Story Title: Love of Two Generations: The First
Chapter Title: Coming Of Age
Disclaimer: All people and recognizable places belong to and were taken out of J.K. Rowling's amazing mind. Plot and some characters belong to me.
Author: Chewy
Summary: In a world of Witches, Wizards, Trolls, and magnificent Beasts, the tale of four different people unravels to engulf the world in luminosity. Can true love blossom from true hate? Can two opposites come together to form a bond so powerful it could save the world? Only TIME can tell…
Publishing Date: January, 2004
Author's Note: Yay! Another chapter!
"Marie, Marie, MARIE!" Lily stumbledthrough the thick crowds in Diagon Alley, calling after her speeding friend. "Marie, I believe you've forgotten that I am unable to walk as quickly as I used to."
"Oh you're doing fine! No worries at all!" Marie called back over top of people's heads. She sounded five feet ahead but Lily wasn't able to see. She stopped in the crowd and let herself move towards the side of the street and a vacant wooden bench.
"We just had to come to Diagon Alley today didn't we," Marie commented as she pushed through the throngs of people and reached Lily. She sat down beside her and looked down the street towards the great white bank where she was trying to go.
"How about we skip Gringotts for now and go take on some ice cream? I hear Florean's got a new flavour… 'Mint Leaves and Fingernails'." Lily wiggled her eyebrows at Marie as she mentioned the flavour.
Marie's face paled considerably and she stuck out her tongue in disgust. "I think I'll pass on that and just try good ol' vanilla. My favourite," she commented swatting Lily's teasing hand away.
"It's your own loss then, personally I'm in a trying new things mood. I kind of want to see what she's cooked up." Lily laughed to herself, "Pardon me, frozen up."
Marie fell back on the bench laughing at Lily openly. "Oh if only the students of Hogwarts could see this now. Lily Evans joking about something so strange," Marie choked out in between giggles.
"Well, you know you're just as strange for laughing too," Lily reprieved. She smiled at Marie before standing. She set her stance firmly and peered down the street at the passer-buyers. "Alright," she started. "It's about fifty paces to Florean's from here. You give me a thirty second head start and the last one there buys." Lily looked at Marie then at the ice cream shop.
"You know, it's a win-win situation for me," Marie explained. "If I get there first you pay. If you get there first I'll have to pay. But, seeing as I have no money on me you'll have to lend me some."
Lily looked at Marie with amusement waiting for her to finish. "Who says you won't be doing the dishes?" Lily asked jokingly. She winked at her friend before turning quickly and hobbling through the throngs of people.
Fifteen seconds later Marie was by her side, then ahead of her. When Lily reached the door, Marie was sidled up beside the frame. Her arms crossed in front of her and an amused expression lining her face, she spoke, "I guess I won't be doing dishes after all."
"Well, that's still not fair," Lily commented.
"Why?"
"Well, you should've waited another fifteen seconds," Lily concluded as if it was obvious. She stuck her nose in the air and closed her eyes as she walked. Giving Marie a fleeting glance she turned and walked right into the chest of another.
"How about I pay for you both to end the bickering?" asked an amused voice. Lily looked quickly to peer into bright blue eyes. She coughed loudly before stepping away, apologizing.
"No need to apologize my dear Lily Evans," Gilderoy Lockhart spoke elegantly, swiping away a strand of golden blond hair. "But I do accept it with great abundance," he added. Lily smiled at him sarcastically but it went unnoticed. She looked at him in disgust, almost gagging when he took her hand.
"My dearest Lily, would you do me the honour of allowing me to purchase yours and your friend's ice cream?" Marie rolled her eyes because of his over-exaggeration of what he thought a gentleman was, but she continued to smile at the arrogant boy. Lily shrunk away from him but nodded. Lockhart bowed grandly and with a flourish, turned away from them.
"Not even going to ask what flavours we wanted?" Marie whispered in Lily's ear after he had left. Lily chuckled softly, shrugging as she followed Marie to an empty table near the window. They sat and spoke in hushed whispers as they waited for Sergeant Big Head and their ice cream.
"Alright," Lockhart spoke as he came up behind Lily holding three cups of ice cream. "Vanilla," he said, nearly throwing the cup at Marie. "And strawberry for Miss Lily," he finished, dragging his hand up Lily's arm before sitting.
Lily's eyes grew wide and she shivered with dislike. Once Gilderoy was seated he began speaking. Lily tried to listen to his words but found herself drifting off into her own world.
"So Lily, what are you planning to do after Hogwarts?" Lockhart questioned. Lily slipped back into reality long enough to reply to the question with a quiet "I don't know," and look at Marie unbelievably as Gilderoy went on to explain his own plans in detail. Lily nodded as he continued but slowly slipped away again, stirring the one ice cream flavour she loathed around in the cup. Yuck, strawberry. She would have to get a cone later.
