Lily sat in the Gryffindor Common Room, gazing at the fire that roared before her. Her thoughts flittered around, settling finally upon a memory that occurred three weeks past when she had met her.
She was covered by a flimsy robe, quite inadequate for keeping out the cold chill. It was clean, as clean as someone's clothing can be if they live on the streets. Her robe was patched with scraps. The patch on her elbow came from an advertisement for, ironically, a robe shop.
Her skin was pale, her hair long and unruly. Her eyes were the color of water, cold and calculating. She watched as people passed her by, staring at them with a mixture of embarrassment and, somehow, a hint of pride. Her features were bold, creating a face that in different scenarios would be called beautiful. There was an air of elegance to the way she stood, an elegance that was soured by the position she was in. She looked to be only seventeen, a savvy and calculating seventeen.
Lily watched the girl as a man walked up to her, offering a fistful of Sickles. The girl shook her head, refusing the money. She laughed in his face, calling him a darling fool. She told him to come back when he had more. There were some more corner girls, as she called herself, who would come cheaper.
The girl watched him walk away, laughing still. However it died quickly upon lips covered with a garish ruby red. The girl had realized Lily had been watching her. She thrust her hip out, glaring at her, and walked towards her.
"What are you starin' at?" The girl asked, her eyes cold. Lily noticed a very specific accent. It sounded nearly perfect to that of those who lived in the street and yet, it wasn't quite right.
"Nuh…nuh…nothing," Lily stuttered. She took a deep breath to calm herself. "What's your name?" she asked quietly.
The girl laughed again. "I don't go that way, darlin'."
"I didn't mean it like that," Lily said quickly. "I just wanted to know your name."
"You a cop or somethin'?"
"No, no! I'm just… curious."
"Lookin' into gettin' a job like this, then?" The girl looked at Lily appraisingly. "You wouldn't be gettin' more'n a Galleon a night with hair like yours. Men'd have to be mighty particul'r to get with you."
"Oh no! I'm not looking into a… career like this," Lily said carefully. "I was just wondering what your name was."
"Meg." The girl replied.
"I'm Lily."
"Didn't ask, did I?"
Lily bit her lip before speaking again. "Would you like to get a cup of tea?"
"And miss gettin' some business? Are you crackers?" Meg glared. "I haven't got the money to go wastin' it on some tea."
"It'd be my treat," Lily said warmly. She didn't know why but there was something about that girl that made Lily want to help her.
"Fine," Meg said gruffly. "A cuppa tea."
Lily smiled at her pleasantly, leading her through the dark streets to a small café. "My friend worked here," she explained.
Meg merely shrugged, sitting down upon the offered chair.
"What would you like?"
"A cuppa tea."
"I know. But have you any preferences to the flavor?"
Meg stared at her, eyes aflame. "Does it bloody look like I have any preferences?"
"Alright then, we'll have two cups of regular vanilla tea and a few cookies," Lily said to the waitress who had appeared.
They waited in silence for the cups and cookies to be brought. As soon as they did, Lily watched Meg wrap her hands around the cup, taking in the heat.
"Why're you starin'?" Meg glared, noticing Lily's gaze.
"I'm sorry," Lily said calmly. "I didn't mean to stare."
"'Didn't mean'," Meg repeated coldly.
Lily let the silence fall between them. She waited patiently for Meg to begin speaking, to tell the story of her sad life. And, as if she had wished it, Meg began to speak.
"Mine's not a very interestin' story," Meg said slowly.
"Everyone's seems boring to themselves." Lily retorted.
"You're strange, Lily." Meg looked at Lily's bright green eyes. "My ma and da were poor, always have been poor. I've got six brothers and five sisters."
Lily nodded, listening.
"They kicked me out when I was twelve. Told me I was daft if I thought I had a place. My ma slipped me a Galleon as I left, tuckin' it into my robe. It was the savins' she had, all the money she had left in the world. It was the only money my da, who fancied himself a writer by day, hadn't drunk away." Meg spoke without emotion. "I couldn't do much, who'd want a bloody twelve year-old runnin' 'round, causin' problems?" she answered her own question softly. "No one." She paused to sip her tea. Lily beckoned the waitress over to refill the cups.
After a small break, Meg continued. "This gent took me in to take care of his brats. There were three of them, a passel of stupid brats. The missus doted upon them like somethin' silly. Me and the fellow used to laugh about it, laugh about how stupid the missus was. Then, the laughin' turned to huggin' and huggin' to kissin' and so on." Meg took a breath. "'Cos life ain't fair, I ended up gettin' knocked up with the fella's kid. The missus found out, 'course, and kicked me out with the baby. She was a bit daft, that one. She didn't realize I was pregnant till I gave bloody birth."
"How old were you when that happened?" Lily asked slowly.
"I'm seventeen now. Twelve then. I was right 'round fourteen."
"What happened to your baby?"
"I've still got him. He's a little boy, called Liam. He's named for my grandda, who was a decent fella."
"And you're magic?"
"'Course. Didn't go to Hogwarts, though, but a year. My da didn't think it was good for me."
"Where's Liam now?"
"He's with my sister. We work together."
