Lily Evans wandered down the street, a gold pin that read Head Girl in her fingers and her emerald eyes studying it. She had so many questions; who would Head Boy be? What new duties would this role entail? Would she be able to cope with her classes and her new duties? What if Head Boy was Snape? She wouldn't be able to handle working so closely with him. She thought she would have been elated at becoming Head Girl but Lily wasn't much sure of anything anymore. A world she had thought could do no wrong was perhaps just as cruel and mean as the world she was born into. She had decided long ago that human was human. No matter if you were witch, wizard or muggle, you were still human and the simple fact about humans, they were all flawed, every single one of them. Lily had yet to meet a person who wasn't.
Her mother had been prying at her for weeks. Lily had been moping a lot lately, since her friends didn't visit much because of the war and her sister didn't talk to her, Lily was always left with her thoughts. Usually, Lily would talk with Severus Snape. He had been the one, though shy and shabby with his apprehensive black eyes, long (and admittedly greasy) black hair and long flapping robes, to tell Lily the truth about the world. Magic existed and she possessed it. The closer they had gotten, the further the distance grew between Lily and her sister but at first Lily hadn't minded. She still had Sev who would tell her wonderful tales of magic and would assure her when she was scared or worried, telling her the magical world was the best. But a petty fall out saw to that, though it wasn't petty was it? Lily kicked at the ground. No, she decided, it wasn't. She had tried to help him and he repaid her by calling her the dirtiest slur that could be said to someone like her. So she was left to talk with her mother.
But how could Lily explain everything to her muggle mother, who knew nothing about the wizard world? Her mother simply didn't understand the strain of wizarding exams or the steady trickle of fear the war had been building as the years went by. Her beautiful mother whom only ever wanted the best for Lily, was simply just not enough and Lily did consider writing one of her friends but what would be the point? Lily didn't think she could find the right words to describe how she was feeling and what could her friends possibly say to make her feel better, besides she'd be seeing them soon. The summer was, finally, drawing to a close.
Lily had been too consumed in her own thoughts to realise she was strolling down a street she strictly avoided since her falling out with Severus. The familiar brick terraces lined the street with a battered sign reading Spinner's End on it and Lily stared at the house with the number '49' stuck on the door. It was odd, they'd been friends since the age of ten until the age of sixteen and in those six years, Lily had only ever been in that house a handful of times, which Lily hadn't minded. It was a dusty old place and his parents were always shouting or blatantly ignoring each other, and for that matter, their son and his new companion. Lily had much preferred to hang out at her house where her mum would always have a smile on her face whilst she served them lunch or ice cream. Lily turned abruptly and walked quickly back down the street. She didn't want to risk Severus seeing her.
Halfway down the street, she saw him approaching. He looked neglected as always, with his black hair long and somewhat greasy and his black robes a few sizes too big and Lily felt sorry for him for just a moment. His parents had never allowed him to wear muggle clothes — not even in the boiling summers. She stopped in her tracks and shoved the golden pin in her jean pocket. She didn't want Severus to see an excuse to talk to her.
"Lily!" he called out, apparently an excuse was not needed and Lily wanted to scream. His dark eyes met her vibrant ones and she couldn't pretend she didn't see him. She stayed rooted to the spot the urge to scream expanding. "I've been meaning to talk to you!"
"I've been doing my best to avoid you," Lily said coolly, "So I'll be on my way."
"Lily, wait!"
"I don't want anything to do with you." Lily looked down, not being able to meet his eyes. If she was being honest with herself, she did want a whole lot to do with Severus but he ruined it. He had betrayed her and there was no going back. Lily couldn't be friends with someone who so obviously despised her own existence. He'd turned on her when he had promised he never would and Lily couldn't move on from that.
"Li-" he started to say but she shoved past him and ran the entire way home. Everything had come so far from the beginning.
In the beginning Severus told her she was a witch, her only window into the world she belonged to but he left out the bit that ruined their friendship; the war, blood purity and more importantly the side he was on. Perhaps if she'd known his true colours, she'd have distanced herself, wouldn't have gotten so close with him. When Marlene Adams, Lily's best friend, had told Lily of the oncoming war she never would've imagined Severus would be so ready to join the wrong side, the side of Voldemort. She had never imagined the war would be still raging on after eight long years filled with terror.
