Listen To Your Heart by HiJane_2

Listen to your heartwhen he’s calling for youListen to your heartthere’s nothing else you can doI don’t know where you’re goingand I don’t know whybut listen to your heartbefore you tell him goodbye

By DHT

Chapter 2 Back to School Shopping August 21,1976

"Lily come downstairs there’s an owl at the window. Of what I can see it looks like a Hogwarts letter." Matthew Evans called up to his daughter from the kitchen.

Lily was just lying in her bed thinking of what she should do with her day when Mr. Evans called up to her.

Lily immediately jumped out of bed and ran down in record time to the window, took off the letter and the owl flew out again into the dazzling sunlight.

"Yes finally, I thought the letter would never come!" Lily exclaimed examining the letter.

"Nothing out of the ordinary then Lily?" asked Carrie Evans reading the paper and drinking her morning coffee.

"Nope just the normal book list really." Lily replied folding up her letter and sticking it back in the envelope. "So Dad can we all go to Diagon Alley today, or even tomorrow please?" Lily begged her father looking desperate.

"Not today Lily but Friday might just work if the office could spare me." replied Matthew Evans.

"Yes! Even after you had taken last Friday off to help give Petunia and Vernon a good send off." Lily said giving Matthew an odd look.

"Yes I think I’ll be able to, especially if I say that if they don’t my daughter could turn them into a teacup." Matthew said with a light chuckle.

"Oh Dad you know I can’t do magic out of school, besides if I could I wouldn’t it’s not a very sensible thi…" Lily trailed off because of the weird look her parents were giving her. "What? It’s true isn’t it? I mean you work for them and every…(Lily was very pink at this point)...Oh I guess you were joking weren’t you?" Lily said embarrassedly, her parents just smiled.

"Well lady’s I have to go to the office, Carrie I might also be staying a little longer than usual." Mr. Evans told Carrie and Lily.

"Okay, Honey I don’t mind. Just don’t forget to call and tell me when you’re actually coming home." Carrie said while standing up and giving her husband a hug good-bye.

"Bye Dad, see you later then." Lily said also giving Mr. Evans a hug. Mr. Evans left with another swift good-bye and a wave.

"So mum, could I invite a friend to go on the trip to Diagon Alley with me?" Lily asked her mother.

"Well it depends, do I know this friend?" Carrie asked. "Yes, do you remember my friend Nicole Martin? She also attends Hogwarts with me actually." Lily said.

"Is she the one with the Brunette hair and silver blue eyes?" Carrie asked trying to remember what Lily’s friend looked like.

"No that’s Tory Renakovich mum, Nicole has the dirty blond hair and dark brown eyes. So could I go and ask Nicole then?" Lily replied.

"Yes I think that would be okay with me." Mrs. Evans said remembering which friend Lily was referring to.

"Okay thanks Mum, I’m glad you approved it." Lily said giving her mother a hug and running upstairs.

Lily ran to her desk and pulled out a quill, ink and parchment. Lily was just about to write to Nicole when she remembered that she didn’t have an owl of her own, there was the Schools owls or one of her other friends owls to borrow.

"Oh man, Now I’m depressed. Come on Nicole read my mind and invite me to go to Diagon Alley with you!" Lily said. She knew she was just being crazy, Nicole wasn’t able to read minds and couldn’t owl Lily for a good reason anyway. "Well I guess I’ll just go downstairs and finish my breakfast, and not think about going to Diagon Alley tomorrow." Lily thought walking back downstairs to join her mother in the kitchen, trying to think of other things.

-~*~&~-~*~&~-~*~-~&~*~-

"Prongs wake-up! James Potter wake-up!" Sirius yelled trying to awaken James. "Okay if you want to play the hard way you’ll have to suffer the consequences." Sirius said with a mischievous smile.

"Oh hello Lily what are you doing here of all places?"

"What!" James shooting up in bed. "Where is she Padfoot? I don’t see…Hey that what not funny Sirius! STOP laughing at me!" James yelled at Sirius, but that only made him laugh harder.

"Oh Man…that was..ha ha..funny! I...ha ha got you there...Prongs. You should of saw..ha ha..your face! Oh I haven’t...ha ha...done anything…like that in...ha ha.. along time!" Sirius said between gales of laughter.

