Chapter 8: The Lunch
"Lily, when are you supposed to visit James?" My mother asked as soon as I entered the kitchen.
"Uh, He's supposed to get here at 1 and then take me back to his house." I told her. I was going to have lunch with the Potter's and I was absolutely terrified. It's been a month since term ended and I've been in touch with James, writing letters to him everyday. I told him about Petunia's new boyfriend, Vernon. He's really uptight and has the biggest mustache I've ever seen. I heard Petunia talking on the telephone with her friend, and they were talking about how well Vernon kisses. It doesn't make sense to me, how someone with a squirrel above their upper lip can kiss well.
I've been talking to Remus, too. He's been telling me all sorts of things about werewolves they don't put in the books. I tried writing to Mary but she never responded. I hope nothing too bad happened. Whatever happened, I'm sure she'll explain it once we get back to school.
"Lily, when is James going to come here for lunch?" My dad asked. He was eager for another meeting with James. Petunia just wanted to see what he looked like, since mum had been going on for the last four weeks about how attractive he was.
"Dad, we'll decide that when I go there." I told him. He just nodded in response and went back to reading his newspaper.
"I'm going over to Sophia's house now. I'll be back at around 4." Petunia called out as she was leaving.
"Bye, Tuney." We called back in response. As soon as Petunia was out of sight, my dad abruptly got up.
"I'm going to go take a shower." He said and went up the stairs.
"Honey, there's something we need to talk about. Why don't you sit down?" My mom asked as soon as he was out of earshot. I was worried about her tone. What happened?
"Mum, is there something wrong?" I asked.
"No dear. I just thought, since you have a boyfriend you're actually serious about, I should talk to you about certain things." She told me. I hoped that this isn't the 'talk'. James and I hadn't even properly kissed once! "So, as you're growing older, there will be some…uh...impulses you may feel when you're with James and-"
"Mum, mum! Stop it! It's not like that at all! We haven't even really kissed at all! There's no way we're going that far! And you know how much dad would freak out if I did! There's no way I'm doing that until marriage! And I'm not one hundred percent sure about this, but I believe James has the same views!" I told her, covering my ears. She let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness. I was worried I'd have to give you that talk before Petunia, and considering you're two years apart, that would be pretty odd." She told me and I nodded in agreement. "So what are you going to wear today?"
"Uh, I'm not sure. I have two hours to get ready, though. I'll figure it out later." I told her, waving a hand dismissively.
"Lily Marie Evans. You have gotten lazier since you came back from school. You don't even wake up until 10:30 and usually don't even take a shower until after dinner! Did the exams tire you out?" She asked worriedly.
"Yeah, from January to May, I've been sleeping at around 12 and waking up at 6." I had a really rough schedule and I was embracing summer to enjoy the sleep I wanted.
"When are those results supposed to come in?" Mum asked.
"Oh, well it's been about a month since term ended, so it'll come soon." I was really nervous about my O.W.L's results. I'd studied really hard, but Ancient Runes really scared me. I was terrified of failing that.
"Lily, there's something else I wanted to discuss with you. It's about Severus." My mom said. I gulped. I told my parents that Severus was staying with his uncle for the summer, so I could avoid telling them what happened. What could have happened to bring up that subject again? "You told me, your father, and Petunia that Severus was at his uncle's house on the other side of the country. Yet, a few days ago, when you were in London, I spotted Severus walking around the playground, where you and Petunia used to play. Is there something you're keeping from us?" She asked. I sighed. My mother could be as perceptive as me and my father sometimes.
"Well, mom, you see, I never really quite told you how I went from hating James to dating James. And it sort of has to do with Severus." I recounted the entire story, from Snape being hung by an ankle, adding in the part where James told me why he did it, and then to that night. Of course, I left out the part where Snape tried to attack me. I told her instead that he left, and I was crying in front of the common room and James found me, took me back inside and I told the story as it was from there. She sat, listening with her eyes wide open, and didn't say a word until I finished.
