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.
Thank you all of my wonderful reviewers! You are all too kind!! I'm also terribly sorry about all the spelling and grammatical errors in the previous chapter. my computer's been awfully angry with me as of late, and is refusing to do spell check.
Disclaimer~ It's mine. It's all mine. Yep. You got it. I'm Jo Rowling herself. But I have a split personality. Jo's just my alias. Actually, my name's Marilyn Monroe. And I'm having an affair with Matt Damon and his mother. Oh, and I'm writing this on the CIA V.I.P. private computer system. Just thought I'd fill you in.
Honestly. Some people.
By the way, now that I have this new, confusing, complex life-style, and you're still believing it, here's a way to burst it: I have a metallic purple convertible Mercedes. And a boyfriend who's the hottie of my dreams, who, surprisingly, is Ashton Kutcher. Sorry if you're reading this, Matt. At least, in real life, Ashton's my boyfriend. Or rather, in this life, not my real life. How horribly confusing it is when you don't know what you're talking about.
Now, do you still think I'm Jo?
Chapter 4~ Connections and Opportunities
As Lily stood silently, a girl, roughly a few years older than Lily, walked into the store, surrounded by a few girls, and, what looked to Lily, several boys. The girl was giggling flirtaciously with the boys, and there were two girls with her, one looking sad she was being dragged along, and the other right beside her, giggling right along.
Sirius had been laughing with James, but as soon as he spotted them, he tried to duck his head down, so they did not notice him. It was no use, the three girls saw him full and well.
The one girl, who was dark haired and sad, looked delighted to see Sirius. The other two were quite the contrary. They spotted him and pointed, laughing.
"Widdle Ickle Sirius getting fitted for his new robes?" the girl who had been walking with the flirtacious girl said with a nasty smirk.
"Bugger off, Bellitrix," he said, hatred gleaming in his eyes.
"But Siri, your mum told us to check up on you, if we happened to see you. Wouldn't want her disappointed, would you?" the girl who'd been flirting voiced, a baneful gleam in her eye.
"Why, Narcissa, they don't sell things 3 sizes to small, here. What could you possibly be looking for?" He acknowledged her with a smirk.
"Cute, cousin-dearest, really cute. For your information, we were picking up our uniforms for school. Then, we were planning a trip down knockturn Alley. Care to join us?" Narcissa inquired.
"Why would I do an idiotic thing like that? Looks like I'm doing great here, thanks. So how much are you two paying those boys, Bellatrix? Are they giving you anything worthwhile? Getting your money's worth?" Sirius shot.
"I'd watch your mouth, Siri. You'll be at Hogwarts, soon. Our turf, so watch it," Bellatrix warned.
"Uh, no, thanks for the offer though!" Sirius returned with a sneer. The two girls shot him a glare, and stalked out, the group of boys closely following. The young girl, probably Lily's age, lingered, though. She waved and said hi. Sirius's sneer disappeared. "Hey Andromeda!" he called. "They're not being too awful to you, are they?" he asked, in a kind way.
"Hey, I can handle them. just I don't start insult-duels with them constantly," Andromeda said with a grin.
"Just checking on you, like cousins should. So, you want to hang out with us for a while? No reason you should have to go with them. Just come home with me," Sirius offered. "By the way, this is James, Remus, Jason, and Lily," he said, pointed to each in turn. Lily smiled at the girl, who returned it. She was a pretty girl, of the fun-sort. "You guys, this is my cousin, Andromeda! Only one of the lot I actually like," he added with a wink.
"Thanks Sirius, but I've got to be going. They'll tell mum, and Lord knows she won't like to hear I ran off with out telling them."
"See you!" They all called.
"So Lily, you've now met two of the grand, high-society members of the Slytherin house of Hogwarts," Sirius said, blandly. "But Andromeda's not bad. She's the one of the few cousins of mine I can bare the existence of."
"Okay. well, er, what happened to our parents, Jason?" Lily asked.
"Mum's looking for dress robes with your mum over in the other room. She said to give them a holler when we're ready," Jason explained. Lily took her set of robes from Madam Malkin, and the group set off to the counter, to wait for their parents' to pay.
