| -=Beyond Hogwarts; Chapter Fifteen=- |
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| Her mouth froze in the position of exclaiming in delight, and it curved into a smile. A small kitten, barely bigger than her two fists, was batting around the ribbons that tied the dressing gown together at her chest. Its eyes were still blue; its fur was pale grey, with white gloves, boots, and neckerchief. “Severus, she’s charming! Where on earth—“ “There were some people trying to get rid of them, and I thought I’d better rescue this one before they drowned it. You like it?” She didn’t answer directly, but his question received one as he saw the kitten cuddle against Lily, take a few strands of red hair into its mouth, and its mistress coo softly to it. He grinned, sitting down in an armchair and taking a plate of eggs and bacon from the table that had been brought out. “What’s her name, then?” Lily tilted her head to one side, and, curious, the kitten imitated the movement. “Sara?” The kitten merely blinked. “Camille?” It didn’t move. “Pâquette?" “You’ll end up calling her ‘Ketta’,” Severus warned. “Thora?” “I am Thor, god of thunder; clean up my rainwater puddle on the kitchen floor,” Severus said dryly. Lily laughed. “Vera?” This time, the kitten rolled over and started playing with the ribbons again. Severus frowned. “Why Vera?” Mischievously, Lily grinned. “She’s named after you.” “Me?” Severus grimaced. “Why me?” She ignored that and handed the kitten the spoon from the marmalade jar, which it began licking curiously. “Severus, when James and I get each other killed, take Vera for me, will you?” Severus started. “Get—Lily, what on earth are you talking about?” She shrugged. “Look at what happened about a week ago. I’ll get myself killed before I’m thirty.” Instead of responding with an “Of course you’re not!”, Severus had retreated into his shell again. “Lily?” “Hmm?” “I—I’ve got something to tell you.” She frowned. Detaching the spoon from the kitten’s grasp, she put a hand on his sleeve. “What?” He was finding this hard to say, and it took some time, but she had patience. “You remember—the night you were thrown?” Lily flushed. “I don’t usually get thrown!—the horse didn’t see the ditch, that’s all.” “Well—you remember the fire, right?” She nodded slowly. “Ye-es. And the Death Eater mark.” Severus frowned. “How’d you know that was what it was?” Lily smiled weakly. “Severus, dear, I came up with it.” “Oh.” Disconcerted, he paused for a second. “I didn’t know.” “There are lots of things about me you don’t know, Severus, and some of those are better kept to myself,” she lectured. “Vera, let go!” as the kitten started chewing on a piece of toast. “I just thought I’d tell you that that had been a Death Eater meeting,” Severus explained, “and so you’d know that they’re not really above anything else…” She frowned. “Severus, you’re not telling me something. He sighed, twisting his cloak around a finger. “Ye…s. I—I don’t know—I’m starting to wish more than ever I hadn’t joined Lord Voldemort. I keep thinking…what if he orders me to kill you—“ Business-like, Lily set the kitten on the floor and handed him the coffeepot. “Severus, I’ve told you, you’d better stop worrying. Besides, he’d kill you if you tried to back out.” “I know,” Severus groaned. “That was one of the stupidest things I ever did.” She looked down, her cheeks faintly red. She hadn’t forgotten he’d joined because of her… “I’m sorry. If there was one thing I could do over, I’d have told you I had renounced him.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “It’s okay—I’ll be all right. Don’t think about it. It wasn’t your fault.” Lily knew better, but she kept her mouth shut. He was miserable enough already; no use dragging on conversation about it. That evening, when James came home and banged the door loudly, bolted upstairs, and, with immesurable pride, carried in one hand a letter from Mr. Merriwether, Lily was back in the bed, playing with Vera, who had entangled herself in the covers. She was much more vibrant than she had been—the doctor had permitted her to leave the everlasting armchair and bed, though he had recommended bed rest till dinner. When James opened the door with a flourish, the kitten was completely out of sight from his point of view, though Severus, who was sitting in a chair nearby, was having