She had never particularly liked Gilderoy Lockhart. He was stuck up and self-centred, and never stopped talking. He was in her year at Hogwarts and had been trying to win her heart since their second year, Trying and failing many times to get her attention during classes when Hufflepuff and Gryffindor were together.
When Gilderoy started laughing absurdly loud Lily looked up just in time to see James Potter across the street looking angry. Just as she made to stand up she felt Lockhart snake his arm around her waist.
She stood up even faster, knocking her ice cream soup over onto Lockhart. She couldn't help but laugh at his ridiculous state of surprise. Marie howled with laughter before walking over to Lily and taking her arm. "Talk about shrinkage," Marie whispered under her breath to Lily.
Lily laughed and whispered back, "What are you talking about? He's got noting there." She apologized to Lockhart through her giggles and quickly followed Marie from the shop and out to the street. Reaching the open alley she opened up completely and laughed until she was crying, leaning on Marie for support.
"That was hilarious!" Marie exclaimed. "Did you see his face? Priceless!" Lily continued to laugh but forced herself to calm down quickly and think back to James' pained expression. For some reason she felt she had a lot of explaining to do…
James Potter never really liked Monday's. Not many people really did, but he in particular. To him they signified many things: the first day back to his everlasting lessons at Hogwarts, in the summer the trash had to be put out on Monday's and it always seemed to rain. Although the after math of the rain was usually beautiful, he didn't appreciate it to its full extent on Monday's.
Unfortunately this Monday was his birthday. Although it wasn't raining, and for some particular reason coinciding with the above he didn't have to put the trash on the curb, he could still feel the evil haze that Monday's brought over head.
He woke up when he had begun choking on his own saliva. Unpleasant as that experience was, opening his eyes to find Sirius Black sitting on his desk chair peering at him through his bangs was ever more so.
"So," he began, making the motion of cleaning out his fingernails. "I'm thinking we hit Diagon Alley this morning. Then tonight, if we're not zonked, dinner and maybe birthday cake." Sirius looked at James expectantly, waiting for him to jump out of bed dressed and ready.
"You know Sirius, I was hoping I could just wallow in the evil Monday that happens to be my birthday in bed alone." James explained before pressing a pillow to his eyes. He heard Sirius' movement then his voice.
"Nonsense Prongs! The day is young, the birds are singing, and you must get up and find someone to get-in-that-bed-with you." Sirius insisted, opening the curtains to James' bedroom. James groaned and mumbled something sounding very similar to 'pickled pancakes.' Sirius raised a shaggy eyebrow and questioned James' strange comment.
James removed the pillow from his face and yelled, "Please not today!" He groaned again and made to resituate the pillow but was unable as it was ripped from his grip. He sat up quickly and glared at his friend, "Sirius you know I don't like Mondays' and although it's my birthday, I like to spend them wallowing in self-pity." He paused to take a deep breath. "On the other note that you so readily brought up, I found a girl I would actually allow in this bed. But, as I so nicely informed you three weeks ago over warm fire-whiskey, she doesn't want to get in this bed, especially with me. She doesn't love me."
James glared at Sirius before plopping back onto his pillow. Sirius strolled up beside him and leaned over his head. "Are we again referring to Miss Evans?" he asked nonchalantly.
"You know Sirius, sometimes I'd just like to hit you with an unforgivable curse," James mumbled. He looked up at Sirius in dismay before closing his eyes and rolling over.
"Well, you've never mentioned that you'd allow her in your bed before, this is a new revelation. This must be serious, you won't even let me sit on your bed," Sirius commented. To prove his point he made a motion of seating himself on the red sheet only to be pushed off roughly onto the floor, "exactly."
James rolled over again and looked down at Sirius, sighing, "I won't even let my own mother on my bed. When someone goes on someone else's bed they just muck it up and I hate that. But Lily Evans would… float." He looked at the ceiling above his mattress, listening to Sirius' reply.
"You know mate, girls can't actually float, despite what all those muggle, TV magicians say. Evans would do the exact same as your mother. Actually, if you think about it, if you're there, she'd do worse." Sirius looked at James before standing from is spot on the floor. "I'm not trying to make you feel worse mate, but you've got it bad."
James sat up and flung his feet over the side of the bed and stood, rubbing his eyes sleepily. He reached for his glasses before turning and looking over the bed at Sirius, "I know." With that he turned back and went out the door and to the shower calling out after him, "I'll be done in one hour. I'll meet you downstairs." After a few seconds the sound of a door closing could be heard down the hall only to be opened again and James' voice travelled down the hall, "And that better be a large bloody cake."
Sirius laughed and flopped down on top of James' messy bed, "Whatever you say." He jumped at the sound of the bathroom door opening again. "Get off my bed Sirius," came James' toothbrush muffled order. Sirius laughed again before leaving his friends room and heading towards his own, it would be a long day. Not including the time James took to get ready.