Their next stop would be Lily felt not likely to be forgotten soon. She entered a small place with a sign reading "Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C." hanging over the door. They entered the shop, and Lily looked around, fascinated by what she was about to receive. She looked around, and was quite discontented when she discovered no one seated by the desk.
"Ah, you've come, finally, you've come!" A fairly old man exclaimed with an ecstatic beam plastered upon his face. "'Tis a joy, 'tis a joy!"
"Hello Mister Ollivander! Good to see you! My son James-" Mrs. Potter began, but was cut off.
"No need, no need Patricia! I know them all, and am delighted to finally meet them in person!" Ollivander called out, overjoyed. Lily looked upon him nervously, as James was doing a rude action with his finger rotating around his ear as he grinned at Sirius, who was attempting to stifle his laughter. "Well then! Little lady, you first! Ms. Evans! Exhilarating to meet you! Which is your wand hand?" Lily stared at him blankly. Jason whispered "right" in her ear, she blushed, and quickly held her right hand out. He began to measure every distant from every body part Lily could imagine. She felt indeed ridiculous. As he measured, Mr. Ollivander spoke: "Every wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, children. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand." Lily acknowledged queerly that the old man was no longer controlling the tape measure. Indeed, it was floating about on its own. "Let's see. Oak, heartstring of a dragon, nine and a half inches. Somewhat flexible, fair for transfiguration. Give it a wave!"
Lily shyly took the wand by its handle and gave it a weak wave, feeling quite silly. Jason gave her a look as if expecting something more, so she gave it a bit stronger. It was quickly snatched away by Ollivander, who held out another.
"Ebony, Phoenix feather, eight and three-quarters inches." She barely touched it when he snatched it back again. It happened several times over, until, finally, he lifted out a box containing a wand, which he held out to her, quite confidently. "Ah. ten and a fourth inches long, swishy, made of willow, unicorn hair. Nice wand for charm work," He said, grinning. Lily took it, gave a fair wave, and out shot beautiful multi-colored sparks, as well as what seemed to Lily as spirits, chatting about. Lily suddenly felt love for this wand, odd as it sounds. She immediately felt it a part of her. She couldn't think of not being with it. It was a sensation Lily did not recall feeling for anything else, with the exception of her family and dogs.
"That," Mr. Ollivander stated with a grin, "is one of the most perfect matches I've seen in years. Now you see, I remember every wand I've ever sold." He continued to talk as he worked on the other children's wands, but Lily tuned it all out. She was gazing at her wand, thinking of what she would possibly do over the course of her life with it. it simply fascinated her that she woke up a normal "muggle", as Jason called it, and then a matter of hours later, she was a witch! With magic flowing in her very veins. No indication of abnormality from the world she was brought up in until that very life- altering moment when she was told of her witchcraft- nature. What would happen at this school? Would everything she knew just turn around? Maybe she'd be more popular or outgoing or happier or more talkative or compelling or more pleasing or just plain, all-around more successful person at this school. Maybe, just maybe, she'd be more confident and enjoy herself. Maybe she'd be more able to focus with her studies. Maybe she'd be more easy-going and more trusting. Maybe, possibly, she could begin fitting more and more standards, then exceeding them.
Maybe this was a chance, an opportunity, and her light at the end of the tunnel. Now, she just had to find out if it was her way out to happiness, or just and on-coming train.
".Well, then! I guess I'll be seeing you at a later date, then! Good day, good day! Remember to enjoy life! Grasp every little chance that comes knocking!" Mr. Ollivander called, snapping Lily back to the present.
"Good day!" they all called out in turn. Off they went, on with their task upon the line. Lily noticed they'd gotten everything on the list, and looked about her surroundings, wondering what else they could possibly *do*.
"Mother, what are we doing next? We've gotten everything on the list.haven't we?" Lily asked tentatively.
