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A/N: I'm still reading HBP only cuz i'm savoring every moment and I have to work. darn it. Here's another chapter, written by me!
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When She Smiles: The Essence of a Colgate Smile
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9 November, 1973
(Sunday)
Lilea Kensley Evans
From afar, the picture looked angelic. The children were grouped around a seventeen-year-old boy. He had a tiny little girl with big blue eyes on his knee and was talking enthusiastically to a blond haired boy on his right. The other children were leaning over his broad shoulders and seated by his feet.
The parents of the children smiled as they daintily drank their coffee and ate the wide variety of cookies in the fellowship hall. The secure feeling was evident in the church that morning. Many failed to remember the horrific war taking place outside. As the time dwindled on, the children each said their sweet, innocent goodbyes to Sirius and trotted off to find their parents. As the last little girl left, Sirius was bombarded by three heavy figures.
May Delfin and Lily Evans watched with amusement at their childish wresting antics ("If only they were Muggle..."). The two girls then snuck out of the boys' view and walked casually toward Center park in Hogsmeade as the clock on the train station struck noon.
"Looks as if the heavens could open any moment." Lily said, gazing up at the low, dark clouds. Beside her she could feel May shiver and pull her sweater tighter to her.
"How'd I do?" May asked while watching a family of gray squirrels scurry from tree to tree.
"Brilliant." Lily turned to look at May. Her hair was being whipped about by the powerful gusts and her nose was beginning to rival Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. "You were spectacular. You really got the congregation going. Did you add a few extra chords to jazz it up?"
"Yeah, I felt that 'As the Deer' needed to become a bit more contemporary. Was it too much?"
"Nope, perfecto." Lily motioned toward her face with her hand like an Italian.
The two girls sighed before deciding it was just too cold and they could hear distant rumblings ensuring a thunderstorm was approaching, which wasn't a good sign as they were in their best Sunday clothes. They quickly made for an open café, something new, just as the sky opened with a huge thunder crash and the world dissolved in the ever constant pouring rain.
"Okay, okay, I surrender! You can have the land, but please, release my men!"
"Men, Sirius? Sorry to burst your imaginative bubble, but your a lone Samurai today."
Remus, Sirius, and James collected themselves up off the floor and began the transaction of Sirius' surrender. Remus and James shared a look ("bloody despicable, his negotiations are worthless.) before accepting Sirius' surrendering wishes.
"Agreed, I suppose, mate." Remus said while wiping his brow, freeing his eyes of his tangling hair. The three friends shook hands and then shared an immature smile before turning towards the girls. But Sirius and James' smiles dropped when all they saw was the pastor shaking his head slowly with a grin at them.
James immediately whipped around to locate his love, but there was no sign of her red hair or petite form anywhere. James' heart was hammering in his throat, as was Sirius'. They were so overprotective of the girls as of late. The only thought running through their heads were 'what could have happened to them?'
"Where are they?"
"I suppose they got tired and left?" Peter tried to intervene... saying something wise might bring the attention back to himself.
"Wow, Einstein, that was a brilliant thought! I assumed they were just here but invisible!" Sirius sneered at Peter. "Idiot." he continued, but muttered to himself.
"Right, I'm sure they went to a pub to get lunch... it's exactly noon." Remus glanced at his watch.
"Which one you suppose?" James looked out the window. Across the street alone he could see three pubs. The four boys then walked out of the church, after a hearty handshake from the pastor each, and set off looking for their girls. Thankfully, lady luck was on their side and they saw May and Lily enter a café just as the clouds broke and sent chilling rain down upon the frozen soil.
"Did you hear? A whole muggle town was destroyed Wednesday. They... they say it was... You-Know-Who."
"Are they certain? I think it's all rubbish. Suppose the Muggles were having another one of their hypocritical wars...?"
"I never looked at it from that view, Charlotte. However, in the paper it says the deaths of the people... what they could find of them... were unexplainable. Nothing atoll like the last Muggle wars. Most likely due to an Unforgivable."
