Disclaimer: I own zip, zero, zilch. The wonderful J.K Rowling owns all but the journal idea.

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Chapter Nine: In the Good Old Summertime

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Number 35:

My friends are so incredibly against me it isn't even funny. They let Potter and his friends sit with us on the trainride back to London. Seriously, they know I can't stand Potter and yet they invite him to sit across from me.

You know that feeling you get when someone's watching you? I felt that the whole way home. Even though Potter didn't stare at me quite that long, it sure felt like it. I'm paranoid, what can I say?

He tried to start a conversation with me a couple of times, but I really wasn't in the mood. I'm still angry with him and with myself. Cross with him for what he did to Snape, cross with myself for being such a bloody hypocrite.

Potter: "So…Evans…."

Evans: "Potter."

Potter: "Do you have any plans for the summer holiday?"

Evans: "Not really."

Potter: "Me neither."

Silence.

Then lady with the food trolley came along.

Potter: "Can I get you something?"

Me: "No thanks Potter, I can pay for myself."

Sirius: "Oh, Evans, don't rob the poor boy of his chivalry."

Me: "What?"

Sirius: "It's part of being a Gryffindor. 'Daring nerve and chivalry.' Elementary requirements for being a Gryffindor."

Me: "That may be, but I can still pay for my own things by myself."

Potter smiled at the food lady, insisted that he pay for me. She replied that it was only right for a lad to pay for his girlfriend.

His girlfriend?!

I ignored him the rest of the ride for that. I held a book in front of my face and pretended to read it while listening to Remus and Emmeline debate the usefulness of Divination.

Real exciting stuff. I almost fell asleep.

Number 36:

Parents. You love them, but oh, sometimes they make you so angry.

As usual, my parents met me at Kings Cross Station to take me home. Usually, my parents can be found talking with Hestia's parents. Her mum is a Muggle too, so they have something in common. This time though, my parents were talking with a couple I had never seen before, though they looked familiar, like I'd seen someone who looked like them somewhere before.

Then Potter came up beside me and I realized that those people were his parents. They had to be; he looked just like his father except for his mother's hazel eyes and glasses. The same messy hair, the same thin face, both tall and lanky.

Potter must have offered to take my trunk (I was in shock and didn't hear him) because the next thing I knew, he was prying my hands off the handle and walking towards our parents pulling my trunk and his behind him.

Me: "Come back with that!"

Potter: "I'm just being chivalrous!"

Me: "Well, stop it!"

Potter: "Can't. Sorry, but it's in my Gryffindor heart."

Me: "You don't have a heart, give it back."

Potter stopped and faced me at that. He leaned towards me like he was going to kiss me, but instead he said: "I do too. It tells me that you're the most brilliant girl I've ever met."

I didn't answer, I was too stunned to do anything but mutely follow him.

After I greeted each of my parents with a hug, Potter introduced me to his parents, refering to me as "the smartest witch in our year.". His parents are named are Agalaia and Hericus.

Mrs. Potter told me how much they'd heard about me and how highy Potter speaks of me (only she called him James, of course).

And then the worst thing ever happened. Mrs. Potter and my mum have arranged that sometime over the summer, the Potter family is coming to dinner.

I caught Potter looking hopefully at me and sent a glare his way.

Mum forced me to say goodbye to Potter. It was a very forced goodbye, I can tell you. He replied that he was looking forward to coming to my house.

He would be, the git.

As I'm writing this I just realized something. When he said goodbye to me, he called me Lily. Not Evans, Lily.

Dear Lily,

How has your summer been? Mine has been fine although I miss Hogwarts and my friends. You probably do, too.

The reason I'm writing to you is to tell you that whatever James does or says this summer….well…take him bit more seriously than you did last year. He's on some sort of crusade to become a better person. I'm not kidding, even though I almost wish I were. It will be good for him, yes, but rather difficult on the rest of us who are to be graced with his presence for the next two weeks.

James has appointed me his tutor. I am to help him become more like me. I suppose that's a compliment…

Anyway, I'll do what I can for the guy, and even though I know you've never put much store into what he says, please, for my sake if not his, hear him out. If you don't, I'll have to.

