Author's note: New chapter! I love this one, purely because you get a first glimpse at the real Lily, being herself without the presence of her parents. You also learn a bit more about her family and Laura. In any case, I loved writing it, so please, read and review!!
I'm not J.K. Rowling, and unless Polyjuice potion is invented somewhat sharpish, I never will be.
-Ice cream-
It was often said of the Evans family that their youngest daughter must have been destined for another family, but got mislaid on the way there, the reason being that her physicality resembled neither her father nor her mother, nor any member of her extended family.
Her mother, Catherine Evans, daughter of the Lord and Lady Edgar Spencer, was a short, blonde, blue eyed woman who was considerably stouter now than when she had first married her husband. Despite her weight, she still managed to move with grace and dignity, keeping it a secret that she had practiced walking like a lady since she was a little girl, and still did. In fact, it still caused her considerable discontent that her two daughters seemed to have acquired that graceful manner without having to try. She was a social butterfly, always in attendance at the most fashionable parties, balls and banquets, and the social events that she hosted were always known to be some of the best in England. She knew everybody, knew of everybody's business, and loved nothing more than to brag about her own family's successes. Lily, in her opinion, was to be her latest and greatest.
Charles Evans, unlike his wife, was a tall man; also blue eyed, with sandy brown hair, a stern mouth and an amiable disposition. He was an unusually quiet gentleman, devoting himself to the hospital he owned in London, having once been a doctor, but gave it up in favor of business. He didn't care for social events, but attended them good naturedly, as he was sensible enough to know that he could get what he wanted by staying present in the every growing Evans social circle. He may have held a different opinion to his wife on Lily's romantic future, but if he did, he kept it quiet, but it was he openly worshipped his `red headed flower', as he liked to call her, and spoiled her shamelessly. He had been devastated upon discovering that she was a witch, but Lily had never been able to thank him enough for being the one who decided that she should be allowed a wand and spellbooks. In Lily's opinion, he had thrown her a lifeline.
The three arrived in Brighton, the quaint, picturesque seaside town in East Sussex, on the 10th July, which, coincidentally, was three days after the youngest Evans daughter turned eighteen.
Lily's coming out feast had been hastily arranged by her mother who was more worried about their trip to the Chamberly home than her daughters first foray into womanhood. Lily allowed herself to laugh silently at this, the only reason her mother had accepted this invitation was, in fact, because of Lily's coming out.
Most girls near Lily's age looked forward to the day when they could do their hair up and lengthen their skirts, and most unusually, Lily detested the idea. As her mother had explained, when a young lady does her hair up, it is a sign that she is ready to marry, and subsequently, turn over her virginity. Lily did not feel near ready to do either, especially not with Lord Chamberly, whom she found to be not only unattractive, but horrendously boring, hopelessly predictable, and far too old at twenty eight. She knew, from accidentally overhearing her mothers' rather loud boasting, that Chamberly thought her `captivating' and `magnetic', and silently screamed with indignation.
Her thoughts dissolved into nothingness as she stepped across the threshold of Chamberly manor and was led into the parlor by a harassed looking maid.
The house was, as she expected, uninspired and predictable in décor, moderately comfortable, and smelling mildly of cigar smoke, a smell Lily detested more than any other. She briefly imagined kissing a man who had just smoked a cigar every day, and she felt like retching all over the plush, chocolate carpet, so instead, she tried to picture herself as mistress of this house. This house, befitted with mounted pheasants and partridges, stuffed trout, and paintings of horses and formidable men. This house, completely devoid of colour, laughter or character, did not welcome her, and she had no desire to be welcomed. The house she had dreamed of had been a cottage beside the sea, full of flowers, music and friends, a house where she could do as she pleased, even dance around in the rain with her hair down, and no one would chastise her. That house, she reminded herself, existed only in her dreams, and dreams had no place in life when you were an Evans.
`Charles, Charles, it's always pleasure.'
`Looking well, Edward my friend, and you have met my wife and daughter.'
`But of course. Lady Evans, how lovely to see you again. I trust you found your journey comfortable?'
`Yes indeed, quite comfortable. I must say, Brighton is very charming.'
`I am compelled to agree, I have always loved it so. One could say that it is almost as charming as this handsome young lady, Miss Lily, I am delighted to see you.' He bowed deeply and took her hand, placing a delicate kiss on it.
How she wished she could march up to Edward Chamberly and slap him right in his silly, simpering face, or better still, pull out the wand she had hidden in her silk stockings and hex his head into oblivion.
`Thank you ever so much for inviting me, Lord Chamberly. I am quite excited about the prospect of exploring this beautiful place.'
