Lily in the Shadows

Chapter 4 (Edited)

 Days turn into weeks and before she knows it, it is July. Lily has remained diligent in her study of dance, and all the different pieces that go along with such things. However, her summer schooling has suffered for it. All her school books and assignments are still locked under the cupboard and Lily is too scared to ask her aunt to use them, she tried that near the beginning of summer and it did not end well. Having learned her lesson Lily didn't dare ask again, just hoping that she had enough time just before school started to get it all done.

All of her days are almost the same, the only thing that changes is what she does after her dance classes. Some days she and Harry go to the park, other days they hang out at the house, just drawing or reading. Harry snuck a few of his books at the beginning of the summer and he let Lily read them. She enjoys reading all of the year two books that he grabbed. Hopefully, this will make doing her homework easier, if she can just remember what she reads without having to go back and check it.

This day is like any other, in her last class Lily shows her growth in ballet, her turns were steadier, her ankles stronger, and her pointe stabler. Although she is no longer desperate to stay in the studio. She is so very excited for the day to be over so that she can go to a play with her family.

The second her classes are finally over Lily practically runs out of the studio to Petunia. Her aunt drives her home all the while listening to Lily ramble on about all of the fun things they did in dance that day.

Arriving home, Lily runs inside, needing a shower. Dancing may be pretty and graceful but it still makes you sweaty and stinky. Her coconut and mango shampoo had never smelled so sweet. Completing her shower she exits the bathroom, blanketed in steam. It billows out of the room, caressing her bedroom floor as though a strenuous fog. She digs through her wardrobe, trying to find something suitable enough for an evening so grand. A lovely black dress stands out in the wardrobe among the brightly colored dresses. Pulling it out she holds it to her body, looking in her full-length mirror. Deciding that a change would be nice Lilly pulls on the dark dress. The dark fabric stands out nicely against her alabaster skin. Her red hair hangs in damp ringlets against her shoulders. Happy with the look of her outfit she then sits at her vanity, blowdrying her hair and adding some of the hair sleeking gel given to her by Art for Christmas. Her frizzy curls now tame and gentle, frame her face softly. She then pulls her front curls away from her face, tying them back with a green ribbon. Happy with her appearance she slips on a silver pair of chunky heels with little bows on the ankles.

She walks down the stairs, calling for her aunt. The second Petunia walked out of the sitting room she let out a gasp, clutching her chest.

"Lily, what on earth are you wearing? I did not buy you that dress." she vociferously exclaims.

Lily pauses at the bottom step, looking down at her dress, "My friend got it for me at Christmas, do you like it?" By the look on her aunt's face, she can tell she does not.

Petunia sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose, "Lily, I didn't buy you that dress. That dress is black, you wear light dresses. You like light dresses dearest, dark dresses make you look colorless and dull, remember?"

Lily stops, her smile dripping off her face. She once again looks down at the dress, touching the hem faintly. "D-does it look bad?" She questions distressfully, no longer sure about her choice.

Petunia opens her mouth to respond, a scowl on her face when large stomps and an exclamation upstairs.

"Wow!" Dudley shouts, loudly stomping down the stairs. "You look beautiful!" Reaching the bottom of the stairs Dudley rushes forward, picking Lily up in his arms, and spinning her around. Her shrieks of laughter fill the hall. "The dress fits you nicely, and a change of color is always nice."