Sorry it took so long, but my computer got well buggered. Anyway on with the story!
Chapter 22 : Letters
20th December, 1977
Dear Lily,
Hows your holiday been so far? Looking forward to Christmas? I can't wait; I think my parents are getting me a new broom! Hey, maybe yours will get you an owl? Then I won't always have to write first! Until then, just send your reply back with Delphium, I've already told her to wait for one.
Well things are pretty quiet here. I haven't been out much cause my parents keep making me spend time with them. Three months in Hogwarts has caused them to miss me, I however still wish I was there! I'm really annoyed about the ball; I think it was the only one I had a chance of persuading Sirius to go to!
Write soon and give my love to your mum.
Love Caitlin xx
P.S. Don't let the muggle from hell get you down!
20th December, 1977
Dear Caitlin,
My holiday has been all right so far, but I know you are probably having a far better time. I am pretty sure I am not getting an owl this year - even though Petunia does not live here anymore, she is still ruling the roost.
I have spent most of my time so far running errands that she keeps giving me, whilst she seems to do nothing herself but give instructions. Every time I point this out she keeps guilt tripping me, reminding me that this could be Mum's last Christmas. As if I need reminding of that! Her other main excuse is that looking after that fat husband of hers is a 'full time job'.
My dad keeps trying to help me with things of course, but his mind isn't quite what it was and he keeps forgetting how to do things. I think the situation with Mum is starting to affect him. I think it's starting to affect all of us.
I'm looking forward to Boxing Day. It means I get rid of Petunia for a week! She's taking Dad back to Vernon and her's for a few days to give him a bit of a break. It also means that I can spend some time with mum. I've been trying to go and speak to her at night, once I've finished Petunia's little jobs, but every time she's been asleep, so I haven't seen her much since I got back.
Merlin, that's a lot of my moping! Anyway, hope to hear from you soon!
Love Lils x
21st December, 1977
Dear Lily,
Oh I'm so excited now! I get to miss the usual extended family thing on Boxing Day because I'm GOING TO STAY WITH SIRIUS!!!!!! My parents have just agreed to let me go, they think at 17 I'm mature enough! It's going to be so cool. He's got his own apartment, so we get to get on like we're actually living together for 3 days. I can't wait!
He invited me yesterday, because he said he was missing me over the holidays. That's so sweet, don't you think? He's says we can have our own special Christmas Day on Boxing Day, so I don't get my present from him until then. I have no idea what it could be! I got him some muggle aftershave, a nice big fluffy polo neck and a dog grooming kit for a joke - a private joke. Does that sound all right?
Sorry to hear that your holiday's not going so well, but at least it'll pick up! Now we both can look forward to Boxing Day!
Love Caitlin xx
P.S. Sirius says he has another surprise when he picks me up... any ideas?
21st December, 1977
Dear Caitlin,
Well, you could sound a bit more enthused about going to Sirius'! Why did he get his own apartment? He's a bit young is he not? I'm not trying to be patronising I was just wondering. Your parents must be mad trusting you! You must put on a very good façade when you're at home!
The presents sound great, although I wouldn't even like to think what that dog grooming kit is about. The obsession with muggle aftershave has got to stop though Caitlin! I wish I'd never introduced you to it! I just hope Sirius hasn't got you the same thing I have, I would be very worried if he had though!
I don't have a clue what surprise Sirius could be planning for you, I'm just happy it's not for me! Good luck with it!
Write soon, I'm going out of my mind with boredom here!
Love Lils x
24th December, 1977
Dear Lily,
I thought I'd write to you now because I probably won't have time tomorrow, and I definitely won't be writing to you when I'm at Sirius'. Oh it's only 2 more days!
No, I don't think your patronising. He doesn't really get on with his parents, so he left or ran, or got kicked out last year. I never really pressed him for the details. He bought the apartment in August, he was living with James before that. He probably is too young to have his own place, but who cares? We're going to have a great time in it anyway!
I hope tomorrow goes well for you. Don't let boilface and the blob ruin it for you ok?
That's really all I've got to say, I can't think straight I'm so excited!
Merry Christmas!
Love Caitlin xx
24th December, 1977
Dear Caitlin,
I never knew that about Sirius, although I suppose why would I? And I thought I had a bad home life!