`Well, explore away, my dear. I must offer my sincerest apologies however. You see, I received a call today from Mr. Davis Shrewsbury, in Hertfordshire. I believe you've made his acquaintance before, Charles?'
Lilys' father nodded.
`He is having some problems with the Davenport Hospital case, and to my dismay, I must travel up to Hertfordshire tomorrow to assist him. I must also spend the rest of today going over the particulars of the case with my partner. Therefore, I will not be available until Friday.' here he shot Catherine an apologetic glance and hurriedly continued. `I do hope you will forgive my rudeness, and you have my word that from Friday I will be free for the rest of your stay. In the meantime, I do hope you will make yourselves comfortable. My cousin and his wife are already here, and my staff will cater to your needs, although I've noted that you have brought some of your own.'
Lily smiled. In a fit of blind panic before they left, her mother had decided to bring two dressers for Lily, lest she try to dress herself and manage to make a mess of it. She seemed to be terrified of Lily making some mistake which would lead to the discontinuing of Edward Chamberlys affection towards her. Therefore, Laura Finnegan had been disposed to join them, something which Lily was delighted about.
`That is indeed a bother to you, Lord Chamberly. When is this ball you are to be holding?'
`On Saturday evening, my lady, although,' he swiftly added, as her eyebrows shot up into her hair and her eyes widened in evident alarm. `There will be a house party in three weeks, during which time I will hold another ball.'
Lady Catherine smiled.
`That is perfect.'
She caught sight of Lily's curious expression, and looked hastily at her husband, who cleared his throat as if discontented with something and spoke.
`That will be fine, Edward.'
`Indeed, not to worry, Lord Chamberly. We shall make ourselves at home, and I am eager to see my grandson.'
`Ah, he is indeed a darling, and may I say madam, looks very much like you.'
Lily snorted with laughter, which she hastily turned into a sneeze. Dudley Dursley indeed resembled her mother, as they were both short, blonde, rotund and bad tempered. It caused Lily some satisfaction to know that her nephew suffered from colic, which resulted in his almost daily wailing fits.
Almost as if on cue, the sound of his crying filled the house.
`There's the little rascal now!' Chamberly exclaimed, his eye twitching with evident annoyance, which he tried to conceal with a smile.
`Oh, I must see my darling grandson, where would I be able to locate him?'
`Just follow the sound of his wailing!' her father remarked, to which Lady Catherine scowled.
`Pray, Lord Chamberly, where is my grandson located?'
`In the East wing.'
`Well, I shall leave my daughter to the care of you two gentlemen.'
After she had left, Lord Evans wandered around the room examining paintings and ornaments, and Chamberly began to talk to Lily, who answered him admirably, not a hint of her dislike showing in her voice. It was a hard feat to be sure, Chamber had a seedy, lecherous look in his eye, which made his intentions very clear, and combined with the cigar smell, turned her stomach.
`I do hope that you are not angry with me, Miss Lily, for I would have loved to stay.'
She smiled sweetly, an evil little idea popping into her head.
`That is quite alright, Lord Chamberly, although I must say,' here she lowered her head and peeped up at him with a saddened expression. `I was very much hoping that you would accompany me to the seaside. You see, I have never been before, and my girlish heart longs for it.'
`I am ever so sorry, Miss Lily, but perhaps, when I return-'
She sighed resignedly.
`Well, if I must wait, I must.'
She smiled again with a look of obvious discontent, and fluttered her eyelashes. It worked like a charm on Chamberly, who changed tack at once.
`I see no reason why you should wait for me to begin your explorations. Surely there is someone who could accompany you to the seaside. Your lady-in-waiting, perhaps?'
She beamed.
`Why, Lord Chamberly, you are most clever. What a capital idea! May I, father?'
Her father turned slowly from a painting he was currently looking at, and smiled indulgently at his favorite daughter.
`When would you like to go?'
`As soon as you will spare me!' she cried excitedly.
`If Miss Lily would like to go now, it would be most suitable. I was hoping to discuss the hospital matter with you this afternoon. Lord Wallis feels like you could shed some light on the solution, considering the success you have had with your own hospital.'
`It is agreed then. Lily, run along. Laura will accompany you to the seaside and I shall stay here with Edward.'
Lily jumped up and down in delight.
`Oh thank you father, and Lord Chamberly. What good, kind men you both are!'
She turned to leave, but her fathers' voice stopped her.
`Lily?'
`Yes?"
`May I remind you not to tell your mother of your doings?'
`Of course father.'
As soon as she left the room, she broke into a run, grinning madly.
`What a charming, beautiful girl,' said Chamberly, smiling with evident satisfaction.
