Rating: K+

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or names in this story created by J.K Rowling (who is a very talented lady.) I only own the plot, and new characters you won't recognise.

Chapter Ten: The Letter

The next day in Defence Against the Dark Arts, Lily doodled in her notebook. Professor Bickerley was a good teacher, but had not made a single indication this year to allow them to perform practical work. Lily stared up at him, thinking, for all I know, you could be a Death Eater.

"Wands out, please," he said briskly, causing the class to erupt in whoops of joy. He paired them himself, Molly with Pettigrew, Alice with Wyona, Lily with Remus Lupin…

Lily greeted the werewolf enthusiastically, her wand hand tingling with the anticipation of a duel. She had known Remus's secret since fourth year, and had always made him feel better when there was no-one else.

He tilted his head slightly towards her in acknowledgement, and Lily smiled, remembering when she had had a crush on him in the fifth year…

They were to practise non-verbal Stunning and Disarming for their N.E.W.T.s. Lily felt nervous, as Remus was clearly the best in their class at Defence against the Dark Arts. They lifted their wands. Remus flicked his as Lily repelled the red light spinning towards her. She made a slashing motion and he unexpectedly conjured a Shield Charm, so that the Stunning spell was sent whirling back in a split-second.

The spell hit Lily before she could react, and the familiar effects took hold of her as she was immobilised and fell backwards.

"How could I forget the cushions?" she thought with regret as she toppled silently. But Remus lifted her to her feet before she hit the floor with another spell, and as they waited for the effects to wear off they silently watched the rest of the class. Narcissa Black was up against her cousin – she was secretly whispering the spells as Sirius, almost lazily, flicked them off. Bickerley was correcting Alice without speaking, and Wyona was standing aimlessly, looking bored. Amos Diggory had accidentally sent a Stinging Hex to Anna Bones, and she unsuccessfully tried to perform the counter-curse non-verbally. The lesson ended in silent confusion.

Lily walked down the chilly corridors towards the Great Hall, to attend the Heads Meeting. She was pleased at being elected Head Girl, and was in a reasonably good mood until she opened the great oaken doors and entered the Hall.

James Potter was sitting in the Head Boy seat, grinning up at her. "Why, what a pleasant surprise, Evans," he said.

"Potter, get out of here," said Lily. "There's a meeting for the Heads in the Hall now."

James tapped the shiny badge on his chest. "Don't you remember, Evans?"

Lily groaned inwardly as she recalled noticing the badge at Platform 9 ¾. She sat down in the Head Girl seat, paying no attention to him.

McGonagall entered at that moment, along with the other Heads of Houses: Slughorn, Professor Sprout and Professor Flitwick.

"Good to see you're both early," McGonagall said approvingly. "Now, Miss Evans and Mr Potter, we hold Head Meetings every fortnight to discuss issues or problems which may have arisen at Hogwarts. First of all, Head duties. You both have the authority and responsibility to report any sort of misbehaviour, immediately. From today, you must patrol corridors from nine to nine-thirty every night, to make sure no-one is up past their bed-time. Remember, you are in charge of your fellow peers, and it is up to you to make sure they come to no harm." She paused. "You have been selected for your leadership skills, responsibility, and academic results."

Lily tried not to snort. James Potter, a responsible, clever leader? Ha.

"Do any of the other Heads have anything to say?" said McGonagall.

Slughorn raised a hand. "I'd just like to say how well you two have been keeping inter-house relations!" he exclaimed. "Just this morning I noticed a couple of Slytherins and Gryffindors in the library together!"

"Yes, very good," said McGonagall absent-mindedly. "Anyone got anything else to say? Right, then, meeting adjourned. Next meeting is in a fortnight."

Lily felt confused. Slytherins and Gryffindors, mingling? It seemed impossible. She puzzled about it as she exited the Great Hall.

"Evans, don't forget patrol duty!" shouted James from behind her as he took a different route.

"I won't," she shouted back.

Wow, she reflected, we're on normal speaking terms.

She pondered about this all the way up to the Common Room, thoughts about the Slytherins and Gryffindors banished from her mind. After giving the password (Mimblewimble) she entered and found Alice and Wyona sitting by the fireplace.

Alice waved hello to her and said, "You've got a letter."

A scraggly-looking barn owl was sitting on the arm of the sofa. Lily tugged the letter out of its beak and it flew off outside the window. She opened the rather heavy envelope and took out the letter.

Lily,

I received your letter. I don't know how you can possibly be happy at that school, but I'm having a nice time at my day school.

Lily started in surprise. Petunia was going to a day school?

I'm afraid I don't know what you mean about looking after your child. Even weirdos like you don't have children this early, do they?

Mum asked me to send you one of your magazines. Maybe she thinks it might make you feel normal.

Petunia

Lily simply stared at the letter. She had wanted so much to hear a few kind words from her family, yet her hopes were shattered by a single piece of paper.

Wyona said tentatively, "Lily? Is – is there something wrong?"

"Nothing," sad Lily quickly, getting to her feet. "I've got patrol duty – see you two soon." And with that she walked abruptly back out through the portrait hole, still clutching the envelope.

Once Lily was outside, she felt a lump rise in her throat but forced it back down. She would finally have to accept that things between Petunia and herself would never be the same again. Walking as fast as she could to somehow erase the pain in her heart, she tried to clear her head of all thoughts.

As she re-entered the Common Room, dry-eyed, she walked up to her dormitory quietly. The other girls were already asleep.

She shook the envelope over her bed, and an old, crinkled magazine fell out. It was one of the fashion magazines she had read with Petunia, years ago. She flipped through the pages idly, until a single model caught her eye. She had red hair, and it was shoulder-length and layered. The highlighted ends flicked out boldly, giving the model an impression of confidence.

Lily stared at the page. A reckless daring gripped her heart. She slowly picked up her wand.