Lord Voldemort had been the epitome of fear for the last seven years and in Lily's opinion, he was completely and utterly deranged yet somehow people — more specifically pure-bloods — agreed with him and joined his attempt to eradicate the magical world of people like Lily. People like Lily, were no different from any other witch or wizard. They had the same capabilities, the same magic but yet they were against people like Lily simply because their parents and families were not magical. They thought themselves better because they had magical ancestors yet that hadn't stopped Lily from beating Severus in the O. , not that they had been friends so she could tell him. And so the war raged between the pure-bloods and the muggle-borns and anyone who disagreed with Voldemort's logic but as time passed, his crimes became more horrific — just last week his followers, known as Death Eaters, imperiused a muggle-born man and forced him to kill his blood-traitor wife and three children. People were scared to speak up as those brave enough to publicly fight Voldemort, had been attacked and more often than not, killed. Patricia Bones was a prime example. For years she had run a political campaign against Voldemort's and she'd been attacked no less than twenty-seven times by Death Eaters before Voldemort killed her himself in the middle of the Ministry of Magic. It had been front page of the Daily Prophet for two weeks.
"Lily! Doctor Who's on!" her mother said enthusiastically, peeking her head out of the kitchen door and true to her word, Lily could hear the sound of the Doctor saving the day again. Doctor Who had been Lily's favourite as a child but that was of course pre-wizard knowledge and her mother frowned at Lily's shrug at the mention of the show. Lily shut the front door behind her and looked down the hallway. The house hadn't changed since she could remember.
Her house was of a moderate size with a door leading to the living room on the left, a door leading to the kitchen at the end of the hallway, and stairs on the right that led to three bedrooms and a bathroom just big enough for a toilet, basin and bath tub. The house had always had cream walls with delicate crownings on the ceiling, which Lily always loved to look at and the living room had a pretty, crystal chandelier. The floors had always been a light grey carpet with vinyl flooring in the kitchen.
"What's wrong, my little witch?" Lily's mother looked down at Lily as she slid onto a chair and slumped her head on to her hands, elbows resting on the table.
Lily's mother, Rosie Evans, was young for a mother. She had Petunia when she was only twenty and then Lily two years later at the young age of twenty-two. Lily could never imagine being a mother so soon. For Lily, the age of twenty was a mere three years away. Lily looked at her mother and had no doubt that if her mother had been a witch and attended Hogwarts she would have been sorted into the Gryffindor house, which prized bravery, like Lily. Lily had many of her looks from her mother. The same dark red hair, almond, green eyes and plump lips. Lily's nose was a slightly different shape, perhaps a fraction or two wider but Rosie had always thought it suited Lily's face perfectly.
"I'm just stressed, mum. Things haven't been so great, you know, over on my side."
"Want to talk about it?"
"You wouldn't understand." Lily shook her head.
"Try me."
Lily grappled to find an excuse to avoid telling her mother about what was bothering her but came up empty and she sighed before starting.
"It's just school and the movement and it's just everything, mum. I'm trying so hard to get outstanding grades so I can get into the ministry in who knows what department but chances are I won't even be able to get a job in the ministry. Things are all so shaky. No one knows who to trust and everyone is scared mum, so, so scared."
"What's this movement even about?" Rosie asks and Lily shoulders slump. Lily had found out the finer details of the war a few years ago but she hadn't wanted to trouble her parents with its details. Instead of calling it a war, Lily had come up with 'movement' when explaining it to her parents. She didn't want them to be completely oblivious but she hadn't wanted to worry them too much.
"Well Voldemort, he is a very, very dark wizard. He's as bad as a wizard can get and he is convinced that the magic community should be strictly pure-bloods."
"Pure-bloods?" Rosie asked. Lily sighed, how many times had she explained this to her parents? It just never sunk in. They weren't a part of her world.
"Pure-bloods are wizards or witches who have magic running through their entire ancestry. Of course, most witches and wizards now are half bloods so Voldemort is only really targeting muggle-borns."
"Muggle-born?" Rosie said sharply. "But you are muggle-born!"
"I'm fine mum. It's just a silly little movement. You know a couple of protests at the Ministry – our equivalent to the Parliament house."
"Is Hogwarts safe?"
"Albus Dumbledore is there," Lily said, which was all that really needed to be said. Albus Dumbledore with his silvery beard and hair and his peculiar fashion choices ranging from baby blue robes to robes with so many bright colours that it sometimes hurt to look at him. He was the Headmaster at Hogwarts and, besides his peculiarities, the wisest wizard known to the magical world. In fact, when the public called for Minister Eugenia Jenkins to step down, Professor Dumbledore had been favoured to become the next Minister For Magic. The only problem was that Professor Dumbledore was perfectly content at running Hogwarts and refused the job and so Harold Minchum got the job. Though he didn't seem to be doing any better at thwarting Voldemort than Jenkins was. The only thing he'd done was put more Dementors in Azkaban to guard the prison but that hadn't stopped the mass break-out at the beginning of the summer, where seven known Death Eaters escaped before vanishing into thin air like smoke.