"Will you shut up any!" James roared at Sirius.

"What are you yelling at Sirius for James? I guess I know that you’re awake at any rate." spoke Helen Potter. "I brought your letter from Hogwarts dear," James took the letter and opened it. "I think after I talk with your father we’ll be able to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow actually." she finished. James finished his letter he then put it haphazardly in his nightstand.

"Cool Sirius and I need to go and buy some more dungbombs from Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop. I also wanted to go in Quality Quidditch Supplies and check if they have anything worth buying." James said with a longing look on his face.

"Yeah Prongs I’ve got a feeling that we’ll need to stock up on prank supplies. I think we’re getting low." Sirius added.

"Now boys don’t get in so much trouble this year at Hogwarts. Do you hear me James!" Helen said giving her son a threatening glare.

"Yes mum we’ll keep our noses clean, Really we will." James said with a reassuring tone. "How are you and dad doing this morning by the way?"

"Just the same aches of old age and more wrinkles then I can count." she said.

"Oh Helen don’t talk like that. You don’t look a day older than 35!" Sirius said giving Helen an elaborate bow and a kiss on the hand.

"Oh Sirius stop that, you know I’m on the right side of 55." Helen said even as a slight blush was appearing on her cheeks.

"Mother don’t worry about age at all, your very faithful son is here to take care of you." James said giving his mother a kiss on her cheek.

"Why is everyone gathered in <i>here </i>of all places?" said a voice behind Mrs. Potter. Sirius had at this last comment start to laugh at James all over again because he has used that same expression earlier.

"I hope you slept soundly last night father!" James said trying to drown out Sirius’s laughter.

"Very well, thank you James." William Potter replied looking at Sirius with a raised eyebrow.

"You already know why Sirius is laughing, its because he has some mental issues to work out." James said with a laugh.

"Ha ha..Hey that’s not very gentlemanly like Prongs!" Sirius said after James comment had been comprehended.

"Well I’ve got breakfast ready if any…" Helen had started but Sirius didn’t let her finish because after the word breakfast he had ran out of the door.

"Well I guess Sirius is hungry." William said with a chuckle.

"Sirius you really do have some issues to work on." James said shaking his head and following his parents out the door.

-~*~&~-~*~&~-~*~-~&~*~-

Lily was sitting in the living room reading a book and drinking tea (Around 7pm) when she heard a tap on her window. She opened the window to let in a beautifully colored hazel/gray owl. "Hey there, do you have a letter for me?" Lily asked while taking off the letter. Then she proceeded to break the seal and open up the letter. The owl then left through the open window. Lily recognized the even handwriting with a smile.

After looking at the letter again Lily gave a great sigh. ‘So her family must have gone to Diagon Alley today.’ Lily thought. "Wow she must of sent the owl on a very fast errand if it arrived on the same day!" Lily exclaimed.

"I at least know she didn’t forget about me…Lily you’re going to Diagon Alley tomorrow with your parents. Remember you can have fun without Nicole, you might even see some friends there, not being around Potter even!

Right Lily that’s the way to think, you are NOT a pessimist." Lily said to herself out loud.

"Well I hope you’re not a pessimist, because I like my daughter to look on the bright side of things." unbeknownst to Lily, her father had heard the last little bit of her thoughts.

"Hey dad, why are you home from work already? I thought you had said that you were going to stay at work longer?" Lily asked.

"Oh they said I could go home, I still have to do some paperwork though." Mr. Evans answered.

"Well I’m glad your home dad. So is it official that we can all go to Diagon Alley tomorrow?" Lily inquired.

"Yes they can spare me. We’ll be able to have a whole free day to spend together as a family. I better finish up the paperwork or they might change their minds though." With that Matthew left Lily in the living room pondering what tomorrow would bring.

"Yes a day with just my parents and I. Hopefully a Potter free day for once in my life…’

-~*~&~-~*~&~-~*~-~&~*~-

"James what did you and Sirius do today?" William asked during dinner.

"Well we just played some Quidditch and did some stuff in my room nothing out of the ordinary really." James said.

"Yep Jamesie here ("Don’t call me Jamesie!") wasn’t in much of a playful mood, he was in Evans Mode too often." Sirius said then scooting farther down the table to avoid a punch from James.

