Days In Avalon
Chapter Forty-Five: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
The next few days were uneventful around Hogwarts in terms of personal drama. Instead the buzz about the upcoming holiday and ball were beginning to rise as students began to make plans for their holidays and with dates.
However the professors of Hogwarts had other plans for their students.
"What kind of an assignment is that? Research your family history? What are we? Second Years?" barked Felicia as she left the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom one Thursday afternoon.
"Well at least it's a fairly easy assignment," commented Karen.
"But still? In a Defense class? I'd expect it in History of Magic," Felicia sneered.
"Well you never know who could be in your family that you may have to come up against," said Kelly.
"So who are you going to do your report on Andy?" asked Lily looking for a slight change in subject.
"Don't know, really. Probably my Gran or Grandfather Marshal," Andy replied.
"Why don't you research your mom's side of the family?" Kelly inquired. "The assignment doesn't have to be wizard related."
"I would but my mom doesn't know her past. She was raised by her Aunt Hope. Her mother died giving birth to her, and she never knew who her father was. Or if she has any brothers or sisters," said Andy as she tried to avoid a group of first years running down the hall toward their next class.
"She never thought to look him up?" Felicia asked.
"She did try when she was younger, but couldn't find anything," Andy replied with a shake of her head.
"Well maybe you could find something," thought Karen.
"Right…because magic can solve everything," laughed Andy at the idea.
"You never know. Maybe she had a wizard or witch on her side of the family," Lily commented as she saw a few of their classmates come up to them.
"Yes because a member of my mother's family is just going to magically appear out of the wood work. What do you think my life is? A fairy tale?" Andy laughed again.
"Well your life is sort of a fairy tale when you think about," commented Kelly. "You found out you were a witch from a six hundred year old grandmother. You go to school in a castle. You're family is practically wizard royalty."
"Thanks for giving me the cliff notes of my life. I'd completely forgotten all of it," said Andy darkly. With that she began to walk away from her friends needing some air. But before she could get away she bumped into James and Remus as she was making her escape. Peter and Sirius were coming up behind them.
"Something wrong princess?" asked Sirius noticing the look on her face.
"Stuff it Black!" barked Andy as she stormed off down the hall.
"Did I miss something?" asked Sirius to James and Remus.
"Miranda doesn't like to talk about her family history; especially when it comes to her heritage," sighed Lily.
She knew she would have to check on her friend soon, but for right now she knew best to leave her alone and let her temper cool. Deep down Lily still felt sorry for Andy situation. Being forced into a lifestyle she really knew nothing about and expected to be a prominent figure in the wizarding world was still taking a toll on her dear friend. But no matter what would become of their lives, Lily was sure they would always be there for each other no matter what.
"I can relate to that," Sirius said darkly as he looked down the hall where Andy had now disappeared.
"So what plans do you have now Ms. Evans?" said James cheerfully trying to lighten the mood a bit over Andy's departure.
Lily smiled at his attempt to make her feel a bit better. "Pricing for the ball. You?"
"That sounds like fun," said James with a bit of a grimace. "No late night meetings with a secret lover?"
"Well if I told you then it wouldn't be a secret now would it?" she bantered back. "Now why haven't you answered my question yet?"
"Well, if I told you then I'd have to kill you," James said in a low voice
"You could just wipe my memory," said Lily in a challenging tone.
James pondered her response for a moment before answering. "As tempting as that sounds I wouldn't want to be the cause of destroying one of the most brilliant minds Hogwarts has seen yet."
Lily couldn't help but blush slightly at his comment and at the look he was giving her. It seemed like the more she looked into his hazel eyes, the more captivated she became by his charms. After a moment she realized why he didn't fully answer her question "You're doing something dangerous with your friends aren't you?"
James face fell for a moment as he thought of the best response. For some reason he now felt compelled to tell Lily of his plans but knew that she would probably want to come and help. "It would be better for all of us if I didn't answer that question."
"Fair enough," Lily said with a nod. She felt a bit hurt by his response but knew that she really had no right to know of his business. The two of the stood there for a moment in awkward silence trying to think of something else to say but neither were able to think of any topic to discuss.
"Listen I'd better go meet up with Sirius," said James as he noticed that his friends had left him behind as did Lily's. "I'll see you around?"
"Sure," replied Lily with a smile. As James began to walk away she felt the need to tell him something. "Potter!" she called out to him. James stopped in his tracks and looked at her quizzically. "Be careful, please?"
James chuckled at her plea. "Where's the fun in that?" When he saw that she was serious he walked back to her and grabbed a hold of her hand to comfort her worry. "I'll try. For you." Before he departed he lifted one of her hands up to face level and placed a gentle kiss on it. The gesture caught Lily by surprise and with a wink and smile James had taken off down the hall to catch up with his mates; leaving a slightly flustered and smiling Lily behind.
