Lily Evans and the Familiar Stranger

Remembering

I decide to press on the subject about Harry's scar while I brush his mess that is supposedly hair. "Harry," I begin. "How can your parents die in a car crash if at least one of them is a wizard?"

He gulps. "I was hoping that you wouldn't pick that up."

I continue brushing his hair keeping my eyes on his hair with his back faced me. "Well, I did. Care to explain why you would lie to me with an unbelievable lie like that?"

"Well... my Aunt did tell me that my parents died in a car crash." He shivers for some reason. "But I found out that it wasn't true just before I started Hogwarts."

"So you told me that particular lie because..." I trail off so he can answer.

"I know this may sound strange from the outside but..." Harry also trails off but he continues before I tell him to. "I don't want to lie to you so I tell you the closest truth that I can."

"Oh," I say. That's strange, why would he not want to lie to me? Maybe he knows me in the future! I hope not. I wonder who his Mother is...

"Have you finished trying to do the impossible yet?" he asks.

What does he mean? I look at the hairbrush in my hand. Oh! Have I gotten his hair to stay flat? "Firstly, it's not impossible nothing is. Secondly, it maybe a bit harder than I thought because I thought that you copied James because he is your Father and finally, it hasn't even been two minutes yet!"

He groans. "It won't work."

I look for my wand and my face pales. "I just realised something."

"What?" he asks.

"I could've used my wand to change your appearance." He nearly faints.

"WHAT?!?!" he shouts, "Why didn't you do that before?!?! You idiot!" Harry shuts himself up and looks at the carpet.

"Because I live in a Muggle home and I can't stop thinking like one." Harry is getting a bit scary. If he were my child there would be no way that he would be able to speak to anyone like that. It's just plain rude.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Lily," he apologises and grins. "One of my friends joked that I'd frighten Voldemort with my shouting."

I wince. He dares to say You-Know-Who's name? What is James telling him? "You know," I joke, "how did we get from the subject of your scar to your shouting?"

I expect that he would say: "Because I'm interesting and what else are we going to talk about other than me?"

"I dunno," he says. Maybe James's kid isn't as much like him as I thought he would be.

I smile. "I might as well use my wand and finish getting your hair done."

Harry grins as I cast a spell on him to make his hair flat.

***

Harry ducks his head so not many people could see him while we walk through the common room. He looks a little feminine but I don't know any magic that can change his face, so he sill looks masculine and like James.

"Lily with one L!" somebody shouts.

"Yes?" I answer.

"Do you really fancy Sirius Black?"

"Maybe," I say. This is actually quite fun; I quite enjoy the attention. Oh Merlin! Am I turning into James Potter?!

As we pass the Fat Lady portrait, Harry asks, "What was all that about?"

"What d'you mean?" I look around and try to act as confused as he is.

"That Sirius Black thing," Harry answers.

"Oh." I try to act casual about it. "Someone started a rumour that I fancied Sirius and I just can't be bothered to say no every single question."

Harry narrows his eyes but does not push the subject on. We finally get to Dumbledore's office and then a thought strikes me. "Do you know the password?"

"Um, sherbet lemon?" Nothing. "Marshmallow?" Still nothing. "Go on," he says, "think of a sweet."

"Uh, chocolate?" I cross my fingers; nothing. I swear I know this! I heard James and his friends say the password not to long ago, what was it?!

"Liquorish?" Nothing.

I hear a shout and I know who it is immediately. Diana Jorkins, sister of Bertha Jorkins. Diana is the most talkative girl I have ever met! Well... after her sister of course. Sometimes I really wish that both of them would shut their gobs. It's so annoying! Hold on. That's it! That's the password! "Gobstopper." We're in!

I follow Harry up the stairs, he seems to know the way like the back of his hand. He knocks on the door and a voice says, "Come in." I follow Harry into Dumbledore's office. "Mr Potter, Miss Evans," greets Dumbledore, he is sitting behind his desk like he was expecting us. "How nice to see you both."

"Professor." Harry immediately jumps into business. "I need to have a word with you." He casts a glance at me. "Alone."

"Of course, Mr Potter. Miss Evans, if you would be so kind..." I already leave the office before he finishes what he has to say.

***