"Enough groveling, Wormtail. You make me sick."

"But, Master, I-"

"You already failed me once," Lily said in a high, toneless voice. "No, your plan will get us nowhere. I forbid it."

"Master, please," the sniveling, writhing man in front of him said, head bowed low in a prostrated form. Lily felt nothing but disgust for the failure of a man. "I-I will not fail you again, if you'd only give me another ch-chance to-"

"Do I disgust you so much, Wormtail, that you seek to flee my presence when we have only just been reunited?" Lily said. Her large snake coiled around her frail, pained form. To call it a body would be generous; it was a sickening tangle of dark magic that kept her coiled into this absurd mockery of life.

"N-no, Master," Wormtail said, his shaking intensifying. Lily noticed that he still refused to look in her direction. "I only s-seek to please you however I can-"

"This plan of yours is foolish, Wormtail," Lily said coldly, "We have nowhere need the resources to pull it off, let alone any assurance that it would work."

Somebody cleared their throat from behind her, the room falling slightly as she considered giving permission for the man to speak.

"Very well, Lucius," she said. "Let's hear what you have to say."

"If I may, Master," Lucius said, sounding oddly pleased. "That godfather of his has been snooping around the Minister's office, trolling for favours. A well-placed whisper in his ear, and I'm certain the boy would be placed exactly where we want him."

"An interesting proposition," Lily said, her thin hand stroking Nagini's cold scales. "And you would take him there, in the middle of the crowd, surrounded by aurors and ministry officials?"

"No, my lord," Lucius said carefully. "I thought only to create an opportunity. Perhaps, with a sufficient enough distraction, you could take him unnoticed."

"I highly doubt the boy's absence would go unnoticed for long," Quirrell said from his workstation. "Even with all eyes on the match, how would you abduct him right under the Ministry's nose."

"Perhaps after the game?" Lucius said. "Or, perhaps, a weak poison could enter the boy's refreshments, separating them from the others long enough for us to make our move."

"Interesting," Quirrell said. "I could brew one, I suppose, but it would be up to you to slip it into the boy's-"

"No," Lily said.

The room fell silent again while she thought, Wormtail still sniveling and shaking at her feet. The idea had merit, but there was far too much that could go wrong by taking the boy when surrounded by so many. What they needed was an opportunity to get him away from the crowds.

"Lucius," she said at last. "How many of the old guard are still loyal?"

"At least half, my lord," Lucius said nervously. He was right to be. She'd punish them all once she returned to power.

"Assemble as many as you can trust," she said, "but do not inform them of their true purpose. I will require a distraction. I am counting on you to cause a significant one."

"Oi, Lily, get up."

"Then I will do so, Master," Lucius said. "What should I tell them?"

"Come on, Lily, don't make me hurt you."

"Tell them only that you desire a bit of fun," Lily said carefully. "Do not give them a hint that I have returned. I look forward to seeing how many of them will answer once I-"

"OI!"

Lily opened her eyes, blinking into the bright light of her room. Ron was standing in front of her curtains, hands still gripping at the cloth. She couldn't make out his face in her pain, and she threw a pillow over her head to keep it all out.

"Go away," she grumbled.

"Get up, Lily," Ron said with a whine in his voice. "Sirius is already downstairs, you were supposed to be ready an hour ago."

"Mmrgh."

"Fine," Ron said. "We'll just go to your opening without you."

"Fine," Lily said back at him, tossing her pillow at his annoying head. "Get out, I need to dress."

As Ron clicked the door shut behind him, Lily stared out her window at the sunny, inviting field. She could see a few chickens pecking away at the grass. She could also see her cat chasing after the rooster. She was sure that wouldn't end well.

She closed her eyes tight, trying to remember what she'd been dreaming about. She never remembered her dreams, but she felt like she needed to for this one. It felt important. She could tell that much by the lingering pain in her scar. She could remember hazy figures and a fireplace. Perhaps a snake?

Lily leaned back into her pillow. The last thing she wanted to do was leave the comfort of her bed. Lately, she'd taken to sleeping as long as humanly possible, only getting up when somebody came to fetch her (even if she was already awake). If she had it her way, she'd never get up at all, but she wasn't supposed to think that way. Lupin hated that. Instead of trying to get back to sleep, she instead spent a good amount of time laying there, trying to motivate herself to get on with the day.

It almost never worked, but she could pretend. She cleaned herself up as quickly as she could, socked feet running down the steps eagerly, boots (just a little bit too small) slipped over them.

