Music Box Lullaby by Rustic Zebra

Rating: G
Genres: Romance
Relationships: Lily & James
Book: Lily & James, Books 1 - 5
Published: 27/05/2005
Last Updated: 27/05/2005
Status: In Progress

While it is hard to predict most things in life, there is one thing you can almost always bet on
and win every time: That the last person you expect, you'll fall in love with.




1. Though the Window
--------------------



**Music Box Lullaby**

Chapter One: Though the Window

"So, are you going to ask him out or what?" Lily asked taking a long sip off her drink
and breaking a bar off a chocolate slab sitting nearby. She cast a glance at over at Lori Pawson,
whose cinnamon eyes were surveying a table over on the other side of the room thoughtfully.

 She shrugged. "I don't know, Lily. Maybe…"

"It can't be that hard to figure out if you like the guy or not." Lily glanced over
at where Aaron Temple was sitting with some other seventh years playing what looked like exploding
snap.

It was late in the afternoon and they had spent most of the day in the sun outside, chatting and
meeting others who had come to sit in the heat. One guy in particular had caught Lori's eye,
and they had chatted for a while, but since then she had said nothing about it.

Both Lily and Lori talked about relationships a lot since coming to Hogwarts. At first, dreaming
about meeting handsome, rich men and having them whisk them away to a problem free life, that dream
died fast. Soon, they, and everyone else, were hearing about the Dark Lord's murders daily;
couples that were being torn apart by death, and young men and women dying before having a chance
to live life and to love. Lily now understood why a lot of people she had known, who had already
left Hogwarts, had yet to fall in love and marry. Or rather let themselves fall in love. It was
impossible to tell who was falling under the Dark Lord's shadow.

A sharp gab in the ribs reminded Lily that she was currently holding a conversation and told her
that she had missed something that Lori had said. Blinking dumbly Lily quickly said, "Sorry,
what?"

Lori sighed and Lily knew without looking that she was giving her that expression that she had
come to know by heart; the one that wondered if Lily ever paid attention to what Lori was
saying.

 Lily gave her the best apologetic smile she could muster. "Sorry," she mumbled and
offered Lori some of the chocolate she had been munching on, but she swatted it away with her
hand.

"I was saying," she said with a small smile on her lips. "That Aaron has a
girlfriend, she in Ravenclaw. So that kind of ruins any chances I might have had. On top of that,
they've been together since their third year, and claim to *love* each other." Lily
smothered a giggle at Lori's expression of distaste. "Stupid Mayble Mathews," she
growled. "I think they're only together because of they're *expected* to be
together. Not because they *want* to be," Lori continued, her imagination taking
over.

Lily rolled her eyes, "Sure Lori. Whatever you say…"

"It's true!" She insisted pulling her eyes away from the Gryffindor boy they had
wondered over to. "It is!" She grumbled for a few more minutes before sitting back in a
huff with her arms crossed firmly across her chest, her eyes narrowed.

 Lily laughed at her behaviour, and got a nasty glare back in return. "Shut up,
Lily."

 She didn't shut up as Lori had so nicely suggested, but instead greeted the other seventh year
Gryffindor girls, Grace Whitefern, Corrine Coal, and April Lewis, who had taken seats across the
table from them. "Hey guys."

"Hey Lori, Lily," April said, dumping her bag at the side of her chair and grinning at us
as the other two took seats next to her and said their 'hellos'. "What you two been up
to? We haven't seen you all day."

 Grace gave an exasperated sigh. "It's *no* wonder. I mean, not everyone goes to the
library to work on some stupid assignment! Frankly, I can't imagine why you two
*weren't* there." She gave April a stare that suggested that she didn't willingly
spend her day working. “Next time, I am so going to finish my assignment before the night before
its due. What's up with Lori?" She added, nodding towards where Lori was now making
puppy-dog eyes towards Aaron. "Wait a minute! Are you going ga-ga over Aaron
Temple?"

"The same Aaron Temple who plays keeper for Gryffindor?" Corrine gushed, looking
interested. "The same Aaron Temple who is supposedly in love with Mayble Mathews!?"


"'Supposedly' being the key word," Lori muttered looking even sourer.

"Oh, so you know him," Lily said, sarcasm evident in her voice.

The others smiled. "Ah, don't worry Lori. Forget him! You always do - really, you're
forever changing your mind about who you like."

"So, what's your point?"

"That he has a girlfriend," Grace stated simply. "Anyway, look around you!" she
cried throwing her hands in the air. "Come on, choose another! There are plenty
here!"

 Lori scanned the common room critically.

"How about him?" Grace suggested wickedly, "That one, over there."

They all looked over to where Grace was pointing and Lily almost jumped when she saw the
familiar face. He was in their year although she hardly spoke to him (Never if Lily had her way)
with good reason.


 James Potter had dark brown hair and olive complexion, and a devil-may-care aura about him. His
dorm was on the same floor as the Lily's (but in the boy's section) and was directly across
from theirs. He and his room mates always left the big windows unshuttered, leaving Lily and her
dorm mates with a full view of their dorm- not that she spied. And as of late, these guys almost
ALWAYS had a girl over: a different one each time at that.

Lily had always thought it amusing, especially when James caught sight of her in her dorm one
morning as she sat doodling in a sketchbook near the window in the girls' dorm.

James had tipped his chin at Lily, smiled and waved.

What a player, she thought and had made a point to ignore him and had closed the curtains,
feeling triumphant in doing so. Since then, he had made an effort to do something silly then every
time Lily saw him from the window, like blowing her a kiss, or rubbing the spot on the bed next to
him suggestively. It *was* rather funny. And it always seemed to happen when Lily was at the
window. In her classes (some of which James shared) things went had started to change from what
they had been for the last two years. Instead of James constantly vying for her affections, he
instead hung back and watched from afar.

