Chapter Six
Diagon Alley
“RING!”
Lily woke up to the shrill buzzing of the alarm clock. Her heart caught in her mouth and she sat up breathing heavily. The earsplitting buzzing continued as Lily fought to swallow and regulate her breathing and wildly pumping heart. Clumsily her hand still trembling she tried to find the button to shut it off.
Violet moaned and rolled over onto her side telling Lily to “shut the bloody thing off”.
Lily smiled and finally found the button in the back. The shrilling cry stopped and all was silent. Violet gave a satisfied grunt and fell back to sleep. Lily’s heart settled back into its regular pace and her breathing returned to normal. No matter how many times the alarm clock woke her up, it still never failed to scare and startle her.
Lily had gotten the alarm clock just two weeks ago because Petunia would no longer come into the room to wake her and Violet up if Lily was in the room. In fact Petunia rarely entered a room with Lily in it unless her parents forced her, which was often.
Lily grinned. She was beginning to like the effects of that letter. No more Petunia to deal with, and as Violet put it, no more personal wake up calls. Though the alarm clock wasn’t much better. There were several other advantages to the letter she had received three weeks ago. She remembered it perfectly, that day when she had been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. With a simple letter her whole life had changed.
Lily changed out of her pajamas and threw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. She took a brush through her hair and then descended downstairs.
Her mother was already seated at the table. She was drinking a cup of coffee.
“You’re up early.” Mrs. Evans noted with a smile.
Lily glanced at the clock. It was eight o’clock.
“Well I wanted to get a head start on the day since you’re taking me to London to get my things for school.” Lily explained even though she knew her mother clearly already knew this. Her mother smiled and nodded.
Lily sat down beside her mother. She was impatient already. She wanted to leave right now but she knew her mother liked to take her time in the morning and have her coffee. Lily took a piece of toast and buttered it before shoving it into her mouth.
“Don’t eat so fast.” Her mother said warningly. Then surprisingly she sighed. She reached over and fiddled with her daughter’s pretty red hair.
“I know you’re excited.” She said softly. Lily met her mother’s eyes. She couldn’t know just how excited she really was. This was magic! This was all of her dreams coming true!
“I would be excited too.” A dreamy look crossed her mother’s face.
“When I was your age I dreamed and wished. But it never happened. It never did. As I got older I gave up hope and didn’t believe it was there anymore because I didn’t get to see it myself. And all that time.” Her mother broke off tears glistening in her eyes. And Lily realized that she was looking at her daughter with pride. Her own mother’s dreams were coming true through her! Lily gulped.
“You are a very lucky girl. But let’s take this one step at a time.” Her mother pulled her into a hug. She stroked Lily’s red hair soothingly. Lily didn’t dare move. Once again she repeated the facts. Her mother had had the very same dreams as her!? And they were coming true through not her mother but through her, Lily Evans. This was a shock to her. Her mother released her and beamed proudly at Lily.
“I’ll go get ready and tell your father we’re leaving in an hour.” Her mother said as she got up and left the table.
Lily grinned and then shoved another piece of toast into her mouth chewing thoughtfully. Then she swallowed and abruptly got up racing from the table, up the steps and into the bedroom that she and violet shared. Quietly she walked over to Violet’s bed.
“VIOLET!” Lily yelled grinning.
“WAKE UP!” She yelled once more in her sister’s ear.
Lily giggled and stumbled out of the way as her sister attempted to throw a pillow at her. Violet sat up her blonde hair in disarray and her green eyes just barely visible beneath drooping eyelids. But the scowl was clear. Lily still couldn’t stop giggling.
“I got rid of Petunia. I certainly don’t need you trying your hand at personal wake up calls.” Then Violet pulled the discarded pillow over her head and went back to sleep. Her quiet snores soon filled the room.
That was okay. Lily could wait. She grinned, for it was there waiting for her. It was not going anywhere.
~*~
James sat at the breakfast table with his parents and Tiffany. He pushed his spoon back and forth across the empty cereal bowl. Not for the first time he was trying to bring up the subject of Diagon Alley. He really wanted to go there and get his school things and of course check out the latest racing broom. But it seemed like every time he asked, which was nearly every morning, his parents always had somewhere to go or something to do. Maybe it was because they were both busy or maybe it was because they were waiting for the right time, James didn’t know.
