1969
"I don't want to go!" said Lily, burying her face into her blanket.
"Why not? You were invited." Said Lavender as she placed icing on some cakes.
"But it's Wendy Hawkins mum." Said Lily, her voice muffled by the blanket. "She doesn't want me there anyway." She went back to her maths homework.
"Why wouldn't she want you there if she invited you?" asked Lavender. Lily lifted her face from the blanket. Because she was the person who said that I was a freak and made everyone think that I actually was thought Lily, she had kept those details from her mum, she still thought it was the news report that made people thinking like that.
"Because her parents invited everyone from our class." Said Lily.
"Well Elle's going to be there." Reasoned Lavender.
"Yeah." Said Lily slowly, "But they don't like her either." Lavender looked up at Lily who was writing down her answers.
"Why don't they like you?" she asked. Lily shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know." Said Lily, "Maybe because they think I'm a freak who can use magic." Lavender dropped her piping tube onto the counter and turned to face Lily.
"Lily, I'm sure that's not It." she said.
"What else is it?" asked Lily. "No one wants me there and I don't want to go. It's a win-win if you let me stay at home."
"Lily, this is the perfect opportunity to show them that you're not a freak. That they were wrong."
"But I'm not normal." Said Lily. "All those things were-"
"Lily, you are going to this party, no excuses." Said Lavender. "And we agreed that you weren't to talk about any of your accidents." Lily huffed and went back to her work.
"Besides Elle's going, I spoke to her mum." Said Lavender. "So it's not as if everyone there will hate you."
The Marauders Proudly Present Lily Evans In: The Marauders Year One
Chapter Five
What Is Normal?
Written By Chambers10
Lily clutched onto her drink as the other kids ran around her having a good time. Wendy's house was the biggest house she'd ever seen, her back garden was almost the size of home which was full of food, drink and entertainment. All the other kids where having a good time, but Lily just didn't see the point. The bravado. Lily sat down on a chair and drank from her squash.
"I didn't think you'd turn up." Lily looked up to see Wendy Hawkins standing in front of her with her two minions as Lily saw it. Kathryn and Robyn.
"I was made to." Said Lily, "So please leave me alone."
"You're supposed to be smart." Said Wendy, "What's it like being in a place that no one wants you?"
Lily looked round. "Surprisingly like this." She said. "Are you done?"
"Not, nearly." Said Wendy. "No one likes you and yet you still try to make yourself heard. When is it going to hit you that everyone will hate you because you're different?"
"Look, I try to be nice to everyone." Said Lily getting to her feet. "So please just leave me alone, you'll get bored with me soon. Happy birthday by the way."
"You better not ruin it." said Wendy, "I didn't even want you to come." She looked at Lily distastefully.
"No one did."
Lily walked away. She went to the food table and started to put some things on her plate.
"Having fun." Elle stood next to Lily.
"A blast." Said Lily dryly, "Wendy's having a go at me for turning up."
"Me to." Said Elle. "Why did we come?"
"I have no idea." Replied Lily. Lily and Elle took their plates and walked to a big tree which they sat underneath and tucked in.
"She does know how to through a party though." Admitted Lily.
"Did you really want to come?" asked Elle.
"No." said Lily, "Mum forced me."
"Same, who wants to go to your bully's party." Said Elle.
"Well I'm hoping she'll have better things to do than annoy us." Said Lily, "If we just keep our heads down it should pass." Lily looked up at the sky and saw the clouds above her beginning to darken slightly.
"I hope your right." Muttered Elle.
"Hey freaks!" Lily and Elle sighed in unison. Lily looked up to see a gang form around her. She and Elle got to her feet and the group closed in.
"Stupid ginger." Said Wendy, "And your dumb friend. You're both freaks."
"Why do you think that?" Said Lily.
"Because you can make things float in the air you weirdo!" Said Wendy stepping in front of the group, asserting dominance. "Why is that?" Lily shrugged her shoulders.
"I'll tell you why. Because you're a no good weirdo."
"I do not." Said Lily. "I'm just like you."
"No you're not." Spat Wendy, "You're different, abnormal." She stepped forward and into Lily's face.
"You're nothing more than a freak!" The clouds above Lily began to darken. Her breathing became deeper and her pupils dilated.
"I'm, not, a, freak." She said quietly but defiantly.
BANG.
"What the!"
"Hey, what's going on?"
"What happened to the table?"
"It exploded!"
"There's food everywhere!"
"MUMMY!"
"Ok everyone calm down."
Wendy turned round to Lily, her face covered in food. Lily being behind her didn't get the full blast. The sky rumbled and rain fell on the party. Everyone started running for cover. Except Lily and Elle who stayed rooted to the spot. Both looked over at each other nervously.
"Oh I'm in so much trouble." Said Lily.
Lavender pulled up in the car. Lily was standing on the curb in the rain with her head bowed, almost like she was caught in the wrong.
