A/N: hi guys! Really sorry for not updating for so long. So blame school, my stupid computer and the fact that i didn't know what to write next.
Well anyway, in this chapter you'll meet several new characters. So i hope you'll like it. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: i don't own anything you recognize, and i definitely don't own the songs.
Chapter eight: Last day of summer
The back room was full of boxes, hangers, and parcels of clothes and materials which were piled one on top of the other and protected with preserving charms. The young girl held her wand in one hand and a lamp in the other, and scanned the inscriptions on the boxes with concentration. The poor light didn't help to understand fully the signs that looked similar to goblins' signatures.
The girl put the lamp on a box and with her lighted wand she read the label that said 'gowns'.
"Finally" she sighed in relief. Madam Malkin apparently couldn't find a darker corner to put it aside, she thought to herself and with a swish of her wand she levitated the large box in the air, took the lamp and went out the door.
Why madam Malkin wanted those gowns was beyond her understanding. And in the end of the summer, no less! The girl shook her head, opened the box and started to hang the gowns on the hangers. She straightened any wrinkles and scanned the unique dresses that, even she could admit without hesitation, were very beautiful. There were long and short gowns in every color imaginable, few with low necklines, some sleeveless, other with beads or laces.
Despite herself, the girl watched closely each gown before hanging it on. Her eyes widened suddenly when she reached to the last dress that lay in the bottom of the box. The gown was blue-night color, made of satin and seemed to flow when the girl touched it. It didn't have any additions and was smooth and elegant looking.
"Pretty isn't it?" asked a young witch with a smile, watching the girl's expression.
Lily looked at the woman and smiled in return.
"Very" she agreed. She hung it carefully next to the others and glanced briefly at her boss. "You're planning to sell them?"
"Perhaps," madam Malkin looked thoughtful at Lily. "If you want I can give you a discount for that dress."
Lily smiled thankfully, but shook her head. "It's alright; I'm not into dresses anyway."
"You don't like them?" the witch asked curiously.
"I can handle dresses. Skirts of course, are a completely different story…"
"It's a real waste, especially with a body like yours…"
Lily smiled, but didn't answer. The older witch waved her wand at the empty box, sending it to the back room. She took the gowns to the other part of her shop and motioned Lily to follow her.
"Tomorrow you're going back to school, nervous?"
"I guess," Lily shrugged halfheartedly. "It's my last year so I kinda have mixed feelings about returning. I've left a good friend there, Charlie made a prefect, the twins are going to their first year, my two friends are going out but on top of that, I'm going to share the Heads' quarters with the person I loath the most." She sighed and concluded sarcastically, "Yep, can't wait."
"Sounds like an eventful year," madam Malkin chuckled.
"I'll be lucky if I'll survive," agreed Lily with a half smile.
Madam Malkin laughed in response. "I'm sure you will. I believe that all there is to worry about are the young men who will swirl around you once school will start, right?" she asked with a wink.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Trust me; this is the last thing that concerns me. Besides, I'm not interested in getting linked with someone right now."
"Really?" the older witch looked at her surprised. "Why? You're a pretty girl, and you definitely don't have any problem to charm men."
"Charm?"
"Of course. Like last week when you flirted with that customer and convinced him to buy more than he intended."
"I didn't flirt with him!" Lily protested immediately.
Madam Malkin looked at her with amusement. "His wife was convinced that you did."
At that very moment the small sound of a bell was heard in the shop.
"New costumer. I'll take care of that." Lily offered immediately and avoided the knowing glint in her boss's eyes.
Lily took a deep breath and tried to ignore the uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach. Madam Malkin was not exactly far from the truth. Lily was aware that she had a certain ease when it came to dealing with men, something she probably got from her mother.
Lily recognized the teenage girl that entered the shop by the name of Alice Parker. Alice was one of the nice Gryffindor's seventh year girls and Lily liked her as a person.
That's why she always wondered why on earth Alice was one of Elany's friends.
"Need help?" she asked in a friendly voice.
Alice turned around startled then relaxed when she saw that it was a girl around her age. Probably madam Malkin's assistant, she reasoned.
"Emm… no that's ok, I'm just looking around."
Lily smiled. "Well, if you need to find something just ask me and I'll show you where it is." She looked briefly at the clothes that Alice was checking and shook her head. "You need a darker shade of blue. It'll emphasize your eyes much more than that color."
Alice looked at the shirt that she examined and hesitated, "Are you sure?"
"Trust me. It's my job to be sure of this kind of stuff."
Alice smiled back, "Well, thanks." She stretched her hand forward, "I'm Alice."
Lily's smile widened and she shook Alice's hand, "Lily Evans."
Alice's eyes widened in surprise. "Evans?" She scanned the girl in front of her with amazed expression. "Wow, I didn't recognize you. You've changed." Then she hurriedly added, "In a good way I mean."
Lily bit back her laughter, "Don't worry about it, I'll be back to my usual form when school will start."
Alice raised her eyebrows in surprise, "Why? This style suits you much better."
She looked at Lily's clothes that lay slightly loose on her body, but still showed the curves of her body form. Her hair was tied down loosely and she didn't wear her glasses.
At least now you can see her face, Alice thought to herself.
Lily gave her a half smile and shrugged, "If you say so."