His parents were chattering about the daily prophet each having a different opinion of something that had happened in Hogsmeade last week. James didn’t want to interrupt their heated debate. It was all boring to him. Tiffany on the other hand liked hearing about the news and was often found reading the daily prophet was listening with rapt attention.
James rolled his eyes. Judging by the volume his parent’s voices had reached; it could go on for at least fifteen more minutes.
James let his eyes wonder toward the open window. The sky was a radiant blue and was cloudless. The sun was pouring over the green grass causing everything to gleam and wink with the reflected rays. It was going to be a nice day. A perfect day for flying. If only he could get a new broom in Diagon Alley, his old one he’d had for six years!
Suddenly an owl flew into his line of vision. James watched as it drew closer and realized that it was coming for their window.
“The mail’s here.” He said dully.
But his parents didn’t appear to hear. Tiffany though looked up hopefully.
The owl landed on the sill and then fluttered onto the table dropping a letter in front of his mother. It then turned and looked at James’ untouched bread meaningfully. James pushed it toward it. The owl quickly ate it and then flew out the window.
All was silent as Mrs. Potter sat reading the letter. Mr. Potter watched her waiting for her to relay the information that it contained to him.
“James.” James turned surprised. His mother was waving the letter grinning at him.
“Caroline’s going to be in Diagon Alley today. How about we go and get your school supplies today?” She asked. James blinked. Then he grinned.
“Okay.” He said trying to hide the excitement that danced in his eyes.
“When are we going, now?” James asked eagerly.
“And who’s Caroline?” He asked suspiciously.
“A friend of mine. We’ll leave in ten minutes. So go get ready.” His mother ordered.
Tiffany scowled. She wished more then ever that she was going to Hogwarts also.
“Can I go too?” The little girl asked hopefully.
“No you’ll stay here with me.” Their father said ruffling her hair.
“What you don’t want to see Caroline?” Mrs. Potter asked her eyes dancing. The man shuddered jokingly.
“That’s alright. I’ll stay here and watch Tiffany.”
Tiffany growled giving proof that she did not like the idea of being watched.
“You don’t want to see your ex-girlfriend. The woman you nearly married.” Mrs. Potter continued. He turned beat red.
“Dear I don’t think this is the kind of thing we should discuss in front of the children.” But both Tiffany and James were looking at them with interest and identical curious brown eyes.
“Tell us Mom!” Tiffany squealed. Mrs. Potter chuckled.
“Another time, another time.” She said kissing Tiffany on the forehead. She then glanced at her still red husband.
“On second thought let’s leave now James.” She said.
“Now?” James questioned.
At her nod he waved goodbye to his father and scowling sister and then entered the living room. He marched over to the stone fireplace grabbing the pouch off of the mantle and waited for his mother patiently.
She appeared a moment later with Tiffany and Mr. Potter in tow. She was dressed in a fashionable scarlet robe like the ones most witches of the day wore and he saw that she had used magic to pretty herself up. Her black curly hair was let down from its usual messy knot and she looked lovely. His mother always got prettied up when going out since she didn’t go out often. But then again she had always been a pretty woman.
“Goodbye Tiffany darling. Be good for your father can’t handle your tricks.” Tiffany grinned evilly and she laughed. She kissed her husband on the cheek.
“I’ll tell Caroline you said “hello”.” She grinned.
“Tell her I’m having second thoughts.” Mr. Potter remarked wisely watching the grin on his wife’s face falter.
“Keep that up and you’ll find yourself in the quidditch shed.” She was too quick for him. With that said she stepped into the stone fireplace beside her son.
She took the pouch from him and opened it. Taking a good handful of its contents she threw it up into the air.
“Diagon Alley!”
And then they were spinning and spinning and spinning…
~*~
Two hours later Lily found herself in the car in the middle of London. She was in the front seat of her mother’s car with her nose nearly pressed against the glass. Her eyes were concentrating on scanning the shops for “The Leaky Cauldron”. Though her mother had brought a map Lily didn’t want to take her eyes from the road for one second in case she missed it.
Violet was in the back seat almost as excited as Lily. She couldn’t wait to see this “Diagon Alley”. Rather then be jealous of Lily’s becoming a witch, Violet decided to be excited for her. Mrs. Evans didn’t want to take Petunia or Violet but after much persistence from both Violet and Lily Mrs. Evans gave in. So now here she was coming along. Petunia wouldn’t have wanted to come anyway.