Sirius had never really had a true home until he was fifteen years old. A home was supposed to be a child's sanctuary, but having a house wasn't the same as a home. A house is a place you sleep every night, a home is where you live.
You could say Sirius was the white sheep of the Black family. His parents being followers of Voldemort, and every other sibling and family member being Slytherin bound, it was a shock when he was placed in Gryffindor. No matter who his biological family was, since his third year, the Potter's, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew were his real family.
Sirius was thrown from his house and family's minds when he turned sixteen at the beginning of the summer before and moved into the Potter's home, becoming the brother James never had. When Sirius' blood brother Regulus began attending Hogwarts the next year, things got interesting. He didn't complain though, he had James, Remus and Peter. He was set, and someone watching the scene unfold within the Potter's kitchen you would never realize the different bloodlines.
Sirius sat laughing loudly with Mrs. Potter and her son. He pushed his shaggy black hair from his face and peered at James' annoyed expression before bursting into more peels of laughter.
"You know, I don't see what is so hilarious. I was two years old; doesn't every two-year-old run into tables? I was just the unfortunate one to break my nose while doing it," James spoke exasperatedly, trying to defend his pride. As Sirius began to laugh harder along with his mother James covered his head with his hands and gave up. "Don't hurt yourself," he mumbled.
"He's just trying to annoy you Jamie," My. Potter commented coming up behind his son and patting him roughly on the head. He walked to the counter, lifted his wife's coffee from her hands before taking a large gulp. Letting out a satisfied sigh he placed the mug back in Eleanor Potter's hands and gave her a small kiss on the cheek, "delicious."
James looked up from his palms to glare at his father, "Yes, and he's doing a rather good job at it." He switched his glare to his friend as his father began laughing. James sighed as he stood and looked questioningly at Sirius. "Well, if we're going, then let's be off," he ordered, changing the subject.
"Jolly good idea old chap, another day, another mystery," Sirius exclaimed in his best Sherlock Holmes impression. James rolled his eyes dramatically before turning away and beckoning Sirius to follow.
"And just where do you think you two are going?" came Mrs. Potter's inquisitive remark. Sirius and James turned around and looked at her sheepishly.
"Oh, just to the pub dear mumsie," Sirius replied jokingly. Eleanor looked at the boy unimpressed, lifting an eyebrow. She elbowed her chuckling husband in the stomach roughly, stifling his laughter and waited for a real reply. "I'm taking Jamie-boy here shopping in Diagon Alley. You know, for the usual things; dung bombs, textbooks, birthday presents, girlfriends and perhaps one or two other things," Sirius explained.
"Girlfriends?"
"Birthday presents?" Adam and Eleanor Potter exclaimed simultaneously. They looked at each other then at the two boys. Adam backed away from his wife as she started on James. "Don't you think you're a bit young for a girlfriend?" She asked. "You're not even out of Hogwarts yet!"
James rolled his eyes, "Mum, I'm six-, no seventeen years old. You started dating when you were fourteen, I started at fif-."
"You've had a girlfriend before? And you didn't tell us or bring her to meet us?" Eleanor questioned taking a few steps towards her son. She took his hand softly and looked concernedly into his eyes. She gave him a questioning look trying to piece together her question, as she opened her mouth to question him James' eyes rounded and he pulled away quickly stopping her. "Mum! No!"
Eleanor brought her hand to her chest quickly, sighing in relief, "Oh thank-god."
James shook his head quickly, turned and opened the door, grabbing Sirius by the collar. "Let's go Si," he ordered. He stopped again to his father's voice.
"Wait! What's this about presents?" Adam asked jokingly. He looked at Sirius, "You really think he deserves a gift?" Adam raised an eyebrow at Sirius reply.
"Absolutely not Mr. P," Sirius began. "But sometimes the warmth in my heart shines through."
Mr. Potter laughed loudly, coming to stand beside his still shocked wife. "You are too good to him Sirius," he commented before waving them out. "Have fun!"
Sirius saluted Mr. Potter before turning and following an impatient James from the room to the fireplace in the next room. They both grabbed a fistful of Floo Powder and squared up with the fireplace. James threw his fistful in lazily and stepped in once the fire turned green shouting, "Diagon Alley".
He landed in the large fireplace in The Leaky Cauldron with a loud thump before clumsily falling out. He inched away from the fireplace and dusted himself off as he stood and waited for Sirius. He glared menacingly as his friend stepped out casually, dusting his arms off and checking his pockets.
"All there?" James asked jokingly. He watched his friend pull something from his pocket then shove it back. He nodded, stepping in front of James and leading him out, giving Tom the bartender a brief nod.
