One day James Potter asked Lily Evans if she believed in magic. At first she was ready to scoff and say âyesâ because of course she believed in magic. She was a witch.
But a memory came back to her at the question. Her mother and father each holding a tiny hand and swinging her as they walked down the street. Her motherâs eyes, the love in her parents gaze as they shared a look.
That was a different kind of magic.
A young boy walked up to her, black hair and kind eyes. He looked down at the flower sheâd grown from the palm of her hand.
âIâm Severus,â he said. He didnât think Lily was a freak.
That was a different kind of magic.
Another memory flooded her senses. She was back to 12 years old and her sister hadnât said anything to her beyond âfreakâ for the whole year. Petunia had baked a cake and when Lily reached out to cut a slice, for the first time in too long, Petunia didnât bat Lilyâs hand away. Instead she smiled at her.That day, they were children again, running through fields and playing games under the sun.
That was a different kind of magic.
Lily was thirteen and she was reading a Tale of Two Cities. She was so lost in the book that by the time she looked up it was dark outside the window she was sitting by and she hadnât even realised sheâd been squinting just to see the words. Sheâd finally finished it though, and when she told Remus, he lit up and they spent the whole night talking through the book.
That was a different kind of magic.
In fifth year, Sirius Black stood on the table of the Great Hall and picked up a carrot cake. The whole room fell silent and waited for him to say whatever it was he had to say. Lily remembered watching Professor McGonagallâs face as she realised, a second too late, what was about to happen. Sirius threw that carrot cake with all the force he could muster and somehow, miraculouslyâSirius still insists he didnât use magicâgot it across to the Slytherin table and straight into Bellatrix Blackâs face. Lily broke into laughter as she remembered the muggle movie sheâd shown him the previous weekend and how entranced heâd been during the food fight scene. The Great Hall erupted and Lily left that night covered head to toe in an assortment of foods and a memory of the sly smirk of McGonagallâs face.
That was a different kind of magic.
A memory of two hands, pale hair against dark and bright smiles. Sixth year. Lily remembered listening to Dorcas pine after Marlene for years and then here they were, hands linked and laughing as they jumped into the Great Lake. Lily, Alice and Mary laughed along with them but they were in their own world, in love and so, so happy.
That was a different kind of magic.
A final memory plays in her mind. James Potter, shy for once in his life, nervously messing up his hair and looking away from her.
âLily. I donât want to... I donât want to screw this up,â he said. âI really really like having you as my friend. More than you can imagine.â He paused for a moment and looked Lily in the eyes. âBut Iâll hate myself forever if I donât try one last time.â Lily tried to imagine what heâd say. But heâd stopped talking. He wasnât going to say it.
âWould you maybe want to go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend?â Lily blurted before she could talk herself out of it. Jamesâ eyes widened but not once did his hand lift up to his hair.
âWhat?â Lily put her head in her hands and groaned. She was stupid. She was so, so stupid. âYou canât let me have one victory can you, Evans?â James laughed.
âWhat?â Lily looked up through a crack in her fingers. James was smirking at her. He pushed his glasses up his nose.
âYes, Lily. Iâd love to go to Hogsmeade with you this weekend.â
That was a different kind of magic.
âLily?â James leaned forward and snapped Lily out of her trance. She remembered the question suddenly. Do you believe in magic?
âYeah,â Lily said, smiling slightly. âYeah I do.â James didnât note the happiness in her voice, but instead grinned.
âOh good, because boy, do I have a the magic trick for you,â James said, pulling out a deck of cards. Lily rolled her eyes. âPick a card, any card,â James said eagerly.
