A.N. / Hey kiddos! I've just started a job, so my updates might be a little behind…yes that means slower than usual. Sorry, but we really need the money and me working is the only way. So please be patient with me! Thanks all you guys! And here's the next chapter! So Read, Review, and Enjoy!
Chapter 30
Tyler told Lily to pull into an empty parking lot across from a dark alley, "Um Tyler I don't think that's such a good idea."
"Don't worry no one else can see this parking lot."
Lily frowned, "What do you mean?"
"Only Wizards can see this parking lot. Grandfather knows how Muggleborn don't have Floo Powder so he got this in with his house?"
Lily frowned at Tyler, "What house? There's no house around us."
"This was the first hiding place for The Order of the Phoenix. Then another building was built thanks to donation from the Potters."
"James's parents?"
Tyler nodded, "Harold does things for the Order every once in a while, but he's not really part of The Order. Grandfather of course asked Harold and Grace, but Harold has so much work to do just for the Ministry and Grace wants to stay home in case something happens to Harold the kids still have her."
Lily smiled, "That does sound like Grace."
"Well let's go to the house."
"What house?" Lily asked again.
"Follow me." Tyler placed his hand into hers and pulled her away from the car and towards an alleyway.
"W…where are we going Tyler?"
"You see that white brick by all the red ones on that wall across the street from us?" Lily nodded, "We tap that brick once with your wand and then push it in and state your name and why you are here. Then if it makes three clicks then you're going to be let in, but if it only makes one you did something wrong."
"That's the only protection over the Headmaster and Leader of The Order's home? I don't think that's a smart idea." Lily said looking at Tyler skeptically.
"Of course there's more, but that's the short cut way. Only a select handful know this way, the other way takes about thirty minutes."
"Oh."
Once Lily and Tyler were inside Lily's Headmasters Townhouse home in London, England; Lily felt her throat tighten up. There were two floors. The first floor had the dinning room, kitchen, living room, nook, and half a bathroom. The second floor had four bedrooms and two full bathrooms.
"Wow!" Lily gasped turning to Tyler, "Professor Dumbledore's house is gorgeous! I love this little townhouse of his."
"Why thank you Miss Evans," Came Professor Dumbledore's voice from behind her. Lily turned around to face her Headmaster with her face blushing to the same color as her hair. "Blushing are we? Now what would embarrass you Miss Evans?"
"I…I honestly don't know."
Dumbledore had a soft chuckle, "Well let's go down to the dinning room and have some Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve."
Lily nodded and followed Tyler and Professor Dumbledore downstairs.
Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve with Tyler's family was a blast and they were all really nice people. But then again it was only Tyler, Professor Dumbledore, and Tyler's mother Joy. It was a fun and exciting night, but at around ten Tyler suggested he ride with Lily home.
Lily frowned at him in the Parlor, "What do you mean? How will you get back?"
"I'll just apparate from your house after I ride back home with you. I don't want you to ride this late at night all by yourself."
"That's a very gentlemen thing of you to do," Joy said smiling at her only son.
"Thanks mum."
"So are you sure that it won't be a hassle for you?"
"Positive," he said with a smile.
"It was nice to have met you Lily and I hope we meet again." Joy Smith said standing up to give Lily a polite hug.
Lily pulled back from the hug and gave Tyler's mum a smile, "I hope we do to."
"Did you have a lovely evening with us?"
Lily nodded, "Yes I did. It was a blast."
"Well Lily," Dumbledore said approaching his pupil. "I'm hoping I see you at the annual Potter New Years Eve Ball."
Lily nodded once again, "Yes I am. Tyler agreed to be my date." Lily then turned to Joy, "Ms. Smith will you be joining us all to the ball?"
Joy shook her head no, "I have other plans."
"Well, we'll be going now so Lily doesn't turn up at her house late."
Lily and Tyler arrived at her home in Surry at fifteen minutes before eleven.
"Did you hear that?" Abigail Evans asked her husband as they sat in the Living Room.
"Sounded like a car door," Blake said reading his evening paper. "Do you think it's Lily?" Blake said lowering his newspaper a bit.
Abigail shook her head no, "She still has an hour and fifteen minutes before curfew. She never comes in early before…"
"Mum! Dad! I'm home!" Lily said opening the door and yelling as if she was announcing the Queen's royal court.