"There you are!" Sirius Black said, spreading his arms wide with a smile. "Have a good lie in?"

"Yeah," Lily said as she threw herself around her Godfather in a tight hug. Sirius clasped his hands behind her back fondly, his hugs always lingering slightly too long. When they released each other, he put his hands on her shoulders so he could inspect her. That was their daily routine. Lily was getting a bit sick of it, to be honest, but Sirius seemed to enjoy it, so she put up with it.

"Blimey, did you grow again?" Sirius said. "You're almost as tall as I am, now."

"Bet I'll be taller before Christmas," Lily said with a smile.

"Don't know where you get it from," Sirius said warmly. "You're already well past your mum and dad."

Lily tried to hide her sudden nervousness by scratching at the back of her head, pretending to be embarrassed. In truth, her Aunt was always freakishly tall, so the genes did exist for her. But the absolute one rule that she always kept to was that she would not talk about her old life.

Not to anyone but Lupin, anyway.

"That'd be my cooking," Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen. "Get in here and eat, Lily, you're going to be late!"

"How long do we have?" Lily asked as she rushed past Sirius into the very crowded kitchen.

"About twenty minutes," Sirius said from behind. "It's no rush, really, though; we'll be flooing in directly. I insisted Remus install a private one in his office."

"Sirius!"

"Right on cue," Sirius said, rolling his eyes. He walked over to the nearby fireplace and leaned down next to it, smiling awkwardly at the face of Remus Lupin, their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor of the previous year, whose face was looking tired and nervous amidst the coals and logs of the Burrow's flames.

"Here you are, dear," Mrs. Weasley said, handing her a large package. "Came in the post for you just an hour ago."

"What is it?" Ron asked.

"None of your business," Lily said, sticking her tongue out at him. It was for a secret project. She placed the order months ago, during the last Christmas holiday, but it was only just now arriving.

She needed to pick up a few more things while out today, and then she'd be ready to begin.

After a quick run upstairs to drop off the parcel, Lily moved towards the table. Ron was saving her a seat, but she pushed Ginny and her chair aside so she could squeeze in next to her. Ginny just got up immediately and left the table, leaving her plate on the counter near the sink. Lily tried not to feel bad as the other girl slinked into the sitting room.

"I don't think I can do this," Lupin said. Lily could see his hair lifting at the corners, where he was undoubtedly pulling at it. Mrs. Weasley placed a plate of food in front of her and she began shoveling it all down as quickly as she could.

"Gross, Lily," George said from next to her, taking up Ginny's now empty seat.

"Tell that to Ronnykins," Fred said from across the table.

"He has her beat for sure," George said.

"Then why get on me about it?" Lily said, her mouth full.

"You're going to be fine, Moony," Sirius said.

"Remus," Lily corrected.

"We'll be right there with you," Sirius said, ignoring her.

"I don't think this is such a good idea," Lupin said. "I mean, really, think of the optics! What if they find out I'm a-"

"You'll be fine," Sirius insisted. "Nobody knows about your furry little problem but you, me, Lily, and one of the redheads over there, I forget which."

"Mmmr," Ron said, his mouth stuffed full of runny egg.

"Furry little problem?" Fred and George said together. Lily could practically hear their minds working on figuring out the implications. She kept her stupid mouth shut. She wouldn't be the one who outed Lupin on being a werewolf.

She had her own secrets to keep, and she could sympathize greatly.

"Has he got a rabbit?" Ginny asked sweetly, wandering into the kitchen from around the corner. "I always wanted one, but Mum said-"

"We are not going to watch over a rabbit for you while you're off to school," Mrs. Weasley said sternly, scooping more sizzling sausages onto Lily's plate from the hot pan. "We have enough issues with the bloody cat chasing the chickens."

"He's doing that right now, by the way," Lily added helpfully.

"Dear Merlin," Mrs. Weasley said, head leaning out the open window next to her stove. "Ron, go fetch the cat before the rooster guts the poor thing."

"Busy," Ron said between mouthfuls of food.

"Ronald Weasley," Mrs. Weasley said sternly, placing her hands firmly on her hips.

"You'll be fine!" Sirius said. "Really, I don't know what you're so-"

"I'm eating!" Ron said.

"Your food will still be here when you get back," Mrs. Weasley said.

"I'll get it, Mum," Ginny said, hurrying away from Lily (who was only standing to get a drink).

"Thanks, dear," Mrs. Weasley said with a pat on her cheek.

