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So far... One day before starting Hogwarts, eleven-year-old Lily Luna Potter was sent back in time to take the place of her grandmother for a few hours. But Lily Evans still hadn't appeared by the next morning, so Lily Potter had to continue the pretence and board the Hogwarts Express. There she met James whom she quickly hated when he made fun of Severus. Now read on...
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Chapter 2
Leading A Charmed Life
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A Tough Start
"Slytherin!" cried the Sorting Hat, and Lily was at once overwhelmed with both relief and grief at the stricken look on Snape's face as, gazing at her sinking in a sea of rowdy Gryffindors, he walked to the Slytherin table.
Was that it? Could it be that the only reason her grandmother, Lily Evans, had married James Potter, was because they were thrown together into the same house? Well, let it be, thought Lily, but that girl will be in for a terrible shock when she swaps back with me! I bet she'll wish she'd never used that Time-Turner!
And with that thought, Lily pulled out a sheet of parchment and a travel quill from her bag, then began to write while, all around her, students began to consume the abundant food that had appeared before them.
"How do I–?"
"–send a love letter to your boyfriend? Here, let me show you."
The paper flew out of her hands as she turned to the speaker next to her. It was that horrid James Potter. While she had been preoccupied, he must have changed places with the fair-haired boy who'd been sitting there minutes before. She glared at him for only a moment before letting out a shriek. Her note was fluttering like an injured bird over the table in the direction of the Slytherin table. Instincts honed by years of playing Seeker with her dad in the back garden took over. Up she leapt onto the table – one foot kicking off from a huge tureen of roast potatoes – to snatch the message out of the air then land nimbly on the ground in a half-crouch to cushion the impact.
"LILY EVANS!"
Her heart sank. Professor McGonagall was rushing towards them. Lily rose to her feet, trembling.
"Never – in all my time at Hogwarts–"
Professor McGonagall was almost speechless with shock, and her glasses flashed furiously," – how dare you – might have broken your neck –"
"It wasn't her fault, Professor–"
"Be quiet, Potter–"
"But I–"
"That's enough, Potter. Evans, follow me – now!"
She strode along beside the Gryffindor table towards the main door. "Miss Brindle, come with me."
A bewildered fifth-year girl pushed away her plate and followed them out to the Entrance Hall.
"Brindle, I think I may have found you a Seeker."
The older girl's face brightened as she realised McGonagall's thinking. Like so many in the Great Hall, she'd witnessed Lily's leap and precision snatch. "Ah... I see what you mean."
McGonagall said, "Evans, you're a natural. I've never seen reflexes like it. Have you ever played Quidditch? – No, of course not. Have you even flown a broomstick yet?"
"I... uuh... no," said Lily, trying to think quickly. If she earned a place on the team, the real Lily Evans would appear rather foolish when she replaced her. A crafty smile spread across her face. Serve her right! "But I'd love to try, Professor."
"Very well, discuss it with Brindle here after your first flying lesson and we'll see how you shape up. Now, back to your dinners, both of you."
James Potter was staring at Lily when she returned. "Where'd you learn to dive like that, Evans? I thought you were a Muggle-born?"
"Oh, why'd you think that?"
James snorted. "The skirt you wore on the train? No self-respecting witch would be seen with bare knees showing."
"Tennis!" blurted Lily, vaguely recalling her father explaining to her the sport showing on a television in a shop window two summers ago.
"What?"
"Like at Wembley... er... don. You must have heard of–"
"Wemblyerdon? Yeah, famous place," smirked James, munching thoughtfully on a mouthful of carrots and peas and gravy.
"Wimbledon!" snarled Lily. "– You know where I mean! Throw and snatch."
"I thought they hit rubbery Snitch-things with a fishnet-doodah?"
"Ball-girl, I mean. I was a ball-girl a few times. They have to be good at catching. And they wear short skirts for freedom of movement," she added smugly, as if that proved something which she immediately realised it didn't.
"At Wemblyerdon?"
"No, not at Wimbledon, of course! Just a local club," growled Lily, irritated by the arrogance of the boy. She stabbed at her pork roast with a fork and viciously sawed off a portion.
"Which one?"
Lily chewed for quite a while, pretending the meat hadn't long since been entirely swallowed, then quickly stuffed in another morsel.
