Speechless

Chapter Six: You Can't Keep Me Quiet

Lily stepped into the expansive living room, holding Eileen close to her as she looked around the place. "Do you like it?" she whispered to her.

"Yeah, Mummy!" Eileen squealed, struggling to get out of Lily's arms, and hastily dashed from the room, looking for the one that would be hers.

Lily smirked and shook her head, turning around to see Rose stepping inside. "So, what do you think of it?" she asked, gesturing with her hands around the room, and Rose nodded, taking in the furnishings.

"It's great," Rose assured her. "But I wish you would've come and stayed with me once your lease was up in London. I mean, my accommodations are all paid for by the Wizarding Sports League, and I can basically live wherever I want, in any kind of house I want."

Lily smiled, stepping closer and embracing her best friend. "I know that, and I appreciate it, Rose, really," she assured her before letting go. "But it was time for me to put forth a real investment for my future. And besides, I didn't want to stay in the middle of London for the rest of my life. Time to spread my wings a bit, and have a bigger space with a proper yard in it for Eileen to play in."

"Hello, Auntie Rosie!" Eileen squealed, running into the living room and scampering with haste towards one of her godmothers.

Rose smiled indulgently at the girl and scooped her up into her arms, kissing her forehead. "And hello to you, too, my pet," she replied. "Have you been behaving for Mummy?"

Eileen rolled her beautiful silvery eyes. "Yeah," she muttered, putting her raven head down on Rose's shoulder. "Sometimes."

Lily had to laugh aloud at that. "Aren't you happy to be living in Wales, love?"

Eileen's dark brows knit together as she considered her mother's words. "House is pretty," she finally said after a moment, and Lily had to cover her mouth at the notion that Eileen resembled Severus far too much in that moment.

"And did you happen to find the gift I've left you, darling?" Rose asked, turning her full attention back onto Eileen. "I've left it on your bed."

Eileen swiveled her head back to Rose. "The pink bow?" she asked.

Rose nodded. "That's the one."

"Didn't open it yet," Eileen replied, scooting out of Rose's arms, and was levitated to the ground by Lily to ensure no injury. "Thanks, Mummy!" the little girl chanted, scurrying out of the room quickly and down the hallway to her bedroom.

"Her hair was very like yours was when we were little," Rose said quietly.

Lily turned and stared at Rose with a smile on her face. "Really? You remember my hair before it was red?" she asked, and pulling a bit at the end of her long ponytail.

"Course I do," Rose said, crossing her arms with a grin, and looking terribly like her father and the rest of the Weasley clan in that moment. "We witches and wizards have much stronger memories than Muggles. You know that, Lily."

Lily pursed her lips. "I've been a redhead since I was two," she said quietly. "To tell you the truth, I don't remember much before that."

"Must've been boring," Rose joked. "But you must remember your fathers getting married, don't you? It was a lovely day. We sat in the front row and everything..."

Lily nodded. "That I do remember," she clarified.

"Eileen's eyes, however," Rose put in, and Lily found herself growing cold. "They're not yours, Lily, they're not. I mean, your eyes never changed color. They've always been green like Uncle Harry's, and his mother before him..."