“I can’t read this map!” A sudden cry from their mother caused them both to jump.
“It’s supposed to be just up ahead but I can’t see__”
“Stop the car!” Lily exclaimed interrupting her mother. She was bouncing excitedly in her seat.
“What!” Mrs. Evans asked pulling over to the side of the road.
Violet looked up. There were two big buildings towering over their tiny car, a bookstore and an apartment building. Violet didn’t see any thing that said “The Leaky Cauldron”. All she saw was the two buildings and a thin alley in between the two buildings.
“There it is!” Lily squealed.
“Where?” Mrs. Evans asked squinting. Obviously she didn’t see anything either.
Lily pointed in between the two buildings at the thin alley Violet had seen. Strangely enough it wasn’t shadowed like it should have been. It had no grass and she saw that it was the oddest alley she had ever seen. Or wait, was it an alley at all?
Violet thought she saw a building. But no it couldn’t be. Or could it? Violet closed her eyes taking a deep breath. She opened her mind and then opened her eyes. “The Leaky Cauldron” sign appeared very hazy in her vision. Violet refused to believe it was an illusion. It became slightly clearer.
“There it is I can see it!” Violet yelped.
Now both Violet and Lily were bouncing in their seats. You can just imagine the looks passing cars and people were giving them.
“What are you two ranting about?” Mrs. Evans demanded.
“You can’t see it.” Lily stopped bouncing and suddenly realized with a sinking feeling.
“I couldn’t see it either but now I can.” Violet admitted.
Now the grin left Lily’s face. She felt worse. Things were going to be different, very different she realized.
“You really can’t see it.” Lily stated.
Her mother heard the disappointment in Lily’s voice and heard her own voice in the back of her head scolding her. She, who had always wished to have this great fortune that Lily now had, could not see it. Her own heart sank. She really had turned back on her dreams.
Desperately she squinted into the odd looking alley. Was that a glimmer of words? Mrs. Evans shook her head and then suddenly realized that what she was seeing was probably “The Leaky Cauldron”. Lines came into view. They were probably the edges of a building that she normally would’ve believed was an illusion. She saw nothing more. Just the faint glimmer that something was definitely there.
Sighing Mrs. Evans took the key out of the ignition.
“I think there is something there. Come on, show me the way.”
The three got out of the car. Lily dashed up to the pub. It was starting to age but was still in fair shape. It looked like it had been around for quite some time. Violet followed her. The building came into perfect view as soon as she was a foot from the door that Lily opened to reveal a dark room with several people in it.
“I didn’t even see it.” Mrs. Evans said in awe as she walked into the pub behind her two daughters.
Lily looked around as her eyes adjusted to the shadows. It looked like an ordinary pub to her. There was a bar and two bar tenders and then there were a couple of tables scattered around. There was a person or two here and there. Mostly they tended to reside at the bar. Probably drunks Lily thought wrinkling her nose at the strong stench of alcohol.
Lily seeing her mother looking around fearfully suddenly realized that she would have to be the adult and do all the talking.
“So I’m in a childish world but I have to be an adult!” She thought. Nothing made sense here.
If only she wasn’t the only witch in the family.
“Um hello.” She said nervously stepping up to the bar. Her head just barely reached over the top making her even more nervous. Violet placed an encouraging hand on Lily’s shoulder and her mother did the same. Lily gained courage.
“Do you know where Diagon Alley is?” She asked in a shaky voice.
Someone laughed and a few shook their heads in amusement. They all seemed to think it was funny. Lily felt like sinking into the floor.
“Muggles.” Muttered a woman. Violet and her mother turned and looked at the woman.
“Non magical people.” Lily explained in a whisper. Both of them turned on her. Lily wondered herself how she knew that. But then she remembered the dream and the strange voices.
“I’m on my way there anyway.” Said a man seated at the bar. He drained his drink and got up off the barstool.
“Are you sure? I could show the young lady around it would be no trouble.” The bartender said.
The bartender was a kind looking man who was missing quite a few teeth and what little hair he had was nearly gray. He smiled warmly at her revealing his nearly toothless smile.
