Chapter Fourteen: Free Food

*As their group exited the train, they dispersed for the summer shouting promises of writing each other and keeping in touch. Peter ran off someone quickly, while Remus, Sirius and James were greeted with two sets of parents.

“Which pair are James’ parents?” Lily whispered to Ara, trying to figure it out. Neither of the couples looked remotely like James.

“I don’t think either is.”

“Arabella!” Ara turned around to see her family.

“Lily, write me, ok?” She asked quickly. Lily nodded, and they hugged. “Alright then, read you soon, see you next semester!” They smiled.

“See you Ara.” Lily waved her off. When she turned around, all of the guys and the parents were already gone. “Great.” She muttered. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye. I bet they apparated.”

“Apparated? Lily-kins, what language are you speaking?” A familiar voice laughed.

“Mom, Dad!” She beamed. They smiled back at her as she lugged her heavy suitcase along.

“Hello dear. How was your school year?” Her mother asked as she caught her daughter in a hug.

“Rather interesting actually.” Lily half smiled thinking about all the pranks she had watched and people she had met.

“Lily? It’s not like you to smile this much. You must have had a great year.” Her dad commented. Lily blushed.

“Nonsense.” She mumbled. Her parents laughed at her, but said nothing more on the subject. Their ride home began in silence, but as they neared their street and the smell of the salty ocean began to permeate the air, a new conversation was begun.

“So then I expect you heard Petunia is marrying?” Her mother asked.

“Yes Mom, you wrote me.”

“Well, they’ve bumped the wedding back a bit, but it’s still this summer. I think they decided late July. Anyway, Petunia wanted you to be her maid of honor.”

“Sh… she did?” Lily stuttered in surprise. Usually her sister wanted nothing to do with her.

“Why of course she did. Once she heard how you were thrilled she was getting married she decided she had to have you in the wedding.”

“I never told her I was thrilled… Mom! What did you tell her?”

“Only what you said in your letter; that you were so proud of her and loved Vernon.”

“But I’ve never met him! You lied to her about me.” Lily accused.

“ ‘Lie’ is such a harsh word Lily. We prefer embellishing the truth. Besides, it made her so happy. Your dear sister certainly deserves it, what with having to get through high school and then junior college.”

“But she hardly passed?” Lily was very confused. Every year her parents got a little stranger, but this was by far the worst year ever. As much as she loved her sister, Lily was not blind to the truth: her sister was a lazy girl who had never worked hard for anything in her life, only begged and conned her way to the top. Lily didn’t understand why her parents didn’t see it.

“Your sister happened to managed straight B’s her final semester! Now aren’t you proud of her? Of course, it was because she and Vernon studied so diligently all those nights…” Her mother stated proudly. Lily blanched. Studied? Ha!

“Yes sir, we have a regular scholar in our house now!” Her father slapped the steering wheel and grinned widely.

“Father? Mother?”

“Oh, don’t worry Lily-kins! We already know you’re smart… B’s and a few A’s, right honey?” Lily narrowed her eyes. Her parents had always followed her academic career before. It hadn’t been important to them, but it had made them proud that she did so well, and they had always told her that. Before.

“Mother, Father, I’ve got the top marks in my class, the school even, in everything but charms, and even then I’ve still got one of the highest marks. Of course I won’t know for sure until my OWL exams scores get back, but even if I failed them I would still…”

“That’s wonderful dear, really, it is! And tell me. You don’t mind sleeping on couch in the den for a little while, do you? Vernon is staying with us for a few days, and he’s sleeping in your room… it would be so much easier if he didn’t have to move all of his stuff around again.”

“But mother! I’ve been gone all year and it’s my room!”

“Lily!” Her father interrupted her. “Look honey. Change is never easy. But right now Petunia is going through a huge transition with this marriage. Vernon is only here for a short time… I’m sure you can deal with this sleeping arrangement for three days, then he’s leaving until the wedding- for your sister’s sake? Please?” Lily sighed. Their car pulled into a familiar driveway. She didn’t have a choice.

“Alright. I suppose, if it’s only for a little while.”

“Thank you dear. Oh look, there Petunia and Vernon are now. Lily, come meet him!” Lily opened the car door and looked up for her first peek at Vernon Dursely. Then she quickly averted her eyes, not wanting to burn them any longer.

Vernon Dursely was a large man with a large potbelly. Despite his size, he wore a neat suit… so neat in fact that it made him look odd… all of the sharp angles of the suit contrasted with the pudginess of his body. His puffy cheeks were flushed, as if he had just finished a mile race, and below his nose sat a large mustache of bristly brown hair. Lily could feel his beady eyes travel up and down her, as if he were examining her for some sort of hidden weapon.

Lily didn’t like him. Something was off about him. No, perhaps there was nothing wrong with him, but it was just that she wasn’t used to receiving such strange looks. He was looking at her as if she had some disease… a very catching but very interesting illness.

