Disclaimer: Do you really think I write well enough to own the Harry Potter world?
Edited – To find an entire new section, go to the end of the story for those who read the previous chapter eleven. There are spotted changes amidst the original chapter.
Chapter Eleven: EmbarrassmentAfter the rather embarrassing meeting with the Potter household and her friends, Lily kept herself in her room for the rest of the day with the excuse of organizing her room. Thankfully, Lunch didn't require her presence so she ate the meal sitting on the area of sunlight through her rectangular window. The period of salutary neglect from the other Hogwarts students ended at dinnertime. Being as forceful as she was for the Yule Ball, Mei invited Lily to have a picnic dinner with her and Feng in the gardens. Apparently, Mei thought her less than outgoing brother needed to interact with the kind and welcoming Lily to be more sociable instead of facing the firing squad consisting of the ostentatious Marauders.
"It's getting colder," mumbled Lily. It seemed as though the magical warmth of the fairyland courtyard was only as strong as the sunlight in the area. The silvery shine of the moon cooled the air to nearly as cold as the normal London winter night.
Mei shivered and her teeth started to chatter until her brother offered his cloak to the sister. "We should go back then," Feng answered. It was one of the few times he had spoken a real sentence. Nodding and shivering, the two girls complied and ran for the heated inn.
Just before they separated to different parts of the residence, Mei surprised Lily with a reminder. "Don't forget the mandatory breakfast at 9:00 am! The Minister wanted to talk to us and incoming delegate and dignitaries. It will be one of those long events. Sirius said it might even cover lunch."
Lily groaned at the prospect of facing the Potters as well as Sirius after her façade in the afternoon. The modeling smile was a double-edged sword. While she didn't look embarrassed with her model smile, it had a tendency to make her look unapproachable and aloof. If the Potters chose to overlook her cool expression, they most likely would believe she and James were dating since Lily's didn't protest, but hopefully, James was doing enough refutations for both himself and Lily. If they interpreted her career smile as something arrogant, at least she wasn't labeled as James's girl although she might have made the rest of the Potters cold towards her.
All in all, Lily doubted the consequences of her response earlier in the day. Sleep didn't come easily. She tossed and turned often enough to feel her hair get in tangles. Stepping out of her bed, Lily walked to look out the window. The sky was clear, stars glittered, and in the small bit of a garden that could be seen out her window, Lily could see little bright spots flying about. It was probably the pixies and fairies and maybe even fireflies flying from flower to flower, she thought, since tomorrow is a rather big day, maybe they are using magic to make all the flowers bloom for the welcoming party. From the dark and glimmering horizon, something black flew toward Lily's window at a great speed. In less than ten seconds, the black blob almost rammed itself into the window had Lily not opened it to let the mail deliverer enter.
"Artemis!" the redhead chastised. The owl she bought for her parents to contact her was one of the strangest beings with wings alive. It was hyperactive on some days and lazy as a log on others. The owl was the size of two fists put together and its body was entirely back except its coco-colored heart shaped face. Upon hearing its younger mistress's admonishing tone, the small owl cooed and flew to tuck itself between Lily's neck and shoulder. "Alright, alright. Just promise me you'll be careful. I don't want you to die because you hit your head too many times and got a brain seizure, okay?" The owl responded by rubbing its soft feathers against Lily's bare neck and shoulder digging something of the paper form into Lily's skin. "Now, what do you have for me?"
It was a letter in her mother's cursive handwriting.
My dearest little flower, it began,
I know you have been rather reluctant to continue your modeling career seeing as you now spend most of your time away at school, Irena called to ask you for a favor. It is a photo shoot for Christian Dior's spring and summer collection. It turned out the model that was previously contracted backed out due to a breach in the contract and the representatives saw a picture of you that was on her desk and requested you.
Now, I know you'll complain and say you are not modeling anymore and Irena is not your agent anymore but the fact that the Dior representatives actually called us. They seemed desperate and are offering you quite a large sum for a few photos. Your father and I even told them how you are away but they were insistent on how much they "needed" you and would be willing to pay for whatever transportation fees necessary to get you home since how their photographer could only film right before the New Years. I guess the photographer is in high demand.