"Hey will you stop with the Evans thing already. It’s getting really old!"

James said also scooting down closer to Sirius and giving him a punch.

"Ouch, Prongs, don’t hit so hard! Fine, I’ll take it back even if you were in Evans Mode!" Sirius said trying to be sincere just not hard enough.

"Just be very quiet if you like the way you look at the moment." James snarled.

"James dear calm down. We all know you have a certain thing for this Lily Evans," Helen said. "Hmm I would like to see her actually." she added as an afterthought.

"Well in all honesty mum I don’t think THAT will happen..." James said going a little pink.

"Oh look Helen you’ve made your son blush." said William with a knowing smile.

"Yeah well…So what time are we leaving for Diagon Alley?" James said wanting to change the topic.

"Well I don’t care when ever your mother decides. I don’t have a preference really." William said.

"Mother when do you want to go?"

"Well I guess we’d better go about 8 o’ Clock if we can manage." she answered.

"That’s good for me!" Sirius piped in trying to enter the conversation.

"I’m glad that’s finally settled, I’ll be glad to get out of the house for awhile." James added.

After dinner Sirius and James went up to their respective bedrooms.

Sirius said good night to all the Potter’s thinking of all the fun that he’ll have tomorrow going shopping at Diagon Alley. Also looking forward to going back to his home, Hogwarts School.

James thoughts however were only of a girl that had been haunting his dreams for years, never coming close to achieving his goal. If you ever asked about these dreams he’d probably flat out deny the thought of such a ridiculous thing.

-~*~&~-~*~&~-~*~-~&~*~-

"Come on Mum and Dad hurry I want to get in there before the day is over." Lily grumbled to her parents, it was already 8am and she wanted to get to Diagon Alley by 7:30am.

"We’re coming honey, but you must give us a minute we’re not used to this place and that crazy bus thing." Carrie said leaving through the back of The Leaky Cauldron looking dizzy.

"Okay sorry for my rudeness mum." Lily said.

"It’s quite alright, you did say you wanted to be here by 7:30am." Carrie said.

"Well Lily would you please do the honor?" Matthew said to Lily motioning to the brick wall.

"Oh right…Sorry…" Lily said. She then pulled out her wand and tapped the brick wall in the correct order.

The archway appeared and Matthew and Carrie both were awed of what they saw, for they had only been here once before. Lily went with them in her first year and then with Martin’s every year after that first one.

"Wow have I forgotten what it was like since the last time we came here Lily." replied Matthew.

"Yes it quite amazing," remarked Carrie. "I’m not sure I enjoyed that bus thing we went on though."

"I don’t really like The Knight Bus either, but as we can’t travel by Floo Powder…" Lily said trailing off.

"We certainly got a wild ride on that thing The Knight Bus." Mr. Evans added.

"Where should we go first? How about the Gringotts Bank near the end of the street?" Lily said.

"Wherever Lily, you lead the way." Matthew said encouragingly.

"Okay to Grin…Oh no…of all the people…hurry Mum and Dad here into Eeylops (The Owl Emporium)." Lily exclaimed pulling her parents into the shop.

"Why are we in here Lily?" Matthew questioned looking around the shop.

"Oh because a stupid mean bully of a boy Potter is walking this way with his friend Sirius Black and his parents by the looks of them." Lily replied looking out the window to see Sirius, James and his parents walking down the street.

"That MUST be his mum and dad. Wow! He looks so similar to his mum with his sparkling hazel eyes and dimpled cheeks. But look at him and his dad, the same gentle smile and the way they stand upright and confident. He’s even grown a lot over the summer, he looks quite goodlo…No stop thinking that way!" Lily reprimanding her own thoughts.

"Oh you mean that James Potter you’re always talking about?" Carrie asked interrupting Lily’s thoughts.

"Yes that Potter, who can’t resist showing off." Lily said giving James a glare.

"Well I for one would like to say hello to him actually," Matthew said.

"WHAT!" Lily yelled scaring some of the owls nearest her lookout.

"Yes I quite agree with your father it would be nice to see if James is was you say." Carrie said looking pleased.

"NO!" Lily answered.

"Please miss, you’re scaring the owls. Would you please leave if you’re going to continue shouting?" asked the manager of Eeylops.

