Chapter Nineteen: Proposition
Guests slowly trickled into the Potter's mansion as the band struck up a soft tune that echoed throughout the high-ceilinged ballroom. The tinkling of champagne flutes and hors d'oeuvre forks filled Lily's ears as she trailed in behind Sirius.
She had to hand it to them; the Potters certainly knew how to throw a party. It was the finest Christmas ball she'd ever attended. Though, she had to admit, she hadn't attended all that many, and certainly none in a place like this!
Lily was moving too slowly, she supposed, dazzled by the atmosphere around her, because just then Sirius grabbed her by the hand and tugged her right into the middle of the action. She suddenly found herself surrounded by towering hook-nosed women in glittering black robes and middle-aged men casting her appreciative glances in between their sips of firewhiskey and investment chatter.
Indeed, this was not her parent's office bash. No chili pepper red two-piece dresses adorned with glittering green bow pins or Santa-shaped earrings that somehow always ended up in the cheese dip or punch bowl after 10 P.M. And certainly no Fordhams or Davenports to offer up their peaky son to have a dance with "the shy little Evans girl- my, what a lady she's becoming!"
Glancing down at her own appearance, Lily felt a wave of confidence flow over her. She hadn't done so bad for herself, after all. She'd put on her mum's vintage cocktail dress, which wasn't exactly wizard attire, but did the trick. It was a rich, deep blue and a bit slinky around the shoulders, so she added a heavy shawl. Of course, the moment Sirius spotted her, he grinned, kissed her cheek and ripped the shawl from her with a wink and a matter-of-fact, "You won't be needing that, love," which left her simultaneously embarrassed and feeling more than a bit revealed.
But as Lily wandered awkwardly through the crowd, she noticed other girls her age in similar dresses, one whom she quickly recognized as Florence Page, one of Charlotte's little cronies. Florence, whose hooked nose so resembled the women's around her, actually looked quite nice. She spotted Lily at that moment and with a strange look on her face, trotted toward her.
"Lily?" Her curved eyebrows gave her a perpetually shocked expression, but Lily realized upon further inspection that Florence had just gotten a bit overzealous with the tweezers. "What are you doing here?"
"Er…hello, Florence." Despite the fact that they had been roommates for the majority of her years at Hogwarts, Lily really knew nothing about her, and had only assumed Florence was from a crowd like this. Of course, if Florence were here, then surely-
"Evans?" An incredulous snarl came from behind.
Florence and Lily turned to see, not Charlotte as she'd expected, but Helen Halverson, dolled up like a queen, and striding forth arm-in-arm with some unassuming blonde boy. "What are you doing at this party?"
There was a snotty edge to her voice and Lily didn't like it much. Not that she cared for Helen all that much in the first place, but without Charlotte around, Helen tended to be a least a bit mild-mannered toward her. "I'm here with Sirius Black, thank you kindly for your interest."
"Wait-" Helen scoffed in that obnoxious tone of hers, "You? And Sirius?"
Helen's date held out his hand amiably. "Hello, I'm Grant. You must be Helen's friend Charlotte-" But Helen swatted it away, shooting him a glare.
"You don't speak, okay? And she isn't Charlotte." She spat 'Charlotte' with nearly as much venom as she had Lily's last name.
Whoa. Even Florence shot Helen a questioning look- though it could have just been the deceptive over-plucked brows. But Helen was certainly not acting like Helen- or at least, the Helen Lily thought she knew. It seemed there was an upset in the social order of things, and when Charlotte wasn't around, Helen was more than willing to fill the position.
It appeared a new princess had been crowned.
Helen narrowed her eyes and flashed a teasing smirk as she slunk past Lily. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into."
Lily raised her eyebrows and frowned as the three of them merged with the chattering crowd and disappeared. Suffice it to say, Lily was now feeling all the more uncomfortable. Helen was right…what was she doing here? Helping Sirius. But, Lily thought to herself as she watched him from across the room, mingling and joking with the guests, did Sirius really need her? It was pretty clear she didn't fit in here, as Helen and Edith had been so helpful to point out thus far.