difficulty controlling his laughter at the faces the kitten was making. Full of energy and drunk on fresh air, James let his briefcase fall to the floor, boyishly rushed towards his wife, let his fists fall on either side of her, and rather unboyishly kissed her hello. Nose wrinkled in what looked like disgust, Severus watched them, a buzzing in his head threatening towards something he preferred not to give a name to. He couldn’t get away from it; he envied his host his luck; just the knowledge that he could draw the present roseish color into Lily’s cheeks would have been enough for Severus; enough to last him the rest of his lifetime. James pulled apart and pulled himself onto the foot of the bed, nodding affably to Severus. “So? What’s happened today I missed?” Lily grinned mischievously. “You’ll never guess.” James raised his eyebrows. “I won’t? Tell, then!” With a sideways glance at Severus, Lily half-yelped as Vera crawled onto her stomach and sank its claws through her nightgown. “I’ve got a baby.” James let out a full yelp as he heard that. “What?” “You’re not happy?” she asked, her voice full of sarcastic hurt. “N-no—I am—you just surprised me, that’s all!” His eyes lit up. “Say, when’s it due?” She shrugged, ignoring the question. “Severus gave her to me.” “What?” James practically bellowed. “Snape—“ “Would you like to see her,” Lily asked innocently, ignoring Severus, who was both trying not to blush and trying not to laugh. “Lily!” James was still boiling. “What on earth—“ Reaching underneath the blanket, Lily deftly detached Vera’s claws from her stomach and pulled the sleepy furball out, handing her playfully to her husband. “I’ve named her Vera. Kiss her, Father!” she laughed impishly. Severus thought to himself that he’d never seen a more eloquent expression of relief on anyone’s face. “Merlin’s beard, Lily,” James breathed, “you had me scared!” “Kiss her, I said,” Lily demanded imperiously; “or don’t you love your baby?” James sighed, lifted the kitten up to eye level, and questionably tried to kiss her on her head. It backfired badly. Vera, feeling threatened, clawed severely at his chin, and within seconds, James was handing her back to Lily, rubbing blood off of his lip. “Baby doesn’t like me, I assume,” he grinned. “Don’t ever scare me like that again.” He fell sideways onto the bed. “Phew!” He sat back up as if pulled quickly by a string, though, as he smelled something vaguely resembling dinner; the smell of the kitchen was slowly drifting upstairs. “By the way, Sirius is coming over for dinner—he’s bringing Peter, too. Remus—er—can’t, for private reasons of his own—“ he shot a meaningful glance at Severus—“and I was wondering if you can come downstairs yet.” Expectant, his eyes latched upon his wife. She smiled. “I’m heaps better now—Dr. Nicholsen’s a genius. I’ve only got to keep off of horses for three weeks—“ here she wrinkled her nose— “but other than that, I’ll be downstairs for dinner.” James kissed her again. “That’s wonderful!—oh! I nearly forgot! I’ll be downstairs, then.” Rushing out of the room, the two inside heard a noise sounding very much like someone sliding down a banister, leaving the bedroom definitely refreshed with vitality. Severus sighed. “Whatever his millions of other failings, you can’t say he’s lifeless.” Lily smiled as she handed Vera to Severus. “Take her; please. I intend to get dressed, and I feel she’ll be more than a distraction. Severus smiled at her as he stood up, walking towards the door. “Anything you need?” “Nope,” she sighed, pushing the covers back and stepping out of bed. “I’ll be fine. But for Heaven’s sake, don’t send Slenka up to help me dress. Last time she did, I ended up in something reminding me strongly of a ball-dress to go to Diagon Alley.” Severus laughed, quietly closing the door. She heard his footsteps retreat as she swung open the door to her closet, reveling in the luxury of being able to wear something but her nightgown, dressing gown, and a layer of blankets. Suddenly, thundering bangs were heard outside her bedroom, and James stormed in with something wrapped in blue tissue under his arm. “You are lucky,” Lily glared, “that I’d only just walked over here.” “Sorry,” he apologized quickly. “Didn’t think.” He held out his package to her. “This is for tonight.” She slipped a layer of paper aside and saw