Best wishes,

Remus Lupin

That has be to the single weirdest letter I have ever received.

I spoke to soon.

Lily,

I'll say what I have to say, and then I'll shut up and let you burn this or do whatever it is do your with old letters.

Give the boy a bloody chance will you? Merlin, he's having Remus teach him how to be a nice person and how to go about properly wooing a girl. If that doesn't prove to you that he really likes you, I don't know what will.

Seriously, the rest of us are tired of hearing him moan and groan about unrequited love every night! If you haven't noticed, James is head-over-heels for you and has been ever since he saw you step off the train at the beginning of last term.

I've known James for almost six years now, and I can read him like the back of my own hand. Each time he asks you out and gets turned down, I can tell. His eyes don't have that mischievous gleam; his voice is falsely cheerful. He just puts on a false front for the rest of the school.

His doesn't know how to act around you. Everything has always come easy to him so he's having trouble understanding why you're not falling at his feet. It's just the way things have been all his life. Learning that life isn't handed to you on a silver platter has been good for him, but enough is enough.

This is highly unlikely, but let's pretend for a moment shall we? One day, James decides that he can't take you rejecting him anymore. He knows you won't return his feelings, so he tries to move on and find someone else. What would you do? I'm probably right when I say that by now you're used to him always being there, but what if he weren't? And you never got to know the real him?

Sirius Black

Who would have thought that Sirius Black could be serious? Well, they say life is full of surprises.

On a more serious note, these last two letters have given me a lot to think about. Is Potter really going to try and be better person? To what point and purpose?

Under normal circumstances, I would have sent this letter back or burned it, but after Remus and Sirius's letters, I felt like I should read the letter Potter sent me.

Dear Lily,

How has your summer been so far? Mine has been alright. Remus is here at my house for a couple of weeks. His parents are on vacation, so he's staying with my parents and me.

Listen…I'm really sorry about the whole lake incident…I didn't realize that it upset you so much. I'm going to make a conscious effort this year to work on that quirk in my personality.

Sincerely,

James Potter

Three people have told me what to expect, but I still don't think I really know what's coming my way. I mean, Potter is going to act different and, heaven help us all, be...nice?

The inevitable has happened. My mum owled the Potters about dinner at our house Friday night and they've accepted. Potter, in my house, sitting on my furniture, eating from my dishes.

I'm not sure I can handle this.

It's strange; mum is going ballistic trying to get ready for a dinner that is a week away. She cleaned the house yesterday, and today sent me outside to weed and water the garden, which didn't even need to be watered since it rained yesterday afternoon. (We do live in England, after all.)

She's acting like we're having someone special over to the house.

Obviously, I'm not overly thrilled with the fact that Potter is coming to my house, but I admit that I am just a little bit interested to meet the people that raised Potter. The poor people should be given a medal for bravery for having to deal with him, especially since he's an only child. They probably had him, saw the damage he could do without a sibling, and decided that one child was more than enough.

Six Days Left:

Today, mum forced me to help pick out what we're going to eat Friday night. It was a long and difficult process, I can assure you. We had to pick out just the right thing for the Potters.

My mum was on about "non-magic food" and how it would be interesting for the Potters to eat Muggle food since they're a Wizarding family. Sadly, I had to burst her bubble and say that witches and wizards eat nearly all the same types of food; they're just prepared a little differently. No one I know of around here has self-stirring spoons and self-pouring pitchers.

Five Days Left:

Mum had to make sure that the recipes were correct and that the things she chose were good enough, we ate what we're having Friday for dinner: Lasagna.

I like lasagna, really I do, but why did we spend an hour and half searching for the perfect lasagna recipe when mum had one in her recipe box? It's the same thing!

Four Days Left:

"Are the Potters allergic to anything? Maybe we should clean the house again, just be sure."

I may scream if this madness doesn't stop. I would assume that if they were allergic to anything, they would take a potion for it. Honestly, one less dust mite under my bed is not going to make any difference to their health. Especially since they're not even coming into my room.