I don't really have that much to say myself, I'm up to my eyes, peeling Brussels sprouts. Have a good time at Sirius'! Maybe we could meet up for New Year? Or are you going to Donegal again?
Merry Christmas
Love Lils x
P.S. Hope you like your present!
25th December, 1977
Dear Miss Evans,
I am writing to you because it is a custom at this time of year for the Headmaster, which is me, to ask the Head Girl, which is you, certain questions, about your term so far, in Hogwarts.
I shall therefore, get straight down to business.
How did you feel upon being made Head Girl?
How do you feel about being Head Girl now?
What are your thoughts on being Head Girl in the future?
Those were the customary questions, I shall down get to the good stuff.
How did you feel upon James William Potter being made Head Boy?
How do you feel about James William Potter now?
What are your thoughts on your feelings for James William Potter in the future?
Please send your reply as quickly as possible.
Merry Christmas.
Yours sincerely,
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore26th December, 1977
Dear Lily,
Yea, I know I said I wouldn't write, but Sirius just arrived - on a giant flying motorbike I might add, but we'll talk about that later - and said that I should write to you straight away and give you this message:
The thing that you thought you got, is not what you really got, and from the person that you think it is from, is not, and that is if you got something which is not from that person, because if you did not, just ignore this.
Did you get that? Because I sure didn't. Anyway if you understood any of that, then write back.
Love Caitlin xx
P.S. He wants you to know that he had nothing to do with it.
26th December, 1977
Dear Caitlin,
Tell Sirius that I had already pretty much figured out that that letter was from James, but tell him thanks anyway. Also tell him that his best friend is a weirdo.
When you get this can you let Delphium deliver the other letter I've sent as well? Anyway don't think about this anymore and go and have a great time at Sirius'!
Love Lils x
P.S. We will get back to that flying motorbike!
26th December, 1977
Dear 'Professor Dumbledore',
You are an idiot! Do you know that? I don't even know why I'm replying to this! I wasn't going to, but your best friend just wrote to me to warn me about your letter and it's somehow got me wanting to have a go at you for it!
You torture me enough during term time, did you really feel you had to intrude on my holidays as well? On Christmas Day no less! In fact, - I still don't know why I'm doing this but what the hell - I'm going to answer your questions. I'll leave out the customary ones shall I?
When I heard you were being made Head boy yes I admit it, I was devastated. I couldn't believe that Dumbledore had put such an arrogant prat like you in a position of authority! I mean you already swanned about the school, looking like you owned the place, he didn't really need to reinforce your belief!
However, after spending a bit of time with you, I found that maybe I was still holding on to the impression you made on me when you were eleven. Perhaps the stories I had heard about you were a little exaggerated. I found myself warming to you, liking you even, but every time, EVERY TIME, we got a little close you'd go and mess it up again!
So how do I feel about James William Potter now? I don't even know.
How will I feel about him in the future? Well, I suppose you're reply to this letter will sort that out.
Lily Evans
P.S. Just to clarify this, because you're not always good at reading the signs, I'm looking to you to reply to this.
27th December, 1977
Dear Lily,
Look I'm sorry. Sirius and I got a little too 'merry' on Christmas Day, and I thought it would be hilarious for me to write you this letter, pretending to be Dumbledore. It's only now I realise how lame it actually was.
Again I'm sorry, I didn't mean to 'torture' you on Christmas Day, and I certainly don't mean to torture you at school but I can see where you would get that. You and I always seem to get off on the wrong foot, and I suppose that letter was just another prime example.
I know I've been arrogant, and I've definitely been a prat, but I calmed down a lot, which is why Dumbledore made me Head boy. You may only be warming to me now, Lily, but I've always liked you, so when I heard you were Head girl I was delighted. But yes I agree, every time this year when things were looking up I always found a way to mess it up. I mean, that letter was meant to be witty, and spontaneous, and have you laughing all the way into my arms - stupid yes?
I may have made a bad impression on you when I was younger, but come on, I was eleven!! As for those stories, well I've heard them too, and most of them are actually Sirius'. I suppose he got so many of his own people passed some on to me.
