New Moon Rising
A/N: Ok, well first off welcome to my newest story. This is a sequel to the Moonlit Ones which covers Lily's sixth year. I've written a detailed summary of what happened below for those who'd like a bit of a refresher of what happened and also for those of you who want to try any pick up the story from here, although I'd recommend that you do read the other story first (It's earlier writing and in my opinion gets better as you go).
Also this is an AU story, therefore please don't tell me Lily's in Gryffindor, for the purposes of this story she's a Ravenclaw. Also I know that James didn't have a sister. Any other discrepancies between cannon and this- AU!
And then there's the obvious disclaimer that a lot of this material is JK's and is indebted to her genius.
Below is the summary of the Moonlit Ones and the next chapter is the first of the new story. Happy reading, hope you stay with me for the journey.
Summary:
Lily Evans had never wanted to be anything special. She'd worn a Mediocrity Charm since her first day at Hogwarts, a spell that made her seem unremarkable and unmemorable to all those around her. Little did she expect that her sixth year would change all this in the most dramatic and unexpected way.
It all began with an ordinary visit to the Hogsmeade Museum. As a prefect it was part of her duties to accompany the younger students. Only the red wood bow that called to her in a way that nothing ever had spoke of the beginning of a journey. But she soon forgot this small thing and several days later a walk out of hours led to an impulsive and out of character decision to enter the Forbidden Forest.
There an impetuous wish to help a dying unicorn she found there marked her as the Huntress, an ancient protector who was foretold to rise at times of need. In a ceremony among the unicorns who speak to her mind through blood ties; the blood of the pure mixed with her own giving her magic added potency, power and protection and the Huntress was reborn.
Back in the castle as she begined to adjust to her new responsibilities her charm slips for a moment allowing Lily to form a fast friendship with Saffron Potter, another Ravenclaw in her year. Amongst moments where she loses control of her powers Lily searches into the Moonlit Ones, who they are and what they do, leading to the loan of an ancient document from the Museum.
One night during an Astronomy lesson Lily hears a blood curdling cry that calls to her soul. Fleeing to the Forest with the promise of an explanation to an anxious Saffron, Lily finds herself caught in her first confrontation with a young Voldemort. Gifted with a mystic horn she manages to thwart the dark wizard's plan to sacrifice unicorn young but leaves her unconscious attackers for Dumbledore to see to enabling Voldemort's escape. At the sounding of her horn Lily also awakes an unknown being who haunts her dreams from this point onwards.
After confiding in Saffron in the Hospital Wing Lily has a meeting with Dumbledore, to whom she divulges her new identity little knowing that Saffron is at that moment revealing her secret to her brother James.
Over the Christmas holidays Lily comes across the portraits of the Founders and meets Rowena Ravenclaw, also a Huntress in the years past. Rowena reveals to Lily two verses of the manuscript from the Museum she's been working to decipher which are intended to guide her in the beginnings of growing into her inheritance as the Huntress.
Following some deep reflection on things on Lily's part she finally abandons her Mediocrity Charm allowing her to develop more friendships. One of these new friendships is with Remus Lupin, which blossoms from long hours of study together and ends with them dating.
A casual mention by Lily of her walks at the full moon sends Remus into a panic and causes their first argument with Lily walking off affronted, pursued by Saffron. After leaving Lily to think things through on her own Saffron is attacked by Snape and has to be rescued by Sirius who, in a moment of thoughtless rage, challenges the Slytherin to go to the Whomping Willow that night. In a moment that had been coming for a long time Sirius and Saffron finally kiss but she pulls away saying it's not something she wants.
As she reflects on her relationship with Remus Lily finds that her feelings for him are more platonic especially in comparison to the growing relationship with James, with whom she was paired with in a project to help organise the May Ball.
That night Lily and James are together in the Greenhouses when they spot Snape headed for the Whomping Willow. As Lily runs to fetch the Headmaster, James heads down to try and prevent Snape from reaching the transformed Remus. Managing to save Snape from harm, but not before he glimpses werewolf-Remus, James soon finds himself hauled into Dumbledore's office with Snape and Lily.
After finding out her boyfriend's secret, Lily visits Remus to offer him her support, later explaining to him the reasons behind Sirius's rash behaviour.