"Well, dearest, I recall it saying on your list you may be allowed one pet. And seeing as Petty and your father are both allergic to cats, and there is no way a toad will ever enter my house, we'll just have to go with the owl, which Penelope said proved themselves quite useful. I think an early birthday present is in Order!" Mrs. Evans said cheerily. "Two, how about? One so we can write to you, and another, naturally, for yourself!"
"Really! An owl? Wonderful! Thank you mum!" Lily called out, ecstatic and beaming.
"Blimey, it's an owl for Merlin's sake," James said in an undertone to Sirius, who, in return, snorted. Lily shot James a glare.
"Let's be off then!" Mrs. Potter said cheerily, apparently hearing neither James nor Sirius.
James' wand was constantly being stroked and fiddled with throughout their walk by its owner. James seemed heavily pleased with his wand, treasuring it, just as Lily. It was a mahogany wand, eleven inches, pliable. He did have a more powerful wand, according to Ollivander, as well as one excellent for Transfiguration.
Jason's wand was yew, twelve inches, and quite powerful. Ollivander had told Jason that he ought to have quite a bright future with it. Jason seemed excited about his, as well.
Sirius had a wand slightly different from the rest, Ollivander told them. Made of Cherry wood, fourteen inches long, dragon heartstring. It was most powerful among the lot of them, with the exception of possibly James. Ollivander's advice to Sirius was to use it well, do not abuse it, and to always be sure that the wand had truly fallen in good hands.
Remus received a wand of maple wood, 9 inches long, of phoenix feather. He told him that it was quite quick, and would be handy in the future. They all ended quite happy with the wands the chose, or rather, the wands that chose them.
They soon arrived at Eyelop's Owl Imporium, and began looking around the store full of noise.
"I *told* you, Mum, I want a *toad*, not a stupid owl! C'mon! Ryan's mom let him have a toad *last* year!" Lily heard a boy; probably going into his second year of Hogwarts, whine to a strained-looking woman. "I don't *need* an owl! They have some at school that students can use!" Lily continued to look around at all the birds. Some of which she recognized to live naturally only in far regions of the world. They were magnificent, indeed.but it appeared a great-horned owl was *glaring* at the whiney boy.
Lily turned and instantly knew she need not look any more. For the perfect- looking female snowy owl was staring her straight in the face. She instantaneously fell in love with the idea of having her for her own! She even knew of a perfectly suiting name for the creature.
"Mum!" she called, "Mum! Come look! I've found the perfect one for me to take to school!" Indeed, the creature was perfect for Lily in Mrs. Evans eyes, as well. It was magnificent.
"Well then! I guess we'll be taking this one, sir!" Mrs. Evans called. A sales boy came hustling over. He looked at the owl, and immediately shrunk back. Lily looked at him oddly.
"Which one? That nice, innocent, sweet-looking brown tawny? *Please* let it be the tawny," he said to her, shaking. Lily giggled. It was so amusing watching this fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy quiver at the site of her dear owl.
"Um, no, sir, the snowy owl, please," Lily said. The man cringed. He didn't seem to take pleasure to the creature at all.
"Are you sure ma'am? We have a wonderful selection of other wonderful snowy owls-"
"No, thank you. I want that one," Lily said, pointing to the large owl that was staring her in the face.
"You sure? She gets a bit- er- *feisty* sometimes." The boy said.
"Positive!" the boy reluctantly climbed a ladder and brought the cage down. The owl tried to bite the boy, and he yelped. Lily quickly took the creature's cage and began stroking it.
"No returning the owls, you know that right? What? Sure, don't bite her!" the boy began quizzically, but then saw how Lily stroked it, and immediately wondered why the creature won't bite her.
"Oh, we won't have to worry about returning anything. Mum, how about that brown tawny for you?" Lily said, pointing to the tawny that the boy had recommended over the snowy owl.
"Marvelous! Let's get going! Looks like James, Jason, Sirius, and Remus have theirs already!"
They paid for the owls and headed out of the store. Lily glanced at the owl and smiled lovingly at it. It hooted happily as she fed her an owl treat she'd bought at the shop with the others.
"Lily, what are you naming it? This here is Apollo!" Jason called excitedly. He had a screech owl that was quite splendid-looking.
