Chapter Seven

"I still can't believe you're leaving for good."

Juliet and Alessandra were both sitting on Lily's bed as she packed her trunks, folding her dresses and carefully putting them inside.

"Maybe this is better," Lily said softly. "But we can still write letters to each other, or visit, we're still in the same country."

"But we'll miss you so much," Alessandra said.

"I'll miss you too," Lily said, pausing.

"You better write," Juliet said. "And we're going to visit as soon as we can."

"I would love that," Lily said, snapping her suitcase shut and looking at them fondly. "Oddly enough, I will also miss this place. I never thought I would, but now… I suppose it grew on me."

"Aren't you worried?" Juliet asked. "I mean, this is a little too sudden, isn't it? Why do you think you're being sent back home?"

"I don't have any idea, but I just want to go back home."

"I'm sorry about what happened with you and James. I really thought he was a decent person."

"I thought so too," Lily said softly.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk to him? I'm sure he has a reason why he did what he did."

Lily looked thoughtful for a moment, but finally shook her head decisively.

"No. I don't want to. I'm afraid to know why. It might make me change my mind about leaving."

"Do you like him that much?"

Lily remained silent. "I've gotten fond of him."

"I'm very sorry," Juliet said sincerely.

"So am I," Lily said.

"Do you have to leave tomorrow?" Juliet asked all of a sudden.

"The sooner, the better."

"I really will miss you, Lily."

Lily got up and hugged the two of them. "Oh, don't make me cry,you!"

"I can't help it, I've gotten used to seeing you every day for months!" Juliet sighed dramatically. "I know we have to part ways sooner or later, but I didn't expect it to be so soon!"

"Neither did I," Lily muttered. "Do you mind? I want to rest now. I have to travel tomorrow."

"We understand," Alessandra said, getting up. "Have a good night's rest, Lily."

"We'll see you tomorrow. Good night," Juliet said, following suit.

Lily watched them leave and when they were gone, she looked around her room wistfully.

"This is the last night I'll be spending in this room," she said to herself as she got up and walked off to turn off the light.

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"Thank you so much for taking care of my daughter," Mrs Evans said, shaking Madame's hand.

"It was a pleasure, Mrs Evans. Your daughter was a pleasure to have in my school," Madame said, giving Mrs Evans one of her wide, fishy grins. And turning to Lily, she added, "I wish you all the best, Lily."

"Thank you, Madame," Lily replied, forcing a smile.

"I know you will do well, whatever path you choose to take in the future," said Madame. "You were an exceptional student, Lily. I'm sure you will find your happiness."

Lily nodded, shifting her coat from her left arm to her right arm.

"I think we should be taking our leave now. Thank you for everything, Madame," Mrs Evans said, ushering her daughter out of the door while the maids carried Lily's things to the car.

"Thank you, Madame," Lily echoed as she walked out the door.

"Are you sure you didn't leave anything? Have you said your goodbyes?" Mrs Evans asked her daughter as they got out of the front door.

"I'm sure," Lily said. "I've already said my goodbyes to my friends before you arrived."

"Excellent," said Mrs Evans. "Shall we, Lily?"

Lily nodded and after one last look at the house that was her home for the past few months, she got into the car, not looking back.

Goodbye.

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Lily didn't realize how long she was sitting in the car for until she saw the familiar streets of Kensington. She looked the rows of houses in her street until they reached the wrought iron gates of the Evans residence, where the maids were waiting for them. She descended the car and nodded at the maids who greeted her enthusiastically.

Lily made her way back to her bedroom, not bothering to wait for her mother and just sank into the warmth and comfort of her bed. She was just honestly glad to be home, away from Jacqueline, away from lessons, away from James.

She barely had the time to think more before her mother entered the room with a slight frown on her face.

"I had not had the time to tell you why we asked you to come home," she began. Lily sat up. Whatever it was, it sounded serious.

