Looking Through Glass
Chapter 1: Vague Reflection
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all things associated with the books do not belong to me for my name isn't J.K Rowling and I am not a brilliant writer like her. I am just a struggling author who has little writing ability.
Summary: Lily Evans had experienced something very traumatic during the summer of her fifth year in Hogwarts. A loner in nature, she becomes even more detached to people; making herself into a shadow that nobody should and would never notice. But James Potter can't help but keep on noticing her ever since third year…
Lily Evans watched the rain drop from the dark, cloudy skies in a soft rhythm, sliding down the windows of the blue car she was riding on. Her head was bent towards the window, the side of her head touching the cool glass and her brilliant green eyes hypnotized by the drizzle, giving everything a blurry and washed look. Her sister, Petunia, was driving her to King's Cross for her seventh year in Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Petunia Evan's lips were pursed as if she was trying her hardest not to say something bad and her brown eyes were narrowed at the windshield.
Tense silence reigned in the car, but Lily chose to ignore it.
Ever since she had received that letter from Hogwarts declaring her a student, Petunia and Lily's already shaky sibling relationship had permanently shattered and Petunia had shunned her sister. But it wasn't only because Lily was a witch - in Petunia's opinion; her kind was the greatest disgrace to the society - that her older sister hated her, but moreover because Lily was the recipient of their parent's abundant affection.
While they look at Petunia with passable warmth in their eyes whenever she showed them her report card filled with A's, or when she goes on a date, it was Lily who they turned to with ardent affection alight in their eyes. And it got worst when Lily got into that magical school with books of strange-named authors and frogspawn in her pockets, wearing those ridiculous robes. Their parents main concern was Lily this and Lily that and not even the announcement and arrival of her fiancé, Vernon Dursley, had gained her more than a simple nod of acknowledgement.
"What is that platform you need to go to?" Petunia asked sharply, her voice cold.
"Platform 9 and 3/4, Petunia." Lily didn't even blink as she answered, her voice an impassive tone.
This was everyday interaction of the two sisters. One voice filled with animosity and ice, the other blank and unfeeling.
Lily had given up trying to befriend her sister again since Petunia had sworn never to look, speak or even think of Lily unless truly necessary.
Soon, King Cross came into view and Petunia stopped the car in front of the entrance. People carrying trolleys scurried hurriedly to their own platforms, not wanting to be left behind by the trains.
Lily climbed out of the car and took out her heavy trunk from the backseat without any help from her sister at all. Her black Hogwarts robes swirled around her as she dropped her trunk gently to the ground. Petunia was impatiently tapping her well-manicured fingers on top of the steering wheel, looking at her watch every two seconds.
"Are you through or not?" Petunia asked shrilly, glancing briefly at her sister over her shoulder, her face a vacant mask. Lily was taking out a cage with her snowy owl, Blenne inside from the backseat. A flash of disgust and anger flashed in Petunia's brown eyes.
Lily closed the door and nodded stiffly at her sister. Without a backward glance, Petunia drove away and Lily turned her back from disappearing car, her thoughts immediately on finding a trolley.
She spotted a vacant one on the sides and with her hand carrying her owl cage, Lily strode towards the free trolley, unmindful of the stares she received from the other patrons.
Lily placed her owl cage on the trolley carefully and gripped the bars, pushing it towards where her trunk was lying amidst the sea of bodies. She then hefted her heavy trunk into her trolley and proceeded into the station, going straight to her destination, her steps clipped and precise.
The Hogwarts Express, the school's sleek, scarlet train that brought the students to Hogwarts for the beginning of term and back to King's Cross after, was busily making its way through the thick trees and gave a loud call.
Lily was busily checking each compartments to see if any students were doing anything against the rules, as was her duty as Head Girl. It had come as a complete and almost unpleasant surprise when her yearly school letter had arrived with a new package. The Head Girl's official badge, gleaming and superior. She had no idea why they wanted her to be Head Girl since she was incredibly shy that was bordering on aloofness, and Lily's social skills badly needed polishing. Most people didn't even know that a Lily Evans, red hair, green eyes and all, existed in the walls of their school. And Lily was perfectly content on being by herself, chasing away the unbearable loneliness by reading a good book in the library. She stayed away from the Gryffindor common room where interactions were most frequent.
But Lily wasn't smart. On the contrary, Lily was the smartest witch in Hogwarts, every year taking away the honor of being at the top of her year. Though she didn't raise her hand during classes or answer the teacher's questions, her tests scores were unbelievable.
When no one was doing anything out of the ordinary to wizard's sense, Lily headed back to her own compartment, at the front of the train. It was reserved specially for the Head Boy and Girl, with a built in magical refrigerator for them to raid when they got hungry. She slid the door open and was relieved to see that no one was inside. Lily didn't have the faintest idea who Head Boy was, but she did have some guesses.
James Potter was most likely to be Head Boy. But let us ponder him for another time.
Lazily, Lily stretched her body on the comfortable seat, letting her head recline against the back of the seat. Outside, the train had left the woody forest and was now passing by rolling hills and sweeping lands of flowers. The sky, upon leaving London earlier, was a shade of powdery blue with cottony clouds floating softly.
Being Head Girl meant that Lily had to be present in many social events like the Yule Ball, Halloween Party and etc.
Lily wasn't a cold person, but her immense shyness and her accursed talent in being a bit harsh in words made the other people who tried to befriend the quiet redhead turn away and think of her as bitter. She was cynical, not believing in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy or even the Easter Bunny even in the presence of magic in her day-to-day classes.
Lily, Gryffindor and top student, this year's Head Girl, had no friends or a trusty confidant. She only had herself to rely on, and no shoulder she can lay her head on to rest.
Lily took out her wand from her robes pocket and wrote her full name in fancy strokes in the air. But the tip of the wand, which sparkled a green color, made the letters visible, like she had written it with a pen instead of a wand.
Lillian Mary Evans.
It was ironic how warm and open her name sounded when the real person behind it was a cold, tough shell.
"Ahem, hello Lillian."
At the deep, amused voice, Lily whipped her head around and her bright green eyes widened a fraction of an inch.
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