"All right Prongs, here's the plan. Moony is meeting us at Florean's in one half hour. Then it's off to shopping! For quidditch supplies of course," Sirius identified after receiving a shocked look from James. James followed Sirius into the alleyway behind the pub waiting for his friend to open the hidden walk way.
Tapping each brick in turn the wall opened to reveal the bristling streets of Diagon alley. They entered, moving past shoppers and future Hogwarts students toward "Florean Fortesque's Ice Cream Shop". Standing outside on the street for a moment while Sirius found his galleons, mumbling, "stupid over-enlarged pockets." James peered through the window into the busy shop and turned to do a double take.
The future love of his life, Lily Evans sat with Marie Finnigan and Gilderoy Lockhart eating ice cream. Lockhart seemed to be on a role, speaking on and on in his conceited manner. He was sitting very close to Lily, and she didn't seem to care. She looked up and her eyes met James'. He watched as Lockhart's disgusting arm wrapped around the waist that belonged to him. James turned away quickly and began to walk towards the Gringott's Bank, Sirius calling after him.
"Prongs! Prongs what are you doing? We're to meet Remus soon! Where are you going?" Sirius ran quickly after him until James stopped on the steps of the bank and sat quickly. He kicked a small rock sitting beside his right foot and watched it roll expertly down the five steps.
Sirius took a seat beside him roughly, "May I ask why we just travelled past our destination?" James could feel Sirius' inquisitive eyes on him and looked away before mumbling his reply. "What was that prongs? I don't understand baby talk, sorry," Sirius asked again.
James turned to his best friend angrily, punching the stone step with his right fist. "She was with LOCKHART! After all the bullshit she spouted off to me, she's with another bloke." James gripped his now aching fist, shaking it lightly. They sat in silence for a moment, Sirius nodding beside him in understanding. James watched an old witch by "Ollivander's" struggling with her purse and watched her open the large cat-like thing and pull out an even smaller one, resembling a small squirrel. He shuddered slightly before turning to stare at his now bleeding hand.
"James, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but she is coming this way."
James looked up to see the girl who had in a matter on seconds ripped his heart from his chest and stomped on it at the bottom of the steps, hands on hips. James was pulled up by Sirius and waited fro Lily and Marie to climb the steps. "Evans," James nodded. Marie rolled her eyes.
Lily sighed out loudly, before commented unimpressively, "Oh please…"
James looked at her raising an eyebrow, "I have nothing to say to you." He made to move past her as Sirius commented under his breath, "Well that wasn't very nice."
Both James and Lily turned to the sixteen-year-old boy, "shut up Sirius."
Sirius took a step back, putting his hands up in surrender. Marie took step towards him, "C'mon Sirius, give them a few minutes." Sirius followed Marie into the street away from the raven-haired and auburn-haired boy and girl.
Lily looked James up and down before noticing the blood trickling from his hand. "You're bleeding," she commented with concern. James peered down at his hand before waving it off. Lily rolled her eyes, pushing James down onto the step and seated herself beside him, taking his hand in hers. She opened her purse and pulled a handkerchief from the bottom. Dabbing the cuts on James' hand lightly before applying pressure. Lily looked at James curiously before looking back down.
"So, Lockhart eh?" James questioned suddenly. Lily looked up and scanned the boy's expression. His glasses sat loosely on his nose and his jaw was set, his eyes were glaring at her behind his wire-rimmed glasses.
"She sighed, "Gilderoy Lockhart is an ostentatious, conceited jerk. I wouldn't date him if he was the last bloke on earth."
James snorted, "Looks like you were getting along just fine in 'Florean's'."
Lily sighed again, rolling her eyes, "You can't trust me, can you?" After all you told me a few weeks ago, you just can't trust me…" Lily looked at James, still gripping his hand in hers. James looked back at her, keeping his face straight then looked away quickly. Lily frowned greatly, squeezing his wounded hand unnecessarily. James pulled away quickly, letting a groan of pain escape his lips.
Lily stood up in a huff, "Happy Birthday Potter. You're of age now, I'm sure you can fix that on your own." Lily lifted her purse, hitting James' shoulder in the process. As she hurried down the steps, away from James, he let out a loud snarl. Punching the cement beside him with his already bleeding fist, he let out a low blubbering sound.
"See you next week!" he yelled angrily down the street to her disappearing back. Him and his damn temper…
Author's Note 2: OK, I hit over 100 reviews and I am ecstatic! Thank-you so much!
Annmarie Aspasia: If you think this is angst, just wait. But it'll be …good, angst…
brickabrack: It means s much to me to hear that my story has touched you as deeply as you've said. Thank-you.
csoupfan: no worries about not continuing, I have too many ideas to go with this plot to discontinue it!
Dans-girl-4everHeather
It's a spoon
secludeddark
spacecow1993: I'm just trying to find enough time to update and switch that chapter around, I believe it will be done by the time I put the next chapter up! Thank-you so much for all your effort!