Just send me a reply somehow, preferably right away. I don't know how fast Artemis can find you. If you can find a phone, please call and let me know. Irena has practically camped in our house until your reply. I know she is your godmother and my best friend, but your father's rather adamant about kicking her out soon.
Much love,
Mum
The prospect of showing her face all over magazines again didn't settle Lily's worries. In addition to trying not to make a fool of her self in front of wizarding families, there was a strong possibility that the same face will grace itself on the popular Dior catalogs. She wasn't sure how close to the muggle world the Potters were, but they are of the socialite class and Dior was fashionable among them since all the wealthier Hogwarts students wear those for casual clothing.
"Can you bring my mother a reply in time for dawn?" Lily asked Artemis. She looked all over it the dark, but could not find the ball of feathers anywhere. Charming the room to light up dimly, Lily found her owl dozing on the corner of her bed, right next to where her head had been on the pillow. "I guess not. You are in your lazy mood again."
Deciding that she should take a hint from her pet, Lily returned to her cozy bed and tried to ingratiate herself to the overseer of sleeping. It didn't work; all her worries returned in full force when she tried to not worry about anything. The harder she tired to clear her mind, more concerns surfaced. From befriending delegates to O.W.L. exams, floods of concerns washed to her mind.
The clock in the room was displaying the time 2:30 am. In less than seven hours, she had to be awake and smiling. Reluctantly, Lily created a special diagram around her bed to induce sleep in all those living breathing beings in its confinement to deep sleep for six hours and wake up refreshed. The mere power it took for the activation charm to work would be enough to send her mind to the subconscious.
The morning came and the spell wore off just as it woke Lily up refreshed. To her surprise, Artemis woke up charged with energy and dashed towards the garden where Lily knew the bird was going to annoy the pixies.
"Artemis! Find me soon, I still need you to bring a letter back to Mum and Dad!" Lily shrugged as her owl continued flying to the gardens. Exasperated at her owl, Lily decided breakfast would be over by the time Artemis returns from the garden.
Someone knocked on her door, "Lily!" The voice sounded much like Mei.
"Coming!" She replied, taking one last glance out her window. Artemis was nowhere in sight. When she opened the door, she found Mei waiting and Sirius a few meters away. "Sorry, my owl came last night and I was making sure it wasn't going to go ballistic on the premise." Lily hooked her arm with Mei, and the Chinese girl dragged Lily to the dinning room of the unknown location.
When the skip to breakfast slowed down to a walk, Lily noticed Sirius was trailing them from a distance not far away but not too close either. "Mei, why is Sirius following us instead of walking with us?" Lily asked, turning back to stare at Sirius every two steps.
"Because I am annoyed that he still wants me to be his date," Mei replied with a pout. "I don't see why he is so desperate to have me be his date. Isn't it enough just going to the ball together? We'll all be in the same room."
Lily stopped walking suddenly. "Well, it just means that you two would spend more time being with each other instead of with other people." Mei blinked at the clarification and shrugged. "I don't know if you have notice this, but there are many girls who would jump at the chance to dance with Sirius. I think he's asking you a favor so be his bodyguard of sorts so he won't get mauled the three nights of celebration."
"Still, why do I need to be his date? We are going to the ball together," Mei exclaimed, exasperated.
From behind, Sirius decided to participate in the conversation. "So? Lily is going with James, as FRIENDS on a DATE!" Mei stomped off with a scowl. Lily turned to face Sirius, who was cowering behind an open door. She frowned and made a motion for Sirius to just keep his mouth shut on the subject. East Asian cultures were rather conservative about male and female relationships, so for Sirius to get closer to Mei, he would have to back off and mellow down a bit.