Must go, I'm being sent out to the garden again.

Three days Left:

My mum wants me to owl Potter and ask him how they're arriving. I think I'll address it to his mum; I don't want anyone thinking that I'm corresponding with him. Namely, Sirius Black.

Dear Mrs. Potter,

My mum was wondering how you and your family are going to be arriving. Please send your reply back with my owl, Galadriel, as soon as possible.

Always,

Lily Evans

Two Days Left:

I should just kill myself and not have to go through this. Mum has somehow convinced herself that I'm just pretending that I don't want Potter in this house. She seriously believes that I have feelings for him and just don't want to admit it.

She couldn't be more wrong if she tried. Do my actions towards Potter really give off the impression that I like him? No! So where is she getting this?

One Day Left:

Today at breakfast, Dad got up and made a long speech to Petunia on how she is going to be civil to the Potters. She is not to do this, do that, say this, say that.

Petunia grudgingly agreed, but I have the sneaky feeling that she won't listen to dad and "accidentally" say something anyway. That's usually how these things go.

Mrs. Potter replied to my owl and said they will be arriving by floo powder at exactly six o'clock if that's fine with us. Brilliant. Now I have to help clean the fireplace and put plastic covers on the furniture.

I wonder what they'll wear…when we met them at the train station the Potters were wearing Wizarding robes. I hope they dress in the Wizarding style, just for Petunia.

They did wear their Wizarding clothes! I smiled when I saw that and unfortunately Potter thought I was smiling at him and gave me a large, toothy smile.

The parents all greeted each other and then we went into the living room to chat until dinner was ready. The adults talked about the current state of Britain and my dad asked questions about the Wizarding world and Mr. Potter asked about how the telly works.

My mother, being the conniving person she is, suggested that I take Potter on a tour of the house. I guess she didn't see the pleading look I sent her way. Either that or she ignored it (which is very likely indeed.)

So, instead of listening to mindless chatter, I got to show Potter my house. We were barely out of the sitting room when he told me that I looked very pretty.

My mum made me wear a black skirt with a green blouse that apparently 'brings out my eyes.' I didn't particularly want to look pretty for Potter, but it is a nice outfit.

Me: "Oh, thank you…."

Potter: "Of course, I imagine you'd look pretty in just about anything."

Me: "I suppose Remus gave you that line."

Potter: "No, he didn't. I'm just being honest.

Potter then proceeded to explore my room. It was rather funny actually. He didn't know what a record player was, so I showed him.

I picked up a random record not realizing that it was the Beatles song "I'll Get You". Potter really enjoyed that song and wouldn't let me move the needle off until the song was over. He even sang along with the chorus, getting down on bended knee and singing to me.

Potter: "Do you have any other records of these people?"

Me: "For your information, 'those people' are the Beatles. They're only the best band in Britain! And America! And the whole world!"

Potter: "How come I've never heard of them then?"

Me: "They're a Muggle band!"

Potter: "Fair point. So, you have any other records?"

Me: "Yes…"

Potter then looked through my entire collection of records and listened to random ones. He especially liked "I Want to Hold your Hand." Then he listened to "I'll Get You" again.

This time he pulled me from my sitting position on the floor and danced with me. I don't mean swayed to the beat and held my hands, I mean he did a swing step! Where in the name of Merlin did he learn to dance?

Potter: "Come on Lily! Right, left, step back, good! Now get ready, I'm going to spin you out!"

Me: "You can dance?"

Potter: "My parents made me learn. I never thought it would be useful, but I guess I was wrong."

Then I noticed Petunia standing the doorway, arms folded. I felt my face grow red and I jerked out of Potter's grasp.

Petunia: "You don't like him, huh? Can't stand him?"

Potter: "She was just being nice. She really does hate me. It's okay though, I'll get her in the end."

I must have resembled a goldfish, because I couldn't for the life of me think of anything to say to that and stood there with my mouth gaping open.

I was rescued when Mum called up the stairs that dinner was ready and that we should wash our hands.

