The door swung open, screeching horribly. Slowly, Lily brought her eyes up to meet the indifferent, distant face of Lawrence, a typical butler in her relative's mansion. With greying hair– balding, at that– deep wrinkles littering his leathery, pale, face, and a lanky, almost too thin body, Lawrence was somewhat of an overworked grandfather. Funnily enough, this no-emotion man standing before her in his trademark butler, black suite attire, was more of a grandfather to her than her legal one.
A hint of a smile reached his thin lips as he peered down at her. "Miss Lillian," he nodded his head deeply. Lawrence was possibly the only person in that home than showed her even the slightest sign of respect.
She allowed a small smile to taint her nervous face, "Hello Lawrence," she said, swallowing as she stared past his form to peer indoors. Lawrence moved aside, and Lily bent down to pick up half of her luggage, letting Lawrence take the other half. Stepping in to her relatives' cold, hard manor, memories flooded her, almost violent enough to knock her straight off her feet. Past summers, holidays, and casual sleep overs with her devious, extremely unfriendly cousin brought her no comfort in her situation thus far. Betty and Sue, twin girls five years her senior, and cousins from hell, were the reasons Lily rarely went swimming. Jack and Albert were always volunteering Lily as their third in wrestling tournaments. Some of the worst times of her life, Lily spent hiding from her cousins in this estate.
With a sigh, Lily stopped at the bottom of the stairway leading up into the parlor— where her aunt was certainly waiting to begin a traditional criticizing session, with Lily as the opponent.
"They're all up there, aren't they?" asked Lily, dread filling her stomach.
Lawrence nodded flatly; the poor man should have left her aunt's employment decades ago. Unfortunately, as bitter and horrid as Aunt Catherine was, she gave her workers incredible benefits and very ample pay.
"Yes, Miss," answered the old butler. In a whisper, he murmured, "Every bloody one of them."
Only just hearing his last words, Lily's lips quirked slightly into a small smile. With another sigh, she lifted her bags up again and began climbing the steps, "Best to get it over with quickly, then."
"– And, Lily, did not I tell you to do well with your hair? Honestly, you look as though you are trying to appear half your age," soothed Aunt Catherine, with a sinister look in her eye. Relatives in the room glared disapprovingly in Lily's direction as said girl fought a blush of embarrassment.
Fingering her locks, Lily murmured, "You said no pigtails, Aunt Catherine." Lily took a sideways glance into the mirror to her left. No pigtails. Only a green head band.
"You look like you're five," hissed Betty, mockingly.
"That's just the way she looks, Betty," laughed Sue, "She never was exactly mature, now, was she?"
"I should think not," chimed in Albert, his voice nasally and snobbish, "after witnessing Lily rolling about in the mud three winters ago."
"Filthy, it was," Jack wrinkled his nose in disgust, flopping down on the couch near Lily. He stared straight at her and said bluntly, "You looked like a right good pig, Lily."
Lily pursed her lips, but otherwise kept silent. It was best to just let them take their turns at mocking her. That way, she could retreat to her room quicker.
Grandmum Martha stepped forward, staring at every inch of Lily, her beady eyes narrowed as she searched for the slightest flaw. "I see they don't feed you at that "school" of yours, eh? You're sickly skinny." She shook her head, "Why couldn't you be more like Petunia. Now, that Petunia has done herself well. Courting a nice young gentlemen, Vernon Dursley. He's quite a charming boy, that Vernon is."
"Petunia's coming around three o'clock today, Lily," informed Betty, almost squealing in delight, "With her charming boyfriend."
"Do you have a boyfriend, Lily," asked Sue innocently, a small smirk forming on her lips, "No," she continued before Lily could get a word in edgewise, "I don't suppose you do."
"Always was shy with the boys, weren't you?" Aunt Catherine asked, sniffing disdainfully as she walked across the room to pour herself a small glass of brandy.
"I don't think so, judging by her past," cut in Jack.
"Yes, she always did beg to let her wrestle with us," seconded Albert.
"Gave her a few broken bones, if I recall correctly," Grandpa William spoke for the first time since she arrived.
"Quite a few, yes," confirmed Aunt Catherine, "I recall having to be dragged away from my sewing to take her to the hospital."
"Such rowdy behavior," Grandmum Martha made a small 'tisk' noise, "I do hope she was never awarded afterwards for her lack of discipline."
"Of course not, Mum," snapped her Aunt, "she was sent to her room for the rest of her stay."
"Lunch is ready," her uncle appeared in the room, breaking the steady stream of subtle insults. Lily let out a quiet breath she had been holding and reluctantly followed her family into the dining room.
"Oh, Petunia, you look radiant!" gushed Betty.
"You're hair! Oh, you're letting grow long," interrupted Sue.
"It's very complimentary to your face, Petunia," nodded Betty.
"Why, thank you Betty," Petunia glowed with pleasure, "And you, too, Sue."
"Hello Petunia," Lily called, coming across the room to greet her sister. At least, in Petunia, Lily may find an ally.
Petunia paused her actions of pulling her snow-sprinkled coat off and slowly turned to face her sister. The two hadn't seen each other since their parents death. And, judging by the icy look Petunia was throwing her way, Lily could see that another twenty year absence from Petunia's life would be welcome wholeheartedly.
"Lily," Petunia acknowledge through gritted teeth, "Coming to spend Christmas with the family, are you?"
"Had to," said Lily before she could stop herself.
"What an ungrateful little leech," squealed Betty. Instantly, Lily realized her mistake.
"I didn't mean it like–," attempted Lily, but was instantly cut off by five separate voices condemning her for her insolence.
"Go to your room!" Aunt Catherine's voice triumphed over the rest of her cousins' and grandparents'.
Inwardly sighing— mostly out of relief— Lily took one last look at Petunia's lemony face and left just as the door opened once more and a booming voice greeted the rest.
"Oh Vernon, you're such a strapping, young–," Aunt Catherine's voice gradually faded, cutting off completely when Lily closed her door and took to the appreciative seclusion and peace.
A/N: sorry it's so short, everyone. I hope it got the point across that her family sucks. Anyways, I have to confess this update was for a reason. I'm headmistress of a harry potter-like role playing site. We desperately need people, so if any of you are interested, check out
www. geocities. com/ headmaster johnston /index. com
(without the spaces in between, of course)