Fate Intervenes
Disclaimer: We do not own Harry Potter. All credits go to the almighty and wonderful J.K Rowling.
Summer Surprises
The alarm clock was ringing loudly, filling the room with its annoying beeping. A hand was extended wearily from the emerald quilt of the bed, hitting the Snooze button.
Lily Evans snuggled further into her blankets, feeling sleep still lingering in her head. Stray locks of her long, flaming auburn hair fell over her fair, heart-shaped face. The peace was not to last very long.
"Lily, honey, time to get up!"
Diana Evans' cheery voice cut through the misty shroud of sleep that lingered in Lily's room.
"Mnnm," was the sleepy response.
Diana rolled her eyes and smiled as she walked to the foot of Lily's bed and tried yanking hard on the covers. But, apparently, Lily had devised a new trick for that technique. Diana found that, no matter how hard she tried, the blankets wouldn't budge.
"Lily!" The older woman laughed, attempting another half-hearted yank, "Come on!"
One of Lily's eyes blinked open as she joined her mother's mirth.
"I've got a plan Mum…I've got a plan…"
000
Lily was expecting to see the usual scene at breakfast; her father Rob sitting at the table, his nose buried in the Daily newspaper and her sister Petunia eating her food.
What she was not expecting was the streamers hung up in the doorway, the multicoloured balloons tied to the ceiling shafts, the presents laden on the breakfast table and the group of people who greeted her.
"Happy Birthday Lily!"
There was Rob Evans, standing next to the breakfast table, beaming at his youngest daughter. There was Petunia Evans, Lily's older sister, tall, slim and blonde, smiling in a slightly nervous way but, nevertheless, still smiling.
There was Rianne Greenshaw, Alice Times, Emily Warren, Hestia Jones, Emmeline Vance and Andrea Greengrass, some of Lily's closest friends from her house Gryffindor and from Ravenclaw at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. For, as many would have guessed already, Lily Evans was now a seventeen-year-old witch.
"Avis!" Rianne called out as she raised her wand.
There was a loud bang, causing Petunia to shriek, and a flurry of birds exploded from the tip of Rianne's wand. Lily laughed in surprise and delight as she was lead toward the dining table.
Hugging her parents, Lily thanked them over and over. Then, she turned to her sister and hugged the tall girl as well, noting how tall Petunia had become lately. Lastly, she hugged her Hogwarts friends.
"How did you know-" Lily began in amazement.
"That your birthday was on the twenty eighth of August?" Alice finished for her, smiling.
Lily nodded, dumbstruck. Her Hogwarts friends were mainly purebloods, from complete wizarding families, unused to the Muggle (Non-magic folk) workings. What was more was that each of them were dressed exactly like normal Muggle girls out shopping on a Saturday.
"A little bird whispered in our ears," Emily said, smiling whimsically.
"And now…presents!" Rianne exclaimed impatiently, causing many to laugh.
000
"Wake up Prongs!" a loud, slightly obnoxious-sounding voice of Sirius Black disturbed the silence of the room.
When the snoring seventeen-year-old boy lying in his bed did not stir, his best mate sighed and pulled away the covers. Unlike Lily, James Potter had not devised a counter tactic to this move and he was immediately awakened as the slightly cool morning air blasted his pajama-clad body.
"ARGH! Padfoot!" the boy yelled angrily and shuddering as the cool air froze his exposed feet.
"Had to wake you up," Sirius said a-matter-of-factly.
The other scrambled up and glared at his friend.
"Did you have to do it so painfully?"
Sirius grinned in a slightly apologetic way.
"Hey sorry mate."
James grinned, his original shock wearing off, as he put on his glasses and, to Sirius's surprise, did not ruffle his hair, a habit the boy had developed ever since his Quidditch had brought him up a scale on the popularity ladder.
"Come on. Breakfast time!"
000
"Thank you!" Lily cried in delight as she unwrapped her last present, an elegant leather-bound book entitled: Myths and Legends; Magical animals, properties and more by Abigail Dewtree.
Her onlookers just smiled as Lily carefully placed her presents on the ground beside her. Unfortunately, it was just about time to leave. One by one, Lily's friends Disapparated (giving Petunia a few minutes of simultaneous alarm) after Lily had given them each a hug.
And after a final thank you to her family members, Lily rushed upstairs to inspect her gifts. Sitting on the cream coloured carpet in her room, Lily went through her presents one by one.
First, there was the present from Rianne, a large box of her favourite Honeydukes chocolate and a packet of Sugar Quills that Lily adored. Next, Alice had given her an elegant eagle feather quill Lily had wanted for so long and a deluxe supply of the best ink in Flourish and Blotts.