"Lily, I think we best be going," Sirius said, still standing next to the fire. "Moony will do a runner if we take much longer. We'll be lucky if he has any hair left as it is."

Lily bent forward, low over her plate, and shoveled the last bit of meat, egg, and bread into her cavernous maw. She was still chewing when Mrs. Weasley handed her the bag of Floo Powder. Lily took just a pinch, swallowed the lump down her throat, tossed the dust into the fireplace, downed her cup of pumpkin juice, stepped into the new green flames, and then spoke clearly:

"Potter Publications."

There was a great woosh and a sickening pull at her full stomach, and then she was spinning through the chimney. Lily whistled a tune as she whirled past fireplace after fireplace (it always helped to distract her), hearing bits of chatter and gossip that went by too quickly to make any sense.

She came out into an orderly office, a bright window looking out over a crowded street below. The desk had stacks of paper on it, sorted neatly, and a chart of accounts laying open next to a candle. Lily spotted a familiar, tattered briefcase leaning against one of the sides, the faded inscription reading as "R. J. Lupin."

The man it belonged to was leaning against the windowsill, peering down into Diagon Alley, as pale and green as she feared. She placed a hand on his shoulder, but he didn't seem to notice.

"This may have been a huge mistake," Lupin said quietly. Lily followed his gaze to the hundred people waiting outside in the bustling marketplace.

"Blimey," she said, suddenly feeling the nerves herself. "I didn't expect that many people."
"Why wouldn't you?" Sirius said as he stepped out of the fireplace, the edge of his cloak snagging on one of the iron prongs. "You are aware your name is on the building, yes?"

"Still," Lily said. "Err- do I have to meet with all of them?"

"Of course not," Sirius said with a smile. "Remus and I will handle most of it. All you have to do is smile, greet a few folks, and look pretty."
"Well, I have the last part down, at least," Lily mumbled. A few well-placed Beauty Charms (learned from good friend, Lavender Brown) and a nice robe that matched her flaming, red hair did wonders for her look. She toyed nervously with a lock of her curls. She wished she'd tied her hair today; it tended to get frizzy when she was nervous, poofing up until she looked like a caricature of Hermione, as of late. She had no earthly idea why.

"Come on, you two," Sirius said, wheeling them away from the window by force. "Let's at least go see the floor before you give up entirely."

Lily tried not to feel too bad about her prospects. She was doing better now. She could handle this, and she could get through it all with a smile on her face. She just had to find the smile, was all.

Sirius led them down the narrow stairs into a backroom, loaded with extra books and supplies. Lily frowned at the Lockhart books. She hated that man more than most people. There were only a few names above him on her list, and he was the only Ravenclaw on it at all. The rest were almost all Slytherins, herself included.

The main floor was much larger, with a square desk in the middle with two registers on each side. Lily's heart told her they'd never need that many of them, but the throngs of people outside told her otherwise. She didn't know any of the people standing behind them, but they smiled and waved as they all came in. Lily waved back, feeling nervous, trying to distract herself by looking at the filled shelves and crisp, new textbooks.

"Got all the Lockharts out front?" Sirius asked one of the clerks, a pretty blonde woman that kept stealing Lily's attention away. She had to try very hard not to stare. She promised herself she wouldn't do that anymore.

"Yes, Mr. Black," the woman said.

"Call me Sirius," Sirius said with a cheeky grin. "You know, if you want, I'd love to buy you a drink or two down at the Cauldron once you're-"

"Do not ask the staff out on a date, Sirius," Remus said sternly. "Don't let him bother you, Claire, come find me if he's-"

"Blimey, Moony, I'm just being friendly," Sirius said. "Lily? Are you trying to burn all our Lockhart books with that look? We need those, they're going to be our main sellers."

"I don't want to sell them at all," Lily said, feeling sick as she stared into Lockhart's smiling face and his bright eyes.

"You should have told me that before I spent all those Galleons," Sirius said with a groan. "It was supposed to be a birthday present. You're now the proud owner to the exclusive publication rights to the whole line."

"Sirius," Lupin said carefully. "How much have you spent on all this? It was just supposed to be-"

"Don't you worry about that none," Sirius said. "Consider it fourteen years' worth of presents, and many more to come. I have every intention of making you a very wealthy woman by the time you finish school. How's that sound?"

"Brilliant," Lily said, trying to put a bit of fake excitement into her voice. She set the book she was holding back down on the shelf, sincerely hoping nobody would ask her to sign any of these particular items. One of the novels carried a cover made by her (although touched up by a real professional), and it proudly bore her name right under his. She couldn't stand it. She wondered if she could have that removed now that she owned it.

