With Arms Wide Open

***

With Arms Wide Open

Chapter One: A Fresh Start

***

"Are you going to live your life standing in the back looking around?

Are you going to waste your time?

Got to make a move or you'll miss out

Someone is going to ask you what it's all about

Stick around nostalgia won't let you down

Someone is going to ask you what it's all about

What are you going to have to say for yourself?

I'm on my feet

I'm on the floor

I'm good to go"

~part of "A Praise Chorus", by Jimmy Eat World~

***

"I found one, I found one!"

Katty Pampt rushed into her kitchen, breathless. She either was way too excited, or had just run in from wherever she came from. Or, Lily mused, both.

"What? Where?" Lily asked her friend, looking up from the horse-shaped lump she was sculpting with some lime green playdough. In truth, Lily knew what Katty was on about. She could only be talking about one thing...

Katty grinned. "It's just outside of London, so it's real convenient. Come on, you just have to see it!"

Laughing, Lily grinned back. "Hold on," she said, and turned to Katty's younger sister, Emma. "Do you want to see it, too?" she asked.

Emma, who was only six, frowned in response. She looked down at the stuff in her hands and said, "No, I want to play with my Plato."

"Playdough, dear," replied Lily automatically. She had given Emma a multi-colored pack of playdough a few days ago for her birthday. Emma had been thrilled to receive it--she grew up in a household of witches and wizards, and anything Muggle (non-magical) absolutely fascinated her. In the three days that she had had the gunk, Emma had not stopped playing with it.

"That's what I said!"

Lily rolled her eyes, suppressing a chuckle. She was a witch herself. She had actually just finished the wizarding school--Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry--and so was now considered a full fledge witch. Katty, Lily's best friend, was also a witch.

As it was mid-July, school had only been out for about a month. Lily was staying with the Pampts indefinitely, for two reasons. One, because her parents were dead, and two, because her older sister Petunia hated her with a passion.

Lily never fully understood why Petunia disliked her so much. She figured it had something to do with jealously or resentment. Petunia had always seemed to be under the impression that Lily stole attention from their parents. After their parents' funeral Petunia had even marched up to Lily and said very succinctly, "Get lost and out of my life, you freak." Since then, Petunia completely ignored Lily, and any calls Lily had made during the summer had been ignored. Lily got the distinct impression that Petunia had only been holding out for their parents.

Looking at the playdough in her hands, Lily hoped Katty couldn't see her face. She had never really gotten over her parents death; it had only been less than a year, and Lily had loved her parents so much.....

***

"Lily?"

Katty looked entreatingly at her friend. From what she had seen in the second before Lily lowered her head, Katty noticed vestiges of grief. Poor girl. She had been shoved onto a new family because hers had been torn apart. Mind, Katty was Lily's best friend, but still, hers was a strange family.

Whereas Lily had grown up in the Muggle world (Lily had been the very first with magic blood in the family), Katty was from a long line of powerful witches and wizards. Off the top of her head, Katty couldn't even think of a single Squib--a person with no magic born into a family of full wizards. As it was, the entire house was full of magical gadgets, and could confuse even a wizard. There were clocks that told not the time, but the arrangement of stars; chairs that could transfigure into sleeping bags or three-person sofas with the touch of a button; a doorbell that announced the number of people awaiting entry; tea-kettles that spouted songs when the water boiled; posters where the people and animals moved like real life, and painted family portraits in which the people could talk; and the like.

All in all, Katty's family was strange to anyone who hadn't been brought up in the magical world, even if the person had attended Hogwarts.

Katty decided to give Lily a few moments to pull herself back together. She knew her friend well enough to know not to interfere with Lily's thoughts. Lily was a red head, and, when the occasion called for it, she had the temper to match.

Knowing Lily, Katty also figured that she'd be running her parents' death over again in her mind. Although Lily hadn't been present when her parents died, she had heard what happened enough times to be able to picture it clearly. Katty had also heard the story, both from a crying Lily and the concerned school's headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.

Peter and Mary Evans had died the year before. The night before Christmas, they had attended a holiday party hosted by one of Peter's work-mates. It was late, around 3 a.m., when the two decided to leave.

Neither had had anything to drink. It wasn't just to keep safe during the holidays; both disliked the taste and smell of alcohol. In any case, they figured they'd be safe.

Katty had known the two well. They weren't the type of people who thought they were immortal; in fact, quite the opposite was true. They were overly cautious, and followed the law without even a thought of toeing the line.

