Title: "Sometimes Less Is More"
Summary: Lily is rich, and hates it. Her parents have planned her whole life out for her. They've even chosen her husband! But what happens when she decides to get involved with someone at Hogwarts...someone her parents would *seriously* disapprove of?
A/N: Okay, so I shouldn't be starting any new stories right now...I'm way too busy with end of the year school stuff...my teachers wait until now to teach us anything... But I just got quite a few ideas for some new stories, and I decided to test them *all* out. *Sigh*, this could take awhile. But it'll be fun ;) Anyway, the one that you all like best, I will continue. This is the first one I wanted to test out. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!!
Chapter 1- "I *hate* hats!"
Lily Evans sat at the dinner table, absorbed in her own thoughts while idle chatter surrounded her. I'm a bird, and I'm flying away from here. I'll never have to come back. I can just fly away.... She stared at the wall, not really seeing or hearing anything around her. Not that she needed to. It was the usual evening, and she was seated at one of her parents' dinner parties. They were all talking and laughing, and pretending to have a good time. Her parents loved to show her off, no doubt they were talking about her just then as if she wasn't there. She preferred not to listen and to pretend that the noises around her were the trees rustling in a peaceful, secluded spot. But she was pulled away from her relaxing thoughts with her mother's voice.
"Lily is Head Girl at her school this year, isn't that right sweetie?" she asked, beaming a smile at her daughter across the table. Lily simply nodded, and gave her mother a death glare. She was sick of being their little puppet. She wasn't a prize, and she didn't want to be put on display. Sometimes she wished she had been born into a poor family. Then maybe her life would be more...what's the word?...liberating.
One of her mother's 'friends' put on her best phony smile and said, "And she's so beautiful too."
Lily's mother spoke for Lily and replied, "Yes, thank you. I quite agree." No doubt Mrs. Jackson, the woman who had spoken, only wanted to be on her mother's good side. In truth, Lily *was* fairly beautiful. Her red gold hair cascaded down her back in thick waves, framing an oval face with bright emerald eyes. But she dismissed that; she simply didn't really care. She was sick of all the ladies she met at her parents outings fawning over hair and makeup. She wasn't like that, and never had been. As a little girl, she would much rather have played with cars than dolls.
Lily sighed deeply. Sometimes her life was just not all it might appear to be. She tuned into the conversation around her for a moment.
"..just so proud of her. I don't know how she does it, really. Smart girl. And we just bought her such a beautiful dress for the Christmas party. She'll look simply marvelous." Hearing this, Lily rolled her eyes and scowled down at her plate. She hated dresses. Oh well, she supposed it could be worse. She thought back to the time when her mother had first put Lily in a dress. She had been an infant, or just a little older, and had looked like a puffy piece of fabric with a hat. She had old pictures of that.
"So how is that dashing son of yours, Mrs. Peterson?" her mother turned to one of the other ladies seated at her end of the table. "I do hope he's well."
Lily tuned out again and started counting down the hours until she would be boarding the Hogwarts Express again. This time tomorrow she thought to herself. I'll be back in the Great Hall, seated under the enchanted ceiling. She smiled to herself. This year was her last, and she wasn't about to let her mother spoil it.
@~~~~~~~~~@
Lily, however, was quite unaware of the fact that while she was busy daydreaming about her seventh year at Hogwarts, her mother and Mrs. Peterson had been forming plans. Plans that could ruin her whole life.
As she stood in her room, pulling on her pajamas, her mother walked in smiling.
"You'll never guess, sweetheart. I've just planned out the greatest future for you."
Lily's heart dropped. Last time her mother had said that, the results had been disastrous. "W-what?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly. Did she *want* to know?
"I've been talking with Mrs. Peterson, and I managed to talk her into it. You and her son are practically engaged! Isn't this fantastic?" she said enthusiastically.
"YOU DID WHAT?!" Lily screamed. Never, in her life, had her mother done anything quite *this* bad.
"Really, honey, there is no need to scream. I know you're excited, but please keep it down a bit. Your father is reading in the library." her mother said aimlessly.
"Mother, you aren't *listening* to me! You never do! I tell you, I hate him and I refuse to marry him! How can you just plan out my future like this for me? I'm not your slave!" Lily ended a bit breathlessly and red in the face.