"What?!" Abigail said standing and turning to her sixteen year old daughter enter the living room with Tyler Smith. "What are you doing back early…and what's he doing here?"
Lily rolled her eyes at her mum, "I just came home early and Tyler didn't want me driving home by myself."
"How's he going to get home?" Abigail said with a look that Lily couldn't quite place.
"Abby," Blake warned.
"He's going to apparate home mum, but he wanted to make sure nothing happened to me on my way home. Geez, you think you'd be happy that he'd want me to come home safe. Now if you don't mind he can't apparate in front of non-magic people."
Blake nodded, "Alright we'll leave. Lily come see us in our room after Tyler leaves."
"Yes daddy."
Blake dragged Abigail out of the room with him and of course against her will.
After Lily's parents were out of the room, Lily turned to Tyler and smiled at him. "Tonight was really nice. I always liked Professor Dumbledore, but wow I never realized how much fun he could be."
Tyler chuckled, "Yes grandfather is defiantly a character."
"I enjoyed meeting your mum too, she was very nice."
"Your lucky."
"Why's that?"
"She usually doesn't like any girls I bring around her, that's why I was nervous about bringing you to Christmas Dinner. I really wanted you to come but I was afraid my mother would be horrible to you."
"Like how my mum is to you?" Lily asked Tyler.
"Uh, yeah." He said uncomfortable.
"I don't know why she does that…I mean it's not as if we're dating or anything." Lily said but then she got a funny feeling in her stomach.
"Yeah," he chuckled uneasy.
"I guess I'll see you on New Years Eve," Lily smiled.
Tyler nodded, "Yeah. I'll pick you up."
"How?"
"Grandfather has a collection in his garage of muggle cars."
"Are they bewitched?"
Tyler shook his head, "Nope. Grandfather was amazed how Muggles had done such a good job with out any magic at all. What time does the ball start?"
"Um…I think at eight."
"Alright, I'll come to pick you up at seven thirty."
"Do you know how to get to the Potters?"
Tyler shook his head no, "No but we can park the car across the street from the Leaky Cauldron and Floo to the Potter house, alright?"
Lily nodded, "Sounds good to me." She got on her tip-toes and gave Tyler a kiss on the cheek. He looked stunned.
"Bye Lily." And he apparated.
Lily was amazed by what she just did…she had no clue why she had done that, but she wouldn't take it back either. Anytime she had Tyler around she'd completely forget about James and Lily often caught herself thinking less and less of James and more and more of Tyler.
Christmas had been wonderful, but it also made Lily sad. She missed her Grandma Rose terribly and as soon as Lily thought about Grandma Rose then James floated into her mind. James had been there for her at Grandma Rose's funeral and James was the best boyfriend she'd ever had and now he was gone. There was no telling how long he's memory would be gone, but what if he came out of it and realized that he'd made the right decision by dumping Lily and dating Paris.
The whole crowd, minus James, was suppose to meet in Diagon Alley on Boxing Day, but there had been family problems with Gabriella so it was cancelled. Gabriella's mum was rushed to St. Mungo's, something had made her pass out on Christmas Day and none of the nurses nor healers could figure out what was wrong with Mrs. Martinez.
Lily sighed deeply as she sat in her bedroom finishing some homework she'd been given during the holidays. Lily really wished she could have met up with her friends today, she really missed them. This Christmas vacation she'd really hadn't anything to do with her best friends, which really saddened her. But then again Alice was always busy with Frank, then Gabby and Cassidy were dating Marauder's and the guys were always together. So if Gabby and Cassie wanted to see their boyfriends they had to stick around with the Marauder's.
Lily had spent a lot of her vacation with Tyler, and she did have fun with him. But there was something missing. Lily knew what it was but she wasn't going to admit it to herself.
"Lily!" Abigail Evans yelled from downstairs, "Alice is here to see you!"
Lily jumped to her feet, 'Alice?' She asked herself, 'What would Alice be doing here. Alice was always with Frank no matter what.' "I'll be there in a minute!"
Lily ran down the stairs to see Alice Westbrook staring at her, "Hey Alice. What's up?"
"I wanted to come hang out with you today…I mean we were already suppose to. Gabriella is at St. Mungo's, and Remus is with her. Cassidy is with Sirius and their at the Potter home."
