Pink Pearls

By Scarlette

Chapter 1: 'On My Own'

Lily sighed as she looked out into the reflection of the stars and the quarter moon on the surface of the lake. Everyone else was inside eating diner, but not her. She didn't have much of an appetite lately. Things were so different now…

Since the moment she stepped out of the train after the end of her sixth year she had sensed things would drastically change. Instead of going home to her beautiful home in Muggle London, she found herself in the hospital at her father's bedside. A week after her arrival, Lily lost her father to cancer of the lungs. He was buried right away, and after the funeral all hell broke loose in the Evan's household.

Lily did not have time to cry for her father, her mother had shed enough tears for both of them. Mrs. Evans had been devastated and kept to herself, locked away in the room she had shared with her husband. Petunia did not make the tragedy any easier to deal with, either. Petunia did nothing but spend hours crying and screaming in her room asking questions about what was to be done now. Diner became a war zone between the three Evan women. At one end, Petunia would be bitterly demanding how they were to pay the house bills, the hospital bills, and the funeral bills. Mrs. Evans would promise to get a job and that everything would be fine. Petunia would answer with a horrible shriek and then spilling her diner all over the table and floor. Lily would remain quiet sipping at her broth while her mother broke down into tears and run to the refuge of her room.

Things of course did not get any better. Mrs. Evans got a job at a hospital working as the receptionist during the night shift. Petunia kept working as a waitress at a small diner nearby. Lily looked after the house and took up the daily chores. She fed her grumpy sister during the day, and comforted her heartbroken mother in the wee hours of the morning.

When the summer break came to a close Lily left her distraught mother in the hands of her cruel, bitter sister, Petunia. They were forced to sell their home and now Mrs. Evans and Petunia lived in a tiny apartment in the slums of urban England. Lily felt guilty for leaving at such a horrible time, but she needed the comfort of Hogwarts and magic to help her cope with the losses she had gone through. Lily had hoped that school would help her take her mind off things, and give her time to rest. That was not so. The pressures of schoolwork, and her nearing future deepened the wound in heart.

Lily twirled her favorite pearl necklace with her fingers as she took in a deep breath. Lily pulled her old graying sweater tighter around herself and stood up. It was getting late and she had promised to meet Severus in the library. The stress was beginning to affect her grades especially in Potions, and she had finally managed to convince Snape to help her. Taking one last look at the peaceful lake she turned her back on the moon's reflection and made her way back to the castle.

James rubbed his forehead impatiently while Peter recited a new spell they learned for their Defense Against the Dark Arts Class. This was the fourth time Peter went through the entire incantation and yet he kept missing the first line in the third verse. "Still studying, old chap?" Sirius asked brightly as he clapped Peter's back gently. "Unfortunately all the studying in the world will not help him pass the quiz tomorrow," James groaned, his voice heavy with boredom. Peter's ears turned pink. "Where has our dear ole Moony run off to this time?" Sirius asked suddenly looking about the Gryffindor common room trying to spot Remus. "I believe dear Moony is at the library tutoring a certain Ravenclaw that goes by the name of Sandra Rhodes," James said his eyes brightening with an idea. Sirius caught the look in his best friend's eyes and instantly ideas flashed before his mind's eye. Peter was oblivious to the silent exchange between his two fellow Marauders, and he continued on reading over his lecture notes trying hard to remember the complex spell. Sirius made his way to the exit of the Gryffindor common room; James silently followed him.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, Severus" Lily apologized as she took a seat across the mountain of books Snape had picked out for their study session. "Quite alright, tardiness is expected when meeting with a Gryffindor," he said coldly. Lily sighed audibly; this was going to be a long night. "Shall we proceed?" Lily asked in a mock tone. Snape looked up at her his eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Well what exactly is it that you need help with?" Lily sighed at the question. "I'm having trouble with the four remedial potions we were told to memorize for tomorrow's class." Lily's cheeks turned slightly pink, it was really quite embarrassing to ask for help. A small smile crossed Snape's lips. It was really quite interesting to see Lily, Head Girl, struggling as she asked or assistance with a fairly difficult assignment. Catching himself, Snape cleared his throat and the smile was replaced with a smirk as he began a long and tedious lecture emphasizing the potions in question and how well he knew them. Lily took up her quill and began to take notes furiously on a new roll of parchment.

