Chào các bạn! Vì nhiều lý do từ nay Truyen2U chính thức đổi tên là Truyen247.Pro. Mong các bạn tiếp tục ủng hộ truy cập tên miền mới này nhé! Mãi yêu... ♥

Chapter 4: The Play

 Days turn into weeks and before she knows it, it is July. Lily has remained diligent in her study of dance, and all the different pieces that go along with such things. However, her summer schooling has suffered for it. All her school books and assignments are still locked under the cupboard and Lily is too scared to ask her aunt to use them, she tried that near the beginning of summer and it did not end well. Having learned her lesson Lily didn't dare ask again, just hoping that she had enough time just before school started to get it all done.

All of her days are almost the same, the only thing that changes is what she does after her dance classes. Some days she and Harry go to the park, other days they hang out at the house, just drawing or reading. Harry snuck a few of his books at the beginning of the summer and he let Lily read them. She enjoys reading all of the year two books that he grabbed. Hopefully, this will make doing her homework easier, if she can just remember what she reads without having to go back and check it.

This day is like any other, in her last class Lily shows her growth in ballet, her turns were steadier, her ankles stronger, and her pointe stabler. Although she is no longer desperate to stay in the studio. She is so very excited for the day to be over so that she can go to a play with her family.

The second her classes are finally over Lily practically runs out of the studio to Petunia. Her aunt drives her home all the while listening to Lily ramble on about all of the fun things they did in dance that day.

Arriving home, Lily runs inside, needing a shower. Dancing may be pretty and graceful but it still makes you sweaty and stinky. Her coconut and mango shampoo had never smelled so sweet. Completing her shower she exits the bathroom, blanketed in steam. It billows out of the room, caressing her bedroom floor as though a strenuous fog. She digs through her wardrobe, trying to find something suitable enough for an evening so grand. A lovely black dress stands out in the wardrobe among the brightly colored dresses. Pulling it out she holds it to her body, looking in her full-length mirror. Deciding that a change would be nice Lilly pulls on the dark dress. The dark fabric stands out nicely against her alabaster skin. Her red hair hangs in damp ringlets against her shoulders. Happy with the look of her outfit she then sits at her vanity, blowdrying her hair and adding some of the hair sleeking gel given to her by Art for Christmas. Her frizzy curls now tame and gentle, frame her face softly. She then pulls her front curls away from her face, tying them back with a green ribbon. Happy with her appearance she slips on a silver pair of chunky heels with little bows on the ankles.

She walks down the stairs, calling for her aunt. The second Petunia walked out of the sitting room she let out a gasp, clutching her chest.

"Lily, what on earth are you wearing? I did not buy you that dress." she vociferously exclaims.

Lily pauses at the bottom step, looking down at her dress, "My friend got it for me at Christmas, do you like it?" By the look on her aunt's face, she can tell she does not.

Petunia sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose, "Lily, I didn't buy you that dress. That dress is black, you wear light dresses. You like light dresses dearest, dark dresses make you look colorless and dull, remember?"

Lily stops, her smile dripping off her face. She once again looks down at the dress, touching the hem faintly. "D-does it look bad?" She questions distressfully, no longer sure about her choice.

Petunia opens her mouth to respond, a scowl on her face when large stomps and an exclamation upstairs.

"Wow!" Dudley shouts, loudly stomping down the stairs. "You look beautiful!" Reaching the bottom of the stairs Dudley rushes forward, picking Lily up in his arms, and spinning her around. Her shrieks of laughter fill the hall. "The dress fits you nicely, and a change of color is always nice."

Her smile now replenished Lily does a little twirl, showing off how it flows around when she moves. She looks back to her aunt in time to see her frown turn into a smile.

"Well, alright then. That settles it." She clasps her hands and goes to answer the telephone which is rapidly ringing. Her voice drifts into the hall, and both of the children look up at her tone. "... yes, yes, I completely understand. I hope he feels better, all right. A good night to you too." She re-enters the hall. "That was Peers' mother, it seems he has caught a cold. Something about running through the park with his hair wet."

Dudley lets out a groan of disappointment.

"Do either of you have someone else you would like to bring? We have another ticket." Petunia watches Dudley shake his head. Lily, however, lights up.

"Oh auntie, can we bring Harry," Petunia's face immediately sours. "Oh please, I promise he'll be good. And I never get to take him anywhere. Oh please, please, please!" Lily clasps her hands and sends her aunt the biggest puppy dog eyes she can.

Petunia sighs, "Oh alright," Lily lets out a cheer. "But listen to me closely, he better be on his best behavior or there will be big trouble. Do you understand me?"

"Oh yes I completely understand." Lily hugs her aunt around the waist and rushes up the stairs. Darting into her room she grabs gel and a comb and bursts into Harry's room.

Harry darts up from his bed, eyes wide in shock. "Lil's, are you okay? What's going on?"

She excitedly throws her things onto his bed and goes to his wardrobe, looking through his threadbare clothes. Unsatisfied with what she sees, she rushes back to her room, pulling a box out from under her bed. She sets it on his bed, "I was going to give this to you for your birthday, but I suppose now is as good a time as any." She makes Harry sit and puts the box in his lap. "Go on, open it."

Harry unwraps the string wrapped around the box, taking the lid off. He gawks as he pulls out a very well-made black suit with a dark green undershirt and a matching black tie. He then pulls out shiny new black dress shoes with green socks. "Kathy, wh-when did you, how did you, why did you? I-I, wow." Harry is left speechless.

"I asked Draco where he got all of his suits, I figured you could use one. I know that your favorite color is green, hence the undershirt and the socks. Although I put in an order for one in Griffindor red if you wanted to wear that instead." She watches his face, apprehension filling her body. "Do you not like it?"

