Lily in the Shadows

Chapter 2 (Edited)

A few Weeks Later

It was nearing the new school year and everything was going back to normal. Uncle Vernon sent Dudley to get the mail during breakfast, Dudley complained, Veron sent Harry instead. Harry gathered the mail and was passing it out when he noticed a letter for himself. He didn't say anything about it and just went to open it quietly when Dudley snatched it from his hands shouting to his father. Vernon took his letter, snorting in derision, but when he noticed the seal of the letter turned completely serious. He called Petunia over and they both looked over at Harry.

"Out, get out. All of you. Vernon and I need to have a discussion." Petunia said pushing the children out of the room, Lily turned to her.

"Auntie, is it ok if I grab my book then go into the garden to read? I promise I'll be quick?" She asked, making puppy dog eyes. Petunia quickly cracked under the pressure.

"Oh, all right. Make it quick, this is not a conversation for your ears." Lily smiled and ran upstairs. She grabbed her latest novel and rushed back down the stairs where she could hear her brother and cousin complaining about the unfairness of the situation. She didn't stay long and speed through the kitchen into the back garden. Lily planted herself in a bed of daisies and started reading her book. It didn't take long for voices to drift through the haze of her story.

"What are we going to do Vernon, we can't let him go. I thought we were past all this nonsense. And what about Lily-Kathryn, are they going to come for her too? They can't have her, I won't let them." Petunia's shrill voice was easy to detect in the quiet of the evening.

What does she mean, who would take me where? I don't want to go! Past what? "It'll be alright dear if we ignore them they will realize we aren't interested." Lily then jumped as something hit the table. "Shut that bloody window, it's letting bugs in." The window closed leaving Lily to her worries.

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Over the next couple of days, things started getting stranger and stranger. For starters, Vernon and Petunia moved Harry out of the cupboard. I know, shocking. They moved him into Dudley's old playroom, Dudley didn't like that. He threw a huge hissy fit, throwing things and scream-crying, it was the first time he didn't get his way. The letters kept arriving too, even after Vernon boarded up the front door. One day Petunia went to go make eggs, but every egg she cracked had a letter inside. Letters were pushed around the doors and windows. Lily was wandering the garden when she noticed the daisy patch she likes to sit in was full of origami daisies with writing on them. Vernon was ready to rip his mustache off with how little he could do to stop all of the letters. The final straw was on a lovely Sunday afternoon, everyone was sitting in the living room doing their own thing while Harry passed out cookies when all of a sudden a rumbling sound like a thousand flapping wings filled the air. Then, hundreds upon thousands of letters flooded out of the fireplace, filling the room and shooting through the air. Everyone screamed, Dudley lept at his mother for protection whilst Lily dove behind the couch. Harry jumped up on the coffee table and tried to catch a letter out of the air, he got one and ran into the hall. Vernon chased after him and they wrestled for the letter until Vernon shouted in a fit of crazed rage.

"THAT IS IT, WE ARE GOING AWAY, FAR AWAY. WHERE THEY WON'T FIND US!!!" Everyone stared at him in alarm and confusion. While they were all distracted Lily reached out across the floor and grabbed a letter, putting it in her pocket.

Vernon shouted for everyone to pack a bag and get in the car. While Lily-Kathryn packed her bag she remembered the letter and pulled it from her pocket. She went to open it when all of a sudden the door of her room swung open and her aunt came inside. Lily tried to hide the letter but it was too late. Petunia took the letter and looked at her with so much disappointment it made her want to cry. She finished packing and got in the car.

The boys were so upset, they hated car rides. Lily didn't mind that much, she would close her eyes and daydream, letting the world disappear and living alone in her fantasies. When she got tired of that she would read one of her many books or nap on Harry's shoulder. After many days of driving with stops Vernon finally got what he was looking for. As he pulled up to a dock one dark stormy night everyone except for Kathryn got out and moved all the luggage into a tiny rowboat. Harry carried a sleeping Lily into the boat and Vernon rowed them to an island with a building on it. Vernon and Petunia had Harry place her in the bedroom upstairs and everyone got ready for bed. Petunia changed Lily into an off-the-shoulder nightshirt that reached her mid-thigh and matching shorts with fuzzy socks.

Around 11:56 pm Lily woke up in between her Aunt and Uncle. She wiggled out of bed and crept downstairs with a blanket over her shoulders. The blanket dragged along the floor, down the stairs, and over the couch. Looking around it she could see her cousin sleeping peacefully on the couch and her brother laying on the floor. Walking over to him she crouched down but just about jumped out of her skin when she noticed he was still awake.

"Hello, Harry," She whispered snuggling into his side and wrapping her blanket around them both. He smiled at her when they heard the beeping of Dudley's wristwatch, saying it was midnight. "Happy birthday Harry."

Harry chuckled and wrapped his arms around her in return. "Thank y-"

BOOM!!

The children jumped and held each other tighter and Dudley jumped awake.

BOOM!!

The door shook from the force. Vernon and Petunia crept down the stairs with a shotgun as Dudley sat up and Harry pulled Lily-Kathryn with him behind where the fireplace stuck out.

BOOM!!

The door gave out and a ginormous man emerged from the shadows. The man entered the house and looked for Harry, after seeing Dudley he thought he was Harry but the real Harry stepped out from behind the fireplace, Lily clutching his arm. The giant presents Harry with a chocolate birthday cake and introduces himself as Hagrid, the "Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts." Hagrid is disturbed to find out that the Dursleys have never told Harry or Lily what Hogwarts is. Vernon tries to stop Hagrid from telling them about Hogwarts, but to no avail. Hagrid tells the children that Harry is a wizard and presents him with a letter of acceptance to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Lily is confused and asks if she isn't a wizard. Hagrid explains that she is a witch, but she is too young to go to Hogwarts and will be attending the next term. Vernon protests that he will not allow Harry to attend Hogwarts. Hagrid explains to Harry that the Dursleys have been lying all along about how the children's parents died. Lily is devastated to learn of their betrayal given that their parents were murdered. Hagrid tells them that they need to go get Harry's supply list for school and that they will be leaving immediately.

"Mr. Hagrid, sir? May I go with you and Harry shopping for his school things? I'll be good I promise." Lily begged, her hands clasped in front of her.

"I don' see why not, jus' make sure i's alrigh' with yur aunt an' uncle," Hagrid replied as Lily whirled around looking at her aunt and uncle with puppy dog eyes. They looked at her in horror.

"No!!" Petunia shrieked, "Don't even think to ask, it's bad enough the boy is going I will not allow my little girl to be dragged into all this mess!" Petunia held Lily to her side. Lily was very upset but knew arguing wouldn't do anything but make things worse. She gave Harry a big hug and after getting him to promise that he would tell her all about it, he and Hagrid left.