Lily & Jason have been neighbors and Best Friends forever. One day, Jason
comes back from the States from vacation, and his mom sets up a "playdate"
for Jason and a boy Lily will learn to hate, then befriend, then to hate
again, and, finally, to love. Rated PG-13 for future chapters, and
language.
OK. I know this is going to have to be a short chapter. I'm sorry!! I have to do my whole fourth chapter in a week, and I start school a week from Friday. I ought to get it together and give all you wonderful people long, long third and fourth chapters. But I'm afraid that might not happen.
To my reviewers:
OK, this was on a message board a month ago under the same title, but it was deleted. It was the Dialogue Centre at Warnerbros.com. But apart from that, this is all totally MY original story, and has never been posted otherwise. Except I guess it's not original since the idea belongs to JK Rowling. And the majority of the Charactors. Along with the setting, which also belongs mostly to her. Also, anything you recognize is probably not mine, but it could be. Any mix up in names are completely coincidental, with the exception of a few minor things and charactors who may be friends of mine. Mostly you'll only notice it if you know me personally.
I am so flattered at all your reviews! It continues to astonish me at how some authors update DAILY. How do they do it? I'm having a hard time updating WEEKLY!
For those of you out there who knew me before you read this ficcy, I want to say thanks for not just saying you'll read it and then deleting any sign of it without a second thought. I do love you guys! And I love those of you who knew nothing of me, and just picked up my fic! I'm flattered you liked it enough to review and continue!!
Marissa Ann~ Thank you! I'm sorry about the little homophones and such mix- ups. I'll try! Thanks for the advice about spacing!
Thanks for reading Mari! LoL! Thanks to you, too, Lora!
Thanks for the great reviews you all!! I'm sorry I can't list personal thank-yous to everyone!!
Disclaimer: *stares blankly.* Trust me. If this were *my* idea, it would not go on fanfiction.net. No offense to you all. I love you. Truly. But I take the green from profiting from my work. See me not on my own sweet flat- screen XP with lightning-fast internet connection? Didn't think so. *That* is the key to understanding that I am not a rich little person, nor a rich con-man. I, at the moment, am typing this on a screwed old '98 that I received from my sister's old boyfriend. ME NO HAVE THE GREEN TO COUGH UP IF YOU SEW! Dangit. I'm hoping that's the one that means a lawsuit, pronounced "sue".
Chapter 3: Wonders on the Line
She looked around what looked to be a little pub. Old, hideous women looked up at her, a nearly toothless grin plastered on her face. There were odd sorts of people all around her eating and drinking indeed odd choices of cuisine.
"Where on Earth are we?" She asked Jason, not recognizing the odd funny place at all.
"Leaky Cauldron, London, England, Europe, third rock from the Sun. Mind, might want to watch out for those hags in the corner . Eye contact might not be your best bet," he said, grinning.
"Thanks, but you forgot the coordinates," she said dryly. As soon as the remark had left her mouth, Mrs. Penton and a frizzled looking Mrs. Evans flooed in.
"Glad to see it went well for you Lily, darling, but I think you're mother should rest up a bit . I'll get her a drink. You kids want anything? Oh! Jason, why don't you all go and get ice cream!" Mrs. Penton suggested as she held Lily's mother up.
"Cool!" Jason exclaimed, grabbing Lily's hand and dragging her out the door, closely tailed by Remus, James, and Sirius, all in what looked to be in a deep conversation of whispers. James whacked Sirius again for an odd remark.
"Lily, you might not recognize all the flavors, so I'll get one for you! They have the normal flavors, like peppermint, vanilla and chocolate, but they also have so many others! I can't wait to show you around! You'll love being a witch! You'll love it!" Jason said excitedly.
"Jason, want me to order for you?" James asked, eyes gleaming. Jason didn't really seem to notice the gleam, or, if he did, didn't acknowledge it.
"Great then! Lily and I'll go grab a table!" He, again, grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her over to a table.
"Jason, for someone who was groaning a few days ago about having to come, you sure seem excited," Lily said wearily.
"New broom! And I get ice cream! All in one afternoon!" he explained happily, childish grin on his face.
"Should I ask *what* the bloody you want with a broom?" Lily asked.
"Quidditch of course! Best sport there ever was! Oh Lily! It's a game where you fly around on broomsticks, and there are four balls. Two bludgers, which fly around trying to hit you off your broom! Don't worry though, beaters take these clubs and hit them towards the other team! Then a quaffle, which you try to get through one of three hoops, if you're a chaser! And the snitch is what you try to catch, to end the game, if you're a seeker!" He said so fast, Lily was barely taking it all in. Sounded utterly ridiculous to her.
