Priori Incantatem [HARRY POTTER FANFICTION]

Chapter 3: Unwelcome Proposals

Chapter 3: Unwelcome Proposals 

Yawning, Lily Evans shuffled down the stairs on her way to breakfast in the Great Hall. Although it was only October, not to mention only sixth year, most of the Hogwarts professors had been piling the homework onto the sixth years in preparation for NEWTS. As a result of this in addition to her prefect duties, Lily hadn't gotten much sleep of late. She had finally slept in a bit this morning, but she was still exhausted and had a prefect meeting about the Hogsmeade weekend on the 31st and the following Halloween feast as well as plenty of delayed homework to look forward to today. Also, Lily reflected, pushing open the doors of the Great Hall, she wanted to get that letter off to her parents and possibly make a start on the Potions essay due the following week.

Lily's reverie was interrupted by the realization that the Hufflepuff table seemed to be greatly excited by her presence, for some reason. They were all whispering excitedly and gesturing towards her, and several of the girls looked quite militant.

Uneasy, Lily began to make her way to the Gryffindor table but as she approached the agitated Hufflepuffs, one of them, a seventh year Lily vaguely recognized as Gilderoy Lockhart, stood up and bestowed upon Lily what he considered to be a dazzling smile. Uneasily, Lily moved forward a few more paces, unsure of what this strange behaviour could mean.

Lockhart adjusted his already immaculate school robes and gave his perfectly coifed hair a pat before speaking in a jovial, booming voice.

"Lily Evans?" Lockhart began with another toothy grin. "Today is your lucky day because today your long unrequited dream is finally coming true," Lockhart paused for dramatic effect, which was quite unnecessary as he had the entire hall's avid attention. Lily's face was so flushed it literally felt as though it were on fire.

Lockhart took Lily's hand and began to bring it to his lips to kiss it, but Lily's look of horrified outrage and implied menace stopped him, so he held onto it rather awkwardly, looking momentarily at a loss.

Unfortunately Lockhart regained his composure and continued with his embarrassing declaration. "Lily, I am smitten by your pealing laughter and fiery beauty. Quite simply you have taken my heart by surprise and it can be silent no longer. It cries out to you and you must answer its call. Lily Evans, in front of all of our friends, peers, esteemed professors and other well-wishers, will you accompany me to the Hogsmeade weekend?" 

"Forgive me if I have taken you by surprise, clearly you are overwhelmed by your good fortune," Lockhart added as an afterthought when Lily didn't immediately respond. For her part, Lily, dumbfounded by the level of humiliation she was experiencing, was trying desperately to get control of her rage.

Lily yanked her hand from Lockhart's ridiculous grasp and took a deep breath.

"NO!" Lily shouted at the top of her lungs before turning on her heel and dashing out of the Great Hall.

"I'll, err, give you some time to think it over, shall I?" Lockhart called weakly after her retreating back. He then turned back to his avid audience, most of whom had begun to snigger. "Women," Lockhart chuckled unconvincingly. "Always have to play hard to get, eh?" With that Lockhart sat back down looking rather dejected where at least half of Hufflepuff's female population, who looked considerably more cheery than they had at Lily's arrival, did their best to comfort him.

Over at the Gryffindor table, Sirius was splitting his sides with laughter at the scene that had just transpired.

"Did.......you.....see....Evans'....face? gasped Sirius between chuckles. "I....thought....she.......was going.....to.....pop!" Sirius doubled over as a new wave of mirth hit him. Morwenna Marchbanks shot him a look of deep disgust before rising to find Lily.