"You'd tell me, if it wasn't safe anymore, right?" her mum looked at Lily with an expectant, raised eyebrow and Lily nodded. "Good, because if it's not safe, you won't be going back."
"I'm of age mum," Lily said wearily, "I don't need your permission anymore."
Lily pulled her wand out of her jacket pocket and started levitating a pencil that was left on the table in a way to prove that she was over age, as only of age wizards could perform magic outside of Hogwarts. Rosie always found it odd that wizards and witches became of age at only seventeen.
"Your sister is in the house," Rosie pursed her lips but Lily didn't stop levitating the pencil, the wonderful thing about magic, it calmed Lily like nothing else could, which was ironic considering magic could scientifically not be explained. But there was something calming in thinking the magic words and for an object to obey her thoughts.
—
The first of September loomed closer, a mere ten days away, and Lily still hadn't been to Diagon Alley to buy the necessary school equipment that was listed in the letter she had received along with the Head Girl Pin. When Lily had expressed this to her parents they frowned.
"Why don't you go with Petunia? You girls have barely spoken at all these holidays," her father suggested as though he did not know that Petunia thought of Lily and people like her as freaks.
"Petunia won't be able to get in," Lily lied, "Only magic people can see the entrance. Besides Petunia wouldn't want to come. She's too busy with Vernon."
Vernon Dursley was a squishy, fat man with a head, which sat cushioned on shoulders instead of up high on a neck. Petunia's is absolutely taken by his, Lily supposed, ordinariness but Lily could not find a single interesting aspect about Vernon Dursley and he didn't like the word imagination. Lily had let slip about a story of the Giant Squid, which roamed Hogwarts lake, at the dinner table once, forgetting that Dursley did not know about Lily's abilities. Petunia had silenced Lily with a severe look and Lily laughed it off and said it was just a legend, a myth. Dursley puffed and lectured them for seven minutes and thirty-three seconds on how myths and legends were nonsense and completely unprecedented, which Lily found ironic because the only thing older than time, were the legends that ran with them so how could it be unprecedented?
"Liar," her mother called Lily out before sighing, "You girls were so close before. What happened?" It wouldn't be the summer holidays if Rosie hadn't asked Lily that at least once.
Lily refrained from rolling her eyes. Lily's mum knew exactly what had happened. A witch, Professor Ollivander, in pretty navy blue robes had knocked on their door seven years ago and informed the family that magic existed, Lily was a witch, and was eligible to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her parents had been slow to come around but Lily was ecstatic because the odd boy she'd befriended was right. She had magic and the world wasn't what it seemed and she'd get to live in a big, old and magical castle. But Petunia, was not so thrilled. Professor Ollivander had escorted them all to Diagon Alley so Lily could purchase her school things and Petunia had been a drain on the whole day. She skulked, her hands crossed the entire time, barely talking and refusing to look at anything Lily had tried to show her.
"But maybe if she understood more about what you are she wouldn't hate it so much."
"Convenient how she never listens to anything I have to say about Hogwarts and magic then, isn't it?"
"Well you aren't going on your own!" her mother huffed. "Not with bloody, lunatic wizards and Death Keepers-" "Eaters" Lily corrected, "Roaming around and your mum told me what the movement was about! I can't believe you kept that from us! You said you weren't in danger!"
Lily sighed. Her mum over reacted to realities of life, always shaking her head about how the world was a dangerous place. She'd rather hide away from the dangers instead of learning how to survive amongst them. It's why Lily hadn't told them years ago when she had first learnt about the war. But, the Daily Prophet had written about a massacre of twelve muggles in a church, Lily couldn't hide the complete truth from them anymore. Not when something as simple as attending Sunday Mass could get them killed.
"It's nothing," Lily tried to sedate her parents, "As long as I'm at Hogwarts and as long as Dumbledore is around Voldy isn't going to get far in his," Lily paused, "Movement."
Despite her parents protests, Lily apparated into the Leaky Cauldron the next day, promising that she was meeting up with friends. Tom, the owner's son of the old, dingy pub, waved and smiled at Lily in welcome as he wiped down the counter. Tom had been two years above Lily's class in Hogwarts. Lily smiled and said "Hello," back and they started a quick conversation about Voldemort's latest attack before Lily heard her name being called.