"Seeker's what I'll be next year! Promise you that!" James said, coming up, two ice creams in hand. He handed Lily one with brown chucks and other odd- ended little things in it, and Lily smiled graciously at him. She suspected it would be good; Jason seemed so high-spirited about the place.
"Thank you, Sirius," Jason said as he retrieved his ice cream from Sirius. Lily took a large bite out of the frozen treat, but as soon as the ice cream touched her taste buds, she spat it out all over the ground. James and Sirius erupted in buoyant laughter.
"What the heck is this?!" she cried. It was horrible, and the crunch of brown chunks was nauseating.
"What's the matter Lily?" Jason asked, as his was exactly the kind he was expecting, quite delicious, in fact.
"What the bloody crud is this? It's terrible!" she exclaimed again, feeling as if wizarding blood possibly implied bad taste buds.
"Cockroach crunch and codswallop, no less!" James said with a grin. Jason shot him a look.
"AND WHAT, MAY I ASK, IS THAT?" Lily shrieked, her red-headed short temper was getting shorter and shorter.
"Exactly what the name describes. A mix of Cockroach Crunch, and Codswallops and Cream!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Why would you lot give her that?" Jason called angrily. "You know that lot's only for hags!"
"My apologies, my mate and I here made a mistake," Sirius said, sounding almost sincere. "We honestly thought she was a hag."
"SIRIUS BLACK YOU HAD BETTER RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS!" Lily screamed loudly.
"Mates, you had for once better listen. I think she'll kill you, and I won't be seen stopping her! I told you it was stupid of you two!" Remus laughed. "Go on Lil', I'll see to it you get a *real* ice cream, I'll take Jason here with me, if you'd prefer." But it was too late. Lily was off chasing Sirius like a bullet. It was quite amusing to watch pathetic little Sirius run for his knickers. Lily was much faster.
"Poor Lily. She's going to spend the next seven years attempting to kill them," Jason said with a sigh. Remus nodded.
"I reckon James will spend the next three years attempting to pranking her, then another four getting her to fall for head-over heals for him. I pity those two more than anyone I'll ever meet," Remus continued.
"You want to place a bit of a wager on that one, Lupin?" Jason asked, a glint in his eye.
"Gladly, Penton. Thirty gallons they're engaged before they leave Hogwarts. An additional ten if they marry on June 23rd the following year," Remus agreed.
"Better start saving, Lupin. This bet will cost you," Jason grinned.
"I believe you're the one it'll be costing."
As soon as Lily stopped chasing Sirius and James, they all finished their ice creams on the way to the quidditch supply store. Jason explained the rules and history quite thoroughly, along with a few interjections from James.
"Oh. My. Great. Bloody. Cousin. Narcissa," Sirius said in awe, as they approached the latest model.
"Totally new brand! Dad decided to buy out Quick n Clean, so now they've got all that research and such, and put them into the newest, swiftest broom yet! Called Horse of the Maid. told Dad he needed a different name, but he had already paid some guy 300 gallons for the copyrights," James explained. They all seemed fascinated by the household instrument as old as time.
"James, I don't reckon you're family could get me a bloody discount? Unless I don't want any birthday, or Christmas, presents, there's no way my parents will go for it. Me dad's a muggle, you know, and me mum's not about to dump all that gold into it. Do it for a pal?" Jason asked. His parents had plenty of money, but they do their best not to spoil they're children.
"No problem. Remus you interested?" James asked, not tearing his eyes away from the broom his father refused to let him glance at, let alone ride. He wanted it to be a surprise for his birthday come September. The Lupins weren't exactly poor, but they were only getting by. He sure had plenty of money to put him through school, but, by no means, was a new broom in order for full price.
"Wouldn't mind a ride in that baby, not one bit," he replied. He glanced at Lily. He leaned over to whisper in James' ear, "Why not try to save your neck, and offer Lily one?"
"Lily? You in?" he asked. He was not used to doing favors to make up for a prank. Just did it for a show.
"Potter I don't need any help from you, thank you. Last time I entrusted you to help me, I wound up eating a grimy cockroach," Lily growled icily. Truth be told, she would adore flying, but she would live with something cheaper, something that did not relate to Potter, and would get her in the air.
"Suit yourself. There's Mum!" James said. He called out to her mother, then explained the circumstances, asking to give his friends a discount.
"You expect me to let Carson take full price from your dear friends?" Patricia said merrily. "So is that four discounted brooms, then?"
"Three, thank you. I don't plan I'll need a racing broom. I can make do with a plain one. 'Long as it flies, I'll be fine. I'm not too terribly interested in quidditch," Lily corrected.