"I'm so sorry to spring this." Said Mrs Hawkins through the window. "We had a slight…"
"Mishap? I heard." Said Lavender opening the door for Lily.
"Thanks for inviting me." Said Lily timidly. "And for the goodie bag."
"You're very welcome Lily." Said Mrs Hawkins. "We'll see you soon." Lily got into the front seat and they set off. Lavender looked over at Lily who still had her head bowed.
"Did you have a nice time?" asked Lavender.
"No." Said Lily, "Until the food table blew up."
"And how did that happen?" Lily shuffled nervously in her seat.
"I don't know." She said quietly not looking up.
"Lily." Lily turned and caught her Mothers eye. As the green met blue the green looked away.
"You used your magic. Didn't you?" The silence was the answer she needed.
"I didn't mean to." Said Lily finally. "Wendy called me a freak." Lavender sighed.
"I told you I shouldn't have gone." Said Lily.
"I didn't know you'd cause your own food fight." Said Lavender.
"I'm sorry." Said Lily.
"It's ok Lily." Said Lavender sighing. "Just remember…try and keep a lid on it. Ok?" Lily nodded and looked up.
"This isn't the way home?" said Lily looking round. It wasn't. She had been so wrapped in the conversation she hadn't noticed them driving in a different direction.
"Oh am I?" said Lavender smiling. She pulled into a car park. Lily's eyes brightened as they saw the sign.
"Wimpy!" Lavender smirked.
"Well your Dad's taken Petunia to Sheffield." She said opening the car door. "I thought we'd have a little treat ourselves." Lily's solemn face was replaced by a huge grin and burning impatience as she opened the door.
"Thanks mum." Said Lily hugging her.
"Come on you." Said Lavender taking her hand and leading her inside. "Those bacon cheeseburgers never finish themselves do they?"
"You two are weird."
"Leave us alone Wendy." Said Elle.
"Nah, we like watching the weirdo's." said Wendy.
"You and your little mate are weird."
"Leave us alone Robyn." Said Lily looking up from the book she and Elle where reading.
"All you two do is sit and read." Said Wendy, "Who likes reading?"
"I do." Said Lily, "Now leave us alone."
"Oooooo getting naggy Evans." Said Katherine, "Afraid are you, you gonna tell teacher on us." All three giggled in unison.
"I will if you don't go away." Said Lily. She went back to her book, hoping they would get bored as they usually did and leave them alone.
"Oh real scary." Said Robyn, she leaned over and snatched the book away from Lily and Elle.
"Hey! Give it back!" shouted Elle.
"Got to get it first." said Wendy, the three girls ran off with the book.
"We should go get teacher Lily…Lily?" Lily had bounded off after them. "LILY!" Elle shouted trying to keep up her, but Lily was deceptively fast. She caught up with them in a flash.
"Give it back." Shouted Lily. The three girls stopped by a tree, where Lily had them walking back towards the trunk. Her green eyes narrowed at them, but the three where still laughing.
"Oh yeah, you and what army?" Wendy smirked and threw the book up into the tree.
"NO!" Lily watched in horror as the book got stuck on a branch near the top. The three girls giggled as they looked at Lily's crestfallen face.
"Good luck getting it down." Said Katherine. Lily took a deep breath and looked at the tree, there was a small branch near the bottom that could take her weight. She ran at the tree, she stepped onto the bark, and kicked herself up onto the branch, she was dangling from the branch. She pulled herself up on the branch and was on her haunches.
She looked round again and saw another branch to her left. She stood up and grabbed hold of it before hoisting herself up on that. After climbing a few more branches she finally came to the book. She smiled triumphantly as she held it in her hand.
"LILY EVANS." Her heart dropped, she looked down to see Mr Hawkins, the assistant head standing at the base of the tree, hands on hips.
"What are you doing up there?" he barked, "Come down this instant!"
"But it's not her fault." She could hear Elle's voice sounding protest, "Wendy threw the book up there, and Lily was trying to get it down."
"There will be no backchat from you Miss Rowling." Mr Hawkins said harshly, "Miss Evans, come down at once!" Lily sighed, she was going to be in trouble now. Lily started to climb down. O the trouble she was going to be in, climbing school property, risking her life, what would her parents say, she was going to be grounded, she was sure of it.
SNAP
Lily watched in horror as the branch she was standing on gave way, the fear coursed through her as she fell to earth, Elle screamed, but…something was different. Lily fell to earth but landed with a gentle thud on the floor, rather than a full on crash. Lily blinked, she was fine, she was absolutely fine, she looked up at the branch, she must have fallen at least eight feet. Lily stood up and brushed herself down, she then looked at the scene before her.
"She was caught climbing school property." Said Mr Hawkins, "I'm sorry Mrs Evans but this is not allowed."
"But Mr Hawkins." Said Lavender, "Why did she have to scale a tree to retrieve a book that was thrown up there by one of her classmates."
"I don't know." Said Mr Hawkins, "Maybe that's something Lily could shed light on."
