Chapter 15
Lily woke up to a pecking at her window, most likely an owl with her Daily Prophet. Lily sat up in her bed and leaned over to open the window beside her bed. The owl flew in and sat down beside her. Lily noticed that it wasn't the owl that brought her Daily Prophet everyday, and turned to look at Cassidy. Cassidy was across the room, and had the Daily Prophet on her bed. It looked as if Cassidy heard the owl and let it in, gave it its fee and went back to sleep.
Lily took the envelope from the owl and it sat there staring at her. Lily began to read the letter…
Dearest Lily Flower,
I know that I did not give you your birthday present last night, I'd completely forgotten about it until Sirius and I were back in my room. So you will get your present from me tonight, when Sirius and I come over.
No, the present I gave you in the hospital is not your birthday present. The heart necklace I gave you was 'Get Well Soon' present.
I hope you like what I've gotten for you.
Sirius and I will be over at about 2 p.m. Gives you gals' enough time to get ready and whatever else you two do.
Love always,
James
Lily smiled at the letter; James was so funny at times. Lily looked over at her alarm clock, it was 10 a.m. Lily sighed; she hated getting help to do everything.
Her father had installed a seat in the bathtub so she could wash herself, so all she needed now was help in the tub to the seat.
Lily looked over at her calendar and sighed, she had to be at St. Mungo's tonight at five…so they could see how she was progressing.
"Cass," Lily said so she'd wake up her friend…but Cassidy didn't wake up.
"Cass…." Still no response, "CASS!" Lily yelled.
"Bloody hell, woman!" Cassidy said sitting up clutching her heart, "You sure know how to give someone a bloody heart attack don't you? What is it you want?"
"We need to get up."
"Ugh," Cassidy said flopping back on the bed and turning to look at Lily's alarm clock. "It's only two minutes after ten, why do we need to get up?" She wined. "I like to sleep late on my vacations."
Lily laughed; sometimes her best friend was such a drama queen. "As do I, Cassidy, as do I. James just sent me a letter; the boys will be over at two. We still need to take a shower, get dressed, and whatever else. Oh no!" She gasped.
Cassidy jumped out of bed afraid that there was something wrong with Lily and ran over to her. "What's wrong Lils?"
"I didn't get Sirius anything for his birthday!" She said with her eyes bugging out.
"Okay, Lils." Cassidy said now collapsing on Lily's bed. "I think he'll understand…just give him a few galleons."
"What did you get him?"
"Some jokes from Zonko's. Couldn't really think of anything." She said shrugging her shoulders.
"You know Cass; I never got to ask you. But, how was the dance with Sirius?"
Cassidy began to smile, a smile that made her whole face light up. "It was nice; he didn't try anything, just like he'd promised me. We really weren't there long. After Amos attacked you at the dance, you were rushed to the Hospital Wing. Sirius, Gabby, Alice, and I ran after James and you. James looked so worried. Dumbledore canceled the dance right there, and McGonagall and Sprout took Amos to McGonagall's office. Dumbledore told everyone to go back to their Common Rooms. He saw the four of us, and told us we could see you later. Only James was able to go with you….you know…" Cassidy said smiling at her friend. "It's as if Dumbledore knows something that we don't."
Lily laughed, "It's always like that, and duh Dumbledore knows more than we think. What are you talking about…like with James and I?"
"Who else would I be talking about?" Cassidy said rolling her eyes.
"There's nothing to know about, we're just friends…that's all."
"Yeah," Cassidy laughed. "Friends that kiss, cry on each others shoulders, and agree to date on another when you're ready. Great friends….since when was it like that between us?" Cassidy was really laughing now. "Girl, get over it. James has it bad for you, and you're too scared to give in…I don't blame you…you've been through a lot…but you're not ready to give in." Cassidy looked around, "I'm going take a shower in the upstairs bathroom, and you need a hand?"
Sirius was jumping up and down on the bed that was in James's room. Sure Sirius had been offered a separate room, but Sirius would rather share with James…this way he could bug his friend more.
Today was Sirius's sixteenth birthday, and his parents still hadn't sent anything. Sirius knew he had to go over there after this weekend, and he expected them to forget his birthday. It would have made him really sad, but the Potters and his friends were more like family to him then any of the rest of his family.
James entered back into the room from the bathroom, towel drying his hair. "Prongsie!" Sirius yelled still bouncing on the bed.
"You know if my mum sees you doing that she'll have your head."
"No she won't, Mrs. Potter loves me…sometimes I think she loves me more than you."
James laughed at this, he was acting like Sarah. "Maybe Padfoot, just maybe."
His door sprung open and Sirius planted his bottom on the bed, he knew that he would be in a lot of trouble if Mrs. Potter found him bouncing on the bed. It was her biggest pet peeve.
"Jamey!" Sarah yelled running into the room, and James laughed as he picked up his little sister and began to spin around as she giggled. Sirius rolled his eyes, these two were so funny. Although sometimes, he wished that himself and his brother were closer. But, Sirius shook that feeling away. James let go of Sarah and she stumbled around for a few seconds before she ran over to Sirius. "Siri!" She said tackling him over and giggling at the expression on his face.