“I’m on my way there anyway.” The man said. Gesturing behind him a young girl stepped forward.
“I’m Tom the bartender. If you need anything next time just ask for me.” With that he winked and then returned to his work. The man walked over.
“I’m Mr. Figg.” He said smiling.
“And this here is my daughter Arabella. She’s starting too.” He pushed his daughter forward. She was just a little bit taller then Lily. She had long wavy hair that was a shade between blonde and brown. Arabella grinned and Lily returned it with a smile. Mr. Figg shook hands with Mrs. Evans. And then acknowledged Violet and Lily with a nod and a smile.
“I’m Mrs. Evans.” Their mother said.
“And these are my daughters Violet and Lily. Lily is just starting at Hogwarts.” Her mother seemed to be more at ease now. Lily too felt less nervous now that she knew someone would be able to help her out.
“Well come along and follow me.” Mr. Figg told them. His daughter and him walked forward. Lily shrugged and trotted after them
They walked out of the pub through another door in the back. This one led out into a real alley. There was overgrown grass and trash littered the small area that appeared to be a dead end.
“This is Diagon Alley?” Violet asked. Arabella giggled.
“No we’ll be seeing Diagon Alley in a moment.” Mr. Figg said smiling amusedly. Violet turned bright red and remained quiet.
While this was happening Mr. Figg was tapping the bricks on an old brick wall with a stick. A wand, she quickly corrected herself. These things were going to take time to get used too. Suddenly the bricks started moving, breaking the wall's formation. Lily gasped and heard Violet and her mother do the same as the bricks moved quickly so that it was no longer a wall, but an archway!
Lily nearly gasped again, as her eyes became wide with awe. For the archway revealed a street filled with people. Shops lined the street and at the very end of it all, a long way off was a huge marble building that looked like a museum. It was amazing.
“That’s Gringotts.” Arabella whispered to Lily seeing her awed look.
Lily turned to the girl and realized as they entered the street that neither Arabella nor her father seemed awed or amazed or even surprised. In fact it seemed like they thought nothing of it at all.
Violet let out a soft whistle of amazement after getting over her astonishment.
Lily could say nothing as she followed Mr. Figg and Arabella through the crowd. Apparently there were a lot more witches and wizards then she thought. So many people were here. She looked at the people, the shops and everything else that was so different from home. Each shop had a strange name and sold strange objects by the looks of its windows.
One store was Quality Quidditch Supplies and had a broomstick lain on a fine cushion in its window. A few people were pointing at it and talking loudly. Lily got a strange idea. “Maybe since I’m a witch, broomsticks aren’t used just for cleaning anymore.” She thought. But people, even a witch, riding on a broomstick, it seemed crazy!
As if in answer Arabella whispered “That’s the Silver Arrow. I’d like to get my hands on one of those. Of course we have to wait until our second year to make the house team.” Arabella turned and walked backwards so she could catch the last possible glimpse of the broomstick.
Lily looked in ever direction, whispering each shop name to herself as if trying to memorize or decipher the meaning of the shops. The awe and astonishment never left her green eyes as they continued down the street toward Gringotts the museum. Now that Lily stood before the building she realized that it was even bigger and grander then she had thought.
“Why are we here?” Lily wondered aloud.
“How are you going to buy your school supplies if you have no money?” Mr. Figg asked his eyes twinkling. Once again Arabella giggled.
“We have wizard money. They don’t take muggle money here. So you have to open an account and exchange your muggle money for our wizard money.” Mr. Figg explained to them. Lily realized then that it was a bank not a museum.
They climbed the marble steps. A green ugly creature stood at the top of the stairs in a gold and scarlet uniform. The closer they got the uglier and stranger they seemed.
“What are those?” Violet asked.
“There goblins.” Arabella said.
They came to a set of doors where a riddle of some sort was written.
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more then treasure there.
“The vaults are miles beneath the ground and goblins are clever creatures. It would be insane to rob Gringotts.” Mr. Figg explained.
They set up an account for Lily and they were given a key and some wizard money to buy her supplies. Lily and Violet poured over the new wizard coins and amused themselves watching a goblin handle a small pile of tiny dazzling jewels of nearly every color. About ten minutes later Arabella and her father returned, both of their hair ruffled and their pockets bulging slightly.
“That was so much fun! Can we go again!” Arabella asked her Dad. Her Dad laughed.