Both the adults looked at Lily who was sitting on a chair next to her mother, she was looking at the floor with her hands pinned firmly on the seat of the chair.
"Lily," said Mr Hawkins, "Why where you climbing the tree."
"Because Wendy threw my book up there." Said Lily.
"And why did she do that?"
"I don't know." Said Lily, "Me and Elle were reading, and she came over and snatched it away from us."
Mr Hawkins leaned back in his chair and shook his head.
"This isn't the first time you've ran in with those three is it." Lily could feel the anger rising in her, she was getting punished for something she wasn't at fault for.
"They call me and Elle weird." Said Lily slightly frustrated, "I haven't done anything to them."
"Miss Evans this is not an isolated incident." Said Mr Hawkins, he walked towards the window in his office. "You and this group seem to have a bit of a run in from time to time."
"I haven't done anything." Said Lily more angrily, "Wendy stole the book from me."
"Really." Said Mr Hawkins, "I doubt my daughter would do anything like that." Lily scowled as the anger swelled up in her.
"Mrs Evans I think we might have to talk about."
BANG
The bulb in lamp exploded, all three looked surprised. Lily backtracked in her seat while Mr Hawkins had run back to the other side of the room.
"It's ok Lily." Said Lavender, "It's alright." Mr Hawkins looked at the lamp and inspected it.
"I'm very sorry," he said, "That's…never, happened before?" Lily leaned in a little closer and saw it for herself. After a swift apology and hasty Lily and her mum where walking home. But Lily wasn't really talking to her like she usually does.
"You shouldn't start arguments Lily." Said Lavender.
"I didn't do anything though." Said Lily quietly.
"I know you didn't Lily." Said Lavender, "But please don't in future ok."
"Yes mum." Said Lily reluctantly.
"Come on. Let's go see Granddad." Said Lavender. Lily's face lit up.
"Really?" she said, "we can go."
"Sure." Said Lavender, "He'd love to see you." Lily set off with Lavender struggling to keep up.
"Granddad!" shouted Lily as she bounded through the door.
"Hey squirt." Lily hugged her Granddad. "Had a good day?"
"It was ok." Said Lily, Lily then made her way to the kitchen as Lavender came through. She pulled out Lily's blanket and she took it gratefully.
"Sorry dad." said Lavender, "I had to be called in, Lily's been in trouble."
"Lily? No, surely."
"She got caught climbing a tree on school property." Said Lavender as they walked into the kitchen. Lily instantly went solemn again as she sat at the table, burying her face in her blanket to avoid there gaze.
"That's nothing. I once got 2 lashes for climbing on the school roof."
"Dad." Lily smiled and giggled, Lavender shook her head and Lily and her granddad laughed.
"Here, squirt." Lily watched as her Granddad reached to one of his cupboards and pulled down the green tin. Lily grinned as he placed it on the table and opened it. As always, it was filled to the brim with bourbon biscuits. Lily instantly took one.
"Ah, ah young lady." The biscuit was halfway to her mouth when she saw her mother shaking her head.
"Can I have one please?" She asked.
"You know you don't have to ask when you're round here." Lily grinned and ate the biscuit. She had a strange way of doing it, she would bite one half of the biscuit off and then eat the inside and other half of the biscuit.
"Mum wouldn't approve of that." Said Lavender, "She'd say, oh Martin, make sure your granddaughters polite."
"And she is." Said Martin, "You sometimes don't give her enough credit."
Lily helped herself to another biscuit. "Can I put the radio on?" she asked.
"So long as it's not—"
"Of course you can."
"Thanks granddad." Lily scampered from the room again.
"Dad."
"What? She comes round I want her to enjoy herself." Said Martin. "If she likes music you should be encouraging her."
"Yeah but…some of these bands around their sending out the wrong message to youngsters."
"Do you really think that kids Lily's age really care about that?"
"But if they do."
"Lav darling, you worry too much." The sound of the radio blared through the house. "You should be embracing the fact that she has an interest." Lavender placed three teas on the table.
"Lily, there's tea on the table for you. I wish she'd start making more friends."
"What's wrong with the friend she has?" asked Martin.
"That's it." said Lavender, "Her one friend. Petunia has a huge circle and yet she only has one."
"She seems happy that way." Said Martin,
"…she has problems with the other children." Said Lavender.
"Really."
"Yes." Said Lavender, "These girls who she had a run in with, it wasn't the first time." Lavender took a gulp of tea. "I think she's being bullied."
"Why do you think that?" asked Martin.
"She doesn't like socialising with anyone." Said Lavender, "She's painfully shy round other people and she said the other children in her class call her weird."
"Kids can be cruel." Said Martin,
"I do worry about her." said Lavender.
"She'll be fine." Said Martin, he looked over into the living room and watched Lily.
"She'll be just fine."
"There are other things as well." Said Lavender in a hushed voice.
"Like?" said Martin.
