I'll Take it Shaken, Not Stirred

Chapter 18: The Recollections of Lily Evans

History: I don't own Harry Potter, but neither do you, so don't gloat :-P

Recap: (Chapter 5): certain memories from the forest are missing from the Head students' consciousness, and Dumbledore can do nothing to regain them. (Chapter 16): Lily shuns James's attempts at friendliness, and James, offended, decides he doesn't want anything to do with her. Lily's "apologies" (such as they are) go unheard, as the seventh year group worries about the future.

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"Life is a long lesson in humility." -J.M. Barrie

She really did not want to go to Herbology today.

"I really do not want to go to Herbology today."

Lexi rolled her eyes. "You said that already."

"Four times," reminded Eddie Bones.

"At least," agreed Paul Montreal.

"Well, I meant it," Lily defended herself. "I have this bad feeling about it."

"Mmmm... Do you suppose it's that feeling you get right before you go to Herbology every time?" suggested Lexi. "That's normal, Lily, don't worry."

"Possibly," was Lily's vague reply, for she wasn't really listening. You had to have a certain amount of either tranquility or determination to survive a whole Herbology lesson with Professor Adelaide "The Student Slayer" Grossman, and today, Lily had neither. In fact, she was pretty sure that at any moment, she would simply collapse in the corridor down which she was walking with her three fellow seventh years.

She was, simply put, exhausted.

And she had the most unusual headache.

Somehow, it felt as if the pain was coming from deeper inside her head. And the pain itself? It made her feel as though her head would explode at any moment, and she was beginning to wish it would, if only the aching would stop.

Lexi noticed Lily massaging her head. "If it hurts that badly," she said, "Why don't you just go to the Hospital Wing and get a headache potion?"

"'Cos Grossman will have my blood if I'm late. Alright, alright, I'm okay. It's... er... going away."

"'Ello, Girl." Eden had arrived, and she slung her arm around Lily's shoulders.

"Or maybe it's not..."

"What's the matter? You look like Hell, Red. Hey, Lex... Eddie... Twenty-Two. Off to Herbology, are we? Did anyone get the answer to number six? I'm starving; all I had for breakfast was a goblet of pumpkin juice. Where's Al-lice anyway?" The blonde said all this very quickly and it took a moment for everyone else to catch up.

They arrived on the stair that brought them to the Entrance Hall.

"I have a headache," Lily told her friend.

"Hey, E," said Paul.

"Hi, E," said Eddie.

"Greetings," said Lexi.