Disclaimer: I don't own anything having to do with the HP. That all belongs to the fabulous J.K. Rowling.
IMPORTANT:This is a revamped edition of Popularity. If you have read the original, please take time to re-read the new edition. I have changed the plot considerably! Thankyou & enjoy.
Prologue
Fifteen-year-old Lily Evans surveyed the crisp, white parchment in front of her, her eyes brimming with held back tears. Through the sheen her tears provided she read the letter for what felt like the thousandth time. There, emblazoned in an unforgiving coal-black calligraphy, lay the news that had slowly crumbled the walls of her world until all that was left lay shattered at her feet. She looked at the letter once more, re-reading, hoping somehow the words would change, move around even until it was a new letter. It was not to be.
She wrapped a lock of hair around her index finger and tugged, trying to regain control of her rational mind. Her eyes, usually sparkling with life and laughter now glistened only with the force of her held back tears.
At breakfast that morning an unfamiliar owl had landed on her plate. This particular owl hadn't stopped to beg a bit of breakfast which was unusual to say the least. It stood stock still, leg extended, waiting for Lily to remove its burden. Lily couldn't move. It was as if an icy fist had gripped her heart and soon a cold nothingness moved throughout her veins. The owls' feathers had been an impossibly deep shade of black. A black owl meant only one thing.
Death.
Somebody close to her had died. At first, her mind had frantically turned to thoughts of Voldemort. That would be the worst kind of death; a degrading, merciless demise. The sounds of her peers echoed around her; the gleeful chuckles of knowledge seekers and the despairing moans of those who had left assignments uncompleted. The Headmaster clapped his hands and announced that breakfast was coming to an end. She turned her face to the letter and read it one more time.
She shuddered after this final reading and stared at the page, her eyes coming in and out of focus, the letters blurring together to form one giant black dot. Her parents were dead. Her thoughts jumbled together in a chaotic mess. It didn't seem to fit. It couldn't be true. Her parents were dead. She had just seen them during the Easter Holiday! It couldn't be real!
Lily turned her head away from the parchment and scrunched her eyes together, letting the first tears fall. She ignored them and tried not to think but the thoughts kept coming, the haunting words of the letter echoing among them. They were dead. Gone. She would never see them again. No, it couldn't be true. Lily closed her eyelids with more force in a pitiful attempt to forget. She recoiled as she felt someone touch her arm.
"Lily?" called a voice.
She looked up and there was the face of Katie, swimming blurrily before her. The face was concerned and the grip on her shoulder lessened. She stared dispassionately.
"Lily..." the face looked bewildered now.
"Honey, are you alright?"
Lily had no time to think. All she knew was that she had to get away from the Great Hall. She could feel the eyes of her fellow classmates burning into her and she didn't want to have to face them. She smiled stiffly and grated out,
"I'm fine. I'm okay. Just . . . tired."
She turned her face to Katie, though not completely registering her worried friend's features and tried to look fine. "Really . . . I'm just going to go up stairs for a bit and have a lie-down." The fake smile stayed, pasted into place.
Still not focusing on anything in particular, Lily grabbed the bag she knew lay at her feet and shakily stood up.
"See you in class." she said, looking straight ahead, ignoring the tears now leaking down her face.
Katie looked uncertain but nodded.
"Sure. See you then."
Lily inclined her head in answer and walked to the big doors of the Great Hall, acutely aware of the many eyes following her. She opened the door and let it shut behind her. Then it was closed and she was free. The click of the door broke the dam that had previously been holding back her tears and now she let them stream unabashedly down her face as she ran toward the safety of her room.
From The Desk of Caspar H. Warrick
Miss Lillian Bronwyn Evans,
We, the Ministry, regret to inform you of the untimely death of your parents on this past May 22nd, 1976. From Muggle Police Documents it has been discovered that a Mrs.Rose Evans and a Mr. Mark Evans were driving home from an evening out when a muggle, driving under the influence of alcohol, ignored a red light and hit their car. In consolation, we can offer you the knowledge that their deaths were quick and altogether painless.
We have spoken with your headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, about arrangements to attend their funeral this coming May 25th. Be sure to pack up your supplies because you have been given leave to remain at home until next term which will begin on September 1. The Hogwarts Express will be making a special trip and is due to arrive at 9 o'clock in the morning to pick you up. A ministry car will await you outside of Kings Cross Station.
We the Ministry offer to you our deepest sympathies.
Yours Respectfully,
Caspar H. Warrick
Minister of Magic
Lily ran up countless staircases and through numerous corridors. She didn't need to concentrate on her surroundings. Her feet knew the way. She slowed her pace to wipe the falling tears, her hand obstructing her vision. Her breathing all but stopped as she collided with a warm body. A large hand gripped her shoulder, steadying her and preventing her from falling.
"Are you alright?"
She looked up despairingly into the hazel eyes of James Potter. Her voice came out flat and monotonous.
"I'm fine. Now please excuse me. I have somewhere that I need to be."
She hitched her bag further up on her shoulder and stepped around him.
"Well take care what you bump into. Wouldn't want you wiping out some poor first year, now would we?"
She squared her shoulders and continued walking, keeping the façade of cool confidence until she was certain of his absence. Once his footsteps had faded into nothingness, she once more allowed the tears to fall until at last she had reached the common room.
"Password, darling?"
The Fat Lady smiled cheerfully, ignoring the occasional tremors of the girl in front of her.
"Valor."
Her voice had been reduced to a harsh croak.
"That's the spirit dear. On with you, then!"
Lily all but flew through the common room and up the stairs to the fifth-year girls' dormitory. She threw her bag on her bed and let out a keening wail as she saw another owl perched on her desk. This time, however, it was not a ministry owl. It was her own sweet eagle-owl Gwydion. He hooted softly in answer to her despondency and raised his leg.
It was a letter from Petunia.
Lillian-
I'm sorry to be the one to inform you of this, but Mother and Father were killed last night by a drunk driver. The funeral, if you wish to come, will be on May 25th. I have spoken with Vernon and we have agreed that if you must, you can stay with us until the start of next term. Our address is Number 4. Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. The funeral will begin at 3 pm. Please be prompt.
-Petunia
"No . . . "
The letter had crushed what little hopes she had held about the Ministry's letter being false. The bitter truth came crashing down around her and she recoiled from the letter as if in pain. Once more she released a hideous wail, full of pain and anguish, as she crumpled to the floor.
Gwydion hooted softly and nudged her face with his beak, surveying her tear-stained face with his piercing golden gaze.
He was the only one to see her cry.
Shout out to my friend Rebecca for being the awesomest beta reader ever! She helped me rewrite over half of this prologue.
Meanings of Names: (I chose them all for a reason)
Caspar Warrick: Royal Leader.
Gwydion: God of Magic
Rose: Of the Rose Blossom
Mark: Warlike
Katie: Pure
Bronwyn: Dark, Pure
Keep an eye on the meanings. They'll tie into the plotline.
R&R