“Now where exactly are we going?” Lily asked SamLin, sitting on the spare bed and twirling her hair.
SamLin zipped her suitcase, sticking her wand in her back pocket. “It’ll just be a little vacation through England. Maybe even stop in Scotland. Who knows?” SamLin slipped a book, Sense and Sensibility (recommended as per Katie, of course), into her suitcase’s front pouch.
Lily sat in silence, contemplating this.
“We’ll be back in time for Diagon Alley shopping, of course,” SamLin assured her. “I just wanted a friend to come along and keep me sane.”
Lily reached over and put her hand on SamLin’s shoulder, smiling. “Don’t worry. I will.”
*
The trip was actually turning out to be quite the experience. Apart from the minor disaster when they all Apparated to Brighton and got completely lost, they had smoothly gone from London and were on the way to Nottinghamshire. The Andersons apparently had an old friend somewhere there, so they were taking the Floo connection.
“Remember,” Mrs. Anderson said, handing Lily the pot as she stood in the fireplace, “to say the name clearly. We’ll arrive at the tavern, and my friend will meet us there. Then we’ll go.”
“Mmhm...” Lily hummed, picking at the unraveling end of her skirt.
“We know, mum,” SamLin said, biting her pinky nail. “Just go.”
Mrs. Anderson sighed. “Fine.” She stepped into the fireplace, grasping her powder.
“See you,” she said, waving her hand slightly.
“We will,” SamLin replied.
“The Rose and Crown!” she yelled, letting go of the Floo and disappearing in a puff of green smoke.
Lily rubbed her eyes; she was quite tired. She took a little bit of Floo powder and stepped into the fireplace, feeling silly. It was just something she could never get used to.
“Well.” Lily looked at her hands. “See you, too, SamLin.”
SamLin nodded, but suddenly she looked up. She had the look as if she just remembered something. “Oh! Wait, Lily!”
“I haven’t gone anywhere, Sammie.” Lily crossed her arms.
“Oh. Okay.” SamLin sighed. “Anyway, did you hear about James Potter?”
“James Potter?!” Lily was shocked that SamLin dared to bring up that...subject in front of her. Her friend knew she’d been a basket case ever since the arrival of the letter.
Angrily, Lily quickly let go of her Floo powder, not realizing it. “James Potter?!” she sputtered.
SamLin gasped, understanding what was wrong. “Lily! LILY!”
Yet Lily was gone, already engulfed by green flames.
*
Coughing, Lily dared to open her eyes. There had been a sudden swirling of ashes that covered her mouth and burned her eyes. She couldn’t breathe out of her nose. And even worse, she had no earthly idea where she was.
Lily refused to stand up. She let her legs lay there, uselessly, and wiped her face. Taking a huge breath, she examined her surroundings a little more closely.
It looked as if she was in a room. It definitely wasn’t a tavern, though. There was a bed, sure, and windows, a desk, and “ of course “ a fireplace, but it wasn’t right. The floor was covered with stuff. There was no other word for it. Clothes, magazines, newspapers, crumpled parchment, books, socks, and jars of food surrounded her. The room also had the feeling of being lived in, like permanently.
She yawned, feeling her throat stretch and the wide-awake sensation coming onto her. What was she supposed to do now? She didn’t exactly mind just sitting here and not being on the road for once, but what about the Andersons?
“Bloody hell. I’ve got to clean this room.”
Footsteps. Lily’s breathing abruptly stopped.
They were getting closer.
Oh. Damn.
It was him.
Quietly and quickly, she tried to fold her legs into the fireplace, praying that the nitwit wouldn’t notice them. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to give it some life. Lily even wiped off her face more.
“God. Merlin. What the heck am I doing?” she whispered frantically.
“Evans?”
Lily’s hands dropped off her face, but she wished that they were back on. Anything to hide the deep shame coming onto her face in the form of a deep blush.
“Oh, Merlin. Evans? Evans, what in Merlin’s name are you doing here? In my room?” he asked her, incredulous.
Him. James Potter. Oh, no.
This was perfect. Absolutely freaking perfect.
It occurred to Lily that she seemed like a stalker.
“It’s “ it’s not, no...” She let her sentence trail off; it was better than finishing and sounding like a blundering idiot.
Instead, she started crying. She let out big heavy sobs, wondering why she got herself into these situations. Lily Evans, the stalker and illiterate witch.
“Merlin... Don’t cry, Evans!” James Potter looked worried. He crouched down and put a hand to her sooty face. As she stared into his eyes behind his glasses, Lily couldn’t help but feel that everything about that singular moment was so intimate and touching.
“Why are you here?” he asked so tenderly, it was kind of hard to believe he was that person. That person who completely messed up her life.
She gasped, trying to work out an answer. She gulped and squeezed her eyes shut.
“I have to find the Andersons.”
*
It had taken a long bubble bath, two cups of tea with sugar and honey, a short nap, and a lot of soothing from Mrs. Potter to get Lily to look and feel normal again.
She had told her story, and Mr. Potter had immediately headed out the door. Lily had been quite surprised that Mr. Potter hadn’t raised another commotion at her being here, but she figured they thought it was unavoidable. Lily Evans always ended up in Derbyshire and at the Potter’s Mansion.