something glittering against darkness. “James?” He grinned. “Put it on. I think it’ll fit.” Lily eyed him suspiciously. “What are you up to?” “Who, me?” The innocent look faded just as he slammed the door behind him, and in good time, too; she’d have had it out of him in another second or two. Running downstairs, he almost crashed into Sirius in the entrance hall, and both of them almost fell backwards. “Sirius, mate, sorry about that! Help me set the table, will you? Slenka’s busy in the kitchen.” In her room, Lily was apprehensively unwrapping the tissue from what turned out to be a dress. Holding it up so she could look at it, she sighed. James had a torture wish. Slenka did end up helping her with her hair; though it was the elf’s own doing, not Severus’. Sighing, Lily submitted to small, spindly fingers running through her hair and shaping it into forms she couldn’t recognize yet. The house-elf seemed to have made it her purpose in life to make Lily look like a queen every time she went out of her bedroom, Lily thought dryly. When Slenka had finished, her hair was in two French braids, starting with three strands and ending with eleven; the long ends of the braids were wound into a large knot at the back of her head, and a jeweled dragonfly was pinned in the mass of braid. Silver roses glittering with white zircons were fastened into the braids, all up and down her hair. The gown itself was midnight blue, attaching turtle-neck like around her throat. There wasn’t a back to the dress; at least, not what she defined as a back. Thin strands of braided silk crisscrossed her back, covered in glittering stones set closely together. The skirt hung long and elegantly, covering a pair of blue slippers. A silver belt fastened in the front, set with dark blue jewels and diamonds. Her sleeves were long, hanging to her knees, but clasped just above the elbow and at the wrist with silver bands. “Slenka,” she growled, her face and voice contrasting sharply with the dress and her hair, “I told you—“ “Master wished it, miss!” Slenka squeaked hurriedly before scurrying out of the bedroom. James entered before the door had a chance to close, and his mouth widened to a grin. “Lily, you look good!” “I look indecent,” she snapped. “You do not!” he said, defending his choice of clothing. “You look beautiful.” “I feel half-clothed.” “Which is exactly the most charming thing about that dress,” he grinned. Taking her arm, he steered her towards the door. “Oh, come on, don’t be such a spoilsport. Eva’s got something horrendously important to tell you.” Giving in, she let him escort her downstairs, where she was immediately taken aback by the number of chandeliers that had been placed all around the entrance hall. Still, she didn’t have much time to notice much else, for a scarlet-clad Lora had hurtled over to her. “Lily! You’re up!” She made as if to hug her friend, then stopped. “Will that hurt?” “Most likely,” Lily said understatedly. “You may shake my hand.” Eva rushed over, cheeks red, blonde hair twisted into a knot, and a long, green dress looped over her arm. “Lily! Heavens, you’re all right!” “Of course I’m all right,” Lily grinned. “I’m invincible.” Eva and Lora laughed; Lora overdoing it a bit. Catching Lily’s arm, the smile on Eva’s face widened. “Lily, you’ll never guess!” “I probably won’t. I don’t even know what’s going on.” Her friend giggled. “Frank finally asked me!” Lily’s attention was caught. “What? He did? I thought—“ “Yes—he’s finally got a well-paying job, and we’re getting married in a month and a half.” She showed Lily her left hand. “Isn’t it pretty?” It was just the kind of ring she’d expected Eva to get; traditionally gold, with three small diamonds set in the middle. “It’s beautiful,” Lily smiled, hugging her. “I expect, then, that James volunteered our house?” Eva grinned. “How ever did you guess? I’ll be dragging you around to meet my parents again, as well as lots of their friends.” Lily mock-groaned. “I wish I weren’t the hostess!” “Speaking of hostess,” Eva said, eyeing her dress appreciatively, “James has good taste.” “Indecent,” Lily mumbled just before her face cleared up into a sweet smile for Eva’s mother, who had just drifted over. It was supposed to be a formal party so people could get reacquainted with the soon-to-be bride and groom, but the formal part was