The Flower that Finally Bloomed
Chapter 5
Return to Hogwarts
Lily stepped off the train, in front of Hogwarts. She looked up and gazed at the majestic Scottish-design castle. This was going to be her home again for the next ten months. Not that she was complaining. "It's not like my family home's any better," she murmured bitterly to herself.
"Hellooooo...Earth to Lily Evans. Do we have contact?" Sara screeched playfully, jolting Lily out of her thoughts. She looked up and saw Sara standing at the main entrance of Hogwarts, waving her arms frantically at Lily's direction
Lily forced her lips into a tight smile, and pushed all her bitter thoughts about home to the back of her head. "I'm coming Sara McMoony," Lily shouted back to Sara, as she jogged up to her.
"What did you call me, Miss Lily Flower? 'McMoony' eughhh...that makes me sound like a grandma. Where did you get the slightest idea that I'd adopt HIS surname? I told you a million times that I have absolutely no feelings for Remus," Sara huffed, as she walked alongside Lily to the dining hall.
"Yeah. Are you sure? Someone's a bit touchy on the subject," Lily teased gleefully, "Besides, the poor guy's just dying to grab you and snog you senseless.
Sara blushed bright red at this statement. "Whatever. What about you? James looked like a puppy who has discovered a huge juicy bone, when he saw you just now," Sara shot back.
At this, Lily's mind immediately formed a picture of James Potter in her mind. 'Hey, those hazel eyes are really something. Makes him look sorta...cute,' she thought. Hold on what did she just think!? "James Potter is not cute. He's nothing but a bullying asshole. That's right. He's ugly, arrogant and a womanizer," Lily corrected herself aloud.
"So that's what Lily Evans, the ex-dork, thinks of me, eh?"
Lily swiveled around to face the speaker. She saw a sneering James Potter right behind her, hurt evident in her eyes. Shit. Had she really said that out loud? Damn. She hadn't meant to do that.
Lily sighed and said, "Look Potter, I..." James did not let her finish.
"Save it, Evans," James sneered evilly before stalking off into the Great Hall. Sirius, Remus and Peter scurried after James, shooting death glances at Lily. (It was noticed by Sara that Remus was looking quite a fair bit at her, rather than Lily.) Lily could only open and close her mouth, trying to get out a wordless apology.
Sara clamped her hand over Lily's shoulder, and advised, "Serve them right, the jerky bastards. Don't worry Lily, someone has to puncture that jerk's ego." Lily wanted so much to agree with her friend. But that look on James' face, the clear hurt in his hazel eyes. They cut at her heart. She actually really felt sorry for hurting that arrogant bastard. "Stop, it," she scolded herself. Yep! She totally agreed with Sara. They got what they deserved. But somehow, she knew deep down that she did not mean that at all.
As Lily and Sara walked into the Great Hall, the gigantic hall that was usually buzzing with noise hushed, and all eyes were on Lily. There were some distinctive remarks like, "Who is that hot girl?" and "Is that a new student? She's really got it going." Lily felt embarrassed by these comments, and did her best to hide behind Sara, who seemed to be oblivious to the comments.
"Hey Sara, over here. Come join us, and you're welcome to bring your pretty friend along," a couple of members of the James Potter Fanclub called from the end of the Gryffindor table, nearest to the Marauders (duh!). Sara immediately bounded over, dragging a visibly reluctant Lily along.
"So Sara, how was your holiday," Alison asked in her extremely fake, high-pitched voice, while her eyes seemed to dart every three seconds to James, who was sitting two seats away from her. James, Lily uncomfortably noted, was giving her very evil glances.
"Well, I went to France for a week. One of my aunt's live there, so I got to tour the whole place for free, courtesy of my exhausted uncle and his poor car," Sara jokingly said, and started laughing at her own joke. (Coincidentally, at the same moment, Remus was blushing like a tomato at something Sirius had whispered something into his ear.) Sara's friends (except Lily who was looking rather nervous) started letting out laughs that sounded more like screeches, probably trying to get James' attention.
"Sara honey. You're sooo funny. But who is your new friend? She looks pretty enough to be one of us. (Sheesh!) Come and tell us about yourself," Claire, another JP fanclub member, inquired, addressing a panicking Lily.
"Oh dear. None of them knows it's me," Lily thought fearfully. How was she going to tell them? How would they react? "Umm...I'm..." Lily had hardly spoken her first word, when the headmaster started his speech.