Lord Evans merely nodded.
***
`Today, Laura, I am not Miss Lily Evans!' Lily cried, twirling around wildly on the golden sand and wriggling her toes in delight.
Laura Finnegan was an Irish girl of twenty two. Although she had been born in Ireland, her accent was of Manchester, as her parents had emigrated there when she was a baby to allow her oldest brother Patrick to attend Hogwarts. Since she was thirteen, however, she had only seen her family on a handful of occasions, preferring to stay away from wizards and earn her own living, as well as staying with Miss Lily, whom she loved dearly. She was a pretty, curvaceous girl with chestnut brown hair and eyes, which were wont to twinkle mischievously.
`Who are you today, miss?' she replied, settling herself on the sand and opening the picnic basket.
`I am merely Lily, a witch who is on a vacation with her dearest friend, where there are no parents to antagonize her or ugly middle-aged men to court her. I intend to fully enjoy and forget myself today. Let me do that.' she added, reaching out for the blanket, which she spread out onto the sand. She then began to take the many goodies out of the basket and lay them out whilst Laura organized the plates and cups.
When Laura and Lily were alone, they were not servant and mistress, but merely two girls of equal status. It was delightful in Laura's opinion, when she had first gone to serve the Evans family, she had been warned to expect snobbery and ill treatment, and instead got put in charge of Lily, who befriended her, and slipped extra money into her wages whenever she could manage it.
`If I could be so bold, can I say that Lord Chamberly is quite the handsome devil?' she remarked sarcastically, which sent Lily into shrieks of hysterical laughter.
`Indeed he is, if you find warthogs attractive.'
Laura squealed, and took a bite of lemon pie.
`I must admit, I am partial to warthogs. Oh look, an ice cream stand!'
Lily turned around to see that, indeed, there was an ice cream stand some fifty feet behind them.
`I have never eaten ice cream, is it nice?'
`Never? You have never eaten an ice cream?' Laura shook her head. `Oh miss, you haven't lived. I will buy you one, and you will find it a treat, to be sure.'
With that, Laura jumped up, always full of boundless energy, and scampered off, leaving Lily to sit on the blanket, munching on bread and sighing contentedly to herself.
It was a beautiful, sunny day, with only the smallest hint of light breeze which prevented the holidaymakers from becoming uncomfortably hot, and it was the kind of weather Lily preferred, being so pale, humidity bothered her. She glanced around at the other occupants of the beach. There were happy couples holding hands and picnicking, children making sandcastles, elderly people walking along the promenade, and far away from her, a group of boys throwing a large, red ball to one another at the shoreline.
Lily found herself concentrating on a little girl who was near her. The girl had red hair, like Lilys, but unlike Lilys, which was currently sitting in an uncomfortable bun; it was in two long plaits. She was evidently not of the same background as Lily, either, judging by her accent, mannerisms and dress, and she was giggling with delight as her father poured a bucket of water over her feet, which were sitting in a freshly dug hole. The little boy beside her shouted for his father to do the same, and frantically began to dig a hole for himself.
The girl caught sight of Lily and waved, and her heart swelled with envy.
`I've got the ice creams, miss,' said Laura, plopping down beside her again. `Now, try that, and if you tell me you don't like it, I shall know you're lying.'
Lily tried it, and indeed, it was the most delicious thing she had ever tasted. It was cold and creamy, and tasted of vanilla. She squealed when the first divine trickle slid down her throat, and exclaimed.
`It's heavenly!'
`I knew you would like it, miss!'
`Mmm.' was all that Lily could say in agreement, as she was currently attacking her ice cream in a very unladylike fashion.
`Oh papa, papa, look!' the little girl screamed, pointing at Lily and her ice cream. `Ice cream, can we have some?'
`Yes, can we have some ice cream, papa?' her brother agreed, jumping up and down feverishly, a lump of wet sand that had previously been on his feet flying off to hit his fathers leg.
The man with them mumbled embarrassedly about not having enough money, and on an impulse, Lily sprang up and held out her hand.
`If you would let me, sir, I was just going to buy myself another, and I would love to get one for each of your children.'
The man looked confusedly at her.
`I couldn't ask that of-'
But his children had already made their way over to Lily, and the little girl grabbed hold of her outstretched hand eagerly.
`Oh please papa!'
Lily smiled earnestly at him.
`I would love to, they are such nice children.'
After a bit more pleading, their father consented, so Lily and the two children set off on the short journey to the ice cream stand, leaving Laura to finish her ice cream.
The girl tugged at her hand.
`What is your name?'
`Lily.'
`That's pretty. We have lilies in our garden.'