"You positive dear?" Lily nodded, she most certainly never wanted to be in debt what so ever to one James Potter, no matter how wonderfully kind and polite his mother was.
"But I would fancy a broom, Mother. Just not quite as lavish. That broom looks quite lovely!" Lily said, referring to a violet broom that had just caught her eye.
"Indeed, 'tis a lovely broom. Quite agile, as well as good with deathly heights. Not necessarily the fastest racing broom in the world, but it is indeed of good quality. Better than many brooms worth thrice the gold," came a voice from behind. Lily looked around and up to meet the young, cheerful eyes of an old man with an extravagant, long beard. "Good day, Patricia, Penelope. I see you've brought three of my new pupils!" he said, a broad grin plastered on his face.
"Ah! Albus! Wonderful to see you! Why yes, this is James, my son, Jason, Penelope's, and Lily Evans, she's a muggleborn, we thought we'd take her along and show her the ropes!" Mrs. Potter said cheerfully. "Children, this will be your new headmaster, the brilliant one and only Albus Dumbledore!"
"You'll be our new headmaster?" Lily asked, eyes beginning to bulge.
"Yes, yes I am your headmaster. Not right now of course, you're still plenty free of school," he said, adding a wink. "I'm assuming the young lady's interested in quidditch, then?"
"Well Sir-"
"Quidditch is a Man's sport! Women aren't meant to be out there, all bloodied up," James said haughtily.
"Ah, Mister Potter I'd watch what you're saying. For one, the quidditch captains for Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw are all women. Second, you're mother was a beater, and I wouldn't put it past her to still have her club and bludger," Professor Dumbledore said calmly, with a smile.
"Oh. Sorry Mum. Didn't mean it like that," James said, cowering back.
"Actually, Professor, I was not planning on necessarily playing quidditch. Probably I would only use the broom for an occasional, refreshing ride. My personal dream is to fly," Lily said shyly.
"Take that as a *direct* quote, will you? I'll make her fly at Hogwarts," James muttered to Sirius with a wink.
"Mister Potter. I expect you'll be taking after you parents, and go out for the quidditch team next year? First years don't make it often, but second year's the year! Perhaps you'll make it. mind, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw are fully recruited, but perhaps if you made Slytherin or Hufflepuff-"
"No disrespect intended, Sir, but I have no intention of going into Slytherin," James interrupted.
"I'm with me mate on that one. Too much of Slytherin out at Grimmauld Place. I don't need it at school, too."
"I can see that, boys, very well indeed," he said with a smile.
"Albus, what business might bring you here?" Mrs. Potter asked kindly, her face sporting a keen, sweet smile.
"Ah, I'm shopping around. meeting friends around. Mostly I'm just walking about for the joy of walking about," he returned the smile kindly, in the way only the old men and women of wisdom can. "Can I expect to see you back at Hogwarts, now that your boy's there, Patricia? We miss your talents terribly. At the moment, we're short a Ancient Runes professor again! Ms. Atacke, who was filling in for you, found she could not handle the job due to personal reasons. Personal, in my opinion, means that the fourth year class was too much for her to handle."
"Perhaps. James would be there. so it's not as if I have a child to look after at home! I'll look into it, Albus! I promise! Ancient Runes was such a joy!" Mrs. Potter responded happily. Lily looked at Jason confused. He noted her look and leaned over to explain.
"Mrs. Potter was the Ancient Runes, a class for third years and above, professor. She couldn't take the job any longer due to James being born and all. So ever since she got pregnant, she's been home. Definitely misses it, according to Mum. She says she's been trying to teach James odd- ended bits of it. he doesn't take in a word of it, apparently. She was supposedly excellant in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Mum also says the only reason she wasn't an auror, kind of like a detective in the wizarding world, was because of her passion for children and language. Mr. Potter's an auror, though."
"Ancient Runes sounds interesting, though!" Lily said. "I've always loved to study foreign language!" James heard this and rolled his eyes.
"It's not *that* easy, you know," he leaned back and whispered, a somewhat annoyed expression etched on his features.
"Can't be much harder than mastering French as a second language," she muttered back. She turned away, smirk set on her face as James looked back at her angrily.
"Well, I'm afraid I'm to be late for a meeting with my dear friend, Nicholas Flamel, if I don't get on soon! Old boy's off his rocker, but a joy for company, I might say. Too many years and deaths do bring down one's sanity. None the less, he is a genius!" Dumbledore exclaimed, as he looked at a watch on his rist. "Ta ta! I'll see you at Hogwarts! Get back to me soon, will you Patricia? Thank you!" And he disappeared in a "poof".
