Prophet - Witch Weekly - Friendliest Rivalry Award

With:

Ash (VanillaAshes) from Pride of Portree

Rose (VivacePhoenix27) from Falmouth Falcons

Prompts: [colour] Sunshine Yellow

Word Count: 2354

A/N: Set pre-Hogwarts (Marauders Era). AU.

Lily was ecstatic with her parents' decision to take the whole family on a small weekend holiday during May. Both she and her sister were still in school, so her family rarely did weekends away out of holidays, so this was a delightful surprise. The family stayed in an old one-storey bungalow by the caravan park by the seaside. The bungalow was small, with two small bedrooms, a living/dining/kitchen and with a wrap-around veranda and a sloping roof. Lily's parents shared the first bedroom, and Lily and Petunia the next room with the bunk-bed. It made it all the more exciting for Lily, it was like a sleepover with her sister, which they didn't usually do at home having their own rooms.

The family unpacked the car; suitcases wheeled in, Lily and Petunia's shared suitcase were placed at the foot of the bunk-bed. Lily took a moment to appreciate the sunshine yellow covers, it made everything look so happy! Though, that was quickly forgotten about as the girls ran outside, eager to explore their home for the next few days. Their parents decided that a walk around the area was in order, to get stock of their surroundings and where the nearest facilities were but also to get the girls' energy out after a few hours spent in the car.

Lily bounded ahead, excitedly chattering to Petunia about the fun things they were going to get up to that weekend. Petunia walked beside her vivacious sister with a calmer stride, compared to Lily's constant darting forward and running back.

"I want to make the biggest castle in the world!" said Lily, emerald green eyes alight with eager anticipation. "It'll be a castle full of magic."

Petunia smiled attentively at Lily's enthusiasm - her energy was contagious to everyone around her. "That sounds lovely, Lily."

"Will you help me build my castle, Tunie?"

"Of course," Petunia agreed, taking Lily's swinging hand. She laced her fingers with Lily's and together they skipped down the path. Their parents fell slowly behind as Lily and Petunia picked up the pace.

The seafront was lined with mansions beyond Lily's wildest dreams. The double front door was dark oak and matched the window frames perfectly. All of the windows on the ground floor were based with yellow flowers - no, not just yellow, sunshine yellow; it was as if the sun had coloured the flowers.

"Can we have one of those?" asked Lily as they passed a mansion with a large deck with comfortable outdoor lounges and wide windows that opened out to the sea. "Then we'd be near the beach all the time! We won't need to travel far for the sea and the sand and the seashells!" She clasped her hands before her as she walked backwards, facing her parents.

The Evans' weren't well off, living in the richest area of their town thanks to Mr Evans job at the mines but they were still far from affording a mansion, much to the girls' disappointment.

Lily stopped by a yellow rose bush to pick some flowers. She clutched them protectively to her chest as she continued walking. Maybe she'll make a nice friend during their holiday weekend and she could give the flowers to them as a gesture of appreciation.

Lily was pleased to know that it was only a five-minute walk to the grocery store. There was a row of shops a little way down and Lily begged for a pair of sunglasses from one of them. Her parents obliged and the walk home was spent with amusement as Lily wore them on her head and on her face, alternating every few minutes to adjust them before finally letting them sit on her face, after a scald from her mother.

Lily ran towards the water being sucked in and out by the tide, racing Petunia. They were wearing matching white swimsuits with a sun taking up a big portion of the front. Lily was thrilled as she realised it matched the colour of the run. Happily, she raced with Petunia to the ocean, her feet slapped the warm sand, sending sand flying out behind her. She giggled boisterously as Petunia almost tripped over a hole in the sand. Petunia quickly regained her balance and caught Lily's wrist and they made it to the hard, flat sand just before the tide met the shore, putting Lily into the sand.

"I win!" Petunia shrieked, tickling Lily around the waist. Lily squealed, wriggling out of Petunia's grip before diving towards the water.

The water was cool against her feet. She curled her toes up against the sand as the water lapped around her ankles. Once her ankles had acclimatised, she stepped further into the sea. Petunia soon joined her, blonde hair tied into a bun behind her head. Petunia hated getting her hair wet.

The two of them happily sunk their feet into the wet sand and delved further into the water until it reached their waists. Lily took in a deep breath as she took in the smell of the saltwater, the feeling of the sun beating down on her skin, and the sound of happy people on this unusually hot day in May.

Suddenly, cool saltwater attacked her back, and the red-headed girl spun around to face a black-haired boy around her age. He picked up the beach ball which had landed behind her and must have caused the splash.

"Hi!" he said with a confident smile. "I'm James! Want to play?"

Lily looked at Petunia who looked suspicious - but she never liked meeting new people. She turned back to the boy and nodded. "Sure, my sister and I would love to!" She glanced over as she introduced them. "That's Petunia, and I'm Lily."

James grinned and moved to create a triangle before throwing the ball to Petunia first. "I haven't seen you around here before."

"We don't live here," Petunia answered simply, throwing the ball to Lily, who instantly threw it on to James.

"What brings you here?"

Lily felt herself stepping backwards when James did to increase the distance as they threw the ball between the three of them in the same pattern. "Just a little holiday with our parents, they wanted us to enjoy the sun coming out."

His attention mainly stayed on Lily, probably because Petunia wasn't talking. "That's great! I love coming to the beach. I wish I had a brother or sister to play with all the time like you. It's just me and my parents."

She could understand his statement, she's always so thankful to have a sister. "You can play with us for as long as we can stay here. Are you here on holiday too?"

"No, I just live over there," he answered, waving casually towards the beach without being specific. "I can come to the beach whenever I want. Until next year, anyway."

Furrowing her eyebrows in confusion, she held onto the ball for a bit long. "Why until next year?"

