A/N: Aw, you guys are great! I'm (or I was) sitting here, reading the reviews, and some of you made me laugh. Thanks to the whole lot of you; you really make me feel good about this story, and writing it.
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Chapter 17- Startling Happenings
Oh-my-God. This was her mother. Yes, in front of her. Looking- er- angry. Very angry. Perhaps she was more confused than angry. No, no, definitely more angry. Lily felt like shrinking or hiding, or somehow getting away from her mother's unblinking stare. Does she know what those eyes do to me?
Lily cleared her throat and stared at the ground, unable to face her mum any longer. She just saw me- kissing James…this is bad, this is bad, this is very bad…And yet- entirely satisfying.
"What is this?" her mum asked simply, directly, and undoubtedly, angrily.
When Lily did not answer, and continued to stare at the ground, apparently finding it fascinating, James tightened his grip around her shoulders. Her mum, however, came a step closer, glaring at James. "Who is this?" Lily looked up to see her mother giving James a disgusted look. "He doesn't even dress well."
"Oh, for Heaven's sake! Don't take it out on James, you're angry at me! Me!" she exerted heavily. "And he's wearing the same as everyone else: Hogwarts robes!" she added.
Mrs. Evans rounded on her daughter. "I can't believe you!" she huffed. "What- what do you mean by this? I don't understand! I set you up for a perfect marriage and you try to sabotage everything your father and I have done for you! You're an ungrateful-"
James shifted his feet a couple times, looking like he was preparing to dance. Lily almost laughed at the notion. The only dancing he would be doing was dancing out of her mother's death grip. "Um, Ma'am, Lily does have a mind of her own. I think she would know what she really wants in a marriage. Maybe she doesn't want-"
"Oh!" Mrs. Evans glared at James. "I'm sure you think that you would be the one to marry her. Well I'll tell you what I care about your opinion!" James seemed to shrink back a little under the intent scrutiny.
Lily didn't even turn to look at him. She stared, or glared, at her mother the whole time. "Mum! Stop it! James and I aren't getting married! Stop jumping to conclusions and listen to me! He's right- I do have a mind. Why won't you let me choose my own husband?"
Mrs. Evans opened her mouth angrily, looking ready to spew something horrible, but then she hissed, "We'll discuss this at home." She grabbed Lily's arm and pulled her away from James rather roughly. "And you stay right there. I'll have my husband deal with you."
"Daddy's here?" She asked, while being dragged away, and at the same time glanced back at James in an attempt to both reassure him and try to get reassurance from him. All in all, she was lost. Confused mostly; what was she doing?
"In another car." her mum turned to her, holding her arm a lot tighter than need be. "You are in a lot of trouble Lily Marie!"
Lily winced at the usage of her middle name. This was bad. In a way, though, it was thrilling. She was surprised to find herself rather enjoying it. She grinned and her mum saw it.
"I can't believe you! Has that boy done something to you? Are you under some sort of trance? This isn't my daughter; you aren't my daughter!" Mrs. Evans appeared about ready to faint, or burst from the pressure; she was rather red.
James has made me see something I didn't before, Lily thought. That's what he's done to me.
As she was being shoved rather roughly into the back of a limo, she stole a glance at where James was. Or had been. He was now being practically dragged by her father- Lily moaned.
"What is he doing?" she yelled at her mother, who ignored her. "James isn't property! Tell dad to let him go home!"
"No." she replied simply, motioning for the driver to go.
"Oh Lord. My mum is a kidnapper."
Her mother, though, didn't appreciate the humor. She gave Lily a sharp look. "I will want to hear this entire story. From beginning to finish. Are you trying to punish me for something? Because I've worked hard to get you where you are, and I don't intend to let you screw anything over, whatever you might be thinking." This wasn't her usual, sort of airy, mother. This lady was scary, and for once she was actually kind of listening to other people. Not accepting what other's said, but her ears were opened.
Lily desperately searched for a way out of the car. The doors were locked. She was trapped. Her mother looked venomous. She sighed heavily and bit her lip. "Where is dad taking James?"
"Don't avoid this, young lady! You're not in the position to avoid anything! And if you even think that you're going to act this way at the party this evening, I swear to God that I will see you off to someplace where you cannot disgrace this family! Do you hear me?"