"And I believe it's time to go to Gringotts! Marie, I suppose you'll be wanting to make some currency exchanges. can't go around presenting muggle money, and nothing but!" Penelope said happily.
They headed down the street to a humongous building that seemed somewhat old but sturdy. In front of a set of bronze doors up the white steps was a odd looking creature head shorter than James. He had a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and very long fingers and feet. He bowed as they walked inside the gigantic building. There they came to another set of doors, silver this time, with a message engraved:
[I]Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors,
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware,
Of finding more than treasure there.[/I]
Inside, Lily saw an odd assortment of hundreds of the alarmingly abnormal-looking creatures. There were about another hundred, sitting on high stools above large desks, weighing coins in brass scales. There were about a hundred more doors every time Lily turned, people constantly coming through them, accompanied by these creatures.
Jason saw her expression, he leaned over, and muttered, "They're goblins. Don't worry, so long as you don't bother them, they won't bother you. They still scare the bloody day lights out of dad, but you've nothing to fear, just don't make it look like you're trying to rob them. They're quite crafty." Lily nodded in understanding, and looked wide-eyed at all the goblins.
"We'd like to make an exchange, open a new account, and withdraw from a few accounts, please," Mrs. Penton said as they approached a free desk. The goblin looked up and nodded.
"Exchange?" he asked. Mrs. Evans scurried up to the desk and the three women and the goblin discussed the money and new account, while the five children had their own conversations.
Jason was explaining the currency to Lily. "Gold ones are Gallons, silver Sickles, and Bronze knuts," Jason clarified. "Seventeen Sickles to a Gallon, twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle. Pretty simple."
They soon got in a cart and rode down to a few vaults. Lily was amazed when she walked into the Potters' vault. Gold glinted all over the huge chamber. She got back in only to stop a few minutes later at another. Only this time, her mother said it was for her to use freely.
It was a vault with several small mounds of gold coins, which she understood as Gallons. Her mother told her there were seven-hundred gallons, fifty sickles, and forty knuts in there. She was to use that amount to get through her school year. Lily grinned the whole way back, her pockets jingling with the gold, and her purse had a few pounds of Gallons as well.
They continued on their way down the street of Diagon Alley, getting what seemed to Lily loads of odd instruments. A standard size two pewter cauldren, a set of brass scales, potion ingredients that Lily would have preferred not seeing, parchment, quills, ink, crystal phials, a telescope and some dragon-hide gloves. She was in awe of the things wizards used and required. They were now on their way to get their books. She was required so many! They were all of different, odd titles. She still needed a wand, robes, a hat, (which was to be pointed), and her cloak. A cloak. She required a pointed hat, robes, a cloak, and a wand. What in the world were these people thinking?
She had gotten not only plain, black ink, but several assorted colors, such as emerald, violet and scarlet. She'd gotten two plain white quills, one peacock feather quill, and an eagle feather one. They soon arrived in front of the bookstore, Florish and Blotts, carrying all their supplies, plus a broom each. Lily had gotten the purple broom she'd desired, but the rest settled for no less than the Horse of the Maid or whatever it was called.
They picked up the required titles, and Lily went off looking for some books to read up on Hogwarts and Magic and such things.
She there saw a magnificent looking book with golden-material binding. It was titled, "Hogwarts, a History." She recognized "Hogwarts" to be her school name. She picked up that, and a few other ones of charms and other spells, and went to meet her mother at the counter.
On their way they went, to get what Lily understood as her uniform. They walked into an odd little place, entitled, "Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occassions." There seemed to be lots of stools and a young women bustling about.
"Good day, good day! Oh, is that you Mrs. Potter? This is little Jamesie then, I presume? Wonderful! Finally starting at Hogwarts, I believe?" she said happily. The women seemed terribly over-excited to Lily.
"Yes, hello! This is James, and his little friends Jason Penton, Lily Evans, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin! So good to see you're shop's coming along so well, Madam Malkin!" Mrs. Potter exclaimed.
"Good day! So five sets of 3 Hogwarts' robes then? Excellent!" she then clapped her hands and bustled away.
Not long after, several of the young women came scurrying over, taking measurements of the five children. Lily thought she surely must have looked like the most clueless person to hit the planet, as she gazed at the women flicking long sticks and having measuring tape rap around her. It was fascinating- most unlike anything she'd ever had the chance to observe in her entire life.
What she was truly not prepared for, despite the lot she'd read of fantasy worlds, and things of such, was what was yet to come.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
OK!! Thank you to Mari- thanks for remembering Madam Malkin's when I couldn't!
I don't know when the next chapter will be up. school starts for me in a week! But I'll try to keep a steady weekly basis for you!
I apologize *profusely* for all spelling & grammar mistakes!! My silly spell check is down for some reason! I've got to fix that!!
