Florean Fortescue’s {{Selena &+ Lily}} ----'76

[Lily Evans]

Lily sighed; the heat of the day was getting to her. The sun was beating down heavily and she honestly didn’t want to take any more of it. She wanted to scream. Only hours earlier, the wind was whipping viciously around her, almost freezing her to death, but now, it seemed as though the sun’s goal was to melt her. She anxiously looked around, searching for an escape from this horrible sun. She squinted as she surveyed the surrounding shoppes, indecisive about where to go. She had gotten all of her school supplies, no need to enter any of those stores. She wasn’t a Quidditch player, no need for that either. The Leaky Cauldron was out of the question, she only had a few galleons left. Flourish and Blotts was out of the question too. There were way too many people there, and crowed places meant loads of body heat, which ultimately meant, a rather hot atmosphere. She sighed as she continued down the barren street.

Everyone had gone home for the day, it was just after noon, and Lily was getting tired. She had been shopping all morning, and was pretty much done with her list, or James’ list… to be precise. She had been stupid and irresponsible enough to forget her list at home. What a wonderful way to begin the year. Well, it was a wonderful way to begin her year. She was able to spend her entire morning and part of the afternoon with James Potter. This, in her book, is an amazing start to someone’s school year. She smiled at the recollection of the memory. Who in their right minds would ever think that the school’s bookworm would be falling for school jock?

A few loose pieces of paper were twirling in the almost nonexistent breeze. Lily bent down to pick one up. It sent a shiver down her spine to read it. It held a warning to all wizards and witches, both of age, and students, to keep an eye out for the Dark Lord, Voldemort. He was on the rise. Everyone was frightened, Miss Evans included. The Dark Lord would potentially take out his largest threats first. Those people being people in a position of high power, Aurors, and potential aurors. Unfortunately, Lily fell into one of those categories. She had already been accepted to train for an Auror position after she left Hogwarts.

She had chosen to become an Auror because she felt like it would be the most rewarding job for her. Not only would she be able to protect wizards and witches alike. She could safely keep a watch on her unknowing Muggle family. Since her discovering of the Dark Lord many years ago, she knew that the only way that she could be truly satisfied in life would be to find a way to bring upon him his ultimate downfall. She would defeat him, once and for all.

The rumble of her stomach, followed by the parchedness of her throat brought her out of her somber thoughts. She would be at Hogwarts, under the only wizard ever feared by Voldemort, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. She held professor Dumbledore in the highest respect. She wasn’t safer any where else, except maybe on the Dark Lord’s side, but there was no way in hell that that was ever going to happen. Her rumbling tummy grew louder, so she began to frantically search the signs, for fear that her stomach would decide to digest itself.

‘Florean Fortescue’s Ice cream Emporium’ the words on the beat down sign seemed to scream at her. Ice Cream. What a wonderful way to cool down on a hot August day. She quickly walked the rest of the way to the small shop, not wanting to look stupid running through the streets of Diagon Alley alone, with no one chasing her. A cool air greeted her as she entered the ‘hole in the wall’ shop. It was surprising to her that very few people were inside. Everybody loved ice cream on a hot summer’s day. A few couples were chattering avidly about the school year to come. No one seemed to have a care in the world

Except Lily.

Lily was still freaking out about the rise of the Dark Lord. People were dying. Families were being torn apart. Things were changing all around them. She tried to shake the somber thought out of her head as she ordered her ice cream. Mint Chocolate Chip, nothing less of course. She settled into a long booth as she review her day, her summer, and possibly, the rest of her life.

Voldemort has this ‘pure-blood supremacy’ in his thick skull. That was another reason that Lily was scared for her life. She was a Muggle-Born witch. Referred to as a ‘mud-blood’ by the wizarding folk of a higher blood. She hated the stereotypicalness of people. She was just a good of a witch as anybody else. Blood status shouldn’t matter.

[Selena Belvidere]

Selena shoved open the old door of Flourish & Blotts, a bag full of books slung over her shoulder. The hot August sun beat on her slender form, creating a bead of sweat on the back of her neck. Selena’s crow black hair instantly turned hot, feeling like someone just used a muggle straightener on it. It nearly burned her hands when she touched it lightly. That was one of Selena’s least favorite things of summer. It was always hot, and her hair burned. She loved tanning, though, but her hair was the main thing. Selena looked down at the faded piece of parchment in her hand. It was her school list.