"Lily!" someone called out and Lily strained her neck to see over and around people and found Marlene and Ella. They were sitting at a table each holding a bottle of Butterbeer. Ella wore her chocolate hair short in a bob, her fringe pushed to the side and her blue eyes were dazzling. They were the first thing anyone noticed about Ella Dearborn, her eyes were as bright and promising as the sky. Lily excused herself from Tom and walked over to the table, taking a seat. She smiled at Lily and started talking about this new witch singer Ariana Merda. Marlene rolled her eyes and swirled a finger around her temple indicating that Ella had gone crazy. Lily stifled a giggle and suggested they get started.
"I wonder who got Head Boy," Lily wondered aloud, "I hope it's someone nice, like Remus or even Putley or Fortescue."
"Do you reckon we'll run into Fortescue today? Doesn't he usually work at his dad's ice cream shop in the holidays?" Marlene asked, gathering her long blonde hair and contained it in a fluro pink scrunchie so it sat on top of her head in a messy bun.
"I don't think it can be Remus, Lily," Ella said ignoring Marlene. "He misses too much school at random times. How many times has he left to visit his mother?"
Lily sighed glumly as they walked into the Apothecary. Remus Lupin was Lily's fellow Gryffindor Prefect but his mother was incredibly ill and he always left, at least once a month to visit his mother. "You're right. He's too unreliable. Putley or Fortescue," Lily said crossing her fingers. She inspected the cauldrons piled up next to the door and grabbed a nicely sized one, James Potter and Sirius Black had melted a hole in hers last year when they asked to borrow her cauldron, of course she vowed to never let them borrow anything of hers ever again but the damage had been done — though Potter did give her five galleons to purchase a new one as he profusely apologised.
Her stomach lurched a little at the thought of James Potter. She hadn't thought much about him all summer but they had left things somewhat awkwardly and with September first looming closer every day, Lily wondered if they could still be friends. She wanted to be his friend. He was a good friend. Excellent kisser too. She couldn't decide if he was a better kisser or friend.
"Nate decided he wants to become an Auror," Marlene told Lily, changing the subject. Nathaniel 'Nate' McKinnon lived in Godric's Hollow and his house happened to be next to one of the several muggle houses left in the town, Marlene's house. Lily threw a small bottle of Dittany in the cauldron.
"I swear that's like the profession of our year!" Ella said indignantly as she inspected different Horned Slugs. "Ask anyone in our year what they want to be and half of them will say 'auror'. It's ridiculous."
"I think I'm going to become a Healer," Marlene announced as Lily grabbed a vile of Doxy Venom and placed it in the new pewter cauldron she had picked up.
Lily gasped in mock horror, "Has Marlene Adams finally chosen what she wants to do?"
"It can't be!" Ella continued in a dramatic voice, "I can hear it though."
"Hear what?" Marlene asked disgruntled.
"The faint whisper, of a miracle," Ella announced her voice low, slow and dramatic. Marlene punched her shoulder lightly. Marlene had been changing her mind about what she wanted to do after Hogwarts every five seconds and every time she had changed her mind came with a long discussion of the pros and cons of her new chosen profession. She had gone from Auror to 'maybe I'll work at Flourish and Blotts, I like books' to working for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to an owl trainer to a potioneer.
"Sod off," Marlene muttered, "Concentrate, I'm being serious. I think I've decided on being a Healer."
"That's great, Marls," Lily smiled genuinely as she grabbed a bag of Porcupine Quills before walking up to the witch in fine, black robes, which fell to the floor like a whisper, and paying for her items.
They left the store after and walked further into Diagon Alley. Lily looked around and took everything in, she came so rarely to Diagon Alley yet it was one of her favourite places on earth other than Hogwarts and home. They passed the Quidditch shop and Ella started talking about how when she went to visit Adaline, she was showing off her new Nimbus '87.
They eventually got to Flourish and Blotts and after thrity minutes of browsing books they were lined up to pay for their stack of new books, that weren't strictly textbooks. Lily had found an interesting memoir of a wizard called Alberto Montgomery who created the potion, Draught of Living Death. Lily read the blurb again as they waited in the line and was rudely interrupted when someone smashed onto Lily and her books went flying, one hitting Ella in the eye.
"Oh! You two!" a woman yelled, a mix between cross and exasperated. "Just because you are of age does not mean you have to shoot spells at everything you see!" The person on top of Lily, quickly got up and dusted himself off before helping Lily up and she rolled her eyes. Sirius Black stood in front of her, a sparkle in his eye as he said, "Sorry, Evans," though he looked too amused for the apology to be sincere. He was tall with his black hair falling elegantly around his face which made his grey, almost blue, eyes pop out against his pale skin. He turned back to the yelling woman, "But life is just so much more fun that way, mum," he grinned and the woman shook her head at him.