She was quickly shaken from her thoughts when she spotted Edith across the room. Attached to her arm, of course, was James. To Lily's dismay, he was wearing a grin, and seemed to be accepting a barrage of complements from his guests pertaining to Edith's appearance as evidenced by her fake little blush and titter of thanks in response. Lily thought she was going to be sick. What was James thinking? What were his parents thinking? Couldn't they see right through her?
Lily was just turning to find the drink table when James caught her stare. His expression didn't change, but his eyes flickered up and down her body, forcing a blush to rise up her neck. Lily whirled around and stared intently at the wall a moment, trying to force the blush back down. Once she felt she'd composed herself, she peered back over her shoulder, but James and Edith had already moved on to mingle with another group.
Frustration welled up inside of her. Why was she allowing herself to act this way, and for what? James Potter, the boy who had treated her like garbage since the day she arrived at Hogwarts? Surely Lily Evans had more dignity than that, she thought glumly to herself, flicking a bit of lint from the hem of her cocktail dress.
"Ahem!" A clinking glass summoned Lily's attention to the center of the ballroom.
James' parents were standing in a small clearing of the crowd and had ushered James and Edith in between them. Beside Madame Potter was a tall slender couple with willowy dark hair, just like their daughter. Mr. Baldric seemed bored, while his wife pasted on a syrupy grin that didn't at all suit her.
"We would just like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas, and thank you all for attending our little affair."
There was a tinkling of glasses in approval.
Mr. Potter cleared his throat and continued. "We would also like to make an official announcement to you all, our dearest friends and family, and confirm a rumor that I have no doubt has been circulating." He grinned at his son who returned only a token twitch of the lips and raised his glass. "To my son James and his future wife, Miss Edith Baldric."
Everyone raised their glasses amidst the excited murmuring and congratulations. The glasses clinked, and the champagne sloshed about, and Lily went pale. She turned and went straight into the hall in search of a bathroom.
She opened the door, then immediately blushed, having walked in on someone crying. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I-" Lily gaped. "Charlotte?"
Charlotte Vane blinked through her streaming tears, black eye makeup smudged unevenly down her cheeks. Her eyes widened. She slammed the door and let out another wail.
Lily stood frozen with shock momentarily before hesitantly giving the door a little tap. "Er…Charlotte? It's Lily."
"Go away!" she sniveled, making it a bit difficult to make out the words.
Frowning, Lily began to walk away, but thought better of it and propped herself against the wall. "Did something happen?" Lily tested delicately.
There were a few more sniffles.
"Did someone get hurt?"
More sniffles.
Lily swallowed. "Are you hurt?"
The door clicked and creaked open gently, beckoning her ominously to enter. When Lily crept inside, Charlotte was propped up on the old fashioned toilet, rhythmically dabbing her face with a handful of crumpled toilet tissue. She sort of sniffled and peered down at her lap morosely.
"Charlotte…what's going on?" Lily shut the door behind her.
She heaved a wobbly sigh and blew her nose. "It-it's-it's- Daddy!"
Lily frowned. "What happened? Is he all right?"
Charlotte shook her head fiercely and dabbed her nose. "It's gone. All of it."
Lily was only growing more confused. "Er…what's that?"
"The m-m-m-moneeeey!" she wailed and buried her face in her hands. "It's all gone! Daddy sold it!"
"Er…he sold his money?" Lily was thoroughly confused.
"No, you nitwit!" Charlotte shrieked. "The business! Our prized cauldron business. There's nothing left!"
"Oh no…Charlotte I'm sorry. What does that mean?"
Charlotte lifted her face and stared at Lily bewildered. "It means no more money! That's what it means! It means Daddy is out of the job!"
