The Opposite Of Love Is Indifference
A fanfiction two-shot by sizzleberrylicious
Chapter One
Author's Note: Happy Valentine's Day to all of my beloved readers!! You can all be my valentines. ;) I've edited this oneshot into a twoshot, so here's Part One of a two-part ficlet. Enjoy. ;)
EDITED: Oh, dear, looks like I've added an epilogue! So The Opposite is now a three-part ficlet. Enjoy!
And a very big THANKYOU to rayon.de.soleil for pointing out to me that I had spelt all my 'Obliviate's as 'Oblivate'. Seriously, though, it wasn't my fault! Blame it all on.. wikipedia. ."
x x x x x x x x x x
"PRONGS!"
A loud voice cruelly penetrated his dream, and an annoyed James Potter groaned as his image of a scantily-clad Lily Evans faded away, blowing air kisses in his general direction. James tiredly propped himself up on his elbows, his head spinning. He blinked once, twice, trying to make out the blurred silhouette that sat directly in front of him on his bed. The draped red and gold silk hangings blocked out the rest of his Head Boy quarters from view.
"Prongs! Finally! You're awake!"
The silhouette began to talk, but then stopped short at the dazed I-just-woke-up expression plastered across James' face.
"Err.. Prongs? Prongs? Yoo hoo?"
Suddenly, a heavy pillow emblazoned with the Gryffindor crest came hurtling towards his head. James jumped, startled, and rubbed his sore spot. "Oww! Padfoot, you blithering Flobberworm! That hurt!"
His vision cleared, and as he expected, he came face-to-face with a grinning Sirius Black.
"Ahh, brilliant, you're awake! Take it like a man, Prongs," Sirius said, solemnly, dramatically placing his hand over his heart and staring up at the intricately-carved canopy above them.
Seeing his chance, James grabbed a heavily-embroidered pillow and thwacked Sirius around the head with it.
Sirius spluttered, huffing. "Prongs, what in Merlin's name have I ever done to you?"
"Take it like a man, Padfoot," James mimicked, grinning.
The hangings were pushed aside as Remus Lupin poked his head through.
"What's all this yelling about?"
Sirius put on his infamously adorable puppy face, his sad, sparkling onyx eyes widening and his mouth forming a full pout.
"Auntie Remus! Auntie Remus! James hit me with a pillow!"
Peter Pettigrew, who had slipped in next to Remus, looked baffled.
Remus let a laugh slip out before frowning disapprovingly at a sheepishly smiling James.
"Now, now, children," he scolded. "Play nice, or Auntie Remus will have to send you to Mr. Corner for a beating!"
The gang cracked up laughing, Sirius nearly toppling off the bed in the process.
After they'd calmed down, Remus turned to James. "Dumbledore wants to see you in his office, Prongs. Better get a move on, it sounded urgent."
Peter's watery blue eyes widened. "Do you think he found out about our prank in the green houses yesterday? Are we in trouble?"
Sirius waved his hand around nonchalantly, "As if. All we did was shrink Sprout's precious green house number five."
"Yeah. Dumbledore didn't scold us for blowing up the entire east wing.. twice," James shrugged his broad shoulders. "Why should he lift a finger for this?"
"As a prefect, I should be deducting points and issuing detentions," Remus pondered. Then, he broke into a grin. "But, heck, the Head Boy's doing it."
"Everyone expected Remus to bag that position," Peter piped up. "James wasn't even a prefect to begin with!"
"Dumbledore has his reasons, I'm sure," Remus stated.
James jumped out of bed and made his way towards the door. "I'm going to go and see Dumbledore now."
Sirius stifled a laugh. "We'll follow you, mate. But you might want to put on some clothes, first."
x x x x x x x x x x
"Headmaster? You called for me?" James inquired as he walked into Dumbledore's circular office. Remus, Sirius, and Peter trailed in behind him. The stiff-backed occupants of the large oil paintings that covered the walls tsked in disgrace at James' unruly jet black hair and untidy uniform. The odd assortment of tinkling silver instruments that littered a long, rickety table whistled and danced. Albus Dumbledore himself sat at his large desk in the middle of the room, smiling warmly at his students.