"Okay we can go say a quick hello." Lily said grudgingly and looking out the window with her fingers crossed hoping that Sirius and the Potter’s would be gone by now. But to her dismay they were discussing something right outside the door… "Okay Lily just stay calm and breath…"

"Sirius, let’s go in the Quidditch Shop first!" James said standing outside the Eeylops doorway.

"No way Prongs, I want to go to the Joke shop first!" Sirius said stubbornly.

"Father what do yo…Well hello Lily, good morning." James said with a small bow to an embarrassed Lily.

"Hello James and Sirius." Lily mumbled quietly looking anywhere but at the people she just greeted.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Evans nice to properly meet you." James said with a true smile.

"Mr. and Mrs. Evans these are my wonderful parents. William and Helen Potter, and I’m James."

"And I’m Sirius Black." Sirius said with a smile.

"Nice to meet you all. I am Matthew and this is my beautiful wife Carrie." Matthew said motioning to Carrie.

"Man where in this crazy world did James become polite and proper and Sirius…actually Serious(not a pun)?’ Lily questioned.

"Lily," Carrie said with a piercing stare. "James is being very friendly and polite while you’re not even paying attention!"

"It’s okay Mrs. Evans, I’m just being a loud outgoing James and Lily’s just being a quiet thoughtful Lily." the former said to Carrie.

"Yup James certainly can be very loud, and Lily’s usually thinking of how to…" Sirius started to say.

"Yes well it was nice seeing you James, Sirius, Mr. and Mrs. Potter. We’ve really got to go pick-up my stuff for Hogwarts. I’ll see you guys on the Hogwarts Express." Lily said not listening to Sirius talk.

"Lily! You interrupted Sirius. Where are your manners?" Carrie asked her daughter.

"Oh…Sorry Sirius, I didn’t know you were talking. Please by all means continue." Lily said politely.

"No that’s okay I’ve actually got to go in the Joke Shop, I’ll see you on the train!" winking to Lily, Sirius waved good bye and walked away.

"Well it really was a pleasure meeting you Mr. and Mrs. Evans, Good bye Lily." James said while shaking Matthew and Carrie’s hands, then sticking them in his pockets afterwards, waiting to leave with his parents.

"Yes good-bye James and Mr. and Mrs.. Potter it was nice meeting you." Lily said trying not to sound to pleased at the thought of moving along. Lily then proceeded to walk with her parents far away from the Potter’s and into Gringotts for a money exchange.

-~*~&~-~*~&~-~*~-~&~*~-

"Lily was certainly quiet James, I thought you said she was…not very shy?" Helen asked her son.

"Huh? What? Oh yeah I’m not sure why she was so quiet," James said truthfully being pulled away from his own thoughts of Lily.

"What did you guys think of her anyway?"

"I’m not sure. She really didn’t come on very strongly," William added. "You might've caught her off guard with your manners in front of her. Didn’t Sirius say that you weren’t very nice to Severus Snape last year at school?"

"Well yeah that’s true. That could be a possibility."

"She was very quiet, but now I know why you have a certain soft spot for the girl. She’s very pretty." Helen said with satisfaction seeing the color rise on James cheeks.

"Yes well, we better find Sirius and get to shopping if we want to finish by noon." James said walking in the direction of the Joke Shop.

"Okay James don’t worry we’ll be done in no time at all." William said with a small smile also seeing the blush on James face.

"I hope plan A was executed correctly this time. One of these days Lily, one day your going to have me by your side and I’m never going to leave you after that." James thought.

"Well that James was sure polite Lily, nothing like what you’ve always described to us." Carrie said looking slightly hurt at the thought.

"I don’t know what that little show was about, but he’s never that polite at school I CAN promise you that." Lily said bitterly.

"I liked him enough because of his polite manner’s and his upbeat personality." Matthew said.

"He WAS very polite and I can’t figure out the motive either." Lily commented.

"Maybe you judge too quickly Lily, maybe he has no other motives then being friendly." Carrie said.

"Well that’s a thought." Lily said sarcastically.

"Why was he so nice? It just doesn’t fit! Did he actually give up on me? I definitely want him to give up on me, Or do I? Now I’m really REALLY confused!" Lily pondered while walking into the Bank.