"Welcome, boys and girls, once again to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As usual, the forbidden Forest is out of bounds, and I would like to appeal to a certain four boys to try and refrain from getting into too much trouble this year," Dumbledore said, looking purposefully at the Marauders. The Marauders feigned deep hurt, when Dumbledore said this, causing the entire hall to burst into ripples of laughter.
Dumbledore's mouth twitched slightly at their public display of watery puppy dog eyes, but he managed to control his expression. "Having said all that, I would now like to introduce this year's Heads. These two students have shown outstanding performances in their academic work, and are responsible as well as trusting. (Sirius snorted into his pudding at the last half of the sentence. James glared at him.) I'm very pleased to introduce to you your new Head Boy, James Potter," Dumbledore announced. James grinned as he stood up amidst a thunderous roar of applause and screeches (from the JP fanclub). "And your new Head Girl is, Lily Evans," Dumbledore continued, but this time to total silence. Suddenly, the whole hall erupted into whispers as Lily stood up.
"Is THAT Lily Evans..." "Hey, she's hot..." Lily felt her face grow hot, and she could feel James glaring at her. As she sat down, Alison practically shrieked, "You're Evans!! Evans that...that dork! Look who's trying to fit in now, eh? Well guess what Miss Smarty Pants, you were never welcome here, and you still aren't. So get lost, BITCH!!!"
Lily heard the whole hall hush, and she could feel tears gathering at the bottom of hr eyes. She quickly stood up, and her legs automatically started running. Lily ran as fast as she could to the door, determined to keep her tears back until she was past the door. She heard Sara calling after her, telling her to come back. But she kept running, running as fast as she could. She hated everybody. Everybody with the exception of Sara.
Back at the hall...
Sara had lost her temper with Alison. "You lousy miserable bitch..." she seethed, "What did she ever do to you? Huh? ANSWER ME!!!" Sara lunged at Alison, but Remus caught her just in time before she could gauge out Alison's eyes. For a girl, Sara had an unnatural strength, and James had to help Remus restrain her.
Dumdledore suddenly appeared beside them and said, "Ten points from Grffindor, for that and unsporting comment, Miss Creek. Mr. Lupin and Mr. Black. Please escort Miss McOriel to her dorm, and as for Mr. Potter. Would you be so kind as to go find Miss Evans and bring her to my office? I would like to have a discussion with the both of you." With that, he disappeared from the hall.
James hardly had time to nod, and walked swiftly out of the doors. God. He didn't know Lily had it that hard. All these years she was not only taunted by him, but also by the girls. But he felt angry all over again, when he thought of how Lily had insulted him earlier. Nobody calls James Potter names, and gets off easy. Just then, he heard loud sobs coming from an empty Charms classroom on his right. James gently pushed open the door and was surprised to find that it wasn't locked.
"Go...away..." a sob-wracked voice said suddenly from a corner. James turned and all his earlier anger evaporated. Lily was crouching in a dark corner, her knees to her face, and tears streaked her flawless white skin. James took a step towards her. The very sight of Lily crying made James' heart want to break with sorrow for her. She looked like some sort of fallen angel.
Lily saw James approaching and she wiped her face angrily. "I said go away," she said in a stronger voice." Have you come to laugh at me? No wait. Lets see what other names you can call me. Dork Evans? Evans the Geek? Which one is it this time?" Lily spat.
She let out a surprised gasp when James suddenly knelt down in front of her and put his arms around her. In her shock at this most unexpected gesture, Lily could do little but hang limply in James' strong arms.
Suddenly, James got up abruptly and dusted his robe. "Sorry..." he mumbled and offered Lily a hand. "Dumbledore wishes to discuss something with us," James continued in a more formal voice.
Lily's spark of hope distinguished with his abrupt manner. 'Of coarse. What did you expect? He must feel really sorry for such a pathetic, silly girl like me,' Lily thought bitterly as she took his hand. Suddenly, her old resentment for him returned, and her heart stoned over. When Lily was finally standing on her own two feet again, James held her hand gently to steady her. Lily angrily slapped his hand away, and glared at James. "Potter, I don't need your sympathy. I can manage perfectly fine by my self," Lily spat.
Lily immediately began to regret her sharp words, as the familiar hurt spread across James' face. But James seemed to be able to control his expressions, and quickly masked his face over with a stone cold expression. "Look Evans, we are expected at Dumbledore's office, right now. And if you weren't so caught up in your own little sad world, I wouldn't be here, watching this pathetic scene," James replied coldly. Then he spun around and began to walk out of the classroom.
As she watched James walk out of the door, an unexpected electric feeling filled her body, and her heart seemed to have taken control of her body. It was now or never. She ran up to James, called out his name and when he turned around, she planted a firm kiss on his lips.