Alice bit her bottom lip in thoughtfulness. "Tell you what," she said suddenly. "How about you'll join the party this evening? James is throwing a party at his house for celebrating the last day of vacation. If you want I think I can get you an invitation."
"Hell no!" Lily looked appalled and disgusted at the idea. "No offence or anything, but I prefer to stay at home than to go to a party that Potter is organizing."
Alice looked at her uncertainly for a moment but then smiled, "Well, suits yourself. But if you'll change your mind just owl a word to me, it's tonight at 9."
"I'll remember," Lily waved goodbye at her and muttered under her breath. "Not that I'll have a chance to forget it, it's the only thing that Jess and Vi' are nagging me about to join since they received their invitations."
-
Vi' and Remus ducked behind the bush, clutching their wands tightly, and tried to figure out from where the next attack will come. Vi' wiped her forehead with her hand. She had no doubt that she looked a complete mess. Wet strands got loose from her ponytail and her wet clothes were dirty from mud. Remus who was wet from head to foot didn't look better.
"You think that they're still around?" she whispered.
"No idea, I can't see them," Remus whispered back.
Vi' sighed in relief, "You know, no matter how many times we play this game, Lily and Derek still win each round."
"I know," Remus smiled and shifted closer to her. "But you can't deny that it's fun."
"If fun means to get soaked to the bone by the deadliest couple that walks the earth in the first five seconds of the game, than you're right," she said sarcastically. "We're having the time of our life."
Remus leaned closer and gave her a quick kiss her in response. A visible blush crawled to her cheeks and she glanced sideways at him. She had to admit that there were some advantages in the Bubble fight.
"So," she said in an innocent voice. "What do you wanna do until Lily and Derek find us?"
Remus smirked slightly and leaned much closer. "I have a couple of ideas," he murmured.
A few feet away two people were standing behind a couple of bushes and observing. Lily twirled her wand with her fingers and watched with a soft smile the snogging couple. She leaned on the trunk and glanced at her game-partner.
"You think we should interrupt them?"
Derek shrugged and leaned on the other side of the tree. "Don't know. And besides, they broke rule number ten of the game."
Lily rose her eyebrows in question, "Which is?"
Derek smiled and indicated with his hand towards Remus' and Vi's direction, "Not to snog your partner while you're still in the game."
Lily laughed quietly, "Like Jess and Louis?"
"Yeah," Derek smirked. "I don't think that her current boyfriend understood the game's rules. Not that it would help him," he added. "We would win the game in one way or another."
Lily glanced back at her friends and sighed. "C'mon," she muttered to Derek. "Let's give them a few more minutes."
She straightened and walked away. Derek watched Lily's face become grim and guessed what she was thinking.
"Worried about tomorrow?" he asked.
Lily shrugged, "Not really. I'm more anxious about the Head Girl position. It's not that I'm scared of doing the work, but it's the fact with who I'm suppose to do it."
Derek slung his arm around her shoulders and gave her a friendly squeeze, "If he causes you troubles just give me a call and I'll come and break his bones."
Lily laughed at this, "Uh-huh. And I suppose that your boss will give you permeation to come to do that? Give me a break Derek. Mr. Potter is a cool person but I doubt that he'll let you send his son to the hospital wing in 248 pieces."
Derek gave her a lopsided grin, "Then you better do something about it. It's the first time that I see you holding back your anger at someone. And don't tell me you don't want to pay him back. I saw that look in your eyes each time you looked at him. The word revenge was written all over your face."
"You have no idea how much," she muttered. "But he's just not worth my energy. He's an arrogant asshole and I better ignore him. If I'll start to pay him back on each and every prank he pulled on me..."
"Still, I'm surprised that you have so much tolerance towards him."
Lily rolled her eyes. "I know," she said. "And trust me, my patience is running thin. If I'll be able to avoid him most of the time maybe I'll be able to fight the urge to throw him from the astronomy tower."
Derek chuckled and gave her shoulder another squeeze. "C'mon, let's get something to drink."
Lily glanced behind her back, "But what about Vi' and Remus?"
"Trust me," he smirked. "I don't think they want us to interrupt them."
-
"Thanks for the recipe, Mrs. Balkon." Lily smiled towards the old woman who sat in front of her. She tried to leave the house for the last half hour without any success.
It was now 9.30 pm and she felt quite exhausted from the busy day she had. After finishing the Bubble fight four hours ago, she remembered her last stop of the day was at Mrs. Balkon's house. For some unknown reason, Mrs. Balkon insisted that Lily will give her a last home visit before she left to school.
She sighed quietly and continued to smile politely like she did for the last three hours. She knew that the old muggle liked her very much, almost like she liked the juicy gossip she picked up from her friends.
In fact, Lily suspected that Mrs. Balkon liked her because she was the only young person who actually had the patience to listen to her "news", and the fact that most of these "news" were connected to Lily in one way or another.
"Not at all, my dear," Mrs. Balkon chuckled softly and put her cup of tea on the table. "Would you like another piece of cake?"
Lily stifled a groan and shook her head slightly. She feared that the stupid smile will never get off her face after this visit, "I'm quite full, thank you."
"Of course," Mrs. Balkon beamed at her and gave her a pleasant smile that made Lily to think of vampire who's looking for his next prey.
Lily shook the thought immediately from her mind and watched Mrs. Balkon with a blank expression she always used when she sensed that she was about to get investigated.
