The first ray of dawn entered Lily's room and illuminated it with its golden hue. Her swollen eyelids flickered and showed the brilliant emerald orbs behind them. She was awake but did not want to wake up. After what had happened last night, she did not want to stay back even a minute longer. It hurt her self-respect a bit too much. She wanted to go where her dreams had taken her last night. Her head, now painfully heavy, had sort of recorded the dream and now it was replaying the dream for her.
A girl in white gown with a train full of silver sequins and a tiara is running with a man in a black suit. A flash of light, somebody shouts 'Lily' , the girl turns back clasping the man's hand even more ….
…………….and Lily's eyes open. She was sure that she was the girl but she wasn't sure who the man was. Her eyes were wandering over the side desk on which her cat, Cleo, was snoring blissfully. She gathered the strength to leave her pillow and sat straight on the bed, her heavy head resting on the headboard. She put her legs on the cold floor and stepped out of her bed as slowly and drowsily as though going for a sleepwalk. She went to Cleo and patted her honey brown coat. It was probably the only being, which cared for her, Lily thought.
Suddenly a black owl flew inside the window and settled near Cleo, which stirred the mammal up. There was a rolled parchment tied to the claws of the owl. Lily undid the thread and opened the parchment. It was written in green ink by a familiar petite handwriting. It was from Albus Dumbledore.
"Dear Ms. Lily Julius Evans,
I take pride in informing you that you have been selected as the Head Girl of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…..
"Me? Head girl?" she shouted in ecstasy. Her joy was so great that she almost forgot that the other members of the family had not yet awoken. She was proud of her achievement. She forgot her heavy head, the cause of the heavy head and everything blue. Out of more than a hundred girls, she was selected and this fact made her exuberant. She could not wait to tell this news to her mom and dad. Quickly, she pressed the letter under a paperweight and opened the latch of her door, the first time after last night. She ran out of her room and rushed towards her parents' room. Then she came to a sudden halt outside their room.
Mum and dad are sleeping. After last night's tiring series of events, they deserved an undisturbed dose of sleep.
She turned back and looked towards Petunia's room. She knew that Petunia would be the last person in her family to be happy for her achievement. She decided to wait for her mum and daddy to wake up. Slowly, her legs shuffled towards her Eden.
Next, she took out a parchment and scribbled a note to Sydney Parker, her family in Hogwarts, her best friend.
"Syd,
Good news! I have been selected as the head girl of Hogwarts. Just imagine…. Can't wait to meet you!
Love,
Lily"
She tied the parchment to the owl's claws and sent it away. She was sure that Sydney would be happy for her. Then she took the letter from under the paperweight and started reading again.
..You will be proud to know that Mr. Sirius Black has been selected as the Head Boy of the school….
"What?"
She read the lines again at least thrice. She wasn't sure if she was in her conscious state, so she pinched herself and read again. Sirius Black? Of all the 'Marauders' she hated him the most. She wanted Remus Lupin, her confidante in Hogwarts, to be the head boy. She wouldn't have minded even James Potter, the incorrigible freak or even Peter Pettigrew, the spineless tail, if it had to be one of them.
Not all, but some of her happiness was diminished. Not because she would have to suffer him, but because she thought that Remus deserved it more than anybody else. She read further.
…You two will be required to meet Professor Mary Hopkins at platform 93/4 on the day of the departure of The Hogwarts Express to discuss your duties during the train journey. You will be further instructed by the headmaster after you reach the school.
Congratulations.
Albus Dumbledore.
Ps. all the decisions are made in the best interest of the students of Hogwarts.
She put the letter into the drawer of her chestnut colour side-desk and slumped on the bed. Her eyes were gazing into the floor, focusless. She was staring at it but not looking at it.