Lily looked around, trying anything but to listen to her mother, because from past experience, it only made her go mad. Her emerald eyes looked out the window, scanning around. "Am I living a hundred years ago? Because it feels an awful lot like-"
"LILY EVANS!" Her mum looked about to pop.
"I'm listening, I'm listening." Lily mumbled insolently, leaning her head against the window.
"Tell me what you're trying to do! I'd like to know why I just saw my engaged daughter locking lips with some strange guy at the train station!"
Lily paused, noticing that they had arrived at the house and someone had rushed to open her door. She smiled at the man and turned back to her mother. "I don't know, mum. Why don't you tell me." She left her mum's lethal gaze and trudged up to the front door, which was opened for her, though she would have much rather have thrown it open furiously herself.
She walked up the steps to her room quickly, wanting to avoid anything and everything that encountered her; in specific, her parents. Bloody hell, where's James? That was the only problem. She couldn't leave James alone with them. He might be murdered. She let out a very exasperated noise and hurried back down the stairs, for James' sake. She kept a calm exterior, but inside, she was boiling, frightened, uncertain, and very nervous. No, no, no, no, NO! She knew that it would have happened someday- her parents finding out about James- or would it have? It's not like they would have known…what was she doing with him anyway? Wouldn't they have broken it off by the end of the year? Why was she still with him after this long anyway? It was dangerous, very dangerous. Her mind had left her and was sitting behind somewhere. She was blank, and somehow realized that she must have had no sense since she left for school that September. Or had she? Perhaps it had been the rest of her life that she had been clueless for. Oh, I'm so confused.
Lily watched carefully and silently as her father pushed James through the door, and her mum came in a moment later looking ruffled and her eyes were flashing at everything. Her dad was calm, compared to her mum, but he was certainly not one bit happy. He looked deadly, not angry. Which was worse?
James immediately stood next to Lily and they shared a glance. He looked confused and he didn't seem to have any clue what he was doing there. Neither did she.
"Mum, dad, if you would just listen to me for-"
Her father grunted and his back was completely straight, menacing. "We will not listen to this. You must realize that both you and he are in a load of trouble. If not, perhaps I should show you who the authority around here is."
James held up his hands. "I'm not a criminal."
"Oh! For shame! Not a criminal? I'm almost ready to believe that you've been poisoning our daughter's mind!" Mrs. Evans leaned against the wall for support, and glanced at her husband.
Mr. Evans let out a long, heavy breath. "Lily, you're engaged. Whoever this boy is, I trust that you'll let him go. Quickly. Patrick will be here this evening, and you will hit it off with him. It's already settled. Now- settle this." He beckoned between the two teenagers.
Lily glanced at James, James glanced at Lily. He gave her a small solemn smile, and while she looked into his chocolate eyes, it hit her how absurd the whole thing was. She threw her head back and laughed quietly. Her parents stared at her. James looked surprised, but pleased either way. Mrs. Evans grabbed her arms and shook her, until she stopped.
"Mum!"
"Lily!"
"Dear! Lily!" Mr. Evans interrupted. "We need to-"
A servant came rushing in, looking between the four of them frantically.
"Hello Peter." Lily said, smiling softly. He bowed and turned to Mr. Evans.
"A few guests have arrived. Shall I let them in now?" He was dry-washing his hands.
"Oh!" Mrs. Evans exclaimed, grabbing Lily's arm and wiping her forehead with the other hand. "We have to get you ready! And myself, and your sister!"
"Where is Petunia?" Lily asked thoughtfully.
"Staying away from you." A voice behind her mumbled, and only she and James heard it. Lily spun around to see her skinny sister leaning against the stair railing, glaring at her with a rather grim expression.
Lily started. "But-"
"There's no time!" Mrs. Evans grabbed both of her daughters by the arm and tugged them towards the staircase. She turned back to her husband, and James, who was staring and looking a little apprehensive, suddenly. "Hide him someplace! We can't have him leaving just yet, and he can't be seen!"
Mr. Evans nodded, and James followed him quickly as he exited, preferring to cooperate, because he didn't know quite what would happen if he refused.
The next few minutes were a blur to Lily. A fury of getting herself into a gown, her hair being tied back with something; she didn't know and didn't care. She wondered where his father had 'hidden' James. What was she going to do? She hadn't been anticipating the party the least bit in the first case, but now? It was a nightmare, and she was almost ready to pinch her skin and wake up.