Thank you for reading, & love lots!
*Jenna~
OK. I know this is going to have to be a short chapter. I'm sorry!! I have to do my whole fourth chapter in a week, and I start school a week from Friday. I ought to get it together and give all you wonderful people long, long third and fourth chapters. But I'm afraid that might not happen.
To my reviewers:
OK, this was on a message board a month ago under the same title, but it was deleted. It was the Dialogue Centre at Warnerbros.com. But apart from that, this is all totally MY original story, and has never been posted otherwise. Except I guess it's not original since the idea belongs to JK Rowling. And the majority of the Charactors. Along with the setting, which also belongs mostly to her. Also, anything you recognize is probably not mine, but it could be. Any mix up in names are completely coincidental, with the exception of a few minor things and charactors who may be friends of mine. Mostly you'll only notice it if you know me personally.
I am so flattered at all your reviews! It continues to astonish me at how some authors update DAILY. How do they do it? I'm having a hard time updating WEEKLY!
For those of you out there who knew me before you read this ficcy, I want to say thanks for not just saying you'll read it and then deleting any sign of it without a second thought. I do love you guys! And I love those of you who knew nothing of me, and just picked up my fic! I'm flattered you liked it enough to review and continue!!
Marissa Ann~ Thank you! I'm sorry about the little homophones and such mix- ups. I'll try! Thanks for the advice about spacing!
Thanks for reading Mari! LoL! Thanks to you, too, Lora!
Thanks for the great reviews you all!! I'm sorry I can't list personal thank-yous to everyone!!
Disclaimer: *stares blankly.* Trust me. If this were *my* idea, it would not go on fanfiction.net. No offense to you all. I love you. Truly. But I take the green from profiting from my work. See me not on my own sweet flat- screen XP with lightning-fast internet connection? Didn't think so. *That* is the key to understanding that I am not a rich little person, nor a rich con-man. I, at the moment, am typing this on a screwed old '98 that I received from my sister's old boyfriend. ME NO HAVE THE GREEN TO COUGH UP IF YOU SEW! Dangit. I'm hoping that's the one that means a lawsuit, pronounced "sue".
Chapter 3: Wonders on the Line
She looked around what looked to be a little pub. Old, hideous women looked up at her, a nearly toothless grin plastered on her face. There were odd sorts of people all around her eating and drinking indeed odd choices of cuisine.
"Where on Earth are we?" She asked Jason, not recognizing the odd funny place at all.
"Leaky Cauldron, London, England, Europe, third rock from the Sun. Mind, might want to watch out for those hags in the corner . Eye contact might not be your best bet," he said, grinning.
"Thanks, but you forgot the coordinates," she said dryly. As soon as the remark had left her mouth, Mrs. Penton and a frizzled looking Mrs. Evans flooed in.
"Glad to see it went well for you Lily, darling, but I think you're mother should rest up a bit . I'll get her a drink. You kids want anything? Oh! Jason, why don't you all go and get ice cream!" Mrs. Penton suggested as she held Lily's mother up.
"Cool!" Jason exclaimed, grabbing Lily's hand and dragging her out the door, closely tailed by Remus, James, and Sirius, all in what looked to be in a deep conversation of whispers. James whacked Sirius again for an odd remark.
"Lily, you might not recognize all the flavors, so I'll get one for you! They have the normal flavors, like peppermint, vanilla and chocolate, but they also have so many others! I can't wait to show you around! You'll love being a witch! You'll love it!" Jason said excitedly.
"Jason, want me to order for you?" James asked, eyes gleaming. Jason didn't really seem to notice the gleam, or, if he did, didn't acknowledge it.
"Great then! Lily and I'll go grab a table!" He, again, grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her over to a table.
"Jason, for someone who was groaning a few days ago about having to come, you sure seem excited," Lily said wearily.
"New broom! And I get ice cream! All in one afternoon!" he explained happily, childish grin on his face.
"Should I ask *what* the bloody you want with a broom?" Lily asked.
"Quidditch of course! Best sport there ever was! Oh Lily! It's a game where you fly around on broomsticks, and there are four balls. Two bludgers, which fly around trying to hit you off your broom! Don't worry though, beaters take these clubs and hit them towards the other team! Then a quaffle, which you try to get through one of three hoops, if you're a chaser! And the snitch is what you try to catch, to end the game, if you're a seeker!" He said so fast, Lily was barely taking it all in. Sounded utterly ridiculous to her.
"Seeker's what I'll be next year! Promise you that!" James said, coming up, two ice creams in hand. He handed Lily one with brown chucks and other odd- ended little things in it, and Lily smiled graciously at him. She suspected it would be good; Jason seemed so high-spirited about the place.