“Not this time. Maybe next time.”
Lily was too timid to ask what happened and where they went. But Arabella fixed that for her.
“When you go down to the vaults you go on this really fast cast and there’s all these twists and turns.” Arabella told her grinning as they all walked into the sunlight. “It’s just really fast and awesome.” She added shielding her hazel eyes from the overbearing sun. Mr. Figg examined the street below them for a moment in thought. The others waited for him to say something.
“First I think we should get your wands.” Mr. Figg said.
Lily grinned and Arabella did also. Apparently she was looking forward to it too.
The two of them followed Mr. Figg to an old shop. A very old shop judging by the date.
“Olivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C.” Lily read the sign in a whisper. Already excitement was racing through her veins.
Violet wished more then anything for a wand. Together they walked into the shop.
A brown haired girl and her mother were standing in the center of the shop. In the back an older man was rummaging through some shelves. Lily looked around and realized that the shop was made up of nothing but shelves filled with long thin boxes. The shelves were all behind the counter but Lily could still see clearly that there must have been hundreds or perhaps thousands of those long thin boxes!
The man took one box from the back and opened it on the counter handing the contents, a stick, no a wand, to the young girl. The girl waved it around and red sparks emerged from it leaving a glittering trail as she swept it downward one final time.
“That’ll be nine galleons.” The older man said smiling. The woman handed him the gold coins and then started toward the door with her daughter in tow.
“We have to meet the Potters.” The woman was muttering to herself. The girl rolled her eyes and then glanced at Lily meeting Lily’s brilliant green eyes with vivid blue eyes. They both smiled at each other and then the brown haired girl was dragged from the store.
“Ms. Figg.” Said an eerie voice. The older man, the shopkeeper, was now addressing them.
Arabella stepped forward shakily. She glanced back at Lily and her Dad nervously. Lily gave her an encouraging smile as Arabella was handed a wand. Arabella gave the wand a wave and nothing happened.
Lily gasped. She mistook it for something bad.
“The wand chooses you. It’s nothing bad. That wand just isn’t for Arabella. A different one will choose her. You may not get sparks on your first try either.” Mr. Figg explained reading her mind.
Lily nodded but hoped silently that she got sparks on her first try. What if she never got a wand? What if she just stood there forever and no wand ever chose her? Then what would she do? Lily gulped hoping that none of that would happen.
Just then white sparks came flowing from Arabella’s wand as she swept it in a circular motion above her head. Arabella grinned broadly and Lily clapped and smiled. Mr. Figg went over and hugged his daughter paying Mr. Ollivander the amount.
“Ms. Evans.” Said the eerie voice.
Lily stepped forward not liking the fact that this man knew her name. But perhaps that was something magical too. Lily stood in front of the man trembling slightly as she met his creepy, silver eyes.
“You’re a new one around here Ms. Evans. But never fear about being left behind. You’ll do fine, just fine.” Lily was now thoroughly confused on what he meant by this.
“Here try this one.” He thrust a wand into her hands.
Lily waved it just as Arabella and the brown haired girl had done. But no sparks came. Lily panicked as the man took it away and went searching for another one. Lily silently hoped that the next wand would be for her.
“This one should do it. I thought you would need a more powerful wand.” Lily didn’t hear him as she waved the wand dumbly hoping there would be sparks. A warmth ran up her arm and sparks of gold emerged from the tip of her wand. Lily grinned, knowing she had done something right. Mr. Figg and Arabella clapped and her mother and sister joined in beaming at her with pride.
“Ten and a quarter inches, long and swishy, made of willow and phoenix feather. It’s very good for charm work. It’ll suit you well. That’ll be nine galleons.” Mr. Ollivander told her.
Mrs. Evans handed the man the coins and thanked him before leaving the store.
“That’s odd.” Mr. Figg said thoughtfully as they all walked out of the shop.
“What’s odd?” Arabella asked eagerly.
“All three of you were chosen by powerful wands. I can tell you right now. Those have a lot more power then my wand and most of my friends wands.” Mr. Figg answered.
“All three of us?” Arabella questioned.
“The girl before you got one too.” Mr. Figg said.
“Can I see it?” Violet asked Lily.
“No not now Violet.” Mrs. Evans didn’t want to lose anything.
