The Diary

Chapter Fifteen - The Pre-emption

Disclaimer: It's strange. I keep writing these disclaimers, and yet they never change in terms of truth. Rowling is still the Goddess and owner of the Harry Potter series.

Note: This chapter is dedicated to one of my reviewers who pointed out that Lily doesn't have a familiar. I went through and couldn't find the name, though! Thanks to that reviewer! Leave me a note and I'll fix this.

Anyway, I felt it was necessary to note that my reviewers are magnificent and help me out in ways I don't think they even understand.

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I'm a bashful child, beginning to grow

And you make me talk
And you make me feel
And you make me show
What I'm trying to conceal
If I trust in you, would you let me down?
Would you laugh at me, if I said I care for you?
Could you feel the same way too?

“Name of the Game” - ABBA

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Lily strolled through Diagon Alley with Emily, enjoying the sunshine. It was a bit of a relief to be surrounded by wizards, even if everyone was a bit jumpy.

“So, Lily, my dearest friend in the entire world, are you going to go on a mad, power-induced rampage now that you've been made Prefect?” asked Emily as they stopped in front of Scribbulus Everchanging Inks.

“Hmm? Yeah,” replied Lily absentmindedly, eyes staring off into the shop.

An impish smile grew on Emily's face. “And how was snogging James Potter? Hot and heavy, I imagine?”

That got Lily's attention. She faced her friend and blanched. “What!? That's disgusting.”

“You drifted off, and I had to pull you back somehow.”

“Well what was so incredibly important that you couldn't let me think for a moment?” Lily snapped.

Emily looked at her sharply. “What's wrong?”

Lily closed her eyes and sighed. “Too many things.” Emily gestured for her to continue. “Let's see. Well, for starters, I can't be around my muggle friends anymore. They always talk about people I haven't seen in four years, and they make references to things I wasn't there for. Then they ask me about my school, and I obviously can't tell them the most interesting things as they involve magic.” Lily began to walk and Emily followed. “I used to be best friends with these people, and now I feel like… Like I've lost them.”

Emily nodded. “I sort of know what you mean. I have a few muggle friends, kids of my mother's friends, and there's always this barrier. They talk about football, but I haven't watched anything but Quidditch in ages.” They came to a halt outside Flourish and Blotts. “But you've still got me,” she added with a grin.

“That I do, Emily, that I do.” The two girls entered the shop, pulling out their book lists. “I still can't understand why anyone would take Divination. Do you even learn anything useful in that class?”

“That's the best part - we don't learn a thing,” said Emily. They found all the required books and were about to leave when they started debating where to go next. “I'm not in the mood for ice cream quite yet. Let's go to Quality Quidditch Supplies.”

Lily made a noncommittal noise. “You go ahead. There's something I want to check out here first. I'll catch up with you in a few minutes.” Emily acquiesced and headed for her favourite store.

Lily headed for a section marked, “Diaries, Journals, &c.” It wasn't that she was unhappy with Roscoe - quite the opposite, in fact. She was just curious as to what other diary personalities were like. Surely they weren't all like Roscoe.

Maybe I could write something in one of these… No, that wouldn't work. I can't very well erase it. I already have a diary. I don't want to accidentally steal someone else's.

She began to search for some sort of informational sign when she heard someone come up behind her.

“Hello, Evans. Have a nice summer?”

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James was also having a good time at the Alley that day. He'd already been there several times for his Animagus search, but today's excursion was of a different sort. The Marauders had already begun working on the transformation, and though it was incredibly difficult, James was hopeful.

Sirius was accompanying him, which was not unusual. He'd spent most of his summer at the Potter residence, avoiding his house as much as possible. From what little he did speak of his home life, things were getting worse. Regulus was becoming what Sirius called the Ultimate Slytherin, and James knew it was tough for Sirius to swallow.

James did not tell his friend why they had come today of all days. Evans had said she was going, and James knew her well enough by now to know she was curious by nature. She'd already questioned him on several occasions about the concept of a wizarding diary, and he suspected she would try to learn more. Evans only went to the Alley once a year, which meant that would be the most likely time for her to discover that Roscoe was actually James Potter. That, he'd decided, would be a most unfortunate situation, as she would in all likelihood castrate him. Needless to say, that was not on James' list of things to do before dying.

The only problem was that Evans hadn't specified a time, so James had shown up midmorning and hung around the entrance with an increasingly suspicious Sirius. He'd thanked Merlin when she'd finally shown up, and he and Sirius had been discreetly following her ever since. If Sirius had caught on, he didn't show it.

When the girls had gone into Flourish and Blotts, James knew that this was when Evans would do it, if she did anything. He practically dragged Sirius into the shop under the pretence of looking for a new Defence book; they'd already gotten their schoolbooks on an earlier visit.