Lily stepped off the train, in front of Hogwarts. She looked up and gazed at the majestic Scottish-design castle. This was going to be her home again for the next ten months. Not that she was complaining. "It's not like my family home's any better," she murmured bitterly to herself.
"Hellooooo...Earth to Lily Evans. Do we have contact?" Sara screeched playfully, jolting Lily out of her thoughts. She looked up and saw Sara standing at the main entrance of Hogwarts, waving her arms frantically at Lily's direction
Lily forced her lips into a tight smile, and pushed all her bitter thoughts about home to the back of her head. "I'm coming Sara McMoony," Lily shouted back to Sara, as she jogged up to her.
"What did you call me, Miss Lily Flower? 'McMoony' eughhh...that makes me sound like a grandma. Where did you get the slightest idea that I'd adopt HIS surname? I told you a million times that I have absolutely no feelings for Remus," Sara huffed, as she walked alongside Lily to the dining hall.
"Yeah. Are you sure? Someone's a bit touchy on the subject," Lily teased gleefully, "Besides, the poor guy's just dying to grab you and snog you senseless.
Sara blushed bright red at this statement. "Whatever. What about you? James looked like a puppy who has discovered a huge juicy bone, when he saw you just now," Sara shot back.
At this, Lily's mind immediately formed a picture of James Potter in her mind. 'Hey, those hazel eyes are really something. Makes him look sorta...cute,' she thought. Hold on what did she just think!? "James Potter is not cute. He's nothing but a bullying asshole. That's right. He's ugly, arrogant and a womanizer," Lily corrected herself aloud.
"So that's what Lily Evans, the ex-dork, thinks of me, eh?"
Lily swiveled around to face the speaker. She saw a sneering James Potter right behind her, hurt evident in her eyes. Shit. Had she really said that out loud? Damn. She hadn't meant to do that.
Lily sighed and said, "Look Potter, I..." James did not let her finish.
"Save it, Evans," James sneered evilly before stalking off into the Great Hall. Sirius, Remus and Peter scurried after James, shooting death glances at Lily. (It was noticed by Sara that Remus was looking quite a fair bit at her, rather than Lily.) Lily could only open and close her mouth, trying to get out a wordless apology.
Sara clamped her hand over Lily's shoulder, and advised, "Serve them right, the jerky bastards. Don't worry Lily, someone has to puncture that jerk's ego." Lily wanted so much to agree with her friend. But that look on James' face, the clear hurt in his hazel eyes. They cut at her heart. She actually really felt sorry for hurting that arrogant bastard. "Stop, it," she scolded herself. Yep! She totally agreed with Sara. They got what they deserved. But somehow, she knew deep down that she did not mean that at all.
As Lily and Sara walked into the Great Hall, the gigantic hall that was usually buzzing with noise hushed, and all eyes were on Lily. There were some distinctive remarks like, "Who is that hot girl?" and "Is that a new student? She's really got it going." Lily felt embarrassed by these comments, and did her best to hide behind Sara, who seemed to be oblivious to the comments.
"Hey Sara, over here. Come join us, and you're welcome to bring your pretty friend along," a couple of members of the James Potter Fanclub called from the end of the Gryffindor table, nearest to the Marauders (duh!). Sara immediately bounded over, dragging a visibly reluctant Lily along.
"So Sara, how was your holiday," Alison asked in her extremely fake, high-pitched voice, while her eyes seemed to dart every three seconds to James, who was sitting two seats away from her. James, Lily uncomfortably noted, was giving her very evil glances.
"Well, I went to France for a week. One of my aunt's live there, so I got to tour the whole place for free, courtesy of my exhausted uncle and his poor car," Sara jokingly said, and started laughing at her own joke. (Coincidentally, at the same moment, Remus was blushing like a tomato at something Sirius had whispered something into his ear.) Sara's friends (except Lily who was looking rather nervous) started letting out laughs that sounded more like screeches, probably trying to get James' attention.
"Sara honey. You're sooo funny. But who is your new friend? She looks pretty enough to be one of us. (Sheesh!) Come and tell us about yourself," Claire, another JP fanclub member, inquired, addressing a panicking Lily.
"Oh dear. None of them knows it's me," Lily thought fearfully. How was she going to tell them? How would they react? "Umm...I'm..." Lily had hardly spoken her first word, when the headmaster started his speech.
"Welcome, boys and girls, once again to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As usual, the forbidden Forest is out of bounds, and I would like to appeal to a certain four boys to try and refrain from getting into too much trouble this year," Dumbledore said, looking purposefully at the Marauders. The Marauders feigned deep hurt, when Dumbledore said this, causing the entire hall to burst into ripples of laughter.
