Catch Me If You Can
Chapter Thirteen ll Delightful Neighbours
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As Rose emptied the package of double choc-chip cookies into the cookie jar, she seemed to sing with joy.
"Did you know the Potters are moving in right next door? Into the Delaneys' old house?" she asked in a sing-song voice.
Lily and Petunia glanced at each other over the grocery bags that were sitting on the kitchen counter. Petunia grinned. Lily groaned.
"Are you sure, mum?" she asked in a sugary voice, placing the boxes of cereal in the cabinet.
"Yes dear, Cheryl told me today. It came as a rather bit of a shock, at first. But then I digested this information, and it's just wonderful, isn't it?"
"Yup, it certainly is," Petunia said, putting the apples into the fruit bowl. She glanced at Lily, and tried not to laugh.
"This is just completely evil," the redhead muttered, taking the tub of ice cream to the freezer, "And to think I thought I could get away from Potter in the summer... "
---
"Rise and shine, Lily! The Potters are coming today!"
Lily groaned as a sudden burst of sunshine hit her tightly closed eyes. She rolled on her side, sleepily moaning, "Just five more minutes..."
She listened as Rose bustled out, probably on her way to Petunia's bedroom.
The redhead sat up, and yawned, and stretched. She checked her alarm clock, which read eight-forty.
She then retraced back to her mother's words.
"The Potters are coming today!"
... What did that mean?!
With a startled cry, Lily leapt out of her bed and raced down to the kitchen, where her mother was already flipping pancakes on the stove.
"Mum, what did you mean when you said 'the Potters are coming today'?!"
Rose turned to look at her daughter, "I meant exactly that. They're moving into their new house today."
"Today?!" Lily shrieked, looking hysterical.
"Yes dear, today. What's the matter?" Rose said, looking confused.
"Well, that was pretty short notice!"
"I know it is, but all the same, it's delightful, isn't it?" Rose looked very happy with this news.
Lily sighed; her mother didn't seem to understand. Having James right next door twenty-four-seven was just too much for her.
"Get dressed, honey. And also, have you made your bed?"
Lily shook her head. She was about to leave the kitchen when she spun around for one more shot, "Mum, are you absolutely certain they're coming today?"
"Who, dear?"
"The Potters."
"Yes Lily, I'm certain. Please accept the fact, and get dressed."
Lily exhaled a sigh, just as a sleepy Petunia walked in, still in her pyjamas.
"What's going on?" she asked, stifling a yawn.
"Lots of stuff, but I get first dibs on the bathroom!" Lily fled out of the kitchen.
"Hey!" Petunia yelled, as she began to run after her, "I really need to go!"
---
When it was almost tea time, a new white car pulled up in Delaneys' old driveway.
"They're here!" Rose exclaimed, immediately dropping the rolling pin. She had been in the process of making cookies for tea.
She was out on the porch in no time, and Petunia followed her. Lily reluctantly put down her book and walked outside.
A big, removalist truck pulled up on the road as well, just as James got out of the car.
"Hey James!" Petunia greeted him. Lily walked over and scowled.
"Hi Petunia, greetings Red Fire," James said, trying to sound cheerful as usual. He looked a bit tired, however.
Another removalist truck drove onto the road.
"Gosh, how many trucks do you need?" Lily said in awe.
James shrugged, "Our last house was huge, too big for just the three of us. There's alot of furniture."
"Obviously," Petunia commented. They looked over to the truck, which had been towed open. The removalists had begun pulling the furniture out.
Then they watched as Rose led Cheryl and Alex Potter into her house, obviously inviting them in for afternoon tea.
"I'm going to help mum serve tea, and I'll probably end up making the cookies as well," Petunia said, looking as Rose beckoned her, "I'll leave you two to chat... See ya later."
Lily cast her an evil glare, perfectly aware of what Petunia was trying to do. James, however, looked oblivious.
"So... why didn't you tell us you were moving?" Lily asked him cautiously.
James shrugged, "My parents have been talking about it off and on for months. I suppose they finally made a decision, because last night, they dropped the bombshell that we were moving. Of course, it usually takes ages to pack, but magic took care of that. So really, you can't blame me for anything, Red Fire."
Lily rolled her eyes, obviously not satisfied with the nickname.
The two stood there awkwardly, both unsure of what to do.
"Hey, guess what I got?" James said suddenly, reaching under his shirt.
Lily did not want to know what he could possibly hide underneath his shirt.
He didn't wait for an answer. He pulled out a water gun and immediately squirted a thin line of water into her face.
"HEY!" Lily shrieked and covered her face, wiping away the water that was dripping down onto her shirt, "POTTER!"
James was laughing, and he was fiddling with the nozzle of the water gun. Lily leapt at him and pulled him down onto the grass.
"Whoa!"
