The Way We Were: Year Six

one.

september 1, 1976

Mary watched the world pass by through the back window of her family's silver Ford Cortina. Dreary grey buildings morphed to manicured trees and lush green lawns as they moseyed from the inner city. Truth be told, their own home wasn't far from the Evans residence, but her parents tipped towards the dramatic side, always wanting to commemorate the day with a family breakfast before they shipped their only daughter off to school for five months.
"You're quiet, Marigold," her father called from the front seat.
Her own hazel eyes scanned to find a similar set observing her through the rearview mirror. The gold rim of his glasses flashed in the morning sun, highlighting the slight concern she found hiding in the wrinkles underneath. He only used that nickname when he was feeling particularly weepy.
Before she could reply, her mother reached over to smack her husband's chest. "She's probably tired, Hal. We dragged her out of bed before the sun, didn't we?" Her hand slid down to grab one of his.
Mary watched with a sated silence as they played with each other's fingers before she replied. "Actually, I'm just excited to see Lily."
Gwin and Hal both laughed at that, sharing a knowing look. "How could we forget?" Her mother asked.
"We kept you two apart all summer. I'm surprised you two didn't wither away."
The blonde in the back rolled her eyes. "That's not funny. We haven't gone this long without seeing each other since-"
"First year-" her parents supplied together.
"Seriously, you guys-"
"We told you she could come with us, honey. I'm not sure what else you wanted us to do?" Her mother said, turning to look at her daughter through the seats.
Neither did she, really. Her parents didn't want her to miss out on enriching her life. Lily's parents didn't feel comfortable letting Lily travel so far alone. Luckily, she didn't have to give an answer, for they pulled up to the curb in front of the Evans residence as the question landed.
Sighing, she pulled on the handle to open the door and stepped out. "This won't take long," she said before closing the door once more and sidling up the sidewalk.
She raised her hand to knock on the big blue door, but before she could manage that, it swung open in front of her.
Stunned, Mary took a small step back just as Lily's petite form rushed past her on the steps. She grabbed the blonde's wrist as she went.
"Petunia's in a mood," she announced, as if it were enough.
With no other option available, Mary followed behind. The redhead dragged her until they were on the side of the house, nearly nestled between two rose bushes. Looking left, then right, making sure she wasn't missing some obvious sign, Mary raised her honied gaze to her friend.
"Are you mental?" She asked. "Stress from the impending mountains of homework getting to you already?"
"What? No, of course-" Lily's head angled. "Do you think I'm that high strung?" She shook her head. "No, this has nothing to do with school."
"Then what?" Mary's shoulders shrugged. "Petunia's always in a mood. Since when do I care?"
Lily sighed, dropping her friend's wrist so she could point behind the bush.
"No, she's in a mood because of-"
Mary leaned around Lily so she could see, squinting to make out the form huddled against the house. It took him turning to look at her for recognition to land.
"You can't be serious. The train leaves in an hour."
"I know, and that's-- well, that's kind of the point." She sighed. "His mother is passed out, and he doesn't have a ride to the station."
"Oh, Lily," Mary muttered.
"Stop it. Don't be like that. It isn't his fault his parents are unreliable."
"Yeah, maybe not, but you know what is his fault? The amount of times he's made fun of me or any of the other Gryffindors for that matter."
"Some of them do deserve it-"
"Am I one of those people?"
Her tone was incredulous, which made Lily shake her head.
"Of course not, Mary. I'm sorry, alright? He just needs a ride. That's it."
Leaning out of the hole, Severus poked his head up. "You know, I'm right here. I can hear both of you."
Groaning, Mary glowered down at him before turning back to her friend. "Fine, but you're sitting in the middle."
The sound of her parents' honking cut through the conversation. Turning, Mary found her mother waving from the passenger side window. "Come on, girls! Traffic is going to be built up the closer we get, and you don't want to be late."
Waving at her mother, she turned back to Lily. "And you get to answer all of Gwin's questions about him because they're already driving me crazy this morning."
"Fine. I love your parents, so that shouldn't be hard."