"Which one?" repeated James.
Lily shook her long red hair like a flaming brand, ignoring him and continuing to chew until her jaw ached.
"What did McGonagall say? House points?"
"Oh, nothing much – just wants me to be the Gryffindor Seeker," Lily said rather smugly, unable to resist the retort and get one up on him.
James blinked quite a lot. "No – freakin' – way!"
She didn't like that word. Tuney had used it at King's Cross and it reminded Lily of when her mother had explained about dad's rough upbringing. Ginny had wheedled it out of Harry in intimate moments over the years but he'd never have burdened his young daughter with that knowledge. Ginny knew better and her account of the suffering he'd endured had moved Lily to tears. She loved her father fiercely despite the irritation of his celebrity.
"We're NOT freaks!" She lifted her plate and slid herself a couple of spaces away along the bench.
"Didn't say you were. It–"
The puzzled boy didn't chase her; he shut his mouth and turned away to listen to Remus and Sirius chattering with Peter. James told himself with a curious mixture of huffiness and regret that he could hardly explain the obscenity to the little girl if she didn't already know.
For her part, Lily continued to fume over her meal. James was hateful. Poor Lily Evans would be making a dreadful mistake in marrying him and no doubt would have a miserable future. But there was no getting out of it; the event had already taken place in reality and if anything happened to prevent it then Lily Potter herself would not exist. She groaned and pushed away her plate. The sooner Lily Evans arrives, the better, she moaned inwardly.
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A Night at Hogwarts
But the real Lily had still not shown her face by the time the first-years had been led to their common rooms, and how could she? It was only now dawning on Lily Potter that even if Lily Evans had secured the Time-Turner from the tree at the future Christmas holidays and returned to the start of September, she'd have a problem getting into Hogwarts. Did that mean they'd both have to wait four months! No way!
"Excuse me," she said to the almost ladylike prefect who'd guided them so courteously into Gryffindor Tower. "I have an urgent message for my father. Where can I send an owl...?" She folded the parchment over twice and held it up inquiringly.
"You really should have thought of that earlier – it's almost curfew!" The older girl paused with a wry smile as she studied Lily's expression, then sighed resignedly. "Give it here, I'll visit the owlery on my rounds and send it off for you. Better get up to your dorm with the other girls."
Lily thanked her. "And please tell the bird to wait for a reply!"
The helpful prefect rolled her eyes in amusement, snapped her heels together, and saluted before marching off on her duties.
Chasing up the stairs after the other first-year girls, Lily found herself sharing a dormitory with them. After exchanging names and a few polite words with Florence Shaw, the girl in the nearest bed, Lily lay back more alone than she had ever felt in her life, separated both by space and time from her loved ones who weren't even born yet. It was some time before she lapsed into a fitful sleep.
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To Befriend Or Not To Befriend
It was clear that the Gryffindor prefect from the night before had carried out Lily's request because at breakfast the next morning a grey owl flew down beside Lily's fried bread sandwich. After giving the owl a couple of bacon rinds from it, Lily tore open the envelope it had delivered.
Dear Lily,
Wow! You were right – they really do use owls! Sadly, this one brings bad news. I went out late with a torch but there was nothing in the tree. You mean the big elm where you used to keep your seashells? There's nothing there now.
I remember you fetching your spinny-thing into the kitchen but are you sure you put it back in the tree? Likely you forgot and left it in your room? I'll have a look round when I get a chance.
Be good, and love from your dad as always!
Lily stared in shock at the words of Mr Evans. How could the Time-Turner NOT be there? She'd been in a rush, yes, but... had she not pushed it far enough into the hole? Had it slipped out into the surrounding grass?
She fretted all that morning through lessons and breaks and walks between classes and finally to lunch. I can't stay here in the past until Christmas, I just can't!
"Could you pass the salt please?" a voice murmured on her left.
She frowned. Even if she found the Time-Turner and put it back in the tree, why would that have stopped Lily Evans from returning the first night? Or at least the next morning before they departed for Hogwarts? Had it become broken? Or stolen?
"The salt?"
Mrs Evans! What if she'd been curious about where the mud on her shoes had come from and found the Time-Turner instead? What if she fiddled with it and disappeared back to ancient Egypt or something? No, she couldn't have, could she? Mr Evans would have said in his letter. Well, more likely she'd simply put it away for safekeeping.