"Let me guess Paris is there with James?"
Alice nodded, "Cassidy owled me and invited me over and asked me to stop by and get you to go over there too. I don't want to go over there and I figured you'd want to hang out with at least one of your friends today. So what do you say?"
Lily smiled, "Well I was doing some of our homework upstairs in my bedroom."
Alice laughed, "I figured that…and that's why I brought mine. Want to study together?"
"Sure. Come on." Lily poked her head inside the living room, "Mum. Alice and I are going to be studying in my bedroom."
"I'll bring some snacks and tea up in a bit," Abigail said nodding. Lily thanked her mother and the two girls were on their way upstairs.
Thirty minutes later Abby was bringing the girls some snacks and tea, and Abby was glad to see that they weren't studying anymore. That they were just being girls. Abigail knew how much the breakup with James had been bothering her and how Lily and been burying herself in her books and homework to hide her pain. Lily had also been burying herself in Tyler and if Lily didn't watch out she'd be rebounding on Tyler because of James. That's the real reason Abigail Evans disliked Tyler Smith.
Abigail couldn't use the excuse that he was a horrible kid, because he wasn't. Tyler had been a true friend to Lily, but Abigail saw the look in his eye when he looked at Lily. It was the same look that James had had for Lily and what Lily had for James. This scared Abigail of course because of all the pain that Lily had gone through at such a young age. The breakup with James had really hit Lily hard and what if Lily started to fall fast for Tyler and then he broke her heart too.
Abigail knocked on Lily's door, "Lily dear! I have the tea and crumpets for Alice and you, and now if you could open the door for me."
"Just a moment, mum!" Lily yelled from behind her bedroom door.
Lily opened the door and Abigail walked into Lily's room. "Nice to see you again Mrs. Evans," Alice said with a smile.
"Nice to see you again too Alice. You should come around more often. You know we haven't really seen you around here since you started to see…umm what's his name? Fred is it?"
Alice giggled a bit, "You mean Frank?"
"Oh yes…is that his name? How long have the two of you been together?"
"Almost two years now."
"That's wonderful." Abigail said smiling, "Well I think I'll let Lily and yourself talk among one another for a bit longer. If either of you need anything just let me know."
Abigail Evans left and Lily closed the door after her mother. Alice smiled, "So let's pick up on what we were talking about before your mother came in to bring us tea and crumpets."
Lily rolled her eyes, "I have no idea why mum does that. She likes to say that she's bringing tea and crumpets to be nice, but it's only really to see what's going on in my social life."
Alice's eyebrows rose, "Social life? Did James finally come to his senses and break up with that whore and get back with you?"
"Nope," Lily said shaking her head. Lily seemed a bit little sad but it soon went away, "My social life. Of course I have a social life."
"Who's the new guy?"
"Well…I don't believe there's actually a new guy yet…but you never know." Lily said with a smile and walked towards her closet. "So are you ready for the New Years Eve Ball."
"New Years Eve Ball? You're still going to that? Even though James has another girlfriend and you'll have to go stag?"
Lily giggled as she pulled out her ball gown, "I have a date of course."
"Oooh! And do tell who is the lucky young man?"
"Tyler," Lily said holding the gown up to her body and twirled around.
"Smith? Professor Tyler Smith? Are you kidding me?!"
"Professor? He was just a substitute. Besides he's not that much older than we are and he's really nice to me."
The days between Boxing Day and New Years Eve passed on so quickly that Lily was surprised when she awoke on December 31st to an owl tapping on her window. Lily stretched and smiled, today was the night. The night when she got to get all pretty and nice and have the most wonderful date with Tyler. Lily walked over to the window, paid the owl that brought her Daily Prophet, and began to read a letter that Tyler's owl had just delivered to her.
Dearest Lily,
I'm very excited about tonight. It's been so weird not to hang out with you the last few days, sorry about that I've had some Order things I've had to get done so I could go out with you tonight. I can't wait to see you in that gorgeous ball gown.
Like I said on Christmas Eve, I'll pick you up about seven thirty.
Tyler
Lily smiled at the letter and headed downstairs to eat breakfast. After breakfast she'd take a shower, and then begin to get ready for the ball.