Lily began to make her way back to her room to fetch her bag and list of needs for the ball. As she turned the corner she saw Andy coming out of the library.
"Andy!"
Andy blinked upon hearing her name and looked up to find Lily before her. "Oh hey Lil. What's up?"
"Are you okay?" Lily inquired.
"Yes. I'm fine," Andy said with a soft smile. "Sorry about before. I just…"
"I know. It's all right. We all get it," said Lily as she brushed her hand back and forth as to dismiss the topic.
Andy smiled at her friend thankful that she understood her so well. "So what are you up too?"
"Planning on doing some pricing," said Lily with a sigh.
"Sounds like fun," said Andy as the two girls walked down the hall for a bit for some privacy. "You, surround by countless magazines and catalogues."
"Who said I would be looking at books?" Lily asked with an impish grin.
Andy raised an eyebrow at her friend before stopping in her tracks. "Okay you have my attention now. What did you have in mind?"
"I was thinking of heading to Hogsmeade," Lily said brightly.
"Today? But everyone's going on Saturday for the trip," said Andy a bit confused since she knew her friend almost always traveled down to the village with the rest of the school.
"Exactly," Lily replied.
The realization finally struck her and a mischievous grin began to show on Andy's face. "Hmm…Sneaking out of the castle on a Thursday night? Whatever would McGonagall say?"
"So are you in or out?" asked Lily for confirmation.
Andy gave her a dark look before responding. "Really you have to ask? You just involved two of my favorite passions in life: breaking the rules and shopping with my best friend. What more could a witch ask for?"
"Thought so," laughed Lily.
Andy wrapped her arm around her best friend's shoulders as the two of them headed toward the main stairwell of the castle. "Besides what else am I going do? Listen to Felicia droll on and on about her new guy and how he's so much better than her last flame? I'd rather put up with another lesson of Magical History and a detention with McGonagall than endure that kind of torture."
"Meet you in the common room then in about fifteen?" Lily asked.
"You got it kid," Andy replied with a wink.
Within the hour the girls were off to Hogsmeade using the One-eyed Witch passage. Once they had arrived, the girls found that pricing and ordering everything for the ball was easier than expected. After about an hour, the girls were done with everything and were now enjoying the afternoon for some well-deserved girl time.
"So why did McGonagall not want you coming out here today?" Andy inquired as the two of them window shopped.
"I don't really know. She said I could have gone out with everyone else this weekend," said Lily as she gazed at the new items featured at Zonko's.
"So why didn't you? Not that I'm complaining about being away from school for a few hours," Andy asked with her hands raised.
"It would have been cutting my time line too close. Plus you know how everyone gets around this time of year. The stores would be jammed packed," said Lily as she looked around the almost empty streets of Hogsmeade.
"True. Just seems odd that the old bat would tell you 'no'. I mean you are the Hogwarts golden girl," Andy joked.
"Haha," Lily said dryly. "So are you ready to head back yet?"
Andy was about to answer until she noticed the shop behind her friend. "Hold on," she said while grabbing a hold of Lily's and pulling her toward the dress shop. "We're not done yet."
"Excuse me?" asked Lily, not sure what her friend was getting at.
"Lily, have you even thought about what kind of dress you are going to wear to this ball?" Andy asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I still have some time," she said a little softly.
"Lily, you just said so yourself about how people get around this time of year. Plus it looks like they just got a new supply of dresses in," Andy added with a wide smile.
"I was planning on getting it this weekend."
"With every other girl at school? Are you nuts? Have I taught you nothing?" Andy replied looking at Lily as if she had grown two extra heads.
"Andy…" Lily started.
"Oh come on Lily. You think we are the only two girls to sneak out of the castle to beat the rush of dress shopping? I don't think so."
"But…
'"No time like the present. Come on Evans, show off the Gryffindor courage," said Andy as she held open the shop door for her friend. Lily glared at her for a moment before heading into the shop.
"You know for someone who hates being their mother's life-size Barbie doll, you sure like inflicting torture on others," Lily muttered.
"What can I say, it's therapy for me. Otherwise I'd probably be a crazed psychopathic witch hell bent on destroying to world," laughed Andy as she began to roam through the racks of clothes.
"And you aren't one already?" laughed Lily as she pulled out a dress robe that looked like it came from the Dark Ages.
"I don't want to destroy it. I just want to rule it in my favor of course," Andy said with a sly smirk.
The girls browsed around the store going through a number of racks but finding nothing that was 'perfect' for Lily as Andy put it. "Remind me again why we aren't shopping for you?" asked Lily when Andy shot down the black and silver robes that she had just pulled out.
"Because the moment my mother heard of the ball she started designing another dress," said Andy as she pulled out a dark blue dress but immediately put it back.