Her mother, as usual, gave her opinion no attention. "You just don't know what's best for you, dear. You will one day though. When you're settled down as Mrs. Patrick Peterson." She smiled, gave her daughter a quick hug that wasn't returned, and left the room.
Lily stood for a long time in disbelief. She *couldn't* do this. There must still be a way out. Patrick was a stuck up, pompous, rich fool and she couldn't even imagine what he'd be like as a husband. She shivered and refused to think about it just then. She was leaving for Hogwarts, and there would be no mother, or father, or dinner parties, or rich people there.
@~~~~~~~~~~~~@
The next day, she boarded the Hogwarts Express excitedly. Her green eyes searched for her best friend, Mary. Stepping into the first compartment on her right, she spotted Mary inside, her blue eyes staring out the window and her black hair running down to the middle of her back. Mary Sener was also from a rich family. She was a reserved person, and hated stuck up people. She, like Lily, hated being rich; and so they got along quite nicely. But the other girls in their year thought them to be arrogant and mean. Though, it was the other way around in reality (Lily and Mary were very nice, and the other girls were haughty).
Lily plopped down into the seat next to her friend and sighed deeply. "It's so nice to see you again. You can't even imagine how boring this summer has been for me. If I have to listen to one more stuck up, rich freak, I think I'll scream."
Mary smiled weakly. "Oh, I understand all too well, Lils. It feels so good to be getting away and going to Hogwarts again. I just wish this wasn't our last year. I'll never be able to escape my parents again after this." She stared down at the carpet, looking and feeling a little depressed.
"Why? Can't you get a job far away from them?" Lily asked.
Mary laughed. "You would think, wouldn't you? No, they have my whole future planned out for me, with no room for what *I* want to do." Lily, hearing this, tried to comfort her friend. She understood very well what it all felt like. This was why they had become friends in the first place.
(flashback)
Lily boarded the train a little cautiously, whipping off her ridiculous hat straightaway. "Ugh! I *hate* hats!" she said in exasperation. She looked up, expecting to be alone in her compartment. But no, there was another girl seated a few feet away, dressed in clothes similar to Lily's. She didn't look too happy about it either.
"Hello, my name's Mary Sener, what's yours?" she said in a friendly tone, extending her hand.
Lily grinned and shook it. "Lily Evans."
They had spent the remainder of their first train ride doing hilarious imitations of all the rich men and women they had met in their lifetime. Actually, they had met some of the same people, which made it all the more funny.
Lily pretended to be puffing on a cigar, and pulled it out of her mouth to say (in a low, deep voice), "And this morning I won a bet on a horse race. I also put an overly confident man in his right place." She did the impression of the skinny man launching into the description of him punching a big-built, lowly guy in the face. Although, anyone could see at first glance that he was to wimpy to ever do such a thing.
Mary pretended to be the man's wife and said, "Oh, Herbert! That's perfectly dreadful. But you shouldn't be telling these nice people that horrible story now. And, Mrs. Evans, might I add what a *lovely* house this is?"
Ever since that day, the two of them had been the best of friends.
(end flashback)
Lily put her arm around Mary, like she had many a time before. She decided that it just wasn't the moment to bring up her own miserable future.
@~~~~~~~~~~@
Once in the Great Hall that evening, Lily and Mary were smiling happily once more. They forgot all about their conversation in the train, having gotten it out of their system.
Lily, munching on a roll that she had just stuffed into her mouth, glanced around the Gryffindor table. Her green eyes scanned over each person quickly. They soon came to rest on a handsome, messy-haired boy. His brown eyes twinkled as he laughed and talked with his other three friends. Lily had seen him before, of course. He was a pretty popular guy; he was always pulling pranks with his friends and getting into trouble. She had never before noticed how appealing he looked though. James Potter noticed her eyes on him and turned to look. He grinned at her and she smiled back. He's just the type of guy my mother would hate. Lily thought to herself. She adverted her eyes from his face, not wanting to stare. That just makes him even more appealing. She grinned deviously to herself.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Sorry, that chapter was more of an 'introduction' chapter than a very interesting one. I promise, it'll get better. That is, if you would like me to continue this. Review??? Please?? Aw, come on, it only takes a couple seconds… and then I'll give you another chapter....
