Lily Evans

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

    Finally the lesson I had been anticipating the most arrived, and we headed to Transfiguration after lunch.

     When we all sat down Professor McGonagall talked to us a lot about achieving in our O.W.L.s and how hard they are going to be, which made me worry a lot because that was my first every Transfiguration lesson, yet I was expected to be taking the magical equivalent to a GCSE in a few months. We started with the Vanishing Spell, which Harry, Ron and I found extremely difficult (but I managed to get it right before they did), whereas Hermione of course found it easy.

     "At least you know you'll ace human Transfiguration Lily." Ron looked at my half vanished feather and that day's purple stripe in my hair (which Hermione had to point out before Ron noticed anything), and he sighed sulkily.

     "What's this, Miss Evans? You can do human Transfiguration? How?" Professor McGonagall had been passing our table as Ron said that, catching everything, each word just as confusing as the next to her.

     "Yes, Professor. I'm a metamorphogus." My purple stripe faded to a dark blue without me meaning it to.

     "Very impressive, you will do excellently in my class I can see, all metamorphogus are a natural at Transfiguration." I smiled at Professor McGonagall; even though she was strict so far she was my favourite teacher. After she walked away from us, I felt so much more confident with the Vanishing Spell. "I'll get you another feather so that you can try again properly." said Hermione, and walked off to the large trunk at the front of the class.  

      "Evanesco!" My wand flicked elegantly at the new feather, the incantation streaming out of my mouth. The feather vanished. It completely vanished! "Whoa, you really are a natural at this." Harry winked at me. My entire body tingled, butterflies danced in my stomach.

     "Thanks." Our eyes locked, neither of us looked away. I could hear my heart beating out my chest, like a drum, it was getting louder and louder.

*****

     That evening in the common room, Harry and I were sat next to each other. Our hands brushed silently while we finished out homework. "Excuse me, Lily Evans?" mumbled a scared looking first year. I finished the last sentence of my homework, and then looked up at him, trying to ease his fear.

     "Hi, yes that's me."

     "I have a message from Professor Dumbledore for you." Surprised, I took the note from his hand and opened it, careful not to let the others read it.

- Lily Evans [the note said] 

Please come to my office as soon as you receive this message. 

Password is Ginger Newt. 

Professor Dumbledore -

     I guess I had expected something like this, but it still surprised me. "I have to go see a teacher. See you later." I muttered, gathered up my things and hurried upstairs. Quickly, I put my textbook and parchment back where I kept them, in my bedside cabinet, and turned to me trunk. What should I bring... the locket... and the books. Yes, that'll do.

*****

     *Knock Knock*

     "Come in Lily." called a calm, steady voice. I swung open the door and hesitantly stepped inside to Dumbledore's magnificent office. "Please take a seat." I tried to avoid his gaze as I sat in a seemingly strong yet delicate chair with an extremely comfortable velvet cushion.

      "I have been looking forward to this meeting ever since I first heard about you. You have an amazing amount to offer to our current situation." I nodded, took a deep breathe and decided I needed to be less scared. This was extremely important.

     "I've got these with because I think they'll be useful. The books, I don't know if the earlier ones are relevant, but incase you feel like it would be useful to read them I have them too. I also have this locket, which I retrieved from The Black's house... it belonged to Slytherin."

     "Excellent." I just mumbled something that sounded like thank you to him, but then Dumbledore glanced at me expectantly, making me realize why I was here in the first place.

     "Well... it's hard to know where to start. There's a lot that I know, but I think you already know most of it."

     "I think what would be best is that I read the books tonight and then we talk again about them tomorrow evening. Unless there are certain parts of these books you think unwise for me to read?" 

      "Ur, well, if you read the books I doubt the deaths and terrible things will happen since you can prevent them, particularly the end of the Half-Blood Prince, which I doubt you would enjoy. The only thing is, the books are mainly about Harry and Hermione and Ron, and everything they're feeling and their thoughts and I think you might be uncomfortable reading that..." I more felt that they would feel uncomfortable for Dumbledore to read that, but then again, millions of other people have.

     "Thank you for your warning Lily, I will try to skim through those particular parts. I will see you here tomorrow at eight, I advice you to bring Harry's invisibility cloak. Goodnight." Dumbledore waved politely whilst I made my way out of his office.

*****

      "Why did you go to see a teacher so late?" Hermione's quiet whisper made me jump backwards, she was hidden behind her bed drapes waiting for me.

      "Oh, it was just Professor McGonagall telling me some spells I should practice." The lie ran from my lips before I had even thought about it.

     "Okay, I can help you with them tomorrow if you want. Goodnight Lily.