This just gave Lily all the more reason to believe that James Potter was a player. He wanted to
appear available, or at least, that was her guess. They had of course shared classes since first
year. Now when they talked, it was usually just a 'hello' (not James usual quick pickup
line) as their friends chatted.

In Lily's case, this friend was usually Grace.
 

And here was Grace trying to set Lori on him!
 
 "Who, James?" Asked Lori, snapping Lily out of her daydream. "Nah, he's cute
and all, but not my type."

 Grace laughed, "Good, more for me then."

Lily inwardly sighed in relief. He was not the kind of guy she wanted her friend to lust after. But
then again, Lori tended to go after guys that others were chasing. Lori swung her eyes around to
Grace. "Don't bother," she told her amusedly. "He's hooked on Lily. Has been
for ages, you know that. Remember fifth year, after that exam." Lori prodded, “And most
everyday all of last year?”

 "So what? Lily doesn't like him. Leaving James out in the open, right
Lil's?"
 
"Please don't bring that up," Lily groaned. From half way through fifth year, till
end of their sixth year, James Potter had been asking her out on a regular basis. It was only this
year, their seventh, in which he had seemed to leave her alone. But not entirely, there were after
all those funny moments by the window…

 Grace grinned, "See?"

Lily was going over the situation in her head, knowing Grace wasn't being serious about James,
when, to her utmost horror, the boy in question gathered his belongings and stood, his eyes
swinging around to where the five girls sat. Out of the corner of her eye, Lily could have sworn
she saw Grace grin. Her thoughts were confirmed when she heard it; "Hey, James!" Grace
called, waving him over. "Come, have a seat," she offered when he got close enough. He
sat down on the offered space between April and Grace. Lily silently cursed at herself for not
getting up and leaving.

"Hey," he greeted with a smile, catching Lily's eye and he winked. 'Lady's
man,' she thought, and smiled at him, making it as big and fake as possible.

There was a chorus of hellos and other various greetings in tow. "So Lily, how's your book
going?" A cheeky grin now replaced the friendly smile he wore only moments earlier. Lily knew
he was referring to the book she had been reading last time he has seen her at the window. She saw
her friends questioning gazes (Maybe because they doubted Lily even owned a book she would read in
her spare time) but ignored them.

"Wonderful," keeping the obviously fake smile in place and said this is an
overly-enthusiastic voice. "Extraordinary. Almost finished." He just looked at her, with
raised eyebrows and an amused smile.

"Really? If it's that good, I must borrow it sometime." Lily knew he was just playing
with her, but felt her eyes narrow anyway.

 Corrine must have noticed because the next moment the topic had changed. "Where's Sirius,
Remus, and Peter?" she questioned. He shrugged, relaxing back into his chair.
"Peter's attempting his essay. Remus is visiting his ill grandmother, and Sirius just
walked in." Lily turned to see a rather tall boy with longish dark hair which hung over eyes
make his way over to the table they all sat at.

He smiled cheerfully taking the free seat next to Lily, "Hello all!"

"Hello Sirius," She said amidst all the other welcomes'.

He leaned his head on his hand and stared at her. "How's the book going, Lily?"
Apparently James had told Sirius about their 'window conversations.' Before she could
reply, James had cut in.

"Very good, Sirius, wonderful even. You'll have to wait your turn through, I'm
borrowing it next after Lily's finished."

Something about him made her *very* jumpy.

Lily was about to say something, but again was interrupted, this time, by Lori. She leaned over and
placed her hand on James' shoulder and tossed her honey brown hair over her shoulder, hitting
me in the face with it as she did so. "Sorry about her, James, Lily has had a rough
week."

What the...? Lily thought, shocked, rolling her eyes. Just a moment ago James wasn't her type,
and now? She took her anger out on the table, glaring ruthlessly at. Without looking up, Lily could
just see Lori batting her dark eyelashes and flashing her brown eyes, making them as large and as
flirty as this guy-hunter could.

"Has she now?" That cheeky grin had returned.

"She has moods all the time. I think it's the red hair." Lori giggled and Lily found
herself wanting to kick Lori, *very* hard. James laughed and she knew the others at the table
were all finding this exchange to be much to their amusement - Lily thought it was the smothered
giggles that gave it away. Lily on the other hand sat there glaring, slightly less that
entertained.

"Or maybe the bad day had something to do with it," Corrine supplied seeing the look on
Lily's face. She glanced at her watch quickly. "Oh Lily, we better go send that owl before
curfew. Come on," she started to get up and Lily quickly followed immensely grateful for the
chance to escape from the group. Grace, Lori and April turned to them confused.

"What letter?" Lori asked looking suspicious.

"One to my sister I've been meaning to send for a while."

 Grace looked at Lily suspiciously. "But you hate your sister, Lily."

Lily leaned from foot to foot nervously. "Yes well, I just need to ask her
something."

They seemed to accept this answer but Grace still had that look in her eye; the look that told Lily
that this conversation wasn't over.

James nodded to Lily and Corrine both, with a triumphant grin that made Lily want to punch him -
hard. The two girls made their way quickly out portrait hole and up to the owlery. Lily scribbled a
quick note, not to her sister, but to her muggle friend, Cheryl, whom she had known since she was
small, telling her she would be home the following weekend for holidays. She attached it to one of
the school owl's legs and watched as it flew off into the oncoming darkness.

"Better head back," Corrine said. "We have ten minutes to curfew."

When they entered the common room, Lily's gaze quickly went to the table where her friends
(minus James and Sirius) had been sitting. She wasn't sure if she was glad or disappointed when
she found it empty. They headed up to their dorm where they found the curtains around April's
bed tightly closed. She often was asleep first, and more often than not, the first one up. Grace
was still up, engrossed in one of her many Teen-witch magazines as was Lori. Corrine hopped into
bed herself but Lori on the other hand squealed in delight, when she noticed the two were back, a
beaming smile was on her immaculately painted lips.

