Accio Evans

Chapter 43: Unexpected News

"Evans!" Lily broke out of her daydream as Hestia's shout came from the other side of the shower curtain. Inwardly groaning, she was just beginning to enjoy the feeling of the warm water soothing her tired skin.

"What?" she moaned, the shampoo suds were still lathered thick into her auburn curls, it would take at least five minutes to get them all out, especially those troublesome few around her temples that never wanted to rinse out.

"I can't hear you! Turn the shower off!" Hestia shouted over the sound of running water. Lily sighed, getting rid of the suds was no problem, she could rid her hair of them in seconds with her wand, it was just that she liked doing it herself, it made her feel slightly more connected with the muggle world when all she was surrounded by was magic; that, and she did not appreciate her morning shower being interrupted by a best friend who clearly did not understand the importance of these few precious moments when all was clear, calm and silent – bar the tinkle of running water. Begrudgingly, she flicked off the shower and took the towel that Hestia was holding around the edge of the shower curtain. Frustratedly Lily flicked the curtain away and wrapped the towel around herself as Hestia stood, still clad in an old Quidditch jersey (which undoubtedly belonged to Sirius) and the shortest pair of shorts Lily had ever seen, with a heavy yellow parchment letter clasped between her hands. The sight was strange, not Hestia standing there, as she quite frequently barged in on Lily's showers (much to the Head Girl's annoyance) to ask advice on an outfit or whether to wear the silver or the bronze eye shadow, but Hestia looked nervous – that was unusual (Hestia was usually the most confident and outgoing of the group of four girls), that coupled with the dog eared faded yellow parchment in her hands proved to be the oddest end to a shower Lily had, had in some time.

"You alright?" Lily asked with a small laugh, wrapping the fluffy towel tighter around her body and using her wand to rid her hair of a thick lather of suds which seemed to have escaped Hestia's notice. "You look like you're about to throw up or something." She joked, although it wasn't too much of an exaggeration, Hestia did look rather queasy; her normally clear cheeks were twinged with a pale yellowish green and she was blinking more often than needed – something which it was well known amongst her friends that she did when anxious or extremely excited.

"Tell me you got one of these too?" she asked, ignoring Lily's question and holding up the parchment. For a moment or two, Lily was completely perplexed as to what on earth Hestia was talking about, but then it dawned on her – the strange letter she'd received in the middle of the night, along with the accompanying ones for her friends that she had placed on their bedside cabinets. To be quite frank, she had forgotten all about the letter until Hestia had mentioned it – that wouldn't do would it? Missing an audience with Dumbledore because you'd completely forgotten you received a mysterious letter in the middle of the night... Lily nodded, she mentally dismissed the letter as probably an arranged career meeting or end of term plans, maybe even what day they needed to vacated their rooms by, but Hestia's apprehensive expression prickled at her curiosity.

"What could Dumbledore want with us?" Hestia questioned. The thin layer of water still smoothed across Lily's skin from her shower was cooling rapidly and an involuntary shiver rippled down her body. Lily was about to retort that they'd been to Dumbledore's office hundreds of times and quip that this was probably nothing, before frustratedly stomping from the bathroom, cold and annoyed at having her shower interrupted, but when it dawned on her – this wasn't James, this was Hestia, Hestia who had never visited Professor Dumbledore's office before. Hestia whose school record was less than spotless (with countless detentions for failing to hand in homework, being out after curfew, or the three she served in fourth year for being caught in a broom cupboard with Fabian Prewett), but there had been nothing overly disruptive or serious enough to warrant a trip to the Headmaster's office. To a Head Girl, a call to see Dumbledore seemed normal enough, a twice weekly occurrence maybe, but to someone who didn't hold the position and had never been called there before, it must have been a daunting prospect. Throughout her Head Student business Lily, it seemed, had become oblivious to the rarity of student visits to the elusive office of Albus Dumbledore. Her demeanour instantly calmed.