Author's note: I haven't completely given up on this story! Sorry for how long it takes to get chapters out, I hope you like this one. It's only a short one this time, but have more in the works now!
It had been a warm summer, but for the household of the Evans family the frostiness from one family member outweighed it all; Petunia Evans refused to acknowledge her sister as anything except "that freak". Lily and Petunia's parents however were proud of their daughter and tried to talk to Petunia about her attitude; Lily tried to ignore it, but each time she saw her sister's cold looks over the family dinner table, her stomach clenched. Even after four years in the magical world, Petunia still held a grudge against her, and it made her sad; Tuney had been her best friend growing up and now… Well, she might as well be a speck of dust on the wall.
Lily had been up to the hill and met up with Sev early in the holidays, but he said he was busy for the rest of the time away from Hogwarts. When Lily asked what he was doing, he just said he was going to visit Mulciber and Avery. So, Lily had a relatively lonely summer, save for the owls she received and sent her friends. She had also received a letter from Potter, asking her out – again. Towards the end of the holidays, Lily received her letter from Hogwarts and it contained a surprise.
"Mum! Dad!" Lily yelled as she ran down the stairs. Her parents looked up as she ran into the lounge room.
"Lily? What's wrong?" her father asked.
She showed them a small, red and gold badge in the palm of her hand. "I've been made a Prefect!"
Her parents beamed. "That's wonderful, darling!" said her mother. "We must celebrate tonight!"
They heard a scoff behind Lily; Petunia was leaning against the wall looking coldly at her sister. "Gag me, I'm not celebrating a freak; if anyone normal wants me I'm going to Clare's."
Mr Evans stood up. "Petunia Evans! You are staying here tonight and celebrating with your family. This is a cause for celebration, do not ruin it for your sister."
"No! I am not going to celebrate her! I am going to Clare's!" Petunia yelled at her father.
"Dad, it's fine." Lily said quietly. "I don't mind."
Mr Evans looked at his youngest daughter, she had a small, sad smile on her face, and he nodded at her. "Ok, Petunia. If that's what you must do."
Petunia stomped up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door. Lily sighed. "Do you think I could invite some friends over for dinner instead?"
"Of course, darling. How many will you be inviting?" Mrs Evans said.
"I think just the girls." Lily said. "So that's Marlene, Mary and Alice. If that's ok?"
Her father gave her a one-armed hug before sitting back down in the recliner to continue reading the paper. "Of course, Lily. Are you sure about Petunia?"
Lily nodded sadly, sitting down on the sofa next to her mother. "I'm sure dad. I've given up on the hope that we will ever have any kind of relationship; so, I'm not going to force my presence on her anymore."
Her parents looked at each other. "Lily…"
"It's ok, I'm alright. I still have my parents and the girls." Lily said, smiling. "I'd better send the girls a letter if I want to see them tonight." She got up and walked back upstairs to her room; Lily wrote a short message to the girls and sent them off quickly. She then sat at her desk, and looking outside, she let the tears she had been holding back fall. She would never have her sister back…
In the last weeks of August, Lily and her parents went to Diagon Alley to pick up Lily's booklist and some supplies. She had pinned her Prefect's badge proudly to the emerald green blouse she was wearing; she wondered if she would see the girls - they hadn't arranged to meet at Diagon Alley. The Evans family stopped at Flourish and Blotts first and upon entering, Lily groaned; Potter was in there with Sirius.
"Evans!" he beamed as he walked over to the Evans family. "How are you?"
Her parents winked at her and, smiling, left her alone with James.
"Potter." Lily said, shortly.
"You look ravishing, love." James said with a smirk.
"Don't call me that."
"Lily Potter!" said Sirius as he bounded over to James. "How are you darling?"
Lily groaned. "I was better when the pair of you would leave me alone."
James chuckled. "Lily Potter - I like it."
"I don't." Lily frowned and crossed her arms across her chest. "Now, if you two don't mind - I'm shopping with my parents and would like to keep my sanity."
Sirius threw his arm around Lily's shoulders, she glared at him but he simply laughed his bark-like laugh. "Lilypad, we could only enhance your sanity."
She shrugged away from Sirius. "Black, I'm warning you."
"Evans, come to Hogsmeade with me? First trip of the semester?" James asked, smiling at her.
She pretended to think. "Hmm... Sorry, but I believe there's someone who doesn't have a brain who would enjoy doing that instead."
Sirius laughed even harder. "Bad luck Prongs."