Lily didn't know a whole lot about business, but it seemed that a man like Mr. Vane would have other options. "Hasn't he invested in…anything else?"
"He's not an investor, he is an entrepreneur!" Charlotte spoke the word haughtily with a French accent. "He built an entire empire, and that bitch took it from him!"
"Who…?"
Charlotte narrowed her eyes. "Edith. Well…her father…He bought out the company. Daddy had no choice…at least, that's what he told Mummy." She sighed forlornly. "Now I have nothing."
Lily shook her head. "Charlotte, I'm sure your father will figure something out. Like you said, he's an entrepreneur. He'll start building a new empire."
"It's…not that." She peered at the floor, uncharacteristically solemn. "Everyone thinks…that I'm not good enough anymore."
"Not good enough for what?"
She laughed tonelessly. "To be their friend."
Lily furrowed her brow. She actually felt bad for Charlotte. "You mean Florence?"
"And Helen…"
Lily scoffed. "Helen's a cow. Good riddance."
To Lily's surprise, Charlotte smiled. "Thanks." But the smile quickly faded. "I can't even get Madeline to speak to me."
"I'm sure Madeline will talk to you. She seems like a good person."
"Yeah?" Charlotte said scornfully "The only reason she hung out with us is because I threatened to have her father sacked."
"What?" Lily was feeling less sorry for her.
"Her dad. He's a squib," Charlotte continued. "He couldn't get a job anywhere else, so my dad took him on. I know I shouldn't have, but…it was just so easy."
Lily glared and flushed. "Charlotte, that's horrible, making her live in fear of that! Her father might be the sole provider! You may not have had to worry about money, but she did! That's a sick, cruel thing to do!"
Charlotte looked taken aback. "I'm sorry! I know…I just…like I said- it was…easy…What's got your knickers in a bunch?"
Lily sighed and began tearing up a loose bit of toilet tissue. "My dad was just sacked. I don't know if I can afford my last year at Hogwarts."
Charlotte looked, surprisingly, embarrassed. "I'm sorry."
"Anyway, so I sort of know how you feel." Lily smiled weakly.
Charlotte shrugged. "Yeah, well I'm sure Madeline will be able to join our little club soon."
Lily jolted upright. "What do you mean?"
"Please," she scoffed, ripping bits of lint off a towel. "With the Baldrics in charge, Squibs will be the first thing to go, and next will be the mudbloods."
Lily cringed at the word. But she knew Charlotte was right.
They sat together for awhile, oddly comfortable in somewhat companionable quiet. Only a few sniffles permeated the silence. Finally, Lily stood. "Are you going to be alright? I'm going to get back to the party."
"Yeah…I'm just going to clean up." She hesitated. "Er…thank you, Lily."
Lily smiled. "Sure." She stepped out into the hallway and shut the door.
"Going somewhere?"
Lily jumped, startled by the voice. Then she snorted with derision. James was leaning casually against the banister. His hair was its usual disheveled mess, as if he hadn't even bothered attempting to tame it for the occasion. "Don't you have a fiancée to attend to?"
James laughed out loud- louder than necessary in Lily's opinion. She tried to push past him, but he simply blocked her with his wide chest.
She huffed. "Do you mind?"
He poked his forefinger skyward. Lily frowned and followed it, then frowned even deeper at the mistletoe dangling above them at the base of the stairs.
"Ha ha, so funny, Potter- mffff!"
James cut her off with a sloppy wet kiss, and pulled away grinning. "Ah, I love tradition!"
Lily whacked him hard in the chest. "You just can't ambush me whenever you feel like it!" she spat, her cheeks flaming.
James pressed closer, forcing her up against the wall. "Why not?"
"Because- because-" she was getting flustered and James was eating it up. "Because you can't have everything you like!"
"I can't?" He said mockingly, something flickering in his hazel eyes.
"And what about Edith?" Lily muttered, glaring past his shoulder, desperately avoiding his hazel gaze.