I guess another reason I wrote that letter to you was because my Christmas has been pretty boring so far. The highlight has been getting drunk with Sirius on Christmas Day, and words can't describe how pathetic that is.
I'm sorry I'm a loser. You may want to keep this, remember it as the day I cut the bullshit.
James
P.S. I hope you write back to this.
27th December, 1977
Dear James,
Ok, before you run yourself into the ground completely, take a deep breath. You're not that bad! In fact nobody's that bad!
If you're going to cut the bullshit I suppose I should too. I admit that I probably over reacted to that letter a tiny bit. I even admit that I think you and I could be friends if we got to know each other a bit better. I though I'd go first. So here it is Lily Margaret Evans, the truth and nothing but the truth, so help me Merlin.
I'm 17 and I live in number 3, Lanyon Street, Little Whinging, Surrey, with my mum, Elizabeth, and my dad, Paul. We live in a lovely semi-detached house, with three bedrooms and an indoor toilet â€" oh I know you're impressed! My dad is an estate agent, and my mum is a nurse. I have an older sister Petunia, who is simply delightful - I'm being sarcastic by the way, I don't suppose that comes across in letters - but she doesn't live with us, because she is married to the magnificent Vernon Dursley, who's physique has been known to cause envy in some Beluga whales.
I'm the first witch in my family, and it was a tremendous shock for us all when I got my Hogwart's letter, although it did explain a lot. My parents got used to it quite quickly though, and think it's a fantastic gift that I have. My sister however, never got round to seeing the positive side of it, and basically made my life at home a living hell until she moved out last year. Anyway because of that, my parents decided against telling my extended family about me, so they think I'm being educated in a private boarding school in Scotland for the exceptionally bright, which I think might possibly annoy Petunia even more.
Another piece of information you might want to know about me, is that I don't have my own owl, which is why I always reply with yours - who is lovely by the way.
I think that'll do for now.
Lily
P.S. I always thought all those stories weren't quite you, but Sirius, my God! I'll have to tell Caitlin!
27th December, 1977
Dear Lily,
Yes I know this is two letters in one day but I was just so relieved when I got your last letter I had to write back straight away.
I really enjoyed reading about your home life, I guess I've never really thought of you existing outside Hogwarts before. I knew you were a muggle-born, but I never really thought about that either to tell you the truth. It must be so weird, just to discover that about yourself one day. Anyway because you let me into your life, I suppose I'll let you read about mine, although it'll probably bored the arse off you.
I'm 17 as well, and I live in Godric's Hollow, with my mum, Palaestra, and my dad, Christopher. We live in a detached house, with some bedrooms, and also an indoor toilet - it's great isn't it? My dad, it's hard to explain in a letter, let's just say he runs our family business, and my mum is a lady what lunches. I'm an only child, and from hearing about your sister I'm glad! Sirius lived with me for a bit last year, and that's the closest I've come to having a sibling, but he's left now and so I'm all alone again.
I don't have any horror stories about finding out I was a wizard or anything. It was pretty much a given thing. My parents both went to Hogwarts, as did their parents before them, and all of my family know I'm a wizard! When I'm at home I spend most of my time playing Quidditch with my dad, or my friends, and now I'm of age, I've been able to pass my apparating test. Boring stuff really. What do you do to pass the time?
My owl, is called Harley and he's an eagle owl. I know he's probably sitting in your lap right now, he's very 'affectionate', I'm sorry, if he annoys you just shoo him.
Thanks for cheering me up Lily.
James
P.S. I'm pretty sure Caitlin already knows the stories about Sirius, if you know what I mean.
28th December, 1977
Dear James,
I'm sorry I didn't write back to you last night but I was doing something I couldn't get out of, sorry. I gave Harley some of my cornflakes to keep him going through the night, I'm not really sure what you're meant to feed owls.
I laughed so much when I read your letter. You think your life is boring? It sounds so amazing to me. I'd give anything to be able to do wizarding things when I came home from school, but unfortunately I can't. Is your dad's name really Christopher? That just struck me as very muggle. I'm so used to sticking out like a sore thumb with my name at Hogwarts, with all the Sirius' and Remus' and Severus' and Narcissas.
