Chapter 9 – Let the Courting Commence [Pt.3]

Lily's POV

Lily's eyes roamed the length of the Slytherin table as she sat amongst her friends at the Gryffindor table, searching the many students clad in silver and green for a certain individual. She

Ever since their conversation on the Hogwarts express she had been looking forward to her tutoring lessons with the eldest Black. He was all she could think about since her arrival back at Hogwarts.

From the start of her third year she had developed a slight crush on the heir to Black Family. He had all the characteristics of his younger brother Sirius, yet was studious, smart, intelligent, incredibly good looking and least of all mature.

In the two years that had passed since they had first met outside the Transfiguration corridor, they hadn't spoken more than a word to each other. Being a year apart age wise and in two completely different houses meant there wasn't much need for them to interact with one another.

She didn't know if what she felt for him was love or lust. But she was certain that whatever her feelings were, Antares didn't feel the same way.

She knew that if they could just spend some time alone together then she could really get to know Antares for who he was, and not for who he appeared to be. His act on the train hadn't fooled her one for a second. She knew that beneath the tough guy, pureblood-mania exterior that he projected to the world, he wasn't as bad as he portrayed himself to be.

It was for this reason that she had lied to him about needing his help with her Arithmancy homework. She had used the excuse of needing his help so that they would she could spend some time alone with the eldest black, free from the prying eyes of either of their friends and housemates.

Thinking about Antares, Lily's eyes lit up as her crush finally entered the great hall, followed closely by his entourage of pureblood fanatics. Sophia Wilkes absence didn't go unnoticed.

For the rest of breakfast she continued to keep an eye on the Slytherin table. She noticed how Antares only ate fruit and porridge and avoided any of the fried and processed foods. She noticed the way he interacted with his friends. How his smile or grin actually reached his eyes unlike the fake smile he usually wore in the presence of others. But most of all she noticed how every so often his eyes would look towards the sky before turning back in the direction of his friends.

It wasn't until the mail owls descended into the great hall that she found out what he was keeping an eye on. A large midnight black eagle-owl with a black envelope and small package attached to its leg had just entered the great hall with hundreds of other owls, its amongst the many others that littered the sky.

The beautiful didn't landed beside Antares at the Slytherin table as she had thought it would, but instead had glided down to sit beside Helena Greengrass at the Ravenclaw table.

Aquila wasn't the only one who had gained Lily's attention though. The Half-bloods and Purebloods of the room had obviously recognised the significance of the black envelope and package that Aquila was carrying. Within seconds the Great Hall was filled with hushed conversation, with the most common pressing question being the identity of the sender.

Not understanding what all the commotion was about, she decided to ask someone who would.

"What's with all the commotion? Why is everyone so worked up over an envelope?"

"That isn't just any old envelope -" replied Sirius through a mouthful of bacon, "It's a courting envelope".

"A what envelope" asked a confused Lily as she turned to face him.

"A courting envelope" interjected James Potter from beside Sirius.

Seeing that she still looked confused, James decided to elaborate.

"It's an ancient pureblood tradition dating back to the 13th century. It's hardly used in today's society but there are still some families that do practice the old ways"

"When a witch and wizard are entered into a marriage contract, they usually undertake something known as a courting. The courting is a month long period that is used to show the world that the wizard is a fit match for his betrothed. The groom-to-be is expected to shower his betrothed with various gifts, heroic deeds-of-valour and other declarations of devotion. That black envelope that everyone is discussing signals the first day of a courting" explained James as he took a sip of his pumpkin juice, smiling at his crush from behind his goblet.

"I wonder who it's from" replied Lily, now very curious about all of this courting business. Even after five years of being in the wizarding world, some things still managed to surprise, and confuse, her. This new information definitely deserved a visit to the library. No doubt Potter had only given her a very brief overview on the subject.

"Oh that's easy, It's from my brother" said Sirius nonchalantly, before helping himself to his second helping of eggs and bacon.

"Oh" said Lily, a look of shock covered her features.

"Yeah. Happened over the summer hols. Helena's gorgeous, there's no doubt about that" Sirius rambled on, "but I'm honestly glad it isn't me who has to get married, have children and all that other bloody nonsense, - ".

Lily didn't hear any more of what Sirius said as she had risen from her seat, grabbed her things and ran off towards the direction of the Great Halls exit, leaving a stunned Sirius and James in her wake.

A million thoughts ran through her mind as she hugged her book bag to her chest, climbing the castles stairs two at a time.

It wasn't until she had lost herself in a corridor on the sixth floor that she finally stopped running and collapsed against the stone wall, her slim body sliding down the wall until she was sitting on the floor. A single tear rolled slowly down her cheek, and within minutes her slim body was racked with sobs as she began to cry.

It was here that she spent most of her day, silent and deep in though as she realized that everything she had wanted would never come to pass. And so she cried. She cried until her throat was sore and her eyes where red and bloodshot. She cried until she couldn't cry no more, and when that finally happened the day had already passed and dinner was just about to begin.