Chapter 9: The Place I Used to Run to
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Whenever dawn turns to night,
And all the dreams sing their song
In the daylight forever,
To You I Belong.
-To You I Belong by B*Witched
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Lily apparated to just outside of her parents' house, hoping that no one had seen her. She knocked on the door, and waited for someone to answer it. Her mother came to the door and said,
"Lily, this used to be your house, you don't have to knock." Lily smiled and gave her mother a hug.
"It's good to see you again, sweetie."
"It's good to see you again too, Mum."
"Well, come on in, your father can't wait to see you." They went into the living room where David Evans was sitting in his favorite chair going through the mail that had piled up over the two weeks he and his wife had been gone. He looked up when he heard people come in, and smiled when he saw his daughter. He stood up and gave Lily a hug.
"Lily. It's good to see you; I've missed you. The prodigal daughter returns, eh?" Lily laughed.
"I'm happy to see you again, Dad, I missed you too." They all sat down, and David asked,
"So, how are things going for you in the States?"
"I thought they were going well, but now I don't know."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought I was doing the right thing, leaving England. But then I came back for Isabelle's funeral, and spending time with everyone I've left, I wish I hadn't left."
"Wait, wait, Isabelle's funeral?"
"Yes, David, remember me telling you that, Lily's friend sent us a letter about it, hoping we could maybe tell Lily."
"Alice sent me a letter about it. I flew over on the first flight I could get out of New York City. Her funeral was on Monday." Rose placed a hand her daughter's shoulder in comfort. Lily smiled sadly.
"So, you're staying with your friend, right?"
"Right."
"Which friend?"
"Remus Lupin, Dad. He was one of the Marauders, remember me telling you about them and all their pranks?"
"Ah yes, I remember well, one of them was that Potter that you went out with, and would always complain about before your seventh year." Lily smiled.
"Yes." David shifted uncomfortably in his chair, not liking too well the fact that his daughter was living with a guy. Lily sensed this, and said,
"Though don't worry. Remus and I are just friends, always have, always will be."
"I know, I'm just…"
"Being a typical dad," Rose said, finishing her husband's sentence.
"So, how was the relationship department in the States, dear?"
"Eh, it's ok, it's not like there weren't any people for me. I only went out with one, and it didn't really classify as a date, he saw the owl that Alice sent me and got scared and left."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Lily."
"It's alright. Actually, I am going out with James again." `If sleeping together classifies as going out.' Lily was confused by the look on her mother's face. Her father just smiled and nodded. Lily stared at her mother.
"What's the matter, Mum?"
"What? Oh nothing."
"No, what is it, I mention James and your face turns to stone."
"It's nothing Lily, just thinking about something else."
"Liar."
"Well, are you sure you want to get involved with him again, Lily? Do you want to put yourself through all that heartache when it doesn't work out again?"
"First of all, I caused the heartache by leaving, it was my fault. And I love James, I never stopped loving him, I just didn't realize it before."
"I just think you should maybe consider someone less different from your family."
"Like a muggle?"
"Well, yes."
"Why? What's wrong with James, or any wizards for that matter?"
"There's nothing wrong with them, I just think you'd be safer away from them."
"Rose, stay out of it, Lily's a smart girl, she doesn't make stupid decisions." The truth of the matter was that David had always liked James from the first time his daughter had brought him home to meet them. He hoped that one day James and Lily would be married and Lily would be happy. But his wife thought that Lily should marry someone who wasn't a wizard, and David never could quite understand why.
"No, I want to hear this, I wanna know why any wizard isn't good enough for me."
"You'd be safer away from them, Lily. I've heard stories of the evil things that are forming in that world, and I want you away from it. And if you date a wizard that is right in the middle of it, then there's no guarantee that you'll come out alive."
"There's no guarantee I'll come out alive even if I'm not dating James. I am a witch, Mum, a muggle born, and Voldemort's out to kill every witch and wizard that is against him. Especially muggle borns." Fear crossed her mother's face.
"You should've stayed in America."
"He'll find me there, Mum. It's damn near impossible to hide from him."
"Watch your language, Lily," Rose said softly. Lily continued as though her mother hadn't interrupted.
"I'm not going to sit back and watch the people in my life all be killed when I could be out there helping keep them alive. It's already started. Isabelle was first, and I don't know who'll be next."
"Rose, as long as she's happy and in love, I don't understand why you can't be happy for her. She's found someone again, a good one too." Lily beamed at her father, but her expression hardened when she looked at her mother again.
"I'm scared for you, Lily, I'm your mother, and I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I can't guarantee anything bad won't happen to me, Mum. I know you're worried, but I'm not. Love knows no fear."
"Well, anyways, let's talk about something else, Rose, Lily. Well, my little lily flower, would you like to go with us to see your sister and her husband?" Lily made a face.
"Heck no. I'd probably be thrown from her house."
"No, that's nonsense, your sister loves you. Deep down."
"Very deep down, if at all. She considers me a freak, Dad, and I don't really want to see her."
"Well, you haven't seen her in years, darling, you should at least make an attempt to get along with her." `You never know when they won't be there for you always, nobody's guaranteed forever," said a nasty little voice in her head. She sighed.
"I guess I could go. When are you going to see Petunia and what's his face?"
"Vernon. We're going over there for lunch."
"So, in about twenty minutes."