abandoned quickly. Lily started it by taking off her shoes, energetically threatening to kill James if he ever presumed he was permitted to by shoes for her again, as he seemed to think she’d had her feet bound at birth. Then Lora caught on by accidentally catching her hair in her bracelet and giving up on the untangling part, so her hair came down. Sirius approved wholeheartedly and shed the grey robes he was wearing over a black shirt and pair of pants, and from there on, the only person keeping her dignity was Eva’s elderly grandmother, who disapproved highly of Frank anyway, so it would really have been impossible to please her. She had declared she couldn’t stand the house till she found out it didn’t belong to Eva, and now she couldn’t stop oohing over the stained glass. James, on announcing the engagement formally, pushed in the fact about Lily fully recovering, and from then on, Lily’s hand was shaken just about as often as Eva’s and Frank’s. She made a rather large deal about protesting to her husband that her hand had no more bones in it on account of his speech, but he only said “Yes, yes” vaguely while biting into a macaroon. It was the macaroon’s fault, of course, Sirius explained. One shouldn’t try to talk to males while they’re biting into anything that tastes vaguely good. Lily found Severus sitting in a corner, twisting the wire stem of a rose that had fallen out of her hair, stroking Vera softly and slouching badly, with a frown fixed on his features. “Severus, come on—it’s no fun without you!” she laughed, touching his wrist. He flinched when she touched him, and her laughter quieted. Kneeling down beside him, she brushed the hair out of his eyes. “What’s wrong?” Severus crumpled the rose quickly. “Nothing.” Lily looked down at her knees—and just then, Sirius interrupted, bearing three large tumblers of le citron pressè that had resulted from a stack of plates falling on a large crate of peeled lemons. “The citron press, madame and monsieur, the citron press, freshly inked and delivered straight to your front door. Take one; the lady: merely five Galleons. The proceeds go to the house.” Lily half-smiled as she took two of the glasses from him and handed one to her companion. “Severus?” He reached for it and accidentally knocked it out of her hand, shattering the goblet. Sirius snorted, Summoning a large, red-and-white checkered dishcloth that could be used as a tent, and with a clearly audible “Slytherins!”, went off to dispose of the shards and sopping cloth. “Severus, just join in; they only don’t like you because they don’t know you,” Lily murmured softly. “Don’t mind Sirius; he likes acting stupid.” “I think I’ve beaten him when it comes to stupidity,” Severus grinned sadly. “Lily, go have fun with your friends.” Imperiously, she pulled him up out of his chair with a swift jerk, making her kitten jump to the floor in surprise. “Oh, no. This is my get-well party as well as Eva’s engagement one, as James was so kind as to inform the crowd. You’re not moping around like another Eeyore; not in my house, you’re not. Go on.” She pushed him towards Grandmother Doylen. “Say hello to her; she’s Eva’s grandmother. She’ll be delighted to meet someone that still has his shoes on his feet and his feet off of furniture. And don’t slouch; she hates that.” Lily smiled to herself as she saw the old lady’s face grow pleased as she and Severus began to talk. Although the patriotic ex-Gryffindors still held a grudge against him, this lady was impressed by the boy’s quiet manners and aloof bearing, and she softened immediately. James pulled on her sleeve, detracting her attention from Severus and Eva’s grandmother. “The old witch unbent?” Lily smiled. “Severus has many hidden talents.” He rested his chin on her shoulder, and she kissed him gently. “As do you, though yours require much less persuasion to be put in use.” He grinned. “You flatter me. Not that I mind.” Resting his arm around her waist, he scanned the pair in front of them curiously. “You know, if it wasn’t me talking, I’d say he’s actually pretty nice.” “Well, why don’t you say it?” James tugged gently at the silver belt. “Because I’ve got problems with hosting a Death Eater in my house.” Lily looked down sharply; Vera had been trying to get her attention by clawing her feet. Laughing, she lifted the kitten up to face