"Hello? Anyone there?"
"Mmm...?" murmured Lily, vaguely hearing a raised voice.
"The salt?"
"Uumm..." With a wave, she sent the salt pot drifting towards the voice. But if Mrs Evans had taken the Time-Turner then–
"How'd you do that?" cried a startled voice.
She looked up. It was the fair-haired boy – the same one she'd sat next to at the Sorting.
"How'd you float the salt like that?"
"Oh... erm..." Her parents and Aunt Hermione had primed her in simple wandless magic from an early age, determined that she'd not wait for Hogwarts to develop and control her magic. 'What's the point in leaving it till then?' they'd said while also warning her to keep quiet about using underage , the Evans could never have done all that.
"Uuh... I didn't realise I had," she replied to the boy. "Did I do that? Must have been accidental magic. Sorry, I was lost in thought."
"Don't apologise; it was brilliant!" said the boy. "I'm Norman by the way, Norman Plunkett.
They touched left hands awkwardly – she with a greasy sandwich in her right, and he with a forked sausage. "Lily... Lily Evans."
He took a bite then pointed the pronged remains at her while nodding and chewing. "I heard Potter say you were a Muggle-born – so your parents wouldn't know what to do. I got a rap on the knuckles when I did accidental magic."
"That's awful!"
"No, not hard, I mean just a soft tap to remind me not to." He bit more into his sausage as if the discipline had long been of no consequence.
"But you couldn't help it! My dad always... he... comforted me and tried to reassure me that it wasn't my fault even though..."
"Yeah, punishment sounds daft now that you mention it. But wizard parents try to control magic whereas your Muggle dad probably just focused on you and explained it away."
Lily thought hard. She'd avoided making any friends so far because there seemed no point, and it would complicate things if the other Lily was to take over soon. But a whole term? Without conversation? Norman seemed quite nice; should she encourage or discourage him? Whatever she did might collapse the universe of time! Perhaps even the absent-minded passing of the salt had already done just that.
The matter seemed to be taken out of Lily's hands over the next few weeks because Florence, one of the girls who shared her dorm, joined their budding company, and she and Norman seemed to have more in common with each other; certainly their conversation dominated the three while Lily was inclined to remain almost mute. Norm and Flo, as they called each other, tended to pair together more in class and homework discussions with Lily seeing herself as an 'extra'. By October, Lily regarded the pair as best friends to each other while she remained 'off-centre'.
Mary McDonald – another girl in her year – was pleasant enough, but reserved, not given to intimate conversation. Still, she was someone to talk to even if casually. By focusing hard on her lessons and homework, Lily kept her distance from everyone else and resolved to limit as much interaction as possible.
The hopes of Brenda Brindle and Professor McGonagall were dashed when Lily deliberately failed her flying classes. Two lessons were required to even get her into the air and thereafter Lily made sure to fly slowly and clumsily. The girl loved Quidditch but had to avoid changing the real Lily's life as much as possible.
She resolved to go back to the Evans at Christmas, find the Time-Turner – digging up the soil around the tree if necessary – then take a chance she could figure out how to use it to return to her own life.
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The Unwrapped Gifts
But a few days before Christmas, a shock awaited her when she greeted Mr and Mrs Evans at King's Cross Station – they both looked rather upset and Mrs Evans gave Lily a big hug, shaking with emotion, then drew back a pace to look at her. "Oh, Lily, it's only four months but you're growing up so quickly, I'd hardly know you." She paused for breath. "I'm so glad you're safe."
"Uuh... Mummy? What's wrong?"
Mrs Evans stared her in the eye. "What do you mean, what's wrong? Doesn't anyone read the news at your school?"
"No, they don't have ordinary newspapers. Mummy, what's happened?"
"Oh, Lily!" wailed Mrs Evans. "We didn't want to tell you in a message. The police have been searching. It was on the telly – don't you even watch TV anymore? She's been kidnapped! My Tuney's been taken!"
Lily's eyes widened but she was too dumbstruck to speak. Only a "Wh...?" formed silently on her gaping mouth.
Mr Evans said, "Two days ago – the day after her school closed for the holidays. We put up the Christmas decorations together that evening but the next morning she was bored with hanging around the house without you here. We didn't even know she'd gone out, Lil. I could have sworn she was up in her room. She must have slipped out to the park or the corner shop but she... never came back."