"Jaccquliene, your not suggesting-"
"I think I am. It's never just been about us Charlotte. He doesn't just want the Wizarding world... he wants it all."
"And he's killing the innocent first to see if we shall give in?"
"What has come of this world?"
"I don't know, Jaccquliene. We can only pray he has mercy for us all..."
"Monday tomorrow. Such a bloody shame." Sirius muttered as he set his third empty butterbeer on the table and draped his arm across May's seat.
"Here, here." James lifted his butterbeer to Remus as a salute to Sirius' wise words. Lily grinned and shook her head. There was a full, raging thunderstorm outside and they had been talking and eating for about an hour. Things were dwindling down and relaxation had set in. No one cared to move an inch, except to raise their butterbeers at someone's words or towards the bar to indicate another refill.
The wind howled outside the thin glass just a few inches from Lily's head. With each harsh thunder she could feel the windows rattle in protest. Her chair was close to James' and her head was against his shoulder. She was trying so hard not to give in to the sleep calling to her. With the comfort of James under her head and the wondrous storm outside, she was at peace. Silently she gave in and welcomed the dark.
May, on the other side of the table near Sirius was quite awake and care free. She was eating her way through a bread bowl. Earlier it had full to the brim with piping hot potato soup. Between bites of the heavenly bread, she would sip her Unicorn-cherry Soda and lean against Sirius' arm behind her head. She glanced at Lily to see her asleep, with her head of James' shoulder.
She laughed softly to herself, alerting the boys of her presence.
"What's so funny May?" Sirius asked, looking away from his and Peter's staring contest into her bright gray eyes. He reflected back across the week and at the wonderful feeling he got when he saw the sparkle return to them. He smiled at the memory.
"Lily." May nodded her head towards Lily." She's out." James turned his head gently to his left to see her asleep on his shoulder and grinned. The lightning flickered, illuminating her delicate features.
"You know, I was just thinking how ironic it all is." May said, munching on her bread.
"How's that?" Sirius asked picking up a croissant and slathering it with peanut butter.
"Well, how is it that we can sit here at this table, eating to our fullest and be completely at peace when there is a raging storm outside. Not to mention the whole Wizarding world is going down the drain because of Voldemort. I just... I don't know. I'm glad that you guys are here to fill the empty spaces." May smiled thoughtfully while accepting part of Sirius' croissant.
"Good point. I'd completely die without my friends—"
"Ha ha, yes you would Padfoot, we save your sorry arse constantly!"
"Shuddup Prongs. You know I can get out of any dire situation with this handsome face."
"Handsome face? I'm beginning to think you look in a difference mirror than we do every morning, Pad."
"Woah Prongs, you're slams are getting weaker everyday. But really, I think I need them just to make me feel superior and crap. Wow, that could have been subjected as 'mushy'."
"Better watch it, we don't wanna have to carry you back in a bucket, Padfoot."
"What Sirius said isn't mushy—it's the honest truth. Why is it so bad to talk about the stuff that really matters? Does it make you feel weak?"
"No, May, it's not that. The concept here is that we're men. We don't speak our hearts out like girls do. You see, it's just that I suppose we don't want to remember all the bad crap that goes on. We want to live in a world full of pranks and... well, May, don't look at me like that. I can face reality when I want to." Sirius tried to defend himself and his 'manliness'.
"Oh yes May, it's true. Sirius can be serious. Remember back in second year when Emera was sorted into Ravenclaw?" Remus asked.
"Yep, Sirius, I think that was the first time any of us had seen you that angry. You went ballistic on Bellatrix and her little cronies." James grinned at the memory.
"She's my sister! Why the heck would I have let my bloody cousin," ("Language, Sirius.") "pick on Emera because she's good enough not to be in Slytherin? I'm proud of Emera, she's grown to be just like me! Well, maybe a little less crazy... actually, she's kinda shy, yet still has that carefree streak..."