"That's why you've been getting more letters from her recently," Lily said as she remembered the recent number of owls Andy had received over the last few weeks. She glanced over at her friend and noticed the sour look on her face. "I take it though that the original design was not to your liking?"
"The dress looked like something Molly Ringwald would wear in a sequel to Pretty in Pink; big, poufy and slightly gaudy," Andy said darkly.
"Oh my. So why don't you just tell her that you'll buy your own dress?" Lily suggested.
"Are you kidding me? The moment my mother finds out that I wore something other than one of her original designs to an important event she'd have a heart attack. Hmm…" Andy pondered.
Lily saw her friend and could see the wheels turning in her head. "Andy!"
"I'm only kidding. Besides she said that she'd make the changes I suggested to her and pick out another color. And if worse comes to worse if I don't like it, I could give it to Felicia. You know how she loves my mother's designs," Andy rambled as she went through a rack and stopped suddenly. "Speaking of designs…"
Lily looked up and saw what she was holding. It was a floor length mint green dress with delicate flower overlay with crystals in it. The dress also came with a matching shawl with a slight fringe to it.
"Wow," said Lily in amazement over their find.
"Try it on," Andy ordered.
"What? No Andy. Besides I can't afford this kind of dress," Lily said in protest
"Just try it on Evans," Andy barked as she pointed toward the little dressing room off to the side. Lily huffed before she gathered the dress and marched over toward the room. A few minutes later Lily emerged from behind the curtain and modeled the dress for Andy before standing in front of the three-way mirror next to the little dressing room.
"Well? How does it look?" Lily asked after she spun around once more for her friend. She watched as Andy silently chewed her nails, deep in thought over the dress.
"Let me put it this way for you Lil…" said Andy after a moment of pondering. "If you walked into the hall wearing that, no one would be able to take their eyes off you."
"Really?" said Lily with a skeptic tone.
Andy shook her head for a moment as she walked over toward Lil and helped her adjust the dress a bit in the back. "Lily as your best friend I'm telling you to get this dress before someone else gets a hold of it."
"I don't know," Lily said softly. She looked in the mirror and had to admit that the dress was very pretty and flattered her complexion and figure very well.
"Lil I'm not letting you leave this store without that dress. It would be a crime against fashion," said Andy as she lifted Lily's hair a bit to get an idea of how it should be styled with the dress.
"But…"
"We'll take it!" Andy yelled out as she pulled out her money sack and marched over to the store's counter. "Hope you like you're Christmas present!"
"Andy," Lily said as she ran after her to stop her from making the purchase.
"Hey I'm not having some girl like Nessie Black or Georgina Malcolm getting their greasy hands on your dress and ruin it," Andy said in a matter of fact tone.
Lily sighed deeply and knew that there was no point in changing her friend's mind. "Thank you Andy."
"You're welcome," said Andy with a huge grin. After Lily had changed back into her outfit and the shopkeeper had placed the dress in a garment bag that was magically water, fire, and wrinkle proof, the girls made their way out of the store.
"Now all we have to do is find you the perfect date," said Andy as she quickly began to think of several guys that would be perfect for her friend.
"Andy…I'm going with James," said Lily as if the choice of her date was obvious.
Andy stopped in her tracks and spun around to face Lily as if she had grown another head. "Excuse me? When did this happen?"
"It's pretty much been a given since the ball has been announced," Lily said a little confused as to why she was acting this way. 'This is the girl that tried to set me up with Potter for the past couple of years right?'
Andy looked at Lily for a moment as she took in what she was saying. "So he asked you at the beginning of the year? After the whole train issue?"
"No." Lily said after a moment a silence.
A small wave a panic began to rise in her as she realized that maybe James didn't want to go to the ball with her. Sure they had grown close over the past few months, but he did mention that he was trying to stay away from her and her life. Maybe he had already had a girl in mind instead of her. Dumbledore had stated at their meeting that the two of them would be opening the ball, but he never said anything about the two of them having to be each other's date.
Andy could see the wheels in Lily's brain kicking into high gear and knew that she was on the verge of possibly having a small internal freak out. "Lily…has he even brought up the ball other than in the context of planning for it?"
"No."
Andy knew Lily was about to have a melt down and berate herself for jumping to conclusions. Right now Lily needed a friend. "Come on. Girl talk time."
Andy pulled Lily away from the dress shop and headed over toward the Three Broomsticks. The moment the two of them entered the warm establishment Andy spotted an empty table hidden in the back that would be away from the general tavern population. Madam Rosmerta saw the two of them and began to pour out two full mugs of butterbeer.
"Here you go dearies. Something to take the chill out of your bones," said Rosmerta as she placed the hot butterbeers on the table the girls had sat at.
"Thanks Rosmerta," said Andy brightly. Once the landlady was out of earshot, Andy continued with the topic at hand.