Someone opened her door and she turned around slowly. It was only Alison; the middle-aged maid who had been with them the longest. Lily beamed at her. "It's been a long time! I'm glad to see you again."
Alison came in and shut the door softly behind her. Her eyes wide, she said, "I've heard things about you Lily. The others are saying that you're in a lot of trouble. Something about a boy. And your fiancé is here!"
Lily groaned. "You people gossip too much."
Alison glanced around swiftly, and her eyes landed back on Lily. "I was instructed to take you downstairs." Lily nodded. "And you look fabulous, as well. Though I know you don't want to hear it." She smiled at Lily, who sent a small smile in return.
"I wish I could just talk to you tonight, Alison. I don't know how long I can stay in the company of these people." Lily said softly, her eyes scanning the scene below her as the descended the stairs.
"I will never understand you." Alison replied, both of them staring ahead, almost pretending that they weren't sharing words. Lily whispered a quick goodbye, and they parted at the foot of the staircase.
Quite a few of the men there that evening, so far, were looking towards Lily with interest. Petunia stood off to the side, glaring at her. A rather beefy young man stood by her side, and they were holding hands. Must be the Vernon guy. Dungy, was it? Oh yeah- Dursley. She managed to let out a small smile towards the people watching her, hoping that it would clue them in that she was very aware of the fact that they were staring and making her feel uncomfortable. Amazing that she could keep her calm at times such as these, when inside, she felt like letting out a yell. Maybe later.
She began to cross the room, aiming to get as far away as possible, and stay there. Why am I civil to these people? One voice in her head asked. Another answered. Because your parents would kill you, if you did different. She considered it. After today, they will anyway. She was suddenly angry. Angry at the people there, angry at her parents, angry at her life. But she didn't have any time to dwell on it. A hand encircled her arm, and not gently.
Her mother whispered into her ear speedily. "See to it that you behave tonight. You always have, before today. I don't know what's gotten into you, but we're going to straighten it out. Do not embarrass me, and perhaps we could ease up on your punishment."
Lily didn't have too much of a choice. She nodded reluctantly, and didn't say a word as her mum steered her through the crowd, stopping every once in a while to address people, or let people address her.
"Lovely daughter." "That dress is absolutely stunning." "My, it's been a long time!"
Her mind began to swirl. She barely noticed as she was shoved up in front of a tall, dark-haired young man who was a few years older than her. He turned around. He was rather handsome.
"Mr. Peterson." Lily's mother nodded her head towards him. He gave her a flashy grin, smoothing his gelled hair back with one hand, the other enclosed around a glass of wine.
"You may call me Patrick, Mrs. Evans. We will need to become better acquainted, with the coming events." He said simply, his gaze wandering over to Lily, who stared at him. She only just refrained herself from taking his wine and either throwing it at him, her mother, or the wall. She jerked her eyes away from the glass and looked up at his face. He smiled at her. She didn't at him.
"Lily." He bowed his head slightly. "Nice to see you again."
"It is a pleasure to have you here, Patrick." Mrs. Evans added, taking care with his first name. She left after giving Lily a tight glance.
"So- I hear we are set to be married." Patrick grinned. Lily was looked behind him, around him, anything. She nodded absently. "I've always though you were beautiful. I'm glad that it's ending up this way. I trust that you will be too." He reached out and pushed a wayward strand of auburn hair behind her ear. She pulled away, and he looked surprised. "Is something wrong?"
"No." she mumbled, only just stopping herself from saying something nasty. She was running things over in her mind. What was her next plan? She didn't know; she couldn't know. For the moment, she was intent on tolerating this…display that she had been put on.
He swirled the wine around in his glass, gazing into it, and then back up at her. "I can give you whatever you want, Lily. Anything. You name it."
"I don't need charity." She snapped, unable to control herself. She felt it coming on again. Oh God, how long can I take it? What's happening? I never had this much trouble before. It was getting to her more than ever before. She couldn't do this, not anymore. And she didn't know what had changed her outlook so much, so suddenly since the last time she had been home. It was almost uncanny. But she felt better off, for it.
