:aVOIDING POTTER OR NOt:

Author- magical.harlz

Disclaimer- Well, it would be lying if I said Jk didn't own HP characters/places/things etc and she'd probably sue me. So I must say, she created it. Sighs, if only my imaginations were real…

Notes-. I only had one review for the 2nd chapter and I must say I was a bit disappointed. Thanks to mistinthenight for reviewing, you rock big time mate and I appreciate it. But I do thank ALL of those who reviewed the first chapter too. You know, all up so far I've had just over a hundred hits and only five reviews? I'm a bit… disappointed I admit but however, I am very grateful for the reviews I did get! So thanks a bunch. Also if you're all wondering if James is starting to like Lily, well I mainly wrote that whole "almost" kissing part because he felt sorry for Lily and how mean her sister is to her. So he wasn't really thinking. Glad that's been cleared up lol. :D

Just so you know this is IMPORTANT!- I've decided to speed things along and make it the day of Lily's party aka the day before her ACTUAL birthday. Just please review! Hehe

Chapter 3

I rolled over in my bed to check my alarm clock and fell onto the floor with a loud thump!

I groaned as I got up and rubbed my sore bum. "Stupid… bloody… too early… dumb bed…" I muttered as I got back into bed and looked at my alarm clock.

2:30 pm it read.

I sighed, the reason I slept in so late is because I didn't go to sleep until 5 o'clock in the morning; due to nervousness of course.

I chucked the covers over my head and was almost asleep again until mum called "Lily wake up! I've let you sleep in long enough; you need to get ready for the party!"

The PARTY!

I jumped up and fell out of bed again and mum came running in and saw me sprawled out on the floor.

"Don't tell me you forgot" she said smirking.

"Um, guilty" I answered as I got up off the floor AGAIN!

"So, are you gonna get dressed?" she asked frowning.

"Um… yeah. I'm just gonna go to the toilet first" I said and left the room. When I came back she wasn't there so I figured she was downstairs. I grabbed out my black mini shorts and my green t-shirt. It had "All stars ROCK!" I dunno but I like all stars. I didn't put on any shoes because I couldn't be stuffed.

I decided to change the time for the people to come. Instead they should be here at six because I need time to get everything ready. I sent them letters and told Sirius and James over the back fence when I went out the back to see my dog Chum who is a black Labrador and he's a fat dog. I love him to bits and I take him for heaps of walks and he gives me heaps of cuddles. We get along really good. I still remember the first time he met James and Sirius. He loved Sirius yet he didn't really like James; he barked and growled at him. I just laughed, I feel bad but I mean it was funny. Chum is usually protective over me but I don't get why he likes Sirius. Hmm, Sirius is an oddball; maybe Chum can sense that and feels sorry for him. Poor kid…

I walked downstairs into the kitchen and saw mum icing the cake. It is full on chocolate. I mean it, chocolate icing, chocolate batter, chocolate middle and mini chocolate frog heads were stuck inside it like a surprise. Mum decided to write "HappY birthdaY LilY!" on it with green icing. I think its sweet actually and there is seventeen candles. So that's quite a lot that I have to blow out.

"Looks yum mum" I said smirking at my rhyming. She smiled; "thanks sweetie" and she hugged me tightly and I hugged her back.

"One more day and you're gonna be seventeen. My little baby is going to come of age finally! Oh my god I'm so excited!" she squealed and I grinned. "Is dad gonna be home?"

Her face fell. "I'm sorry sweetie he got called out of town but he'll be home the day after tomorrow"

"So in other words, he won't be here for my birthday?" I asked sadly.

"I'm really sorry sweetie. But he wishes you a happy birthday" she said kissing my head.

I nodded and went into the lounge room, and felt like crying. My dad is never home. I barely get to see him! It isn't fair; he always misses my birthdays ever since I went to Hogwarts. He's only been here for one and that was my fourteenth. I sighed and started to grab all the dvd's that we could watch.

And hour until everyone gets here.

Petunia has kept out of my way. She preferred to stay up in her room talking to darling Vernon, who is her boyfriend that she had for four weeks since before the holidays. Trust me, I've seen photos of him and he is a WHALE! No offence, but he takes up half of our dining room table all by himself. He came around but Petunia made me stay up in my room because she said that I would disturb them. But then they went up into her room for a while, and I'm pretty sure I heard a few noises coming from her room like banging on the wall for instance. If you know what I mean… which I'm pretty sure you do!

Anyway, she's going to stay at his place tomorrow night. He's a year older then her and she met him at Centro, which is the mall here.

"Lily! Can you come here please?" mum called. I walked into the kitchen and looked at her curiously. "Yeah?"

"Can you go down the street quickly and get some more food for the party? We need more if that Sirius boy is coming"

I smirked and nodded. "Yeah sure" I said and I went and put on my thongs and walked off out the front door and down the street to the supermarket.

I packed the trolley with food of all sorts; chips, oreos, tones of lollies, more chips, more lollies, chocolate, more chocolate (Remus' case not mine. Well maybe it is mine… a little!) And heaps of other junk that would be perfect.

"Oh crap I forgot the nachos" I said and hurried back down the isle to get them. By the time I got back to the check out, the line had gotten bigger. "Great" I said grumpily.

"LILY!" I heard someone shouting my name. I looked down the checkout line and saw Heather, James and Sirius in the line and were waiting to go next.

I hurried over to them and grinned. "Hey! I was just getting more things for the party" I said showing them the trolley. I nodded and Sirius grinned. "I'm gonna be in food heaven!" he said staring off into space. Me and James glanced at each other and smiled and looked away.

Ever since James had almost kissed me, we were sort of civil towards each other. We were sort of nervous and he never brought up the topic so I took his hint and said nothing about what happened, or what almost happened.