At seven fifteen Lily looked into the mirror as she curled the last hair on her head. Lily looked at the mirror and had to admit she didn't look bad at all…in fact she looked very pretty. And this was something as Lily always thought she pretty, although all the guys at school totally disagreed with her. Lily had to admit though she did look good and the gown matched her brilliant green eyes perfectly. Lily's hair had gotten pretty long, as a matter of fact it was just a bit below her bottom. With all the curls in her hair it was a bit above her bottom. Her hair was pulled half up and there were a few curls around her face and then the rest hung down on her back.
Lily's ball gown had a small v-cut, but not to showy of course. Lily had on some of her Grandma Rose's pearl necklace and Lily had on her mother's pearl earrings. Lily had more makeup on tonight then usual. Lily had on the normal foundation and powder. Lily had on some green eye shadow to match her eyes and dress, Lily had on thin black eyeliner and some mascara. Lily was also complementing some pink lipstick with a bit of lip gloss to shine over it. Lily then went over to her bed to sit upon it and slipped on her strappy matching green shoes, and then grabbed her matching purse for the evening that was sitting on top of her pillow. Lily was just about to open the door to her bedroom to make her way downstairs when she heard her mother's voice.
"Lily! Tyler's here to bring you to that ball tonight!"
Lily cracked her bedroom door, "I'll be down in just a few seconds." Lily walked up to her vanity to apply a little more lip gloss on her lips and glanced at her alarm clock that sat on her bedside table. It was indeed a few minutes after seven thirty, and it was obvious that Tyler had been very true to his word and arrived exactly at seven thirty.
Lily smiled at herself right before she headed downstairs to embark on her first formal Wizarding World Ball with Tyler Smith.
Lily arrived downstairs to find Tyler in a black tuxedo with matching green where it was all suppose to be. Tyler gasped as Lily took his breath away by her beauty, "Lily. You look absolutely gorgeous."
Lily smiled, "Thank you Tyler."
Tyler walked over and slipped on a white rose corsage on Lily's wrist and Lily put a single white rose on his coat on his tuxedo.
"Are we ready to go know?" He asked.
She nodded, "Yes. I mean we wouldn't want to be late for the Wizarding Social event of the season, right?"
Lily and Tyler arrived at the Potter's Mansion at fifteen minutes to eight and they found themselves standing outside looking at a very tall man. "Name?" He asked looking at the couple in front of them.
"Smith, Tyler Smith."
The man looked on the list, "You're not here."
Lily shook her head, "Sorry he must have forgotten. It's under Evans, Lily Evans."
The man nodded, "Yes. You're name is one of the ones on the top of the list. Lily Evans plus one, right?"
Lily nodded and she hooked her arm around her Tyler's as they walked into the ballroom. Lily smiled and spoke to a few people she recognized from school and Tyler said hello to a few people he knew from the Order. Professor Dumbledore approached Lily and Tyler and introduced them to his date, she was the Headmistress of the Wizarding School in America, Salem School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Tyler didn't recognize her, but that was because she became Headmistress after he left school. Lily looked down at her watch and there was five minutes before the ball started and she interrupted a conversation that Tyler was now having with an Alastor Moody, the man that Tyler would be doing an internship for Aurors in the
Summer.
"Excuse me Mr. Moody." The man bowed to her and she curtsied to him, "Tyler the ball starts in five minutes and I'd like to see Grace, Harold, and Sarah before it starts."
Tyler nodded, "I'll speak to you on the fourth alright Alastor?" The man nodded and walked on his way.
Lily and Tyler walked toward the opening of the ballroom and you could hear the many people inside it. Lily saw Harold, Grace, and Sarah at the door way. "I'm so glad that they got Harold back on Christmas Eve."
"How did you know?"
"Read it in the Daily Prophet."
Tyler looked amazed, "You receive the Prophet at your house even though you live with Muggles?"
Lily nodded, "My mum and dad don't care. The Prophet always comes early in the morning to my bedroom window. Oooh! Look there they are."
As Lily and Tyler got closer to the door Lily felt her stomach bottom out. Not only was there Grace, Harold, Sarah and her date, but also on the other side of the door was James and that slut Paris. Lily didn't feel so well, she knew as she saw others that they had to bow or curtsy to the hosts/hostess and their dates.
Lily was starting to regret coming to this ball, there was no way in hell she wanted to curtsy to James Potter or Paris Waters.
