I awoke the next morning to the loud movements of my roommates. I tried to force my eyes back to sleep, but it was too late. I was now awake. I don't know why, but I just wasn't ready for this day to begin. I looked at my hair, wild and knotted, laying about my pillowcase and groaned. It would take forever to get it combed and into my signature ballerina bun. I sat up, pulling away the emerald curtains surrounding my four poster bed. The other girls had gone to breakfast already. I felt sadness in the pit of my stomach that although I was constantly surrounded by people, I often felt alone. I quickly showered and dressed, then applied my makeup, and tackled my hair. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror; perfect, on the outside anyway. I ignored that thought and left to join the rest of the school in the great hall.
I waved at my family as I passed. I noticed Ares sitting with his group of friends further down and waved to him also; glad he was getting along well in his house. As I walked to the Slytherin table, I noticed Malfoy talking closely with Flint. The past two days Malfoy had been strange. We have been in the same house for 4 years now and it seemed as though he had always stuck close to Flint and their cronies. It didn't register to me until now, that we had never really spoken before then. So it seems odd that he would have addressed me directly twice in only the first couple of days of school. When I spotted him, my first instinct had been to wave when I remembered my previous statement.
Unfortunately they seemed to have noticed my awkward almost wave, so I attempted to smile brightly instead. This must have been the wrong thing to do as Flint suddenly looked seething angry and Malfoy looked like he might faint. I laughed lightly to myself at the comical looks on their faces. I guess I didn't really smile all that often. Maybe they thought I was up to something, I thought as I sat between the twins.
"Good morning Lily!" The twins said in unison.
"Good morning girls. Thanks so much for waking me this morning to come down with you, I really appreciate it," I said sarcastically rolling my eyes.
Before either of the girls could respond I heard the irritating voice of flint hovering over my shoulder, "Good Morning Beautiful."
I tried to keep my composure and not show my obvious irritation, knowing my brothers would be over here to dismiss him any moment now.
"What do you want Flint, your ruining my breakfast," I said trying to sound casual.
"I haven't been able to stop thinking about you my Lily, and those soft sweet lips of yours," He leaned in close to me and was suddenly yanked away.
I looked up expecting to see one of my brothers and instead saw Malfoy looking indignant. They began whispering furiously to one another, it was so low and fast I couldn't understand.
"Oi Flint! I thought we already warned you about messing with our sister!" James was now standing next to my seat looking furious, with an angry Albus, Hugo, Fred, and Frank behind him.
"Why don't you mind your business Potter? Little Potter and I were just having a chat." He smiled creepily at me.
"Don't call me little Potter." I said buttering my toast point.
"Why not little potter? Don't you just love always having your big brothers to run to?" He laughed starkly.
In an instant I was in his face, my wand pressed against his Adams apple, "Say it again, and those will be the last words you ever say."
He laughed at me again," I dare you."
He looked me square in the eye, and suddenly I doubted myself. He shoved me hard and I stumbled back.
"I didn't think so." He snickered.
"LEVICORPUS," Albus shouted with a twist of his wand.
And suddenly Flint was hoisted into the air by his ankles. Everything from his pockets cluttered to the ground as he squealed loudly like a struggling piglet.
"Mess with her again Flint, and we'll leave you like that, where no one will find you." James said laughing.
He muttered the anti- curse and walked up to me, steering me towards the Gryffindor table. Flint and Malfoy quickly left the hall.
"Don't worry Lily, we will always be here to protect you," Al said smiling at me with the same big green eyes as my own.
I smiled back, though nothing inside of me felt joyful at that moment.
I sat down next to Rose. She hugged me and straightened my collar. Rose often acted like a mother hen to me. Always protecting, and coddling me. She was the big sister I never had.
" 'lo lily. I see you are having quite an interesting morning." She smirked at me, handing me a cup of warm tea.
"Ha ha, very funny. All I want to do is eat some breakfast and lye in bed for the rest of the day. Is that too much to ask?" I jested, half seriously.
"Yes, it is. I need someone else to help me tame these heathens," she said her brown eyes looking at our brother's and cousins as they shoveled mass amounts of food into their mouths.
"I take that as a term of endearment," Fred replied bowing to us lightly before shoving an éclair into his already full mouth.
Rose snarled at him, "You are disgusting. Thank you very much for ruining my breakfast."
They continued to argue back and forth when someone grabbed my hand.
"What are you doing Frank?" I asked angrily. It seemed as though I would never get around to eating breakfast.
"I need to talk to you Lily, it's very urgent," he said without turning around.
As we walked quickly out of the great hall I glanced back at my family. Only James, Albus, and Rose seemed to be paying us any attention. James winked, Albus gave a thumb up and Rose looked confused and also…was that hurt? I wasn't sure, but I didn't have time to think about it, as I was being whisked away to the lake.
