Chapter 21

Letters Galore

"James… what is your problem?!" Lily shouted after him. James was hurrying down the hall, and Lily had to jog to keep up with him.

"What? Do they think I'm stupid? Did they think I couldn't handle it? What am I-- a baby?" He asked nobody in particular.

"Well, you sure are acting like one." Lily said angrily. "Moody just told you that he did think you could handle it… and that's why he hasn't interfered with any of your stupid schemes."

"I bet he's been spying on us." James resolved. "He probably sneaks into my dormitory every night to check under the bed, to make sure no monsters are around…"

"Stop it, James." Lily commanded. "You're being thick. Moody trusts you."

"Apparently Dumbledore doesn't."

"You don't know that." Lily said. "Maybe your parents wanted someone to watch over you…" She suggested.

"Or maybe not."

"I'm not going to waste my time arguing with you." Lily sighed. "It's totally pointless. You're so thickheaded, you won't listen to me, anyway."

"Oh please! I'm thickheaded? Sure…" James said, rolling his eyes.

"You go on thinking that, James." Lily nodded sarcastically. "But I'm not taking anymore of this. This was your idea in the first place! I'm off."

James didn't say anything as she turned and headed down the empty corridor to the owlery. Why she was going there, she wasn't sure--she didn't even have an owl-- but the atmosphere was comforting.

She opened the creaking door, and allowed the chilly spring air to wash over her. The wind seemed to recognize that summer was slowly on the way, but liked winter's chill, so it held fast to it. Lily didn't mind much.

She passed sleeping owls of all colors, and sizes. Her feet crunched on the straw that was strewn on the floor as she made her way over to one of the large windows. Sighing, she leaned against the frame.

Lily stared at the owls, all of who were sleeping peacefully. Her eyes were drawn to a small, circular keyhole in the wall. She had never noticed it before, but knew that it must be a cupboard with owl food in it. She turned to look out the window.

The sun was just beginning to set over the mountains in the distance, and the sky was gently starting to fade into pastel pinks. The yellow clouds were soothing, and the sweet hooting of the awakening owls told Lily that she shouldn't stay long.

Suddenly, an owl appeared in the heavens. It swooped through Lily's window, and landed sloppily on a perch.

"Hello." Lily said softly to it. The creature perked up at the sight of her, and hooted with relief. Surprisingly, it popped out its bony leg, revealing a letter. She noticed that her name was written on it in Amos's hand.

Lily untied the letter, and the owl hooted thankfully. Lily seated herself on the straw covered floor, and leaned against the wall.

Lily,

How can you say something like that? How can you doubt that I'm not thinking things through? Do you think that I am merely confessing these feelings to you for my own enjoyment? I find myself crumpling your letter and flinging it to the floor.

But in vein. For here I am, picking it up and smoothing it out, only to read for the hundredth time.

The reason for my feelings is simple- you're perfect. I love your smile… I love the way your hair softly curls around your face… I love everything about you. And as for not knowing you, you've never given me a chance. But I'd like to… so much. You need to trust me.

And what I tell you in my letters is me. That's who I am. Just tell me what else you want to know about me and I'll tell you… I'll spill about everything…

And I was being serious. I want you to marry me. 17 isn't so young these days. And 3 years isn't much of a difference… especially since you'll be 18 in a few months. I know it's sudden, but I'm willing to give you eternity to think about it.

We could wait until you graduate from Hogwarts… go on that trip around the world that you've always wanted… and then come home and get married. To start our lives together.

You may think I'm just being stupid, but I'm being so serious. I love you, Lily. You're the perfect girl for me… I want to be with you for the rest of my life, and I can only pray that you feel the same. And speaking of that trip around the world- I've been saving up for it since I got settled here in London.

But I'll bet every penny of it that I have that your James couldn't ever do something like that for you. I have the perfect life for you here. Everything you'd ever need. James couldn't give you that. You'd have no danger to follow here. James doesn't have a job. James doesn't have a house…James doesn't love you the way I do.

Forever yours,

Amos Diggory

Lily sighed in aggravation. James? What did he have to do with anything? Why did Amos keep bringing him up? Of course James didn't have a house or a job… He was too young! Amos just couldn't get that through his thick skull.

At this point it was too dark to stay in the owlery. Lily got up and dusted herself off, both confused and angry. She needed advice.

Hurrying down the corridors, she ripped the bottom part of the letter off- the part about James. That didn't mean anything anyway. All that proved was that Amos was jealous over nothing. She jammed it irritably into her pocket.