"Honey, I'm sorry that happened to you, I thought he was a nice kid. He's been your friend for six years." Mum told me solemnly. I nodded and felt my eyes watering. "It's okay though. You have James now, and even though I've only seen him once, I can just tell, he won't do this to you." My mom said, giving my hand a squeeze. "Speaking of James, look at the time! It's almost 12! We need to get you ready. Let's go upstairs and see what we find." She said. "And while we're up there, might as well tell your father that there was no need for me to give you that talk…" She muttered, probably to herself, but I still heard it.
"What?" I shrieked. Did dad ask mom to give me this talk? Did he really think that we were going to go there? And if he thought we were, how would he react when James is in the house!
"It's okay, he didn't, he was rather repulsed that I'd think of talking to you about anything like that!" She told me with a laugh as we made our way upstairs. I let out a sigh of relief.
"Lil, it's an absolute pig sty in here!" My mom exclaimed, taking a look at my room. The only things that were out of place were books, spare parchment, quills, and my bed sheets.
"It's not that bad, mum…" I mumbled, looking at my feet.
"Oh, we'll worry about this later. Right now you need to get ready so you can meet Mr. and Mrs. Potter." She told me, avoiding the books and striding across my room to my closet. "Not this, oh, this doesn't look too bad, maybe this one. Oh, these jeans are perfect! This is alright. Hum, this shirt isn't that great." Mum muttered as she threw various articles of clothing around her.
"Mum, please, step away from the closet, and allow me to pick something. Those jeans you just approved are for thirteen year olds!" I told her sternly. I was sixteen, and there was NO WAY I was going to let my mum dress me to meet my boyfriend's parents!
"Okay, but I will approve the final decision!" She told me and stepped back like I asked. I walked over to my closet and picked out a pair of black jeans and a flowery white top.
"Well?" I asked, showing it to her. My mom smiled wide in response.
"Lily, I just heard the door bell ring! Get down here and open that door!" Mum yelled from downstairs. I finished putting on my shoes, the Converse, to be exact, and ran down the stairs. I opened the door, and there was my jet-black haired, hazel eyed boyfriend. Except about half a foot taller.
"James, you've grown so much! We were practically the same height last month!" I exclaimed.
"Yeah, Quidditch paid off." He said, ruffling his hair.
"Come in really quickly, my mum's excited to see you again." I told him.
"Told you the Potter charm would work." I rolled my eyes.
"James! Good to see you again, and oh my, you've grown!" My mom squealed as James entered the kitchen.
"Hello, Mrs. Evans, good to see you again, too." James replied politely as he was squished in a hug. "Good afternoon, Mr. Evans." James said when my father entered the kitchen from behind him and shook his hand. "I wish I could stay and chat, but we must get going. I'll see you later then? Oh, Lily will be home by 4." He added. My parents nodded and waved goodbye. When we were out the door, I thought of something.
"James, how did you get here?" I asked.
"Oh, Sirius set me up with a few connections." He said vaguely. I was alarmed when he said Sirius. Usually when it involved Sirius, law breaking was involved. Seeing my expression, he added, "Don't worry. This method isn't illegal or anything." Screeeeeeeeech! A huge blue bus turned around the corner and abruptly stopped right in front of us.
"Knight Bus for James Potter an' Lily Evans?" A tall, skinny, relatively young man with a beard asked.
"That's us!" James said.
"Well, come on in!" The man replied. James allowed me to get in first and followed me right after. The bus had an interesting décor on the inside, the curtains and bedspreads were beige and seats were the same color as the outside of the bus.
"Lily, I suggest you buckle up, this could get bumpy." James warned me as we took two seats in the middle area of the bus, between the rows of beds.
"All ready, yeh? Drive Ernie, DRIIIVVVVEEE!" A voice with a Jamaican accent yelled from the front of the bus. The voice didn't wait for our response and instead, the bus started, going at full speed, and thankfully, I was buckled, other wise I would have flown out of my seat.
"What is this?" I asked, while I was gripping my seat as thought it depended on my life.
