The Story of Lily

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The Story of Lily

*~*~*~*~This Starts Part Two of The Story of Lily*~*~*~*~

Chapter Eight: Peace

Prologue to Chapter Eight:

Gwen only made one more attempt to talk to Lily, and once again, that ended disastrous. Lily began to sink further and further into her schoolwork while her friends forgot about her. She went to class, sat in the back, and never made a noise or lifted her head up. She never spoke to anyone; after classes ended, she would race up to her private dormitory and study. She made perfect grades, especially in Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts. She kept her red hair up in a tight, low ponytail. The corkscrew curls that had once inhabited her head had toned down into illustrious waves.

Lily had learned to control her powers. She locked them safely up inside of her and never used them. She had no one to talk to, so what was the point?

On her last day in sixth year, she decided to come down into the Common room for a change. She sat in a corner where no one could see her and watched the happy Gryffindors. She felt a pang in her heart when she spotted her old friends. Gwen was gorgeous with her coal black, wavy hair, crystal clear blue eyes, and creamy skin. She was best friends with beautiful Mary Katherine who had brown, corkscrew curls, a tan complexion and large brown eyes, and Hayley who was also a dream with thick, silvery blonde hair, large sapphire eyes, and a creamy complexion.

Lily watched them unhappily. They were surrounded by friends and admirers who were all fawning over them.

Her eyes shifted to a rowdy group of Gryffindor sixth year boys-Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter. They were famous at the school for their pranks. James and Sirius were widely known for their gorgeous looks and each had their girlfriend of the week on their laps. Remus was the more laid back type, but also quite handsome. Even little Peter Pettigrew was considered a good catch-but of course, that was only because he was friends' with the most popular boys, not because of his looks.

Lily sighed and shook her head. She still had feelings for James, but what were the chances he would even see her? No, she mentally slapped herself. She did not want him to see her ever again.

End Prologue

~*~*~*~*

Lily arrived at her home the next night. "Ella! I'm home!" she called as she entered the entrance hall, handing her bags to a maid.

Ella hurried into the front hall and embraced her. "Oh, Lily! I 'ave missed you so!"

"I missed you too. Christmas seems like such a long time ago!"

"I agree. Why don't yoo go and shange out of yoor school clothes and we weel talk about yoor year. 'Ow does zat sound?"

"Perfect," Lily grinned. She raced up the stairs and changed into her Muggle clothes, and then hurried back down and into the living room.

Ella smiled at her over the rim of her teacup and patted the sofa next to her. "Come and sit down. I want too heer all about eet!"

Lily sat down with flourish and began to tell her Ella all about her studies. When she was finished, Ella was frowning.

"Lilee, what about yoor friends? James and Remus and Sirius and Gwen?"

Lily looked away. "I told you, Ella. We aren't friends anymore," she said quietly.

"But why not?" The Frenchwoman asked indignantly.

"Because, we just aren't," Lily said finally.

Ella took Lily's hands in hers. "Lilee, I know what zisiz about. Yoo are afraid of putting zem in danger, are yoo not?"

Lily burst into tears and nodded. Ella rocked her back in forth, whispering soothing words to her. When Lily finally quieted down, she said, "Yoo need to get to bed. Tomorrow yoo will make peece."

Lily gave her a questioning look.

"No, do not ask. Eet iz what I 'ad to do. I will explain more in ze morning."

And Lily went to bed, completely puzzled.

~*~*~*~*

"No! No, there is no way I'm going!" Lily said stubbornly, crossing her hands over her chest.

"Fine zen! I will float yoo zere!" Ella said, just as stubbornly.

They were standing in the middle of the Wellington cemetery. Ella had explained (after they had already entered the graveyard) that Lily needed to make peace with herself and Violet.

"Now, yoo know ze way. I am going back to ze 'ouse and I 'ave sharmed ze gates so zat zey will not let yoo pass until you 'ave made peece!"

And, before Lily could protest, Ella was gone with a faint 'pop!' and she was left alone in the graveyard.

Lily shivered even though it was late June. She sat on a nearby headstone and put her head in her hands. No, there was no way she would go back to that grave.

Lily reached a shaking hand into the freshly dug earth and extracted a handful of it. She stepped up to the hole and let the cool dirt fall through her fingers. She though she would be all right, but as soon as she heard the dull thump of the dirt hitting Violet's coffin, she burst into tears and ran...

Lily angrily stood up. No, she would not relieve that day. She paced around the grave for a moment; finally deciding to see what poor dead relative's stone she had sat on.

The headstone read Great Uncle Albert. She shuddered at the date: 1432. The Wellington's sure did go way back.

She paced around a bit more, examining the dates on the nearby headstones. She finally got bored of that and sat on another one. Lily looked down to see what headstone she was on, and shrieked.

She had unknowingly sat on Violet's.

She got up quickly and dusted the fairly new grave off and read the inscription without meaning to:

Violet Mackenzie Wellington Black

1944-1972

Beautiful On the Inside And Out

Loyal Wife and Loving Mother

Best Friend

She Will Remain in Our Hearts Forever

My Everything

Lily made no movement to stop the tears coursing down her cheeks. She slumped against Violet's grave. She had been the one to write My Everything.

"Oh, why," she moaned. "Why? Why did you leave me!" she shouted. "Why?" she leaned against the cool marble and sobbed her heart out. She remembered all of the times they had spent, how much fun they had had. And, most clearly, the first time they had met.