Nearby, Remus was explaining the difference between a werewolf and a shape-shifter to a fifth year Ravenclaw. Sandra brushed a stray of black hair from her face as she listened intently to what the older, wiser Gryffindor was trying hard to explain. "So you see werewolves can't exactly control their transformation. Shape-shifters, however, can transform at will," Remus concluded, quite proud with himself. Sandra smiled warmly at him and her big brown eyes brightened as she closed her D.A.D.A. textbook. In reality she knew very well the differences between werewolves and shape-shifters. This study session was merely an excuse to speak to the boy she liked very much. "So is there anything else you needed-- any other clarifications you need?" Remus asked. The girl blushed and shook her head nervously and began to gather her notes and books into her school bag. "Thank you very much. I'm sorry I'm such a bother…" "Not at all, I rather enjoy helping you," Remus interrupted. Sandra quickly held up her textbook in an attempt to hide her very red cheeks. "Well goodnight Remus." Sandra took a step toward the library door but stopped to look back. Remus had already buried himself into a book on dragons he had been studying earlier. Disappointed, Sandra continued walking until she disappeared behind a large shelf filled with books.

"I honestly don't know what's wrong with you Moony," a familiar voice caused Remus to look up from his book. He smiled when he saw James and Sirius taking the seats next to his. "What are you going on about, Padfoot?" Remus put down the book in his hands to look at his fellow Marauder. "That Sandra Rhodes is head over heals in love with you, mate, and you won't give her the time of day!" Sirius began to rub Remus's head as if that would help sink the words into his dear friend's head. Annoyed, Remus slapped away Sirius's hands and began to smooth out his ruffled hair. "I have no Idea what you're talking about. Even if she was interested, I could never pursue a relationship. It's just another perk about being a werewolf," he responded solemnly. "You're being stupid, you know that?" Sirius slapped his friend gently. "Tell him James that he's… James, are you listening?"

James was not listening one bit. From the moment he had sat down he noticed the redhead he loved so much sitting at a table with his sworn enemy. Oh yeah, he felt quite jealous. Why would Lily spend time with that brute, Snape, and not even give James a second thought? "James, you're drooling," Remus and Sirius broke into a laugh. "I don't understand it, why doesn't Lily like me?" James hissed bitterly as he glared at Severus. "Well, you're so gosh darn handsome, and smart. You're also quite the athlete…" Sirius listed. "Well she did say you were a bit conceited. You also have a bad reputation with girls," Remus added gravely. James glared at his two so-called best friends. In response they began laughing. "It's not funny," he hissed and stood up.

Lily set down her quill and sinked into her chair. Severus continued talking about the Remedial potions, but he was just repeating everything he had said before. In fact, he had repeated everything twice already and Lily had everything she needed to know embedded into her mind. Bored, she began to play with her necklace.

"If I'm boring you please tell me," Severus's voice was cold and yet there was a small hint of hut in it. "Oh, I'm sorry Severus, thank you for your help. I think I've got it." Lily was now standing straight in her chair trying hard to look apologetic. "Hello, Snivellus." Lily saw Potter behind Severus before he even spoke. Within a second Severus was at his feet, wand in hand. Lily made a move to get up but Severus's voice stopped her. "Don't bother. I don't need help from a silly girl." Sirius appeared beside Potter with a wicked smirk plastered on his face. "My Snivellus is getting very brave, now isn't he?" Severus glared at the black haired Sirius with great distaste. Potter opened his mouth to call out a spell but was stopped when he felt a wand pressing under his jaw. His hazel eyes glanced down to meet with narrowed green ones. "Potter, I'm not in the mood to clean up your mess this time. I'm Head Girl and if you do not leave this instant I'll write you up for a month's detention," Lily threatened, her voice just above a whisper but still very threatening. Severus opened his mouth to tell the silly redhead to stay out of his affairs but was silenced when her elbow buried itself in the pit of his stomach. "Sirius is here too, why aren't you threatening him?" Potter whined bringing down his wand. "Because you started it!" Lily hissed.

Enraged, James turned and stalked out of the library, with Sirius and Remus at his heels. "I didn't need your help," Severus said testily. "I really do not care if you do or don't!" Lily's head was pounding; she really did not want to deal with a brawl between Potter and Snape. She had too many things on her mind already. Quickly Lily gathered her things and began to leave. "Thank you for your help," she said as calmly as she could as she passed a red-faced Severus Snape. When he didn't respond, Lily continued walking until finally she was outside the library doors.

The three Marauders were gathered outside waiting for her. Each was following her to Gryffindor tower. Sirius had his arm around her neck laughing and telling her to lighten up, while Remus walked ahead of them. James walked in dead silence next to Sirius. His insides were boiling with anger. Lily hated him more than ever; at this rate he would never win her heart.

A/N: There it is, Chapter 1! Hope you like it… I won't be able to update until maybe Wednesday or Thursday… sorry but I have finals this week… blah… Note: "On My Own" is a song by The Used (hell yeah!)… You should all check it out… goes with Lily's mood at the beginning of this chapter.

Thank you, Hikaru. Hope you enjoyed this!

Suggestions, Comments, Flames, anything please tell me!

luv,

Scarlette