She was almost done with her shopping, just a few more things to get. Her potions supply was immensely depleted since the last school year, and she had been meaning to stock up. A short stop at Slug & Jiggers Apothecary should solve Selena’s problems. She also had a longing for some new dress robes, although she had plenty. Every year her mother would buy her a new dress robe, but since her mother wasn’t here, she could do that on her own.

Selena headed toward Madame Malkin’s, treasuring the shade when it was allotted. ‘Why does it have to be so hot?’ She wondered, watching all of the miserably hot people as she passed. Hopefully, Madame Malkin’s will be cool enough for her needs. Selena crossed the cobblestone street and pushed open the door and entered the dress shop.

As she crossed the threshold of the shop, a waft of cool air hit her hard. It was cold, sending shivers up her spine, but refreshing, allowing her to relax, out of the reach of the sun. Selena looked around the shop, noting that it was completely empty, aside from Madame Malkin. At least Selena could browse without other distractions.

She looked through the extensive collection of dress robes, a green and black dress catching her eye. Selena carefully unhooked it from its slot on the rack, eyeing it with pleasure. This was the one she would wear if a ball was held this year. It was a black dress with thick dark green straps. The dress came to a little above her knees. A thick green line snaked around the dress, adding some more shape to the wearer. Selena smiled in satisfaction and carried it over to the counter.

She waited for Madame Malkin, standing patiently at the cluttered counter. The old witch shuffled out of a back room and came to greet Selena. “Ah, Miss Belvidere, what a surprise.” A crinkly smile lit up the witch’s worn face. Selena returned the smile and got to business. “Madame, I would like to buy this please. Size 1, if it is available.” Madame Malkin nodded and snatched the dress of the counter, shuffling back into the store room. As Selena waited, she glanced out the front window, watching the feverish weather tear down at its victims.

As she looked out the window, she spotted a petite redhead across the cobblestone street. Sitting under the awning at Florean Fortescue’s was Lily Evans, no friend of Selena’s. A sly smile crossed the Slytherin’s face, a plan hatching in her mind. ‘How about we go and have a nice sit down Ice Cream break with my lovely friend, Lily?’ Selena thought, loving her plan more and more by the second.

Selena wished that Madame would hurry, giving her more time to sabotage poor Ms. Evans. Just as she was starting to become a bit anxious, the old woman came back out of the store room, with Selena’s dress in hand. She bagged it carefully, handing Selena the dress and her receipt. Selena slapped ten galleons down on the counter and headed for the door.

She hurried out of the dress shop across the street. As she approached, she wondered what Lily would possibly think if Selena Belvidere joining her for ice cream. Selena smiled as she pulled the chair opposite from Lily out from under the table, sitting herself gracefully in its open spot. She set her bags down next to her and waited for Lily’s reaction.

[Lily Evans]

Lily sat silently, eating her small ice cream cone, it was delectable. Underneath the awning, she could feel a light breeze that was unnoticeable in the heat of the day. It was nice. Sometime to herself to sort her life out. This was going to be her final year in the safety of Hogwarts, and she needed to figure out what she was going to do after that safety was gone. Train, that was a certainty, but where would she live? She’d have to get an apartment or something; she could not put her family at risk. Being the Muggles that they are, Voldemort would have a hay day with them.

She sighed, twirling a lock of her crimson red hair around her finger. She loved her hair. It was exactly the same shade that her father’s had been. That was before cancer struck him, and he lost all of his hair. Lily was the only one who had spent time with him in the hospital, her mom had to work, and Petunia didn’t give a care whether or not he died. It was sad really, she would go in, her father would wake up, tell her that he loved her, and ask her why no one else had come with her.

She really missed her father. She hated to pick favorites, but she preferred her dad over her mom. He loved to joke around about Lily being a witch, while her mom was very uppity about the whole thing, telling her that she could not, under any circumstance, use magic in the house. Her father had a sense of humor, where her mother took everything literally. The last conversation they had was a tough one for Lily to recall.

“Lily, please. Do it for me, I’m not going to be around much longer, and I want to see it.” Her father pleaded with her. They were sitting on the couch in his hospital bedroom. Her mother had gone home; Petunia didn’t even bother to show up. Lily had been telling her dad about patronuses and dementors. “I want to see your patronus, please Lillian.” He begged. It was pitiful really, a full grown man, begging his daughter to do something.