"Keika. I've always loved that name. my cousin's dog's name is Keika!" she said cheerily. "She reminded me of her."
"Keika? What kind of name's that?" James said, laughing with Sirius. Lily shot him a glare, and Keika started hooting dangerously at him as she rustled about in her cage. James eyes widened. "Danged demon in there!" Lily made a move to open the cage. "Don't you dare! That bloody owl will peck my eyes out!" Lily smirked at the cowering James.
"She's not stupid. She knows when someone's talking about her, so watch it. Or your house might be her next stop when she goes hunting."
"Whatever. This," he held out a cage containing a large, magnificent eagle owl, "is Ares." Keika blinked, looking quite bored with the creature James held up, despite its size.
"This here's Rover!" Sirius called happily. He held out a large barn owl. Lily gave him a look.
"You were saying, James?" Lily said. James shot her a glare, then Sirius a look that told him he truly thought him an idiot.
"Remus," James said pitifully, "tell me your owl is a bit better named.and when you call it, people won't mistake it for a dog or any other species remote to an owl what so ever."
"James, cool it. I thought about Hermes, but then something better came to mind." Remus said about his tawny. "I've settled for Socrates. What do you all think of that one for him?" James merely groaned.
"I think it's a wonderful name," Lily said, shooting James a look. "Far better than God of War or Rover. Hermes was a good choice, as well. Messenger is far better than the god of war. How ridiculous! Give the poor creature some dignity. he's more of a messenger. Zeus would be good, too, for him. God of the skies. this bird is clearly more dignified than war."
James stuck out his tongue at her. "Know-it-all." James muttered under his breath.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thank you for reading chapter four!!
I'd like to let everyone know I have no rights to the name "Keika." I give all credit to my dear friend Kristy, whose own Keika is not well. Kristy would be the cousin of Lily's referred to in the story. You'll hear more of her later on.
I start school tomorrow (Friday) and so quite excited! Hope you all enjoyed your chapter!! I had fun writing it!
Much Love and Peace always,
*Jenna~
Thank you all of my wonderful reviewers! You are all too kind!! I'm also terribly sorry about all the spelling and grammatical errors in the previous chapter. my computer's been awfully angry with me as of late, and is refusing to do spell check.
Disclaimer~ It's mine. It's all mine. Yep. You got it. I'm Jo Rowling herself. But I have a split personality. Jo's just my alias. Actually, my name's Marilyn Monroe. And I'm having an affair with Matt Damon and his mother. Oh, and I'm writing this on the CIA V.I.P. private computer system. Just thought I'd fill you in.
Honestly. Some people.
By the way, now that I have this new, confusing, complex life-style, and you're still believing it, here's a way to burst it: I have a metallic purple convertible Mercedes. And a boyfriend who's the hottie of my dreams, who, surprisingly, is Ashton Kutcher. Sorry if you're reading this, Matt. At least, in real life, Ashton's my boyfriend. Or rather, in this life, not my real life. How horribly confusing it is when you don't know what you're talking about.
Now, do you still think I'm Jo?
Chapter 4~ Connections and Opportunities
As Lily stood silently, a girl, roughly a few years older than Lily, walked into the store, surrounded by a few girls, and, what looked to Lily, several boys. The girl was giggling flirtaciously with the boys, and there were two girls with her, one looking sad she was being dragged along, and the other right beside her, giggling right along.
Sirius had been laughing with James, but as soon as he spotted them, he tried to duck his head down, so they did not notice him. It was no use, the three girls saw him full and well.
The one girl, who was dark haired and sad, looked delighted to see Sirius. The other two were quite the contrary. They spotted him and pointed, laughing.
"Widdle Ickle Sirius getting fitted for his new robes?" the girl who had been walking with the flirtacious girl said with a nasty smirk.
"Bugger off, Bellitrix," he said, hatred gleaming in his eyes.
"But Siri, your mum told us to check up on you, if we happened to see you. Wouldn't want her disappointed, would you?" the girl who'd been flirting voiced, a baneful gleam in her eye.