"The best type of Wizarding Transportation there is!" James replied nonchalantly. He was enjoying the passing scenery outside and wasn't at all concerned about the speed of the bus and Ernie's driving. "Just sit back, and relax! Ernie up there won't let us crash!" James said as he pried my hands off the seat. "It'll be fine! I won't let anything happen to you." He said smiling. I continued breathing heavily. In, Out. I reminded myself. Once I loosened up a little, I realized that it wasn't so bad, and could be rather relaxing.
"Muggle family, Ernie!" The Jamaican voice yelled from up front. Ernie slammed down the breaks and I would've definitely gone flying out of my seat, if it weren't for James, who held on to me tight. Only when my head hit his chest did I realize his arms had been around my waist almost the entire ride.
"See?" He told me once I regained my posture, blushing furiously.
"Don't muggles see us?" I asked, the thought just occurring to me.
"Nope, that's what's cool about it. Unless it touches them, they don't see or feel a thing!" James replied excitedly. I had to admit, magic could do wonders. The bus then skidded to another nasty halt, and I once again, fell into James' chest. I blushed furiously, trying to regain my sense of direction. Upright again, I unbuckled myself and followed James out the bus.
"Well, that was definitely interesting." I told him, trying to smooth out my shirt and fix my hair to look presentable to James' parents. Just thinking about it made me terrified. Would they accept me? Suddenly I became aware of my outfit. What if they were slightly old fashioned, and thought it was too revealing or something?
"Well, here we are!" James said enthusiastically, but still held bit nervousness in it. I'd been so busy thinking about his parents that I didn't notice we were walking and were already at the front door! I looked around at the rest of the house. The Potters were an old Wizarding family, I knew that, but they were also very wealthy, and their house, oddly enough, didn't show it one bit. It was as normal as my house. "Mum, Dad, we're here." James said, tentatively, opening the door.
"What was the first thing you said when you first wrote to us from Hogwarts?" A male voice yelled out from somewhere.
"Dad! But she's…She's right here!" He gestured me, flailing his arms. "How am I supposed to answer that?" James wailed back. I raised my eyebrow at him. What was this?
"James, you answer it with the correct answer!" A female voice instructed him firmly, but I could detect the hint of amusement. James glanced at me.
"I said I'd seen a red-headed angel." James mumbled back.
"What was that?" His father asked, clearly trying to hold back laughter.
"Merlin, are you trying to embarrass me? I SAID I'D SEEN A RED-HEADED ANGEL!" He bellowed, and started to turn beet-root red. His parents came out from the room next door clutching each other and laughing hysterically. I was biting my lip in a failing attempt to not laugh. James stared straight ahead, getting redder by the second.
"Maybe you should explain to Miss Evans why we had you answer that." James' mother suggested as wiped a tear from her eye and regained composure.
"My parents, being targeting Aurors, feel the need to check to make sure I'm not a Death Eater in disguise trying to kill them or something. So they ask a question every time I enter the house that only I can answer. 'Course when you came, they asked the question that would embarrass me most." He said, throwing a menacing glance towards his parents, who once again erupted in laughter.
"Sorry son, but you should've seen your face! I haven't seen anyone so embarrassed since I jokingly asked Peter if his mother was single!" Mr. Potter said, howling in laughter. James just rolled his eyes.
"I see where you get your pranking bones from, James." I told him. He smiled.
"Mum, Dad, when you finally decide to act your age, this is Lily Evans," He said. "But, it seems you already know way too much about her." He muttered to himself.
"Hi, Mr. Potter, Mrs. Potter." I said, and stepped forward to shake their hand.
"Hello, Lily." Mr. and Mrs. Potter chorused and shook my hand. "We've heard SO much about you for the last five years. There's not a letter where James mentions you!" They exclaimed and I blushed. Normally, I would've been uncomfortable, but the way they were talking to me made me feel like they accepted me already.
"Mum, Dad, don't you think you've embarrassed me enough for one visit!" James' strained voice came from behind us. Mr. and Mrs. Potter burst into more fits of laughter and I just grinned. The Potters are very amusing.
