Later that same night that the Potter Siblings had delivered their gifts to Healer Cochlain and she had told them they could now call her Amy, Lily sent out notices to James, Albus, Devon, Hugo, Ainsley, Samantha, and Stephanie asking them to meet her in The Room of Requirement at 7 P.M. Hogwarts time.
As Lily had expected, James, Albus, Hugo, Devon, Ainsley, Samantha, and Stephanie all turned up. She knew she could count on them.
"So," said Lily clearly, "There is a very specific reason why I have called us all to gather here tonight. I wish to do some fundraising for Worthy Wands. As I'm sure you remember, Worthy Wands is the charity I created that helped me become a co gold medalist of last year's Hogwarts Writing Competition. This charity provides funds for needy and underprivileged Hogwarts students to purchase first hand wands that have chosen them so that they aren't stuck using hand me down wands, which will NEVER work as well for ANY witch or wizard as a wand that has chosen them. I want everyone to take a few minutes to think of what they might like to do raise money for Worthy Wands. When I call your name please present your idea."
"If I may ask?" inquired Albus, "Are we eight the only people who know about this idea of doing fundraising for Worthy Wands?"
"No," said Lily briskly, "I limited the number of people I called to this meeting because it would counterproductive to have so many fundraisers that they competed with each other. I have written to Fred, Roxanne, Rose, Pamela, Miles, Todd, and Gary to inform them of my desire to raise money for Worthy Wands and that we would be planning fundraising ideas tonight. I am hopeful that they will help our efforts by being purchasers. I chose you lot to be the idea creators just by choosing my friends from my own year and my brothers."
"That makes sense," agreed Albus, "But why did you inform three muggles?"
"Because," said Lily simply, "Depending on what our ideas are, they may be able to help us through purchases of the services and/or items we will be selling."
"If that is the case," said Devon confidently, "Gary, Miles, and Todd would be happy to help us out through purchasing."
"Why would three muggles care about this charity though?" asked Albus uncertainly.
"Because of how close they are with Devon," said Lily crisply, "They are such good friends of Devon's that they have a vested interest in the welfare of the Wizarding World because of Devon being a part of it."
"Furthermore," said Devon warmly, "They feel indebted to Lily for being the person most responsible for bringing me back into their lives last Thanksgiving and would jump at the chance to help out her cause."
Albus nodded in understanding.
"Lily?" asked James, "I'm totally behind raising more money for Worthy Wands but why can't we just take collections in in a collection bucket in the Great Hall like we did last year?"
"Because" said Lily matter of factly, "People will get bored with that. The best way to continue to raise funds for Worthy Wands is to inject some fun and some variety into the fundraising process."
"Hey, Lily?" piped up Hugo, "I think we should all hold our fundraisers on different days and spread them to the extent that we can so that our fundraisers are not competing against each other."
"Hugo is EXACTLY RIGHT! agreed Devon, "Lily would you be willing to spend some time making up a fundraiser schedule after you've got all the ideas in?"
"Of course," said Lily with a smile, "My goal is to raise as much money for Worthy Wands as possible. Anything I can do to help my own cause I will. Just as limiting the number is important, so too avoiding clumping is important. But let's now give some thought to what each of us would like to do as a fundraiser. I shall call the first name in a few minutes. Also, please do not interrupt during someone else's idea time. I want to collect the ideas as quickly as I can and get to work tonight on planning a schedule, so I don't want you lot to have a lot of discussion time during this session. "
Everyone nodded respectfully.
Lily allowed a few minutes to pass before calling on the first person to give everybody sufficient time to come up with ideas.
"First up, Devon Dursley," called Lily.
""You remember that the Dursleys own a movie theater that we rent out as a money making venture?" Devon asked Lily.
"Yes, I remember you taking us all to see Star Wars there last New Year's Eve," smiled Lily.
"Well, we could have a fundraiser week there where we bring popular movies back to the big screen and all the revenue could go to Worthy Wands."
"Devon, that's a wonderful idea," said Lily happily, "That theater can fit a large number of people in it so doing a fundraiser week there would bring in a nice amount for Worthy Wands. The week of said fundraiser and the specific movies to be screened can be determined later. That's a nice start to know we have an idea that can generate a nice sum."
"I'm happy my family and I can help," said Devon proudly.
" Up next, James Potter," called Lily.
"I want to buy foreign candy via order forms and sell it at Hogwarts with the revenue generated from those sales going to Worthy Wands," said James eagerly, "I think it would be really cool if Hogwarts students were exposed to more foreign candies."
"Baby bro, that's an outstanding suggestion. We all know how much of a sweet tooth the Hogwarts student body has and giving them the opportunity to try new candies will peak their curiously as well," grinned Lily.
"But," said James wisely, "Let's try to schedule the candy fundraiser sometime away from Halloween and Easter."
"Agreed," replied Lily smartly, "Better to do the candy fundraiser at a less candy intense time to maximize interest."