James.” “Severus is about as harmless as your baby is, dear.” “Yeah,” James said, running his tongue over the scratch on his lip. “My point exactly.” The morning of Eva’s wedding, people were scurrying to and fro, trying to ready things in the house Frank had bought. The way the wedding arrangement went was like this: Frank and Eva had to buy and run the household by themselves, but after a year, Mr. and Mrs. Doylen were endorsing them with what they called a dowry but really was something like a fortune—they were being a bit overprotective and making sure the marriage worked for at least a year, but Eva didn’t seem to mind. They weren’t going on a honeymoon till their one-year anniversary, so Lily, Lora, Amanda, Vanessa, Eva’s mother, and her maternal grandmother had been busy for the month and a half between the party and the wedding day picking out curtains, setting out soap dishes with differently colored soap to match the walls, crocheting doilies, tablecloths, throws, and blankets (Eva’s grandmother and her friends), buying trinkets like a silver filigree vase for the dining room or a picture of a ship against a sunrise, to be hung in the living room. Eva’s mother was generously giving her their Floo powder dish, for Eva hated Apparating. It was a sugar-bowl sized golden dish, with a cut ruby in the center and gold molding around the stone. Joking, Eva said that if anyone ever tried to break into their house, the only thing really worth stealing would be that dish, and that he wouldn’t have to bother with looking for jewelry or money. It was to be a traditional church wedding, and Eva had picked out her own dress; it was white, with long sleeves, a full gown, and a long, white sash. She wore a corsage of pale yellow roses on her left wrist, and the wreath that kept her veil in place was made of both pink and white roses. Lily and Vanessa were decorating the church, and, since Eva and Frank couldn’t afford eight thousand long-stemmed yellow, pink, and white roses to match the bride’s flowers and wouldn’t accept money from anyone else, they had raided several parks, Lily’s grounds, Eva’s parents’ garden, and the magical florists (they carried all flowers out of season) for almost-wilted flowers. In the end, they had at least a dozen vases full of pansies, forsythia, several roses, cannas, tiger liles, drooping orchids, daffodils, tulips, lilies-of-the-valley, bluebells, crocuses, climbing honeysuckle, and clementine, and it was a good thing the church was relatively large, for the flowers would overpower the people if it had been a small village chapel. The church was only a few blocks away from Eva and Frank’s new home, which was where she was dressing, and, since she couldn’t stand Apparating and refused to ruin her dress with soot, she and her entourage walked to the chapel, Lora carrying her train, looping it out of the dust, and Amanda carrying her veil. When the first note of the organ sounded, the church was filled with beautiful sprays of flowers, vases, and white sashes hanging from the walls; the pews were packed with both Hogwarts students and family. Frank, almost bursting his dark blue robes with pride, stood next to Remus, his best man, as the smallest bridesmaid started bouncing down the aisle; Frank’s smallest cousin, with dark hair, large, blue eyes, and a large smile. Vanessa and Amanda followed the child, all three dressed in pale pink gowns with yellow roses looped in their skirts and on their wrists—the one aspect of the wedding that Lily and James had insisted upon financing were the dresses, though Frank had remained stubborn on paying for Eva’s. Eva had chosen Lily as maid of honor, and she followed Vanessa down the aisle, eyes sparkling, as she saw Frank’s happy grin. She wore a pale yellow dress with pink roses fastened to it; Eva had picked out the colors, and Lily admitted she had pretty taste in colors. Then the bride stepped into the aisle, the white dress and veil resplendent in light as she stepped towards Frank, and the smile on her face visible clearly through the veil. She looked prettier than she ever had before, and it wasn’t on account of the dress; it was the delighted glitter in her eye and the excitement-flushed cheeks. She took Frank’s hand when she reached him and the priest started reading the wedding ceremony, but Lily, as she had done at