Lovely Lily,

[Michelle Beckett]

Hi Lily!

It's Michelle. Shelly. How are you? I'm okay; I've bought these completely fabby-dab-dab-with-knobs-on glow-in-the-dark stars you stick all over your wall. I know they sound completely fucking babyish, but I don't care, I think they're nice.

Have you been being bad all summer? I bet you've been drinking yourself to death and smoking and popping pills and getting it on with boys all summer. Classic Lily Potter stuff.

I'm really lonely

Shelly. xo

[Lily Luna Potter]

Dear Shelly,

I do know who you are, you know. I even recognised your handwriting actually. Oh, I had those when I was little! They're cool. I have fairy lights round my window instead now though.

Yes, that's right, that's exactly what I've been doing. That's not what you've been doing, is it? Actually, I haven't been doing very much, just reading and helping Grandma with her garden. Most of my family seem to be off doing their own thing, it's a bit lonely. What have you been doing?

Lots of love, Lily

xxxxxxx

PS - Shelly, what's a good thing to do if you like a guy but he doesn't like you?

[Michelle Beckett]

Lily-Flower-Power,

I just wanted to make sure you knew who I was! Because I wrote Michelle, first, and I realised then that mostly people call me Shelly, at Hogwarts. I just sort of got into the habit of being called Michelle because that's what my foster parents call me. You recognised my handwriting? That makes me feel so nice! It's cool when someone can recognise your writing. I like fairylights, too, but they're sort of too bright? You don't notice the stars unless you look directly at them. So it feels really dark no matter what.

I've not been doing much, I've been made to stay in most of the time. Obviously I escape at nights quite a lot, but I've started just to lounge around the house. It's very boring. And sort of lonely, as well, actually. I don't really like admitting loneliness to other people, though, it's difficult to admit. But sort of easier to write down.

Shelly. xo

ps. - what did you scribble out?!

[Lily Luna Potter]

Dear Shelly,

Have you told them you like to be called Shelly? Or do you not mind them calling you Michelle? If you're bored you can always come and stay for a bit, if your foster parents would let you. But it wouldn't be very interesting here - Godric's Hollow's very small and in the middle of nowhere, so there's nowhere to sneak out to or anything. It would be lovely if you did though. Why do they make you stay in? I could get my dad to write them a letter inviting you - he knows what it's like to be stuck by himself in the holidays. If they won't let you come, you can still write to me any time you want. Rhi would probably be really happy if you wrote to her too.

I switch my fairylights off when I actually sleep, but they're nice to have on in the evenings, when I'm reading in bed. I just had my room redecorated not that long ago actually, because it was still the colours I chose when I was little. It's much better now.

I wish I could give you a hug.

Lots of love, Lily

xxxxxxxx

PS - Nothing, don't worry about it.

[Michelle Beckett]

Lilypad,

I don't mind them calling me Michelle. It's different, because they're all parent-y and stuff, even though they're not my actual parents. They're all clean and proper, it'd be weird hearing Shelly from them. Ooh, I'm sure they would! They sounds really fab actually, I bet they'd let me because I told them about you and how you're dead good and all that. I suppose they don't make me stay in, that sounds dreadfully like they're keeping me locked up - it's more like they want to know who I'm with ALL THE BLOODY TIME and where I'm going and what I'm doing and I can't be bothered to tell them. So the easiest thing to do is stay home.

I'd like to see it! My room is pretty bland. I've got the star things, and some yellow wallpaper, and some curtains with cherries on. And my duvet matches that - I don't really notice much though, rooms are only places to crash after all.

Next time you see me, yeah?

Shelly. xo

ps. - I'm not worried, I'm curious. I know when people are lying! Tell me tell me tell me.

[Lily Luna Potter]

Dear Shelly,

Oh well, I suppose I can understand that. At least with my name, there aren't really many ways to shorten it. Well, I'm glad they don't actually make you stay in. To be honest, I don't go out that much either. My mum and dad probably wouldn't mind, but still.

But your room doesn't have to be like that! You can make it yours. Mine has cream walls and woodwork's grey-blue, and there are lots of bookshelves, with my books and all my things on them, and my duvet's actually still the pink one I've had since I was little, because I like the way it smells, but I have a bedspread over the top that's navy blue and white. And there's a comfy armchair in the corner, and I have a big desk and photos on the wall over it. I'm in my room a lot, I like being in it.

Of course!

Lots of love, Lily xxxxxxx

PS - No really, it doesn't matter.

PPS - Oh yeah, I should probably tell you, I made prefect, but please don't say I'll be awesome, because that's what everyone says, and I won't.

[Michelle Beckett]

Lilyflower,

There are tons of ways to lengthen it, though! (See the first line in all my letters for proof.) Well, I do go out every now and then, but they've somehow decided to come to the conclusion that I'm a lying fiend - which is a complete abomination, I assure you, Lilyflower! - and that no matter what I say what I'll really be doing is drinking or having sex or something utterly nasty like that. So I've got to say I'm staying at someone else's whenever I go out, and they've taken to actually ringing that person's parents to find out if I'm telling the truth which is beyond apalling (but really rather clever of them).

I don't really care to be honest, because it's not my room, and it's not my house, and they're most certainly not my real parents. It's just somewhere to sleep in after all. I spend most of my time in the living room with the telly or in the kitchen with the food.