Summary: Lily is rich, and hates it. Her parents have planned her whole life out for her. They've even chosen her husband! But what happens when she decides to get involved with someone at Hogwarts...someone her parents would *seriously* disapprove of?
A/N: Okay, so I shouldn't be starting any new stories right now...I'm way too busy with end of the year school stuff...my teachers wait until now to teach us anything... But I just got quite a few ideas for some new stories, and I decided to test them *all* out. *Sigh*, this could take awhile. But it'll be fun ;) Anyway, the one that you all like best, I will continue. This is the first one I wanted to test out. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!!
Chapter 1- "I *hate* hats!"
Lily Evans sat at the dinner table, absorbed in her own thoughts while idle chatter surrounded her. I'm a bird, and I'm flying away from here. I'll never have to come back. I can just fly away.... She stared at the wall, not really seeing or hearing anything around her. Not that she needed to. It was the usual evening, and she was seated at one of her parents' dinner parties. They were all talking and laughing, and pretending to have a good time. Her parents loved to show her off, no doubt they were talking about her just then as if she wasn't there. She preferred not to listen and to pretend that the noises around her were the trees rustling in a peaceful, secluded spot. But she was pulled away from her relaxing thoughts with her mother's voice.
"Lily is Head Girl at her school this year, isn't that right sweetie?" she asked, beaming a smile at her daughter across the table. Lily simply nodded, and gave her mother a death glare. She was sick of being their little puppet. She wasn't a prize, and she didn't want to be put on display. Sometimes she wished she had been born into a poor family. Then maybe her life would be more...what's the word?...liberating.
One of her mother's 'friends' put on her best phony smile and said, "And she's so beautiful too."
Lily's mother spoke for Lily and replied, "Yes, thank you. I quite agree." No doubt Mrs. Jackson, the woman who had spoken, only wanted to be on her mother's good side. In truth, Lily *was* fairly beautiful. Her red gold hair cascaded down her back in thick waves, framing an oval face with bright emerald eyes. But she dismissed that; she simply didn't really care. She was sick of all the ladies she met at her parents outings fawning over hair and makeup. She wasn't like that, and never had been. As a little girl, she would much rather have played with cars than dolls.
Lily sighed deeply. Sometimes her life was just not all it might appear to be. She tuned into the conversation around her for a moment.
"..just so proud of her. I don't know how she does it, really. Smart girl. And we just bought her such a beautiful dress for the Christmas party. She'll look simply marvelous." Hearing this, Lily rolled her eyes and scowled down at her plate. She hated dresses. Oh well, she supposed it could be worse. She thought back to the time when her mother had first put Lily in a dress. She had been an infant, or just a little older, and had looked like a puffy piece of fabric with a hat. She had old pictures of that.
"So how is that dashing son of yours, Mrs. Peterson?" her mother turned to one of the other ladies seated at her end of the table. "I do hope he's well."
Lily tuned out again and started counting down the hours until she would be boarding the Hogwarts Express again. This time tomorrow she thought to herself. I'll be back in the Great Hall, seated under the enchanted ceiling. She smiled to herself. This year was her last, and she wasn't about to let her mother spoil it.
@~~~~~~~~~@
Lily, however, was quite unaware of the fact that while she was busy daydreaming about her seventh year at Hogwarts, her mother and Mrs. Peterson had been forming plans. Plans that could ruin her whole life.
As she stood in her room, pulling on her pajamas, her mother walked in smiling.
"You'll never guess, sweetheart. I've just planned out the greatest future for you."
Lily's heart dropped. Last time her mother had said that, the results had been disastrous. "W-what?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly. Did she *want* to know?
"I've been talking with Mrs. Peterson, and I managed to talk her into it. You and her son are practically engaged! Isn't this fantastic?" she said enthusiastically.
"YOU DID WHAT?!" Lily screamed. Never, in her life, had her mother done anything quite *this* bad.
"Really, honey, there is no need to scream. I know you're excited, but please keep it down a bit. Your father is reading in the library." her mother said aimlessly.
"Mother, you aren't *listening* to me! You never do! I tell you, I hate him and I refuse to marry him! How can you just plan out my future like this for me? I'm not your slave!" Lily ended a bit breathlessly and red in the face.