"Well…" Lavender shuffled her chair closer. "Strange things happen around her. When she's mad or upset." Martin gave her a questioning look.
"The other day, Lily and Petunia where having an argument and we sent them to their rooms. Petunia slammed her door, when Lily slammed hers, every single one in the house slammed shut."
"Everyone?"
"Every single one." said Lavender, "And at school, in sports they did the 100m, do know what Lily's time was?" Martin shook his head.
"Nine seconds. Dead."
"Did the stop watch break?"
"No, nine seconds dead. A new world record, they made her do it twice to make sure she wasn't cheating."
"That is impressive." Said Martin, "They want her to go to a club?"
"No, we've told her she can't do sports anymore." Said Lavender, "Because her shots put the school goalkeeper in hospital, she swims the length of the pool like an Olympic swimmer. She's almost…superhuman."
"Wasn't Superman like that."
"She's not from another planet." Said Lavender, "But these things are strange. I can't explain them, and neither can she." There was a silence from the room that made the atmosphere uneasy.
"Well, her birthday's in a couple of weeks." Said Martin, "What does she want."
"She wants her own radio." Said Lavender, "She always uses ours, listening to her own music."
1970
Lily was on her bed with all her presents around her, but the only one she was using was her brand new radio. She lay down on her bed listening to Albatross before a knock came on her door.
"Lily, turn that down, I can't hear the results coming through!"
"Sorry dad." said Lily happily, she turned the volume down, slightly. She picked up her new book as well, Tarzan of the apes and began to read. She loved these lazy weekends, where she could now listen to The Who, The Beatles, and her personal favourite, Fleetwood Mac. She looked up at her ceiling at the new poster and Mum and Dad had given her, Lindsey Buckingham playing a guitar with his name embezzled underneath. Lily bit her lip and squirmed on her bed, what she didn't notice was some pictures on her window sill, some stray books on the floor starting to float in mid-air. She was blissfully unaware as she nodded her head to the tunes from her new radio.
"LILY!" Lily sat up with a start, making everything in the room fall onto the floor.
"Didn't you hear me? Turn that radio down!"
"Sorry Dad," said Lily turning it down more.
Lily walked down the rows of suburban houses and turned into her granddads house. She'd always go round at the weekend and after school. Petunia uses to as well, but she grew out of it. Mainly Lily went because he used to let her listen to the radio, so really now she had her own she didn't need to. But it had become habit for so long Lily couldn't imagine doing anything different.
Lily slowly started to get into more of a routine, the routine was going to her granddads, have a cup of tea, listen to music and do her homework. She sometimes stayed for dinner, but her mum liked her back for family dinner. But she always stayed for the weekend.
She nodded her head to the music as she wrote. She lay down on the floor writing up her comprehension work while the fire flickered in the background. Lily leaned over and helped herself to another bourbon biscuit and smelled her blanket. Martin stepped into the room and sat down in his chair.
"You ok there squirt?"
"I'm fine thanks." Said Lily looking up and smiling. "This homework is hard though."
"Well you did ask for something more challenging." Said Martin.
"I did." Said Lily sitting cross legged, "Just not this tough. But it's done though now." she closed her book and threw it front of her and picked up another biscuit.
"Your mother always liked a challenge as well." Said Martin.
"Everyone says where alike." Said Lily.
"Well you are." Said Martin, "Trust me squirt, listen to your mother, she knows a lot."
"Have you used an magic recently?" asked Martin.
"No." said Lily, "I don't know what triggers it."
"Your mum said you did really well at sports."
"So good they won't let me play anymore." Said Lily, "I don't know why? I ran really fast and they were suddenly scared about it." Lily sighed. "I don't know."
"But nothing that big after what happened on holiday?"
"I have no idea how I did It." said Lily sitting cross legged and eating another biscuit.
"Neither do I." said Martin. "I was certainly amazing."
"It's always like that." Said Lily. "But why can I do these things?"
"I have no idea squirt." Said Martin, "But be careful with it."
"But I can't control It." said Lily. "How can I be careful with something I cannot control."
"I'm sure you'll find a way." Said Martin.
"How are you getting on at school?"
"I'm still top of the class." Said Lily.
"I know that." Said Martin, "But with your class mates, your mum tells me you get involved in scuffles."
"I don't why they pick on us." Said Lily quietly, "I try to get along with them."
"There just jealous." Said Martin.
"Really?" asked Lily into her blanket.
"Of course they are." Said Martin, "You don't worry about them." Lily smiled and ate another biscuit.
"Your own a radio!" said Elle excitedly, "That's so cool." Lily and Elle where in the wood, more specifically, a small bank that the river ran down. Lily was messing with the tuning before she found the appropriate station. Both girls looked on excitedly as the radio burst into life.
"That's the coolest thing I've ever seen." Said Elle, "I really wish my folks would get me one." said Elle in a longing voice.
"I thought my Mum was going to have a heart attack when I opened It." said Lily, "She had a word with my Granddad about spoiling me."