"Golly, Sarah!" He gasped and then turned to James. "She could be a muggle soccer player the way she's tackling me! You better watch out, she'd hurt you badly." He smiled as he began to tickle her, and she was shrieking for Sirius to quit. "You know James; she wouldn't be a bad Quidditch Player for Gryffindor. She's got that Potter blood, and she's not bad. I'd say a good Beater."
Sirius quit tickling her and she looked back and forth between Sirius and James. "Sarah a beater? I've never heard of a girl being a beater," James said looking at his friend as if he was crazy. "She could try out. We lost a beater and a chaser this year. But, Sarah if you do try out, I suggest you try out for a chaser. That's the best one for a girl."
Sarah looked angry, "You're saying just because I'm a girl I can't be a beater?" She shrieked.
'Oh no,' Sirius thought to himself. 'She gets angry quicker than James.'
"No, now I didn't say…"
"Yes you did James! You're saying just because I'm a girl, I can't handle being a beater! We'll guess what James Harry Potter, I'll try out for the new beater and I'll get it!" She said marching out of the room.
"Wow," Sirius said staring at the door. "That Potter Anger is hereditary."
James threw a pillow at Sirius, "Stuff it Padfoot."
"See what I mean!"
"Just pack." He said starting to pack his stuff.
The boys arrived two o'clock on the dot, "Lils, Cass…are you here?" James asked looking around the guest room that Lily was staying in…the girls were no where to be seen.
"Where could they be at?" Sirius asked watching James put his suitcase down by one of the girl's bed and Sirius did the same.
"No clue."
"You did tell them we would be here at two o'clock, right?"
"Yes, Padfoot. I sent Brian this morning. Bryan came back before we left, so he had to have been by early this morning after I sent him. As he had to fly from my house to here and back to my house."
"Call the girls again."
"Why me…why not you?"
"Because we know for a fact that Lily likes you…Cassidy doesn't like me…I'm just a friend."
James couldn't help but chuckle…this girl didn't want Sirius and it was killing him…no one had ever said no to Sirius…but maybe it wasn't just that maybe…Sirius actually had good intentions.
"Will you call them again, already?!" Sirius was starting to get a temper.
"Yeah, yeah. LILS…CASS?"
"In here James!" James could hear Lily's soft voice and the boys went towards her voice.
When the boys finally joined Lily in the living room, they saw her sitting in her wheelchair watching a show called 'Green Acres.' Sirius and James were talking about Quidditch, and Lily just watched one of her favorite shows. Cassidy walked in from the kitchen five minutes later with four glasses, a jug of lemonade, and a bag of cookies.
"What are you boys going to do while Lily and I have to go to St. Mungo's?" Cassidy asked.
"You're leaving us?!" Sirius asked beginning to whimper.
"Only for a little while," Cassidy began to chuckle. Sirius could whine really good, "You sound like a dog when you do that." Lily and Cassidy began to giggle.
Sirius stopped whining immediately and turned his head to a very nervous looking James. "Do you have a pool, Lily?"
Lily looked over and frowned, "Sirius, how do you know what a pool is…you don't pay attention in Muggle Studies, you're always sleeping."
"Sarah told me a muggle pool, is like a lake in your backyard…but less dirty."
They all began to laugh at Sirius's response it was…very child like to say…even for him.
"Yes Sirius, we have a pool, outside in the backyard to you're right. You know how to swim, right?" He nodded, "While Cassidy and I are gone to St. Mungo's you and James can swim in the pool."
"You do mean Cassidy and Padfoot, right?" James asked, finally speaking to Lily.
"WHAT?!" Cassidy asked.
"Well, I'd like to go with Lily, if either of you two don't mind."
"Cool with me," Cassidy said shrugging her shoulders. "I'll make sure Black doesn't drown himself."
"HA, HA!" Came a very sarcastic Sirius, "You're such a riot!" He then stuck his tongue out at Cassidy, in which she returned the gesture.
"So when do we leave?" James asked.
"As soon as…"
Pop "I arrive," Dumbledore said smiling. "I'll take Lily's chair." He pointed at it and it disappeared, "You hold on to Lily as you Floo to St. Mungo's."
James had sat Lily down in a chair in the waiting room as soon as they reached St. Mungo's. He ran off to find a hospital wheelchair. Lily was in her own thoughts.
Earlier Cassidy had given Lily her birthday present, a book called: 1,001 Charms for a Charming Girl. Lily would enjoy it, Charms was after all her best subject. But, Lily didn't want this for her birthday. Lily always loved to dance, but she also loved to write songs and poems. What she really wanted for her birthday was…
"Earth to Lils!" Lily looked up and saw James in front of her with a wheelchair. She smiled at him.
"Where have you been? I've been standing here saying your name over and over again." James said a little worried about her.
"I was just…don't worry about it." She looked around, it was very busy today. "Well, can you help me in, yet another chair, so I can get this over with.
