evans said reminiscently. "you two were playing dolls under the covers at night, and when I came in to check on you girls, you pretended to sleep. But what gave the two of you away were the dolls that you left on top of your blankets."
Lily smiled. "Yeah, those were the fun times. Petunia and I pretended that our dolls were on opposite banks of the river, and were waving a tearful goodbye to each other."
"Little did you know, you two were waving goodbye to each other as well." Her mother said sadly.
"Mum, I never did anything to her. I know I am not that same little girl that played with her when we were young, but I am still her sister. She has hurt me so many times all these years. Whenever I came back from Hogwarts, she would snub me and tease me. As I grew older, I stopped seeing her as my sister, but as an enemy I am forced to dine with every day."
"Sweetheart," Mrs. Evans said, putting her hand on her shoulder. "She was only 12 when you got your letter. She saw you change in front of her eyes. You had this gift she didn't understand, you suddenly became a stranger to her. Any child would retaliate."
Lily nodded her head, and looked up on the dressing table of the picture of herself and Petunia when they were young.
"I can understand why you want to move out." Mrs. Evans continued. "At least I know you are in good hands." Mrs. Evans was smiling. Lily caught her smile and looked at her warily.
"James seems like a nice boy." Her mother commented. Lily laughed.
"James is my friend, mum. He was extremely kind to let me board with him."
"So he's not your boyfriend?" Mrs. Evans asked with a dispirited tone.
"No he isn't. he has a girlfriend of his own."
"could have fooled me, darling." Mrs. Evans said mischievously. Lily smiled. She pulled her mother up and embraced her.
"I'll keep in touch mum, trust me." Lily said, wiping the tear from her mother's eyes. Mrs. Evans smiled.
"I know you will sweetheart. Take care. And send my love to that dashing man downstairs."
Lily shook her head, and smiled as she left her room.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Phew…" James gasping for breath as he opened the front door, and placing the boxes onto the ground. "Didn't realise how hilly that hill was."
Lily, who was equally exhausted, placed her boxes next to James'.
"Is there anyone else at home?" Lily asked, as she took off her shoes.
"I doubt it, I think they are all outside. Lets check the Watcher." James said, walking towards a mirror.
"What's a Watcher?" Lily asked, confused.
"Oh," James said, absentmindedly. "It's a mirror Sirius bewitched. It tells me any messages that the rest of the guys leave. Its very useful, especially for reminders."
James touched the mirror.
"Good afternoon, James Potter." Cackled a semi transparent face. "There are 5 messages for you by Sirius Black and 5 messages from Remus Lupin. Messages will be relayed in chronological order."
The transparent face disappeared, and the mirror was divided into half, with Sirius on the top panel, and Remus on the bottom.
"James, we will be out today." Sirius said.
"Oh, that's a bloody good message, Sirius. James, I need to pop back into the Department of Mysteries to collect my assignment, I hope you don't mind if I collect yours. I think we need it as a reference for our next essay."
"And I will go with Loony Moony, then we'll pop over to the Quidditch Stadium to see the Brothers Pettigrew."
"That should take up till noon. You want to join us for lunch? We'll probably grab something from the Leaky Cauldron."
"And you can bring Lovely Lily with you. Speaking of which…what were you doing all morning with her, huh? Does that mean Bitch Witch will be evicted soon?" Sirius was rubbing his hands with glee.
Remus rolled his eyes. "Sirius! She might be right next to him, you stupid git."
"Don't care! I love you Lily! But then, not if James Potter loves you first!" Sirius was laughing his head off and Remus looked glaringly at the top panel that his friend was in. Then he sighed.
"James, I think that's enough for now. We'll see you at the Leaky Cauldron at 1pm. If not…"
"then you are probably shagging somewhere in this house right now with Lily Evans."
"Sirius!" Remus bellowed. Then he looked at James sympathetically. "See you soon, Prongs."
"End of messages."
By now, Lily had turned beet red, and James was half scorning, half fed up at the messages he had just received. He turned around and looked at Lily, who was trying to hide her red face.
"Listen, Lils. Sirius is like that. He says all this things…" James said quietly to her.
"Its ok, James. I don't mind. He was just joking."
"I'll talk to him. Don't worry." James said, patting Lily on the shoulder. Lily looked up at him and smiled.
"So, what do you think about lunch with two wacky friends?" James said, changing his expression into a smile.
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