Hestia had given Lily a Unicorns and their magical properties book; a sparkling silver covered book with a photo of a live unicorn on the cover. The picture, as it did in the wizarding world, was moving; a unicorn rearing on its hind legs and galloping in and out of the photo.
Andrea had given Lily a large packet of Cauldron Cakes as well as a handy little diary that shouted out memos as you wrote in them. Emily had bought Lily a set of Gobstones, a wizarding game, that Lily adored playing. And Emmeline had given the book by Abigail Dewtree.
Lily smiled in satisfaction as she laid the gifts carefully aside and started admiring her presents from the family. Petunia had given her younger sister a hand-crafted photo frame as well as a stationary set, decorated with purple lilacs.
And her parents had presented her with a beautiful silver necklace, a swan at the end, neck curving gracefully. Lily had been awestruck by the delicacy and the magnificence of the piece of jewellery.
But before Lily had a chance to further marvel the beauty of the necklace, she heard Petunia's usual high-pitched shriek.
"OWLS!"
Sighing a little, Lily placed the photo frame on the table as well as her necklace and rushed downstairs to witness the commotion.
000
"I'm finished!" James announced happily as he pushed back the plate and his chair in the process, "That was delicious Mum."
Lauren Potter smiled gratefully as she watched Sirius shovel the rest of his scrambled eggs into his mouth and spring up with James. Her husband, David, winked at her.
"Thanks Mrs. Potter," Sirius said, wiping his mouth.
"Oh don't be silly Sirius!" Lauren admonished, "Here, you call me Lauren or even Mum if you want to! Don't be so formal!"
Sirius responded by letting a large belch escape his mouth. Laughter escaped from everyone as Lauren added, "And here, your table manners can be equivelent to James too."
Their little amusement didn't last very long as a loud, interrupting tap on the window brought everyone's attention. A regal-looking Tawny Owl and a handsome Screech owl were perched on the windowsill, looking expectantly inside.
"Oh silly me!" Lauren exclaimed, "I forgot to open the windows."
She stood up and unlocked the windows as the two owls fluttered in. The Tawny owl immediately dropped two letters onto the table, gave a hoot and promptly took off through the window again. The Screech owl fluttered to James, who grinned and took the letter from its outstretched talons.
"Thanks Streak," James said, stroking the owl's feathers.
The owl hooted and fluttered to the perch in the living room, closing his eyes. James smiled and passed the letter to Sirius.
Lauren had finished scanning the address and passed the letters to James and Sirius.
"They're your school lists," she said, smiling as she sat back into her seat.
"Thanks Mum," James said.
"Thanks…Lauren," Sirius added.
Lauren could only exchange smiles with David as the two boys quickly slit open the letters and pulled out the parchment…
000
The kitchen was in less commotion as earlier, although that wasn't saying much, as Petunia cowered as far as she could in her kitchen stool and two owls perched on the chairs beside her.
"'Tunia!" Lily exclaimed, staring incredously at her sister, "You should have gotten used to them by now!"
Petunia merely glared at her before closing her eyes and cowering further back into her chair as several feathers fell in her hair.
Lily sighed and walked forward, recognizing one of the owls as her own Barn owl Nyra and another, a handsome Spotted owl. Nyra gave a hoot and fluttered onto Lily's arm. The other owl dropped the letter into Lily's hands and took off again.
Leading Nyra to the sofa, Lily glanced at the letter she had taken from the Spotted Owl. Recognizing the familiar crest and green ink, she let out a cry of surprise.
"It's my Hogwarts letter!"
Diana and Rob walked to Lily and stood beside her as Lily opened the flap and pulled out a piece of yellow parchment. But before the girl could read the content of the letter, a shiny badge fell from the envelope, landing, with a clatter, on the dining table.
Lily's almond-shaped emerald eyes widened as she recognized the badge. With trembling hands, she picked up the badge, amidst curious looks from her parents.
"I've been made Head Girl!" Lily exclaimed as the shiny letters engraved on the badge confirmed her hunch.
000
"Head Boy?" Sirius gawked.
There was total silence in the kitchen as James clutched the shiny badge in his hands, face filled with disbelief as he gazed at the engraved letters on the surface.
He was not the only one dumbstruck at this peculiar choice. Lauren and David were both staring at their son in shock and Sirius was simply gawking at his fellow troublemaker best mate, who had just received a position in Hogwarts as the most authorative.
"Head Boy?" Sirius repeated, a shadow of an old grin returning to his face, "Hey mate…you could give me detention!"
"I can't believe it," Lauren said quietly, breaking the silence that lingered between James' parents, "Head boy…head boy…you've been made HEAD BOY! Oh James!"