"Thank you, Sirius," Jason said as he retrieved his ice cream from Sirius. Lily took a large bite out of the frozen treat, but as soon as the ice cream touched her taste buds, she spat it out all over the ground. James and Sirius erupted in buoyant laughter.
"What the heck is this?!" she cried. It was horrible, and the crunch of brown chunks was nauseating.
"What's the matter Lily?" Jason asked, as his was exactly the kind he was expecting, quite delicious, in fact.
"What the bloody crud is this? It's terrible!" she exclaimed again, feeling as if wizarding blood possibly implied bad taste buds.
"Cockroach crunch and codswallop, no less!" James said with a grin. Jason shot him a look.
"AND WHAT, MAY I ASK, IS THAT?" Lily shrieked, her red-headed short temper was getting shorter and shorter.
"Exactly what the name describes. A mix of Cockroach Crunch, and Codswallops and Cream!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Why would you lot give her that?" Jason called angrily. "You know that lot's only for hags!"
"My apologies, my mate and I here made a mistake," Sirius said, sounding almost sincere. "We honestly thought she was a hag."
"SIRIUS BLACK YOU HAD BETTER RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS!" Lily screamed loudly.
"Mates, you had for once better listen. I think she'll kill you, and I won't be seen stopping her! I told you it was stupid of you two!" Remus laughed. "Go on Lil', I'll see to it you get a *real* ice cream, I'll take Jason here with me, if you'd prefer." But it was too late. Lily was off chasing Sirius like a bullet. It was quite amusing to watch pathetic little Sirius run for his knickers. Lily was much faster.
"Poor Lily. She's going to spend the next seven years attempting to kill them," Jason said with a sigh. Remus nodded.
"I reckon James will spend the next three years attempting to pranking her, then another four getting her to fall for head-over heals for him. I pity those two more than anyone I'll ever meet," Remus continued.
"You want to place a bit of a wager on that one, Lupin?" Jason asked, a glint in his eye.
"Gladly, Penton. Thirty gallons they're engaged before they leave Hogwarts. An additional ten if they marry on June 23rd the following year," Remus agreed.
"Better start saving, Lupin. This bet will cost you," Jason grinned.
"I believe you're the one it'll be costing."
As soon as Lily stopped chasing Sirius and James, they all finished their ice creams on the way to the quidditch supply store. Jason explained the rules and history quite thoroughly, along with a few interjections from James.
"Oh. My. Great. Bloody. Cousin. Narcissa," Sirius said in awe, as they approached the latest model.
"Totally new brand! Dad decided to buy out Quick n Clean, so now they've got all that research and such, and put them into the newest, swiftest broom yet! Called Horse of the Maid. told Dad he needed a different name, but he had already paid some guy 300 gallons for the copyrights," James explained. They all seemed fascinated by the household instrument as old as time.
"James, I don't reckon you're family could get me a bloody discount? Unless I don't want any birthday, or Christmas, presents, there's no way my parents will go for it. Me dad's a muggle, you know, and me mum's not about to dump all that gold into it. Do it for a pal?" Jason asked. His parents had plenty of money, but they do their best not to spoil they're children.
"No problem. Remus you interested?" James asked, not tearing his eyes away from the broom his father refused to let him glance at, let alone ride. He wanted it to be a surprise for his birthday come September. The Lupins weren't exactly poor, but they were only getting by. He sure had plenty of money to put him through school, but, by no means, was a new broom in order for full price.
"Wouldn't mind a ride in that baby, not one bit," he replied. He glanced at Lily. He leaned over to whisper in James' ear, "Why not try to save your neck, and offer Lily one?"
"Lily? You in?" he asked. He was not used to doing favors to make up for a prank. Just did it for a show.
"Potter I don't need any help from you, thank you. Last time I entrusted you to help me, I wound up eating a grimy cockroach," Lily growled icily. Truth be told, she would adore flying, but she would live with something cheaper, something that did not relate to Potter, and would get her in the air.
"Suit yourself. There's Mum!" James said. He called out to her mother, then explained the circumstances, asking to give his friends a discount.
"You expect me to let Carson take full price from your dear friends?" Patricia said merrily. "So is that four discounted brooms, then?"
"Three, thank you. I don't plan I'll need a racing broom. I can make do with a plain one. 'Long as it flies, I'll be fine. I'm not too terribly interested in quidditch," Lily corrected.
"You positive dear?" Lily nodded, she most certainly never wanted to be in debt what so ever to one James Potter, no matter how wonderfully kind and polite his mother was.