When I'm at home I pass the time watching television, and doing things around the house. I don't really spend much time with my friends, I don't like bringing wizards into the house when Petunia's around and I lost most of my muggle friends when I started at Hogwarts. It was difficult to keep coming up with excuses to hide my secret from them, so we just drifted apart.
I suppose the highlight of my Christmas holidays so far has been passing my driving test on my second day back. So now I'm mobile but with nowhere to go. I was meant to drive to Caitlin's to celebrate but now's she gone off to Sirius' and I have no idea where that is.
You're definitely going to have to explain you dad's job to me more, you've got me intrigued now. What do you want to do after school then? I wanted to be a Healer, but I didn't do Herbology so I'm not sure I'll get accepted now. I just hope something grabs my interest and soon!
Write soon.
Lily x
P.S. If Caitlin is involved in any of those stories, I am going to be sick!
28th December, 1977
Dear Lily,
Don't worry about not replying, it just shows how bored I am that I wrote to you twice in one day anyway! Feed Harley anything you want, he's like a vacuum!
What do you mean 'wizarding things' when you're at home? Do you not do magic at all? Sure you're 17 so you can, right? Yes, my dad's name is Christopher, but I fail to see your point. Some of the names are unusual at Hogwart's yes, but sure I'm James, and there's Peter, and I think someone you know is called Caitlin.
Reading your last letter made me really wish I'd taken muggle studies. 'Television' and 'driving test', are things I've heard of but I'm not really sure what they are/do. I don't see why you should be afraid to bring wizards into your house because of your sister, she doesn't even live there! I'm sure Caitlin would love it, all those muggle gadgets! I'm sure she'd give your sister what for as well!
Sirius'place is in London, although I wouldn't know how to drive to it, I've only apparated to it myself. I was there today actually, but Caitlin made it clear I wasn't welcome, so I wouldn't go trying to find it if I were you.
I don't really know how to explain my dad's job, I'll try and think of a way for my next letter I promise. I want to play Quidditch after I leave school, but I suppose that's what all little boys dream of, so I don't really know what I'll do. You'd make a good Healer I think, I'm sure you'd get in without Herbology, it's a useless subject anyway!
I really enjoy getting these letters you know, I think it's the most straight I've ever been with someone in my life.
James x
28th December, 1977
Dear James,
Look, now you've got me writing twice in one day! There's nothing good on the television - which is like a radio only with pictures - so I thought I'd write back to you! That's me being sarcastic again by the way, I enjoy these letters as well.
'Wizarding things'. Well it's a long story but the simple version is that even though I am 17, I don't do magic at home. And with respect to the name debate - which is what it has turned into - I'm going to have to break one of my most valued promises. Caitlin's real name is Ptolemocratia. She uses Caitlin because it's her middle name, and it's a lot easier to say! I can't imagine why Peter is called Peter, but I suppose your called James for the same reason your dad is called Christopher. I think I'm starting to win this argument.
Caitlin has been to my house before, usually when I know Petunia's going to be out - I really hate to think what Caitlin might do to her. At the moment though it's not a good time for anyone to come over, so she hasn't been over this year at all.
I can imagine Caitlin's face when you arrived at Sirius'. You probably ruined the two of them playing 'house'! I can't wait for her to get home though, I want to thank her for her Christmas present. I think she's coming home tomorrow, so you should be able to visit Sirius safely then!
I'm really looking forward to hearing this explanation of your dad's job, you've built it away up now! I don't even know that if I was accepted I'd really want to be Healer anymore, but I think you've definitely got what it takes to play Quidditch professionally, after what I saw - and we both know what an expert on Quidditch I am!
Lily x
29th December, 1977
Dear Lily,
I'm sorry but this letter is going to be really short because I'm up to my eyes here. I'm organising a party for New Years, and my mum's decided I'm old enough to do the whole thing myself now, so it's just me and Sirius running about the place trying to remember where I left the decorations from last year.
The first thing is, and now I've checked it with Sirius I finally believe you, Ptolemocratia?!? I've known Caitlin most of my life and I never knew that, although I can see why. I haven't seen my dad for a few days, so I haven't actually got round to asking why I'm called James, so for now I'm going to let you win this 'debate'.
