Chapter Text
Central London, 1815
Fame is a fickle friend. You can live for it, you can bleed for it, and you can die for it, but you must remember to ask what it is doing for you?
The stubby little newsboy ran across the cobbled streets of London, as fast as nimble feet can carry like it was a goddamn livelihood, with a satchel in hand, causing the commotion of the century. When handing out exclusive soiree invitations, you’d think it best to not make such a public show with them, but what does a 10 year old know? More to the point, life is one big popularity game, and everybody wants to be invited to the play.
He knocked on every door, retrieving an embellished parchment from his sack and giving it to the doormen of each respective household. He gave a polite nod, then bolted to the next one.
Approximately 30 seconds after the second delivery, a shrill scream came from the Evans household.
Lily Evans, the most beautiful lady with fair freckled skin and hair aflame stepped and skipped around her lounging parlour with the parchment clutched to her chest.
“Oh, what is all the bother about?” her sister Petunia, a bony faced woman, sulked by the window.
“Alice and Frank Longbottom cordially invite you to celebrate the news of our engagement at Gomery Hall! Oh, what a wonder! I don’t think I have ever been so excited!” she said aloud, humming and skipping like some knocked-off woodland fairy creature.
Alice and Frank were the most eyed-up and envied pair of the town. Practically set to be wed since they were babes. They were both schooled in a village much further out of rich society, but after many years by each other, they have finally decided to tie the knot.
“Oh, how joyous!” Petunia sarcastically exclaimed.
“Don’t be bitter ‘tunia. It provokes wrinkles.” Lily gasped.
“I’m off to see Dorcas Meadows, mama! No doubt she is buzzing with excitement!”
Lily ran down her stairs, tripping over a few, and considering sliding down the banister just to get to the bottom faster. That was certainly Marlene McKinnon’s way of doing things. She slid down the Evan’s banister when she was 8 years old and broke a vase. Her mother was not impressed.
The footman was prepared for an open swinging door as she came at it full speed, embracing the fresh air with a grin.
The day was perfect. Nary a cloud in the blue, flowers in full bloom. It was certainly a dream.
She walked down the street counting 3 houses down to where the Meadow’s lived. She gave a splintering knock, to which to footman answered opening the front door as she entered to find Dorcas and Marlene already situated, snuggled on a couch together fighting over who got more of the cushion.
“Oh, Marlene! I am glad you are both here! Oh, did you hear the news? Oh, isn’t it wonderful?” she lollygagged.
“OH, yes!” Dorcas jested. “You must calm down before you become overexcited. Do you wish to faint?”
“Before she gets overexcited?!” Marlene arched her brows exceedingly higher than necessary.
“You’d think it was her wedding we are celebrating!”
“I am just…so happy for them!” Lily slumped on the armchair beside them, sobbing.
“Oh my— she is so dramatic,” Dorcas squabbled to Marlene trying to pry her head from her hands.
“OH, I almost forgot!” Lily sprung up, terrifyingly alert, as if she hadn’t just been blubbering. “What are you both planning to wear? “Do you need new dresses? You cannot wear something dirty,” Lily rambled, turning very much maternal.
“No, I do not need another dress. I refuse to succumb to foolish notions to please the patriarchy. I mean sincerely, why do men find it attractive to see a woman being suffocated under frilly layers of money-wasting fabric? I do not understand it.” She slapped her hands down by her side.
Lily breathed deeply, feeling compassionate for her friend.
“Marlene you know that what I wish for more than anything is for things in our society to change, but unfortunately the rest of London is not as evolved as we are, which often means having to settle for…wearing a pair of trousers under a dress. Unfortunately we must confine ourselves under measures of frivolity.”
Dorcas seemed to think long and hard on Lily’s words, and seemed eager to change topic.
“On a lighter note, will you ever guess who is arriving today for the occasion? Mary Mcdonald! My, her mother has kept her at finishing school for the entire year!” Dorcas fell back dramatically.
“Do you think she is going to be all stuck-up and plush?” Lily leaned forward, intrigued.
“Oh I say! This tea is absolutely bland and lacking taste. By, governor get me another cup at once!” Marlene proclaimed.
“Oh, by god, this food is preposterous. I’ve attended picnics with better cuisine! And these dancers…dancers?! They must be the livestock from the barn next door!” Dorcas and Marlene kicked and giggled with their legs crossed over one another.