"Oh Lily, you didn't tell me that James and you had become friends! I mean, he's
liked you for ages, right. But it's great that you two have finally become mates! He must be
the hottest guy in Brittan! Now you can hook us up! Do you think he likes me?"

 Grace looked over; obviously this conversation was more interesting than what was in her magazine.
Corrine paused what she was doing, also taking the time to watch.


 Lori was so caught up in her dream world she didn't notice the horrible look Lily was giving
her.

"Please don't tell me you've fallen for James Potter now!” Lily exclaimed. “Come
on, before you said, and I quote; `he's cute and all, but he's not my type.' What
happened to that train of thought? It was a good one! All of a sudden he talks to you and becomes
the hottest guy in Brittan? It's not like you've never spoken to him before now!" Lily
sighed and rubbed her temples with her fingers. Lori wasn't listening. She had an ecstatic
smile planted firmly on her lips. "He's a womanizer, Lori. He's probably got about
five different girls over a week. Besides you've never said anything before now and you've
been in his classes for the last six years!"

"Not true," she replied stubbornly, still somewhat in a daze. "I've always
considered him gorgeous. And he is." She closed the drapes around her bed finishing our
conversation.

One fact Lily couldn't argue with.

 She sat down on her bed, feeling a headache coming on. "What does it matter, Lily?"
Grace asked from her bed. "I mean, like I said earlier; Lori is forever changing her mind
about who she likes. Just look at how fast she forgot Aaron Temple." She was quiet for a
minute. "Lily, do you like James? Is that what this is all about?"

Lily sucked in a deep breath and glared over at her. "No! Of course not!" She quickly
drew her curtains and laid down trying to block out Grace's words. What was she thinking? Lily
had never cared so much about who Lori was fussing over - why start now? After all, it wasn't
as If *she* liked James. Lily laughed quietly to herself. *James and I*, she thought,
*Yeah, right...when Petunia becomes a witch*.


________________



When morning came, last nights argument was put behind the girls and forgotten. Or at least they
tried to forget about it. April was up early (as always) and had vast amounts of energy (too much,
in Lily's opinion for this early hour), and being her usual bubbly self. She was currently
trying to haul the other four all out of bed and down to the great hall for breakfast. Since it was
Saturday, none of them felt the urge to comply and hurry to get up. "Come on," April
whined as she tugged Lily's blankets off. "I'm hungry!"

"You're always hungry," came the muffled reply from Lily's bed.

With the lack of sheets and blankets, Lily felt forced to get up and face the day. April grinned
with triumph when Lily got up and staggered around the dorm, eyes still bleary from sleep. As she
got ready, April kept telling her to hurry and to move quicker, which really didn't go down
well with Lily as she did her best to move fast while her limbs were still sleepy. As they left,
Lily couldn't help but stare enviously at Corrine, Grace and Lori who had all turned a deaf ear
and gone back to sleep.

 They entered the great hall and went to take seats near the far end of the Gryffindor table. Lily
couldn't help but notice James and a few other Gryffindor's a few places down from
them.

"Hey Lily, April" said Anna a fourth year, one of the people sitting with James.
"There's some free seats here." She nodded at the seat across from her. Lily sighed
as April stood and walked down to join them and was forced to follow. It wasn't that she
didn't like Anna, she was very friendly and nice. It was James who Lily was uncomfortable
sitting with.

"Hello Anna," Lily greeted with a smile taking the seat offered.

"You're up early for a Saturday," she commented with a smile. "It usually takes
to about ten before you grace us with your presence."

"April woke me."

She laughed and so did the culprit - other wise known as April. "Oh, by the way, this is Ruth
and Jo," Anna said pointing her two friends out. "And I suppose you know James and
Remus."

Lily nodded and smiled 'hello' at the rest of the group. "I like your hair," said
the small blond girl sitting next to me, who had been introduced as Ruth. "Is it naturally
like that, or is it a spell?" She reached out and gently fingered a clump of hair that escaped
my rushed pony tail. She seemed curious and fascinated by its' colour.

Lily laughed. "No, unfortunately it grows this way. It seems to have developed an attitude
problem."

This didn't seem to faze Ruth in the slightest. "Man, I would kill for hair like this.
Want to trade?" she asked with a goofy smile on her face.

"I would in a heart beat, trust me. You don't know what its like."

Ruth gave a grin and resumed eating her breakfast and talking to the Anna and Jo. Lily turned to
ask April what she had planned for the day but found herself faced with her back. April it seemed,
was having a very expressional conversation with Remus about, from what Lily could gather, some
essay they were suppose to be writing.

And she was the one who had dragged her here!

"Know the feeling," said a voice that Lily knew well.

 Lily turned slowly and faced the inevitable; James Potter. "Know what feeling?" She
asked politely.

 "The one where you're forced somewhere against your will, only to be ignored. In
fact," he continued, faking a look of surprise. "Gosh! It's happening to me right
now!"

 Hiding a smile (James Potter is *not* *funny*!). "I hope you're not planning to
get an acting job with skills like those."

He grinned, "Acting? Nah, that's not on my 'To do' list. Becoming a knight on the
other hand..."

"A knight?" Lily questioned curiously.

He took a bite of his toast and grinned, looking at her over the rim of his glasses. "Sure,
why not? You don't think I could be one? Ha!" he cried, swinging an invisible sword
around, supplying his own sound effects. "Take that you evil being! And that!
Whoosh!"

Lily held back a laugh at his antics. "James, you do realize that there are no knights
anymore. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a job.”

He stopped fighting his invisible opponent and turned to her. "Well sure I realize. But I
suppose I could always become a seer," He said thoughtfully. “I mean, Professor Hargot has to
retire sometime, she must be like 200 by now!”

"Oh, please no."

"No?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Yeah, why not Lily? He could become take Hargot's place as the new divination
teacher," April laughed, leaning into the conversation. *Oh, look who wants to talk
now…*

"Shut up, April." Lily told her trying to glare but failing miserably (It was after
all *very* early, and everyone knows that you give the best glares when well
rested).

