Alright Evans?

Chapter Seven

The next couple of days went quite slowly for James, he had just managed to coax his mother out of her bedroom to spend some time with him and Sirius. They sat at the dinner table one evening, James at one end of the table, his mother at the other and Sirius sat between the two. James watched his mother's actions carefully.

"Oh James" she said loudly in her 'I'm sorry' voice "I forgot to sort out the funeral arrangements" she began sobbing once again. 'I'm such a disappointment, I'm so sorry' Sirius rushed over to her side before James could even move. He nodded gratefully at him as he touched her forearm carefully.

"We're going to sort it, don't worry" he smiled up at her, she removed her tissue from her nose and ruffled his hair.

"You boys are too kind to me" she looked adoringly from one to the other.

"When would you like the funeral to take place?" James asked softly.

"I'd maybe give it at least another week, what with the hundreds of invitations that need to be sent out" Bonny brought them all their dinner as James nodded.

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Unlike James, Lily was having a happier time at home, she was being smothered with cuddles by both her parents who appeared to have missed her dearly. Petunia, on the other hand, she hardly saw, she was too busy going out with her college friends and avoiding any sort of contact with her younger sister.

One evening, the whole family to Lily's surprise sat down together to eat a family meal.

"How have you been Tuney?" Lily asked politely from opposite her.

"Fine" she snapped.

Mrs Evans gave her a warning glare, Petunia sighed, putting down her knife and fork and making direct eye contact with her sister.  Her face was contorted into a forced smile, which looked rather painful to Lily, who had to look down quickly to prevent herself from laughing and making the whole situation worse.

"How have YOU been?" Lily returned her gaze.

"Good, thank you" she smiled and Petunia dropped her smile instantly, returning back to her dinner and fleeing the room as soon as possible.

"Don't worry about her Lily" Mr Evans whispered as they began the routine of washing up the dishes.

"We're so proud of you" Mrs Evans piped up pulling Lily into an unexpected, but needed cuddle.

"Thanks mum" her dad smiled over at her from behind her mother's back.

"I'm going out" Petunia walked in snootily. Lily's mum moved away looking at her older daughter in what seemed to be disgust.

"Not like that you're not" Mr Evans growled, she was wearing a little black dress, which was very little indeed, it only just covered her bum.

"I'll be late" she replied as she applied extra lip gloss, looking into the photo closest to her. 'Don't wait up' and she walked out the front door without a second glance.

Mrs Evans collapsed in a heap on the floor crying slightly. Lily and her dad ran to her immediately.

"Mum" she whispered concern evident in her voice.

"I don't know what's happened to her" she replied through tears. "She was never one for disobeying the rules as a girl, it's like she's trying to prove something" Lily knew exactly what she was trying to prove, she thought darkly. She'd always been jealous that Lily was able to do magic, and she wasn't. For that reason, Petunia felt that over the years, their parents were becoming more interested in Lily and her 'joke of a school' as Petunia put it. She'd  told Lily  over and over again for years how much of a freak she was and Lily always shrugged it off, she didn't particularly care any more the way Petunia acted around her.