"So," Mrs. Balkon sipped from her cup and looked at Lily with a curious expression. "You return back to school tomorrow?"
"Yes, indeed," Lily tried not to sigh again.
Every summer was the same. Since Mrs. Balkon learned that Lily is going to the same school that the Benory's children are going, she tried to dig up information about Hogwarts from Lily, who found it amusing at first and just plain annoying at the end. Apparently this woman never learned how to give up.
"It must be hard to live far from home most of the year."
"Mmm."
"This school must be located quite far, if you need to catch a train so early in the morning."
"Mmhhmm."
Mrs. Balkon stirred her tea with a small spoon for a few seconds before trying another technique, "Is the school material difficult?"
"Reasonable."
"I must admit that I've never heard of this school before."
"Most of the people haven't," Lily answered pleasantly, trying to figure out how much longer she needs to tolerate this slow and boring torture.
"Is it a good school, Lily?"
"Not bad."
Mrs. Balkon looked thoughtful for a moment. "I sure hope so," she said in a surprising serious voice. "My granddaughter's niece is learning there."
Lily nearly chocked on her tea. "Your granddaughter's niece?" she coughed "What's her name?"
"Rita Skeeter," Mrs. Balkon smiled. "A lovely young girl. So nice with a tad bit of curiosity," Mrs. Balkon chuckled softly. "Maybe you've met her?"
"Maybe," Lily shrugged trying to conceal her laughter.
From her experience, Rita Skeeter was far from lovely or nice- unless she wanted something from you. And her "tad bit of curiosity" was a mild term of the fact that the girl was simply nosy (in the most polite interpretation of the word).
Mrs. Balkon apparently understood that she won't get more than a four verbal answer out of Lily.
"Well," she smiled at her. "I don't want to keep you up from your packing. It was nice of you to drop by and visit me."
Lily didn't mention the fact that Mrs. Balkon insisted of this visit or the fact that she packed already everything a few days ago.
"No problem," she smiled and kissed the old lady's cheek in good bye.
Once outside, she sighed deeply in relief. She stretched her arms upwards and threw her head backwards, feeling her muscles protesting slightly. She massaged her neck before continuing to walk her way home. She considered taking a shortcut but that meant that she needed to pass Potter's house.
Decisions, decisions, she sighed. She wanted to avoid any argument between her and Potter. She figured that once school will start she'll have enough of them to last her for a lifetime.
Oh well, she thought gloomily. Everyone is probably inside his house so it was less likely that she would cross someone she knows. And besides, it was unlikely that someone will recognize her so easily. The meeting today with Alice proved it to her.
She froze in her place when she saw a group of girls a few feet in front of her surrounding two young men.
Apparently she was wrong; she realized when she recognized a few girls from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.
She walked much more cautiously and looked suspiciously at the Potter house near her, like expecting any second to see James or Sirius walking out of it.
She stopped in her place when she heard someone yelling, "Angel!"
She looked back at the group and realized with surprise that the two young men that her classmates were surrounding eagerly were actually Bred and Steve.
"Oh god," she muttered with wide eyes.
Her shock was replaced with amusement when she saw the hopeless expression on Steve's face. Lily bit back a snicker and smirked at them both.
Bred sent a charming smile towards the girl that was clinging to his arm and tried to figure out how on earth he and Steve landed in this situation. They both were searching for Lily when Derek mentioned that she went to the old muggle's house a couple of hours ago.
They decided to take a shortcut and met with a pair of cute girls. Naturally they flirted a little, but when they wanted to bid them good bye, they realized that the girls had other plans for them.
He calculated how to shake them off, when he heard Steve's yell. He looked up and met Lily's eyes. Her hand was covering her mouth and her shoulders shook slightly. Bred had a suspicion that she was laughing at them both.
More desperate than annoyed he mouthed towards her 'help.'
She smirked at him and raised one eyebrow as if to question that he was sure.
He sent her a glare and she just bit her bottom lip to prevent herself from bursting in laughter.
"Bred! Steve! What a pleasant surprise!" she yelled cheerfully and pushed a few girls aside to hug them both.
"Save me!" Steve whispered in her ear urgently. "I'm too weak to resist them!"
Lily giggled softly and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek in response. "Just give me a few seconds," she muttered back.
"We'll give you anything you want, just hurry!"
Lily smirked at Bred and gave him a kiss too, "Don't tell me that THE Bred Lorrans is unable to avoid a couple of schoolgirls?"
"Don't you smirk at me you little sadist," he breathed in her ear mock angrily. "Just do something. Pull their hair, break their nails, anything!"
"I don't hit girls," Lily released them with a smile.
"There's always a first time," they both muttered.
Lily continued to smile and linked her arms with theirs.
"So boys," she said, looking from one face to another. "I see that you arrived just now. You must want something to drink."
"What are you doing?" Bred muttered when he saw where she was leading them.
"Trying to save you," she whispered back, her smile never fading. "Just play along."
"We need to talk to you," Steve glanced back where he saw the group of girls following them closely.
"Inside," she muttered back. "After we dodge the group of your new love fans."
At the front door stood Remus with Vi' at his side. They both stopped talking in surprise when they saw Lily standing in front of them.
"You're here!" Vi' looked at her happily. "So you finally agreed to come after all?"
"Let's just say that I reconsidered my options," Lily smiled back at her. "Can I join the party?" she asked Remus.