`Do you?'
`Oh yes, and roses and apple blossoms and petunias and-'
`My sister is named Petunia.'
`Is she?' the girl asked, her freckled nose scrunched as she surveyed the ice cream stand greedily.
`She is.'
`I don't like Petunias,' the little girls remarked. `They are very dull. Lilies are nice, because there are so many different ones. I like the white ones best.'
`Calla lilies?'
She nodded.
`What is your name?' Lily asked, liking this girl more and more with each passing second.
`Emma,' she replied. `And this is Paul.'
The little boy walking alongside them waved quickly to acknowledge himself, and then blushed.
`They are very nice names. Do you live here in Brighton?'
`Yes, we do. Papa says that we are the luckiest family in the world because we live beside the seaside.'
Lily nodded, privately agreeing.
`Do you live here?' the inquisitive Emma asked.
Lily shook her head.
`No, but I soon will, I think.'
`Oh, please do live here. You are so nice, I would love to talk to you everyday, and we could make sandcastles. Can you make sandcastles?'
`Why, no I can't.'
`Oh, I must teach you to make a sandcastle. Say you'll live here, oh do, please do!'
Lily found she couldn't answer. She didn't know how to tell this vibrant child that even if she did live here, she would probably not have the chance to see her again. She somehow couldn't imagine Lord Chamberly permitting her to build sandcastles with underprivileged (underprivileged being how her mother would describe them) little girls, so instead she chose to point out the ice cream stand.
`Shall I get the biggest ice creams possible?'
`Yes, yes!' the two children shouted simultaneously.
Emma let go of her hand and ran to the ice cream stand, so excited that she almost knocked over one of the boys from the shorefront, and didn't even notice. Shooting an apologetic smile at the boy, Lily, giggling madly, and Paul, who was still blushing, followed her at a run. They found her pointing at the inviting looking picture on the ice cream stand and demanding that the owner make her one bigger. The owner, a plump, jolly looking old man with a nose so sunburned that all the skin had peeled off, shot Lily a questioning glance as she reached them. She panted, holding on to her side, and tried to recover her breath.
`Three of your biggest, oh, pardon me,' she finished, as the boy who had almost been knocked over had reached the stand at the same time, and had simultaneously opened his mouth to order.
`We want three really big ice creams!' Emma cried.
The boy raised his eyebrows.
`She seems to be a bit over-excitable,' Lily told him by way of an explanation.
He laughed pleasantly, and nodded towards Emma.
`Not unlike her sister? You seem a tad out of breath.'
`Oh, this girl is not my sister.'
How Lily wished she was.
The boy nodded politely, and started rummaging in his pockets for money. They lapsed into silence for a few moments, all watching Emma dance in glee as the ice cream man made her a cone.
`Are you sad?' Paul asked Lily, pulling at her skirt.
`Sorry?'
`You look sad,' he continued, evidently embarrassed.
`Oh.' she replied lamely. `Oh, well, no. I'm having a lovely time.'
`I'm sorry if I made you upset with me, I didn't mean to,' he continued, clearly, he thought he had offended her.
`No, no, of course you didn't.'
He still looked apprehensive.
`Are you still going to get me a big ice cream?'
`Yes!' she managed to giggle out, and noticed that the boy was watching her out of the corner of his eye.
`Remus, what can I do for you?" the ice cream man asked the boy. `The usual I presume?'
`Of course, and I'll pay for these three.'
He paid the man for Lilys' ice creams and grinned at her, whilst taking four delicious looking cones from the man's outstretched hands.
`That is a `welcome to Brighton' present,' said the boy now addressable as Remus.
`What lead you to assume that I am new? I may not need welcoming.'
He nodded wisely.
`I have a way of telling. Nice meeting you. Goodbye Horace.' he finished as, giving her a short bow first, he turned away.
`Tell Potter that I'll be wanting a word with him!' the ice cream man, or Horace, apparently, shouted genially after him. `He still owes me for that broken window!'
He smiled at Lily.
`He's a good fellow, that one. What'll your name be?'
***
`Hark who returns!' Sirius shouted merrily and dropping the Quaffle he was holding.
James turned to greet Remus, who was walking quite carefully across the sand for fear he would drop the four precariously held ice creams.
`We had almost given you up for lost.'
`Sorry, I got attacked by a little girl.'
`Peter attacked you?" Sirius questioned, taking his ice cream (and James noted that Sirius made sure to grab the biggest one) from Remus' outstretched hand, which was gradually becoming more and more sticky from the melting treat.
`Oh, very funny, I must say,' remarked Peter grumpily. `Must I forever be known as a girl just because of one silly incident in third year?"