"Shutting up."

 She turned back to James after a moment, who had his hand held out expectantly. "What?"
Lily asked, leaning away from him.

He gave a dramatic sigh. "You're hand Lily. I'll read your palm."
 
"Oh." Not quite sure of what he was planning, she held out her hand.

"Let's see..." James said, speaking in an airy voice, taking her hand in his larger,
warmer one. "Wow, your fingers are like ice!"

 Lily snapped her hand back as if burned. "That's very clever of you James; after all, it
*is* cold today." Even through she said this in a sarcastic manner, Lily felt her face
flush and pushed her chair back and got up. "I'd better go," she said to April.
"See you."

April grumbled a little before returning to her conversation with Remus. Lily swung her eyes
over to where James was sitting. "Bye James." But James didn't say anything in
return. When Lily looked over as she hurried out, he appeared to be deep in thought. *Wait - did
I just have a semi - friendly talk with James Potter*? Feeling rather angry with herself, she
pushed the thought aside. *He's a womanizer, Lily. You've seen the*
*girls**;* *don't become another notch on his nightstand.* 

-->



2. In Bloom
-----------



**Music Box Lullaby**

Chapter Two: In Bloom

Lily surprised herself that day and the next by not seeing James Potter at all for the remainder
of it. Corrine was kind enough to point out that they had had many other days like this (we usually
called them Saturday and Sunday). Grace also made a comment on the fact that Lily had never kept
track of her interaction with James before either.
But of course, she had never hated him as much as she did now.


 Their conversations were dominated all weekend by Lori, who was convinced that some day she would
become Mrs. James Potter and this didn't help Lily's moods. On Monday, it was inevitable
that she would see James. After all, they shared some classes. She resumed her natural actions and
managed to ignore him and things went on like they always had for the past six years.


Lily didn't think it mattered much anymore anyway, as they had a two week Easter holiday coming
up at the end of the week so she told herself that she had a lot of time to forget him.


By Wednesday, even through Lori was determined to prove to Grace that she didn't change her
mind about who she liked constantly; Lily saw her eyes stray a few times over to the Ravenclaw
table where Vincentio De'Busen was sitting with some other seventh years.

_______________________



Lily sat at the window seat on Saturday morning, watching as the others packed. Besides April and
herself, the others had left packing to the last minute, and were now hurling insults at each other
over who stole who's sock. Lily (who was usually in there with the best of them hunting for her
possessions) had already packed due to vast amounts of sulking the weekend before.

They had forty five minutes before they had to be downstairs with their belongings so April had
gone to the library as an escape, saying that there were some books she needed to get before she
left.
 Lily, who had lived with a sister who continuously threw screaming fits, was able to block out the
noise, and curled up on the window seat, scribbling randomly on a scrap piece of parchment. She had
decided that she wouldn't let some pig take away the most comfortable spot their dorm had to
offer. After she had been there a while, Lily looked up and across at the dorm level to our own.
She watched as the door swung open and a tall raven haired fifth year walked in, followed by James.
Lily felt a burning in her stomach, the burn of contempt. It rose up to her throat before she was
able to push it aside.


 *I knew it!* 
She turned away and avoided looking into James' dorm room for about thirty seconds. But instead
of the ugly scene she had expected to see - the one in which James and the girl were tangled in
each others arms, instead Lily saw James sprawled, eyes closed, out over what must be his bed -
*alone.*


Lily returned to her scribbles, feeling in a much lighter mood and grinning in triumph. *That
girls got brains after all* she thought, liking the girl a lot more than she did half a minute
before, and made a mental note to talk to her next time she saw her.

Lily managed to keep from looking at him for a full minute now, before she turned back. But this
time his eyes were open looking straight at her. She gave an involuntary shriek and fell sideways
off the seat, landing in a rather unlady like fashion on the floor.

Grace, Lori and Corrine had all stopped bickering to laugh at her expense. Alice, who had walked in
just in time to witness the fall, hurried to Lily's aid and bent over to help her up.

 Lily took her offered help and stood up, making a show of dusting down her clothes and glaring at
three certain friends who were trying without success to cover their giggles. In the back of her
mind I knew that she was just trying to put off the inevitable and looking out that blasted window.
She armed herself with a smile. "I'm fine, April. Thanks."

 Grace caught my eye and smirked knowingly. "Golly Lily," she stated, the sarcasm obvious
in her voice. "What was it that made you tumble? Is there something at the window?"

 Lily froze, "There was a bug."

"Oh really?"

 Lori stared, horrified of a bug in the dorms, her eyes clouded with worry. It was common knowledge
to the rest of the girls that Grace was petrified of any creepy-crawls and the fact that her bed
was closest to the window didn't help any.

Placing a hand on her shoulder, Lily said, "Don't worry Lori, I squashed it." She
tried to smile kindly.

 Lori nodded accepting Lily's pitiful answer and went back to packing, as did the others - but
not before Grace shot her a skeptical look.

 Gathering what little pride she had left and Lily picked up her parchment and sat back down into
the cosy spot she had come to love. The window seemed to draw her and she couldn't help but
look back over at the source of her embarrassment - James. A wry smile played on his lips. That boy
was treading on dangerous ground. She flashed my green eyes at him and gave the best death glare
she could muster. If looks could kill...

His smile grew until he was grinning that damn charming grin of his. He picked up a nearby drink
and did a spoof toast it to her.

 Lily felt a smile tug at her mouth but kept it in check. After all, she didn't want him to
think she thought his jokes were funny.

"Lily!"

 She looked away from his humorous antics to look at Corrine, a blank expression on her features.
Then came the *look* again. The look that Corrine had mastered - the look of annoyance at
Lily's incapably to listen.

"We have to be down and ready in ten minutes. Come on and grab your stuff, where
going!"