"Yeah, sure," he moved his hand in an invited motion. "Go right ahead."
"Enjoy," Vi' added, but she wasn't looking at her but at Bred and Steve that stood beside her. She looked back at Lily and winked at her. 'Nice catch,' she mouthed towards her.
Lily didn't bother to correct her, knowing fully well that Vi' won't believe her even if she tried.
Lily dragged Bred and Steve through the crowd towards the corner of the kitchen where you couldn't hear the music so loudly.
"So, what's up?" she asked them and sat on the edge of the table.
"Well," Bred sat on the chair and stretched his legs forward. He got back to his easy-going composure like the last few minutes never happened. "We brought a special message from Kyle and the rest of the band."
Lily looked questionably at Steve who was busy eating from the snacks on the table. He pilled a plate and sat beside Bred.
"You see Angel," he chewed and swallowed. "We kinda thought to have a kind of a good luck party for you, Kyle and Robin before you three return to school. After all, we won't be able to see each other so often after tomorrow.".
"Tonight?" Lily asked and glanced at the watch on the wall.
"Actually," Bred checked his watch. "It'll start in half an hour. We already told Derek, and he said he'll meet us there. The last person to tell here, is you. Janet and Ashley arranged so that we'll be the only people to sing on stage."
The last part caught Lily's attention, "So Ashley and Robin are already there?"
"Yep."
"Good," Lily sighed in relief. "I was afraid I won't be able to say a proper good bye to them." She thought for a second and shrugged, "Alright, I don't have any other plans for tonight and I could use a party."
Steve smiled at her. "That's what we told Kyle but he didn't agree to listen. He wanted to make one hundred percent sure that you'll come. He got quite desperate," he added.
Lily frowned, "Don't tell me that he has trouble again with Mr. T."
Bred nodded, "Mr. T is enslaving him in the night club. Kyle insisted that you'll come and save him for at least a couple of hours."
Lily shook her head with a half smile, "Oh well, sure. Why not? I'm sure I can convince Mr. T to let Kyle have fun at the last night of summer vacation."
"Well, that's done," Bred stood up and glanced at the crowd of people. "Any idea how we're supposed to get out?"
"Let's keep together and move quickly to the exit. If one of us is not back out the rest are getting back inside to search for him."
"Alright" Lily jumped from the table and stood at the entrance of the door. "Let's hope it work."
She followed them through the dancing bodies with a difficulty because she was much shorter than the rest of the people. She felt someone pushing her aside and the next moment she was standing by the wall. She struggled to continue but came to realize that it was impossible.
She leaned backwards to the wall and sighed in annoyance. "Great," she muttered. "Now how am I suppose to get out?"
"The front door is the closest option for you," answered a voice next to her.
Lily turned her head quickly and locked her gaze with a pair of hazel eyes.
Wonderful, she thought sarcastically this day just gets better and better.
She was standing shoulder to shoulder with James Potter in a room that you could hardly move in.
His eyes narrowed immediately and a slow sly smile curved on his lips when he realized who it was.
"Evans," he nodded his head in a formal greeting. "Fancy meeting you here. Don't remember I invited you to my party."
"Mmm," she looked around her for a sign from Bred or Steve. Where the hell they disappeared to?
"So you got curios and decided to crush in?"
Lily looked back at him like she just realized he was there.
"Don't worry, Potter," she said in a bored tone. "In the first opportunity I'll leave your precious house and party alone."
"Why?" his smile widened and he got closer to her. "Since you bothered so much to enter, it would be rude of me to throw you out."
"If you say so," she said distractedly.
Her eyes moved from one person to another. They sure have noticed that she wasn't outside. A soft tug made her glance down just to notice that James' fingers were playing with the ends of her hair.
What the-
She glanced up to see James' smiling face a few inches from hers. "I really like the changes you did with yourself," he muttered and run his knuckles down her cheek. He cupped her chin and rubbed lightly his thumb along her jaw line, "You almost look pretty.".
Lily gritted her teeth angrily at his touch. It took every bit of self control she possessed not to break his fingers and knee him in the groin. Then she glanced over his shoulder and sighed with relief.
"About time you noticed. What took you so long?"
James looked slightly surprised and taken aback when he saw her smile warmly at him. He was about to say something when a voice behind him interrupted him.
"Sorry, babe. I had trouble locating you. You're not exactly a girl you can notice so easily."
"Next time I'll stand on a table," she said sarcastically. Then she glanced around, "Where's Bred?"
"Outside," Steve took her hand in his and noticed James' gaze following the gesture.
He disliked him immediately. Steve considered Lily a part of his closer friends and was very protective of her each time he saw some idiot checking her out. And this guy had the nerve to touch her! Even he didn't have the chance to do that at first. After his endless tries to hit on her (she go annoyed in the end and threatened to break his skull with a chair if he won't stop), he settled down in a comfortable friendship with her.
"I'm not interrupting something, am I?"
"No" Lily answered casually, not noticing the glares Steve and James exchanged. She looked around her with a slight desperation, "Any ideas?"
"One. But you're not going to like it."
Lily looked up at him suspiciously, "What kind of idea?"
In response he grabbed her by the waist and picked her up easily, like she was some kind of a puppet, and put her over his shoulder. Lily dangled upside down and crossed her arms over her chest.
"This is your brilliant idea?"