"But James honey, you've kept us waiting for five years to meet this girl. And you haven't stopped talking about her since you saw her on the train on your first day!" Mrs. Potter said as she went into the kitchen. James sighed and shook his head. Mr. Potter finally stopped laughing enough to suggest that James should show me around. He nodded violently, grabbed my hand and dragged me upstairs. Once upstairs, he looked around to make sure his parents were out of sight.
"Sorry about that. They're a bit…excited." He said, turning red. I laughed. His parents were hilarious. But I did wonder, was what they were saying true? Did he really talk about me that much?
"'Red-headed angel' Cute, James." I smirked.
"Hey, I was eleven. I wasn't as creative. How's 'strawberry shortcake'?" He asked, grinning. I gave him a little shove.
"I'm not that much shorter!" I shrieked.
He ruffled his hair and walked down the hall, bringing me to a large room. "This is my parent's room." He said, pointing to a room that was as big as my kitchen and living room combined. The room was filled with pictures (moving, of course) of the family. The Potters obviously were like the Prewetts and Weasleys, who valued family. It wasn't just a place where they lived, it was actually home. We left his parents' room and he brought me across the hall. "This is my room." He told me, pointing inside. The room was unnaturally neat. We walked in and there were Quidditch posters everywhere.
"Puddlemere United, huh?" I asked.
"Yeah, you support any team in particular?" He asked, taking a seat on the bed. I shook my head.
"Your room's really neat." I commented, sitting down next to him.
"Yeah, mum must've cleaned it up." He said. I was glad he didn't say anything about house-elves. I've always thought the use of them was quite cruel.
"So when do you want to come over to my house, get to know my parents a little better?" I asked.
"How's next week?"
"Sure, but I'll have to check which day because Vernon is coming sometime that week too." I told him with a shudder. Vernon and James were complete opposites. Vernon was uptight and pompous while James let himself loose. It might actually be interesting to see them in the same room together.
"James! Something from Hogwarts is here for you!" Mrs. Potter screamed up the stairs. We went downstairs and into the kitchen. On the counter lay a letter with the unmistakable Hogwarts seal on it. James picked it up and was about to open it when another owl came through the window. It dropped the letter it was holding onto the counter and flew back. The new letter had my name on it!
"Nothing gets by Dumbledore, does it?" He chuckled, handing me the letter. James and I took our letters and moved into the family room.
"Open at the count of three." He instructed. "1…2…3!" I opened my letter and gasped. It was our O.W.L results! I got:
Potions- O
Herbology- O
Charms- O
Astronomy- O
Defense Against the Dark Arts- O
Arithmancy- O
Ancient Runes- E
History of Magic- O
Muggle Studies- O
Transfiguration- O
I knew I'd mess up Ancient Runes. I let out an exasperated sigh.
"Swap?" James asked, and we exchanged papers. He got:
Potions- E
Herbology- E
Charms- E
Astronomy- P
Defense Against the Dark Arts- O
Care of Magical Creatures- A
Divination-T
History of Magic- D
Transfiguration- O
"Why the bloody hell do you take MUGGLE STUDIES?" He asked me incredulously.
"It's so I can learn it from another point of view…and I only went to Primary School. I never got around to the more interesting concepts, like DNA, genetics, and such. Also, the muggle studies teacher doesn't always know what she's talking about" I told him. "Why do you take Divination? That subject doesn't make sense."
"I dunno…Sirius and Peter were taking it. It was either that or Arithmancy with Remus. At least in Divination I can do homework I'm too lazy to do out of class." He said with a shrug.
"Lunch is ready!" Mr. Potter said. We went into the kitchen and sat down at the table. I put some food on my plate and started eating.
"So what was in those letters?" Mrs. Potter asked after a few minutes of silence.
"O.W.L results." James replied with a shrug.
"Oh, how'd you do?"
"Not bad, I passed everything I need to become an Auror." He replied.
"James, are you implying you failed something?" Mr. Potter asked disapprovingly.
"Well, I kinda failed Astronomy and Dinivation…" James said looking down at his food. Mr. Potter actually laughed.
"Just like me, son. It's alright, I'm sure you did well in Defense and Transfiguration, they're your best subjects."
