Chapter Four
Goodbye?
“And so that’s the basic overview of how Tiffany and I got here.” James said in a very hoarse voice. He had been talking for nearly an hour. Though there had been several breaks when Lily would enter into the conversation to ask a question or Tiffany would argue with James that he had the information incorrect or was telling Lily too much. But in the end James had finally told Lily everything he felt she ought to know about Tiffany and his dangerous situation.
Tiffany was looking very disgruntled and was glaring at him. She was almost positive that she and James would be in a heap of trouble when they got home. Their parents had always told them never to talk about themselves and their world with muggles. Apparently their mother had gotten into one of these situations where the muggles were not very understanding and she had a run in with the “police”. She had said it was one of the scarier experiences in her life and she never wanted her children to have to go through that.
Though getting in trouble with the parents should have been the least of her many troubles. They were stranded in a muggle world without any way of getting back to their magical world. They might never be found. Here they were putting all hope of going back home on a young muggle girl named Lily. What were the chances that this girl could help them? What were the chances that this girl wouldn’t turn them in?
Tiffany shivered unpleasantly despite trying to scold herself that Lily was a nice girl who wasn’t like other muggles.
James on the other hand was watching Lily in silence as she comprehended everything that had just been told to her. She was staring down at the grass with a slightly puzzled expression upon her face. She was trying to make sense of everything, trying to get her facts straight and make sure that this was indeed happening to her and wasn’t a dream.
James held his breath as she looked up at him and Tiffany. The puzzled expression was gone from her face. His heart pounded inside his chest knowing that this girl’s decision was important to both he and Tiffany. The tension built up in the growing silence that was slowly suffocating he and Tiffany. Will she accept us? Will she be able to help us? Questions bombarded his head as he waited for what seemed to be like hours but was in reality only seconds.
Her green eyes shimmered a little as they met his. A small smile broke out on her face widening with every moment that passed.
“Wow!” She exclaimed. Her grin stretched from ear to ear and she was positively beaming at them.
“This is amazing! I can’t believe it! It’s been there all that time and I only had a faint feeling that it was there! Magic is real! There is another world out there that I belong too…” She was off talking and exclaiming in excitement. It was real. Everything she had imagined and better was real. These two kids really lived inside that world. These two kids needed her help. She would be able to go and see that world! She had almost forgotten they were there at all and she hadn’t even asked them if it was some kind of a joke. She was just too excited as the words of James describing their world rang through her head.
“So does this mean you’re not going to send us to the police?” Tiffany managed to ask after she got up enough courage.
James was grinning from ear to ear as he watched the frenzied red haired girl excitedly looking at them and talking all about what she had just heard.
Lily stood up and began pacing around in a circle still talking to what appeared to be only herself. She couldn’t believe it was happening. This was real, they were real, and the dream and wish was real. Magic was becoming reality for her. The world where she belonged was there, waiting for her. All she had to do was help these kids out and she would catch a glimpse of that world, the world where she belonged.
“Everything is real!” She exclaimed.
“I think that means we’re not going to be turned in.” James whispered to Tiffany, not moving his eyes from the frenzied red head with a broadening grin on his face.
Violet moved to her bedroom window. She propped her arms up leaning her elbows upon the very sill that Lily clambered out and into the room on the night before. Bored, Violet stared out of her bedroom window and placed her chin in her hands. Her lovely blond hair cascaded around her shoulders occasionally curling here and there. Her green eyes stared out into space.
Violet was a beautiful girl. She was only fourteen and already the boys were stunned when she entered the room or walked down the street. She had tried to hide her beauty by cutting her hair short as a little girl but even then the boys, and sometimes full-grown men, could tell that she was going to be a beauty when she reached age. Even the girls and women were constantly telling her that she was a rare pretty thing and they wished they had her looks. Violet could never understand why they never said this to Lily.
Lily had the same body and hair as Violet and the same brilliant green eyes that were constantly shimmering and lighting up. In fact both Violet and Lily agreed that their green eyes were the best part about them. The only difference between the two was that Violet had blonde hair and Lily had red.
As a young girl Violet always remembered Lily and her asking their mother why Violet got all the compliments and Lily only got a few. Her mother had just said they were both very beautiful and she couldn’t understand it herself. But as the years passed Violet learned that it was because of the color of her hair and the fact that she was older. She had unknowingly overshadowed Lily. Perhaps if Lily had been the oldest the compliments would have gone to her but now all that anyone saw was pretty Violet.
Petunia was a year younger then Violet. She was always trying to make herself look beautiful, getting into all that makeup crap and in style clothes. And perhaps the reason she had become so boy crazy and cosmetic was Violet and probably Lily. This was because Petunia wasn’t as pretty as her two sisters. She had a long neck, blond thin hair, and was thin and bonier then her two siblings. She had also been passed by on the green eyes and had gray dull eyes instead. So Petunia covered herself up in makeup and the in style clothes as an attempt to make her pretty.
