Lily in the Shadows

Chapter 13 (Edited)

Don't forget me while you're gone. ... I want to see your school. ... Don't forget me. ... Forget me. ... Me. ... Me

Lily sits up, gasping. Her heart is racing. She rolls out of bed, pulling a large box out from under her bed, she opens it to see a camera and a photo album. She lifts the camera and holds it up, looking all around her dorm. She sees the four-poster beds covered in silk blankets of dark green, the cold stone floor covered in a soft green rug one of the girls got from their parents. Each trunk at the end of each bed is locked neatly away so as to not trip anyone. The walls are stone magically covered with moving posters and pictures.

Lily quietly sets down the camera and the book on her bed and proceeds to get dressed for the cold weather outside. Once she is wrapped snug in one of Draco's sweaters paired with jeans and boots, scarf and hat in place, she quietly leaves her dorm and down to the common room. She freezes, seeing someone sitting on the couch, still as a statue. He looks up and Lily-Kathryn sighs with relief, seeing as it's just Draco. If it was their Prefect she would no doubt be in trouble.

"What are you doing up so early, Squirt?" Standing from the couch Draco walks over to the fireplace and pushes on a stone, opening a small compartment in the fireplace mantle. He pulls out a steaming kettle and two teacups. Sitting back on the couch he sets down his stash and pats the seat next to him. "Have a seat, from the way you're dressed I'm guessing you're going outside so drink something warm before you go out in the cold."

She gives him a small smile and sits down, watching as he pours hot chocolate from his kettle into the teacups, handing one to her. "I just wanted to go look around outside before everyone gets up and things get crowded." She explains.

"What's with the camera," Lily looks down, forgetting that she had hung it around her neck. "Creevy give you that?" He doesn't look at her, simply takes a sip from his own steaming cup.

"My cousin, actually." Kathryn picks up the camera, holding it upside-down, showing him a tiny note etched into the bottom. Life is like a camera. Focus on what's important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things don't turn out - take another shot. Love you always, Dudley. "He told me before I left for school that he wanted to see pictures. So, I was about to go outside and take some. Do you want to go with me?"

Draco looks up, surprised she would invite him. "Sure, may I?" He gestures to the camera, and she hands it over. Holding it up he snaps a picture of her smiling with her hot chocolate. "It only makes sense that the first picture this camera takes is of you."

"Aw, thank you, Dray. Your turn." Taking the camera back she quickly takes a picture of Draco before he can pose in some superficial way.

"Hey, I wasn't ready." He whines, and Lily laughs.

"I like it better that way. Come on, let's go." She stands, dragging Draco out of the dorm. Once they reach the hall she screeches to a stop, causing Draco to crash into her. "Oh my goodness, we almost went outside and you're not even wearing a jacket. Quickly, go put one on."

After rushing upstairs the two finally make their way outside, fully bundled in their winter clothes. The cold air bites at them the second they leave the heat of Hogwarts. Sticking close together they walk to the partially frozen Great Lake. Lily crouches down, getting ready to take a picture when the Giant Squid pops its tentacles out of the water, picking up shards of glass. Lily gasps in shock, then quickly snaps a few photos as the tentacles seem to pose; moving and then holding their position. Standing up Lily giggles as the squid holds out one of its tentacles close to her face. Handing Draco her camera she holds out a hand and wrinkles her nose at the slimy, muddy rock it places in her hand. Draco bursts out laughing, taking a picture of her face. Lily takes her handkerchief out of her pocket and wraps the rock in it, setting it in her pocket for later. She rinses her hands in the lake, giving a small shriek at the freezing temperature. Standing, she and Draco link arms, walking around the grounds, taking pictures of anything interesting, beautiful, or strange. They are walking the line of the great lake when a small white hare crosses their path, it stops, staring at them. They carefully take a picture when suddenly a hawk swoops down and snatches it off of the ground, leaving nothing but a small pile of fluff. Draco gasps in horror and grips Lily, staring at the place the rabbit used to be.