She shook her head and walked out with the other three. Whilst she shoved her parchment into her
pocket, Lily stole one more glance back out the window. His dorm was empty. She tried to ignore the
disappointment she felt, but she quickly *found a way to justify it. He* is pretty silly, and
everyone needs a good laugh once and a while, Lily told herself. She shut the door as she left,
left to the place that she called home.




__________________________




The train ride home was rather uneventful, games of exploding snap were played, gossip was spread,
and in Grace's case, bags were misplaced. It wasn't long before they were saying their
goodbyes, promising to owl each other, and leaving with their families. As Lily made her way
through the crowds she vainly searched out James, but he was nowhere in sight. Lily inwardly cursed
herself for looking, but soon forgot and was drawn into her fathers embrace.


 After telling her father, Perry Evans, all bout her last term (complete with sound effects and
hand actions) Lily let her thoughts wander for the rest of the ride home. The motion of the car
soon rocked her to sleep and she woke up in the late afternoon, just as they drove into her
hometown.

She watched through the window as she felt the car slow down as they turned into her circular
road, with the perfectly trimmed hedges on each side. Lily flushed with happiness as she took it
all in. She could see her house, the front lawn spread out before her and she could see the tip of
a large sprawling red maple tree (great for climbing!) which peeked out from behind the roof. There
was a pair of enormous weeping willow trees, the tip of the branches sweeping the ground, forming a
cave of shadows on the front lawn. Lily remembered the games she had played as a child, hidden
beneath the cover of those very same trees.


When she was younger, before she had left for Hogwarts, she had use to sit outside on the lawn with
her muggle friend Cheryl Benson and admire the house, thinking it resembled a wedding cake with all
its layers. Her home was a gingerbread Victorian house with many frills, its white paint spotless,
always looking freshly painted. It had three stories with an attic and a basement and the lawn at
the back of the house extended out down to where there was a small stream.



Lily jumped from the car as soon as her father had brought it to a complete stop. She bounded up
the stairs, forgetting she was seventeen (and a half!), and hurled herself inside. As soon as she
entered, the sent of flowers invaded her senses. Her mother, being a local florist, always claimed
that flowers was her first love, and was always placing bunches all over the house. She was the
best in town, and was forever advising brides to be on choices and such.

Lily's father was proud of her mother, and although he would never dare to admit it, his
pride showed through in Lily and her sister's names; both being named after flowers, both
representing her mothers achievements.



 She hurried through the foyer, the stained glass from the double doors she had come through,
placed colored patterns on the ground. She didn't stop to take this in as she moved past the
living room and down the hall to where her mother would no doubt be reading one of her trashy
novels in the lounge room.

Lily walked in silently as not to disturb her.

"Hello Mum," Lily called. Joy Evan's looked up sharply and smiled warmly at her
daughter, and hurriedly got to her feet, sweeping Lily into her arms.

"Oh Lily, your back! This is wonderful, the whole family together again." Her mother held
her at arms length looking her over before smiling that warm smile again. "You look wonderful,
Lily, you really do."


"Thanks, Mum," Lily grinned. "Where Petunia?"

She sighed and her smile faulted a bit. "Petunia's locked herself away in her room talking
to some young man on the phone."



Lily didn't try to hide her surprise. *Who on* *earth* *would want to talk to
her?*



Some of her thoughts must have showed on her face because Joy changed the subject quickly.
"Will you be on shop floor with me tomorrow, Lily?"

“She only just got home, Joy, and you're already getting her to work,” Perry Evan said
lightheartedly. He had followed Lily into the room, putting his keys down on a near by table and
shrugging off his coat. “Give the girl a break!”

“No Dad, it's alright, I want to,” Lily respond with a smile. Shop floor meant that she
wanted Lily in her flower shop helping out. Lily had often spent her holidays doing this - It gave
her time away from Petunia's taunts.



She stayed with her mother talking and catching up on news for well over an hour before her mother
went to go get dinner started. Lily headed upstairs to where her room was.

Her room was large and spacious with a walk in wardroom and a bathroom which also connected onto
Petunia's room. Paneled windows lined the far wall, giving her a view of the maple tree and the
stream. Lily's room was her favorite spot in the house. Whenever Petunia came in (which was
only if she had something nasty to say) she would complain that Lily's room was far too
childish. She had stuffed animals lining the shelves on the walls, and dolls that had been brought
back from other countries. Lily wasn't home enough to grow tired of the layout of the room
because of this, it had been the same way for as long as she could remember.

 She lay down on her bed, spreading her arms like a starfish. It was still relatively early but
Lily was feeling tired from the long train ride. Sleep closed in eagerly around her, and when she
woke up next, it was morning.



__________________________



 The next morning, Lily watched through the open shutters as the sun cast its rays over her room.
She frowned remembering that open shutters was what James and his friends always had. She could
hear Petunia moving around inside their bathroom, so she didn't bother getting up until she was
sure that she had left. But even that couldn't stop Lily from avoiding her.


Lily had began to full up the sink with hot water, ready to wash her face, when the door to the
bathroom room burst open and Petunia walked in.

 Her mother had informed her last night that Petunia's left arm had just come out of a cast and
Lily saw the way she moved it gingerly as she stepped into the bathroom. Despite her dislike for
Petunia, Lily felt sorry that she had what her father referred to as 'egg shell' bones. It
seemed that every time she fell, a bone would easily break.

"Is your arm O.K?" Lily asked, trying to act sisterly.

"Don't look at me with eyes filled with pity, Lily!" She ordered. "I just have a
more delicate feminine body than that masculine one you were born with."

 Lily shrugged and turned back to the sink, wetting a face cloth. But Petunia wasn't done just
yet.

