Chapter 2: Letters
Author: Laurahonest
Post date: 6-28-06
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. That is J.K. Rowling's honor.
Autor's Notes: Thank Bluejello for editing this.
Charles and Rose Evans were just sitting down to breakfast when Dianna swooped up and tapped on the window, followed closely by another owl. Rose walked over to the window, opened it up, and let the two owls in. Both owls stuck out their legs to have the letters removed. Rose took both letters off and set them down. The strange owl started to fly to the tree in the yard, but Rose called him back when she said, "Wait, let me get you a treat." Both owls hooted and settled down to wait while she found them. When they had finished their treats the strange owl flew out the window to the tree and settled in to wait; Dianna flew to her perch by the window and fell asleep. Rose took one letter and gave the other one to Charles. Both of them settled in to read their letters. Rose ripped open her letter and found that it was the one from Lily.
Dear Mum and Dad,
School is going well. My grades are good, but the classes are getting harder. It is easier than I thought it would be to work with James. He is nice and funny and we have even become friends. It is strange how well we get along when just last year we hated each other. Marlene says "Hi," she wants to come over this summer for a while. I will write about it more, later.
I wondered how you felt about our invitation to visit the Potters over Christmas. James is a nice guy (I know, I actually admitted it) and most of my friends will be there. I wasn't sure if you had any ideas or plans for this year to celebrate. I know Petunia is celebrating with Vernon's family and would rather not see me. James has assured me that his parents would love to have "conversation with people nearer to their age" as he put it. I assume that means you. He also said that it would be interesting for you to see how a pureblood wizarding house works; I think he also meant me. It would be fun but if you have already made plans we can definitely stay home. Dianna is waiting for your answer.
Love to both of you,
Lily
The letter Charles opened was a little bit different.
Dear Sir and Madam Evans:
I, James H. Potter, do humbly beg that you accept the invitation of Gerald and Selene Potter and come to visit us over the Christmas holidays. We would love to have the pleasure of your company for our festivities.
I don't wish to spend two weeks out of your lovely daughter's sight. Your daughter doesn't know or has yet to accept the fact that I am madly in love with her. I am hoping to make my feelings known to her this Christmas. I assure you that I have your daughter's best intentions at heart in this matter, and I wish her only the best, with or without me. I seek your permission to ask Lily to become more than my friend. I love her and someday with your permission wish to marry her. Please come over this holiday so that I may ask your permission in person. I would like to get to know you and allow you to become acquainted with me.
Sincerely,
James H. Potter
P.S. The owl's name is Hector; he won't come unless you call him by name.
Charles set the letter down, rubbed his eyes, picked it back up and reread it. It still said exactly the same thing, so he wasn't imagining this. He set the letter back down and rubbed his forehead with a sigh. Rose looked at him with concern and asked "What is it, Charles?"
"It seems our Lily has a suitor," he said with another sigh, "A mister James H. Potter wants our permission to pursue Lily."
"James H. Potter," said Rose, "that sounds familiar. Isn't he the one whose house we have been invited to for this Christmas?" Rose picked up the letter from Lily and reread it.
"Yes," sighed Charles, "it is, he is also the Headboy this year. I like him better than Vernon already. He at least asked permission. I think that we should go and meet this boy before we give permission or deny it."
"Well, let's send Lily a letter and tell her to accept the invitation for all of us. You send him a letter telling him we are withholding judgment until we have met him. Let me read his letter while you read hers," said Rose as she handed Charles the letter from his youngest daughter. They each settled in to read the new letter. When she had finished reading James' letter she sighed and tried to gather her thoughts. "Well," she said after a long pause, "he has either been raised writing formal letters, or he is being pretentious. I would say that he was raised to it judging by the formality of the invitation from his parents. Let's definitely meet him before we make a decision. I'll write the letter to Lily and tell her to accept. You write him back and nicely tell him that we are withholding a decision until we meet him. Be sure and tell him that we respect him for asking our permission before pursuing her." Rose bustled around looking for pens and the parchment that Lily left for them to use.
When she had found some she set a piece down for each of them and they settled in to write their letters. Silence reigned the kitchen for a while. Both owls had fallen asleep while they waited for the replies they had been ordered to get.
Twenty minutes later, Rose sighed and started to reread her letter to Lily.
Dearest Lily,
Your father and I think that it would be very fun and informative to stay for the Holidays with the Potter family. We would like for you to send an acceptance letter to them. The invitation was very formal, be sure and make your acceptance letter formal as well; it would be rude to send a casual acceptance to a formal invitation. Be sure and inquire as to how your parents are to arrive as we can't floo or apparate. Also be sure and ask James if we will need anything special to wear, bathing suits, formal wear, you know what I mean. We need to be prepared, it would be embarrassing to have to borrow things from our hosts.
We will put some extra money into your Gringotts account so that you can get presents for all of the children who will be attending. We will get presents for all of the adults. Make sure you send us a list of all the people who will be there so we are sure not to miss anyone. If you need anything be sure to owl us. Behave and do well on your school work.
Love you lots,
Mum
Charles, not having to give motherly advice, finished his letter much sooner and was now reading the paper. Rose reached over for the letter to James and read it.