"I just want you to know that we want you to have the best, Lily," Mrs Evans hesitated for a moment, "and it was a rather splendid proposal, and-"

"Proposal?" Lily repeated her full attention finally on her mother. "Please tell me you did not agree to marry me off to someone."

"It was perfect!" Mrs Evans said, her tone becoming defensive, "and besides, it was from Lady Potter and we couldn't refuse such a wonderful-"

"So it was a marriage proposal!" Lily cried, "Mother! How could you?"

"Now don't you use that tone with me, young lady!" Mrs Evans said, her voice suddenly authoritative, "I am still your mother, and I still have a say in what I think is best for you!"

"I am eighteen!" Lily said, throwing her hands in the air, "I can decide for myself! You can't decide this for me, Mother, this is my life! I don't care how rich or powerful he is, I don't want to marry him!"

"You can't back down now, Lily, we have formed an Unbreakable Vow."

Lily stared at her, dumbfounded. "An… Unbreakable Vow?" she squeaked out. "Why would you do such a thing, Mother?"

"It's protocol for the Potter family to seal engagements with an Unbreakable Vow, Lily. It is to ensure that both sides keep to their side of the agreement."

"Mother," Lily said, exasperated. "Why?"

"I wanted to make sure that you will be well taken care of!" Mrs Evans said, "Do you not understand that, Lily? I'm worried about you!"

"I can take care of myself, thank you," Lily said coldly. "And I certainly don't need any man to protect me."

"You can't blame me for worrying, Lily, your sister has already wed a fine man and…"

"So just because Petunia got married I should, as well?" Lily shot back, crossing her arms. "I've told you before, Mother, Petunia and I may be sisters, but we are completely different!"

"It's too late, Lily, you can't do anything about it," Mrs Evans said with a tone of finality. "You will marry Lady Eleanor's son."

"You are unbelievable," Lily glared, all respect for her mother disappearing from her tone. "This is beyond anything I expected you to do, Mother. I never thought you would ever sell your daughter off to a stranger."

"Hold your tongue, young lady!" Mrs Evans said, her face getting redder and redder.

"What, you're going to control what I say and feel, too?" Lily let out a sardonic laugh as she turned away from her mother. "You think that because I'm your daughter you can treat me like I'm a doll? Is that all I am, Mother?"

"Lily!"

Mr Evans appeared at the doorway, looking at his wife and daughter's argument. "That's enough, Lily. Apologize to your mother immediately."

"I will, as soon as she withdraws the marriage agreement," Lily said stubbornly.

"I cannot withdraw, and even if I could, I would not!" Mrs Evans half-screamed, a note of hysteria present in her voice. "You will thank me one day."

"A day that will never come," Lily muttered darkly.

"Lily! Don't talk to your mother like that!"

"I will talk as I please!" Lily shouted, tears falling from her eyes, "You can't tell me what to do anymore! I am of age!"

"While you live under my roof, you abide by my rules!"

"I will leave then!"

"Lily," her father said, his voice suddenly calm. "Please, be a little reasonable."

"Reasonable?" Lily laughed mockingly, her eyes unnaturally cold, "she was the one who set up an arranged marriage without asking me, and you want me to be reasonable?"

Without waiting for a reply, she Apparated off.

"What am I to do now?" Mrs Evans said, sinking into Lily's bed. "I thought she would be accepting of the arrangement."

"Azalea," said Mr Evans, "I know you only wanted the best for Lily, but I told you, you should have asked her before arranging it."

"So you're saying that I'm wrong?" Mrs Evans snapped.

"You should talk to Lily when she's calmed down," said Mr Evans as he headed to the door. "Lily is stubborn, but she's a good girl. She'll understand."

"I just don't know what to do with her anymore," Mrs Evans said.

"Lily is an independent girl. She knows what she wants and I know that she will end up making the right choice," Mr Evans said. "She always does. We just have to trust her."

"I suppose you're right."