“You can look at it later for as long as you want when we get home.” Lily whispered. Violet’s eyes lit up at this and they continued down the road.
“I think we should get your books now.” Mr. Figg said.
They walked to a shop called Flourish and Blotts. Lily got all of her books with some help from Arabella. Violet strangely enough found two of her books. Lily wondered if Violet might be a witch too. That would be awesome if Violet was a witch, she thought wistfully watching her older sister explore the store.
She saw her sister pick up a book from a stand that said “Diaries! Have them customized with your very own designs and symbols at your command.” “On Sale now for a limited time only.” Violet put the diary back on the stand and continued to wander about the store. Lily suddenly got a brilliant idea.
“Mom can I get Violet something for her birthday since I’m not going to be here?” Lily asked hopefully.
“Alright but what do you have in mind?” Her mom asked.
Lily came out of the store five minutes later with all of her books and the diary carefully hidden in the bag. Apparently all you had to do was write down in the diary what symbols and designs you wanted on the front cover. It required no wand waving luckily, because Lily hadn’t tried any spells obviously.
“Look at the time!” Mr. Figg exclaimed. He had pulled out a very strange watch that Lily knew just by looking at was not and ordinary muggle watch.
“I have to get Arabella home and get to a meeting.” He said fumbling in his pockets for a pen and a piece of paper.
“I’ll just write down where you need to go and everything. Oh wait. I should’ve given this to you in the first place. It will be very helpful.” He pulled out his wand and pointed it at the piece of paper.
“Mapa Diagon Alley!” He said. A map had appeared on the paper A perfect map of Diagon Alley. Each store was labeled and it even showed you what bricks to tap to get in. He pointed out the stores where they needed to go. As he pointed out each store the shopname’s writing turned to red. As if to remind you that you needed to go there. Lily was fascinated and made herself remember “mapa”, her very first spell. Or was it? Hadn’t she heard of one that started with an “o”?
No.
“Bye Lily. I’ll see you on the Hogwarts express.” Arabella said.
“Yeah I’ll see you soon. It was nice to meet you. Bye!” Lily said watching as Arabella and her Dad were pulled through the crowd.
“Bye!” Arabella yelled grinning. Then the crowd swallowed her and Lily saw nether neither her nor her father. Lily sighed and then took the map from her mother suspecting that she would be able to understand it best.
~*~
The sun was high in the clear blue sky. James wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. How much longer were they going to stand here, he wondered? His mother stood next to a chair shielding her eyes from the formidable sun. She was searching the crowd for Caroline. They were supposed to meet here at the ice cream parlor.
James rolled his eyes. He slumped down into a chair and laid his head on the thankfully shady table. They had spent the last half-hour just standing here. This was not how James had planned to spend his day in Diagon Alley. He hadn’t even caught a glimpse of the latest broom when his mother dragged him off to the ice cream parlor. Even getting his school supplies would have been enjoyable compared to this.
“Caroline!” He heard his mother shout. He saw his mother waving frantically at an equally excited woman who was pushing her way through the crowd. They raced toward each other and embraced yelling and laughing like young children.
“Julie it’s so great to see you!” Caroline exclaimed as the two of them embraced once more. James could see several people looking at them as if they were crazy. He pretended too that he didn’t know them, which was easy since his mother had completely forgotten about him.
Caroline and his mother were best friends but apparently didn’t see each other very often. When they did the whole country knew. In fact the last time James had seen Caroline was when he was six. And the neighbors had sent them owls telling them to shut up because it was one in the morning and they were waking everyone up. She hadn’t changed much. She still had the brown hair and the brown eyes that shimmered with mischief like his mother’s. Some said the two women looked like twins. And they did. Except for the fact that Caroline’s hair was brown and his mothers was black.
James watched dully noticing a girl about his age staring at them as if they were crazy. She inched her way away from them. James watched as she came closer to him and saw that she had brown hair not red. He let his head fall back onto the table.
He didn’t know why but every girl he saw looked and reminded him of Lily. The girl he had met a few months back. For some reason he couldn’t forget the muggle girl who had befriended them when they got stuck in her yard in her world. Lily opened the gate and brought them back to their home. His Dad had obliviated her and sent her back. James her and knew that Tiffany did too. They didn’t make many friends.