"What happened after you were kicked out?"
"Me and Liam walked the streets a bit. It ain't easy for a girl and a baby," Meg gave Lily a hard look, "but I've never had him go hungry. All my money goes to him."
Lily nodded.
"We lived here and there, sleepin' in corners and the like. It was bloody awful. For a bit this fella took us in, promisin' to keep his hands offa me. He tried somethin' one night and I took off with Liam. I ain't givin' no one for free what I can get for money. I need that money. It goes to my baby." She stared at Lily defiantly. "I got me my sister and my baby. I don't need nothin' else."
"What about your other brothers and sisters?" Lily asked cautiously.
"One's studyin' to be a Healer at St. Mungo's," Meg said proudly. "He's always been the smart one. Another's married. Mostly they're here and there. Two more are call-girls."
"And your mum and dad don't care?"
"My ma's dead, been dead three years." Meg answered impassively. "My da beat her too much."
Lily gasped.
"Don't look so surprised. Worse things happen." Meg took a sip of her tea. "I know this girl named Nathalie. She's ten. She got lucky, sent to France when she was four. She's been with this family for six years. They love her and take her on holiday all the time. Only she's got to spend a day every two weeks with her ma in France, her real ma. Her da's in jail. For raping Nathalie's sister. Yeah, he's a real tosser. He gets out in a few months and then they'll make Nathalie see him when she sees her ma. And they're goin' to try to get Nathalie from her French family. Y'see, Nathalie's a pretty little ten year-old, smart and goin' to be a beaut. They're goin' to earn money offa her, if she doan get the same end as her sister. Now that's worse than your da drinkin' but never layin' a hand on you but to whip you every now and then." Meg spoke calmly, not letting a single emotion betray her. "Nathalie's goin' to go to her ma and da and she's goin' to do it 'cos she wants to. 'Cos all little kids want to live with their ma and da, no matter how bad they are. I know that. Nathalie's goin' to go with her da who'll rape her and her ma who'll use her as a whore. And there's nothin' we can do about it."
Lily stared at Meg, Meg the cool and calculated whore who dreamt of being a kept woman so she'd be able to provide for her son. Not once did getting a real job cross Meg's mind. It was stuck upon one track. Being a whore. There was no way, in her opinion, to get around it. Lily shuddered at the inhumanity of it all, at the coldness in Meg's eyes.
"Is there anything I can do to help you?" Lily asked, pleadingly.
Meg tossed her head. "I don't take charity."
"It's not charity!"
"Don't take it. Thanks for the cuppa tea." Meg stood up, her tall body moving through the small café. Lily felt tears welling up in her eyes as she watched proud and hopeless Meg make her way across the street, over to her corner.
She had haunted Lily's thoughts since then. Lily dwelt obsessively on a way to help Meg and Nathalie. And yet, she knew in her heart there was nothing she could do. Meg wouldn't accept charity and Nathalie, Nathalie was across the Chunnel.
"Why do you look so sad?" James asked, wrapping his arm around her waist as he looked at her.
"I was thinking about Meg," Lily replied softly. "About Meg and Nathalie."
He hugged her to him. "Then you have every right to look sad," he whispered.
"I wish there was something we could do."
"I know, Lily. I wish there was too." James said quietly. They let silence fill the space between them as they stared at the fire, fervently wishing a similar fire would occur in their minds, creating a new and wonderful idea to help Meg, Nathalie, and baby Liam who was now three years-old.
Author's Note: Thank you to all who reviewed suggesting I continue. You guys made me rethink the ending, which I agree was extremely sudden. That's why, ba... ba... ba... there's more! )
A shameless plug for one of my new favorite groups, The Holloways. Their song, Most Lonely Face, inspired this chapter a good bit. They're a great band and I absolutely love them.
An Aspiring Author- Thanks for all the reviews! Haha I randomly thought up "frog's legs" when I was sitting outside. I think I was in Paris and the whole stereotypical Parisian eating frog's legs came to mind. )
Padfootatheart- I don't think I've mentioned how great your name is. I love it! Yeah, the story ended rather abruptly but it's back now. I guess I wanted to finish it but I didn't want to finish it. If that makes any sense whatsoever. P
naughty-sphinx- Also a very cool name. I agree with you completely on the skipping through too quickly. That's why I'm going back and changing it a bit, rewriting the end. I didn't think your comments were remotely bitchy. I think it was your review that completely convinced me to do a new ending. So, thank you.
nmarie716- I agree with you about the sake of writing instead of reviews. That's why I'm posting my new story quite often. But reviews do help! ;)
Owl of the Night- Changing the ending for sure. ) Em was pretty great. I actually had a letter similar to that typed up ages ago and when I was having Lily write to her family, it came to mind. I liked Em and I definitely plan on including her some more.
StArZiLL- If only I didn't have to follow the canon! I know I seem like a murderess, killing off characters right and left but I'm sorry! I will let some of them live but there's a few that I just can't part with without having them die. I hate the idea of killing her off but I can't let her live, either. Oh the paradox. P
Thank you to everyone who reviewed and told me to continue. You guys definitely make me want to write. )