"Well, let's get this over with, shall we?" Sirius said happily. "Places, people, places!"

"I thought I put you in charge," Lily said, standing next to her former professor.

"I thought so too," Lupin said with a sigh. "But Sirius has always been a bit overzealous. Besides, I'm sure this is something he'd been dreaming of the entire time he was in Azkaban."
"What do you mean?" Lily asked. "I only asked you after- err-" She didn't really want to finish that sentence.

"Your parents wanted to open a bookstore together," Lupin said. "It just wasn't safe during the war. But, after, they were going to run one together, your mother said it was always her dream."

"Really?" Lily asked, just a bit of hope in her voice.

"Really," Lupin said with a knowing smile. "I know that wasn't quite why you wanted it, but it would have made them happier than anything to see this moment."

Lily looked back at the Lockhart books, suddenly feeling a lot more thankful for this entire situation. And, to think, she just wanted to run a different store out of business for spite. She wanted to believe her parents wouldn't hate her for it, but there was always that lingering doubt. She tried to push it away, push the thought back behind that locked cupboard door.

She didn't need to feel this way anymore.

She hardly hard time to prepare herself before Sirius whisked the doors open, the chattering and excited crowd pushing their way past him. Lily took a step back on instinct, suddenly very much so not wanting to be standing out here in the middle of the floor.

"Stay near me," Lupin said, pulling her close to her side. "I'll watch over for you."

"Thanks, Professor," Lily said with genuine relief.

"I think we're well past 'Professor' now, Lily," Lupin said with a smile. "Please, call me Remus."

Lily didn't have the time to argue before they were pulled into all sorts of conversations and questions. Lily let Remus handle it all, feeling completely overwhelmed, and just kept smiling and nodding and occasionally offering a few words when nudged by Remus. A few times she could hear Sirius laughing loudly from somewhere nearby, or watched as one of the workers zipped by to restock the shelves or carry something for a customer. Lily shook a lot of hands, talked with a lot of strangers, and by the time lunch hit, completely wanted to die.

"Not as bad as I expected it to be, to be honest," Remus said as he sat her down at a table in the backroom.

Lily just nodded, her brain completely fried.

"You can slip away if you want, Lily," Remus offered. "I'll let Sirius know, he wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable."

"You're the boss," Lily said, finding her words. "You're the one I chose, not him."

"Still," Remus said slowly. "You can't argue he doesn't fit the role better. Perhaps I should just-"

"I want you running it," Lily said with a shake of her head. She leaned in closer, dropping her voice. "You're the one who saved my life. I want you doing it."

"Lily," Remus said at the same volume. "Really, I- I didn't- You could have faced so much worse because of me. I shouldn't be here."

"That wasn't your fault," Lily said. "It was Pettigrew's. I wouldn't have even been there, if it hadn't been for Graham and Montague."

"Speaking of which," Sirius said, suddenly emerging from the main door. "You'll be pleased to know their trial has just concluded."

"Really?" Remus asked. "How'd you find that out?"

"Minister's here for a visit," Sirius said with a smile. "Said he wanted to see you outside, Lily, perhaps snap a photo for the paper."

"What's he want?" Remus asked suspiciously. "Even for someone like Lily, it's strange for the Minister to pay a visit for a new shop."

"Good optics," Sirius said with a shrug. "Peter's escape just hit the news this morning."

Lily tried to ignore the pang of fear that went through her body. All the bad things that happened in her life were because of Peter Pettigrew. If he never betrayed her parents, they wouldn't have died, and she wouldn't be so miserable. He wasn't the only one responsible, but he was near the top of her list.

They just managed to catch him at the end of her third year, but he escaped en route to Azkaban with the help of former Professor Quirrell. Sirius came to visit with the news, shortly after they arrived back home from Hogwarts. Lily had a hard time sleeping for a week after that, although she never told anyone, not even Remus. She just didn't want them worrying about her.

Lily's head hurt just a bit, as if some distant memory was rattling at the side of her brain, but she just couldn't figure out what it was.

"What do you think, Lily?" Sirius asked, knocking her out of her stupor. "Fancy humouring him?"

"I don't know," Lily said nervously.

"This isn't like last year, Lily," Remus said reassuringly, a hand covering one of hers gently. "You can do this, but you don't have to if you don't want to. You can always say no."

"I can tell him to fuck off if you'd rather," Sirius offered.