"And of course my arm hurts," she shrilled, her voice drilling into Lily's head.
"It hurts like hell!" She was silent a moment looking her over. Lily was unsure of what
to say. "I don't understand why you don't break your bones as much as I do. But then
again, you have a manly build so it's no wonder." She giggled as she tossed her challenge,
but Lily didn't want to fight. "It's a good thing I have friends to help me out.
There's a boy at university that helps me. He carries my books, and talks to me, and asks me
all kind of questions. He's very good looking to. His name is Vernon, Vernon Dursley. I think
he might pop the question soon."

 Lily had a good idea of what that question was.

 Petunia went on to tell Lily all about her boyfriend, Vernon, who sent her flowers and chocolates
and other nice things. Finally, Petunia seemed to remember just who she was speaking to. Her pale,
pasty face grinned wickedly as she said in a harsh voice, "I don't suppose you've ever
had a boyfriend have you Lily."

"Breakfast is ready!" Their mother yelled from the bottom of the stairs startling them
both.

Petunia smiled knowingly and left Lily to wash up in peace as she went to go downstairs for
breakfast. Lily rolled her eyes at her sisters' behavior. She was twenty-one now, four years
Lily's senior, yet she still continued to pick fights like a first year.

 *I hope that Vernon marries her soon,* she thought bitterly as she dried her face on a nearby
towel. *I don't think I can stand her much longer.* 



 __________________________



Lily worked in her mother's flower shop, 'In Bloom,' three days over the first week of
the holidays and on the other days she met up with Cheryl.
On the Tuesday of the second week, she was working with her mother at the shop when Lily's
worst nightmare came true. And no, I'm not talking about eating dairy products two weeks after
their use-by date.

She anxiously glanced at her wrist watch, eleven minutes to go. Eleven minutes until her lunch
break. Lily stared lamely at the buckets of flowers that decorated the shop, waiting for time to
pass wishing she had thought to bring some music along to listen to.


"Excuse me."


 Lily jumped as a male voice suddenly grabbed her attention. She hadn't heard anyone enter the
store, and mentally cursed herself for slipping into a daze. Lily turned to offer her assistance
and felt her heart lurch.

Fate had been cruel.

The person she wanted to forget most was giving her on of his most idiotic grins. How could she
have missed *him* coming in? James Potter was far too annoying to go unnoticed.

Clearing her throat and pretending she didn't know him, Lily asked, "Can I help
you?"

He held her gaze a moment, his eyes twinkling, before replying. "I'm looking for
something rather special."

 *`Aren't we all?*' Lily mussed to herself. She resisted the temptation to consult her
watch again. Would she even make it out of there on time? As Lily looked into his warm, hazel eyes,
it no longer seemed to matter.

Lily gestured towards the half empty buckets of flowers surrounding them. “We've had a
steady stream of customers today. I'm sorry that we don't have much left.” She briefly
wondered what one earth he wanted flowers for. “Sorry to disappoint you. Do you have something
special planned?" Lily asked, thinking again of the steam of girls that were always around in
his dorm room.

His lips split into a lady killer smile. “You could say that. I wonder if you'd help me. What
would you suggest for an important date?
 
Lily strolled out from behind the counter and tried to ignore his alluring sent of
aftershave.

“Roses are always popular."

“Which are your favorite?”

She looked at James' handsome face, and then turned away quickly. She felt flustered in his
presence. *Damn! All this anxiety* *is* *enough to give me an ulcer.* 

 Lily's mother, who had been out the back, came out in time to hear this last line.
"Oh," she said pleasantly to James. "Lily's favorite flowers are lilies!"
And laughed at her joke.

“I'll take some then.”

"What for?" Lily asked quickly, ignoring her mothers pointed stare.

"Lily!"

James looked over to Joy Evans, giving her the same charming look that he used on everyone to get
what he wanted. "Don't worry; she's always hasty towards me."

 Lily glared, her eyes narrowing dangerously. How dare he? She wanted to point out that they had
only really had a couple of very short *proper* conversation aside from the ones where he
would ask her out and she would reply with a `no.'

 Lily watched as her mother moved over to where a canister of lilies sat near the door and began
choosing the best ones. "Lily," she called. "Come and wrap these please." She
moved away from where she was sending James death glares and went to gather the lilies Joy had
picked as she headed out into the back room again.

"Here you go," Lily said, with one of her very fake smiles that she saved only for him.
She handed the bouquet of lilies that she'd wrapped in crinkly green paper to James. He handed
over some muggle money to pay and Lily finalized the purchase.

 When he made no move to leave, she sighed with annoyance and slumped onto the stool behind her,
rubbing her temple. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?"

He just stood there, lilies in hand looking around. Joy's voice fluttered out into the store.
"Pick out the dead heads from the plants in the window, will you Lily?"

Headache throbbing, Lily made her way to the front of the shop, James moved with her, although
he kept his distance. She was just leaning over the canister of daffodils when she heard a knock on
the display window. Lily looked up and saw Cheryl smiling and waving from the other side.

Good timing, Lily thought and silently welcomed the distraction. She waved Cheryl inside and
greeted her old friend with a smile.


"Hey Lily," Cheryl greeted, steeping into the store, making the bell ring. She walked
over to where Lily stood, and noticed James and gave him a smile as well.

"My break isn't for another four minutes; you don't mind waiting do you?" Lily
asked making sure to ignore James.

 Cheryl swayed from foot to foot with a sorry expression on her face and Lily couldn't stop the
sinking feeling that settled in the pit of her stomach. "That's why I'm here. I
can't make it to lunch today. Mum got a phone call this morning that Grandpa was ill; we're
heading out there now." she smiled apologetically, her fingers knotting themselves
together.


Then it happened. What made Lily's day go from bad to worse.

"Don't worry about it," she heard James say from behind her. "I was just here to
take her to lunch anyway."

 Lily turned sharply looking firstly and James then back to Cheryl. "He was not!"

"How do you know I wasn't?” He fired back at her, “What did you think I was waiting
for?"

"Hell to freeze over...I don't know! Something! But most defiantly not that!"

