Chapter 12: Like a Princess

Lily wiped some perspiration from her brow. After months away at a school where house-elves did all the chores, Lily had forgotten what it was like to work in a hot kitchen. She was filled with a deep appreciation for Tippy and the others.

Mrs. Evans placed another dish on the table. "Go wash up, dear. Then we'll call them in for lunch."

Lily went to fix herself up. She found herself paying a little more attention to her hair than usual.

Mrs. Evans was waiting at the back door. "Be discreet, Lily. We don't want to disturb the conversation, do we?"

Lily got what her mother had in mind. "No problem."

Stealthily, the women ducked into a bush that was near enough the men.

"NEVER, EVER torture someone in front of Lily," Mr. Evans was stating. "We've always raised her to be compassionate, and she'll hex the hair off your head if she sees you doing any sort of injustice to poor defenseless creatures."

"Alright, I always knew Dad was weird," Lily hissed. "I mean, who says that their daughter is compassionate?"

"Your dad, apparently," Mrs. Evans replied.

James snorted. "That one is obvious. I still haven't forgotten that tongue-lashing she gave after I dangled Severus Snape upside-down back in fifth year."

Lily was completely thrown. He actually called Snape by his real name.

"That's Lily. Not afraid at all to stand up for what she believes in," Mr. Evans agreed.

"No wonder I love her so darn much," James said jokingly.

Lily felt her face flame. And oddly, her heart skipped a little beat.

"Oh, come on, Mum," she grumbled, in an attempt to ignore that. "I'm getting hungry. I'll set the table while you call them." Lily started immediately for the house, trying to will away the warm feeling she felt whenever she looked at James.

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Lily used her free palm to slap her forehead repeatedly as she arranged the spoons and forks.

I will not think about Potter. I will not think about Potter and the fact that MY DAD likes him. I will not think about Potter and the fact that he's so sweet. I will not think about Potter, period.

"We're coming in!" Mr. Evans announced as he pushed open the door—right into Mrs. Evans's nose.

"Owwww!"

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"Goodbye!" Mr. and Mrs. Evans (whose nose was nicely bandaged) called as James and Lily prepared to Apparate back to school.

The lunch had gone fairly well, despite the fact that Mrs. Evans had gotten her nose slightly broken. James had offered to fix that, but apparently considering what he had done to the roof, the older woman had politely declined, preferring to stick with Muggle methods instead.

"Are you sure you don't want me to heal that?" James asked Mrs. Evans again. "I can heal, I promise. One of my relatives was a Healer and he taught me."

"Oh come on, Potter. I don't want my mum to get an elephant trunk on her face," Lily retorted.

"Perhaps when you get your license to heal, James," Mrs. Evans replied, a bit more gently than her daughter.

Mr. Evans guffawed.

"Don't think for one second you're off the hook," Mrs. Evans snapped at her husband. "Next time you open the door, I'll be waiting with a shovel."

James and Lily grinned.

"Well, we'll be off now. Thanks for the lunch, ma'am," James said.

"Yeah, bye mum, dad," Lily added.

In a wink, they were back at the just-outside-of-Hogwarts spot, where Sirius, Nicole, and Remus were already waiting.

"How'd it go?" Remus asked James as the five of them trekked back to Hogwarts.

"I like her mum's cooking," James replied brightly.

"Wow. Just what I wanted to know," Remus quipped sarcastically.

"I'd say things went well," Sirius cut in. "Dear Prongsie's still in one piece."

"Her dad's cool," James continued. "We actually talked a little Quidditch."

"Really? How does he know about Quidditch?"

"Lily. She likes it, you know. And Mr. Evans decided to learn a little more about the sport, and now he finds it more interesting than—what was that sport with the players running around in shorts—oh yeah, bassetball. And would you believe, he…"

While the boys oohed and aahed over Mr. Evans's extensive knowledge about Quidditch, Lily and Nicole had walked on ahead.

"So whose idea was this meeting-my-parents thing?" Lily asked her friend conversationally. "No way Potter thought it up on his own."

"Remus. His mum, actually. So how'd it go?" Nicole's eyes gleamed with interest.

"Well, the top of my house now has an enormous hole where brick and plaster used to be," Lily replied.

"Oh my! How'd your parents react?"

"You won't believe this, but my dad loves him. And so does my mum."

"How about you?" Nicole's voice held a teasing note.

"Just because my parents like him doesn't mean I do," Lily replied with as much calm as she could muster.

"Is it warm out here or something? Because I could swear your face was pinking."

"You've been spending far too much time with Sirius."

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AN: Sadly, this story is going to be ending very soon…this is the second-to-the-last chapter. But don't fret. There'll be more coming… :)

And yay! I've reached 200 reviews! THANK YOU, LORD GOD! :) Of course, to my loyal reviewers:

Dans-girl-4ever- Thanks! I'm glad you liked Lily's dad. As for him liking James so much…well my explanation for that is that Mr. Evans somehow saw some of himself in Jamesie. :) Tell me if that reason is weak… :)

Annmarie Aspasia- Thanks! :) And poor you…what happened?

James'Gurl215- Thanks! And yes, she's starting to think differently of him… :)

DK Lili- Thanks! And I really wanted something to work for James, so that's what I did. :)

CherryChick914- Yup, that's why laughter is the best medicine. :)

Crimson Girl- Heehee. :) Thanks! :) Sorry though, but there's not going to be many details about the "lessons". I hope you forgive me…

WiltedRedRose- Wow, thanks! And she is coming around. That's why they'll get married and have a cute little baby named Harry who'll become hero of the wizarding world… :)

Alcapacien- Thanks! :) And, well, I think this is the end of James's disasters, this much I can assure you. As for what Lily will do…read and see. :)

Shortie522- Thanks! :)

An Anti-Sheep Cheese Muffin- Thanks! :)

Kim- Thanks! It makes me thrilled that you like this so much! :)

Brilliant-author16- I'm glad you liked the last chapter! And thanks! :)

turquoiseBliss- Thanks! :)

invisible2u- Thanks! :) Lily's parents are incredibly cool. :)