"Lily, this is a really cool present."
"I know, not to mention the record player he got me as well."
"I can't wait for us to do this during the summer." Said Elle.
Lily waited on the wall for Elle, she let her legs wobble over the side as she looked up at the old factory. She soon heard footsteps and saw Elle walking towards her, her head was bowed, and dragging her feet.
"Hey Elle." Lily said excitedly. She jumped from the wall, landing gracefully on her feet. As Elle got closer Lily noticed that Elle was upset.
"Elle, what's wrong?" asked Lily. Elle looked up, her brown eyes full of tears.
"Lily, I'm moving."
"What?"
"I'm moving." Said Elle, "My Dad got a job in London. I leave next week."
"Can't…can't you stay?" Lily reasoned,
"I can't." croaked Elle, "I have to leave." Lily stood shocked as her world seemed to come crashing around her.
The next week was very quiet, not even the random magic could cheer either Elle or Lily from the impending inevitable. The last week was spent going to all the usual haunts, the park, the woods, the river bank, all the places that would make Lily so alone. Lavender said to Lily it would be a great chance to make new friends, instead it made Lily fly into a rage and she blew up all the bulbs in the house. Lily went to see Elle leave, she walked to her house with her Mum.
"Promise you'll write?" asked Elle.
"I will." Said Lily, "You to."
"I will Lily, and." She leaned in closer, "Tell me if anything comes of your magic."
"I will." Said Lily tearfully. "I don't want you to go."
"I don't want to either," said Elle, "I'll see you soon." Lily watched tearfully as Elle got into her car. She watched as it drove away, Lily turned round to her mother and hugged her.
"I don't want her to go." said Lily.
"I know you don't Lily." Said Lavender, "But we'll work something out."
Lily felt numb going to school without Elle, the walk was very lonely without her friend to talk to her, to show off her magic to. School just reminded her of what she lost, the empty peg next to her, the empty seat during her lessons. Lunch time came and Lily was sitting by herself eating and reading her book, she always stopped at the end of the page waiting for Elle, quietly realising she wasn't there, she turned the page.
"Hey, Evans!" Lily looked up timidly to see Wendy and a gang of people with her.
"What you doing eating on your own weirdo?" She would also now have injure the taunts alone now.
"None of your Business." Said Lily.
"Where's your freak friend?" sneered another girl.
"She left." Said Lily sadly.
"Ah yeah, your freak friend decided to leave you, good job to." Wendy looked up at Lily and back again.
"Stupid Ginger freak." Lily's temper began to flare, she needed to get away. She stood up abruptly and gathered her stuff.
"Where you going?" Jeered Wendy.
"Away from you." Said Lily stiffly. She swung her bag over her shoulder and went to make off. But when she turned round her path was blocked. She took a couple of steps back and turned only to see a circle had formed around her. She began to breathe deeply and looked round for an escape.
"You're not going anywhere, Evans." Said Wendy, "No one here likes you, you don't belong here."
Lily looked round nervously, everyone around her was laughing at her, and she felt isolated, vulnerable.
"Say something, ginger nut." Said Wendy forcefully.
What could Lily say, she was surrounded by everyone, and her magic couldn't help her now. So, she stayed quiet.
"Say something retard!" shouted Wendy.
"Please, just, leave, me, alone." Said Lily, her voice broken and eyes filled with tears. The circle around her started to close in.
"Or what you gonna do Evans? Oh that's right, nothing." Wendy walked up to her and pushed her. Lily fell to the floor with a crash. The tears began to flow freely as she stood up again.
"Just leave me alone." Lily cried. Lily could now hear the jeers from all around her, her mind was disorientated being pushed, and insults flying from every direction. Someone pushed her from behind to the floor, she let out a yelp as she hit the floor. She stood up gingerly only to feel a shearing pain on her head, she placed her hand on her head and looked at her hand, and it had blood on it. Lily Started to get angry.
"Leave, me, alone." Said Lily low but fiercely. No one listened, and the name calling and jeering continued. Lily brought her hands to her head and covered her eyes, trying to block out the name calling and screamed.
"I SAID, LEAVE ME ALONE!" it all went quiet.
No sound.
In the relative darkness of her hands she thought she must of teleported herself away. She parted her fingers gingerly and looked at the ground, then, she took her hands away.
There was nobody, nobody at all. Lily looked round the deserted playground. Toys stood where there players had been only seconds before, the swings where kids had been swinging on their own.
Lily started to breathe heavily and fast as she looked around manically for someone. But the playground was deserted. Lily took a step back, then another; before she knew what she was doing she whirled away and ran.
She ran out of the gate, leaving it banging as she let her feet carry her. The tears streamed down her face as she ran down the streets.
It was all her fault, she had messed up, and she knew this would happen. She had gone too far, she needed to put away. But she just ran, her feet carrying her quicker than they ever had before.