Harry practically leaps at her, pulling her into a hug. "I love it, thank you." He pulls away, the biggest smile on his face. He looks back to the suit confused. "I am confused though, why do I need a suit?"

Lily's smile grows, "because Harry, you're coming to the play with us." Before he can protest she continues. "Auntie already agreed, although if anything goes wrong it'll be our hide. Now, go get a shower. We leave in half an hour."

Harry rushes from the room, taking the fastest shower ever. Lily stands outside while he changes, only coming back in when he calls that he needs help. "Kathy, I think I did something wrong."

She enters to see him with his trousers on backward and his buttons uneven. She lets out a laugh and re-buttons his shirt once he fixes his pants. She lifts the collar and hands him the tie.

He looks away from her, eyes staring at the ground. "Kathy, I-I don't know how to tie a tie." He admits with shame.

"That's alright Harry, I'll do it." She takes the tie and begins to tie it. "If you don't mind my asking, how do you tie your tie at school?"

"Well, Hermione helps Ron and me the first time and I just don't untie it. And on the off chance it comes undone, she helps us fix them." Lily lets out a nod, that makes sense.

It explained why his tie always seemed disheveled. Finishing up she bends the collar back down, helping him put on his suit jacket. He buttons the jacket as she ties his shoelaces.

He sits down at his desk, running a comb through his mop or wet hair.

"Harry no!" Lily chastises him, and he stops surprised. "Oh come on," she drags him to her room, setting him down in her vanity. "Do you see what I see?" She asks, looking in the mirror.

"Um, me?" Harry asks, confused.

Lily sighs, smacking him on the side of the head for his cheek. "Well obviously dummy, I mean look at your hair. What do you see?"

"I'm not sure, It always looks like that." He says, holding his hands up to fend off any rouge smacks.

"Harry, your hair is curly, look at those little ringlets. You have naturally curly hair but when you brush through it you're making it straighten out. That explains why it is always so unruly and won't ever lay down flat. It just wants to be curly and free." Lily-Kathryn takes a hand towel from her bathroom and hand dries it. She squeezes the water out without pulling on the little curls. She then takes a handful of her mouse and squeezes his curls before drying it fully. Harry looks in the mirror, surprised at what he sees.

Soft fluffy curls pile on top of his head, his usually messy mop is now nice and maintained. He stands up, looking at himself in a full-length mirror, he looks sharp if he said so himself.

Taking his arm they both admire their reflection, for once they look mature and powerful. They descend the stairs. Looking at the shocked faces of their relatives.

"Where did you get that suit, boy?" Vernon bellows.

"Stole it no doubt, go change," Petunia shrieks. "And what did you do with your hair?!"

Lily steps in front of Harry, hands out placatingly. "I got Harry the suit for his birthday and I did his hair. Doesn't he look so nice?"Lily says quickly, trying to defuse the situation.

Their aunt and uncle grumble out replies and they all leave for the car. The ride to the theater is quiet, but not tense.

Arriving they quickly walk inside, showing their tickets. "Daddy, are we going to get a snack from the kiosk before the play?" Dudley inquires, looking at the long queue of people at the snack kiosk.

Vernon shakes his head, "No, we will go out for dinner after. This food is much too overpriced." They nod in agreement and go find their seats.

Sitting down, Lily and Harry look at each other in excitement. This was the first time they'd gotten to go out together since Dudley's birthday two years ago.

They furiously whispered to each other, taking in all of the sights around them. Their chat comes to a stop as the lights begin to dim, the hubbub of voices coming to an end.

Lights shine onto the stage, revealing a large, dark door. Two men walk onstage, one telling a story of a man trampling a girl on the street.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The stage is filled with a line of actors, holding hands and bowing to the crowd. They all stood, clapping and shouting, the play had been wonderful. The cheers come to a close as the curtain falls and the lights come back on.

Petunia takes Dudley and Lily's hands, pulling them through the crowd. Before they can get too far, Lily grabs Harry's hand, trying to make sure they don't leave him behind. Getting to the car they all begin discussing the play and how enjoyable they found it.

Veron pulls out of the car park speaking back to the youngsters in the backseat. "What would you like for dinner?" He asks.

Dudley thinks about it, coming to a blank. He nudges Lily, telling her to decide. She then glances at Harry, thinking of a place he had never been before. "Can we go to that one cafe, you know, the new one that opened up not too long ago?"

Vernon and Petunia nod to one another.

They pull into the cafe, gather the five of them, and enter the building.

A woman glides over to the front counter, smiling brightly at the group. "Good evening, welcome to Raouche Cafe, how many in your party?" She asks, a cockney accent falling through.

Vernon steps forward, "A table for four please." He tells her, pausing as Lily grabs his arm.

"Five, uncle Vernon," She explains, smiling at the lady. "There are five of us." She nods, leading them to a table.

Sitting down the women look at each of them, asking what they would like to drink. Before anyone can stop her, she takes the children first, even Harry's. Once he is asked he glances at his aunt and uncle, who look furious before ordering water. The woman leaves to get their drinks and Petunia and Vernon tell Harry to get something cheap, because they know there's no way they will get out of ordering him something. They all look through their menus, deciding what they would like. When the waitress comes back, they place their orders and enjoy their drinks, making small talk about the play and how great it was. The food arrives and they eat.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The drive back home is so quiet and peaceful that Lily can't help but feel full and relaxed. She slowly leans her head on Harry's shoulder, wanting to rest her eyes for just a moment. As she drifts off, she blinks, seeing a dark shadow running along the forest floor outside the window.

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro