Of Deer and Flowers

Chapter Fourteen

Hogsmead

October 15,

Dear Jane,

Today is our first Hogsmeade weekend. I am so excited! I will write back later and tell you how it went!

"Lily wake up!" Lily rolled over and opened her eyes as Alise shouted at the top of her lungs.

"What!" she mumbled turning her face back into her pillow.

"It's a Hogsmeade weekend." There were muffled groans from around the room. Lily sighed and pushed herself up onto her elbows looking at the clock beside her bed.

"Its not even Six AM!" She put her head back down on her pillow and tried to fall asleep. She only roused when Alise dumped a bucket of water on her head. Even then, by the time she got, up the rest of her dorm mates were all awake and dressed. Apparently, the commotion Alise had been making had been too much to let them sleep either.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Peter grinned and looked around at the town of Hogsmeade. Stores lined the street and other students were spilling in and out of random doorways.

"Where to first?" Peter asked the others.

"Well I say Honydukes."

"Can't forget Zonko's."

"The Apothecary, I need new supplies!"

"Then we'll end at the Three Broomsticks."

"Butterbeer!"

"Mmmm."

"Then it's agreed?"

"Agreed."

It was a rather long day, but purely enjoyable. Two o'clock found the Muraders at the Three Broomsticks trying to set all their packages out of the way. Sirius and James were arguing over who was going to get the butterbeer.

"I'll go."

"No I'm going!"

"Why don't you both go?" put in Remus. They nodded and headed in the direction of the bar. Looking after them Peter noted the source of the argument. The witch serving drinks was rather young, about eighteen or nineteen, with bright eyes and hair cascading down her back. She was gorgeous. Peter couldn't help but laugh as he watched his two friends fall over themselves trying to order their drinks.

Some five minutes later they returned. The four boys settled back sipping Butterbeer and discussing their favorite shops.

The peace didn't last long though. As the boys left they noticed two wizards in their late twenties standing in the middle of the street. Both were rather tall, but while one's hair was a brilliant red, the other's was a blond shaded almost white.

"Well Arthur, you truly think that proposal of yours is going to pass?" the blond hared man was saying. "Protecting Muggle artifacts? Phaa!" Peter didn't understand most of what the rest of the conversation was about, but he knew an argument when he heard it, and both men were livid. It didn't last long though. After a few minutes the man named Arthur was dragged off by a woman who was obviously his wife.

"But Molly I . . ."

"Really Arthur! Think of the example your setting for your sons! Arguing in the middle of the street!"

"Did you hear that Evans?" Peter turned as Snape swaggered up addressing Lily. "Did you hear that? That fool is actually trying to pass off that idiotic idea! Pity it doesn't apply to you Mudblood!" There was a roar as James tried to launch him self at Snape, but was held back by Sirius and Remus.

"Bill, did you hear that! Bill, he called her the M-word!" Peter shifted his attention to see a small red headed boy tugging on the sleeve of his older brother's shirt. Peter guessed that they were only about a year apart.

"And who are you?" Snape asked scornfully.

"William Marcus Weasley," the older boy said throwing out his chest proudly. "This is my brother Charlie, and I think my Dad's idea is wonderful!"

"You do, do you?" sneered Snape. "Well let me set you straight kid. My father just happens to be Satarus Snape head of his department at the ministry. My forefathers have always been at the top, and if you for one second think that crackbrain idea is going to . . .Ouch!" He cut off as Charlie darted forward and kicked him hard in the shin. Peter snickered.

"Charlie he's not worth it!" Bill said calmly catching his brother's shoulder. "Remember what uncle Pheneas said? That you can always tell a man's breeding by the amount of time he takes to show off his lineage." Charlie nodded as Snape glowered. Out of the corner of his eye Peter noticed Remus's impressed smile.

Snape growled and turned back to Lily. "Is what they say true Evans? Are we all equals? Or are you nothing more than a common Mudblood?" Remus and Sirius were still holding James, but Snape had no such luck with Lily. Her fist swung and he staggered back blood running from his nose as McGonagall arrived on the scene.

"Detention Miss Evans. You do not strike a fellow student no matter what the provocation!" Lily nodded and then grinned when Charlie bounced up to the professor.

"Hi! I'm Charlie! Are you a professor? Are you going to teach me when I go to school?"

McGonagall smiled. "Hello young man. Yes, I am a Professor," she paused as her eyes lighted on Bill. "Is that your brother? He doesn't seem nearly as happy as you are today," she said trading a question for a question.

"Yup, that's Bill! Don't worry he always tries to act ditzifyed."

"You mean dignified?"

"That's what I said!"