"Yeah, O's. And E's in everything else except for Care of Magical Creatures. I got an A." He told his parents.
"And how about you, Lily?" Mrs. Potter asked. I could feel my face grow a little hot.
"I, uh, did well, got what I wanted to." I replied quietly.
"Oh stop being modest, will you? She got O's in everything except for Ancient Runes, where she got an E, but we all know that subject's impossible." James said. I could feel my face grow even redder.
"Well done! Maybe you can teach James a thing or two!" Mr. Potter said with a bright smile.
"Yeah, and then maybe you can teach him about modesty, too!" Mrs. Potter said, laughing.
"So Lily, what do you plan on doing after Hogwarts?" Mr. Potter inquired.
"I've always wanted to be an Auror." I told him, putting my fork down because I finished. I'm a pretty fast eater.
"Auror, well you certainly have the grades." Mr. Potter laughed. Mrs. Potter got up, and took the plates and food into the kitchen and left the three of us in the dining room. DIING DOONG!
"That's the door bell." Mr. Potter crinkled his nose. "We weren't expecting any guests. James, go get the door. Take my wand." Mr. Potter said, handing James his wand.
"Lily, I'm going to make you invisible and give you my wand." Mrs. Potter said.
"No, no." I protested. "Why don't you summon James' wand from upstairs and give that to me?" I asked. She nodded and summoned James' wand. It came, zooming from upstairs. Mrs. Potter handed it to me and then casted the Disillusionment Charm on me. I felt a tingling sensation on my body and when I looked down, I saw nothing.
"Lily, follow me." James instructed as he headed out the Dining Room. "Lily, are you still with me?" He asked and I responded by giving his hand a squeeze. "Okay, I'll open the door now." James said, his wand pointing to the door like mine. He opened it halfway.
"Prongs, mate!" I heard. James opened the door completely. In the door way was Sirius! He, too, had grown over summer but wasn't as tall as James.
"What is the Marauder secret?" James asked, his wand still pointed at Sirius.
"The two of us and Wormtail are unregistered animagi-you're a stag, I'm a dog, and Wormtail is a rat." Sirius said, just above a whisper, presumably so James' parents wouldn't hear.
"Okay, it is you!" James said loudly, closing the door. James stood next to me, still holding my hand, and Sirius on the other side of him. Mr. and Mrs. Potter emerged out of the dining room.
"Oh, Sirius, good to see you!" They exclaimed in unison.
"And you, Mr. and Mrs. Potter." He replied with politeness I didn't know he had. I figured he could be a real charmer when he wanted to.
"Now, where's Lily?" Mrs. Potter asked, pointing her wand in the air.
"Right here!" I replied from next to James. She pointed her wand at me and muttered something. I felt the tingle like last time and I reappeared.
"EVANS!" Sirius exclaimed and gave me a bear hug so tight that I couldn't move. He just hung on to me, while James was growing impatient and his parents were doubled over in laughter.
"OI! Get OFF my girlfriend!" James screamed at Sirius.
"Wow, you usually only let boys hug Evans for 3 seconds. You let me have 12!" Sirius said with a hint of amusement in his voice.
"That's because you're my best mate and I know you wouldn't try anything." James said, raising an eyebrow challengingly.
"But she's so cute…and cuddly!" He exclaimed, inching towards me again. James put a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't push your luck." He said through his teeth.
"Prongs, you get jealous WAY to easily. I'm going to have fun this year." Sirius exclaimed and James' parents started laughing once again.
"Really guys? Did I not get the memo about 'Embarrass James day'?" He asked, throwing his arms up. Somewhere in the house, a clock struck four. "Oh, Lily, we need to get you back home." He turned to Sirius, "Wanna come?" Sirius shrugged his shoulders.
"Sure, it'll give me a chance to explain to you why I'm here." Sirius said in a low whisper.
"Bye, Mr. and Mrs. Potter!" I said, shaking their hands once again.
"Hopefully we'll see you again!" Mr. Potter said with a final wave as I followed James and Sirius out the door.
"How'd you get here?" James asked Sirius.