"No. No, I suppose not." He answered, still gazing at her. He sighed, seeing that she was not in a good mood. "I think you're tired from the long trip from your school- wherever it may be. You'll have to tell me about it, sometime. I think it best if we talk later, though. Maybe it would suit you to lay down for a bit-"
"No." she muttered, her eyes fixed on his. Then she thought about it, and her mind lit up. "Actually," she continued, "that would be wonderful." She gave a little smile; it was the best she could muster.
He shrugged his shoulders back. "Well then, let's find you a place to lie down."
She nodded, following him. She saw her mother's gaze on her, from a few feet away, and didn't spare a look at her. She saw Petunia in the corner, in deep conversation with the Dursley guy. She ignored her too, and the women who made 'polite' comments towards her as she passed with Patrick. They all smiled at the pair, leaving the room together, like they knew something. Oh, if only you really knew.
The whole while she followed
Patrick, she was scanning the closets and doors, looking for places that a boy
of seventeen might be occupying. She tried not to let anything on, and swiftly
announced at one point, "I'll just stay in this room. No need to find someplace
more comfortable. I will be out before long. Just a short rest will do me
fine."
"Alright, then." He smiled
down at her, lifted her hand and kissed it, then walked off without a backwards
glance. She waited a moment, staring after him, her mind racing, before she
realized that she was just standing there. She shifted her weight and turned to
look at the closet closest to her. She looked around; glad to see and hear that
it was an empty and quiet hallway. She would probably be safe, for the time
being.
Quietly and carefully, she opened the door to the closest and peered inside. No James. Sighing, she let it close with a small click. She repeated this, moving on down the hallway. Her father would have hidden James someplace near; she knew her parents that well. For some reason, it didn't seem odd to her.
After trying many closets and unoccupied rooms, she was about ready to give up, feeling that it was hopeless. Luck was certainly not with her. Not today. Maybe never.
The next closet she opened, she didn't really even look into. Until she heard rustling. Brushing aside a coat, she saw James behind it, his hands tied and his mouth covered.
"What the-" It was almost amusing. Her parents were far more violent than she had ever believed them to be. Glancing down the hallway in both directions, she stepped into the small closet and left the door ajar behind her. Untying James and freeing his mouth, she whispered to him, "We're getting out of here."
He grinned down at her, and was about to say something. She covered his lips with a finger and shook her head, beckoning for him to follow her. She peeked out and around again, then grabbed his hand and pulled him down the long corridor. Yes- at the end- the window. Opening it and sticking a leg out, she climbed onto the roof. James made a noise and she glanced back at him. He was pointing frantically in the other direction; trying to tell her that someone was approaching. She pulled him out as best she could, and they shut the window quickly. She leaned against the wall of her home and pulled him over to her, out of sight of the window. They heard somebody pass by, and waited a few moments, holding their breath. It was already dark outside; the moon was out, a small crescent that had always offered her a strange comfort before, when she peered at it.
She breathed out and nodded slowly. "Right. Let's go, before someone stops us. We don't have time to scurry around here. I have never seen my parents this mad before."
"Ah, but have you ever done anything like this before?" he mumbled back at her.
She couldn't help but spare him a small grin, and grab a hold of his hand. He seemed almost surprised at her, and for some reason, she had the notion that he was proud. Of what, she had no idea. Lily guided him around the house; she knew it well. They went almost a quarter of the way around before she stopped abruptly.
"There's a ladder down below us. Trust me. I'll go down first, slowly."
James nodded and squeezed her hand. She began to descend. Before she really knew what she was doing, they were both on the ground and she was pulling him away from the house, casting glances around at dark shadows in every direction.
It was hard to move around quickly, in that dress. And those shoes! Lily bent down, once they were a good distance away from the house, and pulled them off furiously. James stopped beside her, staring around at everything.
She was incredibly confused. "What
are we doing, James?"
"I dunno." He replied truthfully. "All I know is that
we'd better get the hell out of here, and fast."
"A taxi?" she suggested, twisting one hand with the other.
He watched her curiously. "How can we get one, from here?"
She smiled and answered, "I have my ways." Grabbing his hand, she pulled him along, very aware that she was walking along with bare feet. Before long, she ceased, next to a large oak tree. Her hands felt all around it, until she found what she was looking for. An emergency- phone.
James shrugged uncomfortably as she dialed a number. He gazed around them again.