Violet sighed. Two boys had called her within the week. One had come calling at her door. And another had called her on the telephone. It was brutal. Petunia who had just turned thirteen would sit drooling behind her as she shooed them away or hung up on them. Petunia would say she was crazy and try to lecture on it. Violet couldn’t stand her and neither could Lily. Petunia was boy crazy and wanted a boyfriend more then anything. For Lily that was the last thing she wanted. And for Violet, she only wanted a true relationship, one that would last for her life. She didn’t want someone to break her heart or have to break someone else’s. No she was too young for one at this age. All the boys cared about now was her beauty. Perhaps when she was a little older they would like her for who she was.
Violet heard laughter and turned her eyes down upon the yard where the laughter was coming from. She heard shouts and more laughter. Violet smiled as she saw her younger sister Lily down in Ms. Brandy’s yard. She was laughing and smiling with two other children.
“Wonder what she’s doing?” Violet decided to go down into the yard and see.
“You thought I was going to turn you into the police.” Lily started laughing again and James blushed at his stupidity.
“Laugh all you want but that’s what happens to us witches and wizards when we tell muggles about us.” James said trying to regain his dignity.
“Muggles?” Once again that word had come up. Was he insulting her?
“Non magic folk.” James said as if it was the most obvious information.
“Oh of course, I should’ve known.” Lily said rolling her eyes.
Before James could reply a pretty girl came from beneath the hedge. She looked up at James and grinned, revealing beautiful green eyes and an award-winning smile. She pulled a twig from her lovely blonde hair and sat down beside him looking around at Tiffany, Lily and him.
“Hi.” She said in a cheery voice.
“Hey.” Lily and James said. Tiffany said nothing but smiled shyly just as she had done when she had first met Lily. Though Lily had clearly found out that Tiffany was not shy. It seemed that she was far from it.
For some reason James and Lily met each other’s gaze and just started laughing. Tiffany and Violet looked at them bewildered at their strange outburst. This just caused Lily and James to laugh harder. Violet raised her eyebrows and grinned wondering what was so funny. Tiffany just looked at them strangely waiting for the two odd people to stop.
“What’s so funny?” Violet said putting her hands on her hips.
“Nothing. Never mind.” Lily cleared her throat attempting to stop herself from bursting out laughing once more. “This is James.” She gestured toward James trying not to make eye contact with him so she wouldn’t start randomly laughing again.
James didn’t have a problem avoiding Lily’s gaze. He found himself face to face with the lovely girl once more. James could tell that she was one of the prettiest girls he had ever seen. Her blond hair cascaded down her shoulders occasionally curling here and there. Her two beautiful green eyes met his and once again she was smiling that award-winning smile. He smiled back at her, reluctantly tearing his eyes back to Lily.
Lily hesitated for a moment seeing the usual effect her sister had on boys. She thought James would be different though. For a moment she felt upset that she didn’t look like her sister. Strange, she thought to herself, this happens all the time with boys and I never feel jealous, until now. Lily quickly shook this out of her head seeing that her sister and James were both staring at her. Violet was grinning as if she had just realized something. Lily had an odd feeling that she didn’t want to know what that was.
“And I’m Tiffany.” Tiffany had gotten rather impatient with Lily just sitting there staring at James and Violet, and James staring at Violet. Immediately three pairs of eyes turned on her. Tiffany was now once more shyly smiling up at them so that you could hardly tell that she had just impatiently introduced herself.
“This is Violet. My older sister.” Lily said pointing behind her where Violet sat smiling at the two of them. She gave them a little wave and then grinned at her younger sister. Once again it was that same grin that told Lily that Violet knew something.
“It’s nice to know that Lily has friends.” Petunia stepped from behind the hedge and sat down right between Violet and James.
James saw Lily scowl and Violet roll her eyes and look in the other direction when the girl came in. He looked at the girl who had just sat down. He was expecting another beautiful sister of Lily’s but this girl couldn’t be Lily’s sister. She had thin blond hair and dull gray eyes. Her face was shaped oddly and she was thin, bony and even taller then Violet. She smiled at him batting her eyelashes that were clotted with black stuff that James guessed was makeup. In fact her whole face was covered in an awful amount of makeup. It looked as if a little kid had gotten a hold of his mother’s makeup case. James reared back a little bit so that he could get away from this makeup covered ugly girl that was leaning toward him.
“Yeah I do but you don’t. ” Lily said clearly wanting her to go away.