"Yes, I did, Mister Potter," he said, his voice slightly raspy from age. His eyes twinkled. "Take a seat, please. That includes you three, Mister Black, Mister Lupin, and Mister Pettigrew," he added when only James made a move to sit. He swished his wand and extra armchairs appeared, all crowded around the Headmaster's desk.
Dumbledore extended a pale hand wrapped in purple robes, holding out a crystal container filled with small yellow sweets wrapped in cellophane. "Lemon drop?"
Peter quickly reached forward and grabbed a few. "Thanks, Headmaster."
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows at the other three.
"Oh, no thank you, Headmaster. I'm having breakfast later," Remus declined politely. James and Sirius shook their heads in unison.
Smiling, Dumbledore kept the sweets and rested his chin on his intertwined fingers, propping his elbows up on the table. He stared at James, his expression turning serious.
"Mister Potter," he began, "Do you have any idea why I called you here on this fine October morning?"
"No, sir."
Dumbledore's features softened. "I have knowledge of information that you should know of, Mister Potter. Information that involves a certain redheaded sweetheart of yours. Miss Evans, I believe?"
James turned tomato red.
"Yes, Lily," Sirius answered for him, seeing that his best friend was at a current lost for words.
"Is something.. wrong, Headmaster?" James asked after several moments of silence. Dumbledore shook his head, his expression grave.
"No, Mister Potter. Not during our phase of time, at least."
The Marauders exchanged glances. What was Dumbledore on about?
"Mister Potter.. I ask of you to keep secret what I am about to tell you," Dumbledore said. "And, if you entrust your friends here to do the same, they make listen, too. You may.. need the company, Mister Potter."
James blinked. What?
"Er, of course I trust my friends, sir. And I promise I won't breathe a word to anyone else."
Dumbledore smiled again. But this time, it was slightly eerie, hollow. Just a draft of his usually mirthful smile.
"Mister Potter, I have spies everywhere on the look out for Voldemort," he began. Peter nearly fainted at the mention of the Dark Lord's name, but quickly regained his composure. "In Hogwarts, outside of Hogwarts, even in the muggle world. We never know when he might decide to strike. I have common knowledge that he is gathering and preparing an empire of Death Eaters, slaves to the Dark Lord, branded with the Dark Mark, destined to do his bidding until Death claims their souls."
James nervously bit his lip. What did all this have to do with him? Or Lily, for that matter?
"I've had news from one of my spies, Mister Potter," Dumbledore stared at him. "And that particular spy was from the future. Mister Potter, he had risked his life to warn me of the dangers that lay ahead of your journey."
"What dangers, Headmaster?" Remus inquired, curiously.
"Mister Lupin, the future is a very complex form of reality," Dumbledore stated. "If we so much as step on a bug, we could alter the future. We could make drastic, irreversible changes that could harm our loved ones.
"Dealing with the future is very dangerous. By telling you this information, you will alter the course of the universe. But my spy believes that it is for the better, so I entrust you to do what you think right."
Uh oh, James thought. This is way to serious for my taste.
"Mister Potter, in the future, you and Miss Evans are joined together in holy matrimony."
James grinned like a loon at that, picturing him and Lily raising a house full of intellectual James Junior's.
"You have a baby boy, named Harry James Potter," Dumbledore continued, a look of interest sparked in his eyes as he observed James' goofy expression.
Oh, well, close enough, James thought, sighing mentally. What kind of name is HARRY, though?! I must talk to Lily about her choice of names. Eeuch. Harry?! Poor kid.
"And that is where the tragedy begins."
James' grin instantly dropped.
"After Miss Evans - sorry, Mrs. Potter - gave birth to Harry, unknown to the both of you, a prophecy was created," Dumbledore exhaled and adjusted his half-moon spectacles before continuing. "In that prophency, it stated that two bodies were given life, their purpose to destroy Lord Voldemort, who will be the cause of more and more attacks on muggles and wizards alike. Those two were born as the month of July dies, to parents who have escaped the Dark Lord thrice. The prophecy states that only one of them will go on to defeat him."
Oh, no..
"One of those two souls belongs to Harry James Potter," Dumbledore said after several tense moments. James shut his eyes and winced. His future son was in potential danger from one of the most dangerous wizards of all time. Great. Dumbledore cleared his throat before continuing. "Oddly enough, Lord Voldemort chose little baby Harry as the chosen one, for he saw him as a larger threat compared to his contemporary. As the prophecy told, the chosen one will defeat Lord Voldemort for he has powers that the Dark Lord knows not. The prophecy also stated that either will succeed, for neither can live while the other survives."