Lily rushed into the Gryffindor common room. Her eyes scanned the room wildly for…

"Remus!" She exclaimed, noticing him leaning on the hind legs of a chair in the corner with a schoolbook in his lap. "I need your advice!"

At the sudden noise, Remus's chair teetered backwards so he toppled painfully to the floor. His face turned red as Lily approached him. He quickly scrambled to put his chair right. He leaped into it, and sat up straight.

"Er- dropped my quill." He muttered, his face still as red as Lily's hair. Lily sat down next to him, holding back laughter. "Um, what did you want? A piece of paper?" He asked, offering her an ink-splattered page.

 "Some advice?" Lily chuckled.

"Oh! Okay." He replied, crumpling the page, and turning to face her. "Shoot." And so, in hushed voices, she described everything about Amos's letters. Everything that is, except for the things about staying away from James.

"Here's his most recent letter…" Lily said, brandishing it before him. "I don't know what to say back…"

Saying nothing, Remus took the letter from Lily's hands, and read through it. Lily saw that his face fell slightly as soon as his eyes reached the third paragraph.

"He sounds serious." Remus said softly. "And you say that there's been more letters than just this?"

"Yes. At least three." Lily sighed. "What am I supposed to do?"

Remus was silent for a moment. "Do you love him?" He asked suddenly.

Lily looked deep into Remus's coal gray eyes. For a short time, Lily was at a loss for words. "I… don't know." She whispered.

"Well, I guess I can't help you until you figure that out." He said, reaching for his book again.

Lily stopped him. "But I know I don't want to marry him."

"And well you shouldn't." Remus said.

"So you agree with me?" Lily said. "We're too young."

"Not that…" Remus shrugged. "Age has nothing to do with love. It's just, you've barely started living. You're not even out of school yet."

"My thoughts exactly!" Lily exclaimed. "I mean, what is he thinking? How stupid…"

"Well, he's an okay age to get married… but you're not." Remus said. "What are you going to write back?"

"I don't know." Lily sighed. "I was hoping that you'd help me."

"I'm not going to tell you what to write!" Remus laughed. "It's none of my business."

"I need your help, Remus." Lily pleaded. "I don't know what to say…"

"Just tell him how you feel." He said. "Amos can't ask for more than that."

"I tried that already." Lily groaned. "And he wrote this back." She stood up and headed to her dormitory. Sitting on her bed, with her cat, Adrienne in her lap, she pulled out some paper and a quill.

Amos, you're crazy!

I told you, I'm not interested in marriage! I can't marry you… I'm 17! I've barely started living my life, yet! I've never even been kissed… Let alone been in a relationship.

I can't believe you would even suggest such a stupid thing. I don't love you, Amos. I don't.

I think that you'd be better off investing your time and emotions in someone else.

Besides… you're three years older than me. If we got married, you'd die first… then what? I'd be stuck living alone, and unhappy.

Lily Evans

Short and… ruthless. But nothing else would get him away. Sighing, she put the letter under her pillow, and collapsed onto in, stroking her cat. I'll deliver it in the morning… she thought, her eyes closing for a long awaited sleep.

 Lily awoke the next morning bright and early. The sky was specked with clouds, but all around sunny. It was one of the nicest days this year.

Feeling remarkably lighter, Lily walked down to the owlery while folding up her letter. When she got there, she found James's owl, Ben, trying to sleep.

"Ben…" Lily whispered, poking at it. "I need you to deliver this for me." She knew James wouldn't mind if she borrowed his owl. It was just one letter, anyways.

Ben hooted sleepily, and reluctantly stuck out his foot. Lily smiled graciously, and tied her letter on his leg.

"Thanks." She said, and Ben took off out the window, flying gracefully through the crisp morning air. She hurried to the window to watch him fly over the mountains.

Lily felt like a huge weight had been lifted. She was now "Amos-free". She smiled, and headed down to the Grand Hall for some breakfast before classes.

"Where's Remus?" James asked when he joined her in the Grand Hall.

"Sleeping?" Lily ventured. "I don't know. I haven't seen him since last night."

"Oh." James shrugged. Then, he hit his forehead as the answer came to him. "It's the day before the full moon. He probably left early."

"That makes sense. Oh, and I was in the owlery delivering a letter." Lily said. "I used Ben… I didn't think you'd mind."

"No, that's fine." James nodded.

Silence overtook them for a moment. Lily watched James carefully.

"So…" Lily began. "Did you think more about that whole Moody being a Auror thing?"