So she was informed that SamLin and the rest of the Andersons were actually heading over here right now, in Mr. Potter’s car. Actually, they would be here in ten minutes.
That meant Lily had ten minutes to kill. So she went exploring.
James Potter had seemed to disappear, which meant Lily didn’t really have to worry about him cornering her. She didn’t want to face him until she knew what to say.
Down two halls, into a room that led to another, and finally Lily found herself in yet another parlor. Sunlight was pouring through the windows. Lily brushed aside the curtains, and looked outside. It was such a clear day and out there a gigantic fountain spewing water. Lily wanted to go outside so badly, but she didn’t want to worry Mrs. Potter.
Suddenly, she heard a sound. It was quiet, but very distinct. Lily’s ears perked up, listening to the sound. It sounded like a piano. It was a piano, actually.
Lily followed her instincts and the source of the beautiful sound. She opened yet another door, and heard the music coming from an ajar door across the room. She walked toward the door and peered through it. Did House Elves play piano?
All Lily could see was the back of a girl with pale blonde hair that was perfectly straight and shiny. She was playing something very complicated, and Lily strained to listen, since the sound was so delicate and soft.
Then she realized it. It was the own tune that seemed to play over and over in her head. How creepy was that? It was “Where Is Love” from the play Oliver! that Lily loved. She remembered when her father used to hum it, and he promised he would take her to a Muggle theater to see the musical. She could feel big, fat tears rolling down from her eyes. She thought the words silently in her head.
Where is love?
Does it fall from skies above?
Is it underneath the willow tree
That I've been dreaming of?
Where is she?
Who I close my eyes to see?
Will I ever know the sweet "hello"
That's only meant for me?
Who can say where she may hide?
Must I travel far and wide?
'Til I am beside the someone who
I can mean something to...
Where...?
Where is love?
Every night I kneel and pray
Let tomorrow be the day
'Til I am beside...the someone who
I can mean...something to...
Where?
Where is love?
Lily stifled a sob. Where was her love? She could remember vaguely how at the beginning of fifth year she felt so secure and so, so sure of everything. Now everything was gone.
The blonde girl continued playing, obviously immersed in her music. Lily continued watching in awe until someone else appeared in the room. His back was to her, but Lily instantly knew it was James Potter. She swallowed her gasp of shock.
Then, the girl immediately stopped playing. She made a sound of exclamation, and then hugged James Potter. Was she out of her mind? James hugged her back, and twirled her around the room.
Lily stood up and peered in more closely. Then she stopped. Both James and the girl were looking at her. They had seen her. Lily wanted to die in shame.
So she ran.
Her heart pounded in her ears as she ran faster, as her shoes flopped and smacked against the hardwood floor. As she ran out the door into the green, green grass and past the gigantic fountain. As she ran with all her might along the gravel path and towards the willow trees. As she ran until the stone stairs, stopping abruptly as James Potter yelled “Lily!” and grabbed her shoulders.
So she had stopped, staring at James’ face and him staring back at her.
“I “” Lily started, but stopped.
“I didn’t know the house was open, and “”
“It’s okay Lily, you don’t have to worry about being “”
They both stopped, realizing they had been talking over one another. There was a brief awkward silence.
“I’m with SamLin’s parents on vacation,” Lily supplied lamely. James nodded.
“Are you having a nice trip?”
“Very nice,” Lily said distantly. Their whole conversation seemed staged, every line thought out before said. There was also a suppressed feeling in the air that both of them seemed to want to let go.
Hastily, she added, “Tomorrow we’re going to Warwickshire. And then to Kent.”
“Tomorrow?” James asked too quickly. He shifted, realizing his mistake.
Lily nodded.
“So you’re staying here in Derbyshire?”
“Yeah.” Lily wrung her hands. “At the Rose and Crown.”
“Lily!” Both James and Lily whirled around. “The Andersons are here to bring you back!”
“Thank you!” Lily called to Mrs. Potter.
“Do you want me to walk you to the front?” James asked curiously.
“No,” Lily replied, then instantly regretting it. “Actually,” she said slowly, “I could use the company.”
James smiled.
*
Lily was just on her way to meet the Andersons at their table, but something made her stop. It was the backs of James Potter, Mrs. Potter, and Mr. Potter. Not wanting to approach them, Lily found an alcove with a tapestry in front of it and hid behind it.
She peeked from behind it occasionally, checking whether they were gone yet. Nope. She shifted uncomfortably, trying to count down the seconds.
Wait...were they sitting down? Yes, they were sitting down. Oh, Merlin. She’d have to wait behind here forever. But that food looked so good to her, and she was starving. Lily sighed, slowly pushing aside the tapestry and walking out. She brushed off the dust on her shirt, and headed towards the table.
“So, would you like coming over tomorrow?” Mrs. Potter was asking Mrs. Anderson.
Lily froze.
“It would be lovely. Would we be intruding?”
“No, not at all,” Mr. Potter chimed in.
Mrs. Anderson and Mr. Anderson turned towards SamLin. “You wouldn’t mind delaying our journey, would you?”
SamLin shook her head. No, SamLin! “I don’t think Lily would mind either.” Me? Mind? Oh, I’m going to wring your little neck, S “
Lily ran off back to the security of the alcove and the tapestry she could hide behind.
Is it Pride or Prejudice? by Stormbringer
Chapter Notes: