Lily and the Coral Orb

-Chapter 2-

Lily Evans was an average girl. She got almost perfect grades. She loved swimming and reading. And sometimes, weird stuff happened around her.

Lily's only sister, Petunia, was two years older than her with a long, lengthy build and short blonde hair. She couldn't stand the strange things that followed Lily around like a curse. Especially because Petunia was the one the curse always seemed to effect.

Once, while Petunia had been in the bathroom doing her hair, she commented on Lily's lack of friends. The simple comment soon turned into merciless teasing. Suddenly, there was a shriek from behind the bathroom door. Lily opened it quickly to find Petunia trembling on the floor amid shards of broken mirror.

But that wasn't the only time. Petunia had been working on an art project with her friends, giggling away as Lily tried to study for her midterms. Petunia wasn't even working. She was far too busy modeling her new dress. Suffice it to say, Petunia was soon covered in paint.

The most recent incident happened at breakfast only a week before school was to end. Petunia had been up all night writing an important report worth a large part of her grade. She took her frustration and lack of sleep out on Lily, of course.

"Do you know what I heard, Lily?" she asked, sitting down to breakfast.

"What?" Lily asked, sipping her orange juice with an annoyed look in her green eyes.

"Scott... that boy you like," she started slowly, watching Lily's annoyance turn to fear.

"Y-yes?" Lily asked, setting her glass on the counter in front of her.

Petunia got up and leaned against the opposite side of the counter, after checking to see that their parents weren't lurking around.

"He's going to a different school next year," she said, smiling evilly. "Some boarding school."

"You're lying!" Lily shouted, feeling sick.

"Nope," Petunia said, walking back to her seat. "He's been bragging about it for a week or so. I'm surprised you haven't heard yet."

A wave of despair took Lily over, followed closely by intense anger.

And Petunia's report burst into flames.

Lily stared at herself in the mirror, thinking this all over. Her normally pale face was red from crying. Thinking of life without Scott was truly painful. Unfortunately, what Petunia had told her a month ago was the truth. Scott was leaving her forever.

Well, he was exactly leaving her. They weren't together in any way. In fact, Scott hated Lily. She didn't exactly blame him for it either. The teasing he got for holding her affections was worse than what Lily endured from Petunia everyday.

Lily was nowhere near as popular as her sister, and Petunia made every opportunity to mention it. Truth be told, Lily only had one close friend. Natalie Hogan was also quite popular, but she was much more accepting than Petunia and her friends. Natalie and Lily had become close friends very quickly over the course of the past year. She was the only person Lily knew that didn't think she was crazy when weird things happened around her. In fact, Natalie had admitted on several occasions that weird things happened to her as well.

Just then, Petunia walked into the room, sneering. Lily tried to wipe away the wetness from her eyes, but it was too late. Lily had always been very emotional, but she was reluctant to show that side to anyone lest they could use it against her.

"Dreaming of Scott again, Lily?" Petunia asked, amusement playing in her voice.

"Yes," Lily admitted, bitterly.

That's all you'll be doing.

Lily cringed. If Petunia's poor treatment of her wasn't enough, her own mind always had an insult prepared as well.

"Perhaps, you can wish for him when you blow out your candles," she laughing.

"Very funny," Lily said, glaring back at her.

"Well, here," Petunia said, her smirk fading. "I found this on the porch."

"A letter?" Lily asked, taking it from her sister. "For me?"

"Seems to be some kind of prank," Petunia laughed.

"Wizardry," Lily whispered.

The seal on the envelope had already been broken by her nosy older sister, yet Lily could swear she had just read the word wizardry. Surely Petunia had been right. This was a fake. Or perhaps, it was some company selling children's "Magic kits". Of course... either way, why would they have sent it to her? She was only 11. Finally 11, yes... but still only 11.

Lily wasn't sure why her hands were shaking when she pulled out the parchment inside and began reading. Her head was spinning. Surely it had been a joke. Of course. But as Lily continued reading, she wanted to believe in it. A school of witches and wizards... People who couldn't possibly consider the things that happened to her weird, because they would have had far crazier adventures.

But that couldn't possibly be true... could it?

"Mum!" Lily screamed, rushing past Petunia and down the stairs. "Mum!"

Mrs. Evans looked up at her frantic daughter in alarm.

"What is it, Lily?"

Petunia slowly descended the stairs, rolling her eyes. "It's just a prank, mother. Nothing more."

Lily slowly handed her mother the letter, not sure what she expected... not sure what she wanted. Mrs. Evans read the letter with wide eyes. The expression she wore was serious, almost worried and perhaps a bit sad, even.

"Chris..." she whispered, as she neared the end of the second sheet.

"Hm?" Her husband peered slowly over his morning paper, only then noticing his daughters' presence. "Oh, good morning girls! And happy birthday, Lily!"

"Uh- thanks, Dad," Lily mumbled, not sure what to make of the situation.

"Chris," Mrs. Evans repeated, giving her husband the letter. "This letter has just arrived for Lily."

Mr. Evans began reading in silence, and slowly let the newspaper fall onto the table. His wife studied his face, almost frantically searching for something in his dark eyes. When both of her parents had finished, Lily was seriously beginning to consider that the letter could be real.

"You... you don't think it's-"

"It couldn't possibly be real, Mother," Petunia broke it. "You can't truly believe something so utterly ridiculous!"

Mrs. Evans leaned slowly back against her chair and sighed, taking the letter in her hands once more. Her husband got up from his own chair, removing his reading glasses and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Mum..." Lily ventured. "Dad..."

Mrs. Evans finally set the letter down and touched the gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Lily," her mother said, softly. "We should tell you-"

"That we're very proud of you," Mr. Evans finished, giving his wife a look.

Lily was stunned. The letter was not a fake? But how could that be?

"What?!" Petunia snapped.

Lily barely made it to the chair in front of her without fainting. She didn't know whether to be happy or sad... to cry or laugh... or scream. Had this day even happened? Perhaps she was still in bed dreaming. And perhaps Scott would be there any second to take her on a midmorning broom ride.

"Are you all right, sweetheart?" her father asked, moving over to her side.

"I-I honestly don't know," Lily said, looking up to her father's concerned face.

"Should I-" Mrs. Evans said, suddenly. Her husband nodded in response.

She rose and headed to her room. When she returned, she had a small box in her hands.

"What is it?" Lily asked.

"Open it," Mr. Evans said, smiling.

Lily opened the box to reveal a silver, circular locket. Etched into it were waves, and inside...

"There's nothing in it," Petunia scoffed.

"There is," Mrs. Evans said, dabbing at her wet eyes. "Some lockets are said to have great power and this one seemed very special to us."

"It will protect you while you are away from us." Mr. Evans added.

"So... I'm really going?" Lily asked, her voice quivering.

Lily was thrilled at the prospect of going... but she didn't know how she was to leave her family. And to be away from home for so long... she didn't even care for full weekend sleepovers at Natalie's house. Lily felt tears spring to her eyes.

"If that's what you want to do," her mother said, quite obviously fighting back her own tears. "We will support your decision."

Lily smiled though her tears, and hugged her mother. Her father gently closed the locket and whispered, "Don't use all the power right now, love."

Lily laughed.

Could she really turn the school down? Did she really want to? She could make a new start... new friends. And essentially explore a new world. Maybe... the world she had belonged in all along.

Lily laughed again through her now happy tears. A fresh beginning... perhaps it really was what she really needed. Yes, perhaps everything would be okay.