"Voldemort found out about that prophecy and about Harry. So, he set out to kill him, on October 31, Halloween Day, 1981."
A cold shiver passed through James, but he brushed it off, staring imploringly at Dumbledore.
"Both you and Mrs. Potter shared a very strong bond with Harry," Dumbledore massaged his temples. "So, when Voldemort himself entered your house to kill your baby, you stood in the way, and he killed you immediately. Mrs. Potter had wisely brought the baby upstairs, but Voldemort found her. She had stood her ground in front of her child and shielded him. Voldemort had asked her to move aside, for he would spare her if she would just give up the baby. Dear Lily refused to budge, so Voldemort killed her. But when he tried to kill one month-old Harry.. something strange happened."
"What? What?" Peter squeaked, eager to listen to the rest of his story. Sirius smacked him upside his head and told him to shut up.
"His Avada Kedavra backfired and had barely harmed Harry, only leaving him with a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead. Voldemort, on the other hand, had been drained of all his powers, nearly dead and without physical form. Apparently, Lily's strong bond with Harry and her willingness to give up her life to protect her child had formed a sort of inpenetrable bubble around Harry. His mother's love had saved him."
The four youths stared on in awe, star struck. Wow..
"But, Mister Potter, my spy informed me that it'd be better for all that to not have happened, of course," Dumbledore said, quickly. "For in the future, after Harry has grown up, he is forced to fight a bloody battle with Voldemort, and faced death."
Peter let out a small gasp before passing out, slumping into a heap in his seat. Everybody ignored him.
"So.. what do I have to do, Headmaster?" James inquired.
"Mister Potter, I have to ask you to obliviate all of Miss Evan's memory that involves falling in love with you, therefore erasing any hopes of you two being involved in a relationship after Hogwarts."
James' jaw dropped to around his knees. So did everyone else's.
"B-but.. but, Headmaster! That.. That..," James stuttered, shocked to the bone.
"I'm sorry, Mister Potter, but you must alter the future to ensure a different path be taken, hopefully a more successful one."
James blanched. "But what if I don't marry her?"
Dumbledore smiled sadly. "Can you trust yourself to do that, Mister Potter?"
No.
James squeezed his eyes shut tight. He felt like his heart was being ripped out of his chest and stepped on repeatedly. He couldn't just abuse Lily like that! It wasn't fair!
"Is there no other way, Headmaster?" Remus asked quietly. His eyes were trained on his hands, which were clasped together in his lap.
"No, Mister Lupin."
James felt hopeless. The ever famous Gryffindor courage began to manifest itself in his soul, and then he knew that he had to save his future son, and the future Mr. and Mrs. Potter.
He looked at Dumbledore with a grimace. "Very well, Headmaster. I'll do it."
-----
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
"Come in," called Lily as she pushed her textbooks aside. The tall oak door opened, revealing a rather upset James Potter. Lily frowned and walked up to him.
"James? Are you alright?"
James flashed her the trademark Potter smile. "Of course, Lils. You know you always make me feel better."
"You looked pretty upset for the moment," Lily noted, knitting he eyebrows together. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm just dandy," James grinned. "So.. What've you been up to lately?"
Lily quirked an eyebrow. "James, I saw you last night, and I just woke up. Therefore, you were with me during whatever thing I was doing last night - which was talking, mind you."
James gave her a lopsided grin. "Heh. I knew that."
"I'm sure you did, James."
Suddenly, James' expression turned serious. "Lils.. Lily. I.. I need to let you know something.. important."
Lily's pulse quickened. His voice is cracking! Is he going to.. cry? Oh, dear. I have no idea what I'd do if James Potter cried in my bedroom.
"Yes, James?"
James inhaled deeply and sighed. "Lily.. I need you to know that I love you very, very much."
Lily furrowed her brows in confusion. "I know that, James."
"And.. That I'd do anything to protect you."
Err..
"You have to understand, Lily, I'd throw my life away if it meant being able to save you."
Lily felt her heart melt into a puddle at James' dulcet tones. "Aww, James. That's so sweet."