Steve smiled at her shoes and hugged her thighs with one arm, "Better than nothing." He walked through the crowd, trying not to make Lily's head bump into sharp corners. "By the way," he said aloud so she could hear him over the noise of the music. "Did I ever mention how sexy your legs are?"
A sharp pain behind his knee made him jump like he was electrified. Steve looked down to catch a last glance of a wooden stick that disappeared with a quick snap of Lily's fingers.
"Damn," he muttered. "I forgot you have a wand."
"Then I'll suggest you keep it in mind," she answered dryly. She shifted her upper body to have a look of what was in front of them. "Cool air," she said in relief when Steve put her back on her feet. "Finally."
Bred stood up from the side walk he was sitting on and smiled at both of them.
"Ready to party?"
"You have no idea how much," smiled Lily when he slung his arm around her shoulders.
-
The club was lightened by lamps and candles on the walls and tables. The 'goblin's hat' was a cozy large inn, and was considered a night club for muggles, wizards and witches alike. When she came here for the first time five years ago, she felt immediate liking towards the place. She worked there several summers, whether in cleaning the tables or singing on stage. This place was like a second home for her after Hogwarts.
She greeted with a smile a few waitresses and several regular customers. She scanned the club to try to recognize one of her friends.
"Angel!" a blond girl with blue-grey eyes waved cheerfully at her. "Gosh! I haven't seen you in ages," the girl hugged Lily tightly making her laugh.
"It sure seemed that way," Lily agreed and took a step back to observe her friend. "I see that the vacation on the beach came handy."
Robin smiled back at her and twirled in her place, "If it wasn't for this damn light I could have shown you my new tan I worked on the last five weeks." She linked her arm with Lily's and leaded her towards the nearest table. "But since we're all here and unfortunately- back to school the next day- I'm certainly ready to Rock'n'roll till dawn."
"Unfortunately that won't happen," interrupted them a feminine voice. A young woman stood next to them and sent a stern stare towards Robin. "You've got school, and I'm definitely not spending my morning trying to drag you out of bed."
Robin just rolled her eyes in response and muttered towards Lily, "Don't mind Ash, her boyfriend dumped her again."
Lily snickered and immediately stood up before a sisters' fight started.
"Hey, Ashley."
Ashley smiled back at her and hugged her just as Robin did beforehand, "I'm glad you decided to come."
"Wouldn't dare to miss it," Lily smiled back and then sighed sadly. "It's too bad that it's the last night that the whole group is together."
"Don't remind me," Robin said gloomily. "I'll get depressed all over again."
Lily glanced from one face to another in question, "You could always visit me in Hogsmeade, right?"
"Maybe," Robin agreed, though she sounded skeptical. "For me it's going to be almost impossible. It's not so easy to skip a day in my school without everyone's notice. I guess the fact that you're going to decide on the Hogsmeade weekends can help me prepare my escapes." She paused for a second before looking at Lily in confusion, "Remind me exactly why you were chosen Head Girl?"
Lily chuckled softly and shrugged, "Probably because of my grades."
Robin snorted, "Yeah right. I know you've got a pretty good brain but this Dumbledore guy suppose to be smart, from all the rumors I've heard. He's putting you and, from what you told me, some idiotic troublemaker as the Heads. How ironic. Making two rule-breakers instruct prefects."
"I don't have in my record anything about breaking a school rule," Lily mentioned.
"Only because no one ever caught you," Robin pointed out.
Lily's smile widened, "How very true."
"C'mon girls," Ashley put her hands on the girl's shoulder. "Let's find everyone. The night is still young and I want to have a blasting good bye party for my favorite little sisters!" she said cheerfully.
Lily cast a weird glance towards Robin. Her friend only shrugged helplessly and mouthed 'drunk' back at her.
Lily glanced up at Ashley. "Ash," she asked carefully. "How much did you drink?"
"Oh, only one glass, don't worry."
"Actually, she drank three," corrected Robin. "We're going to be lucky if she won't drop on stage during our song."
"This is none of your business," Ashley glared at her.
"Of course it is," Robin snapped back. "You're my big sister. Who else is supposed to take care of you, if not me? And I don't see why you still wailing about this guy. He was a jerk from the start. Don't know what you saw in him in the first place."
Ashley looked angry for a second before sighing in defeat, "I know. I didn't even like him at first. He was an egotistic bustard," she sighed again. "But the sex was great."
"Please! Spare us from the details."
"Girls! There you are!"
"Janet," Robin called relieved. "My savior. Can you take care of Ash?"
Janet looked at Ashley with concern, "What's wrong?"
But it was Lily who answered, "She's mourning over some ex of hers."
Janet put an arm around Ashley's shoulder and hugged her one-armed. She then looked at Lily and smiled, "Nice of you to drop by. You ready to have some fun?"
"I'm ready to sing and dance the whole night," Lily smiled back. She looked around her with interest, "Where're the men?"
"Well, Derek, Steve and Bred are over there," Janet pointed towards a dark corner of the club. "Flirting with some strangers. And I think that Kyle is still hiding."
Lily looked at her surprised, "Hiding? From Mr. T?"
"It seems so. He was avoiding him since we came here. Mr. T is still angry."
"And with good reason," came a gruffly response.
Lily turned around and blinked in surprise at the sight of Mr. T in a business suit. Mr. T was a man in his mid sixties and the owner of the inn for the last thirty years.