In the back of her mind Lily heard her father and mother greet Petunia and go in the house, leaving her to carry in her trunk. She turned around for a moment and looked at her trunk. Sighing inwardly, she grabbed the handles and began to pull at it. Turning around so she could see where she was going, she found herself face to face with her sister’s fiancé.

“So, you’re the witch?” His words hit her full force about a minute after her said them. He knew?

“Yes, I’m the witch. My name is…”

“Lily.” A dark silence followed for a brief moment. “Witch. Do you do magic then?”

“Yes… I am a witch.” Lily answered innocently. She didn’t know where this was going, but she had a feeling she wouldn’t like where it ended.

“Witches and wizards and magic… all a bunch of nonsense if you ask me.” He scoffed. Lily’s jaw dropped. How did she respond to him? She couldn’t be rude to her sister’s fiancé… her brother-in-law!

“I’m sorry you don’t believe.” She finally stuttered out.

“I’m sorry you do. Look at you. Petunia was right, you do dress the part. Well, a freak will be a freak, that’s what I always say.” He patted his stomach.

“Pardon me?” Lily whispered. A… freak?

“A freak will be a freak. You heard me witch. You could be decent if you would clean up a bit though.” He looked her up and down again. “Hell, if you washed that makeup off, I’d be in the sack with you tonight if you want.”

“Excuse me? You’re engaged to my sister.” Lily whispered.

“So?”

“I have to go.” Lily told him feeling nauseous. Leaving her chest where it was, she quickly ran inside the house. Sick man, sick man, sick man… her mind repeated over and over. In the sack tonight… in the sack tonight… So? So? What was wrong with that man? Did he have no decency? No honor? Lily flung herself onto the den couch and buried her head inside the soft cushions.

“Lily? Oh, you’re in here!” Petunia sauntered into the room. “Come on out then, let’s see you.” She ordered. Lily quickly pulled her head out from the cushions and looked at her sister blankly.

“Hello Petunia.”

“So witch. Still with the black makeup I see. You can’t wear it for the wedding you know. I won’t stand to have you look more freakish than you already are.”

“Petunia? Did you have a good school year?” Lily asked, ignoring her sister’s sour attitude and trying to start a pleasant conversation with her.

“Of course.”

“Are you happy to be getting married?” Lily shuddered as she asked about the marriage. Her sister, the one she loved, was marrying a loser… and if she said something about it, Lily knew her sister would not only never believe her, but hate her even more.

“Of course. Vernon’s an awful nice catch, don’t you think?” Petunia gushed, forgetting for a moment that she was speaking to Lily, the freak, and just spoke in general. “He’s the most handsome man in our district… all the others had no muscle at all! Did you know Vernon can lift a couch? He can! He was the main blocker on the college rugby team… first string too! And he’s so smart! A real business type!”

“He seems nice.” Lily was smiling. Petunia was being so sweet! She wasn’t making fun of her or hurting her… she just talking. This was what Lily had always imagined her sister being like. She had imagined them growing close and sharing a great friendship. And this was the closest they had ever come to realizing that dream.

“He is.” Then Petunia looked at Lily. “Just you watch what you say to him. Don’t go upsetting him, freak, or I’ll kill you. The only reason we’re letting you be in the wedding is because mother insisted. I could care less.”

“Oh.” Lily’s heart fell. Of course, why else?

“Petunia, sweetheart, Lily! Dinner!” Their mother’s voice echoed through the house. Both girls stood, one with a smug grin on the face and the other an impassive expression. Then they entered the dining room. This was going to be a long dinner.

>>>)(<<<

“Mother! It’s three days to the wedding and Vernon’s cousin is so sick he can’t stand! What will we do for the last usher? My wedding is ruined! Ruined! I had everything so perfect, and now…” Petunia broke down.

Lily’s heart ached for her sister. She had wanted the wedding to go off smoothly, without a hitch for her sister, but so far nothing seemed to be going according to plans. First off, the white petunias that Petunia had ordered… yes, the pun on the flowers was intended, had shown up four days before schedule- and they were daisies. The florist apologized fervently, but had to tell them that white petunias would be impossible to ship in time for the wedding.

Then, three days before the wedding, Vernon had gone out with his friends and missed the practice ceremony that had been scheduled. But that wasn’t all, oh no. The next problem had been Petunia’s dress. She had to have the perfect dress… a long white gown with sequins and ruffles everywhere. And two days before the wedding she had tried it on and, naturally, after it had been tailor made for her, it didn’t fit. Last minute fittings had to be arranged, and everyone was just beginning to settle down when the news had reached them.

Vernon’s cousin, Adam, was sick. Adam was supposed to have been the best man, and he was not fit to even have visitors, let alone stand and take part in a wedding. So now Petunia sat in the church crying in her mother’s arms as her fiancé, father, and worried sister all watched on.