`Ah, the good old days.' said James.
`If you hadn't cried so very loudly, Wormtail-'
`I know, I know.' Peter answered hastily. `Can I please have my ice cream now?"
`Did my eyes deceive me, Remus my friend,' James began chidingly through his ice cream stuffed mouth. `I believe I saw you conversing with a young lady.'
`Really?' Sirius carried on, having evidently rehearsed this.
`Yes, really.' James finished with a raised eyebrow.
`Who is she?' Peter questioned.
`I don't know. Most likely an aristocrat, she was dressed for it, although she was with two rather ragged looking children.' he shrugged nonchalantly. `She seemed pleasant enough.'
`Is she pretty, Remus my friend?' Sirius carried on. `We couldn't make her out properly from here.'
`Is our favorite werewolf thinking of satiating his own primal urges, hmm?' said James.
`Hush!' Remus hissed. `People might hear you.'
`Sorry mate, I forgot. Remember the rule, Padfoot? When we are in a public area, with non magical folk, or as they are more commonly known, muggles, abound, there is no magical activity, or discussion of, permitted.'
Would I do such a thing?'
`Of course not. Would I?'
`Never Prongs, never.'
James grinned, and then shouted at the top of his lungs.
`Has anybody seen a Snitch?'
`James!' Remus cried.
`We were trying to play Quidditch, you see.' James continued, still shouting.
`James Potter! Remus tried again.
`But, it's rather difficult without broomsticks, so we-`
Remus was now hissing for James to be quiet and flapping his hands rather absurdly.
`Moony, old chum, you really shouldn't draw attention to yourself like that.' Sirius remarked offhandedly, while James ceased his racket.
`Really Moony, someone might have gotten suspicious.'
He sat down on the sand.
`So, the girl, was she pretty?'
Sirius smirked.
`James must really be eager to find a muggle to marry. Is that it Prongs, hoping for Moony to turn matchmaker?'
`Padfoot, we are supposed to be teasing Remus, you can't switch sides.'
`I think you will find that I just did.'
James made a face, and threw a handful of sand at Sirius.
`You menace, you've befouled my ice cream!' Sirius exclaimed.
`You deserved it.'
***
`I reckon miss, that it's time we were leaving.'
Lily groaned, torn between getting up and burying herself in the sand and refusing to move. The latter sounded more inviting, but she didn't fancy her mothers reaction when Laura told her that her daughter had decided to spend the night out on the beach. Sighing, she stood up slowly, dusted herself off, and began packing away the soiled plates.
Her afternoon had passed most enjoyably. She and Laura had spent the day building sandcastles with Emma, Paul and their father, and they had eventually decided to have a competition. Lily, Laura and Emma soon beat out Paul and his father by building a magnificent castle, complete with a realistic looking moat, realistic because Emma had insisted upon running back and forward to the shore with two buckets to refill it. Eventually taking pity on the child, Lily had muttered a charm when their backs were turned, ensuring that the most stayed full. She had gotten a scolding from Laura, but she didn't care. She was having too much fun to feel guilty. Emma and her family, however, had left about a half hour ago, as had the ice cream man and the boys from the shore, although Lily hadn't seen them leave.
`We had a nice day, didn't we miss?'
She nodded.
`It's not a long walk back to the manor, and we can get some lemonade on the way back.'
Laura gathered the rest of the leftovers into the basket and stood up.
`Are you coming miss?'
Lily shrugged her shoulders and gestured to Laura to walk.
`I am, I will just be a moment. I want to enjoy this view, alone, for a minute,' she sighed. `I almost feel as if I will never see it again.
Laura walked on, leaving Lily to her thoughts.
Today had been more perfect than Lily could have hoped for. Everything, from the weather to the people, seemed to jump right out of a dream and in front of her rapt eyes. The cheerful informality of Emma and Paul, their wise father and his funny stories, the merry chat she had had with Horace the ice cream man, who had promised her a free ice cream the next time she came just because she was `pretty as a picture', and even her and Laura's sarcastic comments about some of the people on the beach, was so different to what she was used to, but it seemed so... natural. She belonged here, with these people, in this town, and not in some stiff, upper class hellhole with a smarmy, sniveling...
She was jolted back into reality by a sharp pain in her forehead. Something had flown out of nowhere and hit her right between the eyes. She saw a flurry of something fluttering before she instinctively reached up to hold her palm to her forehead, and jumped as her fingers came into contact with something strange and solid. At first, she thought it was a bump, a theory that was discarded as soon as she closed her hand around it.
She brought her hand to eye level, opened her fingers, and let out a scream of surprise.
It was a Snitch.
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