Harry Potter One Shots

Disillusion

All rights belong to the author, Celestia0909

Lily Evans had always loved Cokeworth. The old warehouses and industrial buildings were her childhood playgrounds - the smell of smoke and oil were never far from her. She had always enjoyed exploring the abandoned canneries and factories, and most summer days she explored them with her sister.

But as she wiped her brow languidly, she found herself wishing that she could be anywhere else.

For the past week or so, the town had been stuck in a heatwave. The dizzying restlessness in the air was only emphasised by the buzz of flies, mosquitoes, and dragonflies as she steadily walked along the low brick wall next to the polluted creek. The smoke from the factories were stifling and the smell of oil made her stomach churn.

Earlier in the day, she had heard on the wireless that it was supposed to be the hottest day in a century. And as she slowly toed her sweaty feet out of loafers, sitting cross-legged on the brick wall, she seriously regretted straying from home. She'd hoped that leaving the house might provide some relief from the heat, but as the sun bore oppressively against her shoulders, legs, and the back of her neck, she knew she had been wrong.

Of course, the real reason she had left the house had nothing to do with the heat, and everything to do with a certain bespectacled boy with a terrible case of bedhead hair. If her feelings towards James Potter had been confusing before his letter had arrived, they were in a total shambles now.

Since she'd received the letter, she had been wandering aimlessly around Cokeworth, overthinking the reason why James had sent it so unexpectedly. She hadn't even begun to think about sending her reply, and no doubt Perpetua would stubbornly stay perched atop their refrigerator until she did. She had already been pecked a few times on her fingers thanks to the obstinate owl.

Hot sweat trickled down her arms and Lily hissed in panic - fearing that the ink would run - as she took the envelope out from her underarm and placed it on her lap, atop her deep burgundy linen sundress that she'd bought from a consignment store with her mum. Wiping her sweaty palms on her dress, she pulled the letter out and began to read it for possibly the twentieth time that day.

Lily,

My cousin Fergus (I know, what a ridiculous name!) is getting married this Saturday and I was wondering if you'd want to come with me? It wouldn't be as my girlfriend or anything, but I reckon you'd be a right sight better in a dress than Sirius!

I don't want to force you into coming, you definitely don't have to, but I would really love it if you could. My mum's side is a bit barmy and I need reinforcements in case Sirius tries anything wild.

The wedding invitation is in the envelope, please come with us! It'll be a good laugh!

Send Perpetua back with your reply, watch out though - she nips.

James

James already messy scrawl was barely legible as Lily grinned down at the parchment. He had clearly written it in a rush.

She'd have never thought it possible before, but since the incident by the lake things had changed. Any previously held misconceptions about James Potter were just that - misconceptions. She actually loved having him as a friend, and there were moments when she could envision them being something more.

And yet, there was something - or perhaps someone - in the shadows of her heart that held her back from letting him get too close. It was the same reason why she had hesitated in sending a reply to Perpetua, and the same reason why she had been feeling a flurry of confused emotions and thoughts.