InsaneJournal

RP: Better Paranoid than Dead
Characters: Lily
Time/Date: Afternoon, October 26
Location: Spinner's End
Warnings/Rating: None
Summary: Lily is paranoid and suspects Muggle post ...
Status: Comlete



Lily had lit a fire in the fireplace, made herself a cup of hot chocolate, and was just about to settle down on the couch with one of the many 'catch-up' potions books that populated the shelves when she caught sight of someone standing outside. Pushing the curtain aside to get a better view, she saw a postman standing out by the mailbox gazing up toward the house.

She felt a vague stab of unease as she warred with herself. Bellatrix wouldn't resort to Muggle means, but she was also not to underestimate the crazy bitch. There was no telling what means Bella would use. However, the postman had spotted her and waved, so Lily had to do something.

Pulling on a coat, she drew a pair of gloves out of the pockets and slipped them on. Checking for any holes in the fingers - despite feeling a little silly - she opened the door and stepped out onto the stoop before starting down the walk.

"Hello," she called out softly and cheerfully.

"Right," he agreed as he held out the wrapped packet toward her. "Di'n't know anyone lived there," he said with a gesture toward the house. "Di'n't just want to leave it in the box, if ... y'know. No one lived here." He studied her, then glanced to the house.

Lily wasn't nearly as adept as some at reading people, but even she couldn't miss that. The 'what's a girl like you doing in a place like this' sort of look.

"It has been abandoned for a bit," she admitted. "I've recently moved in." She took the offered package hesitantly, half expecting Jeremy to come shooting through the window to stop her. Even though nothing happened immediately, she was still a little tense. Better paranoid than dead, she reflected.

"Huh," the postman said. "Well, you have a pleasant day, ma'am." He tipped his cap before he turned to shuffle down the street toward the next house.

Lily eased into the house, and offered the package toward Jeremy. "Safe?" she inquired even as her eyes shifted to the return address. That was nearly enough to make her drop the package, and if this was something Bellatrix had done, she would go find the bitch and kill her now, consequences be damned.

Jeremy made no protest to the package, so Lily slipped off her gloves and opened it carefully. Sinking down into the armchair that Sev favored, she lifted the lid of the box. She picked up the note, opening it slowly.

She had to read it four times before it really and truly sank in. Petunia had heard somehow from her granddaughter that Lily was alive again, though she hadn't made it clear where she'd gotten the address. She could only assume there'd been a series of owls and letters to convey the information.

Lifting the photobook out of the box, Lily began to page through it slowly. There were pictures of Harry, though he was never the focus of the picture. He was always in the background, often looking startled or oblivious. Pictures of him crawling in a onesie. Pictures of him toddling in clothing two sizes too big for him. Pictures of him, always looking a little too thin, a little too pale, a little unkempt. Closer to the back were pictures of Tuney and Vernon, of Dudley, of Dudley's wife. Of LilyLu's cousin as an infant, a toddler, a child, a young teenager.

A tidy little timeline of things she hadn't gotten to see, things she wouldn't have gotten to even see pictures of if she hadn't come back. It was ... a remarkably thoughtful gift, given who it was from.

Smoothing her hand over the cover as she closed it, Lily hugged the book against her chest. Hearing the rustle of papers, she glanced down to find Jeremy curling up in the box it had come in, and she smiled softly. She should ... write to Petunia, she thought. Thank her for the gift. Maybe her sister would even be willing to meet and have tea some time.

It was never too late.