We reached the lake and Frank dropped my hand and promptly started pacing. I wiped my hands against my shirt; they were now laden with Frank's sweat. He must be nervous.
"What is it Frank. I haven't eaten any breakfast, and I'm quite hungry." I said impatiently.
"Lillian. Lily…Lils I-i…" He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, resembling the fish from the lake.
"What is it Frank? Spit it out already. I haven't got all day." Being hungry always makes me grumpy, and his stalling certainly wasn't helping.
He rummaged around in his pockets for a moment before pulling out a crumpled piece of parchment.
He looked it over and began reading loudly "Dearest Lillian, I… Frank Harry Longbottom am in love with you. I have been for longer than I can remember. You have beauty and charm that reviles any veela, and your heart is even more beautiful than that. You are confident and together, and I have always admired that about you. I have never felt this way about anyone and as I have entered the Triwizard tournament I felt it prudent to let you know how I feel before I go. I can't leave knowing that I have not captured your heart. So Lily, please, would you do me the honor of being my girlfriend." He finished sounding triumphant with a gigantic smile on his sweet face.
I was in complete shock, breakfast totally forgotten at this point. Frank…is in love with me. As strange as it was to say, it felt oddly familiar at the same time. We have grown up together all our lives. Our fathers are so close, Uncle Neville partially named Frank after my father. I love Frank. He has always been like another big brother to me. This must be right.
I smiled wide and jumped into his arms. He kissed me full on the lips; my first real kiss. It was soft, and innocent. My faced flushed and I pulled away smiling. He looked slightly dazed. I felt so happy and free. I was in love for the first time, and it felt amazing! We were walking back up to the castle when a sudden thought hit me and I began to panic.
"Oh no Frank! My brothers!" I said frantically, thinking about what my two over protective brothers would say.
He laughed and kissed my cheek as we walked into the great hall, "Don't worry. I already asked their permission."
I laughed loudly with glee remembering the wink and thumbs up I had received on my way out. In my joyful state I forgot we were standing in the entrance of the great hall and I threw my arms around Frank and kissed him again.
"Bloody hell!" I turned abruptly to see my family walking up to us and noticed the stares of everyone in the great hall, including my Uncle Neville who looked worried.
"Just because we approve of this doesn't mean you can go snogging in front of us whenever you please." James ranted smiling at me.
I turned sharply, my anger flaring up again, "As if I need your permission! Merlin's bloody socks! I am not a child!"
Both of my brothers looked at me shocked and confused.
"We are just looking out for you Lily. We just want to make sure your ok. That's what big brothers do." James said looking hurt.
I felt like an arse. They were being great brothers and I was being a troll of a sister.
I ran and jumped into his arms smiling, "Thank you Jamie."
His expression softened, I didn't even have to explain what I meant, "I love you Lily."
I heard a chorus of awwws throughout the room.
"Hey! I approved too!" Albus said looking between James and I.
I laughed loudly and hugged him, "Thanks Al."
He smiled at me.
"Alright, we get it, family love and all that. Is it possible we could move this after school special away from the entrance?" Hugo said laughing.
We all laughed and began moving away from the entrance when an angry Rose came running out of the hall, her bushy hair in a frenzy, pushing past us all without a word.
"Rose what's wrong," I grabbed her forearm trying to stop her from leaving.
"Well little lily, if you weren't so damn self-absorbed, maybe you would know," tears ran down her cheek and I was completely stunned. She thought I was self-absorbed? How was I supposed to know what was wrong without her telling me. I was so hurt and confused. We never fought, and I honestly don't know what I could have done wrong. No one else seemed to pay any attention to our little spat, as they were all back at the table eating once again. Frank had gone to the table with the rest of my family. I stood there by myself feeling as though I might cry.
"Are you alright Lily?" I looked down to see Ares staring at me with concern.
"No, I don't think I am." I said trying to compose myself.
He stepped forward and hugged me, "She will be alright. Don't worry."
I laughed, his attempt at making me feel better actually worked, although it really should have been Frank here comforting me.
"Thank you Ares, I needed that." I smiled at him.
He stepped back, his face suddenly turning serious, "I don't approve of Longbottom, and I don't think he is good enough for you. But, if he makes you happy then I will deal."
I laughed loudly sitting with my new boyfriend, "Well thank you. I appreciate it."
He tapped Frank on the shoulder, that serious look on his face once again, "One wrong move Longbottom and you will have to deal with me."
Frank laughed and saluted him, "yes sir!"
Frank and I spent the rest of the day together, and seeing as we already knew so much about each other, we certainly weren't using our mouths for talking.
I was so caught up in the whirlwind of my new romance, that I completely forgot what was happening this evening. The triwizard Champions were being selected.