James let out a nervous laugh as she stood up and came charging toward him like a feminine bull, enveloping him in a bear hug.
"Mum…"
She pulled away from him and shot David a tearful smile.
"James! Head Boy? Can you believe it? Oh honey…congratulations!"
000
"Oh Lily!" Diana was screaming as she hugged her younger daughter, "Head Girl! Head Girl! Oh, congratulations!"
Rob was looking impressively around, as if hoping the neighbour would pop his head in and see that the youngest Evans had just received a position of Head Girl at her magical boarding school.
Teary-eyed, Diana pinned the badge onto Lily's shirt, stepping back and looking at the effect with proud, emerald eyes.
"It'll obviously look much better on your school uniform…must get you something special, I mean the necklace is not nearly as good enough now that you have this…I should give you my old antique earrings…you can have your ears pierced and…oh Lily!"
Lily was feeling downright uncomfortable now. Yes, she was elated that she was Head Girl but she couldn't help but feel guilty at the look on Petunia's face. Her older sister had been engaged recently to a man named Vernon Dursley.
Diana and Rob had not fussed over Petunia for getting engaged but they were in raptures over Lily's anecdote. Perhaps it was because Vernon was not exactly the best man Lily thought Petunia deserved.
Vernon Dursley was, in Lily's opinion, a pompous git. He was rather…plump. Okay…he was more than plump. And he didn't really seem to like Lily. The redhead was amazed Petunia had not told him her sister was a witch yet.
Laughing awkwardly, Lily pulled herself away from her mother and gathered the envelope and letter up.
"I'll be in my room Mum."
000
"Oh Jamesy, Jamesy!" Sirius laughed, "Oh, Head BOY? I can't believe it! Congratulations! Oh my baby boy is all grown up!"
"Cut it out Sirius," James mumbled, slightly annoyed at the high-pitched voice Sirius had adopted.
His best mate grinned in his cheeky way and began tearing at his own letter. Several booklists fell out of the yellowed envelopes as well as some other notes reporting some misbehaviour at school.
"What have you got for me this time boys?" Lauren sighed, snapped out of her monolog of Head Boy James already, as she appeared in the doorway of their bedroom, "Two more notes in my ever-growing collection?"
"Four," James corrected, grinning slighty.
Lauren sighed, rolling her eyes as she strode forward and snatched the trouble notes off Sirius and James. Scanning the pages quickly, Lauren let out a half-hearted cry of esperation.
"Sirius! Since when have you taken an interest in blowing up toilets?"
000
Sighing, Lily flopped eagle-spread on her bedsheets, closing her eyes briefly. What a long day it had been! She had received a surprise birthday party as well as a Head Girl badge.
Her mother had arranged for a trip in Diagon Alley to buy her usual school supplies (Petunia had starkly refused to go, mumbling something about tea at Vernon's) the day after tomorrow.
Frankly, Lily was exhausted enough. She had put on her silver swan necklace already and she loved the silvery effect. She had not bothered to change out of her pajamas so she was still in her light pink pants and matching top and fluffy slippers. Right now, the seventeen year old felt too tired to move.
"Lily! Dinner!"
"Can I have it upstairs?" Lily shouted back.
She was not usually that spoilt- her legs just didn't feel like moving. Downstairs, Lily heard Petunia's disapproving sniff as Diana relented and shouted back.
"Do you want me to bring it to you?"
"Don't bother Mum," Lily smiled and raised her wand, "Accio dinner!"
There was a clanging sound and Lily grinned as she saw a bowl of mushroom soup, a plate of spaghetti and a bowl of salad came zooming into her room and landing with a neat plonk on her table.
As the fork, spoon and knife settled with a clatter on her table, Lily couldn't help but let out a giggle. Magic was sure convenient!
000
"That was the most delicious dinner mother," James said in a deep voice, flashing Lauren one of his charming grins.
Lauren sighed and laughed and little as she pulled out her wand and muttered an incantation. The dirty plates immediately zoomed over to the sink and began washing themselves.
Sirius smiled and thanked Lauren and ran after James. Lauren sighed and sat back down on her table, staring at the boys' retreating backs.
"They've really grown up during the holidays," David Potter observed aloud, causing his wife to glance over at him.
"Yes David…I suppose they have."
Author's NoteAnd yet another repost with our Lily/James story: Fate Entwines. Only this time, the title has been changed to: Fate Intervenes. And it is set (as you can tell) in Lily and James' seventh year at Hogwarts.
We plan to make this very detailed so chapters will take longer to write. How was this 'improved' chapter? Lily is now in Gryffindor and we have changed the characters and houses a little.
Anyway, how did we go this time? Please review and tell us!
Eternal Phoenix and Moonlight Mage