James seemed to hesitate slightly. "I'm going to boarding school, no ocean there. I think." He paused in a moment of either curiosity or confusion, but either way, missed the ball and had to run to go get it.

"Can we go back to Mum and Dad?" Petunia asked the second James was out of ear-shot.

Lily blinked in confusion. "Why? We're having fun, aren't we?"

"I don't want to play with a silly boy."

"We don't have a ball."

Petunia looked over her shoulder at him as he turned to return to them. "He's not a good example. He's mean."

Lily sighed. Petunia had been especially picky about who Lily spent time with after Lily became friends with a boy at the end of their street, Severus. She tolerated it at home, but she wouldn't on holiday. "You can go back, I'm staying right here."

James returned with a careless grin and instantly threw the ball to Petunia who hit it away and stormed off back to the shore. "Did…" he drifted off. "Is she okay?"

"She's just hungry and wanted some more food, but I've eaten."

As if they hadn't just lost one of the playmates, James accepted this answer instantly and moved to get the ball again. "More fun for us then!"

The two of them played for a further twenty minutes because Petunia came and said it was time to go.

"Thanks, James! It was great to play with you!"

"I'll walk you back to the shore," he offered.

Lily grinned and led the way. En route, however, she felt her back splattered and turned to see James with a cheeky grin. "Very funny," she giggled.

And when she turned, he splashed her again. This time, however, she splashed him back.

"Lily! You got me wet!" Petunia complained.

"Oops, sorry, Tunie!"

James splashed her again and Lily sent him an apologetic look. "Sorry James. I should get back to my parents. Hopefully, I'll see you again!"

"Okay," he accepted and ran off.

Lily didn't have a chance to see where he went when Petunia got in her face. "Why did you choose that boy over me?"

Shocked by the sudden question, Lily stepped back before making her way back to their parents. "I didn't choose him over you, Tunie, you wanted to go back to Mum and Dad and I didn't."

"He's a bad example! Splashing you when you didn't ask for it."

A sigh left the younger one's lips, she knew this wasn't going to be a peaceful evening.

With the smell of pancakes filling her senses, Lily walked casually around the large field near the cottage, waiting for her parents and sister to finish eating. The ten-year-old was absolutely stuffed full, no matter how much she had wanted to eat more, it was physically impossible. So instead the confident little girl was exploring the surroundings, keeping her family mostly insight.

The smile matched the happiness in her mind as she felt the branches, leaves, and flowers slide through her fingers.

Lily stopped by a cluster of trees, noting that somebody was in one of them. Curiosity got the better of her and she edged forward looking up. She recognised the individual. "James?" The boy looked down surprised. "Are you allowed to climb trees?"

"Of course!" was his immediate reply. "Care to join me?"

Though it was tempting, Lily didn't want to ruin her yellow dress - it was new! "Not today, James."

There was silence for a few seconds before the sound of rustling was heard and James jumped down. "If you're free, we could play a game?"

Lily nodded. "Sure! What game?"

"Quidditch?"

Furrowing her eyebrows, she couldn't stop the confusion from crossing over her face and James burst out into laughter.

"I'm joking. I can go grab a ball or something. I just live around the corner," James replied.

Lily nodded. That sounded like a great idea, there were many games you could play with a ball. "Sure! I'll need to ask my parents, and is it okay if Petunia plays too?"

James shrugged with a smile. "More the merrier," he replied. "Want me to show you the sights on the long way back to wherever you're heading?"

Lily couldn't help but smile at that suggestion, she turned on her heel and indicated that he could walk with her.

"I love your dress, it's very pretty."

Look down at it with joy, she felt the heat in her face increase - must be the sun getting hotter. "It's sunshine yellow."

James nodded and fell silent - so much for the guided tour.

Deciding that the silence should be filled, she turned her attention to him and slowed down. "How does it feel playing with children who are only here for a few days?"

He shrugged. "There's always a supply of new friends, and when I go to H… the boarding school, I'll make great friends there!"

His confidence and positivity were contagious. "That sounds great! You must be rich to go to boarding school."

"Oh, I am!" James agreed.

Lily blinked in surprise, she hadn't been expecting that comment but shrugged it off. He was probably joking. She led them over to the table and watched as Petunia's face fell.

"Who's your friend?" her mother asked before taking a sip of pure orange juice.

"This is James, he was wondering if Petunia and I could go and play some ball games," she informed her. "We met him yesterday on the beach."

Her mother and father shared a look. "Of course. We think that's a great idea."

"Just make sure to stay in sight," her father added.

Joy radiated off Lily at the response. However, her sister had the opposite emotion. "Why would I want to play a ball game with him? It'll get my shoes muddy!"

"Oh," was all Lily managed.

"Because you're on holiday and it'll be fun?" James suggested, a little bit condescending.

Petunia raised her head. "Getting dirty is not fun at all! I'd rather go to the beach."

Her mother set a stern look at Petunia for her tone of voice. "Now, now, dear, let's not be rude."

"Why don't we play a ball game on the beach?" Lily suggested, hoping to find a happy medium.

"Only if he's not invited!"

"Petunia!"

James scoffed. "It's not like I wanted to play with you, you're rude and not worth my time!"

"James!" Lily exclaimed, confused and shocked by the statement.

He looked at her. "It's true! She's been nothing but rude and a bully since I met you! I only invited her because you wanted her to play."

Lily sighed sadly. "I think it's time that you leave."

James looked offended, shook his head and walked off. "I guess she wins."

"Told you he was no good."

Filled with utter disappointment, she sat down and refused to play all day, especially with Petunia. But one thing was sure, James and Petunia both were rude that day, at least her sister had apologised. James never had - not until they were sixteen, anyway.