"I'm so excited to finally be in my seventh year. One step closer to getting out of this hell hole," Genevieve Evans said with a scoff as she stood at the mirror. She leaned in a little as she tried to get a sense of how close she was to perfecting the process, something she took very seriously. She was currently trying to apply the eyelash enhancements, which took more time than most people thought. While it was a tiny detail that probably seemed insignificant to most, it was the little details that went a long way. She had always taken great pride in her apperance, making sure each feature was finely in tune with her apperance. If it wasn't, even in the slightest, she would fixate on it for hours until she was satisfied. Or at least, satisfied enough until inevitably giving up in frustration. 

She had learned as early as second year that appearances mattered. Everyone said it wasn't all about looks, but that simply wasn't true. The more aesthetically pleasing you could be, the more likely you were to get what you wanted, and there was a lot that Genevieve desired. Thankfully, she wouldn't have to worry about it so much after this year. She knew once she graduated school it wasn't going to matter, that everyone was probably going to forget who she was, but she was okay with that. Right now, though, it was important that she was at her best. While it could be frustrating at times, the only part she truly liked about going to school was the fact she was with her younger sister, Lily. 

Genevieve was completely confident in the fact that Lily was her best friend. They'd been close ever since they were young when they first noticed they were both different. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Gen thought that there was a chance they might not even know each other if they weren't related, and that was a depressing thought. She didn't like to think about a universe where she and Lily weren't together. She probably would have been emitted in a mental facility by now if she were on her own. 

Her favorite part of the school year was the night before, when she and Lily spent the whole day getting ready for the upcoming term. Their parents left the house for the day to do things around town to give them their space, and their sister, Petunia, stayed clear of them anyway. Genevieve knew that Petunia despised the fact they were witches. It used to bother her that she was so hateful, but she realized she probably would be too if she was excluded. It wasn't like they could help it - they hadn't asked for this, but they were chosen for it nonetheless. 

Genevieve had always wondered why Petunia hadn't been blessed with the same abilities that she and Lily had. Genevieve was proud of the fact she was the oldest of the three, with Petunia being the middle child. Lily was the youngest, putting them all apart about a year. Apparently their parents had decided to get having children out of the way all at once. 

"Yeah, yeah. We both know you're just thrilled to leave me," Lily said with a sigh, feigning a dramatic touch. While it was said as a joke, there was a hint of bitterness as well. "You may have one year left, but I have two, and each day is going to feel longer than the last - especially when you aren't around." 

Genevieve had moved onto brushing her hair, and she paused, her brush suspended in mid-air. She looked over at Lily with a mixture of affection and concern. She could hear the changes in her sister's tone all the time, and she knew when she was actually upset, and now seemed to be one of those times. She knew that Lily had a lot of anxiety about being alone at school, something she'd been expressing for a while now. At first it had started as snide jokes, but now it was becoming clear that it was a real worry. 

Genevieve felt bad. She wished she could make it easier, but there really wasn't much she could do. All she could do was try to sound somewhat reassuring. "Oh, come on, Lily. You know it won't be that bad," she said gently, searching for something to say. She knew that if she wasn't careful with her words then it would seem like she didn't really care, but that was far from true. She shrugged as she added, "You'll have your friends, and you're amazing at making new ones. Everyone loves you. Plus, you'll still have James following you around like a lost puppy."

Genevieve grinned at the mention of James, watching Lily's reaction in the mirror. She never failed to become flustered even just thinking about him. 

Lily blushed, her cheeks turning a soft shade of pink. "Well, James is... persistent," she admitted, her voice softening as she spoke his name. "But he's not all bad. He's actually been quite charming lately."

"Charming or not, he's still an idiot," Genevieve said, rolling her eyes playfully. James Potter was the least charming person she knew, but she had a feeling that Lily was going to start feeling that way toward him. He'd been following her around since first year, pulling dumb pranks or just doing anything he could to get her attention. Honestly, she was surprised that it had taken Lily this long to start returning his favor. She had a feeling that James might become her future brother-in-law, but she wasn't going to push it too hard yet. 

Lily laughed, her eyes twinkling. "Maybe. But he's my idiot. Who knows? We might have cute kids together some day." 

Genevieve raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Cute kids, huh? Now that's a thought. Can you imagine little Potters running around, causing chaos? The world better be ready."

She knew that Lily had a strong maternal instinct, and being a mother was something she'd always wanted. She wished she could have been surprised to hear her saying something like that, but she wasn't. Good for her. Lily would be a great mother, unlike her. Taking care of her sister was one thing, but Genevieve was terrified of the thought of ever being someone's mother. She didn't like the idea that she could fail someone who was relying on her so much. 