Dinner went well. Mum wanted to know what took us so long upstairs so I had to explain the whole record thing (minus the part where Potter and I danced). Petunia started to speak up, but I swiftly kicked her in the shins and mouthed the word "magic."

She shut up.

The Potters enjoyed the lasagna very much, so Mum was beyond thrilled. We talked about Hogwarts and other trivial things until after dinner when mum suggested that since it was still somewhat light out, we should go out in the garden for dessert.

Mum struck again when she had everyone else sit in the lawn chairs and left the two-person swing for me and Potter.

Potter: "I've had a nice time."

Me: "Oh."

Potter: "I'm going to buy one of those reecod things."

Me: "It's called a record player, Potter."

Potter: "That's right. I knew it was something like that."

Then we sat in silence for a while, which I quite enjoyed. Then he started talking again.

Potter: "Why do you hate me?"

Me: "I don't hate you…I just don't like you very much."

Potter: "Why don't you like me very much?"

Me: "Hasn't Remus filled you in on that?"

Potter: "Yes, but I want to hear it form you."

Me: "You bully people, and not just Snape either. Remember that girl you hexed to make moo?

Potter: "Um…not really."

More silence, then:

"Will you ever go out with me?"

Me: "No."

Potter: "Yes, you will."

I kind of blew up at that comment. He was doing so well at not being arrogant, but this just…. he can't presume to know what I will and will not do.

Me: "What makes you think that you know me well enough to say that? You don't know me Potter! Not at all! You know nothing about me!"

We sat for the rest of the evening in silence.

They left at nine o'clock, but not before Mrs. Potter invited us over to their house for tea exactly one week from now.

Oh bugger.

We just returned from tea at the Potter's and their house is massive! It's not even a house; it's a manor! I kind of wondered how we were getting there, but it turns out that the Potters live in Godric's Hollow, which is only about an hour away from our own home..

I was surprised to find that Sirius now lives with the Potter's. Apparently he and his family have never gotten along (they support the pureblood supporters that are rising to power) and he ran away to the Potters.

All I say can is, are they mental? Two people like Potter under one roof is two people like Potter too many.

This time it was Potter's turn to show me around his house. Considering the size of the place, it took us considerably longer. I must say though, he has a really beautiful house. It must be passed down from generation to generation because it's filled with portraits of wizards and witches and all sorts of antiques. They even have a suit of armor and a shield with the Potter crest.

The walls of Potter's room were covered in Quidditch posters. Surprisingly, he has a lot of books, most of them on Transfiguration, Quidditch, and Hogwarts. I noticed a thick, leather bound book lying on Potter's desk and I wondered…does Potter keep a journal? I didn't give Potter the credit of keeping a journal; guys don't usually write in journals.

I noticed this visit that Potter paused before he said anything, like he was planning what to say. I asked Sirius about this and he said Potter didn't want to say anything he'd regret like last time.

It was really a quite uneventful visit except for the fact that either Sirius or Potter or both decided to put pepper imps in Petunia's tea so that her mouth started smoking.

Mr. Potter took both boys out of the room and since we didn't hear any yelling I assume that he cast a silencing charm on the room. Mrs. Potter apologized and looked near tears but mum and dad assured her that it was all right; boys would be boys. Petunia remained silent.

Mr. Potter, Sirius and Potter came back in, the boys looking rather pale. I smiled as Petunia sent a fearful glance Potter's way.

It's funny how scared of me Petunia is. She thinks that just because I gave her a teacup that turned into frogspawn once, that everything I hand her is something magical and therefore not to be touched.

Before we left, Potter pulled me into a corner and told me he's looking forward to seeing me on the train back to Hogwarts in a week. Then he gave me a quick hug, which I did not return. Not to be rude, but because I was a little shocked. ips is a sure fire way to get on my bad side and make me dislike him even more.

I can't believe that term starts in a week. How can it? It seems like summer just started! Here I was looking forward to a Potter-free holiday and what I got was a Potter-filled holiday. It doesn't get much more ironic than that.

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