"Or that," Remus admitted. "Although perhaps it wouldn't be the smartest idea to say so to the Minister for Magic."

"I'd put it nicer than that," Sirius said with a shrug. "Although the bastard has it coming after the way he slandered me. Come to think of it, I still haven't gotten that personal apology I was promised. Maybe I should just toss the git out on his-"

"I'll go," Lily said finally, standing from her seat feeling oddly confident. Remus was right. She could do this.

"Atta girl," Sirius said, herding her out of the backroom with an arm over her shoulder, Remus following closely behind. "We'll make it as quick as we can, the Weasleys wanted to take you for lunch as soon as they get here."

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to," Remus insisted.

"I'll be fine, Professor," Lily said.

"Really, Lily," Remus said. "You're my boss now, there's no need to call me 'Professor.' Remus will do just fine."

"You can call him 'Moony,' if you'd prefer," Sirius suggested.

"Sirius, don't you start," Remus said sternly. "We aren't teenagers anymore."

"Here she is, Minister," Sirius said, shoving Lily forward suddenly. Lily waved meekly at the bowler-hatted, portly gentleman in front of her. She'd met him a few times before, and she always felt like she embarrassed herself. Hell, in second year, she practically ignored him while he was giving her an Order of Merlin. That probably wasn't her smartest idea.

"Wonderful to see you again, Hazel, absolutely wonderful," Cornelius Fudge said, taking her hand in a firm shake, all smiles and pleasantries. "I see the shop is running nicely. Woman in the shop cross the way didn't seem very pleased about it."

There was a snap and a bright flash of light as a nearby camera took their picture, Fudge turning his bright smile in that direction just in time.

"Good," Lily said, trying not to feel bad about it. That was the entire point of this. She blinked several times, trying to get the spots out of her eyes.

"I think that's quite enough, Minister," Sirius said, prying his arm off of Lily's shoulders after three more minutes of photos. Lily was quite thankful for it. "Lily has some appointments she needs to keep."

"Quite right, quite right," Fudge said, giving her one last handshake. "I should be off myself, as well, loads to do."

"Not so fast," Sirius said, wheeling him off with his own arm around the Minister's shoulders. "You and I aren't quite square yet, Fudge."

"I thought we were-"

"I've been acquitted, yes," Sirius said. "But I've yet to get my apology."

Fudge's face turned red. "I think you'll find that cornering me in public is no way to-"

"Then let's head over here," Sirius said, steering him away from the crowd, "and we'll discuss the terms."

"Oh, very well," Fudge grumbled just as they got out of earshot.

Lily glanced around nervously, suddenly realizing that, without Sirius, she had no familiar faces around her. All the strangers were staring at her, whispering, a few trying to catch her attention. She searched around for Remus, hoping he'd come to her rescue, or perhaps one of the Weasleys coming to-

"Hello, Miss Potter," a feminine voice said from behind. Lily whirled, squinting suspiciously at the gaudy, short, smiling woman facing her, a quill and notepad hovering close behind her shoulder, her thick frames perched on the bridge of her nose, head tilted slightly to the side to appear innocuous.

"Do I know you?" Lily said, cautiously accepting the offered handshake.

"Rita Skeeter," Skeeter said with a fake tone of jovialness. "Special Correspondent with the Daily Prophet, at least for today. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"

"Skeeter?" Lily repeated, snatching her hand away. "Aren't you the tosser what ran that snuff piece on me last year?"

"It's called a hit piece, dear," Skeeter said, still smiling. "And I think you'll find everything I wrote is the undeniable truth, as it came from your own mouth."

"Right," Lily said, backing up slightly. "Well, no thank you."

"Pardon?" Skeeter asked.

"I think I'd rather be interviewed by a troll than you," Lily said. "Be prettier to look at, too."

"I'm not so sure that's a wise idea, dear girl," Skeeter said dangerously, grabbing Lily's arm before she could get away. "Perhaps it's best we start off with a new leaf? Let bygones be bygones? What do you say?"

"Why would I ever want to do that?" Lily asked. She tore her arm free, squaring up to make herself seem as large as she could. She could practically hear Gwenog Jones cheering her on in her mind.

"I think you'll find there's a lot of big happenings around Hogwarts this year, dear," Skeeter said, whispering conspiratorially. "And big happenings tend to bring the press, don't they? You wouldn't want some more of your ill-intended escapades leaking to the general public, would you?"

"I think I'll take my chances," Lily said. "And if you know what's good for you, you'll keep your nose out of my escapades."