He grinned, the mischief reappearing in his features. He took a step closer, slipping his hands around her waist. "What about her? It's not like she's ever been faithful to me. Why should I start?"
Lily reached up to slap him, but James caught her wrist and held it tightly.
"Let go of me!" She struggled.
He pushed her gently against the wall and let go of her wrist, using both hands to push the hair back from her face. His warm breath tickled her cheeks, paralyzing her. Their noses were nearly touching.
"James…Stop it," she breathed.
James' lips were parted, and he leaned in toward her.
"You heard the lady," a voice interrupted.
James languorously lifted his gaze away from Lily, and turned to see Sirius standing in the doorway.
"That's my date you're pawing," he smirked, but there was something dangerous in his eyes.
"Speaking of pawing," James played along, turning away from Lily and loosening his tie, "How have you been treating the lady, Padfoot? It seems you've left her all alone for someone to snatch up."
Sirius' smirk washed away and he glared. "Quit playing games."
Lily decided it was time to intervene. She stepped in front of James who had been guarding her like a dog. "I was just using the bathroom, thanks. I'll be getting back to the party now." She turned back to James. "Congratulations, James. On your engagement."
She brushed past Sirius as well, and went straight back to the ballroom where she found the drink table. The nerve! Like she was a piece of meat!
Just as she was reaching for the wine bottle, a hand slipped gracefully in front of her and snatched it up, artfully filling a glass and handing it to her. Lily gulped and met the intense gaze of Mr. Potter.
"Er…thank you."
He smirked. "No trouble." He poured a glass for himself as well.
She tried to slink away, but Mr. Potter stopped her.
"I was hoping, perhaps, I could chat with you, Lily. Privately. Just for a moment." His hazel eyes crinkled. So much like James'. "I won't keep you from the party."
"Er…sure…" she replied uncomfortably.
No one seemed to notice them leave through a small door and make their way to a little office. Lily entered at his behest, and hovered by a wall of bookshelves, pretending to be interested in the collection. The office was dim, and became even darker when Mr. Potter shut the door with a click.
Lily jumped at the sound.
Mr. Potter made his way around to his desk and took a seat, sipping his wine calmly. "Enjoying yourself?"
"Yes. Thank you…so much for having me here."
"Of course. James seems pleased, and that is what his mother and I like to see."
Silence. Lily fiddled with her glass.
"Lily, I just want you to know that I have nothing against you," he said softly, "but this family has obligations. It would be improper to have you…interfering."
Her brow furrowed. "Excuse me?"
Mr. Potter held up a hand to silence her. "There are things you do not understand about our lifestyle, coming from the…situation you do."
"I'm sorry," Lily's face was heating up, "I'm not sure what situation you're talking about."
He laughed hollowly. "Let's not play these games, child-"
"I'm not a child!" Lily blurted rather loudly.
He was silent.
Lily was breathing heavily, trying to settle herself down.
"I don't have long to live, Lily. I'm an old man." He wandered to his desk and sat down pulling out a quill. "I need to make certain that my son will inherit the wealth and prestige necessary to keep him safe and protect the Potter name." He dipped the quill delicately into the inkpot.
Lily listened to the scratching of the feather tip on parchment.
"These are dark times, and to ensure my son's safety, I must ensure that he remains in a position of power." He folded the parchment and stood up, rounding the desk and handing the scrap to Lily.
"What's this?" she asked tentatively, resistant to take it.
He urged it into her hand. "Insurance."
Lily took the paper and unfolded it. A small key tumbled out into the palm of her hand. Immediately she shoved it back towards him. "I won't take this. I won't be bought."
"I'm not buying you, Miss Evans." The lines around his mouth grew deeper. "I'm purchasing my son's well-being. You will take it because you desperately need it."
"And why would I need your money?" Lily frowned.
"Because," he said lightly, "with your father out of a job and a year of school left to pay for, you don't have many other options."