"But I would fancy a broom, Mother. Just not quite as lavish. That broom looks quite lovely!" Lily said, referring to a violet broom that had just caught her eye.
"Indeed, 'tis a lovely broom. Quite agile, as well as good with deathly heights. Not necessarily the fastest racing broom in the world, but it is indeed of good quality. Better than many brooms worth thrice the gold," came a voice from behind. Lily looked around and up to meet the young, cheerful eyes of an old man with an extravagant, long beard. "Good day, Patricia, Penelope. I see you've brought three of my new pupils!" he said, a broad grin plastered on his face.
"Ah! Albus! Wonderful to see you! Why yes, this is James, my son, Jason, Penelope's, and Lily Evans, she's a muggleborn, we thought we'd take her along and show her the ropes!" Mrs. Potter said cheerfully. "Children, this will be your new headmaster, the brilliant one and only Albus Dumbledore!"
"You'll be our new headmaster?" Lily asked, eyes beginning to bulge.
"Yes, yes I am your headmaster. Not right now of course, you're still plenty free of school," he said, adding a wink. "I'm assuming the young lady's interested in quidditch, then?"
"Well Sir-"
"Quidditch is a Man's sport! Women aren't meant to be out there, all bloodied up," James said haughtily.
"Ah, Mister Potter I'd watch what you're saying. For one, the quidditch captains for Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw are all women. Second, you're mother was a beater, and I wouldn't put it past her to still have her club and bludger," Professor Dumbledore said calmly, with a smile.
"Oh. Sorry Mum. Didn't mean it like that," James said, cowering back.
"Actually, Professor, I was not planning on necessarily playing quidditch. Probably I would only use the broom for an occasional, refreshing ride. My personal dream is to fly," Lily said shyly.
"Take that as a *direct* quote, will you? I'll make her fly at Hogwarts," James muttered to Sirius with a wink.
"Mister Potter. I expect you'll be taking after you parents, and go out for the quidditch team next year? First years don't make it often, but second year's the year! Perhaps you'll make it. mind, Gryffindor and Ravenclaw are fully recruited, but perhaps if you made Slytherin or Hufflepuff-"
"No disrespect intended, Sir, but I have no intention of going into Slytherin," James interrupted.
"I'm with me mate on that one. Too much of Slytherin out at Grimmauld Place. I don't need it at school, too."
"I can see that, boys, very well indeed," he said with a smile.
"Albus, what business might bring you here?" Mrs. Potter asked kindly, her face sporting a keen, sweet smile.
"Ah, I'm shopping around. meeting friends around. Mostly I'm just walking about for the joy of walking about," he returned the smile kindly, in the way only the old men and women of wisdom can. "Can I expect to see you back at Hogwarts, now that your boy's there, Patricia? We miss your talents terribly. At the moment, we're short a Ancient Runes professor again! Ms. Atacke, who was filling in for you, found she could not handle the job due to personal reasons. Personal, in my opinion, means that the fourth year class was too much for her to handle."
"Perhaps. James would be there. so it's not as if I have a child to look after at home! I'll look into it, Albus! I promise! Ancient Runes was such a joy!" Mrs. Potter responded happily. Lily looked at Jason confused. He noted her look and leaned over to explain.
"Mrs. Potter was the Ancient Runes, a class for third years and above, professor. She couldn't take the job any longer due to James being born and all. So ever since she got pregnant, she's been home. Definitely misses it, according to Mum. She says she's been trying to teach James odd- ended bits of it. he doesn't take in a word of it, apparently. She was supposedly excellant in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Mum also says the only reason she wasn't an auror, kind of like a detective in the wizarding world, was because of her passion for children and language. Mr. Potter's an auror, though."
"Ancient Runes sounds interesting, though!" Lily said. "I've always loved to study foreign language!" James heard this and rolled his eyes.
"It's not *that* easy, you know," he leaned back and whispered, a somewhat annoyed expression etched on his features.
"Can't be much harder than mastering French as a second language," she muttered back. She turned away, smirk set on her face as James looked back at her angrily.
"Well, I'm afraid I'm to be late for a meeting with my dear friend, Nicholas Flamel, if I don't get on soon! Old boy's off his rocker, but a joy for company, I might say. Too many years and deaths do bring down one's sanity. None the less, he is a genius!" Dumbledore exclaimed, as he looked at a watch on his rist. "Ta ta! I'll see you at Hogwarts! Get back to me soon, will you Patricia? Thank you!" And he disappeared in a "poof".
"And I believe it's time to go to Gringotts! Marie, I suppose you'll be wanting to make some currency exchanges. can't go around presenting muggle money, and nothing but!" Penelope said happily.