The second thing is, I've enclosed an invitation to my party in this letter. Please ignore how ridiculous the invite is, but the main thing is, I would really like you to come. It would really make my night. Please?
Hope to see you on New Years Eve!
James xP.S. and Sirius xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
- RIGHT PEOPLE THE PARTY OF THE YEAR HAS ARRIVED! I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IT! YOU KNOW THE DRILL, INVITE ONLY! BE THERE, OR BE A NOBODY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE! -
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Lily didn't know what to write back to James' last letter. She was going to have to tell him, but she didn't exactly know how to, without putting them both back to square one. Her Christmas holidays had been dismal, and the letters from James had been one of the highlights of her days. She had really appreciated him being so open and honest with her, and now she had a nagging guilt that she had not done the same. After all her promises to be straight with him, and 'Lily Margaret Evans, the truth and nothing but the truth', she still hadn't told him that her mother was dying.
It hadn't bothered her so much up until then. I mean she hadn't really been lying to him, she was just... not mentioning it. But now it had changed. She was now going to have to tell a huge lie to get out of going to his party, and now she was riddled with guilt.
She was still thinking of what excuse she could use later on that evening when she went in to see her mother. She had been informed by Petunia that her mother was on a routine, and that it was best for people to visit her in the late morning or the early evening. Lily, wanting to cause as little arguments as possible, had stuck to this, and so usually did housework, or wrote letters to James in the other hours.
She walked into the main bedroom in her house to find her mum already sitting up in her bed waiting for her.
"Hello," Lily said brightly, as she fixed her mother's pillows so she could sit more comfortably.
"Dear, dear, you're three minutes late!" Lily laughed at the joke. Even though she was her mother, she could also see what a fusspot Petunia was. "Well if you're lucky I'll let you have an extra three at the end. Only if you're lucky mind!"
"So how are you feeling today then?" This was a question Lily asked everyday out of habit. The answer was always the same.
"Great. I'm feeling much better." They both knew this was a lie. "So what have you been up to today then? I have of course been following the schedule and have been 'resting'".
"Well, I took up the hem on Petunias dress. Took me ages."
"Couldn't you have sped it up?" her mother asked slyly. Lily looked sternly at her.
"No," she answered flatly. "You know I won't do magic in this house."
This was another thing that Lily hadn't quite explained to James in their letters. Why even though she was 17, she didn't use magic outside of school - well, in her house to be more precise. It all dated back to the summer when Lily had been 13. The next-door neighbours had got rabbits, and attracted by the food, both number 3 and number 5 Lanyon Street had been invested with mice. Petunia had become convinced that it was Lily's doing, and had thrown such a terrible tantrum and caused their parents just distress that Lily had sworn to herself she would never give Petunia the excuse ever again. This meant giving up magic when she was at home, legal or not.
"Lily, what's that in your hand?" Her mother was pointing at a piece of parchment clasped in Lily's left hand. Lily had to look down at it to remind even herself what it was. She had been so worried all day about what she was going to do about it, she had failed to notice she still had James' invitation clamped in her hand - no wonder it had taken her so long to hem up that dress!
"It's a party invitation," Lily said uninterestedly. "Do you want to see it? The ink changes colour." She knew how her mum loved anything to do with magic.
"Who's it from?" her mum asked as she took the parchment, and put on some glasses to read it.
"Boy from school," Lily answered off-handedly again. She was trying to lead her mum away from asking anymore questions about James.
Her mother looked at her and blinked. She was used to Caitlin, and had met Alice, Scarlet and Avril a few times, but she was not used to 'boys from school'. Lily saw a small smile flicker across her face as she looked back down to the invite.
"What are you wearing?" her mum asked, adopting the same breezy tone Lily was using.
"Mum, I'm not going," said Lily, quickly taking the invitation back.
"Why not?" her mother protested. "It sounds like fun, and besides you haven't seen any of your friends in ages."
"Mum, I saw them a few weeks ago, in fact, I spend most of my year with them. I don't need to see over the holidays as well."
"Oh Lily," her mum scolded. "You see them during school. That's not the same. You need to see them, have a bit of fun, relax a bit."
"No, look I came home to spend time with you, and dad, and I've hardly seen Petunia at all since she got married."
