Be Here Now

Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter.

A/N: Oh my Merlin, it is chapter TWENTY! I've come so far since chapter one! I know I said that there would only be twenty chapters, but I want to cover their whole seventh year in this story, so obviously there will be more than twenty. After all, it's only Christmas Eve!

Eclare LJ and Percabeeth: Don't be ashamed of yourself! Thank you!

xXRiaxThexNicaxDhampirex123Xx: Accepted. Thank you, and I try to! Thanks for reviewing!

thepottersheir: Thank you so much, it truly means SO MUCH to me! Thank you for reviewing!

And here's chapter twenty!

x.o.x.o.x.

"Mum, Dad? I'm home!" a fourteen-year-old Lily Evans calls into the house as she steps into the foyer after her third year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Silence greets Lily, and she tiptoes in, scared.

"Mum, Dad?" she calls again, stepping into the kitchen.

She gasps. Lying on the ground is her beloved mother, Rose Evans. Lying there silent, cold, and not breathing. Dead. Lily's heart breaks as she falls onto her knees, hugging her mother's dead, cold body to her tightly as her tears fall freely off her face onto her mother's face. Setting her mum gently on the ground, Lily stands, wiping her eyes. "Dad?"

Lily makes her way into the living room and gasps again. Her beloved father is lying on the ground, also dead. As the realization that she is now an ORPHAN rings in her ears and heart, she falls again, this time sobbing over the body of her deceased father whom she had loved so much.

"LILY, YOU FREAK! MUM AND DAD ARE DEAD, D-E-A-D, BECAUSE OF YOU! GET OUT, GET OUT!" Petunia's shrill voice screams from her room. "YOU ARE NO LONGER PART OF MY FAMILY! A FREAK LIKE YOU IS NO SISTER OF MINE! GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT! I DON'T WANT YOU NEAR MY PARENTS' DEAD BODIES! GET OUT! YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS STAYING HERE AT ALL! IF YOU DON'T GET OUT, I PROMISE TO CALL THE POLICE AND HAVE YOU ARRESTED FOR BREAKING AND ENTERING! GET OUT!"

"Petunia, I have nowhere to go," Lily protests helplessly, standing at the foot of the stairs she had ran up and down so many times before.

"I DON'T CARE! JUST GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Petunia screeches.

Lily's tears again drip from her emerald eyes as she runs back into the living room and hugs her father for the last time. "Dad, I love you. Always and forever."

Then she races into the kitchen and clutches her mother's body to her. She felt so lifeless, not at all like the living Rose Evans, who had been full of kindness, love, and forgiveness. Lily's closest friend and mentor was gone. "Mum, thank you so much for everything. I always have appreciated all you have done for me. I love you, Mum. Always and forever."

She runs out the front door and looks at her childhood home. So many memories, both good and bad, had happened there. "Thank you for accepting me. Thank you for raising me. And I will finish Hogwarts with the highest marks anyone has ever gotten before for you. To make you proud, wherever you are. Mum and Dad, I love you. So much. And I always will. Forever."

Lily jerks awake with a start, and is startled to find her face streaked with tears. She bolts upright and closes her eyes again. It was Christmas Eve, and she did not need to be thinking of the saddest day of her life.

"Lily?" Natalia enters the room and looks with concern at the Head Girl. "An owl has arrived for you with two letters."

Lily opens her eyes again and nods, smiling wanly. "Thank you, Natalia," she says in not much more than a whisper.

"Is something wrong, Lily?" Natalia asks, leaning against the doorframe.

"No, just a dream," Lily answers, smiling weakly again.

Natalia nods, buying it reluctantly. Two letters land on her bed and Natalia leaves with a notice that breakfast would be on the table.

Lily opens the first one and is surprised to see her sister's hand.

Freak-

I still blame you, you know. Their deaths were your entire fault. I won't forgive that ever. I'm just writing because I must, according to their will. If either of us ever got married or engaged, we must write to the other. So I would hate to let you know that I am engaged to the most wonderful man on the planet, Vernon Dursley. He can provide the lifestyle I have always desired and be a loving husband. I will send you a copy of the invitation, but you ARE NOT INVITED. This is all required by law. I am moving to Surrey.

Bye, freak.

Guess who.

Lily rolls her eyes, used to these kinds of letters. She laughs at Petunia calling Vernon Dursley the most wonderful man on the planet. She picks up her next letter.

Lily-

Happy Christmas.

-Sev

Lily smiles slightly at the letter. She had always wanted to set things right with Sev, and here was her chance. She'd wait until they returned from the holidays, though. She didn't bother replying, as he was probably with his Death Eater friends, she thought bitterly. All thoughts of forgiveness were chased out of her mind automatically. He was responsible for more than one innocent death.

x.o.x.o.x.

At breakfast, Charles looks at the gathered teenagers. "The ball is tomorrow. Boys, will you be shopping today?"

All three nod glumly and sleepily.

"And girls, why don't you go swimming? We can heat up the property a bit more," Natalia offers.

Lily, Hilary, and Alice nod eagerly. "That would be fantastic!" Lily and Hilary say together while Alice nods more.

"And Isabel, why don't you join them?" Natalia adds.

Isabel nods eagerly. "Really, Mum?"

Natalia smiles. "Since when have you called me Mum, darling?"

"Since they came," Isabel says.

