Chapter 1 : A disappointing summer

August circa 1976

Lily’s pov

It was nearing the end of August, and Lily could not be more grateful. The entire holiday so far, Snape had bothered her. Ever since she had started avoiding him earlier that year, he wouldn't leave her alone, and then when the summer holidays started it was even worse because they were neighbours. Every time Lily went out of the house, Snape went out too, desperately trying to convince her that he was a good person and that her best friends were making things up about him. If he keeps up with this, I might have to spend the last week of the holidays inside thought Lily, but of course that was just as bad as Snape bothering her. Her sister, Petunia, had that horrid boyfriend round all day, and if he wasn't in the house, then they were having a loud conversation on the phone.

Usually lily would spend part of her summer with her friends but this year their families were either on holiday, in Mary’s case, or watching the quidditch world cup, in Marlene’s case, which meant that Lily was spending the summer by herself. “Lily! Phone call for you, darling!” her mum called, interrupting her thoughts. “Coming now!” she yelled as she rushed downstairs. Please let it be Mary or Marlene. Please let it be Mary or Marlene. Please let it be Mary or Marlene she begged. She picked up the phone, “Lily speaking?” “YOUR FRIENDS ARE LIARS, I PROMISE!” came Snape’s shrill voice down the line. “How did you get my number? You know what? That doesn't even matter, I told you already Severus, I'm not interested in people who call my friend's mud bloods and then have the audacity to say they didn't and then call them liars.” Lily replied angrily. "But Lily, I never called you a mudblood, and besides why do you trust your so called friends more than me, who you've known for years?" Snape asked. "Because over the past couple months, you have shown repeatedely how you feel about muggleborns and you've gone to far. Goodbye. AND DON'T BOTHER CALLING ME AGAIN!" she yelled, and put down the phone with a click. Thank Merlin that's over. I wish Mary would call, since Marlene probably can't reach a phone box from where she is right now she thought.

Just then, the phone began to ring again. Oh, for fuck's sake. “I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE!” Lily yelled into the phone. “Lily?” came the distant voice of someone who definitely wasn't Snape. “MARY?, oh my word, thank merlin, it's you!” Lily said with a sigh of relief. “Was Snape calling you before me? Sorry I couldn't call sooner, I ran out of coins for the phone boxes." Mary said. “You wouldn't believe how bad it's been, he's basically everywhere I go. It's horrible, and that ugly Dursley boy is always here too. Anyway, how's Brazil? Have you been to Sugar Loaf Mountain yet?” Lily moaned. “ It's amazing, you wouldn't believe the view from the cable car. It's gorgeous, I can't wait to show you all the things I bought with my cousins, I have so many presents for you and Marlene!” Mary said excitedly. Just then, Lily’s mother called for her to come to dinner. Internally, Lily sighed, it was so hard to get anything done in this house. “That sounds wonderful, Mary. I'm sorry, but I have to go now, mum says I need to help with dinner.” Lily said frustratedly. “Oh. That's okay, I don't know if I'll get another chance to phone before school, so I suppose I'll see you on the train then.” Mary replied. “Yeah, I guess I'll see you then… I've missed you, Mary.” Lily said. “I've missed you too, Lily. I'll see you in a week, bye.” There was a click as Mary put the phone down, and then silence.

Mary’s pov

Mary’s start to the summer had also been less than pleasing, she was constantly getting letters from Gilderoy Lockhart, asking her to be his girlfriend or to go on a date during the holidays. The problem was that firstly, she had told him very kindly that she wasn't interested in dating anyone at the moment and that she was happy to stay friends with him, but he just wouldn't give it up, it was as if he thought someone had to be mentally ill to not want to date him. Then secondly, Mary was almost 100% sure she was a lesbian, but she hadn't told anyone yet, and she didn't want the first person she told to be Gilderoy Lockhart. She was sure that if she did tell him, it would spread like wildfire through the school, and the last thing she needed was to be outed right now. Mary’s thoughts were spining around her head like a merry-go-round. How can I get him to leave me alone? I'm not about to put friendships on the line by telling him I'm a lesbian, Merlin knows I would get enough shit for it in the muggle world, and I can't even begin to think what the wizarding world would think, especially the “purebloods”. The only other way would be to tell I'm dating someone, but that's a lie and I don't know any other queer people at Hogwarts.

Mary could not be more relieved when she realised that Lockhart couldn't send her letters in Brazil when she was spending time with her family. She was going to escape the relentless pestering, but that meant she also wasn't going to be able to see her friends. She wouldn't be able to reach Marlene because there were no phone boxes near her, and she doubted whether there were many in Botafogo. Luckily she managed to call Lily once before she left and had a nice chat before they were rather rudely interrupted by her sister's boyfriend wanting to call. The second time was much shorter than she would've liked because poor Lily had to help with dinner. Mary settled for finding a solution once school had started.