"Yes. No." she was saying. "Of course, Kyle. Please, will you? Brilliant!" he heard a small beep as she turned the phone off. He expected her to replace it, but she encircled her hand around it and kept it with her. "Just to be sure," she explained.
As they waited, James not knowing really what was going on, and Lily scared out of her mind, and entirely calm at the same time, she wondered what they were going to do, and what would come of it. I'll just give my parents some time, to cool off. Yes, that's what I'll do…But she wasn't sure about anything. For the first time in her life, she hadn't planned anything, and she didn't intend to.
A car stopped on the road beside them. Lily looked at James and headed towards it, throwing the door open. They tumbled inside, and the man in the front seat drove off.
"Thank the Lord!" Lily exclaimed when her house left their line of view. James looked at the man curiously. "Kyle, I can't thank you enough."
"Lily, when have I ever told you no? Although, it's been a long time since you asked for help- well- escaping." He gave James a look. "Care to tell me what's going on?"
"Oh, it's horrible!" Lily groaned heavily. "I'm engaged to that Peterson kid, you know him, of course- and then my mum saw me kissing James here, earlier today, and-"
"Whoa- I think I can figure the rest out. Take a deep breath." There was a silence. "Where are we headed, anyways?"
"I was kind of thinking the train station. We're gonna need to get back to Hogwarts, anyways."
"What?" James looked bewildered.
"It's okay. Kyle's magical, too." Lily smiled. Kyle grinned at James, who stared for the millionth time that evening.
"Do you need a place to stay until you go back?" Kyle asked, directed and both Lily and James.
"No, thanks." Lily replied. "I know a way we can get back to Hogwarts early, tomorrow."
James looked at her, confused. His forehead creased. "I'll explain later." She mumbled at him. He nodded, deciding that nothing else could possibly surprise him, after tonight.
Kyle gave a small sigh. "Alright then, if you insist."
Lily smiled at him. "Thanks again."
"Always." Was his reply. And they were silent for the rest of the ride.
When they arrived at the darkened station, Lily gave Kyle a hug and repeated thanks. James nodded to him and mumbled his thanks as well. He was still confused, beyond belief. He simply followed Lily around, as if she had a leash on him. At this point, he wasn't totally sure that she didn't.
She sat down on a bench off to the side of everything else. A glance down at her dress, and she suddenly exclaimed, "I don't have my trunk!"
"Me neither." He mumbled.
Then she remembered that they had left them. At the station. She had been so intent on her mother, that she hadn't given them another thought. Carefully, she rose from her seat and walked over to where they had been. No, they were gone. She sighed. "I'm sorry, James. I've really screwed everything up, haven't I?"
He grinned at her. "Not really. I didn't want to go home, anyway. And I didn't have anything important in that trunk."
"Maybe not," she mumbled back, once more seating herself on the bench, "but tonight was bad enough. I can't believe you aren't angry with me, after putting you through that."
"Hey, I wanted to kiss you." He winked. "Besides, I think it was rather exciting."
She snuggled up against him, beginning to get very cold, out in the open like that. Even if it was a warm night, it was still winter. She shivered. He removed his coat and draped it over her. She smiled up at him thankfully. "But won't your parents be worried?"
"Nah." He shifted. "My mom is probably drunk, and my stepdad will be overjoyed. They'll just assume I stayed at Hogwarts and forgot to tell them."
Lily gave him a sympathetic look, but he didn't appear to need it. They sat in silence, for a while.
"I wanted to thank you," he mumbled against her. "for sticking by me today."
She
glanced at him, her green eyes bewildered. "What did you expect me to do?"
"I dunno.
But I certainly didn't expect you to do anything you did do, either."
She paused. "Yeah. Well neither did I." she replied, softly. They both fell silent, again.
Even though this was certainly not the best position, Lily had a feeling that this would only strengthen their relationship. She didn't know where it was going, or what it was then. But she did know one thing- what they had experienced the past day- that was something she would remember, for good or for worse.
She patted James' knee and leaned against his shoulder, sighing as she drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
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Er- wow- that was a long chapter. You should be happy. Lol, anyway, was it any good? I'm too lazy to read over it; it took me long enough to write and I'm exhausted. I think a nap is in order =) Hopefully I can, later… Well, I hope you did like it.
~Emily~