Dumbledore's mouth twitched slightly at their public display of watery puppy dog eyes, but he managed to control his expression. "Having said all that, I would now like to introduce this year's Heads. These two students have shown outstanding performances in their academic work, and are responsible as well as trusting. (Sirius snorted into his pudding at the last half of the sentence. James glared at him.) I'm very pleased to introduce to you your new Head Boy, James Potter," Dumbledore announced. James grinned as he stood up amidst a thunderous roar of applause and screeches (from the JP fanclub). "And your new Head Girl is, Lily Evans," Dumbledore continued, but this time to total silence. Suddenly, the whole hall erupted into whispers as Lily stood up.
"Is THAT Lily Evans..." "Hey, she's hot..." Lily felt her face grow hot, and she could feel James glaring at her. As she sat down, Alison practically shrieked, "You're Evans!! Evans that...that dork! Look who's trying to fit in now, eh? Well guess what Miss Smarty Pants, you were never welcome here, and you still aren't. So get lost, BITCH!!!"
Lily heard the whole hall hush, and she could feel tears gathering at the bottom of hr eyes. She quickly stood up, and her legs automatically started running. Lily ran as fast as she could to the door, determined to keep her tears back until she was past the door. She heard Sara calling after her, telling her to come back. But she kept running, running as fast as she could. She hated everybody. Everybody with the exception of Sara.
Back at the hall...
Sara had lost her temper with Alison. "You lousy miserable bitch..." she seethed, "What did she ever do to you? Huh? ANSWER ME!!!" Sara lunged at Alison, but Remus caught her just in time before she could gauge out Alison's eyes. For a girl, Sara had an unnatural strength, and James had to help Remus restrain her.
Dumdledore suddenly appeared beside them and said, "Ten points from Grffindor, for that and unsporting comment, Miss Creek. Mr. Lupin and Mr. Black. Please escort Miss McOriel to her dorm, and as for Mr. Potter. Would you be so kind as to go find Miss Evans and bring her to my office? I would like to have a discussion with the both of you." With that, he disappeared from the hall.
James hardly had time to nod, and walked swiftly out of the doors. God. He didn't know Lily had it that hard. All these years she was not only taunted by him, but also by the girls. But he felt angry all over again, when he thought of how Lily had insulted him earlier. Nobody calls James Potter names, and gets off easy. Just then, he heard loud sobs coming from an empty Charms classroom on his right. James gently pushed open the door and was surprised to find that it wasn't locked.
"Go...away..." a sob-wracked voice said suddenly from a corner. James turned and all his earlier anger evaporated. Lily was crouching in a dark corner, her knees to her face, and tears streaked her flawless white skin. James took a step towards her. The very sight of Lily crying made James' heart want to break with sorrow for her. She looked like some sort of fallen angel.
Lily saw James approaching and she wiped her face angrily. "I said go away," she said in a stronger voice." Have you come to laugh at me? No wait. Lets see what other names you can call me. Dork Evans? Evans the Geek? Which one is it this time?" Lily spat.
She let out a surprised gasp when James suddenly knelt down in front of her and put his arms around her. In her shock at this most unexpected gesture, Lily could do little but hang limply in James' strong arms.
Suddenly, James got up abruptly and dusted his robe. "Sorry..." he mumbled and offered Lily a hand. "Dumbledore wishes to discuss something with us," James continued in a more formal voice.
Lily's spark of hope distinguished with his abrupt manner. 'Of coarse. What did you expect? He must feel really sorry for such a pathetic, silly girl like me,' Lily thought bitterly as she took his hand. Suddenly, her old resentment for him returned, and her heart stoned over. When Lily was finally standing on her own two feet again, James held her hand gently to steady her. Lily angrily slapped his hand away, and glared at James. "Potter, I don't need your sympathy. I can manage perfectly fine by my self," Lily spat.
Lily immediately began to regret her sharp words, as the familiar hurt spread across James' face. But James seemed to be able to control his expressions, and quickly masked his face over with a stone cold expression. "Look Evans, we are expected at Dumbledore's office, right now. And if you weren't so caught up in your own little sad world, I wouldn't be here, watching this pathetic scene," James replied coldly. Then he spun around and began to walk out of the classroom.
As she watched James walk out of the door, an unexpected electric feeling filled her body, and her heart seemed to have taken control of her body. It was now or never. She ran up to James, called out his name and when he turned around, she planted a firm kiss on his lips.