Her mother, as usual, gave her opinion no attention. "You just don't know what's best for you, dear. You will one day though. When you're settled down as Mrs. Patrick Peterson." She smiled, gave her daughter a quick hug that wasn't returned, and left the room.
Lily stood for a long time in disbelief. She *couldn't* do this. There must still be a way out. Patrick was a stuck up, pompous, rich fool and she couldn't even imagine what he'd be like as a husband. She shivered and refused to think about it just then. She was leaving for Hogwarts, and there would be no mother, or father, or dinner parties, or rich people there.
@~~~~~~~~~~~~@
The next day, she boarded the Hogwarts Express excitedly. Her green eyes searched for her best friend, Mary. Stepping into the first compartment on her right, she spotted Mary inside, her blue eyes staring out the window and her black hair running down to the middle of her back. Mary Sener was also from a rich family. She was a reserved person, and hated stuck up people. She, like Lily, hated being rich; and so they got along quite nicely. But the other girls in their year thought them to be arrogant and mean. Though, it was the other way around in reality (Lily and Mary were very nice, and the other girls were haughty).
Lily plopped down into the seat next to her friend and sighed deeply. "It's so nice to see you again. You can't even imagine how boring this summer has been for me. If I have to listen to one more stuck up, rich freak, I think I'll scream."
Mary smiled weakly. "Oh, I understand all too well, Lils. It feels so good to be getting away and going to Hogwarts again. I just wish this wasn't our last year. I'll never be able to escape my parents again after this." She stared down at the carpet, looking and feeling a little depressed.
"Why? Can't you get a job far away from them?" Lily asked.
Mary laughed. "You would think, wouldn't you? No, they have my whole future planned out for me, with no room for what *I* want to do." Lily, hearing this, tried to comfort her friend. She understood very well what it all felt like. This was why they had become friends in the first place.
(flashback)
Lily boarded the train a little cautiously, whipping off her ridiculous hat straightaway. "Ugh! I *hate* hats!" she said in exasperation. She looked up, expecting to be alone in her compartment. But no, there was another girl seated a few feet away, dressed in clothes similar to Lily's. She didn't look too happy about it either.
"Hello, my name's Mary Sener, what's yours?" she said in a friendly tone, extending her hand.
Lily grinned and shook it. "Lily Evans."
They had spent the remainder of their first train ride doing hilarious imitations of all the rich men and women they had met in their lifetime. Actually, they had met some of the same people, which made it all the more funny.
Lily pretended to be puffing on a cigar, and pulled it out of her mouth to say (in a low, deep voice), "And this morning I won a bet on a horse race. I also put an overly confident man in his right place." She did the impression of the skinny man launching into the description of him punching a big-built, lowly guy in the face. Although, anyone could see at first glance that he was to wimpy to ever do such a thing.
Mary pretended to be the man's wife and said, "Oh, Herbert! That's perfectly dreadful. But you shouldn't be telling these nice people that horrible story now. And, Mrs. Evans, might I add what a *lovely* house this is?"
Ever since that day, the two of them had been the best of friends.
(end flashback)
Lily put her arm around Mary, like she had many a time before. She decided that it just wasn't the moment to bring up her own miserable future.
@~~~~~~~~~~@
Once in the Great Hall that evening, Lily and Mary were smiling happily once more. They forgot all about their conversation in the train, having gotten it out of their system.
Lily, munching on a roll that she had just stuffed into her mouth, glanced around the Gryffindor table. Her green eyes scanned over each person quickly. They soon came to rest on a handsome, messy-haired boy. His brown eyes twinkled as he laughed and talked with his other three friends. Lily had seen him before, of course. He was a pretty popular guy; he was always pulling pranks with his friends and getting into trouble. She had never before noticed how appealing he looked though. James Potter noticed her eyes on him and turned to look. He grinned at her and she smiled back. He's just the type of guy my mother would hate. Lily thought to herself. She adverted her eyes from his face, not wanting to stare. That just makes him even more appealing. She grinned deviously to herself.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Sorry, that chapter was more of an 'introduction' chapter than a very interesting one. I promise, it'll get better. That is, if you would like me to continue this. Review??? Please?? Aw, come on, it only takes a couple seconds… and then I'll give you another chapter....