AN: Don't own Harry and the gang, so don't sue I'm poor.
Hope to Cope
Chapter One: The Hot-line
5 days 22 hours 43 minutes and 18 seconds. It had been 5 days 22 hours 43 minutes and 18 seconds since her father had died, and Lily had been in bed for 5 days 20 hours 22 minutes and 7 seconds. She slept in her bed, ate in it, and for going to the bathroom, lets just say magic does the trick. Lily's heart was broken into a million pieces and counting. The sun didn't seem to shine for her anymore. To put it best, Lily was a living corpse. But in the next two hours, Lily would have to will herself to get up, or as her mother said "force would be used if necessary," in order for Lily to attend her father's funeral.
And for the two hours to come, Lily just laid on her bed lifeless with her bloodshot eyes barely opened from crying to hard. When the time came for the Evan's family to leave for the funeral, Lily's mother stormed in her room frustrated to see Lily had not moved from where she had last seen her two hours ago. Lily was awoken from her daze as she witnessed her mother threatening to rip apart the stuffed bear her father had given her. Lily solemnly rose from her bed and began to get dressed, but not before snatching her bear away from her mother.
The funeral was a blur for Lily. Too many people came up to her, to hug her and offer their condolences, for her to remember many faces. The people who talked of her father were few, but everything they said flowed in one ear and out the other. The only words she could recall were the ones her mother shared in front of everyone. Her mother had said that Lily was her husband's pride and joy, and she would always by Daddy's little girl. After the funeral was finally over, Lily was surprised to be greeted by her head master, Albus Dumbledoore.
He didn't have to say anything; his sparkling pale blue eyes conveyed the message that he was sorry for her loss.
"Lily, I know now does not seem the best place or time to say so, but I think I should." Dumbledoore said to Lily.
Lily just eyed him suspiciously and nodded her head to give him permission to continue to his point.
"Since Voldermort's rise to power, a teen wizards/witches hotline called Hope to Cope has been installed so teens can take about the loss of a loved one. The people you would talk to have special training to help those hurt to cope. I know you may not want to call now, but I insist you do before school starts, it really does help. Even if you are not ready to talk, or don't feel like you trust whom you are talking too, you can just have normal conversation, and gain a trust with them. And of course you can use an alias, I am willing to bet most people do. The reason I say this now is because I would not have had another opportunity to give this to you until school starts. Before I leave you must promise me you will at least make one call before returning to Hogwarts."
Lily was not sure what to do. Her thought process was muddled and on the fritz trying to process everything he just informed her of. All she could do was blankly stare at him and agree so she could finally return to the safety and comfort of her bed.
"Yes Professor Dumbledoore."
Dumbledoore, in return to her answer, gave a small smile as he handed over a small white card.
"Good. Goodbye Lily."
"Goodbye Professor Dumbledoore." Lily watched as Dumbledoore walked away. Then she started to read the card in her hand:
A Teen Wizards/Witches Hot-line
Gives teens the hope to cope
With the loss of a loved one
1-800-los-love
Meanwhile…
James Potter waited in the confinements of his room for the return of his father. James was on edge, the question of him being suspended from Hogwarts was still lingering thick in the air. Once James started to open a chocolate frog, he heard the front door open and slammed shut. He listened as his father's gruff footsteps echoed through the hall to his room and rung louder towards ad he approached James' room. Finally the door to James' bedroom was swung open, his wait was over.
"James…First off I want to say how disappointed I am in you for using magic outside of school when you know it is not the rules-" James' father started to say as he walked into James' room.
"Father I-" James interrupted.
"Let me finish." His father cut him off. James nodded in response. "You better thank Merlin that I have friends in high places that have allowed me to get you to slide by under the radar, but you will be doing an act of community service as a repentance for your offense. A hot-line called Hope to Cope is in short of volunteers to help teens that have lost loved ones in this war. So starting next Monday you will report for service. They will teach you what you need to know to guide those poor kids. Who knows, it might just change your outlook on life. Merlin knows you have more privileges then a lot of others do."
James gazed at his father in amazement. He knew his father wasn't really the type to get mad and yell, but he did expect a little more anger from his father. In fact, James had prepared all day for this moment, knowing full well to take whatever criticism his father brutally gave him, but now he saw all that preparing as a waste of time.
"Father, I really am sorry. I should of known better, it's just with Sirius sometimes I get a little ahead of the rules and myself. I promise it will never happen again." James told his father calmly.
James' father seems to be please with his son as his smiled at him. "I know you are sorry son. Let's just put the past behind us. Oh, and on Monday you'll need to arrive at 9 in the morning sharp. I will not tolerate any monkey business when it comes to your community service; so do not drag along Sirius with you or any ones else while we are on the matter. Am I understood?"
"Yes sir, crystal clear." James watched his father leave his room. When he was alone again he let out a big sigh. He did not want to waste his summer talking about depressing matters over the phone. He wanted to enjoy his last summer before his last year in school. He did not want to do the bloody volunteering. He wanted to know why not let people who want to help others do it? To him that made perfect sense, but he knew he had no say on the matter. So he would just have to suck it up and pretend to listen and care for someone else's problems come Monday morning.
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AN: So tell me what you think? Is it a story worth pursuing? If you are readers for my stories "My Last" and "Flare" I am sorry but I do not know when I will update those. I have had extreme writer's block, and I have lost interest in writing them since my Dad died before the beginning of the school year. The reason I am starting this one is because it hits closer to home, so I feel more connected to pursue it. And if you are a new reader to my collection of stories, please review. All it takes is a minute of your time to let me know your thoughts on the process of the story and how I am doing. Peace everyone, I would like to get out the next chapter in the next two weeks, or less.
Gr33nJ3w3lRain