James had hidden himself behind a bookcase, surreptitiously watching Evans. He noticed she'd cut her hair. She'd told Roscoe about it of course, but knowing and seeing were two different matters. It now hung down to her shoulders. He wasn't a fashion expert by any means, but even James could tell it drew more attention to her face. He observed that it was a beneficial change, as the dark red contrasted nicely with her very green eyes.

He'd waited patiently; a difficult task considering how eager Sirius was to leave the shop. Finally Evans made her purchases and approached the door. Before he could sigh in relief, however, she paused. What was she doing? Emily left the store, but Evans turned around and headed right for the dreaded section. James quickly turned to Sirius.

“Look, Evans just walked in. I believe greetings are in order.”

There was a strange glint in Sirius' eyes, but he agreed. The two Marauders approached Evans from behind.

“Hello, Evans,” James said, slipping into his role. “Have a nice summer?”

She turned around. “Yes,” Evans replied icily, “As you weren't a part of it.”

Sirius raised a hand to his chest. “Ouch, Evans. Didn't you miss us?”

“Did I miss constantly having to watch my back? No, I can't say that I did. Now if you'll excuse me…” She tried to pass them, but James stepped in her path.

“Leaving so soon? That's not very nice.”

Evans rolled her eyes. “Neither are you.”

“You boys aren't bothering my Lilykins, are you?” Emily Wood joined the group. Evans flinched at the nickname but said nothing. “I was just leaving. Come on.” She made another attempt to walk around and James allowed it. As they exited the store, he couldn't hold back a grin. Evans would be too busy hating James Potter to give Roscoe a second thought.

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“They never let up, do they?” Lily mused out in the Alley.

“They don't. Nice work, by the way,” Emily remarked.

“What work?”

“You shrugged it off. You didn't let them get to you.”

Lily raised her chin. “Clearly I've matured over the summer.”

“I don't know if I'd go that far…” Emily stopped in front of Eeylops Owl Emporium and looked at the birds on display.

“You're just jealous of my highly superior mind.”

Emily gasped. “However did you know?”

“I'm all-powerful now that I've got my Prefect badge, didn't you know?” Lily smiled and examined the owls. “Maybe I should get an owl. I don't have a familiar, and I could write my parents. They'd like that.”

“It is our OWL year.”

“So it is. Seems fitting enough,” said Lily, holding the door open for Emily.

The first thing Lily noticed about the shop was how dark it was. Hundreds of small, bright eyes stared out at the two shoppers. “Emily, how am I supposed to choose an owl if I can't see any of them?” she whispered.

“Just spin around and point. Can't go wrong with that.”

Lily squinted at the cages lining the wall. “What am I even supposed to look for in an owl?”

“Size?” Emily suggested. “I don't know; I have a cat.”

“You're helpful,” replied Lily. “What about that one?” She pointed to a small black one.

Emily's outline shrugged. “Why not?”

Rolling her eyes, Lily hoisted the cage up and brought it to the cashier. Five minutes later, she exited the store, owl in tow. Both girls blinked furiously at the change in lighting.

“So what are you going to name him?” asked Emily.

Lily pondered this for a moment. “What do you think of Roscoe?”

Emily wrinkled her eyebrows. “That's a little unusual for an owl, but it's your bird.” They walked over to Fortescue's. After purchasing two bowls of ice cream, they sat down at one of the outdoor tables.

“My brother is getting married. Did I tell you that?” Emily said as she finished off the last of her chocolate treat.

“Simon? No, you didn't.”

Emily nodded. “Some Irish woman he met on the job.”

Lily still had half of her raspberry ice cream left, which Emily was now hungrily admiring. “Oh, go on, help yourself. You know I can never finish these things,” said Lily. Emily began to consume her friend's dessert without pulling the bowl any closer to herself. “I wish Petunia would get married. Then she'd be out of the house and I would never have to see her again.”

Emily gestured with her spoon. “We can only hope, but who'd want to marry her? She looks like a blonde horse. Maybe she'll marry another barn yard animal and have lots of little horses running around.”

“They're called colts, for your information. Can you imagine Petunia's kids?”

Emily grinned. “That's a horrifying thought. I might have to kill you just for suggesting that she continue her line.” She drew her spoon across her throat. “And that's how I'd do it, too. Slice your neck with a sticky spoon.”

Lily laughed. “What would happen to me without you, Emily?”

“You wouldn't experience death by a dull utensil, that's for sure,” Emily replied slyly.

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“So who was it?” James asked eagerly. He and his companions were seated once again on the Hogwarts Express, excited to get back to the castle. Remus had just come back from the Prefect carriage. His badge had incited much teasing on the part of Sirius and James, but he had insisted he couldn't very well give it back. “Evans, of course.”