"Bloody hell, Black," Lily muttered, rubbing her back where a book had dug into, "Watch where you're going."
Black smiled at her sheepishly as they were joined by none other than James Potter — Lily should've known, where there was one, there was the other — and a tall woman in thin baby yellow robes. The woman was undoubtedly Potter's mother, she had the same hazel eyes and skinny nose.
"I'm so sorry about these two buffoons," she sighed wearily. She waved her wand and all the books swooped up into the air and arranged themselves into a nice stack and the witch caught them in mid air before handing them back to Lily.
"Sorry, Evans," Potter said awkwardly scratching the back of his neck, "Spell was meant to levitate a book but it hit Sirius instead." Lily wanted to raise an eyebrow at his supposed story — not believing that he accidentally hit Black with a levitation spell — but she was trying not to gasp at Potter.
Where did Lily Evans start with James Potter? He was arrogant, egotistical, confident bordering cocky and undeniably fit and she couldn't help but feel awkward around him because he was an excellent kisser and because they were friends … at least she hoped they'd be friends. Lily had always been sure of the first four things (arrogant, egotistical, confident bordering cocky and undeniably fit) but that had started to change during sixth year as Potter had proven less arrogant, egotistical and confident bordering cocky and more undeniably fit … the snogging hadn't helped in her attempts to convince herself he was a terrible person.
Potter and Lily hadn't always had the best relationship. It had started on the day they met on the Hogwarts express, he was a scrawny kid with a mess of black hair — that hadn't changed — and the first thing he had done was give Severus a truly horrible name. Snivellus. All because Severus had said he wanted to be in Slytherin, like his mother, which if Lily remembered correctly was the same reason Potter wanted to be in Gryffindor, because his parents had been. Severus had always complicated the relationship between Lily and Potter because the two boys seemed hell bent on hexing each other at every opportunity. It drove Lily mad. So, Lily tended to not talk to Potter if she could help it but after Easter in Sixth Year, that had changed remarkably until on the last day words were said and they hadn't left off on the best of circumstances and, much to Lily's dismay, the kissing had stopped.
But Potter had grown an inch or two over the summer and stubble resided on his jaw not to mention that muggle clothes suited him. He made a pair of black jeans and a white shirt look sexy and Lily had to force herself not to stare at his toned arms. It didn't help that Potter had eyed her up and down and Lily was suddenly very self-conscious over the fact that she'd decided to wear a high-waisted denim skirt and her legs were on display. He licked his lips and Lily had never been one to swoon over James Potter but right now, he was very swooning material and Lily had to fight her instincts. Luckily, she was saved by his mother.
"Do you know each other?" Mrs Potter said brightly.
"Mum," James said, "This is Lily Evans. She's one of the brightest witches in our year. Of course, no one can beat me but she's pretty good too." James winked at Lily who rolled her eyes but a part of her was glad. She had thought that after the way they had left things, he would hate her but apparently not and that warmed Lily considerably.
She was glad he was willing to act civil about things. Just because the snogging had stopped didn't mean they had to stop being friends.
"Nice to meet you, Mrs Potter," Lily said with a kind smile and she nudged Ella who seemed disinterested.
"Oh yeah, nice to meet you."
"Oh please, call me Mia! Mrs Potter sounds like my mother-in-law. She was an … interesting witch," Mia said. "Evans? That isn't a wizarding name is it?"
"Oh, mum!" James complained. "Don't start that M.A.E stuff now! We've got to go! Sirius and I want to go look at the new Nimbus!"
"Hush you or else I won't be buying you the new Nimbus," she said waving off James who sulked.
"What's M.A.E?" Lily asked.
"The Magic Against Evil Society," Sirius said quickly. "Mum's been recruiting everyone she's laid eyes on since she started the organisation six months ago. Personally, I think it's a great idea."
"Stop sucking up, Padfoot," James grumbled when Euphemia beamed at Sirius, "She's still not going to buy you firewhiskey."
"But I'm of age," he argued and Euphemia rolled her eyes and muttered "boys" before turning to Lily and Ella with a great, big smile.
"Would you be interested in joining?" Euphemia asked them, "It costs five sickles to join and you get a little badge," James pointed to the silver badge currently pinned to his shirt, "And a monthly newsletter will be delivered to you. Of course once you're out of Hogwarts you can attend the meetings as well but until then you can send any ideas you have via owl and I'll voice them on your behalf at meetings. The name is self explanatory. We are fighting for magic to be used in a more passive way. For magic to help rather than to hurt and cause chaos. We also fight for muggle and muggle-born rights."
