An Unexpected Attraction

Some Velvet Morning

Lily was in the Gryffindor Common room, sprawled out across the couch. She had a Transfiguration textbook between her hands, her eyes clinging to every word intently. Suddenly a pair of soft lips pressed against hers interrupted her train of thought. Lily smiled.

"How am I ever expected to get my studying done with you sneaking up on me like that?" When she opened her eyes a messy haired boy with square black rimmed glasses loomed over her. He plopped down on the couch, lifting Lily's legs and placing them in his lap.

"What's the point in studying if you can't have a little fun?" Lily blushed as he leaned in closer to her, his lips traveling up her neck and along her jaw. Screw it, she thought, tossing the textbook aside. Lily sat up, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips delicately against his. They moved in unison, her hands traveling down along his chest. She could feel the outline of muscles beneath his shirt...

Lily was shaken awake by the sound of an owl's beak tapping impatiently against her window. She jumped up, her oversized t-shirt soaked in sweat. What the hell had she just been dreaming about? Her stomach tossed and turned as she quickly scrambled from her bed and threw the window open, letting Apollo in.

"Sorry," she apologized, although her owl would never know. "You silly little thing." She pet her affectionately, giving the owl treats to nibble on as she took the letter for herself.

Lily,

France is wonderful. Mum left after the first few days, had to get back to work, but it's better that way anyway. Amy's been showing me all around, introducing me to her friends, taking me out to the pubs. Have I mentioned how much I am absolutely fucking loving being seventeen now? I love it.

The only downside to this place: when Amy is working I have absolutely no clue what I'm doing. She tries to leave me maps and directions for things to do but I always get lost. In recent days I've acquired an incredibly helpful friend to guide me around. His name is Anton and before you ask yes, we are a little more than just friends. Wipe that look off your face! You wouldn't be able to resist it either if you were guided around town by this beautiful smile.

Only a few more days until I have to hurry on home (to Anton's great dismay) and I'll be able to spend the next two months of summer running around with you, Mary, and Alice. I can't believe this is it, our last summer as Hogwarts students. Well, no matter what we'll make the most of it, lots of drinks and parties to go around. Talking about parties, I'm also super excited for your boyfriend's little get together (which I am incredibly thankful he is throwing a day after I get home). Well, try not to be too glum without me and remember I return home with piles and piles of prezzies.

Love,

Marlene

Marlene's letters always put a smile on Lily's face. She'd hurried off to France to visit her older sister Amy the day after they'd gotten home from Hogwarts and Lily had missed her more than she thought she would. It was only two weeks apart but somehow those two weeks had left Lily with more complicated and unresolved feelings than the past seventeen years of her life.

Lily snatched a pair of shorts off her bedroom floor and threw them on before heading out downstairs. The house was silent which meant her mother must have been at work already. Lily had been alone for much of the past week with her mom constantly on shifts at the hospital and her sister away on vacation with Vernon's family.

She grabbed herself a bowl of frosted flakes and then sat in front of the TV as she munched away on them. Her mother, Katherine Evans, worked at a hospital a few miles out of town as a nurse. Katherine was a small, frail, woman. She had always been very delicate looking but had become more so since the death of her husband a year prior.