They headed down the street to a humongous building that seemed somewhat old but sturdy. In front of a set of bronze doors up the white steps was a odd looking creature head shorter than James. He had a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and very long fingers and feet. He bowed as they walked inside the gigantic building. There they came to another set of doors, silver this time, with a message engraved:
[I]Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors,
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware,
Of finding more than treasure there.[/I]
Inside, Lily saw an odd assortment of hundreds of the alarmingly abnormal-looking creatures. There were about another hundred, sitting on high stools above large desks, weighing coins in brass scales. There were about a hundred more doors every time Lily turned, people constantly coming through them, accompanied by these creatures.
Jason saw her expression, he leaned over, and muttered, "They're goblins. Don't worry, so long as you don't bother them, they won't bother you. They still scare the bloody day lights out of dad, but you've nothing to fear, just don't make it look like you're trying to rob them. They're quite crafty." Lily nodded in understanding, and looked wide-eyed at all the goblins.
"We'd like to make an exchange, open a new account, and withdraw from a few accounts, please," Mrs. Penton said as they approached a free desk. The goblin looked up and nodded.
"Exchange?" he asked. Mrs. Evans scurried up to the desk and the three women and the goblin discussed the money and new account, while the five children had their own conversations.
Jason was explaining the currency to Lily. "Gold ones are Gallons, silver Sickles, and Bronze knuts," Jason clarified. "Seventeen Sickles to a Gallon, twenty-nine Knuts to a Sickle. Pretty simple."
They soon got in a cart and rode down to a few vaults. Lily was amazed when she walked into the Potters' vault. Gold glinted all over the huge chamber. She got back in only to stop a few minutes later at another. Only this time, her mother said it was for her to use freely.
It was a vault with several small mounds of gold coins, which she understood as Gallons. Her mother told her there were seven-hundred gallons, fifty sickles, and forty knuts in there. She was to use that amount to get through her school year. Lily grinned the whole way back, her pockets jingling with the gold, and her purse had a few pounds of Gallons as well.
They continued on their way down the street of Diagon Alley, getting what seemed to Lily loads of odd instruments. A standard size two pewter cauldren, a set of brass scales, potion ingredients that Lily would have preferred not seeing, parchment, quills, ink, crystal phials, a telescope and some dragon-hide gloves. She was in awe of the things wizards used and required. They were now on their way to get their books. She was required so many! They were all of different, odd titles. She still needed a wand, robes, a hat, (which was to be pointed), and her cloak. A cloak. She required a pointed hat, robes, a cloak, and a wand. What in the world were these people thinking?
She had gotten not only plain, black ink, but several assorted colors, such as emerald, violet and scarlet. She'd gotten two plain white quills, one peacock feather quill, and an eagle feather one. They soon arrived in front of the bookstore, Florish and Blotts, carrying all their supplies, plus a broom each. Lily had gotten the purple broom she'd desired, but the rest settled for no less than the Horse of the Maid or whatever it was called.
They picked up the required titles, and Lily went off looking for some books to read up on Hogwarts and Magic and such things.
She there saw a magnificent looking book with golden-material binding. It was titled, "Hogwarts, a History." She recognized "Hogwarts" to be her school name. She picked up that, and a few other ones of charms and other spells, and went to meet her mother at the counter.
On their way they went, to get what Lily understood as her uniform. They walked into an odd little place, entitled, "Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occassions." There seemed to be lots of stools and a young women bustling about.
"Good day, good day! Oh, is that you Mrs. Potter? This is little Jamesie then, I presume? Wonderful! Finally starting at Hogwarts, I believe?" she said happily. The women seemed terribly over-excited to Lily.
"Yes, hello! This is James, and his little friends Jason Penton, Lily Evans, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin! So good to see you're shop's coming along so well, Madam Malkin!" Mrs. Potter exclaimed.
"Good day! So five sets of 3 Hogwarts' robes then? Excellent!" she then clapped her hands and bustled away.
Not long after, several of the young women came scurrying over, taking measurements of the five children. Lily thought she surely must have looked like the most clueless person to hit the planet, as she gazed at the women flicking long sticks and having measuring tape rap around her. It was fascinating- most unlike anything she'd ever had the chance to observe in her entire life.
What she was truly not prepared for, despite the lot she'd read of fantasy worlds, and things of such, was what was yet to come.
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OK!! Thank you to Mari- thanks for remembering Madam Malkin's when I couldn't!
I don't know when the next chapter will be up. school starts for me in a week! But I'll try to keep a steady weekly basis for you!
I apologize *profusely* for all spelling & grammar mistakes!! My silly spell check is down for some reason! I've got to fix that!!
Thank you for reading, & love lots!
*Jenna~