"But we already have rights," Marlene chimed in, finally having finished paying. Lily suspected she was flirting with the boy behind the counter.
"Ahh, but You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters are trying to change all of that," Euphemia explained, "They want to be above muggle-borns and muggles. They believe they are superior because they are supposedly 'pure-blood'," Euphemia shuddered, "I hate that word. It's been haunting me my entire life. No pure-blood, in my opinion, is worth any more than any muggle or muggle-born. Anyway, we correspond with the Ministry of Magic and though we legally can't do anything, we can voice to them opinions and advise them. Enough respected families have joined up that the entire organisation is quite respected among the Ministry. We've got the Vance's, Bones' and Shacklebolt's," Euphemia trailed off. "So what do you girls think? Want to join?"
Lily was opening her purse before Euphemia had even finished her question. "Five sickles you said, right?" She asked fishing out the coins.
"You don't have to join," James said frowning slightly and Lily looked at him, perhaps not all was forgiven. They looked at each other for a second and Lily thought he may as well have been burning a whole in her soul as he stared at her so intensely and memories of the two of them sneaking around Hogwarts flittered in Lily's mind before she forced herself to glance down and then Lily said, "I know. But I want too."
After the girls had given Euphemia the money, Euphemia wrote down their names on a piece of parchment that had 'Magic Against Evil' written in cursive writing at the top and was then followed by three columns of names. Euphemia told them that their pins and this month's newsletter would be sent to them during the first week of September.
"Thank you Mrs – Euphemia," Lily said as they parted ways.
"Who knew the woman who raised James Potter was actually really, really nice and exceptionally well mannered?" Marlene asked as they walked out of Flourish and Blotts after Lily and Ella had paid for their books.
"Well, Potter can be nice," Lily said, thinking of the last year of school when Lily and James had been … whatever they were, and then added, "When he wants to be. Where to next?"
They ended up at Madam Malkin's to get new school robes and Lily also bought an emerald cloak for Hogsmeade trips. After Madam Malkin's they visited Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour and they did in fact run into Andrew Fortescue. It turned out he hadn't been given the Head Boy badge and Lily returned to fretting over who the badge would be given too until Ella had told her to put a sock in it. Next on their list was owl food and treats so they stopped by Eeylops Emporium and Ella bought a fancy, white and black mouse whom she named Milly. Then they bought new scales, quills and parchment before heading back to the Leaky Cauldron.
They sat down at a square table in the corner and their bags littered the floor around the table. They ordered some lunch and three butterbeers before returning to normal conversation.
"Does your family know about the war?" Ella asked Lily.
"My parents think there's a 'movement' but they don't know killings have been happening. Petunia's completely clueless though. Won't hear a thing I have to say about the wizarding world."
Marlene patted Lily's hand comfortingly and said, "Well she's a boring, old hag and you're worth ten of her."
Lily smiled and asked Marlene who also came from a muggle family.
"Well," Marlene said, "My mum is starting to get suspicious and I've had to cancel my subscription to the Daily Prophet because she said that next time I get one, she's going to read it. Not that it's that big of a deal. I just go over to Nate's and read his instead."
"Did you hear about that family last week?" Ella asked and the other two nodded. "Is it just me or do the attacks get more vicious every time?"
"I know, it's outrageous, I mean bloody hell, can't someone do something about it? We've magic for Merlin's sake!"
Lily frowned slightly and then looked at Marlene. "But they've got magic too, Marly and I'm sure they've all done protective spells around their houses and because they don't care about the law they've probably protected their houses with dark magic and don't forget, they also fight with dark magic."
"I know," Ella agreed, "They have to decide whether or not it is ethical to use dark magic against wizards and witches who use dark magic. There was a whole article at the back of the Daily Prophet a couple of weeks ago."
Lily nodded, she too had read the article, and Marlene said, "Well they should. As long as it gets rid of them."
"But it's not that easy," Lily said, she was a little astonished at the naivety her friend was displaying about the whole matter. Didn't she know that the wizards who were supporting Voldemort came from wealthy, pure blood families? Pure blood families who gave funds and donations to magic institutions like St Mungo's Hospital and the Ministry itself. Lily didn't know if the Ministry or the hospital could run without the generous funding. It wasn't just about fighting. It was politics.
