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]

The corners of Dumbledore's mouth curl up, alleviating a bit of the solemnity.

"You. And Mr. Potter. Mr. Black. Miss Byrne. Miss McDonald. Mr. Lupin..."

"Our future is in your hands."

The fuller smile is not quite hidden by his tea cup.

"What is it that they say? No pressure?"

[lilium_evansiae]

"Well, we're Gryffindors, sir.

"We can handle a little pressure."

Or a lot of it.

As the case may be.

[undeniablestyle]

Dumbledore nods and lifts his tea cup.

"To Gryffindor."