The breath caught in her throat. "How…how do you know about that?"
He just smirked. "Keep the key. The vault is in your name. If you don't choose to open it within the next few days, I will remove the contents."
"Why would you do this?" Lily's fists were shaking. "Why not just take away the donation you made and have me kicked out of school?"
"Because James would know I had something to do with it. This way he never needs to know. You'll simply stay out of his life and finish your final year, intent on getting a good career to… support your family."
Lily stormed out of the office wordlessly and all the way to the ballroom, stumbling down the staircase. She burst through the doors and went straight to Sirius who was in the middle of telling some joke to a large group. She walked straight up behind him and stopped.
"I want to leave," Lily stammered, her eyes stinging. "Now."
Sirius placed his glass down on an end table, pulling Lily away delicately by the elbow. "What's wrong?"
She knew everyone nearby was staring at her, particularly Edith who seemed to be wearing a small smirk and the frowning Madame Potter who looked affronted at the interruption, but she didn't care. "Please, Sirius," she pleaded with her eyes.
He seemed to chew on the thought briefly, but nodded his head and turned to the group he'd been chatting with. "Please excuse us. Something's come up. I'm afraid we'll have to take our leave a bit early."
Madame Potter looked shocked. With a gloved hand to her décolletage, she let out a worried little sigh. "Good heavens. What could possibly be so important-?"
"Just let them go, Mum," James interrupted. Lily didn't realize he'd been standing right there. With Edith.
Edith placed a hand in James', making Lily cringe.
"Thank you for the invitation," Sirius said formally. "James." He nodded to his friend.
James barely acknowledged him.
Sirius ushered Lily out into the hall and didn't speak until they reached the fireplace.
Finally he broke the silence. "I'm sorry I brought you here."
"I know, Sirius." Lily shook her head shamefully. "I've been a terrible guest. I must have made an awful impression. His parents clearly hate me. I hope it doesn't ruin your chances of-"
Sirius put a hand up, looking uncharacteristically stern. "No. I'm not ashamed that you're here, Lily. I'm ashamed that I made you come."
"…what?"
Sirius sighed, running a hand through his feathery dark hair. "The truth is…" he swallowed hard, "I was trying to make James jealous."
Lily raised her eyebrows. "What…?"
He shook his head. "I lied. I don't want to move in here. Believe me, I do want out of my house…but I just wanted him to realize what he's missing with you. He's always gotten anything and everything he's wanted until now. When he sees you with me, it kills him, because not only are you something he can't take away from me, you're also something he can never have because of his obligation to Edith."
Lily was speechless. Sirius had used her.
"I know it was wrong to bring you here knowing you could be embarrassed, but I'm so sick of James' games. I just- once- wanted to show him what it was like."
"Sirius…" Her insides were burning. "How could you…?"
Sirius looked genuinely ashamed. "I…"
"You knew what was going on between James and me! I came here to help you, and once again the joke is on me! Somehow I keep getting dragged into the middle of this-this- power struggle! First Remus and now you? What exactly is it that you're trying to prove to each other?" Lily was fuming.
"I…it's complicated." He scratched the back of his head and sighed. "We've been friends for so long, and Remus and I have had to grow up a bit faster than James. He's trapped in this little world of his, and his parents don't help that much. He needs a wakeup call."
"I just…I really thought that…"
His eyes softened. "Thought what?"
Lily bit her cheek.
Sirius smiled. His black hair brushed her cheek as he leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips. "I think I could fall in love with you, Lily, but for your sake, I'd better not." He grinned and his gray eyes began to sparkle once more. "Besides, who am I to defy nature?" he said breezily.
A small smile tugged at Lily's lips, despite her lingering anger. "You owe me, Sirius Black. You really do."
Sirius grinned. "Let's get you back to Hogwarts."
"Do you think…" Lily hesitated, "that we could make a stop on the way?"