“Lily has no friends so this is a first.” Petunia said ignoring her sister and not taking her eyes off of James.
“I do too.” Lily hated the way this conversation was going. Petunia seemed very interested in James who Lily realized was a boy.
“He’s in for it.” Violet whispered to Lily shaking her head sadly at the thought of James’ poor fate.
Petunia loomed closer to James who had to back up for the second time. Lily bit her lip trying not to laugh at the look of utter most terror on his face. Thinking fast, Lily grabbed hold of the back of Petunia’s shirt and pulled her back with one quick pull. James looked up relieved at Lily. Lily smiled and winked.
“This is Petunia.” She said in a dull voice.
“Our other sister.” Violet added.
“Though she could be closely mistaken for a pet or a brother.” Violet said in the same dull tone.
Violet, Tiffany, James and Lily giggled. Petunia glared at Violet momentarily taking her eyes off James.
“Why are you over here, dear pet of mine.” Lily asked.
“Seeing if it was true that you actually had friends.” Petunia said smugly. It was a well-known fact that Lily had trouble making friends. Especially since Marabelle was leaving for France and she was the only friend Lily had ever known.
Lily glared at Petunia wishing she would leave.
“If you have so many friends then why are you over here?” Lily asked.
“Because I love nothing more then to torture you friendless sister of mine.” Petunia said gaining more confidence.
“I think I see a boy ringing the doorbell. Is that Joe?” Violet said standing up and looking over the hedge.
Petunia was gone in a flash racing toward the door. Lily raised her eyebrows not realizing that Petunia could run that fast.
“Look at her go!” Lily giggled. The four of them laughed.
“It’ll be a minute or two before she figures out that there’s no boy at the door.” Violet said. She climbed beneath the hedge and then reappeared in Lily’s yard. “She’ll be mad in about five minutes. It was nice meeting you James and Tiffany.”
“Nice meeting you too.” James yelled after her retreating figure. Lily shook her head and sat back down in the yard. Tiffany came and sat down too. James stood for a moment watching the beautiful girl walk away. Then slowly he sat down on the other side of Lily.
“Are you done staring at her yet?” Lily said slightly tart.
“Yeah, no, I mean.”
“That’s what I thought.” Lily said picking at the grass.
“Well you got to admit she’s very pretty.” James said.
“She is very pretty. But James she’s my sister.”
“So.”
“How would you like it if some guy stared at your sister.”
“I wouldn’t care.”
“Well there’s one over there.” Lily pointed behind him and James immediately turned around to see a little boy of about six staring at the three of them.
“I’ll beat the crap out of that little boy if he even dares lay a hand on my sister.” James said starting toward the boy who was running back to his house. Lily knew he was just standing there wondering who they were not trying to hit on Tiffany. But of course James didn’t know this. Lily laughed and grabbed him by the arm pulling him forcefully back to the ground. Tiffany giggled having no idea what James and Lily were talking about.
“So you wouldn’t care.” Lily said grinning.
James sulked.
“Getting back to business. We’ve got to get through that thicket.” Lily announced.
“Yeah.” Tiffany agreed.
“James?” Tiffany asked.
“Yeah you’re right. So I can get away from Lily.” James said sulkily.
“But what about Violet.” Lily said calmly.
“We can take our time.” Tiffany and Lily laughed.
The three of them talked for quite awhile going over the minor details of what exactly had happened when they had gone through the thicket. Lily asked several questions and listened to the answers making sure they hadn’t missed anything that could get James and Tiffany home. When they started repeating the same details they figured they had everything.
Lily looked up at the other two.
“I think we should all try getting through again.”
“Great idea. Why didn’t I think of that? Wait we already did.” James said sarcastically.
“Yeah we already tried before you came over here.” Tiffany said truthfully.
“Well you know it couldn’t hurt to try again.” Lily said.
“Fine let’s try it, but nothings going to happen I can guarantee that.” James said.
James stood up and followed Lily over to what they had pointed out as the thicket. Tiffany also got up brushing herself off and stepped up beside Lily.
“Alright so all we need to do is walk into it right?” Lily said now very nervous.
“I guess so.” James said not really sure.
“James you try first.” Tiffany said.
“Fine.” He walked slowly toward it putting his arm out in front of him. The other two followed him closely so they wouldn’t be left behind.
Meanwhile…
Mr. Potter had just gotten home from a long day at work. He worked at the ministry and times were going down hill and so the ministry was constantly busy. He wanted to just sit down and out up his feet and have a nice relaxing dinner. And he told his wife this. She quickly obliged knowing how hard it was at the ministry. She had worked there herself when she was younger. But there was one small problem.
“Where are the kids?” Mrs. Potter asked.