“Mom told me not to use magic.” Lily whispered to her eager father, who simply shook his head, “Forget what your mother said, please show me.” Lily grinned, giving in with a sigh. This would be the first time any of her family saw magic, and now that she was of-age, she could perform it without any worries. “Expecto Patronum” She murmured into the night. From the tip of her wand, appeared a majestic silver doe. It cantered around the small hospital, stopping at her father’s feet. With that, it vanished.

Her father clapped happily, “Oh Thank you Lillian. Thank you so very much!”He turned and gave his daughter a hug, what she know knew, would be the last hug that he would ever give to anyone on this earth again. When Lily arrived at the hospital the following morning, she was greeted solemnly. They told her that her father had passed away in his sleep, and that he was gone.
Lily brushed away a few tears from her cheeks. Thinking about that night always made her cry. It was the last night she had ever gotten to spend with her father. At least she made him happy before he died, that was the main thing.

She looked out over the street to see a dark headed girl making her way towards her table. Selena Belvidere. Slytherin Queen. Everyone at the school knew that she ruled the Slytherin house with an iron fist. Both of her parents were Death Eaters, and rather close to Voldemort himself.

Selena sat down adjacent from Lily, daintily setting her bags down next to her, saying nary a word. Lily smiled politely at the raven-haired girl. “Well hello Selena, fancy meeting you here.”

[Selena Belvidere]

Selena scanned her surrounding, looking out for anyone that might recognize her. If someone even thought they saw Selena Belvidere sitting across from Lily Evans willingly, well, let’s just say that Selena wouldn’t be accepted into the common room. Hardly any Slytherin associated with Mudbloods, unless they were there to call them a Mudblood. Selena still hadn’t fully figured out what she was doing here, however. She never planned ahead, unless it was for something important. But a spur of the moment kind of thing like this, no planning was put into it at all.

Turning her attention back to Lily, she accepted her greeting somewhat shrewdly. Lily Evans wouldn’t fancy meeting Selena anywhere, much less in a public area, needless to say. Selena blew it off; thinking it would be a waste of her valuable time to pick a fight with Lily. Selena returned the warm smile, masking all her emotions, yielding nothing to the prey. What she would do to the prey afterward, she had yet to decide.

“Oh, you know,” Selena replied nonchalantly, “I was just in the neighborhood and I saw you sitting all alone. I thought I might come join you.” At that moment she held out her hand, waiting for her favorite ice cream. Chocolate chip cookie dough. Ever since she was young, she had always loved this ice cream.

A thin cone was placed into her waiting hand, no need for ordering. Every year she had come here, getting the same exact thing. Poor Florean, he must feel so pushed around by her family. Alas, that is what the Belvideres did best, pushing people to do their will.

She licked her ice cream, trying to keep it from falling into her lap. Selena looked at Lily, thinking about the things she didn’t like about the girl. The only real reason Selena could come up with was her blood status. Other than that, she was unbelievably pretty. No wonder Potter liked her so much. Selena longed for that sort of thing, pretty without really trying. She felt like she tried too hard to be who she was. It seemed so easy for Lily. Wake up to beauty sort of thing. In a way, Selena was overly jealous of Lily, but she would never tell that to anyone, not even her diary.

If anyone found it and realized that Selena was jealous of Lily Evans, her status would diminish. Yet, something about Lily made the green monster appear inside Selena. She had never really been jealous of anyone, but Lily was the one exception. Maybe it was how Potter liked her so much. No, Selena hated the likes of James with every fiber in her being. She didn’t have some sort of secret crush on him. It was just the way he looked at Lily; she wanted that from someone too. Lily probably didn’t realize what she truly had that Selena wanted. Of course, Selena always got what she wanted, except for one key component, Love. Her parents had never really shown any affection for Selena, always leaving the house and running off to do the Dark Lord’s bidding. None of her friends truly loved her, but she didn’t really love many of them either, so she couldn’t complain.

Selena checked around again, just for good measure. A few first years had their noses pressed against the windows of shops, their parents trying to drag them away. At the table next to them, a few older witches sat fanning themselves. A few drops of sweat formed on Selena’s neck, rolling down her slim form. Today was a very hot day.