her own wedding, barely heard the man; she was fascinated with the happy smiles on her friends’ faces and the light shining on them. Her eyes flashed over to James, who was grinning at Frank and Remus, as were Sirius and Peter. They sat in the second row, with a clear view of the wedding party. Peter was fiddling absently with a branch of forsythia, but the two best friends were listening to the service, eyes fixed on the couple. Only when the priest intoned ‘till death do you part’ did James’ eyes detach from Frank and Eva and flicker over to Lily, who caught the look and smiled at him. “…I now pronounce you man and wife.” The priest nodded gravely to Frank. “You may now kiss the bride.” Cheers and mad clapping spells broke out in the church as Frank bent down and kissed Eva, holding her hand and twirling her wedding ring, and the Marauders had leapt to their feet, throwing flower petals. The couple, laughing, advanced outside, where half the congregation was already assembled. With a whisk, Frank picked Eva up and carried her over the threshold of the church, into the falling rain of rice and flowers, and in the company of their friends, walked the three blocks to their new house, the long train looped over Eva’s arm and her bouquet in Frank’s cousin’s chubby hands. There was a small reception, most informal, in the garden; Lily and Vanessa had Apparated there just after the ceremony to place some food on the long, dining-room table they had moved outside. There was a large, homemade, three-layer wedding-cake, a pile of freshly-out-of-the-oven cookies, pitchers and pitchers of lemonade and pumpkin juice, and mounds of green and purple grapes; inexpensive, but pretty. The guests filled the small garden and house almost to bursting, and it was dusky evening before only Lily, James, and Vanessa were still there, and they were helping clean up the lawn. Just as Lily was about to Disapparate, Eva caught her wrist. “Lily?” “Yes?” Eva blushed. “I want to thank you. You’ve helped make today so much more than I ever hoped for…and, well…” Lily hugged her. “Absolutely no problem. I couldn’t have enjoyed myself better.” She pulled back and looked at her friend unbreakingly. “And I know you’ll be very happy.” Eva squeezed her arm. “Thank you.” James materialized behind them and tugged on Lily’s sleeve. “Lil, you coming?” Lily sent a last beam towards her friend, then Disapparated, leaving the new bride and groom arm in arm, half-drunk with happiness. Several months passed quickly, and the temperature was starting to drop. James and Lily had been informed that Professor Mink had been caught by another member of the Aurors—Alastor Moody, someone that had been with the Ministry for several years. Karkaroff was still the headmaster, but the International Minstry of Magic was hoping to remedy that. They couldn’t do anything about him now, since they hadn’t any evidence, but he was being watched closely. Two Death Eaters that had presided at the burning of the Prewetts’ had been caught, and their trial had taken place successfully; in other words, they had been condemned to an Azkaban term. One other had been apprehended, but he had fought the band of Aurors and escaped, leaving Arabella with a broken shoulder and James with a torn arm. Lily hadn’t been on that expedition; Mr. Merriwether had set her to the task of decoding two letters found on the premises of the burned site, and she was working at it long into the night, only getting sleep when James carried her upstairs and handed her a sleeping potion. Voldemort was rising rapidly; he was concentrating on the south of England, and there, already, if one was overheard to say anything disparaging about the rising Dark Lord, there was a ninety-percent chance that person would come home from work to find Voldemort’s mark floating above his house and his family dead. The Ministry had its hands full with trying to keep everything hidden from the Muggle world, but it was anything but seldom that Muggles died, too. Fortunately, as Mr. Merriwether kept saying, this was only in the southernmost tip of England, and they had a good chance to quell this before it got any further. Lily had a rather good idea that she knew better, but she kept that to herself; all she needed was to be accused of treason, though she hadn’t seen Tom since June twenty-fourth of