One evening while James and Lily are practicing setting up the decorations for the May Ball the two end up kissing and part guiltily, both thinking of Remus. Drawn aside by Remus later Lily thinks that he as found out about her and James only to discover that he wants to end their relationship. They part amicably and even go to the Ball together.
Lily and James finally formalise their relationship after a nudge from Saffron and the Mauraders and the two girls go together on a Hogsmeade visit. There Lily and Saffron meet a strange woman who asks Saffron to accompany her. After the nod from Lily, who senses nothing untoward in the visitor, Saffron finds herself among other women on their way to a strange gathering. She finds that among others she is a Potential, a potential Amazon. The Amazons are part of the Moonlit Ones and are the Huntresses permanent aides on the earth. After glimpsing several moments of her possible future Saffron decides to accept and is imitated into the Amazons and given her pendant.
On the return journey to London, the Hogwarts Express is attacked by Death Eaters. Quickly taking charge of the situation, Lily manages to get the rest of the students to safety, leaving her to face the Death Eaters alone. In a surprise turn of events she meets Armand Lestrange who tells her that they have actually come to recruit her and that several Huntresses over the years have been known to be accomplices rather than opponents to the Dark.
Sensing Lily's need Saffron's pendant acts as a kind of portkey, taking her to the site where Lily battled the Death Eaters. Injured, but alright Lily soon finds herself joined by Sirius and James who had flown back on brooms to get them.
Back on the platform Lily says goodbye to the others, eagerly anticipating her upcoming holiday with the Potters and Sirius. One week later Lily goes to the Potter house. In the middle of the night Arabella Figg appears for Saffron, an Amazon herself Arabella is a seer and tells Saffron that they have to leave then and there. After a long journey the two find themselves in an icy waste in front of the Tower of Eiglos. Struggling her way through alone, Saffron passes pillars of frozen women and frightening illusions to reach a glittering bridle. But the moment she touches it she is sent home, memories of the place erased.
Arriving in Greece the four spend many happy but uneventful days together until one night when Lily hears the echo of a hunting horn. In the predestined moment time stands still and Lily begins to hunt the creature she had awakened many months before, the night she first blew her horn. Coming to an oasis where she finds Pegasus waiting Saffron appears at her side to give her the bridle before disappearing back into time. Finding that she is unable to tame Pegasus by domination she comes to a bargain with the creature, exchanging his promise of help for her own memories and experiences.
The frozen moment in time over James begins to search for Lily. Meanwhile Sirius and Saffron are left to set up camp together when she's pulled roughly out of time to Lily. Returning shocked and disorientated, as Sirius cares for her Saffron admits to herself her feelings for him and her continued resolve not to give into them.
Arriving back with Pegasus, the winged horse meets James and Lily decides to tell him that she's the Huntress. But Lily finds out that he already knew and that his sister had told him the same night she herself had been told. Hurt and angered by her best friend's betrayal and her boyfriend's seemingly callous treatment of her as a novelty girlfriend he could brag about to his friends she turns to go. In his desperation to make her stay James blurts out that he loves her to which she responds, "You played me for a fool, James Potter. You don't love me. You don't even respect me."
Their relationship over Lily returns home and an angry James returns to camp and tells Sirius. The next morning, unaware of the previous night's developments, Saffron worries about Lily and presses James for details of what happened to her. Angrily James pushes her away saying that he no longer wants to share things with her and that she should stand on her own two feet.
Back at their holiday villa Gideon and Fabian Prewett have arrived to take them home because the Potter parents have been called home urgently, cutting the holiday short.
Lily spends much of her time over the next weeks in Diagon Alley, blending in and picking up information and interpreting the currents within the Wizarding world by eavesdropping on those around her. Idly thinking of her need to find a place once the year's out she comes across 'The Beeches' and meets Breeya Moran, an old friend of Mrs Lupin and a school governor. Breeya offers Lily a home in an unusual turn of events, perhaps due to her likeness to the mysterious Eithne.
Lily and Remus renew their friendship while James stews and Saffron becomes increasingly lonely and afraid for her parents. Still unaware of Lily's feelings towards her she misses her friend Rhiannon, who she hasn't seen in over a year.
Meanwhile Voldemort meets with Armand Lestrange and a man known only as Devon, revealing the beginning of a new plan of action, "That young witch is going to learn that no-one says no to me without consequences."