“Now one of the bridesmaids will have to leave the wedding so that I can have an even number of bridesmaid’s and ushers! Oh, this is terrible!”

“Petunia dear, it can’t be as bad as you’re making it. We can have Lily walk in alone, and the rest can walk in as couples! That would look just fine…”

“Mother! It’s the principal of the thing! I can’t do that; it would look tacky and distasteful. What am I going to do?”

“Doesn’t Vernon have any other friends he can call?”

“No!” Petunia shook her head violently. “He doesn’t. This is an utter disaster!”

“Petunia, cheer up! Maybe Lily knows someone- a neighbor or friend who would be willing to stand in?” Her father suggested.

“Let Lily choose? That witch will destroy my wedding as it is! I don’t need more of her creepiness! Besides. Who would she possibly know? She doesn’t even go to school around here.”

“She’s right. My only guy-friends live in the wizarding world, I don’t think they could come here for the wedding.” Lily added quietly, not wanting to upset her sister any more.

“Lily, do you or do you not have a guy friend?” Her mother asked.

“I do.”

“Call him, owl him, whatever it is you witches and wizards do, get him over here, now. We don’t want anything to spoil Petunia’s big day.” Her mother cooed under her breath.

“But…” Lily stopped. James Potter was the only guy friend she felt remotely comfortable enough to ask for help from, and she doubted he would come. She felt just horrible at the thought of even inviting him, but now to have be in the wedding with her? Well, she would ask and he would say no, and they would never have to worry about it again. “Alright, I’ll owl James, but there are no guarantees.” She finally told them.

“Really?” Petunia sniffled. “Oh Lily! Will he really come? Oh, everything will be perfect then!” Lily had to smile. It was worth it to see Petunia so happy.

Climbing the stairs to her room, Lily sat at her desk and lightly stroked her pet owl, Selenicereus. She hooted in a pleased response and cocked her head ever so slightly.

“If I give you a message for James, will you deliver it overnight? It’s urgent!” Lily cooed to the large bird. Another hoot in response and she hoped it meant yes in owl. Nodding, she took out her parchment and a quill and began to scrawl a letter to James.

“Dear James: I feel horrible about doing this, but I promised I might ask you. As you know, Petunia is getting married. Well, one of her ushers is sick, and now he can’t be in the wedding. She is heartbroken because her perfect wedding is going to shambles. Anyway. She asked if I would write you and see if you would fill in. One day, a few hours is all it would take, and you even get free food out of the deal. I feel bad about asking you to give up your summer to help me, but I did promise I would ask. Thank you, no matter what your answer is. Sincerely, Lily Evans.”

Reading the letter over, Lily realized how pathetic she sounded. But at this point, wasn’t that what she was? Well, no matter James’ answer, everything would eventually turn out alright. Tying the letter to Selenicereus, she opened the window and let her loose.

“Go on then. James Potter, go!” As Lily watched the owl disappear into the night, she lay down on her bed and fell asleep, dreaming that one day her own prince charming would come along and sweep her off her feet, and then they would have a wedding that they would have problems to deal with and a life to look forward to afterwards.

As the bright sunlight cast sunny rays down upon her, Lily blinked her eyes open. And then she promptly screamed. Shooting up in her bed, she was left to catch her breath as a very familiar figure laughed his head off at her reaction.

“Lovely Lady Lily, you have quite a set of lungs!” James laughed.

“James! What are you doing here?” She hissed.

“You wrote and it sounded urgent, so I came.” He replied easily, shoving his hands in his pockets and sitting down in her desk chair. “Besides. Even if it hadn’t sounded urgent, you didn’t tell me a date, and what if it was tomorrow? I don’t think Selenicereus would have been up to making that many quick flights in such a short amount of time. This way I’m here when you need me, no worries.”

“Oh James.” Lily whispered as she flung herself at him. He laughed and caught her in a huge hug. “Thank you so much for coming.”

“No problem. Remember we promised to stick by each other, no matter what? Well, this is me upholding my word.”

“Thank you James.”

“Anytime. But Lily? There was one problem. Muggles don’t where robes to weddings, do they? Sirius’ mother told me they wore monkey suits- then Sirius wanted to come too.” Lily had to smile.

“Men wear tuxedos, but they call them monkey suits. I guess the tuxes aren’t very comfortable, but I’m not a man, so I’ve never had that problem. But that’s not a problem. We can just tailor Vernon’s cousin’s suit to fit you.”

“Tailor? Why not magic it? Or conjure me up my own clothes?”

“Because you know full well we aren’t allowed to do magic outside if Hogwarts yet.” She snapped. He laughed.

“Just kidding Lily. Calm down.”

“I’m sorry. Here you are, on such short notice ready to help me out, and I’m yelling at you.”

“Don’t apologize. Come on Lady Lily. I smell food downstairs… besides. I want meet your parents, Petunia, and this Vernon fellow.”

“Figures you’d go after the free food.” She grumbled. And he laughed. *