her last Hogwarts year. Severus had cut off his visit at James’ and Lily’s house, not because he had suddenly developed a burning hate towards them, but because James very obviously resented his presence. He didn’t make a big deal out of leaving; simply said one night at the dinner table he’d be leaving in the morning. Lily hadn’t heard anything from him since he’d left. She was faintly worried, but not enough to start inquiring around-she more than anyone knew that Severus could take care of himself. She had been sent on one Ministry raid, but it turned out to be a false alarm, and she was currently busying herself with some of Arabella Figg’s advanced physical training. The lady had to be around fifty or more, but she was as strong as a Bludger and just as stubborn. One afternoon, as Lily was taking a short soup break around three, someone knocked at her door. Looking up quickly, she swept several drops of broth off of her desk with a napkin. “Come in!” Ernestine Debenham, Mr. Merriwether’s secretary, opened the door with two envelopes in her hand. “Mrs. Potter?” Lily nodded. “What?” The secretary held out the envelopes to her. “These arrived with today’s mail.” Frowning, Lily took both of the letters. “From Eschwegen? What-” The door clicked shut behind the retreating back of Miss Debenham, and Lily slit one of the letters open. Eschwegen was the town in Germany in which they had performed The Crucible in sixth year. What would they want of her now- That night, when Slenka brought in a dinner tray to the bedroom and James and Lily had seated themselves on the bed to eat their supper, Lily pulled out the two letters, handing them to him. “I got these this afternoon. Read; see what you think.” Curious, James detatched one of the letters from its envelope, settling back into the pillows and almost upsetting a flask of salad dressing. Dear Miss Evans, We were much impressed by your performance several years ago, in the competition among theatre groups in which The Crucible ranked first place. The director of the Gadsden Theatre in London has required us to contact you about an opening available in one of our productions. His letter is included. Sincerely yours, The International Theatre Company Board of Directors “Polite, but vague,” James commented. “And also very formal. Who do these people think they are, calling you Miss Evans?” Lily smiled as she lifted a cup of tea to her lips. “James, darling, I don’t think I was married in sixth year.” “There is that,” he agreed. “Are those crescent rolls any good?” “Read the other letter,” she commanded, placing it in his hand. “That’s the interesting one.” Dear Miss Evans, You have most favorably impressed the Board of Directors with your performance in The Crucible, and I have been permitted to offer you a role in a musical we intend to perform in the spring. The piece that has been selected is Into the Woods by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim, and I would like to offer you the part of the Witch. The theatre’s address is: Gadsden Theatre, 426 Freyë Lane, London. If you would like to meet with me, I am currently taking a room at the Leaky Cauldron. Yours very sincerely, Bertram Nufflepeck James raised his eyebrows, grinning a bit. “Lil, you must have been really good.” “I wouldn’t have to leave England, either,” Lily smiled, “and since I can Apparate and use Floo powder, this shouldn’t be a problem.” “So you’re going to accept?” “I don’t know,” she shrugged; “I’ve got to meet the guy first, and I don’t know what the Ministry’ll think about it. I’ve got to get permission from them to ‘engage on an outside course of income’, as Mr. Merriwether puts it.” “You know, if I were you,” James said, draping an arm around her shoulder, “I wouldn’t worry about the Ministry. This could just as easily be a hobby, right? And they can’t control a stamp collection, so they shouldn’t bother about this. Just go see him; it won’t kill you.” Lily turned swiftly to face him. “Is there an ulterior motive anywhere I ought to be aware of?” “Not really,” James admitted. “It’s just that you’re a very nice little actress, and you’re wasting it on Ministry raids.” “That depends on what you call ‘wasting’, Lily half-laughed, kissing him. “I don’t think our Durmstrang adventure was very wasted.” “True,” her husband grinned. “But go for it anyway.” |