Then, her house came into view. Her pace quickened as she opened the gate and ran to the front door. She yanked it open and raced through.
"Lily?" her mother said surprised, Lily ignored the call and opened the cupboard under the stairs and locked the door. She hugged her knees against her chin and cried into them. She should stay here, in the dark, the cold, away from human contact. Her thoughts of self-loathing where disturbed when the phone rang.
"Hello?...What?" there was a significant pause from Lavender.
"Yes, yes Lily's at home. Why?" Lily's sobs subsided as she listened to the conversation ensued.
"…really?...right…yes I'll talk to her, ok thank you, goodbye." Lily could hear the footsteps coming over.
"Lily?" she saw a shadow go across the bottom door, and felt her mother lean against the door. Lily looked up at the door.
"Lily, what happened?" asked her mother gently. But Lily couldn't control her crying.
"I don't know Mum?" she croaked eventually. "I just…" she trailed off before sobbing again.
"Did you use magic?" asked Lavender.
"…I didn't mean to." Croaked Lily.
"No Lily, no it's alright." Said Mrs Evans gently, "But, what did you do?" There was a pause as Lily slowly began to calm down.
"Everyone was picking on me." Said Lily, "And I wished they would just go away, and…they did." Said Lily.
"That explains the phone call." Said Lavender, she paused as she listened to her soft cries. "Lily, it wasn't your-"
"NO!" shouted Lily, "NO, IT'S MY FAULT! IT WAS MY POWER, MY RESPONSIBILITY!"
"Lily, please." Reasoned Lavender, "it wasn't—"
"IT WAS THOUGH!" Shouted Lily, "IT WAS ME, I DID IT, I MADE THEM ALL DISAPPEAR!" She started crying again. And it pained Lavender to hear her so upset.
"I DON'T WANT TO BE DIFFERENT!" shouted Lily, she started to cry again.
"I want to be like you." She sobbed. Lavender unlocked the door and opened it slowly. Lily looked up with tear stained eyes.
"I want to be normal." Said Lily.
Lavender smiled at her daughter, and crawled towards her.
"Lily, there is nothing different about you." She said softly.
"Yes there is!" said Lily through tears, "Can you do this!?" she picked up some toy knights from the side and held her hand open. Lavender watched in amazement as they began to fight each other. With a swish of her hand Lily threw the soldiers on the floor and buried her head back into her knees.
"Lily…" No response. "Lily, look at me." Lily looked up slowly. Lavender sat next to her and hugged her. Lily returned the gesture.
"Now, I want you to do something for me." Lily looked up at her mum. "Close your eyes." Lily closed her eyes gladly.
"Now, forget what you see." She said, Lily could feel her hand taken away from her leg. "What do you feel?" Lily felt her hand against her mother's chest, she heard the thumping beats of her heart.
"Your… your heart." Said Lily.
"Yes," said Lavender, "Now," she moved Lily's hand to her own chest. "What do you feel now?" Lily concentrated and felt the same thumping in her chest.
"My heart beat?" said Lily, Lavender smiled.
"Exactly." She said. She lifted Lily's chin.
"No different from me, your sister and your father, see." Lavender shuffled on the floor.
"I see…two ears," she said running her hands up Lily's face, "Two eyes…a mouth…and hair." Lavender looked down at Lily.
"See, no different from me." Said Lavender.
"But why can I do these things." Said Lily gently, "It scares me." Lily looked up at her mother, blood trickling from the wound on her head. Lavender gasped and ran her hand gently across the skin. Lily winced. It made her heart bleed, she gathered Lily into a big hug. Lily clinged onto her mother. Her mood soothed by the thumping beats of her mother's heart. It was comforting, she felt safe now.
"I don't know." Said Lavender. "Look, Lily." Said Lavender, "Try not to do these things anymore, ok."
"But what was I supposed to do?" Asked Lily gently. "Just let them bully me?" Lavender was left speechless. She swallowed her breath.
"No, no Lily, you weren't." she said stroking her hair. "But promise me you won't do things like this again, I don't want you to be this upset."
"Ok mum." Said Lily, "I'll try."
As she requested, they left her alone, all of them, they were even more scared of what she could do. It was nice in a way. She was able to read alone, no one would bother her, but she did miss human contact. She missed Elle, someone who wasn't scared of her, someone who sort of understood what this like. She heard a twig snap behind her. Lily turned quickly and looked deep into bush she was behind, was somebody watching her? Lily looked round again and went back to her book.
Lily glanced uneasily over her shoulder and back to her book. In the shadows, when her back was turned, a small shallow face emerged.
Lily walked to her grandfathers. She didn't want to go home just yet, she fancied seeing him. She walked down the road, and still had that uneasy feeling she was being watched. As she go to the front door she looked over her shoulder again, she opened the door and walked in. He was sitting in his chair watching the news on the T.V
"Hey Squirt."
"Hey granddad." Said Lily kicking off her shoes. She walked into the living room where her granddad was sitting.