"Lily you're just making excuses."
"No I'm not, I - "
"Lily," her mum interrupted her, taking her by the hand. "I'll still be here when you get back," she continued, looking straight into Lily's eyes.
Lily felt like telling her not to be silly, that she hadn't even been thinking about that, but the truth was that her mum had just hit the nail on the head.
"You promise?" Lily whispered.
Her mum nodded.
-----------------
When Lily got back into her room that night she found that it was after midnight. After telling her mum more about who would probably be at the party she had decided to tell her the whole story with her and James. Her mum had thought it was the best news she heard in ages and had therefore wanted to discuss it in much detail - blowing the schedule completely out the window.
As Lily sat down on her bed she noticed that Harley had fallen asleep on top of her wardrobe, waiting for the reply. Lily thought it would be rude to wake him, so she decided it would be better to write back to James in the morning. She would just tell him that she had been too busy, which was true, I mean she had been far too busy analysing every conversation they'd ever had with her mum, to reply to him.
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The sound of irritable flapping and hoots of annoyance woke her the next morning. Caitlin's owl Delphium had flown in through Lily's open window and was in the middle of a battle with Harley. It was obvious the pair had already come across each other and didn't get on.
Lily tried to stop the squabble that had arisen in the middle of her bedroom floor, by grabbing Delphium by the leg and yanking her away. Affronted that she had been treated in such a way, Delphium gave Lily her letter as quickly as possible and promptly flew back out the window.
Instead of worrying how she was now going to reply, Lily decided it was best to read the letter first.
30th December, 1977
Dear Lily,
I know I've been absent from your life for a few days, but you could have spared me the shock of coming back to find that your whole world has changed! You and James, are now pen pals or something, is that right? How did that happen? Sirius told me about it yesterday, but as per usual, he was a little sketchy with the details.
Well if you find the time, what with all your letter writing to James, please reply to me, I'm dying to hear what's been going on.
Love Caitlin xx
P.S. See I'm so interested with your news I didn't even mention my few days with Sirius!!
30th December, 1977
Dear Caitlin,
Look I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I had no way to reach you, so you can't blame it all on me!
Yes it's true, James and I have become 'pen-pals'. Remember that letter Sirius got you to write to me, about the thing you didn't get? Well it all started from there, and we've been writing to each other everyday since. We've been really honest with each other in the letters, and to be truthful they've been all that's been keeping me going. It's so much better than when we're at school, there's no one else to interfere for starters!
I'm really glad you've written actually, because James just invited me to a party on New Years, did you hear about it? Anyway, my mum said I could go, but I don't really know how to get to it, so can I go with you? Oh Caitlin, I really want to go, I need to see him in person, I'm tired of hiding behind the letters.
Please write back quickly. I need to know how I'm going to get there!
Lils x
Lily looked at Harley for a moment. There was nothing else for it, she was going to have to get him to deliver the letter to Caitlin, and then ask him to come back to her with the reply. There was no point writing her reply to James, as she didn't even know if she would be able to go yet. She would write that when Caitlin replied.
Sending her reply off with Harley, Lily got dressed and went about the daily housework.
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It was later on that night, and Lily was in the bath. She still hadn't received a reply from Caitlin, and whilst sitting worrying she might have told Caitlin about a party she wasn't invited to, the lights when out.
"LILY!" she heard her mum yelled from her room.
"It's alright, I'll go and check it out!"
Lily somehow managed to make it out of the bath and down the stairs in complete darkness. She drew back the curtain in the living room, to find that the street outside was lit only by a full moon. All the street lamps were out - it was a power cut.
After she had shouted back up the stairs to explain to her mum, Lily plonked herself down on the sofa in the living room. There was nothing else for it but to sit and wait, still sopping wet, with only a dressing gown wrapped round her.
A few hours later, Lily was still waiting. The men from the electricity board had arrived and were busy working outside down a manhole, trying to rectify the problem, but with little success. The more Lily sat the more she was willing them to succeed. The reason for this was because at 17 years of ages, Lily Margaret Evans was afraid of the dark. She had no idea why this was, because as Caitlin had pointed out to her many times, she had met ghosts and she knew they were nothing to be afraid of. She thought that it perhaps had something to do with the fact that in the dark, every slightest noise is amplified, every tiny creak is deafening, and being a witch, she knew that absolutely anything can jump out at you from the shadows.