"Why, Narcissa, they don't sell things 3 sizes to small, here. What could you possibly be looking for?" He acknowledged her with a smirk.
"Cute, cousin-dearest, really cute. For your information, we were picking up our uniforms for school. Then, we were planning a trip down knockturn Alley. Care to join us?" Narcissa inquired.
"Why would I do an idiotic thing like that? Looks like I'm doing great here, thanks. So how much are you two paying those boys, Bellatrix? Are they giving you anything worthwhile? Getting your money's worth?" Sirius shot.
"I'd watch your mouth, Siri. You'll be at Hogwarts, soon. Our turf, so watch it," Bellatrix warned.
"Uh, no, thanks for the offer though!" Sirius returned with a sneer. The two girls shot him a glare, and stalked out, the group of boys closely following. The young girl, probably Lily's age, lingered, though. She waved and said hi. Sirius's sneer disappeared. "Hey Andromeda!" he called. "They're not being too awful to you, are they?" he asked, in a kind way.
"Hey, I can handle them. just I don't start insult-duels with them constantly," Andromeda said with a grin.
"Just checking on you, like cousins should. So, you want to hang out with us for a while? No reason you should have to go with them. Just come home with me," Sirius offered. "By the way, this is James, Remus, Jason, and Lily," he said, pointed to each in turn. Lily smiled at the girl, who returned it. She was a pretty girl, of the fun-sort. "You guys, this is my cousin, Andromeda! Only one of the lot I actually like," he added with a wink.
"Thanks Sirius, but I've got to be going. They'll tell mum, and Lord knows she won't like to hear I ran off with out telling them."
"See you!" They all called.
"So Lily, you've now met two of the grand, high-society members of the Slytherin house of Hogwarts," Sirius said, blandly. "But Andromeda's not bad. She's the one of the few cousins of mine I can bare the existence of."
"Okay. well, er, what happened to our parents, Jason?" Lily asked.
"Mum's looking for dress robes with your mum over in the other room. She said to give them a holler when we're ready," Jason explained. Lily took her set of robes from Madam Malkin, and the group set off to the counter, to wait for their parents' to pay.
Their next stop would be Lily felt not likely to be forgotten soon. She entered a small place with a sign reading "Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C." hanging over the door. They entered the shop, and Lily looked around, fascinated by what she was about to receive. She looked around, and was quite discontented when she discovered no one seated by the desk.
"Ah, you've come, finally, you've come!" A fairly old man exclaimed with an ecstatic beam plastered upon his face. "'Tis a joy, 'tis a joy!"
"Hello Mister Ollivander! Good to see you! My son James-" Mrs. Potter began, but was cut off.
"No need, no need Patricia! I know them all, and am delighted to finally meet them in person!" Ollivander called out, overjoyed. Lily looked upon him nervously, as James was doing a rude action with his finger rotating around his ear as he grinned at Sirius, who was attempting to stifle his laughter. "Well then! Little lady, you first! Ms. Evans! Exhilarating to meet you! Which is your wand hand?" Lily stared at him blankly. Jason whispered "right" in her ear, she blushed, and quickly held her right hand out. He began to measure every distant from every body part Lily could imagine. She felt indeed ridiculous. As he measured, Mr. Ollivander spoke: "Every wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, children. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand." Lily acknowledged queerly that the old man was no longer controlling the tape measure. Indeed, it was floating about on its own. "Let's see. Oak, heartstring of a dragon, nine and a half inches. Somewhat flexible, fair for transfiguration. Give it a wave!"
Lily shyly took the wand by its handle and gave it a weak wave, feeling quite silly. Jason gave her a look as if expecting something more, so she gave it a bit stronger. It was quickly snatched away by Ollivander, who held out another.
"Ebony, Phoenix feather, eight and three-quarters inches." She barely touched it when he snatched it back again. It happened several times over, until, finally, he lifted out a box containing a wand, which he held out to her, quite confidently. "Ah. ten and a fourth inches long, swishy, made of willow, unicorn hair. Nice wand for charm work," He said, grinning. Lily took it, gave a fair wave, and out shot beautiful multi-colored sparks, as well as what seemed to Lily as spirits, chatting about. Lily suddenly felt love for this wand, odd as it sounds. She immediately felt it a part of her. She couldn't think of not being with it. It was a sensation Lily did not recall feeling for anything else, with the exception of her family and dogs.