Are you sure it doesn't matter? It could very well matter. Go on and tell me, I'm dying of boredom. Please. It'd be so sweet of you, and I'm so curious now!

Ooh, I was wondering why they didn't give me Prefect. It must have been between you or me. Shame. I'll have to write a list of things against the rules to do in dormitory and see if I can do them all without getting caught by you. I'll get Alex to join in with me, it'll be fun! Like a game.

Shelly. xo

[Lily Luna Potter]

Shelly,

I suppose so. I don't really mind you lengthening it. Or people shortening it - my family call me Lil or Lils quite a lot.

But Shelly, you do drink quite a lot. I'm not sure about the sex though. Do you have sex? But what I'm saying is, you can kind of understand where they're coming from. It doesn't matter if you're coming to stay with me though - my parents do actually have a phone, though they don't use it very often. I can probably find out the number for you - I'll ask Mum. Otherwise, like I say, I'll get Dad to write. If you're coming though, you have to promise to stay away from Albus, okay?

But you could make it your room? I mean, you're going to be living there a while, right? So you might as well.

I'm sure it doesn't matter. I was going to ask you for advice about something, but I don't think what you'd do is the same as what I'd do, so it doesn't matter. Although I think what I actually did is more like what you'd do than what I'd normally do, which is a bit weird.

They should have given it to you, I'm sure you'd be loads better than me. Don't be silly though, I wouldn't do anything even if I caught you - you're my friend!

Love, Lily xxxx

[Michelle Beckett]

SillyLily,

Oh yes, I do understand why they're being so bothersome, but it's so - well, bothersome! And I have sex frequently, with any guy I meet! Students, Professors, Shop Owners, everybody! That's a big lie, actually - I've had sex, but only twice, so it's not that bad. Anyway, I'm fifteen. Not such a bad age to have sex at. I could've lost it much earlier if I'd wanted to! And you're sweet, if you get your lovely Daddy to write I'm sure I'll be allowed. Albus? I would never go near Albus! Cross my heart and hope to die.

It's just a room, though! I have my sticky stars, they're basically all I need.

What did you actually do? You can't string me along like that, half-telling me things without properly explaining! That's mean. Cruel, even. Totally and utterly cruel. You horrible horrible person!

They really should've, I'm the best behaved in the entire year! I'll have to write a letter to Professor Mac explaining to her why I'm totally suited to being a Prefect. Ooh, that's so nice. But still. I'll have to see how many rules I can break under the nose of a Prefect.

Is sex against the rules?

Shelly. xo

[Lily Luna Potter]

I mind that one.

You've actually had sex? Who with? Or is it a secret? I'll be sixteen in November, but I'm definitely not ready to have sex yet. I've never even kissed anyone. What was it like?

Why, what's wrong with Al? Or is it just because he's my brother? And my dad will definitely write. I'll get him to do it today.

I'm glad you have your sticky stars anyway. I'll give you something else for it for your birthday

I didn't do anything. It's nothing important, it's stupid. And you can't tell anyone. But I kind of like this guy, okay. Only I know he doesn't like me, so I wasn't going to do anything about it or anything. And I'm still not going to do anything about it, but I kind of asked him to hang out with me, that's all.

I think you should do that. And I am nice like that, haven't you noticed?

I don't know. I'll find out from Rose.

Love, Lily xxxx

[Michelle Beckett]

Thought you might!

Why on earth would it be a secret? Neil Pereira and Fritz Towler. Neil's the one who was a Slytherin seventh year but now he's gone and Fritz is the sixth-year Slytherin with the blonde hair. It's not really all it's cracked up to be, sex. Nothing ever is. Not even kissing.

Absolutely nothing! He's a total dish! But you told me to stay away from him. Tell your dad he's an utter sweetheart. Give me a big hug from him.

So am I. Sticky stars are the best. You can see them in the day.

Ooh! That's quite cool. And interesting. Who is he? I noticed you kept that quiet! And how d'you know he doesn't like you? You're one of the prettiest girls in the year. (That's not just being nice, I'd tell you if you were ugly and I'd be gentle if you were plain.) Did he say yes? Are you going to snog him? Where are you two hanging out? You must give more details in future!

I will do that! I think Professor Mac quite likes me. You're big and bad and mean and cruel!

Please do.

Shelly. xo

[Lily Luna Potter]

Well I don't know. I don't think I'd want to tell Oh. I think I know the ones you mean. But you weren't Were you actually going out with them or? That's disappointing. I mean, Rosie says completely different things, but still. She was only talking about kissing, not sex.

Okay, well good. And I think my dad might be a bit surprised...

Because I just know. And that's complete rubbish. I'm skinny and geeky with freckles Yes, he did kind of say yes. But it's not like that! It wasn't a date! It was only as friends. And it was in London. At a bookshop. But it's not that exciting, because he still doesn't like me like that. He thinks I'm a little kid.

She probably does, most people do. Did you ever write to her? Oh yes, I forgot about that bit. I think the only time I could give someone a detention would be if they were being mean to someone or something though.

Rose says that she's not sure, but as you're only fifteen, it's against the law, which means it's also against the rules for you anyway.

Lots of love, Lily xxxxxx