"And in other news, there was a lucky escape today for young Mary McDonald today, as she seemingly fell over fifty feet and survived.
Witnesses say that the youngster just seemed to fall and bounce to the ground. He girl in question received no injuries and now we have an interview with her"
Martin turned the T.V off. "Hate those slow day snippets." He said, "Never anything there relating to us."
"How you doing?"
"Ok." Said Lily, quietly, "People still won't talk to me."
"Are you upset?" asked Martin.
"No," said Lily, "I only have one more year then I can go to the same school as Tuney."
"She'll talk to me then."
"I'm sure she will." Said Martin.
"Granddad."
"Yes."
"I think someone's watching me." Said Lily.
"Watching you?" said Martin, Lily nodded. "Why would someone watch you?"
"Maybe after what happened at school." Said Lily, "I just feel like someone's watching me."
"I'm sure no one's watching you sweetheart." Said Martin, "Maybe your just feeling a little lonely."
"Yeah," said Lily looking out of the window at a bush. "Maybe I am."
Lily sat on her bed hugging her knees. The rain battered her window as the thunder and lightning roared outside. It was a fowl night. But perfectly suited to her state of mind. Fractured and confused. She missed Elle, she felt so alone, the teleportation incident only emphasised that her magic was becoming stronger, more dangerous. It was fun to begin with. But now it had a real degree of uncertainty surrounding it. She stood up from her bed and made her way towards the window.
She opened and backtracked when the storm hit her. She placed a hand up to shield her eyes as the wind blew her hair back. Lily crawled out of the window, she looked to her right and scaled the drainpipe down into the back garden. She landed with a thud on the wet concrete and looked round at the dark rain lashed surroundings. Lightning flashed the sky which made Lily took up, the sound of thunder roared. Lily took a look back at the house and made her way out.
She wasn't really surprised not to see anyone around. Who would want to come out on a night like this anyway. And yet…Lily liked it. The way the wind wrapped around her, the rain pounding on her skin, and the nice warm feeling of being alone. And yet she was still sad.
Magic, she didn't want it, not anymore, it was fun while it lasted but now it was dangerous. People could have been hurt, what if she hadn't teleported people straight to their houses. What if she teleported them somewhere dangerous, a lake, a warzone.
She was dangerous, far too dangerous to be on her own. What if they manifested into something more, who would stop her? She hadn't met anyone like her before, anyone who was magical.
With her aimless wandering she found herself outside of the church. Lily looked up at the steeple and saw lighting tear across the sky. Maybe he did have all the answers.
Lily heaved the doors open. The rain drops amplified on the stone floor as another bolt of lightning lit up the sky. Lily walked in and looked around at the roof architecture till she got to the middle of the aisle. She stopped and turned to see the main aisle leading up to the Alter with the stain glass windows behind it of Jesus.
"How did you do it?" asked Lily. She walked slowly down the aisle. "You walked on water and turned water into wine and yet people thought you were the messiah." Lily stopped and stared at the glass figure.
"Yet when I make a book float in the air, people get scared." She was half hoping for the glass picture to talk back to her, but it didn't. "Where am I going wrong?" Again, nothing.
Lily breathed deeply. She didn't know why she was getting angry, she knew she wasn't going to get an answer here and yet she was expecting one to fall out of the sky.
Lily turned and walked purposefully to the back of the church and picked up a small collection dish. She turned back and walked down the aisle with it in hand. In a fit of anger she threw it like a Frisbee towards the alter. It whizzed in the air and smacked against the cross in the middle of the Alter. It fell onto the stone floor with a clang. Lily was panting while looking at the fallen cross.
"Hello?" Lily turned her head.
"I saw the door open. I was wondering if you needed any-" It was Sidney, the priest.
"Oh, Lily." he said. "What are you doing here?" Lily went to answer but didn't. Instead what came out was a very long "Uhmmmmm." Sidney chuckled.
"It's ok it you don't want to tell me." He shrugged his coat off and placed it over a pew to dry.
"I was looking for advice." Said Lily.
"Advice?" Lily nodded. Strangely, Sidney laughed. "You won't get any advice from him." he said pointing up at the stain glass window of Jesus. Lily raised an eyebrow.
"Advice is something you ask for when you know the answer but can't face It." he explained. "What you're looking for is guidance."
"Guidance?"
"Yes." Sidney walked past Lily and sat on the stone step leading up to the Alter. "That's when were lost, and need help turning in the right direction." He patted the stone behind him.
"So Lily, what's on your mind?" he asked. Lily gingerly walked forward and sat down next to him.
"I don't really know where to begin." She said. "It's…it's difficult to explain."
"Well, a good place to start is the beginning." He said. "But, I can guess that it's because of the rumours going round about you." Lily nodded.
"There not rumours." Lily met his eye. "There true."
"I refuse to believe that." He said. "Children can be cruel but."