"Ok." Five minutes later, Lily was in her parents' car, riding across London to go see her sister and brother-in-law. Something she wasn't the happiest about. Her sister hadn't been able to stand being the same room as her for as long as Lily could remember, and the feeling was mutual. They were nothing alike, in physical appearance and personality. Lily was average height, with dark red hair and bright green eyes. She looked well proportioned in all aspects of her body. But Petunia Evans, now Petunia Dursley, was tall and lanky, skinny, horse faced, and blonde. She had piercing eyes and a long nose that was always where it shouldn't be. Closer to noon, the Evans's arrived at their oldest daughter's house. It was a quaint little home on a street called Privet Drive. Every house looked the same, same shape and color. They pulled into the driveway of Number 4, and when the car stopped, the front door opened, and Petunia Dursley came outside, a happy smile on her face. David and Rose got out of the car, and Petunia came down the steps.
"Mum, Dad, it's so good to see you again, how was the cruise?" She gave both other parents a hug.
"It was fun, but we're glad to be home." Petunia hadn't noticed yet that her only sibling was standing close behind her parents, waiting to be addressed. Petunia saw her, and her expression turned cold.
"Hello Lily," She said shortly. Lily gave a short nod.
"Petunia."
"Well…it's um…good to see you." Though she sounded like she was lying.
"I wish I could say the same, Petunia."
"Still hanging out with those freak friends of yours, or have you finally come to your senses?" Rose said sternly,
"Girls, stop it."
"Well, Lily I wish you would've told me you were coming, otherwise I would've set another place for you."
"I didn't know I would be coming, Petunia, until Mum and Dad invited me to come along. But that's alright, I'm not that hungry." Petunia gave a short nod, and offered her family to come in. It was the first time Lily had been on the inside of her sister's house. It was extremely bright, white and very clean. Very Petunia-ish. She looked around the living room, taking in everything. Rose and David were glancing at the pictures on the tables by the couches while Vernon Dursley came into the room from the kitchen. The room became busy with chatter and hugs and handshakes, while Lily stood back, again not saying anything. She looked at her brother-in-law, and thought that if you accidentally ran into him, you'd get lost in the fat and never be found again. She bit her bottom lip to keep herself from laughing when she wondered how many people could be lost in there. She was brought down to earth when she heard Petunia say in a tone of voice that gave evidence to how much she hated her sister,
"And this is my sister, Lily. Remember I told you about her. Lily, this is my husband, Vernon. I doubt you two have ever met."
"No, we haven't, nice to meet you, Vernon." Lily stuck out her hand, very unwilling to give the man a hug. He took her hand and shook it, not saying much to her, Lily knew what kind of things Petunia had probably told him. Dinner was a formal affair for Lily. She only spoke when she was spoken to. Her thoughts were elsewhere until she heard her name.
"So, Lily, what do you do for a living?" Vernon asked.
"I'm an accountant." Lily replied, not looking at her sister's husband.
"Your kind has accountants? For what?" Lily slowly turned her head to face Vernon. Choosing her words carefully she said,
"My kind doesn't have accountants, no. I've been living in America for the past two years as a muggle, and I work as an accountant. I just returned home a few days ago."
"What's a muggle?"
"You all," Lily gestured with her hand to illustrate her point, "Are muggles. Anyone who isn't a witch or wizard is a muggle."
"It sounds like your making yourself out to be better than us normal people."
"I'm not making myself out to be anything, I'm just answering your question." Rose quickly changed the subject before a fight broke out, saying,
"So, Vernon, tell me about your job. How's it going?"
"Very well actually, I expect to be promoted soon…" Lily's mind trailed off, not listening to Vernon. It sounded like it'd be a boring conversation anyways. After a while, Vernon was still talking, and Lily started dozing off. Her head nodded, and she jerked awake. She nodded off again, and she felt her mother kick her in the shin, her eyes snapped open, now wide-awake. She looked at her mother, who threw a glare that said, `Behave yourself'.
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Finally, after three hours listening to Vernon Dursley talk about drills, Lily was in the car with her mother and father, going back home. Lily sighed and leaned her head against the back of the seat.
"I think after that, I've learned everything there is to know about drills."
"What do you think of him, Lils?" Her father asked. Lily snorted.
"Honestly? I think he's the most boring thing to ever happen to Petunia. And that's saying something." She laughed, and her father smiled. But her mother gave her a stern look.
"Be that as it may, Lily, he is your brother-in-law, the man who your sister loves, you should at least show a little more respect than you did back there." Lily looked out the window, and said almost as an afterthought,
"Ok, let's hear you have that conversation with her when she meets James."
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An hour later, Lily went to James' house, where as soon as she came in the door and took her shoes off, she collapsed into an armchair and sighed. James laughed.
"Long day?"
"You have no idea. My brother-in-law is the most boring muggle I have ever had the misfortune to meet." James smiled.
"That bad huh?"
"The man sells drills for a living, and he went into a whole long conversation for three hours about drills and his company."
"What's a drill?"
"It's a long story, and believe me, I don't want to go into it today." James got up from the couch he was sitting on and sat on the coffee table, taking one of Lily's feet in his hands and massaging it.
"Are you for sure going to stay here, or at least stay part of the wizarding world?"
"Why?"
"Dumbledore contacted all the Order members. There's a meeting tonight at seven."
"Where?"
"Hogwarts."
"Sure you want me coming along?" Lily said, "I mean, are you sure they have use for muggles?" She grinned, referring to the conversation a few days ago, when Lily had brought up the subject of the Order of the Phoenix. James sighed sarcastically.
"I guess we could use you." Lily smiled, got up off the chair and knelt on the floor in front of James and kissed him.
A/n: Here's another chapter for you all. I hope you enjoy. Thanks everyone for the reviews, I love you all. Keep it up!!!
Husker-fan-2006
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