They let me in front of them, or should I say the forced me in front. I didn't exactly like the idea of pushing in but they told me they were fine with it, although other people weren't. They glared and muttered and James said; "Excuse me, I don't know if you know, but it's her birthday tomorrow and she is gonna be seventeen. So yeah, give her some respect" the other people who were waiting fell silent and I smiled gratefully at James and he smiled back. I put my stuff through and thanked them and said goodbye and left, carrying tones of bags home.

When I finally reached home I saw that it looked dark on the inside. I walked faster up to the front door, afraid of what I might find. Had something gone wrong while I was at the grocery store?

I walked in and saw that the house was completely dark. I walked into the kitchen and stubbed my toe on the fridge.

"Shit!" I said angrily and put things onto the table.

I walked into the lounge room and turned on the light and jumped back in surprise.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILY!"

"Oh my god!" I said gaping at the lounge room. People were in the lounge room, hiding behind the couch, the TV, the coffee table etc and they all had grins on their faces.

Just then there was a loud CLICK and a flash over took me as Becky took a photo. Obviously I must have looked funny because I was gaping at everyone in the room. I checked my watch. Its only 5:50 pm and everyone is here ten minutes early. I didn't plan this!

"Wha- how- why- how" I stuttered staring at everyone in disbelief and they all laughed.

"We wanted to surprise you Lils" Emm said her smile fading.

"You certainly surprised me!" I said still gaping at everyone.

"We thought you'd like it. Sorry we just-"

"Its bloody fantastic! I'm really, I wow!" I said and grinned. Becky and Emm rushed forwards and hugged me tightly and I hugged them back. "I missed you guys so much" I said smiling.

"We missed you too" Emm said.

"I smell chocolate" Remus said and we all laughed.

"Well luckily for you, I just went out and got some!" I said smiling. He smiled too and hugged me.

"Happy Birthday for tomorrow Lils" he said kissing my cheek. "Thanks Remus" I said smiling.

Then Sirius almost bowled me over with a hug so massive it wasn't funny.

"Oh my gosh! Lily you silly um… dilly! You're the youngest and the last of us to turn seventeen oh! I'm so excited! Where's the food?" he asked as he buried his head into my shoulder.

I just laughed and stepped back. "Its in the kitchen" I said and he dashed for it, with mum hurrying after him. Just then I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned and James stood there smiling. "Happy birthday Lily" he said kissing my cheek softly.

"Thank you" I said smiling at him. Petunia walked out of the lounge room without a backwards glance and James gave me sympathetic smile. I just sighed.

"Oh she is so gonna regret that" Becky said and I grinned sheepishly.

"You betcha" James said with a smirk. "She's not gonna know what hit her" and I laughed.

"You guys are so evil! Now we better go get some food otherwise there'll be none left"

"Oh there will be" Becky said threateningly and hurried into the kitchen.

I turned to James. "How is it that you managed to get here before I did yet I finished before you?"

He winked. "Magic" he said and pulled me by the arm into the kitchen.

"I challenge you to a sculling contest. The first to down a bottle of coke wins"

"Wins what?" I asked smirking.

"A… chocolate frog" he said.

"Oh come on! That's not even tempting me!" I said punching his arm.

"Alright, looser… has to be the winner's slave" a mischievous glint appeared in his eye.

"Deal. Your on" I said shaking his hand.

"Bring it on Evans"

"Do you know who you're challenging Potter?"

"A girl" he said simply.

"Oh you are gonna regret that!" I said and we raced each other to the fridge.

"Attention everybody! Evans and I have decided to have a sculling contest. The last one still drinking has to be the winner's slave. Remus- You're the judge" he said and everyone gathered around mum smiling.

We grabbed our bottles of drink and he nodded. "Bottoms up"

I nodded. "Cheers" I said and we clinked our bottles and Remus said; "GO!"

We both lifted our bottles and started drinking and cheering started immediately.

It was either a chant of 'Lily' or 'James'.

I glanced over at James. He had already downed a quarter.

I started taking bigger mouthfuls and Sirius stood there pulling faces trying to make us laugh.

I tried my best not to laugh, and it worked because James had downed half his and he started laughing, spraying the kitchen with coke and I kept drinking, and he continued even though Remus said; "James is so out of it" and Emm agreed.

James reached out a hand to my ribs and started to tickle me while he still drank his drink. I laughed and squirmed out of his way and kept drinking although it looked like he was actually beating me now.

But I had one more trick up my sleeve.

I kicked him in the back of the leg and pretended to choke. He stopped drinking and looked at me curiously until he saw me take a last mouthful and his eyes widened. I swallowed with a humungous effort and everyone cheered and James said; "You cheater!"

"Actually you both cheated. So no one is the winner! You are both MY slaves!" Remus said playfully.

"Come off it! Lily one fair and square!" Becky said grinning and patting my back while Emm beamed with pride.

"Oh come on! I won! She tricked me! I thought she was choking!-"

"We all did!" Sirius said smiling at me and patting my head. "Well done Lily flower!"

James sighed in defeat. "Alright Evans, you won. What would you like me to do?"

"Clean up your mess" I said pointing at the coke puddle he'd spat out. He grabbed out his wand.

"With out magic!"

His face fell. "NO fair"

"Fair and square!" I said smirking and everyone laughed as he bent down and scrubbed with a cloth. When he was finished she chucked it back into the sink.

"You are evil!" he muttered into my ear when everyone else started eating. Goosebumps went up my arms and I tried to ignore the fluttery feeling inside my stomach.

A/N: Did ya like it huh? Tomorrow is the last day! YES!!!!!!

Please review!

Luv ALWAYS- magical.harlz xx