They were passing through an intersection, and neither Peter nor Mary saw the other car until it was too late...it rammed into Peter's side of the car. The old Ford was flipped over and Lily's parents were killed instantly. At least they hadn't felt the pain or imagined the horror their children would go through.

It was fate that this was the one year Lily decided not go home--she had stayed for more study time for the NEWTs (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Level) at the end of the year. Else she might have been in the same car.

It was sick irony, though, that the letter bringing the news arrived on Christmas, just as Lily and her friends were opening their presents.

Katty bit her lip. As Lily had no living relatives but Petunia (and knew of the tension between the two), her parents had decided with the headmaster that the Pampts were to be her legal guardians, if anything were to happen. Dumbledore had put his own two knuts in: he figured that since the Pampts were a wizarding family, they could help acclimate Lily to the new world of magic.

Poor Lily.

A minute later, Lily lifted her head. She wasn't crying, but her eyes were overbright.

"So?" she said, her voice strong and bright, without a hint of sadness in it. "Are you going to take me to this new flat or what?"

"Yes!" cried Katty. Oh--this was going to be good. She and Lily had been looking for a flat all summer, and it looked like their luck had changed. "Now, come on! I told the boys to meet us there by three. It's almost 2:30 now!"

***

The girls decided to use the Pampt's fireplace to get to London. After dressing in Muggle clothes because wizards generally wore robes (Katty wore a simple red sundress since it was most similar to a robe, while Lily dressed in blue jeans and a white tank top with embroidered green flowers), they each grasped a handful of the Floo Powder, stepped into the fireplace, and announced "The Leaky Cauldron." They were immediately whisked away to the Leaky Cauldron.

The Leaky Cauldron was a small tavern in London that bridged the Muggle and magic worlds. It was easy for wizards to enter or leave the public Muggle world even if they used a magical method. They just had to walk out of the building; Muggles hardly even noticed the tavern was on the street. From there, they took a bus to the house where the flat was.

They made it just before three.

Of course, Lily and Katty made it there before the boys. As a rule, the boys almost always came late.

To Lily's amazement, though, they actually arrived right on time--on a motorcycle.

"What the--" cried Lily, quite flabbergasted. How in the world did those two get a motorcycle? This was Sirius Black and James Potter--two of the biggest pranksters Hogwarts had ever seen! They were the type that didn't mind getting in trouble. Them with a motorcycle was quite simply dangerous!

"Hey Lily," James said, hopping off the back of the motorcycle and walking over to her. "Hey Katty."

"I thought you'd be late," said Katty in reply, crossing her arms.

"Well, we knew you'd be early."

Lily tutted. "Why aren't you wearing a helmet," she asked. "You could have gotten hurt! Sirius was driving."

James laughed. "Yeah, I know. So? He's ridden it before."

"We are talking about the same Sirius here, aren't we?"

The next thing she knew, Sirius had rushed up to her, screaming "LILY!" and glomping her into an enormous bear hug. It took a minute before James finally pried Sirius off her. He had been too busy laughing. Well, he wasn't the one with the life squeezed out of him, now, was he, thought Lily bitterly.

"Shall we see the flats?" James asked, still grinning.

"Yes, please," said Katty. "I've been waiting for this all day!"

***

Mr. Hindom ushered the four up a staircase in the middle of the house. He was the landlord, a short, animated, and roly-poly man who reminded Lily of Santa Claus. He definitely had the role down: a long white beard and hair, an amiable attitude, and a deep laugh.

"Now, there are six flats here," he was saying, jerking Lily out of her thoughts. "The three on the middle floor are occupied, but the two upstairs are empty, so you guys would be next to each other. My wife and I live downstairs; my daughter and her family occupy the last flat.

"The flats on the top and bottom floors have two bedrooms, and those on the middle floor have one bedroom. All have a kitchen, bathroom, and fireplace. There's also a large storage closet that can be shared between the two you'll be looking at."

"Do you check in there?" asked Katty. By the mischievous glint in her eyes, Lily could tell she was thinking of a place to put her potion supplies. If the four friends shared a space for that, then that would leave more room in their flats. That, and any non-magic friends or relatives that may visit wouldn't be frightened by smoldering cauldrons and partially sliced dragon livers. If Mr. Hindom ever looked in a closet full of magic supplies...well, suffice it to say he'd be shocked at the very least. Mr. Hindom was, without a doubt, very Muggle.