Frozen in disbelief, Lily struggled to remember any mention by her dad of Aunt Petunia getting lost as a child or running away or... She can't be! One thing had been certain, Petunia would grow up to marry Vernon Dursley – unless... Lily wondered if she herself had changed a critical event without realising, .
The journey home in the car was mostly silent and sombre. The house felt empty even to Lily, and the following two days leading up to Christmas eve were as dark as the weather. The police visited once to ask Lily if Petunia had ever said anything unusual to her or if she'd given any indication that she might run away. They left without any encouraging words imparted by either side.
To make her feel even more miserable, Lily failed to find any sign of the Time-Turner in or around the tree, nor anywhere indoors. Interrogating the tearful Mr and Mrs Evans didn't seem right in the circumstances so she remained silent on the matter.
Christmas morning was most peculiar. Gifts remained wrapped under the little plastic Christmas tree in the corner. Lily couldn't help but visualise her own presents being opened in her future life by the real Lily Evans, while Harry and Ginny would look on smiling. A sob escaped her lips.
A hand settled on her shoulder, making her jump. "Lily..." said Mr Evans, "we need to be strong and hope Petunia will be..." He moved away as his voice quavered to a halt.
The morning dragged on. The smell of roasting turkey was strong in the air as the family anticipated a mute and miserable dinner. Mrs Evans sat in the living room staring out of the window while her husband's gaze was fixed on the flickering fire. Lily, drifting in and out of the adjoining kitchen, watched them both with a heavy heart, trapped by the mood.
Someone else's voice came from the hall doorway. "Mummy, have you seen my other pink sock? I wanted to wear them on – oh! how did you get here, Lily?" It was Petunia, and she was staring around at the unwrapped gifts below the tree, the table set ready for the feast, the untouched bowls of fruits and nuts on the sideboard.
"TUNEY!" screamed Mrs Evans, rushing to embrace the child.
Petunia flinched at the fierce approach. "But you said I could wear them at parties and things!"
As her mother took Petunia in her arms, the girl peered around her shoulder, recognising some of the gift parcels as ones she'd wrapped herself. "Those are mine! When did you...? Why have we got the presents set out already?"
Lily Potter clutched at the back of one of the dining chairs; something very strange was happening.
Mr Evans had risen to his feet. "Petunia! Where on Earth have you been?"
As Mrs Evans released her, Petunia glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece, then to the set table, and her eyes widened. "I didn't realise it was so late!" She scowled suddenly as an excuse occurred to her. "I didn't hear you call me anyway."
"Call...?" Mr Evans voice almost failed him. "We've been searching for you high and low. Where did you go?"
"Are you hurt? Did... anyone hurt you, Tuney?" wailed Mrs Evans.
Petunia broke away to the kitchen doorway and stared in, feeling the heat of the oven and smelling the turkey being roasted. Nothing made sense. "What's going on?"
"PETUNIA!" roared Mr Evans. "Answer me! Where have you been these last few days?"
"What?" Fear showed on Petunia's face; her father rarely became angry, and he was not making any sense.
"Don't play games, Petunia! What have you been doing since Tuesday?"
Frightened by her father's strangeness, tears formed in Petunia's eyes. "Tuesday? Today's Tuesday, isn't it?" She looked towards the Advent calendar that stood beside the clock, rubbing at her wet cheeks as she went over.
Lily groaned softly. The room seemed to be closing in and her throat was tightening. Mrs Evans moved over to her husband, softly hissing words that Lily felt sure included 'doctor'.
"Tuney," said Lily, very cautiously, "did you take something of mine?"
Petunia quickly rubbed the tear-streaks from her face and glared at Lily. "What if I did? I only borrowed it." A smirk replaced her glare. "It's broken anyway. I threw it away. The dustbin men took it."
"WHAT!"
"I thought it was magic! I wanted to... I spun it lots of times but it did nothing at all."
"The watch? or the–?"
"Of course not! The spinny glass thing."
"How many? How many times did you spin it?"
"I don't know, do I?" cried Petunia.
"A hundred times? A thousand times? Ten times?"
"Don't be silly, I was just twiddling it. I didn't count. Maybe a hundred, I don't know. I was bored on my own. I'm still bored. It was a waste of time."