The girl was now seated at a table right next to him. Her head was down on the table also and she was watching the two women. James looked at her and realized a resemblance. The girl looked up and rolled her eyes. Yes, she had the same brown hair. But instead of brown eyes they were vivid blue. She came closer and sat down on the other side of the table.
“Oh great another girl.” James thought silently to himself.
“You’re Julie’s son.” She said nodding.
“And you’re Caroline’s daughter.” He said. They both laughed.
“Are you a first year?” the girl asked.
“Yeah, you?” James asked. The girl nodded.
A laugh escaped the two mothers and James and the girl both turned to see they had both ordered ice cream and had completely forgotten about their kids.
“Looks like it’s going to be a long time before realize anything.” The girl noted. James nodded. The girl began taking coins from her pocket and placing them on the table. He looked at her questioningly.
“I don’t know about you but I’m going to get an ice-cream.” The girl said.
“By the way I’m Allison.” She said.
“I’m James.” James said shaking her hand.
“So what house do you think you’ll be in?” Allison asked.
~*~
Lily and her mother and sister traveled to nearly every shop. Lily’s feet were killing her and she could tell that they had been there for at least three hours. She could tell it was getting later in the afternoon. Lily wished she had more then two pieces of toast for breakfast. She was hungry.
“We still have to get my robes. So one more store.” Lily said wearily. She pointed at Madam Malkim’s robes for all occasions. It was just ahead and much to Lily’s delight there was an ice cream parlor right beside it. With her mother and sister behind her Lily rushed to the robe shop.
~*~
“Hey look I think they’re actually getting up.” Allison said pointing at their mothers. Allison was right, both woman were now stretching and getting their stuff together. James and Allison had finished their ice creams a while ago and had had plenty of time to talk. They had talked mostly about quidditch and Hogwarts. James’ opinion of Allison had changed Allison like him wanted to be in Gryffendor. They both liked quidditch and Allison liked to play it as much as she loved to watch it. Allison, like him, was going to try out for the House team next year. James wondered if one day they would be playing on the same team.
James and Allison got up and walked over to where the two women were waving goodbye to each other. Allison waved to him and then trotted off after her mother who was already calling her name and looking for her. James tapped his mother on the shoulder. She turned around and grabbed him.
“Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you all over. Now come on we’re going to get your robes”
James let his mother steer him into the robe shop. He passed a pretty blond haired girl that several boys were watching from a distance. Green eyes and an award winning smile. He twisted to get a better look. Was he dreaming or was that Lily’s sister? But his mother shoved him into the store.
“No wait!” He tried to turn around. His mother thought he didn’t want to get his robes so she shoved him on to a stool and another woman immediately grabbed him expecting a fight. James sighed and stayed still shocking the woman. Now he’d never be able to see if it was her. It probably wasn’t/ he was probably just imagining it was her. Why would she be here in the first place? It was stupid, he told himself.
“Are you going to Hogwarts too?” Asked a timid voice. A girl was standing on the stool beside him. She had red hair and brilliant green eyes. It was Lily!
Lily felt slightly taken aback. She knew someone who looked like this boy with messy black hair and mischievous brown eyes. The boy’s eyes grew wide and he looked even more shocked then her. He tried to say something but nothing came out.
“Are you okay?” Lily asked concerned. He looked like he was choking. He pointed at her.
“Lily?”
Lily fell off the stool. She scrambled to her feet, fear in her eyes.
“I’m sorry.” She apologized to the woman. The woman nodded.
“You’re done anyway.” She handed Lily her robes.
Lily turned back to the boy. She knew him but she didn’t.
“How do you know my name?” She asked shakily.
“Lily it’s James. Remember me and Tiffany?” James asked.
Lily looked scared and backed away. A red light flashed in her mind blinding her vision and her head pounded like before. Someone caught her. Lily opened her eyes and jumped to her feet.
“Sorry. I’m so sorry.” She told the woman.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” The woman asked worriedly. She looked a lot tike the boy. It was his mother. She gasped for breath. The boy had got down from the stool and was now standing beside his mother.
“You don’t remember me.” He said.
She shook her head sadly. She wanted to but it was as if her brain wouldn’t function.
“I’m sorry.” She said. Then she fled from the store.
“So am I.” James whispered as he watched her go.
“So am I.”
Chapter Seven