"Do I check in there?" repeated Mr. Hindom. "Of course not! It would be as if it was one of the flats! I wouldn't go breaking into your flat, now would I?"

"I'd hope not," James put in, seriously. Lily noticed Katty was shaking...holding in laughter, no doubt, because Katty found the idea of Muggles encountering magic items quite ridiculous.

Now they were on the top floor, where there was a door on each wall. Mr. Hindom walked over to the door on the right that said 3B and fitted a key into the lock from a silver chain around his neck. "This is the smaller of the two flats. Not by much, though." And so he opened the door.

Lily gasped. This was the smaller flat? The flat was huge! The door opened into an open room, with a kitchenette in the near left corner, and a fireplace on the far wall. Large windows spotted the walls. Mr. Hindom waved them into the room, and took them on what he called his "Grand Tour". There were two bedrooms on the right, with a bathroom between them. They both seemed unnaturally large to Lily, who was used to smaller spaces from her stay at Hogwarts. The kitchen had a half-wall, which, according to Lily, would be perfect for setting up stools.

"What do you think," asked Katty. She had a wide, lop-sided grin on her face.

Lily raised an eyebrow. "It's large."

"And the other is bigger."

"So I've heard."

While James seemed absorbed in talking to Mr. Hindom--most likely about the flat--Sirius came up to them, dangling an arm lazily around Lily's shoulder. "So, m'ladies? Lovely castle, don't you think? Exactly like Hogwarts."

Lily giggled, but Katty groaned. "You idiot," she sighed, "you complete idiot."

***

Sirius watched Lily as Mr. Hindom placed his hand on the other flat's door handle. He and Katty had already seen both flats; earlier that day he had flooed into the Pampt's home with news of two flats in close proximity. Since Katty was an early riser, or Lily had been kept occupied all day yesterday with her friend's younger sister and was still sleeping, Katty had greeted him. They both had loved the flats. Now Mr. Hindom was really only going through the ruses of showing them off for Lily and James's benefits.

He could hear James chatting on with the landlord. Leave it to James to get along with all Muggles. If he wanted to, Sirius could listen to James ramble on with questions about the rooms, but frankly that would be too boring. It was obvious enough to him that his friend liked what he saw; else he wouldn't be questioning Mr. Hindom so much.

So, Sirius amused himself by watching Lily's reaction. Or, for that matter, watching Lily. Lily was easy to look at, and somewhat unusual, with very long brilliant red hair that cascaded in waves down her back. She wasn't that tall, only medium height, but she had beautiful green eyes that easily conveyed her intelligence. During Hogwarts, once the two had become friends, Sirius had persuaded too many guys to count from asking Lily out. They were all sleazes, wanting to use her for either her body or her brains; Lily was way too nice and good a person to associate with them. To this day, she still didn't know what Sirius had done. She'd probably be furious with him if she ever found out.

And now Sirius tried to imagine how she'd react. After a minute of thinking, he came down to two possibilities; since this flat was bigger, Lily either would gasp in amazement or stare at the room as if challenging it to a duel. She'd only look around stonily, though, because Sirius had made an effort to bug her, and she wouldn't want to give him the satisfaction of enjoying the rooms.

"Well," began Mr. Hindom, "this is the other flat. It's similarly laid out, but I think you guys may like it better." And with that he threw open the door.

Sirius was wrong. Lily did not gasp, nor look annoyed.

She fell.

"JAMES!" Her face suddenly flushed with anger as she picked herself up and twirled around to face the man in question.

Faced with Lily's fury, James didn't even have the grace to look ashamed. Instead, he had a fake innocent look plastered on his face. "What?" he asked. "What did I do? Are you okay?"

"You tripped me!" she cried, pointing a finger at James. It seemed like she forgot anyone else was there.

"I have no clue what you are talking about."

"Yes you do! While you were talking to Mr. Hindom you stuck out your leg and tripped me!"

Sirius bit back a laugh--he knew that if he laughed, Lily's anger would then be directed at him. She'd think he'd had a hand in her trip. Which, for once, he didn't.

Mr. Hindom had been watching the exchange warily, but as he heard his name, he perked up. "Excuse me," he cut in timidly, "but you can look at the flat now."