"Ahhh, Angel voice," he beamed at her and took both her hands in his. "Now this is definitely a pleasant surprise," he took a step back and stood in his full height of 6 feet. He straightened an invisible wrinkle on his shoulder and gave her a charming smile, "So what do you think? How do I look?"
"Very handsome," Lily answered, amused at his visible enthusiasm. Lily didn't have a trouble to imagine Mr. T as a young bachelor who charms beautiful women.
He looked pleased at her answer, "Good. I've got important business tonight. I want to look official. You perform tonight, of course." It wasn't even a question, but an obvious statement.
Lily smiled amused, "Maybe." She then paused and shrugged, "Or maybe not."
Mr. T looked at her with a little annoyance, though the whole sight was destroyed a little by the softness in his eyes. He put his hand over his heart and looked as if he in grave pain. "Please don't say it even as a joke, m'dear. Do not forget my poor weak heart," his hand dropped to his side and he glanced around the club with a frown as if searching for something. "You haven't seen the useless grandson of mine, have you?"
Lily shook her head, "Sorry."
"Well, if you would happen to stumble upon him, do remind him that his whole money and possessions are in my hands. So he better show his face soon, before I send him to Hogwarts tomorrow with only his underwear on."
Lily stifled her laughter back and nodded in comprehension, "Sure thing."
Mr. T took her hand and kissed it in a gentlemanlike way and sent her another charming smile, "You can order whatever you like of course. The food and drinks are on the house."
"'The food and drinks are on the house,'" mimicked Robin when Mr. T was seemingly out of earshot. "What else is expected when you flirting with the owner of the whole bloody club? A free room and champagne in bed?" she glared at Lily with unhidden envy.
Lily frowned in thoughtfulness, "But I don't like champagne."
Robin stared at her for a moment and then burst in laughter, "It's the principle of the things Angel."
"Robin?" Mr. T's soft call made her jerk in her chair.
She gulped nervously and smiled at him, "Yes, Mr. T?"
His smile was cool and dangerous at the same time, "Don't forget to pay your debts tonight. I don't imagine that you thought you'll get away from paying it just because you're heading back to school tomorrow."
"Of course not," she sent him a fake calm smile. Then she coughed slightly and asked in an innocent voice, "And just speaking hypothetically, what if I didn't bring the money. then what?"
His smile seemed to widen in satisfaction, "Then, hypothetically, I have an empty place in dish washing."
Robin sighed and muttered quietly, "You mean old man…"
"I heard that," he called behind his back.
Robin groaned and put her forehead on the table, "Does anyone have 120 galleons to loan me?" she asked desperately.
"120? How come you owe him 120?" Ashley asked in half anger and half shock.
"Well," Robin raised her head back up and frowned. "There were always those 'free' meals I sneaked from his kitchens and of course there was that one time when I booked a room for the night-" she suddenly coughed loudly. "Well, you get the picture."
"You booked a room here for the night?" Ashley said slowly, anger dripping in each word. "For what reason?"
"Err…" Robin looked uncomfortable under her sisters' gaze. She locked her eyes with Lily and sent a silent prayer for help. Lily shook her head in a hopeless manner. Robin coughed again and tried to decide how much to reveal from the truth. "You see, there was this really cute guy…"
"A cute guy? You're only sixteen for Christ sake!"
"That's totally beside the point," she smiled innocently. "The guy thought that I was four years older anyway. And he was really really cute…"
"I don't care how cute he was. I repeat. You're only sixteen."
"So?" Robin crossed her arms under her chest in annoyance "Lily is seventeen and you two," she motioned her head towards Janet's direction. "Advise her always to go and sleep with some random stranger. So how come I'm not allowed to do just that?"
"Because you're my baby-sister and I don't want to even think that you lost your virginity to some guy."
"Don't worry about it" Robin smirked "I didn't lose my virginity to him. I wasn't even a vir-"
"You know we should catch the boys and get on stage instead of standing and fighting here," interrupted Lily.
"Angel is right," Janet jumped to her feet and almost dragged Ashley behind her.
Lily sent a warning glance towards Robin, "You're digging your own grave you know. In this rate Ashley will probably lock you in some convent in the summers."
Robin just laughed, "I want to see her try." She stretched her arms aside and sighed, "I'll meet you on stage later. Our band suppose to perform in ten minutes."
Lily smiled and clapped her hand on Robin's shoulder, "Good luck."
She watched the customers in interest and the empty stage where different colorful lights danced on it. Without any warning she was suddenly picked up by her waist from behind and spanned around in circle. Lily gasped for breath when she was back on her feet and she spun around in anger just to be met with a handsome tall seventeen year boy with light brown hair and deep dark chocolate eyes.
Her eyes widened in shock before she burst in laughter. "Kyle!" she called happily and hugged him around his neck. "Where have you been the whole summer?"
Kyle smiled in her hair and hugged her back just as fiercely, "Missed you too Angel." He released her and looked at her from head to toe. "I see that you haven't changed a bit," he said quite pleased.
Lily smiled and punched him lightly in the arm, "And what did you expect to happen to me?"
"Who knows?" He shrugged, "Something horrible I guess."
Lily narrowed her eyes at him, "Are you angry with me?"
"Irritated is a better term for it," he put his hands in his pockets. "Considering the fact that I study with you at the same school for the last seven years, I don't know in which year you're in and in which house. I thought you trusted me."
