Priori Incantatem [HARRY POTTER FANFICTION]

Chapter 26: The Mad Tea Party

Chapter 26: The Mad Tea Party

For a full minute, Lily stood frozen at the top of the stairs as doom descended upon her. Oh bloody, bloody hell.

By this time, Vernon had ended his latest tirade and had noticed Lily. "Oh it's you, is it?" he eyed Lily with distaste.

Indignation shaking her out of her shock, Lily shot her future brother in law a fulminating glare and was pleased when Vernon stepped back a bit, intimidated. Ever since he had found out the truth about Lily, Vernon had lived in fear that she would turn him into a toad and Lily didn't disabuse him of the idea in case she ever did it, accidentally or otherwise.

Petunia was surveying the sitting room through narrowed eyes, taking in every detail of the table set with Mrs. Evans' favourite china, the fresh flowers, the fire burning in the fireplace.

"Mum, why is the smart china out?" Petunia demanded sharply. "Who's coming to tea?"

"Lily's having a guest to tea today, darling. Had you forgotten?" Mrs. Evans used in the smooth, calm voice that Lily recognized as the one she used whenever she was "handling" Petunia.

Petunia went pale and looked from one parent to the other for confirmation. Both Mr. and Mrs. Evans returned her gaze tranquilly. "You mean to tell me that not only are you allowing Lily to BE a freak but now you're exposing us all to contact with OTHER freaks?" Petunia hissed, spraying spit everywhere in her outrage.

"Petunia," Mr. Evans reproved in a deceptively pleasant tone. "I believe we've discussed your using that word in context with your sister."

"You mean to say one of HER kind is coming here?" Vernon asked in scandalized tones. Lily seriously considered realizing Vernon's worst fears and trying her hand at Transfiguring him into a toad. It might actually be kinder than allowing James to have at him.

At Mrs. Evans' serene nod, Vernon's indignation grew. "Well," he spluttered, puffing his chest out. "There is nothing I can do about the choices you've made with this deeply misguided girl," he indicated a glowering Lily, "but I WILL NOT allow you to subject MY fiancé to such riff-raff. Come along, Petunia," Vernon offered her his arm. "We needn't stay here any longer." 

Petunia was tempted, Lily could see it in her eyes. But it was equally plain that Mr. and Mrs. Evans weren't going to stand for it. Lily wasn't sure exactly what her parents had threatened Petunia with, but whatever it was, it seemed to be quite effective. Knowing her sister, Lily speculated that they had threatened her with disinheritance, refusing to attend her wedding, or refusing to pay for it. Or very possibly all of the above, considering how deep Petunia's hatred of Lily went.

"I'd better stay," Petunia said eventually and extremely grudgingly. Vernon, completely unprepared for this, was very obviously thrown by this and stopped in the middle of his dramatic exit, looking a bit comical in the process.

"Er- I - that is - WHAT did you say Petunia?" Vernon wasn't ever in tune with subtleties.

"I. Think. I'd. Better. Stay," Petunia ground out through gritted teeth.

"Then I'll stay with you," Vernon declared in the tones of one making a great sacrifice. "No telling WHAT this 'friend' will be like, and I won't allow you to go through this alone." Lily glanced away, thoroughly fed up, and found her father frowning at Vernon rather disgustedly while her mother bit her lip in annoyance. Lily wondered how often they had to put up with these declarations.

The chime of the doorbell broke the silence and Lily raced for the foyer, the only thought in her head to warn James. She wouldn't let her worst enemy walk into Petunia and Vernon without fair warning, let alone her boyfriend.