"Well it should be! These pure-bloods think they can run the entire magical community based on the fact that they have magical ancestors. It's bloody discriminating and quite frankly prejudiced! Besides how do these stupid pure-bloods think that the first witch or wizard got magic?" Marlene fired up and then huffed, "Stealing magic. What a joke? That's like saying that someone stole someone else's brilliance. It's completely ridiculous! You're either born with it or you're not! Squibs prove that! Look at Filch, two extremely talented wizard and witch parents and nothing. Not even an ounce of magic."
"We never said it was fair. All of the people who have died because of You-Know-Who's cause isn't fair. None of this is fair."
"You're lucky though. Your parents are magical!" Marlene argued, "Mine are muggle and if the Death Eaters come, they won't stand a chance."
"Marlene!" Lily said shocked, "Don't say things like that!"
"Yeah well, it's true."
"I'm sure the McKinnons look after your family just fine," Lily said, reminding Marlene that Marlene's parents lived next to wizards and witches. "And you put up defensive spells right?" Lily asked and Marlene nodded.
"Casting secret spells around our families," Ella muttered, "That's what this world has come to."
The girl's stayed silent and stared at the scratched, wooden table in front of them. When Lily had bought her wand at Ollivander's seven years ago she'd never imagined the world it would come with, the war it would come with. Who can see and have this, this gift and use it for torture and murder? Her innocent eleven year old mind did not see how something so wonderful could create something so bad. But then again God favoured the angel that became the devil.
—
Marlene Adams waited outside her house eagerly. She'd left her trunk by the door, if Mrs Booth saw it she'd harp on about such a heavy thing and Marlene wasn't in the mood for one of Mrs Booth's rants on such an exciting day. September the first was always an exciting day in Marlene's opinion. Marlene looked at her house, taking everything in, she wouldn't see it again until Christmas most likely and it was a ritual. She liked to remember everything from the length of the grass to the withering roses by the mail box to the cat lounging on the hang-over roof on top of the front door.
"Ready, Marly?" Nathaniel McKinnon stepped out of his house, lugging his trunk with him. "Where's your trunk?"
"By the door. Didn't want Mrs Booth to see it," she explained.
"Ah, of course," Nate said.
Marlene Adams had grown up with Nate McKinnon her whole life. Their mothers had been pregnant together and when Mrs Charlotte McKinnon gave birth to Nate in Chudleigh Medical Clinic on July second, Mrs Kate Adams visited with blue balloons and a teddy bear, her own belly ready to pop. Three days later, Charlotte was visiting Kate in the hospital with pink balloons and a teddy bear.
Despite the fact that Charlotte McKinnon was married to a wizard, the two women were best friends and their kids were quick to do the same. Marlene could barely remember a time without Nate McKinnon. He was in every memory she had. Every birthday, Christmas, Easter, New Years. They'd take Mrs Booth's dogs for walks together and they each saw the other's house as home. Charlotte had been the one who picked up on Marlene and her little brother, Henry being a witch and wizard. She was quite delighted though the night she had told Kate the secret, Kate had had several glasses of wine.
"Where's Faith?" Marlene asked. Nate had left his trunk in his front yard and jumped the fence over to Marlene's yard. He leaned against the fence, looking at Marlene's house with her.
"Probably reading another bridal magazine. I swear the house is full of them. Where's Henry?"
"Still packing. I told him to pack last night, do you think he listened?" Marlene scowled. "Can't believe Faith's getting married."
"We're not going to make it for breakfast if those two take much longer," Nate frowned.
Growing up together had formed certain traditions. One of those traditions was lunch at Fantastic Feasts in Diagon Alley before going to Kings Cross station. The tradition had started — for Marlene at least — in 1971, the first year she had gone to Hogwarts. They had all packed into the cars — Nate's family in one, Marlene's in the other — and they'd gone to Diagon Alley where they walked up and down the street in search of a place to eat before settling on Fantastic Feasts. They'd eaten and then piled back up into the cars again and made their way to Kings Cross station where they crossed the barrier, Marlene's family, except for Henry, being left outside.
Marlene had been nervous to leave but with one last hug to Charlotte, Marlene got on the train with her best friend and his sister and her foot wouldn't stop jittering as they waited for the train to push off.
Henry pulled the door open. "Marlene, you're trunk is blocking half the door," he complained and Marlene and Nate both pushed off the fence to go help him. Once the two trunks were in the front yard, Faith walked out waving.
"You guys ready?"
"We've been waiting for you, sis," Nate pointed out.
They worked their trunks into the back of Faith's car, using charms to make the boot larger and then they piled into the car.