 Cheryl looked surprised to say the least. Her wide aqua eyes went from one to the other as they
argued. "Uh, Lily," she interrupted, looking amused. "I have to go. Mum, Dad and
Sillas are in the car waiting. Have fun with your friend."

"He's not my friend." Lily said through clenched teeth.

She laughed and moved towards the door. "I'll call you when I get back." Cheryl
opened the door, making the bell tingle. "Bye..."

"James," James said promptly.

"Bye James, Lily." She watched as Cheryl crossed the street, dodging cars, and waved as
she left.

Lily glanced at her watch. It rested exactly on one meaning it was lunch break. She glanced at
James who was staring expectantly at her.



 *Should I be glad?* 

______________

Thanks for reading!

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3. Black Listed
---------------



**Music Box Lullaby**

Chapter Three: Black Listed

Adding an accent to the last word, Lily put down her quill and leaned back in her seat to admire
the sight. In neat, oblique letters, Lily had written:

*To do list:*


*K**ill James* *Potter**.*


*Eliminate* *Cheryl.*


*Dispose* *of my Mother.*


Lily went over the list carefully in her mind. Before adding; `*go about life in a happy,
flourishing manner**,'* to the bottom of the short list.

There, perfect.

Oh yes, Lily was quite sure she wanted all three of these people dead, the sooner the better as
far as she was concerned. All of them had played a key role in today's chain of ill-fated
events. The whole situation could be blamed lock, stock and barrel on these three individuals.

First of all, Cheryl: for bailing out on their lunch date, leaving her to associate with James
Potter. Secondly, James Potter: for stalking her and not going away. This act resulted in Lily
lunching with the idiot. And thirdly, her mother (and as far as Lily was concerned the worst of the
lot): for *making* her go with James to lunch (*Really Lily, you'll certainly not bag
yourself a bloke if you never go out with any who are interested!*).

Lily was in a huff with all three of them. She hadn't sulked like this in a long time. Not
since start of sixth year when Thomas Boron dated her as a dare. Lily's face pulled into a
scowl at the memory, her mood becoming darker just thinking about it. Lily had fancied Boron for
months before he asked her for a date, to which she had eagerly agreed, only to be laughed at by
him and his friends when she turned up to find Baron there with Suzy Loch, a girl Lily loathed.

Lily had moped around for a two weeks at being the laughing stock of the school (or as Lily felt
at the time; the world) before she started to put the whole thing behind her. And she felt pretty
confident in her abilities that she could go for longer this time. The whole Thomas Boron incident
had been a mere warm up.

Thinking about it, Lily quickly added two more names to the list; Thomas Boron and Suzy
Loch.

She stood up and pinned her to-do list the corkboard which hung over her desk, and stepped back
to admire her work. *Excellent*, she thought to her self and picked up her duvet off the floor
wrapping it around her body before falling backwards onto her bed.

If there was one thing she hated more than James-look-at-me-Potter, It was being forced to spend
time (against her will) with James-look-at-me-Potter. This had happened a lot this school year
since they had been made Head Boy and Girl.

Once Lily had been shoved out of *In Bloom* by her *darling* mother (who, by way, was
now knocked off Lily's Christmas list), Lily and James had gone to a local café. Where she had
tried not to look at him, tried not to laugh at his jokes, and repeatedly told her self that it was
just an accident that his foot kept touching hers, and not to yell at him and make a scene about
it(*there were people there she* *knew*). But what annoyed Lily the most was that she
*did* look at him (hey, he was attractive!), and she *did* laugh at his jokes (well he
laughed at hers… it was only fair), and she found that she *didn't* mind when his foot
touched hers (Uh, she had sensitive feet?).

Lily sighed and wiggled her toes which hung over the edge of the bed. This wasn't fair. Life
wasn't fair. Lily half wondered if James had slipped something into her drink at lunch, she
shouldn't be so confused like this, she shouldn't like him. `*No, she didn't like
him*,' she told herself. But, as much as Lily tried to deny it, she couldn't deny that
she had had fun with James that afternoon. He had been funny, charming, and, this is what shocked
Lily the most, *nice*!

James Potter is *not* nice.

James Potter is *not* charismatic.

James Potter is *not* amusing.

James Potter *is* a jerk.

James Potter *is* a show off.

James Potter *is* an unbearable git who likes to hex people at random and finds others
misfortunes humorous.

JAMES POTTER IS NOT NICE!

Lily made a mental note to draw up that list later (when she could be bothered moving of
course). But for now, Lily took up brooding instead; brooding about James-Bloody-Potter.
James-the-Jerk-Potter, who had asked her out loads of times, and tried to talk to her loads of
times, and tried to convince her to like her loads of times, it had never worked then, and it
wouldn't work now!

Lily rolled over and curled into a ball, pulling the duvet over her head.

What had happened to that idiot she use to hate? This wasn't *fair*. She wasn't
supposed to spend her holiday thinking about him! It wasn't fair!

Lily stayed that way mulling things over (over analyzing things) until Petunia burst into her
room with the air of someone with a fork up their ----

“What do you want?” Lily groused from under her bedding, wishing she had thought to lock the
door. How was she supposed to get in a good moping session if people interrupted?

Petunia stood over her with her hands placed steadily on her hips, a sneer twisting on her lips.
“I heard you were out with a *boy* today. Mum told me so,” she alleged gleefully. “Has the
little freak found another freak to date?”

Lily, who was already quite down on her self, mumbled something indistinguishable before adding,
`Go away,” in a tiny voice.

“I for one can't believe you actually found someone who would have you,” Petunia taunted
openly. “I mean, you're not even pretty. Is he blind? He must be to want to date you. Is he
even all there in the head, I bet he's brain damaged!”

For one Lily agreed with her. She herself had thought on numerous occasions that James must not
be all there in the head, but chose not to tell Petunia this. Instead she just glared at her older
sibling and grumbled, “He's not my boyfriend,” before gathering all her energy and rolling over
so that her back faced Petunia.