The sound of a car coming up the driveway meant Aunt Violet had arrived. Lily raced down the stairs, the front stairs, she was pleased to note, with Petunia sticking her nose up in the air and walking daintily behind. When she got to the bottom of the stairs, Lily hesitated. The great front door was only a few steps away...what would her father do when he saw her?

She didn't have time to ponder this further because at that moment, the door was flung open and a tall man with brown hair entered. He was smiling jovially and holding a suitcase, which he gave to the butler. "Princess? Where's my-" He stopped dead when he saw not one child before him, but two. A blonde woman entered behind him and smiled at the girls.

Edward Evans cleared his throat. "H-hello, Lily."

Lily replied in a small voice, "Hello, Father."

He quickly moved to Petunia and smiled at her, a true smile, and hugged her tightly.

Aunt Violet was indeed dressed in the latest style. She had on a pink sleeveless dress and a scarf over her hair with large sunglasses over her eyes. Her blond hair was shoulder-length and flipped out. She was even prettier then the former American First Lady, Jackie Kennedy, whose style she was imitating.

Aunt Violet noticed the exchange between Edward and Lily and then Edward and Petunia. She removed her sunglasses and placed them in her pink handbag and gave it to the butler. She walked over to the tiny redhead, noticing the pain and longing in her eyes when she watched her father hug Petunia.

Lily remembered clearly the look of concern in her aunt's eyes, concern for her. At first, it was a ludicrous idea to Lily; that someone could actually care for her! Her, a lowly servant! Lily laughed shortly, now thinking of how wrong she had been.

She remembered Violet's wedding, and what Violet had told her about Lily's dead mother, and how much Lily's heart ached for Violet because she had to live without her lifelong best friend.

"Vi, Vi, what's wrong?" Violet suddenly put her knees down and wiped her eyes on her dress.

"Where - where's Lily?" she asked feebly.

"I'm right here, Aunt Violet!" Lily sat down next to her and Violet smiled through her tears and took Lily's hands.

"You look so much like you mother, it's painful. Your eyes...they're the same. Lily, I want you to know that I loved your mother very much. When she died, I - I didn't think I could live. We always planned our weddings together, and each time, we would be each other's maids of honor. I was at her wedding, and it's just empty without her!" She began sobbing again, and Lily began crying as well. They hugged each other for a long time, neither wanting the other to let go. "And, I just remembered how Iris had lilies for her flowers instead of irises, and how I said I wanted to have lilies too, or at least irises! And, I don't! I have stupid violets! Stupid, stupid violets! Where's Ella?"

"I am right 'ere, Mademoiselle," said Ella, stepping forward from the crowd of women watching, water streaming from her eyes.

"Will you change all of my bouquets flowers into lilies and irises?" Violet sniffled.

"Of course, Mademoiselle. Right away." And she rushed away to get the bouquets and change their flowers.

"Lily, your mother was the most wonderful, kind-hearted, brave, and most determined woman I've ever met. And if she was alive, I'm sure she would be extremely proud of you, just like I am." This brought forth-another wave of tears. "And she loved me, even though I was horrible to her sometimes, her love never lessened; just increased for me. Promise me you'll never change, Lily. Please."

"I won't. I promise," Lily said solemnly, and they hugged again.

Lily hugged her knees to her chest. "I love you, and I'll keep my promise. I won't ever change," she whispered. She rested her head on her knees and shook with silent sobs.

"Go, Lily, go, move on with your life..."

Lily jerked her head up. Someone was whispering something in her ear!

"Do not weep for me. Go..."

It was Violet! Lily jerked her head around wildly. When she saw no one, she laughed sadly and shook her head. "I'm hallucinating and the ripe old age of sixteen," she muttered.

Lily suddenly felt a bucket of ice hit her shoulder and she whipped around. The bottom dropped out of her stomach. It was a white, transparent form of the Violet she used to know.

"Vi-Violet?" Lily choked, scarcely able to believe her eyes.

Violet smiled. "Yes, it is I, Lily. But only for a few moments. I wouldn't be able to do this if you weren't an Adviser." Her voice was like music.

"Why-why are you here?" Lily asked.

Violet smiled sadly. "Lily, you cannot keep doing this to yourself."

"What?"

"Separating yourself from your friends. It's hurting you."

"But I'll put them in danger!" Lily exclaimed angrily.

"Lily, just remember: It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. I must go now."

"No! Don't go! Don't leave me again!" Lily begged through the torrents of water pouring down her face. "No! Please!"

"Lily, I must." Silver tears were making their way down Violet's own cheeks. "I love you, and I will be with you, always. Remember that. I am with you..."

A most miraculous thing happened. It was as though the heavens had opened up, and a beam of golden light shone on Violet. The light and Violet shimmered and then faded.

Instead of throwing herself on the ground and bawling like Lily felt like doing, she brushed herself off and smiled. She felt like a dismal cave that had just been filled with light; she was complete. She broke the barrier that surrounded her powers and instantly felt better.

Smiling contentedly to herself, she strode out of the cemetery without a problem.

She resolved to make up with her friends when school started back up. Hopefully, she could come up with the courage.

~*~*~*~*

A few weeks later, after she turned seventeen, Lily got her owl from Hogwarts, informing her that she would be Head Girl along with James Potter. Her heart skipped a beat and she grinned joyfully. Perhaps this would be easier than she thought...