Lily in the Shadows

Chapter 4: Meeting Him

The sun is what does it, rays, shining through her windows onto her sleeping face. They wake her from her sleep, and the first thing she thinks is, it is finally time! She is so excited that she quickly wipes the sleep from her eyes. She practically dances to her bookcase, putting on a Selena CD as she readies herself for her day.

Claude crawls from under her bed, his little plat plats echoing quietly through the room. He has a wicker basket Lily got for him, lined with pillows; this is where he usually sleeps. Claude crawls into his basket before flopping down and closing his eyes. He has become very attached to a teddy bear Harry got her before her first dance recital when she was young. He worked all summer, doing whatever he could to save up and get it for her. She named him Teddy. Claude has Teddy and is hugging him close with all six of his limbs.

Lily gets dressed in something cute, but comfortable. She wants to be comfortable on the trains but still make a good impression. Petunia had selected a nice blue dress with a cream sweater underneath so she wouldn't get cold. She takes her hair out of her sleep braids and ties the front half up, before decorating it with a light pink ribbon. She knows it doesn't match her blue dress, and she isn't supposed to wear pink because it clashes with her red hair, but she's sure her aunt won't notice, hopefully. Opening a small side drawer from her dresser, she pulls out a small hoodie her aunt made. Walking over to Claude, she lifts him from his basket, sets him on her dresser, and helps put four of his little arms through the sleeves. She carries him down the stairs so they can go enjoy their good breakfast. Sitting at the table, she puts some eggs and sausage on a saucer before setting Claude down, giving him his breakfast. Only after he begins eating does she fix her own plate and enjoy her breakfast.

Petunia enters the dining room and begins to cry. She cries a lot. She cannot believe the little girl she raised as her own will be leaving so soon. Petunia remembers when her sister Lily left for Hogwarts for the first time. She had felt so jealous; why did Lily get everything, and Petunia never got anything? Now it was like history was repeating itself; her Lily was leaving once more. This time, though, she has a say in how Lily spends her time over the next few years, with whom she associates, and she can keep her good this time. But that wasn't important anymore; her baby was leaving her. It is almost like a piece of her heart is leaving her.

After breakfast, Lily is making sure she has everything she and Claude will need for this next adventure when Petunia enters, holding a small, flat box. They sit together on her bed, and Petunia passes Lily the box, eyeing Claude apprehensively. Inside the box is a framed picture of Petunia holding a baby Lily. Something for her dorm, so Lily knows Petunia is always with her, no matter what. Lying together, they reminisce and talk about the good old days until Dudley enters the room. He sees them lying side by side, crying as they laugh about something that happened years ago, and his eyes fill with tears. Noticing him, Lily opens her arms as he rushes forward to hug her tightly. Scooting over the three of them, they cram into Lily's queen bed and hold each other tightly, talking and crying. Dudley sits up and rushes out of the room suddenly. When he comes back, he sets two poorly wrapped parcels in her hands. Lily unwraps one to see a large book. Opening it, she gasps at the single picture on the front: Lily and Dudley, taken on her last birthday. The nine and ten-year-olds dressed up in their Halloween costumes, respectively; Lily was Babs Bunny from Tiny Toon Adventures, and Dudley was Garfield. They are hugging each other with big smiles on their faces, Lily's pink bunny ears are crooked, and Dudley's face paint is smeared, but they were both so happy.

"So you don't, don't forget me while you're gone, and, and you can add pictures too, so I can see your school." Lily bursts into tears, throwing her arms around him.

"I'm going to miss you so much!" She exclaims.

"I am going to miss you too," Dudley cries. "Open the other one, open the other one."