Not J.K. Rowling. Although I do wish I owned James, thankyouverymuch.
Author's Note:
I knew what I wanted to do with this chapter content-wise, but had a bit of trouble writing it. Apologies for any awkward dialogue or out-of-characterness!
Also, to the two people who reviewed, I lovveee youuu! You have no idea how excited I was to see I had two reviews! A bit pathetic. ;) Next chapter should be up by next weekend-Wednesday if I'm on the ball. I hope to upload 2-3 chapters next week, but we'll see.
I'm also still trying to figure out how exactly to work the Doc manager. :( Sorry about any formatting issues, etc.
Mischief Managed,
The Quirky Quill
"Petunia," my mum said, narrowing her eyes at my sister. "Lily." I received the same slightly scary look. "You are both going to behave tonight." After Vernon had arrived, she had dragged Pet and me into the kitchen to 'talk'.
I fidgeted uncomfortably. Last time Vernon came over, I had a sudden burst of immaturity and hit him with an itching hex. Since he didn't know about my magic, he didn't have an explanation for the sudden, violent itching and had made a quick escape.
"Lily-you may not like Vernon very well, but he's about to become family; the least you can do is treat him politely. Petunia-please refrain from making derisive comments about your sister. You both only have one sister, and your relationship can only take so much," she warned.
"I'm going to tell Vernon about Lily's abnormality after dinner," Petunia broke in. "I wouldn't want him to lose his appetite."
I scowled at her. She turned up her nose at me and flounced into the dining room.
"Lily," my mum said softly. I turned to look at her. "Your dad and I are so proud of you. Try not to let Petunia's words hurt you. Her behavior is inexcusable, if explainable. She was jealous, you know, when you received your Hogwarts letter. Jealous that you were special. And then you left to go to school and she felt as though she'd lost you. Granted, you tried to keep in touch, but she made her decision, and I can't change that. But even if you can't be the friends you once were, try to be happy for her. She can be insecure, and she's found security in what she considers a 'normal' life-the life Vernon will give her. I know Vernon isn't your idea of happiness-he certainly wouldn't be mine-but being happy for Petunia's the best thing you can do for her right now."
"She's going to make me sound like a freak, mum," I said bitterly. "She won't be able to tell Vernon about my magic without making me look bad."
My mum gave a small smile. "Your dad and I know you're not a freak, Lils, and James is a wizard, so he probably thinks we're freaky. What is it you call us non-magical people-mungles?"
"Muggles, mum." I smiled in spite of myself.
"Anyway, the only one who's opinion of you may be affected tonight is Vernon's, and do you really care what he thinks?"
I laughed, then. "I don't. Frankly, I hope he's frightened of me. I suppose terror is the next best thing to respect."
Mum laughed. "All right, then. Into battle we go," she joked. She had managed to relax since her near nervous-breakdown earlier.
Dinner was not a pleasant affair. After briefly interrogating James about our school-"co-ed, is it? Schools are becoming so liberal nowadays."-Vernon turned the conversation towards himself. He worked at a company that made drills. These drills were, I discovered, hardly an enthralling subject.
When the conversation began to shut down my brain and make my eyes glaze over, I turned my attention from the constantly moving mustache to James, who was politely listening to the mustached monster drone on about his precious drills.
James hadn't said much during dinner-I had briefed him before Vernon's arrival on the situation and he knew not to mention anything remotely related to the wizarding world. Unfortunately, as a pureblood, this restricted him to complimenting my mother on the food. Even this was rather dangerous, I discovered.
"Mrs. Evans, you cook as well as our house-elves."
I glared at him pointedly. He choked on his red wine. "House-maid," he finally gasped out. "You cook as well as our housemaid. She's from Italy," he added hurriedly. I brought my napkin to my face to disguise the fit of giggles threatening to erupt.
"Thank you, dear," my mum said, raising one eyebrow.
"So, John," Vernon said in a bored voice. "Play any sports at this school of yours? Or do you prefer the library?"