"Same way we're going to get Lily back home: Knight Bus. I'm a regular customer of theirs so they just show up when I need them." Sirius said with a little shrug. SCREEECH. The familiar sound came from around the corner and stopped right in front of us like last time.
"Welcome back, son. Going with these two?" The tall man asked Sirius, who just nodded in reply. "Alright, get on!" We stepped into the bus. James and I sat in the seats we were in a few hours ago and Sirius sat across from us. The Jamaican voice once again instructed Ernie to drive and we were off, going at a dangerous speed. This time, I was ready, and was able to sit back and relax.
"So, I came to your house because, well, my parents kicked me out." Sirius said, looking down against his hands.
"Your parents kicked you out of the house?" I asked, unable to believe this. What cruel family would kick their own child out?
"It's his family; they don't accept that Sirius doesn't share the same views as them. They support You-Know-Who" James explained. I just nodded, now understanding. It also explained why Regulus, his brother, never talked to him, and when he did, it usually ended up with Regulus being reduced to a puddle-literally.
"So when they saw my O.W.L results, they realized that I was taking-and passed- all the classes for being an Auror. They were especially mad at the O in Defense." Sirius said with a grin. I couldn't imagine what he had to be happy about. His parents just kicked him out for Merlin's sake!
"Padfoot, you can stay at my house for the rest of your life if you want to. You practically live there anyway. And my parents would agree to it in a second. They think of you as 'the son they want'" James said with a smile.
"Thanks, I really appreciate it." Sirius said with a small grin, but his face looked a lot more relieved. The Knight Bus skidded to a stop and I remembered to hold on this time, but James' arm was around my waist once again, and this time I didn't fall into him.
"We're stopping here because we need to pick up someone from Spinner's End." The tall man said as James and I realized this wasn't my house. Then I remembered… Spinner's End…that's where Snape lives. We got down from the bus and coming down the road-I gulped-was Snape!
"Lily, you live near Snape?" James whispered to me.
"Yeah, that's how I met him before school started." I whispered back. Snape looked up and he saw us three, just standing there with our mouths open, looking at him.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Quidditch star, the mudblood, and the homeless." Snape sneered. I groaned inwardly. Why did he always have to provoke them? James and Sirius lunged forward, trying to hit Snape, but I grabbed the back of their shirts.
"No, no, no! Don't even think about trying to fight him! Let's just go. NOW." I said urgently. I didn't think they'd use their wands and I didn't want to think about what would happen if they fought him the muggle way. James and Sirius grunted and stepped away from Snape. James put an arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer as we walked around him. Boys and their jealousy.
"He must be in touch with Regulus, that's how he knows." Sirius muttered to himself.
"Padfoot, it's fine. Let the world know you refused to go to that side." James said defiantly. The rest of the walk to my house was in silence.
"Mom, Dad, we're home!" I said, swinging open the door and stepping in. My mom came from the kitchen and her eyes went wide, seeing that Sirius was here.
"Hello, Mrs. Evans, this is Sirius, he's our friend, and one of my best mates." James said, shaking my mum's hand.
"Hello, Mrs. Evans, how are you?" Sirius asked, shaking my mother's hand and giving her one of his infamous smiles and my mom blushed. I rolled my eyes. Petunia came from the kitchen with her mouth wide open. I laughed to myself. She's probably insanely jealous right now. I just came home with the two best-looking guys in our year and one of them is my boyfriend!
"And you, you must be Lily's sister!" Sirius said, stepping to Petunia and kissed her hand. Petunia blushed furiously and just grinned at Sirius. I'm sure he was having fun with this.
"Well, I'd love to stay, but we need to get going home again. Bye Lily, Mrs. Evans, Petunia." James said, dragging Sirius along with him out the door.
"That Sirius, he's a charmer, isn't he?" My mom asked.
"Yes, mom, yes he is." I said with a shake of my head.
A/N: I hoped you liked it! Thanks to all of you who reviewed last chapter, and please REVIEW AGAIN!
Also, I'm in the process of writing my first one-shot. Keep on the look out for that!
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Thanks,
SAM :)