Everyone laughs. "My little girl is growing up," Charles comments. "Both my baby girls are."

"Dad, I haven't been your baby girl for sixteen years," Hilary says, good-naturedly rolling her eyes and laughing.

"A father can dream," Charles shoots back, grinning.

x.o.x.o.x.

As Lily plays with Isabel in the actual pool, racing and playing with pool toys, Alice and Hilary soak luxuriously in the hot tub.

"Something's off about Lily," Hilary observes softly.

Alice nods in agreement. "She doesn't have that entire focus like she usually does."

Hilary looks at Lily carefully. "Maybe it was that trip to the alley?" she suggests feebly.

Alice shakes her head. "She knows that true friends will accept her despite her housing. It couldn't be that."

"Marlene and Nicholas?" Hilary offers.

Alice pauses. "Perhaps. Maybe this is just a cover for the breaking down she is experiencing on the inside."

Hilary is quick to shoot down this notion. "No way. Lily's a strong, independent young woman and she would never wallow over a boy not worth wallowing over."

"But how do we know he isn't worth it?" Alice presses.

"Lily is a lovely girl, brought up by fantastic parents. She has never cheated on a boyfriend in her life. Nicholas has the reputation of a playboy almost living up to Sirius and James, the latter until the end of fifth year. And we all don't think he's worth it," points out Hilary.

Alice nods, amending the statements. "We should really ask her."

Hilary bites her lip, considering. "Yes, I suppose we should."

x.o.x.o.x.

"Are you getting cold, Izzy?" Lily asks worriedly as the small seven-year-old begins to shiver.

Isabel nods slightly.

"Run inside, okay? Ask your mum if you can have hot chocolate," Lily suggests. "She'll know what it is."

Isabel grins and gets out of the pool. "Thanks, Lily!"

Lily smiles back and walks over to soak in the hot tub with Hilary and Alice.

"Lily?" Hilary ventures.

"Yeah?"

Alice hesitates. "You seem different. Is it because of Marlene and Nicholas?"

Lily brings her hand down hard, splashing the water. "Sorry. But do not mention those pieces of scum in front of me."

"Well, is it?" Alice presses.

Lily sighs. "No," she replies.

"What is it?" Hilary asks gently.

Lily's head falls so that it is resting against the ground. "I had a dream," she says in a monotone.

The other girls stay silent, respecting her wishes for them to stay so.

"It was about the day I came back from third year. I found my parents dead," Lily says, her voice barely audible.

"Oh, Lily." Hilary looks sadly at her best friend.

"It's so heartbreaking to see your parents' dead, cold, lifeless bodies lying helpless on the floor of your own home, and then not much later, hearing your only sibling's shrill voice screaming at you to get out. I left Cokeworth forever that day, and never looked back. I found that alley and thought it would be suitable, and it became my home overnight. I spent every summer there including last summer. Every year it would be the same. I would anticipate going back to tell my parents about Hogwarts, but all I would find is a musty alley." Lily stands. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to bore you. I have to go." She walks inside after hugging both her friends briefly.

Hilary and Alice stare after her.

"She's one strong young woman," sighs Hilary.

"And you can tell that she is well over her years in her eyes," adds Alice.

x.o.x.o.x.

Lily grabs a scroll of parchment, a quill, and an inkwell.

Tuney-

I wasn't aware that that was stated in the will. And you can tell me that I am at fault, but I am past agreeing. I was merely fourteen years old, so of course I bought your stupid lies! But I'm no longer a sulky teenager, Tuney. I am now a young woman of nearly eighteen, and I daresay that I am a young woman further than my age. Ha! Vernon Dursley, the most wonderful man on the planet? You must be blind, Tuney. You know Mum and Dad didn't enjoy his company at all. But if he makes you happy, then I won't intervene. Thanks for asking about my life, Tuney.

-Lily

Lily sends it off with an owl, seething mad. But she sees another owl waiting on her windowsill and she softens considerably. It is a beautiful shade of gray with amazing yellow eyes unlike any other owl. She rushes over and strokes the magnificent bird and grabs the note hanging from its talon.

Lily-flower!

Consider this a joint Christmas present from the Marauders: Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs. This owl is all yours. Name it what you wish, but don't make it dorky! You're very welcome in advance.

Love from,

James (Prongs), Sirius (Padfoot), and Remus (Moony)

P.S. We've destroyed all the receipts, and YES, you CAN accept it! Don't bother protesting!

Lily shakes her head. They had each pitched in to buy her this gift? How amazingly thoughtful! Still stroking the bird, Lily's mind whirls for a proper name.

"Athena. The Greek goddess of wisdom," Lily decides, smiling.

"LILY! LET'S GO BUY SHOES!" Hilary screams.

Lily grins, hurrying out of her room after setting Athena into her cage.

x.o.x.o.x.

A/N: Well, I finished this on the same day as chapter nineteen, but I didn't update because of my missing reviews! I have put up a new story about the Golden Trio's era's kids, but not all. It's not a specific pairing. And I have started to plan the arranged marriage fic. I got Sorted… and I'm a… RAVENCLAW! Go Ravenclaw and Gryffindor! I wanted either and I would be happy with either. What are your houses? Wands? Usernames? Again, my username is PurpleStar4926. As usual, three reviews before chapter twenty-one! Until then…

~TrueLoveIs4ever