"Exactly," said James simply, "And I'm glad you like my ides big sis."
"Up next, Albus Potter," called Lily.
"I'd like to host a book sale," said Albus, "The way this would work is that I would put notices up around the school asking students to donate old books of theirs that they no longer want and then we could sell the collected books to other students who would now be interested in them and donate the money raised to Worthy Wands."
"Would you be donating any old books of your own?" Lily asked Albus curiously.
"Absolutely," said Albus instantly, "Because it's well known that I'm really into reading, I get a lot of books as gifts. Inevitably, some of those become duplicates so I will be donating some of my duplicate books to the cause."
"OOOH," realized Lily suddenly, "All of the reading lovers at Hogwarts probably have some duplicates as well as old books that have passed them by. Your book sale idea would be a perfect avenue for those reading lovers to unload duplicates and books they are burnt out on and buy books of interest to themselves to replace them with while putting money into Worthy Wands into the bargain! Brilliant idea, baby bro!"
"Thanks, big sis," said Albus crisply, "I'm delighted by seeing my idea receive approval."
"Up next, Hugo Weasley," called Lily.
"Remember how we were taught to make cookies in Charms last Christmas?" Hugo asked Lily.
"Yes," answered Lily.
"Well, I'd like to make a batch of cookies and sell them at Hogwarts. The proceeds would go to Worthy Wands." piped up Hugo, "These cookies wouldn't be any kind of specially themed cookies but have everyday shapes such as dogs, cats, footballs, etc."
"four for four," beamed Lily, "I know that those Christmas cookies were a huge hit last year. Wizarding Cookies are both fun and tasty and I know we'll have a lot of buyers."
"I say we do the cookie fundraiser away from the Christmas season since cookies are always a big thing at Christmas," said Hugo matter of factly.
"It's good to see you all thinking these things out as it will make my job tonight a bit easier," said Lily approvingly.
"Good to see this meeting going well for you, Lily," said Hugo radiantly.
"Up next, Stephanie Saver," called Lily.
"I really enjoy drawing and I'm a superb drawer so I thought I'd hold a picture drawing day where people could pay me to draw pictures of whatever they want and then donate all the money I make from that day to Worthy Wands," said Stephanie hopefully.
"Wow," said Lily cheerfully, "Not an idea I would have expected or thought of but a superb addition to our work here tonight."
Stephanie's face glowed, she didn't say anything but just took in the satisfaction of her idea winning Lily's approval.
"Up next, Samantha Saver," called Lily.
"I would like to record a Christmas album and sell it and then donate all the proceeds to Worthy Wands," said Samantha excitedly, "I could use the Room of Requirement as a recording studio to record a Christmas album and starting selling it on December 1st."
""Excellent idea, Samantha," said Lily in a pleased voice, "Obviously, the timing for this fundraiser has to be more specific but that actually helps me with my planning."
"My album will be titled Samantha Saver's Secular Christmas. As an atheist, I find it frustrating that it is somewhat difficult to find Christmas albums that are devoted to entirely secular Christmas songs. So, I'd like to help fill that area in the market," explained Samantha.
"As an atheist myself, I have had the same frustration," said Lily in understating, "I'm thrilled to see you filling that void and to have it be done for Worthy Wands is really special."
"I had a great idea," bragged Samantha, "YOU LIKE THAT! YOU LIKE THAT!"
"Yes, I do," smiled Lily.
"Up next, Ainsley Cochlain," called Lily.
"I really want to make friendship bracelets for all of us. I would make a friendship bracelet for everyone in this room and everyone else in our circle as well and sell each one to one of them with the proceeds going to Worthy Wands. I know this limits- began Ainsley nervously
"I'm all for it, Ainsley," said Lily approvingly, "We have enough other ideas with broader potential and the idea of creating something meaningful for all of us appeals to me."
"Y-you l-like my idea?" squeaked Ainsley in a relived voice.
"Absolutely, " said Lily radiantly, "In fact, I think it will be special and meaningful to have one of the fundraisers be just between ourselves and our circle. I think your idea gives us a good complete list."
Ainsley bowed to Lily.
"It makes me feel warm and fuzzy to know you feel that way about my idea, Lily," said Ainsley softly.
"As for me," said Lily mysteriously, "I am going to be hosting a party that people will have to make a donation to get into but that they won't know the contents of until they are there. Now, I am ecstatic with the ideas you have presented. I expect all of you as well as Fred, Roxanne, Rose, and Pamela to be amongst the purchasers and several of these fundraisers have ways for me to involve Gary, Todd, and Miles as well. I also anticipate large numbers of buyers for most of these things."
James, Albus, Devon, Hugo, Ainsley, Samantha, and Stephanie all smiled at Lily.
"Please meet me here again next Saturday and I will present a schedule. All dismissed."
And as soon as Lily was back in her room, she got right to work on making up a fundraising schedule.
This was very satisfying work for Lily.
Lily couldn't wait to see how much they could for Worthy Wands that year.