The water gun flew several inches away from James' outstretched hand, and they both scrambled over to collect it. Lily reached it first and aimed it at him, straight at the glasses.
"Say your prayers, Potter."
"Dear Lord, thank you for a wondrous day and, uhh..."
Rolling her eyes, Lily pulled the trigger and a spray of water came spurting out.
"OI -- OI!" James tried to say, "WATER RESTRICTIONS!"
"Right back at you!"
Lily got to her feet and ran to the water spigot on the side of her house, as she needed reinforcements.
James, with a grin, also got to his feet. He quickly made his way to his parents' car, and opened the car door, dodging the removalists who were handling a black leather sofa. He reached for his backpack, and carefully took out two water bombs that had been charmed not to explode until hit with force.
Then he ran to the corner, waiting for Lily's return.
Presently, James heard her soft, careful footsteps on the concrete pathway. He got into position, keeping as quiet as a mouse, and waited for a flash of red hair to walk past...
"HEY EVANS!"
Lily, with the freshly-filled water gun in her hand, turned her head in surprise. She briefly saw James' mischeivous face a for a moment, then--
SPLAT.
Shocked, Lily gasped and looked down at her body. She was dripping with water.
"Damn you and your damn water bombs!" she yelled at James, who had ran off laughing.
"Here, you can have this one!"
Before she knew it, James had hurled the other water bomb at her. Lily held her arms out, ready to catch it. Just as it was about to land, she realised that catching a flying water bomb wasn't the brightest idea. With a scream, she dived out of the way and it exploded just at the spot she had been standing mere seconds ago.
Gasping and sopping wet, Lily retrieved the abandoned water gun lying on the grass and scanned the front lawn for any signs of the demon. She saw him rummaging around in his parents' car. She was about to shoot at him when he turned around, balancing three water bombs. They were huge and kept wobbling dangerously, as if they would pop at any second.
Lily hoped very much so one would pop at the instant, soaking that stupid grin off of Potter...
"Lily! Catch this!"
SPLAT.
"I -- HATE -- YOU -- POTTER!"
And so the water fight continued, until the sun was set down pretty low in the horizon, and it was time to go back in and shower.
---
That evening, out of the clear blue, Rose suggested that they have a dinner party with the Potters at a restaurant.
"But why?" Lily protested; having a 'hearty, merry meal' with James at a fancy restaurant wasn't her idea of a good evening.
"Because we want to get acquainted with each other, dear," Rose said clearly, as she put the last of the forks and spoons in the drainer.
"No we don't," Lily said quickly. Petunia laughed as her younger sister's comment, and threw the dishcloth aside.
"Come on Lily, you know you're just dying to go," she said with a smirk.
Lily was horrified, "No way! I do not want to have a dinner party with the Potters!"
"You're being harsh," Rose pointed out.
"I am not! You are just too blind to see what a demon Potter is!"
"And you are just too blind to see that James is perfect for you," Petunia mimicked quietly, so only Lily could hear.
"WHAT?!"
"Nothing," Petunia said angelically, "I'll be getting changed for the party, mother."
And she left the kitchen.
"You go get dressed too, Lily," Rose said, stacking the dishes in the cupboard.
"You haven't even invited them yet."
"I will."
"What makes you think they'll agree?"
"It's human nature. It wouldn't be polite to disagree."
"I hate human nature," Lily grumbled, as she went up to her room.
---
Two hours later, Lily found herself sitting between James and Petunia at a very fancy restaurant, called The Dove.
"I am so bored," she murmured to no one in particular.
"No you're not," James retaliated.
Lily shot him a skeptical look, "How would you know?"
"I know all."
She snorted.
Petunia glanced sideways at her, "Don't do that Lil, it's not polite in a young girl."
"Hey, I'm still a kid."
"You'll grow up," Petunia said softly.
"No I won't."
It was such a stupid comeback that Petunia snorted, but she covered her mouth with a napkin while doing so.
Their parents were conversing what Rose would call 'polite conversation'. It sounded dull, boring and pointless to Lily.
"They always talk DBP," James muttered to Lily, nodding his head towards his parents.
"DBP?" Lily wanted to know.
"Dull, boring and pointless," James smiled at her, "They always have these guests over, and they are sucky, boring rich people. Your parents are one of the rare people that my parents might actually become friendly with. No business to discuss, you see. No sucking up to important people to keep up our social status. Mum and dad think it sucks, but they still talk DBP all the time..."
Lily nodded slowly, digesting all of this information. Beside her, Petunia shifted.
The waiter came and took their three-course orders. James almost killed himself in suspense to order his dessert, a blueberry cheesecake.
As Lily watched the waiter leave with the notebook, she settled back in her seat.
This is going to be one long evening.
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---->A/N: What a lovely pair... LOL. =] --MSQ.