James smiled sheepishly before gently brushing his lips against hers. Thus began an engaging battle of lips, teeth, and tongue that lasted too long.
When their supply of oxygen had long since disappeared, they broke apart, lips swollen, hair tousled.
"I love you, Lily Evans."
"I love you too, James Potter."
And that's all I needed to hear, James thought sadly as he spread his arms, enveloping Lily in a hug. He closed his eyes and buried his nose into her thick, luscious auburn hair, breathing in her cinnamon and vanilla scent. He sighed, wrapping his arms around her tighter. Lily rested her head on his shoulder, smiling.
I'd better enjoy the moment.. This is the last embrace we'll ever share, James thought ruefully.
After several silent minutes, James pulled back, kissing the tip of Lily's nose and smiling down at her. His deep hazel eyes started to glaze over.
"James..?"
"Goodbye, Lily," he whispered hoarsely. "I promise you, I'll always remember you."
In a flash, he was gone, leaving a confused Lily Evans behind.
-----
Silently, James crept into Lily's room, the slight sounds of her soft snoring guiding him to her bedside. The day had hurtled past, going all to fast for James. With each passing second, he'd be one step closer to oblivating Lily's memory of him. Forever.
It was way past midnight, and Lily had been long asleep. James had waited outside in the Head Commons, patiently counting the minutes. When he was sure that she was asleep, he had snuck inside, his grip on his wand tight.
He stood, towering over her. There she was, in all her fragile, semi conscious glory. Her sparkling emerald eyes were hidden behind pale sleepy eyelids, fringed with long, thick lashes. A porcelain complexion stood out, creamy and smooth to the touch. His touch. Haywire auburn curls, spread out messily around her head like an aura. Rose coloured lips, parted slightly, screamed for attention. James made a move to bend down and kiss her, submitting to her wishes, but caught himself just in time.
Now, now, Prongs.. Don't give yourself away.., he hastily reminded himself, removing his wand from his robes. You can do it, Prongs.. Nothing to it..
James stared down at her, his heart demanding he procrastinate the moment when-
"..James?"
Shit.
-----
Safe and warm below layers of goose-feathered duvets, James lay stock still, Lily snuggling up next to him. He can't believe he had convinced Lily that he was afraid of the dark. That woman must be so sleepy, she's not right in the head.
"You can sleep here with me if it makes you feel better," he remembered her telling him, a dreamy smile and hooded eyelids proving that she was still running amongst the lollipop trees in La La Dreamland.
James had reluctantly climbed in, repeatedly whacking himself over the head mentally for complicating his situation and creating a major predicament. How was he going to explain to a post-memory obliviated Lily what he was doing in her bed?
He propped himself up on one arm, watching Lily was she hugged a fluffy white pillow to her chest. She started to mumble incoherently, smiling.
James got that heart-ripping feeling again.
I must.. I must..
Slowly, drenched in a despondent feeling from head to toe, he raised his wand, levelling it steadily at Lily's sleeping form. He grimaced.
I can't just flaw her sanity by erasing some of her most intimate moments of her life.. Can I?
Closing his eyes, he saw flashes of his most cherished memories, reeling in at a train-wrecking dangerous speed. There was Lily and him, him chasing her with outstretched arms as she ran through the piles of crisp, colourful Autumn leaves, screaming herself hoarse. He had caught her in the end, whisking her up into her arms, the both of them laughing so hard they were both flushed silly. Then, there was Lily and him again, tossing snowballs at each other, building a snowman. She looked so adorable in those mittens and that- Don't stray, Potter! After that, a scene of them snuggled together in front of a blazing orange fireplace on the thick, fitted Gryffindor carpet, sipping hot cocoa and laughing at nothing.
James felt tears rushing up to his eyes. I can't..
I just can't.
"Obliviate!"
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Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Harry Potter world. Please, leave me alone now. .. No, really. Shoo.
Author's Note: Schniff. Uhm.. This is actually Part One of my twoshot, so continue on to Part Two for a big surprise:) Ahaha. Well, I hope you all enjoyed reading Part One! Drop me a review, thanks! Once again, a happy Valentine's Day to everyone. I hope everyone receives their fair share of heart-shaped chocolates and red red roses:) Ttfn, su yin. xx