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"I can't forget the way she looked at me, Padfoot," James said miserably. "You should have seen her, she was unnatural. I have never heard anyone's voice that cold before."

"I don't think I want to see that," Sirius said quickly. "I'm not good with crying women."

"It wasn't the crying, Sirius," James told him. "It was the tone of her voice that scared me. It would have been easier if she cried, but the worst part was that she didn't. The way she talked was what got to me."

"Can't you forget about the girl?" Sirius said, "You're going to marry another girl soon, and-" Sirius was cut off by James's shocked expression, "Your mother hasn't told you yet?" he asked. James shook his head.

"Surprise?"

"What do you mean?" James said urgently.

"Your mother has finally found you a bride-to-be. It's Lily Evans. Her parents said yes."

"Lily?" James repeated. "Oh, that is just wonderful. She has the same name!"

"What, your lady friend's name is Lily?" Sirius said, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "Wow. I suppose it is a common name and thousands of girls share that name. But, wow, of all things, they have the same name! How funny would it be if they turned out to be the same person, eh? But then again, Lily Evans has been in France for months, so it can't be her…"

"Sirius," James snapped, "be quiet."

"Fine, geez, you're too serious," then his expression changed to one of amusement.

"Don't even try," James warned him.

Sirius nodded, his mouth shut, trying not to laugh.

"I'm in the middle of a dilemma and you're laughing! It's great to know how much of a friend you are!"

"I'm sorry!" Sirius said, raising his arms in surrender. "But you have to admit, this is rather ironic."

"It's not funny, Sirius."

"Alright, alright. What do you plan on doing then?" Sirius asked him.

"What do you mean?"

"You can't just leave the poor girl angry at you, can you? It's been days, she must've cooled off even just a little," Sirius said wisely. "I know women, and they want you to be the one to approach them. They'll get even angrier if you leave it as it is."

"Do you really think so?"

"Just go," Sirius said exasperatedly. "You want me to come with you?"

"It would help," James said, looking a little pleading.

The two of them made their way to Madame de Claire's and was greeted by a bad-tempered young housekeeper. Sirius pushed James aside.

"Forgive my friend here, he has some love issues. You seem like a pretty young woman who knows things around here, do you mind helping us out?" Sirius said, strategically flicking his hair and winking at her.

She stared at him for a moment before giggling madly and nodding. James let out a sigh. No one should underestimate Sirius's womanizing abilities.

"What do you want to know?" she asked, batting her eyelids seductively.

"Is Lily in there?" James pushed Sirius aside, making the girl look at him, looking annoyed.

"Lily? The redhead?" she said, "her mother fetched her only yesterday morning. No one knows why, the Madame just received a call from her mother saying that Miss Lily was to be taken home. A pity, too, she was one of the only ones who weren't rude to the help."

"Where does she live?" Sirius asked earnestly.

"Somewhere in London or in Norfolk, I can't remember which. I'm not very sure though, there are many girls here and they come from different places," she answered, still eyeing Sirius hopefully.

"If it's in London, it should be easy to find," Sirius turned to James, completely ignoring the girl. "I'm sure we can find her easily. Though it would be a little more troublesome if she was in Norfolk."

"What am I going to do?" James said, rather desperately.

"Prongs, there's a high chance you won't see this girl again," Sirius said. "And you're set to marry another girl soon. So let's say you manage to find her. What are you going to do then? You can't just go to her and tell her you're off to marry someone else!"

"So you're saying I should forget her," James said it like a statement, not a question.

"Yes," Sirius affirmed, and turning to the girl, he added, "thank you so much for your help."

The girl opened her mouth to speak, but Sirius had already pulled James away from the gate.

"James, you should forget about this girl. I think she's gone for a reason. If you were meant to reconcile with her, don't you think you should have met her by now? She's gone home just yesterday. You could have headed there yesterday. Maybe you two are just not meant to be together, do you understand what I mean?"

James nodded slowly and sighed.