In fact, what was that?
'Don't be silly Lily, you're imagining things. It's probably just the men working outside.'
Then what was that?
'It's a reasonably old house, sometimes the floorboards creak a bit.'
CRACK.
'Even I can't explain that one away!'
Lily ran to the window to see if there was anything to explain the sudden noise. Sure enough the workers were now all huddled round the manhole, trying to see just what had exploded. Lily sat back down on the sofa and scolded herself for being stupid. She was just about to go in search of some candles - why she hadn't thought of that earlier was beyond her - when there was another sudden noise. This time a steady rapping on her front door.
She paused. She had just looked out the window and there had been nobody anywhere near her door, so how were they now knocking it? After another minutes hard thinking about her wand, lying up in her room, the knocking was still continuing, so Lily decided to answer it.
She fixed her dressing gown a bit, and ran her fingers through her hair.
Lily had hoped the next time she would see James Potter she would be glammed up to the nines, wearing the perfect outfit and have her hair done just so. She had hoped it would have been at New Years, having the time of her life, and showing him just how she was the life of the party. She would not have wanted to have opened her front door to him, in a dressing gown, her hair only half dried and fluffy, and her skin doing that funny dry thing it did when she had just got out of the bath. Her only hope was that there was still only the light of the moon, and so maybe he couldn't make her out that well.
She stood, hand still on her front door, gawping at him. She blinked repeatedly, willing herself to find the words, but couldn't.
"Hello," came James' soft voice, but she found she couldn't return his greeting.
The men from the electricity board would of course, have to pick that moment to switch the lights back on. They cheered when they realised they had fixed the problem, and cheered even louder when they spotted Lily at the doorway to number 3, in all her 'just out of bath' glory.
Lily, still saying nothing, grabbed James by the arm, pulled him into her house and shut her front door firmly behind her, preserving her modesty from the unruly workers. She continued to stare at James, again with repeated blinking.
"Say something?" James offered cautiously.
"Uh. What?" Lily spat out and then realised how cheeky that sounded. She tried again. "What are you doing here?"
"Now Lily," James began, gesturing his hands out in front of him, as if to calm her down. "I've been debating about this all day, and I decided the best way was to be truthful, because that's what I said I would be, wasn't it? Truthful. Well..." He took a deep breath. "Caitlin didn't get your letter, Harley brought it to me." He stopped and watched her intently, waiting for her to explode.
"Ok," Lily said slowly, thinking back hard to see if she had put anything incriminating in the letter. Reassuring herself that she hadn't, she decided to defuse the situation a bit. "Do you want to go inside?" She indicated her living room; James dutifully went inside and sat down on the sofa.
Obviously satisfied that Lily wasn't going to chew his head off about the letter, James decided to go on.
"Well, in your letter, you said you didn't have a way to get to my party, and also... and also that you wanted to see me in person. Well here I am in person, to take you to my party." He did a little nervous hand gesture, to indicate himself.
"Oh right," Lily said half flattered that he wanted her to come that much, have interested to see what was going to happen next. "How do you propose to do that then, at half seven on a Sunday night?"
"Apparate," James said matter-of-factly. "Same way I got here."
"Can't, haven't passed my test," Lily said quickly.
"Floo then," James answered just as fast.
"Not connected," Lily explained.
"Fly?"
"I don't have a broomstick." Lily was beginning to laugh. James was beginning to despair.
"How the hell do you get anywhere?" he asked, exhausted.
"I drive," Lily smiled.
"Oh right ok, but I don't know how to drive to my house." Lily looked at him disbelieving. "Well, it's not like I ever had to!" he reasoned.
"Well I don't know how I'm going to get there then. Listen James, maybe it's best if I don't go."
"Oh no wait! I just thought, I could ask my mum. She'll know how to drive to it. I'll just write to her - but you don't have an owl..." he trailed off.
"Why don't you just apparate back to her?" Lily suggested.
"That'll take too long, besides, I just thought of something else. Do you have a room I could use?" he asked politely.
