Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, but I do like writing about it!
A/N: Azzurrolunali, this story will be canon, I think...? Do you want it to be canon, or AU?
Enjoy xx
I stagger out of the dining room, absolutely stuffed.
"That was amazing, Mrs Potter. Thank you!"
"Oh no, dear, it was a pleasure. I love to cook!"
"Well you're very good at it. I don't think I've eaten something that good in ages!"
"Thank you, dear. Now, I suggest you go to bed. I'm sure James and Sirius will want to go out tomorrow."
"Yes, Mum," I grin at her, then realise my mistake. "Oh, sorry, I didn't-"
"It's fine, dear." She's smiling at me, and I wave at her.
"Goodnight."
"Sleep well, dear."
"Night Mum!" James calls, and Sirius smirks.
"Yeah, goodnight Mrs P!"
I settled into life at James' house quickly, and the days were a blur of visits to Diagon Alley for sweets and games of Quidditch.
Three weeks later, I'm pacing nervously up and down, trying to decide whether to owl Petunia and call the dinner off. I know that it's not very Gryffindor of me, but I'm nervous; I haven't seen my sister for months, and we've only communicated through brief letters.
According to Petunia, the bloke Vernon knows that I'm a witch, but, in her words, I should still 'speak about anything but your freakishness, and make sure that my date behaves'.
Please.
I won't be able to control James, but I'm just hoping that he will behave himself, even if that means not talking for the entirety of the evening.
"Lily?"
"Yeah?"
James peers around the door, wand in hand.
"Sirius and I were going to go down to the village, do you want to come?"
"No, I'm fine."
He comes in and sits down on my bed.
"What's up?"
"Nothing."
"Come on, Lils. What's wrong?"
"Well, you know we're going to see Petunia and her fiancée tonight?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm a bit...nervous about it."
"OK. He fidgets slightly on the bed. "So what are you worried about?"
"That I'm not going to like her fiancée. That he's not going to like me. That you're going to say something that offends them."
"Ok, ok, you can cross the last one of the list. I will try my very best to stay civil with them. Doesn't mean that I like them."
"James, they haven't done anything to you-"
"Yes, but she called you a freak and called you for your parents' deaths! Forgive me if I'm not dying to meet her."
"You don't have to come."
"No, but I am."
"Thanks James."
"Anytime." He kisses me on the forehead and stands up. "What time are we meeting up with them?"
"Tuney said seven, so that means half six. She's always ridiculously early, for everything."
"So we have to come back here at...six?"
"No, five." I correct him, pulling my hair up. "I have to get ready."
"Right. So, are you coming?"
"Of course!" I grin at him excitedly, worries disappearing, and grab my jacket.
Three hours later, I'm standing in front of a mirror, scowling and wishing that my hair was any colour but red.
"It had to be red..." I mutter, flicking through my wardrobe. "Not brown, or black, or blonde. My hair had to be the one colour that clashes with everything..." Pulling out a smart black dress I brought in case there was a dance, I shrug it on over my head and shrug at my reflection.
It's smart, plain, doesn't clash with my hair, and isn't remotely different. In short, it's boring, but it's Muggle, and that hopefully will get me brownie points with Petunia.
I brush through my hair and decide to leave it down, streaming down my back like a waterfall. After hastily applying some mascara and blush, I grab my black flats, my jacket and my handbag, stuffing my wand inside of it.
"James!" I knock on his door and push it open hesitantly.
"Oh, thank Merlin. Lily! What in the name of Godric am I supposed to wear?"
"A shirt and trousers. No dress robes."
"Is this okay?"
He steps out from the bathroom in a smart pair of black trousers, a white shirt and a red tie, and I smile at him.
"That's perfect. You look great!"
"So do you. Look great, I mean."
"Thank you."
I shuffle nervously, and James flushes slightly, both of us embarrassed. Luckily, we're saved by Sirius bursting in.
"Wow! Evans, you clean up nice..."
James clears his throat, and I raise my eyebrows at Sirius.
"I'm not even going to bother with correcting your grammar there."
"Have fun then, you two. Don't do anything that I wouldn't, and if you do, do it twice and take pictures."
"Right." James smirks at Sirius, and we walk downstairs.
We say a quick goodbye to James' mum, and walk into the living room.
"Are we going to Floo?" I ask, and James nods.
"Seeing as we can't Apparate yet, I asked one of Mum's friends if we could use her fireplace, as she lives right next to the restaurant."
"Great."
After a quick whirl through the fireplaces, we land in a house, and James speaks to the lady there. She lets out with a wave and makes us promise to be back by ten. We walk down the road and into the swanky-looking restaurant, and seated at the table next to the window is Petunia and a man who looks to be roughly the size of a small whale.
I can't wait to write the next chapter! I can't imagine James and Vernon getting along, can you?
Don't forget to review!
Obrigada,
She-who-loves-fanfiction xx