—
Ella Dearborn hated September first. Don't get her wrong. She loved Hogwarts and she love being at Hogwarts, she just hated getting to Hogwarts. The day was always such a rush to get to the train station by eleven in the morning only to sit on a train for almost eight hours, followed by a twenty minute carriage ride up to the school and then an hour's long ceremony where the firsties were sorted into their houses and then another hour and a half of forced socialising during dinner. Don't get her wrong, she loved her friends but she had a limit and after an eight hour train ride, Ella just wanted to flop onto her bed and sleep. But alas, September first did not allow that. Nope, she had to endure the eight hour train ride and the boring sorting ceremony and the feast despite the fact that all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and sleep once she reached Hogwarts.
"Ella," her mother called, "Did you pack the books you borrowed off of Marlene?"
"Yes, mum!" Ella called back.
"All right, we best be off now, the train is leaving soon!"
Ella checked the time. 10:05am. Ella sighed and closed her trunk, locking it with a spell. She floated her suitcase down the stairs whilst her mother fussed about the house.
"Remember, Ella. This is your N.E.W.T year, everything counts. I know you always do reasonably well in school but just remember to study but don't forget to have some fun, too, you don't want to burn out before the end of the year. Don't do anything reckless and please try to be civil with Alice dear, if I have to hear from Mrs Vance that you threw away her make-up again, I will not be pleased. You know we're already tight on money with your father … anyway, just be good okay. And don't worry about your N.E. too much, you'll be fine."
"Mum, let's go."
"And remember that if you go outside, to bring a cloak. It gets fairly cold at Hogwarts and make sure you give Marlene her books back."
"Mum," Ella whined, "You say the same speech every year. I've got it. Let's go. Where's dad?"
Mrs Dearborn pursed her lips. "He's not coming."
"You mean he's pissed off his face. Lovely."
"Ella," Mrs Dearborn protested.
"No, I'm sick of him drinking and gambling. I thought he'd at least be sober enough to see me off, but I guess not," Ella huffed.
Mrs Dearborn sighed, "Best get going."
—
It was ten a.m. and the Hogwarts Express would be leaving King's Cross Station in exactly an hour. Lily added some last minute items into her trunk as her dad came into her room. He looked around at the emptied closet and bare desk before sitting on her purple bed. He looked at Lily's moving photos of her and her friends at Hogwarts. There was one in particular that Lily loved. The girls - Marlene, Ella, Lily, Alice Vance and Adaline Bennett – had been in their dormitory. It was the first night back at Hogwarts in their fourth year and they had made a pact to stay up the entire night. Of course none of them lasted, they all fell asleep before four thirty a.m. but they were extraordinarily tired for classes the next day. They had been wearing their pyjamas and Alice's bed was filled of lollies, muggle and wizard kinds. In the photo, Lily was laughing as Marlene ripped a snake lolly in half and Ella and Adaline had looks of disgust on their faces (They had tried Bertie's Beans of Every Flavour) and Alice had her arm swung around Lily's neck and was making a funny face, her eyebrows raised and her tongue poking out. It had been a memorable night.
"I can't believe you're leaving already, kiddo."
Lily smiled at her dad and went to sit next to him. "I'll be back for Christmas," Lily promised.
"How can I wait a whole four months to see my Lily Flower?" her dad demanded and Lily laughed.
"I'll write three times a week, I promise. I'll send so much mail that you'll be sick of my letters."
"Not possible," her dad said and Lily leaned her head on his shoulder. Her dad was a stocky man. A career in a factory would do that to a bloke and he always had some sort of grease or dirt under his nails. "I just need you to promise me that you'll be careful. This movement, it's got your mother and me quite worried especially because we don't understand it."
"I know, dad," Lily sighed staring at her wall, "But you've nothing to worry about. The security around Hogwarts has been tightened so much even though Dumbledore is there. Plus I've been practising how to stun people."
"Stun people?"
"You don't want to know," Lily assured her dad. They sat in quiet for a minute or two and then Lily spoke again. "Do you think Tuney hates me?"
"Of course she doesn't," her dad denied immediately. "She just doesn't like what she doesn't understand and she doesn't understand you."
Lily felt like arguing that if Petunia didn't like what Lily was then by default Petunia hated her but she didn't have the energy to care anymore. Lily had heard Petunia call her school a freak show for circus clowns so many times that Lily had given up hope that Petunia would one day understand years ago.
"Five bucks says your mother will cry when you leave," her dad said and Lily laughed.
"You're on."
"And Lily, remember not to tell your mother."
A lump formed in Lily's throat and she couldn't bring herself to agree so she just nodded instead.