"Sure you just stay in here, I'll go and make us some tea?" James nodded, and Lily went to the kitchen, wondering what he was going to do that required her to leave the room, but scared to ask all the same.
She came back a few minutes later, two steaming mugs of tea in her hands. She paused just as she reached the living room door, and listened to make sure that the coast was clear.
"Sirius? Sirius?.... Merlin took you long enough.... Listen where are you?.... That's what I thought. Is my mum anywhere around?.... Can you go and find her?.... It's alright, I'll wait...."
Lily had heard enough. Infuriated that James had come into her house, and decided to use her telephone without permission, she threw the door open quickly.
"Potter, you know that's really very rude - " She stopped and stared. James Potter was standing before her not talking into her telephone, but into what seemed to be a perfectly ordinary hand mirror. With her sudden halt, she had managed to spill one of the teas down herself.
"Oh bugger!"
God that was long. Anyway I hope you got through it without falling asleep. As always read and review! I want to get past 200 reviews!
nightwanderer: Yea I suppose it had been a long time since I'd written the last time. Anyway the party's coming up in the next chapter and it will be fun!
Carmel March: Sorry I didn't update sooner, but at least everyone was reasonably content at the end of this chapter! So no 'poor James' or 'poor Lily'!
Oliverwoodschic: Sorry I didn't update so quickly that time, but my computer went mental on me. Anyway rest assured, Lily will go to that New Years party.
lea: ok 5..4..3..2..1.. sleep!
elements-of-the-soul: Ooo you might be on to something there but you'll just have to wait and see. As always I put my own spin onto everything! Keep coming with the predictions, I love seeing how close you get to what is actually going to happen. And also its ok, because Tiny Tim grew up to be the wizard equivalent of Bill Gates, so he was happy in the end.
luvsirius: Well it wasn't four months, but it was still pretty long, sorry! As always thanks for reviewing!
randomfrizzhead: Well yea, Caitlin is a bit of a bitch sometimes. I reread my story a few weeks ago for the first time since I posted it, and I have to admit it does kind of give you a fuzzy feeling!
Lil Bazza: Oh I know, sometimes she can be really stuck up! Anyway thanks for reviewing!
Brighton Baby: Are you in fact from Brighton? It's kool if you are, because I don't think I have any English people reading this story. Anyway I'm going to have to say no to co-writing a story, only because I'm so busy at the moment and this story keeps me on my toes enough. I'm really sorry I don't mean it personally.
Redneck Horse lover: Wow, you reviewed a lot. Thanks for reviewing every chapter. Thanks for adding me to your author alerts! I have a confession to make though, I don't actually speak German. I got a girl from my school to translate that me. In short, I have no idea what you said in German. Sorry! Also what does 'highly recommending' the story actually do?
shortiibaba: Thank you very much. You read the whole thing in one go? That must have taken hours! Well anyway I'm glad you enjoyed it!
FaNFicMainIAC88: They'll be getting together pretty soon-ish. But there will be plenty of cliffhangers after that as well!
Anne-Evans89: They do fight a lot, but it makes a better story. You wouldn't read on if they were happy all the time!
BJ: Oh I'm your favourite? I'm all happy now! Why do so many people read these at 1 in the morning? I do it too, but I'm just wondering why that is. Anyway thanks for your review!
orly23: Thank you very much. Hope you enjoyed that chapter as well, even though it was a bit long.
LadyofRavindor: I probably did, I'm sorry, I do proof read it but sometimes it's too late at night and I couldn't be annoyed! Anyway thanks for pointing that out.
Erin: Sorry I kept you waiting, but at least it wasn't for four months! Anyway thanks for reviewing!
Angela Caldwell: I hope you eventually got to look at chapter 21, and I hope you read this one as well. Thanks for reviewing so much, it really helps push up the review number!
i cant think of one: Yea my computers been down for about 3 weeks and it's a pain in the backside, anyway thank you very much.
ku: I love getting all this praise. I hope you're able to log in one day! Thanks for reviewing!
Crazaylady: It wasn't Caitlin's place to tell James so she didn't. Sometimes she is a bitch but sometimes she is not. I have no idea what Meds are but yes, they probably are stupid!