I nearly lost control then and there. I don't think I had ever seen James in the library in all six years of Hogwarts, even during our OWLs in fifth year.
"James," James corrected politely, his laughing eyes meeting mine for a moment. "I'm actually captain of our-uh-"
"Cricket," I mouthed to him.
"Crooked team?" James finished, looking rather puzzled.
My father, whom I had told all about Quidditch, and had caught our exchange, didn't bother to hide his amusement. "Ah, Crooked," he declared. "Such an...invigorating sport. I think we should move this little conversation to the sitting room, no? Who wants coffee?" He glanced pointedly at Petunia, who pursed her lips and flushed pink with annoyance.
"Vernon," proclaimed Petunia dramatically, "I have something I must tell you."
We had all settled into the living room with our coffee and were ensconced by an awkward silence when Petunia finally spoke.
"It's a family issue," Petunia continued, looking down her nose at me. I bristled under her glare. "Lily has a little problem."
Be happy for her. Happy for her. He's making her happy. You don't care what she says, because Vernon's opinion doesn't matter. Happy. UGH.
"She's a witch."
That was tactful, Petunia dear. Believable, too. I rolled my eyes.
Vernon looked incredulous. "Excuse me?
"A witc. Magic," Petunia said petulantly.
I pulled my wand out reflexively-unfortunately, I had forgotten I had stored it down the front of my dress. James' eyes widened, my mother raised her eyebrows, and my dad looked a bit annoyed. Oh well. There were bigger problems at hand. Namely, Vernon.
I flicked my wand lazily and Vernon's coffee cup-turned-mouse hopped off his saucer and scuttled under the china cabinet. I hid a smirk as his eyes bugged out unattractively and he gaped at me.
As Petunia didn't seem inclined to say anything, I leaned back in my seat and said bluntly, "I'm a witch. I can do magic. I go to Hogwarts, a school for witches and wizards, and I am rather adept at turning people into toads." The last was a lie, of course, and anyway, James was the natural at transfiguration. I could charm him green though, as he was already rather toad-like...
Vernon seemed to connect the dots and his gaze darted nervously towards James.
"Yes," I said, enjoying his discomfort. "James is a wizard. And he's even better at turning people into toads than I am."
My dad shot me a reproving glance, but I saw amusement in his eyes. My mum's lips were quivering slightly, as though she were holding back a laugh.
"Now that you've told him," James finally cut in, "can someone explain what this 'Crooked' sport is? And what is a drill?"
I snickered as Vernon gaped in James in astonishment. "You...don't know...what a drill is?" he stammered.
James frowned. "Well, I gathered it was some muggle contraption, but-"
"Muggle?" interrupted Vernon, beginning to sound hysterical.
"Vernon, I understand this is all a bit much," My mum broke in soothingly, "but I'm sure you understand that Petunia wanted you to know."
"I didn't," Petunia muttered.
"I wouldn't tell anyone if I had a...freak in the family!" Vernon exclaimed, his florid complexion darkening.
My dad's face went stony. "We're delighted that Lily has magic," he said stiffly. "She's a hard worker and no more abnormal than either you or Petunia."
Vernon grimaced. "Of course I wouldn't dream of breaking our engagement..."
Oi! I should bloody well hope not! I addressed and stamped every one of your invitations, you little...
"...just because Petunia has a sister with, er, problems. But," he added, "I don't want her kind around us. They can't come to the wedding and I don't want Petunia associating with them once we're married."
He's setting terms? "I'm afraid," I said icily, "that you can't prevent me from ever seeing my sister. Blood ties are strong, you know. I'm also a bridesmaid, not to mention James is my date to the wedding." Oops...I hazarded a glance at James. His eyebrows had risen and disppeared beneath his messy black hair.
"Vernon," Petunia intoned in a high-pitched voice, "I think we should leave now."
She seized his thick arm and they hastened from the room. Moments later I heard the click of the front door closing.