James H. Potter
We thank you for asking our permission before pursuing our daughter. It shows us your sincerity and respect for our authority. We are going to ask you to hold off on your suit until we have met you over the Christmas holidays. We have instructed Lily to accept your parent's invitation. She should be sending her acceptance letter to your parents in a few days. After we have met I will give you a definite answer.
Until Christmas,
Charles R. Evans
Rose was satisfied with both letters. She tied them up and called to the owls. Both flew over immediately and she tied the letters on their legs. She double-checked that the right letter was tied to the right owl then told them to take the letters to their masters. She turned back to Charles and said "I hope we are doing the right thing here Charles."
"Rose, we are going to her friend's house for Christmas. We are meeting a boy that likes our daughter and we might give him permission to court her. If she doesn't like him, she will tell him so. Our daughter is a big girl now," said Charles reassuringly.
That evening Lily and James were sitting in the common room doing homework when they were interrupted by owls tapping on the window. Lily opened the window and let the owls in. Dianna settled on her shoulder while she untied the letter, then she flew off to sleep in the owlry. Lily opened up her letter and read, a small smile on her face. When she was done she looked up to see James watching her. Well, she thought, I might as well ask him all of the questions mum wants me to right now.
"James," she said, "my parents want to come for Christmas."
"That's great, Lily" said James.
"Yes they want me to ask you some questions. Can you answer them for me now?" she asked.
"Fire away," said James.
"Do we need to bring any specific clothes?"
"You will need to bring a bathing suit and a masquerade gown," he answered.
"Ok, is there a specific theme to the masquerade ball?" was her next question.
"The theme is famous deceased witches and wizards," answered James.
"How are my parents going to get there?" she questioned, "They can't use floo powder and they can't apparate."
"Have them meet you at King's Cross like normal. We will all drive to my house together, it isn't very far. I will have to ride with you. Muggles can't get onto our grounds without a member of the family with them while they pass through the gate," explained James.
"Ok, that makes sense, I guess. Last question," Lily promised as she grabbed quill and a spare piece of parchment, "Who all is coming? I need to know every person that will be there or mum will kill me."
"Jeez, Lily," whined James, "I thought we were almost done when you said last question."
"Come on, James," Lily prompted, "the sooner you start the sooner you will be done."
"Ok," sighed James. "Me, my parents Gerald and Selene, Sirius, Remus, Peter, Peter's mum Anne, Marlene, Frank, Alice, Broderick and his parents Susan and David, you, your parents, Topsy, Wheezy, and Fang."
"You didn't have to name the pets, James," laughed Lily.
"Fang is our dog, but Topsy and Wheezy are the houselves," James smirked. "Oh yeah, and Uncle Reese and Aunt Arabella. She is a squib, but we love her and she loves cats. If you want to make her love you forever, get her a cat."
"Is that everyone?" Lily asked as she scribbled 'get her a cat' next to Aunt Arabella's name on her list.
"Yeah, that is everyone unless we have some party crashers. The Masquerade Ball will have more people but those are the only ones that will be there for Christmas," said James.
"Thanks, James, that should satisfy them. Do we have a Hogsmead weekend between now and Christmas?" Lily wondered out loud.
"Yes, it is in a week," said James.
"Oh yeah, we planned that two weeks ago didn't we?" Lily said, rather embarrassed that she had forgotten. "The Masquerade Ball is famous deceased witches and wizards?"
"Yes, it is," said James.
"I'll have to get my parents costumes too then," said Lily. "Pity Professor Binns never teaches about anything besides Giant wars and Goblin rebellions. Thanks James, I'm off to the Library," Lily finished as she left the room.
James watched her leave with a smile then bent to reread the letter he had received. He was certain that after New Year's he would have permission to date Lily. Her dad would like him, he just knew it; most adults did. After he had permission came the task of changing Lily's mind about him. That was the hardest part but he was already half-way there by getting her to be his friend. That had been incredibly hard. Sirius, Remus, and Peter hadn't thought that he would get that far. Well, Remus had thought that if he did like she asked and stopped being so cocky that he might stand a better chance. He had proved them wrong once and he would do it again. Sirius and Peter still thought that he would never get Lily Evans to date him. He would date Lily and maybe someday he would marry her as well.
In the library Lily was busy trying to write a formal acceptance letter. This was harder than she had thought it would be. She was determined to get it right. She threw one more piece of crumpled parchment in the trash before she went to ask Madam Pince for help. Madam Pince knew the perfect book for Lily to use; it was called Proper Letters: a Guide to Formal Letter Writing. Lily settled back in at her table and flipped through the book until she found the entry on formal acceptance letters. She grabbed a quill and started to write.
Dear Sir and Madam:
It is my honor to accept your gracious invitation on behalf of myself and my parents Charles and Rose Evans. We will meet you at King's Cross Station on December 18 at 4 p.m. as specified by James H. Potter. I humbly thank you for inviting us to visit you home.
Sincerely,
Lily M. Evans
Satisfied with her letter, Lily copied it over to her fine parchment and walked to the owlry to send it to the Potters.