“How would I know? You know there always hiding and getting into all sorts of trouble.” Mr. Potter said tiredly. He was in no mood to go looking for his kids. The last time this had happened they had been in Diagon Alley having “somehow” turned up there after “somehow” spilling some floo powder on them. He knew his kids all too well. They had inherited their mother’s family’s trouble making side. Perhaps that was why he loved them so much. After all he had ended up marrying the troublemaker herself. He smiled as she came in with a tray of food.
“Mmmmm. Smells great. But will it taste that great?” He teased her. She grinned and kissed him on the nose.
“I’ll tell you what I’ll go look for the kids.” Mr. Potter said.
“I’ll finish making the desert.” Mrs. Potter smiled.
“I always loved a woman who could cook.” Mr. Potter grinned and went to go get his jacket and shoes hoping this wouldn’t be another trip to Diagon Alley. But something stopped him midway.
A switchboard caught his eye. Usually he never looked at this board but a flashing green light told him that something was dreadfully wrong. He blinked and did a double take. Yes what he was seeing was real. He had a feeling he knew where his kids were. Hopefully they were still there. With out even telling his wife he ran out the door.
Gate number seven was open. Gate number seven led into the muggle world. The green light continued to blink.
“Nothing.” James said. He had just walked into a wall once more. This was his third time trying. Tiffany had tried too and even Lily had a go at it. But they all got the same result.
“Why won’t this stupid thing open already.” James kicked with his foot and ended up howling with pain as he jumped around holding his injured big toe.
Lily rolled her eyes.
“That’s not how it’s done.” She said.
“Then do it yourself smarty pants.” James cried between his jumping and howling with pain.
“Fine I will.” Lily carefully placed her foot against the thicket so it would get injured then she drew it back and with new force she broke through the thicket. There was an array of light and she was walking into a new yard. A different yard, a different neighborhood and a different world came into view.
Tiffany came through after her grinning and laughing and James came through stumbling with his mouth agape at what Lily had just done. Lily stared in awe at the world that she entered. It didn’t look very different from her world but she had a sense that this was indeed the complete opposite of the world that she had called home.
“Whoa.” Lily said hardly believing that she had actually left her original world and was now in the “magical world”. And it was all because of her, Lily Evans, that they were here.
“Lily you did it. You did it!” Tiffany came over to her and hugged her laughing and dancing around. She twirled around and hugged Lily again.
“You did it Lily!” James forgot his grudge and walked over to her and hugged her also much to Lily’s surprise. Lily found herself surprisingly hugging him back and dancing around with them. They had done it. James and Tiffany were home safe and sound. They weren’t stuck forever.
“I could kiss you Lily I ‘m so glad we’re back.” James said laughing.
“Don’t.” Lily advised laughing also.
Mr. Potter clambered over the hill to see a surprising site. His two children safely home and very happy and another girl who was now in his son James’s arms. The two off them were hugging each other and dancing around with Tiffany. Mr. Potter did a double take and nearly fell back down the hill.
He started down to see what had started this nonsense.
“Oh no.” Tiffany said cowering.
“What?” asked James. James and Lily realized they were hugging and immediately broke apart VERY quickly.
“Dad.”
“Hello James and Tiffany. Do you mind telling me why you decided to go gallivanting off into the muggle world? Your mother and I have been worried sick about you guys. You know what happens when you go over there. There’s the police and all those awful muggles and who is this?” Mr. Potter said this all very fast but the last three words were crystal clear.
“This is Lily.” James said.
“What is she doing here?” Mr. Potter said realizing that Lily was a muggle.
“Dad she helped us get back.” Tiffany started to explain.
“I’ll deal with you later. I’m going to have to obliviate her. You two are so foolish. You bring a muggle into our world.”
“Dad please!” James pleaded with his father.
“Didn’t I say I would deal with you later.” Mr. Potter said firmly. He pulled out his wand and immediately Lily began backing up. Not knowing what to expect.
“Lily it won’t hurt.” James cried.
“Will you just allow me to get this over with.” Mr. Potter said firmly.
“What’s he going to do to me?” She managed to yell to James.
“Nothing just stand still.” Mr. Potter said.
“Dad you’re scaring her.” James said to his father.
“James!” James silenced at this glare from his father. He inched back a step. But he whispered to Lily a last goodbye.
“Bye Lily. Maybe I’ll see you sometime.”
“Yeah perhaps we’ll see each other.” Lily was going to try and run for it.
“Now just hold still and it’ll be over.” Mr. Potter said.
“I’ll miss you guys.” Lily said softly tears shining in her eyes. Then she turned around and ran right back through.
“Obliviate!” The spell managed to hit her and she fell to the ground. The thicket closed behind her and she remembered nothing of the day’s events.
Chapter Five