Lily turned around and concentrated on the fallen cross behind them. Sidney turned round to and saw it rise slowly off the floor. His mouth formed a perfect 'o' shape as it landed back on the alter. Lily relaxed and turned to him, Sydney looked at Lily and back at the cross and back to her.
"That's impressive." He said now with a slight smile.
"It doesn't scare you?" asked Lily curiously.
"It's…different. I'll give you that." He said, he got up from the step and walked to the alter. Lily turned her body and saw him picking up the cross and inspecting it in his hands.
"Well I don't want it anymore." Said Lily.
"Why?"
"Because it's ruining my life." Said Lily. "I have no friends, my sister is jealous of me because of it and the whole village is scared of me. Why…why did god give this to me?" Sydney didn't answer straight away.
"Well. They say that he comes in mysterious ways, Lily." he said sitting back down next to her. "I think, whatever his plan, he has given you this gift for a reason."
"To make me unhappy."
"No, his reasoning may not be apparent now. But, one day, you will know why he gave you this gift. And when you do, it will all make sense. Look at Jesus; he didn't know what his power meant until he saw that his people needed his help."
"Jesus wasn't hated by his community though." Said Lily darkly.
"You'd be surprised." Said Sydney. "He was dismissed, laughed at, beaten and humiliated, but he stuck to his principles. So much so that The Romans had him killed."
"People won't kill me will they?"
"No, no." said Sydney laughing. "I doubt there'll be a witch hunt for you just yet Lily."
"But what am I supposed to do with it while I figure why I have it?" asked Lily, "I can't just wait?"
"Is suppose not." Said Sydney. "Why don't you stop focusing on how it affects you as an individual, and instead, see how it can help other people."
"How?"
"I'm sure you'll find a way." Said Sydney. "But, you're a smart girl." He pointed to the stain glass window behind them. "You have more in common with him than you want to admit. But, I think he has helped you find the guidance you need to take the next big step in your life."
"How do I see it?" asked Lily.
"When we hit our lowest point." Explained Sidney, "We are open to the greatest change."
"What change is that?"
"Whatever change you make it." said Sidney.
"What if god doesn't like that Change?" asked Lily.
"Well god did create us in his own image, Lily." Said Sidney. "He loves everyone regardless of their choice."
"He did?"
"Well of course he did." Said Sidney raising an eyebrow. Lily got up and began to walk away. "Wait, where are you going?"
"You were right about one thing." Said Lily turning back round. "About the greatest change part. And after hearing that, I don't want to follow this religion anymore."
"Why?" asked Sidney getting to his feet.
"I've seen what people are capable of." Said Lily. "I've been bullied and humiliated by them, and if your 'all loving and caring' god made those people in his own image, then I don't want to be part of this façade." Lily continued to walk towards the doors.
"And thank you for helping me realise that!" she called as she walked back into the night.
Lily opened her eyes in her bedroom. The sun streamed into her room like it always did in the morning, she got a stretched before flopping down onto her mattress. Today was the first day of summer without Elle for company, she had been dreading it for months, and now the day was here, she still dreaded the prospect of having to spend the summer alone.
By the time Lily was downstairs Petunia was out the door, meeting some friends in Sheffield for the day. Lily just sat at the table, dwelling miserably on her lonely existence. Her Mum was around pottering while her Dad was at work, Lily decided to read on the window seat in her room.
She looked out over the rows of houses and to the park which was empty. She shut her book and walked to the park, she opened the gate and looked round. Much hadn't changed in the months she and Elle used to idly spend hours reading, playing and having fun. Lily just sat on the swing and started to read her book.
SNAP
Lily jumped of the swing and looked at the bushes. She swore she heard a twig go, like at school a few times. Lily got off the swing and approached the bush. No, it was nothing, a bird or squirrel. Lily continued to look at the bush. It was almost as if it was staring back at her. Lily eyed it for a few minutes maybe whatever was in there would come out. But nothing did
Lily smiled and went back to the swing, she started to read but placed the book down almost immediately. The chance to jump off the swing while her mum wasn't here was too good to turn down. She built up momentum and started to swing, she let out and laugh of delight as she jumped off the swing at the height of the arc. She soared in the air, she landed gracefully on the asphalt skidding slightly. Lily looked at the swing coming back to her, she placed her arm out, as she was commanding someone to stop. She concentrated and the swing stopped dead.
Lily smirked and looked at her hand. Then up again at the swing.
"I wonder…" she said lightly. Emotion, was that the trigger for this. For magic, she thought about it, every time she had used her power. When all the door slams in her house, she is angry.
When she lands like a trapeze artist, she's excited.
When she teleported everyone away, she was scared.
When she made the ornaments in the room levitate, she was upset.
When she makes the flowers pulsate, she was curious.
Lily thought about when she was mad, almost immediately the swing swung back of its own accord. Lily nodded, she looked at the swing.
"Protego!" the swing sprang into life and then stopped. She then looked around the park.
"Ok, I can move stuff." Said Lily.