Lily flew around again, this time to look at the flat. Sirius began contemplating her reaction again. Still the same two reactions. But, in seconds, the red had dissipated from her face; instead, a huge grin rose. Damn, he was wrong again. She reached a hand behind her to where Katty stood, grasped her friend's arm, and pulled her closer.

"I love it!" she cried.

Katty squealed--yes, squealed--in delight, and hugged Lily. "I do, too," she said. "Up for a home of our own?"

"Yes!"

Lily stood, still staring at the room before her. The kitchen was immediately on the left of the front door, and the back left corner held a floor-to-ceiling shelf. Next to it on the far wall was a large fireplace. And although Lily couldn't see it yet, the flat was in a backwards 'L' shape. There was a bedroom in the back right corner with an alcove exactly the right size for a bed to fit into, a larger bedroom that gave the flat its 'L' shape, and a bathroom between the two rooms.

Katty walked up to Sirius. She was pretty, too, but maybe not as pretty as Lily. At least, she didn't look as exotic as her friend did. She had more common looks, with straight chestnut hair that fell to the middle of her back, and brown eyes that Sirius had to admit sparkled lively. Katty was also a bit taller than Lily. "Hey, Sirius," she whispered, "I think they liked them."

"Well, we know Lily did. James, too, since he wouldn't have talked so much with Mr. Hindom if he didn't. I guess we have to talk with them now?"

Katty grinned. "Yeah. Let's corral them up."

***

Shortly thereafter, the four left the building and went back to Katty's. Lily couldn't stop grinning; she could already tell that they'd take the two flats. Although they were huge, the sizes and expenses didn't deter them. Although Lily's family had never been too well off, when her parents had died, she had inherited a hefty sum of money through her parents' will and the insurance from the accident. Besides that, she had already accepted a job, so would have money through that. As for Katty, James, and Sirius...well, they were fortunate enough to each come from rich families. They had no want for money.

And Lily wasn't wrong. In practically no time, they decided to rent the two flats, and made plans to move in later during the summer. After all, they had to pack, and that would take awhile, even for wizards!

Early that August, Lily, Katty, James and Sirius painted their flats before they moved in (it would be easier to paint with no furniture in the way). The walls had been a basic boring white, so with Mr. Hindom's permission they decorated the rooms. For some reason, the boys let Lily and Katty take the bigger flat. So, Lily and Katty painted their living room and kitchen dark red to match the off-white tiles in the kitchen and the hardwood floors in the other rooms; Lily's room (the one that gave the flat the 'L' shape) was a pale blue; and Katty's was a pale green. They left alone the bathroom. James and Sirius' flat soon became a pale green similar to Katty's bedroom; each of their rooms became varying shades of blue (dark for James, light for Sirius). Their bathroom became off-white.

Petunia hadn't taken much of the Evans' furniture, both because she had claimed early on that she didn't want to be reminded of her parents' horrific death, and because she was getting married. She was marrying an oaf named Vernon Dursley in November...Lily knew this only because her parents had told her before they'd died; she knew she wouldn't receive an invite from them. Although Lily wouldn't have wanted to go anyway (all Petunia's friends were rude prats, and Vernon worked with drills, for god sakes), it still hurt that her sister couldn't even be nice.

In any case, Lily and Katty wouldn't need to buy much new furniture; they could just take what they wanted from the Evans' old house. It didn't affect Lily as emotionally as it did her sister; rather, she was glad for the reminder of her parents. The rest went to charity and neighbors. Whatever magic thing the two wanted, they could buy in Diagon Alley (the wizarding street that the Leaky Cauldron opened into), or bring from the Pampt's home.

So that was why Lily and Katty were following a moving truck all around England in late August. Since the Evans had lived in a town surrounded by Muggles, and the two were moving to a Muggle house, they had decided to use the Muggle way rather than magic.

At least the moving men were young...and very good looking. It didn't always hurt to go the Muggle way, Lily thought. They brought all the furniture up to their flat; all Lily and Katty had to do was decide exactly where they wanted everything. Easier said than done.

Until Lily and Katty were completely settled in, they stayed at Katty's. It was simply the easiest thing to do.

And then they had their home.

***

Author's Note Two: For the record, I'm not from England (I'm from Connecticut, in New England), so there's a very good chance I'll say something inappropriate or incorrect without realizing it. That's also why I didn't and won't get very specific about where people live (since I don't know the area). If anyone wants to give me a heads-up on that, I'd be eternally grateful (yeah, I know, that sounds real corny).