"That," Mr. Ollivander stated with a grin, "is one of the most perfect matches I've seen in years. Now you see, I remember every wand I've ever sold." He continued to talk as he worked on the other children's wands, but Lily tuned it all out. She was gazing at her wand, thinking of what she would possibly do over the course of her life with it. it simply fascinated her that she woke up a normal "muggle", as Jason called it, and then a matter of hours later, she was a witch! With magic flowing in her very veins. No indication of abnormality from the world she was brought up in until that very life- altering moment when she was told of her witchcraft- nature. What would happen at this school? Would everything she knew just turn around? Maybe she'd be more popular or outgoing or happier or more talkative or compelling or more pleasing or just plain, all-around more successful person at this school. Maybe, just maybe, she'd be more confident and enjoy herself. Maybe she'd be more able to focus with her studies. Maybe she'd be more easy-going and more trusting. Maybe, possibly, she could begin fitting more and more standards, then exceeding them.
Maybe this was a chance, an opportunity, and her light at the end of the tunnel. Now, she just had to find out if it was her way out to happiness, or just and on-coming train.
".Well, then! I guess I'll be seeing you at a later date, then! Good day, good day! Remember to enjoy life! Grasp every little chance that comes knocking!" Mr. Ollivander called, snapping Lily back to the present.
"Good day!" they all called out in turn. Off they went, on with their task upon the line. Lily noticed they'd gotten everything on the list, and looked about her surroundings, wondering what else they could possibly *do*.
"Mother, what are we doing next? We've gotten everything on the list.haven't we?" Lily asked tentatively.
"Well, dearest, I recall it saying on your list you may be allowed one pet. And seeing as Petty and your father are both allergic to cats, and there is no way a toad will ever enter my house, we'll just have to go with the owl, which Penelope said proved themselves quite useful. I think an early birthday present is in Order!" Mrs. Evans said cheerily. "Two, how about? One so we can write to you, and another, naturally, for yourself!"
"Really! An owl? Wonderful! Thank you mum!" Lily called out, ecstatic and beaming.
"Blimey, it's an owl for Merlin's sake," James said in an undertone to Sirius, who, in return, snorted. Lily shot James a glare.
"Let's be off then!" Mrs. Potter said cheerily, apparently hearing neither James nor Sirius.
James' wand was constantly being stroked and fiddled with throughout their walk by its owner. James seemed heavily pleased with his wand, treasuring it, just as Lily. It was a mahogany wand, eleven inches, pliable. He did have a more powerful wand, according to Ollivander, as well as one excellent for Transfiguration.
Jason's wand was yew, twelve inches, and quite powerful. Ollivander had told Jason that he ought to have quite a bright future with it. Jason seemed excited about his, as well.
Sirius had a wand slightly different from the rest, Ollivander told them. Made of Cherry wood, fourteen inches long, dragon heartstring. It was most powerful among the lot of them, with the exception of possibly James. Ollivander's advice to Sirius was to use it well, do not abuse it, and to always be sure that the wand had truly fallen in good hands.
Remus received a wand of maple wood, 9 inches long, of phoenix feather. He told him that it was quite quick, and would be handy in the future. They all ended quite happy with the wands the chose, or rather, the wands that chose them.
They soon arrived at Eyelop's Owl Imporium, and began looking around the store full of noise.
"I *told* you, Mum, I want a *toad*, not a stupid owl! C'mon! Ryan's mom let him have a toad *last* year!" Lily heard a boy; probably going into his second year of Hogwarts, whine to a strained-looking woman. "I don't *need* an owl! They have some at school that students can use!" Lily continued to look around at all the birds. Some of which she recognized to live naturally only in far regions of the world. They were magnificent, indeed.but it appeared a great-horned owl was *glaring* at the whiney boy.