"Why, Lily, are you threatening me?" Skeeter asked with a high laugh.

"It's Potter," Lily said, "And I'm just speaking the truth. Wouldn't want any innocents getting hurt, would we? Have a pleasant day, hope I won't see you!"

Lily walked away quickly, wishing she had half that bit of daring show up during the last year. She was really starting to feel like her old self again. This store was just what she needed.

And then she saw something else she needed, and she threw herself around an eager Lavender Brown, arms locked around their backs in a tight embrace.

"I missed you!" Lavender said happily.

"I didn't know you were coming to visit!" Lily said, equally pleased.

"You're looking great, Lily!" Lavender said as they parted, mouth split in a wide, toothy grin. Her curly locks tumbled around her shoulders, her makeup was absolutely perfect, and Lily could just get a scent of her perfume lingering in the air, all of which combined to make Lily's heart race.

Just as always, being around Lavender was dangerous, but Lily could never pull away, especially now that she knew what it was she was feeling. She'd just have to control herself as well as she could.

"You too," Lily said, hoping she didn't sound too stupid. She did her best not to pull away from Lavender when the girl leaned in closer, getting a good whiff of her hair.

"You're using that wash I gave you!" she said happily, pulling Lily into another hug. "And the perfume, too! Oh, I was worried you hated it, you never wrote back about it!"

"Sorry," Lily said sheepishly. She really hoped Lavender couldn't feel how heavily her heart was beating against her chest. "I was bad about that last year. I'm trying to get back on track now."

"You forgot your charm this morning, though!" Lavender said, pulling away again and flicking Lily lightly on the nose. "I don't really know if you need, it though. How do you look this cute without any touching up?"

"Do I?" Lily said, running a hand through her hair to try and make it seem thicker, try to fish for another compliment.

"Say, did you get your school list yet?" Lavender asked.

"Not yet," Lily said, realizing she never told Lavender she wasn't returning to the same school. Now seemed like a very poor time to do so. "But Hogwarts already sent what we'd need to the shop, so we'd know what to carry. I can show you, if you'd like."

"Really?" Lavender said. "I don't want to bother you, you seem really busy."

"I'm just here to- well, to be here, I suppose," Lily said, running a hand through her hair again. "I'm not actually involved in the shop, it's all Remus and Sirius. I was just here to say 'hello' to everybody, snap a few photos, what have you. Am I rambling?" She felt like she was rambling.

"You've hardly said three sentences, Lily," Lavender said. "Want to show me around?"

"I'd love to," Lily said, catching herself just in time before her hand reached her scalp.

Lily showed her everything they could get near, from the books on beauty tips (which Lavender, unsurprisingly, bought quite a few of), to magical fountain pens that Lupin insisted on stocking despite the lack of demand.

"Why are they twenty Galleons a piece?" Lavender asked, seemingly afraid to even pick one up.

"They're custom-made items," Lily explained, a hand nervously running through her hair. "They come with your name engraved when you buy one!"

"What's the point?" Lavender asked. "Why not just use quills?"

"They never run out of ink," Lily said, "so you never have to dip them. And- err- they write more smoothly. You can draw with them!" That definitely was not their purpose, but that was how she often used her own.

"I'm not much of an artist," Lavender said with a bit of a pout. "Violet made fun of me when I tried to show her my last one."

"Who's Violet?" Lily asked.

"My sister," Lavender said, crossing her arms and sounding a bit grumpy. Lily made a mental note to never ask for an introduction.

"Want to get some ice cream?" she said instead. It was the only thing her little brain could think of at the moment. It was being overheated from how warm it was in this shop, when it was cramped with so many people (many of which seemed to be staring at her and whispering amongst themselves).

"I should be going, actually," Lavender said, glancing over at the clock they kept above the entryway. "Mum told me to meet her near the Floo."

"You can't stay a bit longer?" Lily said hopefully. The last time they ran into each other in Diagon, Lavender made an excuse to stay with her for the rest of her shift at The-Place-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named.

"Sorry, Lily," Lavender said, sounding genuinely apologetic. "I have an appointment at St. Mungo's to keep."

"St. Mungo's?"

"It's nothing to worry about!" Lavender said quickly, her face reddening in a deep blush. "It's- just a check-up! That's all!"

"Want me to walk you down?" Lily offered.

"No, that's all right," Lavender said, already backing up as fast as she could. "I'll see you at school, Lily! We should have tea sometime!"

"Yeah," Lily said quietly as the crowd swallowed Lavender. "I'd love to."