"Yeah… a lot more." James confessed. "I decided that it's not that big of a deal. As long as he stays out of my way, it's like he's protecting the whole school… not just me."

"Right." Lily smiled. "You wanna head to Transfiguration?"

"Yeah. Sure." James said. Lily struggled to pick up her book bag, and James watched her. "Need help with that?" He asked politely, lifting his own bag onto his shoulder carelessly.

"No. But thanks." Lily replied. She did want to seem helpless, even if her bag was heavy.

They headed up the corridors, chattering and joking until they reached the second floor. Lily walked inside the classroom and sat down at her normal seat and waited for Belle. The Transfiguration classroom was long, stone hall, basically. There was three stairs that led to a teaching platform just before three rows of two person desks. The windows were covered with purple tapestries that served as curtains.

"All right, Lily?" Belle said, plopping herself down next to Lily.

"Hey Belle." Lily said, just as McGonagall entered the room, scrutinizing her students.

"Good morning." McGonagall replied. She glanced down the rows. "Where's Mr. Lupin?"

"With his great grandpa." Sirius chimed. McGonagall nodded in understanding.

"Very well." She replied, placing her role sheet delicately on the desk. "Now, turning things into animals is no easy task. We've all learned to change things from animals into an object, but never the other way around. So, pull out your notes, and let's get started. This could be on your exams, by the way…"

Lily groaned. Exams. They weren't for another three months, and yet teachers still made studying for them such a big deal. Although, this year Lily would be taking her B.A.T.s, or brutal advancement tests. If they didn't pass, then they wouldn't be a qualified witch or wizard.

After class ended, Lily headed back to the Grand Hall for a small lunch. As she was walking down the hall, Madison hurried to catch up to her.

"Guess what, Lily?!" Madison said excitedly. "Just guess who asked me on a date?" She said, biting her lip anxiously.

"Who?" Lily asked with interest.

"Shawn Lestrange!" She squealed with delight. "Can you believe it?"

"What?" Lily exclaimed. "But, he's in Slytherin…"

"No one cares about what houses people are in anymore! And besides, he is so hot." Madison sighed dreamily. "Oh! And guess what else?"

"What now?" Lily asked.

"Come on; guess." Madison pressed.

"Just tell me, before I loose interest." Lily snapped.

"Okay, okay." Madison replied. "Chill out. My mom said that I could dye my hair!" She smiled.

"Dye your hair? Why would you want to do something like that? You're hair is so pretty!" Lily gaped. "What color?"

"Oh come on, Lily. Don't be so medieval. People all over are dying their hair these days. Just look at Kallie from the Kauldron Kids…"

"What color?" Lily repeated.

"Oh, right- raven black." Madison proclaimed, flipping her perfect blonde hair.

"Black? Like Belle's?"

"Yeah. Only I'm going to go a little darker. And I'm going to grow it out. Can you just imagine? It'll be too perfect." Madison said.

"Right. Too perfect." Lily half-heartedly agreed.

"Oh- and before I forget… Malfoy told me to give this to you. Said he saw it in the owlery…"

"Lucius Malfoy? Doing something nice for a change, is he?" Lily chuckled, accepting the letter from Madison.

"Or maybe I'm not the only Gryffindor girl with the hots for Slytherin guys…" Madison taunted.

"Gross. Don't even say things like that." Lily blanched. "I'll catch up to you later, okay?"

"All right… see you, then." She called over her shoulder as she trooped down the stairs. Lily watched her go, then sat down at the foot of a suit of armor.

"Let's see here…" She muttered to herself as she tore open the envelope.

Lily Evans.

I have something I need to request from you. Meet me outside the Forbidden Forest tomorrow night, at midnight. If I were you, I would attend, or the consequences would be most ominous… for Lupin, anyway… If you tell anyone, Lupin will die.

"Oh my God!" Lily murmured. "What a freak…"

"Who's a freak?" Someone asked, making Lily jump slightly.

She looked up and saw it was Joe, the third year with the annoying accent. Lily hesitated before answering, her eyes resting on the final three words of the note.

"Lucius Malfoy." She said. "He wants me to… meet him outside the school tomorrow, that's all." That's what the letter is about; anyway… the Remus thing was just a joke…

"Oh." Joe said. "Aren' choo gonna go?"

"Why shouldn't I?" Lily asked.

Joe paused before answering. "I don' know. He's a Slytherin, ain't he?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" Lily laughed.

"From me experience, I've no'iced that Slytherin sucks." Joe chuckled.

"Tell that to Madison…" Lily said under her breath.