"I wish I had a sister... or a brother." May said looking at the ingredients on her bottle of Unicorn- Cherry Soda while gently trying to lead the boys off an obviously touchy subject.
"Well, It's not all it's cracked up to be. I have an older sister and she's just mental!" James remarked while looking at Lily.
"And hot!" Sirius snickered then yelped after James hit him on the back of the head... and none too lightly.
"Padfoot, shut up!"
"I didn't know you had a sister, James. What's her name?" May asked. Outside the rain was still pouring, but inside the cozy café there was a fire burning and a warm fuzz of voices floating around. Just as May had said. It was peaceful. Who would ever guess that with the storm outside there was a deadly war.
"Aerean, you wouldn't remember her. She was head girl four years ago. Let's see, would you like her history?" James smiled slightly.
"Is that all for you dears?" Madame Wilhelmina asked silkily while tilting her head and twirling her hair. She was staring at James and occasionally her eyebrows would send signals to the poor boy.
"Umm… yeah, we're good, thanks." James mumbled, not at all liking the attention he was getting.
"Are you certain? The pie is delicious today." Her head was still tilted, but now she was biting her lower lip and fluttering her big blue eyes, showing everyone her thick layer of purple eye shadow.
"Actually, I think we're going now. What's the total?" Remus quickly asked, standing to reach his wallet in his back pocket. Madame Wilhelmina looked dejectedly at Remus while glaring at Lily, who was still oblivious to the conversation.
"Sounds like a jolly good plan there, Rem." Sirius joked while gathering all the dishes together with the help of May so they could get out of the café sooner.
"That'll be six galleons and four sickles." Somehow, her silky voice turned into something cold. Her eyes were locked on James and Lily. May was glaring openly at Wilhelmina, just hoping there was time to strangle her before they left.
"Here you are. James, you might want to wake Beauty." Sirius suggested, taking May's hand in his.
"Right."
"Why do we always have the craziest conversations at dinner time?" Peter asked looking at his best friends.
"Because, ol' mate, we're muy feliz! We've got food, no classes and dinner signals the end of the day—" Sirius answered while serving himself some more peas.
"Ew… no! How could you, Sirius? That's a Slytherin color!" Remus' eyes were wide and he had a humongous smile on his face as he whisked Sirius' peas away.
"But… but… its tradition!" Sirius lunged for his plate back.
"You will not eat peas." Remus looked Sirius straight in the eyes, trying against all Merlin to not smile.
"Reeeeemus! I want my peas!" Sirius pleaded still grabbing at the plate, which was now levitated four feet about May's head.
"This isn't safe…" May shook her head while throwing Sirius another plate full of pickles. This currently distracted Sirius from his peas.
"Ah Ha! Pickles!" Sirius grinned evilly. However, just as he was about to pick up a nice juicy sweet pickle, the plate flew in the air, now residing five feet above May's head.
"This really isn't safe…" May rolled her eyes while this time giving Sirius a plate of salad. Again, Sirius went mental and laughed shrilly at the thought another green food he could eat.
"Salad! Yummers! This is what I shall eat tonight!" Sirius bypassed the fork and dug his hand in the fresh greens and salad dressing. Unfortunately for poor Sirius, his efforts to eat were gone. The plate now rested six feet above May's head.
"I'm bringing this upon myself aren't I, Lily?" May asked looking above her head. Just hoping they wouldn't come crashing down.
"Obviously. Here Sirius." This time Lily put a full plate of mashed potatoes in front of Sirius. "They're not green, but here-" Lily twirled her left wrist which held her wand and muttered a few choice words and bam—just like magic—the potatoes were green. Sirius' face lit up like the fourth of July in the States and he slammed his face full in the potatoes, sucking in their goodness.
"Swalt Pwease!" Sirius asked.
"I tried. I really, truly tried. What has become of my efforts?" Remus muttered into his hands while leaning on Peter's shoulder.