"You're right," said Lily mournfully. "A waste of days in fact."
Mr Evans said, "You mean that's what made Petunia disappear?"
Lily nodded.
Petunia spat, "It wasn't me that disappeared – it was the days! And now I've missed Christmas morning because of HER!"
"My God!" wailed Mrs Evans, "You mean you've been here all along but we couldn't see you? What are we going to tell the police? The reporters?" She went to the far window that looked out on the street.
"You can't tell anyone!" cried Lily. "There's a secrecy law. The Magical Ministry will Obliviate both them and you – wipe your mind of any memory of it. And I'll..." She realised then the enormous trouble she would be in with the Aurors if the facts came out. Turning to Petunia, she said, "You'll have to tell them you wandered off and got lost and–"
"I WON'T!" cried Petunia. "I've not BEEN lost!"
"They'll never swallow that story, anyway!" Mr Evans shook his head. "They're not stupid, you know."
Lily bit her lip, thinking hard. "I might be able to help – help them accept it, I mean."
"How?"
"Magic."
"I HATE magic!" cried Petunia.
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Family Reappraisal
Lily had one spell among the many taught her by Aunt Hermione for emergency protection – the Confundus charm – that successfully made the authorities more amenable. She could only perform it very weakly, so pitifully in fact that it couldn't even be traced, but that, along with the two glasses of Christmas sherry, was enough to persuade the two officers of the story of Petunia having got lost while out for a walk.
Dinner had to be postponed until evening, and it was already dark when they sat down. The turkey was added cold to the reheated vegetables which were only slightly over-cooked – though Petunia's heated comments were enough to bake bread. "You made me lie! I didn't do anything and you made me lie!"
"You took what didn't belong to you," said Mr Evans, very firmly. "Let that be a lesson to you." Having distractedly poured a little too much gravy over his meal, he reached for the apple sauce. "It belonged to your sister and now it's gone because of you."
Lily's knife and fork clunked down on her plate. The reminder of the loss of the Time-Turner brought home to her that she was forever lost in time – and separated from her parents.
"Is it the Brussels sprouts, Lil?" said Mrs Evans. "I'm sorry. I did the best I could but what with..."
Lily looked up, awakened by the kindly manner of the older woman. "Oh, Mummy, no! The dinner's lovely. I like mushy sprouts anyway."
"What then?"
Mr Evans spoke up. "It's your magic top, isn't it?"
"It was very important to me," said Lily, very softly.
Mr Evans turned to Petunia. "What day did you throw it away, Tuney?"
"Earlier this morning, of course, like I told you. What's it matter?"
Lily said, "You mean last Tuesday? Your 'morning' from last Tuesday?"
Petunia shrugged.
Lily frowned as she thought about it a bit more. "You can't have. Obviously you must have used it before you threw it away, so that means..." She jumped to her feet and raced to the door. "Where's the–? I mean..." She stopped. She couldn't reveal that she had no idea where the Evans kept their dustbin – back garden? side alley? front gate?
Mr Evans said, "That's right, Lily! You're thinking she really threw it away today?" He jumped up. "Come on, I'll help you."
He grabbed a big torch from a toolbox in the hall cupboard, then led the way up the gloomy, street-lit garden to the front gate where he tipped the contents of the dustbin across the path, glistening and sparkling in his wavering torchlight.
"Dad!"
"We can clear up later. Nothing's more important than my little girl!" He grabbed the rusty trowel that lay next to the yard brush and began scraping through the rubbish.
Lily looked at him in wonder. She had not paid much attention to the Evans as real people previously because she'd not originally expected to be with them for long; the situation was surreal and she had treated it like a dream. They were good people, and Mr Evans clearly loved his daughter as did her real father. Tears sprang to Lily's eyes, blinding her to what glinted amongst the potato peelings.
"Got it!" cried Mr Evans, wiping the gunge off on his sleeve. He held up the treasure.
For a few moments, the stars began failing, many vanishing in waves. Then, the skyscape seemed to shake itself, the milky way was just as it always had been, and Lily found herself recovering from a slight stagger. Eyes still shining, she hugged Mr Evans around the waist.
Astonished, he said gruffly, "There, there..." and patted her head.
