CHAPTER 18

Lily was surprised. Surprised that even though she wasn't in a muggle school. Rumours still spread, and they spread very fast. Like, literally, overnight. And barely anyone has even known the night before. I'm talking about Lily and Sirius.

As she walked down to breakfast the next morning, people avoided her gaze, dropping their own to the floor. She received many dirty looks, icy glares, but she didn't care. Her and Sirius weren't a thing. And, to be honest, she was enjoying all of the gossip. The majority of it was so ridiculous she had to laugh.

'You know,' Lily turned to Alice as they sat down. 'I'm pretty surprised actaully. At Marlene. We've had disagreements before, but not like this.'

'I know.' Alice scraped her hair back into a ponytail, rubbing her eyes. She yawned. 'I've barely even seen her since yesterday. Actually, before that.'

'I hope she realises soon.'

'That we're right?'

'That she's wrong. We're not necessarily right, but neither is she.'

They both fell into silence. It wasn't uncomfortable, just very intense, and sad.

This was soon broken by the arrival of the Gryffindor quiddich team, trapsing in covered in mud and rain. They sat down directly next to them.

'Urgh.' Sirius pulled off his gloves, splattering the table in dirt. 'Not going to lie-'

'-you always lie-' James spluttered indignantly.

'-SHUT IT! Not going to lie, that was one of the worst training sessions I've had.' He shook his his head, flicking water out of his hair all over Mary's cereal. She pushed it away, repulsed slightly.

'You think?' James pulled off his glasses, wiping them on his shirt. 'I couldn't see. Rain is a b$%*!' McGonagall glared at him. Lily rolled her eyes, he hadn't changed.

'Post!' Sirius yelled excitedly as the hooting began.

There were more than usual. And I mean, a lot more. Whether it was because people had forgotton to bring stuff, or promotions of purchases of stuff, Lily didn't know, but it was noticeable. Two thick envelopes dropped in front of Lily. She eyed them nervously, before plucking open the larger one.

Dear Lily,

This is from Mum. I'm sorry that we didn't really catch up much over the holidays. I had to go to Dorset because of my sister Andrea and when I got back it was all a bit Petunia obsessed. I bet you your father didn't tell you anything, no? Haha, anyway, it doesn't matter.

Petunia is off to university. To Durham. It's such a great thing for her, I'm so excited. She probably didn't tell you, because I know that you two aren't as, well, close as you used to be. But never mind, I'm sure you're happy for her, the least stubborn of my daughters. Not that that's a bad thing though, Petunia's a lot like me. Either way, I'm sorry about when I got back. I just ended up helping Petunia pack and then we went shopping and got an email from the Uni that her room wouldn't be ready so we were just frantic. It's a weird time that she's off now, in November, but at least she's doing something. After she quit college because of Sammy anyway. But you must know all about that right?

Anywho, Andrea's daughter, your cousin Alana, is getting married. That's why I was over there. Me, Andrea and Alana all went dress shopping. They've picked a venue, food, band. Everything. Apparently they sent an invitation but it got lost in the post so yeah. But it's in two weeks. A November wedding though, blimey! Anyway, she wants you and Petunia to be bridesmaids. Apparently her friends bought the wrong sized dresses and as you're smaller than they are, she wanted to know if you'd do it. The dresses are non-returnable. I've wrote a letter to Professor Dumbledore about it. Tell me what he says.

I've attatched your form on the end of this one. You need to decide whether or not you want a plus one. It might be a good idea to bring one, as Petunia is bringing Vernon.

What did you and your father get up to over the holidays? As usual, he's being vague. Bless. Or did you do something you don't want to admit to. I know you Lily, and I can read you. Better than I can him anyway. You're both so alike, I'm so proud of you.

Don't forget to return the wedding invite, and tell me if you're coming home for Christmas.

With Love, Mum x

'What does it say?' Alice leaned over, pulling out a potions essay from her own envelope. She had evidently forgotten to take it home.

'Just stuff about Petunia off to uni and my cousins wedding. I've got to bring a date.'

'Got to?' Mary frowned, plucking the letter from Lily's fingers. 'You don't have to.'

Lily chuckled. 'Trust me, I do. If not I'll have to listen to Petunia and Vernon all night. And I will cry.'

'Fair enough,' she passed the letter back to Lily, who opened the other one.

Dear Lily,

It's Marlene, and after you've read this, let Alice and Mary read it, but I sent one to James himself.

I'm so sorry about everything, but I know that I've done the right thing by doing this. By going to the ministry, to be an unspeakable. I know you'll hate me, but it's the right thing to do. I just know it is.

I asked my dad, and he got me onto the training program. No questions asked. I see my mum and dad more frequently now, it's great. I'm not going to lie. It hurts that I had to leave you and everyone else, especially Sirius and James. Because they'll never know how much I will miss them. I treated both of them like $*!%. Even though I did try to be a good friend to you.

I know that it is unlikely that I will probably ever see you again. Somehow, the fact that I am just doing training all of the time. 24/7. However, if I ever end up training near you I'll try and come to Hogwarts.

I know that this is just a screwed up piece of paper which barely counts as an apology. But I need it to be so much more that that. I need it to be closure. Unfortunately, it barely even covers what I want to say. To express. But it will have to do. I'm sorry I was such a stupid friend and I'm thankful I knew you.

Marlene the unspeakable. With love. You can have my stuff. 3

'Lily?' James looked at Lily carefully. 'Are you okay?'

'Just cover for me okay?'

She could feel the tears pouring down her cheeks. Running from her eyes as she ran from the hall. Her eyes were watery, her vision blurry. She didn't know what to do. Just like that, in a letter, her whole world had been turned upside down. Marlene didn't know how to fix the problem, so she ran from it.

Lily threw herself into the Heads dorm, into her room. Locking the door after slamming it. She was hot, and upset, and she had no idea how to react. She sat on the floor, head in hands, her legs shaking. It was as though she were a snowglobe, and someone had suddenly just shaken her up.

Before now, Lily had never written a diary of any sort. She knew Petunia had kept one for years. And had sat by her sister as she watched her scribbled page after page of god knows what. Lily reached for a red book, flipped it to just past the divider, and began to scribble furiously.

*REVEALS PLOT SECRET*

OOOOOh. So, that was chapter 18. Sorry it was so long, but I've literally had so much homework and it's tiring me! :( Straight after I've uploaded this I'm going to bed, not even going to lie. Well, after I've uploaded my fictionpress story anyway. Please go and check it out it's Greek Mythology called Escaping Ogygia. It's about Calypso escaping Ogygia and trying to find her father, Atlas. It's okay, so yeah! :)