"Maybe you're right."

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Lily walked along the roads of London without really knowing where she was headed to. She dragged her feet along, wanting some time to think before facing her parents again. She didn't know where to go, but she desperately wanted someone to talk to. The first person on her mind was Remus-

Remus.

The words he spoke to her during Petunia's wedding were indeed odd. His reassurance that she will have a happy marriage. His fearful tone when he asked her to never hate him. She thought it was just his usual insecurity, but the more she thought about it, it made sense. And Sirius's congratulations. The two of them were friends with Lady Eleanor's son.

Remus knew about the engagement.

Without thinking, she Apparated to the Lupins' house, ready to confront Remus.

She knocked on the heavy wooden door and the housekeeper, Mrs Thompson greeted her with a smile.

"Lily, dear, what can I do for you?" the older woman asked kindly. "Come on in, have some tea, I just made cookies, too, you like them, don't you?"

Lily nodded mutely, thinking about what she would say to Remus. Finally, she cleared her throat.

"Mrs Thompson, is Remus here?"

"Yes," Mrs Thompson said earnestly. "Let me go ask someone to call him and I will prepare your tea. Sit down, dear, make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you."

Lily fidgeted with the hem of her sleeves as she waited, anticipating what would come. She didn't like confronting people, especially not someone as emotionally vulnerable as Remus.

Remus arrived only minutes later, looking slightly worn out. Nevertheless, he had a smile on his face when he saw her on the couch. She looked at him, but the feelings of hurt and betrayal disappeared the moment she laid her eyes on him. She still couldn't bring herself to look at him in the eyes, something he must have taken notice of because he asked, "Lily, is there something wrong?"

"You know about my engagement, don't you?"

Remus was visibly taken aback by Lily's blunt statement. "Lily," he began.

"And you knew since the wedding," Lily raised her eyes to meet his. "But you didn't tell me. Is that why you were acting so strangely?"

"Lily, I wanted to tell you-"

"I- I just want to know."

After a long pause, Remus said, "I knew."

"I see."

"I wanted to tell you, really I did," he explained. "But it was-"

"Not your secret to tell," Lily finished for him. "I understand. I can't help but feel angry that I was the last person to know , but I understand your point."

"I'm sorry, Lily, I really am," Remus said.

"I know," Lily nodded. "I know, Remus. I'm just so confused and I don't know what to do anymore. When I decided to come here, I wanted to shout at you, I wanted to scream, I wanted to be angry at you, but I can't. I can't. I don't blame you for not telling me, but I wish you had. But I do need someone to talk to right now."

"I'm listening," Remus said, sitting next to her. "I promise to listen, Lily, it's the least I could do."

"I want you to tell me that I will be okay."

"You will be. I know that he will take care of you."

"I'm so confused, Remus. I don't want to be forced to do this, but I have no choice, do I? I'm so angry at my mother for agreeing without my knowledge, but it's no use, it's been agreed on," she said. "I remembered what you said to me at Petunia's wedding. I want that to be true. I want to believe what you said. I don't want to be hurt again."

"Again?" Remus said, his eyebrows arching, "What do you mean again?"

"Do you have time, Remus? I have to tell you something else, it's about the person I told you about at the wedding, the one I said I met while I was at school…"

"I told you, Lily, I'm all ears."

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I apologize if it's too short, but I thought I should cut this here. I'm not promising regular reviews yet, what with life being hectic and all, but I thought, writing might help me relieve a little stress. I'm still sorting plenty of things out, but thank you to those who take the time to read and especially those who review my stories. To those who simply click alert, please leave me some feedback too. What would you guys feel if I uploaded an empty chapter and you receive mail that it has been updated? Because that disappointment is what I feel when I receive alert notices without reviews. Reviews are all I'm getting from you for all this writing, it's not much to ask.

Much love for those who are still reading this. Your encouragement gives me strength and inspiration. I love you guys

And yes, I changed my penname.