Meanwhile…
Cassidy was in the pool on one of the muggle floaty things, sun bathing.
"BONZIE!" Sirius yelled jumping in right beside Cassidy completely soaking her.
"SIRIUS!" Cassidy screamed, she was all wet now.
"He came up rubbing him bum, "That hurt! Why isn't it deep over here? Like at school?"
"That because it's a pool, YOU IDIOT!" Cassidy screamed at him. "You jump off that board over there at the end of the pool!" She said rolling her eyes at this complete idiot.
"Oh," Sirius said looking over at the diving board. "Okay," he got out of the pool and walked to the board.
He was standing on the diving board now, looking blankly at Cassidy.
"You've got to jump some how to get in the pool." Cassidy explained, but looked as confused as Sirius did. "I saw Lily do it last year, she jumped three times and then she was in the pool."
Sirius nodded and jumped when he spoke. "One! Two! Three! Weee-AGGGRRRHHH!" Cassidy busted out with giggles, and was laughing so hard that she fell off the floating muggle thing.
"Sirius had jumped three times, like he was suppose to, but o the third he didn't jump into the pool…his legs landed on either side of the diving board. Sirius felt like he'd never be able to have children now.
Cassidy's head popped up and she was still giggling.
"Miss Evans?" A nurse asked waling over to the two teenagers in the waiting room, they both looked up at the nurse. "You're healer will see you know, Mr. Potter you'll have to stay here." He nodded while the nurse wheeled his lovely Lily Flower away from him.
James looked down at his watch. One of Lily's birthday presents was at Lily's house. But the other on he hadn't bought yet. Cassidy had tipped him off about it yesterday. Only thing was he had to go to the music store a block away from Diagon Alley…Muggle London.
He knew Lily's appointment would take a some time, so he Flooed to the Leaky Cauldron and headed to Bob's Musical World, in Muggle London.
Lily sat in the examining room waiting on her healer to show up…she was very nervous and wished James could have come in and sat with her. Now that she thought about it…James not arguing with the nurse about him having to stay was odd.
While she was waiting on healer to show, the chorus of a new song she'd been writing popped in her head and she began to sing it to herself. It was a heavy song, and she was terrified for anyone to hear it.
You tore me open,
And you ripped me in half.
You took my innocence,
My love and my laugh.
I'll never let you forget what you did to me boy,
Just to let you know, I'm not your toy.
No, no, no, no…I'm not your toy!
"Miss Evans!" Her happy healer came in with a huge smile on her face, tearing Lily's mind away from the song she'd been singing inside of her head. Healer Harmon saw a look of despair on Lily's face and Healer Harmon's face fell too. "What's wrong dear?"
Lily shook her head, "Just thinking."
"Well let's forget the thinking, and get you on to walking!"
Since Sirius's accident with the diving board, Cassidy and Sirius were in the Living Room. Cassidy's giggles had finally stopped, and Sirius was groaning with an ice pack to his groin area.
"Honey, I'm home!" James said as he entered the living room with a n electric guitar in one arm and carrying in an amp with the other.
"Oh my god!" Cassidy squealed, "You got it! She's going to love it!"
"What in bloody hell is that?!" Sirius asked as James put down the guitar and amp. Then
Sirius looked around and frowned at his best friend, "Where's Lils?"
"Still at the hospital, as soon as they took her for examining, I went to get her present. I've got to get back there before she realizes I've left."
"Bye!"
James got back just seconds before he saw Lily being wheeled toward him by the same nurse as earlier. He walked towards her, but looked sad.
"James?" Lily was surprised by his expression. "What's wrong?"
"Could they not heal you?"
Lily giggled, "Yes, but hospital policies are that they've got to wheel me around until I'm ready to Floo home. And when I get home, I still have to take it real easy for the next two weeks. I'm not really suppose to Floo anywhere."
James smiled, "Let's go then, you've got presents at home. I got you three."
"THREE!? James you didn't…"
"I wanted to," he interrupted her. "Here's the first one."
Lily opened the little black box to see an emerald heart shaped ring on platinum that matched the necklace James had given to her just weeks ago. "Oh, James," she whispered. "It's beautiful."
"Just like you," he smiled and kissed her forehead. "Now let's go…you've got two more from me and one from Sirius. I'm guessing you already opened the one from Cassidy."
"Cass, we're here!" Lily yelled waling into the living room with James, and as soon as Lily saw the guitar she ran to it and plugged it into the amp and began singing.
You tore me open,
And you ripped me apart.
You took my innocence,
My love and my laugh.
I'll never let you forget what you did to me boy,
Just to let you know, I'm not your toy.
No, no, no, no…I'm not your toy!
"Lils?!" Cassidy looked to shocked to ask what the song was based on. The boys looked flabbergasted.
"Where the hell did that come from?" James asked eyes bugged out and looked terrified to hear such lyrics and what a power voice to come out of small, fragile, perfect, lovely Lily. Sirius just stared in awe.