“Oh my goodness, tonight will certainly be quiet the event?” Lily gasped.
“I do wonder if the Black family are to attend?”
“Didn’t Mary have a dalliance with one of the brothers?” Marlene quizzed.
“Scandal!” Lily exclaimed.
Dorcas began to crack up. “Actually Mar, I think that was you!”
“I would never! That is absolutely repulsive! To think I would have a dalliance with a man.”
“Those boys do have charm, for certain. At least when we get to see them out. Their mama is so strict about appearances; never have I met a woman more rigid. She hardly lets the boys out to socialize on their own.” Lily told the girls.
“It’s the eldest, Sirius. He was quite the outlandish child. Couldn’t really trust him to behave himself.
“Was Sirius the one who spiked the punch at midsummers last year?” Dorcas asked.
“No, surprisingly that was Regulus,” Lily reminded. “Sirius was the one who drew a pair of…rather large breasts on his fathers portrait at Gomery hall. God knows if it’s still there.”
“Ah yes, I love that man. He taught me how to spit when we were 10,” Marlene reminisced.
“Charming,” Dorcas nodded.
“Speaking further on the matter of charming…that Potter boy really has got an eye for you lils?”
“Yes, he certainly does. Annoying, isn’t it? I mean really, who does James Potter think he is. He looks at me once, and then gives his affections to every girl in a room and expects me to swoon? He has behaved the exact same way all the time I have known him. I have far much more self-respect than to fall foolish at his feet. Oh, and he had better not even think about asking me to dance tonight?” Lily growled.
“And why would I want to? Mr. over-combed hair, preposterous, two left feet, no sir, no thank you, GOOD NIGHT!”
“well then!” Marlene affirmed, wide-eyed at Meadows.
“You don’t have to speak to him, in fact, we may find a line of suitors to approach you tonight to make him jealous!” Dorcas decided.
“Oh, Dorcas! I shouldn’t stoop to his level…although I might…no, what am I saying, this isn’t just some ball! It’s for Frank and Alice. They need to have complete spotlight. Why don’t we go downtown and buy a gift for them? It is not several hours until we need to get ready. I think that most prudent!”
Lily took the girls hands and half-dragged them out to exit. They enjoyed a brisk walk to Mayfair, and after 30 minutes of arguing over fine China and colour patterns, settled for a collection of beautiful ceramic vases. They spent the walk back trying not to break them, and succeeded even with Marlene trying to carry it over her head.
Hour by hour ticked by, with every guest... but particularly Lily who got ready the moment she arrived home, staring at her clock, maniacally counting seconds.
Nightfall came, not soon enough. Lily stood by the entrance of the venue escorted with Dorcas, waiting for Marlene to arrive. Marlene ran up the stairs, groaning uncomfortably in high-heeled slippers.
“Thank goodness you came on time!” Lily poked.
“What was my alternative!? You said ‘early is on time, on time is late, show up at 5:40 or die!’”
“Oh Marlene, you always make me out to seem completely neurotic!”
Marlene gaped her mouth wide at Dorcas, but Dorcas gave her look that fully read “don’t even bother”.
“Well I for one certainly got quite the oddest of looks on my walk over. What is the issue with walking unaccompanied? I must have a man by my side if I need to step out for air? That is more suffocating!”
Marlene groaned, and Dorcas gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze.
The hall was beautiful, for lack of a better word. Walls finely decorated with precious art and a monumental amount of flowers, strung up in garlands or as bouquets. Lily certainly appreciated a well-blended colour scheme. The swarm of guests gave life to the ambience, with the happy couple standing front and centre making introductions.
“Alice!” Lily exclaimed, slipping through the crowd and taking her excitedly by the hands.
“Oh, you look so lovely!” Dorcas beamed.
“Frank! Good to see ya,” Marlene nodded, amusing the groom to be.
“Oh, can you girls believe it? This is the greatest day of my life! Well…except for my wedding day!”
“Perhaps you can talk her out of a seven tier cake!” Frank gave his fiancée a shoulder rub and went off speaking to another crowd of gentlemen.
“Do not back down Alice! Cake is the most important part of any celebration,” Marlene said quite seriously. Alice gave a cheesy grin, before looking over Marlene’s shoulder, to where everyone’s attention seemed to gravitate. The holy light that seemed to hover over the guests of honour slipped away slightly and towards the door.
“I…cannot believe they actually came.”