Lily turned and instantly knew she need not look any more. For the perfect- looking female snowy owl was staring her straight in the face. She instantaneously fell in love with the idea of having her for her own! She even knew of a perfectly suiting name for the creature.
"Mum!" she called, "Mum! Come look! I've found the perfect one for me to take to school!" Indeed, the creature was perfect for Lily in Mrs. Evans eyes, as well. It was magnificent.
"Well then! I guess we'll be taking this one, sir!" Mrs. Evans called. A sales boy came hustling over. He looked at the owl, and immediately shrunk back. Lily looked at him oddly.
"Which one? That nice, innocent, sweet-looking brown tawny? *Please* let it be the tawny," he said to her, shaking. Lily giggled. It was so amusing watching this fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy quiver at the site of her dear owl.
"Um, no, sir, the snowy owl, please," Lily said. The man cringed. He didn't seem to take pleasure to the creature at all.
"Are you sure ma'am? We have a wonderful selection of other wonderful snowy owls-"
"No, thank you. I want that one," Lily said, pointing to the large owl that was staring her in the face.
"You sure? She gets a bit- er- *feisty* sometimes." The boy said.
"Positive!" the boy reluctantly climbed a ladder and brought the cage down. The owl tried to bite the boy, and he yelped. Lily quickly took the creature's cage and began stroking it.
"No returning the owls, you know that right? What? Sure, don't bite her!" the boy began quizzically, but then saw how Lily stroked it, and immediately wondered why the creature won't bite her.
"Oh, we won't have to worry about returning anything. Mum, how about that brown tawny for you?" Lily said, pointing to the tawny that the boy had recommended over the snowy owl.
"Marvelous! Let's get going! Looks like James, Jason, Sirius, and Remus have theirs already!"
They paid for the owls and headed out of the store. Lily glanced at the owl and smiled lovingly at it. It hooted happily as she fed her an owl treat she'd bought at the shop with the others.
"Lily, what are you naming it? This here is Apollo!" Jason called excitedly. He had a screech owl that was quite splendid-looking.
"Keika. I've always loved that name. my cousin's dog's name is Keika!" she said cheerily. "She reminded me of her."
"Keika? What kind of name's that?" James said, laughing with Sirius. Lily shot him a glare, and Keika started hooting dangerously at him as she rustled about in her cage. James eyes widened. "Danged demon in there!" Lily made a move to open the cage. "Don't you dare! That bloody owl will peck my eyes out!" Lily smirked at the cowering James.
"She's not stupid. She knows when someone's talking about her, so watch it. Or your house might be her next stop when she goes hunting."
"Whatever. This," he held out a cage containing a large, magnificent eagle owl, "is Ares." Keika blinked, looking quite bored with the creature James held up, despite its size.
"This here's Rover!" Sirius called happily. He held out a large barn owl. Lily gave him a look.
"You were saying, James?" Lily said. James shot her a glare, then Sirius a look that told him he truly thought him an idiot.
"Remus," James said pitifully, "tell me your owl is a bit better named.and when you call it, people won't mistake it for a dog or any other species remote to an owl what so ever."
"James, cool it. I thought about Hermes, but then something better came to mind." Remus said about his tawny. "I've settled for Socrates. What do you all think of that one for him?" James merely groaned.
"I think it's a wonderful name," Lily said, shooting James a look. "Far better than God of War or Rover. Hermes was a good choice, as well. Messenger is far better than the god of war. How ridiculous! Give the poor creature some dignity. he's more of a messenger. Zeus would be good, too, for him. God of the skies. this bird is clearly more dignified than war."
James stuck out his tongue at her. "Know-it-all." James muttered under his breath.
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Thank you for reading chapter four!!
I'd like to let everyone know I have no rights to the name "Keika." I give all credit to my dear friend Kristy, whose own Keika is not well. Kristy would be the cousin of Lily's referred to in the story. You'll hear more of her later on.
I start school tomorrow (Friday) and so quite excited! Hope you all enjoyed your chapter!! I had fun writing it!
Much Love and Peace always,
*Jenna~