Lily winced slightly at his accusing tone, "Of course I trust you. And you of all people should know why I don't tell you. If I'm suppose to keep a low profile at school I'm not suppose to be seen with you. Besides, I think you have enough information on me to guess who I am at school."
"Except the fact that your true name is Lily I don't know anything else that can help me. Do you know how many girls named Lily at school?"
"3?"
"7. And half of them are in much lower years. There're of course two in our year but there's absolutely no resemblance between you. So," he looked at her with a piercing gaze. "There are three options: one: you're studying under a different name, two: you're not studying in my year or three: you do not study at my school at all and just lied to me all along."
"Or four: you didn't look close enough," she suggested. "You know the cliché sentence: nothing is what it seems to be?"
Kyle frowned in thought, "You're not a Slytherin are you?"
Lily snorted and shook her head, "No."
"Oh well," he sighed. "I guess I'm gonna have to ask out all the single girls in our year."
"Ask out?" Lily repeated in disbelief, "What for?"
"To enlarge the possibility of finding you. I'll make a list of all the girls who refused and try to figure out which one of them is you."
Lily rolled her eyes and felt that it was time to change the subject, "Mr. T is looking for you, you know."
"I know," Kyle said gloomily. "I've heard what he told you. And from my experience with him, he meant every word."
"He's eating dinner with some clients so you don't have anything to worry about," she assured him.
"He's probably going to seal the new deal."
"What deal?"
Kyle looked at her surprised, "You don't know? He wants to open another inn at Hogsmeade."
"This year?"
"Yes, in another month or two he'll come to open it."
"Bloody hell," Lily muttered amazed. "That's great! We-"
At that moment Janet stepped on the stage and took the microphone in her hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the 'last day of summer' show-"
'Last day of summer' show?" Kyle muttered to Lily who only smiled.
"Just flow with it."
"And please give a hand to the 'Dragon Fliers'!"
"Dragon Fliers?" Lily yelled over the loud applause.
"Better than the 'Mourning Wolves', don't you think?" Kyle yelled back.
Lily laughed and put two fingers in her mouth to whistle aloud. Steve sat down near the drums twirling his sticks. Bred, and Robin with electric guitars stood in their regular place on the stage. Ashley stood next to Janet with a second microphone in hand. Lily caught their attention and gave them thumbs up.
Janet and Ashley glanced at each other and then looked back at Steve and nodded once. Immediately the club was filled with fast drumming and few seconds later Robin and Bred joined in.
"Want to dance?" Kyle asked.
"Always," Lily smiled back and he leaded her towards the empty dance floor.
I can't sit here while I go nowhere
Chase my dreams through the polluted air
Walking on a wire, running out of time
There's no room in this ol' heart of mine
Bill collectors waiting down the hall
Neighbors scream and crack the bedroom wall
Nerves jump off the pavement, passion hits the street
Angels cookin' in the city heat
People started to join Kyle and Lily as the song was speeding up, Janet and Ashley sang and danced on the stage.
World's too crazy, I can't take no more
I won't stay here locked behind the door
Baby, stir it up, got to break it up now
When I think about tomorrow, ooh, I can't wait to
Stir it, got to shake it up now
If I have to beg or borrow, I'm not gonna take it anymore, mmm, mmm
Hungry minds do stare you in the eyes
Spread it thick and lay the biggest lies
Don't say what you feel, must play hard to get
All those time bombs tickin' in your head
So much pressure to keep holdin' on
Pack my clothes up, baby, I'll be gone
I've got to stir it up, got to break it up now
When I think about tomorrow, ooh, I can't wait to
Stir it, got to shake it up now
If I have to beg or borrow, I'm not gonna take it anymore, mmm, mmm
Kyle twirled her around and let her go. She winked at him and they both went to different tables to try to convince other people to join on the dance floor.
Lily danced from one table to another, smiling and greeting the people she recognized. She came to the bar where only few couples were sitting and watching the performance.
"Reuben!" she signaled to the barman.
Reuben smiled when he noticed who it was and leaned closer so she could hear him, "What can I get you?"
She shook her head. "No drink," she answered. "Derek?"
Reuben pointed at the end of the bar where two figures sat one next to each other their heads close. Lily nodded and planted a quick kiss on Reuben's cheek.
"Nice to see you again," she smiled at him.
"Derek!" she yelled aloud in her friend's ear. Derek jumped startled but relaxed when he saw her.
"Flower!" He gave her a charming smile, "I wondered when you'd come around."
Lily glanced at his company and recognized the girl immediately, "Hi, Roxanne".
Roxanne greeted her back cheerfully and then put a folded paper in Derek's hand.
"Call me," she winked at him.
Lily rolled her eyes after Roxanne left.
"Don't you have anything better to do then distract the waitresses? You know that Mr. T hates it when you do it to his muggle employees."
Derek just shrugged and sipped his drink, "When are you up?"
"After this song," she looked at the stage where the band was playing their fourth song by now. She turned back to Derek, "C'mon." She tugged at his hand, "I don't want to lose you in the crowd."
Derek smiled in response, "Don't worry. I always prefer the first row when you perform."
Lily gave him an amused look, ignoring the heat that she felt suddenly rise to her cheeks. She left Derek near the stage and walked to the far side of it where Kyle was standing waiting for her.