James had an undecipherable expression on his face. "Could I have a word with you, James?" I asked hesitantly.
He followed me into the hall. "Do you mind going to the wedding with me, as friends, you know? I just wanted to annoy Vernon, and having a witch AND a wizard at his wedding will certainly do the trick. You don't have to, though, if you'd rather not, although-"
He grinned. "You're babbling, Lily."
I felt myself flush red.
"But I don't mind going with you. As friends, of course. I'll need muggle formal wear, though. I think he might actually try to murder me if I showed up in dress robes." He grimaced.
"So James Potter can take on the Slytherins but he's scared of Vernon Dursley," I teased.
"Hardly," he scoffed, "but I might accidentally kill him instead and I don't fancy a jaunt in Azkaban."
I rolled my eyes. "Sorry about that scene," I mumbled a bit embarrassingly.
"Don't apologize. Petunia and the walrus are exactly as you described them."
"The walrus?" I laughed.
"Well, you know how I am about nicknames. Fits, too," he replied.
We returned to the sitting room to see my mom leaning back in her chair, eyes shut, and my dad staring broodingly at the wall, turning his glass in his fingers. He looked up at our entrance. "So, you two are together?"
"No!" James and I exclaimed at the same time.
My parents both raised their eyebrows.
"We're just going to the wedding as friends. Petunia wanted me to have a date, and I kind of wanted to annoy her and Vernon," I admitted, feeling rather immature.
"Oh," said my dad, sounding happier. "Well, it will annoy them all right. I can only hope Lily's taste in men is better that Petunia's, when the time comes," he added.
James' lips twitched slightly. I flushed.
"I'm really sorry about that," my mum apologized. "That was a rather dramatic...spat."
James grinned. "I wouldn't have missed Lily turning threatening to turn Vernon into a toad for the world."
Of course.
"So, James," my Father began, changing the subject, "Lily tells me you're the Gryffindor Quidditch captain. Makes non-magic sports seem rather...lame," he added ruefully.
James grinned. "Don't know much about muggle sports, but I'm rather fond of Quidditch."
"Obsessed," I coughed.
"And you're, Head Boy with Lily, isn't that right?" my father asked, ignoring me.
"Yes," answered James, winking at me.
They began to discuss Quidditch and my mum and I headed to the kitchen to clean up.
"He's a nice boy," my mum said conversationally as I joined her at the sink. "Nicer than Vernon," she added.
My eyes widened at what she was insinuating. "Mum! No! We-we're just friends. Nothing more. A relationship would never work out," I finished firmly.
She merely smiled. I frowned, annoyed.
"Really," I insisted.
"Good-looking too," she smiled. "That messy black hair and those dreamy hazel eyes. Quid-whatever the sport is-has done his body good, too. His arms."
I was fairly sure my face and hair were matching. I buried my flaming face in my hands. "Mum, ew! That's just wrong!"
She grinned and shrugged. "Merely the facts, dear."
"I don't know if I can go say goodbye after that!"
"Really, Lily," she rolled her eyes. "You're not thirteen anymore. Still blushing at the mere mention of the male species?"
I scowled and returned to the sitting room, where James was thanking my father for his hospitality. "Hey," he said, looking as my red face with curiosity. "Tomorrow, half eleven, Leaky Cauldron?"
"Yes," I replied rather weakly.
"Bye, Mr. Evans. Pleasure to meet you." He paused at the kitchen door. "Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Evans. Dinner was delicious. You cook as well as our house elves. Not our housemaid from Italy." He winked. My mum giggled.
I dragged him to the door. "Quit flirting with my mum, Potter."
He grinned. "Just being my usual charming self. Goodnight, Lily."
He was obviously more comfortable than he had been that afternoon. For some reason, his cheek and joking arrogance didn't bother me like it would have last year. I wondered just how much he had matured. I supposed I would find out when his Head Boy duties were thrust on him.
"G'night, James," I replied thoughtfully.