Disclaimer:This story line belongs to I'm Reading. Harry Potter and such do not belong to me.
A man said to the universe: "Sir, I exist!"
"However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me a sense of obligation."
-Stephen Crane
2. Elizabeth 'Lily' Potter
Elizabeth Lillian Potter sighed as her mother draped several bolts of cloth over her shoulders and around her waist. Some of the more interesting patterns contrasted horridly with her golden hair, others accented the golden hues beautifully.
"Here Lily, try on this." Her mother handed her a beautiful indigo dress. Lily found herself ushered into a changing room, putting the dress on. It was a beautiful corset dress, with black lacing. The dress fell to the top of her feet in a cascade of silk. The sleeves were side-cut, leaving her shoulders bare. The sleeves fell down to her wrists in loose fabric, an easy design to allow a throwing dagger or knife.
Lily laced the corset up, and twirled around before the mirror. She felt very much vain in the beautiful dress. She stepped outside the dressing room and stood model for her mother and the seamstress. Her mother clasped her hands together, smiling. "Oh, this dress is simply gorgeous!"
The seamstress, who had several pins in her hair, pulled out her wand and pulled up a few hems and re-did a few stitches on the dress. When she was done she stood up, brushing off her skirts. "There my dear, you simply look stunning."
Loria took her daughter's hand, leading her to the large mirror. "The colour accents your hair beautifully and simply brings out your eyes."
Lily examined herself in the mirror. Her mother was correct as always. Her hair, of which came from her mother, seemed to be glowing. Her eyes which were currently a rich blue hue, were darkened by the dress. Her fey appearance made her look like royalty, or even one of the royal elves.
"It's beautiful mother!"
Loria turned to the seamstress, pulling out a checkbook. "How much?"
The seamstress walked behind her counter, pulling out a calculator. "Thirty Galleons, Mrs. Potter."
The aristocratic woman handed the seamstress a check before turning back to Lily. "Lily, change please, we must be on our way."
Lily glided into the room and carefully took off the dress. Hanging up the dress she changed back into her black skirt with a white blouse under a black vest with silver pinstripes. She took the dress with her as she emerged from the dressing room and the seamstress placed the dress in a protective bag.
"Now remember, do not shrink the dress. Dry clean only. And here is a token of my store. Present it to anyone who works at Youvania Formalwear and services will be available for you at any time in history." The seamstress handed her a gold coin, which looked to be at least a couple centuries old. A black silk ribbon was attached to the coin. It was designed to match anything and everything the wearer wore.
"Thank you." Lily put the necklace on after checking it for charms and spells and curses. It was a simple decoration, but was a beautiful addition to the simple outfit she wore.
"Come Lily, I need to pick up some things from George and then we need to get you back to Hogwarts."
Lily thanked the seamstress once more before she left the shop, following her mother over to Diagon Alley. They passed Gringotts and made their way past Eeylops Owl Emporium to the joke shop that her godfather George Weasley owned.
"Uncle George, where are you?" The red-head peeked out from behind the workroom door, smiling broadly when he saw his goddaughter.
"Lily! What a delight to see you here today." George embraced her in a bear-hug before holding her out slightly, looking at her carefully. "You are simply beautiful. Your father would be so proud of you."
Lily almost missed the flash of pain in her godfather's eyes, but having known him since birth, she knew his expressions all to well.
"So, what is my very Slytherin like uncle doing now?" George laughed, his eyes crinkling. "Wouldn't you like to know, hmn?"
Lily punched George on the arm playfully. "Oh come on, give a beautiful woman some slack. You only have one goddaughter after all."
George pulled one of Lily's golden locks. "Come with me, I happen to do have something for you."
George led Lily into the workroom, and took a few things off the shelves. He placed a bracelet of gold and black bands on her wrist. "Here you go a simple bracelet for my beautiful goddaughter."
Lily shook her wrist, smiling over the way the bracelet jingled. George smiled and handed her a circlet made of a fine white metal. George took the circlet from her hands and placed it on her head. "They are both made of Ice Metal. The bracelet will change colors when you concentrate on it. The circlet will stay white.
"The only thing special about the circlet is that you can place as much knowledge inside the metal. And for my young Ravenclaw goddaughter, I took the care to leave that to you."
Lily hugged her godfather before taking the circlet off and fingered it. "How do I put the knowledge inside it?"
George led her out of the work room into the main store. "You can where it while you study or you can hold it in your hands on top of the book with the knowledge you wish to add and say 'compio'."
Loria was looking at some of the new release products when they got to the front room. She turned to look at her daughter as she came up to them.
Lily smiled brightly when they approached her mother. George handed Lily some leather bags. "I have the feeling you might need it. Have a good time at school my dear flower." George kissed Lily on the cheeks like the French. Unlike some unknowledgeable persons, he kissed her three times, once on one cheek and twice on the other.
Lily hugged her godfather tight, smiling brightly. George turned to Loria pointedly. "If you ever need anything Loria, you know where to find me." Loria smiled softly before kissing the red-head goodbye.
Lily and her mother left the store via floo powder calling out 'Hogwarts'. Having cast a repelling charm on themselves, when they emerged in the headmistress's office they did not cover the entire room with soot.
They politely let themselves out of the office and made their way to the Head Girl's room. Loria hung the dress up in the wardrobe before embracing her daughter. "Lily, I love you and always will. If your father could see you he would be bursting at the seams he would be so proud."
"Oh mother, I wish everyday that father were here. Do you really think that he would be proud?" Lily buried her face into her mother's shoulder. Loria closed her eyes. "Oh Lily, I know he would be."
Lily looked up at her mother; her previously blue eyes now a vibrant green. "Thanks mother. I love you."
Loria smiled. "I love you too." Lily watched her leave the room. Lily took out her new dress, feeling the smooth material with her fingers.
She put the dress on, lacing it up in the back. She placed a few of her throwing daggers in holsters on her right arm and strapped her wand to her left. She put the circlet on and examined herself in the mirror. She was stunning. The bracelet that Uncle George gave her earlier shifted colors slightly to match the shade of her dress. She looked like nobility.
She was jolted out of daze by a cough. Turning around she saw the headmistress. "Oh, Professor McGonagall, I am so sorry, I did not hear you." She pronounced the words carefully, seeing as how she usually reverted to either Parseltounge or French when she was nervous or shocked.
"My apologies, Miss. Potter, I merely wanted to give you your time turner back." Professor McGonagall handed her the time-glass. Lily placed the gold chain over her head.
"Lily you look beautiful. You will stun the entire population at the Yule Ball." Lily blushed before grabbing her cloak and placing it on her bed with the bag she used for her weekend excursion with her mother.
"Thank you for allowing me to get my dress." McGonagall smiled softly. "It was no problem."
Lily sat on her bed, her arm on the cloak. She was about to say something when the headmistress's wand lit up, striking her with a silver beam.
She could see McGonagall rushing over to her, calling her name, before everything when blurry and dark.