Once Lily entered the room with Sirius a few steps behind, the Potters and their in-laws that Lily hadn't meet the afternoon before were already present with many other people whom Lily recognized as other ministry officials. Her presence made the Potter table stop whatever he or she was doing. The two older Potter sisters, Antonia and Abby, immediately smiled and motioned for Lily to seat between them and directly across from James. Seeing no one was going to save her, Lily smiled and walked gracefully but stiffly to her seat between the two Potter sisters that were described as the most overwhelming by Aleia's complaints of her family.
Juice, milk, coffee, and tea were passed among every table creating a scene of ordered chaos. Lily noticed Professor Dumbledore speaking with older wizards and witches in a round table diagonally next to the Potters', discussing world issues like threats of dark magic and jealousies between various countries regarding subjects from adolescent rivalries with someone's attention to the abundance of a certain item in a commonly used potions ingredient.
"Lily, that's such a beautiful name," Antonia started when the breakfast dish was magically served.
"I know," Abby cried wistfully. "I think I am going to name my daughter that." The man seated on the other side of the younger Potter daughter stiffened. Lily realized the man was Abby's husband. And remembering Athena's rant from the afternoon the day before, Lily realized he was less than enthusiastic about starting a family. Abby didn't seem to notice her husband's plight and continued with the same wishful expression, "It's such a graceful name." She turned to Lily. "You are as graceful as the appearance of the flower. The contours of the flower and the leaves and smooth showing grace and sophistication . . ."
Abby continued to rant about the positive connotations about Lily's namesake with the rest of the family listening half to the woman and half to whatever conversation they were holding with their neighbors.
James mouthed something to Lily that she could not understand. Frowning, Lily shrugged and James repeated whatever he said. In a natural human reflex, both of them leaned slightly closer to better their communication.
"She's an artist." Lily smiled at the clarification. No wonder Abby was so detailed about the shape of a Lily flower. "So she watches objects carefully and then analyzes th—" James stopped as his eyes moved up wards and to Lily's right.
"Aw, how sweet! They are whispering to each other," Antonia observed with a knowing smile. "And to think you are going to the ball together. My, my! Mum, Dad, don't you think Lily is the perfect person for James?" The call to the Minister and his wife interrupted their conversation with Feng and Mei about their English experience.
Lily felt the scrutinizing eyes of the Minister of Magic and his wife.
"You know what I heard from the headmaster and some of the other professors at Hogwarts?" Mr. Potter mused to his wife. "They all said Lily Evans is an extraordinary girl. She's smart, but rather quiet most of the time. It's part of the reason why I thought Miss Evans would be a great representative. With all the professors suggesting James, a calmer figure would benefit England's image lest James try something." Everyone at the table laughed while James and Lily reacted in the complete opposite. James blushed and muttered words incoherently in an indignant manner. Lily's impression mirrored that of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. It was neither a smile nor a frown; she looked somewhere between perturbed and amused.
From then on, the conversation for the table was shifted to life at Hogwarts and the latest fund raising idea of selling prefects and other well-known students in the school. As always, the family talked about James and Sirius and the mischief of the Marauders. With Lily aiding Aleia in sabotaging any pranks for the winter celebration, Lily was also included in the conversation, especially after a smug Aleia revealed their role.
"I know being infatuated was a weakness!" Sirius joked. "James was so busy trying to woo Lily that he was telling her all our secrets!" James retaliated by charming his scrambles eggs to pelt individual pieces at Sirius discreetly. After all, they were at a Ministry function. Unlike Hogwarts, Sirius did nothing in retaliation since James was rebuked and interrogated.
"So when did you meet Lily?" Mrs. Potter asked kindly, mistaking their relationship as that of a boyfriend and girlfriend. Lily wanted to curse Sirius for steering the conversation back to the debate of Lily and James's relationship.
"Mum, we have been going to the same school for six years," James grumbled. "Besides friendships just sort of happen." All the Potter family members raised their eyebrows in doubt and Sirius contributed with exaggerating his eyebrow movement.