"Okay you know I love you, but just because you two are supposed to be opening the ball together that doesn't really…"
Lily sighed in frustration over her friend's words. "I know Miranda. It's just….I don't know."
"Lil what is going on with you? "
"Promise me you won't make fun of me?" Lily asked with scrunched up face.
"I'm your best friend," Andy replied, slightly hurt by Lily's words.
"Exactly and you are also you," Lily stated in a matter of fact tone.
Andy considered this for a moment and knew that she was right. "Okay I promise. What is it?"
Lily hesitated for a moment before finally stating what was bothering her. "I've been having…odd dreams lately….about Potter."
"What kind of odd dreams?" Andy asked. Deep down she wasn't sure if she really wanted to know the answer to her question. In her mind there are some visions that must never come to light.
"Well…" started Lily, as she tried to think of the right words.
Andy grew more nervous and before she knew it, she had downed a whole mug of butterbeer. "Hold up. I need another drink."
With that Andy quickly rushed up to the bar and ordered another butterbeer. She thought of asking for something a bit stronger, but decided against it.
"So okay back to the topic at hand. Dreams?" Andy inquired as she took another sip of butterbeer.
"It's just a couple of stupid dreams. Fantasies really. They're nothing," said Lily as she tried to dismiss the topic.
Andy let out a sigh of relief now knowing that this would not be one of those kind of conversations about someone she considers to be her brother.
"Oh so now they are fantasies?" Andy asked trying to make light of the situation.
"Behave Andy."
Andy began to laugh loudly at her statement. "Yeah right. Lily we are talking about James Potter here. A guy you say you can't stand. A guy you couldn't be around for nearly most of your career at Hogwarts."
"That's why it's just dreams. Nothing to worry about," Lily said while rolling her eyes.
"Oh come on Lily. He made a few mistakes," said Andy lightly.
Lily glared darkly at Andy over her statement of James's 'few mistakes'. Once Andy saw the look she knew she chose the wrong form of words.
"Look, I know Jay screwed up big time. Hell even I was pissed at him, but he is sorry for what he said."
"I know he is. I have tried talking to him about what happened," said Lily a bit frustrated and confused over her feelings.
"And?" said Andy after a moment of silence.
"Nothing," Lily replied with a shrug. "He doesn't want to talk about. He says he'll maintain his distance from me other than school related issues. He says he doesn't want to hurt me anymore than he already has."
Andy hung her head and muttered something under her breath. "Damn fool."
Lily quizzically looked at Andy's statement. "You know something don't you?"
"I shouldn't say anything," said Andy knowing it was wrong to break her promise to James. Deep down she knew that her two best friends did belong together, and now it finally seemed that maybe Lily was seeing this too.
"Spill it Starmenter," barked Lily.
Andy sighed deeply before uttering the words she knew would possibly change this whole saga for the better. "James is…well…scared of you."
"Me?" said Lily in confusion.
"Lil the poor bloke has been crazy about you since our fifth year if not longer. The reason why he kept showing off whenever you were around was because he was listening to a bunch of idiots and…he was afraid of losing you," said Andy in a rush.
"But he…"
"I know he never had you to begin with. But he still holds onto hope that you'll change your mind. He's not use to having to really work for something or at something. Jay has always been special. And I'm not talking sports or academics. I'm talking in general. Heck it's a miracle he's even here!" said Andy before she gulped down some more of her drink.
"Excuse me?" Lily asked.
"You met his parents right?" Andy asked.
"Yes. I do know about their problem with having children."
"Every kid the Potters had didn't see the age of five," Andy said in a low tone.
"How many children did they have?" Lily asked out of curiosity.
"Enough," Andy said darkly.
Lily shook her head in disbelief. "How do you even know this?"
"My gran. It was part of her many lessons. Know everything and anything about everyone; friend or foe, because one day it could save your life or the life of others," Andy lectured.
"Your grandmother really was like a crime lord? You do have some pretty big shoes to fill," Lily giggled.
"You have no idea," said Andy as she took another sip of butterbeer.
Lily sat in silence for a moment as she took in what Andy said about James. "James is really scared of me?"
"Yes," said Andy. "James cares for you, very deeply. Look Lily I'm not saying you need to fall in love with the guy. Just give him the benefit of the doubt. He means well. He just doesn't know how to go by it."
Lily thought deeply over this new information, but decided that she would go over it more in detail another time. "I guess."
"Hey it's not like the end of the world. It's the typical life of a teenager," laughed Andy.
"Since when did you become this all wise and knowing sage?" Lily asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Experience," Andy said simply before she noticed the time on her watch. "Come on. We'd better head back to Hogwarts before it gets too late."
The girls paid for their drinks and bid Rosemerta a good evening before heading back to Hogwarts.