She didn't like failure. The worst thing someone could fail at was being a parent, and that wasn't something she was going to risk. Besides, that would require getting someone to be with her first. She hadn't ever really made time for a boyfriend at school - she thought dating was pointless, and to be honest, she wasn't the best at letting anyone get close to her. It was like as soon as she felt like someone was getting in her personal space, she shut them out. It was a a fear of intimacy, perhaps. The fear of being hurt. 

Lily giggled, a sound that pulled Genevieve back into the present. Gen was aware of the fact that she tended to get lost in her thoughts, something she found annoying about herself. So, she was trying to focus on what Lily was saying. "I think they'd be more charming than chaotic. James has a good heart, underneath all that bravado."

Genevieve smiled at her sister's optimism. It was cute to hear her so excited about something, and she was glad. She was glad that Lily was looking forward to her future, no matter what shape it took. "Well, if anyone can tame him, it's you, Lily. Just make sure he doesn't name your firstborn after his broomstick or something."

Lily burst into laughter, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "Oh, I'll make sure of that. No child of mine is going to be named Nimbus. Oh, and speaking of suitors, don't act like you don't know Orion Simmons isn't completely head over hills for you." 

Genevieve paused, her heart fluttering at the mention of Orion. He was a charming boy her year, with a head of curly raven hair and matching dark eyes that enchanted her whenever she looked into them. Not that she looked into them much - definitely not. It just happened to be that they caught each other's eyes across the room so often. It was purely a coincidence. 

Orion was going to be Head Boy of Ravenclaw this year, while she was Head Girl - something they'd both been working for since their first year of school. Genevieve had to admit, she was a little excited thinking about how much more time she was going to get to spend with him, even if it was required. She would never say so out loud, though. She was much more dignified than making her existence centered around a boy. 

Even if he was an incredibly handsome and intelligent one. 

"He is not," Genevieve said with a scoff, though a blush had crept over her cheeks. "The only thing he ever pays attention to are his textbooks, let alone being capable of love or romance." 

Lily raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Oh, please, Gen. I've seen the way he looks at you. He's totally smitten. And you aren't fooling anyone, I think you might like him a little bit, too."

Genevieve's blush deepened as she tried to hide her smile. "He's just a study partner, Lily. A very focused, very serious study partner."

Lily grinned mischievously. "Uh-huh, sure. And I suppose all those 'study sessions' in the library are purely academic?"

Genevieve rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. "Maybe. Besides, believe it or not, some people actually enjoy studying. You should try it some time."

"I sure would too, if I got lost staring into those beautiful blue eyes of his," Lily said with a smirk. "Maybe one of these times you should let your hands wander to get a more hands on experience... you never know what could happen." 

Genevieve's blush turned a deep crimson as she swatted at Lily playfully. "Lily! Honestly, you have the mind of a mischief-maker."

Lily laughed, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I learned from the best, didn't I? But seriously, Gen, you should loosen up a bit. Orion seems like a good guy, and you're always so tense. A little fun wouldn't hurt, especially since it's your last year. What have you got to lose?"

Genevieve sighed, her smile fading slightly as she considered her sister's words. "Maybe you're right. It's just... hard to let go sometimes. With everything going on, it's easier to focus on studies. I just want to block everything out." 

Lily's expression softened, her teasing demeanor replaced with genuine concern. "I get it, Gen. The world's a scary place right now, but that's all the more reason to find joy where we can. You deserve to be happy, too."

Their train of thought was promptly interrupted by Petunia's sulking. "Hey freaks," she said with a sneer as she passed by the stairs. "Having fun getting ready for loser school?" 

"Yeah, we are," Genevieve replied matter of factly with a shrug. "You're welcome to join us if you want, you might actually learn something." 

Petunia rolled her eyes and continued down the stairs, clearly uninterested in engaging further. Genevieve sighed, her shoulders slumping a little. The tension between the sisters was a constant undercurrent in their home, and no amount of casual invitations or half-hearted attempts at reconciliation seemed to change that.

Lily placed a comforting hand on Genevieve's shoulder. "Don't let her get to you, Gen. She's just... well, you know how she is."

Genevieve nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I know. It's just frustrating. I wish we could all get along, at least a little bit." 

"It's not like we haven't tried," Lily pointed out. "But you can't fix stupid." 

Genevieve chuckled at Lily's bluntness, though she couldn't entirely disagree. "You're right. We've done our best. We just have to focus on ourselves."

Lily gave her sister a reassuring smile. "Exactly. Now, let's finish getting ready. We have a big day ahead of us."

They returned to their preparations, the earlier tension slowly dissipating. As Genevieve carefully applied the finishing touches to her makeup, she found herself reflecting on the year ahead. Despite the challenges at home and the impending separation from Lily, she felt a renewed sense of determination. She didn't know what was going to happen, but she was going to make this year the most exciting one yet.