“Whatever,” She said obviously enjoying herself. “You can point him out when I drop you back for
school.”

Now she had Lily's attention. “What?” she exclaimed, flabbergasted. “Why are you taking me,
not Mum or Dad?”

Petunia's eyes flashed with delight, delight at knowing something Lily didn't. “Because
dear sister,” she drawled. “Our darling mother has a wedding which needs her talents that day, and
our dear father flies out to Spain on business on Saturday. They have life's which don't
just revolve around you, Lily.”

Lily wondered weather Petunia thought that maybe it revolved around her.

Petunia walked to the door, kicking Lily's possessions which littered the floor, out of her
path on her way. “Oh and Lily, dinner will be ready in five.”

The rest of Lily's holiday was Potter-free, and filled with chocolates from Easter. The
morning she was due to return to Hogwarts, Cheryl came over (Lily couldn't stay mad at her
forever, and besides, Cheryl still owed her ten pounds).

Lily had crossed Cheryl's name off her `*to do list**,**'* and asked
after her grandfather who was now doing well, before she was shoved into the car by an impatient
Petunia.

When she arrived to the station, she and Petunia were running late. Lily thought that this may
be due to the fact that her older sister had stopped to pick up the latest shade of blush that was
being released that day. Petunia thought otherwise and blamed it on Lily taking so long at the gas
station they had stopped at for a bathroom break. They were now both fuming at each other.

Petunia left Lily in the car park with her bags and drove away without a glance back. This not
fazing Lily in the slightest as she had spent the last seventeen (*almost eighteen*!) years
dealing with her mutt of a sister, she quickly found her friends and clambered onto the train.

That night, she sat with her two closest witch friends, Grace and Corrine, in their dorm and
gushed her guts out to them about what a jerk James Potter was. How *rude* it was of him to
just turn up like that, and how she didn't *really* like him, she had just been taken
aback that day in town.

Corrine listened to her friend, moan, complain, and sulk about the being that was James Potter,
before telling Lily quite calmly, that she thought the red head was in denial. Grace then continued
to add that she also thought Lily being silly and was just holding an old grudge against him and it
was high tide that she let it go. After all, he hadn't *intended* to hit her with that
tripping curse back in forth year.

She had forgotten about *that*. Scowling, Lily made a mental note to add Corrine's name
onto her list, and while she was it to all register Grace right under it.

“Really,” Lily heard Grace tell Corrine (after all, she had been with Lily when it had
happened). “That's what started it all, a misguided hex. It was suppose to hit that fifth year
Slytherin boy, but it didn't. And that was three years ago!”

Corrine turned to Lily. “Is that all you've got against him, Lily, An old grudge?”

Indignant at her suggestion and the fact that it had stuck a cord (*had she be angry at him
all this time because of that*) not helping, Lily quietly replied “Of course not, that would be
silly!”

“Too right it would be,” muttered Grace under her breath, avoiding Lily's eyes.

Corrine fought back a smirk, “So why don't you like him then, if not for an old grudge?”

Lily sat back and made herself comfortable against the pillows on her bed. “He annoys me,” she
said simply.

But her two friends didn't like her easy answer and pressed on, making Lily fess up
entirely.

“Well,” she sighed, “He's a bully isn't he? He's always hexing people at random in
the hall. *And*,” Lily continued, seeing Grace and Corrine trade unconvinced looks. “He's
such a player! You only have to look out our window to see that it's the truth! He and his
friends *always* have girls over, always!” She breathed deeply, getting on a roll. “And he
made my last two years a misery by consistently asking me to date him. Now people just think
I'm one big joke! Just look at what happened with Thomas Boron! I bet that *never* would
have happened if James had just left me alone.”

“That's in the past Lily,” Corrine said kindly. “James has changed.”

“Yeah, he has,” Grace agreed. “Look Lily, headboy has been good for him. He doesn't
constantly pester you for dates anymore does he?”

*Well no, not* *technically*, Lily thought to herself unconvinced. *But that
doesn't stop him flirting through the dorm windows, not to mention showing up at random for
lunch rendezvous,' which was sort of like him asking for a date; just without the asking
part…*

Lily fell back onto her bed, “Life sucks,” she moaned, hiding her head under a pillow. “It's
*so* unfair! I don't want to like him,” Lily suddenly paused, idea coming to her. “And you
know what?” she said, sitting up and looking at her two friends, “I wont!”

“What?” Grace said, dumfounded. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“It will be easy,” Lily laughed. “All I have to do is find some other guy (`Good luck,'
snorted Grace) and fall in love with him!” Lily was now walking over to her wardrobe, shifting
through the junk that was littering the bottom before finally pulling out last year's year
book. “I'll go through this (you guys will help me), make a list of the available guys, choose
one, fall for him and him for me, and ta-da! James Potter is a nuisance no more!”

Corrine and Grace stared at Lily blankly. “That easy, huh?” Grace finally said after a long,
awkward pause. “And this is going to help you how?”

Lily was stationed by the wardrobe, holding her yearbook to her chest, her (delusional,
according to Grace) smile still firmly in place. “Well obviously once James sees that I'm madly
in love with someone else, he'll get the hint and leave me alone. There will be no more window
conversations, no more forced dates with him, none of that! And with out all of *that* junk, I
won't have all these stupid, confusing, conflicting thoughts to deal with. Honestly Grace, I
thought you were smart, keep up with the play.”

“Yeah,” Grace whispered quietly to Corrine as Lily took out a scrappy looking piece of parchment
and started browsing through the book for suitable bachelors. “I'm catching what she's
throwing, I just don't understand why *now**”*

Completely oblivious to her friends, Lily took out her `to-do list' and on the back started
to make another listing.

There. Sure, it's only taken a couple of years, but whose counting, eh? Now I really do
guarantee that the next chapter won't be a few years in the making…honestly! Thanks for
reading!

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