sweet talk | jily

|one| feathered beasts and celebrations

IT WAS A PERFECTLY NORMAL SUMMER MORNING IN COKEWORTH. The radio was predicting the week's weather as a few morning rays  of sunlight managed to break through the British clouds and enter the Evans residence through the slightly ajar window above the breakfast table where Petunia was sat, all ready and waiting for her boyfriend, Vernon Dursley, who had promised her a round of shopping in town to show of his new Camaro.

On the second floor Petunia's sister Lily was, to no one's surprise, studying in her room. She was about to begin her last year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The plan was to recieve top marks this year too and the younger Evans sister had therefore already begun preparing for the upcoming N.E.W.T. exams. When she turned the page of her potions book she was shocked to find sound effects to accompany the page with the title "The Dangers of Working With Mandrakes". That was until she realised that the shrill scream did not come from her book, but from downstairs.

"Go away you disgusting feathered beast!" Petunia screeched as Lily came rushing down the stairs to find her sister batting her arms wildly. To her relief the scare was caused by a single tawny owl circling the kitchen in fear of the wild human. It had entered through the now wide open window and caused Petunia such a fright that the morning newspaper and bowl of fruits had left their spots on the table and were now scattered on the floor.

"Calm down, Tunie, it's just a messenger owl," Lily said, holding back a laugh at her sister's disheveled state. Both the owl and Petunia calmed down at the sight of her and Lily managed to politely take a yellow envelope out of the owl's beak.

"There, your work is done, now be off!" Petunia said while hurrying the owl back out the window which she quickly shut afterwards. "Thank goodness I'll not be encountering any more of those when you've left for your freak-school."

Lily was about to give a witty comeback, but was interrupted by Mr. and Mrs. Evans who had been sharing their morning tea in the backyard when hearing the ruckus from inside. Mr. Evans was about to go off about his daughters' constant bickering but was stopped by his wife who pointed at the envelope in Lily's hand. 

"Is that from Hogwarts? Oh, you must open it Lily dear!" The post brought by the owl had almost been forgotten during Petunia's outburst, but after a quick examination of the purple wax seal it was confirmed to be a letter from Hogwarts. 

"Well go on, dear," Mr. Evans enthused, all signs of anger replaced by excitement. The muggle couple's limited knowledge of the wizarding world made them extremely curious at each little insight they recieved through their witch daughter. Lily obliged and carefully tore it open by the seal and started reading out loud at her mother's request.

"Dear Ms. Evans, we are pleased to inform you that your academic achievements, outstanding reputation as a student, and honest, good, and hard-working personality have resulted in you being elected Head Girl." A smile spread across Lily's face as she lifted her gaze to her parents' whose smiles seemed even larger and filled to the brim with pride.

"Head Girl? Well done, love!" her father said while lifting her up in a bear hug. Mrs. Evans started to come up with ways to celebrate, but it was all interrupted by the ring of the doorbell. Petunia, who had been stood to the side with her arms crossed and a jealous frown wondering how her parents could approve of this madness, hurried to open the door to let in her awaited guest.

Lily's good spirits fell instantly at the sight of Vernon "Vermin" Dursley in the doorway, Petunia's insufferable boyfriend. The first time they met Vernon had offered Lily money to go to the hair salon to dye 'that horrible carrot-hair' and she quickly realised that he was the embodiment of everything bad her classmates at Hogwarts said about muggles. Petunia and Vernon had only been dating for a few months and Lily already felt she had had enough of him for a lifetime.