It is a truth universally acknowledged that a writer, in possession of more free time than she anticipated, must be in want of a storyline. Okay, I am a self-confessed Jane Austen fan- I just love her books to pieces! And she always creates really yummy heroes (sigh Mr Darcy…). So as a tribute to this great authouress, I have taken it upon myself to write this fic- the story of Emma altered to a James/Lily story (my no. 1 all time fav. ship). In all, it should be 22 chapters long (I actually have it all planned out this time!) and is just a bit of fluff to enjoy at the end of exams! Note: I have NOT abandoned 'Is it all just a dream?'- it is still being worked upon and hopefully, I shall be alternating updates between the two stories. However, I'm a little uber-enthusiastic about this one at the moment, so it may take priority for a little bit. Enjoy!
R xxx
Disclaimer: If you see anything, vaguely similar/remotely similar/slightly similar/identical to or otherwise very familiar, it's a pretty safe bet that it doesn't belong to me!
Prologue
Our story must first begin with the family Potter. Although proud within their own right, they were a respected, well-liked and highly affable group of people. Their blood ran as pure as mountain water and their bloodlines could be traced right back to Godric Gryffinor. Never had the family produced a Slytherin, possibly the only family to have done so, and it was a fact not easily made forgotten.
The Potters, for all their merits, were about the proudest family of blood purity, excepting of course the Blacks and possibly the Malfoys. That isn't to say that they abhorred muggle-borns, far from it in fact. Many Potters had half or muggle-born friends. Some even had muggle friends. But a Potter would never marry one, never even date one, unless they wished to rid themselves of the name 'Potter' forever.
Unfortunately, there were two incidents within this family, which were to disrupt this perfect chain of perfect heirs. The first is widely known- that of the last Potter, James, marrying a muggle-born girl, Lily, thus extinguishing the line's purity forever.
The second however, was to take place twenty nine years previously, when Mr and Mrs Lysander Potter were to give birth to a child who not only looked nothing like any of his family, but also happened to be a squib. Until the child was eleven years of age, it could not really be certain, but connections with the Ministry and the Headmaster allowed the Potter's to view the scroll on which the names of every magical child born were written as they were given birth to. Sure enough, there was no name where there should have been.
Distraught, the grandparents of the child urged their children to give the boy up for adoption. After many tears and anguished arguments, the parents had to agree it was for the best. The boy was given to an orphanage (a good one at least, where the parents could be contacted at any time should it be necessary) where he was quickly adopted by another couple. Lydia Potter wrote sporadic letters to her son over the years, explaining every circumstance that had led him to his current position. The young boy grew up, fearing and loathing his natural parents, of what they were and of what he might have become. Thus he took his adopted parent's name, as though this may be of some insult to his real parents. Which of course it wasn't.
Rumours flew across the magical community, no-one scarce daring to accuse Lydia of having an affair outside of marriage. It was simply not done- although there seemed little other explanation. How could the boy have no magical talent and look nothing like the rest of his family, if that was not the answer?
However, most rumours were laid aside on the birth of the Potter's next and only other son nine years later. James's name was present on the scroll (a fact the parents checked almost the instant he was born). He possessed the thick dark hair and hazel eyes of almost every other member of his family. So everyone was content.
Excepting of course one small boy who, although given a perfectly adequate childhood, could not help resenting his parents and everyone else… like them… after what they had done to him.
Thus James Alexander Herschel Ignatius Potter was christened, on the same day a young boy named Vernon sat at his window, not caring one jot that he had a new younger brother.
And so it was that, fourteen years after the James' birth, Mr Vernon Dursley first began to court the sister of one Miss Lily Evans. Vernon Dursley had not recommended himself to Lily in the slightest for, having been told what she was, his fear and anger at anyone connected with the wizarding world rose to the surface and Lily had been treated like scum on mud. And so, when the engagement was announced in the middle of their fifth year, James and Lily both learned of the situation.
Thus their regard for one another began to alter. At first, Lily's perpetual anger and hatred of James was deepened at the mere thought that they might ever become closer than they were at present (which, given all its due, was a about as close as the equator is to the North Pole). However, her reasoning soon caught up with her, and she began thinking of what it must be like to have a brother, something she had long wished for. Despite the fact that she severely disliked James, a small, tiny, miniscule (etc. etc.) part of her didn't really mind the attention her paid her. And at least she wasn't followed by looks that told her quite plainly that she could have been a cholera infested slug and they would have liked her better (as she was around her sister and fiancée).
James however, became slightly more cautious around Lily. He did not know what her thoughts on the situation were as they had discussed it as briefly as she could allow. His pranks began to diminish, his attempts to make her go out with him depleted and overall, after the summer holidays of their fifth year, James wondered if he ever now stood a chance with the girl who was, one day, to become his sister in law. And of course he had continual morality checks with his conscience to find out if it was completely wrong to fancy your sister… even if it was by marriage. He decided eventually he wasn't sure… if that was a decision.
Perhaps when they finally did become related, something would change…
Something most definitely did.
I know this is short, but it is only a prologue. I should be updating in the next 24 hours (with all fingers crossed!)
If you review I will love you forever and eternity!
R xxx