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The Fatal Promise
The remainder of the holiday passed swiftly for Lily. She had examined the Time-Turner and could easily have directly turned it back and forth a few hours, but years? – she could not fathom the purpose of the several levers, knobs, and cogs on the attached watch and certainly dare not experiment with them. Mr Evans was unable to help even though he had modified the device himself because he'd only done so blindly under the real Lily Evans' directions. Lily Potter's only recourse was that of returning the Time-Turner to the tree and wait a few days.
And wait she did. Yet somehow the New Year appeared without the real Lily Evans coming back from the future, and then, inevitably, the day of the return to Hogwarts likewise when a new fear arose within her:
"Petunia, promise me you won't touch my spinning top ever again."
"Who cares about your freakish toys anyway," mumbled Petunia as they scrambled into the back of the car, ready to depart.
"Swear it!"
"Won't!"
"Petunia!" Mr Evans said firmly as he climbed into the driver's seat. "Promise your sister."
Petunia rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, cross my heart and hope to die. It's just a stupid toy that ruined my Christmas."
Lily didn't speak at all during the rest of the car journey to King's Cross. On the platform, they exchanged goodbyes warmly enough, but she ignored everyone on the train, including Severus – except for the minimum words needed for politeness. She sat silently through dinner in the Great Hall. Lily's prospects were horrifying and her distress was considerable.
All that term and on into the last term of the school year she strove to occupy her mind with schoolwork, and remained remote, cold, and bitter. On her return to the Evans' home at the start of the summer holidays, she found the Time-Turner still tucked away in the tree, safe and secure, mocking her with its conflicting promise and high risk. Three twists of this knurled knob, seven pushes on that brass lever – any such action might propel her to home, hell, or universal annihilation.
Year two was no different than the first – though by sheer immersion in the density of children surrounding her and the pressure of the loneliness caused by her self-imposed isolation, she did make acquaintances and even moderate friendships, of which Mary McDonald was still most often the only one to talk to her at any length.
Each summer she returned to the Evans' home for holidays, she always made sure the Time-Turner was safely secured in the tree so there was still hope. It was at the end of her fourth year when everything changed. Petunia had been humming merrily to herself throughout the car journey from King's Cross, and glancing sideways at Lily frequently.
"What?" scowled Lily.
"Oh... nothing," smirked Tuney, and carried on humming.
And when eventually the vehicle swept up in front of the Evans home and came to rest, Lily felt even more that Petunia's eyes were burning into the side of her cheek. She tried to ignore the unease that grew within her, busied herself with the transfer of luggage to her bedroom, then peered out of the window at the sunlit garden. She gasped, and for a moment the world almost seemed to spin.
"The tree! Where is it?" shrilled Lily, leaping dangerously down the stairs, two at a time.
Mrs Evans was just filling the teapot with boiling water from the kettle. Petunia was smirking from an armchair. Mr Evans could be heard still out on the street beside his car, chatting with a neighbour.
"What dear?" asked Mrs Evans.
"The tree! The big tree!"
Mrs Evans frowned, trying to think, then her expression cleared when she saw Lily pointing out into the garden. "Ah, that tree... the council had it cut down last February. Surely you've heard? Dutch elm disease is spreading everywhere. Won't be an elm left in the country if this continues."
"But..."
The front door clicked and a few moments later Mr Evans walked into the room.
"Dad! The tree's gone!" wailed Lily.
"The tree? Yes. Shame really."
"But my... spinny thing? Did you get it out first?"
"Your...?"
"My spinning top. You know...?"
Mr Evans' head dipped on one side as he tried to remember. He shook his head. Lily realised then it wasn't surprising he didn't recollect an event from four long years ago. But someone did!
"PETUNIA!" Lily whirled around to face the girl. "You remember! Did you rescue it?"
"I wanted to..." Petunia smiled sweetly. "But you made me swear never to touch it."
"But you could have told someone! Told Dad!"
"I didn't know it was that important."
Lily stared at the girl she had, over time, began to think of as her sister. "Tuney, please tell me you saved it for me? Please?"
But Lily knew deep down that all was lost and she sank to her knees clutching at the arm of her dad's armchair for support. She was marooned forever in the past, it had become impossible now for destiny to unfold as it should, and...
Then why hasn't the universe collapsed?
