1 February 1977, Headmaster's Office

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily stands in the hallway outside the Headmaster's Office, clutching an envelope and telling herself to stop being ridiculous.

It's just tea.

Of course, it's tea with the Headmaster on the occasion of her seventeenth birthday, but it's still just tea.

Intimidating tea, but tea, none the less.

"Excuse me," Lily says, to the gargoyle in the hallway, holding out the invitation. "I think the Headmaster is expecting me."

There's a moment, and then the gargoyle reveals a moving spiral staircase leading up to Professor Dumbledore's office.

Comments

[undeniablestyle]

Tea is rarely a threatening event. Even at Hogwarts.

The table is already set, and the Headmaster is tidying away a few papers at his desk.

"Ah, Miss Evans," he says, pleasantly.

"Many happy returns of the day."

[lilium_evansiae]

"Thank you, Professor," Lily says.

It's a very impressive office.

"How are you today, sir?"

[undeniablestyle]

It is well-appointed. And he's had a very long time to entrench himself in it, which rather makes it feel like some old monument or museum.

"Very well, thank you."

Interesting things are afoot. Always.

"Please, feel free to sit," the headmaster adds. "And don't feel that you must stand on too much ceremony. One should feel reasonably comfortable in the area of one's birthday."

[lilium_evansiae]

"Thank you, sir," Lily says, and then very carefully sits on a large armchair.

(It would be a very confortable place to sit, if Lily weren't perched on the very edge of the cushion.)

"It looks very nice," she adds, after a pause that feels too long.

[undeniablestyle]

Often to fastest way of getting one over a bout of mild discomfiture is to just carry on without drawing excessive attention to it.

Dumbledore merely smiles and sits and pours the tea.

"Yes. I have always said that the kitchens of Hogwarts are unequalled anywhere. I maintain it's the constant challenge of feeding a very large and energetic audience."

Teenagers.

Dumbledore passes over a teacup.

"How does it feel to be of age, Miss Evans? My seventeenth is so far in the distant past, I fear I rather forget what it was like."

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily accepts the teacup, thinking about how to answer that question.

She's got it a lot, and she still isn't sure what she's meant to say.

Finally, she settles on, "Exactly the same and completely different all at once, I think."

[undeniablestyle]

"If memory serves, it will take a bit of time to sink in."

Dumbledore smiles and shakes his head.

"Forgive me for employing what is surely an overly-used sentiment from those of my age, but it is rather dizzying sometimes how fast First Years turn into Seventh Years."

"Have you made any plans for after Hogwarts, Miss Evans?"

[lilium_evansiae]

Speaking of questions she's got a lot . . .

"Not really," Lily confesses. "I suppose I'll look for something to do with Potions. That's my best subject, and I like it.

"I'm sort of thinking that I should spend more of this summer in the Wizarding World. Aside from Hogwarts, I've never really had the opportunity to spend much time with that side of things. And it can be hard to get a feel for the way things work in the Wizarding World just from discussion and careers brochures and the Daily Prophet."

[undeniablestyle]

"A good plan. It's best, I find, to allow oneself a good deal of flexibility, especially at your age."

Indeed, Dumbledore looks quite pleased. Though that may also have to do with Lily's more wide-range plan.

The Wizarding World needs intelligent and talented witches and wizards. Espeically at this time.

"Are you thinking of perhaps spending the summer in the company of friends? You have no lack of those here at Hogwarts, it seems."

[lilium_evansiae]

"Not in terms of staying with someone or several someones all summer. I'm sure I'll see people, but I don't want to not spend the summer with my parents, either.

"I was more thinking that if I pass my Apparition test, I'd be able to look for a job in Diagon Alley, rather than working in a cafe in Milton this summer. Or in Hogsmeade, I suppose."

Not working is really not an option.

"Even if I'm just working in a cafe there, instead of working in a Muggle one."

[undeniablestyle]

"It would certainly help you to immerse yourself in the world."

One lives and breathes magic at Hogwarts, of course, but for the students at least, it's a rather closed environment. More so for students from Muggle backgrounds.