Lily figured it would be time for her to leave. The whole conversation regarding Lily and James's relationship was still directed at James, who seemed to be doing the best he can to defend his point. If she lingered and didn't discredit any evidence of James and her dating, a conversation Lily wasn't keen on participating, whatever clarification James made would be pointless. After all, she still needed to contact her parents about the Dior photo shoot. "Is there something I could use to contact my parents? I received a mail from them last night and it's rather urgent. I would use my owl, but I don't know where he went . . ." Lily murmured half searching for Artemis.
"Sure," the Minister replied. "There is a phone – a lovely muggle contraption – for contact with the muggle world. In a few occasions, muggles also use this inn. But of course, the phone is in the lobby."
Lily easily found the phone and picked up the receiver to face off her parents and probably Irena as well according to her mother's letter.
"Hello Mum?" she asked, sounding tired. For some reason, she was already exhausted.
"Lily!" the voice on the other shouted. It was Irena. "Thank goodness you are calling. I really need you this time. Actually, Dior really wants you . . . anyhow, it will be a quick thing. They are reserving two days just for you. It's a really special treatment you know, seeing as how they are really well known and powerful in the fashion industry." Irena's voiced faded off as though someone took the phone from her.
"Hello Sweetie," Lily father answered. "Ignore Irena, your mother is busy settling her down. I should have known she was hiding around the phone as well."
"Two days?" Lily asked, getting straight to the point. "The ball is three days. I am welcoming the delegates today!" Lily banged her head on the wall next to the phone. "Daddy, it's not going to work very well. I would have to miss the ball completely, and I wouldn't be able to mingle with the delegates!"
"Well, it is your decision."
"But Petunia's wedding is coming up. We do need the money for the event." Lily banged her head even more at the thought of her sister and her fiancé. The man was a balloon and in the exact same temperament as Petunia. Vernon Dursley had discovered Lily's magical talents when he visited the Evans household unannounced, in the middle of Lily's demonstration of turning Petunia's teacup into a rodent. Being too familiar with the household, Dursley had just taken Petunia's cup for a drink just as the cup became a mouse and scurried up his sleeves. While Lily and her parents were entertained, the little mishap was enough to alienate Lily from her sister and her future brother-in-law. The animosity just got worse as Petunia continued to complain about Lily's eccentricities.
Lily could feel her father shift his stance. "Well Lily, you are right. We do need the money, but the financial situation is something your mother and I will take care of. It isn't as though we don't have careers in high paying jobs."
"I want Petunia to not want such an elaborate wedding," she whined. According to Lily, reserving a chapel, getting caterers, buy exotic floral sets, and hiring a live band was completely extreme. Their family was a simple, slightly above middle class family. All the frivolous exaggerations of social status were pointless. How Petunia and Dursley behaved already ruined any chances they had to being in the socialite class, so why bother spending money like one of a high social standing? A gaudy display of wealth would never be enough to convince the world that Petunia and Vernon are respectable persons of wealth, power, and influence.
"Oh Lily, your wedding will be just as beautiful and wonderful," Lily heard her mother reply. Her father probably was keeping Irena from grabbing the phone.
"I know," Lily pouted although her parents couldn't see. "Well, I guess this will be my present to my sister seeing as she wants nothing from me, not even my presence. So, is it possible for me to only be there for one day?"
"No!" Irena screeched. "I can't do that!"
The girl sighed in disbelief. What was she going to do? The idea of modeling did appeal to her somewhat. Ever since she could remember, dressing up was fun for her. When she discovered that a person could earn a living by playing dress-up, she was ecstatic. As she matured, modeling became something like reading a good book. The world of fashion designers and style magazines and eccentric photographers and finicky make up artists was an escape of reality in reality. "When do I need to leave?"
"Leave?" Someone not from the other end of the telephone shouted. Lily jumped to see James leaning on a chair, not caring about the wobbling legs. "What happened? Why are you leaving?" His face distorted into worry, and Lily could almost see the images of bizarre disasters playing in James's head through his eyes. She rolled her eyes and asked for Irena to hold.