She rose slowly to her feet. The rest of the family were staring at her. Even Petunia looked scared by the intensity of Lily's reaction. This was magic. Who knows what she might have done.
I'll do nothing, Lily decided, taking a firm stance against adversity. It's not my fault and the universe can all go hang as far as I'm concerned! Lily Evans cannot now get back in time to marry James Potter, and Dad – Harry Potter, The Chosen One – and I won't even be born!
She paused for a long moment, thinking, then stomped back up to her room and slammed the door. If she threw herself on her bed and cried, there was no one to see or care.
.
Saving Severus
With no purpose to life, Lily Potter immersed herself more and more in her studies in preparation for the O.W.L.s exams. Fifth year passed slowly. She avoided James whenever she could, though he was a pest if she came across him accidentally. Lily generally arrived at the last minute for classes and tests so she could see where James was sitting before choosing a place as far away as possible for herself.
In this way she found a desk near the back on the left for the Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. exam in the Great Hall. The test went smoothly enough and she kept low until James and his friends had left before gathering up her things and heading out to get some fresh air. Summer was coming so she decided to find a nice spot out by the lake to relax.
There was a commotion not far off her route. Students were laughing at someone on the ground but she couldn't quite see who. He was struggling to get up, as though bound by invisible ropes.
"You – wait," he panted, staring up at another youth that Lily now recognised as James Potter. His friends were nearby. "You – wait!"
"Wait for what?" said Sirius coolly. "What're you going to do, Snivelly, wipe your nose on us?"
Lily gasped as she realised the lad being bullied was Snape. He let out a stream of swear words.
"Wash out your mouth," said James coldly. "Scourgify!"
Pink soap bubbles streamed from Snape's mouth at once; the froth was covering his lips, making him gag, choking him–
Instinctively, Lily ran forward shouting, "Leave him ALONE!"
James and Sirius looked round. James's free hand immediately jumped to his hair. "Alright, Evans?" said James, and the tone of his voice was suddenly pleasant, deeper, more mature.
"Leave him alone," Lily repeated. She was looking at James with every sign of great dislike. "What's he done to you?"
"Well," said James, appearing to deliberate the point, "it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean..."
Many of the surrounding students laughed, Sirius and Peter included, but Lupin, intent on reading a book, didn't, and nor did Lily.
"You think you're funny," she said coldly. "But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter. Leave him alone."
"I will if you go out with me, Evans," said James quickly. "Go on ... go out with me and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again."
Behind him, his Impediment Jinx was wearing off. Snape was beginning to inch towards his fallen wand, spitting out soapsuds as he crawled.
Lily sneered. "I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid."
"Bad luck, Prongs," said Sirius briskly, and turned back to Snape. "OI!"
But too late; Snape had directed his wand straight at James; there was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James's face, spattering his robes with blood. James whirled about: a second flash of light later, Snape was hanging upside-down in the air, his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair of greying underpants.
Many people in the small crowd cheered; Sirius, James and Peter roared with laughter.
Lily, whose furious expression had twitched for an instant as though she was going to smile, said, "Let him down!"
"Certainly," said James and he jerked his wand upwards; Snape fell into a crumpled heap on the ground. Disentangling himself from his robes he got quickly to his feet, wand up, but Sirius said, "Petrificus Totalus!" and Snape keeled over again, rigid as a board.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Lily shouted. She had her own wand out now. James and Sirius eyed it warily.
"Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you," said James earnestly.
"Take the curse off him, then!"
James sighed deeply, then turned to Snape and muttered the counter-curse.
"There you go," he said, as Snape struggled to his feet. "You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus–"
"I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!"
Lily blinked. "Fine," she said coolly. "I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus."
"Apologise to Evans!" James roared at Snape, his wand pointed threateningly at him.
"I don't want you to make him apologise," Lily shouted, rounding on James. "You're as bad as he is."
"What?" yelped James. "I'd NEVER call you a – you-know-what!"
"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can – I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK."
Lily turned on her heel and hurried away.
"Evans!" James shouted after her. "Hey, EVANS!"
But she didn't look back.
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—oOo—
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Author's Notes
Many thanks for all comments and reviews. These are most welcome and very encouraging. Let me know of any weaknesses or faults – I'm always trying to improve my writing so feedback is really useful. :)
– Hippothestrowl
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