"You ready?" he asked when the song was coming to an end.
"Like always," she smiled excitedly.
She saw the crowd cheering and felt the regular excitement and nervousness that she always felt before stepping on stage. She was used to perform in front of a crowd since she was little but each time felt like the first.
She took a steady deep breath and ignorant the little small pang of stage fright.
Janet and Ashley were the last to walk of the stage.
"Good luck, girl," Ashley smiled towards her a little out of breath.
"Thanks," Lily took another deep breath and climbed the stage with Kyle behind her.
She walked to the microphone and smiled when she heard the crowd start to clap again.
She turned to Kyle who sat in front of a piano. She covered the microphone with her hand and asked aloud, "Which song?"
"Whose turn is it to decide?" he asked.
"Yours."
"All right," Kyle smiled slightly. "Let's see… what do you think of this one?" his fingers started a pleasant tune.
Lily listened for a moment then her smile widened, "Sure, why not?"
Kyle fixed the microphone closer to his direction and put back his fingers on the keys. Lily nodded to signal him that she was ready. His fingers started to play again. The tune wasn't too fast or too slow, exactly what he felt like playing tonight.
"Don't go breaking my heart," he sang, smiling when he saw Lily giggling in response.
I couldn't if I tried, she sang back.
Oh honey if I get restless, his tone sounded playful
Baby you're not that kind, she shook her head in reproachful way.
Don't go breaking my heart, he sounded desperate
You take the weight off me, shespanned once in her place
Oh Honey when you knock on my door, he gave her a suggestive smile
Ooh I gave you my key, she winked in response
The crowd was clapping with the rhythm enjoying the playful teasing they saw between the two.
Ooohhoo nobody knows it, they sang together
But when I was down, he sang
I was your clown, she bowed slightly in his direction
Ooohhoo nobody knows it, they sang
Right from the start, he nodded towards her
I gave you my heart ,Lily put her hand over her own heart and then pointed at him. Ohh I gave you my heart
So don't go breaking my heart, he pleaded
I won't go breaking your heart, she put her elbows on the piano and shook her head slightly
Don't go breaking my heart, they smiled at each other
And nobody told us, he sang sadly.
Cause nobody showed us, she almost sighed the words
And now it's up to us babe, he raised his eyebrow
Oh I think we can make it, she shrugged and rolled her eyes
So don't misunderstand me, he quickly took her hand and kissed it lightly to the audience loud cheers.
You put the light in my life, she nearly laughed but instead gave him a sharp look
Oh you put the sparks to the flame, he smiled innocently.
I've got your heart in my sights, she put her elbow on the piano and her chin in the palm.
Her leg was tapping the floor with the rhythm. He chuckled to himself and moved sideways on the stool and motioned towards the second half. Lily smiled gleefully and sat beside him.
The audience clapped louder now that the two were playing together on the keys.
Ooohhoo nobody knows it
When I was down
I was your clown
Ooohhoo nobody knows it
Right from the start
I gave you my heart
ohho I gave you my heart
It seemed that the game between Kyle and Lily was still continuing. Kyle released his right hand and put it around Lily to play on higher octave. Lily quickly filled his place without missing a beat. But the change in hand places caused her to almost sit on Kyle's lap.
Don't go breaking my heart
I won't go breaking your heart.
Don't go breaking my heart
Kyle pretended to not notice the glare Lily sent him when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his ankle. He continued to sing with a smile, but the short kick Lily sent him did its trick and he was back playing on his side of the seat.
They exchanged looks and amused smiles when they repeated the chorus one more time. In a mutual agreement they sang with all their energy they possessed. When the last lyrics were fading away, Lily couldn't hear anything but the cheers and the loud claps. She stood up with Kyle and they both bowed deeply.
-
Lily hummed to herself while she skipped down the street. She turned around and continued to jump in place. "C'mon Derek, we're almost home. One more house to go."
"Hold on," he ran towards her. "How can you still stand? You were dancing and singing till now. And I can barely keep my eyes open." He yawned as if to prove his point.
"It's only three in the morning," she protested. "And besides it's only the adrenaline. All I need to do is to wait until it'll fade," she smiled teasingly. "And I thought you're in shape Mr. Auror-in-training."
"Don't start," he warned her.
Lily only chuckled softly, "All right Mr. grouchy. I'll see you in the morning."
She took her shoes off and ran the rest of the way home just because she felt like doing it. She opened the door and sprinted up the stairs jumping two steps in a time.
She opened the door to the attic and fell face forward on her bed. Erica and Richard never understood why she wanted to live in the attic of all the rooms she could choose from in the house. But the only answer was that she always liked living in attics because it was the highest place and there was always the privilege of sitting on the roof during the dawn and watching the sunrise.
She sighed quietly and rolled to the other side of the bed. When her parents were still alive, her father usually sat with her on the roof to gaze at the stars with her and to tell her favorite story of a princess, a pianist and a deep love. Usually she fell asleep without hearing the end of that story.
Even now, Lily could almost hear his deep soothing voice speaking quietly in her ear 'once upon a time, there was a very beautiful princess with red hair and sparkling emerald eyes in a far away kingdom….' without realizing it she fell into a deep sleep.
A/N: wow... that was... long... hope you liked it! Unfortunately i won't be able to update again in several monthes because of exams and so on. Really sorry guys!
Please REVIEW!
-Lilytero