"My sister's wedding is coming up soon. There was a slight emergency and I need to be there." James looked down, almost embarrassed and nodded his head while his right hand traced the wood on the back of the chair.
"So when are you leaving?" Lily moved the phone away from her ear just as Irena became a bit loud.
"TODAY!" the phone yelled. "I need you back today! Oh dear, I have been reading the dates wrong. Lily honey, I need to back today, in two hours. HOW CAN I DO THAT? Actually, HOW WILL THAT BE POSSIBLE?" Irena's screams of distress were loud enough for James to hear every declaration clearly. Lily tried to calm Irena down while her parents seemed to be doing the same thing.
"You know, I can probably ask Mr. Figulos to make you a portkey right now. He could probably have it done in an hour. Will that be okay?" James suggested, cautiously getting closer to Lily due to the seemingly dangerous noise spouting from the phone. She looked at James with a thankful smile and hugged him while murmuring this comforting news to her frenzied godmother.
"Irena, I can be back in two hours. Just calm down and do what you need to do," Lily repeated over and over again to let every single word sink into the mind of her godmother. When the woman did calm down, Lily continued, "Does that mean I will be back by New Year's Eve? Two days including today? Good. Thank you! Can you get my parents?" Lily waited for the hustle and bustle of other side to settle. "Hello Mum? Oh Dad. Where do you want to pick me up? Kings Cross? Sure!" Lily gingerly replace to phone and clapped her hands.
"Does that mean I should find Mr. Figulos?" James asked. Lily smiled happily. A sudden euphoria swept her as all her fears of modeling disappeared for the moment. She didn't care if people would recognize her. After all, Lily's voice of reason rationalized, people at Hogwarts knew she had a fully working brain. If in the highly unlikely situation that Hogwarts students did see her modeling pictures, no one would make fun of her lack of academic credential.
The feeling of lightheartedness similar to the return of an old friend faded when Lily saw James's stiffer than usual posture. Her promises to James flooded back and Lily winced.
"James, when is Athena's birthday?"
The messy haired boy looked at Lily, surprised. "It's New Years Day." Athena's birthday would the day after her return if the photo shoot could be finished earlier. There would be no time for her to help James with charming the gift or whatever he needed help with.
"Oh," Lily replied. "What problems do you have with the present? I might be able to owl you a solution while I am away." James shrugged.
"It's fine. If I can't find a solution, I'll just change the present a little bit. Just go home and be with your family. If I do have a knotty problem, I'll be sure to let you know." Lily frowned skeptically. She wasn't sure if she should feel that her help was just being chucked aside by James Potter. Or was she just disappointed that she won't see a Marauder at work because James found out she and Aleia had been sabotaging their pranks?
Lily continued to stand by the phone with a mixed expression until James coughed and nearly fell over because the chair that held his weight on two instead of four legs decided to give away. "Um, we should get the portkey, right?" James asked, not succeeding in hiding his embarrassment.
"Yes. I probably should get going."
tbc
LillyEvans13: Oh dear, you read Friday Afternoon. WINCE Oh well, I haven't decided if I wanted to continue that one. Maybe, maybe not.
Sophianwin: I know, lots of muddy parts. I will have it edited and whatnot on Sunday. Thank you for helping me find them! hug!
Lily Evans8: Mélange is a mixture of incongruous elements. I'll let you figure out how that relates to the story. =P
She Devil: I've always wondered what lmoa meant . . . and James being cute? I don't know, I am not exactly the best person to be asked that questions. I am a girl, just a very picky girl who doesn't use cute. I think I use pretty more often . . . and anger all my friends of both genders.
Jegan: You are free to remind me whenever! And I didn't take my time on this one . . . maybe I rushed it a little.
Also thanks to:
pepsibabe2, animalluvr75, Oliverwoodschic, s, mandyzcool, Storywritter10791, Hannah, Autumn le Moone, Lady Phoenix Slytherin, NotebookQueen807, Liliana!
Hugs, air kisses, chocolates, watermelons to all,
Omnifarious