“Damn,” Sirius cursed.

“Yes!” James cheered. “Pay up, Black.”

Sirius fished in his pocket and pulled out two galleons. Handing them over to Peter and James, he muttered, “Lucky guess.” Remus took a seat next to Sirius. “She recited the rules by heart, I expect?”

“Actually, no,” said Remus. “I'd call it hesitantly proud. Evans was… well, not nice, but she was at least civil. I did notice a lack of dirty glares shot at me from across the room.”

“I thought she hated us,” Peter commented.

James was mildly taken aback. Evans seemed to have developed a new attitude toward the Marauders over the summer. She was courteous to Remus, and she hadn't blown up at them at Diagon Alley. He wondered what had caused the change.

“She must have decided that I am a somewhat decent person as I got the other badge.”

Sirius let out his bark of a laugh. “You'll show her!” Remus smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. James made a note to ask Evans about the Marauders that night. This was most curious. “I'm surprised you don't have more to say, James,” he continued. “You've been talking about Evans all summer.”

“I have not!” he vehemently denied.

“Have so,” Sirius said pointedly. “I counted. You mentioned her twenty-three times over the last two months.”

James fought back. “Why the hell would you count something like that?”

Sirius shrugged. “I'm not saying anything, just that you seem to be developing an obsession.”

“I am not developing an obsession with Evans!” James cried.

Peter snickered. “You want the whole train to know?”

“Oh, shut it, Peter,” retorted James. He huffed and opened up another Chocolate Frog. “I am not obsessed,” he muttered.

Remus heard him. “Of course not. You're just infatuated.”

James groaned. “I'm never mentioning the name Evans ever again.”

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Meanwhile, there was a startlingly similar conversation occurring a few compartments down.

“So who was it?” asked Emily.

“Lupin, strangely enough.”

“Hah! Dumbledore wants Remus to control his friends.”

Lily furrowed her eyebrows. “He probably won't.”

“Probably not,” Emily conceded. “But I'm surprised you didn't automatically assume that he would do nothing.”

Lily shrugged. “I suppose I got over it during the summer. Told you I'd matured.”

“Oh, that's right.” Emily rolled her eyes. “You're so mature you need to keep reminding me.” She stuck out her tongue playfully and ducked to avoid the jellybean Lily threw at her. “You need to work on your aim and get over your violent tendencies.”

Lily noticed that they were the only two people in the compartment. “Where are Matilda and Adam?”

Emily waved her hand at the compartment door. “Off snogging somewhere.”

“I knew they'd hook up.”

“Since when do you pay attention to that sort of thing?” Emily asked suspiciously.

“I always have,” stated Lily, popping a Bertie Botts Every Flavour Bean into her mouth. “It's hard not to; Hogwarts is a gossip machine. I just never said anything.”

Emily nodded in agreement. “I can't deny that. You make one little comment about how you like someone's new haircut, and suddenly half the school thinks you fancy them.”

The reference was not lost on Lily. “That was first year, I'll have you know, and I never fancied him!”

“That's not what he said,” Emily said, a mischievous smile on her face.

After her attempts to pelt Emily with more beans failed, Adam and Matilda entered the carriage, both looking somewhat more dishevelled than when they'd first boarded the train. The two older students, having just passed their own OWLs, began to discuss the exams. Emily stuck her fingers in her ears and began to sing loudly until Lily threatened to cast a silencing charm on her.

“You wouldn't! That would be immature!” exclaimed Emily.

Lily quirked her eyebrows. “I thought I couldn't be mature until I got over my violent tendencies.”

Emily sighed, but couldn't get the smile off her face. “You're too stubborn for your own good, Lily Evans, and I am making it my personal goal to change that this year.”

Lily laughed. “Good luck with that.” She made several inquiries about the format of the tests, not noticing that Emily had fallen silent, secretly planning out her year.

Author's Note: Did I actually manage to write a chapter with no diary entries? Amazing! Well, it's fifth year. There's lots to come, especially in terms of outside the diary action. There was a slightly different style to this chapter. Let me know if you prefer the old way.

My vacation was fantastic, thanks to many of you for wishing me well. I hope you all enjoyed your own holidays. I came back to find many wonderful reviews, which was like a Christmas present all in itself. I didn't know so many of you really liked this story.

I wrote quite a bit on my trip, most of it not Diary related. I can't control the muses. I've posted a new oneshot on my fanfiction.net account if you're interested - the pen name is the same. It's not shippy at all. In fact, I am always somewhat depressed after I read it. Meh. Leave me a review, if you'd be so kind. They mean a lot to me!