"My feet hurt." Lily complained for the fifth time that day.
"You said that—perhaps you're pregnant." May snidely shot, laughing at the astonished face of her best friend while holding six books in her hands as they made their way down to the library after dinner.
"Yeah, that's logical... do you think they're growing?"
"Haven't the slightest clue."
"Something on your mind, May?" Lily asked glancing at the torches, thinking how wonderful it would be if only Wizards had invented electricity and not Muggles.
"Nope. Just tired, very tired. I think bears get more sleep than we do now that N.E.W.T.S are just around the corner."
"Well! What do you think we're doing now? We're off to the library to get us some study time- oofff"
Lily ran smack into Rudolfus Lestrange, causing her to fall to the ground and drop all the books, Lestrange jolted and took a step back. The look on his face was pure fury and disgust. His eyes blazed as he looked at the petite form still sitting on the floor. She looked up in shock and dismay.
"What the bloody heck do you think you're doing! Watch where you're walking you filthy mudblood. You should know by now that you're not wanted here and if I were you, I'd watch my bloody back!" Lestrange then grabbed Lily and pushed her up against the wall and barked a few more curses at her before he suddenly went silent and was floating ten feet in the air with his ears in his eye sockets and visa-versa.
All the work of one May Delfin. That wasn't all May did, she was screaming her lungs out at a terrorized Lestrange.
Taking a deep breath twenty minutes later, the two girls decided to skip studying and head off to bed.
"I can't believe some people. I really can't." May's pretty face was scrunched up in disgust as she brushed her black silky locks. She was in her light blue nightdress looking in the mirror at Lily who was sitting on the floor hugging a pillow to herself.
"I mean, it's frickin' blood for goodness sakes! I have blood, you have blood, ants have blood! Why does it matter so much?" May sighed sitting down next to Lily. She turned and finally took a long look at her best friend.
Lily's face was downcast. Her small hands were picking at the embroidery on her pale yellow pillow. Her bright red hair was thrown in a messy bun on the top of her head with frizzy ringlets popping out all over the place. She had her glasses on and a book—The Amber Spyglass—was sitting to her left. May frowned thinking how hard Lily must have it.
Lily had told her that at home she was pretty much invisible, except for Petunia's daily lectures on the importance of normality and the usual snide remark of 'Freak'. Her parents loved her, Lily told May this, but they didn't have time for her. They worked hard to send her to Hogwarts and Petunia to St. Josephine's prep school. Her father was aloof around her and her mother tried hard to understand magic, but never quite got it. The complexity of it was too much for their non-imaginative minds to handle.
They were the utmost definition of normal. Father worked at a law firm handling divorces and other minor issues, while her mother was an eighth year algebra professor. Petunia was beautiful and popular, with boyfriends lining the sidewalk to go on a date with her. Her looks were soft and delicate. She had fine, blond hair. No doubt from her mother, and a tall, thin body. She had just gotten rid of her braces and her teeth were the perfection of white and straight. Practically the essence of a Colgate smile.
May smiled sadly at the unfairness of life. How could people be so cruel? Lily didn't belong in the Wizarding world because of her blood, but yet, her own blood didn't know what to do with her. Thank God she found May and the two could pull each other along, through the thick and thin. Someone once asked the girls what it would be like if one of them wasn't there and Lily had responded, in her spontaneous manner: " It'd be like trying to take the peanut out of peanut butter. We wouldn't exist."
'We wouldn't exist.' It was true. May sighed, thankful that they had just yet another day to be together. Finally, May leaned over and engulfed Lily in a humongous hug before the two girls did their usual night routine; secret handshake, be French and kiss each other's cheeks, then turn off the lamps and talk about random nothingness until they fell asleep.
Taking a deep breath, Lily filled her nose with the smell of winter's beginning through the cracked window. Slowly a smile formed on her lips that reached gracefully to her eyes. Just another day in 'paradise'.
Lily
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Thank you:
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