"I hope you know, Miss Evans, that I will be happy to offer my recommendation. You have done expemplary work here, both as a student, and as prefect."

[lilium_evansiae]

Closed and very safe. Lily might encounter prejudices from other students, but the school itself has afforded her every opportunity that is has afforded her pureblood classmates.

That may not be the case, once she's out in the world.

"Thank you, sir," Lily says, flushing a bit pink but smiling. "That's very kind of you."

[undeniablestyle]

"Kindness has little to do with it," Dumbledore replies, pleasantly.

A little. It is not, after all, a quality of which he is devoid. But moreover, Dumbledore is a headmaster who makes it his business to know who his students are, what they are capable of, and how those capabilities might best benefit (or harm) the Wizarding World.

Perhaps if he'd been more vocal about his insticts years earlier, Tom Riddle would not have made his way so far down his destructive path. But then, Dumbledore hadn't had the power at Hogwarts than that he does now.

"It is a regard that you have earned, and continue to earn. Scone?"

[lilium_evansiae]

"Thank you," Lily says, taking a scone because it's easier than replying to the rest of it.

(And rather more than a bit pink now, too.)

[undeniablestyle]

"I always find it fascinating how students change during their time at Hogwarts, being able to watch them from the very beginning," Dumbledore says, conversationally. "Many I can predict, but there are always some surprises."

"You, for instance. I can still remember that you were quite determined from the very beginning."

Little has changed there. Which is not a bad thing.

"Your friend, Mr. Potter, on the other hand. He's much improved in the last year or so."

And Dumbledore hears and sees enough to know that Miss Evans is at least partially responsible for it.

[lilium_evansiae]

Her parents could tell him that the determination hardly began when she arrived at Hogwarts.

There's a moment's hesitation, and then Lily says, "And is that something you predicted, sir, or did it surprise you?"

It certainly surprised her.

(Except that it didn't. Not really.)

[undeniablestyle]

Dumbledore sips his tea, thoughtfully.

"I believed there was a good chance," he says. "The core goodness was there, and the Potter family is one that cultivates responsibility."

"Though," he adds with an amused smile, "I was beginning to think it would be a photo finish between those qualities asserting themselves, and Mr. Potter and Mr. Black being brought up on charges of Extremely Dangerous Mischief of some kind."

He's rather relieved at the outcome of that race, honestly.

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily studies the pattern on her teacup for a moment, before she speaks.

"There's a lot of good in James," she says, finally. "And he'd better at letting people see it than he was."

Possibly including himself.

[undeniablestyle]

There's nothing like a couple of years to grant maturity. And nothing like wanting to win a young lady's good opinion.

"And I think it will be beneficial to all of us."

"Although, don't tell him I said so. He may break into an acute rash of pranks if he knows he's being watched."

Young people can be funny that way.

[lilium_evansiae]

"I won't, sir," Lily says, smiling a bit.

Because how awkward would that be?

[undeniablestyle]

Dumbledore raises his teacup in toast to the conspiracy.

"And now hopefully it is only a matter of time before Mr. Black follows."

Of course, Dumbledore is willing to afford Sirius Black some leniency. He has not had the easiest path, and has come far already.

[lilium_evansiae]

Well, the Headmaster has the right to hope ...

"I can't think of many things he and James don't agree on," Lily offers.

Well, you know.

Aside from her.

[undeniablestyle]

"Quite. Loyal friendship is a great gift."

Ask any Hufflepuff.

"But enough about Mr. Potter and Mr. Black."

"Did you have an enjoyable birthday?"

[lilium_evansiae]

Lily nods.

"Yes, sir, I did."

Though it did rather involve Mr Potter.

"My friends got me a locket, and, of course, it was the day after the Quidditch match."

[undeniablestyle]

"Ah, yes. I would be surprised to learn that Gryffindor Tower slept in the wake of that victory."

It had been rather decisive.

"That was thoughtful of your friends indeed."

Sometimes, Muggle-born witches and wizards can miss out on traditions.